Didja think I dropped this story? Didja? Didja? I bet ya did.

Well, I WAS a little stuck for a bit. But, I think I'm starting to dig myself out of the rut I got into. I wasted like, nine-and-a-half pages because I wrote stuff then crossed it ALL out. But, it'll have to do. Oh, and I'm starting to cycle back to the very first paragraph. Just to warn you.

And yes. He does get knocked out a lot. And yes. He's starting to get annoyed. At me, at the Mad Scientists at the School… especially me, 'cause I'm writing it… Well, I'm trying to keep these Author Notes short on this story. So, onwards.

Recap (Because it's been a while): Seto Kaiba and the flock stopped somewhere in the countryside on their way to Max's biological mother. However, during their stay, Erasers come and kidnap Tracie Mae, a normal teenage girl with a mutant heart. With this riding on their hearts, the flock decides to continue on their way to Max's mom in Arizona.

"Don't you feel guilty about stealing a dead man's car?" Max asked me once we were back on the highway. I gripped the steering wheel harder.

"He's dead. I'm sure he doesn't care," I growled, checking the rearview mirror. Max was sitting next to me in the passenger seat. Fang, Mercy, and Angel (who had Total in her lap) were in the back seat, and the rest of the flock was in the long bed of the pick-up truck. I had wanted Mokuba up front instead, but he wanted to be able to talk to Nudge, and Angel wanted to sit with us too. I have no idea why, but I wasn't about to pick a fight.

"I think you're extremely brave," claimed Angel. "For more than one reason."

"Gee, thanks," I replied dryly. Before changing lanes, I checked my blind spot. I was actually surprised to find a Jeep there, with two guys wearing sunglasses driving. I glanced at Max, catching her eye, and she shrugged. I returned my eyes to the front, watching the road.

"Take this exit," Max said a little while later, pointing to a green sign. I changed lanes and drove down an exit ramp. I idly checked my rearview mirror again and was a little stunned to see the Jeep from earlier. I shook it off. I was being paranoid.

"You should probably call her, so she knows we're coming," I told Max.

"Don't have a phone," she replied. I cast a sideways glance at her.

"Use mine, then," I said. I tossed her my Blackberry (don't ask why I still had it. I have no idea.). "It's apparently been kept off so I wouldn't get random calls," I added. The fact that my Blackberry was turned off was a mystery within itself. I almost never turn that thing off. So someone else must have. But the only people I could think of who had the chance to turn it off were the scientists. But why turn it off and let me keep it?

"Won't this cost a lot?"

I shrugged. "It doesn't matter."

"Right. Forgot you were rich."

"Filthily so." I kept a stone cold face, but Max chuckled as she dialed, and Angel smiled.

Thankfully, the Jeep was long gone by the time I pulled into the driveway of Max's mother's house. Cheering could be heard from the back as the flock stockpiled out. I was the last one to step out of the truck. Mokuba had patiently waited for me, and Nudge hung back also, waiting for Mokuba. A tanned woman with dark hair and eyes smiled nervously from the doorway at me.

"Hello, she said, a little intimidated. I didn't blame her for that. "Please, Mr. Kaiba, come in."

Why not? I shrugged and followed Mokuba inside. And don't you dare tell me I'm getting soft!

I could smell cookies baking in the oven, a warm, pleasant, sugary smell. The kitchen was simple and the house itself looked homey and comfortable, but it also looked like it could not fit us all.

"Er… um, we only have one guest bed," Dr. Martinez stuttered.

"The couch is fine," I said, cutting her off. She sighed in relief. The couch really isn't that bad. I've slept on one so many times.

"Hey, Mom," Max started (she seemed to take great pleasure in saying "Mom"), "Do you think you could take us to the outlet mall? We need new disguises."

"Sure thing," Dr. Martinez replied, smiling. She see worried about something though… I could guess.

So I told her, "I'll pay for all of it." She relaxed visibly.

"Can you even get money?" Iggy asked incredulously. I smirked.

