I own nothing but my plot.

He pushed his seat back as far as it was modified to go and pressed the button that tinted his windows almost black. He pulled his small laptop out of his briefcase and set to work. Now he could research the two delinquents without disruption. He needed to know what they looked like, what they had done, and anything else he could find before he met them.

Chapter 4

Kaiba didn't spend long looking up information on the duo. He now knew that Nibi was an only child with brown hair and stood only 5 feet tall. He also knew that Hiroto had two brothers, black hair, and stood around 5'8". Neither boy looked very intimidating, especially next to his 6' tall, well trained frame. But, even he knew that looks could be deceiving. While he would never admit it to anyone, he never underestimated his opponents in his mind, regardless of how verbally cocky he could be.

"10 more minutes and it should be lunch time." He noted, ignoring the small grumble from his own ignored stomach. He had to plan his course of action quickly. Both of his targets were known street fighters. He was hoping that due to very strict rules set down by the parole officers of both boys, that neither one would be out of school or willing to pick a fight right off. "But then again, I am intending to interrogate them on an old friend." He sighed getting out of the car.

Thanks to extensive surveillance cameras, and a genius mind for hacking, he knew where the boys were likely to take their lunch break. He hoped no one found it odd that the cameras were now currently viewing the previous day. Within five minutes he was standing in place, waiting for the lunch bell to ring. It wasn't much of a surprise to him when he discovered that the boys ate under a very old, very large oak tree. "Perfect."

He slipped his hands in to his pocket and rested his back against the side of the tree. He knew there was no point in hiding; if he were to startle the boys he would have no chance of earning their trust. The trust that would give him the answers he wanted.

A loud ringing noise blared from the school building and Kaiba took a deep breath. He waited patiently while kids began to pool out of the school. He kept his senses alert, just in case. "Come on." He muttered, he literally didn't have all day, he'd already spent his lunch hour getting here, and despite being the boss, he had standards to uphold.

It took another five minutes before two relatively small figures were approaching him.

"What ch'ya think you're doin'?" A small, rat faced kid demanded, stopping just a few feet away from Kaiba.

"Nezumi Nibi and Hiroto Takashi, I'm presuming?" He asked in a disinterested tone. No point in expressing too much displeasure too early.

"Yeah, what of it?" the kid named Takashi demanded as he spat on the ground. "What does a punk like you want wit' us?" He crossed his arms and held a steady gaze.

Kaiba smirked at this kid's courage. "I won't lie to you for I haven't the time nor patience." He glanced behind the boys to make sure no one was looking in their direction. "I need information on an old friend of yours. Jounouchi Katsuya, to be exact."

Nibi visibly stiffened and he lowered his high, squeaky voice. "How do you even know that we know Jou?"

"Given that you reacted so callously and even knew his nickname, you did." Kaiba replied coolly.

"Wha'ddya want then?" Hiroto asked, the calmer of the two. "You clearly know him too, if ya knew his nickname. The damn reporters spouting off everywhere call him by Jounouchi only."

"I do." Kaiba agreed quietly, "He's a friend of sorts." The two thugs glanced at one another before looking back at Kaiba.

"Is that how ya knew to find us?" Hiroto questioned.

Kaiba paused and then nodded slowly. "I guess you could say that."

"So you must be good friends with him?" Nezumi questioned.

"Well, not exactly." Kaiba sighed and consciously ran a hand through his hair. "He's always been a lot closer to my younger cousin. We were friends by association at first." There was no way Kaiba was going to allude to having a younger brother, let alone to having been Jou's tormentor for the past few years.

The duo shared an important look between each other, silently agreeing, on what, Kaiba didn't know. "Then we ain't gonna question how ya knew to find us. If Jou trusted you enough to tell you about us, then we ain't gonna question him. Jou always knows best."

"I'm going to find him." Kaiba stated softly, looking Hiroto straight in the eye. "So if you want him found, you had better not mention me to anyone." His voice remained eerily calm, dripping with confidence one only had with the resources to back up a threat.

Hiroto scoffed at his warning. "You ain't gotta be stupid, kid. We ain't gonna tell no body that we saw ya. It not only violates our parole to be talkin' to a total stranger of your apparent caliber, but if you're trusted by Jou, we'll be keepin' our mouths shut tight, see?"

Kaiba released his inner breath he didn't know he was holding. These kids didn't seem to ask many questions, for which he was grateful. They also had unwavering trust in Jou, which made Kaiba smile slightly. "You seem to have a lot of faith in him."

"Jou is one of the smartest people I ever knew." Nezumi said slowly. "He may not be the best when it comes to academics, and certainly not wit' grades, but that don't mean he ain't hella smart."

"He's got a bit of a luck of the draw attitude, too." Hiroto chimed in. "He thinks best on his feet. He said once that if he ain't got piles of stress to work under, he can't think as straight. Scary how calm he can stay." He added darkly.

"Scary's right." Nezumi nodded in agreement. "Jou's as good as we come, us street thugs. Somethin' like a modern day Robin Hood, if you ask me. He'll do anything to help those less fortunate than 'im, even though he ain't got nothing". He paused and looked Kaiba level in the eyes "But that don't mean he won't do what needs doin'. If you know what I mean?"

Kaiba shifted slowly to his other foot, running a slim hand through his messy hair again, forcing a fake habit. "All I need to know is how long he can keep his mouth shut. I know he's a good kid, but there are secrets my cousin has told him that I need to make sure are kept secret."

"Who, Jou? That kid's got an iron tight jaw. Whatever secret you're trying to hide that he knows won't be goin' no where soon." Nezumi paused to shift under Kaiba's deadly serious gaze. "Unless you got some secret that Jou wants other people to know, they'll never get it out of him."

"He's gotten us in to countless fights with his impulsive trap, but he knows when to keep quiet. I don't know what you're tryin' ta hide, but whatever it is, Jou ain't goin' ta be the one that spills the beans." Hiroto explained quietly glancing behind his shoulder. "And ta be real honest with ya, it's about time you left. If we learn anything worth knowing on Jou, how do ya want us to contact ya?"

Contact me?Kaiba thought mildly confused. "Judgin' by that look on ya face, you don't quite get it. If you're goin' ta go after finding Jou, we want in. I don't care who ya are or what ya do, but I do care what happens to the greatest man I ever knew." Hiroto informed him.

Kaiba paused for a moment thinking quickly. "I'll have an associate contact you in the next week or so with instructions as to how to reach me."

"Associate? Alright, tough guy, will keep ya updated as much as possible. See ya around."

He had spent over two hours on lunch today. His secretary knew better than to question him when he strolled back in, looking a little disheveled but otherwise clean cut, but he still needed to worry about rumors. She was a stupid woman, he knew that, and he didn't have the patience, nor time to put up with any nonconstructive rumors.

"Call the executive board members." He barked at her as he strolled by. "I want them here within the next hour." He paused just inside of his doorway, "And if anyone says they are unable to make the meeting, be sure they're informed that their vote is forfeit." Not that I need it. He threw his door closed behind him as he walked briskly to his desk.

He didn't have any time to waste. He had twenty minutes to re-prepare his presentation on a project he wasn't prepared to share. He needed four more months to ensure his new technologies would be fool proof. Kaiba Seto never released plans for new technology he was 110% sure would function. "Damnit, Jou." He cursed under his breath.

AN: Well, friends. I'm a bit stuck. I don't have any idea what the crazy cool technology should be! And ideas?

Please review your ideas! (: