Kaiba had smiled slightly as he saw the puppy and his little friends running towards the helicopter, yelling for the brunette to wait up.

As if I would ever leave without Joey.

"Hurry up, then!" he had shouted, attempting to look pissed when, in reality, he was hiding a smile. He couldn't wait until they landed at home so he could finally have some alone time with his puppy. The brunette had frowned when Joey purposely avoided his gaze for the entire ride.

What's with him?

As Mokuba bid goodbye to the losers, Kaiba patiently waited for Joey to come up with some sort of excuse to stay behind. He didn't. He didn't even look at Kaiba as he said bye to Mokuba and left with the others. Kaiba's chest clenched. What was going on? They were perfectly fine before the tournament. Was it because Joey had witnessed the brunette lose three times in a row? Did he think less of Kaiba for failing to rescue his brother? Did he think Kaiba was pathetic?

"Big Brother, let's go home. Those jerks from Kaiba Corp need to be fired immediately," Mokuba whined and Kaiba nodded absentmindedly, calling a car for the two of them and asking the driver to get his cellphone as well. As soon as they entered the limo, he hastily turned the thing on. His eyes widened. Joey had called and texted him multiple times asking about his well-being. Kaiba smiled.

So, that's it?

He's acting strangely because I didn't answer him?

My puppy just needs reassurance, then.

I can work with that.

Kaiba hurriedly typed his response, not wanting this awkwardness to go on for too long.

/ I didn't have my phone at the time. /

/ I didn't mean to worry you. /

/ You fought amazingly in the tournament, puppy. /

/ I'll file in the request for your relative at the company as soon as I get there. /

As soon as he sent the final text, his phone buzzed with a reply. His heart sank as he read over Joey's words.

/ Yugi already helped me out, because that's what friends do. /

/ They aren't heartless pieces of trash like you. /

/ Have a nice life, moneybags. /

What?

What's going on?

What did I do?

Kaiba stared at the screen, wide-eyed, not knowing how to respond. He didn't want to seem pathetic or needy. He couldn't just ask what he did. That would imply that he cared too much. If Joey wanted to throw a tantrum over an unknown event, he can work it out himself then come crawling back. Seto Kaiba didn't have time for drama. He was foolish to think that Joey would never cause any.

"We're here."

Had Kaiba not been so upset, he would've known better than to enter his virtual games at this time. At that time, though, in that moment, he only had one thought in mind.

What did I do?

Kaiba thought he'd last longer before breaking down entirely. He had been fine-ish before the puppy came into his life. He could survive however long it took for Joey to hopefully come to his senses. He wouldn't beg. He couldn't, not when Joey was being distant. Right now, the blonde could possibly break the brunette entirely. Kaiba didn't want to give him a chance, but, now, it looked like he had no choice but to speak.

It was Saturday. Two weeks had passed since his puppy had stopped speaking to him. Joey didn't come on either Tuesday since they had gotten back. Kaiba was starting to get a bit lonely. Mokuba had noticed and suggested that they go to the movies so that his big brother would cheer up a bit. The brunette couldn't say no to Mokuba. They had agreed to spend one entire day a week together and Kaiba had promised that Mokuba could always pick what they did.

The brunette didn't feel like going this time, though. He hadn't felt like doing anything except work since he had gotten Joey's texts. He wanted to be left alone, with the one thing he could call an achievement: his company. Mokuba had to beg him to leave the office. Kaiba wasn't as bored as he thought he would be. It was kind of nice listening to his brother rant about the movies in such an excited manner. The brunette had been too distant with Mokuba for weeks. It wasn't his brother's fault that he couldn't keep his relationship going. He'd make it up to him.

Suddenly, though, Mokuba's wide smile disappeared and he looked visibly nervous.

"Big brother, I changed my mind. I think we should leave," Mokuba said quickly, physically trying to pull Kaiba out of the line. It was too late, though. The brunette had been looking around to figure out what upset his brother when he saw it. His puppy and that stupid Mai from the tournament were standing at the front of the line, locking their arms together and laughing about something while asking the employee for their tickets.

"Seto, come on," Mokuba continued to whine, trying to drag the brunette away. Kaiba realized he had been silent and staring at Joey and Mai for far too long. His left eye twitched in irritation. Why was she throwing herself all over him like that? Does he actually like her? How could he be interested in that?!

