Tied Together

Oh dear was a little late with this one. Don't know why but it just didn't want to be written. ^_^ Well now that I've managed to get it out, here it is.

KiraRaven: Thanks for review. I love writing for Kaiba, it's so much fun to do his mean attitude! =P They always say it more fun to play the bad guy than the good.

yaoirose: Sorry for making you wait, hope you enjoy the next chapter.

Cody_Thomas: I know I know stupid Kaiba! He never does cooperates at first does he? Don't worry he should redeem himself later.

*Big Hugs* for the reviews.

Here's the next...enjoy! :)


The next week passed fairly easily, there had been a few scuffles but they had died out as the week progressed. Joey and Kaiba had decided that they would spend alternate days doing what the other wanted. Which meant that on Jou’s days they would hang out with Yugi and the rest and on Kaiba’s days they could probably be found in the library or somewhere else quiet where Kaiba could work or read in peace. True to their words from the first day Joey’s friends left Kaiba alone when he was force to be in close contact with them and Kaiba had stopped with the dog references. Well for the most part that is, Joey could still on occasion hear him mutter stupid mutt to himself, but then he still called Kaiba Moneybags and Rich boy, so he guessed it was just tit or tat.

His sessions with Ohana weren’t going that bad either. After their first Risa didn’t seem that interested in talking about Kaiba, aside from asking how the day was going. Instead she would ask him what type of music he liked or his favourite movie. When he questioned her about it she simply replied by saying that if he wanted to talk about Kaiba then they could. And as Joey didn’t want to he let the matter drop. He may not have wanted to talk about Kaiba but he was curious of what, if at all, that he and Risa discussed. Did Ohana make Kaiba talk about him? Or like with Joey did she stick to anything trivial that crossed her mind. The only way to find out would be to ask Kaiba himself and there was no way that was gonna happen, not for a million years.

There had definitely been the beginnings of a bridge between them on the Wednesday when it was Kaiba’s turn to decide what they did. They were in the library, Kaiba typing at his laptop and Jou desperately trying to come to terms with his maths homework.
“Argh! I just don’t get this!” He said venting his frustrations. He glanced over at Kaiba who was still typing, unaffected by his out burst. He bet Kaiba never had this trouble with his homework. It was probably something he could rattle off in five minutes. Hang on a minute. Here he was sitting next to genius, albeit self proclaimed, and since he couldn’t see his friends today he should probably make use of this situation.

“Hey, Kaiba?”

“What?”

“You’re pretty smart right?”

“Mmmm.”

“So could you…”

“No.”

“What?”

“No I will not help you. Ask one of your geeky friends.”

“But you’ve band me from seeing them today. So you can help me.”

“No.”

“But why?”

“Because…”

“Oh come on Kaiba, please, don’t be such a tight ass.”

“No, I’m busy.”

“Hmph.” Stupid jerk! What could be so important that he couldn’t take like a few minutes to help him out? Ok so he had tried asking nicely, now on to plan B. “So what is it that you are busy with anyway?” he said moving closer so he could see the computer screen the CEO was so obsessed with. Kaiba immediately stopped typing and closed the lid, sighing.

“What do you need help with?” Joey grinned at him giving in so easily and held up his notebook showing a series of equations. Kaiba took the book, looking it over. “Really Wheeler these are about as simple as you are.”

“Shut it Moneybags! You gonna help me or not?” So for the remainder of the lunch period Kaiba went through each question in detail and much to Joey’s surprise it was actually sticking. Who knew that Kaiba could be such a good teacher? It annoyed him that he needed Kaiba’s help but he couldn’t deny how easy it was to understand now that the brunet had gone over it. Joey made a mental note to keep doing his homework during these times. Obviously it was more fun working together with his friends, but miraculously they always seemed to get distracted and he ending up none the wiser about anything they were supposed to have done. At least with Kaiba he was starting to get what the hell the teachers were going on about in their lessons.

