Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Insider Trading ❯ Freedom, Pt 2 ( Chapter 5 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Insider Trading chapter 3 part 2

Seto led Joey into the library instead of the entry way. Joey gave him a look and Seto explained
that there was an elevator there that led to his office only, from there they would go to the
executive dinning room.

Joey examined Seto's office on the way through and decided that he'd never seen anything so
ostentatious, or expensive.

It was all hard wood paneling and expensive, antique furniture. The wallpaper that covered the
walls above the chair railing was silk and the books were first editions.

Joey shook his head, he bet Seto hadn't read half of them. Seto called him and he hurried after.

Their path to the lunchroom was unencumbered as it was a private hallway. Seto admitted that
there was a private hallway to most of the areas that he used regularly as he hated being waylaid
by someone wanting something that he wasn't going to grant. It was a time waster and annoying.

Joey just snorted. He was hungry and the fewer people between him and lunch the better.

"What will we have? Is it buffet?"

Seto shook his head and announced flatly. "We'll be able to order anything we want, or heads
will roll. And I mean it."

Joey just licked his lips in anticipation of something decent to eat, for the first time in a very,
very long time.

"Great. I want prawns. I haven't had any since ... Yodo's restaurant."

"Yodo's? That's not even a name. I seem to remember it. Went out of business." Seto glanced at
Joey for conformation of his information.

"It did. Boss couldn't keep control of his kitchen and the staff was all a bunch of rejects. The guy
lost his shirt. But the food was really good. Too bad."

Seto led the way into the dinning room remarking as he went, "And that's what happens when
you lose control of your staff. I know people think I'm an asshole, and I admit that I can be. But
there's too much riding on me. If I mess up, hundreds or thousands of people could lose their
jobs, their homes, cars, everything. And I'd be responsible. So, I get pissy. I get in people's faces.
Tough on them. Now, let's see what's on the menu."

Joey followed Seto to a table but not just any table. This table was in a small alcove which was
decorated with a scroll in a niche, a small bowl of flowers beneath it. There was seating for three
with plenty of room to pull the chairs back from the table. Which meant that there was room for
the servers to move around it easily.

Joey admired the decor and the furniture, comfortable private dining room style, instead of the
restaurant style which he'd expected.

He was offered a menu by a silent footed waiter, who nearly got his head knocked off. "Dammit,
don't sneak up on me. Make some noise. Ya wanna get yuself killed?"

"I'm sorry, sir. Next time I'll clear my throat or cough. Water?"

Seto hid a snicker behind his hand and told the waiter. "Speak before you enter. Katsuya-san is a
bit jumpy and so am I. I'd really hate to hurt you. Yes, water, please."

Joey asked for water too and took his time studying the menu.

"Prawns! Yes! I'll have garlic prawns and green beans, and grilled Teriyaki tofu."

Seto doubled the order remarking that he'd always liked green beans. The waiter asked if they'd
like dipping sauce for the tofu. Seto nodded, Joey shook his head. He wasn't fond of most
commercial sauces as they were far too sweet for him, or else they were oily which was just as
bad.

"Tea will be here in a moment. Ten minutes for the rest. Shall I bring out rice right away?"

Seto looked at Joey who nodded. "Please."

The waiter left to fetch their service.

.

Joey ate the rice and drank the tea with frank enjoyment. He finished a bowl of rice without
coming up for air and sipped the tea with a soft sigh.

"Oh, man that's really good. Just the right hint of jasmine. Not too hot. And the rice is perfect."

"Yes, and wait until you see the prawns. And the man who grills the tofu has been doing nothing
else for years. It's perfect every time." Seto sipped his tea for a moment, closing his eyes in
pleasure. "I like a little sauce of some sort with my tofu. Sesame is nice. There's a really nice,
light sesame ginger and a wasabi that's good too."

Joey made a slight face. "I don't like my tofu all messed up with sauces. I use it to clear my
palate between bites of something else. I ordered it teriyaki this time because I've been craving it.
And most commercial sauces are nasty. Either have too much sugar or they're oily as hell."

Seto shook his head slightly. "Not here. All the sauces are freshly made."

Joey shrugged in a rather skeptical fashion and drank more tea.

Ten minutes later to the second their food came. Joey picked up his chopsticks and poked at the
plate. Everything looked perfect. The prawns were huge and properly cooked. The beans were
blanched to perfection then fried crunchy-tender and the sauce had just enough garlic. The tofu
had golden brown grill marks and was creamy inside. There were several dipping sauces
provided in small dishes. The rice was in a covered bowl and steamed invitingly.

Joey dished up. "More rice?"

"Please." Seto held out his rice bowl for another serving. Joey skillfully scooped up a mound of
rice and dropped it into the bowl without dropping a grain.

Seto had to smile as Joey served the prawns individually, taking off the tails as he did so.

When Joey was finished the plate was attractively arranged with beans and prawns alternating
around the plate. Seto put a few drops of sauce into several tiny dishes the waiter had brought. He
arranged triangles of tofu on plates and tucked the dishes of sauce between them. Seto and Joey
exchanged plates and started to eat.

Joey rolled his eyes and moaned in pleasure. "Oh, man. This is soo good. What's their beef hot
pot like?"

"Kobe beef, fresh everything. Need I say more?" Seto bit into the prawn he held and sighed.

"No."

They managed to down everything on the table in record time.

The waiter noticed that their plates were empty and came to see if they wanted anything else.
Seto shook his head at food but asked for another pot of tea. Joey thought for a moment then
decided against more food too.

As they sipped tea, Joey finally took time to really look at the table ware. He'd been aware that it
was nice he just hadn't noticed how nice.

The plates were very modern in design, square glass with some sort of geometric design in one
corner, the bowls matched, being square with the same design on the outside. The chopsticks, or
hashi, were ebony as were the rests. The glassware was all square too with the same design. The
tea pot and cups also matched.

Joey examined the empty tea cup he held and realized that it had been designed by a very highly
thought of Noritaki artist especially for Seto.

"Very nice. Especially made for you?"

"Yes, Mokuba had them made. There's a complete banquet set. Place settings for one hundred
and all the serving pieces. I'm fond of it."

Joey just snorted and took more tea. "Place settings for one hundred? How many courses?"
Seto smirked at Joey. "Ten." Joey choked on his tea.

Seto laughed. "Do you have any idea how many times I actually have a ten course banquet?"

"Once a week?" Joey's teasing smile made Seto shake his head.

"Once a year. Idiot."

Joey just shook his head. He folded his napkin and put it on the table over his hashi, a signal that
he was done eating. The waiter nodded his head as they left.

"We just leave?"

"Tab."

"Oh. Shopping? Please?"

Seto nodded absently. "As soon as I check in at my office. I'm sure that there's nothing planned
for at least three or four days. It's Thursday, right?" Joey nodded. "After I check in and leave
orders for Monday, we can go anywhere you like."

"Good. We'll need a car."

"I'll order it now." Seto took a cell phone out of his pocket and made a call. He tucked the phone
away, walking away down the hall. "I'll ... find ... hmm..." Joey watched in amusement as Seto's
sharp mind wandered away. He wondered what Seto was planning.

He followed Seto into the office complex, which consisted of several individual offices clustered
around a small well appointed waiting room. There was a receptionist's desk there and seated
behind it was a middle aged woman with a severe expression on her face. She was an anomally
in Japan, where most secretarys were young. Most women went into the labor force when the got
out of school then married within five years and quit. This woman was obviously much different.

