High in Calcium

by Inuki Ookami

Seto Kaiba x Joey Yaoi Shounenai: Joey and Seto get into yet another fight, and things turn a bit weird. Can they find a way to get along, and admit their feelings for each other? All jampacked in with a smidgen of action and a fair bit of angst.

4. Part I 3: Fat

High in Calcium

Published: 18th May 2003
Pairings: Seto x Joey
Disclaimers: Yu-Gi-Oh obviously isn't mine, but this fanfiction is.
Archive? What? You're serious? Sure! Just tell me first! ^^
Summary: You usual Seto x Joey fanfic, with my own twist- 'cause I can't bear the overused general stuff. ^_^;; (If you wanna ignore my random rambling, just scroll down to the chapter title, that's where the story begins)

Special Contest: I'm going to write a fanfiction or do a fanart oekaki for the first person who can correctly identify where I get my chapter titles / section titles from (also where the title of the story comes from), but you'll have to be specific as to what type of a thing it is, and what variation. I'll give the answer at the end of the very last chapter when I finish the story- if nobody figures it out. If ya do just e-mail me or throw up your answer on the "review" section. I'll do a fanart or fanfiction for whatever you request- any genre of things, real stuff, anime, et cetera, and any plot ya want, or any coupling, or whatever. I'm pretty open as long as I sorta know the series. ^_^

Contest Updates:

phwee? yami hobo: nope. Not chocolate
kitsune hashiba: nope. Not whipped cream or ice cream- though they *do* taste good. ^_^;;
Good guesses though...

Both Neko-chan and Jantra guessed Yogurt. They were right; however, neither specific what flavour of yogurt.. so I'm still looking for a winner. Any takers? Just guess the flavour..

Other notes: Yes, I did write really quickly- and I'm not even really going to proofread this chapter. Why? Because I want to put it up as quickly as I can, mainly because I have to go now, but secondly because I don't want to change the emotion I packed in. I really am quite fond of this chapter- I really wasn't liking the story much until this point. Generally I'm a plot-based writer, but in this case I know the characters better than what I wanted to do with them, so I decided to let them lead me. Usually I know when to throw in lots of intense angst and emotion- but since I was character-writing instead of plot-writing I was a bit unsure. When I write, plot is the second most important thing to me. The most important thing is emotion, and the portrayal of it. In my opinion, this chapter really gets that emotion across... I am quite happy with it. ^_^

And as far as chapters go, I would like you to know, there is a rationality to the chapters- just in case you didn't get it. Prologue: Nutritional Information was referring to the information on the health chart thingie on my yogurt container, so I used to to reference to the opening of the story... the introduction basically. Energy was supposed to be a reference to Joey's bursts of energy in Chapter 1.1, and Protein in Chapter 1.2, well, someone told me blood has protein in it. ^_^;; As for fat in this chapter? This is a pretty "bulky" chapter, it's definitely the lengthiest one I've written for this fanficcie so far... sooo.. there's your explanation. Sorry if it's such a crappy one. M'whaha.

Again, feel free to drop me an e-mail or a review any time. I am very pleased with all the responses I have. I am so happy people are enjoying reading this and I feel very honoured and humbled by all of you!

Quotation of the Day: "In your dreams, magical thoughts. All things are real, Unless you dream they're not. In your dreams, Love is the plot, Carried on wings of hope. Each of our souls Intertwine, as we do. Instantly we see it, The time to grow and be it, When everything is pinned on a hope. May rise the dreams of your heart, That innocent youth, Careless and kind, Free to roam the breeze in love, Only when two brilliantly shine as one." - Opening Theme (From Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete)

Responses to Reviews:

Lucifer's Son: Where's my cookie dammit? ;;;;;;;; **Evil grin**

Um. Thank-you very much to everyone who spent time reviewing or commenting on this fanfiction! I don't have time to list all your names.. o.O;; I'll try and post them if I get time when I put up the next chapter. -^_-;;;

1.3: Fat

Because you're not so smart it brings you down,
And the things people say hurt you awfully.
But you're still always so understanding and kind,
Yet you still weep because you feel you're unwanted.
And I wish that I could help you

"Big brother! Can we talk now?" Cried the glorious voice of my saviour. My saviour, at the moment, happened to be a bratty little kid with dark hair that was banging loudly on the door with his annoying voice. And I loved him for it. I was saved by the knock! For the time being, anyway. Kaiba was distracted, and looked caught between the door and me. He stared at the door for a second, then shot my a dirty look, pointing a reprimanding finger at me, trying to signal at me not to move. That was okay, I didn't plan on listening to him anyway.

