Chapter One – Off To A Bad Start
"To the right Mina - the right!"
Mina served violently onto the right side of the road as a chaotic cacophony of car horns and inaudible curses danced through the air of the highway. Everyone in the car either held their breath or gave a loud 'yelp!' as passing drivers cursed vigorously at the young girl. She swept her dark hair to the side and matched their foul language with a thick received pronunciation. "Bloody Americans", she hissed, indicating to cut off the highway.
"Mina you where the one driving on the wrong side of the road", Blake chided, Mina glared at the teen from her rear-view mirror, and muttered a very foul expression under her breath. "How much longer till we get there?" Sarah moaned, she sat in the passenger's seat and intensely studied Google map's muddled picture on her phone, "This stupid thing has gone up the left".
Mina groaned and felt her hands clench the wheel tighter, "Now how am I supposed to know that, when you're meant to be giving me directions?"
"Well, I might have wrongly advised you on a turn here and there …"
Mina felt her skin heat up in anger, "You got us lost!" she hissed and Sarah scoffed, "It's not my fault, you shouldn't have asked me to give directions".
"Yeah Mina, don't put this on Sarah" Blake added, and the two began laughing and lost total interest in their situation. Mina felt like screaming, but instead she chewed at her inner cheek and drove slowly to read the street signs carefully; Domino City 150km on highway 16. "Alright, I can do this".
Three hours later, they finally began to approach a large city; Mina breathed a sigh of relief as her hazel eyes honed in on the 'welcome' sign. After an eight-hour plane journey and a six hour drive they had finally made it to the city, hell, the country, that was to be the three friends new home. Dusk had long since passed, and the modern skyscrapers illuminated the night sky with a futuristic glow. While both Sarah and Blake marvelled at the dazzling lights, clean streets and cosmopolitan atmosphere, Mina was filled with a deep-rooted sense of despair. She missed the tarnished pavements and graffitied walls, the scruffy appearance and friendly appeal of their own little hometown; William's burrow in England. She missed driving on the left side of the road and her little scrapper car, but most of all, she missed her family. "Well, no turning back now", she whispered to herself. The town was a very stereotypical place, and reminded Mina of 'metropolis' city from the Superman comics with its mix of shops, lush green and facilities.
If Mina had a strange sense of foreboding before, nothing compared to what happened upon crossing into the heart of the city. The heavens began to pour, and rain attacked the little car from all sides. She cursed; however, Blake and Sarah were too distracted to notice, as they awed at all the high-street shops that they passed. Mina shook her head, "The town is barely a metre bigger than William's burrow, and would the two of you stop that?"
"It may be small but it's a hell of a lot nicer", Sarah chided.
"And cleaner", Blake smirked, and the two continued to ogle and awe at every shop and building they passed.
"Oh, God give me strength", Mina sighed as the rain continued to pound down. After another twenty minutes of driving, Mina came to the realisation that she had no idea where she was going. She had the address, 13 Domino Avenue, but where that was, she had no idea. Damn this place, Mina thought bitterly as she turned another corner. She guessed that they must have been in the heart of the city as they came across the tallest sky scraper, with two large statues that resembled dragons on the outside. Through the thick downfall, Mina managed to make out the silhouette of someone sitting on the large stone steps that led up to the front entrance. Who the hell would let themselves get caught in this sort of weather? She thought, puzzled, and pulled up onto the curb.
"Why are we stopping?" Sarah complained as the wheels grinded to a halt.
"I think someone is out there", Mina replied, "They might be able to give us directions. Leaving her keys in the ignition, Mina pulled on her heavy winter coat and braved the rain. Using the light emanating from the building as her guide, Mina quickly made her way towards the figure, as she approached she realized that he was a young boy, possible twelve or older, sitting rather depressingly and being soaked through the skin. "Hello?" she called out to the boy, "are you alright?"
The boy looked up from his numb hands as a tall girl made his way towards him, her accent was strange and surprised him, his only reply being; "Huh?"
