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The Play's the Thing	By : DarkTemptations Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 2386 -:- 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
- 1-The Play's the Thing
- 1
Title: The Play's the Thing 1/1

Author: Dark Temptations

Beta: Vash is my Angel

Rating: R *smiles innocently*

Summary: While working on a school play, Joey and Seto find themselves growing closer. But someone is determined to nip their blooming romance in the bud.

Disclaimer: While I am sure this statement will shock many of you - I do not own Yugioh or the characters. I am merely one of the fans working to keep Seto's coat constantly billowed *smiles sweetly*.

@-->-->----

Dark Temptations Presents

The Play's the Thing

@-->-->----

There was one thing all the students in Mr Sloane's English class at Domino High School knew without doubt. He was a total bastard. Okay, make that two things - he was also a pompous, arrogant jerk who thought the sun shone out of his rear end and that every one of his ideas was so completely brilliant that it should never, ever, ever be questioned. Questioning his brilliant ideas - as all the students had not known but had learned the day when Joey Wheeler had jumped up and done just that - was a sure-fire way of getting yourself a detention and submitting your whole class to a torture worse than a death.

Every one of them had silently applauded when Joey had spoken his mind about the teacher's idiotic plan of making the class put on a play for the school festival, barely three weeks away. Mr Sloane's plan had been impossible to achieve in so little time - a point that Joey had made with his usual blunt tactlessness. The teacher had not been pleased. After giving Joey a detention for 'backtalk', he had glared around the class and smiled nastily before giving the class their punishment for doubting his obvious genius.

A week later though, it was hard to tell who was being punished the most - Joey, the class or Mr Sloane himself.

"Enough!" The teacher slapped his rolled up magazine into his hand and then winced as he shook the sting out of it. "Mr Wheeler. What do you think you are doing?" He glared at the bewildered blonde teen standing on the stage.

Joey hesitated before replying. "Um... I'm sayin' my lines."

Mr Sloane shuddered. "No, Mr Wheeler. What you are doing is making a mockery of the delight that is the English language!" He moved to the side steps and swept up them. Reaching Joey, he whapped him on the top of his head with the magazine. As Joey cringed back, a hand rising to rub his head, Mr Sloane glared at him.

"Observe, listen and, for the love of language, learn!" He turned and stretched out one hand while clutching his chest with the other, in what was apparently supposed to be a dramatic gesture but which just made him look even more ridiculous than usual. "No, it is true. I am nothing but a peasant. A lying, scheming peasant who worked to trap you so I might live a frivolous and wealthy life. I am not worthy of you. Please, I beseech you, forget me and find another. One who truly loves you as you deserve to be loved."

It was hard to tell what was more painful, the speech itself or his horrible overacting.

Mr Sloane glared at Joey. "That, Mr Wheeler, is how I want you to say it. Now do it again. Then again and again, until you get it right!" He went to whap him again but this time Joey was ready for him. He stepped back and the surprised teacher stumbled slightly as he missed his target.

Joey shook his head. "I've done it four times already! I've said it each and every time! I don't know what more ya want me to do!" He was almost shouting in his frustration but all Mr Sloane did was smirk.

"What I want you to do, Mr Wheeler, is to deliver the line as it is meant to be spoken. Not the horrendously mutilated version of it with which you continue to assault our ears."

Joey went still as he finally worked it out. "I can't help my accent." His voice was a low growl and his hands clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.

Mr Sloane smiled, but there was cruelty in his eyes as he leaned in close to Joey. His voice was soft, so the boy was the only one who heard him. "Oh I am sure you could, Mr Wheeler. You merely need to work harder. If you do not say every line perfectly on the night of the play, I will fail you in this class."

"No way." Joey growled and glared at the man. "You can't do that. I'm passing easily." He'd always been particularly good at English. It was one of the few classes he had no trouble at all in.

"Do not forget, Mr Wheeler, I am the one who says if you pass or fail my class." Mr Sloane whapped Joey again before stalking off the stage. "Now then, Mr Wheeler... Again."

His face flushed with a mixture of anger, humiliation and embarrassment at having to say such awful lines, Joey began to speak. "No, it's true. I'm nothin' but a peasant. A lyin', schemin' peasant who worked to trap ya so I might live a frivolous and wealthy life. I'm not worthy of ya. Please, I beseech ya, forget me and find another. One who truly loves ya as ya deserve to be loved." He almost choked on the words.

There was a look of cool disdain on Mr Sloane's face as he pointed his rolled up magazine at Joey. "Again."

As the blonde repeated the awful lines of dialogue over and over again, the figure standing in the shadows off to one side of the room watched in silence.

@-->-->----

Joey leaned with his back against the wall of the school's drama building and slowly slid down until he was sitting on the cold concrete. He closed his eyes and tried to force all memory of that afternoon's torture out of his mind, along with Sloane's threat. He barely registered that someone else was there before that someone spoke.

"Why?"

At the sound of the smooth voice, Joey winced. "Great. Just the person I needed to see. Go ahead, Kaiba, make my life perfect. I really need one of your sarcastic insults right now. Or how about ya make my day and laugh at me?"

"Are you aware of just how pathetic you sound? Not to mention look."

Joey frowned as he thought he caught a hint of something odd in Kaiba's voice. Surely that hadn't been concern? He opened his eyes and looked up at the brunette teen leaning against the wall above his head. "Is that the best ya can do? What's the matter, Kaiba? Ya feelin' ill or somethin'?"

