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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
- 7
- 8
- 9
Title: Lost And Found – Episode 6 - Ignition

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

Rating: M for Mature just to be safe.

Size:   20 pages and 9537 words.

****

Jou focused on Seto, surprised to see a flicker of pain cross the brunet's features. "I didn't grab that hard did I?"

"Hard? No." Seto was staring at his hand with baffled surprise.

Jou automatically followed his gaze. "What the hell? No way I did that." A dark red handprint, the perfect size and shape of his own hand wrapped around Seto's hand and wrist where Jou had grabbed him in his attempt to keep his balance.

"Obviously you did - or some part of you did." Seto moved his hand away as Jou reached for it. "Don't touch. I agree that your grip didn't burn me, but something did. Despite what you might think, I am not into pain."

"Kaiba..." Jou glared for a second then sighed. "Shit... What the fuck happened?"

"You tell me. What were you doing? Because you changed... I mean your eyes changed. They are back to what they were, a mix of green and gold, but for just an instant they were pure gold, they radiated golden light, bathing your entire body in radiance. When I caught you they flashed silver. It was that silver light that burned me."

"What? Silver? Kaiba I know you aren't high. You..."

"He is not lying, Jounouchi-sama." The priest walked to them and gave a deep bow. "I apologize for interrupting but the silver light that flashed was a divine spark. I have always been aware of your changing light, but as most Ka are visible to me, I simply accepted it, although it is a most unusual color combination now. Most Ka are varying reds, greens, yellows and blues. The more vivid, the healthier, more vibrant. Yours is now bright yellow-gold and is showing striations of an entirely new shade of green. I have never seen either color before. The bright yellow usually tells me you are industrious and in balance with your physical and spiritual sides, but I can't say for certain because it is an unusual color. Normally green is the color of healing and balance. This green is different, not like any I've ever seen and I do not know what to make of it. When we first met, your Ka was a muddy brown shot with grey and black. I feared you would join your son in death. It pleases me that you chose to stay with us."

"Superstition and sentiment doesn't answer the question of what happened." Seto interrupted briskly.

The priest by-passed his comment to offer Seto a reading. "You are a violet with shades of blue. High intellect and spiritual achievement, but I see grey and black. You are involved with darker aspects of spirituality. You need to leave them be and move far away. You are risking the taint of your Ka if you continue the association."

"Huh! He's got you there, Kaiba. Sounds like proof in my book." Jou inserted snippily. Seto didn’t need to be acting all doubtful about magic and superstition considering what he was doing every month to appease the fake Yugi.

The priest gave the doubting brunet a cold, assessing look. "You are loyal and have great intuition. You have attained the feminine or creation aspect of nature. You nurture and protect... and you carry, buried beneath the blackness, a vibrant green that is a match for Jounouchi-sama's." His eyes warmed and softened. "You are obviously closely bonded. You should listen to Jounouchi about the darker aspects before it is too late." He bowed slightly and turned away.

"Nurture and protect? Your family maybe. Yeah, he's really got your number. Hey hold up!" Jou called after the priest. The robed-figure turned back, surprised.

"Yes?"

"You know a lot about Ka and stuff right?"

"Of course, I have studied it since I was small because I was gifted with the ability to see it. Although it is not a name commonly used here, it is one I am familiar with. I spent my youth abroad, studying, trying to understand why I was different. What did you want to know?"

"You talked like there were different levels of Ka or stages? You said Seto has attained a high level. So Ka are not equal?"

"No, like humans, Ka evolve and grow. Their ultimate goal is to advance as far as they can to become extensions of the creator. They have growth phases just as a human does. Unfortunately, like humans, some fall prey to greed and corruption."

"So why would someone want a specific Ka?"

"I am not sure. I will have to think about it.."

Seto was fed up with the superstition. It was getting them nowhere. He interrupted Katsuya's little chat session. "Why should we believe anything you say? There is no proof, just circumstantial and hypothetical suppositions. We..."

"Seto! He knows about..." Jou protested his rudeness and the fact he was being stubbornly blind about something he was doing.

"It's all right, Jounouchi-sama. I can't prove what I know any more than I can fly. I know simply because there is a place inside me that answers my questions. I understand his doubt, and I understand his need for information and a kind of validation. His intellect is very high and demands reasons from the practical, human realm of understanding."

He nodded to Seto. "Unfortunately, I can only use myself as an example. My Ka is violet, which goes hand-in-hand with a gift or task. Using my gift is most likely my task as I've never been drawn to anything else." He paused thoughtfully. "I will ask but do not want to know the answer, for it is between you and him. When you touched, Jounouchi-san, something changed, perhaps something you heard, smelled, or saw. I believe the silver-white was a divine flash, tied to a task of yours, his, or perhaps a combination of both. Think on it. The cleansing ritual for your son will take two weeks, return then for the ceremony." With a bow, the priest walked away. This time Jou didn't call him back.

Seto gave him an inscrutable look and turned back to the waiting limo. "Let's go."

Jou was seated in the limo, the shrine a speck in the distance, when Seto finally broke his stare and looked away. "Well?"

"Uyahm... Well what?" Jou asked, more than a little unnerved and confused by the way Kaiba was looking at him.

That earned him an impatient look. "Did you have a 'Divine Flash'? If so what was it?"

The blond gave him a wary look. "I don't know about that, but he was right something did change." He frowned slightly "Look Kaiba I... You know freaky stuff isn't something I like so... I'm not sure what to tell you." Jou shifted his shoulder slightly in embarrassment.

