Konichiwa! I'm back after so many months! I'm so sorry it took me so long to update! The story got to a standstill and I didn't know where I wanted to take it so I started putting it off :[ But not anymore! I'll do my best to get this story finished before school starts in a month Thank you all for not giving up on me! I continued to get reviews and messages even after I'd been away so long and they inspired me to get the story going again. Here you go!

Disclaimer: As hard as it is to believe, I still haven't bought out Yugioh from Takahashi-sama.

Warnings: cute, cuddly boy love : awww, and some language and violence. All elements of a good story! xD

Chapter 10: In Your Shoes

"OKAY! Enough! I get it!" Jou stuttered, face turning bright red. Why'd he have to bring that up again? Well… there was nothing for it, if Kaiba was gonna play that dirty.

"Guess… I don't got much choice."

The brunet smirked. "Glad you see things my way."

Days later, the two were seated in the vast living room of the Kaiba mansion, Seto seated stiffly in a black leather armchair and Jonouchi sprawled across the entire couch, one arm thrown dramatically across his eyes. If he had to listen to Kaiba's "game plan" one more time, he was going to bust an artery. Kaiba had been all too prepared to drag Jou to the mansion kicking and screaming, but in the end reasoned that it would be simpler to have a pizza sent to the house. That would do the trick, he'd thought, and of course it had.

Seto straightened even further in his chair and cleared his throat.

"Mutt… are you listening to me?" he asked softly, danger ringing in every word.

Jou groaned. "Nah, I'm not! I was listenin' the first time, an'… an' the second time… an' I ain't listenin' any more!" he huffed, scooting up on the couch and crossing his arms grumpily.

"Well you had better be. You see, I find it necessary to repeat myself multiple times to stupid mutts such as yourself. Once is never enough with you people. I must simply drill it into your pathetic excuse for a brain until there is no way that even you can fuck it up." he smirked happily. Was he enjoying torturing the dog? Eh… maybe. He nearly choked suppressing an evil grin.

Jou flung himself off the couch with fists raised. He'd been itching for a fight ever since the first word had left Kaiba's mouth. "Cut it out with the dog bullshit, Kaiba! 'N case you forgot, you need me!"

Kaiba's mouth thinned. "Let's make one thing very, very clear. I am a Kaiba. I do not need anyone, least of all a mangy mongrel like you. Do you understand me?"

"Oh well, in that case, I'm outta here. Get some other sucker ta do your dirty work."

There it was again. The smirk. "Not so fast. In case you've forgotten, you are under my control. I can easily inhabit your body and force you to do quite embarrassing things, you know. Things that everyone will remember once you get your body back."

Jonouchi growled and balled his fists once more. "Goddamn you Kaiba! This is da last thing I need right now! Why doncha go be an asshole somewhere else?" He finally sighed in defeat, out of breath, and flopped down on the couch once more in resignment.

"Good dog. Listen to your master. Now, I'm going to go over the plan once more, just to ensure there will be no little slipups."

"Oh… my… god. I don' wanna hear y'damn plan again," Jou muttered to himself, deciding to ignore the 'dog' dig.

"Thank you for your input, I'll be sure to give that a lot of consideration," Seto remarked sarcastically, before continuing what he was saying, "here is what we are going to do. With the new powers that I have obtained, it shouldn't be too difficult to execute takeovers of rival companies, one at a time. Kaiba Corp has always been on top," he stated proudly, "since I stole it from my father years ago. There are quite a few companies and businessmen who would like to see it fall, and to see their own company in its place. While I don't see any of these as a threat, if they are eliminated it will save me the trouble of squashing them, as well as drawing more business to Kaiba Corp, and making more money for me." He pointedly ignored Jou's snort at the mention of his having even more money.

"After giving it a lot of thought, I have decided to plan a takeover of the Takeshi organization, who are one of Kaiba Corp's top rivals in the gaming industry. Instead of possessing Takeshi himself, I will be taking over the body of his Vice President, Take Watanabe. The point of this, Mutt, is to ensure that I have enough power in the company to influence how it is run, but at the same time I can find out what the President is plotting against my company. As Vice President I will be present at all important company meetings, as well as meetings with top executives of other companies that may be planning to take me down. That, of course, I can manage on my own. What I need from you, you may recall, is far more simple and extremely important." Seto paused there, wondering if he was crazy for trusting the mutt with something so… personal. It wasn't as if Mokuba could do it… it would be impossible to explain that to the boy, and frankly there was noone else he could trust with the job without stories of him being insane practically flying to the press. No… it had to be this way. "Mutt… I'm going to need you to take care of my body until I'm finished with the infiltration. I plan on completing the task tonight, but will give notice if the process requires an extension."

