We now return you to the misadventures of the Bishi….when we last left Seto and Joey they had been taken captive by Bishi Girls Maria and Carolyn to their secret underground lair. We join our hotties as they attempt escape….

S: Gimme a leg up, puppy…
J: Wai? you're taller!

S: Don't you question me!!

* Maria and Carolyn sneak up on them *

C: Where do you two think your going?
S: We're leaving…
M: But you're gonna miss the 2:30 Bishi worship
J: But we all ready stayed for the 2:20 and 2:25 worship

C/M: o0….soooo….?

S: Doesn't matter we're going, bai you psychos…

M: 'Fraid we can't allow that

J: Dun care

C: Watch it bud we're armed…
* Seto and Joey look at them. The girls are pointing their hands at them as if they were guns.*

S: 0.0… Right, we're going and we'll call the nice people in the white suites for you two..
J: Hah…that's so wimpy..you actually think your hands are guns….
* There is a 'bang' and a bullet embeds itself into the wall right by Seto*
S/J: 0.0

J: How…
M: We told you we're armed…
S: But why can't we see the guns..its obvious that your holding something..

C: Oh yea that. That's because 4 Kids and Kids WB edited them out…

M: Kinda like what Speilburg did with the guns in ET…
S/J: * in awe * OHHHHHH!!

C: Now get back in there!!!

S/J: YESS'M!!!

C/M: BISHI!!! ^^

Okies…hehheeee…on with the story…

*****

Giving In

"You have to give Yug credit." Joey said to Honda as they watched as their small friend approached Seto Kaiba.

" Yeah, Yugi's been smacked down by Kaiba, and he's still trying to get Kaiba to be our friend." Honda replied.

"Would do that bastard some good." Their friend, Anzu snorted. Joey and Honda rolled their eyes and silently prayed that she would not launch into her "importance of having friends speech" for the billionth time.

They watched as Yugi approached the colde recluse form of Seto Kaiba. He was reading as he always did before class, the perfect shield from the burden of interacting with his classmates. He was well aware that Yugi was approaching him. The boy always did. Seto bristled as he watched Yugi move closer. Seto wasn't going to sink to Yugi's level.

Why doesn't he get it? Seto wondered. Isn't my tolerating him enough?

It was tru, Seto had been more tolerant of Yugi and his friends since their adventure at Duelist Kingdom. Sure, there were the occasional "puppy" cracks he made at Joey, but even those were becoming sparse.

Why doesn't he just leave me alone? The blue eyed teen snarled.

" Hey, Kaiba!" Yugi said cheerfully.

Seto didn't look up from his book.

"Good Morning." He replied flatly.

" You it over here everyday by yourself. Wanna come over and sit on our side?" The smaller teen offered cheerfully.

Why does he even bother? Seto thought as he stared harder into the pages.

" Maybe tomarrow." He replied

" You said that yesterday."

" I know, I said 'maybe' remember?"

Yugi frowned. Why did Kaiba have to be so difficult. Kaiba owed Yugi his life. The least Seto could do was be nice.

"Class, please take your seat." The teacher said. Yugi gave Kaiba one more pleading look. Seto sighed and picked up his things and moved himself to the desk behind Yugi.

Just this once, and maybe it'll shut him up for awhile. He thought as he opened up his notebook. He leaned forward and poked Yugi.

" Don't get use to this." Seto hissed. Yugi nodded and turned around. He smiled inwardly to himself. It was progress.

" Class" The teacher began. " I have an important announcement.

The students hushed and looked up towards the teacher.

" Next week, after much debate with the headmaster, the school will be having a dance."

The class erupted into boisterous chatter. There hadn't been a dance at Domino High since..since forever.

Only Seto was unfazed by the announcement.

Childish. He thought.

After the class had settled the teacher began roll.

" Gardener?"

" Here."

"Kaiba?"

"Present."

Seto sighed. It was going to be a long day.

