Jou got out of bed aware of only two things: the annoying beeping from Kaiba's side of the bed and the uncomfortable pressure from his bladder. He staggered, bleary-eyed, to the bathroom and relieved one. The other stopped while he did so.

He wasn't sure whether his lower back or ass hurt more. "Hell of a night." He grinned to himself.

When he returned to the bed, Kaiba handed him two pills and a bottle of water. "We slept through a dose."

"We slept through a day. It's dinner time." Jou gestured to the clock. "I'm seriously hungry and ain't nothin' to eat in here but you."

"Correction. You've already devoured me. Have room service deliver something and let me die in peace." He flopped back on the bed, pulling over the covers.

Jou laughed and pulled the sheet off his grumpy partner. "Oh no! I am not spending this whole trip in bed!"

"Then what is the point of a vacation?" Kaiba pulled the sheet back.

"Ok, A, you could not possibly need that sheet 'cause it's 9,000 degrees in here. And B, do not tell me you came here to sleep the whole time."

"I don't know if you've noticed, but my normal schedule is exhausting. My average work day is between 16 and 20 hours long. And while I enjoy my time with you immensely, it doesn't leave me much time for rest. Therefore, for years, the policy has been that if I actually leave Japan for time off, I sleep."

"And the office calls you."

"No. Not after I say emergencies only. The last person who did had to move to North Korea to find another job."

"You mean South Korea."

"If I meant 'south', I'd have said 'south'." Kaiba stretched and winced. "I may as well get up; everything below my waist feels like it's been pummeled with a sledge hammer. But I assure you, if my phone rings again, it will be Mokuba, a genuine emergency, or someone will get fired."

"Don't freak out over it; no one needs to get fired. And don't blame me for your ass." Jou smirked as he opened the dresser and tossed his lover a pair of briefs. "I'm not the one with a portable rocket launcher."

"You don't need one. If you were any bigger, you'd likely kill me. I need to shower."

"Do you always whine when you're on vacation?" Jou kissed his nose. "It'd be cute if it weren't annoying as fuck. You smell like sweat and even if you shower now, by the time we get downstairs you'll smell like sweat again. Relax a bit." Jou pulled on a t-shirt. "And speaking of fuck, did I dream the cleaning crew fucking in the bathroom?"

"I'm afraid we both did." Kaiba buttoned his shirt and sighed. "I'd just as soon not get the manager any more perturbed than he already is, so I'm willing to overlook it."

"Translation," Jou grinned, "you don't want to acknowledge another Event."

"Do you?" Jou shrugged. "There. Settled. I cannot roll out of bed and into the public. I'm brushing my teeth and my hair, at least. We'll leave when you've done the same."

[Try not 2 sweat. Avoid naked ppl. Have fun but relax. No adrenaline. Pharm says 6hrs ok] the text from Kazuki read.

Jou laughed loudly. "Try not to sweat? That's a joke, right? He's trying to develop a sense of humor, 'cause that's a joke."

"Yes, well, he hasn't spent much time on beaches, so I don't believe he has any idea what he's suggesting." Kaiba opened his clock app and changed his reminder from twelve to six. "At least he gave us one bit of useful information."

"Yeah, well I hope there's no long term effect from this stuff."

"Darling, we hardly get a short term effect. We'll have to go back to the drawing board when we return. Perhaps an antiperspirant formula next."

"A whole body spray," Mai commented as she lowered herself carefully into a lounge chair beside them. "You two stink up the place, then half the rooms around us are up all night." She laughed. "The woman in the room above you? I overheard her at breakfast. The old guy that's with her hasn't needed his viagra since we got here. She's mad because they're scheduled to leave tomorrow."

"How you doing in this heat?" Jou asked, handing her a bottle of water.

"I'm fine! Geez! I won't melt if I come out in the sun for a minute. I'm wearing my sunscreen. I have my hat." Mai rolled her eyes. "You guys are worse than my mother!"

"Your mother had a difficult pregnancy. She's just trying to make yours smoother."

Jou and Mai both looked at Seto in shock.

"How do you know what kind of pregnancy my mother had?"

"I asked her."

"When? Since when do you even know who my mother is?"

