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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
- 6
- 7
- 8
Title: Lost And Found – Episode 5

Author: Maggiemay

Muses and Betas: Jazzy, mofaf1, Lady Laran

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

Rating: M for Mature just to be safe.

Size:   25 pages and 12441 words.

****

"Shizuka, has the mail been delivered yet? I have something to go out."

"Just missed it, big brother. I'm opening it now. Only got one thing today." Shizuka smiled as she slit the large brown envelope open and peeked inside. "Pictures!" She sounded gleeful as she dumped the contents on her desk. Her happiness faded, and after a moment, she let out a scream that shook the rafters.

Jou was at her desk in a heartbeat. With a shaking hand, he picked up the picture his sister was focused on. It was of her, obviously out shopping. A red dot was drawn in the middle of her forehead, around her head was a red cross hairs. Urgently, Jou picked up the other pictures. Each and every one had a picture of someone he cared about going about their daily business, completely oblivious to a psycho taking their pictures. On each and every picture the red dot and cross hairs were exactly the same. He dropped them back to the desk as Honda barrelled up beside him. "What's wrong?"

"Look at these." Urgently he reached for his phone. "I have to call Kaiba."

Honda looked up sharply. "Kaiba? Don't you mean Tatsu?"

That made Jou hesitate for just a second, then answered. "Tatsu is a cop and always on guard. One of these pictures is of Kaiba with his daughter. He has to be warned. Then I'll call Tatsu."

When he tapped the on button for his phone, he wasn't surprised to hear it already connecting on the other side. "Kaiba." Seto's voice answered softer than Jou had ever heard it.

"Kaiba, it's Jounouchi. Look, someone sent me pictures, threatening pictures of you with your baby. I..." But he was talking to dead air.   He jabbed another button, and he heard the click of connection "Damn it. Ai what is he doing?"

"He's ordered a secure car with full security detail to bring him to your office. He'll be there in less than half an hour."

"Fine. Ai tell him to be careful, someone's watching him and Keiko. These photos are a direct threat. I'll scan them so you can analyze them." He hung up from Ai, ignoring the strange looks he was getting, and dialed Tatsu's number. He snarled when it went straight to voicemail. "Tatsu, it’s Katsuya. Look there's been an incident, and I need your help. Come to my office as soon as you get this." He disconnected and pocketed his phone. The silence in the office caught his attention. He looked up curiously. "What?"

"Since when do you have Kaiba's private number? Why him first? Why does he come when you call - no questions asked? And who the hell is Ai?" Honda snapped, holding the photo of himself directly in the crosshairs.

Jou blinked at Honda, his mind still trying to grapple with the threat to his loved ones, and he couldn't process the questions much less form a coherent answer. "Uh... "

Strangely it was Otogi who came to his rescue. "If he felt it was your business, you would probably know." The green-eyed man said briskly. "Those questions aren't as pertinent as why someone sent pictures with all of you literally in the crosshairs." He paused briefly "But for some reason didn't include me."

Shizuka picked up the pictures again, flipping through them. "He's right. Me, Honda, Miyahara, Kaiba with a baby..." She shot him a baffled look "Kaiba? His daughter, what is her name?" She shook her head. "Even Mai."

"Put those down! You could be destroying fingerprints." Jou ignored the questions to order harshly.

Startled, Shizuka dropped the photographs and stepped back. "Sorry I didn't …"

Jou went back to his desk and pulled out a box of rubber gloves. He slid them on and then picked up the pictures, examining them closely. They didn't get any better. The photos were printed on plain paper, most likely on a low end color home printer, inkjet not laser. The red dots and scopes were obviously added during an edit. They were not date or time stamped, so he had no way of knowing which of the pictures were taken first. He would have to lay out a timeline by asking his friends when the pictures were taken.

He picked up the envelope to check for more. When he saw another sheet of paper folded inside he tilted the envelope, reached in and carefully pulled it out. Carefully he unfolded it, his eyes scanning over the print urgently, then returning to scan more slowly. "What the hell?"

It was a photocopied newspaper article eight years old. "What does it say?" Honda craned his neck to get a better look.

"It’s an old newspaper story." Jou frowned at the paper. "Eight, almost nine years old. American businessman's family disappeared while touring the local shrines. Ransom note received."

Honda nodded. "I remember that. American settled here and started a business built on traditional silk weaving. His wife and two kids were on a tour of the local shops and disappeared. There was a ransom note delivered before the man knew they were missing. Even though he paid the ransom no trace of them was ever found. Thomas or Thompson or something? Right?

"Thomas. Don't know about anything but what this newspaper reports. It's not much." Jou's frown deepened. "What the hell is going on?"

"My question exactly." A deep voice snapped briskly. Jou glanced up to see a tall, steely-eyed man with closely trimmed salt and pepper hair, and a slim, muscular body. Roland, of course, Jou should have expected him.

"Everyone, meet Roland. I was never given his family name so I can only tell you his first name - Roland. He is Kaiba's head of Security." He gestured to his friends individually. "Roland meet Honda Hiroto, Otogi Ryuji and my sister, Shizuka Kawai."

Roland barely acknowledged them with a scant nod. "Jounouchi, elaborate on the situation. My security team is in place and Kaiba-san is six minutes out. What is the threat."

Jou went back and got him another set of gloves. "Put them on, then you can check out the images."

Roland slipped on the gloves then picked up the pictures. He discarded all but Seto's. "This was taken yesterday morning. The hat on Kaiba-chan's head is new, and she wore it for the first time yesterday."

Otogi frowned at the picture. "How can you tell? The crosshairs are right on her head." He gasped and stepped back when the hard-eyed man lifted his head and glared murder at him.

"Because I gave it to her. It has a distinctive duck bill to shade her eyes and little feather wings that cover her ears." The death in his eyes didn't fade a bit when he turned back to Jounouchi. "What else do you know?"

"Not a thing. It just came in the mail and..."

"Not possible, your mail hasn't been delivered yet. The postman was four buildings down from here when we arrived."

"Ohh... Kay. So someone placed it in our mail box, before mail delivery today." Jou nodded slightly. "The only thing in the envelope besides the pictures was this." He handed Roland the copy of the news article.

"The Thomas case. I was one of the detectives who investigated. I know it well." Kaiba's head of security frowned slightly. "I don't remember this article. It's different from most of the other articles."

"You know the case? It wasn't ever solved, was it?" Honda asked.

"No, they were never found. It's interesting that it comes up at this time. Thomas-san has just received approval to have them declared dead. We are friends and keep in contact. He felt I should know."

"Is this directed at you then?" Shizuka asked softly. "Is it just because Katsuya knows Kaiba and you are Kaiba's man that these were sent to us?"

"Unlikely." Roland shook his head. "Not many people know about my involvement. I was one of the junior members of the team. Thomas-san and I knew each other from when he was in the military. I was assigned to the case because of that association."

"I don't understand!" Shizuka sounded on the verge of tears. "Who would play such a mean prank?"

"It's hardly a prank, Kawai-san." Roland corrected. "I'd say it looks like a challenge." The strong voice deepened, turning rough. "A game with major consequences for failure, if the threats are to be believed."

