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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
- 13
- 14
- 15
Title: Lost And Found – Episode 12 - Tomorrow

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 12 episode in the ongoing 'Lost and Found' saga.

Rating: M for Mature just to be safe.

Size:   15 pages and 7771 words.

****

While he continued to enjoy the freedom to touch Jou, Seto considered leaving before the blond he was holding woke, weighing the pros and cons, before rejecting the idea. Not only could it be taken as a rejection but it could also be perceived as a retreat. Now that he'd finally gained ground in getting close to Jou, he wasn't giving up any part of the limited real estate he'd gained.

If he was honest, he also wanted to give Tatsu a few bad moments thinking of the picture they made together. Seto hadn't deliberately manipulated the captain into his drunken temper, but he hadn't stopped him either. Seto was sure if he had explained where Jou had gone rather than walking away while the man was raging, the outcome from the night before would not have been Jou asleep in his arms and Tatsu walking away, a vanquished suitor. Since Seto was completely satisfied with the outcome, he couldn't find it in himself to feel any kind of remorse.

His attention was so completely focused on the man in his arms, he was aware to the second when Jou started to wake. It started with a slight breathing change, followed by the flutter of lashes, then the heavy sprawl of limbs lightening as awareness of position and closeness filtered in. Seto thought he was prepared for the impact of Jou's sleepy gaze and morning confusion but found he was wrong. The green-gold gaze was heavy and darker than usual, but there was none of the disorientation most people felt on waking.

"Good morning." Seto whispered. It felt right to whisper, even though there was no reason to.

A small nod returned his greeting. "Thank you." It was simple, direct and heartfelt, and Seto felt it pierce him like an arrow. He didn't want gratitude, but he would take it and cherish the warmth deep inside.

"Don't thank me. I told you, didn't I? You know how I feel. I'll be there no matter what. It isn't just about sex or mixed souls." It never could be 'just' anything for them. Their history and their hearts were too close.

"I know. Still, thank you." Jou shifted uncomfortably. "I'm grateful, not only just because of you being here, but because - because I know how hard it was for you to let yourself care for me. You are cynical and jaded, you've been hurt and used, so you are normally cold and distant. You set that aside to be open and caring, even when you know it will cause you pain - For me - Even though you know we... I... it won't..." He stopped floundering for words and leaned over the brunet and gently pushed the hair out of his eyes. "So, thank you."

"You might not be so grateful when I tell you this," Seto eyed him carefully. "Tatsu came in this morning and found you asleep in my arms. He thinks we are together now."

Jou sighed and shook his head as he moved to look out the window. "That's going to be awkward and a pain in the ass. I don't want to explain anything to him. After last night I just -Well when I think about how he was, how he blew off... and about what he's said about his kid. I just... He's not the person I thought he was. If you don't mind, can we just carry on like normal and let him ask? If he does, I'll tell the truth."

"What truth is that? That he let you down when you needed him most? Or that I was there to catch you when you fell?" Seto wasn't being snarky, he truly wanted to know.

"I'll tell him that it's none of his business." Jou gave him a half-smile over his shoulder. "After last night, the things he said, he has no rights over me." The smile became curious. "You didn't watch the surveillance? He told me I wasn't worth it, and he would find someone else. He doesn't need my shit."

"I heard him yelling, but I couldn't make out the words. I was in the shower." Seto gestured to the silken robe on the floor. "I dried off and came as fast as I could. I knew you would need me." He didn't bother to explain that he'd gotten into the shower just as Jou's copter was touching down. He'd wanted to give them privacy. If he was needed he would be there, but if Tatsu actually offered what Jou needed, Seto didn't want to be there to see it. "So he dumped you last night?"

"Yeah, I guess. So he can't really bitch about seeing us together can he?" Jou pulled clothes from the closet and started dressing.

"No." Seto agreed quietly.

Something odd in Seto's tone made Jou turn and look at him while he buttoned his shirt. "What's wrong? You sound disappointed. Don't tell me you wanted a big scene or whatever?"

A small, rueful smile tugged Seto's lips. "I liked the idea of stealing you away from him. Gave me an ego boost. I need all of those I can get where you are concerned."

Jou frowned and sighed. "Seto you know... Right? I... we... Yugi is still the same block he always was. Tatsu wasn't ever why I wasn't able to be with you." Eyes almost pure gold gazed at him with a mix of sorrow and yearning.

