Seto didn't sleep that night. It was sometime around 3:30 AM when he gave up on even trying. Jealousy still seared through his veins, and nothing he did could make it fade.
Pulling himself out of bed, he walked to the kitchenette to grab a bottle of water before snatching up his laptop to get a head start on his work for the day. He had just replied to an email from the board when his phone rang. A glance spared. Mokuba. He answered and placed the call on speaker phone.
"What are you doing up?" Mokuba asked briskly.
"Couldn't sleep," Seto replied, trying to mask any emotion that might have given away that there was a reason behind his inability to sleep.
"Don't overdo it, nii-sama."
"I always overdo it," he countered.
Mokuba chuckled. "That's true. Hey, so you didn't answer my text earlier. Did Tanabe-san send you the information about the trip?"
"Yes. She did." His brain traveled back to the reason why he'd left that text abandoned, the muffled sounds of sex that had filtered through the wall still echoing in his mind. He stiffened in anger before forcing himself to relax.
"And…?"
"It looks fine."
"That's it? No other comments."
"No," he replied, feeling himself getting grumpy at the constant questions.
"I thought you'd be upset. The only thing we could arrange was to fly into one the military bases, and that's kind of a haul."
"As long as I'm not surrounded by the masses, I don't care," Seto said with finality.
"Sure, fine," Mokuba said sarcastically. "Seriously, nii-sama, what's been bothering you recently? You're acting strange."
"It's nothing to be concerned over."
"You saying that actually makes me more concerned. You realize that, right?" the younger Kaiba insisted.
Seto exhaled. He could feel the backs of his eyes burning due to the lack of sleep, but he wasn't tired. His mind wouldn't let him relax, and he couldn't bring himself to tell Mokuba what was really bothering him. It still confounded him far too much to start bringing his brother in. Mokuba was quite strong willed and opinionated, qualities Seto knew were a result of his own influence, and while it wasn't a bad thing, it made it hard to share things like his feelings toward Jounouchi. Mokuba would have an opinion about it, and whatever it happened to be, Seto would continue to be badgered until he'd done whatever Mokuba thought he should do. He didn't want that pressure. He felt enough of it from himself.
Drawing himself together, he decided to share the other thing he'd found hard to ignore of late. "I've been remembering things about our parents recently. It's made me… contemplative. That's all."
"Oh," Mokuba breathed, seeming like he wanted to press harder, voice excited, but he refrained. "You'll have to tell me some time. I'd like to know more about them."
"Okay," Seto agreed, feeling a small amount of guilt for concealing the full truth, but he still needed more time. He could tell Mokuba later. Maybe during his visit at Christmas. That was a month from now. It would give him plenty of time to figure things out. He hoped.
Largely, things remained the same. Mokuba had announced Akane's pregnancy with only minimal fanfare, and, as Seto had speculated, increased sales due to the attention the announcement had garnered. Seto had made it no closer to finding an answer, but he still spent every spare moment he could with Jounouchi. He made a point of avoiding physical contact, not wanting to have to hide the inevitable reaction his body would have. Jounouchi hadn't said a word about his abrupt departure on Thanksgiving. Things between them felt a little bit… stagnant, he decided. Like nothing was happening. He couldn't decide if that was a bad thing.
Finally, the night before Seto headed back to Japan arrived, and he looked forward to going home and getting to see Mokuba. He was also excited because it was a Friday evening, and Jounouchi was coming over to visit, a chance to say goodbye before the short time he'd be gone. Seto had even purchased him a small Christmas gift, which he'd set out on the table in the kitchenette. He packed up the items he thought he'd need while at home, only stopping when he heard his phone vibrate.
Jounouchi: Hey Kaiba, I'm real sorry, but I can't make it tonite. Im not coming into work either.
Why?
He hesitated a second before steeling his nerves and sending another message.
I want to see you.
Jounouchi: I wish I could come see you. It was a really rough day. I just need a break
What happened?
He felt his heart thudding in his chest as he awaited a response. Jounouchi… wanted to see him, too. After a few more moments spent waiting for a response, his phone rang, Jounouchi clearly having decided to call him, the first time he'd ever done so.
"Hello," Seto greeted stiffly upon answering, feeling oddly nervous.
"Hey," Jounouchi said, voice somewhere between distressed and exhausted. "Sorry for bailin'. I… it's been a hard day."
Seto grew concerned at the way he seemed so breathless and distracted. "What's wrong, Jounouchi?"
A long sigh from the blonde over the phone. "Shizuka… she's in the hospital."
Seto understood exactly how this would affect someone like Jounouchi, a person, who, much like himself, placed his sibling's happiness above his own. "Is she okay?" Seto asked, genuinely concerned for Jounouchi's sake.
