A/N: Here's some angst- it's not a lot, but hey, it'll have to do lol. Feeling sad now- I don't like being mean to Joey and Seto T-T review and make me happy!! XD
Warnings and disclaimers are the same old, same old. Flames will be used to make NZ's summer warm – I'm currently freezing my ass off
In reply: (If I've missed anyone out I am so, so sorry T-T )
Chika of the high Mts: lol I updated!!! holds out fic see? XD
Angelical nightmare: lol ok um can't kill Masaki now lol but I'll try to later ::winks::
Riku's gurl: ::evil laughter:: lol thankies
DeathXStar: thank you!! I'm really glad you liked it! Thanks so much!!
Xamosy: ::blushes:: thank you oh- I never knew that lol ;; thanks for telling me!! Thanks so much!!!
Eclipse- moon: ::faints with happiness:: THANK YOU!! Lol
AuthorfortheGenerations: Thankies!!!! I really don't deserve your wonderful compliements ::blushes:: thanks so much
Mechante fille: lol Seto's a baka :P lol thank you!!
Sugar High Freak: OOH!! Cookies!!! ::gobbles down cookies:: lol thanks!! (for the review and the cookies lol xD)
Mandapandabug: Thank you!! Lol I hope I've updated fast enough!! The next chapter will certainly be out quicker!! Thanks for being such a persistant reviewer xD
Saelbu: Lol thanks!!
Mava: Lol thank you!! I'm glad you like it!
Blue-eyes honeypup: Lol yup he's worried. Lol thank you!!
Essenity: I have no idea why it went bold O.o;; I had it in regular but it changed.. GAH.. uuhhh.. lol are you out of hiding yet?
Johnny-Depp-Luv: Um Masaki's just this bad guy who hates Seto lol and I don't know about Kenji… I wanted him to but I don't think so, not the way the plot's turning out
Marikandcloe: hehe that sounds gross :P lol thanks!!
BarbedWire23: Lol thanks!! Yeah I wanna kill Masaki too -.-;; but I can't…
Suaruxkamui4eva: lol!! THANKs!! I agree with you completely lol
Hikari Raine: lol you're right xD how'd ya guess? Lol :P thanks!!
Optimistic girl94: lol thanks!!!
Anaraz: I'm sorry but it was necessary lol. And um Masaki's some evil guy who hates Seto and wants Joey for his own.
Okay- I'm really, really sorry aout the bold font on the last chapter. I have no idea why it went like that, because it certainly wasn't that way when I uploaded it- I just hope this isn't going to turn out like that -.-;; ::sigh::
!#$&()
Chapter 8
Joey began to see less and less of Seto everyday. Sometimes the only time he saw his lover was when he climbed into their bed at night, and they exchanged a few words- mostly goodnight, and sleep well. They hardly ever talked anymore- Joey began to sink more and more into depression.
Everytime he tried to talk it out with Seto, the brunette simply brushed him off and said that he was busy.
Things have been getting worse and worse. Why is everything falling apart now? What have I done wrong? Joey sat on the bed he and Seto shared, clutching his head in his hands.
He picked up the phone and punched in Seto's private work number.
"What?" Seto snapped.
"Seto? It's me." Joey said softly.
"What do you want?" Seto demanded. "I'm busy."
"You're always busy!" Joey burst out. His nails were digging into his palm, but Joey didn't notice the pain.
"I actually have a job, mutt." Seto shot back. "And it happens to be a busy one. Just tell me what you want and go back to doing what you normally do."
"I just wanted to talk to you." Joey couldn't keep the overwhelming sadness he felt from his voice.
"I don't have time for that. We can talk tonight." Seto said, obviously distracted.
By his work, no doubt, Joey thought bitterly.
"You don't come home until almost 2am everyday! And then you leave again at 6:30am!!" Joey exclaimed. "There is no time to talk Seto!"
"Well find some other time, mutt. But not now." and with those parting words, Seto hung up.
Joey yanked the phone out of its socket and hurled it across the room, watching with some bitter satisfaction as it smashed from the impact of hitting the wall.
"Goddamnit!" he yelled and punched the wall, hard.
He felt no physical pain, but he hurt mentally. Why was Kaiba screwing with his mind like this? To go to all that trouble to get Joey to trust him, telling the blond that he would take care of him, then suddenly becoming Mr. Iceman again!
It doesn't make sense! Damnit, none of this makes sense...
!#$&
Joey felt the bed sink slightly as Seto climbed on. He checked the clock on his bedside table and felt his heart twist in his chest. 4am.
