Chapter Eight

Before either one of them knew it, a month had gone by, which left only one month left for the tournament. This gave them both mixed feelings.

Kaiba's one concern was beating Yuugi, and that is what he put all of his effort into. He would stay up late at night, working on strategies, and different maneuvers.

Jou on the other hand, was worried about the entire tournament. He had not dueled in a very long time, and Seto was also a problem. They would have to face of one way or another, and Jou was almost positive that and 'friendship' they acquired over the last two months would be quickly forgotten.

The two had gotten along on a decent level. There were a few scraps here and there, such as when Deidra walked by Jou when he was carrying a bunch of file folders full of papers for Kaiba. She gave him a little wave, and he turned to look at her walking away, when he ran into Kaiba who had stopped in the hallway. Needless to say, papers went flying in every direction and Kaiba and Jou found them selves on the floor. No need to dictate what happened there.

Kaiba spent hours a day working on the tournament. He rarely spoke, and could usually be found in his office, hunched over a pile of notes.

Jou would spend his time doing errands and flirting with office staff. Kaiba made a regular attempt on not sending him to any floors with attractive staff.

"Here," said Kaiba, thrusting an ivory envelope into Jou's hand one day.

"What is it?" Asked Jou.

"Well, any normal human being would open it up and see."

Jou gave Kaiba a glare he doubted he saw.

You Are Invited to the Annual Kaiba Corporation Dinner and Ball

Jou read over the invitation. Location, was somewhat near his house. Formal wear…. Formal wear?

"Why am I invited?"

"Are you a part of this company?" asked Kaiba.

"Yes…" replied Jou, unsure of what to say.

"Then you got an invitation. Come if you want, I don't really care."

"What is formal wear?"

This time Kaiba looked up from his laptop. "Dress shirt, dress pants and a tie, that is what formal wear usually consists of."

"Oh," Jou thought for a moment, "I don't have any of that."

"You have got to be kidding me," laughed Kaiba.

Jou turned a bit red, "No."

Kaiba sighed, "I'll see what I have in my closet, most likely won't fit. Go see if Mel has anything for you to do."

Jou could see Kaiba was busy, and walked out the door.

"You got one too?" Melanie asked, upon seeing the envelope in Jou's hand.

"Yea, how is it?"

Melanie shrugged, "I don't usually go. Some years I do, but not usually. Bunch of rich business men in suits talking about stocks and drinking scotch."

"Why does Kaiba bother to throw these things?" Asked Jou, obviously perplexed.

"Well, it attracts people to Kaiba Corp's industry. Not everyone from this company goes. It is also a flashy way of saying 'Look at me! I have money!'"

Jou stifled a laugh, "Yea, well we'll see if I can go. Lord knows I don't fit into that crowd. Do you need me to do anything?"

Mel shook her head, "No, I think I am done everything I was supposed to do for the day."

"Great," said Jou, "Then I'm going home."

"There is no way I am going in this."

Kaiba had brought in a suit for Jou to try on. Not only was it too big, but it made him look as if he was shedding his skin.

"Why do you have to be so tall?" moaned Jou.

"I'm not tall, you are just short." Kaiba was grinning from over his desk.

"Well, I don't think this is funny at all!" Said Jou, waving what appeared to be a fist at Kaiba, though, Seto only saw a black sleeve bouncing freely in the air.

"Why don't you just buy one then?"

"I don't have the money to just waltz out to a store and buy a $200 suit. I am not like you rich boy."

Kaiba shrugged, "Get that one tailored then. Or just don't come at all. If I were you, I would go with option #2."

"Brilliant idea to give me an invite and then persuade me not to come," shot Jou.

"I didn't make the invitations, someone else did. I would not have invited you."

Jou narrowed his eyes at Kaiba, "And why not?"

"Oh, you mean besides the fact that you are irritating? This is a social event for the upper class Mutt, I doubt you would know how to act in such an atmosphere."

That really got to Jou. "So, you think you are better than me do you?"

"I didn't say that," said Kaiba exasperatingly, "All I said was I don't think you would know how to act."

Jou turned his head away from the CEO, "Well we'll just have to see about that!" He made his way out of the office, but not before tripping over a pant leg.

Jou did end up taking his suit to a tailor.

He was a short stocky man. Bald and sort of grunted as he walked around doing things. He was nice though, and when Jou asked if he could pay for the tailoring over a period of time because he couldn't pay for it now, the man ended up giving it to him half price. That suited Jou just the same, as he needed this in time for the dinner. The fact that Kaiba did not want him there did not elude Jou from doing what he wanted to.

