The Rave

Hey guys...*pokes head from around the corner* YAY no tomatoes....so yeah I know this is uber late. I know I promised I wouldn't do this, but the chapter just would come to me, and well since I write this at work, it had been a bit busy here. But hey, it is done, so I hope you like it, and leave me lots of reviews. Also heads up, since I don't have a tremendous amount of ideas for Diamond, I want to make it interactive. So I would appreciate some good ideas for it.


Chapter 13


As the drive progressed, the others still remaining at Tristan's were left thinking "What just happened?" and "Where did they go?" Yugi and Atemu were completely stunned by Jou's behaviour and were left bereft as to what could have triggered his behavior. For sure very strange and other then Jou;s father, there was no one to shed any light on this.


Even Tristan had no idea of what had triggered just a drastic change in personality. Most people did not wake up wanting to take someone's head of, but that is what Jou had nearly done. And as far as they could tell, nothing had caused it as strange as it was, their friend was in pain and they had no way to change it.


They both felt that the only way that they were going to know was to sit down and discuss it. However getting him to sit down and talking was going to prove difficult. Jou didn't talk about things, and even getting him to mention what had been on his mind lately had been a miracle in of itself. Tristan had been very surprised to hear Jou mentioning being confused and scared of his feelings for the CEO. He had known that Jou loved the CEO, even before he knew of his love for Otogi. What had surprised him, had been his vehemence for the CEO and the outright hostility. Jou never realized it, but he talked in his sleep and he had been the first to find out that Jou considered Seto his husband and he had been very upset at Seto for not acknowledging this. Later, after Atemu had passed on, he had discovered this as well and never made mention anything learned while Jou's subconscious was talking. But even then Jou's current behaviour could give anyone pause.


Which was Tristan's thoughts as the driver brought him to work that morning. Atemu was going to stay with Ben as his son was still running a moderately high fever but the condo doctor had assured them that it wasn't serious and that all he needed was rest. It had been Otogi's idea to employ a doctor for the condo residence and it had been very appreciated by the members of the Co-Op. Jou had been planning on accompanying him so that he would always be home for Ben and thus add to the practice of the specialized doctor's on present.


Tristan's day was going to be long, which was another reason that the Pharaoh had volunteered to take care of Ben. There was no one he trusted more with his only son, other then Jou himself. It was with those thoughts that he headed inside to face the day.


---- ^ ! ^ ----


Ben was feeling strange, yet comforted at the same time. He opened his eyes and could make out the starfish hairstyle and smiled.


"Uncle Yugi?" he asked, wondering if it was him.


"No child." Atemu answered, using another cool cloth onto him to cool him down.


"My Pharaoh?" Ben asked, as this was how he referred to the monarch. Atemu had asked him many times that Uncle Atem was fine, but Ben would not have it.


"Yes my child." he said, his voice lilting at the end like it was a question that was open ended.


"My throat hurts..." Ben said his voice scratchy and harsh.


"Give me a moment then" Atemu said and closed his eyes to converse with his husband that was doing the house cleaning. Something that Yugi always did when they were staying at the apartment.


'Yugi, Ben is awake. Would you mind getting him some ice water? He says he is thirsty.' Atemu thought through their mind link.


'Of course. Oh, and I haven't heard from Seto or Jou yet' he said back to him as he prepared the ice water for the boy.


'My Priest will take care of Jou. Otherwise I would not have joined them for all time. The love he feels for Seto has never diminished nor will it ever. Their bond will not allow it.' Atemu said as he could feel that Yugi was preparing some soup as well for the boy.


"My Pharaoh, are you talking to Uncle Yugi?" Ben asked watching Atemu's head slightly bobbing.


"Yes I am little one. He is going to bring you something to drink." Atemu said to the child.


"Where is Daddy?" Ben asked as he still was lying against the bed, flushed from fever.


"He went with Mr. Kaiba. Thought I do not know where to. I am assuming to his home, though I will not pretend to know why." Atemu said.


