Chapter 5
" We took the brain cells of mice." Dr. Jujonu sat down. " Mice! You think mice have many brain cells for thinking? Their cerebrum is less than pea size! But anyway, the dope forgot to have a control in his experiments, so we had to do it all over again."
Dr. Fukumoto cocked an eyebrow.
" Let me guess. He's a student."
" It's a she, and iie. She's not a student. She worked in one of the laboratories on the fourteenth
floor. Said that she takes way too many breaks and usually eats cookies instead of doing
experiments."
" Well, this person definetely should be fired."
" I agree."
" So what, did it work?"
" Iie. We only got up to killing the brain cells part, because we had to retrieve the brain." Jujonu
answered. " Fed it glucose, proteins, everything except oxygen. Should be dead soon."
" Ah."
" We'll have to wait until the proteins in the cells denature." Said the scientist. " And then we'll use
Kaiba's machine. Personally I hope that thing works. Not only will it help the poor boy, it might
save a few people from amputation."
" And Seto Kaiba would be rich. Again."
" He might win the Nobel Prize. For science. Actually, it doesn't work that way, but I always
humored that thought that you invent something and you get a Nobel Prize."
" He might. You never know. Those guys look at situations strangely. Remember Yoko upstairs on
the seventeenth floor? We all thought she was going to get the Nobel Prize but she never did
because those guys said that she never invented a concept."
" I thought she did."
" That's what the rest of us thought."
" Chapter 6"
" It was impossible for the doctors to tell that Gozaburo died from a heart attack. The fall had severely damaged his blood vessels so whatever clots there were had been freed. The doctors therefore assumed that it was the fall that had killed Gozaburo. To tell them the truth would mean to tell the whole story of the VSDLE, and since I had destroyed both the machines and files there would be no evidence and the police would still assume I was lying. Therefore I told the police that I was in the office with my foster father when several floors below us, one of the machines short cutted. The guards, noting the danger, tried to alert Gozaburo, but his cell phone was turned off. Therefore the guards decided to run to the office to alert Gozaburo in person. The sudden appearance of the guards in his room startled Gozaburo, causing him to step back and slip. His head collided with the glass, ( and indeed, Gozaburo fell head-first, so his head was already very much battered,) and somehow broke it, causing the rest to shatter and for him to fall through."
" It was a dirty lie and I was not proud of it. But the reason I lied was because as they took me to the police station I saw Mokuba waiting. I did not know if they would send me to jail for causing Gozaburo to have a heart attack, but I knew that if they did Mokuba's future would be doomed. All these years, counting on me, believing that as long as I'm there everything would be alright, only to find out in the end that his brother was a murderer and would be sitting in jail? That could not happen. So even if I suffer worst punishments for lying that day, at least Mokuba got more of a chance. More confidence."
" The situation was difficult because normally my brother and I would be sent to another foster home, or the orphanage. However, Gozaburo's death was so completely unexpected that there was no one to take his place at Kaiba Corps except, theoretically, me. The people in charge struggled with the validity of both concepts, until I announced that with the money Gozaburo had left for us I could very well take care of Kaiba Corps."
" They didn't believe me but I fought them. I told them that I was twelve years old and can take care of myself and my brother. After a few days of discussion, they finally told me that they'll give me a chance, but if the company fails, I would be sent to a foster home or orphanage."
" I was inclined to neglect Kaiba Corps, the source of all my problems, and let it fall to ruins. I could then go to high school with no problem.With the threat in mind however I was forced to take charge. Gozaburo's death left the corporation nearly bankrupt, because the confidence people had in its success was suddenly taken away. Our stocks fell abruptly until it was a mere cent for each. When I checked this I knew I was in trouble. I never handled a business corporation before. And I was young, a mere twelve year old boy. My inferiors would probably revolt against me and rob me of whatever power I had. I could always go with what I originally planned-to let the corporation fall. But then I saw Mokuba again."
" I remembered how everything was at the orphanage and at Gozaburo's. I remembered how lucky Mokuba was that I was there, taking all the blows for him. A thought came to me. What if this time, Mokuba's the one taking all the blows? What if this time a maniac decided to adopt him as a vessel for someone who had died? What if by letting go of the corporation, Mokuba's future is destroyed?"
