Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ To Serve and Protect ❯ Chapter 11

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

To serve 11

When they finally managed to get back to the car Roland was waiting to open the door. The
snarky look on his face left no doubt as to what he'd been doing while they were eating. Seto
ignored him, but Joey gave him one hard look before he entered the car.

"Seto, I need to be somewhere where I can take care of myself."

Seto eyed Joey like he was afraid he was going to do something rash.

"Joey, you . . . ok?" Seto started to reach out to Joey then drew his hand back as Joey cringed into
the corner.

"No, I'm not ok. I don't think I've got another save in me. I'm fucking tired. I want to go
somewhere safe and just stay there. I'm not gonna be much good to you or myself if I don't get
some rest soon. And I don't mean a good night's sleep and a shower."

Seto bit at his lip while he looked Joey over. That was when he noticed the blood on his leg.

"Joey, your leg is bleeding. What . . . I thought you got shot in the chest."

"I told you, I broke the needle off in my leg. You don't break a needle off without some tearing
to go along with it. How long before we get to The Cedars?"

Seto watched Joey for a long minute, he seemed calm and in control of himself. But the strain
around his eyes spoke volumes.

Roland answered Seto's tap on the divider and when Seto asked about an ETA he thought for a
minute, then answered that it depended on how bad they needed to be there. If they needed to he
could make it in thirty minutes, unless they got stopped. Seto looked at Joey who told him he'd
like to make it in good time but Roland didn't need to push it.

"I'll manage until we get there. But I'm not puttin' up with a meet and greet. I want to go directly
to my quarters and I want you in yours until I can check security." At Seto's glower, he snarled
harshly. "Seto do not argue with me. That guy nearly got you. I'm so paranoid I want to lock you
in a safe. Just go with me for tonight. Please."

Seto slumped in the seat, crossed his arms over his chest and grumbled. "Damn. . . ok, Joey. I'll
humor you. I owe you at least that much. But I'm not running away from this. I'm going to meet
it head on and defeat it. This Letter Man bastard had me locking myself in Kaiba Towers and I'm
not falling for that shit again. I'll go where I want, when I want. Deal."

Joey gave Seto a really evil feral grin. "You bet you'll go where you want when you want. I need
a week to heal up, but after that." His voice dropped to a soft hiss. "all's fair in love and war.
And I really do not love this guy." Joey slid down on the seat until his buttocks caught on the
edge and closed his eyes. "I'm gonna sleep until we get there. Don't touch me. If I don't wake up
when we get there, kick my feet."

Seto didn't say anything, but while he watched Joey sleep he made some plans that had nothing
to do with the Letter Man.



Seto had to kick Joey's feet when they got to The Cedars. He hadn't known exactly what the
place was like, a site map wasn't like actually seeing the place. So he was surprised when they
were able to pull right up to the stairs to the main building. Joey started and came awake fighting.
When his flashing fists hit air he grunted then looked around dazedly. Rubbing one hand over his
face, he stretched himself awake.

They climbed the stairs to the main door and entered a vision from another age. The entire
complex had been restored to its original condition with plumbing and wiring hidden behind
paneled over areas, it was magnificent. Something out of one of Akaria Kurosawa's movies.

Joey limped up beside Seto and remarked in an awed voice. "Damn, looks like you really are lord
of the land. Great. . . where's my room?"

The man who was bowing them into the Great Hall gave him a funny look and ushered them to
the third floor. He showed Seto to his suite of rooms and tried to show Joey to the next floor, but
Joey just pointed to the rooms next to Seto and said, "I'll take them."

"But Sir, that is the suite reserved for the lady of the house. Servants are all on the next floor."

Seto bit his lip for a second. It really wasn't funny, Joey looked like he was about to drop. After
that second he calmly told the man, "He's my body guard. He'll be there. You may leave us
now."

Joey entered his chosen rooms and headed for the bathroom. He didn't pay any attention to the
bedroom he limped through or the other doors which led to an assortment of auxiliary rooms and
closets. Seto followed Joey into the bathroom and knelt down beside him.

"Seto, get up off the floor. What the hell are you doing?"

Seto started undoing Joey's belt. "I'm taking care of you. You won't take care of yourself. You'll
just strip off and fall into bed." Seto looked up at Joey. "Right or wrong."

Joey sighed and shoved his hand thorough his loose hair. "Yeah. Seto . . . I just want to get into
bed before I can't make it. I . . ."

Seto tried to pull Joeys pants down but he hissed and told him to stop. When Seto investigated,
he found where the blood was coming from.

"Joey, you really weren't joking when you said you broke off a needle. How could you sit and eat
with that in your leg?"

"After a while I just . . . don't feel it anymore. Learned that from Pop. Here . . . "

"Don't do anything. Lie down. I'll figure it out. Just give me a minute." Seto shoved the feeling
of fury down 'I learned it from Pop' indeed.

