Thanks to HerzyDIshtar for the amazing cover :D

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CHAPTER 1

During the first month of his training, Katsuya had to master different martial arts in record time. Not that he could not do it, but his mentor was a frigging monster in forming him. Isono fought like a merciless, berserk warrior, only pausing every now and then to make sure his apprentice survived his harsh treatment. Jonouchi was expected to follow his rhythm, anyway, if he wanted to meet the expectations that were placed upon him. That did not mean the blonde did not suffer and get bruised everywhere. Nothing broken, though, it would have been too long to heal. But it still hurt.

Then, the month ended and his first paycheck arrived, and well... Katsuya finally found some worth in his painful days of training. Isono even praised him a little, saying that he was a natural at hand-to-hand combat, and a tough nut. This, coupled with the hugest amount of money he had ever earned in his life, was enough boost for the blonde to surpass himself and expand his fighting skills and stamina, much to the pride of the other man.

Jonouchi had not caught a single glimpse of Kaiba, something he was most grateful for. He saw no one else than Isono, and he was perfectly fine with it. He found that he liked the company of the elder man, once he had understood the bodyguard hid a soft and caring character behind his dark glasses. He fought like a beast, but after each session, he would tend to the blonde's wounds like a fussy mother hen. He always had encouraging gestures and words whenever his apprentice felt down. Katsuya now saw why his mentor was so respected by both Kaibas. He was an assistant, a bodyguard, a cook, a housekeeper, a father-like figure, the voice of reason, all in one. And he was brilliant in his roles.

During the second month of Katsuya's training, hell really began. It consisted of what his mentor called "schooling himself". In other words, he had to learn how to speak and act posh, develop an impenetrable poker face, and never, ever blow a fuse in front of anyone considered important. That included Seto Kaiba, of course. For the occasion, Isono had secretely coded an AI with the appearance of the CEO, and gave him a plethora of barbs and casual insults that had been uploaded in his database according to the actual man's behavior. And when it came to the bodyguard in training, the not-real-but-still-jackass-Kaiba was especially vicious.

"Jonouchi Katsuya," Isono first introduced them, "this is IKaiba, created especially for your training."

"Huh?"

At first, Jonouchi had not understood. A virtual Kaiba? Was the real one not enough misery already? The hologram grunted and crossed his arms over his chest, eyeing the blonde up and down condescendingly.

"Really, if not for Isono, I wouldn't waste my time. Even as an AI, I can see that no one with brains would spend more than a few seconds in your company, mutt. A street dog will never turn into a decent human being, even with a uniform."

Katsuya saw red. He bolted and tried to wring the jerk's neck, only for him to crackle and disappear in a mocking laugh.

"Seriously, how stupid can you be," the unreal-but-still-copy-of-Kaiba threw at the blonde, "I'm an hologram. You cannot touch me, and that's really a blessing, in a way. I wouldn't dare think be touched by your dirty paws, mutt, I might fear your single digit IQ would affect mine."

"Shut up, moneybags," Jonouchi growled, "yer one ta talk when all ye can do is speak. Yer lucky yer pretty face can't be rearranged, or ye would be a fucking Picasso."

"Oh? I'm impressed you have an ounce of culture in you. But I guess even an idiot has access to the internet in the slums. Did the nerd gang borrow you their connection, for you to get at least some famous names into your thick skull?"

And that was the beginning of a nightmarish couple of months. Katsuya had never been one to let insults fly over his head and not react when so blatantly treated like crap, but for the sake of his nice income, he had to. For long hours on end, he had to repeat "Yes, sir," in an obedient and professional tone, to a virtual version of the CEO, who did not refrain himself from shoving his face lower than dirt. These sessions were done alone, just the two of them, Isono sending them a last sorry gaze before he closed and locked the door behind himself, only to return when they were finished. He took in Jonouchi's miserable expressions without a word, though he burnt to console his young trainee. The blonde had to make himself immune to those things, even more so when they were the most difficult aspect of the job for him. If the former yankee learned to take Seto Kaiba's scathing comments without so much as a twitch of his mouth, he would be invincible. Unfortunately, he had to learn it the hard way, and on his own.

Jonouchi put up with the regular humiliation with enraged stubbornness. He knew Isono made this for him to be irreproachable when he was in front of the actual, in-flesh CEO, but damn, was that hard to attain. After years of wanting to punch the jerk's teeth in, now he had to be all nice and become his perfect lapdog. Ugh. Speak about irony. The endless possibilities this opened to mock him were nauseating, like the scathing comments threw out at him. The blonde prayed every deities he knew for his real boss to have mellowed somewhat, but he doubted moneybags would do anything else than taunt him, until he snapped and got fired for beating up his high-strung ass. Katsuya swore to himself he would never give him the pleasure of seeing him kicked out for this, and tried his hardest to listen to Isono's instructions and reining his temper.

Little by little, the former yankee started sharpening his gaze and straightening his posture. He gained some more muscle thanks to his still ongoing physical training, and he gained more seriousness – one might say adulthood. He improved his way of speaking, dropping his usual accent in favour of a more polished one. He even managed to copy his virtual boss's signature brow-quirking when insulted. After painful weeks of banters, debates, and a load of insults, Katsuya succeeded in addressing IKaiba in a more or less refined, not too servile manner, which earned him his first surprised comment.

