A/N: This chapter, I will tell you, is significantly shorter than the last few, but it's not because I'm lazy...I'm just busy with stuff like graduation and all that fun jazz. I like to think that it's shortness is made up by content. I think there is a good divergance happening. Anyways, on with the story, yeah?

Chapter 9.

To Jou, the days that passed where it was just him seemed a lot more peaceful than the days where Kaiba was involved in his life. He could feel the cracks in his heart starting to heal, and his anger faded away. Kaiba became nothing more than a distant memory. The moments that were shared were nothing more than some dime store paperback novel that he could throw away and feel no remorse if he didn't finish the story.

He went back to work, and he went back to his life. He went back to the small apartment that he had managed to keep with the money that he made. If there was one good thing, it was Kaiba had enough kindness to actually make sure that the rent was paid on his apartment. He almost wanted to spit when he learned of that. How could Kaiba be like that? Be so unkind to his face but try and make up for that unkindness by playing the anonymous donor?

"Because that's all he's good at," Jou muttered to himself as he swept through the sparsely furnished place that he called home. Nothing had been touched; all was in its place. A thin layer of dust had collected over his things. All he could do was sit at the table and take in a deep breath, enjoying the smell of his own place contrary to the almost stark smell of Kaiba's manor.

Slowly he began unpacking his things, separating the dirty clothes from the clean. He separated the clothes from any other objects that he had brought with him, and he when he went through those objects, things like his toiletries, he found something at the bottom of his bag. A thin black book. He opened it up and groaned.

The planner.

"Fuck you!" he yelled out, and he slammed it shut. But it wasn't Kaiba's doing. He only had himself to blame for the foible.

He wasn't going back. He wasn't giving Kaiba the satisfaction of him coming back, even if it was only to return the stupid planner. He wasn't going to return it at all. If it was so vital to the CEO, then he would come to Jou's apartment and get it. But even then he wouldn't. Let Kaiba see just how he felt about all of this. He laid the planner on his dresser and let it sit there as a reminder.

Of what, he wasn't so sure.

There was no way that Mokuba was going to change his brother's mind. Having been used to getting up early and practically mimicking his brother's often hectic schedule when the elder Kaiba was still attending high school courses, he wasn't surprised that he got up the same time his brother did that morning after.

The elder Kaiba pretended that there was nothing wrong as he hoisted himself from the bed. Around him was the household aide, though in his usual fashion he refused to be touched. They were mostly there to make sure he wouldn't fall over as he got ready for his morning. Mokuba was standing in threshold's watching, waiting for that one weakness that he could play over his brother, something that could make him make Kaiba lie back down and rest.

The problem with Kaiba was his impeccable talent of being able to mask just about anything. Any weakness that Mokuba could have played over was taken away by this, and he could only watch as Kaiba dressed and stood back up, tottering to the point that it seemed like it was a part of him. He brushed by Mokuba with something of acknowledgement.

"Nii-sama…"

"Don't you have to get ready for school Moki?" Kaiba had a lasting exasperated tone about him. He sat at the kitchen table organizing his briefcase, but Mokuba could sense something greater.

There was an elephant in the room that neither could quite deny. Despite Kaiba's epiphany, there was little "happiness" in the household.

Mokuba sat across from his brother and touched his hand. "I know you're just wanting to keep yourself occupied, but do you have to go to the office? Can't you conduct this here or something? You're not better yet. You just had surgery you…"

Kaiba pulled his hand away. "Mokuba, I'm fine. I wouldn't do this if I wasn't fine."

"You always think you're fine. Remember that time you were real sick and keeled over in your office? You weren't fine then, but you said you were."

"That was once. I'm not sick this time, it's different."

"Yeah you are nii-sama. You had an infection that's still healing. And…"Mokuba lowered his head. How did he feel about his brother being gay? It was a little lackluster. He didn't think he would mind it if he found out. It was one of those scenarios that he played out in his head, but he never really thought that he would have to face the day. When he looked at his brother, there was something that was changed. Even if everything was the same, it was changed. "And you're sick in the heart; you're still getting over Jou…"

"I'm not getting over anything! It was a onetime thing and nothing more."

Mokuba took it as a cue to stand up. "You think you're so smart! Why don't you actually take the time to think about something other than business?"

Like a child, Mokuba ran away from the scene. If Kaiba could have gotten up quickly, he would have. Instead he just balled his fists on the table and muttered: "Fine…be that way."

