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Lost and Found	By : lostintheheartland Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 9748 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 6
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh or anything else nor do I make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Title: Lost And Found – Episode 8 - Overlooked

Author: Maggiemay

Muses and Betas: Jazzy, mofaf1, Lady Laran, Sprinkles

Disclaimer: Don't own YGO or any of it's Characters. Do own my OC's and the work contained within this work.

Summary: Life after the Pharaoh left looked bright. Looks can be deceiving. Jounouchi is a cop who finds missing people. He's found everyone he's ever searched for – except one. This is the eighth episode in the ongoing 'Lost and Found' saga.

Rating: M for Mature just to be safe.

Size:   20 pages and 9783 words.

******

Jou hurried to his room, blinking at the unfamiliar robe wrapped around him. White satin embroidered with a rich green ivy pattern, it reached to a few inches above his knees. If it was Seto's, it would probably reach about an inch below his butt. The image was strangely vivid, so strong and real he could swear he'd seen it in real life. Shaking the disturbing thought off as he slid out of the robe, he slipped into the shower and began to scrub his already clean body. A quick wash of his hair and he decided enough was enough.

His belly felt like it was trying to eat through his spine so he threw his clothes on, gave his hair a lick and a promise, and dashed to the living room. Not finding anyone there, he turned to the kitchen only to redirect towards the office and the sound of Tatsu and Kaiba's voices. "Yo!” He called the greeting from the doorway. Seto gave him a quick frowning once over and grunted. Tatsu shot out of his chair and rushed to him. "Katsuya! I'm sorry I abandoned you. I... I have to confess I'm not good with illness. Forgive me?" His dark eyes were wide and pleading.

"Don't worry about it. Kaiba took great care of me." There was an awkward silence where Tatsu looked like Jou had slapped him, and Seto fiddled with papers on his desk. "Uh yeah, so, what's for lunch? I'm starved."

Seto looked up from his papers long enough to give him a small smile. "Wataru was happy to prepare salmon bento for all of us. I'm also having Gyu Ta Taki, and he's made Shrimp Remoulade for you. Miyahara ordered Edori-ebi."

"Ah man sounds great. I feel like I could eat everything you just said and call down for seconds." Jou's stomach rumbled as of to emphasize what he said.

"Are you sure you should eat all that? You were very sick. It was... " Tatsu asked doubtfully. The last thing he wanted was for Jou to get sick again.

"Nah I'm good. I get really sick, then it's gone with nothing left. I'm not even tired." He grinned and patted his belly. "I'll be even better when I've taken care of this monster."

Seto chuckled, "He's right Tatsu - I may call you Tatsu since we are living together?" He waited just a moment for the captain to give him a small nod before continuing. "I've seen him sick many times. I remember one time at a duel he ate some raw lima beans thinking they were shelled edamame. Raw lima beans contain a kind of cyanide. They were the white kind so they didn't have as much cyanide as the red ones grown here in Japan, but it was enough to cause severe gastric distress."

"Uh..." Tatsu blinked "How did he get them? You didn't have them out to serve obviously."

"He went to the kitchen where the catering staff was preparing foods. They were cooking the baby lima beans for a hummus. He thought they were edamame and ate several handfuls before he was stopped." Seto smiled and shook his head. "He was so sick everyone thought he would miss the tournament, but after a half a day of misery he was back to normal, even ate a huge meal before his duel."

Jou hid his surprise at the anecdote. Seto made it sound like he'd been involved in that debacle three years ago, when in reality Jou had gone out of his way to stay off the other man's radar. He'd been actively searching for a tie between Yugi's disappearance and the CEO. He hadn't wanted Seto to be more than marginally aware of him. Ai's resources were formidable. Only two people knew of his illness during that tournament. Until Seto mentioned it, he'd thought only himself and the local pharmacist he'd gone to for help knew about his stupidity. "Never touched either edamame or lima beans, again." Jou shuddered at the memory.

"Well in that case, I guess it's okay." Tatsu gave a tiny shrug. "Ka- Seto, could you bring up the information we discussed last night? I think we should go over what I've found out regarding Huang Zongxi."

"Right. You were going to the school and going to talk to his references right?" Jou clarified, just to make sure his memory was working.

Tatsu smiled and nodded. "Yes. We can go over the individual statements later, but for the most part they were exactly the same, almost word for word. Some of the people at the college still remembered him and were very upset that he had disappeared and nobody had noticed. He was very well liked, considered charming and well versed in his subject. When I asked about his background and family most said that he came from China as a teen, but one man, a maintenance worker , says that one time, while he was cleaning the classroom, the professor mentioned that while the campus was beautiful, it was nothing compared to the Prince's Moonlit Garden at Tsinghua University. The worker was curious, as he'd only seen pictures of the place, and Huang Zongxi confided that he spent four years there and of course the maintenance man, who was an avid gardener, asked questions. The professor had to leave immediately and couldn't answer them. Not long after that he left the employ of the school." The captain broke off as the elevator chimed. "Food. Good, I think that monster in your belly is going to attack soon, Katsuya."

As Seto wheeled the cart in, Jou chuckled and shook his head. "Never eaten anyone yet. The way it's going, I just might be tempted."

Jou thought, just for a second, that he heard two distinctly different voices murmur they wouldn't mind, but when the former detective looked up sharply, focusing first on Seto then on Tatsu, he didn't see any sign that they had spoken. Seto was focused on the trays and Tatsu was flipping through a file. After a moment of silence, the blond decided he was hearing things and hopped up to grab his dishes. "Man, Wataru is the best."

"Of course." Seto gave him a cool look. "I only hire the best."

"Kaiba... I warned you about the stuck up attitude." Jou mock-growled. "I'll let you slide in this one time."

