Joy: Hey, everyone. HUGE delay, sorry about that. I have been kind of busy and stuff, but here we go! Some quick cameo appearances in this chapter and the next one as well, but it is all part of the story. Trust me! (grins) Thank you to all who reviewed. Everyone has been eagerly awaiting Joy telling Kaiba, I see. Well, here's the next chapter!

Phone Tag

"So, what did you want to talk to me about, dad?" Joy asked as she settled down in one of the big comfy chairs of her father's hotel room.

"Just some things I have noticed. Observations, if you will." Steven said as he too sat down across from Joy.

"Oh?" Joy said, tilting her head a bit. "What kind of observations?"

"Like your feelings for Seto Kaiba."

Joy blinked, and then looked away, unable to hide the slight blush on her face. "Why…well…um…" She sighed. "Was it that obvious?"

"Joy, I am your father, and though I am also in charge of a company, that does not mean that I do not pay attention when it concerns you and your feelings. Besides," Steven added with a smile. "The look you gave that boy at the ball was the same look your mother gave me many times."

There was a slight pause. "He told me he loves me already," Joy said with a smile.

"And you told him the same, yes?" Steven prompted.

"I didn't get a chance to respond before all the chaos that night and afterwards," Joy responded. "But we agreed to meet for lunch tomorrow. I'm going to tell him then."

"Good. Now you be sure to keep me posted." Joy nodded eagerly.

"So…is everyone upset about the ball?" Joy asked.

"No, just curious as to what happened and why. This is why I need to hold the press conference. How's the assignment coming along?"

"I started on it just before Seto got online. I'm going to go finish it up now. Then proofread and be done before morning."

"Well, then, my little worker bee," Steven said with a smile. "I'll let you get back to it. If you do get it done, you get a free day tomorrow. Just be sure not to stay up too late, young lady. There is time to do it tomorrow if need be."

"Right, daddy." She got up, let her dad kiss her forehead, then went back to her laptop to continue working.

The next day, Joy got up a bit late. She rushed around the room, hurriedly getting dressed. Katilli appeared in spirit form. "You are going to be late, you know," she gently scolded. "Kaiba Corp. is on the other side of Domino City. At least a thirty minute drive from here."

"I know! I know! I'm hurrying!" Joy grabbed her drawstring bag and rushed out of the room, locking the door before fleeing to the elevator. Then she hurried out to her car and headed off.

Joy got to Kaiba Corp with about five minutes to spare. She swiftly slid past the reception desk and to the elevator. She didn't have but five more minutes till she was late for her get together with Kaiba.

"Excuse me!" She froze, then turned to see an annoyed looking woman not too much older than her glaring back at her from right behind her. "You can't just barge in like that!"

"Kaiba is expecting me," Joy told her.

"Well, Mr. Kaiba is incredibly busy right now to see you. You'll have to come back some other time."

"Bullshit! We have a lunch appointment for noon today and I intend to get up to his office on time. Now if you don't let me through right now, I'll just force my way through!"

"Young lady, if you do not leave immediately, I will summon security!" Joy snorted and started to continue to the elevator, but the woman grabbed her arm. Joy looked at her with a look of death.

"Listen here, lady. If you don't let go of my arm and I mean fast, I'll summon my fist and shove it up your ass!" The woman looked startled and let go. Joy continued to glare at her for a second before stepping into the elevator.

Joy, I sense you are angry. Are you okay?

NO! Joy took a deep breath. Sorry. That damn receptionist! She better not get security after me!

Relax, aibou. Kaiba will take care of it.

He better. Joy burst into Kaiba's office. He looked up from his laptop, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "Did I make it? That damn receptionist of yours delayed me by at least five minutes."

"Don't worry about it. I was working on something and didn't notice the time. I'll grab my coat and we can get going." He stood.

"Kaiba, before we leave, I wanted to tell you… I…think what you said at the ball was so incredibly romantic. I would never have thought that you could be so articulate and say those things. I just wish I could tell you how I feel so well. Just know that I feel the exact same way that you do. I love you and I think getting into a relationship with you would make my life complete. I have had to spend the entire summer trying to fight my feelings down thinking that you would laugh at me. When you told me how you felt, I was so surprised and ecstatic that I could not form words. It was like that weight that had been on my shoulders for months had been lifted. You are always there for me, Seto Kaiba. Every since we met every time I needed help, there you were. And…oh the hell with it!" She leaped forward into Seto's arms and their lips met.