Seto nodded to her in a friendly fashion. "This is Joey, Katsuya Jounouchi, my cell mate. He's to
have instant access to me, no matter who I'm with."

The receptionist just nodded once, gave Joey an accessing look and returned to her work. Joey
gave Seto a doubtful look but followed him around the desk and into another reception area.

"What the hell? Seto, your receptionist has a receptionist?"

Seto shook his head. "No. Miss Kamagutchi is receptionist for me, Mo' all the board of directors
who are actually on site and you. She makes sure that the people who approach us get to the right
people."

Joey gaped a moment. "I really hope that wasn't a royal we."

"No, we as in all the people who have offices here."

"Oh, I see. Trouble with people barging in?"

"Yes, and demanding everything from financing to marriage. Ridiculous."

Seto nodded to a young man behind an even more impressive desk. "This is Akira, he's the next
layer." Seto turned to Akira. "This is Joey."

Akira came out from behind his desk and bowed to Joey. "Yes, Kaiba-sama. I know him. I fought
him in a tournament last year. Lost dramatically." He offered his hand. "Very pleased to meet
you, sir." Joey took his hand and pumped it genially.

Seto didn't give Joey time to do more than return greetings before he walked in a door to one
side of Akira's desk.

"This is my office." he walked into yet another waiting room. "My secretary seems to be out at
the moment. Please go ask Akira where she is."

Joey did so and came back in with a disgruntled look on his face. "She quit. Hasn't been here
since a week after you went inside. Akira was going to tell you but you walked off on him. You
shouldn't do stuff like that, you know."

Seto raised an eyebrow. "No I didn't. So, what now? I'll have to hire a new secretary and that's
time consuming." He walked through the door to his office, Joey trailing behind.

Joey thought for a while. "Well, why don't you just bump everyone up a level and have Miss
Sourface hire a new person for her position?"

Seto examined that idea for a second or two. "Ok. Sounds like a plan to me. I'll leave some notes
for Akira and tell him on the way out. Wander around and look things over if you like."

Joey did as Seto suggested, wandering the well appointed office and helping himself to a bottle
of water from the dry bar behind Seto's desk.

The room was huge, dominated by Seto's desk and office chair. There was a bank of computers
against the wall opposite the bar with another chair situated in front of them. There was also an
easy chair, small table and foot stool there. Joey imagined Mo' sitting there waiting for Seto to
get done with some project or other.

In front of the desk were several chairs, some more comfortable than others. Joey wondered who
moved the chairs and who decided what chair the visitor was given. There were also several
occasional tables of various heights. Joey realized that visitors could be made very comfortable
or very uncomfortable or any degree between the two. He had to snicker a bit. Seto was as sneaky
as they came.

"Something funny?"

"Chairs. Got to love it."

"Keeps meetings to the length I want. I have set conformations for some people. And other's get
a null conformation until I read them. Works most of the time."

"Glad to know that. Wondered how you decided who got what. We ready to leave yet?"

"I read people fairly well. And, yes, we're just about ready to leave."

Joey sighed thankfully. "I don't think I really need an office, do I?"

Seto gave Joey the look that Joey privately called his, I'm too nice to call you an idiot' look.
"You do. If you're going to become an artist, you have to have a studio and an office. I'll find
you just the right secretary too. Someone to weed out the promoters who will try to take
advantage of you. Right now you're not well known enough to worry about it too much. And that
man from before seemed to be well enough known to start with. But I'm going to shop you
around a bit and see if I can't get one of the better known gallery owners to take you on."

"You don't even know if I'm good or not." Joey was still a bit concerned that Seto would think
he was playing to money' and let Seto know with a glance.

"Stop, I know you're good. I'm no artist, but I've been a knowledgeable patron for years. And,
yes, I already said I'd patronize you. In a good way, you ass." Seto's look was amused and
friendly. "So that's what I'm doing. I know of at least two gallery owners who'd do a show on
my say so alone. I'm trying to decide who. And you do have an obligation to ... what was his
name? Taro, or something. Never mind, you have an obligation to him to do at least one show at
his place. I'll have Akira find out about him. Now, shopping.

Seto had completed his notes while he was talking and, carrying them in one hand, he headed for
the door. Akira met him and took the notes with a slightly stunned look on his face. Seto just
nodded at him, announced, "Here are the notes I mentioned. I'd like to see you in something
other than that suit. It's out dated. I'll give you a month's advance, to be paid back out of your
salary in ten payments. Ok?" Akira nodded, looking even more stunned. "Now, get together with
Miss Kamaguchi and pick her replacement. Or yours, I don't care which. Joey and I are going
shopping. Make sure the car meets us in the front drive."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Akira turned to his desk and punched a button, the last time he'd ever
sit at this desk. As soon as Seto was out of the area, he started emptying his desk.

.
Seto glanced around the sweeping drive that led up to the side of Kaiba Towers. It was a bit
showy but Seto left it as a psychological expression of his wealth and power. He usually got into
his car in the parking garage but he wanted Joey to see the drive.

Joey was goggling around like a tourist.

"Like it?" The Kaiba Tower gardens were famous all over Tokyo as Seto had bought several very
old trees from people who wanted to rebuild their houses and couldn't because of the trees. There
were also tree peonies and irises and several kinds of grass. The koi pond was one of the best in
the area. The drive wound its way through the garden to curve gently against the side of the
building and under an overhang.

"Like it? Yeah. I'm going to take pictures for references. And ... there's several books I want too.
So ... book store. Brush store. I need paper, I'm just about out. And a new ink stick. The one that
you got crumbled. If you paid more than $20 for it you got cheated. And ..."

Seto held up a hand. "Spare me. Just give your orders to the driver. I'm just along for the ride.
But I'm picking your clothing. You have no taste."

"I do too. It's just ... I never had money before. Not like this. I earned my book, remember?"

"Sorry."

Joey stopped himself from staring by main force of will. He'd figured out long ago that Seto
didn't apologize, ever. But this had to be at least the third, or maybe the fourth, time that Seto
had apologized to him. It warmed his heart like nothing else Seto had ever done for him.

"Never mind. I'm just ... holy crap! That's not a car, it's a fucking bus."

Seto shook his head. "It's a stretch Hummer. Don't you like it?"

Joey stared at the shining black vehicle for several seconds, trying to think of something to say
that didn't sound completely stupid.

"Yeah, it's ... very big. And black. And ..." Seto finally gave up and kissed him, standing right
out there under the shelter, in plain sight of the driver. Who would later say, "As if I'd gossip
about that. I like my job, so shut up about it."

Joey and Seto came up for air, got into the car and Seto ordered the driver to take them to a street
well known for its art supply stores and galleries. It was very narrow, very old and very crowded
so the driver was going to have to let them out at a small gate and park nearby. Roland wasn't
very pleased about this but gave up when Seto snarled at him

Joey shrugged his jacket into place and stalked up to Roland. "Do you actually think I'm gonna
let someone get one over on him?" Roland backed up half a step. "Didn't think so." Joey pointed
across the street. "If you're really worried follow from across the street, just don't let me see you.
Got it?"

Roland nodded once. "Yes, sir."

