Yea, I know this isn't my best. Exams are soon, so I have been swarmed with work. Make your reviews not too harsh, lol, I already know I could have done better, but people were so eager to read the next chapter. I am also debating on the detail I should go into, when these two get 'intimate'. Review on that too. Next chapter should be up, max two weeks.

Chapter Five

Kaiba gave a loud yell and fell out of his bed. He got up very quickly, but soon got tangled in his covers and fell to the floor. He wrestled with the sheet for a moment, and eventually crawled out of it. He was on fours, and he was breathing very heavily. His body was covered with sweat. Immediately, Kaiba looked up to the corner where Jou lay. He was still sleeping. Kaiba's battle with his sheets had not woken him up. But at that moment, he wanted Jou out of his room.

Kaiba put his head in his hands and sat back, "What is happening to me. I never want to go through that again." He knew he should not have been decent to Jou, It had softened him up, and now it had resulted in totally off the wire illusions of some sort of love interest between him and Katsuya. Slowly, hate filled his veins.

Kaiba crawled over to Jou. He would shake him until he was awake, then tell him to get the hell out of his room, and out of his life. Jou had interfered enough with Kaiba, and now he just wanted him gone.

He quietly peered over Jou's large head. He was shivering.

That dumbass must have gotten a cold, he thought.

He signed, and ended up sitting alongside the wall Jou was facing, with his back to it. Kaiba could not deny that he was not nice, but he was not outright cruel. He had only known how to hurt, and being decent to people was not something that came naturally to him.

Though Jou had his eyes closed, he wasn't sleeping. He was very cold, and he knew at once, that dip in the fountain made him ill. It was also creepy, to have Seto, right beside his head. He wished he did take that stupid spare room Kaiba had offered him, or even the floor in the hallway. Kaiba was probably planning some cruel slave trick. Jou stretched out, still looking like he was sleeping, as not to have to talk to Kaiba. He turned over, and faced away from Kaiba, hoping he would go back to bed. For a moment, he opened an eyelid, and saw that it was 5:30.

He heard Kaiba get up, and watched him wrap himself in his covers. He did not get into bed however, but instead picked up his clothes. Jou assumed he was getting dressed. Sure enough, Kaiba came back into the room fully dressed, and before he left, he threw the silk covers on Jou's head.

Jou, who was so cold, he did not care where his covers came from, wrapped himself in them after Kaiba left. He nuzzled his pillow, and tried to go to sleep.

Kaiba walked swiftly up to his office. Kaiba Corp. would be opening anytime now, and he wanted to pretend he did not spend the night with Jou. Mokuba would want to know where he was, and he had the usual business of running a company. Any thought of the blonde, he would need to push to the back of his mind.

At exactly 6:00, Kaiba Corp. was lighted, and the doors were unlocked. The usual bushels of people were entering already. He could hear the elevator clang to Kaiba's foyer, and the scuffle of Melanie, here for work today. Kaiba would do his best to avoid her, refraining from and awkward questions.

His office door opened, and Melanie threw a pile of papers onto his desk. Her red hair was down today as well and she wore a white dress shirt, and a short black skirt.

Kaiba looked up from his laptop, "What are these?"

Melanie put her hands on her hips, "They are the records of who has registered for the tournament to date. You asked me for them two days ago?"

Kaiba picked up the booklet and leafed through it, "Then why am I getting it right now?"

"Because I have been busy. You must forget that I do indeed, have a life of my own, out of this prison."

Kaiba put the booklet down, "Alright, I'll look through it later. Thanks."

Melanie stared at him for a moment, "What?"

"I said I would look through it later."

"No Seto…you said thanks."

Kaiba looked up from his laptop again, "…So?"

Melanie gave a small shrug, "You have never said that to me before. You are welcome Seto." She left the office.

Kaiba rubbed his temples. He wished she wasn't so observant. It would make things a lot easier for him. So what if he said thanks? Melanie had worked for him, for at least three years, she must have heard a thank you somewhere along the lines.

Maybe I am more isolated then I thought I was, Kaiba thought.

He shook that thought out of his mind. He had work to do.

Jou woke up. He was still cold, and he was sweating like crazy. He looked over to the digital clock on Kaiba's night side table. It was now 7:23. There was no hope of Jou going to school today. He was way to sick. He looked at the door.

