Invitations

The heat was unbearable It was beating on my head with more force then a grand piano dropped from a ten storey building. And it didn't look like it was going to cool off anytime soon.

All of Domino was hot, not one place was cool, not even the public pools. And ice cream didn't help, it just melted faster then even I could eat it. But ice cream would be good right about now. To bad I wouldn't be able to walk all the wat across town without passing out. So, logically, the park seemed like the place to go, it was the coolest place in the city, though the temperature was only a few degrees cooler.

I guess I should have kept my mouth shut at my job. Opening it had only gotten me fired. It wasn't all my fault though. The s.o.b. of a manager had been mouthing of to me about something and when I only looked at him, he told me I looked like a dog, which I had to bark out a remark to, which had resulted in some other lucrid comments and me calling him an s.o.b. Not in acronym form of course. But straight out. So, the manager had me fired and I was stuck out in the blazing summer sun when, had I gritted my teeth, I could have been in a nice, air conditioned building where ice cream didn't melt.

And I blame this on Kaiba. If he hadn't called me a dog all those times and gotten me riled up every time, I wouldn't have responded as I had to that stupid ass managers comments. Wasn't it enough that he had made some of my teenage years hell but he had to go and continue to haunt me? Why couldn't I let the past go?

I suppose it doesn't matter anymore, I sighed. Nothing does but getting respite from this dang heat and a new job. Which I wasn't likely to find right that day or week.

Getting dehydrated on the hottest day so far was not a good thing, with my luck I'd end up in the hospital. I stepped next to a building and away from the flow of lightly clothed people and dug in my pockets for change. I came up with seventy-five cents. That wasn't going to do me much good. I had a gum wrapper and a feather, too.

A feather?

Oh, yeah. Chris's feather. The one he had given me when my mother took my sister away and gave me to me dad. He had told me it would bring me good luck. The only luck I wanted right then was to fall through the earth and into an underground, nice cool spring. Which wasn't likely to happen in the next millennia But the feather reminded me that I needed to call Chris again, to keep in touch. And maybe he had a summer job for me. I could help out on his ranch. It would even be fun. I could cool of in his nice lake to.

The lake. It was an amazing thing. It was always the perfect temperature to keep you cooled off but not frozen. And it wasn't so full of reeds that it was a nightmare to touch the bottom The way the water calmly moved over your skin, it was pure bliss. I had loved playing in it as a kid. It had helped me cool off many a day.

Hmm, I think it's just me but It got cooler. And to think I had laughed at Yugi when he had said visualization worked. I'd have to make sure he never knew that I had put my foot in my mouth again.

I hadn't seen Chris in awhile so I could use that as an excuse to go out and see him and then ask if he had any work I could do. I hadn't even talked to Chris or Scott for along time. The last time Chris and Scott had listened to me bitch out Kaiba for some reason. I think Kaiba had come to take over the company I had been working at. And I had gotten fired. I don't really know. Right now, I don't really care.

My cell phone rang then, breaking my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and grinned. Well speak of the devil, it's Chris.

"Hello" I asked, waiting to hear his voice.

"Hey, Joey" Chris replied, sounding strained. "Hey, can you come have lunch with me"

I thought about it. I knew I should look for a job, but who wants to do that on such a hot day? And when their favorite uncle wants to take them to lunch"Sure. Where"

"LaFae's. You know where it is" Chris still sounded strained, and a little shifty. I wonder what's wrong with him.

"The corner of May and 6th, right" I asked, scanning the road signs to see how far away I was. Not very. I could get there in five minutes.

"Absolutely. See ya there." Then he hung up. Very abruptly. I knew something was wrong and I made a mental note to ask him, but you know how mental notes are, don't you? You usually forget them.

I headed off across the street and then east. It was a good thing Serenity had forced me to take her there once or I might have been lost. I didn't usually eat at places like that.

The building was rustic with red brickwork and a glass door with the name written across in fancy gold lettering. Inside was no different. Dark earth tones lined the area, it was a calm place and one that suited Chris perfectly.

And he seemed right at home in the booth chair he had chosen. His cowboy boots, hat and worn leather jacket with jeans seemed like it should be the dress code. I amusedly wondered how he looked in a suit at Scott's business dinners. I seriously doubted he went dressed like that, though I wouldn't be surprised to find him doing it just to get a laugh.

I wandered over to him and sat down. "You're paying, right? I didn't bring my wallet." Chris had been in deep thought and snapped his head up to face me when he heard my voice. He quickly shifted his eyes away though, like he was feeling guilty. He shrugged it off and grinned.

"Would I invite you to lunch and then make you pay for it" he teased.

"Um, let me think" I paused for dramatic effect. "Yes." I laughed at his fake hurt look.

"This is the last time I do something nice for you" Chris looked down at the floor, playing wounded perfectly.

"Ah, you know if you didn't invite me out I'd just come to your door and demand it" I grinned and then looked at the menu as a waitress came and asked for our order.

"So, you still yelling at Kaiba" Chris changed the subject so fast, I had to blink before responding.

"Wouldn't know. I haven't seen him lately. But my guess would be yes." I shrugged then dove into my meal with a zeal only I seemed to posses

"You should chew, you know" Chris pointed out, sighing.

"You should know it's not polite to wear your hat at the table." I fired back, taking a big bite out of my burger.

"Spiteful aren't you"

"Prefer vindictive. Ya wouldn't have me any other way." I smirked and then slurped my drink. "Why' d ya want me to come to dinner anyway? I know there's a reason this time."

"Why' d you think that" Chris answered once again looking away from me.

