Jou jolted awake to the sound of a loud tolling. Taking a second or so to establish where the fuck he was, his heart rate began to slow and he attempted to find the source of the incessant ringing. His eyes darted all over the room, until they settled on the clock.
6AM. Fuck everything.
Groaning, he glanced at the door, nearly jumping out of his skin when he saw who was standing in the corridor outside.
"Don't tell me you were expecting a lie in, pup." Seto snorted when he saw Jou pull the covers around himself in an attempt to hide his half-naked body.
"No, I was expecting to be able to sleep." Replied Jou, glaring, slightly pink.
"Now, now. Breakfast is in five."
And with that, the billionaire strode off down the corridor, probably with a smirk plastered across his smug face.
Jou buried his face in the duvet. Maybe agreeing to this wouldn't be as smooth a process as he thought it would be. 6AM was just excessive. Jou threw off the blanket and lay back, staring at the gold-plated ceiling. Why did Kaiba still manage to aggravate him, even after so many years out of contact? He didn't feel as if anything was different at all.
"Oh! Sorry!" Jou glanced up to see Jared's red face turned slightly away.
"S'alright, J. I'm just trying to work out why the fuck it's so early." Jou yawned, stretching.
"Well, um, I think it's normal here, sir. I suppose we can't protest, especially with Mr. Kaiba's gracious hospitality."
Jou snorted. "Gracious is a bit exaggerative."
"W-would you like me to get you some breakfast, s-sir? A coffee?"
"Jared, you know you can call me Jou, right?" Jou studied his secretary's face. Why was he so nervous?
"O-oh, okay, Jou. I didn't mean-"
"Stop apologising, idiot!" Jou laughed "Give me a sec to get dressed then we'll head down together. It'd be cruel to make you brave it yourself."
Jared smiled meekly, and left the room, still with a ridiculous blush cast over his features. Jou frowned after him. Jared had always been timid, but not like this, not excessively. Perhaps he just wasn't used to being so well-treated. In hindsight, he had always been quite formal with Jared...it was probably a bit daunting to start using first names. Jou frowned, apart from his name, he barely knew anything about the younger man. Only that he was a lucky intern who'd had a good application. Throwing off the duvet, Jou decided he'd try and encourage a more informal relationship with Jared. The poor kid needed a friend, he'd never seen him out of the office, or without a stack of work in his hands.
Pulling on some jeans and a baggy old t-shirt, Jou made his way to the door, where Jared was waiting nervously. His hands were shaking.
"Jared, seriously, are you alright?" Jou put a hand on his shoulder, worried.
"Y-yes. I guess I just don't really...feel comfortable here. It's the first time I've travelled somewhere and not had anyone...well, no, never mind."
"Go on."
"Well, usually I would've had a friend, or a parent or something. You know." Jared stammered, looking at his feet.
"Jared, honestly, I'm still here."
"Sir, you don't have to-"
"No, look. I want to make sure you're as comfortable as possible. So just know that if you have any other problems just come and find me – you can come and help me work all day if you'd like. We're friends, right?"
"Sir, I-I..."
Jared looked at his feet. Jou shrugged an arm around the boy's shoulders.
"Call me Jou. Now what do you say to getting some breakfast?"
Jared looked up, and unexpectedly pulled Jou into a quick hug, before stepping back awkwardly. His pale face had now turned a violent red.
"Thanks, Jou."
Jou recovered from his surprise, and smiled in response.
"Come on, I'm starving!" he grinned, and beckoned down the hall.
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The breakfast table was, predictably, covered in every food Jou could possibly have wanted, even some he'd never considered trying for breakfast. Trying desperately to restrain himself, he sat down, waiting for Kaiba's permission to start. Jared tucked himself in beside Jou, a similarly distorted expression on his face.
"Hungry?" Kaiba's smirk had returned.
Jou was about to reply politely, but a large rumble from his stomach upset the formality of any answer he could have possibly given.
"So that's a yes, then, I take it. In that case, do dig in."
Jou grunted, willing his cheeks not to redden as Kaiba sniggered at him over the top of his newspaper, and began to load things onto his plate, closely followed by Jared. An awkward silence followed, only broken by the sounds of Jou's and Jared's chewing and swallowing, and an occasional cough from Larson who'd taken up position in the corner. Jou admired his restraint, considering the wonderfully tempting view in front of him.
"Larson, why don't you join us?"
Jou had never liked making anyone his 'servant', regardless of how much money he had, so when Larson looked positively horrified at the suggestion he frowned.
"Oh, no, I've – I mean, it's not my place to – "Larson fumbled for words, looking at Kaiba for help.
Kaiba merely shrugged.
"If Katsuya feels he needs to dictate how my household should be run, then let him. Larson, do have a bite."
Jou frowned at Kaiba.
"Well, I just don't think anyone should be made 'below' anyone, servants are hundreds of years out of date, unless you consider yourself some sort of monarch. And making the poor man stand there watching us eat is surely a bit cruel."
Kaiba looked genuinely taken aback by this comment. Jou smirked inwardly as he visibly searched for words to respond.
