Small Note

Sakura: Christmas will be coming up soon in about two months so I figured why not put a little Christmas in my story. It follows the timeline I've been going with and it's the best time of year to get some tendershipping, bronzeshipping, and puppyshipping really developing. This may be main Puzzleshipping, but we cannot forget my other favorite pairings.

Chapter 22: Stop Standing There

After the little indecent at the after party of the music awards, Joey and Seto's faces had been plastered everywhere from newspapers to magazines and all over the internet. Joey had become a celebrity in her own right for making the Seto Kaiba look like a jerk. This of course did not go over well with Seto, who went back home the next day to try and fix his image. Joey still went on with her everyday life, but avoided questions on what really happened from people she ran into at school or on the streets. She wasn't used to all this attention and she hated that she had let Kaiba get under her skin.

Thankfully after a month pretty much everyone forgot about it and moved on to other news. As December rolled in Yuugi and Joey were finally able to focus on their final exams and look forward to a long winter break.

Two weeks into December, Yuugi and Joey found themselves at the mall shopping for Christmas gifts the weekend after their final exams. Both girls were excited to be done with their college classes, but were also nervous about finding out their final grades later in the month. At the moment they were distracting themselves by shopping for family and friends. The mall was packed with people, but the two were in no rush.

As the two left a clothing store after shopping for their friends Ryou and Malik, they passed by the food court and decided to take a snack break or in Joey's case another lunch break. While Joey filled herself on another burger with fries, Yuugi settled for a simple chocolate shake. Their bags lay besides them on the floor and Yuugi's pile was slightly bigger since she was shopping for more people. Yuugi's list was down to only trying to find something for Atemu, while Joey was left trying to figure out something for his sister. Since the two were together they would shop for each other later.

"So do you have any ideas?"

Yuugi shook her head. "It's hard shopping for a guy who pretty much has everything."

Joey had to agree with her on that. "My sister doesn't like material things and she has never hinted at anything. You have a difficult boyfriend while I have a difficult sister."

"Does your mother still plan to take you and your sister to see family on Christmas?" Yuugi asked. The week before Christmas all Yuugi's friends were going to get together before going home to their own families to celebrate in their own way. Yuugi had tried emailing Anzu to be nice and invite her but had heard nothing back. Atemu's friends were even coming in along with Seto, but Yuugi was keeping it a secret from Joey. She knew Joey was afraid to be near Seto again because she did not want to embarrass herself in front of anyone even if there were going to be no cameras or reporters at this party.

Joey nodded. "She has had it planned for months so I still have time to get Serenity something. I'm more looking forward to our party next week. It will be much more fun compared to hanging out with relatives I barely know." She then looked at her friend. "Aren't you doing something with your parents and grandpa?"

"Yeah, my parents want us to spend Christmas with Grandpa in Domino. They couldn't be there last Christmas so this year it's going to just be the four of us." Yuugi replied. She was looking forward to the trip, but she almost wished she could be with Atemu when he went to Egypt for Christmas where there would be no snow.

"You worried about being away from Atemu?" Joey couldn't help but ask. She had been watching her best friend and saw how attached she was to Atemu. They had been away from each other for ten years so she was sure a few days wouldn't matter, but you never know.

Yuugi smiled at her best friend. "If you are worried about us we will be fine. I'm not so attached that I'm going to stop him from going on vacation with his family. Besides I've been promised a trip just the two of us when they get back."

Joey's jaw dropped at that. "You're kidding me?"

"Nope!" Yuugi said with a grin. "We're going on a cruise for four days and nights."

A pout slowing formed on Joey's face. "You are so lucky. You'll have to tell me all about it."

"Maybe one day you'll have a rich boyfriend or a boyfriend in general that will spoil you."

"I highly doubt that. No rich guy or a guy with money in general would want a low class girl like me."

Yuugi reached across the table and squeezed her friend's hand. "Any guy would be lucky to have you. Don't sell yourself so short, because you never know when true love will come around." She was really hoping Seto and Joey would hit it off better this time at the party. There was a spark between the two of them she just knew it, but they were not going to realize it if they were at each other's throats.

"Let's just hope the guy I fall for isn't other jerk like Kaiba." Joey said to lighten the mood. "I'm just glad Atemu isn't like that prick. I mean come on who in the world can only show emotion through insults."

Yuugi giggled while already forming a plan in her head to get Joey and Seto together. Seto may have trouble showing his emotions, but if everything worked out the way she wanted Joey would realize that Seto wasn't as heartless as everyone thought him to be.

