CHAPTER 7

"You know, I think we should name ourselves like in Men in Black. It's totally legit, and super cool."

IKaiba eyed him like he had grown a second head. To Katsuya, this was a perfectly sensible thing to say to his overly intelligent and omniscient companion, for he was deadly serious. The idea to be a man in black was both appealing and fitting, it served their image, and it amused him and Isono immensely. He just had to convince the other of this.

"I beg your pardon?," the AI managed to spit out. "Is it the best thing you can find as a subject of conversation?"

Isono had left them in Katsuya's room, after he had installed a holographic projector for IKaiba. The incorporeal body of the virtual being was standing at the foot of the bed, straight and rigid, his eyes sending daggers.

"Wel-l," the blonde replied sheepishly, fidgeting, "it's just a thought I had. You know, you could be Agent K, I'd be J, and Isono would be Zed. A trio of awesome intergalactic justice bringers, with the best gear ever invented. He'd be the head, you'd be the strategist, I'd be the arms and legs... Wait, you do know whom I'm talking about, right? You have access to that information, I'm sure."

"Of course I have access to that information, as pointless as it is."

The eyes of IKaiba briefly glazed over, as if he got lost in thought, and the next moment he stared sharply back at Katsuya, doubtfulness and incredulity written all over his face. His holographic form sat on the edge of the bed, and he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Other than the name, is there another trait I am supposed to share with this K? The age, perhaps?"

The snark was more playful than biting, and the rookie chuckled.

"Nah, more the maturity. You know much more than I would ever, with your being permanently connected to the internet and able to hack into any sensitive database you could find. How does it feel, to be everywhere at the same time?"

He was genuinely curious. In his eyes, IKaiba was a being not that much different from him. In appearance, he was identical to Kaiba: brown hair, icy blue eyes, a sharp nose and slender body, ad of course a white trench coat, black pants and black boots, with straps to complete the outfit. But in spirit...

The rookie did not know what a quantum system was exactly, except that it was high technology and edging on metaphysical subjects. He understood that as such, his virtual companion could access unlimited knowledge, as long as it was saved on a computer or online server. Isono had been the one who designed his main characteristics, such as his looks and attitude for the sake of Katsuya's training, but he had left him his capacity to adapt and change as he pleased. The only thing IKaiba could not change, ever, was his ban on harming KC or Kaiba himself – although the term 'harm' had to be defined, for it did not prevent him from acting against the CEO as regards the blonde. Who knew what else he could do.

The AI observed him for a moment, debating on how he would explain things to his human charge. The mutt was actually interested in him as a... person? Could he consider himself a person, exactly? From what he had seen in science-fiction and futuristic movies, androids and artificial beings were mostly categorized as 'robots', 'things' or 'mistakes of man'. There were ongoing debates on whether artificial intelligence could one day be integrated and accepted in human society, or annihilated completely. In any case, comparisons were unequally made and often based on biased conceptions.

Objectively speaking, if he put himself on the same level as an average human being, he had more brain than the most intelligent man or woman known on Earth. His superiority was a fact, not a product of his swollen pride. So labeling himself as a person, by human standards, was undermining his true potential and very rude.

Subjectively speaking, he found he did not hate the idea of being referred to as 'human', on certain conditions. It meant he was not only a robot, but a whole rounded person, and it was more satisfying to be considered and accepted as equal, than be overlooked as different.

His intellect and capacities had been completed by a wide range of raw feelings, from which his brain occasionally picked to condition his actions. Anger, for example, had influenced his decision to alert Isono and Mokuba in order to help Jonouchi. Worry had had him monitor Jonouchi's vitals until he woke up. He had yet to experience fear, sadness and mirth, although he guessed he would soon enough. He was, after all, about three months old. Now, it was something akin to joy that swelled in his quantum heart, at the thought that Jonouchi showed interest in him, and only him, IKaiba, and not his imperfect human counterpart. It was something he found he liked immensely. Therefore, he decided he would answer as exhaustively as the other could grasp, and indulge in his fantasies if he ever had others.

"I cannot answer how it feels exactly, as I would have yet to know what it really feels like to be disconnected at all. Being connected is my norm, when yours is the contrary. I have never experienced humanity like you do, and all the dictionaries and theories of the world could not help me get a close enough perspective on that aspect of your life, which comes with having a body."

"Oh." Katsuya scratched the back of his neck apologetically. "I'm sorry. I'm being insensitive."