Tatsu chuckled. "Seto, has he really given you that attitude all the time you've known him?"

"Yes." The billionaire CEO sighed. "I forgive him. He is one of the few I let get away with it."

"Let? Let? You don't let me get away with anything Moneybags. You can't stop me without getting your ass kicked." There was no real heat, and Jou fell on his food with only slightly more manners than a starving hyena.

Tatsu expected 'Seto' to make a snide remark or equally teasing comeback, when none was forthcoming, Tatsu glanced at the brunet in surprise to find the blue eyes fixed on Jou with amused affection. "So, about the guide. From what I can tell, he seems to have been well liked and well educated. He doesn't strike me as being the type to kidnap anyone."

"Where is the son that was the priest mentioned?" Jou asked distractedly, still shovelling food into his mouth.

"Nobody knew anything about a son. In fact, most were surprised by the suggestion. He told them all he had no family." Tatsu frowned. "So in the time between the job at the college and turning up by the shrine, he acquired a teenage son?"

Seto lifted his head at the same time Jou did. "Teenage?"

That made Tatsu blink at them in surprise. "The account information. You didn't notice? Huang Tangshi is listed as sixteen when it was opened, five months before the disappearance of the Thomas's. His birthday was a few days after his father went missing."

"So he would be twenty-four now." Seto frowned slightly. "Any other leads?"

"I haven't had a chance to look. I..." He was waved to silence with a flick of Seto's hand.

"Ai, what have you found on Huang Tangshi and the account?"

"The account is active, with several withdrawals over the years, but strangely only one deposit... one large deposit... for the exact amount Thomas paid for his wife and children's return, two days after the ransom was paid."

"Could be a coincidence." Tatsu said softly. "Doesn't constitute evidence."

Jou and Seto shared a look, then turned disbelieving eyes on the police captain. "Do you honestly believe that, Tatsu?" Jou asked his boyfriend in total shock.

"What I believe and don't believe is besides the point, isn't it, Katsuya? The point is what I can prove. You may no longer be an officer of the law, but I still am." Tatsu pointed out tightly.

"Yeah... Yeah I guess. Ai, where are the withdrawals being made from and can you tell if they are for cash or purchases?" Jou let is slide. He knew Tatsu had to walk the line.

"They are convenience store purchases for gift cards. JCB, Amex, Visa and Mastercard. Completely anonymous. Purchased in and around Domino five years ago. Prior to that they were purchased not far from the shrine."

"Can you trace where the JCB cards were used?" Jou asked hopefully.

"Records are only held for three years then destroyed. It has been five years since there was a purchase of the cards. There simply is no more information available." Ai informed regretfully.

"Damn it. A dead end." Jou bent back to his food, but his expression wasn't the whole hearted enjoyment of just a few moments ago. His brow furrowed in thought, and his eyes were narrowed and hot.

"Not really." Seto smiled slightly. "It's true that banking and credit card records are held for only three years, but most merchants keep records for much longer for marketing. Ai check our records, see if any of those 'gift cards' were used in any of our outlets."

The frowning green-gold eyes lit briefly, then darkened again. "Good only if the guy ever went to one of the parks or bought one of your games."

"Jou, my gaming target demographics are ages eight to twenty eight. Twenty-two percent of all males in that demographic has bought something from one of my outlets in the last ten years. Those are not my only outlets. I don't just create games, I make and distribute major brand name electronics such as cell phones, tablets, and music players. I own several clothing outlets that are not branded KC but are part of our distribution base. Also, Mokuba has developed a real estate branch that covers all continents. We also own several movie houses, a movie production company, several video distribution venues and quite a few restaurants chains. That bumps our ratio up above ninety percent."

Tatsu whistled soundlessly. "You really own everything don't you?"

The brunet billionaire laughed and shook his head. "Not yet. But I'm OCD about acquisition so probably before I die."

Jou laid down his chopsticks and leaned back in the chair breathing deeply. Tatsu gave him a curious look. "What's wrong?"

"Ah man... I shoulda known. You make things impossible you know that?" Jou groaned obscurely. "Fine, Ai, how long will it take for you to complete the search of what has gotta be billions of transactions."

"Just over seventy six billion if I only count credit card purchases." Damned if she didn't sound amused and smug. "It will use all of the shared processing I can claim. Three days seventeen hours to complete the search."

"Too long. That would only give us two days to find him." Jou pinched the bridge of his nose. "Kaiba, do you have a few thousand computers laying around that you can boot up that will help?"

Seto looked thoughtful for a moment. "Actually... yes. My corporate equipment is updated every six months. Because the hardware is proprietary, it is stored in warehouses that double as repair centers. Ai, how many connections are at the Alpha, Beta, and Kappa centers?"

"Each floor has two hundred connections, all fiber. Five floors each warehouse. A thousand each, three thousand total."

"We have five times that many in storage. If they were slaved, you could have another fifteen thousand processors. How much time would it take?"

"If all fifteen thousand were added for constant, devoted use and I continued the search during the setup the search would take fourteen hours."

"How long would it take for the equipment setup and slaving if we pulled all staff from KC Domino?"

"Approximately ten hours."

"Twenty four hours total? Why approximately?" Seto frowned thoughtfully down at a bite of seared beef.

"Approximately. The human element means that it could be sooner or later by a few hours."

"I see. Inform Matashi and Aishira of what is needed. Print out a comprehensive, step-by-step instruction for the configuration. Make it a competition between the buildings. First building one hundred percent online get bonuses of forty thousand yen each and a party. They are allowed to work overnight, but it is not required. There is no second or third place." Seto smiled at the dumbfounded look on Tatsu's face, and the red-faced fury that Jou was directing at his plate. Jou really hated when he flexed his financial muscle but this was the best lead they had and the blond wouldn't complain no matter how angry he got.

