Voids

"Seto! You're later than usual from school..." Kaiba's lead and most trusted butler greeted. He was a kindly, older gentleman. Something about him reminded the Kaiba brothers of their real grandfather and so he was the only employee hired without hesitation or even reference checks.

"You're nosier than need be sometimes." He smiled as he handed the man his coat. It amazed people how kind Kaiba was to him - or as kind as Kaiba could be anyway - yet the man seemed perfectly content with his charges. He was also the only employee who could seem to get away with refering to Kaiba by his first name.

"I worry about you boys is all..."

"You don't have to. I had a meeting."

"Oh, well... Mokuba has been looking for you."

"Shit! I forgot about..."

"Really Seto! Such language!" he tugged at Kaiba's ear.

"Sorry, ojiisan." That was one other thing people didn't seem to get; from the start, both boys refered to the man, in kind, as ojiisan.

"Alright. Did you boys have a fight? He did seem so upset."

"I was a little on edge yesterday and lost my temper with him. Do you know where he is now?"

"Where else would a boy his age be on a beautiful day like this after finishing his homework..." the man started. Kaiba gave him a little side glance and he sighed, "... in the game room."

"Thank you, ojiisan." Seto bowed and headed for Mokuba.

"Kids now-a-days!" he looked out the window; all the sunshine and a comfortable sixty-two degrees. He shrugged his shoulders and went about his business.


Kaiba tried to be as quiet as possible about entering the room. He knew all too well what is was like to have one's concentration broken in the middle of a game, but as he entered, the were no lights, no sounds, no games going at all.

He must have left... he thought to himself until suddenly finding himself caught from behind around the waist. "What?!"

"Nii-sama! Sorry! I didn't mean to make you mad..." Mokuba cried. Seto turned to find him in tears, pleading for forgivness. He never thought to have to explain to Mokuba what was really on his mind. He knelt down to return the hug, not knowing what to say. "You still seem upset. Are you still mad at me?"

"I was never mad at you." he hugged his little brother tighter, the thought of having told Jounouchi he didn't care who knew suddenly crept up on him, Damn it! he let go of Mokuba and looked him deep in the eye; even with all they had done and seen, the little boy still had so much innocence about him, He wouldn't understand! he began to grind his teeth, fustration crossing his face. It worried Mokuba, and he backed away, affraid Seto was ready to loose his cool again.

"Seto, please! What's wrong?!"

"Nothing," he snapped, "you wouldn't understand." He went to leave when Mokuba stopped him.

"Try me." he challenged.

"No." he answered firmly and walked out leaving Mokuba more confused than ever.


Jounouchi stood outside the door, staring blankly, trying to figure out what to say and how to say it.

Kaiba may not care, but Honda, even if I'm right about him, might!Telling Shizuka will kill him! Nah! Shizuka is good about things like this! She won't tell...

"Katsuya?" the voice knocked his train of thought right off it's track. It had been going so fast he hadn't noticed his mother holding the door open for him. "Haven't seen you since Shizuka's surgery! Come in, please! I..." it was her turn to loose thought when she noticed her son bowing.

"I need to see Shizuka, please." Though they had set their differences aside, he still had a difficult time forgiving himself for how he had treated her. Looking her in the eye was still a painful task.

"Katsuya, please. Don't do that. Stand up." she took him gently by the chin to guide him.

"Sorry. Please, is Shizuka home? I really need to talk to her."

"She's in her room, doing her homework..."

"Thank you..." he began heading for her room, when his mother's words froze him in his tracks.

"Oh, and Otogi is here as well, helping her..."

"I'm sure he is..." he said under his breath and through his teeth, "O...to..."

"She said he did so well in math..."

"...GI!!" he sped off in a rage, almost frightening his mother. She decided it best to keep out of it and went on her way.


He had made his way up the steps so quickly he couldn't stop and burst through Shizuka's bedroom door, startling her right into Otogi's arms. The sight infuriated him.

"I don't remember saying anything about touching my sister..."

"You know we've been seeing eachother..." Otogi answered smoothly.

"Seeing!!" he marched over and snatched his little sister from Otogi's grasp. "Since when is seeing the same as touching?!"

"Onii-chan! You are too protective!" she protested as she wriggled from his grip.

"She's right, nii-sama, chill out!" Otogi joked. Jounouchi didn't think it funny.

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!! Don't call me that!" he went to take a swing at him, then found himself weighted down by Shizuka dangling from his arm.

"Onii-chan, stop!" she whailed. The yelling had attracted their mother's attention. She stood in the door way, arms crossed, silently scolding them. Jounouchi and Otogi backed down. Shizuka begged for her not to kick anyone out.

