Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Time on a Chain ❯ chapter19 ( Chapter 19 )

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

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh.

Chapter 21

No one woke up until almost noon the next day. The smell of coffee woke Willow who looked
for Seto immediately.

"Now, where the hell did that . . ."

Seto walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped his waist and another over his head. He
was rubbing the last of the water out of his hair with it

"Morning, Sleepyhead. I didn't think you ever slept in this long. How are you feeling?"

"I never sleep in. At least, I didn't, but I could get used to this real easy." Willow stretched and
then grumbled, her hair had come out of the hasty braid she'd made before looking for Seto and
it was a tangled mess."Damnit. I'll never get this combed out. I'm so gonna cut it."

"Don't do that. I'll comb it out for you in just a minute. I always have to do Mokuba's hair for
him, so I do know what I'm doing."

Willow rolled across the bed and landed on her feet, stretched again and headed for the
bathroom. She needed it suddenly. She took care of business and started the shower again. It was
already steamy and the water came on hot. {I could really get used to this. Hot water ready and a
comb out too.}

When she started washing her hair, she suddenly had company. Seto buried both hands in her
heavy hair and started washing it for her. When it came time to rinse, he pulled a spray head from
the shower assembly and used it to rinse the shampoo out, being careful not to spray her in the
face or ears. He reached over and got a bottle of conditioner. Dumping an obscene amount into
his hand he started at the ends and coated her hair with what seemed like half the bottle.

"Wait a while for it to work. I'll get some towels for you. Just be patient. You and Mokuba both
don't leave conditioner on long enough. It only takes two minutes but you won't wait."

Willow whined, "Seto, I get cold. Two minutes is forever. I'm hungry . . . I want coffee . . .
come on"

"At your age whining is unattractive. Just stand there. It's not cold in here. If it is, I'll have it
fixed. Get a heater or something. Two minutes is not that long, after all, you have my scintillating
presence for entertainment. . . . Joey's fixing omelets. At least, he is when he gets up and I just
made coffee before I got in the shower. That ought to get him out of bed pretty soon. . . . Ok get
out and let me . . . son of a bitch! I'm gonna kill someone. Willow . . . "

Willow cringed, she'd forgotten all about the scars on her arms and leg. She had never taken a
shower or bath around anyone before so she didn't know how visible they were. When she
looked at Seto he didn't look disgusted, just angry.

"You really think that anyone who got close enough to me to do this," She indicated a scar on her
thigh. "lived long enough to get away again? You fight with swords; you're bound to get cut
sooner or later. But I'm still around to complain so . . . Seto, it's disgusting, isn't it. ? I'm sorry.
I'll get . . . "

Seto dragged his brain back into his head. Holding out a towel he snarled "Kick me. Willow it's
not disgusting, only startling. I never thought . . . well . . . I'm not used to having a lover who's
a swords-woman. It's only . . . well . . . " Seto shook his head. "Look. I don't have any idea
what I want to; or should say or feel. I just . . . shit. Let me get the conditioner out of your hair. I
don't even want to try to deal with this until after coffee. Ok?"

Willow looked at Seto narrowly and then decided she wasn't going to make a big deal out of this
until it was time to do so. She let Seto rinse the conditioner out of her hair, wrap her in a towel,
towel her hair off and comb it out.

"Just braid it. It'll dry on it's own." Willow didn't want to take time to blow dry her hair. She
wanted coffee and food. Her hair would dry in a few hours, she just hoped it didn't sour first.

"It'll sour before it drys. It won't take much time to dry it. Just stand there and take it like a
woman."

Willow swatted at Seto, who cringed dramatically, giving Willow a good look at his back.

"You dry my hair and then I'm nursing those cuts. Seto? I meant what I said, if I ever catch you
doing that again, you'll be very sorry. I'm not going to nurse you with a septic infection."

"Ok. Willow, I'm sorry, really. Damn, talking about infection, how's your foot."

"My foot is fine. See?" Willow raised her foot to show Seto an almost healed sole. "The scab is
almost ready to come off. I'd pull it off but it'll just bleed all over. It itches, so it's healing well."

Seto eyed her foot and saw that she was right, it was healing well. The scab was lose and looked
like it needed trimmed before she caught it on something and pulled it off. That was why she'd
been wearing sox all the time.