"Well," the AI muttered one day, "it seems you can finally speak like an average human. Never guessed you had it in you, mutt."

This simple, not so nice comment, was in the hologram's mouth a stunning sort of compliment. Instead of jumping up and down, however, the blonde simply bowed respectfully and replied, a small lips tugging at his lips, "Thank you, Director IKaiba, I will continue to improve myself." He patted himself mentally on the back for this professional answer.

When Isono got wind of this success, he declared that his young trainee's nightmare with the AI was over. Nothing compared to the relief Jonouchi felt at that very moment. Then, he continued his training and passed the standing-upright-without-moving-for-hours test with flying colors. He received his third paycheck as one of KC employees, and let himself dream of moving to a decent apartment next month. Things finally got brighter for him.

Until Isono dropped the biggest of bombs.

"I'm impressed, Katsuya," the elder said at the end of his fourth month, "you completed the first and toughest term of your training, a month ahead of schedule no less. I think congratulations are in order."

Isono and he had come to use first-name addresses earlier during the third month or so, and a strange friendship had woven between them. Katsuya liked his mentor, and Isono liked his hot-headed trainee like a younger brother. He had never doubted the former yankee would be a great asset to KC, and he had never been so proud of his protegee. But now, serious business was about to begin.

They were enjoying lunch outside, in a nice cafe far from KC tower. Passers-by were skidding past them in the sun of late May, and Jonouchi was wolfing down his gargantuan meal. This was the first time he could treat himself to food in a restaurant that was not run-down, and he made the best of it. Isono was watching him while sipping on his black coffee, slightly amused at his youthful enthusiasm. Then he schooled himself and spoke up.

"Now, I can finally entrust you with actual functions at the company, and after some complementary sessions revolving around your position, as well as giving you sensible information to be able to fit into your new job as quickly as possible, you will finish your training directly on the field."

Katsuya hummed, careful not to speak with his mouth full. He looked up at the serious expression of his mentor, swallowed, and asked, "Will I begin as Mokuba's bodyguard then?"

Isono gave him the briefest of glances, but the blonde caught the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. He straightened himself unconsciously, ready to take whatever he had to. The elder took a breath before answering, "Not exactly. Before that, you will have to prove yourself to Director Kaiba."

Oh. So that was what it was all about. Jonouchi snorted.

"So we'll be both on duty with Kaiba? Hardly a thing after what IKaiba made me go through."

He did not bother using the respectful term "Director" with Isono, who let it pass. But the elder grimaced, albeit for a whole different reason.

"No," he replied, "I'll be with Mister Kaiba, while you'll be with Director Kaiba. Alone."

"Oh," the blonde huffed derisively, "well, I've been trained specifically for that, so it won't be as much as a formality to this point."

"I'm sure," Isono affirmed, "the problem is that, well, you may have seen that you were employed as security guard on your contract, yes?"

"That's what I am, in a way. Plus some other qualifications that haven't been specified."

What's this conversation getting at?, he wondered.

"That's what I'm talking about. For Director Kaiba, you're not to go further in KC tower, than the entry hall. He thinks you're a security guard in the simplest way."

Katsuya's brain screeched to a halt at that. Squinting, he noticed that, for the first time since he knew the man, Isono was showing slight signs of nervousness. He gulped harder, realization hitting him like a ton of bricks.

"So, basically, you're telling me...?"

"Yes," his mentor breathed uneasily, "I lied to Director Kaiba about you, so that I could train you without him knowing. And he doesn't know you're due to begin as his temporary shadow in a few days."

The blonde gaped at him for a few seconds, not knowing what to say. That was... crazy. Isono was mad, he had seriously lost it. Kaiba hated his guts, for God's sake! And he hated surprises. So having one Katsuya Jonouchi landing on his doorstep without short notice was sure to make hell break loose. WHat was his mentor thinking?

"And... and Mokuba?," he managed to stutter.

"Mister Kaiba doesn't know the specifics of this arrangement, although he was informed that a shift was to take place. Forgive me, Katsuya," he apologised, taking the incredulous expression of his trainee, "but knowing Director Kaiba, it was the only way I could manage to put you there and give you a chance to prove yourself to him. To become a real, entitled employee of KC. If it can make you feel any better, we both put our necks out here. It's a gamble I'm ready to make, though, I'm sure you'll succeed in gaining his trust."

Jonouchi did not believe this would work, although he had to give credit to his mentor. The man knew the Kaibas better than anyone else, maybe even better than the Kaibas themselves, so maybe he had seen something the blonde had not. Still, this was crazy to bet his career on it. Seto Kaiba hated to be fooled, especially by those he trusted.

Nevertheless, Katsuya had to progressively accept the idea altogether. He would not disappoint Isono, for all he had done to him, and for he had gone so far as lying to his boss, the man he most respected in the universe. He felt the pressure of both their hopes on his shoulders, and squared them to take on the challenge like a champ. With a curt nod, he showed his approval, and resumed his eating with renewed motivation.

Prepare yerself, moneybags, ye'll never know what's come at ye until yer knocked out! The mutt will show ye what he's made of!

Sorry if it is a little OOC, but I loved the idea of a protective Isono :) I really like this character.

I hope you enjoy this mini-series, and I look forward to writing the following chapters!

Cheers!