Gardner may have teased him about his height, but he really appreciated it when he was able to look down at his opponents. This was quite often considering the amount of opponents he possessed in the business and Duel Monsters worlds.

Kaiba kept his face cool as he faced the male trio. He took in Mokuba's furious expression to know enough about the transaction taking place. He brushed through them like a curtain and jerked his head at his brother.

"Pegasus just arrived. I have to go meet him. Why don't you take them up to the bridge for the final duel," he gestured toward Gardner and her friend.

Mokuba's expression relaxed. "Good idea, brother. Come on." Gardner looked ready to protest but Mokuba herded them both away, practically dragging them into the crowd.

Kaiba turned, ready to follow them when Wheeler blocked his path.

"I told you to stay away from Téa," Joey snarled.

Kaiba took a beat, his pause only enraging Wheeler further. "I don't take orders from dogs."

"We are her friends. Not you." Mutou joined in. "Whatever game you're playing, you need to stop."

Kaiba snorted, "I'd hardly call your recent behavior friendly. I wonder what the Pharaoh would make of it." Yugi's expression darkened, fists clenching. "Did I hit a nerve, Yugi?"

"Leave Atem out of this," Yugi's tone was hard.

Kaiba tsked, unconcerned. "So touchy."

"What the hell do you know anyway? Not like you have any experience with friends," Yugi seethed.

Kaiba shrugged and baited, "Gardner doesn't seem to mind."

Yugi's lip curled back over his teeth. "I will do anything to protect my friends, Kaiba. That includes whatever fucked up mind games you're playing."

"What games do you think I'm playing exactly?" Kaiba asked, his temper beginning to show. "She's friends with my brother. I don't control that."

"Is that all she is to you? A friend of your brother's? We all saw that article about you two," Tristan asked, his expression guarded.

Kaiba studied him for a beat before focusing back on Yugi. "I told you not to test me, Yugi," Kaiba replied tersely, ignoring the question. "That includes pestering me about my or my brother's personal life."

"We're protecting her," Joey barked.

"From my bed?" Kaiba purred.

Wheeler lunged, but Tristan jerked him back. "This is not the place," Tristan hissed.

He was right. Kaiba could feel attention being drawn to their little group. He had bigger concerns than baiting the geeks, as fun as it was.

"Watch yourselves," Kaiba warned, "or you may find your little cheerleader rooting for me at the next duel."

Wheeler pulled himself from his friend's grasp, but Kaiba had already turned on his heel, his pace even as he strode from the room. Kaiba's frustration felt like it was burning a hole in his chest. Who the frustration was aimed at was beyond him whether it was the idiots he had just left or the woman who seemed to be a constant plague on his thoughts.

"Mr. Kaiba?"

"What?" he snapped at Roland who was unfazed by his testy attitude.

"Mr. Pegasus is waiting for you, sir."

Right. He stepped ahead of Roland, dreading interacting with the white-haired annoyance.

"Where's Valentine? Shouldn't she be greeting him as well?"

"She already did sir. He insisted on speaking with you."

"Wonderful," Kaiba grumbled. He turned the corner to see Pegasus standing casually with his hands in his pockets. He spotted Valentine speaking with some other employees. Pegasus's eyes lit with excitement upon his arrival.

"Pegasus," he greeted. Pegasus was wearing his signature red suit and all-knowing smile. "Thank you for gracing us with your presence." Kaiba's tone was cordial, but his words were sarcastic.

Pegasus smirked. "Kaiba-boy, thank you for the invitation. I was more than happy to oblige."

Pegasus fell into step next to Kaiba as he led him towards the balcony where he would give his speech. "Of course, I was intrigued by the new dynamics of this particular tournament," he continued.

Kaiba frowned. Was he referring to Valentine heading the tournament? Sure, his need for control usually prevented him from handing the reins to anyone else, but he was just too busy developing new technology to bother with public events at the moment.

"It's just like any other charity event."

"Oh, but that's where you're wrong, Kaiba-boy. Everyone is intrigued by the shift in dynamics. Honestly, I'm quite impressed with your ruthlessness."

"I've always had a talent for it. You should know."

"Oh, yes," Pegasus sighed, "but matters of the heart are so much more…shall we say personal?"

Kaiba stiffened. "What are you blabbering about?"

Pegasus flipped his white hair. "Why, about you and young Yugi-boy. Once again, on opposite sides of the duel. Fighting for the same prize. But there's so much more at stake this time," he mused.

"The only thing we're competing over is the Dueling Champion title."

"Oh, but I hear whispers of a secret tryst and long-repressed feelings." He knew immediately that he was referring to that damn article. What was with everyone today? Why did people care so much about this damn cheerleader?

"Don't you think these matters are beneath your notice, Pegasus? I mean honestly, are you so much of a wash-up, you've now focused on my love life?"

Pegasus smirked. "You deny and yet you know exactly the matter, or who , I am referring to."

Kaiba stopped in front of the doors that led to the balcony where Pegasus would give his speech. He turned and clenched his jaw. "Whatever you think you know, you're wrong. So, stay out of my life."

"Hard to do when you invite me to your events."

Kaiba fixed him with a cool glare but didn't respond as he opened the door forcefully allowing the cheers of the crowd to hit his ears.

