Lost in Translation
Disclaimer: Woe is me to not own the rights to fictional characters. What is the world coming to?
A/N: Not much to really say at this point. I could taunt…….. nope. Maybe reveal story secrets……nah. Or just rabble on and on for no reason whatsoever and waste everyone's time…….. sounds good. Now there really is nothing else to say. Read on.
Italics – Japanese
Regular - English
Chapter Four
Sunday 10:15am
Police Constable Paul Jones was a nice middle-aged Latino gentleman, sporting a handlebar mustache, salt and pepper hair and the trusted belly of a cop due to splurges on coffee and donuts. From appearances alone Anzu didn't think he would hurt a fly, but somehow Mr. Jones had climbed to one of the highest ranking positions in the station. Either they were extremely luck to be dealing with him or Constable Jones would be their worst nightmare. Second of course to Seto's kidnapping.
Anzu, Delaney and Taylor had been given three of the most uncomfortable wooden chairs to sit on, in front of Constable Jones desk, while he made phone call after phone call. Roland, bodyguard that he was, had refused a seat and stood protectively behind the friends, unable to break an elongated habit, even in a police station of all places.
Jones leaned back in his squeaking office chair, finally letting the phone rest in its cradle for the first time since they had been ushered to him. He let out a hearty sigh and spent a few moments observing each person seated before him. When the silence was stretched beyond uncomfortable Jones decided to speak.
"There is little I am able to tell you," he chose to be blunt, "And yes all the information you provided us with will be used in Mr. Kaiba's best interest. But if you wish to learn more about the present case it would be best to keep a close eye on the news."
After waiting for as long as they had Anzu wasn't about to leave with no information pertaining to Seto. "If there are facts already being shown to the public then there shouldn't be a problem with informing us here and now. I don't thing that is too much to ask." Hell if Constable Jones refused she would start demanding.
"Based on what you already know we could be of assistance," Taylor suggested, giving Anzu's arm a comforting squeeze.
Jones let out a second sigh of fatigue that morning. "There is little else we have been able to find out, most of which we aren't able to disclose." His attention strayed to something behind the friends, causing him to sit straighter in his chair. "Now I will have to ask you to leave. There is much work yet to be done."
"Bullshit." All heads turned to the ever-bold punkster glaring from her seat. "Anzu is one of the only people delegated as family to Kaiba and currently the only one in this country. So unless you'd like some unfortunate information about Japan's famous teenage billionaire to make it's way across the ocean, I suggest you start talking."
For all it was worth Anzu bit her tongue to prevent herself from reprimanding Delaney and apologizing for the uncalled for outburst. Only Delaney would attempt threatening an officer of the law in a bloody police station. It was the only strategy they hadn't tried yet, short of bribery. Unfortunately Constable Jones didn't appear very impressed.
"There is still much to be done," he said, reaching for the phone, "And I am no longer able to appease your worries. I will kindly ask you to leave, but another outburst like that Miss. Richards and you will be removed from here by force."
And just like that the friends were dismissed as Jones went back to his job at hand. When no one made any move to leave their seats the constable frowned in Anzu's direction and made a shooing motion with his hand.
It was depressing having to walk away from their only source of information and for a few moments Anzu had half a mind to get on her knees and beg. Of course Taylor's sympathetic smile didn't help to dispel the tension running through her as they neared the doors. If not for the recollection of winter on the other side she would have shrugged off the arm he had thrown across her shoulders. Only one person could relieve her raging emotions and he was….. he wasn't currently with her.
Just shy of the doors Roland stepped in front of Anzu. "I think it would be wisest if you were to remain here for the time being Mazaki-san. Kaiba-san would prefer it."
"Seto isn't here to be dishing out any orders," the dancer responded, pulling on her mittens, "And there is no way I'll remain sane if I have to patiently sit still. I need to do something with my time." Such as hunting down her boyfriends kidnappers, alone if she had to. Nothing and no one had better get in her way.
"Well I'm up for it," Delaney said, no questions asked. She gave Anzu a smile. "After all what is reading week if not a time to slack off while hunting down the destroyers of justice; especially when the reward comes in one tasty piece of ass."
