Puzzle Pieces

by serena.jones.585

Chapter 0, Piece 0: Preface "That? Oh, it's a puzzle, but the box is missing, so I'm not sure what the picture is." "Couldn't someone just put together and see?" "I suppose they could, but how? You'd pull out a handful of pieces, but you wouldn't know if they were sky or water or anything. There'd be no way to see how they relate. And you'd never know if a piece was missing."

17. Piece 40

Chapter 17, Piece 40 * * * * * * * *

"This is a corporate event," Mokuba smiled coldly. "We invited corporate friends."

"I'd hate to see the corporate enemy list," Honda retorted.

"Same list," Anzu muttered.

"Not quite," Mokuba huffed, then turned on the woman. "And what the hell did you tell him about Jou?"

"Yeah!" Honda agreed. "What the hell?"

"Nothing! I'm not kidding - he took one look at Jou and insisted it was love. Mutual love. He thinks Jou's some rich, aloof, outsider. Said he was the future father of his children."

"Yeah, that's not disturbing at all," Mokuba muttered. "Where did Jou go anyway?"

"The restroom," Bakura said. "He promised he would stay until we all left or until Kaiba-san spoke to him." He looked thoughtful. "But we didn't know he'd be like this. He's actually friendly. And polite. He's like a different person."

"He's happy." Mokuba smiled fondly.

"Could someone else be happy? Finally falling in love?" Otogi teased.

"Who?" Then Mokuba caught his meaning. "Me? No." He shook his head. "Not even in lust right now."

"Because you work too hard." Seto rejoined the conversation. "When I take over again, that will be the first order of business. Frankly, I don't see why you don't just go out with Mutou. He's available, cute, and not after money."

"There's more to it than that, nii-sama."

"No, there's not." Seto was adamant. "You must have learned that from that Gozaburo. 'Money and power only last an hour, but friendship and love are the sun above.' Papa said that. He and mama met at a goukun, dated twice, and were married by the end of the year. You've known Mutou at least that long."

"Yugi and I are just friends."

"I don't believe I've ever heard you mention your parents before," Bakura commented.

"That was the old Seto," Seto responded, surprising the group. "Come to the house before you return to America. I had a portrait of them done. It's in the dining room. I had one of my adopted father done as well; it's in the living room. He was quite handsome."

"You hated him," Otogi pointed out.

Seto shrugged. "I don't remember him. He adopted us. If nothing else, I honor him for giving Mokie a home."

"Huh." Honda looked into the crowd. "You really have changed. Maybe you guys should talk."