"I know what you say, but I also know what you feel. I'm content with that until I can find a resolve to the rest of your hesitation."   Seto climbed out of his cooling nest of blankets. Without Jou, there was no warmth. Gracefully, he bent and scooped up his robe, sliding it on to cover his nudity. "I'll go to my room and dress. Do you want to wait for me or do you want to go alone?"

A cough from the door interrupted his question and brought both men's gaze around. Roland stood hesitantly in the doorway. "Excuse the interruption, Kaiba-san, but Captain Miyahara said you were in here and the door was unlocked so I assumed it was acceptable to enter. We are awaiting you in the main room."

"Unlocked?" Seto's eyes narrowed. "Come to think of it..." He visibly shook that off. "Jou, you go with Roland and tell him what we know. Get further information. I'll dress and join you as soon as possible." Seto waited a few minutes, until he was sure they were gone before going to his own room.

The instant his door shut behind him, he snapped. "You have one minute to explain before I begin archive retrieval sequence."

Ai answered immediately. "My core program is to ensure the safety of Kaiba Keiko, Kaiba Mokuba, Jounouchi Katsuya, and Kaiba Seto. Miyahara Tatsu is a primary suspect for threatening Keiko Kaiba, Jounouchi Katsuya and Kaiba Seto. His presence in the home of Kaiba Keiko, Jounouchi Katsuya, and Kaiba Seto is a threat that must be eliminated. By unlocking the door and allowing him to view you and Jounouchi this morning, I gave him an impetus to leave. Secondary core programming is the happiness of Kaiba Keiko, Kaiba Mokuba, Jounouchi Katsuya, and Kaiba Seto. Miyahara Tatsu interferes with that happiness and needs to be eliminated. In addition, if Miyahara Tatsu is not the culprit who sent the images, he is a secondary target and as such may be used to lure the true culprit out. To do so he must leave the current protected environment." The computer's cool, metallic tones outlined Ai's reasoning with flawless logic.

Seto sighed and closed his eyes tight in thought before opening them up. "Accepted. Explain your logic for making Miyahara Tatsu the primary suspect."

"I will display on screen." Seto's LCD television lit up, and the screen filled with data. "As you can see, the mornings in question..."

"I can read Ai. Thank you. Monitor Jounouchi and Thomas. Is Miyahara with them?"

"Miyahara Tatsu is in his assigned room. He spilled his cup of tea on his lap when Jounouchi walked in the room." There was malicious satisfaction that closely mirrored Seto's own feelings for the man in Ai's voice.

"I'll dress then." Seto crossed to his huge closet and pulled out a black turtleneck sweater with a zip front and skinny black jeans. Because zipper-dick, hurt he wiggled into a mesh g-string of fire-engine red. If he was lucky, a certain blond might be interested in the colorful garment. He checked that thought even as it flitted through is over-hentai brain.

"Play the recording from Jou's arrival and scene with Miyahara last night. I want to hear what went on." Jou had said Tatsu dumped him. The CEO wanted to know precisely what was said. If it could be manipulated by the policeman to hurt the blond, Seto was sure Tatsu would do it.

He was stepping into his house slippers when a knock at his door brought his head up warily. "Who is it?"

"Miyahara." The captain's voice was cool and slightly challenging, as if expecting some kind of hostility.

"Come in." Seto invited. He had known this was coming. It didn't really take a genius to figure it out. He even knew how he was going to handle it based on what the man said and did. He wasn't going to hold back either. Tatsu had tried to force Jou into something the other hadn't been ready for. The bastard was in for a serious smackdown.

Tatsu opened the door and stepped into Seto's private domain, closing the door firmly behind him.   The CEO bent to adjust his slipper as the interloper stepped aggressively forward. "Can I help you?" The brunet asked as he straightened.

"I'm not going to give up." Straight to the point. It was a declaration of war. Too bad the idiot didn't know it was a war he'd already lost. Seto wasn't in the mood for mercy or prisoners.

"Feel free to make a fool of yourself. Jou and I will get several good laughs out of it." The brunet didn't pull his punches either. As far as Seto was concerned the man had lost all claim on Jou, simply because Jou said so. Only Jounouchi could decide - and he had. Tatsu was history. The only thing left was to torture the shit for what he'd tried.

"Bastard. You think you've won, but Katsuya and I are friends, have been friends for years. We are a good team. Just because you took advantage of him doesn't mean you've won. He cares for me." The assertions would have been more believable if Tatsu's voice hadn't broken at the end.

"He may have respected you and had ties to you in the past, but you destroyed all of that." Seto shrugged and went to the mirror to comb his hair. "I didn't take advantage of Katsuya, and he is very aware of what I did or did not do."

