Love Lies

Hi everybody! It’s Thursday! As promised, here’s the next chapter! I hope you like it! Just to
forewarn you all, the next chapter has a surprise lemon, maybe even two.....oh yeah, sorry if I
made any errors- I rushed in typing this up because I have a huge assignment due for lit
today.......grrrr.....

Maddy: The Malik/Tristan thing will be an ongoing issue. I think you’ll get a kick out of it:-)

Yami Sango: *SQUEE!* Here’s another chappie for ya!

Bakurasgirl: *hands Aten his monkey* hehehe.....Aten said ROD! (I think I watched too many old Beavis and Butthead reruns)

Bakuraluva/DreamingChild: I’m glad you found the new chapters! I hope you like! It’s gonna be
a while before I clean this one up enough for ffnets standards, LOL

Debs: Sometimes I even scare myself *grin*

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Love Begs

                                              

            Joey walked out of Kaiba Corps with utter shock on his face. Without looking where he
was going, Joey stepped out onto the sidewalk-bumping right into Ryou (actually Bakura) who
“happened” to be passing by on his way to Yugi’s shop.

“Oh, pardon me-Joey?”

Joey shook his head and snapped out of his daze.

“Oh, Ryou, hey man, sorry ‘bout that. I wasn't lookin’ where I was goin’.”

Ryou smiled brightly.

“It’s alright Joey. I’m fine. Is something the matter?”

Joey shrugged his shoulders.

“Nah, everything’s cool. I’m just a little stunned right now.”

“Why is that?” Ryou ask curiously.

Joey sat on the edge of the curb and propped his chin up with his hand.

“Kaiba ask me over for dinner tonight. I’m not sure what to make of it.”

Ryou sat down next to Joey on the curb with a vibrant smile.

“Maybe he wants to offer you a job.” he suggested.

Joey started to laugh.

“I don’t think so Ryou. I’m not really Kaiba Corps material.”

Ryou shrugged his shoulders as he got to his feet.

“Well, good luck with whatever it is. I ‘ll see you later.”

Joey nodded his head.

“Yeah, see ya Ryou. Sorry again for bumping into you.”

Ryou smiled as he walked away.

Inside his mind, Bakura started laughing.

//If that idiot only knew.........//

*************************************************

Tristan carefully touched the ends of two unmarked wires together. A bright flash filled thrk
rk
game shop, throwing Tristan back a few feet onto his rear end.

“FUCK! OWE!!” he uttered impulsively as he was thrown backwards onto the floor.

Yugi rushed over to him carrying a flashlight.

“Tristan! Are you okay?”

Tan lan let out a long, painful sigh.

“I can’t feel my hands, but I’ll be fine.”

Yugi looked down at the floor and saw two glowing red wires.

“Maybe I should call in a professional.”

Tristan sat up with a lot of effort and shook his head.

“NO Yugi, I can figure this out, I promise. I know how hard it’s been for you to keep things
a’float here at the game shop since your grandfather passed away, I just want to help you.”

The soft light of the flashlight illuminated the thankful smile on Yugi’s face.

“Thanks Tristan, you’re a great friend.”

Tristan got up off the floor and began working on fixing the buzzer. He’d managed to shut down
almost every thing else hooked up to the fuse box, so Yugi knew he had to find the wires for the
buzzer soon.

Yugi strolled outside to escape the constant noise the buzzer was making. It reminded him of the
sound of a cow being slaughtered. He walked around to the back of the game shop where the
noise was less noticeable. As he rounded the building, a large, beautiful rose bush came into his
view.

“Joey” Yugi whispered under his breath and he gazed upon the brilliant bush Joey had planted
last fall after Yugi’s grandfather passed away. He’d planted it to try to cheer Yugi up at the
times, knowing how Yugi loved red roses.

The roses were in full bloom now, and their light scent filled the surrounding area, reminding
Yugi of his former lover.

**Flashback**

Joey walked slowly with his arm draped loosely around Yugi’s shoulders into the back of the
game shop.

“I can’t believe he’s actually gone.........Grandfather........” Yugi sobbed against Joey’s chest.

Joey held Yugi close to him and buried his face in his hair.

“I know it hurts right now Yugi. It hurts me to see you so torn up.”

Yugi looked up at Joey with tears streaming down his face.

“Joey?”

“What Yugi?”

Yugi took a deep breath to somewhat regain his composure.

“ There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time, and now that grandfather is no
longer alive, I can.”

Joey’s eyes grew wide. What was going through Yugi’s mind?

“Go on”

Yugi took another deep breath.

“I couldn’t tell you this while grandfather was alive because I knew it would hurt him.

 Joey..I......think I .....I want to be more than just your best friend.”

Joey cocked his head,

“What do you mean?”

Yugi wiped his eyes with his sleeve as he gazed into Joey’s deep brown eyes.

“I need you Joey. I’d like it if we could take our friendship to the next level.”

Joey’s eyes lit up like Christmas lights.

“I’ve wanted that for a long time buddy....”

Yugi smiled as he cuddled close to Joey’s chest.

“You’re the best Joey”

   

 **end flashback**

“I’m sorry Joey” Yugi whimpered as he touched the delicate red petals one of the roses. The
petal fluttered to the ground as Yugi touched it.

“This isn’t how it was supposed to be.” He sobbed as he wiped his eyes and turned to walk back
to the front of the game shop.

“Yugi, wait” his yami called out from his soul room.

Yugi stopped and sat down in the grass and closed his eyes. He entered into his own soul room,
finding Yami standing at his door.