"I need all the facts to form a hypothesis."

Jou sighed and shrugged. "I'm not magical or mystical. I use all of my powers of observation, conscious and unconscious in a 'visualization technique' to pick up on clues and get a feel for who I'm looking for. I look around and then close my eyes. I try to build a mental picture of what it must have been like at the time, then I put the person in that image, adding in everything I know about them in layers, shifting it around until I find something, anything, that might point me in the right direction. I was building the image of the Thomas family and their guide in my head, but I don't know enough so it was all shadows, no details. When I slipped and we touched, my eyes flew open and I saw them, real as I'm seeing you now. The details were clear, I could even hear the sound of birds. It was as if I were there." He shivered slightly. "The guide... He looked where I was standing. I swear he saw me, that our eyes met." He broke off as he remembered the weird feeling of deja vu. "Kaiba, I think I've seen him before."

Eyes narrow, Seto clarified "So when we touched you got a vision of the missing family and someone you think you might have met before."

"Yeah, that's about it."

A small snort escaped the cynical brunet. "You are under stress. Your mind is probably playing tricks on you."

"If it's a trick explain the burn on your arm, smart ass."

Seto shrugged. "We have some kind of shared energy from the time you messed with my dimensional shift. It probably stems from that, like a short or something, and the energy grounded through us where we touched."

"Oh yeah okay. Whatever you say." Jou openly humored him, his tone slightly mocking. Before Seto could evade, Jou surged across the back of the limo and caught Seto's good hand in his. After a moment he released it, surprised that Seto hadn't yanked it away on principle. "It didn't ground out that time."

"I could have told you that. We have touched as recently as this morning without me getting burned."

"So it was either the location or what I was doing?" Jou considered that.

"Most likely." Seto conceded. "You probably triggered the discharge in some way. You or the environment. Shrines seem to have curious effects on electronics."

"Huh. Never thought of it but now that you mention it, I do have to reset my watch whenever I leave there." Jou frowned. "Okay, I don't want you to get hurt but I want to test it. I'm going to try to build an image of them as they must have been as they drove down this road. I know the car, the license plate number and the occupants. I should be able to build a good image. When I have the image fixed, I'm going to hold out my hand. Kaiba touch my hand okay? We'll see if we can duplicate the 'grounding' you're talking about."

"It won't work. There are a million variables. You can't control energy with just your mind, Jounouchi." Seto sounded very exasperated.

"Really? I'll remind you about that when you create that portal 'kay?" Jou smirked. "Now shut it, I gotta concentrate."

The image was easier this time. Jou layered what he saw at the shrine into what he already knew. The details came faster and he was actually a passenger in the car, riding between the children in the back seat. He could see the tense way the mother held her body, the defensive lines of her jaw and shoulders. She was obviously upset and frightened. The children wore looks of confusion and the beginnings of worry. Once he had a firm image, he held out his hand, and after a slight pause, felt the light touch of Seto's fingers. Immediately the image deepened from a picture to a three dimensional, live action movie around him. They were speeding, the scenery whipping by much faster than it should have been. The girl was whimpering that she had to use the toilet, the boy rolling his eyes at her stupidity in not using the facilities at the shrine. The mother was shaking, terror, not worry, evident in her expression. The driver... The driver had donned sunglasses, covering his familiar eyes. One hand was on the wheel and the other... the other was in his lap, holding a large gun, pointed directly at the mother. Abruptly the car swerved, turning right onto a bush and foliage obscured track. The image broke off abruptly as Seto jerked his hand back.

"Fuck I almost had it, why did you..." Jou broke off when he saw Seto's fingertips, skin cracked and blistered, bleeding freely. "Oh my god, Kaiba why didn't you pull away as soon as it started to burn? Where the hell is the first aid kit?"

Voice tight with pain, Seto directed, "Under the seat next to you. I didn't pull away because this time... this time I paid attention too. What you described earlier, I caught a glimpse of it, but I didn't correlate it. This time I didn't pull away immediately and was able to asses what I saw. We were in the car and the guide had a gun. The car turned." Urgently, he moved his injured hand to press a button only to draw back hissing in pain. "Damn it."

"So much for 'shared energy grounding,'" Jou mumbled. "I know you saw it, same as I did. I could feel you with me, Kaiba. It was as if we were sharing a skin."

"I will find the rational explanation. Right now, I'm distracted." Seto snapped. "Get Ai on the intercom."

"All right, but only if you let me fix you up while she's yammering at us."

"Of course you are going to apply first aid. You caused this." Seto was distinctly testy. He really wasn't into pain.

Ai came on line with a scolding mother tone. "What have you two been up to? Playing with fire? Intercourse is off the table so you have to sublimate your sexual frustration in the most common way, fire? I expected better of both of you. Where is your self control?"

"Ai, we all know you monitored what happened. Do you have to be a perv as well as a nag?" Jou snipped. He popped open a blister pack of surprisingly strong, prescription strength pain killer dissolving tablets, popped a couple in his hand, and held them to Seto's mouth. When the tabs were safely on Seto's tongue, Jou went back to the kit.

"I learned my pervertedness from the best." Her smug tone changed in a heartbeat. "Seto, I'm running exhaustive searches on over five hundred shared processors. I've not confirmed anything remotely related to what you and Jounouchi experienced." She smoothly moved to the next topic. "This shared vision, describe it in detail, specifically the route change. Remember, the police never searched this far out for the missing family. If they detoured and had an accident, or the guide used coercion to force them off the road and into a secluded area it is unlikely they would have been found."

