A/N: It's been more than a while. And I have no excuse. I should write more. Guess that's just how it goes. I want to be more on time but I'm not. Thank you guys for holding on, whoever has. I really appreciate it. I will see this story through until the end, I promise. Anyways, onward.

Chapter 23.

It never really occurred to Kaiba that there was anything different going on in his own home. There was something comforting about the silence when no one else was around. Since Jou had been there, however, that silence had most certainly dulled, and he was used to the padding of feet and the blond's loud voice as it reverberated through the halls.

When he was home late, he realized that there was no noise. No help, no Jou, no Mokuba. At some point, he was at the very least curious. It wasn't like Mokuba to not tell him where he went—he figured if Mokuba had the ability to contact him, he would, considering the things that had just happened recently.

And moreover, he wasn't pleased that he hadn't heard anything from Jou either. The night before was less than appealing and Kaiba realized (though he wouldn't say it aloud) that he'd made something of a mistake. Or rather, his body had made a mistake and he coiled and deflected as best he could. The feeling of Jou's tongue pressed against him made him shudder, and at the same time, it made him feel cold and wrong.

Kaiba closed his eyes and breathed, slow and steady, to let the images pass before he stood up and went into the empty, and almost darkened, kitchen. The sun was trying to set, stuck up in the sky like the trees were interfering with its descent. For a moment, Kaiba thought about how symbolic it seemed to be. That the sun would take its time to set, never straying from its path and not letting anything stop it from continuing it cycle. Other things depended on it, after all. It couldn't stop. After those moments, Kaiba shook his head, thinking how ridiculous that idea was. But it didn't quite leave his mind. He went back into the living room and grabbed his cell phone, dialing.

He listened to the ringing, every now and then gazing towards the door as if someone was going to dramatically walk through it. When they didn't, and the call went to Mokuba's voicemail, Kaiba sat down and tried to keep his blood pressure from rising. Everything was going to be okay. He began calling Jou instead.

As it rang, he thought about how he didn't really want to talk to Jou. Whether it was embarrassment or haughtiness , his chest tightened and he prepped himself when he heard:

"Moshi moshi."

Mokuba's phone was abandoned on a nearby table, the noise it buzzing drowned out by music and lively chatter. The group was falling back into the past, Duel Monster cards strewn across a tabletop. It had been so long since they even allowed themselves the freedom.

From afar, Mai smiled and watched Jou and Mokuba in particular. This night was a good idea—food, friends, a few drinks—why not? She was seeing Mokuba smile so wide it was like his face was ready to rip open. And Jou was spending the time catching up on old times, his feet sinking into the place as though it were cement. She didn't doubt that she would have a hard time pulling him from it later on.

Then she watched Jou walk away from the match between Mokuba and Anzu. No one really noticed as he went closer to a corner and took a call. Mai moved in nearer, leaning against one of the chairs and keeping her ear towards Jou.

"Nah, it's okay. He's right here," Jou paused. Mai could only guess that it was Kaiba. "He's playin' a game right now. Musta left his phone in the other room. Need ta talk to 'em?" Again, a pause. "Alright—yeah, no he'll be okay. I'll make sure he don't get in any trouble."

There was something about Jou's voice that seemed off-putting. At least, that was what Mai thought. Something was cold and bristly about him. It made her forgo her hopes that Jou would invite Kaiba instead. Maybe there were problems at home—that seemed to make the most sense.

"Hey…everythin' okay there?"

Well, maybe she would find out. As the game went on, Mai tried to keep her eyes focused to the moves and even readjusted where she stood, but still she was listening.

"Yeah we'll be home eventually, I guess. Whenever Mokuba gets bored…kinda a group thing."

Inwardly, Mai wondered how much Kaiba was scorning the group. Or did he even think that mattered anymore? Especially since it was them that he had turned to in order to keep Mokuba in safe hands.

"Come if ya want," said Jou, exasperated. Mai smiled; it worked like a charm. "Jus' don't complain if ya get bored, a'right?"

Shortly after, they said their good-byes and Jou tucked his phone in his coat pocket. He walked over to the match like nothing happened, and he sat down next to Mokuba, slowly integrating himself into the conversation like he hadn't left in the first place.

