The Offer

Title: The Offer 1/9

Author: Puppys_Seahorse

Rating: NC-17

Pairing (s): Seto/Jounouchi Mokuba/Yugi

Beta: Rroselavy

Spoilers: Minor for Noa Arc

Disclaimer: I don’t own Yugioh or make any money or profit from this work.

Summary: Seto believes Jounouchi left him for someone else. But he discovers he was wrong.

A/N: First ever Puppys_Seahorse fiction ever posted. Be kind and send Rroselavy a major huggle for helping me out with it.

***

Starting his day like every other one of the last six months, Kaiba Seto, the blue-eyed CEO of Kaiba Corp, literally hit the plush blue and white carpet at a run. His firmly muscled, athletic body fell into a steady pace even though he was still half asleep. He’d found that twenty minutes of jogging in place first thing in the morning sharpened his wits and prepared him for the day. After his morning jog, a frigid, skin-stinging shower washed away the sweat and then he would continue to prepare for the day.

Gusts of warm air dried the lingering moisture on his silken skin. Staring in the mirror, he checked his appearance. Eyes, lips, teeth, hair ... perfect ... everything flawless. Lingering to stare at the empty perfection, a last gust of warm air whispered along his neck, reminding him of the way his lover used to step up behind him and how his routine would be shot to hell. As tears pricked his eyes, Seto couldn't help but think of the man who'd melted his heart, only to abandon him.

Furious at his loss of control, Seto slammed out of the bathroom. A growl rumbled in his throat as he scowled, picking off an almost invisible piece of lint from his suit. He made a mental note to fire the dry cleaning company. Sloppy inattention had cost him too much, a price he couldn’t afford to ever pay again. If he'd paid attention to his lover, he wouldn't be alone now.

Like clockwork, he descended the staircase and entered the dining room at precisely 6:00AM. The click of his boots had brought his waiting servants to attention. He was on time to the second, and everyone knew that everything had to be perfect. The head steward sighed sadly. There had been a time when that hadn't been the case. But now ... His train of thought broke as his employer strode into the room and carefully examined the waiting breakfast table.

Taking the routine perfection for granted, he glanced down at his watch and stifled an irritated sigh. This, too, was becoming a routine. Mokuba was late for breakfast. Again. This would be the third time this week that he’d have to send one of the servants up stairs to fetch his brother. He growled an irritated oath and decided to handle it himself.

Seeing a servant tense as if to leave, he spun around and stalked up to Mokuba's room. He didn't bother to knock on the light green door, he simply turned the handle and threw it wide with all the force that he could. The loud bang of the door rebounding off of the wall brought both figures in his brother's bed upright.

“Nii-san!” Mokuba gasped, and, as he felt the movement beside him, he paled. Seto’s eyes were no longer fixed on him. They were locked on the other body in his bed with a fierce intensity.

“Kaiba!” the person lying beside his brother whispered hoarsely, tightly clutching the blankets around his body.

Hard blue eyes moved over the two forms, taking in the tumbled hair, the obvious nudity despite the blanket, and all of the other signs of vigorous sex. “I … see. I didn’t realize you had a … guest.” The last word came out as a snarl. Without another word, Seto turned and walked out, the door closing silently behind him, highlighting the difference between the irritation he’d felt before and the icily controlled rage he was feeling now.

Soft hands gently massaged Mokuba’s shoulders. “He took that well,” his koibito observed.

“Too well,” the black-haired teen sighed. “I’d be less concerned if he’d blown up.”

“He can’t continue to hold the past against me. Not now, not when he knows that Jounouchi … Besides, you’re 19. He can’t tell you what to do, maybe he knows that.” His lover sounded optimistic, as always. Mokuba hated to crush that hope, but his boyfriend needed to be realistic.

“You know it’s not my age that's the issue," apology filled the dark eyes. “It’s not even that I have a lover,” wistful sadness crossed Mokuba’s face. “He still blames you for Jounouchi leaving.”

Yugi’s amethyst eyes widened and then darkened as they always did at the mention of his absent friend. “I know. I wish I could go back and change that, but … ” the soft voice firmed. “Jounouchi left Kaiba for good reason. Jounouchi loved him more than anything else on earth and wouldn’t have left because of me … because of my crush on him. We had worked it out. Jounouchi knew it wasn’t real, and he knew I would eventually see that too. I know Seto believes that I said something that drove Jounouchi away, but I didn’t. I didn't have the kind of power to do that. Only Kaiba could drive Jounouchi away. I want to talk about it and discuss it like adults.” Yugi took a resolved breath. "It's time he faces the truth. If I wasn't the reason Jounouchi left, then he needs to look at himself."

