A Word A Day
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Yu-Gi-Oh › Yaoi - Male/Male
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Category:
Yu-Gi-Oh › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
2
Views:
1,624
Reviews:
0
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Two
A Word a Day
Hideki LaShae
Part Eleven: Paperwork
Summary: Jou had work to do.
Jou looked over the rabble of pictures and papers before closing the file folder containing them. He stepped out of the elevator and walked towards the office of the assistant editor. He knocked lightly on the door.
“Enter!” screeched the man through the door.
Jou opened the door and stepped inside. He walked up to the desk and held out the file folder. “Everything you need is in there.”
Yamada Takeshi ripped the folder from Jou’s hands and opened it. He looked through the pictures first before moving on to glance at the other papers. “This is perfect. You’ve actually done a good job for once.”
“Thank you, Yamada-san…”
“Go home and rest. You’ve had a long trip. See you in the funny pages.”
Jou smiled as he left the office. He didn’t hear Yamada lift the phone and speak to the head of security about ‘not letting that rabble into the bullpen again’.
Part Twelve: All News Fit to Print
Summary: Mokuba only read the paper for one thing.
His younger brother thought the only thing worth reading in the newspaper was the comix pages, so needless to say, it took Kaiba by complete surprise when Mokuba grabbed the paper straight from the waiter bringing it to their table and ripped it open to the Lifestyle section.
Shizuka peeked at the paper over Mokuba’s shoulder and suddenly gasped. “Oh, my God!”
Terror flashed in Mokuba’s eyes.
“What is it?” Kaiba grabbed the paper and pulled it to him. He looked at the front page of the section directly at the picture of Mokuba and Shizuka in their wedding day apparel. Anger bubbled up within him as he read the attached article. “They knew about your unique vows and about my toast at the reception dinner. How the hell did they get a reporter into the wedding? And these pictures? Besides the photographer there was only one person with a camera…”
Shizuka gripped Mokuba’s hand tightly.
“Jou…”
“Seto?” Mokuba reached towards his brother.
“Why would he do this to us? Why would he betray us like this?” asked Kaiba. He crumpled up the paper and threw it across the room. He rose and stormed off.
“It wasn’t like that,” said Mokuba watching his older brother walk away.
Shizuka patted Mokuba’s arm. “Oh, Mokie, what do we do about them?”
Part Thirteen: Security
Summary: Jou had nothing left to lose.
Jou burst through the door into the newspaper reception office and walked straight towards the elevator. An aura of anger surrounded him.
A security guard stepped in front of Jou.
“Get out of my way, Ren! I’ve got to talk to that asshole, Yamada!”
“I can’t let you go in there, Jou. The bullpen is for employees only,” said the security guard, Ren.
“I am an employee!” snapped Jou.
“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, Jou,” said Ren slowly, “because I really do like you. Your internship’s over. You’ve been fired. You don’t work here anymore, and I can’t let you into the bullpen. You can’t see Yamada-san.”
All the blood drained from Jou’s face, and he deadpanned. “What?”
“We all know you wrote that article, but it doesn’t matter. You want a little critique? You’re good at writing, but you’re stupid. Go back to school. Finish your education so you won’t be such an idiot. Then every paper in the country will be begging you to work for them.”
“Yamada promised…” Jou looked at Ren.
“You want some advice from someone who’s been there before?” Ren looked at Jou. “You can’t fight people like Yamada-san. They always win.”
“I’m not going down without a fight. This isn’t over, Ren, not by a long shot. I’ll leave now, nice and peace-like, but I will be back. You can count on that, and when I do… Yamada’s head will roll!” Jou turned and walked out of the newspaper building.
Part Fourteen: Impromptu
Summary: Kaiba never did anything without careful planning, until now…
Kaiba stepped into the restaurant, and the manager greeted him personally, “Welcome to our fine establishment, Kaiba-sama. Your party’s already partaking of aperitifs at the table. Please follow me, and I’ll take you to them.”
“Them?”
“Yes. You are here to meet with the Miyagi family from Okinawa, are you not? Miyagi-shacho brought his wife.” The manager guided Kaiba into a private room where an elderly man and his much younger wife sat sipping their drinks. “Would you like an aperitif, Kaiba-sama?”
“No.”
