The person who owns all rights to Yu-Gi-Oh is a guy... I'm a girl... do the math...


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

A Night Away From All Formality


Drawing the curtains, tidying up the room, turning off the lights and the computer (oh, Jou could imagine what the CEO would have to say if he left the beloved computer on for the entire day) was the easy part. With all that done, Jou would have thought he was out of predicaments, yet, he soon realized he was in another predicament, one much harder and uneasy to manage.

How was he supposed to get him to his place without attracting attention?

Huh.

"Come on, you lanky (or maybe not, never mind), blue eyed man," Jou muttered as he struggled to lock the door behind him while still keeping Seto's arm over his shoulders. That was easy enough, considering that now, the CEO had gotten used to the blonde being there and had just started to lean against Jou, his eyes closed as if asleep. Jou had no idea how Seto managed to fall asleep while standing up next to a human bed. He must have been really tired or really sick or both.

Stupid Kaiba, Jou thought was he got in the elevator. You just HAD to continue working, didn't you? You couldn't have thought of maybe going home for once instead of working under such circumstances? Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Jou continued his chanting inside of his head even after he was in the elevator. He silently hoped on his way down that no one would decide to use the elevator to get to the first floor, but his hopes came crashing down when somewhere around the seventeenth floor, the elevator stopped and Jou gulped as the doors opened and he saw three or four employees all dressed to leave staring at him.

One man, whom Jou recognized as the man whom he had overheard about his lack of credibility for the job on his first day, had an expression that resembled disgust and annoyance. His lips were curled into something nasty as if the sight was so horrible and Jou could see that his grip on the briefcase had tightened. The others had a look on their face much less astonishing, but were all disapproving either way.

Jou, whose face was turning red, wrapped his arm around Seto's waist even tighter and his temper had finally reached his peak and said loudly in a tone, "What? You've never seen a human being helping another person before?"

Perhaps it was the sight of Jou holding onto the boss or maybe it was Jou himself, but they seemed to hide their faces and got in, moving towards the corner away from Jou and Seto. Jou pressed his finger against the elevator button and leaned against the wall once more, making sure that the CEO was not falling, for he was still fast asleep, his breathing was even throughout the entire time.

When the elevator finally reached the end, Jou almost breathed a sigh of relief, glad the hard part was over. He waited until the others left first before he stuck out his tongue towards the particular man whom he now officially hated. Jerk.

Surprisingly, no one questioned why the most important person of Domino City was hanging onto a blonde in the middle of the street, but Jou didn't mind. He just hailed a taxi and got in the backseat, laying the CEO down so that now, he had an appropriate place to lie down in and rest.

Jou sat in the back with him and gave the driver the address, ignoring the driver's questions as to why he was with Seto Kaiba. Jou wasn't surprised that the driver knew who Seto was. He kept ignoring the driver until he finally got fed up and told him to shut up and to mind his own business.

Jou had carefully placed Seto's head on Jou's scarf, which made a nice pillow on his lap. He looked down on Seto's face most of the time, noticing how peaceful he looked, despite the sick appearance. Jou took his hand and stroked the CEO's cheek softly and brushed away Seto's hair from covering his eyes. Jou's lips curved into a smile.

Then, as if reading Jou's thoughts, Seto shifted slightly and turned his face, but not before Jou caught a smile on the brunette's face. The smile wasn't the microscopic, small, and unrecognizable one that Jou often saw, but a genuine one.

He must be having a wonderful dream.

Just was Jou was drifting off to sleep due to the long and exhausting ride back home, he felt Seto move and Jou turned to face him just as Seto's eyes fluttered open, staring straight at him.

Despite Seto's pale and sickly appearance, he immediately noticed his surroundings that were definitely not Kaiba Corp. He opened his mouth to speak, but Jou quickly shushed him. "I'm just going to take you someplace else for the night, all right? I know you don't like me and all, but you're sick Kaiba! And you were—"

Before he even finished the sentence, Seto closed his eyes back again and moved very slightly—a movement that resembled a nod. Jou took this is a sign that he understood and relaxed, leaning back against the seat.

Even though they were in a dirty cab, even though Jou was tired and aching throughout the entire trip, and even though Jou knew that Seto may not forgive him for doing this, it suddenly seemed as if it all seemed worth the trouble.

