After helping around the Motou's house to pay back their night's stay Joey and Kaiba began their travels once more, but not before reluctantly accepting bread and cheese for their travels. Joey beyond happy at now having food, and knowing someone from his kingdom walked with a bounce in his step. Kaiba, back aching from having slept on a hard surface, had a deep scowl and walked rather stiffly.

"I can't believe I let you talk me into sleeping on the floor. We should have taken them up on their offer when they were willing to give us their beds." Kaiba complained as he turned this way and that, trying to stretch the kinks in his back out from sleeping on the floor

"We were inconvenient guests ya prissy prince, who are we ta mak'em give up their beds?" What started out as a good morning was quickly turning sour with Kaiba's complaints. Joey was seconds away from punching the knight.

Up ahead there was a young lady who seemed to be carrying one too many water pails on her own. Upon seeing her Kaiba groaned out load. "Now, you uncouth civil servant, we are just outside the fort walls, she obviously gets paid for what she is doing so there is no need to stop and help her."

Joey had not seen the short brown haired girl, but when Kaiba pointed her out and seeing her struggle with her load, Joey automatically headed towards her to offer any help.

"Hey do ya need help?"

The brown haired girl changed her stance and held on to the bucket's handle ready to swing it at any given notice. "Come one step closer and I'll bash ya over da head with this here bucket!"

"woah! Alright I ain't gonna help anyone dat scary!" Scurrying away from the feisty girl as quickly as possible, Joey moved to Kaiba's side; unconsciously seeking protection from him.

Kaiba smirked and looked down at Joey. "What's the matter mutt? Dog got scared of a hissing bunny?"

"Well I'd like ta see ya try ta talk ta her!" He couldn't stop the slight shudder that ran through him.

Rolling his eyes and wanting to show Joey his superiority, Kaiba approached the woman. "Hello, my friend over there noticed you were struggling with your load. We were wondering if you would like some help."

Having noticed the knight attire, the brown haired girl didn't give way to her threat right away. She wasn't dumb, never one to turn down help from a handsome man, the lady quickly agreed to be helped. Kaiba couldn't help himself from smirking in Joey's direction.

Angrily mumbling, "Stupid pretty face" to himself and he went to grab a bucket. By then the brown haired girl had introduced herself, Teá. She became talkative quite quickly, going on about wanting to be a dance instructor, and raising enough money to start her own studio.

Teá talked their ears off, as they approached her home. Once there both guys did not think they would be welcomed in, but were surprised when they were. They were rewarded with water for their troubles before politely being shown out the door.

"I told you no good would come from helping her out." Kaiba hadn't said anything, but once realizing that both Joey and him had no idea how far from the castle walls they were, Kaiba began to complain.

"Wat ya mean my fault? I ain't the one that she accepted it from. We could've gone our merry way after she nearly attacked me! But no, ya just had ta show off ya damn skills. Now shut up, ya bothering ain't helping my concentration." Joey was tired and hungry, they'd been walking around in what felt like circles. He had no idea where he was, and hadn't paid attention where they were going.

Choosing to ignore the logic in Joey's statement, Kaiba changed the subject. "Joey, the sun is starting to set, I'm more than sure we're going to have to sleep out here."

Heaving a loud sigh, Joey stopped to look around. "Ya, guess we should find shelter, and eat 'fore sleepin'. I'm sure tomorrow in da light o'day we'll uh…unlost o' somethin'." He spotted what looked to be an abandoned shack going by the missing widows, and headed towards it.

Kaiba nodded, just having remembered they hadn't bothered to eat.

The cabin was one room. It had a small bed in one corner, adjacent to it was a table with two stools and on the other side of the room was what could barely pass as a kitchen. The two so weary from their travels, silently shared the food Yugi and his grandpa had given them. Once having finished they laid, next to one another on the bed, to sleep. It wasn't until Joey was fast asleep that Kaiba's brain began working, and he realized was willingly sharing a bed with this scoundrel.

He glanced to look over at his bedmate, just as Joey turned to face him. Kaiba couldn't help himself from admiring the golden locks that framed his face. Leaning over, he grabbed a lock and was surprised at how soft it was. He stayed in that position watching Joey sleep before letting go of the hair and turning; shaking his head as he dispelled thoughts of finding a man attractive. Plus he came here to get rid of a potential marriage, not to lay romantic roots.

X-X-X

Joey could see the early morning light seeping into the room, but he was so warm and comfortable even the thought that Tristan would get mad at snuggling with didn't deter him from snuggling farther into Tristan's side. It wasn't the first time Joey and Tristan had shared a bed, but was the first time they had cuddled in the night for warmth. Upon further thought, Tristan usually smelled like the barrack and wasn't this broad.

Peeking an eye open, Joey let it roam to see exactly whom it was he was lying on. As his eye roamed around the room, he his eye met the stoic stare of two dark blue eyes; Kaiba.

"Comfortable there, mutt?" Kaiba raised an eyebrow.