Jou paused in his position on the couch where he'd been happily scratching an itch, not listening, before…

"WHAT?!" he roared, flying off the couch and staring at Kaiba in horror.

Seto snorted. He knew the mutt hadn't been listening to him the first times he'd said it.

"I'm not happy about it either, but it's the only solution."

"Kaiba… ya must be crazy! I can't take care of yer body! I'd have to take it to m' house! Doncha think it'd be just a little bit hard to explain me stayin' at your house for the day... or a couple'a days?"

"This apartment of yours… it had better not be as filthy as you are. If I contract some strange kind of commoner's disease, it will be on your head."

"There. Is. No. Way!" Jou turned his back on Kaiba and began stalking back and forth like a caged lion, shaking his head occasionally and muttering to himself.

"Yes, frankly, there is. Stop being such a baby about it, it's only for a short time." Seto sighed and leaned forward, head in his hands. Oh, the frustrations of having to rely on that dumb pup to take care of him. Well… not relying. Better not to call it that. Not that he knew what else to damn well call it.

"An' how'm I gonna explain you being around for even a day?"

"I'm sure you'll think of something. As I have already stated, I expect to be finished tonight. I will provide you with my cell phone number, and you are to get in contact with me no later than 8:00pm. Should you fail to do this, I will leave your mangled body hanging from the flagpole atop Kaiba Corp."

Jou bristled, and sighed loudly, pissed off but beginning to recognize defeat and trying desperately to think of another argument against it. He couldn't come up with any. There was nothing else for it… he was going to have to be babysitter to Seto Kaiba.

X-x-X-x

The following day, Seto and Jonouchi were standing outside the Takeshi building, Seto filling Jou in on the latest information about their scheme.

"Now, don't forget, I've told Mokuba I'm away on business. The only tricky part left is to get the VP alone. Although, considering who I am," he drew himself up importantly," it shouldn't be too difficult." He turned and strode off towards the company.

"Hey, Kaiba?" Jou said, jogging to catch up, "doncha think yer gonna need one of dem cards to get in?"

Seto glanced at him disdainfully. "You think I need a card to get in anywhere?"

Jou looked away. "Oh… yeah, guess not."

Seto nodded curtly and entered the building, briefly informing the security guards that "he's with me," when they glared pointedly at Jou trailing behind him. Jou followed Seto's coattails across the lobby and to the shiny elevators surrounded by mahogany paneling. This building was fancy. Seto pushed the "up" button with one slim finger and the doors immediately slid smoothly open to admit them. They said nothing to each other on the long way up to the 38th floor. Kaiba stared straight ahead at the doors, while Jou occupied himself looking out the window and at the floor numbers which lit up as they climbed higher and higher. Finally, with a ding, the doors opened and Kaiba stepped out purposefully, the heels on his fancy black shoes clicking slightly against the tile as Jou hurried after him. He strode straight to the desk ahead of them, while the secretary, a middle age woman with frizzy bronze colored hair, looked up and nearly jumped out of her chair upon seeing who was standing in front of her.

"Oh… oh my, my, my, mister Kaiba, sir, what can I do for you today?" She tittered, running her fingers desperately through her hair. As though that will help the frizz, Seto thought to himself unkindly.

"You, my dear woman, cannot help me in the least. I am here to see Watanabe."

"Of… of course, sir. I'll tell him you're here, Mister Kaiba. Erm… right through those doors." She pointed shakily to their left towards a pair of double doors. Kaiba nodded curtly and strode off once again, leaving her quite shaken. Jou glanced at her and smiled apologetically, but she only seemed more frightened at that, and so he turned and began once more to follow the silent Seto.

He didn't bother to knock. People like Seto never have to bother with such trifles. Seto burst through the doors at such a speed that he did not have to slow his stride, and Jou suspected he liked causing a scene. He liked how all their eyes were naturally drawn to him. Watanabe was not alone, but rather had been deep in conversation with another man in a business suit, hunched over a small round table and making quick notes on documents spread across the table. They were not conversing anymore, however, and upon seeing Seto, the other man exchanged glances with Watanabe and stood, leaving the room and brushing past Jou on the way out.

"Seto Kaiba-sama," Watanabe said in an oily tone, "to what do I owe the honor?"

Jou appraised him, deciding at once that he didn't like the man. Everything about him was slick, from his hair to his suit to his shiny shoes and all the way to his fake, oily little voice. He was a classic Suit. Apparently, Seto felt the same.

"To something quite wonderful indeed, Watanabe-san, at least for me. You, on the other hand…" he smirked. That trademark smirk of his. And Jou at once was glad that Seto's gaze wasn't fixed on him wearing that expression. It was enough to give anyone the chills. Just before the other could respond, Seto looked at Jou and his smirk widened, and in an instant Seto's expression became slack and vacant, and the one that was smirking… was Watanabe. Jou stared, not having seen the action take place without having been a part of it before.

