Disclaimer: In no shape or form do I own any of the rights to Yu-Gi-Oh.

Chapter 14

The limo ride home felt long, awkward and drawn out. Katsuya was back in his school uniform now while the maid costume from earlier resided in a bag hidden behind his legs. Arisa had insisted that he keep the outfit and no amount of persuasion could change her mind. However, there was no way in hell he would ever wear it again.

How did he even get himself into such a mess? His face turned red every damn time he thought about it. It was even worse than the time he lost that bet to Otogi and was forced to wear that stupid dog costume.

Now on the way back home to the mansion, he had no idea what to say. Kaiba wasn't looking at him and it kind of hurt, but he could understand why.

As soon as the car stopped he quickly got out, his plan to fall into bed, curl up into a small ball and basically, well, die.

"Mutt."

He froze and turned around.

"You left this in the limo."

He looked down to Kaiba's hand to see the bag with the dreaded costume in it. His face turning bright red, he promptly grabbed from him.

"Th-Thanks!"

He was about to run inside when suddenly he felt Kaiba looking over his shoulder.

"That…that outfit. Is it yours?" Kaiba asked plainly.

"Wha-what!? Of course not!" he all but screamed, "I…I was forced to wear this! I drew the short straw and they made me put this stupid thing on."

"Mutt, all the people you work closely with are women," replied the brunette, matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, so?"

"Well, I doubt very much that that particular outfit would fit any of your other colleagues," he said, an amused tone in his voice.

"And?"

"Oh, nothing. It's just quite fortunate that you drew the short straw or else that little outfit would have gone to waste." With that, he walked away, leaving Katsuya there with the bag pressed against his chest.

"Huh, but if I was the only one who could wear it why would Arisa-" And finally, it clicked.

"I…I was TRICKED!?"

*********************************************************************

Katsuya spent the next day at school completely out of it, lost somewhere between complete and utter embarrassment and general confusion.

"Hey, Jounouchi, that girl Suzuhara is totally checking you out!" Honda declared excitedly, leaning against his friend's desk.

"Huh?"

"You know, Suzuhara Yuki. She keeps on looking over here."

"Maybe she's checking you out," said Katsuya dismissively, not really caring.

"Sadly not," the brunette sighed. "I caught her staring at you during English. As soon as she realised that I saw her she blushed and looked away."

"Ah."

"Dude, you should totally go over there and talk to her!"

"I…I don't really wanna," Katsuya replied, resting his head on his hands.

"What is with you? There's the possibility that some really cute chick is interested in you, and you just, what, don't care?"

"I just have other things on my mind right now."

"Like what?" asked Honda, his voice suddenly ripe with concern.

"It…it's kind of private."

"Since when did we keep secrets from each other?" Katsuya felt guilty. He could hear the hurt in his friend's voice, but there was no way Honda would understand. Hell, he didn't even understand himself.

"Ever since your Dad died you've been acting so distant. It's like you're keeping something from me. No, not just me, everyone."

"Honda…" His eyes stayed firmly locked on his desk. He couldn't even look at him. There was nothing he could say, for it was the truth.

"Look, I don't want to push you or anything, but I want you to know that I'll be here when you're ready to talk."

Honda returned to his own desk leaving his friend to his guilt and confusion. There was always a price to pay when you lie. For when you needed the people you cared about the most, you couldn't tell them a damn thing. Not without the lie unravelling.

******************************************************************

Much like with school, Katsuya remained distant and distracted at work, despite his best efforts to appear normal. He never questioned Arisa about the seemingly fixed game that resulted in his complete embarrassment. In fact he wasn't really thinking much about that at all. Instead, he'd spent his time trying not to think about the strange sensation in his chest when Kaiba had caught him the night before and how he felt when he had gazed into the millionaire's eyes.

Now back home, he sat on his bed with his eyes fixed on the ceiling. Honda's words from earlier that day also swirled around his head. Just when things seemed like they were finally getting better, just when he finally felt like he belonged somewhere, it all started falling apart in his mind. He cursed himself, wishing he could be strong like Yugi. Neither one of his personalities would lie around moping like this. He was so weak.

Suddenly an image of his beloved younger sister came to mind. Shizuka. It had been awhile since he had last spoken to her. Maybe he would feel better if he called her. But there would be more lying involved. He hated doing it enough as it was when it was his friends, but when he lied to her it felt like he was committing some horrendous crime against humanity.

But he would have to phone her eventually. Besides she had probably already started to worry about him.

There was a knock on the door and Katsuya bolted up right. "He-Hello?"

The door opened and in walked the very last person he wanted to see. "Don't look so surprised, mutt. I live here, too, you know," stated Seto, closing the door behind him.

"Huh? Oh, I wasn't! I just, uh…" he trailed off. Okay, this was very awkward. He'd barely said more than three words at time to Kaiba today, and while Kaiba wasn't a big talker in the first place, it had pretty much seemed that the taller teen had also been avoiding him.

