Ch 2: Where Kaiba gets some answers, even if they weren't quite what he was expecting.

(–)

A few days later, Seto Kaiba sat at his desk, frustration causing a furrow to appear at his brow. He had been considering the question of how long Jonouchi had been, for want of a better word, protecting him, and he had not liked the answers he'd come up with.

He had done some research and had also thought long and hard about it and he had eventually come to the conclusion that it must have started some time around Battle City. It was around then that Kaiba remembered Jonouchi turning up battered and beaten more than he usually was, yet he had brushed all concern from his friends off, stating that he had been protecting something important.

After they had all graduated from school, most of the 'nerd herd' had gone on to further education or apprenticeships, but that had not been an option for Jonouchi who had gone from one dead end job to another, not being able to hold one down for longer than a few months at most. Discreet enquiries had revealed Jonouchi's work history, making it evident that he was 'not reliable' and prone to call out more often than was acceptable, on some occasions even walking out in the middle of his shift. The most damning part was that many of these incidents, especially the ones that led to Jonouchi being fired, had taken place during times of disruption at Kaiba Corporation. It wasn't conclusive of course, but given the context of recent events, he couldn't interpret it any other way.

The fact that Jonouchi had clearly been doing this for so long and that he had sacrificed so much did not sit well with Kaiba at all, along with the fact that he himself had been so clueless about the security issues within his own company. That Jonouchi had not asked for anything in return for keeping him safe and had felt the need to keep it a secret left him completely perplexed, although he did know that if Jonouchi had told him straight out he would have called him a liar. Maybe he would have looked into things despite that, maybe not, but the point was moot now. Kaiba hated being in debt to anyone and he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he owed Jonouchi a lot, especially as he had added to Jonouchi's burden by seeking him out to stroke his own ego.

But that left the biggest question of all. Why? Why had Jonouchi protected him, someone that had made no secret of the fact that he considered Jonouchi beneath him? And why had Jonouchi always held back on him when they had come to blows? That last actually rankled more than the rest of it.

The worst of it was that he had not seen hide nor hair of Jonouchi since the incident at the warehouse. He had also, as far as Kaiba could tell, not found employment since he had been fired from his previous job for coming to his rescue. He was certain that Jonouchi's situation would not be good, but he could do something to ease that and that was how he would begin to repay his debt.

He pulled out his cheque book, filling it out with well practiced ease, writing a figure that would, as far as he could work out, reflect what Jonouchi had done for him as if he had been employed as one of Kaiba's personal security over the length of time since Battle City. He also added a little extra as a kind of bonus or 'danger money'. Never let anyone say that Seto Kaiba did not pay his debts!

He grinned to himself as he imagined Jonouchi's reaction upon receiving such a cheque in the mail. He knew that the other was stubbornly proud and would not take well to having such a large amount of money dropped in his lap. That would likely bring him directly to this office which would give Kaiba the chance to talk to him and to find out *why*.

It would be an interesting encounter to say the least!

(–)

It would be almost a week before Jonouchi arrived in his office. Kaiba had almost given up on this tactic and was about to try another, more direct approach, but the vagaries of the postal system did have to be taken into account so he had held off. Kaiba had also given instruction that Jonouchi was to be allowed to come to his office no matter how he looked, what state he was in, how he was dressed or what kind of mood he was in and woe betide anyone who disobeyed that order!

The door slammed open.

"Kaiba," Jonouchi growled as he stormed into the plushly appointed office. "I wanna talk to ya!"

"What is it that you require, Jonouchi?" Kaiba asked calmly, knowing that his calm demeanor and use of the other's name would put Jonouchi off his stride, especially as he had most likely come here expecting insults and a fight.

Jonouchi paused and eyed Kaiba warily, reining in his temper before approaching his desk. "I wanna know what the fuck this is supposed to be?" he said as he removed a piece of paper from his pocket and placed it on the desk.

Kaiba glanced at it, but did not touch it. "I think it's fairly obvious that it's a cheque, Jonouchi," he said patiently.

"I know what it is," Jonouchi said with not a small amount of exasperation. "I wanna know why."

"You actually need me to spell it out for you?" Kaiba asked raising his eyebrows. Jonouchi did not reply so he continued. "I find myself in your debt..." he began, only for Jou to cut him off.

"So you thought you would throw money at me to make yourself feel better?" Jou blustered. "I ain't doing this to get paid off."

"That much is patently obvious," Kaiba stated, "and I am not, as you so crudely put it, throwing money at the situation." He eyed Jonouchi, making sure that he was listening as he did not like repeating himself. "You told me to work out how long you had been... protecting me for. I came to the conclusion that you started around the time of Battle City. Am I wrong?" he asked, looking at Jou expectantly.

"Damn straight!" Jou said, thrusting his chin out. "When you held that damned tournament you pretty much painted yourself with a huge target that said 'Look! Rich kid! Come get me!'"

"Quite," Seto interjected dryly. He would never admit it, even to Jonouchi, but that was not one of his finest moments as obsessed as he was. But he was hardly a 'kid' any more, and with the security shake up he had done he was certainly not as vulnerable now. However, he owed Jonouchi and still wanted him on side.

