Seto stepped carefully out of his luxurious limousine, using his hands to support the weight of his body. Here goes, he thought. He was about to meet Isis, as planned, at the new restaurant. He tried to sort out his feelings and emotions; to try to tell Isis exactly what was going on. His thoughts merely jumbled in his mind, as always. It seemed as if whenever he thought about one thing, another thing would keep racking his brain, preventing him from concentrating.
"When should I pick you up? Or will you be quick?" asked Seto's chauffeur.
"I'll probably need a few hours. I'll give you a call when I'm ready. Meanwhile, you can leave if you want."
"Thank you, sir."
Seto nodded. He walked away and went up the giant steps of the museum. Today seemed like an extremely busy day. There were people crowding around the entrance. No one seemed to be going in, in though the doors were wide open. He spotted a policewoman blocking everyone from going into the entrance. Something was going on…
"Hey, watch it, you!"
A tall man nearly collided into Seto. Drops of sweat glistened on the man's forehead.
"What's going on?" asked Seto.
"Some kind of accident, I reckon. My girlfriend and I've been waiting at the door for a half hour. Dang, it sure is hot today. Geez, I'm starting to sweat."
"So do you know if the museum's still open? I mean, what kind of accident was it?"
"I really don't know. Why don't you go check it out? If you can get through that mob, that is."
"Ok. I appreciate your help."
"Sure thing."
Seto began walking through the crowd. People were deserting the museum. He knew he was out of place, carrying a briefcase and wearing a heavy suit on a 90ºF summer day. He heard ambulance sirens in the distance and saw a fire truck approach the museum. Before he could get anywhere near the museum entrance to see what was going on, he was stopped by the policewoman.
"Sir, please leave."
"Why? What happened?"
"An accident has occurred. The police need space and freedom to investigate. We were asked to block anyone from coming in."
"What kind of accident? I know it's none of my business, but I was supposed to meet someone who works at the museum."
"Sir, I'm sorry, but you need to turn around and leave. I don't have time."
Just then, an Egyptian lady walked out from inside the museum.
"Isis?" Seto whispered. Isis looked so different: her hair was tied back and highlighted, her makeup was different. Even her clothes, a red top and a white skirt, made a difference. She looked so casual.
"Kaiba! Nice to see you again." She turned to the policewoman. "He's with me. It's OK."
"Whatever." The policewoman rolled her eyes and began yelling at other tourists trying to get in.
"So Kaiba, how are you? Long time no see!"
"I'm fine, thanks. Well, not entirely. But we can talk about that later. So what exactly happened? Some kind of accident?"
The two began walking side by side to the restaurant.
"Oh, geez. Accident? It was no accident. It was an assault. Here, we'll talk about in my office. I don't think the deli's going to be open right now."
"Sure. By the way, nice hair. You look so different. It's like…last time, you were an Egyptian goddess with superpowers, and now you're a sexy museum guide."
Isis began giggling.
"I did not just say that." Seto blushed.
"You crack me up, Kaiba. Well, let's see. Last time, you were an unimaginative, power-craving CEO who found his dark side, and now, you're a CEO who found his hormones."
"Haha. Very funny."
"Thank you. Well, here we are. My office."
Seto found himself in a small but cozy room. There were stone tablets on the walls and a fireplace in the corner. Every inch of the wall was covered with some kind of picture, some kind of design. He gaped at the contrast between this office and his super-neat, super-plain office.
"Nice place. Even a fireplace, huh?"
"Yes, I'm one of the lucky ones."
"So tell me about the accident. Assault. Whatever."
"Do you really want to know?"
"Yes. Is it that bad? Did someone die?"
"Actually, yes. One of our visitors. A tourist by the name of Derrick E. Brite. A man brainwashed him and made him kill himself."
"Brainwashed? What do you mean?"
"Powers. Egyptian powers. Millennium Item powers. Powers indescribable. If you see what I mean."
"So the "assaulter" had a Millennium Item?"
"Yes."
"Do you know him? I mean, I'm confused. How do you know so much?"
"I know everything. Whether or not they will know everything, well, it's their problem.
"Who's they?"
"Police. Investigators. Museum owners. My boss."
"And
you're not going to tell them?"
"No."
Seto stared at Isis. What was she up to? What was she hiding?
"Isis,
I'm listening. Spill it out."
Isis shook her head and
smiled.
"You really want to get involved with everything, huh? Well, maybe not this time. Because I will stop you."
"I'm listening."
"All right. Let's just say that I know who killed Derrick E. Brite. Personally. He's powerful beyond me, beyond you…beyond Yugi, even. Well, maybe not, but whatever. I know why he killed Derrick. I know everything."
"Stop being so…abstract. I want details. Specifics. If not that, at least tell me what you're talking about."
"Do you want the assaulter's name?
"Yes."
"Marik
Ishtar."
Seto's heart stopped beating
for a second. He knew where he had just seen that name: on the slip Mokuba's
captor had given him.
"What…" Isis took notice of his shock.
"Marik Ishtar? I…know him. In a way."
"How?" Isis was obviously confused and suspicious.
"He – that's what I came to talk to you about today. You see, a few weeks ago…gee, how am I going to put this? Well, basically, someone by the name of Marik Ishtar shattered my brother's soul. Well, that's what he said. It's weird, I'm still puzzling over it, but the man came to visit me. He gave me this slip of paper. One sec." Seto fumbled in his briefcase for the slip of paper.
"See?" Seto handed it to Isis.
"Oh my god. You've got to be kidding."
"No, I'm not. I came to ask for your help. Marik said he had trapped Mokuba's soul in his Millennium Rod, and seeing how you have the Millennium Necklace, I came to ask you for help."
"No, I can't. Kaiba, sorry, I can't do this. I can't. I think you should go."
"No! I want my brother back. And why are you being so…I don't know…weird? How do you know all this? What do you know about Marik?"
"God, you son of a bitch. Get out of my office."
"Isis! I need help. Why are you acting this way?"
Isis looked up into the concerned eyes of Seto. She shook her head.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Yes, I think. You're Isis, the woman I talked to a year ago about the past."
"Anything else?"
"You're beautiful. You have a Millennium Item."
"You don't know me at all, do you? Did you know that a thousand years ago, my brother and I used to be…the keepers of the graves of the Pharaohs? That my brother turned evil and wanted the soul of the Pharaoh? That he wanted the Millennium Items?"
"No, I didn't. Was I supposed to know?"
"Marik is my brother, you fool."
"What…?"
"My brother has your brother. That's why I can't help you. Damn, I'm a fool. I told you so much. And you better not go around telling the police and trying to get him. He's too powerful. His Rod…it brainwashes people. He can control anyone's mind. He can make you kill yourself if he wants."
Seto was speechless. He sat there with a dazed look in his eyes. He couldn't believe it. The one person who could possibly help him had a brother who was his enemy. How would he ever get Mokuba back now?