Jou shrugged and bent to the task of putting burn cream and bandaging Seto's hand. "I didn't really notice the scenery. I know the car turned right from this road."

"How can you be sure it was this road?" Ai asked practically.

"I... I don't know. I can't say for certain I guess."

"Yes you can.   Outside the window on the boy's side was a sign that gave the kilometers until town. We passed that exact sign about a quarter of a kilometer ago. The car turned just after it crossed a small, perhaps two meter long, rock-sided bridge after that sign but before the winding section of the road." Seto glowered at Jou. "How can you not notice these details? You are a police officer."

Defensively, the blond growled "Was - past tense - besides I was focusing on the people in the car."

Seto gave him a disparaging look. "Since they are long gone and we are trying to locate them, why bother? Paying attention to location will help us recover their bodies."

"You don't know..."

"Yes I do, and so do you. Their death was in that man's face, in the way he held that gun. You've been around enough killers to know, just as I have. Don't sugar coat it, Jounouchi. Don't give yourself false hopes. This isn't a rescue; it's a recovery."

Eyes grim, Jou finished his first aid and cleaned up the mess. "I know. We don't even know that it was a real... vision or whatever. It could just be some weird ass by-product of our Ka mingling in that fountain."

"You and I both know that isn't true. We both believe what we saw. You believe it was magic. I believe it is probably that we are receptive to energy left behind and somehow we are tapping into their energy."

Jou tried to come up with something that would fit the scenario. After a moment, he nodded. "So what? That new color in our Ka - and our eyes - is like some kind of shared television station and the silver thing is an antenna? When I focus on someone I'm somehow changing the station?"

"Until I have a better theory that will do. Simplistic, but it fits." Seto nodded and cradled his bandaged hands against his chest. "Ai, have you found where the other vehicle turned on satellite yet?"

"The resolution and angles of that time are not conducive to an accurate assessment. The recent imagery does not show any kind of turn at any of the three possible locations." The computer reported in distinctly vexed tones. "Can you give me more information, Seto? Perhaps a large tree? One that would be large in both time periods?"

Seto thought for a moment and shook his head. "There were no large trees near the bridge, no large rocks or any distinctive feature. It was a tangle of brush."

"That narrows it down to two."

"Wait... wait." Jou was thinking hard, trying to remember. "The bridge was wood, not stone. The wood creaked. The stone was just along the sides, like a guard rail. It was like a decorative stone fence almost."

"That narrows it down to one spot. You passed it about half a kilometer back. Do you want me to set the limo's GPS to go back?" Ai's tone was calmly inquiring, as if asking if they wanted sugar with their coffee.

"No. The limo isn't designed for off road travel. We would probably get stuck." Seto’s voice was slow, but decisive. "We will take the Hummer up tomorrow. It will be dark when when we get back to Domino and whatever is there will wait one more night. Ai, make sure the Hummer is serviced and ready for six in the morning."

"Yes, Kaiba-san. I will have our most skilled off-road driver ready as well. Katsuya, you should call Miyahara-san and inquire if he will be joining our party or bringing the police."

Jou scratched his head at that, amazed he hadn't thought to call Tatsu. "Uh, it's too soon for the cops right now. No proof and besides, people with 'visions' get laughed at by the officials. When we find solid evidence, we will involve Tatsu and the police."

"Smart answer - for you." Seto quipped. "Not everyone subscribes to supernatural theory and he might think you're some kind of crackpot and dump you."

"Do you have to be an ass?" Jou mumbled.

Ai drowned out Seto's response, if there was one. "Your logic is sound. Will you tell your boyfriend about this new bond you share with Seto?" The computer didn't wait for his answer. "I would not recommend it if you want to pursue the relationship. He is already jealous and insecure."

"Well you didn't help that any." Jou growled. "What the hell are you trying to do by implying stuff like that? Do you want us to break up?"

"My primary mission is to see to the wellbeing of the Kaiba family. I have run all variables and scenarios available and have reached the logical conclusion that you are best for Kaiba Seto as a life partner, and you are best for Kaiba Keiko as a secondary father figure. Your role as brother to Kaiba Mokuba cannot be discounted as small either. If you are in a relationship with anyone else, it hinders my overall plan for supplying the Kaiba family what is best for them to thrive." Ai explained calmly, as if giving instructions to a gas station.

"Well shit." Jou gave Seto a stunned look. "Aren't you going to say anything? Tell her to back the hell off? Anything?"

"No." The genius gave him an inscrutable look before closing his eyes and settled back back into the seat, sprawling out comfortably. "Ai, setup a command center in my home office. Research the rental of the guide's apartment, name is Huang. Find him if you can. If not, find everything you can about him. Do it and update us after dinner. Be quiet now, both of you. The painkillers you forced on me are taking effect and I need sleep."

"Forced! You ass..." Jou started to protest only to sigh. He reached into the compartment under the seat next to where the first aid kit and pulled out the blanket he'd seen earlier. Carefully, he unfolded it over Kaiba, tucking it around the long frame. Kaiba's eyes didn't open, but his lips curved in a small smile. Katsuya took that as a thank you as he sank back into his seat and let the smooth ride of the limo rock him into a light doze.