Mina crouched down to meet the boy's gaze, "What on earth are you doing out in this weather?" she asked him worriedly. The boy shrugged, "I'm, I'm not supposed to talk to strangers", he jittered, freezing from exposure. She smiled, "That's a very smart way to be. Well, my name is Mina, what's yours?"
The boy looked at her wearily before answering; "Mokuba". Mina laughed lightly, "Well Mokuba, we aren't strangers now, are we?" Mokuba managed to laugh, but instantly hugged his body tighter than before. She observed this with worry, "Now Mokuba, what are you doing out in the cold when it's raining cats and dogs?"
The young boy hesitated; he had left school early that day as he had gotten into trouble with his teacher. He knew by now that Rowland, his driver, would have realised that he had gone. At that stage at ten o'clock at night, he was far too terrified to go home, as any ten-year-old would be, having to face the wrath of his worried family. He wanted desperately to get home, but his mansion lay on the outskirts of the city, and was too far to reach on foot. He had hoped that Rowland might have driven past the company, but to no avail. "I, I can't get home", he replied sheepishly.
Mina rose to full height. "Well Mokuba, I simply can't leave you out here to freeze to death. I'll give you a lift home if you can direct me where to go".
Mokuba, being a smart boy, hesitated, "How do I know that you aren't trying to kidnap me?"
Mina, unwavering, fished her hand into her coat pocket, retrieved her phone and gave it to the boy. "Here, you hang onto that until I get you home, you can phone anyone you like and tell them what's happened, okay?"
Mokuba smiled, his luck finally turning, "Okay". Mina helped him to his feet and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, trying to shield him from the worst of the rain. They practically jogged back to the car, and Mina quickly barked at Sarah to hop into the back, giving the child the passenger's seat.
"What's all this then, who is he?" Blake asked as the soaked Mokuba clambered into the car. Mina rolled her eyes, "This is Mokuba, we're giving him a lift home", she replied briskly.
Sarah whined, "What about us going home?"
Mina growled under her breath, "We can spare a few minutes, now hush". She turned to Mokuba, "Alright little man, lead the way".
Mokuba instructed them out of the city's centre and gave very clear directions on how to get home. In the dim light of the car, Mina could see him more clearly. Mokuba was of average height, with long thick black hair and tanned skin. As they drove, Sarah and Blake had both finally succumbed to the exhaustion of the journey, and slept deeply in the backseats of the car.
"So, you all just moved here from England?" Mokuba asked.
"Yes", Mina answered.
"So, how old are you?" Mina chuckled to herself, isn't he a nosy one. "I'm sixteen…"
"That's very young to be driving a car", Mokuba quivered, "Where are your mom and dad?"
A lump caught in Mina's throat, and her mouth went dry. A hesitation turned to a pause, and a pause turned into silence. After minutes passed, Mokuba could sense her answer.
As they began to near the Kaiba Mansion, Mokuba started to fill with dread and anxiety, he knew his brother would be less than pleased with his actions, and he knew that he was in for an earful. Mina too was not looking forward to departing with the boy; she had enjoyed his company.
Finally, they reached the dark looming gates, it had passed ten, and the grand mansion was hidden in the inky night. "What now?" Mina asked.
"Roll down your window, there is an intercom at the side". Mina nodded and did as Mokuba instructed her. Light droplets of rain fell on her face as she craned her neck, "Hello!" she called out. There was no reply. Mina glanced back to Mokuba, who saw her concern. "Try again, louder". Mina cleared her throat, and using the full power of her lungs, she bellowed once more, "HELLO!"
For a moment, there was nothing, and then a red light flashed in the dark. "Who is calling at this unsociable hour!" a gruff voice called to them. Mina felt herself flush pink in embarrassment, and stuttered, "My name is Mina, I, I found Mokuba, I just came to drop him off".
"Master Mokuba is with you!" the voice explained, "Come in right away!"
The red light vanished and a 'buzzing' sound was heard, the heavy gates opened, and Mina carefully drove on. "Sounds like you have been missing a while", Mina said, her tone patronizing as she realised that her new friend had landed himself in bother.