I wonder if Kaiba will come back here at all today? Jou would probably be better off sleeping in a bed. Infact, Jou would be better off if he went home. He wrapped himself in the sheets that Kaiba had given him, and opened the door.

He would take the stairs. He did not need to face Melanie, after his dog suit episode the day before. It took him quite awhile to climb the stairs, as he was exhausted.

When he finally got to the top, he peered around the corner. Melanie was sitting at her desk, going through papers, and typing something on her computer. He would just have to wait until she left.

"Melanie, you are needed on the second floor. There is something wrong with the tournament data base."

Melanie looked at the speaker on her desk. "Yea, I'll be right down." She slowly got up from her chair, and pushed the elevator button. When it opened, she stepped inside, and then was gone from sight.

Jou quickly sprinted to Kaiba's office door.

Kaiba heard a loud sneeze, and looked up to see Jou standing in his door. For a moment they just stared at each other.

"What do you want Mutt?"

"I want to go home. I am sick, and I want my own bed."

Jou pulled at his collar for just a moment, and Kaiba looked back down at his laptop.

"Kaiba?"

"It's Master."

"Master?"

Kaiba looked up again. "If you are going home to sleep, you might was well just stay here and do some work for me. In the three days you have been here, nothing has gotten done."

"Master, I am sick, nothing will get done with me sneezing and coughing over everything."

Kaiba grinned slightly at hearing Jou abide to his rules.

"Just let me go home, and I will come tomorrow."

Kaiba rubbed his forehead, "If you go home tonight, then I will expect you to stay later tomorrow."

"Later!" Jou said loudly, "I just spent a whole night here! How is that for later!"

"Well that was not my fault. If you did not fall asleep you could have gone home, so don't blame it on me."

"And how later is later?"

Kaiba pondered for a minute, "I don't know, midnight."

"I have school the next day!"

"I still have to give you a punishment Mutt, and that might just take awhile."

"Punishment? Punishment for what?"

Kaiba pretend to think, "Hmm, let's see. Insulting me yesterday, walking around the building at the late hours of night, snooping, and not knocking on my door yesterday."

Jou rolled his eyes, "I was opening every door to see what was inside, I didn't know where your room was, so how was I supposed to know that you were behind that one."

"Are you going home or not?"

Jou glared at him. "Yes."

"You clothes are outside the door with your bag."

Kaiba had resumed typing on his laptop.

Jou shuffled out of the room. He was going to sleep the day away, and hope he was still sick tomorrow, so that he would not have to come here. Jou had almost forgotten why he had signed that contract. The tournament seemed non-existent because it was so far away. He left the office wondering why he got himself into this.

Throughout the whole day, Kaiba could not shake that dream out of his head. Whenever he had time to spare, it crept back into his mind, and he pondered on it.

Kaiba detested relationships of any kind. That was the reason he did not have friends. He had chances to go out with girls, but it just did not interest him. He didn't look at girls, and see what other guys saw. Actually, he didn't look at guys and see what girls saw either. Or perhaps he had never tried that end before. What it came down to, was Kaiba just did not care for it. Why he would have a dream about someone like Jou, was beyond him. They did not even like each other.

The one thought that probably crossed his mind most that day, was what about Jou did he not like so much. Jou wasn't a half-bad duelist. Seto was better of course. He was sometimes funny, and stupid, and the more it stuck in his mind, the harder he found it to pinpoint things he did not like about him. Jou was all right.

And it was this thought that got to the CEO so much. If him and Jou started to be decent to each other, other things might start to develop. He didn't need pals, and the thought of even being with another guy, was not most appealing to Kaiba. He didn't see any wrong in it, but he knew other people did. He knew this. Too much was at stake to date people of any kind.

They probably just would want me for my money, he thought, and this was the conclusion he came to. He didn't know if Jou really hated him that much, he would just have to find out. And he had no idea how he was going to do that.

Jou woke up the next morning feeling all right. He had gotten lots of sleep, took medicine, and was not almost 100 better. He judged he could go to school today, and he remembered he was supposed to stay later at Kaiba Corp. this evening. The fun that that would be.