"You can't be serious." Honda said incredulously. "Why would anyone take this kind of nonsense seriously? It's obvious that whoever sent the pictures couldn't be bothered to do more than a crappy print job."

"Of course, it is only my opinion. We will wait for Kaiba-san. He will be here in less than two minutes."

Otogi looked uneasy, his eyes darting to the pictures then around the room as if waiting for something. When nobody spoke up, he cleared his throat. "Hiroto, that isn't the way to look at this. The paper is plain copy paper, untraceable. The printing is likely done on a home printer, but it is good enough that we can see who and what. When the ink is tested, it will probably be a generic, inexpensive ink used in dozens of model printers sold for several years. The pictures themselves will be impossible to trace as I believe they look like they were taken from a vehicle. All are outside and all are... same distance - like they were taken from the street. From a criminal's standpoint, these pictures are just about perfect."

"You know so much about being a criminal." Honda said silkily. "One could think you were experienced in a life of crime.

"It's common sense. Besides, I like crime dramas on television. The thing that bothers me is the method of delivery. It's really risky and seems out of character for the person who did this. Most places have video security, but because the boss," Otogi sent Jou a look, "Is anal with his demand for the best there was a backorder on the system. We aren't due to get ours for another week."

Jou groaned, wanting to bash his head at the reminder. "Fuck I'd forgotten that." Just great another bill to pay. He would have been able to afford it too, but Kaiba's bill...

"Watch your language around my daughter." The tone was low and easy, but the words had the edge of a whip. Kaiba Seto stepped through the door and glared at Jou. It was obvious he was dead serious.

"Your daughter?" Jou almost swallowed his tongue when he saw the tall brunet wearing his normal business suit with a few additions. Most prominent was the dark blue Hanamuguri with a tiny baby dressed in a white eyelet lace trimmed in pink satin with a matching bonnet. The little one even wore matching adorable ruffled white socks. He beat Shizuka around the desk and across the room by three paces.

Eyes wide with awe and tenderness, he gazed at the tiny girl, taking in her her pale pink skin, bright blue eyes and adorable dimples. Under the edge of the pink and white bonnet he could see tiny wisps of black hair. "Seto, she's beautiful." He breathed, his heart in his throat. He reached out almost touching her before drawing back his hand as if afraid he'd hurt her with just the brush of his fingers.

Seto, clever brain ticking over what it had previously missed - the addition to a formidable lure to bring Katsuya to his side - reached out and caught the retreating hand and brought them back to Keiko. "Kaiba Keiko, meet Jounouchi Katsuya." Seto stroked the tiny hand with his fingertip, deftly inserting Jou's fingers under the grasping hand of the baby. "Katsuya meet my daughter, Keiko." Seto was absurdly proud whenever he said 'my daughter.' He knew it was ridiculous as he had no hand in creating the wondrous baby who now held serious real estate in his heart, but he felt like she was all his.

Rapt green-gold eyes locked on the little one. "She's so..." Jou's broken father's heart melted and yearning flooded him. Without realizing it he shifted closer, standing almost pressed to Seto's side, his captive hand tracing her fine features with delicate care. "Perfect."

Seto shifted slightly, allowing Jou to get closer by stepping into his side. Without thought his own arm rested low on Katsuya's waist, bringing him even closer. Katsuya didn't seem to mind or notice as he gently cooed at Keiko.

Honda and Otogi froze in shock, then their gazes met and locked in realization. After a moment, Honda broke the shared gaze and turned away. Shizuka stared at the rapt, joyful, loving look on her brother's face for a long moment before she too looked away, as if she found the happiness on Katsuya's face too much to bear.

Not by a flicker of an eyelash did Seto betray the voice speaking in his discreet earpiece, warning him of visitors entering the office. He subtly tightened his hold on Katsuya's waist, pulling the blond slightly closer as he bent down to coo at his little girl. It was petty and counter productive to what he knew should happen, but sometimes he was tired of being patient. His little staging worked better than expected and with rather satisfying results.

"Katsuya! What is going on?" Tatsu gasped in shock from the doorway. Seto buried his smirk. He knew very well that he and Katsuya looked like doting, loving parents cooing over their baby. He was vaguely surprised to notice the officer behind Miyahara controlling his own smirk.

Jou tore his gaze away from the enchanting girl smiling and trying to suck his finger. "Tatsu!" Abruptly, he realized his position and took a giant step back, dislodging Seto's arm and removing his finger from Keiko's hand and mouth. "I... uh... yeah. I need you to take a look at something that was put in the mailbox."   He pushed aside the odd feeling, like he should say something more, and nodded. "I'll go get some gloves. Watanabe you might want to grab an evidence kit from the car."

For a second Watanabe's face twisted with anger before smoothing into a mask. "If Miyahara-san feels that way then..."

"Go, go. You know Jounouchi wouldn't send you out to get one if it wasn't necessary." He waited until Jou got back with box the gloves to approach the desk. His professional mask slid into place as he picked up each of the photos, then the copy of the newspaper article. "Any idea of who delivered it? No postage so it didn't come regular mail."

"None. Tatsu, I need to scan these so I can examine them later, will you observe so I don't break chain of custody?" Jou could tell that Tatsu was upset. Even through his professional mien, there was a strange light burning in his eyes.

"You shouldn't tamper..." When Jou just gave him an impatient look, Tatsu nodded reluctantly "Fine. But..."

Jou gathered everything up and hurried to the networked all-in-one device. While he scanned at the highest resolution possible, he could hear Watanabe return, questioning what was going on.    Tatsu explained briefly, and as a well oiled pair they began to question everyone in the room, Watanabe starting with Shizuka and Tatsu with Seto.

At Otogi's suggestion, Shizuka led Watanabe to Otogi's cubicle for her interview, she simply did not want to try to compete with the deep voices of the men around her. She didn't feel like repeating herself to be heard. Jou listened to her soft voice for a moment, concern whispering over him like a soft breeze. Now that he wasn't looking at her cheerful face the exhaustion from her recent illness was still evident in her voice.

He was just scanning the third image when Tatsu started his interview with Seto. For reasons he didn't want to analyze, the two of them talking together, even for an an investigation, made Jou's skin prickle with goose bumps. Mentally he hurried the scanner on as Tatsu started his questions.

"Excuse me, I know we have met before, but for the record's sake, please state your name." Tatsu began formally.

"I am Kaiba Seto. My seven week old daughter Kaiba Keiko is in my arms." Seto's voice was cool and polite, which shocked Jou. He would have expected Seto to be impatient or condescending.

"Thank you. Will you tell me why you are here at Lost and Found, People Finders?"

"Katsuya called me at..." Seto checked his phone for accuracy. "Eleven forty-one. He stated that he had received photographs that were a threat to myself and my daughter. I alerted one of my security teams and came to his office right away."

"I see. You have a security team here? I didn't notice anyone."

"If you had they would be fired. Roland, standing beside you, is my head of security. There are seventeen more of my men arrayed around, on top of, and inside the building. All are licensed to carry guns, and all have been given dispensation by the emperor himself to protect me at all costs." Seto smiled and gently jostled Keiko. "And my precious daughter is included in that."

