Rowan: I had started chapter five, but then I lost it! So now I have to start over again! Bummer!

Siran:…So, get writing!

Rowan: Right. Oh, and thanks for the reviews!

Disclaimer: Once upon a time, a brilliant person created an amazing anime/manga called YuGiOh! It went on to become extremely successful and made this person very rich. Unfortunately, that person is not me.

Not me: That's right! I created it! I'm a genius!

Rowan: I meant that I, Rowan, did not create it!

Warning: Um, some shonoun-ai, which is boy/boy fluff and such. If you don't like, I suggest you leave now. And if you don't (leave even though you don't like), well, don't say I didn't warn you. Also, there may be some OOCness in the story.

AN: In this story, Jou is a reporter for the school newspaper, and Mai is in Domino High School. Also, everyone is fifteen, Shizuka's fourteen going on fifteen, and Mokuba's nine.

A Love Denied

Chapter 5: Opportunistic Offer

---

Jou rushed into the newspaper office and stopped Otogi. "Hey, Otogi, is that the newspaper? You haven't printed it yet, have you?"

The raven haired editor blinked in surprise. "Uh, yeah, this is the newspaper. Why, are we missing something?"

Jou opened the paper up and taped the paper Kaiba had given to him over an ad for the school car wash. "There, you can go print it now."

Otogi looked at the new ad Jou had put in. "A dare?" he asked, confused.

"You could say that," Jou replied.

"Why did you put that in there?"

"Kaiba made me," Jou explained simply.

"Since when do you do what Kaiba says?" Otogi inquired.

"Since…since he found out who my crush is," Jou said quietly.

"Ouch," Otogi hissed in sympathy.

"Yeah, well, it's really my fault he found out in the first place, so…Well, see ya around Otogi!"

"Yeah, see you Jou!"

~*~~*~ (Same first POV as last chapter)

I had just finished with the copy machine when I bumped into that arrogant bastard Kaiba. I dropped all my copies, and I had a lot. I bend over and started gathering them up, hoping to pick up my photocopy of my diary entry, but no such luck. Kaiba bent down to help me, and would you believe it? He picked that paper up!

"Hmm, your diary?" he asked, laughter in his voice.

"Give it back," I hissed.

He just ignored me and instead started reading my entry out loud. "'March 21s ', why wasn't that the day after the dance?" he asked, before continuing. "'I never thought it could have happened, but it did. I fell in love. It was at the dance. I had slipped in puddle of juice and he caught me. He looked so heroic and courageous at that moment, I can't believe that I didn't realize it before. And yes diary, I said 'he'. Who'd have thought? Who'd have thought I'd have fallen in love with Honda Hiroto?'"

I glared at that prying …CEO, for lack of a description. "Alright Kaiba. So you know who I'm crushing on. What're you going to do about it?"

Kaiba simply smirked at me. "Just wait and see."

~*~~*~ (Hopefully you all know it's not Yami)

The next day, Jou walked into the classroom in abnormally high spirits. Maybe it was because he was on time for once, or because he hadn't seen Kaiba all weekend, or maybe just because he had actually woken up on the right side of the bed. Whatever the reason, Jou was happy. That is until he saw his sister and Yuugi cuddling in the back of the classroom. Then he remembered how Yuugi had lied to him about his sister.

Jou stormed up to the cute couple. "Yuugi, I'd like to speak with you."

Everyone (which means Yami, Anzu, Honda, Ryou, Yuugi, Shizuka, Mai, and Otogi) looked up in surprise at the tone in Jou's voice. The tone he only used with Honda or Otogi if either got too close to his sister. "Yes Jou?"

"Why did you lie to me about you and my sister? You're my best friend, I trusted you!"

Yuugi blinked up, tears in his eyes. "Oh Jou, I'm really sorry! Please, I only did it because I thought it'd be for the best!"

"The best?"

"I thought that if I approached you and asked to date Shizuka you'd explode! So I thought that if I asked to take her to the dance, you'd rather me go than with her than Honda or Otogi!"

Jou's eyes narrowed. "But why did you date her behind my back?"

"I didn't want to wait until the dance!" Shizuka interjected.

"Shizu…?"