He did his best to avoid his friends, knowing that they would question his whereabouts the past week.

It worked for most of the day, but later in math class, the question arose.

"Where have you been lately Jou?"

"I haven't seen you all week."

"Are you feeling ok?"

Jou did not know how to answer all these, but in the end, 'I am feeling sick,' worked fine, as he looked sicker that day than he actually felt.

When the last bell rang, he gloomily packed up his books, and headed to Kaiba Corp.

Kaiba looked up for only a moment, and seeing it was Jou, he went back to what he was doing. Jou stood infront of him for a moment.

"Is there anything you want me to do?"

Kaiba paused, deep in thought; "Just a few errands, then you can do whatever you want."

Jou liked the sound of not having to be near Kaiba for a long time.

It took only a moment for Seto to rummage through drawers, and finally came out with an official looking envelope; "Do you remember Deidra? I want you to give this to her."

"What floor was she on again? I forget," Said Jou, taking the envelope.

"Third," Said Kaiba, and Jou made his way out the door.

He gave a nod to Melanie as he passed through the foyer, and climbed into the elevator. Kaiba was being decent today as well. Something must have happened yesterday for him to be so touchy.

When he reached the third floor, he went straight into the office.

Deidra looked up at him and smiled, "Hello, Jounouchi is it?"

Jou nodded, "Yea, Kaiba told me to give this to you," He thrust the envelope into her hands, blushing slightly.

She took it, and looked through the papers inside, "One moment, I have something for Mr. Kaiba as well." She sat down and scribbled something on a piece of paper, folded it, and handed it to Jou, "Would you be so kind as to take this to him please?" She smiled again, and played with a loose strand of her long blonde hair.

Jou nodded, and headed back to the elevator.

"She told me to give this to you," He said, giving the paper to Kaiba, upon returning to his office.

He looked at it for a moment, and put it in a desk drawer.

"Do you want me to do anything else?"

Kaiba waved his hand, "No, just go sit down. Don't touch anything, be quiet and you can go early."

Jou liked the sound of that, so he did as he was told. But after awhile, he got bored.

"You know...Erm…Master, there are lots of good looking chicks in here, why don't you have one?"

"How do you know I don't already?"

Jou giggled, "Because it is obvious."

Kaiba looked up from his laptop, and stared at Jou.

"Not like there aren't plenty of people that wouldn't," he said nervously.

"I have better things to do, Mutt, than worry about stupid relationships."

"But that is kind of a hard way of looking at it. You can get a lot from relationships you know, it isn't just about pampering each other."

Kaiba, once again, looked over his laptop, "And since girls are running at you with open arms, you would know all this."

"Hey!" Said Jou, a little offended, "I have had my share with chicks."

"No Mutt, you misunderstood. Animals don't count."

Jou grew very read in the face, and Kaiba gave a chuckle.

"Just what would you know about my personal life?"

"Well, if you HAD a girlfriend, I know for a fact that you wouldn't shut up about her. After all, it would be pretty surprising eh?"

Jou just rolled his eyes, "Whatever, I am too tired to argue."

"What brought up that topic anyways, do you think Deidra is hot? She is way out of your league Mutt. She has no choice, she has to be nice to you."

"Don't you believe there is a soul mate for you somewhere out there for you?" Jou asked Kaiba.

Kaiba scowled, "If there was, they would just get in the way too. I have never thought about girls, probably never will."

"Don't you ever get lonely?"

Instead of an angered face, Kaiba had on a desolate, far away look. Jou knew he had hit a topic Seto clearly did not want to talk about.

"I do." Said Jou.

This time Kaiba looked up from his laptop, and stared at Jou.

Jou looked back at him; "There are things I just can't talk about. Stuff about my dad and Mom. Stuff that I am afraid of. I guess I think people just will not understand it, and that makes me feel alone, like no one goes through it. I know better though." Jou shrugged.

"Yea, I understand." Said Kaiba, going back to typing on his laptop rather fast.

"How so?"

Kaiba closed his laptop this time, when he looked at Jou. "You know half of the stuff that is wrong with my family. Ever care to think that maybe half the people that are your friends feel the same way as you? I wouldn't doubt that they feel the same and you just said, you just are never open enough for people to hear so, so they feel like they are alone too."

