A/N: Sorry that this is so short; I have been having writer's block adding more to it, and so I decided to end this chapter here. Feedback is always appreciated.
The soreness wouldn't go away as Jounouchi walked down the street, hands in his pockets. He whistled, trying to ignore the pain. It would do him no good to look like the doctor was right about him staying in the hospital longer. Besides, he didn't want to worry Yugi. Not again.
He was dressed in his best: long black pants paired with a white button-up shirt and a maroon tie. He stopped at a flower stand, introducting himself and talking with the owner, a paper application in his hand as he left. It was the same at the sushi bar another street over, and at the supermarket a few streets down from that.
He probably only had time for one, especially with his studies, but he needed the money. The dog's medical care had turned out to be quite expensive, and Jou was not about to let Yugi foot the whole bill - not when it was basically his fault they were connected to the dog in the first place. Not that Yugi saw it like that.
He sighed. He would help that dog out. On the way home, he carefully calculated his availability, from his hands-on mechanic classes to his existing part-time job delivering newspapers. A holdover from high school, it didn't take much time, but also didn't make him much money.
He reached their shared apartment and unlocked the door, setting them on the hook as he shut the door behind him. Yugi's set was gone, so he didn't bother calling as he kicked off his shoes and put them in the closet, undressing on the way to his room. He deposited the clothes he'd kicked off in the hamper in the hallway, lounging in just his boxers.
Once comfortable, he sat at their shared desk, moving "Ancient Cultures of the World" from it's place in the center to the top of a stack of books to the left. He grabbed a pen and began filling out the first application.
A few hours later, a key jiggled in the lock and Yugi's distinctive frame entered the threshold. Rustling sounded as plastic bags were dropped, and Jounouchi looked up at his boyfriend through the doorway to the room.
"Hey Yug', whatcha got there?" he asked.
Yugi opened a bag as explanation, displaying a new collar (it matched his own), a pair of dishes decorated with little bones, and a few chew toys. Jounouchi raised an eyebrow. "I had no idea you got your collar at a pet shop, I always assumed it came from someplace selling dungeon attire."
Yugi laughed. "I had this custom made," he explained, pointing at his neck. Jounouchi raised an eyebrow, and Yugi's laugh filled the room again. "That happened to match."
Jounouchi joined in Yugi's laughter. "So what are we going to call him?" he asked, still smiling.
Yugi shrugged. "He still reminds me of Seto..."
"But do yah think Kaiba'd really let us name a dog after him?" he pointed out. "Besides, dogs are trainable. He'll be fine soon enough."
"Well what do you suggest?" Yugi asked.
"I 'unno, something tough like Rex? Or I can tell he'll be big, maybe Bear?"
"Bear's a good one," Yugi agreed.
"So that," Jou finalized. Yugi took out a sharpie and added Bear's name to both dishes, smiling as he disappeared from the threshold to set them out. He returned, slowly unpacking a dog bed, cans of wet food, dry food, more toys, a leash, a harness... Jou stood and began helping to arrange the things in the small apartment. "Have you talked to Mr. Usami about adding Bear to the rent?" he asked after a few moments of working in silence.
Yugi shook his head. "Not yet. But there is a pet policy. We should be good."
Jou nodded and moved back to the desk, picking up his cell. "I'll call."
After a few moments, the manager finished quoting a rent increase of nearly $100 per month, starting as soon as the dog entered the apartment. They also had to increase their security deposit. Messy handwriting scrawled the information on a sheet of paper, but he knew that the dog would be out of his budget. Jou's stomach sank. The rent increase seemed tollerable but the increase in security deposit, though a one-time fee, was far more than Jou could currently afford.
Though he had been watching the numbers over Jou's shoulder, Yugi learned much more from the downcast brown eyes meeting his own. Silently, he plucked the receiver from Jou's hand before the other could refuse the offer. "Thank you," he told the landlord. "We'll have the money to you tomorrow."
As the call ended, Jou's wide eyes were met with a reassuring smile. "The game shop is doing well. I can cover it." The returning smile didn't meet Jou's eyes, though he did nod in acknowledgement. Silently he vowed he would find a way to pay Yugi back.
Yugi's smile didn't dissipate as he inched closer to Jou with open arms. "It'll be ok," he assured, hands sliding accross the small of Jou's bare back.
His muscles relaxed and he returned the warm embrace. "I know Yug'. It doesn't mean I have to like it."
Standing on tiptoes, Yugi leaned to peck Jou on the lips. "No, but it doesn't mean you can't accept it."
Jounouchi nodded. He would, after all, accept Yugi's help in adopting the newest member of their family.
