December 29 2006: Author's Nonsense: Guess you won't think I'm going to forget about it with as much as I update at once. Heh. Maybe if I stretched it out more though I'd get myself some more reviews.

-Aura

Chapter 9: Extended Preparation

"Um…Mokuba…we could just go to a nicer section of Sears or the mall." Kagome hissed as he pulled her toward one of the more expensive clothing stores in the whole town, she felt awkward just being outside. Her school uniform somehow seeming more like a servant's dress just by glancing at the gorgeous gowns and accessories in the windows.

"You wanna get me killed?" Mokuba asked with a frown at Kagome's protest, stopping to put his hands on his hips. "Kaiba will have none of that. He would skin me alive if I took you to some place he would consider common. This place is great. Come on."

Kagome recalled the scene from Pretty Woman and pictured the women inside flaying her with sharp tongues while she tried to buy clothes that everyone would know didn't fit her. She wouldn't have dared to go inside to the predatory women's glares if she didn't have Mokuba with her. The gaurds and limo must have helped her more homey appearance though because they got a spark in their eyes she figured sharks must share when they smell blood in the water.

"Can I help you miss?" the business woman scanned her over depreciatingly as she asked, polite but not lowering her nose.

"Yes, I'm looking for a dress." Kagome whispered, wanting to grab Mokuba as the boy ran off to start looking. "Something elegant but that won't show a lot of skin."

Mokuba would return then and tug at the woman's leg, not noticing the glimmer of annoyance that flitted over her face before she ducked down. He whispered to her for a while and then glanced at Kagome conspiratorially before whispering to her some more. Her demeanor changed to much more pleasant after the comments and the woman nodded.

"I think we should be able to find you many things to choose from. Would you care to wait in the changing room while we retrieve possible dresses to the needed requirements?" the woman asked much more nicely.

Must have told her who was paying the bill. Kagome thought with a smirk then shook her head. "I'd appreciate suggestions but I'd like to look as well."

"As you like ma'am…should I gather the other possibilities while you browse?" the woman didn't follow her as she started to go down an isle.

"Sure, thanks." Kagome answered. "Wanna help me look some Mokuba?"

"Okay, I'll take the other side!" Mokuba announced, brow furrowed as if he was on a mission as he went the opposite way.

She grinned at that. Well I guess this isn't so bad. Mokuba is too adorable to stay really nervous around.

She watched them gathering all sort of elegant gowns, bags, and jewelry together and only picked out one or two others that weren't as complicated as the ones they were picking, pausing to look at the sales rack when Mokuba was out of sight, smiling at a newer styled dress that was a black satin that would hug her body and had straps but not sleeves. At it's bottom right corner there was a blue rose tailored in that was half in bloom, the bright blue complimenting the darker dress.

"Oh wow that's great Kagome." Mokuba announced as he looked at the discount gown. "Good find. Try that one on first and I'll pick out some stuff that will match."

The women were exchanging looks and resisting the urges to glare at the possible high spender turned discount. Kagome blushed a little but Mokuba motioned them away and then waited for Kagome to get dressed.

She grinned at the good fit and stepped out despite the slightly unfitting white socks still on her feet, chuckling when Mokuba told her she had to get the dress.

"I think I should at least try on some of the others." Kagome said, trying to keep the scary women from hating her, she'd had enough problems lately with girls attacking her.

"Okay…well I found this black and silver velvety purse to match and this small dress jacket, and these small gloves, and these earrings and this necklace…these shoes too but I didn't know your size." Mokuba went on, as if he'd already decided to buy it. She figured Kaiba had the money but didn't want to spend a lot of his money. "Go ahead and try on one of the ones in the stall. I made them put the ones I picked out in there. Maybe we'll get two."

Kagome just sighed and returned to the stall, unable to put a damper on his smile just yet. Looking at the two dresses he'd picked and wondering how long he'd instead spent on other smaller details for her. He really enjoyed this sort of thing…odd for a young boy but she wasn't about to judge really.

The first one was a long flowing pink thing with a wide skirt and full sleeves, she eyed it and finally shook her head, figured she'd look like a kid in a fluffed skirt. Instead settling it on the only empty hook to look at the other one. It was long and slightly bright blue with a skirt that would flair at the bottom when he walked but only just under her knees so there wasn't a chance of some kind of wind blowing it up. The top was simple but also had layered fabric around the top of the sleeves and neck that seemed to keep up the idea of it easily flowing with movement. The sleeves weren't long but the ends were as flared as the bottom of the dress. She smiled at it, it wasn't as elegant as Mokuba had hinted was needed but she did like it, twirling and watching the bottom swish gently before smiling and walking out for him to see.

"Great." he announced when he looked up. "That's how I thought it would look, I know it's not really super dressy but I think you should get it as well. It fits you too well for me to not get it. I think we're done dress wise, they all just want you to buy the expensive stuff. That cool?"

"Mokuba I don't think you should spend your brother's money like that." Kagome bit her lip, expecting him to look sad.

