I'm sorry for the slight confusing. I ended the last chapter in a different place from the original plan. I wanted to clarify one thing incase it doesn't make itself clear in this chapter and incase I confused anyone else. Kaiba has been locked up for a few days with those captors. Where I ended Kaiba's story was one day after I ended Jou's. The press conference is on the same day that Aki told Cly to do what he wished. I completely forgot about that little part and left it out only because I wanted to keep the press conference for this chapter. Again I'm very sorry.
On that note. Thank you so much for your reviews. I was worried about making Kaiba weaker than usual because I wanted to try to keep him in character as much as possible. This is going to be another combined chapter but it won't be as long as the last one. My outline of this story was obviously down by someone else because that couldn't have been me LOL Just kidding. I was half asleep when I plotted this.
Warnings: mention of rape (again not graphic just talking about it), language and the aftereffects of Kaiba's torture (I skipped it this story because I want to focus on the characters instead of the abuse)
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Chapter Six
Mokuba moved out of the mansion and through the large mob of reports. He didn't want to have the press conference right outside of the house. He stood in the middle of the people asking random questions and attempting to get a response out of him. Roland stood beside him, glancing carefully through the crowd for any danger or someone standing out of place. Mokuba held up his hand like he watched his brother do countless times before he was going to speak. "We are moving this press conference to Kaiba Corp. I hope you all join me there in a half hour." With that spoken, Mokuba moved through the rest of the crowd over to the limo. With his emotionless mask firmly in place, he slightly prayed that his brother would be proud of him. He hoped that his speech today would not only show the world that he was still looking for Kaiba, but to prove to the board members that he wasn't giving up. His brother would be back running the company. Kaiba was the only one with the heart and soul that could keep that company alive. His brother turned it from the deadly company it was into a company the brought joy and smiles to children's faces. Mokuba would never let the company give up on him, not when Kaiba never gave up on it.
The second the door shut behind him, Mokuba curled in on himself. "Roland, how does Seto do that and make it look so easy?"
The tall bodyguard chuckled from the driver's seat. "Mr. Kaiba has often used this limo as a way to prepare himself. He still gets nervous too. You're doing great, Master Mokuba."
"Did you contact everyone on the board?"
"Yes, sir. They will be waiting in the lobby for your arrival."
"Good." Mokuba remained quiet for the rest of the ride. He knew that Kaiba never had the board members at his press conferences, but he was doing this to rub it in there face. He was tired of them constantly harassing him about taking over the company. It would be one week since he was kidnapped tomorrow. It was too early to give up on Kaiba, especially since Jou escaped five days ago. Of course he knew the odds of his brother still being alive was slim, but he wasn't giving up until they showed him a body. To him, Kaiba was still alive.
Roland pulled up along the side of Kaiba Corp. The news crew was already there. He could never understand how they got to places so quickly. Mokuba took a deep breath and waited for Roland to open his door. He plastered the same emotionless face that he had on before and stepped out of the door. Ignoring the questions on his way into the main lobby. To his delight, all the board members stood in the corner by the elevators. He assumed that they must think he was announcing that he was giving up on Kaiba. He felt sorry for those fools. He hoped that they were as good as not showing emotions as the brothers were.
The pressed followed in, setting up cameras and microphones as they took their seats. The raven-haired teen waited patiently for everyone to get settled. He allowed a few people to put microphones on his jacket before moving over to the podium that was set up just for this purpose. Roland stood beside him, his eyes still darting through the crowd. Once satisfied that there was no threat, he nodded to Mokuba. Mokuba cleared his throat and rested his hands on the podium in front of him. The speech his staff wrote last night remained forgotten in front of him. He had no intentions of reading it. This was going to come from his heart. He was going to do his brother justice.
