Two Truths and a Lie

(A/N) Hi. This is my first fanfic, especially considering it is yaoi (boy x boy). I hope that you enjoy. Please read and review. I've tried to make the storyline as original as I can. I will be using the japanese names, merely because of preference.

Long Horizontal Line = page break for new character perspective

(changes between Seto and Katsuya fairly often)

Warnings : abuse mentioned; occasional swearing; future yaoi action (boy x boy)

Pairings : Future Seto x Jonouchi; haven't decide on others yet, i.e. Honda x Otogi

Disclaimer : I do not own Yu-gi-oh! or any of its characters.

Chapter 1 :

Katsuya waited for his coworker to call him over to go deliver the coffee order.

He was at his catering job, working at the most popular cafe in the city. It was only one of his three jobs. He sighed. It had just been a year ago that Yugi, Honda and all his other friends had graduated from high school. Katsuya managed to pass all his classes and graduated as well, saving himself from repeating the year alone, luckily. Everyone else had moved on to college. College hadn't been an option for Katsuya and he continued to be purely focused on living day by day. He became a 'productive member of society,' as Honda put it, which encouraged a chuckle from Otogi. Katsuya had replied, "Keep your comments to yourself!" before catching Honda in a neck hold and giving him a knuckle sandwich. He had grinned as Honda squirmed in his grip, his group of friends laughing at their interaction.

He will always be grateful to Honda for sticking with him and being there for him, especially when they were in Hirutani's gang. Katsuya's original motivation of being in a gang was to avoid his father. Although he deeply regretted that now, it had given him skills for self-preservation. He gained the ability to think quickly on his feet and trust his instincts no matter what he faced. Overall, he still had mixed feelings about his past, mostly from when his mother left with his sister to escape his father's drunken abuse. He shrugged. Maybe he had proven his mother right at the time. When she forced him to stay behind, she told him that he would end up just like his father. Violent. Destructive. But that changed when he left the gang with Honda and became a better person through Yugi's determination.

Katsuya was pulled from his reminiscence when he heard his name being called. He blinked a few times before looking across the room.

"Jonouchi!" His coworker called again and beckoned him over.

"Sorry." Katsuya made his way over with an apologetic grin on his face. He didn't feel the need to explain his late response, especially considering he was often daydreaming between tasks any way. His coworker shrugged and handed him two steaming coffee cups. "Same location as usual?"

"Yes, Kaiba Corp," his coworker replied.

Katsuya nodded before turning away and heading out of the side door with the coffee. The cafe was located about two blocks away from Kaiba Corp, which was about a twenty minute delivery route. Katsuya's body fell into a rhythm, a natural pace that would allow him to end up at each intersection in a time that allowed crossing of pedestrians. Muscle memory. He had followed this route for half a year now, ever since he had began this catering job.

It had previously made him incredibly nervous - delivering coffee every morning to the secretary and the CEO of Kaiba Corp, Seto Kaiba. The coffee always had to be delivered each morning by 8:15 at the latest. It was one thing to get along with Mokuba and eventually become friends. Mokuba had always made comments about his older brother, which was considerably annoying at the time. However, Katsuya got over it quickly by understanding the devotion an individual could have for a sibling. He did share this characteristic, especially considering his love for his sister, Shizuka, afterall. Kaiba, on the other hand, was an individual on a whole different level.

Katsuya had no desire to meet face to face with the arrogant duelist unless necessary. Even if he hated waking early to work, his job was more important than his refusal to possibly meet the CEO. During this entire time, he was happy to admit that he hadn't seen Kaiba since graduation, except on the news of course. What else did you expect from a famous, yet cold-hearted, bachelor who was the head of a gaming company? He smirked to himself. And today would be no different.

He was just about to cross another street. He glanced sideways, his left foot just barely moving forward onto the road, when he saw a car rushing at him. His eyes widened in shock. He quickly leaned backward, unbalanced himself as he adjusted his momentum. He managed to avoid spilling the coffee he was carrying as he landed on his back pockets. "Hey! Watch it, pal!" He yelled before glaring as the car flew past.

"Why I outta…" he grumbled as he regained his footing, a coffee cup in each hand. He only had to cross this street before reaching his destination. He frowned, approaching the street more carefully this time and glancing to both sides before continuing.

Katsuya finally reached the doors of Kaiba Corp. He entered and rode the elevator up to the top floor. As he approached the desk at the end of the hallway, he noticed that the secretary, Emiko Shimizu, was not present. He had placed both cups of coffee on the surface of the desk and waited for a few minutes before realising that a note had been left.

'Please leave my cup of coffee on the desk. Take the other directly to Kaiba-sama after knocking'

Katsuya read the note multiple times. Afterwards, he groaned dramatically and pulled at his messy blonde hair. He should have known that this would happen. Not only that, but he should have known to knock on wood for reminiscing about Kaiba and coffee earlier. Today just wasn't his day. He was tempted to just leave both coffee cups where they were, just to avoid the interaction with Kaiba. However, he had become close friends with Emiko Shimizu after delivering the beverages to her practically every morning for half a year. He didn't want to let her down… especially since Kaiba might treat her awfully because he refused to fulfill the task appointed to him.

The watch on his wrist revealed the time as 8:21, so the coffee was already late by six minutes. He glanced hesitantly at the double doors that lead to the CEO's office. He picked up Kaiba's coffee cup and nervously headed past the desk with a heavy sigh.

