Ruin.

Complete and utter ruin.

...f***.

Seto Kaiba's breathing was abnormally fast. He stared at the television in horror. His office phone and personal cell had both been ringing non-stop, but he ignored them.

The reporter's statements only grew more and more damning as the broadcast continued.

"-associated with the Japanese mega-corporation known as the 'Kaiba Corporation,' or 'KaibaCorp' for short. So far there have been no deaths, but the number of affected people has risen to over twenty-three consumers- including nineteen children- in multiple regions."

The young CEO closed his eyes. He was struggling not to panic as he reflected on the unfolding disaster.

Apparently their latest line of Duel Monster figures had been manufactured with illegally high levels of lead-based paint. Neither Seto nor any of his direct underlings had any idea, and by the time they found out, it had already blown up into a full disaster.

There were little kids sitting in the hospital right now, being tested for poison. And as the head of the Kaiba Corporation, it was his fault.

Seto finally regained enough composure to dial his top employees and issue the necessary commands. He knew the investors and shareholders would demand answers, but it was too soon for him to say anything definitive. He knew the dangers of responding to a scandal when one had incomplete information.

Though the latest evidence was highly incriminatory- several of KaibaCorp's recently released Duel Monsters Figures had proved to have a disturbing amount of lead coating. 'Lead' referred to a toxic metal sometimes illegally substituted for other materials to cheapen production costs. No one was seriously injured, but there was still the chance of harm befalling the smaller children who had come in contact with the toys.

"Seto? Hey, Seto?" A bold voice sounded from in front of the corporate leader's lavish desk.

The eldest Kaiba didn't reply right away. He was having trouble tuning out that damned newscast.

"Hey, you in there?" The blonde employee frowned at his unresponsive boyfriend. "Seto?"

"What." His exhausted, icy-blue eyes barely shifted towards the younger teen. Normally the brunette's office would be off-limits to all other employees (save his secretary). But for the past eight months Jounouchi Katsuya had worked as part of the security team for the Kaiba Corp office; and was allowed full access to (nearly) every part of the building.

The CEO's private bathroom, for example, was still off-limits.

The younger duelist was unnerved by the dragon master's dull tone, but didn't say anything.

"Um, well, I know there ain' much I can do, but if you need anythin' I'll be waiting in the reception area, ok?"

"The... reception area?" The business executive was still dazed.

"Uh, yeah... outside your office?" The other teen pointed to the massive wooden doors. "There's some magazines n' stuff- I'll be quiet."

Kaiba was still stupefied, but now it was because of what he heard from the golden-haired teen.

"You- you would really stay?"

Jou blinked. "Eh? Well, yeah- I mean, I dunno if I can be any help, but this seems like it's gonna be a giant mess of-"

"No- I mean... you're not going to leave me? Even though KaibaCorp might be... finished?"

Jounouchi stared in disbelief. "Didja really think I would leave you?"

The look on Seto's face was enough of an answer.

Jou sighed and walked around the business magnate's desk. "If you weren' under so much pressure a'ready, I'd smack you for that." The blonde grabbed one of his boyfriend's shoulders. "Look, it don't matter if you only got a couple of pennies in your pocket- you'd still be the same ol' moneybags to me. Some stacks of paper doesn't make you a different jerk than the one I fell in love with."

There was a snort of protest from the other, but Jou continued on. "'Sides, maybe this is one of those 'silver lining' things- you've been missin' out on so much lately, and I know Mokuba would love to spend more time with ya. Me, too."

He smiled widely, clearly expecting some form of agreement. The shorter duelist nearly jumped when the businessman yelled instead.

"DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON, MUTT?! This isn't about spending time with Mokuba- it's about an economic disaster!"

Corporate cataclysm or not, Jounouchi Katsuya was not going to let his boyfriend talk to him like that. They'd been dating for a while, and they were both getting better at handling their tempers... but when it came to serious situations such as this... well...

The young security officer folded his arms and gave the executive a strong look. "First, keep your voice down. I'm not gonna get in a screamin' match righ' now. Second, I understand enough. I've been at rock bottom myself, ya know. It ain't pleasant, but there's always a way up. Third, don' start calling me 'mutt' again. You know I don' like it."

Kaiba sighed, but didn't speak. Jou took it as a sign of distress and hugged his partner from behind the office chair.

"Look: Mokuba's fine, I'm fine, and you're fine. There's nothin' more important than that. S'long as that's true, we can make it. You an' I've both been at the bottom before, an' we made it back up, right? So who's to say we can' do it again?"

The brunette made a noncommittal grunt, and Jounouchi let go so he could move in front of him.

"Besides, you're forgettin' somethin'- I can get another job, too. Hell, maybe I'll find a bigger apartment, an' then you two can come an' live with me!" Jou suggested eagerly.

But Seto shook his head, not even looking at the warm blonde. "No. I will never let Mokuba have anything but the best."

Jou felt a twinge at that comment, but ignored it.

The slender tycoon groaned. "This is a nightmare..."

The brash security guard pointed at his boyfriend's nose. "Hey, none'a that. Don' forget, I've been watchin' alot of your employees at the main office building. It's not your fault, an' I don't think it's anyone I've seen's fault either. So it's either someone not very close to your main center, or it's another company's fault."

Kaiba remained silent. Ever since he'd 'hired' Jou to work at KaibaCorp, the blonde had proven to be surprisingly perceptive.