Seto held perfectly still, he'd never seen Roland back off before and he'd never seen Joey look
exactly like that. He didn't want to startle either one of them, he liked his head exactly where it
was. He breathed a sigh of relief when Roland turned away to cross the street, hiding his grin
with the action. Wheeler really wouldn't allow anything to happen to Seto.

Joey watched him for a second. "Ok, that's over with. Come on. I want to go to the brush shop
first."

Seto nodded and headed for the large, well lit shop about a block away. Joey stopped him.

"Not that one. This one." Joey pointed to a narrow ill lit stair case set between a noodle shop and
a touristy stamp shop. Seto raised an eye brow in pointed question. "It's very old. The man
makes all the brushes by hand. They're beautiful and very expensive. I've wanted one of his fine
detail brushes forever."

"I see." Seto looked around. "The whole street is obviously very old. How long has the shop been
in business?"

Joey started up the stairs, turning slightly sideways to avoid brushing his shoulders against the
walls. "About two hundred years. Not in the same place of course. The last shop was bombed in
... um ... 1930 something or other. So the family moved here. He actually lives behind the shop."

"And his brushes are exceptionally good?" Seto was skeptical of this as most hand made brushes
were excellent.

"He specializes in the ultra fine brushes. I really want one of his three hair' brushes."

Seto ducked to avoid bumping his head on the door frame. When he straightened Joey was
already in the shop proper.

He and the proprietor were examining a handful of tiny, delicate brushes that looked like
toothpicks in Joey's hands. Joey turned to Seto. "Which one do you think?"

"Not a clue. Just take them all." Seto shrugged, he didn't know a thing about brushes. "And any
others you like. You can't do good work without good tools."

Joey just nodded a bit absently, eyeing a collection of brushes that ranged from tiny to minuscule.
"I'll take that collection. Seto, after we pay here, I need to go to another shop. I still need some
larger stiff brushes."

Seto rolled his eyes at the shop keeper and sighed. "Fine, are you going to drag me through every
shop on the street?"

Joey grinned at Seto, "No, only about half of them."

Seto grinned back, "Only half of them?"

"Yeah, the rest aren't worth going into or they're noodle shops. This area is big on noodles."

Joey accepted the neatly bundled brushes and bowed. "Thank you, sir. I'll be sure to treat them
well."

They left to search for more brushes.

Joey checked two shops before he found the one he wanted. The brushes were made from natural
hair instead of combinations of natural and artificial. Joey eyed a set of brushes that were made
from everything from wolf to badger to human. Several of the brushes were made from
combinations of different natural hairs. The shops name was simply FUDE', Japanese for brush,
in neat letters on the door.

Joey laughed softly. "Somehow a shop that sells brushes that's named brush' seems perfect. I
really want that set, but it's outrageously expensive."

Seto gave Joey that haughty look that used to make him cringe or rage in fury, now he just found
it amusing and sometimes annoying. "I don't care. Order two if you like."

Joey spluttered a bit. "But they're over three thousand dollars a set. That's a bit much for a set of
brushes."

The clerk butted in, feeling it necessary to defend her shops prices. "But sir, that includes ten soft
brushes, twelve medium brushes, and eight hard brushes as well as six over sized ones and the
set of small brushes. That's thirty-six brushes and the hanging rack, an eight brush rest, a set of
three hake brushes and a brush roll to protect his brushes in storage. All of the very best materials
available."

Seto nodded wisely. "See, he'll take two. And that wall rack." Seto pointed to an ebony rack with
small pegs that could be mounted on the wall. He thought it was a very good buy at three
hundred dollars. It was used to hang brushes against a wall, keeping unused brushes off the work
surface, out of the way of accidental damage.

Joey just rested his forehead in the palm of one hand for a moment. "Ok, fine. Thank you." he
turned to the clerk. "Have it delivered to Kaiba Towers, penthouse suite. Thank you, Miss."

The clerk bowed them out the door with a dazzled expression on her face.

In the small entry way, Joey took the time to give Seto a hard hug. "Thanks. I really don't need
two sets of those brushes, I may never use some of them. But thanks anyway."

Seto hugged back. "You'll use every one of them at one time or another, or I miss my guess.
You're welcome, by the way. Now what?"

"Ink and colors. I like the Chinese style of using colors and I've always wanted to try it, but the
good colors are really expensive, if you want to do things in the old style. Water colors are
acceptable but, I want to base my reputation on old styles and new ways. If that makes sense."

Seto frowned a bit. "Not really, but I don't have to understand it, I just have to pay for it. And
I'm having almost as much fun as you are."

Joey tugged Seto out into the street again. "Maybe I misspoke. Perhaps old techniques used in
new ways. The traditional materials, colors in chips and powders. Rice papers mounted on
brocade with rice paste. That sort of thing. But, as well as producing traditional pictures. I'd like
to experiment with a slightly more modern style. See?"

Seto did and agreed with Joey that the whole idea was great. He didn't agree with being dragged
through four shops to find the right sort of paper.

Finally he tugged Joey to a small tea shop and pushed him into a seat. "Now, calm down. What's
the matter with the papers you've seen so far?"

Joey rolled his eyes and snorted. "They're all ... awful. I had to use crap when I was poor, now
that I have a sponsor like you, I want the best. I'm not compromising my art, any more than you
would compromise your business, or a program. Understand, or do I really sound as insane as I
feel?"

Seto snapped his fingers to attract the waiter's attention then he turned to Joey. "I understand
completely. But that still doesn't explain what's wrong with them. Think about it while you drink
some tea and calm down. Relax."

Joey leaned back in his chair, he was exhausted, he knew exactly what he wanted, he just wasn't
sure where to find it. It was all on this street, he knew that. But finding it was going to take all
day. A day he was sure Seto was going to resent.

Seto rubbed his face. "Ok, there's more going on here than a search for art materials. Care to
share?"

So Joey told Seto how he was feeling, how stressed he felt trying to get his materials as quickly
as possible, before Seto lost patience and wanted to go home. He didn't want to get into a fight
about paper and ink.

Seto smiled at Joey, one of his rare gentle, sweet smiles that lit his blue eyes from within.

"Well, stop it. There's no reason to stress. I told you I'd take you shopping all day today and I
meant it. Granted, I expected to be dragged through every clothing store within three miles of
Kaiba Towers. This is a lot more interesting. Even if I do find the relative merits of paper a bit
boring. Ok?" Joey's glowing look said that it was. "Now, drink your tea, relax a while and we'll
find you your paper. I'll make a call to Akira, see what he knows or can find out."

Seto called Akira while Joey drank tea and tried to relax. He knew that this was a lot more
important to him than just being recognized as an artist. He wasn't sure exactly why but he was
sure.

"Well, well. Seems that the trend I've noticed holds true again." At Joey's inquisitive look he
continued, "Every shop actually worth visiting is either up a flight of stairs, stuck in a corner or
off in an alley. The best ink sticks are hand made in wooden molds and aged. That shop is in an
alley behind that big art store with the neon Fude hanging from its front. The best paper is made
from a mix of rice bran, mulberry and silk. There are other papers that are best. I don't
understand why there's more than one best and please ..." Seto held up one hand, palm out in a
stop' gesture. "Don't explain it to me. But the paper store is at the end of the street in the corner
between the entrance to the gardens and a noodle shop. The color store is in a warehouse that
sells commercial inks to printers, up the back stairs, go around the office and it's in a corner on
the second mezzanine, to quote Akira. Finish your tea and let's go."

