Lime Rocker: Hello! I'm back again with the next installment of "The Consequences of Change." Sorry, I know some of you thought that the story was over, but far from it! From my calculations there's going to be somewhere around 20 chapters when I am finished.
Due to a few new ideas I have for future chapters, I have raised the rating of the story to mature. (This does not mean I write "over the top," but I will leave less to the imagination if you catch my drift. BUT NO SEX!!! Sorry, won't write it.)
Pairing: (Puppyshipping) SetoxJou, KaibaxJou. SIDE: ValonxMai, YamixYuugi, OtogixHonda, maybe (at least mentions of)BakuraxRyou
Rating: M for Mature (RATEING HAS CHANGED FOR FUTURE CHAPTERS!)
Chapter 5: Operation Dragon Man and Daddy
A soft moan escaped from the black couch to his right. "That didn't last long." Kaiba Seto didn't look up from the 2 week old newspaper he was reading – he needed something to take his mind, and eyes, off the sick blonde.
"Wh…" Jou sighed softly, "Where-" he moved to his elbows, feeling a stinging in the back of his throat. Fear was shining in the disoriented caramel eyes. He barely had time to take a breath before he burst into a small coughing fit.
Seto put the old paper down, and gracefully sat forward. "Shh. It's okay, Pup. Calm down, you're in my office. My doctor should be here soon." He rubbed the blonde's back softly, trying to calm him down.
"What happened?" Jou rasped out, unconsciously leaning towards the blue-eyed CEO. He kept his eyes closed, trying to steady his breathing.
"You're sick, thought it was a good idea to go to a fitness class when in reality-"
"-Please." The smaller sighed, shoulders slumping forward, "I know-"he started to cough again. Shaking his head he tried again, "You know what… what I me-"
"-I took you to my office after Hitori went to the hospital. Len went with him, but he's on his way." Seto shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "You passed out the second you sat down" he snickered, "-and almost fell off the couch."
Jou blinked, "Almost?" He looked down noticing a navy coat that was covering him. Seto turned, his face a little colored.
There was a soft knock on the door, "Come in." Seto stood, his expression hardening as a white haired man, 10 or 15 years older than Seto, walked in.
He bowed slightly to his employer, "You called, Sir?"
"Len?" Kaiba turned slightly, hearing the blonde stand. Blue-eyes watched closely as Jou took a few shaky steps to stand behind the CEO. "What are you doing here?"
'You shouldn't be standing, pup.' Seto thought to himself. "He's going to see exactly what you have." He informed the blonde, raising a slender eyebrow at the blinking brown eyes.
"Oh…" Jou muttered, swaying slightly. Seto sighed, turning as the other's eye fluttered closed. Kaiba gently grabbed Katsuya's shoulders so the falling figure wouldn't hit the floor. The half-conscious Jou instinctively grabbed on to Kaiba's shirt, his fingers clutching onto the soft fabric above the CEO's elbows.
"Sir?" Len had never seen his employer so… worried about someone outside the Kaiba family before. 'Could it be he's finally opening up?'
Seto turned back to the doctor, the blonde's head lulled against the taller man's chest, brown eyes distant and half-lidded. "I need you to figure out the extent of his illness."
Len nodded, "Yes, sir." He watched Kaiba take a step towards the couch, and lay the blonde back down. 'Hn.' He smirked, but hid it quickly. "May I ask you to leave, Sir."
"What?" Seto turned, his blue eyes dark.
"It's protocol, Sir." Len bowed his head slightly.
"This is my office. I will not be leaving. Anything that occurs in here, I will be present for." His voice was slowly growing.
"Sir, I mean no disrespect, but-"
"Enough Tsukimori!" Seto snapped, "This is my office, my company, and you work for me! Therefore-" Something grabbed the cuff of his sleeve. Seto looked down at the blonde.
"Please Seto…" Jou whispered weakly, he was blinking several times, trying to focus on the other's face.
"It won't take long." Len knelt next to Jounouchi, setting his bag down, and pulling out a stethoscope.
Kaiba sighed.
"Amazing." Len remarked once he heard the door behind him click. He shook his head stunned.
"Hn?" Jou blinked, moving his eyes off the door the brown haired CEO had just vanished behind.
"How long have you known Kaiba-san?" He asked, grabbing one of his otoscope and looked in one of Jou's ears.
"Mmm… Since high school." Jounouchi snickered weakly, "We don't get along at all."
"What do you mean?" Len grabbed a tongue depressor and small flashlight once he finished looking at Jou's other ear.
"We've never gotten along. Always fighting and-" he sneezed, "-arguing. I donno. I hates me."