"You have a lot of security. Is it possible these photographs are from someone trying to get to you?"

"Unlikely as Jounouchi and I have never been public about our relationship. Besides, the pictures don't specifically focus on me or Keiko, but instead on all of Katsuya's loved ones. I will, of course, have my teams investigate, but I believe this is directed at Katsuya."

"You are a busy man. Do you come whenever K.. Jounouchi calls?" Then as if he couldn't help himself "You said relationship. What relationship? Do you classify yourself as a 'loved one?'"

That brought Jou's head up warily. That sounded on the edge of unprofessional, almost like a challenge. Seto always rose to challenges.

Seto's reply was more circumspect than Jou would have imagined. "Katsuya and I have known each other for years and have had many experiences that foster deep trust. In addition, we're involved in... ongoing projects that require close contact. As you know he was instrumental in finding my brother not long ago. It is through his efforts that I was blessed with my daughter. When he calls me and tells me I and my daughter are in danger of course I come right away. I trust him with my life, with the people I love in my life."

Jou breathed a sigh of relief. Seto could have screwed him over with innuendos. Instead he'd actually been honest and helpful. Maybe the jerk wasn't so bad after all. He pulled the last image from the scan bed and tucked them back in the envelope.

"So you are close, trusted friends." Tatsu clarified. "When was the last time you saw Jounouchi."

Jou's gratitude came to a screeching halt when Seto replied, "When we got back from Zurich. I left him sound asleep in bed."

Jou ran back to the front area. Tatsu's mask was wavering, Otogi was holding a hand to his mouth, and Honda was slack-jawed.   Furious he turned off the recorder Tatsu had placed on the desk.   "Oi Kaiba. You made it sound like you finally got me into your bed for more than sleep." Jou growled, half playful, half serious. "One bed on the plane. We both slept - slept - on it. He's being an ass. He's been trying to get into my pants since high school. Hasn't happened." He gave Seto a glare. "You know Tatsu and I are dating. Quit it or I'm going to have to tell everyone about your weakness for... Well you know..." He trailed off tauntingly. He hoped Kaiba would get the hint, and Tatsu would think they were old rivals and friends - more adversarial than friends.

Seto mock sighed. "Just when I was having fun. Fine. Katsuya is an old schoolmate." He smiled slightly at Tatsu. "If you're going to be part of the Jounouchi-tachi then you are going to have to get used to me teasing the mutt." Seto shrugged and cuddled his angel close.

Tatsu blinked at Seto then at Katsuya. "When we met before..."

"He was angry at me because I was trying to force his hand. It didn't work." Seto admitted freely.

"Ah...uhm? I don't quite know what to say to that. "

"Nothing. Say nothing Tatsu. That way he won't be tempted to take it back and do more to mess with our heads." Jou advised. He ignored the goggle-eyed looks he was getting from Honda and Otogi. He'd deal with them later. "Continue with the interview."

"May I sit down before we continue?" Kaiba frowned slightly. "It's almost time for Keiko's meal, and I prefer to feed her sitting down." Right on cue, Keiko started to mewl, nomming her fingers restlessly.

Jou frowned and nodded. "Yeah sit." He gestured to Shizuka's chair. "Most comfortable chair in the office." The brunet sank into it gracefully.

If everyone was goggle-eyed before, they went slack-jawed when Seto reached down, shoved his jacket aside, and bared a very feminine looking breast and nipple. Keiko recognized it immediately because she latched on fervently.

"Holy … Kaiba you're... How are you..." Jou couldn't take his eyes away from the odd sight.

"It's a prosthetic with a bladder full of milk. The bladder is kept cold and I insert it into the prosthesis an hour before feeding. It reaches natural body temperature without the use of nutrient destroying microwaves and there is no chance for burning her." Seto explained, not in the least embarrassed. "Breast fed children have closer bonds with parents, have greater immune systems, are less likely to develop psychological problems, are physically stronger, and have higher IQ's. This is the best way to give her what she needs." He smiled down at his greedily eating child. "Although it is possible for a man to lactate, I chose a prosthesis and natural mother's milk acquired through a commercial source instead of hormonal manipulation because of the demands of my position at KC. I travel too much to have her dependent on me for meals."

"Who takes care of her when you're away?" Otogi asked, his eyes still fastened on the strange sight.

"My close friends, Matashi and Aishira, both have been fitted for prosthetics, as has Roland. Of course her nanny will as well." Seto touched Keiko's cheek softly. "I want only what is best for her. This is best."

Shizuka chose that moment to return. "Honda, he's waiting... Oh!" Her pretty eyes widened at the sight, and after a moment softened. "That's incredible. You love her so much!"

Kaiba gave her a cool look. "Of course, she is my daughter."

"No, I mean..." She floundered for a second then explained "Most men in your position wouldn't bother to feed her with their own hands. They would hire someone. But you don't just feed her, you make it... personal. A loving experience for both of you." She blushed slightly. "When I have a baby I want the father to be as loving as you." She gave her brother a sidelong glance. "I hope my brother can be that way when the time comes for him to care for his baby."

Jou gave the contraption a vaguely distrustful look. "I'll have to think about wearing that thing, at least in public, but if I ever have a kid, I'll definitely take care of him myself."

Tatsu cleared his throat slightly and brought their attention back to the matter at hand. He definitely didn't want to hear his boyfriend talk about having a baby. "Do you know the others in the pictures? Can you think of any links?" Tatsu laid them out in front of Seto.

"Of course. Honda Hiroto, Kujaku Mai, Miyahara Tatsu, Kaiba Seto, Kaiba Keiko." He tapped the desk under each picture as he named them off. "With the exception of your picture and Keiko, we have known each other for years. Honda, Jounouchi and I attended the same high school. Kujaku Mai was married to Jounouchi. You are dating Jounouchi. Keiko is... my child, and Jounouchi has a known soft spot for all children. As my friend that soft spot is likely to be larger." Seto frowned at the picture of himself and Keiko. "This was taken from the street across from the executive parking lot yesterday morning." Seto gave Jou a cool look. "Bring your laptop. Ai should have a satellite image of that time slice captured. We should be able to see the vehicle, possibly even a license plate number."

Jou went to grab his laptop and hustled back. He wanted to smack himself for not thinking of it earlier. He knew Ai watched Kaiba like a hawk. Kaiba gestured for the laptop to be placed on the table then, keeping one hand on his daughter, he opened the browser and typed in an address that seemed to have no rhyme or reason, just a series of numbers that seemed exceptionally long.

A simple gray box appeared on screen and Seto typed in another very long series of letters and numbers, this time completely obscured by special symbols like asterisks and parenthesis. As soon as he pressed enter Ai's voice came over the speakers. "Kaiba-san, I've analyzed the image and compiled a video clip. I will give my analysis when you have viewed it."

A video opened showing a bird's eye view of Kaiba Corporation. The view panned and zoomed down to about the second story of the huge building. Kaiba Seto's distinctive limousine was about a block from the parking area when the screen suddenly filled with electronic snow reminiscent of the old-fashioned 'snow' people used to get on television. According to the on screen timer the distortion lasted six minutes, thirty two seconds. The display returned to normal to show Kaiba's limousine nowhere in sight and no sign of Kaiba Seto entering the building.

