Chapter 04: Confrontation

"Aah… that's unfair!" Mokuba whined as he watched Rian packing some of her clothes while sitting cross-legged on her bed. After that small conversation with his big brother earlier, he decided to hang out at her room for the moment until it's time for bed. "How long will you be gone, sis?" he asked.

"I only intend this stupid trip to last for three days, no more, no less," she answered after stuffing her small suitcase full of all the necessary clothes and things she would need for her flight after three days. "But if it gets extended… hopefully not," she paused to shut her suitcase close. "I'll give you a call, okay?"

"Then why did you packed your stuff so early?" he asked suspiciously but Rian just gave him a reassuring smile.

"I'm going somewhere peaceful and quiet tomorrow," she answered as she sat herself next to Mokuba. "Simply put, I'm ditching office tomorrow."

"Where are you going?" he asked yet again.

"I'm going to visit an old friend," she answered indifferently with her eyes focused straight ahead. "And I'll meet up with my friends after that."

Mokuba tilted his head so that he can see her face closely. A frown suddenly appeared on his face after checking her eyes out. "Wait a sec, I thought your eyes are blue coz that's what it looked like in your picture. How come it became green now? Are you wearing contact lenses?" he asked, confusion written all over his face as Rian smiled in bemusement.

"No…! Do I look like I'm wearing contact lenses?" she stated in mocked pain after shifting her gaze to Mokuba. "It's blue green if you're confused. I inherited my weird eye color from my mother."

"Oh," was all that Mokuba said as a curious expression appeared on his eyes. "Blue green, huh? I like them! And who's this old friend of yours that you'll be paying a visit tomorrow?"

-

Meanwhile, at the Kayama mansion…

"Here's your water, sir." A young maid put down a glass of water on Kozou Kayama's desk and quickly took her leave. Matt, who was seated on one of the two empty chairs in front of the old man's desk, watched with a critical eye as Kozou took a small gold metal pillbox from one of the drawers. The old man fumbled opening it, as the pain he had been enduring earlier was just too much to ignore. His secretary could only watch in silence with an unreadable expression on his handsome face.

Kozou took out a large pill and popped it into his mouth then reached for the glass of water to drink down the bitter medicine. "Back to our discussion," he coughed, trying to regain his composure. "You heard a rumor that someone from the major stockholders is planning to talk the others into selling their shares, am I right?" Matt nodded and the old man continued, "Do you have any idea who this person is? It would really be a big problem if the rumor you've heard was true."

"I noticed you're drinking a new medicine now, sir," Matt remarked, trying to avoid answering the old man's question for the moment. "If it isn't too much to ask, what is it you're taking?"

The old man was quiet for a moment, thinking if he should tell him or not. He leaned back on his swivel chair and massaged his throbbing temples with one of his hands. "It's Dilaudid," he managed to say after a long pause. "Don't ever tell this to my daughter, Matt." His secretary nodded, knowing only too well what this medicine is all about. Dilaudid is a very powerful painkiller mostly prescribed to people with untreatable cases of cancer. His condition must've turned from worse to worst for him to take Dilaudid, he thought.

-

"Where is she, Mokuba?" Kaiba asked from his chair during breakfast. He was seated at the head of the table while Mokuba was seated on his left.

"She went out early this morning, big brother," Mokuba replied dutifully after taking a bite of his sausage. "She told me she won't be going to work today," he added. He then shot his older brother a short glance before asking, "Wanna know more?" Kaiba almost scoffed from the coffee he's drinking, knowing all too well that his younger brother was teasing him.

"You already told me what I need to know, Mokuba," Kaiba said dryly after wiping the sides of his mouth with a napkin. "If you'll excuse me, I'm done," he said dismissively and stood up from his chair. He quickly made his exit as Mokuba followed his older brother's back with a grin.

-

"What is it?" Rian asked the person on the other line in an irritated voice. She was busy driving her way to the cemetery when her mobile phone rang.

"Uh, sorry, boss. It's me, Matt," her father's secretary answered in an apologetic tone. "Where are you boss? You have an important meeting with Mr. Seki Azumi today after lunch," he said as a pained expression crossed her face.

"Did you just said 'Azumi'?" she checked and hoped against all hope that this Mr. Seki Azumi wasn't the person she was thinking as is.

"Uh, yeah. It's Mr. Seki Azumi of Azumi Industries, why?" Matt confirmed as she almost lose control of her driving.

"What the hell," she muttered under her breath. "Can you cancel my appointment, please, Matt? That Seki Azumi is the very last person I'll ever want to see."