Mokuba was still a child though, and he knew that. He brought his hand up to his face and massaged his temples, sighing. "Mokuba…"

It was time to leave. He hoisted himself back up and handed his briefcase off to a maid as he made his way to a car that had pulled out front of the house. For a moment he stopped and stared at the car. He had gotten in the car with Jou to go to see the therapist, and he had gotten in the car when he had to go to the hospital and come back again. Then it wasn't so frightening. The prospect of being a car was nothing but a small voiced fear in the back of his head. Now it was much more than that. He closed his eyes and nearly wanted to throw up. He could hear the glad shattering in his ears.

"Kaiba-sama?" The maid was in his line of vision.

"I'm fine."

The CEO urged her out of the way and made his way to the car, slipping in the back with no signs of hesitation. The car door was closed, and he crossed his arms over his chest and hunched his shoulders trying to stifle the feelings that were buzzing in his body. His eyes slithered over to the home, Mokuba's words still clinging to him. Mokuba was standing in the window looking lame, frowning. Kaiba raised his hand to wave good-bye. Mokuba turned away.

His shift was ending and he was on his way out. Jou slung his backpack over his shoulder and began out the front doors. As he came out he fiddled with the hem of his shirt. He had changed in the bathroom to something that looked a bit nicer. After fiddling with it, he decided to tuck the shirt in, and at that he wished that he had brought a belt along.

The reason for this primping? After nearly a week of getting back into his normal routine, he decided it was time to try and make himself move past the very awkward incident. Mai had given him her number so they could talk. Of course he wanted to do more than talk with Mai, but he would settle for a nice conversation over dinner. When he called her up and asked her, she danced around it before telling him that it would sound fun.

Jou stopped at his car and looking in the rearview mirror, his hand combing through the unruly blond hair. Why was he treating it like the junior prom? This was better than the junior prom, and far less formal.

He pulled his shirt out to hide the fact that he wasn't wearing a belt, and he gave up on his hair because, after work, it never seemed to like to cooperate so why even try. Mai was just going to have to deal with it.

He was unsurprised that when he arrived that Mai had already gotten their table. He weaved through the restaurant and sat down across from her. "Hi…"

"What are you so nervous about?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Yeah, kinda." She swished a straw around in drink she had gotten. "You know, usually it's the lady that's late."

"I ran a little late at work, sorry."

"You work as a nurse right?"

Jou nodded. "Yeah. I don't work in a hospital though."

"You're in a doctor's office?"

He shrugged. "Kinda. I work in a physical therapist's office. I mostly jus do paperwork stuff, but sometimes I get to work with patients."

"What made you want to do that?"

"I don't know. I jus…never really liked the idea of a hospital, ya know? They creep me out."

Mai laughed. "So you become a nurse even though you hate hospitals?"

"I don't hate 'em. They're jus weird is all." He looked up when the waiter came by. They both ordered something real quick. "'Sides, this way, my schedule is a whole helluva lot less hectic. But let's not talk about my job…kinda borin'."

"I doubt that." Mai leaned her cheek in her hand. "I know you don't want to talk about your job…but what's up with Kaiba?"

Jou lowered his head and shrugged. "I wouldn't know."

"I thought you were being his nurse for a little bit."

"I was when ya last saw me. Not now though…things went a little south."

Mai raised a brow. "Well, I mean, I didn't expect him to be that great in bed."

"It's not like that Mai," Jou's voice was sinking a little bit as he spoke. He thought he was containing the anger, but it seemed more like melancholy, at least as he talked to Mai. "You know how I was in it because of the whole…car wreck thing, legal shit? Well, he started talkin' ta his lawyer and…I guess he was tryin' ta hide it from me, I don't know, but I come to ta find out that I've been doin' all this fer him and I don't really hafta."

"So…he was punishing you before he even knew the verdict?"

"Exactly. Finally, someone who understands."

Mai smiled. "So what was it more like? Him setting you free like a bird or kicking you out of the house like a dog?" She knew full well what she was saying, that was why she said it. It made Jou smile the slightest bit, even if it was corny and overused. But then again, Jou knew he had those attributes. He was loyal, and sometimes he was a little too trusting.

"Neither. I left myself. Got all up in his face and everythin'. He dint say a word ta me either. 'Course, that's 'cause I told him not to or I would prosecute him."

"Harsh. Did he apologize?"

"No. Don't think he was going ta even try to either. Anyways, good riddance." He waved his hand and nodded. "Guess I came here ta tell ya what I wanted ta tell ya…"

Mai shrugged. "Well, the food's not here yet. We could wait for it. I'm sure we can drum up some kind of conversation." She was still stirring the drink, but she finally brought it up and took a drink of it. "So, you gonna find someone else?"

