Nine
Mai and Jounouchi were lead into a brightly colored but dimly lit café. It figured that it happened to be in Harajuku and that the owner knew her.
"The usual for me Aki-chan and you'd like an iced coffee ne Katsuya-kun? You look like you need the caffeine," said Mai as she gazed upon him.
Jounouchi slowly nodded before requesting the coffee to be blended with a shot of vanilla. And also being gentlemen that he was, paid for Mai and himself knowing that Mai was always running short here or there.
"I could have handled it. I got paid," Mai pointed out.
"Your career requires you to look good ne? Let me pick up the tab. Think of it as repayment for what you're about to help me with," said Jounouchi with a smile.
"Fine, I'll pay you back when I get that modeling contract one day," said Mai. It had always been a dream of hers to model on the runway in fabulous clothes from lines like Prada and Louis Vuiton. It was a dream beyond her grasp but she really hoped that being a hostess in Ginza would eventually attract someone who worked for a clothing line and recognized her efforts.
"So what is that you needed help with?" Mai asked.
Jounouchi sighed, "My sister's heading to the United States for surgery on Saturday… And my mother hasn't permitted me to see her off."
"Argh! That witch! She's still having grudges against your father even though you have nothing to do with it? Have you ever looked over that damned court order to see if that violated your rights to see your sister?" Mai asked rather angrily.
"Even if I did look over it, I don't have the money to get a lawyer. Plus once she's eighteen, Shizuka will legally be able to see me whenever she pleases. I don't think she would care if my mother disowned her or not. I paid for most of those surgeries in the beginning through my dueling winnings."
Mai sighed in defeat and examined her highly jeweled manicured nails before questioning, "What does this have to do with Seto Kaiba?"
Mai's mango banana slush was served to her and soon after Jounouchi's vanilla iced coffee before he began talking again, "I need revenge."
"Revenge?" Mai questioned.
"He's been stopping by Tragic and one night took advantage of me. It's my turn to do the same, and I thought, why not toy with him while making myself unrecognizable to my mother so I can see my sister off?" Jounouchi explained.
"I see. But why would you want to toy with him?" Mai asked.
"Because, I want to show him how it feels to be deceived," Jounouchi said.
Mai smiled, "And your idea is?"
"Give me the works. Make me over for the Masquerade Saturday night."
"When does your sister leave for the US?"
"One thirty am, I'm planning to take the trains to Narita around midnight," said Jounouchi.
"Fine. Meet me here, same place Saturday morning. We'll talk this over more via text," said Mai.
Jounouchi nodded.
"You can trust me right?" Mai asked.
Jounouchi repeated the movement to nod. Mai smiled, "You came to the right person dear."
_-_-_-_-_
School that day was uneventful. Teachers had questioned Jounouchi's absence but he claimed he was sick and that his father was away from Tokyo on a business meeting. He did however; try to make the effort to be on time today so certain teachers cut him a little bit of slack.
"Where were you yesterday?" Yugi asked.
"Taking care of some business," Jounouchi answered.
"Business? When do you ever have business?" teased Honda. Anzu smiled rolling her eyes.
"Sometimes I wonder what you're up to now…" she mused.
"Nothing really, the gaming scene just really didn't seem to be my thing anymore," Jounouchi answered with a shrug,
Yugi pouted, "It's a shame too. You were really good!"
"When you're friend is the best in the world, you tend not to want to step on someone's toes," Jounouchi poked at Yugi before adverting his eyes to the doorway where Seto Kaiba had just suddenly entered.
Most girls excitedly whispered about the masquerade happening tomorrow evening. Each quite excited and hoping to be the one honored to dance with Kaiba himself.
Jounouchi quickly looked away and down at his desk trying to seem occupied with the nice dent in the middle of it…
"So you finally realized your place? It about time you realized you're not worthy to be on eyelevel…" Kaiba called out. Jounouchi gritted his teeth cursing at himself for looking at the door at the wrong moment. Since when the hell did Kaiba start arriving this late for school?! He was guess it was because of the planning for his stupid party but still, why bother showing up then?