"You bastard." Tatsu snarled. "You lied to me. You said you wouldn't steal him, but you took the first opportunity to get into his bed."

Seto wouldn't allow that. He spun and snapped. "Don't even try it. I didn't lie. I didn't steal him from you; you gave him away! Hell you chased him to me. You let him down when he needed you - no needed me - because you weren't there for him. I warned you that I would be there for him if you let him down. I always knew you would because you are a selfish, blind ass. What I didn't know is that you were so selfish and manipulative that you would try emotional blackmail to get laid."

"He... I..." Tatsu floundered for a second, then came back accusingly. "You used our argument last night to take advantage. Don't bother to dress it up, and don't change the subject."

"You still don't know? You don't get it? Didn't you listen to him at all? He was with his sister! The person he loves above all others. The person who told him she is terminally ill yesterday. He fucking needed someone to help him with the pain, and you goddamned attacked him - dumped him. Don't you know what you did?" Seto couldn't believe it, Tatsu hadn't even heard Jou the night before? He couldn't have been that drunk, could he? Then it struck him. Miyahara was a cop. Even under the influence, he would pay attention. The asshat knew exactly what he'd done and was trying to redirect and shift blame. "Hell no, I'm not letting you get away with this. You are the liar."

The older man clenched his fists and anger painted his cheeks with bright red flags. "You should have told me! He said that he'd gone to see her, but I forgot. I forgot what you said and didn't put it together. I thought he'd gone out for fun."

"You are dishonest, manipulative, scum. You forgot nothing. You were so caught up in your petty feelings and desires that you missed the big picture. I told you Thomas was unavailable for questions, we'd reached a stopping point and you knew Katsuya was having problems concentrating because of his worry for his sister." Seto clenched his fists, his blue green eyes blazing with rage. "I didn't tell you I arranged for him to go see her but it was obvious, and I'd bet you did ask Ai. You puffed yourself into a rage and drank just enough to lose control, or pretend to." The CEO was disgusted with himself. He'd helped set Jou up for additional pain the night before. Furiously, he plowed on as the scene became clear. "He finds out his sister, who he loves more than anything and anyone, is dying and he comes home to a boyfriend who is drunk and raging, a man that tries to manipulate him into sex with threats to dump him. What did you expect him to do? Fall apart and beg you to let him prove his love? Let you fuck him for the honor of your comfort?" Seto's voice had risen steadily, keeping pace with his anger and disgust. He was practically shouting. That was unacceptable.

Abruptly, he brought it under control. He wouldn't let this man get the better of him. He was Kaiba Seto, and he would not lose his composure because of a wannabe player. Jou had made his choice about Tatsu; there was no reason for Seto to lose it.

"He would have if you had given him the chance. Instead, you lashed out and gave him more pain, hoping to manipulate him into pity sex. You drove him away - All I did was wait and be ready when he needed me - when you failed him." The rage burned out as Seto realized that the results of the ill-fated plan had given him the upper hand. "Yes, I went to him last night, but don't ever mistake my caring, our closeness, for the selfish, one-sided mind-fuck you tried last night. I didn't steal him. I caught him when you threw him away."

"You can't own him; he doesn't want to be with you." Cornered by the truth of his manipulations, Tatsu fought back the only way he could, by aiming to wound at the most vulnerable point he knew Kaiba to have.

"He owns as much of me as he is willing to take. I will take any part of him he's willing to give." Seto allowed himself a whimsical smile. "If I could, I'd give him everything. I'm working on it." The smile faded and his blue-green eyes hardened like diamonds. "Don't try to manipulate him or abuse him again. You'll only make me angry." He didn't repeat the cliched phrase, but it hung unspoken in the air.

He didn't need to. Tatsu knew very well that he wouldn't like Kaiba Seto when he was angry. He barely tolerated the conceited ass when he was cordial. The detective glared, then spat angrily. "I'm not giving up." Then turned and ran from the room. He wasn't sure if he was running towards Katsuya or away from Kaiba - it didn't occur to him that running towards Katsuya would bring him right back to the dangerous CEO, but it should have.

Seto strolled at a leisurely pace into the main room, his eyes resting briefly on Jou as he sat on the couch next to Thomas. Roland stood with his back to the room staring out the window and Tatsu hovered behind the couch, just within reach of Jounouchi. "Good morning." He greeted casually. He froze for just a second as he saw the two figures sitting on a shelf. "Kisara and Seth. Welcome back," he held out his hands to the cats. "You had a good visit with Yugi and Atemu I presume?"