Feeling a slight shiver run down his body at Kaiba's rough morning voice, Joey quickly jumped from his position and tried to curve the blush that was starting to rise.

"I ain't a mutt, ya damn bastard! Who told you, you could get so close to me?"

"If I recall, it was you who was laying on top of me. Not the other way around. Now if you're done with your little outburst, I say we start heading out." Kaiba was only glad Joey hadn't heard how erratic his heart had been pounding. He had been seconds away from petting the golden locks and hugging Joey closer to him. Not wanting the blond to see how affected he was, Seto stepped out to once more shake these odd thoughts from his mind. Perhaps that fall from his horse a couple of years back was now showing its side effects…

Meanwhile Joey was berating himself for the odd feelings that he was quickly starting to associate with Kaiba. He was a guy for goodness sake, which guy likes another guy? What would his father think? Not wanting to think that his father, or Tristan, let alone his sister would find him disgusting for such feelings.

Joey reaffirmed that these 'emotions' where simply from being in close contact with a new person. It was ok for a man to appreciate another man's masculinity, he saw soldiers do it with other soldiers all the time. Why would Joey's appreciation be any different?

Before they left, Joey insisted that they leave the little cottage in the way they found it. "I know it seems stupid, but my sis always says it ain't right to leave behind ya mess. Need to ta pick it up. My sis always been a neat freak" He couldn't help smiling at the thought of his sister. "It's dumb huh, I ain't been gone from home more than three days and I miss her."

"You have a younger sibling?" Kaiba was slightly surprised since Joey seemed for the most part like a loner, an overly charismatic loner, but a loner nonetheless.

"Yeah…" Joey's eyes got slightly glassy at the thought of home.

Kaiba didn't like seeing the usually happy blonde down so instead of dealing with the emotions he decided to tease the blond, plus Kaiba really wasn't a fan of a lot of emotions. "Hmmm…I hope there is someone else she can look up to."

The sad look quickly left his face and was replaced one with a fiery vengeance. "Hey ya damn jerk! I'ma great brother! Ya probably don't know since ya ain't got ya own lil sis!"

"As a matter of fact, I have a younger brother." Kaiba didn't do with sharing, but he was proud of being a brother. In fact that was the one aspect in his life that made him feel truly accomplished.

"Really? What 'is name? Ma lil sis is Reni. Dis is da first time I'm not home fer so long." Kaiba hadn't shared much, in fact he rarely talked if it wasn't to insult Joey in some many, so any information Kaiba leaked out, Joey absorbed like a sponge.

"This will also be my longest time away from Mo-my little brother." Seto couldn't help the slight homesickness that hit him. This was the first time he wouldn't know when he'd hear from Mookie.

It was nice to know that they held the same sentiment on being older siblings. Tristan didn't have a little sister, so it was hard to talk about one's responsibility without looking like a freak. Knowing Kaiba would beat himself up for even showing an emotion, Joey tried to help him by getting him out of this mopping stage. "Heh who'da thought it, ya got a heart."

Seto understood what Joey was doing. To repay him, Kaiba decided teasing Joey and seeing all the blood rush to his face was the best payment. "Who would have thought that the little peasant likes to play house?"

"I don't play house! I just don't want the damn people ta come back and see dat it's guests are sloppy!" Joey couldn't fight the blush, it wasn't what Kaiba was saying but the teasing manner it was in. It felt different than when Tristan and he would tease each other.

Kaiba only smirked at Joey. "Whatever make it easier for you."

The rest of the morning was spent in much the same manor, slight teasing and slight smiles thrown each other's way. So perhaps the smiles mostly came from Joey, but Kaiba no longer looked as if he wanted to kill his companion.

Joey wasn't very familiar with his lands, but he recognized parts of it, and today he very well knew where he was. He knew that approximately three miles from where they where, they would run into Tristan. Not wanting to cut his adventure any shorter than it had already been cut, Joey decided to waste time. It was for that reason that Joey began perusing the small shops in the area. They had arrived a little past noon, and after much wasted time, night was upon them.

"I told you not to waste time at the shops. I swear people would think I knew your home lands better than you." Kaiba was seething. What began as a pretty good day quickly lost its pleasure. Yes, getting along with the blond had been nice; yes, seeing Joey smile at him had sent odd forms of energy running through his body; and yes, even wasting away the day seeing Joey's amazement at simple objects had made a tender emotion arise for the blonde, but it was exactly because of said thoughts, that Seto's mood became sour. How was he, King Seto, coming to dote upon this poor street rat? When had he last willingly wasted a day to simply be out?

"Ya ya ya, look 'ere mista, I told ya I'd help ya out. I ain't tell ya that I'd get ya there in a day. Plus I ain't been in all them shops before. I'd get kicked out. Ya know cause…I ain't got enough money" At this, Joey took hold of his thin shirt, showing just how poor he was when that motion made a slight tear. Kaiba smartly did not point that out.

