Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

Mr. Abiko stood behind his desk. "Attention class." The noise died down. "As you all know your paintings are due today." A few gasps of horror were heard from those who had forgotten. "But anyway I have a treat." Mr. Abiko nodded towards Joey. "Mr. Wheeler, our slacker, will" Snickers issued from the class. Joey said nothing knowing it was true. "present his painting to the class." Mr. Abiko sat down.

Joey looked around for his painting. It stood in the middle of the front where everyone could see it. "Um…" Joey stood next to his painting turning red. "I guess I should just show you." Joey gulped grabbing the cover and pulling it down.

A couple of gasps sounded as the class looked on in awe. On the easel was a work of art. A beautiful arrangement of three duel monsters, The Dark Magician, Red Eyes Black Dragon, and Blue Eyes White Dragon their tails intertwining up behind the magician. They were against a dark backdrop of purple clouds with hints of blue and black above with a starry view. It was a true masterpiece, like a pro.

'That's my soul card!' Kaiba thought surprised. 'With Wheeler's and Yugi's!'

'That's our soul cards! They look good.' Yugi thought beaming at Joey's accomplishment. 'But the tails…?' Yugi noticed how they intertwined behind the Dark Magician.

'A forced friendship?' Yami offered.

'No, I think it's for effect.' Yugi reasoned.

'Hmm.' Yami thought.

Kaiba now noticed the tails. 'Intertwined tails?' Kaiba thought about it contemplating. 'A bond? A friendship?' Then he took note of how it was directly behind Yugi's soul card. 'A forced bond of friendship.' Looking closer he noted. 'It goes above Yugi's soul card to the level of his. Hmm…Must be for effect.' Kaiba told himself but only half believing it.

Joey stood twiddling his thumbs before the class head bowed and burning cheeks. Occasionally he looked up at Yugi. Then a few times he found himself looking at Kaiba. 'To see their reaction to their soul cards.' Joey told himself. 'Lord knows why Kaiba's is in it though. Probably because of Bobson's and the news.' He reasoned.

After allowing the class to look for a few minutes Mr. Abiko rose and walked over to the painting covering it so it wouldn't distract the class, which it was totally capable of doing. "So Mr. Wheeler what is the piece called?"

"Um…" Joey thought of a word. "Eternity."

"Hmm. Interesting title." Mr. Abiko grinned. "Do any of you have any questions?"

Reiko, an artistic and tempered red head, raised her hand. "Are you sure this is his? I mean the slacker there really created this?" Reiko asked skeptically.

"Well?" Mr. Abiko turned to Joey.

"Of course I did!" Joey said defensively "It took me two days to do it too!"

Reiko gasped. 'Surely work this detailed would take at least four days!'

"Huh?"

"It only took you two days?" Blair, another artist but with a soft spoken nature, asked barely above an awed whisper.

"Yeah." Joey didn't get it. 'What's with them? It's not a big deal.' "Usually I only take a few hours to a day."

"My your talent exceeds expectations!" Mr. Abiko clasped Joey's shoulder.

Reiko refused to admit to his talent and raised her hand again. She was ignored when Kaiba's hand rose. The class stared in disbelief at his raised hand in silence. Kaiba had never willing done anything in art class before, but I guess there's a first time for everything. First the slacker is quite the artist, now the aloof are not so aloof. What's the world coming to?

"Kaiba?" Mr. Abiko called on him ignoring Reiko. "How rare! What a treat today is!"

"What did you intend for your painting to portray?" Kaiba sounded mildly amused.

"Good question." Mr. Abiko beamed.

"Well," Joey closed his eyes and remembered painting it.

'The one time we expect a good answer, he never fails.' The class thought about all the times he was called on during class.

"Really I just painted and this is what I got. I only intended to have Red Eyes but… Well, I guess it looks alright."

"Alright?" Reiko laughed. "I concide, you do have talent maybe even more than me." Until then Reiko's works were the best.

"Huh?" Joey's blush exceeded his cheeks and his whole face turned red. "Well uh thanks. But really…"

"Don't be so humble." Reiko said.

"Ahem. Class we have a new assignment to start. We have an hour or so of class left so get started." Mr. Abiko whispered to Joey. "You can go back to your seat now, Wheeler. Sorry to embarrass you."

Joey took his seat next to Yugi on the end of the last row. Téa and Tristan were right in front of them.

"Your painting rocked!" Tristan told him turning around. "But I can't believe you did it!" Tristan teased.

"Thanks for using my soul card, Joey. You did such a great job!" Yugi smiled.

"Yeah I bet you cold sell it." Téa added.

"Get to work." Mr. Abiko scolded. With that the school day droned on.

A/N: Next chapter we go to Tokyo! YAY! Celebrate Celebrate!