Kaiba strode toward the door to greet his brother, and opened it just a crack. I rushed toward him, hoping to burst past, but in an instant he had slipped himself through the door before his younger brother could even see me, and clicked it locked. I reached the door, skidding to a stop, and grabbed the knob, turning it violently. Damn it! Damn him! I banged on the door, and began hollering, but I guess Kaiba already had escorted his brother down the hall and they couldn't hear me. I sighed, realizing it was futile to try and get through the door. I looked around for a clock to see the time, luckily it was a Saturday, so there wasn't any school that I was missing. I didn't see a clock, and looked around for an escape. I remembered the bathroom that I hadn't been into yet, and rushed toward the curtains, drawing them back.

I entered the bathroom, and an array of new scents greeted me. It smelled of soap, and cleanliness. The place didn't smell very much like Kaiba. Not that I should know what Kaiba smelled like... but I did. I threw that thought to the back of my mind for the moment, because I knew that if I wanted to escape I would have to do it right then, whilst Kaiba was busy dealing with his brother. I didn't know exactly how long they'd be gone, but I was sure that Kaiba was going to be back soon for me, from the looks of it, unless some sort of emergency arose, which I doubted highly.

I looked around the clean white bathroom, only seeing a few towels. There was no way I could tie those together and throw them out the window to escape- but the window was open in the bathroom! And it wasn't too high for me to climb out of. Immediately I sped to it, and looked out. Or rather, I looked down. It was quite a long ways down, as well. It wasn't impossible- but it had to have been a good three stories. If there was a drainpipe I probably could have shimmied down it without hesitation, but seeing as it was flat and smooth it looked almost impossible without some sort of a rope. With a sigh I wondered if I shouldn't just try jumping. It wouldn't hurt *that* much. I doubted I would even break a bone, what, with that soft grassy carpet below that could cushion the impact? I took one more look out the window. Umm... maybe jumping wasn't such a good idea after all. It did look mighty steep.

I pondered over tying the bed sheets together to make a hasty escape out the window, the bedroom to do so. Working efficiently I began tying them together, and dragging the man-made rope of white cloth to the window. I tied one end to the sink faucet, and threw the other end out the window, and stuck one foot over the edge. I inhaled heavily, and tugged on the rope, seeing if it would hold my weight. It seemed like it would. Suddenly I heard a noise in the room. Shit! Kaiba was coming back! Suddenly I heard footsteps, and I began to work even faster, pulling my other leg over, and slowly levering my body out the window as well. As I tried to move down, I realized I was stuck. Something had my arm. A hand had grasped onto my arm, and was tugging me back up. I struggled and tried to pull away, but it was no use. I was being slowly pulled back into the bathroom.

I tugged and protested, but it did no good, because Kaiba pulled me back in, and tossed me onto the floor. He slammed the window shut, and did not look very happy. Then again, he didn't exactly look angry either. He just looked... displeased. Kaiba's facial expression never did seem to vary too immensely. He always retained that solemn, smug, boastful look. He towered over my crumpled form, and I glared at him, feeling my lower lip quiver. I was afraid of what he was going to do to me, but I was too scared to let him know I was afraid. I refused to show any sign of my fear.

"I see you are upset with my hospitality so far, Wheeler? Do not worry. You'll get what is coming to you." He smiled sadistically. My stomach churned at that, and I recoiled in loathing and fear. I had been so close to escape... but wait! Maybe there was another way out? A light bulb flashed, and suddenly a new thought came into my head. I knew lying and saying he was better than me or whatever wasn't really what he was after. So what was it that he wanted from me exactly? This was going far beyond a simple vengeance trip- he had made it personal.

