Chapter Four

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Domino High School
11.45 a.m.

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It was lunch break and Joey was almost used to be surrounded by Wheeler's friends, day in, day out, as well as his sister. He sat down on a bench and stared ahead. How much longer will this go on? Is it forever? Will I stay Joey Wheeler for the my life? He sighed annoyed.

"What's wrong Joey?" Serenity sat down next to him.

Gladly there was a bit more space between the others and him. Serenity was quite okay so far but the always nagging Tristan, the speechy conservative Tea and Pharaoh Yugi—oh Pharaoh—what a bloody joke!

"Nothing." He replied.

"Really?" She didn't believe him the instant.

"Of course." He assured her.

"Well, then. Can… can I ask you something?"

"Depends what you want to ask." He said weighing already the possibilities of what she might want.

"Something like, from friend to friend. Not really something from sister to brother. I just need your advice." She was a bit uncertain.

"Cut it short, what's bothering you?" He knew talk such as this from Mokuba.

"You know, there are a few guys who happen to want a date with me. And I, well, I don't really want a date with them."

"Don't date them, then. What's the point?" There was always a point!

"It's not that I don't want a date, just not with them. I want someone else to date but he didn't ask me so far."

Good God, a dating problem. Mokuba wasn't in the age so far. Joey took a deep breath before he replied, "then he's a stupid fool, forget him."

"I can't. Maybe he likes me back, who knows? The point is, I'd like to ask him but I'm quite scared he rejects me." She explained with eagerness.

"You'll never know till you try."

"But it would be humiliating if he does." She pouted.

"One question. Why do you want him at all? You're pretty fine the way you are, without a bugging fool around trying to do things to you." She didn't look like a girl to him, who was in need to ask someone out.

"Because I've always had a slight crush on him, except that he was always no one to reach easily. Now that has changed and… I guess, if ever, now would just be the perfect moment."

"Then go for it. You'll never achieve something without effort, even if it's risky, humiliating or even hurtful. No victory comes without a fight. If you're successful, you'll have what you wanted. But that's this side. The other side is, you're a quite pretty girl and if the fool hasn't seen that so far… leave him."

Serenity smiled. "You're really reminding me of someone."

"So, do I? And who would that be!"

"Kaiba. But never mind, your advice was helpful, Joey. I thank you very much." She hugged her brother.

"Welcome." He muttered under his breath.

"Hey Joey, what do you think if we skip next lesson to go to Pizza Hut for a cheese and onion bacon super special?" Tristan suggested.

"No, not a good idea. One, my grades are already bad enough. Two, I'm going to vomit if you even repeat the name of that thing again." Joey said matter of fact.

"Okay, Joey Wheeler. Fine. Your first reason's a bit of out your usual self but I accept it. But the second reason's totally freaking for someone like you!" Tristan pouted like a young child, stomping his foot.

"So?" Joey quirked calmly an eyebrow.

"Or are you already eating in fancy restaurants with your new friend Kaiba?" Tristan had enough anyway.

"Tristan!" Tea scolded her friend.

"Envious, Tristan?" Joey gave an annoyed smirk. "Even if, it wouldn't be any of your business."

"So now it's not even my business anymore. I thought we were friends, Joey. I've done so much for you and you're such an unthankful bastard lately, since you hang out with Kaiba!" Tristan spat the last word disgusted.

"Really, I've no time for childish conversations like these." Joey shook his head.

"Joey! You can't say that to a friend." Yugi cut in now.

"He's even talking like that rich jerk!" Tristan was yelling now.

"So, what do you want to do about it? Bare with me." Joey shrugged, not really caring.

"No, I'll tell you what. I won't bare with you! You've been my friend for the longest time, Joey, I refuse knowing you as long as you play cruel selfish bastard!" Tristan crossed his arms.

"Tristan… wait." Tea tried to calm him down.

Tristan was about to walk off when he stopped midway, recognizing a familiar limousine. Seto Kaiba and his little brother Mokuba were climbing out and heading into the direction of the group of 'to a certain extend former' friends.

"See, there he already is, your precious new friend!" Tristan shouted at Joey.

Joey immediately jumped up and went over to Kaiba and Mokuba. Seeing Mokuba his eyes smiled brightly. How he missed the kid! "What's wrong now?"

"I need to talk to you, I guess, I've finally messed up." Kaiba replied sheepishly.

"Nothing less was to expect. How big is the damage?"

"I can't say that but… listen, we need to work together. Otherwise we won't make it far."

"With you? Never. It's your damn stupidity that nothing works properly. I don't mess up." Joey saw no sense in working together.

"So, the new close friends are arguing. Really, Joey, you do mess up. You just don't see because someone's blinded you by his money." Tristan was spitting his word again in a very disgusted manner.

