Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or Sailor Moon, just the plot and some jelly beans to keep me going.
A/n: This is a rather different take on YGO/SM compared to my normal. The idea just kind of hit me one day. Enjoy!
"doubt thou the stars are fire
doubt that the sun doth move
doubt truth to be a liar
but never doubt I love"
- William Shakespeare: Hamlet
Rain pounded its staccato song against the glass windows of the immense building. The city was a virtual jungle and the intolerable humidity from the rain and summer season only added to the discomfort. The dark clouds in the sky had been casting a gloomy feeling all day and inside the Hino Corporation headquarters, this feeling was very much present.
The office of the CEO was eccentric and not at all humble in portraying the rich opulence of the corporation. It was simple and clean. A rich mahogany desk and a squashy, leather chair was placed behind it and two chairs in front of the desk, all present in front of large glass windows. Grand mahogany bookshelves commanding respect from any who entered the room were lining the parallel office walls with their tomes of knowledge.
Yet as breathtaking as the room was in its valor, the most beautiful sight was clutching her head in her hands at the desk. Raven hair like a silk waterfall fell onto the desk and weaved gently around the delicate fingers cradling her head.
The black box on the desk trilled shrilly. Without lifting her head, the raven beauty picked up the receiver and brought it under her hair to her ear.
"Hino Rei." She stated curtly. Her voice was soft and gentle and at the same time, stipulating respect and order to all who heard it. After a brief pause, she spoke again. "Send her in please." And hung up the receiver.
The door squeaked open and a slim girl stepped in. She tiptoed quietly to the desk, soft blue slippers clothing her feet never betraying her. The girl slid behind the desk and then suddenly burst with joy.
"REI-CHAN!!"
Rei shrieked and black, silky hair was sent flying in all directions and a rush of wind filled the office as she turned around quickly. Her features were visible now. Her skin was a luscious pale, creamy color and virtually flawless. Her eyes were a soft violet which at first were filled with irritation, then sparkled with mirth when they saw her friend.
"Gomen! I couldn't resist." The girl added when she saw the expression of anger, then happiness on Rei's features. Her small frame wobbled gently as she laughed good-heartedly. Her long, blonde odangoes shook merrily.
"How's it going? Crack yet from being a famous, rich, powerful, beautiful CEO? It's been one week so far. If your father knew a woman was controlling his company he would have a heart attack." She said jovially, then instantly clapped a hand to her mouth.
"It's okay Hime. The senshi had to kill him or he would have destroyed the world. The evil in him was…strong. He became a youma, or duel monsters as they're called nowadays. There was nothing we could do to save him." Rei replied thoughtfully. In her casual elegance, she leaned back in her chair.
"How many times have I told you, please call me Usagi, not Hime. You're my soldier but you're also my friend." Usagi said with her happy face fading into a small, reserved smile.
"My apologies. Bad habit you know." Rei said. Her eyes studied Usagi. She hadn't aged a day since her seventeenth birthday. Given so, her appearance changed a bit due to the transition between a child and a woman fit to be a queen, but she was as young as ever. It was sad in some ways, that someone with potential such as Usagi had to have a fate that was predetermined thousands of years ago. She couldn't be free to help the world in ways she wanted, just in the ways that destiny dictated. Destiny's rhythm caused nothing but trouble.
"You never used to call me Hime." Usagi argued. Her hands were balled at fists at her side. As the senshi became older and decided to fulfill dreams - or duties - they became distant and more formal. Some of the senshi remained in the same area, or at least in Japan, but the more ambitious of the girls had started to fulfill their desires such as Ami, who now resided in Germany in medical school, and Minako who had became an international singer.
"Gomen. It's just, destiny is more eminent now than ever. I can't deny it or ignore it any longer. I have accepted my destiny of being my father's daughter and I've accepted being the CEO of this company as a consequence of my birthright. You must now accept that you're our princess, and always will be. You hold in your hands every ounce of loyalty and devotion we have to give. We're marionettes to you: like puppets on a string." Rei concluded. She removed herself from her chair and stood in the middle of the room.