The manager bowed before leaving them alone.
Kaiba loved brief introductions, and thankfully so did Miyagi-shacho. Soon they all sat eating sushi and drinking sake.
“Now, to what do we owe the pleasure of having lunch with the world’s most famous toy inventor?” asked Miyagi-shacho.
Kaiba’s temple twitched, but he didn’t snap at the man like he wanted to. He had other plans for the old man. “I believe you own Asahi Shimbun?”
The woman spoke. “Yes, I do. My beloved husband bought it for me. I can honestly say I own the news.”
“How much?”
“How much? I own it all. All the stock is in my name. I own the entire newspaper…”
“No. How much do you want for it?”
“Now, Kaiba-shacho, be careful what you say extemporaneously. People might take you literally,” warned Miyagi-shacho.
“I’m not extemporaneous. I mean it. How much for all the stock to be transferred to my name? Name your price…”
“You do realize you will not make a fortune by selling newspapers, do you not, Kaiba-bo?” asked Miyagi-san.
“I have other reasons for wanting the paper. Nothing of your concern…”
“Then I’m afraid I cannot sell…”
Kaiba clenched his fists, and his temple twitched again. “One of the reporters snuck into my brother’s wedding acting like the damn paparazzi, and I want to fire him. I can’t do that because I don’t own the paper!”
“Yes. I read the article. It was quite good, but a bit invasive.” The woman nodded. “I believe we can settle on a price to benefit us both. You don’t plan to ruin everyone’s careers do you?”
“No. Business will be run as usual, with a few exceptions.”
Part Fifteen: Just Jou’s Luck
Summary: Jou’s always been lucky.
Yugi placed a steaming cup of tea on the table in front of Jou. “I think it’s duende.”
“Yeah. I think it’s dumb too.” Jou lifted the cup with both hands but didn’t drink from it.
“Not dumb. You have duende for luck, it’s the power to attract. I use my duende to attract kids to the game shop. I still look like I could be their age, so it works for me.” Yugi sat down with his own cup of tea. “You have always had that power over luck. Normally it’s good luck, but it can’t be good all the time. Remember the duels where your Time Wizard came up skulls instead of time machine? This is just like then. A temporary setback…”
“I just can’t believe I was so stupid. I believed him, you know… I thought this would turn everything around for me…”
“I know. I thought so too, but sometimes… if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is…”
Part Sixteen: Favors
Summary: Sometimes the truth doesn’t set one free.
Kaiba couldn’t believe the nerve of that woman. He just paid her a copious amount of money for the newspaper, and then she had the gall to ask him THAT? With her husband sitting right BESIDE her? He felt himself pale, and his stomach flopped. He said the only thing he could think of to possibly dissuade her. “I’m gay.”
Miyagi-san giggled. “Really, you don’t have to lie to me. I know I’m not as pretty as some of the starlets you’ve probably dated.”
“Oh, but darling, you are very beautiful,” said Miyagi-shacho.
Miyagi-san ignored her husband’s words, and instead she continued to speak to Kaiba. “I understand if you’re not attracted to me.”
“He doesn’t even know you. You’re beautiful inside and out…”
“I’m sorry… I have another meeting across town in about an hour… Please, enjoy the rest of the meal.” Kaiba stood a little too quickly and knocked over the bottle of sake. He reached for it at the same time as the woman, and he yanked his hand back as if burned by the brushing of her hand. “Good day. It was nice doing business with you.”
Miyagi-shacho rose and bowed slightly to Kaiba. “It was nice to finally meet you. Enjoy your toys.”
Kaiba tightened his fists at the slight insult as he bowed. He fled the restaurant, stopping only to speak to the manager and settle the bill before climbing into the back of his limo.
Part Seventeen: New Sheriff in Town
Summary: Kaiba makes a visit to his newest acquisition.
The President at Asahi Shimbun stared in shock as Kaiba stepped through his office door without being announced. He rose at once and bowed. “Kaiba-sama, such a pleasure to see you here…”
“Normally I would abjure places like this, but seeing as how I just bought it…”
Kotaro Akiyama fell back into his chair. “Bought?”
Kaiba smirked and sat down in the comfortable chair across the desk from Kotaro. “Yes. I just had a pleasant lunch with the Miyagi’s. This newspaper now belongs to me, and we have a few things to discuss.”
