Chapter 20 - Let the Dark Games Begin
"You want to change the name of Kaiba Corp.?"
"Why not? It's not like there's anything good related to that name anyways. Gozaburo may have donated a bunch of money to charity, but… it's all like that thing the Europeans did back in the Middle Ages; paying a sum of money to supposedly be free of sin. He made weapons. Weapons that killed who knows how many people… I don't want my name to be attached to that".
"Hmm… if that's how you feel, I doubt anyone's going to stop you. Did you have any ideas?"
"I do, yeah, actually".
Rising Sun Incorporated.
Honestly, getting the board to approve of the name change had been the easiest part. Oh, those so-called "Big 5" had protested and moaned, but the majority had been more than ready to get rid of the bad publicity that came with Gozaburo Kaiba's very name after the big court case. Everything else, though, mainly the paperwork and a ton of other legal and official issues, had been a major headache for him.
Seto had done it, though. He'd studied and worked and pulled through, and four years later, Rising Sun is as big a name in the entertainment and technology industry as Tohomiko Entertainment, Industrial Illusions, Nintendo, and the like.
And Seto is no fool. He knows a good chunk of his success is thanks to his family. Youko and Hinata has suggested many things and helped him to not be a "CEO dictator". (As Youko dubbed it) RSI has the best of the best for its employees. Every type of insurance, paid time off, special holidays for employees with children, a daycare, and many other things. It's become one of the most sought-after workplaces in their region, and they never have a position open for long.
He's not an easy boss to work for, however. Seto knows he isn't. He expects a lot out of his employees, and even more out of himself. The quality standards for RSI are sky high, and he refuses to accept anything other than the best in a product.
That doesn't mean he demands the impossible, however, or that that quality should come at the cost of anybody's health. Taking a self-care day, be it for physical or mental reasons, is encouraged, and so far he has never seen this opportunity abused.
Seto's goal is to spread enjoyment, ultimately. If he didn't extend that to the people working to create it, he wouldn't be better than Gozaburo.
And there is a lot of scrutiny on Seto and his family and RSI. It's only been a few years since everything went down, so the media still watches them closely.
It's another reason why he demands the very best of his employees. (why he has every employee, no matter their job, sign a contact. Is it a bit restrictive and controlling? Yes. But the benefits are worth it, he's made sure of it.) He doesn't want the media to have any foothold over him and his company and slander them.
RSI is on its way to being the best of the best, and Mutou Seto is very proud of what he and his family have accomplished.
For all that they live on the same campus, they - the high schoolers - don't see that much off the Domino Quartet throughout the week. They keep in contact, of course - Seto in particular keeps tabs on them, sending morning and evening texts and updates throughout the day, while Youko and Hinata take the more relaxed approach and give them a wave or a hug if they happen to see them. Joey, meanwhile, lands somewhere firmly in the middle between the two and constantly listens out for anyone badmouthing or bullying any of the middle- or primary schoolers.
(Unbeknownst to Joey, this has made him somewhat of a hero amongst the younger years, and while bullying is already low at Meiou, it still happens, and in such situations Jojo-senpai is good to know).
Regardless, the only time they actually see the Domino Q in all of their glory for more than a few hours is when they go home for the weekend, and it's always a joy to swap stories with them. The chatter always goes 50 miles a minute, and they all have a ton of stories to get through - stories that will be repeated in a more orderly fashion to grandpa, once they're back home.
For the kids, the topic of the week - perhaps even the school year - appears to be a new classmate.
"So sensei personally asked me to show around Yamagawa-san and make her feel welcome," Serenity boasts proudly, pushing her glasses up on her nose. "Because I'm a trustworthy- and good student".
"Also because you share a room with her, and you'd probably try to investigate her anyways," Mokuba quips from ahead.
"Oh, hush," she turns her head briefly and sticks her tongue out at him. "Not my fault I can do all that and figure out her secrets - gotta ensure she meshes well with the rest of Room 6B!"
"And what do you think of her so far?" Anzu asks from the front of the group.
"Hmm…." the four lean closer and whisper to each other, a quick conversation that Youko doesn't listen in on - not that she can hear them for how fast they're going.
Finally they part and nod. "She's ummm… quiet. She sits with us at meals, but she mostly just listens," Mokuba says. "I've seen her with Oshitaki-kun, though, and she's joined the art club with me, so that's fun".
