A/N: Hello! Again, my deepest thanks go out to all my reviewers. Thank you so much! One reviewer thought that the last chapter was a little short, so this one is longer. Not much longer, but at least a little bit. I thought that where it ended was good and couldn't come up with anything to write after it. So, instead of taking away from the ending and forcing myself to write something more, I left as is. I hope you all agree with me. Anyway, angst and fluff in this chapter. Issues are brought up, but I'm sure you all figured that out. Um…I think that's it, so sit back and enjoy!

Warning: Yaoi—male/male relationship. You have been warned. Multiple times.

Disclaimer: Now class, who can tell me what Marz owns? Good answer, Johnny. Nothing! At least, where Yu-Gi-Oh is involved.

Rating: PG-13. Or…what is it? T? K? I don't remember.

Pairings: Seto/Jou

Dreams, Dread, and Puppies

Chapter 3

Seto opened the door to his room and slid silently inside. On his way there he had given a maid the prescription with an order to have it filled immediately. He planned on easing his puppy's pain as soon as possible.

He moved gracefully to the side of the bed and sat down, smoothing a lock of wayward hair from his pup's face. "Who's been hurting you?" he murmured. He let out a quiet sigh when he received no answer. "I guess you'll want some water when you wake up, huh, pup?" With one last look at his golden puppy he stood and went into his bathroom, filling a cup with cold water.

As the water neared the top of the cup a soft groan reached his ears. Quickly, he turned off the water and went back to the bedroom. He looked down, waiting for his puppy to open his eyes. A moment later he cursed himself, knowing he looked like a worried housewife. Instantly, he spotted a chair and dragged it over to the side of the bed. He all but threw himself in the chair, doing his best to appear nonchalant as brown eyes slowly blinked open.

"Seto," Jou managed to croak, not fully awake yet.

Seto allowed himself a small smile before going back to his laid-back pose. "Welcome back to the land of the living, puppy."

Having something to focus on, Jou turned his head toward Seto's voice and forced his eyes open. "Thanks." He took as deep a breath as he dared. "I passed out, didn't I?" Seto nodded. "Well, at least I didn't ruin your car," he said with a grin. "I'm guessing that since I don't hurt any more than I already did, you must've caught me."

Seto sat forward in his chair. "Would I do anything else?"

"Nah. I am your favorite puppy, after all."

"And how is my favorite puppy feeling?"

"Like I got my ass kicked. But that's nothin' new." Jou's eyes widened as he realized hat he just said.

Seto's eyes narrowed. "What was that?"

"Nothin'," Jou replied quickly.

"I don't appreciate being lied to, Katsuya," Seto told him icily.

"I'm not lyin'! I just…don't wanna talk right now," he finished quietly, looking away.

Seto stood from his chair. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on!"

"I never asked for your help!" Jou yelled, trying to sit up. He immediately cried out in pain, falling back on the bed, eyes and teeth clenched.

Seto resisted the urge to hold him until the pain went away. "I'll try to remember that." He turned and walked toward the door, pausing slightly at a hushed whisper that he didn't quite hear. He'd figure out what he said later. Now he needed to check on the medicine. He didn't notice the tears on his puppy's face as he exited the room.

XxXxX

Mokuba paused out side his brother's room. It's been long enough, hasn't it? The doctor left so Seto's had time to be alone with Jou. I wonder if he's awake yet? Pressing his ear up to the door, he strained to hear what was going on inside. The soft sound that finally reached his ears made him frown. Who's crying? Seto wouldn't…unless… Mokuba's eyes widened as his heart sped up. Opening the door a crack, he peeked in, only to breathe a sigh of relief. Jou was all right. But…

The younger Kaiba's frown deepened when he took in Jou's form curled on the bed, crying into his brother's pillow. Seto was nowhere to be seen and Mokuba got the feeling Jou wasn't openly sobbing because of any physical pain he was in. Sighing, he shut the door, one question running through his mind. What did my brother do, now?

He wandered downstairs in search of his brother. Once he spotted him, his steps became more determined. He marched up to Seto and stood in front of him, hands on his hips. "What did you do to him?" he demanded.

Seto didn't even twitch at his brother's outburst. He simply kept staring ahead of him from the chair he was sitting in. "What are you talking about, Mokuba?"

"I'm talking about Jou. What did you do to him?"

"I tried to help him. Obviously he doesn't want it," Seto replied bitterly.

Mokuba sighed. "What happened?" he asked tiredly.

"I tried to get him to tell me what happened to him and he wouldn't tell me. I can't help him if he doesn't tell me what's wrong, Mokbua!"

