The Offer

Title: The Offer 9/10

Author: Puppys_Seahorse

Rating: NC-17

Pairing (s): Seto/Jounouchi Mokuba/Yugi

Beta: mofaf1

Spoilers: Minor for Noa Arc

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh or make any money or profit from this
work.

Summary: Seto believes Jounouchi left him for someone else. But he
discovers he was wrong and his lover had received an offer he
couldn't turn down.


I apologize that it seems Maggiemay and I have abandoned you. IT is not TRUE. Maggie has been in and out of hospital for the last 3 weeks with pneumonia and complications.

This next bit if for KISA. The rest of you may skip it.

KISA, how dare you call her heartless for not posting. You are a selfish biatch in my opinion. She has been on breathing machines with oxygen and Maggie still worried about you biatch!KISA. SO if you read this KISA, keep your artwork you piece of manure. My sister breathing is more important anything HERE.

Don't review for me as I don't care to know if you like my work biatch!Kisa. You are a brat and a biatch (I can't say it enough). You owe my sister a HUGE apology. She posted an entire story just for you at your whim. And she took time when she should have been in bed and stayed up and wrote you an email. You never replied. Who is heartless? Worthless biatch. Don't contact maggie or me ever again. I don't care for worthless creatures and maggie is too tender for your shit. She was actually going to try to WRITE with a tube stuck down her throat just to give you what you wanted. The doctor's knocked her out.

End Kisa RANT

***Enjoy chapter 9 of The Offer. There is a teaser to my new fic, Jou Cool at the bottom. I only have a chapter left to write. While I sat by Maggie's bed I was busy. I'm on page 50 and it will probably have about 60 pages. This is page 1.

****

Forty miles away, high in the sky an over temperature light began to flash.

Joseph Wheeler looked up from his conference with his legal team as the co-pilot entered the cabin. “What is it?”

“Sir, the fuel cell temperature is climbing. The warning indicator is in the medium range of yellow and is steadily climbing. We expect red light within ten minutes. Sir, we won’t make it to the airport.”

“Are you sure it’s not a malfunction?” Suspicion of Kaiba reared.

“Yes, Sir. It is a double redundant system. There is no mistake. The cooling unit for the fuel has failed.”

“Are we near any airports?”

“There are a few small ones. The pilot has contacted Tokyo; they have routed us to the closest landing strip. It is a small commercial airport about eleven minutes away.”

“Eleven? But we only have about ten minutes.”

“Yes Sir, but it’s the best we can do.” The man nodded and backed out of the room. “I…must go assist the captain.”

There was dead silence in the cabin as everyone stared at each other in horrified realization. The only person who seemed unaffected was Becca. Her gaze was locked on the passing clouds outside the window. “Becca, did you hear?”

“Yes, of course I did. But I’ve told you before, I’m not afraid to die.” With a meaningless smile, she kept her gaze fixed on the clouds.

He blinked and moved to sit with her. She’d acted strangely since Joey had left. If he hadn’t been so busy working to get Joey back he would have thought she was avoiding him. She’d moved out of their room using the excuse of needing more sleep than his restlessness would allow and she’d been eating in alone, saying that she’d rather eat by herself in her room than by herself downstairs.

Gripping her hand tightly he breathed for her ears only “I love you. If we die in a few minutes, remember I did it all for you.”

For a split second the green eyes stared at him with a rage and hatred that made him blink in shock, and then when he met the gaze again they were soft and caring. “I know Joseph. I know.” She smiled reassuringly as he took her hand. When the acrid smell of burning fuel stung their noses and a thin black smoke filled the cabin she patted his hand. “It’s all right Joseph. I’ve died before and I will show you the way.” As the wheels touched the tarmac, their world faded to darkness.
Becca woke to find herself in a white and grey room. A large velvet canopied bed cradled her body and soft lights transitioned her gently from sleeping to full wakefulness. A quick check at her pulse showed she was still alive. “Damn and that was such an ironic ending too.” With a sigh she swung out of bed and stood. That’s when she noticed that she felt different. Surprised she looked down at her body. Her eyes widened and lips parted slightly in surprise. She truly was in her own body, the body that had died, not the stolen form of her granddaughter. “What…how?” She whispered in shock. “Maybe I am dead.” Involuntarily, drawn almost as if hypnotized, she moved across the room to a mirror hung above a white vanity. Her eyes traced the woman she saw. Older, anywhere between thirty and fifty, long blond hair, highlighted silver and gold hung past her shoulders - not a grey in sight. A strong well maintained silhouette, with toned muscles and firm skin. Becca smiled fondly. She’d been a good looking old broad. Grabbing her breasts she squeezed lightly then ran her hands around to cup her ass. Firm in all the right places and strong. Who knew something that started as one cell and grew to the size of a tic-tac could kill her.

A soft giggle came from the bed behind her. She spun and gasped. Sitting on the bed was Rebecca, her granddaughter. A little older, not much and still a beautiful child with green eyes too big for her face and blond pigtails down her back. She was dressed in her favorite pink ruffled Barbie nightgown. “Rebecca!” Instinctively she moved to the child, needing to hold her little girl.

The laughter faded and the little girl backed away. “Grandma, are you finally talking to me again? How? We can’t be awake at the same time. Grandpa Joseph explained it to me before I went to sleep.” She looked worried for a second. “Is he going to be mad? He said I had to sleep so you could live, but I’ve been awake for a while. I’ve mostly only watched because I was too sleepy but…”

A knock on the door interrupted the little girl. Becca shifted in front of her precious granddaughter and called sharply “Come in.”

A slightly familiar tall brunet walked in followed by an older man wearing a white coat and stethoscope. The older woman stiffened and glared. “What’s going on? You’re Kaiba so I can’t be dead.”

“You’re quite correct. You are not dead. You are in a state of consciousness found only in Virtual Reality. You have been uploaded into a reality simulation. You brought with you an unexpected visitor.” Seto gestured to the little girl peeping at him around Becca’s arm. “This is my doctor. We have come to assess if she is indeed another consciousness or if she is a computer created anomaly. We can’t proceed further until we know.”

A small damp hand slid into Becca’s and automatically she squeezed lightly in reassurance. “She’s real. My granddaughter Rebecca.”