"What? What's wrong with you Tristan?" Kaiba asked helplessly.

"Who cares?" Joey narrowed his brown eyes.

"Aren't you bloody able to just keep up your friendships! I don't expect you to make them better but could you at least try to keep them for me?" Kaiba's voice pitched three octaves higher.

"Shut up, you idiot. Otherwise, it's all over anyway." Joey ordered.

"What's going on here?" Yugi suspiciously asked the two guys.

"No, I won't shut up, thickhead. I'll destroy more than a company if you won't take care of these people here! Got that?" Kaiba was obviously in rage now.

"Are you threatening me? Don't you dare!" Joey laughed coldly at this.

"I swear I'm gonna strangle you one day!" Kaiba nearly jumped at Joey's throat.

"Just try, puppy!" Joey pushed his buttons.

"What the hell is going on here?" Tea was now stomping with her feet in authority.

"I don't have the slightest clue." Tristan was rather speechless.

"A clue…" Yugi repeated sensing Yami.

Kaiba was far from finished. "Listen, you arrogant jerk, I don't want to work with you either, nor do I want to have you around my friends but don't you understand? We'll destroy both of our lives if we won't cooperate and help each other."

Joey almost laughed at this. "What do you want at all? Since I'm taking care of this life, grades are gradually rising and these so called friends are still here, aren't they? Serenity even asks me for advice—this life finally turns out to be good!"

"Two sides to every story! Mokuba loves his brother even more, now, did you know that?" Kaiba shot back. That finally made Joey silent. His gaze shifted to the little raven haired guy who was standing there watching with a worried expression.

"He doesn't." Joey growled in denial, almost not to hear.

"He does. Right Mokuba? You haven't had so much fun with your brother your whole life. And you haven't been as happy as you are now for many years."

"That's not true." Joey was still growling.

"You know what? He even told me, that he loved it to see me smile and make fun every day. Can you say that of yourself?" Kaiba continued, now really hitting Joey's raw nerves.

Joey's legs suddenly gave away and he sank down on his knees and flat palms. This couldn't be true. Mokuba can't love anyone else more than me. Not to mention the mutt. How in the name of hell could that happen?

"You've poisoned him!" Joey hissed like a snake.

"I didn't do anything, it's your own damn fault." Kaiba crossed his arms triumphantly.

Luckily, no second too late, Joey's necklace fell from out of his jacket. The Duel Monsters card with Mokuba's picture in it. Mokuba's eyes widened. "The card… why do you have the card?"

Joey's gaze shifted to the dangling card. He was out of words to explain why he had the card. Not without to tell who he really was.

"Seto…"

Joey suppressed a tear when he heard his true name, spoken out from the only ever trusty person he knew. His little brother was now calling someone else by his name. I can't accept that life. But if Mokuba's happier with the mutt I will leave him. Darting his eyes upwards to look at Mokuba he didn't trust his eyes. The small guy was staring directly in his eyes.

Kaiba stared at the kid. Had he really recognized his true brother? He wasn't talking to Kaiba when he said his name, it was directed to Joey. Even so, Yugi, Tea, Tristan and Serenity stared at the new turn of this whole scenario. Not that their brains were able to take in what was happening.

Mokuba reached out to grab the necklace and kneeling down in front of Joey, he opened the cover, then he opened the cover of his own card, showing his brother. Holding both pictures in his hands he gazed into the depths of Joey's brown eyes. Not to compare with Seto's clear blue ones but Mokuba hoped to find something though. They say, you can see a man's soul through their eyes.

It appeared to Joey like an eternity when Mokuba stared at him, looking as if he was searching for something.

"Seto… you are my brother, right?"

Joey couldn't deny it and nodded slightly. With a jump he had the arms of the little kid around his neck. He hugged him back, as tight as able not to squeeze him to death.

"I want to know what's going on here!" Serenity demanded suddenly near tears.

Kaiba snapped back into reality, as well as Joey and Mokuba.

"If you are Seto, who's this?" Mokuba pointed at Kaiba.

"Me? Err… Who am I?" Kaiba scratched his head.

"Joey?" Serenity said hardly believing.

"Joey, dude, you are Kaiba?" Tristan happily asked.

"Well." Kaiba shrugged.

"How is that possible?" Yugi asked-

"Yeah, how can you just swap bodies?" Tea agreed.

"I don't have the slightest clue. I've just woken up and was… Kaiba."

"There has to be something you did wrong, it's always you who messes up!" Joey said.

"Me? You're the freaking jerk here!" Kaiba shot back.

"Nice name, you puppy!"

"Oh no, not this again!" Yugi sighed.

"I swear if I had my deck right now, I'd challenge you and give you deserved punishment!" Kaiba said threatening Joey.