Len bit back a laugh, "Open your mouth…." He shinned the light to see Jou's throat. "Well, I highly doubt he hates you." Jou turned his head, his muddled mind confused, "Do you hate him, Jounouchi-san?" Len raised an eyebrow.
Katsuya blinked, Len moved back to his bag and began digging through it looking for something. "I… I don't hate him." He shook his head. "He can just be difficult sometimes. And it doesn't matter if I hate him or not. He's an ass, and treats me like a dog." He paused, watching the doctor for a moment, "You're…. you're not going to take any blood are you?" Jou swallowed, trying to keep the desire to cough down, but the scratching finally got the best of him and he broke out into a small coughing fit.
"How long have you been sick?" Len asked, changing the subject.
"… I don't know…. A few days?" He tried to clear his throat, the clogging ball feeling coming back.
"How many is a few days?" Len put the stethoscope on his back, "Breath in…" Jou did so, fighting back the urge to cough again. "... out…."
"Uh… 2 days…. 3.. maybe 4 but that seems to be pushing it…" Katsuya shivered wrapping his arms around himself, feeling unusually cold. 'Damn the Motrin must be wearing off.'
"Hn… What were you doing?" Len raised an eyebrow looking up at the blonde.
Katsuya rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "Well, ehh… I had to walk to Kaiba's from work, to get my son, Kenji, because my engine froze over…. That was about 5 days ago" He laughed nervously.
Len blinked, "Why the hell didn't you call a cab or something?"
Jou shrugged, "We're not allowed to."
"Here. Take this." Len pulled out a bottle of pills. He handed two of them to Jou. "It'll help with the coughing." Jou nodded, before swallowing them. "I never understood how people can take those without water." Jou shrugged, yawning slightly. "It'll help you sleep too."
--
Kaiba Seto was a fair man. When giving an employee an order he was sure to allow an extra 5 minutes for them to finish their task before he'd fire them. If it took him 10 minutes to do something, he would give who ever it was 15 minutes. Yes, he was very fair, but not patient. He had been waiting exactly 46 minutes and 13 seconds for his doctor to exit his office.
Generally he didn't like, and would never even consider, leaving his office for anyone, but something about the blonde's pleading request forced him to obey. It unnerved him, they way the blonde made him feel. He certainly didn't remember having it back in high school. Seto growled to himself, 'What the hell is wrong with me? I have absolutely no feelings for that mutt.'
The door opened with a soft creak, forcing the billionaire from his thoughts. "Well?" Kaiba crossed his arms, not bothering to stand up from the large chair he had occupied during his wait.
"He's in no danger at the moment, but he does have a case of pneumonia. I'm afraid though, if he keeps with his current pushing it will get worse, and may even evolve into bronchitis. He needs sleep, to take it easy for a few weeks. His body is extremely weak; I'm not sure how he could stay on his feet let alone the treadmill. While that is impressive, it's not safe."
"I don't need a lecture on safety. It's not what I'm paying you for." Seto stated coolly as he stood, "What is the prescribed treatment?"
"I gave him a bottle of pills to help with the pain and coughing. It should help him sleep as well… the side effects are excessive drowsiness." Len explained when Kaiba raised an eyebrow. "He needs a lot of rest, as I've said before, and to eat." He shook his head, "He has a kid, and I honestly have no idea how things are going to work." Len confessed.
"He'll be staying with me."
Len blinked, hiding his smirk, 'I told you, Jounouchi-san. There is no hatred here.' "Sir?" he questioned, playing innocent.
"Mokuba will like the company." The CEO explained quickly, 'Why the hell did I just do that?' He mentally slapped himself, but quickly shoved the thought aside, 'I'll think about it later!'
"He will indeed, Sir. Is there anything else I can do, Sir?" He could already guess the answer though.
"How is Hitori?" Kaiba asked politely.
"I don't know." Len relaxed slightly, seeing his employer slip to casual conversation. "I intend to head over to the hospital next."
Seto nodded, "Let me know how he is, and if I can do anything."
Len nodded and bowed, "Good evening, Sir."
"Good night." He turned towards his office doors, opening them and walking in gracefully. "See, I told you, you were pushing yourself. What would Kenji do if your condition worsened?"
Katsuya jerked awake, his half conscious mind barely registering someone's icy voice bellowing above him. He blinked, looking up at the blurred shape. "Hn…?"
Kaiba sighed, "Come on. Get your stuff together." He ordered gently, making his way to his desk and gathered a few small piles of papers and folders.
"Where are we going?" Jou sat up onto one hand, rubbing his eye with his other in an attempt to wake up.