" Ryou?"

No reply. Joey turned to the seat behind him where Bakura usually sat.

" Where is Bakura Ryou?"

" We saw him last night. He didn't look sick." Honda said.

The teacher frowned and then carried on.

" Taylor?"

" Here."

" Wheeler?"

" Ah'm here!" Joey replied brightly.

The lesson began and the class carefully took down their notes. About a half hour into the lesson, the door opened and Bakura shyly stepped in.

" Sorry I'm late." He said bowing to the teacher, " Car trouble." He then quickly walked to his seat. No one took absence to Bakura's black eye and the bruise on the side of his face.

" What happened to ya man?" Joey whispered.

Ryou had no idea what had happened to him last night.

" Umm..well, the bruise on the side of my face is from me falling out of bed this morning, as for the black eye…not too sure."

Yugi frowned. Whenever Bakura could not remember it was a good sign that his yami was the cause. But didn't Honda get rid of the ring? Perhaps, Bakura did have short-term memory loss due to all the beatings he had sustained from his darker side.

Bakura looked to his right and swallowed hard. Kaiba was sitting next to him.

"Since when…" He whispered to Joey.

"MR.RYOU!!" The teacher barked at Bakura. "If you are going to come to class late, and talk to Mr. Wheeler, then you should not have come at all!"

The whole class burst into laughter, as they watched the pale boy flush to a deep shade of red. He never got into trouble and was incredibly shy to begin with.

" 'EY!! KNOCK IT OFF ALREADY!!" Joey snapped, defending his friend.

Joey on the other hand….

***

Thankfully, lunch came quickly. They all sat at the table, Bakura copying down Anzu's notes. He hadn't bothered to ask for Joey's. Joey basically doodled in English class. How the blond teen got such excelling grades was beyond him. Then again, Joey had an incredible imagination and was a great story teller.

"So you don't know where you got that black eye?" Anzu asked sweetly.

Bakura looked up and shook his head. He was tired of people asking him about his eye. Mrs. Tweed had fussed over him all night. Everyone seemed to believe that he was extremely fragile.

" I'm fine don't worry about me, Anzu."

Yugi looked around, looking for Kaiba. But the CEO was no where in sight.

"Damn probably is hiding some place so I couldn't bug him about sitting with us." He said dejectedly.

" Fugettaboutit Yug. If he wants to be a hard ass, let 'em. Don't beg him to be our friend, the almighty Kaiba come to us 'n beg."

" Joey's got a point, Yug." Honda said as he bit into an apple.

" For once." Anzu smirked.

Yugi sighed. Joey did have a point, but Seto needed friends.

" He needs friends guys. Its his pride that's stopping him."

" Whatevah." Joey said as he eyed Honda's sandwich. " You gonna eat that bud?"

Yugi smiled at his friend, Good 'ol Joey.

Bakura placed the pencil down, " Done. Did I miss anything else?"

" Nothing really. There's going to be a mixer next Friday" Replied Anzu as she slapped Joey's hand away from grabbing her bag of chips.

Bakura's face brightened. " That's wonderful!" He hadn't been to a mixer in the longest time.

// What the hell is a mixer?// his yami muttered.

//Tell you later.// Ryou replied to his darker half.

There was a crash as, Honda and Joey lunged at each other. Apparently the two had gotten into another argument over something. Yugi, Anzu, and Bakura sighed, but they knew it would be over by the start of class.

***

Sure enough as they headed on the way to their next class, Joey and Honda were playfully shoving each other into the lockers, as they always did. The argument long forgotten. Yugi spotted Kaiba emerging from the library.

So that's where he went. Yugi thought as Kaiba sidled up behind them, but kept his distance. They filed into class, and took their seats. Kaiba, went and sat in his usual corner and pulled out his book. Yugi moved to get out of his seat and approach Kaiba, but Seto's blue eyes gave him a piercing look. "Don't-Even- Think- About- It" was read completely on Kaiba's stern face. Yugi took the hint and sat back in his seat.

