Chapter Six: Guilt
AN: Bwahaha. More evilness. I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, but I wish I did. Stop rubbing it in.
Joey woke up, unsurprisingly, with a splitting headache. He opened his eyes slowly and was greeted to the sight of the sleeping, peaceful face of his dog.
Yeah, there was something special about the dog he had found. Not only had Seto saved his life, he seemed to have an eerily well-developed intelligence, and had almost human expressions. The dog had opened doors and even led him to Yugi's house when Joey's eyes had been blinded as blood ran into them. Seto…
Man, did the dog remind him of the real Seto Kaiba. They both even gave Yami the same scathing glares.
/I miss Kaiba. But why? Yeah, I like 'im, but I don't got any right to like 'im…. He's got a rep and a life, unlike me. But I miss him. I wonder where he's got to./
Seto yawned and stretched, Joey's movement finally waking him from his slumber. He licked Joey's face when he saw the sad expression on the blond's features. /Wait. Did I just do that?/ Kaiba asked himself, his nose twitching in agitation. Joey cracked a small smile and tapped the spot between Seto's eyes, making the dog go cross-eyed as he tried to keep his gaze on the finger.
The blond teen laughed at the sight, and the dog let out a snort that sounded almost indignant. Ruffling Seto's ears, Joey rolled out of bed and started digging through his duffel bag, pulling out a green t-shirt and white cargo pants. Still searching and flinging clothes everywhere, Joey grumbled to himself about his lousy packing habits.
Looking up at Joey curiously, Seto was very surprised when a pair of grey boxer shorts landed right on the bridge of his nose. He yelped, and, as it was, blushed under his fur. Joey chuckled and grabbed the shorts. "There they are; good dog."
Then Joey started to strip himself of his bloody, ruined clothing. Seto's eyes widened as the tattered shirt was peeled off. He had never noticed how much muscle the blond had… or how hot his chest was, even when it was wrapped in bandages. He got even more shocked when he realized exactly what he was thinking. Then all reason fled as the blond slipped out of his pants and boxers.
Seto let out a muffled yelp and his sensitive nose started to bleed. Joey, in the middle of pulling on his clean boxers, gave the dog an odd look as drops of blood fell onto the carpet. "What's wrong, pup?"
At that, Seto dashed out of the room, leaving a puzzled but amused Joey behind to finish getting dressed.
Yami wouldn't stop laughing for fifteen full minutes.
/Damn you, pharaoh!/ Seto thought, glaring at the spiky-haired spirit. Joey had related the incident, and Yami had quickly figured out the cause of Kaiba's impromptu nosebleed.
So now the CEO was huddled under the kitchen table where the small group was seated, sulking. Yugi was talking to Joey with concern nonstop, and Joey was good-naturedly answering Yugi's many questions. Breakfast was shoveled down Joey's throat as he talked, and Yami had an evil grin plastered on his face, and every so often, the spirit nudged Seto's head with his foot.
During the next few hours, after Joey had eaten, all they did was sit and talk in the living room. Seto was snoozing on a chair, and Yugi and Joey were sprawled on a couch while Yami stood leaning against the wall that faced it. "So your dog Seto saved you?"
"For the millionth time, Yug, yes!"
As they playfully argued, the doorbell rang. Yugi, always the friendly one, jumped up and ran to the door with a smile. When he opened it and saw the tear-streaked face of the visitor, the smile slowly faded.
"Hello, Mokuba."
Seto's head shot up; the mere mention of his brother was enough to jar him back into awareness. Turning his head towards the door, his heart lurched. Mokuba stood there looking miserable, his face shining with half-dried tears. Guilt hit Seto like a ten-ton weight, making him feel nauseous. He had forgotten about Mokuba!
Yami walked over to the door, shooting a glance at Seto as he led the younger Kaiba into the living room. Although he would certainly never admit it, the billionaire felt like breaking down into tears. He had never broken a promise made to Mokuba in his life, and in the last few days he'd managed not only to do that, but he had also forgotten about his own kid brother!
And his fascination with Joey Wheeler was the cause…
The black-haired boy sniffled a few times, clinging to Yami's sleeve. Seto retreated to his spot underneath the kitchen table, totally ashamed and disgusted with his actions. Yugi glanced his way curiously before following Yami and Mokuba into the bathroom to clean up the young Kaiba.
Joey, worried about Mokuba but also concerned about his dog, hovered in front of the bathroom door for a few minutes before wandering into the kitchen and kneeling down to take a look at Seto. Nothing seemed to be physically wrong with him, at least. Joey let out a grunt and climbed halfway under the table to get closer to his 'faithful pet'.
Odd. The dog looked almost heartbroken.
