Seto took a step forward onto the navy blue carpet. The room had wood paneling and small lamps on some of the walls. A large window on the back wall looked out over the neighborhood. In front of the window was a large mahogany desk, filled with files, papers, a cup full of pens, and a computer set diagonally on one side. There was an office chair behind the desk, facing the window.
"Close the door behind you." A deep tenor voice boomed.
The young woman obeyed and closed the doors behind him before skittering back to her desk. Seto watched the man turn in the chair. He was thin and lanky, with coal black hair that was coiffed to one side. He wore an expensive black suit with a white dress shirt, red silk tie, and what looked to be monogrammed cuff links. He had a white smile and bright blue eyes that made it immediately clear that he was up to no good.
He stood up. "Mr. Kaiba. It's a pleasure meeting you." He offered his hand, and Seto shook it firmly, making it clear with his gaze that he didn't have time for games.
"Likewise, Mr. Sterling."
"Please, call me Colten."
"If you prefer." He was more than familiar with business protocol.
"Please, take a seat." He said, gesturing to what looked like an expensive leather chair. Seto obliged him. Colten had a smile that he immediately mistrusted, but he couldn't afford for his personal prejudices to get in the way of this meeting. It was far too important. Colten leaned forward onto the desk. "I'm delighted to meet the head of Kaiba Corp. What brings you in today?" He asked.
"Papers." Seto replied, hoping it was vague enough to uncover whatever secrets Colten had to hide. Sterling's eyes shifted from polite interest to dark intensity. He leaned back in his chair.
"Certainly, Mr. Kaiba. What do you need? Birth Certificates, Passports, Driver's Licenses, Social Security Cards...?"
Seto found himself filled with relief when he cracked the big secret, but his relief disappeared instantaneously as he took in the words coming out of his mouth.
Ishizu had sent him here to save his family. He'd known that from the beginning. She'd seen his love for his child first hand. There was no doubt in his mind that she knew he would do anything to save him. Kisara could handle herself, and he could handle himself, but Mokuba was just a child. Easy prey for any one of Pegasus' minions. The only reason he would need a forger would be because he was running. But that didn't make any sense. Did Ishizu expect them to change their identities and go on the run? What was the point in that? They would still have a target on their backs no matter where they went. And that's when realization struck him.
They would always be a target as long as they were together. But if he and Kisara were apart from him, Mokuba could escape.
Even if they lost their fight, this would give him the chance to run and still have a future.
The slight ray of he'd held inside of him was blocked out by the darkest of clouds. He felt a lump forming in his throat. His son would have a future, but he and his wife wouldn't be a part of it.
But Mokuba couldn't run alone. Who would go with him? He considered that for a moment. Yugi and his friends were out of the question. They attracted danger wherever they went. And he didn't trust any of his security or servants worth a damn. There was only one other person who could possibly help him. Only one person who could take care of Mokuba's needs.
He took in a deep breath, not noticing how long he had paused.
"Three birth certificates, three passports, three social security cards, two ID's and one driver's license." He said slowly, keeping his expression as stoic as possible.
"Very good. Names?"
"... Mokie... Amori, Charlotte Amori, and Kobe Amori." He cringed at using Mokuba's old nickname. He may never be called that again. His eyes grew misty, but his expression didn't change. Colten remained oblivious to his reaction, scribbling the names on a stray piece of paper as quickly as possible.
"Middle names?"
"It doesn't matter. Anything is fine."
He nodded. "Ages?"
"Thirty-Five for the Woman, and nine for both of the boys."
"Alright. Do you have pictures for the documents?" He asked.
"I have them on my phone." He said.
Colten nodded and pulled out a cord with a USB cable at the end. He hooked his phone up to the computer. Kaiba pulled up the pictures, and Colten printed them out. He indicated who was to be whom, and Colten made note of it on his paper. "How soon do you need the documents?" Colten asked.
"The sooner the better."
"Would a week work for you?"
"Perfectly."
"That's considered a rush order. It will cost-"
"I don't care about the cost." Seto interrupted gruffly. "Just tell me what it is and I'll pay it." Colten wrote it down on the bottom of a sticky note. $112,512.00. He had more than that in his briefcase. He counted out half of that amount and slid it across the desk. He'd give him the other half when he got his papers. "I'll meet you here next week to pick them up." Colten looked hesitant.
"Actually I'd rather do it at a more neutral location. I prefer to do business away from the office. Say, at Umizoi No Basho? They have the best seafood in Domino."
Kaiba nodded and tried not to wince. It was where he and Kisara had gone to lunch the first time they kissed, and now stood as a bitter reminder of all he stood to lose. "Very well."
"I'll see you in a week, then." Seto nodded and got up. Colten stood and reached out to shake his hand. "It was a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Kaiba."
Seto nodded curtly, grabbed his briefcase, and walked out the doors.