DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fanfiction produced for entertainment purposes only. Yu-Gi-Oh! and all related characters are the creations of Kazuki Takahashi.
DEDICATION: This part is also for Cheryl, the best critic, inspiration and friend a girl could ever wish for. Yes, she helped me out with the ending of this one too!
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Part 5: Joey and Seto
By Shadow's Mirror
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"Hey Kaiba! What did you do to Téa?" Seto Kaiba blinked in surprise as Joey's voice rang through the hallway. He turned and regarded the blonde-haired boy warily. As much as he disliked dealing with the boy under ordinary circumstances, the boy's furious expression, clenched fists and chosen topic of conversation all suggested that this would be a particularly annoying meeting.
"Wheeler… I don't remember inviting you inside…" Kaiba crossed his arms and scowled at Joey.
"You didn't. I snuck in through the kitchen while your cook was taking out the trash." Joey glared right back at Kaiba, but didn't bother mirroring his actions. He much preferred his fighting stance.
"Fitting. Although if the cook had taken out all of it, you wouldn't still be inside." Kaiba smirked.
"Ha ha. Very funny. Now answer me! What did you do to Téa?" Joey's eyes flashed as he refused to let Kaiba distract him away from his reason for being there. Kaiba sighed.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Now if that's all…" He turned away, signalling that the conversation was now over. There was no way he was going to admit what had happened between he and Téa earlier that day. Especially not to this infuriating puppy! But Joey wasn't through with him. He ran after Kaiba, grabbing him by the sleeve of his long white coat and roughly pulling the startled boy around so they were face to face.
"I'm talking about the fact that she was fine when she came over here this morning, but when Yugi and I met up with her at the park a few minutes ago she was all pale and dazed. She said something about you shutting her up, then she started shaking so badly that she couldn't say anything else. What did you do to her, you jerk?" Joey was snarling by the time he finished. His furious eyes locked with Kaiba's. The older boy scowled but refused to sink to his opponent's level.
"Nothing. She invaded my home and tried to lecture me. I merely covered her mouth before she said something that I would have found particularly distasteful. That is all." His voice remained calm but there was a tense quality to it that didn't go unnoticed by Joey.
"Oh yeah? Well that doesn't explain the state that we found her in! What did you really do to her? Tell me the truth, you jerk, or I swear I'll…" Joey clenched his fists as his anger got the better of him. He was so furious he couldn't even finish off his threat!
"I already told you! I covered her mouth and that was all that happened! Now get out or I'll have security throw you out!" Kaiba finally allowed his own anger to show, his voice snapping out. First Téa and now this! He'd had more than enough for one morning.
"I don't believe you! Go on, Kaiba, tell me! What did you do? Grab her? Push her? What?" Joey refused to back down. He wanted to know what had happened to his friend, and he wasn't leaving until he found out!
"You really want to know?" Kaiba was so angry that he spoke the words without thinking them through first. In fact, he was having trouble thinking anything clearly. His rage was beginning to cloud his mind, and his judgment. Joey was now standing within a few inches of Kaiba; their eyes still locked as they glared at each other.
"Yeah! Whatever you did to her, I dare you to try it with… mmpphhh!" Joey's eyes widened with shock as Kaiba accepted his dare. The sound of footsteps echoed from upstairs, right before Mokuba peered over the balcony and down into the hallway.
"Again? Joey? I wish Seto would make up his mind!"
His little brother's voice made Kaiba's eyes snap open in stunned horror. He struggled and finally managed to pull away, immediately putting several feet of distance between himself and the irritating blond-haired boy. "Wheeler!" He glared at Joey, who smirked back.
"What's up Kaiba? Can't bear the fact that I finally beat you in something?"
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