"All right, mutt, that's your cue. Get me the hell out of here without being too obvious about it." The voice oiled. It's owner cringed at the thought of sounding like that, but nothing could be done about such frivolities. Just then a beeping could be heard coming from Watanabe… or Seto's… pocket, and he retrieved it, glancing down and frowning.

"Mutt… it seems there is to be a company meeting within the hour. I'll need to review the issues that will be discussed before it begins, so get the hell out. And take good care of my body or it'll be the last thing you ever do." He turned from Jou and began perusing the documents still spread across the table.

Jou nodded towards Kaiba's back and turned to head out the door, catching the elbow of the soulless body and dragging it along with him. If Kaiba noticed the rough treatment, he gave no indication that he had.

As soon as they stepped through the double doors and heard them close, Jou realized that he was in for a lot more than he had bargained for. He had hardly turned for a second when Kaiba's body walked to a potted plant on a low table and began examining it, curiosity shining from his eyes, as though it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

"Come on, you," he muttered, grabbing its hand and pulling the body along. This was so wrong, him holding hands with Kaiba in public. Ah, well. Nothing could be done. He shook his hair, blond locks whipping around his face, before he headed back towards the elevator. And then… oh damn…

"Finished so soon, Mister Kaiba?" chirped the secretary. She looked up, stars shining in her eyes, before said eyes locked onto Seto's hand in Jonouchi's and widened noticeably. Jou could have kicked himself. How had he forgotten about her?

Suddenly, faster, than Jou could register, the body crossed the few steps to her desk and leaned over it, catching her hair in its hands and gazing it in wonder.

"Mister… why, Mister Kaiba, sir!" she spluttered, cheeks turning a splotchy, fire engine red. Jou's face twisted into a silent scream before he grabbed the body's arm and dragged it away from the secretary.

"He… he's not feeling well!" he spluttered, before practically running towards the elevators. Jou pushed the 'down' button multiple times, glancing nervously over his shoulder, before the doors finally opened and began to carry them toward the bottom floor.

X-x-X-x

They drew a certain amount of attention as they walked along, just like Jou had thought they would. People were surprised enough to see Seto Kaiba walking down the street like any other person, but stranger still was the gentle expression on his face, the curiosity at everything he saw. Everyone that knew anything about Seto Kaiba knew that his trademark expression was a glare. And who, they wondered, was the blonde boy who seemed to be guiding him?

This bothered Jou more than he'd thought it would. He had tried everything he could to avoid holding hands with Seto, and in the end had settled for a firm grip on his upper arm, pulling him along to avoid any detours the body might take to examine things along the way. As the sky darkened and they neared Jou's apartment, they passed by a rundown mini-mart with a neon sign flickering weakly in the window. Jou stopped, realizing he was out of food, and Seto's body nearly ran into him. The parking lot was empty as they crossed it, except for the occasional piece of trash flitting across it in the breeze. Jou stopped at the door, turning to the body. "Stay righ' here, ok? I gotta get us some food, but I'll be right back. Just don't go anywhere." He couldn't very well bring it into the store… it would probably knock everything off the shelves and he would be the one paying for it with money he didn't have. Jou watched the body for a moment more, making sure it wasn't going to wander off, before he nodded in satisfaction and pushed the door open, hearing a bell tinkle somewhere above him.

He grabbed a small red plastic basket and began to wander through the store, picking up random cheap food.

"Lessee… got the ramen, the macaroni, Coke… yep, that's about it!" he muttered to himself, glancing up at the windows and realizing it had gotten dark outside. Jou hurried to the register and bought the food, thanking the manager and walking quickly towards the door. He didn't want to leave Seto alone in the dark like that. Right when Jou reached the door, he heard voices outside and froze.

"Aw, c'mon, don't be like that, honey!" A man's voice. He laughed and soon it was followed by other laughter.

"Yeah… why aren't you sayin' nothing'? Think you're some kind 'a princess, huh?"

That was the last thing Jou heard before his blood boiling blocked out all other noises. He dropped his grocery bag without noticing and slammed the door open just in time to see three thugs surrounding his Seto, whose back was to the brick wall. The guy in front had his hands all over him. Fuck them! What the hell were they doing? Jou exploded.

"Hey, assholes! Get the fuck away from him!" he yelled, charging the nearest one down and shouldering him square in the stomach, winding him. Jou's fists flew and the guy was down. After that, he wasn't so lucky. The remaining two had him surrounded. The guy behind him grabbed Jou under the arms and held him still, and he barely had time to think "oh shit" before the leader's fist was in his face. He heard a crack and tasted blood, opening his eyes and spitting it out. Jou leaned into the man holding him and lifted both legs, lashing out with his feet and hitting the other man right where it hurts, before he felt another blow to his head and turned to see the last man standing holding an empty beer bottle. The blow was dizzying, but the bottle wasn't broken and so it wasn't fatal.

