A/N: The whole inspiration for this was when I was scrolling through the gallery of one of my favorite Yugioh sites, Dark Dreaming. The webmistress loves Seto and had this pic of Seto with his back, covered in red marks, to you. It's really a nice picture, simple, but nice. If you want to see the pic,tell me. I'll send you the link in a review reply.

Oh, and I'm totally ignoring the fact that Gozaburo is supposed to be dead. Screw that. I may make- well, he is a bastard, but he makes things interesting.

I'm also ignoring that Seto is OOC in this fic. I have a theory down below, so if it makes you happy, skip down and read that, then come back up and read the story. Plus, would you consider Seto Gozaburo's stepson? I mean, I thought that was only if he married Seto's mother- heaven forbid! But oh well, I can't find any better word anyway so he's steprelated now.

EDIT: Um ... Edit/Preview was being mean to me so I had to upload it and seperate the paragraphs. I did the double spacing thing, but it still didn't work. Just saying so if anything seems to be in the wrong place, sorry.

---

It was a shame.

It was a shame spelt out in bloody red marks along the back of his stepson.

However, Gozaburo didn't care. He enjoyed making the boy pay for being with that juvenile delinquent. What with his unruly blond hair and lecherous eyes. The last thing Gozaburo needed was for his idiot pawn to indulge in something other than his business.

Although Gozaburo seemed to be on top of the business world at the moment, he wasn't so underneath. He was getting older and he wasn't about to let his legend die. Seto had to be trained. He had to be brainwashed. He couldn't get out of this with a simple cry or beg. Oh, no.

Gozaburo had the perfect plan. It was so wonderful, in fact, that said man was too excited to even get a good night's sleep in. Tomorrow was the day that his plan would be executed. Along with that filthy mutt ...

-

Seto flipped a page in his textbook, looking for the answer to a question. Although he already knew the answer, he had nothing better to do seeing as how he had finished his book and wasn't content with staring at the covered blackboard. He looked up, scanning the room for that particular mop of messy blond hair. When no such mop of hair appeared, Seto raised his hand and asked to be excused from the room.

Once outside, the door still hanging lightly in his hand, the brunette ventured his way to the school roof. He knew all too well of where the boy would be. Bright sunlight splashed against his pale skin, reflecting off his body. He gave a silent chuckle as he took note of the blonde's swaying as he sat, back against the railing, and eyes closed. Seto grew close and bent down, capturing the boy's lips with his. Said boy grinned into the kiss and gave back, his hands flying up to Seto's face. The kiss soon broke off and Seto leaned against the railing, still standing as the wind brushed his cheeks.

"Seto Kaiba's skipping class. Oh, God, it's the apocalypse."

Seto reached to ruffle Jou's hair, silently smiling at the comment. In the back of his head, he was dying to say how he'd gladly skip class to be by the blonde's side. However, Gozaburo seemed to always be watching him. And besides, Jou wasn't quite ready for deep confessions of love.

"What's got you out here?" Jou asked, now holding Seto's hand and running this fingers over Seto's knuckles.

"I came to see you. You weren't in class." Seto said.

"Of course I wasn't. You expected me to be?"

"It'd be nice if you decided to start learning so ahead in life I wouldn't be the one making the money and taking care of you."

Jou laughed before adding in his two cents, "But I need some TLC, and you're just the person to give it to me."

Seto lowered his head in his crossed arms so as to hide the blush. Most of Jounouchi's words seemed to get to him and when they did, Jou often teased him for it.

"I'm afraid Seto won't be giving any 'TLC' to anyone."

The voice made Seto's blood run cold. He froze, his breath caught in his throat. No. No. It couldn't be.

"Jounouchi Katsuya, I believe? Seto talks about you a lot. Not to me, however."

Seto didn't bother turning as he heard the heavy padding of Gozaburo's leather shoes against the marble floor of the roof. Deep down he feared to look into Gozaburo's eyes now more than he had ever in his entire life.

"Who are you?" Jou's voice barked, as he moved to stand up.

"What? Seto doesn't talk about me? I'm Gozaburo Kaiba."

Jou's eyes blazed with fury at the name. It was him that put those marks on Seto. On his Seto. How dare he taint something so beautiful?

His and Seto's fingers were still intertwined. Neither seemed to be thinking of letting go. The union of their hands made Gozaburo frown.

"As I would hope you know, Kaiba Corp is a big company with many responsibilities. I, being the experienced business man I am, can easily balance this with the other aspects of life ... "

"Get on with it." Jou interrupted, his eyes glued to Gozaburo.