The feeling was like a rush of sensation, like a lightning bolt coursing though their bodies. Joy had never been kissed like this. She felt a surge of emotions flow through her, making her feel lightheaded and yet full of strength at the same time. Seto tasted like a sweet cinnamon, and she could not get enough of the taste. She wanted to stay like this forever, just in his warm embrace.

Seto was also overrun with emotions that threatened to topple him. Kissing Joy was nothing like he ever experienced before. It wasn't something he would want to end soon, either. Joy tasted like a sweet chocolate, a taste that was almost foreign to him and that made it even better. He could stay like this forever, holding her in his arms and being this close and their lips together is such harmony.

Then the door to Seto's office burst open and they broke apart hastily as two men in suits and dark shades rushed into the room, guns drawn.

"What the hell?!" Seto demanded.

"Mr. Kaiba! We received word from your receptionisht that a strange woman had threatened her and was possibly assaulting you at this moment."

Joy's expression immediately turned foul. "Why that no account little piece of – " Joy began. Seto interrupted her.

"Tell her I will be down immediately to talk to her," he told the two men, who bowed and left the room. Seto turned to Joy. "Stay here. I'll be right back for you and my trenchcoat as soon as I chat with her."

"Good idea. If I go down there they won't be able to identify her body."

…Meanwhile…

Ryou had come over to the Game Shop around noon to chat and have lunch with Yugi. Yugi was a bit depressed because his grandfather had to go off on some archeological conference in England for a month. Now they were sitting down and watching their dark sides duel. Suddenly the two darks stood up with serious looks on their faces.

"What's wrong?" Yugi asked.

"Not sure, aibou. There is some disturbance…in the Shadow Realm."

"Akujin?" Ryou asked.

"Possibly," Bakura supplied. The two lights exchanged looks of worry. Then they jumped when the phone rang. Yugi answered.

"Moshi moshi? Yugi speaking."

"Hey Yugi!"

Yugi blinked. "Sakura?"

"Yep! How ya been?"

"Okay for now. It's been really hectic lately."

"Same here. Listen, Cala and Caru have just gone to the Shadow Realm. They got some bad vibes from there just a few minutes ago and went to check it out."

"Wow. The same thing happened here when Yami and Bakura felt something."

"Could one of them go and investigate too? I'm worried about those two being there alone if there's big trouble. Even with the duel monsters."

Yugi asked Yami about it. "I agree to go. Where are they?"

"They're at the Castle of Gemini, my castle in the Shadow Realm. Thanks, Yugi. I really appreciate it a lot."

"No problem. I'm sure Yami would have wanted to check it out anyway."

…Meanwhile…

As Joy waited for Kaiba to return, Katilli appeared in spirit form. "Joy, there is something wrong. There is some imbalance in the Shadow Realm. I can feel it."

Just then Joy got a phone call on her cell phone. "Moshi moshi? Joy speaking."

"Greetings, Joy. It's Moon Shadow."

"Moon Shadow? Hello! How are you?"

"I am fine and hope you are as well. But there is a pressing problem at the moment."

"Really? What is it?"

"There is a disturbance in the Shadow Realm."

"Katilli just felt it, too. Do you think it's serious?"

"Yes. Luna has just gone to look into it. Perhaps Katilli could join her and get to the bottom of this."

Joy relayed the suggestion to her dark. "Katilli says she is on her way."

"I thank you both. I will try to call later if I may."

"Absolutely. Talk to you then. Bye." She hung up. "It may be Akujin. Fill Luna in and make sure things are stable. I'll talk to Kaiba. See if you can get Yami to go with you." Katilli nodded, and then vanished. A second later, Seto walked in.

"I'm ready to go," he said.

"Great!" Joy said with a huge grin. She wrapped her arms around his arm and they left the building together.

Joy: Okay, I don't know if I can get much sappier than for now. Planning on doing a one-shot lemon in the future, but I need to know – who do I do a lemon between? It will be my first one on this site, though I have written them before. Should I do one with Bakura/Katilli? That would be the easiest I suppose, but I'll let you readers decide.

The next chapter is called: Chaos in the Shadow Realm. See you next time and remember to review!