Joey just gulped the last of his cold cup and followed Seto, smiling at his back.

They found the color store first and pressed a small buzzer to summon a clerk to wait on them.
He arrived looking flushed and flustered.

"I'm so sorry. We get so few calls from up here that I actually had to get directions. I'm new. I
apologize for making you wait. Now, what can I do for you?"

Joey was mostly ignoring the man, instead he was checking the small bins of colored chips. Seto
assumed they were paint. He fingered them, let them trickle through his fingers back into the
bins. A couple he even touched to his tongue.

"See what you can do for him. He's looking for things I don't have a chance of comprehending."

"Yes, sir."

The clerk went to speak to Joey, who just shrugged and muttered. The clerk didn't know
anything about the color chips except that the present owner's father had started the whole
business based on them.

Joey asked questions about several of the colors and got the standard reply, "I'm so sorry, I don't
know. I'm new." He finally asked to see the owner.

When the owner came up, he admitted easily that he didn't know a thing about the old style
paint. He asked if they would like tea while they waited for his father to come up from the house
down the side street. "We live right down there, just a block away. If I let you get away he'll give
me such a tongue lashing. Please, be patient just a little while."

Seto glanced at Joey. "I'd like to wait." Joey turned to the owner. "Tea would be nice. Thank
you."

It didn't take very long for the older man to come. He was a vigorous 70 something and admitted
that he'd only turned the business over to his son because he thought he was a bit old to be, as he
put it, second string. The son blushed a bit.

"So, this young one has made our business very well known. We supply all the iridescent inks to
Kaiba Corp for those cards they make." Seto choked, Joey grinned. "Something?"

Seto introduced himself to the man. "I'm Kaiba Seto. I wasn't aware that we did business."

"Well, you wouldn't be. The man who comes is from the printing department. I insisted on doing
business directly with the people who would be using the inks. Makes sense, don't you think?"

Seto agreed with him in a rather faint voice then settled at the small table in the corner to talk
with the son.

Joey immediately stuck his hand into a bin. "This cinnabar, what's in it? And that purple color."

Watsuki-san smiled. "The base is a combination of gum arabic and honey. Very nice, triple
milled, then hand ground on marble. Then spread on sheets of special paper, dried, then the paper
is flexed to break the paint into the chips. The purple is a mineral, ground then mixed with gum
arabic. It's a bit coarser than I like but it's the only purple I could find."

Joey rejected the purple with a sigh. Then he saw something that made his eyes shine. "This. ... I
have to have this. It's real lapis lazuli, isn't it?"

"Yes, you have a very good eye. This is the last of its kind. I have the recipe but I can't find
anyone who'll do the work properly. The stone has to be ground at a very slow speed to keep it
from heating. Any heat will turn the powder grey. Then it's mixed with boiled honey, spread on
sheets of parchment and dried. You'll find bits of the parchment in the chips, can't be avoided.
But they come right out when you make the paint."

Joey thought for a second, glanced at Seto who nodded. "I'll take it all. And I'll pay you for the
formula too. I can make it myself."

The old man just shrugged. "If you buy the last, I'll give you the formula. Now, here's a very nice
yellow. And this green is superior."

They went from bin to bin discussing the relative merits of the different colors, Seto waited
patiently, never even glancing at his watch.

Finally Joey was done, Seto paid and told them to deliver it. The old man bowed and quietly
poked his son in the side.

"See, I told you there was still interest in this sort of thing."

"Yes, father, I know you did.

Joey grinned at Seto and said. "Ink next? Or is the paper store closer?"

"Paper then ink. But, if I could make a suggestion?"

Joey shrugged, he was getting hungry and was ready for lunch. "Sure, suggest away. As long as
noodles are involved."

"Well, they're not. But, why don't you have the paper store just deliver a sheet of everything they
make. Then you'd have a good sample to work with. See what each paper does. That's what we
do when we're starting a new card run. Card stock, ink, everything. We sample until we find
what works. So, seems reasonable that you'd have better luck finding the paper you like if you
actually work with it."

Joey didn't have to think long. "That sounds like the best solution to both our problems." Seto
looked puzzled. "I'm frustrated because I can't find the paper I want and you're more than ready
to go home. Just one more stop then. Ink. And then lunch."

Seto laughed then said, "Yay, food. At last" His gently mocking tone made Joey shake his head.

As they walked toward the ink shop, Joey window shopped. There were several shops that had
good merchandise in them, just not the quality that Joey wanted. He was very aware that his first
show might be his only chance to catch the eye of the cognoscenti, the people who would buy his
work. He wanted to make a very good first impression. So he was being almost psychotically
picky. Seto didn't mind, he didn't think it was that unusual.

"Here's the ink shop. I think Roland's about to have a heart attack. But this alley is safe."

Seto snorted. "I pay Roland an obscene amount of money to be paranoid, so I don't have to be.
Of course he's having a spaz." Seto glanced around the shop. "Man, this place is tiny. I think I'll
wait outside, everything in here seems to be coated in ... soot?" Seto examined the finger he'd
run along the shelf. "And it smells like oil. Scorched oil."

Joey just gave Seto a slightly disbelieving look and shrugged. "And what the hell do you think
they make ink from. Go, outside. Fresh air is good for you. You can trade smart remarks with
Roland. Calm his ire." Seto just snorted and left.

Joey tapped the mallet against the small gong labeled, ring for service' and waited for someone
to come from the back.

He didn't have long to wait, a woman about thirty came out, wiping her hands on a filthy rag.
"I'm sorry. My husband just went out to get some lunch. What can I do for you?"

"I would like to see some of your wares. I'm just starting out but I've been lucky enough to get
Kaiba Seto to be my sponsor. Which sticks do you recommend?"

They lady smiled. "My name is Sakura-chan. My husband and I have just taken over from my
father. We're hoping to maintain the quality he always had so I'm glad to see that you want to
use our ink stick. They are very fine, we make them right here in the back of the shop. So ...
which type do you prefer, Pine soot or oil?"

Joey looked through the top of a case at several sticks displayed in fancy boxes. "I use both. I like
the pine soot for some things and the oil for others. And sometimes I use both together in the
same work. Along with colors. These are ... fancy."

Sakura smiled and nodded. "Yes, they are very fancy. Much more suited to presentations than
actual painting. We have some sticks that are very expensive, but I recommend these sticks for
actual work." She took a very plain looking stick from under the counter. It was rectangular and
embossed with the name of the shop and the kind of ink it was. "Very plain but good quality.
Very fine particle size and grinds into a very smooth nice ink. Easy to grind as we don't add too
much binder. But the stick is very fragile."

Joey eyed the stick, Sakura handed it to him and he fingered it carefully. It was soft but not
brittle. "I'll take one of each please. And have it delivered." He gave the address for the delivery
and Sakura bowed him out the door.

Seto gave a little crow of satisfaction. "Great. Food, now, I'm starving, it's nearly one o'clock.
Come on."

Joey just let himself be dragged off. Seto had been more than patient and deserved his lunch.

"Where are we going? Not that I really care, but ... the shops are all that way." Joey pointed back
to the street Seto was dragging him away from.

