Disclaimer: Drat… I think I used up all of my good, stupid disclaimers for my other fics! Oh well. I don't own it, happy? Oh! I also don't own the book mentioned. I wish I had a copy… So hard to find used and too cheep to buy new…

Random talk: This chapter is more like a prologue in that I'm explaining stuff, a lot. So, you guys can call it a background chapter! Feel free to skim over parts that you know from the anime. I tried to keep it to a minimum, not going into great details since I didn't feel like explaining the basic plot of the show.


How to Catch a Thief

Chapter 1: The Detective's Son

Every newspaper in Domino had basically the same headline. Numerous websites had the same news as the papers, in several different languages. The same thing was being discussed in the news and on forums. Neko struck again.

Whenever Neko was involved, it was a big thing. There is no one that has tried that was able to even come close to capturing the thief. Detectives from around the world come to Domino City just to try to solve the case. All have failed miserably.

This angered Jonouchi Katsuya. Jonouchi was the son of one of the best detectives in Japan. Jonouchi wanted to be just like him when he was younger, solving cases that no one in the department could. It was still a dream of his even as a teenager. Even though he didn't have book smarts, Jonouchi had a great sense of intuition that lead him to figure out cases the police were working on before anyone else could. Some say it runs in the family for that was the same way his father became the best.

At least, his father was the best. Five years ago, out of the blue, Jonouchi Akira decided to retire. There were some that would say he was pushed to retire for unknown reasons. Whatever reason behind leaving, Jonouchi really didn't care that much. He would become a detective just like his father. And to prove he had the skills, he would be the one to unmask Neko.

"Arg! I can't figure Neko out!" Jonouchi yelled, waking up several of his neighbors in the apartment complex that were hoping to sleep in on a Sunday.

Yes, Jonouchi Katsuya was going to be the one to unmask Neko. That is, if Neko didn't drive the young teen insane first.


"I'm guessing Jonouchi-kun found out about Neko's latest adventure," Yuugi stated as he greeted Honda and Jonouchi from his family room. The answer was obvious from Jonouchi sulking. Mouto Yuugi and Honda Hiroto were Jonouchi's closest friends, along with Mazaki Anzu. The four teens all attended Domino High School along with other friends, Bakura Ryou and Otogi Ryugi. They may seem like ordinary teenagers, but they as far from normal as one could get.

"You know how determined Jonouchi is about this case," Yami said. Yami was half of the reason why they weren't normal. There was a reason why Yami actually looked like Yuugi but different. Yami was actually the spirit of an Egyptian Pharaoh that saved the world from dark forces. The story behind that was long and would make a great drinking story when they got to that point in life.

At one point, there were seven items that held magical powers. The real Sennen Tauk was one of those items. Yuugi owned one himself, called the Sennen Puzzle. Along with the mystical magic, Yami's spirit was tied to the Puzzle. Ryou had a similar situation with his Sennen Ring. Few believed it even when it happened to them.

"Doesn't help that Neko stole the Sennen Tauk copy," Jonouchi said. "What if someone was still after the items? We know they're gone, but maybe they don't."

"They?" Yuugi asked. "That means your thinking there are others helping him, right?"

"Got to be," Honda said. "My dad showed us the footage from last night to get our opinion. The cameras were all cut out after the guards started arguing about a bird. Evidently, it was that same bird that was pulling out the cables of the cameras."

"We didn't get a chance to look at this last tape," Jonouchi said. "We were hoping you guys could catch something we might have missed."

"Sounds like someone was invited to join the investigation," Yami said with a slight smirk.

"Both of us were!" Honda exclaimed. "My dad even said we could get your opinion."

"Let's see it then," Yuugi said, taking the tape that was in Jonouchi's hand and putting it in the VCR.

The security footage appeared on the television. It didn't take long before the white bird that caused the commotion appeared, flying from camera to camera. Soon after the bird appeared, the guards all started to argue about the bird. They watched until the footage was cut. Yuugi and Yami sat in silence for awhile, processing the information.