Seto's phone rang about two minutes later. Seto saw Matashi's name on the display and smiled slightly as he answered. "I thought you'd call me sooner."

"The emails are going out to department heads as we speak. I have buses at the main building within the half hour. I wanted to ask if I should call in the students from the tech school? I can have them transported directly to the storage buildings. It will be a good hands on experience for them."

"I hadn't thought of that. Thank you, yes. Do you need anything else?"

"No. Seto, are you alright? Are you safe?" Concern was evident in the soft tones of Seto's best friend.

"How could I be in danger? I have a police captain and Jounouchi staying with me." He parried lightly.

It obviously didn't convince the man that knew Seto so well. "Be careful. We will get this done. I want a full report as soon as possible. Keiko is missing her papa. I had a hard time getting her to take her afternoon nap. You spoil her, holding her all the time."

"I miss her too." It was true, evidenced by the sudden tightness in his throat and clogging of his voice. She hadn't been with him long, but she had stolen his heart with her first look. He wanted nothing more than to lock up the little thief in a protective hold and rock her to sleep while she nestled into his chest. "She should be spoiled -she's Kaiba Keiko, the most beloved princess on earth. I'll call later to talk to her. Ai will update me on the progress so you focus on what is truly important... my daughter."

"Yes Papa." Matashi laughed slightly and hung up.

Tatsu didn't know why, but he looked over at his boyfriend and felt his breath catch. The anger was gone from Katsuya's face. He was staring at Kaiba with soft, luminous eyes. It was obvious that Katsuya admired Seto's devotion to his daughter. The realization that Jou would never look at him like that because of his relationship with his son gave him a twinge of panic. To cover it and get his boyfriend's gaze off the other man, Tatsu cleared his throat and asked. "Ai, don’t you ever take any downtime?"

"I survive on cat naps." She quipped. "Actually, I rest quite often, usually when Kaiba-sama sleeps."

"Really? You are truly devoted. Where is your office. I would like to meet such a devoted person." Tatsu truly did want to meet her, but he also wanted to take that look off Katsuya's face.

"I'm currently with Keiko. She loves to listen to me while she sleeps. Sometimes I'll play violin or piano for her. She is currently sleeping to a Pachelbel Canon in D harp solo. She sleeps well listening to my recording of the harp." A small laugh. "Kaiba-sama taught me all her favorite songs." Another chuckle. "The list updates almost daily. Kaiba-sama is the truly devoted one - a devoted daddy." And just like that Tatsu's diversion circled back to the 'perfect papa' Kaiba.

There was a heartbeat of silence, then Ai continued. "Speaking of devoted, Jounouchi turn your phone on, your sister has been trying to reach you since yesterday. Considering the precariousness of her health, I think you need to see if she is alright. If she is having a flare or the infection has gotten worse, she..."

Jou's dishes scattered as he jumped to his feet. "What? What the fuck are you talking about? Flare? Worse? She had a virus that..." He trailed off as he realized that Ai must have accessed Shizuka's medical record and assumed Jounouchi knew the contents. Jou had known his baby sister wasn't well but the way Ai was talking it sounded bad, very bad. "Ai... Tell me."

There was a long, long, silence then Seto walked over to Jou and caught his arm in a firm grasp. "Jounouchi, Ai assumed you knew so she didn't consider discussing it with you a breach, now that Ai knows that it would be a breach it is directly against one of her core functions to discuss the situation with you. She can't tell you. Ai bring up the pertinent images from yesterday. I'll highlight the areas of interest while Jounouchi calls his sister." Seto handed him the phone from his pocket. "This is a secure line. The safe house is speed dial three."

"You know don't you, Kaiba?" Jou's eyes were turbulent, fiery, and accusing.

"I know you need to speak to her." Compassion, something rarely seen on Seto's face, filled his gaze. "Katsuya..." He firmly pressed Jou out the office door. "Call. I... We will talk when you've assured yourself she's fine."

"Fine?" Hope and disbelief warred on the blond's mobile features. "Is she really?"

"Yes. Call and speak to your sister. Take the time you need. We'll be waiting." Seto closed the door firmly in his face.

Without looking at Tatsu he turned to the display and began to use a stylus to circle parts of the images on the screen. When it became obvious that Seto wasn't going to speak to him, Tatsu asked. "How bad?"

The smooth motions faltered before starting again. "The worst it can get." Seto acknowledged softly. "He's going to need you. I hope you're strong enough."

Tatsu couldn't help the slight bitterness. "If I'm not, you will be won't you?"

"If he lets me." Seto admitted. "Ai this tree, it looks different in this image than the last. There appears to be branches missing from the lower part. Where is this on the timeline?"

"Previous image was taken the morning of the Thomas's disappearance. This was taken twenty-four hours later."

"Analyze the images, compare them and rule out storm damage or shadowing."

"Seto..." Tatsu's voice was hard and low. "You've hinted and even stated... You want him."

"What I want isn't the point. What he wants is, and he wants you. End of story." Seto was at his icy best. No way was he going to show his rival how much it hurt him to say that.

"You..." That kind of selflessness was strange and completely out of character for what he knew of Kaiba Seto, ruthless businessman and owner of more than any normal person could comprehend. There was only one possible explanation. "You love him?" The idea was completely foreign to Tatsu. Love was something that he'd never really understood. The closest he'd ever come was when he'd been with Karin.

"Love?" A weary, cynical smile twisted Seto's lips. "I wouldn't label it as such, but then I've discovered that what passes for love is usually a chimera and a way to manipulate and use someone. So no... What I feel is not an imaginary fancy, a grotesque product of my imagination. Nor is it a way to control him. No I do not 'love' him." He gave Tatsu a very direct look. "My emotions aren't what should concern you. What should concern you are his feelings."

