Well, I'd just like to say this is the first time I've ever posted a fic, so I'm a little new at all of this. I don't have much experience with writing, so bear with me if I get a little tedious at times. I do love feedback, so please review. Constructive criticism is more than welcome. Flames will be used to entertained by pyro friends. I'm trying to have the story take place in Japan. I am currently studying Japanese language, so I'm trying to incorporate it into the story. I will not have the main characters speak Japanese to each other, but I will have them occasionally speak to other characters in Japanese. I don't provide direct translations, but I do give a summary of what the conversations entail at the end in case you can't tell from the context what is going on.

Okay, just a heads up. This story involves yaoi, so, if that's not you're thing, then by all means feel free to leave. If you do like yaoi, please enjoy.

One last thing: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh. I know if I said that the series would have gone in much different direction had any of us owned Yu-Gi-Oh that I would not be alone. But, until the day comes that one of us gets to make decisions for the show, I am more than happy to read, and now write, these fics.

Chapter 1: Fridays

As the three consecutive chimes rang throughout the school to officially end another week of school, I, Jounouchi Katsuya, slowly gather my books into my bag and trudge down the hallway with my hands in my pockets. For most, Fridays are the best day of the week. They mean two full days of practically unsupervised entertainment among close friends doing whatever comes to mind. For me, however, Fridays mean Mazaki Anzu's home for two, long, grueling days. I am really very thankful for a place to stay, but the whole situation just seems so surreal. My father, two months ago, was arrested for assault and battery and was admitted to a rehabilitation center after the blood test came back to show what, exactly, Dad was doing. I'm glad that he's finally getting help, but I'm worried if he'll actually be successful. In any case, when the government found out I'd be home alone, they told me I'd either have to go into a foster home or find someone else to live with until my father was released from rehab or until I turned 20. Considering my father, I'm thinking I'll be waiting until I'm 20. Whether or not that means I'll remain in the Mazaki house is still debatable though. I mean, Anzu's great and all, but living with her can be a little taxing.

"Katsuya! Wait up!"

Speak of the devil. "Hey Anzu. How was class?"

"Terrible! I mean, how is it possible that all of you guys get to be in the same class, but I'm stuck in a class with no one I know at the other end of the school? I mean, not seeing any of you all day is hard enough, but no one in my class seems to want to be friends with me! You know how important friendship is!"

"Yes Anzu, friendship is very important. We can't believe that you're not in our class either." That was actually the truth. Bakura snuck into the school after it was closed one night and actually managed to reassign all of us to one class and keep Anzu elsewhere. I know, I know, we can believe Bakura would do that, what we couldn't believe was that the school actually either didn't notice or care. Either way, though, school was the only escape I got from Anzu these days. So yes, in other words, I, Jounouchi Katsuya, enjoy school. Don't think for a moment that means I pay attention in class; I still don't feel much of a desire to learn, but, if it keeps me away from Anzu for a few hours a day, I welcome it. I feel bad for saying all of this, especially since the entire Mazaki family has been so hospitable; I mean they practically adopted me. Still, I don't know what I'll do if I have to spend one more weekend with Anzu.

"Katsuya, are you listening to me?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry. It's been a really long day, and I'm just not feeling myself. Anyway, what were you saying?"

Smiling, Anzu replied "Oh, it doesn't matter." Suddenly looking a little concerned, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Typical Anzu, always reading too much into every little statement. "Nothing, really." I replied. "I'm just really tired, that's all."

"Oh, that's too bad. We were going camping by the beach this weekend. Remember?"

All of a sudden, I really felt me head start pounding. That's right. I had completely forgotten about the "Mazaki Annual Camping Trip." Now, I know I didn't feel good. "I'm sorry, Anzu. It's probably nothing. I'm sure it's just a cold or something. I'll be fine, don't worry."

"Uh-uh. You're staying home. I'll talk to my parents. I'm sure they'll understand. I mean, I can't have you getting sick or anything."

Suddenly seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, I innocently said, "No, really, I'm fine. It's really probably just a cold or something. It's nothing to get worked up about."

"Absolutely not, I insist that you stay home this weekend. I don't want to be stubborned, but when it comes to the health and safety of my friends, well I just don't take any chances."