“Well, she may be a random memory. We will have to test her to make sure.” Seto stepped forward to remove the child from behind the woman but stopped abruptly as he took in Becca’s changed appearance. “What…you are older here.” It was a statement, but she could tell the young man was putting the puzzle together rapidly. His anger and disgust showed plainly. “So you were his first guinea pig. You are no better than he is, to allow this kind of…” Words failed him as he realized that Becca had literally stolen the child’s life for several years.

"Gramma, what is he saying? Why does he look like that?" Rebecca whispered softly.

“Sweetie, Joseph did something bad. I didn’t know about it until just recently. I…when you went to sleep I thought you’d gone to heaven with your real grandpa and parents. I didn’t know you were still here.” Dropping to her knees, she pulled the little girl into her lap. “I swear to God, Angel-eyes, I didn’t know you were here.”

"I know that Gramma." Rebecca smiled happily up at her, and patted the shaking shoulder. "Grandpa Joseph told me that you were almost gone and wouldn't know I was there because by the time you woke up I'd be asleep." The little girl bit her lip and confessed. "I've been trying to talk to you and Grandpa Joseph for a while now. I want to wake up and play. Besides," the little girl bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. "I think he's trying to make Joey sleep and I don't think Joey wants to. I mean, I wanted to 'cause I wanted you to stay, but Joey...Joey isn't like me at all. He...he fights to stay awake."

A shamefaced look graced the small features. "I told him to stay awake he has to stop taking the pills, but to keep it a secret. I was awake one time when you were late taking them and I felt more awake then ever. I told him. Grandma, he's nice and fun. He looks like Grandpa Joseph except younger and prettier, but he’s fun like Cousin Andrew. And he smiles." The little girl nodded positively. "He doesn't want to sleep and neither do I anymore. I want to wake up and play with Joey. He's fun to play with. Can’t you sleep for a little while?"

Seto stared down at the small girl, his heart nearly leaping from his chest. “Jounouchi, did you…”

Jounouchi’s voice rumbled into the scene. “Yeah, and that explains it. I mean, I kinda noticed that sometimes she was like a little kid and always trying to talk to me. And I do remember her sayin’ somethin’ about the pills. That’s why I started to take half of them. But then she tried ta get inta my pants and figured she was playing some kinda game.”

Becca sighed and mumbled, "I would have a blank period, and I'd wake up to find myself with Joey. I thought it was a hormonal thing. And I...well he is very sexy."

Seto growled low, both agreeing and warning the woman away.

“Gramma wha’s homonal? And sexy?”

Becca gasped and her eyes widened in horror. She’d forgotten how curious the girl was.

Jounouchi snorted but didn't answer either of their comments. Instead he decided to distract the little girl who'd helped him more than she could ever know. He literally owed her his life. "I'm sorry Rebecca, I can't come in and play right now, but how about I send in a friend?" Without waiting for her agreement, he touched a few buttons and a scratching and whining sounded at the door before it swung open and the small golden puppy from earlier bounced into the room. With a small yip it ran over to the disappointed little girl.

"Ohhh...he's beautiful. What's his name?”

Seto laughed "Joey of course."

"Joey..." The entranced little girl knelt and picked the wriggling puppy up. Instantly the puppy's pink tongue began to dart all over the little face. She fell back, still holding the puppy, giggling and shrieking at the excessive show of affection.

Seto smiled and shook his head. “I could get jealous here Jounouchi. After all you haven’t licked my face like that.”

For his ears only his lover promised, “Tonight, I’ll lick your face like that. In fact I'll lick you like that all over.” Seto could practically see the hentai gleam in the blond's eyes as he said it.

Becca stared down at her beautiful granddaughter with tears in her eyes. Joseph had lied to her, to both of them, and almost destroyed the wondrous, angelic, little girl who was the sole living proof of her first love. Now that drugs no longer hazed her mind her sharp intelligence told her exactly what had happened, reminding her of things past and present that told a story so terrible she could hardly believe it. Joseph had always been jealous of her first husband and their son. She had been devastated when her husband had died after only three years of marriage and devoted herself to raising their son. She hadn’t given any man the time of day until her son had turned eighteen. She had only agreed to go out with Joseph at her boy’s insistence. He’d been worried about her because she was going to be alone with him leaving for college. She’d reluctantly agreed to a date with the man who had been asking her out for months – Joseph Wheeler.

After the first date Joseph wouldn’t take no for an answer. Through the distance of time she saw that she hadn’t fallen in to love as much as been dragged into it. And as she examined her memories of the years together with Joseph she began to see a new and frightening pattern.

His jealousy of any mention of her first husband, his insistence that she move in with him, and the gradual disappearance of her friends pointed to something ugly. Her son had slowed his frequent visits and after his marriage they became even more sporadic. And Joseph’s own sons had been just as scarce. Joey’s father, Joseph’s youngest son had run away at sixteen and she’d never met him. And his oldest son, Michael, had been cool and distant, only visiting on holidays or when his father insisted on it for business or family reasons. Becca had hoped to get closer, maybe be a grandmother to Michael’s son Andrew. But it had never happened. And when tragedy struck, killing Andrew and Michael in a boating accident, his had wife disappeared, severing all ties. Joseph had never given her a reason for the distance.

Her breath caught as she realized that even when she’d died Joseph had forced her to live by his wishes, refusing to let her go. While she’d been in a coma her son and daughter-in-law had been killed in a mysterious accident and Joseph had immediately taken over custody of Rebecca. The convenience of the timing was like a blow to her chest and she staggered with realization. “He killed them to get her…” She breathed, stricken, and grabbed her chest as her heart shattered.

Seto frankly didn’t care what was going on with the bitch. “We’re going to destroy Joseph Wheeler. We were going to use you, but she,” nodding toward the girl, “changes things.”

Jounouchi sighed audibly He deliberately muted the conversation from the little girl “Yeah, we ain’t gonna hurt no kid. ‘Sides, she’s a sweetie. I’m gonna take care of her. Seto I’ll send Yugi in with ya to help deal with Becca. I’m gonna see if Rebecca wants ta play in a tree house with some other kids.”

“Hnnn…I can deal without…” But Yugi stepped in the room closely followed by a little red-haired girl who bore a startling resemblance to Jounouchi’s little sister. “Yugi.” He finished lamely.

