Kaiba glanced up from his laptop. His eyes widened as he caught his blond housemate stretching. He was shirtless and wearing cut-off shorts. Small beads of sweat collected around the definition of Jounochi's muscles. "Holy shit..." Kaiba murmured.

Jou looked up. "You say something?"

Kaiba shook his head. "Nope, wasn't me. You hot?" He blushed, looking down in embarrassment. He hadn't meant it like that.

"Yeah, kinda." He yawned. "I don't even want to go outside. Why don't you have some expensive air condition system?"

"`Cause Seto's a cheap-ass," Mokuba mumbled.

"Watch your mouth, Mokuba."

"Jounochi-kun calls you that all the time, big brother."

Kaiba shot a nasty look at Jou. "Watch you mouth, Jounochi."

Jou smiled, stretching out on the couch. "Gotta mirror?"

Mokuba flopped on the chair next to him. "No, Seto never looks in a mirror. Can't you tell?"

Kaiba's mouth dropped. "Mokuba!"

Jou laughed. "Goodie, the kid finally has some positive influence." He giggled. "So seriously, what's with the lack of A.C. ya cheap...bastard."

Another nasty look from Kaiba.

"The house is kind of old and didn't come with air, only heating. And Seto doesn't want to let anyone allowed to put ventilation in this house."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to let anyone going through my private property. Putting air tubes that reach into every inch of my home? Letting someone get to KNOW every inch of my home?"

"So you're paranoid?" Jou laughed.

"No!"

"Yes you are! You're scared someone has it out for you!"

Kaiba crossed his arms. "Soul sucked into the Shadow Realm?" He raised his eyebrows.

"You don't make a lot of friends being in charge of such a predominate company in the economy. Competition is fierce and a teen and preteen in charge causes a lot of anger and bitter feelings among people," Mokuba explained.

Jou moaned. "Sorry...but do ya at least have a fan?"

Kaiba closed the lap top and stood up. "Yeah...I'll go get it." He made his way out of the room.

"I don't mean to be so insensitive," Jou sighed.

Mokuba shook his head and pulled out a rubber band for his hair. As he pulled it back, he said, "Nah. Seto needs someone like you, Jounochi-kun."

"Just Jounochi is fine. You can even call me Jou. But why someone like me?" He rolled onto his stomach and moaned softly. "My back..." He reached back and tried rubbing his shoulder.

"You don't try to take advantage of him, but you still poke fun at him. He needs to just relax with someone who just wants to be his friend."

Jou smiled. ~Just friends. Mokuba would be surprised on the irony of that statement.~ "Well, doing what I can."

Kaiba dropped the fan in front of Mokuba and Jou. "This good?" He plugged it in and turned it on low. Mokuba stubbornly turned it on to high. As they began to physically argue over the setting, Jounochi sat up and rubbed at his back a bit, lightly moaning.

Kaiba suddenly turned to Jou, leaving Mokuba to sit in front of the fan, turned on high. "You okay?"

"Yeah, fine...I don't like your mattresses too much. Too firm."

"Winter mattresses are firmer than summer ones. The maids don't change the guest rooms very often. Here, lay down." He sat on the edge of the couch, next to Jou. He had to touch Jou's soft skin and began rubbing his back. Kaiba threw his leg over Jounochi and straddled him, pressing into his back a bit more.

Jou whimpered and moan with pleasure. "That feels so good..."

Kaiba pressed down, cracking Jou's back. "Calm down, puppy."

Mokuba raised his eyebrows, a growing, knowing smile on his face, watching his brother and Jounochi.

~~~

Kaiba rolled onto his side, yawning. He wrapped his arms around Jou, spooning with him. He lightly trailed his fingers around Jou's chest, breathing in Jounochi's scent. "So beautiful," he murmured. He eased himself away from Jou, careful not to wake him. He dressed silently, grabbed his briefcase, and left without waking him.

~~~

Jou yawned and made his way to the kitchen. He leaned against the doorframe, watching Mokuba slurp up soggy cereal and watching cartoons on a TV on the dinning table. "Hey, where's ya brother?"

"At a meeting," he mumbled, engrossed in the show.

"This early? He going to be back soon?"

"Are you and Seto dating?" Mokuba asked, not looking up, still watching TV.

"What? No!"

"You don't have to lie. You two have total chemistry. If you're not dating, you should be dating."

"What if I don't like guys?" ~Does Mokuba know Kaiba's gay...ish?~

Mokuba sat, thinking. "Hmmm...would ya give it a try?"

Jou laughed, joining Mokuba at the table. "You really want Kaiba to date someone, don't you?"

"I just wish he'd let himself be happy. He needs someone who will just...play with him. He needs to stop taking things so seriously. Let life be a game sometimes."

Jou laughed. "You really look out for him, huh?"

"Someone's gotta."

Jou smiled. "Yes, I like him. We're not dating, but--"

"Then you gotta make him fall for you!" Mokuba jumped off the chair and began jumping up and down with excitement. "Please Jounochi-kun! PLEASE?!"

"I don't know, Mokuba. Kaiba's not exactly a dream boy," Jou teased.

"Jounochi-kun! Please???"

Jou laughed. "I'll see what I can do, Mokuba."

They could hear the door slam and footsteps entering the house. Kaiba came into the kitchen and set down his briefcase on the counter and sat down on at the table, laying his head down, moaning.

"You okay?" Jou asked concerned.

"Fine," Kaiba said shortly.

Jou chewed at his lip, contemplating on digging deeper. He made eye- contact with Mokuba, who shook his head. Jounochi gently rubbed Kaiba's back and went back to his room.

Mokuba carried his bowl over to the dishwasher. "How was the meeting?"

"Not so great...to say the least...but don't let that worry you. How was your morning?"

"Fine, just watching cartoons. Someone called about some product testing for tomorrow. I re-scheduled it for next Monday."

"Why?"

"Tomorrow's your birthday, big brother."

"Mmmm...I know...but what difference does that make?" Kaiba sat up, watching Mokuba closely. "What are you planning?"

"Nothing. Just...maybe we could do something with Jounochi-kun."

Kaiba looked up Mokuba, carefully. "Mokuba? What are you attempting to do?"

Mokuba scratched the back of his head, like he always did when he was nervous. "N-nothing...I promise. Please keep your schedule open. Just for some relaxation. Please?"

"Sure Mokuba," Kaiba sighed, pulling out the paper and reading it.

Mokuba smiled and rushed from the kitchen to Kaiba's room. "Jounochi-kun! Jounochi-kun! Where are you?"

"Uhhh...in the bathroom? What's up?"

"Hurry up! I need to talk to you about something!"

Jou came out, pulling on a t-shirt. "Yeah?"

"Tomorrow's Seto's birthday. You should do something for him."

Jou cocked his head to the side like a curious puppy. "That's strange, he didn't mention it to me."

"He usually keeps it quiet. I guess because his birthdays were always disappointments in the orphanage and with Kaiba-san. Please, Jounochi- kun!"

"What can I do? I don't have any money to impress him."

"You don't HAVE to impress him! It's the thought that counts! Besides, I have a debtit card!" He flashed it.

Jou laughed. "Okay, so what do you want to do?"

"Well, we need to plan a great...something!"

Jou sat down on the bed. "Well...give me some ideas? I don't know Kaiba all that well. Like...what does he like?"

"Dragons." Mokuba grinned.

Jou laughed. "Okay..."

"Blue. And roses. And he really likes Chinese."

Jou crossed his arms. "Even though that was really...random...I can work with that."

~~~