**** Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh ****
**** I will definitely have this story finished by the New Year! Merry Christmas everybody! ^_^ ****
Chapter Thirty-Two
Rise
Soon the limo stopped outside the Wheeler's apartment building, and it sat there for a little while. Roux looked out the window up at Joey's apartment with a sad and scared look in her eyes.
Kaiba could feel her worry as he held her; she hadn't said a word since they left the mansion. Kaiba had asked her about Joey, what would she tell him? Roux completely didn't know, but she knew she would have to, in the end, tell Joey about their newfound relationship, after all the suffering and hatred they had both gone through.
He could feel her sigh with great nervousness, and Kaiba gave her hand a squeeze. To be truthful he had also been worried about what Wheeler would think, but not nearly as much as Roux was. She was afterall his friend, not Kaiba's.
"Well, are you going to go, or are you coming to work with me?" he asked her softly, secretly wishing that instead of going to see Joey she would as a matter of fact go with him to Kaiba Corp.
Roux looked at him and gave him a forced smile. "As charming as that sounds," she turned back to the window and sighed hopelessly. "I gotta face the music."
Kaiba nodded. "Well, don't procrastinate too long."
She nodded, and then she moved to turn the handle on the door. She hesitated, bit her lip and turned back to her blue-eyed lover. "What if he freaks out at me?" she asked.
Kaiba shook his head. "He won't. He likes you too much."
"Well what if he becomes angry and-and what if he yells or something?" she couldn't keep her mind in track, she was too worried about Joey's reaction to the news. In desperation she flung herself onto Kaiba, hugging to him. "Seto, I can't do this. I can't face his eyes."
Sighing, Kaiba hugged her gently to him, leaning down so he could smell her romantic scent. "Just tell him the truth, calmly. And if he gets mad, if he yells or if he makes you cry, just give me a call and I'll be down here in five minutes and kick his ass."
Roux stifled a tiny chuckle, and then she sat back up to smile at him. "I don't think it will come to that." She said.
Kaiba didn't think so either. He nodded to the door. "Go. You can't wait forever to tell him. Unless you want me to tell him?" he knew that wouldn't be a good idea.
Roux also knew it wasn't a good idea. She shook her head. "No, let me. I better do it." She said, and then opened the door. She turned to Kaiba. "Wish me luck."
Before she could part from him he kissed her lips softly, as a secret way to tell her 'good luck'. She kissed him back, and she almost wished that she didn't have to tell Joey about them. She just wanted to stay there with Kaiba forever.
Eventually she pulled away, regrettably, and looked to Kaiba with a heavy heart. "I'll see you tonight?" she asked.
Kaiba nodded. "We'll go for dinner or something, how's that sound?"
She grinned, leaned over and kissed him again. "Perfect." She murmured into his lips, and then mumbled good-bye before leaving, and going out the door.
Kaiba watched her climb the stairs to go to the apartment, and she rapped on the door unsteadily after a short period of time. She was still very nervous; he could almost see her shaking.
When Kaiba saw Serenity answer the door, he told the driver to take him to Kaiba Corp.
~*~
Serenity's wide brown eyes lit up happily when she saw Roux towering over her. She let out a happy gasp. "Roux!" she grinned, and leapt forward, throwing her arms around Roux. "It's so good to see you! We were so worried after what happened yesterday!"
Roux's eyebrows arched in confusion. What had happened yesterday? Oh yes, when Kaiba had cleared her out of the apartment so fast. Roux had forgotten that Joey, Serenity and Yugi had all been there to witness it.
"So did Kaiba let you off the hook today?" Serenity asked, after she let go of Roux, and looked up at her with the wide eyes. "Are you going to be able to spend the day with us?"
Before Roux could open her mouth, a voice came from inside the apartment. Roux recognized it to be Joey's. "Serenity? Who's there at the door?"
Joey's younger sister turned into the apartment. "Roux's here, Joey." She called back, and then pulled Roux into the living room, closing the door behind her.
