Seto Kaiba was sitting in his office trying to concentrate on the budget
request form in his hand. "Trying" being the operative word. The last week
had been so quiet at school, with the resident loud mouth absent and said
loud mouths friends silent with worry. The tense atmosphere made
concentration hard if not impossible. Was it really easier to concentrate
with the mutt around? Not likely.
From snippets of conversation, Seto could tell Yugi and Honda were particularly worried over the fact Jonouchis' phone had been disconnected. The sulking had become too much and Seto made a few calls and found the mutt had moved into a nicer place downtown with his sister. He had thought he had done Yugi a favor but instead Yugi and company suddenly attacked him, wanting to use every resource he had available to track Jonouchi down and fix what was wrong with him.
He of course had said no. His father was dead. That changes people, Seto knew from experience. He had looked at Yugi and his friends with almost a sad expression, not that they could tell.
"You might have to accept this is who he is now." And had walked away. He hated to admit it but he missed the old mutt too. Maybe there was something he could do? What about that hunch something else was wrong? Maybe he could look and see if he was totally off base. Pft. Stupid dog! Making him worry, messing his concentration, the gall. When Setos' father died, he didn't miss school, even though he had become CEO.
Fifteen minutes later, the same form was in his hand and the same thoughts whizzed about in his head in slightly different patterns when the buzzer on his desk interrupted him.
"Katsuya Jonouchi is here to see you, sir." His secretary politely informed him. Seto looked at the black box. Did he hear right? What possible reason could he be here? A good time to search for some answers though, and maybe shake the dog back to normal. He looked at his watch. A meeting in three minutes, damn, the worst timing. Barely enough time to exchange a few insults. Oh well, three minutes was three minutes.
"Send him in." Kaiba immediately went to work busying himself at his desk. The sound of the door opening and steps in signaled the beginning of the game. A game Kaiba always won. Then again, he suspected Jonouchi never really knew they were playing or even what the rules were.
"I hope you don't expect me to tutor you in all the homework you were stupid enough to miss this week, mutt, I am very busy. In fact, I have a meeting in two minutes, the clock is ticking." Kaiba started without looking up. Looking back on this later, he knew something was already wrong. He sensed it in the air. When Katsuya entered a room it was with noise and a fiery spirit that clearly displayed every emotion. This time was different.
A laugh echoed the room. One that Kaiba had not thought possible from Jonouchi. Clear but with a dark edge, as if mocking Kaibas' very existence, let alone his words. The CEOs eyes rose from his supposed work ready with a glare to hide his surprise at the reaction. What he saw prompted his draw to drop and him to stand so quick he almost became dizzy.
"Classic Seto Kaiba!" the blond chuckled, "This will be a lot of fun. I should have known you wouldn't let me down." Jonouchi smiled as Kaibas' eyes roamed his body. The black suit, the crimson silk shirt, the accessories, Kaiba took it all in with a moment of confused shock. Seto realized he was standing and knew he had given himself away. When he first glimpsed this man, he forgot it was the mutt and suddenly felt a tad vulnerable seated. Somewhere in his subconscious he had viewed his blond classmate as a threat or some kind of rival.
"New clothes? Well it is good you learned to cover your stench somehow." Kaiba growled getting back into control as he offered Jonouchi a seat before taking his.
Jonouchi smirked at the reaction and took the offered seat, causally leaning back once seated, and waited till Kaiba made his way back down into his chair.
"I figured a new set of threads was necessary to play with you big dogs. Wait, you've called me a dog for years. Obviously you were just trying to hint at my potential." The blond suddenly looked more serious and leaned forward over the desk. "I've noticed you've got potential too, although, I wish I could have had the nerve to talk about that under different circumstances." Kaiba felt a little pale under the intense gaze. He was loosing his cool, he realized, too many unexpected elements. Jonouchis' sudden arrival, his clothes, the way he carries himself, his attitude, and this new vague statement. Kaiba was loosing his cool. For the first time since Seto had meet him, Katsuya was actually winning Kaibas unspoken game. He was winning and Seto didn't like it.
The CEO pushed the button on the black box on his desk.
"Is the representative from the publishing company here yet? I don't want him to be kept waiting."
"But, sir, I just sent him in a few minutes ago." Setos' eyes flashed to the sharply dressed young man across from him.
"Surprise! Sadly, this isn't just a social call. I was just about to get to that."
"Ah.thank you, Marie. " The brunette lifted his finger from the button in thought. "This is your new job, then?"
"Yup. I've been busy learning the trade, moving, and getting some class this last week. I'll be in class again on Monday, in case you were worried."
"I most certainly wasn't."
"I'd expect nothing less."
