A/N: Don't expect updates this quick all the time. I was in the mood to write and I wanted to get this down and out before I go to my step family's house for Christmas (shooting me now rather than later is an acceptable practice).
Before starting, I do wanna thank everyone who reviewed! Aqua girl 007, Mamoru4ever, MizukiK, Blueeyeswhit3, and randompersonreadingstories. I'm so happy you all like it thus far! And to clear things up with Aqua girl 007, I don't think Seto hates Yugi, there's just an animosity that's there when they first meet and continues while on. Given, there are reasons for that, kinda, but still. I had just wanted to sort of establish how he went from a devoted Priest to Seto Kaiba, the man who is Yugi's arch rival... if that makes sense. It's like, 2:30 here and I'm tired as all sin, so who knows.
That all being said, I hope you all like this chapter as well. Kisara is introduced, as is Seto. It's about ten years since the events of the Millennium World Arc and what not. Seto is about 28-29, making Mokuba about 22-23. Kisara is about 25-26.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! All rights go to Kazuki Takahashi. I don't own the lyrics I started the chapter with either. They're owned by Fall Out Boy and their label and whatever.
Chapter 1: "The Take Over, The Breaks Over"
"Baby, seasons change but people don't.
And I'll always be waiting in the back room.
I'm boring but overcompensate with
Headlines and flash, flash, flash photography."
The chatter in the large dining hall was enough to drive any sane man mad. Not that it was loud, that was beneath the over plumped aristocracy that filled the room. No, it was what was being conversed about rather than the decibel. Honestly, why did he even bother coming to these things anymore? He had sleep to catch up on….
HA, who was he kidding? Seto Kaiba would sleep when he was dead and no sooner!
Seto took in his current company over the rim of his wine. Half of these people he could have sworn died last year (looks like he owed Mokuba twenty bucks). The other half were a good deal younger, mostly women, likely looking to snag a rich husband, preferably from the half on their last leg, so they could make a name for themselves and, if the cards were in their favor, get a reality tv show or some shit.
Luckily for him, no one would dare try anything with him, not after the last bitch. All it had taken was a haughty laugh and hand on his shoulder and Roland had escorted her out of the building. Of course tagged onto that incident had been the approving nod to his right hand, but nuances weren't really his forte.
Nope, the women who fluttered about the room left him alone, the men too. That is, unless business was to be discussed, then they were practically glued to the four foot personal boundary no one dared step beyond. Perhaps that explained why he was nearly thirty and single. Maybe he should marry….
Shrieking children ran past, a stampede of nannies trying to herd them back out of the room and to the child approved area that resided at least six yards away from their parents.
Never mind. Marriage just wasn't in his cards. Nope, Seto was going to remain single for the rest of his life. A wife would only hold him back. Sure, he'd dated a few times in the past, if only to keep tabloids from questioning his sexuality (last he'd read he was trying to create a hologram system that allowed him to fuck the blue-eyes white dragon), but none of those women meant anything to him.
"Lost in thought, space cadet?" Who the fuck-
Seto glanced to the woman, eyes widening a fraction. This woman… she…She looked identical to the woman that he'd witnessed in the damn memory world thing (They'd slipped him something. He knew they'd slipped him something. Damn friendship brigade.).
That aside, her couldn't help but look her up and down; he might not be interested in dating, but he could appreciate a woman when she deserved it, and she deserved it.
She smirked coolly at him, an arm crossed beneath her full breast, hand out so her opposite elbow had a perch. She sipped her own wine, a sweet red kind he'd passed up the moment he'd smelled it, observing him with rich blue eyes.
"Hmm. Honestly, the lack in manners. You've yet to speak yet you've practically undressed me. That's a pity, and here I thought you were different from the men in this room." Her words snapped him back to focus.
"Excuse me, but who do you think you are?" He glared darkly at her. He was NOT going to be spoken to that way.
"Now, that, sir, is no way for a gentleman to speak to a lady, is it?" She sipped more of her wine, standing beside him to look over the people, not caring how much she'd irked the man she currently stood beside.
