Yu-gi-oh

Disclaimer: I don’t own Yugioh, or the characters there in. I just borrowed some of the characters. Rated: NC-17

To Serve and Protect

Chapter 12

The next morning dawned bright and cool. Joey scarfed breakfast down so fast Seto was sure he didn’t even taste it. And enough in volume to stagger a normal man.

“Joey, are you sure you aren’t sick or something.” Seto let Joey see his concern.

Joey leaned over Seto’s shoulder to snitch his toast. “I’m not sick nor do I have a tape worm or any other parasite. I got tested at The Farm. I told you they even had me on supplements. I’m going to the gym for a couple of hours. Then I want to go down to that dig”

Seto grunted then put down his tea cup. “We checked out every one of the people on the dig. They’re all bonded and have alibis for every second. Why?”

“I’m interested in archeology. So sue me.” Seto frankly goggled at Joey. “What? I’m not completely uncultured. Two hours, no make that three so I can get cleaned up. Ok?”

“Sure, if you want. Just remember most of the archeologists are American. Why I haven’t a clue. Mo’ organized the dig.”

Joey headed for the gym and Seto stuck his nose back in the financial section.

Three hours later Joey came to check if Seto was finished with business so they could see the dig. He was, so they walked down to the dig.

“Excuse me. I’m sorry, but you can’t come in here. The dig is closed to the public.”

Seto just looked at the man, giving Joey time to unflinch. When Joey calmed down. Seto smiled at him. “Easy, Inu-chan.”

Joey curled his lip and said with a dignified air, “Boku wa koinujanai.”

“Ummm. . . guys. Aaaa. . . .Gomen,”

Joey eyed the man for a second.

“Lemme guess. Don’t speak Nihon. Ho-kay, . . .”

“Joey, be nice.” Seto worried about Joey’s weird mood for a second ,then watched as the man who’d stopped them grinned.

“Hey. American, yeah?“ Evidently his Brooklyn accent struck some kind of cord in the man.

“No, I was born here, but my Mom is from New York originally.”

“Brooklyn, right?”

“Yeah. This is Kaiba Seto sama. He’s the money behind the dig.”

The man gave him a sharp look and said, “Sorry kid, won’t float. The backer is named Mokuba Kaiba.”

“Yeah.” Joey grinned at the man “Say, what’s your name? Mine is Joey Wheeler.” Joey stuck out his hand and shook with the man.

“Damn. Where’s my head? My name is Mark Henson. Sorry.”

“Not a problem, Mark. I think we need to explain some things. Can you get the rest of the dig together for a few?”

“Yeah. We’re just about ready to break. There’s only six of us. This dig isn’t real important just . . . Mr Mokuba was hoping for something. I’m not exactly sure what, but we’re really trying to come up with something for him.”

“Ok.” Joey turned to Seto and grinned. “I bet he was hoping for Tut’s treasure Nihon style.”

It only took a few minutes to get the rest of the dig together. And make introductions all around.

There were two Americans named Mark Henson and Jeff Brooks. And four Japanese named Ishimura, Suzuki, Minamino, and Kashimatsu. Henson-kun only introduced them by their family names and neither Seto nor Joey was rude enough to inquire as to their personal names.

There was a flurry of bowing by the Japanese archeologists and Mr. Henson and Mr. Brooks looked on in some amusement. Then they got down to business.

“Seto-taisho, you want to . . . “ Joey gave Ishimura-san a sharp look. “Something?”

“No . . . oh no, I’m sorry it just . . . Moshi waki arimasen.”

Brooks gave Ishimura a gentle nudge. “What did he say?”

“Seto-teishu, let’s go out to the dig. I’d like to see the trench.”

Seto gave Joey a startled look and then said “Ok, let’s go. A hole in the ground. So fascinating.”

When they left the two Americans pinned and embarrassed Japanese man down and demanded an explanation.

“He called Kaiba-san, Taisho. It means boss, general, or crushing victory. Very suitable for a man who is known for playing Duel Monsters so well. He’s crushed every one except for Jounouchi Katsuya and Muuto Yuugi. A little overboard . . . but if the boy works for him, not excessive. But then he called him teishu; which can mean head of the house, which he is, but it also means master, or . . . husband. Most translators will translate both of them as Boss. Which I’m sure he actually meant. But it just sounds . . . strange.”

“Well hell, is that all?” Brooks wondered for a second then forgot all about it as he prepared to try to pry some more money out of their young backer.

Joey and Seto walked to the dig proper which was exactly what Seto had said; a hole in the ground, which Seto promptly fell into, or rather slid into.

Joey slid right after him and gathered him into his arms. “Damnit, Taisho. Fall over your own big feet. You ok?”

Seto gave Joey a pat and tried to push him away. “I’m fine and quit calling me . . . ummmp”

Seto blinked at Joey over the hand on his mouth. Joey lowered his face til his was level with Seto’s eyes and he smiled, but it was a strange smile. “Don’t tell me what you were going to tell me. Won’t do any good.”

“Hey, you two ok? Who fell? This is a dig you know. A hole?” Mark dropped into the hole beside Joey and Seto and started to help Seto up. Seto gritted his teeth and wondered if he could pay off enough cops to get away with shooting the man.

Joey smirked slightly. Seto had him in such a lather he was glad for a little payback. Then he hauled himself back down to earth, helped Seto up and dragged his stupid ass out of the hole. Then helped Seto out too.