"I have called you all here this morning to make an announcement. It has come to my attention that not only is the police giving up on finding my brother alive, but the whole world that stood and supported him has given up." Mokuba glared over at the board members. "I like to inform you that Kaiba Corp. is not giving up on my brother. Seto has done so much for this company and this city. It's about time we gave something back to him. Apparently the award for information on his whereabouts and safe return is not good enough. I'm issuing a challenge. The first person that finds my brother dead or alive and brings him back to me will receive a prize much better than the reward money. If you bring me information that leads me to him you will also receive that prize. That goes for everyone including the police, homeless people, members of the board, our employees, criminals, and even the people that kidnapped my brother. In order to find out what that prize is, you must help me bring my brother home. But, don't think that this deal will stay long. You all have two days starting the second I walk out of those doors. Thank you." Mokuba took one last look at the board members, feeling satisfied that they didn't look too happy.
Mokuba walked pass the endless questions and back into the limo. Roland quickly got into the driver's seat and drove back to the mansion. "I'm sorry about not following the speech, Roland."
"You don't need to apologize to me, but if I may say freely. That was very foolish of you."
"I know, but now everyone would be looking for him. The prize will be determined on what type of person finds him. Do you think my brother would be angry?"
Roland sighed. "Yes and no. He would hate how you just made yourself a target, but he would be very proud that you stood up to the board members and challenged the world. Master Mokuba, I think we should increase security around the mansion. You do know people are going to be finding someone that looks like Mr. Kaiba just to get the prize or even give false information."
"Go ahead and increase security. I don't want anything happening to Jou or Omi. I don't want to trust one of the board members to help with the frauds. Will you be able to handle it?"
Roland smirked. "Not to worry, Master Mokuba. If the information is adequate enough for you to hear, I'll bring that person up to you."
"Thank you." Mokuba quietly watched the city zoom by, wondering how long it would take for someone to start to scam him. He just hoped that this would get the captors to either bring Kaiba to him or let him go. Maybe someone would find him or Kaiba would be able to make it back with his own strength if they did let him go.
Jou sat in the living room with Omi, watching the press conference. His jaw dropped to the dramatic challenge Mokuba unleashed. It was like watching Kaiba stand up there and announce to the world that he was going to build an amusement park in every major city. Jou glanced out the window, noticing that people were already lining up outside of the gates. Whether they were there to show support, or they had information on Kaiba, Jou couldn't tell. His eyes softened as he saw the tears coming down Omi's cheeks. "What's the matter?"
"I'm sorry," the small child wailed. "I should have told him that I was leaving the door unlocked. You both would have been able to make it out alive. It's all my fault."
Jou was shocked at not only the confession, but the fact that Omi was speaking clearly without any fear. "Omi, none of this is your fault. We'll get Kaiba back. Don't you worry."
"I wish I knew the other hideout, but they never took me out of that one. I always knew there was another one, but they…they…" Omi couldn't finish the sentence.
"They what?"
"When they left they chained me in tha-that room." Omi pulled on his hair. "All I heard were those boys screaming on the videos. I couldn't watch them. I kept my eyes closed. Whatever was happening." Omi started to shake and cry harder. "I don't want them to put him through that. It must have been painful the way they were screaming."
Jou wrapped his arms around the trembling boy. Fear clouded his judgment as he shouted for help. "Get the doctor here right away," he told the first person to run into the room. He gently rocked Omi back and forth in his arms as he continued to sob. He grew even more concerned about Kaiba. If they causing this much pain to a child that didn't watch what was on the videos, he could only imagine what they were doing to Kaiba who they didn't need any longer. Was he even still alive? Jou couldn't stand waiting there. He wanted to be out there looking for Kaiba. He never got to tell him the reason he was meeting with Kaiba. "Don't you give up, Kaiba," Jou silently prayed.
The doctor came running in ten minutes later as Jou finally let the child go. "He's having a breakdown," Jou whispered. The tall man held the boy to his chest, whispering soft words to calm him down as he injected him with a mild sedative. Within the minutes Omi was sleeping peacefully in the doctor's arms.
