Whoopee, you guys are the BEST!! -hugs everyone- Thanks for those great reviews! I'm so glad you're all enjoying this fic...:)))

darkgryphonmage: Hehe, when I re-read my fic now, I realize that it's actually quite a while before those walls really start to crumble. But God, I'm caught up with the desire for romance... (-is a hopeless case when it comes to that-)

Lionessmon: Admittedly, I was partially inspired for that by reading about that in a few other fics, though the idea faintly crossed my mind before as well. Man, I wish they'd draw an "episode-for-fun" or something where we'd get to see such things... ;-) (Oh yeah, sorry if my translation wasn't that great - I wasn't sure how to translate it and used LEO...)

Lareske: Ooh, I'm curious to see what you have to say when you read that part of the story... BTW, what would you say to a bit of fluff after the party?? (not to mention what I'm working on now, might I add) About the German: really?! I'm quite picky with it... and boy, do I ever wish that Swiss German would be the standard language at school, it's amazing how many kids actually consider High German to be kinda like a foreign language (we think it sounds so snobby, but perhaps we just met and heard the wrong Germans)...

Now forgive me as I retire to bed... gotta get up at 5.15 AM tomorrow, so I'll be bushed until about 8 AM... (damn, isn't that the pits?! a one-hour journey to school, stay there for an hour, and then go right home again! -argl-)


For the rest of the weekend, he kept a certain distance between him and Joey; he just wanted some time alone to think. While Mokuba didn't understand this sudden change of attitude, Joey did and even respected that. Then Monday had come again, and for the first time, Seto found himself not going to school alone.

The very instant he and Joey stepped out of the limousine, people's heads turned, and some even started pointing and whispering. Seto growled and approached the building in his usual rapid stride. He noted with smugness that the others still had enough respect to get out of his way immediately. Joey tailed along behind, not making any efforts to catch up. In the classroom, nobody dared to speak with Seto – until Joey and his friends entered, that was.

"Hi Kaiba," Yugi said friendly.

Seto just glared at him.

"Friendly as always, I see," Tristan sighed.

"How would you like it if you'd be pointed at as soon as you enter the school grounds?" Tea whispered, scolding.

Tristan got a tinge of redness that came from glee around his nose as he started to imagine it. "I'd be in seventh heaven…" he sighed. Tea just covered her eyes with one hand, wishing she hadn't asked.

"How's business going?" Ryou asked in an attempt to start a friendly conversation.

Seto found this a bit irritating. Before he had allowed Joey to move in, nobody had ever spoken to him, and now they were trying to have small talk! "Don't you read any newspaper?" he snapped.

This earned him primarily glares from the others, even Joey. Especially Joey. He hadn't expected him to be as "friendly" as he was with him back at the mansion, but he also hadn't expected him to be quite so touchy. Secondarily, though, a ghostly form separated itself from Ryou and assembled a solid shape a moment later. Bakura's red eyes gleamed angrily as he hissed:

"Watch it, Kaiba, or I'll make you regret it!"

"Since when do you stand up for him?" Seto retorted.

The others just sighed; of course, because Seto didn't hang out with them very often, he wasn't in the picture: it had turned out that Bakura loved his Hikari, and ever since that was apparent, nobody had bullied Ryou anymore. Bakura's wrath was feared by all of them, therefore they did their best not to annoy him. However, the CEO didn't know all of this.

"Let's just say that whoever does anything to him gets a piece of me. Now, how about a nice answer?" Bakura asked with a wicked grin as he ran his thumb along the blade of the dagger he always carried with him.

Seto's eyes darted from the weapon back to the ancient thief's face before he reluctantly complied: "Fine."

"What question was that the answer to?" Bakura asked.

"Both. Now leave me alone!" Seto spat.

"Remember what I told you –" the spirit started to remind him when the teacher entered the room. The students hastily scampered to their seats and Bakura dissolved into nothingness once more.

