A/N: OMG, you guys really hate L.V., don't you? I have been off work for so long! -runs from angry readers- Ahaha!!!

Warning: Shounen Ai, OOC, Mild Cursing and OC.

Disclaimer: You'd think the two would've been making out in Kaiba's jet by now.

Pairing(s): None (GASP!)

Story Notes:
1) -.-.-Page Break-.-.-

Courting the Dog
You Find Him

"Good morning, sunshine!" A warm voice greeted as sunlight had filled the room.

It was too warm and too cheerful—more than Anzu's share of happiness.

"What…?" Brown eyes slowly opened towards a smiling albino. "Ryou… what are you doing here?"

"We are here to visit you, silly!" Yugi beamed as he stepped into the blond's view, standing from the bedside opposite of the seemingly gleeful albino.

"Yeah, we care!" The brunette smiled.

Katsuya blinked as his lips slowly stretched into a smile that they haven't seen for quite sometime. The kind of sometime that had felt like forever…

"You're doing it again," The tri colored teen smiled back, his eyes shined as if he was seeing stars. "You're smiling!"

"Really," Jou asked as he sat up. "I thought I've been smiling all along."

"You were," Anzu replied as she stood in front of the blond's bed. "But not like the usual Jounouchi smile."

The Jounouchi smile… yeah, he has certainly seized to do that for the past days.

"Hey," Ryou started—his tone was grim as Jou looked onto him. "When do you get out?"

"Why so serious?"

Ryou was scary when serious…

Yet before the teen could even get an answer, the door slid open, revealing the flashes of random cameras that came with the media's voice.

Oh… that was the reason.

Damn, news travels faster and faster once you get involved with a certain CEO.

"Man," Otogi sighed as he stepped in, quickly shutting the door. "You visit blondie boy here and they all think you're his new lover."

"Huh?"

"Yeah, they kept bombarding us with random questions…" Yugi sweat dropped.

"Sorry about that…?" Jou snickered.

"Not your fault," The raven one shrugged as he neared the smallest. "Oh, by the way… some guy told the nurse to give you this… but she couldn't, so I will."

"What is it?" Blink.

"You'll see…" Grin.

The dice master reached out, meeting the blond's hand in mid air. Otogi's hand, facing downwards to Jou's opened palm, revealed a small dog (brown) carrying a sign that said: 'Live to bark another day.' It had hung on a thin yet strong pink string that was wrapped with glitters.

At that, they instantly knew who it came from, it was quite obvious.

And amusing…

"Kai—" Yet before Jou could even growl out his name, laughing ensued.

"That was just adorable!"

"Too cute!!!"

There was no stopping when his friends laughed, Katsuya knew this. And so, he did what he could only do. Pout. But as he did, a part of his hospital gown's neckline slipped, showing a silver chain resting on that bare skin that Jounouchi was born with.

"Jou, is that the dog tag Kaiba…" Yugi blinked. "Gave to you?"

No reply came.

"It is, isn't it?" Anzu followed with a small smile.

Again, the blond stayed silent.

"You do still love him!" The raven teen exclaimed as he hit the bottom of his fist onto his palm.

"Who said I ever stopped?" Katsuya mumbled, to only which Ryou had heard, earning him a knowing look from the said albino.

Yet before he could even utter a single word, the door decided to slide open—again, cameras and reporters were heard and seen as a brunet entered the premises. His smile was gentle and caring as he walked over towards Jou and his friends.

"Oh, didn't know you had company." L.V. greeted. "Anyways, it's quite a timing that you guys are here." A pause as the brown eyed teen's smile widened. "His release is today."

"Really?"

"Cool!"

"That's great" Were the words that had resounded through the room.

"Now, if only we can get those pesky people away." Yugi droned out.

"Don't worry," The brunet's smile had turned into a grin. "I'm sure Katsuya has a plan." Catching the blond's arched eyebrow, Cross nodded towards the group and turned to leave. "Now, if you excuse me… I have to take care of Kat's release papers."

"No—wait, L.V.! You don't have to…!" The blond reached out, grabbing a part of the called teen's shirt.

"I have to."

He needed to. It was for the last time.

"But I can take care of it!"

Dark brown eyes blinked towards the somewhat bewildered blond (he was too kind) as he slowly slipped out of Jou's hand. He left the room.