Momentarily, Joey emerged from behind the corner leading to the hall. He grinned when he saw Roux and speedily came towards them. He hugged her tightly, and was taken aback when she didn't hug him back. When he separated from her, he was still grinning hopelessly. "You okay? You're white as a sheet. We was worried after what happened yesterday."
Roux gave Joey a very small smile. Joey, innocent Joey, who hated Seto Kaiba but loved Roux Matuko both with such passion, so different yet so alike. How could Roux break his tender soul by telling him that someone he loved and someone he hated were now an item?
She didn't know, and she didn't want to tell him. She was afraid of how he would take it. She wanted to call Kaiba and tell him that she wasn't up to it today, and she knew he would come and get her and take care of her. Kaiba would respect her decision if she didn't want to tell Joey right away.
But if not now, when? That was the main question. Roux sighed heavily and looked down at her fingernails. She didn't know what she was going to tell him, or how she was going to tell him. She was more afraid of how he would react that of actually telling him.
Finally Joey noticed that something was really wrong. He frowned and rubbed her shoulder tenderly. "What's da matter, Roux? You okay?"
Roux smiled forcefully and nodded. "Yeah. I just-Joey I have to tell you something." There, one step was already done.
Joey nodded, shrugging his shoulders. "Okay, tell me."
"Um, can we go into the kitchen?" she asked softly, and pointed to the kitchen door.
Joey was now getting very nervous. He was wondering what she had to tell him, and why she was so nervous. "Sure." He said softly, and they both went into the kitchen slowly, closing the door behind them.
When they were inside the kitchen, Joey turned to Roux with obvious concern in his eyes. "Roux, are you okay? What did Kaiba do to ya?" then his expression hardened. "If he's hurt ya he'll haveta answer to me!"
Roux shook her head. "No Joey, he didn't hurt me. But it does have to do with him."
Joey was now wrought with curiosity. "What is it?"
She bit her lip, and eyed a chair nearby. "Maybe, you should sit down." She said softly. She was now ready to tell him everything that happened the day before, leading up to this moment.
~*~
Seto Kaiba sat alone in his office with the door closed and the lights off. He wanted to embrace the sunlight coming into his office. He tapped and clacked at his keyboard mindlessly, looking over files that no longer seemed of any importance to him. He was smiling.
This was the happiest Kaiba had ever remembered being. After so many years of coldness and heartlessness, of angst and pain and suffering, Kaiba was able to admit that he was truly happy, even if he couldn't admit that he was in love.
And here he thought that he would have ended up killing Roux Matuko because he hated her so much. Trying to remember, he couldn't think of the exact moment when he had first started to have feelings for her. It had been back so long ago it seemed, when in truth it was only a few days ago.
Could love really grow so fast from such a burdened hatred? Kaiba didn't know. No one had really ever told him about feelings such as love and happiness. Certainly not at the orphanage where he had lived, and most definitely not when he lived with his stepfather. He remembered Yugi Moto trying to teach him about the heart of the cards, and he had never really believed it.
But now he had a feeling of what Yugi had been talking about.
Yes, Kaiba truly felt warm inside. But he wasn't too sure if it was enough to melt the ice in his heart.
Opening up Roux's profile, just to look at her picture, Kaiba wondered how things were going now with her. Was she telling Joey the news right now? How was he taking it? He almost longed to be there, just to see the look on Wheeler's face. But this was afterall serious, and Kaiba would take it seriously.
Roux's profile came up, and it had not changed since the day before. There was her picture, where she looked sweet and beautiful as always, which had made Kaiba smile. But then there was the line at the top of the document, reading "I'm sorry, Seto".
Roux hadn't even begun to call him by his first name until that night they proclaimed their love to each other. He raised his eyebrow to that. But he was so curious about whom it was who had been able to break into his mainframe and change around the information. Kaiba wasn't able to figure it out through thought.
Suddenly a new feeling whooshed over him; he felt another presence there with him in his office. He had felt it before; it was very familiar. When he looked up, he wasn't very surprised at all to see Ishizu standing there in the middle of his office, smiling delicately at him.