"But boss," Matt objected. "You know that I can't do that! If you don't meet up with Mr. Azumi, KGC will lose big time!"

"Now what do you mean by that?" she demanded mildly while struggling hard to keep her phone, which was sandwiched between her cheek and shoulder, from falling off.

"We're talking a big business deal here, boss," Matt began to explain softly. "You know very well that your father wanted to buy Azumi Industries a very long time ago but the previous president of that company, Seki Azumi Sr. had been firm with his decision not to sell it. But it's Seki Azumi Jr. who's running Azumi Industries now and it became easy for your father to convince him of selling out."

"And what's the catch?" she asked suspiciously. "I know Seki Azumi well enough. He doesn't easily give in to others unless he will get something in return."

"You know Seki Azumi!" Matt asked in surprise.

"He's an old acquaintance," she answered coldly. Yeah, right! An old acquaintance, huh? More like an old nuisance I'm glad to have gotten rid of! She thought angrily as the cemetery came into view. She slowed down her driving and said, "Sorry Matt, but my decision is final. I don't care if KGC will lose the chance to buy Azumi Industries but I'm not coming to work today. End of story." She quickly ended the conversation by pressing the end call button then turned her phone's power off. Her car already made its way inside the cemetery as she searched for a space to stop and park her car. She found the perfect spot to park her car where a large tree trunk was shading it from the hot rays of the sun. She drove her way to it and made a complete stop. She then went down her car and looked around her as a look of self-disgust appeared on her face. Your stupidity never fails to amaze me, Rian! How are you supposed to find Mio Azumi's grave when there seems to be thousands of graves around here! She scolded herself mentally as she gave an inward groan. Oh well, if I don't start looking for it, then I must go to KGC and meet up with Seki just to ask for directions, she continued thinking but the mere thought of seeing Seki Azumi again angered her.

Suddenly, an idea came into her mind as she took her mobile phone out of her pocket and turned its power back on. She then made a call to Mitori and waited for an answer. It took her a few rings when she finally heard her best friend's voice, "Hey, Rian! Wazzup?"

"Hey, Tori," she began uncertainly. "Do you know exactly where I can find Mio's grave?"

-

Later that day, at the KGC building…

"For the last time Mr. Azumi, I'm sorry but Ms. Kayama already cancelled your meeting early this morning," Matt explained for the nth time to the man seated all alone in the conference room with his back turned haughtily against the secretary.

"She'll come, I'm sure of that," the man answered, his deep baritone voice full of confidence. Matt just threw the dark-haired businessman a short glare and decided to leave.

"Fine! Make a fool of yourself, you arrogant bastard!" Matt said only to himself when he was at the door. He knew only too well that Rian WILL NEVER show up and it's only a matter of time before this Seki Azumi find it out for himself. When Rian told him earlier that she's not going to KGC today, he made a quick call directly to Seki Azumi's office and told him flatly that his 'boss' had cancelled their meeting. But the pompous idiot still came and insisted on waiting for her. As if she would! He thought in distaste as he made his way back to his office.

When he arrived, he saw a very small package on his table addressed to him. A smile of satisfaction appeared on his lips as he realized what's inside that package. He then walked around his desk and put the package inside a drawer. For later… he thought as he sat himself on his swivel chair and started working away with the financial report.

-

Meanwhile, at Kaiba Corporation…

"Mr. Kaiba, sir. We've heard from one of our insiders from Azumi Industries that Mr. Seki Azumi just sold out his company to KGC earlier," Kaiba's secretary announced as he snapped his head up from the papers he was signing.

"Did you just said KGC?" he snarled that made his secretary step back to a safe distance.

"Y…yes sir," the secretary stammered in fear upon seeing the storm slowly brewing on Kaiba's face.

"Leave. Now," Kaiba said coldly as his secretary made a quick exit. He then leaned his back tiredly on his executive chair and rested his elbows on the armrests. Interlocking his fingers, he rested his forehead on his hands and began contemplating on the situation. Now, whom am I supposed to blame: that old bastard or my wife? He thought angrily because he had just been duped. He had wanted to buy Azumi Industries albeit the many competitions but he knew he was way ahead of the others. If Azumi Industries will fall into his hands, it will definitely expand Kaiba Corporation's business ventures. He had a talk with Azumi Industries' previous president, Seki Azumi Sr. and they had an agreement: that Kaiba Corporation will get its hands first on Azumi Industries if Azumi Sr. would sell out. But how the hell was Azumi Industries bought by KGC? Violent thoughts were running inside his mind and there is only one unlucky person he would vent out his anger to.