"I think I got it," Yami said. He rewound the tape to the beginning before pressing pause. Yami walked up to the screen and pointed to a guard in the corner. "Watch him closely."

"For what?" Jonouchi asked.

"You'll see," Yuugi said. "It's so obvious if you focus just on him."

As they watched it again, there was a gasp of realization. While all the other guards were arguing, the one that Yami pointed out was just standing. In fact, his head slightly moved following the bird's path. When the bird came to the camera that the tape was from, part of the face was actually visible. A blue eye stared into the camera for a second before the static kicked in.

"So Neko disguised himself as a guard," Honda said. "Hey, Jonouchi, there's no reason to stare at the screen anymore."

"Blue," Jonouchi said, his eyes staring off into the distance.

"Excuse me?" Yami asked. "What are you talking about?"

"His eyes were blue," Jonouchi said. "They were… so familiar." He shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind of the image. They were the same shade of Kaiba's, only with a sense of loneliness.

"Yuugi, I some help," Sugoroku yelled from the shop bellow. "I can't find the Capmon merchandise."

"Be right down!" Yuugi yelled back. "Hey, Jonouchi-kun. Do you think you could come with me? I think it's on one of the higher shelves."

"Sure," Jonouchi said, happily.

As the two headed down the stairs, a light argument could be heard. From the sound of the two voices, Yuugi knew bringing Jonouchi was a mistake. There standing in the store was the Kaiba brothers. Yuugi knew Jonouchi well enough that he would be in an argument with Kaiba Noa within a few minutes.

"Hey Yuugi, Jonouchi!" Mokuba said, smiling. "It's been awhile."

"Hi Mokuba-kun, Kaiba-kun," Yuugi said with a smile.

"Yeah, gaki," (1) Jonouchi said, smirking as he ruffled the child's hair. "What brings you down here? Knowing your brother, you begged him to come here when you both knew you could have gone somewhere else to get your little game."

"Got me there," Mokuba said in a fake huff. "Well, I know you're obsessed with Neko and he did strike last night. So, I just wanna hear your take on it."

"I've got great news!" Jonouchi yelled. "Honda's dad finally letting Honda and me join the investigation!"

"Please, you expect me to believe the police are asking help from someone who is barely passing his classes?" Noa asked sarcastically. His typical smirk was present, making Jonouchi even madder.

"Look! I've helped them out before on some little stuff!" Jonouchi shouted at the dual- color haired teen. "I learned everything I know about solving mysteries from my otou-san! (2) Everyone knows he was the best even though he wasn't book smart."

"No matter," Noa said, completely ignoring Jonouchi's rant. "Many have failed in even coming face to face with Neko. What makes you think you'll succeed?"

At this, Jonouchi smirked. "Easy," he said. "At least one of the cameras got a nice view of part of who we believe to be Neko disguised as a guard. They had really good cameras in the museum. So good, I could see that Neko had at least one blue eye. We were the first ones to notice it. And considering that the police have looked at it several times, I think we're pretty good."

What happened next shocked both Jonouchi and Yuugi. Noa's face turned red, a sure sign of rage. He stormed out, whipping out his cell phone. That made Jonouchi wonder if there really was a connection between Neko and Noa beside's the eye color.

"Um, I think I'll come by tomorrow to pick up the stuff," Mokuba said, his face a little pale. He then made a dash towards the door, shouting, "Onii-chan, wait up!" (3a)

"Am I the only one who thought that was weird?" Jonouchi asked. Receiving a negative nod from Yuugi, the blond sighed. "I thought so."


"Nii-sama, food,"(3b) Mokuba said as he walked by the large pond-like pool. A tray of food was balanced in his hands as the child navigated the forested area.

