-Yawns- I took a Wednesday afternoon to finish this up. I hope you guys like it, I am a tad pleased with how things went Thanks you all for the awesome reviews I got last time. I just wanted to take this time to thank the people who have reviewed mostly everytime I have updated.

Deidra Hellion, SilverConfusion, DementedWolf, CharyBarry, DarkWitch17, Serenity Meowth, ChibiSmiles, Dark Magician of Chaos, yugischick08, Seto'swhiterose, RosePedal

And the very many and very lengthy reviews from mandapandabug

Reviews on Chapter Nine From: Golden Leo, mandapandabug, puffy Vanilla, Generally Maz, Serenity Meowth, FireieGurl, yugischick08, Lady Crymsyn, Dark Magician of Chaos, Chibikuro rose-sama, dragonmaster1703, Rosepedal, Deidra hellion, Seto'swhiterose,

Anyone, who updated any chapter, I am so grateful to you guys! It means a lot that you like my work, and criticizing me on what I do wring .

And now…-drum roll- Next chapter is the Lemon, so it might take a bit of awhile. We shall see, but I will try and get it up as soon as I can! Thanks everyone, and remember to review me!

Chapter Ten

Three weeks left until the tournament began. Kaiba was working day and night to finish it by the deadline he made earlier. He would come home late at night, and leave early in the morning, hardly speaking to even his brother.

As Jou had promised, he did stay later every night. He didn't understand Kaiba's motives at all. Infact, it was slightly awkward when he walked in the day after the dinner. He did take the collar off, cursing at the tan line it had made, and relieved that he was finally free of it. For some odd reason he could not understand, he still kept it with him. Maybe it was a reminder of the past that no longer existed between the two boys, or perhaps it just reminded him of Kaiba in general. Whatever the reason, he was not sure of; Jou was quite content to not put it on again.

"You really need to go out, and forget about this tournament for half a second."

Kaiba had just walked into the room, with a tray of coffees. No doubt he planned on staying until late at night again, hoping caffeine would curve his sleeping habits.

"No, I just need to get his done."

Jou rolled his eyes. Typical stubborn Kaiba.

"What are you doing tonight?"

"What do you think Mutt?"

Jou growled. All the hopes he had in Kaiba dropping his nickname for Jou were gone. Kaiba would not give up this task, though he did pop in the regular Jou once in awhile, though reluctantly.

"How about you don't work then? Sound like a plan?"

Kaiba pondered in a sarcastic way, "Hmm, don't work to hang out with you, that is a topic that requires a great deal of thought."

"Who says you were going to hang out with me!" Said Jou defiantly, "I just said don't work!"

Kaiba shrugged, and took a sip out of one of the five coffees he had.

Jou slumped down in what was once his doggy bed. "You work too much for your own good. You deserve a break."

"Thanks," said Kaiba, unemotionally.

A coy smile appeared on Jou's face, "Come and get a drink with me after work."

Kaiba did not look up from his laptop. "Didn't I just say, I do not wish to time with you?"

"No, you just said it required a great deal of thought. So think, and then join me!"

This time, Kaiba looked up at the blonde haired boy infront of him; "We aren't 'pals'. So why should we go out together?"

Jou scratched the back of his head and shrugged, "You attend dinners with people you don't like, what's the difference?"

"Yes, but that is an obligation." Said Kaiba in his 'matter-of-fact-that-you-should-have-known' voice.

"What?" Said Jou, provoking Kaiba further, "Afraid to be seen with me"

"Yes."

Jou shook his head and didn't say anything. Kaiba merely sighed and continued to type.

"But say if-"

"For Christ sakes, I am working! Can't you go bother someone else?"

"No. I don't know where Mel is…and I can't talk to Deidra without slurring my words. Nope! No one else to bother."

Seto knew he was not going to get very much work done. And kicking Jou out, would just prove the fact, that if he annoyed Kaiba, he would get to go home early.

"How about," said Kaiba, "If you shut your face for the rest of the day, I'll accompany you on your geek patrol to get drinks tonight?"

Jou became fixed on his nail beds, "Really now?"

Kaiba growled. "Yes."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Just shut the fuck up!"

It wasn't hard for Jou to keep quiet. He ended up falling asleep part way through the day, and slept until it was time to leave.

Kaiba thought he could sneak past him, to avoid their rendezvous later that night, but Jou caught him, and Kaiba, much to his distaste, was forced to spend time with the other boy, out of office hours. Something he greatly dreaded.

"Ok, don't say anything to anyone. Don't attract attention to yourself and don't do anything stupid."

"Geeze Kaiba, do you want me to discontinue breathing aswell?"

Kaiba glared at Jou, "It is bad enough I am spending my own time with you, so don't push it Mutt."

"Hey, I kept quiet alright!"

"You were sleeping. Were are we going anyways?"

Jou grinned, "A little place I like to call Matashi's Bar."

Kaiba took out his cell phone.

"What is that for?" Asked Jou.