Ryou turned towards Jounouchi, sighing. "Do you like him?"

"L.V.? Uh, sure… he's a good guy."

"He didn't mean that!" Anzu piped in as she landed her hands on the bed with full force. She was pouting…

As did Yugi.

"What?" Jou questioned.

"She was talking about if you liked him in that way, dumbass!" At that, Otogi swatted the blond upside his head.

"Ow! Jackass!" The other winced. "And NO, I don't love-love him!"

Grins had, then, surrounded him.

"Then tell him already!" The only girl yelled. "You're gonna end up breaking him into little pieces you know!"

"I do… it's just that… he's done so much!"

"And you can only repay that by telling him the truth…" Yugi coaxed as he placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Then, maybe you can talk to Seto right after." Ryou's inquired, a knowing smile gracing all over him.

Jou looked down as he tightly held onto the blanket that had been covering him at all times. His eyes glazed and sad. His mouth formed a small frown.

"I'm… I can't… I'm afr—"

"You can't be scared!" Yugi and Ryou chorused. "A Jounouchi is never scared!"

Then came the sound of people screaming in agony, thus heads turned towards the door.

"Stupid mortals!" A familiar voice roared, pulling the door open. "Damnit!"

Everyone stared in horror as three men entered. Bakura, pissed. Yami, apathetic. Honda, somewhat disturbed.

"Did… he do what I think he did…?" Ryou managed to breathe out. "Please don't tell me—"

"I only maimed them… permanently!" Bakura grinned as he plopped down on an armchair by the door.

"…And you didn't stop him?" Yugi turned towards his darker half and the brunet that stood traumatized behind him.

"Couldn't."

"Didn't really want to." Both men ended simultaneously.

Everyone was shocked. Yami didn't stop him…

"'Kura, sleep on the couch."

"WHAT?!" The taller albino yelled as he unintentionally tossed something that had landed onto the blond's bed. "YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!"

Honey brown eyes blinked in the sight of a plastic of dog biscuits laying on the bed…

"…Bakura…" Jou's voice faltered as he held onto the cookies. "… Where… the hell did you get this?!"

The said albino scratched his head in defeat. "Priesty was around, but when he saw those damned people, he turned away, bumped into me and dropped this."

A low growl emitted from the blond's lips. But the anger for the gag present subsided as he felt his heart beating faster.

"JOU!" Yami called, snapping Katsuya out of his thoughts. "We've been calling you for the fifth time!"

"Sorry." Sheepish reply.

"Anyway, some dude sent this basket… of doggy treats…" Honda sweat dropped as he watched his best friend erupting…

Jounouchi Katsuya was pissed. Steam was clearly coming out of his ears.

"I think we should leave Jou alone for some rest!" Otogi beamed as he pushed the people out, towards the crowd of reporters (who seemed to have been untouched). "See ya' when you're out Jou!"

And they were gone, all of them, except for Ryou who chose to stay behind for a little while as he smiled towards Katsuya.

"Talk to them, okay?" The albino said as he gave Jounouchi a quick hug.

"Tell L.V. to find me." He whispered back as they let go, getting him a questioning nod from the other teen. "Bye."

With that, Ryou left.

-.-.-

The nurse slowly walked the halls of the hospital, knowing that her patient would've been safe. Passing through men and women with own dilemmas, she fixed a part of her hair. Patting her ebony locks to stay up, in full knowledge that she'd be going through a group of reporters, cameras and whatnots.

And of course, any normal person would love to look great on television.

"Hello." She greeted as she passed the media, slowly unlocking the room before them.

Jou's room.

But the suspense ended when she pushed the door open due to the shock that filled her veins. Her eyes widened, wishing this wasn't true.

The place was neat. Empty, as if no one had used it—and the hospital gown had been folded in the middle of the bed. The windows were slightly opened.

She screamed, catching everyone's attention. Even the blond's friends who sat on the couch near the room.

"Mister Jounouchi's gone?!" One reporter yelled.

"WHAT?!" Honda and Yami chorused as Bakura only laughed.

"How could this have happened…?" Yugi murmured as he slumped back down on his seat.

"Serenity's gonna kill us…" Otogi sighed as he stressfully sat beside the smallest teen while Anzu chose to fan the two.

