A/N: this one is much longer than the last one. Getting back into it now. Enjoy

Chapter 27.

The streets of Domino City didn't feel any different. It was the same intersections, lights, sidewalks, and parks. All sleeping, still closed down for the next few hours. Even Kaiba Corp., with just a few windows brightened like a string of Christmas lights around the building. A time of day where as he drove down the deserted streets, seeing the off jogger or the errant person having to go into work early, that he could pass through most of the city without even looking at whether or not the light was good to go.

It was selfish. Kaiba had ordered Jou to go to bed because he thought, with his mind so exhausted from the purge, that maybe it was where he would find himself next. Instead, somewhere in the delirious, immediate aftermath he had wandered out to the garage, took keys off a hook, and climbed into the car.

His hands caressed the steering wheel, sliding down the leather and settling into the divots. It was so early, he tried to reason with himself. Someone would likely tell him he wasn't in a complete state of mind. His eyes had fully closed as he became comfortable in the seat. He squeezed the wheel, and his eyes snapped opened as he turned on the ignition and backed out of the garage.

Kaiba shook. There was electric in his fingertips, but he fought back against the feeling and reached out to switch on the stereo, imagining it was still linked to the last thing that he had been listening to. The same thing he remembered listening to just before the accident. Just a classical soundtrack, never too involving, easy to think to. Things that Mokuba often made fun of him for, saying it was boring and he would fall asleep at the wheel.

The sights of Domino were seen to the sound of a Piano Sonata; the intersection the crash occurred in was passed without him looking too deeply into any of its corners. There would be things that would take time. Such as the shake and shudder in his lungs as his body reminded him just how easy this all was. How ingrained it had been for years.

This was a good time of day to take Mokuba driving, he thought. No one out, minimal stopping. It was barely light out, which was an adjustment. Set a course for the Kaiba Corp. Tower and see how he adjusted. In his weariness driving, blinking away the sleep that felt so foreign, he could hear Mokuba in his head:

"You scare me when you're so tired...I'm going to learn to drive, and I'll drive you home so you can sleep."

A withered smile pulled at the corners of his face. This was a new normal. These feelings and changes that hadn't occurred in such a small amount of time. Still, there were things that existed before all this, he told himself. Things that didn't change. Things that had been neglected or forgotten somewhere along the line. So much time had been lost focusing on the continuing branches of one problem. Was this the finish line? Could he stop running and finally breathe?

Instinct had driven him to work, but he turned around in the parking lot and began out again. What was he going to do there so early and with no sleep? Muscle memory got him there, but turning around was on his own volition, with less caution than shifting around gently. A quick whip around, with a simple destination in mind. He could have walked there from the office, but he'd worked one that plenty, until his muscles were sore. This was relearning an old task. Making his hands feel less jittery on the leather. Make up for lost time.

The park was deserted at such an early hour. He parked and got out, hit with the chill of the cold. It was almost winter. It would snow soon, too. The briskness of the morning widened his eyes and woke him as he took the measured steps along one of the winding paths. The sun was cracking over the horizon. He had sat downstairs for a long time before leaving; longer than he imagined, just playing through everything in his head. Thinking. Gathering. It must have been close to six or seven in the morning. Mokuba would be waking up, if he wasn't already. Jou was there for him, and Kaiba suspected that he wouldn't be much longer, but he needed this.

"Funny meeting you here," a familiar voice of velvet said.

Kaiba rolled his head to the side to catch Yami in his peripheral. "You would be here."

"It's a nice place to be this time of day," Yami said. "A good place to clear your mind."

"Mm. Hard to do when you're not alone," Kaiba admitted.

Yami shrugged and crossed his arms, stepping closer to Kaiba, noting that the man refused to look at him. He instead seemed to be looking up to the tree line, following it to the skyline. There was a blankness in his eyes, absent of storm or fire. Placid. Quiet.

"You seem content."

Kaiba chuckled and shook his head. "I wouldn't say that."

"I would."