"Hey, what's up, buddy?" Joey said softly, reaching forward to scratch behind Seto's ears fondly. The dog let out a choked whimper. Feeling a little silly, Joey wrapped his arms around the large canine and just muttered soft reassurances. He didn't know exactly why he was moved to do such a thing, but the dog was just so… human. And he reminded him of the real Seto Kaiba. He'd love to comfort that Seto in his arms like this…
Something nagged at the back of his mind as he held Seto close and patted him, the dog still making pathetic-sounding whines. While comforting Mokuba with Yugi, Yami glanced into the mirror to see that sight reflected at him. Amused, he wondered what Joey would do if he knew that it was the real Kaiba he was holding. Well, this was probably a good sign.
//And maybe Kaiba will learn how to respect other people for when he's back to normal.//
An hour or so later, Mokuba was on his way back to the Kaiba mansion feeling much better. Yami had assured him that Seto was fine, saying that he would have felt something mentally if Kaiba had been hurt in any major way. Then Yami had given Joey some excuse to get him out of the room for a minute.
Kneeling down in front of the kitchen table, the spirit stared at Kaiba with a soft smile on his lips. "You have a very loyal, smart little brother, Kaiba. He's given your company the excuse that you're on vacation, and he's been managing it himself. Very well, too, I might add," Yami said in a conversational tone.
The dog gave him a 'tell me something I don't already know' look. Grinning, Yami actually reached out and ruffled the CEO's ears. "By the way, Kaiba, are you hungry? I don't think I've seen you eat since Joey was hurt," he mused, almost to himself.
Seto didn't want to be pulled down to the level of being dependant on his dueling rival for food... he was about to shake his head stubbornly when his stomach growled very loudly. He glared down at it… /Traitor.../ he thought, annoyed with his body.
The spirit of the millennium puzzle laughed and stood up, stretching. "What would you like, Kaiba? How does a steak sound?"
/Steak? Are you kidding me, pharaoh? I'd like a few nice crepes, a glass of red wine, and some venison on the side./
Of course, Yami wasn't exactly privy to Seto's thoughts. However, he did walk over to the fridge and opened the freezer door, poking inside of it for a minute. "Here's one," he said triumphantly, pulling out the frozen-solid hunk of meat. Seto stared at it and lifted his lip in disgust.
Then Yami tried to cut it, and succeeded in bending a butcher knife. The spirit, however, was undeterred. Knowing he was going to be in for a good show, Seto managed to put his guilty feelings to the back of his mind and sat back on his side under the table, watching the technologically-challenged Yami attempt to cook a steak.
"Aah, man, Yami, did you hafta burn the coffee maker?"
Joey was standing in the kitchen a few feet away from the table with his hands on his hips. He was also shirtless. He was wearing only a pair of hastily donned jeans. It was all Seto could do to keep himself from drooling all over the tiled floor.
When Yami's endeavors finally got something blown up, Yugi and Joey had come running. Joey had been taking a shower when he heard it, so he had just pulled on a pair of pants and had then headed to the kitchen to see what was wrong. Yugi had been doing homework, which put him in a less awkward position.
/Joey… fresh out of shower… tight jeans… dear Ra, why do you torture me?/
As a whimper sounded, Joey arched an eyebrow at Seto, who was still under the table. Shrugging, he turned back to Yami and the charred kitchen counter while Yugi giggled in the doorframe. "Whadda we gonna do with you, Yami? You wreck everythin'!"
Yami shrugged sheepishly. Rolling his eyes, Joey picked up the meat and put it on a nearby plate, then shoving that into the microwave and starting it up. "Sheesh, it ain't that hard…"
/And he can cook! Well… sort of… but he's Joey! Wait, what the hell am I thinking?!/
(And now, what you've all been waiting for… the Reviewers' Corner! With Bob, my evil black talking cat muse, everyone's favorite tomb robber, Yami, Malik, yours truly, and Joey!)
Joey: Wow, that's a lotta reviews for one chapter…
City: It's because I didn't update this chapter five minutes after I uploaded chapter five. I swear, I'm too nice to you readers… *wink*
Bob: --_--
Bakura: Let's just get this over with… *growls as he snaps everyone into the Shadow Realm*
Seto's
Baby Dragon: I just started reading this and ish REALLY good. no... good would
be an understatement. I LOVE THIS STORY! ish SO cool! You have to do another
chapter!! Is Joey gonna find out that Seto the dog is the Seto Kaiba? well
duh... I don't know why I just asked that question...
but he is right?
Joey: Well, o'course I am! Whaddaya take me for, a moron?
Malik: *snork*…yes!
