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How to Raise a Well-Mannered Puppy	By : Rroselavy Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 12679 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh!, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Disclaimer: I do not own or profit in any way from Yu-Gi-Oh
A/N: Thanks to Kodachi, Jadej.j, takky, ahriman, Corvin, Kerurie-dono, mofaf1, icestar, yukiko, cookie, and KC once again for your kind reviews! I will try to keep up the pace of chapters, but things get away from me toward the weekend ... probably won't be able to update 'til Monday.
How to Raise a Well-Mannered Puppy is an invented title (as far as I know), though the training principles are real ...

CHAPTER 4
"Hey Kaiba," Jou said shyly.
Kaiba stopped stretching and looked up. "What are you doing here, Mutt?" he glowered.
He always looked forward to practice. He wasn't a really team player, he barely tolerated the presence of his teammates, this was his time alone, to let his mind wander freely as his feet rhythmically drummed along the track, eating up meters on its smooth surface. To shed the monkey on his back that was Kaiba Corp., leave behind his schoolwork and the responsibilities of caring for himself, his household, his brother.
It was his one indulgence. He ran seven days a week, often in the early hours of the morning, long after he'd tucked Mokuba into bed for the night, fulfilled his responsibilities to Kaiba Corp., and wrapped up his homework, he'd put on sweats and running shoes and navigate the streets that surrounded his estate. He found the solitude intoxicating.
He didn't need have his reverie interrupted by the distraction of the blond standing in front of him.
"Umm, I guess we're teammates now." Jou said, toeing the pebbly surface of the track. He was beginning to think this was a bad idea. Maybe proximity wasn't the answer. He wondered how much effort he would need to show his track coach before he could quit without getting into more trouble.
"You joined the track team." Not a question, more a statement of resignation.
Jou sighed, "Yah, Mr. Kitano asked me to join, an' it seemed like a good idea." He gazed off into the distance.
"You don't plan on running in THOSE?" Kaiba nodded his head toward Jou's feet.
He looked down, suddenly embarrassed at the sight of his worn-out sneakers. This was definitely a bad idea. He didn't have the money to invest in a pair of running shoes. He didn't even know how he was going to pay the utility bill this month. New running shoes were a luxury beyond his grasp. Dammit, no! This could be his ticket out of the crappy future he had envisioned. He strengthened his resolve. He had to find a way to make this work.
"Yeah, well not everyone is made of money, Kaiba," he replied bitterly, stalking away.
He saw Jou blush, regretted his question. Finished stretching, then rose, ready for the long distance drills.
"Okay," Coach Kitano called out, "Everyone but Mr. Jounouchi start the 400 super set, remember 5 minutes rest between each.
"Katsuya, let me explain how the practices are run." He noticed the boy's shabby clothes and sneakers and grimaced to himself.
"Mondays and Fridays are long distance drills, Tuesdays and Thursdays are weight training, Wednesdays and Fridays are sprints. So on Fridays, depending on where you fit in, you will run long distance drills or practice sprints. Today, you should not try to run at your top speed, just try to finish the distance. Let me work with you through some stretching, and you can join the rest of the team in the second or third set.
"You will need to invest in a pair of running shoes," he added.
"Yeah, I figured," Jou replied dejectedly. "But I don't see how I can afford it."
Mr. Kitano smiled sympathetically. "It's a small investment toward your future, Katsuya, perhaps we could work something out. In exchange for a new pair, you can come by in your free hour and do some filing for a couple of weeks ..."
Jou looked at the coach suspiciously. "Why're you doing this?"
"Because you deserve a break, Katsuya. The circumstances of your life haven't gone unnoticed," he replied. "Your father came to the school one day and spoke to the Principal to make reparations -- as part of his 12-step program. He explained why your grades and attendance have been poor."