"Because you're strained. You're looking away from me." I answered, proud of my newly found observation skills.

"You noticed that huh" Chris gave a forced chuckle.

"Kinda hard not to" I answered, shrugging.

"Scott was wondering if you'd like to come to the ranch for a vacation." he paused and waited for a response from me.

"Only Scott" I asked, raising my eyebrow.

"And me too. But if you can't because of work, I'd understand." Chris hurried. It made me think that he didn't really want me to come.

"No, no. As it so happens, I just got fired." I stated with ease, glancing at my uncle curiously. Something was up, but I wasn't sure what.

"You got fired" Chris asked unbelievingly I nodded. "Again? What for"

"Mouthing off. Sounds sort a juvenile don't it" I casually stated.

"Joey when will you learn" Chris sighed, shaking his head.

"How about, never" I asked. Chris shook his head. "But to answer your question, I can come, if you want me to"

"Yes, I want you to." Chris sighed and picked at a french fry. "I just... oh, never mind! So, what are you gonna do about a job"

-

"I don't see why I should" sighed Seto Kaiba, moving around the board room table, picking up his folder as he went.

"It will be good for you to take a break from all this work. You never vacation." Scott Chandler, Seto's business partner, pointed out. He moved to join his friend as they left the large, grey room.

"I don't have time for vacations and breaks. I already had someone take over my company once. I won't let it happen again." Seto glared over to Scott. Though Scott was older then he was, Scott was just as tall and in as good a form.

"No one wants to take over Kaiba Corp anymore. And besides, Mokuba says you're getting too stressed out and even snapping at him. Isn't that enough of a reason" Scott persisted, nudging Seto with his elbow, he received another blue-eyed glare. He laughed.

"No. Mokuba is gone to a friends for a week. By the time he gets back I will be relaxed again." Seto answered easily. He didn't understand why Scott was pushing that he go to Scott's boyfriends ranch for the week. It was a ranch after all. And Seto didn't like anything to do with nature. Besides swimming.

"You, relaxed" Scott joked, his green-grey eyes lighting up with amusement.

"Okay, okay" Seto muttered. "As relaxed as I can get."

"Which is"

"I don't need to have my laptop with me at all times and I can watch an hour of tv, even though I find it annoying." Seto explained, grabbing his briefcase from his office and then locking the door. The headed for the elevator.

"Well, that's a start" Scott sighed under his breath. "You don't... entertain Mokuba" He raised his eye borws.

"I help Mokuba with his homework, we swim and I will occasionally take him to the park." Seto defended.

"But you don't play video games with him, or wrestle or any of that normal stuff" Seto shifted uneasily as the elevator doors opened and they stepped in. He pressed the 'G' button.

"I, sometimes. Not very often anymore. He's growing up. He doesn't want to spend as much time with his big brother" Seto lamely answered. staring at the floor.

"Oh, so that's what you let yourself believe." Scott shook his head. "Look, Mokuba isn't old enough that he doesn't want to do something with you. Like watch movies or talk about girls or something. Listen to movies, I don't know. I'm not an expert on what kids his age likes."

"Maybe you're right. But right now he isn't home. I will discuss this with him when he comes back." Seto stiffly answered, realizing that maybe he hadn't been as a good a brother lately as he could have been. And that hurt him.

"Sure. I'll remind you so you'll have to. And if that doesn't work I'll tell Mokuba. Then you'll have to do something with him." Scott threatened. Or promised. Seto wasn't sure which but he wished he did. They stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby.

"I will, don't worry. I swear on, oh I don't know, the mutts life that I won't spend all my time working." Seto smirked. If he didn't the pest wouldn't be a constant in his life anymore. That stupid mutt had put doubts in his mind that no one else could and they had never left. Damn him.

"Like I believe that. You'd work more just to curse him. Swear on Mokuba's life." he ordered.

"Can't I swear on your life" he asked, more willing to risk Scott then his baby brother. Scott shook his head no. "Okay. I swear on Mokuba's life that I won't work all the time. Happy"

Scott shook his head. "About one thing. But you still haven't agreed to some to the ranch with me."

They walked outside and felt like they had run into a brick wall. The temperature was so hot! They were both glad their offices had air conditioning. Otherwise they would have baked.

"I don't know. If it's hot here, what's it like there" Seto pondered. He was staring to like the idea of getting away from the ugly business district that claimed most of his life.

"Actually, it's much cooler out in the country then here. And Chris has a lake that's always cool." Scott said the magic words. A cool temperature and a place where he could swim and relax. Perfect. And he could take work, too.

"I suppose. I know you wont leave me alone until I agree. And I would like to have some peace this summer." Seto sighed and walked to his car. Since his back was turned he didn't see the look of conspiratorial glee and conniving that passed over Scott's chiseled face.

"Perfect. Come in two days. Any time during the day" Scott grinned at the victory before jumping in his own car. If you don't come, I'll hunt you down" he called and drove away.

Seto didn't doubt it for a second. When Scott wanted something, he went after it just like Seto would. Only problem was, Seto never knew what Scott had planned. He wasn't the most predictable guy, which made his business partners always on guard. But then they'd be disappointed and go back to being normal which is when Scott would jump at them and get his deals.

That didn't matter now, Seto thought as he drove slowly away, Scott is only worried about my health and wants me to enjoy the summer for once.

How wrong could he be?

-

Empress Mara: Hey all! Hope you like this chapter. Thanks for reviewing everyone! It will be in your best interest to review, cause trust me I know where you live! evil maniacal laughter

Don't worry, I really have know clue where you live. I don't even know where I live! ; Bye-Bye until the next part!