The large black bruiser leapt onto his shoulder, meowing loudly. The bald, rat-like cat hissed and growled, backing up and leaping onto the tallest part of the shelf. "Hmmm, Jou did you tell everyone about Kisara and Seth?" Seto asked as he stroked the black cat affectionately.

"Nah, didn't see them 'til you walked in the room. They've been visiting Atemu?" Jou wasn't going to name that creature Yugi. It was not Yugi, no matter what anyone said.

Roland turned and smiled. "I didn't see them there. They've been gone a while haven't they?"

"Yes, they do go to their other friend's place now and again." Seto smiled at Thomas and Roland and completely ignored Tatsu. "These are my friends, Seth is this big boy here, and Kisara is the white angora up there. He is protective and territorial, and she's a bit unpredictable so I'd suggest you keep your distance."

"Angora!" Jou snorted. "More like a pms'ing skinned rat. But yeah, she's even got extra toes so keep out of range if you don't want to bleed."

Tatsu, tired of being ignored, not just by the asshole CEO but Jou as well, butted in. "If you or Jou didn't let them in, and I know I didn't. Roland didn't, and I'm sure Thomas-san didn't either. How did they get in? Is there someone else living here?"

"My brother stays when he is in town; right now, he's on his lover's private island. The cats have specially controlled doors that open and close at their presence. They come and go at will. They are my friends, not my prisoners." Seto explained blandly. He didn't owe anyone an explanation of his life.

Tatsu frowned slightly as he crossed to the shelf and held out his hand to Kisara. "Come here, pretty kitty." When the cat glared and hissed, the cop responded. "Ah, don't be afraid. You know Jounouchi, don't you? He's my boyfriend and I..." He broke off with a yelp of pain as something heavy and furry with razor sharp claws landed on his head and neck before digging in to launch onto the shelf. "Ooww! What the hell? Throwing your cat at me, Kaiba?"

Seto lifted his shoulders slightly. "He is very good at protecting his partner. What can I say? I warned you." Just to make a point, the brunet brushed past Tatsu and held up his arms. "Kisara, Seth, come here. Katsuya's ex isn't anything to worry about." The cats leapt onto him with all the grace of cats and all the ease of years of practice. "Let's go feed you. You're always starved when you get back from visiting Atemu." Seto gave a small nod and the red-faced Jou an intimate, teasing smile, before taking the cats into the kitchen.

Jou cleared his throat and turned back to Thomas. "I think I've covered everything. Can you tell us more now?"

The older man cleared his throat slightly. "No, you've got it right. I didn't know that the corporate representative was related though. It's not a coincidence is it? In fact, now that I think about it, Wang-san was the one who mentioned the shrine to my wife. That is why he didn't mind changing where we were to meet." Thomas frowned slightly. "Do you think my wife knew him - Wang-san I mean - from before?"

"It's likely. Your wife and his son disappeared together, they had to go somewhere and it seems likely that, since Wang's parents helped sue for custody of Wang Lok, they were in support of the marriage. Why? Did you remember something?" His cop's instincts told him that the silk merchant had seen or heard something that was only now making sense to him.

"I remember that I came back to the hotel room to find Tia on the phone talking to Wang-san. Her tone seemed overly friendly, because she was a very private person. When I asked her about it, she said that she was just trying to help me further the business by doing public relations work. I took her at her word."

Seto nodded his understanding and questioned. "Did they ever meet with you there?"

"No." He frowned slightly. "She could have met with anyone. I was very busy on that trip, and she seemed to be out a lot. Usually not with the children though. In fact, I was surprised when she took the children that morning. She usually didn't..." He cleared his throat slightly. "She loved them, but she wasn't close to the children. I think it hurt her to be around them, because of her first son."

Seto nodded again. "Thomas-san, this is an intrusive question but I must ask. You said you and your wife were like brother and sister, yet you had children together so that's not entirely true."

"It is, for the most part." The older man lowered his head to stare down at his hands. "I wanted children. Part of our agreement, if I brought her back to what she called 'home' was that she would give them to me. I expected them to be conceived normally; however, she had other ideas. Artificial insemination doesn't have a high enough success rate. She wanted to keep her end of the bargain but she wanted it as fast as possible and as there was some scarring issues with her fallopian tubes after the birth of her first son, she asked we use in vitro fertilization. We were lucky and conceived each cycle." He lifted his head proudly. "I will be frank about this. I considered her my wife, but she never once considered me her husband. She only had sexual relations with her husband. I never had sex with her." He lowered his head slightly to and closed his eyes. "I hoped, there at the last, that she had finally accepted me, but she disappeared that next day."