"Fine Kaiba, you win. What do you want?" I sighed, trying to sound tired and ashamed. Kaiba looked confused for a second, because his face was a wash of different shades of emotion. Finally he decided to take me seriously, and smiled menacingly. Because he was getting what he wanted. Because he was Seto Kaiba, and he got everything that he wanted. Yeah? Well, he wasn't going to have his bloodthirsty lust to torture me! I wasn't about to let him. I'd fight him to the end, I wasn't about to give up any time soon! I believed in things stronger than vengeance- I fought for my friends, and for the bond that united us. I fought for what was right, and what I felt in my heart. I was going to continue fighting for all I was worth, until I was totally spent, and there was nothing that some stupid punk who thought he was better than me was going to be able to say or do about it.

"Is something wrong Wheeler? Or are you finally willing to admit the truth? That you're a pathetic dog and that I'm far above you? Face it, mutt, you were never a match for me." His eyes shifted over my body. He believed me! It was working! I guess he had thought it over for a second, and figured I was too stupid to lie. Oh, how wrong he was. Well, he'd learn his lesson. I sat there looking up at him with the biggest, most innocent eyes I could muster. Internally I felt like gagging. Sucking up to Kaiba was worse than sucking up to a teacher! It in and of itself was pretty damn degrading... but I had to do what I had to do. I wasn't going to be a part of the brown-haired boy's sick game anymore. It was time for me to get out.

"What do I want? Mmm... everything and nothing." He reached a hand down to me. That was just like Kaiba, to be mysterious and indecisive. I accepted his hand graciously, and heaved myself upward. Suddenly I pretended to be tired and weak, and collapsed onto him. He led me slowly out of the bathroom, and stood there for a moment supporting me. He gazed into my eyes- as if searching for something. He looked at me, with those cold eyes that could see through you- see deeply into my soul. I felt my throat grow tight, my mouth went dry, and something inside me felt so empty- like there was a big gaping hole in it.

Kaiba said nothing, but continued to look at me, slowly reaching a hand up to my hair to stroke it. I resisted the urge to shudder as he ran his hand through my hair. Not because I was disgusted, just because his touch was like ice against my body. His other hand lazily ran itself down my back. I had no idea what he was doing exactly, and I didn't care to, either. He seemed to be enjoying his little power trip for the time being- thinking I had finally given in to him, realizing there was no way out. Little did he know, he was so very wrong. Little did he realize, he must have been so caught up in the moment, that my hands were doing a little "exploring" of their own.

I reached my hand down his back easily, while I slipped the other one around his waist. I began to slide the first hand down... further until I reached his back pocket. As I leaned my head over his shoulder, I could see the glint of something. It was the key! I just... had to reach... a little more! I stretched my hand down, and caught the chain of keys between two of my fingers! I had the keys! Now, I just had to pull it up slowly. It was no easy task, and they immediately slipped out of my grasp, luckily Kaiba hadn't noticed. He was too infatuated with his sick-o power trip.

I groaned softly as I lost my grip on the keys, and Kaiba must have taken that as some other meaning, because his soft hands began to turn a bit rougher. For a second I totally lost my concentration at the brunette's hold on me, and realized that what he was doing... felt... good. Gah! I shook that thought off, and began to work on reaching for the keys again. In my head I was sort of laughing at the situation. Imagine what it would have looked like if someone had come in on us! He had his hands around me, and was softly caressing my back, and there I was, with my hand in his back pocket, intensely searching. It was a funny, and sick situation at the same time. And that's what laughter is for, I guess. We laugh when something is so inconceivably awful that we can't cry. We laugh at other's ailments- and at our own. We are unable to cope with non-stop grief, so instead we turn it into a happy situation. Except in my case, I wasn't the least bit happy.

Finally I managed to intertwine my fingers with the set of keys, and slowly pulled them upward, clenching my hand into a fist. I slowly managed to draw back, leading Kaiba toward the door. He forcefully pinned me to the door, and gazed deep into my eyes. I cowered slightly, playing the role that I should be perfectly. Meanwhile, behind my back, my hand was fidgeting with the key, finally finding the lock, and sliding it in. Kaiba gave a gasp as I slid the door open, and stepped through the open doorway, leaning against the wall with hand, and the open door with the other. He gave me a cold look.

