Master Of PuppetZ

Are you ready for the game of total demolition?

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN YGO!...Nor the song "Master Of Puppets" – it's Metallica's…And nothing can change this. Forever.

Summary: Yami no Marik is looking for the ultimate revenge. Dartz wants to reinforce his Orichalcos army and take over the earth. Kaiba Seto is trying to realign and lead his company to a success. They seek the power of ancient Egypt. Crystal, 19 years old girl, who is currently lost and heading for a breakdown in her life…is the only way to get the power. The question is who will reach her first?

Warnings: Rating may go up (yet I hope it won't). ANGST, some gore and more. This one is going to be dangerous.

Genre: ANGST, of course, and a little bit of everything…

Key: "talks"/thoughts, (memories)…

I want to remind you to review! Thank you very much!

Master Of Puppets – Chapter 1 – The Lost Past And The Lost Present

"No experience at all? Sorry dear, but I can't allow you to work here, no matter what your grades were. My company is too advanced to let inexperienced people enter it. I am sorry, I really am, but I must turn you down. Off you go, please." he wore a suit and his dark eyes stared at her. She sat there silently, because she couldn't do anything or say anything. She got up, and looked down to the floor. "I understand," she said, her voice calm and quiet "I'm sorry for your time, and I thank you for meeting me." her grey eyes looked away as she made her way out of the office. Another applying for a job in another company was turned down.

She took the elevator, and found herself on the crowded street. Slowly, without any hurry, the girl went down the street, looking at the stores and thinking about the things she could have bought…But she hadn't found a job yet…

/I have to do something with myself, and it has to be fast. Or else…Or else I'll lose my apartment, and then…/ but she didn't dare to think more than that. It was bad enough, alone on the streets with no money again…Not that she had any money right now…But she had her degree, and someone in the business world had to notice her…Because she studied hard and possessed a lot of knowledge. But lack of real experience was her biggest disadvantage. As long as she could live using her stipend money she was all set, but now, that her studies were over she had to make it out herself.

Domino lights shone up into the sky, slicing the dark of the night. It wasn't too late, however, the sky was covered by clouds, and smell of up coming rain was in the air. Crystal kept walking, thinking about what she could do. (Never give up, dear Cris) she remembered that was what her beloved teacher told her. She remembered him leaning over her works, checking her programs and adding comments (You know what I always say: There are some cracking nuts, but for them you just have to find bigger hammers. That's it.)

She missed those days she was carefree with no worry but the submission of works to her teachers. Now she was in real troubles, but those two words "bigger hammers" were all she needed. They meant she had to find a plan, and the solution was primitive yet logical: she had to keep trying. Maybe tomorrow was the day when she would finally find a job.

She reached her house, a big grey building in the middle of silent neighborhood. She checked her mail box, and found some envelops stuck in it. The darkness of the entrance hall didn't allow reading them there, so Crystal got into the elevator of her house. She had always hated elevators, because of the suffocated feeling inside of them. Her apartment was on the seventh floor, far from the other flats on the floor. She reached the door numbered 13, and pulled a key out of her pocket. Opening the door, she turned on the lights and locked herself up.

The apartment was empty. /Well, are you expecting someone to be here?.../ she asked herself in bitter amusement /No one is here…Nobody, and it is quiet here like in a graveyard…/ a shudder passed through her body as she thought about her words /I wish I never thought that…/ she said, paying attention to the envelops in her hands. She threw her bag on the couch, and sat down, looking on the addresses and reading them.

/Well, I can try this one. It's from "Paradios". I never heard about this company, but I'll have to try this one. Oh, and this one is from "Nanajiou". I think they will just throw me out the instant I put my feet in their entrance hall. And this…/ Crystal stared sadly at the last letter. /It is Kaiba corp. I don't think they will accept me. I remember Kaiba Seto, and his company is the best. He never accepts inexperienced workers, let alone if they are secretaries./ Crystal sighed and put the letters down. She could try any company, still her chances were not so good at all. She decided to leave Kaiba corp. to the end.

Walking into the small kitchen, she opened the refrigerator and pulled out some cheese. She opened the bread box and got out a small slice of bread. Putting the cheese on it, she ate silently, thinking about food. /I have a little left for tomorrow. If I don't find a job…/ another shudder passed through her spine /But I will. I must believe in the option I will./ she opened the tap and poured some water into a cup then drank.