Seto dried Willows' hair and braided it. Then Willow doctored his back, he'd cut it twice, so
Willow just dumped peroxide all over the cuts and used tissues to mop up the runs.

"It looks ok. Just shallow cuts. You're already scabbing over. I should have seen to them last
night, but I just wore out and you weren't bleeding very much. Don't put on a shirt, the scabs are
still soft and I'm afraid it'll stick. I don't want to have to break them to get it off later."

"I thought you didn't wear out. I remember you telling us about going for days without sleep."
Seto bit his lip worrying at it for a second. "You're not sick or something, are you. If you are, I'll
call a doctor. Fess." That word seemed have become a byword with all of them.

"No, I'm not sick. But in order to keep up like I used to, I have to use meditation techniques to
suppress feeling. Physical and emotional. Joey explained to me why that is bad. He's right, so I
quit using them and I'm feeling the effects of years of blocking off everything. I'll be ok as soon
as I get some food and, especially, some coffee. Quit worrying. "

Seto watched Willow as she scrounged around trying to find something to wear, she couldn't go
downstairs in her current garb of three towels. They hadn't had time to do more than accept what
Roland had provided for them. They had only been off the streets for ten days and were still
settling into a routine.

"Seto we all need more clothes than we have, Roland did a fair job of getting us all something
but I can't run around in sweats forever and neither can the rest of you. Let's get downstairs and
find breakfast. Or whatever."

Seto closed his eyes and tried to calm down. The view had been great and he was a guy, the
results of Willow in a towel bending over had left him in no condition to go anywhere for a
while.

"Go on down. I'll be there in a minute. I'll wake Joey and Mo' and be right down."

Willow eyed Seto for a second and then laughed. She knew why he needed a minute for himself
and it pleased her that she could turn the usualy self possessed Seto into a blushing boy.

"Ok, but no funny business. I'll know if you do anything bad to yourself. And I don't think
wringing the weenie is bad. I'm going to get my new sword. I'd like you to look at it to see if you
can't tell me what it's made of."

Willow went to her room and got the sword, then she hammered on Joey's door until he
answered with a stream of profanity that made her laugh. The door popped open and Joey
glowered at her, disheveled and sweaty.

"What, damnit, can't a fellow sleep in without someone wakin' them up at some ungodly hour?"

"It's almost noon. Smell the coffee? . . ." Willow smirked at Joey. "And if I'm not getting any
you aren't either. Come on Seto wants omelets and so do I." Willow stuck her head past Joey to
catch a fleeting glimpse of Mokuba scampering into the bathroom. "Come on, get up and get
cooking."

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Joey came down the stairs grumbling; with Mokuba right behind him, also cranky. Willow
sipped her coffee and waited as Joey opened the refrigerator and rummaged around, finally
extracting eggs, ham, mushrooms, and cheese.

"Coffee?"

"Ye-ha."

Mokuba poured coffee for himself and Joey, dosing Joey's coffee with the right amount of sugar
and cream without having to ask. Willow hoped their relationship was headed in the right
direction, she decided to let nature take its course and be around to pick up the pieces if
necessary. Both teens were old enough to make up their own minds and didn't need her
interference.

Seto ambled down the stairs wearing nothing but pajama bottoms, the waist band hanging off his
hips and the legs drooping over his feet. {Down girl! Down. You can't chain him to the bed.
Don't I wish!} Willow managed to control herself enough that she didn't drool, but she did go
over and kiss him quite thoroughly.

"MmmmmMMM! Coffee, before I die! Gimmie!"

Seto kissed back while holding out his hand for the coffee Joey poured for him.

Everyone except Joey settled at the bar and waited for food. Mokuba was watching Seto out of
the corner of his eye. Seto looked different, more relaxed somehow than he'd ever been since
Mokuba could remember.

"Seto, I want to see your back. How bad is it this time?"

"Mokuba, it's ok. Willow fixed it for me." Seto sipped coffee for a minute, he felt he owed
everyone an explanation. He knew Mokuba had worried about this for years, especially because
he'd had to doctor him several times.

"Mo'? What do you know about . . . this?"

"Not much, just that when you were about twelve all of a sudden it started."

Seto sagged slightly, this was going to be hard but he wanted to get it out.

