Things get bit fractious in this chapter and Honda is dangerously close to losing his temper and blowing Katsu's cover. Will he or won't he?

A little bit of smut and swearing, but not too bad.


Chapter 18.

Strained Friendship

They did their best to ignore it, but no one could avoid noticing the tense atmosphere that hung over the table where they were seated. Anzu felt sure that at any moment, Honda, Katsu and Seto would all start beating the crap out of one another.

Thankfully, the tension as broken when Mokuba's Mount Fuji sundae arrived.

Seto rolled his eyes. "You will never eat it all."

"You always say that Seto. But just you watch me!" He beamed, licking his lips.

Seto smirked knowingly. "And I'm always right."

"How are you not overweight Mokuba?" Anzu teased.

"Because I'm a Kaiba," he grinned. "If I'm gonna grow to be over six feet, then I need to do a lot of eating."

Everyone laughed at that.

"You gotta long way to go short stuff," Katsu teased.

"Hey! No one calls me short stuff and gets away with it!" Mokuba pouted. "Besides, I'm only just thirteen!"

Anzu winked at him. "You need to eat lots of healthy fruit and vegetables if you want to grow tall like your brother."

"Isn't that exactly what I'm always telling you Mokuba?" Said Seto. Looking at Yugi with a smug expression, he added "Maybe Yugi should try eating more vegetables too." His dig at Yugi earned him a sharp prod in the side from Katsu.

He sucked in a sharp intake of air and let out a squeak, which he unsuccessfully tried to disguise. Everyone laughed, prompting him to scowl at Katsu. "What was that for?"

"Serves you right for picking on Yugi." He should be thankful that it was only a poke in the side, Jonouchi would have decked him with a right hook for picking on his diminutive friend.

"It's okay guys," Yugi gave them all a disarming grin, "I'm not offended."

"That's not the point," said Anzu, defending her friend. "It was the way Kaiba said it that was offensive."

Seto huffed. "Get over it Mazaki. I was merely using him as an example." Being here was a mistake. He should not be wasting his energy talking to them.

Doing his best to appear bored, he drained the rest of his coffee and placed his cup down. He was ready to go but Mokuba was still wading through his huge sundae.

He was relieved when Mokuba pushed it to one side and said he was finished. Fuji had defeated him.

They paid the bill and everyone got up to leave. There was a moment of awkwardness when they reached the footpath and Seto asked Katsu if she wanted to ditch her friends and join him and Mokuba.

She hesitantly looked at her friends. "I.. I don't know.. What are you guys gonna do now? Did you want to get another boat?"

"Erm... not really," Anzu answered. "I was hoping we would go to the zoo now. What does everyone else want to do?"

Yugi did not really care as long as he was with Anzu. He shrugged. "I will do what ever you want to do."

Mai was more assertive. "I'm not going on the lake again."

Meanwhile, Honda was still stewing inside and was desperate to drum some common sense into his idiotic friend. "So, you're gonna ditch us for Kaiba, are you, Katsu?" He knew dam well that she would sense the irritation in his tone.

Katsu had her own card to play. "What's got into you Honda? I only met you a couple of weeks ago but you behave like you own me!"

Honda stiffened his posture and glared at her. He had to put a stop to this stupidity, before his friend got in way over her head and did something she would cause Jonouchi to regret. "Jonouchi is my best pal, or have you forgotten about that? Are you also forgetting that he hates Kaiba?" Wake up you dork! Come back to your senses.

"It's none of Jonouchi's business who I date, or yours, so butt out Honda." There, she had spoken. If he did not get the message to back off now, she did not know what she would do.

Honda threw his hands up in exasperation. "Guys!" He turned to Yugi and Anzu. "Help me knock some sense into... into-"

"Honda!" Yugi and Anzu both shouted, before their friend could blow Katsu's true identity. Their volume also drew some strange looks from passers by.

The colour, meanwhile, had drained from Katsu's face.

Realising how close he had come to saying 'his stupid thick brain' Honda immediately backtracked. "Okay, okay, I get it! But I promised Jonouchi I would take good care of you, and letting you date Kaiba means I've failed in my duty to a friend."

Upset at seeing her friends like this, Anzu tried to smooth things over. "It doesn't matter if you want to go with Kaiba, Katsu. But Honda is right to be concerned. Jonouchi will not like you dating Kaiba, and you know what that hot head is like. He's bound to blame Honda for not stopping you and take it out on him - just like he always does."

"Thank you Anzu," Katsu breathed a sigh of relief that her friend had defused the situation. "Please don't worry Honda. I can deal with Jonouchi."

