Cursive

by Lethe Seraph

Five: Looks

--

Author's Notes that may be Skipped without Great Consequence

If the author notes ever seem weird, it's because they actually are notes, cobbled together. I write down a little bit more every time I sit down to work on a fic, so oftentimes I'll feel a bit differently about what I'm working on when I come back. It makes for a weird result.

Whee! Jou's back! What fun we have. His conversations come more spontaneously to me. I wonder why? For some reason, I usually feel like I'm doing fics in pairs nowadays … Cursive and Appeal, and Trip to Fall and Clash … man, Clash was terrible. Ah well. And then Blurry and Daily because I always mix them up. I'll say to myself, "I'm going to work on Blurry!" when I really meant that I wanted to work on Daily, and vice versa ….. especially Cursive and Appeal. They mesh in my mind. It's like, whoa. Whoa, dude! Dude, whoa. When I was writing this chapter, it was like, you know-

Right. Shutting up.

Just one more thing, though: I've been in a weird mood lately while writing anything Jou/Kai. After seeing those last few episodes of Battle City, I really feel like Jou is … straight. He and Mai… they're sweet together.

Sigh…

Ah well! True love conquers all!

Sorry about this chapter, by the way. I'm hoping that the next will be more exciting. Confrontations and continuations and stuff.

You're getting a crush on him, aren't you? Aren't you!

No, I'm not! I keep on telling you that. Jeez. Just one slipup, one, and-

You thought he was cute! Aw, my little Jou is growing up.

Quit pinching my cheek.

You're no fun. Take a joke, why don't you?

I don't like him. Not like that. I'm not like that. Why do I have to keep on telling you?

Actually, you didn't have to, that time. So you feel the need to reassure yourself. Heh heh heh.

You idiot.

Anyway, what happened after you almost called him cute? What did he say then?

Huh? Not much. He didn't really say anything. I came home, dropped my stuff off, then came over here to see you. You have better food.

There's gotta be more to it than that. What did you guys do on the way to your house?

Nothing!

Nothing?

…All right, I played with the fancy buttons in the limo. So sue me.

C'monnnnn … I know you did something …

That sounded like 'something' to me.

With him! He must've known what you were going to say.

God, I hope not. What with that misunderstanding that got me here in the first place and all…

Oh, that's right! I had almost forgotten about that. So he must really think you have the hots for him now.

Ew.

Yeah, that makes for a funny mental image, doesn't it? Jo-u and Se-to, sitting in a-

I swear, if you finish that…

You know it'll happen.

No way. Never. Not on a cold day in hell. That's just sick, man. Pass the dip.

Here. Anyway, I'd still support you if you liked him. You know that, Jou. And Yugi and Anzu, too. So don't hold back on our account!

Oh, please. Like I'm 'holding back' because of you guys. I just don't like him like that, all right? Cut me some slack.

But your eyes go all sparkly when you're talking about him!

You're insane.

You're more enthusiastic-

You're seriously insane.

It's like you've got this new light in your life! Like you have motivation to do well!

Dude, do you need me to recommend a doctor to you?

Anyway, I was thinking.

Hang on a sec. I need to look out your window.

…What?

See if there are any pigs flying-

Hey! I'm serious. So I was thinking…

You can't be serious.

Just hear me out. You and Kaiba are kind of, uh, rivals, right? You wanted to beat him so bad and all.

Right. Sure. What of it?

So, you know the way to beat him?

Get better at Duel Monsters?

No, no, I mean, with life. It's not just about dueling. I mean, the best way to beat him. To make him acknowledge you.

I think I know where this is going, man, and if it's going where I think it's going, I think you should stop right there.

Hear me out! The best way to beat him would be to make him like you.

Yeah, you can stop right there.

Think about it! Wouldn't that be the best way to get him to, you know-

No way. Whatever. You can't just screw with a person's heart like that! You've got to be kidding. I would never do that. Who the hell would do that? Let's talk about something else.

--

"Make him like me my ass…" muttered Jonouchi, tossing his backpack underneath his desk with unusual abandon. "Like I'd ever … says he was thinking, yeah right …"

"Enjoy talking to yourself, do you?"

"Gah!" Jou whipped around to find himself face-to-face with none other than the previously discussed businessman. "Kai-"

"Seto," Kaiba corrected.

"Seto. Right. Can't you say 'hi' like a normal person?"

Kaiba looked at him.

"…Right. You're not normal. Ha."

"Who were you talking about?"

"Huh?"

"When you were talking to yourself. Who were you taking about?"

Jou could feel his face redden. "Nobody… I mean… this TV character, see…"

How much did he hear?

"Of course." Kaiba smiled. "So, Jou, did you sleep well?"

He would just ignore the fact that Kaiba had smiled again. "Um, yeah. Thanks. You?"

The best way to beat him...

…is to join him?!

No! No! No!

"Relatively well." He brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. They were really, really blue, thought Jou. Like that jewel. What was its name? "I had to finish work on a certain project before I could sleep, though."

Jou made a sympathetic noise. "Mm, yeah. Too bad. At least you'll be able to sleep well tonight, right?"

"Hopefully, yes." Kaiba turned the subject. "Did you have any dreams?"

"Wha- why…?"

"I don't dream often," said Kaiba.

"Uh, I can't really remember. There was this thing about a donut, though. It was pretty cool." Jou grinned.

"Food? I should have guessed."

"Yeah, it was this big, and…"

Their conversation lasted until the bell rang.

--

But, I mean, it's not like I like him or anything. Seriously! Haven't you ever seen me with Mai?

Yeah. And?

