Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.
Warning: Yaoi in later chapters. If you don't like, I suggest you leave. NC-17 later on ;)
Summary: Jou is a successful designer living abroad in America. He is offered a chance to come back to Japan for a commission, but little does he know theres more in store for him than he anticipated. JouXSeto.
Pulling at the Seams
Chapter 1: Re-Introduction
A pair of slender fingers slowly twirled the teaspoon around the empty coffee cup, again and again in monotonous circles. Round and round, the man's eyes watched the metal glint as it caught the light. It took an apprehensive glance from a nearby waitress to stir the man from his ministrations.
He sighed, pushing golden hair from his eyes and reaching for his wallet. He had to stop doing this. For a man with supposedly no time for anything, he sure found a lot of it to waste with pointless thought. As a sort of confirmation, the mobile on the table began to vibrate loudly. Flipping it open, he paused, and then reluctantly raised the phone to his ear.
"Katsuya Jounouchi. Who's speaking?"
"It's only me, sir."
The familiar voice of his secretary soothed his anxiety, and he relaxed back into the chair.
"Hey Jared. What's the news?"
His voice had long lost its defining accent, and it had slowly morphed into a more refined, business-like tone. His vocabulary had soared since his time in California, and he could barely remember a time where he hadn't properly pronounced a word.
"We have a new client, sir."
Jounouchi frowned.
"I thought I'd already made it obvious I wasn't accepting new-"
"This one you might want to, sir."
His frown deepened. Jared rarely interrupted him, let alone went against his better judgement. Usually he was a complete pushover – what had changed?
"Jared, you know I've already got two commissions running at the moment. The designs for that red-carpet dress aren't done, and I've got the London Fashion Show coming up – that's going to be a fuckload of work. What makes this guy different?"
"Well, he's offering quite a lot."
Money wasn't a problem anymore. Jou preferred to work on requests he found interesting or inspiring, not careless bribes. He sighed.
"How much?"
"100 Million Yen"
It wasn't the figure which grabbed Katsuya as much as the currency.
"Did you say yen?"
"Yeah. He's from Japan, very wealthy and-"
"Which part of Japan?"
Jounouchi was suddenly very intrigued. He hadn't been back to Japan since...he couldn't remember.
"He didn't say."
Jou didn't care. He could go back to Japan, to Domino, to his friends. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Yugi, or Yami, or any of them. They'd tried to keep in touch during the first few weeks of his internship, but their lives had gotten in the way. Where were they now?
"And his name?"
"He didn't leave that either."
Jou snapped away from his memories. He hadn't left his name?
"Wait, so, how do I-"
"He said to contact him by that number if you were interested. He said he'd leave more information as appropriate, if you were to accept the offer."
A mysterious client, then. He'd definitely managed to spark Jou's interest. And, thinking about it, the dress didn't have to be done for several weeks. Perhaps he could take a trip to Japan instead.
"Sir?"
Jou realised he hadn't replied.
"Call him back. Let him know I'll meet him in Japan, assuming he'll let me know that much information."
"Will do, sir."
"Thanks Jared."
He flipped the phone shut. This was going to be interesting.
---
Jou stepped off the plane with a skip in his step. It felt good to be home, after all those years in the commercialized, uncivilised place that was America. He beckoned for Jared to hurry up, as he strode determinedly towards the arrivals area. His mysterious client still hadn't disclosed any of his details, only that he wanted to meet, and he'd have one of his chauffeurs meet them at the airport. Whilst waiting for his luggage to appear, Jou mulled over his mysterious request. There were several incredibly wealthy men in Japan, it could be any of them. He'd questioned Jared as much as was humanely possible, but hadn't learnt anything else.
As he pushed the trolley out of the luggage area, he entered the arrivals room. A wild array of chauffeurs greeted them, all sporting signs. Jared tapped him on the shoulder and pointed to the left side of the room, where a particularly well-dressed man held a sign that read "Katsuya Jounouchi". He beckoned them over and they followed him in silence, whilst another two similarly dressed men took their luggage out. A sleek, black, limo was waiting for them as they stepped out of the airport.
Jou thanked the chauffeur, and the other men, and just as he and Jared turned to climb into the black, leather, comfy-looking interior he noticed a silver emblem on the man's Jacket. Two letters, but the man moved away before he could read them.
"My god, the Japanese sure know how to live." Whispered Jared from beside him, staring in awe at the inside of the limo, which was lined with silver lights across the top, as well as the helpful addition of a minibar and a television screen opposite them.