“All right. Such as?”
“The article about my brother’s wedding…”
“That was a well written article, although I doubt that’s why you’re here. So let’s be blunt.”
“No reporters or photographers were permitted into that wedding except for our private wedding photographer who’s already assured me the pictures didn’t come from him. The ceremony and reception were a private affair, and as such we wanted it kept private. I want all the parties responsible for that article and pictures, and I want them fired!”
Kotaro turned to his computer for a moment and typed something into it. “One of our editorial staff, Yamada Masaharu, both wrote and edited it. He listed ‘a source’ for the obtaining of the information and pictures.”
“I’m pretty sure I know who that source is. How much did Yamada pay Jounouchi Katsuya?” asked Kaiba.
After another moment of rapid typing, Kotaro turned towards Kaiba. “Jounouchi Katsuya has never been paid by this company. If Yamada gave him any money, it was straight from his personal funds or perhaps the petty cash, but no transaction’s been recorded.”
“Good. It would serve him right to be duped after betraying my family. I want Yamada gone,” said Kaiba, “See that it’s done.” He rose from his chair and walked to the door.
“Yes, Kaiba-sama.”
“I doubt I’ll be back again, but if my privacy ever gets trampled on by this paper…” Kaiba left the threat hanging in the air as he left.
Part Eighteen: Misconstrue
Summary: Kaiba confronts Jou about the newspaper article.
Jou looked at his desk calendar. The word ‘explanation’ stood out more than any other, and he sighed. Even the calendar seemed to be taunting him. He knew what needed to be done. He left his apartment and hailed a taxi. He got into the back of the car. “Kaiba Corp.”
Moments later, Jou paid the driver and exited the cab. He walked into the tall Kaiba Corp building and took the elevator to the executive floor. A woman greeted him as he stepped out of the elevator car. “I have a meeting with Kaiba-sama.”
“Of course, Jounouchi-san. I’ll announce you at once.” The executive assistant disappeared into an office for a moment before coming back into view. “You may go in now.”
Jou straightened his suit jacket as he walked towards the door. He opened the door and stepped into the office.
Kaiba lunged at Jou and pressed him up against the door to close it. His fingers wrapped around the blond’s throat, and he choked the man before him. “How dare you betray me and my family!”
“Didn’t…”
Kaiba narrowed his eyes. “Don’t deny it! You gave that reporter the pictures from Mokuba’s wedding! You told him what happened… their vows, my toast…”
Jou tried to claw Kaiba’s hands from his neck, but they wouldn’t budge. Darkness loomed on the outskirts of his vision, threatening to close in on him at any given moment. He could hardly breathe, and he felt his life trying to slip away. “Not your wedding…”
“What?” Kaiba’s grip loosened and Jou fell to the floor.
“It wasn’t your wedding!” Jou gasped for breath. “Mokuba married Shizuka, not you…”
“And your point is…?”
Jou glared at Kaiba. “You might have wanted a private affair, but that doesn’t mean they did. They gave me permission to write the article and take the pictures.”
Kaiba stared at Jou in silence.
Jou pulled himself to his feet, and his eyes softened as he looked at Kaiba again. “They tried to tell you, but you didn’t want to hear any of it.”
“Why would they give you permission to do that?” Kaiba walked over to the sofa and sat down.
“They were trying to help me,” said Jou. He moved over and sank onto the sofa beside Kaiba. “I worked my ass off to get an internship at Asahi Shimbun. It’s the most read newspaper in all of Japan so even the unpaid internship I got there would be an excellent reference on my resume.”
Kaiba watched Jou out of the corner of his eye, not bothering to turn his head to look at him fully.
“When one of the editors found out I would be at the wedding ceremony, he gave me an offer I couldn’t really refuse. I thought about it, but I talked it over with Mokuba and Shizuka first before agreeing.”
“What was the offer?”
“He offered me a job. He said if I could get an exclusive account of the wedding, he’d give me a job writing commitments. It was a far cry from the investigative reporting I want to do, but it would get my foot in the door. It would be a job at the best paper in Japan, and I’m sure I’d have opportunity later for promotions and whatnot…” Jou ran his hand through his blond hair. “He lied to me though. I wrote the article, but he stole my byline. He put HIS name on my article and printed it with the pictures I’d taken. Then he terminated my internship early.”