"Well . . . Gozaburo was so sure I was going to turn into a spoiled brat, at least that's what he
told me. Anyway . . . he said I had to start taking responsibility for my mistakes . . . that I should
know how to . . . damn this is harder than I thought it would be."

Seto put his head down on his folded arms, trying to decide how to explain why he did what he
did, Willow took over without a blink.

"Seto was forced to ‘take responsibility' for his actions. Gozaburo made him, for lack of a better
word, analyze himself; find every error he made and punish himself for it. Once you get started in
a habit like self flagellation it's hard to break. But you don't have to worry about it anymore, I
took over the responsibility. He doesn't have to watch himself every minute, deciding if he's
made a punishable error. I'll do the deciding and the punishing from now on." Willow leered at
Seto making him blink. "And I'm very inventive in my punishments."

Mokuba crossed his arms over his chest, looking like he wanted to smack Seto.

"And just why did you go along with that particular piece of insanity? You fought Gozaburo in
everything for years then suddenly you just gave up. Why?"

Seto straightened up and gazed at Mokuba with his heart in his eyes.

"Why do you think I just caved in like I did? That bastard threatened to send you away. To the
worst orphanage in Japan and to make sure that you never got adopted. He said that I'd never see
you again. So what was I supposed to do? I fought him every way I could think of, but I had to be
subtle so he didn't catch me at it. He wanted me to find fault with myself and decide on my own
punishments, so I did. How can I explain how much relief I feel that Willow will do it for me
now? I don't have to be watching every word out of my mouth and every action I take to see if I
might have made an error."

Joey put an end to the depressing conversation by slapping a plate in front of Seto and another in
front of Willow.

"Eat! No more of this, it's depressing. Think happy thoughts. Like eggs, ham, cheese, coffee;
we're clean, dry, have food. What more could you want. Especially since I got my own on most,
if not all, the guys who . . . who . . . hurt me. Everything's gettin' better by the day."

"As soon as we're done eating, I want a conference in my off . . . never mind we'll do it right
here. Willow, I need to know what you've found out." Seto shoveled omelet into his mouth and
talked around it. "Did you get the hits called off or do we still have to worry about getting shot or
somethin?"

Willow grinned at Seto, she was delighted to see the up tight young CEO talking with his mouth
full and slouching over his plate. {I'm getting somewhere. We really have a chance}

"Well, I tried to call off the hits, but they're blind contracts. The money is gone, I hope, but some
idiot is sure to miss the call off. Weevil put them out. I'm not sure how he payed for them but
there is a lot of stuff missing from the house. Paintings and antique furniture; come to think of it,
I didn't see a lot of nicknacks either.

"The grounds are in really bad shape too. I think the whole family is in trouble. If you call in the
markers, you're not going to get payed. I don't understand why you bought them. It was a waste
of money."

Seto reached out and took hold of the end of her braid and just held it. He'd gotten into the habit
while they were on the streets and she didn't see any reason to try to break it. In fact she kind of
liked it.

"I think I explained it. But I'll try again. The best revenge to take on the fool is to ruin him
socially and the surest way to do that is to call in his markers and prove that he can't pay them
off. It'll ruin his whole family. Remember I said a lot of the men his father does business with are
old fashioned? They won't do business with someone who bets more than they can pay."

Joey swallowed the mouth full of omelet he was chewing on.

"I get it. Call in the markers and rub their faces in the fact that that second rate duelist can't pay
off what he owes. Shame the whole family. I wish I could challenge him to a duel. I'd like the
whip his butt one more time."

Willow eyed Joey skeptically.

"What? I'm good! Seto tell her! I'm third in the world . . . Honest . . . Really. Mo' you believe
me don't you?"

Joey looked from face to face beginning to get flustered.

Seto finally took mercy on him after making him squirm for a while.

"Willow, he's third in the world after Yugi and me. And Yugi and I keep trading places, while he
has always been number three. He shows more consistency than either of us." Turning to Joey, he
got serious. "Joey, I'm really sorry I called you second rate. I was unjust of me and you didn't
deserve for me to belittle you like that."

Joey hugged Mokuba and smiled at Seto.

"Well Big Brother, I think you owe Joey a rematch. I just don't know how it's fair for you to use
a deck with three Blue-eyes White Dragons in it and Joey doesn't have any. That makes for a real
unfair advantage."