Jou’s cell phone woke him just as they reached the edges of Domino. Without looking at the display, he hit the button and mumbled, “Yeah?”

There was a pause, then Tatsu questioned. “Katsuya?”

“Oh yeah. Hey, yeah. Tatsu. What’s up?” Jou asked around a yawn.

"Obviously not you. You were sleeping?" That made the blond sit up straighter. It sounded like Tatsu was accusing him of something other than a harmless nap.

"Took a nap on the ride back. We're almost to town. What's up?" From the corner of his eye, he could see Seto stirring.

"I've been in meetings all day. I just got out. They aren't convinced there is any real danger and believe it's just some crackpot. The only reason they took any kind of interest is because of Kaiba and his daughter." Tatsu sounded disgusted. "I see their point but at the same time, should they even be taking the risk? I took unpaid administrative leave for a week. By then we should have proof one way or the other. Did... Was Kaiba serious about staying with him?"

"He doesn't joke about stuff like that. Since you're on leave, you don't have a car. We'll swing by and pick you up. Where are you?" Jou gave the wide awake and obviously eavesdropping Seto a questioning look. The brunet gave a short nod.

"I'm at my apartment packing. You want me to go by yours and grab a few things?" Tatsu offered.

"Uh, my place and pick up a few things?" Jou repeated.

Seto was shaking his head as he pointed up with his bandaged finger and mouthed. "Ai."

"Nah, thanks anyway. Ai took care of that for me. I'm kinda surprised she didn't handle it for you too." Jou gave Seto a look that asked that very question. Seto didn't answer, just sat back with a half-smile.

Tatsu snorted. "Kaiba's assistant doesn't like me and is every bit as conniving as your ex and Kaiba put together. I wouldn't be surprised if she wanted me to get 'lost' or even shot. It's obvious she thinks you and Kaiba should be couple."

"She was teasing you and has a weird sense of humor. She wouldn't put you in danger and if Kaiba said you stay at the penthouse, you stay at the penthouse. I'll talk to her about it." Jou sighed and shifted his shoulders uncomfortably. "We should be there in..." A quick glance out the window gave him their general location "...half an hour."

"Did everything go all right?" The question seemed forced and stilted.

"The priest is performing a cleansing ritual. It will take a few weeks then I'll have go back to lay him to rest again," Jou explained.

There was an awkward silence then Jou asked, "How about you. Your wife and kid okay? It's going to be rough with you not able to be there.   I hope you didn't have to cancel too many plans with your kid." He cleared his throat. "Boy or girl? How old? Name?"

"Keiji is ten, almost eleven. He and I didn't have any plans. I haven't seen him in a while. I always drop off the child support while he is at school. He is a top student and has won several awards." Tatsu's voice was strained, with a hint of anger, as if it was a subject that he didn't want Jou to ask about.

Jou took the hint but made a mental note to clear up the impression that Tatsu wasn't involved with his own child. That couldn't be right though. Tatsu was warm hearted and caring. There was no way his boyfriend would ever blow off his own kid, was there?

He shelved the question for another day. His plate was already overflowing, and he was definitely not going to open that can of worms. Besides, Tatsu would probably tell him about Keiji without questions. Dads loved to brag on their sons, and Tatsu was probably just waiting for the right moment. His boyfriend probably thought the topic was sensitive given Jou's history with children.

"Sounds like a good kid." There was no answer, not even a hum of agreement. For some reason he couldn't name, Tatsu's cold silence was making him uncomfortable and vaguely defensive. It felt like he was making excuses for the other man.   "I have to go now, Tatsu. Ai will have more information for us about the Thomas family and an analysis of the newspapers and photographs. We'll go over them during dinner. I'll see you in a few minutes." He hung up before his boyfriend could say another word.

"But I..." Tatsu pushed the end button and lowered the phone. Jou had sounded odd, rushed, like there was something bothering him. Shrugging the paranoid thought aside, Tatsu started packing.

In the limo, Seto regarded Jou thoughtfully. "I can almost hear your thoughts right now. You're upset with him and trying to deny the logic of what you know and heard, trying to find something to mitigate it. Do you want me to help clarify your thoughts or do you want to wallow in self-deception for a while longer."

For the first time in a long time, Jou's fists clenched and he had to restrain himself from punching Kaiba's smug face. "You don't know anything, neither do I, so there's nothing for you to 'help' me with."

"I know the address where the picture was taken. It is on the same poverty level you grew up in. In fact it is only a few blocks from your old home. I know the address where your boyfriend lives. Upscale, more than a cop can afford, but then Miyahara Tatsu isn't just a cop, he's from an old money family. Not in my league, of course, but very comfortable. His child should not know that slums exist, yet the child lives in one." Seto pointed out coldly.

"That could be the mom's doing. We don't know anything."

"If you had the means to provide better for your child, you would. You would live in the slum, and your child would live in the comfortable neighborhood. You've already proven that, haven't you? You gave your ex everything while you lived like an animal in a cage."

"Shut up. I don't... I won't listen to this any more. I'm sure there is a good reason for..."

"For his child to live in a slum while he lives large? For him to not even mention the child to his significant other? Can you think of a single reason? I can't. I introduced you to Keiko at the first opportunity. I'll probably bore you into a coma with stories of her. When he mentioned the child, you were surprised. You didn't know. I'd bet you didn't know about the ex-wife either. What do you really know about him? Isn't that what's flying through your brain right now? What do you know about Miyahara Tatsu?"