If he'd been any less in control of himself (and possibly part animal), he'd have growled at her. However, he was a human being, one with a superior IQ to this woman. It didn't matter who she looked like, he was done. "Why don't you go over there somewhere before I have you thrown out."
She gasped, annoying him even more. She was making a mockery of him. "Really? Thrown out you say? That must mean… Oh my god! I know who you are!" She pressed a hand to her mouth, giggling rather obnoxiously. "You're Zigfried Von Schroeder!"
His jaw tightened. "What the hell would make you think I was that pink haired freak?"
She chuckled, her demeanor changed once more to the cold, yet playful smirk. "You said you were going to throw me out. This is an Industrial Illusions event being thrown by Zigfried Von Schroeder. Logic stands to reason that makes you Zigfried, hmm?" She sipped her wine once more, nearly choking on it as she began to laugh. "I'm sorry, you should see your face. It's priceless."
"Never, ever call me that… that… Buffoon's name ." That man still, to this this day, got under his skin. Maybe it was his over the top German accent or perhaps it was the way he dressed and had his hair styled. A shudder ran through him, the woman beginning to laugh once more.
"Buffoon? Honestly, what is this, grade school?" She laughed again, shaking her head. "I've heard fouler language from a Nun, Mr. Kaiba." By now, she'd finished her wine. As a server passed by, she swapped out glasses for champagne. "Besides, I hear he's married."
"She's a beard." He glared. So she knew who he was, not that he was shocked. "Perhaps you should slow down on the alcohol?"
"And perhaps you should mind your own business." She sipped the champagne. "I was forced to attend this party and I know the only way out of here is if I managed to make a big enough fool of myself."
"And alcohol is the answer?"
"Alcohol, dear Mr. Kaiba, is always the answer, isn't it?" She smirked, looking down at the liquor in her glass. "Though, I'll have you know, I'm not very fond of the stuff. It just dulls the nerves well enough that I forget I'm here."
He could respect that, he decided. These events were a bore, especially the ones thrown by Zigfried. If it wasn't for the contracts he had with Industrial Illusions, he'd skip them completely.
Seto lifted a glass to her, smirking slightly. "To making it through the rest of the night."
She laughed, grinning at him, glass tapping his lightly. "To not committing mass homicide, hm?" She grinned when Seto laughed.
This woman was interesting, that much he'd admit. She peaked his interest. Not to mention, he felt drawn to her. She was unique. Even with her white hair pulled up into a stylish up-do that matched almost every other woman in the room, there was something about her. Maybe the Egypt thing hadn't been drugs…
Time to lay off the liquor; he wanted to make it through the night, not pledge his allegiance to the heart of the cards or whatever those idiots had gone on about forever ago.
Time for a subject change.
"So, who are you?"
The white haired woman smirked. "Oh no. You didn't introduce yourself to me, I'm not introducing myself to you."
Seto prickled. "You knew who I was the whole time."
"So. People introduce themselves in polite society, regardless of whether or not they suspect the person knows who they are." She yawned, looking over the older couples. Why didn't she ever remember alcohol made her more sleepy than tipsy.
"Then, in turn, wouldn't that make you apart of the impolite society as well?"
"Hey hey hey." She held both hands up, careful with her champagne. "I never claimed to be polite society."
His eyes rolled in exasperation. "Are you going to introduce yourself?"
She smirked, handing him her glass. "Sure." She curtseyed, something that drew a few glances. "I'm the Beard."
"The what?" Ok, perhaps she needed to lay off the alcohol as well. "The Beard? What are you getting at?"
"Well, not really a beard, per say. One's spouse has to be hiding their sexual preference to need a beard, and I can assure you, despite Zigfried's appearance, he's not gay." She laughed at the look on Seto's face.
"You mean…" That meant she was-
"Exactly. I'm the lucky bride of Zigfried Von Schroeder. My name is Kisara Von Schroeder."
How the fuck did Zigfried manage to catch her?
