Ch3: Where Kaiba has to take action.
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However, all Kaiba's plans were to come to naught as Jonouchi did not react and he also did not cash the cheque. If Jonouchi did not cash the cheque then it would be as if Kaiba had never written it in the first place. He could have left it there, left Jonouchi to his own devices, but that did not sit right with him considering what Jonouchi had done for him.
Kaiba knew that if he wanted to get his desired resolution then he would have to take more direct action – and soon. He had been discreetly keeping tabs on Jonouchi and the man was now entering dire straits. He had not been able to secure a new job as his reputation for cutting and running had finally completely caught up with him.
Kaiba could have intervened, ensuring that Jonouchi could get some kind of job to at least get by, but that was not enough, especially as he appeared to be under some kind of outside pressure, probably from the same... thugs... that had taken him a few weeks ago. In fact he wouldn't be surprised if those 'thugs' were sabotaging Jonouchi's chances for their own ends, or even just for fun.
With all this in mind, Kaiba expected that Jonouchi should have had no choice but to cash the damned cheque to help him escape his situation, but Jonouchi's legendary stubbornness was threatening everything. Based on what Jonouchi would think the state of play was, if he wanted to be in any shape to keep his 'territory' safe then surely he would have to take the money, or at least seek some kind of outside help, if not necessarily from Kaiba. But as each day passed without any hint of the cheque being cashed Kaiba became more and more concerned. Eventually, he felt he had no choice but to act.
So that day he'd had one of his most trusted and discreet men find and keep tabs on Jonouchi, then as soon as Jonouchi had gone home, Kaiba made his move.
Half an hour later, Kaiba was pulling up outside what had to be one of the most rundown apartment buildings still standing in Domino. Kaiba did not hesitate, almost completely disregarding any fears for his own safety as he stepped out of the car and strode confidently towards the building.
Fortunately nobody bothered him, perhaps deciding to wait until he came back out, or deciding not to bother as it was plain who it was he had come to see and they knew better than to cross him.
He also did not hesitate when he reached Jonouchi's door, rapping sharply on the peeling paint. It was only moments later that Jonouchi ripped the door open, first scowling then eyes widened with surprise, which quickly gave way to irritation. He Grabbed hold of Kaiba's arm and dragged him inside, slamming the door shut behind him before rounding on his visitor.
"What the fuck do you think you are doing here, Kaiba?" Jou growled. "It ain't safe here for someone like you."
Kaiba wasn't cowed and glared right back at him. "And it's safe for you?" he shot back, trying to hide his dismay at Jonouchi's living arrangements. It was actually worse than he had feared. There was barely any furniture to speak of, the wallpaper was peeling and the carpet did not bear looking at.
"You know I can handle myself," Jou said confidently.
"I beg to differ," Kaiba said, no longer hiding his disgust as he looked around. "Why are you living in a place like this?"
"Hey, it's not like I have a lot of choice," Jonouchi was becoming defensive. "Not everyone can afford to live in a decent place."
"Again, I beg to differ," Kaiba said looking directly at Jonouchi. "That cheque..."
"I told you I ain't accepting that! I don't need it!" Jonouchi was becoming angry now, but Kaiba would not back down.
He openly scoffed. "Of course you don't." He moved forwards getting into Jonouchi's space. "That is why you live in the worst part of Domino in this dilapidated hovel and you also cannot get a job..."
"What would you know about that?" Jou asked dangerously, moving even closer to Kaiba again. "You stalking me or something?"
Kaiba glared right back at him. "When my well being seems to hinge on the well being of someone else, I make it my business to make sure that someone else is stable. This," he indicated the pathetically small and run down apartment, "is not stability."
"You don't have to worry about me," Jou protested. "Go back to your office and leave me to worry about keeping the wolves from your door."
Kaiba resisted the urge to snap that he no longer needed Jou to keep said wolves from his door, knowing that at this stage it would do no good at all and may even be detrimental to his goal. He was determined to keep his cool so he stepped back a touch. "These so called wolves, they work on an honour system, correct?"