" So I decided that I would give my best shot."
It's not every day that Mokuba Kaiba comes running at full speed from a hospital room and
crashes into Seto Kaiba on a wheelchair while screaming.
" Mokuba, Mokuba, what's wrong?" Seto asked. " Hey kiddo, stop yelling, it's okay. I'm here. What
happened?"
" There-there-there was a-head!" Mokuba squeaked. " And it was making-faces!!"
" Huh?" Seto blinked. " A Head making faces? What are you talking about?"
" I went in there," Mokuba was close to tears, " And I saw this guy's head floating in some weird
liquid! There was no body, and you could see the neck bone underneath! And then I sort of touched
something, and there was a beam of light that shot at the head, and then the head opened its eyes!
Then it started making faces!!!"
" Well, forget the mice." Jujonu began walking towards the room. " Forget the mice! If this thing
works on a dead Head, then obviously it works!"
" I'm not going back in there! I don't want you to go either!" Mokuba shouted.
" Yugi, can you take care of Mokuba for me?" Seto asked. " I want to see what the heck happened."
Noa smirked and pushed Seto over. So much for that. And to think, Mokuba volunteered to get the machine in the first place.
" Is that scientifically possible?" Seto asked the scientists. " That a head would be alive while the
body...?"
" I'm not sure about that." Said Jujonu. " I think it is. I think the individual cells might be alive..."
Oops. Seto thought. Shouldn't have started them talking. Do scientists ever stop talking?
They opened the door without hesitation. The man's head was floating in a liquid solution. His eyes were open. But he's dead.
" I guess the effect wore off, considering there was no oxygen." Fukumoto blinked. " Which button? I think it's, yeah, it's this one." He pressed.
The beam of light shot at the head. The eyes blinked, the mouth opened in a silent scream, and the tongue moved. The eyes blinked again.
" Uhh..." Seto was spooked. " Do you suppose he is conscious right now?"
" That we'll never know." Jujonu felt ill. " What horror! If you woke up just a head without a body?
Elgh!"
" I am not doing that again." Said Fukumoto, " And if any research goes on with that head I'm not
going to do it."
The head was dead again. Or seemed dead.
" Looks like one of those horror movies." Said Anzu reflectively.
" Onegai." Seto rubbed his temple. " Spare us."
" Well obviously it works on the nerves at least." Jujonu began. " If the head's not conscious, at
least the nerves were working, and there was something controlling those nerves. I think Seto
Kaiba's machine works."
" Does it work on any other cell?" Fukumoto wondered.
" First Kaiba, then experiments." One scientist blinked. " That came out wrong. We did the
experiments, we do more experiments concerning Kaiba. And then we do more experi-that was
wrong too."
" We get the point." Seto growled. " Can't you just use that already?"
" There's still a danger." Fukumoto pointed out. " We don't know if the living cells would start
dividing uncontrollably, and what affect would it have on cells that are already alive. And what if
Kaiba gets a tumor because of this?"
" Fine. More days of idiocy." Seto said rather flatly.
" Idiocy?" Noa blinked. " I hardly thought you were idiotic. You were just slower than normal on
the math."
Seto glared at him. I sometimes wish Noa wasn't that tall in the real world. He thought. Wish he would stay in that seven year old body or something that way I can punch him while sitting down.
" How fast is he normally?" A scientist asked, curious.
"He struggles a bit." Noa answered, patting Seto's head. " But personally," He ignored Seto's next
glare, " I think he'll do just fine without that machine. Although if it helps with his confidence I'm
up for that."
" Oni-chan!" Mokuba ran to Seto as they turned in the hall.
" It's okay Mokuba, the head's dead." Seto said to his trembling brother. That just sounded so
wrong. He thought.
" So would it work?" Yugi asked the scientists. " Can Kaiba get cured now?"
" Not necessarily. It might have some side effects. We still have to do more tests." Jujonu
answered. " Now we have to take living brain cells out of mice."
" Poor mice..." Anzu said sympathetically. The scientists stared at her as if she had two heads.
I guess they did too many experiments. Seto decided to close his eyes. But I agree with Anzu on this one. I actually feel sorry for the mice.