Willow, who didn't know anything about the card game, asked a bunch of questions and got
some really amazing answers.

"I think you'd have some way to level the playing field a little. The way it looks to me anyone
can challenge anyone else to a duel. If one of the players has a really weak deck, they'll get their
ass whipped. Should be some way to prevent that."

"I remember you talking about that. Ought to be some way to rate a duelist and then they can
only duel someone in their own level; like a Martial Artists belt system, if you aren't in a certain
rank, you can't use certain cards."

Seto nodded, he'd been saying something like that for years, mainly because he didn't want to be
bothered by every low level duelist with a ‘good' deck. No one else had ever listened to him but
he kept trying.

"I'll be glad if someone could get something like that in place. I get tired of turning down a
bunch of third and forth rate ‘deck masters' who want to duel me. It's a waste of my time."

Mokuba rubbed against Joey who obligingly scratched his back where he couldn't reach it. While
Joey was scratching, he finished his omelet with a distracted look on his face.

"What is it, Duffus? You look like you've completely spaced out."

"I"m thinkin'; you might try it some time, Lover."

Mokuba wandered around the kitchen putting up the leftover food and wiping down counters.
While he was doing that Joey gathered up the dishes and Seto and Willow watched in varying
degrees of amazement. Willow enjoyed watching Joey and Mokuba being domestic, while Seto
was getting used to the idea that his little brother was domestic at all.

"Look, I don't know what you two have planned, but I got an idea and I'd like to put it on the
table for consideration." Mokuba looked around at everyone. "We don't know who has contracts
on us so Willow can't go out and terrorize them into giving up. I don't like the idea of getting a
nasty surprise while I'm grocery shopping or whatever. So my idea is simple. Bait . . . we bait
them out and take care of the problem. It'll make a stink. But I'd rather deal with some bad
publicity than a funeral. What do you think?"

Willow looked at Mokuba with renewed respect. He had suggested exactly what she wanted to
do. It was better coming from him. But she knew that Seto was going to have fit no matter who
suggested it.

"Yeah, good idea. I'll take the rap and . . . "

Seto grabbed Joey by the jaw and stuck his face right up to him.

"You will not take the rap for anything we do. I'll take care of the legal end of things. You're
underage and so am I, come to that. Willow has credentials that make it legal if we are attacked
first and I'll see that you have them too."

"How the hell can you do that if I'm a minor. It don't make sense."

"Yeah? Throw enough money at something and it makes sense. I'll spend half my fortune to
make this go away. All of it if I have to."

Willow interrupted them before it got into a shouting match.

"Shaddup! It won't come to that. I had the same idea and all we have to do is expose ourselves in
a controlled environment. One that they won't recognize as controlled. We get them on our
playing field and crush them in a way that makes it clear to everyone that we are the victims and
were only defending ourselves from an assassination attempt. Believe me I'm good at that kind
of thing. I'm a certified body guard, remember?"

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I keep telling you I'm only a kunoichi . . .

Don't wanna hear it again. At the Ecco I called you a hitokiri and you didn't blink. You can't
have it both ways."

Joey crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at Willow. He was getting tired of her wishy-
washy attitude either she was or she wasn't

"Ok Joey. While I was using some of those meditation techniques I messed my head up pretty
good. I'm a hitokiri all right but only when I'm pressed beyond my limits–now. I don't want to
do that anymore so now I'm just a simple Kunoichi. But I'm as bad, good–what ever as you.
Mess with my family and you've signed your death warrant. So"

Willow eyed Joey for a second then decided that she needed to ask some questions.

"I saw you, in the Ecco, you going to be ok with what we have to do?"

"Yeah . . . mess with my family."

Joey rubbed his eyes. They were getting scratchy again.

"Ok, when you're right you're right. I'd like to see how good you are with that pistol. There's a
range in the basement second level. Go down and get in some practice. I'm going to see what I
can find out about that sword. I'd like to know what kind of metal it is, won't do for it to break
on me at the wrong time."

Willow picked the sword up from the counter and headed for Seto's office. Joey gave his eyes
one more rub and headed for the firing range with his pistol and a mini duffel full of ammo.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Seto here is that . . . oh. You know anything about that thing. What is it?"