Does this mean he just doesn't care about me anymore?

Was I nothing but a fling to him?

The brunette shook his head, trying to stop this line of thinking. It did him no good and he shouldn't care, anyway.

"Hey Joey, isn't that Seto Kaiba? Shouldn't we go say hi? He's very big in the duelist community. Perhaps being friendly with him would help us get along," Kaiba heard the blonde girl say loudly to Joey. His puppy turned around and their eyes met for a split-second, before Joey looked away and shook his head at Mai, dragging her into the building.

"I'd rather give up dueling altogether than play nice with that jerk."

Seconds later, Kaiba immediately closed his mouth, which had been hanging open for a while, and willed his eye to stop twitching and his hands to stop shaking. He wouldn't break down there or then. This was Mokuba's day. Kaiba didn't want to ruin it with his own problems. The brunette flooded his brain with thoughts of work, charts, statistics, new designs, and anything that would keep his mind off what had just happened. It worked perfectly, as it always had. He finally looked down at Mokuba with a calm expression and shook his head.

"Unless you really want to leave, we aren't going anywhere, Mokuba. I told you I'd spend this day with you and I will," the brunette said, then leaned down and whispered in his brother's ear, "If you're saying this because you think his presence bothers me, rest assured, it doesn't."

Mokuba didn't seem convinced, but reluctantly agreed to stay. Kaiba stared at Joey and Mai as Mokuba stared at the screen. Mai leaned her head on the blonde's shoulder and held his hand tightly. Kaiba gritted his teeth. He didn't want anyone touching Joey like that, least of all her.

Have I really lost him forever?

If things weren't bad enough, Kaiba watched as the blonde's phone went off. He whispered something to Mai, and, suddenly, they both looked at each other very hungrily...and started to kiss. The brunette couldn't breathe.

"I'll be right back, Mokuba," Kaiba said with a calm tone and didn't wait for a response before walking quickly out of the place, making his way into the bathroom, and locking himself inside a stall.

He knew this was pathetic, that this shouldn't be happening to him. He shouldn't be surprised that Joey had found someone else. So many people in their school were interested in the blonde.

I need something sharp.

The brunette jerked at the thought. No. he wouldn't go down that road. He had been doing fine for weeks. One bad day won't make him go back. He still has a lot of accomplishments. Everything was fine. He had his company, his brother, and...not Joey.

Except I don't have Mokuba and my company.

I wouldn't have them without Yugi.

I couldn't even win one lousy duel to save them.

I was useless to him.

I promised I'd protect him.

I promised!

And I couldn't do a single thing.

And now my puppy can't even stand to be around me.

Who could blame him?

A single tear ran down the brunette's cheek, and he quickly wiped it away. He wouldn't cry. He couldn't. If he does, Mokuba will start pestering him, telling him to call Joey and make things right. Could he just do that? Would it not be too late?

No.

That would be pathetic.

Besides, he is with Mai.

He doesn't want me anymore.

With that thought, the CEO reached into his back pocket, retrieving his wallet. He always kept his prized possession inside of it. It was small enough not to be detected by any metal detector anywhere if it is accompanied by some coins. The brunette always felt at peace, knowing it was just within his reach, but that he also wouldn't use it.

He pulled it out and examined it. His heart sank. It had rusted. He could still use it, but he'd be risking a serious infection, one that would need medical assistance. The doctor wouldn't have to be a genius to figure out how Kaiba got the cut. He'd be found out. He was sure his medical personnel wouldn't say anything, but still...someone would know. That couldn't happen.

With a grunt, Kaiba threw the rusted razor into the toilet and flushed it. He couldn't tempt himself with it, not when the risks were so high. They were already bad enough without the razor being rusted. Kaiba had control. He'd never cut deep enough for serious injury, but keeping the cuts hidden was still a pain. He always wore long sleeves and a trench coat just in case. Maybe it's a good thing that the razor had rusted. He didn't need it. It would've been a mistake. What happened in the past didn't matter anymore. He had his brother and his company. He had lost Joey, but that wasn't so bad. It could've been worse. He could've lost all three of them.

I just wish I knew why…