Seto's eyes narrowed into sapphire slits. "No, but you look as if you are."

Joey sighed and shrugged. "You would be too if you'd had to put up with that jerk Sloane all afternoon."

Seto nodded once. "I was watching. Again, why?"

"Why do I put up with him treatin' me like that?" Joey was mildly surprised - and more disturbed - when Kaiba nodded again. He hadn't realised how well he knew the other teen's way of thinking. "He's a teacher. If I don't do what he says, I'll end up in detention every day for the rest of the year. He also said he'd fail me if I don't say every line in that... thing... perfectly." He didn't bother trying to hide his disgust.

"Your grades in that class have always been more than acceptable. If he failed you, he would have difficulty explaining his reasons why, if questioned on it." Seto's reply was bland but it seemed to spark something in Joey.

The blonde's eyes flashed as he glared at Kaiba. "Yeah, big 'if' there. It's all right for you. If ya fail a class then I'm sure the headmaster would instantly question the teacher on it. But no one cares if I pass or fail!" He looked away, having said far more than he'd intended to say.

There was silence for a moment, then a rustle of cloth as Seto straightened. "Come on."

Joey looked up and frowned. "Huh?"

Seto glared at him, but it was more irritation than anything else. "I said, come on. Or were you planning on sitting here until school tomorrow morning?"

"Uh... No, I'm goin' home." Joey eyed Kaiba warily as he scrambled to his feet. "How come you're not..." He paused, unsure how to phrase it.

"Why am I not amused over the situation? Why am I not enjoying the sight of you being humiliated in front of the rest of the class? Why am I not anticipating, with great satisfaction, the day when you perform in public and embarrass yourself in front of everyone?" Seto arched an eyebrow, then turned and began to walk off.

Joey glared at the brunette's retreating back and stormed after him. "I was gonna say 'how come you're not being as big a jerk as ya usually are', but there's no point now." He was surprised when Kaiba's response was preceded by a soft chuckle of what seemed to be genuine amusement.

"Sloane appears to have forgotten two crucial details in his plan to humiliate you, Wheeler."

Kaiba was as close to laughing as he ever got. Joey was sure of it. He was curious over the reason. "Oh? What?"

"Firstly, you are not the only one involved. The entire class has not only witnessed his treatment of you, but they are also going to be just as embarrassed to perform this... farce... in public." Seto glanced at Joey, his lips twitching into a very slight smile. "Secondly, I happen to know that Sloane told the group responsible for the flyers that they were to give him full credit for writing, casting and directing."

Joey immediately caught on to Kaiba's meaning. He burst out laughing. When he could finally speak again, he grinned at Kaiba. "Oh man! Ya mean he actually *wants* people to know he wrote that? It's so bad!"

Seto smiled a little more and nodded. "He, however, believes it to be 'genius'. His own arrogance shall be his downfall. People will be laughing so much at the lines that I doubt if they will notice anything about the rest of the performance."

Joey smirked. "This is gonna become one of the legendary moments of school history." His smile slipped and he sighed softly. "But even so... he'll still end up failin' me. There's no way I can say my lines like he wants me to. I can't do anythin' about my accent and even if I could, I don't think I'll be able to say half of them with a straight face. Not when I'm supposed to say them to..." He looked at Kaiba and winced. "This is gonna be so bad."

"Then I suppose there is no choice." Seto looked straight ahead, apparently focusing on the school gates rather than what he was saying. "You shall practice with me."

Joey stopped in his tracks. He stared at Kaiba as if the brunette had just grown another head. "What?"

Seto looked over his shoulder, his eyes flashing with irritation. "I said you shall practice with me. Unless you prefer to make a fool of yourself in public? Now hurry up. I wish to get this over with as quickly as possible."

Barely able to believe what he was hearing, Joey followed Kaiba. "Ya mean... we're gonna go practice now?"

"Do you have another engagement?"

Joey winced at the sarcastic testiness in the other teen's voice. "No... I just... I wasn't expectin' this, Kaiba. Since when have ya been willin' to help anyone out with anythin', 'specially me?" He immediately wished he hadn't spoken. Surely Kaiba's response would be biting and brutal. As the seconds passed though, Joey began to wonder if Kaiba was just going to ignore him.

"Do not misunderstand, Wheeler." Seto's voice was surprisingly soft and low. "I am not doing this to aid you in any way. I merely dislike being made a spectacle of. It therefore serves my interest to ensure that you can at least speak your lines to me without fumbling them. After all, the majority of our scenes are with each other."

That was true and it sounded reasonable enough, although Joey had a feeling there was more to it than Kaiba was letting on. Still, he wasn't willing to confront the other teen about it. "Ya know, if we practice too much, we're gonna make Sloane look good." Joey walked a little faster until he was beside Kaiba, then he slowed to match his pace.

Seto smirked. "With the dialogue he wrote? We could practice for the rest of the year and that would not happen."

Joey snickered, nodding in agreement.

Reaching the limousine, Seto opened the back door and waited. He arched an eyebrow when Joey made no move to get inside the car. "Are you coming or not?"

Joey nodded. "Yeah. Thanks." He moved forward but hesitated before getting in. His honey brown eyes searched Kaiba's blue ones for a few seconds. "So where are we goin'? Your place?"

Seto shook his head. "Mokuba will be there. My office would be better. At least there we will be assured of privacy. I also have no wish for Mokuba to know that we are doing this play at all." He grimaced as he followed Wheeler into the car. "I am sure you can imagine his glee if he learned of my upcoming embarrassment."