"Well, no, I...that is to say...I don't..." he cleared his voice uncertainly "Larson is a respected member of this household. It's just that, well, it was always custom of my father to have the servan...Staff separate from the family proceedings." He paused abruptly after this comment, and Jou was slightly alarmed when his expression turned incredibly melancholy.
"I'm, well, I-I have work to do. Hurry up and get started on the commission, Katsuya." He got up quickly, and swept out of the room, leaving his food half-eaten. Jou noticed him muttering something to Larson under his breath, and then he left the room in a hurry.
Larson looked genuinely shocked, but then, smiled.
"Katsuya, Mr. Kaiba has just given the staff permission to eat with you, would that be uncomfortable for you at all?"
"Oh, God no, not at all!"
Jounouchi grinned. He'd had a personal triumph. Less than a day in and he'd already managed to upset the balance of Kaiba's normal life. Served the smarmy bastard right.
"Mister...Jou, um, do you think that might have been a bad idea if you were planning to win favour with Kaiba?" Jared asked tentatively.
"A bit of disagreement is good for him. Nobody should be given the pleasure of having his every whim dealt to. His ego needs a bit of a trimming if you ask me. I bet he's just sulking." Just before Jou was about to have another bite of his croissant, Larson tapped him politely on the shoulder.
"Katsuya, if I may have a word?" He beckoned in a way which insinuated Jared wasn't to be included, so Jou sent his assistant a reassuring smile before nodding and rising from his chair.
Larson led him to the farthest corner of the room, and then sighed.
"It was kind of you to do that sir, I'm sure the house staff will regard you a hero."
He didn't look at all happy about it, though, which confused Jou.
"The reason Master Kaiba may have left so abruptly is the fact that you, well, he brought up the topic of his father, and I'm afraid that is a particularly sensitive topic. Having served this family for several years, I know all about Kaiba's relationship with his father, and how severely he insists that he should not be compared with him in any way, shape, or form."
That explained the sudden change of mood. Jou found his curiosity sparked, but it would have been impolite to impose further, so he nodded.
"I won't bring it up again, I apologise, Larson."
"Well, to be perfectly honest, he made his own connection. And in the end he'll probably thank you for highlighting the link, since informalising his staff will probably make him feel a lot further away from that horrible man." And with that, Larson nodded respectfully and made his way a little too eagerly towards the breakfast table.
The kitchen staff had begun to gather, and he got a few pats on the back, and winks from some of the maids, well, women, and when he turned back to Jared the poor young man looked incredibly uncomfortable.
"J, what do you say we go make a start, then? You can help me with my research – I intend to make a short visit to an old friend who might be able to hook me up with some inspiration for the commission."
"M-may I come too sir? I mean, Jou?"
"Ha, it's fine, honestly. I suppose we'll have to ask permission to leave."
Turning around, and watching the rabble of people around the table, he decided it would be better to leave them to it, and beckoned Jared towards the main hall. Or at least where he thought it was.
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Striding down the streets of Domino and slowly remembering more and more about his home town was exhilarating. Perhaps dealing with Kaiba was worth it.
"Jou! Jou! Slow down, please?" Jared panted from a little way behind him. He stopped and grinned.
"Jared, I'm flattered I take your breath away." Jou smirked, and got only an embarrassed cough and a red face from his companion. "Anyway, sorry, it's just I haven't been here in years, it's all coming back to me."
"Sorry for being slow, Jou, office work doesn't get you out and about much. I'm not used to the exercise."
"That's alright, I'm getting a bit hot and bothered myself actually." This earned another inexplicable blush from the younger man. Jou paused, looking around. And then broke out into a smile.
"Jared, I think we're here."
"If you'll forgive my asking, Jou, where is, well, 'here'?"
Jou gestured towards a colourful shop, in which several stuffed toys littered the window, as well as little shiny packs of cards.
"If I'm not mistaken, Jared, you're about to meet my old best friend, and the duel monsters world champion."
"You know Yugi?!"
Jou spun around. Jared knew who he was?
"How did you-" Duel monsters wasn't as big in America as in Japan. How could he have known?
"Oh, well, I play sometimes for fun, and, I- well, I suppose it's silly."
"Silly? I played for ten years. Got into the leagues as well."
Jared's eyes brightened. "You did?"
"Yeah, back in the day. I was very different back then."
"Wait, you're not, you can't be...you're THAT Katsuya? But he was so, so..."
Jared broke off uncertainly. The infamous blush had returned.
"Rough around the edges?" Jared's smile confirmed it.
"Well, you know, I've changed. I've matured, basically."
"You still look just as ho-,urm, spirited, though." Jared looked away, coughing nervously.
"Do I? Well, thank god."
Taking a deep breath, Jou paused at the door of the shop. Would the others recognise him? Would they like the new him? Would Yugi?
He composed himself, and pushed open the door to the shop. It was still as small and cosy as it had always been. The amount of cards lining the walls and the counters seemed to have multiplied, Sugoroku had apparently been doing well for himself. No one was at the counter, but a bell sat invitingly in the middle of the desk, next to a box of novelty pens.