"I have an account in many countries. Where's the nearest bank?"

"Mr. Kaiba, we are extremely lucky to have you with us!" Nudge chattered on as we walked to the mall. "It's generally hard for us to buy stuff, and really the only time we've gotten money was when a guy left his card in the ATM, so we stole from him, and I feel bad about it, but it was totally necessary – you believe me right? Of course you do…"

The only thing I could think was how does my brother stand her?

Nudge had decided to talk to me the entire time, and Mokuba was only egging her on. Angel, too, insisted on swinging on one of my hands, and I didn't quite have the heart to chuck her (even though she'd be fine if I did). Plus, I was feeling very overheated. Maybe it was the Arizona heat… But sometimes, I just wished these kids would leave me alone. Max and Dr. Martinez walked ahead of us while the Gasman, Iggy, Ella (Dr. Martinez's daughter, not a mutant), and Mercy strayed behind us.

I was uncomfortable and uptight strolling in the crowd on the streets. It wasn't just the fact that there were a million of them, but most of them kept staring at me, too. Even though I left my trench coat and accessories at the house, I was obviously recognized. It didn't help that I swear roughly ten alley cats were discreetly following me.

Needless to say, we agreed I'd be the first one to get a "disguise."

When we finally reached the mall, we dodged inside the first clothes shop we saw. Despite the heat of Arizona, I refused to wear a T-shirt of shorts. I argue that Japan would be colder, but that wasn't the real reason. No, of course, I won't tell you the real reason. I ended up buying dark jeans, a blue T-shirt, a white hooded sweatshirt (better known simply as a hoodie) and simple white sneakers. Everyone agreed I looked very different already in commoner's clothes.

Gazzy let us buy something for him there also. He finished with light jeans, one of those shirts that looked like a graphic tee over a long-sleeved white shirt, and biker goggles. After his decided outfit, we stopped inside a different store to find me a hat and sunglasses. I quickly found a white baseball cap with a pale blue brim and a pair of black-framed mirrored sunglasses. (Mirrored sunglasses are perfect. If you've ever seen poker on television, probably half of the players wear sunglasses like those. It's impossible to see the wearer's eyes with them on. Plus, it has ultraviolet ray protection.) With my completed outfit, even Mokuba said I was barely recognizable.

We spilt up in the mall to buy more outfits. I let Mokuba purchase a light blue polo, new jeans and sneakers, and sunglasses too (though these weren't mirrored). Fang got a black T-shirt with a fake red tie printed on it, along with dark pants and shoes. Typical. Iggy ended up with a long sleeved shirt under a short sleeved collared shirt, pale jeans, and black leather fingerless gloves. Max also got jeans (denim sure is a popular material), a hoodie, and a simple T-shirt. Mercy was happy with a graphic tee of a wolf howling at a full moon. Angel snagged a dark blue pleated skirt with navy leggings, and a sailor's top, along with ballet flats. Nudge took a liking to an outfit consisting of brown pants of a light material, black shoes, a light green sundress, and a short denim jacket (despite the fact that the jacket will probably be ripped to shreds by her wings).

After spending all that unnecessary time describing outfits, and after we were all done, we met at the food court where each flock member got enough McDonald's to feed a party of ten. Each of them. Every one.

I let Mokuba and Mercy buy whatever they wanted. Mercy bought plenty of food also, as did Mokuba, who claimed he was absolutely famished and could eat a horse. Actually, with all the food he got, I think it equaled the mass of a horse. I've never seen him eat that much.

But, it wasn't until I smelled all the food that I realized how hungry I really was. Though, I do have an image to keep up. That, and I'd prefer to not get overweight, thankyouverymuch. So, I only let myself buy a double cheeseburger, a salad, fries, and water.