The comment sparked enough interest to turn Kaiba in Yami's direction. He mimed the position, crossing his arms and admitting to himself that a coat wouldn't have been such a bad idea. Spontaneity wasn't in him, and for good reason, because of things like this. It would be back to Jou nursing him for a cold, too. Which, in some sappy way, didn't seem so terrible. One thing at a time.

"How's Jou?"

"Fine," Kaiba unfolded his arms and began walking, assuming that Yami would walk with him.

"Even after his fallout with Honda?"

Kaiba wasn't fully certain on how Jou was handling it. They talked about it. For a minute, before it turned into something else. So much so that he didn't fully remember the conversation, just what it led to. "He's upset; lost a friend, he said."

"Not an inaccurate statement," Yami said.

"You would have to ask him more about it."

"I had intended to. Yugi has been trying to get in touch with him, but Jou hasn't been picking up," Yami said. Kaiba's lips thinned, aware of how Jou had been moping. He wouldn't necessarily call it depressed, not yet, but it could turn that way if something wasn't done about it.

"I have to get back," Kaiba said.

"Did you tell him?" Yami asked as if he hadn't heard.

Kaiba stiffened. "Tell him what?"

The wine colored eyes were piercing through him, and no matter how much he disbelieved that Yami was otherworldly, he never shook the feeling that the man had looked into his soul throughout this whole ordeal. " I know you haven't forgotten our prior conversations."

"I don't remember everything. I wasn't of sound mind."

"I disagree," Yami said.

"I don't exactly think that's something you can comment on." Kaiba argued, but he had eased himself back around, giving about half of himself to Yami.

"I saw you as perfectly aware of your surroundings, even if you really weren't in the mood to speak to me much at the time. Have you spoken to Mokuba?"

Kaiba didn't have a clipped retort, though his head leaned back, and his eyes turned eyes from Yami, hearing the sobbing that was muffled from the top of the stairs. At the time, he wondered how long Mokuba had been listening, and regretted that the boy heard anything at all. But he deserved to know just as much, if not more, than Jou did. That reasoning hadn't gone away. This had all been for Mokuba.

"I haven't," Kaiba said. He closed his eyes so tight that a few tears were brimming. Holding his breath, finally turning away from Yami, Kaiba kept everything as in check as he could. His shoulders were squared and his back was straight. Everyone would be up and wondering where he was. This didn't need to be about him anymore. "I don't know what I'm doing here."

"Don't fool yourself," Yami said. As Kaiba opened the car door, he added: "Be the control, not the controlled."

"I'm always in control!" Kaiba barked back, and slammed the door as he slipped into the car.

On Kaiba's way back, he didn't show much restraint, even if each incremental push on the gas pedal made him just a little more nauseous. His hands tightened around the wheel until his knuckles went white, and he told himself not to close his eyes as he went around a corner so quick that he could feel a pull in the back of the car. His breath hitched and his heart pounded. With all synapses firing, he told himself that he shouldn't have been doing this.

The estate came into view. The car slowed as it approached, pulling up the the front but not bothering to park it in the garage.

The door opened up as he pulled in, fair beyond sunrise now. Just in time to see Mokuba before him, backpack over his shoulder, head cocked to the side. Even from a distance he could see that his little brother had been crying, possibly throughout the night.

At first, they were slow to walk towards one another, and Mokuba kept his head turned away, until they were so close that Kaiba pulled an arm around his brother's shoulders and squeezed. Hot breath sank through his shirt. A small hiccup. Mokuba buried his head into Kaiba's chest, trying to bury through his older brother's collar bones. Broken words were attempted, restarted, hushed.

"You...I always hated that you...and you needed help a-and I just..."

"Shhh."

"...but I never, I never thought...and I always thought..."

"Hush, Mokuba," Kaiba cooed.

"You were just trying to...nii-sama...you were, all this time, just trying to..."

Kaiba pulled Mokuba at arm's length, and he hitched one of his sleeves up over his palm, rubbing at the teary and snorted, red blotted face to try and clean him up. "There's a lot of things I need to talk to you about, Mokuba."