It was only when he was walking out of the tailor's shop, that he heard the man say "If yer plannin' on wearin' that to a formal dinner or sumthin', I would take that stupid collar off. Yeh look like a ruddy dog."

Jou forgot for a moment, that he had it on, and completely forgot that he would have to attend the dinner with it on. Unless of course he persuaded Kaiba to take it off. But that was like persuading a lion to give up its kill for a salad.

Jou felt like ringing Kaiba's stupid neck. The CEO laughed in his face when he asked for the collar to be taken off.

"I ain't under contract no more!"

Kaiba shrugged, "I don't feel like taking it off. Like I said, don't go if you if you have it on."

Jou figured out that this was some elaborate plan to get keep him from going; fat chance.

Kaiba yawned and stretched, "Do you have a date yet?"

Jou almost died. "I need a date!"

"You don't need one," responded Kaiba, "But you look stupid if you don't bring someone along. I am sure there are plenty of men who would love to take you." He silently chuckled at his joke.

Jou narrowed his eyes at him, "Well, who are YOU going with."

Kaiba grinned, "You will just have to see."

By this time, Jou was so angry that he stormed out of Kaiba's office, almost certain he would head to the hardware store for some heavy-duty clippers. He would just have to get this collar off sometime.

As he was making his way out, he bumped into Mel.

"Oh, hey Jou," she said, getting up from where she fell.

Jou lent her a hand, and helped her up. He had an idea in his head, "Mel, you're not going to the dinner right?"

She rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I am. I don't really have a choice."

Jou was slightly puzzled, "Why?"

Melanie sat down at her desk, "Well, Seto said 'I don't have anyone better to go with,' which, if you know him, is a cheesy way to ask me to go. I get paid for the time I spend there though, so standing around, agreeing with business men and eating expensive crackers seemed like a good way to make money."

Jou stifled a laugh; "You're not going to spend time with Rich Boy?"

Mel shook her head, obviously amused, "I spend enough time with him six days a week. I will just go, stand around and look good, and then leave. Nothing to it. And Jou? You don't need a date. Seto only needs one because he is hosting the damn thing. So don't let him get to you."

Jou rolled his eyes. At least that was one thing off his shoulders.

Mel took a bite of her sandwich, and said between mouthfuls, "Why are you spending so much time here anyways? I thought you hated Seto?"

"I…am…getting paid for it." Said Jou, turning a good shade of red.

Melanie raised an eyebrow but did not push the question further.

"I got to go now anyways, see you later." Jou was out to the elevator. He needed to pick up his suit and a large pair of pliers before he left.

Jou felt very foolish walking down the streets of Domino in a suit. It wasn't as if he had anyone to drive him, or money for a cab, but the distance wasn't far, so Jou walked.

The dinner was held at one of those hotels with conference rooms, for people, Jou guessed, who came a long way to see the developments in Kaiba Corp. He did not have a clue what he would talk about, or who he would talk to. He didn't really care either. I'm in it for the grub, he thought.

Jou arrived at the hotel around 7:30. It didn't start until 8, but he did not want to make a late appearance.

"This way Sir." A door man Led Jou around the hotel to a conference room.Jou opened the door.

It was already full of people, and Jou instantly felt out of place. It was like a scene out of Titanic. Women dressed in expensive gowns and men had on their best suits. Jou desperately looked around for someone he knew. He saw Kaiba talking to a group of people.

He was nodding as they spoke to him. His suit was black, and looked expensive. It fitted his frame very well, and Jou noticed he had styled his hair, something he rarely did, and Jou was certain that he probably would seldom see it again. Instantly Jou's hands felt his own hair, in which he only put a brush through. Mel was beside Kaiba looking rather bored. She was wearing a red dress, which went very nice with her red hair. Jou decided to go and talk to he, being as he had nothing better to do.

She looked almost relieved to see him, "Hey, didn't think you would come."

Jou shrugged, "I wasn't doing anything else. This is amazing, everyone looks so…expensive."

Melanie rolled her eyes, "Typical of this sort. People come to show off their money, and talking about things that no one really cares about, like stocks," she nodded her head towards the group of people Kaiba was talking to.

"You look expensive tonight," Jou teased.

