"Let go of me!" Jou shrieked. "Stop it!"

Kaiba sighed, dropped his hand. "Sit down, Jounochi. Now."

Jou crossed his arms. "Who do you think you, telling me what to do?"

"I'm the one letting you stay here. Remember that? Why can't you just do what I ask?"

"You're not asking, you're commanding."

Kaiba sighed. "PLEASE, Jou, would you sit down?"

Jou sighed. "PLEASE, Kai, will ya get off my back? I'm just going out for a walk."

Kaiba raised his eyebrows. "For a walk?"

"Okay, fine, I'm going to go find someone to buy me a pack of cigarettes. I can't stand being in your house! It's been, like, two weeks and you have me on house arrest! At least let me smoke."

"There's no smoking in this house."

"I bet your maids and such really love that." He sat down, though, arms crossed, pouting.

"Jou...come on..." He sat down next to him. "Don't do this. You know I couldn't care less if you went back to fucking everybody in sight."

"Good, then let me go."

Kaiba put his arm around Jou's shoulders. "I didn't mean that, mutt."

Jou rested his head limply on Kaiba's shoulders. "I feel so tense..." He closed his eyes and whispered softly, "Don't cry, don't cry...don't cry..."

Kaiba pulled Jou into a firm hug. "You can cry. It's okay."

Jou clutched at Kaiba's shoulders tightly. "I'm not going to cry," he whispered. "Especially not with you."

Kaiba soothingly ran his hand up and down Jou's back. "Katsuya," he whispered.

"Don't say my name, Seto."

"Katsuya," he whispered slightly teasingly. "Victorious with an arrow."

"Turmoil. Turmoil, turmoil, turmoil!" Jou chanted.

"You're the one in turmoil, Jounochi-kun no baka!"

Jou sat up, unintentionally straddling Kaiba's lap. "Seahorse!" he pushed Kaiba hard, but had a smile on his face.

"Baka!" Kaiba pushed him back, a smirk on his face.

"Ass-" Kaiba cut him off by kissing him. Jou's eyes shot open, surprised. He broke this kiss. "K-Kaiba?"

Kaiba looked just as surprised, if not more, as Jounochi. "I...I'm sorry, J-Jou..."

Jou looked slightly defeated. "Yeah...I'm going to go...watch TV or something..." He started to get up but Kaiba's handed him the remote.

"Right here, Jou," he whispered softly.

"Um...th-thanks..." Jou whispered in a husky voice.

Kaiba gently placed his hand on Jou's face, staring into his eyes. "Y- yeah..." He closed his eyes and pulled Jou slowly back to him. "D-don't go...please..."

Jou fitted his lips with Kaiba's, breathing softly through his nose, trying to control himself. He hadn't kissed a lot in his life. And he could tell Kaiba hadn't at all. He pulled from Kaiba. "Don't do this to me."

"Wh-what?" Kaiba's eyes fluttered open, surprised.

Jou stood up, slowly backing away. "Don't. I'm..." He swallowed, barely able to control himself. "I'm not emotional stable," he whispered. "You know that. You said so yourself. I'm...I'm really not in the...the fucking mood right now to pretend to love someone."

"Jou, I'm not--"

"No! Don't say you like me! Because you DON'T! You were caught in the moment and that's all that happened. Don't you dare say it was more."

"Jou, please, calm down..."

"NO! I'm tried of you telling me to CALM DOWN!" Tears cam to his eyes and he wiped them away hurriedly. "You say you're trying to help me and all you're doing is making it worse! I like you Kaiba. Okay? You're good looking. I'd probably fuck you if that's what you wanted. But you DON'T! You can't stand me! I'm a fucking mutt, remember?! Do you?"

Kaiba looked down. "Please keep your voice down," he begged softly.

"That's all you care about! YOU! Your life! What about me? What about MY feelings?"

"I care, Jou, I do--"

"NO! No you don't! You don't care! You just want to 'help me'," he mocked.

"Jou, I want to help because I CARE."

"Shut up! No you DON'T! DON'T LIE!"

"I'M NOT! I'm not lying. Please, Jou. Sit down and calm down!" he yelled.

Jou stared at him.

"YOU THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE BEING PUT OUT HERE? YOU THINK THAT I'M NOT FREAKED OUT A BIT THAT I HAD TO GIVE YOU HEAD?!" Kaiba screeched. "Really, Jou. I understand you're not 'all right' but for god's sake, you better not think I'm going to let you get away with treating me like shit in my own home!"

"Fuck your home, Kaiba, I--"

"NO! FUCK YOU, JOUNOCHI!" Kaiba yelled. "You are in MY house and as long as you continue to stay in MY house, you have better treat me with an ounce of fucking respect! You think that I'm suppose to treat you like a little glass doll that's fragile?"

"Fuck you. You'd probably be nicer to a REAL dog, Kaiba." Kaiba shook his head. Jou gasped, shocked. Kaiba's eyes glistened with tears. "Kaiba, I-- " He stared. Kaiba never yelled, never smiled, never cried. Kaiba was never emotional. Jou sat down next to him and tried to take his hand. He fought against him, but finally allowed him. "What's wrong, Kaiba?" Jounochi whispered.

Kaiba shook his head. He was going to be stubborn no matter what. "Nothing," he said witheringly.

"I'm sorry," Jou whispered, brushing the brunette bangs from the beautiful blue eyes he secretly adored. His hand slide down and cupped Kaiba's face, a small smile on his lips, studying the boy's face. "I'm sorry," he whispered again.

Kaiba threw his arms around Jounochi, pulling him close. "I'm only trying to help, Jou. I'm not perfect."

"I know. I'm sorry." He pressed his lips against Kaiba's cheek. "You've been nothing but trying to help. Even if ya get kinda mean sometimes," he said jokingly.

"I didn't mean to put you in such an awkward place by kissing you, Jou. I really didn't. I really should have--"

Jou pressed his lips against Kaiba's. He broke from it. "It can't go beyond very chaste kissing, Kaiba."

Kaiba nodded, as if he understood. In reality, he was very confused. If Jounochi liked him and Kaiba was starting to like Jounochi, why couldn't they? He didn't understand and was too proud to ask. "Of course, Jou. What do you think I'm trying to do? Date you? Please." Kaiba cringed by the hurt look on Jou face. It was like watching someone's heart break. "Jou, I didn't...sometimes I say things I don't mean, Jounochi."

He nodded, looking sad. "Yeah...okay..." he whispered, pulling away from Kaiba. "I need to go for a walk," he whispered.

Kaiba handed him a twenty. "Don't spend it all in one place," he tried to joke, but Jou just nodded, walking out of the room.

~~~