"Ha! You wouldn't ever stand a chance against me, even with my deck!" Joey laughed.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah!" Both of them growled.

"Listen guys, stop that." Yugi stood between both of them. "You need to get along with each other. I'm afraid Kaiba… Joey… well, erm, whoever. You need to help each other."

"No way." Joey said.

"Stubborn freak." Was Kaiba's reply.

"Puppy." Joey teased the smaller one.

"I wished everything would be back to normal and you would simply hate each other. That way, you got along better than now." Yugi said helplessly.

With those words said, suddenly Yugi's Millenniums Puzzle was shining in that bright light again. And like days before, just as sudden as it began, it stopped and turned to normal again.

"What was that?" Trsian asked.

"I've got no idea." Yugi said.

"Ow my head's all mushy mush…" Joey rubbed his head.

"Arg… what was that?" Kaiba massaged his temples.

"Was that you, moneybags?" Joey shouted.

"Sit and shut up, puppy!"

"You're your true selves again!" Tea happily clapped her hands together.

"Yeah…." Realization slapped Joey hard in his face.

"Very good, I can finally leave your freaks and do important stuff." Kaiba turned to walk away.

"It must have been through your puzzle, Yugi." Tristan looked at the Millenniums Item.

"I suppose." Yugi was thinking. "Oh no…"

"Not that magic nonsense again." Kaiba rolled with his eyes.

"I'm afraid, yes. Days ago I wished you two would stop fighting and then my puzzle shone in that bright light…"

"It switched their minds." Tea said.

"Nonsense." Stubbornly Kaiba insisted.

"Keep denying anything, Yugi's right." Joey said.

"Mokuba! Let's go." Kaiba started walking to his car.

Mokuba followed like usual his big brother, leaving the rest of the clique behind.

"Kaiba! Wait!" Suddenly Serenity called out to him.

Kaiba turned just when he was about to climb into his limousine and gazed at the girl with narrowed eyes. What does she want! Serenity started to walk up to Kaiba and gazed at him with a sincere look of her big hazel eyes.

"What do you want?" He asked with no real interest.

"I understand now what was wrong all the time but I also understand that you're not quite as cruel as we've always seen you." Serenity explained.

"So? What's the point?"

"The points are… that you are interested in what I think about you to start with. Point is also that you want us to like you the way you are and that you are indeed right. We shouldn't try to change you." She said.

"Something else?" Kaiba snapped.

"Yes, you gave me advice as brother as well as a friend and I will go and take it. Regarding to your own advice, Seto Kaiba, would you like to go out with me for a date?"

Kaiba's eyes widened. She had meant me!

"Can I at least expect an answer, I can live with rejection. You'll never know till you try, you've said. So?" She said folding her hands in front of her.

"You are using my own word against me." Kaiba smirked. "Hmph!"

Serenity's hazel eyes never left their gaze off Kaiba's piercing blue ones. She wanted an answer. She knew he wasn't that bad after all and he wanted to be liked, somehow. Now he had his chance.

"Fine, you'll get your date." Kaiba said crossing his arms.

"Thank you." She smiled broadly.

"A few conditions I have though. No cheap hot dog place, I'm not asocial. I say where we go. No one else but me and you, none of your friends. Just a date, no holding hands and stuff, I'm not your boyfriend. Don't you dare call me as such."

"Fine with me. I don't want hot dogs either and I want a date, not a party. And last but not least, I'm not your girlfriend either, don't call me as such." She mocked him happily.

"Deal. Friday. 7pm. I choose the place. Just be at home. I know the way… hmph!" He turned to climb into the car.

"Wait, Seto." Mokuba said suddenly.

"What now?"

Mokuba started to run over to where Joey was standing.

"Mokuba!" Joey was surprised.

"You weren't exactly right. I would never swap my big brother for you, Joey, but… I guess we had some fun, though, hadn't we?" He said rubbing his nose shyly.

"Yeah. Sorry if I said some stupid things."

"That's okay. Already forgotten."

"Thanks."

"Hey Joey, if you want to play some video games, just come around. My home is your home." Mokuba grinned.

"Really? I mean, certainly your brother would mind me being there."

"Who cares? It's my home as well, isn't it?"

"Actually, yeah." Joey smiled.

Mokuba waved and headed off to his brother and as soon as he had climbed into the car, it sped off.

"Finally back with you all!" Joey exclaimed happily.

Everyone smiled happily when they headed off into school.

The it hit Joey what had happened. "Wait a second… Serenity! You haven't ask Kaiba for a date, have you? You didn't mean that!"

Serenity juts laughed and hugged her brother, before she walked silently in school.

"SERENITY!" Joey waved his hands madly.

"Good old Joey's back." Tea said.

"We missed him." Yugi agreed.

"Yeah…" Tristan, too.

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The end.