Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh does not belong to me, it belongs to the ingenious Kazuki Takahashi.... Nothing is being made from this, only my vocab skills!
Chapter 4 - A Charity Event
"I have a proposition for you...." Ishizu said.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"I wish to make a partnership. Regarding about the chest."
"How did you know..."
But Ishizu cut him off. "I too have information, it would be worth your wild. If you would agree."
"How do I know you're telling the truth? I could send for security on you for breaking an entry."
"If you believe that, you would have already press the security alarm, under your desk." she replied.
Shiro stared in disbelief. "How could she have known?"
"I leave you to think about it, but I have a feeling that you will be up to it" she turned to leave.
"Wait!" Shiro cried out, but she was already gone.
As the days went by, the night of the Charity Ball came, hosted by the Domino Museum. Since Shiro was the head archaeologist, it was mandatory for him and his family to attend.
Vari stepped out from her bedroom, she wore a beautiful silk blue bare back dress. Her hair was hung loosely with only a few pins in place.
"Oh honey are you going to wear your hair like that?" asked her mother.
"Why not? What's wrong with my hair?" she inquired.
"Maybe you should put it up, you look prettier like that"
"But I like it like this" she said "Besides you shouldn't be giving hair advice, since yours always looks disheveled."
"That was during dig sites, of course it would be disheveled." her mother argued.
Vari gave a groan in annoyance "Fine." taking two chopsticks, she twisted her hair into a fancy bun. "Is that better?"
"Much" said her mother approvingly. "We have to hurry or we'll be late! Where is you father? Shiro!" she called out. "We have to get going!"
"OK, OK!" Shiro said exasperatingly. He came out of the master bedroom, fixing his collar in place. He wore a simple black tux, which suited him nicely. "Everyone ready? Good. Let's get going!" he ushered everyone out of the door and into the car.
"I hate going to these events" Vari complained "It's always boring"
"Dear, this is very important to your father, besides it'll be over before you know it. Try to make a good impression on everyone there"
"Yes mother" Vari mumbled.
They drove off to the Domino Museum.
The museum entrance was artfully decorated, hanging massive pieces of Egyptian hieroglyphics on the wall. In the center of the dome room hung a great chandler, the crystals were so large that it you can see it shimmer even from such a towering height. Vari looked around, it did look a bit impressive, for a charity event.
Various types of people stood all around the dome room, drinking champagne and making conversation. They ranged from professors to private collectors, to business men.
"Well, well, if it isn't Shiro Mayoto" a man around his late 30's strolled over towards the Mayoto family. He had a hooked nose which looked like it was broken as least four or five times.
"Hajime Yamada, surprise seeing you here." her father said. " I thought you would be in Cairo"
"Yes well..." he gave a slight scornful twist up his crooked nose. "I decided to come back here, your not the only renown historian." his face held a slight smirk as he said that.
Shiro gave a fake smile. "I'm glad that you've made it back here. I look forward to seeing you around the research center, no doubt?"
"Likewise" he replied. "I see you've brought your family along with you." He eyed Maaya and Vari
"Yes, you've met my wife, haven't you? Maaya.... and my daughter Vari."
Vari looked her father, in a curious glance. "Who is this creep?" she signal to her father.
As if on cue, the director of the Domino Museum approach in the direction towards them. "Hello Professor Yamada." he said briefly, then whisper something to Shiro's ear.
"If you'll excuse us, we are needed by the director. Come." he said to Maaya and Vari, guiding them away. Shiro almost gave a sigh of relief, glad to get away from Hajime for a while.
"Um...Dad who was that guy?" Vari asked after getting a safe distance away.
"He was one of the few people on one of your father's earlier expeditions. Glory was all he ever cared about. There was a project, before you were born, in Indonesia . Your father beat him to it. Let's just say it wasn't pretty...." her mother explained.
"He's a lying cheater, if I ever saw one" her father gritted his teeth.
There was a group of business like people, Vari guessed they were sponsors that her father was trying to get a hold of. The director introduced them "Gentlemen, I would like to introduce Shiro Mayoto, one of the head archaeologist of the Domino Museum and his wife and daughter."
One of the business men spoke "It's a pleasure, your wife and daughter are a vision of loveliness." he shook his hand.
Vari plastered on the biggest smile she can muster up, her cheek bones were aching. "This is for Dad" she muttered repeatedly to herself "This is for Dad"
"I'm quite interested in what you have to say about Ancient Egypt. As you know...."
Vari was hardly listening, to the conversation, she whisper in a low voice to her mother, "I'm going to explore a little, is that alright?"
Seeing that her daughter look bored out of her wits she nodded in consent. Vari walked quietly away from the group, her father was in deep conversation to notice her gone.
Vari strolled around, she notice some of the younger men eyeballing her as she walked, it was a bit discomforting. There was no one her age to talk to, so she kept on walking, trying to be oblivious to the stares. Being so absent minded as she walked, she accidentally bumped into someone from behind.
"I'm so sorry! That was clumsy of me..." she turned around.
"YOU!" they both said in unison. It was the last person she wanted to see. Seto Kaiba.
"What are you doing here?" she exclaimed.
Seto raised his eyebrows "I was about to ask you the same question" he said with a look of distaste.