Seto Kaiba was typing consistently at his laptop, focused so that he could complete the work that was on his screen. He was responding to partnership requests to Kaiba Corp, all of which he planned to decline without explanation. He glanced momentarily at the time on the bottom right of his screen. 8:17 am. His usual coffee was late, the first time in a year that his steaming beverage hadn't arrived promptly.

His frown became a grimace as the familiar headache pounded against his skull. He relocated his hands from the keyboard to his forehead briefly, rubbing to ease the pressure. After a moment, he returned to his typing. His head continued to pulse from the pain, a sensation he ignored, having grown accustomed to the feeling after many years now. And medication or a doctor were definitely not an option for the brunet. That would be admitting to weakness, something that he would never allow.

He had first assumed that the ache was because of stress from imbeciles in his company. That was before he began convincing himself he had dealt with fools all his life without serious problems to his well-being. Therefore, a constant headache couldn't be the result of business tasks. He rarely even brought work home with him anymore. Mokuba had often complained about him never spending time with him. A point that Seto reluctantly admitted was true. As a result, he was at Kaiba Corp from seven in the morning until three in the afternoon to finish each weekday. His phone always remained on in case of emergencies though. This was now a routine. He rarely took any time off, unless Mokuba was ill and had to remain home. Sure, they had a doctor on-hand at the mansion for the sake of convenience, but Seto felt better being nearby whenever Mokuba's health or safety was concerned.

Dueling had been the previous reason that his workload would increase. He had decided to no longer duel after graduating high school, especially after his rivals had left. Rivals? Yes. He had finally acknowledged many other duelists other than Yugi, but he still had never lost to anyone other than the king of games and his business partner, Pegasus.

But the headache must be from coffee withdrawal - not work.

A knock at his office door had the CEO releasing a sigh in relief. His coffee had finally arrived. He replaced the current look on his face for one that was passive as he kept his focus on his laptop screen before responding. "Come in."

Katsuya nervously waited for a response to his knock on the door. His heart was beating painfully in his chest and ears.

"Come in." Katsuya heard the reply more quietly than his own heart rate. He reached for the door handle, noticing the slight shake in his fingers as he gripped the metal, and pushed forward. He stepped into the office and took in his surroundings. A small resting area was to his right with a semi-circle couch, a coffee table set at its center. The single piece of furniture looked more comfortable than his own bed. To the left was a door that he assumed led to a bathroom or for storage perhaps. Windows replaced the walls of most the room. Just ahead, Seto Kaiba, the CEO of Kaiba Corp, sat at his desk, focused completely on the laptop that sat upon the black wood.

The only sound in the room came from the tapping of fingers on the laptop's keyboard. Katsuya listened for the door to close behind him, but it made no sound as it slide into its normal place. The brunet had yet to look at the blond that entered his office, his expression blank and without expression.

Katsuya grew hopeful as no acknowledgement of his presence was expressed by Kaiba. There might be a chance that he could just set the coffee down at the desk and leave before he was noticed. He walked forward as naturally as possible, trying to fulfill his task without drawing attention to himself. Any awkward movements he made would only invite the unwanted gaze of those piercing, azure eyes.

He reached the front of the desk without incident. He grinned slightly in victory, looking down as he placed the cup of coffee on the dark surface. He brought his gaze upward to look at the CEO before making his exit and was surprised to find blue meeting his brown eyes. Kaiba had made eye contact with him. Katsuya froze, his body immediately became tense. Kaiba blinked. The action seemed to be in slow motion. Katsuya gave a nervous grin. He waited for a harsh comment to leave the brunet's mouth. However, it never came.

"Jonouchi? What on earth are you doing here?"

"Dropping off yer coffee is all..." he answered honestly, glancing away to avoid his gaze.

"That's all? And why would that be?" The CEO's eyes became sharp with mistrust.

"Because it's my job." The reply was blunt. He was growing tired of these questions already, wishing to leave as quickly as possible.

"..."

Katsuya could practically feel the silence engulfing him through the dense atmosphere.

"Well, see ya!" He turned and made his way for the door. His eyes were focused on his feet.

He figured this would happen. Well, actually, he expected more insults from the brunet, but he knew that it was merely wishful thinking that they might be able to have a decent conversation between them.

A loud slam from behind him caused his body to automatically flinch, forcing him to remaining in place. He slowly twisted back toward the sudden sound. Kaiba had risen from his seat, both hands set upon the desk where he had applied them to the wood surface. The brunet's posture was rigid.

"Did I permit you to leave?" The voice was low yet firm. It didn't seem to be a question. Blue eyes flashed.

"Why would I need your permission?" Katsuya returned a glare to the CEO's flaring eyes.

"There is more to discuss, obviously, mutt." Kaiba countered with a slight smirk. The expression did little other than frustrate the blond further.

Katsuya's glare became fierce, more so than previously.

"Not if I have anything to say abo-" he paused. His brows furrowed. "Kaiba… you doin' alright? You seem a little tipsy."

He watched as the confident, businessman started to tilt sideways. Had the situation been any different, Katsuya would have laughed as Kaiba lost his balance. However, concern over-rided his amusement. Adrenaline flowed through his limbs as he lunged forward. His calloused hands gripped the brunet carefully as gravity pulled him to the floor. He landed on his back, the CEO limp against his chest.

"...Kaiba?"

The End of Chapter 1