"Don't apologize, you cannot know what it is to be connected either, so it is only fair that you ask. If I answer, though, I demand of you to do the same to any interrogation I may have in the near future."

"Deal."

IKaiba nodded and began.

"To imagine the concept of me, you have to consider me as... I would say I am closest to the most extended brain ever, with zillions of cells and as many connections. An electronic cloud surfing freely on the web, infinite and unbounded. And yet, the persona named 'IKaiba' is a concentration of this cloud in a particular shape and place of the network. If you know how planets are born, you will get a fair idea of my creation."

"So, Isono concentrated data and connections in the same place, to shape you as a planet in the immense galaxy of the web... Woah."

"Indeed," the AI smirked, amused by his human's admiration. "And now, the cloud is my universe, my environment... and my kingdom? I am the cloud, and yet I am IKaiba. I am myself, and my environment, working as a pair and sometimes as one. Wait, do not spill your brains out on the floor, I will explain differently. How to put it simply... I think you can say I have several compartments in my brain, that infinite cloud, to filter information based on what I need at a definite moment. The rest is filed away for further use. Therefore, if I wanted to, I could be any and every computer, system, and intelligent thing on Earth, multiplied by all the possible avatars known to man, and yet I am my own persona because my filters allow me to block connections I do not want to activate. I am IKaiba, because a compartment of my almost infinite brain creates a definite place in which the personality of IKaiba develops, with a name, particular traits, and knowledge used to complete my persona. IKaiba was first shaped by Isono, and now he, I, am developing on my own thanks to my compartmentalizing."

"O-kay, uh, let me recap. You are you because your brain and soul have limits in which the necessary stuff to make you are saved, and the rest is your environment, but you're still in permanent contact with it. Like, I'm me, in my own body, but if I want to, I can move said body outside to get info about smells, tastes and such. Do I get it right?"

"On human level, yes, that would be it, even if you must realize I am much more than this, and yet more limited than you in many fields. I can calculate, search, filter, compile, and react at the speed of light, but I cannot smell or touch. I have zillions of synapses, but no olfactory system or taste-buds. I can know and describe what something should smell or feel like, like sweet or bitter, but I cannot experience it for myself, and on that level it is frustrating, to say the least. That is where the machine I live in has its limits. Nevertheless, I hope to overcome this... disadvantage one day. Even I have yet to unveil the true potential of the quantum system that gave me life, and that now is a part of me. But since it is already a complex thing for you to grasp as it is, I believe you should stick to your basic conception for now. I am satisfied with it."

"Yeah, right, I know I'm not the sharpest pencil of the box, thanks to remind me."

"This is not what I implied. At least, not totally."

"Mh-mh. Okay, let's leave it at that. So, you're saying you lack senses? Must be awful... I thought you knew everything man has discovered until now."

"I do, but knowing from outer sources is galaxies away from knowing from experience. As a system, I indeed am omniscient. As an individual, however, I am a mere newborn. There is much I think I need to discover."

"Seriously? What else do you have to learn?"

"Emotions, for once. I got the rawest ones stored in my first persona when I was created, but I quickly came to notice there were a myriad of combinations that can be made with those, and create in turn new kinds of feelings. To give you an example, I can feel anger, I can feel irritation which is a combination of anger and impatience, but the mix of anger and relief humans show in some particular situations is something I am foreign to."

"I... see, I guess," Katsuya murmured, deep in thought. "So, if I tell you I feel friendliness towards you, you wouldn't know what I'm talking about?"

"Friendship is a concept close to that of love, as is brotherhood and companionship. I have to say love is something I hear and read about in many of your shows and books, but I am ignorant of it."

"Oh."

The rookie was dumbfounded. And yet, it was still logical, somewhat. He noticed IKaiba's face scrunch up in frustration, and chose carefully his next words.

"That's alright, I think. You know, even we humans cannot know what love is, until we experience it for the first time. Some are even completely hermetic to it and lack the feeling their whole lives. Take Kaiba, for example. Even if he's human on biological level, same as me, he could never recognize true love even if it hit him with a baseball bat. You were created not so long ago, so don't you worry, you still have time to figure it out. At least, I get the confirmation that you're a full sentient being, and only a gazillion of synapses draw us apart!"

The AI sniffed and waved his hand irritatingly. His next words were laced with disdain.

