Chapter 3

Jou walked glumly down the street. It was now 4:00. He had spent his entire Sunday in Kaiba's office. He had school tomorrow, didn't even start his homework, and realized he would have to do this for a whole two months before the tournament even started. He clutched his new duel disk in his hand, wondering if it was even worth it.

As punishment, Kaiba had actually put a lock on his stupid collar. Now he couldn't take it off if he wanted to. He had to eat, sleep and shower with the damn thing on. His collar was far enough down his neck that it wasn't extremely noticeable, and he could turn it around so the tag was facing behind him, but he still did not want to wear the damn thing. He rubbed the back of his head, where Kaiba had given him a quick smack. It really hurt and he now had a headache to add to his list of 'Why Jou's Life Sucks,' list.

His best bet was to go home, finish his homework, and avoid any contact with his friends. That was the last thing he needed. Melanie could walk in any moment when he was in his basket, which was a threat enough, but Jou could not even imagine Honda's reaction to him if he told anyone.

He walked up the stairs of his apartment building, deep in thought. The school day tomorrow loomed in his mind. He gave his collar a scratch, and headed into his apartment.

Jou actually debated on not going to school tomorrow. But as soon as his alarm woke him up, he grudgingly got out of bed and went to school. It wasn't an easy task for him, to try and hide his collar. Now that Kaiba had permanently attached it to him, it was ten times worse, not to mention itchy and rubbing his skin raw. So in the end, he just flipped the collar of his shirt over it, and if anyone asked, he would say it was just some sort of necklace, after all, the tag was in the back, so no one would guess he was someone else's pet.

Another thing that struck Jou, was the fact that Kaiba never told him if he was going to his office today, so he had no clue whether to show up at his office after school, or to go home. In the end, Jou shrugged it off and decided to just go home. It was Kaiba's own fault that he was so stupid, as not to leave Jou with instructions.

The school bell rang, and Jou made his way up a flight of stairs. He hadn't seen his friend all day yesterday, so they were probably burning with questions about the tournament. Sure enough, Yuugi, Anzu and Honda were waiting for him near his locker.

"Jou!" shouted Anzu, "Where have you been? You did not call at all yesterday."

Jou simply shrugged, "I was busy."

After a few awkward moments, Yuugi asked him "So, what did Seto say about the tournament Jou? Are you allowed to enter?"

"Yea, we discussed it for a bit, and he said it would be ok."

"Wow, I bet Kaiba was feeling generous yesterday eh bud?" said Honda, slapping Jou rather hard on the shoulder.

"How did you ever get him to let you enter?" Anzu asked, staring at him.

"Oh, the usual," Replied Jou, taking some books out of his backpack, "He told me I wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning, so I was no real threat." Yea, that sounds believable, he thought.

Yuugi rolled his eyes, "Oh, the usual? Kaiba should really stop doing that, we all know you are a great duelist Jou, don't worry about what he says. He is just jealous."

"I know Yug, you don't need to tell me," said Jou, faking a smile, "I am going to be late, we better get to class."

Anzu stared blankly at him, "Since when have you ever been worried about coming late to class?"

"Can we just hurry up?" snapped Jou, who was in no mood to argue with someone as annoying as Anzu. He shrugged them off and walked to class.

"What's his problem?" asked Anzu, and Jou's friend followed after him.

Jou had slept through most of his first class, and he gave his friends the vibe he did not want to be bothered. Upon opening his locker, a piece of paper fell out:

You are required at my office directly after school. I shall be

Awaiting your presence.

Wonderful, Jou thought, There goes the time that I was going to do the homework I missed, no thanks to Kaiba. Feeling a lot worse then he woke up, Jou dragged himself off to his next class, hoping it would last forever.

"I don't know," Said Yuugi, looking up at Yami, "I just thought that Jou would be a bit happier that he actually got entered in Kaiba's New Battle City. It isn't like him to actually believe what Kaiba says, but it seems that he is sad, or angry about something."

Yami looked down at Yuugi, "Maybe Jounouchi is just having one of those days Yuugi, just let him be and I am sure he will feel better tomorrow."

"I sure hope so, Jou is my best friend, and I hate it when he doesn't feel right."

