Vector

Jou saw no end in sight.
It seemed as if the two boys would never get along, no matter how much
they respected each other. Logically,
Jounouchi and Kaiba would have been good friends. Both had suffered through a difficult childhood and could provide
some type of comfort or mental support.
Both were familiar with hiding their feelings for the greater good-- Jou
acting tough so as not to worry his friends, and Kaiba being emotionless so as
to be a better businessman. Most
importantly, both had younger siblings who they would give anything to protect,
though Kaiba’s mind had to be “fixed” by Yugi before he realized his brother’s
significance.

Such similarities are sure signs of a compatible
relationship; however, another factor has to be calculated into the equation:
pride. Jounouchi and Kaiba were both so
arrogant that neither would ever yield to the other. This pride was a commonality, a simple fact of life.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> As long as they valued themselves and their
reputations, friendship was impossible.

So what about this chance Jou was willing to take?style="mso-spacerun: yes"> What could possibly possess him to suppress
his pride and try to start a platonic relationship with Kaiba?

That damn high paying job at Kaiba Corp.

Everyone knew that Jou was always broke.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Yet as the summer months approached, so did
summer vacation. Jou’s friends thought
a camping trip would be a perfect opening to the freedom of summer.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> However, Jou could not afford to pay the log
cabin fee. So, he was forced to find a
temporary job, one that paid high and was easily expendable.

Thus it came to be that Jou refused to fight Kaiba at
all. Needless to say, both were
extremely annoyed at the situation. Jou
could hardly maintain his temper as he had to endure Kaiba’s demeaning comments
and offer a peaceful smile in return.
Kaiba barely held back a frustrated snarl every time, upset that he
could no longer irritate and fluster Jou.

They became unnerved and began to avoid each other.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Kaiba was seriously disturbed by Jou’s
smile. No matter what was said, Jou would simply grin and say, “I don’t wanna
argue, Kaiba. I think you’re a really
good person inside, and I don’t wanna fight with someone who might become my
friend.” Then he’d walk off, leaving a
stunned and silently fuming Kaiba. Who
knew that phony ignorance and mock innocence was Kaiba’s weak point?style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Clearly, the young CEO obtained everything
he wanted by outsmarting his opponent; but how do you outdo someone who refuses
to accept the challenge?

Jou, too, faced difficulties with his actions.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> He often remembered his words from his fight
with his old gang leader Hirutani.

“You done?” Jou sneered after Hirutani’s men paused in
his beating. The pain wasn’t his main
concern; revenge was far more important.
“Lemme tell you, I’ve got a good memory. You know I hold a grudge.
I’m gonna pay you back double!”

What was he to
do? He had a reputation for vengeance,
but since his time in that gang, he had made some great friends.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> They had taught him to calm his temper and
lessened his need to be so vindictive.
So which was more essential to him, his friends or his social status?

Each boy fought his own personal demons, warring with
himself to find answers that did not come easily. Had they stayed on this path, it is certain that one would have
snapped and killed the other.
Fortunately— or perhaps unfortunately—Jou made the first move.