Author's Notes: For all of you that were wondering… no, I didn't die, or get kidnapped by aliens, or fall off a cliff crashing my hands into the rocky bottom that discontinued my typing on the computer for over a month. What DID happen was this… 1) first week major brain block (this chapter was VERY difficult for me, cause it was one of those where nothing happens. but I DID go on random writing sprees and wrote other sections of the Promise including the ending wooh!) 2) second week: life (as it so often does) interfered. Damn I hate when that happens. 3) decided to act real smart and slam 3 of my fingers into the car door, breaking the tips and ending any and all forms of typing for a good two weeks. So finally, The Promise is back! (and so are my poor phalanges) and I'm soooo sorry for all the waiting.
Reviews! We're up to 11 already! Joy!
RiokuAvalon: omg! It's sooo wonderful that my random information is appreciated by someone! Truly, that was, like, the greatest review (although I worship and cherish ALL reviews) ever! THANK YOU! oh, and, wooh to all the other history fans out there! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Joubabi: I know. Egyptian Joey is a good thing. Haha
Pharaohess1: thank you so much! i hope ch. 3 doesn't disappoint you!
LZfOx1379: haha thanks! Yeah, its like, Jono or something, and I thought about using it… but the only place Joey really exists as Jono is in the gameboy game, so I figured I could maybe get away with a little creative license and change his name to an actual Egyptian name (cause I always thought jono made him sound like some kind of circus clown) without too many people noticing. I'm gonna stay as loyal to the subs (or at least dubs) as humanly possible with everything else, even story line (though kisara is just about killing me ) oops! I just gave away a little plot. Ohh well. Thanks for pointing out the whole Joey/ Jono thing; if you have anymore info on his name or history, let me know please! And I'll be taking my sugar now.
AngelKelley17: here's what happens next…
Aszura: ok, soo the update wasn't exactly quick, but better late then never! Thank you!
emu38orlandoloveewwwneverjohny: 'jk' – yes I get it. Hahah I love you. thanks so much for the review 33
Warnings: No Egypt in this chapter, I needed to speed up the present day action a bit. I hope none of you die of boredom, but this chappie was really necessary, I can't have them falling in love in a snap. Nothing bothers me more than when Joey and Kaiba 'fall in love' in no time with no explanation, (drives me crazy! Gahh! ) ok, I'm better now. ENJOY CHAPTER 3 AND ALL IT'S KJ CLICHÉ'S!
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine.
The Promise
Chapter three:A Change of Plans
"Are any of you guys busy today right after school?" a violet eyed Yugi asked his group of friends. Duke, Tristan, and Joey simultaneously shook their heads. "Great! See, these designers from Konami are coming over to the shop with a demo of their fall models. You wanna come over to test it out?"
"Yeah man!"
"Sounds fun." Duke considered.
"Sure thing Yug!" Joey excitedly answered, as a blue-eyed teen strode into the room. The blond rolled his eyes. "Why is it that my only class with all you guys just happens to have stupid rich boy too? Man, the big guy upstairs must really hate me." With that, the bell sounded, and the students slowly drifted to their seats. A tall, properly dressed man blazed into the classroom.
"Good morning everybody. I presume we are all well rested and ready to go?" Joey sighed, sleeping made him think of dreams, and dreams made him think of CEO's. He glanced back three rows behind at a particularly angry Kaiba; crossed arms, furrowed brow, and one of his famous 'look at me and die' glares had found its way onto his face. He sat, obviously 'hmphing' at the teacher's perkiness.
He must be in one of his moods.
"So, can anyone give me a fact about William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania?" Mr. Pasachi asked the class.
"Oh! Oh! He was a quaka," Joey proudly answered, eluding his attention away from the brunette.
"…Yes Mr. Wheeler… he was a Quaker, uhh, that's why I wrote it on the board under his name…" The class erupted with laughter. Joey turned and watched intently, searching for an erased chuckle or any attempt of a sign of emotion from the blank CEO. Nothing.