His hand cupped along Mokuba's cheek, curled down to the chin and raising the gaze so they could see each other eye to eye. Just as he had always felt like he should have been with his little brother. The smaller hand gripped Kaibs's wrist.

"I...I wish you had told me sooner..."

"I know."

"It's just you and me," Mokuba said. "We protect each other."

"I know. I haven't been here for you, lately."

The sadness in his Mokuba's face made him seem like he was just a toddler. And Kaiba knew that it wasn't the way to look at the sprouting young man. He'd spent so long protecting Mokuba from the truth that there was nothing left for the boy to be but angry and confused. Every word, every argument, every concern thrown by the wayside. How many times had Mokuba sat late in his office while they shared dinner, talking about everything? His sole confidant. "I've always been here for you, nii-sama."

It recalled him back to time when Mokuba did whatever he could to defend his older brother's honor, sometimes going too far. Sometimes requiring discipline. He never wanted to fight with Mokuba over anything. Losing him felt like losing half his body.

Kaiba's hands had landed on Mokuba's shoulders. He flattened out the uniform, fixing the uneven buttons. "I know. I've not forgotten. You need to go to class."

"I have to go to class," Mokuba repeated. "I don't want to."

"You need to," Kaiba said, and he turned to the car, arm out. "I'll take you. We can talk in the car."

Mokuba shook his head and pulled back. "No. I don't want to talk about it there. But I do want to talk about it now."

Such a demanding one, Kaiba thought, and his hand settled on the top of Mokuba's head. "I'll meet you at the office after school. We can talk in private there, all night if we need to."

Mokuba wiped his nose on his sleeve and went towards the car. "Can we order pizza, too?"

Kaiba smirked and pointed to the car, unlocking it for Mokuba to slide in. "Get in," was the response. Before Kaiba got in, the front door opened again, this time with Jou jogging down the stairs, eyes at his feet. He almost completely passed the car before noticing that it was out in the first place. His head rose, searching the body of it.

"Seto."

"Katsuya."

It felt standoffish, so little space between them. The same length that was there less than twelve hours before. "Ya didn't come ta bed last night."

"No. Couldn't sleep. Went out for a drive."

Jou blanched. The keys were clearly in Kaiba's hand. It wasn't a surprise. Kaiba had driven before; he'd drove to the game shop the night he and Honda had their fight. It just felt strange. "Ya went on a...sleepless drive?"

"I have to go, Mokuba's going to be late."

"I'll take 'em. It's on my way to work," Jou offered. He didn't trust a sleepless Kaiba behind the wheel. As he reached to take the keys, Kaiba drew back, swinging his arm away and opening the door. "Seto."

"I've got this," Kaiba said. Jou was tentative to touch his lover, but he kept getting closer, until he knew Kaiba couldn't ignore him. And that was when Jou got a good look at Kaiba's haggard face. Somewhere between catastrophe, self-loathing, loss, and a speck of triumph. His hair was mussed, and there was darkened rings around his eyes. "Go to work; I should be home late, as will Mokuba. I'd say you should go visit your friends. I'm sure they're worried about you."

Jou had words all jammed in his mouth that he couldn't even fathom. He had no idea where then left field comment came from, or why Kaiba would even worry about what his friends were thinking of him.

"What dimension are you in!" He yelled as Kaiba drove off, and Jou got into his own, he couldn't help but feeling like laughing. The night had left them, morning had come.

Jou had to bite his tongue all day, not wanting to expose any kind of secrets that Kaiba was uncomfortable with. Naomi's constant harassment made it so much easier to just want to tell her so she would leave him alone. This time, Jou's mind weighed heavy. These things said in confidence were things he didn't even want to mention to Mai, and he had been telling her almost everything from the moment he and Kaiba had started dating.

When he got off work, and he could look to a KaibaCorp. in the skyline, he recalled Kaiba mentioning that neither he or Mokuba would be home. There was no reason for him to be there either. He diverted to Kame Game Shop without bothering to change.