"You won't try to steal him from me? Why do I find that hard to believe?"

"I don't care what you believe Tatsu. The fact that he's with you at all should tell you what you need to know." Seto turned back to the screen. "Ai, have you finished analyzing the images?"

"Yes Kaiba-sama. You are correct, almost a metre of branch is missing from the lower third of the tree."

"The image is too grainy to see if there is a track or road. Could the missing branches have been removed to allow passage of a vehicle?"

"Kaiba-sama, I sincerely hope not. The tree is perched on the edge of a ravine. If a car made that damage, at the speed it would take to break off the branches of that tree, the car would have ended up in that ravine. The image is two dimensional so the ravine looks flat, like part of the landscape, but it is quite deep."

"It would explain why they were never seen again." Seto mumbled thoughtfully.

"The police would have found them." Tatsu shot down the theory.

"Not really." Jou refuted from the doorway. "The police didn't search the shrine area remember? In fact some of the tips and a few interviews had them going off alone in the opposite direction." A thought struck him. "Wait... Kaiba... " He closed his eyes in thought. "Ai, how many people actually said, they saw them going off by themselves and how many gave the direction? First hand witnesses only."

"What are you thinking?" Tatsu asked. He'd been around Jou enough to respect his hunches.

"I... just wait." Jou cautioned.

"Zero." Ai's voice was crisp and cool. "The statements are all second hand. There are no first hand accounts."

"Is there a named source?" Katsuya's eyes were so narrowed they had almost disappeared in the furrows.

"Several, no two are the same, although none were confirmed first hand."

"Fuck, deliberate misinformation. The kidnappers - and it was a team of at least two - deliberately led the cops away from the shrine. Seto, Roland doesn't strike me as this sloppy. Contact him and see exactly what the hell happened with this."

"Ai." One word and Roland's voice came over the speakers. The computer must have already been calling.   "Kaiba-san, you needed to speak to me?"

"We're going over the statements from witnesses of the Thomas' case. There is an inconsistency. There are no first hand reports of seeing the Thomas' leave town alone, headed away from the area we now believe they went." Seto stated bluntly.

There was a moment of silence, then Roland's voice answered briskly. "That's not right. I distinctly remember speaking to one of the cadet recruits, he clearly reported them leave on the south road. I personally took his statement, typed it up, and witnessed his signature."

"A cadet recruit?" Jou was making connections. "Did they wear a uniform when on duty? Did they answer the phones?"

"Yes, they wore police uniforms that were only slightly different than regular uniforms. The department had two during that time. I remember one of them was out searching and another was on the tip line."

Jou lifted his head and opened his eyes, knowledge gleamed in the golden-green depths. "Got it. Do you happen to remember the name of the guy who was on the tip line? I know he was the cadet who saw them leave town."

"I believe you are correct Jounouchi-san. How did you..." His voice tapered to a hoarse whisper. "No..."

"What was his name?" Seto asked briskly.

"Kawashima Jin. He is half Japanese and half Chinese and at the time, I believe he was seventeen." Roland's voice was low and angry. "I only met him a few times, but he seemed genuinely concerned."

"Kawashima? Are you sure he was...male?" Seto probed.

"Of course I..." Then Roland broke off. "Well I never checked but he seemed... Why do you ask?"

"Kawashima Yokina was a famous cross dressing chinese spy. Her undercover name was Jin. One of her famous tricks was to infiltrate enemy ranks as a man, wearing men's uniforms." Jou broke in to explain. At Seto's surprised look, the blond flashed him an impatient look. Really, did they need to go through the intelligence thing again?

"I will call the others on the team and see if they can tell me more about the cadets. I'll also see if they have any photographs." The scratch of a pen on paper was clearly audible on the phone line.

"Can you tell us anything about Jin? Did he mention any family or where he lived? Anything about his past?" Tatsu prompted.

"No." Roland sounded thoughtful, his voice close then fading and distant as if he were pacing. "I remember being very impressed by his professionalism and focus on the job. He... he didn't discuss anything but work the few times I spoke to him."

"Did you ever hear if he made it into the police academy?" Jou didn't think the cadet had any intention of ever attending, but it was worth a shot.

"I did hear that both recruits were accepted, but I didn't hear anything after that."

"I see. Ai..."

"Searching."

"Thank you, Roland. Please call me when you have any further information." Seto didn't wait for the man to speak, simply disconnected the call and turned back to the screen. "Jounouchi, come look at these images. Too grainy to see a side road, especially one that was probably more of a quick track than a road, but if you look at the tree you will see..."

"The outline changes. It looks smaller and more symmetrical in the second picture. The terrain is two dimensional. That area behind it could be three metres deep or five hundred. It's also very narrow. Do you have any information on it from more recent photographs?"

"Yes. It is part of a gorge system that ranges from six to eighty metres deep. This particular section is about seventy-five. It is very narrow, at times less than a metre across, widening out as far as six metres. It is approximately four metres across in this area."

"Right, perfect size to get rid of a vehicle. Tree and brush would provide cover and if nobody is looking here. These are protected, holy lands then the vehicle won't be found for a long time, if ever." Jou frowned and sighed. "And if they killed them then even the place is appropriate "

"You mean close to the shrine?" Tatsu asked curiously.

"'The shrine is part of it, but this whole area is a protected as a part of Antaiju, a Monastery that is about five kilometers from the road to the shrine. It is very isolated and allows very little contact between it and the outside world. People who enter there leave the modern world behind. There are no phones, television or any modern convenience. The way of life there is the same today as it was hundreds of years ago."

Tatsu laughed "You're joking right? The place would have died out long ago. Nobody wants to give up running water, do they?"