"They said she will be, but I'm still worried, ya know? I didn't sleep any last night, tryin' to get updates from okaa-san an' 'er husband. I'm fuckin' exhausted."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Seto asked, surprising himself as the words left his mouth.
"Prolly not," Jounouchi said. "I jus' wish I could be there for her. She 'sposedly broke 'er wrist and cracked a few ribs. Car accident. Some asshole ran a stop light right into 'er car. Banged 'er up pretty good."
A thought popped into Seto's mind at his words. If it had been Mokuba, he'd have taken the next available flight home. He'd listened to Jounouchi talk about how he wanted to go home and see her but simply couldn't afford it. At the moment, he was in a perfect position to offer him a ride home. A trans-Pacific ride home on a private jet, but a ride none the less. "Do you have a current passport?" Seto asked.
"Yeah, but Kaiba, I don't want ya to pay for me to go. That's too much. I'd feel bad about it."
A mirthful chuckle left Seto's lips. It seemed that he had failed to mention that he was flying on a KaibaCorp owned jet, but he decided not to give up the information quite yet. "I'm already paying for myself."
"But that's just you. Another ticket would be askin' too much."
"You either want to go or you do not, Jounouchi," Seto said seriously, finding it both amusing and irritating that Jounouchi was concerned about him spending money. "You won't need a ticket to come along. Just a passport to make it through customs. I'm flying home in a private jet. Taking you would cost me nothing extra, if that's your primary concern."
"Oh…" Jounouchi trailed off, still seeming uncertain.
"Bring Alexa with you if that makes you feel better. Pretend I'm bringing her on a work trip, and you're just tagging along," Kaiba remarked. He didn't necessarily want to be around the both of them simultaneously, wary of the jealousy he'd certainly feel, but he knew he'd prefer both of them over no company for the long flight. It costed him nothing to do this small favor so Jounouchi could visit his injured sister, and it would give them more time together. All favorable things in his opinion.
"Huh… Let me go ask 'er. Hold on a sec'."
Seto could hear the conversation in the background, though the words were indistinguishable. After a moment, he heard Jounouchi pick his phone back up, and he said, "We're in. You leavin' tomorrow, right?"
"Yes. I am going to have a taxi pick me up in the morning. We're scheduled to depart at 10 am. I will send you the address for where to meet me once I hang up."
"Thanks for doin' this, Kaiba," Jounouchi said sincerely. "I really appreciate it."
Jounouchi's gratefulness softened Kaiba in a way he hadn't expected, the gentle, reflective quality in the blonde's voice so very appealing. "I understand wanting to be there for your younger sibling. It's what us big brothers are for," he stated warmly.
Jounouchi chuckled. "Yeah, it is. I should prolly go and start packin' up. I'll see ya in the mornin'. And thanks again. Really. I mean it."
"I know you do, Jounouchi. Have a good night, and try not to be late."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. 'Night, Kaiba."
He disconnected the call, letting a smile spread on his face. He sent the address, as promised, and then returned to packing, feeling nervous excitement spread inside of him. Jounouchi would be traveling with him to Japan.
He was surprised to see Jounouchi had already arrived when he pulled up to the gas station outside of the base where they were meeting the military official who would escort them to their plane. Seto climbed out of the taxi, bags in tow, and he joined the couple as they climbed into the car with their escort, Commander Johnson. Every attempt at avoiding physical contact for the last month was undone as Jounouchi pressed against his side. Seto focused on anything else he could, trying to keep his heart rate from elevating. He didn't need to start breathing hard or sweating due to the proximity.
Fortunately, the ride was short, and as they pulled up to the tarmac, Seto breathed a sigh of relief. He had managed to make it through the car ride without his body responding. They boarded the plane, Alexa and Jounouchi both gaping at the luxury. Seto was used to it, of course, having traveled in this plane many times before, and found their reaction somewhat entertaining. An attendant came and took their luggage, allowing them to find their seats in the spacious cabin before asking them if they'd like something to drink. Seto requested coffee as he pulled out his phone to message Mokuba.
We're all boarded and will be leaving soon. See you in a few hours.
Mokuba: I can't wait to see you! Have a safe flight.
Seto smiled as he put his phone on airplane mode. He glanced over at his travel companions. They were both excitedly talking to each other, marveling at the many features of the plane. The co-pilot stepped out of the cabin, giving them a run-down of some safety procedures they'd need to know, more for Jounouchi and Alexa's sakes than his because he certainly knew the procedures. After a few moments, they departed, and Seto relaxed back into his seat as they ascended. Once safely in the air, he was brought his coffee, and he pulled out his laptop, deciding to review a few spreadsheets, well aware that he'd promptly be attending meeting after meeting upon his arrival back at the main office and wanting to have a solid grasp on the financial information for the quarter.
He swallowed down the last of his coffee as Jounouchi flopped into the seat beside him. "Thanks for this, Kaiba," he said softly.