The computer-generated little girl stopped beside Rebecca and bent to pet the puppy. “Hi, I’m Shizuka. I’ve got a tree house with birds and dolls and friends and anything you can imagine. Wanna come outside and play with me and my friends?”

The little girl nodded eagerly and glanced over at her grandmother. “Can I go play now? I’ve been asleep so long.” She seemed to have forgotten that she was wearing only a nightgown.

Becca was torn between wanting to cradle her close and wanting - needing ~ to deal with her discoveries. “Yes. Go play with Shizuka. I think she’s going to be a fun friend.” With a nod and laugh the pig-tailed little blond stood and skipped out of the room.

The doctor, silent up to this point, stared after the child for an instant then turned to the woman. “You are a monster to do this to that child.”

Becca snapped upright. “I didn’t know. I thought she had drowned in a boating accident. When I woke up Joseph said she was…he told me…” Sobs broke from the woman as the pain and betrayal overwhelmed her. Through hard sobs she whispered “And I believed him. Oh God forgive me, I believed him.” She broke down, sobbing and crying.

Yugi and the doctor rushed to the keening woman. Seto snorted and rolled his eyes. “Jounouchi, we have to change the plan. We can’t use her.”

Sitting at the monitor and watching as the events unfolded, the blond automatically started to nod and realized Seto couldn’t see him. “Yeah. Okay so do we have another plan?”

“Hnnn…what do you want to do?”

“How’d ya know I had an idea?” It surprised him that his lover was so perceptive, even in the virtual world.

Seto chuckled “You said we, Jounouchi.”

“Oh, okay.” He didn’t quite get it, but figured the other man would explain it to him later. “Well, yeah, kinda. He wants ta go to court, why don’t we put him in court? I mean, what if he thinks he’s dead. I…we…get him ta confess ta everything using…well ya have the home movies and stuff he used on me. Why can’t we make people who look like the dead people and make him think he’s on trial for his life? And I can play my part th’ same.”

“Hnnn…” The brunet nodded slowly. “But you won’t get to…pay him back.”

“Well, I can always whip up a Hell and roast him for a few hours while we prepare the hearing.”

“That…is very good. One question though. Who’s going to be Satan?”

Mokuba unexpectedly walked into the room. “I will be. I’ve always wanted to have horns and a tail.” Turning to glance up at Yugi he smirked "Especially after seeing how hot you looked as a devil earlier today."

Yugi glanced up with a small smirk. "You are a horny devil, Koibito."

Seto gave his brother a cool look. “He’d recognize you. He had you researched. Jounouchi will be the devil. Yugi will be his servant.”

“Damn.” Mokuba pouted. “Fine, but I want to watch from above.”

Neither of them noticed the older woman’s startled look or the scheming expression in her eyes. The doctor, concerned by the expression, warned softly “Don’t think of hurting them. Kaiba would download you into a toad at the very least.”

If anything the scheming deepened. “He can download me into someone else? I don’t have to go back into Rebecca’s body?”

“Of course he can. That is why this technology was abandoned. It’s too dangerous. He could put you into anyone or anything attached to this system. He could even leave you here and simply delete you.”

“But he won’t.” She breathed in realization. “That’s too easy. I didn’t know about what was going on but that doesn’t make me innocent. I have amends to make to my granddaughter. I must atone for the years I’ve stolen. I may not deserve as much punishment as that bastard, but I bear some guilt for not seeing what was happening years ago, before she was born. I will not go back to Rebecca’s body. I will speak to Kaiba and find a way to help her.”

Seto’s doctor was unwillingly impressed. This woman had more courage and responsibility than almost any other he’d met. If she had been a man he knew that courage would have attracted him greatly. “I will discuss it with Kaiba-sama with you.”

She thanked him simply then pushed herself to her feet. “Kaiba, you are going to need my help. I know things that your ‘ghosts’ should know.”

The tall brunet turned to face her. “Hnnn…and you would help us because?”

“Because I want something of course. You know nothing is free.” She met his gaze steadily “I want your word that you will care for Rebecca and that you will download only her back into her body.”

“Is that all?” The brunet was instantly suspicious.

“No. I want your word that you will find a way to download me into some kind of device that she can keep with her. I want to watch over her.” Seeing the blue eyes turn arctic she snapped, “Fucking hell, she’s a little girl and she will be in a woman’s body living in a very dangerous world. She needs someone who cares about her.”

Cynical disbelief twisted his lips. “And you care for her. That’s why you stole her body and used it…used her. You even had sex with that disgusting monster soiling her with his filth.” When she started to protest he derided, “You didn’t know. Spare me. I don’t give a damn about you and your drama. I pity the little girl. For that and because Jounouchi likes her I will agree to your terms.”

"Fine, we have a deal." The blonde woman nodded briskly. "Now what do we have to do?”

"I will download and create the characters. Jounouchi will torture Wheeler. You will stay inside the program and fill me in on the characteristics and history of each.” With a commanding snarl he ordered “End Program Kaiba Seto.”

Becca was totally unnerved to see the tall brunet, as real as she was, simply disappear. Frightened she walked over to where the other boy had stood. The doctor followed and patted her shoulder awkwardly. “It’s all right. He’s probably already looking at us on the screen.”

“You’re right and wrong.” Jounouchi’s voice was clear. “He’s standing next to me.”

Seto’s distinctive, amused voice followed “Tell the truth, Puppy. I’m sitting on his lap. He is currently checking me over to make sure all of me came back.”

“Hey…” They heard the blond sputter then two soft sighs. Becca felt a slight blush color her cheeks as she moved away from the doctor’s comforting hand.

To cover her embarrassment she observed, “If they really want to torture Joseph, do something like that in front of him. He hates homosexuals even more than he hated my ex-husband.”

“Mmm…and what of you? Do you hate homosexuals?”

“Me, no. I believe in live and let live. Shared goals, love and respect is more important than penis and vagina.” Honesty and sincerity shone from her bright green eyes showing a soul strong and good.

For the first time in his life the doctor found himself attracted to a woman. A dead woman. Somehow that didn’t seem quite right. To cover his confusion he coughed and asked loudly “Kaiba-sama, Jounouchi-san do I need to stay?”