They spent an hour or so seeing the dig. There had been some interesting finds but nothing earth shaking or truly significant.

“What do you really need to make this dig successful?” Seto ever the business man needed to justify additional investments

“Well, an interesting site would be good. This one is a dump site that dates back about two hundred years. Broken china, a few bones; that sort of thing. We did a few test holes and this is the best we could come up with. Mr Mokuba wanted to find something to start a small museum like at Hamiji-jo. Not going to happen. But . . . well, I hate to let the man down. The most interesting site here would be the oubliette in the donjon but Mr. Mokuba . . .”

“Will you please quite calling my brother by his given name, it’s rude.”

Joey made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a strangle. “Like you’re not?”

Seto gave Joey a look of such innocence that he let his jaw drop. “Ore wa? Rude desu? Eya!”

“What? We don’t speak the language. What’d he say?”

One of the others translated “He just said I? Rude? No.”

Joey snorted and helped out. “He used the rudest form of I, for one. And . . . well he’s Kaiba-dono.”

Seto took a swat at Joey and snarled, “Watch it, Inu-chan.”

“Not.” But Joey didn’t seem to mind being called Puppy in that tone of voice. At least by Seto.

The whole archeological staff gave up on the two as hopeless but Seto thought enough of the men to give serious consideration to their request to dig within the donjon proper.

“Joey? Do you think they might have something? Or are they just indulging in wishful thinking.”

“Don’t know. But . . . once we find the Letter Man, what could it hurt. They’ll be shutting down soon. We have time to do some research and make up your mind.“

They started back to the main house, or donjon, and Seto took his first real chance with Joey. He reached out and took his hand. Joey twitched slightly then squeezed Seto’s hand gently and didn’t try to pull away. They walked the rest of the way hand in hand.

~*~

Lunch was nice, they set it out from bento boxes the cook herself brought up to the walkway. Joey managed to keep from hogging more that his fair share and they sat drinking tea and talking.

“Joey? I asked Doctor Higa to come out. He’s come all the way from Tokyo. Will you talk to him?”

Joey swirled his tea around in the small handleless cup, then gave Seto a bleak look. “Think I’m a hopeless head case?”

“No, but I think you need someone to talk to. Someone better able than me.” Seto didn’t break eye contact with Joey, Joey finally just gave a sharp nod and said he’d talk to the Doctor if Seto wanted.

“I do want. I’ll talk to him first. Joey?”

“Yeah.”

“He helped me. There’s no shame in accepting help when you need it. You understand me?”

Joey blinked at Seto for a moment then sighed. “Seto, I may not be able to do much until the assignment is over. Then . . . we’ll see.”

“All I’m asking is for you to give him a chance.”

Seto got up and went to meet the Doctor, who’d just driven up in one of Seto’s limos

“Seto-kun, how are you? I hope you talked Katsuya into speaking with me.”

“I did Doctor . . . but he prefers Joey. I’d like to talk to you for a minute, if you don’t mind.”

The Doctor gave Seto a careful look and sighed. “This is the crush you told me about, isn’t he?”

“Yes. I . . . couldn’t admit that I was a ‘queer’.” Seto’s voice provided the quote marks.”So I really abused him. I called him every name in the book. He doesn’t even seem to remember. I don’t know what to do. I’m still in love with him, but I don’t know how he feels about me. I . . .if he. Shit.”

“Yes.” The Doctor gave Seto a sympathetic look. “It is hard, isn’t it. But you only have two choices. Either let him go or admit your feelings to him. It’s not fair to you or him to keep your feelings dangling like this. You have to take the chance, or let your feelings go.”

Seto grunted like he’d’ been slugged. He had been afraid that was what the Doctor would say. He knew it was for the best. But . . .

“Doctor, I don’t thin he trusts me enough for it to do any good.”

“Then you must do something to make him trust you. Do you trust him?”

“With my life.” Seto smirked at the Doctor who just gazed back for a second then smiled gently.

“Well, I suppose you must. But perhaps you need a dramatic gesture to prove it to him? Think about it. And remember. No such thing as normal.”

“Right.” Seto led the Doctor to the library on the next floor. “You can use the library. Quite the barn, don’t you think?”

Doctor Higa looked around and agreed. “Will Joey be coming in soon?”

“I’m here now Doctor. Seto wanted me to speak to you, so here I am. I don’t know what you can do for me but I’m willing. So talk.”

Seto made himself least in sight and shut the door.

Doctor Higa got Joey seated and then sat down himself.

“Ahem . . . one, I don’t talk you do. And two, you don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. If I step on your toes, figuratively speaking, let me know.”

“Well, Doc, I don’t think you’ll ever get me normal. I think my life has screwed my chances of that six ways to Sunday.”

Doctor Higa pinned Joey with a stern look.

“There is no such thing as normal. I’m considered unorthodox by my peers. As long as you’re functional, don’t walk down the middle of the street naked, keep yourself clean, and don’t annoy the neighbors overmuch, I’ll be satisfied. My treatments work. Sometimes they may seem a little or a lot strange, even outlandish. But they work. I get away with things my compatriots would never consider. I don’t care what is accepted protocol, I’m more interested in results. And I don’t consider how long you’ll be in treatment. I’m not here to milk the cash cow. So, now. What’s up?”

So Joey talked. He told the Doctor stuff he never thought he’d ever tell anyone. When he finally ran down the Doctor just sat and looked at him for a while.