"Welcome back, Seto Kaiba," the teacher said in acknowledgement of the new presence in the room before continuing perfectly normally with the lesson.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

The day passed by so normally that if they wouldn't already know, Joey's friends wouldn't have guessed that the blond was staying at the Kaiba mansion. Seto was avoiding them all, as usual. Joey, on the other hand, didn't want to tax the brunet's patience if he wouldn't keep a distance to him, so he hung around his friends whenever he could. When they went home, however, the two boys were joined again for the first time since going to school.

"You know that Mokuba's soccer match is this weekend, right?" Joey asked on the way to the house. The frown and the slight eye-widening was all he needed for an answer. "…You forgot, right?" he concluded.

"Yes…" Seto muttered, "It's a good thing that you reminded me, Wheeler." Joey and Mokuba had both noticed that the blond had only very rarely been called "mutt" since that Saturday morning tickle fight.

"Gee, you must really have lots to do if you forget that," Joey sighed.

"That's just the way it is. My agenda is always quite full," Seto explained.

"Don't you ever take vacation?"

"No."

Joey muttered something about "nuts" and "crazy", but didn't comment too loudly on that. Seto was perfectly fine with that, still silently glad that he had reminded him of the match he had promised Mokuba to come to.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Early in the afternoon on Saturday, Seto and Joey were at a soccer field and watching Mokuba play. Though there were some who were better than him, he was one of the more talented players. He played as a striker.

His brother and Joey had brought along a blanket to sit on. Additionally, Joey had packed a lot of food – he claimed that matches always made him very hungry. While he munched hungrily on the sandwiches he had made himself, Seto sat there as the more decent human being of them both and watched the game silently. Joey, however, was cheering at the top of lungs when his mouth wasn't too full.

"Go, Mokuba, go!" he yelled, punching the air.

"Wheeler, you yell for three," Seto commented with a theatrical sigh. He didn't mind it too much; it was just his way of striking up a conversation. And a way to give the people around them a break.

"Yeah. So? You don't yell at all."

"Like I said before: you're yelling so much that I can afford to let off it."

Joey shrugged helplessly and carried on exactly like he had done before. Seto leaned back and kept on watching the game in silence.

Almost 90 minutes later, the game was nearing its end. It was an even score, and the next goal would be the decision. Joey was fiddling nervously with the blanket and biting his lower lip with excitement. Seto was sitting completely upright, closely watching what was going on without blinking. Mokuba's team got ready, and the young Kaiba was the middle one of the striker trio – the most important position at that moment.

"Hey! Mokuba!" Joey yelled. To his own surprise, the youngster heard him and looked to where he was now no longer sitting, but standing. "You can do it! Go for it!"

And that was the point where Mokuba watched in astonishment as his older brother rose as well and added his own comment: "You can win if you really want to! I believe in you!" (1)

Mokuba beamed and waved at them, signaling his understanding. Then the referee blew his whistle, and he ran off with his fellow strikers, handling the ball just like he had been taught to do during the practice sessions. He heard the whole crowd yelling and cheering. He passed the ball to another player, then wove his way through the enemy defense line.

"Over here! To me!" he cried, waving his arms for additional attention. The ball was kicked, and it flew toward him…

"Go, Mokuba!" Joey and Seto yelled in unison.

How he did it, he didn't quite know, but in any case, Mokuba neatly took over the ball and kicked it as hard as he could. The goalie dove for it, but couldn't reach it anymore. A split second later, the referee signaled the game's end with another whistle blow. The crowd erupted into thunderous clapping and victorious cheers. The winning soccer team had a brief celebration of their victory in their own ranks, then they received high praise from the trainer. After that, the players scattered, running off to friends and relatives that were watching. Mokuba made a beeline for his brother and Joey.

"We won!" he cried when he was almost with them.

Seto and Joey hugged him at the same time.

"Well done, champ, I knew you could do it!" Joey grinned.

"I'm very proud," Seto told his little brother softly.

"Aw, Seto… it's just soccer, not an awesome match like the ones you've had in Duel Monsters…"

"But a victory nevertheless," Seto said, satisfied.

Mokuba nodded and gave in to their congratulating hug.

"Is there anything special you want to do to celebrate the victory?" Seto inquired.

"…Anything?" Mokuba asked reassuringly.

"Anything."

"Ah, I know! If it's warm enough, could we go swimming this weekend, Seto?" Mokuba asked excitedly.

