Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Unfufilled Vow ❯ The Investigation ( Chapter 6 )

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

Disclaimer: Sorry this chapter took SO LONG. I wanted to update earlier but I was in the last semester of my senior year and I really had to concentrate on my thesis paper and Senior art exhibition. It took up a lot more time then I thought but my entire college grade and portfolio all came down to one night when my work, from 4 years, was on review. So I had no choice but to put this story, as well as many other things I enjoyed, on the back burner. Now that I have graduated and currently unemployed I have a bit more time on my hands so I intend to finish this story in about 5-6 chapters and I will try to update as soon as I can.

Also I do not own Yugioh nor any of their characters. Warning this chapter contains reference to child abuse, violence, NCS, and other unhappy things. I you do not like then do not read. I have been told this story is very scary, I didn't think it was that terrifying although that's coming from the same person who almost fell asleep during the American version of "The Ring" Maybe my roommate's right and I'm just a little desensitized. Oh well, this mystery is only getting stranger for Kaiba so let us begin...

The Investigation



"Will the following students please come to the main office? Moto Yugi and Kaiba Seto. I repeat will the following students please come to the main office? Moto Yugi and Kaiba Seto. That is all." Yugi looked up as he heard his name called.

'Why would they call me down to the office along with Kaiba?' the boy wondered as he made his way to the office. He wasn't surprised to see that Kaiba was already talking with the principal.

"Oh good, you're here Moto-san. Please have a seat." The boys both sat down as Principal Kunochi straighten his tie. "I understand this is a hard time for you two after the loose of Jounouchi-san, but I received a call from the police a short time ago."

Kaiba's eyes narrowed. "Why would the police be calling here?"

"It seems they have a few additional questions they need to ask the both of you." Now Yugi was the one concerned.

"But Kunochi-san they already interviewed both Kaiba-kun and me for a few hours when Jounouchi's…when he was found." Yugi mentally steadied himself as the principal explained.

"The police just have a few more questions they need to ask you before they continue the investigation. Your last class is just about over so they'll be taking you both down to the station in a few minuets. Now if you'll excuse me I need to have a word with the officers." Yugi heard Kaiba curse under his breath and mumbled something about having to reschedule some meetings and pulled out his cell phone.

"I don't get it I already told them everything I know. What else is there?" Kaiba snorted.

"Don't you get it Yugi? They're calling us back in because they're trying to gather more evidence. In other words, the investigation is going no were and they're getting desperate." The rich teen then turned his attention to his cell as Yugi let the words sink in. 'The investigation is going no where? It couldn't be.' He thought. 'They have to find the man who did this to Jounouchi-kun, they just have to.'

* * *

Yugi and Kaiba were brought into separate rooms to be question. "Have a seat Moto-san this won't take very long." Yugi did so and the questioning began.

"How long have you known Jounouchi Katsuya?"
"Almost 2 years now but I told you this already."

"I know just bare with us son we just need to verify a few things." Yugi nodded. "I understand he wasn't always your friend, didn't he use to bully you?"

"Well yes, that's true but he's changed a lot since then."

"Just how did you and Jou become friends."

"He was being harassed by another bully and I stood up for him. I got hurt myself but ever since then he's always been there for me."

"Pardon me if I sound rude but why would you stick up for someone who used to bully you?"

The boy sighed this was almost the same conversation he had with the same officer a few weeks ago.

"I know what it's like to be bullied and don't like to see that happening to anyone. That and I believed that he was a good person deep down and I guess that by helping him he saw it too. He stopped being a bully and we've been friends ever since. I think that's all he really wanted, a good friend."

The officer tapped his pencil yet he had yet he had not written anything down.

"So he stopped bulling other students but did show up with bruises, particularly when he arrived at school?"

The boy frowned. It seemed now the new questions were being asked. "Yes, I noticed them a few times."

"Did he ever tell you where he got them?"

"He told me that he had got into some fight on his way."

"Did you believe him?"

"I did...at first. One time he was being harassed by this gang leader and when he refused to stay with the gang they tried to kill him."

"When you say, 'At first' what did you mean? When did you stop believing it was gang related?"