"Yeah, sorry I shouted at you," Shaking with rage, Honda lowered his gaze and turned away. "Come on, Mai, Yugi, Anzu, lets go. See ya later Katsu."

"See ya! And... don't worry," she called out. "We're all good, yeah?" She felt terrible for her friend. It did not take much brain power to know what Honda was thinking. But why couldn't he trust her?

She was in control; not just of the body, but of her emotions as well.

"I don't know why you even bother with that bunch of losers," Seto huffed, taking her hand and dragging her towards the kiosk. "Let's go and get a boat." He was not going to allow himself to be flustered by the dweeb patrol and their stupid display of over protective friendship! If anything, it made him all the more determined to rescue Katsu from their clutches, permanently.

He decided that the best solution would be to move Katsu into the mansion for the rest of her stay. Maybe he could even convince her to stay for good. He would ask her later, when Mokuba was not around.

Scurrying after his brother, Mokuba could not care less about all the arguing. He had got Seto out of the office for the afternoon and he was going to make the most of it.

"Can I get a kayak Seto?" He pleaded. Seto stopped and turned around, scrutinising him with narrowed eyes.

"Are you sure? I don't want you throwing Mount Fuji up all over yourself!"

Mokuba rolled his eyes at him and huffed. "Seto!" He whined. "I'm not going to throw up!"

Seto sighed. "Very well. But if you do, make sure you do it in the lake and not on yourself." At least his younger brother being in his own kayak would give him and Katsu some time alone in a rowing boat.

::::::::::::

The moment they were on a quieter path and out of earshot of anyone, Honda let his anger burst to the surface. " That moron! What the fuck is she doing? Does she have a death wish for Jonouchi or something? Because if Kaiba finds out, he's gonna murder her, and us as well for knowing about it." He then rounded on Yugi and Anzu. "You two are just as guilty for not telling me what was going on! Why didn't you stop her seeing him!"

"I'm sorry Honda!" Said Yugi, guiltily. "But we didn't tell you because Katsu made us promise not to." He should have known that Honda would find out. If he had been more assertive with Katsu himself, he could have stopped her from ever dating Kaiba in the first place.

Sensing Yugi's turmoil, Anzu placed her hand on his shoulder. "We didn't say anything to you, because Katsu pleaded with us not to. She knew you would react like this. I can assure you that we're just as worried as you are, but what can we do?!"

"You should have told me," he hissed.

"You're bone headed reaction is why they didn't," Mai scolded. "I don't know why you're so upset? Anyone would think you had the hots for her yourself!"

Honda snarled at her. "Not helping Mai," he hissed.

"Honda is right about one thing Yugi. We should have told him." Yami Yugi stayed hidden inside the Puzzle, but his thoughts reached Yugi.

"I know," said Yugi, out loud. "We tried to talk her out of seeing Kaiba, but she's not Jonouchi. She has her own personality. The Shadow magic has created a female version of him."

Honda's brows knitted together in a frown. "Yeah, and a stubborn one at that! Geez, what a mess. " He had seen a lot of weird things since becoming friends with Yugi. Was it possible that the Millennium items could be used to make an alternative version of someone? That was scary.

No! That as ridiculous. "So, where has the real Jonouchi gone?" He asked, looking to Yugi for an answer. After all, he did hold a Millennium item.

"The other Me thinks he is still there, somewhere, deep inside his heart, but is slowly being lost. The longer Katsu is in control, the more she takes over."

"And there's nothing we can do do to stop it...?" Honda sighed in resignation.

"Not without a spell to undo the magic," Yugi responded, reflectively.

"It still think Bakura is lying to us. There must be a reversal spell," said Anzu.

"I don't think our Bakura would lie," Yugi corrected her. "And even if the other Bakura did know how to reverse the spell, there's no way he would reverse it."

"Yeah, and we've already tried beating it out of him," Honda grumbled. "I don't know what else we can do."

"We could always try being more supportive and understanding," Mai suggested. "Katsu has been growing as a person and I have to admit that I am very fond of her. We have become good friends. It will be sad when she leaves us."

"I know how you feel Mai, but we have to remember she is just a temporary replacement for Jonoucji. She is not supposed to exist," Anzu stated, firmly.

"But she does exist and we have to deal with her being here as best we can," Yugi concluded. "And arguing about it is not helping any of us."

"Yugi is right," Anzu agreed. "And the last thing we want to do is make Katsu feel bad about existing. It's not her fault she's here."