Walking to her bedroom, she threw her clothes on the table near her bed, putting down her golden millennium ankh. /This is the only thing I have…This thing was found along with me years ago…/ Crystal closed her eyes, trying to remember the night she was found. She remembered the fire, the screams of pain and guilt. She remembered a strange loud noise, and the cracking of wood and plastic while burning to no end…And then the hands that held her, the hands of the fireman who rescued her. He found her in the flames and brought her to the hospital. And then she was sent to the orphanage. She was just three years old, and the memory was fading more and more during the years.

/It doesn't matter who I am./ she thought to herself, closing her eyes, trying to relax under the cold blanket. A rustling near her caught her attention. But it was only the sound of rain drops hitting the window near her. She sat in the bed, looking at the water streaming down on the glass. The city was blurred behind it. It looked unreal and unwelcoming. The cold in the room just grew.

Crystal let her body slip under the covers again. /Maybe tomorrow.../ was her last thought, as her grey eyes were closed and she drifted into cold slumber.

"You are fired!" Kaiba Seto stood in the middle of the corridor, glancing at his 3,001 secretary. She burst into tears, but he was accustomed to that scene "Now go home. Enough messing around my business, is it clear to you? Today I just can't rely on my employing department! That's it! Tomorrow I am going to meet personally every applier for a job in this company, and I'm sure I can hire better workers!" the secretary was still crying, whipping her tears and spreading her makeup all over her face. Trails of blue mascara were formed on her cheeks "And stop this wailing of yours this instant!" said Kaiba as he walked into his office and slammed the door so hard that plaster fell off the ceiling.

/Why can't I find normal workers today? My company is hiring total fools, and I can't make a progress! I need a program engineer, and I should find someone responsible and creative as fast as possible. Well, tomorrow I will interview our appliers and choose only useful people to work here./

Seto Kaiba went on the internet and checked the status of his company. Then he activated a program and began reading the commands and the errors, adding his comments and checking the hard disc from time to time. The phone near him had rung twice before he noticed. He picked it up and answered coldly "Kaiba."

"Hello Seto," said the cheerful voice of Mokuba "Are you still at the office? I'm waiting you at home, and you are not back yet. Something happened?" Seto rolled his eyes "No, nothing really important. What time is it?" he asked, looking at the clock on his computer screen. It was 22:00 already.

"I have some important things to do today, Mokuba. Go to sleep kid, I won't be home for more than an hour or so, and you should sleep. You have school tomorrow." Seto said as he examined the program again. The line was silent for a moment, and then Mokuba said quietly and sadly "It is ok, big brother. Don't worry and come home as soon as possible. Goodnight, Seto," said Mokuba. He hesitated for a second and added "I love you." and put the phone down.

Seto slammed the receiver, looking back at the screen. Now he couldn't concentrate. /I shouldn't forget about my only brother…/ said a voice in Seto's head /I should spend more time with him. He is the only one who cares about me, and I can't forget how much he helped me during rough times. But I will recompense you, Mokuba. Forgive me just today…I love you too…/

Seto closed the program and got up. He locked his office and stood in the corridor, where he could see the strange lights of Domino through the glass covered by raindrops. /I didn't know it was raining. It's too early for rain./

He sat on the roof and looked down. The rain covered him, his clothes were already soaked wet and his long bright hair clang around his face yet he didn't care. The rain drops made little sounds when they impacted with his golden bracelets. The cold didn't seem to bother him at all. Nor the pouring rain. He tasted the drops, and their taste was new for him. /It means the time is close…/ he thought while looking back at the lights of the city.

His hands played with a small golden object, tossing it up and down. It was the millennium eye, and he was close to losing it, playing with it like this on the edge of the roof.

/I will get my revenge. They all thought they beat me down and expelled me to the shadows. But they are so wrong. Now I am back to kill them, to haunt their souls down to the Hell they wanted to lock me in. I will be the ultimate ruler, and I sense the power of my queen somewhere nearby. She will be mine…Her power will be mine as soon as I find her…/ he took the millennium eye, and placed it over his third eyes on his forehead. Without making any noise, he jumped down, his black cloak moving around his body, little golden strings making cold chiming as he lost height. In one swift movement, he pulled his body, making a whirl in the air, landing straightly on the empty road. He passed through the light and headed into the total darkness.