"Analysis?" Seto's voice was soft, owing to the way his daughter was cradled against his chest no doubt, but there was no mistaking the demand in his voice.

"I am still running scenarios, but highest probability is a source of disruption, microwave or UHF from a co-orbital satellite. I am running proximity variables but there are seventeen possible commercially owned, six government owned and fourteen privately owned satellites that rent usage to private parties. I have accessed all available data on the capabilities of most of them but am having some difficulty locating some of the information."

"Co-orbital? Not from the ground?"

"Definitely not from the surface level. Co-orbital, perhaps convergent orbits. I am running the orbit paths of all satellites that were in proximity at that time. It could not have originated from surface level because the energy required for such a disturbance and the disturbance itself would have been noteworthy as it would have disrupted communications for several city blocks, including all LAN, WAN, cellular, and all other forms of wireless data networks."

"Keep me apprised of any new information." Seto switched his gaze to Shizuka. "Where were you when the photo was taken?"

"My doctor's office front doors. I was just going in for a recheck of the virus I had." She explained, darting her brother a quick look.

"Name and address?" The doting papa looked down to see his little angel dozing off. He couldn't allow that. She really was very collicky and needed burping or she would wake within half an hour in discomfort and make everyone around her equally uncomfortable with her cries. With the experience of seven weeks, he pulled out a plastic-backed burping towel and draped it over his shoulder. Careful to support Keiko's still wobbly head, he lifted her onto his shoulder and began to rub in small circles. When Shizuka didn't answer the question right away, he repeated. "Name and address? Ai can't look for satellite feed if she doesn't have the address."

The red-haired woman jumped slightly. "Yeah, right. Okay, sorry the address is number eighteen, block twenty, north section. My doctor is Kita-sensei, and the picture was taken four days ago at about eight in the morning."

"Thank you, Kawai-san." There was a pause then. "I am Fuku Ai. I work for Kaiba-san as an administrative liaison and personal assistant." A realistic laugh came from the speakers. "I keep his lives in balance."

"Oh uh..." It was obvious Shizuka didn't know what to say to that. "Sounds like a challenging job."

Ai laughed again. "Oh it's not just a job. It's my entire existence. Your brother is my friend and helped me grow into my position when he lived with Seto."

Jou wanted to both chuckle and strangle the computer. He wondered if there was any way to get his hands on her processor. "Eh, Ai, could you please stick to the task at hand. Run the video of Shi-chan and hold off on the personal..." he broke off as the screen flickered and a clip loaded.

"I was entertaining you while I worked. I know you have a low boredom threshold Katsuya. It’s one of several trait you and Seto share." The computer's voice actually held a smug, smiling sound. "You do remember that you both like the same pizza and snacks don't you?"

"Ugh..." Jou was really going to strangle Ai. Until he could figure out how he decided to just ignore her taunting. "It's the same. She gets to within a few blocks and snow."

"Yes." The laughter was gone now, as were all hints of teasing. "Something else. The disruption starts at roughly the same time and lasts almost the exact same amount of time. If they were all taken at the same time, the calculations on the source will take longer."

Honda came into the area followed by Watanabe. "I can tell you that my picture was taken at about eight as well, three days ago. I was at the coffee shop two blocks from the apartment. Does anyone want to bet Mai's was taken about then as well, two days ago?" The muscular brunet gave Otogi a snarky look. "It explains why you weren't photographed. You are never out of bed before nine and you come in between two and three every night."

The green-eyed man gave him a glinting smile and taunted sarcastically, "Honda-kun, I didn't know you cared enough to pay me that much attention. Dare I hope?"

Honda growled and bunched his fists, ready to pound the smaller man. Jou grabbed him and pushed him back. "Hey! We got enough going on without you two getting stupid." The blond turned to his boyfriend. "Tatsu, when was yours taken?"

"Five days ago, right at eight in the morning. I was visiting my ex-wife to drop off her child support. She lives in the west district, block eleven, building seven." Tatsu gave the information Ai would need.

"Ex-wife?" Jou asked softly. This was the first he'd heard of an ex-anything. "Child support?" It was the first he'd ever heard of a kid too. There hadn't been any pictures of the child at Tatsu's home, at least not the areas he'd been. He hadn't been to Tatsu's bedroom of course, but he'd planned on visiting soon.

"We'll talk about this later, okay Katsuya?" Tatsu smiled slightly, glad that his boyfriend was interested, but he didn't want his personal life being recorded either. He'd had enough of that when he was a child.

"Yeah, that's okay. We have other stuff to worry about." Jou nodded.

Ai interrupted. "Would any of you be shocked to hear that the interference is on all recordings? I also analyzed the photo of your ex-wife Katsuya. She is standing outside her home. There is a corresponding disruption two days ago at eight in the morning."

Jou closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He so didn't want to go there, but he knew he was going to have to speak to Mai. He hadn't seen her since her visit to Kaiba's apartment, but he knew her well enough to know she would be just as bitchy when she saw him as she had been when she left. His ex didn't take rejection well. "Aw... fuck..."

"What's wrong?" Shizuka asked innocently.

"I'm going to have to go see Mai." He said heavily. "I don't want to but I'm going to have to. Of all of the pictures, hers is the most remote and least trafficked. She is likely to have seen the person who took the picture."

She blinked in confusion. "Is that a problem? I thought you said you guys were coming to terms with each other."

"Yeah, I'm not letting her manipulate me with the baby or her body and she's hating the fact that I wouldn't sleep with her when she stopped by Kaiba's." Jou stated it baldly. "She claimed she was saving me from being a fag all along." He didn't want to go into more detail, not with Tatsu and Kaiba listening, but he didn't see a way around it. "She was angry, and I said some things I shouldn't have; things that hurt her a lot worse than what she said hurt me. She'll want to pay me back. Mai's big on payback."

"So she will either be angry, hurt? Or try to seduce you." Otogi observed casually, as if talking about the weather.

Glumly, Jou nodded. "Yeah, could go either way. No matter which way she jumps, it's going to be a mind fuck for me."

"I've told you to watch your language around my daughter, Mutt." Kaiba settled his now-burped angel back into her comfortable carrier. "You do not have to see her. The police can simply go interview her or call her in for an interview. No reason to let her within a hundred metres of you." Shizuka's cell phone range, and she stepped back to take a personal call while Jou thought about that.

Tatsu agreed, "Katsuya, I'll go see her personally. She needs to be told, and she may have information. I believe we met a few times so she may be comfortable talking to me."

"It's too weird. If she finds out we're dating she will..." He broke off when Shizuka, pale and shaking, stepped forward and gripped his arm. "Shizuka? What's..."

"You don't have to argue about who is going to see Mai. She's on her way here. I gave her the address, and she will be here in ten minutes or less." The shaking increased even as the pallor of Shizuka's face whitened further. "She says a box was left by her door. It had... pictures and a note addressed to you big brother."

"What? Wh..."

"She's terrified, and I don't blame her. The contents of the box and note were... she said the note said you have a week and... and she was first if you failed."