"Home. You need sleep…" Seto didn't look up from his laptop which he was turning off and placing it into his brief case.
"Mnn… can't… Gotta get Kenji…" Jounouchi muttered, sitting up fully and swinging his legs over the side of the couch. "Honda… was supposed to drop him off after the class…" he continued to mutter almost incoherently.
"Pup, the class was over a good 3 hours ago." Seto raised an eyebrow at the blonde who in returned stared back at him with wide brown eyes. He sighed, picking up the phone on his desk, "Yes this is Kaiba. Yes, I am looking for two people… yes my brother… ah so the kid's with him… yes inform them to meet me downstairs. We're leaving." He clicked the phone down and grabbed his, now full, silver brief case. "It would seem my brother has again picked up a stray." He smirked to himself, 'Much like myself…' he added silently.
Jou continued to blink, his caramel eyes darkening after a moment, "Never-" he stood "-"-refer to my son as a stray. It's one thing when you say such demeaning things to me. But I will not accept you saying them about-" he closed his eyes, his hand running through his hair. "-Kenji…"
"Come on." He said softly, gently grabbing the blondes arm. "They're waiting downstairs."
--
The limo ride back to the mansion was one of the most awkward rides Kaiba Seto had ever had. Not because of the sick blonde currently sleeping next to him, the little boy sleeping on his father's lap with his head pillowed on the CEOs leg, or even the mischievous look his little brother was giving him. None of them seemed to bother him, and that's where the problem started. These strange events seemed to be normal, which was odd.
It had begun to rain, which always seemed to relax the busy brunette, but he still couldn't figure out why he kept thinking about the blonde. Even now, with the blonde's head bobbing against the window, Seto couldn't stop the nagging in the back of his head. 'Why the hell am I even helping him?' he yelled at himself. He never showed kindness to anyone other then his brother. Even in his later years, he was not known for his compassion. Mokuba was the only one given the privilege to see his softer side. So, why was he helping out the mutt? In unnerved him. He didn't know why, he just did. He growled to himself, looking out the window again.
"You okay Seto?" Mokuba asked, interrupting the silence.
"Hn. Just tired, Moki." He smiled at his younger brother.
"Seto, do you mind if I go out tonight?"
"Hn. You're an adult. No need to ask for my permission." Seto smiled at his brother, "Have fun. Just try to be back before 3 in the morning, like last time."
Mokuba laughed nervously, "No need to worry about that, dear brother." The limo stopped and the driver let Mokuba out at his usual club.
"Thanks Ferio." Mokuba winked at the man.
Ferio nodded, "Any time, Sir." He turned back to Seto. "Home, I trust, Master Kaiba?"
"Hai." Seto nodded before turning back to the window, enjoying the silence. Blue eyes turned down to the blonde head resting on his leg. 'The mutt's kid certainly is interesting. The fact the mutt could raise a kid was some what surprising.' Seto wondered for a brief moment why he wasn't down right shocked at the idea of the blonde man having a kid. He could easily picture it. Back in high school, if someone told him Jou would have a kid, he would have laughed in their face. Seto smiled to himself, remembering the bickering they two of them went through. He shook his head. So many things had changed.
Kenji rolled over to face the back of the seat. He blindly grabbed his father's hand, moving it onto his shoulder so he could snuggle closer. Seto raised an eyebrow as the blonde child wrapped his arms around his, holding the CEO's arm. Kaiba couldn't help the small smile that pulled at his lips. He played with a strand of the boy's hair, more memories of Mokuba as a child came flooding back to him. Jou moved a little, muttering something in his sleep. Kenji rolled his shoulder, and Jou's hand slid down, resting next to Seto's. Their hands were almost touching, but even with the distance Seto could feel heat pulsating off of the, unusually pale, skin. He sighed, moving his other hand up to feel the blonde's forehead. "Hn. The fever's back." He made a mental note to give the pup another pill before he fell asleep.
He turned his attention back to the window, and inwardly cursed. They were driving past the park, which instantly got him thinking of the dreams he had been having. He shook his head, he wasn't going to think about it. His head hurt and he was too tired to deal with it. But soon his thoughts of the dreams turned into a play back of the past few days…
"Please Seto…"
The man turned to him, his eyes dark and out of focus. "S… Seto?"
"Shut… up… ass… hole." Jou gasped out between coughs. The blonde's hand went up, leaning against the wall.
He wasn't sure why he was so gentle, but he slowly lifted the unconscious blonde onto the couch.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, his blue eyes closed. "I'm not going to eat you." He sighed, sitting down in the black leather chair.
"I'm 4, thank you very much." Kenji huffed, crossing his arms.
