Hey guys, sorry it took so long to update last time. If you're wondering what happened, fanfiction had some glitches that they took a while to fix, but it's all better now. Thanks' fanfiction! And thank you to all of my readers who stuck by even through the long wait, I know how frustrating it is.

Kisa: Oh sure, you're all cheery now. And you call ME the dark half of you. (when duckie-chan get's mad, all hell breaks loose.) O.O

Lil1diva: I agree

Me: teehee FEAR ME! BTW, just got some great news I'VE BEEN ACCEPTED TO MONTSERRATE COLLEGE OF ART! Fweee! With an 8,000 dollar scholarship!

Kisa: (pats head) yes yes, we're all very proud of her. Now get going with the story.

Me: fine, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh.

For a good half an hour, Joey, in a flustered tizzy, did his best to convince Mokuba that Kaiba was in fact NOT straddling and trying to force him into a lip lock.

They were actually fighting. Yup. And Kaiba had tried to suffocate Joey… with his face…

Uh huh.

Mokuba indulged the blond however and nodded his head, "Alright then, no more fighting okay Joey, okay, Seto?"

Seto was leaning against the counter with his arms crossed, cool and collected as usual while Joey was combing a hand through his hair taking deep calming breaths. He had been in quite a few stressful situations today after all.

Mokuba grinned at his older brother apologetically, knowing he had probably ruined his chances of getting to first base with Joey. His quick little mind soon came up with a plan to make it up to him, though.

The raven haired boy rocked back and forth on his heels innocently, holding his hands behind his back, "Sooo, can we go?"

"Go where Mokuba?" Seto asked wearily, rubbing his temples. Chasing the blond around figuratively and physically was beginning to give him a migraine.

Mokuba gave his older brother the biggest, cutest, wide-eyed stare he could manage, "To the mall, to get the new capsule monsters game! You know it's my favorite!"

Seto huffed and looked away, not because he was angry, but because he could not take the penetrating stare of his baby brother. The force was strong with this one. (a/n lol, sorry couldn't resist.)

"I don't know Mokuba, I'm really not in-"

"But Seto!" Mokuba increased his attack power by making his lower lip tremble slightly, "This one's one of the most powerful they've ever had! I just gotta play it!" Mokuba cast a look over to Joey, who was watching the whole exchange as if he were watching TV, caught between feeling awkward and intrusive, but also interested to see how it played out.

"Besides!" Mokuba said with a cheeky grin "It'd give Joey and you the chance to get closer together, learn more about each other you know?"

Joey's mouth dropped open and he gaped at the younger Kaiba. Was he in on the bet too?

He was about to ask as such when all three boys heard a disturbance in the hallway. Someone was approaching the kitchen, but singing at the same time.

"Singing our song, all day long at-" was all they heard when Marie burst through the door with a feather duster held to her face like a microphone,

"!"

All three openly stared, though they weren't exactly surprised at the maid's behavior.

"What the hell are you doing Marie?" Kaiba asked rubbing his temple as his head throbbed harder.

"You've never heard of Potter Puppet Pals?" Marie asked, cocking her magenta head to the side while all three boys shook their heads no, "Le Gasp!"

Joey lifted himself so he could sit comfortably on the counter while Kaiba filled Marie in on the current predicament. The maid's demeanor brightened even more.

"Perfect! I'm due for my monthly pay anyways, so let's all go!"

The kooky maid giggled madly and nearly flew out of the room, Mokuba in tow, "I'll get the liiimmooo!"

Kaiba had frozen, his hand held out in an effort to stop his maid, but all he could do was sigh. She was unstoppable like a tornado. He didn't even know why he tried anymore.

He heard someone quietly snickering and he looked up to glare at Joey, "and what is so amusing, mutt?"

Joey grinned at him, looking pleasantly surprised and a little bit mischievous.

"I never thought I'd see it, "Joeys aid shrugging, "Mokuba's got you wrapped right around his little finger."

Kaiba snorted, how ridiculous, he could say no to Mokuba whenever he wanted to… he just never wanted to say no.

"As if it isn't the same way with you and your sister, Wheeler."

Joey smiled slightly, thinking of his precious little sister. It had been a while since he'd seen her last. He wondered briefly if she was enjoying her newfound sight as much as he hoped she would. He had worked hard to give her that.

"Yeah…" he said , rubbing the back of his neck thoughtfully, "Guess you're right about that, rich boy."

Kaiba blinked and looked at Joey. That was probably the first civil thing Joey had said to him since… well… since he had kidnapped him in the first place. Er, I mean, rescued him from the rain.

Joey seemed to notice this himself and he glared suspiciously at the brunet.

"Don't think this means we're getting chummy though. I still don't like ya."