"I don't want noodles. There's a turn around just down this alley, the car is there. We're going to
a place I know of that's got great sukiyaki. It's about six blocks away. And, if we hurry, we can
beat the second lunch rush."

Joey hurried after Seto, realizing that he was really hungry. Shopping was hard work.

.

The drive went quickly and Joey had to admit that the restaurant was exceptional. He ought to
know, he'd worked in the kitchen there. Seto was amused, until the waiter sneered at Joey then
he got on his high horse and asked if the man liked his job. Of course the man replied that he did.
Joey hid behind the menu and laughed to himself as Seto tore the idiot apart. After being assured
that the waiter did like his job, Seto explained to him in exquisite detail just exactly how close to
losing it he was. He ended by snarling, "And now, I'd like another service person. Preferably,
one with some common sense."

The host came over to see what the problem was and, seeing Joey just turned around and called
to another server. "Here, Nando, see who's come in. You'll have to take this station, Carl already
made someone very unhappy. Make them happy again."He smiled at Joey and nodded to Seto.
"Glad to see that you've gotten out and done something worth doing. I don't know what you're
doing for Kaiba-sama, but don't fuck this up. Ok?"

Joey just grinned, "Don't worry, I won't. Nando, just bring the fixin's and I'll take over." Nando
just nodded wrote something on his pad and hurried off.

Seto turned to the host who was still standing by. "And Saki, not that house swill, and keep it
coming."

The host bowed and said with some trepidation. "Yes, sir, but if I'm to bring you more than one
serving, I have to ask for your car keys. Restaurant policy."

Seto just shrugged. "I'd give you keys, if I had any. But we're being driven today." the host
glanced at Joey who just nodded. The host left with a sigh of relief. He'd actually managed to
wait on Kaiba Seto without getting his head bitten off.

Joey dipped his head to Nando when he returned with the makings for the sukiyaki. Joey seared
the beef and arranged the other ingredients as Seto watched.

"You do that very well. What else can you fix?"

Joey shrugged. "I can cook almost anything I can get a recipe for, if I've got the stuff and the
equipment. Why?"

"Making conversation. We're getting ready to launch a new series of cards. I'll ... we'll probably
have to stay in the apartment for most of this month. I don't like it, but most of the crisis
moments seem to happen in the middle of the night. It's just easier to cope with it if I stay at the
towers. You don't mind?"

Joey gave Seto a look. "Seto, if it wasn't for you, I'd be living in a box, literally. I really want to
paint, so I don't really care where we live as long as there's a studio. Or a place to paint." Joey
checked the pan then turned to see the host coming with their saki. "Here's our drinks."

They sat and sipped at the saki while they waited for the sukiyaki to finish. Seto was glad that
Joey had the talent of sitting. He'd never thought that Joey would be able to be quiet for more
than three seconds at a stretch but he'd found that he could, and would, sit for hours just
thinking.

Joey checked the food and announced that it was almost ready. He signaled Nando and, when he
came over, told him to bring rice and tea. Nando just bowed slightly and went to do as he was
asked.

The rice came and both tea and more saki. Joey placed food on Seto's plate, arranging it artfully.
He gave Seto his plate and made one for himself. He smiled when he realized that Seto had
waited for him to get his plate before he started to eat.

"Ok, something's cooking in that brain of yours. What is it?"

Seto poked at his beef for a moment while he tried to figure out how to ask for something for the
second time in his life. The first time hadn't turned out too well. He sighed, shifted in his seat
and bit his lip. He knew he was acting silly but he just couldn't get himself to ask.

"Ok, Seto, I know you want something. Just spit it out and put me out of my misery."

"Sorry, it's just very hard. I've never asked anyone for a favor before, when they didn't owe me
something first." Seto took a deep breath, thankful that Joey was just sitting with an inquiring
expression, instead of yapping at him. "Will you take care of the apartment for me ... us? I'm
going to be in and out at all times of the day and night. I can't stand it when the cleaning women
move stuff around in my closet and bathroom. The office they know better than to mess with."

Joey just nodded. "I see. Ok, fine. I'll have plenty of time to work and you won't have to worry
about getting a decent meal or finding stuff messed with. Seems like a deal to me. And ..." Joey
waggled his eyebrows at Seto suggestively. "A little stress relief on the side won't hurt anything
either."

Seto snickered, then laughed harder and harder until he was holding his sides. Joey just laughed
along with him.

Seto finally managed to get himself under control. "Hush, Joey, the host will think we're drunk."

Joey just waved his hand and snorted. "We're not, we've only had two bottles between us. But,
it's ... amusing as hell. I'm going to be your house boy. Cushy job."

"Not really. I'm very demanding."

"Nuts. I'm too big a bastard to let you get to me. So, I'll paint and keep the apartment going.
You'll do the CEO thing. What else?"

"There are several social functions that I have to go to. You'll accompany me, along with
Mokuba. At least I'll have someone with some sense to talk to. Any questions?"

Joey just shrugged. "Not that I can think of at the moment. Let's go home, ok?"

Seto just dropped his napkin on the table and headed for the door. Joey followed him, signed the
check in his name and sneered at Carl as he left.

.

They returned to the towers and up to the penthouse. Joey was pleased to see that all his
purchases were in the studio with the brush rack already on the wall. Seto smiled and went into
his office as Joey began the task of setting up his studio to his satisfaction.

Joey found the paper and looked around for a place to put it. He saw a chest of drawers or what
looked like one. The drawers were all shallow and the chest had a dozen of them. He realized
that it was a full sheet storage chest. On top were several deep boxes which Joey knew were to
store rolls in. He tucked all his papers away carefully.

Next he found a nice storage for his colors. He'd bought some of everything and all of the
cinnabar and the blue. The small boxes that were sitting on one side table made him smile. Then
he snarled. He'd completely forgotten to get any seals.

"Dammit! Now I have to go back."

"Back where, for what?" Seto's voice made Joey jump.

"Seals, I didn't get any seals. All I've got is my hanko. For which I forgot to thank you."

Seto gifted Joey with one of his sweet smiles, the smile he reserved only for Joey or Mokuba. "I
purposely distracted you from seals. You remember I told you that I have a collection of seals?"
Joey blinked once, then nodded. "I want you to have them. All of them. Some of them are
antiques over three hundred years old."

Joey gaped at Seto for a moment then rushed to hug him. "I was getting ready to be pissed, but ...
wow... thanks. Thank you so much. Can I see them? Why do you have them? Where are they?"

Seto hugged Joey back. "Yes, some idiot decided that I should collect them, on their way here.
Calm down."

Joey took a deep breath, trying to do what Seto said. It didn't work. He was very excited to have
a nice collection of seals instead of just one or two chipped ones.

Seto smiled and watched Joey put the rest of his materials away while they waited for the seals to
arrive.

He was done by the time the seals came and was just turning around when the conservators came
in with the box, or trunk, of seals. Seto was gratified to see Joey's jaw drop.

"Holy fuck! How many do you have? Is that thing full or is it mostly padding?"

One of the conservators frowned at Joey, he just glared for a second, making the man duck his
head.

Seto motioned to a folding table leaning against the wall. "Set that up and get out all of the seals.
Katsuya-sama is to be allowed to use any and all of the seals that are in useable condition."

The younger man snorted rudely. Seto glanced at the older man, who just shrugged and started
setting out the seals.