Joey levered himself down to the floor and watched as Seto tossed the room looking for
something. He finally found it under the sink. It wasn't much as a field medic kit but it was
adequate for most household uses.

"Well . . . I found the damn thing, but I don't think I'm going to find what I want. Let me get
situated and I'll try . . ."

"Damn it Seto, anything you do is better than trying to do it myself. Just get on with it. I've only
got so much juice left."

So Seto started by trying to pull Joey's pants down. At his yelp of pain Seto realized that part of
the reason the needle had broken off was that it had been stabbed through the seam of the leather
biking pants. The leather was soaked with blood and sticking to Joey. Seto rummaged through
the kit until he found the pair of scissors. When he started to cut the pants Joey protested.

"Hey. These pants cost two hundred dollars."

"I'll buy you new ones that fit better. Shut up. I can't pull them down, it hurts you."

"Damnit. I like them."

"Why? They don't fit right. They're too loose in the butt, and too short." Seto cut the leg from
ankle to hip; spreading the leather he clenched his teeth, the needle was just barely visible in the
middle of a tear almost two inches long.

"They don't bind me when I ride and the leg is short enough that it doesn't get in the way of my
hold out . . . Ow! Fuck! . . . Leave the leg will you."

"Sorry. Why do you call it a hold out? "Seto realized that Joey was only arguing with him in
order to distract himself from what Seto was doing.

"Because it's hidden. You can hold it out if someone disarms you. Never givin' up mine again."

Seto looked at the tear in Joey's flesh, trying to ignore the smooth curve of Joey's thigh and not
completely succeeding. Dragging his attention back to what he was doing, Seto picked through
the contents of the med kit again.

"Try the hemostat. It's locking. If you can get a good grip on the end, you can lock the jaws and
then pull it out."

Seto took the hemostat out of the kit and did manage to get a good grip on the end of the needle.
He knew he had to be hurting Joey, he'd had to dig around a little to get enough length to grip.
When he pulled it out Joey whimpered slightly then sighed.

"Well . . . that's over. Thanks, Seto. I've got it now."

"Wheeler, down! You won't do anything more than go to bed. You'll get an infection if it's not
properly tended. I took first aid training, a long time ago I'll admit, but I haven't forgotten
everything."

"Seto I'm tired. I wanna go to bed." Joey quite frankly whined. He was so tired he was getting
childish.

"You'll get to go to bed in a minute. I promise. Be good and it'll all be over with in no time."
Seto used his no nonsense voice.

Joey submitted, he was just too tired to argue. And he knew that arguing with Seto when he used
that tone of voice took a lot of effort.

Seto wet a wash cloth and gently wiped the blood off Joey's thigh. Then he dusted the tear with
antiseptic powder. He examined the tear carefully, then taped it together in several places with
butterfly's. Deciding that they weren't adequate by themselves he covered the whole thing with a
gauze pad and taped it on all four sides.

"Get up." Seto offered Joey his hand "Here, I'll help you up. Don't stretch the muscle, you'll just
open that tear again."

Joey allowed Seto to help him up and stood passively as Seto finally got him undressed and
headed in the general direction of bed. Seto stopped Joey at the side of the bed and made him
stand while he got a pair of boxers on him.

Then he got him into the bed, tucked him in, and waited for him to fall asleep. Joey moved
restlessly and shivered. "Cold. Seto, I'm cold."

Seto stripped down to his boxers and slid into the bed with Joey. He poked and tugged until Joey
was curled up on his side and pulled him into a spoon. "Here let me warm you up. You're getting
shocky. Take it easy. It's ok. I'll fix it all."

"Can't fix it . . . Seto, you know that guy wasn't the Letter Man."

"Yeah, he was just common yakuza. Really low in the ranks. You think the Letter Man hired
him?"

"Probably . . . God I'm tired. I'm still so cold. Seto, I can't get warm."

Seto pulled Joey closer and tucked the blankets around them tighter. "I'll get you warm. Just
relax."

Joey sighed and fell sleep almost at once. Seto lay holding him and worrying about him. Things
were bad. If Joey didn't realize now how bad things were, they could only get worse. But he'd
said 'I don't know how many more saves I have in me.' That meant that Joey knew something
was wrong. He'd said he was burning out. Seto decided to go to his own bed. This was definitely
not the time to start anything.

When he started to slide out of the bed Joey started and woke up, sort of.

"Wa'? Set', no."

"Joey, I need to go to my own bed. This isn't a good idea."

Joey caught Seto by the wrist and held on. "NO! I need . . . I . . . you . . . stay here." Joey tugged
on Seto. "Need to know. . . . safe . . . I "

Seto realized that Joey was so exhausted that he wasn't going to make any sense. He also realized
that he had no idea what he was saying.

"Joey, I'm going to my own bed. I won't stay here. Things might happen that we'll both regret.
Do you understand?"