"It's okay, it's just Mommy taking Daddy home. It's fine. I kinda knew that Mommy would be doing so. He loves Daddy very much." Ben said to a very shocked Atemu. And then began grinning at Seto's reaction to being called Ben's new Mommy.


"I somehow do not think my priest is going to like that." Atemu said, with the grin firmly in place.


"Seto-sama has been a nurturer all his life. He cared for Uncle Mokuba for a long time. He is a natural Mommy. Hence why he is my new Mommy. But I won't disrespect him in public. Unlike what I call Daddy, I won't do that to Mommy. He would lose too much face. No, I will only call him that in private, with family." Ben said, reminding the Pharaoh at how wise the child was.


"What will you call him in private, little one?" a new voice said, with ice water in hand.


"Uncle Yugi, thank you. I meant Mommy." Ben said and lifted his hand up to accept the water.


"Mommy?" Yugi asked confused, but a mental snicker ended it as his quick mind put two and two together and came up with Seto being Mommy.


"He'll blow his top if you call him that." Yugi predicted about the temperamental CEO.


"No he won't - he likes me." Ben said as Yugi came over to the other side of the bed.


"If you say so. Why don't we leave you alone and let you get some rest." Yugi said, and leaned down and kissed his forehead softly. Since none of them had children, given who their partners were, they all treated Ben like their own child, and Ben basked in the attention given.


"Okay Uncle Yugi, I will." and with that, Ben settled back in, the previous soup that had been made now forgotten in the child's mind.


"So, sweet Aibou...do you want to be the one to tell Seto?" Atemu said, his eye glittering with mirth at the expense of his former cousin.


"No Yami. I like breathing." Yugi said with an equal grin and left the room, turned back on the humidifier for Ben and turning down the lights for the boy. They then left the room and put away the remains of breakfast and sat down in the living room which housed the household computer. On it, Atemu logged in and accessed the emails that had accrued while here. Yugi was on the other hand looking at the mail for them, clipping coupons as he always did, which is how they had planned to spend the time there, taking care of Ben and relaxing on their own.

---- ^ ! ^ ----

The car had finally come to a halt just outside of Kaiba Corp, where Seto had the top floor renovated and added an apartment of sorts in anticipation of him returning to his roots. Originally his offices and executive suites were on the top floor with his private helicopter pad on the top floor, but that changed, with the addition of his suites. The helicopter pad had moved and off the side of his offices there now sported stairs leading upwards to the suites.


Jou was still asleep in Seto's arms when the driver came over to their side of the door to open it to the elevators in the basement. Seto set him aside to be able to get out, and then picked him up, the blond still dead to the world. Looking at him, he felt a longing that he had not had in many years and he had to rein in that desire in.


'He's so lovely' Seto thought as he carried him to the elevator and allowed the doors to close.


As the elevator left the basement, he was blinding by the early morning sun, and as such squinted his eyes, questioning the wisdom of having a glass enclosure elevator on the outside of the building. At the time when he had the new Kaiba Corp remodeled the original building that Gozoburo had created was dark and dreary, but five years ago Seto had the building demolished, and the new creation that had won many architectural awards created. The base of it was a four floor glass enclosure that the first floor was an upscale shopping boutique with a gourmet restaurant and coffee shop on the second floor. The other side was used for banquets and parties for the corporation, and the other floors were for low to mid-entry employees. The main tower however housed the technical end of Kaiba Corp and the upper levels housed the executive offices. The entire top floor was for Seto and Mokuba' s use, having two conference rooms opposite each other, and their offices on opposite sides of the floor, with Seto's facing the west, and Mokuba's facing the east.