"It's only been a week since she arrived. So we can't give a definite answer yet," Yugi adds "so we'll get back to you on that."
"I wonder, though…" Seto pulls his phone out of his pocket and opens up his search engine. "Yamagawa… let's see here".
Youko turns to look at him. "What's the matter?"
"Just curious about- yes, here it is. After the Scandal: the Yamagawa Daughters to Retreat from the Public Eye".
"Oh! She's one of those Yamagawa's?" Tristan asks with surprise.
Youko remembers that case. A nasty situation a few years back in which a company CEO - Hoshi Yamagawa of Yama-Tech Inc. - on levels comparable to Gozaburo, had been caught embezzling millions from his own funds and committing tax fraud, abusing his daughters' names to create shell companies that had made the missing money a nightmare to track. Fortunately, it was discovered before too much damage could really be done, though the company's reputation took a sizeable hit.
There had been three daughters caught in the crossfire. The twins Fortuna and Una Yamagawa, and a younger daughter, Hanabi.
After the court case and Hoshi's subsequent imprisonment, the spotlight had been on them for awhile, until the girls just… disappeared. The article Seto is reading aloud from followed the press-release, in which the eldest and - at the time - temporary CEO had declared their intent to "retire" and just be kids. The twins had later been spotted attending the prestigious Goldkrone Academy of Arts in Germany, but the youngest had vanished completely.
Until now, apparently.
"Poor girl," Marik comments. "I don't blame her for disappearing for a bit".
"Not to be the suspicious one-" Hinata states.
"Yeah that's my job." Youko cuts in with a wry grin
"But of all the schools she could go to, why here?" Hinata finishes as she elbows Youko in the side.
"Eh. Who knows." Joey says, "doesn't really matter in the end. It's not like we'll have to really interact with her or anything."
"So we shouldn't befriend her?" Serenity asks a little quietly. "Is… do you think she's a bad person?"
And there's the little issue brought up again.
Turns out extreme paranoia and constant guardedness is contagious amongst younger children, if their older role models constantly display it when they're present.
It's not that Youko likes being this guarded all the time, she hates it. But well… when you're kind of a public face, and you were part of a major custody-case in which a highly respected billionaire businessman was proven to be an abusive asshole, who then committed suicide, well…
People tend to want to get close to money and anything they perceive as fame. Not all people, but enough that it has left a lot of them dealing with issues. Like trust ones.
And for all that she and all of the others (and their entire extended family) have tried… their little sibling squad has picked up on enough of their habits and constant warnings to be careful that it has left them a little behind when it comes to socialising and connecting with their classmates.
"We have each other, and that's all that matters, isn't it?"
It's not a good development, that question. By all means, Youko should encourage them to socialize. Make friends.
But damn it, Hinata has a point. Why Meiou of all places? If her sisters go to a German school, why would this kid suddenly end up all the way in Japan? And why not at something like Ouran Middle or Seiyo Academy? Both of those are much closer to central Tokyo and just as high up in rankings.
Furthermore, this kid is an unknown to the story. She's not even part of any other stories that she's noted to exist in this same universe, so what even is she? Someone else at the mercy of the gods? A slightly-more-significant background character?
Youko forcibly shakes her head and shoves those thoughts and questions away. Now is not the time to be paranoid. Especially over a child of all people.
Not today, paranoia. Not today.
Hanabi Yamagawa-but-secretly-Crawford is finding that befriending the combined Mutou-Bakura-Wheeler quartet is a lot more difficult than her uncle may have anticipated. She knows it's only been one week, but Christ on a bike!
All their information gets more and more wrong by the day, and Hanabi is confused.
And a little anxious.
They need this to work!
What's surprisingly not difficult is how quickly she's come to despise Hiro Oshitaki. Him and his stupid little top-knot that he doesn't seem to realize looks exactly like a toadstool's growing out of his head. She's had the misfortune of having him as her neighbor in class, and stars above he has to be the most annoying son of a bridge to ever walk the planet.
He's loud-mouthed, he's snarky, he won't leave her alone at lunch when she should be trying to spy on the Mutous and get into their circles and now, after only one week of knowing her, he's dragging her to his family's restaurant for what stupid reason? To try his parents' cooking?
