In the late afternoon sun the blue sea sparkled far below Lara and Kaiba as if diamonds rippled on the surface. It felt like the chopper had been in the air forever and they could only just make out land in the distance.

Lara loved the fact that Kaiba was so capable at so many things, but that was not something she could revel in at the moment. He had been extremely quiet for most of the trip.

"You okay?" she asked him in a tinny voice thanks to the headset they wore.

"Fine," he replied.

"You're talking to me here." She studied his face as she waited for his response.

"This place brings back bad memories. There's a lot that Pegasus hasn't answered for."

"Maybe you could tell me what happened."

"I don't know if now is the time," he said lowly.

"If not now, when? It wouldn't be advisable talking about anything important there and I think I should know the history before I listen to what he says."

"You have a point." He gave her a quick glance, she had adjusted in her seat to give him her full attention.

"A few years after I took over Kaiba Corp., there was an incident with Pegasus, the first of a few."

"I take it this one is the reason why you distrust him so much," Lara said.

"Distrust is too tame a word, but yes. I was struggling through a lot at the time and needed to get my head straight so I left Mokuba behind in Domino and left. I should have known better. Anyway, I went to a house we rarely used, cut myself off from the world for a few weeks and left my brother and the company vulnerable."

"What happened?" Lara asked softly.

"The board made a deal with Pegasus, he helps them get rid of me and put them in charge and he would get control of my SolidVision technology."

"But only a Kaiba can control Kaiba Corp."

"That's why Pegasus had Mokuba kidnapped."

"What?!"

"Pegasus has committed many atrocities Lara. He held my brother at the island and sent his goons after me."

"What do you mean sent them after you?"

"They pitched up at the house I was staying at and tried to kill me. I blocked their bullets with a metal case and jumped out a window."

Lara covered her mouth in shock. "How did you survive?"

"There was a river below and I clung to the side of the cliff. I managed to get back to Domino and found out that Yugi was also at the island. Pegasus had attacked his grandfather."

"I'm assuming you went to the island after that."

"Yes. I held Croquet hostage and demanded that Pegasus release Mokuba who was chained in a dungeon."

"What the fuck?! He was a child!"

"Yes, he was, but Pegasus didn't care.

"So you rescued him."

"Not exactly. Pegasus forced me to duel Yugi to have the chance to save my brother." Kaiba's hands tightened around the joystick.

"Why would he do that, it makes no sense."

"Because he's sadistic."

"How did you get him back?" she asked obviously meaning Mokuba.

"With Yugi's help unfortunately. I remember Mokuba being so relieved to see me even after I'd abandoned him."

"Seto, you didn't abandon him. You were a teenager in an impossible situation."

"It's no excuse Lara."

"I still don't get it. Why would anyone do all that? Just for holographic tech? I mean you were already working together."

"Pegasus has always been superstitious. He had an object called the Millennium Eye, he wanted to use it and the other Millennium items together with my tech to bring back his dead wife."

Lara was dumbstruck. She blinked rapidly trying to process the most nonsensical thing she had ever heard.

"I'm sorry, he wanted to bring his wife back from the dead? Are you serious? He committed a felony for a fairytale?!"

"Yes."

"And nothing has ever been done about it?! The man creates games for children! He should be in prison."

"And how would that go? 'This international businessman used ancient Egyptian artifacts to kidnap and torture in order bring his wife back from the dead'. What does that sound like to you?" Kaiba asked.

"Like someone needs to be committed," Lara admitted. "It's an awful situation. I mean you changed Kaiba Corp.'s focus, it was essentially a fledgling business so you couldn't cut ties with Industrial Illusions at the time and now the companies have been irrevocably tied together."

"Which is why I won't let Mokuba anywhere near him and I need you to listen to me." He had been gazing out into the distance during their entire conversation except now. Now his blue eyes burned with an intensity that showed Lara the feelings he was trying to keep a lid on. She nodded, agreeing to do whatever he needed her to. His eyes returned to the skies in front of him and they fell silent for a while.

"How do you deal with it?" she eventually asked.

"I can't dwell on it."

"I suppose not, you still have to come here often enough." Lara looked out the cockpit at the island that drew closer.

"Unfortunately. Lara, when we go in there, I want you to be close at all times. Do not get separated from me and do not trust Croquet." Kaiba tore his eyes away from the horizon to look at Lara, making sure she understood.

