Howdy hey! Sorry, another short one, but not too long till the next one, kay? I wanted to actually do one long chapter, but there's a break in the middle-ish and I wanted to give you guys something sooner than later. Hope you like it...

I've disclaimed enough times, right?

Chapter 14: Rising Pressure

Friday morning, Kaiba arrived at the office an hour and a half before the Delicorp meeting and picked up the phone to call Mr. Saki.

"Saki here!" He sounded as cheerful as ever, and Kaiba sighed, reluctant to say what he had to.

"Kaiba."

"Mr. Kaiba, good morning. In the office already? Don't you ever sleep?" He laughed his big laugh unselfconsciously. Kaiba blinked at the possibility that Saki was actually getting comfortable with him, a testament to the man's undeniable and almost invasive friendliness.

"Now and then. Unfortunately, I have a very important matter to discuss with you."

"Oh?"

Kaiba took a breath. "Are you alone right now?"

"Well yes, Mr. Kaiba... what's this about?" He sounded nervous now, the jubilation finally dissolving.

"It's Werenko Akira."

To his surprise, Saki laughed again. "Aw, Mr. Kaiba, try to be nice to him. He's been talking about you for years. He almost wet himself when he heard about the merger, couldn't have stopped him coming with the rep group if we'd tried. Honestly, it's the cutest thing, you know after we were at that club he was going on about how trashy the dancer was, he was so jealous..." Saki was still laughing, and Kaiba was trying not to start yelling.

Maybe I should look into getting some of that tea, very helpful stuff. He took a breath instead. "It's interesting you should say that. Listen, Mr. Saki, I wouldn't want to embarrass you, or your employees, or your company in any way, so I think it would be best if you sent Werenko home. Before today's meeting."

"Really, Mr. Kaiba, it's just a crush, I'm sure he can maintain a profess-"

"No, Mr. Saki, I don't think he can." Silence, comprehension on the other end of the line.

"Something happened."

"I'd rather not go into anything, Mr. Saki, but please, take my advice. Send him home. Do it as a personal favor to me, ne?"

"Of course, no problem, so sorry, right, I'll, um, I'll see you soon. For the meeting," Saki responded, his voice heavy with confusion and concern.

"One more thing..."

"Yes, Mr. Kaiba?"

"No mention of this conversation, alright?"

"...Sure, alright." Kaiba rang off and sat back, covering his face with his hands.

Naturally, there was almost no chance Werenko would simply go home, but he wanted to at least give him the chance to walk away. For someone obsessed with him, Akira seemed unaware of how Kaiba generally dealt with those who got in his way.

The intercom buzzed. He pressed the button. "Yes?"

"Mr. Kaiba, there's someone to see you."

"...And?"

"...And they say it's very urgent. They say it's regarding the future of the merger... and your personal life," she quivered. No amount of time working as Kaiba's assistant could neutralize the fear he naturally inspired, apparently. He stared at the intercom.

"Mr. Kaiba?"

"Send them in, then."

A moment later, Mai Valentine and an older man he'd never seen before entered his office. Mai sat down with a graceful motion, though he hadn't offered her a seat, but the old man stayed where he was, having the good sense to look a little nervous. On second look, the man wasn't that old, just a little weathered; he looked sort of familiar somehow, come to think on it, but Kaiba was sure they'd never met. He turned to Mai and drew breath to speak, but Mai was too fast.

"So Seto, how are you? Everything going well? Good, I'm glad. I've got to ask you a favor, actually, to be perfectly frank."

"Shocking." Wasn't that what everyone wanted? His tone was sarcastic, but honestly, Kaiba was a little shocked. Mai was generally independent to a fault. Not a favor on her own behalf, then. He tilted his chin towards his other guest.

"Right, sorry. Seto Kaiba, meet Jounochi Takeshi." Takeshi bowed wordlessly. He still looked nervous. Ah, that why he looks familiar, Seto thought. His son's my-

He's Katsuya's father. Still, that wasn't really an explanation for their presence. Seto was torn; he didn't want to give Mai too much of an upper hand, but he didn't know how to proceed without revealing his bewilderment. He settled for remaining silent, hoping Mai would say something more and this bizarre turn of events would begin to make sense. Were they going to tell him to buzz off and leave Katsuya alone? Would they try to bribe or even blackmail him somehow?

As if hearing his thoughts, Mai smiled and began to explain. "We're not trying to pull anything, Seto, we just... have a good idea, and I think you would benefit from it too. I hear you're buying a warehouse in midtown and converting it to a packaging center for Delicorp games."

Seto's brows lifted. "Didn't think you read Fortune, Mai."

She smiled beatifically. "I don't, I just hear things, you know. Anyway, it's true, right?" Seto nodded. "Well, you'll be needing a floor manager, then."

He shook his head slowly. "You want to work in a factory, Mai? Won't you break a nail?"