Gozaburo ignored the interruption and continued, "Seto, however, seems to be distracted. Encase you don't know, there's no room for distractions."

Jou looked at Seto pleadingly, hoping to get the boy back to earth. He yanked at Seto's hand, bringing him into a strong embrace. The blank expression on Seto's face stayed however. He didn't seem to be on the roof with them anymore.

"And do you know what we do with distractions? We get rid of them. So please, let go of him before I have to make you."

Gozaburo's hands were clasped together in front of him and an artificial smile played on his face. Whether he had to take Seto back by asking nicely or by force didn't matter. He was the key to his company. Mokuba was far too stubborn; he wouldn't do a thing without his big brother by his side.

The middle aged man stared on as Jou continued to hold on to the brunette. How dare he defy him? Anger boiled in his veins and Gozaburo waved his hand, a signal to the group of men standing behind him. They charged the two boys, immediately snatching Seto from Jou's hold, their hands still glued together.

"Let got of me! Put him down! Seto!"

Seto snapped to attention at the calling of his name from that voice. The feel of a strong hold pinning him down reminded him that Gozaburo had made an appearance. He looked around frantically for Jou. If Gozaburo did anything to him ...

"Ah, look! Seto's back with us now. Just in time to watch, aren't you?"

Seto glared at Gozaburo, "What are you talking about?"

Gozaburo chuckled as though Seto had told a joke. He gestured to the railing where two of Gozaburo's men where holding Jou down, his messy head of blond hair dangling over. Seto's azure eyes widened and he began to struggle and kick and scream. The fit only fueled Gozaburo's enjoyment.

"Well, what do you all say? Should we kill him?"

The venom dripping from Gozaburo's voice suffocated Jou and angered Seto. Jou groaned. He couldn't do this forever. His vision was becoming blurred and he could barely breath with a heavy arm of steel planted on his throat. He glanced at Seto's horror-stricken face and did his best to smile. The last thing he needed was to die watching his love's face in horror instead of smiling. It would haunt his soul.

The silence seemed all too unfitting for Gozaburo and his voice suddenly sliced through the thick layer of quiet.

"Drop him."

"No! Don't! Gozaburo, please!"

The stretched out 'please' sent a feeling of power through Gozaburo. All this time, all these long years. The only thing he had to do to get some respect from Seto was to threaten his little boyfriend? Why hadn't he thought of this before? Seto waited, pleading and begging inside that Gozaburo would reconsider. His heart was on his sleeve. What more could he give up?

"You have no matter in the say, Seto. I gave you your chance."

Seto's heart stopped beating as he watched the tennis shoe clad feet of Jou disappear over the edge of the railing. To his displeasure, his heart started beating again. The man let go of him, backing away a returning to his place next to his employer. The rest of the men also returned to Gozaburo's side. Gozaburo chuckled again, walking to stand in front of the bowing brunette.

"Well, Seto, I think its time you got up. Don't want anyone to find us up here now, do we?"

Seto stayed quiet, digging his fingernails into the floor. His body shook and his heart raced so loudly that Gozaburo could hear it. Tears streamed down Seto's face and before he knew what he was doing, he stood up and punched Gozaburo. His fist collided with the square jaw and Gozaburo, caught off guard, stumbled back.

"Why you little-" Gozaburo hadn't the time to end his sentence as Seto pushed him over the railing.

The men stared, quiet and frozen in place. Seto watched as Gozaburo's body hit the pavement near Jou's limp form. As one of the men tried to contact someone, Seto broke down, gripping the railing. He cried and sobbed, his tears falling down to the pavement.

-

"Really? That's what happened?" A blond woman asked, putting down her feather duster.

Her companion, a well over 70 year old woman, nodded, "I remember it very well. Mr. Kaiba came home alone that day."

"What happened after?"

"Oh, he stayed in his room. Once I peeked in on him and his was sitting there on the floor, huddled in the corner. You wouldn't believe the marks on his back! Sometimes, I think Gozaburo Kaiba got what he deserved."

The younger woman gasped, "You don't mean that... do you?"

"Of course I do! It was obvious Mr. Kaiba loved that boy."

---

A/N: Another weird off track one shot by yours truly. Probably the longest one shot on this account. Anyway, my theory as I promised way, way above:

"I think since Gozaburo's the reason Seto's all hard and cold, he'd be different if Gozaburo was still alive. If Gozaburo treated him bad enough, Seto could turn out more loving. You know, looking for someone to love him. The idea of Gozaburo being alive and feared by Seto interest me and that's about the end of it."

Okay, that didn't turn out as I meant to. Did everyone get that? 'Cause if not, that's okay. It didn't even matter that much.