Vari looked at him for a long while, then finally answered "My father is one of the head archaeologist in the Domino Museum." she stated a plainly. "You?" she mentions to him.
"I'm head of a multinational corporation, what would people say if I didn't attend these ridiculous events?" he said, as of it was the most obvious thing in the world.
There was a long pause, the two of them glowered at each other for a while. Finally it was Vari who broke the tension.
"You're not still hung up about the fight incident, are you?" she asked him.
He looked at her, but didn't say anything.
"OK...I'll take that as a No"
"You shouldn't have meddled in." he answered, after her assumption.
"Well, I couldn't let them beat you, until you were internally bleeding."
"Look, I can take care of myself. I've been doing it ever since I was young, and I'm not going to stop now"
"Sometimes it's good to have friends to back you up"
"Is that one of your moral statements?" he sneered in annoyance.
"Your stubbornness precedes you." she scoffed.
"Friends get in the way. Friends slow you down. As for me I don't rely on anyone."
Vari scowled at his comment. "Then it must be very lonely for you." Her eyes soften. Apparently she hit a soft spot in him. His body stiffened slightly.
"If you're done with your feeble battle of wits, I'll go somewhere else." He turned and started to walk away.
"I doubt you would want to talk to anybody here." she called out to him. He gave a sigh, she was right, he was wasting his time with drunken morons. "I think this party is absolutely boring." she added.
"That's something we both finally agree on" he glanced at her. She gave a small grin. He flinched a little, not knowing why. "Something about her..." Hating the awkwardness. He let down his guard just a little. "Well...you look decent tonight" he said, as if he was just noticing her for the first time. "Why the heck did I say that?" he thought to himself. Seto would have knock himself over the head if she wasn't there. There was a strange aura he felt pulling him towards her.
"Is that what I think I heard? The Seto Kaiba giving me a complement?"
His face would've turned red with embarrassment if it not for his trained emotionless expression. "Don't get cocky" he shot at her.
"I was only joking! And thank you. You look "decent" too." she quoted.
"You say your father is the head archaeologist?" he asked, trying to change the subject.
"Yes"
"I've read his work on Egyptian Duel Monsters. It seemed interesting enough, even for me."
"I'm very proud of my father's achievements. I just hope they get their grant for the research." she said with a slight concerned tone.
A loud speaker brought the whole room to attention. Shiro walked up to the platform prepared to make a speech. He stood against the podium, clearing his voice. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would first like to thank everyone for coming tonight and for your support on the our research of Ancient Egypt. We have learned much about it's history and culture, the most recent is the study of ancient duel monster games played thousands of years ago, provided by my colleague Ishizu Ishtar." he paused for a moment.
"Excuse me" Kaiba said, he went off and spoke to the director. Vari eyed him curiously. Watching him, Kaiba and the director walked up to the podium, and whispered something into her father's ear. "What is he up to?" Vari thought. She saw her father nodded slightly, then spoke up to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Seto Kaiba would like to say a few words." At this Vari's curiosity grew even more.
Shiro gave the podium to Seto. His speech was short and simple. "As you well know, my company provides the lastest duel monster products. As head of Kaiba Corporation, I would like to show my support for the Egyptology by donating five million towards the research."
Everyone went dead silent, either in awe or in amazement. Shiro's eyes widen, but not as wide as the director. The director looked like he was about to faint right there on the stage. Even Vari was surprised, wondering if this was out of some twisted goodness of his heart.
Later that night Kaiba drove home in his stretched limousine. Staring out at the passing street, he was questioning himself about why he donated a chunk of money to something he didn't even care about. "Well, that'll give them something think about." he thought.
The driver pulled over to the front gates and opened the door. "Here you are, Mr. Kaiba" he said, with a slight bow. Seto got out and walked inside. The television was on.
"Hey big brother!" It was Mokuba. "How was the Charity Ball?"
"It was the same as any other" he said. Seto looked up, just noticing the time. It was half past twelve. "Aren't you suppose to be in bed?" giving a firm look at his little brother.
"I wasn't sleepy" Mokuba replied.
" I think you should go to bed now." but he looked distracted as he said it. Frankly Seto didn't have the energy to be stern with his little brother.
Mokuba notice this. "Are you alright Seto?" he asked concerned.
"I'm just tired, I'm going to bed, and I suggest you do the same." he staggered up the steps. But little did he know, he was going to have a sleepless night.
A/N: Little mysteries are starting to pop up everywhere. ^_^ Honestly I didn't really know how this chapter was going to turn out, but after brainstorming a little bit, I decided this was the direction I wanted my story to go. A little note on the donation amount. Is it too high? Is it too low? I really didn't know how much to put in since I'm not rich, so I imaged, Seto Kaiba, a rich billionaire would have enough money to spare. This chapter is just the turning point for things to come. And that's when things really get sticky. As for me, I'm on to the next chapter! As I said before, the story progresses slowly little by little. I realize that I focus on my OC, Shiro, more then my other OC, Vari, who was suppose to be my main character, originally planned. But I guess Shiro grew on me, and it's a little different from all the other fics, so I'm happy about that. And yes I know I hate the title for this chapter as well... I didn't know what to name it! OK that's it, I'll stop badgering....
R/R! Your comments is what keeps this story alive! Please R/R! Thanks! ^_^