A/N: Good news: "Guardians" has just been completed! Now whether that means faster updating is an entirely different matter.

OOC-ness abounds. My apologies.

I really should be working on physics instead of doing this…

Young Mokuba Kaiba tried hard not to pant as he struggled to keep up with his older brother's broad strides as they made their way together toward the private terminal. "Tell me again, Niisama," he said, lugging his heavy suitcase behind him, "Why exactly are we going to Egypt, anyway?"

Seto sighed. "I just want to see something," he said, "And you could've stayed behind if you wanted to."

"And not missed school?" Mokuba asked. "I only look stupid, right?"

Seto smiled. "Come along, kid," he said, switching his own suitcase to his other hand and shrugging to readjust the straps of his travel bag. "The plane's already set for boarding."

"It's our own private jet," Mokuba said, "Why the rush?"

"Why not?" Seto answered, and then rolled his eyes. "For Chrissake, Mokuba." Reaching down, he took Mokuba's suitcase in his free hand and continued on without slowing his pace.

"But still," Mokuba said, able to breathe freely now that he no longer had to lug his heavy burden, "Why are we in such a hurry? Let's stop and get a bite to eat."

"We just had lunch."

"Yeah…but I'm hungry again."

"No, you're not."

"Yes, I am."

"We'll eat on the plane."

"But Seto—"

"Stop whining."

"Niisama, I really think we should wait," Mokuba said.

Seto stopped walking and turned. "And why's that?" he asked. There was that dangerous glint in his eyes that suggested he knew something was wrong.

Almost immediately Mokuba's head dropped and he stared at his shoes as he muttered, "I…well, I sort of…I know you probably won't approve, but I thought…well, since it's Egypt and all, I took the liberty of inviting—"

"Hey, Kaiba! Mokuba! Over here!"

Mokuba turned. "H-Hi, Jounouchi. You guys are late."

Jounouchi Katsuya came up to them, soon joined by Yugi Motou, Anzu Mazaki, and Honda Hiroto. All were carrying suitcases. Involuntarily Mokuba looked up at his brother, who was currently glaring at the new arrivals. If looks could kill, they would have all been dead.

"Sorry about the hold-up," Anzu said. "The line in the girls' restroom was murder."

"And Jounouchi wanted some ice cream," Honda said.

"And there was that new game in the arcade," Yugi added. "Anyway, hope we didn't keep you waiting too long. Glad you invited us, though. We couldn't turn down a free trip to Egypt." He stopped, noticing for the first time Seto's deadly glare and Mokuba's sheepish look. "Uh…you did tell your brother that you invited us, right, Mokuba?"

The small black-haired boy shifted uncomfortably. "Well—"

"Yes, he told me." Mokuba looked up, shocked as Seto continued, "And while I don't exactly think this is a good idea, and I would much rather send you back to the dumps where you came from…I see nothing wrong as long as you don't bother me. And that's for all twelve hours of the trip."

A woman's tinny voice sounded on the airport broadcast system. "Seto Kaiba to Terminal Eight. Calling Mr. Seto Kaiba to Terminal Eight."

"Come on, Mokuba." Seto turned and resumed walking.

Jounouchi frowned. "I see he still has that stick shoved conveniently up his butt."

Mokuba turned. "Consider yourselves lucky," he said, and hurried off after his brother.