“Yes. We have never had a dual consciousness uploaded. Please monitor her. The child is being monitored as well. I am working on a console and will be tied directly to you. Jounouchi will be unavailable. He will be…entertaining…his grandfather.”

“Yes, Kaiba-sama. Uhm..if I might be so bold? Did you both hear what would disturb your guest the most?”

Jounouchi chuckled. “Yeah, I heard. Gave me a great idea. Talk to you later Doc.”

Seto dropped a regretful kiss on his lover’s cheek and stood. “Later. Have fun now.” He turned to the door. “I’ll use another room. Don’t want him to hear any background noise.” At the blond’s slight pout, the brunet smiled and waved. “Have fun and toast his ass for me.”

Jounouchi stared after his love for just a moment, and then smiled slowly. “Yeah, one fried geezer ass comin’ up.” He glanced at the pod holding the cause of his misery, noted the green lights indicating successful upload and the ready status. “Bastard. Let’s see how ya like someone fuckin’ with yer head.” He hit the button. Let the games commence.

Joseph Wheeler woke slowly, not sure where he was or what was happening. All he knew was that it was dark and when he rolled his head, a heavy metal clank sounded. Automatically he attempted to lift his hands up to whatever was covering his head. To his horror his hands were bound by his side. “What the fuck? What’s going on?”

Muffled laughter sounded all around him, as if he were in an auditorium wearing a helmet. “What the fuck. Let me up at once.”

Titters circled around him again. Then a voice mocked, “What the fuck…let him up…what the fuck…let him up…” The chant rose in volume as more and more of his audience picked up the rhyme.

A soft voice called “Quiet now. We have to talk to our...we have to talk to him.” When the chanters ignored the soft voice, it grew louder, as if the speaker was moving closer. “Quiet please. Quiet down now please. If I ring the bell you’ll all be late getting your treat.”

Joseph’d had enough. He shouted “Fuck, you sound like a pussy. Just tell them to shut the hell up.”

There was a beat, as if everyone in the room held their breath, then a new chant started. “Ring the bell…ring his bell. He’s rude to the master…ring the bell.”

Frustrated, the elder man tossed his head trying to dislodge what he deduced was a metal helmet on his head. “Do what ever you must, but take…” But his words ended in a shriek as something hard struck the metal covering his head several times. Clanging reverberations pierced through his skull, rattling his brain as the sound nearly deafened him. His head wobbled back and forth like a clapper, striking the metal, causing more loud clangs and reverberations.

It was several minutes before he was able to think coherently. That’s when he noticed the silence. The soft voice asked, “Are you back with us?”

The war-monger bit back is vitriol and answered politely. “Yes.”

“Good. Now, on to our entertainment.” A cheer went up from the crowd and a strange scrabbling came from all around him, as if dogs were running towards him, their untrimmed nails scratching against a tile floor. “Now now, wait a moment, we must speak to him first.”

A few grumbles but no real protest. “All right. Joseph Wheeler, you know where you are and you know…”

“I don’t! I don’t know where I am or what’s going on. The last thing I remember I was on an airplane on my way to Japan.”

“You don’t?” The voice was incredulous. “How could you not…” then “Oh, silly me. The bell fell on your head. You can’t see us at all.” The metal helmet, bell, whatever was lifted way and Joseph caught his first glimpse of his ‘host.’

He blinked and shook his head, completely bemused by the apparition in front of him. Short, barely over five feet tall, it had hair that was spiked straight up, black tipped with red, and in the very front was gold. Peeking out from the gold was a set of black horns tipped in red.

Skating his eyes downward, he took in the skintight red leotard that clung like a second skin and the pure gold mesh loincloth that bared as much as it covered. “What the hell are you supposed to be?”

Dark amethyst darkened and the small creature seemed to swell. “I’m a servant of the Devil. Welcome to your specially prepared hell, Wheeler.”

Joseph snorted derisively. “Hell is a figment of people who can’t accept responsibility for their own actions. I refuse to say ‘the devil made me do it.’ Fuck off. This is some kind of game. I’m not an idiot. Get Kaiba out here now.”

“Kaiba? You want to meet Kaiba Gozoburo? He’s still receiving his punishment.”

“Gozoburo? Fuck no. Kaiba Seto. The faggot who’s signing your paycheck. Get him in here now. I refuse to play.” He attempted to sit up only to find himself locked in place. “And untie me this instant.”

“Kaiba Seto is not destined for this place. You are free to sit up now.”

Joseph hadn’t seen or felt the restraints being removed but he attempted to move anyway. He was surprised to find he could sit up easily. Curious about the depth of the charade he glanced around the room. He was unwillingly impressed. Over a dozen men of various shapes and sizes cavorted around the room dressed in clingy red leotards and sporting horns and obviously over-stuffed loincloths. Pitch black scorched earth split and moved as flames shot up through openings and molten lava rivulets flowed in random patterns. A red tinged grey sky hung heavy and the air stank of brimstone and burned flesh.

“He went all out. I can tell he enjoys games.” Joseph made his voice genial. “However it’s not going to work.”

The little devil’s eyes went flat and cold. “Kaiba Seto is not controlling this. You brought this on yourself.”

“Look you little shit, get Kaiba here now. I’m not playing with you.” He moved to grab the smaller boy by the throat.

Instantly bands of flames circled him and he was slammed into a black onyx obelisk that rose out of the ground. A hissing whisper filled the air. "You will not touch him. You don't believe. I will make you believe." Scorching flame rose in front of him, its heat singing his hair and blistering his skin. “Look into the flames.” The hiss commanded.

He tried to look away but found that his gaze was pulled to the blazing wall. As he stared, the moving flames began to take on shapes, familiar forms, and faces. Some forgotten, some well remembered. In the glowing he saw images of things publicly known and things only known to him. Personal memories and events played out in the random patterns.

“Son of a bitch. Do you hear me? You son of a bitch Kaiba! I don’t know what you’re doing but it won’t work. I don’t believe it, there is no such thing as Hell. I know the mind games you’re capable of. I know the technology. Do you think I’m stupid? Where do you think I got the original idea for transferring? Damn you, you said it yourself. Your father knew I wanted it, knew I was after it. Fuck you, it won’t work. Get your little actors away from me. I’m leaving this little theater and I’m taking Joey with me.”