"You mentioned a box. Did she say what else was in the box?" Tatsu asked quietly.

Abruptly, she lifted her hand to her mouth. "Oh god." Without another word, she dashed from the room.

"We can take that as a yes, I presume." Seto said dryly. "Roland take Keiko and go into level two with her. I'll call when I'm sure she is safe." Seto stood and presented his back to Jou. "Release the straps please?"

"Oh yeah." Jou didn't think twice about it. He didn't think it odd or in any way revealing that he was so casual about touching the famously untouchable man. Seto kept his face completely calm and relaxed even as he saw Tatsu's eyes widen with realization and glitter with something akin to anger. Behind his calm face laughter was bubbling from deep inside. Jounouchi didn't know how much of his feelings for Seto he was giving away, but everyone else in the room were very aware of the casual warmth the blond displayed. For the first time, Seto wondered if he made a mistake in his assessment of Jounouchi's emotional status, made a mistake in cutting off contact.

For Keiko the separation had been a good move. Seto knew he needed to bond with his daughter and having Jou around would definitely have put a crimp in that. However, given the way Jou was so easy and comfortable, so openly friendly to him, perhaps he'd misjudged Jou's need for distance. Maybe when Jou realized that Seto hadn't killed Yugi his previous feelings, whatever they had been, had resurfaced? It was something his genius brain had never considered.

Carefully, he transferred his precious one into Roland’s capable and loving arms then shifted to fasten the straps. The change was done so smoothly that Keiko's lashes didn't even flutter in her sleep. Seto dropped a kiss on her cheek that earned him a disgruntled moue. "Take care of her, Roland. I'll call you when I know more."

His head of security gazed down at the sleeping baby for a moment before whispering "Only level two? I will be happy to care for her at three or four... even five."

Seto chuckled. Roland was more protective than he was. "No need for the Icelandic bunker just yet. I'll let you know."

"Yes Kaiba-san." He nodded briefly to everyone, his eyes lingering slightly on Jounouchi. "Jounouchi-san, I hope to see you again very soon. Good luck and do your best." Wrapping his arms around Keiko, he turned and hurried from the room. Seto stepped back to the table and began to study the pictures.

Tatsu stared after Roland for a moment before snapping back into his professional role. "Watanabe, go wait outside for Jounouchi-san's wife. You've seen her a few times and know what she looks like. Retrieve any evidence, assess it for danger and..." His words were cut off by the door crashing open and a flying blond streak racing past him, hurtling straight at Jounouchi.

Jou caught Mai on reflex and when she burrowed closer, sobbing and screaming as if the world was ending, he automatically wrapped her in a comforting hug. "Sh... You're safe now. Tell me what's wrong, sweetheart."

Jou was too focused on the sobbing woman in his arms to see the way Tatsu's eyes widened in shock and Seto's narrowed and filled with ice. Otogi after a quick glance between the two men covered his mouth to stifle his chuckles as he pulled the just returned Shizuka back, out of the line of fire.

Honda's reaction was to step forward to rescue the blond from himself. Playing the 'best friend - old friend' card ,he stepped forward and caught her shoulder, drawing her away from Jou and into a half-hold. "Mai! Come sit down before you fall down!" He patted her back and reassured her with soft sounds as he disentangled her from Jou and guided her towards the chair Seto recently vacated.

Jou shot his friend a grateful, relieved look and took a step back as he glanced up to find himself the object of Tatsu's hard gaze. With an inward groan, he racked his hand through his hair. "Mai, calm down now. You're safe. Stop the drama and tell us exactly what is going on." His brisk tone in light of his caring warmth of just a moment before made everyone face-vault.

The hysterical sobbing cut off like a switch. "I..." The blonde woman looked at her ex, then at everyone around the room for some kind of support. "I... Someone threatened me."

"Welcome to the club." Jou said brusquely. "Now tell us what happened." He pushed the kleenex on the desk to her.

She pulled out a tissue and mopped her face. "There was a box outside my door this morning. I... It was strange because it was too early for the mail. The wrapping was damp so it had been there since very early. Inside there was a letter and a picture of me."

"Like the ones on the desk." Jou pointed to the photos.

"Yes. Exactly. Except there was a sheet of paper too. It said I was first and that you had a week. " She gulped back a sobbing cough. "There was a funeral urn in the box." Her eyes filled again. "Polished Yilei stone, tapered with a rounded base and cap... Gold trimmed, just exactly like... You'll see.. Katsuya... It's... I don't think it's empty, Katsuya."

"I... We will see.." Jou's voice was grim. "I'll check and if it... I'll call the shrine and have them double check. It's probably a coincidence, Mai."

She rasped a sob. "The note said I was... Said... Said that I would be joining him. Katsuya..."

Jou, his heart breaking even as rage soared through him, rasped. "It's just a mind fuck. This is one sick bastard." He broke off when Watanabe came in carrying a plain cardboard box. "I'll look right now." His voice hardened. "I'll know right away."

Ignoring Watanabe's protest, he took the box and set it on the desk. With careful, gloved hands, he opened the flaps. A quick look and he forced out a relieved sigh.   "It could be just a copy, but to make sure, Tatsu why don't you have Watanabe go and check if there have been any reports of desecration?"

Tatsu looked startled, then thoughtful. "Good idea. If there had been a desecration reported it's possible that the person who did it didn't block out the satellite images." The captain looked over at his officer. "Watanabe, could you please go and do the research? I'm going to gather as much information here as I can before I'm relieved of this investigation." He paused for a moment. "Do not mention any of this to anyone. I want to make the report personally, when I've gotten all the information I can."

For a moment, Watanabe looked ready to protest. Then with a short nod, he spun and stalked angrily out the door. Jou met Tatsu's gaze, reading it with ease. "Otogi, could you go to the apartment and..." He broke off and sighed "No fuck that. Otogi, you aren't involved and I don't want you to be. Do you have some place you can disappear to until we call you back?"

The green-eyed man gave him a direct look. "I'm not going anywhere. We do this together."

"Otogi..." Jou started to protest only to be cut off by Honda's furious snarl.

"You've never had a problem with disappearing before when it meant saving your ass... oh wait no, that's when you're chasing new ass. My bad. Just get lost, we don't need you."

"I'm not leaving." Otogi snarled back, just as angry. "You think you know it all! You know nothing! I'm sticking and that's final." The rage disappeared in a snap, replaced by a familiar mocking amusement. "But nice to know you care enough to try to protect me."

Seto stepped between them before they could come to blows. "That's enough." He snapped briskly. "We have more important things to worry about than your bad break-up. I have a proposal. It's obvious that we are all under threat. Keiko is safe from everything up to nuclear explosion and that can be increased if needed. I have several secure houses at my disposal. I recommend Honda, Otogi - yes Otogi! Because the more eyes the better - your sister and Mai go to one of my safe houses. My apartment is safe and spacious. I suggest Miyahara-san and you stay with me. I have plenty of room, security, and access to data that is equal to any government in the world. I also have a fleet of vehicles and an army of security personnel. In addition, I have support staff who can do small tasks. By splitting into two groups we make ourselves harder targets. By using my safe house, the women can be safely hidden away. Nobody - not even the police - will know where they are. With Honda and Otogi with them, as well as a security detail assigned for their protection, they will be as safe as can be."