“You didn’t get the job?”
“No. He betrayed me.”
“You betrayed me, and this is your exegesis?” Kaiba turned to look at Jou and clearly saw the sadness written on Jou’s face.
“I didn’t mean to betray you. And really, I didn’t. I only mentioned your toast because I had to make some mention of you. Mokuba loved your toast. He wanted to share it. He told me so at the reception. I didn’t betray YOUR family because OUR family allowed me to write the story.”
Part Nineteen: Snack
Summary: Everyone needs food sometimes.
The door opened, and Kaiba’s henchman, Isono, stepped into the office with a tray containing a teapot, two small cups, and little snacks. He walked towards the couch and placed the tray on the small table in front of it. “Forgive the interruption, Kaiba-sama, but I brought your afternoon tea.”
“Thank you, Isono.”
“Is there anything else you or Jounouchi-san need?” asked Isono turning his eyes to Jou.
“No. That will be all. Thank you.”
Isono bowed and left the office, closing the door tight behind him.
“I don’t like what you did.” Kaiba reached for the teapot, but Jou beat him to it.
Jou poured two cups of tea and held one out to Kaiba. “I shouldn’t have done it. I was naïve and stupid, but I did it. I can’t take it back now.”
Kaiba took the tea. “You are so much trouble. You realize you made me buy a newspaper.”
“I’m sure you buy a paper every day!” Jou rolled his eyes as he sipped his own tea.
“I meant the company, not the product.”
Jou’s tea sprayed all over Kaiba, and the brunet glared at the blonde. “You bought Asahi Shimbun?”
“I wanted those responsible for the article out of the way…”
“So if I worked there? If he’d actually given me the job he promised… you would have fired me?”
Kaiba didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Jou grabbed the napkins from the tray and wiped the tea from Kaiba. “So what do you plan to do to me now to retaliate for me writing the article?”
“I haven’t decided.”
Jou nodded. “Well, I’m sure you’ll let me know when you figure it out, so I should be going now.”
“Off to look for a job?”
“No. I already have a full time job, plus I’m a full time journalism student at Tokyo University. I don’t graduate until May, maybe later if I have to retake my internship. I had a month left…” Jou stood up. “I should probably leave you to do your work.”
“Sit down. Isono made enough food for both of us, and you will help me eat it!”
“Okay. Thanks. I am a bit hungry.” Jou sat down again and lifted a finger sandwich.
Part Twenty: Enemy Made
Summary: A mysterious meeting.
The door opened, and the sounds from the conclave suddenly stopped. All eyes turned to the doorway to see who would dare interrupt their secret meeting.
Yamada closed the door and bowed. “Forgive the interruption, but I had to see you.”
“What is it, Yamada-san?”
“Kaiba Seto purchased Asahi Shimbun so he could fire me personally for my article on his brother’s wedding…”
Someone smirked. “Yes, we know. Our plans have already been set in motion. Kaiba Seto will be taken care of, and soon you’ll be back where you belong.”
Yamada nodded. “Thank you.”
“I trust we don’t have to remind you not to let this happen again.”
“Of course.” Yamada bowed before slipping back out of the room.
Word: Rabble
Meaning:
1: a disorganized or confused collection of things
2: a: a disorganized or disorderly crowd of people: mob b: the lowest class of people
Word: Comix
Meaning: comic books or comic strips
Word: Critique
Meaning: an act of criticizing; especially: a critical estimate or discussion
Word: Extemporaneous
Meaning:
1: composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment : impromptu
2: provided, made, or put to use as an expedient : makeshift
Word: Duende
meaning: the power to attract through personal magnetism and charm
Word: Copious
Meaning:
1a : yielding something abundantly b : plentiful in number
2 : full of thought, information, or matter
3 : lavish, abundant
Word: abjure
Meaning:
1a : to renounce upon oath b : to reject solemnly
2: to abstain from : avoid
Word: Exegesis
Meaning: exposition, explanation; especially : an explanation or critical interpretation of a text
Word: henchman
Meaning:
1: a trusted follower : a right-hand man
2: a political follower whose support is chiefly for personal advantage
3: a member of a gang
Word: conclave
Meaning:
1: a private meeting or secret assembly
2: a gathering of a group or association
Author's Note: Please check out my profile page to learn more about me and other works I've written.