-

Later that night, at the Kaiba mansion…

Rian slowed down her driving after spotting Kaiba's limo about to enter the large metal gates of his mansion. She waited patiently for the limo to get in as she followed slowly. A few moments later, both vehicles are now in front of the house as she spotted Kaiba stepping out of the limo and making his way towards her car? She had turned off the headlights and the engine as well as she waited for him to reach her. But her instincts suddenly told her something bad was coming up and she has to run away now or else.

Kaiba jerked her car's door open much to her surprise and without a word whatsoever, he pulled her out of the vehicle on one of her arms. "Aw… what the hell is your problem!" she whined as he started pulling her inside the house. "Ouch! You're hurting me, Seto! Let go of me, please?"

"Not yet," he began in a dangerous tone. "We need to talk. And I mean right NOW." He continued pulling her until they reached his study. He then jerked the door open and pushed her inside that made her almost lose her balance. She was trying to support herself by holding onto his desk when he finally faced her after closing and locking the door. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, it's Azumi Industries," he hinted as she risked a fearful glance at him. "Now tell me, what the hell did you do to snag me out the deal?"

"Deal? Azumi Industries?" she asked him, total confusion written all over her face as she finally managed to stand up straight to face him. "I have no idea what are you talking about!"

"Really?" he sneered at her as she returned it with a glare. "Don't play dumb with me, Rian. I know KGC already bought Azumi Industries which should have been mine in the first place," he revealed as realization dawned on her face. Kaiba mistook it for guilt as an evil smirk appeared on his lips. "So now you know. Nobody cheats on me on a deal… NO ONE. Do you understand?"

"I think you're the one who doesn't understand what's going on here," she snapped with arms crossed on her chest. "I am positively sure that KGC didn't bought Azumi Industries because I said so."

"You're lying," he snapped back. "My sources were never wrong," he said arrogantly but a voice from the back of his mind told him otherwise from the look of honesty he was seeing in her blue-but-not-actually-blue eyes.

"I'm telling the truth," she said in a gentle tone. "I took a whole day off from work. You can ask my secretary for details."

"Then where the hell were you earlier?" he demanded as he took three perfect strides to grab her roughly into his arms. He felt her stiffen at his touch as a smile of smug satisfaction appeared on his lips. His cold blue eyes took notice of the fear on her face, a definitely new sight to her usual calm collected demeanor.

"I ditched a meeting with Seki Azumi and met up with my friends," she managed to answer in a fake calm voice coz her eyes were betraying her true feelings.

"And?" he urged.

"There's nothing more I can tell you," she said meekly.

"Good," he said rather dismissively and let her go.

Author's Notes: Wow! I didn't know that I could update earlier than I expected. I'm halfway through with chapter 05 but I have to stop because this upcoming week is midterm exams. Comments and/or suggestions? FLAMES WILL BE LAUGHED AT so don't bother if you're planning to do so. Anyways, I don't know if I'm developing the characters esp. Rian coz I mostly based her personality on the real person (take that Rian-chan! whaapak!). There is an important issue I'm trying to emphasize here and it's not about the will. It's Rian's past that she's trying to avoid at all cost and the need to confront and get over it at the same time. So what happened in her past that's been giving her some major problems now? It has been hinted in Chapter 02 and if all goes well, the truth about Mio will unfold. So there, I'll just let the flow of the story tell you more. Here's the shout-out for the people who kindly reviewed the third chapter:

B.E.W.DWarriorPrincess – thanks for your review again! I know Kaiba was nice in the beginning in talking to Kozou but the old man is after all, Gozaburo Kaiba's friend so the two share the same qualities. Kaiba knows the real side of Rian's dad but the latter doesn't and I can't make it anymore complicated than that. And you're right about Kaiba getting suddenly possessive of Rian but he has some secret motive behind it or maybe more. winks

Josephine Jekyl – a million and one thanks for your review! I'm really glad you find my story to your liking. Anyways, Rian's dad is really sick but being the strong and proud man that he is, he can't show his weakness when he's confronting Kaiba.

Chika of the high Mts – I know exactly how you feel. Even I tried so many times to search for my story here in ffnet and couldn't find it. But when I opened my profile page, it's there as is. I even tried using the search service here and I found there are five fics with the same title as mine but my story is still not in the results TT. Well anyways, sorry for my ranting. Here's my THANK YOU to you! Keep on reading!