Jou thought for a moment, "I guess I never thought of it like that. I bet you are right Kaiba."

"Aren't I usually?" He said, getting up from his chair.

Jou shook his head in humor. It was surprising Kaiba did not remind him to call him master. Then again, he probably forgot.

"Where are you going?"

Kaiba grabbed the handle to his door, "I am getting a snack, I'm hungry."

Jou looked over to where his food and water dish were. "I wouldn't mind something to eat too, you know."

Kaiba shrugged, "I'll see what is in the kitchen. There might be some scraps of something for you down there."

Jou grinned, "You know Kaiba, you not that bad."

Kaiba raised an eyebrow, and looked at the blonde haired boy, "Yes, I am." He said, smiling, and was out the door.

Nah, Jou thought, He just doesn't want people to know he is a softie. Come to think of it, Kaiba and I are pretty similar, except for the fact that I am nicer…and better looking…and smarter.

Kaiba passed Melanie in the foyer. She jumped out of her chair, "Is there something you want Seto?"

Kaiba waved his hand, "No, I am just stretching my legs a bit and grabbing a bite to eat. I'll be back in a sec."

Melanie nodded and sat back down.

As Kaiba climbed into the elevator, he thought about what Jou said. Inside of himself, he knew he was lonely. Jou had hit a spot, and the fact of the matter was, he knew what Jou said about himself was true for him. No one understood what it was like, to be thought of as cruel or a jerk. Just because you have money, doesn't mean you are happy. You can't buy happiness, because it will soon fade.

Kaiba sighed, as he climbed out of the elevator.

"What is it?" said Jou, poking the yellow mash that was on his plate with a fork.

"It is mashed potatoes, never heard of them?"

"I have heard of them thanks," Jou said sarcastically, "But they look…mushy"

"That is because they are probably better than anything that you have eaten" Said Kaiba, stuffing some of them in his mouth.

Jou shrugged, and took a bite. They weren't half-bad. He poked at his peas and the odd looking piece of meat also, but with not much debate, those were soon in his mouth aswell.

Kaiba has his feet on his desk, and was leaning back in his chair, twirling his fork, looking up, obviously lost in thought.

"What?" Said Jou.

Kaiba shook his head; "Just thinking."

"About?"

Kaiba looked dully at him, "Since when do you want to know what goes on in my head."

Jou grinned, "You know you are thinking about me."

Kaiba half-choked on the piece of meat in his mouth, and nearly fell off his chair. He began coughing, and managed to sputter, "I…am…not."

Jou gave a hearty laugh, "Relax, I was just joking."

Kaiba regained composure, and wiped the bit of sweat that collected on his brow, "That was no funny."

"Yea, you could have died. Then I would have never gotten this stupid collar off," Jou said, tugging on it slightly.

"It goes with your eyes Mutt."

"Does it really?"

"No."

Jou slumped in his basket. He had no more food, his collar was feeling tight, and Kaiba had no sense of humor. "Geeze, stop being so funny, it is killing me Kaiba." He said.

Kaiba shrugged, "What can I say, I am a funny guy."

"Yea," replied Jou, "Looking."

"Haha," replied Kaiba with sarcasm, in-between mouthfuls of mashed potatoes.

"You must think something is funny, you can't not laugh for you whole life."

Kaiba pondered for a minute, "Yea, that dog suit looked pretty good on you."

Jou did not want to begin with that again.

"It was a joke." Said Kaiba. He looked out the window at the darkening sky. "You should go home. Last thing I need is another night stuck in here with you."

"You know Kaiba," said Jou, scratching his head, "It isn't like I do anything here, except eat your food and bother you, so why don't we just let this whole thing pass.

Seto smiled, "No, that is no fun."

"Well this is no fun for me."

"That is the point," replied Kaiba, "Besides, you still need to be punished. Come tomorrow earlier than usual."

"Why?"

"Don't ask questions Mutt, just go."

Jou heaved a sigh, and headed out the door.

The week flew by fast. Jou was caught in a blur of doing his schooling and then going to Kaiba Corp. where Kaiba worked him to the bone. Jou supposed he should not have mentioned the fact that he didn't really do anything, because now, Kaiba had him so busy, he didn't even have the chance to take a rest in his basket. Before he knew it, it was they weekend, and that meant, full days at KC.