"They accept babies from unwed mothers if the father signs them away and people who can't find their way in the modern world. Sometimes, they take political refugees but that is rare. They cultivate fields, raise chickens and live simply. It isn't a bad life." Jou smiled slightly. "I considered it briefly when I stayed with them for a couple months, three years ago. Remember my forced vacation?"

Tatsu nodded "Of course I do. You were stabbed and..."

"That's where I stayed. They have a retreat for people to try the lifestyle before entering the order."

Seto's head had jerked upright with the news of the injury. He hadn't heard of it. "Stabbed?"

"Some guy snatched a kid from a playground and didn't want to give him up. I knew he'd kill the boy soon, I could see it in his eyes. So I went in to get the kid." Self-disgust crept into the blond's voice.   "I didn't hit the guy hard enough to keep him down. Bastard stabbed me in the back while I was getting the kid the hell out of there. Nicked my kidney." Jou shrugged. "The priest at the shrine suggested it, so I stayed at Antaiju. I loved it there. If there weren't so many lost ones needing to be found, I'd probably have stayed."

Tatsu lit up suddenly. "Could they be there? The Thomas's? Could they be at the Monastery?"

Jou killed that thought immediately. "They may not have the modern conveniences, but they are definitely up on the law. One of their order goes to Domino Law Library for three months a year to study the changes. If children showed up there, even in the company of their mother, they would insist on documentation proving the father and others who could claim them would not come calling. When I stayed, I was only allowed in on such short notice with no documentation because I was a wounded police officer and because the priest at the shrine knew me. They don't take anyone who shows up on their stairs, besides it's not a prison, people can leave anytime they like. Can you see modern kids staying there? Especially at their ages? They were eight and six. That would make them sixteen and fourteen now."

Tatsu nodded slowly. "Yes, but I love to hope."

This time Jou's warm smile was all for Tatsu. "I know. You have hope that even dealing with the crap as a cop can't tarnish." It was obvious to everyone in the room that he meant it as a compliment.

Tatsu returned the smile with one of his own. "Thanks Katsuya."

Seto coughed slightly. "If you're through making cow eyes at each other, maybe we could get back to figuring out who is threatening everyone?"

Jou sighed and gave the green-eyed brunet a rueful glance. "No romance in your soul. It's obvious isn't it? We need to go out to that tree and check it out. If we leave in the next half hour, we should get there before dark. We should at least locate the tree and then go into town for the night. We'll go back out at first light." Jou didn't wait for their agreement. "Ai, get everything ready. Instruct the driver to have ropes and climbing gear in the hummer. Also make sure there is video equipment. If the car is there, we want to record it for evidence. Oh and make sure to get hotel rooms for everyone as well." In total command, Jou turned to the door, "Pack up, guys. We're heading out." Seto and Tatsu shared a rueful glance and moved to follow orders.

The Hummer H3 was exactly what Jou expected. He considered the seating for a moment, then crawled into the very back seat. "I'm going to nap back here. You guys do whatever." Jou threw his hastily packed duffel bag on the third seat and sprawled out, resting his head on it like it was a pillow. Seto tossed his bag between the second and third seat, giving Jou a cushion if he fell out of the seat while he was sleeping and climbed into the second row of seats directly behind the driver. After a moment Tatsu did the same, taking the seat next to Seto, leaving the front passenger seat open.

Tatsu gave an experimental bounce. "Softest seats I've ever been in for an off road vehicle. Our vehicles have benches covered in what feels like rocks."

"Special order. I don't believe in being uncomfortable if I don't have to be." Seto sounded entirely too snotty to Jou's ears, and the blond couldn't resist teasing. "Afraid to bruise your butt, Kaiba?"

"I have it on good authority that I have a great butt, Katsuya. Why damage greatness?" His voice took on lofty tones. "It's so hard to come by."

"Ego much? Tatsu! Who's got a better butt, me or Kaiba?" Jou asked outrageously, just to tease them both.

The brunet saved the sputtering cop by sniping. "He's your boyfriend, Katsuya. What the hell do you think he's going to say?"

"Oh right. Hey, Driver. Who has a better butt? Me, Kaiba, or Tatsu?" More outrageousness, but it took the wind out of Moneybags and afforded great amusement.

"Jounouchi!" Tatsu and Seto were both exasperated enough to scold, then Seto ordered. "Leave my driver out of your childishness."

The blond sneered at them both for a moment, then taunted. "You're just afraid he'll tell you both that my butt's better than both of yours combined."

"Katsuya, if you don't lay down and shut up right now, I'm going to paddle your stellar ass." Seto growled.

Pleased and amused, Jou grinned and lay back down. "I'll take stellar over great. Night guys." He closed his green-gold eyes and feigned sleep, a small grin flirting with the edges of his lips. Mission accomplished. Seto admitted his ass was stellar and had lost the stuck up attitude. Now he just had to figure out what the hell was going on.

Despite his dozing appearance, Jou was wide awake pondering not only the urgent situation with whoever was threatening his loved ones, but also the strange, frustrating, conversation he'd had with his sister. She had insisted that there was nothing wrong with her that hadn't always been wrong. She'd had an infection, and it had gotten worse than anticipated. The doctor was controlling it with several medications. The virus had to run its course and then things would be fine. Jou didn't buy it for a minute. He had been a cop for a lot of years and had learned to recognize subterfuge. Shizuka was hiding something, and that something was sending shards of pain and fear deep into his heart.

Round and round Jou's worries and fears chased through his brain. It was like an endless kaleidoscope of fragmented pieces of his life. Mai, Yugi, Seto, Tatsu, Shizuka all jumbled with luminous green, blue, and gold ribbons of energy, swirling with the images of the Thomas's, as he'd seen them in pictures and as he'd seen them as an observer in their car. In defense of his sanity, Jou shut down. Deliberately he blanked his mind, reaching for a pool of calm deep inside. It was where he went when meditating. This time instead of dark calmness warm amber gold enfolded him, taking him down into a soothing place where his mind was still and at peace.

