If I owned Yu-Gi-Oh, I would have made sure that it was no longer PG! (And I would have made sure some... other things too... but sadly, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh so until then, we'll have to be stuck with it XD)


Jou's job started out as a temporary one, just until he got the one he really wanted. He had planned on leaving after two months to work in the US, but things have changed. He couldn't leave now. Not when he loves Seto and… he's almost sure that Seto loves him.


Until You Need Me

Denial, Depression, and Seto Kaiba


Seto Kaiba was a hard person to read. Sometimes, he would be in a teasing mood like earlier when he kept calling him puppy and referring to himself as his master. If he was lucky, Jou could probably get Seto to give him the trademark grin, but most of the time, Seto Kaiba was an unapproachable person—both physically and mentally, much like high school. His mood swings were on and off; it's so hard to figure him out sometimes. You never know what he would say.

That was what pissed Jou off most of the time. Back in high school, when he really did want to get to know the young CEO, his words would somehow get twisted and misunderstood and always accused for some other meaning. It would usually get the brunette defensive and cause an argument, making the blonde angry and making him forget all about his attempts to get to know the other.

For a few minutes, no one spoke; there was an occasional sip of water and maybe tapping of fingers on the table, but nothing else. Jou started to feel that uneasy dread once more—wishing more than ever that either Mokuba had never ditched them or that he never agreed to come at all.

I wonder why it took us several years to finally manage to sit down together at the same table and actually attempt to eat with each other. Jou laughed awkwardly at his thought quietly, knowing the answer already. From the corner of his eye, he saw Seto raise an eyebrow at him, but kept silent.

Jou took a sip of his water to calm his nerves. His palms had started to sweat and kept wiping his hands on his pants. Jou had started to bite his lips nervously and his eyes darted dangerously everyone, avoiding Seto's gaze. To occupy his hands, he started to brush his blonde hair back, even though it fell back in its original position.

He felt as if he was on his first date—nervous, quiet, and unsure of what was to come. Of course, Jou knew that this was anything but a date, but still, the emotions and thoughts running through his mind and his stomach felt as if it was. Although part of Jou knew that there would never be an incident when he'll get a chance to have a first date with the CEO, the other part of him wished that there would be and that made his heart give a familiar thump again.

Why did his heart only thump when he was thinking about Seto Kaiba?

Jou risked a glance at Seto and to his surprise, Seto was looking straight at him as well. Seto, noticing that Jou had finally looked his way, gave Jou a small—a really small, tiny, microscopic—smile, was it even a smile? Jou could have sworn that he saw Seto's lips curve slightly at the end of his lips, but he couldn't be sure. Still, to be on the safe side, Jou quickly turned his attention towards a couple that was walking past their table and to his delight, Jou noticed that the waiter was coming towards them with a plate that looked suspiciously like hot and delicious food.

"Mr. Kaiba, your order, sir," the waiter said politely, placing the dish in front of Seto, "and here's some utensils. I hope you are satisfied and if you need anything, please call for me."

Jou opened his mouth to ask where his utensils were but the waiter vanished and left so fast that it was as if he wasn't even there. Jou closed his mouth and glared at the waiter's back murderously, wishing that his eyes could shoot fireballs.

Seto, Jou noticed, had already begun cutting up the piece of meat. Jou wondered how exactly they were going to share if first off, they didn't have any plates, second, Jou didn't have a fork, a knife, or even a spoon, and third, if Seto decided to ignore his presence.

"Great," Jou mumbled underneath his breath, disliking Mokuba for putting him in this situation and hating the waiter and he wasn't very fond of Seto for ignoring him either.

So, was Jou just going to watch him eat and be jealous and envious? That would not be good, not for him or his stomach, which was starting to make this funny noise that sounded an awful lot like grumbling.

Seto finished cutting his meat and finally gave Jou his attention. Seto's eyes looked after at his spot and at last, noticed Jou's predicament. "Why didn't you ask for some utensils, or even a plate?" he asked in a condescending tone.

"He left before I could," Jou answered back, not liking how Seto's face turned from neutrality to what looked like pure delight, seeing how Seto had started to smirk at him just as Jou had finished talking.