Joey watched in amazement as the neat lines marched across the table. He kept thinking that this
seal must be the last. When the conservator was finally done, there were over a hundred seals on
the table.

"Damn! That's quite a collection how many are actually useable?"

The younger man gave a sharp gasp. "None of them. They're priceless antiques. Not to be used
by the likes of you."

Seto opened his mouth but nothing came out. He was so surprised and angry that he couldn't
form a coherent sentence. Joey just looked at the man. His expression was so cold the idiot
should have gotten frost bite. The older man handled the situation easily.

"You will leave now. You're fired. How dare you speak to Katsuya-sama so disrespectfully. He's
a wonderful artist and it does the collection honor that he'd even consider using them on his art.
Fool, seals are meant to be used. Not just hoarded and hidden. Get out. Go."

The man started to argue, but Seto managed to recover his voice, and lose his temper. The frost
that dripped from his words would have made the floor slick if it was real.

"You have the absolute gall to tell my lover, my significant other if you will, that he can't use
something that belongs to me? Have you completely lost your mind? Clean out your desk, take
your property and get out. Now! Joey, I'm sorry. I'm calling Roland to have him escorted off the
premises at once." Seto turned back to the conservator. "And if you think you're going to get a
reference or recommendation, forget it." Seto pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed.

Meanwhile, the annoying twit was gobbling like a goose. Joey stepped between him and Seto
when he looked like he was going to touch the young CEO.

"Wouldn't if I was you. Like that hand?" The man gulped and nodded. "Touch Seto and I'll
break it off at the wrist."

Roland showed up just in time to keep Joey from doing something unfortunate. It didn't take him
long to get the low down and show the man the door.

Seto watched cautiously as the older, smarter man held out his hand to Joey. Joey took it and
shook it.

"My name is Toranaga. I'm really sorry about him. He's an ass. Now, I'll explain how we've
been storing these then get out of your space." Joey just crossed his arms over his chest and
waited. "Each seal has its own place in the box. Each space, see? Like a little pocket. Has a letter
and a number. The letters go down and the numbers across. Here's the catalogue we made. It's in
my writing so I hope you can read it. If not, let me know. Each seal has been stamped in the book
in alphabetical order according to subject. Sort of. But all you have to do to find something is
look it up in the book and right next to it is its spot. If there are any questions, I'll be glad to
answer them." He stepped back and waited.

Joey picked up the hand bound rice paper book and opened it. Toranaga had very nice writing
and had stamped the seals clearly. Joey looked at the arrangement on the table and knew that
each seal would pop right back in its place without confusion.

"This is very nice. Please put the seals back in their places for me. Seto, could I speak to you in
private for a second?"

Seto followed Joey into the library and nearly collided with him as he whirled around and
wrapped his arms around Seto's neck. He kissed Seto so quickly that he nearly ducked. When he
realized what was happening he returned the kiss with interest.

"Mmmm, and what is this for? Not that I'm objecting, mind. Just curious so that I can be sure to
do it again. I like the results."

Joey blushed deep red. "You stood up for me, right out there. No one's ever done that for me
before."

Seto hugged Joey. "I've done it before. Inside, I stood up for you."

"You watched my back, that's different."

Seto started to argue then realized that he wasn't doing himself any favors. "Ok. I'm glad you
like it. Get used to it. Some people will get in your face over our involvement. They won't
dignify it with the term relationship. Don't let them walk over you. Remember that you're my
heart. And if you ever tell even Mo that I said that I'll smack you. Got me?"

Joey simpered dramatically. "I do, oh master of the house."

Seto threw back his head and laughed in unabashed joy. "And don't you forget it."

.

The next week was busy. Seto was up and down at all hours of the day. Joey spent most of his
time painting. What time wasn't spent in that activity was spent in keeping the penthouse clean
and cooking for them both. Joey loved the fact that he could have anything he wanted that was in
season.

Seto loved it that he could come in at almost any time of day and Joey would cook for him.

Seto took the opportunity to work on his new game, get caught up on business concerns and
attend to the daily business of Kaiba Corp. He wanted to be caught up in case something went
very wrong with the roll out of the new line of Duel Monster cards. These things never ran as
smoothly as they should. One day Seto was actually going to find out why. Until then, he was
going to stay caught up in order to be able to take care of it without anything else getting behind.

Mokuba was laughing up his sleeve at Seto, he knew exactly what was going on in his brother's
head. Seto was on one of his rips, ready, willing, and able to take on anyone for anything. Joey
was just as amused, he was spending quite at bit of time painting and he still had plenty of time
to take care of all his chores and cater to Seto. He and Mokuba got a great deal of pleasure
laughing at him behind his back.

.

Seto eyed himself in the mirror. Tonight was Friday and he had an opening to attend. He
sponsored the gallery, not the artist but it was still a political necessity to attend. He was glad
Joey was going with him, he didn't think he could do it himself. The boredom would kill him.

While Seto was amusing himself by wondering how long it would be before he and Joey could
sneak out, Joey was trying to get himself dressed. He had managed the studs but the tie had him
baffled.

"Seto? Can you tie this damn thing for me? I'm all thumbs." Seto just tied the bow tie without
comment. "Thanks. Um ... how long do you think we'll have to stay? I looked at the catalog and
all I can say is ... rude."

Seto looked puzzled. "He's rude? How do you know?"

Joey pursed his lips in disgust. "The only things I can think of to say are all rude. The man is ...
never mind. I'll explain it to you when we get there. I know you didn't bother to look at the
catalog."

Seto shrugged, settling his jacket more comfortably. "I never do. You ready now?"

Joey sighed. "Not really but let's get it over with."

"The car should be waiting in the garage. Let's go."

Joey followed Seto to the car and eased in behind him. They settled into their places and Joey
rapped on the divider to let the driver know they were ready.

They rode in silence, enjoying the privacy and quiet.

They arrived a fashionable half hour late and exited the car. Seto went first for which Joey was
very grateful, the flashes were blinding. Seto snarled and sneered, Joey straightened his shoulders
and followed him. The carpet was blue instead of red. Joey wondered why he'd noticed that
particularly.

They strode to the door, shoulder to shoulder, forbidding frowns fixed firmly in place. Joey
stepped in front of Seto as some woman tried to throw herself into his arms. He handed her off to
security with a curt, "Here, don't let this happen again. Fool." Seto just scowled harder. Someone
scurried to open the door for them.

Joey followed Seto through it and stopped when he did.

Seto took a moment to look over the gallery and the people there. He recognized some of them
from personal acquaintance and the rest from pictures in newspapers and magazines. He
grumbled to Joey sotto voce, "I think I'll just run screaming now. There are at least ten people
here who will try to hit me up for money. I don't invest in pipe dreams so all they'll do is irritate
the hell out of me. Damn."

Joey shrugged. "Just glare at them. Works for me."

Seto shook his head. "Most of these people are more or less immune to my glare. You try. Maybe
it'll work for you."

"Ok. I'll see what I can do. What do you want to do about reporters?"

"Don't answer their questions. Glower at them like you'd like to cap them. Usually works for
me. If they get too persistent, complain to security."

Joey snickered softly. "Cap im? Where the hell did you hear that and do you know what it
means?"

"I heard it from ... I forget who. One of our men, I think. It means to make them go away."

"Yeah, permanently. Cap as in, percussion cap."

Seto had to smile. "Ok. I failed Talk Like A Yak 101. Silly me."

