The argument started out as any between them. There was the usual bickering about Kaiba's coldness and Jounouchi's thick-headedness. But somewhere in between the insults, idiot, mutt and mediocre, it changed.

Jounouchi was no longer just mad about some bad behavior, he was truly hurt by Kaiba. He could see it in the blonde man's eyes and the way his jaw went slack.

"You know what, I'm out." Jounouchi finally huffed, and grabbed his bag, and turned to head out the door.

Kaiba was so caught off guard by the blonde's submission, he hardly had the chance to look surprised.

Well, if that's what Jounouchi wanted, then that's what he'd get.

"Don't come back until you've learned to communicate like a member of our species," Kaiba spat out in response, hardly letting the hurt show in his own eyes.

If Jounouchi wanted out, over what, an argument over music? Then that was his call.

And it seems he was going to do just that, as he shut the door to the small office behind him.

XXX

For a while, Kaiba replayed their argument, trying to figure out where things could have gone wrong, for his own knowledge if not for their relationship, but he couldn't puzzle it out. What had Jounouchi taken to heart?

Jounouchi and him had been disagreeing about what music to select for the game Kaiba was working on. They'd been going back and forth for a while. He should have been grateful for the chance to give his opinion in the first place, Kaiba thought.

Agitated, and further confused as to why said argument had been such a final straw for the man, Kaiba played back the two tracks. When this yielded no answers, he decided to put away the project for tonight and move on to other work. The tunes were making him sad now anyway.

But the upbeat tune of the song Jounouchi had selected followed him around, and he kept thinking of the blonde every time it crossed his mind.

Tonight, was intended to be a dinner party for influential, dueling names in the Domino City area, and Jounouchi too had been invited.

Jounouchi's place was set near Kaiba's. However, given recent events, it seemed the blonde had decided not to show.

At least that's what Kaiba thought, until he spotted Jounouchi seated with Yugi in unreserved chairs near some newcomers.

He seemed to be happily chatting away, unbeknownst to Kaiba's mounting frustration. Whatever the issue, Jounouchi and him could have handled it like adults, if Jounouchi hadn't stormed out the way he had. The two had been seeing each other regularly for the past month, so the sudden change felt like a break in something that was still fragile

But whatever it was, it was enough to make the blonde chose a seat away from Kaiba and apparently ignore him for the entirety of dinner. Soon the time for mingling with their fellow attendees had arrived. Many got out of their seats to greet their fellow colleagues and friends. Kaiba too had planned to join and mingle with a few preselected associates he'd singled out for his next project. But he made an effort to keep Jounouchi in his sights as well.

Half way through conversing, the two found themselves back-to-back, and Kaiba couldn't mistake the timbre of Jounouchi's voice, laughing at something another attendee had said. It was Jounouchi who turned first and nearly ran right into Kaiba. Klutz.

Kaiba took the opportunity to take Jounouchi by the arm and lead him away from the rest of the group.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself," he bit out, once they were in a more secluded place.

"Sure," Jounouchi responded, guarded, "is that what you pulled me over here to say?"

Kaiba stiffened slightly then, gripping the glass he was holding more tightly.

"I was wondering what happened earlier today?" he continued, as evenly as he could.

"You went too far, Kaiba," Jounouchi began, "I'm tired of all your name calling, and worse, you insulted my sister. It's too degrading. If that's the way you're going to be, then, like I said, I'm out."

But Jounouchi wasn't done, "I get we rag on each other when we're trying to make a point, but you go too far sometimes," he emphasized again.

And now Kaiba remembered some, seemingly off-hand comment, about the Jounouchi's that might have slipped through. It had been in the heat of the moment at the time.

But it was the offense at the name calling that took him off guard.

"I'm sorry if I insulted your sister," Kaiba started sincerely, "you know how much Mokuba means to me, and from what I remember she's a sweet girl. Mokuba's fond of her."

"But, don't be an idiot and I won't call you one," He continued, "actually I'll probably still call you one," he smirked now, "just for the look on your face."

Kaiba let out a low laugh. "Maybe I can lighten up a bit, but don't think I'm going easy on you, mutt," Kaiba smiled slightly.

Jounouchi looked unsure as to how to react first, taking in all that Kaiba had said.

"Never easy rich boy," he smiled at last, then reached his hand forward to brush his fingers against Kaiba's free one's in thanks, and reassurance.

"Then Kaiba continued, "so it wasn't the music,"

"That, no," Jounouchi replied. "But I still know mine is better."

And they both continued on like that all throughout dessert, before calling it a draw for now, with a few less names exchanged, and plenty of secret smiles.

As the night wound down, Kaiba finished his required mingling, and the two decided to make their way to a hotel for the night.

As they got in the car, Jounouchi was the first to break the peaceful silence.

"You know, I was thinking about your song." The mutt's drinks were showing. "It's like you, all dark and moody. I was listening to it earlier, when I was thinking about you."

And to that Kaiba wanted to do a number of things, but he thought it best to wait till they got to the hotel. Instead, he settled for intently staring at the blonde. "And your choice is loud and enthusiastic," just like you," Kaiba countered.

"I guess your song is cool too, like you," Jounouchi continued.

"Of course, it is," then Kaiba looked over, "but right now, I think I'd prefer to hear your song."

And that's exactly what he did, pulling it up on his phone, he'd even titled it Jounouchi's Song, Jou noticed. And as the beat began to thrum through the car, Kaiba reached over to intertwine his fingers with Jounouchi's hand, resting in between them on the middle seat.

And the realization hit Kaiba. That they were finding their songs, the one's that would define the lows and highs of their first break up, and make up. And that made him hold Jounuchi's hand, just a little tighter as they made their way to their hotel.