Seto tamped down the impulse to call the man an idiot. Why would Thomas allow himself to be used like that? Why spend years pining for a woman who clearly had no interest in him? A slight shift from Jou drew his attention, and the brunet caught his breath. He would do the same thing for Jou wouldn't he? In fact wasn't he already? Giving comfort and support while Jou was involved with someone else, holding him at arms length? With an inward sigh, the CEO agreed. "I understand."

Jou blinked and looked at Seto, trying to figure out exactly what was off in the other man's tone. For the first time in a very long time, he couldn't read the brunet. Blue-green eyes were completely shuttered, and the elegant face could have been a beautiful mask. A chill went through him at the doll-like expression. Completely missing the way Tatsu put his hand out to stop him, Katsuya rose and crossed to the other man, discreetly brushing Seto's shoulder with his own as he took up a position next to him. "Did she act any different? Was there anything you can tell us about her that day, that morning? Maybe something at breakfast? Anything?"

"I've gone over it in my head so many times. Nothing, not a thing. The kids were excited and happy about the surprise trip. Tia was quietly happy but not overly excited. If anything, I'd say she was tired." Thomas was deep in thought, trying to find something, anything, that would help them and bring him closer to his children.

"All right." Jou nodded. "I've read your account, and I doubt you will be able to tell us more."

"I've tried to think of something. I would give anything to be able to see my children."

"That won't happen." Katsuya stated flatly. "You haven't proven you aren't a threat to them. I believe you, but everything we have is circumstantial. We have to find Wang Lok."

"Wang Lok? Not his father?" Tatsu questioned.

"No. Wang Chaoxing in all likelihood died in the accident that killed Tia Thomas. Wang Lok is the one pulling the strings in all this. He doesn't care about his mother or the children. He's looking for his father." The theory that had been bubbling under the surface, finally made sense. "It's why there have only been minimal withdrawals on the money. The father was the brains behind it; the son simply following orders. Wang Lok was his son and partner in this. That's why he desecrated my son's remains. It was a message: father to son, son to father."

"That is a wild leap." Tatsu cautioned. "Why would a son wait all these years? Why wouldn't he simply take the money and run?"

"Because he..." Jou focused, trying to bring Wang Lok into focus and a vague, child-like shadow formed. The spot where his shoulder touched Seto's grew warm and the shadowy figure took on life. "He wants his father. It isn't about the money; it never was. It's about family. He wants a family, his mother and father. Money doesn't motivate him, but love and family does. He has some kind of abandonment issues. Probably comes from being ripped from his mother and sent to live with his father... no not father... grandparents. He didn't live with his father until he came here. That's why nobody at the college knew he had a son."

"Jou, that is still way out there. Why contact you? Why the threats?" The arguments were reasonable, but Jou couldn't explain clearly; who would believe him?

"His father has been missing for years. I've recently gotten some of publicity in finding lost people. Also, Wang Lok has police ties so he's sure to have heard of me." He cut a sidelong glance at Seto. "That isn't ego. I know my worth as much as you know yours. Police from around the world want my help."

"So why threaten? Why not simply come to you?" Roland asked quietly. "You are not known for cruelty or telling friends 'no.'"

"That's something we should ask Wang Lok when we find him. But I think it's because he's always been in the shadows, hidden, and he feels ignored, abandoned and threatened by everything. If you are treated only one way in your life, then you only know one way to act. He probably doesn't know how to ask, or even that he could."

Tatsu frowned and shook his head. "You may be absolutely right but without proof, we can't do anything. First order of business is to find Wang Lok."

Jou shook his head and gave Tatsu a pitying look. "No Captain Miyahara, that is not the first order of business. First order of business is to get Thomas-san to his children. They have been without their father long enough. Even one more day is not acceptable. Their wounds are incredible, and he is the only one - as their father - who can heal them."

"Don't be stupid. They are safe and-" Tatsu started to argue only to be cut off by Katsuya’s hard voice. "Did you just call me stupid? For wanting to alleviate the pain of children who have lost their way of life, their mother and their father? I'm not the one who abandoned my child - not even in death. Do not ever call me that again, Captain."

Tatsu's eyes widened and began to glitter with temper. "You may have the luxury of speculation and emotional priorities, Katsuya," He emphasized the name deliberately. “But I need proof. That is my priority."