"It's no problem. Is it not what friends do?"
"Yeah, I 'spose so. But I really appreciate it. Plus, I can finally introduce Alexa to my mom and Shizuka. They've never met 'er."
Seto felt a pang of jealousy at that but tried to ignore it. Bringing her had been his suggestion, and he should have expected nothing else. "That's good," he managed to say.
Jounouchi raised an eyebrow at him, clearly having caught the forced way he'd spoken but didn't comment further, something Seto was grateful for. He wasn't sure what he'd say if Jounouchi pressed him for an explanation. The blonde stared straight ahead for a bit, idly fiddling with his hands, popping the joints and stretching out his fingers. Seto was expecting him to say something; he certainly seemed like he had something to say. However, after a few more minutes in silence, he returned to reading through reports. He stopped not long after that, feeling Jounouchi's gaze settle on him.
"What?" he asked, more of a resigned sigh than a question.
"You look attractive when ya work," Jounouchi answered after moment of consideration, eyes meeting Seto's boldly for a second before quickly darting away, but it was enough to leave his heart stammering in his chest and a flush racing up his neck. He wasn't sure what to say in response to the compliment, mutely considering what it could mean. It didn't seem strictly platonic. He was not even close to being an expert on dating or feelings, but it sure seemed like Jounouchi was flirting with him. He shook his head, writing it off as the product of wishful thinking. His desire to be with Jounouchi was making him read too much into the other man's words and gestures. He was likely just fooling himself.
Seto cleared his throat after a minute lost in consideration. "I uh… I got you a gift."
Jounouchi's eyes lit up, excited. "Really?"
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, wrapped box. "It's not much, I just thought you'd like it."
The blonde quickly held out his hands, waiting for Seto to give him the box, bubbling in anticipation. It brought a smile to Seto's face, and even though he felt unsure over whether or not Jounouchi would like the paracord bracelet with an engraving of the Red-Eyes on the silver section in the middle, he was pleased with the exuberance.
Seto held it out. Jounouchi took it. He squealed in delight when he opened it up. "It's perfect!" he exclaimed, immediately sliding it on his wrist. "I didn't getchya nothin' yet, but I meant to. I'm slow at pickin' out presents," he said bashfully. "Thanks for this," he then confided, settling his head on Seto's shoulder, hooking an arm around Seto's and cuddling into his side. He looked down at the blonde, stunned by the sudden contact and the closeness. The familiarity of it all. Against his better judgement, he did nothing to push Jounouchi away, content to let him stay curled against his side for the time being as he returned to his work. He didn't know what the hell was actually happening between them, what any of this meant, but if he could have nothing else, he would at least take this.
The flight arrived safely. Seto had called for two cars, one for himself with Isono at the wheel, of course, and another for Jounouchi and Alexa. They both thanked him yet again, and he watched them leave, somewhat regretful about parting before climbing into his own vehicle and heading home.
Surprise filled Seto upon seeing the mansion covered in Christmas decorations. They had never cared to do anything of the sort in the past, so Seto assumed that Akane had insisted on it, and Mokuba had obliged. Isono opened the front door for him, allowing him to enter before carrying his bag inside and up to his room. Seto headed to the dining room, well aware that lunch would be served soon, and found Akane sitting by herself, picking at a sandwich.
"Kaiba-sama," she greeted with a smile, leaning her head forward in a semblance of a bow.
"Is the sandwich not to your liking?" he asked, gesturing toward the food she'd been picking at.
"It's not to the baby's liking, it seems. I took one bite and felt nauseous. Figured I'd at least eat the bread though. No reason to waste all of it."
Seto indicated his understanding with a nod of his head. "Is Mokuba here?" he asked.
"He is. He was just getting in the shower when I came down for lunch, so he should be down before too long."
"Very well. I suppose I'll go get myself something for lunch in the meantime."
"Do you want me to make you something?" Akane offered.
"No, it's okay. I can manage on my own."
"Oh... okay," she said, seeming both relieved and deflated at the same time. Seto said nothing else, heading into the kitchen to see what was on hand, moving with a practiced ease he'd never felt before in his own kitchen. He found what he needed to prepare a simple cream pasta and started with boiling the noodles, almost instantly feeling tired but knowing he'd regret letting himself sleep so early in the day.
He poured his attention to making the sauce, reducing the milk to a creamy texture before adding cheeses and some spices. He strained the al dente noodles and then mixed them together with the sauce, giving it a taste before nodding, satisfied.
"It's really fascinating to watch you cook, nii-sama," Mokuba announced, drawing his attention to his younger brother who leaned against the doorway, watching him closely. "I knew you told me you'd been cooking as a like… hobby, but I didn't expect you to be so competent."
He snorted, recalling the words that Jounouchi had told him as he'd started learning how to cook. "I can become competent at anything I put my mind to," he stated somewhat haughtily.