Joey threw back his head and laughed causing people nearby to look his way. Many smiled at
him, a few scowled. He didn't care and neither did Seto.

A server approached them with a tray of snacks. "Nibble? Champagne?" Joey snorted, the
nibbles' were nothing more than rather soggy commercial hors d'oeuvres, luke warm at that.
Seto took a glass of champagne, sipped and had to force himself to swallow. It was vinegar.

Joey noticed his face and just took the glass, gulped it down and put the glass on the tray of
another of the circulating servers. "Nasty stuff."

"The hors d'oeuvres or the champagne?"

"Both. This is awful. Come on, let's take a look at his ... work. Then I'll tell you what's wrong
with most of it."

Joey led Seto around the room, pointing out the flaws in the paintings. Most of them were small,
almost unnoticeable, but once seen they were jarring. Seto managed to keep his expression down
to a muted glower. The so called artist was a hack and an annoyingly smug and self-centered one
at that.

The gallery owner noticed Seto's mood and came over to see what the problem was. Seto just
shook his head. He was tired already, dodging beggars and looking at soppy watercolors had
worn him out. He was glad Joey was here to ward off the artistic crowd. He didn't know much
about this sort of thing, he was better acquainted with the manga style art of Duel Monster cards.

"Mr. Kaiba, is something wrong? Has someone offended you?"

Seto eyed the snack, situated in the middle of a paper napkin, the man was offering him. "No
person has offended me. But I find your snacks pretentious and inappropriate as well as under
done and greasy. The champagne is third rate, at best. And this, so called artist, is as pretentious
as the nibbles, stupid name really. What are you thinking?"

The man frowned at the hors d'oeuvre in his hand. "I'm sorry. They're all the thing right now. I'll
see that the champagne is checked. As to the art. It's wonderful. Very vibrant, energetic.
Something completely ... a la mode."

Seto blinked. "That's pie with ice cream." His scornful rejoinder made Mr. Sato cringe.

"I thought it was French for in the mode. I'm so sorry. Excuse me, please, someone wants me."
He bowed and scurried away.

Joey was quietly convulsing with laughter. "Seto, that was cruel."

Seto looked down his nose at Joey, a look that usually made the target cringe, flinch or even go
away, Joey just snorted. "I know. But it was fun."

"Yeah, that too."

"All this pretentious fidgeting is getting on my nerves. Remind me why I sponsored this idiot."
Joey just shrugged. "And look over there..." Joey looked where Seto was pointing. "Those three
are drunk all ready. Disgusting."

Joey shrugged. "What do you expect when you supply free liquor. A lot of these people aren't
interested in the art at all, all they're interested in is free food and booze."

Seto thought about it then nodded. "I think you're right. Let's go meet the artist and make our
excuses."

"Excuse me?" Joey gave Seto a blank look. He didn't know what he was talking about.

"To be polite, and I intend to be, we need to speak to the artist and tell the host that we are
leaving. I like some of the people here and if they see me leaving without doing what is socially
acceptable, they'll be offended. I don't usually offend people I like."

Joey made a rude noise. "Yeah? Um ..." Seto just raised an eyebrow at Joey. Joey decided not to
flog that particular dead horse, so he set off to find Mr. Sato.

"Artist first. This way." Joey shook his head, sighed and followed Seto.

Seto and Joey found the artist holding court in the back of the gallery in front of one of his larger
paintings. Joey thought it was off balance and ill conceived. The foreground didn't match the
background and the colors were off.

The second they got within ear shot, Seto realized that he'd made a mistake in letting Joey
anywhere near the man

"Yes, it's one of my best pieces. I think I've out done myself."

Joey sucked in his breath and choked on his own spit, the coughing spell attracted the artist's
attention. His expression made Joey grit his teeth and Seto cringe.

Mr. Sato came wandering by to check on his protege. "Ah, Kagura-kun, how is everything
going?" Joey's eyes widened and he choked again, Seto hid a snicker behind one hand.

"It's going very well. Thank you. I was explaining my inspiration for this work to ... I didn't
catch your name."

"Wheeler." Joey glowered at Kagura-kun like he was trying to steal his last pack of smokes.
"You call that art? And what's with the stupid name?" Seto covered his eyes with a hand and
sighed.

"Yes, I call that art. And the name is from my favorite anime. Not very well informed, are you?"

"Me? Naw, I been in prison for eighteen months. Kinda out of touch. But I know that Kagura is a
wind demon from Inuyasha, female wind demon. And that picture is all out of balance. What the
hell is the bird doing clear over to the left of the foreground and on a limb that size. Birds like
that don't perch on anything too large for them to get their foot completely around. And having
the main subject of the foreground clear over on the left makes the picture off balance. The
background is heavy on the right side but it's so obviously counter weighted that it just makes it
worse. And you used American watercolors, unless I've gone blind in the last three minutes.
American watercolors are good, don't get me wrong. But you advertised traditional materials
used in a modern way. Don't look traditional to me and the black you used is too brown and it's
soppy looking in the sky. Need I say more?"

The artist was sputtering indignantly and Mr. Sato was too. Seto just resigned himself to an
artistic argument that might last the rest of the night. Which it nearly did. Several of the people
standing around were art critics, either professional or privately employed and they all chimed in
with their own opinions.

Joey defended himself with skill and more poise than Seto had thought possible. His knowledge
of old style forms was impressive and his grasp of form and balance nearly perfect. And he
managed to point out all the flaws in every piece in the show, much to Seto's delight. His attitude
was, Seto thought, much like his own when faced with stupidity. And his acerbic comments
amused some very important people.

Finally, Kagura-kun snapped, "Well, if you think you can do better, why don't you? I've got a
little setup right over there. I was going to demonstrate my art, but since you've managed to keep
the argument going for so long, I don't really have time. But you could do a little something.
Unless you'd rather not?" He added a sneer to his voice, positive that Joey wouldn't take him up
on his challenge.

Joey just nodded. "Ok. Where's your stuff?" He followed a pointing finger and went to the small
table in the corner.

The table was small but it had everything Joey needed to do a painting. He started by grinding
some ink. He didn't need much so it didn't take him long. He fingered the paper, good quality
and nice enough. The brushes were common but he could work with them.

"I'm not going to use a color as I don't like this brand at all. Cheap. So ... here goes."

Joey painted a very simple picture of three stalks of bamboo and several leaves. It was well
balanced, used four shades of ink and took about two minutes.

"There you go. I'll just stamp it with my hanko and leave it at that. And, Seto is making faces, so
we'll make our excuses and go on our way. Thank you." Joey bowed to the silent group and went
to Seto's side.

Neither one of them waited for the comments of the other people, they just wanted to get out of
there and go home. Several speculative looks followed them.

.

Joey leaned back in the car and sighed. "Sorry. I really blew it. I didn't mean to be such a ... um."

"Sarcastic, arrogant, opinionated hard ass? Why not? The man is obviously stuck on himself and
his sponsor is an idiot."

"I thought you were his sponsor?"

Seto grimaced. "No, I sponsor the gallery, which I'm not doing anymore. Not when that ass has
little sense and no taste. That champagne was unbelievable. And nibbles'? What the hell is
that?"

"Tom foolery, to be polite. Damned stupidity, to be real. If I ever get a show, things will be a lot
different."

