Chapter Two:
Seto searched through the bathroom and found nothing of use. He had committed the time after his kidnapper left to a deep examination of the space, but the two rooms turned out to be close to completely empty. He found nothing that might help him get out of the locked room.
The bathroom contained only the necessities. The only item which Seto thought was missing was a razor. Yet, its absence regrettably made sense.
Seto had been about to step back into the bedroom when he noticed a detail he had overlooked in his initial search. The detail was so minor that it almost went unseen, and still, it managed to shake the Kaiba heir.
There were two toothbrushes sitting on the counter. The image immediately presented two facts that were wrong. The first was that Seto's abduction had been thought through well enough that the minute details had been taken into account. His kidnapping had been extensively planned. Whoever that man was, he was intelligent enough to work out any issues that might arise. That would make it more difficult for the investigators to find him. Seto chewed on the edge of his thumbnail as he tried to erase that knowledge from his head.
The second fact told Seto that only one of the toothbrushes was his. The other had to belong to someone, and that someone planned on spending a great deal of time in the adjoining bedroom. As much as Seto did not want to think about it, he knew that there was space enough in the large bed for two.
Seto caught himself glaring at the toothbrushes. How absurd that such a simple item could cause him so much worry, and yet, he couldn't force his mind clean of the ideas.
A smirk appeared on Seto's face as he imagined dropping the second toothbrush in the toilet. It amused him that his mind jumped to such childish actions when put under pressure. As much as he would enjoy the small act of rebellion, he wouldn't take the risk of dropping his toothbrush instead of the other.
Turning his head away, Seto looked back at the bed in the next room. He ran his fingers back through his hair in irritation as the bed brought the memory back to the surface of his thoughts. How could he have just sat there while his kidnapper showed his true intent? Seto knew he had given off the impression of being a submissive child instead of the strong-willed man he had been training to be. Why hadn't he fought back?
Seto left the bathroom and leaned against the wall nearest to its door. He allowed his knees to buckle, letting him slide down to sit on the floor. The bed would have been more comfortable, or even the desk chair, but Seto didn't want to use the man's furniture.
His eyes drifted over the small mess he had made in the bedroom. It had been the first room he searched. The drawers on the desk were still open, showing their bare interiors. A few of the books were out of place, as Seto had glanced through several of the volumes, searching for a name written on the inside. He found none, but did note that none of them had been published within the last fifty years. The comforter on the bed had been pulled up from where Seto had glanced underneath the bed. It, like the rest of the space, was empty.
When Seto glanced back at the bed, he closed his eyes. His mouth began to burn with the memory of the kiss. And for what had to have been the tenth time, Seto attempted to rub the feeling away.
It had to have been the shock that held him motionless. If Seto had known what the man's intentions were, he was certain that he would have done something in response. He certainly wouldn't have froze.
He made a silent promise not to allow his kidnapper to try such an act again.
Seto leaned his head against the wall and pulled his knees up close. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine what was happening outside the room. His thoughts went to KaibaCorp, where there must have been dozens of police officers and detectives examining the scene of his abduction. Gozaburo was more than likely in a terrible temper. In his imagination, Seto saw him storming about the building, shouting at the investigators and demanding answers. Though he was almost sure that he had been gone only a few hours, Gozaburo wouldn't want to wait any longer than necessary. His reaction would not be out of concern for Seto. It was a matter of pride.
Seto knew that his adopted father thought of him as more of a possession than a son. Gozaburo spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on his education alone. The past five years had been centered around training Seto to be the next CEO of the company. Gozaburo viewed the process as plugging information into a computer. With Gozaburo, there were no personal matters, no opinions, only knowledge. All he needed from Seto was his mind.
Since Gozaburo viewed Seto as a computer or a database, he had to monitor him. Every moment of Seto's life as a Kaiba had been observed and recorded. If he was not where he was supposed to be at the proper time, he would be punished.
Seto changed his mind. Maybe Gozaburo didn't see him as a computer. Perhaps it was more like being a really smart dog.
Crossing his arms, Seto let his thoughts drift from that subject. He didn't particularly enjoy comparing himself to an animal.
Instead, he took a deep breath and returned to envisioning the scene at KaibaCorp. Mokuba was more than likely brought over from his classes to prevent any attempts at his being kidnapped. The officers probably had him hidden away in some well-concealed room where he would be safe.
But Seto knew Mokuba would not care about being safe. He, like most everyone else, would want to know where Seto had been taken. Mokuba was very likely worried.
Seto's mind created an image of Mokuba crying on the couch in Seto's office. In the mental picture, Roland was kneeling down in front of him, trying to comfort the youngest Kaiba. Mokuba's fingers clutched the chain around his neck as his body shook. Every time he tried to open the locket, more tears would flow.
Seto opened his eyes to break the image. Even though his brother was almost certainly crying at the moment, he didn't want to think on it. He wanted to always think of Mokuba happy. So Seto reached up to his neck to feel for the familiar chain.