"Since I learned that she would be the grandmother of my daughter. Family is very important."

"Family isn't always all that." Jou shook his head. "Trust me."

"You say that because you had one. I did not." Kaiba looked at both of them. "When my father died, the first place Mokuba and I were taken was to the home of a relative we had never met. Had never even heard of. We lost our real family and were placed with people who saw us as strangers long before the orphanage. My daughter, and your son, will never go through that. They will know their grandparents, their aunts and uncles, their extended family. All visits will be supervised at first of course, but as the children become more self-sufficient and after security has vetted other locations, I want them to experience Golden Week with their grandmother or christmas with the Mutuos. I fully intend to live a long and healthy life, but should anything happen to the four of us, these children will have family, and a place to belong. They will never have need to be sent off to strangers. They will have family who know them and value them."

"Oh my God." Mai wiped the tears from her cheeks. "That might be the sweetest thing I will ever hear in life."

"Because I want to stay here." Kaiba adjusted his sunglasses and leaned back. "This drink is pleasant, the shade makes the temperature perfect, the view is stunning, and there is no one else here." He sipped his drink and waved Jou away. "If you want to see some show, go."

"It's not a show." Jou picked up Kaiba's feet and dropped them on the sand. "It's a native dance class. It'll be fun. Fun is restful."

Kaiba looked up over the top of his glasses. "Is this going to be like the hula hoop contest yesterday?"

"Yup." Jou crossed his arms and grinned. "I will come back every five minutes until you get sick of me."

In truth, part of why Kaiba wanted to stay put was Jou. Dressed in loose swim trunks, a tight tank top, and hair dripping from sweat or swimming - Kaiba had given up on keeping track - even with a doubled suppressant, Kaiba was having trouble merely watching him. Watching him have fun so far had meant that others had caught the 'fall out'.

So far, it was a 50/50 split between guests who took the transfer offer and guests who'd stayed. After the manager explained the situation privately, the three families with young children took the transfer offer. It was Mutou's suggestion to send them to Disneyland Tokyo and the children were sold on the change. The manager had additionally diverted or re-scheduled guests who were anticipated over the next ten days or so. Also at KaibaCorp's expense. Dragon's Fire's sales were going to have to be stellar to justify the 'marketing storm' to the Board.

Most of the guests and staff were attributing the risque atmosphere to the Dragon's Fire promo that some genius in marketing sent with the products. The scent had arrived in the forms of perfume, after shave, lotion, and personal lubricant. A second crate contained promotional clothing. Daring swimsuits, tight t-shirts, translucent shorts, and a necklace for the not-so-inclined - all with the fire-breathing dragon logo - had been distributed and were being worn - or found - in many unusual locations.

Several couples had been chastised for inappropriate behavior in the central resort areas. A waiter and busboy - both straight men - had been found kissing each other when they vanished while serving a romantic dinner. The building the Kaiba's room was in was now being called the 'love boat' for the sheer number of 'Events' occurring in the halls or in rooms, involving both staff and guests, and not always between 'friends'. At least two of the Events Kaiba was aware of occurred between perfect strangers. But, so far, no 'harm' had been reported; no one was treating the incidents as anything more than adults misbehaving in a romantic setting.

'Area of Effect' seemed to be the largest difference between Katsuya's imbalance and Kaiba's. Katsuya was within his own area. He was as attracted to others as others were attracted to him. For Kaiba, it seemed that he was unaffected by his own pheromones and only attracted to Katsuya, while those around him were attracted to each other.

So the more Katsuya attracted Kaiba, the more people around them succumbed to the pheromones. The easiest way Kaiba had found to assert control was to not see Katsuya smiling, dancing, laughing, playing, swimming, half naked, wet, or anything other than calm and relaxed.

A native dance class was an Event waiting to happen.

Katsuya sat on the end of the lounge chair. "Seto, I give. It took you three days to get tired of me. I guess I should have just let you sleep, eh?" He hung his head. "I'm sorry."

This is going to be a disaster, Kaiba thought. He reached into his beach bag, pulled out his PheroPen, and injected himself. "It is amazing to me how often you misread my motives. I will try to get halfway through this, but do not blame me for any repercussions."