"Well I guess it was when I saw he was trying to hide his bruises. Jounouchi always went to the showers after the rest of the class and one day I was late and...I saw his back."

"What did you see?"

"A very large bruise all over his back and shoulders."

"Did you confront him?"

"Yes, I was worried and told him to see the nurse. Then it was almost like he was panicking and begged me not to tell anyone. He said that he had fallen down the stairs but he didn't want to see the nurse because he
didn't want to be sent home. He had missed a bit of school and was afraid he'd be held back."

"And did you believe him?"

"I...I told him I did."

"But did you?"

"I guess I had a feeling there was something he wasn't telling me but...maybe it was because...I didn't want to think there was something he couldn't talk to me about."

"Did you tell anyone about this?" Yugi just shook his head. "Did it continue?"

"It seemed like it was happening less and less but now that I think about it he did always ware a jacket or long sleeves even when it was hot out and I haven't seen him change for gym since that time." The boy pauses suddenly becoming very depressed. "I guess I haven't been as good a friend as I thought I was." The detective took pity on the boy and put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's not your fault, you were trying to respect his wishes and it wasn't like you were the only one to know about this."

"Why are you asking me about this now though? I thought his father was no longer a suspect and he can't be charged with abusing Jounouchi-kun since he died while in jail."

"Why don't you let me worry about that. Now, tell me exactly what happen on the night he disappeared. Any little thing you could think of may be very helpful."

"I can't really think of anything I haven't said before but here's what I know. He can to my house around 2:00 PM on Sunday. We played a few games of Duel monsters and worked on our homework. We had a project to do together and I wanted to get a head start. Grandpa came in a few times to see how we were doing and we ate dinner around 5:30. He left at exactly 6:30, I know because he asked what time it was and jumped up when I told him the time. He had an 7:00 curfew and almost ran out of the house. He said that he was sorry but he had to get home. I said that I understood and that I'd see him in school the next day. He said that it was a promise and ran out the door…That was the last I ever saw of him." The boy brushed a tear from his eye.

"I know this is hard for you but I have to know did he have his backpack with him when he left?"

"I'm positive he did. He scooped up his books and cards and through the bag over his shoulder before he left."

"And what was in it?"

"Let's see, we were doing math, history and science so he had all of those books with him. He forgot English so we had to share mine but he left it at my place. He also had notebook with his name on it, some pens, and his duel monster deck. That's all I can remember, OH, there was also a day old cupcake he insisted was still good." He noticed that unlike some of the other information this contents of the backpack seemed important enough to write down.

"What's so important about his backpack? Was anything missing from it?"

"Actually the bag was never found. If you must know finding it may be just the clue we're looking for." He stopped himself for he had already said too much. "I'll also need a list of the cards in his deck especially the rare ones." Yugi complied and wrote down as many cards as he could remember form Joey's deck."

The detective looked through the list and put it into a folder. "Thank you, young man, you've been a big help you can go now." Yugi looked up confused.

"That's it?"

"That's it, I'll have someone call your grandfather to pick you up. You may wait outside in the waiting area." The tricolor hared boy got up to leave but turned back for a moment.
"Say, how is the investigation really going? I haven't heard anything about any new suspects and all I hear are wild rumors. What's really going on?" The detective looked at the boy's pleading eyes not wanting to dash his hopes but not wanting to lie to him either.

"The truth is we have a lot of evidence to positively convict the man who did this to your friend but without a suspect we may as well have nothing. Jounouchi's backpack was not found anywhere near the crime scene or anywhere where he was abducted. It is our hopes that the killer kept his bag as a souvenir so we can have a reason to arrest him. All we need to do now is find the bag and we'll have our killer. So don't worry we'll have this case wrapped up before you know it." And with that he escorted the young man to the waiting room. Meanwhile all Yugi could think about the truth that he now knew.

'They're not going to find him are they?'

* * *
He didn't know how long he had waited before he heard shouting. 'Sound's like Kaiba.' He thought as he tried to hear what the teen was yelling about in the other room. Suddenly the door burst open with a very pissed off Kaiba storming out. The officer inside quickly followed him.