Jou sighed and shrugged. He remembered quite clearly when his father had begged his forgiveness. Forgiveness for the years of abuse and neglect, promising to make it up to Jou. As if. It was hard, but of course he forgave his father. He understood that alcoholism was a disease, that what had happened was caused by it. It would be harder still to forgive his mother for leaving him. Maybe HE needed a 12-step program for that.
He joined the rest of the runners in the drills, feeling hamperd by the lack of traction his sneakers offered. He wanted to run flat out, to run to exhaustion, oblivion. Forget the strain of bearing his father's burden, of never having enough to eat, of thinking up creative ways to keep the bill collectors at bay until the social check came in.
He noticed Kaiba had finished, far in advance of the rest of the team.
Jou's endorphins kicked in, he was feeling good from the exertion. He decided to turn on the speed. The burst lasted all of ten seconds before he was sailing head over heels, landing in a skidding heap. He heard snickering from a couple of his nearest teammates as he lay on the track.
Kaiba was jogging easily now, recovering. Glancing ahead, he saw Jou skitter out of control, tumbling a few times before coming to a stop. Heard the snickers. It enraged him to hear someone laugh at his puppy's misfortune. He raced over to the fallen boy.
"You think it's funny?" he hissed at the other boys gathered around. It satisfied him to see the fear shown in their faces.
Jou struggled to get up and assess the damage, nice scrapes on his right knee and elbow. Blood trailing down his leg, dripping from his arm.
"Alright, everyone, get back to drills." Mr. Kitano ordered. "Mr. Kaiba, take Mr. Jounouchi to my office and help him get cleaned up."
Kaiba snorted. "Stupid Mutt," he cursed under his breath. Jou trailed him silently inside, through the gym, into the coach's office off the locker room.
"Sit," Kaiba directed. He grabbed the First Aid kit from its perch on top of a file cabinet.
Jou sat pensively on the stool Kaiba had motioned to. Concentrating on the throbbing in his knees and elbows. Concentrating on not pissing off Kaiba any more than he already was. Berating himself. Proximity, yeah right. He had it in spades now, so why did he feel like he was trapped with a caged lion?
Kaiba squatted on a low stool and rolled in front of Jounouchi. Gently he raised Jou's lower leg onto his lap, extending the injured knee. He heard the sharp intake of breath from the other boy. As he removed Jou's sneaker and sock he said brusquely "I'll try to be gentle," and looked up into Jou's eyes. Jou glanced away, surprised at the softness of Kaiba's touch.
He carefully swabbed the bloody knee, noticing a deep bruise already developing. Then he smoothed on some antibacterial ointment before covering it with a bandage. He was trying hard to focus on his task, to not think about the smooth musculature under his hand, the heat radiating from Jou's skin. His musky scent.
"You really should not have been running in these sneakers," he commented idly.
"Ya think?" Jou snapped.
Kaiba glared at him before roughly pushing the injured leg out of his lap.
"Owww, whad'ya do that for?" Jou whined.
"Let me see your arm," Kaiba answered.
"No. I think I can take care of it myself. I don't need to be manhandled. What the hell are you so pissed off about anyway?"
"You wouldn't understand," Kaiba sighed. "Now let me see your elbow." He reached out and coaxed Jou's arm closer.
"I wouldn't? Why don't ya try me?"
Oh I'd like to try you all right, Kaiba thought. "Fine. I'm pissed because running is the one thing I do for myself. I don't want friendship or comraderie, I want to be left alone. I just want to run." Even through his harsh words, he swabbed Jou's elbow as gently as he had his knee.
"I--I can understand that," Jou said softly. "When I was running before, I felt like I was able to escape from all the responsibilities I have. I felt free." He looked at Kaiba's head bowed over his arm, as he diligently dressed Jou's elbow. "I won't bother you, okay? I'll give you your space." He added.
Kaiba's hand lingered on Jou's arm. "Why did you join track?"
"Like I said before. Mr. Kitano made me an offer I couldn't refuse," Jou smiled.
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How to Raise a Well-Mannered Puppy