"I see," he said simply. Seto put his knife down and then added, "I guess I have to feed you then, hm?"

Jou's eyes widened and quickly shook his head. "No, that's okay, I'm not that hungry really, I just came because Mokuba asked me to and—" he was babbling and rambling, but he didn't care. Under no circumstances was Seto Kaiba going to feed him.

"You're not hungry?"

"Of course I'm not!" Jou insisted, just as his stomach decided to fail and rebel against him, letting out a low growl.

Seto's smirk widened even more. "I believe you. So you wouldn't mind if I ate all of this," his hands beckoning towards the plate full of food, "by myself? And not let you have any? That's nice of you, puppy," his voice sounding husky and yet somewhat tempting.

"Cause I don't mind if I ate this all by myself." To prove his point, Seto delicately took his fork and stabbed a broccoli, putting it in his mouth, his blue eyes practically dancing with amusement at Jou's torture.

His stomach rebelling once more, Jou gave stifled a groan of defeat and moved from his seat across from Seto to the one next to him. "Can I have some?" Jou asked, his voice sounding like a ten year old.

"Certainly." Seto took his fork and scooped up some mashed potatoes. Seto gave him another triumphant smirk as he leaned towards the blonde, making Jou's heart thump faster and faster at how close he was, and placed the fork closer to his mouth.

"Thanks Kaiba," Jou mumbled, his taste buds liking the taste of the creamy mashed potatoes.

"A master's got to look after his puppy, pup," Seto told him, getting more mashed potatoes, but then frowned. "You're so messy, you got something on your cheek. How is that possible?"

"I do?" Jou reached for his napkin but Seto beat him. Seto took his own towel and started to wipe away the potato left behind, his eyes staring straight into Jou's. Jou could feel his heart accelerating once more. When Seto finished brushing it away with his towel, Seto touched his cheek softly, with his hand and Jou felt Seto's eyes bore into his, wondering how his touch could make him feel so hot all of the sudden...

"All gone," Seto said, pulling his hand away to Jou's disappointment. "Messy puppy," he teased, his voice full of playfulness and Jou breathed a sigh of relief and Jou opened his mouth as Seto placed more food inside.

As Jou started to chew, he looked at Seto carefully and saw how his hair was placed perfectly against his eyes and Jou felt his cheeks turn red again, not due to embarrassment though. Suddenly, he felt a rush of gratitude towards Mokuba for inviting him and then for leaving them two alone. Suddenly, he felt the tiny butterflies in his stomach coming alive again—butterflies he had not felt in so long with anybody. And suddenly, he felt as if nothing else in the world mattered—not his father being sick, not his sister ignoring him, nothing. The only thing that mattered to Jou at that very moment was appreciating and savoring the time he had with Seto, knowing that it might not ever happen again.

He looks so perfect, Jou thought as he saw Seto turn his attention back at him, with that microscopic smile on his face again.


They finished the food quickly—too quickly in Jou's opinion. He could hardly stop himself from feeling disappointed that it was all over so soon as they were walking in the parking lot to get to the car. It started out badly, but ended in such a great way Jou never would have thought was possible. But he was glad it did.

As Jou was putting his seat belt on, Seto put his keys in the ignition, but didn't start it. Instead, he sat there, staring out the window before saying, "I'm sorry Mokuba dragged you into this."

Jou glanced up, shocked and appalled. "Mokuba dragged me? He didn't..."

"He did." For some reason, Seto's voice had turned cold, icy, and emotionless. Jou felt his good mood diminishing, wondering what had triggered Seto to go back into that defensive shell and interior, wishing that Seto hadn't.

"You didn't want to be here with me today and that's understandable. I'll make sure Mokuba does not pull that stunt again. You will not have to see me more than it is necessary, rest assured."

"No really, it's—"

Seto started the car and started to back out, cutting Jou off. It was as if Seto was telling Jou that there was nothing else left to discuss, ending the conversation and leaving them in that awkward and dreadful silence once more.

They didn't talk at all during the entire ride back to Kaiba Corp.


They didn't talk when they got back to the corporation either. Jou worked all afternoon, trying to place all his energy and frustration into what he had to finish. Whenever he thought about Seto, he felt a familiar pang in his stomach and a sense of regret that he forced himself to work even harder.