Takeshi's voice jerked him a little; he'd not expected an answer from him, rather than Mai. "Now, I'm perfectly willing to apply via the normal channels, give you my resume and everything, but Mai was sure it would be a good idea to come and talk to you personally, Mr. Kaiba, sir, and I'm obviously not sure you haven't already filled the position, I mean, you likely don't even handle that stuff personally, you've got people to do that..." he trailed off, looking at the floor. The man drew himself up, squared his shoulders, and looked at Kaiba again. "I can do the job, though. I was a supervisor at my old warehouse, before my... illness. I wouldn't bother asking for a job I couldn't do. I'd like a chance... a chance to support my family," he said meaningfully.

Finally something clicked. "Katsuya could quit, " he murmured to himself, but Takeshi's eyes glinted, hearing him.

"Right."

Kaiba looked at him hard, then Mai. "Why are you doing this?"

Mai had the nerve to roll her eyes. "What, you're phased? Katsuya is my friend, Takeshi needs a better job, you need a manager for your warehouse, and I don't have plans for today." She flicked her hair over her shoulder. "Anyway, do you like, need time to think about it, or something?" Her tone was tinkly, but her eyes were full of mirth. Kaiba wasn't a fan of being patronized, even at the best of times.

His eyes narrowed, but he knew she was right, and her idea was a good one. "No, I don't." He turned to Takeshi. "Welcome to the company. I'll have someone contact you about your new position by the end of next week."

Takeshi's smile was dazzling, looking more like his son than ever in that moment. Kaiba rose, with a twinge, and extended his hand. Takeshi grasped if firmly and sealed the deal in a handshake.

"That was easy! Glad not every thing'slike pulling teeth with you. Now!" Mai rose from her seat and placed her fists on Kaiba's desk, leaning forward. "What are you going to do about Katsuya?"

God, today's going to be a long one. He shut his eyes warily, slumping back into his chair. If Mai was taken aback by this uncharacteristically morose display, she did not show it, and when he opened his eyes she was still peering at him.

"Well, since you're so full of bright ideas, what would you suggest?"

"Well, first off, I'd apologize for the heavy glass thing," she said unflinchingly. "Way out of line, Mr. Bigshot."

"You're making this very difficult."

Mai threw up her hands and turned away. "No, honey, you don't get that from me. That's all you. If you can't even bring yourself to feel bad about it, though, I'd say he deserves better than you anyhow."

Kaiba sprang to his feet, frustrated and angry and no longer caring if they could tell. "You think that's what it is? I don't feel bad? It hasn't occurred to you that the worse the offense is, the harder the apology? What the hell am I going to say that doesn't sound trite? 'Sorry, I aimed an inch off because I'd hate for you to actually get hurt'? Or maybe 'Sorry I didn't make you pancakes instead of trying to take you out with a paperweight'? You have NO IDEA what this has been like!" He clenched his fists, sitting back down hard.

Mai looked slightly mollified, which actually annoyed him further. Takeshi looked like he was ready to leave about five minutes ago.

"I have some idea, Seto," she said softly, an odd look crossing her face. What was that? Compassion? Kaiba looked away; he didn't want understanding from her. They was only one person's understanding he needed, and he was...

"Hey, where is Katsuya?" he addressed Takeshi.

"School. He took the bus today, said he doesn't want to waste the money on cabs anymore." Takeshi seemed puzzled even as he relayed the explanation, and Kaiba deduced that Katsuya had not told him what had happened yesterday. Akemi's sister's salve had apparently kept the fat lip from becoming an issue of concern.

"Good," Kaiba said with genuine relief. Mai's look sharpened into suspicion.

"Why do you ask?"

Aw fuck, does nothing get past this chick? "Curiosity," he said, glaring at her. "Do I need a reason?"

"Why'd you look so relieved? Where might he be otherwise?"

"Look, it's been very nice to see you, and it was nice to meet you, Mr. Jounochi, but I have a meeting starting at 9:00 AM sharp, so..."

Mai nodded curtly, but the suspicious look was still there. "Alright. You're not telling me something, though, and you'd better hope it doesn't end up costing Katsuya anything that you wouldn't say what it is."

"Is that a threat?"

Mai's expression was one of pity, and she left his office without comment. Takeshi bowed again quickly and hurried after her.

Werenko Akira was sitting in his hotel room, his suitcases half-packed, muttering unintelligibly to himself. He had just received a phone call from Mr. Saki, in which the soft-headed supervisor had told him to go ahead and head back to headquarters and not go to the morning meeting. He hadn't said why, and Werenko hadn't asked. He knew it had to be Kaiba.

Why didn't he understand, he only wanted to love him? To take care of him after so many years of taking care of himself and his brother? Clearly, Kaiba didn't have any idea of what Akira was trying to offer him, what they could be together.

It's that trashy wannabe-dualist stripper, he seethed. He's under its spell, he can't see reason! He can't see what's right in front of him. I shouldn't have left him alive, that was my mistake. Well, I'll fix it, I'll get rid of it, that disgusting thing, and then he'll see. We'll be so happy, they'll all see!

He had no idea he'd been clenching his fists so hard until he opened his hands and saw the bloody crescents in his palms.