"Okay."

"Okay? That's it? No 'Seto I can handle myself'?" Kaiba smiled with disbelief.

"Not today." She laughed. "And I already agreed to do as you ask."

The large white helicopter approached the island, flying over the dense vegetation as Kaiba flew towards the castle. Memories of having to land at night, to fight his way in to save Mokuba were at the forefront of his mind. He pushed those thoughts away. They would not help now.

Kaiba lowered the loud beast onto the makeshift helipad that was the courtyard. The skids gently touched the ground as the rotors created a cyclonic wind, blowing all the trees and plants in the area. He powered down the chopper and removed his headset, Lara did the same.

"Ready?" he asked her.

"As I'll ever be." She looked out the glass and saw a grey haired, moustached man in a suit, waiting just outside the large door.

"Croquet," Kaiba growled. "Come on. Don't forget what I said."

Lara nodded and the two of them disembarked only to join together at the front of the chopper. They walked hand in hand up to Pegasus's right hand man.

"Mr Kaiba, Ms Von Schroeder," he greeted unsmiling. "Mister Pegasus is expecting you."

Lara had met Pegasus on a few occasions but had never seen Croquet before and she could not think of a more unpleasant person. Kaiba squeezed her hand and the two of them followed him in.

She inspected the ostentatious gold accented walls of the passages that Croquet led them through. It reminded her of the Schroeder Castle and she did not care for it.

They were shown to a formal lounge filled with gaudy furnishings.

"What is this? Where's Pegasus?" Kaiba growled ominously.

"Mister Pegasus will be with you shortly." Croquet left the room hurriedly, as if he did not want to be around Kaiba any longer than he had to be.

"He still doesn't seem terribly fond of you," Lara observed.

"Of course he isn't." Kaiba snorted. Lara made herself comfortable on one of the Victorian couches but Kaiba paced the room like a caged animal. She was not sure if Croquet was deliberately taking his time or if Pegasus was making them wait as some juvenile way to show his power.

The sun was setting over the island casting golden rays and long shadows over the castle. Lara was tapping her foot impatiently and eventually, the older man returned to the room.

"Mr Pegasus will see you now, follow me." He led the couple to the dining room were a feast was laid upon the table.

"Kaiba-boy!" Pegasus greeted jovially with his arms out.

"What is this?" Kaiba questioned suspiciously.

"It's called a meal," Pegasus bit back sarcastically.

"This isn't a social visit." Kaiba glared at the flamboyant man.

"Come now Kaiba. We have lots to talk about, so why not do it with some good food and wine." Pegasus smiled pleasantly, it felt fishy.

"Don't have time for games," Kaiba growled.

"Neither do I." He walked around Kaiba who had moved to stand in front of Lara. "Lara! Forgive us, we're being terribly rude. How are you?"

"Great." She frowned.

"You used to be a lot more loquacious than this. Come, have a seat." He pulled out a chair for her, and made sure she was comfortable before taking his seat at the head of the table. "Kaiba." Pegasus cocked his brow of the one eye not hidden by his curtain of hair.

Reluctantly, Kaiba joined them at the table, sitting next to Lara with his arm around her shoulders and glaring flintily at his host.

"After all these years Kaiba-boy, you still don't trust me."

"I don't have a reason to," Kaiba said flatly.

"Words hurt you know. Oh well, I think you two make a marvelous couple. Here's to you both." Pegasus raised his wine glass to Lara and Kaiba but the couple just looked at the red liquid in their glasses without touching it. "Oh it's not poisoned!"

Lara still had all the information Kaiba shared with her swirling in her head, but the logical part of her figured that if they were going to get anywhere with Pegasus, they would have to play along, so she put on her best sociable mask and picked up the glass next to her plate, holding it aloft.

Kaiba steadfastly refused to partake, silently challenging Pegasus to say something.

He shook his head but said nothing, instead, he took a sip of the dark red liquid and Lara followed suit.

"Thank you for having such good manners Lara," Pegasus said giving Kaiba a pointed look. Kaiba could not care less and in that moment, noticed the lens of the camera in the corner of the room silently move, directed at the table.

"Pegasus, you can understand why we're a little on edge," Lara said as she placed her glass back down. She did well to hide her distrust.