Joey winced at the thought. "Does he have a video camera?" He shuddered at the possibility.

"It will be going missing a few days earlier." Seto glanced at Wheeler and they shared a look of understanding. It lasted for barely half a second before Seto looked away to instruct the chauffeur to head for Kaiba Corp., but in that half a second they both had the feeling that something important had just happened.

@-->-->----

The next day, Téa eyed Joey with mild horror as he shovelled his lunch into his month. "Ew! Joey! At least chew your food before you swallow it!"

Joey grinned at her. "No time. I'm supposed to be rehearsin' with Kaiba today."

Tristan almost choked. As Yugi patted his back, he stared in shock at his friend. "You and who are what? There's no way I heard that right."

Joey smiled sheepishly and nodded. "Yeah, ya did. Ya know how Sloane kept me back after rehearsal yesterday?"

Téa's eyes flashed and she scowled. "Yes. I couldn't believe he could be so mean! How many times did he make you do that last scene after we left?"

"I lost count at thirty-two." Joey shrugged as Yugi, Ryou and Téa both gave him very sympathetic looks. Tristan was too busy getting over his shock at Joey and Kaiba's rehearsal plans. "Later, Kaiba met me outside. We talked a bit and he said we could practice together."

Yugi nodded. "That's a good idea. Most of your scenes are with him."

Joey nods. "Yeah. I hadn't realised how much of the play is just him and me until we went through it from start to finish." He sighed. "I bet Sloane did that on purpose. I swear he hates me. Anyway, Kaiba and me spent a few hours in his office at Kaiba Corp. It's a lot easier to concentrate without a jerk yelling at me and whacking me every few minutes." He rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, you just had a jerk rehearsing with you. Ow!" Tristan rubbed his side, where Téa had just poked him. He frowned at her. "What was that for?"

Téa scowled at him. "Maybe Seto wouldn't be the way he is with us, if you didn't speak like that about him!"

Tristan edged back from the fork being waved in his face as Téa got a little too enthusiastic with her mini-lecture. "Uh... Okay... I won't do it again. Just... stop waving that thing at me, would you?" He eyed the fork warily.

Joey grinned and stood up. "Kaiba wasn't too bad yesterday, Tris. I think we found somethin' we have in common."

"Duel monsters?" Tristan frowned. "You've had that in common all along."

"Nah. Not that." Joey leaned down so he could speak without anyone else overhearing. "Turns out Kaiba can't stand Sloane either." He straightened and waved. "See ya later, guys!"

Joey hurried out of the cafeteria and grinned when he spotted a familiar brunette walking towards him. "See? I told ya I could be on time if I wanted."

Seto smirked. "What do you want? A reward for good behaviour?" His smirk widened as Joey fell into step with him. "Very well. Your reward shall be to rehearse with me."

"Jerk." Joey grinned, no heat at all in the insult. "We were gonna do that anyway."

They were still trading relatively mild insults as they passed the teacher's lounge. The two of them had gone only a few steps further when Mr Sloane's voice came from behind them. "Ah, excuse me Mr Kaiba, I just need to have a word with Mr Wheeler."

Joey turned and looked at the man in surprise, although it was more at the rather simpering tone in the teacher's voice than the fact that he was being called. "You want to speak to me?" He looked at Kaiba and shrugged, then walked back to the teacher.

Mr Sloane smiled at Seto before taking Joey by the arm and almost dragging him into the room. "Really, Mr Wheeler, you should not be so forward. I am sure Mr Kaiba has far better things to do with his time than walk around with you hanging on his every word." Although his voice was soft so the other teachers could not hear him, there was no mistaking the comment for being anything other than an insult.

"I am sure Mr Kaiba wishes to practice for rehearsal this afternoon. His performance will no doubt be the epitome of perfection." A slightly glazed look appeared in the teacher's eyes. Joey edged away a little. There was something about the look that made him rather uneasy.

"As for you," the look vanished as Mr Sloane looked at Joey again, not bothering to hide his disdain. "I hope you have improved from that ridiculous show you put on yesterday."

Joey frowned. The teacher's comments were really annoying him. He knew this sort of conversation was beyond teacher duty. It was far closer to harassment. "I can't do anythin' about my accent. I'm sayin' the lines as best I can."

"Well you will just have to do better or else you will fail the class, Mr Wheeler." Mr Sloane's eyes were dark and cold as he glared at the blonde teen.

Barely biting back the angry response that he was tempted to give, Joey settled for an abrupt nod. "If that's all ya wanted to talk to me about... Kaiba's waitin' for me." He said the last on a sudden inspiration - one of his gut instinct moments that he usually had during the last stages of his duels, when he needed them the most.

Mr Sloane sneered. "I very much doubt that, Mr Wheeler. Mr Kaiba's time is far too valuable for him to waste waiting for someone like you." He spoke the last just as he opened the door. Seto was standing just outside the door, looking rather bored. The sight of the brunette teen seemed to surprise the teacher. "Ah... Mr Kaiba. Well, what are you waiting for, Mr Wheeler? Off you go! I will see you both this afternoon." He was still smiling his oily smile as the two teens headed off down the hall again.

Seto looked at the blonde volcano beside him. It was clear that Mount Wheeler was dangerously close to erupting. "Are we still going to practice?"

Joey nodded. "Yeah. He's expecting your performance to be perfect and said I had to do better or I'd fail." His voice came out as a low growl.