Seto and Tatsu's conversation faded to a low, distant murmur of voices, the growl of the engine even further removed from his consciousness. He was only vaguely aware of the vibration of the seat beneath his sprawled body and had no awareness of the countryside they were passing through.

Uncounted time later, a soft voice whispered through his consciousness. "Return."

Warm and content to simply float, Jou protested the demand by mentally turning away.    The whisper nudged him again. "Return. The Guardian is concerned."

"Ah no. 'S nice here." Jou protested, although how since he knew he wasn't speaking with his mouth, was a mystery.

A sharp jolt, like an electric shock coursed through him. "Return." The voice was hard and implacable, no longer a whisper but a thundering clap that vibrated through his very being.. The pain spread, forcing him to open his eyes in protest, only to gasp and sit up when he saw Tatsu leaning over him anxiously. "What? What?"

"We were just about to head to the hospital. We couldn't wake you." Tatsu gave Jou a worried look as he reached out a steadying hand.

Seto rolled his eyes. "He was getting worried. I know how deep you sleep." He shot Tatsu an ironic look. "He fell out of desks routinely in high school and never woke up. The teacher would shift him back into his seat and continue the lesson."

Jou faked a yawn even he shifted to get out of the seat. He gave his boyfriend a small, rueful grin. "He's right. Takes a bomb going off to wake me."

The captain frowned slightly. "Whenever you slept at the department, you were up with every little sound." Tatsu moved back and stepped down from the hummer.

"Never really let down there. Too many threats." Jou followed, giving a spine cracking stretch as soon as his feet hit the ground.

"Threats?" His ex-boss asked quietly. "What threats were there?"

"Ah... Well criminals being interviewed, distraught family, my ex-wife turning up." Jou chuckled. "Not to mention the practical jokes other cops can play."

"So you feel you can let down here, now? When we are on the way to look for a potential site of a crash and grave?" That shocked and worried Tatsu more than the unusually hard sleep.

"Dead people usually aren't a threat. Bullet proof glass, you and Seto are are good at kicking ass, and the driver is armed. So yeah, I felt safe. Had a great nap too." Jou gave his boyfriend a playful grin and flicked the tip of Tatsu's nose playfully. "The brave police captain scared of dead people?" Jou made a show of looking around. He blinked, vaguely surprised they had driven directly up to within three metres of the tree.

Tatsu rolled his eyes. "No, but I'm cautious of anyone who might want to hide the bodies."

"Huh, after ten years I doubt anyone is around who cares." Jou frowned as he saw Seto kneel in the dirt under the spreading branches, whatever he was looking at was hidden by the trunk of the tree. "Something?"

"Yes." Seto's voice was curious and questioning, with a hint of something undefined. "You may be wrong about someone being around and caring. Come look at this."

Jou stepped around the tree and actually fell back a step. "Kuyo-to? The date is what? And the name..." The blond's breath caught. "What the... No names? Those aren't names are they? I can't read it. It makes no sense. It's not Nihongo."

Tatsu joined Jou and Seto. He studied the marker for the dead with calm eyes. "No, its not a language I recognize either."

Seto shook his head as he leaned forward to trace the inscription on the stone surface. "Language is Ainu Itak. It reads 'Mother and Children'"

That sent a thrill of shock and recognition through Jou. He had heard of the ancient Hokkaido island language before. "Kaiba, are you sure? The Katakana... It's a very rare language, almost extinct."

"I studied all Japanese living languages. I am not fluent in Ainu Itak as there are very few native speakers and I could not immerse, but I am literate in it." Seto explained briefly, frowning at the small rectangular tower. "There are a few symbols for blessings and repose for the dead. No names. The date is the day of the kidnapping."

"The gravestone is intact and well maintained. It's sheltered by the tree but no debris is around it. Is there anything to indicate who is maintaining it?" Tatsu asked softly.

Jou dropped his head forward and fell to his knees. "Ah... Why don't I believe in coincidences?"

Seto watched the blond with knowledge dawning in his eyes. "You know something, don't you, Jounouchi?" The brilliant genius truly knew the ex-cop and what his words and posture meant. "Something about the language, about it being here?"

Jou didn't hear the question. He was focused inward, looking at the small monument and mentally seeing the face of the elder who had taken him into the monastery and helped him to heal much more than just the physical wounds that had forced a leave from work. There was no such thing as coincidence, he knew as surely as he knew the sun would rise, the fate that guided his life had led him to this point.

Seto, impatient with being ignored, reached down and grabbed the kneeling blond's shoulder. Shock and fire raced through his hand as images bombarded his mind. A serene old face bent in prayer in front of the grave marker, two smaller, black robed forms holding the funerary scrolls following shrouded figure walking away from the monument, and a then the flash of a large stone building with heavy doors closing with finality. With a gasp of pain and realization, Seto stumbled back. "Jounouchi!" He called urgently, pain and shock jolting through him. A deep breath and he regained his spatial and physical balance. He made a mental note not to touch Jounouchi when he was obviously in deep thought. Seto was already wounded and normally, he wasn't slow on the uptake but somehow, this incident startled him.

"Ah shit. Are you okay?" Jou leapt to his feet, spinning and rushing to Seto, grabbing his arm to help steady the already recouped brunet.

"I'm fine." Seto didn't brush off the touch. It didn't shock or burn, but it gave him a small boost to know that Jou cared, even slightly.

Tatsu, confused and more than a little put out, snapped. "What is happening?" He'd worked with Jou for years and was used to his strange trance-like moments. Kaiba obviously wasn't, but the way they were acting, it was like they both believed that Jounouchi had deliberately almost knocked the billionaire on his ass. Jou hadn't moved an inch and Kaiba's reaction was out of proportion in Tatsu's opinion. Suspicion, simmering in the back of his mind, flared higher..