He gently laid Omi down on the couch while he checked his heart rate. "He should be okay. What triggered it?"
"We were watching the press conference. He started apologizing for not being able to get both of us out. Then he started talking about what they made him watch. He said he never looked, but he couldn't block out the screams that the boys who were being punished made. I don't know who those men are, but I swear if I ever find them again." Jou couldn't finish his sentence. Mokuba walked in a few minutes later, taking his tie and jacket off.
He took one look at the doctor and gasp. "What's wrong?"
"Omi had a breakdown. He's fine now," the doctor answered. "It was a build up of grief and guilt I'm assuming. Once he's rested he should be fine."
"I'm going to get changed and wait to see if anything happens." Mokuba left a few minutes later obviously extremely worried about what the next two days would hold. Would he be able to see his brother again?
The doctor took one look at Mokuba's retreating form. "I'll talk to him," he informed the blond before leaving as well. Jou trusted that the doctor would know more about the Kaiba brothers than Jou did. He trusted the man to be able to calm Mokuba down.
Jou sat down in front of the couch and turned the volume down on the television. The news was doing another broadcast of the press conference along with interviewing random people. Some people support Mokuba's decision and other's thought he was just acting like a spoiled child. He couldn't believe how quickly someone could turn on someone else, but he figured that the two millionaire brothers saw it often. Jou's thoughts ran back to Kaiba. He knew the brunet was strong and could withstand most torture, but how long could he last. It had already been five days. The amount of damage they could do to Kaiba not only physically but mentally would be astronomical. If and when they found Kaiba alive, would he be the same. Jou shook that thought from his head. It didn't matter to Jou whether Kaiba was the same or not. He just wanted him back in his life. He wanted to see the fire in those sapphire eyes of his. He wasn't to stand beside him as he showed the world that he was the strong CEO he wanted them to see. He admired Kaiba's courage and strength to the point where he was relying on him to help him through his life. He craved that presence.
Jou got up and looked back outside as hundreds of people gathered at the gates. Some people launched teddy bears and flowers over the gates to land randomly on the driveway and lawn. He smiled at the small support that they were giving the family. Jou wished he had the strength to tell Kaiba earlier. "I love you, Seto," he whispered to himself, not noticing Mokuba standing in the doorway.
Mokuba smiled and hid around the corner. He was thrilled to hear those words from Jou's mouth. He knew that there was something going on when Jou suddenly wanted a meeting with Kaiba. Usually the blond would just burst into the house or his brother's office, but Jou politely phoned in an appointment and waited patiently for the time and date to arrive. He wondered if that was the moment he was going to confess his feelings to his brother. It saddened the teenager knowing that their romantic time was interrupted with tragedy. He also knew that Kaiba had feelings for the blond, considering that he didn't just tell his secretary to cancel that appointment when he saw the schedule. In fact, he watched his brother pick out new clothes for the day and even search for the perfect cologne. Mokuba smiled. He was going to get his brother back not only for himself, but for the love sick blond in the living room. He just hoped that when they found Kaiba, that those men didn't ruin their chances to be together.
Kaiba was in an out of consciousness. Every bit of his body hurt, and he hated thought that he was going to die at little less then he hated the bitter taste in his mouth. His captors were arguing in the background. He couldn't make out most of it, but he heard something about the news was having a search party sent out for him. That part confused him. Another wave a nausea shook painfully through his battered body. He hated lying in his own blood and vomit, but he couldn't move himself out of it. Eventually he felt his body being lifted off the ground. He didn't know where they were taking him, but he hoped that there was no more pain. He couldn't hold on much longer.
His nude body was thrown painfully into the back of a van. He screamed as the broken bones in his body throbbed painfully. He couldn't even think where they were taking him now. He closed his eyes as Jou's image appeared before him. "Giving up, Kaiba?"
