Waves were smashing in the rocks in the fading light of the day. In a white house on a steep cliff by the sea was only one room with the lights turned on, all the others windows looked like black holes in the white walls of the house. It wasn't the first time Seto had taken refuge here and he figured it wouldn't be the last time either.

He hadn't been here ever since he had worked on his first duel disk system, just before he had gone to Pegasus' island to get his brother back. The situation was different now, but somehow he felt almost the same as back then.

A computer was running and Seto glanced at the screen, before focusing on the white box in front of him and screwing one of the small screws in place. Finally this project was getting along nicely. He had no idea how the rankings of the upcoming tournament were and quite frankly, he couldn't care less. He knew how many points he had and already had made an estimate how many duels he would have to do when he would return. There was no doubt in his mind he could pull it off in time.

.

Meanwhile in Domino city were the qualification rounds still in progress. The disappearance of Seto Kaiba had caught everyone's attention and everyone was speculation.

Some called him a coward, running off because he was afraid he'd lose. Others thought he was preparing a secret strategy that would make him undefeatable. Some just shrugged and said he only wanted a vacation. Another group though he was kidnapped by someone and that KaibaCorp was keeping it a secret for them. The reason why he would be kidnapped varied a lot at well. It could be for money, for his Blue Eyes or to keep him from entering the tournament. Maybe it was Yugi who hid him in the basement in fear of losing his number one position.

"Hey Yuug, you know what happened to Rich Boy?" Joey asked, stretching his arms as he asked the question. He was sitting on a bench with Yugi, both with a duel disk on their arm. They both had enough points to enter the tournament and the both had done their mandatory duel of the day already.

"I don't know, Joey. No-one seems to know," Yugi said and he let out a sigh. He couldn't help it, he was a bit worried for Kaiba. Without any word he had just vanished. Yugi knew one thing for sure, Kaiba wasn't in his basement. And all Mokuba said about the matter was that his brother was away. That was what he said to the reporters when they asked, that was what he had said when Yugi asked, but he had added that his brother hadn't told him where he went. When Yugi asked if Mokuba knew why his brother had left, Mokuba had nodded, but said he wouldn't tell. He would let his brother reveal that when he returned.

"I think he just got scared," Joey said with a grin. "After all, he was only looked at another defeat by your hands."

"Perhaps," Yugi said reluctantly. He wasn't all that convinced that was the reason, or at least not the entire reason. He looked up to see a familiar face, even though he had to think hard to remember his name. Alister, one of the henchman of Dartz. The one Kaiba had defeated. He knew Alister and Kaiba had been in contact after that, Mokuba had told him. Mokuba had also told him what they knew about Alister. Yugi had thought it was a tragic story and with all the recent events concerning Kaiba Corp it was no surprise to see Alister here. It was a long shot, but maybe...

Yugi got up from the bench. "Hello Alister," he said as he walked up to him.

Alister turned and watched Yugi coming closer. "Yes?"

"Do you know where Kaiba is?"

"How should I know?" Alister grumbled.

"Well, you did go see him a few times, I thought maybe he had told you something."

Alister looked at Yugi silently and then shook his head. "No, I don't know where he ran off to."

"Do you know why?"

"Maybe hiding because an angry mob is on it's way due to blood his precious company is build on?" Alister sneered, his hand forming a fist as he spoke.

"I don't think that's the reason," Yugi said, looking at Alister's fist. "Kaiba wouldn't hide for that, he'd face them."

Alister shrugged and started to walk away. "Whatever. Truth is, I don't know where he is, just like you. So don't bother me about it."

Yugi watched Alister leave, that conversation hadn't answered the question. And if Kaiba wouldn't come back soon, he wouldn't be able to compete in the tournament. Tomorrow would be the last they to get enough points to enter. And with the days he hadn't dueled he had already dropped to 29 points, where he needed 30 to be able to enter the tournament.

The question to where Seto Kaiba was remained a hot item as everyone could see his name go slowly down the chart, to the point where it was today. Speculations as to where he was were growing and they would only stop when the CEO of Kaiba Corporation would return.

.

Mokuba was sitting in the office of his brother, watching the city beneath him through one of the large windows. There was still no word from his brother, he hoped Seto would be alright. Time was running short for the tournament. Melissa had asked him if he knew where his brother was and he had to tell her he didn't. He really didn't, Seto hadn't told him where he would be and he wasn't answering any calls. Not that Mokuba had expected him to actually answer, but that hadn't stopped him from trying.

Please be safe, Seto. And hurry back, I can't do this by myself