"They sure do." Jou said, although he'd seen similar before, but perhaps not quite as extravagant as this. He was still curious as to who was hiring him. The employees didn't seem keen to talk, so he searched the inside of the limo for clues. Nothing helped.
Soon, the exhaustion of the flight caught up with him, and his head lolled on the darkened window. Just as his eyes fluttered shut, he caught one of the road signs that flashed past, with the words "Domino City" displayed across it.
"Sir. Sir?"
Jared's voice broke into his nap and he jolted awake, startling the younger man.
"H-whu? Oh, sorry Jared. We here?"
"Yep. You'll want to see this." Jared had an excited, naive expression dancing across his features. Jounouchi rubbed his eyes tiredly, apprehensive of what he was about to see.
"Shouldn't we book a hotel, y'know, sort that sort of thing out first?"
"The master said not to worry." Interjected one of the employees. "He said he had your accommodation fully organised."
"Figures." Muttered Jou, cautiously stepping outside of the limo.
Before him stood a grand building, modern, with several odd triangular structures jutting out of it, kind of like spikes. The colour scheme was a mix of black, white, silver and red. Large double doors signalled the entrance to the building, with large silver handles and detailed engravings embroidering their surface. Delicious smells wafted out from the open doors, and Jou's stomach rumbled. It'd been a while since he'd eaten.
"The master thought it'd be best to discuss things over a spot of dinner." Said the Chauffeur, beckoning into the impressive building.
"He owns this place?" Jou asked incredulously. Even he was beginning to be a little in awe of this man's earnings.
"Of course. The master has his own restaurant, spa, sports centre, offices, and of course mansion, all within the Domino area."
"We're in Domino?!" Jou's heart raced. This meant he could see them. Memories of his friend's faces brought his pulse up – he wondered how they'd grown, what they'd done, where they were, what they looked like...
"Yes Sir, now if you could please follow me." The chauffeur was eyeing him curiously.
Jou, snapping out of his reverie, nodded and beckoned for Jared to follow him.
"Ah, no, not meaning to be offensive sir, but the master requested that the meeting be between you two only. Not to seem rude."
"Oh, okay then." Jou frowned slightly. "So Jared and..."
"We're heading back to the estate, so your secretary and luggage can make themselves at home. The master will bring you back in his own limo."
Jared looked slightly worried, but Jou put a consoling hand on his shoulder and smiled. "Go enjoy yourself. There's probably a cinema or something there."
Jared nodded and smiled weakly, and waving goodbye, turned to climb back into the vehicle. Jou, meanwhile, followed the chauffeur into the building. He was growing more worried by the second. There was something suspicious about all this secrecy.
They passed rows of filled tables, with wealthy-looking people sitting, talking and eating what looked like luxury food. He spied lobster on one man's plate, and his stomach reminded him loudly that it'd only been barely satisfied by terrible airline food.
"We're just heading to the master's private dining rooms, it's just through those doors at the end."
The chauffeur pointed towards some silver doors, engraved similarly to those at the entrance. Jou's heart began to pound. How rich WAS this man?
As they reached the silver doors, the chauffeur turned to him.
"I won't go any further than this, sir. But I hope you enjoy your meal."
Just as the man stepped aside, pulling the door with him, Jou caught another glimpse of the silver initials on the man's jacket. KC.
As he walked down a small corridor to a door at the end, warning bells began to go off in his head. KC. What did that stand for? C for Corporation? Corps?
As his hand met the silver handle, he froze.
C for Corps. K for...
K for Kaiba.
For a second, Jou couldn't breathe. He had to be wrong, but then again, how could he? Domino City, where the only known billionaire that resided there was none other than Seto Kaiba, the tormentor of his teenage years and the former bane of his existence.
How could he have been so stupid?
Maybe Kaiba hadn't recognised him, maybe he didn't know it was him? Stupid, of course he did. Considering his name was plastered across every piece of clothing he'd ever designed, it would've been difficult for Kaiba to miss. And now what was he going to do? Tear him to shreds? Make stupid insults? Gods, this was all too much, maybe he could leave now, without...
"Come in."
Shit. Shit shit shit. He'd have known that voice anywhere. He'd heard him. Jou took a deep breath. He'd just have to be as business-like as possible, to show that irritating Kaiba he wasn't to be messed with. If Kaiba tried to provoke him, he wouldn't react. Simple as that. Fine.
