A/N: Did you guys know I actually made an outline of this fic, you know… just to keep me on track of what the hell's been going on. And I just ironically wasted my really sad time—I'm SO not following the listed events that are supposed to happen.

Haha, poor stupid little ol' me!

Anyway, exams just ended, thus me, equaling to less updates during those times and less writing. Poor me… wahehehe… PLEASE PRAY FOR MY GRADES THAT THEY WILL GO UP TO AT LEAST 80 PERCENT. That's at least a 'B' or something. I don't know. PLEASE. If I don't pass Science and Math, I may not write until summer—which is 3 long months away. ;o;!! And may never end this fic!! ;o;!!

Why didn't God give me the smarts of Kaiba…? ;o;!!

(Kaiba: Because you have a brain the size of a pea.

Blank: Actually, it's a size of an acorn! -grins-

Kaiba: -.-; Idiot.)

Warnings: Mild Cursing, Shounen Ai, OOC Tendencies

Disclaimer: Disclaiming all rights right now—aside from the promise…

Story Notes:

1) -.-.-Page Break-.-.-

"In the end, it was an 'after all', after all."

Find Me

After All

"You know what's missing, Moneybags!!" Jou growled at the CEO. "A stick! Get one and shove it up your ass!"

"Wow, Mutt." Kaiba sneered in return. "I was sure you'd asked me to play fetch."

"Ooooh, Kaiba…!"

Well, everything went back to normal. After two or three weeks of avoiding and awkward silence. Though it was a little weird to think that their current argument. The one they were having. Was the first in weeks! Once again people were confused—the said quarrel started only with a mere pencil crossing the CEO's boundaries. A tad too low, don't you think?

"Next time," The brunet paused as he tossed back Jou's pencil. "Keep your things to yourself. The Master isn't always there to take care of his dog."

"Got that right." Snort.

"Admitting you're a dog, I see."

"Fuck off!" Glare.

"Glad to." Smirk.

"I hate you." Hiss.

"And the feeling's mutual." Deadpan.

And they were back to awkward silence. That was way too random for anyone to handle. Or for anyone to comprehend.

Even Kaiba didn't know why he started it—before the pencil fell on his 'premises'; the blond had been laughing with his friends who had sat in front of him minutes before the bell rang. Then the said pencil flew on his desk as Jou glomped Yami.

Thanking him for whatever he did.

It disgusted the brunet.

"Stupid Dog…" Kaiba seethed.

"You're stupider." Jou backed at him as he watched the gang move towards their respective seats.

Though the CEO, with his pride heavily wounded, had to admit that he was being childish. That he had yearned for Jou' reaction once again.

The class went on. Everything was silent. And the teacher? Well, it's not exactly that he's not thankful for the blessed peace between two teens, but he did missed sending one of them, if not both of them, to detention. Reason? The pink slips aren't getting any fewer by themselves.

Kaiba looked to his side, watching Jou trying to fight the urge to sleep.

The blond's attempt failed—head resting on his hand that rested on its elbow.

The CEO smirked. Somehow, he found it really entertaining to watch Jou sleep—just like the old times they used to play together. When the blond would randomly rest his head on Kaiba's, well Seto's, back then, as they sat on the edge of the slide.

Sometimes Mokuba was there too. Sleeping on his other shoulder.

Happy days. Whatever happened to them? Ah, yes. Kaiba ruined all those.

Though it had been out his character—Kaiba hanged his head and sighed.

Well, wasn't he the lucky man?

-.-.-

The halls rang with the loud shrill of the bell and soon enough the students had filed out of their classrooms, excited to actually go home.

Of course, except for Jounouchi. He'd rather rot in school than to clean up and be bossed around by his drunk-ass father. No, it's not that Jou didn't love him, hell; the teen loved him the most (second to Shizuka). It's just that, he was tired. The blond just wanted to go away for a little while.