“And how do you feel about killing that man? I don’t want to hear what you think you ought to feel. How do you really feel about it? Think.”

Joey sat so still that for a few moments the Doctor really believed he’d fallen asleep.

“I think this is the real test of wether you can work with me or not. I’m not sorry I had to kill him. I’m sorry to have killed. Taking a life . . . it destroys a little piece of your soul, it does something irreversible to you. But I’m not sorry he’s dead. Nor that it’s by my hand. He was trying to kill Seto and me. He deserved to die. That’s how I feel. The concept of just letting him go. I can’t see it. He was a killer and he deserved to die. There’s the law, and there’s justice. Sometimes the two don’t mesh very well. Well, Doc, am I a stone cold killer or what.”

Doctor Higa thought for a second. “I don’t think you’re a murderer . . . which is really what you’re asking. I think you made the only choice you could under the circumstances. I believe you did what was right and just. So . . . there you are.”

“Yeah, here I am. Doctor, I got . . . Seto . . . shit. You know I’m in love with him; I’ve been crushing on him for years. He . . . hated me for so long, now I don’t know how to take this. Is he playin me or what?”

The Doctor proved that he really didn’t care about anything but helping. “Well . . . You understand patient client privilege?” At Joey’s nod he continued. “I am usually very strict about it, but in this case, I feel that adhering to the guidelines set out by a bunch of pedants will do more harm than good. I’ll just say this. Seto was very cruelly treated by his adoptive father. Even the slightest deviation from the norm that Gozaburo set out was punished severely. So, when Seto realized that he had homosexual leanings he . . . panicked is the best way to put it. And spent quite some time denying his sexuality and punishing not only himself but the object of his affections. You.”

Joey went still. So still that his blink startled the Doctor. “I see. Well, that explains why I really want to call that man back from the dead.”

“Excuse me?”

“So I can kill him myself. . . . Doctor? This is all well and good. But it . . . I”

Joey watched as the Doctor made some notes, then changed the subject.

“Instead of floundering around; why don’t you let me ask you some questions?” Joey shrugged irritably “are you anorexic? Bulimic? Have you been tested . . .”

“For? Yeah, yeah. At The Farm. I’m not anorexic or bulimic or have parasites I just don’t gain weight and I’m worrying off what I do have. I can’t figure it out.”

“Hhhuumm . . . I . . . Joseph.” The Doctor eyed Joey for a second, then said. “OCD? But I can’t . . . you don’t indulge in obsessive behaviors. Seto said not and he should know. So . . . how much time do you spend in the gym per day. How many pushups do you do? I’m on a fishing expedition here so bear with me.”

Joey gave the Doctor a stricken look. “I got in the habit of exercising . . . in prison. Helps me work off the excess adrenalin I build up when I’m on duty. I spend around three hours twice a day working out. I’m a lot stronger than I look. I bench three hundred and I run by time and speed not distance. So I . . .” Joey ran down.

“Yes . . . well. I’ll give you some guidelines. Here. This should . . . “ the Doctor trailed off as he wrote. ”Don’t go over the times and counts no matter how tempting it is. You’ll maintain your level of strength with these routines and I’ll give you a recipe for a drink. Very high calorie. I want you to drink one cup every two hours and more if you can stomach it. It’s very rich.“ The Doctor looked up from his writing and pinned Joey with a sharp look “and I’m telling Seto. He’ll make sure you do as you ought. You’re worthy of kindness. You deserve to be taken care of. He’ll see that you are. Cared for, that is.”

Joey smiled slightly. “Yeah. But Doc. I really feel like I’m losing my mind. I’m smart really, but this case has me stymied. It’s one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had. I feel like I’m trying to put a puzzle together. Only there’s either not enough pieces or too many. . . like. . . like. . .”

“Like what, Joseph. You’re coming onto something, just talk it out. Think . . . what is it that bothers you about this case?”

Joey told the Doctor everything he could think of about the case. Ending, “so . . . this type of stalker usually don’t degenerate into violence. The one time the mail even suggested something, it seemed opportunistic to me. The Letter Man made reference to an accident Seto had. And it was proven to be an accident. The ass fell over his own big feet and fell down the stairs. Caught the heel of those ridiculous boots of his on a loose stair tread and fell down about four stairs. Then all of a sudden . . . his car blows up, he gets poisoned, and I get shot. Don’t add up. Something don’t fit.”

“Well . . . I see. Hmm. . . what would make the pieces fit? I have an idea, but I’d like to check it against your thoughts.“ Doctor Higa made a note in a small note book.

Joey ignored that and started pacing, he almost had it, but it slipped away. So he paced some more and then.

“Fuck. Son of a bitch. I . . . damnit.” Joey slammed his hand into the bookcase. “I always felt like there were too many pieces . . . now I’m sure of it. The first attack came shortly after I got back. I. . .I’ll . . .”

Joey dug his phone out of his pocket and the Doctor was startled to watch Joey change completely.

He dialed his phone and started pacing. His voice dropped to a feral snarl and he took on a whole different posture. He looked . . . like a yakuza.

“Itchegaki-chan. Yes, I’m back from America.” Joey let his voice drop. “I’m not happy with you. You should have told me there was a contract on me. . . . No . . . I have my ways. . . .” Joey listened for a few minutes. “Well . . . let me see. Someone blew up a car I was gonna be in. . . . and poisoned a dish I used to like. No, lost my taste for it a while ago . . . then, somehow getting shot three times will really piss a fellow off. Who put out that contract . . . can’t say? Or won’t.”

