Ryou's Oni: Thank you! I'm glad you're liking this pairing even if you didn't think you would!

Misura: I'm glad you like the flashback there are more to come. Glad I could make you snicker too.

Okay, finally an update, decent sized one too. Five pages on word with normal paragraph format!

"Good morning Mr. Kaiba," said the young secretary in a chipper voice as Jonouchi walked into the office. "You have a conference call with the CEO's of the Joint Duel Monsters Incorporation in three minutes."

"Thank you Victoria," the blond woman smiled at him. Jonouchi didn't know why Seto had hired her. She always wore black and her eyes were a really strange color. What unnerved Jonouchi the most were her natural fangs. If anyone could be a vampire she could have.

Jonouchi went into the office, and sat down behind his desk. He wracked his brain for what Noa had told him about the CEO's of the Joint Duel Monsters Incorporation. It comprised of Kaiba Corp, Industrial Illusions, and Dungeon Dice Inc.

Jonouchi's face flushed. 'Oh no! Ryuuji Otogi!' Jonouchi was sure if any one figured it out today it would be Otogi. Besides, he was dating Hiroto Honda who was not the mention Jonouchi's best friend. Pegasus had since then retired to a hospital bed so Jonouchi tried to remember who had taken control.

"Oh yeah! Now I remember, Marian Crawford, his sister took control.'

Jonouchi settled into the seat, taking a deep breath. Ms. Crawford wouldn't be a problem but Otogi sure would.

Holograms flickered on in front of Jonouchi to show a regal looking woman of white hair wearing a tailored suit and wire frame glasses and Otogi in his general attire of his sleeveless shirt and bandana. Otogi was certainly the most underdressed, Jonouchi noted, as he remembered his own suit. Seto had worn it while traveling around Duelist Kingdom. The trench coat was hanging on the rack in the corner of the room.

Otogi's face looked worn as his image looked up with red eyes, the dark circles underneath them. "Mr. Kaiba, I would like to be the first to offer my condolences at the death of your significant other."

Jonouchi nodded, having a good guess why Otogi appeared so worn. "Thank you Mr. Otogi."

"I for one did not imagine you would be present," Marion's firm voice said.

A flicker of anger crossed Jonouchi's face. "I never back out of my responsibilities Ms. Crawford."

"Very well Mr. Kaiba." Jonouchi remembered Seto telling him about her once.

"Ms. Crawford may we please get to the situation at hand," Otogi said quietly.

"Fine," she said sharply. Jonouchi knew she hated Seto for still having Kaiba Corp and never forgave him for out lasting her brother.

Jonouchi mentally tried to clear out his fogged brain.

"We need to bring Duel Monsters into the mainframe again. I suggest a tournament hosted by us."

"It would certainly make sense," Otogi nodded his head.

"Mr. Kaiba, you shall participate in this tournament." Jonouchi looked at Marion a bit shocked. "I don't care what you're dealing in your personal life I shall pull my funding if you do not participate. You will use a deck of my making. I'm sure it will suit you."

"Ms. Crawford this is preposterous!" Otogi snarled at her. "Can't you at least pretend to care? Mr. Kaiba has just lost the love of his life. The person he lost had participated in every tournament. Perhaps it would be too much for him."

"Enough," Jonouchi snarled. Seto Kaiba never showed his feelings and never backed out of a challenge. So he couldn't either, even though the idea of going into this tournament without Seto wrenched at his heart. "I shall participate and win."

"I didn't expect any less," Marion said with a smirk.

Both of the screens flickered off after a look of pity from Otogi.

Jonouchi ran his hand through his hair as he sighed. He left his face fall into his hands in complete exasperation. He would have to duel as Seto in a tournament. He had no idea how he was going to pull this one off.

Jonouchi's hands were shaking as he pulled the paperwork out of the briefcase beside him. He reached carefully towards the computer, turning it on and watching it work it's way to the main screen. He quickly typed in what he knew to be the password as a series of new messages shot their way to the screen. He clicked on the first one.

They were all business related. He really wasn't quite sure what to do about them. Jonouchi hoped Noa would be there soon. Truthfully he knew a little bit about businesses but not near enough. He had just managed to get through the conference call without too many mishaps. He eyed the stats, glad he had at least paid partial attention in his business statistics class. Initially he had wanted to be a business lawyer but that seemed to not be happening. Well, at least he did have some background in it. It was a good twenty minutes before the door to his office cracked open and he looked up to see Noa peeking through.

"Sorry about the conference call Jou. Had I known I would have come in and told you to rest up for the day."

Jonouchi just shook his head. "It's alright Noa." He forced a slight smile. He didn't much feel like smiling today. "It was nothing I couldn't handle."

"Was Marion a problem?" The blue-haired boy asked as he sat down in a chair next to the desk.

Jonouchi ran his hand through his hair and exhaled slowly. "You could say that. She is insistent on hosting a Duel Monsters Championship. She wants me to take part in it."

"Just wants?" Noa echoed. That didn't sound like Marion.

"Actually," Jonouchi leaned back into the large leather covered chair. "She threatened to pull her funding if I didn't participate."

Noa looked panicked. "You didn't agree, did you?"

"Yeah, why?" Jonouchi yawned into his hand.

"We're supporting Industrial Illusions! If she pulls out her company will die. If she thinks she can boss you around she's going to pull it for all it's worth! Jou, she's using you. If your secrets gets out not only will Kaiba Corp go under but you could be arrested for fraud." Noa's face was full of earnest.

Jonouchi's mouth turned dry. "What?"

"I think it's pretty obvious." Noa snorted as he started going through the paperwork. "You can go home Seto I'll handle it from here."

Jonouchi sighed, shaking his head. "I'll be back Noa and I'll do it right tomorrow." Noa ignored him as he skimmed the paperwork.