"You are a good friend Yuugi, and Jounouchi knows that." Yami gave Yuugi a small kiss on the forehead before disappearing into the puzzle.

Jou looked up. Kaiba Corp. Headquarters loomed before him, and another painstaking day of being ridiculed and abused by Kaiba awaited him. Joy.

Jou dragged himself into Kaiba's office foyer, which was also Melanie's office. He threw his bookbag down on a chair and sat in another vacant one in a huff.

Melanie glanced up from the laptop she was typing from, "Hard day of school?"

Jou yawned and simply nodded.

"Why are you here again? I thought Seto let you join his tournament, so why are you sitting infront of me. Are you waiting for Kaiba?"

Jou nodded again.

"Why?" Melanie asked inquisitively.

Jou looked up at her, "It is part of our deal and that is all I am saying about the matter."

Melanie shrugged it off and got up, "Seto is in his office, I will get him for you."

She approached Kaiba's office and knocked on the door; "Jounouchi is here for you Kaiba, would you like me to send him in?"

A muffled 'Yes' could be heard from behind the oak door, and Jou picked up his bag, and trudged into Kaiba's office. He did not bother to even look at him, but went straight to his basket and slumped down.

Kaiba raised an eye from the pile of papers he was working on. "Nice collar Mutt."

Jou continued to stare at the ground. As of right now he did not give two shits about anything Kaiba said.

"What is your problem?"

Jou looked up at the CEO and stared at him sharply. "I hate wear this fucking collar every hour of every day. I hate the fact that I have to spent time every fucking day with the person who I hate most, and ontop of that, this proves nothing, but the fact that you are a controlling jerk who has no one but his slaves and workers, who he can only boss around because he is to fucking lazy to do things for himself."

Kaiba stared blankly at him. This mutt had the nerve to jest at him in his own office. He was beyond pissed. He was not thoroughly angry.

Jou turned his gaze down to the ground again. He expected to be slapped around a bit for that, but he did not care at all.

Kaiba signed, "Call me master you mangy dog." He resumed to work on whatever was infront of him.

Jou could have died. He had gotten away with mocking Kaiba, in his own office, and he did not even get punished.

"You will be punished tomorrow. I don't have the strength to deal with you right now. I think that collar is a bit too tight, it is making you become dumber than what you already were."

"Takes one to know one." Mumbled Jou.

Kaiba got up quickly from his chair, which made Jou jump. He walked the opposite direction of Jou, and opened the closet on the other side of the room. He rummaged through it for a moment, and pulled a spotted dog suit. "Hmm, I think Otogi has something in mind when he dressed you in one of these. Put it on. Now."

"You must be out of your mi-" Kaiba was now directly infront of Jou. Since he was a bit taller than he was, he cast a shadow over Jou.

"I would suggest you do not anger me much more today Pup. I am in no mood for your bull shit, and I would watch your mouth if you don't want me to get really nasty."

If it weren't for the fact that Jou would get beaten to a bloody pulp if he decided to stand up to Seto, he decided, that for this once, he wouldn't piss him off. He snatched the suit out of Kaiba's hands, and headed towards the door.

"Where do you think you are going?"

"I am changing into this dumb suit, duh. What, change you mind Kaiba? Master?"

"You do not need to go out to change into it, do it in here."

Jou looked back at Kaiba.

"Well, I am not going to watch you change moron. I would like to keep my eyesight, thanks."

Jou took off the clothes he had on, and as quickly as possible, pulled on the dog suit. He stood infront of Kaiba, "happy?"

Seto stared at him for just a moment, before folding his arms, and laying his head down on his desk.

Jou was lost, complete and utterly lost. Kaiba had his head on his desk, and Jou was standing in the middle of his office with a dog suit on. Kaiba suddenly started to shake all over. This worried Jou a bit, until he had come to the conclusion that Kaiba must be laughing. Sure enough, he could hear the CEO's muffled laughs and soon, Kaiba roared with laughter.

"You…look…so…stupid." He said between laughs. "It suits you!" Seto continued to laugh, at his ironic set of words, and at how funny Jou looked in a spotted dog suit.