The next day found Crystal on the stairs of "Nanajiou" company. They turned her down, and she left the building, heading over to "Paradios". Nothing was better there. The employing department of the company was very skeptical about her, so she left.

Two different colored eyes lit up, as he felt something…The power of ancient Egypt!…So close to him. Dartz got up, kicking some candles from his way as he hurried to get to the other side of the mirror. Now he wore his violet suit, and his hair was tied back. He almost run to the corridor, and stood there, trying to feel the power again. To his great disappointment, the power was constantly getting away and down. That meant the person was in the elevator. Dartz hurried to the electricity control /You won't get very far…/

Crystal felt something strange was about to happen. And also she was in the elevator, she just hated being in elevators, especially those with floor codes. That meant you couldn't enter a floor without clicking the right code. /Next time I'll surely take the stairs…/ the elevator shook, and when she reached the first floor, it slowly opened. Crystal got out when Dartz pulled the right button. But she was already out so the elevator just remained opened.

Dartz hurried now, he took his private elevator to the first floor /I caught you now, dear. Whoever you are, you can't escape this time!.../ Crystal passed the hall and went outside. Gloomy pale sun shone on her face as she reached down inside her bag and pulled the letter from Kaiba corp. Well, it was the last place she could go. She started pacing to the bus station.

Dartz saw the elevator was open, and expression of anger clouded his face. His eyes explored the hall, but he felt the power was somewhere among the outside. When he got there, thousands of people were crossing the street and clouded the special aura of Egyptian power. /Damn…It is getting away…But not so far…/

Dartz got back into his office, passing the mirror again. His traditional clothes appeared, and he sat down, placing the candles he threw away and lighting them. /Now I know some new interesting things…This person isn't one of my workers, so it had to be a visitor. And this visitor used the elevator to get to the employing department since there's no other option thanks to the floor codes. So all I have to do is to check my appliers for today. And this person…He is one of them, and he posses so much ancient power…/ suddenly Dartz smirked /Or maybe it is a she…/

Crystal's teacher used to say that walking was always better after a truck crashed into his car. Fortunately, her teacher wasn't inside the car when the accident happened. Yet he couldn't afford himself a car for a long time after that. And today, on the half way to the bus stop, Crystal discovered she had no more money with her, so she had to walk this time.

/Well, that's my last chance. No work at Kaiba corp. no more work. Maybe the restaurant near my neighborhood needs a…Program engineer? Obviously not. But maybe they want a waitress or dish washer./ Crystal thought as she made her way towards Kaiba corp.

She got into the hall, and the secretary told her to wait there "Today Mr. Kaiba himself is interviewing the appliers, so please be patient." said the young girl and went to work behind her counter.

Crystal sat down, thinking to herself /Personally? Oh great, he will kick me out of here the instant he will open my application. Maybe I should just go away. If my memory doesn't betray me, Kaiba Seto can be really cruel and humiliating. I hope he won't remember me…/

The door was opened, and a girl went outside, closing the door behind her. Sad expression was written over her face, and Crystal knew she was just turned down. The girl held back the tears as she went down the hall into the elevator. And Crystal knew exactly how she felt. She wanted to go to her and tell her to not be worry, and that life can give another opportunity to everyone, but that wasn't possible because the secretary said "Saigo Crystal? Please enter."

And Crystal got up, pulling her bag, and entered the office.

Kaiba Seto sat there, looking somehow angered yet cold. His gaze was fixed on the screen of the laptop in front of him. She paced slowly and sat in front of him, and only then he raised his eyes to look at her. And soon the recognition spread over his face. "I know you," he said quietly. Crystal opened her mouth to confess, but he stopped her "Wait, I know your name. You are Saigo Kurisutaru." he stated calmly, looking her right in the eyes.