"Good morning, Mr. Kaiba." The manager smiled and nodded at Kaiba. "Ms. Mazaki. Mr. Kaiba." He blushed faintly as he greeted Jou. "Sirs, forgive me, but I wonder if I could impose on your time for a moment."

Anzu released the two men's arms. "I'm going on the garden tour. You two need to learn how to stay out of trouble." She laughed lightly as she walked away.

"Take some water with you," Kaiba ordered. She showed him a bottle from her bag as she walked and, satisfied, he turned his attention back to the manager. "Now, how may we help you?"

The man glanced around, a bit nervously.

"Should we do this in your office?" Jou suggested.

"NO!" He composed himself. "It's about...eh...your perfume. I was wondering if you - if you both - would refrain from using it while you enjoy the remainder of your stay with us."

Kaiba and Jou exchanged a look.

"Is there a problem?" Kaiba asked.

"A problem is perhaps too strong a word. A concern. It is quite an...alluring scent. Very strong...virile..." The manager pulled his eyes off Jou and physically turned toward Kaiba. "Many of our guests have remarked on the...odd...effect. Ordinarily, given the nature of this trial and your arrangement, I would not question such. However there have been a rather unsettling number of activities similar to the Event on your arrival. Yesterday afternoon's beach activities had to be cancelled because half of the Entertainment staff was fraternizing with the guests who attended the dance class with you. You should be aware that my staff and I are not known for such outrageous behavior."

"Indeed. The Aman would not have the reputation for superior service it has if you were known for such," Kaiba agreed. "But the other guests do not seem to have complaints."

"Dude, relax." Jou grinned easily. "We completely understand. You are not the kinda guy who jumps in bed with just anyone."

"In truth, I personally have never done that sort of thing. Before." The manager looked at Jou, blushed, and looked at a spot between the two men. "That may well be a conversation for another time. In short, sir, the fragrance is most disruptive, and I would take it as a personal favor if you would cease tempting me with it. Good day, gentlemen." He nodded and abruptly strode toward the front desk.

"I don't get it," Jou chuckled. "Must be his personality."

Kaiba looked surprised. "I thought it was a fluke! Are you actually attracted to him?"

"Physically? Nah. But he's got a great smile. And tell me you didn't have fun! He reminds me of an older, taller, pudger Yugi with normal hair."

"I see no such similarity." Kaiba frowned. "I think Jouji may have done more damage than we thought."

"Aw, come on! Looks aren't everything!"

"Of course not. Proper breeding and education matter."

"So why are you with me? You even said I was a dumb mutt."

"I haven't the faintest idea." Kaiba shrugged. "I must have been drugged."

"Oh really?" Jou took a step and backed Kaiba against a wall. "How's that perfect man you were tryin' to build?"

"Still in the research stages."

"Is this normal flirting or do we need to fumigate the place?" Honda asked.

"If you can ask that question, it's normal," Yugi answered. "If you think you want to join them, that's when you get the hose." He grabbed Jou and Honda's arms. "Either way, come on! We've got just enough time for breakfast before the glass bottom boat goes out." The short man dragged his friends toward the buffet. "Then I want to go windsurfing, and then..."

"I'm not sure how I feel about that rescue," Kaiba said, amused.

"Yugi wanted to spend some time with them." Yami smiled fondly. "And I wanted a day of quiet."

The three men looked at each other.

"Spa?" Otogi offered.

Kaiba looked at his phone. "They should be open now. I'll see if we can get in."

"Ok, don't take this the wrong way, 'cause I'm not trying to y'know, -"

"All three of them look pretty sexy," Yugi finished for Honda. "Atemu must have gotten a haircut; I can see the back of his neck from here."

"Yeah, we got seriously lucky. We hooked up with the hottest guys in the joint!" Jou laughed.

The three friends watched their lovers at the outdoor spa and gym from the rooftop sports bar where they'd found a TV airing a basketball game. The three grabbed a few beers and a few bowls of fried shrimp, and enjoyed both views.

"Back in the day, if anyone had said we'd be hanging out in a place like this..." Jou shook his head, laughing.