Kaiba shrugged. He still had 29 days to change all of that, and he'd do anything to do so. If that meant waiting a little longer in taking what he so desperately wanted, he'd do so. He had a feeling that backing the mutt into a corner was the wrong thing to do, but he could he help it if that was the way he usually went about things. Not only in the business world and dueling, but now in his love life.

Kaiba pushed himself off of the corner and walked towards the door, turning towards Joey expectantly.

Joey kept a wary eye on him as he inched along the wall and out the door in front of Kaiba.

The brunet gave an exasperated sigh. He'd have to reassess his whole strategy. All of the techniques he had learned from Gozaburo were all wrong for this area, and he'd have to abandon them if he ever wanted to win his puppy's love. (lil1diva: Kaiba's normal approach is useless here.)

Later on, at the mall

Joey had never really spared much time for the mall. He never really had the money to spend at the mall, so why go? Normally his little group of friends would keep themselves to the confines of the kame game shop or each other's houses. This was why, when all four of them entered the wide automatic doors and the glittering floors of the establishment beckoned them inside, Joey felt his mouth fall open for the second time that day.

The mall had two levels, and yet there was a glass elevator standing right between two escalators. Okay seriously, what was the point of that, to flaunt how much money the place had?

Kaiba nonchalantly handed his younger brother a fifty and the raven haired boy gave a shout of happiness,

"Go have fun. But stay with Marie. I'll give you a call when it's time to go." Kaiba said, and Mokuba nodded vigorously.

Next, the brunet turned to Marie, whose eyes were sparkling once again as she practically bounced in place due to anticipation. He handed her a twenty with a resolute sigh.

"Do not scar my brother with your 'monthly wage'. And keep an eye on him."

Marie saluted and was soon pulled away by Mokuba.

"Come on Marie, let's go!"

Marie giggled and ran beside the boy, so it was hard to tell who was the adult and who was the kid, "Let's go to the arcade after we shop!"

"That's not a good idea. We don't want a repeat of the 'pacman' incident"

"When'd you turn into my wife?" Marie responded with a huff. "And no one ever proved that was me!"

Joey sweat-dropped while Kaiba started walking away as fast as he could. The longer he could pretend he didn't know the woman, the better. Joey, never finding out what he was supposed to do while Kaiba shopped, trotted after him.

"What did you mean by 'don't scar my brother with your monthly wage?'" he asked curiously, and Kaiba rolled his eyes.

"In exchange for all she does, I give her room and board, as well as money to buy boy love novels once a month."

Joey shuddered, "Oh."

One the brunet determined he was a safe distance away, so as not to be associated with whatever Marie would end up doing, he stopped. There was a peaceful looking little fountain in front of them and Joey sat on the edge.

"So I guess I'll wait here for you all ta get back," he said cleaning out his ears. Kaiba turned to stare down at him with a raised eyebrow.

"What are you talking about pup?"

Joey blinked and narrowed his eyes in confusion, "No, what are you talking about. Didn't ya need to go shopping?"

Kaiba gave a conceited wave of the hand, "I rarely go somewhere public to buy what I need, as it is usually exclusive and can only be imported from the best in the world."

Joey rolled his eyes and mimicked the brunet's movements behind his back, though adding a comical effeminate flair to them, so it looked more like an imitation of Pegasus than Kaiba.

"Anyway," Kaiba said darkly, having a strange feeling he was being ridiculed and not appreciating it at all, "I came here for you."

That threw the blond for a loop. He blinked and cocked his head to the side, "Me? Why?"

Kaiba turned once again with that condescending look. He reached forward and tugged at the sleeve of Joey's denim jacket. It was frayed at the edges, and the t-shirt he had under it was no longer white but now a sort of pale yellow due to age. There were also a few tiny holes that could not miss the brunet's keen vision. His jeans were torn at the knees and were muddy at the ankles. In short, his outfit was a mess.

"Your choice of dress is atrocious, Wheeler. That and you have maybe two in your possession. So we're going to get you more suitable clothing to wear."

Joey stood up hurriedly and back away from Kaiba, glaring at him,

"There's nothing wrong with my clothes, they do da job just fine! And I got plenty more at home, but you won't let me go get them!"

Kaiba stared into Joey's eyes so severely that Joey felt just a teensy bit of unease. The brunet didn't look angry, nor was it cold. There was something else in his eyes. Conviction?

"I told you once, Wheeler, and I'll tell you as many times as I need to," Kaiba said in a low voice so that only they could hear, "I will not allow you to set foot in that house ever again. I've had my employees retrieve anything of absolute value while your father was out, but other than that I will replace anything that can be and even more."