With the addition of his suites however there was now the two ways into the above apartment, that was just a simple living room with an open concept fireplace, that led to an open patio. The kitchen was small and faced the elevator with the master suite on the other side of the fireplace that was just as open concept as well, with both sides of the room having access to the fireplace. The entire west side of the room was open to the patio and got hot in the afternoons. Fortunately by the time Seto came to bed, it was well after 10pm and it had cooled. There was a small bathroom that only had basic amenities, corner shower, toilet, bidet and sink. The entire decor was creams and golds with fresh roses and freesias all around the apartment, and Seto's personal servants usually served breakfast on the patio. Today was the only exception to this but with Jou passed out, he didn't think he would need their assistance.


With these thoughts he arrived on the floor of his apartment and opened the doors to see Mokuba and his wife sitting in the living room, both with a cup of coffee and what appeared to be an assortment of buns and muffins, with a small turn-table tray of jams, marmalade and honey on the small coffee table.


"Mokuba...Aeve, what are you doing here?" Seto said, still carrying Jou.


"Because of that." Mokuba said, with Aeve smiling at her brother in law.

"Because of what?" Seto said, not even realizing that he hadn't told Mokuba anything about him and Jou. He had never told his brother that Jou was his soul husband, as he still didn't fully understand it himself. He still scoffed at the magic that had been part of their lives for so long, but he never denied him and Jou. Which reminded him that a proper response to Jou's so-called friends that denied them for the last eleven years.


"You realize that you have a Jou in your arms?" Mokuba said with a soft chuckle in his voice.


"You realize that it is none of your business?" Seto snapped back, instantly regretting it as he saw Mokuba's face fall at the harshness.


"Seto, really. He just wants your happiness and let's face it. This is the first time that you have shown any kind of interest like this. At least from what Mokie has said." Aeve said to Seto.


"I've always shown interest with him, but you are correct. This is the first time that I have been able to take him home." Seto said and with that nodded to his family and turned towards his bedroom. Inside he placed Jou down onto the sandwash silk bedspread and brought over one of the cashmere blankets that were along the edge of the bed. Leaning down, he placed a small kiss on his temple and brushed a hand through his hair, petting the length as he lifted the strands into his fingers, marveling at the softness. With that, he turned back towards the living room and saw that Mokuba had moved over to the same couch as Aeve and was preparing a coffee. As he sat down, Mokuba handed it to him.


"Peace offering?" he said to his elder brother. Which earned him a smile as Seto took a sip of the French Roast coffee.


"Thank you Mokie. And Aeve. I am sorry for snapping at you, it has been a rather interesting morning." Seto said, resting his head back on the top of the couch, just waiting for the inevitable questions that his siblings would be asking.


"So what happened? Security said that you left last night at 11pm and you are crawling in now with Jou in hand." Mokuba said, accepting a croissant that Aeve had buttered for him and herself. Seto had already laid down his coffee and was grabbing one of the apple strudels made with currants and spiced apples that the restaurant made below, and was brought up to the Kaiba family each morning since Seto's return.


"Last night I was going to remind Jou of past relationships but that didn't happen. This morning however, he was a Mr. Hyde and flipped out on everyone. Not sure of why, but he passed out from it. Hence why he is here." Seto said matter of factly.


"Why would he do such a thing?" Aeve asked, concern running rampant in her voice.


"Not sure. Never heard of him doing that, but I did find out that he was abused. I am not going to go into what, but Aeve do you think you could talk to him?" Seto asked his sister-in-law who was a grief councilor.


"It isn't really part of my expertise Seto, but I can look into it." she said but Seto shook his head in the negative.


"No Aeve, I want to keep this in the family. And he IS family." he said as Mokuba looked up from his coffee cup, a eyebrow uplifted


"What do you mean Seto? While he is our friend, he isn't family like we three are." Mokuba said not understanding what his brother was talking about.


"He is Mokuba. It's not something I completely understand either, but we are married. Soul married. I've known for about 12 years that we are, but back then I was too young and headstrong to understand it. Now with time I do. And I am not letting him go." Seto said as his brother's face began to widen in shock


"Seto, what are you saying? Married?! to Jou?! How can you two be married?!" Mokuba said in shock


"Mokie, when I look at him, I remember every part of him. I remember what he likes and loves and how he feels and tastes and everything about him." Seto attempted to explain but Mokuba was shaking his head in disbelief.