Abruptly the fire was gone, the obelisk was gone, even the devils were gone, and Joseph was alone in an empty white room. A grey door with a flashing exit sign pointed the way out. Straightening his shirt and smoothing his hair, the older man crossed the room calmly.

As he stepped through the door he had a dizzying sensation of vertigo. When his eyes focused again he saw himself in a mirror image standing next to the door. Snorting at the cheap carnival trick, he continued to walk forward ignoring the eerie illusion of walking towards himself. As he came face to face with his doppelganger he swung out, eager to shatter the illusion. Instead a hard fist swung back at him. It was only a quick duck that kept him from being hit and hitting himself. “Clever, but useless Kaiba.” To prove his point he threw a kick and punch and went sprawling to the floor as the blows connected solidly with his leg and chest.

Panting slightly he stood back up and faced his image. “Back off. I can destroy you and your family.” Pushing forward he had to bite back a small gasp when, instead of a flesh and blood man made up to look like him and act like him, he passed through the figure as if he were made of freezing cold smoke.

Another exit door loomed ahead. “Keep up the stupidity Kaiba. I’m getting out of your fun house Toymaker.” The hair rose on the back of his neck as a low whispering laugh rolled around him.

He wrenched open the door and rushed through, only to skid to a stop. He was standing in the back of a huge cathedral. Flowers and streamers decorated the pews and altar, classic organ music played, and standing in front of a huge draped altar was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. His Becca, dressed as a fairy princess bride stood in front of the altar. Beside her was a man he’d only ever seen in photographs, her first husband. Rage spurted through him even though he knew it was some kind of sick game. He wanted to know Kaiba’s source of information. This was one of his worst nightmares. He loved Becca more than anyone or anything and it broke his heart that she had married her first husband, had his child, but refused to marry him. It had only been after he’d transplanted her into the body of Rebecca that she’d agreed to marry him, and only then when he’d argued that they could have children that would be part of her first husband, the bastard.

The priest in front of them was completing the ceremony.

“No! Becca, what is going on?”

But his beautiful lover didn’t see or hear him. Instead she smiled at her groom in adoration and leaned forward giving him a kiss of absolute love. It was one he personally had never truly experienced but craved constantly.

“Becca!” He called urgently as he rushed towards the blond. But he was moving in slow motion as if the air had turned to syrup. “Becca wait for me.”

Instead of turning to face him or the others in the church, the couple pulled the drape from the altar. A chill of horror raced through him as he recognized that the altar was actually a coffin.

Slowly the coffin lid raised and first the groom climbed in, then Becca, without once glancing in his direction, followed. Just as he reached the dais, the coffin swung shut, leaving him with the appalling vision of his Becca lovingly entwined for eternity with her husband.

Screaming, hitting, kicking, he threw himself on the coffin. He raged and demanded that Rebecca come out, that she come back to him. In less than a heartbeat the cathedral was gone and he was chained once more to the obelisk. The wall of flames burned brightly, new images added to the old; around him the demons repeated his screams in a mocking chant. Then the purple-eyed devil calmly stepped through the inferno and met his wild gaze. "Kaiba is not here. There is no escape from this hell. It is of your own making. Fight to escape all you like but you can never be free of yourself.”

The elder Wheeler stared at the smaller man for several moments working to control his emotions. It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be. If he could find one flaw he could disprove the whole scenario. Taking a deep breath he focused, and then it hit him. He was breathing. Dead people didn’t need to breath. “It won’t work. I know I’m alive. I’m breathing, my heart is beating, those are functions of life, and therefore I’m alive. Now let me go before I get really pissed.”

The little devil laughed, as did all of the others. “What’s so funny?” Joseph growled angrily.

“You figured it out quickly and spoiled some of our fun, or mine I should say. But my minions are ecstatic. They will get their fun sooner.” With a wave of his hand the laughter silenced. “I usually give my guests the illusions of life, breathing, and heartbeat to give them hope. I like nothing better than to crush that hope.” The flames died down to small flickers, no more than campfires. “Take one last breath Wheeler. Put your hand to your heart and feel it stop.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” But he automatically placed his hand on his chest. He was reassured by the steady thump for all of two heartbeats, then, nothing…absolute stillness.

"What kind of trick is this? What the hell are you doing to me Kaiba?"

“I’ve told you before that Kaiba Seto is not here. His destiny lies elsewhere.” The devil’s horns grew longer and his face transformed to a mask of pure evil. “I’m done playing with you. I will give you as a treat to my demons. They noticed you prefer blondes and made a few changes. I hope you enjoy Hell Joseph Wheeler.” The Obelisk suddenly tilted and the older man found himself sprawled across brimstone, the glowing heat burning his bare skin. All around him demons with incongruous blond hair and massive erections pressed closer. Razor sharp claws pricked over his skin. He realized then what his true hell would be.

Desperately he scrabbled away. But he was unable to move and as the first one pounced and penetrated roughly. He screamed in agony as a massive, burning cock rammed into his ass. An equally large, burning rod slammed into his open mouth and was crammed down his throat. His muffled, choked screams only added to the loud laughter and grunts as his own worst nightmare came true.

Jounouchi, after five minutes of watching, yawned and turned his monitor to the two little girls riding on what appeared to be flying pink unicorns over a rainbow. “Hey Shizuka, Rebecca. Looks like yer havin’ fun.”

Both girls shrieked and gripped their ponies tight. The computer generated girl’s reaction was so similar to the real little girl’s that they could have been twins. Rebecca recovered first. “Joey! Where are you? This is fun.”

“Ah ya know, I’m just hangin’out watchin’ ya. But it looks great. Where’s the…oh! Ya got a great imagination!” The little puppy had sprouted golden wings and was flying behind the girls.

Rebecca nodded but her face suddenly went serious. “Are you God Joey? Did I die? Is this heaven? I prayed and prayed just like Mommy and Daddy said I should. I wanted so bad to wake up and play.” She didn’t wait for his answer just blurted, “Where’s Mommy and Daddy? If this is heaven they gotta be here Joey. Please bring them to me.”

