Jaded Affection

By: Johnny Sorrow

Chapter Four- Relations

Warnings- More Jou/ Kaiba Happy fluffy yaoi

Notes- Ok there going to be at a restaurant in this chapter and I don't know anything at all about Japanese Dining customs so bear with me people.

*****

Jounouchi's POV

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"Jounouchi you've been in there for 2 hours now!" Shizuka sounded agitated on the other side of the bathroom door, "What are you doing in there?"

"I'm just getting ready for a date," I paused for a moment looking at the garish clothes I was trying on, "Or at least I think it's a date."

"Oh a date? With who?"

"No one," I opened the door and walked quickly to my room. I threw the pile of clothes I had with me on my bed and grabbed another few garments from my closet to try on, "Argh! I have nothing to wear."

"So do I know her?"

"No Shizuka, you don't know... the person." I walked back in the bathroom and started trying different clothes combinations.

"Is it that Mai lady?"

"God no. Stupid whore, she's like thirty years old." I ripped the Hawaiian shirt off, and grabbed another one from the pile.

Hawaiian? What the hell was I thinking when I bought that?

"You shouldn't say mean things like that Jounouchi."

"It's not like she's here or anything."

"I guess."

" Damn it." The door flew open once again and I marched out with yet another pile of failed clothing. Repeating the process of gathering more clothes from my closet and returning to the bathroom I heard Shizuka giggling behind the bathroom door, "What's so funny?"

"You, your so worried about what your going to wear. You're acting like a girl."

"What? A guy can't worry about how he looks?"

"No, its just most guys don't really care how they look."

"Well pardon me for being different."

"So how come your so secretive about this date?"

"I'm not, it's just my private life. I'm entitled to a private life aren't I?"

"Yeah but..."

"But what?"

"Most guys like to brag about dates."

"Again with the 'most guys' stuff? Well sorry if I'm not like most guys."

I swung the door open again. Defeated I returned to my bedroom.

"Wait Jounouchi." Shizuka walked over to me.

"What?"

She rooted around in my closet and pulled out two outfits. She picked them up and showed them to me.

"Ok which would you rather wear? The more casual blue long sleeved shirt along with the light cargo-pants, or the slightly less casual black buttoned down shirt and dark brown kakis?"

I looked over to the small electric clock I had next to my bed.

"6:52!" I grabbed the black shirt and kakis and darted into the bathroom. I applied a little last minute deodorant, and threw on the clothes.

"What time is your date with your mystery woman?"

"At seven." I sprayed on a little cologne and opened the door, "How do I look?"

"Not bad, all you needed was a woman's touch."

"Believe me that's the last thing I'll want tonight."

"What's that supposed to mean? You took the clothes, you'd be late without my help?" She placed her hands at her hips.

"It wasn't an insult at you. Just an inside joke that's all."

"Whatever. Here." She handed me a pack of breath mints. "Your breath reeks."

I grabbed the container and popped two in my mouth, "Thanks."

"No problem."

I straightened out my shirt and checked my hair in the mirror, "Perfect."

"Hardly."

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing it's just an inside joke." She said sticking her tongue at me.

I laughed and smiled at her, then the doorbell rung.

"I'll get it!" I raced to the door and looked through the peephole. Sure enough Seto was standing there. Dressed mainly in white. He was holding flowers. I wanted to laugh but it was so cute. I opened the door, "Hey Seto."

"Hi." He stood there for a moment, before awkwardly extending the flowers to me. "Here. Uh these are for you"

"Thanks," I smiled and took the flowers from him, "You can come in if you want. I'll only be a second."

"Ok." He stepped inside and shuffled nervously.

"Hello." Shizuka eyed him suspiciously.

I walked into my room to put the flowers away.

"Hi. I'm Seto Kaiba, head of-"

"I know who you are." Would you excuse me for a moment." She marched into my room and closed the door. "You're going on a date with Kaiba?"

"Yep." I placed the flowers in a jar next to my bed.

"But he's mean... not to mention I thought you hated him."

"Things change."

"Obviously."

"What's the matter?"

"I just think you can do better then a cruel snob like Kaiba."

"He's not really that mean when you really get to know him. And look at him he's totally hot. I would consider him a pretty good date."

"I guess. Rich and Cute."

"Your not even going to remark about how it's a guy?"

"Oh please like the whole world didn't already know."

"Well I'm glad somebody did." I moved over and opened the door, "ready Seto?"

"Sure." He waved goodbye to Shizuka, "It was nice to meet you."

"Like wise." She looked at me, "Don't forget to be careful. And mom will totally freak if you not home by at least mid night."

"Ok see ya sis." We left the building and got to his car. It was a limo, "Wow a bit fancy just for me don't you think?"

"It's just one of the perks for owning a huge corporation." A small man exited the front of the car and opened the door for us. Seto let me get in first. It wasn't as big as it looked from the outside but it was still fairly large. I sat down and admired the inside of the car. Seto got in and sat next to me.

"Is this your first time?" Seto looked less nervous then he did inside the apartment.

"First time what?"

"In a limousine."

"Yeah," I admitted while feeling the velvet seat covers, "So where are we going tonight?"

"I thought we'd just start out by going to dinner first."

"Sounds like a plan. What restaurant?" I hate to admit it but I felt really nervous, I really didn't know what to expect from this. I don't know what he expects from me. And lets face it, it's not like I'm some relationship sage. Though it did help that he looked about twice as nervous as I felt.

"The La vie en rose. It's a little fancy and pretentious but the food is good."

"Um cool."

"I think you'll like it."

"If you say so. But I don't think I'm really dressed for the occasion." I looked down at my plain clothes.

"It's not a problem really. There's not really a dress code."