"Yeah, and your priorities are more important than anyone else’s right, Captain?" Jou couldn't keep the bitter anger out of his tone. "Fuck the feelings of anyone else, including your wife and child. Just what you want."

"What are you - "

"Jounouchi, now isn't the time." Seto broke in crisply. "Focus on Thomas-san's family. Your personal issues with Captain Miyahara can wait."

Jou forced his sudden flare of temper back down. "Right." He turned to Thomas. "Sorry about that. Roland, you and Thomas will go to the Antaiju. Speak to the head priest, tell him everything you've seen and heard. Ask for sanctuary for yourself and Thomas-san. Do not ask to see the children - he will let you when he deems it safe." The blond gave a strained smiled and nodded. "Go on, go pack."

Roland hesitated, giving his friend and employer a questioning glance. Seto sighed and nodded. "You heard him. Go."

The two older men wasted no more words or time, the stood and hurried from the room. Roland was on the phone arranging for a vehicle before they reached the elevator.

Tatsu glared at Seto and Jou, anger and accusation forming words that faltered even as they reached his tongue. Instead of letting fly with his rage and betrayal, he choked off to gasp. "Where are you going?" As Jou took Seto's hand and pulled him towards the hall.

"Seto's room, not that it's your business." Jou snapped. "We'll be back in a few minutes."

"What the hell!" Was all they heard before Jou shut the door on the other man's objections.

"Strip." The blond ordered.

Seto froze for a moment, glaring. "What the hell?!"

"You think I didn't notice the heat from where we touched? Get out of that shirt and let me see the damage. Your hands are barely healed." Jou wouldn't take no for an answer.

"I'm fine. You don't need to mmphmmommpp." The last of Seto's objection was muffled by the blond pulling the turtleneck over his face.

"Shit, it's all red. You look like you got a sunburn." He stalked into Seto's bathroom, sure he would find a first aid kit with some kind of cooling cream. He spotted it immediately and, right on top, was a tube of burn salve. Seto was just pulling the black turtleneck over his head when Jou got back. "Stop right there. Don't make me take it off you again because it won't be over your head if I have to."

"Damn you are stubborn." Seto sighed and let the petty burn be treated. There were worse things than letting the person he wanted to be with stroke soothing ointment into his skin.

When the blond was done with his first aid, he stepped back and glared. "Done, you big baby." The ire faded from Jou's green-gold eyes. "Seto, fixing you up after I hurt you is the only way I can feel right - even just a little - for what happens. It's obvious I control it, and I am sorry. Let me do this? Take care of you? Okay?"

Seto regarded him thoughtfully for a while he wrestled into his shirt, then a flash of mischief sparkled in his eyes as he smoothed his turtleneck down into place. "There is a time honored way of fixing boo boos you know. Kiss it better. But since I just put my shirt back you can just kiss me anywhere. I promise it'll make me feel better."

"Anywhere huh? I'll just bet. Pervert." But Jou found himself smiling and pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of Seto's teasing smile.

They were sharing a laughing look when a hard knock on the door made Katsuya wrench away from Seto and hurtle across the room. He knew that knock, had answered it many times over the years. Captain Miyahara in command. Seto gave him a quick glance and went to answer the door. "Yes?" He asked coldly as he opened it.

Tatsu glared at him in open challenge. "I want to speak to Katsuya."

"Sure." The brunet CEO feared around the world, complied easily. Tatsu really should have taken a hint from it. "Are we finished playing doctor, Katsuya? Or did you want to apply more ointment to my hot spot?" The dull thud of Jou's blond head bashing the wall was his answer. "I'll take that as a yes, we're done. Wait in my office, Captain. Jounouchi will be there in a minute. He has to clean up."

Red faced, the cop spun on his heel and marched away. Seto closed the door and turned to face the blushing blond. "I was just teasing, Katsuya. Don't get in a lather. Or rather, go wash your hands in lather. You have salve on them."

While he washed his hands, Jou snarled. "You didn't help there. You being a jerk to Tatsu isn't going to make this any easier."

"I don't want it to be easier. Not on you or him." Seto responded coolly. "You kissed him, let him kiss you - in front of me. Do you think that was easy for me? Hell no it wasn't. I wanted to beat both of you. Of course I would have kissed your boo boos better, but I'd have enjoyed putting them there to begin with. I want him to know you're not his and you never will be. I want him to think you're with me because it's where you belong even if you don't agree right now. Mostly, I want you to feel one tenth of what I felt yesterday morning when you kissed him like you were starving for him when I knew damn well you were just doing it to get back at me." When he finished his tirade, Seto's breath was coming in hard pants, his eyes were narrowed with rage and a flush rode high on his cheekbones.