Just then Seto came in the door and, at the Doctor’s motion, took Joey by the shoulder. Joey leaned into his chest and let Seto put his ear against the back of the phone.

“Honda? That pervert. Well . . . he should have left well enough alone. I wasn’t going to bother myself with him, but if that’s the way he wants to be . . . fine. . . oh, Itchegaki-chan. If I hear of you telling tales out of school, you’ll wake up with something nasty in the bed with you. That’s right. I’m working for Kaiba-sama.”

Joey removed the phone from between them and slid his hand into Seto’s hair. Resting his hand on the nape of Seto’s neck, Joey nuzzled against his cheek. “Hhhmmm?” at his questioning sound Seto turned his head and their lips met, hesitantly questing. Seto brushed his lips against Joey’s. Joey sighed and tipped his head, allowing Seto a better angle. They stood for a moment, each man feeling for that perfect fit. It wasn’t hard to achieve.

“Mmmmm. Seto?”

Seto moved his mouth just enough to answer. “Uuumm hmm?”

“The Doctor.”

“He left a while ago . . . shut up.”

“Make me.”

So Seto did.

They spent a while exploring each other.

“Seto? I need to talk to you.”

“Ok.” Seto managed to drag his consciousness back from wherever it had wandered off to.

“Seto . . . this is serious. Those hits were aimed at me. Honda, that fucker. I’m gonna so mess him up. That damn fuck wad. The best part of him ran down his mothers leg. I’ll mmmmfffhh”

Seto shut Joey up by kissing him til they both had to come up for air.

“Joey, calm down. Let’s think about this. What do you want to do to him?”

Joey did calm down. He paced for a few moments and then said, “I want to break him. I want to do to him what he did to me. I . . .fuck, I want revenge. I want to wrap his short and curlies around my finger and jerk – hard.”

Seto just nodded his head. He sat down at his desk and opened his computer. After some research, he found that Honda owned the dealership outright, but it was heavily mortgaged and the mortgage was leveraged to the hilt. In other words, it was very vulnerable to financial manipulation. So Seto raised the interest by several points and changed the due date.

Joey watching over Seto’s shoulder smiled a soft smile. “Seto, you’re a complete bastard.”

“Thank you.” Seto smirked at Joey. “Now all we have to do is make sure he can’t pay the overdue fees. Let me see how much money he has in his accounts. . . . hhuumm. . . if we could figure out some way to . . . let me see.”

“Don’t do that. Especially in front of me. Damnit, I’m still a cop. Even if I don’t act like one most of the time.”

Joey rubbed the back of Seto’s neck gently, to take the sting out of his words. Seto leaned his head back into Joey’s belly and tapped at the keyboard.

“It’s not illegal for me to check his credit history and his investments. And. . . . ummhmm. He gambles . . . a lot.”

Joey got a fierce look on his face. “Seto. Get up and let me see that.” Joey typed rapidly and read with Seto reading over his shoulder. What he read satisfied them both.

“But how will you make sure that he losses enough money to put himself in overdraft?”

“Not a problem. Let me handle it. You have a box at the Tatakai?”

“Yes. I hardly ever go there. Mokuba got it for me. I have no idea why except that he heard it was very chi-chi. You want to go there?”

Joey shrugged, ran a hand through the long hair at the nape of his neck and nodded. “Yeah. We can go tonight?”

Seto examined the computer screen. He didn’t know what Joey had in mind. Honda had to lose a considerable amount of money in order to miss his payment. He was late now and the delinquency fees were fairly high. But what did a fight club have to do with that?

“We’ll leave at seven and go straight there. What’s up?”

Joey just smirked with a mysterious air. “You’ll see. Just promise me you won’t interfere.”

“All right. I won’t, unless you’re in danger.”

“Not even then. I can take care of myself, but not both of us. Please, Seto, it’s my revenge. Stay out of it. Except to do what I ask.”

“Is this part of my obedience.”

“Huh?” Joey gave Seto a puzzled look, Seto just made a motion like he was smoking a cigarette. “Oh no. I won’t waste something that valuable on this.”

They spent the rest of the day making preparations; or Joey did, Seto spent a couple of hours undermining Honda and locking up some of his more liquid assets.

Then Seto took time to read Doctor Higa’s report. The Doctor was clear, Joey was under tremendous stress and had been for quite a while. His appetite was enormous because he was exercising for three hours twice a day; he was burning up calories at an amazing rate. He recommended a decrease in exercise by one third and a calorie supplement.

The other thing wrong with Joey was simple, he needed to quit. The stress was producing a constant flow of adrenalin into his system and he drank too much coffee; the combination was putting an enormous load on his immune system. Doctor Higa’s diagnosis was delayed stress syndrom combined with immediate stress. But not, thankfully, clinically depressed. He recommended a complete vacation as soon as possible, if not immediately.

Seto finished the report and knew that the only thing he could do for now was support Joey in whatever he needed to do.

Joey packed a little bag then took a long hot shower. He dressed in a loose yakuta and lay down on his bed. He spent half an hour making plans in his head then rolled over and went to sleep. Seto slipped into the room and leaned against the wall watching him, he couldn’t believe that Joey hadn’t awakened when he entered the room. After watching him for a few moments, Seto slipped off his shoes and lay down beside him. He still didn’t stir.