The number of female friends Anzu had was heavily out weighed by her male friends. And although she would never think of taking any of them for granite it was always nice to have a friend that could relate to her on such a similar level when she needed it. Or in some circumstances agree with her just because.
Taylor tightened his grip on the dancers shoulders. "I don't know you guys, maybe Roland is right. It would be safer if we just stayed here for a while."
"Oh don't tell me you're afraid of all the big bad guys, Tay," Delaney snorted, "Would you like me to hold your hand while we cross the street? That way when you get hit by a car I'll be right there to carry you into the after life."
"I'm talking on behalf of Anzu," he explained, not at all pleased with the punkster's ill sense of humor.
"Right. 'Cause you wouldn't care one iota if something were to happen to me."
"Get real, Delaney, you've never had any problems taking care of yourself."
"Neither had Anzu. Have you forgotten already that she knows self-defense? Used it on you a couple times too if I remember correctly."
"Enough!" the dancer interrupted, removing Taylor's arm from her shoulders. She was in no mood to deal with her bickering friends. "You two can hash it out amongst yourselves, I'm going to look for Seto. And no Roland," Anzu held up a hand, cutting the bodyguard off before he could object, "I'm not going to be swayed to remain here. I would however appreciate it if you were to stay here and call me with any information you happen to get."
There was no doubt in her mind that if anyone were to infiltrate the police station it would be Roland. Not only was he manipulative when he needed to be, but an ex-cop as well. Only hoping his English had improved since she had last seen him, then they still had a chance.
Clearly displeased with her request, Roland studied the dancers face quietly behind his dark shades that were known to freaking the random person out. His shoulders sagged the slightest bit and Anzu knew she had won.
"If that is what you wish Mazaki-san then I will stay, but only if you promise to never go anywhere alone," he quickly glanced over at her two friends, little pleased with the selection, "I will not have the same thing happening to you that happened to Kaiba-san."
Anzu smiled in thanks and gave the bodyguard a hug. "Thank you Roland, we'll keep in touch. Promise."
"And," he continued, "If you suspect anyone or anything I want you to call me instead of jumping headlong into action. No hero attempts, understood?"
"Perfectly."
It would be difficult following Roland's terms of the agreement but considering everything he was doing for her and her friends, Anzu would end up dreaming about her guilt if she went against Roland and produced a. . . . negative reaction. Especially when he was struggling to remain behind and let her attack the dangerous city of Toronto knowing very well what repercussions that could cause. Ones Anzu didn't dare start to dwell on.
Sunday 11:05am
All the dry heaving was leaving an acidy taste on Seto's tongue that only caused his stomach to churn and start the aggravating process all over again. The billionaire was strapped to an office chair robbed of its wheels, with his arms held down by velcro bands wrapped tightly around the armrests and his forearms. It wouldn't take much to free himself – nothing a quick use of flexibility and teeth could fix – but he hadn't been left alone since he was first brought to the new location and a coarse blindfold forced over his eyes.
Slowly the chair stopped spinning and Seto was able to focus on calming his stomach hopefully before they sent him spinning again. His cheek throbbed from where one of the guards had taken it upon himself to punch the billionaire after a snide comment. Moving his jaw pulled at the flesh and had him convinced it was bruised to the bone, if not broken.
What had they expected, kidnapping him for reasons still left unknown, besides the current game of beat-the-billionaire/twenty questions. 'How far was he intending to go before he was a splitting image of his stepfather?' What the hell kind of question was that? Seto had spat in what he assumed was the guards direction and cursed his chance at offspring.
Of course that had been one of the less knife twisting questions, pertaining to his personal life, in the long list given. And he certainly didn't appreciate when they turned to the people in his life. The creepy, intimidating captors where coming off more and more to sound like stalkers. How else could they have known he never missed any of Mokuba's school basketball games, or how he had secretly constructed a dance studio in his mansion for when Anzu returned in the summer? It was heart stopping to think someone had done such extensive research into his life that they were able to pull out everything they had. Seto would bet one Blue Eyes it was for revenge, two it was for his money, and all three just for the thrill of controlling the Kaiba Seto.
