Chapter 34
The evening crept along quickly and Kaiba stood at his doorway with an exasperated sigh. He surveyed his surroundings and headed for the dining room. "Good evening Mr. Kaiba. Is there anything that I can get for you?" The long-time head chef, Mr. Sonno asked as he stepped in.
Kaiba pondered for a moment and shrugged. "Whatever you served Mokuba and Jyonouchi for dinner, send up to my main office." He ordered in reply and left the room right after.
He wasn't in the mood to relax, to be talkative. He'd done enough of that this day and he hoped in grim prayer he wouldn't have to trifle with Jyonouchi's loud antics. Kaiba trudged up the stairwell with an uncharacteristic pout on his face. He made it up to the last floor and then it struck him that neither the over-excitable teenager nor his jubilant little brother hadn't bombarded him as of yet.
Perhaps Mokuba actually listened to him and went to sleep on time? Kaiba sighed in the empty silence and shrugged. Whatever the reason he was actually quite thankful for the seclusion.
He twisted the knob to his office room and shut the door closed behind him. With the flick of the light everything lit up in dreary form. "Well, I guess it's back to work." He whispered with a soft smile plaguing his lips. He made his way to his desk and smirked as he gently placed his briefcase on the desk. "What trouble can I cause tonight?"
"Hey, who's that for?" Jyonouchi asked as he entered the kitchen. He blinked and watched the chef stir the pot of boiling noodles and the other filled with the delicious pasta sauce he had a few hours before. "Is Kaiba here?" He asked.
Mr. Sonno nodded in response. He personally didn't desire the blond's company, this was his kitchen that he'd spent many years preparing and cooking for the great Seto Kaiba without being disturbed or asked to do anything other than what he enjoyed; cooking. And yet as of lately, he's been dealing with the intrusions of the ruffian now asking obvious and pointless questions.
But Jyonouchi was quite clueless to his disliking. "Hey that stuff was really good. Whip me up some more spaghetti too. He asked gently patting him on the shoulder. "I'll wait in the dining room next door, that way I can take it up to Kaiba myself."
Sonno refrained from pushing him out of the kitchen knowing Kaiba's stern orders to treat him as a guest. He nodded silently and continued stirring.
Mokuba lay awake in his bed. He knew Jyonouchi asked him to go to sleep and relax because truth be told, he hadn't slept any since the whole tragedy began. But despite how sleepy and tired his body was he couldn't bring himself to relax. It wasn't fair to be so young and useless in such a crisis.
But perhaps there was some things he could do. For one, he knew he had to talk to his older brother about Yami. 'His behavior is so strange all of a sudden. And his voice was so awful, so gloomy and – he just wasn't himself. I don't think he can handle this anymore. He's sounding like he wants to give up and die.' Mokuba snuggled into his blanket and tried to calm his nervous emotions.
"I just wanted to know if Yami was there yet."
"Yes. Mokuba he just walked in a little while ago."
Mokuba sighed mentally and smiled gently. "Can I speak to him real quick?" Mokuba shifted uneasily in the chair as he waited to hear the older one's voice over the line. He had that aching, nagging pain inside that urged him to call and hopefully figure out his friend's disposition.
"Mokuba? Is everything all right?" Yami's voice sounded worried and stern.
The young one nodded, "All is fine. Well, you know, as good as it can be. How are ya doing? One of our servants said you weren't coming over. Why? Did something happen or come up?" Mokuba questioned.
It took a while for the other to respond, for a moment Mokuba thought the connection had disconnected. "I just couldn't come over. I thought it'd be better if I stayed with Yugi's grandfather and you know, it just seemed better to stay here."
Mokuba frowned deeply at the lack of sincerity in the other's voice. It sounded off, as if strained. But what would be the appropriate way of asking? "Are you sure that's the reason? You know it's okay to be upset and worried, Yami.' He replied, hoping it was the right thing to say.
There was another pause of silence before any reply given. "Mokuba, what do you mean? I'm fine, really. If anything, how are you and Jyonouchi holding up? I know Kaiba's been working a lot lately with all these plans of his – are you okay?"
"Yeah. I understand that to make all of this go away, he does have to work harder. I know that." Mokuba blinked and inwardly sighed. How did this become about him and Kaiba anyway?
"Well, that's good to hear. Listen, I think Solomon is calling me, so I better go. Take care, Mokuba. Everything's going to be fine."
Mokuba's expression softened. "I know." Though Yami's last comment before hanging up sounded as if he was the one needing the convincing.
Mokuba sat up in his bed and threw the blankets off his body.
Kaiba turned the knob of the office door and almost groaned at the sight of Jyonouchi's smiling face. "Hey, I thought I'd just bring it up so he wouldn't hafta come all the way up here just to go all the way back down." He explained entering the room.
Kaiba rolled his eyes and shut the door. "Whatever. Just set it on the table there."
"Did you have a rough day at work?" Jyonouchi asked, catching the tired tone in his words.
The brunet stopped and stared at the other's thin form, now getting comfortable on the couch in front of the coffee table. It was now he realized, there were two plates of pasta on the tray. With a defeated exhale, Kaiba sat down beside him and dared to engage in conversation with his dinner partner.
