A/N: Another week, another chapter :) If you guys think Kaiba is not as aggressive as he is in the series well that's because 1. it's only chapter 2 and 2. because Mokuba is an adult now and I have always thought an adult Mokuba would be the calm in Kaiba's life. Also, an interesting thing I read was that Kaiba's adult height is 6'1 and Mokuba is 6'5. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy and please R&R

Chapter 2 Sibling Rivalry

"Von Schroeder?" Kaiba said menacingly.

"Yes. Von Schroeder." She replied. "I know what you are thinking and just hear me out."

"I'm listening but your time is running out."

"I am the half-sister of Zigfried and Leon. Same father, different mothers. My mother died when I was two so I have no memory of her. I grew up with Zig and Leon in the same house. It wasn't easy because all time and energy was spent trying to get Zig ready to take over Schroeder Corp."

"This sounds like what Leon told us all those years ago." Mokuba said.

"That's because we have similar tales, but where Leon vied for Zig's attention, I couldn't give a rat's ass. Let's just say we aren't overly fond of one another."

"And yet you are a Schroeder and grew up with the man. I am correct in assuming you also work at Schroeder Corp?" Kaiba responded.

"Yes, I do. But we don't work closely at all. I barely see him. Our father wanted me in the company but Zig wanted me nowhere near his role. I was only just starting my studies when our father died. Zig and I don't even live in the same town but it does bother him that I am in the company."

"And why is that?" Kaiba growled.

"Because I am not a "real" Schroeder." She said using her fingers as parentheses.

"So how did you come to be in Domino City?"

"Well, I was at HQ in Germany. I head up the PR and marketing department. I had meetings to attend and saw Zig for the first time in a month and a half. I left the building and was walking towards the café when I got a call saying that there was an opportunity to show off our new product in Domino but had to get here ASAP. This has happened before so I thought nothing of it and boarded the next plane out. When I landed I took a call-a-cab to the address but found no one there. Thinking I got the address wrong I took a walk to the nearest coffee shop but before I even got there I bumped into someone and felt a jab in my neck. Everything went black very quickly."

"So you walked into a trap. Who would want to hurt you and why?" Kaiba asked bluntly.

"They wanted Zig. I've always known he had ties with some unsavoury characters." Lara pulled her gown tighter around her, protecting herself from what she was about to say next. "They took me to some sort of abandoned building. I was bound to a chair and a sack was pulled off my head. They wanted Zig. I was a means to an end. Clearly they don't know much or they would have known taking me meant nothing to him. I was held there for weeks. There was a call and then they decided to move me to another location. That's when I escaped. I still don't know what they would have wanted from Zig. I need to get a hold of him."

"But why would they bring you all the way to Domino? I know that Zigfried has no ties to this city. He hasn't had any for years. I made sure of that." Kaiba said.

"I don't know. It doesn't make sense. At the same time you can't control the underworld even if you are Seto Kaiba." She said quietly.

"You said Zigfried didn't want you in the company." Mokuba interjected.

"Yeah that's right."

Kaiba looked at Mokuba, thinking the same thing. "You have a point Mokuba."

"It makes sense bro."

"Yeah it does. He had no issue sending Leon into the firing line all those years ago." Kaiba said pensively.

"What are you two thinking?" Lara asked.

"You know exactly what. You seem bright enough. Piece it together. Zigfried doesn't want you around. Not in the family or the company. You have a meeting with him and suddenly you are told to travel across the world to a town where no one wants to do any business with him, for a "client". You are taken, held for weeks and no one does anything. Then, why would they suddenly move you if no one knew where you were?"

"You think Zig got them to get rid of me?"

"It's convenient." Kaiba replied.

"Call him." Mokuba said handing her his phone. "Feel him out. You never know."

"I agree with Mokuba." Kaiba growled.

"Just sound like you already know what he's done." Mokuba suggested.

"Okay." With that she took the offered phone, dialled the number and waited for Zigfreid to answer. After the fifth ring an arrogant, over accented voice answered. Lara put the phone on speaker.

"Hello, zis is Zigfried."