"Whatever. I wont go easy on you just because I know you. I have lots of other prospective publishers as well."
"I came in expecting that you would make it harder for me actually, since you know me. I'm honored at your trust." Kaiba growled at the acknowledgement of an unintended compliment. Whatever had changed in Jonouchi made him a little sharper and harder to deal with. A challenge. Seto wasn't sure if he liked this new development or not.
"Give me your pitch."
"Simple, you don't have a choice."
"Excuse me?"
"You need a publisher. We are the best. Your own research probably told you that much. You were really just kicking around the idea if you wanted to publish it yourself or get a lower bid from a capable but smaller company. This however is a mistake. Not only is our company more experienced but also eventually after you publish, you'll need a distributor. There is only one in town, owned by us, out of coincidence. You can certainly publish wherever you like but the distribution truly makes or breaks a book. A botched job gives no second chances."
"Are you really blackmailing me?"
"Just relating the sad truth that our distribution branch tends to do a better job with its "in house" clients. If you want a good job done, which a perfectionist such as yourself, surely does; then, there is no choice. You must sign with us."
"I don't take well to bullying."
"Think of it as more as enticement. You get the best job done and with hands on attention by yours truly, someone you already admitted a small degree of trust for."
Seto turned around away from the desk and looked out the window for a few moments.
"Alright." He said to the window.
"No need to get upset. Come on, I'll stop by tomorrow to sign the paperwork, no, let's do lunch and sign the papers there. It's a great Indian place not too far from here."
"Sure. It will have to be after two though." He replied turning around to face his future business partner. It was only moments later that the two shook hands and Jonouchi exited into the bright afternoon air donning his new shades.
After a few moments after the others departure, Seto pushed the button on the box again.
"Marie, please put me through to a reliable and discreet detective service, when you have them on the line buzz me again."
"Yes, Mr. Kaiba."
At least he thought of food. That seemed close to the more familiar vision he had of Jonouchi. Something was definitely wrong though. No doubt about it. He had intended to stay out of it. Let the dog make his own bed to lie in. However, the events of this meeting made several things clear to Seto Kaiba after some thought, the most obvious being that he really did care about Jonouchi and maybe the potential the blond was speaking of indicated he felt the same.
He knew then that he couldn't fully concentrate or be relaxed not knowing what was happening with Jonouchi. Somehow he ended up doing exactly what he told Yugi he wouldn't. As the box buzzed and Seto picked up the phone, he couldn't help but wonder at the answer the detectives would eventually find.
From snippets of conversation, Seto could tell Yugi and Honda were particularly worried over the fact Jonouchis' phone had been disconnected. The sulking had become too much and Seto made a few calls and found the mutt had moved into a nicer place downtown with his sister. He had thought he had done Yugi a favor but instead Yugi and company suddenly attacked him, wanting to use every resource he had available to track Jonouchi down and fix what was wrong with him.
He of course had said no. His father was dead. That changes people, Seto knew from experience. He had looked at Yugi and his friends with almost a sad expression, not that they could tell.
"You might have to accept this is who he is now." And had walked away. He hated to admit it but he missed the old mutt too. Maybe there was something he could do? What about that hunch something else was wrong? Maybe he could look and see if he was totally off base. Pft. Stupid dog! Making him worry, messing his concentration, the gall. When Setos' father died, he didn't miss school, even though he had become CEO.
Fifteen minutes later, the same form was in his hand and the same thoughts whizzed about in his head in slightly different patterns when the buzzer on his desk interrupted him.
"Katsuya Jonouchi is here to see you, sir." His secretary politely informed him. Seto looked at the black box. Did he hear right? What possible reason could he be here? A good time to search for some answers though, and maybe shake the dog back to normal. He looked at his watch. A meeting in three minutes, damn, the worst timing. Barely enough time to exchange a few insults. Oh well, three minutes was three minutes.
"Send him in." Kaiba immediately went to work busying himself at his desk. The sound of the door opening and steps in signaled the beginning of the game. A game Kaiba always won. Then again, he suspected Jonouchi never really knew they were playing or even what the rules were.
"I hope you don't expect me to tutor you in all the homework you were stupid enough to miss this week, mutt, I am very busy. In fact, I have a meeting in two minutes, the clock is ticking." Kaiba started without looking up. Looking back on this later, he knew something was already wrong. He sensed it in the air. When Katsuya entered a room it was with noise and a fiery spirit that clearly displayed every emotion. This time was different.
A laugh echoed the room. One that Kaiba had not thought possible from Jonouchi. Clear but with a dark edge, as if mocking Kaibas' very existence, let alone his words. The CEOs eyes rose from his supposed work ready with a glare to hide his surprise at the reaction. What he saw prompted his draw to drop and him to stand so quick he almost became dizzy.
