Changed for the Better

A/N: Sorry for the extremely long update. I've had a really bad case of writer's block and I've been trying out some other stories. So, here it is. After a really long wait, here is chapter five.

Chapter 5

Tea and Joey sat at the table and smiled.

"So, did you boys have a nice chat?" Tea asked sweetly. She rested her elbows on the table, interlocked her fingers, and then rested her chin on her hands.

Yugi and Seto nodded simultaneously. An awkward silence followed. Joey drummed his fingers on the tabletop and casually leaned back in his chair, sneaking occasional glances at Seto when he figured the other wasn't looking. Tea blinked and sighed. Yugi folded his arms on the table and let his forehead connect with it in a resonating thump. Seto frowned and his cold exterior resurfaced.

"God dammit, I can't take this anymore," Joey cried out as he bolted up from his chair.

"Can't take what?" Yugi asked, knowing fully well that trouble was about to ensue.

"The silence. Why are none of us talking? We're just sitting here and staring into space. We haven't seen each other in ten years and we can't find anything to talk about! I mean, for goodness sakes, we shouldn't be acting like we're treading on broken glass."

Everyone looked down in embarrassment. The tension rested on their shoulders like a heavy bog. Joey gulped, suddenly upset over the fact that he made things even worse. He sighed and sat back in his chair.

"Look, I'm sorry guys. It's just that reunions are supposed to be about reminiscing and memories. We should be laughing about the stupid things we've done and how our lives have been since we last saw each other. We shouldn't be sitting here uncomfortably." At this, he looked at Seto. "Look Kaiba, I know that we haven't exactly been the best of friends. But tonight, I think I learned more about you than I ever learned in our four years in high school."

For a brief second, amazement was evident in Seto's eyes. With every passing second, he was becoming more and more impressed with the so-called mutt.

"Wheeler, you never cease to surprise me. You're not quite the mutt I thought you were…and I'm damn proud of you."

Joey's chocolate-brown eyes widened in surprise, but the surprise quickly faded to happiness.

"You really mean that?" Joey asked in disbelief.

Seto sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, I suppose I do."

In the blink of an eye, several unexpected things happened. One, Joey was crying. Two, he was hugging the life out of Seto. Three, the "emotionless" CEO didn't look like he would kill the blond any time soon. Tea, sensing that the two needed their privacy, gestured for Yugi to follow her outside.

Seto, albeit surprised, managed to maintain a straight face. However, his skin was tingling where Joey's skin met his. He felt his heart pounding so loudly that he feared Joey would hear it, or at least feel it. When he felt Joey's tears on his neck, he wanted to scream and push the blond as far away from him as physically possible. Yet at the same time, he wanted to hold Joey closer. A maelstrom of emotions flooded through his veins, a sensation which Seto was not exactly accustomed.

Meanwhile, Joey was teeming with joy. He figured that Hell had a better chance at freezing over than he did of receiving a compliment from the "King of Mean" himself. Though he knew that crying wasn't exactly the epitome of masculinity, he couldn't stop his thankful tears from coming.

"Thanks Kaiba. That really means something coming from you," Joey whispered tearfully. Then he pulled away and wiped his tears with his sleeve. He gave Seto a small smile and clapped him on the shoulder. "I guess you're not quite the son of a bitch I thought you were," he said playfully.

Seto smirked.

"You're right…I'm twice that."

Joey shook his head and rolled his eyes, muttering some playful insult as he returned to his seat. He looked over at Seto and laughed.

"So, how's Mokuba doing?"

Seto smiled and the two began a rather long, and civil, walk down Memory Lane.

A/N: Gah! The end to this chapter is a bit iffy. Again, it will probably undergo a rewrite…depending on how nice you are in your reviews. Honesty never hurt anyone. Again, sorry for the super long update. I suppose that's what happens when there is a lack of inspiration.