Since Seto is angsting about Jou, I thought it appropriate to have him address the audience rather than Jou himself. Example: I hate you. This will be written as: I hate him. So that it sounds more like he's talking to you/himself rather than Jou. Just a style thing, I guess.

Musical Note: The song "Here Is Gone" is a Goo Goo Dolls song, it's just not on the album Dizzy Up the Girl.

Here Is Gone

It's going to be one of those kinds of days; I can feel it. The kind of day where one thinks that everything will fall into place, but it doesn't. I hate Precalculus for one reason and one reason only: I am smarter than the teacher. Every time she makes a mistake I am obligated to point it out to the class. Needless to say, my Precalculus teacher hates me. Not that I care much.

I think Jounouchi has fallen asleep again, or at least is trying to. His head is in his hands and he's facing the window; he sits in the row by the farthest wall. I'm in the row by the door. I used to love this spot. It enabled me to be the first out of the classroom, which was ideal given the loathing the teacher and I have for each other, but I think I would pay anyone in the 'window row' whatever they asked to sit there…just so I could linger a bit.

It definitely reflects badly on my self-control that that pup has managed to worm his way into my subconscious and forces it into a whole other time scheme. It has been three weeks, four days, and approximately six hours since Pancake Day. I can't believe I refer to it as Pancake Day…Anyway that's how long it's been since I've actually talked with Jounouchi. Either he's avoiding me or…no, he's avoiding me. He has to be.

I shouldn't be so upset about that, I mean, I didn't think it would work. He's…brash. He's everything that I do not want in a partner. He's loud, emphatic, mouthy, average intelligence, average looks, in a not true way. The kind of person I should be seeing (if I were to ever feel the need to 'see' someone) should be well mannered, well versed in business and economical standards, know how to wear a tux, and at least know that pizza is not fine dining.

I inwardly groan. I don't like him. It made me nauseous when we kissed, didn't it? I drop my pen on the floor and reach down to retrieve it. Jounouchi doesn't even look up. And why the hell would I care if he did? That's right, I wouldn't care. Not in the least. So what if I kissed him first the first time…wait…the first, was it three? The first three times. So what? Who's counting?

I straighten in my chair and stare at the board. Class will be over in thirty minutes, and then I can go to work. That reminds me. I need to fire the new secretary. She's misfiled one too many times for my liking. A bit air-headed as well.

"Mr. Kaiba, would you like to grace the rest of the class with an answer?"

Fuck.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

You and I got something.
But it's all and then it's nothing to me, yeah.
And I got my defenses.
When it comes to your intentions for me, yeah.
And we wake up in the breakdown.
Of the things we never thought we could be.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

What am I supposed to say? There isn't even a math problem on the board. I knew she hated me. I knew it. Well, we'll just have to see about that little problem.

"To what question, sensei?"

The teacher smiled slightly to herself. "Is the great Seto Kaiba admitting to not paying attention in class?"

"The great Seto Kaiba admits nothing to his captivated audience, sensei."

The teacher's eyes darkened and her lips straightened into a thin line.

"Another crack like that, Mr. Kaiba, and I'll be writing you up for insurgence." She says as she turns and starts to walk to the front of the class.

I shift in my chair and let myself lean back a little farther. I prefer to be comfortable when this teacher and I have confrontations. I glance to my left and sure enough Jounouchi has roused himself enough to stare at both the teacher and I. Well, technically, his head is quickly snapping back and forth between us.

I don't know if it's because he's watching or if it's because I want to have the last word, but I really want to shut this woman up. And I know just how to do it.

"Is it appropriate for a teacher to write a student up for something she can't spell, sensei?"

The teacher stops dead in her tracks and slowly turns towards me. This would have had more of a dramatic flair if the setting had been utterly silent, but since it was done amidst the sniggers of certain bolder students the affect was considerably lessened. Nonetheless, I still hear her words loud and clear, with a sort of death threat attached to them.

"Get out of my classroom."

I stand and look the teacher in the eye for a moment before drawing my body into a rigid stance and bow, but only until I am at the level of her face. She gets the point I think. It's hard not to tower over a short woman like her. I let a cocky smile slide across my face and bend to pick up my satchel case.

