Chapter 35
Jinoh followed down the stairwell of the highly acclaimed hotel. Whether he wanted to leave or not, wasn't his decision after all – of course, when did he ever have the right to make any sort of decision? But this non-threatening presence was getting to him in all the cruelest of ways. Wasn't his newly appointed master interested in ripping him apart, touching him, making him beg in the most submissive way possible?
The man in dark, Kaiba's most trusted employee, Isono remained as silent as the emptiness around them. Jinoh had realized that this hallway was a lot more secluded than the other ones of the hotel. In fact there were no other people around, no noises from busy computers or employees. "In five more minutes we will be before your new hideout. Mr. Kaiba will meet you there in two hours."
The statement seemed so much like a military briefing but it shattered into thousands of shards that stabbed at Jinoh's already clouded brain like knives. He didn't understand any of this. But he knew better than to ask questions. It was never smart to ask why – never. If he ever did so with Hinoto, the agony and play would be much more severe. Was that possible? Yes and Jinoh knew that.
Kaiba threw on his favorite black sweater. He stared at himself in that large bathroom mirror and he couldn't bring himself to smile. It was a natural little problem of his. He could smile in front of Mokuba and whenever the mood struck him just right – but never for himself. How can one smile so openly? It was a trifling question he found his mind thinking - trifling, ridiculous question. Why he thought it in the first place was another mystery to him.
His hair was still damp from the shower he'd just taken. It was a brilliant breakfast that passed this morning, he actually forgot for a moment all that ailed them. But his mind so ready and always on track, prevented that dream morning from taking over. A good thing, since there was plenty left to do and little time to work with.
His first concern would be to deal with Jinoh, whom now he knew was in the safety of his employee and closest 'friend', Isono. "I don't know his state of mind, his readiness for what's to come. Erasing all the ugly could bring insanity to his tortured soul." After all, a heart that has only known to be submissive and abused may not understand and be ready to know what freedom and love entails. "He has no family; none that survived after Hinoto killed every last relative." He couldn't help but smirk in glorified disgust, "Hinoto is the only one that shares his blood."
The disturbing images that plagued his mind, of how they must torture him with that truth hurt Kaiba deeper than anything else. A soul can only take so much before slipping into endless darkness. Still, if all was to be destroyed, all would have to face the bitterness and pain once more. Why was it so hard for him to completely believe though? He knew what to do – he faced his darkness sucked it up and complied to the torment, knowing all would end as it did. So why couldn't he completely convince the hesitation plaguing him still?
Hinoto stepped up and shook his head. "I traveled all this way to ask why you have chosen to ridicule and spread these foul and loathing rumors along to other members of our council." He said sitting across from Mr. Griffman.
Griffman nodded. "I tried to warn you but your connections were always busy and corrupted. That Kaiba child is nothing more than a pest. He's not like you and I; he's for the underdogs and children of the world. Someone like him is not interested in the things we are. I thank you for traveling all this way, I assume you share the same beliefs to come all this way. He's up to no good, so what should we do about him?"
Hinoto stood to his feet. "I assure you Mr. Griffman, he isn't like you or I as you and I are not the same either. Let me tell you a little bit about why I am truly here. We have this code of secrecy and professionalism that I thought you were aware of and yet instead of doing this in a timely professional manner, you decide to gossip and tell everyone in our joint-circle of your doubts and dealing with Seto Kaiba. Did it not dawn on you that that hurts our business and that I've had numerous questions come to me about the safety of our merchandise? Some have actually put in a request to return our slaves."
Mr. Griffman frowned. "I apologize for that, Hinoto. I know it wasn't very smart of me but I assure you that it is only misery to invest on him."
"Yes. I can see that now. Now then, about what I plan on doing about this whole mess…"
"I had this plan that we could-"
Hinoto stared at him and shook his head. "I'm afraid you just don't understand. You broke several rules of conduct in the council. Fatal flaws and mistakes that jeopardize everything we've come to expand and cherish. Mr. Griffman, you have to be punished for this foolishness."
Griffman stood to his feet as well. "What do you mean?" He narrowed his brows and secretly pushed a button on the bottom of his desktop.
"Why, I speak of your untimely death. Foolishness is never forgiven." He answered with a tone so serious and real.
Five guys stepped in, men that worked for the very worried Griffman. He smirked nervously, "I am not the one that's gonna die. You were the one that started this mess by bringing Kaiba in our humble games."
Hinoto sighed. "You never understood that this was never a 'game'. This is a business of entertainment. I never should have let you in, because you don't know how to appreciate the beauty and appeal of my slaves to their extremes." The men surrounded Hinoto with guns drawn, but they refrained from shooting. Hinoto glanced at all of them and shook his head. "Also, you seem to forget where these men came from. Griffman, if you recall I gave these men to you for protection and services. As such, I'm now revoking your place at my table." The men turned their attention to Griffman, "Goodbye." He didn't have time to respond before being shot five times by the bodyguards now standing beside Hinoto Monuten.
Before Hinoto turned to leave, his phone rang in his jacket pocket. He smiled softly at the familiar ring of his wife. "Hello beautiful."
Lien smiled on her end but it was distracted. "How are things going?" She asked in a soft and relaxed tone. Though she was far from so.
"I'm taking care of business. Things are smoother than I thought they'd be. I'll be home early."
"That's great, hun. I just got through speaking with twenty of our guys there in America. It seems that our computer was having problems and unexplainably couldn't receive any messages directed to us on this issue. It's coincidental so I'm searching for any signs of hacking and interference. I think we have an undercover spy here working with Seto."
"Is that so? Well then, I think we better find him before things get word about the ambush on his house. I don't want him to know ahead of time."
She grimaced. "So you still wish to go through with it? What if he does know about all of this?"
