*16* Seto *16*
I sped down the highway, it was so dark out that I couldn't make out the road three feet in front of me. The outskirts of Domino were strangely uninhabited, I used to come out this far if I needed time to clear my head. This distance and darkness used to give me a sense of freedom, now it only gave me a feeling of loneliness and dare I admit, fear.
I looked over at Jounouchi's sleeping face, beams of moonlight that were allowed through the cloud cover illuminated his features. His eyelashes lightly rested upon his soft cheeks. He was breathing in and out slightly, completely comfortable sleeping even after our run-in with those thugs.
I suggest that he sleep to regain some strength since he had begun to fade out during the commotion. Hopefully that logic would hold. Hopefully? Damn. He was growing on me for sure. I had to think of a way to stop this attachment, his existence was finite.
In an attempt to take my mind off of thinking of Jounouchi, I turned on the radio, luckily it worked. Unfortunately, what was airing was the hostile takeover of my company. I gripped the steering wheel tighter and accelerated.
It was dawn when we had reached our destination, I was lucky I wasn't pulled over. Lucky? There it was again. Perhaps the Mutt's luck was rubbing off on me. I smiled at that and snuck a glance at him as I pulled into a parking space at the long-term parking at Domino Airport.
I reached over and stroked his cheek with the back of my hand, he opened his eyes but I didn't pull away. His honey colored eyes bore into mine and I felt warm. He smiled slightly, it was a micro expression but I was able to pick up on it due to years of practice reading people. I pulled away before he was fully aware of what I was doing.
"Well," I cleared my throat. "We're here." I said.
Jounouchi was wearing a blush but he was trying his best to hide it, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. "Yeah, where is here?" he asked.
"Domino Airport." I said simply before getting out of the car. He followed suit and we made our way to another row of cars.
"Are we leaving the country? I don't think I'll be able to do that." He said, I detected a hint of worry. He really was like a dog with separation anxiety.
"No, I have a secret base here." I said. "Just follow me like a good boy." I laughed when he bristled at the comment.
We made our way to the back of the lot, to a simple RV with a retina scanner in the door. I leaned in and allowed the machine to identify me.
"Okay, so I have to ask…" Jounouchi started, "this run down piece of junk or that motel?" he held up both his hands while doing a scale maneuver.
"It's not what's on the outside that counts." I said and pulled the door open and led him in. The RV was filled with the latest computer technology and completely suited to my needs in case of any emergency. I had recently updated it, not knowing that I would need it. That proves the importance of routine check-ups.
"It's very Seto Kaiba-like." Jounouchi said. It felt like an insult so I looked at him.
"Just what does that mean? It's hard, cold and unyielding?"
"It feels safe." Jounouchi said, and from the look on his face I could tell he was just as surprised as I was at the comment.
"Just close the door." I said. He did and took the seat next to mine in front of three huge computer screens. I booted them up and waited for that familiar "Seto Kaiba" welcome scream.
"Welcome, Master Kaiba." The computer's voice said.
"Contact Mokuba." I ordered.
"Mokuba Kaiba is no longer at Kaiba Corp."
"Yes I know. Contact Mokuba location Romeo, Alfa, Omega, five, six." I said.
"Searching." The computer said and after a moment it began to ring, "attempting to make contact."
"Big Brother?!" Mokuba's voice was like a fountain in the middle of a desert. "Thank god, everyone thinks you're dead."
"I am alright, Mokuba."
"Ha! Apart from seeing ghosts and, oh yeah, being shot, alright." Jounouchi said but I resisted the urge to give him a warning look.
"Roland hasn't told me much about what's happening. I'm scared."
"You have to hold it together. I need you to come back home and run Kaiba Corp for me. I need you to confirm for the media that I am dead." I said. "You have to do your best to keep your hold of the company no matter what."
"I will but I don't understand."
"I can't explain it now, there isn't time. Just know that I am alive and I am working on a way to make everything right."
"Alright, Big Brother. I trust you, of course." Mokuba sat up straighter and looked right at me when he said the following, "I won't let them take Kaiba Corp from us."
"Good."
"I love you, Ni-sama." Mokuba said.
"I love you, too." I answered, "Stay strong."
"Stay strong." He repeated. It was something our dear mother would say to us, it was the only thing Mokuba remembered about her. I spared him one last glance and ended the call.
"You guys have a great relationship." Jounouchi said.
"You have a good one with your sister."
"It's not as strong, we didn't grow up together."
"I am aware that your parents separated you but your bond is still a strong one." I said.
"Okay," his tone said that he wanted to change the subject. "So Mokuba is going to run the company. Will he be safe? I mean those guys tried to murder you."
"He'll be fine. When he comes out with word of my death and that he will be taking over the company the media will cover him for a while. Those bastards won't try anything risky while the media is on the company."
"I guess you know what you're doing." Jounouchi said
"I do. I've had a lot of practice with this sort of thing."
"Really? I never noticed."
"Of course not, I didn't let it show."
"You do have a habit of hiding your emotions, well you did, I should say."
"What does that mean?"
"I can read you too." Jounouchi clarified. "I know you've been analyzing me since we started this partnership."
"You don't know anything." I turned away from him.
"Ha, see, you do that when someone is close to finding out the truth about you. You dismiss people." Jounouchi made his way around me so that I would face him. "My favorite tell is the scary vein that shows up on your forehead when you are really upset. That's an easy one, I think we all knew about it, that's how we knew that there was a potential for friendship there, since the vein never showed up even when you were putting us down."
"Just stop it now."
"No. Now, back to you analyzing me, I can tell because you don't understand that everything I am is right out here in the open. I have nothing to hide."
"Oh?"
"Yes."
"You sure you don't want to take that back? There is one thing that I have seen in you that I you would never admit in a million years."
"What's that?"
"Take it back first."
"No."
"Then I'm not telling you." I smiled and so did he. I have never playfully bantered with anyone before, it was fun and refreshing.
"You can be really stubborn." He said, that was the pot calling the kettle black. "Fine, I take it back." He finally said.
"You are glad I am helping you and you want to be my friend more than anything in the whole world." I said.
"Yeah, well same goes for you." He snapped.
"I am not." I said. I wasn't expecting this conversation to backfire on me, that's for sure. What would be the harm in admitting it? It wasn't as if he could tell anyone, not that they'd believe him anyway. "You know what, fine, I am glad that you are here."
"Ha, I knew it! Wait, what?"
Oh? I smirked, perhaps this would be more fun than keeping it from him. "I'll admit that you aren't that bad and are useful in many situations."
"Uh... you know what, I need some air, it's really hot in here." He said as he stood from his seat and headed for the door. "I won't get locked out, will I?"
"No." I said and laughed when I was sure he was completely out of my presence.
The whole thing was completely new to me and I felt out of character but it was making my heart race. It felt as exciting as facing Yugi in the dueling arena and I hadn't felt that alive in years.