"That's true," Mokuba agreed with a laugh.
"Were the decorations Akane's idea?" he asked, grabbing plates for himself and Mokuba because his younger brother's wide eyes certainly suggested he wanted some, too.
He nodded, stepping up so he could take the plate from Seto's hand as soon as he finished dishing out the pasta. "She suggested it. I thought it sounded like a good idea. To sort of celebrate everything. You coming home and all of us becoming a family."
"Are you getting married?" Seto asked, Mokuba's choice of words piquing his curiosity.
Mokuba smiled softly. "Yeah. I'm going to propose on Christmas eve."
"Romantic," Seto deadpanned.
"I know you said that sarcastically, but it is," Mokuba returned teasingly. "I love her a lot, nii-sama. I know what you're going to say, and yes, I already talked to a lawyer about drafting a pre-nup agreement. But I want us all to be a family. You and me and Akane and the little Bean."
"Little Bean?" Seto asked, eyebrow quirking in amusement.
Mokuba looked down, face crimson as he quickly explained, "It's just a nickname for the baby. Until we pick out an actual name."
Seto clapped his free hand on Mokuba's shoulder, realizing as he did so that the action was very Jounouchi. "Don't be embarrassed, Mokuba. It puts me at ease to see you so excited about it."
Mokuba was still blushing, but he met Seto's eyes and nodded enthusiastically. "Promise you won't spoil the surprise for Akane, nii-sama?"
"I won't say a word," he promised.
Knowing Mokuba's plans for the evening, Seto headed to a bar after work on Christmas eve. He didn't particularly care to sit at home. He already had a headache from all the meetings he'd sat in. All the department heads wanted facetime with the CEO, and most of it was entirely unnecessary. Seto had passed along his Duel Mat prototype to his team of designers to work on finalizing a design. That had probably been the meeting he'd enjoyed the most, if he was honest. The informal discussion with the designers and engineers, them showing off their newest ideas, how they could push forward all of their technology. Jounouchi's words rang in his ears. "Ya know you're not really cut out for the CEO position, right, Kaiba?"
He didn't really know how much he'd already had to drink, and he'd long stopped attempting to count. The blonde's words still bounced around his head. He'd been right, of course. Seto fucking hated the shit that came with being CEO. His extremely inebriated mind didn't even bother to deny it to himself. It was incredibly bleak, knowing that he was tethered to a position he disliked for the foreseeable future.
The only bright spot, it seemed, was Jounouchi, who resided on the forefront of his mind at all times. It wasn't helping that he was in a bar, something he associated with the blonde. The bartender just wasn't the same and wasn't even close to being as good. The man lacked grace, and he was sloppy. The bar was pretty busy, with men sulking and drinking far too much, likely a way to avoid all of the romance of the holiday. Seto idly wondered if he was doing the same thing. His brother would be engaged when he got home, and Seto's… interest was likely fucking his girlfriend. He glowered at the glass in front of him. Empty. It felt like a metaphor, and temper suddenly flaring, he slammed a bill down on the bar surface, and stormed away. He called for Isono to come pick him up, but he didn't stop walking down the pavement, trying to outrun the thoughts that didn't want to leave him alone. Empty. Cold. Unloved. Unlikable. Bitter. Lonely.
Isono tracked him down and guided him into the car, wordlessly taking him home and helping him up to his room. He needed the help. Fuck. Jounouchi always made sure he got back to his room, too. "Bring me a bottle of whiskey," Seto demanded.
"Pardon my forwardness, Seto-sama, but I think that's a bad idea."
"It's my bad decision to make, Isono," he shot back. "Bring it to me."
Without another word, the faithful servant did as he'd been ordered, leaving the room and returning several minutes later to set the bottle and a glass on the night stand next to him. "Good night, Seto-sama," he said, backing out of the room with a bow.
Seto said nothing, pouring himself a glass, content to drink himself into oblivion. No thoughts, no feelings. Just a comforting nothingness.
Seto's head throbbed in his head as he woke up, a groan leaving his lips, and he regretted getting drunk the night before. It had seemed like a good idea then. He vaguely recalled Isono warning him and wondered why the man had done nothing to stop him. He dragged himself out of bed, resisting the urge to run into the bathroom to retch. Kaiba Seto did not do anything as undignified as vomit in the toilet due to a hangover. He still dragged himself to the bathroom, pulling out three pain killers, before wrapping himself in a robe, and stumbling downstairs. "Coffee," he demanded tersely as he walked into the kitchen, hearing that there was another person there with him but unwilling to lift his head to see who.
"Are you okay, Kaiba-sama?" Akane asked.
"I just need some coffee and some pain killers," he grumbled. "I'll be fine."
