High maintenance friends can make posting take forever…that and I type slow…whatever right? Anywho here we are with an update, pauses to listen to your joy…moving on, about as long as the last chapter. On another happy note my Puppyshipping gallery has also been updated, some new Avatars have been added as well, enjoy. Remember to leave a review for this and any of my other ficcys you liked.
WarNinGs: Somewhat OOC, Set after Noah Arch but otherwise nothing special, Shounen-Ai duh hints this time ;), Swearing, NOT Beated.
Aishi Say
"Both hands, tied behind my back with nothingOh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall againWhy we gotta fall for it now"
From the song 'Battlefield' by Jordin Spraks. This song would work well for either Puppy or Pride Shipping since both are part fight part love. Try listening to this while you read, makes me think of the end.
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Jounouchi watched Shizuka as she talked with Kaiba; she was smiling so he was not worried about it. Kaiba was leaning against his fancy car arms crossed, the bags Shizuka had packed were very carefully being placed in the trunk, he was staying out of the way. Trunk closed so he moved closer catching Kaiba chuckle at his sister, "Will wonders never cease?"
"Very funny, I happen to like your sister," Kaiba looked up at the blonde smirking a little at his teasing.
"Everybody likes her, it's a rule," Jounouchi hugged his sister's shoulders. "What were you two talking about?"
"Just if I would stay too," Shizuka smiled, "and before you ask he has been a gentleman."
"He's not all bad, don't you say anything," Jounouchi warned as Kaiba smirked, "Ok let's go before the kid freaks."
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"Niisama?" Mokuba called when he heard the front door open, he knew Seto was going to be a little late since he was picking up Jounouchi.
"Hai? No, I am not talking to you baka." Kaiba smiled at his little brother when he appeared before him grinning, "You're awfully happy."
"Happy is good. Jounouchi, Shizuka!" Mokuba ran up to the pair grinning up at them, "Getting along?"
"Yeah so far, of course he's spent the last ten minutes yelling at the poor sap on the other end of the phone." Jounouchi shrugged, he did not know business terms or titles so what he had heard he did not really understand.
"Sounds like Niisama alright. Come on I'll see you two are fed then show you around." Mokuba glanced at his brother who was glaring absently at the other side of the room, muttering now and then, "Niisama remember to blink now and then alright?"
"mm hm," Kaiba murmured before sighing, "Stop talking. I don't care just shut up. Good boy. Put someone with a brain on."
"Is it alright to leave him here all alone?" Shizuka asked a little worried about Kaiba; he was not so bad once you got to know him.
"He'll be fine, this is normal," Mokuba smiled a little at the blinks, "Why do you think he is so good at yelling? Lots of practice, have fun Niisama."
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"I had no idea he would really offer you a job, I was just joking when I suggested it, but I'm glad he did." Mokuba smiled as Jounouchi closed the drawer his clothes put away, he was use to talking while someone else was busy.
"Say what?" Jounouchi asked turning, Kaiba had not mentioned his brother giving him the idea.
"I asked him why not ask one of you to watch me when he's going to busy for a while. I suggested you next, and after he chuckled he decided it was not a terrible idea. I thought he forgot all about it really," Mokuba had worried for a moment, but Seto had only been amused not annoyed.
"And why did you think of me kid? Too many dog jokes by your bro?" Jounouchi did not really mind if that was the reason, it was not like it was the kid called him a dog.
"I know he doesn't dislike you Jounouchi, not that he acts like it, but he kind of likes you and Yugi. Don't tell him I said anything, he'll just deny it and yell." Mokuba sighed bowing his head, "Sometimes I…I just wish he had lost."
Jounouchi sat down beside Mokuba, hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry kid, he's mellowed a bit since we all first meet him, we'll wear him down just you wait." Winking he grinned at the raven haired youth with eyes so like his brother's.
Mokuba looked up and smiled, Jounouchi might not be as smart or skilled as his brother but he was just as stubborn, if anyone besides Yugi could get close it would be him. He missed the youth his brother had been, the youth he was meant to be. "Thanks Jounouchi."
"Don't go getting attached when you know you can't keep him," Kaiba teased from where he was leaning in the doorway arms crossed.
Jounouchi jumped a little at Kaiba's sudden appearance, there had been no soft flutter since he was not wearing his duster. "Whatever. Ignore him kid, you can come see me any time."
Mokuba smiled hugging the blonde for a moment, he really was glad they had all met, even if it had not always been fun. "I know silly puppy. Anything wrong Niisama?"
