Jou slammed the door behind him, leant against it and took a few long breaths. He was finally alone. He smiled to himself, sliding his clothes delicately over his skin. He tossed them on the floor and began to turn the taps in the bath, watching the water thinly cover the bottom of the tub, and then slowly rise. As Jou stepped in, he felt himself recline slightly as the heat tore through his limbs. Steadying his breath, he forced his full foot in, followed by the next, biting his tongue at the burning pain rising through his body. Steadying himself with deep breaths he knelt down slowly, gripping the sides of the bath until his legs were submerged. As he let his head fall back, further coating his skin in liquid, he didn't see the invisible glare from the shadows. The distant gaze of Seto Kaiba, who watched onwards from the corner. Seto watched through curious eyes as Jou lifted a wet hand from the water, and slid it delicately over his skin. He ran it over his shoulder and down his chest, massaging soap in gently, before mirroring the motion with his other hand. He continued to wash his legs, running slender fingers to the top of his thigh, caressing his groin and down again. Seto knew if he were alive, he would be able to feel his blood pump southwards. He swallowed. He wasn't alive. He would never feel that again, and he'd never be able to touch Jou's soft skin. No matter how much he wanted to, he couldn't join Katsuya in the bath and run his nimble fingers over the blond's back, and around his chest, holding him tightly and nuzzling the golden locks. He would never feel their soaked fingers entwine, before their lips met and…
It was no use to dream of the impossible. They would have never been together. They never would be together.
Bowing his head, Seto stepped backwards through the wall. He'd leave the blond in peace…it wasn't fair. He was only tormenting himself. He retreated to the bedroom, where he sat on the bed, thinking.
What would Jou do if he knew he had been watching?
If he knew the feelings he was beginning to feel?
Would he care?
Biting his lip, Seto stood up, deciding he would go and talk to the blond, after all, what's the worst that could happen? Just as he reached the door, a gentle click came from the hinge, Seto jumped back as Jou walked in. His long blond hair dripped down his back and to the towel around his waist. He scratched lightly at his hair before pulling on a shirt, and then pants. He flopped backwards onto the bed, lazily glancing at the ghost from the side.
'I'm running late.' Kaiba nodded. He wanted to tell Jou how he felt, but now wasn't the time. Now they needed to go to work and… 'Let's go. I probably won't talk to you much, I don't wanna seem crazy.'
'You know, I might be a figment of your imagination…and you really are crazy…' Kaiba smiled, causing the blond haired boy to frown.
'Do you want my help or not?' Kaiba shrugged and Jou dried his hair roughly with the towel. Finding it suitably dry, he pulled on his sneakers and headed for the door.
Jou pulled himself into the car, staring forwards out of the window.
'Where are we off to?'
'I have a pick up down town.' Kaiba bit his lip and Jou revved the engine and sped off. 'It's just two men, so if you wanna sit in the back…be a bit weird to see someone sit on you.'
'I won't feel it.'
'But still…it's almost disturbing and I don't want to stare.'
'Right.' Kaiba rolled his eyes and appeared in the back seat. Jou sighed as he pulled up, two drunken men at the side of the car.
'Where to?' Jou looked at them as they poured in, clicking their seat belts.
'H..Home…'
'Grange Boulevard…' the second cut in, slurring slightly. Jou nodded and began to drive, ignoring the banter between the intoxicated men. When he pulled up, he charged them and let them out. Kaiba appearing in the front as they drove off.
'And you deal with this…all night?' the phantom looked at the nodding blond. 'Fuck, I'd have died. …if I wasn't dead. I mean…oh for fucks sake…' Jou laughed at the brunet, glancing over when he could.
'You know, since you died, you're a lot more human.'
'The irony.' Kaiba looked stoic, falling silent as cracking came over the radio.
'Kaiba corp. pick up, 10 minuets.'
'Got it.' Jou turned at the next traffic lights, noticing that Seto had fallen quiet. 'What's wrong?'
'It just seems weird, thinking about it. People are there, even though I'm not.'
'Mokuba will look after it.'
'I guess so.'
'Anything new happening there?'
'Not really.'
'There was a meeting the day you died, right?' Jou paused. 'I dropped a guy off.'
'Oh? There was one, but it was more like stocks and competitors, nothing amazing. Nothing new.'
'Oh.'
'Do you taxi here a lot?'
'Not really. Just a couple of people now and then. Usually tight ass business men who won't pay for their own chauffer.'
'Without a chauffer?' Kaiba's face fell blank. 'Who was it?'
'I dunno, some suit, why?'
'Everyone that I do business with has their own driver…'
'Maybe he was busy?'
'Jou, these men are billionaires. They'd have more than one.' The brunet went silent, biting his thumb in deep thought, just as Jou was about to comment, he realised that they were there, and pulled over.
Opening the door, the man from the meeting slid in.
'You again?' He sounded bored and dull. 'You should know where to go then.' Jou nodded and began to drive away. As he glanced in the rear view mirror he noticed the puzzled look on Kaiba's face. The ghost spoke quietly.
'Does he work for Kaiba corp?' Kaiba narrowed his eyes. Jou nodded slowly, glancing to the man.
'So, do you work at Kaiba corp?'
'I'm sorry?' The man looked at the blond driver, slightly offended.
'Sorry, just making conversation.' The older man nodded, the taxi driver seemed innocent enough.
'Not as such. We've had a few meetings there.'
'They buying stuff off you or…what?' Jou kept his face uninterested, as if the question didn't matter, despite the fact he could see Kaiba leaning forward, almost falling off the seat.
'Not exactly. We have a deal with another company. We're buying them out.'
'Oh. Right. How did that come about?' Kaiba's eyes were wide, and Jou was trying his best to get answers.
'Well, I shouldn't tell you, but I guess the media will know soon, and you don't exactly have people to tell, so it won't matter.' Jou nodded. 'We just merged with other companies and bought them out. It's a large company, we'll take a division each.'
'Oh, I guess that's cool. So, is Mokuba Kaiba running it at the moment?' the man scoffed.
'The little brat thinks he's running it, but his advisor is on our side. It won't take much to buy him out. Besides, he's still preoccupied finding his brother.' Jou could see Seto lunging at the passenger, maliciously trying to grab him. Quickly he began to talk again, hoping to get more information and calm the ghost down.
'Yeah, I heard about that. It's a shame.'
'I guess so, but it was good news for us. Poor kid though.'
'Mmm.' Jou nodded as he pulled up on a long driveway. The man nodded and handed over some money. Noticing there was more than usual he looked to the man confused.
'I expect silence. This conversation…didn't happen.' He stared at Jou for a long moment before shutting the door and walking off. For a few seconds the boys sat in silence.
'He isn't one of my business clients.' Kaiba said finally, appearing next to Jou. He paused. 'But you're right, he was in the meeting the day I died.'
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Hey!
My laptop is broke so it's been hard to update. I've been watching episodes of YGO for another story I need help with, which gets updated soon which has also slowed me down. That and work! I had a written complaint sent in against me…I wish people would spell my name right. I've been told off for ignoring someone…because I was talking to someone else…I don't know how that works…
Anyway, stressfull week. I've had a horrid feeling in my stomach for months, so after getting upset I took a pregnancy test (cos it feels like I'm being kicked) anyway, it came back negative (thank god) which now means I'll have to phone the doctor, cos I'm really freaking out, haha. Google says it's a parasite or cysts. Neither of which I want. So I'm scared out of my wits. I wanna be back on holiday!
On the good side, I plan on going to Canal Street in 2 weeks…should be fun! Anyway, sorry I took so long, I hope you like it,
Please R&R
Much love
AB
x
