Chapter 3


"Um, did you just get out of Kaiba's car?" Shit! I turned around and faced Otogi, the owner of the voice.

"It's not what it looks like." I said, how cliché could I be? "We just had a business meeting."

"Oh," he smirked and the paused. "You know, now that I think about it, Kaiba was at the bar that night, too. Don't tell me…" oh please don't put it together. "There's no way that you and Kaiba banged."

"Shut up, Otogi!" I glanced around frantically, how the hell was he so good at this?

"I was joking bit you are freaking out way too much… You mean it's true!?"

"SHH!" people were looking at us so I grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side. "Stop, please."

"Are you serious? You and Kaiba? I knew you were drunk but I didn't know you were that drunk."

"Look, it's like you said, it's not a big deal." I said, "We both regret it and we both want to forget about it."

"And yet you are getting out of his car after lunch?"

"I told you, he wanted to have a meeting, he wanted to tell me that I am going to be in the commercial for the new duel disk." I said, "That's all. Besides, every time one of us brings up that night we just shut down."

"Oh, man." Otogi's voice dropped into a sympathetic tone. "You don't seem to be okay with that." He paused. "We can talk about it if you want."

"There's nothing to talk about, just keep this a secret. I don't need to be harassed over this and I don't want Kaiba to transfer me out of here."

"True, I guess an illicit affair with a subordinate would be bad for the company." He said, "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

"Thanks. Now I have to get back to work." I said and got out of there, though it did feel good that someone knew. And Otogi was an encyclopedia when it can to matters of the bedroom so it might be a help.

The rest of the day was, thankfully, uneventful and so I headed hope with my mind filled with thoughts of getting to spend more time with the duel disk.

I head up the steps to my apartment and suddenly felt tense, something was off. And as I climbed the stairs it became more apparent. When I reached my apartment I noticed that the lock was busted and the door was open.

I hurried to the door and peered inside to make sure it was clear before going in. my apartment was trashed, the cushions tossed all over, the bookshelves nearly cleaned out, but those things weren't what bothered me.

Littered on the ground were pictures of Shizuka. But these weren't selfies or even posed photos, no these pictures were taken by someone who didn't want to be discovered. I picked one up and examined it, Shizuka was getting on the nightly train to her apartment in Tokyo. I flipped it over and read "it would be a shame if something were to happen to your little sister on her way home."

Anger so strong bubbled up within me and I picked up another photo, another picture of Shizuka going on with her life with a threat written on the back. I gathered up all of the pictures and placed them on the countertop. I was seething, who was doing this and what did they want?

Then my phone rang.

"Hello?" I answered, my voice was strained from the anger building inside me, I hope whoever's on the other line isn't important.

"You sound angry Jounouchi." I knew the man on the other end. I never thought I'd hear my old gang leader's voice again though.

"Is this your doing, Oshiro?" I asked.

"Is that any way to talk to the man who has your sister under surveillance?"

"Leave her alone, she has nothing to do with us."

"You're wrong, she has a lot to do with us. I need her to get you to come back."

"I'm not coming back."

"Yes you are, you think you're little friend saved you? You can't escape a gang, till death do us part." He paused, "Meet me in at the old hangout and come alone or your sister might have an accident." The line went dead.


"What do you want?" I asked as I burst through the doors of the old hideout, it felt the same as it did when I had joined the gang. I felt sick and I wanted to leave but I couldn't let the bastards hurt my sister.

"You shouldn't talk to me that way, I hold your sister's fate in my hands now." Oshiro stepped out into the light cutting into the warehouse from the moon outside. "We're here to welcome you back into the gang."

"We're?" as soon as the question left my mouth I could hear the sound of bats hitting bare hands, chains jangling, and rebar scraping along the ground. These sounds were so familiar that I tensed up the moment I heard them. "What are you doing?"

"Duh, re-initiation." He said. "Welcome, Jou back home, guys." And suddenly they were all on me.


I woke up in the middle of a cold alley and tried to pull myself up, someone had hit me in the back of the head and then I couldn't feel anything. I pushed myself up using the brick wall behind me for leverage, the feel of the cold brick kept me grounded. My ears were ringing and all I could taste was blood.

Once I was up I took a step and a brand new pain washed over me. It hurt so much but I wouldn't cry out. I knew they were still watching and I wouldn't give them the satisfaction. At least I wasn't dead. Oshiro must need me for something and I had to give it to him or Shizuka would be… No. it was too painful to think about. I would protect her no matter what.

I made my way home, I had to survey the damage and I couldn't afford to look like crap for the commercial. I rounded a corner and was surprised to see Kaiba standing just outside a bar. He was on his phone and he looked annoyed… at least until he saw me. Shit. He made his way over wearing a look of worry, if I had to describe it.

"What happened to you?" he asked, covering his phone so the person on the other end couldn't hear.

"Nothing." I said, trying my best to look okay.

"Are you seriously going to stand there, looking like that, and tell me that nothing happened?" he turned his attention back to his phone. "Mokuba, you better be home around midnight, I'm not kidding." He said before hanging up. "Where do you live?"

"Idiot, you're drunk, I'll take you home, where do you live?"

"Why? Don't worry about it I can make it." I said, there was no way I could take Kaiba to my apartment.

"Fine, I'll take you to the mansion." He said.

"No. I said I was fine." I said.

"You're lying and I don't know why?" he said and suddenly his car pulled up to the curb of the bar. "I'm your boss and it wouldn't be right for me to leave you like this." He said, "in spite of what you might think, I do care about my employees." He paused, and I think I saw a look of sadness flash over his eyes, "Please, get in."

"If you refuse to tell me where you live then at least let me take you to a hotel."

I don't know what made me follow his instructions but I got in and we sat side by side while his driver took us back to the mansion. "Roland, please wait outside the club for Mokuba, he's to be here at midnight." Kaiba said when he got out of the car.

"Yes, sir." Roland said.

When we reached the mansion I followed Kaiba through the dark halls and up the stairs to, what I assume, was his bedroom. He motioned for me to sit on the bed and I did. I was feeling vulnerable and weak and I would regret letting him see me this way later.

"I thought you were done with this life." He said, disappointment drenching every word. I ignored him and he left me and headed into his bathroom. When he returned I was surprised to see a small first aid kit in his hands. "What happened?" he asked but there wasn't a chance that I was going to tell him. I wasn't in the mood to get fired because I was in the gang again. No way. Oshiro wasn't going to take this away from me.

"Just a fight, it's not a big deal. And I am done with my old life." I added for good measure. "Why are you being nice to me?"

"You may get under my skin but I am not heartless, despite what you think." He said and popped open the kit. "Now, hold still while I clean you up."

"I can do it myself." I said but when I grabbed for the kit he swatted my hands away. I gave up the attempt and let out a sigh.

"You're too old to be getting into fights." He said as he set to work on dabbing my face with alcohol.

"Yeah, well…" I had nothing. He was right. I had a great job and awesome friends, I didn't need to throw it away by getting into fights. Dammit! Why was I feeling all guilty? It wasn't a real fight, it was an ambush.

"Take off your shirt."

"What?" I was surprised by the comment and I felt the color drain from my face. "Is that why you brought me up to your room? I'm not doing this."

"Relax. I just want to check if your ribs are broken because you are breathing funny." He said, "Jesus, I had no idea you could be so jumpy."

That was uncool. The color returned to my face in the form of a blush but I covered it up while I pulled my shirt over my head.

"Jesus." He breathed then brought a hand up to touch my side. I huge bruise was starting to form. "Did you win this fight?"

"Of course I did." I lied. "He was just strong."

"Looks like it was more than one person, to me." He said and continued playing nurse. "At least your ribs aren't broken." He said.

"See I'm fine."

"I don't like when other people touch my things." He whispered as his thumb rubbed over the newly forming bruise.

"I'm sorry… What?" There was no way he had just said what I thought he said.

"Katsuya." The use of my name brought on a whole new set of emotions and my body felt hot. "I'll make you forget about this pain."

"Kaiba…" my question was cut off by his soft lips as he pressed them against mine. My eyes closed on their own, this feeling, I remembered it. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. The momentum caused us to fall back on the bed and when I let out a groan of pain Kaiba broke the kiss. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You should be careful, I don't want to hurt you. Keep saying things like that and I won't be able to leave."

"Don't worry about it." I said and pulled him back down, kissing him harder than he had kissed me to prove that I was alright. He kissed me back, fighting for control of this kiss, I didn't want him to win at this too. I pushed my body up to meet his and he let out a moan so I took my chance and pushed my tongue into his mouth.

He pulled away and smirked down at me before pinning my arms above my head. This was cheating. Before I could protest his mouth was on my neck, sucking softly. "K-Kaiba…" it felt amazing and it was bringing back the memory of what I felt that night.

"Use my first name." he murmured against my skin.

"I don't…" he ran his tongue against a spot beneath my ear and I almost lost it.

"Hmm. At least I still remember." He laughed slightly. What was funny? "Katsuya." He whispered in my ear. Jesus, I never knew that the sound of my name could sound so sexy. Was that what he meant? I was at his mercy because he knew all of the places and things that drove me wild, while I had forgotten his. He was punishing me for forgetting.

When I refused to say his name he let my arms go to bring his hand down into the waist band of my pants and grazed my sensitive skin slightly.

"Ah. Seto!" I said his name and that seemed to set off a fire in him. I arched up against his touch when his hand found a sensitive spot. "Ah."

"Oh? You like that?" he said. Fuck that was sexy. "Tell me you want more." This was so hot. These words were coming from Seto's mouth and he made each word sound delicious. "Katsuya." My name again. I couldn't take much more. "Tell me what you want."

"… I want you, Seto." I said "Please."