A/N: Sorry I'm late - . - I just couldn't get into writing this chapter this past week. This story hasn't gotten many reviews, so my other stories have been given priority. I know there are more reading than there are reviewing, and that kind of makes me curious as to why it's good enough to subscribe to but not good enough to review. Obviously, more reviews would be appreciated. I hate to be that author, but if I don't get more, I'm probably going to only update it every other week or abandon it altogether because it's just not worth it if no one is reviewing. Though I REALLY appreciate what few reviews I do have, you guys rock my world :D

Chapter 4 - Surreal (Posted 14 July 2011)

"Wow, you're on time. For once." Seto glared at Joey who was standing outside the orphanage.

"Stuff it." Joey said, already annoyed. "You think I'd be late for something as important as this?"

"You were late for the interview."

Joey became noticeably uncomfortably. "That... was out of my control."

"Huuuuh." Kaiba sighed, even though he was curious. "Whatever. Let's just go inside. I don't want to waste any more time."

"Me either."

Seto pushed the door open and walked inside without bothering to hold the door for Joey. Joey growled and opened the door for himself, trailing angrily behind Kaiba.

"You're here!" Takara came running up to them as fast as her tiny legs could carry her. Joey stooped down just in time to catch her as she threw her arms around him. "You really came back for me!"

"Of course we did." Seto said as he crouched down next to Joey. He smiled at her, stunning both her and Joey. "What?" he asked as they stared at him.

"You're cute when you smile." Takara told him with huge, adoring eyes.

Though he was surprised, Seto's expression softened even further. "But I'm not as cute as you." Then he turned to look at Joey with a hint of a glare. "And what are you staring at?"

"Nothing." Joey huffed and turned away, feeling his face heat up. "I've just never seen you look that happy before."

"You never had any reason to." Seto said calmly. "This isn't business or a tournament or anything like that. So there's no need for me to be on edge. Please don't give me a reason."

"...I won't."

"Thank you." Seto stood and saw the woman from before standing near them. She was holding a pink suitcase that could only belong to a little girl. "Is that Takara's suitcase?" he pointed to it.

"Yep." she smiled brightly. "This is all of her clothes and books and things. Usually we let most of the child's possessions here during this month but she doesn't have a lot, so it's all going with you." She handed it to Seto. "All the paperwork was completed during your last visit, so she's all yours until you come back to decide who really adopts her."

"Ok, thanks." Seto said.

"Take care, Mr. Kaiba. And you Mr. Wheeler." Then she bent down and waved to Takara. "Have fun, sweetie."

"I will, Mrs. Murasaki." Takara's semi-toothless grin made everyone else smile too.

Joey and Seto walked out the door feeling a new kind of determination. And Takara was feeling a new kind of happiness.

With his free arm, Seto reached down and grabbed Takara's hand. "Joey," he said, surprising him by using his first name, "take her other hand. We have to cross the street to get to my car."

"Alright." Joey grabbed her hand and took in the sight of the three of them cautiously crossing the street. It seemed so surreal.

Kaiba was thinking much the same thing. If someone had told him a week ago that he'd be walking with Takara between himself and his sworn enemy, he would have called them mental. But here he was, trying his best to be friendly to the mutt.

"Here." Kaiba said once they reached an expensive looking car. He set Takara's suitcase on the ground and pulled a set of keys from his pocket. He pressed a button and the trunk popped open. After placing the luggage inside and closing it, he opened a door to the back seat and helped Takara get inside. "Put your seatbelt on." he said softly. Then he looked up at Joey. "Well? Are you just going to stand there or are you going to get in?"

"In what?" Joey said, puzzled by the question.

"In the car." It took all of Seto's strength not to sigh loudly at the mutt's stupidity.

"In your car?"

"What other car would I possibly be talking about?"

"Well..." Joey grew more confused. "I know we're supposed to be friends now and everything, but..."

Kaiba's face fell a little. "You don't trust me?"

"No, it's not that. I just thought I'd be going home now."

"What?"

"I mean it's your week with her. I appreciate you letting me be here when you picked her up but..."

"You thought I was going to let you see her for five minutes and then make you go home?"

"I..."

Kaiba couldn't contain his sigh this time. "I know we don't like each other, but I'm really not that spiteful."

"Ehhh..." Joey scratched his head. "So... you want me to go with you?"

Seto nodded. "I'm taking Takara out for something to eat and then I want to do some shopping. I guess I can't stop you from going home but I think she'd like it if you came with us."

"And... you don't mind?"

"No. I want this to be fair." Seto took a deep breath. "I don't like to look at this as a competition, because a human life isn't something to be won. So we both need to be on our best behavior and show her that we can get along and that our main goal is to give her a good home no matter which one of us she chooses. That's why I'm inviting you. I hope you'll do the same thing."

"Yeah, I was going to have you over for dinner and stuff..."

"Huh." Seto said as he opened the driver's side door. "Maybe this won't be so bad after all."