The next week rolled around pretty fast and by the middle of the week most of Yuugi's friends and Atemu's friends had arrived at the manor. The party was not until Friday, but some had arrived a few days early just so they could all hang out like they used to. Joey, who did not have work until classes started back up, showed Tristan, Duke, and Serenity around Tokyo, while Yuugi mainly stayed close to Ryou and Malik. Bakura and Marik had been able to drop in for the party and happily stayed at the Sennen manor if only to be close to their soon-to-be girlfriends. The only two who had not showed up were Seto and Mokuba, but they promised they would be there for the party.

When Friday did come around, Yuugi spent most of her time helping Amara and Yumi finish fixing up the manor. All the cleaning, cooking, and gardening staff along with the main butler was all gone for their two week holiday so it was up to the three women to fix the place up. There was no way the guys were going to help and even if Atemu wanted to, his mother did not want him hurting himself.

As Yuugi put the last few plates on the long dining room table, she heard the door open and looked up to see Malik and Ryou walk into the room.

"So what have you two been up to?"

"Malik is sulking because Marik has attached himself to your fiancée." Ryou informed Yuugi, while Malik pouted.

"I am not sulking!"

Yuugi sighed and gave her full attention to her friend. "What is there to sulk about? Marik doesn't get to see Atemu as often so it's natural for them to hang out."

Malik sigh and took a seat at the table. "It's not that he is hanging out with Atemu, because I'm not stopping him from being with his friends. I'm just upset that he hasn't asked me to be his girlfriend yet."

Ryou and Yuugi's eyes widened.

"You are serious?" Yuugi asked. She knew Malik had a thing for Marik after talking to her, but she did not think they would become serious enough to maybe be boyfriend and girlfriend in such little time. They had barely been friends for a year.

Malik saw the looks on her friend's faces and knew of their worry. "We've gotten so close over the past few months and he keeps hinting at maybe liking me as if I would be someone he would date, but he hasn't really asked me on a date or asked if we could be a couple."

"With the way you talk I thought you two were already dating." Ryou pointed out remembering all the time she talked to Malik and how the girl could only talk non-stop about Marik.

"Do you think I'm just obsessing a little too much on him?" Malik asked worried she might scare Marik off.

Yuugi shook her head and patted her friend's shoulder. "You can't help that you like him. Marik isn't easy to read so I wish I could tell you if he likes you like that or not. I know he cares for you as a friend, because of how close the two of you have become. It may just take time for him to come out and decide to date you. He may have trust issues with girls coming after him for his money and looks."

Malik giggled. "I'll admit he is hot, but his looks and money are just a bonus. I like the way he can act silly one minute and be serious the next. He is strong and can be a bit of a show off, but I think he just wants to look good for me."

"I know how you feel." Ryou confessed as she sat down beside her friend, with Yuugi sitting on the other side of Malik. "Bakura has called me at least three times a week while I was at college asking how I was and what I was up to. He kept telling me that when we see each other again we should hang out as friends. There is so much about him that I like, but I wonder if he just wants to be friends or something more."

Yuugi smiled at her friends. "You just have to give it time. I waited ten long years before I finally found the right guy for me. I may have known Atemu longer, but I just knew that we could work out in a relationship. I care for him and even though we fight like other couples do we still talk and work things out."

Malik sighed and lean her head back staring at the ceiling. "I've dated some weird guys who only ended up breaking my heart, but I just don't understand why I think Marik would be different."

Yuugi giggled and hugged her friend. "Maybe you finally found Mr. Right."

Ryou joined in on the hug trapping Malik in-between them. "Now if only we could find Joey a date who happens to be friends with Atemu, Bakura, and Marik."

A smirk slowly worked its way onto Yuugi's face. "Oh I think I know the perfect person."

The two girls quickly listened in as Yuugi told them of her plan for Seto and Joey.

The party was in full swing with all the guests mingling in the living room later that night, while Amara and Yumi slaved away in the kitchen. They wanted no one coming in and messing up their Christmas dinner even if it wasn't Christmas. Outside the weather had dropped down enough for it to snow, so the ground was covered in the white fluff, but thankfully the streets were nice and clear.

Seto and Mokuba were the only two who had yet to arrive, but they were running late because a project at Kaiba Corp had nearly failed and Seto had to do some last minute rescue work most of the morning and afternoon. After the project was fixed the two would take the earliest train they could to make it for the party. Thankfully Kaiba Corp would be closed the next week for Christmas holiday so Seto would not have to worry about work for a while and could enjoy his own holiday.