Hideki LaShae
Part Eleven: Paperwork
Summary: Jou had work to do.
Jou looked over the rabble of pictures and papers before closing the file folder containing them. He stepped out of the elevator and walked towards the office of the assistant editor. He knocked lightly on the door.
“Enter!” screeched the man through the door.
Jou opened the door and stepped inside. He walked up to the desk and held out the file folder. “Everything you need is in there.”
Yamada Takeshi ripped the folder from Jou’s hands and opened it. He looked through the pictures first before moving on to glance at the other papers. “This is perfect. You’ve actually done a good job for once.”
“Thank you, Yamada-san…”
“Go home and rest. You’ve had a long trip. See you in the funny pages.”
Jou smiled as he left the office. He didn’t hear Yamada lift the phone and speak to the head of security about ‘not letting that rabble into the bullpen again’.
Part Twelve: All News Fit to Print
Summary: Mokuba only read the paper for one thing.
His younger brother thought the only thing worth reading in the newspaper was the comix pages, so needless to say, it took Kaiba by complete surprise when Mokuba grabbed the paper straight from the waiter bringing it to their table and ripped it open to the Lifestyle section.
Shizuka peeked at the paper over Mokuba’s shoulder and suddenly gasped. “Oh, my God!”
Terror flashed in Mokuba’s eyes.
“What is it?” Kaiba grabbed the paper and pulled it to him. He looked at the front page of the section directly at the picture of Mokuba and Shizuka in their wedding day apparel. Anger bubbled up within him as he read the attached article. “They knew about your unique vows and about my toast at the reception dinner. How the hell did they get a reporter into the wedding? And these pictures? Besides the photographer there was only one person with a camera…”
Shizuka gripped Mokuba’s hand tightly.
“Jou…”
“Seto?” Mokuba reached towards his brother.
“Why would he do this to us? Why would he betray us like this?” asked Kaiba. He crumpled up the paper and threw it across the room. He rose and stormed off.
“It wasn’t like that,” said Mokuba watching his older brother walk away.
Shizuka patted Mokuba’s arm. “Oh, Mokie, what do we do about them?”
Part Thirteen: Security
Summary: Jou had nothing left to lose.
Jou burst through the door into the newspaper reception office and walked straight towards the elevator. An aura of anger surrounded him.
A security guard stepped in front of Jou.
“Get out of my way, Ren! I’ve got to talk to that asshole, Yamada!”
“I can’t let you go in there, Jou. The bullpen is for employees only,” said the security guard, Ren.
“I am an employee!” snapped Jou.
“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, Jou,” said Ren slowly, “because I really do like you. Your internship’s over. You’ve been fired. You don’t work here anymore, and I can’t let you into the bullpen. You can’t see Yamada-san.”
All the blood drained from Jou’s face, and he deadpanned. “What?”
“We all know you wrote that article, but it doesn’t matter. You want a little critique? You’re good at writing, but you’re stupid. Go back to school. Finish your education so you won’t be such an idiot. Then every paper in the country will be begging you to work for them.”
“Yamada promised…” Jou looked at Ren.
“You want some advice from someone who’s been there before?” Ren looked at Jou. “You can’t fight people like Yamada-san. They always win.”
“I’m not going down without a fight. This isn’t over, Ren, not by a long shot. I’ll leave now, nice and peace-like, but I will be back. You can count on that, and when I do… Yamada’s head will roll!” Jou turned and walked out of the newspaper building.
Part Fourteen: Impromptu
Summary: Kaiba never did anything without careful planning, until now…
Kaiba stepped into the restaurant, and the manager greeted him personally, “Welcome to our fine establishment, Kaiba-sama. Your party’s already partaking of aperitifs at the table. Please follow me, and I’ll take you to them.”
“Them?”
“Yes. You are here to meet with the Miyagi family from Okinawa, are you not? Miyagi-shacho brought his wife.” The manager guided Kaiba into a private room where an elderly man and his much younger wife sat sipping their drinks. “Would you like an aperitif, Kaiba-sama?”
“No.”
The manager bowed before leaving them alone.