"That line is quickly becoming overused. It is evidently the only threat he can make towards you." Seto glanced at Wheeler, noting how the other teen had relaxed a little at his words.

"If he fails you... tell me. I will notify the principal." At Wheeler's startled look, Seto shrugged and looked away. "There is something about that man I dislike. I am not adverse to causing him trouble if he earns it."

Joey nodded. "Sounds good." He frowned and glanced at Kaiba. "I think he's a fan of yours."

Seto sighed. "Yes. I have had that feeling for quite some time now. It is annoying, however he is hardly the only teacher who treats me differently because of who I am. It has its uses."

"Yeah. I said ya were waitin' for me and he let me go." Joey grinned and Kaiba smiled a little.

The boys fell silent as they began to climb the flight of stairs up to the roof, where they planned to practice their lines until the bell rang for class.

@-->-->----

Joey was dreading that afternoon's English lesson. Because of the play, all their English classes had been changed to rehearsals in the drama building. For Joey, it meant more chances for Mr Sloane to torture him. The man was relentless and took every possible opportunity to insult and humiliate him in front of everyone - although he was careful to do so in ways that made it look as if he was merely 'trying to inspire Mr Wheeler to give a performance worthy of such a wonderful play', as he put it.

Every time he said it, there were more coughs around the room than in a doctor's office during flu season.

That afternoon started off just like the other days, with Joey being the first one called upon to read his lines. As he took his place on the stage and found the right page of the script, he wondered why Mr Sloane always made him read the lines alone, even in the scenes where other people were talking with him. It made it very difficult to learn the timing of some scenes.

He hadn't realised just how difficult until he and Kaiba had read through the play together, the night before. Since they were playing the two main characters, there were a lot of scenes with just the two of them. So why didn't Sloane let them rehearse their scenes together? It seemed really strange to Joey.

Apparently it struck Kaiba as more than strange.

"Now then, Mr Wheeler... er... Mr Kaiba?" Joey looked up at the startled note in the teacher's voice and had to bite his lip to keep from grinning at the way the man's eyes were bugging out. One look at the other side of the stage confirmed the source of his shock.

Seto looked down at the teacher from where he was standing on the stage, opposite Joey, the script open in his hand. "I am also in this scene. It would be far more efficient, therefore, if I was to rehearse it with him." He turned to Joey and read out the first line, his voice a dry monotone that would be likely to send even the most eager listener to sleep after only a few minutes.

Joey was never sure how he managed not to laugh out loud at how horrified the teacher was at them rehearsing together, or how he managed to keep his voice from betraying his amusement as he read his lines out.

They made it through that scene and were just about to keep going with the next one when Mr Sloane bounded up the stairs and onto the stage. He pushed his way between them, stepping on Joey's foot and elbowing him in the ribs in the process. As Joey stumbled back, he wondered if either event had been as accidental as it had seemed. He listened with growing disgust as the teacher raved over Kaiba's performance, heaping glowing praise upon it. One look at the brunette was enough to tell Joey that he was not happy at being fawned over, either.

"Since we are done with that scene, shall we go on with the next or are the others rehearsing one of their scenes now?" Seto cut in as soon as he could, fixing the teacher with a cool look.

"What? Ah... Well your part was done perfectly, of course, but Mr Wheeler shall need to read his part over again." Mr Sloane smiled and ignored Joey's indignant splutters. "I fear he needs quite a lot of rehearsal."

"Very well." Seto turned back a few pages on his script and looked at Joey. "Shall we begin?"

Joey bit back a grin and nodded. Before he could speak though, Mr Sloane interrupted.

"Oh! No, Mr Kaiba, there is really no need for you to waste your time with this! I am sure Mr Wheeler can practice by himself. Perhaps over in the corner there, so the others can rehearse on the stage." He turned to Joey and the blonde had no trouble reading the expression on his face. Mr Sloane did not want him rehearsing with Kaiba anymore. "Yes. Mr Wheeler, go and practice your lines while we go through the ball scenes. Everyone! Get ready for the ball scenes!"

As the teacher bustled off to gather everyone and give them their instructions, Kaiba moved just a little closer to Joey. He kept his eye on Mr Sloane and spoke very softly, making sure no one overheard him. "It might be best if we were not obvious about rehearsing together. Sloane does not seem to approve." His disdain for the teacher was obvious in his voice.

"Yeah." Joey kept his reply soft as well, then headed off the stage. He snagged a chair from the front row as he passed it and set it up in the corner the teacher had pointed out, facing the rest of the room. Sitting down, he noticed the surprised look Mr Sloane sent his way and quickly lifted his script up to hide his smirk. Apparently he hadn't expected Joey to make himself comfortable.

For the rest of the class, Mr Sloane focused on the other students and left Joey alone in his corner. Every now and then he'd glance in the blonde's direction, each time looking pleased with himself. But if he thought this was some sort of punishment, he was very mistaken. It was the best English class Joey had gone through since the play had been suggested.

@-->-->----

The class had been told to practice after school each day and on weekend afternoons as well. Of course, Mr Sloane always found an excuse for Joey to remain behind after everyone else had left. It had become a very irritating pattern for Joey. With his passing grade constantly being dangled in front of his nose like a carrot in front of a mule, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and bear the unfair treatment.

Mr Sloane was in an exceptionally good mood that afternoon - perhaps because of his 'punishment' of Joey during English class earlier in the day. He left the blonde teen alone for most of the time and gave a taste of his fussiness to some of the other students, who were having trouble with the stilted and overly elaborate lines of dialogue in the play.