"Hi Zig." Lara responded.

"Lara! Vot a relief it is to hear your voice."

"Cut the crap Zig. Did you want me out of the company that bad that you had your minions try to take me out?"

"Lara I don't know vot you are talking about." He said with faux innocence.

"Really?! You sent me to Domino. Conveniently this happens to be Kaiba's town. I wonder what should happen if a Von Schroeder is attacked or killed in the town Kaiba practically owns."

Zigfreid chuckled with ill hid pride and the amusement was evident in his voice. "You know you are a pain in my side but I zink zat you are a very clever girl. It would have been nice to have herr Kaiba out of ze way."

"And me? Do you detest me so much that you would kill me?"

"Not me personally. But our fazer made a mistake, I don't zink zat our family should pay for zat."

"You know if you were a grown-up we could have spoken about this. I will send you my resignation. I will never forget this Zigfried."

"You are cute Lara." Zigfried chuckled and ended the call.

"What an ass!" She exploded. "I went through hell for two fucking weeks!" Lara paced the living area unable to properly control her ire. "It's one thing to hate a person but this! This is something else altogether!"

"What are you going to do?" Mokuba asked gently.

"I don't know." She flopped back down onto the couch pressing her fingers to her temples. Between the rage and the dehydration she could barely see straight. Her head threatened to split in two and she trembled.

"I need to call Leon. He needs to know that I am not coming back. I'm going to have to figure things out."

"Can Zigfried financially cripple you?" Kaiba asked.

"No. Not at all."

"Good. You will need to plan your next move carefully. Zigfried is a cunning animal."

"Yes he is."

"I have a question." Mokuba broke the silence that had descended upon the room. "Why do you and Zigfried sound so entirely different?"

"I was sent to boarding school because the relationship between Zig and I was far too venomous. That was when I was thirteen up until I graduated. Then I obtained my degree in the states and then followed that up with post grad in England. "

"So you did not spend much time with him."

"Just high days and holidays."

Just then Roland let a waiter in with a food trolley, tipped him and closed the door again.

"Roland, arrange for some clothes to be sent to this room. Whatever you can get." Kaiba instructed.

"Yes sir."

"Lara, we will help you but don't think that this means I automatically trust you. If my brother is in your company you can bet your life I will be watching."

"I understand." She replied.

Mokuba rolled his eyes. "Excuse my brother, his manners leave him sometimes."

"It really is fine Mokuba. If the roles were reversed and you were Leon, I'd do the same." She replied with a smile. That little statement earned her a little respect from Kaiba.

"Mokuba should I send Roland back to get you or are you coming with me?"

"Send Roland. I have a few questions of my own."

"Fine." And with a swish of his coat Kaiba was gone.

Kaiba called for the elevator which arrived with ping. The highly polished doors slid open and he stepped in. The doors slid shut and began its descent. Kaiba leaned his head back against the mirror wall and let out a sigh. His mind was a torrent of thoughts. He sympathised with Lara but she was a Schroeder. Nothing good ever came about for his family if they were involved and he wanted Mokuba to stay away but he was an adult now and could make his own decisions. Decisions that often proved to be well thought out. He trusted his brother and raised him well but he wished he could pull him away in this situation. Lara's story did make sense though. Every time he had met Mr Von Schroeder he had Zigfried with him. He had to find out more about this girl, for his own peace of mind and Mokuba's safety. The doors reopened and Kaiba walked to the waiting town car.

"Roland, take me home."

"Yes sir."

He needed the privacy of his home to make a few calls and run some searches. He closed his eyes and relished the quiet hum of the car gliding through traffic. His commute to and from the office were the only real peaceful moments in Kaiba's life.

All too soon the car slowed as it travelled up the driveway. Roland parked the car at the door to the mansion. Kaiba elegantly got out and made his way to his study.

He pulled out his phone and made a quick call. "It's me. I need a background check. Lara Von Schroeder." Kaiba said curtly.

"Yes sir. You'll have it within the hour."

Kaiba hung up and sat at his computer. "Let's see who you are Lara." Kaiba said to himself.