Chapter 1.

-STRANGE-

Grey evaporated into the sky as a warm sigh hit the cool air. It was rainy season in Domino and in the dead of winter. The holiday season had passed and the sweet forgiving calm of January had come, relieving the young blonde man as he trudged against the wind; his red umbrella barely doing him good. As he reached his apartment, he quickly grabbed his piled up mail hoping it wasn't ruined, and hurried inside. After shaking his umbrella and taking his sneakers off, he hugged himself with a shiver and a 'brr' and sat down at the small table in the nice one room apartment. Skimming through the mail and junk, a fancy looking letter caught his eye

"What's this..?" He mumbled and without much grace began to tear it open. His light brown eyes widened,

"High school reunion?"

Jounouchi Katsuya had somehow graduated high school 11 years ago, and just now they're having their first reunion? His heart skipped a beat at the seemingly fun idea, but soon after dropped. He stared at the invite longingly

"I wonder if Yugi got one too..."

After the things with Atem had happened back in high school, Yugi wasn't the same. It was plain as day that after being together with the pharaoh so long, without him Yugi felt empty. After years of trying to live the same again he finally decided to take Marik's offer and study in Egypt, Bakura accompanying him. Even Anzu had left the country for a dance school and career in the U.S.

A heavy sigh slipped through Jou's lips again. No matter how many years passed he still would never get used to change. Honda was still around, his bud since middle school. That, he was thankful for, even if he did live more than an hour out of the city, he owned his own auto shop so it was worth it. Standing, Jou left the invite on the table and headed for the shower, liking the idea of the warmth and wanting to change this chain of thoughts.

Plopping down on his couch with a satisfied grunt, he wrapped the blanket around his upper nude body and turned on the television.

"KaibaCorp does it again in making Christmas a bright one!" The anchor man spoke happily. Jou stared at the TV blankly. Kaiba.

"I guess he's still around..." He thought for a second before changing the channel and quickly distracting himself. It wasn't soon after that he fell asleep.

The following morning was relaxing as it was his day off, and as he munched on his overly buttered toast, he glanced at the invite that was left overnight. Reaching for it once more he searched for the date and nearly swallowed his toast whole.

"That's tonight isn't it?!" He stood making a ruckus and briefly wondered how long it had been since he last retrieved his mail. Glancing at the clock that read 10:43am, he confirmed the place and time of 6:00 on the invite once more before making up his mind.

"I should go. I'll have nothing to do tonight anyways, Honda's working..."

He had begun to dread days off. It just meant being alone and doing nothing most of the time. The day passed by quickly and before he knew it he stood in front of the bar, preparing himself and wondering why he decided to come. He fixed his dark red muffler, underneath he wore a black faux-leather jacket with buckles here and there, and black slim jeans. Stepping inside he looked around at the faces of the almost 30 year olds. Familiar but not recognizable, it seemed few remembered him and said hello. Jou realized then that he wasn't at school much back in the day, back then it was card games or all his part time jobs. Sitting at the bar against the wall next to someone else, he sighed; already tired. A clink was made as ice hit glass

"That look doesn't suit you" an extremely familiar deep voice spoke softly. Jou's head snapped up and stared at the man.

"...Kaiba?" Jou barely managed out. Of all people, Kaiba being here didn't even enter his mind! His heart sank into his stomach afraid of what would happen now. Kaiba scoffed,

"Is it that shocking?" Kaiba hadn't yet look back at him but Jou caught his bearings as he studied the man's face. He knew they were going on 30 soon and all, but Kaiba looked far too haggard for his age. It was then that the bar tender asked for Jou's order, he stuttered a reply of a beer and Kaiba just huffed. Jou frowned at him...what was he supposed to say...? Jou was so lost in thought that when he noticed, his drink was already sitting in front of him. In desperation of having to speak he put the drink to his lips and drank. Why was Kaiba there? He wasn't that kind of person? Why wasn't he saying anything? This odd silence went on for awhile before it dawned on Jou,

"What look...?" His brows furrowed and he glanced at the man next to him. Kaiba finally looked over his way with one brow raised, finally with eye contact Jou froze.

"You just now processed that?" Kaiba looked back down with a huff and back to Jou. He rested his chin on the back of his hands and seemed to study Jou.

"You look tired" that was it? Jou frowned,

"Of course I get tired..." He replied. Kaiba looked away and slightly shook his head and mumbled

"It's different" Jou looked at his second drink confused. What perplexed him the most was that he and Kaiba were talking civilly towards each other. What was the bastard planning? He glanced again at him, he seemed relaxed. That was odd.

