Seto dropped the phone carelessly onto its hook. Seeing how his eyes weren't even open, the phone only bounced off and landed sideways on his table.
"Er, Mr. Kaiba, your phone…"
"WHO CARES?!"
Seto's assistant, his face aghast that his boss was calm five minutes ago and now had an explosive temper, gently placed the phone back on its hook and walked out, muttering about "temper-control."
"Ok, ok, I'm calm." Seto whispered to himself. But it was tough to be calm when so much was going on. Isis had kicked him out of her office and now, she was never there. Or maybe she was; she just didn't want to answer his phone calls.
Guess everyone has a sensitive side, huh? he thought with a creased smile on his face. He still couldn't dare to believe that this lunatic Marik was Isis's brother. Not just cousin or ancestor or something like that, but brother. That meant they most likely grew up together, which explains why both of them had a Millennium Item when there were only seven in the whole world.
So then, what's it today? No Isis, so who else? Seto continued in his thoughts.
"Er, Mr. Kaiba, here's the coffee you asked for. Would you like some milk or cream with it? Sugar, maybe? Er, are you alright?" the assistant asked, noting the fact the Seto seemed to be muttering to himself and making strange hand motions.
"No, sir, I am not."
The assistant raised an eyebrow and stared at the baggy-eyed Seto. His boss had just called him "sir", while normally he treated him like he didn't exist.
"So, sugar? Cream? Milk?" Maybe today Mr. Kaiba would give him a raise if he was extra helpful.
But Seto only continued to stare blankly at the assistant.
"I am trying to contain my anger, sir." He placed his elbows on the table and his chin on his hands and spoke in a very slow and firm manner. "Since you asked, I've been having some problems and therefore, am not alright. I am not in the mood for being asked silly questions like what I want in my coffee. Please leave the cup here and I will handle it on my own, like I have for the past seventeen years. Thank you. And oh yes. Will you close the door on your way out? Thank you." He smiled. Somewhat.
So. Back to my thoughts. I can't ask Isis anymore, but I can ask…Yugi. No, not Yugi. How about…oh, who am I kidding? I have to ask Yugi. He's my only chance." Seto fumbled with his hands. His palms were sweating. He decided that he must, despite his endless dread and hatred toward Yugi, that he truly had to confront his worst fears and ask Yugi for help. He shuddered at the utter thought of that.
Wait a second, he realized. What fears? Why did I just think "fears"? I'm not scared of Yugi. Not, I can't be. That would be insane!
And yet Seto Kaiba understood that Yugi Mouto was his last chance to reclaim his brother from the hands of a deranged man. Yugi would help; he was always helpful, especially when Seto wanted it the least. Plus, Yami was the spirit of the Phoarah; he had power equal, if not more, than Marik. If only Seto could overcome his pride and arrogance. If only he could stop considering Yugi a little kid who was not good enough for him.
Seto sat down, and again placed his head in his arms. This was too much. He quickly straightened up and placed his hand on the phone. Slowly, ever so slowly, he grasped it and lifted it up to his ear. He scanned his speed dial list. Yugi was number twelve. He pressed it, as if with difficulty, for the phone hook seemed to attract his hand and the phone like a magnet…if only he could hang up, the pain in his gut would cease…
"Hello?" answered a gruff but friendly voice.
"Yes, good morning. Is Yugi there?" Seto replied uncertainly; he figured that this must be the grandpa Yugi had been so intent on saving from Pegasus.
"I'll go get him. May I ask who this is?"
Seto was about to say "yes, you may," but decided against it. His main goal was to be as friendly and polite as possible.
"This is Seto Kaiba. I don't believe we've met, but you're Yugi's grandfather, correct?"
"Yes I am. Er, one second. I think Yugi's upstairs with his friends. So, you're Seto Kaiba…?"
"Yes. CEO of Kaiba Corp. as you can tell by the name."
"Oh, how nice… well, here's Yugi."
Seto heard a muffling sound as Yugi got on the line.
"Hello?"
"Yugi. This is Seto Kaiba."
"Oh. Hi…"
"Yes, well, I need some help. Preferably from the spirit. Your spirit. Inside your Millennium Puzzle."
"Oh...ok. What do you need help for? If it's not too confidential, of course."
"Let's see…could I have a word with…your spirit? I think he could help me out of this one more than you can, seeing how…"
"Yes, I understand… er, one sec."
Seto sighed and listened to the other end of the phone, straining to hear the voices. All he made out, however, were noises.