"Kagome." the boy laughed. "I have money too, it's a family corporation that Seto and I own. I am on an allowance but I usually don't spend much. Think of it as thanks for getting my brother to duel again and helping him defeat Yugi with the card you gave him. It was great to see him win again!"

She smiled and sighed. "How can I refuse that? Just don't let me hear the total."

"Done." Mokuba chuckled. "You are really silly Kagome. Wanna change back so we can buy stuff and get you home? I think Seto will get mad if I linger overly long. I'll just get all the accessories I think you could use."

She frowned as he had announced it once she'd passed out the last dress she'd put on but figured she probably couldn't talk him out of it, promising herself she wouldn't let the younger Kaiba bring her shopping after this time. Surprised he wouldn't want to spend his money on cards or video games. By the time she'd gotten her school uniform back on and gathered her purse together they were carrying bags out of the store toward the limo.

"Thank you Mokuba…I think you took all the nice intentions out of your brother and he got all your bitter emotionlessness." Kagome grinned when Mokuba rolled his eyes.

"Seto isn't always emotionless and bitter, but yeah I am nicer than him." the younger one chuckled as they got into the limousine. "So I must ask being the one to look out for him. Do you really like him?"

Kagome was glad she wasn't drinking anything at that moment. "I…we're going out more as friends Mokuba. Seto is a nice person but I don't think he really wants any serious relations with me."

"He asked you on a date."

"He won a date." Kagome admitted. "A girl in the school newspaper set up a duel between he and Joey without my permission and the prize was a date. I think that's all there is to it."

"But what if it's not? I don't want you using Seto."

"I wouldn't lead on your brother Mokuba, what sort of girl do you think I am?" Kagome gasped at the accusations. From Seto she could have dealt with it easier - even expected it…but not from Mokuba.

"Sorry but a lot of girls that spend time with him try too." Mokuba frowned, feeling a little bad but still justified. "If you don't like him you shouldn't go on dates with him. Or at least call it something else. Dates are for couples."

"Oh." Kagome had to consider how much his older brother must mean to the orphan. "I will seriously think about it Mokuba, but have you asked Seto the same question?"

"No but you are avoiding the question." Mokuba announced with a smile. "Do you like him or not?"

"Um…I do like him but where it goes is up to us Mokuba and you shouldn't try to set people up." Kagome was starting to catch on. "I think it's cute and all but our business is ours. We're both a little older and advice is fine but it's up for us to decide what we want."

"Oh fine." Mokuba accented with a sigh. "just give up the speech Kagome, you sound like my teachers."

Kagome laughed. "You are related to your brother."

"Not sure if I should feel insulted or complimented." Mokuba stuck his tongue out. "Well I'll see you when I get out of jail Kagome. You dress up real nice for my brother sense you like him so much."

Kagome started to answer but then the door opened, they'd already reached her shrine…oh well she had homework to finish anyway, she'd get back at the youth later. She picked up the many bags she'd acquired and headed up to the shrine.

Scene Switch - moving ahead

The next day was a mixture of class and spending time with her counselor and the principle or vice principle, thankfully when they'd originally mentioned detention on Friday the psycho had reminded her father that his wife was celebrating her birthday. So the punishment was pushed off to the following Monday and she didn't have to try to find a way out of it or just not go outright. She accepted the short detention that was decided upon and endured the many discussions about what had happened and how fighting and name-calling was wrong. She'd avoid the girl just to keep from having to put up with the many speeches that would undoubtedly follow any interaction in the future.

Finally Thursday passed and she finished any homework assignments she had or could predict for the weekend or next day so she had very little to worry about. Friday wasn't as filled with moving around and it seemed to pass even slower than the day before it, making her wonder if Kaiba was nearly as nervous about the whole date as she was. He always seemed so consistently busy that she doubted the time was passing nearly as slowly for him, he would hopefully at least be able to relax and not be too bored when they spent the evening together.

She didn't see him most of the day and certainly never got the chance to talk to him in the class they had together. Even at lunch he was never in the lunch room, she had taken to sitting with some of the girls that had welcomed her and still didn't try to quiz her about her relationship with the billionaire teenager.

She was rushing after the day was over, she'd been given a note before her final hour that he was leaving a guard for her near where he'd normally pick her up so she could get a ride straight to her home to prepare and he could get things together faster as well. She hurried out to find her ride, ignoring the crazy Nicole that was raving at her from down the road when she left. Apparently nothing had happened yet with that restraining order and she wasn't up for another skirmish that could get her in trouble when she was so worried about being ready for the date.

Scene Switch - changing perspective

Seto moved into his large home after parking outside, he was going to late if he didn't hurry, damn traffic accident. He really had to find a way to park his helicopter near the school's grounds so he didn't have to deal with it. Perhaps he'd look into buying one of the businesses near there or at least lease a roof strong enough to put up with a helipad. This whole date thing was turning into more than it could possibly be worth. He took steps two at a time and started taking clothes off as he headed from his rooms door to his personal shower, at least he'd had the foresight to lay out all he'd be wearing. He jumped into a very fast shower, washing up and ducking out, drying while he brushed his teeth.