"You yelled at him, didn't you?"

Seto finally looked at him. "What?"

"You did, didn't you? You yelled at him or said something mean!" Mokuba stared at him until he finally looked away, making Mokuba sigh again. "Big brother, you can't force people to tell you things."

"What are you getting at?"

"Seto, you want him to tell you that he's being beaten!" Mokub exclaimed. He continued at Seto's quizzical look, "Look, I eavesdropped on the doctor. Big deal."

Seto's eyes narrowed. "Mokuba…"

"Seto, listen!" Mokuba got down on his knees, placing his hands on his brother's knees. "You know what being abused is like; you know how hard it is to tell people. I'm the only one who knows because I was there! You also know how stubborn Jounouchi is. You'll only hurt him more by forcing him to tell you before he's ready to. Big brother, whatever you said to him up there must've really hurt him 'cuz he's crying pretty bad," he continued softly.

"He is?"

Mokuba nodded. "And I don't think it's because of his ribs."

Seto sighed, covering his face with his hands. "I made a mess of things again, didn't I?"

Mokuba smiled. "Yup. But you can fix it. Just go hug him, apologize, and tell him you love him. It's always worked before."

"Thanks, little brother. Can you stay here and wait for Jou's medicine to get here and then bring it to me?"

"Sure thing!"

Seto smiled a bit, ruffled his hair and stood. Then he made his way back to his room to repair the damage he caused.

XxXxX

For the second time that day Seto opened the door to his room and silently slipped in, closing it behind him. The sight he saw before him tore at his heart. Mokuba was right, he had hurt his puppy. Now he was going to fix it.

Jou didn't seem to notice his presence as he walked across the room and sat on the side of the bed. For a moment Seto just watched him, until he realized Jou was crying into his pillow. Does he wish that were me? he wondered.

Seto reached down and placed a gentle hand on the side of his puppy's face. Jou looked up at him, for a moment startled out of his tears. They started up again once he realized who was with him. The two boys looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Jou finally looking down and starting to back away jolted Seto into action.

He thinks I don't want him anymore, he thought to himself in sudden realization. Quickly, he reached out with his other hand to place it on the other side of Jou's face. His heart cried when his puppy flinched at the sudden movement. Slowly and gently he wiped Jou's tears away and leaned down to place a kiss on his forehead. Then he brought Jou to him so he sat in his lap, head resting in the crook of his neck. He felt his puppy's tears on his skin as he held him close.

"I'm sorry, puppy," he whispered softly.

Jou cried harder and wrapped his arms around Seto's chest. He knew he couldn't trust his voice so instead he shook his head and pressed a kiss to the side of Seto's neck. Then he went back o his original position to shed the tears he couldn't hold back.

Seto continued to hold him, not knowing what else to do besides stroke his hair. He knew he was forgiven when he felt the kiss on his neck and allowed himself a small smile. But what could his puppy be crying about this whole time? Unless it was just all coming out now, all the pain and fear he never let go.

There were far too many tears for the CEO's liking, but he knew it had to happen. He couldn't let his puppy turn out to be like him. He wouldn't. So he sat there as a silent support until his pup cried himself out.

"I'm sorry." Even though they were barely a whisper, the words still startled him.

Seto looked down ad realized Jou had stopped crying. "What?"

Jou cleared his throat. "I'm sorry about earlier and…now. I haven't cried like this since Shizuka left."

The brunette shook his head and kissed his puppy's hair. "You have nothing to be sorry about. I…shouldn't have pushed you to tell me what happened and I'm sorry."

Jou smiled up at him. "You only pushed 'cuz you were worried and you love me. Right?"

Seto smiled back, seeing the need for reassurance in the blonde's eyes. "Very much, yes. To both." He felt his heart lighten at the glowing smile Jou gave him. He took Jou's face in his hands again and leaned down to capture Jou's lips in his in a quick kiss. "Sometimes it takes a big kick from a little brother to get me going in the right direction. Speaking of which…Mokuba, you can come in now."

A surprised squeak came from the other side of the door. A moment later a head full of black hair popped in. "How'd you know I was there?"

"I'm your brother, I know everything. Now come in here and give me the medicine."

Mokuba made a face but came in anyway. "Seto, that stopped working when I was six."

"Too bad, I'm still your brother."

He smiled, handing Seto a bottle of pills. "Wouldn't have it any other way. It says to take one every six hours as needed and not to take more than four in twenty-four hours." He looked at Jou with concerned eyes. "Are you okay, Jou?"

