Memories of Egypt

Title: Memories of Egypt – 5/8

Author: Telpei

Pairing(s): Seto/Jou, mentions of Priest Seto/Atemu

Beta: Jennie B.

Spoilers: Mentions of plot details from the series, up to the Doom arc.

Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from the Yu-Gi-Oh characters or episode details used in this story.

Summary: Seto has always been bothered by the idea of his Ancient Egyptian past, but what would life be like without it?

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Chapter 5

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Late that night, Seto was tired, but satisfied, as he finally headed home from the office. Things were certainly looking up for Kaiba Corp, and the board of directors seemed pleased with the new product’s progress so far. The prototype had gone through rigorous testing to ensure the safety of consumers, and it looked as if it would be ready for release by the beginning of the following week. Seto was already designing commercials and preparing displays of the product to promote its sales, and that very afternoon, he had assigned several projects to his marketing team.

Now that his finances were back under control, the brunet knew he had to confront Mokuba. When he got home, however, he found that his younger brother was missing completely. The boy’s bedroom door was open, but his room, and the rest of the condo, were empty. With a frustrated sigh, Seto headed back out into the night. Without any money, Mokuba had to be on foot. Perhaps he had only gone to the park across the street to get out of the house. His brother often went for runs in the park, so Seto hoped that finding him wouldn't be too much trouble.

The young CEO wandered aimlessly through the grassy areas for a long time, occasionally calling Mokuba’s name, but mostly just walking in silence. He had a feeling that if his brother heard him approaching, he would just turn around and head in another direction. Seto slid his hands into his pockets as he continued through the lightly forested area, letting his mind drift as his eyes searched the surrounding darkness for his beloved brother.

His thoughts turned back to Yugi, and to the small deck of cards that had been returned to him earlier that afternoon by the boy’s grandfather. He hadn’t expected to have his offer of friendship rejected by none other than the Friendship King himself, but Seto had to remind himself that this Yugi was not the same person as the excellent duellist he had known prior to his wish. The brunet didn’t quite understand his own emotions regarding the matter, but he felt as though he had to help the wild-haired teen somehow - it was as if he owed him at least that much. He resolved not to give up on the other teen quite yet; perhaps if he could negate some of Jounouchi’s current animosity, he would be able to get through to Yugi.

Seto’s musings were brought to an abrupt halt as he heard someone fall into step behind him. Their feet were crunching on the gravelled path, and whoever was following him was pacing their steps to match his own gait. A shiver travelled down the brunet’s spine and he subconsciously sped up a little, tensing in fear as his pursuer picked up the pace, as well. A cold sweat broke out over his skin, and Seto could feel goose bumps rushing down his arms and legs. He felt weak for being so paranoid, but after his earlier encounter with Jounouchi, and having seen his firearm, the businessman was further on his guard. Still, he had never been one to run away, and he wasn't about to start now.

Steeling his nerves, Seto came to an abrupt stop and glanced over his shoulder, surprised to see the blond himself. The slightly shorter teen was no more than five feet away, and the brunet’s breath hitched in his throat with apprehension. Jounouchi was smirking at him, and there was a threatening expression on his face. The moonlight that filtered down through the foliage above them gleamed against his teeth and the whites of his eyes.

“Going somewhere, Kaiba?” he drawled, taking a few steps forward to close the remaining distance between them. Seto turned around fully so that he was facing the blond, schooling his expression into one of indifference and squaring his shoulders in anticipation of the inevitable confrontation.

“Isn’t it a little late for puppies to be outside all alone? You shouldn’t run away from your owner; bad things can happen,” the brunet replied in a cool voice. He pulled his hands free of his pockets and tensed his muscles, preparing himself for a physical fight. Of course, if Jounouchi was still armed, the fight wouldn’t last too long. Nonetheless, Seto wasn’t about to leave himself wide open for an attack.

Jounouchi looked ready to lunge, and it was apparent that he could still be easily angered by Seto’s words. “That’s enough with the jokes, Kaiba – you’re way out of your league. Have you already forgotten who has the upper hand in this situation? After all, there’s no one around to hear your screams.”

“Or gunshots?” Seto replied, still maintaining his calm outward appearance. “I bet you’re too cowardly to use that damned thing. Anyone who feels the need to arm themselves with a weapon must feel inadequate in some other area.”