"I need you to stay over night Mutt. I need to test some stuff for the tournament." Said Kaiba on a Saturday afternoon.

"But I was here last weekend, all night, and I got sick because of it. I am not sleeping on the floor in your room again."

"Relax, I have gotten you a cot, or something alone those lines. You will be fine; Do as you're told."

Jou had no choice, as he was under contract.

"Do you have your locator card?"

Jou reached into his pocket, "Yea it is right here."

"Plug it into there," Kaiba pointed.

Jou placed his card into what he thought was some sort of Floppy file, in a large computer.

His picture came up on a screen, and he heard a voice say, "Katsuya Jounouchi, Level Two Duelist, Rarest Card: Red Eyes Black Dragon"

Kaiba looked at it, pondering. "I suppose that will do."

"Level two? How many levels are there?"

"Five," replied Kaiba.

Jou rolled his eyes; that could have been expected. "Can I go home now?"

"No dumbass, I told you, you are staying here overnight. This time you are not going to be able to wonder around."

"What the hell am I going to do all night then?"

Kaiba shrugged, "I don't know yet."

Jou was up for at least two hours, sorting files into piles. He was becoming sick of the whole thing, when finally, Kaiba declared:

"You can go to the room now."

Jou was so relieved to do something besides stupid errands for Kaiba. He followed him into the room they slept in last time, and saw, instead of a blanket crammed into a corner, a small cot beside the furnace vent. It was surely better than the floor, but looking at Kaiba silk laden bed, he could have done better.

He was just snuggling under the covers when Kaiba looked over at him.

"I said you can go to the room, we are not going to sleep."

"Why not?"

Kaiba threw a book at him, "Pick out some rare magic cards from this magazine. Just circle them or something," He threw a pen at Jou.

"Why?"

"Because I want new cards for my deck." Replied Kaiba, opening his own magazine.

"Isn't it great you can just have anything you want?" He mimicked Kaiba's voice, "Only two million dollars? What a deal!"

Kaiba rolled his eyes, "No, but I would rather have a good deck, then some sleazy one like you."

"I just know how to use any types of cards, not just rare ones."

Kaiba shook his head and said nothing. The truth was, he wasn't here to discuss whether Jou knew how to use cards, he wanted to know if Jou hated him, as much as he thought he did.

Kaiba cleared his throat, "Do you do anything else except duel?"

Jou had to think for a moment. "Erm, I like to…that is…no actually, I don't have any hobbies." He pondered for another second, "I am usually with my friends, I don't like going home."

Seto nodded.

"My dad, well, you have heard what he is like. Not the nicest guy around. I suppose you know what that is like eh?"

Kaiba nodded again, pretending to look at his magazine. He never talked about his family, it just wasn't a topic he thought anyone would understand.

"But you know, I am glad I had my sister. Mokuba must mean a lot to you to, huh?"
"Do you ever know when to shut up Mutt? Or do you just want to continue for hours."

"You're the one who asked me a question."

"I didn't ask for you life story."

Jou threw the magazine towards the CEO. "I am done."

Kaiba ran his fingers through his hair. "Next weekend stay to, I want to test the new dueling system against two people."

Jou looked as if he would rather have taken another dive into Kaiba's fountain. "Fine."

Kaiba grinned. Being nice wasn't as bad as he thought.

"What are you smiling at?"

Kaiba turned his head and looked at Jou, "What, I can't smile now?"

"You just never smile. Unless someone is crying or bleeding."

"You know that is not true." Said Kaiba, shaking his head.

Jou got up and stretched, "Kaiba you are the most sadistic bastard I have ever met."

Kaiba stared blankly at him, "Where are you going?"

Jou gave a yawn, "I want food."

"Do you know where the kitchen is?"

"Now that you mention it, no, I don't." replied the blonde, scratching his head.

Kaiba threw his magazine down on the floor next to his bed, "I am kind of hungry too. I might as well make something."

Jou laughed, "You can actually cook? There isn't some fancy butler here that makes Hors de Vours?"

"I am not incapable of cooking, you moron."

But Jou was already out the door, and sprinting down to the elevators.