"Over here," his brother's voice came from under a nearby weeping willow. As Mokuba approached, the younger Kaiba could see him leaning against the tree reading a book. Judging by the cover and direction his eyes were traveling, it was written in English. He pushed some of his brown locks out of his blue eyes despite knowing it would just get in his way again soon.

"And you yell at me for reading without proper lighting," Mokuba muttered as he placed the tray by his brother and sat down. "What'cha reading, Seto?"

"Ender's Game," (4) Seto said, placing a bookmark to save his spot. "How was your day?"

"Boring like always," Mokuba said as he laid his head down on Seto's lap. "I almost fell asleep in math today. It's really basic stuff, so I didn't miss much."

"You're lucky Gozaburo isn't around," Seto said with distaste. He practically growled his step-father's name, making his disgust obvious. "For one thing, you would be punished for what he would call, 'slacking off'. Second, there would be a scolding involving the usage of math instead of mathematics since the word math isn't in the dictionary." (5)

"Well, he's not here," Mokuba said in a childish tone. "Oh! Domino High is still closed since someone set off that stink bomb." That made Seto grin a little.

"If only I was there to see Noa's face," Seto said.

"Which reminds me," Mokuba said as he got up. He then talked in a tone that was trying to imitate Noa's. "'You're presences is required later tonight.' Man, why do I always have to play message boy?"

"Because you see me everyday anyways," Seto replied, looking up at his younger brother. "Don't you have homework?"

"It can wait," Mokuba said. "First, you're going to eat. I know who really ate your dinner last night." There was a soft laugh up in the tree, making the brothers look up. "Yeah, I know what's going on. I don't care if Seto says he's not hungry. He has to eat."

"Are you trying to be like Okaa-san?" (6) Seto questioned, giving Mokuba a strange look. "Your size and voice don't really work for scolding anyone let alone me."

"Whatever," Mokuba muttered. "I guess you don't want to know what I heard today."

"Just tell me," Seto said as he started to eat his seafood dinner.

"I guess I could," Mokuba said slyly. "Evidently the police invited a few more people to the Neko case. In fact, they invited a certain 'nerd squad'."

Seto stopped eating for a few minutes. It was obvious to Mokuba what his older brother was thinking. His suspicions were confirmed when Seto smirked. Seto started to laugh which startled the younger one since this wasn't his normal cruel laughter.

"Looks like things are finally getting interesting."


TBC

(1) Gaki – brat. This is not necessarily what Jonouchi calls Mokuba in the Japanese version, but I just like calling Mokuba that.

(2) Otou-san – father

(3a,b) Onii-can/Nii-sama – both mean big brother, but nii-sama is much more respectable then onii-chan.

(4)Ender's Game – great novel by Orson Scott Card. It's the first of four books in the Ender series. There is also a side series called the Shadow series, starting with Ender's Shadow. It doesn't matter which series you start with, but I would recommend reading Ender's Game first. Oh, both series are science fiction.

(5) 'math isn't in the dictionary' – One of my math teachers randomly said that math wasn't really a word and that it wasn't in the dictionary. Now, I never really looked it up, but I just thought it was funny if it was true! I mean, 'woot' is now in the dictionary!

(6) Okaa-san – mother

Random talk: Um, yeah… I'm just restating what I said earlier. I highly recommend both the Ender and Shadow series. I had to read Ender's Shadow for my Junior English class and quite enjoyed it. Yes, I didn't have to read The Scarlet Letter junior year as I think some people have to. Ha!

Time for the pleading. ((goes on hands and knees)) I'm begging, please review! In actuality, reviews are what really inspire me to continue working on stories. That and so long as the story doesn't sound forced. But it gives me reason to post! I average about 4 reviews per chapter. Now, do you think my stories actually deserve 4 reviews per chapter? I value each opinion, even if it is a flame! Sure, I might cry, but I'll get over it! So, who's with me? ((cricket's chirp)) Right… I'll be over in my pity corner crying my eyes out.

~Rubi-chan