He found nothing.
His fingers ran around the perimeter of his neck, but the locket was gone. He didn't understand. He still wore the same clothing as before, so why would the one thing be missing? Seto clearly recalled putting it on earlier in the day. There was no reason for it to be gone.
When the door opened, Seto immediately dropped his hand to focus on his kidnapper's entrance. The man was carrying a tray with a plate carefully balanced on top, but Seto paid no attention to the food.
"Where is my locket?" he asked, not giving the man a chance to say anything.
The man laid down the tray on the desk while he answered, "I don't feel that you need it."
"Where is it?" Seto insisted.
"Looking at it will only make you upset," the kidnapper said, turning to look down on his captive.
"Being kidnapped by a pervert isn't upsetting enough?" Seto spat. Although he didn't show it, he was relieved to find that he was capable of forming his thoughts properly.
Instead of becoming offended at being called a pervert, the man raised his eyebrows. "You do know that I bought this furniture for you. There is no need to sit on the floor."
Seto ignored the statement and glanced at the door. It stood open, and once again, he debated trying to run out. Yet, like before, he was at a disadvantage due to his position. He reluctantly decided to stay where he was.
The man noticed Seto's gaze. "Go ahead," he said, tilting his chin towards the door. "I won't stop you."
Seto frowned, confused. "You would let me run?"
The man shrugged to accompany his comment. "I never said you would make it far."
The man would not have gone through the trouble of kidnapping Seto only to let him walk out. The odds of there being another locked door were high, along with the chances of the man having a gun. There was a catch; Seto was sure of it.
Looking back to the man, Seto pushed himself up to his feet. He was tired of being stared down at and preferred to be closer to eye level.
"Why am I really here?" Seto asked. His heart pounded faster with the question, but he wanted to verify his fears. There was still the chance he was being held for ransom.
The man sighed. He began walking towards Seto, who was still leaning against the wall and had nowhere to run. Seto had no choice but to let his kidnapper take hold of his arm and lead him over to the desk. The man gently pushed Seto into the chair with the command, "Eat."
Seto didn't obey. "Tell me."
"Do not order me," the man said, but his tone came across polite.
Seto pressed his lips together. Trying to run was sounding more and more like a good idea.
"Why won't you tell me anything?" Seto asked. He knew that he should be more afraid than he was, but frustration was building up inside him. Seto didn't feel as though he could truly fear a situation that he did not completely understand.
"I am telling you what you need to know, dear," the man answered.
Pushing the chair back, Seto got to his feet. He shoved the tray away and said, "No, you aren't."
Seto found his breaths growing heavier as he grew more frustrated. He turned his head to the side in an attempt to remain composed.
No amount of training could have prepared Seto for this. The entire situation was just wrong. A regular kidnapping should not go like this. Seto knew that something was off, but he couldn't bring himself to admit what was happening.
"Sit back down."
When Seto made no move to respond, the man reached out and pushed Seto's chin around until they faced each other. Seto hit the hand away, but sat as instructed.
Seto breathed in deeply. He would remain logical. There was no point in shouting and fighting when the man had the obvious advantage. He needed to think his actions through and bide his time. The would not allow the man to get the better of him.
"Before I leave, I would like to introduce you to someone."
Seto watched his kidnapper step backwards so that he could lean out the door. "You can come in now," he called out.
The kidnapper stepped out of the doorway as another man walked in. Seto felt the urge to pull away from the man, but he didn't give in to the desire. The second man was no taller than him, but he was thickly built and muscular. His glare read of disdain, mixed with the smallest hints of boredom.
"Seto, this is Jim. He will be taking care of you while I'm away," his kidnapper said.
Seto stared at Jim as both of the men stared at him. He wanted to say something sharp and witty, but nothing came to mind. With just one man holding him hostage, he had a chance at getting away. Two put him far behind in the odds.
"What? No hello?" the kidnapper asked.
Neither Jim nor Seto spoke. When the silence lasted until it became intensely uncomfortable, the kidnapper filled it.
"Well then, we will leave you to your lunch."
"Is that what meal this is?" Seto asked. He remembered the man saying dinner the previous time. Was he purposefully trying to remove Seto's sense of time?
His kidnapper smiled. "Perhaps. Jim will be back shortly for your plate," he said, then left.
Jim lingered a moment longer, maintaining his glare until he too stepped back out of the room.
When the door closed, Seto couldn't help but walk over to it and try the knob. But of course, it was locked. Seto placed his palms against the wooden surface and leaned his head forward until his forehead it the door.
A hand returned to his neck as a reflex. When it found no chain to hold, his fingers curled into a fist, as if clutching the locket that was absent.
It couldn't be happening.
Sorry for the delay. I had this chapter written (as I do with the following ones), but hated it. It was too much description and not enough of Seto's thoughts. Thus, I did a rewrite.
Hopefully it was worth the wait!