"You mean you wouldn't believe we'd all marry millionaires?" Yugi laughed as well. "Yeah, even Grandpa, would have called that a long shot."

"To Grandpa." Honda raised his beer. "Hell of a guy. Sorry he missed this." They all toasted and drank.

"Ok, Hiro, when are you gonna cave, and just adopt 'Togi?" Jou asked. "Cause you're all but married now."

Honda shrugged. "As soon as he'll let me. I've already asked. He won't change his name."

"Of course not!" Yugi looked confused. "He's the only son. I mean, he doesn't even have any cousins. He can't leave his family and...oh." Yugi frowned. "You don't want anyone to think you're the 'girl', do you? He did ask, right?"

Honda harrumphed and looked back at the game.

"Wait!" Jou put his own drink down. "Dude, tell me that's not it."

"It's not about who's the girl. I just, y'know... I have a family name, too. I don't want it lost or -"

"Really? 'Honda'? And not the rich ones. It's one of the top five most common names in Japan!" Yugi pointed out.

"So why aren't you..." Honda paused to think. "What is Yami's family name, anyway?"

"It's long, and complicated and doesn't really translate. And even in Egypt, no one uses names like his any more. Atemu took my name because we have to stay in Japan and it was easier for him to become a citizen that way."

"Have to stay?" Honda asked. "Why have to?"

"Cause Yami has too much gold for Egypt not to start asking questions," Jou snarked.

Yugi looked embarrassed but didn't avoid the issue. "Gold coins are easier to sell when your grandfather was a well known archeologist, but yes, the Egyptian government started asking questions with answers no sane person would believe. And don't think you can change the subject. Give me one good - as in valid, non-ego based - one good reason you aren't Otogi Hiroto."

Honda scowled and stared out the window.

"No brainer for me." Jou grinned. "I jumped when Kaiba handed me the form. Can't complain about the money, he's a total fox, and the sex -"

"WE KNOW!" Yugi and Honda cut him off.

"Ok, right," Jou chuckled. "But none of that matters. He can be a jackass, but I love him. I didn't think he wanted to marry me."

"You never do see the obvious." Yugi grinned. "If you had asked him in high school, he'd be Jounouchi Seto now."

"Ha! Yeah, right! He wasn't gonna marry a guy he called 'dog' - when he noticed me at all."

"We were in high school, but you were his elementary-school-level crush." Yugi shrugged. "He acted like most elementary school kids. He teased you, called you names, picked fights, anything to keep your attention on him."

"Yeah? Tell me more, Dr. Freud. Would have been helpful if you'd told me back then."

"I'd have had to tell you about Atemu - he's the one who actually realized what Kaiba was doing - and I wasn't ready yet." Yugi blushed slightly. "I had kind of a crush on you at the time, so I was pretty jealous of Kaiba-kun. But I knew I could never compete with him outside the arena. By the time I finally had to tell you guys about Atemu, there was too much going on."

Jou took a swallow of beer. "Ok, truth? Back then, if I'd known you were interested, yeah, totally, I would have gone out with you. Either one of you. I mean, none of us were friends like that. With benefits, and all. And I don't think we would have crossed that line if it wasn't for me and my 'problem'. But, well, I'm kinda glad we did. I mean, I love you guys."

"Excuse me, miss?" Honda flagged down the waitress. "Three waters." He rolled his eyes at his friends. "You get sentimental, he gets gooey, and Togi's over there doing yoga. Hanging out with you must be rubbing off on me, because I need a pill. And if I need one, you need one."

"Wooooowww." Yugi looked out of the spa-view window. "I had no idea how flexible Ryuji-kun was. That must be interesting when he -" Yugi stopped abruptly. He pulled a pill case from his pocket, swallowed two, and chased them down with the last of his beer. "Kaiba-kun needs a bigger swimsuit."

Jou swallowed his own pill before looking out the window. "He's always wearing a cover up, so how could you - whoa! Yeah. I'll tell him to go a size up. Damn!"

"Are they sparing?" Honda turned his chair to face the window. "'Togi always wants to, but I fight old school. Punch crap 'til it falls down. I don't do the martial arts fancy stuff."