Seto dropped his head against the back of the chair, relieved at least for the moment that his stomach had decided to retain some of its acid. Maybe if he was lucky enough the mindless brain probing would be put on hold as well. After all there were only so many indirect questions about ones personal life to ask. The billionaire was half expecting to hear ones relating to his sex life in the up coming minutes.
All too soon the velcro straps were removed and Seto was hauled to his feet, equilibrium the least of his captors worries. Unable to see where he was being led he had to begrudgingly accept the rough hands pushing him towards their destination. An especially hard shove sent Seto to the floor, landing hard on his shoulder. The coarse blindfold was ripped from his eyes, taking many a few strands of hair with it. And then he was locked back in room number one…..with Taryn.
The dancer had sprawled herself across the couch, looking no worse for wear then when they had been separated. Yet contrary to the relaxed pose she was striking Taryn's face was clouded with a mix of concern and anger.
"Who did that to you?" she asked, her tone a deadly calm.
Seto picked himself up from the floor scowling in any direction except at her. "Who the hell do you think? I don't have a demented state of mind that causes me to inflect bodily harm upon myself."
He barely had time to move aside before Taryn rushed past him and began pounding on the steel door. She stopped when it was obviously inflicting more harm upon herself and settled for yelling instead. "Dammit! Who the hell told you to hurt him?! Huh! What smart-ass decided it was time?! I will beat you unconscious when I get out of here, just you wait!"
The young CEO pressed his fingers against his temples, hoping, with no chance of success, that his ever-present migraine would subside. What could yelling accomplish besides Seto's craving for a bottle of pain medication to stuff down Taryn's throat. Having no other alternatives at his disposal he chose to do the ultimate and ignore her. Eventually she would either tire of yelling or loose her voice as a consequence.
Seto lowered himself into his designated chair and reached for the unopened bottle of water that had had the grace to warm to room temperature in his absence, making his only form of icepack absolutely useless. Splendid. Soon he would be sporting a rainbow colored bruise across his cheek like the latest fashion trend.
"Assholes," Taryn mumbled, turning away from the door. Her anger dissolved almost upon sight of Seto, to be replaced with sympathy.
Dead on for what the billionaire didn't want. "What are you staring at?" he growled.
She pressed her hand against her own cheek, a direct mirror of his bruise. "Does it hurt? Maybe we can get some ice for it."
"Where are all your ridiculously ignorant questions coming from?"
"Excuse…..me…?" the blonde looked at him in confusion.
Seto's reigned in temper was winding tighter with each pathetic sentence out of her, it was only a matter of time before he wouldn't be able to keep it there. "Have you taken into consideration exactly where we are? Kidnappers don't injure their captives only to treat them with first aid. Unless of course it is to keep them from dying before they are done with their sick twisted pleasure. And they most certainly don't strive to make their captives comfortable," he sent her a smirk of loathing, suddenly enjoying where the conversation was heading, "In fact, you're quite lucky they haven't hauled you away for their own demented games. Who knows, that might be what they're planning next."
If anything a random comment pertaining to sexual assault would have the ability to make Taryn sulk in silence. Of course he didn't wish for her or anyone to experience such a travesty but following the past actions of their captors, it might even happen. That only made….. their escape….. all that more impending. Painfully he had used the word 'their', as in together. Kaiba Seto may have been a power hungry tyrant but he wasn't heartless, nor was he about to perform a Prince Charming rescue. It just wasn't in his nature.
Taryn, weakening under the hard-hitting statement, slowly sat down in the matching chair. "You're worried about me too?" she finally replied, "I really appreciate that. Maybe as a thank you I can help alleviate some of that pain."
A proposition. He had just thrown in her face that there was a possibility she could be raped and she was offering him sex as a thank you? It just proved that Taryn SinClair was in fact mental, and Seto was the lucky recipient to be locked up with her. If their captor's goal was to drive him insane they were well on their way to accomplishing that feat.
"Is that your subtle way of offering to get in my pants?" Seto smirked.
"I wouldn't put it quite like that," Taryn gave him a shy smile, "But it would be for your benefit and help take your mind off what just happened to you, Kaiba." She reached out to touch his cheek, failing to realize that that action alone would cause him pain.