She said nothing else, simply sliding the mug full of coffee in front of him. He popped the pills into his mouth and chugged them down with the coffee. A plate was then set in front of him. "I made pancakes," Akane said gently. "Carbs can help you feel better when you've got a hangover."
"Was this your breakfast?" he questioned lowly.
"It was going to be, but I can make myself more. It's fine."
Seto was going to insist she take them back, but she had already turned to make more for herself. "Thank you," he grumbled to her before he poured himself another cup of coffee. As he did so, his eyes caught the glimmer of the ring on her finger. "Congratulations on the engagement, as well," he added and then took his breakfast out to the dining room.
Even though it was Christmas day, and despite his still throbbing head, it was business as usual for him. He left after he'd finished eating and getting dressed, well before Mokuba had wandered downstairs. He headed into the office, opting to power through the lingering effects of the alcohol on his body. He threw himself into work to keep his mind occupied. His concentration was broken when Jounouchi sent him a late-morning text message wishing him a Merry Christmas, to which he had replied.
To you, as well.
Is your sister out of the hospital?
Jounouchi: Yep! They discharged her yesterday. Say she's going to be sore for a bit until her ribs heal up, but she's doing okay.
Good to hear.
He wondered if he should say anything else. He wanted to continue the conversation, but he wasn't really sure what else to say
Mokuba: I won't be home until this evening. Don't wait up for me
This annoyed him. Mokuba had wanted him home for Christmas, and yet, he wouldn't even see his brother on the actual day. If he was just going to spend a holiday he had little interest in celebrating alone anyway, why had he bothered to come back to begin with? He sighed. Mokuba probably just wanted to go out with his fiancée. He shouldn't be irritated about it. It was natural. A part of his younger brother growing up.
Okay.
No sooner than the message was sent did he receive another from Jounouchi.
Jounouchi: You got any plans tonight?
No.
He paused and then added
Mokuba ditched me.
Jounouchi: Hahaha!
Jounouchi: You can come over and hang out with us if you want.
Jounouchi: My mom is getting KFC for everyone. Prolly not what a rich guy like you wants to eat, but better than nothing.
Seto sneered at the message, almost offended.
I will be there. And I don't mind fried chicken.
Idiot.
Jounouchi: I'll believe that when I see it.
Seto chuckled at the response, setting his phone down, somehow in a better mood. Jounouchi didn't even have to do anything special to make him feel better. It was like an innate ability the blonde possessed, and Seto thought maybe he should question what that meant more deeply, but instead, he allowed himself to simply be content.
The feeling followed him all throughout the day, and then he was at Jounouchi's house, ringing the door buzzer and holding flowers he'd purchased on a whim as a get-well token for Shizuka. The door was answered a few seconds later by a Japanese man he'd never met. "Ah, Kaiba-sama!" he greeted. "Welcome. I'm Minami Tetsuo, Shizuka's husband. Please come in." Seto stepped into the rather spacious apartment, slipping off his shoes.
Minami-san led him into the living room, and Jounouchi quickly stood up to welcome him. "Kaiba!"
He couldn't help the smile on his face, glad to see the blonde again after only a few days. "Jounouchi."
"Who're these for?" he asked, gesturing to the flower Seto held.
"I brought them for your sister."
Shizuka moved to stand up slowly, passing off the young child in her unbroken arm to her husband, and Seto held up his hand. "There's no need. I hope you heal quickly, Shizuka-san."
"Thank you, Kaiba-san," she said graciously.
Alexa gave him a small wave, almost seeming relieved to see him. "Hi, Mr. Kaiba."
He nodded in greeting. He handed Jounouchi the flowers, who then set them on the kitchen counter and came back to sit down on the couch next to Alexa, patting the open space on his other side. "Come on an' sit down, Kaiba. Okaa-san should be back soon. Then ya can show us how much ya don't mind chicken," he snickered.
Seto rolled his eyes and took the offered seat. As he sat down, he noticed the young girl playing at Shizuka's feet. "This is Yuuto," Tetsuo said, gesturing with his head to the young boy in his arms. "Ai-chan," he said to the girl sitting beside him, "you should go introduce yourself."
The little girl stood up resolutely, moved over to Kaiba, bowed, and introduced herself in a quiet voice, refusing to make eye contact. "Hi. I'm Minami Ai," she stated bashfully.
"Kaiba Seto," he returned, amused.
At the sound of his voice, her eyes met his, and she stared for a moment, transfixed, before she climbed onto Seto's lap, settling there without a word. He blinked in surprise, taking a moment to collect himself after the sudden invasion of his lap, but he allowed her to stay, wrapping an arm around her midsection to make sure she didn't fall. "Are you a special person?" she asked innocently.
"Every person is a special person," he answered.
She frowned and then said, "You were on TV."
"Oh. You saw me?"
She nodded. "Mmhmm."
"Then I suppose I must be a special person to be on TV," he said to her gently, giving her a grin.