Kaiba loved brief introductions, and thankfully so did Miyagi-shacho. Soon they all sat eating sushi and drinking sake.
“Now, to what do we owe the pleasure of having lunch with the world’s most famous toy inventor?” asked Miyagi-shacho.
Kaiba’s temple twitched, but he didn’t snap at the man like he wanted to. He had other plans for the old man. “I believe you own Asahi Shimbun?”
The woman spoke. “Yes, I do. My beloved husband bought it for me. I can honestly say I own the news.”
“How much?”
“How much? I own it all. All the stock is in my name. I own the entire newspaper…”
“No. How much do you want for it?”
“Now, Kaiba-shacho, be careful what you say extemporaneously. People might take you literally,” warned Miyagi-shacho.
“I’m not extemporaneous. I mean it. How much for all the stock to be transferred to my name? Name your price…”
“You do realize you will not make a fortune by selling newspapers, do you not, Kaiba-bo?” asked Miyagi-san.
“I have other reasons for wanting the paper. Nothing of your concern…”
“Then I’m afraid I cannot sell…”
Kaiba clenched his fists, and his temple twitched again. “One of the reporters snuck into my brother’s wedding acting like the damn paparazzi, and I want to fire him. I can’t do that because I don’t own the paper!”
“Yes. I read the article. It was quite good, but a bit invasive.” The woman nodded. “I believe we can settle on a price to benefit us both. You don’t plan to ruin everyone’s careers do you?”
“No. Business will be run as usual, with a few exceptions.”
Part Fifteen: Just Jou’s Luck
Summary: Jou’s always been lucky.
Yugi placed a steaming cup of tea on the table in front of Jou. “I think it’s duende.”
“Yeah. I think it’s dumb too.” Jou lifted the cup with both hands but didn’t drink from it.
“Not dumb. You have duende for luck, it’s the power to attract. I use my duende to attract kids to the game shop. I still look like I could be their age, so it works for me.” Yugi sat down with his own cup of tea. “You have always had that power over luck. Normally it’s good luck, but it can’t be good all the time. Remember the duels where your Time Wizard came up skulls instead of time machine? This is just like then. A temporary setback…”
“I just can’t believe I was so stupid. I believed him, you know… I thought this would turn everything around for me…”
“I know. I thought so too, but sometimes… if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is…”
Part Sixteen: Favors
Summary: Sometimes the truth doesn’t set one free.
Kaiba couldn’t believe the nerve of that woman. He just paid her a copious amount of money for the newspaper, and then she had the gall to ask him THAT? With her husband sitting right BESIDE her? He felt himself pale, and his stomach flopped. He said the only thing he could think of to possibly dissuade her. “I’m gay.”
Miyagi-san giggled. “Really, you don’t have to lie to me. I know I’m not as pretty as some of the starlets you’ve probably dated.”
“Oh, but darling, you are very beautiful,” said Miyagi-shacho.
Miyagi-san ignored her husband’s words, and instead she continued to speak to Kaiba. “I understand if you’re not attracted to me.”
“He doesn’t even know you. You’re beautiful inside and out…”
“I’m sorry… I have another meeting across town in about an hour… Please, enjoy the rest of the meal.” Kaiba stood a little too quickly and knocked over the bottle of sake. He reached for it at the same time as the woman, and he yanked his hand back as if burned by the brushing of her hand. “Good day. It was nice doing business with you.”
Miyagi-shacho rose and bowed slightly to Kaiba. “It was nice to finally meet you. Enjoy your toys.”
Kaiba tightened his fists at the slight insult as he bowed. He fled the restaurant, stopping only to speak to the manager and settle the bill before climbing into the back of his limo.
Part Seventeen: New Sheriff in Town
Summary: Kaiba makes a visit to his newest acquisition.
The President at Asahi Shimbun stared in shock as Kaiba stepped through his office door without being announced. He rose at once and bowed. “Kaiba-sama, such a pleasure to see you here…”
“Normally I would abjure places like this, but seeing as how I just bought it…”
Kotaro Akiyama fell back into his chair. “Bought?”
Kaiba smirked and sat down in the comfortable chair across the desk from Kotaro. “Yes. I just had a pleasant lunch with the Miyagi’s. This newspaper now belongs to me, and we have a few things to discuss.”
“All right. Such as?”