"No, just making sure he hasn't chewed on anything, so far the house looks alright." Kaiba smirked at Jounouchi's annoyed expression, some things would never change. "Jounouchi, Mokuba."
"Night Niisama. Don't work all night!" Mokuba shook his head at his brother's chuckle, he probably would, but at least he was not all alone.
"Could at least pretend he wasn't gonna do that," Jounouchi half muttered crossing his arms, sometimes he wondered about the guy.
Mokuba smiled at the blonde knowing he didn't mean anything by it, "He hates lying to me. Good night Jounouchi and try not to worry, you're more for company then anything."
"Sweet kid," Jounouchi teased tousling his hair, he had a cute laugh, "go get some sleep so he doesn't freak."
"Thank you for always standing up to him," Mokuba smiled a little sadly before leaving Jounouchi alone with his thoughts.
Jounouchi blinked, opening his mouth but letting the kid go, he could always ask in the mourning if he still wanted to. Checking his phone he laid down still amazed he was here of all places, "I'll yell at him in the morning."
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"What do you mean he's at Kaiba's?" Mai, Otogi, and Honda each demanded together.
Yugi cringed under the demands of three very different, but equally demanding, voices, Anzu had heard all about it on the way there. "All he told me was he was going to be very busy, and Jounouchi said he's paying him to watch his little brother."
"He's been being very nice about it…sorry Mai," Shizuka looked down at her sandals, looking up when she felt a familiar presence, "Bakura!"
Bakura saw the wave and ducked through the crowd to meet them, "Sorry slept in. Is Jounouchi running late as well?"
"You could say that," Mai answered with a huff, she liked the pale youth but she was annoyed.
Shizuka took pity on the confused youth first, "Onichan is staying with Mokuba this weekend, it was very last minute."
Bakura nodded loosely tying his white mane back, "Pity, it has been a rather long time since we were all free… and not in mortal danger."
"Sorry for the snap there Bakura, you're a sweetie really, just disappointed." Mai smiled a little, she would be in town for a while, so it was not like she could not just see him later.
"Quite alright Mai. Have you heard from him?" Bakura knew someone had to have talked to him today, they all knew Kaiba and Jounouchi butted heads, and so would have worried.
"I called before I left, seems everything is fine if not strange," Yugi shrugged, story of a lot of his life since completing the Puzzle.
"I can call right now if you all want to say hello?" Shizuka offered pulling out her cell.
Otogi frowned crossing his arms, "It's not like Kaiba's going to kill him, well not physically…um what can That Rod thing do again?"
Mai rolled her eyes, always Items, this Items that Item, when did Kaiba get one anyway? Only Otogi seemed a little nervous so she decided that was for the drive, "Give him a call sweetie while we pack my trunk."
Shizuka nodded, "Alright," hitting a number she waited for her brother to pick up hoping there had not been any fighting.
"Sis?" Jounouchi asked since he knew her number, Yugi hadn't mentioned anything going wrong a few hours ago.
"Just calling to say Hi and all. We miss you Onichan," Shizuka pouted a little as Otogi and Honda worked on packing.
"I miss ya too, but we're all fine…well Kaiba might be dead I haven't seen him." Jounouchi shrugged not sure what he was doing, but sure it would confuse him.
"Don't joke like that Mokuba could hear you," Shizuka chided absently turning when Mai walked up to her taking the phone.
"Nah the kid knows his bro is fine, he's all smiles like a kid with a new puppy," It was sweet how friendly Mokuba was; proof Seto was not all bad.
"Well if he tries to fit you with a collar I would run," Mai liked the kid too; he was so damn cute how could you not?
"Mai! Hey…um sorry and all but I..," Jounouchi trailed off not sure what to say, let alone how to say it.
"Don't go going as white as Bakura over it, I will be in town for a few weeks so we can all hook up again later. So is Seto being nice?" Mai knew he hated being called that, but he was not there and she was irked at him.
"Mai don't call him Seto, only Shizuka and Yugi can now and then." Jounouchi was not sure why he felt compelled to remind her since he was not there, but he did.
"That man is so damn touchy," Mai muttered before sighing, "Look sweetie don't let him push you around, dogs bite." Turning Mai noticed the gumi around her car ignoring her, except for Shizuka, "Anyone else?"
Yugi held up his hand before taking the phone, "Jounouchi-kun?"