"From the looks of it, you haven't even attempted to make a start on your homework," said Seto, scanning the room for any sign of textbooks or papers.

"Homework?" The blond boy blinked. "Oh crap, I completely forgot about it!"

Katsuya leapt off the bed, quickly making a grab for his rucksack. He'd even forgotten to do yesterday's.

Folding his arms and leaning against the door, Seto sighed. "You're hopeless."

The blond boy got all his books and notepads and threw them onto the small table. He started to open the first book when he stopped suddenly.

"Kaiba, did you want something?" he asked nervously.

"I just wanted to confirm my suspicions that you hadn't even started. I was right, of course."

With a small pout, Katsuya grabbed his pen. Glancing through the instructions, he realised that much to his dismay everything for the subject before him involved what they had gone over in class these pass two days which unfortunately for him relied heavily on note-taking. A bead of sweat ran down the side of cheek as he stared at his empty notepad. He hung his head.

"Here." Looking up, he saw Kaiba standing over him, his arm outstretched with a book in his hand.

He blinked. "What is it?"

"My notes. You weren't paying attention in class at all today."

Katsuya took the notebook and flicked through it. "Wow, there's a lot of stuff in here."

"Well, unlike you, I actually pay attention and make an effort."

"Hey, I pay attention! Uh, most of the time…"

As opposed to his own notebook, there was so much writing in it that he had no idea where to start. It was more like a textbook in itself.

He sat glancing over it for a few minutes before he heard the chair next to him being pulled out.

"Kaiba?"

"Give it here," the brunette demanded.

"Huh? But I haven't even-"

"Just give it to me."

With a sigh, Katsuya reluctantly handed over the notebook.

Kaiba had taken out a pen and was now scribbling furiously in the book.

"What are you-"

"Can't you be quiet for just one minute?"

Grunting, Katsuya turned away and rested his arms on the table.

He sat there silently for five minutes and was just about to start pestering Kaiba on just what the hell he was doing when the notebook was placed back down in front of him.

Picking it up, he quickly glanced over the first page to see that quite a few things had been underlined along with some extra notes written in the margins.

"The text I underlined references the most important material. Make sure you read it closely. Also read the extra information in the margin. That might help you structure your essay better when we finally have to write a report."

"Kaiba…"

"Wh-What?" The mutt was looking at him very strangely. It was making him uncomfortable.

"Huh? Oh, nothing!" Katsuya cried, realising what he was doing "It's just… uh, thank you, that's all. You didn't need to do that."

"Of course I did," the other teen snorted. "There's no way your dog-like brain would have been able to understand it without guidance."

Katsuya didn't even get mad at the comment, instead allowing the smile tugging at the edge of his lips to shine through. "I guess you're right."

Seto blinked, genuinely surprised. Feeling his cheeks turn warm, he turned away, pretending to clear his throat.

What the hell was it that mutt did to him to make him feel this way? He'd never felt like this before. And just seeing that smile of his, it did strange things to him…

When he turned back around, Katsuya was writing furiously in his own notebook. He knew that he should leave, return back to his own room and get some actual work done, but while his mind told him to do this, his legs would not move. And so he sat there silently, casting glances over at the mutt every now and again, unaware that other boy was doing the exact same thing whilst writing. When their eyes finally caught each other's at the same time, both teens quickly turned away.

This was awkward. Until the idiot had come into his life, Seto had never had a problem knowing what to say before. Why should anything be different now?

Okay, what he needed to do was just calm down. Just say the first thing that came to his mind. That's most other people did after all, wasn't it?

"So, that outfit you had on yesterday, it was very nice."

Okay, maybe not that.

"Wh-What!?"

Damn, wrong thing to say. The mutt was now staring at him like he had grown a second head.

"No, no, what, I meant was, uh-" Dear God, he was stuttering. This couldn't get any worse. "It looked very good on you."

Or maybe not.

The mutt's face was practically red now. "What the hell are you saying? Is this like some kind of joke?"

"Of course not!" yelled Seto, his face also turning an interesting shade.

"So you did think it looked nice?"

"Yes! I mean, no. No wait, I mean yes!"

"Which is it?" cried Katsuya, shaking his head in confusion.

"Look mutt, I don't have time for this. I-I'm a very busy person. I have work to do!" The CEO declared in his usual stern tone, standing up. "You…you can keep that notebook."

And with that he quickly headed for the door, leaving Katsuya sitting there looking like he had just been hit over the head with a ton of bricks.

*********************************************************************

So here he was, another day at school totally distracted and spacing out. And just whenever he thought he might get some actual work done in class, his mind would wander straight back to Kaiba's words and within an instant his face would be that dreaded shade of red that it had seemed to become so accustomed to lately.

