Chapter Eight

Lance Lowell was sitting at his desk when the phone rang. "Lowell."

"I assumed you would've run already."

"Kaiba. What a pleasant surprise." He remained calm, a smile on his face.

"It won't be when I'm through with you, you sick bastard."

The smile on the CEO's face faded. "What is this about?"

"Oh you know perfectly well what I'm talking about. Don't play innocent with me. Parker told me everything."

"Did he now? Tell me, Kaiba. How is your sister?" He snickered coldly. "Her Millennium Pyramid will be Carolyn's, when she's dead."

"Her Item! So that's what you're after! Well, I hate to tell you, Lowell, but the police are on their way to arrest you."

"Kaiba, you fool! They'll never find me." He hung up, and snickered. Kaiba won't try and stop me now. He'll think I ran, he thought to himself.

"Damn it!" Kaiba hung up and looked at me. "He wants her Item for his daughter."

"But why?" I sat down. This was the first time I'd ever been in his office alone with him.

"I have no idea, Bakura. You can bet he has a cure though, and we're going to get it for her."

"We've already seen he's not going to give it to us, Seto."

"He's not the only one who can be stubborn. You should know that by now. I don't mess around when it comes to family and friends." He stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to look for him."

"Alone? Want me to go with you?" I toyed with my own Item.

"No. Elizabeth needs her brother, Bakura. It's about time for Yugi to go home anyway." He opened the door. "Would you mind keeping Mokuba with you in case I don't get back until late?"

"Of course not, Seto. Be careful." I walked out ahead of him.

"I will. Don't worry." He had his briefcase in hand. He locked up his office, and we got on the elevator. "Don't worry, Bakura. Our sister is not going to die." He got off on the ground floor. "Lorenzo, take Mr. Bakura to Domino General Hospital, please." He nodded for me to get into one of his long limousines. "It's yours, Bakura. Use it as often as you need." He got into a separate one, and we parted ways, going opposite directions.

"What do you think of him now, my friend?" My yami asked me.

"I….I'm not sure. What about you?" I looked over at him, sitting across from me on the other side.

"He's changed. Elizabeth's friendship with Mokuba changed him." He was thoughtful. "I rather like this new Kaiba."

"Me too." I looked out the tinted window. "Do you think he really meant it? This thing is mine now?"

"He certainly sounded like he did. Embrace it, Ryou. He is trying to make up for what's been happening."

I nodded. "You're right." The driver pulled up to the hospital and I got out. "Thank you, Lorenzo."

"Sure thing, Mr. Bakura." He handed me a card. "Call me when you're ready to go home."

"I will." I walked into the hospital, and up to Elizabeth's room.

Kaiba stared up at the Lowell Industries office building with a glare. If there was one thing he couldn't stand, it was someone who went after his family; adopted or not. He entered the building, clutching his briefcase tightly. "I will take you down, Lowell. Count on it." He muttered as he got in the glass door elevator. He pushed the button for Lowell's floor. He was certain the man had bluffed when he said he was leaving. When he reached the 14th floor, Kaiba stepped out, and looked at the wall list. "Room sixteen?" He turned and walked down the hall.

His anger was at the boiling point by the time that he reached the man's office. He walked in without even knocking. "Lowell! I know you're here!"

"Very unwise, Kaiba. Very unwise indeed." Lowell peered at him from inside his supply closet. He snapped his fingers. Two unseen guards grabbed Kaiba from behind, and held him. "I knew you were coming." To his guards, he said, "Make him comfortable, boys." He watched them settle Kaiba in a chair, and stand on either side of him. "Now. What do you want here?"

"I want you to tell me how to cure Elizabeth." Kaiba hadn't even flinched.

"What made you think you could walk in here and make demands like that?" He lit a cigar. "It is too late for her."

"You're lying, Lowell. You know the antidote, and I want it! Now!"

"You're in no position to make demands, Seto Kaiba," He puffed on the cigar. "but I will make you a deal."

"I'm listening." Kaiba furrowed his eyebrow angrily.

"Duel me. If you win, I'll take care of Elizabeth."

"And if you win?" Kaiba was suspicious.

"She dies, and the Pyramid is mine."

"You've got yourself a duel. Now let me go, so we can get this show on the road!" He was even angrier now. He wasn't worried about losing the duel. He had it in the bag. He didn't like the way Lowell was jeopardizing an innocent girl's life.

Lowell clapped his hands sharply, and Kaiba was freed. "To the dueling center."

Kaiba smirked. Idiot, he thought, I own the dueling center. He's giving me an advantage. He led the way down the main street once they were outside. When they got the center, he spoke to the desk clerk quietly. "Don't let him get away at the end of the duel. He's got something I want."

"Yes, sir."

Kaiba nodded, and looked at Lowell. "Be ready for a fall, Lowell! You've made your very last mistake." He walked walked into the dueling ring, and set it all up. This would be Lowell's last mistake all right. Forever.