"Yug, you still worried or what?" Jounouchi was use to the fragile looking youth's habit of worrying, Kaiba found it annoying when directed at him, or so he acted.
"I trust you two to behave, and there is always Mokuba to see that you do." Yugi answered not all that concerned. Kaiba might growl now and then, but he would not have offered Jounouchi the job if he thought they would spend most of their time fighting.
"Like I told Sis I haven't seen him today, Mokuba is way happy though," Jounouchi smiled, liking him was as easy as liking his sister was, all too easy.
"He said busy, and if he did not mean it then he would not have hired you, he's very practical about business." Yugi was still not sure what he was up to but he was sure they would find out soon enough, a new toy most likely.
"Well yeah being a CEO and all will do that to ya. I'll let ya go, have fun and tell Mai sorry again for me?" Jounouchi really hated making her upset but he needed the money, and the kid needed him more than she did.
"I will do what I can; you may want to buy her a gift, that seems to help. Ja ne Jounouchi-kun," Yugi wished his three absent friends could be there, but there was always the next time.
"I'll look into that. Have fun little buddy," Hanging up he sighed leaning back in his chair, Mokuba was in his room but he was not sure if Kaiba was. 'Well I should make sure the other one is alright too…I'm not here just for the kid or a paycheck…am I?' Frowning he glanced at the door; he was worried about Kaiba but was he worried enough to risk his wrath? Getting to his feet he decided to find out if he was not in his room asleep.
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Seto Kaiba sighed as he leaned back hands covering his face, his vision was starting to blur a bit and he was not even threw half of what he wanted to get done that day, if it even still was. Groaning he cursed whatever kami covered paperwork, they were not his favorite just then. A hand on his shoulder made him jump before he turned around glaring only to blink. "Jounouchi?" Lowering his hand he just started at the wide eyed blonde for a moment before frowning, the blonde did not normally stare, "Is something wrong?"
Jounouchi peeked into Kaiba's office frowning at a sigh, slipping inside he walked up behind Kaiba as he groaned hands covering his face. Figuring whatever he had been reading had annoyed him in some way he touched his dark teal clad shoulder, jumping back when Kaiba turned glaring fist raised. Dark blue blinked at him as he lowered his fist relaxing, it seemed even out of it he knew Mokuba's touch from another's. At his question the blonde blinked unaware he had still been staring, half open lose teal was too normal looking still. "No, I was just wondering if you needed me."
Kaiba frowned at the blonde before turning back to his work; he was not use to others worrying about him. "I am afraid this all is beyond you. Your concern is appreciated though."
Jounouchi blinked when he did not say something condescending or snappish, and then something actually nice. He was not use to not fighting with Kaiba and so fidgeted a little. Dark eyes were on the screen, and he was pretty sure he could have stripped and gotten no reaction just then. "Careful there Kaiba, you just said something to me that wasn't an insult."
"I'm tired," Kaiba retorted turning back to the blonde smirking at his wide grin; a little harmless bantering was often amusing. "Why are you still here exactly?"
"You didn't exactly dismiss me yet," Jounouchi answered walking up beside him, truth be told he did not want to leave him alone. That groan had gotten his attention and he was not only worried, less so now then when he had entered. 'He looks good in all shades of blue…teal is blue right? Wait what?'
Kaiba arched a brow at him with an amused smirk, turning to fully face the blonde before crossing his arms, "Is that so?" The blonde nodded but said nothing; he seemed distracted all of a sudden, "Dismissed then. I do have work to do, and I am not paying you to watch me." 'Something is bothering him but I do have work…k'so this is why friendship is so distracting.' "Unless you are that worried about me."
Jounouchi looked up when Kaiba turned back to his work, he was not sure if he wanted him to go or stay, and he was not sure which he wanted either. Biting his lip he took another step forward but Kaiba did not turn, "I'm only worried you'll break the keyboard with your face, ouch."
Kaiba chuckled; it was not the first time he had been teased about that, "I assure you that has yet to happen. Sit if you wish, but I really do need to finish what I was doing." Nodding to the chair on the other side of his desk he sat back down.
Jounouchi smiled at the amused chuckle, it was nice hearing it and it not being mean sounding. Glancing at the other chair he swung it around before sitting, "Fools not liking your new toy?"
"Something like that actually, how is Mokuba?" Kaiba asked as he typed not looking at the blonde, talking to him was bad enough.