"...Yes," Jou confirmed, giving Kaiba a wary look.
"So none of them will just... take you out from behind, correct?"
"Yeah, that's about right," Jou said. "Doesn't stop them harassing me though." He scowled at that.
"Hmm," Kaiba acknowledged, "So if they were to take you out through challenge, that is deemed to be fine?"
"Yes," Jou agreed with a nod. "That how it is."
"That's a lot of responsibility," Kaiba said sagely, "but... let's say that you become... weakened through circumstance, thus making you easy to take out in a challenge? What then?"
"You really think that..." Jou's eyes widened as the possibility finally took root in his mind.
"You have to admit, this is a possibility, and if you end up being taken down..." Kaiba shrugged. He didn't really buy into this whole thing, but he would use Jonouchi's circumstances and logic against him to ensure he could take the other man out of this system before it killed him. Jonouchi had enabled him to protect himself, now he needed to protect Jonouchi.
Jonouchi sighed. "I still cannot accept this." He pulled a familiar envelope out of his pocket and made to press it into Kaiba's hand.
Kaiba growled with frustration. "Stop being so fucking stubborn, Jonouchi!" he all but shouted as he once again got close up into Jonouchi's personal space. "Get it through your thick head. I. Owe. You. You are in this situation and I have the means to get you out of it. You have protected me for years at detriment to yourself, so let me return the favour." His breath quickened, both from his frustration at Jonouchi's stubbornness and his close proximity to the other.
Jonouchi noticed and stepped back slightly, a stunned look on his face. This was unexpected. "You... you want this," he said with some disbelief.
"What?" Kaiba demanded, taking a step back in turn and crossing his arms defensively. He certainly had not meant to give himself away like that and now he felt slightly off balance.
"Come off it, Kaiba," Jonouchi spat, stepping forward again. "I thought that after what happened in your office you would have left me alone with disgust. I wondered that you felt so strongly about 'seeing me right', I was certain that you would have just taken it for granted like you usually do." He got right up close to Kaiba who had backed up against the door, then, testing his theory, he pulled Kaiba down into a rough kiss.
Kaiba didn't fight. Jonouchi was right, this was exactly what he wanted. This was what he thought he had killed any chance for when he had been so exceptionally arrogant during their time at school together. The need to deny his attraction to Jonouchi had been so strong at that time that he had been downright cruel in his treatment towards him. He had only continued to seek him out so often once they had left school to continue his denial over how he truly felt, and he had done a good job of convincing himself that Jonouchi was useless, a nothing.
But from the moment that Jonouchi had kissed him in his office all that denied attraction came rushing back to the surface. But instead of pushing Jonouchi away as Jonouchi had expected him to do, he'd only ended up wanting to get his attention in order to make things right. They had both grown up a fair amount in the time since they had left school and he had also somewhat come to terms with his preferences.
He could not help himself as he submitted to Jonouchi's embrace, and he still struggled to suppress a moan that would show exactly how much he was affected. Jonouchi held all of the cards right now and had the power to make or break him. At one time he would have fought tooth and nail to deny anything of the feelings he held inside, but now he knew that he needed this. And Jonouchi could give him what he needed.
A few moments later, Jonouchi pulled away, leaving Kaiba panting and leaning heavily against the door for support.
Dammit Kaiba, you really do want this, don't you?" He began to pace, running his fingers irritably through his hair.
"Is that so bad?" Kaiba asked, placing himself squarely in front of Jonouchi, stopping him in his tracks. "It feels like I've been waiting a long time for this chance. I never thought it could happen."
"You're kidding, right?" Jonouchi said, looking up at him with doubt on his face.
"I do not joke," Kaiba said simply.
"You're not bothered that I held back on you?" Jonouchi asked.
"I am bothered about that," Kaiba said, "But only because if you had 'put me in my place' before then we may have got together all the sooner." Kaiba looked at Jonouchi harshly, daring him to make something of it.