" The first meeting I ever had with the officials was a nightmare."
" It was obvious at first glance that the officials didn't think I was worth listening to. They merely humored me."
" I knew immediately that to act childish would worsen the situation. Therefore I acted as mature as my age would allow me, and I waited."
" ' My partners and I had agreed, Mr. Kaiba,' one of them, Daidlou, his name was, had began as soon as we greeted each other, " That a new plan for a computer must be made. My partners and I had come up with this.'"
" ' It was a new model of a computer. The sketches were precise, but I immediately noted the
flaws.'"
" ' How would this model work?' I asked."
" ' It...was meant to create a three dimensional hologram of the image and to respond to verbal-'"
" ' Iie. This would not work.' I stood up and tossed the folder aside. ' The design is not advanced
enough to produce a hologram of any kind unless it's a still hologram. This would definetely not
respond to anyone's commands. And I think you know that.'"
" I gave Daidlou my best glare. ' There is a reason why I took over this corporation.' I announced to all the officials. ' Do not think that because I'm young that I am so incapable as to not recognize pranks and tricks. If this company fails you will fail as well.'"
" There was a silence. I remember the flashes of surprise on each man's face. I went on."
" ' I expect all of you to treat this company as respectfully as you did when my father was alive.' I looked at each man in emphasis. ' Those of you who slack off or attempt to betray me will be fired and heaven help you if you wish to find another job. Those of you who wish to test me will be punished according to what you did. Those of you who work hard and are loyal to the company will be rewarded accordingly. Is that understood?'"
" There was a pause. ' Hai, Mr. Kaiba.'"
" ' Good. Now I assume that all of you have inappropriate plans ready in mind.' I looked at each
one and saw surprise and uncertainty. I knew I was right. ' I will excuse you all this one time. I
understand that it is hard to cope with a new boss, especially an unexpected one. However, if this
happens again, you will be punished or fired, as I see appropriate. And believe me, I know if you
did it purposefully. This meeting is adjourned.'"
" It was the shortest meeting I ever had with the company, but it was one of the most horrible experiences in my life. It was there that everything was out in the open. Me, a boy of twelve years, standing alone against twelve full grown men, all laughing, all mocking, all waiting for a chance to crush me. I was unsure whether threatening them was wise and I knew that one wrong move could land me in a grave. The guards are not loyal to me, they're loyal to my father. I was unprotected."
" That night I couldn't sleep. Even when Mokuba fell asleep I stayed awake beside him. I wondered if one wrong move would land Mokuba in a grave as well. Would it? I hoped not. So I was tense that entire night and I couldn't sleep. The next morning I went to Kaiba Corps and most people avoided me. I pretended not to notice or to want it that way."
" The stocks had increased slightly. But there was still much work to do. I knew that Kaiba Corps needed a big change and fast. We needed to come out with a new product. That year, Pegasus J. Crawford started a company called Industrial Illusions and began the game ' Duel Monsters'. I immediately saw my chance to use this new development to my advantage. I began learning the game."
" It didn't take me long. The game came easily. It almost was too easy. And with my gift of reading people I easily won the following Duel Monsters Championship. As the game was so popular it immediately won favor for Kaiba Corps, so the stocks went up steadily."
" There was a sudden change over Mokuba. He began looking at me in a different light. One day I suddenly realized he didn't call me ' Oni-chan' but ' Ni-sama'. I asked him why he called me that."
" Mokuba seemed embarrassed and wouldn't answer me. But he never stopped calling me ' ni-san' or ' ni-sama'. I suddenly felt that we were drawn apart somehow, and I was scared. Why the sudden change? Was taking over Kaiba Corps pulling Mokuba away from me?"
" We use to be so close, Mokuba and I. We slept in the same room and ate from the same plate. We stuck together through harsh times and laughed at each others' success. Now all of the sudden Mokuba's calling me ' ni-sama'. Did I do something that made him feel restricted? Did I somehow control him? Did I somehow make him feel controlled?"
" Mokuba never answered. When I asked him he wouldn't tell me. He never stopped calling me ' ni
san' or ' ni-sama'. So one day I asked him as directly as I could."
" ' Mokuba, did I do something to scare you?'"