"I said shut up. That's not any of your business, Kaiba. My relationships don't concern you! If Tatsu and I are going to make it work I have to trust him. I'm going to work on that trust! Now just leave it alone." He stopped his rant and sighed.

"It concerns me Katsuya because... because I...." Seto said quietly.

"Stop right there. I don't want to hear the rest of that. You don't want to say it. Not now, not to me." Jou took a ragged breath, trying to stop the pain in his chest. "I know you care and I know we have history but it can't be you to... I owe it to Tatsu to listen to him. If... If there is a problem it has to be between me and Tatsu. Don't you get it? If you are part of the problem, I'm cheating all of us. It can't be you." Jou lowered his head and stared at his clenched fists. Slowly, he relaxed them. "It can't be you."

For several minutes there was dead silence in the limo, then surprisingly, Seto chuckled. "Have I ever mentioned sometimes I hate that you've grown a brain?"

"Have I ever mentioned that I hate you've developed a second brain? Ai is as big a pain in the ass as you are." Jou shot back.

"Your humor, not mine." Seto sighed and shook his head. "May I ask a favor?"

"Sure, you can ask."

"But you reserve the right to say no?"

"Of course. What favor, Kaiba?"

"While you guys are staying at the apartment try to keep the displays of affection at a minimum. Don't sleep with him under my roof." Seto didn't elaborate on why, but then Jou already knew.

"We aren't all that affectionate. Only kissed a few times so there will be no sleeping together. That kind of thing is a long way off. I'm still getting my head around the idea of sex with a guy."

"You had no problem with the idea with me. Didn't you say you wanted sex with me?"

"Yeah, but you're different. I... Well you just are. I'm still learning how to be comfortable with a guy like that. Tatsu doesn't make me want to jump him, but I enjoy his kisses. I think I could learn to want to jump him."

"I won't state the obvious, but I will say you're not being very careful of either of your feelings. I don't know a lot about relationships, but from personal experience I can say unrequited loves sucks, but pity or convenience isn't.... it sucks a million times more." The car slowed, then stopped. "Here we are. You go help your boyfriend. I'm going to call and check on Keiko."

Seto was still on the phone when Jou and Tatsu joined him. Tatsu gave him a polite nod before turning to Jou and deliberately leaning forward to give the blond a light kiss of greeting. "I missed you today."

Jou, a light blush on his cheeks, smiled slightly and eased back. "Ah, no PDA Tatsu. You just missed me losing my temper at your meetings."

"True, you always livened them up." He tilted his head slightly. "That wasn't PDA, that was me saying hello to my boyfriend in the privacy of a limo."

"Kaiba is right there; so yeah, any audience is PDA. I... you know I'm still figuring this out. It makes me uncomfortable. Besides I really didn't like that kind of stuff when I was with Mai either. I usually stuck to holding hands if other people were around."

"So I can hold your hand?" Tatsu deliberately misinterpreted what his boyfriend was saying. While he'd packed, he'd decided he was tired of Jou riding the fence. He was coming off that fence as soon as Tatsu could push him over.

Jou actually blushed harder and tucked his hands behind his back. "C'mon Tatsu, quit fooling around. Why are you being so pushy? You said we could go slow."

"I just want to touch you openly, not when we're alone at your office or my apartment. Is that so wrong? You are my boyfriend."

"Tatsu..." Jou honestly didn't know what had gotten into the normally reserved man. "I think..."

"Forget it." Tatsu snapped. "We'll talk later when we don't have an audience. Maybe then you could greet me like you should. If you 'feel comfortable' with that."

"Tatsu, you..."

Seto coughed slightly. "Miyahara-san, you are being unfair to Katsuya. I asked him to limit his PDA around me because it hurts. The only lover I've ever had left me some time ago and seeing affection between people who care for each other stirs that pain. Katsuya is a good friend and doesn't like to remind me of my loss. Please don't be angry at him because of me. It isn't right that my presence should cause a problem for either of you."

"Your only lover?" Tatsu gave him a cold look. "Are you sure it's not seeing Katsuya with someone else that has you in pain?"

"My lover's name is Moutou Yugi. You may remember him as he was quite famous. He is Katsuya's best friend, and Katsuya feels a strong tie to me because of that bond. You know that Katsuya is very loyal to his friends. As much as I like to tease, that is all there is to it for him. Katsuya and I have never been intimate, never even kissed. Be at ease, I will not interfere with your relationship." Seto met Tatsu's suspicious glare with a direct look. Try as he might, the police captain could not detect any deception in the blue-green eyes.

"Tatsu, there was no need for Seto to tell you that. He was trying to help me out. Please stop acting like so..." Distress creased Jou's face into a worried frown.

"I owe you both apologies." Tatsu interrupted. "I'm sorry for behaving so badly. Kaiba-san, I would like to be your friend if you will allow it. By exposing something so personal to me because Katsuya is your friend and you want to save him upset... That kind of loyalty and selflessness is rare. Please forgive me my rudeness. I will... refrain from PDA." Dark eyes filled with remorse turned to Katsuya. "I'm sorry, Katsuya. You did explain he was a friend, but I keep imagining things that are not there. Perhaps if we... but that is for another time. Please forgive me? Both of you?"