Jou tapped the bell, and waited. There was a rustling in the back room, and a voice. A familiar voice. "Just wait there, I'll be right out!" Jou's heart skipped in his chest.
The familiar grey hair, the welcoming smile, the yellow cap, nothing about the shopkeeper had changed. His eyebrows raised when he saw Jou.
"Not often we get anyone over 20 in here. How can I help?"
Jou's heart plummeted. He hadn't recognised him. But wait, suddenly Sugoroku's eyes had widened to the size of tennis balls, his eyebrows diving into his hairline.
"Katsuya? Is tha - is that really you?"
Jou almost sprinted around the counter and embraced the old man in a hug. Jared watched, bemused, as tears began to form in both men's eyes.
"Gosh, Katsuya, I do apologise, you look so different." Solomon said, standing back to take a better look.
"Honestly, Sugoroku, you're not the first." Katsuya smiled. He realised how much he'd missed. How much he wanted – no – needed to catch up, to find everyone, to see the gang.
"By God, I must ring Yugi, and Yami, they'll be absolutely thrilled!"
"Where are they?" Jou asked, impatiently, excitedly.
"Well, they live in Yugi's condo now, you know, King of Games and all that, difficult not to make a few million yen, and obviously a condo is better than my little old house, much better for a young couple."
"Couple?!" Now it was Jou's turn to look surprised.
"Yes, don't you know? It's been all over the news in Japan. Yugi and Yami are the new IT couple. I get hundreds of girls in here asking for his number, pictures of them together, it's a little scary."
Jou took a moment to mull this over. Yugi and Yami had been close, sure, but lovers? Oddly, it didn't bother him. It was just...new. In fact, it was wonderful. He was happy for them.
"Well, I've had to focus on mainly American news, and big awards shows, you know. So I can see what everyone's wearing." Jou blushed, ashamed. He really should have made more of an effort.
"Oh we know everything you've been doing, Katsuya, that dress for that American actress the other week? Truly amazing, I don't know how you do it. I've only ever been able to darn socks, and terribly at that." The old man smiled.
Suddenly, Katsuya felt tears welling up, and although he attempted to brush them away, one of them escaped down his cheek. And before he knew it, he was in Sugoroku's arms, sobbing, apologising, trying to make up for the years that he'd lost.
"Sugoroku, I'm so sorry, I should've called, y'know, done something, it's been 5 YEARS."
The old man held no sadness in his gaze, but rather smiled at Jou, putting an arm around the taller man's shoulders.
"Katsuya, we don't blame you, nobody blames you. With all the work you've been doing, how could you possibly make time for us? We wanted you to visit, of course, but in no way would we want to hinder your career, you've been doing so well for yourself! And, besides," he paused "You're not the only one who's grown up. The other kids have all gone their separate ways, Anzu's gone abroad, Honda's on the opposite side of the country, Bakura and Ryou have gone on a sightseeing tour of Europe, Malik and Marik are in the japanese secret service. None of them have managed to keep consistent contact, because they're all so busy! So why would we blame you?"
Jou let this sink in. So things had changed here too? He mentally slapped himself, of course they had. He felt saddened that he wouldn't be able to see the entire gang, but Yugi and Yami had definitely been the ones he'd been looking forward to.
"I know, I just feel like I should've made some more effort."
"Oh, don't worry yourself, Katsuya, I'm just happy that you're doing so well, and of course that you're here! Do you think you'll buy that, young man?" He addressed Jared, who jumped in alarm. The young man had been perusing the duelling cards, obviously in order to avoid interrupting the sentimental moment. A blush had spread itself over his features. His eyes had been drawn to a certain card, the Red Eyes Black Dragon, that had been mounted temptingly on a small pedestal among the other cards.
Jou's eyes widened. "Is that – "
"Yes, Yugi saved it from your pack especially. It's very expensive, but I imagine if the original owner wanted it back..."
"Oh, no, I don't think I could play again, not at my age." He glanced at the young man beside him, who was staring ashamedly at his feet. Jared was, what, eighteen? Prime age, really.
"I'll buy it. Consider the money a donation to the shop. I've got too much of it anyway"
"Kats – "
"No, honestly, it's my gift to you, 'Roku."
The old man smiled, and took out the key to the case.
Jared watched as the card was placed into Jou's hand, his eyes not leaving the card for one second.
"Tell you what, I don't want it anymore. Jared?"
"Jou?" The boy looked up, confused, and then shook his head.
"I couldn't –"
"Jared, it's a gift. You're a great secretary, and I imagine an even greater friend if I actually paid some attention to you once in a while. Besides, i'm too old for the game now, and it wouldn't be fair to lock it up and mount it somewhere. I want to see it in action."
Jared's eyes looked ready to pop out of his skull as Jou placed the card into his hands. Sugoroku laughed, patting Jou on the back.
"I don't think you've changed, Jou. You're still one of the kindest young men I've ever met."
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AN: Good god I haven't updated in a while. Kudos if you're still watching this story :)