Inside, he found Yugi behind the counter, sorting through card packs that would be put out on display. "Hey, Jou! I've been trying to get a hold of you."

"Yeah, uh...'bout that. Sorry, just been a bit occupied, I guess."

Yugi nodded, and he abandoned his task. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I hadn't heard from you since...the other night."

Jou shifted from one foot to the other, going towards the back of the shop and taking one of the stools to sit on. He didn't want to take Yugi away from the shop. It was late in the afternoon, people would be stopping by. "I'm okay. Honda talked to you?"

"Not me. Anzu, probably. He drove her home that night," Yugi remembered.

"What do ya think'll happen if I called him?" Jou asked.

"I wouldn't know. If you asked Yami, I'm sure he'd encourage you to do it. I think you've known Honda longer than you've known me," Yugi said, and he was looking to the ceiling he thought about it.

A chuckle. "Yeah, only a bit."

"I could call him, have him come over here."

Jou shook his head. "Don't wanna provoke him. Him pop over here and see me? That'd be askin' for hell there. I think I'm jus' gonna go over there myself, talk to him. What happens, happens."

"You sure? It'd be a little more neutral here."

Jou shrugged. "If we get in another fist fight, it was gonna happen whether it was here'r there."

Yugi frowned at hearing Jou's plan. He didn't want to see any of his friends fighting, especially not Jou and Honda. Nor did he want to imagine them making themselves a mess like this. He couldn't, however, deny his friend's resolve in trying to find a solution. Even if it wasn't an easy one.

"Okay, be careful Jou."

Jou went over to Yugi, patting him on the shoulder and squeezing, before he headed began to head out: "Imma make sure we have another friend's night, alright? Don't ya worry."

He didn't believe that everyone in the group should have been punished, and while he had wished they were all gathered there for the sake of convenience, things just didn't work out like that. They were all adults, they didn't hang around the same places anymore.

It didn't stop Jou from driving to Honda's place and pounding on the door. He could hear shuffling from inside, feet sliding up to the door, and imagined there was an eye peering out to look at him. But the lock still clicked open, with Jou leaning in the door frame, arms crossed.

They stared at each other for a long time, with Honda looking away and then back again. "Ya gonna let me in or stare at my mug all day?" Jou asked.

"Maybe. I don't have much to say to you," said Honda.

"Look, I don't know what ya wanna hear, but I don't wanna say it where all the neighbors can hear it, too. Either tell me to fuck off or let me in."

Honda twitched, looked around the other doors of the complex, and then opened it up with a sigh to let Jou in. "What do you want to say?"

"I'm sorry?" Jou said. "Not fer who I am, but for makin' you uncomfortable, I guess. I didn't really wanna do it either, not like that. Ya know how Kaiba is. Jet packs and airplanes. Needs a show. I'd have been fine with jus' bein' subtle and holding his hand or something."

The entire time, a Jou stayed near the door. Just close enough in the house to not feel like he was intruding, or to make himself any more welcome than he felt at the moment. "Yeah, well, it was weird, man."

"I haven't changed. Least, I don't think I have."

Honda bit his lip, fighting back a retort. And Jou thought that maybe that was a good thing. Maybe he was trying to make the best of this. "What I don't get is how this happened. You were coming to us and telling us how you hated his guts all the time. Especially after the whole 'he thinks I caused the accident' thing. Then you're being a nurse for him, covering for him, going to jail for him, and...and that display in there. That's not a Jou I remember."

Okay, maybe he had changed a little bit. "Ya know hittin' me wasn't gonna make me come to my senses."

"Jou, I'm sorry but I'm not and—,"

"Mokuba didn't like it either, at first," said Jou. "Thought it was weird. Got into an argument with his brother. Ain't that somethin'?"

Honda looked away, crossed his arms, and he seemed to walk further into the small apartment. Jou followed him. He felt like he was getting a little further along. "I don't expect ya to be all for it, gung ho, cheer on like Anzu night or somethin'. I can even accept that ya don't like it. I don't like it that ya don't like it, but what then hell am I gonna do about that? I'm gonna say I'm sorry, 'cause you're still a friend to me. I don't...I dunno what else there is. I don't plan on leavin' Kaiba any time soon. Unless the prick throws me out. Again."

