Disclaimer: Do I really have to repeat myself? Nothing has changed, you know.

Warnings: Shounen-ai, weirdness, probably the only fic that will not refer to Jounouchi as a dog (flee, you simple-minded beings!), OOC-ness, swearing, angsty Kaiba and go-with-the-flow Jounouchi.

Note: Guess what? This chapter has been edited too! Yay! Rocks, doesn't it? Yes it does. It is much better! The small things make a difference, heh.

Unheard Love
Chapter 4

by Growing Pain

The mask he wore was killing him. What was once used to protect his inside, was now the very thing hurting him. How ironic fate seems to be. But then again, he was never the one to believe in destiny and all that fairy-tale crap.

"Hey! I was talking to you! Get back here!"

When exactly did he start to slip? Was it when he met that little shrimp and his group? Did they change him?

"Kaiba!"

When did everything become so difficult and hard to handle? It must be his hormones or something, because if he was in his right mind things wouldn't get so out of control.

Once outside he was greeted by the fresh air that he, and everyone else, took for granted. And over the concrete ground he walked, ignoring the persistent blond man trying to catch up.

Could it be that his time of success was simply over? Had he reached his top, and now had to come down?

Blue eyes met brown. One in deep thought, the other in deep anger.

No, his time wasn't over. He just had to fight more now. Nothing he wasn't already used to. He was forcefully grabbed by his collar, making him give his full attention to the man in front of him. The reaction towards this was not a positive one, as expected.

"Let go of me you imbecile!" And with that he shoved Jounouchi to the ground.

A strike of guilt quickly replaced the anger as this was a person he actually cared about, no matter how hard it was for him to grasp that thought. And it wasn't that he'd ever admit feeling so. His face showed no emotion, but concern was still somewhere deep inside.

Jounouchi slowly got up from his feet, staring Kaiba who had stopped his tracks to look down at him.

"Kaiba, you're in serious need of anger management…" The blond man muttered with slightly narrowed eyes. Kaiba looked back with a blank expression.

The words were neither angry, irritated or with a hint of humour, but simply a statement. Still, he couldn't help but smirk. Jou never seized to surprise him, and it was entertaining at times.

Realization struck him as he noticed they were all alone. Yuugi and the others weren't there, nor the principal or any teacher or student. Everyone was in class.

It's funny how he could never really handle 'emotional' situations. This is after all what he had wanted, a moment between just the two of them. And that moment should not go to waste because of his anger. So he said something very out of character.

"Perhaps you are right…" He mused with indifference, as if he hardly cared whether this was right or not.

The blond was obviously confused, as the two of them never seemed to agree on anything, let alone the faults of Kaiba.

"Say what?"

"You heard me very well." Kaiba retorted, his eyes narrowing.

Jounouchi noticed that this annoyed his rival quite a bit, and since this must be one of the very few relatively 'normal' sentences they've ever exchanged, he did not want it to go to waste. Well, normal if you don't count the previous argument inside of school and basically everything up until the point where he had been shoved to the ground.

"Okay, no need to get mad." He calmed, a slightly uneasy smile on his lips.

"I'm not mad." The normal cold voice came out from his mouth.

Silence only followed, where they simply didn't know what to say. Seto had noticed the limousine but paid no attention to it. He should get going, but he didn't want to. Inside of him he cursed his hormones.

As for Jounouchi there was an internal conflict as well. He had been yelled at, pushed and basically been told to get lost, which he should do since he was having class right now. But he wanted to stay, for reasons he didn't really know. So he told himself it was because class is so boring anyway. Who knows, perhaps Kaiba could be more entertaining?

Or not. 'Worth a shot anyway', he thought to himself.

"So…." He shifted his legs and started to look everywhere except on the brunet. "what are your plans for this day? Doing anything with Mokuba?"

Indeed, this was an awkward situation for both teenagers. Their seemingly normal conversation was leading up to his personal life. Yet he didn't feel uncomfortable with it. He just wasn't used to it, that's all. No one used to ask him about his personal life, except for Mokuba, but he was an exception.