Mai looked up at him with hard eyes. It was obvious she had regained her composure. It made several people watching wonder if her earlier upset was an act. "Why can't Katsuya stay with us?" The woman challenged.

"I would think that is obvious. He needs to be close to police and resources needed to solve the mystery. The safe houses are far flung and remote. He won't have what he needs in the safe house."

Her lips hardened to a thin line. "Anything to get him to move in with you, huh? Think I don't know what's going on between you?"

Katsuya gasped and shot Tatsu a quick look. Suspicion was dawning on his face. "Wrong end of the stick, Mai. Kaiba and I are friends. I told you that before." He took a deep breath and let it out. "Mai, you're right though, I am dating a man. Miyahara and I are going out."

Her disbelieving eyes swung first to Tatsu, then back to Jou, and settled on Seto. A cruel smirk, one Jou was very familiar with, curved her lips into a bitter smile. "Oh that's gotta hurt, Kaiba. You've been after him for years, and he finally goes with a guy and it isn't you. How does it feel to be a Jounouchi Katsuya reject?" Perverse speculation look twisted her face. "Unless you're a threesome? What about it Kaiba? Is Katsuya playing Lucky Pierre? His captain nails him while he nails you like the little bitch you are?"

Before Kaiba could annihilate her, Shizuka stepped between them. "That's enough. Only so much of your behavior can be tolerated for the sake of the shock you received. We're going to pack our bags and go to where ever Kaiba decides to send us. When we get back and you have recovered from your fright and insanity, you will apologize to him and thank him for his generosity." With a surprising strength, the red-haired girl yanked Mai up and shoved her towards the door, calling sharply, "Otogi, Honda, come on, we have to pack. " When Mai struggled, Shizuka gave her a sharp slap. "Enough. One more word and I'll knock you out. I can't take much more today."

Kaiba pulled out his phone and in a few short words, arranged for the group to be transported in the security van. When he pocketed the phone Jou turned and gave him an apologetic look. "Kaiba, I'm..."

"Shut up. Don't ever apologize to me for her. You are not responsible for what she says or does." He stepped up to the desk and gazed down at the urn. "We'll go and return this to the shrine in a few minutes."

Tatsu blinked slightly. "He said it was...."

"No, he didn't. He implied it, but he didn't say it. The look in his eyes, for just that second, was recognition. It's your son's urn isn't it, Katsuya?"

"Yeah. See the swirl under the cap where the curve of the vase tapers? If you look at it close you'll see that there is an irregular shape, like a butterfly. I chose the vase because of that shape. I... I looked at dozens."   He traced the shape with a shaking fingertip before resting his hand on the top of the urn.

"You have to open it." Kaiba said softly and he laid his hand over the top of Katsuya's. "I know you don't want to but if..."

"The seal is intact. I... It is an epoxy seal that is stronger than the stone. If... If it had been tampered with the stone would have been broken. There is no need to open it." Jou's voice shook with pain.

Tatsu was getting uncomfortable with the suspicions in his head. They were friends; they had clearly spelled that out. But if that was all why did Katsuya joke about Kaiba wanting him? Why did Katsuya's ex say those things? And most of all why did they look so right standing together holding hands?

"No."

Jou looked up at Tatsu. "What?"

Hastily, he collected himself. This was not the time to get distracted by baseless suspicions. "No. You can't bring it back to the shrine. It's evidence. I know how how you feel, but you can't." It was time for Tatsu to take control of the investigation and his love life. "You are a cop. You know evidence is..."

"I was a cop. This isn't evidence; it's my son's ashes.   I'm not turning it over to you to be put in some locker in a basement. My son will have the only things I can give him - respect and peace." Jou picked up the urn. "Let's go, Kaiba. Tatsu, you need to report to Chief Kochi. I'll call you when we get back. You might want to swing by your apartment and pick up a suitcase. You should probably let your ex-wife and kid know you will be out of touch for a while."

Seto watched with speculative eyes as Katsuya sat in the back of his limo, cradling the urn as if it were truly a child instead of cold stone and ashes. "You may have just lost your boyfriend."

"He'll get over it or he won't." Jou said coldly. "I can't believe he thought I'd give this into evidence."

"He was just doing his job." Seto shrugged casually. "Not my business." He hit a button on the console. "Ai, contact Sun Mei from the Path of the Sun Nanny Service. Cancel our dinner tonight at the Hilton, also tell her that the nanny she was bringing with her for interview isn't going to be interviewed for at least a week. If she asks say it is a personal emergency." He thought for a moment, then added. "If the nanny is travelling, the room is available at no cost, also allow for a food allowance. It's not the nanny's fault this has happened."

As he punched the console button to close the connection, Seto caught Jou's searching look. "Something wrong?"

"Ah, uhm... No. Just remind me to kill Ai. She is a piece of work." The blond muttered.

Surprisingly, Seto chuckled and agreed. "A lot of my hard work. I've found the integration of some of your traits quite interesting. Ai is developing faster than I considered possible. However, two points, first Ai is not alive and second, Ai has no gender and chooses the audio component of its program randomly."

"Man, Ai is such a chick, it's not funny. She schemes, lies, and manipulates just like a woman."

"Lying is contrary to her programming. Ai is unable to lie."

"Bull shit. She may not tell a direct lie, but she is definitely able to tell an indirect lie. More evidence she is a chick."

"Think what you will. As advanced as my programming is, it is not quite up to assigning itself a gender role or even complex manipulations. The program might be able to manipulate a small child, but certainly not an adult with reasoning skills."

"Uh... yeah, whatever you say." Jou knew better, but he wasn't going to argue with the genius. Let Seto find out the hard way about the woman controlling him. "Eh... Kaiba... Thanks for this. For bringing me, for coming with me. I... I know it should be Mai, but I just can't deal with this and her."

"You looked okay with her at the office - Sweetheart." Seto couldn't hold back that comment, didn't try to. Katsuya was sending out mixed signals. True they weren't in his direction, but he'd caught them anyway.

"Sweet... Oh!" The blond man laughed and shook his head. "Man Kaiba, the green in your eyes is effecting your brain. Look, Mokuba is all grown up right?" When Seto nodded, Jou continued. "But sometimes, especially when he's upset, don't you find yourself calling him by a nickname? Something you know will soothe him? I've known Mai for a lot of years, calmed her down for almost as many. I always call her sweetheart when she gets like that. It's a habit, and it helps the situation."

"Does she get like that often?" Seto ignored the 'green eyes' comment. What Jou said about the nickname was true though. When Mokuba had called him about Keiko's impending birth, Seto had definitely called his brother 'little brother' and 'Mokie.' The explanation definitely made sense. A hard knot that had settled low in his belly when Mai had thrown herself into Jou's arms loosened, spreading a warm relief.

"I haven't seen her since she came to your apartment that time. I'm sure Ai told you, probably showed you the recording."

"Yes. I was surprised by... I thought you would cave, and I'd have to burn the bed. Physically she is..."