"Static shock." Seto shook his hand to relieve the tingling burn. "Jounouchi's one of those people who stores a lot of static electricity in their bodies. I am used to working on electronics so I wear things to ground me. His buildup discharged into me and since I wasn't expecting it, I lost balance." Seto gave Jou a small smile that encompassed Tatsu. "In school, Jou used to shock me just for the hell of it. He knows it's uncomfortable at times. That's why he was worried." Seto shook his arm free. "I'm good, thanks. You need to answer my question. What do you know about the language? About it being here on that monument?"

"Yeah uh. Sorry, I'll try to ground out more often. There is a person we need to speak to at the monastery." Jou wished he could feel good about returning, but he didn't. His time there was a cherished memory of revelation, pain, and healing. He didn't want it tarnished by something as ugly as this. With a sigh, Jou walked back to the hummer.

"We aren't going to look for the car or..." Tatsu blinked and turned to follow.

"No need. They would have buried it. They have no way of removing it from the ditch and the people of the monastery are practical and spiritual. They would have burned the bodies and buried the car."

"Why wouldn't they report it?" Tatsu frowned furiously.

"Mother and children. If the kidnapper claimed they were his wife and kids, especially if they were dead and he said he would register the deaths then, of course, they would honor his request. If he were known to them..." Jou shrugged and slid into the front passenger seat. "That is likely what happened. The people at the monastery would have no way of knowing who they really were." He explained as they climbed into the second seat.

The driver gave him a quick look. "To the monastery?"

"Yes." He glanced over at Tatsu and Seto. "I hope you guys are up to a hike. The road ends about three kilometers from the gates. After you go through the gates, you have to climb about a hundred stairs." He gave them fair warning. He kept himself in good shape, and he knew Seto worked out regularly. Tatsu had joined him a few times in the gym and looked good, but Jou wasn't too sure he was in shape for the long haul. "The trail is easy, but the stairs are a pain. Too large to take two at a time comfortably but smaller than modern steps, making the climb harder."

Seto huffed slightly, and Tatsu rolled his eyes. "We'll be fine. You're the one who was sick yesterday and passed out this morning."

"Feel great! Never better. Do I look sick?" Jou dared either of them to say something negative.

"You look as good as always." Tatsu humored his boyfriend.

Seto's gaze was sharp as ever. "You're glowing, but you're also worried about something. You might as well tell us what's going through your mind. It'll leak out of that sieve in a minute anyway."

Jou let the glowing pass. He'd ask what Seto meant later. The blond was sure it wasn't a reference to his health. He ignored the 'sieve' comment out of habit. If Seto didn't throw something like that at him once in a while, he'd think the jerk was sick or something. The moneybags was right though, he had to explain. "I told you that when I got stabbed I stayed at the monastery, I think I even said I considered staying there for good right?"

Tatsu nodded, and Seto just gave him a 'get on with it look'. Jou sighed and opened his memories. "I was having it rough. Mai was with guy number two and I... emotionally I was a wreck. I didn't have a wife or a kid, but I felt... I felt like I did - like they were out there - they were part of me that was missing." Jou knew it sounded crazy, but it was the truth. Besides, he had been half mad with grief so crazy wasn't so far off. "When I didn't have work to get lost in, because of the stabbing, I was at the very bottom and ready to cash out. I went to the shrine thinking to be with my son in the end." Jou wasn't ashamed, refused to be ashamed. If they couldn't understand. then they weren't worth his spit.

"The priest at the shrine knew why I'd come. I think he could see it. He spoke to me for a long time, he refused to leave me alone even when I told him to get lost. One of the things he talked about was the monastery across the valley. Technically the shrine is on monastery grounds, but they exist separately. The priest was raised at the monastery and took over the shrine about thirty years ago." Jou smiled crookedly. "He hadn't had any contact with the outside world and his only contact with women was the buddhist nuns at Antaiju. Celibacy is not a requirement of the monastery although some do practice it. He told me about his culture shock. If you can imagine coming from a place where women covered their bodies completely and shaved their heads and going to a tourist rich area where during a time when women wore mini skirts and had long poofy hair. He was in shock and completely out of his depth. He told me about some of the worst faux pas." A small chuckle escaped at a few of the things the priest had shared.

"Women? What did he do?" Tatsu sounded intrigued.

Seto stepped in before Jou could be sidetracked. "He convinced you to go to the monastery?"

"Yes. I don't know how, because phones and modern communication are not allowed, but somehow the priest at the shrine got the message to the head monk at the Antaiju. He was waiting for me at the top of the stairs. He didn't say anything, not a word, simply let me bow and say my prayers. After I'd washed and drunk the water, he brought me through the great doors and into the first ring."

Katsuya took a deep breath and explained. "Antaiju is built as a series of buildings that ring each other. The outer ring is for visitors, pilgrims, and people testing the lifestyle. The second ring is for new initiates and people returning to the order. Monks and nuns are allowed to leave the order and live a lay life seven times in their lifetimes. The third rings are for the people who have lived there for years and manage the day to day. The fourth ring is for the head priests and their families, also political refugees stay there as the security is greatest."

"A small stone cell was my room. Inside was just a simple sleeping mat and blanket. It was cool, quiet and dark. There was no table, no candle or anything. Just the mat, blanket, and me. Light came in through a series of slits at the top of the room. It was as close to a tomb as you could get and still be able to breathe."