"Mmm," she agreed, settling back against his chest, and when he looked away from her, the others in the room were gawking at him, mouths hung open.
"She never speaks to strangers," Shizuka said.
"Yeah. She won't even look a' me, 'er own uncle!" Jounouchi protested.
"You must be too frightening," Seto jabbed.
"As if you ain't fright'nin'…" he muttered under his breath, but Seto caught it anyway.
Seto didn't deign him with a response, instead sending a smirk his way, to which Jounouchi grumbled unintelligibly. Kawai-san arrived not long after that, Jounouchi and Minami-san rushing out of the seats to help her, leaving his son with his wife. The siblings' mother's eyes went wide when she noticed Seto sitting in the living room, but she didn't comment as she made her way to the kitchen.
"You look happy holding her," Alexa remarked suddenly.
He gazed at her, considering what he should say before switching to English to explain, "I like children. Their happiness is important to me. There is a reason I run a gaming company, after all."
"You know," Alexa said, "for all that people talk about you being cold and callous and hard to work for, you're really not any of those things. A little aloof, but you do care a lot. And I haven't found you especially difficult to work for either. You have high standards for your employees, but they aren't unreasonable."
"That's because you're competent. Far too many are not."
She laughed quietly. "Thanks." She shifted on the couch then, an air of discomfort surrounding her suddenly. "I feel so out of place here," she admitted abruptly. "Not knowing the language, and none of his family speak much English either."
"Ah," he said noncommittally, unsure what he should say, and Jounouchi's reappearance as he headed their way carrying two plates of chicken was appreciated.
"Ah… I'm sorry. You don't want to hear about this," Alexa said.
Jounouchi handed the first plate to Shizuka, and then raised an eyebrow as he passed the plate off to Alexa. "What are you two talking about?"
"Nothing important," Alexa said with a grin, her earlier discomfort seemingly evaporating.
Jounouchi shook his head, heading back to return with plates for himself and Seto. Minami-san carried out a plate of chicken cut into small pieces for Ai and her younger brother, who still played on the floor at Shizuka's feet. "Ai-chan, come over here and eat."
She shook her head, looking up at Seto, silently asking his permission to stay. Seto cleared his throat. "I'll make sure she eats dinner, Minami-san," he assured. Kawai-san sat down in the living room with them and conversation resumed. Seto sat in silence, holding Ai in his arms, and listened. She didn't leave his lap, eventually falling asleep, and honestly, it warmed his heart. It reminded of how his biological father would hold him as he fell asleep, hugging him close and telling him everything would be okay. He was also reminded of holding Mokuba close as they both tried to sleep in a not-quite-warm-enough room in the orphanage. He smiled to himself at the thought of Mokuba, realizing that when Mokuba's child was born, he'd get the chance to do this more often. He looked forward to it.
Minami-san yawned after a while. "I think it's bed time for me," he announced. "Ai-chan and Yuuto both look like they're ready for bed, too." Yuuto, Seto noticed, was fast asleep in his father's lap.
Seto nodded, passing off the sleeping girl to her father when he returned after putting Yuuto to bed.
"Ya prolly want to head out too, huh, Kaiba?" Jounouchi asked.
"I should. I'm sure Mokuba will be back soon. I haven't seen him since he proposed, and he likely wants to tell me all about it."
"The kid's gettin' married? Gonna be a dad an' gettin' hitched, too… Almost can't believe it."
"Nor can I," Seto mused as he stood up.
"Tell him I said congrats when ya see him, okay? An' thanks for comin' over tonight. Don't know if ya had any fun, but I was glad to have ya."
"It was pleasant. Your niece is charming."
"Ya hear that, Shizuka!" he exclaimed. "Kaiba said Ai-chan is charmin'."
He rolled his eyes, but Shizuka smiled at him, a smile that looked so much like her brother's, and he held back the retort on the tip of his tongue for her sake. "Thank you for the flowers, Kaiba-sama. And for bringing Jounouchi with you to come see me. I'm happy to have him here," she said sincerely. "With his help, I'm sure I'll be all healed up in no time!" She radiated the same positive enthusiasm as her brother. It was almost hard to believe they'd been separated at a young age because they had turned out quite similar.
"You're very welcome," he said. "I hope you feel better soon."
Alexa piped up with a, "See you later, Mr. Kaiba," before Jounouchi walked him to the door.
"See ya later, Kaiba," Jounouchi said, lingering in the doorway, fidgeting, playing with the bracelet on his wrist, the one Seto had just given him, and seeming unsure.
"Yes. Goodnight. I will be in contact with information about our return flight."
"Okay, cool," Jounouchi agreed.
Seto wasn't sure why Jounouchi was acting so hesitant, but it wasn't his problem to deal with. "I'll be on my way."
