Lethe Notes: I was making a really stupid Marco Polo joke. XD Why not some other explorer, you know? ...Like Ferdinand Magellan! (is shot)
All right, a super-quick update for you! Too bad about the ending, huh? I was like, what the heck – you've gotta be kidding me! Ahaha… that's when you know it's bad.
Appeal
Nine: Time To Party
"Hey, Kaiba." Jou sidled up beside the young executive as students flooded out of the school. "Kaiba."
Kaiba glanced at Jou and nodded. "What is it?"
"You know the homework?"
"Yes. Do you?"
"Were we supposed to do it to twenty or-"
"Fifty-five," said Kaiba.
"Dammit," muttered Jou. "There went my weekend."
"It's not that bad. You'll be fine."
A month after the project had been handed in, and for some reason, Jou and Kaiba hadn't stopped talking. It hadn't really crossed Jou's mind. The guy was being nicer, for one thing.
And for another, he was actually getting paid.
A week after Jou's visit, Kaiba had confronted Jou. "Jonouchi. I'd like to make you an offer."
Jou had stared at him. Like the great Seto Kaiba could need anything? "Oh?"
"Mokuba has been pining after you."
"That's sweet," said Jou tentatively.
"Would you like to come over once a week? I could pay you twenty-five an hour-"
If Jou hadn't had more control, he would have started to drool. As it was, his mouth began to water. "An hour?"
"Is that not enough?"
"Th-that's – when do I start?"
So he had actually been raking in a respectable income for the past four weeks, and eating gourmet food, to boot. Or, rather, takeout. He guessed that Kaiba didn't enjoy cooking much.
"Looking forward to today?" said Kaiba conversationally.
"Yeah. How old is the pipsqueak now?"
"Thirteen." Kaiba shuddered.
"Ohhh, a teenager," laughed Jou. "You've really got your work cut out for you, then, Mom."
Kaiba glared at Jou. "I'll handle him easily."
"I think I'll get you a parenting book for your birthday."
Kaiba fell silent.
"Hey, you alive in there?"
Then Jou noticed that a little smile had grown on Kaiba's face. "You don't even know when my birthday is."
Who's ever gotten him a present? Jou realized. "Well, it can't be hard to find out."
"True enough."
"Come on, tell."
"It's not for a while."
"Fine." Jou pouted.
They were at the limousine. Kaiba opened the door. "In."
"What am I, your pet?"
But Jou got in anyway.
"Spin the bottle! Spin the bottle!"
"Doofus! There are only guys here!"
"Well, fine, what do you want to play?"
"Twister!" volunteered one boy with bleached hair. "Let's play Twister!"
"No waay," said a chubby boy who Jou had since identified as Takato. "You're the best at that game."
"That's why I want to play it," giggled Bleached Hair.
"Well, what do you want to do, Mokuba?" said Jou brightly. He wasn't very good at taking care of more than one kid at a time, but they liked him well enough.
"Um…" said Mokuba. "Let's let Kosuke decide."
The quiet kid with mousy brown hair burst into a grin. "Seriously?"
"I think it's your turn anyway," said Mokuba.
"Sweet! Let's go to your arcade!"
They were up and away before Jou could exhale. Jou and Kaiba exchanged pained looks.
"How you dealin', Kaiba?"
"I'll … manage," said Kaiba determinedly. He definitely can't be used to this, crazy businessman that he is.
He's like a forty-year-old bachelor, Jou thought with an inward laugh. "Well, hey, I think they'll be occupied enough by the games that they won't need as much attention. Take a breather, huh?" Jou stood and stretched.
"I'm not that weak," said Kaiba. "I'm fine."
"But some rest will do you good. You're scary when you're cranky."
"If I'm resting, so are you."
"We can't just leave them unattended!"
"You said it yourself. They'll be fine," said Kaiba. "Now sit."
"No! Stay here and I'll-"
"A compromise," said Kaiba. "Let's go to the monitor room."
"The what now?"
"That's where the information from the security cameras goes. We can watch Mokuba and his friends, and get some rest."
Something clicked in Jou's mind.
"You have cameras in here?"
"Of course. You don't expect me to be without proper precautions, do you?"
…The drawings!
He definitely showed me the drawings for a reason!
But why?
Jou grinned. "Great idea. Let's go."
"Wow," said Jou, after Kaiba had kicked out thetwoastonished-lookingguards. "It's… uh…"
Kaiba looked at Jou wryly. "Yes, it's a bit small."
"It's the size of my room," marveled Jou. "And with all the equipment and stuff…"
"I know it's small," said Kaiba. "Now get in."
"This 'in' stuff again," muttered Jou.
But he went in.
"Sit."
"All right, that's it. Try asking."
"Take a seat."
"Ask."
"Maneuver your rear into that comfortable chair."
Jou folded his arms.
Kaiba sighed. "Sit. Please."
"Sure thing!" Jou laughed. "Finally, I get Seto Kaiba to do something!"
Kaiba took the seat next to Jou's and scanned the monitors, ignoring him. "That's the one."
"Eh?"
Kaiba pointed. "Twenty-two. That's the one you want to watch."
"All right." Jou peered into the screen. "Looks like they're having fun."
"Good."
They didn't say anything for the next minute, just watching the screen.
This really is a pretty small room, thought Jou. I wonder why.
He could almost hear his heartbeat.
"Jou? When do you think we should go back?"
...He could hear his heartbeat. "Wh-what?"
Kaiba blinked at Jou. "What's wrong?"
Da-dum.
Da-dum.
"Spit it out. I haven't got all day."
Shit! What's happening?
His face had started to burn.
Had to be because the room was so stuffy.
"You called me Jou."
Kaiba bit back a curse. Damn it! It had just slipped out. He had been contemplating using that weapon later in the day, but now –
What should he do?
Think through this carefully, Seto. Breathe in.
Breathe out.
There you go.
"I'm sorry," said Kaiba slowly. "I didn't mean to."
Jou's face was bright red. Maybe it would work out to Seto's advantage after all. "Oh, uh … it's okay. You surprised me a bit there is all."
They made eye contact, and then looked just as quickly away. The awkwardness was palpable.
More than a month since Kaiba's little endeavor had begun, and it had all led up to this one perfect moment.
He didn't know if he could go through with it.
It was just a motion. It wouldn't be real. Move closer to Jou, touch his lips – just like getting up in the morning, or retrieving a newspaper.
A motion.
He had to do it. For the game, for the company, for the weeks of work that would be wasted and for the heaps upon heaps of disturbing books – he did not want to have read them for nothing. Especially not … oh, God. He had not suffered through FAKE for nothing.
Kaiba wrenched himself into fierce resolve.
You will kiss Jonouchi Katsuya, and you will make him enjoy it - or die trying.
"…Jou?"
Jou jumped a bit in his seat. His face was still flushed. "Y-yeah?"
He was stuttering. Had Kaiba really made him that nervous? A strange thrill of pride lit at the base of Seto's throat, spurring him on.
Do it.
Do it now.
He stood and walked to Jou. "We need to discuss something."
Jou, never intimidated, rose to meet Kaiba, falling just a few inches short – a fact that Kaiba knew Jou had used to, and probably still did, despise. "What is it?"
Kaiba raised a hand to meet Jou's shoulder. His fingers tingled.
He was actually going to do it.
Jou's eyes widened as Kaiba backed him against the wall. "Hey, wait – what are you – I thought we were getting along!"
"We are."
And Kaiba kissed him.