"You need more than 2 hours of sleep, Seto." he said quietly.
Seto grunted and pulled the covers over his lean body. "Goodnight."
"No, not goodnight. We need to talk Seto." Joey said sternly.
"Not now. I'm tired, and I need to be up early tomorrow." Seto muttered.
"Today." Joey corrected softly. He felt tears drip silently down his cheeks, and he turned onto his side, facing away from his lover. "In that case, sleep well."
Because I'm not going to, Joey added silently, before letting his mind go blank.
!#$&
When Joey woke up Seto was gone, as usual. He hadn't expected his lover to stay- why would he? Seto had work to do, and staying just to talk to Joey made no sense at all, at least, not in the brunette's mind.
With a sickening jolt, Joey realised that he wasn't happy with his current position. At first, it had been great- Seto was everything Joey had wanted, and more. But now-
Joey shook his head, trying not to sink into depression again. He couldn't believe that he was stupid enough to think that Seto would change, just for him. To give up work, to take him out, to take him to important events.
I was living on a foolish fantasy. But not anymore, Joey thought firmly. I'm not happy, and I don't see why I should stay with someone who makes me feel this way.
Joey packed his belongings that he left at Seto's house, and drove back to his apartment which he hardly ever stayed in anymore. He looked around at the sparse furnishings and sighed. Somehow the Kaiba mansion had become home to him during the time that he was there.
I wonder if Seto will miss me. He probably doesn't even care.
Joey sighed and picked up the phone and dialled the mansion number, knowing that no one would be there. He got the answering machine and took in a deep breath.
!#$&
Seto looked at the documents sitting on his desk and restrained himself from banging his heads against the wall like a lunatic.
My job is important. I need to get through all of these.
Masaki walked in at that moment, carrying some more documents. "Good morning Mr. Kaiba, sir." there was a smug note in his voice that was barely perceptible.
Seto grunted in reply, frowning slightly- to him the smug note was obvious. He wondered what had made Masaki so happy, but quickly pushed the thought out of his mind. It wasn't any of his business what was going on in other people's lives- he barely had time to worry about his own.
"Good news, Mr Kaiba. Sales are up, and everything's going well." Masaki wondered if Kaiba had even looked at the sale numbers from the months before- if he had, it would've been obvious that Masaki was lying through his teeth- sales had never been so high before.
"Hn." Seto pushed a stack of documents over to make room for the new ones.
"How are things going with you and your partner?" Masaki asked, keeping his tone light.
"Fine." Seto replied through gritted teeth.
Things had not been fine with him and Joey lately- he hardly had time to talk to him, and they never went out anymore.
But surely he understands that I'm a busy man, and that I don't have time for such trivial things, Seto thought.
Masaki hid a smirk. "Glad to hear it. Have a good day Mr. Kaiba." he called over his shoulder as he left the office.
Seto sighed and turned back to the numerous pieces of paper scattered over his desk.
I might take a lunch break and surprise Joey- who knows, it might put our relationship back on track.
He drove back to his mansion and sat down on a stool, resting his head on the kitchen bench, waiting for Joey to come running down the stairs. He waited for 10 minutes, before realising that Joey wasn't home.
But where is he? Seto frowned. It wasn't like his partner to go out during the middle of the day.
Seto checked his mobile for any missed calls, but there were none. He searched around for a note, but there were none as well.
Maybe he's out for a quick lunch or something? Seto shrugged. He noticed the light on the answering machine flashing and pressed the play button, wondering whether it was Mokuba calling to tell him about his trip to England.
Instead it wasn't his brother's voice that filled the large, empty room, but Joey's.
Seto frowned and leaned closer.
"Seto, it's Joey. You might've realised by now that I'm not at the mansion. Our relationship isn't really working out for either of us- you're always too busy, and I just can't be with someone who isn't willing to spend some time with me. I know that sounds selfish, but I don't want the only words between us to be a simple 'goodnight'. So yeah... I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't want to continue this relationship. I love you Seto, and I probably will always love you, and I really wish that this could've worked, but it obviously isn't. So I'm back at my apartment now. You don't need to find me a job- I can manage on my own. See you around, I guess- if you're not too busy working, that is."
For a few seconds Seto simply frowned, confused. Then realisation hit him, hard.
Joey had left. It was over.
Suddenly it was hard to breathe- the very air seemeed to choke him, and his clothes were too tight. Seto clawed off his tie, his mind buzzing with barely suppressed emotion.
Anger, guilt, confusion and sadness swirled around in raging torrents inside him- how could this be happening to him? How could his puppy leave him? What had he done wrong?