"Anyone else have any information about Penn?" his eyes scanned the room. "Mr. Kaiba, we haven't heard from you today." Kaiba stared ahead.
"He don't wanna talk, and knowing that jerk he ain't going to, and whats worse, nobody's gonna make him." Joey whispered too loudly to Tristan, who conveniently sat in front of him.
"Come on now Mr. Kaiba, surly you know something about Penn. Do you at least have any questions?"
"I've got one, why the hell are we studying American history in the middle of Domino?" The icy blue-eyed teen asked, reclining back at his desk. The class emitted another laugh, but more hushed and snickered.
"Mr. Kaiba, I hardly deem that question appropriate for the classroom –"
"Really? I find it quite appropriate, Mr. Pasachi," he mocked the professor.
Before the angered teacher reached boiling point, Joey, perhaps by accident or on purpose, quickly opened his famous mouth. "Cause stupid, it's WORLD HISTORY 'nd I dunno if you realized it or not, but America is part a the world…"
"Who asked you Dog Face?"
"What's it to ya?" he questioned.
"Intelligent answer Joseph," the brunet answered back sarcastically.
"Why I oughta…" Joey threatened raising a fist. Kaiba stood, Yugi sighed, Duke rolled his eyes, Tristan sat upright "to get a better view of the action," he would later tell Duke. It had become routine for the companions, Kaiba says something rude, Joey says something stupid, neither one would listen to, as Kaiba once so lovingly called, 'the fag pack,' consisting of Yugi, Yami, Tristan, Duke, Tea, Bakura, Marik when he was in town, and sometimes even Serenity, and they both end up fighting and somehow ending their feud before any authority was involved. This time around, it didn't seem so easy to dodge a teacher, considering the nearest was only two feet away.
"Mr. Wheeler! Mr. Kaiba! Sit down this instant!" They continued their tense silent glares, ignoring the teacher entirely.
"I don't think they can hear you Mr. P," a classmate joked.
"I'll see you after school boys." They broke from their trance.
"What? You can't do that!" an angry Kaiba accused.
"Yeah!" Joey protested, although much less insulted, he had attended his share of detentions before, but tonight was different! It was Friday and he had plans dammit!
"I think I just did."
I HATE KAIBA I HATE KAIBA I HATE KAIBA I HATE KAIBA, Joey scribbled furiously. His pen scratching, clicks from Kaiba typing on his laptop, and occasional snore from the teacher were the only sounds echoing in the empty classroom.
He glanced over at his enemy and causer –of- all- things evil, - Clever Joe, he thought of the CEO's new nickname. He sat twirling his chewed pencil, giving his hard working hand a rest, when a dark deep rumbling sound ricocheted throughout the room. He located the rumbling to the pit of his stomach, it had been a while since lunch. Kaiba stopped typing momentarily to glance annoyingly at the sheer stupidity of the noise making blond. Joey struck back, sticking his tongue out at the brunet.
"Mature." Kaiba whispered, returning to his keyboard.
Joey quietly reached for his emergency provisions, pulling a snack bag from his worn backpack. After quickly devouring its salty contents, Joey began doing what he always did when his fingers were covered in powdered cheese, he began licking them clean. Staring down at his orange fingers, still sucking diligently, it hit him. Someone was watching him. He could feel it. He was surprised that he didn't find the sensation entirely unpleasant. Not at first, anyway, until he realized exactly who was watching him, and why.
Kaiba. Wait, Kaiba?
Plunging into a situation without thinking, as usual, Joey decided that the most plausible thing to do would be to continue cleaning his fingers, more slowly and seductively, to prove the brunet's staring wasn't in his imagination.
With his left index finger still hanging from his lips, Joey glanced over to find that Kaiba had been watching his episode. But rather than having his eyes glazed over and his face graced with a pink blush, Kaiba looked disgusted, confused, and moments away from throwing up.