“Yes Yami?”

//Yugi, I sense you’re in a lot of pain over having to break up with Joey. You need to be strong
aibou; you know it could never have worked out.//

“But Yami, I loved-love him! You can’t imagine what I’m feeling right now! It’s like part of me
was lost when I told Joey it was over!”

//I know aibou, but it’s for the best.//

ugi&ugi’s sobs filled his soul room. Yami just stood in the doorway wearing a cheshire face.

“Yugi? Are you feeling alright?” a voice from outside Yugi’s soul room ask.

Yugi opened his eyes and found Ryou (still actually Bakura) standing over him.

“Uh, yeah......I’m fine Ryou.” he said quickly as he wiped his eyes free of tears and got to his
feet.

“You told me to meet you here in an hour, so here I am. What did you want?”

*******************************************************************

            Upon arriving home, Joey grabbed a quick shower and search around for something
decent to wear to Seto’s. His wardrobe was very limited as it was, but now without a job he
couldn’t even afford thread to sew his socks. He finally was able to scrounge up a halfway
decent looking red button up shirt, and a pair of tight black jeans. He ran a brush through his
damp hair and looked at his reflection in the mirror in front of him.

“Damn Joey, for a guy who’s broke, you sure look damn hot” he said to himself as he
unbuttoned the top button of his shirt.

            Soon there after, Joey was out the door and on his way to Seto Kaiba’s. Joey gla glad
Kaiba Corps was only a few blocks away considering he had to walk the entire way. He was
greeted at the front entrance by the same security guard he’d seen there earlier that day.

“Greetings Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Kaiba is expecting you. Just take the elevator, Jones will take you
directly where you need to go.”

Joey nodded his head.

“Cool, thanks man.”

He walked into the elevator and looked at the attendant.

“Are you Jones?”

The man nodded his head.

“Yes, Mr. Kaiba informed me of you’re arrival.”

The attendant pressed a few buttons that took the elevator to the top floor of the massive
cooperation. Joey leaned back against the padded elevator wall and crossed his arms.

 The elevator seemed to take forever to get to the top floor. He watched numbnumbers light up as
they ascended.

//44,45, 46..........jeeez! How many floors are in this place!// he thought to himself.

Once they hit 50, the elevator stopped and the doors opened.

“This is where you get off. Have a nice day sir.” the elevator attendant nodded.

“Thanks for the ride-Jones”

  

Joey stepped out of the elevator and looked around.

“Holy-fucken-shit!” He said in amazement.

“I take it you like what you see, eh Wheeler?” Seto grinned as he walked into the foyer.

Joey spun around and found himself almost face to face with the CEO. He was expecting him to
make some sort of wise crack.

“It’s nice.” Joey replied nervously. His palms began to sweat as Seto approached him.

“You look very nice tonight.”

//I look nice? Okay, I officially classify this visit as weird.// Joey thought.

“Follow me” Seto smiled.

“Alright” Joey nodded as Seto lead him into a vast dining room.

            There was a long table that looked like it would seat at least 50 people in the center of
the room. There were two places set at one end. A very expensive crystal chandelier hung down
from the center of the room, complimenting the crystal Blue Eyes White Dragon centerpieces.
Joey’s jaw dropped at the sight before him. He’d never even fathomed such a lavish dining
room, much less been in one. All he had in his apartment was a snack bar, and he didn’t even
have chairs.

“Damn Kaiba, this is amazing”

Seto smiled at Joey.

“I’m glad you like it. Here, have a seat. I’ll have Carlotta bring in dinner.”

Joey sat down in the seat Seto had pointed out for him, and looked around. He couldn’t get over
the lavish lifestyle Seto lived.

Seto pressed a button on the intercom and said something inaudible to Joey into it, than rejoined
Joey.

“Hey, where’s your brother? Did he get lost in here?”

Seto chuckled as he sat down across from Joey.

“No, he’s fine. I sent him to stay at a friends house tonight.”

Joey nodded his head.

“Oh-that’s cool.”

***Seto’s POV**

            I’m so nervous right now, I hope Joey can’t tell. I don’t think he realizes why I’ve invited
him over tonight. I hope what I have to say to him doesn’t scare him away.

He looks so good tonight. That red shirt sets off his beautiful brown eyes just perfect under this
lighting, and if his jeans were any tighter.....whoa....don’t go there Seto!

I wonder how he’s going to react to what I have to say to him. He might just run out of here
screaming, considering the bad blood we’ve had between each other in the past. That would be a
disaster. I don’t want him to hate me.

Now that he’s not with Yugi anymore, he might be thinking differently. I hope he’s thinking
differently. I hope he’ll realize I’m not as bad as he thinks.

**End POV**

“Kaiba? Are you okay?”

Seto shook himself out of his thoughts. He found Joey staring directly at him with curiosity
written all over his face.

“Yes, I’m fine Joey.”

“You looked like you were going to barf” Joey grinned.

Seto shook his head and chuckled.

“Maybe it was the lobster”

Joey wiped his mouth with one of the silk napkins and laughed.

“I thought dinner was awesome. Thanks Kaiba.”

Seto nodded his head.

“I’m glad you liked it.”

//It’s now or ne/ Se/ Seto thought to himself.

Joey tossed the napkin to the side and stood up to stretched his arms.

“Man, I think I ate too much. I feel like I’m gonna burst!”

Seto took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

“Joey..........there’s something I need to ask you.”

Joey sat back down and propped his chin up with his hand.

“Okay, ask away” he smiled at the CEO.

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Next update: Saturday