She grew up eating the best of the best! What on earth could be so great about whatever they're serving?!
….quite a lot, actually.
She tries very hard not to cry and let her happiness show on her face as she slurps up dumping after dumpling, but she's not fooling anybody and the bastard knows it.
"It's good, right?" His grin is triumphant and she wants to do something very unladylike and punch his face in. "Told you it's much better than the hay they serve in the dorms - what they think they're doing by letting a bunch of untrained kids cook, I have no idea. Especially when Kaiba goes anywhere near the stove".
"Shuddup, 'es tryin' 'is 'est," she tries to speak around her fifth dumpling, and she knows several people back home who would chastise her for doing so.
Oshitaki just rolls his eyes in response. "Once you stop being a damn fangirl you'll realize that neither of those four are really all that great. Just you wait and see, Yamagawa, there's much more fun to be had elsewhere".
She finally swallows and picks up a napkin to wipe away the sauce and broth she can feel trickling down her chin, fighting the urge to throw something at him - the dirty napkin, her chopsticks, the entire plate. Anything. But instead she just glares and says: "I'm not a fangirl".
Hiro just rolls his eyes again. "Sure, shortcake, keep telling yourself that. Those stuck-up Mutou-whatever kids want nothing to do with the rest of us. Trust me, we've tried - it was like speaking to a damn brick wall".
Across the restaurant a woman's voice yells out "language, Hiro-chan!" that goes ignored by everyone else present.
Hanabi huffs and does her very best to look down at him. "What, and you think you're all that yourself?"
The asshole has the audacity to grin and point a thumb at himself. "Of course! You stick with me and mine, and I'll show you what true fun is," the grin changes to a smirk. "And with all the high-quality food available to you for free, I'm sure even a little shortstack like you can gain a few inches".
Hanabi finally gives into the temptation and throws her chopsticks at him, hitting him square in the forehead. "I'm not short, you mushroom head!"
"You sound like Mutou-senpai. Bit mild for an insult, though".
"Keep telling yourself that," she mimics him. "O-shiitake Hiro".
His eye twitches. "Okay, first of all-"
Somehow they spend the entire afternoon arguing about everything and nothing at all, with mushroom-boy trying to convince her to stay away from the "stuck up Mutous".
Somehow… it's oddly fun.
Huh…
There is not a more comforting place on the planet than the kitchen in the Mutou residence, in Marik's humble opinion.
Sure, he loves his home back in the Middle East - he misses his grandmother's cooking so much, he'd kill for a bowl fresh bamia and a good pita bread, cooked over a real fire, not all of these gas-heated or electric stoves.
But still there's nothing more pleasant, more welcoming, than entering a room smelling of freshly baked cookies or some other treat.
"I smell cookies!" Ryou and Youko chirp out in unison as they scurry over to the kitchen and snatch up some cookies.
A woman stands bent over the oven, a cheery, cherry blossoms printed apron wrapped around her, matching oven mitts on her hands as she takes out another batch, piping hot and oozing with dark chocolate chips. Her hair is snowy white and her face wrinkled, but open and laughing with a gentle smile.
"Hello to you too, my pretty darlings," she laughs, expertly maneuvering between them with the hot baking sheet without hurting them or herself. "And how have my favorite grandchildren behaved on this first week back in school?"
"We've been perfect angels!"
"I bribed my teachers for no homework already."
"We burned the place down to the ground."
"I skipped several classes already."
"My, you all have been busy then!" She says with a warm laugh, well used to their sarcasm and silly antics by now.
Yeonwoo Hong, also known as Granny to them all. An elderly woman who owns a small bakery near the centre of Hanafuda Village. She used to run it full time, but gave over most of the control to her children a few years ago.
These days she's usually found trying to seduce Grandpa Solomon with her baking, starting since shortly after the Mutous' move, when she came to welcome them and it was love at first time between the widow and the widower.
Marik loves her as much as his own grandmother back in Egypt.
It's easy to tell that she loves all of them as much as they all have come to love her. The DQ eagerly telling her about their week and the new student that has joined them.
She is kindness and warmth and all that is good in the world, and the general consensus is that she must be protected.