"What?"

"You know what I'm talking about. Are you going to hook up with someone else?"

"I don't know. I'm kinda confused right now, to be honest."

Mai sighed and leaned forward, her hand touching his. "I'm about the only one you've come out to, aren't I?"

"Yeah. Other than Kaiba. He ain't exactly the person I want ta know, but somethin' tells me he's in the same position. I mean, who would guess he was gay, ya know?" Jou realized that his malice was slipping away, at least as he spoke about Kaiba. No doubt if he tried to go around the man he would be about ready to explode, but at this distance, at a point where the only way they were near each other was in thought, it wasn't so bad. Not especially when he had Mai in front of him. She made a great distraction.

"A lot of gossip columnists. Words to live by sometimes. I mean, just look at his dress sometimes. Of course he's going to wear nice and expensive clothes, but leather pants were the eighties. They already thought he was metrosexual at least, gay at most. Of course, you've got the exclusive Jou. You could go and rat it out to all of the tabloids. Make up for his faux pas and get a little news coverage."

Jou scoffed. "That would be so low."

"And what, him making you be his little nurse wasn't? Hate to break it to you Jou, but what he did isn't exactly kosher. I totally understand however you feel about him, but you need to let those feelings go. Think about what he did to you. It's blackmail."

"I told him I wouldn't prosecute."

"No, you told him that if he didn't talk you wouldn't prosecute. But that was then, and it wasn't a binding or legal or anything? I'm not trying to make you do anything that you're uncomfortable with Jou. You don't have to do any of the legal stuff; it would get out of hand, but really?" She stopped and took a sip of her drink. By that time, as they were knee deep in conversation, the dinner had been brought out and they were eating almost mechanically as they spoke. "How much do you make in…say…a month?"

"What's that got ta do with anya this?"

"Just answer me Jou." He told her. "Got a feeling you don't have a lot left over after rent and bills, huh?"

"I've been putting it in a savins account. I'm bein' smart," he said. He could sense where she was going, and it was bringing just a bit of a smile to his face.

"I'm not saying that you have to. But just think of it like a…small advance. The money he owes you for working for him. Just go to a magazine or two. Don't make it too flashy, just something that would get the pot stirred and let the rest do its business. I'll go with you to the interview if they're interested."

"Mai…I don't know…that's really low."

"I'm just playing on a level field. C'mon, this is all just a game, and right now he has you by the balls for not saying anything. He left you with some feelings that you don't understand…this whole situation…"

"Is jus weird, I know. I jus keep thinkin' back to certain things and…it's hard to let them go. He was a bastard and all but…there were a coupla moments that I think were sincere. I'm still going over it all in my head. And then…I mean…I'm the guy who saved his life. Think about how that would look on me if I went and ratted him out."

"Think about how it would make him look if he punished the man who saved him."

Mai had an answer for everything. Every card he laid down was easily annulled, like she had a spell card waiting for him. And the more he listened to her, and the more he reasoned it out in his head, it wouldn't be so bad would it? She was right, he had been punished for being a good person.

Still, it was those moments. The few genuine kisses, the opportunity of holding his hand in comfort. He didn't know if the sex counted, but everything else seemed overwhelming, at least to him.

"I…I need ta think about it Mai."

"Don't think about it too long. The case is probably going to be heard shortly. The media will be drummed up for it, so it won't be like your just revealing it after the fact like most people do. You have to prove to them that this is legit, that you have a story and that it deserves to be told."

Jou pressed his face in his hands. "Seriously, jus let me think about it."

"Yeah sure," she nodded. "I'm not pushing you into this, I'm really not. I'm just trying to help you. I'm thinking about you Jou. You're my friend, aren't you?"

"Yeah," he nodded and looked to her. She was still as pretty as he remembered her, even more so. There was something that was so alluring. Maybe it was that determination that was spreading across her face at this moment. It was like when she was dueling, it was that fire that he liked…that same fire that sometimes annoyed him to no end. This was the kind of woman that he would want to be with. Strong, able to stand her ground, but at the same time could be endearing when it was most apparent.

"So, what's all new with you?" she asked, moving away from the subject of Kaiba. Jou shrugged and began to talk to her, also forgetting all that she said as he recollected some of the things that she had missed out on.

But it lingered in the back of his mind. He couldn't help it.

A/N: So, yeah, tell me. Do you think that he should do it or not? I want your feedback on this, because it could change my mind on what I'm thinking of doing.

And eventually it will get back to them, but we got to get around these fun plots first. Promise it will. So, till next time, KenSan out!