Jou weighed Seto's words and expression for a few long moments, then nodded slowly. "You haven't changed at all. You're still proud and kind of sadistic. I was beginning to worry about you. Your responses to this situation, to me, and everything going on have been very un-Kaiba. At least the Kaiba I remember, but I get it. You haven't changed, you've just developed a better mask. Man, am I glad of that. I couldn't have dealt with a martyr Kaiba. I kinda like the dick in you."

Seto closed his eyes tight, willing away the hentai that was crawling through his brain, trying to hold on to his anger. "Damn it. You did that on purpose."

"Of course, I did. I said you haven't changed. I never said I haven't. I'm smart, Kaiba, and I can read you easier than before. Now that I know you want me like the devil wants ice cubes, I'm going to do all I can to keep your sadistic streak and anger off me. I am not a masochist, and I am just as perverted as you are. Probably more, 'cause I've had more experience." He strolled towards Seto, patting the brunet's cute ass as he passed. "You go plot world domination or something like a good psycho-megalomaniac genius while I go take my punishment."

He was stepping into the hall when Seto's soft snicker reached him. Unable to resist, Jou glanced back over his shoulder and saw the most beautiful sight in the world. Kaiba Seto looking adorably wide-eyed and confused, with involuntary laughter breaking through his control.

Stifling his own chuckles, Jou turned to Seto's office. Abruptly, his laughter faded. This wasn't going to be pretty. Seto had done a good job ensuring it was going to be as messy as possible.

Tatsu was staring out the window, his rigid posture shrieking his anger. Even though he had to have heard the door open, the older man didn't acknowlege Jou's presence.

Jou sighed and closed the door softly behind him. "Tatsu, we need to talk. Come sit down." To stress his point, he sat in one of the office chairs.

Tatsu, not looking at him, spun and stalked to the other office chair. There was a moment of strained silence, then Tatsu snarled "So talk. Let me hear the excuses, the pathetic whining about why you fucking cheated on me."

Jou gritted his teeth and held onto his temper as it threatened to rise. Tatsu had a right to his feelings. "I didn't cheat on you. Even if I slept with Seto last night, it wasn't cheating. You dumped me remember? You said you would find someone else, and I agreed. There was no cheating involved."

"Don't pull that crap. You know I didn't mean it. You knew it was just the alcohol talking." Tatsu snarled.

"I knew that you didn't mean it. Sure I did, being psychic and all." Jou sniped facetiously before he could stop himself. Then honestly compelled him. "You're right though. I lived with an alcoholic father who would say bullshit all the time then say he didn't mean it. So yeah I probably knew it was the liquor talking. But here's the thing; even if you didn't mean it, I did." Jou drew in a deep breath. "Look, it's not like we're married or were even lovers. We were dating, and we'd kissed a few times. We weren't invested in it, not really. If we had been you would have cared enough to see that I needed you to help me last night, and I - I wouldn't have turned so easily to Seto. I respect you Tatsu, as a co-worker, and I even like you as a friend to hang with, but as anything else, well there's gotta be respect and to be honest, you do a lot of shit I don't respect. Top of that list is how you treat your kid." Jou held up his hands in a calming motion. "I ain't going to preach to you about that 'cause it isn't my business. I'm just saying, I've got to respect someone I'm with and I don't respect you or your decisions on a lot of things." Slowly, the blond lowered his head. "If you are honest you don't respect me or my choices either."

"That's bull shit." Tatsu jumped up from his chair. "Name one time when I haven't respected you. One time!"

Jou clenched his jaw tight to hold back the scalding litany that wanted to bubble from him. "Last night when you tried to bully me into sex."

When Tatsu started to explode, Jou waved his hands. "I know, I know, it was the alcohol. Except that I don't buy that at all. Alcohol loosens inhibitions, but it doesn't change the basic personality of the person." He smiled bitterly. "My dad was a miserable mean person and a miserable mean drunk. You're clever, cynical, manipulative and selfish. That's how you were last night, only more open about it."

When Tatsu sank into the chair, Jou settled back into his own. "You're usually a good judge of character and have great insights into what motivates people. Probably because you have very base motivations yourself and criminals are usually motivated by base needs. What you screwed up on last night was that I didn't want anything to do with a drunk or your manipulations. I'd had enough for the day and was tapped out emotionally. I didn't have what it would have required for me to meet your needs. I couldn't give anymore - I needed to take. You don't know how to give unless it is motivated by one of your base needs."