"Just a minute you can't leave." Kaiba stopped dead in his tracks and spun around to face the offending man.

"I've had enough of this! It's obviously you don't have a clue who the real killer is and you're trying to use me as scapegoat. Well forget it, I've answered every single one of your stupid questions and I have given you my airtight alibi for practically the entire week Jounouchi was missing. You have shown me nothing to link me to the crime so unless you plan on charging me I'm leaving I have better things to due them to play these stupid games. Either let me go or I'm calling my layer and you'll be out of a job before you can sneeze." The officer in question was about to shout back and have Kaiba restrained when the detective, who had interviewed Yugi, stopped him.

"You may go Kaiba-san." The officer looked up.

"But sir-"

"Forget it, we have nothing on him, besides his DNA wasn't even close. You're free to go but be sure you leave a number where can reach you."

"I already did, I hope you have enough sense not to drag me in here again or they'll be hell to pay." And without another word the billionaire stormed out.

"You're just letting him leave? He hated the kid, and while he may not have been the one to kill him he could have easily hired someone to do it for him!"

"For Peat's sake keep your voice down and think with your head. He was a school bully noting more. This attack was personal if it really was Kaiba he would have done it himself. Beside theirs is no motive, the kid posed no threat to him. This is a dead end and we need to come up with something better or this is going to turn into another cold case file." Yugi knew he wasn't suppose to hear all of that but is was now clear to him that Kaiba was right. There were no leads and Jounouchi killer might never be caught. Suddenly he needed some air.

* * *


Yugi turned to leave the station when he spotted Kaiba on his cell phone. He stayed out of sight but carefully listen to the conversation.

"Hello, Himitsu Detective agency? This is Seto Kaiba. I calling about an unsolved case I would like investigated." There was a pause on the line. "The kidnapping and murder of Jounouchi Katsuya."

Yugi raised am eyebrow. 'Why would Kaiba hire someone to hunt down Jounouchi's killer?'

"Yes I am aware the case is still ongoing, but I would like to enlist the services of a professional. Someone who has a lot of experience in youth related crimes. I'm also going to need someone who is or was a member of the CSI. I can provide more information later." There was another pause as Kaiba waited for a reply. "I'm going to need them ASAP this evening is preferred." Yugi was still listening as Kaiba laid out his plan. "I don't care about the cost. I'll pay for overtime, bonuses what ever you need money is no object."

"…"

"My relation? I'm a…friend of the family." He lied but it would seem suspicion if he said he was the victim's former bully. "You know someone who can make it tonight? Good work, I'll expect them at 7:00PM at my alliterative office. Instructions will be provided via Fax and there will be a bonus if they arrive when you said they would. Good bye" He hung up not waiting for an answer.

"You know it's rude to spy on other people's conversations Yugi." The boy gulped, he hadn't realized that Kaiba has known he was there. "Stay out of this Yugi, this is my problem."

The words struck a cord and then he did something he almost never did with out Yami, he yelled back.

"I should say out of this!? My best friend was murdered with his killer still running free and you have the nerve to tell ME to stay out of this? You didn't care about him at all, all you did was make fun of him even when he tried to be friends with you! He did nothing to you and you put him through hell!" Tears were forming from the boy's eyes as he let out all his unspent anger and aimed it at Kaiba. "How is this your problem Kaiba? Huh? Did one of your goons' mess-up and have him killed thinking it was what you wanted? Are you just covering up for yourself is that it?" Kaiba could only take so much berating of his character from anyone and Yugi had just crossed that line.

"How dare you! Here I am trying to help and you accuse ME of this villa crime?"

"Well what am I suppose to think with you always creeping around the subject? I know you're hiding something I've known it for a while now and even covered for you! Just tell me why you fell you need to hunt down the killer on your own!" Kaiba paused, he wanted to tell someone about what was going on but would Yugi believe him?

"I don't have to tell you anything. Like I said my business is my business." He turned to leave but Yugi violently grabbed his coat sleeve and pulled the taller boy to his level.