"Hmmm? Set' need . . . safe . . . stay." Joey was still not really awake. Seto finally understood
what it was that Joey needed.

"Joey. I'm going to bed. I won't go anywhere until you wake up. I want you to sleep all night and
wake up when you want too. I will stay in my quarters until you come for me. Do you
understand? I won't even go out into the garden until you check security. I swear. Joey?"

Joey looked blearily at Seto, but he seemed to understand what he was being told. He let his eyes
flutter shut and curled back up in the bed. Seto got up, covered Joey carefully and went to his
own bed. His cold, empty bed.



Joey woke up at dawn and startled so hard that he nearly fell off the bed. He heard Seto talking in
his memory. 'I won't even go into the gardens.' He rolled over, assessed his condition, and
decided, as he fell back to sleep, that he felt awful. He woke again sometime later and dragged
himself out of bed to go to the bathroom, his bladder demanded it in no uncertain terms.
Grumbling irritably he tried to decide wether he was going back to bed or what. Then he realized
that if Seto kept his word [when has he broken it?] he had been cooped up in his rooms for over
eighteen hours. Not that he couldn't do with the rest too. But fair was fair. So he dragged on
some clothes and limped in search of Seto's rooms.

When he entered the hall, he remembered the door, it was a massive slab of some hard wood
studded with copper. He dragged it open over the protests of sore muscles he didn't remember
even having.

"Seto? You in here? Ummm . . . Seto?"

Seto ambled in from a door to one side of the gigantic audience chamber, smirked at Joey and
motioned with one hand. "Welcome to my private quarters. I wonder what the public rooms look
like."

"This is . . . damn, you're really a Diamyou. Well, never mind that. I'm starving. Where's the
kitchen?"

"I don't have a clue. I waited for you, just like I promised. I haven't had a bite. Come on. Let's
find some food. I'm fading away to nothing."

Joey snorted.

He noticed Seto watching him out of the corner of his eye. He concern was obvious to Joey.
Anyone else would have thought he was being sarcastic.

"I need a shower. I stink. And I'm sore all over. Give me five minutes and I'll be ready."

Seto shook his head. "No shower. You'll wet that wound. Let's eat first, then you can take a
hobo. I'll wash your back for you."

"Ummm Seto? I . . " Joey rubbed the back of his neck. "Never mind."

"No." Seto knew exactly what Joey wanted to say and now was not the time "you're right, never
mind . . . for now."

Joey sighed, he wasn't sure exactly what was going on just now. He was so confused, tired,
stressed out, and frankly, afraid for Seto, that he didn't know what to do. He decided the best
thing to do was take his cues from Seto. Right now he was hungry.

Seto I'm not sure what we're dancing around. I'm too tired to deal right now. So . . . yeah . . .
never mind . . . " Joey poked Seto in the shoulder. "If I don't eat soon, I'm gonna bite you."

Seto smirked at Joey. "Who knows, I might like it."

Joey smirked back "Kitchen . . . now."

So they went in search of the kitchen and anyone who could show them around. What they found
was a worried Roland pacing at the bottom of the wide (enough to drive a VW down) stair case,
trying to decide wether to come up and wake them up or not.

Joey fell on him with a glad cry of, "Roland, food before I fade away to nothing." Roland fell in
with Joey's obvious desire not to talk about yesterday.

"Certainly, Master Joey. The kitchen is this way. I know you'd prefer to eat there rather than in
the main dinning room."

"Why not the dinning room?" Joey followed Roland's pointing finger and stuck his head into the
room. "Holy crap. Got skates? How many people will this hanger seat?"

Seto looked in over Joey's shoulder and estimated with a practiced eye. "Well . . . if we seat them
at tables four feet apart with six at a table, probably . . . allowing room for side tables and service
area. Five hundred or so. If we set up like they did when this was a living castle, over a
thousand."

Joey got big eyed and gulped. "Wow. You ever decide to have a banquet here I'm staying in my
quarters. I don't think I could stand the strain."

"What about security?"

"Roland. That's his job. I don't do that kind of security. If Roland says they come to it, they
come. You'll be safe. Roland wouldn't allow anything else."

"Yeah and you leave me with no one to talk to. You ever hear the conversation of some of those
people? Money, politics, sex. Most of them don't know a Time Wizard from the Dark Magician.
Roland, I want you to check out enough people to staff this place properly. I'm sure the local
economy could benefit from the jobs. I'm planning on making this place my primary residence if
it works out . . . Joseph, close your mouth before a fly gets in."

Joey snapped his mouth closed and then muttered, "still hungry."

"We're going, Master Joseph." Roland took the hint from Seto. "Continue on this way. There's a
very nice terrace. I thought you might make it your regular dinning area, for the summer at least."

