A/N: I actually think I like this one. How am I doing on Kaiba's and Pegasus's voices so far? I'm actually watching season 5, so I think Kaiba's is pretty good...but I'm a little fuzzy on Pegasus.

Disclaimer: Layla and Haruka

Layla woke up bright and fresh the next morning. She dressed in the dress that matched her eyes, and paired it with a pair of ballet shoes exactly the same color, lined in gold, and adorned with a few pearls. She went into the suite's dining area, and saw a simple breakfast and a note written in a curly elegant script.

My Dear Layla,

I apologize for having to leave you so soon. I had a special guest coming to the tournament today, and I am escorting him. A car will be here to meet you at eleven o'clock.

Papa

Layla ate quickly, and went outside to wait on the car.

It didn't bother her that she had to go alone. She was used to that by now. She had spent the better part of her fifteen years by herself. Pegasus traveled often, being the founder and CEO of Industrial Illusions meant he had to travel often. Layla mostly opted to stay home. She didn't like to leave Haruka, her best, perhaps only, friend.

She went out early, so that she could see the city. It was so very different from Domino. Domino's buildings, that had seemed so tall before, looked dwarfed in comparison to the American city's skyscapers. Layla had always wondered what was so different from a skyscraper and just a tall building. Now she knew. These buildings weren't just tall, they were the the Giants of the Promised Land. They looked as if she could find some way to get to the top, she would just be swallowed up by the sky and disappear forever.

The car came much sooner than expected. She had left the hotel at only ten o'clock. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened, and it always gave Layla the impression of being watched, a suspicion that Pegasus had never denied.

She sat silently in the car, ignoring the driver's attempts at conversation. She was enamored with the people. Everyone seemed to be in such a rush. She had never seen so many people in one place before. There were so many people in the cars, and on bicycles, and clogging the sidewalks, Layla wondered just who it was in the buildings that they were rushing so desperately to see. It seemed like the people that were going to be met were rushing down the sidewalk with the meeters. How could there, with so many people outside, be anyone in the buildings at all? Or was there anyone in them, and the whole of the city was out and rushing to meet no one at all.

Within an hour, the car came to a skyscraper and stopped. Croquet was there to meet her. He bowed and escorted her to a surprised Pegasus.

Pegasus was accompanied by a seventeen year old boy dressed in the same school uniform Haruka's brother Eric always wore. The boy had unremarkable brown hair that was usually in his eyes. His eyes were a dark blue, cold, calculating, and focused.

Layla recognized those eyes, somehow. Then she remembered. It was him!

"Layla, I hadn't expected to see you here so soon!" Pegasus exclaimed, "Kaiba-boy, this is my daughter Layla. Layla this is Kaiba Corp CEO and top ranking Duel Monsters champion Seto Kaiba."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Kaiba," Layla held her hand out to shake his when Pegasus whisked her away to go meet the top contender in the tournament, Bandit Keith.

Keith was quiet and cocky. He seemed to think he had the entire tournament in the bag, including defeating Pegasus. Layla guessed that Keith knew nothing of Pegasus's Eye, which allowed him to see other duelists' cards, not just hold their souls.

Kaiba and Layla stayed with Pegasus all day. Pegasus always sat in between the two of them, as if determined that they not speak. Eventually, though, Pegasus had to go up and duel the tournament's winner, Bandit Keith. Layla kept side-glancing at Kaiba, wondering if it were really the man from her dream.

"What?" Kaiba asked bluntly.

"I... uh... just noticed your... uniform. I think you go to the same school as my friend." Kaiba seemed to soften a little.

"Who's your friend?"

"Haruka Takagi."

"Yes, I think I know her."

"So you live in Domino City then?" Kaiba nodded.

"My brother and I, yes."

"Well I go in every weekend. Do you and Haruka ever see each other outside school?"

"No."

"Oh..."

"Why do you ask?"

"Hm? Oh, I was just thinking that the three of us should get together sometime..."

Did her eyes deceive her? Did she see a ghost of a smile cross his face?

"What about just you and I?" he asked. She looked at him, her eyes brimming over with curiosity.

"What do you mean?" Kaiba slid his hand down gently and briefly grasped hers.

"Do you understand now?" She nodded and smiled. "I don't usually do this you know... I just... I'd really like to see you again."

"I'd like to see you again too, Kaiba, don't worry."

"Call me Seto." Layla smiled again. Pegasus, having humiliated Bandit Keith to his satisfaction, came and sat in between the two of them.

A/N 2.0: Yes I know that he fell a bit too fast for her, but there's a reason for that. :P