Independence

Independence

Disclaimer: I don't own anything legally except for this fic you're reading!

Hi everyone. Chapter 12 is upon us. As of right now, I have not the slightest idea how long
this fic is going to be. But anyways, I hope you're enjoying the events to date. As stated
earlier, Naoki pops up and so does someone else...

Chapter 12: Exes

November 10th. Today has been kind of slow. School is out for a holiday and I'm off work.
It doesn't help any that Seto is out of town in Tokyo for the day. I'm bored. Okaa-san is gone
which is surprising.

I don't know where she is.

As I sit outside on the porch, I look at the few cars that pass through my neighborhood. I stay
on a small, quiet street and everyone knows everyone.

I like it.

Who's car is that?

I watch as the car stops at the house and an all-too familiar face exits from the vehicle.

"Atemu...?"

He's been in Tokyo with his parents since we broke up 2 years ago.

"Hello Jounouchi!" he yells as he walks towards me.

"Well, hello there Atemu." I reply standing.

We hug each other...I guess to show there's no hard feelings.

He sits in a chair next to mine.

"What brings you back to Domino City?"

"Jii-chan. Yugi and I are here visiting him."

"How is Yugi? I haven't seen him in a while."

"Oh, he's doing great. He should be at jii-chan's house. I can tell him you said hi."

"Thanks."

"So, what's going on in your life. You know we haven't seen each other in almost 3 years.
You look great."

"Thanks. Well, I have a boyfriend, his name is Seto."

"Oh..."

Disappointed?!

"We've been together since Valentine's Day. I couldn't have asked for anything more in
a lover."

"Really."

"What have you been up to Atemu?"

"Nothing much. Just college and modeling."

"You have the body to be a model. How's it going?"

"Good so far. They're trying to find a way for me to grow an inch."

"Speaking of growing, you're much taller than I remember."

"Late growth spurt. I'm 5'11". Agency wants me to be 6'. He says that I'll become more popular
if I grow just one more inch."

"I still remember when you were 5'2"..."

"Yugi's grown too. He's 6'."

"Wow. He's as tall as me."

We sit in silence for a moment, watching the few cars go by.

"So Atemu, what's your real motive for coming here?"

"To tell you the truth, to rekindle a blown flame."

"You know that it could never happen now. Besides, whatever happened to that girl I saw
you with that day?"

"Her? That was Anzu Masaki. We broke up about a year ago. I've been thinking of you
everyday Jou."

"Really. I can't say the same about you."

"That hurts. You're still the same smart-ass."

"I try."

"Atemu? Atemu!" I hear someone yell.

We turn towards the voice to see Yugi standing on the porch. Atemu was right he is taller.

"I'm down here with Jounouchi!" yells Atemu.

A minute or so later, Yugi walks to the porch and sits in the chair opposite of mine.

"I haven't seen you in a while stranger." he says to me.

"Likewise, stranger." I reply.

"Why didn't you come in the house Atemu? Jii-chan's wandering where you went."

"I saw Jounouchi...and he completely diverted me."

"Still in love with him I see." replies Yugi. "Well, this is the perfect time for the two of
you to get back together. Especially so I can stop hearing him bellyache about how
much he misses you."

"I can't." I say.

"Why?!"

"I'm in love with someone."

"Who?! Atemu?!"

"No. His name is Seto. Seto Kaiba."

"Wait, is he the owner of KaibaCorp? You're in love with him?!"

"Yes Yugi, I am."

"Are you sure he loves you back? I mean everyone knows that he's with a girl named
Naoki and they do have a child together with another one on the way."

Huh...

"Another one?"

"You didn't know?"

"I know about the first child, Kiyomaru. But nothing about the 2nd."

"Well Jou, it seems you're in a funk and your man loves another woman." Atemu says
sitting back and folding his arms.

"Reminds me of someone." I say looking directly at him.

"Heh." chuckles Atemu. "I knew he was still with her. Well, if you still want to be with
me, I'll be here waiting on you."

The two of them leave and go back to their grandfather's home.

Now...what's this? Is it true what they said?