He was finding it harder and harder to convince his friends that he really was all right; made more difficult by the fact that he really wasn't. Instead he decided that he would have to avoid them till he worked this whole thing out. Just what exactly he was meant to be working out, he wasn't entirely sure. He just knew that his opinion of Kaiba had drastically changed in the past two months and with it, his feelings.

He let out the breath he had been holding as he walked out into the cold winter air. With the exception of a few sports clubs practicing, the place was pretty much deserted, the rest of the students occupying the warmth of their classrooms or at the canteen eating their lunch. And while he would have much rather been following their example than out here, it was pretty hard to avoid his friends in their own classroom. So he found a place to eat his lunch alone and with a loud sigh sat down. This really sucked.

Every time he was around Kaiba he felt nervous. But not the kind of nervousness he felt when on one of his many adventures with Yugi and the others when there was the possibility of something supernatural or something just plain damn creepy happening. It was…he didn't know.

He'd felt it before. Maybe not as strongly as but he'd definitely experienced it before. He just couldn't remember where.

"This is so damn frustrating!" he cursed out loud, crushing the soda can in his hand. Just as he was about to throw it away in anger, he stopped suddenly as noticed the person standing over him.

"Jou-Jounouchi-kun?" It was the girl that Honda had pointed out to him the day before; the girl that he'd said had been watching him.

"Suzuhara?" Quickly he lowered his arm and stood up. "Ah, sorry," he said, letting the empty can drop to the ground.

"Are you alright?" the girl asked quietly.

"Huh? Oh, I'm fine!" he cried, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Oh, that's good," she replied, sounding genuinely relieved.

"So, uh, what can I do for you?" he asked, cutting straight to the point. He really wasn't in the mood for company.

"I-I was wondering if I could talk to you for a minute?" she stuttered nervously. "Tha-That is if you're not too busy!"

"Sure, that's um, not a problem." Okay, he really didn't want to talk but he also didn't want to come off as a jerk, especially when this girl for whatever reason seemed to have directly sought him out.

"Thank you!" she cried, sounding pleased. "I just…I just wanted to give you this!"

Bowing, she outstretched her arms. In her hands was what appeared to be an envelope. "Please take it! This letter contains all my thoughts and feelings for you, Jounouchi-kun!"

Katsuya just stood there blinking in disbelief. This girl, she was confessing her feelings for him?

"I…I've liked you for quite awhile, Jounouchi-kun. I wanted to tell you sooner. I was just so nervous and my friends told me that I shouldn't get involved with someone like you, but I told them that I know that you're a kind person! An-And yesterday, you caught me staring at you, and I was so worried, I didn't know what to do at first, but then I realised that I should say finally say something, so please take this," she exclaimed, pushing the letter towards him.

Shakily, he took it from her. "Suzuhara…" He paused and stared down at the envelope, a few love-hearts dotted around it. This was a love letter. This girl, she was confessing her love to him; this girl he knew as only a classmate, this girl he had never had a conversation with until right now. She was as nervous as hell, so much fear and anticipation on her face from finally admitting how she felt. The courage she must possess to pour her heart in such a letter. Katsuya, he felt so much admiration for her, but he…

"I can't accept this, Suzuhara-san." Her head snapped up, her eyes filled with shock as if she had just been slapped in the face. "I…I'm sorry, I really am."

"…Why? Why can't you accept it!?" she shouted suddenly, tears filling her eyes.

"It's not you, it's me, I swear! I'm in a really strange place just now and-"

"Do…Do you hate me?"

"What? No, it's…"

"You think I'm ugly, don't you? I know there are prettier girls in the class, but-"

"Suzuhara, that's not it!"

"I just wanted… I just wanted to… I'm sorry for bothering you!" She turned and started to run away, the letter still clasped in Katsuya's hand.

"Suzuhara! Wait!" He wanted to run after her; knew that he should. But what could he possibly say? He had just broken the poor girl's heart.

He stood there silently for a few minutes, allowing his mind to process the situation. Never had he felt as awful as he did at this moment. Lying to his friends, that was bad, but he just rejected this girl, and why? A couple of months ago he would have been absolutely thrilled if some girl came up to him and confessed her feelings to him. So, why the change? Was it his father's death? He wanted to say yes, but he knew that wasn't true. It still hurt like hell, yes, but slowly, day-by-day, he was getting over it.

No, it was something else, and for some goddamn reason, he couldn't figure out what it was.

He kicked the nearby bin over in anger. This, whatever it was, was tearing him apart.

********************************************************************

Suzuhara didn't return to class, and now at work, Katsuya could no longer pretend that everything was all right. He was distant and his co-workers realised rather quickly that something was wrong.

"Katsuya-kun, are you sure you're okay?" Arisa asked him for what must have been the twentieth time that day.