Mokuba slid out of bed, wincing from the soreness of his body. “No time like the present. He’s upset enough that he just may speak to you if he doesn't try to kill you first. Get dressed and I’ll go and get everything ready. He’ll be in his downstairs office. I doubt he could stomach breakfast after this.”

Seto glared daggers at his traitorous little brother and Yugi. “This is pointless, but on the off chance you might know where Jounouchi has run off to, I will listen.” To show his disdain he crossed his arms and shifted his gaze to stare at the wall behind them.

Yugi shook his head. “I ’can’t, Kaiba he didn’t tell me he was leaving. We met for coffee like we always did. You know that a few weeks before that I’d told him I was in love with him. He … he just laughed it off. It hurt at the time, but looking back, I can see it was the best thing for him to do. He … did he tell you about it?” Yugi’s face burned as he asked the question. He was humiliated to have to admit to his foolish crush in front of his new lover.

“Of course he did. We didn’t have any secrets between us. He told me about your silly little crush and your pathetic attempt at a kiss,” the tall brunet sneered.

“I thought so,” Yugi sighed and shook his head. “Look, the last thing he said to me that day was he that had to hurry, he was running late for something, and you hated it when he was late. The next thing I knew you’d busted into my apartment yelling for him. You were waving a letter, threatening to kill me and put Jounouchi on a leash for a year.” Yugi nibbled his lip, “What was in the letter?”

Far from believing his ex-rival, the CEO glared, “Don’t play dumb.”

“I’m not. I don’t know. Just tell me,” Yugi said honestly.. Seto reluctantly looked into the shorter man's eyes, searching for any hint at deception.

Frustrated with his uncertainty, and at the end of his patience with the midget's clueless act, Seto reached into the drawer of his desk and pulled out a leather portfolio. With hard, jerky moves he snapped it open. Photos and folded letters tumbled out. Mokuba picked up the documents while Yugi read the letter Kaiba handed to him.

Yugi paled as he read the simple words. ‘Got a better offer. See ya around Kaiba.’

It was written in Jou’s distinctive handwriting, but it seemed off … odd … like it had been written quickly. “Kaiba … you thought that I was the better offer?” Kaiba replied with a quick, sharp nod. “But you know better now don’t you? I mean, Jounouchi is nowhere around. He’d be with me if …”

He broke off as Mokuba, gazing down at the pictures, said softly, “These were taken at Kaibaland the day before he disappeared. We all went. Do you remember, Seto?”

Seto didn’t need to look at the pictures. He’d stared at them for hours, remembering the happiness of that day. Holding hands, stealing kisses, posing with his lover for silly pictures, even the stupid pseudo-disguise of ratty clothes and baseball cap Jounouchi had insisted on him wearing to protect their privacy had been fun. It had been one of the happiest days of his life

“Seto …” Mokuba’s voice sounded odd, questioning.

“I said I remember,” his voice turned icy as his pain deepened.

“No, that’s not what I … Seto, who is this?” Mokuba pointed to a distinctive stranger that seemed to be in the background of most of the pictures.

"He's probably just a customer. How would I know?” Irritated, Seto moved to take the pictures. “No he can’t be, Seto. He’s in almost every shot. It looks like he's watching Jounouchi, almost like he’s stalking him. We were all over the park that day. Seto, he …” Mokuba tried to explain the creepy feeling he got from seeing the man in so many of their pictures.

The brunet snatched the photos and began to hunt through them, his movements growing faster as he flipped through the images. Mokuba was right, he realized, his pulse quickening. He clearly saw what he’d missed before. The same man, sometimes in a baseball cap, sometimes a dragon hat, and sometimes bare headed, but always the same man. And Mokuba was right about something else. The stranger was constantly watching Jounouchi. A thrill of dawning horror raced through the brunet; there was no way the man would have been in all of the shots unless he’d been following them. He could have been a reporter, but Seto didn’t think so. There was something about the way the man held himself and the way he seemed to blend in with the crowd that was didn't quite go with the man's alert look—a look that Seto had only seen in certain types of men, dangerous men.

“Seto?” Mokuba’s eyes went wide as his brother pulled a CD from the portfolio and loaded it into his laptop.

“It’s the park's security films from that day. I … I watch them … him … us. I …” Seto didn’t need to go on. His need to confirm the man was actually stalking Jounouchi far exceeded his embarrassment at admitting that he had watched their final day together over and over again.

“You think you have him on tape?” Yugi asked intently. Fear for his friend was stirring. Maybe Kaiba hadn’t run Jounouchi off.

“If he was following Jounouchi, then I do. He would probably have followed us through the gate. Jounouchi insisted we go in like regular customers that day.” The video loaded, showing the hoards of people as well as the accompanying onslaught of noise.