Seto carefully slipped his arm around Joey draping it carefully over his chest. Joey nuzzled into the curve of Seto’s neck and murmured. “Set’ . . . Shukun . . . Hmmm”

“Hush. Sssshhh . . . go back to sleep.” Seto tangled his fingers in the long hair at the nape of Joey’s neck and gently tugged it. Joey grumbled softly and fell back to sleep.

He slept until almost four p.m. with Seto drowsing next to him. Finally Seto gently nudged him and whispered. “Joey . . . you awake?”

“Am now.” Joey yawned and stretched. “time is it?”

“Almost four. We need to leave soon or we’ll be late. I want to eat before we get there.”

Joey shivered violently; his muscles reacting to his hard stretch.

“Not me. I can’t eat too late or I’ll get sick. You want to eat in a restaurant?”

“No. You need to eat soon then.” Seto started planning. He was going to make sure that Joey ate like he was supposed to. He was thin still, but due to the fact that Seto made sure that he had time to eat, was starting to put on a little weight.

“Yeah, I could eat right away. Then . . .”

Seto didn’t give him time to reason it out anymore, he just hauled him off the bed, rumbled “Get dressed.” and headed for his rooms to change too.

“Seto?”

“Yeah” Seto turned back eyeing Joey.

“Do you still have that purple coat?“ Joey looked strangely hopeful

“No, I out grew it. My shoulders got too broad. But . . . you want dramatic? I’ll show you dramatic.”

Joey smirked. If Seto said he had something dramatic, it would probably knock his eyes out.

Joey dug out an outfit that he hoped Seto would like. Tight black jeans tucked into knee high boots with soft soles, a not quite tight silk low necked t-shirt covered with a black leather jacket that covered his shoulder harness perfectly. His double harness. He was going to carry matching Glock .10mm. And an assortment of knives that would set off metal detectors a block away.

He met Seto in the hall and grinned like the old Joey.

“Oh, man. I’ll get the fire extinguisher.“ Joey shook his hand like he’d burned his fingers. “Too hot. You don’t need to tell me that is special made.”

Seto smirked. It was so strange. He was usually uncomfortable with compliments, but Joey’s unabashed admiration gave him a warm feeling. Their clothing almost matched; same pants and shirt. But Seto’s boots had straps at the ankles and there were more straps around each thigh connected to a strap low down on his hips.

“Seto, you carrying?”

“Yeah. I’m certified. I won’t be able to do much though. I’ve never shot at anyone.”

“Keep it in the holster unless I tell you to draw it. Seto?” Joey stepped closer to Seto, hesitated and when Seto put an arm around his shoulders, leaned into him for a few precious seconds of comfort.

“Yeah?” Seto let Joey rest on his chest for as long as he wanted and when he pushed away didn’t try to hold him longer.

“Lets go eat. I’m starving.”

~*~

Sakura gave them a startled look when they entered the kitchen. Bowing to Seto she asked how she could help them and when Seto gave her the recipe for the drink Doctor Higa had prescribed for Joey she nodded bowed and started mixing it.

Joey smelled the resulting brownish malt like fluid and bolted it like there was someone trying to take it from him. Sakura smiled at him and nodded. Then she started cooking and didn’t stop until Joey pushed away from the table with a loud burp.

“Ugh. That was nasty. Sorry. I’m a pig.” Joey grinned at Seto. “You didn’t hold back either. Where did you put all that?”

Seto grinned back at Joey. “Same place you put yours. I’m too thin too. Doctor Higa got on me as well. He says I don’t eat as much as I should because I forget to eat when I’m busy. He’s probably right. So we’ll just have to keep an eye on each other. Ok?”

Joey gave Seto a sharp look but he could tell that Seto was telling him the truth, not just setting him up for some practical management. He had been thinking that Seto’s weight wasn’t up to the breadth of his shoulders.

“Seto, I need to have a serious talk with you. I need to talk to Roland as well. Will you call him for me? And give me that pea shooter you’ve got under your arm.”

Seto complied with Joey’s requests. Despite the wording, they were requests.

Joey stripped the nickle plated .380 down and just groaned. It was a rich man’s toy and not fit to shoot. The lands and groves were shallow and it was a gas leaker of the worst kind.

“Seto? Where did you get this piece of shit. It’s just about as useless as my tits.”

Seto made a straggling noise and eyed Joey’s chest for a second.

“Ok . . . even more useless, ecchi. I’ll have Roland get you something worth having, and a proper harness too. That strap system is real dramatic, but if you’re sittin’ down, you’re sunk. When he gets here, I want you to listen carefully and do exactly what I tell you to do. We’ll get ol’ Honda into so much trouble he’ll have to hock his dick to get out.”

“How? Joey, give me some crumb here. Curiosity is killing me.”

“Ok, Honda bets way too much . . . right? Well, I’m gonna give him something he won’t be able to resist and he’ll step in something really messy with both feet. I know his kind. Don’t worry about it. I’ve done this before for a lot less.”

Just then Roland came into the kitchen distracting Seto, and was met with a sight that he would remember for the rest of his life. Standing in the kitchen side by side, Joey and Seto, dressed in their black leather, looked like two dark angels. Seto’s sapphire blue eyes glowed coldly but Joey’s copper eyes were flat, metallic, threatening. He felt one cold shiver travel down his spine – and the moment was over.