No. It's just them trying to deceive me. That's all.

I know what I'll do. I'll go and surprise Seto and ask him. Who better to ask than the
source.

I grab my keys and leave a note for okaa-san and go to Kaiba Manor.

When I get there, Seto's sitting on the front porch and Kiyo's riding his tricycle.

"Hey Katsuya." he greets me as we kiss.

I sit on the swing next to him and watch Kiyo play happily in the yard.

"What's wrong with you? Is there something on your mind?"

"Yea. Someone told me something earlier."

"Another lie? How many of these pop up each day about me?"

"Seto, I don't believe it."

"What is it now?"

"Well, I heard that you have another child on the way by Naoki."

"Who said that?!"

"That's not important Seto. What's important is how true it is."

"It's not. Naoki is pregnant, but it's by the guy she stays with now. That child isn't
mine. My only child is Kiyo."

"I believe you."

Just then, Kiyo starts crying. Seto jumps up and runs to his son on the ground.

"What happened Kiyo?" he asks as Kiyo rubs his knee.

"I fell off my bike and hurt my nee." he whines.

"Does your knee hurt now?" Seto asks as he rubs Kiyo's knee.

"A wittle."

"Come on." Seto says picking him up. "I'll get you some ice cream."

For some reason, it touches me how close he is to his son. I'm glad he doesn't ignore him
on my accord. I told him that being a father comes first and he's taken that to heart. Wish
my dad was like that...

"Yay! Can Katu get some too?"

"Yea. He can."

"Yay! Come on Katu!"

I follow the two of them into the house. I love the way he tries to say my name. He
recently pulled his two front teeth and he can hardly say anything correctly.

We go into the kitchen and Seto scoops a bowl ice cream for us.

"Katu, do you like my daddy?"

I turn redder than I ever turned before.

"Yea....I do."

"Daddy, do you like Katu?"

"I do."

"Do you too ki...kisu..." he stutters.

Where is he getting these questions from?!

Seto laughs nervously...

"Yea. We do." Seto replies. "Why are you asking so many questions Kiyo?"

"Daddy happy. Mommy never make daddy happy."

This child...only 2 years old...knows a little more than he should...

Seto...looks at Kiyo, not knowing how to reply to that statement.

"Just eat your ice cream Kiyo." he says eating a spoonful of his.

"All done!" Kiyo says jumping from his chair and running towards Noa.

He sits on the sofa next to Noa and they watch anime together.

*ding ding ding*

Seto gets up and answers the door.

"Oh. Hello Naoki."

"Hello Seto. Where's our child?" she asks walking past him.

"Okaa-san!!" he yells, jumping off the sofa and to his mother.

"How is my baby?"

"I fell okaa-san." he says pointing to his knee.

"Seto! How could you have let him fall! What were you doing?!" she yells then
looks towards me. "I bet you were somewhere with that!"

I didn't do anything.

"No. He's fine! He just got a little dirt on his knee."

"You're so irresponsible! I refuse to let my son grow up with a father and his gay lover!"

"You listen to me Naoki. Who I love has nothing to do with the relationship between my
son and I."

"If it wasn't for Katsuya, we would still be together!"

"I doubt it. If it wasn't for you cheating on me in this house, in my bedroom, on my bed,
then we would still be together!"

Woah...I didn't know that happened.

"Okaa-san...I don't want you two to fight. Daddy is happy with Katu." says Kiyo.

"Come on Kiyo. Let's go home."

"I want to stay with daddy!"

"Come on."

"No!!" he cries as Naoki carries him out the door. "Daddy!"

Seto stands in the door and watches Kiyo until he is out of sight.

I walk behind him and look out the door.

"She always does this." he whispers. "He always wants to stay with me a little longer, but
when Kiyo says anything about you, she takes him away. He cries, wanting to stay. I'll take
him home whenever he's ready. He likes staying with me. He loves his daddy."

"Seto..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There's the end of another chapter. Hope you enjoyed it! What's Jou to do in a spot like that?
Naoki doesn't like Jou, but Kiyo loves him. How will Kaiba overcome the drama with Kiyo's
mother?