Mentally cheering, I said answered, "I concede Anzu. If you think it'd be better for me to stay home, I'll stay home. Okay?"

"Much better," she replied. "I'm glad I didn't have to get tough."

Right...Anzu get tough. Not that it matters now though. I get to have an Anzu free weekend!

Later that night

"Hey Yugi, what are you up to tonight?"

"Oh, hi Katsuya! I'm not doing much, Yami and I are just headed out for Karaoke with Ryou, Bakura, Marik, and Malik. Did you want to come?"

"Sure. And I've got better news for you, Anzu and her family are gone for the entire weekend! They're on some camping trip and left me home because I wasn't 'feeling myself.' Honestly, though, once their car had disappeared down the street, I felt 100 Jounouchi Katsuya again."

"That's a terrible thing to do to Anzu! But, I guess I'm glad that you'll be able to come out again. It has been a while since any of us got to hang out outside of school."

"Yeah, it has. I'd almost completely forgotten what's it's like to be the 7th wheel. You know, one of these days I've gotta find myself a man." Yes, as you can tell, I'm gay. No, I don't have feelings for any of my friends, and yes, that is why my father consented to my staying with Anzu and her family.

"Come on Katsuya; you're a great guy. I'm sure you'll find someone great. You may not have a Yami like Ryou, Malik and I do, but I'm sure there's someone out there who has some kind of spiritual connection with you and will make you just as happy as our yamis make us."

"Come on Yugi, are you trying to tell me that there's a Yami Katsuya out there somewhere? Now that is something I'd love to see."

Meanwhile, in a skyscraper on the other side of town...

"Kaiba-sama," his secretary said, "Mou, shichi-ji desu."

"Hai, wakattan da yo."

"Shikashi, anata no otouto-san ni yakusoku shimashita..."

"Mou wakattan datte."

"Hai. Wakarimashita. Doumo sumimasen."

"Great," Kaiba thought to himself. "Now, I have to not only rush back home to play video games with Mokuba, but I have to spend part of this weekend looking for a new secretary now that I have to fire this one. Friday's are truly the worst days of the week. I like being able to spend time with Mokuba, but that also means I no longer have any excuses not to come to work. Oh well, such is the life of Kaiba Seto. School, work, and Mokuba. Yeah, I'd say that pretty much sums up my life.

"Murata," Kaiba called down to his valet, "Ore no kuruma wa irimasu. Go-fun ato demasu."

"Hai, wakarimashita," Kaiba heard and began packing up his important papers and closing down his computer for the night. He knew it was better to leave the computer here anyway; when Mokuba made Kaiba promise to spend time togther, it was better not to have temptations close at hand.

A two minute elevator ride later, he was at his car next to Murata san. "Konya wa mada hitori desu ka?" the man asked.

Smirking, Kaiba answered, "Mochiron yo." Kaiba took his keys, stepped down into his blue Porsche 911, and sped out of the parking lot. One would suppose Kaiba would get tired of the same old question night after night from his odd valet, but it had really become part of his routine. Routine, of course, was good, and change was bad. That is the way of Kaiba Corp. Routine was making money and always staying one step ahead of the competition. If that were to change, well, it's not going to change so why bother.

With these thoughts clouding his head, the usually long drive from Kaiba Corp. to the Kaiba manor seemed relatively short. Thinking about anything that deviated from the norm, the routine was dangerous, Kaiba knew, but it always seemed to help time go by a little faster. For now, however, he sufficed to just park his car and hurry upstairs to meet his brother for their movie night.

Okay, well, unfortunately this is where I believe I'm going to have to end this chapter. It's getting quite late and I need to get up early to go shopping tomorrow. I know many of you don't really care, but I'll be sure to update as soon as possible, hopefully within the next couple of days or so.

Anyway, the gist of the Japanese conversations above were:

Between Kaiba and the secretary:

The secretary told Kaiba what time it was, and when he told her he knew, she tried to remind him of the promise he made to Mokuba. Irritated, he repeated what he had said earlier to the secretary. She acknowledged his irritation and backed down.

Between Kaiba and the valet:

Kaiba called down to the valet and told him Kaiba needed his car and that the car was to be ready in 5 minutes. When Kaiba got to his car, Murata asked Kaiba if he was still alone tonight, to which Kaiba replied, "Of course."