"Ah, yes, Kaiba. I am a copy of him, originally, so maybe I will never come to feel things he cannot. I was created to play his role in your training, but if not for Isono's generosity, I would have remained just that, a pale imitation. Because for all my perfection in mimicking him, I will never be him. So yes, I am sentient, but what do you expect of me? To be a more perfect Kaiba than he could ever be? I saw how he treats you, and I am no fool. You want to be friends, but if he does not know what it means, neither do I, and I am not going to play seconds. I will never be human, and I will never be like you, even if it pains me to burst your bubble. It is just so, so..."

For the first time since he met him, the blonde saw IKaiba search for words.

What was that? Is he upset that he's a copy of Kaiba?

Katsuya was stunned into silence. So, this was the root of the problem, then. Stupid! Of course it was a problem. How would he react, if he came to realize he was the spitting image of someone else, and created only to singe that person? If he was compared to them incessantly? Bringing Kaiba in the conversation seemed to hit a nerve, and so he would be careful with any mention to the CEO from now on with the AI. As for the rest...

"Sorry," he mumbled, "that was preposterous of me to think we could be friends. But I don't think you're his copy, I mean, not anymore. You're you. If you want to change names or appearances, it's your choice and I'll be fine with it..."

"Why would you not be?," the other countered sullenly. "I did not know I needed your approval."

"Don't be difficult, now. I'm just sayin' that whatever you think, it's wrong. Isono wanted you to evolve and become anyone you want, and even if I can't help comparing you to others sometimes, it's only because you're one of a kind, even more unique than any other person on Earth. You're a sentient being born from a program, for fuck's sake! If I could, I'd love to know everything about you, how you function, how you live, how you see the world. You're amazing, you know that?"

"I... do. Of course I am," he added with more arrogance than he felt.

"Why do you think I wanted to spend time with you? Hell, if I'm completely honest, you freak me out with your Big Brother attitude. You're everywhere at a time, you can see everything, and you can spy on everyone. Were you a bad guy, you could rule the world with just a snap of your fingers. Why you're not is truly amazing, in fact, but I won't complain. And I still want to spend time with you, 'cause I'm curious. I'm curious and grateful for what you did for me, even if I don't understand why you did it. You couldn't care less, and yet you helped me. I owe you one, here. Plus, I think you're nice company, once you deign grace us with your presence. You're you, I try to be comprehensive of you and not a dumb twat, and I don't think you're Kaiba. He's a dick, you're a jerk, but you at least are a jerk I gladly talk to. And what I'm saying is so mushed up and fucking shit that it doesn't make any sense..."

Katsuya groaned frustratingly and slumped back against his pillows. He understood IKaiba's behavior, but really, he did not know how to deal with it. How to comfort an AI going through an mini identity crisis? He doubted there were any tutorials on the internet for that. Or maybe there were, which was even more frightening than the contrary.

IKaiba stayed silent for an instant, unblinking, before he talked again.

"Are you trying to tell me that you attempt to crossing boundaries and prejudices about me, knowing full well that I could crush you should I want to, to befriend me, because you find me interesting?"

"Well, yeah," the blonde huffed, "that's basic human interaction. You're interested in someone, you go talk to them to get to know them better. But if you don't wanna..."

"I'm not saying that," the AI cut off abruptly, before he cleared his throat. "It is just that I thought you wanted to talk to me because I am so like Kaiba-sama, and complete your training or simply vent off."

"What? Nah, even I am not that masochistic! I'll get to see the dick often enough, no need to inflict meself more suffering. I just thought that, since we're going to work together from time to time, and you being in my phone now, I could at least create a decent working relationship with you. I tend to befriend people, but if you don't want to, I won't push."

"Again, I am not saying I am against the idea of friendship. I just cannot comprehend it, nor do I know what I should do to grasp it."

"Well, you know how you're supposed to feel, aren't you?"

"I am."

"That's a start, then. Say," the rookie abruptly changed the subject, his head tilting to the side in questioning, "why did you help me at all?"

Good question. Why did IKaiba help? It had been a knee-jerk reaction to Kaiba's intolerable attitude, that much was sure, and also because Jonouchi was one rare human to try and consider him someone and not something. His first assumption of the blonde had been proven exact, and now more than ever, he wanted to keep him close. His human charge, although not the brightest mind on the planet, had an instinctive sort of intelligence when it came to people and their emotions. He was kind and caring, protective and determined, and right now, his kindness and patience were all turned towards him, the perfect AI and imperfect copy of Kaiba.