Kaiba left Pegasus on the balcony, fully expecting him to introduce the final duelists with his regular flare. He tried not to invite Pegasus to any of his events if he could help it, but Valentine insisted on having all the biggest names in the Dueling Monsters world at this event. The fact she got him here was impressive.

He had left Pegasus in her care, not wanting to deal with him any further after their cryptic conversation. He had it with everyone today. If one more person questioned him about Gardner, he was sure he was going to lose it.

He breathed a sigh of relief, finally away from everyone as he stepped onto the bridge which served as the main control room of the tournament. The familiar comfort of computer screens and typing keyboards made him feel re-centered.

Until he saw Gardner watching the beginnings of the final duel on the monitor. Her expression was withdrawn as she followed the duel blankly. He scanned for his brother when he spotted Mokuba showing Mary some control panels, gesturing enthusiastically as he explained their various functions.

He approached Gardner warily, unsure of whether whatever ire marred her features had to do with his dismissal of them earlier. Then he wondered why he cared even if it was.

"Amateur duels are always the most boring to watch. I can usually tell who is going to win within the first round," he said as he came to her side.

"Not everyone can be an expert."

"Not everyone has the drive to be."

"What did you say to them?" Gardner asked glumly.

Kaiba shrugged. "The usual. To stay out of my business."

Gardner hummed. "You didn't need to do that."

He snorted. "Believe me, I did."

She shook her head. "No, I meant about getting me out of there. I can handle them just fine on my own."

"I didn't do it for your sake," he denied. "I did it so Mokuba wouldn't punch Wheeler out."

Gardner laughed slightly, the previous sadness that lingered on her features lightening. "Mokuba would never do that."

"He was thinking about it. I've been on the receiving end of that look more than enough times to know. What did Wheeler say to make him so mad?" he asked, curious. His brother rarely showed any kind of temper. Usually he was the one deescalating situations like that.

Gardner seemed to purposefully avoid his gaze. "Nothing that was true." She didn't seem inclined to share anything else. Kaiba made a mental note to ask Mokuba about it later. "Has he ever done it?"

"What?"

"Try to punch you."

Kaiba thought back, a smile tugging on his lips at the memory. "Once. He tried. He missed."

"What was it about?"

"Honestly? I don't remember. It was a few years ago. Something to do with Kaiba Land's designs. We were arguing in my office and I think he had just had enough of me and took a swing. Wasn't a very good one. I dodged and he ended up sprawled on the floor."

Gardner smiled at him, azure eyes shining, and he felt his throat constrict.

"Boys," she said, clucking her tongue in disapproval, "so uncivilized."

He gave her an amused look. "I didn't do anything. It was all Mokuba."

She snorted. "Yes, you're never antagonistic at all, Kaiba," she sassed.

"Never," he smirked. He turned back to the duel in front of him. He could tell it was the beginning of the end of the duel as one of the duelists summoned Dark Valkyria to the field.

"This is all pretty impressive," she gestured to the room around them. "You don't realize how much goes into it until you see behind the scenes."

Kaiba shifted his feet. He could hear Mokuba continue to jabber away to Mary, employees calling out signals to each other.

"I wish you could've seen my show before it ended. You probably could have provided some good technical feedback," she finished.

"I saw it," he said automatically, then he tensed.

"That's right," her eyes lit with joy. "Mokuba said you two had seen it. What did you think?"

"There were some lighting and effects that could have been improved," he supplied indifferently.

"What did you think of me?" she asked directly.

"Fishing for compliments, Gardner?"

"Trying to determine my chances on your team, actually."

He couldn't help but admire her boldness. "I thought you were good," he said honestly. He meant it too. He could tell her technique wasn't perfect. But, she danced with such emotion that it was enthralling. His eyes tracked her whenever she was on stage, her face reflecting the music that had filled the theater.

Gardner laughed and he felt heat creeping up his neck. "I fully expected a detailed list of everything I did wrong," she breathed.

"Would you like one?" he snarked.

"Not unless you want one too."

"I haven't done anything wrong," he said, affronted.

"You didn't give enough background on these duelists," she answered.

His brows furrowed. "What?"

Gardner gestured to the screen. "The winner gets a KC sponsorship right?"

"Yes."

"Pegasus talked a lot about supporting the KC scholarships in his introduction of the final duel. But nothing in his script included any kind of background on the duelists. These are both amateurs, no-names. People don't know them. If you want people to be excited about the winner, you need to give them a reason."

"People will love them for their dueling."

Gardner shook her head. "People love a good story. Take you for instance. You're one of the best duelists, of course. But you were an orphan that rose from the ashes. You staged a coup of the company when you were, what, sixteen?" She frowned, as if hearing herself. "I'm not trying to minimize everything you went through, I'm just saying that people love to connect with their idols. To relate to them. So, I would have them do an interview or something before the duel. Have background questions ready."

Huh. She made some good points. "When you're done with dancing," he stated, "maybe you'll join my event team."

She beamed. "A compliment ?" she gasped.

"Hardly."

A hand clasped on his shoulder. "You better head down, Seto," Mokuba interrupted. "The magician deck guy only has 500 Life Points left. They'll need you to do the closing."

Kaiba grunted. "The last thing we need is another magician deck champion." Gardner's tittering laugh followed him from the room.