Joey had to stifle a snicker as he saw the brunet pale a bit and groan: "Swimming…?!"

'Not that. Anything but that. He knows I hate the pool and all the people who are there, roasting like bacon in the sun without any sunscreen…!' Seto thought disgustedly. (2) But it was too late: his brother had already activated the dreaded puppy-eyes.

"You said 'anything', Seto…" he reminded him with a minor pout.

"I know, but –"

"Pleeeeease?" Mokuba begged.

Seto had no other choice but to give in. "Oh, okay."

"Joey, will you come too?"

"What?!" Seto exclaimed.

His brother gave him an amused look which he would have guessed would be visible on an older teen's face, but not on that of a twelve-year-old. "Why not? He's been with us for a month tomorrow…"

"I thought you meant a family trip!"

"To me, he practically is family! What d'you say, Joey?"

The blond laughed a bit. "I wouldn't mind, but it's up to Kaiba to decide. If he doesn't agree, I won't spoil your family time."

Mokuba shot his brother a teasing yet daring glare, and Seto almost slapped himself when he replied: "Fine... You may come, Wheeler."

"Boo-ya!" Joey cheered. He loved swimming, followed by drying in the sun and maybe having an ice cream or two…

Having agreed on that, they went back to the mansion, and Seto found himself praying to Saint Peter that the weather wouldn't play along.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

'Oh, for the love of God!' Seto thought, a sinking feeling spreading in his stomach. It was Tuesday evening, and they were gathered around the living room TV, watching the evening news. As usual, it tuned out with the weather forecast.

"…and now a brief outlook on the weekend's weather! Both days look very promising with lots of sunshine as well as 91 degrees on Saturday and 86 degrees on Sunday! Seems as if Saint Pete's granting us some last sunny days before fall will be here for good…"

"Yay! Let's go on Saturday!" Mokuba cheered.

Seto sighed. "If we must… I'll go tell my secretary to postpone all appointments for that day…" he added rather glumly before leaving.

"Doesn't Kaiba like swimming?" Joey asked with a grin after the CEO had gone.

"No. Usually, he just sits on the towels, watching over me. It's been many years since I last saw him in the water."

Joey smirked. "Time to change that…"

Mokuba laughed, then snuggled up against Joey. "Gee, I wish you could stay here forever," he mused.

The blond felt as if an invisible weight had been dropped on his shoulders. "Yeah…" he said heavily, dreading the moment he would need to leave the house. No matter how much he had rejected the idea at first, he had come to see that he felt quite at home here.

'Heck, I think I'd even miss Kaiba!' he thought wistfully.

"Joey?"

"Hmm?"

"Thanks again for… you know, doing what you do with Seto. It's getting more and more like it used to be," Mokuba smiled.

"I guess that's good. Man, and I used to believe that Rich Boy doesn't even have a heart…"

Mokuba just giggled in response. As a serene feeling of laziness overcame them, they just stayed there on the couch. Joey had put an arm around the youngster – quite like another brother.

By the time Seto came back, Mokuba was asleep on the couch, still nestled in Joey's one-armed hug. The blond was almost asleep himself, loosely leaning his head against Mokuba's. Seto walked around the couch to get a better look on them. Gingerly, he sat down on the little table between the couches and the TV and crossed his arms, sinking into deep thoughtfulness.

'Wheeler… you make Mokuba so happy, I'm almost dreading the moment you'll have to go. But I can't keep you here forever, can I? And when you're gone, what'll happen then?'

He was a bit shocked to find that he didn't have a clue concerning that matter. He tried to convince himself that he'd switch back to his normal life, but deep within him, his inner child argued that that wouldn't be possible.

--You can't deny that he's brought back something you've been deprived of ever since you were adopted! How can you possibly think that you'd be able to leave that behind just like that?!--

Seto looked at Joey, who was now definitely asleep as well. An almost hurt-looking frown appeared on his usually cold, stern face. Yes, Joey had brought back childhood pleasures with that easygoing attitude of his–

'Good God, I'll miss it! I'll miss him!' Seto realized as he bit his lip.

