Independence

Independence

Disclaimer: I don't own anything legally except for this fic you're reading!

Welcome to Chapter 3. I know some of you may be wandering how the title fits into the fic,
but stay tuned. You'll see. In this chapter, Jou finally talks to Kaiba.

Chapter 3: Conversations

It had been about a week since Mokuba gave me the number. I haven't called, and I don't
intend on calling. If Seto can't talk to me himself, then he just can't talk to me.

Besides, I'm not looking for anyone to be with. I'm focused on school, work, and escaping
my mom's house.

But then again, I lost the number 2 days ago to the washing machine.

"Look! Jounouchi! Why haven't you called him?! I'm sick of him asking me 'When is he going
to call?! Did you give him the number?!'"

"I don't want to have a boyfriend now. I have too much to do."

"He doesn't want to be your lover...boyfriend...whatever. He just wants to be your friend. Call
Seto! Just say hello to him so he can get off my nerves. I have 3 kids and a fiance' to worry
about."

"I lost the number."

"What?! When?!"

"Two days ago when I washed my work clothes."

He puts his hand to his face and shakes it.

"You're pathetic. Look. Give me your number and he'll call you."

I shake my head.

"Ok. You don't have to give it to me... I'll get it myself."

"Fine. Wait, Mokuba!"

He turns around towards me.

"Yes? Jounouchi?"

"Here's the number." I say writing it down on my order sheet and handing it to him.

"Thank you!" he says putting the paper in his pocket.

...

"Jou?!" whispers my mom as she stands in the door. "Who is Mokuba?"

"My co-worker...why?"

"Isn't he the one that you couldn't get along with? Why is he calling you?"

"I dunno."

"Look, I was about to call Shizuka, so don't keep it long." she says handing me the
phone and leaving.

"Moshi moshi." I say as I put the receiver to my ear.

"Hey Jounouchi! How are you?"

"What do you want with me Mokuba?"

"I just wanted to call you."

"There's another motive behind you. I've been knowing you too long."

He snickers.

"Yea. Seto just wants to talk to you."

"Well, tell Seto he needs to call me instead of you!"

"Moshi...moshi..." a shy, yet strong voice says.

Eep! It must be Seto! Mokuba could have told me he gave him the phone. That
little bastard!

"Hello." I say, feeling myself becoming just as shy as the person on the other end of the
phone.

No! I can't be shy. I have to play hard-to-get. There aren't many guys who have had the
honor to be with me. Well, actually...

"How are you?" I ask.

"Ok. How are you?"

"Doing great. Why couldn't you call me yourself?!" I say hoping to scare him off.

"Everytime I picked up the phone...I couldn't."

"Riight. Well, I have to go. My mom wants to use the phone. Bye."

I quickly hang up before he had the chance to respond. That should run him away.

I go into my mom's room and hand her back the phone.

"What did he want?"

"Nothing okaa-san. Just wanted to call and talk to me. That's all."

"Really... ok. What time do you have to work tomorrow?"

"5 to 10. I have class in the morning at 8."

"Ok."

I go back into my room, thinking about that man who hardly said a word, yet left a great
impact on my heart.

The next few nights went about the same. Mokuba called me and I talked to Seto...rudely...
hoping he would get the message that I love being by myself...or do I?

"Jou? Someone named Seto is on the phone for you."

Huh?! He actually called me?! Woah...

I grab the phone from my mom and hurry back into my room.

"Moshi moshi!" I say somewhat excitiedly.

"Hello Jou. How are you? Did you work hard today?"

That's the most I've heard him say at once...

"I'm doing great. Glad you called me for yourself. And I was off today. I take Thursdays
off because I have classes all day until 8pm."

"It's only 7, what are you doing home?"

"Class got cancelled. I could have went to work, but I need an off day."

He laughs, for the first time I've heard.

"I want to see you again Jou."

"Again?! When did you see me?"

"At the restaurant with my brother a week or two back. I was with him."

Eh....why do I not remember his face? Or him?!

"I don't remember you."

"You were so busy talking to my brother that I didn't want to interrupt you. Besides, I'm
so shy that I wouldn't know what to say if you would have looked my way."

"Try 'hello'."

He laughs.

"Ok...I still don't remember you. Sorry for that. So, we've been talking about a week. What
do you look like."

"I'm 6'2", 195. I wear glasses only because I hate putting my contacts in."

"Ok..." I say trying to get a mental image, but no success.

"Imagine Mokuba 3 inches taller, with glasses and a shaven face."

"Much better." now if he looks anything like Noa...then I'm in for a treat!

"I have to go now. I have to go to work early in the morning, so I like to get to bed early."

"Ok. I'll talk to you tomorrow ok Seto."

"Yea. Tomorrow. Ja ne."

"Ja ne."

I hang up the phone, somehow knowing that I'm falling in love with him...
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Chapter 3 is done! Whoop-te-doo! I know you want yaoi. Just wait and you'll get it! :-P