Joey immediately took his hand away from his mouth to mimic the brunet's stunned face, quickly crumpling the cheesy bag and tossing it towards Kaiba's head. The brunet quickly blocked it, unintentionally sending the crumpled ball back to Joey like a tiny ball. Joey tossed it back. Kaiba gave him an annoyed, but then quizzical look, he sent the ball towards the blond with a perfect volley. Joey rolled his eyes at the brunet's continuous perfection and sent the ball back. They continued their wordless game, Joey occasionally dropping the ball or hitting it at unusual angles, emitting a snort from the amused brunet, until the bell sounded, signaling the end of detention.
As if the bell indicated that he had let his guard down, even if momentarily and for a game of table volleyball, Kaiba immediately grabbed the midair ball effortlessly, and solemnly, tossed it into the garbage can, ending their makeshift entertainment. Joey began to protest, but backed down as soon as he saw Mr. Pasachi stirring awake.
Kaiba immediately stood and strode his way over to Pasachi's large writing table. He fixed his gaze on the messy piles of papers, pens, and clips that seemed to have engulfed his desk. "Mr. Pasachi sir, seeing that the late bell has rung, and I have a business to run, don't you believe that D- I mean, Wheeler and I know that we were wrong to disrupt the class, and only under your permission that is sir, that I may be dismissed?"
Finally, Joey stood from where he sat at his desk "Yeah, me too!" Pasachi seemed to ponder the question before carelessly waving his hand, releasing the two teens. They both shot for the door, scrambling their ways into the hallway.
Joey had to run to catch up with the irritated teen. "Wow, Kaiba, I didn't know you could do apologetic," Joey laughed.
"Do you think for even a moment, any of that act back there was real? That joke of a educator should not be aloud to…" Kaiba trailed off, speeding even faster down the hall.
"Your welcome." Joey announced, trailing after the taller teen.
Kaiba slowed down, as if he didn't hear the blond correctly. "Excuse me?"
They were now walking side by side. "Your welcome for savin you're ass in class earlier today, ya really were askin for it with the whole 'I have a question Mr. Pasachi' thing."
"Your welcome? It was your fault that I ended up here in the first place!" Kaiba breathed.
"Are you fucking kiddin me? If I hadn't distracted Teach, you woulda ended up with a whole lot more than a couple hours after school!"
"How the hell would you know?" Kaiba unintentionally asked. He didn't care what the mutt had to say, so why was he so hard to ignore?
"Cause genius, I've been there. Talkin back to teachers- it ain't pretty."
Kaiba humphed, but otherwise kept silent. The pair continued their brisk walk until they were directly in front of the school's main glass doors. Rain pounded down in sheets, flooding and creating tiny rivers in the parking lot. The brunet peered out the great windows, "Wonderful."
"Damn, it's pretty wet out there." Joey watched, placing a hand on the glass. "Ah!" he pulled his hand away, "and cold."
The two stood in silence looking out into the rain until a sleek black limo pulled into the parking lot, directly in front of the doors. Kaiba immediately pushed through the doors seemingly angry that the driver had not gotten there sooner. Joey quietly followed him, pulling the hood of his sweatshirt over his messy locks.
Kaiba took the final stone step that separated the tiny roof of protection from the weather, and gracefully entered his car, sloshing his boots around in the freezing water. Joey shivered and held his hands together, attempting to warm them.
Joey stepped out into the flood; he shuddered in the frosty rain on the sidewalk of the parking lot. He looked out into the streets ahead of him as a familiar limo pulled along side him. The window slowly rolled down.
"Wheeler, where's your ride?"
"Wha? Oh, no, I'm fine walkin"
"That wasn't my question," he looked contradicting.
"Yeah, well, that's my answer."
Kaiba silently looked at the blond; he seemed to be pondering something, playing a sort of mental tug-of-war. Joey stood quietly staring back. Finally, Kaiba seemed to come to a conclusion, "Thank you... for earlier I mean."
The foggy car window rolled up and the limo pulled away, leaving Joey stunned, standing in the rain, feeling a little warmer than before.
TBC
Author's Notes: Okay, so the whole Mr. Pasachi's class thing wasn't entirely made up. Obviously the whole glare detention thing was, but the William penn thing was based on a true story. Yes, if you must know, I was involved… nough said.