"No Seto! Listen to yourself! You are talking nonsense!" Mokuba said and it looked like he was going to say more, but Aeve put her hand onto his shoulder.


"Mokuba, it is possible. If they are soul mates. You more then anyone have seen the evidence of soul mates." she said, reminding them of their mutual friends.


"True...but Seto?! It's Jou!" Mokuba said and then Seto glared at him.


"Mokuba, what is your true objection? Katsuya is strong and gentle. Wise and smart. Fiercely loyal - and one of the most beautiful people on the planet." Seto said reminding Mokuba all the traits that had made him his friend.


"Well....when you put it that way...So when are you having the wedding? Summer weddings are fun and if we are going to get it catered we may as well get the restaurant downstairs to do it. And oh! The clothes! Do you want traditional or Western?" Mokuba started as Aeve began to giggle as Seto started looking like a wet fish with it's mouth gaping open.


"MOKUBA!"


"Yes big brother?!"


"He doesn't remember being my husband." Seto added with his eyes downcast. Things were silent as the two digested that.


"What do you mean he doesn't remember? How is that possible? If you do, he has to." Mokuba said after a time.


"I won't pretend to understand it. That being said, I should correct the statement. His subconscious remembers. He talks in his sleep. And he indicated that he belongs to me. And that I am his. But his behaviour this morning was bizarre. He completely snapped on people and then collapsed from it." Seto said and with that Aeve leaned forward.


"Tell me more Seto. What was he talking about...if it isn't too personal." Aeve said and then looked at Mokuba, silently urging him to leave.


"I'll head into work then, I take it you will be up here most of the day?" Mokuba asked his brother, at which Seto nodded and stated that he would be. Mokuba then said he would arrange for one the chefs to send up lunch to them and with that headed to the elevator and his offices a floor below.


As Mokuba left, his briefcase in hand Aeve turned towards Seto and served him another coffee. She added honey and cream to her own coffee in the dainty coffee cups that were used she leaned back into the supple butter-soft leather cushions and waited for Seto to gather his thoughts. She knew that while she was a grief councilor, she was one of the very few that Seto trusted to reveal his feelings to, and with that had councilled him a few times when the stress became too much. It was one of the reasons that she had suggested returning to Domino and face his demons.


"Seto, tell me...what was his blowup about?" she asked him softly, her Irish accent lilting slightly.


"My puppy isn't a virgin...." Seto said quietly as Aeve waited for the rest. When it was not forthcoming, she leaned forward a bit and asked:


"Seto, he is 26 years old, and you are not a virgin either." Aeve pointed out, but Seto shook his head.


"No, you don't understand...his dad...gods...his father....he....he took my puppy..." Seto said still trying to wrap his mind around that. Aeve then set her coffee down and came over to him and sat down beside him.


"Is that part of his blowup?" Aeve asked and Seto nodded, though she could see that there was a trace of crystalline tears attempting to well up in his eyes.


"What else was it about?" she asked him when it looked like he wasn't going to regaining his composure. But she knew she was under a very small population that the CEO would reveal his feelings to. He had been horribly abused by Gozoburo emotionally and with Aeve's help which was how Mokuba had met her, he had been coming to terms with it.

"When he was in the gang....he...he helped people rape little girls....gods...what did he go through...." Seto said quietly, not stopping the tears from falling now and allowed Aeve to hold him as she could feel his pain.


It was like that that Jou found Seto in Aeve's embrace and saw red.

"Get off my HUSBAND!!" Jou screamed and saw a shocked Seto look up at him, tears still in his eyes.

---- ^ ! ^ ----


So...so.....was it worth it? Huh Huh????

Let me know...and stay tuned for Diamond....