Joey was more than happy to sit in his corner and read his lines to himself, but he didn't dare hope that the teacher would let him leave with the others. Sure enough - when Mr Sloane called for everyone to call it a day, he looked over at Joey and said, "Not you, Mr Wheeler. I wish to hear you do that final speech again. Let me hear how hard you have been practising all day. At least, I assume you have been practising. I am sure I will hear a marked improvement in your speech."

Resigned to at least another hour of lecturing and humiliation, Joey stood up. Before he could take more than a step towards the stage, though, someone coughed on the far side of the room.

Mr Sloane stared at the school principal in surprise. "Sir! What an unexpected pleasure! If I had known you were coming I would have..."

Principal Chambers held up a hand and eyed the teacher with obvious annoyance. "I am sure you would have dismissed that student as you did the others. Mr Sloane, it has come to my attention that for the past week you have kept that same student back every day after these rehearsals. You know the school policy when it comes to detentions and after-school activities, I trust? We do not endorse combining the two to any degree."

The English teacher suddenly looked far less sure of himself. "Ah... yes, Sir. But I assure you that I am not keeping Mr Wheeler back as any form of detention. It is merely that he needs a little more help with his lines than the others. I was only doing my duty as a teacher." Mr Sloane seemed to realise that Joey was still standing there, witnessing his moment of embarrassment. He frowned at him. "Well, off you go, Wheeler."

Joey didn't need to be told twice.

He managed to get outside the building before he burst out laughing. Leaning against the wall for support, he pictured the look on the teacher's face when he'd seen the principal. That set him off all over again.

"Something has amused you, Wheeler?"

This time, the smooth voice wasn't as big a surprise to Joey. In fact, after the principal's timely arrival, he'd half been expecting it. He lifted his head and grinned at Kaiba. "Sloane got told off for keepin' me back after rehearsal all the time. Seems someone told the principal about it." The look in his eyes said what he did not. He knew that someone had been Kaiba and he was grateful for the help.

Seto's lips twitched very slightly. "I see." He arched an eyebrow at the blonde teen. "I take it that means you are now free for the day. Shall we?"

Joey nodded and pushed away from the wall. "Sounds good. My dad's out tonight, so I don't have to get home to make him dinner. We can go as long as ya like."

"Very well." Turning, the brunette started towards the front gate and his waiting limousine. Joey followed him.

Neither of them saw Mr Sloane standing around the corner of the building from where they had been talking. The teacher's eyes were wide and shocked and he shook his head, whispering a single word over and over again.

"No."

@-->-->----

Joey leaned back in the visitor's chair in front of Kaiba's office desk and closed his eyes, groaning softly. His eyes were starting to ache from reading the script over so many times and his throat was a little hoarse from all the rehearsing they'd done. Kaiba had poured them both glasses of water earlier, which had helped a lot, but Joey knew they really needed a break for an hour or so. Since the other teen had proven to be as dedicated to learning the play as he was to his business though, Joey doubted if they'd be taking a break any time soon. The only reason they weren't rehearsing just then was because Kaiba had been called down to the front desk to receive a delivery.

The door opened, interrupting his thoughts. Knowing there was no one else in the building except for Kaiba and the security guards downstairs, Joey didn't bother opening his eyes. He listened to the sounds of someone crossing the room and idly wondered when he'd learned to recognise Kaiba's footsteps. The sound was accompanied by the rustle of a plastic bag and the rich scent of...

Joey opened his eyes and sat up, staring at Kaiba. "Pizza?"

Seto's lips twitched and he nodded once. "Why so surprised? I said earlier that I would arrange for a meal." He opened the box with a deft flick of his wrist that spoke of his many previous encounters with such boxes. "You were expecting something a little more continental, perhaps? Italian? French?" His lips curved into a very small, but undeniable, smile. "Sorry to disappoint you."

Blonde hair flew as Joey shook his head. "Ya didn't. I like pizza." He grinned. "I'm a bit surprised you do. I didn't picture ya for being a pizza sort of guy." He shrugged, the words as much of an apology for making such an assumption about Kaiba as he knew the brunette would accept.

Seto nodded. "I have always enjoyed it, although I do not get to have it all that often. It is also one of the easiest ways to persuade Mokuba to try new foods. Put it on a pizza and he will eat virtually anything."

Joey chuckled and nodded. "I'm the same."

"For some reason, that does not surprise me." Seto passed a plate of pizza to Joey and then sat down in the other guest chair, his own meal on his lap.

Any other time, Joey might have taken offence at Kaiba's words, but then and there... he just laughed it off. During their rehearsing the previous afternoon, a sort of truce had been called and he didn't really feel like breaking it to argue about something he knew had been meant as a joke rather than an insult.

Aside from a few traded comments about how good the pizza was, they ate their meal without a word. Kaiba seemed to be deep in thought and Joey found himself unwilling to break the silence. Although he had expected some awkwardness, since it was only the second time they had ever been alone together, he was surprised to realise that he actually felt quite comfortable. Shrugging to himself, Joey put that down to how good the pizza was.

He was so comfortable with the silence, he jerked in surprise when Kaiba suddenly spoke.

"This... is quite pleasant." Seto's voice was soft and low. He sounded rather thoughtful.

Joey nodded. "Yeah. It's good pizza."

Seto hesitated, then slowly shook his head. His blue eyes locked with Joey's brown ones. "I was not referring to the pizza."