"Mai." He heard the blonde whispered. "I was out with the gang at a club. Had a bit too much to drink" Jou shrugged, "12 months later she's at my doorstep with a little baby in her hands, puts him in my arms and leaves. Haven't seen her since. I heard she and Valon got married."
"After 20 years you're still just as idiotic as you were in High School mutt."
"What does it matter to you?" Jou snapped, glaring.
Mokuba smiled, "Oh so you noticed how he looked."
"Anyway, I should be going. But remember it's not nice to yell at people. My dad always says that if you yell at someone or make fun of them then you won't have any friends."
"Kai… Kaiba!? Oh my gosh! I didn't know you were back in Domino!" The blonde smiled, "You look so different. I have to admit I didn't recognize you for a moment… Same old blue eyes though."
He shrugged, "I don't see what the big deal is."
"Perhaps you're still an arrogant prick who takes every chance to call people dogs and people don't want to deal with it?" Jou suggested, tapping the pen lightly on his chin in a mock 'Hmm this could be a hard one to crack' gesture.
A picture of a broken Jou lying in the snow flashed in his mind. Kaiba looked over at the mop of golden hair and sighed. 'Stupid mutt…' He couldn't explain this sudden need to take care of the blonde boy, but something inside him commanded that he do so. It actually wasn't so bad. Well, that didn't make sense to him either, but-
"-Sir, we're pulling into the gates." Ferio informed his employer.
"Hn. Thank you." Kaiba nodded, before Ferio rolled up the black wall again. He turned to the two sleeping blondes. "Mutt…"he lightly elbowed the blonde, only getting a groan and Jounouchi shifting away. Seto shook his head. "Come on Pup." He grabbed the blondes hand and elbowed him again.
"Mmm notta… dog…" Jou muttered, and tried to move away from the jabbing.
"Come on." Seto gently pulled his arm out from the sleeping child's grasp and took hold of the blonde man's shoulders and shook gently. "It's time to go to an actual bed now." He snickered as the chocolate eyes blinked open.
"Mmm… what?" Jou sat up, rubbing the kink in his neck. "Gah!" he winced.
"That's what you get for sleeping like that." He scolded.
"Mmnn… not the neck… my head is pounding." Katsuya groaned, holding his head in his hands.
"I thought as much. I'll give you some more of those pills when we get inside." Seto slowly undid his seat belt as the approached the house.
"What?" Jou turned to the brunette blinking in confusion.
Kaiba sighed, "Just come." He ordered as Ferio opened the door for the CEO. He gently pulled Kenji out of the car, as he stood up. He turned back to the open door, and offered a hand to Katsuya, balancing the boy in his other arm.
Under normal circumstances Jou would have refused the offered hand, but the fact there were six hands spinning in front of him made him think better of the offer. He shifted the weight of his tired body, and grabbed what he thought would be the others hand, only to find air. He didn't even register himself lose his balance until he felt something grab his wrist. Jou held onto the other as best as he could. He heard Seto sigh, and help him out of the car. 'Damn. Why do I have to feel so dead?'
"Come on Pup. Almost there."
'Why does it have to be him? Why do I have to be so weak now, around him?' Jounouchi mentally cursed himself. Jou stood straighter, and held out his arms. "I can carry him."
Seto turned, but didn't argue. "Alright." Jou lifted Kenji off of Seto's shoulder.
"Mmm… Daddy I'm tired."
"I know, kiddo." Jou rubbed his son's back. "Thanks." Jou muttered to Seto when he held the door open for the two.
"Put the kid in a bed room, up the stairs 7 doors down on the left. I'll be up in a minute."
Jou nodded, slowly making his way up the stairs and down the hall, his son in hand.
Kaiba turned, walking down a hall towards his kitchen. He pulled out his cell phone, "Hai, Mio-san. I will be working from home for a few days. Push my meetings back a week, and forward all calls to my home study line... Yes… Very good." He snapped his phone shut, and slid it back into his pocket.
"Kaiba-sama! You're home early."
Seto looked up to see his head maid, and family chef. He nodded, "Something came up."
"I see… Can I get anything, Sir?" She watched in confusion as the CEO pulled a glass from the cupboard.
"Hn. Are the guest rooms equipped for inhabitance?" Seto held the cup under an opening in the silver and black refrigerator and hit a button for ice.
"Yes sir. As requested more then 20 years ago, the rooms are always ready." She crossed her arms, smiling kindly at her employer, "May I ask why?"
"I would have thought it would be obvious." He moved to another opening and hit another button, a small stream of iced water falling into the cup.
"What I meant was, what boring business associate are we housing?"