Honda gave them a guilty smile. He had taken out his anger on his friends and now felt like the bad guy. "Way to make me feel guilty for having a go at you all. I guess I'm gonna have to apologise," sighing like a condemned man.

"It's okay Honda, you don't need to apologise," said Yugi. "Let's just forget about it for now and enjoy the zoo."

Anzu forced a weary smile. Maybe visiting the zoo and seeing the animals would help take their minds off everything for a while.

The zoo was not large, but it was a very popular attraction, especially with school children, because it had a large petting area where they could hold rabbits, guinea pigs, and even reptiles. Yugi remembered how he had liked handling the snakes when they had gone on a school visit during elementary school. The trip had been made all the more enjoyable because the class bully had been frightened of the snakes.

"If you think cuddling a few fluffy bunnies will help us forget that our friend is getting up to no good in a small boat with his sworn enemy, then okay," said Honda, with a frown.

Yugi shot him a wide eyed, worried look. "They wouldn't do anything like that! Mokuba is with them!"

Anzu shook her head to get rid of the thought. "Yeah, Yugi's right. Please don't say things like that Honda. I don't even want to think about it."

"I thought we had agreed not to talk about it while we were here!" Mai groaned.

"Sorry Mai," stated Honda, "but you can't pretend nothing's going to happen. Why do you think I got so angry? Katsu is very attractive. Kaiba might be an uptight a-hole, but I bet he still has typical male thoughts about women!"

"And what would those be exactly?" Mai smirked at him.

"Yes, please elaborate Honda?" Anzu glared, hands on hips. Why were boys such perverts?

Realising he was digging himself a hole, Honda started trying to defend himself. "We're not! We're just regular teenage boys who appreciate women... A little help here Yugi?"

Yugi shuffled behind Anzu, in the hope he could be left out of this discussion about why boys were such perverts. Anzu often complained to him about it as though that did not include him! For some reason, she liked to pretend that he was pure and innocent, and that Honda and Jonouchi were lecherous perverts. If she knew the truth...!

He was dragged back into the discussion by Honda. "...Admit it Yugi, you also find her attractive, don't you? And if you didn't know who she really was, wouldn't you want to take a chance with her? I know I would."

"Honda!" Yugi grimaced, his face flushing. "Don't say things like that! She's our friend!"

Realising that he had been digging himself an even deeper hole, Honda blushed and backtracked. "Don't take it so literally! I was only speaking hypothetically."

"Hypothetical or not" Mai stated, "You're right Honda. If I was on the other team, I would probably be after her myself," she joked, with a smirk and a wink.

Yugi and Anzu gaped like goldfish at Mai's comment, and their chins almost hit the floor at Honda's response.

"Can I watch?"

Mai hit him with her bag, which was quite heavy!

::::::::::::

Relived the dweeb squad had not followed them, Seto hired a kayak for Mokuba and a rowing boat for himself and Katsu.

After ensuring that Mokuba had done his life jacket up correctly and helped him to push his kayak into the water, he and Katsu went over to the jetty.

Seto offered his hand to help Katsu into the rowing boat but she declined – she was more than capable of getting onto a boat by herself.

This whole situation felt weird and Katsu almost laughed out loud. What would Jonouchi think of the way she was draped over a seat at the stern of the boat like a glamorous model? She had one arm over the side, trailing her fingertips through the water, while opposite her, Seto Kaiba manfully paddled. He had pulled his tie loose and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, exposing his chest. The way his muscles rippled underneath his tightly fitting silk shirt did not escape her. His suit jacket had been thrown into Katsu's lap for her to hold while he rowed and she was very tempted to pull it over her shoulders so that she could inhale his scent. Oh My God! What was she thinking?!

Her facial expressions must have given her away because Seto's serene smile suddenly turned to a concerned frown. "Is something wrong?"

Katsu jumped. "What?!"

"I asked if something was wrong?"

"No! Well, I... I was thinking... I hope I didn't upset my friends, bailing on them like that."

Seto shrugged with disinterest. He did not give a shit about them. "They will get over it."

"Even so, I should say sorry. They have been very kind to me after Jonouchi left. Can we go and find them after this? I think they were going to the zoo."

"Whatever," Seto shrugged. If she still insisted on finding them when they got off the boat, he would convince her otherwise.

Mokuba came up alongside them on his kayak. "Hey!" He beamed. "Can we go to the zoo in a minute?"

"Mokuba!" Seto rolled his eyes. "We've only been on the lake for fifteen minutes!" The boats were generally hired out in thirty minute slots.

