Author's Note: Inspired by Elley Duhé's song Middle of the Night, suggested by saiikavon on tumblr. :) Thank you!

With each ring Kaiba's traitorous heart raced a bit faster.

The caller picked up on the third ring.

"Hello?" a sleepy voice inquired.

For a moment, Kaiba thought to hang up the phone and explain the call away as an accident. But something about the miles between them and the cheerful partygoers back inside, so many coupled together, made him bolder.

Heck, if his surly head of accounting could find someone to spend time with him, he, Kaiba Seto, could handle this phone call.

"Hello, Jounouchi, I'm sorry to have woken you. I'm in San Francisco right now," Kaiba said.

"Well, that explains why you're awake. At least, it should. Mokuba told me you've been putting in some crazy hours on this new project. Hey, how'd you get my number anyway?"

"Mokuba," Kaiba replied. His little brother made it a point to stay in touch with Yugi's friend group, including the blonde he now found himself hesitating before.

"Makes sense, shame he didn't make it to Yugi's celebration last week. Glad you decided to come out though," Jounouchi said, and Kaiba could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke the final words, almost like an offering.

The final moment where he could turnback had arrived. He could either squash anything that had been forming between them these last weeks or plunge forward into what some would say was ill-advised.

"I usually take walks with my dog in the evenings, I was wondering if you'd like to join me this Friday when I return?"

"Huh? Is this a joke… no, you're not kidding. …Um, okay, yeah, sure," Jounouchi fumbled out. "Sorry, I just didn't think you'd take me seriously what with our history being as it is, even after well, last week."

"You've shown yourself to be admirable," Kaiba found himself saying, "for a third-rate duelist," he couldn't help but add with a slight smirk.

"Hey!" Jounouchi replied. "I may not be as good as you right now, but I plan to get there!"

Kaiba couldn't help but smile at the oft repeated sentiment. "We'll see about that. In the meantime, I look forward to your company Friday. Meet me at the Manor."

"Okay, will do," Jounouchi agreed. "I liked the gift you gave Yugi by the way. You're not such a bad friend after all."

Something in Kaiba's heart softened at that. "It was the thoughtful thing to do," he said attempting to brush it aside.

"Yeah, but you could have been a dick, but you weren't, the whole night," Jounouchi said, a smile playing in his voice once again.

"We've had our differences, but he's my business partner now and I respect him despite it all," he confessed.

"Glad he's grown on you. Listen, I'd love to stay up and chat some more but it's early," Jounouchi said.

"Right, good night, Jounouchi," Kaiba replied.

"Oh, and Kaiba," Jounouchi began.

"Hm?" he inquired.

"It's teakwood, isn't it?" Jounouchi ventured.

"What?" Kaiba asked, puzzled.

"Your cologne's main note," Jounouchi continued. "I kept smelling it at the party, when we danced and when I, well we, almost kissed," his voice lowered again at the final words, fragile as they hung in the air.

"Yes, it is," Kaiba replied. "Didn't take you for a scent guy."

"I work at a department store right now actually, and I could have sworn that smelled just like one of the new releases in the men's department," Jounouchi explained.

"…do you like it?" Kaiba asked, finding himself concerned with the blonde's taste.

"Yeah, it suits you," Jounouchi responded.

"I'll wear it again then," Kaiba said, smiling.

"As long as you don't overdo it," Jounouchi joked.

"Never," Kaiba said.

"You're the King of Big," Jounouchi teased.

He couldn't deny it. "There's a time and place for that… I've learned," Kaiba responded, more serious than the situation called for. But then again, a lot stood undiscussed between them, a history yet to further explore.

"Glad to hear it," Jounouchi said with a chuckle. "Friday then?"

"Friday," Kaiba replied, and ended the call, the blonde's laughter echoing in his head. Not from shame as he'd always feared, but joy.