The time was getting close to six and dinner was to be at seven. Gifts had already been exchanged between friends while family would wait until Christmas. Yuugi had wanted to give Atemu his gift early, but Atemu had refused to open it until Christmas since he considered Yuugi a part of the family.

After most of the gift exchange, Malik nearly bull dozed Yuugi to the floor as she hugged her friend. The blond female pulled back long enough to show Yuugi her new necklace Marik had gotten her. It was a simple heart shape locket with Malik's name on the front and inside was a picture of Marik along with a small folded up note that said 'Will you be my girlfriend?'

The two girls had both squealed in delight and started into deep girl talk, so Atemu rolled away for fear of losing his hearing. Ryou joined the two gossiping girls not long after with a gift from Bakura, which was a cute stuffed bunny rabbit with diamond hair clips clipped to both its ears. The white hair female had not been one for wearing jewelry, but she did have a huge collection of hair clips for her long white hair to keep her bangs out of her face. The gift was cute and simple, but when Ryou told them what Bakura had asked while giving her the rabbit sent them into another fit of squeals and hugs.

Yuugi was extremely happy for both Malik and Ryou finally having wonderful boyfriends. It was good to see her friends smile and be in love. She just hoped Bakura and Marik treated her friends' right or they would have to answer to her.

As those three were enjoying themselves, Joey slipped out of the room to head to the rest room. Just as she was passing through the foyer, she heard someone knocking on the front door. The blond did not have a clue if anyone else was supposed to show up, but decided it was best not to leave them in the cold,so Joey hurried to the front door and opened it. The surprise written across her face clearly showed she did not in any way have any idea that these certain guests were coming.

Seto and Mokuba stood on the front porch with gifts in their hands for their cousins plus Yuugi, while bungled up to fight the cold. As soon as Seto locked eyes with Joey a glare automatically formed on his face and was directed at the blond female. She in turn gave a weak smile before high tailing it out of there to hide in the nearest bathroom. Joey was in no way a coward, but Seto gave her the creeps plus she was sure she was the last person he wanted to see after what happened just a little over a month ago.

Mokuba blinked as she watched Joey run, slowly entering the house with his brother and closing the door. The younger Kaiba set his gifts on the nearby table long enough to take off his coat and boots, before turning on his brother. "What was that about?"

Seto had just bent down to take off his boots. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Joey ran out of here like the devil himself was at her heels." Mokuba pointed out.

"Probably thought I would do something to her because of the way she treated me at that party a while back." Seto stated as he stood back up and picked up the gifts he had to carry. "Come on let's get this party over with so we can get out of here."

Mokuba rolled his eyes and picked up the gifts he had carried. His brother could be so clueless when it came to love and he hated that Seto was pushing away someone, who had really caught his interest. Sure Joey was the last person Mokuba thought of when seeing Seto with someone, but to the younger Kaiba Joey was way more interesting than all the other girls who would fall at Seto's feet wanting to be with him.

"Big brother I think you need to try and be nice to Joey during the party." He said to his older brother with a tone that said he was not to be ignored. Sometimes Mokuba wondered if he was the one who truly kept the family sane after all these years.

"Just keep her away from me and we will be fine."

It was kind of hard to keep Joey away from Seto, when secretly behind Mokuba's back Ryou, Malik, and Yuugi were trying to get Seto and Joey closer. Once Joey had pulled herself out of her hiding spot, Ryou had purposely pulled Joey with her to talk to Bakura, who was talking with Seto. That had turned into an awkward conversation with Joey keeping her eyes on the floor and Seto a glare at Joey.

Then after that Malik somehow got Seto and Joey to sit on the same couch in-between her and Atemu. Atemu had no idea how he had been dragged into his fiancée evil plan, but all he knew was that, he had sat on the couch to get out of the wheelchair and have a somewhat conversation with his cousin. Just when they were talking civil to each other, Malik dragged Joey over and pushed her beside Seto. This than turned into a small fight between Joey and Seto as Seto complained about the 'mutt' being too close to him. In the end Joey stepped on Seto's foot, and then stormed out of the room. Somehow Atemu feared that someone was going to die by the end of the night.

Finally during dinner, Yuugi had placed everyone in just the right places so that Joey and Seto were side by side. It was a quiet dinner to say the least, because everyone was just waiting on Joey and Seto to go at it again and start another fight. Bakura and Marik even placed bets between themselves if it would end up in a food fight. Thankfully that did not happen, but the night was still young.