Squirrel-HATER: YOUR MEAN! HURTING JOU in that last chapter...I'm calling child services on your ass LOL kidding anyway love the story and wait till I tell my best friend that Yami TALKS TO DOGS! One more thing...can I give Bakura a hug he's just so god-damned hot! Must be the hair I guess *friend rolls eyes*? lol again love the story please update.
Yami: It's not a real dog! It's Kaiba!
Malik: *cough* Denial! *cough*
Bakura: Hmm… well, yes, that's true… I am hot. You may hug me.
Squirrel-HATER: *hugs Bakura*
Bakura: Mwaha. Worship me and my sexy body. That's right.
Joey, City, Malik, and Bob: o_O
City: Narcissism much?
Malvolio1342:
Lol. Well, protectiveness is one good trait of Danes...yay Kaiba! I'm on your
side all the way for you returning to normal! (So is my brother, btw, he just
likes to watch people get tortured...sadistic like Malik and Bakura) And yeah,
Malvolio needs to get a life in class...
Malik and Bakura: *sniff* *hug each other*
Malik: We've got our own little demonic following made up of little siblings!
Bakura:
I'm so happy!
Malvolio1342: Hey, you know where we live! Can we entertain you for a bit!
You'll enjoy it! Bring a friend! And we don't care if you're normal or not!
We're definitely not!
Joey: Well, if Seto was here, he'd tell you to bug off or somethin'… cause
that's what he does… but as long as you've got food, I'm dere!
Malvolio1342: Anyways, This is from Fajra (the girl of the twins...) Bright the
Day! Wind to thy Wings!
Yami: Live long and prosper!
Malik: *points at Yami and bounces up and down* I KNEW it! You're a Trekkie!
Yami: _
CowThreesome: Question, isn't Seto one of them neat freaks? Cause he bit the smelly dudes (Joe's dad) leg so um u confuse me and I dun like that! Oh and before I spaz out...god story! Seto is a dog hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! In your face Seto go Joey! (I dun really like them both but dats ok^_^)oh and GO MALIK!I LOVE YOU!
Malik: I love me too! *hugs himself*
Joey: *sweatdrops* Hey, Kaiba attacked m'dad because he loves me… but he didn't know it. Overprotective attitude, kay? That's why. It's sweet, ain't it? *beams*
Bakura: *mutters* About as sweet as poison…
Lovely Lei: Please keep going. I love it. Seto and Joey. Yet most of the things you said so far in the story my dog can do. My dog can open a dog, smile, he can frown and a lot of other things he can also say my name. {okay a little it's more like wof and then a short howl.} Yet keep going please.
City: Well, I own show dogs that are pretty damn smart, and I've lived and worked with all sorts of dogs and canines my entire life… and I've never seen one that opens a door that they have to pull, not push. So nyah. *winks* But thanks for the praise!
Joey: I like dogs…
Saiyan-Kitsune-Foxfire: Aww... Seto playing faithful Lapdog. Hehe, I know damn well how big dogs like
being lap dogs. I got a lab myself and
Seto reminds me of her. This story is great. Please please update soon. Ja!
Bakura: …I am very, very happy Kaiba isn't here. He'd be ripping shit up by now.
Malik: *nods sagely*
Joey: Yeah, but he's MY faithful lapdog! Woohoo!
Yami: *sweatdrops*
Kage
Kashu: Kashu- Wah!! Bakura! *sparkles*
And someone finally figured it out... Yami is so dense sometimes...
Bakura: *hides*
Yami: Auuugh. I'm not dense, dammit… my brain is just a couple millennia rusty! _
Kage
Kashu: Ah, yes, the great scene where Kaiba finally realizes the way he's
acting... Will he still be feeling "doggy" when he returns to normal,
maybe?
Joey: I certainly hope so… I think the real Seto in a collar would look dead
sexy… *drools*
Kage Kashu: (Feelings like that don't just go away, ne?)
Yami: *waves a hand in front of Joey's face*
Joey: *dazed and daydreaming*
Yami: *nods at Kage* No, they don't go away. As you can see, Joey is a victim of the same thing. *nods sagely to himself*
Bob: And my life has reached a new low.
City: Hush, Bob. Now then, I shall commence writing the next chapter! But I want at least ten reviews of this one before I put it up! *cackles* I am holding chapter seven hostage! Bob, do the honors!
Bob: Uhh… kay. *reads from paper, flicking his tail* Chapter five, chapter six… ah, chapter seven. The title is 'injury'. Joey's father shows up after being released by the police station… what does he plan to do?
City: Good show, Bob!
Bob: Whatever. Give me some tuna and I'll forget about the whole thing.
Malik: *stares* Tuna? Did someone say… tuna?
City: *sweatdrop* Ooooookay, too much information right there. R&R, people, I love you!