Seto took the sword and was taking the thing apart. He then sat looking at the tang of the sword
with a funny look on his face.

"Well . . . I can tell you one thing right now. It's not metal of any kind. I think it's one of the
rarer space age plastics. And it's sharp as hell."

"Plastic? Well I never. It's a good sword, really light, I like it. I'm even faster than ever with such
a light sword. It's shorter than my taichi also."

Seto put the sword back together then turned to his computer and entered the symbols he'd
copied from it. The information he got back supported his initial suppositions. The sword was
one of a series of experimental weapons made by an obscure sword smith renowned for his new
age weapons. It had been made for the Yakuza Boss, as a symbol of his forward thinking.

"Ha! Forward thinking my ass. He's as backward as any Yakuza. So I don't have to worry about
it breaking or getting dull. That's nice and it won't rust either. Hn."

"I'm changing the subject. Seto, we need to draw those assassins out. We need to be a lot more
visible than we have been."

Seto swivelled his chair back and forth for a moment, running his hands through his hair
absently.

"Well . . . hum . . . we all need clothes, so I think we ought to go shopping and be obvious about
it. Maybe we could get out the Rolls, coupla big black SUV's, make a real splash. " Seto got up
with a grunt, he was still in the sweats. "I don't have much to wear, I got in an order for some
suits but that will take a week. No matter how fast they work, it takes two fittings. I could go to
them instead of making them come to me and that'll put me out in the open. I don't want to make
a target of Mokuba or Joey." Seto held up his hand "I know Joey is eager to draw some of the
heat himself but I want Mokuba protected. So that means that Joey stays in the background too."

Willow smiled at Seto, he was determined to protect Joey and Mokuba, which was fine with her,
it made it easier on her if she only had to watch out for one person.

"That's good. I don't have to watch out for Mokuba. Seto? Joey will give his life for Mokuba.
He's in love with him. You don't have a problem with that do you. I don't want to have to break
up a fight between you and him."

Seto shook his head, "No problem yet. I'll have to talk to Joey and Mokuba before I decide if
there is a problem or not."

"Ok, that's good. I'll send Mo' in now. No time like the present. Although I will say this. Joey is
loyal. His heart is true as gold. If he loves Mokuba . . . no . . . not if, I know he does. You
won't have to worry about anything. He'll protect not only his body but his heart. I don't see us
having to pick up pieces of Mokuba's heart. Mo' is more likely to hurt Joey than the other way
around."

"I'm glad to hear that. I think the same way, so I really want to talk to Mo'. I just need to touch
base with Joey."

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"Hey Big Brother, you wanted to talk to me?" Mokuba stuck his head around the door and seeing
Seto's face, he gulped. Seto had found out about him and Joey. Even though they'd made few
efforts to hide what they were doing, he still faced the ‘Big Brother' talk with trepidation.

"Yes, I need to ask you if you have considered exactly what you're doing. I won't ask you if
you're sure. I wouldn't insult your intelligence that way. But have you thought about the
implications of the life you're choosing? It's difficult at best, down right dangerous at worst. Our
money will shield you from a lot of the ramifications of homosexuality, but you're still going to
get bad reactions. People are going to be rude to you, refuse to wait on you. People you thought
were your friends are going to give you the cut direct, cold shoulder whatever you want to call it.
Women are going to be a nuisance.. . . Yes, women. They'll be sure that all it takes to fix you is
the right woman and they'll be sure they are it.

"Mokuba, be very sure of this before it goes any farther. It's hard, real hard." Seto held up his
hand to stop Mokuba's question. "And before you ask, I'm straight. I'm hoping to lure Willow
into my bed. But I have eyes and I listen. I watch the news and see want happens. Mo' if it gets
too hard for you, I'll help you, you know I will. But what about Joey, he loves you very much. If
you get scared off or change your mind, what about him. If you're just Bi-curious or it's just a
crush, you'll shatter him into a million pieces. I don't want that for both your sakes and mine."

Mokuba sighed and nodded. "I did a lot of thinking about it while we were on the streets and I
held Joey off until I was sure. It hurt him, but I felt that I needed to be sure before we started
anything. It was easier to say ‘no' right off the bat than it would be to put the brakes on
something we'd already started, and better for Joey too. I . . . I'm not like most kids my age, no
matter how much you wish I was. Gozaburo damaged me too. I tend to think things through
more. I'm really glad you support me and it makes me even gladder that you worry about Joey.
Thanks, Big Bro, that takes a load off my mind."