Jou stared at his boyfriend for a moment. Then he relaxed and gave a small nod. "I get it. We won't talk about it again." Inside, he was a mass of emotions he couldn't name. If taken at face value Seto's words were completely out of character, but Jou knew that what the genius billionaire said rarely could be taken at face value. The ex-rival and victim of Seto's clever strategies couldn't help but feel that Seto had just played Tatsu like a violin, although how or why was completely beyond Jou at the moment. "Tell me about your meetings. Don't leave anything out. You know how the self-important asses always make me laugh. I need a laugh after today."

Tatsu gave him a relieved smile and the rest of the ride to Kaiba's penthouse was spent laughing at the admittedly hilarious, completely accurate, impersonations of some of the most pompous windbags Jou had ever met.

The lighthearted conversation continued through dinner. After a happy reunion with a beaming Wataru, where the chef promised the best cheeseburger pizza and chocolate cake ever, Jou was shocked to find Seto joining in on the banter, adding his own very good impersonations of several pompous windbags he'd done business with over the years.

The laughter and conversation lasted right up until Jou laid his fork down on his empty cake plate. As if the tiny clink of metal on china was a signal, their laughter stopped and Jou lifted his gaze to meet Seto's blue-green gaze. In a move that was eerily like a mirror image, then nodded to each other once, their chairs scraping in perfect sync as they stood up. "Let’s get to work."

They spoke as one voice, or so it seemed to Tatsu, who was still laughing from Kaiba's last quip. "Uh, yeah." The policeman in him assessed the way they moved, shoulders squared and heads held high, in perfect step. It was obvious they had worked together in the past. Tatsu thought he and Jou worked well together, had a well-developed routine that was smooth and had an easy rhythm. The way they acted, first in leaving the dining room, then in what was obviously Kaiba's home office, was beyond the working partnership he and Katsuya had established. Seto and Katsuya seemed to communicate without words. Kaiba moved around the room turning on various pieces of equipment. Katsuya moved counter to that turning on other pieces of equipment, laying out sheets of paper, and even ordering a cart of coffee and tea.

"Uh, I seem to be the only person here not contributing. What can I do?" To his embarrassment, they gave him a shared look that seemed to say they had forgotten his presence.

"Oh, Tatsu, just sit down while everything comes on line. Seto and I have it. Ai arranged for extra computers, a couple large screen monitors, a satellite link, and I don't know what the rest of this stuff is. Seto will explain." He pointed to a something that looked like an old desktop computer, but it had eight CD drives. "That is a CD tower, and why we would need it is beyond me."

Ai's inimitable voice interrupted him. "Because all the rental records, including identification and credit reports from the buildings rented by Bridge-Lite the year prior through the year after the kidnapping were scanned onto disks. Bridge-Lite owned the property the guide rented. Kaiba Corporation acquired Bridge-Lite four years ago. Their records were stored but not updated. There is no database or indexing for ease of searching. Each file is being searched as we speak using an OCR software. In approximately eight minutes, I will have found all possible matches for Huang."

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Tatsu interrupted.

"There was a witness who saw the Thomas family travelling with a local guide named Huang. Somehow the local police mislaid that report; however, we were able to find the witness. Huang disappeared the same day the Thomas family did." Ai explained smoothly. "The witness knew Huang's address but was unable to locate his family."

"What? Why didn't you call me? Call in to the station. I could have had resources on this while you were travelling back."

"No point. The records were en route to this penthouse from the storage facility. I flew them in specifically. They arrived while you were eating." The computer hesitated a moment, then continued, smug superiority oozing from her tone. "Your equipment and manpower is no more than a billionth, literally, to what I have at my command. I have already narrowed the search from over five thousand records to less than ten. Of course, it will have to be Katsuya who makes the final determination."

"What? Why?" Tatsu snapped, feeling completely left out and not liking it one bit. All the warmth from the earlier camaraderie faded away.

"Because he spoke to the witness and got the description." If someone didn't know Ai was a computer they would be seriously pissed at her condescension. As it was Jou had his normal reaction of wanting to laugh at the pretensions of the computer and find her processor and rip it out. He was completely frustrated at not having a target. Then Seto gave him one.

"Only a billionth? What systems are offline, and why?" He asked crisply.

"The links between the primary system and Kaibaland North America are down for upgrade. They will be back online in about twelve minutes. The routing tables are updating now."

"God damn it Kaiba!" Jou exploded. "Don't encourage her. You can hear how rude she's being, tell her to cut it the hell out."

Ai chuckled. "You know what my primary mission is. Do you think he will interfere with what he wants most?" There was a tsking sound. "You don't know him well at all. Send Miyahara to the main room to watch television. I'll even program his favorite porn channel. He's not needed."

Tatsu stared at the computer speakers in a mix of shock and outrage. "I am the youngest captain in the history of the police department. My record is spotless. I am a top investigator."

"You are mediocre at best. Your record was barely average, and you were a temporary fill-in when your captain retired until Katsuya joined your team. You have risen on the successes of Katsuya, not your own talents. As I said, you are not needed. Go watch porn as you do most nights."

"You've dared to..." Tatsu exploded almost incoherently.

"You are staying in the home of Kaiba. I dare anything to keep them safe." She rammed back and shut him down with a fierce snarl.

"That's enough! Both of you!" Jou wanted to rip out his hair. This was maddening. They would never get any work done if Ai kept trying to get rid of one third of their team. Frenzied, Jou tried to think of a way to control the computer. Ai was dogged and very focused. Of course, she was Jou realized. She was a computer who had one goal and that goal was him and Seto together. Jou had lost sight of that... even while he knew it he forgot what it meant. "Ai, if you don't cut it out right now, Tatsu and I will go to his apartment and work alone. I'll stay with Tatsu and simply call you to give updates. Kaiba can go into lockdown with Keiko."

