Chapter 14: News

Ogata's heart was pounding with a mixture of anxiety, anger, and adrenaline as he stormed out of the elevator onto the floor of Kaiba's office. The secretary looked up in surprise since there were no scheduled appointments, although she was far from shocked at the person's identity. "I'm sorry, Ogata-san, but—" she started to say, but he walked right past her and threw open Kaiba's door.

Kaiba didn't jump at the noise and sudden intrusion, but he narrowed his eyes at Ogata. The lack of reaction from Kaiba only served to irritate Ogata more and he angrily demanded, "What the fuck is so much more important than me, asshole?"

Standing up and glaring at Ogata, Kaiba sounded dangerously controlled when he asked, "You dare to speak to me that way, Ogata?"

Too pissed to care, Ogata shot back, "Yes, I do dare, because the only other person who would, can't. So answer my damn question, Seto!"

Kaiba's rage and hurt were all begging for an outlet and it was so tempting to take it out on Ogata. He was tired of all the non-answers and interruptions from his annoying employee and his temper was dangerously close to fraying. Knowing that any further provocation would result in him snapping, Kaiba icily ordered, "Get the hell out of my office."

"No! You refuse to take my calls and—"

"And yet you didn't get the hint," Kaiba interrupted with a snarl, approaching his edge.

Slamming the door shut to prove a point, Ogata came closer as he told Kaiba, "You're lucky I like Yami as much as I do, because otherwise I would have left and—"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Shit, you are so fucking dense sometimes!" Ogata swore in frustration. "I mean, did it ever occur to you that I had a reason for calling you so many times? Do you even realize just how badly you fucked up by ignoring me?"

"You overestimate your importance," Kaiba coldly stated, drawing himself up to his full height. "Now get the fuck out before I have you removed."

Gritting his teeth and reminding himself that it was too important for him to act spiteful, Ogata yelled, "Damn it, Seto! I found Yami!"

The news hit Kaiba hard and he had to ask for clarification, "What?"

"Yeah, now you fucking listen," Ogata bitterly muttered. "I kept calling so that you could join me and we could go ambush them in transit, but—"

"In transit?" Kaiba numbly repeated, slowly realizing with dread and remorse that he had been ignoring Ogata for over three hours since he told his secretary to block Ogata's number.

"They had him in a warehouse by Domino Bay and moved him to Okutama," Ogata explained, somewhat mollified by the barely suppressed look of horror on Kaiba's face.

It sounded like a random location until Kaiba realized, "If they took him to Okutama, that means—"

"That means they took him to Gozaburo's old medical testing facility," Ogata finished, his concern for Yami increasing again. It had formerly been a health spa in a scenic town, but it was nothing but a cover for far more nefarious experiments for Gozaburo.

The news made Kaiba sit back down and for the briefest moment, he wondered if that meant Yami was sick or if they had discovered his secret and wanted to experiment on him. "No," Kaiba weakly whispered, trying not to get ill, "no, they…oh, god…"

Ogata's anger all but evaporated when he saw the stricken expression on Kaiba's face. Sighing and walking around the desk to kneel in front of Kaiba to get his attention, Ogata softly said, "Look, feel bad later if you need to. Let's go get him back, Seto."

"I'll get him myself," Kaiba said, still looking shell-shocked.

"Fine," Ogata agreed, "but you're not going without me."

Kaiba wanted to tell Ogata that he didn't need him, but if it weren't for the older man, he never would have known about Yami's relocation. "Hoshino and Tanaka?" Kaiba numbly asked.

"Yes," Ogata confirmed, "and I'm going to make sure you don't massacre them in your rage."

"They deserve worse," Kaiba growled, his anger starting to outweigh his numbed shock.

"Agreed, but later," Ogata insisted. "We'll take my car since it's not traceable to you, okay?"

It was enough to move Kaiba to action and he stood up with determination. He was going to get Yami back finally and there was nothing that would stop him.

They were halfway to Okutama when Kaiba's phone started to ring. Grateful for the distraction since Ogata had refused to let him drive, Kaiba answered only when he saw who it was. "Yuugi?" he asked when all he heard was sniffling on the other line.

"Kaiba-kun, it's about Yami," Yuugi started to say before bursting into tears again.

Not comfortable with the open display of emotions, Kaiba said, "We found him and I'm getting him back."

"You did?" Yuugi questioned in confusion. "But, but I can barely feel him and—"

Unsure of the range on the Millennium Puzzle's range, Kaiba informed Yuugi, "They moved him about two hours away."

Yuugi couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, but it was a logical explanation that he had no choice but to accept. "Please be careful, Kaiba-kun," Yuugi finally said, worried for his friend as well.

"I'll be fine and so will he," Kaiba told him before disconnecting the call.

Ogata could only shake his head and drive a little faster as he subtly glanced over at Kaiba. He had never seen Kaiba so visibly tense and worried, not even when Mokuba had been kidnapped. Offering up a silent plea for Yami's well being, Ogata continued to speed to the old medical facility.

A/N: I know this one is a little short, but we're starting to get into the thick of things now…

NEXT CHAPTER:

The words sent a chill of dread through Kaiba and he struggled not to lose himself in his anger. "You will beg for your death by the time I'm through with you," Kaiba promised in a dangerous voice, pleased when he saw a flicker of fear in Hoshino's eyes.

Next update will go up on Sunday, February 6th and we'll finally meet Hoshino in person.