"I'll be fine, don't you worry about me. Now give me one 'a those pills."

XxXxX

After a long while of convincing Mokuba that yes, Jou was really all right and no, he wasn't going to leave because his brother did something stupid, the black-haired pre-teen finally left. Seto and Jou waited until they were sure Mokuba was a safe distance away before turning to each other.

Jou looked at Seto only a moment before launching himself into his arms, crushing their lips together in a heated kiss. To say Seto was surprised would be an understatement, but not an altogether unpleasant one. He let his puppy have his way for once, leading the passionate tongue-war. Both were disappointed when they had to separate for air.

"What…was that for, puppy?" Seto panted.

Jou rested his head on Seto's shoulder. "Just…checking." He waited for his breathing to calm before he continued. "I didn't think you were going to come back," he admitted softly. "And Mokuba was worried I'd leave you."

"Why were you worried I wouldn't come back? We've had our fights before."

Jou looked down, hanging his head. "I know and I'm sorry for doubting you. It's just…when you're told you're worthless and nobody wants ya enough times you start to believe it."

Seto felt a stab of guilt. "I didn't help with that, did I? I've told you that countless times. Puppy, if I could take it back—" He was cut off by a chuckle.

"Are you kidding? That's how we noticed each other, got to know each other. I wouldn't trade that, even though I said some pretty nasty stuff, too. But if not for our fighting, we never would've made it here. Being with you is worth everything."

"I'm glad you feel that way because so do I." Seto moved so his forehead touched Jou's. "You don't have to worry about me leaving you, pup, no matter what anyone else tells you. You and Mokuba are everything to me," he whispered.

Jou felt tears prick the back of his eyes and could only nod. Deciding he needed to be closer to him, Jou climbed in Seto's lap again, resting his head in its previous spot in the crook of his neck. He sighed happily.

"How do you feel?"

"Fine. The pain-killers work miracles. But I'm not gonna do back-flips anytime soon."

Seto chuckled a bit. "I'm not worried."

Jou lifted his head long enough to stick out his tongue, then went back to his spot. The sat in silence for a while before Jou noticed that Seto was playing with the hair near his neck. Something was up.

"What is it, Seto?" The hand faltered.

"What's what?"

"Come on, Seto. You only play with that part of my hair when you're nervous. What is it?"

Seto thought about pulling his hand back but decided against it. Jou' hair was just too soft. "You're not going to like what I want to ask you."

Jou forced himself not to tense up, already knowing what was on his mind. He took a deep breath. "Go ahead and ask, Seto. I'll answer you."

"You don't have to, Katsuya."

Jou shook his head. "No, you deserve to know."

Seto paused for a moment to nuzzle Jou's hair in a brief gesture of comfort. "Who hurt you?" he asked quietly.

"My dad," Jou answered after a moment of silence.

"How long?"

"Ever since mom left with Shizuka. He wasn't always mean and a drunk, it was just after they left. He just…stopped living and blamed everything on me."

"The divorce happened when you were ten, right? So, you've…he's…" Seto's eyes widened in realization.

Jou nodded. "Almost eight years now."

"Didn't you ever want to leave?"

"Of course I did. But I needed to know he'd be taken care of. He'll die if he's left alone. I know he hurts me, but he's still my dad. And besides, where would I have gone? My friends still don't know, my mom left me there to rot…who would've taken me in? And don't say you would've 'cuz I didn't have you until recently."

Seto nodded. "Katsuya…if you want to, you can stay here."

Jou smiled up at him. "I know."

"After what he did to you, I can have him put away."

"But…they'd send me to a foster home. They wouldn't let me stay here. Would they?"

"I'm Seto Kaiba. They're all afraid of me."

Jou giggled and snuggled up to him. "Afraid that big bad-ass CEO man who wears boxers with Blue Eyes White Dragons on them will eat them for breakfast."

Seto flushed. "Mokuba got them for me."

That just made Jou laugh harder. "I know, you couldn't just throw them out."

"If you don't stop laughing I'll never let you see me in my boxers again."Jou snickered. "Oh, now that would be a shame!"

A/N: All right, there it is! Chapter three! Woohoo! I hope that length is better. I'm not promising that all the chapters will be long, they tend to just end themselves. :) Again, if you can think of any ways that I can improve, please let me know. A special thanks goes out to Seto'swhiterose for the especially long reviews! I look forward to getting them every time I update. As do I with all reviews. I read them all and take every one to heart. …unless it's a flame, but I haven't gotten any of those yet. Knock on wood. Anyway, thank you muchly!