Kaiba clenched his eyes closed for a moment. Oh, what Ishizu would have to say about him and Roux boggled his mind. Would she laugh? Would she be cocky? He didn't know, and there was only one way to find out. He raised his azure eyes and stared at her for a moment or two.
Ishizu didn't move, and the smile on her lips stayed. She watched him, as though she could read his mind. She had come to talk to him about Roux, what else would she talk to him about?
Kaiba sighed. "Well, I suppose you're going to say 'I told you so' or something, Ishizu?"
She chuckled in her throat. "I wouldn't say something like that." She assured him. "However, might I mention that I see a new light in your eyes, Seto Kaiba. A warm one."
Kaiba stood up, looking at Ishizu. He wasn't mad at her for appearing so suddenly or anything. He was somewhat glad to see her. He was sure she would be rather surprised knowing that he and Roux were now in love, rather than the last time she had come to check on him. When Kaiba still hated Roux with seething passion.
"I am glad for you, Seto." Ishizu said, and then her warm smile fainted softly. "However, I came to warn you. Do not let your feelings for Roux Matuko stand in the way of your duty."
Kaiba nodded. "I won't, Ishizu. Mark my words, I will never let anything hurt her."
Ishizu chuckled. "I believe it. But please be wary. My brother has new plans for both you and Roux."
Kaiba was rather surprised. He had almost completely forgot about Marik ever since he and Roux had been together. For a moment he had trouble- picturing Marik in his head. Then he was curious. Did Marik know about him and Roux?
"He will try his new plan at any time, so you must be on your just guard." Ishizu warned, and then she bowed her head. "Remember, by no means can Marik possess either the millennium stone or the Egyptian god card I gave you."
Kaiba nodded. "I understand. I won't let it happen, I promise." He said softly.
Ishizu nodded. "Good. I have faith in you, Seto Kaiba. I know you won't let anything happen to the woman you feel so strongly for." Then she gave him a warm smile. "Afterall, love is the greatest force in the universe. Even greater than anything Marik can uphold."
To this, Kaiba smiled. No one had described love to him as being the greatest force in the universe, but now that he heard the phrase, he nodded and agreed completely. It truly was.
Ishizu meant to turn her back to Kaiba, thus ending their discussion, and their fourth meeting, when Kaiba remembered something abruptly, and gasped. "Wait! Ishizu!"
The Egyptian woman turned and looked at gave Kaiba a curious glance. "Yes?"
Kaiba bit down on his lip and tried to remember his question. It was on the tip of his tongue. Ah yes, now he remembered. "That dream that I had...did you see it?"
Ishizu gave him a sad look. "It was the prophecy of what will happen if you fail." She said grimly. "If Marik possesses such power, all will die. Even Roux."
Kaiba's heart gave a pained thump. "I will not let that happen." He promised her, and himself.
She nodded. "I have faith in you."
~*~
Joey sat staring at Roux intensely, his palms flat on the table, his face expressionless, and his eyes almost completely blank. Roux tried to counter how long he had been sitting like this. It was beginning to worry her a little bit.
She had just told Joey about her and Kaiba. Apparently he hadn't quite taken the news too well. Roux chewed on her lower lip, cursing to herself. She knew he wouldn't take this too well, she knew he wouldn't respond greatly. Not to this news, at least. She half-expected him to start screaming and yelling, not to go frozen as if he was dead.
Roux couldn't stand the quiet any longer. She reached forward to touch Joey's hand comfortingly. "Joey." she whispered softly. His hand was clammy and cold.
Finally his eyes stirred, and he started to rub his eyes. "Lemme get this straight." He said after awhile, and then looked down at the table. "You, and Kaiba. Together." He put his two pointer fingers together at the tips.
Softly she nodded. "Yes, that's right."
"Ooh boy." He grumbled, and then began to rub his face again. "I dunno if I can take this." He said shaking his head. "How did this happen? I thought you two hated each other."
