Hey everyone! I got a facebook and myspace, so if you want to discuss fandoms, fanfics, etc. you can add me. I'm still "Lightning Sage" on those sites.

Go to my profile and see "Contact Me" for links!

My Anime Boston pics are up on these sites! They're mostly Kingdom Hearts cosplayers, but I have a couple of Seto Kaiba and Bakura!

Wherefore Art Thou, Puppy?

Chapter VI

The next week passed by rapidly. Seto had offered to let Jonouchi stay at his mansion after he got out of the hospital, for as long as he needed to get back on his feet. Jonouchi's first instinct was to slap the helping hand away—he wasn't accustomed to accepting help from others, because others always wanted something in return—except for Yugi. Yugi, being the good-natured and caring individual that he was, would gladly help others without any expectations for compensation.

Crap! I never called Yugi! Jonouchi realized with a jolt. He's probably worried sick that I haven't been in school for the past two weeks!

"Kaiba, can I borrow your phone?" he asked frantically.

Seto glanced at him quizzically. "What's the matter?"

"I never called Yugi! He's probably freaking out now because I pulled a disappearing act and never told anyone!"

"Relax, Jonouchi. I told Yugi you were in accident, but you'd be fine…and that you'd be living with me while you recovered."

Jou let out the breath of air he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "You didn't tell him about my dad?"

"No. That's your prerogative, not mine."

Before he knew what he was doing, Jonouchi had approached Seto and wrapped his arms around the brunet's waist. He buried his face into the crook of the other teen's neck. "Thank you, Seto," he murmured.

Slowly, tentatively, Seto returned the hug, enveloping the blonde in his arms. "Anytime, Jonouchi."

It was strange for Jonouchi…seeing such a different side of Seto Kaiba. Seeing the caring side, the one that was willing to help out the boy he supposedly hated.

It was equally strange for Seto…seeing Jonouchi in a vulnerable state, so vulnerable that he was willing to accept help from a person he'd never gotten along with in the past.

Yet the two adolescents stood there, embracing each other. They were relaxed. Comfortable, even. They felt safe.

And for that reason, it didn't seem out of place when Seto released Jonouchi and lifted the shorter teen's head, just barely before he pressed their lips together. Jonouchi returned the kiss without a moment of hesitation, and they explored each others' mouths for the first, but certainly not the last time.

Jonouchi's trial against his father couldn't have gone smoother. The evidence of his abuse at the hands of his father was overwhelming. He was sentenced to ten years of prison, and two years of community service following his prison time.

When Jonouchi left the court, hand in hand with Seto Kaiba, the stars that had once been crossed were now arranged completely differently—perhaps not in perfect alignment, but at least they were no longer doomed to intersect catastrophically.

SETOxJOEY fans! Read this! (take out the spaces of the URL, though XD)

www. fanfiction.net/s/2026937/1/TheMath

Ugh…I didn't like the ending to Wherefore Art Thou, Puppy? I had had so much more in mind for this story when it was started, but like I said, I lost inspiration. But I needed to finish it, along with the other YGO stories I currently have on hiatus.

I didn't really even get to the romance much, but I think it was pretty heavily implied. I left it super-open-ended so ya'll can fill in with whatever you want their future to be. I apologize if you were expecting more SetoxJou action.

Again, I thank you all for sticking with this story. I appreciate everyone who took the time to read this story, and I'm even more grateful to those of you who spent a little more time to review.

I hope that despite the decline in the writing of this story, you all found it enjoyable and got something out of it. I'd love to hear your thoughts about the end, the good and the bad.