"Kaiba leave him be…" Yugi pleaded.
"It doesn't concern you," Kaiba snapped.
"Hey man, we're on civil terms with you, we demand some respect back!" Honda demanded.
"Filth like you doesn't deserve it," sneered Kaiba.
"Just stop! Fuck! You're annoying, you know that?! Nobody gives a flying shit what you think!" Jounouchi hissed.
"I need to see you," Kaiba announced.
"Then you can see me here," Jounouchi replied.
Kaiba flipped open his phone as a threat before stepping backward, "As I said. I need to see you."
Jounouchi sighed as he rolled his eyes and followed Kaiba who was leading him up to the roof top of the school.
"Jounouchi…" Kaiba finally said.
"Excuse me?" Jounouchi answered blinking. The cold CEO rarely ever called him by his last name… It was usually some stupid dog name or random insult.
Kaiba suddenly pulled Jounouchi close making the blonde yelp in surprise, "Stop hiding from me."
"Eh?"
"Go back to Tragic," Kaiba demanded.
"And deal with you? I think not," Jounouchi said.
"You claimed so many things that night that I… Listen, about that, you told me you loved me that night and you were sick and needy and I didn't know what else to do," Kaiba explained.
"Lies," interrupted Jounouchi.
"Why would I lie about that?" questioned Kaiba.
"Because now you know that I'm after you. Listen here Kaiba; I'm not letting you get away with what you did to me. Matter of fact, watch your fucking back because I should really hit you right now," Jounouchi warned.
"Is that a threat?" Kaiba questioned a smirk on his face.
"Take it however you want it," said Jounouchi.
Kaiba pulled him closer below blowing into his ear softly, "And this is why I keep coming back. You never disappoint me…"
Jounouchi shuddered, "What…?"
Kaiba let out a small chuckle, "If you're willing to fight, I will fight back and I will claim what's rightfully mine."
Jounouchi tried to step backwards. He wanted to get away. He had talked all big and tough and yet, somehow he ended up in Kaiba's trap.
"I was never yours and will never be."
"Last time I checked, the bracelet on your arm proves otherwise," Kaiba declared grabbing hold of Jounouchi's left wrist to examine the gift.
"That proves nothing," denied Jounouchi yanking his wrist away from a very very amused Kaiba.
"Are you attending my masquerade?" questioned Kaiba as he released Jounouchi who quickly backed away.
"Pfft, that tacky social party of yours..? As if!" rejected Jounouchi as he walked down the stairs back to the classroom.
Kaiba stood there and smiled once he knew the male had sauntered away for good. A couple of nights ago he had wanted to give up but suddenly the apology and everything the brunette had been planning had flown out the window. Jounouchi was not finished with him and nor was Kaiba. It was as if the blonde was testing him and wanting him to follow.
Jounouchi never ever failed to disappoint him… It's probably another one of the many complicated reasons why Kaiba liked him… He was almost tempted to go to Tragic tonight knowing that Jounouchi would most likely be there knowing that he wouldn't. He'd probably be dancing his heart out since he hadn't been able to in a couple of days… Kaiba knew he couldn't. He had a party to host and be responsible for and his heart somewhat broke knowing that Jounouchi would not be attending tonight.
Kaiba could only imagine of how wonderful the blonde would look pampered and dressed for the occasion. He promised one day he would be able to do those things for him. For now, Kaiba would childishly dream away on something that he was in love with but couldn't have. For once he felt his age and he whole heartedly embraced it…
_-_-_-_
When Mai told Jounouchi to trust her he never knew how much that really meant to trust her. He had arrived in Harajuku Saturday morning to be swept away by Mai in her convertible to so many places. He had never felt so girly in his life… Matter of fact, he was dressed like one. That had been his plan all along but he never knew how unrecognizable he'd look within the mirror.