"Well? Was it a bad day for you? Or do you always sound so down when you work this late?" He asked with concern.
Kaiba narrowed his brows, "I'm not down." He replied appalled at the question entirely. He wasn't in the least upset about anything – everything was going according to his plan. There was nothing to be 'down' about.
Jyonouchi smiled and took the blue silk napkin off of a plate of freshly made breadsticks. He picked one up and took a big bite of one. "Well, you sound pretty low to me. You sure you aren't?" He asked again, with his mouth full.
Kaiba cringed in disgust. "Quit talking while eating. Honestly, you are revolting sometimes." He said lifting his fork.
Jyonouchi swallowed. "Sorry. This bread is pretty good though."
"Please. You have bad table manners despite what food is placed in front of you." He shot back in that familiar snobbish tone of his.
He was sounding more like the old Kaiba. The one very confident in his ability and Jyonouchi had to smile about that. He was beginning to think that side had faded with the finding out of his disgusting truth. "Well, I guess I can't lie about that. Still, like I was saying before you rudely changed the subject, are you okay?"
Kaiba fell back to that moody behavior. But he leaned back against the cushion and nodded. "Define what okay means. I want you to know that things are great at the moment. All will be over in a matter of weeks. You'll be free to do whatever you want." Kaiba answered and looked his company straight in those dark brown eyes of his.
Jyonouchi blushed and turned away. "But what if, all I want to do is…" He couldn't bring himself to be so forward, so honest with his feelings. What he wanted to say and do.
"This is good food. Of course, there's just one little problem, you forgot to bring something to drink, you moron." Kaiba broke in and folded his arms across his chest.
Jyonouchi blinked and stared down at the tray. Suddenly their deep conversation was washed away with old bickering and whining. "Don't be callin' me a moron. I just forgot. You should be happy that I brought up your food. I'll be right back." He said with a big pout on his face. Kaiba could only smile as the door closed with a slight slam.
A few minutes rolled by and Kaiba's momentary silence was interrupted by a small knock that he knew couldn't be the troublemaker's. So there was only one other it could be. He stood and thanks to said troublemaker's antics felt a bit lighter, relaxed than before. "Mokuba, I thought maybe you were sleeping." He said letting his brother inside.
"Seto." He spoke so full of uncertainty and confusion.
"Hey. What is it?" He asked kneeling down to his level.
Mokuba shook his head and walked to the sofa, where he and Jyonouchi had been. "I don't know what's wrong. It just seems like, I know-"
Kaiba followed and sat beside him, "What?"
"It's Yami." The older brother didn't scowl at the name, as he would any other time. "He's not okay, not at all. I know there's something really wrong with him. Seto, I'm afraid he's not gonna make it through."
Kaiba frowned. "Mokuba what are you talking about?"
"I spoke to him on the phone today. He was supposed to come by and visit but he changed his mind at the last second. He sounded awful, as if ready to give up. I'm really scared for him. I tried to ask him but I know he didn't tell me because I'm just a stupid little kid and he wouldn't want to bother me but I-"
Kaiba hugged him close and stroked his hair. "Don't ever refer to yourself as stupid. Did he really sound so upset to you?" He asked trying hard not to shake off the uncaring emotions within him. He really didn't want to hear about Yami but then again, it was a friend of Mokuba's and obviously it hurt him.
"Seto. I'm scared. I know it sounds dumb, but I'm scared." He whispered into his brother's shirt trying hard not to completely lose it.
The brunet grimaced with a distained glare. He didn't want to ridicule Yami and he knew what to say. He mentally groaned and sucked up his pride, "Fine. It's okay to be afraid. Because remember, no matter how afraid you get, I'll always be here to erase the fear." He promised. He gulped, "I'll check on that nuisance-friend of yours tomorrow and see what consolation I can possibly give. All right?"
Mokuba sat up and wiped his eyes. There seemed to be a shining light of hope in those hazels. "Really? You will do that?" Kaiba nodded and touched his cheek. Mokuba crashed back into his brother's chest.
"Everything will be all right." He assured with confidence in his soothing whisper.
Jyonouchi stood outside the door, now slightly open. He smiled faintly, bittersweet. 'I didn't realize how devastated Yami was. I really thought nothing could break him. If Mokuba's right then- I'm losing another friend to those awful inhuman demons. This is all my fault.' Jyonouchi shut the door and tried to catch his breath. Suddenly everything was coming full circle in his head.
About ten minutes rolled by and Kaiba was beginning to drift off to the sounds of Mokuba's slow steady breathing. He almost didn't hear Jyonouchi come in. "Is he sleeping?" The blond asked trying hard not to show his face to Kaiba.
The brunet looked at him, and noticed him turn his gaze. He grew suspicious. "Yes. He's sleeping."
"Here's some tea that chef of yours made." He muttered under his breath. He sat down next to the other but kept his eyes to the floor.
But of course it only made him more and more confused. "Jyonouchi," Kaiba called, grazing the other's cheek with his free left hand. The other sighed but still didn't face him. "Jyonouchi." He said sternly.