"Good-bye, Kaiba." I whispered through clenched teeth, and we stood there in silence like that for a moment or two. He leaned in toward me, so that our bodies nearly met, but I drew back, startled. I dropped the keys, and he reacted quickly, but so did I. I turned and fled, unable to even look back. As I escaped down the hallway, my heart was beating a mile-a-minute. His eyes- Oh god. I had seen betrayal in those eyes. I had lied- I had betrayed him. He looked almost sad, even though he refused to show it. Somehow, I had outwitted Seto Kaiba, himself. *The* Seto Kaiba. The same kid who was a CEO; the same kid that dragged a briefcase and a laptop to school; the same kid that boasted constantly about how much better than me he was. So why did I feel so awful? I closed my eyes as I ran, feeling the tears emerging in my eyes. I held a hand up, to wipe them away, and skidded to a stop, screeching recklessly around the corner, nearly knocking a table over with an expensive-looking vase on it in my wake.

I flew down the massive and elaborately designed staircase when I reached it, even though I was extremely tempted to slide down the banister. Instead, I hopped down the steps, three, four, five at a time. Finally, with a triumphant burst I had unlocked the front door, and was outside. I took a deep breath at the cool summer air, and ran to the fence that surrounded the mansion. It was relatively tall, but I knew I could climb it easily. I had been a street kid, for a while, of course. I knew how to hop a fence pretty easily, since I had been a gang member for a while and whatnot. Ya know how it is- getting chased down by other gangs, or the cops or whatever. Well, when I was alone and recognized or whatever. Those chase scenes really aren't quite as glamorous as they seem to be in the movies- but that's a different story. I had catapulted myself over the fence, and was on the other side, panting heavily. I had escaped, an in one piece nonetheless. And without a scar- well, there was that wound from Kaiba. I shuddered, remembering that, but it was already pretty well clotted, and it hadn't been a big cut anyway, so the scab was already forming overtop. It's not like I was one to faint at the site of blood- then again, I didn't exactly derive pleasure from wounding people or nothin'.

It was Monday when I went back to school, almost fully recovered mentally from Kaiba's attacks. I had sorted things out with my friends, who had been worried about me, and patched things up a little with my father. He seemed mostly worried about me as well, if not a little angry. I had a little trouble explaining what happened. I basically said I had slept over at a friend's house or something like that because of some emergency that happened to their family I couldn't get a ride back, or some lie like that to my father when he asked. As for my friends? I told them the truth, but simplified it a lot, and didn't dare go into detail. I just said Kaiba dragged me off to his mansion like the lunatic he was, and bruised me up a bit, but I got him back and escaped. I didn't bother to mention that he bit me in the chest, or that he had toyed with me ridiculously... or that we had slept together. Not like that! Okay? Yeesh. Why did I keep thinking it sounded like I had slept *with* Kaiba? It was just the way it sounded. I'd just have to be more careful 'bout how I worded stuff, I guess.

When I went back to school on Monday, things were the same. Same old Yugi and Tristan and Tea and Bakura- after they all had gotten over me being okay and expressed their worry more than they had on the phone. There were a lot of anti-Kaiba feelings flowing, especially through Tristan. Yugi looked awfully confused, and Tea didn't seem to have much of a comment on the situation. I think she was mostly just happy that we were all able to be friends still and hang out normally, and that everything was okay with me. And Bakura kept his views pretty quiet, as usual.

School was the same, boring old thing like always. Unchanging, pedestrian, unsanitary, dull. Classes put me to sleep. The only okay time was lunch hour. Everything seemed normal, until I saw Kaiba in the same spot as usual. Only he didn't say anything. No insults. No snide remarks. He was totally silent. Just staring. Just looking at me- with those eyes. Full of hidden truths that remained unlocked. Full of sober thoughts I might never be able to understand, even if I ever cared to try. Whatever he was thinking... it seemed beyond my comprehension.

Kaiba wasn't looking for me after school that day. He headed straight for his limo, opened the door, and was about to get in, when I came bounding up. He totally ignored me. Nobody ignores Joey Wheeler that easily! What the hell was he doing, mad at me? Who the hell did he think he was, anyway? He had no right. He was acting like a spoiled child, just because he didn't get his own way. Just because he was Seto Kaiba. He had his own damn way long enough. He thought that he was always going to get everything that he wanted- and I felt that it was I who would have to teach him such a valuable lesson.