"I've already been round the lake twice. I'm bored." He was not about to admit that thanks to Mount Fuji, his stomach was feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Seto sighed. "Go round once more and then we will go to the zoo, okay?"

"Okay!" Ignoring the stich in his side, Mokuba set off as fast as he could around the lake.

Seto shook his head. His little brother had the attention span of a goldfish sometimes.

"Looks like we're going to the zoo then?" Katsu suggested, raising an eyebrow at Seto.

"You and Mokuba are lucky I'm still in a good mood." The irony in his voice made Katsu want to guffaw, but she thought better of it.

As soon as Mokuba returned, puffing hard from his frantic paddling, Seto kept his word and they made their way back to the jetty.

When they got off the rowing boat, Seto noticed a few people staring and pointing at them in astonishment. It seemed that news of Seto Kaiba visiting the park had spread, and fans were starting to appear.

Great! He should have realised that something like this might happen. He should have remembered to bring his bodyguard to frighten people away.

He just had to hope that none of the people who held a grudge against him showed up. There was more than one person he could think of that might want to attack him. However, if push did come to shove, he was more than capable of defending himself. He would have to stay on his guard, just in case.

Sticking his nose in the air, he took Katsu's hand and dragged her from the jetty and onto the pathway. If they were quick, he could get away before any of his 'fans' could accost him for an autograph, or even worse, a selfie.

"Wha... what's the hurry?" Katsu squeaked, as she was almost pulled off her feet.

"Keep walking," he hissed. "I don't wish to interact with those people."

"But...! Don't be so mean! They're fans!" She recalled how Jonouchi was desperate to be swooned over by adoring fans. "Hi there!" She smiled and waved to a gap toothed boy who was gawking hopefully at them.

Taking it as an invite, the boy, who was probably around six or seven years old, broke fee from his mother's grip and came running over expectantly. "Mishter Kaiba!" The boy lisped, excitedly.

Cursing internally, Seto forced one of his sardonic smiles and looked down at the boy.

Intimidated by the looming figure in front of him, the boy stopped in his tracks and started trembling nervously. The other fans hoping to get a word with Seto, faltered in their steps and held back.

Do you like scaring little kids? Katsu thought, but unlike her male self would have, she did not voice it aloud. Instead, she bent to the boy's level and smiled warmly. "What's your name?"

"D..D..Daisuke Miss. W.. what's yours?"

"My name is Katsu. I'm a friend of old grump bag here." She gestured at Seto with her thumb. Beside her, she heard Seto snort in annoyance at the reference. "Would you like a photo with Seto?"

Oh, no! Seto internalised a string of expletives, that if he had verbalised them would have probably sent everyone running away screaming with their ears covered. He was very tempted.

"Yesth pleashe!" The boy shrilled, making Seto wince.

Looking eternally grateful, the boy's mother bowed lowly and handed Katsu her phone. Katsu handed the phone to Seto, because he had longer arms, and pulled him down to the boy's level for a selfie. Mokuba happily joined them for the picture.

"Smile Seto," Katsu ordered, and not wishing to upset her, he obliged.

What the Fuck am I doing this for? He thought, as more eager fans joined them, waving their phones.

Seto timed how long they were kept there and was very quick to point out to Katsu and Mokuba that he had just been forced to waste twenty five minutes of his precious time on those people.

"But they're fans!" Katsu snapped back at him. "If it wasn't for them, you wouldn't be so rich!"

"She's right Seto," Mokuba reluctantly agreed. "However much we dislike them, we should be grateful to those people for buying all our merchandise."

"Whatever," Seto huffed. "I just wish they wouldn't try to touch me. I don't want their germs."

Jonouchi would have been quite prepared to start a fight with him over a comment like that. But Katsu was learning to control the side of herself that liked a good fight. Seto Kaiba had a huge superiority complex.

"I have no idea why I love you, because you're a totally arrogant dork sometimes, Seto," she giggled, nudging him as they walked towards the small zoo.

The moment the words came tumbling out of her mouth, she felt a jolt inside. Shit! Had she really just said that? Surely she didn't mean it romantically, did she?

Seto stopped walking abruptly and stared at her smugly. "Did you just say you loved me?"

"I didn't!" She squeaked. "I meant it like, yeah... like... I love you as a friend." Oh crap! She was making it worse.

"Then, prove it? Move into the mansion with me?" He sounded so serious that Katsu felt her insides knotting and flipping.

"But I'm going home in a couple of weeks!"

"You don't have to go. You could stay if you wish."

"But I'm not long turned seventeen! I'm only here because my parents said I could go on the exchange programme. If they say I have to go home, then I have to obey them."

