Puzzle Pieces

by serena.jones.585

Chapter 0, Piece 0: Preface "That? Oh, it's a puzzle, but the box is missing, so I'm not sure what the picture is." "Couldn't someone just put together and see?" "I suppose they could, but how? You'd pull out a handful of pieces, but you wouldn't know if they were sky or water or anything. There'd be no way to see how they relate. And you'd never know if a piece was missing."

27. Piece 07

Chapter 27, Piece 7 * * * * * * * *

Although it was another two hours to finish, it did go much faster with Jounouchi's help. And the manta ray feeding must have been exceptionally long because the others seemed to vanish.

Finally, Kaiba disconnected the last cord and closed the terminal's housing.

"I believe we are done," he said, satisfied. "Pick something at random. I want to be sure it's online. I can't tell you how often a second tech must go to a site because the first tech neglected to user test the system."

"Yeah, we had to pay for two service calls for cable one time 'cause the idiot didn't wire the jack he installed."

"Paid twice? You should have cancelled the contract and sued."

"Wasn't an option at the time," Jou chuckled. "I slashed his tires. He was stuck 'til midnight."

Kaiba considered it, then nodded. "Acceptable." He called up a hologram and watched a nurse shark swim around the room.

Jou smirked. "Not too thug life?"

The executive replied with a smirk of his own. "You forget. I wasn't always a shark. The best predators were once prey themselves. Now, I must go let the curator know I've finished. I presume you intend to find the rest of your pack?" He tried to sound nonchalant.

"Will you kill it with the 'dog' comments!" Jou snapped.

"Surely 'pack' is better than 'gang'." Kaiba looked irritated. "No harm was intended."

"Man, I cannot get a handle on you!" Jou shook his head. "One minute you're the ice prince, the next you're halfway human!"

"I'm not sure which of those I am meant to take offence from. Neither is complementary." He exhaled. "Regardless. I'm sure you have things to do." He nodded and headed for the administrative offices.

"Not really." Jou followed him. "The guys left like an hour ago." He showed his cell phone. "Text. I could catch up with them, but I figured after you were done, I'd tour this place on my own."

Kaiba studied at Jou for a moment as they rode the elevator. This might be his only opportunity to spend a day alone with the popular blond. "I was planning to tour the facility myself. I would understand completely, however, if you wished to be alone."

"I've never wished that in my life!" Jou grinned. "And for the record, 'half-human' is the complement."

"Is it?"

"Compared to other stuff I've called you? Oh yeah!"