His nails had been manicured and flashy red and black acrylics adorned them almost as nice as the rings on his fingers did… Blonde extensions had been clipped into his hair, and they most definitely had not been the cheap kind but Mai assured him that she had connections and it wouldn't even cost a thing. His regular hair and the extensions had been styled and curled. He almost would even consider the long formal hairdo a 'Hime-Gyaru' look with the full body in the top and the loose curls at the bottom.
Mai had done everything else. Make-up hadn't been a challenge at all for her. Jounouchi was easily transformed into a full out girl within a matter of hours on hand. A red dress clung to his slender dancer's body. It was too red, the back had longer trails and Jounouchi awkwardly found the front which was a whole different layer, much too short for his liking… He had never shown so much leg in his life and had to admit, waxing had made his legs look entirely way too feminine.
It also didn't help that the dress tied in the back and the rest was backless midway. Jounouchi sighed knowing he really didn't have a chest and had to deal with the straight cut dress-Mai's only straight one-which the back and shortness made up for entirely.
Jounouchi tried balancing in the red and black flowered stilettos before finally finding a method to walk. Mai was just then applying finishing touches to his make-up before smiling.
"Uwa! Katsuya, you make a full fledged girl feel so plain!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"I feel like a Barbie," said Jounouchi as he tried to adjust the hem of the front.
"Psh, you look hotter than Barbie on her good days, it helps that you're a natural blonde. Too bad you'll be behind this tonight," Mai said as she revealed a gleaming red and black jeweled masquerade mask. On the left side a feathered rose decorated the side and the rest was glittering ruby and diamond on a black canvas.
"Sometimes, I wonder where you find all of this…" Jounouchi mused.
"You'll never know," teased Mai. She finally began getting picks to unlock Kaiba's bracelet.
"Any luck?" Jounouchi asked after twenty minutes of Mai twisting his wrists in weird directions.
"No luck. Kaiba obviously had this custom made and made very well. This isn't a cheap lock… Matter of fact, probably only the key he owns for it can reach to where in needs to go to pick it. It probably has to press more than one latch from what I'm guessing," explained Mai with a sigh.
"How am I going to not get him to recognize me?" Jounouchi asked.
"Isn't this enough?" Mai asked.
"The thing is, he'll definitely know who I am if he sees the bracelet on me tonight," explained Jounouchi.
"I guess so considering he was the sadist who locked it on you hm?"
Mai looked like she was in deep in thought for a moment before pulling out long black gloves. Jounouchi removed the rings on his fingers and replaced them with the gloves before placing the rings back on his fingers.
"It's enough coverage make the bracelet unrecognizable to the eye," Mai explained.
Jounouchi agreed before a large black purse was given to him.
"Leave before midnight, here's your change of clothes for the airport because it would look way too suspicious if you went to Narita looking like a princess," Mai said.
Jounouchi hugged her before thanking her.
"I really owe you this time," he said.
"Oh, I think seeing you like this is enough repayment. I never thought I'd see the day when Katsuya Jounouchi would throw away his pride to get revenge," said Mai.
"And revenge is sweet," Jounouchi said.
"But of course," Mai said.
_-_-_-_-_
Blue sapphire orbs gazed at his pale appearance in the mirror. He looked like a prince, which definitely suited his status. He made sure that everything was perfect and pure out white, silver, and blue, including his tuxedo and his sparkling blue and silver mask.
Kaiba placed the mask on thinking he resembled a dragon. The guests were already at the party and he slightly dreaded it. Everyone from school and every business owner's daughter and son would be there. However, Kaiba knew it would look good and the press would eat it up considering that Seto Kaiba rarely held social events, especially with people that were his own age.
The brunette made his way downstairs, announcing his entrance as the music in the ballroom halted. Every girl was in awe and boys there were incredibly jealous of his appeal. He only spoke a couple of words to greet his guest before a lithe figure gracefully made entrance into the ballroom. Heels clicked on the pale white floor bringing everyone's attention to the girl who had entered in…
Kaiba blinked. She looked stunning and incredibly familiar. He quickly ended his conversation as hazel eyed orbs shot daggers through him through her jeweled mask before she disappeared into the crowd.