"Yes, it's my fault! I'm tired of you dictating who I can date and when! And I didn't think it right that Yuugi, your best friend, has to be afraid of your reaction to wanting to date me! So it was me who wanted to date behind your back!"

Jou was taken back with surprise. "Shizuka, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you wouldn't listen to me! I tried, but no! Your head was in the clouds!"

"Sorry Shizuka. I'll try to be a better brother."

Shizuka snorted. "Jou, you're a fine brother, just try to be a more attentive one, okay?"

"Sure." Jou gave Shizuka a hug, and it was all sibling happiness until Honda had to interrupt it. "Hey, Yami, Anzu, get a load of this! You're rated as the cutest couple in school now!" Jou ran over to Honda. "They print that in the newspaper?"

Honda nodded. "Yeah! For the past month or so Shizuka and Yuugi were number one, but it seems that Yami and Anzu have taken over that title."

"Wait a second…you knew that Yuugi and Shizuka were dating, but you still chased after her?"

"Jou, we all knew, except you. I just flirted with her to keep up appearances."

Jou blinked. "And what about you Otogi? Did you know too?"

Otogi shook his head. "Jou, I'm the editor-in-chief of the newspaper."

Jou slapped his forehead. "Well I feel stupid!"

"Not too hard for you, eh mutt?" a cold voice said behind them.

Jou whipped around. "Kaiba," he growled.

Kaiba grinned icily. "I wouldn't try to patronize me, if I were you," he advised. His eyes darted quickly to Yami, then back to Jou, who was seething. "If you know what I mean…"he continued, as he walked over to his seat.

"Yeah, well you can't tell! I did what you wanted, now you have to keep up your end of the bargain!" Jou said angrily.

"And what makes you think I would honor that promise?" Kaiba asked sinisterly back, then sat down and started working.

"Uh, Jou, what was that about?" Yuugi asked.

"Nothing," Jou replied through gritted teeth.

"So, Yami, Anzu, what do you think about you guys being the cutest couple in school?" Honda asked to change the subject.

Anzu blushed. "Oh, I don't know…"

Yami hugged her. "Stop being modest. You knew we were going to reach that status sometime."

Yuugi smiled at them. "Well, congratulations guys."

"Yeah. You halted Yuugi's and my record!" Shizuka added.

"You guys deserve it," Ryou added. "You're so lucky that you got to be in the paper!" he continued, glancing wistfully over at Bakura, who was huddled over something with Malik and Marik.

"Hey Ryou! There's something about you in here too!" Honda exclaimed.

"What? Let me see!" Ryou said, reaching over and taking the paper from the brunette.

"'Mysterious Occurrences At The Dance'" Ryou read. "'Last Friday, many students were found to be missing during the dance. We are not sure exactly who is behind it all, but we suspect it to be a certain Bakura Ryou…'" Ryou's eyes narrowed. "Oh, Bakura's soo dead!" he said vehemently as he stomped across the room and over to his other half. Malik, Marik, and Bakura quickly hid whatever they were working on and put on innocent faces as the angry teen approached. "Bakura, did you have anything to do with this?"

Bakura blinked up at his alter ego. "Who, me?"

"If you don't tell me, I won't let you hang out with Malik or Marik anymore!"

"Ryou sounds awfully like a mother hen," Honda whispered to Jou, who nodded.

Bakura hung his head in defeat. "Alright, I did it. I sent them to the Shadow Realm because they annoyed me. I freed them yesterday though!"

Ryou glared down at Bakura. "You can't do that anymore Baku-chan! And in order for you to know that I'm serious, you're going to be punished! You don't get any for a week!"

Bakura looked up in alarm. "A week? But-but I can't last that long!"

"Too bad! You need to learn your lesson!"

Yami, Yuugi, Mai, Anzu, Otogi, Honda, Shizuka, and Jou blinked in surprise. "Riight…"

"Uh, Jou, I hate to ask, but what's with that?" Honda asked, pointing to an ad in the newspaper (where does he get all these copies? Only he knows). Jou leaned over to take a better look at what Honda was pointing at. "Oh, that…"

"Oh that?" Honda asked, puzzled.