"I think I better just go on to bed too. I don't want to interrupt you with your meal." He stood to leave but Kaiba grabbed his wrist tightly. "Kaiba." And on impulse, Jyonouchi stared at him.
Though surprised by the puffiness and red all over his eyes and cheeks, he didn't let go. "Sit." He commanded and the blond complied. He sat with his hands resting back on his lap. "If you thought you could hide your tears from me forever, that was foolish. What were you crying about?"
"Mokuba said that Yami-"
"Forget what you overheard. I said I'd take care of it, so that shouldn't be a concern anymore." He assured just as he'd done with Mokuba.
But Jyonouchi wasn't so sure. "How can you take care of it? If Yami's so badly upset, how can you possibly take the hurt away?" He asked, those lips of his trembling.
Kaiba's expression seemed to sadden at the other's doubts. "You're doubting me again. I thought that you trusted me completely." The tone seemed so down, so hurt.
"Kaiba, emotions like pain and hurt aren't like everything else. You can't simply wash them away. No matter how hard you try, they'll always be there." He insisted.
"But not people. Jyonouchi, I promised to rid all of the demons in your life. Are you saying that isn't enough? Doing that won't erase the pain? Are you saying that my efforts are pointless?" He asked with his tone so tragically offended.
Jyonouchi grabbed his hand and shook his head. "No." He threatened tears, "There's not a damn thing that can top all you've done already. You've taken away so many nights of disgust and misery and given me so much. Please believe how grateful I am." He pleaded.
Kaiba stared up at the ceiling and took a deep breath. "Jyonouchi I am so close to giving you that freedom. It's just, honestly, once you have it, I'm worried you'll never want to stay here with Mokuba and I ever again. What would I have to do, to make you stay?"
Jyonouchi frowned. "Nothing. I don't ever want to leave you." His confession left his lips all too fast, he found himself blushing.
"But the end isn't here yet. And before it comes, you might not feel that way anymore." Kaiba replied, this time he averted his gaze.
The blond kept his hand cradled in his and he rested his head against Kaiba's shoulder, "There's nothing that would make me want to leave."
The brunet shut his eyes and swallowed deeply, "But you said yourself, pain doesn't ever go away. And unfortunately, there'll be a lot of pain to come." Kaiba admitted truthfully, bitterly.
Kaiba woke up to find himself alone on the sofa couch in his office. The wasted entrees of last night were no longer there on the table, nor were Jyonouchi and Mokuba beside him. He stood and started to wonder if maybe it all was just a dream. He stretched a little and stepped out into the hallway.
"Kaiba." He froze and turned to see Jyonouchi smiling at him. To his surprise, the blond hugged him close. "I'm so afraid of what's to come. I don't know how Yugi is, but I know what the hells he's going through and yeah, it makes me cry. I've been crying every night since finding out. But I have you. And you'll take it all away." He whispered gently before letting go.
The brunet stared at him in a dazed shock. The strangely cheerful other continued smiling, "Now c'mon. You're already makin' us late."
Kaiba frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Breakfast of course. Seriously, you've been sleeping all morning – it's almost lunchtime." Kaiba followed the other down the stairs. He was still unable to process whether everything last night actually happened. When he entered the breakfast room, he saw Mokuba smiling brightly in the chair beside his. Was this all a very good dream? Kaiba couldn't help but smile and sit at his place.
"Good morning Seto. Now let's eat!" Mokuba chimed.
Jinoh sat up from the couch and looked around. He was about to lose it, after being in the hotel room with no one doing anything at all to him. It was absolutely strange and unnatural to him. "What is-" He froze as the door beeped and unlocked. But to his surprise it wasn't Seto Kaiba that stood at the door way. "Who are you?" Jinoh asked confused.
The tall man with the black hair and shades smiled and nodded. "Call me Isono, I am here to transport you to a safer location."
Jinoh narrowed his confused gaze. "Safer?"
"Yes. The end of Monuten's reign of sick obsession is coming to an end. However, he has figured out where you reside and now you must be removed from this location. So let's go."
"Reign of obsession? It's coming to an end? What is going on?" He didn't know whether to be upset or what. He was simply utterly confused.
Lien drummed her fingers along the desk of her dearest husband. But she couldn't take the nagging fear within her soul. She picked up the phone and dialeda number. "I know that this plan isn't going to work. I'm almost sure that young Seto already knows there's a plan in the works to take back Jyonouchi. I don't know how he gets his information but somehow… I have to figure out his game." She said to herself.
With the phone in one hand, she buzzed the intercom with the other. "Minako, get in here right away." She ordered hastily.
He was in quickly. "Yes? What is the matter, Mrs. Monuten?"
She smirked, "Ah sweetie, as I've told you before, you can just call me Lien. I trust my husband's given you the orders of ambushing Mr. Kaiba's estate?"
"Yes ma'am. We are only to await his command."
She frowned and stood to her feet. "No. Your loyalties are to me. Remember, I am your boss and you answer and carry out these orders on my command. Understood?"
He blinked and nodded. "Yes, Mrs.- Lien. Of course."
She smiled. "Only because, I know that it's just too soon to barge in." 'I have to find out what he's up to before Hinoto makes a collosal mistake.'