“As if I’d need it to take you down,” the blond replied with a scowl, his hands balling into fists at his sides. “You’re a scrawny, weak, little pansy, Kaiba. The Rintama boys are going to tear your company apart, and I’m going to tear ~you~ apart.”

“Is that so?” the CEO asked, raising an eyebrow. The hair on the back of his neck was beginning to bristle, and he held his breath as Jounouchi took another step forward. They were directly across from each other now, with less than a foot of distance between them. The blond swung first, and Seto caught his fist, his palm stinging from the impact. Jounouchi seemed surprised with his quick reflexes, and for several moments, neither of them moved.

“Why did you have those cards?” Jou finally asked, hissing the words from behind clenched teeth. “Were you just trying to piss me off?”

“It wasn’t my intention,” Seto replied slowly, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. Was Jounouchi trying to distract him before dealing another punch? Their hands were still locked in the air, both of them applying equal pressure and neither one relenting, unwilling to be the first to back off. “I had planned on giving them to you, since Kaiba Corp. is retiring Duel Monsters.”

“Bullshit,” the shorter male bit back, his own eyes narrowing in anger. Seto caught a flash of some unknown emotion in the dark brown depths, but he was unable to interpret it. “I don’t believe a word of that crap. You planned on giving them to me? Go to hell, Kaiba! I don’t know what kind of story you’re trying to pull, but I can assure you, I ain’t buyin’ it.”

Seto shrugged, unsure what he was supposed to say. He had no idea what Jounouchi was looking to gain from this confrontation. “I thought that they suited you,” he finally said, bracing himself for the next punch that would certainly be forthcoming if the blond was further angered.

“Ha!” Jounouchi let out a bark of laughter, clearly unimpressed. He held his own eyes to Seto’s steady gaze, and pressed a little harder against the hand that held his fist. “Since when have you even looked at me?” he demanded in a low, threatening voice. Seto thought he could sense a hint of frustration, or sadness, in the blond’s tone of voice. “You have no right to claim to know anything about me, or to compare me to some of your fucking toys!”

“You’re wrong,” the brunet said with quiet finality that Jou hadn’t been expecting. “I have been watching you,” he admitted, his eyes searching the blond’s expression for any reaction, for some kind of emotional response. “I know you better than you think. I can tell how lonely you are, and I know how much it hurts you to bury yourself beneath a mask of indifference. You’re above that gang, Jounouchi, and we both know it. I don’t understand why - ”

“Don’t you fucking dare!” Jounouchi yelled, pulling back and sending another punch towards Seto’s face. The brunet dodged, the attack just grazing his cheek, but Jounouchi’s second fist caught him in the stomach. He doubled over, coughing as he tried to regain his breath, but the blond grabbed a fistful of his hair and jerked him upright so that they were face to face. “My reasons are my own, Kaiba, so keep your nosy ass out of my business. Why the hell do you care so much, anyway?”

Seto didn’t have an answer to that – at least, not a good one, so he kept his mouth shut. Anger flared bright in Jou’s eyes at the other's silence, but still the brunet didn’t speak.

“Fine,” Jounouchi snarled, releasing the taller male and giving him a shove. Seto stumbled back a few steps before catching his balance. “I don’t give a damn, anyhow.”

Blue eyes watched as the blond turned and began to walk away, and Seto felt a painful twist in his chest. “Wait!” he heard himself call out, before Jounouchi could disappear down the path. Surprisingly, the blond stopped, and Seto strode forward with a determined glint in his eyes. “You’re not the only one with questions. Aren’t you going to tell me why you kept the Red Eyes?” he demanded, stopping a few feet away from the shorter male and crossing his arms over his chest. “Aren’t you going to tell me the real reason you came out here tonight? I assume you were following me, correct?”

“I don’t have to explain shit to you,” Jou replied with a scowl, impatiently brushing his bangs out of his eyes. Seto was pleased to note that the blond’s mask had slipped a little; it had cracked under the force of his anger, letting a little of his true self – the one Seto remembered from before his wish – slip through. Deciding to take a risk, even though his life may very well have been in danger, the brunet took another step forward.