Roux laughed softly. "We did for awhile. But then." she smiled softly. "I don't know, we just blossomed, I guess." She started to blush a little bit.
Joey didn't know what to think. He had just learned that a good friend of his was dating his worst enemy. How was he supposed to take it? In truth he wanted to scream and yell and make weird noises to symbolize his frustration and confusion, but he was too paralyzed to move, not to mention that he didn't want to freak Roux out.
"Joey, will you please say something?" Roux was now nervous because he wasn't saying anything really. She was scared he was mad.
The blonde boy sighed and ran his hands roughly through his hair, trying to give off the impression that he was thinking when he really wasn't. He saw clearly that she was happy, he hadn't seen her happy like this in a long time, and he didn't want it to fade. But did Kaiba really have to be the source of that happiness?
"Okay." Joey breathed in and nodded. "Okay Roux, I can see that you're happy, and nothing is more important to me than your happiness." He assured her, and without waiting for a reply from her red lips he continued. "And if Kaiba is the one to make you so happy.well then I guess I can't get mad. Even if it is him." He gave her a sad smile.
Roux felt suddenly so happy and relieved at the same time, and without warning she jumped up and flung her arms around Joey, hugging him extra tightly. "Oh Joey! I knew you'd understand! I just knew it!" she felt like she would cry.
Joey wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back, even if he was still feeling uneasy about the whole thing. But he saw Roux was happy. He wanted her to stay happy, especially after the entire ordeal about coming to Domino City, and all the horrible things that awaited her in her stay.
"I'm gonna say one thing though." Joey said when they parted, and Roux looked up at him with a smile. "If Kaiba does anything to hurt ya, I'll pound his ass inta the rug!" he punched the palm of his hand with his fist.
Roux laughed heartily. "Oh Joey, Seto said the same thing about you."
~*~
**** Hehehe! Well the last chapters are coming, and then the sequel. And lately I got a great idea for a triquel (I can't spell). So hang on tight! One more chapter coming for a Christmas present, and then the rest comes after boxing day! MERRY Christmas EVERYBODEE! ^_^ ****
**** I will definitely have this story finished by the New Year! Merry Christmas everybody! ^_^ ****
Chapter Thirty-Two
Rise
Soon the limo stopped outside the Wheeler's apartment building, and it sat there for a little while. Roux looked out the window up at Joey's apartment with a sad and scared look in her eyes.
Kaiba could feel her worry as he held her; she hadn't said a word since they left the mansion. Kaiba had asked her about Joey, what would she tell him? Roux completely didn't know, but she knew she would have to, in the end, tell Joey about their newfound relationship, after all the suffering and hatred they had both gone through.
He could feel her sigh with great nervousness, and Kaiba gave her hand a squeeze. To be truthful he had also been worried about what Wheeler would think, but not nearly as much as Roux was. She was afterall his friend, not Kaiba's.
"Well, are you going to go, or are you coming to work with me?" he asked her softly, secretly wishing that instead of going to see Joey she would as a matter of fact go with him to Kaiba Corp.
Roux looked at him and gave him a forced smile. "As charming as that sounds," she turned back to the window and sighed hopelessly. "I gotta face the music."
Kaiba nodded. "Well, don't procrastinate too long."
She nodded, and then she moved to turn the handle on the door. She hesitated, bit her lip and turned back to her blue-eyed lover. "What if he freaks out at me?" she asked.
Kaiba shook his head. "He won't. He likes you too much."
"Well what if he becomes angry and-and what if he yells or something?" she couldn't keep her mind in track, she was too worried about Joey's reaction to the news. In desperation she flung herself onto Kaiba, hugging to him. "Seto, I can't do this. I can't face his eyes."
Sighing, Kaiba hugged her gently to him, leaning down so he could smell her romantic scent. "Just tell him the truth, calmly. And if he gets mad, if he yells or if he makes you cry, just give me a call and I'll be down here in five minutes and kick his ass."
Roux stifled a tiny chuckle, and then she sat back up to smile at him. "I don't think it will come to that." She said.