Kaiba felt the sudden urge to follow. There was something appealing about whoever she was…
'Wait, what the fuck are you doing?! You like Jounouchi! Not some blonde bimbo who arrived fashionably late to your party!' he told himself.
Despite what he was telling himself, he followed anyway until he finally found whoever she was at the end of the ballroom alone with a drink.
"You arrived quite late," Kaiba announced.
Her glossed lips smiled before murmuring a small, "I apologize."
"Can I request a dance?" asked Kaiba.
"Wouldn't you rather dance with someone more of your importance?"
"Anyone who can dance is fine, you just happened to attract my attention," Kaiba said.
"I accept your offer then," said the girl as she took his hand and they began dancing with Kaiba as lead.
"Do you come from Domino High?" Kaiba questioned.
"Possibly," said the girl, a sly grin on her face.
Kaiba couldn't deny whomever this was undoubtedly beautiful in a daring sort of way. He had wondered why he hadn't made an encounter by this girl before if she did attend school with him.
"Possibly?" he questioned.
"What's the fun of a masquerade if I give you clues?" the girl asked as Kaiba twirled her. People began to watch curiously wondering who had managed to capture the cold CEO's attention.
"Who's the tramp?"
"Beats me, I've never seen a girl with that bleached of hair at our school…"
It seemed like a couple of girls were quite jealous of whoever she was and it made her grin.
"It seems like you've gained some attention," Kaiba pointed out.
"They'll be disappointed," the girl answered.
"Oh?"
"I'm not who they think I am…"
"Who might you be?" Kaiba asked once again. This time he made sure that it sounded like a demand.
"Secret," the woman teased as the song ended, "There's too many people. We're distracting everyone from their fun."
"Then we'll leave to somewhere more private," Kaiba said before taking her hand to lead her to the back den. They disappeared outside behind the curtains leaving them by themselves.
"Why me?" the girl asked.
"You reminded me of someone," proclaimed Kaiba. It was true, she looked a very feminine version of Jounouchi… It was almost scary.
"I see. A replacement?" she questioned.
"No. I'll only see you tonight, this isn't some silly fairy tale," Kaiba corrected her quickly. He didn't want to give her false hopes. He had learnt not to do so with girls or they'd never leave you alone.
"I see. What if I told you that you might know me?" mused the girl as she began dancing almost childishly by herself. Kaiba was entranced at how graceful she was and how suddenly she had grabbed a hold of Kaiba was leading the dance. She wrapped one slender bare leg around one of his forcing him to dip her before leading again. It was almost as if she were teasing him…
"The only people I know are-"Kaiba began.
"Duelists? Business people?" the girl finished his sentence as she moved closer to him. Was that even possible?
Kaiba blinked stunned at how well she read his mind.
"It's funny how well I read your mind Seto Kaiba," she continued.
"Who are you?" Kaiba repeated for the third time that night. He was entranced. Her hazel eyes glittered madly as her face inched near his.
"Fine, I'll grant your request since you want to know so badly," she whispered into his ear. She slowly moved even forward their lips barely touching before Kaiba found himself violently pushed the ground and a glittering ruby and diamond mask falling beside him.
"The fool is you Seto Kaiba," the girl said, her voice somewhat deeper than before. Kaiba was stunned he had to look hard, incredibly hard, which didn't help because it was dark, but there was absolutely no doubt about it, the woman was no other than a very dolled up version of Katsuya Jounouchi.
"K-Katsuya…" breathed out Kaiba in a sputter completely stunned. This was the last person he had expected to see tonight and even then, dressed as a girl? He was stunned at how beautiful the blonde could manage to pull off both genders!
Jounouchi smirked before waving at him, "In your dreams dear prince. Mess with me again and I'll reveal that you're not so straight. And trust me; I'll have certain people back me up, including your wonderful crowd of paparazzi outside." He said before making his get away.