"If anyone looks tired it's YOU." Jou smiled triumphantly as if that was a comeback of some sort. Kaiba let out a small sigh and rubbed his face with his palm. That was...not expected. Why wasn't he fighting back? Jou turned facing more towards him

"Worked hard over the holidays...?" He asked awkwardly. Why was he trying to talk to him normally anyways? 'Well, he's not bickering back so what else is there to do' Jou thought to himself. Kaiba pinched the bridge of his nose. 'Oh! Looks like I bothered him now...!' Jou mused.

"As I always do this time of year..." His voice sounded so exhausted. Jou frowned. This wasn't right...as if it wasn't weird enough Jou felt his heart stop as Kaiba looked at him, saying something he didn't catch. Kaiba was looking at him. Not through him, not glaring, not hateful; but looking right at him. Jou blinked a few times before stuttering a "what?". Kaiba furrowed his brows a bit irritated

"I asked what you do for a living." Kaiba was asking him something? Jou took a deep breath, trying to catch up with the events.

"I cook...-I mean I'm a cook, a chef." Jou mentally face palmed at his obvious nerves. Kaiba straightened his posture

"You're a chef?" Although his voice was unusually flat and quite, more than ever Jou could tell he was genuinely interested. Maybe wondering how the Mutt could make it? Jou scoffed,

"Un, I went to culinary school right out of college...and yeah." He scratched the back of his head suddenly feeling a little embarrassed. Why now? After a few seconds of silence Jou looked over at Kaiba who had looked away, nervous of what his reply would be Jou waited. Kaiba seemed to be deep in thought.

"Where's Mouto...?" Jou opened his mouth; mind stopping for a second. Many things passed through his head, 'no reply?' along with instant sadness from hearing Yugi's name. Feeling Kaiba's eyes on him he took a breath

"Egypt...he's in Egypt." Jou replied, voice much more flat than he expected it to be. He looked away from Kaiba afraid his expression gave his feelings away. Kaiba simply nodded,

"I had wanted to meet him..." Kaiba admitted. Jou just stared at his now third drink 'so that's why he came, for Yugi' somehow his heart sank more. All this niceness from Kaiba was making him weird. By this point some people were leaving, and some deciding to go to another restaurant. Jou suddenly stood unable to bear the strangeness and heard Kaiba stand right after him, Jou stopped thinking as he had forgotten how tall Kaiba was. He was so used to being the tallest out of the group especially with Yugi. Kaiba was at least 7 inches taller than himself, and his slim build only made him seem taller. Jou took note that he wasn't wearing his obnoxious white coat, but instead a dark grey fitted suit with a white button up shirt and light blue tie. Figures. It sure was odd seeing him in natural clothing though, Jou smiled at the thought and sight

"What?" Jou looked up to Kaiba realizing he was staring at him. Jou pressed his lips together trying to hide his embarrassment and his mind raced for an answer

"You just-...you're suit- you look nice"

SHIT. That wasn't what he was trying to say! Kaiba blinked, and Jou blinked as well although his face began to turn red. Jou closed his eyes screaming on the inside preparing himself for some awful insult or to be made fun of-

"Thank you" his eyes shot open and looked up at Kaiba who was now looking away. Waht. Jou officially gave up trying to think about any of this anymore, no matter how hard he tried he couldn't follow. He paid for his drinks and glanced at his phone that read 8 o'clock.

"I'm...going to head out" he pointed out and began to head for the door. His head was spinning from all that had happened. Kaiba nodded and Jou walked out back into the cold air and stretched. Well. He was screwed. Rain poured mercilessly as Jou stood under the restaurant tarp; umbrella less. Just his luck that his stomach growled ferociously, remembering he had yet to eat dinner. Letting out a heavy sigh his thoughts of running into the rain were cut off as he jumped from the sound of an umbrella opening right next to him. Quickly looking to his side, there stood Kaiba looking out into the rain. He just stood there for a few seconds expressionless before looking at Jou and leaning his umbrella to share. Jou looked at him

"Eh?" He looked up at the white umbrella that resembled the Blue-eyes wings and let out a little laugh; so Kaiba.

"Have you eaten?" Kaiba's voice was hard to hear under the rain but Jou barely caught it. Was he going to invite him...?

"Not yet, was about to" he replied, smiling, "have you?" Kaiba shook his head in reply, stepping closer to Jou he began to step out and Jou scrambled to follow to stay under the shelter.

'I guess 11 years is a long time, maybe even Kaiba would change' Jou mused laughing as he walked closely alongside his old time rival, sharing an umbrella, it was strange, but it felt nice.

H-hello. I've been writing this fic for a little over two years now. I'm already almost done with the last chapter, there's only about 5 so it's not long.
This is my first upload to FacFiction, I'm not sure how many people are still in this fandom and who still ship JouKai, but I'd be so happy if anyone reads it and enjoys it even just a little since I have no one around me who likes these types of things.
Thank you...!