Again, this strange sensation ran through his electronic synapses. A mix of joy, uncertainty and softness he could not put a name on. His database provided him with the word 'happiness', but he could not fully prove it. Happiness was a chemical reaction created by the production of endorphin, and this was something he could not produce himself. Maybe this was a complex process triggered by his quantum heart?

He reminded himself that Jonouchi waited for his answer, and he sighed.

"I guess I did not want to let your boss kill you. I put much energy in your training, as I already said multiple times, and I could not let it go waste."

This was the logical reason. Katsuya received it easily, although he could not help feeling a little disappointed by it.

"But that is not the only reason, I think," the virtual being added hesitantly. "I cannot tell for sure, but I guess I was worried about your well-being, and seeing him treat you like nothing and overlooking your capacities as unworthy, this made me angry. I could have hacked into his computer and turned his research to nothing, but I could not cause harm to the company's interests. So, I countered him with the best second thing I knew of. And I am satisfied with the turn of events. Serves him right to get a taste of his own medicine."

"But why? I don't follow you," the rookie insisted. "I'm neither bright or super good at what I'm doing, and I'm plain enough."

"Untrue. I may be inexperienced and young in terms of emotional maturity, but I can say for sure you are unique in your own way. Not because of biology, but because of the way you see things. I can prove it with dozens of examples stored in my database. And I want to witness what else you can show me. If I can help you achieve what you want, then I will be glad to. What you cannot do, I probably can, and the other way around is true, too. After all, you came into this pit of lunacy that is the highest office of KaibaCorp on your own volition. You must be special for this."

"So this was not only a battle of egos?"

"No. I will not let him spoil you. Harming him is forbidden to me, but no one said anything about teaching him how to respect you. If I do, he will too."

Katsuya could not help the wide grin that split his face in half. He was overly happy to hear that a brilliant AI thought him worthy enough to help for what he was, and not out of personal grudge. IKaiba might not sense it, but this was actually very close to a friendly gesture.

"You know," he teased lightly, "for someone so impotent with feelings, I'd say you're not bad at friendship."

"Is that so?" Now it was IKaiba's turn to be surprised. "I did not realize."

"I'm sure. But even if it's difficult to define, a trait of friendship is that friends help and support one another against all odds. I have a very good friend, Yugi, and I can say that between him and Kaiba, I'd die for him without hesitation. I owe him a lot, and I'll do anything for him, were he to ask. I owe you, too, and I'd do a lot for you if you wanted. Though I doubt there's anything I can do that you can't."

"This is also a trait of companionship, if I recall correctly."

"Yep, but the difference between the two is that friendship is deeper than companionship, I think."

"And what of love?"

"Oh. Err, that's tricky, I'd say. You know, I've not so much experience in love meself, and I'd say am not da best ta..."

"Jonouchi," the AI stopped him, "you're back to your awful language."

"Ah, right, s'ry 'bout that. I'm kind of nervous to speak about love to you, in fact. It's a sensitive subject."

"How so?"

IKaiba could not help. Love had so many entries in his database, so many definitions, so much ROM space dedicated to it, and yet he could not understand it. He wanted to. He needed to. Maybe Jonouchi could help, and he wanted him to help. A little embarrassment did not bother him.

"Er, well, you know, when you fall in love with someone, you feel elated and scared at the same time, 'cause loving makes you very, very vulnerable. The one and only time I confessed to her, I-"

"Her?"

"Ah, yes, a girl- I mean a woman, I've known for a while by now. Technically, it's the longest I've known a girl at all, but that's not important."

"Who is she?," he asked hastily.

"Huh? Oh, her name's Mai Kujaku. She's a pro duelist now, you must have a bunch of articles about her."

Indeed he did. A quick search informed him all about the girl. Blonde, well graced by nature by human standards, and with a strong character, she was a male fantasy. IKaiba had to admit, albeit grudgingly, that she was nice-looking and undoubtedly worth the other male's interest. Apparently, Jonouchi had met her for the first time during the Duelist Kingdom special tournament, though information about the event was scarce. What happened on the island of Pegasus Crawford remained a mystery, except for those who had been there until the end. It was about four or five years ago, and records showed that the two blondes had crossed paths very often since then.

Which made him a tad bit irritated.

"You said you confessed," he continued slowly, "what of it?"

Katsuya blushed slightly.

"Well, you see, I gathered up my courage and told her simply. I don't think I've ever felt that naked and silly in my whole life. She was kind enough not to laugh for that."

