Author's Note: Hey everyone! I just wanted to say a short thanks to everyone who has read, followed, or left a review of the fanfic. I read each and every comment, and I appreciate all the great feedback! Thank you so much!

Chapter 10:

The first thing Jounouchi noted was the smells of the restaurant. It smelled warm and safe.

The trio were led to the back in what Jounouchi presumed was an area for private guests, as the tables were surprisingly spaced out. Dark mahogany tables with matching cushioned seats created a large circle on top of stone flooring, and the brick walls contained images of rural Japan that were atmospheric and beautiful. Tables were lit with two candles each while lights overhead illuminated a surprising amount of the room without glare. Added to all this was the background noise of bamboo flute music, completing the feeling that Jou was isolated from the outside world. There were a few guests, but the rain must have kept most away, and people spoke in relatively hushed tones.

High school Jounouchi would've stuck his nose up at the sheer wealth and audacity of it all, but now, standing and waiting as the hostess pulled out their seats for them, Jounouchi couldn't help but be a little bit in awe. Their menus were provided and were only two-sided; one side was full of alcoholic beverages, while the other side showed the restaurant's three daily specials and sides available.

As their hostess bowed and left, Mokuba leaned over and pointed at the menu. "All of these fancy words basically mean 'steak,'" he noted with a giggle. "So just get a steak and go for it."

Jou glanced over to see Kaiba peeking up from his menu, an amused smirk across his lips. Returning his gaze to his menu, Kaiba then said, "He can order for himself, Mokuba. He's an adult."

"Yeah, but these places like throwing fancy words around to show off," Mokuba retorted. "Even I can get confused by some of the ingredients they use."

Flipping to the back of his menu, Jounouchi noted, "I'm just shocked at how many beers are listed. Good thing I never thought to drag Dad to a steakhouse. Not that we could ever afford it."

"Did you ever go to one with your sister?"

"No, but Mom and I talked about doing somethin' fancy for her for graduation."

"Does your sister like steak?"

Jounouchi chuckled. "She may not look it, but she's like me. She'll eat just about anything in front of her."

A waiter dressed in all black soon came to their table and bowed lowly before asking for their drink orders. All three ordered waters, but Jou was surprised when Kaiba ordered a specialized hot peach and honey tea for the whole table. When the waiter turned, he glanced over and asked, "No beer for the CEO?"

"Mokuba knows I don't drink in front of him," Kaiba stated, looking directly at his younger brother. "And even if I do drink, which is rare, it's only one or two glasses of wine or one mug of beer."

"Ah."

"And what about you? I would've anticipated you would have drunk illegally in high school, but your comments on your father make me think otherwise."

Jounouchi's eyes widened. "Damn, you actually are listening to our conversations!"

"Of course I am," Kaiba shot back, his eyebrows knitting together in agitation. "And it isn't as though you've been necessarily secretive."

Jounouchi chuckled. "Nah, you're right. But uh, yeah, I did drink in high school, but only once or twice. The gang I was in made me get black out drunk to 'prove myself,' but other than that, I rarely touch the stuff. Maybe one beer while at Yuugi's place if we're all drinking, but only around my friends. Can't keep the stuff at home 'cuz Pops'll drink it all in one night."

"And how long were you in this gang?" inquired Kaiba, his gaze now focused on Jounouchi. Jou watched as he leaned forward slightly, placing his cheek against his hand. If he didn't know better, he could almost say the two were having a normal conversation. Kaiba's gaze held nothing but curiosity; there wasn't a hint of condemnation in his expression or tone.

"Just a year, maybe two? Trust me, I ain't proud of it. At all. But it got me out of the house when things were real bad between Pops and me. Taught me to defend myself a bit. Yuug' was the one that got me out. Showed me there's a better way of gettin' away from my dad."

Their waters and peach tea arrived, and Jou blinked in surprise as the waiter set a beautifully ornate, glass teapot over two tea candles. He watched as the honey and peach flavors twisted and twirled. Jounouchi moved for the waiter as he set down three tea cups and their waters. The waiter bowed once more before asking for their orders, and Jou felt his cheeks redden as Kaiba ordered the same thing he wanted. Mumbling the order out, he pushed the menu forward and watched as the waiter bowed and took their menus, waiting for the insults to be hurled at him.

Instead, Kaiba reached out, grab their tea cups, and poured them each a small cup. Jounouchi watched Kaiba gently set the cups down, and when Kaiba returned the teapot to its central position, Jounouchi raised his own glass. "Cheers, then, to a vacation?"

"Cheers!" Mokuba exclaimed, raising his own cup.

Kaiba smirked, held his own up, and muttered, "Cheers," before taking a small sip.

Jounouchi sipped at his, shocked at the flavors despite the hot temperature. It was soothing, filling his chest with warmth, and the flavors stayed in his mouth as he set the cup back down. "Damn, man… That's really good."

"Seto's something of a tea snob," Mokuba pointed out, giggling as Kaiba shot him a swift glare over the rim of his teacup.

"To be fair, Mokuba, your brother's something of a snob, period," Jounouchi added, feeling a bit confident.

Kaiba set his cup down in order to gesture towards their surroundings as he asked, "Why do I need to continuously remind you both that Mokuba is the one choosing these places?"

Mokuba held up his finger. "Uh, if memory serves me right, Seto, you were the one who wanted to eat at this steakhouse."

"And you," Kaiba countered, pointing now at his brother, "agreed to tag along, admitting that their jargon was confusing for outsiders like Jounouchi."

"Well I wasn't just gonna pass up on a steakhouse, now was I?"

"Thus choosing this location."