Jou settled back against his seat. "He showed me where the bathing springs and toilets were and showed me the well and the communal kitchen. I didn't care about that. I just wanted... to be left alone." He hesitated on saying he just wanted to die. Even though he'd been frank with them, it was still too bold a statement, too shocking. "He did leave me alone. I didn't leave that room for days. I waited and prayed for death to come for me. After five days, I... I gave up trying to will myself to die. I couldn't take my own stink any more. I... hadn't left the room but that didn't mean my body stopped working."

His nose wrinkled at the memory. "When I went outside, I discovered it was close to midnight and there was nobody around. I was glad of that because I stunk so bad and I didn't want to offend anyone. I went to the springs and cleaned off, then washed my clothes, blanket and mat. I was wringing them out and hanging them to dry when a kid, maybe thirteen or fourteen, joined me. I thought it was a boy at first because of the short hair and skinny body, but when she turned I realized... She didn't have a dick." He shrugged slightly. "She was a kid, and I wasn't interested. It was a communal bath so she could be there. No big deal really. It didn't strike me as odd, well it did, but not too bad. I figured she was just naive and used to sharing. I wasn't going to do anything so it was okay." Jou didn't quite know how to explain it. She just seemed right, like she belonged, and he hadn't felt any interest in her beyond curiosity that she was there.

"I was surprised when she asked if I found her attractive." Jou frowned slightly. "I told her she was a pretty girl but much too young for an old married man like me. She laughed at me and said I wasn't old or married."

"I asked how she knew that and she just said married men look, but they look guilty too. I didn't look guilty, just not interested. That's when she said she was one of the nuns at the monastery and she was almost thirty years old. I didn't believe her at first, then she explained about the nuns, about their responsibilities, and about their role in buddhism. She asked if I'd like to enjoy more than the hot springs. She seemed to know more than I did because she got this look and.... said she'd prove I wasn't married." A hot tinge of color ran up his cheeks. "She definitely proved that Mai and my vows to Mai were a thing of the past." He blew out a hard breath. "We didn't have sex but... lets just say hot springs are definitely some of my favorite places."

He shook his head slightly to clear it of the images of a slim, toned body, swirling mist, and a wickedly talented mouth. "I went back to my room that night feeling that I had released a thousand years worth of pain."

"Is that what you released?" Tatsu asked cattily. He was jealous, so sue him. Katsuya was his boyfriend, and he was talking about a tryst with a woman. He had a right to be bitchy.

"But you weren't suicidal anymore, were you, Katsuya? You needed help to break free of the chains that bound you to Mai. The nun helped you break them, didn't she?" Seto asked perceptively.

"Yeah, Mai wasn't my wife, by her own choice, and now by my choice, I wasn't her husband." Jou picked up his memories. "I stayed in my cell the next day cleaning and getting rid of the smell of sickness and waste. That night I went back to the springs to bathe. I wanted to see her again, thank her for what she'd done. She never came. Instead a boy of about six was skipping rocks on the water. He said he was waiting for his mom. The boy and I sat and skipped stones and talked. He asked if I had kids, and I said no. We spent more time there talking, and after a while he looked up at the stars and said that he guessed his mom had forgotten him. Then he smiled and said that I'd make a kid a great dad because he was sure I'd never forget. Then he hugged me and ran off towards the housing. When I went back to my room I cried, not in anger or rage or denial, not in regret, but in genuine loss and grief. The boy was right, I'd never forget, and he was also right that I'd make a great dad because I would never forget how precious and fleeting a kid was."

Jou swallowed back tears that clogged his throat. "The next morning the priest was waiting for me as if he knew I'd come out at exactly that moment. He walked me to the communal kitchen and told me that it was time to feed the body. I realized I was starving. I hadn't eaten in over a week. Water was what had kept me going. It didn't strike me until I'd left, but he... he had a lot to do, he was the head priest, yet he stayed with me that entire day, talking about life and death, the monastery, and the ties to nature that we all had. He taught me how to make a basic rice and vegetable meal, how to make a light broth that helped my stomach adjust after a week of emptiness, and he simply shared himself with me. The next day was a repeat, as were the days and weeks that followed. I was seriously considering his offer to stay permanently when the little boy that I'd met at the springs wandered off and got lost. I had seen him around a few times, always with his family, who I was told were on pilgrimage. The mother came to the head priest frantic, and the father was out searching. I joined in, and I found him. That's when I knew that as much as I'd enjoy staying at Antaiju, I was destined to find lost ones. I had to come back. I left the next day and haven't been back."

There was a long moment of silence, then Jou shrugged and sighed. "That's when I started to re-arrange my life. I started saving every yen I could, rewards and salary, to pay for the house for Mai. She wasn't my wife, but I owed her for the pain she'd gone through so I thought I should give her some security. I also started looking at the future. I didn't have plans for love and marriage, but I wasn't going to rule out relationships altogether. I dedicated myself to finding lost ones and healing. It took a long time and it was painful, but I've finally moved forward. I finally understand a lot of things that caused me pain, and with understanding comes acceptance."

Seto made a mental note to check on Antaiju and see if they accepted donations. He owed them for keeping Jounouchi in this world, and he would definitely pay that debt any way he could. "While I'm happy for you that you've decided to put on your big boy panties and deal with life, it would be better if you didn't try to sound like some zen philosopher. It doesn't work for you." He snarked. They needed to lighten this atmosphere. It was too painfully honest and full of emotions. He wanted to hold Jou and soothe the pain Seto could hear lingering in the blond's voice. With Tatsu in the picture, Seto couldn't do that, so it was best to end the temptation. "We're here." The hummer had rolled to a stop sometime during the retelling, and Seto had just noticed. "Lead the way, O Wise One."

****

Here ends the latest episode of lost and found. Ready to choke me yet? ROFL. Really I had to stop it here because of size. The next part of this is over 5K and really - that is too long for one of these episodes.

Join us next week. Same bat time, same bat channel.
- 9
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Lost and Found