"Alright. Later!" A grin was flashed his way, making his heart stutter in his chest, and he turned on his heel, striding away to hide the way his cheeks flushed.
"Kaiba-sama, you have a visitor in the lobby," Tanabe said over the intercom. Seto quickly opened up the calendar on his desktop, checking to see if he'd missed an appointment scheduled for that Friday.
"There's nothing scheduled. Who is it?"
"Mutou Yugi, it seems."
He had not spoken to Yugi at any point during his stay nor asked for him to stop by, but he supposed he could entertain whatever nonsense Yugi wanted to share with him. "Have them send him up."
"Very well."
Seto finished reading over the email moments before Tanabe told him Yugi had arrived and was coming in. Seto looked up to watch his one-time rival walk into the room. "I heard you were back in town for the week," he said with a smile.
"Clearly."
"Jounouchi-kun told me when he stopped by the game shop to surprise me yesterday evening."
"Mmm."
"I uh… I actually came to see you about something. It's not like… a favor or anything. I just… After talking to Jounouchi-kun and thinking about something Anzu mentioned to me not that long ago, I got a little worried," Yugi said, seeming nervous. Seto felt nervous, as well. There was only really one thing he could think that Anzu might have shared with Yugi that would have the shorter duelist showing up to his office for a discussion.
"If this is about Jounouchi, you can see yourself out of my office immediately," he commanded sharply.
"It is, but I'm not leaving. Kaiba-kun… do you like him? Anzu seems to think you do."
"That's none of your concern," Seto shot at him, but the internal groan reverberated in his bones. God, would she ever stop being so self-righteous and meddling?
"I know it's not. I'm just worried that you're going to hurt him."
"Me? Hurt him? Please," he retorted, feeling far too vulnerable for his liking. He shouldn't react, he thought, because reacting was only going to prove to Yugi that he was right.
"He seems happy with Alexa, Kaiba-kun, and we all know how you are. How you obsess over things. I just don't want to see you ruin their relationship or the friendship you've developed. That's all," Yugi said firmly, looking him meaningfully in the eyes. It seemed that Yugi didn't even need him to confirm it.
Rashly, he stood up from his chair, compelled to deny the truth Yugi had just so easily accepted as fact without so much as an acknowledgement from him. "I'm not interested in that fucking moron," he stated venomously. "I could have anyone I wanted on this whole planet. Why the hell would I pick Jounouchi?"
Yugi frowned at the outburst but didn't back down. "I didn't come here to pick a fight, Kaiba-kun. I'm not even telling you to stop liking him. I don't want you to do something to break them up intentionally. That's all I'm asking."
"I. Don't. Like. Him," Seto seethed.
"You aren't fooling me," Yugi said calmly. "If it weren't true, you wouldn't be this adamant about denying it. You'd have shot me a blank look and kicked me out immediately."
Seto knew he was absolutely correct. He'd tried to convince himself of that earlier without any luck at actually reining in his reaction. "I will actually kill you if you tell anyone about this."
"I'm not going to tell anyone," the petite man assured. "Just promise you won't force anything to happen."
"Yugi, if I were going to force something to happen, I'd have already done so," Kaiba said petulantly, admitting his defeat because if there was one person who he'd accepted as always having the upper hand over him, it was Yugi. "Take that as you will. Now kindly get the fuck out of my office."
Yugi shot him a sheepish look and left, but his words lingered long after he'd left. They stayed with him the whole way home. Specifically, the thing he'd said about ruining their friendship. Because Kaiba knew exactly how right he was. It was what had forced him to stay his hand. To refrain from taking any action. Anything he did to intentionally drive Alexa away and out of the picture was likely to backfire and turn him into the bad guy. He didn't think Jounouchi would forgive him for it. But at the same time, wasn't Jounouchi flirting with him? What did all those touches and deep, meaningful conversations actually signify?
He was in his room, packing up what he'd brought with him, getting ready to leave for the airport in the morning. The previous day, he'd messaged Jounouchi the time he'd have a driver at Shizuka's house to pick them up. He was thoroughly absorbed in his thoughts as he packed, trying to weigh what he knew and what it might mean.
He actually jumped when Mokuba startled him from his thoughts by opening the door. "Nii-sama, can we talk before you leave?"
He took a moment to calm his racing heart. "Yeah," he agreed, more breathlessly than he'd have liked.
"You said you'd tell me about the memories of our parents."
"Ah… I did. They aren't really anything special."
Mokuba sent him a disbelieving look, unamused and eye brow cocked.
"Just simple things, really. Going grocery shopping with our father. Our mom giving me a bath. That sort of thing."
Mokuba still didn't seem impressed. Nor did it seem like he believed Seto. "You're hiding something from me," Mokuba said resolutely. "I thought we agreed not to keep secrets…?"
"You've kept things from me," Seto argued.
"Yeah, but they were things I didn't want to talk about too soon. Like the property for your birthday present. And I wanted to tell you about Akane in person."
