My Dear Guest - Let's just say that dating is not Joey's forte. And, sadly, Yugi and Atem do not figure in this story. But honestly, they fix together so perfectly that there is no drama to their story here.

Zoebel! Good to see you! [Quit reading my stuff and go finish Sun Child *whip cracking sound effects here*] Joey is property freaked out by anything female, trust me, but a true phobia of pregnancy might be a tad, well, inconvenient.

Chapter 4

"Excuse me." Kaiba nodded to the table. "Katsuya, forgive my interrupting your lunch. May I have a moment of your time?"

The whole table looked at the normally aloof teen before they shifted to look at their surprised friend.

"Sure, but look, nobody but my mom calls me 'Katsuya.' Joey is fine."

"I will make a note of that. I wanted to know if you had a date for this Friday's party."

Anzu squeaked. Otogi choked on his drink.

"Uh, no. Not yet. I still don't know a lot of girls. And my first choice was taken." He glanced at Anzu. "Why? You got a sister?"

"No. I was hoping that you would allow me to accompany you."

Ishtar did a spit take, and Kura began coughing.

"Dude, come on!" Joey sighed heavily. "I told you. I'm straight."

"Then we would simply be two males 'going stag'," Kaiba pointed out. "I was scheduled to be at a conference in Vienna on Friday, but my presentation was moved to Monday. I am not dating and the person I would ordinarily take to an event of this nature is unavailable."

"Sorry." Joey shrugged.

"I feel compelled to point out that you owe me a meal," Kaiba said. "And all I am asking for is your company."

Joey's eyes narrowed. "Wait. If I say no, are you gonna take this out on my mom?"

"Oh." Kaiba looked thoughtful. "I hadn't considered that. Threaten your mother's job if you do not go on a date. Would it work?"

"Asshole." Joey rolled his eyes. "You buying dinner?"

"Do you like Italian?"

"Fine. When?"

"I'll see if I can get a table at Luigi's at 7. I'll pick you up around 6:30." He turned to walk away, then stopped. "Will you be wearing a kimono or a suit?"

"Kimono? I don't even own one."

"Really?" Kaiba looked thoughtful again. "Interesting." He walked away.

Joey went back to his lunch. Everyone was staring at him. "What?"

"Kaiba-kun just asked you to a party," Yugi whispered in awe. "Kaiba-kun never goes to school parties."

"Why did he call you 'Katsuya'?" Ryou moved to squeeze in next to Joey. "Just how close are you and Kaiba-senpai?"

"Not that close!"

"No. You do not take 'not that close' to Luigi's." Otogi countered. "Luigi's is one of the most expensive Italian restaurants in Japan!"

Joey sighed. "Aw man! I was hoping it was just plain pizza."

"Who is Katsuya?" Ryou insisted.

"It's my middle name. Mom said when we got here that we had to register with her family, so that's why my last name is Jounouchi not Wheeler anymore. My given name is Joseph, but Mom's always called me 'Kat', so when we saw Kaiba at her office, that's how she introduced me."

"Luigi's, and a pet name?" Malik grinned. "Someone has a crush."

"Well, someone better get over it."

"You must be DoubleMale!" Otogi laughed. "There's not a female genome in the building that wouldn't bend over for Kaiba."

"Hell, there are some males that wouldn't say no," Kura snickered.

"Hey, who was your first choice, anyway?" Honda asked. "I figured you'd have your pick of the school."

"If Joey didn't share that in the first place, then it's none of your business," Anzu replied before Joey could. "Stop prying, all of you. You know how Kaiba is. There's probably some work-thing behind it. It's not a date - Joey isn't interested in males, right?"

"Yeah." Joey nodded. "What she said."

xXxXxXx

Seto studied the patterns before him.

"May I ask what the occasion is?" the shop owner asked.

"A cultural festival party." Seto frowned. "And the garment needs to be delivered by Friday morning. I doubt he'll wear it, but I wanted to give him the option."

"I see. May I ask, is the person in question blonde?"

"Yes." Seto was impressed. Then again, a clothier of this quality should have been able to deduce that from the colors selected. "American."

"Ah." He walked over to a rack of fabrics and pulled out something patterned. "Please allow me to suggest this."

At first glance, the silk appeared to be a solid brown with a paisley print. But the longer Seto looked at it, the more colored threads he saw. And at some angles the fabric color seemed green not brown.

"The design is more dynamic than a traditional formal, which tends to appeal to Western tastes," the shop owner explained, "however the pattern remains very gender neutral. And these tones should compliment your friend. For a festive occasion, I would recommend a kimono and haori of this solid green silk, and hakama pants of this pattern."

Seto nodded. "I agree. The time frame?"

"Will be sufficient."

"Excellent." Seto paid for the garment and selected an obi to go with it.

Buying a date a handmade silk kimono was somewhat extravagant, but it would be worth it if Katsuya wore it.

Katsuya.

His agreeing to the date wasn't the scene from a romance, but Seto found himself quite pleased. Conversation would undoubtedly be entertaining. Katsuya, so far, did not seem impressed by Kaiba in the slightest. Not impressed, not frightened, not even curious. This would be a novel experience for the executive.

Dinner with someone who wanted nothing from him.