"Diving back into that hornet's nest isn't worth it. Getting laid isn't that important to me, and she is not my preference these days. You, of all people, should know my gate swings both ways. Hell, I would have done just about anything to get into your pants back in the day."   Jou shrugged lightly. "Until I figured out you were totally gone on Yugi, I even thought I might be in love with you. Pissed me off and hurt like hell, especially when I figured out you were using me like some kind of sexual stress relief and surrogate for Yugi."

"Ancient history. What's important is now. Unless you're saying you want to be with me, if you are, I'd have to say I don't share."

"Nah, not saying that. I'm good with Tatsu. I don't share either and with you I'd have to share with Yugi. Wouldn't do it then and won't do it now." Jou shrugged slightly. "Seven days 'til the next full moon. I'm going to be there but do I have to do the purification thing? I didn't last time."

"I think it's only me, because I form the portal." Seto frowned slightly. "You do know you are there to speak to Yugi, not help me? I don't need or want your help."

"I know what our agreement was. Don't worry about it. I'm not going to stick my nose, or my Ka, in where it's not wanted." He didn't mention that his agreement with Ai superseded their agreement. What Kaiba didn't know couldn't get Jou killed. That was Jou's philosophy, and he was sticking to it.

A small curve, strangely bitter, touched Seto's lips before he nodded. "I knew I had no reason to worry. If you were truly concerned you would have showed up last month, wouldn't you?"

"Hey you made it clear you didn't want to ever see me again. I've been kicked enough that I don't go out of my way to get the boot. You know where I am if you want help. You also know I'll help you if you ever ask."

"Never happen." Seto gave him a hard look. "Our eyes... You've noticed?"

"Yeah. If I hadn't noticed, the comments would tip me off. What do you think?"

"I think we need more information. Since you are going to talk to Yugi, try to find out what's going on with our eyes and..." Seto hesitated slightly "Our Ka. Last full moon I could swear my Ka was it's normal blue but when it touched the fountain, it turned green, just as it had when it merged with yours. I went out like I normally do, but when I woke it was as if I'd woken from a nap. I wasn't drained and needed almost no recovery time."

"My eyes get more and more green the closer it gets to the full moon. Yours do too I guess. But right after, my eyes are normal. Yours aren't, are they? They stay green?"

"I always have a little. They are almost full green at the full moon."

"Huh... Gonna have to ask Yugi what it is. If he doesn't know Atemu will."

"Good luck with asking him anything." Seto scoffed.

"Why do you say that? He was always our friend. He started out bad but Yugi changed him." It rankled Jou to have to make a comment like that, knowing that both Yugi and Atemu were not true people, especially Yugi. The pharaoh should have put a stop to this, not allowing someone to put himself at risk. For the moment, the blond was having to keep his comments at a level where Seto wouldn’t chase him off in regards to what Jou had promised Ai he would do.

"A leopard can't change it's spots. Yugi domesticated him for a while, but he's reverted to his true nature. He won't help you. He hates me and takes great pleasure in controlling and punishing me." Seto's voice was flat, as if they were talking about cracks in the sidewalk.

"Why? 'Cause you were Yugi's lover?" Jou couldn't see Atemu being that petty, but it was possible. This whole situation was abnormal, to say the least.

"No. He couldn't care less. He hates me because I wear Seth's face, but I don't hold Seth's Ka." A flare of satisfaction lit Seto's eyes, turning them completely blue for an instant. "He holds Seth's Ba, but he wants Seth's Ka. It is apparently very special. I don't know why but I've caught some references to it."

"So where is Seth's Ka if it's not you?" Curiosity may have killed the cat, but Jou wasn't worried about it. He was a mutt after all.

"I don't know and if I did, I wouldn't tell you. You would tell Yugi, and I know Atemu and Yugi would try to find a way to call it to them. I don't know what Atemu wants with it, but I'm sure I don't want to find out."

There was the opening Jou needed. He didn’t want Seto thinking that he thought that was the real Yugi when it couldn’t be. Since Seto had opened up that line of discussion, he could share his ideas on it but would have to be careful.

"You don't have to worry about that. I don't know what or who that... that thing is wearing Yugi's face, but it ain't my best friend. I'd know Yugi, and I don't know that... thing."

"It's Yugi. Death changes everyone. It changed Yugi in very dark ways." Seto was positive of that. He'd seen the changes overtake Yugi and was in no doubt of his identity.

"No way in hell." Jou denied vehemently. "Yugi would never leave you like that or treat anyone like he has with you. He would never try to order me around and override my concern for you. You don't know it, but when you're spread out on that altar you look like a fucking corpse that's been on ice."

Seto gave a rueful grimace. "So you're not going to molest my irresistibly naked body on the altar?"

"Not into cadavers." Jou sniped just to be an ass. Even pale and half frozen Seto's body had looked delicious. Like a wonderful peaches and cream popsicle... just begging to be licked until it melted on his tongue. Not that Jou looked, not at all. Just good peripheral vision is all.

"You could warm me from the inside out." Seto invited outrageously.

"Nah, I get the feeling if I stuck my dick in you while you were in that state, we'd both end up with blue balls. That ain't much fun for either partner." Jou shook his head. "Man, why does it always come back to sex with us? Why can't we have a normal conversation?"

"Because we want to have sex with each other. Only thing stopping us is our brains. If our bodies had their way we would have been in the sack years ago. We should just get naked and get it out of our systems on the drive." Seto delivered that with a completely straight face.

"You are nuts. Certifiably crazy. They say genius and insanity have a very thin dividing line. You've finally crossed it." Jou couldn't believe what he had just heard. Kaiba Seto had just come out and propositioned him. What the hell? Was the sky falling?

"Not yet." Seto quipped lightly before giving a small sigh. "Enough teasing you. Seatbelt the urn in next to you. It's going to be a long drive, and we really do need to talk. You are going to need your hands to hold the pad and pencil you're going to want for note-taking"

"I don't have..." He broke off when Seto opened a small compartment under the console and pulled out two notepads and two pens. "Okay." Jou turned and carefully placed the urn on the seat and pulled a seat belt around it. While he fastened the buckle, the blond felt the weight of Seto's gaze on his back. "You have something to say to me?" Jou demanded aggressively. He knew that his son was dead, his ashes beyond protecting but... but this was all he could do for his son. He'd damn well do it.

"No. I was just admiring your devotion to your child. Even in death, your heart stays true. If you ever give it to someone, that person will be the luckiest ever born." For once Seto's deep voice was void of any coldness, sarcasm, or mockery. Instead it was filled with a soft warmth and a tinge of yearning.

It was that wistfulness that caught at Jou. Slowly he turned his head to meet Seto's blue-green gaze. "Kaiba..."

Seto broke the shared look to lean forward and push a button on the console. "Ai, have you compiled all the data on the Thomas case?"

"Are you and Katsuya finished flirting? It was very educational on dysfunctional relationships. I believe a lot could be solved if you two would simply have intercourse. You both need non-verbal reassurance at this point." The computer voice sounded absurdly downcast. "But I see the priority is on finding the person who took the photographs, although physical release, indeed orgasm, heightens brain activity." There was a small pause where Ai obviously assessed their mutual choking gasps then she quipped "Or not. With the level of temperature spikes and increased heart rates it may actually be damaging to your health. One of you may pop a vessel. Never mind it would be best when you do have sexual relations you do so with full medical teams standing by. The most convenient time would be at the infirmary before your next physical exam, Seto. Shall I schedule it in?"