Kaiba didn't think so either. He nodded to the door. "Go. You can't wait forever to tell him. Unless you want me to tell him?" he knew that wouldn't be a good idea.
Roux also knew it wasn't a good idea. She shook her head. "No, let me. I better do it." She said, and then opened the door. She turned to Kaiba. "Wish me luck."
Before she could part from him he kissed her lips softly, as a secret way to tell her 'good luck'. She kissed him back, and she almost wished that she didn't have to tell Joey about them. She just wanted to stay there with Kaiba forever.
Eventually she pulled away, regrettably, and looked to Kaiba with a heavy heart. "I'll see you tonight?" she asked.
Kaiba nodded. "We'll go for dinner or something, how's that sound?"
She grinned, leaned over and kissed him again. "Perfect." She murmured into his lips, and then mumbled good-bye before leaving, and going out the door.
Kaiba watched her climb the stairs to go to the apartment, and she rapped on the door unsteadily after a short period of time. She was still very nervous; he could almost see her shaking.
When Kaiba saw Serenity answer the door, he told the driver to take him to Kaiba Corp.
~*~
Serenity's wide brown eyes lit up happily when she saw Roux towering over her. She let out a happy gasp. "Roux!" she grinned, and leapt forward, throwing her arms around Roux. "It's so good to see you! We were so worried after what happened yesterday!"
Roux's eyebrows arched in confusion. What had happened yesterday? Oh yes, when Kaiba had cleared her out of the apartment so fast. Roux had forgotten that Joey, Serenity and Yugi had all been there to witness it.
"So did Kaiba let you off the hook today?" Serenity asked, after she let go of Roux, and looked up at her with the wide eyes. "Are you going to be able to spend the day with us?"
Before Roux could open her mouth, a voice came from inside the apartment. Roux recognized it to be Joey's. "Serenity? Who's there at the door?"
Joey's younger sister turned into the apartment. "Roux's here, Joey." She called back, and then pulled Roux into the living room, closing the door behind her.
Momentarily, Joey emerged from behind the corner leading to the hall. He grinned when he saw Roux and speedily came towards them. He hugged her tightly, and was taken aback when she didn't hug him back. When he separated from her, he was still grinning hopelessly. "You okay? You're white as a sheet. We was worried after what happened yesterday."
Roux gave Joey a very small smile. Joey, innocent Joey, who hated Seto Kaiba but loved Roux Matuko both with such passion, so different yet so alike. How could Roux break his tender soul by telling him that someone he loved and someone he hated were now an item?
She didn't know, and she didn't want to tell him. She was afraid of how he would take it. She wanted to call Kaiba and tell him that she wasn't up to it today, and she knew he would come and get her and take care of her. Kaiba would respect her decision if she didn't want to tell Joey right away.
But if not now, when? That was the main question. Roux sighed heavily and looked down at her fingernails. She didn't know what she was going to tell him, or how she was going to tell him. She was more afraid of how he would react that of actually telling him.
Finally Joey noticed that something was really wrong. He frowned and rubbed her shoulder tenderly. "What's da matter, Roux? You okay?"
Roux smiled forcefully and nodded. "Yeah. I just-Joey I have to tell you something." There, one step was already done.
Joey nodded, shrugging his shoulders. "Okay, tell me."
"Um, can we go into the kitchen?" she asked softly, and pointed to the kitchen door.
Joey was now getting very nervous. He was wondering what she had to tell him, and why she was so nervous. "Sure." He said softly, and they both went into the kitchen slowly, closing the door behind them.
When they were inside the kitchen, Joey turned to Roux with obvious concern in his eyes. "Roux, are you okay? What did Kaiba do to ya?" then his expression hardened. "If he's hurt ya he'll haveta answer to me!"
Roux shook her head. "No Joey, he didn't hurt me. But it does have to do with him."
Joey was now wrought with curiosity. "What is it?"
She bit her lip, and eyed a chair nearby. "Maybe, you should sit down." She said softly. She was now ready to tell him everything that happened the day before, leading up to this moment.