The man was obviously drunk, and now that Jou was facing him, he easily avoided his swing and knocked him down. Jou got down on the ground beside him and laid into him until the man went unconscious. There, that took care of those guys. He stood up, brushing off his hands on his jeans, before he heard a short gasp coming from Seto, whose eyes were wide and focused on something behind him. Jou turned just in time to see the first man coming at him. Damn asshole just won't give up. Flashbacks of what they had been doing to Seto came back to him, and Jou was filled with fresh fury. He knocked the other flat in seconds and slammed his fist into the side of his face again and again, breaking his nose with a satisfying crunch.

When the pounding in his head began to lessen, Jou suddenly heard a whimper and turned to see Seto with a terrified look on his face. Jou stood and began walking towards him, when the other flinched away. Jonouchi was stricken.

"You… ya really think I'm gonna hurtcha? I wouldn't ever do that! Look, I won't hurt you, see?" he stopped walking, holding his hands out palm up, "I'm sorry that happened to you. I'm sorry," Jou was speaking quieter now, his voice about to break as he began walking slowly toward Seto again. "God.. I'm so sorry. I won't ever leave you alone like that again. I'm not gonna let that happen ta you again. Sorry… I'm sorry." He finally reached the other boy, who gazed up at him as soullessly as could be before slowly taking one step closer and wrapping its arms around him softly.

Jou's eyes widened as Seto Kaiba held him and pressed his face to his chest. It's not really him, it's not really him so it's okay, he repeated firmly to himself. His arms seemed to be wrapping around the other of their own accord, but Jou forced himself not to think about it and simply stood holding Seto Kaiba under the streetlight, with the moths buzzing around over their heads.

X-x-X-x

By the time they got back to Jonouchi's apartment, it was late. Kaiba's earlier threat of hanging his body from the flagpole if he didn't call echoed in his ears, but he didn't have a phone at the house because his father hadn't paid the bill last month. Dammit... if those assholes hadn't been fucking with him at the mini mart I might'a remembered to call. Fuck it if I'm walking all the way back. Kaiba can't be that mad about it... can he? Screw him, anyway. He'll live.

They climbed the dingy staircase and Seto's body waited with him by the door while Jou fumbled around for the key. Finding it, he slid it into the lock and let them in, flipping on a light and wandering off towards the tiny laundry room.

"I'm gonna get you a blanket so ya can sleep on da couch, all right?" he called back down the hall. Jou opened a drawer in the laundry room and pulled out an old blanket and a pillow and stumbled back towards the living room, tripping over the end of the blanket just as he reached the end of the hall. Seto stood exactly where he had left him, head tilted to the side curiously as Jou tripped. Jou dumped the things on the couch.

"I'll get ya some pajamas. He wandered into the bedroom and came back out moments later holding a pair of blue pajama bottoms, which he tossed to the other boy. "There ya go… they might be a little short, but they'll work okay." The soulless boy stared at the pajama bottoms a minute before nodding and unfastening the tight leather pants he was wearing. Jou turned around in shock seconds after they hit the floor.

"Jeez! Can'tcha at least go in da bathroom or something'?" He was aware he was blushing but chose to ignore that little detail. When he turned around a minute later, Seto was standing before him wearing the pajamas that barely hit his ankles. Jou felt laughter bubbling up in his throat at the sight. It was kind of… cute. It is not cute! Not cute at all! Damn it… why was he always thinking shit like that? It wasn't healthy.

"Well… there's yer blankets and stuff… g'night then." He turned around and walked into the small bedroom, pulling on his own pajamas and sliding under the sheets. Jou sighed in content, pulling the blankets higher and listening to the silence of the house. This felt nice after such a long day… yeah, nice, before… Plunk. He stiffened suddenly, feeling a weight beside him on the bed. What was that? Jonouchi turned over under the sheets, finding himself face to face with Seto Kaiba. The pseudo-Kaiba smiled at him climbed under the covers, snuggling into him happily and wrapping an arm around Jou's waist.

He felt the brown hair tickle his chest and looked down, smelling cinnamon. Well… I guess he doesn't know any better… and this isn't so bad. It's kinda… nice. Jou hesitantly lifted an arm and slid it around the other boy's shoulders, pulling him closer and closing his eyes. He breathed deeply and unconsciously slid his hand through the other's hair, one last thought coming to his mind before sleep claimed him.

No… this isn't bad at all.

Finished! I can't believe it! I just sat here and didn't stop until the chapter was done. I should do that more often. Anyway, please review if you liked it! It's nice to hear what you think Ja ne!