I brush past her and out of the room.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~


I'm not the one who broke you.
I'm not the one you should fear.
What do you got to move you darling?
I thought I lost you somewhere.
But you were never really ever there at all.


~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

I contemplate leaving school a half-hour early, seeing as how I have been kicked out of class. This would be the first time, and I bet she expected me to go to the dean about the whole thing. Show up, tell him what I did and what a bad little boy I am and finally, accept my punishment. But, unfortunately for her, she hadn't specified on where I should go. Standing outside by the gym entrance is good enough for me, anyway.

The sunlight hits my hair and shoulders, and I can feel the heat it creates. It seems that I don't get to feel sunlight too often. The office is always air conditioned to the perfect 72 degrees that is supposed to be the most comfortable human temperature. Why must everything always be perfect? What's the harm in the temperature being 76 degrees? Or god forbid it, 85 degrees…

Perhaps therein lies the attraction to Jounouchi. The lack of perfection. He's not perfect and he doesn't pretend to be. He's loud and he's okay with that. He's not smart and he's okay with that. He doesn't like to admit he's made a mistake, but at least he takes the steps to fix it the next time around. He's nothing like someone I should be attracted to and that is exactly why I am attracted to him.

I did not just admit to being attracted to him.

Damn it.

It doesn't matter. He's still avoiding me like I carry the plague.

The bell rings and I glare at my wristwatch. It's been thirty minutes already? Amazing. Contemplating my attraction to a certain blockhead really seems to take up a lot of time. I don't know why I'm not more distressed at this. It was my thinking about him that got me kicked out of class. All right, perhaps it was my sarcastic and witty remark, but it's all fruit of the poison tree, if you will.

Being attracted to the idiot blond has changed me. I'm careless with my thoughts, thinking about saying and doing things I would have screamed had you said them. He causes me to anger faster, careless of the consequences. I even got thrown out of a class. To what? Show him I had balls? Well, good for me.

And yet, no one seems to notice the difference except me. Then again, no one talks to me, do they?

I suddenly see a spark of blond hair being followed by a short tuft of multicolored hair. Yugi and Jou. But of course. The inseparable duo, the best friends, the comrades at arms.

It's amazing how bitter I can make my voice sound in my head.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~


And I want to get free; talk to me.
I can feel you falling.
And I wanted to be all you need.
Somehow here is gone.


~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

My eyes trail the path they take across the schoolyard, and the jealousy begins to sit in. Not that my Duel Monsters rival could actually have one up on me in the dating realm. What with being the size of a large Smurf…

But Jou still seems attracted to him. It's frustrating. He's always talking with him, and he's been avoiding me. Damn, Aristotelian False Cause. Jou is not talking with Yugi because he's avoiding me. He's just avoiding me and talking with Yugi.

The pair walks by me, Yugi raising his head and giving me a wave, which I do not return. Jou looks up at his friend's sudden movement and meets my eyes. I can tell he's torn between something I can't quite name and glaring. He eventually settles for the glare, which I attempt to return but decide that a knowing smirk would appear more intimidating.

His eyes widen. That's right, he should be scared. I could mention what happened between us at any moment, and he couldn't stop me. I have something on him, and he knows it.

"Taking the dog for a walk, Yugi?" That came out a bit harsher than I wanted, but then again most things I say have that tendency. Joe bristles at the comment and Yugi lays a restraining hand on his forearm. I have the sudden urge to remove Yugi's hand from Jou while simultaneously snapping the little brat's hand off completely.

When did I suddenly become so protective of something I do not own?

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~


I have no solution.
To the sound of this pollution in me.
And I was not the answer.
So forget you ever thought it was me.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

Yugi looks at me with pity, and I dismiss it. He gives the same look to everyone. What Yugi doesn't understand under all that "Heart of The Cards" nonsense is that I'm all that I've got. No inanimate card is going to feel my pain and help me. Every Duel Monsters game is made of two things and two things only.

Luck and Strategy.

"Kaiba, you should try being nicer to people. You would have more friends." Yugi finally says sadly. Again with the friendship crap. He's almost as annoying as the rest of his lackeys, what with their going on and on about trusting and loving each other. Sounds like one giant orgy of friends with benefits, if you ask me.