'Maybe,' He thought silently, slowly coming to a stop. 'I should visit the place… for old time's sake.'

Just then, his train of thoughts got cut off when he felt someone shoving him.

"Watch it, Mutt." Kaiba spat.

"You're the one who bumped into me, Bastard." Jou shot back with a glare.

"Hmph."

The CEO started to walk away, opposite of Jou's direction. Strange, really… when the exit was in the other way. But who cared…? Anyway, back to the story… Kaiba had already taken three steps away from Jou, who still stood in his spot.

And somehow, in someway… time seemed to have paused between the two. The sea of people was rapidly walking towards the exit, while the brunet and blond stood there. Back facing the other back. The taller, gripping his briefcase tightly. And the smaller, clinging onto his bag strap for dear life. But both of them looked apparently saddened.

Jou only bit his lip and turned his head a little—glancing at Kaiba.

And so did the CEO, but minus the lip-biting.

Kaiba Seto.

Jounouchi Katsuya.

Were drowning in time.

"Jou!" A cheerful voice called out, breaking the moment. At this, Kaiba had only decided to walk away. "Jou, you okay?"

"Huh?" Jou blinked towards his friend. "Uh, yeah…"

With that, he smiled a fake smile.

"Hey, Yug'?"

"Hm?"

"See you." Those were the blond's last words before he decided to leave the wondering teen. 'Just for one last time…'

-.-.-

"Seto?" Mokuba called, tilting his head.

"Yes?" Kaiba deadpanned.

"Are you okay?" The raven kid neared his brother, who sat behind the broad desk of their home-office. "'Cause you seem off."

"I'm fine, Mokuba." The CEO huffed, having full knowledge what his brother wanted. "What do you want?"

"Why," The younger one looked up to his brother thoughtfully. "Do you always think I want something?"

Let's see now.

Kaiba didn't really need to think about that, did he?

"Mokuba…"

"I just wanted to ask, that friend you had when we were still orphans…" He blinked. "He was Jou, right?"

Nod.

"So, why aren't you two, you know, friends now?"

Huff.

"He, we… us. We changed." Kaiba stated coolly as he continued to type. "And before you ask 'why', it's because of the circumstances we currently stand in."

"But a part of those always stay the same."

"What do you mean, Mokie…?"

Mokuba smiled as he hugged his older brother.

"You're smart but you're an idiot, big brother. I remember you used to have a tiny crush on him…!"

"Where are you getting these?" Kaiba asked, ruffling the raven strands before him.

"Now you have a huge crush on him!" Mokuba, then, ran away before his brother could get a hold of him, giggling his merry way out. "Later, big bro!"

Kaiba blinked. Attempting to process. Then he did. He blinked. His mouth started to open. His hands gripped the edge of his desk.

"MOKUBA!"

"Okay maybe not a crush!" Mokuba's voice yelled out. "Maybe you love him!"

The CEO's heart thumped loudly. Love? The Mutt? His Puppy? HIS Puppy?

Maybe he did.

Or he just hated Jou so much.

But Kaiba knew what it was like to feel mass hatred inside. It wasn't supposed to be painfully pleasurable. It wasn't supposed make you feel queasy inside. Hatred was supposed to feel much worse. To make you feel like you're burning up within.

He felt those for Gozaburo. And a little for Yami—or Yugi. Which ever.

Yet, he didn't feel those for the blond.

Kaiba frowned to himself.

Maybe he did love Jou after all.

-.-.-

Jou stepped down from the bus. His eyes looking up onto the starry night. He smiled, seemingly reminiscing the past he had as he walked to mountain road.

Slinging his bag onto his back, the blond teen decided to trek the road—knowing exactly where he was heading for.

Somewhere familiar.

Somewhere he loved.

Somewhere where only one person can find him.

To Be Continued

A/N: Think it's crappy? Sorry. Think it's great? Lemme here you out! Thanks for reading and please pray for me.

REVIEW!!!