Mai put her hand on his shoulder after a while, offering him a beer. She could see where the blond's eyes were transfixed on the door. He was waiting for the lights of Kaiba's car to shine through the windows. He took the beer and thanked her. Between the two of them, there was plenty of apprehension in the room, though it had gone unnoticed as Anzu narrowly won out against Mokuba. They shared lament, and Jou switched seats with Mokuba. He pulled out his deck, and he and Anzu switched decks, shuffling briefly, before returning it to each other.

Mokuba leaned up against the table, his eyes starting to get heavy. He looked to Jou, who was stopping frequently to turn around and bat at Honda, or to talk to whoever was egging him on. His eyes would drift to the windows, waiting, and then he would lay down a card.

"We should probably get going soon," said Mokuba. Jou didn't respond, laying down a trap card and waiting for Anzu to make a decision.

"Yeah, prob'ly. Any longer and Mai might get me drunk."

"You haven't drank that much," Mokuba commented.

Jou shrugged. "Not my thing."

Mokuba smiled, weary, but perked up. He wasn't the only one that noticed the lights pulling into the parking lot of the Kame Game Shop. Yugi was the one to stand.

"I'll tell them that the shop's closed."

"Nah, Yug'…"Jou stood up. "I got this."

Anzu was miffed. "Sit back down. We're not done."

Jou wasn't listening, and he drifted over to the door, opening it. The engine had been killed and the lights were off. It made it hard to see if there was someone even inside, but Jou recognized the car. It was Kaiba's. The blond waited at the threshold and held his breath until his chest hurt. He talked to Kaiba nearly every day, and had been with him for some time. He'd practically gone to jail for him—but each and every moment was a fight within himself. Some people were untrainable.

The door swung open, and a crutch came out first, then a leg, planting itself. Why did this feel like slow motion? Jou took a deep breath and swallowed his stomach, forcing himself to go out towards Kaiba. He was using one crutch, though Jou could see the second in the backseat.

"Didn't expect you to show." Jou said. Kaiba was quiet, closing the door. He was still trying to gain footing. "Your ankle ain't botherin' you is it?"

"I'm fine." He replied. Even in the two words, Jou could hear a quiver.

"You sure? You don't sound okay."

"I'm alright, pup," said Kaiba. "I'm not used to driving yet."

Something dawned on Jou. "Ya…haven't drove since the accident have ya?"

"Very astute," Kaiba said. He had straightened out his back, and his chin was lifted. There was confidence in him, possibly hiding a bit of fear that was tingling in his spine, but even if it was it didn't show. He leaned close to Jou. "Have you been drinking?"

"Not much, no. Mai offered."

"What a surprise."

"Hey, it's a get together. Excuse to unwind and do stupid things." It was a simple enough conversation, yet Kaiba could see where they were teetering on the edge of argument from the night before. They stood just close enough together that it felt natural, yet they weren't near as close to each other as Jou had hoped. After all the talk about being public, Jou expected something a bit more dramatic. Not that night time in a game shop parking lot was necessarily 'public'.

"You're not driving Mokuba home like that, are you?"

"I think the right answer here is no," Jou joked.

Kaiba snorted, and he started tottering towards the game shop. After a few seconds, Jou caught up. "You coming back or what!" Anzu called. "I'm just about to beat you, too!"

"In your dreams!" Jou called back. He was snickering. "We've been playin' Duel Monsters. I don't guess ya brought a deck?"

"No."

"Aw well. Mokuba's been wantin' ta leave here soon."

Kaiba nodded, and he walked into the home, half expecting that he was going to be barred by the group. He took inventory of the group that was in front of him. Their eyes were on him for only moments, but then they turned away. That didn't break the silence. They were all searching for words, yet none could seem to be found. Mokuba went over and helped his brother shrug off his coat, hanging it up just behind. They exchanged a few words, hushed, and the ears of the group strained to listen while they hid their mouths behind the lips of cups and bottles.

"You can all stop staring now."

Jou snorted and sat back down across from Anzu. He picked up his cards and played a monster. He kept watching Kaiba out of the corner of his eye. It wasn't necessarily that Kaiba was socially awkward. He could handle himself around people—just not these people. Not all of them at once.