"Yes, I do. I was most distressed when I heard about the incident yesterday. I'm very glad that you're okay my dear." Pegasus squeezed her hand but Lara could never tell when he was being sincere, but then again, she was always a cynic.

"I was very lucky but that's why Seto and I just want to know what you wanted to say to us so we can deal with this." Lara placed her hand on Kaiba's thigh, a show of how close they were, but also to keep Kaiba from losing his patience.

"Of course, but regardless of what I tell you, you can't charge in there like you usually do Kaiba-boy. This is a big web." Pegasus swirled around his wine as he addressed the two of them. He made a gesture to Croquet who was standing silently in the corner of the room. "But first I hope you will indulge me just a little."

The suit clad man served the three of them despite all the food being within reach of each of them.

Even though she really did not want to, Lara tucked into the meal, playing along with the strange hospitality that they experienced.

"So where to start?" Pegasus tapped a finger to his chin.

"How about that message you sent us. Where did you get the information?" Kaiba asked brusquely.

"About little Yugi?"

"About everything. Clearly you knew about my brother too," Lara said.

Pegasus chuckled. "One should never reveal their sources."

"Either start talking or we're leaving," Kaiba snarled.

"Always so hostile. It's as if you don't like me. I can't imagine why."

"Maybe it's because you keep calling him Kaiba-boy. You could just drop the nickname. That might help things," Lara said flatly.

"But I do so love Kaiba-boy." Pegasus grinned, Kaiba stared daggers at the flamboyant man. "Okay fine, take away my fun."

"Get to the point Pegasus," Kaiba said through gritted teeth. Talking to Pegasus was like herding cats. It was frustrating and his patience was already worn thin. It would not take much at all for him to snap at this point.

"Kaiba, no one knows what happened in Germany because you dealt with everyone who held the most power, but the little guys still talk."

"Why would they talk to you?" Kaiba questioned.

"Because when people like you, they are willing to share information and they do so love me in Germany, am I right Lara?"

"Yes. He is popular. I mean Industrial Illusions doesn't just do Duel Monsters related games and he was seen with Zigfried a lot," Lara informed Kaiba.

"Well I guess I just have to take care of that," Kaiba said.

"You can try but they'll always talk to me. That's how I found out about everything in Germany and that little Yugi is your only family apart from Mokuba. Funny how that worked out."

"So how does that relate to what's going on now?" Lara asked placing her utensils together on her plate. Croquet cleared the dishes away even though Kaiba left his largely untouched.

"Nothing until you two started showing interest in each other."

"What do you mean?" Lara asked.

"I have a suspicion. I read that you suspended one of your directors Kaiba and that got me thinking about the last time your board grew designs on your position."

"You mean after you tried to steal my company to gain use of SolidVision." Kaiba spat.

"Yes, yes, after all that."

"This is a waste of time. The Big 5 are gone. Lara we're leaving." Kaiba threw out his chair and was about pull Lara away when Pegasus stopped him.

"Terra nullius, know what that means?"

"Of course I do. What does that have to do with anything?"

"What is it Kaiba?" Pegasus asked. He had an irritating knowing smirk on his face.

"It's land that belongs to no one," Kaiba answered.

"There are only a handful of such places on earth. It just so happens I know of one nearby, occupied by one Gozaburo Kaiba." Pegasus had Kaiba's attention now.

"Talk." Kaiba turned around to face him.

Back in Domino, Mokuba paced about the study. He always asked Kaiba if he was sure that he needed to go to that island, it was something he did so he could hear the certainty or doubt within his brother and hopefully, get him to reconsider. This time though, none of them had much choice and it bothered him.

"Mokuba, could you stop pacing?" Rebecca asked from the couch in the study.

"Sorry." Mokuba stopped in his tracks. "It's just that they should have arrived by now and we've heard nothing."

"I'm sure they're fine."

"I hope so."

"I think I might have an idea to put your mind at ease," Rebecca said.

"What's that?" Mokuba asked.

"Pegasus should have some pretty good security on the island. I could possibly hack in and get us a live feed of what's happening there," she said staring up at him.

"You're brilliant babe! Feel free to use my laptop."