Jou was fed up. "I do not need this," he stated, and yanked open the door to Kaiba's office, slammed it rather hard, and proceeded to the elevator. He could still hear the jerk laughing in his office.

"For fuck's sake Jou! What on earth are you wearing!"

Melanie stared at him, with an expression, of both horror and humor on her face. She turned around and looked at Kaiba's closed office door, "What have you two been doing in there?"

Jou did not know what he was going to say. There was absolutely nothing he could say to save himself this time.

Jou had sprinted down the flight of stairs beside the elevator before he had the chance to answer Melanie. He now locked himself in a closet on the third floor. His clothes were left in Kaiba's office, along with everything else he had, including his bag.

Jou buried his head in his hands. He would rather be dead than in here right now. He did not understand how Kaiba could be that cruel. What had made a man so hateful towards other people? Jou didn't care to find out. He stood up and brushed himself off. Footsteps could be here outside his door.

"You know," said a cold voice outside, "Hiding when security cameras adorn ever hallway is not a smart thing to do."

Kaiba unlocked the door and looked at Jounouchi. He did not say anything, but threw a pile of clothes at Jou, and said he expect him in his office in ten minutes. He shut the door behind him, and Jou could hear his footsteps all the way down the hall.

He looked down at his uniform. He finally had his old clothes back. This doesn't change anything, he thought, Kaiba is still the world's biggest jerk. Jou quickly got dressed and headed towards the stairs.

When Jou got to the top floor again, after a hearty climb, he was out of breath. He did not want to run into Melanie though, so he opened the door slightly and peered in. No one was in the foyer, but maybe she was in Kaiba's office. If she were, Kaiba would have explained to her what he was doing in a dog suit. As quietly as possible, Jounouchi crept across the room, and came face to face with Kaiba's office door. He did not know if he should knock on it, or just walk in. In the end, he decided to just walk in, incase Kaiba did not want to be disturbed. Jou turned the handle and entered.

Kaiba looked up from his desk for just a moment. He was reading a newspaper.

Jou stood in the middle of Kaiba's office, expecting to hear something about his behavior. "What do you want me to do now?" He asked.

Kaiba gave a small shrug, "I don't care, do whatever you want."

"Can I go home?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I said so."

"That's not a reason."

"I don't care, sit somewhere and shut it."

Jou rolled his eyes. If he thought Kaiba might have been a bit nicer, he was sorely wrong. Kaiba was still just as jerkish as usual.

Jou crawled into his basket and closed his eyes.

Jou opened his eyes. He did not know how long he slept for, but he looked out the window behind Kaiba's desk, and saw it was pitch black. He looked around the room. The lights were off and it was dark. He got up and stretched, scratching at the collar he was wearing. He turned around to see Kaiba with his head on his desk. He wasn't moving, but for the slow rhythmic breathing. He must be asleep, Jou thought.

Jou did not know what to do. He assumed Kaiba had fallen asleep, knowing he was here. So would it be right to just get up and leave? Maybe Kaiba is just resting his head, maybe he is not asleep at all. Jou crept as quietly as possible to the other side of Kaiba's desk, and looked at the CEO. He was asleep all right. He had his eyes closed, and was not making a sound.

Jou decided to wake him up. He needed to go home. He looked down at his watch, and saw that it was 10:47. He had school the next day and he still needed to walk home. He poked the Brunette once on the shoulder. Nothing happened. He gave Kaiba another quick poke, and this time, Seto moved his head just a bit to the side.

Jou sighed. He did not want to wake up to an angry Kaiba, so he figured he would just quietly slip out. He prayed Melanie was not at her desk, so he could avoid their earlier rendezvous. He went to get his stuff, from beside his basket and saw a letter shoved between the cushions. He picked it up, shoved it into his pocket, and was out of the door in a split second.

The lights in the foyer were off, and Melanie was no where to be seen. He pushed the button on the elevator, climbed in, and went to the bottom floor. Ashi was not at her desk either. It seemed that Kaiba Corp. was closed for the night. He approached the main door, and tried to pull it open. It was locked.

Jou crossed the main hall to the back door, and tried to open that one. It was locked as well. In a fit of rage, he threw his belongings on the floor.

Great, he thought, Just great. I am trapped in Kaiba Corp. for the whole night.