"Kaiba." I stated. He stopped getting in. He turned his head to look at me, raising an eyebrow slowly. I grabbed his arm and pulled him gently away from the limo. He was standing in front of me, giving me his full attention. Now... I was going to have to say something. It was my turn to be sincere and honest with Kaiba. If I had learned anything from Yugi about friendship and teaching immoral people lessons, I had figured out that you had to know how to deal with them properly. Obviously I couldn't win Kaiba over with rash words or insults. So I'd just have to try and be kind... and understanding. As sick as it made me feel- trying to be nice to the jerk, I figured it was the only real way. I had spent long enough fighting with him- it already seemed like forever. I wanted things just to be resolved already.

"I don't have time for this, mutt. I'm late for a very important business meeting." He sneered, looking at his watch, casually, and motioning toward his briefcase as though I were an utter moron. Well, at least Kaiba was back to his old self. Then again, it wasn't like he'd changed that much over the weekend. I'd just seen a few sides of him I didn't bother to think he had. How cruel he could be. Or how compassionate. He just didn't showcase his emotions very often- that was all.

"Cut the crap, Kaiba. Look... about last weekend-" He cut me off with a hard punch in the face. All that emotion in him must have caused a rise. I had no clue what he was feeling toward me, but I did know that it had caused him to snap just then. Something I had said must have triggered it. If only I was able to understand he was thinking! It wasn't so much the punch that had hurt, (even though it did sting pretty badly), but rather the emotion that had been dragged along with it. Emotions I couldn't even figure out. Emotions he had thrown at me for some unknown reason. Look at me! I was just some average kid. So why the hell did he have to give me all this grief?

"Snivelling dog. You don't even deserve to live. You're lucky I haven't put you out of your misery... yet." He snarled violently as I tried to stumble up. Then he got into his limo, and shut the door as it drove off- refusing to turn back. I felt hurt. I had gone to him, open-armed, no tricks, no lies. And he hadn't accepted it. I guess he didn't trust me anymore... ever since I had run off. What the hell was he thinking? That I wouldn't try to run away? He had me locked up in a room! He practically had me caged! And he *didn't* expect me to escape? It was probably just his own carelessness. I figured he was just acting like a spoiled child. It wasn't the fact that I had escaped. He could catch me again if he really wanted to- I think it was the fact that I had finally outwitted him for once- not that it took any enormous amount of brains to deceive him and steal the keys. Any moron could have pulled that one off.

Some of my friends came running up to me, but I brushed them aside, and began to walk off on my own. I needed some time to think about things. I needed some space, some distance. I felt a little dizzy and weak, probably because of all these strange emotions surrounding me. Kaiba's emotions. Mine. I didn't understand what Kaiba was feeling, and I might never, but I figured I should at least get myself sorted out first. What were these intense things I was struggling through? Why did Kaiba do all those things to me? Why did he hate me so? Why did I let him get to me? Tristan called my name, but Yugi pulled him back.

"I think Joey needs some time on his own." Even as I was walking away I could clearly hear Yugi speaking solemnly to my other friends. They must have agreed with him, because they didn't try to follow me after that. I walked down the street, under the shade of several large leafy trees that caused a canopy of splendid greens and yellows. I walked on, the blocks blurring together into a single strand of movement. Time seemed to loose meaning or existence, and I didn't even bother to check the time. Finally my legs grew weary and I felt it was time to take a rest. I didn't know where I was, or how I was going to get back, and the sun was lowering onto the horizon. My dad was going to kill me for being so late, but I just didn't care anymore. I ended up finding a small park, which was empty, since it was basically dinner time. My stomach rumbled, and I realized I hadn't eaten for a good five or six hours. I was starving! But with no available food in sight, and more important things to concentrate on, I ignored my stomach for once.

I thought about how I felt. Was I going to be able to ever get Kaiba to be nice? Even Yugi hadn't been able to befriend the cold hearted boy, and he had tried too. Then again, maybe Yugi knew something I didn't. Yugi seemed to understand the way the brown-haired boy worked better than I did. It seemed like he knew that Kaiba was in a different position, and that Kaiba held his position proudly, and there was nothing he could do to physically change that, try as he might. Did that mean that I would never be able to knock Kaiba off his pedestal? I figured that even the "almighty" Kaiba would have to show his softer side at some time or another. I just had to figure out how to get that side of him out in the open...