~*~
Seto Kaiba sat alone in his office with the door closed and the lights off. He wanted to embrace the sunlight coming into his office. He tapped and clacked at his keyboard mindlessly, looking over files that no longer seemed of any importance to him. He was smiling.
This was the happiest Kaiba had ever remembered being. After so many years of coldness and heartlessness, of angst and pain and suffering, Kaiba was able to admit that he was truly happy, even if he couldn't admit that he was in love.
And here he thought that he would have ended up killing Roux Matuko because he hated her so much. Trying to remember, he couldn't think of the exact moment when he had first started to have feelings for her. It had been back so long ago it seemed, when in truth it was only a few days ago.
Could love really grow so fast from such a burdened hatred? Kaiba didn't know. No one had really ever told him about feelings such as love and happiness. Certainly not at the orphanage where he had lived, and most definitely not when he lived with his stepfather. He remembered Yugi Moto trying to teach him about the heart of the cards, and he had never really believed it.
But now he had a feeling of what Yugi had been talking about.
Yes, Kaiba truly felt warm inside. But he wasn't too sure if it was enough to melt the ice in his heart.
Opening up Roux's profile, just to look at her picture, Kaiba wondered how things were going now with her. Was she telling Joey the news right now? How was he taking it? He almost longed to be there, just to see the look on Wheeler's face. But this was afterall serious, and Kaiba would take it seriously.
Roux's profile came up, and it had not changed since the day before. There was her picture, where she looked sweet and beautiful as always, which had made Kaiba smile. But then there was the line at the top of the document, reading "I'm sorry, Seto".
Roux hadn't even begun to call him by his first name until that night they proclaimed their love to each other. He raised his eyebrow to that. But he was so curious about whom it was who had been able to break into his mainframe and change around the information. Kaiba wasn't able to figure it out through thought.
Suddenly a new feeling whooshed over him; he felt another presence there with him in his office. He had felt it before; it was very familiar. When he looked up, he wasn't very surprised at all to see Ishizu standing there in the middle of his office, smiling delicately at him.
Kaiba clenched his eyes closed for a moment. Oh, what Ishizu would have to say about him and Roux boggled his mind. Would she laugh? Would she be cocky? He didn't know, and there was only one way to find out. He raised his azure eyes and stared at her for a moment or two.
Ishizu didn't move, and the smile on her lips stayed. She watched him, as though she could read his mind. She had come to talk to him about Roux, what else would she talk to him about?
Kaiba sighed. "Well, I suppose you're going to say 'I told you so' or something, Ishizu?"
She chuckled in her throat. "I wouldn't say something like that." She assured him. "However, might I mention that I see a new light in your eyes, Seto Kaiba. A warm one."
Kaiba stood up, looking at Ishizu. He wasn't mad at her for appearing so suddenly or anything. He was somewhat glad to see her. He was sure she would be rather surprised knowing that he and Roux were now in love, rather than the last time she had come to check on him. When Kaiba still hated Roux with seething passion.
"I am glad for you, Seto." Ishizu said, and then her warm smile fainted softly. "However, I came to warn you. Do not let your feelings for Roux Matuko stand in the way of your duty."
Kaiba nodded. "I won't, Ishizu. Mark my words, I will never let anything hurt her."
Ishizu chuckled. "I believe it. But please be wary. My brother has new plans for both you and Roux."
Kaiba was rather surprised. He had almost completely forgot about Marik ever since he and Roux had been together. For a moment he had trouble- picturing Marik in his head. Then he was curious. Did Marik know about him and Roux?
"He will try his new plan at any time, so you must be on your just guard." Ishizu warned, and then she bowed her head. "Remember, by no means can Marik possess either the millennium stone or the Egyptian god card I gave you."
Kaiba nodded. "I understand. I won't let it happen, I promise." He said softly.
Ishizu nodded. "Good. I have faith in you, Seto Kaiba. I know you won't let anything happen to the woman you feel so strongly for." Then she gave him a warm smile. "Afterall, love is the greatest force in the universe. Even greater than anything Marik can uphold."