"Business-related work." He explained curtly. Jounouchi nodded in understanding.

"Don't you spend time with Mokuba? If I lived with Shizuka I would -" The sentence quickly stopped as he realized he wasn't thinking before opening his mouth. He just can't go off telling him what he should and should do with Mokuba, god knows how angry he might be! An apologetic smile soon appeared on his face.

"Sorry, didn't mean to be -"

"Whatever." And once again, there was a short silence between the boys. But that's what it was. Short.

"As a matter of fact, we will go to the zoo on Friday." Kaiba stated, perhaps to show that he too was fully capable of cherishing his brother.

"Really? Must be nice." Jounouchi claimed, in a tone that could be deemed as a normal one.

"For him it is." Kaiba dismissed.

"Admit it, you think animals are cute." It was a joke, for obvious reasons, and Kaiba found himself being grinned at by Jounouchi, who was rather amused that his little brother actually got him to go to a zoo. Quite amazing what kind of persuasion that Mokuba must have.

"They are not…'cute'…" The last word was said with great discomfort and came out as if he felt sick just thinking about it. Of course the blond could only enjoy this as the Seto Kaiba actually had said the word cute. It was only natural to chuckle a bit.

"So…is your girlfriend coming to?"

"Who?" The media plan had slipped his mind for the moment, but he realized his mistake as soon as he asked the question. He quickly added "I mean no, she's not coming."

Jounouchi was a little suspicious at this, raising an eyebrow, questioning him. But Kaiba looked as calm and collected as always.

"Well, no time for small talk. I better get going." And he turned himself to walk to his limousine.

"See ya tomorrow." Katsuya offered as a goodbye as the brunet retreated. The brunet only 'hmpf'-ed at this and quickly got into the vehicle to be driven home.

"Yeah. Nice talking to you too." He muttered as he returned back into the school building.

While in his car Kaiba cursed himself repeatedly with all curse words he knew of, in his head of course. Otherwise his employee might think of him as crazy, or even worse; communicate with him, asking what's wrong.

But that is maybe what he is. He had definitely considered himself of being insane, especially after this…this…socialising. He of all people, gave in. Started to talk. Why did he do it? His lack of self-control was only growing stronger. What would he do next, ask Jounouchi if he wanted to come over? Hmpf.

He can't let it go so far. It was already over the line. Unacceptable, that is what he is. He can never do anything right.

All he ever did always came out wrong one way or another… Raising Mokuba for example. He was never there, and by his actions he showed the younger boy that work always comes first, even if it wasn't true.

Then people he worked with always had a problem with him. The public thought of him as some sort of stone-cold dictator over his employees. Hopefully his 'girlfriend' could change that image a bit. But it was still true, he never showed sympathy for business associates. Being thought of as heartless was not what disturbed him. It was just that everyone else think they could do a better job themselves, or if he was "nice every once in a while" it'd go even better. Being questioned by people he did not know was not something he liked.

Foolish people…

He was also no longer an undefeated duelist, Yuugi changed that. For some reason things were falling apart.

Fact remains, he saw himself as a failure. Corrupted by his own dark thoughts. Trying to achieve the level of perfection to prove himself otherwise.

And now the petty feeling called 'love' entered his life. As a response, he thought less of himself because of that.

Something needed to be done.

He has to be on top, be the best at everything. It's not open for debate, it is simply what must be. And Jounouchi was a clear obstacle in the way of that. He had to get rid of him permanently. Perhaps assassination is the only answer?

He quickly scolded himself mentally when he understood the full meaning of this, blaming it on his headache. He was not his step-father, he did not sacrifice other people's lives like that. If he just relaxed a bit, perhaps he'd feel better. Mokuba did say it'd do him some good. Maybe the kid had a point…

And with those thoughts he stopped to think for a while, just staring out the window, slowly falling to sleep in the vehicle, much to the chauffeurs surprise.

To Be Continued

Words: 1592
Aw, it was a decrease... Pity.

Hopefully this chapter was to your delight. If not, I apologize. Longer chapter are coming your way, trust me -laughs evilly- And as always; I really appreciate all the reviews! -hugs-

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