“Ok, Boss. What can I do for you?” Roland managed to conceal his shiver.

Seto just jerked his thumb at Joey and told Roland to do whatever Joey said.

When Joey told Roland that they were going to Tatakai he blinked. Then Joey gave Roland explicit instructions. One, he was to get Seto a decent side arm. Two, Joey wanted security that would make the Emperors Guard blink. And three, he was to make sure that Seto didn’t bet.

“You understand, Roland? He’s not to bet.”

Seto looked from Roland to Joey. Joey seemed to be really adamant about this, so he wouldn’t bet; but he really wanted to know why.

“Why not. I. . . I won’t bet if you don’t want me to but I don’t understand why.”

Seto, it . . . just, it would really hurt.” Joey shrugged and stood up. “We better get it on the stick. It’s a drive to get there.”

“Oh yes. We wouldn’t want to be late.” Seto made a face

“Yes we do. Dramatic entrance.“

“Roland, where’s that side arm?”

When Roland handed Joey the pistol, he immediately stripped it down and checked it over. He knew that Roland wouldn’t give Seto a faulty piece, but he needed to check it anyway. This one wasn’t much better than Seto’s old one.

“Damnit Roland. Why do you keep giving Seto pop guns? You shoot me with one of those .380's and I ever find out about it I’ll kick your ass up between your shoulder blades.”

“Mr. Kaiba doesn’t need a gun to protect himself. That’s what we’re for.” Roland felt slightly offended.

“Roland, the people we’re going to be running with tonight see two kinds of bosses. The one’s who depend on others to protect them, and those who protect themselves. I want Seto to look like the latter. They get a lot more respect. Got me?” at Roland’s nod he sighed. “Go to my rooms and bring down that Taurus. It’s in my closet. The littlest one.”

Roland left and while they waited Joey gave Seto careful instructions. Seto promised to follow them to the letter. This was completely out of his realm of experience so he wasn’t going to mess up by winging it. Unless things fell to shit. Then he’d do whatever it took.

When Roland returned, Joey took the harness from him and had Seto remove his coat. Then he carefully fitted the harness, changing the straps to fit Seto. When he was finished, he turned Seto to face him and cupped his cheek in one hand. He gently brushed Seto’s lower lip with his thumb and sighed. Seto turned his head just enough to press his cheek more firmly into Joey’s hand, then stepped away.

“Ok, let’s do this.”

~*~

The drive was as uninteresting as it was tense. Seto sat so still that Roland worried. Joey might as well have been carved in stone. No one talked.

When they got there, Joey changed so completely that Roland wasn’t sure for a second that some fay hadn’t dropped a changeling in his place. He became the perfect yakuza bodyguard. Cold faced, hard eyed and taut, he twanged like an over tightened harp string.

The man at the door was no more a doorman than Seto was a card player. He checked Joey out and nodded

“Genkotsu-ryuu, you f . . .”

“Shaddap. Kaiba-Shukun wants you to talk, I’ll tell you.”

The man blinked, eyed Seto, and mouthed ‘Shukun?’ then came to himself. He opened the door and bowed low. Anyone who could convince Jounouchi-Genkotsu to call him Shukun and mean it was dangerous enough that he didn’t want to make him angry.

Joey led the way to Seto’s box and got him seated, then stood behind him with his arms crossed. Most people cross their arms with the palm of their hand on their biceps, trapping their hands. Joey crossed his arms with the palms of his hands tucked under his elbows, hands dangerously close to the twin Glocks in his armpits. Between the two semi-auto pistols and the four extra clips Joey had ninety rounds and could make every one of them count. He glanced around and saw that he was making several very big, older men extremely nervous.

“Seto, don’t look around like a tourist.”

But Seto knew better, he wasn’t sure exactly what was going to happen but he was acting like he would have at a hostile board meeting. He looked straight ahead at the ring then let his eyes wander casually around the room like it didn’t make any difference to him if he was in a fight club or a high class hotel cabaret.

He found Honda, and standing behind him, a large man with all the ear marks of a professional fighter. Honda was smirking at Seto and practically drooling over Joey. Seto gave him a cold flat look that challenged him to say or do anything.

“Seto.” Joey leaned over Seto’s shoulder, practically cringing. Seto didn’t turn his head, he just grunted. “I’m going to the back for a few minutes. Roland will take my place.”

“Ok.” Seto glanced around and saw several men looking at him with dawning respect.

Joey bowed to Seto pressing his hands together humbly, but the look he gave Seto over them was warm and approving.

Joey left Seto in his box under the protection of Roland and turned Genkotsu loose.

“You speak Japanese? No? Dumb fucker, aren’t you?” Joey laughed cruelly in the man’s face. “Don’t get all bent out of shape. My Boss wants me to fight Honda’s man.”

The fight coordinator looked at the fight ticket. “Sorry, he’s booked already.”

“Ok, Motojimi. Who’s he booked with?”

“What’d you call me you little. . . .”

Joey reached out, slapped the man across the face, and helped himself to the ticket.

“I called you boss, asshole. In the way of fight manager. Fuck with me. I’d really like that. I haven’t gotten to break anyone in too long.”

“Oh . . . un I . . .” the Manager decided it would be better for him if he just shut up.

Joey read the name of Honda’s opponent. He knew the man slightly, his fighter was a good guy and Honda’s man would hurt him badly. So, Joey hunted them up and gently persuaded them to go home for the night. They went without argument and with obvious relief. If Jounouchi-Genkotsu threatened them (in a voice that carried) they had no choice.