He dried his hair quick but not so fast that it would drip and started putting on the suit he'd picked out for the evening. The charcoal gray was dark enough to still be distinguished but be unique, he'd picked a plane white shirt for under the jacket and a blue tie and handkerchief to offset the ashen color nicely. He returned to finish drying his hair before brushing it and using a little gel to settle it so it wouldn't frizz out anywhere. He hurried to put a watch on his wrist and slip into the black dress socks and shoes, moving along from the practice of occasional late mornings and unexpected appointments.

He eyed himself in the mirror and then nodded, picking up his keys and slipping his cell into one of his pockets as he took the stairs back down two at a time.

"Hey Seto, wait." Mokuba called to him, making him pause at the front door as his younger brother dashed out of a side room toward him with a blue and white flower in a plastic holder. "here, give her this."

"Mokuba, I have to stop letting you watch movies." Kaiba commented as he took the carnation from him and bent so he could pin a matching smaller flower to his chest. Surprised at how much Mokuba had gotten into his little date.

"Okay, now don't go being too much of a bitter emotionless jerk." Mokuba told him seriously. "Otherwise you won't get to go out with her again. Have a good time Seto…I'm heading back to finish homework."

The boy had retreated before Kaiba could respond to that, there were several possibilities where he could have heard him called the insult but was more a little bugged that he had repeated it. He didn't have time to discipline him about respect now though, he had to avoid being late…he abhorred being late.

He moved to his car and got inside, he didn't want to chance a limo when it was a date, it would feel weird to have a servant along in this case. He sped a little as he moved toward her house but with all the money he'd donated to the police the year before they wouldn't tag him if they enjoyed their jobs being comfortable; money did have it's advantages. It was fifteen minutes after he'd left, cut from the usual twenty-five when he pulled to a sharp stop in front of the long steps up to her house. He checked his watch and smiled. At least he could just walk up the steps with the ten minutes he still had, if she had a normal home he could have gotten away with not speeding.

He picked up the flower that Mokuba shoved into his hands and headed up to look at her house, slowing some as he came to the door. Raising a hand and considering what he was doing as he knocked, Seto Kaiba wasn't about to let a little unforeseen confusion make him seem unconfident. He suddenly knew what the stories meant when they said that someone's breath caught in their throat, she was so gorgeous.

The simple velvet dress had been augmented by evening gloves, a silver necklace with a teardrop blue topaz gem and matching earrings. Her hair had been pulled up except for two strands mirroring her face, it had rows of sparkling diamond like gems set on strands that had been put into a random braid with some of the hair set into temporary small curls and others left to cascade gently toward her back. Her make-up was gently applied but that just helped her to augment her personal beauty as opposed to try to cover up what she really looked like. Her mother handed her a short velvet sweater that matched the rest of the ensemble well and while it wasn't an exceptional outfit it fit her very well. He had to smile at the blue rose design at the bottom of the dress and ponder how many times she would fall in the small heels she'd chosen before he glanced back up to her now blushing face. Picking up a vague scent of vanilla for whatever perfume she'd chosen to put on.

"You look wondrous Kagome. Are you ready?" He asked.

"Yes. Of course." Kagome answered, looking him over bashfully in his own suit.

"Here." He'd hand the flower toward her. "You don't have to wear it but it seemed more traditional."

"Oh it's beautiful." she answered with a smile, pulling it out and letting her mother pin it on for her.

"I know you kids are in a hurry but I just have to have a picture…you both look so great." The mom ushered them together before either could really answer, it had been more a statement anyway. Grinning at them and taking a few pictures before relenting to a shrieking teapot and wishing her daughter a great time.

Kagome smiled after her mom and picked up her purse, laying the jacket over an arm before she shut the door and moved to walk with Kaiba down the steps.

"Just where are you taking me that you are all dressed up like that? You make me look bad." she asked as they went back down the steps.

"It's a surprise. I told you that before, I'm not relenting now." Kaiba smirked. "And no one could make you look bad tonight."

She blushed and walked the rest of the way down in silence, accepting the help into the car and waiting for him to walk around and get in, it was certainly going to be an experience whatever he had planned. She had to smile to herself as he got into the vehicle and put his seat belt on, whatever trouble this date might cause her she had to enjoy the moment anyway. It was her first real date in…well her first actual date ever…

End Chapter

Okay, here we are, end of another chapter and next time we move onto the first date. This fiction is very enjoyable to write but I hope other people who read it don't hate it. I know the pair is a little hard to believe and I'm not sure if Kaiba's been in character lately but I don't actually see him as the complete and utter jerk most fictions portray him as. Certainly he's a bit of an ass but I can't see him treating people like crap after they've helped him out and been nice to him. Just to explain my reasons for why he seems nicer than most fan fictions.

-Aura

To my reviewers: No new ones yet. L