Chapter 4)

"I know where they can stay, and I could always keep an eye on them just in case" an eager young teen with short jet black hair arranged in a series of spikes reminding Dark Bakura of a character in one of his host's old comics from England that he was so fond of rereading when he's alone in the flat.

"Mokuba?" a stunned Marik asks, Kaiba might not have changed but his brother sure had, though not as freakishly tall as Kaiba Mokuba was now on an even par with Bakura and Marik which made sense since he should be about there age now.

Mokuba was wearing a black and white striped T-shirt over which he wore a worn looking navy blue jacket, he was also wearing a pair of raggy jean's and his usual card like locket that Bakura had seen him wear before at Duellist kingdom, in fact he couldn't remember seeing him or Kaiba without their lockets.

"Look who's all grown up huh?" Marik laughs switching from evil genius bent on third degree murder to streetwise punk peace signing the new kid mode, he give's Mokuba a high five.

Dark Bakura couldn't be bothered to deal with this so he swapped places with his host.

"Greetings Mokuba-san" Bakura bows his head formally, covering up his feelings of sadness and despair behind a warm if fixed smile.

Mokuba was a little taken back by that "it's great to see you guy's again although…uh…probably not under the circumstances"

"Obviously" states Kaiba defeatedly "your idea?" he asks with a due sense of dread.

Mokuba looks at his brother vacantly apparently in his eagerness to greet the 'new' people he'd forgotten all about his idea.

"What are we going to do with them?" sighs Kaiba.

"Can I keep 'em?" Mokuba's request seemed so heartfelt and honest that Marik almost thought he was serious, almost but not quite.

"No" snaps Kaiba "puppy dog eyes haven't worked on me in years" he smiles victoriously "act your age"

"I'm only 16 Seto" Mokuba reminds him.

"When I was your age…" begins Kaiba.

"You were dull" claims Mokuba "I want to have fun"

"Working for Kaibacorp has its advantages Mokuba" declares Kaiba "you can get into any kaibaland amusement park for free, your rich and can call for a private car or jet with a snap of your fingers"

"Are you taking on staff?" Marik asks him and is ignored.

"But as the Vice president you also have responsibilities that can't be ignored, besides you do get time to have fun in" claims Kaiba.

"Do I?" retorts Mokuba "you never do"

"True but then I'm a Dragon obsessive with a workaholic complex" Kaiba replies.

"That was only the one magazine article Big Bro and 'sides you don't have to live up to it"

"Don't I?"

"As much as I hate to interrupt" and Marik really did hate to interrupt it was amusing to see the Kaiba brothers match wits.

"But we do have a serious problem that needs to be solved as quickly as possible if you don't mind" Bakura says politely

"Sorry" Mokuba blushes "guess I got a little carried away there, anyway as I was saying you could always attend Seto's academy until he fixes VW3"

"Just how long have you been spying on me for?" a suspicious Kaiba asks Mokuba who smirks evilly, the blood drains out of Kaiba's face "say anything and I will kill you" he snaps.

Marik was starting to take to Mokuba then again they were the same age now "ooh so defensive, what have you been getting up to then Kaiba?"

"He's dating…" before Mokuba could so much as utter another syllable Kaiba astounded everyone by leaping over his desk in a split second and wrapping his hand over his brother mouth.

"Now there's no need to be rash Mokuba" a nervous Kaiba stutters "I'm sure we can reach some kind of mutually beneficial arrangement, so long as it's not another Dolphin anyway"

Bakura blinks clearly thrown by the situation.

Mokuba pulls free from Kaiba's grip "I'll keep the incriminating stories to myself if you'll let me go top the Academy" he taunts his brother. Kaiba stands up clearly arguing with himself.

"Fine" he said dejectedly sounding like a kid who'd just been scolded.

"And you'll fix it so that Marik and Bakura can come along to the academy too? It'll be nice to have someone around who won't just see me as the Brother of Seto Kaiba"

"Academy? You mean School?" a confused Bakura asks.

"Duelling's really popular now" Mokuba explains "Duel Academy is the biggest and the best but there are several Academy's all around the world along with the Duel Prep schools and community colleges"

"Only those who attend the big schools or are extremely talented can make it as Pro-duellist's though" adds Kaiba.

"I've wanted to attend Duel Academy for years but Seto keeps saying I'm to young at that rate I could attend the academy and draw my Kaiba Corp pension at the same time" Mokuba accuses.

"You exaggerate" claims Kaiba dismissing his accusation "I said you could go"

"And…"

"I've already told you the puppy dog eyes don't work" states Kaiba but yes they can go with you"

"Yay" Mokuba jumped up and down, it seemed he was still a hyperactive kid at heart.

"Under condition" Kaiba reached over and grabbed Marik and Bakura by the scruff of their necks "you damage/destroy/wreck/ruin or in any other way bring harm to my Academy and you'll regret it, got it?"

"Uh huh" replies a shaken Marik. Bakura nod's his head vigorously in agreement alarmed by Kaiba's ferocity.

"Is this really necessary?" Mokuba asks his brother folding his arms in annoyance.

"Yes and the same goes double for you" Kaiba points his finger sternly at his brother who gives him his best innocent expression as if to say who me?

"Yes you and if you think you're getting any special treatment your mistaken, if my Brothers going to get into the Academy it will be on your own merits Mokuba"

Mokuba felt both tedious and proud that his Brother wouldn't bend the rules for him.

"Show me your decks" commands Kaiba taking Bakura's first he skims through it "pathetic, so weak, it obviously follows an out of date strategy"

The spirit of the ring raged at Kaiba but Bakura remained in control.

"Several of your cards are now against the current forbidden and limited card lists including this one" Kaiba holds up the change of heart card Bakura's heart sank his favourite card was no longer playable.

Kaiba hands back Bakura's deck and takes Marik's "still using your post battle city deck?" he asks, Marik nods his head, Kaiba grunts "Dismal without Ra your deck is useless" he states.

"Mokie I know you have a deck" says Kaiba and Mokuba nervously hands over his deck for his Brother to examine Kaiba takes more time and effort to look through his Brothers deck "could use some work but the strategy is sound" he returns it to a smirking Mokuba.

"Favouritism" Mutters Marik, Mokuba sticks his tongue out at him, Bakura smiles good naturedly.

Kaiba eyed them all shielding his feelings behind an impassive mask of iron in truth he wanted them all to pass (especially Mokuba) and as such had to make sure they were as good as they could be, especially Marik and Bakura who technically hadn't duelled in years.

"I'll give you until midday tomorrow to improve your pathetic decks if I judge them to be good enough then you can apply to the Academy"

"But…" protests Mokuba.

"My word is final Mokuba and until then" Kaiba gestures at Bakura and Marik "your in charge of this pair, try and keep them out of trouble" and with that Kaiba went back to his work.

Mokuba sigh's "alright gang Mr. 24/7 workaholic here wants us to split, anyway I know how to get our decks up to snuff" he gestures for Marik and Bakura to follow him out of Kaiba's office, after they had left Kaiba keys on the intercom.

"This is Seto Kaiba I've ID the intruders they are friends of Mokuba's let them leave with him" he keys of the com and types away on his laptop "pause Death T mark 4 upload back up data from Virtual World 3, I have a lot of call's to make"