Seto just reached out and hugged Mokuba. He worried about him, but he was almost sixteen.
{Birthday party! It's gotta be a good one too}



"Wheeler, I need to have a serious talk with you-- now."

"Sure Seto, but before you jump my shit. I think I know what you're going to say. I thought a lot
about it before I even made a pass at Mo'. I love him with all my heart and soul. He's a bright
shining light in my life. I'll do anything for him." Joey rubbed his eye with the heel of his hand
"If you think I ought to leave him . . . if you think it's better for him. I'll go . . . I just . . . no
military school ok?"

"Joey, I don't plan on sending you away. As long as you're not abusive . . . " Seto held up both
hands in a placating gesture. "I know you wouldn't, but it needs to be said. You know how hard
this will be on both of you. More so, maybe, on Mokuba than you. I just hope he's not crushing
on you or something."

"Well, if he is . . . no, I don't think so. He's really thought about this a lot and we've discussed it.
I really don't get that vibe off him. But if it turns out that is what is happening . . . well . . . I'll
live. I won't like it, but I won't make a fuss. You can find me somewhere else to live until I'm
old enough to take care of myself . . . " Joey rubbed at his eyes again. "Damn, I must have gotten
too much powder smoke in my eyes. They're really burnnin"

Seto watched Joey for a moment, then decided that he really had gotten smoke in his eyes, they
were too swollen for anything else.

"Um . . . Joey? There's one other thing and . . . Damn, this is embarrassing.. . . because of your
prior experiences, I . . .well, I need to discuss the mechanics of . . . shit."

Seto broke off, he really needed to make sure that Joey didn't hurt Mokuba physically, it might
give him a disgust of the act itself and that would cause both of them anguish.

"Seto, don't choke on it. If you got something to say about us doing it, just say it, we're both big
boys now. And I took gym. Ok?"

"Well, just. Un . . . damnit, I'm too young to be having the ‘sex' talk with anyone, much less
with my brothers' lover." Seto took a deep breath and started again. "Don't rush too much with
him, be sure he's ready for you before you penetrate him."

Joey blinked at Seto then began to chuckle, at the look on Seto's face he broke down completely
and howled.

"Wheeler . . . I'm so gonna kick your ass. It's not funny. If you hurt him, I'll break you into
pieces then give them to Willow."

"No . . . no. . You don't understand." Joey swiped his streaming eyes with the tail of his shirt.
"I'm uke. You better give him the ‘don't hurt him' talk."

Seto felt his jaw drop.

"You really think I'd let Mo' be uke. Don't be an ass. He's too little or I'm too big, depending on
how you want to look at it. I'm gonna take a shower and change. We need go shopping and buy
some clothes, I'm down to cleanest dirty again."

Joey walked out the door leaving Seto to pick his jaw up off the floor.

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The next morning saw the Rolls etc. parked in the underground garage by the elevator, waiting
for the four teens to head for the Mall in the Shinjuku. The crowds were horrible, as always, but
the door greeters were practically groveling when they recognized Seto and Mokuba

Willow looked at the shoes and settled for new hi-tops and a pair of Teva sandals, her choices in
clothing made Seto laugh. Any other woman faced with an unlimited charge card backed by Seto
Kaiba would have gone for the gravy. She just bought jeans, t shirts, plain under wear and a few
odds and ends of accessories.

Joey was nearly the same, except he let Mokuba pick him out some casual dress slacks and
sweaters. He didn't care if Mokuba dressed him in pink and ribbons.

Seto took some time in one of the higher end mens shops and got some things he'd always
wanted but never thought he should wear. Dockers for one and a pair of overalls. {I've always
wanted some but never thought they were appropriate.}


Mokuba of course went completely crazy and spent the better part of an hour getting Joey set up
just exactly as he wanted him, no pink or ribbons, but plenty of nice clothes; slacks, sweaters,
button down shirts, nice shoes and, Joey nearly had a spasm, a pair of 45,445 yen sneakers.

"Shut up, you like them don't you?"