The little truce they had formed lasted till the next day when it was Joey’s turn to be with the gang. Jou didn’t understand why but he was having hard time not watching Kaiba has he sat to one side with his ever present computer in front of him. Something was bothering him about the brunet and couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Maybe it was the laptop. Kaiba didn’t seem to be able to go anywhere without it. He had started to think of has Kaiba’s little security blanket…like one of those things that small children can’t bear to be separate from. So no it wasn’t the laptop that bothered him, it was something else. He took another bite from his sandwich and it hit him; food. Over the past week Joey had barely seen Kaiba eat anything and to him that just wasn’t normal. Finishing the rest of his sandwich, Jou fished out his usual packet of pocky and moved his chair closer to his absorbed classmate.

“Hey Kaiba, you got a minute?”

“What?” He said turning his head towards Joey. Before being able to think better of it Jou pushed one stick of pocky into Kaiba’s mouth. Kaiba paused, looking down at the offending piece of confectionary. Removing it, Jou felt a chill run down his spine as Kaiba directed his oh so familiar icy glare his way.

“What do you think your doing?”

“I never see you eat. It annoys me.”

“And how is that any of your business Wheeler?”

“Just eat it.” Joey thought that he might have pushed it a bit, but Kaiba simply placed the chocolate stick back in his mouth and resumed typing. A little shocked but relieved Joey turns back to the gang, all of which are giving him very strange looks.

“What!?” he asks in confusion.

“Nothing man, nothing.” Tristan replies. “It’s just a little weird. I didn’t think the chain thing was gonna work?”

“Yeah Joey, it’s different seeing you two being almost civil to each other.” said Yugi smiling. Joey flushed in embarrassment. Maybe he shouldn’t have done that but as in most cases he had acting without thinking. At least it hadn’t ended with the two of them in a shouting match. He suddenly felt a slight tug on the chain round his wrist pulling him from his thoughts. He turned back to Kaiba who had his hand outstretched.

“Give me another one.”

“Huh? Shouldn’t you at least say please or something?”

“You’re the one that wanted to see me eat, so give me another one.”

“Fine.” Joey grumbled handing one over. They continued in this fashion through the rest of lunch, Jou making his way through the packet and every so often giving another one to Kaiba.

“Didn’t know you liked pocky.” Joey said when they had finished them.

“I prefer the dark ones.”

“Ok…” Joey stopped for a moment, debating with himself. “…I’ll get those ones next time.”

“Do what you want.” Kaiba packed up his things getting ready to go to their afternoon lesson. Jou followed after him, pleased that Kaiba hadn’t completely chewed him out. Things went well into the next week too, Joey started to buy the dark chocolate pocky for them to share and Kaiba continued to help Joey go through his homework. The only major hiccup occurred on Thursday, when things took a turn for the worse.

It was the end of the day and both Kaiba and Joey stood looking at an empty office, both equally hopeful that what couldn’t possible be happening wasn’t indeed happening and that the occupant was just out for a moment. This would have been a first as for the past week and a half she had never failed to be here when school let out. Sure they had been getting on a little better but it was still nice knowing that at the end of the day they were able to go their separate ways, especially for Kaiba as he usually like to head over to Kaibacorp after school.

“She’s gonna be back right?” Joey asked nervously.

“She better be.” Kaiba growled back. However after waiting 15 minutes with no luck, Kaiba impatiently yanked Joey down to the school reception. “Excuse me, can you tell me if Miss Ohana is still here?” Kaiba asked more calmly than he felt. Good god what if she wasn’t!? How was he supposed to go to work with Wheeler attached to him?

“Who, Risa? No she left hours ago. Some sort of emergency I think.” The lady at reception replied. “Did you need her for something?”

“Please tell me she left a key here.”

“A key…no I’m afraid not, she left in a something of a hurry.” Kaiba cursed under his breath, aware that Jou was similarly venting his disapproval of their situation.