Seto just grumbled softly, almost asleep in his seat. Joey pulled him closer and let Seto's head
fall onto his shoulder. Seto snuggled mumbling something under his breath.

"Never mind, just rest. You work too hard." Seto snorted and started to snore softly.

Joey let Seto sleep against him until they got into the garage. When the driver pulled into the
garage, Joey told him to drive right up to the elevator, which he did. When the driver turned the
car off, Joey shook Seto by the shoulder waking him just enough to get him to walk. He nearly
carried Seto into the elevator and then helped him off at the penthouse.

"Seto, come on, cooperate, you're too damn heavy to haul around."

Seto mumbled, "Hhmm? Awake. Bed."

"Geeze, pre-verbal thy name is Kaiba. Come on, come to bed. I'll undress you." Seto shambled
after Joey, still half asleep. Joey undressed him, tossing both their suits over a chair. "I'll send
those to the cleaners tomorrow." He got Seto into bed and crawled in beside him. They hadn't
slept apart since they'd moved in, Joey smiled, nearly three weeks ago now. He snuggled against
Seto's back and relaxed, falling asleep minutes after.

The insistent beeping of the bed side phone woke them both at 1:00am.

"Fuck! Now what?" Seto picked up the phone and barked, "Kaiba! What?"

The mumbling from the other side was shrill and panicky. Seto just snarled that he'd be down as
soon as he got dressed then slammed the phone down. Joey was already moving to get Seto
something to wear.

"What do you want? Suit? Jeans and t?"

Seto sighed. "Suit, I never go into the office in jeans, no matter what time it is." He rubbed his
face, trying to get himself awake. "I know better than to drink more than one glass of champagne,
it knocks me out. And that stuff was just nasty, now, I'll never get awake."

"Yeah, you will. Here's a suit, get dressed. I'll make coffee and put it in a carry cup. Want me to
come with?"

Seto thought for a second. "Please. I'll be out in a second. You wear whatever you want."

Joey nodded. "I'll start coffee while you get dressed. You fix our coffee while I throw on
something. K?"

"Sure."

Seto pulled on the suit, realizing that it was one of his favorites. He'd given up his long tailed
dusters when he'd finally quit dueling. He'd had to. He'd made a rule that anyone who'd won the
international championship more than three times had to. He'd actually won it four when he'd
made the rule. He did regret the coats a bit.

Joey rummaged in Seto's closet until he found what he wanted. He'd noticed a leather duster in
the back of it and fished it out, along with the black jeans and the deep bronze-green shirt it made
him look like sex on two feet. Mean sex, the kind that left bruises if you weren't careful with it.
He grinned into the mirror and went to get his coffee.

Seto glanced up from his stainless steel carry cup and choked on the coffee in his mouth. "Damn,
Joey! That outfit ... it's ... crap."

Joey grinned at Seto. "My outfit is crap? That's nice to know."

"It's too damn early in the morning ... or late at night ... for this sort of shit. I'd fuck you
senseless, if you'd let me. Come on, I need to get to the print shop."

Joey just grinned at Seto, cheekily winking as well, and followed him out the door, snagging his
coffee on the way by.

As they rode down the elevator Seto grumbled at the lack of real information. "I don't know what
the problem is, the idiot just said that the entire run was in danger of being halted, but he never
really got to the point. I usually get more information before I go down but this close to the
finalization, I'd rather go and not need to than need to and not go."

"I don't understand why the man didn't just tell you on the phone."

Seto rubbed his eyes. "Probably just too nervous. It'll probably turn out to be nothing."

But when they got to the print shop in the basement, B3 to be exact, it was a very real disaster.
One of the artists had managed to get a contract that allowed him to keep the copyrights to all his
art and he was demanding double the contracted payment or he'd hold up printing until the law
suit was settled. Seto was livid.

"And how the hell did you manage that particular piece of total idiocy? You know that we always
get copyrights to forestall exactly this sort of thing. Dammit!" Seto ran his hands through his
hair. "Well, I'm not knuckling under to this ... asshole. We'll have to figure out something
tonight. Joey!"

Joey eased away from the wall, looming in behind Seto like a black cloud. He scowled at the
offending lawyer, who shivered. "Well, now we have a problem. Can I see the art in question?"

Seto just motioned to the foreman of the print shop to show Joey the graphics. He examined the
large display boards and shook his head. "These are good. But ... how soon do you need
something and what style do you need."

Seto handed Joey a book. "This is the standards statement. All art has to follow this so that all the
card styles will match. Why?"

Joey flipped through the book then looked at Seto. "Hello. Artist me. I'll just find a studio down
here and do up something really quickly, for your approval. Then, if you like it I'll redo the cards
myself. If I can paint, I can do this. Especially since I don't have to worry about ideas. Be back in
a few."

Joey sauntered out, coat tails swishing. Seto gazed after him and realized that his mouth was
hanging open. He wasn't alone, as the foreman and the lawyer were both gaping too.

It didn't take Joey long to find an empty office with a drafting board and some supplies. He
pulled a quarter sheet of bristol board out of its drawer and stuck it to the drafting board with
some quick dots. He rummaged in the side tray and found a pencil. He checked the requirements
page of the artist's book and started to work.

It was different from his usual work but easy enough to do, for him. He was used to sketching
with a simple writing pencil, as he'd never been able to afford anything else. He looked at his
sketch and decided that it looked like a new card named, "Harpy Lady Queen" so he sketched in
wings and a crown. He worked for quite a while and nearly jumped out of his skin when a voice
from the door demanded to know what he was doing in my' office.

"Oh, man, I'm sorry. There's been a real disaster and I'm trying to come up with something to
present to Kaiba-kun. He's in a fury over this guy who's holding up production, demanding more
money. Asshole!"

The owner of the office just sighed. "I was afraid that the idiot would try something. I never
understood how he got that contract. We all have to give up copyrights to the art to prevent
exactly what happened from happening. How long have you been working?"

Joey stood up and stretched the kinks out of his back. "Not sure. I started working at about
1:30am ... what time is it now?"

"5:30. You should stop now. You'll only ruin what you've got if you get too tired. I'll just put it
in this drawer, so I can do my own work. If I was you, I'd ask for my own office. They'll get you
one. Now. Go home, go to bed. Come back when you're rested and I'll help you get an office.
Scat! You look like shit."

Joey had to laugh, he knew his eyes were black circled, red rimmed and he was more than
coffeed out. "I'm going, I'm going. Seto's going to kill me." He made it to the door without
staggering. Kanashira mouthed Seto' and blinked.

"Joey, there you are. Come on. I thought you'd have gone back to bed by now. I've been waiting
up for you."

Joey gave Seto one bleery-eyed glare and headed for bed. "I've been working on that art you
need."

"I know that. But why .. Never mind, you look exhausted. Go to bed. I'll be in, in a minute."

Joey dropped clothing as he walked and hit the bed, half asleep before he even got covered up.
Seto joined him a few minutes later. He'd taken the time to put up a no call on his phone. He was
tired too, waking up at 1am after only two hours sleep had left him loggy and cross. He'd decided
that he'd managed to fend off disaster, gotten his legal team on the ball with the artist to recover
the money he'd already gotten and found a new artist to finish the work. He deserved to sleep in.

And they did sleep in, until nearly noon. This was so unusual for Seto that it caused the rumor
mill to run wild.