When Seto saw the terrace, he nodded. It had a panoramic view of the valley in which the
dwelling was situated. The over look included an excellent view of the mountains. The terrace
itself was fair sized. Nearly fifty feet in diameter with an assortment of potted plants, stools,
benches and chairs dotted around. There was a nice sized table and several chairs located close to
the inner side near the door.

Joey sighed. "This is really nice. But if I have to eat in that hanger sized dinning room I'm . . ."

"Wheeler. I'm sure we can find a place to dine en familia, I don't want to eat in that echoing
cavern either. Roland has probably seen to it. You forget he's served me, one way and another,
since I was . . . How old, Roland?"

"Since you were fourteen, Sir. I remember the day you hired me. Very. . .er.."

"Arrogant? Probably stuck up."

"I wouldn't say that, Sir."

"No, you wouldn't. Find food . . . now."

Roland smiled and bowed slightly. He was watching Seto relax in a way he'd never expected.
Joey was good for Seto. He just hoped Seto was going to be as good for Joey.

Seto and Joey sat with their backs to the wall and enjoyed a companionable silence while they
both admired the view.

"Seto?"

"Huh?"

"What is this?"

"What is what?"

"This place. Is it a castle? Or a fortress?"

"Don't know. I did some research. It's small by comparison with most of the other surviving
castles in Japan. The only reason it wasn't destroyed at the end of Edo is because it was the
primary residence of the mother of the local lord. The Emperor allowed it to survive. It was
abandoned in the middle eighteen hundreds. By the beginning of the twentieth century it was
mostly a ruin. All the wood was rotten and it was falling down. The government decreed it a
national treasure but no one would take responsibility for restoring it. I would up with it when I
bought the next valley over. "

"Why?"

"Why what. Damnit Joey, you're becoming monosyllabic."

"Yeah." but Joey grinned at Seto.

"Ok. Be that way. So, I bought the valley to build a factory. I'm moving a lot of my
manufacturing out of Tokyo. The problems of congestion and traffic are interfering with shipping
and personnel are late to work. It's just getting to be more than I want to deal with and the out
lying reaches of japan are so needy of jobs. So I'm moving out. Therefore, I bought that whole
area from the government for taxes. Mokuba discovered this 'castle' fortress and decided to
restore it. He told me it could be written off taxes and I couldn't have cared less, you know how I
am. If it makes Mokuba happy, I don't care how much it costs. I think it will turn out to be a real
investment."

"I like it. I've been looking at the valley. There's only one way in and it's easily defensible. We
can control everyone who comes in without being too obvious about it. If you hire local people,
we can be sure that the Letter Man isn't among them. And it's so beautiful. The valley is huge
too. We could even ride."

"I don't want the ground torn up by dirt bikes."

"Horses you ass."

"you ride?"

"Yeah. Even rodeoed some."

"Rodeo? When?"

"At Angola. Louisiana State Prison Farm has a rodeo every year."

Just then Roland interrupted them by coming back with a servant and breakfast on a cart.

"This is Yukari. he'll be in charge of serving you your meals. The cook is Mrs. Sakura. She's
very shy. You probably won't see her, unless you invade the kitchen."

Yukari wiped the table and set places. Then he set out all the dishes, removed the covers and,
bowing one last time, left them only remarking. "I'll be just inside. Ring the little bell if you want
anything."

Seto thanked him and settled in his place. Joey moved the place setting so he could enjoy the
view while he ate. That put him side by side with Seto who only smiled slightly and offered Joey
some toast. He watched in some amusement as Joey helped himself to toast, eggs and bacon.
There was some sort of cheese sauce in a gravy boat. He blinked as Joey piled the eggs on his
toast and dumped a liberal helping of cheese on them.

"Coffee. Seto . . . coffee."

"Joey." Seto's warning tone made Joey wince slightly

"Seto . . . please. I need it. You won't let me smoke or drink so at least let me have this one
vice."

Seto realized with a start that Joey was right; and he still owed him the promised obedience.

"Ok, I'll shut up. But you really do drink too much coffee. You drink at least four double doubles
a day."

"That's nothing. I used to drink a triple triple first thing in the morning until I went to prison.
Prison coffee is so bad even I can't drink it. And the tea is worse. Seto, please. Ring the bell.
Ok?"

"Ok. Quit weedling. You sound like a little kid."

Seto rang the bell and Yukari came out. Seto asked him if there was a coffee machine. At his
assurance that they had a very fine espresso machine in the kitchen Seto requested a cup for Joey.

Yukari turned to Joey and inquired how he wanted it.

"I wish you knew how to make a Milky Way. I'd really like a triple."

"Ah. Yes. My daughter works at the local coffee shop. I can make you one easily. But a triple?
Are you sure?"

"After a day like yesterday? I want all the caffeine the human system can stand."

"Hump. I'll make you my special. You'll like it, I think."

Yukari went away and returned quickly with something that made Seto's eyes pop. The cup was
the size of a small soup bowl and three quarters full of coffee with a blob of whipped cream
floating on it.