"Honda, what is it?" Mai inquired. Honda showed her the picture of Jou in the dog suit.

"Uh…Jou, is that what you were talking about when you said that to Kaiba? That you did what he wanted?"

Jou nodded. "Yeah…"

"Why?" Yami questioned.

"Uh…he knows something…I don't want to talk about it anymore. Hey, look at that article there…" Jou said, changing the subject abruptly. Honda, Yuugi, Yami, and Anzu soon forgot about the picture, but Mai guessed why Jou had avoided the subject and Otogi knew. But they both kept quiet.

~*~~*~ (Honda's POV)

I offered to stay after school to help him with the extra newspapers that had not been distributed today. But really, it was just an excuse to get closer to him. I've had a crush on him forever it seems. But I've finally decided that this crush is absolutely hopeless. I'm just going to forge about him after Friday and move on.

I've heard that Mai's available now. I've got it all planned out. Spend one more day pining over him, and then, ask Mai out on a date. I mean, Mai's an incredibly attractive girl, if only I found her attractive. But after Friday, I'll have to.

He smiles at me. "Thanks for helping me Honda. It means a lot to me."

"No problem. I've got nothing else better to do." Than get this last chance to ogle you.

~*~~*~ (Still Honda POV)

I stepped outside and started walking home when I bumped into Kaiba, and accidentally dropping my papers. "Oh, gomen nasai," I said, and bent down to pick up my papers. Kaiba, like the well breed moneybags that he is, bent down to help.

"What's this?" he asked, picking up my agenda. "You planning on asking Mai out on Friday? Good luck," he said, handing my planner back to me and walking away. I don't understand why Jou doesn't like him. He's very polite, when he wants to be.

~*~~*~

Jou stood in the alley and read the paper, then tossed it away, upset. "Why? Why do the gods wish to torture me so? Isn't bad enough I've fallen for him? Why must they make such fun of me?" Depressed, Jou picked up the discarded cigarette box he had found in the dead end. He pulled one out and put it to his mouth, lighting it with a match.

"Well, now you've ruined your chances to be with Yami. Smoking isn't exactly romantic. I've heard that when you kiss a smoker it's like licking an ashtray."

Jou dropped the cigarette and quickly snuffed it out. "What do you want Kaiba?"

Kaiba walked up to Jou. "I need a favor from you."

"Why should I help you?" Jou growled.

"Hear me out, will you? Now, my company is expanding to America shortly and I need to send someone over there to watch over it. I don't want to go, Mokuba likes it here. And I need to send someone I know won't try to take over my company. And I figured that since you're so unhappy here, you'd like to take the job."

Jou blinked, surprised. "It's very tempting, but what about Shizuka? And Yuugi and my friends?"

"It'll only be for six years tops. And there is always e-mail." Kaiba looked scruntizingly at Jou. "Don't you want to forget Yami?"

Jou nodded. "Yes, I do! Alright Kaiba, when do I leave?"

"Now. The flight leaves in three hours, and there's a limo waiting outside of your house to take you to the airport. You're helping me as much as I'm helping you, and if you do you're job correctly, you'll come back to Domino a very rich man."

Kaiba handed Jou the plane ticket. "Oh, and one more thing. Tell Otogi that if he's ever going to tell, to tell now before it's too late."

"Uh, sure. See ya Kaiba! In six years!" Jou ran down the road and too his house, about to start the adventure of a lifetime.

~*~~*~~*~

Rowan: So, what do you think? Good, bad, horrible?

Siran: I think it's okay.

Rowan: Really?

Siran: Uh…yeah! Right guys?

YGO Cast: *in varying degrees of sarcasm* Yeah, it's wonderful!

Rowan: *sad* You hate it, don't you?

Anzu: I'm happy! I've got Yami!

Rowan: Yeah, and you'll have him for…*gasp* at least the next seven chapters!

YGO Cast: *Gasp*

Rowan: Oh, sad…;_;

Ryou: What exactly was all that with Bakura and me?

Rowan: You're lovers and you told him he wasn't getting any lovin' for a week.

Ryou: Oh… You never said anything about Ryou*Bakura!

Rowan: I never said a lot of things…But I do say that people must review if they want to read more!