"I'm fine," he announced, loudly enough so the rest of the women could hear too. "I've just had a bad day, that's all."

"Is there anything I can do to help? You know I could-" Arisa stopped as she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Mitsuko stood there, shaking her head slightly. "Just let him be."

"But-"

"Mitsuko's right," Sei agreed, dumping a load of files on one of the desks. "If Katsuya-kun doesn't want our help, then there's really nothing we can do."

The redheaded girl gave a small nod. "I understand. I just feel bad, that's all."

"I know. But if you give it time, I'm sure Jounouchi-kun will be acting like his normal self in no time." said Mitsuko, giving her a reassuring smile. "Now, let's get back to work."

The office had a solemn atmosphere for the remainder of their shift. Sei didn't make any quirky remarks and try and tease Katsuya, Arisa didn't get excited and go on about her new favourite anime and why she loved it so much, and in return Mitsuko didn't have to tell her to shut up and get on with her work. Maya had been needed to take notes for some meeting for the finance department in the opposite side of the building, so they had barely seen her, and by the time they'd finished for the night, she still hadn't returned.

After bidding his workmates good night, he wandered over to Kaiba's office. Usually, he would wait outside for him, but it was currently pouring with rain and he couldn't be bothered getting soaked waiting for Kaiba to finally decide that he was finished for the night and they could go home.

He knocked on the door lightly and then walked in, not even waiting for Kaiba to tell him to enter.

"Give me five minutes, mutt," said Kaiba, not even glancing up from his work. How the hell Kaiba even knew it was him, Katsuya didn't know.

He moved over to one of the windows, the rain still thrashing down outside. Yawning, he stretched out his arms when suddenly something fell out of his pocket and on to the floor.

He bent down and picked it up to find it was the love letter that Suzuhara had written him; the letter he hadn't even read. He wasn't going to read it but at the same time just throwing it away seemed wrong.

As he stared down at it that wave of guilt he felt swirling about inside him just grew ten-fold. He remembered being jealous in middle school of all those guys who received love notes from cute girls. There was a girl he had liked in his final year, but being a gang member back then, he knew that there was no way she would ever like him back. Yet at one time he had been compelled to write his own letter to her. However, guys didn't do that sort of thing, and if word had gotten out then he would have been beaten and kicked out of his gang for sure.

He could still remember the way he felt every time he saw her; the fast pace of his heart beat, the churning of his stomach, the joy he felt whenever he got to be near her.

It was so long ago now and yet felt so familiar, as if he had only just felt it shortly ago. "I wonder if I'll ever feel that way about someone again," he thought to himself.

"Mutt, are you okay?" he heard Kaiba ask from his desk.

"Yeah, I'm fi-" He stopped mid-sentence feeling like he had just been punched in the gut as a realisation hit him with tremendous force.

The reason why his feelings for that girl felt so familiar, the reason he rejected Suzuhara Yuki…

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Kaiba. He had feelings for Kaiba.

"Mutt." He felt a hand on his shoulder and instantly spun around. Kaiba was behind him and instead of his usual smug expression there was concern.

"Kaiba…"

"What the hell's wrong with you?" Seto asked trying to sound annoyed in an attempt to mask the worry in his voice.

He liked Kaiba. He had feelings for Kaiba… It shouldn't have made any sense, but somehow it did. He was constantly blushing and he felt happy when the other teen was around. He'd missed being with his friends but somehow knowing that he'd get to spent time with Kaiba, it made things all right.

"I…I…" He couldn't get anything out. He hadn't a clue what the hell to say.

He jumped slightly as he felt both of Kaiba's hands grasp hold of his arms. "Jounouchi, what's wrong?" Anything Kaiba had been holding back before was now gone, and he sounded downright scared. "Are you feeling ill? Did something bad happen?"

Jounouchi…He had called him 'Jounouchi'. Not once had he ever called him directly by his name.

"Please tell me."

And he couldn't speak, couldn't say a single thing no matter how hard he tried and yet his body moved on his own and he found himself resting his hands on Kaiba's shoulders as he pushed himself up so that that their lips were touching.

He was kissing Kaiba.

The brunette's eyes were as wide as saucers and it would have been almost comical if not for the situation. Katsuya expected Kaiba to push him away any second now as the shock wore off and he realised what was happening. In fact, he was counting on it. But he didn't. Instead he could feel Kaiba kissing him back and it is him that is the one pulling away.

He put his hand over his mouth, and just like him, Kaiba appeared to be at a complete loss for words.

That's when he turned away; turned away and ran, leaving Kaiba standing there in the now-empty office.

Author's Notes: Finally a kiss! Again, I'm really sorry for the wait. I hope you enjoyed the chapter nonetheless. Constructive criticism and any advice on how I could improve are greatly appreciated! Thank you again to my awesome beta-reader Sapphy and to you guys for reading!