"You don't think that someone who would be seen with Seto would look like an office assistant? I hate this bloody dress. It is ugly. And again, I am bored out of my mind. Seto really knows how to put someone to sleep."

"Where is the food?" Jou asked.

"Over there," Mel pointed to a long table with appetizers, "Dinner is at 8." She looked at her watch, "In 15 minutes."

Kaiba finished talking to the businessmen, and walked over to where Mel was standing. He did not take noticed of Jou at first, but looked around the large room. "There is more people then I expected."

She nodded, but did not say anything.

Seto took noticed of Jou for the first time. Jou was rather embarrassed, and was looking anywhere but at Kaiba.

"Nice suit Mutt," said Kaiba in a challenging tone.

Jou growled, "It looks decent, considering it used to belong to an oversized jerk."

Kaiba grinned, obviously amused, "It really does look good. Now if you both excuse me, I need to go talk to someone." He walked away, leaving Mel and Jou standing alone.

"Wow, an actual compliment." Said Jou, impressed. He was vaguely aware that his ears had turned a nice shade of scarlet.

"From now on, you are my date," grumbled Mel, "He just up and leaves too damn much." She grabbed his arm and headed to a table.

Dinner was served at eight. There were several people at the table Jou and Mel were at. Kaiba was sitting across from him, and Mel was beside him.

"How do I use these?" Asked Jou, referring to the set of cutlery beside his plate. There must have been a dozen different types, and he had no clue which one he should use for the salad he just got.

Mel shrugged, "Just pick one."

"Alright," said Jou, "Ennie, meanie, miney, moe…catch a tiger by the toe…" He grabbed the fork that he landed on, and began to eat the salad. Jou looked up at Kaiba, and the CEO was looking back at him.

He mouthed the words 'Cut it out,'

Jou did not understand him, 'What?"

'Cut it out.'

Jou looked at Kaiba, still puzzled.

Seto took his hand and drew it across his throat.

'Why am I dead?' Jou mouthed.

Kaiba was just about to reply, when he looked over and saw several people were staring at them. Jou turned red and went back to his salad, and Kaiba gave a sort of cough, and continued with his meal, obviously embarrassed.

"Melanie, it is so nice to see you again." She shook hands with an older gentleman. "This is my wife, Fauna, I don't think you have met." Melanie shook her hand to.

"Oh, this is my friend Katsuya Jounouchi," she said, gesturing herself towards Jou. He shook the mans hand, and gave an awkward hello.

"What company are you here from young man?"

Jou stammered for a moment, "Um…I ugh…"

"He is co-chairman of Vice Industries," said Mel, rather quickly.

"Oh!" Said the Man, quite delighted, "And what do you do there?"

Now Jou was really stuck.

"He makes…furnaces." Said Mel, nodding like a fool. Jou gave her a hard glare, and she shrugged.

"Do you happen to have a business card?"

"I um…left them at my…mansion," said Jou, trying to make his story believable.

"Shame," said the Man, "I will speak to Mr. Kaiba about it though, and perhaps invest some stocks in Vice. Never know who's going up and down anymore eh?"

Jou nodded. I am so dead.

Jou was very bored. He didn't like dancing, didn't want to talk to any of these people, and began to wish he had never come. Kaiba was right, he didn't belong here. The people were dull and boring.

"Well?" Said Kaiba, after most of the guests had left.

"I would have rather stayed home and picked lint from my navel," said Jou, rather crossly.

"I told you that you would not like it," said Kaiba.

"I don't think your date had a good time either rich boy," said Jou, and he was quite correct.

Kaiba looked around, "Where did Mel go?"

Jou yawned, "She left. I contemplated on going with her, but I thought that I would rub in how much of a snooze-fest this party was."

"You opinion means nothing. Now aren't you going home?" Asked Kaiba.

Jou looked outside, "It is raining again, I'll wait 'till it stops."

"Take a taxi," stated Kaiba, like it was the most obvious thing.

"Unlike you, I can't just pull money out of thin air Kaiba, I have to walk home."

Kaiba shrugged, "I could give you a ride, under the condition that you stay later to help me at the office."

Jou glared at him, "Always need a price eh?"

"Doesn't matter to me, I don't have to walk home," said Kaiba, who started in the other direction.

"Fine," said Jou, giving up half his dignity, "I will stay later. I don't want to be sick tomorrow, and I certainly don't feel like walking in the rain, downtown Domino, in a suit."

Kaiba could not help but laugh.