“I bet you couldn’t bring yourself to tear it in half,” he accused, smirking with a touch of his old arrogance, and watching as Jounouchi’s face further contorted with anger. “It is your favourite card, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the blond denied, but Seto pressed the subject further.

“You couldn’t rip it to shreds since it means too much to you. You love that card, Jounouchi, even if you can’t find anything else to love. Can’t you see what Hirutani is doing to you? He’s – ”

“Shut the fuck up!” Jounouchi yelled, lunging at Kaiba and knocking them both to the ground. “You don’t know shit about Hirutani, Kaiba, so keep your big fucking mouth shut! I owe him my life, you hear me? My life! He saved my little sis, even if she…she…”

Seto watched in shock as the blond struggled with his words, unable to do much else at the moment. He was lying flat on his back, trying desperately to catch his breath after having had the wind knocked from his lungs, which was proving difficult since Jounouchi was pressed forcefully against his torso, holding him in place. He couldn’t move, and he didn’t dare to try. Instead, the brunet lay stone still and waited for the shorter male to compose himself. Jounouchi’s eyes were wet with tears, and Seto’s memory dragged forth images of black clothing, black cars, and white flowers. He remembered, now, how Jounouchi had lost his sister soon after she had regained her sight.

Slowly fitting the puzzle pieces into place, Seto couldn’t help but frown. The way Jounouchi was babbling, it almost sounded as if Hirutani had paid for Shizuka’s eyes. But of course, in this reality, there had been no Duel Monsters tournament and no prize money, so the blond had had to turn elsewhere to pay for the expensive surgery. He felt hurt when he realized that Jounouchi had not come to him for monetary aide, but he was not surprised. They had never been friends, and in this reality, Seto’s failing finances wouldn’t have been able to support the blond.

“Jounouchi, it’s all right,” Seto finally soothed in a calming voice, daring to lift a hand to brush his fingers through Jounouchi’s soft hair. He wasn’t very accustomed to comforting people, but he found it surprisingly easy to touch the blond and to offer what help he could. Even if he had never dreamt about this in his sleep, he had certainly fantasized during the day about holding the shorter male close and murmuring soft words.

Jou was silent for several moments, unmoving atop the brunet’s chest for reasons unknown to Seto. Jounouchi looked sad and confused all at once, obviously hurting from the painful memories concerning the loss of his only sibling. The young businessman couldn’t quite comprehend why the blond wasn’t pushing him away, but he wasn't about to question it. Slowly, one hand slipped lower to toy with the soft hair at the base of Jounouchi’s neck, while the other was resting on one of the shorter male’s shoulders. “Why?” Jou finally asked, his voice rough with suppressed pain. “Why do you care so much, Kaiba? How…why are you making me feel this way?”

“What way, Jounouchi?” Seto asked, keeping his voice soft and soothing. The blond still wouldn’t meet his eyes, which concerned the young CEO. What was he thinking? How would he react next? There was no way to tell.

“Like I should try to be more…” Jou replied in a whisper after a long hesitation. “Like…like I should try to change…to be better. Why are you doing this to me?”

Seto was quiet for a long time, struggling to put his thoughts in order. He knew that Jounouchi needed an answer this time, and that he wouldn’t be able to brush off the question as easily as he had earlier. “I know what it’s like,” he said finally, gazing up at the starry sky through the gaps in the leaves above them. “Trying to be someone you’re not, I mean,” he elaborated slowly. “I know how much it hurts to be alone, Jounouchi…” he trailed off, the words, ‘and I don’t want to be alone anymore,’ hanging, unspoken, in the air between them.

“You almost sound like you care about me,” Jounouchi replied softly, in a self-depreciating tone. “We’ve barely even talked – ”

“No,” Seto cut him off, turning his eyes back to the bowed blond head. “We’ve talked more than you realize,” he murmured, thinking back to his arguments and all the teasing that had occurred with the second-rate mutt.

They both fell into a semi-comfortable silence after that, both feeling like they should move, but unwilling to put forth the effort. Jounouchi eventually relaxed, lying down fully on top of the brunet, and Seto was happy to accept the weight on his chest. Although they stayed in the same position for a long while, neither noticed the slate grey eyes that watched with anger, betrayal, and accusation from behind the cover of trees.

Ooo TBC ooO