He watched how Joey smiled in his sleep and gently pulled Mokuba even closer. Seto remembered what his brother had said earlier that day: that Joey was practically family to him. God, he'd be heart-broken if Joey would have to go. But, Seto thought, what right did they have to keep him here? None, actually. His father still had custody of him, and it was astounding that the man hadn't done anything yet to retrieve his son. Seto remembered hearing that Joey was beaten at home – and even though he himself had had tough treatment from his stepfather, he hadn't been beaten. He had been denied many things, yes, but physical abuse? No. Guided by a will of its own, Seto sat down next to Joey, still silently watching him, the same thoughts replaying themselves in his mind.

Joey fidgeted with a little groan and let his head rest against the lean instead, though still keeping his arm around Mokuba. His whole body moved when he shifted, and so his other arm barely touched Seto's right. The brunet twitched as if electrified and stared at the blond. A nerve was twitching in the boyish face, and Seto guessed that he was having a not-so-pleasant dream. After hesitating for a moment, he gingerly nudged Joey's arm.

"Wheeler."

The boy in question slept right on, not having heard a thing. Seto nudged him again, though this time harder.

"Wheeler!"

When that second attempt failed as well, he gave him a hearty poke in the shoulder. Joey jumped and blinked sleepily.

"Huh?! What?!"

"Ssh!" Seto hissed, nodding towards Mokuba, "Let me take him to bed."

"Okay," Joey mumbled and yawned heartily.

Seto ignored that as he picked up his brother without waking the latter. As he went upstairs, the young billionaire thought how he wouldn't be able to do this too much more often – soon Mokuba would either protest this course of action or simply be too heavy, even for Seto, who was quite fit. He tucked the young teen in, then went back downstairs. Joey was still on the couch and at least halfway asleep. Seto sat down next to him again, but stared absently at the floor.

"I'll miss this place," he suddenly heard Joey mumble.

"What?" he asked, looking at him.

Joey half-opened one eye sleepily, yet Seto still saw ruefulness in it. "I know I can't stay forever – God knows how much longer. But I will miss this place… and Mokuba… hell, even you," he added with a sheepish grin.

Seto looked at him a second longer, then let his head rest against the lean too. "I'm surprised that your father hasn't tried to find you yet," he said, looking as if he were talking to the ceiling.

"I bet he just doesn't know where to look," Joey muttered.

"What will you do if he finds you?" Seto asked.

Joey shrugged feebly. "Dunno. I'm in for it, though, that's for sure."

"…It's that bad, then?"

"Mmh-hmm. Sometimes he even hits me with bottles."

Seto flinched at the thought. 'I never would have guessed that his domestic problems were so bad…' he thought, again with that heavy feeling within him.

"Kaiba?"

"What?"

"Please, don't go telling on me!" Joey whispered, looking anxious.

In response, the brunet actually smiled a bit before answering: "I won't, Wheeler. I won't."

Joey cracked a smile despite his fatigue. "Thanks a lot, Kaiba." And then he simply hugged the CEO.

Seto stared down at him at first with disgust. What was he thinking, hugging him like that?! They were enemies…! When his moment of shock passed, however, the anger subsided, and he actually felt pity. How many times must the blond have longed to hug somebody, to either show affection or – more importantly – receive some in return? Perhaps that was the reason why he had acted like that. In his thoughtfulness, Seto didn't realize how he actually put an arm around Joey. He was made aware of this when Joey snuggled up even closer.

"Wheeler…" he fidgeted nervously.

"Don't say anything, just… don't," came the muffled plea from where the teen's face was buried in his shirt.

That was the point where Seto Kaiba gave up. He gave up trying to push Joey away and keep a certain distance between them at all times. And it was the point where he admitted to himself that he simply couldn't send him away – and that he would try to keep him away from the earlier life of abuse as long as he could.


(1) Oh, please forgive me, but I just couldn't resist! I know it's disgustingly cheesy, but I'm just hopeless...

(2) Actually, that's what I think of swimming pools - I hate those places (haven't been to one all summer, in fact - I hate feeling so exposed, especially in times when looks matter a lot). Man, my friends are right when they say I'm weird...