"Enough Kaiba! If you don't tell me what's going on I'm going straight to the cops and the press telling them how suspicious you've been acting, it won't take long to fill in the blanks." Kaiba stared wide-eyed at the young dullest in front of him. He saw the look in his eyes, so hurt so angry. He had every right to be all that and more. Making up his mind Kaiba took his jacket out of the boy's grip.

"There no need for that, I assure you I had nothing to do with his death, nor did I discover anything afterwards that it was in anyway connected with me."

"Then for God's sake Kaiba just tell me why you're doing this. I…I need some closures. I need justice for Jounouchi." Yugi couldn't stop the tears rolling down his cheek. "I feel so helpless, I did all I could to find him when he didn't come to school the next day, because I knew his father wouldn't care. It's not fare. All you had to do was give him a chance and he'd have been there for you like he was for me. But no, you were nothing but a bastard to him even when he helped you. He was my strength, my hope, and he could have become something great. Now he'll never get the chance, and I just want to know WHY!" Kaiba was forced to grab the boy's shoulders to steady him. He didn't get it. It looked like Yugi hadn't handle Jou's death as well as he let everyone think. He felt something he hadn't in a long time, pity. He just couldn't stand seeing Yugi like this anymore. The boy was right though; he wasn't the only one suffering from this tragedy.

"Yugi I want you to listen to me." He struggled but met Kaiba's eyes. "Alright, I'll tell you what's been going on but not here. I have to get ready for tonight when the investigator comes but if you absolutely have to know I'll take you along with me."

"Really?"

"Yes but this is fair warning, my reasons for needing to solve this case is complicated and I doubt you'll believe me. But you have to swear on Jounouchi's grave that what I tell you tonight will never leave your lips, got that." Yugi nodded even if he was a bit confused. "Also we'll be going over the details of Jounouchi's case from the time he disappeared to the time he was found dead. This WILL be graphic but if we want to have any hope of finding his killer we have no choice. Knowing all of this do you still want to come?"

"I have to, I feel…like I need to be there even if it will be hard."

"Than I'll pick you up tonight at 6:30 sharp and tell no one."

In an instant Kaiba had jumped into his waiting limo and sped off. Yami who had been held back by his light during the confrontation, came out of the puzzle and appeared by Yugi.

"Aibou are you OK?" The boy nodded slightly.

"Yeah, sorry if I got a little out of control." The spirit put his arms around his body to comfort him.

"It's alright, you're still grieving and that's OK. Everyone grieves in their own way."

"So I'm finding out. But what do you think is going on with Kaiba? Is this his way of grieving."

"I think it's something more than that Yugi."

"Well, I may not be able to tell anyone else but I never told you." Yami smirked. He took this an invitation to come along with him when Kaiba came for him in the evening.

"Yes and since you can't tell anyone about this there is no need to tell me." Yugi smiled and took his hand, at least he wouldn't be alone when he discovered the dark truth about Jounouchi as well as Kaiba.

* * *
Kaiba sat in his limo with his head in his hands. 'Why did I do that? Why did I get Yugi of all people involved?' He glanced out the window but in the reflection there was a hint of blond hair. Kaiba snarled at the image trying to will it away. "This is your doing isn't it." He accused the shadowy figure thankful his driver could not hear him. The image seemed to flash for a brief moment then vanished. But Kaiba didn't relax even as he arrived at home greeted by his brother.

"Onii-sama, welcome home." The child ran up and hugged his elder brother but noticed something was wrong. "What's wrong you seem tenser than usual." Kaiba returned the hug and sighed.

"The Police called me in again today. It seems they're so out of the loop they're trying to pin the blame on me." The child looked up in shock.

"But you couldn't have done anything like that! What are they thinking?"

"The pressure is on to solve this case but since they're too incompetent to do that they're trying to use me as a scapegoat." He said getting angry. "I can't get a moment's piece, when I'm not tormented with nightmares, I'm finding bloody fingerprints everywhere, and now the damn cops are trying to paint ME as the killer." While the young man ranted he didn't notice an old lamp beginning to shake. "This whole situation is out of control! The mutt was annoying alive now that he's dead he making my life a living hell! If he wasn't already dead I just might kill him myself. At least then I would at least have some satisfaction."