"I've been taking a couple classes," Jou remarked as he moved his chair beside Honda's. "It's all form and focus. I mean, yeah, you can do some serious damage once you get the fancy parts down, but it's a whole lot easier to just pop a guy in the face a couple times."

"Atemu has been doing jiu jitsu for a couple years now." Yugi commented. "Wow! Ryuji-kun is really good!"

"Kaiba, too. I guess he gets out of that office more than he admits."

"He's got a trainer that comes in. I guess I should sit in on it once in a while. Ow! That had to hurt."

"That hurt from here! But he recovered well."

"Being short has an occasional advantage."

"For him, not you."

"Hey!"

They ordered another round of beers and watched the 'match'.

"Chick's got a nice ass," an unfamiliar voice said.

The three friends looked behind themselves. Several of the bar's patrons had joined them and were watching the impromptu spar rather than the game on TV.

"Which chick?" Honda asked in English, eyes narrow.

"Black hair." An American gestured with his beer bottle toward Otogi. "On the left of the flat chested brunette. Not that I'd say 'no' to any of them, right? This place is loaded with quick lays, y'know?"

"That brunette is my husband, dude," Jou said, standing.

"Are you calling me gay?" His friends tried to pull him back, but the man seemed intent on causing trouble.

"No." Jou tried to keep his voice calm. The old days were a long time ago, and he was too old to act like a high school punk. "I'm calling him gay."

"Get your eyes checked," Honda scoffed. "They're all guys."

"What the fuck!"

"Oh damn!" One of his friends took a more attentive look. "The topless one's got a package!"

"What!"

The other Americans laughed, but the one who started it seemed to get angrier. "What the fuck! You wanna make a fool of me?"

"I don't think we need to," Yugi commented in Japanese.

"What?! What was that, shrimp? You got something to say, say it!" He lurched at Yugi, who moved quickly out of reach.

"He's had a couple," one of the Americans told Honda. "We'll get him back to the room."

"Yeah." Honda nodded.

"What'd you say, bitch!"

Yugi tilted his head, curious. He switched to English. "I said," his voice light but clear, and unmistakably male. "That we didn't need to make a fool of you. You are doing a fine job of it on your own. And you may need to get your eyes checked. I may play the 'girl' in bed, but no one has ever mistaken me for a bitch."

"Oh, shit!" Jou, Honda and the American group swore in three languages, but the problem was solved before any of them could move.

The angry man dove at Yugi who again evaded. He somehow managed to redirect his attacker over his head and into the nearest wall. The drunk went down and stayed there.

"Brad!" One of the Americans began speaking rapidly in Spanish, while he helped gather their friend.

"Sorry!" Someone yelled out as they carried him from the bar.

"Slick move, Yugi!" Honda grinned at his friend. "I was sure we were taking you to the clinic!"

"I'm not sure we aren't!" The diminutive man panted. He had one hand on his chest and the other on a nearby chair. "I'm gonna have a heart attack. That's the first fight I've ever been in that I won!" He had a confused frown. "I did win that, right?"

Honda and Jou both laughed as they helped him sit.

"That wasn't so much a fight," Honda signaled the waitress for three more beers, "as a trashing!"

"You get used to it." Jou grinned.

"Oh no!" Yugi adamantly shook his head. "No more for me!"

"So when did you start, what was that, judo?"

"Yeah. Atemu insisted. He said if I wasn't going to learn offence, I needed better defense." He looked toward the door. "But I hope he's ok. I meant to hit the window, not the wall!"

"You wanted to break the window?" Honda asked.

"Not break it, of course not! I just thought it would hurt less."

"Oh, yeah," Jou agreed. "Much less, since it's open."

"Open?" Yugi looked over and dread filled his expression. "I tried to throw him out a third floor window! Oh my goodness! He could have been killed!"

"Yugi!" Honda laughed. "Calm down. You didn't try to kill him." He kissed his friend's lips softly. "You were just protecting yourself from some drunk who attacked you."

"But..."

"It's ok, Yug." Jou moved closer on the other side and kissed the man as well. "You did good. It was pretty badass, too."

"It was?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, yeah," Honda echoed.

"Oh...uh...we..."