We were cool together, right?

Well, yeah, but … she's also 'wandering the world', remember? She's not here.

I care about her.

She's a good friend.

Yeah. Kaiba's my friend too. What's the difference?

--

Okay, I think his class was over here, thought Jonouchi, weaving his way through the crowd of sluggish teenagers. Somewhere around here.He stood outside of a familiar-looking door.

And, lo and behold! His memory had served him correctly: Kaiba exited a moment later.

"Oi! Seto!" Jou reached out and hit Kaiba lightly on the shoulder. How's that for friendly?

Kaiba turned. A small smile spread across his face as he did so. Around him, various girls began to chatter excitedly.

"Jou. You found my class."

Master of understatement.

"Um, yeah. Where are you going next? I can walk you there, if you want company." Jou gave Kaiba what he thought to be a charmingly amiable grin.

Judging by the look that passed across Kaiba's face, it had been a bit too strong to be just a charmingly amiable grin.

But, in a moment, that look was gone. Maybe Jonouchi had just imagined it there – or maybe he had interpreted it incorrectly. That had to be it. "I'm going upstairs," said Kaiba in response to Jou's question. "To room two-seventeen. And you?"

"That's great!" said Jou brightly. "I'm in two-thirty-six. No problem."

Kaiba began walking, deliberately slow. Jou followed. "How was your class?" prompted Kaiba politely. It was kind of freaky, remembering how much they had used to fight, but something that he could get used to. It was like they were both really trying to get along.

"It was okay." Jou rubbed the back of his neck. "Had a test, though. I could've done better."

"If you had studied?" added Kaiba.

Jou laughed. "Actually, yeah. I thought that I knew the stuff already."

"It happens," said Kaiba.

"Not to you, though."

"No, not to me." Kaiba didn't hold back a smirk. "I actually do know the material."

Jou crossed his arms as they walked. "Yeah, yeah…"

"Jou," Kaiba said, making it clear that he was changing the subject, "what were you going to say yesterday?"

Jou's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't have remembered that. "Say what?"

"When I met you at your locker," Kaiba elaborated.

"Um, I don't know what you're talking about. I guess it wasn't very important," said Jou awkwardly. Like Kaiba would buy that.

They reached the stairs. Kaiba took the lead.

"But, uh," Jonouchi tried to steer the conversation back onto more comfortable grounds, "thanks for the ride yesterday. I appreciate it."

"Do you need a ride today, as well?" said Kaiba without looking back.

Jou hesitated. It would be pretty rude of him to start mooching off of Kaiba like that. He had already been way too nice to Jou – who knew? Maybe human beings were only given so much kindness in life, and Kaiba's was about to run out. It would explain why Kaiba had been so frugal. He should probably save it for later, when he really needed it. "No, you don't have to—"

They were at the top of the stairs. Kaiba turned. "Don't trip," he said.

"Wha-?" said Jou, right before his foot connected with the topmost step. Crap!

--

Ha!

Hey. It's not funny. I could've been hurt or something.

Then you should have been watching where you were going, huh?

I was!

Of course you were. … Don't tell me you finished the chips off already.

You knew the consequences.

I was hoping they would last for at least an hour, though.

You crack me up, man.

Where were you?

What?

In the story, I mean. You can't leave me hanging.

Uh … oh, I was on the stairs. Walking. I was following Kaiba upstairs, when I tripped over a step …

--

Before he had a chance to even touch the ground in reflex, though, Kaiba had grasped his forearms and helped him back up. Jonouchi flushed as they resumed walking. It was a good thing that Kaiba had stopped teasing him, or he'd be a very embarrassed, irritated Jonouchi right now.

Jou looked sideways at the taller boy, trying to gauge his thoughts – he failed. Something in Kaiba's expression, though, was different. Was it Jou's doing? What was Kaiba thinking?

And then Kaiba met his gaze, and Jou's breath hitched for just a moment.

He told himself that it was because he hadn't been expecting it.

"Um ... thanks," said Jou awkwardly.

"Any time," said Kaiba.

Jou looked ahead. They were nearing Kaiba's classroom.

Suddenly, Honda's words came back to his mind with force.

The best way to beat him would be to make him like you.

To make him like you.

No! Hell, no! It was totally against Jou's style. Besides – Jou didn't want to beat Kaiba any more. Well, he did, but fairly. In a duel. In a friendly duel. Not … like … that. Ew! Kaiba was probably straight anyway.

Yeah. He was definitely straight.

And Jou would prove it.

"Hey, Kai – Seto?" said Jou.

"Yes?" replied Kaiba.

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

Kaiba gave him a strange look then. Probably because he hadn't been expecting the question. But then it was replaced by a small smile. "No," said Kaiba. "No, I don't."

"Ah. Are you looking for one?"

"Not in particular," said Kaiba. It seemed as though he was choosing his words carefully.

But Jou wasn't going to interpret that.

So … Kaiba didn't have a girlfriend, and he wasn't looking.

But wait! He had work. So, he might be interested in girls, but too busy to spend time on them.

That had to be it.

Being Jou, though, he had to go one step further.

"Have you ever thought about it? You know, like, liked someone?"

Kaiba looked at Jou, another unreadable expression flickering across his face. Without Jou's realizing it, they had arrived at Kaiba's classroom. "Jou."

"Uh, what?"

"Do you need a ride or not?"

Jou blinked. That had nothing at all to do with whether Kaiba had ever ---

Was it a touchy subject, or had Kaiba not realized that he was shifting the topic?

Kaiba, not realize something?

Maybe when the moon was a cube.