Joey felt something in his stomach stir, yet he knew it wasn't a sick feeling. It was an oddly pleasing feeling, but also a bit unsettling. It was hard for the blond to decide if he liked it or not.

He huffed and looked away, crossing his arms, "I still think you're being ridiculous."

Kaiba turned away also, "Whatever. Either way, that's what's happening. So stop fighting it and just let me take care of you pup."

'Again with that feeling,' Joey thought to himself as he walked along side the brunet to the first store. He was alarmed to see that he had grown slightly warm in the face. 'No. Not happening. I'm NOT gonna let this bastard prove me wrong AGAIN. I am not beginning to like Kaiba! Not even as a friend!'

For the next two hours, Kaiba dragged the blond through so many stores, shoving him into countless changing rooms, and then dragging him back out again. Most of the time he would stand there and pretend to consider the blonds' opinion on the clothes, then go ahead and buy them anyway, even if they weren't to the pup's liking. Joey supposed he should count himself lucky that Kaiba had conceded to getting a few more t-shirts and jeans, though he insisted on inspecting their fit on him, saying that the frumpy two-sizes-too-big look didn't suit him.

Joey liked his comfortable style, and he didn't want to look like he walked around with a stick up his ass like Kaiba did. Besides, the tight and sexy look he usually left to the Yami's, because well, he figured they were more adjusted to it.

Finally, the brunet let them stop for a break at the very same fountain. Both were carrying an even amount of bags. So far, Joey had two pairs of pajamas, one silk because Kaiba loved to spoil him though he'd never admit it, and one cotton because Joey hated to be spoiled which he constantly accused Kaiba of doing. There was one suit, for important events that Kaiba planned on taking Joey to, should he ever accomplish any sort of etiquette training with him anyways. There were 5 casual outfits, and a few outfits for going out, which Kaiba thought Joey didn't completely grasp the meaning behind.

"Shit…" Joey said to himself in alarm as he looked at the receipts for all of them. He mentally added them all up, and paled. How the heck was he going to pay Kaiba back for all of this?

Kaiba, while Joey was distracted, shook his head disbelieving. The pup still didn't get it, that he had gotten him all this because he wanted to. He smiled softly, but he supposed that earnest and determined personality is what made him fall in love with the mutt in the first place.

"I know what you're thinking, Wheeler," he said, replacing the smile with the usual scowl when Joey looked up at him in alarm, "Forget it. Even if you could pay me back I wouldn't take it. I bought all this because they are what I want you to have. That I think you deserve to have."

Joey stood up though, "Listen, Joey Wheeler doesn't take stuff like this when he didn't earn it himself. That's not how a real man acts!"

Kaiba rolled his eyes, "Now who's being ridiculous?"

Joey growled before he crossed his arms, "That's it, I've decided. If you won't take money as payback, then what do you want?"

Kaiba blinked, and stared at the blond. Did he even understand the double meaning that question could have?

Feeling in the mood to tease his favorite dog, Kaiba stroked his chin and gave a lecherous smirk towards the blond. Joey froze, comprehension dawning on his face.

"Not like that ya pervert!" he hissed, "I mean… well… gah forget it!"

Joey childishly sat back on the fountain, pointedly not looking at the brunet. He was trying to be nice dammit. Why did the CEO always have to turn everything in a new way to humiliate him?

Kaiba, feeling a little guilty for once again delving into his old habits, nudged Joey's foot with his own,

"Hey," he said carefully, so as not to piss the blond off anymore, "I was joking, mutt. Is that so surprising?"

"Coming from you? Yes."

Not happy with this response, but frankly not surprised, Kaiba sighed and sat next to the his puppy. He was pleasantly surprised that Joey let him, though that could be because the fountain had small stone pillars that currently separated them.

"Alright alright…" Kaiba said , "I'll think about it, and I'll let you know if I come up with something. It'll be non sexual. I promise."

Joey gave him a suspicious look, but eventually it softened.

"Fine."

The brunet rubbed his temples, feeling his headache starting to return, and he looked at his watch. He wanted to get home at a decent hour, as they did have school tomorrow, and they hadn't had dinner yet.

"C'mon pup," he said standing, "Let's go find the other two."

He smiled when he heard the blond grumble "not a dog..." under his breath, but nonetheless got up to walk beside him once again.

After retrieving Mokuba and Marie, (though it required all three of them literally dragging her out of the boy love section) all four clambered back into the limo, loading one side of the car seats with their spoils.

Joey leaned back, letting his head rest on the back of the soft velvet seat. Spending all of this extra time with his rival was a lot of work. Yeah, if it had been anyone but Kaiba all of the special treatment he'd been getting would be awesome. But what he still couldn't understand was why it was Kaiba doing this for HIM. I mean if he wanted a cheap fuck he would have had plenty of opportunities to do so forcefully.