There was a long pause and Jou would bet somewhere a processor was overheating, probably smoking from the stress he'd just given the computer. Then, grudgingly the AI spoke. "My apologies Miyahara-san. Please forgive my behavior. My priorities, the Kaiba family, overshadow everything else and I was too aggressive in my pursuit of what I believe best for them." Ai didn't wait for him to accept or reject her apology. "Your department has one hundred thirty seven computers, of which perhaps two, are able to be devoted to this particular case. Their average processor speed and system resources are limited. Kaiba Corporation has over thirty thousand computers worldwide, plus two hundred mainframes, and thousands of servers. Our hardware is fiber optic, moving at the speed of light while your systems are still made of copper and silicon. The hardware is designed and patented to Kaiba Seto and used exclusively at Kaiba Corp, and were designed originally for use in the Solid Realism systems. We use a shared resource system that allows for processor and resource sharing that is literally over one billion times faster than what the two computers your department can allocate."

Tatsu was completely stunned by the information overload, his anger warring with his amazement. He decided to let it go for the sake of the team. Besides, he had a few questions. "You use proprietary hardware? FO processors?" He considered himself something of a nerd. He could build his own systems from parts bought off the internet, but he'd never heard of anything like what Ai had just described. He'd heard rumors of an FO processor, but it was supposed to be a myth or some kind of U.S. Government secret.

"It isn't quite exclusive." Seto grimaced. "A few governments required 'demo' pieces to approve patents. Somehow those governments manage to continue to 'test' the demo pieces on 'new' systems." The genius gave a sharp, frustrated huff. "Ai, bring up what you have so far on the large central screen. Katsuya, get over here and stop messing with that computer case. You can't open it without a special key and if you try, you will cause the self-destruct to go off. It will fry everything inside it and fill the apartment with smoke."

Jou looked up from where he was poking at the KC branded computer case. "Huh? I just wanted to see what's so special."

"I'll show you another time. Right now, look at the screen and find Huang." Seto ordered impatiently, as if speaking to a stubborn child.

"Well damn, I'll hold you to that." Jou frowned at him but moved obediently to stand in front of the huge LED monitor. It didn't take long, less than ten seconds. "The fourth one. Definitely him."

"Huang Zongxi." Seto read the application and subsequent information. "Obviously a fake name. Hopefully. the information and references will turn out to be more helpful."

"Fake name? How do you know that Kaiba?" Jou and Tatsu shared a look before turning to the brunet.

"Huang Zongxi is the name of a Chinese naturalist, political theorist, philosopher, and soldier during the latter part of the Ming dynasty. He died in sixteen ninety-five." Seto elaborated, frowning at the scanned information. "He even lists his occupation as a teacher of philosophy and political theory. Hmmm... according to this his references at the school checked out, as well as his previous address references. Ai, check the names and numbers and..."

"The numbers are accurate for the names given in that time frame. Two have changed, but I have the updated numbers."

"Do you have the addresses as well?" It was a rhetorical question. Of course she did. Ever since Jounouchi had added the 'anticipate most logical' sequence to the program's adaptive learning sequence, Ai had begun to read and anticipate future requests with amazing accuracy. Seto was quite proud of her.

"Of course, Kaiba-san. Do you want me to dispatch a team to interrogate them?"

"Stop, wait." Tatsu stepped forward. "No interrogation. We'll send officers, nice, polite, officers to ask questions about Huang Zongxi."

"Seto?" Ai asked her master. She might have to be polite to Miyahara Tatsu to keep Katsuya with Seto, but she didn't have to listen to the annoying hindrance.

"We have other things to do tomorrow. Let them try. If they fail we will use other methods." To Tatsu that sounded ominous, but a glance at Jou showed the blond studying the scanned documents, completely unconcerned.

"Hey Ai, this guy paid his deposit by check. The bank isn't one I'm familiar with, but can you get the information on the account and maybe any other checks written? He had a kid so he had to pay school fees or something. If we can find that we can find the kid, or someone who knows what happened to the kid."

"What is the name of the bank and account number?"

"I can't read Chinese. Seto..."

"You really are illiterate." The billionaire sounded very put out, but he crossed to stand at Jou's side. "Xiamin International Bank. Routing number six, three, two, eight, one, seven, two.   Account number A, one, six, five, two, nine dash six, three, nine one."

"Accessing data." Ai informed them briskly.

"What? Wait! You can't just access that kind of information. You have to get warrants and permission and... Hacking bank systems is illegal."

"No, I do not need official permission. I am not a bureaucrat. Xiamin is a bank that is known for its service. We have business dealings with Xiamin, and I am simply verifying information on a document in my company archive. Ai is sending requests through their system. We are not 'hacking'. We are verifying what information we have and asking for more."

"The account is still open, Kaiba-sama. It is a joint account between Huang Zongxi and another person, Huang Tangshi. The history of the account will be available in a few moments."

"How... what did you do to get through so quickly if not hacking?"

Seto smirked and shook his head at the man's naivete. "I am Kaiba Seto, one of the richest men on earth. Banks will do anything to get and keep my business. This is a harmless request for information regarding a missing tenant. I seem altruistic in this simple endeavor, and they have no reason to keep this information from me."