"Why aren't you eating as much as us?" Nudge asked me. I was at a table with her, Mokuba, and Angel. Max, Fang, Dr. Martinez, and Ella were at another table, as was Iggy, Gazzy, and Mercy. (I guess they're starting to trust Mercy a little bit, if they let her sit with the two guys. At least, they didn't feel all that threatened.) "I mean," continued Nudge, "we have to eat so much, 'cause when we fly we need a lot of energy, and…"

I wasn't really listening to her. Her words slipped through me like a ghost through a wall. But I couldn't focus. This part of the mall was purely swarming, and all the movement and noise was starting to overwhelm me. I heard almost everything. The screaming toddlers (there were eight); the crying babies (five); the laughing teenagers (37, not counting the flock); the gossiping women (28); the chattering men (19); and the chirping birds who had gotten trapped inside (three). And that was in the food court alone (thankfully, I couldn't hear the rest of the mall).

And the smells. It wasn't just the food scents flooding my senses, but I somehow knew that someone had a paper cut; two people definitely needed deodorant (ick); and someone had vomited in the girl's restroom recently.

"Mr. Kaiba, are you okay?" Nudge asked nervously. Damn. My distractedness was showing.

"I'm fine!" I snapped. Nudge jumped back, and I felt my heart suddenly gain weight. I hadn't meant to snap at her… I glanced away.

"You look sick, Seto…" Mokuba observed sheepishly.

I felt sick. And hot. Sour bile filled my mouth, and I quickly stood up. Without a word, I dashed for the restroom. I darted into an empty stall. My stomach heaved and I upchucked into the toilet.

Soon enough, there was nothing left to puke, and I could stand up. Thankfully, the restroom was empty, though its natural stench made me want to throw up again.

Hot pain suddenly shot through my abdomen. I staggered to the restroom door to push it shut and lock it. After doing that task, I made my way to the mirrors and grasped the edge of the white porcelain sink. More pain like lightning racked my body as I doubled over. My knuckles paled with the force I was exerting. It was four agonizing minutes before I could straighten and stare into the mirror.

My face was pale and drawn, and my eyes were huge. I could see the glistening sweat dampening the ends of my hair. I took a sharp breath through my teeth as fire rocketed all throughout. The white sink cracked under the pressure my hands were giving it. What… what was happening to me?

I heard something slam against the door. Probably a person trying to get in. My suspicions were confirmed when someone knocked. "Kaiba!" it was Fang. "What are you doing in there!?"

I wanted to shout back at him, but my throat felt like sandpaper, like shards of glass were lining it, and I couldn't make much more noise than a growl or heavy breathing. My eyes never left the mirror. What on Earth was going on? Everything hurt. Did my body decide to go to civil war with me, or something?

I hissed as my teeth all at once sent messages of extreme hurt to my brain. On a whim, I lifted a shaking hand to my mouth and pulled my lip back a little. I resisted the urge to shout in surprise, to make any loud noise. All of my teeth were sharpened to a point, especially my canines. Like a dog's, or a… a cat's!

My stomach clenched, and I had to spit stomach acid into the sink, leaving my throat burning and a sour taste in my mouth. I looked at my other hand and instinctively flexed. I somehow wasn't all that surprised to see claws stretch over my nails, curving slightly past the tip, almost an inch long. I was really starting to freak out.

So, apparently, was Fang. Or, at least, he was getting impatient. He pounded on the door again. "If you don't open up, I'm going to knock the door in!"

"Oh, just do it!" That was Max's voice.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I glanced back to the mirror only for my breath to catch. A young man had appeared, and was very close. But I thought the restroom was empty…? Before I could fully react, a damp cloth was pressed over my nose and mouth. I struggled against the young man, but he was actually quite strong. He successfully prevented me from squirming and escaping from him. As chloroform seeped into my system, I heard the restroom door burst open with a BANG. Fang and Max screamed something, but I don't recall what. I was too far gone. I passed out.

The only thing I remember of my captor was dark, empty eyes.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I do make Kaiba black out too often. Sorry!!!!!! I'm trying to curb it! But it really is quite hard to. He wouldn't be where he was if he wasn't knocked out…

Anyhoo, it's not the best chapter, but it sets things up for me. Hope you enjoyed anyway. Cheers!