"Rei, you look older, as if you've aged. Are you sure you can handle being head of this company and a full time senshi?" Usagi asked, her voice filling with concern.
Rei plopped down in the middle of the floor and sprawled out on her back like an angel made in snow. She didn't care that she was a CEO, in an expensive suit and skirt and she didn't care about the impression she would leave if an employee walked in the room. Her hair fanned out like a raven's wing and the dull office lights accentuated the purple sheen of the black silk. "I won't lie. I miss my miko robes. I miss the shrine, the warmth of the sacred fire and the quiet. This place is never quiet. Not to the mention the men goggling over me, whether they're clients or employees. They're all very much aware that I'm single. It's irritating as hell." Rei said.
Usagi laughed and took a seat in Rei's leather, hot-shot, CEO chair. "Now that's the Rei I know; Man-hating goddess of war with the literal fire power to back up her threats. It's ironic that your company backs up KaibaCorp and makes some of their technology for Duel Monsters. Ever since the monster dimension and ours joined, we've been fighting against those things. KaibaCorp only can produce holograms." Usagi said thoughtfully.
"And a good thing too! Did you ever see the CEO of KaibaCorp? I met him when I was young. Gozaburo Kaiba. He's tall, and sort of round, and thick black hair and moustache. He's a greedy snake and a bakayaro to boot. He worse than a dictator. I've never met anyone so conniving and manipulating and I despise KaibaCorp for him. Once the contract is up from my father's reign KaibaCorp will be the first thing to go. " Rei bit out grudgingly.
"Hmm. Somewhere I heard that his oldest step-son took over the corporation. I'm not sure why but Gozaburo hasn't been heard from in a long time." The blonde replied.
"In any case, he better be nothing like his father or I might end up strangling him. I haven't met him yet." Rei said. "What is it that you really came here for?" Rei inquired quickly.
Just then, the infamous black phone rang shrilly. Rei motioned for Usagi to put it on speaker.
"Hino Rei." Rei said from the floor.
"Umm…Hino-san. There…there is a man here to see you. He's the…well ……… he's Mr. Kaiba." The secretary sounded terrified. Rei and Usagi's eyes met briefly at the mention of the name. Speak of the devil….
"Lin, please tell Mr. Kaiba that he can schedule an appointment. I can't entertain his wishes now. He can ordain and dictate at his company, but not here. Thank you." Rei said angrily. Usagi quickly reached forward and turned off the speaker.
"Well, I'll make this quick. Makoto-chan is having the grand opening of her restaurant tonight. We're all invited. All of the Inners will be there." Usagi said.
Rei nodded.
"Great. 8:00 PM at the Rose Garden restaurant. The food is supposed to be the best in the world and with Mako-chan cooking I'm sure it is. Many important people are invited tonight so it's formal dress." Usagi said.
The black phone of annoyance rang again. Rei angrily threw herself from the floor and angrily answered the phone.
"What?" She demanded.
"Mr. Kaiba is insisting that he sees you now. I told him that - ." The secretary replied fearfully. Whatever she told him no one found out.
"Tell him that this isn't a good time! He can make an appointment and come back just. like. everyone. else."Rei said through gritted teeth, slammed down the phone and turned to Usagi.
"Can you let yourself out? I have a baka times 10 out there to deal with." Rei asked and craned her head towards the window.
Usagi nodded as the phone rang again. A frustrated cry escaped Rei's lips. Like an angry bull, she half charged towards the door and nearly ripped it off it's hinges.
"I-I-I…I'm sorry Mr….Kaiba but Hino-san wi-will not be able t-t-to see you right now. If you make an-" The secretary stuttered.
"I don't have time for your incompetent excuses. This of a matter of importance not between you and I, but of Mr. Hino and I. I will be seeing him now. Inform him I am coming in or I'll see to it that you're out of a job." Kaiba threatened.
Seto Kaiba was tall, intimidating and everything one would not want to face in their worst nightmares. He was cold-hearted, stoic and he knew how to run a multi-billion dollar corporation and that was saying something. His physical traits were far from what was expected, but still normal at the same time. Much to his amusement, he was also very attractive. His short, chocolate brown hair was combed neatly. His frame was tall and pleasingly broad and his cold, winter ice eyes were piercing and intense with malice for those in his way and tease for those he triumphed over. Only his little brother Mokuba ever saw his gentle side. And that wasn't the worst part.