Jou, red-faced and close to hyperventilating, choked ."I'm gonna kill her."

Seto, lips twitching slightly, said in response. "You are the one who taught Ai humor. Live with it."

"Live with it?" Jou squeaked. "Are you out of your mind? I'm going to kill her. Find her central processor and just... rip it from the board." Then it hit him. "Me? That's your brain child. You taught her that kind of sadistic humor, not me."

"I disagree. I tried for years to give Ai a matrix for humor. You did it in very short order. Her humor is definitely similar to yours... but with a computer's need for order. It will evolve and change, but the base of it will remain the same."

"Shit, my wicked sarcasm with your cold ass manipulative streak. You're right. Ai's our brain-child. What the hell are we going to do? She'll run us ragged and drive us crazy." The idea that Ai would get worse was too horrifying to contemplate.

Seto shrugged. "You both make me laugh. I don't mind at all. Sometimes when Ai talks, it's like you're talking to me. I've even called Ai by your name a few times."

Jou gawked at him and Ai sighed loudly. "That was a big card to play Seto. I'm proud of you. But now is not the time for that. Remember, you need to have a medical team standing by. Let’s move on to the Thomas case before one of you decides intercourse is worth the risk of aneurysm." The computer effected a slight clearing of her throat. "Pencils at the ready? The Thomas kidnapping made international headlines..."

An hour later. Seto and Jou were comparing notes and discussing possibilities. "I'm not seeing where the police investigators dropped the ball. They canvassed all the shops, got eyewitness reports of the mother and kids getting into their car and driving out of town, then poof, nothing. The reporters interviewed every shop owner in Dazaifu. I'm not seeing any leads they missed and after all these years we'll be lucky if the owners are still there." Jou frowned and shook his head. "I'm not seeing anything."

"Katsuya..." Ai's voice broke into his reverie. "The newspaper clipping sent to you does not say shops, it says shrine. It is the only newspaper to say shrine. Perhaps instead of shops, you should check the local shrines."

"Only one shrine worth a tourist stop." Jou looked over at the urn on the seat next to him. "We're going there." He gave a low groan. "Whoever the asshat is, he wanted to make sure I went to the shrine. That's why he desecrated my son's grave."

"He also wanted to mind fuck you. As sick as it sounds, I think you should be glad that it was the grave he desecrated. I think... I think that he might have used a different marker if your son's urn had not been there."

"Mark... Oh fuck. He might have killed one of you to point the way."

"Yes." Seto nodded "I have no evidence, but it is a logical thing to do... from the perspective of the madman."

Jou let that pass. He had bigger things to worry about than sniping at Kaiba and his sanity. "I'll ask the priest there.. He's been there for decades. He would remember if they stopped, I'm sure. He once told me every person who stops leaves a part of themselves and he never forgets them. He can feel them even in his sleep."

"Lets hope he is telling the truth and not blowing priestly smoke." Seto remarked darkly.

"I believe him." Jou affirmed.

The priest was standing at the entrance to the shrine as if waiting for them. "Jounouchi-san." He greeted, his dark eyes taking in the urn. "Yes, I discovered the abomination this morning. When I called your office, they said you were on your way here. Such a shame, a disgrace. I will place him back at rest and offer a sacrifice of flowers and sacred fire to soothe him."

"Do you know when this happened?" Jou asked tightly.

"The disturbance woke me four nights past. I did not find the source until this morning." The priest held out his arms. "I'll take him now Jounouchi. It is past time for him to rest, and you are making him fretful with your pain." The priest turned away from them. "Please wait outside while I do what I must. I will be back in a few minutes."

"I..." But Jou found himself being towed away by Seto.

Seto didn't speak to him, instead he opened his phone and tapped the star button twice. "Ai, what is Keiko's status?"

"She's currently screaming at the top of her lungs. Aishira is attempting to rock her to sleep."

"Is she feverish?"

"Colic. Aishira didn't burp her properly." Ai came back promptly. "I informed Aishira that Keiko required a minimum of four burps, but Aishira stopped at three."

"I see." Seto pinched the bridge of his nose. "Keep me informed."

"Of course, Seto." Ai sounded slightly offended that he even said it.

Jou shook off Seto's hand and began to wander around the area. After several minutes of pacing the area he growled in frustration. "Eight years, nine months ago a silver Honda four door car may have stopped here. Of course there is no sign, no evidence one way or the other."

"Jounouchi-san, you are talking about the Thomas's correct?" The priest called from the entrance to the shrine. The urn was nowhere in sight.

Jou was startled by that. "Yes, how did you know?"

"How could I forget? It caused such an uproar at the time. I am only sorry that my report to the police did not lead to their being found."

"Report?" Jou, Kaiba and Ai had gone over all reports and nowhere was a priest mentioned.

"Yes. Although I was a little concerned by the officer who came to take my statement. He seemed very young, not at all old enough to be an officer. He did wear the uniform and came promptly when I telephoned so I... I presume..."

"Could you tell us what you told the officer?" Seto asked quietly.

"Of course." The priest gave them a knowing look. "Perhaps the disturbance wasn't only to your son." The man nodded slightly "It was late afternoon and the silver car came and parked just where you were standing, Jounouchi-san. The woman looked slightly strained, as if something was worrying her. Her children were curious but respectful. Their guide stayed in the car."

Jou's head came up sharply. "Guide?"

"Yes, a local man, or I should say a man who had lived here in Dazaifu for some months. His name was Huang. I believe he came from China originally. Sadly, he has not been seen since then. I was told he had a son, but I could not locate him."

"Do you know where he stayed? If anyone would remember him?"

"He had a rental home in Dazaifu, block eighteen, house eleven. Blocks eighteen and twenty were torn down for a new hotel. The only people who knew him even slightly were his neighbors, and they said he was a loner with only one visitor, one time, his son."

Jou nodded, excitement rising in him. Closing his eyes, he imagined the scene. The kids exploring, moving over the landscape like playful shadows. The mother, stressed and silent, watching her children. Behind them, leaning on the silvery car was a man watching them all intently. They were shadowy figures, no detail, no true feeling or personality. Just mental placeholders in Jou's mind.

Frustrated at his inability to feel them, Jou turned slightly, his foot twisting as the gravel beneath him shifted. For a moment, he lost his balance and Seto reached out and caught his flailing hand, steadying him. As soon as their skin touched the mental placeholders gained substance, shadows filling in with expression, sound and life. The mother wasn't by the shrine, she was talking to the guide in low urgent tones. The children were kneeling at one of the statues, talking in respectful whispers as they made an offering, and the guide, for just an instant, lifted his gaze and stared right at where Jounouchi watched... Stared at him with hauntingly familiar eyes.

Before Jou could figure out why the man was familiar, Seto jerked his hand away and the image faded away.

****

Here ends Lost and Found Episode 5. Stay tuned for next weeks Episode, same bat time, same bat channel.
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