Seto frowned. "It's like that," he finally said. "I don't want to speak too soon."
Mokuba gave him a hard, questioning look, trying to read his expression, and he knew that no matter what he did, Mokuba would figure him out. Mokuba knew him too well. He could hide things over the phone, but in person, it would be impossible. "You like someone," Mokuba finally concluded. "Why is this such a big secret? Who am I going to tell? I probably don't even know them, anyway."
Seto tried to keep his face straight, to keep his mask on so that any small quiver of emotion wouldn't betray him. "You don't," Seto stated.
And then Mokuba's eyes went wide. His jaw dropped. "No fucking way." He met Seto's eyes, wordlessly asking the question. When it wasn't answered, he continued, "Jounouchi? You like Jounouchi?"
"I…" Seto started. "I don't know."
"How do you not know that?"
Seto sent a glare his way, not at all pleased with the questioning. "I don't need to explain myself," he said icily, turning away.
Silence filled the room, stretching into what felt like far too long. Eventually, Mokuba spoke. "Seto, you're right. You don't need to explain anything to me. I just… I've been worried about you. You've been acting strange, and this explains it. You don't know what to do, do you?"
Seto whipped back around to stare him down. "What am I supposed to do, Mokuba?" he asked, frustrated. "He's got a girlfriend. I don't know what I'm doing. All of this nonsense is so far out of my comfort zone, and I'd rather forget, but I can't. I just can't."
Mokuba stepped into his space, wrapping his arms around his torso, and pulled him close. He resisted at first, surprised by the gesture, but when Mokuba didn't relent, he let himself relax in the embrace. "I know you can't," he teased. "You never let anything go." He pushed back but grasped Seto's arms, not letting him leave. "No one knows what they're doing with this kind of stuff. They just kind of… stumble through and things either work out or they don't. I mean… I get what you're going through. Akane… I liked her for a long time, but she had a boyfriend. Eventually, they broke up, and now, here we are, engaged. So just, do what feels right, okay? It'll be okay."
Seto nodded, feeling grateful and yet also slightly patronized after his brother's pep talk. Mokuba released him, turning to leave, pausing only at the door, to give him one last look at say, "But like… really? Jounouchi? Never would have seen that coming."
Seto shrugged. "He makes first rate drinks."
"Wow… Was that a compliment? I'm gonna tell him you said that."
"Don't," Seto warned. Mokuba simply stuck his tongue out and dashed away.
Thoughts swirled around his mind throughout the plane ride back, weighing the conversations he'd had during his stay in Japan. He had work to do, as well, and as much as he wanted to spend all of his time thinking over Jounouchi's actions, Yugi's warning, and Mokuba's reassurance, he needed to read over several documents and approve or reject them prior to landing. One of the documents was the proposal for the facility Mokuba was having built. Idly, he wondered if he should build a school there to teach dueling to kids. A boarding school for duelists, free for students that couldn't afford it. He set the proposal aside, writing a note to himself to discuss the idea with Mokuba.
He wasn't sure how long he'd been working, but he was close to finishing when Jounouchi plopped down beside him, exhaling heavily. He said nothing, crossing his arms in front of him and leaning his head back. Seto was sorely tempted to ask him what he was doing, but he still had work to finish so he turned his attention back to his pile of papers. He finished an hour later, placing them back in his briefcase. Jounouchi hadn't moved. Seto touched his shoulder, hoping to wake him up so he could use the bathroom and stretch his legs a bit. He seemed to be asleep because he didn't stir, still fast asleep. Seto groaned at the inconvenience before carefully stepping over him. He headed for the bathroom, glancing back at Alexa as he did so. She was glaring straight ahead, and when she noticed him looking at her, she averted her gaze. She looked tired, he decided. Perhaps also upset.
Idly, he wondered if they'd had a fight as he walked into the fairly spacious stall. Their body language seemed to suggest so, but he wasn't really sure why nor was he going to ask. Whatever their issue was, he would not involve himself. He promised himself at least that much. He refused to meddle and make himself the bad guy. The one everyone would blame. The scape goat. He rolled his eyes at the thought. God, how he hated that card. He washed his hands after finishing up and headed back to his seat. Climbing over the still slumbering blonde, he allowed a miniscule smile to adorn his face. Perhaps the card wasn't so bad. It reminded him of Jounouchi. Seto peered over at him as he slept, and he felt warmth spread through his chest, butterflies dance in his stomach. He was so cute like this, sleeping peacefully and content. He struggled to pull his eyes away, but he couldn't just stare for the rest of the flight, so he pulled out his laptop, focusing his attention there instead.
Despite his confusion, it would be okay. Mokuba said so, and that was the one person he trusted the most. If Mokuba said it would be okay, it would. And the moment felt pretty okay to him.