A lump lodged in Jounouchi’s throat. He didn’t know how to answer that question. He didn’t know if he could, because he didn’t understand the little girl’s state. Was she a ghost? Was she a memory? Was she any of those things? Jounouchi simply didn’t know.

A warm familiar hand covered his mouth. Seto leaned over and spoke into the microphone. “Joey’s not God. I am. And you are not dead. You are in a happy dream where you control everything. Just have fun. When you wake up you will be safe and able to sleep and wake whenever you want to. Now Joey’s going to visit with me for a while. Have fun Rebecca.”

The little girl giggled and looked up into the rainbow painted sky. “Okay God. But it’s funny, you sound like th’ tour guide when me, Daddy and Mommy went to visit grandpa’s ancestors.”

Intrigued, Seto asked “Ancestors?”

The excited little girl bounced happily on the pink unicorn. “Yes, you know God, you know everything. Daddy’s Gramma came from Japan after the war…was a war-bride Daddy said. We went to visit them and pay respects. He promised. That’s why he should be in heaven. He’s a good Daddy and keeps promises.”

“It sounds like it. He’s where he belongs.” Seto soothed. “Have fun playing Rebecca.”

“Becky. Daddy calls me Becky. You’re everyone’s Daddy, you can call me Becky too.”

“All right Becky. Thank you.” He muted the little girl as she happily flew off with her friend and puppy. Moving with broken grace he stepped around Jounouchi and keyed up the screen that showed Wheeler. He shook his head slowly. “The four Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse aren’t enough Jounouchi. Flaming horse dick in his ass while demon’s shit down his throat isn’t close to what he deserves.”

“I know Seto. I know.” The blond reached around him and flicked off the monitor. There was something disturbing about seeing a man fucked by a horse, even if he did design it. “Even if it’s after sixty demons ran a train across him. I don’t think anything will ever be enough.” A wicked grin crossed Jounouchi’s face. “He can eat shit and die.”

That startled a snicker out of the brunet. “God, I love you Jounouchi.” The laughter faded and Seto leaned forward and kissed his lover gently. “Nobody can make me laugh like you do. Nobody touches me like you and nobody understands like you.”

“What’s to understand? You tried to make a joke and it slapped back at ya.” Tenderly he leaned forward and returned the kiss while tenderly stroking Seto’s cheek. “That’s th’ first time you’ve told me flat out like that.” Seeing the arrested expression on his lover’s face Jounouchi chuckled. “C’mon Seto, I meant that I can remember.”

“You are right. I’ve told you I love you but I’ve never…told you how I really feel. That you complete me, balance me, make me whole.” The blue eyes smiled sadly. “That’s what took me so long to find out you’d been taken. I thought you’d found someone who could give you the kind of affection you need. I wanted you to be happy.”

Golden eyes lit with love “I did find someone. You. In fact I’ve found you twice. That should convince you.”

A chirp from the monitor brought their gazes back to the console. "To be continued later. The simulation has finished uploading."

“Yeah, is everything ready?”

“Yes.” Seto grinned fiercely in anticipation. “I’m going in.” He took his position in the V.R. Pod and nodded. “Let’s do this.”

Joseph Wheeler the First woke slowly to the smell of flowers and antiseptic. Expecting another level of hell he was surprised to find himself in a white hospital room. Becca was sitting quietly beside him reading a book.

“Becca? Is it really you…I…” His voice came out as a hoarse croak.

“Darling, you’re awake!” She hurriedly pressed the button on a small controller attached to the bed. “We were beginning to worry that the smoke had done more damage than we thought.”

“Awake?” Relief coursed through the older man. “I…it was a nightmare? Where am I? What happened?”

“We are at a hospital in Domino Japan. Do you remember the problem with the fuel cooling?”

Memories were flooding back as the images of hell faded. “Yes. Yes, is the jet all right?”

“Nice. You don’t ask about anyone but you ask after the jet.” She chided. “Everyone is fine, and so is the jet. If it had been another few minutes probably not. But we made it out in time. You passed out from the smoke. We were transported here as soon as possible. You’ve been out for almost a week, resting and getting the oxygen your body needed. They took you off the medication last night.”

He struggled to sit up, mentally cursing his frail body. “A week? We have to go to court sometime today. Joey…”

“Relax, we have another two hours. Our lawyers are waiting at the courthouse to file extensions. If we don’t call them to say we are on the way they will file.”

Forcing his reluctant body to move, he sat up and tried to stand. “No extension. We must get him back.”

A nurse and doctor came in. The nurse, seeing his attempts to stand, crossed to assist. “Do you need to use the facilities Mr. Wheeler? I can get you a bedpan.”

“No. I’m feeling fine. I want to shower and dress. I have an important meeting in a few hours.” A hacking cough tore through him, but he struggled to stay upright.

“I’m Doctor Makoto, Mr. Wheeler. I suggest you lie down and let me examine you.”

“I’m fine. I don’t need a doctor, I need my clothes.” He snapped shortly. He didn’t like the way the other man was looking at him. “What’s your problem? Why are you staring like that?”

The doctor flushed and looked away. “Forgive me Mr. Wheeler. I was thinking that you are in remarkably good shape for a man of your age.”

A frisson of suspicion tingled through the older CEO. “You’re a fag. I don’t want no fag near me.” He turned to Becca and snapped, “Get my clothes. We’re leaving … Now.”

“Mr. Wheeler…” The red-faced doctor flicked a glance to the young blond woman who was hurriedly gathering his clothes. “I assure you that my sexual preferences have nothing to do with my care of you. My assessment is purely clinical. If you were not in such good shape you probably would still be in our intensive care unit.”

"Right, whatever. I'm leaving. Becca, do we have a limo waiting or will we have to wait?"

“I slept at the hotel last night. It’s waiting downstairs. I was going to go shopping in a few minutes if you didn’t wake soon.” The young blond woman affected a sweet, vapid smile.

“Shopping?” Joseph couldn’t believe his ears. He was in the hospital and Becca was going shopping?

“Of course Darling. I thought I’d look for a wedding dress.”

“W…wedding dress? Do…do you mean you’ll finally marry me?” Joseph’s heart was beating hard. In all of their years together Becca’s refusal to marry him had stymied him. It was something he wanted more than anything else in the world. Even when they’d lived together his love had insisted that she didn’t want to marry again and refused his repeated proposals.