Joey returned to Seto and handed him a clipboard, pointed to a line and said, “Sign there.”

Seto started to read the paper and Joey sighed. “Seto, don’t sit there and read it. It’s not done. If the contract isn’t standard, we’ll just shoot the guy.”

Seto decided to trust Joey and signed without reading for the first time in his life.

“Now what?” Seto was bored. “Can I get a drink or something?”

“Seto, speak English. It’ll impress the goons and keep most of these idiots from understanding more than one word in six. You want a drink, a woman, a boy, even a duck; you can get it here. Drugs? No problem either.”

“All I want is a whisky-soda. Double.”

Joey snapped his fingers at a waiter. “Kaiba-Shukun wants a double whisky-soda. None of that cheep crap either. Unless you want to lose a hand.”

The waiter hurried to the bar and ordered a Bushmills 21 year old.

“We don’t have one open. Give him something else. that stuff is $150 a bottle.”

the waiter gave the bartender a dirty look. “Not a chance. That guy is Jounouchi-Genkotsu’s new Oyabun. You think I want the Ryuu breaking my knuckles because he’s pissed?”

“That bad?”

“He’s calling him Master like he means it. Guy’s got eyes like chips of ice. Looked at me like . . .I’m not sure what. Just give me the damn drink. Before he comes looking.”

The waiter brought the drink and Joey took a sip then handed the drink to Seto with a deep bow. Seto took the opportunity to whisper. “Damnit Joey, stop groveling.”

Joey sighed softly. “Seto there are guys here who would give their right ball to have me doing this for them.”

Seto frowned and then glanced around. He saw several men watching them and realized that he’d made a mistake but he wasn’t sure what it was.

Joey gave Seto a visibly exasperated look and then knelt at Seto’s feet. He hissed “slap me . . . hard.”

Seto slapped Joey hard enough that the smack could be heard by everyone around them. He gave Joey a glare and Joey ducked his head hiding his eyes behind his bangs. He knew Seto wasn’t going to be happy with him by the end of the night.

“omae wa kimi no monodesu.” Joey continued in a humble tone of voice, in English “Don’t frown at me unless you expect to have to smack me. And next time, do it like you mean it.”

Seto gave Joey a bland look. “Next time I’ll know better than to frown at you. Now what?”

“Drink your whisky and watch the fights. I’ll be in the back for a while. And when I come out, don’t frown at me. Please.” Joey hesitated a second, then “Seto . . . don’t bet. Please, please, don’t bet.”

“I won’t. I promise. If you’re supposed to be in the back, shouldn’t you go there?”

“Yeah.“Joey stood up and headed for the back.

The next time Seto saw Joey, he nearly choked on his drink. It was almost an hour later and Seto was completely disgusted. The fights were brutal and bloody. Smaller men stood no chance against a bigger opponent and two men and already been seriously injured. The fights didn’t seem to be organized by weight class, or anything else that Seto could see.

“Roland, can you explain how they arrange the matches? That guy is huge and . . . well. I bet his mother had to tie a porkchop around his neck to get the dog to kiss him.”

Roland explained to Seto that the matches were organized by the Bosses. Each boss had a fighter and they gained great ‘face’ by having a successful fighter. It didn’t make any difference how big or small the fighter was, they were matched by one thing, who was trying to gain face from whom. And he went on to explain that the betting was outrageous. Only the most successful of bosses didn’t bet on their fighters.

Seto froze for a second. [No, he wouldn’t]

But he would.

Seto watched as Joey walked out of the maw of the locker rooms. He was slender, but broad shouldered. His long legs carried him easily to the ring. He didn’t clamber into the ring like most fighters, he jumped from the skirt over the top rope with a cat like grace that made more than one person, male and female, feel a sharp stab of desire.

Joey stood in the middle of the ring looking almost frail next to the behemoth he was going to fight. The announcer introduced the two men by naming their bosses. Seto felt odd when the announcer called Joey, “Property of the Lord Seto Kaiba; Katsuya the Dragonfist.”

Joey just stood, he didn’t indulge in the posturing and showing off of the other, larger man; who spent several minutes flexing and threatening. Joey watched his antics with a bland expression which he gradually allowed to turn outright bored.

“We gonna fight or are you gonna bore me into unconsciousness.” Joey waited for the announcer to get to the last of the formalities.

“Very well gentlemen. No blows to the genitals. Fight!”

Seto nearly fell off his chair. That was the rules -- all the rules. He turned to Roland, who was eyeing the ring with an expression so bland that Seto knew he was furiously angry. Roland was as poker faced as Seto, when he needed to be. And they all needed to be. Joey was actually going to fight a man a head taller than he was. He was also at least a hundred pounds heavier.

“Mr. Kaiba I’ll have a physician . . . damnit.”

Seto realized that he’d missed the beginning of the fight. Joey was standing on the opposite side of the ring from where he’d been. His opponent had a bloody nose and was lumbering after Joey like a bear with a sore foot. Joey had Thi sticks in his hands and was patiently waiting for the man to come to him. He had a small sneer on his lips. Seto realized that this was what Joey had done for his bosses before. All he wanted to do was jump into the ring and haul Joey out.

Instead he sat with a bland look on his face and let Joey do what he had to.