When dinner was over with everyone went back into the living room to mingle some more over desserts until everyone decided to retire for the night. This is when thing got really interesting. Since Joey and Seto couldn't talk civil to each other, Yuugi decided actions were better than words.

As Joey stood watching everyone from her spot in the living room doorway, she smiled at how happy everyone was. It was the best time of the year and she was surrounded by new and old friends. While she was enjoying the moment, a certain tri-colored hair female was dragging an unhappy CEO toward the doorway.

Yuugi grinned as Kaiba tried to pull from her grip on his long sleeve shirt.

"Yuugi let me go now…"

Yuugi shook her head as she pushed him into the doorway and forced him to stand beside Joey. "No not until you two settle this fighting and be friends."

Joey turned to look at the two, before she sent a glare Seto's way. "What do you want?"

Seto did not say one word as he crossed his arms and refused to look at her.

Yuugi giggled as she calmly walk passed the two and into the living room. "Oh this will be good…" She whispered to herself as she hurried over to Marik and whispered something to him.

Marik looked over to where Seto and Joey were standing in the doorway and out of nowhere started to laugh. Bakura and Atemu looked at Marik like he had lost his mind.

"Dude what is wrong with you? I know you aren't that crazy." Bakura questioned as he tried to figure out what in the world Marik was laughing at.

The chuckles kept coming, so Marik just pointed toward what was making him laugh so much.

Atemu and Bakura followed his line of site and had to hide their own chuckles, which they sucked badly at. Seto and Joey stood in the doorway, but it was what they were standing under that had them going into laughing fits.

Everyone's eyes turned to the three laughing friends as they tried to calm themselves down, while Yuugi just stood their grinning. Her plan was slowly falling into place, now she just needed someone to point out the obvious to the two in the door way.

"What in the world is so funny?" Yumi asked wondering what had her brother in such a laughing mood.

Bakura took deep breaths to calm his racing heart, before answering her. "Those two in the doorway."

All eyes traveled to Seto and Joey and it was then they understood. Soon the whole room was laughing and the two in the doorway still had no idea what was going on.

"What in the world are you laughing at?" Seto finally snapped.

Mokuba wiped a tear from his eyes. "Big brother look above you."

Seto and Joey both looked up at the same time and their faces went deadly pale.

Mistletoe…

Everyone in the room knew what this meant, but the two in the doorway were not happy about it at all. Yuugi who was the one who planted mistletoe in almost every door way just to keep catching Atemu under it somehow knew that it would come in handy for something else.

Seto and Joey both looked at each other and at first they looked fine, until the glares were back. They both crossed their arms and looked away from each other.

"Oh don't be that way. Stop standing there and kiss her!" Atemu shouted at his cousin. Secretly he was proud of his lover, because there was no way he would have been brave enough to pull something like that off.

"I'm not kissing the dirty mutt." Seto stated. No matter how attractive the blond looked that night he was not going to kiss her.

"I'm not a mutt!" Joey shouted as she turned toward him. "Plus I wouldn't want to kiss some rich snob like you anyway."

Seto turned to face her. "I'm sure I'm a way better kisser than you anyway."

"Oh I doubt that!" Joey than smirked. "At least I don't practice with my pillow."

Seto's eyes widened at that statement in shock, before his eyes changed back to anger. "You take that back!"

Joey smiled. "Oh I'm sorry was that a secret."

"I do not kiss my pillow!"

"Sure you don't, but I can guarantee you that I'm a way better kisser than you."

Seto uncrossed his arms and looked down at Joey. "Prove it then."

"Gladly…"

The next thing that happened was unexpected and left everyone wide eyed by the event. Joey had yanked Seto by the front of his shirt down a few inches and kissed him right on the lips. The kiss only lasted less than a minute, but it was enough to shock everyone into silence.

Yuugi had no idea that, that would really work. The only thing left to figure out is if this would push Seto and Joey in the right direction and judging by the way Seto quickly dragged Joey out of the room with both their faces bright red, she had a feeling it wouldn't be long before there was a new couple in her small group of friends.

Sakura: I went through three different endings for this chapter, but finally settled with this last idea. It was so hard to figure out a way to keep Joey and Seto in character with the fights they always have and get them together. Well partly together it was just one kiss, but my readers know me too well and know that puppyshipping will continue on in this story!

Yumi: Review!