"Driver?" Jou asked softly, still staring at Seto's face and playing with the other's auburn hair. His eyes couldn't tear away from his face and Jou couldn't stop smiling as he continued to stare at Seto. "Can you drive slower? Just... a bit slower, that's all."


Jou placed Seto delicately on his bed and started to cover him with the blanket, after carefully managing to change the young man's clothes into his pajamas. It wasn't hard; he was used to doing this when his father often came home a little bit more drunk than Jou would have preferred. It was easier to change Seto though—yes, his trench coat was heavy and it was hard taking off the belt—but because of Jou's skills and Seto's weight (he was much lighter than his father!), it was quicker and Jou was able to get him comfortable. It was also a good thing that Seto had an undershirt underneath his blazer.

He had decided that it was best not to try to get Seto out of his pants. He felt strange already putting on a nice, comfortable sweater, but changing his pants? He was very uncomfortable at the thought of seeing his boss or the man of his thoughts in his, err, undergarments, but actually doing it made him feel much queasier. He decided that it would be inappropriate to do so.

Though Jou was quite experienced in changing people in their sleep, Seto woke up couple of times, due to Jou's movements, curses, and who knows what else, but Seto went back to sleep easily.

After Jou did all that, he called Mokuba (it was lucky that Seto had his cell phone with him in his trench coat pocket), telling him about where Seto was headed. Since Mokuba was out with his friends barhopping, Jou had to repeat himself three times to be heard. Mokuba sounded less worried than he normally would have been. He first told Jou that he would come right away to pick his brother up, but after Jou's reasoning about how late it was at night and perhaps Jou's persuasive attitude, Mokuba allowed Jou to care for Seto for the night, only if Mokuba could somehow repay Jou.

Jou took a seat next the brunette's legs on the edge of his bed, wondering about what he should do next. He knew he should get ready to sleep, but he had to wonder... where exactly was he going to sleep?

His apartment was tidy, clean, and organized, but not necessarily the largest or the roomiest. His couch was the tiny and could barely fit two people to a seat, let alone make a comfortable bed. Jou stared longingly at the spot next to the CEO, thinking that perhaps he could just sleep there and wake up early the next morning before the CEO noticed.

No. I can't do that; that would be inappropriate. Besides, Kaiba might be homophobic or... he just might have a problem sleeping the same bed as another man.

With a disappointed, but decided, sigh, Jou got off the bed and went inside to the connecting bathroom, already deciding to take out his sleeping bag and camping in front of the television.

Better than nothing right?


At around one in the morning, Jou finally managed to fall asleep. It was hard to fall asleep. In the past few hours, he had to tend to Seto throwing up in his bathroom for a grand total of at least six times (he lost count) in the past few hours. After Seto threw up the first time, Jou handed the other a pair of his sweat pants so that he could change and get more comfortable, though it did not matter much. Seto ended up waking up frequently to run to the bathroom.

Then, when Seto finally calmed down again and when Jou finally got Seto back into bed, he had to deal with the fact that despite the two blankets underneath him and despite the sleeping bag, the floor was quite harder than he thought.

Jou, who was dreaming about donuts he had been craving, felt a breeze passing his face. He sat up from the hard floor, rubbing his eyes sleepily. His eyes fluttered open and he saw Seto, sitting at his simple dining table, all covered with the mail, newspaper, and other papers scattered about.

"Kaiba?" Jou asked in a tired tone, standing up, heading towards the brunette's way. "What are you doing up? You're sick! You need some rest!"

Seto shook his head as Jou yawned, pulling the chair out so that he could sit. "I'm used to it. I'm fine, really. It must have been Mokuba's snacks he brought over when he came and visited. I love my brother, but I forgot how dreadful and dangerous his cooking is."

Jou laughed quietly, reaching over to turn on the lamp nearby. "Things we do for our siblings, huh?" he replied lightly. "But really, you should go back to sleep. Or maybe you are hungry...? I make a really awesome egg!"

Seto shook his head once more. "No, that is not necessary. I'm not hungry at all. I just wanted to get something to drink." He raised the cup of water he had poured himself and took a sip.

"Oh, all right then." Jou didn't feel like arguing and he could feel his eyelids drooping. "In that case, I'll just go back to sleep if you don't mind. I'm really tired." He stifled a yawn. "Don't stay up too late, okay? Just leave the cup in the sink and I'll wash it. It is really late after all."