He had a cruel, cold yet fast temper.
"Those ar-are m-m-my orders sir." The secretary shuddered behind her desk. She rolled her chair slightly away from him.
Kaiba gripped his briefcase tighter. "My orders are to let me thru. I'm on a schedule and time is running out before I loose my patience with you." He growled.
The woman's eyes widened with horror and she quickly picked up the phone again and began dialing.
Kaiba's ice blue eyes narrowed as he read her nametag. Lin was her name. He'd make sure she was fired by the end of the day.
" Umm…Miss Hino is not answering." Lin said, frightened.
"Well then I'll just- wait a minute. Miss Hino? Are you so ignorant and inept that-Kaiba was cut off.
"She in entirely correct Mr. Kaiba. You are the only ignorant one here." An irritated voice finished. Rei sharply took in a breath. This was not the Kaiba she was expecting, but instead a much more handsome, younger one. But nonetheless, he was a Kaiba.
Kaiba's gaze traveled to a door next to the desk. If he wasn't the fast tempered, stoic Seto Kaiba, he would have been captivated by the woman's beauty. Her soft lips were in a firm line and her violet eyes were stern. She had ebony hair that he knew would be silky to the touch even without feeling the sensation for himself. Her physique was much shorter than his, but she looked proud.
Kaiba was feeling very impatient. It seems this office was more hopeless than his own. "I don't have time for your games. I -" Kaiba said.
"You. You. You. You. You!" Rei spat. She stalked over to him until she was a mere few inches in front of him. He was almost a full foot taller than her and she couldn't deny, his height and strong physique were slightly intimidating. But she would never let it show. This was a man like the rest she knew and he needed to be taught a lesson.
"Out of all the people I've met, you are the most selfish. Did you ever think that maybe I don't have time for your games? You show up unannounced and demanding all sorts of things and then you tell me that you don't have time and that I'm playing some sort of game? In case you haven't noticed, I am the CEO here, not you. This is my office and my territory so I call the shots, not you. So…." Rei paused briefly and reached for a book on the secretary's desk. "….you can make an appointment like everyone else." She smiled slightly after her spiel.
Kaiba almost choked. To start off the list, she effectively cut him off when he was going to be himself and say something degrading, then she took it and shoved it back in his face.
"Where is Mr. Hino." He demanded.
At these words the office atmosphere became tense and suddenly hot. The slightly petite woman in front of him was glaring rage at him with fuming, passionate anger emitting from her.
"Mr. Hino has, passed away." Rei said through gritted teeth. "I'm his daughter, Rei Hino." She said with a slight bow. Predictably, he did not return it. "I'm sorry if his passing will cause you to grieve. This is my company now. We will not cater to KaibaCorp as we have in the past, let me assure you. Now, please…." Rei said more gently. "…make an appointment and come back then, and we will be happy to entertain your request." Rei said softly.
Kaiba's eyes were wide with shock. Once again, this woman had left him with a loss for words. But he was well aware he was being made a fool of, and nobody does that to Seto Kaiba.
"I've run out of patience Hino. We'll talk later. I must go and there is no time to make an appointment. Watch out Hino. When I return this office better be under superior management and not lacking in hospitality. I won't let you tarnish the Hino Corporation's reputation any more as long as it is to be associated with KaibaCorp." Kaiba said and turned, his famous Battle City wardrobe billowing behind him dramatically.
"Kaiba, once our contract is up KaibaCorp will be the first thing to go." Rei said with amusement.
"You will regret those words Hino. I will crush you with the entire weight of the Kaiba Corporation and if you somehow succeed in bring me down, you will be coming down with me." He sneered.
"Bring it on Kaiba. Bring it on." Rei challenged proudly behind him.
Without another word, Kaiba left. She got herself a challenge and he would be sure, in this contest of power, she wouldn't win.
Good? Bad? Revise? Delete? Let me know! R&R