The younger Kaiba offered the elder his seat next to Jou, and at first Kaiba was reluctant, but took it for the sake of getting pressure off his sore ankle. Mokuba stood behind his brother. The brunet crossed his arms and watched the match like he was a tournament judge. The quiet broke with small conversation.

Jou turned the tides in the game, and Anzu did her best to defend as Jou destroyed her defenses, dropping her life points in large chunks. Yugi had started a game against Mai in the meanwhile, letting other float towards that match instead. The air around Jou's table had gone cold without so many bodies. Kaiba tightened his grip on himself and readjusted.

When Jou won, he reached over, searching for a hand to latch onto. The brunet had them tucked in the crook of his arms, and he played like he didn't know what Jou was trying to do. The blond shot him a dirty look, but inside was wilting even more. It didn't even make him angry, just sad. He was giving Kaiba the kind of opportunity that he wanted—he was compromising to the best of his abilities, just like Mai had suggested—but it was proving to be useless.

"We should go, since…ya know…Mokuba is ready and all." Kaiba said nothing, unfolding his arms and looking around at the sound of someone going down the stairs. It grabbed Jou's attention. "Look who decided ta join the party."

Yami smiled at Jou's comment, diverting and going towards the group. "Yami's been working on something," Yugi said. "I can hardly get him down here anymore."

"I was heading out," Yami replied.

Kaiba wasn't sure whether he wanted to look towards Yami or look away. The man's deep eyes seemed to pierce Kaiba at this moment. It wasn't as if Kaiba was completely unaware of the situation that was at hand. He had a good opportunity with Jou. This was probably the first time that they had been out, together, without either really contesting it.

"Why dontcha sit with us a while?" Jou asked. "This is a get together we ain't had in a while."

Kaiba and Yami locked eyes for just long enough, and the brunet straightened his back and tried to let his pride swell. He then looked to the nurse beside him, thinking about how this group knew of their relationship, but maybe it didn't seem so definitive. They were the ultimate odd couple, and even now the air around them felt frigid. The fight still lingered between them. Kaiba could still feel where the bed had gone cold after Jou stormed out. It took him some time to let go of the thoughts. By that time, it was too late to try and call Joy back.

Then, a feeling welled up in Kaiba's chest. His heart hurt, and his stomach churned. He wasn't sure if his body was reacting to romance or fear. Maybe it was a sickening mix of both.

His hand reached out, and he took Jou's hand, leaning in. Jou flinched at the closeness. "What?"

"Follow the leader." Kaiba commanded. The nurse raised a brow.

Kaiba got up, and Jou didn't know whether to follow him or stay seated. There could only be so many things that Kaiba had up his sleeve. "I knew I shouldn't have come." He said, and it was loud enough for the room to here. The chatter quieted by several decibels. Swallowing, Jou could feel the spotlight on him. He didn't need even that much. The words were enough to illicit the response:

"What the hell's that s'pose to mean?"

"I mean, I thought I was coming to get Mokuba. I didn't know I had to take a drunkard, too."

"I am not drunk!" That got Jou up out of his seat.

It was Mai who was freaking out first. Yeah, Kaiba never got along with anyone all that well, she didn't expect him and Jou to get into a fight in the middle of the game shop. She stepped away from the game and got closer to the pair. They were separated by a table's width. Kaiba was smirking.

"I am not, an' you fuckin' know it!" Jou had to keep himself calm, because this was some kind of charade Kaiba had concocted.

"I wouldn't trust you to walk to the car."

"Ya want me ta prove it, asshole?"

Yugi got up as well and brushed by Mai, getting between the two. Jou had moved beyond the table, his hand resting on the corner but get close to Kaiba. "Please, guys, don't fight. This is supposed to be a fun night…uh…"Yugi looked to Kaiba sheepishly. "Kaiba, why don't you sit down? Take some pressure off your leg…"

"Be my guest," Kaiba offered. He took a few steps back, which Jou watched with joy welling in his chest. Kaiba was getting a lot better at some of the fine motions in his leg. "Walk to me, mutt. Try not to trip on air."

"Why I outta—!"

Yugi turned to Jou and pressed the palms of his hands into Jou's chest. "Please, Jou. Don't let him get to you. Let's all just…calm down."