To this, Kaiba smiled. No one had described love to him as being the greatest force in the universe, but now that he heard the phrase, he nodded and agreed completely. It truly was.
Ishizu meant to turn her back to Kaiba, thus ending their discussion, and their fourth meeting, when Kaiba remembered something abruptly, and gasped. "Wait! Ishizu!"
The Egyptian woman turned and looked at gave Kaiba a curious glance. "Yes?"
Kaiba bit down on his lip and tried to remember his question. It was on the tip of his tongue. Ah yes, now he remembered. "That dream that I had...did you see it?"
Ishizu gave him a sad look. "It was the prophecy of what will happen if you fail." She said grimly. "If Marik possesses such power, all will die. Even Roux."
Kaiba's heart gave a pained thump. "I will not let that happen." He promised her, and himself.
She nodded. "I have faith in you."
~*~
Joey sat staring at Roux intensely, his palms flat on the table, his face expressionless, and his eyes almost completely blank. Roux tried to counter how long he had been sitting like this. It was beginning to worry her a little bit.
She had just told Joey about her and Kaiba. Apparently he hadn't quite taken the news too well. Roux chewed on her lower lip, cursing to herself. She knew he wouldn't take this too well, she knew he wouldn't respond greatly. Not to this news, at least. She half-expected him to start screaming and yelling, not to go frozen as if he was dead.
Roux couldn't stand the quiet any longer. She reached forward to touch Joey's hand comfortingly. "Joey." she whispered softly. His hand was clammy and cold.
Finally his eyes stirred, and he started to rub his eyes. "Lemme get this straight." He said after awhile, and then looked down at the table. "You, and Kaiba. Together." He put his two pointer fingers together at the tips.
Softly she nodded. "Yes, that's right."
"Ooh boy." He grumbled, and then began to rub his face again. "I dunno if I can take this." He said shaking his head. "How did this happen? I thought you two hated each other."
Roux laughed softly. "We did for awhile. But then." she smiled softly. "I don't know, we just blossomed, I guess." She started to blush a little bit.
Joey didn't know what to think. He had just learned that a good friend of his was dating his worst enemy. How was he supposed to take it? In truth he wanted to scream and yell and make weird noises to symbolize his frustration and confusion, but he was too paralyzed to move, not to mention that he didn't want to freak Roux out.
"Joey, will you please say something?" Roux was now nervous because he wasn't saying anything really. She was scared he was mad.
The blonde boy sighed and ran his hands roughly through his hair, trying to give off the impression that he was thinking when he really wasn't. He saw clearly that she was happy, he hadn't seen her happy like this in a long time, and he didn't want it to fade. But did Kaiba really have to be the source of that happiness?
"Okay." Joey breathed in and nodded. "Okay Roux, I can see that you're happy, and nothing is more important to me than your happiness." He assured her, and without waiting for a reply from her red lips he continued. "And if Kaiba is the one to make you so happy.well then I guess I can't get mad. Even if it is him." He gave her a sad smile.
Roux felt suddenly so happy and relieved at the same time, and without warning she jumped up and flung her arms around Joey, hugging him extra tightly. "Oh Joey! I knew you'd understand! I just knew it!" she felt like she would cry.
Joey wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back, even if he was still feeling uneasy about the whole thing. But he saw Roux was happy. He wanted her to stay happy, especially after the entire ordeal about coming to Domino City, and all the horrible things that awaited her in her stay.
"I'm gonna say one thing though." Joey said when they parted, and Roux looked up at him with a smile. "If Kaiba does anything to hurt ya, I'll pound his ass inta the rug!" he punched the palm of his hand with his fist.
Roux laughed heartily. "Oh Joey, Seto said the same thing about you."
~*~
**** Hehehe! Well the last chapters are coming, and then the sequel. And lately I got a great idea for a triquel (I can't spell). So hang on tight! One more chapter coming for a Christmas present, and then the rest comes after boxing day! MERRY Christmas EVERYBODEE! ^_^ ****