BANG!!!

"Yaaa!" Screamed Mokuba as he jumped into the arms of his brother after hearing the old lamp explode just a few feet behind him. Kaiba, now in shock, seemed to calm down. Mokuba looked from the shattered lamp, to his brother, and back to the lamp.

"I think you made him mad." Kaiba shock his head as he told the child his plan to take on the investigation on his own. All the while he insisted that Mokuba stay at home where it was safe as he guided him to his room.

"But Onii-sama, why can't I go with you?" The younger Kaiba pouted as his brother nudged him into his room.

"Mokuba, I'm investigating a brutal murder, if you having nightmares now, this might put you into a coma."

"Ha ha very funny. Do you think it will really be that bad?" Kaiba debated about what to tell his brother. The sad truth was that Jounouchi didn't die a peaceful death and even he didn't want to know all of the details. But this was the only way he could ever hope to find any peace.

"I won't be pretty but I need to do this, and you know it." The dark hared child nodded.

"You're right, Jounouchi can't rest until you find his killer. I'll stay here out of the way. I'll even lock the door until you get back." Seto gave his brother a rare smile.

"I knew I could count on you. Just stay there until I get back, but don't wait up it'll be late." And with that the brothers parted. As the door closed Kaiba called for one of his top guards.

"Watch his room and don't let anyone in or out until I get back. You got that?" The man silently nodded.

* * *

Yugi thought it a bit strange that Kaiba had driven himself to the game shop but at least was punctual. 6:30 PM on the dot. Kaiba wasted no time picking up Yugi, keeping his promise, and drove off to meet with the detective. The ride was quiet at first the older boy hoping Yugi would forget that he had promised to tell him why he had gone to the trouble of tracking down the killer himself.

"So, Kaiba, why are you so willing to help now?" No such luck.

'Someone up there hates me.' He sighed. 'Might as well get this over with. Maybe he'll leave thinking I'm crazy or something and ask to go home.'

"Yugi what I am about to tell you doesn't leave this car, understand?"

"I get it Kaiba, would you just tell me already?"

"Fine, it all started before the funeral. Mokuba told me something he didn't tell the police when he found the body. He said that he followed a man he could have sworn was Jounouchi. Thinking it was him he chased the man only to find Jou's remains instead."

"Are you telling me that Mokuba think he saw Jounouchi's…ghost."

"Wait, it gets better. At the funeral as I was about to leave I glanced out of a window and saw his face staring at me. That was just the beginning. Mokuba and I have been having vivid nightmares involving the said boy to the point where we can barley sleep without expecting to find a bloody hand print on our close. And it's not just while we were asleep, his 'presence' shall we say is evident even while we are awake. Mokuba went so far as to try a Ouija board to get some answers. I never thought it would work, but it's hard to ignore a pointer damning you to hell before bursting into flames. I don't know what's going on and I still refuse to call it haunting but if catching that bastard puts an end to all of this, than so be it."

Kaiba waited for a response. He honestly wasn't sure how the boy would react. Granted he claimed to have a sprite of a dead Egyptian in his oversized necklace but this was Jou's he was talking about. Something Yugi might not take lightly. Yugi seem to be lost in thought for a moment before speaking out.

"Is that true Kaiba? Is it really Jounouchi's spi-presence that's making you do this?"

"I don't care what it is. It's not a ghost, there is no such thing, and furthermore nobody MAKES me do anything I don't want. This was my decision."

"But that's the strange thing. For a while now I kept getting this…feeling that Jounouchi was still around, whenever I was near you. I know it doesn't make much sense but that's what I think. But I was wondering…why would he come to you and not me?"

"How the fuck should I know? He's your friend he should be bugging you and leaving me and my little brother alone!" He stopped realizing that he had just admitted out loud for the first time that he felt he was in fact being haunted. Yugi remained silent, which was fine with Kaiba. "We're here." He said pulling up on a hidden driveway to a secluded building of Kaiba Corp.

To be continued in...

The Evidence