Kaiba bit into a delectable looking sub, while Jou munched on some nachos.

"You know Kaiba, this collar is bothering me. I think I have learned my lesson, care to take it off?"

"Not a chance," said Kaiba, "It represents my ownership over you, and I like it."

"You don't own me Kaiba," snapped Jou, "If I didn't sign that stupid contract, I would have never even been here!"

"Yes," replied Kaiba, "And I would be sleeping right now."

Jou took a few more nachos into his mouth, "What, you don't like talking?"

Kaiba grinned, "No, you just have the uncanning ability to lower my IQ level Mutt."

Jou simply rolled his eyes, "I am not stupid. I have my moments, but we all do. You just need to loosen up Kaiba. Don't be so uptight. Open up to people."

Raising an eyebrow suspiciously, Kaiba replied, "And what kind of things involve 'opening up'?"

Jou shrugged, "What are you afraid of?"

Kaiba pondered for a moment, "I am not afraid of anything."

Jou stared at him, "C'mon Kaiba, you have to be afraid of something. We all have fears."

Thinking upon it again, Kaiba shook his head once more, "No, I think we create what we are afraid of, because our minds let us drift out of reality. The only thing I can see people fearing is injury resulting in death itself. That is inevitable, so it makes no sense to fear."

"I am afraid of loosing people I care for. I don't like being alone either, and I am not to good with heights."

Kaiba stared at a piece of lettuce, obviously unfathomed, "And this is opening up?"

Jou grinned and nodded, "Go on, ask me anything."

Seto knew what he wanted to ask Jou. He just was not particularly comfortable of what Jou would think of him, and he didn't want to know the answer to the question. "Do you hate me?"

Jou sighed, "Not really. Don't get me wrong, you are the rudest, most selfish, obnoxious, cold bloodiest person I have ever met, but to say that I hate you? Naw, you could just use a personality change. I mean, we all have bad days, but would it kill you to crack a smile? And you don't talk, unless you are giving insults. You hate me because I live, and the only person you care for is yourself. Still, I don't hate you."

Kaiba felt the full impact of these words. He knew most of them were true, and he had asked for Jou's opinion, so he really couldn't get mad at what he was saying.

"I don't hate you Mutt."

Jou gave a false laugh, "Give me a break Kaiba. The only time you have ever been nice when you said please, and considering it was after the phrase 'Shut the fuck up' I don't need a psychic to know when someone doesn't like me."

"It isn't that I don't like you, you are just so easy to pick on."

"So is that it then? You have fun picking on me?"

Kaiba surpassed a grin, "well, yeah."

Jou shrugged, "Makes sense I suppose." He picked at another nacho on his plate, "I think people judge you before they get to know you Kaiba."

Seto turned his head and looked over at Jou, "Why do you say that?"

"Because, we have had a whole conversation, not resulting in damage. I guess people just notice what is bad about you, and not the good. Which is hard, considering you don't ever show a good side."

"I didn't realize one existed," said Kaiba, "What is so good about me then?"

Jou thought for half a moment, "You are smart, that is always good. Erm…you know the business world that is good to. Anything good about me?" he said eagerly.

"You are funny when you are annoyed."

"And?" Said Jou, fanning out his hand to look at his nails.

"Your sense of humor is alright."

"I happen to be a good duelist." Replied Jounouchi, with an air of arrogance.

Kaiba finished the last bite of his sandwich, "I'll admit to that when you can beat me in a duel."

Jou sighed and shook his head.

"There," said Jou, placing a pile of magazines down beside Kaiba's bed. "I have marked all of them."

Kaiba glanced down at the pile beside his bed, "Good."

Kaiba pondered about Jou and him. Never did he ever expect to get along with him. They were opposites. Jou was open, friendly and had a sense of humor. Kaiba just…didn't. He stared off into space for a moment. Friends did have their positives. You weren't alone, for one, and Kaiba felt an odd connection with Jou. Maybe it was because of the fact that they grew up in similar circumstances, or that they were so opposite. His mind lingered back to that dream.

"What's up?"

Kaiba looked at Jou, The blonde was eyeing him.

"What are you thinking about?"

Kaiba smiled and laughed, shaking his head, "What are your views on dating Mutt?"