"Kid's fine, wanted to work on his deck alone, I think he wants to duel me later seein' as I'm a finalist and all." Jounouchi watched graceful fingers move and wondered how he could type that fast and not look down, techies.
"Likely," Kaiba answered absently before risking a glance at the blonde, closing his eyes he sighed, "I did say I would be busy."
"I know I just…all those words in one day, that can't be too good for a person," Jounouchi tried to smile but Kaiba's arch brow made it hard. "I don't mean to be a bother."
"If you were that much of a bother I would kick you personally out the door, you all worry too much." Kaiba saved his work since he could not remember when he last had, "You'll have Bakura's hair by 20."
"I think you'd be cute with white hair, I am always cute so all good," Jounouchi blushed a little at Kaiba's smile, more than happy he was still focused on those words he had mentioned.
"Ah-huh, too much sugar for you," Kaiba informed him hitting a button on his phone, "Rolan is Sukiyuna there?"
"Yes sir…is there a problem?" Rolan asked from his desk frowning, his boss did not sound happy.
"Put her on then," Kaiba frowned taking a breath as the line switch, "incompetent fool."
"Kaiba-san I can...," Sukiyuna started sounding worried for her job.
"There is no excuse I will accept for this kind of work. Do you want to kill someone, or were you simply too lazy to check your work before sending to me?" Kaiba growled not liking the simulation he had just run. The VR technology was dangerous enough when not used correctly, now that it was a self-contained system, it did not need help.
Sukiyuna swallowed, "Sir I just noticed the fed back loop error this morning, my underlings assured me…"
"Then why was not informed of it then? It is your responsibility to check the work done by your subroutines, so should I fire you or your team?" Annoyance aside this lab tech had one chance left to save herself, he was unsure if she would or not.
Sukiyuna bowed her head, "I should have checked, the blame is mine sir."
Kaiba nodded, "Forgiven this time. If it happens again you will need a new job not a new team." Pushing a button he cut off anything she was about to say, "Sukiyuna's team is incompetent, fire them all and send any worthy applications to me."
"Of course sir. Is there anything else?" Rolan asked as he looked up the members of Sukiyuna's team so he could fire the right people.
"No," Hanging up Kaiba sighed before rubbing his right hand, "baka."
"Hand hurt?" Jounouchi asked not wanting to know what the team had done that had made him that mad, killing people was a big flaw and worried him.
"Hm? Oh…yeah starting to cramp a bit, it happens from time to time," Kaiba dismissed as he began typing in simulation tests for the correction he had made with his left hand. Blinking he looked down when he felt Jounouchi take his right hand in his, "What are you doing?"
"Relax, you'll get use to it in a minute," Jounouchi assured him as he began to massage the aching hand; he knew a thing or two about swore and stiff. He felt dark eyes on him but Kaiba did not protest or try and pull away so he continued, his hand was warm and he liked the feel of it.
Kaiba frowned at the blonde ready to pull his hand back and kick him out, he was being too distracting but he froze. The blonde's touch was warm and he quickly forgot his hand had been hurting him just a moment ago. Starring at the other's slowly moving fingers he swallowed before shaking his head, his mind went to the strangest places when it was tired. "Jounouchi…"
Jounouchi looked up from his work biting his lip a little at closed eyes and slightly parted lips, patting Kaiba's hand he released it. "There good as new…you Ok there Kaiba?"
Kaiba open his eyes with a blink before flexing his hand, the blonde knew what he was doing at least, "I'm fine. Thank you Jounouchi."
Jounouchi smiled rubbing the back of his head, "Aw it was nothin' Kaiba. I think you need a break though man, have you eaten anything since breakfast?"
Frowning in thought Kaiba absently rubbed his hand, "No," glancing at his screen he smirked a little when the problem seemed to be fixed. A few more tests and he would have a new prototype system ready for a sim check. "A short break will not matter in the long run. "
Jounouchi stood when Kaiba did watching his type a few more things before nodding to himself, "You go get some coffee, I'll see if the kid is ready to duel."
"Jounouchi?" Kaiba called stopping the blonde in his tracks as he walked up behind him.
"Yeah?" Jounouchi asked sensing Kaiba behind him, not sure what he wanted but too curious to keep walking out.
"If you need anything ask," Walking past him he paused to see if he would before walking away.
Jounouchi let a held breath out leaning against the door frame, "Oh boy."
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Sadly we are at the end now, well that didn't take very long huh? Be sure to share your thoughts on this and my other works now. Ja ne minna.