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Jemmea

I looked around my apartment for perhaps the last time. Even though Duke agreed, I still wasn't sure about coming back here. Currently, that wasn't important.

I tried Jude's phone once more to get the same message.

"That's it," I spat after the beep. "I'm coming to find you."

All right, I guess I'm going. Yeah, I'll just suck it up and do it. I took a deep breath. OK. I will need to be prepared. I chose a quarter sleeve, snug, cream knit. I put it on with some dark, form-fitting jeans. So the goons have nothing to grab. And finally- I put on my sailing wedges, grabbing a pair of stilettos for landing. Perhaps most girls found heels uncomfortable, but I had forced myself into them a long time ago and they were now my preference. Why? Stilettos are the perfect concealed weapon. Growing up the way I did, they were quite useful.

That was about all I had to bring. I had no plans for staying there, but if I had to, there were more clothes there than here.

I grabbed my keys and headed for the storage area down by the docks. I had painted over the previous name for my boat, Jemini. My brother loved it—being twins, being Gemini, and being able to refer to us as "Jem 'n I." It was a bit too cute for me.

Before long I heard the clunk of my shoes on the pier and found my renamed boat. I had met an older man at the docks one day retiring his boat. I found it to be the perfect opportunity to steal the name so my father couldn't find me. I would just have to see if I could pull it off again once I knew my brother was safe.

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Kaiba calmly stepped out of his private executive washroom, now out of his juvenile uniform and into something much more professional for work. He strode back over to his desk, smoothing his tie as he fell into his chair, and with a swivel was ready to work. It was exactly then that his phone rang, which happened basically every day at this time. Employees had built up a number of questions and proposals while he was at school and could wait no longer for his input.

"Kaiba," he answered, starting his routine.

"Oh hello, Kaiba-boy," came the overly dramatic, only too familiar voice.

Kaiba wasn't even going to entertain him. His muscles flexed, and moved ever so slightly towards the receiver. Knowing, Pegasus simply said, "God cards."

This caught Kaiba's attention, and he eased back. "I'm listening."

"Oh goody," Pegasus replied cheerfully. "So a little birdy told me that you're throwing a tournament soon because they've resurfaced. In fact, I hear Obelisk has resurfaced right into your deck! I know you, Kaiba-boy. I know you're after the other two. I thought you might want to know some tidbits about them."

"Go on," Seto encouraged.

Pegasus laughed. "Oh not so easily, Kaiba-boy! No no, that wouldn't be any fun. For this, you have to pay me a personal visit."

Kaiba wasn't thrilled with his proposal. "Why are you doing this?" he demanded.

"Oh, I have my reasons. I don't know if you want to hear them, though." There was a pause as Kaiba considered this. "But I'm going to tell you anyway!"

Kaiba huffed. How could a man who invented something he loved so much be this awful?

"I know you've been struggling lately, Kaiba-boy," Pegasus went on with a sarcastic sympathy. "Quite frankly the continuous streak is bad for both of our businesses, besides Yugi winning is getting a little too predictable. I want to fuel your rivalry, make it interesting again. Sadly I think you might need more of an edge. But I can't discuss it over the phone. Come to Duelist Kingdom-"

Kaiba did not like the insults but was too intrigued to let it squander this opportunity.

"I'll be there soon," he replied.

"You'll have to wait a few days, my boy. I'm afraid I'm booked solid-"

Kaiba smiled, turning the tables. "You'll just have to make time. I'm not waiting." With that he hung up, but held onto the phone, dialing home.

"Hey, bro," Mokuba answered as Kaiba stood. "Mokuba, start packing now. I'm on my way home."

"Is everything ok?" the little Kaiba asked, worried.

"Yes, we're going to Duelist Kingdom to get information out of Pegasus." Kaiba heard the pause on the line and knew why. "Don't worry; I'm not letting anything happen to you. That's why you're coming. Now move it."

As he hung up his phone, he heard the chime of a new e-mail. He glanced at it, realizing he should take a least a moment to scan and address anything important before he left. He wasn't too worried about leaving now with the next week off from school due to the holidays. The shopping rush was over and many of his employees were using some of their PTO to spend time with their families. The company was almost entirely shut down. Still, it didn't hurt to check.

He was surprised to see it was an email from Yugi. He wondered if it was connected to what Pegasus said. Perhaps this was a game and he was playing both of them.

Kaiba quickly opened the message.

Hey Kaiba,

You might know this already, but Jem is Pegasus's daughter.

Kaiba's eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat.

Téa recognized her today since she looks like her mom. When Duke learned her name was Jemmea he was able to confirm it. He confronted her about it and she said her dad sent her here. Aside from her twin that visited, Duke said there's a younger sister named Effie. I just have a weird feeling about it. I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but since I consider you a friend and you are around her a lot, I just wanted to make sure you knew.

The last he saw of her was a lunch yesterday when she asked him about hacking. When she was missing today, the last day before the holiday break, her previous question seemed to explain her absence. Yet something wasn't right. It was suspicious that she would gravitate toward him, though enough time had passed that Pegasus could have done something should he want to. He also noted how she had mentioned not contacting her family. Things didn't quite seem to fit. Regardless, it all felt like too much of a coincidence, and Kaiba wanted answers.

Next Chapter: Ashore

Glaring at Kaiba through his sunglasses, he spoke into his sleeve, "Croquet, Seto Kaiba is here."