Mai held firm in her place, looking at her shoulder to the group gathered behind. They were all caught in rapt fascination to do anything about the encounter. It was, after all, classic Jou and Kaiba. The evening's main event—or so they were making it.

Jou pressed beyond Yugi and stood so close to Kaiba. They were sharing personal space, able to look eye to eye and barely a breath away from punching each other. Kaiba's free hand was loose at his side, however, and while Jou had his fists clenched, he wasn't half as menacing as he could get. And when it came to Kaiba, there was something of a bare-it-all look. Maybe it was maturity rising in Jou, but Mai and Yami were catching on first. And while Mai took inventory of the people in the room, Yami was trying to keep stoic and not let on the little smirk rising on his face.

"Go on," Kaiba whispered. "I'll give you the punch."

"I wouldn't punch a cripple," Jou said, but his hands went up, and he grabbed the back of Kaiba's head like it felt right. It may have looked like the prep for a head butt, and that was perhaps what had crossed Honda's mind before anyone else's. It was Kaiba's final, sealing blow of kissing Jou that seemed to change the air in the room.

The tension dropped, and the room simmered into a low buzz. Anzu, despite knowing the truth, covered her mouth to hide a smile. Honda's jaw dropped, and he jutted forward without any words. Yugi, surprised, looked between the two before letting a smile arise, and Mai put her hands together, clapping softly. It was Yami who didn't seem to mind so much. He started out of the room as if he were never there in the first place. There was a cryptic little smile. No one would know it, but he was pleased. The group hadn't even noticed his departure.

"Nii-sama…"

Kaiba was lost in the moment. His forehead pressed against Jou's, and the sweat mixed. His eyes were closed, his heart in a normal rhythm, and his lips were forming into a thin smile. Jou had his eyes open enough the face of pure pleasure.

It lasted for only a moment; it was a moment that Jou wish he could just take out of life and hit the pause button on. So he could step out of the moment, be on the outside looking in. He watched Kaiba's hands drop and frame around his body, like some kind of odd hug.

"I don't have gloves," Jou whispered.

Kaiba opened his eyes, and while the smile faded, something else lingered. His gaze stayed centered on Jou, as if he were wary of the rest of the room. Their eyes were targeted on him, but when Kaiba went to look at them, he turned his sights of Mokuba. If there was anyone else in the room that mattered, it was Mokuba.

The younger Kaiba was perhaps the most perplexed by the situation. It gave Kaiba no faith in his action—not immediately. He knew that Mokuba had seen him kiss Jou, but that was a more dire situation than now. Now, it was sensual. And with their audience held captive for a fight, it was a deceptive sensuality not unlike what they experienced in the bedroom. One kiss didn't change the fact that they had things to talk about. It didn't change the fact that they were probably still mad at each other, but it was surprise of the moment that pulled them together, that created a sealed bond, and moreover, Kaiba felt like he had told people what he was.

"Jounouchi Katsuya," Kaiba began. The use of his full name perked up Jou's ears. "Despite our differences and our…arguments… I do hold a great amount of appreciation for you, for what has changed over these long months. I just wanted you to know that despite what is going to happen in the future, that appreciation will hold, and will be reciprocated."

It took Jou a second. Those were perhaps the most well-thought out and most rational words that Kaiba had spoken in a while. It reminded him of Kaiba sharing the PR agent's number in his pseudo-apology and first admittance of affection. Except now they seemed to mean so much more.

"Kaib'," Jou sighed. "I love ya, too."

And it seemed okay. The words settled like dust on mantle. Kaiba readjusted in his place, making it more comfortable on his ankle. He leaned up against a chair and invited himself to sit down.

"Alright, guys, I think the show's over with," Jou said. "Let's get on with this shit, c'mon. We ain't leavin' yet."

Mai and Yugi, in their shared okay, sat down and began their game up again while Mokuba sat down across from Jou. "A'right Mokuba. Let's see what ya got."

They played into the night, sharing adventures of the past while playing round after round until it devolved into arguments about the newer generation of players and cards. A game of dungeons and dragons was suggested, Yugi's failed attempt at trying to pull Kaiba into the festivities. He politely declined on most of their efforts, interesting himself in something on his phone or simple conversation.