"My name is Crystal," she corrected silently. He looked down to the papers, turning them over and reading her application silently. She sat there, watching his face changing. /Yeah, I think that's it…The restaurant closes at 23:00, so I have enough time to go there and check. Maybe I could delay my monthly rent./

Seto didn't look at the girl in front of him. /Crystal…She studied with me in the same class in high school…I noticed her there, so beautiful yet so quiet. I can even admit to myself I liked her then. But what is she doing here now? Again she is so silent…Well, I see she got her program engineering degree, but she never worked…What should I do? I need someone responsible for this job…Should I hire her now?.../ Finally his eyes rose to meet hers, and although they were calm, he saw blinks of reception of the worse in hers /I can feel she is desperate. What happened to you, Crystal? I haven't seen you for a long time…And now you appear here, but you are…You are so beautiful I can't get my eyes off you. I thought I forgot you, I never even talked with you, and now I feel memories clouding my mind, many things I did in my high school years. I can't say it was a bad time. Those days were much better than these. You are bringing me back those memories of days with my brother, and the tournaments I participated in. Even if more than half of the memories are not really happy, I have some that are my best ever. What are you doing to me?.../

Crystal's mouth was dry, and she felt uneasy under Seto's gaze. /Why is he staring? If he doesn't want me to work here, he can just throw me to Hell right now. I don't need any complicated word games or anything. I need just to hear "Yes" or "No". I think it is going to be a "No" though. Well, it was nice to meet you./

"Why didn't you work before?" he asked her eventually. She looked at him, slightly surprised by the question "Well, I have no experience, so I couldn't find a company that accepted me." she said /What do you have to say in this matter? Do you care about me having no experience at all?.../

"This can seem a stupid question to you, but did you like the subject of computer engineering?" asked Seto, wishing to hear her voice again. "Yes, I liked it. It was the best subject I've ever studied before. I had the best teacher ever." her voice was steady and sincere. Seto eyed her /I see she really loves it; she isn't lying or trying to make it sound like she likes it. And I feel she brings back the things I want to remember. And I see she really needs this work. I should give her a chance./

"Well, I think that lack of experience in your case doesn't matter. I can tell you love the subject and you can be creative. Your grades are high, and experience is a matter of market and timing. I hired people that worked in 20 different companies for 20 long years and still had no experience at all to fit in my unique one. So you are my new program engineer, and you will work in my developing department." Crystal couldn't believe. Seto watched as her eyes were filled with gleam of disbelief and joy. Those grey pools shone to him, thanking him beyond words. And she looked beautiful than ever. "Thank you very much." she managed to whisper /I still can't believe he accepted me…Why had he done this?.../ she blinked several times.

"Cry-" said Seto as he realized he said her first name "I'm sorry. I mean Saigo – " but she stopped him "Please call me Crystal, Mr. Kaiba." She said rapidly, smiling lightly. Seto eyed her again, feeling a little smile creeping over his face also "As long as you call me Seto. We are not strangers; after all we had studied in the same class. You even sat two tables ahead of me." Crystal's smile widened as she remembered "Yes. That's right."

"So, Crystal, tomorrow attend to my office at 8:00 o'clock, and I will explain you about your work and show you to your place. I want you to know that this job holds big responsibility with it as well as many interesting programs and new systems. I'll show you everything and I'm going to personally explain you the things you are going to work on, so I don't have to face misunderstandings in the future. You have to fill the forms my secretary gives you, and tomorrow we will talk about your salary and other arrangements." Crystal nodded and smiled. "Yes, I understand. I will be here."

"See you," said Seto, and watched her taking her bag and saying "Goodbye" to him. Then she closed the door and went outside. He looked again at his screen, but his thoughts floated far away into the past where he could see himself spending time with Mokuba, and all the wonderful things they've done together…Even Battle City looked like a dream. He closed his laptop and got out the office.

"That's it?" he asked his secretary. She nodded silently and said "Miss Saigo Crystal took the forms and left ten minutes ago, and I don't think more people will come today." Seto looked at his clock. "Well," he said "I think it is time to go. I'm going home, and you should too." and then he left, leaving an amazed secretary behind him.

/OK, what the Hell happened there? I never thought Kaiba Seto would hire me as his program engineer…Still I found a job! Finally!.../ Crystal opened her bag when she remembered she got no money. /Well, I think walking is indeed a positive thing. My teacher was right; you never know what the future is planning for you. As for my past – well I don't think I need it. All I need is to concentrate on my present, and in my present I have a work and soon I have some money!.../

She crossed the street. She didn't notice the bright haired guy who was silently following her, measuring the millennium eye in his right hand.

FAB: Well, what do you think about this chapter? Worth something? If you want me to continue this story, please Review! And remember to be careful while crossing the road!