"ey! How 'bout we sleep in der fancy inns? I've never been!" Joey had gotten a whiff of himself as he moved his shirt around and it was not pretty. He may talk and act like a street vigilante, but he was very much into keeping clean. Plus it was true, he'd never stayed in one!

Seto wanted to quickly jump at the idea. A short bath and sleeping in a clean bed was paradise at this point. He doubted he had enough coin for two bedrooms. "I don't think they let pets in."

"ey, I got me money! If ya give 'em this 'ere coins," Joey took out the gold coins he had been trying to use when he and Seto first met. "I bet they'd accept them from ya!"

This was more than likely true, Seto looked to be many classes above Joey, but he was still hesitant on using said coins. He did not want to end up humiliating himself, but Joey's eyes shown bright with excitement at the thought of sleeping at an inn; even one so obviously dilapidated. Taking the coins from Joey, Seto went in to ask for rooms.

Joey stayed outside, better to not be in a room with prying eyes and be a nameless poor person outside. After a short while, Kaiba came out and gave him most of his coins back.

"Those coins have a high value. I can't believe you where going to willingly use them on one turkey leg."

"I was hungry! That means ya got us each a room though right?"

"No." Joey's face fell. "We have to once more share a room. Apparently this in is very accommodating to the knights who like to rent out rooms for an hour or so with…friends."

Joey was completely confused. What did knights sharing rooms with other knights have to do with renting out a two rooms? Of course there were a lot of knights around! They were near the training grounds!

Seeing Joey's confused face Seto had to stop himself from rubbing his hand on face in exasperation. "You can't have survived on the streets and be this dense. What am I?"

"Umm…a knight from the neighboring kingdom?"

"And what was I doing?"

"Renting out rooms for me and you?"

"Yes, for a friend that wasn't with me."

Joey was now thoroughly confused. "…Those bastards! Did they not wanna rent ya a room cause ya friend ain't there with ya?!"

Seto face fell, "You really are stupid."

"HEY! I ain't calling ya names, so stop it before my frist makes ya stop"

"Really, uneducated people really do always revert to violence. Look you pea brain. Some of the knights come here with prostitutes, not always female, so when he saw that I, a knight, was trying to rent a room for 'myself and a friend,' the innkeeper automatically assumed I was here to lay with a man. So he suggested I have the room in the back with the best bed, since I had paid so well, and would not let me explain. He then not so discreetly told me that if my friend and I needed any help to not hesitate and call him. That he was 'open to anything.'" Kaiba couldn't stop the slight agitation that rose as he recounted the story.

Joey's face became pallor as the situation dawned on him, that is before it went up in flames. "Oh my God Kaiba! Ya 'ave ta go tell da damn man e's got it all wrong!"

"Don't you think I didn't try?"

Dreading and already knowing the answer Joey asked, "do uh we at least, ya know, have separate beds?"

"He thought I was trying to make it look as if my male friend and I weren't going to screw like rabbits by renting out two rooms. Would you give those people a two bed bedroom?"

"Aww man! I wanted my own bed!"

"This man just accused us, ME, of being gay! That is what you're worried about?

Of course Joey upset that the innkeeper had assumed that! They were both men! They both liked woman in and out! Of course he wasn't sure about that, and the thought of once more sharing a bed with Kaiba made him happier than it should, but that was only because he had found a new friend. He wasn't going to deny the thought scared him, because even Tristan didn't being out such friendly feelings…pushing those thoughts aside, Joey decided to break the tension by acting oblivious. "Look ya moron! I ain't gonna share da bed with a person who thinks his side of da bed is in da middle! If you're so worried about de innkeeper sleep on the floor"

"I never said I was going to sleep on the floor."

Joey loudly sighed before saying in an frustrated manor, "Then why ya complaining?"

"He thinks we're men who lay with other men." Kaiba thought Joey had missed the point. Peasants usually weren't the sharpest.

Joey rolled his eyes skyward before making and holding direct eye contact for the rest of the conversation. "Do you know him?"

Feeling attacked, Kaiba crossed his arms and stood taller, making his height and strength apparent to Joey. "No."

Joey mimicked Kaiba's stance. "Ya eva gonna see 'em again?"

"No."

"Then why ya care?"

"That's besides the point."

"I ain't seeing none of ya point. Look here, ya gonna sleep on da bed, ya o no?

Realizing Joey's sound logic had beat out Seto's pathetic self-conscious issues, he growled, "I'm sleeping on the damn bed," before once more heading inside. Seto valiantly tried not to meet the innkeeper's gaze, but he did and was met with a large smirk.

X-X-X-X

A/N: Thank you for the wonderful reviews! This update is slightly late since my computer decided the screen light would not work for a good 3-4 days. (So maybe it had a reason since my sis accidentally spilled soda on it, but...details details)

To anyone wondering the same question Shujins216Girl mentioned, (for those what haven't seen she commented that she wouldn't have been able to sleep with someone groping her face), totes can relate, BUT! Kaiba is exhausted from travel, he just arrived to the kingdom and already Joey was leading him out into the middle of nowhere. Haha

R&R!