"Look, either way, we'll work somethin' out, alright? It migh' get a little rough, but we'll make it work." Again, the blonde hugged the unresponsive businessman, and was slightly disappointed when he didn't get any reaction. Jou was running out of encouraging thoughts: for both of them.

Just then, a raven-haired boy raced into the room.

"Hey big brother! Did you see what happened?!"

Seto nodded. "Yes, I saw... and I think we need to talk."

Mokuba looked confused, but he stepped closer to the desk.

Kaiba sighed heavily. He wasn't sure how to tell his beloved little brother that their massive, multi-billion dollar corporation... might be completely ****** by tomorrow morning.

"Mokuba... there may be some significant... changes in our lifestyle, soon."

"Oh. Oh!" Mokuba gasped. "Oh my gosh, Seto, you mean-?!"

He nodded. "Yes. It might be a big shift for us, but I want you to know that if-"

Mokuba ignored his brother and ran at Jou. He tackled him to the ground and nearly shouted as he gave him a powerful hug.

"Holy Skittles, I'm so super mega-happy! This is awesome!"

Jou and Seto exchanged quizzical glances.

The blonde carefully pried the pre-teen off of his torso. "Erm, call me crazy; but I think you're missing somethin' here, squirt."

"What do you mean, 'missing'?" Mokuba stared at Jou before noticing his left hand. He gasped.

"SETO! How could you?!"

"Mokuba, I don't think you understand how I plan to-"

The shorter boy just glared. "I'm sorry, big brother- but there's no excuse for forgetting to buy a ring!"

"Ring?" The older Kaiba was dumbfounded- what ring? But then Jou started choking and he realized what his little brother was implying.

"What- oh! NO, Mokuba; that's not what's happening. I'm talking about what happened with KaibaCorp today- haven't you seen the news?"

"Oh... so you're not-"

"NO. No, we definitely are not."

The intensity of Seto's reply nearly stopped Jou's heart. The way he'd said those words so firmly and decisively... Jou felt hurt. Hadn't he just proven that he would never leave him? But it sounded like Seto wouldn't even allow the idea of serious commitment to be brought up.

He shook his light-colored hair from side to side. 'Nah... I'm jus' bein' touchy...' Even Jou knew that he had a rather bleak outlook on heavy relationships. After his harsh childhood and early teens... well, it wasn't surprising that the blonde would have trust issues.

Mokuba began to explain the updated situation to his older brother, but Jou's mind blocked out their words. His mind started racing against his will, and he thought back on the past few months.

What was he to Seto, anyway? The brunette said they were boyfriends, but sometimes Jou wondered what he was to the tall billionaire. Heck, the dragon-master duelist thought the blonde would leave if he wasn't rich anymore- did Seto really think so little of Jou...?

Years of abuse had left the American-born teen with fragile grasp of close, emotional bonds. The stubborn duelist could shake off most things, but when something actually struck a nerve... it was very painful. And right now, he was hurt.

The Brooklyn native's shoulders slumped. If Seto had really thought Jou would leave, he evidently didn't know him... or he didn't care to try.

All the blonde wanted was for someone to take him seriously- someone who felt that warm bond, and every once in a while would say those three, short words...

Jou's eyes widened in dread as he realized something.

Seto had never once told him, 'I love you.'

At first Jou didn't let it bother him- he knew the CEO wasn't a touchy-feely kind of boyfriend. But after their three-month anniversary, the blonde had said it several times, and never gotten a reply.

At first Jou mentally excused the other teen's coldness as social awkwardness and inexperience with relationships. But now it was starting to look like it could be something else- unrequited feelings.

Jou swore under his breath. Crap, was he ever stupid- the young tycoon had just been feeling detached from other people.

'Aw, man; he just needed someone he could trust without worrying that they'd try an' steal his corporate laptop while he was sleepin'.'

The blonde thought back to six months earlier- Kaiba had all but forced Jou into working for him by using his father's debts as a surety. Then he'd found it was more fun to tease Jou when he was his literal 'superior.' Now Jou was living with him, and he still didn't even trust him.

Seto Kaiba didn't even know who his partner was.

Jou re-focused his thoughts when he heard Mokuba turn on the news. He listened as the reporter declared that it was the manufacturing company who had tainted the toys and supplied them to several distributors, and that they were going to be charged. Meanwhile, KaibaCorp wasn't going to be held responsible. Which meant that the company wouldn't suffer much damage in the market tomorrow.

The crisis now averted, the two brothers began talking in more positive tones. But five minutes later, Jou realized that Kaiba still hadn't looked in his direction. Not once. He didn't ask Jou how he felt, or thank him for giving him support. Either he didn't appreciate it, or maybe it simply didn't mean anything to him. The last thing Jou ever needed in his life was more personal drama (or financial issues); and yet he'd still promised to give everything he could to help the two brothers.

He would never expect Kaiba to put him before Mokuba, but Jou thought he was at least another significant part of his life.

But that feeling was starting to seem like an illusion.

He waited five more minutes, but neither Kaiba turned to him for a second. He wanted to share in their relief, but all that he could focus on was his boyfriend's reaction to everything. Yelling in misdirected anger, fervidly denying commitment, and ignoring or dismissing his support...

Jou felt a dull pain in his chest as he walked out of the ornate office.

His leaving wasn't even noticed.