Story: Puppies and Dragons Don't Mix

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh.

Warning: Yaoi (boyxboy). May contain lime and/or lemon.

Pairings: Jou/Kaiba Possibly: Yami/Yugi Ryou/Bakura Otogi/Honda

Summary: Jou finds out that Kaiba is slowly destroying himself and desperately needs help. But why should he care? He's his worst enemy...right?

Symbols: "Talking" 'Thinking' -Scene Change- Chapter Start & End

Chapter 18: The day after

Jou woke up the next morning feeling as if heavy weights had been attached to his eyelids.

He supposed that was expected, since he practically cried himself to sleep last night. Yawning, Jou sat up and looked over at the clock sitting on the nightstand.

It was already ten in the morning. School started over two hours ago.

Jou jumped out of bed only to tangle his feet in the sheets and nearly fall flat on his face.

'Damn, Kaiba probably didn't even try to wake me up, that bastard.'

Kaiba…damn.

Jou stopped trying to untangle himself from his bed as the previous evening's events came rushing back to him and dread filled him once again.

'Of course Kaiba didn't wake me up, not after that little stunt I pulled at the dinner table.'

Suddenly, Jou didn't feel like going to school anymore. He couldn't really stand the thought of dealing with his out-of-control emotions for Kaiba on top of class.

Jou threw himself back onto the bed, sighing heavily.

'Well, there is only one thing worth doing on a day off.'

Jou pulled the sheets over his head and went back to sleep.

-Noon-

Jou woke up with a start.

Disoriented, he sat up and looked around; trying to figure out what woke him from his slumber.

When the empty room before him didn't present him with any answers, Jou decided he needed a shower. He felt hot, exhausted, and most of all, depressed.

He shuffled to the bathroom, trying to not catch his reflection in the mirror. He didn't want to see how fucked up he looked right now.

The shower did little to relieve him from his depression, but at least he didn't smell anymore.

As he toweled his hair dry, Jou finally examined himself in the obnoxiously large mirror that hung over the bathroom sink.

His eyes were red and puffy, but not so bad that he couldn't play it off as allergies. What bothered him though was how sad he looked. Leaning closer, Jou forced a smile.

"C'mon buddy, was it really that surprising to you Kaiba would treat you as nothing more than an enemy?"

The sinking feeling he had in his gut told him that he had found it surprising. And that angered him.

'You're expecting too much from him. He isn't even your friend.' Jou scowled at himself. 'What, you thought a couple of laughs and a little flour would change the fact that he hates you?'

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Jou threw his towel into the bathtub and stalked out of the bathroom.

What the hell was he thinking? Falling in love with Kaiba was like falling in love with an iceberg. Or an alligator.

'Goddammit, did I just say I loved him?'

Deciding that he was only making things worse by berating himself, Jou pulled on his clothes and went to go get something to eat.

Maybe food would provide the comfort he so badly needed right now.

-Later-

Three bowls of ice cream and an hour and a half of daytime television later, Jou felt marginally better.

Marginally being the key word here.

Jou felt like going to sleep again. At least he wasn't haunted in his dreams by Kaiba.

Yet.

But before he could do anything, the jarring ring of the doorbell startled Jou out of the semi-trance the TV had put him in.

'Who could that be? I'm sure Kaiba is at work right now, if not still at school. And why would he be using the doorbell anyways?'

Jou caught himself sighing.

Damn, if the mere thought of Kaiba made him this miserable, how as he going to deal with the real thing?

Ignoring the door, Jou went back to watching the brainless soap opera that was currently on.

But whoever was at the door didn't quit ringing the bell. In fact, the rings got longer and more frequent as time when on.

After what seemed like the fiftieth ring, Jou got up, exasperated. He made a half-assed attempt to wipe away the ice cream he had so carelessly allowed to dribble down onto his shirt and ran a hand through his hair.

Painfully aware he was a mess, Jou opened the door a crack.

"Sorry, Kaiba isn't-"

"Mutt! Damn, what do you think you're doing, taking so long to answer the door?"

Jou looked up and balked. It was Kaiba. In the flesh.

"K…Kaiba!?"

Kaiba ignore Jou's odd reaction and pushed passed him.

"I forgot my keys. It seems some of your carelessness has rubbed off on me."

Jou didn't bother to give a retort, too engrossed in keeping the onslaught of emotions Kaiba's sudden appearance had evoked in him under control. He was also too busy fretting over his appearance.

'I look like a slob!'

Kaiba disappeared into the kitchen and returned with his keys to find Jou unsuccessfully trying to flatten his hair.

Kaiba smirked.

"Don't bother trying to look good for me Jou, I'm not interested."

Jou's head shot up and the color drained from his face.

Kaiba frowned. This was not the reaction he was expecting.

"A joke, Jonouchi. Only a joke."

Jou gave him a strangled laugh, letting his eyes drop to the floor. This bothered Kaiba even more than the previous reaction.

"What's the matter, mutt?" Kaiba pocketed his keys and stepped closer to Jou.

"Nothing's wrong!" Jou said defensively, backing up, as if he were afraid. "I…I mean, I just feel a little under the weather. After all, I missed school because of that."

"Hmm, and here I was so sure that you had just forgotten to set your alarm clock this morning."

Jou gave him a weak smile in return. "Yeah…"

Kaiba found himself getting irritated with Jou's peculiar attitude, but decided to not to push it. Perhaps he really was sick.

"Well, I have to be getting back to the office. I'll leave you to finish your…productive afternoon."

Jou merely stepped aside, allowing Kaiba to pass without a single comment.

Kaiba's frown deepened, but he kept his insults to himself.

"I'll be home at eight. Make sure Mokuba has his dinner."

Kaiba shut the door and walked briskly back to his car.

'I wonder what has made the mutt so docile today.'

On the other side of the door, Jou slumped to the floor.

The pounding of his heart and the unexpected sting of Kaiba's mild teasing all confirmed on thing.

He really was in love.

Jou let out a groan and covered his face.

'What am I going to do?'

End of Chapter 18

Author's notes: So. At least it's not two years this time? xD Sorry that it took another six months to update, with another short chapter no less. But, life has been busy. And I'm seriously considering changing my major from English to something to do with graphic arts. But before that, I want to see if I can rekindle my passion for writing. I really enjoy writing, just all the biting comments from my current English teacher has led me to believe that I'm not very good at it. Anyways, reviews, as usual, are loved.