"Yeah but I'm not your . . . "

"Don't you say it. I'll smack you right here. I want to get them for you, but it's not as if you
couldn't afford them yourself."

"I. . I forgot. I could, couldn't I. Well I'll just have to find you something from me."

"There . . . you're getting the hang of it already."

"God, will you two get a room already." Seto smiled indulgently at the two belying the acerbity
of his remark.

After a day spent shopping, eating at a very high profile restaurant and generally letting
themselves be seen, the four headed for the parking garage and the waiting ride home.

"Look. There's a nice pocket garden. I've never seen that before. Can we go take a look?"

Mokuba tugged at Joey's hand, the garden was small, hidden in a nook in the wall and isolated.
Willow felt a cold chill but went along with Mokuba with Seto right behind her.

The attack was almost anticlimactic. The four men who dropped from the ceiling didn't last long
enough to make it worth Willow's time to draw her sword.

Joey took out the first man with a round house kick that would have crippled a mule. Seto jerked
one out of the air and floored him with a punch that had Joey written all over it. Willow got the
other two with a kick/punch combination that made Joey cheer.

"Yah hoo! Willow. Great move. Teach me soon. Now what do we do with the garbage."

"I'll take care of them, you three go on to the car . . . "At Seto's wary look she smirked "Don't
worry, I won't kill them. I wouldn't sully my steel with their blood. They're not worthy. I just
don't want Mokuba or Joey to see the mess and I trust you to keep them away. Go on get."

Willow turned back to the fallen assassins and took it for granted that they would leave. They
did.

"Ok, guys, you're alive because Seto doesn't want me to dirty my hands with you. So thank your
guardian angels . But listen up and spread the word. The money isn't there anymore and the hit is
called off. Next person who tries to collect will die. Slowly and very painfully. Underwood is
broke and in disgrace, so the contract isn't any good. I've told you twice in two different ways so
don't forget to spread the word."

One of the men was carefully easing his way towards the door

"Ah, ah, ah! No sneaking out while I'm speaking. I don't like it."

"Sorry . . . sorry. I just wasn't . . . uh . . I " The man shut up with a gulp.

"wasn't taking any chances that the Baka bitch Hitokiri might change her mind? That's smart."

Willow twitched and suddenly had a knife in her hand which she used to deflect the dart another
of the attackers threw at her. She changed her grip and the handle suddenly blossomed from his
forehead like some obscene horn.

Now that wasn't nice at all. Made a real mess for you three to clean up.

Willow pulled the knife out of his head with an odd sucking noise. She held it out to another of
the men.

Clean it.

The man reached for the knife but Willow flicked it away from his hand.

Lick it clean. Or would you rather I cut out your tongue and then cleaned it.

After shaking his head in panic the man put out his tongue and licked the blade clean. The
Willow cut a piece of fabric from the third mans shirt and finished wiping the blade clean. She
eyed the men and shook her head.

"Rank amateurs. Waste of time. Tell everyone out there that Willow Kenshin is on the job."

When she got to the car, Joey was pacing, while Mokuba and Seto discussed things with security.

"Hey." Joey knuckled his eyes, which were streaming tears. "You had us worried."

"I'm ok. Those four weren't even beyond Seto's abilities." At his glower she laughed. "Well
you're the least experienced and trained of us all, except for Mo'. So don't give me that look."

Mokuba took Joey's hand away from his eye "Stop that, you'll only make it worse. Come on, get
in the car. I want to get home before the deliveries start coming in."

After getting in to the car, Seto gave Joey a hard look.

"Wheeler what's wrong. There's no need to react like that."

"I'm not cryin'. My eyes are irritated for some reason and keep watering. It's a giant nuisance.
Damnit!" Joey pressed the palms of his hands over his eyes and pressed in. "Now I got sparkles."

Seto gave Joey a worried look, but let it slide since Joey didn't seem to think it was a big deal.

"Well, that went well. We're starting to get rid of the small fry. I think that may have gotten rid
of most of the lower level nuance."

Willow settled back into the seats with a satisfied smile. Seto, Joey and Mokuba all agreed with
her.

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I'm so sorry it took me so long to update this story but I'm really trying to get my Ranma
done. When it's done I'll finish this story. Please be patient with me Again Sorry.