"Classic Seto Kaiba!" the blond chuckled, "This will be a lot of fun. I should have known you wouldn't let me down." Jonouchi smiled as Kaibas' eyes roamed his body. The black suit, the crimson silk shirt, the accessories, Kaiba took it all in with a moment of confused shock. Seto realized he was standing and knew he had given himself away. When he first glimpsed this man, he forgot it was the mutt and suddenly felt a tad vulnerable seated. Somewhere in his subconscious he had viewed his blond classmate as a threat or some kind of rival.
"New clothes? Well it is good you learned to cover your stench somehow." Kaiba growled getting back into control as he offered Jonouchi a seat before taking his.
Jonouchi smirked at the reaction and took the offered seat, causally leaning back once seated, and waited till Kaiba made his way back down into his chair.
"I figured a new set of threads was necessary to play with you big dogs. Wait, you've called me a dog for years. Obviously you were just trying to hint at my potential." The blond suddenly looked more serious and leaned forward over the desk. "I've noticed you've got potential too, although, I wish I could have had the nerve to talk about that under different circumstances." Kaiba felt a little pale under the intense gaze. He was loosing his cool, he realized, too many unexpected elements. Jonouchis' sudden arrival, his clothes, the way he carries himself, his attitude, and this new vague statement. Kaiba was loosing his cool. For the first time since Seto had meet him, Katsuya was actually winning Kaibas unspoken game. He was winning and Seto didn't like it.
The CEO pushed the button on the black box on his desk.
"Is the representative from the publishing company here yet? I don't want him to be kept waiting."
"But, sir, I just sent him in a few minutes ago." Setos' eyes flashed to the sharply dressed young man across from him.
"Surprise! Sadly, this isn't just a social call. I was just about to get to that."
"Ah.thank you, Marie. " The brunette lifted his finger from the button in thought. "This is your new job, then?"
"Yup. I've been busy learning the trade, moving, and getting some class this last week. I'll be in class again on Monday, in case you were worried."
"I most certainly wasn't."
"I'd expect nothing less."
"Whatever. I wont go easy on you just because I know you. I have lots of other prospective publishers as well."
"I came in expecting that you would make it harder for me actually, since you know me. I'm honored at your trust." Kaiba growled at the acknowledgement of an unintended compliment. Whatever had changed in Jonouchi made him a little sharper and harder to deal with. A challenge. Seto wasn't sure if he liked this new development or not.
"Give me your pitch."
"Simple, you don't have a choice."
"Excuse me?"
"You need a publisher. We are the best. Your own research probably told you that much. You were really just kicking around the idea if you wanted to publish it yourself or get a lower bid from a capable but smaller company. This however is a mistake. Not only is our company more experienced but also eventually after you publish, you'll need a distributor. There is only one in town, owned by us, out of coincidence. You can certainly publish wherever you like but the distribution truly makes or breaks a book. A botched job gives no second chances."
"Are you really blackmailing me?"
"Just relating the sad truth that our distribution branch tends to do a better job with its "in house" clients. If you want a good job done, which a perfectionist such as yourself, surely does; then, there is no choice. You must sign with us."
"I don't take well to bullying."
"Think of it as more as enticement. You get the best job done and with hands on attention by yours truly, someone you already admitted a small degree of trust for."
Seto turned around away from the desk and looked out the window for a few moments.
"Alright." He said to the window.
"No need to get upset. Come on, I'll stop by tomorrow to sign the paperwork, no, let's do lunch and sign the papers there. It's a great Indian place not too far from here."
"Sure. It will have to be after two though." He replied turning around to face his future business partner. It was only moments later that the two shook hands and Jonouchi exited into the bright afternoon air donning his new shades.
After a few moments after the others departure, Seto pushed the button on the box again.
"Marie, please put me through to a reliable and discreet detective service, when you have them on the line buzz me again."
"Yes, Mr. Kaiba."
At least he thought of food. That seemed close to the more familiar vision he had of Jonouchi. Something was definitely wrong though. No doubt about it. He had intended to stay out of it. Let the dog make his own bed to lie in. However, the events of this meeting made several things clear to Seto Kaiba after some thought, the most obvious being that he really did care about Jonouchi and maybe the potential the blond was speaking of indicated he felt the same.
He knew then that he couldn't fully concentrate or be relaxed not knowing what was happening with Jonouchi. Somehow he ended up doing exactly what he told Yugi he wouldn't. As the box buzzed and Seto picked up the phone, he couldn't help but wonder at the answer the detectives would eventually find.