Seto watched carefully, for once not staring raptly at his missing lover. Instead he was looking for the man he now suspected of following them. He spotted him easily in the next line over, two people back. In the video, it was obvious the man was watching Jounouchi. He constantly glanced over to check their position. Kaiba, Jounouchi and Mokuba were through the gates when the other man paid for his ticket. When Seto saw the distinctive logo on the man's credit card, his heart raced. “Got it!” He shut the video window and picked up the phone.

In less than a minute he had his answer. “There were only six credit card entry payments from that vendor, and one was a single ticket bought in that time frame. We’ve found our guy.” Seto smiled thinly. “He may not know anything about what happened to Jououchi, but if he does ....” a low growl seemed to form in the young CEO's throat, his eyes taking on a predatory look.

“Who is it Nii-sama?” Mokuba asked softly, his heart in his throat. For the first time since Jounouchi had disappeared his brother’s eyes were truly alive. He would take the murderous icy-fire in the deep blue orbs over the flat deadness of the last six months, even if it did mean someone would probably die a horrible death ... or would wish they had.

“An American, at least his post office box is in New York. Name is Robert White.” Seeing the questions forming, Seto nodded. “I’m pulling up the information now.”

“American? Kaiba, Jounouchi has dual citizenship. He was born in the States,” Yugi pointed out.

“Hnn…I know. We’d discussed a trip to Hawaii.” As the information scrolled across the screen, Seto was shocked. This was no common thug or petty criminal. Robert White was a highly respected businessman, and an Executive Officer to Wheeler Enterprises. But that didn’t mean he hadn’t taken Jounouchi. Seto knew that some of the most ruthless and dangerous people hid behind respectable facades, especially in the business world. He clicked a link to learn more about Wheeler Enterprises, only to nearly fall out of his chair in shock.

The page had opened to a press release. The headline was ‘Joey II On The Mend,’ and the article was accompanied by a picture of a familiar golden-blond standing next to a much older and more distinguished looking version of the blond. Jounouchi ... and the picture had been taken only a few days prior.

Yugi read aloud. “Joey Wheeler, only living grandson to Joseph Wheeler, founder of Wheeler Enterprises, was released from the hospital today after over five months of intensive rehabilitation therapy. The younger Wheeler was in a plane crash almost six months ago in the mountains of Japan. He’d lived in Japan for several years to be educated on international business at an exclusive school, and had been on his way home to apprentice with his grandfather. His injuries were extensive, but miraculously he survived. After the crash he lost all of his personal memories and has undergone rehabilitation, re-learning to walk, talk, and to be able to function in normal everyday activities. Even after everything that has happened, Joey the second’s spirits are high, and he is now back to normal.

’Of course we never doubted he'd make a full recovery. After all he is a Wheeler … and Wheelers are tough,’ his grandfather stated proudly to the press earlier today.”

Seto, over his shock, snarled and snapped the lid closed. “So that’s it. His better deal was to inherit the Wheeler fortune.” Somehow this was actually worse than if Jounouchi had left him for Yugi, or someone else. He’d never thought Jounouchi would leave him for money or power. Neither of those had ever seemed important to his lover.

Yugi gasped and shook his head. “You think that he would take a company over you? Over us?”

Seto’s lips curved in a bitter, cynical smile. “Yes.” Of all people, he knew what price a desperate person would pay for power. "If I were in his position, I would have."

“You’re wrong.” Yugi was positive. “Kaiba, he’d have told us. He wouldn’t have walked away like that without a word or a call or something. Something’s not right.” Seeing disbelief in the icy blue eyes, he tried another argument. “And, if he did leave like that, he owes us an explanation. We need to talk to him.”

Mokuba saw the shift on his brother’s face. That comment had struck a chord. “Seto, Yugi’s right. You need to talk to him. You deserve to be told what happened, face to face.”

“I’ll think about it. Now both of you leave. I want to be alone.” That was an understatement. Even as he told himself Jounouchi had left him for the ‘better offer,’ deep inside horrible suspicions and pictures were forming.

“But … ” Yugi and Mokuba tried to protest.

“Go!” the wounded dragon roared.

Yugi and Mokuba, with a shared glance, hurried out of the room.

Slowly, allowing his hands to shake for the first time, Seto traced his fingertips across the face of his lover. Softly he whispered, “Did you leave me, Jououchi? Or were you taken? I hope you left me Jounouchi … because if not … I’m so afraid of what they’ve done to you. Were ... are you waiting for me to rescue you, Pup? Did I fail you? I hope you left me … I don’t think I could bear the pain of knowing I failed you.” He allowed himself one more moment of pain, and then did what he did best, he rolled up his sleeves and began to gather information. No matter what the truth, he’d find the answer.