"You have me wrong. Jou, I didn't-" Tatsu could feel the blond slipping through his fingers. Desperately, he tried to hold on.

"Yeah, you did. I'm just as good at reading people as you are. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be able to find them when they are lost would I?" Enough of that. Jou had to end this without too much awkwardness. "I don't really blame you for it you know. You're no better or worse than anyone else. Everyone has base needs that motivates them. Yours is sex, recognition, money, and ego. The order changes based on what's going on in your life." The blond tilted his head to the side. "What do you think motivates me Tatsu?" Jou asked quietly.

It was a test, and Tatsu knew it. If he answered wrong, he would not have a chance of convincing Jou to give them another try. If he answered right there was a possibility that the other man would forgive him his stupidity. "I need to think for a minute." Tatsu bought himself time.

"Take all the time you need." Jou crossed his arms and waited. The answer didn't really matter. If Tatsu got it wrong then he obviously didn't know him, and if he got it right, that was another issue.

Jou was genuinely surprised when Tatsu said quietly. "Hero complex. You have to save people. Saving people is your motivation."

Not bad. "That's true." Jou allowed. "Anything else?"

"Children, no that's not right, family. Your family motivates you." Another direct hit.

"Right. Anything else you can think of?" Those two were the obvious ones. He was curious to find out if Tatsu knew more.

"Pain. You once said that hurting someone wasn't worth the rush of ego. I remember, it was that case down south, where the inspector from the other area took credit for finding the kid. You said that he needed to feel he had succeeded after all the time he spent searching. It would hurt him and stroking your ego wasn't worth his pain." Tatsu felt that down to the core. At the time he'd thought Katsuya was a fool, but now, when he thought of it, perhaps he'd been the fool for not seeing what was right in front of his face.

"That works. Anything else?" Jou asked somberly. Tatsu knew him on some levels, but it was obvious the man was missing the big picture.

"I don't know." It pained Tatsu to admit it, but he really didn't know.

"Don't strain yourself. You're right, I do have a hero complex, a need to save everyone, because I wasn't able to save the two people that mattered most - my son and my best friend." Jou stood and crossed to the window, staring out over the expanse of the city. "Children and Family, yes, but it's more. My loved ones, friends, family, lovers; doing everything I can for them in every way I can, that motivates me more than almost anything else. Pain, well you summed that up very well. What you missed, and it is my most base motivation, me at my most selfish. I need to belong; I need a home, not a roof and walls, but a place where I feel safe, cherished, respected and loved. It could be a cardboard box on the street, and if I felt those things there, I would be home. Someday, I hope I'll have earned a place like that. The need for it is what motivates me."

Unbearably moved, perhaps for the first time in his life, Tatsu husked. "I'll be your home Katsuya, I can give all that and more." He rose from the chair and moved to embrace the blond.

Jou didn't allow him to lay a finger on him. He stepped back and spun to face his once-boyfriend. "No, you can't. You're not capable of love, Tatsu, at least not the kind I need. You should be the home of your son's heart. You should have cherished your home in your wife's heart. You threw that all away because of paper. That kind of selfish, shallow love is not what I want or need."

"I suppose Kaiba can?" Stung by the rejection, Tatsu lashed out.

"No, he can't." Jou shook his head, smiling sadly. "His heart is still with someone else. Maybe one day, it'll find it's way back to him and then we will see. Right now is not that time."

"He says he loves you. Maybe you don't know him as well as you think." The Captain couldn't resist taunting.

"I know he does. He puts up with a lot of shit from me, but in the same way I want my heart to have a home someday, I want someone's heart to have a home with me. Until he's reclaimed his heart, it resides with someone else. This is where I'm selfish. I won't share with another lover." The sad smile became slightly bitter. "Not even my best friend."

"Jou, can't we try again? I'll do my best to change." Tatsu gave it a shot.

"No. We're completely incompatible. I didn't ask you to name my motivations to test how well you know me. You've worked with me for years. Of course you know me. I was trying to get you to see how different we are. We aren't a good match Tatsu and I'll continue to frustrate you, and you'll continue to disappoint me. There is no way around it."

Jou held out his hand in the time honored gesture to shake. "Friends?"

Reluctant, but seeing the resolve in Jou's green-gold eyes. Tatsu took what was offered. "Friends" He didn't add his rider - for now - aloud.

****

Here ends Lost and Found - Episode 12 - Tomorrow. Tune in next time, same bat time, same bat channel.
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