That stung to admit, too. That he and Kaiba had their issues. Showing themselves off to his friends, to Mokuba's friends, was frustrating but it felt important the more Jou reflected on it.

But Honda was silent. His hand was on his chin, and he looked back and forth while Jou stood with his arms out, chest exposed. "Ya wanna hit me again, that's fine. But I'm gonna fight ya back."

"I don't wanna fight you, Jou. I just don't want anything to do with that part of your life."

"A'right," Jou's voice lowered, "I can live with that. Still be your wingman, too, if ya want."

A light chuckle from Honda. Jou's arms lowered, and then he stuck out his hand, making sure he was close enough to Honda. "We got a truce? I won't say nothin', won't give ya updates. Won't complain, but you can't say nothin' either, a'right? You promise me that?"

It didn't happen fast, but Honda did turn, slapping his hand into Jou's palm and clapping it tightly. Jou knew that, normally, they would reel in and bro hug. He didn't expect it, it didn't happen, but it didn't hurt his feelings either. "Promise. Not a word."

"A'right. Wanna grab a drink?" Jou said. "I'll buy."

"Man, you know it."

It didn't feel all together in the pit of Jou's stomach. But the compromise could have been worse. It wasn't like Honda really liked being around Kaiba in the first place. And Jou could live with that.

The sun had long since gone down and the exhaustion was at its peak. Kaiba didn't want to sleep, though he had gotten a small nap in after he came back from dropping off Mokuba. Part of him didn't feel right to leave the boy with his feelings all day like that.

When Mokuba made it to the office, however, they finally were able to have their conversation. Kaiba had locked his office to anyone, suggesting that even urgent matters find their way into other hands for the next few hours. Nothing was as important as the conversation he and Mokuba were about to have.

He told Mokuba the same way he had told Jou: with clarity and poise. He didn't lie about his motives, and he looked Mokuba square in the eye, knowing that he wasn't a child anymore. Kaiba could see his little brother processing everything, trying not to cry but failing, rubbing his eyes into his shirt sleeves. He ducked his head into a napkin once the pizza came. Though he didn't say anything, he could see Mokuba's imagination putting together all the pieces.

Kaiba kept thinking about how he was only Mokuba's age when it had stopped. Did Mokuba think about that, too? He was too smart for his own good, Kaiba assured himself. To his dismay.

"You've...been suffering so long for me."

"And I would do it again," Kaiba said. He kept his hand close to Mokuba's so that it was always there to be held. For most of the night, it had been that way, too. Squeezing hands, drying tears. Ignoring the food before them. Until the sun and most of the staff had left. The lights outside Kaiba's office were dim. "Don't blame yourself."

"How can I not?"

"I've spent a long time blaming myself," Kaiba said. He lifted Mokuba's chin as he tried to hide in a napkin again. "I don't want you to do the same. The past has happened, we can't change it. But I'm always going to be here for you. I'll do whatever it takes."

The teary eyes were so big, and the way Mokuba put his hand against his brother's was always the same. Years of letting one person touch him, he could feel it like a pulse. "I'm going to take care of you, too. You have to let me, Seto."

"Yeah," Kaiba's voice broke. "Sometimes, I forget you're not so small anymore."

Mokuba scooted his chair closer and leaned into Kaiba's chest again, sniffling with no tears. Balling his hands into the button up. Out came a haggard sigh, a shiver, but he could feel the way that Mokuba's breathing had evened out. That he was coming to terms with it, but he wasn't leaving his older brother's grasp. His head turned, and he listened to Kaiba's heartbeat. The feeling of a hand against his back, rubbing rhythmically.

Until it stopped, and he poked his head up to see Kaiba leaned back in the chair, eyes closed. "Seto?" Mokuba whispered.

His breathing was even, and his body was relaxed. His face was placid, mouth a little slack.

