Chapter 14 Jou

"Gentlemen, I am so sorry you had to wait," The woman apologized as she unlocked the door to the Louis Vuitton store. "With this weather I'm afraid that I couldn't -"

Jou grabbed the door as a gust of wind threatened to slam it shut before the three of them could slip in. "With this weather, you shouldn't even be here. So thanks for that. We really appreciate it." He paused and looked at Seto. "Right?"

"Of course," the man replied. "We need a belt to match his shoes. Nonferrous buckle. Perhaps a bag as well."

"Of course, sir." The woman hustled into the back room.

"Wait." Jou stared at Seto, appalled. "You called the Vuitton home office so they could track down the store manager and have her come out in a damn blizzard so you could buy a belt for me?"

"Not just for you." Seto didn't look up from the goods before him. "I'm considering a few items for Mokuba as well."

"A belt I don't need."

Seto did look at him then.

"Okay," Jou conceded. "A belt I don't want."

"Fine. I'll buy it for myself and you can simply borrow it." Seto moved to a rack of shoes.

Before Jou could reply, the manager returned with a selection of belts. She must have taken a moment for herself as well; her coat was off, and her shoes were a pair of pretty heels instead of snow boots.

"I took the liberty of starting a pot of coffee," she announced. "Please allow me to take your coats. Normally, we have fresh baked goods but our supplier can't deliver in this storm. There is a grocery store nearby, if you need anything."

"Actually, yes -" Seto started.

"Actually, no!" Jou snapped. "You would really make her go back out there?" he hissed at his lover.

Seto glanced at the window and seemed to consider the insane weather outside. "It would take her some time, wouldn't it. I think the dark brown suits your complexion more than the tan. What do you think?"

"I think I could buy fifty belts at the Donki store back home for the price of that one."

"I thought you liked Louis Vuitton. You admired the school bag I got for Mokuba. If you would prefer Gucci, they are next door. We could compare their selection."

"And make someone else come out in the snow."

"It is what they do for customer service."

"Excuse me," the manager interrupted. "Please don't worry about me. I only live a few minutes away. It was really no trouble walking in from -"

"Walking?" Jou gaped at her. "You walked here?"

She smiled. "Not a lot of options when a guest like Mr. Kaiba calls. It's fine. And, if you are interested in the Gucci line, I happen to be friends with the assistant manager there; I have her home number. I'm sure I can reach her faster than their corporate office can."

"No!" Jou looked from one to the next, exasperated. Then he had to laugh.

So typical.

Seto was so blind for a guy who could see so much. Dropping a couple thousand yen on a belt. Why? To show off that he could? No. To buy Jou. To Jou, it seemed that Seto was so freaked out by Jou growing up poor that he wanted to make it all up to Jou now - like it was a hole and if Seto threw enough stuff in it, it would disappear. Jou keep trying to get him to stop, but Seto never listened.

And the poor manager just wanted a commission since she couldn't have a snow day.

"Okay!" Jou shook his head. "I'll buy a belt. Not a $600 belt, but a nice one, okay? But that's it. Let's get her a cab, and go back to the hotel. Deal?"

"There's no sense leaving now, since I will be making several purchases. I want to see these shoes in a size 10 in both the black and the tan."

"The 'noir' and the 'honey'. Certainly, sir." She hurried off to the back.

"Stop buying me stuff."

"I'm not. This is as much for me as you. People judge me by how they see you. It damages my reputation when you arrive in faded pants and rumpled shirts."

"So don't insist on me going to fancy places with you. Problem solved."

"Excuse me." The manager smiled sheepishly. "They were near the front. I, uh, oh! I might have a pair in the 'cognac' brown as well. It could take me a few minutes to find them, if you would like me to look."

Seto and Jou exchanged a dark look. "Yes. Please do. I will call you if we need something before you find them," Seto said after a moment.

She all but fled the sales floor.

"Seto," Jou sighed heavily. "You can't buy me. I don't want stuff - I never did. I want your time. Your attention." He leered. "Your body. But not your money. Your money pisses me off."

"You surely don't mean to imply that I should give up all my worldly possessions and live as a pauper."

"Ha! Fat chance of that!" Jou shrugged. "But there are worse ideas."

"No. There are not." Seto glared at him. "I am not so shallow that I believe people can be bought and sold like rice."

"Just that they can be controlled by buying them rice."

"I have never been able to control you - even when I wanted to." Seto suddenly turned thoughtful. "This is about that lease, isn't it? I truly am sorry about that. My assistant honestly didn't know the apartment was for you. I would never -"

"I know, Seto! You've told me like a million times. I believe you. It's kinda funny, now, actually."

"Well, then what? You say you have no issues with me, but every time I do something nice, you act like I'm insulting you!"

"I don't mean that!"

"Then what do you mean?"

"I just mean you don't have to buy me anything. I know you got money. You don't have to show me all the time."

"You think I flaunt my wealth?"

"Kinda, but-"

"MANAGER!"

"Seto -"

"Perfect timing, sir." She put on a smile as she stepped back into the main room. "I just found the pair I was looking for."

"Fine. I want the full set - the shoes, the belt, that wallet, and this bag in the noir, the honey, and the cognac." Seto opened his wallet, and handed her a black AmEx card. "I have an account with Vuitton. Ship everything to my home address. Special order anything you don't have in stock."

"Yes, Mr. Kaiba, sir." The manager's fingers flew across the register.

"You're a douche, Kaiba."

"I just wanted to show you what flaunting wealth looks like. Manager, add a second set of everything one size smaller."

Her fingers paused and she eyed him hesitantly. "Sir?"

"For my brother."

"Ah. Yes, certainly. A second set." She went back to pressing buttons.

"Mokuba's feet are bigger than yours," Jou pointed out.

"Add a third set one size larger, Manager." Seto with apparent nonchalance. The Manager didn't even pause, just nodded and continued the transaction. "Anything we don't need, I'll give away."

"The total is $34,328," the manager interjected.

"THIRTY-FOUR THOUSAND?!" Jou cried out. "For just that? Seto-"

"Thank you." Seto signed the receipt she handed him. "I would also like your name so that I may report the excellent service I received today."

"Oh! It's Jones, sir. Rena Jones. And thank you. I really haven't done much."

"You've done quite enough. I wonder if I could impose on you for one further thing. I noticed that Cartier Jewelers a few doors down. Could you call and see if they are open? I think I may need a new watch."

Jou rolled his eyes.

She hesitated. "Well I can look them up, of course. But if I may, two doors down in the other direction is Tiffany's. I do have their manager's contact information and I happen to know that they recently received a shipment of new men's watches. I was looking at one for my husband. And you, of course, could wait here if they aren't available immediately."

Seto gave Jou a look that was positively malicious. "What a delightful suggestion. Please. Call both. If I buy from Tiffany's, your husband may benefit as well."

Jou sat down on the edge of the window display. Leave it to Kaiba to miss the point entirely. All Jou had wanted was a quiet Valentine weekend - just the two of them. He had even booked a room at an onsen. Luckily, Anzu and Mai were free so he wouldn't lose the deposit. But, as much as Jou loved the gang, they were the last people he wanted to be with. The separate hotels was another lucky break.

But Seto's need to spend money on Jou was killing any romantic thoughts he had.

Author's End Note:

Standard reviews welcome. Even if you don't feel comfortable commenting, I would deeply appreciate a ":-)", ":-l", or ":-(". I feel a bit alone on this one. From the stage, the lights are blinding and you don't know if anyone is watching if the audience is silent. Let me know you're out there, please. Thank You. SJ