Joey fell on it with a cry of delight that made Yukari smile

"Wheeler! You'll OD. What the hell is in that?"

Oh, sir. It's a Horse Killer. Five shots of triple strength espresso. Steamed milk, caramel and
chocolate syrup, double foam, and whipped cream. Very nice."

Seto just groaned and dropped his head into his hands. "Heaven save me from a coffeed out
Wheeler."

Joey drank his coffee with such evident enjoyment that Seto didn't have the heart to fuss at him.
He also devoured everything on the table that Seto didn't lay claim to.

Seto sat back and sipped his tea, he wanted the newspaper. But he wound up talking Duel
Monsters with Joey instead. They chatted for over an hour until Seto glanced at his watch and
realized that it was almost noon.

"Joey, it's almost noon. We better see about getting you cleaned up. Come on."

"Ok, Seto. I don't think I smell very good. I noticed Yukari looking at me funny, but it was so
nice here that I didn't want to do anything. But you're right, I better get cleaned up."

"Then I'll show you the muniment room."

"The what?"

"Muniment room, it's a room that all the records of an estate are kept in. This one is particularly
nice, so I've been told. There's a lot of old records still there. It was sealed up when the place
was closed. Mice didn't get in and it was still weather tight when Mokuba started restoring, but
the best thing is a scale model of the entire valley and all the buildings as they were in the
seventeen hundreds."

Joey started to stretch and wound up moaning instead, every thing hurt.

"What? You ok?"

"No, I'm not. Every muscle hurts. I'm ok as long as I don't move around too much. But if I do
anything, it hurts. Getting shot tends to do that."

"What can I do to help? "

"Not much unless you know deep tissue massage."

Seto didn't, but he knew who did.

"Not a clue. Let's get you washed, at least. Too bad you can't get into the bath. But you know
you can't get that wound wet until it starts healing better."

As they went back to their rooms Joey and Seto took the opportunity to look around a little more.
The place was huge and it was considered small. The Castle Hijemi-jo was much bigger; the
grounds covered fifteen or twenty acres. The grounds here only covered a little more than three.
The outer baily inclosed the full three acres, but it was now little more than a mound encircling
the buildings.

The buildings included the main building and a long low structure that was the horse barn, a
smoke house, a garden tea house and a small temple. The main building was six pagoda style
stories tall and had three sub levels.

The first level was public rooms; a great hall, dinning room, audience chamber and the kitchens.
The second floor was the muniment room, a library, and a gigantic dojo. The third floor was bed
rooms and suites. The fourth floor was all servants' rooms and service rooms. The fifth and sixth
floors were incomplete. Going down, the first sub level was more service rooms; such as a
Laundry and dry storage, freezers, and a wine cellar. The other two sub levels were, believe it or
not, real dungeons. And there was an oubliette. Most of these rooms were explored at a later date
but Seto told Joey all about them as they made their way back up the stairs.

Seto helped Joey take off the jeans and T-shirt he'd donned before going in search of breakfast.
Seto winced, Joey's ribs were way too prominent. He looked even more starved than ever before.

"Here, stand in the shower. I'll . . . uummm. . . Joey?"

"Wha' . . . Joey turned around. "Here. Gimme that."

Seto was already tangled in the film wrap he'd found in the closet.

"I hate that stuff. I never can get it off the roll."

"Seto, you're a disaster waiting to happen in the kitchen. If I wrap this around my leg tight
enough, it'll keep the dressing dry . . . great! I can take a shower after all. Seto if . . . erm . . .
excuse me?"

Seto grinned at Joey's obvious joy at such a small thing as being able to take a shower. But after
second thoughts it wasn't really a small thing. Being clean probably hadn't always been a given
for Joey. Seto made himself scarce.

Joey eyed the shower stall with some misgivings. The thing had more knobs than his stereo set
and enough shower heads that it looked like a car wash. Mokuba had probably expected this to
be his room. Joey felt bad, but decided that when this was all over Mokuba could have his room
back and not before. So he girded his loins, figuratively speaking, and turned the thing on. After
about three seconds he forgot about everything but the feeling of various jets of water massaging
away the dirt, sweat and general malaise of the last several hours. He stayed in until he started to
prune then he washed his hair with real shampoo for the first time in ages.

"You fall in and drown?" Seto's amused voice pulled Joey from his sybaritic trance. He found a
towel held in front of the shower door by Seto, he pulled it around his hips and started to yank a
comb through his hair.

"Wheeler, damnit."

"Seto, what's on your nerves now." Joey gave Seto a puzzled look in the mirror.

"You. Don't do that to your hair. Here, let me do that." Seto tweaked the comb from Joey's
fingers and started to comb his hair. When he caught a tangle, he ran his fingers through Joey's
hair and sighed

"Did you use that shampoo?" at Joey's nod he fished around in the side cabinet and took out a
trigger spray. "I'll just spray you with some of this." Joey ducked automatically. "Stop that. It's
only de-tangler conditioner. I'll spray some on your hair to help the comb through. Sit still."

