Tied Together

Big thank you's to KiraRaven, Dragonheart90 & frazzle for the nice reviews. Really cheered me up after my failed attempt at getting a new job.

So here's the next chapter for you.

Enjoy


“So man what the hell happened?” Tristan asked when class was over. The gang was hanging back in the room during break, accompanied by a subdued Kaiba who really had no choice but to remain behind too as Joey was not going to give up seeing his friends just cos Kaiba was an unsocial jackass. This initially caused a bit of a heated debate, which is putting it lightly, between the two. Kaiba only conceded if he could sit as far away as the chain allowed and that the friendship squad would leave him alone. This suited Joey as well seeing as he never liked talking to the brunette and would prefer to just ignore him, even if it didn't always work out that way.

“It’s that new student counsellor.” Jou explained examining the handcuff around his wrist. "This is supposed to stop us fighting."

“How’s that gonna work?” Tristan questioned confused. “You’re gonna be around each other all the time.”

“I’m guessing that’s the point Tristan.” Tea said.

“When do you have them taken off?” Yugi asked.

“End of the day. We both have to go back and see her.” The more he thought about it the more he did not like this at all. A whole school day with Kaiba. It just wasn’t fair. Why was this happening to him? The rumours were right, that new therapist was a wacko. “Arg! This is gonna be the worst day ever.” Joey vented suddenly, head in hands.

“Oh please, I think I have it far worst then you Wheeler. Not only do I have to put up with your idiocy but that of your friends as well.” Joey lifted his head to see Kaiba in his seat a few desk, still reading like he had all through break.

“No one asked you Rich Boy! We have to leave you alone so kindly return the favour.”

“I was merely trying to offer you some perspective.” Kaiba lowered his book, switching his attention from it to the steadily fuming blond before him.

“Well no one asked you to. So just keep it to yourself.”

“Seriously Wheeler you get worked up over the simplest little things.”

“I am not worked up!” Joey said heatedly raising from his chair.

“You see this is why we’ve ended up like this. It’s because you can’t keep your temper under control and stop barking.”

“Ah that did it! You and your damn dog jokes, you’re nothing but an arrogant prick!”

“You want to say that again Mutt.” Kaiba threatened as he too stood up to face Joey.

“Yeah as many times as you want you arrogant prick!”

“Alright you two calm down.” Jumped in Tristan, quickly grabbing Joey and restraining him from attacking Kaiba. Meanwhile Yugi and Tea sweat dropped watching the trio go at it for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“This is never gonna work is it?” Tea said.

“Nope.” Yugi replied being forced to agree.

The rest of the day didn’t go any better, neither Joey nor Kaiba missed an opportunity to snap at the other. It seemed that each had taken to pulling on the chain when the other was using his hand for something, Joey during class when Kaiba was trying to write notes and Kaiba during lunch when Joey was trying to eat. So it was with no surprise that Ohana found them in a bit of a state when they returned to the office at the end of the day.

“Ah I see your day went well then.” She said removing the handcuffs. “But nothing ever goes smoothly at first we just have to work at it.”

“At first? What do you mean “at first”?” Joey didn’t like this. It couldn’t be what it sounded like.

“Well what I mean is that you’ll be returning here tomorrow morning so we can do this all over again.” OK, it could.

“You can’t be serious!” Kaiba snapped. “I’m not doing this again.”

“Oh I’m very serious. We will continue to do this until you two learn to get along or at the very least to be civil to one another. Anyway…” Ohana picked up her bag and putting it over her shoulder. “…I’m sure it’s been a long day for you and I want to get the hell out of here too, so I’ll see you tomorrow morning, bright and early!”

So it was that the two teens were back in the councillor’s office the next day, in no better mood than they were when she left them yesterday. Haunted by the prospect of being stuck together for what looked like the foreseeable future.

“Do I really have to be submitted to this?” Kaiba asked. Joey thought he was wasting his time. It was already pretty obvious what the answer would be.

“Absolutely.” Ohana replied, handcuffs already in her hands. “I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think it would have an effect.”

“So just how is this supposed to work?” Joey said watching her put the cuffs on them.

“Oh that’s right, I haven’t really explained anything I have.” She moved back after she had finished. “You see, what the chain is doing is forcing your proximity which in turn means you have to think about each other, you know, learn how to compromise.”

“And how long is that gonna take?”

“Well that’s really up to the pair of you isn’t it? If you don’t want to be like this for long then I suggest you stop being so stubborn and start acting like adults.” Ohana took her seat behind her desk. “Now I would also like to see the two of you for…um…sessions…I guess we’ll have to call them. These will happen twice a week when you normally have gym.”

“Huh…why gym?” asked Joey.

“Because it’s one of the few lessons I can pull you two from without it affecting your grades as you Mr Wheeler do quite well at it and Mr Kaiba is always noticeable absent during those times.” Ohana smiled sweetly at Kaiba who turned his head away. “Besides it’s not like you can do gym tied together like that, so you are to come here today instead so I can have a nice little chat with both of you. I’ll see you back here at one.” She yawned, stretching back in her chair. “Ok I’m done. You can go.”

Once out in the hall way the two where free to discuss how the hell this was gonna work.

“Uh…I was just thinking Kaiba… “

“Careful Wheeler, don’t hurt yourself.”

“I was thinking….” Joey started again through greeted teeth. “We should, you know, try doing what she says. Work out how to compromise and stuff, otherwise we’re just gonna be stuck like this forever.”

“For the first and hopefully last time, I find myself agreeing with you. I want these things off as soon as possible.”

“Good, so you can start by stopping with all the dog names and insulting me every 5 minutes.”

“Fine and in turn I don’t what to spend all my time constantly in your dorky friend’s presence. It’s bad enough I have to with you.”

“Arraaah…what did I just say!”

“What? It’s not like I’ve kept it a secret that I don’t like you Wheeler and you’ve also made it painfully obvious that you’re not all that fond of me either. So what’s the problem?”

“I ain’t asking you to like me, just stop insulting me ok? It’s not asking a lot.”

“Whatever.” Both stood in silence, eyes adverted, unsure of what to say or do next. Joey started nervously scratching the back of his head.

“Didn’t know you didn’t like gym.” He said finally. Kaiba remained silent. “Although now that I think about it, it’s true, I never seen you in a lesson.”

“It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just a waste of time. It serves no purpose as I have my own exercise program.” He finally answered.

“You have your own exercise program!?” Joey blurted out without thinking. Of course Kaiba did, who did he think he was talking to. After all Kaiba had to be doing something to keep his body in shape. He would have thought that most people who spent all their time in front of a computer would have put on weight but Kaiba always managed to look…well… good. “Uh...” Jou uttered out loud by accident, panicked by where his train of thought was going. “…but isn’t it more fun with a group…” he said hurriedly before stopping. “Sorry, forgot. You don’t have fun do you?” Kaiba glare at Joey, annoyed frown firmly in place.

Thankfully the bell rang, putting an end to the rather forced and mostly one sided conversation. Joey mentally sighed in relief. It’s gonna be another long day. He thought as they made their way to the first lesson.

Plz R & R