"What would a jerk like him do with friends except maybe treat em' worse than his enemies?" Jou bites out bitterly. Mentally I balk at the comment. I should have guessed that nothing had changed between us. Not that I wasn't the one who started it…

"Someone like me doesn't need friends, Jounouchi. You see, people like me have the ability to stand on their own two feet, rather than having some support group that acts like cheerleaders for them," I say with a smile.

I turn, preparing to walk away. Work awaits me.

"I should have figured nothing could get to you, Kaiba." A whisper, causing me to stop and turn.

Yugi is staring at Jou who is glaring at me. Anger seething off of him in waves. A flash of him and I on that Saturday…the confusion and the not knowing. What had it been for? A day or so of trying to figure out what life could be like together? Ha, Jou doesn't have a clue about the Pandora's Box he's opened. Jou continues, heedless of my own growing anger.

"I bet you have the coldest heart on the face of the planet, Kaiba," Jou says with a half thoughtful half angry look in his eyes.

The anger grew to a fevered pitch, and I clenched my hands along with my teeth to hold it back. A flash again, this time of him and I kissing, of me holding him on the hill. What had that been?

Nothing, I tell myself, nothing.

I held my hand in a fist and suddenly let the breath out slowly. The anger fled.

"What heart?" I ask, and turn to walk away.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

I'm not the one who broke you.
I'm not the one you should fear.
What do you got to move you darling?
I thought I lost you somewhere.
But you were never really ever there at all.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

I'm walking to my own car. I have purchased one as of late. It's pointless to have a limousine drop me off and pick me up everyday. First, it attracts way too much attention and I prefer to be in and out of this establishment as quickly as possible. Second, they're gas-guzzling machines that annoy the hell out of me.

If I suddenly want to go somewhere else, I would rather just flip on a blinker, cut a few people off, and speed to do it. Instead, in a limousine, I have to wait for one of my many chauffeurs to respond to my command, make a courteous decision, that is conscious of most traffic laws and drive the speed limit to get me to my desired destination. I do not like to wait, and I'm not afraid of getting a speeding ticket. Though Hell will be brought down on the officer with enough balls to try it.

It's a rather fancy car…almost defeating the purpose of the 'not attracting attention' argument, but I prefer the finer things in life.

Like Jounouchi.

Shut up, just shut up. It's over. Nothing has changed and that's it. We'll go back to insulting each other, not that we ever stopped, and demanding the other's attention in public settings, and purposely trying to humiliate the other in front of those dearest to them. Thus is the nature of his and mine relationship.

I was a fool to think otherwise.

I slip the keys into the car lock and turn it. Yes, all leather interior and global tracking system should I get lost. It's a decent car. Suitable for my purposes. I throw my briefcase lazily onto the passenger seat and—

Am suddenly and roughly turned to meet blazing amber eyes.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

And I want to get free; talk to me.
I can feel you falling.
And I wanted to be all you need.
Somehow here is gone.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

"What the hell was that, Kaiba?" Jou growls.

"What the hell was what and get your hands off my uniform, lest you want to pay for the dry cleaning bill," I respond calmly.

His hands don't let go, if anything the grip gets slightly tighter.

"You know what I'm talking about. The insults, Kaiba, what was with the insults?" The questions aren't desperate. Still angry I see.

"I'm confused, Jounouchi. When did we make a deal that we were suddenly best friends?" I ask, a confident smirk on my face. Even with myself pressed firmly against my car, I am still taller that him by at least two inches. Even when he gets the upper hand for a second, he still looks up to me.

Amber eyes narrow.

"Since you let me kiss you," Jou says firmly. I raise an eyebrow at that.

"Since I let you what? If I'm not mistaken, pup, I was the one that kissed you."

"So you admit to kissing me."

"What would the point be in lying about it?"

Frustration appears in the lines of his face.

"So…it doesn't change anything?"

"Change what, Jounouchi, and make it quick; I have a company to run." One of us going to say it. Another game, it's just a matter of time and strategic conversation to see who loses.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

And I don't need the fallout of all the past.
That's here between us.
And I'm not holding on.
And all your lies weren't enough to keep me here.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

He blinks.

"The thing."

"What thing?" I ask calmly.

He growls and grabs a fistful of his hair.

"Don't tell me you forgot already?!"

"I would be able to tell you if I forgot if you would stop hopping around like a deranged monkey and just tell me what it is you're talking about." I say quietly. He knows I know. One of us will say it.