"How is it my fault that-" Jounouchi snorted as he sipped at his tea, and the two quickly looked over at him. Mokuba giggled as Jou set his teacup down. "Do you see what I deal with on a daily basis?" Mokuba asked, an obvious air of drama now in his voice.

"Pfft, hardly, Mokuba," Kaiba countered, grabbing his teacup and bringing it to his lips.

"Jounouchi, you, as a sibling, must understand what this is like, constantly being thrown under the bus for decisions your sister made," Mokuba implored, simultaneously keeping on the dramatic tone while doing his best not to crack a smile. It wasn't working well.

Unfortunately, Jounouchi did, but not in the way Mokuba knew. After all, Jounouchi was the older sibling, not the younger. Leaning over towards Kaiba, Jounouchi bit his lower lip before stating, "I mean, he's the one who picked out the hotel. I guess this steakhouse just barely meets His Royal Majesty's expectations."

"Jou!"

Jounouchi watched with wide eyes as Kaiba tore the cup away from his lips, choking down his tea and hiding his mouth behind the back of his hand. His chest rose and fell with several chuckles, and even though his hand was there, lines of his smile were clearly evident. Jou realized the CEO was doing his best to contain his laughter and smiled, taking a mental photo of the moment.

"Jou, what the heck, man? I'm not paying for you to be here to back up my brother!" Jou felt his chest tighten at the words, and even Mokuba's face fell when the words exited his lips. Both pairs of eyes darted towards the elder Kaiba, and Jounouchi waited and watched as Kaiba took a suddenly long sip from his teacup. The warmth that had been present in Jou's chest vanished, and he could have sworn his heart stopped beating for a second. "Seto…" Mokuba waited as Kaiba set his teacup down but didn't say anything.

To Jounouchi's utter amazement, the CEO shrugged.

"S...Seto?"

"You act as though I didn't think something was going on," Kaiba remarked, smirking at the two as if enjoying their discomfort. "Jounouchi, you've mentioned multiple times your family has financial problems, so no, I never once thought you yourself were paying for this trip. I know Mokuba has been saving his money for quite some time, and it's his money. He's free to do with it as he pleases. So, yes, I highly suspected you, Mokuba, were paying for him to be here."

"And...you're not mad?"

"Why would I be angry at you? It's your money. I told you to bring a friend along on vacation. There's nothing to be upset over, necessarily. Though that does leave one question…" Kaiba leaned forward, crossing his arms in front of him and setting them on the table. "And neither of you have to answer this, as quite frankly, it's none of my business. But why agree to come along, Jounouchi, given our questionable past?"

Jounouchi felt his cheeks turn beet red, and he leaned back in his seat in order to create as much space as possible. He then clasped onto his teacup only to realize he had drunk all the contents. "I, uh, I mean... Mokuba just kinda asked me to tag along, and I've been wantin' to take a vacation for awhile…"

"Were Yuugi or any of the others asked to tag along?"

Jounouchi glanced over at Mokuba, unsure of the answer. His eyes widened, however, when Mokuba shook his head no. "Jounouchi was actually my first choice after Jin to tag along."

Jou set his empty teacup down on the table, knowing it looked stupid holding it. The tension was suddenly thick, and he needed something to drink. He went to pick up the teapot only for his hand to be gently pushed away by Kaiba, who then leaned forward and grabbed his teacup. "Look, I'm not angry," Kaiba stated. "I'm not even confused by it. Jounouchi, you haven't been a total pain in my ass, you've been respectful of my privacy, and, though I hate to admit it, you've been entertaining to have as a 'challenge' of sorts in gaming." The brunette set the cup down in front of Jounouchi before reaching forward and grabbing Mokuba's cup, getting his younger brother's attention. "And Mokuba, why are you embarrassed? You were allowed to bring a friend along, and you used your money for it. That was what was important to you." He filled the teacup and set it back down before refilling his own. He then looked back up at both of them, making eye contact with each. "So unless there's something I don't know, I don't see what the big deal is."

Jounouchi swallowed hard and grabbed his teacup. He heard Mokuba sigh before the younger Kaiba muttered, "No, nothing's wrong. I just...thought you'd be mad, Seto."

"Mokuba, what did I say when we were planning this whole affair?" Kaiba waited until Mokuba was looking directly at him, a trick Jounouchi knew from his years spending time with Shizuka, before continuing. His tone was also softer than normal, making it clear in all ways that he wasn't bothered by this revelation. "This is just as much your vacation as it is mine. Don't let me tell you how to enjoy yourself or spend your time, okay?"

A smile slowly made its way across Mokuba's lips, and he nodded before taking a sip of his tea. "Okay, Seto. And, well, sorry for hiding that from you."

Kaiba shrugged. "Don't apologize. You're the one who wants to pay for the blonde here's fancy meal. You're the one who appreciates the finer things in life more than any of us here, after all."

Jou felt a laugh emit from his lips before he could catch it, and he quickly nodded in approval at Kaiba before taking a sip of his tea. Before Mokuba could counter, however, the waiter arrived with their three trays, setting them in front of each person before refilling their waters and taking his leave. Jounouchi leaned forward, savoring the smells that filled his senses. He set his teacup down and quickly looked up at the two, smiling warmly.

"Mokuba," he started, getting the raven-haired boy's attention. "And...Kaiba." Kaiba was already looking at him. "Thanks...for this vacation. Seriously. Thank you."

Mokuba smiled widely and nodded, and even Kaiba gently nodded before returning his attention to the food in front of him. Jounouchi returned the smile and the nod, then picked up his silverware, hoping he wouldn't make a total fool of himself with such delicious food.