She drove up through the large estate, to the front entrance of the enormous house. She gasped slightly, taken aback by the splendour. She parked swiftly, and the large doors open, and light flooded from the inside. A man was visible wearing a long coat, with his arms tightly crossed against his chest. Mokuba gulped loudly, "Do, do you mind coming in with me Mina?" he asked.
"Oh Mokuba, I really should be going, it's late and –
"Please", he pleaded. Mokuba was fully aware that his brother would be furious, and least with her present, he might calm down a bit. Mina fell for his sorrowful expression and sighed, "Oh alright, just for a minute". Mina glanced in the backseat, both Blake and Sarah were sound asleep, I guess I could spare a few minutes. The two emerged from the car, and walked towards the man, who for a moment Mina assumed to, be Mokuba's father. But as they neared him, Mina saw that he was a boy, not very much older than her. He was extremely tall, and adorned a long white coat, his hair was a light brown, but it was his eyes that unnerved her. They were a brilliant blue, but held a menacing and cold glare.
They stopped dead, just a few feet from the boy. Was it his brother? Mina wondered.
"Inside. Now", he stated, and Mokuba began to slowly walk forward. "Both of you". Mina was taken by surprise at the man's harshness, but complied, more than willing to escape the cold and the rain. Inside, Mina was once more awestruck; the house was magnificent, and much grander than anything she had ever seen in her life.
"Mokuba", the man began, his voice was low and retained a dominant tone, as if he commanded the attention of everyone in the room. "Where, were you?"
"I'm sorry Seto, really, I just, I lost track of time and –
"Save your excuses Mokuba, and go to your room", he growled. Mokuba remained frozen, and Seto demanded again, "Now!"
Mina felt incredibly awkward in the tense situation, she watched as Mokuba scrambled up the staircase, and out of view. "I'll just, be going then", she muttered, and turned to leave.
"Stay where you are", he warned, and approached her quickly. "I don't know who you are, but don't think that I will be compensating you after staging this little incident".
"Wha, what? I just found him sitting on the street an hour ago, … I didn't mean any harm … I just", Mina found herself trembling under his un-breaking stare, "Likely story", he hissed.
"She's telling the truth Seto!" The two teenagers were shocked to hear Mokuba's voice as he thundered down the staircase.
"Mokuba", Seto exclaimed, "What did I say?"
"It was me Seto, I took off from school, and I forgot to go back so that Rowland could take me home, so I waited outside the company, and Mina found me. Please Seto she was only trying to be nice".
Seto Kaiba glared at his brother, canning his face; he knew he was telling the truth. "Go up stairs, I will speak with you tomorrow".
"Don't be mad at Mina, she's nice", Mokuba tried to protest, but the look on his brother's face said it all, he raced back up the staircase for a second time, much to Mina's dismay, she'd rather not have been left alone with the menacing Seto.
Seto turned to face her once more, "What's your name?" he asked.
Mina blinked, Mokuba must have said it at least a dozen times … "Mina", she replied cautiously.
"I meant your full name. Are you that slow, or just an idiot?" Mina was shocked by his cruel comment, and felt anger boil within her as she replied harshly; "Wilhelmina De Noir"
"Well, De Noir, I think that it is time you left my mansion", he snapped and Mina scoffed, "As if I'd stay and be around you!"
Seto growled, slightly surprised by the girl's sudden outburst. "I'm sorry?" he sneered.
"Apology not accepted", Mina smirked, and turned on her heels and stormed out into the dark night. The rain didn't bother her as she retreated to her car, if anything it helped to cool down her anger. The nerve of that man! She thought, how could someone be that rude? For no good reason! Her face flushed as she slammed the car door. She glanced back at the mansion, where Seto watched the car with interest. "Bloody bastard!" she hissed, and slammed her foot on the gas, and roared away from the mansion. Both Blake and Sarah jolted awake as they forcefully passed over a speed bump, "What's going on?" Sarah yawned.
"I'm getting us home", Mina snapped, still reeling, she fingered the necklace that hid beneath her shirt for comfort. If I'm lucky, she thought, I'll never have to see that awful Seto again.