His body stills and his hands drop to his sides. Defeated? Not yet. No, he's got a bit more fight in him, I think.

"This." It comes out weakly.

"This?"

"This!" Anger flashes in his eyes and I raise an eyebrow again. Close…

"This?"

"Damn it, Kaiba, yes! This!" He finally says, throwing his hands into the air in frustration. He growls and stomps a few steps backward.

"I'm afraid your moronic twitter has confused me, Jounouchi. What exactly is 'this'?" I remain calm, crossing my arms over my chest and lean against the car, this time of my own accord.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~


And I want to get free; talk to me.
I can feel you falling.

And I wanted to be all you need.

Somehow here is gone.

And I want to get free; talk to me.

I can feel you falling.
I know it's out there.
I know it's out there.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

He clamps his mouth shut and makes his hands into fists. A few firm steps forward and we're very close to being into the same position we were in before our little conversation.

Hands come up and grab my upper arms. I don't struggle as I am more interested in what he is planning on doing. Attempt to beat me into admitting that I know about 'the thing' and 'this'? Such would be the traditional Jounouchi Way, but then again, so is the art of utter capriciousness.

His hands tug me down a bit and I realize that I'm being kissed. Not being pecked lightly or jokingly, but kissed. Like those times when I grabbed him and forced him to be kissed, and to take all the emotions in it and analyze them on his own terms. This is like that.

A wet tongue traces the seam of my lips and I hesitate a moment. A hand comes to cup the back of my head heavily and my mouth is pushed open from the added pressure. I'm suddenly very acutely aware of the fact that I am not in complete control of the situation.

His tongue slips into my mouth and brushes first against my teeth, which separate for him, and then the roof of my mouth. My head is bent forward and back at a decidedly odd angle, but we seem to be making use of it.

My hands uncross and his body moves forward quickly to fill in the newly opened space. Bodies flush against each other, I let my hands fall to my sides, unable to decide where to lay them. In a way, I don't want to be a part of this. It seems almost entirely his.

It doesn't matter.

I am also suddenly aware of the fact that he and I are standing in a very open, very public parking lot.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

I can feel you falling.
I know it's out there.
I know it's out there.
Somehow here is gone.

I know it's out there.

I know it's out there.

Somehow here is gone.

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

He must have realized it at about the same time as he pulls away almost the instant the thought strikes my own mind.

"This…" He finishes, looking into my eyes, glancing back and forth, searching for an emotion, a thought that I might have let slip past. I can tell he looked a bit farther to his left and right at one point, because I did, too, and the parking lot was, thankfully, empty.

I take his hands in mine and move them to rest at his sides. Eyes continue to search my own, wondering, waiting for my reaction.

I had been wrestling with myself about this for sometime. The Saturday he kept asking what I was doing and why I was doing it, and all I could answer was I don't know. Well, now I do know.

This can't work.

I can't deny my nature to want to humiliate my rival, and I can't ask him to deny his nature for someone who doesn't matter that much to him. Jou is the type of person who needs someone as laid back as he is, and I need someone…well, that's the problem. I don't need someone. And I don't need him.

"This, Jounouchi, doesn't matter," I say and slip into the still open door of my car.

To Be Continued…

~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~

Still a bit cliché? Eh, perhaps. The dialogue needs more work and I think I may have mucked up Seto's character, but such is life, ne? Anyway, the real question is: Are they in love or just twitterpaited? And will Jou just let him walk away like that? I don't know. Truth be told, there are a lot of Goo Goo Dolls songs out there and a lot of them have given me ideas, so don't think I'm ending it here. This would be the over-used, overly-dramatic ending to a segment I was shooting to avoid. Failed again!

Fruit of the Poison Tree – For those of you who don't waste your time watching hours upon hours of CSI and Law & Order (like me), this term technically means that the evidence in a case cannot be used, because the way they found it and other things found along with it were illegally taken possession of. It basically means that all things can be traced back to a certain point. Seto is using it to state that everything is stemming back to a single thought. Plus, it's spiffy and sounds like something Seto would say.

Twitterpaited – Term used in the Disney movie Bambi, so that instead of having to say 'in heat' the animals could just refer to it as being 'twitterpaited'. Plus, it's fluffier.