// One class was enough for him today, my aboui.// Yugi smiled. Yami was finally up.

// Good morning, Yami, 'cept its 12'o clock in the afternoon.//

Yugi felt Yami smirk.

// Well, excuse me Yugi. I really don't know how one can function getting up so early. Its cruel. School should be left for the mid afternoon.//

// Not in this century, or this millennia Yami.//

" MR. MOUTO!!" Yugi jumped. He hadn't realized that class had started.

"Yes, sir?"

" If you had been paying attention, you would have realized that I had asked you a question."

" Sorry." // You got me in trouble Yami!//

// No, I didn't you didn't have to respond to me!//

" MR. MOUTO!!" The teacher barked angrily.

" Yes, sir sorry!!"

" Tell me Mr. Mouto, Who was the Egyptian god of the sun?"

//Osiris// Yami said.

"Osiris, Sir."

The teacher smiled, " Very good Mr. Mouto. Glad you have finally entered this plane of reality."

The teacher turned and went on with the lesson.

// Thanks, Yami.//

// No problem.//

Yugi listened to the lesson with great interest, though he found it hard to suppress his smile each time Yami interjected with his opinions on the lecture.

// WHAT? Is he an idiot? Is this ALL that they know about ancient Egypt?…// or // I'm sure I was younger than Tut, when I ascended the throne.//

Yugi snickered // Yami. Things are lost over a period of five thousand years. This is all that they know from what has been preserved.//

Yugi felt Yami bristle. His other side could be very entertaining.

***

Seto walked up the marble steps of his mansion. It had been an extremely long day. He hated Fridays because his last two periods were free, which meant he had to go to Kaiba Corp two hours earlier than other days. He hated going on Fridays because he had to brave incredibly annoying meetings, and the even more annoying brown-nosers that he employed. Now that the day was finally over, he wanted nothing more than to get home and see his brother Mokuba. Since Duelist Kingdom, Seto if not already had become more obsessed in the protection of his baby brother.

He walked towards the wing of the mansion where he and Mokuba made their personal living quarters. They were only two boys and a small number of servants. How much space sis they really need?

" Mokuba! I'm home, kiddo!" He said as he set his brief case down. There wasn't a reply. Seto became worried. He started walking towards Mokuba's room.

Probably has those damn headphones on. He though as he pushed Mokuba's door open. He scanned the large room that was littered with cds, pokemon figurines, duel monster cards, digimon action figures and other numerous things.

" Mokuba?" Again, no reply. Seto became worried. Since they had gotten back, Mokuba was always lying in wait to pounce on his brother when he came home from work.

Seto walked quickly down the hallway ready to call security, when he spotted two pairs of small shoes. One pair he recognized the others were alien.

Oh yea, his friend. Seto had forgotten that Taro, Mokuba's friend from school was over to play. With his fears clamed, Seto walk to his room. Once there he relieved himself of his school uniform and changed into loose, but professional clothing and set of to his den to work on a n up and coming project.

***

Seto opened one eye. He had fallen asleep while glancing over a proposal for a new duel disk system. He yawned sleepily and stretched. It was too easy to slow down in his den. It was a high vaulted room with large windows that seemed to stretch towards the heavens. The room was elegantly decorated in blacks and silvers; He had since purged the room of the last remnants of his adoptive father, Gozoburo. All that remeained was a large black marble fire place that has his "father's" name engraved on it.

Have to get that filed off… He thought quietly to himself.

He stared blankly, daydreaming, his thought going a thousand times around the world. Seto slapped himself and brought him back to the den. He had to stop doing that. He had been distracted all week, he couldn't get Yugi and his friend out of his head. Why was he obsessed with them all of a sudden? Sure he teased and bullied them, but did he really get anything out of it? He managed to get under Joey's skin with the "puppy" cracks, but even torturing the loudmouth blond didn't satisfy him. He felt empty, something was missing.