"Well, we are going to need a ride, so I am calling my chauffeur."

"What are you, a diva?" Exclaimed Jou, "It is two blocks away!"

"Then I am calling my insurance agency to check on my will. If I end up not living past this night-"

Jou grabbed Kaiba sleeve and pulled the boy along through the glass front doors, "Just shut up and come on."

Kaiba did not actually listen to Jou; he just didn't have anything to say. He, of course, would never take orders from anyone.

Kaiba pulled the collar of his cloak up to hide at least some of his face, while the blonde bounded happily into the bar. Jou simply rolled his eyes, and yanked Kaiba to a table.

The bar was dimly lit, but well kept. Paintings hung from green walls, and several people sat comfy booths, having idle conversation. Kaiba dreaded that part of this night.

When the twosome sat down at the table they had been assigned, Kaiba ducked under his menu of drinks. Someone was bound to recognize him, and seeing him with a person like Jou, was not too encouraging.

Jou snatched the Menu out of his hands. "I'll order for you if you don't stop it. No one we know comes here, so just act human."

"What can I get cha?"

Kaiba jumped to see his waiter. She was cute, with her hair in two ponytails at the side of her head, and her red waitress outfit on.

"Erm…"

"I'll have…" Jou scanned his Menu for a second, "Bloody Mary."

She wrote it down on her pad of paper, and looked towards Kaiba.

"Just a scotch is fine for me." he said, and pushed his menu towards the young girl. She took them and said, "I'll bring them in just a minute," and left them both.

"Now what?" asked Kaiba.

"Ever heard of idle conversation?"

"No," he grumbled.

"Then, you will just have to learn. What did you to today?"

"Work," stated Kaiba.

Jou shook his head and rolled his eyes, "You are about as interesting as a dictionary. Do you ever talk to anyone about anything else then work?"

Kaiba thought for a moment, "I sometime talk to Mel about stocks."

The blonde rolled his eyes again, "How can you be so boring! When was the last time you were out?"

Kaiba had to think about this, "I go out for dinner sometimes. Oh, and last year, I went to Tokyo."

This perked Jou's interest, "Why?"

"For work," said Kaiba.

Thankfully, their drinks had come, and Jou did not have to struggle with questions to ask the brunette across from his.

Kaiba swished his drink around for a moment, and took a sip. It wasn't bad.

Jou knew his would be good; he usually came here when he needed to think or drink. "Can I try yours?" he asked Kaiba bravely.

Kaiba passed him the glass, and Jou took a sip. His eyes went wide, and he spit what he had drunk into his sleeve. "That is awful! It tastes like cowpiss! How can you drink that shit?"

Kaiba took another sip and merely stated, "It is an acquired taste."

Jou was busy flushing the taste out of his mouth with his own drink, "Nasty stuff."

Kaiba gave a small laugh, "it is a man's drink kid."

Jou gave a wary stare at the drink, but said no more.

It seemed as if everytime the waitress came over to offer them a drink, another one would come, and the glasses pilled even higher. Soon, the two boys were talking like old pals, and laughing at jokes that just did not make any sense.

When it was time to leave, Jou decided not to go home. "I am piss ass drunk, my Dad will get mad. Drop me off at Yug's."

"At one in the morning?" Kaiba slurred.

Jou nodded, feeling dizzy, but Kaiba was not as drunk, to not know what he was doing. "Just let me go home, and I can get Mokuba's security card to open KC for the night, and we can just stay there. I'll give you a ride to school tomorrow, if you are not too hungover."

Jou nodded, "Good idea, that way I don't have to wake anyone up."

Their conversation continued from Kaiba's mansion to the office building. Both had broken into Kaiba's personal stash of wine he had kept in the limo, and both were just a tad more tipsy than when they left the bar. They stumbled out of the limo finally, and broke the security to Kaiba Corp.

It was amazing how Kaiba knew his way around, even when intoxicated, though it took him a few tries. He was surprised that he could function with so much to drink, but even more surprised with the events to come.

"There is something I always wanted to do," laughed Jou, "Just never had the guts to."

"And what's that?" Kaiba coughed.

Jou didn't say a thing, but his sudden leap toward the CEO told Kaiba he should be prepared for something unexpected and probably rueful.

Jou shoved him roughly against the elevator and held both of his arms against the wall. He roughly pushed himself into him, and Kaiba could feel the other boy's body heat. Jou crammed his lips onto Kaiba's.

The CEO was in shock. The usually gently blonde kissed him roughly, with no passion, but a burning need.

Seto knew what was happening, but was reluctant to stop anything. He did not know if it was because thing was something he had never felt, something new, and he enjoyed it, or that sense of pity towards the blonde had grown on him again. Perhaps the fact that Jou would not remember the kiss in the morning and that seemed to stay in his mind; that fact did not pester to hurt the CEO. Needless to say, it was the most interesting ride up the elevator Kaiba had ever had.

Who knew a boy he hated a month and a half ago would be kissing him now.