“The article about my brother’s wedding…”
“That was a well written article, although I doubt that’s why you’re here. So let’s be blunt.”
“No reporters or photographers were permitted into that wedding except for our private wedding photographer who’s already assured me the pictures didn’t come from him. The ceremony and reception were a private affair, and as such we wanted it kept private. I want all the parties responsible for that article and pictures, and I want them fired!”
Kotaro turned to his computer for a moment and typed something into it. “One of our editorial staff, Yamada Masaharu, both wrote and edited it. He listed ‘a source’ for the obtaining of the information and pictures.”
“I’m pretty sure I know who that source is. How much did Yamada pay Jounouchi Katsuya?” asked Kaiba.
After another moment of rapid typing, Kotaro turned towards Kaiba. “Jounouchi Katsuya has never been paid by this company. If Yamada gave him any money, it was straight from his personal funds or perhaps the petty cash, but no transaction’s been recorded.”
“Good. It would serve him right to be duped after betraying my family. I want Yamada gone,” said Kaiba, “See that it’s done.” He rose from his chair and walked to the door.
“Yes, Kaiba-sama.”
“I doubt I’ll be back again, but if my privacy ever gets trampled on by this paper…” Kaiba left the threat hanging in the air as he left.
Part Eighteen: Misconstrue
Summary: Kaiba confronts Jou about the newspaper article.
Jou looked at his desk calendar. The word ‘explanation’ stood out more than any other, and he sighed. Even the calendar seemed to be taunting him. He knew what needed to be done. He left his apartment and hailed a taxi. He got into the back of the car. “Kaiba Corp.”
Moments later, Jou paid the driver and exited the cab. He walked into the tall Kaiba Corp building and took the elevator to the executive floor. A woman greeted him as he stepped out of the elevator car. “I have a meeting with Kaiba-sama.”
“Of course, Jounouchi-san. I’ll announce you at once.” The executive assistant disappeared into an office for a moment before coming back into view. “You may go in now.”
Jou straightened his suit jacket as he walked towards the door. He opened the door and stepped into the office.
Kaiba lunged at Jou and pressed him up against the door to close it. His fingers wrapped around the blond’s throat, and he choked the man before him. “How dare you betray me and my family!”
“Didn’t…”
Kaiba narrowed his eyes. “Don’t deny it! You gave that reporter the pictures from Mokuba’s wedding! You told him what happened… their vows, my toast…”
Jou tried to claw Kaiba’s hands from his neck, but they wouldn’t budge. Darkness loomed on the outskirts of his vision, threatening to close in on him at any given moment. He could hardly breathe, and he felt his life trying to slip away. “Not your wedding…”
“What?” Kaiba’s grip loosened and Jou fell to the floor.
“It wasn’t your wedding!” Jou gasped for breath. “Mokuba married Shizuka, not you…”
“And your point is…?”
Jou glared at Kaiba. “You might have wanted a private affair, but that doesn’t mean they did. They gave me permission to write the article and take the pictures.”
Kaiba stared at Jou in silence.
Jou pulled himself to his feet, and his eyes softened as he looked at Kaiba again. “They tried to tell you, but you didn’t want to hear any of it.”
“Why would they give you permission to do that?” Kaiba walked over to the sofa and sat down.
“They were trying to help me,” said Jou. He moved over and sank onto the sofa beside Kaiba. “I worked my ass off to get an internship at Asahi Shimbun. It’s the most read newspaper in all of Japan so even the unpaid internship I got there would be an excellent reference on my resume.”
Kaiba watched Jou out of the corner of his eye, not bothering to turn his head to look at him fully.
“When one of the editors found out I would be at the wedding ceremony, he gave me an offer I couldn’t really refuse. I thought about it, but I talked it over with Mokuba and Shizuka first before agreeing.”
“What was the offer?”
“He offered me a job. He said if I could get an exclusive account of the wedding, he’d give me a job writing commitments. It was a far cry from the investigative reporting I want to do, but it would get my foot in the door. It would be a job at the best paper in Japan, and I’m sure I’d have opportunity later for promotions and whatnot…” Jou ran his hand through his blond hair. “He lied to me though. I wrote the article, but he stole my byline. He put HIS name on my article and printed it with the pictures I’d taken. Then he terminated my internship early.”