Jou stood up and Seto watched as Jou made his way back to his sleeping bag. Before Jou lay back down and attempted to get comfortable, he stopped drinking and spoke up.

"You can have the bed. It's not obligatory that I have the bed. It is yours after all and I'm intruding. It is my fault that you are sleeping poorly and that you are getting barely any rest. The floor is quite painful. I shall have the sleeping bag."

This time, it was Jou's turn to shake his head. "No, no! You're not intruding at all, really. Besides, I'm used to it." He saw Seto's disbelieving expression and then admitted, "Okay, so I'm not used to it, but face it, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have a job! And I owe you, remember? For the meal and the job and probably more in the future? I owe you a lot. Nah, don't worry about it. I'm more than fine."

Seto got off from his chair and moved to Jou's resting place so fast that Jou could have sworn Seto disapparated, just like they do in Harry Potter. "I insist. It's the least I could do. The light might blind you and I must have caused you a lot of trouble," Seto continued, beckoning towards the bed.

Before Jou could shake his head again, Seto said, "Then will you at least sleep on the bed next to me? That way we can both have a good night's rest, whatever is left of it at least. The bed is big enough for the both of us, and I'm sure the blanket will cover us both. Also, I've noticed that are two pillows on the bed."

"Kaiba, I'm—" How could Jou say this delicately without refusing too rudely? It was bad enough that Jou was getting those funny little feelings he had back in high school, but to get more funny feelings and more thoughts about Seto? He wasn't sure if it was good to be having that many thoughts about his boss, Seto Kaiba. He didn't want to stir any old high school crushes—no matter how little or small it may be. Though it was what Jou would have preferred and wanted to do since the floor really was harder than he imagined, his reasoning, logic, and conscience wouldn't let him.

"...not sure it's appropriate?" Seto completed the sentence for him, saving Jou from thinking up of a reasonable excuse. "Or do you perhaps hate the thought of sleeping beside me? Or... a man?"

Why must Seto ask the questions Jou wanted to ask Seto? At least now he knew that Seto wasn't homophobic or that he did not hate homosexuals. It was good thing too because if he did, that would mean he would hate Jou and Jou knew he wouldn't like for the brunette to hate him.

"That's not it," Jou hurried to say. If only I could tell you why. If only I could tell myself why. I guess I just don't want things for us to be awkward because... what if if happens again and I get my—my...

"Then would you?" Seto asked softly, staring straight into Jou's brown eyes in the slightest, slightest, pleading tone. "Just so that I could feel better about occupying your entire evening and troubling you...?"

Jou felt a tiny blush spread across his face. He felt himself weakening against Seto's stare, words, and tone. He pretended to scratch his head to give himself some time, but realized that if Seto was actually asking him and this was what he wanted to do...

"Are you sure?"

To Jou's astonishment, Seto started to smile. "Pup, this is your place in case you've forgotten. I should be the one asking if it's all right with you, not the other way around." Seto started to chuckle softly. "You can be so cute sometimes."

Jou felt his blush turn brighter. To distract Seto from noticing the blush, Jou said, "Let me turn off the light then. You go on ahead."

Jou walked past him and turned the switch off. He pretended to linger for a while, pretending that he had to push the chair back inside to calm his nerves and get rid of the blush. He waited when he heard Seto walking away to the bedroom. When he finally thought it was safe, he headed slowly towards the small bedroom and saw that Seto was already on his side of the bed.

Jou climbed into the warm but comfy bed. He felt grateful for Seto for allowing him to sleep on the bed. Jou leaned to face the window, turning away from Seto. He was almost positive that Seto could see through his pounding heart and almost hear the denials going through his head. Even though Jou knew it was impossible, he didn't want to risk doing something stupid and he figured that if Seto couldn't see him, he had less chances of doing so.

I don't like him, Jou thought, his brown eyes wide open. Things are different now. Back in high school, maybe I had the tiniest crush on him and I'm not even sure it wasn't even a crush. More like admiration and envy. But even if I did, it wouldn't matter if he knew or not since we would have been going our separate ways but now... Jou felt a churn of worry in his stomach. Things are much more different. We're not kids anymore and...

"Good night Jou."

...I'm starting to care too much.


-TBC-

Long time no update! So sorry, really... T.T

Also, sorry if this was a bit rushed. (Seemed a bit to me) Next chapter will be up within two weeks and this time, I mean it because I feel bad for keeping you guys waiting.

-lilrubydevil-