He cracked an eye open lazily when he heard the brunet clear his throat next to him.

"What?" Joey said, as the brunet was staring at him expectantly.

"I've given it some thought…" Kaiba started quietly, "I know what I want you to do for me."

Joey sat up and rested his elbows on his knees, "M'listenin. What, ya need some maintenance done on the mansion?"

Kaiba smirked and crossed his legs haughtily, "I have plenty of people who are far less important to do that."

Joey snorted at the brunet's utter reluctance to go five minutes without gloating, "Alright then, moneybags, what do ya want?"

For a split second, Kaiba looked uncomfortable. His blue eyes narrowed in uncertainty, then were suddenly back to be impassive, as he held out a hand discreetly towards the blond.

Joey blinked at the offered appendage and stared at Kaiba, "You're gonna have ta be a little less vague here rich boy."

Kaiba rolled his eyes; of course the blond was going to make him say it.

"What I want," he said quietly so as it couldn't be heard over Mokuba and Marie's chattering, "Is for you to hold my hand."

Joey's eyes widened and Kaiba could sense the abrupt explosion.

"Just for the car ride," he added reassuringly, "After that you can let go. But that's what I want, pup."

His hand hovered over the small gap between them, not moving back, or advancing forward. It was like trying to coax a squirrel into your hand, one wrong move and Kaiba would be back to being blond-less once again.

Joey stared at the hand some more, looking just as uncomfortable Kaiba had been asking for it. On the one hand, Kaiba was an utter prick for kidnapping him and forcing him to live and be molested to a point. But on the other hand, he had been quite generous for letting him live in the mansion (despite his not wanting to) with great food, a huge bed, and hot water. He even had bought him all these new clothes, and the only charge he wanted was for him to hold his hand on the way home.

Joey looked down at his feet, refusing to meet the others eyes, but decidedly grabbed Kaiba's a bit more rigorously than needed.

"Fine," he grumbled, "Just for the ride then ya weirdo..."

Kaiba couldn't believe it; despite all of his efforts he hadn't expected Joey to actually take his hand. The touch between them was like fire and ice, Joey's was full of warmth and life, while Kaiba's fingers sent an odd chill up Joey's arm. They weren't exactly cold, but they were definitely cooler than normal. Joey's hands were rough and dry, the hands of someone who did a lot with their hands and was too busy to pay extra attention to them. Kaiba's hands were smooth, scar less, the hands of someone who took a little too much pride in making everything on him perfect. Both textures were so foreign to the other; it was hard not to pull away at first.

But then the temperature difference between them started to dissipate, and Kaiba's hand felt warmer than it had in a long time.

It surprised Joey that Kaiba's skin wasn't colder to the touch like his personality. Even before this whole incident, the blond new that Kaiba was lonely. Sure, he had Mokuba and his crazy maid to keep him company, but the CEO continuously pushed them away. It was like they were sitting in the sun of a beautiful summer's day, while Kaiba sat alone in the shade, getting colder every second without someone there to bring him into the warmth.

Joey glanced at their hands, clasped together. Kaiba's hand looked considerably paler compared to his, almost porcelain white. Except for where the blonds' hand wrapped around the CEO's, that part of the skin was slowly turning a healthier tanner color. Nowhere near Joey's, but still, it had the effect that Joey was, in a sense, melting the brunet.

'…I wonder...' Joey thought to himself, as he looked back at his feet, "maybe if someone could find and melt that ice cold heart of his, he wouldn't be such a prick.'

Kaiba's hand seemed to act of its own accord, as his fingers slipped between Joey's own so they entwined completely with each other. Neither of the two boys noticed as their casual hold slipped into a more intimate one, and both continued to stare in opposite directions as the ride continued, blissfully aware of the pleasant tingle each other's touch gave to each of them.

As Mokuba happily explored his new capsule monsters, Marie cast a sly glance to the side.

She smiled knowingly at the sight of both boys holding hands, and sat back contentedly with one of her novels in hand, fighting valiantly to keep from squealing.

"It won't be long now..." she whispered happily to herself.

"What was dat?" Joey asked.

"Steph'an confessed to Julio!" She screamed, successfully deterring the blond from asking anymore questions.

Whew! That took longer to write than I thought it would. I have so much I want to do, but half of it didn't seem to fit in with this chapter, so I guess it'll have to wait till later.

Kisa: At least we're making some headway with Joey and Kaiba, it isn't quite as one sided as it was before.

Joey: (trying to tug his hand free) Kaiba the chapters over now, you can let go.

Kaiba: No thanks.