"Hello, Kaiba," a deeper, more manly voice spoke through the phone. "How may I help you?"
"Let me put it quickly. A man named Marik Ishtar used his Millennium Rod to take my brother's soul."
There was a brief pause.
"Marik Ishtar, you say?"
"Yes…"
"Yugi and I have come face to face with him quite a few times. His Rod, it brainwashes people…he took complete control of several people who tried to duel us. And you say he took your brother's soul?"
"By the looks of it, yes."
"Does his Rod have the power? I did not know, if it does…"
"I don't know. I tried to talk to a woman named Isis who I'd met before…turns out she's his brother, though they're complete opposites. She explained a few things, but I never really understood my situation. I think he's got Mokuba, my brother, of course, inside his Rod. I was just wondering if you were willing to help. You've got the Millennium Puzzle, and he's got the Rod. I'm just a normal man without powers or anything like that…"
"I am willing to. I believe Yugi is, also."
"Thank you. But…what's your name? What can I call you?"
"Yami. I must go now. Yugi and his friends have some…business."
"Alright. But…when can we meet? Or talk again?"
"Do you know where that is Miperg Ave. is? Meet me there, if you can."
Seto scribbled the street name down, perplexed at why Yami wanted to meet him on a street.
"Yes, I mean no, I don't, but I'll find out."
"There's a bar there called 'Swilly.' It's on that street. I'll be waiting out in front of it at seven tomorrow night. I was going to go there anyway; you might as well come along. I really must go now. Goodbye."
"So, Miperg, how do you… hello? Hello?!"
Seto dropped the phone onto its hook once again. His assistant popped his head in at the same exact moment.
"Get out," Seto muttered.
The assistant nodded and left.
"Wait, wait. Come back in."
The assistant cautiously opened the door again and stepped in.
"When was the first time you went to a bar?"
The assistant seemed scared and confused, as if he didn't know whether he was falling into a trap.
"Probably when I was nineteen or so."
"Why did you go?"
"I don't understand…"
"Did you go for fun, to drink, or what?"
"To have some fun."
"Ok, you can leave now."
The assistant stepped out once again.
Seto stood up and paced down the width of his office. Little did he know that the person he had just spoken to was not Yugi…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, Marik and a group of his Rare Hunters sat at their usual table. Marik was laughing hysterically. The Rare Hunters merely watched the television screen, where Kaiba was pacing back and forth in his office.
"I got Kaiba good this time. He fell right into our little trap. He really thought you were Yugi." Marik patted the Rare Hunter sitting closest to him on the back. "Nice Yami impression, too." He patted another one on his back. The Rare Hunters still did not laugh or talk. They all knew that Marik was drunk.
"I am the greatest man of all time. I will rule the world! I'm sly and deceptive, aren't I? Just went into little Kaiba's office and gave him some bullshit piece of paper. Bet he fell for it, too, huh? Then I planted a video camera on his desk, a super-small one, too. And then I changed the speed dial on his phone to our number. We'll get him, won't we? We've already called Yugi as Kaiba. Now, Yugi and Kaiba will meet, thinking they were supposed to. And we'll get them both! I will rightfully take the Millennium Puzzle and claim what's mine!!" He continued cackling and snorting.
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muhahahahahaha…isn't marik so evil…I mean he put yugi and kaiba in a rele big bad trap…muhahahahahahahaha
anywayz…sorry I took so long on that chapter… I was working on my harrypotter fic (which u should read!) and I had camp and all that good crap.
thanks guyz for reviewing this story…
blkdrgn: geez you're so formal and all, but hey, I like your tips and your thoughts and stuff…gives me stuff to think about…thx a lot!
DragonicOne: u rele think it was incredibly good? why thank you very much!
Malik Fan: first of all, your stories seriously rock! sry I kinda took long to update but here it is hope u read it
InsanityEternal: uh…yaoi? sry but I get sick thinking/reading/writing about that stuff…anyway, thanx for reviewing…
don't have a signin name: er…Egyptian curses?? ahhhh!!!!! oh yeah, I updated. won't die now!
celes: yup seto shore iz cute! thnx for reviewing
destiny's angel: yeh, I no its sorta out of character haven't watched the show in a long time…hope I can get it better…thanx for reviewing
dobby: I MISS YOU!!!!!!
Neoroadkill: well dude mariks like one of my fav. characters and I luv how hes all insane and all so yeh hes evil aint he
if I left u out sry very much…cya