How could things change so fast? One minute, Seto was playfully feeding Jou and the next, he's back to his old self. Jou thought that things were going to change yet apparently, it wasn't, at least, not any time soon.

He worked so hard that he hadn't even noticed that it was time to go until his phone rang and it was his father, reminding him to come home earlier this time. Jou shut his computer off and started tidying his office up, even though he knew his office would be just as messy as it was before the next day.

As Jou was locking his door, he realized that maybe if he talked to Seto and explained the situation to him, it would be much easier. Maybe he could get Seto to let is guard down, for once.

It was worth a shot.

With a renewed sense of hope, Jou hurried to his door and knocked cautiously. He waited for Seto give him the okay, but he didn't hear anything. He knocked again and said loudly, "Kaiba? Are you in there?"

No answer. Strange, Seto rarely left his office for anything. Jou let himself in. The first thing he noticed was the fact that while everything looked normal, nothing out of place, Seto himself was missing, but he had left his computer running and all the lights on. Where would he go? If he had left early (which Jou doubted because Seto Kaiba never took any breaks and never left early ever), he would have turned everything off. He wouldn't leave his office unattended.

Just as Jou was going to leave, he heard a sound coming from the private restroom Seto had in his office. Thinking he must be in there, he quickly walked over there and knocked. "Kaiba? Are you okay in there?"

No answer. Jou tried the door and noticed that it was unlocked. He let himself in carefully and cautiously. It was the first time inside the fancy restroom (with a shower and everything) and it looked like the fanciest restroom he will ever be in, but before he could take in the environment, he saw Seto in the corner where the toilet was, leaned over and it sounded as if he was throwing up.

Worried, Jou hurried over there, just as Seto was done. Jou kneeled down and let Seto lean on him as Jou flushed it down (Jou looked away, trying his best not to look at its contents). Jou took some toilet paper and quickly wiped the CEO's mouth. With a steady hand, Jou managed to get Seto off the floor and standing. Jou made sure the brunette was standing firmly on the floor and made sure he wasn't going to fall.

"I'm fine," Seto mumbled, his face looked queasy. In all the years Jou knew him, Jou had never saw Seto look so sick. His eyes had lost all emotion and looked empty; his face was ghostly pale and when he talked, his voice sounded weak and tired, something his voice never sounded.

Ignoring him, Jou led him to the sink and grabbed a paper towel and ran it under some water. He wiped his face with it gently and then disposed of it in the trash can. "Come in," Jou told him in comforting tone, "let's get you out of here."

"I can't," Seto said quietly, his eyes drooping. "I've got a lot of word to do and—"

"That can be taken care of. My main concern is getting you out of here and getting you home." As Jou said that, it dawned to him that Jou didn't know where Seto lived and even if he did, his security might rip apart, thinking that he had kidnapped the young CEO.

He placed Seto on the couch as Jou went around turning off the lights and the computer. He even attempted to clean up all the papers on the desk, but soon gave up. Afterwards, Jou went back to Seto and made sure that Seto's arm was around his shoulder. His grip tightened around the brunette's waist. Even though Seto was taller, his head still managed to find comfort in Jou's shoulder and was leaning against it comfortably, something Jou didn't really mind.

"I guess you're coming home with me then, huh?" Jou told the CEO, not sure Seto could even hear him speak. His brown eyes softened as he noticed how vulnerable Seto looked and had never ever seen him show that side to anyone before.

You're coming home with me.


-TBC-

Okay, it's been a month and... twelve days since I last updated this story! Wow! The time certainly flies! What can I say? I've been busy at my new school and boy, it's working me like a dog! (lol, like Jou huh?) It'll take some time for me to get used to... it's hard for me to find time to update nowadays.

Anyway, I guess I'll give you a heads up that I probably won't update as often as I used to because I've got too many things to worry and stress about! But I'm still alive (yesss ma'am) and I still love Seto/Jou so... yeah. :)

So the plot gets... err... less unique. Oh well... I need ideas... I'm stuck! –cries- Hope you guys like this chapter anyways.

As always, leave a review, give me an E-hug, etc.

-lilrubydevil-