“Well our children will need their daddy’s name.” When he would have leaned forward to steal a kiss she shifted away and smiled sweetly at the doctor. “If you’ll excuse us we will be leaving as soon as he gets dressed.”

An hour and fifty minutes later they stepped out of the limousine at the courthouse. Joseph was unwilling impressed by the multi-storied, slate gray and glass building. It not only was functional, but beautifully designed in modern angles and refracted light. He filed away details to use in his expansion in the future.

Becca smiled and stopped at the door. Joseph hesitated and turned “Something wrong Darling?”

“I brought you this far but I can’t go in with you. I’m a witness for the prosecution. Goodbye Joseph.” Without another word Becca hurried into the building.

Concerned about her mental state Joseph stared after her for a moment then shrugged. He’d deal with it later. She probably needed more drugs.

The doors opened with a whoosh and his legal and medical teams gathered around him. Surrounded by his phalanx he entered the empty courtroom. He glanced around for Kaiba and his lackeys. He was amused and disgusted to see that neither Kaiba nor Joey was in the room nor did there seem to be any legal counsel present for his opponents.

Smugly confident he sat down in the plaintiff’s area to face the Judge’s bench. When the door opened and light footsteps approached he glanced around. His breath escaped in a hiss as he recognized Kaiba holding Joey’s hand and leading the blond into the room. He stifled a laugh as the obviously confused blond half stumbled into the room. He was surprised when Kaiba and his soon-to-be body sat in the chairs behind the defendant’s bench. Amused he turned away.

The bailiff and judge entered the room. Automatically everyone rose. The portly, grey-haired man waved his hand for everyone to sit down then took his seat behind the judge’s stand. Joseph felt his lawyer stand, ready to present, when an unexpected yell broke through the room. “Oh Kami! What the hell…?” Then suddenly the room darkened and disappeared around him.

Out in the real world Jounouchi lifted his hand from the failsafe button. The computer had suddenly beeped twice and the screen went dark. In less than a heartbeat he’d hit the blue button Seto had indicated earlier.

Several whirs and clicks and a confused looking group were stepping out of their pods. Seto found himself wrapped in his lover’s arms. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. The computer beeped twice and the screens went black. I hit the button ya told me to and here ya are. Well most of ya anyway. Becca and Grandfather are still sealed in the pods.”

Mokuba moved closer to Yugi and grasped his hand. “It just beeped and shut down? That can’t happen it’s…”

Seto moved to the console. As he reached it the display came back on. Joseph the First was standing in the courtroom. In front of the bench the older version of Becca and the sweet child Rebecca held hands tightly and looked around nervously. The judge and bailiff were gone, as were all of the characters Seto had created earlier.

Joseph’s words were typical. “Becca, come stand by me. I don’t know what’s wrong but something must have happened.” He didn’t seem to see the little blond girl clinging to her grandmother.

The door next to the Judge’s bench opened and light, brighter than the sun, flooded the room. “Please stay where you are Children.” A voice resonant with love commanded.

To the observers, both in the courtroom and watching via monitor, the being who entered the room appeared differently. To Becca, she appeared to be a beautiful woman, strong and graceful, obviously a mother and nurturer. To Rebecca, he looked like a kindly grandfather with a long flowing beard and he walked with a staff. Joseph saw a powerful young, vital businessman, a rival, someone whose obvious power he wanted to take for his own.

The doctor saw a man who had all of the answers, who held all of his dreams, past and present and knew who he was. Reverently he threw himself to his knees.

Mokuba saw a beautiful young man with bright golden hair and almost painful beauty, full of promise and mystery. He beckoned Mokuba to wonderful adventures.

Yugi felt his breath leave in a whoosh as he saw the golden radiance of the sun shining from a man who looked like any he’d pass on the street. He didn’t resist the urge to fall to his knees.

Jounouchi recognized the man. He knew they’d met before; that they were important to each other. They were as close as brothers. His name was a chimera, something just out of reach, but he knew the blond-haired man from somewhere, some time, and he knew that a part of that man was a part of himself.

Seto saw his ideal - who he would want to be. He saw an older man, perhaps 30, striking in appearance, but also striking in his obvious intelligence and grace, the man’s caring and open loving in the crystalline eyes radiated power. Far from wanting to destroy or take that power, Seto felt the urge to learn from it, to grow closer to the ideal he wanted to be.

Rebecca broke the heavy stillness. With a laugh of joy only found in children she ran up to the old man and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Hi! I’m so glad you came. Did you bring Mommy and Daddy like I asked earlier?”

The old man patted her head fondly. “Yes Sweet Child. They are in the back of the room. Look for yourself.”

The little girl turned her head and let out a loud scream. “Mommy! Daddy!” With another hug she whispered “Thank you.” And dashed off to the waiting arms of the man and woman who’d suddenly appeared sitting in the courtroom audience chairs.

Joseph stared at the child and the two people who he knew couldn’t truly exist. “So this was another level of hell after all? Or is it all a game by Kaiba?” He challenged the younger man directly.

The being that appeared all things to everyone watching nodded, “It started as a game setup for Jounouchi arranged by Kaiba. They were going to download your consciousness into a Koi fish and put you in their guest bathroom. That changed when they discovered Rebecca sharing her consciousness with Becca. Her presence changed everything for them. They won’t hurt the child and they had no idea what taking you out of the picture would do to Rebecca and Becca.” The being smiled sadly “You disappoint me, Joseph. You were given gifts most dream of but you never learned the lessons most learn as children. Kindness, love, caring, and compassion are more important than anything else on earth. You are here to learn it. However you have failed in this lesson.” He gestured to the back of the courtroom.

Involuntarily Joseph’s eyes turned to the seats. The chairs had been empty but now they were full of people wearing familiar faces. Most looked at him with pity but some looked on with betrayal. His son and grandson watched him with empty, pitiless eyes.

“Still more games.” The American CEO scoffed. “But the technology is far beyond what I ever considered. Kaiba and I would make a good team.”

“No.” The resonant voice saddened further. Several people in the room started to weep openly. “I allowed Jounouchi’s small act of torture because I knew it would help him heal and I had hoped you would repent. Again you disappoint me. I can give you no more chances. You will face Judgement.”