"I'm standin'"

"Ass."

"Nice."

"Oh, god." Seto swatted Joey on the head with the comb. "Joey, for heaven's sake."

Joey just smirked and closed his eyes to keep the spray out of them.

Seto sprayed, combed and tied. Joey just stood and let him do what he wanted to. When Seto
patted him and told him he was done, Joey sighed.

"Thanks, Seto. What now? I don't think I'm up to much. I'm still really sore. The shower helped
a lot . . . By the way. If Mo' wants his room back . . . I'm sorry. Not until this mess is over. Then
I'll move out, no problem, but not until."

Seto led Joey into his sitting room. Roland was standing near a portable massage table rubbing
his hands. The sight of Roland in shirt sleeves made Joey stop short enough that Seto nearly
bumped into him.

"Go. Roland is an expert in deep tissue massage. And he knows enough not to hit the bruises.
Get on the table."

Joey crawled on the table and waited for Roland to do something. First, he gently ran his hands
over Joey's back. He found the bruise from the bullet and apologized when Joey flinched. Half
an hour later he wiped his hands on a small towel and carefully rolled Joey over. Joey was limp
and didn't resist; he just let Roland have his way.

Roland finished the massage and covered Joey with a warm sheet. "Just stay there for a while. I
don't want you jumping up and ruining all my work. Also there's a possibility that you may fall."

Joey just moaned softly and grumbled. "Not movin'. Nope. Still sounds good."



While Joey was having his massage, seto got on the phone to Doctor Higa. He talked to the
Doctor and told him that he wanted to hire him for Joey.

"I'm not sure exactly what is wrong with him but you helped me so much I think you'll be good
for Joey."

"Yes. Well, you know if he's not ready, there's not much I can do. He's probably going to be
uncooperative. And remember. He's been under a lot of stress, his immune system is probably
compromised as well."

"What does that mean?" Seto was beginning to growl.

"It means that he'll have a physical break down, as well as a possible mental one. Being an
officer he might . . . not take well to therapy. Even if it's mandated."

"I don't understand."

"He's an officer with Tokyo . . . um . . . this goes no farther. I have a friend on the force.
Sometimes he refers men to me. He got Mr. Wheeler's records for me. They . . . aren't pretty.
He's got a case of post traumatic shock syndrom that has me worried. He might not react just
now, but sooner or later something has got to give."

"That's what has me worried, Doctor. I've watched him fall apart and put himself back together
again at least twice. I don't know how many times he's done it with no one the wiser."

"Well, he's only got so many of those he can do. When he reaches his limit, there's no telling
what might happen."

"Ok, Doctor Higa, that's a diagnosis. What do we do about it?"

"Nothing. As long as he has an assignment, any effort to do much will be refused. I recognize the
type. After the assignment, one of two things will happen. Either he'll try to tough it out and
refuse to admit he needs help. Which will lead to a complete break down. Or, best case, he'll
realize he needs help and accept therapy. If he does, there's no reason to believe he won't make a
complete recovery, eventually."

"Eventually? What do you mean by that." Seto started worrying again.

"It's taken him most of his life to get to this point. It's not going to go away with a few sessions
and a pill or two."

"Do you think he needs medication? I don't think you'll get Joey to take pills."

"Possibly he could use an antidepressant, but I'm not going to do more than give you a general
outline of possible therapies. I really need a few sessions with him to make a proper diagnosis
and outline proper treatment. And there is always the possibility that he'll refuse treatment."

"Not if I have anything to do with it. And you know that I can be quite persuasive when I put my
mind to it."

"Do you think he might talk to me now?" Doctor Higa sounded hopeful.

"Doctor, with Joey anything is possible. Why don't you come out and see? I'd feel better about it
if you would. He's self destructing right before my eyes."

"I'll see what I can do. I can clear two or even three hours tomorrow. If you send a car, I can
catch up on paper work, so the drive won't be wasted effort ."

"Ok, I'll send a car tomorrow. I'm hoping to get in several days rest before Joey needs to do
much."

"Oh . . . does he engage in any obsessive compulsive behaviors?"

"Like what?"

"Umm. You know quite well exactly what I'm talking about, but . . . Physical . . . ticks. Like
obsessively straightening his tie or . . . well . . ."

"He exercises like a fiend. He would probably be doing push ups right now, but he's too sore. He
doesn't like anyone touching him. And he cleans that damn gun almost every night."

"Well, I'm not sure the gun cleaning is exactly what I was thinking of. The exercising has me
worried. He's much too thin. Does he force himself to vomit after he eats?"

"No, and he eats like a horse, but he always did."

"The touching isn't good. But you touched him without him objecting I noticed."