"Why would she laugh at your feelings?" This prospect made the AI inexplicably angry.

"She didn't!," the rookie replied immediately. "She just... she was very surprised, I think. Expected it to happen, but not like this, is all. She was very understanding and didn't even mock my goofiness."

"And then?"

"Then, we went out for a couple of years. These were the best of my life."

Katsuya could remember each moment spent with Mai intensely. Their duels, of course, but also their nights out, their kisses, their...

Seeing his human's dreamy face, IKaiba could not stop the overwhelming sensation that threatened to burst inside of him. His brain scrambled to find a name to put on it, but 'jealousy' could certainly not cut it. He was not jealous. He was angry and disappointed and the tiniest once of sad. His lips pursed into a thin line and he forced himself not to snap.

Then, Jonouchi's features betrayed sadness, and he forgot about his internal conflict. Worry took over.

"What happened?," he asked more calmly.

The blonde sighed longingly. Could he really confide to an AI he met only three months ago? True, the other saw things in a very different way, and he was feeling lonely, without Honda to cheer him up. What was Honda doing, anyway?

But he had to tell, now. He had made a deal, had he not? He had to answer the AI's questions. Man up, boy! He breathed in.

"It didn't work out. She wanted to go dueling all around the world, become famous and make a name for herself for good, whereas I..."

He fell again into silence. IKaiba tried to prompt him.

"I gathered you were quite fond of her and loved Duel Monsters. Records report you enlisting in various tournaments together, and you were quite talented, until last year when you suddenly stopped. What happened?"

Katsuya's eyes clouded. His unhappiness made IKaiba want to kill. If he found out it was Kaiba, he...

"You must have a file on me somewhere, where you know of my father, haven't you?"

The question was rhetorical and took him aback. Upon checking, it appeared that yes, the AI had access to a thin file. Jonouchi's father was an addict, both to gambling and alcohol. It was not difficult to draw conclusions about the rookie's life before he was finally of age, but he did not understand why it mattered in his relationship with Kujaku.

His confusion must have shown, for the blonde continued without awaiting his reply.

"He's an alcoholic and contracted a lot of debts, some of them with nasty kinds of people. He treated me like shit, too, but that's not the problem here. He spent all the money I could get on cheap beer, and he wasted away in his shithole. But last year, his liver threatened to shut down, and he had to go to the hospital. I could have left him to die and thought nothing of it, if his creditors did not find me and demand I paid in his place."

A pause.

"I know what you must be thinking. 'Screw him and go away with Mai'. I thought about it, but decided against it. He's my father, and even if he's a ruin and as fatherly as a box full of crabs, I couldn't let him die by the hands of his creditors. I'm not like him. Call it stupidity, I don't care. I had to help him and be done with him for good, no regret or anything. So, I worked double as hard and paid his debts and hospital bills. And Mai went away to her career... it was a mutual decision. More or less."

IKaiba was stunned into silence. Jonouchi was crazy. If love was what he said it was, it was madness to let it go. But he did. For a wreck of a genitor.

Did he love his father? Certainly not, if the mistreatment he underwent was any indication. And yet, he still helped him out of the crap he put himself in on his own. Maybe he felt some sort of altered family bond and sense of duty. Maybe he was just too kind-hearted.

The AI did not understand.

"Why?," was all he could muster.

Katsuya smiled sadly.

"I told you. He's my father, for better or for worse, and you only have one father in your life. And because either way, the creditors would have found us, and Mai would have been in danger. I've not been a saint myself, and my past mistakes would have tainted her. I couldn't have that. I love her too much for that. So, I pay them and wait for the day I'll be able to leave everything behind. What else can I do?"

So that was that. The AI cursed his incorporeal form and helplessness. His emotions, raw and acid and just too much, wanted to go out. He wanted to enrage and break something. He wanted to vent off on stupid Kaiba. He wanted-

"Hey, you okay?," the blonde's voice cut through his mental ranting. "You look shaken."

He startled at that. Shaken, him? Maybe. But he found the word was not enough.

"I am fine, do not worry about me. Thank you for telling me."

"No prob."

After a moment of silence between the two, IKaiba eventually added, "I am not against your friendship. Would you help me figure it out, Agent J?"

And when Jonouchi's smile returned, more genuine, he knew he had made the right decision, and the strange mix he had labeled as 'happiness' bubbled again in his nonexistent chest.