"Oh ok," I hesitated for a moment before asking him, "Hey Seto is this like... a date?"

"... I don't know. It's whatever you want it to be."

"Oh so it is a date." I smiled at him.

"I guess it is."

"So I guess it's kinda ironic isn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

"A few days ago, I thought you were going to try rape and kill me and now were on a date."

"Yeah. You do know I wasn't going to hurt you right?"

"Yeah yeah, I was just saying that's all."

The car stopped and then the window that separated the driver's seat and the back of the limo opened slowly.

"Kaiba-sama we've reached our destination." The tiny man didn't turn around he just watched us from the rear view mirror.

"Alright. Are you ready Jounouchi?"

"Sure Seto."

We exited the car and I saw the place. It was fairly large, made of brick and had the words 'La vie en rose' written across the top elegantly. We walked together up to the doors. Maintaining a close distance but without actually touching each other. When we entered the building a petite Hostess awaited us.

"Reservations sirs?" She looked to Seto holding her little clipboard.

"Yes it should be under Kaiba."

"Oh." She didn't even check the clipboard, "My apologies sir. This way." We followed her through a hallway and we reached a small dining area away from all the normal tables. Seto and I sat down as the woman lighted two candles at the center of the table. She bowed slightly and told us our waitress would be here shortly

"So our own table huh." I admired the tapestry hanging from one of the walls in the secluded room.

"Yeah. I specifically asked for it. This may sound trite but I wanted this to be special and dining in a crowded room filled with strangers didn't seem very personal."

"I see what you mean, but again you really didn't have to go through all this trouble for me."

"I wanted to."

"Excuse me sir's I will be your waitress for this evening." She looked at us strangely, "Are you expecting anyone else in your party tonight?"

"No. Just us." Seto said warmly.

"I... see." She paused for a moment before handing both of us a menu, "Would you two like anything to drink?"

"Just a soda for me." I said while skimming through the menu.

"I'll have a Martini" Seto trailed off ordering his alcohol like an expert. Something about dirty salt...

"I'll be right back." The waitress left to retrieve our drinks.

"You're not old enough to drink. Are you?"

"No but what's the point of coming to a place like this and ordering a soda?" He smiled at me endearingly, "And besides the people here are to gutless to ask me for ID."

"Sorry if I'm not a teenage alcoholic." He laughed, opening his menu.

"What are you going to get?"

"I don't know, you're the entrepreneur. What do you suggest?"

Before he could answer me our waitress returned with a fizzy glass of soda and another drink in a thin glass, that looked kinda like a wine glass but with more of a saucer on the top. "Your soda sir," She placed the fizzy drink next to me, "You're martini sir." She placed the glass next to him, "What will you two be having tonight?"

"I'll be having the-" He began to pronounce something in French I think, whatever it was it sounded elegant, "And my companion here will be having the-" blarg more uninterruptible French.

"Alright. You're order will be prepared shortly." She took the menus from us and left.

"Jounouchi, I've been meaning to ask you something." Seto took a sip from his drink.

"What?"

"You're not doing all of this out of pity are you?"

"What is up with the complete lack of self confidence Seto? What's your child hood trauma? I told you that I like you."

" I'm sorry. It's just I'm not used to trusting people."

"Look, I'm not trying to be mean here but you're going to have to get past this. Every time we have a conversation you're always doubting my motives."

"I know. I just don't understand why you like me."

"I'm not going to sit here and list the reason's why I like you," I reached over and touched his hand, " Now can we just forget about your insecurities and have a nice evening?"

"Ok."

After that the rest of dinner went pretty well. Our food came and it was mediocre but we talked a lot more about generic date stuff like each other's interests and hobbies. When the check came it was for some absolutely obscene amount but not surprisingly he paid for all of it. He is the millionaire after all. None the less it didn't exactly make me feel very masculine, but I got a free meal who am I to complain?

After our Dining at the extravagant 'La vie en rose' I wondered where our date would take us next. I was soon to find out that we would be going to see a movie. Not the most original of choices I admit but it was quaint in its own way. So blah were in the theatre and here I am pretending I actually like generic slasher horror films. And I find myself in the middle of the proverbial inner monologue containing 'don't go in there you stupid ass bitch you know he's behind the fucking door' and I tell myself I'm not going to be surprised, I'm not going to jump when I see the killer in his mask/ hood/ bad 80's haircut slash up our unsuspecting heroine in a bloody sheath of badly edited cliché film. But of course I do, I jump and cowardly cling on to Seto's arm giving out a tiny 'eep' in the process. Catching myself in the middle of an embarrassing moment I withdrew my self from Seto's arm and sank back into my uncomfortable movie seat. A few moments later I noticed him inching his hand towards mine on our shared armrest. He sort of nudged my finger like asking for acceptance before holding my hand. Cheesy yes but adorable. So after the crappy ass movie we road back to my apartment building in his limo, having a conversation on just how bad the movie was.

Once we stopped he walked me up to the front door of the building.

"So... I had a great time tonight." I wanted to slap myself for that masterpiece of originality.

"Yeah me too." He shuffled his feet nervously.

"Uh, well see you tomorrow." I was about to turn around and leave until he leaned forward and kissed me. The kiss was disappointingly chaste, no tongue whatsoever. But it was sweet.

"Bye Jounouchi." He walked away and got back into the car. I watched the limo drive away before entering the building.

*****

OMG I know that seemed totally pointless, but it was necessary for establishing Jounouchi and Kaiba's relationship for what's going to happen next. (Ooh ominous) It took me so long to write not because of the length, it was pretty short. I guess because of the sheer fluffiness of the chapter. So R&R people. With any luck the story will be one of substance in the next few chapters.