Chapter 11

The place looked like a movie about boot camp. Guys ranging in age from elementary kids to almost college students marched around in groups of twelve. They were in perfect step, in perfect uniforms, and in perfect silence apart from the one guy in each group giving orders.

"So, you just hate your kid brother?"

"Certainly not! He's my only family. Frankly, I spoil him rotten."

"Then why'd you lock him in this prison?"

"Because they wanted to try a 12-year-old as an adult for multiple counts of Attempted First Degree Murder. It was either here or a jail in Costa Rica."

"Do I wanna know any more than that?"

"No," Seto chuckled. "But it was amazingly clever. He's a brilliant chemist. Ah. And there he is now." He glanced at his watch. "To the second, as always."

A boy as tall as Seto's shoulder was walking toward them carrying a backpack. His uniform was immaculate, his hair looked varnished into place, and the several rows of awards across his chest made Joey feel inferior.

When he reached them, he bowed low. "Thank you for coming, Nii-sama. I am ready to leave now."

"Is there anyone I -"

"Kaiba-senpai!" someone yelled.

Joey looked toward the voice. A small group of boys was moving toward them at a speed that told Joey that at any other school, they'd be running.

"Kaiba-senpai - oh, excuse me, sir."

"Pardon us, sir, but we need to speak to Kaiba-kun."

Kaiba's brother stayed bowed. "I apologize for my classmates, Nii-sama. May I speak with them?"

"We're not in a rush." Joey shrugged. "Take your time."

The boy seemed not to hear him. Seto sighed deeply. "Yes, Mokuba. Take as long as you need to resolve the matter."

"Thank you, Nii-sama." He stood upright and led his classmates aside.

Joey couldn't hear everything, but he'd heard similar conversations before. "Sounds like someone needs an ass whoopin'."

"Fighting on school property will get them all suspended."

But when Mokuba came back, his face was expressionless; his friends seemed worried and angry.

He bowed again. "Please forgive my delay, Nii-sama."

"Has the matter been resolved?"

"I do not consider the matter worth wasting your time."

"Very well."

They left the main campus. The layout of the school required them to leave the car and driver at the main entrance.

Waiting there was a group of older boys - high school seniors probably.

"Hey! Kaiba!"

Kaiba turned and looked at them coolly. "I will assume you mean me, since you are clearly not associated with my brother."

"You the punk that threatened my kid brother?"

Kaiba looked at Mokuba.

"Excuse me, sir. If Shinomi Taro-senpai is your brother, then I am the one who told him that his life was in danger if he persisted with his current course of action."

"Why would you say that?" Kaiba asked before Shinomi could respond.

"Shinomi-senpai has made a number of unwanted advances on our fellow students. He has been warned by official channels, however, he recently made certain intentions clear and I felt it prudent to alert him to the severity of the risk."

"So he stole your girlfriend?" Shinomi smirked.

Mokuba continued to address his brother. "Shinomi-senpai targeted one of the students I'm tutoring."

"Dude, if your bro got a problem with 'no-means-no' maybe you should have a talk with him," Joey commented.

"Stay out of this," one of Shinomi's friends sneered, "round-eye." The gang laughed.

'Oh, it is on,' Joey thought, 'like Donkey-fucking-Kong.'

"You've said your piece," Kaiba dismissed. "Was there more to this?"

"Nobody threatens my family. I'm just here to make sure you remember that." He took a swing at Kaiba.

He connected with Mokuba, who stepped between them, caught Shinomi's hand, and twisted with a sickening crack. Shinomi dropped to the ground, screaming.

A couple of the guys pulled out pocket knives, but 'Round Eye' reached into his jacket. Joey didn't let him get his hand out before elbowing him in the jaw and kneeing him in the stomach.

It was a short fray. In the end, Joey took down three of them. Mokuba took out five.

"I regret that this matter infringed on your time, Nii-sama." Mokuba was bowing again.

"Stop that! Are you injured?"

"No, Nii-sama. Thank you for asking."

Security arrived in time to take everyone involved to the Headmaster's office and after the altercation was explained, Kaiba demanded an explanation for why Mokuba needed to be a protector for his classmates.

It was several hours before they made it home.

xXxXxXx

"Mokuba, this is Jounouchi."

"I figured, big bro!" Mokuba laughed. Dressed in jeans and a tee shirt, he was looking and sounding more like a normal 13 year old. "Hell of a right cross you got, man. I gotta admit, when I first saw you, I thought my brother finally gave in to a booty call, but you got looks and skills!"

Seto tsked. "I would never select a partner for sex alone."

Katsuya was laughing. "Yeah? So why did you go out with me?"

"You owed me. I collect all debts."

"Speaking of, that idiot Shinomi wrecked my time table. I owe him big time. I may need you to do a couple trades for me."

"Trades? For what?" Mokuba had a few holdings, but had never seemed interested in finance.

"Shinomi is the majority shareholder of Sakura Banks. Mostly real estate. My classmate's supposed to inherit - he brags about it all the time - but he should be in an unmarked ditch somewhere. I wanna buy out Sakura and a smaller firm, Iko, and let Iko take over management. I wanted to do it next year, but -"

"Why?" Seto suspected he knew the answer, but asked for confirmation. "Why wait?"

"Iko is my friend's firm. They're smart, but, you know, real estate's hard. My friend graduates next year, most of the charges were dropped anyway, and his probation is over, but he doesn't have all of his certifications yet. Once he's got them, he's gonna help his dad. I figure Sakura will give them enough size to survive the market and it'll fuck Shinomi at the same time. Shinomi hit you. He goes away ASAP."

Joey shrugged. "Sounds right to me."

"I am not helpless. I hardly need two protectors. And what would I do if either of you got hurt?"