" Mokuba started crying at that and ran over to hug me. He kept on repeating ' Ni-sama, Ni-sama' but he didn't run away. I was so confused. What's wrong? And then it hit me. It hit me as if a dagger was thrown from the wall and had stabbed into my forehead."
" I was no longer just his brother. I cannot treat Mokuba as simply my younger sibling. When I took over Kaiba Corps I gave up all my rights to childhood, and I had made myself into an adult. By making myself into an adult I took on the responsibilities of an adult. And Mokuba realized that before I did."
" I was no longer just Mokuba's older brother. I had become his father."
" I went out there," Seto blinked, " And I found out I could walk straight! I mean straight, as in no
hunched back, just straight! Straight! Do you have any idea how good that feels?"
" So Quasimodo finally can walk straight, eh?" Noa teased.
" Shut up!" Seto hit Noa really hard. Noa winced.
" And when the sun is shining on my head I didn't feel dizzy!" Seto went on exclaiming. "
Although," his face fell, " When I started jogging I nearly fainted."
" Gee, and people said you were a genius."
" Shut up!"
Noa laughed. " Come on, we need to find some fast food store where they have meat
without injected hormones."
" Why?"
" To make red blood cells, you twit!"
" Meat helps you develop red blood cells?"
" I don't know. That's what I heard. Unless, of course, you have iron-deficiency anemia, but the doc
forgot to tell us that!"
" Stupid doctors." Seto laughed. " If I need iron I need vegatables."
" Don't say that, or you'll become one."
" Oh, I'll get you for that!" Seto yelled.
" I never thought I would see the day Seto chases somebody. I mean, really, chase somebody." Yugi observed. " And I never imagined that somebody would be Noa..."
" Get back here!"
" They never cease to amaze me." Yami blinked. " But shouldn't Seto be resting?"
" Tell that to the green haired buffoon." Ryou answered. " The guy never knows when to quit."
" I think it all started when Noa called Seto a vegatable..." Honda began.
The group broke into chuckles.
" Geez, how long do they need to test that stupid machine?" Jou asked.
" You know hospitals. They always postpone until people nearly die. You'd think after that book
people would be more supportive. And what happened to Mokuba?"
" Supportive!" Mai cried, wacking Jou on the head. " Did you see how many people offered to
donate blood earlier these days? Unfortunately they forgot they weren't R-."
" What's type R- anyway?" Jou asked.
Again, the group ignored him.
" The head was freaky!"
" I know! I almost screamed."
" You always scream Anzu."
" Oh be quiet!"
" Hey, there's one that's translated into English!"
" They translated a memoir to English?"
" Well you know how business is in the US."
" US? Did you know that those guys are more stupid than we are? How did the United States
become the center of business anyway?"
" Cheat, kill, stump, crush. All those things that lead to monopoly."
" Trusts."
" Oh, right. And trusts. Nearly killed the Japanese with that."
" But we make the best cars."
" I thought Germany makes the best cars."
" They waste too much gasoline, that's what I heard."
" Gasoline? But do you know how fast those things go?"
" I know! It's like race cars there! I heard if you go to a German highway people will honk at you
for going too slow even if you're driving at top speed!"
" But our air is better."
" Maybe."
" And we have less accidents."
" Maybe. Still, we make better cars than the US, at least."
" And we make the best electronics."
" If only we could make our own internet."
" Who cares about who makes the internet? As long as there is one."
" We have the right to nuclear weapons..."
" What are those guys talking about?" Seto had stopped chasing Noa and they stared at the group.
" Are they talking about nuclear weapons?" Noa asked.
" What odd people." Seto shook his head.
" Chapter 7"
" I found that I could not afford to go to high school while working in Kaiba Corps. It will lower my reputation and I found I probably could not handle that. So I made Mokuba work hard."
" After attending some of the championships and winning them all, I went back to focusing on technology. Daidlou's idea was obviously not a bad one and I decided to start with that. After two weeks of modifying and testing, the corporation released the new " Holocomputer", a rather uncreative name, but it got the point across."
" The product was such a success not only were the business officials surprised, I was surprised too. For a while that was all we needed, but then I started working on programs, programs dealing with Duel Monsters."
" And that's when I found my first Blue Eyes White Dragon."