"You guys are so slow," comes a teasing remark and… there's Duke. Sitting at the kitchen counter, like he owns the place, a grin on his face. "What, did you drag yourselves along the ground or something? I came all the way from Domino, and I still made it here before you".
There's a loud screech before Duke suddenly has four preteens crashing into him. As they all fight to hug him and talk to him first.
Sometime later, once the DQ are all distracted and sent to other rooms, Duke leans back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling. "So, I'm not here completely on a friendly visit. I came to ask if J and T would be into doing some vigilanting with me".
That catches their collective identity immediately. Normally Marik dislikes violence, but… from the way their friend is phrasing it, there's something intersting bound to be behind it.
Something that might acquire their attention.
Joey sits down, pouring a cup of coffee. "How can we help?"
Duke's quiet for a bit. Then- "So I know it's the first day of school, but there's this asshole at Domino High and just… bad news," he makes a frustrated motion with his hands and growls. "I don't know what the board is thinking, putting someone like him in a position of power, but he gives me the fucking creeps. The way he looks at some of the freshmen who are obviously going to be on the bottom of the food chain there… it's disgusting," he almost spits at this. "I mean, hall monitors are supposed to help and protect people… not prey on them."
Off to the side, Marik can see Youko turning pale as she clutches at the puzzle. Likewise, Hinata's skin takes on a grey-ish hue.
Duke takes a deep breath.
"So… let me tell you about Tetsu Ushio."
The wheels are in motion, and fate looms ever closer.
Let the Dark Games begin.
A/N:
Hi all. So sorry for the long wait. We're alive tho? It's certainly been a crazy and intense time. So much going on. A lot of family drama and adjusting and recovering from that mess. Moving, The holidays, seasonal depression, work, anxiety and panic attacks like there's no tomorrow.
It's been intense.
Anyways! Here's the newest chapter! Short yes, but we figure shorter chapters but more frequent(?) updates would be better than nothing at all.
Things are (finally!) starting to pick up and happen!
Shoutout to all of the people who viewed and all of our current followers and faves and our new followers and favorites (7019289, Cassiopea13Rosales, MegaUltraFlameDeathsman777, ReadAthon45, ThiskidBunny, JadeDragon100, Angelicsailor, FaberryXD, Hashirama 1710, SkullWolfSteam, MsSuzuYuki, AlissonAdd, homelybiscuit, WhiteTigerMisty, lucidatray7) And thanks to everyone who left Kudos!
And EXTRA thank yous and love for the reviews/comments!
Please, PLEASE leave us comments and reviews, especially if you have any questions or are confused! We love them so very much! We get motivated to write when we get reviews!
Thanks again to the amazingly talented and lovely Moirei for Beta-ing for us, as always :)
Please check out our side story, Beyond the Game. It's got (or is going to anyways) missing scenes from what wouldn't fit into chapters, and also details of certain events that we (or you) wanted to expand upon.
We also have our other SI story called "Judgement of Our Sins" for the Seven Deadly Sins/Nanatsu no Taizai series! Please check it out! All three of us (Nordic, Moirei and myself) are super excited for it and to share it!
Anyways, that's all for this chapter. Stay safe and have a good rest of your day, week, or month(s). Until next time duckies!
C. S. Stars
A/N: Hello, our lovely peeps! Welcome back, once again, to Caught in the Game! Like Stars said, sorry for the wait, but things are really crazy for the both of us. She's dealt with a lot of personal stuff - which she deserves all the love and support for going through - and I'm still dealing with my Master's degree. Which I'll finish this summer, when I've written my thesis! Writing 60-80 pages on how science fiction has had an impact on reality is going to take up a LOT of my attention very, very soon, so please pray for my survival when you've got a spare minute or two because I am going to need it.
Stars has already thanked you, but once again, a huge thank you to all of you lovely people who left reviews/comments and kudos! We read them thousands of times between the two of us, and they never fail to bring smiles to our faces :) And once again thank you to Moirei who puts up with our antics XD
Please come yell at us on the official Tumblr-blog for CitG! Especially if you want to see art of Youko, Hinata, and the enigmatic Yamagawa sisters, done by the fabulous clearwillow on Tumblr!
That's about it from me, see you guys next time for more CitG! ^_^
Nordic
Edited/Beta by Moirei
Finished & Published: January 5, 2020