Disclaimer: I don't own YuGiOh

Chapter Thirty-Seven:

Feb. 21: Up, Down

Seto stood watching KaibaLand 4 come to life across the street. After a great first birthday for Nora and a wonderful Valentine's Day with Claire, he really didn't want to come back to France.

"Mr. Kaiba, what do you think?" Henri entered the room.

"It's finally looking like an amusement park."

Henri gave a slight smile. "I'm glad you think so."

"This will open on time, correct?"

"Yes, sir, that is the plan. Opening day is looking like late May to early June."

"Good to hear."

They stood there for a while. "So how is your family Mr. Kaiba?"

Seto watched the machines work.

"I sent a gift for your daughter for her birthday, I hope it found you well."

"It did. Thank you. Nora is very much into stuff animals at the moment."

"Will they be joining you for opening ceremonies?"

Seto nodded. "Yes I hope to bring them for vacation." He walked away. "It'll be nice to have a vacation."

"Another KaibaLand." Jonus mumbled. "As if the kid isn't rich enough."

"Opening ceremonies will be in a couple of months." Gina commented. "Perhaps we should go and check out the place, it'll be in Paris." She looked up toward Nate. "Julee will be there with the band."

"That's true." Nate mumbled.

"That girl is of no interest to us, understand?" Jonus was stern. "Nathaniel, how is the Japanese branch company coming along?"

Nate shuffled through several papers. "The building is refurnished and the business should be ready to start by the end of next month."

"The end of next month? What's taking so long?"

Gina eyed her brother. "Well we have tons of interviews to look through." She nodded to him. "We only want the best, right uncle?"

Jonus glanced up to his niece and nephew. "Exactly."

Claire stood at the bay windows, shades half drawn, a cup of coffee steaming in her hands.

"Down." Nora said trying to get out of her crib. "Down."

"Hm?" Claire placed her coffee down and walked to the crib. She picked Nora up and rocked her on her hip.

"Down." Nora demanded.

"All right." Claire sat Nora on the floor. "Want to play with your toys?"

Nora looked at her toy chest then she looked up at Claire. "Up." She said raising her arms. "Up. Up."

Claire lifted Nora and spun her around.

Nora giggled and clapped. "Down now."

"Down?" Claire shook her head a little and put Nora down.

Nora wobbled on her feet before falling on her butt. She clapped, looking back up at Claire. "Up now."

Claire took a deep breath before picking Nora up again. Just as she did so the child wanted down.

When Mokuba walked in, he couldn't help but laugh. "I see she's gotten you with her game too."

Claire was bent on the floor. "I'm glad to know I'm not the first."

"Not at all." Mokuba knelt "How's my Nor Nor?"

Nora blinked at her mother then her uncle. "Up now?"

Mokuba swooped her up in his arms and spun her around fast. Her giggles lit up the room.

Claire went back over to her coffee.

When he was done with the spinning he place Nora down; who wobbled to her toy chest. "You okay Claire?"

She looked at him absentmindedly. "Yeah why?"

"I noticed you were holding your stomach. You were doing it yesterday too."

"Oh? Hm it was probably something I ate; it's not agreeing with me."

Mokuba nodded and went to lean on the dresser. "Claire, if you knew something that could be relatively important to others around you, would you tell them?"

Claire sipped her coffee, continuing to stare out the window. "Well I guess it would have to depend on what I thought the outcome could lead to if I did so." She turned to him with a smile. "Is this relavance in regards to Ali and you?"

Mokuba blushed and studdered. "I better get to class."

"I'll have dinner ready when you get back."

Mokuba hurried out of the room, pausing in the hall. He smirked and shook his head. /Of course she would draw the conversation back to me./ He glanced back to the room before heading off to class.

Nate was looking over paperwork in his office when his uncle walked in.

"Nathaniel I want you to go to Japan and watch over this new company; get it started."

He looked up from his work. "What about the company issues here?"

"Gina will look after them and then we will join you as soon as the company is ready."

"Of course, I understand."

"Good." Jonus slowly began to leave. "Also don't forget to take Alexis with you. As a couple you two really need to get out more."

Nate took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. "Seriously," he murmured. After a few minutes he picked up his phone and dialed a number. Waiting eagerly he was surprised that she picked up. "Hey, it's me. Look, apparently I'll be coming back to Japan. I was wandering if we could have dinner or perhaps just drinks, strictly business I promise." He wetted his lips. "I'm sorry about all that's about to happen."