"Yeah, or I might have ended up with a bullet in my head for my trouble," Jonouchi scoffed. "You weren't exactly known for being rational about things back then.
"And neither were you," Kaiba pointed out, "so I suppose it was for the best that you did hold back."
Jonouchi couldn't take this all in and he shook his head. "Who are you and what the fuck have you done with Kaiba?"
Kaiba chuckled softly, "Who are you and what have you done with Jonouchi?" he asked in return. "Let's just say that we have both had a chance to mature somewhat since we were in school.
"I guess I can buy that," Jou said warily. "So... what now?"
"I take you out of this... hovel... and you come to work for me."
"That easy?" Jou asked.
"That easy," Kaiba confirmed. "You will live in the Kaiba manor, with your own room of course." He knew better than to push things any further right now. The kiss and confession had been a start, but anything else would take time. "You will also come to Kaiba Corporation where you will become a part of my security detail. They have the most up to date training regimen and superb facilities. You will be paid appropriately of course." Kaiba tried not to sound smug or arrogant as he knew Jou would not like that.
"And what if I don't want any of that?" Jou asked.
Kaiba shrugged. "Then you can take your... back pay... and get yourself a nice apartment in a better part of town and live on your own. But even if you decide you want nothing else to do with me I still want you for my security." Kaiba held his hands up as it was clear that Jou was about to protest the cheque again. "Jonouchi, you have earned that money fair and square. Please take it."
Jou gaped as Kaiba actually said please, then looked down at the crumpled cheque in his hand. He supposed that it was a good offer and he would be a fool not to take it, especially as it would get him out of the new situation that he found himself enduring with the gang harassing him. This would take him out of the game altogether, but it still wouldn't be easy by any means.
Jonouchi sighed, deflating slightly, knowing that Kaiba had won this round, but he knew this really was the best option. He could continue protecting Kaiba with better resources from the inside, and it would also give a chance to explore these other feelings at some point in the future when everything was more stable.
"Fine, I'll come," Jou said. "I'll come and live in your fancy mansion – for now – but I want to consider getting a place of my own." Normally he would not have considered moving in with Kaiba straight away, but given that Kaiba had come to his apartment he probably needed to get out of here tonight, before any more 'pressure' could be put on him.
"Good," Kaiba said with ill disguised smugness. "Pack what you need for now and we can send someone for the rest later."
"Sure thing," Jou agreed. He actually did not have much that he wanted to take, only the basics and the small important things, but that was probably for the best. No one would need to come back here, despite what Kaiba thought.
He was packed in a scant 10 minutes and returned to the impatiently waiting Kaiba with an old rucksack on his back and a holdall in one hand.
"Is that... everything?" Kaiba asked, wondering at the small amount.
"Yep, I got all I need. Let's get out of here." Jou tried to hide his worry, but didn't do a very good job.
Kaiba gave Jou a quizzical look as he heard that worried note, but did not ask, instead escorting Jonouchi out to his – miraculously still in one piece – car. Jou was surprised at the sight of this relative 'old banger' never thinking that Kaiba would lower himself to travel in such a thing, despite the fact that he had shown up 'dressed down' and not in a smart suit or his trademark trench-coat. At least he hadn't been stupid enough to leave the car unattended as an also dressed down Isono was sitting in the driver's seat. He also noted another out of place car parked down the street, correctly surmising that there was a security detail on standby.
Jou scoffed internally. At least Kaiba seemed to have learned from his recent experience.
As the pair approached, Isono unlocked the doors, Kaiba and Jonouchi got in and Isono wasted no time in driving away.
Jonouchi didn't even look back. Truth be told he was glad to be out of there no matter who had helped him out and he hoped that he would never have to go back.
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A/N - This chapter was more of a mess than I thought it would be when I came to edit it. I'm still not 100% happy with it, but it's a lot tidier than it was and I'm sick of looking at it now. Mental note: try not to over-explain - leave some things up to individual interpretation... :P