Joey tapped his sticks together and waited for his opponent to decide wether he was going to risk life and limb or give up now. It seemed that the man had a death wish, as he followed Joey as he backed around the ring. At first it seemed that Joey was retreating, but after a few steps anyone who was a fighter could see that he was baiting the goliath. He rolled the sticks around his fingers and flicked them back and forth, almost like a toreador tormenting a bull.

The first charge was a pitiful attempt to bum’s rush Joey. He took one step to the side and let Goliath charge past him and bounce off the ropes. He planted himself in the middle of the ring and waited for the second rush. This time he wasn’t moving. The sharp thud of fists on flesh made half the audience flinch and the other half cheer. Joey had misjudged by a hairs breadth. One punch had landed on his ribs and the other right in his face. Seto flinched and restrained himself from jumping into the ring. His fingers twitched in recognition of his desire to shoot the monster who’d dared.

Joey ended the fight with a ferocious barrage of blows that put the giant down and out in less than two seconds. The hooting and howling of frustrated spectators earned them an icy glare that shut down all but the most drunk of them.

“Enough. My Master calls.”

Joey left the ring by the simple act of jumping back over the top rope and dropping to the floor. He walked to Seto and bowed deeply. Then he waited. Seto looked at him and then simply pointed to the spot Roland occupied. Joey moved to stand there while the Master of Ceremonies brought Seto a bundle of cash. Seto stood up to take it and when the Master of Ceremonies finished his, thankfully short, speech Seto turned and handed the money to Joey. Then he snarled, “You stink, go clean up.”

Joey didn’t even blink, he just took the money, then surprised everyone by kneeling on the carpeted floor and prostrating himself at Seto’s feet. Seto grunted then nudged Joey with one toe and repeated “clean up.” Joey rose to his feet like a great cat, graceful and sleek. The light dew of sweat that shone on his skin made him shimmer in the odd lighting of the arena. Seto felt his mouth go dry. Joey turned and went into the hall leading to the locker rooms and disappeared.

Seto took the compliments of the onlookers with ill grace. He wanted to go see how Joey was, but he knew he couldn’t go until he’d accepted the congratulations of the most powerful men here. It could cause insult that they didn’t need to deal with.

“How did you get that stiff backed baka to respect you? I never could understand why anyone would put up with someone so disrespectful. Wantanabe-san had all kinds of trouble with him. And why did you give him the purse?”

Seto didn’t even bother to turn around, he just tossed his words over his shoulder as he walked off.

“I gave him the purse because he earned it. I don’t need the money. I gained his respect by respecting him. I take care of my people, unlike some here.”

Seto went to the locker room and entered by the double main doors. Joey was sitting on a bench with one bare heel hitched on the edge. He had his arms wrapped around that leg and his unbruised cheek rested on his knee. He looked tired and sweaty. He also looked so sad that Seto rushed to his side.

“Joey? Hey, you ok?“ Seto put his hand on Joey’s sweaty shoulder and rubbed gently. “Look at me. Here. Let me?”

Seto took a cold wet cloth from one of the handlers and, tucking his hand under Joeys chin, started wiping the sweat from his face. Joey turned his face away and said on a sigh. “Don’t. I’m all right.”

“Why not?”

“You don’t want anything to do with someone like me. I. . . .”

“Someone like you?” Seto blinked for a second. “Oh . . . you mean kind, loyal, caring, good . . .”

“No . . . ruthless, cold, cruel . . .”

Seto sat beside Joey on the bench, cupped his bruised face in one palm and brushed his unruly bangs away with the other.

“I think you’re describing me, not you. Now . . . you want to explain to me why you did something as stupid as not filling me in completely. If I’d reacted like I wanted to, we’d be in the middle of a gun battle. Numb nuts.”

Joey blinked at Seto for a second then just started laughing.

When he stopped laughing, Seto managed to ask the most important question

“Why didn’t you want me to bet?”

“You’d be betting on me . . . like the others did. It would . . . hurt me. I . . . I hated being used like some roman gladiator. Live or die at someone elses desire.“

Seto nodded, then pushed Joey into the showers. While he was cleaning up Seto got his jewelry from the handler, as well as his weapons and clothing. When Joey came out, Seto helped him get dressed over his protests that he could do it himself.

“Shut up, Wheeler Koibito no baka. Where’s your bracelet?”

“In the pocket of my jacket, along with my watch.”

Seto fished them out and fastened the watch on Joey’s wrist, then he took the bracelet and started to fasten it. When the handler saw it, he made a funny sound in his throat.

“What?” Joey gave him a look that made him cringe.

“You . . . he . . . waits on you. And you bow . . . I . . . damn.”

“I bow to no one who attempts to force me. He wouldn’t even think of it. He gives me his care. You wouldn’t understand. What else. Before you choke on it.”

Joey was unutterably weary and wanted to go home. He’d been afraid that Seto would be disgusted but he seemed to understand. Thankfully

“That bracelet. It’s platinum.”

“So?”

“It’s worth about three thousand dollars American.”

Joey just shrugged, Seto snapped “he’s worth it and that watch is worth twenty times that. Come.”

Joey just got up and followed Seto out the door. As they walked out the front door, Seto noticed Honda standing with a look of utter despair on his face. Everyone close to him seemed to want to be else where and they were rapidly drifting in other directions.

~*~

translations:

Boku wa koinujanai I’m not a Puppy.

Shukun Lord and Master

omae wa kimi no monodesu I belong to you.