"Go back Katsuya Jonouchi, you aren't cut out for this. I should have known better. You can't duel and you can't manage and your IQ is probably about point two. I don't know what Seto saw in you but what I see is a kid who can barely wipe his own nose."

Jonouchi turned back towards Noa. No one ever insulted him and got away with it. "Noa I am not going home," he said as he stood there, his back straight. His accent had been eliminated and every word was said clearly. The glare of cold blue made Noa shiver.

Noa nodded his head, shocked at the abrupt change. "Jou, I'm willing to work with you if you can stand me."

"That is Mr. Kaiba to you," his voice was low and the glare ready.

"Yes Mr. Kaiba," Noa swallowed hard. Now he saw Jonouchi's true strength. He would do anything for those he loved. He was loyal to the bitter end. Puppy, it was a fitting name for him. Puppies were loyal to those they loved, even after death.

Noa remembered hearing once about a dog that had been so loyal to its master. It survived for ten more years, living on what it could scavenge but it never left the graveside of where its master had been buried. "That's just what I wanted to hear, now are you ready for the real work, Kaiba."

"I'm there," Jonouchi's eyes glimmered in excitement as he took the challenge in Noa's voice.

"You fidgeted too much during that last meeting." Noa said as Jonouchi rested his head on the desk.

"Can't hold still dat long Noa." He pulled his arms over his head then saw Noa peeking under his arms at him.

"It's 1700 how about we call it a day?" He half smiled and saw Jonouchi's arms drop. A grin plastered over his face.

"That's the smartest thing you've said all day."

Noa just smirked. "Who said you were done with work for the day? You're just done in the office." Noa slipped a huge stack of papers into the briefcase, followed by a few other things. He snapped it shut, forcing it at Jonouchi.

Jonouchi dropped onto the silk covered bed. Mokuba was at a friend's house and he didn't know where Noa had run off. He was alone. Jonouchi pulled his pillow over his head, not wanting to let anyone see the tears. "I can't take dis anymore."

"You can and you will. Don't disappoint me Katsuya Jonouchi." Jonouchi raised his head, blinking his eyes. He had sworn he had just heard Seto.

"I'm going crazy."

"Morning puppy," Seto leaned down showering his new boyfriend with soft kisses down the jaw line. Jonouchi rolled over and hit him with the pillow.

"Too early Seto," he grumbled as he pulled the pillow over his head. He suddenly felt a pair of strong arms encircle his small waist. Seto wasn't listening as his long fingers stroked Jonouchi's waist. He kissed the smaller man's shoulder, moving his kisses down the arm until Jonouchi gave up.

"Fine! Fine!"

"Koi, you're in a bad mood," Seto purred. It had been their first night together and Seto Kaiba was in for a rude awakening on the fact of his boyfriend in the morning.

"I hope ya got some caffeine somewhere and quick," Jonouchi snarled.

"Not a morning person I take it." Seto covered a yawn and looked at the clock. He couldn't believe it was already nine. He had slept late.

Seto sat up and padded his way towards the bathroom. He grabbed his dark blue silk robe from the bathroom door, slinging it over his shoulders and tying it tightly around the waist.

He turned to notice Jonouchi pulling on a pair of sleep pants and a t- shirt. He ran a hand through his messy golden hair. Seto let a small genuine smile touch his lips.

Jonouchi slowly rose to his feet and headed out the door. Seto followed him closely, heading down the steps and towards the kitchen. Jonouchi was already running through the cupboards looking for the coffee. He finally found it and then went to the machine.

Within several minutes Jonouchi was sitting across the table from Seto, sipping at his mug as he cradled it in his hands.

Seto rummaged through the fridge before he found a carton of orange juice. He shook it to find that it was almost empty. He poured a glass of it and grabbed a bagel. The servants were off for the day.

Seto sat down glancing up slightly as he heard padded feet enter. Mokuba rubbed the sleep from his eyes. In his arms was a stuffed animal Blue Eyes. His pajamas were yellow and covered with Petit Dragons and Petit Angels. He wore a pair of Kuriboh slippers.

"Hey Jou, morning big brother." Mokuba rubbed his eyes as Jonouchi grumbled something unclear.

"He's hasn't had his coffee yet," Seto said as he laughed. Mokuba grinned widely.

"You finally up?" Noa said coming into the kitchen. He was wearing his own robe as he set down a glass of Cappuccino.

"Can't believe ya drink dat fake stuff." Jonouchi pulled his nose up at Noa's drink after he had downed three mugs of coffee.

"How can you have anything else?" Noa laughed. "Or do you prefer decaf with cream?"

"Black, black as can be. No cream, no sugar." Jonouchi finished off his mug and stared at the bottom of it and stood up to fill his mug again.

Seto shook his head and laughed as Noa and Jonouchi argued over the aspects of different types of coffee.


"Seto! I'm home!" Jonouchi heard Mokuba yell up the steps as he heard the door slam. He realized he had fallen asleep. He threw a glance at the clock that read 2100.

Jonouchi rubbed a hand through his hair as he stood up. He padded over to his 'brothers'.

"Seto! Noa said tomorrow he'd take me and my friends to KaibaLand tomorrow!" Noa trudged in after Mokuba.

"Damn puppy eyes, can't say no to them." Noa grumbled. He dropped into a large oversized chair as Mokuba jumped up and hugged Jonouchi.

"Noa said you could come too Seto!" Jonouchi shook his head.

"I'm not so sure about this Mokuba. I have a lot of work to do."

"But Seto," he whinned. "Tomorrow is Saturday." Jonouchi met Noa's eyes that said 'don't you dare'.

"Sure Mokuba," he ruffled Mokuba's hair as the little boy threw his arms up.

"Yeah!"