Joey went still, his last bite halfway to his mouth. He put it down on the plate again. "Oh." His mind raced as he tried to work out what Kaiba meant. What Kaiba wanted. What he expected.

Seto stood up and turned to the desk. "So... if you are done, shall we resume with the rehearsal?" He seemed to be busy but Joey's sharp eyes noted that he was really just rearranging the pizza box and his plate.

"Yeah." Joey also stood. He joined Kaiba, leaning around him to put his plate on the desk. Just as he leaned forward, the other teen unexpectedly turned around.

Time seemed to freeze as the two teens found themselves face to face with barely two inches between them.

Seto quickly stepped back and the moment was lost.

Seeing how tense Kaiba suddenly was, Joey acted as he so often did. On instinct.

Putting down his plate, he looked at the other teen and grinned. "Don't worry. I'm not gonna pounce ya." Immediately, blue eyes darkened and an icy chill ran down Joey's spine as Kaiba glared at him. Heedless of the danger, Joey kept talking. "Of course, if ya wanna pounce me then I'll have to think about it."

Seto's glare became a look of confusion. "You would... think about it?" He sounded completely bewildered.

Joey nodded. "Well sure. I mean, we've been through a lot together - what with all those duels and stuff. We know each other. It's not like we're strangers or anythin'. But I don't sleep around. Sure you're good-lookin', but I need more than just a hard body to curl up against. If ya want me, you'd have to earn my affections."

Seto stared at Wheeler for a moment, then he bowed his head. His shoulders began shaking.

"Huh? Kaiba? You okay?" Joey eyed the brunette warily, then frowned when he worked it out. "Hey! What's so funny? I'm serious! I'm not some cheap floozy who wiggles my tail for just anyone!" He glared at Kaiba as the other teen's shoulders shook even more. "Fine. If ya think that way about me, then ya can just forget about it." He sat down in his chair and picked up his script, trying to focus on it and ignore the laughing idiot standing barely three feet away. "Your loss."

It took a few minutes for Kaiba to stop laughing. Finally though, he lifted his head and looked at the irritated blonde. His blue eyes were still twinkling with amusement. "I was not laughing at you. It was what you said. Page twelve, scene three."

"Huh?" The odd comment broke Joey out of his sulk. Curious, he turned to the page and looked. It took him a few seconds to realise what he was looking at, then Seto Kaiba became the first person outside of Joey's close circle of friends to see the blonde with his face as red as a stop light.

"I didn't." He looked at Kaiba, horrified. "Tell me I didn't quote the play just now."

Seto's lips twitched into a smirk. "Oh but you did. Rather passionately, might I add." He raised his voice slightly and repeated the passage from the play. "'If you wish me to be yours, you first must earn my affections.'"

Joey groaned and bowed his head. A second later, he looked up again. "It wasn't exact."

Seto's smile widened a little. "No, however I believe the general idea was the same."

Groaning again, Joey closed his eyes. When wishing for the ground to open up and swallow him didn't work, he opened his eyes again and gave Seto a hopeful look. "Can we just forget I said it?"

Even before Kaiba replied, Joey knew the answer. He could tell by the glimmer of amusement in the brunette's eyes. "No, I didn't think so."

Seto smiled a little more. "I will not tell Sloane how much inspiration you find in his play." He sat down and picked up his script, then looked at the blonde over the top of it. He calmly began to recite his lines.

Joey was still embarrassed over what he had said, but he was also very relieved the awkward moment between them had passed. It would have been uncomfortable for them to rehearse and be in the play together, if it had become a big issue. But he knew it hadn't passed without leaving something behind. A single thought now nagged at him.

What would it be like if Kaiba did manage to earn his affections?

@-->-->----

That day set a new pattern for the two weeks after it.

Monday to Friday, during English period and for a few hours after school, the students of Mr Sloane's English class were tortured and scolded and fussed over and yelled at by their increasingly annoyed and agitated teacher. He was convinced that they were not trying hard enough to perfect his vision of the play. They were convinced that he was certifiably insane.

Why else would he insist that the two main characters rehearse all of their scenes separately - even if they were the only two characters in that particular scene?

As a result of his strange instructions, Joey spent most of his time rehearsing by himself in the corner of the room while Seto rehearsed, with the others or alone, on the stage.

Even when they weren't rehearsing though, the teacher seemed to delight in finding excuses to keep the two teens away from each other. Every time he managed it, he seemed delighted. It was as if keeping Seto and Joey apart was his main aim in life.

At least, during the week. On the weekends, it was a very different story.

Because of Seto's business obligations, he was excused from attending rehearsals on the weekends. So on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Mr Sloane spent almost all of rehearsal time reprimanding Joey on every aspect of his performance. Especially his accent. No matter how many times Joey told him that he couldn't just magically make it go away, the teacher continued to insist that he just wasn't trying hard enough. He seemed to take malicious delight in humiliating Joey in front of the rest of the class by telling him, loudly enough for the others to hear, just how badly he had mutilated his lines. But it was his murmured threats over failing English that got to Joey the most.

If it hadn't been for the nightly rehearsals in Kaiba's office at Kaiba Corp., Joey probably would have ended up in serious trouble for knocking out a teacher.

Every afternoon after school, Kaiba would take Joey to his office where they would spend hours going over the script. They didn't just read their lines in that time - they also discussed the best way to deliver them. As Seto pointed out, they had the perfect opportunity to make Sloane look as ridiculous as possible, but they couldn't do it at the cost of their own embarrassment. So it was important that they be good, but not so good that the awful script wouldn't be immediately noticeable by the audience.