“Judgement? What’s the worse you can do to me? More technological nightmares? What? Who the fuck do you think you are?”

“I am called many things. I am all things, different things to all. Come kneel before me.”

“Kiss my ass. I kneel before no man.”

“I am not a man. I am his creator.”

As the All-Mother lifted her hand, Becca stepped forward and said softly, “Wait. I have an idea. I think it is just. Above all you are just are you not?”

“Becca, I know what you have in mind, it is an idea I considered but it had to come from you. I will not torture you further.”

“I have earned some penance. Let me do this. Can you make it to where I don’t have to take the drugs?”

“Of course.” With a wave and a nod, the screen brightened to blinding white then went black. Clicks and whirs sounded and the pods containing Becca and Joseph opened.

Green eyes opened slowly and looked around. “Wow. Where am I? Mom and Dad said I had to come back and have a happy life. I promised to give them lots of grandkids.”

Jounouchi unsteadily crossed to help the blond girl out of the pod. “Well you’re at mine and Seto’s house. We will help you with whatever you need, except the babies.”

The blond girl giggled in a very young way. “Well you’re way too old to be my boyfriend.”

“Oh…kay.” Jounouchi had just figured out that the girl didn’t know she was almost twenty. In her mind she was still a little kid.

Seto was standing over Joseph’s pod waiting for the asshole to sit up. When the eyes flickered open he stepped back. Instead of the familiar golden-brown orbs, bright green stared up at him. “Kaiba, it’s me, Becca. I’m inside Joseph’s consciousness. He’s here too…watching, screaming, furious.” The lips, so like his Jounouchi’s, curved in a feral smile. “He can’t do anything. He never will be able to again. He will watch and rail, feel everything, see everything, but not be able to control anything.” The smile changed, becoming charming and slightly flirtatious as the doctor stepped up beside Seto. “I’m going to need assistance with Rebecca’s medicine and withdrawal. But I think the good doctor can help me.” Becca held out her hand and the doctor immediately reached down to pull her out of the pod.

“Of course I will.” He volunteered immediately. He could see the goodness and strength of the woman he’d met in V.R. shining at him from inviting eyes. And the addition of a well maintained, sexily masculine body strengthened the attraction he felt. Unconsciously he stroked his hand down over Becca’s sensitive collarbone.

A slight shiver of pleasure danced down her spine. “It would mean we’d have to be close…intimately close.” Becca read their mutual attraction and brushed lightly against the doctor. “The only problem we might have with the closeness is that this body can’t get it up.” She made a moue of disgust. “At least without that disgusting pump.”

The doctor couldn’t believe his luck. It was happening at a phenomenal rate, but then hadn’t they both learned that life was fleeting? “That’s okay, I’m not uke anyway.”

Deep inside Becca’s mind Joseph screamed in agony. He’d thought the demons and centaurs had been hell, but now he knew true hell. Becca, his Becca was making plans to fuck another man…using his body…


***
There is one more chapter…and epilogue of sorts. LOL…

Jou Cool Teaser:

On his fourteenth birthday Jounouchi Katsuya thought he had it all. He had respect, money, and power. He was the number two man in the biggest gang in all of Domino and commander of a small army. People lived, died, ate, slept, and fucked at his will. He had money and girls to burn. He was only fourteen, but looked and acted much older.

He was feared and revered equally. Enemies considered him lethal and friends considered him amazing. He had earned his place with his fists and his blood. Nobody messed with him - nobody. He was cool and hot, bad and fantastic, all depending on a person’s point of view.

His gang was the only family he spoke to. His father was a drunken loser who took the drug and blood stained money and never asked where it came from. His mother was an adulterous slut who'd run off with some rich prick taking with her the one thing in the world that could brighten his heart. His baby sister Shizuka. The thought of the little girl was the one thing that kept a small part of his blackened soul clean. He did everything in his power to keep his life from her. He may have kept it from her, but his enemies went looking for his Achilles heel…

A police officer, bribed by a rival gang, researched Jounouchi and discovered his one weakness. Without compunction he gave the innocent ten year old's name and address to the rival gang. As she walked home from school they grabbed her and brought her to their leader. For two hours he tortured the girl, using her to his whim while his lackey took pictures.

Jounouchi, seeing the pictures of his baby sister held by the filth - tortured and abused - knew only a killing rage. He mobilized his army of young street toughs and organized an assault on the rival gang. It was a gang war unlike any ever seen. Brutal, vicious, completely without mercy, the blond commander attacked and ordered the removal of any obstacles between himself and his sister. Over fifty rival gang members died before Jounouchi reached his Shizuka. When he arrived the leader of the other gang was holding a knife to her throat while his filthy hands pawed at the young girl's private areas.

Some witnesses say that Jounouchi flew across the room like a lightening bolt, some say he ran faster than the human eye could see, and some say he didn't move a muscle, simply lifted a hand and a golden spear of fire hit the man, incinerating him, but leaving the young girl untouched. Whatever the truth, the leader of the rival gang was dead before his body hit the floor.

As his men destroyed the remnants of the other gang, Jounouchi scooped up his hysterical baby sister, rocked her tenderly, and carried her out of the carnage.

His heart broke at her sobbing questions of 'Why me?' Shame and rage flooded his soul. His precious angel had been soiled by the filth of his life. Her sobbing question ‘What did I do?' Tore into him like a barbed knife.

He didn't have the courage to tell her the truth. It had been his fault. All he could do was hold her tighter, promise, "It'll never happen again, Baby Girl." and stroke her long hair tenderly. A steady flame flickered and began to burn, flaming higher with every tear she shed. Deep in his heart he vowed that he would never allow his life to touch her again.

It took him a few months to tie up the loose ends of the betraying cop and a few other things but he was finally able to keep his promise and leave the gang. The women, the family, the power, and the fun were all gone. He simply took all the money he could lay his hands on and walked away. He bribed a lawyer to make it legal. He didn’t trust the cops not to cause him problems. His dad signed the emancipation papers without reading them, seeing only the bottle of whiskey Jounouchi set on the table. His mother had abandoned him long ago and a simple threat had garnered her signature. Shizuka was safe and that was the only thing that mattered to him.