"So... what does that have to do with this?" Jou demanded, indicating the cheque lying innocently on Kaiba's desk.

"Pretty much everything," Kaiba informed him coolly. "As I see it, you should be counted as one of my security team as you have done everything they should have and more. That cheque represents what you should have been paid up to now if you had been a Kaiba Corporation Employee. That's all there is to it."

"But..." Jou made to protest, but Kaiba would not let him.

"Jonouchi, you have done more than the entirety of my security team when it comes to protecting me and mine and I cannot let that pass, it would... not be right." Seto watched Jou as he was clearly beginning to waver.

"I still don't think I can accept this," Jou said, his resolution firming once again.

"In that case, tell me why," Seto asked suddenly.

"Because I don't feel right taking your money for something I would have done anyway."

"No," Seto shook his head as he got up from his desk and walked around it towards Jonouchi, picking up the cheque as he went. "Tell me why you felt the need to do this. To protect me, the person that you always hated."

Jou blanched. This was not what he had expected when he had come here He looked away. "You could not possibly understand."

"Try me," Kaiba said as he deliberately put the cheque back in Jonouchi's pocket.

"I don't have to tell you a damned thing," Jonouchi exclaimed as he glared up again, pushing Kaiba away. Kaiba was getting far too close for Jou's liking and, to his dismay, Kaiba seemed to have lost all sense of self preservation. He took a step back and cursed himself for doing so.

Kaiba stepped forward, grabbed hold of Jonouchi's collar and pierced him with a very Kaiba-like glare. "Just tell me why, Jonouchi," he spat, "and don't give me any bullshit about 'friendship' or that you regard me as part of your pack." Kaiba couldn't resist adding the dog thing and he had to suppress a smirk as Jonouchi began reacting to his buttons being well and truly pushed. "No-one does something like this, sacrifices so much, without having some kind of reason. Now spill."

Jonouchi grabbed Kaiba's fist and forcibly removed it from his collar. "You don't get to demand anything of me," he growled, struggling to keep some semblance of calm. "No-one else is around and I don't have to spare your precious reputation, so don't push me any further." That threat hung in the air, electrifying the atmosphere between them.

Kaiba felt a frisson go up his spine. For all that he now knew that Jonouchi could snap him like a twig should he choose to do so, he was also certain that he would not, not when he had gone to such lengths to keep him safe. He could feel a sense of anticipation, that he was about to uncover the truth whether he was ready or not. It required just a little push more.

"Tell. Me..."

Jonouchi gave a strangled sound born of frustration. He was sure that Kaiba was deliberately pushing to see how far he could go without getting himself a beating, testing to see if Jonouchi was as true as he claimed. Jou definitely did not want to hit him, far from it, but...

Then it came to him. It would actually be the perfect way to get Kaiba to leave him alone. Before he could give it a second, more rational thought, he grabbed Kaiba, reversed their position and pushed the taller man up against the wall, pinning him firmly.

"You want to know why, huh?" he ground out, eyes wild and face flushed.

Kaiba did not answer, transfixed as he was by Jonouchi. That frisson was back and he knew he was about to get the answer.

"I'll show you why," Jou said, just before he pulled Kaiba down into a bruising kiss.

The kiss was short and brutal and it threatened to sweep him away, so long had Jonouchi denied himself, but moments later he calmed and pulled abruptly away, unable to look Kaiba in the eye.

"So now you know," he said, shame warring with annoyance at having given in. "Just... leave me alone, Kaiba." He pulled the cheque back out of his pocket, dropping it as he bolted. He was out of the room before the paper hit the floor.

Kaiba sank to the floor in utter shock, unable to make a move or a sound to attempt to stop Jonouchi from leaving. He wasn't quite sure what to make of this latest development as he certainly had not expected Jonouchi to kiss him! But now he knew the main reason why Jonouchi had felt the need to protect him – and his ego!

He would have to think for a while before he decided what he should do next as this was something that should not be rushed...

He started as he realised that he was actually considering the possibility of some kind of relationship with Jonouchi. He knew he had been attracted to Jonouchi on some level when they were in school together, but he had long since buried those feelings beneath contempt and insults. That bruising kiss from Jonouchi had awoken that something long buried and now he felt a yearning...

He shook his head and pulled himself together, finally getting up from where he had sprawled on the floor. It would not look good if someone were to walk in now and the image of Kaiba had to be presented at all times. There was a crinkle as he stepped forward and he looked down to see that he had stepped on the cheque. Well, there was the logical next step in this game of cat and mouse – to make Jonouchi accept the money whether he wanted to or not. If Jonouchi felt somehow obligated to protect him then surely he could feel equally obligated to see him alright and make sure he was paid appropriately for the services he had provided.

That, and it was certain to press his buttons.

He picked up the cheque, smoothed it out on his desk, placed it once again in an envelope addressed to Jonouchi and put it in his outgoing mail pile. It would take a few days to pass back through the mail system and make it to Jonouchi which would give him time to plan out his next move.

He was sure that Jonouchi would not disappoint him.