"Doctor ,this isn't getting us anywhere. Come out tomorrow and interview him. We can talk
further then."

"Yes, you're right. Good-by"

Seto hung up the phone and worried some more. Joey didn't seem obsessive. Seto was well
acquainted with obsessive compulsive behaviors; he'd finally gotten over his. Since they were
stress related, he'd managed to control them by relieving the stress that caused them. He was
surprised that he hadn't reverted under the stress of the Letter Man, but thankfully he hadn't.



Joey wandered out onto the; he wasn't sure what to call it. There was a walk way completely
around each floor on the roofs of the floor below, the corners pointed in the traditional manner.
The door from his rooms onto it was traditional sliding style with modern locks. He checked and
realized that they were the best in the business. He walked along the 'balcony' and looked out
into the valley. It was restful. He made a complete circuit of the floor and realized that it was
quite large. Seto's quarters took up almost a third of it, and his took up twelve hundred square
feet; nearly a quarter of it. The remainder was divided into what could only be rooms for adult
children. The floor was probably five thousand square feet.

He'd unconsciously checked every door and window as he'd walked around. He smiled at
himself but couldn't deny that he felt better. The walk had done him good and he realized that he
was being obsessional. If Roland had passed the security arrangements, who was he to pick
faults. [Well, the body guard. But Roland's good.]

Joey wondered if it would be too much trouble for someone to bring up some chairs and maybe a
little table. It would be nice to be able to sit on the porch? [What the hell do you call this thing?]
in the evening and drink some coffee and, since his rooms faced west, watch the sun set. Then he
realized that his door was right next to Seto's. That would make it nice for Seto to join him. He
was beginning to have hopes maybe he shouldn't.

Seto walked out the door from his quarters and looked around.

"This is wide enough to put out chairs and a nice table or two. Besides it really doesn't make any
difference. We're the only ones living here and if we want to block the way so be it. I'll give the
orders . . . what?"

"Seto, you read my mind. Just like that, you give me what I want. It's kind of nice, in a scary sort
of way."

Seto gave Joey a look that he couldn't decipher. "If you want something, I'll buy it for you. I
don't care what it is."

"Seto, I want a million dollars and a new sports car."

"Done."

"Huh? Seto . . . I was just joking." Joey blushed and clutched at Seto's arm as he turned to go
into his rooms.

Seto turned back to Joey with an odd, gentle look. "I wasn't . . . joking that is."

"Boss, you said you'd get me anything I want. Did you really mean it?"

"Joseph, you know I don't say things I don't mean. If you want or need something . . . tell me."

"I . . . we . . . " Joey took a deep breath and started again. "I don't want to eat in that dinning
room. I mean, just the two of us. It's too creepy. Isn't there some place we can eat that's . . .
inside and smaller?" Joey rushed to reassure Seto. "I like the terrace . . . but we can't eat there
after dark or in the rain and . . . stuff . . . I'm not saying this very well. I just want some place a
little more . . . "

When Joey stammered to a flustered halt Seto took pity on him and replied. "Intimate? Personal?
Me too. There's a servants room in my quarters that I'm having converted into a dinning room.
Another in yours, and a corner in the kitchen. I find that excessively formal dinning interferes
with my digestion."

"Thank god. . . . damn . . . I meant." Joey jammed a hand into his bangs.

"I understand exactly what you meant. And just so you don't start angsting, I've made
arrangements for a part of that excessively huge dojo to be turned into an exercise area for you.
Do you prefer a bow flex, a total gym or old-fashioned equipment?"

Joey blinked at Seto for a minute. Then laughed. "I don't care. I . . .thanks, Seto. And . . . well, if
you could, I'd really like to go back to taking lessons."

"In what? Just out of need to hire a teacher"

"Well, let's see. Um . . . kendo. Weapons, naginata and what not. And I need a broad band
connection for my online classes in architecture and law." Joey caught Seto's surprised look.
"What? I'm not gonna be a cop forever and I'm not relying on my retirement. Do you know what
it is? Well, it isn't shit. I've invested, but I don't like the looks of the markets just now. So I'm
planning on a second career."

Seto started laughing, he couldn't help it. The thought of Joey planning ahead, like he obviously
had, was startling and, frankly, delightful.

"Yuck it up, asshole. Some of us have to plan ahead or wind up living in a box."

Seto reached out and stroked Joey's shoulder. "I'm sorry, really. I shouldn't have laughed, but
you'll have to admit that you never were the kind to plan ahead much. You didn't keep enough of
the Pegasus Prize to buy a pack of gum."

"Yeah? Well, I had a place for it."

"Oh please! Joey, don't tell me it was something as trite as someone needs an operation, I won't
. . . " at the look on Joey's face Seto shut up abruptly

Joey watched Seto and his fury faded as fast as the color from Seto's face. "Yeah, Serenity
needed an operation to save her sight. I came up with the money. From the prize."