It wasn't until Jou perked up and asked: "Hey, where'd Honda go?" that the group looked around. They started checking around the house, to no avail.

"I hope he didn't leave," Anzu said, walking back into the living room. "He drove me here."

"Eh, he can't have gone far," Jou said, and he was the first to peek outside. Jou tucked his hands in his pockets and went out into the parking lot, seeing the lights of the radio glowing inside one of the cars. There was an outline that Jou couldn't help but mistake for Honda. Others lingered with the door cracked. Jou got to the car and rapped on the window. When Honda stirred, Jou made a crank motion. Honda rolled down the window.

"Hey, man, what's going' on?"

"Nothing," Honda replied. "Just waiting for Anzu."

"You can wait inside. We're all kinda havin' a party in here."

"No, it's fine. Not really having much fun."

"C'mon, don't tell me that. When's the last time we all got together like this?" But even without saying a word, Jou could guess what this was about. Honda didn't answer the last question, just let it hang awkwardly. "Is this about Kaiba?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Honda, man, c'mon," Jou said, his temper flaring already. "Don't do this."

"Look, you guys can be happy; I'm staying out of it."

Jou rolled his eyes. "I would think my friend would be feelin' kinda happy fer me in there."

Honda shrugged his shoulders and crossed his arms. His head leaned against the headrest, and he had tried to end the conversation right there. Jou wasn't having in. "Look, if ya don't like it, that's you okay? But don't make everyone else feel like crap."

"No one else cares that I left," Honda said. "And I bet I'm not the only one that feels like this; I'm just the only one that doesn't mind tellin' you about it."

"Sorry that I let ya down then," Jou said. "I mean, I didn't think I had ta follow your standards."

"No, Jou, that's not it. You've changed," Honda opened the car door and got out. "You used to hate Kaiba. He was the enemy, he was the asshole. Yeah, sure he helped out now and then, but that didn't make him any less of a douchebag. Before all this started, you wouldn't have looked at him for nothing."

"Yeah well, people change."

"'People change'? Jou, this isn't changing. This is lying, okay? You're lying to yourself. He's gotten to you."

"What the fuck is your problem, man?" Jou got close to his friend. "I ain't changed for shit. That in there, that's what the fuck happens on a daily basis, I jus' happen to not mind it."

Honda sneered. "Whatever happened to being normal?" he asked. "Didn't we used to chase down chicks? Huh? Or am I not remembering that right."

"I didn't tell you," Jou said. He was hoping this was going to be a heart-to-heart with his friend. "I didn't tell anyone, a'right? Not even Shizuka. I didn't know."

"Well thanks for the heads-up before you start kissing him right in front of us," Honda said, a finger pointed at Jou. "Which, by the way, was disgusting."

"Fuck off!" Jou seethed. So much for the heart-to-heart. "I can do whatever the hell I want, an' if ya don't like it, that's your problem."

Knuckles flung in his face before he could react. It turned Jou around, and he touched his cheek in surprise. When he looked back at his friend, Honda had his fists clenched and had planted his ground like he was expecting a fight. Instead, Jou spit on the ground, not sure if the saliva had blood in it or not, and he turned to walk back into the house.

The group backed away from the door, and it was only Kaiba who hadn't gathered close enough to get a good look. "Sorry, Yug'. I gotta go."

"Jou…"

"Look, I jus' need ta get going before all this bullshit gets out of hand."

Kaiba had turned away from the situation and stood up. "I should have known this would happen," said Kaiba. He shook his head and went to grab his coat. Mokuba gave him a hand pulling it on. Jou was waiting by the door and looking at the tips of his shoes. Although Mokuba had seen it, he couldn't believe it. At first, he was wary of his brother being with another man. He hadn't thought about how aggressive others could get—or how impactful it was to see Jou's dejected face. No one else really noticed, but the blond was hiding tears.

A/N: And that's what I've got. A cliffhanger, some more feels, a few more arguments. I haven't set up a definite end. It will end eventually. Thank you so much for reading. It really does mean a lot. You guys are awesome readers.

I gotta say, I think I added this conflict in because I don't see that a lot. It seems like it is well established that everyone is okay with homosexuality, and that's just not how the words works. I'm realistic. So yeah. :) that's that.

Til next time, KenSan out!