"They're not a business associates." He tapped his foot, waiting impatiently for the glass to fill.
"You mean you actually have friends…. staying over?"
Kaiba turned to her and raised an elegant eyebrow, "Why look so shocked Risa-san?"
"Kaiba-san, I have worked for you since you were 15 years old, that's 23 years, and never once have you had a single friend over." Risa beamed at him, her hands now resting on her somewhat wide hips.
"Hn. Well, I wouldn't say we're friends… more of acquaintances I suppose." He paused for a moment, "Yes, acquaintances from high school." Honestly, it would be like mortal enemies back in high school, but he didn't want to get into the details. Risa would undoubtedly ask questions he couldn't answer. Like why had he opened his home to someone he apparently used to hate.
Seto sighed, nothing made sense anymore. "See you in the morning." He turned, making his way back up stairs to the sick mutt and his son. "Oh." Kaiba paused, "I'll be working at home for awhile." He didn't bother to wait for her reaction.
Risa blinked at the now closed door. Seto had never worked from home for more than a day, even when he was sick. Actually, when she thought about it, he had always managed to go to Kaiba Crop. even if it was only for a few hours. And then there were two mystery guests staying in his house. Risa tapped her chin in thought, 'Something certainly has changed.' And she was going to find out what.
--
"You look horrible, Daddy." Kenji yawned as he was gently put into a soft bed.
"Thanks." Jou smiled down at his duplicate, before tickling his son's sides. "How nice of you!" he laughed enjoying spending time with his son after a long day.
"Ah no!" Kenji yelped between giggles, squirming around on the bed. "No! Da-Dad! Haha… stop!"
Jou mentally sighed, the sound of his son laughter, ending a gloomy day with a bright moment, made him feel well again. But it was interrupted quickly, the feeling of the tickling sensation coming back to his throat.
Kenji sat up, his father hunched over the other side of the bed. "Daddy?" He whispered, his father having a violent couching spell. He rubbed his father's back, "Are you okay?" His father nodded, but continued to cough.
"I leave you alone for 3 minutes and you end up in trouble again." Kenji looked up at the door to see the tall blue-eyed man walking into the room. "Here." Seto handed a glass of water to the coughing blonde. 'Silly Dragon Man, Daddy never accepts help, even when he needs it.' He shook his head a little, remembering the time his Uncle Honda had gotten a hamburger for his father the last time he was sick. 'Daddy started yelling and Uncle Honda, something about being able to get his own food.'
"Thanks" Jou croaked, taking a long gulp of water. Kenji blinked a few times, watching the interaction of the two. 'The way the Dragon Man looks at Daddy, it's different then the way Uncle Honda or Uncle Otogi look at him.'
"Hn." Seto crossed his arms, before going to lean against the doorframe, obviously waiting for the other man.
Kenji smiled to himself, 'Uncle Honda and Uncle Otogi are together…' The idea that popped into his head was genius. He was after all a child protégée (1). 'This could actually work!'
Jou sat up, turning back to Kenji. "See, all better." Kenji forced a smile onto his face. "You okay sleeping here?"
Kenji nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah! It's going to be fun." He paused, his face slacking, "Daddy, are you sure you're going to be okay?" Kenji had never seen his father cough so much.
Katsuya stared at his son. "I..." He leaned forward, hugging his son. "Kenj' everything's going to be alright. I'm going to be fit as a fiddle before you even know it."
"I'm not 3 anymore. I'm not going to fall for that line." Kenji said flatly, as he returned the hug.
"You're dad is going to be alright. He just needs sleep." Seto stated mater a factly.
"Then, Seto-sama, make sure Daddy gets all the rest he needs! He seems to only listen to you." Kenji crossed his arms and glared at the brunette.
Jou turned a bright shade of red, "Wait… what!?" Kenji continued to look at the CEO as Jou blinked and started at him in shock. Kaiba gave a nod, and Kenji smiled. 'Operation Dragon Man and Daddy commence now!'
(1) You know how little kids think they're super heros? Well Kenji thinks he's the smartest kid alive and therefore has to help out the adults. Lol When I was little I thought I was going to be some ninja who saved the world… so don't judge little Kenji here… or me xD haha
Lime Rocker: Alright, so sorry this one is kind of shorter then my other ones. Next chapter Yami and Yuugi WILL enter the picture. I hope you all are pumped. xD
I'll try to have that up as soon as possible. I have 7 papers due and they're all over 20 pages Oh and not to mention finals and a few projects. Needless to say it might be a few weeks until I have the thing even written and then I have to proof read it and then give it to my friend to proof read. So I want to apologize early for the delay of the next chapter.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!