"Oh Joey . . . I'm sorry. That was cruel and uncalled for."

"What? You thought, what? That I was still draggin' Pop out of the River Tick? I had to when I
was young, he'd beat the hell out of me if I didn't make so much each week. When I got old
enough to smack him back, that stopped. Then, it was Serenity who needed it, and I got it. I just
wish . . ."

"Wish what . . . if it's something I can do, I will."

"I wish . . ." Joey gave Seto a look so sad and needy that he vowed Joey would have what he
wanted. "I wish Serenity would know why I went back to the Makos. What I was doing the last
four years."

"If that's what you want. I'll see to it that she and your Mother and anyone else you want has as
complete a report as you'll allow. "

"Seto, I'm . . . er. . . you'll probably think I'm being mean. But everything the department will let
you have."

Seto nodded firmly. "You got it, and so do they. You sure?"

"Yeah. I guess it's kind of revenge. They cut me off when I really needed them. And now I want
them to know . . . how hard they made it on me. How much I really needed them. And they
weren't there. Seto I gotta go . . . I'm . . . such a . . ."

Seto simply hauled Joey into his arms and held him, letting him have his cry.

"Seto, you . . . I. Damnit . . . " Joey took the handkerchief Seto offered him, used it and stuffed
it into his pocket. He knew better than to offer it back to Seto.

"Joey, if you don' do something with all those feelings, the anger, the grief. They'll all come
back to bite you in the ass."

"I know. I got to get this assignment over with. I can't take too much more strain. The stress is
really gettin to me. " Joey shuddered. "I'm gonna be in real trouble. My accent is slipping. I'm
tired all the time, and I'm hungry. Constantly."

Seto grabbed the opportunity as a god send. "Joey, you're not. . .um. . . anorexic or something ? I
don't mean to pry, but you're always hungry."

Joey shook his head. "No, I'm not bulemic either. I don't starve myself or throw up. . . . unless I
get really nervous, then I've been known to hurl. But . . . I don't know what it is. Just, if I'm
really under stress I feel like I'm starving. And I can't seem to get any weight on. They actually
had me on calorie supplements at The Farm. I was working ten . . . twelve hours a day hard
labor and eating like two horses. The cook kept track, I was eating thousands of calories a day
and not putting on an ounce. Seto, I'm . . . well I'm no wuss. You know that. But I'm going to
be in real trouble if I can't get some rest soon."

Seto made a decision that probably saved Joey's sanity. "We aren't going anywhere for at least a
week. If you want, you can check Roland's security arrangements. I really don't think that's
necessary but if it makes you feel better, by all means, have Roland show you around."

"Seto. I don't think this is any better than cooping yourself up in Kaiba Towers. We need to . . ."

"Joey." Seto gave Joey a look that would have made anyone else reconsider the desirability of
breathing. "I'm not hiding out. While you're getting a week's real rest, with real sleep and
everything that entails, I'm making arrangements to draw our Letter Man out into the open so
you can beat the crap out of him before we turn him over to the law. Ok?"

"Ok."Joey turned to look out over the valley. "Seto?"

"Hum?"

"Thanks."

"Welcome. Who all do you want the records sent to?"

"You decide. I'd like Tea, especially, to get a full report. And some way to make sure that she
reads all of it."

Seto snorted. "Do you really think Miss Nosey will be able to resist?"

Joey gave Seto an evil grin. "Come to think of it. Probably not."

Seto led the way to his sitting room where he'd set up his laptop. Joey wandered around and
examined the quarters with interest. The bedroom was big, but not as big as he'd expected
considering the suite was seventeen hundred square feet. He explored farther, and when he'd
composed a floor plan in his head, he sighed. There was an audience chamber, the bedroom,
bathroom, sitting room, two other bedrooms; obviously for servants; and three closets.

"Hey, I got cheated. I only got two closets. What gives? There's three other bedrooms instead."

Seto laughed. Trust Joey to figure that out so quickly and ask questions.

"Think about it. You're in the lady's quarters."

Joey gave Seto a talk-or-else glare, so Seto explained that as the head of the house hold he had
one closet for everyday clothing, one for court dress, and one for armor and weapons; a bedroom
for his page and one for his body servant. While the Lady's rooms had one less closet because
she wouldn't wear armor and one more bed room for the servant in charge of her wigs.

"Oh, well I don't wear wigs. I really need an office. Um."

"Joey, whatever you need. When you make up your tiny mind, tell me."

"Seto?"

"What!"

Seto discarded his dignity and ran for his life as Joey wriggled his fingers at him.



Notes: The castle isn't really authentic no castle had a walkway that invited ninja in. There are
other things that aren't authentic. But it's fiction, if you're really interested go here:
rubens.anu.edu.au/student.projects97/castles/index.html
You must type A link indicator in front of rubens