Irritated by the smugness in Seto's tone, Jou smacked him on the back of the brunet head. "Idiot, you don't talk that way. You sound like a conceited ass."

Rubbing his head, Seto glared at the blond. "It's true."

"So? You still don't have to say it like that. This is exactly why I could never tolerate you in school. You are such a conceited jerk at times. It isn't always about money you know." With a huff, he turned and stomped across the room to flop down on a chair.

"In my world, it is about money and how to use or be used. You know that, Katsuya." Seto rebuked mildly.

The very mildness agitated Jou. "That isn't what we - me, you, Yugi, the gang - were all about and you know it."

"In the end, being used is exactly what it's about. Even today." Seto waved his hands. "Being used was my role to play." There was no anger, only acceptance.

"Oh shut the hell up. It won't happen again." Jou wanted to choke the guy and his computer and if this kept up, he probably would. The psycho stalking them would just have to get in line to kill Kaiba.

"If you say so, Katsuya." But there was no belief in his words, just more acceptance.

"I say so." Seeing Tatsu's dark eyes darting between them in confusion, Jou growled and pushed himself out of the chair he'd just sat in. "I'm going to bed. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Tatsu, Seto and I have to go on a road trip. You could actually go - as a nice, polite police officer - and interview the people listed as references. Don't waste the manpower of the police department." Without waiting for anyone to agree or disagree, Jou stomped from the room. He couldn't exactly say why he was furious, but he was sure it had something to do with Seto comparing him to everyone else in his world, implying Jou used him.

Jou wouldn't knowingly use him, and Seto knew it. Hell, Seto offered participate in the experiment... Oh damn it... Did he offer? Or did Jou just assume? Fuck, he didn't remember and that pissed him off more. Throwing himself on the bed, he closed his eyes and forced his mind to shut down. He was too angry to think and he didn't feel like putting up with himself.

There was a heavy silence in the room, then Tatsu gave Seto a questioning look. "Do I want to know what happened to your hands?"

"Hell yes, you're dying of curiosity and you hate that there are secrets that he and I share. Too bad for you that he is a loyal friend before he is a would-be boyfriend. I'm not going to tell you because it's none of your business, and I like driving you crazy. Your eyes shine with your jealousy and amuse me." Seto gave him a cool smirk. "He's mad because he knows I'm right, and he's angrier still because he knows he'll use me in the future." A bitter twist curled the corner of Seto's lips. "And he hates it because he is the only person I've ever met who has never used me. He hates that he believes he's become like everyone else to me."

"Glad to be of some value, even if it's just to entertain you, Kaiba-sama." Tatsu quipped sarcastically. Then he observed softly, "You know him well. You will let him use you though." Tatsu was watching him with sharp, wary eyes despite his gentle tone.

"I get so little true entertainment, you are like a breath of fresh air. Yes, I know him like I know my own soul. He can use me anytime he needs to, I don't mind when he does it. Despite what he thinks, he's not like everyone else because he will fight it, but it is a useless fight.   I came to the realization long ago that I was created to be used. He doesn't want to use me, but he will... What he doesn't realize yet is that he is one of the few people I will enjoy being used by." Seto's smile widened, white teeth glinting dangerously. He waited for realization to sink in, and when Tatsu's eyes widened and frightened realization filled them he murmured. "Good night."

Tatsu opened his mouth to say something but found no words. With a short nod, the captain turned and fled. He couldn't stop thinking that Kaiba's smile was not so much a smile as an animalistic baring of teeth, warning and that he'd better watch his neck because Kaiba might just go for the throat.

Seto watched the door close behind him. "Ai, make sure Jou's door is locked. He will try to go to him tonight. I can't control what they do when they are not here, but I don't..."

"I locked Katsuya's door the moment it closed. Currently, Katsuya is forcing himself to shut down. His temperature is dropping and respirations and heart rate are slowing. He will be out in just a few minutes."

"This new development. You deliberately misdirected Jounouchi. I'm proud of you. Energy transference and shared visions are not new. You said you haven't confirmed any information, but you have found something. There is no real way to 'confirm' this kind of thing. Tell me."

The computer explained what she had found concisely. "There are a number of fictional stories and a few religious tomes that reference shared dreams and visions. Twins have had many instances as well. There are also thousands of reports of family members, children and parents who have shared visions. There are surprisingly few stories of unrelated people having shared visions of this type. Major catastrophes yes, but not this type of isolated, small incident."

"What is the bottom line connection? I know there is one. You wouldn't waste my time going the long way around this. Jounouchi and I are not related, twins, siblings or anything else."

"There are incidences where long-time spouses, lovers and partners share visions Seto. I know you had already guessed it so I believe you just wanted to hear that. You needed validation for some reason."

"I... It is hard sometimes. He is with Tatsu; yet he acknowledges there is - should be - an us. He sees Yugi as a barrier and will not budge on it. We are at an impasse."

"So he moves on, and you stay stuck. How unlike you."

"Is it? Is it really?" Seto's voice was tired. "I can't abandon Yugi, I can't break my promise. As long as I'm bound by my promise, I can't have Katsuya."

"Did you ever consider asking Katsuya for help?"

"As he so wisely said to me today. It can't be him... It can't be."

Ai kept her own counsel about that. If Katsuya believed that Seto was helping the 'real' Yugi that might apply, but since Katsuya didn't believe that, it definitely could be Katsuya... In fact Ai was going to see to it.

***
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