“Do you have a number that I can reach her at?” he asked clinging to a last hope that he wouldn’t have to spend the evening with Wheeler as well.

“I’m afraid I can’t give out personal information but I can try phoning her for you.”

“Please do that.” Unfortunately whatever god or deity was in power at the moment was not on he’s side and seemed hell bent on keeping the two together. There was no answer at Ohana’s home and they didn’t have a mobile number for her, so resigned Joey and Kaiba left with the promise that the woman would keep trying.

“Well this is just great! There’s no way I’ll be able to go to work now. Cos I sure as hell I’m not going to take you. How am I going to be taken seriously with an idiot shackled to me?”

“There’s no reason to insult me Kaiba, it ain’t exactly my fault! I don’t like being with you for any longer either.” Joey scowled folding his arms. “I prefer not to spend my evening watching you work yourself to death.”

“Shut it Wheeler!” growled Kaiba again, dragging Jou around, this time to his waiting limo.

“I take it we’re going to yours then.” Joey stated getting into the car after Kaiba.

“Of course, I still have work to do and even if I can’t go into the office I can do it at home.”

“And what am I supposed to do?” Joey exclaimed adamantly. Clearly not looking forward to an evening of first being constantly in Kaiba’s company, such as it is and second the boredom of watching him work.

“You will sit still and not utter a sound.”

“Now we both know that’s not gonna happen.”

Kaiba sighed. “Well…don’t you have any homework to do or something?”

“Sure but only the stuff we got today.” Thanks to his time in the library with Kaiba, Joey for the first time ever was up to date on his homework but that didn’t mean that he was gonna start doing it on the day that it was set.

“Good you can do that then.” said Kaiba trying to settle the matter.

“Oh come on. No one does homework on the day it’s given out.” Jou looks over at Kaiba who gives him a shrewd look back. “Ok no normal person does homework on the day that it’s given out.”

“You’re not exactly normal yourself, so you can do it.”

“Fine,” Joey hmphed, silent for a moment, “You’ll still…like…help me right?”

Kaiba rolled his eyes, “Whatever” and went to stare out the tinted windows, annoyed that he had given in so easily… again. Normally he would never consent to being disturbed while he was working, not by anyone other than his brother. Yet he kept agreeing to help Joey. What was wrong with him? He guessed that Ohana’s plan was working, surprising as it was. What was the point of winding up Wheeler when he had to stay beside the blonde? Course it was still fun to annoy him but he never had to deal with the after math before. Now that Ohana had taken away his ability to leave the drive to do it so often was gone. Damn, that woman was cleverer than she looked, or acted for that matter.

All too soon the car had pulled into Kaiba manor and he and Joey exited the car, making their way to the front door.

“Welcome home Seto!” Mokuba called out on his way over to greet his brother. He stops as he notices Jou. “Joey? Why are you here?” Kaiba holds up his arm as a way of explanation revealing the chain that still bound him and Jou together. Comprehension dawned on his younger brother’s face as Kaiba had already subjected him to a rather lengthy rant about this bizarre experiment after the first day. And on several other occasions during the past week too. So he knew that Mokuba was quite aware of what was going on. “Oh I thought you had it taken off at school?”

“Yes well our “teacher” decided to step out without leaving us any means to remove them.” Still annoyed at being in this state Kaiba strolled briskly to the staircase, Joey tagging along in his wake.

“So does that mean Joey’s going to have to spend the night?” Mokuba asked in an innocent voice. Both boys froze on the stairs, before slowly glancing at each other then to the chain between them and up again. Mokuba burst out laughing, loving the look on each of their faces. Priceless. The enjoyment was short lived however when the infamous Kaiba glare was directed at him from his beloved big brother. Letting out a small “eep”, Mokuba raced from the hall, leaving a poor Joey alone with a very very pissed off Kaiba.

Plz R & R