Kaiba sat there on the ground, stunned for a moment before realizing here was his chance to confess and apologize and made way to follow. He scanned the crowded ballroom floor to see a red clad figure escape into side hallway up the stairs with a black bag. The brunette slowly followed Jounouchi watching him disappear into his office space on the second floor.
Kaiba waited a moment before pushing his office door open to hear Jounouchi yelp in surprise. He was only wearing a red and white t-shirt (no doubt for a girl) and a short jean skirt midway up on his thighs as Kaiba had made his entrance. Jounouchi was on the floor from tripping over the heels he had taken off in a hassle and just left there.
"Well, well, seems like you've been doing a lot tonight haven't you puppy?"
"Oh fuck off already!" snapped Jounouchi pulling the jean skirt up on his waist as he blushed furiously as Kaiba's eyes were undoubtedly scanning over his figure.
"Why are you here? I thought my social gatherings were boring?"
"I came to get revenge…"
Kaiba chuckled before making way over to him, "And you decided to amuse me by cross-dressing?"
Jounouchi looked away, "It worked. You totally fell for it…"
"And as much as I find your stunt cute, why are you stripping in my office?" Kaiba questioned.
"Kaiba just shut up, I'm running late and I need to leave!" Jounouchi exclaimed glancing at his cell phone.
"What's the problem? I'm taking it whatever it is takes you cross-dressing again… Please don't tell me you've went low enough to prostitute yourself," said Kaiba.
Jounouchi rolled his eyes.
"If you really wanna know moneybags, this is for my sister. I can't see her as me, my mom won't allow it and she's having eye surgery in the States and I wanna see her one last time… Just in case…" his voice cracked.
"And you planned getting to Narita by?"
"Train."
"Ridiculous. By how you're dressed and it being this time of night, someone's bound to cop a feel," Kaiba said.
"You have any other brilliant ideas? I can't just magically appear over at the airport," Jounouchi pointed out.
"I'll take you. Get your things," declared Kaiba before taking off his tie; he buttoned the first few buttons to his silver dress shirt, and took off suit coat to replace it with his trench coat. Jounouchi slipped the red heels on his feet before grabbing the bag with the other apparel safely inside.
"We'll take the side entrance where the garage is at. I'll entrust the security with my party as well as Mokuba," Kaiba explained as he quickly made a couple of texts on his expensive phone before opening the door to the office.
Jounouchi couldn't refuse such an offer, even if it was from Kaiba, he was desperate to see his sister and would do whatever it would take.
He slightly stumbled forward due to stepping wrong in the red stilettos, right into Kaiba's arms throwing them backwards onto the floor.
"You may look like a woman but you're still as clumsy as it gets," scoffed Kaiba.
"Che, just help me up," Jounouchi snapped.
Kaiba smirked as his hand quickly moving across the blonde's thigh as helped him stand before murmuring into his neck teasingly, "As much as you look the part of a girl mutt, you really need to learn how you keep your legs closed in skirts… You'll give everyone a glimpse of those black panties if you're not careful."
Jounouchi blushed furiously punching Kaiba's arm roughly (which Kaiba himself had taken quite passively at this point), "You sick pervert! Might I remind you that I'm a man! And I do hit like one."
He sighed before following Kaiba down the stairs, oh the things he would get himself into due to this prick… Jounouchi oathed never to encourage Kaiba's sick fantasies ever again… Not that he knew that his plan would back fire and somewhat be a fetish to the CEO in the first place.
(A/N: Muwahaha! I'm evil ne? I really thought cross-dressing Jounouchi would be appealing because it's the least likely thing Kaiba would expect him to do! Not to mention drawing out the outfits and the nail art for them were quite amusing and I found it fun. This is what took up the time for this chapter; I was working out clothes designs and semi-fanart. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter though! It was extremely fun to write! Rwar! Now back to writing the next chapter-where things get back to normal and HOPEFULLY soon Kaiba will be able to seduce Jounouchi into liking him. –cries- While Jounouchi makes A VERY cute girl (from the art I drew) I miss my sexy bishonen Jounouchi already! .)