It was also during those evenings that they took the first tentative steps towards friendship... and beyond.

Most nights, Joey had to leave just before six o'clock - so he could prepare dinner for his father when he got home from whatever poker game had been on that night. But the other nights...

Their first meal together had been the pizza and the conversation that neither of them had managed to forget.

Their second meal had been spaghetti and meatballs from a local Italian restaurant. They had shared the plate and thoroughly enjoyed the meal, although they had ended up tasting more than the food. That kiss had happened completely by accident, of course.

For their third meal, Joey had insisted on repaying Kaiba for the other two meals. The platter of sandwiches were nothing special - they'd been all Joey had been able to afford - but they were freshly made, tasty and filling. When Kaiba had asked for the name of the shop they were from, Joey had glowed with pride. His admission that they'd been homemade had left Kaiba speechless.

The kiss that had followed had not been even the slightest bit accidental.

Their fourth meal had been something of a disaster. For the first time, they had gone to Seto's home to rehearse. Joey had sat on a chair at the kitchen bench while Seto had done his best to produce something edible. He had spent the entire night before looking up recipes on the Internet and had decided on a basic scrambled egg recipe.

Unfortunately their fifteenth kiss turned out to be a minute and twenty-four seconds too long.

After swearing Wheeler to secrecy over the events of that night, Seto had managed to restrain himself for long enough to make toast and honey. They ended up having toast and butter instead - the honey going towards a far more deserving endeavour.

The cook never found out what the smelly heap of charcoal that had clogged up the garbage disposal had originally been. Or where a whole new jar of honey had disappeared to overnight.

That had also been the last time they had rehearsed at Seto's home. They had both been so distracted that they had done very little practising - preferring a different sort of 'play' instead. With the day of the play closing in, they both knew they had very little time left to work out the last details of their performance.

@-->-->----

The school festival - the day the play was to be held - was on a Monday, so the Sunday afternoon rehearsal was even more hectic than usual.

Seto had kindly graced them all with his presence and everyone was working feverishly to finish the scenery, the props and the costumes - all of which had been neglected due to Mr Sloane's continued claims that they had 'plenty of time for the sparkles and glitter once the performances are perfect'. Of course, with such awful dialogue, just learning the lines had been difficult for most of the class and so they had come to the last weekend with barely anything done towards the things that might have made the play at least halfway decent. Even so, they would have been all right if they'd been able to just get in and do what needed to be done.

Unfortunately, Mr Sloane insisted on giving detailed explanations and instructions for every little thing, no matter how insignificant or how obvious. He also found fault with everything Joey worked on - even though Joey was one of the more artistic members of the class. But the biggest problem was his continued attempts to keep Joey and Seto from being anywhere near each other.

The two teens couldn't even compare the colours on the backgrounds they were painting without him interrupting them. Each time he'd send Joey off to do something else - saying that he was ruining what he was working on - but he'd praise Seto's efforts as if he were perfect.

Joey was angry about it but he kept telling himself that there was only one more day to go. After the play was over, he wouldn't need to take the abuse anymore.

Seto seemed to be ignoring Mr Sloane as much as possible, but his growing irritation was obvious in the way he tensed whenever the teacher approached him. The low growling sound he made at one point had a couple of his classmates backing away warily.

Joey waited until the teacher's back was turned and then leaned over and grinned at Kaiba. "Don't worry. Today's the last day before the thing."

Mr Sloane's rolled up magazine came down hard on his head. "Mr Wheeler. Less talking and more painting."

It was a long afternoon, but finally the props, scenery and costumes were as ready as the exhausted students could make them. Their teacher was nowhere near happy with the quality of course, but even he could tell that he had pushed them all as far as he could without having a rebellion on his hands.

He smiled at all of them and sent them on their way, saving his biggest smile for Seto. But at the last moment, he called Joey back. "Oh Mr Wheeler! Before you go... I do believe that last piece of scenery you were working on should have one more coat of black."

Joey frowned. "I've put three coats on it already."

Mr Sloane's smile seemed to freeze in place. "Then make it four, Mr Wheeler."

There was something in the teacher's voice that chilled Joey to the bone. He nodded silently and went to work.

The classroom where they had been working on the props was large, with wide windows that allowed plenty of fresh air. It was perfect for painting props. The room where the props had been stored was smaller with no windows. But when Joey went to carry the piece of scenery he needed out of the room, Mr Sloane stopped him.

"Stop wasting time, Mr Wheeler. If you move it, then you will need to wait until it is dry before moving it back in here. I wish to go home before dark." He scowled at the blonde teen.

Joey frowned. He didn't like the idea of painting in such an enclosed space. The paint they were using was pretty strong and the other props smelled of it as well. Still, he couldn't argue with the teacher's logic. He didn't want to be there any longer than necessary, either. So, he opened the can of paint and started painting.

Within a few minutes, the smell of the paint made him feel a bit light-headed. Still, he kept working. A few minutes more and he knew he'd have to take a break. But as soon as he stood up, Mr Sloane ordered him back to work. "Hurry up, Mr Wheeler!"

"I can't. I need... some air." Joey shook his head and took a step towards the door.

Mr Sloane smiled a thin, cruel smile. "Oh yes, it would be such a shame if anything were to happen to you now. I mean, if you could not be in the play tomorrow... then we would have to find someone else to perform opposite Mr Kaiba. Someone... talented. Someone who did not mutilate the English language."