Unbeknownst to them, Kaiba Seto had been listening from the darkest corner. His blue eyes had widened as he rushed to look for the blond.

Sure, he didn't know where to go… but he had to find Katsuya.

The CEO ran past L.V., who did not seem to fail in noticing the rush that the other brunet was in. The thin line on his face had soon stretched into a smirk as his brown eyes closed.

"L.V.!" Ryou called out, waving his hand towards Cross. A signal for him to come closer.

"What's up?" The brunet asked as he neared the smaller albino.
"Jou said to meet him, I don't know where," But sadly Ryou was cut off short as L.V. nodded and shrugged past the smaller one. "Though?"

The young albino's chocolate eyes could only watch as Cross vanished in sight. What did Jou get himself into…?

"What was that about?" Anzu asked as she sat up.

"Nothing much." Shrug.

-.-.-

Jounouchi, now in casual clothing, leaned onto the rooftop railings as he closed his eyes. God, it was great to be free from the spotlight!

The blond, then, stretched his arms—taking a mental note to never be that popular ever again.

"Ah!" He sighed.

Now, all he had to think about was telling L.V., the person who had nursed him and helped him all through out these circumstances, that his love was never gonna return.

"I knew you'd be here." Cross smiled, walking towards the blond.

Nod.

Nod.

Silence.

"Sorry." Jou started. "I… know you like me… that way… but—"

"—It's unrequited." L.V. deadpanned. "I know. I've always known."

Honey brown widened. "What? Then why did you stay…?"

The brunet shrugged as he looked at a very confused Jounouchi.

"You're cute, you know that?" Smile. "That was the exact same look I took notice of." A pause. "Anyway, I stayed because I wanted to."

He looked happy. But Katsuya knew it was all hoax as he noticed the loss of life within those dark brown orbs.

"I won't lie to you," The brunet started again. "It hurts. But even if I knew you loved Kaiba, even if I knew I had no particular chance… I was happy."

"L…"

"I was glad, that even if I wasn't your prince charming, I was your knight." A chuckle emitted from the brunet's lips. "Corny, isn't it?"

"…V."

The blond's hand had attempted to hold Cross for comfort. Sadly, before Jou could even blink, he was stuck in a headlock.

"Don't pity me!" L.V. yelled as he started to rub the blond mop.

And the noogying ensued. Jou laughed. L.V. laughed. Both teens were enjoying their moment as blue eyes that had hid behind the door closed in disappointment.

"Uncle, uncle, unnnncle!!!" The blond yelled as he wriggled away from the other's hold.

They separated.

"So… are we still on for Saturday…" Cross asked as Katsuya looked at him. "You know… as friends…"

The smaller teen merely smiled as Seto walked away. There was no answer yet, but he knew Jounouchi was going to agree to it.

He had to device a new plan.

-.-.-

Saturday.

Festival.

Kaiba Land.

Work.

Kaiba Corp.

CEO.

Kaiba Seto.

"You sure you don't wanna go down there?" Mokuba asked as he watched his brother type through the conversation. "I mean, it's gonna be great!"

"No." The CEO huffed for the umpteenth time. "I have work. Now you go and have fun with your girlfriend."

"Shizuka and I are not officially back yet, y'know." The raven child grinned. "But I'm working my way back in the game! You should too!"

And with that, Mokuba had left. Leaving Seto some time to think of ways on how to get the puppy's heart back. At first, kidnap came to mind… then blackmail… but then, he'd be bankrupt due to the cases that will be filed on his head.

"Damn." He hissed.

Desire sucked.

The brunet continued to look at files and documents, accidentally opening up a picture of him and Jou with their siblings when they still had a fake relationship.

Katsuya was happy.

Shizuka was happy.

Mokuba was happy.

He, himself, was happy.

Then it had hit him—"I'm an asshole."

"You just noticed?" An oddly familiar voice asked. "Where have you been for the last few years?!"

To Be Continued

A/N: Hah! That was long—to compensate for my lack of updates! XDD! Review!!

To the Artists:

Ooooh! If anyone is interested, can you guys draw a scene from this fic and send it to me? Or link? Why? Because this story is nearing it's end! So please, if you'd like… draw something of it! Ktnxbye!