Welcome to Gaia! ::

Honda raised an eyebrow but didn't push the point. He had other matters to discuss while they were alone. 'Well, glad you are feeling better, but...I was wondering,' Honda hedged over his word choice, unsure how to bring up his point, 'I mean we know now that Hirutani was responsible, and after just you. I'm not sure why Kaiba is still here then? I mean he knows he's free right, why is he still involved? I mean obviously the people you care about are still probably in danger as Hirutani's best way of torturing you is to go through us. But...well Kaiba doesn't make that list, does...he not realise that?'

'It was, but maybe it can only target him if you're around. I mean if Hirutani summoned this thing after you it's gotta stick by you right? Or people you love, which was how it got Anzu and your sister. It's never actually gone after Kaiba - or Mokuba - unless you guys were together, although you've hardly been apart lately,' Honda argued, begrudgingly mumbling the last part. Continuing quickly before Jounouchi had a chance to cut back in, 'and yea, we probably definitely do need him, but I'm just saying it might be worth having a plan B that didn't rely on moneybags and his private doctors and stuff. If he does consider that maybe the best way to get himself off the hook is to ditch you, well, it might be better to plan ahead for that then to just depend on Kaiba for help. I mean come on, it's Kaiba, he's not going to help us if he doesn't think there is anything in it for him.'

Honda was worried that his concerns would be met with anger, but when Jounouchi finally did answer he seemed to be in agreement. 'Great,' he said with a smile, glad that he wasn't going insane and Kaiba was still some rich b*****d that they couldn't trust further than they could throw him. 'He'll probably be back soon, but yea I'll try to start thinking about what we can do if Kaiba splits before we figure out how to get Hirutani to call the thing off.'

- - -

Seto paused outside the doorway, not wanting to interrupt Jounouchi and Honda's conversation when he realised it was about him. Truthfully, he was a bit curious as to what they could have to say about him with everything going on with the ex-gang leader and the spirit world. Honda's mistrust of him wasn't surprising, but he was surprised to find that after everything Jounouchi still shared these sentiments. Though the truly unnerving thing is probably not so much that Jounouchi still didn't trust him, but that this bothered him. He wasn't going to do anything about it now. It didn't matter anyhow, Honda was wrong, he still had every reason to be invested. He just wasn't sure why yet, but he'd have to mule it over alone he supposed. If Jounouchi still viewed him as the enemy then it would be better to award him similar mistrust.

After a few moments of silence had passed, allowing Seto to not give away that he'd overheard anything, he entered the room. 'Alright, Hirutani has been taken care of, we should be good to disappear for a few hours at least,' Seto informed them, tone a bit on the cold side of neutral. He turned to head back toward the parking lot without waiting for an answer.

Seto almost called for a driver, not necessarily feeling up to doing any more driving himself. He decided against that plan, as he should probably at least take the car home, and it might be useful to keep it to hand and keep drivers out of the mix at least until they had an idea of a what next.

The drive to the shrine was silent, not necessarily uncomfortably so but it did feel as if everyone had something to say and were unsure how to break the quiet hanging heavily over them. When they reached the shrine Seto was able to find parking nearby. Not wanting to be the first one inside he finally fell back a bit to walk with Jounouchi and Honda. He was curious to hear how Jounouchi planned to break the news to everyone.

Seto didn't answer, he just followed Jounouchi and Honda into the shrine. This wasn't going to suck for him, well not much. Mokuba would probably be mad about being lied to again, but at least this time the kid would probably consent to the fact that this news was Jounouchi's to share.

- - -

'Oh, you're back already?' Shizuka asked, spinning around in surprise when she heard the footsteps behind her. 'Did you find anything useful on this second book excursion?'

Everyone crowded around eagerly at the words 'good news'. 'Oh really? Have you found a way to banish the spirit?' Shizuka asked, daring to allow herself hope.

Everyone in the room was silent, though Shizuka hoped that at least Futata (if not also Mokuba) was as confused with her. After nobody offered anything ((she finally asked, 'who?'

((I finally started watching Supernatural again, still have about 9 episodes to go but getting there. However was ill this past weekend and paused and watched all of Avatar which I'd only ever seen about 10 episodes of before, so yay, 6 years after I said I'd watch it I did...I should really tell my old housemate. xd Now Korra...though first Supernatural, must catch up!))