"I don't have the strength. You were suppose to come back for me." Tears rolled down his bloody cheeks as he continued to have the conversation with the invisible Jou. His words were spoken very softly that no one would be able to hear him.
"Who says I'm not coming now?"
"You'll never find me."
"Don't give up now. You had enough strength to not give them what they wanted besides hacking into Dimo. I'm coming for you."
"Protect Mokuba for me."
"Kaiba! Don't you fucking give up. You keep fighting. I'm coming for you. Don't you forget that!" Tears continued to stream down his face as he lost consciousness again. He silently hoped that he wouldn't wake again. He couldn't handle the pain anymore.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans. When he awoke again, he broken body was lying in the middle of a forest. He tried to move his broken leg, but the strength he once had was depleted. He looked up just to see the back of Jou's head disappear around a tree. "Jou," Kaiba tried to shout, but his voice was gone, and he just mouthed the words. He pulled his broken arm close to his chest and leaned over on the right side. Digging his hand into the ground he pulled himself in the direction that Jou disappeared from.
He could hear someone talking as they climbed through the forest. The voice didn't sound like Jou's, but he could have sworn he saw Jou. He looked around again and spotted the blond-haired man. He had a backpack on his shoulders and was talking to a red-haired woman. He tried to shout Jou's name again, but the words still refused to come form in his mouth. Cursing his luck, Kaiba continued to pull his beaten body through the debris of the forest. Twigs scrapped his skin, and he shivered from the cold. He had to reach Jou. He hated to think that Jou was walking with another woman, but maybe they knew he was somewhere in this forest, and they were looking for him.
Kaiba continued to pull himself, having difficulty climbing over the large roots. He tried to move towards the two walking, but his strength gave out. "Wait, Jou," he was finally able to whisper. His breath was coming quickly, and his heart beat quickened. He could feel the blood running down his skin from all the wounds that were reopening. The two were just about to disappear from sight. He had to reach them. He had to get to Jou. Kaiba attempted to pull himself up again, but there was no strength left in him. He took a deep breath and shouted, "Jou, help me!" at the top of his lungs. He heard rapid footsteps as he collapsed on the forest floor.
"Oh God, Jenny, hand me one of my jackets. I think this is the man that everyone's been looking for. He's in horrible shape. Call an ambulance." At first Kaiba couldn't understand the words until he realized that they were speaking English. He wondered when they moved him to America. His consciousness fell again. Jou came for him, but he couldn't understand why Jou was speaking English. He knew that the blond man was half American, but why would he speak it? How would Jou know to find him in a forest much less in America?
The tall blond looked over at his girlfriend. "Jason, they said not to move him but to keep him warm and stop anything that's bleeding. Who would have thought our trip to Mt. Fuji would end like this? Are you sure this is the person on the news this morning?"
Jason wiped the blood off Kaiba's face. "I believe so. He has a broken arm and leg." He rested Kaiba's head on his lap and took a blanket out of his pack, wrapping it around the CEO. "Don't worry," Jason whispered to the unconscious man. "We'll get you help. Your brother's speech a day ago was impressive. Who is this Jou you called for? I'm sure your brother's name was Mokuba. Is Jou someone you care for? You keep holding on," Jason continued to speak randomly. It was lucky that they weren't too deep into the forest. He heard the sirens approaching. "You hear that. They're going to help you. Just keep breathing." Jason looked up at Jenny who smiled at his kind gesture. He didn't even know this man, but he was trying to keep him alive by talking to him. Jenny looked down the path to see the ambulance pull up. She ran down the path to lead them the right direction. Every second counted.
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Now that took me a total of three hours to type. And since I got it done so quickly I'll update it quickly. I'm going to work on the next chapter the second I have a chance. Maybe I can even get that chapter out quickly if I can type it that fast. There's a total of two chapters left. And I'm even thinking of a sequel, but I'm not sure. We'll see how I feel after I finished typing these other two chapters. Thank you all for reading. Please review.
Angel Dove