“You didn’t get the job?”
“No. He betrayed me.”
“You betrayed me, and this is your exegesis?” Kaiba turned to look at Jou and clearly saw the sadness written on Jou’s face.
“I didn’t mean to betray you. And really, I didn’t. I only mentioned your toast because I had to make some mention of you. Mokuba loved your toast. He wanted to share it. He told me so at the reception. I didn’t betray YOUR family because OUR family allowed me to write the story.”
Part Nineteen: Snack
Summary: Everyone needs food sometimes.
The door opened, and Kaiba’s henchman, Isono, stepped into the office with a tray containing a teapot, two small cups, and little snacks. He walked towards the couch and placed the tray on the small table in front of it. “Forgive the interruption, Kaiba-sama, but I brought your afternoon tea.”
“Thank you, Isono.”
“Is there anything else you or Jounouchi-san need?” asked Isono turning his eyes to Jou.
“No. That will be all. Thank you.”
Isono bowed and left the office, closing the door tight behind him.
“I don’t like what you did.” Kaiba reached for the teapot, but Jou beat him to it.
Jou poured two cups of tea and held one out to Kaiba. “I shouldn’t have done it. I was naïve and stupid, but I did it. I can’t take it back now.”
Kaiba took the tea. “You are so much trouble. You realize you made me buy a newspaper.”
“I’m sure you buy a paper every day!” Jou rolled his eyes as he sipped his own tea.
“I meant the company, not the product.”
Jou’s tea sprayed all over Kaiba, and the brunet glared at the blonde. “You bought Asahi Shimbun?”
“I wanted those responsible for the article out of the way…”
“So if I worked there? If he’d actually given me the job he promised… you would have fired me?”
Kaiba didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Jou grabbed the napkins from the tray and wiped the tea from Kaiba. “So what do you plan to do to me now to retaliate for me writing the article?”
“I haven’t decided.”
Jou nodded. “Well, I’m sure you’ll let me know when you figure it out, so I should be going now.”
“Off to look for a job?”
“No. I already have a full time job, plus I’m a full time journalism student at Tokyo University. I don’t graduate until May, maybe later if I have to retake my internship. I had a month left…” Jou stood up. “I should probably leave you to do your work.”
“Sit down. Isono made enough food for both of us, and you will help me eat it!”
“Okay. Thanks. I am a bit hungry.” Jou sat down again and lifted a finger sandwich.
Part Twenty: Enemy Made
Summary: A mysterious meeting.
The door opened, and the sounds from the conclave suddenly stopped. All eyes turned to the doorway to see who would dare interrupt their secret meeting.
Yamada closed the door and bowed. “Forgive the interruption, but I had to see you.”
“What is it, Yamada-san?”
“Kaiba Seto purchased Asahi Shimbun so he could fire me personally for my article on his brother’s wedding…”
Someone smirked. “Yes, we know. Our plans have already been set in motion. Kaiba Seto will be taken care of, and soon you’ll be back where you belong.”
Yamada nodded. “Thank you.”
“I trust we don’t have to remind you not to let this happen again.”
“Of course.” Yamada bowed before slipping back out of the room.
Word: Rabble
Meaning:
1: a disorganized or confused collection of things
2: a: a disorganized or disorderly crowd of people: mob b: the lowest class of people
Word: Comix
Meaning: comic books or comic strips
Word: Critique
Meaning: an act of criticizing; especially: a critical estimate or discussion
Word: Extemporaneous
Meaning:
1: composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment : impromptu
2: provided, made, or put to use as an expedient : makeshift
Word: Duende
meaning: the power to attract through personal magnetism and charm
Word: Copious
Meaning:
1a : yielding something abundantly b : plentiful in number
2 : full of thought, information, or matter
3 : lavish, abundant
Word: abjure
Meaning:
1a : to renounce upon oath b : to reject solemnly
2: to abstain from : avoid
Word: Exegesis
Meaning: exposition, explanation; especially : an explanation or critical interpretation of a text
Word: henchman
Meaning:
1: a trusted follower : a right-hand man
2: a political follower whose support is chiefly for personal advantage
3: a member of a gang
Word: conclave
Meaning:
1: a private meeting or secret assembly
2: a gathering of a group or association
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