Prying out of the weak grip, Mokuba pulled back into his seat and stared at his brother, not wanting to wake him up. Not used to seeing him sleep so sound. It prompted him to pull out his phone and dial. He tried Jou first, with no reply, and then considered Isono but stopped. It was late, and he could look out the window to see that there weren't too many people out on the road.

Mokuba looped his arm around his brother's shoulders and he went to ease Kaiba up, clasping around his waist. He grabbed the cane once he felt like Kaiba was secure, and he began to walk. Fear prickled up Mokuba's spine, worried about Kaiba's leg, but noticing that as he reached the elevator, Kaiba helped him along, planting his feet. Awake enough, but exhausted nonetheless.

It worked that way until they were down in the garage, and he attempted to inch the door with Kaiba leaned against his side, stiff. Stirring again, pressing his hands away from Mokuba's body and onto the car to balance himself. "Hey, go on, sit down. We're at the car."

He kept whispering, not wanting Kaiba fully awake. At first, he didn't listen, instead beginning to pull himself around to the other side of the car. A move that Mokuba had seen plenty of times before. With a gentle nudge, he was coursed back to the passenger side and slipped in, closing the door.

Mokuba got into the driver's seat, adjusting it from his brother's long legs, and then fishing the keys out of Kaiba's suit jacket. His hands began to shake. "You can do this Mokuba...just have to get home. You know where home is..."

Breathe in. Breathe out. Mirrors adjusted, keys in the ignition. Into reverse first. Careful, careful. Each tick of a press to the accelerator. His muscles were locking up. Easy turn out of the spot, looking around to the lack of cars. Shift to forward.

Getting up to speed was a terrifying feeling. The brake was handled worse. First, coming out of the garage and onto the array of lights on the street. Seeing there were a few other drivers. His heart was in his ears. He gulped, and eased out, remembering last minute to flick on a turn signal as he went out. Careful turn.

The car was so touchy. His foot was barely down and it wanted to throttle at break neck speeds. Maybe it was him. The brake was just as touchy, stopping and jittering as he came to a red light. His peered around to someone in the other lane. His head snapped back to forward, shoulders bunched up. He was so scared he hadn't seen the light turn, and sat there for more than thirty seconds before going ahead, foot heavy on the gas.

Every few moments was a flurry of looking at mirrors, checking on Kaiba, back on the road. A straight shot home, with just two turns at the end. He could do this. Watch the signs. Watch the lights. Watch the people.

He crept. Slow as molasses,he thought, so afraid of going over the limit when he didn't know what the limit was half the time. He wondered how Kaiba whipped around this place so quickly. Everything was memorised. These streets all looked foreign even though he'd seen them all his life.

A fifteen minute drive took forty, but as he turned slowly into the estate, the fear began to subside. No one had pulled him over. There was only one honk. And they were safe, most of all, his brother was still sound asleep.

It wasn't until he parked, seeing Jou's car in the drive, that he pulled the keys over and ran into the house shouting:

"Jounouchi! Jounouchi! I need your help! Jou!"

A soldier quick to attention, sliding around a corner in his pajamas and looking down at Mokuba screaming from the foyer with the door wide open. So scared and excited, seems pinched at his chest.

Jou thundered down the stairs where Mokuba pushed him outside, pointing to the car parked a bit sideways in front of the house, lights still on. And Kaiba still sound asleep in the passenger side. "Can you...get him upstairs?"

"I uh...how...how did you get home?"

"Never mind that. He's been asleep; please don't wake him up."

Jou had to admit, it was nice to see Kaiba asleep without any help. Like a child. He went around, putting his hands under Kaiba's legs. Remembering how he fought before to be picked up so many times. Instead, his head just slumped against Jou's shoulder, hairs brushing under his nose.

Mokuba turned off the lights, locked the car, and went in behind Jou, making sure to close the door with as little noise as possible.

"You are so in trouble."

Mokuba put his pointer finger to his lips, shrugged, and made a motion for them to go upstairs. They could deal with that in the morning.