Joey's mind was foggy from the paint, but he still recognised a threat when he heard one. "You want me to pull out."

The teacher smiled a little wider. "Now that would be most convenient, Mr Wheeler. Of course, if you did, then I would not have to fail you for ruining that exquisite play with your brutal language, either."

Joey smiled a little as well and struggled to remain on his feet. The paint fumes were definitely getting to him. "I never wanted to be in the play in the first place."

Mr Sloane beamed at him. "Then it seems we have a deal, Mr Wheeler. Oh my, you look quite pale. Perhaps we should call it a day, hmm?"

"Yeah." Joey moved past him and down the hall, forcing himself to walk rather than stagger. Inwardly, he was burning up with rage at what had happened, but he knew anger wouldn't help anything now. First things first. He needed to get into the open air and then he needed to come up with a plan for tomorrow. The first one was easy enough, but for the second... Joey knew he'd need some help.

@-->-->----

Half an hour before the play was due to start, Mr Sloane drew Seto aside and told him that Mr Wheeler had pulled out at the last minute so he was going to be taking his place. He also handed him a script. "There is just one minor change to the ending. I am sure you will agree that it is much better that way." He beamed at him.

Seto took one look at the new ending and went still. He looked up at the teacher and smiled just a little. "Oh yes. This new ending is indeed an improvement."

The teacher almost sparkled in his happiness. "I am so pleased you agree! Well then Mr Kaiba... I shall see you on the stage!" He turned away and clapped his hands. "All right everyone, time to get into costume!"

As he hurried away, Seto glared at his retreating back. "Arsehole."

Tucking the new script safely away in the inner pocket of his coat, Seto went off to get into his costume.

It was time to put the plan into action.

@-->-->----

Step one of 'Operation Sleeping Idiot' - as Joey had dubbed the plan - was taken care of easily enough. Tristan had been only too happy to help out by taking Mr Sloane a cup of tea. Laced with a couple of his mother's extra strong sleeping tablets, Tristan's tea quickly caused the teacher to fall asleep. A pair of earmuffs to ensure that no loud sounds woke him up prematurely and they were all set for step two.

Joey sighed as he got into his costume. He sighed again as he allowed Téa and Miho to fuss over his hair and makeup.

"Stop that. It's distracting." Téa tilted his chin up a bit more so she could see what she was doing a little better.

"Sorry. I just wish there'd been a way for Sloane to take my place after all. Then he could have been embarrassed like this instead of me!"

Téa shook her head. "Just think about all the scenes he would have had with Seto. Not to mention that last scene." She shuddered. "Just thinking about it makes me ill. I can't believe he was really going to... Ew! That's just gross."

Joey nodded. He agreed completely.

"Joey! Stop moving your head! Now look what you made me do. You're eyeliner's all streaked." Téa scowled at him. Joey forced himself not to cringe.

"Sorry, Téa."

Finally Joey was all ready to go. He stepped out of the room where he'd gotten changed and, ignoring all the whistles and catcalls from the other students, headed for the wings of the stage where he knew Kaiba was waiting.

Step two of the plan - getting Joey ready for the play - had been completed. Now for the hardest step.

The lights went down. The curtain went up. The play had begun!

@-->-->----

From the moment Joey stepped onto the stage, the audience was still and silent.

As the play progressed, there was a great deal of laughter. Especially in the more serious moments, when the play's dialogue was so overdone that it was ridiculous.

Finally, the curtain rose on the final scene.

Joey stood in the centre of the stage, the lights causing the sequins on his light blue ballgown to sparkle and gleam. He stood with his hands clasped over his heart, drawing attention to the low cut, and completely flat, bodice. One leg was extended forward, his ankle clasped gently by the male kneeling beside him.

Seto - playing Prince Handsome - lifted Joey's - Cinderella's - foot and fitted the ugliest glass slipper ever made onto it. "Oh joy of joys. Let the proclamations be made. I have found the one I shall take to be my bride. I do not care what that evil woman says. You shall be my queen." As he spoke, Seto stood and tried to take Joey into his arms.

Joey turned away and shook his head. "No, it's true. I'm nothin' but a peasant. A lyin', schemin' peasant who worked to trap ya so I might live a frivolous and wealthy life. I'm not worthy of ya. Please, I beseech ya, forget me and find another. One who truly loves ya as ya deserve to be loved." He thrust out his hand as if to ward the prince off.

Seto caught Joey's hand and used it to pull him into his arms. He held him close and looked deeply into his eyes as he spoke the last line of the play. The line that Mr Sloane had altered earlier. "How could I forget the love of my life? The one who is the sun to my moon? Who has drawn me from eternal night into the brilliant light of day? I love you and I will make you mine, for you are my life, my love, my heart and my soul. Be one with me and you shall make me the happiest man alive."

Leaning in, Seto did the second alteration to the script.

This one had not been the teacher's doing. He would always claim innocence over what would become known as the most outrageous thing the school had ever seen. But he would not be believed. Especially once it was discovered that he had a large shrine to Seto Kaiba in his bedroom. He would admit to having changed the script because he had hoped that Seto would realise how much he loved him and would agree to go out with him. But as to the kiss... he would deny all knowledge of it. Even though later inspection of the script he had given Seto would reveal the words 'they kiss passionately - use obvious tongue' to be written in Mr Sloane's handwriting.

Of course, Yugi's talent for copying the writing of certain teachers would remain a closely guarded secret.

end
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The Play's the Thing