"Don't worry so much. We're just fine and whoever the spy is, cannot possibly know unless you shout it out yourself." He insisted.
She nodded mentally. "All right. Stay safe and continue on your end. I'll get crackin' on my end here, sweetie. Love you and tell me of anything you discover."
"Likewise. Love you too."
Lien hung up the phone and shook her head. "Is there something wrong, my lady, Lien?" Minako asked sitting in the chair across from her at the desk.
"Just remember not to do anything unless I personally give you the permission. I will take the heat from my husband should he attempt to smite or punish you."
Minako shook his head. "With all due respect to your husband, you were the one that assigned me in the first place – the one that hired me to carry out the given tasks. You're the only one that has the right to order me to do any action; the only that I can comfortably accept and agree. I've only met your husband on a few occasions since I've worked here."
She smiled and nodded. "That's true. I like an employee that does and listens to what he's told. I am the one that hired you but Hinoto is the one that recommended you so I wouldn't talk to boldly in front of him." She warned with a dark smile. "Still, it is a better idea to hold off at least for now."
"I apologize for leaving you alone with no explanation. Things abruptly changed and I couldn't make it back to the room to speak with you." Kaiba said as he entered the room and signaled Isono to leave. "But now we haven't a lot of time to discuss what all is to come."
Jinoh had just barely stood to his feet and faced his thought-to-be-torturer. 'Speak with me? What does he mean by the word speaking? Is that some sort of joke or code for meaning to fuck me? All this precaution and talk about safety and the end… What could be the truth?'
Kaiba stared him straight in the eyes and surveyed his expression. It wasn't so spaced and disinterested as before, there was confusion and perhaps anger deeply nestled in those dark eyes of his. It was the most emotion Kaiba had seen on him. "Again, I am Seto Kaiba. It is good to meet you Monuten Jinoh."
Jinoh went wide-eyed momentarily before falling into that grim expression once more. 'He knows my name, who I am. Now I am thoroughly confused.' He wanted to ask, wanted desperately to say the questions and uncertainties racing through. But obedience was taught long ago, at a very tender age.
Kaiba shook his head, half stunned at his ability to keep all things and thoughts to himself. He actually felt even worse about the situation. It was hard to believe the one before him was a year and a half older than Kaiba when those eyes were oh so lost and unclear. "Jinoh, I know a lot about you. I've read things about you, I am aware of your friendship with Jyonouchi Katsuya."
'Jyonouchi. How are you doing these days you big crybaby?'
"I need you to answer some questions for me. For Jyonouchi's sake as well as your own and every other child stuck in this organization, I hope you can give me what I need." He stated to what seemed to be an overwhelmed other.
"Jyonouchi. You have him?" Jinoh finally spoke.
Kaiba could feel the concern in his broken, perhaps even hesitant voice. "Yes. I am taking care of him." The brunet confirmed with a tone emotionless and cold. "But we aren't discussing him at the moment. Tell me what I need and then we can discuss him. Do you agree with these terms?"
Jinoh stared at him and swallowed. 'Terms? He's actually giving me a… choice?' The very notion was tragically hilarious and ridiculous to him. He never was given choice, asked questions, given explanation. "I have nothing to offer you but what I was brought here with; my body. I have no other use to you." He replied with truth and uncaring.
Kaiba shook his head. "There's more to you than a torn and broken in body. You know a lot about your father's company, about the floors and rooms. You could probably tell me the location of-"
"I don't understand." Jinoh spoke out, Surprisingly finding it easier and easier to relax with Kaiba.
He nodded. "Jinoh. I'm talking about the end of your father's reign. By the end of this month of December, he will be dead." A stunned and shocked look tattooed on Jinoh's face at the settling of those words. "And you will help me do so."
"Sir, what would you have us do?"
Hinoto put the phone back in his pocket. "I honestly don't believe my wife is completely behind me on this plan of mine. I think I will return earlier, perhaps tomorrow morning. I also don't trust that Minako guy to carry out my command. Knowing my darling wife, she ordered him not to listen to me. That's very well, I'll issue the command to the one second in charge, Minako's assistant." 'Sorry to go behind your back, my love, but it has to be done.'
"Greetings. Where is the young Kaiba?"
The butler nodded and excused himself to go and contact the young one who was in the middle of playing a video game with Jyonouchi. Mokuba came down and nodded in acknowledgment to the guest. "What are you doing here Milain? Seto left about an hour ago."
The man in a dark blue suit only sighed. "Young Mokuba, there is something I need from you. The note that you were requested to hold and hide in secret, Master Kaiba has ordered to retrieve it at this time."
Mokuba blinked and nodded. "All right, come on." Mokuba and Milain ascended the stairs and went down the long stretch of hallway until they finally came to a lone door at the very end right of the entire Kaiba mansion. "It's in here."
Milain nodded as the young one opened the door and stepped in. Milain put his hand on the knob and shook his head. "I apologize for doing this Master Mokuba but it is for your own good." He spoke breaking the mood. Mokuba turned around and stared at him in confusion over the strange comment. And he noticed the hand resting on that doorknob. "Your brother knew all along that you would hide it here and thus he feels very sorry for doing this to you. But trust him in the fact that, all will be the way it should be." He spoke quickly, never stepping into the room.
Mokuba blinked and tried to dart for the door. But Milain shut and locked it from the outside with a special key given to him by Kaiba. "Wait. What's going on?" Mokuba shouted but he knew it was pointless. This particular room was almost soundproof thanks to the generator and security programs humming and buzzing. It was a secret room that the Kaiba brothers would hide and sneak away to when they wanted to be alone and away from Gozaburo. A place that Kaiba had suddenly abandoned once that bastard left their lives.