Seto yawned once more and put his head down on the desk. Whatever it was it was taking a toll on teen. What was it?

Outside the den, he heard a faint cry. Seto snapped to attention, and waited. The cry came again and he lept beyond the desk and went to one of the windows, and flung open the curtain; searching for the source of the noise. He then saw Mokuba in the backyard with Tarro engaged in a heated game of tag. It wasn't a cry he had heard, it was laughter.

Seto watched the expressions on the children's faces. Sweet and happy. In fact Seto could not remember that last time he had seen Mokuba having so much fun. A sharp pain tore at his stomach, the blue-eyed teen winced and clutched his stomach. The pain was intense, one he knew too well. A pain that came when he was anxious or unsure of himself. He leaned against the wall holding his stomach trying to suppress the pain and pull himself back together. Once it had subsided, Seto knew why that pain had come, what had caused it. His need for friendship. He had denied his feelings for too long. He wanted friends. It was a craving that burned with in him, but his pride and arrogance had pushed it down to the depths of his soul. His brother had friends, and he did not, and when it was extended to him he pushed it away. Why was he like this?

I must always be there for him. I have no time for petty things like friends. Mokuba is my priority. He frowned and realized how stupid his reasoning was. He used to have friends at the foster home, but even there it was every kid for himself. He shut his eyes sadly when he remembered why he had lost them.

I lost them because everyone wanted me, but I turned every offer down because they wouldn't take me and Mokuba. Because I didn't want to be separated from my family.

He could still see the animosity in their faces, how they shunned him after he had turned away another family, when they so desperately wanted to be adopted. His friends turned on him, verbally and often physically abusing Seto. Then he was adopted my Gozoburo, who inflicted so many years on pain and torment upon him, which hardened his heart to everyone except Mokuba. He wasn't allowed friends, because Gozoburo said t would make him weak. But now the monster was gone and Seto was free. Why shouldn't he have friends now?

Because I'm too proud. He thought My pride gets in the goddamned way all the time because I think everything is beneath me.

Seto glanced again at his brother. The boy looked so happy, running around and playing as a ten year old should. He then looked at his surrounding and frowned. What normal fifteen year old sat around worrying about stock options and running a billion dollar corporation? HE sighed heavily and closed his eyes. His youth had been stolen from him. Mokuba had been young , so most of his innocence was still intact. Seto's was in shreds. He had seen his parents die, had taken beatings, and was abused by Gozoburo; was forced to grow up.

Seto stared some what enviously at his brother. Mokuba looked so bright and happy. Joy fully expressed in his gray-blue eyes. Seto sighed heavily and remained transfixed starring at the fun the two boys were having. He wanted it badly. Memories deep with thin him of his friends before he lost them came back to him. Friendship. He missed it. He missed the fun, the security, the happiness. How he desperately wanted it all back.

You have no time for weakness, Seto A voice within him said. You only have time for Mokuba and Kaiba Corp. Nothing else.

Seto growled. Damn him why was he like this? Why did his pride get in the way? He gripped the curtain, and looked once more at his brother. Still the boys face was full of joy, and Seto wanted that joy. He flung open the curtain and allowed the afternoon sun to spill into the dark depths of the room. He suddenly felt better and leaned contentedly against the windowsill watching Tarro and Mokuba play. He found himself smiling at their antics, and for the first time in a long while, enjoying himself.

Perhaps its time, to give friendship another try.

****

EEE!! Omg I'm a spaz!! I love Seto so much!! So mizundastood, so conflicted…*hops around*

S: 0.o….
M: C'MERE YOU!! YA NEEDS A HUG!!* grabs Seto into a bone crushing bear hug *

S: MY…BACK!!!!!!! 0.0

Hehehe..okies..expect next update this weekend!! Hopes yas liked this installment!!! Please R and R!!!

S: …*twitch* *weakly *…medic…..