"Katsuya, I will not have that kind of behavior in my house, understand?"

"Y-yes..." he answered sheepishly. Otogi tried to stiffle a snicker.

"Otogi, you either. Got it?" her tone and eyes were a little a sharper with him. He took the que and backed away farther from her daughter.

"Yes."

"Good. Play nice now." she said as she walked away, leaving Otogi and Jounouchis' faces so burning red, Shizuka snickered.

"Onii-chan?"

"Hm?"

"You aren't here just to give Otogi-chan a hard time are you?"

"No! I didn't know he was here! I do need to talk to you though..." he slid his gaze to Otogi.

"What? he answered the gaze.

"You..." he started at him, Shizuka was ready to step in. Her big brother gently moved her aside, grabbed Otogi by his earing and dragged him out, "... need to leave!" he finished as he went to shove him out the door, instead finding Shizuka in the way again.

"Onii-chan! Would it be so hard to just ask him to leave?! You're such a... a... bully!"

"Shizuka... I..." her last words stung. It was something he hadn't heard since before he met Yugi. He let go of Otogi and even escorted him back to Shizuka's desk, "It's just... I have to...", Kaiba said he didn't care, and I don't have to tell them it's Honda!, "Well, what if someone you know is in love with someone else you know and asks you to..."

"Someone asking you to play matchmaker, nii-sama?"

*Sweat Drop*, "Please don't call me that." he said through his teeth, trying to bite back his temper for his little sister's sake.

"Onii-chan! Someone wants you to play cupid? Cute!!"

*Massive Sweat Drop*, Shut up, shut up!! Shit!!, "See, Kaiba..."

"Kaiba?! As in Kaiba Seto?!" came in stereo from Shizuka and Otogi. Shizuka just blinked. Otogi tried and failed to hold back hysterical laughter.

"Kaiba Seto in love?!" he couldn't help it, it was too funny a thought, "What next?! Malik and "Evil" Bakura shave their heads and start passing out daisys preaching peace and love?!" Even Jounouchi had to admit that was funny, but this was involving Honda as well and he wasn't about to take jokes about his best friend, so without warning he got the right hook he had been holding back right into Otogi's jaw, knocking him out.

"Onii-chan! How could..."

"He'll sleep it off...", Why would I say that?! Don't start sounding like him...

"Onii-chan, are you..."

"Look..." he cut her off, "This isn't just about Kaiba, who believe it or not isn't so bad..."

"Really? Who is Kaiba-san so in love with he's being nice to you?" She ran through everyone in their circle; herself, Anzu and Mai. No one in her school knew him well enough, and vice verse, "Is it me? He knows I'm with..."

"You really don't have to finish that..." he said as he waved his hand in Otogi's face, making sure he was out for the count, "No, not you..."

"Mai-san is with you. Anzu-san is with "the other" Yugi, who else do you know? I mean, really, I've heard he could have any girl in that school..."

"You really, really don't have to finish that either." he said glumly, batting at Otogi's earing, trying to lighten his mood by mocking the unconcious boy. When he was finally sure he was out, he began to tell Shizuka everything.

"Shizuka, brace yourself... Kaiba is in love with... oh man..."

"You?!"

"AAAAHHHH! He's in love with Honda Hiroto!"

"Honda-san? But, Honda-san..."

"Well, he kinda swore off...", I can't tell her why he might be... if she thinks it's her fault...I'm doomed anyway., "He swore off girls. I kinda told Kaiba this and, I didn't try to get his hopes up, I hope I didn't..."

"Swore off girls? Why?" she seemed concerned, or knew why, but wanted to make sure she was right. Jounouchi wasn't about to let his little sister blame herself... for anything.

"I wouldn't worry about it, Shizuka," he assured, "It's just a decision he made.", I hope!

"So, Kaiba-san is being nice to you so you will talk to him for him?"

"Yes."

"What if he gets Honda-san and starts being mean to you again?"

"Uh,oh! You're right! Honda said something about you not going for him 'cause of how he treats me... damn it!"

"Well, if you think about it, has Kaiba-san ever gone back on a promise?"

"I guess you're right. He did promise to be nice to me... maybe Honda will give him a try!"

"But, if Honda-san doesn't go for him..."

"I haven't lost anything!" he gave Otogi's face a quick slap to bring him to and began to skip out the door, "Thank you, little sis! Oh, and for now, it's between you and me, 'k?"

"Sure!" she agreed as she rubbed her semi-concious boyfriend's face.

"Wh-what? I..." he said weakly.

"Otogi-chan shouldn't joke with onii-chan! He doesn't think you're funny!"

"Gee, what gave you that idea?!"