Sighing, he pushed open the door.
The glinting cerulean eyes that met him were as mirthful as he'd expected. Kaiba hadn't changed at all, except perhaps for a more defined jaw-line, and a slightly less youthful appearance. Other than that, he was just as he'd been when Jou left – smirking, smug, and ultimately the most self-assured bastard in the world. Kaiba reclined in a dining chair, swirling red wine in an expensive-looking glass, his eyebrow mockingly raised.
"Well, well, well. I was surprised you showed up."
Jou moved a few steps further, willing the instinctive glare not to surface.
"I never refuse a generous client."
Kaiba's eyebrows rose further into his hairline.
"Did you just pronounce all of those words in a row? My, my, the pup sure has grown up."
Jou fought down a grimace at the old nickname.
"Maybe some of us haven't." He replied, as coolly as he could manage without swinging a punch.
Seto's smirk flattened. He hadn't been expecting that.
"You'll do no good insulting your clients, Katsuya."
"Oh gosh, was I? Sorry." Now it was Jou's time to smirk. "What's for dinner, Kaib?"
"Ah yes, you always did think with your stomach."
Jou took a seat opposite the brunette, picking up a menu for want of something to look at other than his client. He could feel Kaiba's gaze boring into him, but refused to look up.
"I'll have the shrimp."
"Oh, will you?"
"Yup. And a cola." Jou said conclusively, putting down the menu and folding his arms.
"Very well."
Kaiba pressed a button on the wall next to him, and within seconds a waiter appeared. After he'd ordered for the both of them, and the waiter had left, Seto turned to regard Jou closely.
"Not interested to know what your commission is? Poor form, Mutt."
"I thought it'd be rude to refuse your hospitality, so I thought I'd order first. But do tell."
Inwardly, Jou was laughing at the astonished expression on Kaiba's face. He obviously hadn't been expecting the change.
"Well, I have a little...party...coming up, as a celebration of ten years of duel monsters."
Jou nodded. "You want an outfit?"
"Not just an outfit. I already have concepts in place. But they're pretty complicated. Think you can handle it, pup?"
"Kaiba, I'd appreciate it if you called me by a less derogatory name." Said Jou, gritting his teeth. He was beginning to get sick of the other man's presence.
Kaiba smirked yet again; he was finally hitting a nerve.
"Oh, but I just think we should be able to form a more...friendly...relationship, rather than simply colleagues."
Jou sighed, and stood up, leaning forward across the table.
"Look, Kaiba, the only reason I came was because I wasn't clever enough to suss out who it was. Otherwise, I wouldn't have set foot on the plane. If you're just here to play games then by all means watch me leave, but if you actually want to look good for this party thing, I think you should treat me with a little more respect. You're not the only one with money now, you know."
Kaiba sat back in his chair.
"Well played, pup. I have intention of playing 'games'. I just want a nice suit, and I'm willing to pay the offered sum for it and more if you feel at all...harassed."
Jou considered it. Although Kaiba was, ultimately, a complete ass, he would get the chance to spend time in Domino and see his old friends. And adding money for every insult seemed fair play. He sighed in defeat.
"Fine. What's the deal?"
"You really have changed, Mutt."
Kaiba's expression was less mocking this time.
"I have?"
"Have you heard yourself?"
"Well, sure, the accent."
"Your entire appearance included. Although some of the doggish attitude still remains." Kaiba's smile made Jou's blood boil. But he realised he'd have to contain the urge to punch the bastard if he wanted to stay in Domino, or in business. The media would love a fistfight.
"Explain the commission."
"I shall. Anyway, this party coming up. Naturally I want to present myself well to the duelling community, as the upholder of Kaiba Corps. I had a few ideas suggested by personal designers but nothing tickled my fancy. Until I saw this – one of your designs, I believe."
Kaiba held up a photo – Jou recognised it, a black, jewelled trench coat he'd made for an American movie star for his red carpet debut.
"Right."
"I'd like one of these. But styled very differently."
"Like how?"
"Recognise this?" Kaiba, this time, pulled out of his jacket pocket a duelling card, and before he'd turned it over Jou already knew which it was.
"I'd like a trench coat, but styled like a Blue Eyes. Think you're up to the challenge?"
Jou, although he hated to admit it, was fascinated. Years of boring commissions, and he'd never had the opportunity to do something as creative as this.
"I'm in."
Kaiba leaned back, satisfied.
"Fantastic. Let's eat."
---