"I'm sure your parents would agree to let you stay if I spoke to them." Everyone had their price. If he had to pay them, he would. But who wouldn't want their daughter to be dating Seto Kaiba?

"I.. I.." She was tongue tied.

"Yeah!" Mokuba whooped excitedly. "Please come and stay? Seto's far less moody since he's been dating you. He's even taking time off work to have fun!"

"You mean he can be even more bad tempered than he is today?!" She said jokingly, trying to deflect the conversation. She already knew just how mean he could be because Jonouchi had been on the receiving end of his venom at Duelist Kingdom. But Katsu had rationalized the incident with the duel disk, by reminding herself that Jonouchi had become a stronger person as a result.

However, she still could not understand why she had feelings for a man who had given her male self so much shit?!

Even though she was filled with dread, she found herself agreeing to discuss it with her parents later.

Of course, Jonouchi's parents would not be involved - she would be discussing it with her friends. They would freak out for certain, and Katsu knew deep in her heart that she could not move in with him.

But it was still nice to dream that it might be possible for her to separate from Jonouchi and live her own independent life.

Bringing her mind back into the real world, she walked ahead of them so that they could not see the expression on her face.

"Now look what you've done Mokuba," Seto hissed. "You have freaked her out!"

"Me!" Mokuba looked at him with exasperation. "You were the one who asked her to move in!" Seto could not really argue with that so he rolled his eyes and followed Katsu.

He was having a hard time trying to fathom her out. She seemed quite happy to spend time with him, but as soon as he he made any sort of move towards romance she seemed to freeze up. Most girls would have jumped at the opportunity to live with him and be his girlfriend!

His long strides soon enabled him to catch up with her. "You don't have to give me an answer today. Tomorrow will do." Why was he being so generous?

What on earth was she going to do? The sensible thing would be to end this charade and go into hiding until she changed back into Jonouchi. But common sense was not something she wanted right now. If this wasn't all so screwed up in the first place, the decision would be easy. Unable to think of anything to say, she mumbled, "thanks."

Without discussing it further, Seto paid the entrance fee and the trio went into the zoo.

A little way along the path, Katsu spotted her friends coming towards them.

She was just about to wave and catch their attention, when Seto mumbled a curse. He had seen them too. "This way." He took a left turn towards the reptile house. He really couldn't be bothered with them at the moment.

Unfortunately for him, they had already spotted him.

Ignoring the fact that his big brother was not keen on them, Mokuba waved at them. Mai, Yugi and Anzu waved back, while Honda just nodded his head.

Unlike his brother, Mokuba had grown to like Yugi and his friends. Despite the mean things he had tried to do to them, they had still helped him and Seto. And if it were not for Yugi, their soulless bodies would have probably rotted away in Pegasus' dungeons by now. Seto would never admit it, but they both owed Yugi, big time.

But the only thing Yugi had ever asked of them, was that they call each other friends. Mokuba was happy with that, but Seto would rather pay Yugi money than call him a friend. Maybe all that would change and they could all be friends now that his brother was dating Katsu.

"What a coincidence!" Yugi grinned, as he approached. "We were just heading to the reptile house. Maybe we could all go in together?"

"Actually! We were just leaving," Seto responded coldly.

"Oh! Well, okay." Yugi looked a little taken aback, but was more than used to this sort of response and had been expecting it.

"But, Seto?" Mokuba whined. "We just got here!"

"You can stay if you wish, Mokuba. I have more important business to attend to." He seemed oblivious to the disappointment on Mokuba's face. "Are you coming Katsu?" He was testing her loyalty. Who would she choose? Him or them?

Katsu hesitated. She felt really awkward. Making her choose between her frosty boyfriend and her smiling friends was not fair.

"Well! Are you coming?" He repeated. Katsu swallowed and glanced at her friends, hoping they might be understanding and cut her some slack.

"Do you mind...?" She really did not want to hurt them. "Only... you know I don't like creepy crawlies and snakes and things..." The way her friends were looking at her made her stomach drop.

Yugi, Anzu and Mai looked worried, while Honda... That look! Katsu was suddenly afraid that he would reveal her true identity.

What the hell was she playing at? Honda levelled a stern glare at his former best friend. He knew that Jonouchi didn't like snakes and spiders, but he wasn't so scared that he could not even go inside the reptile house! He was finding it impossible to understand why his best friend was dating that jerk. He had to put a stop to this, quickly.


What will Honda do? All will be revealed in the next chapter.

Please lease a review and see ya next time.