She sat in Kaiba's large chair and cracked her knuckles as she set to work with Mokuba standing close behind her looking at the screen over her shoulder. Her fingers flew over the keyboard and Mokuba watched silently as she worked. She could feel him hover but was too far in the zone to care.

"Yes," she hissed triumphantly when she finally broke through. "Okay, what are we looking for?"

"Can we see if the helicopter is on the grounds?" Mokuba requested.

"Sure thing." She moved through the various cameras until they saw the blue and white machine in the courtyard. "Let's see if we can find them. Ah, thermal cameras. How convenient." With Rebecca controlling the camera remotely, it spun around, scanning for heat signatures. She eventually found the correct target which showed three seated bodies and one standing further away.

"Pegasus has cameras in parts of the castle, maybe there's one in the dining room," Mokuba suggested, leaning over the table, his weight rested on his hands.

"Let's see." After a few more inputs she knew for certain that there was. "There we go." she said as she directed the camera at the table.

They saw Lara place her wine glass down and Kaiba look directly at the camera but his gaze shifted when Pegasus squeezed her hand.

"Audio?"

"Yeah, that should do it." Rebecca increased the volume on the laptop and the two of them now knew everything that was being said. They watched and listened with keen interest until Kaiba lost his patience. They saw him throw his chair out, ready to leave when Pegasus stopped him.

"Terra nullius, know what that means?"

"Of course I do. What does that have to do with anything?"

"What is it Kaiba?"

"It's land that belongs to no one."

"There are only a handful of such places on earth. It just so happens I know of one nearby, occupied by one Gozaburo Kaiba."

Mokuba immediately pulled out his phone and scrolled through the contacts until he found the one he was looking for.

"What are you doing?" Rebecca asked.

"Calling Yugi."

Pegasus flicked his silvery hair back, exposing his eye patch and crossed his arms.

"There is an island nearby that officially is unclaimed due to the savages that dwell upon it. No one can get close."

"But?" Lara prompted. She was trying very hard to control the irritation and anger she felt towards her host.

"But there are no savages. It's a small island created by volcanic activity and it was there many years ago that Gozaburo built a secret base."

"Quatsch!" Lara exclaimed. "How the hell can someone build an entire base in secret on land that no one should be visiting?"

"You'd be amazed what the most powerful warlord in the world could do," Pegasus said.

"I destroyed everything. If he had an island, I would have known." Kaiba crossed his arms.

"How could you destroy something you knew nothing about Kaiba-boy? Believe me, it's there and highly protected. He created the stories about the savages."

"So it was never inhabited?" Lara frowned.

"Right. I do so love a clever audience." Pegasus clapped his hands together.

Lara rolled her eyes. "Pegasus."

"Stories won't keep people away," Kaiba stated.

"That's why it was so very helpful when a clever little boy invented realistic holographic projections."

Kaiba narrowed his eyes.

"Your stepfather was alive when you began working on that little project was he not? And if I'm correct he did use the first of your inventions for his own gain." Pegasus smirked.

"So if you knew all this, why did you not say something?" Kaiba accused.

"And create a Kaiba sized enemy? Heavens no!" Pegasus placed his hand over his chest in over-exaggerated shock. "I'm just a little card creator."

"Why are you telling me this now? Why help at all?" Kaiba glared at the man in front of him. He would always be suspicious of Pegasus's motives.

"Because you, Seto Kaiba, are much more valuable to me as an ally."

"An ally?!" he said with disbelief. "Would an ally kidnap a child?!" he questioned angrily.

"Kaiba, can't you see that I'm trying to make up for past mistakes."

Lara needed to move the conversation back on track and away from such dangerous waters.

"Gozaburo has been dead for a long time and the Big 5 are long gone. So wouldn't the place fall into disrepair?" she asked.

"Not necessarily. You are right, Gozaburo Kaiba is dead and so are those pesky executives, but there was one person left. One person you did not get rid of, Kaiba." Pegasus wanted Kaiba to come to the realisation himself.

"What are you talking about?!" Kaiba snapped.

"There was one person you didn't think was very important at all. One person who was loyal to Gozaburo. One person you were forced to be around since you became a Kaiba."

Kaiba's eyes narrowed. He was about to tell Pegasus to stop talking in riddles when he figured it out. His eyes widened as he pieced it together.

"Hobson."

A/N Quatsch - nonsense