Was that what he had wanted to talk about the night before? Whose fault was it? Why didn't Joey sound like he cared?
Seto collapsed onto his knees and clutched his head in his hands, trying to get all of his emotions under control.
I'm fine. I don't need Joey. This is just shock- nothing more. I won't miss him, Seto thought stubbornly. He obviously didn't care about our relationship, and neither did I. It was a fling, nothing more.
His jaw set resolutely, Seto stood up, adjusted his clothing and brushed the dust off his trousers. He put his tie back on and straightened it, and deleted Joey's message from his voicemail.
I'll think about everything later. Right now I have to work.
!#$&
Joey looked around his apartment, shivering slightly. It was so alien to him now- he hadn't been in it for over three months. He threw his bag onto a chair and flopped onto his single bed.
I'll have to start looking for work. I can manage on my own- it will be just like before, except that Seto is out of my life for good.
Joey snuggled into his blankets, but they provided not even half of the warmth that Seto had. He sat up and wrapped his arms around his knees, his slim body shaking with suppressed sobs.
I miss him already. He was so nice to me in the beginning... I thought he actually loved me- I guess not. I was just some conquest to him- something else he could win.
Joey sighed and shook his head. I have to stop thinking about him. Thinking about things past will get me nowhere.
Joey picked up the newspaper and turned to the jobs section. He sat for an hour or so, circling the jobs which he was best suited for and writing down the numbers on a piece of paper. Then he started the long process of calling each one.
By the time the sun had set Joey was tired, annoyed and depressed. None of the jobs were suitable- some paid too low, others already had the position filled, he wasn't educated enough for some- the list went on and on.
Joey threw the piece of paper down with an angry sigh. Nothing seemed to be going right today.
I'll keep looking tomorrow. I need sleep now. And I need to stop thinking about Seto...
The next morning Joey awoke to the sound of his telephone ringing. He blinked, still half asleep. He reached over and picked up the receiver.
"Hullo?" he yawned into the phone.
"Dog, it's me, Prince!" a voice -which was way too cheerful for the time of morning- chirped.
"Oh hey Prince." Joey said sleepily. "What's the matter?"
"Just wanted to see if you were ever going to come back to work."
"I don't know..." Joey rubbed his eyes. "I'm not sure I can willingly go back to, well, you know."
"I know." Prince sighed. "But think about it Joey. It paid you good money, and it was kind of fun, don't you think?"
In a sick, twisted way, yes, it was sort of fun.
"I guess. But still..."
"Come on Dog, just give it a go for a month or so. Just to get back in the swing. If you don't like the game anymore you can quit again. And besides, there's been a guy around here asking for you."
"Asking for me?" Joey frowned. "It wasn't Kenji, was it?"
"Not this time." Prince said uncomfortably.
"Not this time?" Joey echoed. "What do you mean? Prince, tell me!"
"Well Kenji's been around here a couple of times, looking for you. Won't give up- says he's gonna teach you for getting fresh with him. Look Joey, it's nothing to worry about- we've had the police around, and they've put a guard on the front door- you'll be fine, I swear. But this guy's new- looks rich, too. Very well kept." Joey swore he could hear Prince lick his lips. "He won't have anyone other than you."
Joey's frown grew deeper. Strange. Very odd...
"I guess I can come back in for a month or so, to get back in the swing like you said." Joey sighed. "When do I start?"
"Well I talked to management, and-"
"You've talked to management? Already? How'd you know that I would accept your offer?" Joey demanded.
"Calm down Dog!" Prince laughed. "Why are you so suspicious now?" he suddenly grew serious. "Did that Kaiba guy do anything to you? If he has I swear I'm gonna kill him!"
"No, no, Kaiba didn't do anything. We broke up." Joey said shortly.
"Oh. I'm sorry Dog." Prince said apologetically.
"You still haven't told me how you knew I was going to accept." Joey reminded him.
"I didn't know- I was just hoping that you would." Prince said quietly. "It's been really dull without you around here."
A genuine smile tugged at Joey's lips, the first one to grace his face for several days.
"So when do I start?"
"Tonight."
"Alright. See you there then. Usual time?" Joey asked.
"Yep. See you there!"
Joey hung up and sighed, not sure how he should react. He was a prostitute again- should he be happy or upset? All he felt was confusion.
Guess I'm back in the business.
!#$&()
A/N: Hope you guys are happy- Joey's a prostitute again!! XD lol. See you in the next chapter (which I've already written :P I'm just keeping you in suspense lol xD )