As I sat on the old wooden jungle gym in the kid's playground part of the small park with the sun going down in front of me, I sighed heavily, running a hand throw my hair. Why did Kaiba hate me so much? What had I ever done? I kept asking myself until tears came to my face. I thought my tears were all dried up by then, but I was wrong. They came, fresh, sliding down my cheeks. I was tired of being brave. I was sick of being strong and brave. I was weak and frail- and felt like giving up the fake shields I had placed in front of myself in my daily life. It was time to take off that mask I wore to protect myself from people like my father or Kaiba. Time had rusted and decayed the mask, and the fakeness of it all was wearing off, slowly falling to pieces like my heart. I thought my heart was broken into a million tiny splinters of glass, and I just sat there bawling my eyes out. Tears slipped freely down my face, and this time I didn't even bother to wipe them away. I was too sad. All those thoughts. Those memories. So many days- so many years, all those thoughts. And everything was crowding around me at once. I felt like grabbing my hair and just tearing it out. My mind was racing and I felt frustrated and tired and weak and a mixture of all sorts of emotions I still couldn't even begin to understand.

I felt like I had accomplished a lot, and was on my way to relaxation, finally, but I knew there was so much to sort out still. Somehow, I felt like I had also achieved so little at the same time. Perhaps running away and crying was more childish and immature than Kaiba's spoiled manners as of late, but I needed it. I needed the time to think- I needed to get away from... my life. I needed to be alone. I might have just gone crazy if I didn't.

Finally, a good hour later as the sun had finished its slow descent into the horizon, and the sky was just beginning to grow dark, I slowly climbed off the wooden and metal structure, swinging myself casually down to the ground, and landing in the soft dirt. I stepped off the edge of the playground which was clearly marked with small logs and onto the grassy field that made up the park. As I moved through the grass I saw a few weeds thriving, dandelions and some other stuff as well. I clumsily scuffled through the grass, and reached the sidewalk that traced it's path along the edges of the park. In the far distance I could hear the distant hum of traffic here and there, but seeing as I wasn't on a main road there wasn't any cars that I could see.

I scuffed my shoe on the sidewalk, ignored it, and continued to walk on slowly. Trudging around, walking aimlessly with no real direction. As I looked slowly down around me, I saw a small amount of flowers growing in the solemn light of the moon which was shining through as the sky grew progressively darker. The flowers glowed with an eerie iridescence in the light of the moon. Midnight blooming flowers, their shimmering beauty untouched by mortal hands... My train of thought was suddenly interrupted by a flash of lights. It was a car- and it was coming right at me! I stood there, in total shock, as the thing lurched, skidding to a halt, so close that if it had gone much further it would have driven right up the sidewalk and probably run me over. When I got a clear look at what it was, I realized immediately. It was a limo. And who did I know that owned a limo? *The* Seto Kaiba. Nobody else. And guess who stepped out of that limo? It didn't come as much of a surprise when the brown-haired youth did. But what was he doing there? How had he found me?

"Mutt..." He said, quietly as he approached me after slamming the car door behind him. I didn't even realize there were tears in my eyes or that I was crying until he brushed them away with a soft finger. Just like the last time he had touched me- I found his fingers icy and cool against my skin, and suddenly he drew me toward him. I let out a short gasp, and he gazed steadily into my eyes- as if searching. Only this time I was searching right back. What did Kaiba know that I didn't? What secrets really lay beneath those eyes of his that he had trapped in there for so long? Why was Kaiba so intent on following me around? And then he made it out as if I was the one trailing after him like some pathetic puppy... I could feel his hand slip around my back, drawing up against his own body, pulling me into his trench coat, dragging me into his warm body.

"You came." I whispered at last. He said nothing, only nodding. I think my face broke into a lop-sided smile just then. And Kaiba was smiling in his eyes as well. His face remained cold and barren- but his eyes sparkled as the mysterious moonlight danced upon them, creating shadows and illusions across those icy irises of the brown-haired youth. I threw my arms around his neck, and leaned against him, holding on for dear life. I had no idea what I was feeling, or even what I was doing, but he had come to help me in my time of need- and nobody else had. And he rubbed my back, comforting me softly as I cried into his shoulder.