Seto caught her hand in midair. "I do believe you have forgotten about Anzu."
"….Anzu?"
"My girlfriend," he practically snarled.
The blonde pulled her hand back with a smile. "Oh, you don't have to worry, I won't tell her. This will be out little secret." Taryn actually looked pleased with herself. She rose gracefully from her chair already planning to kick things off, completely unaware her hopes were about to be dashed.
"You might as well retake your seat," the young CEO told her, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed. "Sex is an activity that will never occur between us. Pain however just might. I don't sleep with desperate women, especially when I'm already in a relationship with a woman who surpasses you in ever aspect." Maybe, just maybe Taryn would finally understand that he had no attraction to her whatsoever and leave him the hell alone. Seto had poetically called her a slut and he knew not a woman who would tolerate the slander. As long as it made her hate him it was all that mattered.
Taryn did as she was told, pouting in his direction. "But I'm only trying to be nice." Right. Nice was the first word to come to mind when describing the blonde.
Seto's migraine flared up, pounded incessantly in his head, which no amount of finger probing could prevent. Normally when he ended up in such a state, in most cases self-inflicted due to workaholic tendencies, Anzu would help relieve the pain. Her hands were miracle workers all on their own, she could massage a knot out of a tree if she persisted long enough. Anzu would dim the lights or turn them off all together, roll up her sleeves and proceed to mold Seto to her will. If he fell asleep she left him to get his much needed rest and if not he strove to return the favor.
A bang broke into Seto's thoughts, spiking the headache again. Glancing across the table he saw Taryn bending over to pick up the water bottle she no doubted dropped.
She gave him an innocent little smile. "Woops."
Damn how he missed Anzu.
Sunday 9:15pm
The glare from the laptop screen threw artificial light across Mokuba's tired face, highlighting the shadows that had begun to appear under his eyes from lack of sleep. Not willing to succumb to the sandman just yet he continued typing away in hopes of learning more about his brothers kidnapping. During their long plane ride across the ocean Mokuba had managed to break into the Toronto Police Department's mainframe database, but he just didn't have Seto's computer savvy skills and hadn't been able to get past the first few walls. All it proved was what Mokuba didn't want to admit, Seto had yet to be found.
The young Kaiba rubbed a hand across his weary eyes and stretched his arms over his head, fighting to remain awake. Like Seto always told him, 'sleep was for the weak.'
A comfortable Jou did a stretch of his own in his seat beside Mokuba, brown eyes fluttering open. Ever since take off the blonde had been lulled to sleep in the plane, turbulence having no effect on his slumber. It certainly helped that Kaiba Corp's private jet had the most comfortable seats known to man.
Jou yawned and gave Mokuba a smile. "Anything new yet?"
Not really. The police were digging up a number of leads as to why his nii-sama would be taken hostage but every clue turned up dry. It just proved Mokuba's thoughts on the matter. Life as a Kaiba sucked.
Mokuba reluctantly shook his head and focused back on the laptop.
"Hey, don't worry about it," Jou made an attempt at reassuring him, quickly noticing the heavy cloud descending over the kid's head. "Why don't you let me take a crack at it? After all I'm the one your brother's going to kill when he finds out I authorized you skipping school and flying half way around the world. How much you wanna bet I'll be swimming home?"
His obvious sense of humor was successful in causing Mokuba to crack his first real smile since they had boarded the plane. "Thanks Jou," he handed over the laptop, "But Seto shouldn't be too mad at you. I chose to come all on my own. He should be grateful you decided to accompany me." And if not all Mokuba needed to do was act vulnerable and shed a few tears; worked like a charm. Not to mention he would have Anzu's assistance in the matter, and combined the two of them were a force to be reckoned with.
"Mokuba-san?" the first officer interrupted, sneaking up on the two, "I thought it best to inform you that we will be arriving in Toronto in little more then half an hour."
"Bought time," Jou mumbled, already frowning at the screen.
"Thank you," Mokuba dismissed the pilot.
Deciding to catch a quick nap he curled up in his seat, using the plush armrest for a pillow. Half an hour huh? Then it was his turn to step up and rescue his nii-sama. Something that deep down Mokuba was dreading.
to be continued…………….
