Don't Own YGO. Never Will.

Chapter Eight: Down To Earth

Seto stood before Pegasus the next morning, looking quietly confident again. Having been rudely awoken early by a maid, Seto had been hastily dressed and bought before Pegasus.

"Seto, I want you to explain what really happened in Gouzaburo Kaiba's office, and I want you to tell me now." His voice was firm; the tone one he had not used upon the children. But this was bad business, and if Seto was implicated, there would be a great deal of fuss and trouble. Standing up and walking before Seto, he leant back against the desk.

"I told you the truth last night, father. I asked him to sign over his son and the company, or I would take certain evidence to the police." Seto smiled a ghost smile back, eyes fluttering innocently at his father.

Pegasus felt his temper grow. He was a reasonably calm man, but Seto playing the idiot was irrationally irritating. What scared him was that if Seto was as clever as he thought he was...his plan would be see through for the two intelligent boys. And he hadn't bartered on so many children.

Reaching over the desk he passed Seto the morning papers, the headline screaming: 'Death of KC CEO', complete with an image of the middle aged man falling, still in his chair, from the 36th storey window. Seto took it, smiling thinly to himself.

"Now Seto, stop lying, and tell me the truth. You think you're smart enough to toy everyone else, but I will not be so easily fooled." He said in a dangerously low voice. Seto looked at him, the smile melting into a smirk.

"But father that is the truth. What do I have to do to prove it?"

Pegasus snapped. Reaching forward, hair cast aside to reveal the golden Millennium Eye, he invade Seto's mind.

Reaching forward a child's hand moved a chess piece forwards.

"Remember, Child, what happens if you lose...Your father will lose everything too..." Gouzaburo chuckled, moving a piece also, taking another pawn and adding it to his collection. Seto looked away as this happened, eye on the small pile of papers.

"And remember, old man, what happens when I win...like this." With one final move, Gouzaburo was placed in checkmate. Seto reached forwarded and knocked his king over, smiling smugly. Gouzaburo pushed backwards in his chair quickly.

"How did you win, boy? Tell me!"

Seto said nothing, savouring the fear in the man's voice.

"Easily. You play offensively in every game you play, its nothing to defeat a tyrant like you. Now remember our agreement. Submit Kaiba Corp and Noa to me."

Gouzaburo was panicking, that much was evident.

Seto stood up, and walked over to the elder man, leaning close to him.

"You should never have treated Noa so badly...you shouldn't have spoiled his genius with your selfishness...and for this you must pay. How will you live with yourself? You have lost everything to me, the child from an orphanage you snubbed. Well, who's at the bottom, and stuck there now?" Seto shot forward, pushing the chair with him, straight into the window, Gouzaburo sent flying through the glass, Seto watching him calmly as he fell, screaming to his death.

Pegasus pushed Seto away from him as the images assaulted his mind. His boy...this ten year old boy...he had killed someone...

"What's the matter, father?" Seto seemed amused by his little game with Pegasus. Fortunately he was still unaware of the power of the Eye. Pegasus was revolted; He'd thought Seto decent, maybe even of genius capacity...but those images were from the mind of a madman. He felt no remorse, no pity...nothing. "I swear father that I told you the truth."

Seeing no way out of this, he shook his head, dismissing him. Seto trudged out, hovering at the door awhile, eagerly listening.

"I believe he was lying, Master Pegasus. That child isn't as innocent as he pretends."

"I am aware, too aware of that..."

"Sir? Is the Eye...?"

"It is none of your concern, Croquet. Just ...I need the Puzzle for tomorrow. Make sure I have it. I do not need to remind you of the punishment, do I?"

"Not at all, Master Pegasus."

Seto noted this all down mentally. So Pegasus thought he knew his secret? The police thought it was suicide...especially after the diary entries he'd planted. Quickly vanishing before the bodyguard caught up with him, he returned to his room. He needed to think.

XXX

Noa woke up the next morning in an unfamiliar bed. Sitting up, it took him a while to remember where he was and why. Slowing his breathing down, he relaxed back into the overly large and fluffy bed, curling upon himself. Last night had been a turning point in his life, but it was good, he was sure.

He'd shed his tears for Gouzaburo in a few minutes, curled up close to Pegasus, who, despite knowing for less than a day, he felt closer to than his own birth father. Funny that.

Seto had emerged from his father's office, carrying a briefcase and ushered him out and into the waiting limo. Everyone else was distracted by commotion elsewhere, grouped together a little further down the pavement.

Opening the briefcase he had withdrawn a few sheets of paper. Noa read them in wonder, trying to figure out how Seto had persuaded his father to have him adopted by Pegasus. Furthermore, another piece of paper revealed KaibaCorp was now Noa's.

Taking this new brother inside, he had led him to Pegasus, explaining briefly about his meeting. Noa got the distinct expression Seto had lied, but...Pegasus accepted it.

His new room was prepared for him within minutes, giving him the opportunity to just collapse into sleep.

For once, not to be woken up by a severe butler but a kindly maid who dropped the poker whilst stoking the fire, at an hour which was reasonable felt like heaven. There had to be a catch.

Someone had arranged clothes at the side of his bed, cleaned and neatly folded, still slightly warm. This room, unlike the one he had been given at his old home, was colourful, furnished richly and elegantly. Gouzaburo had never been one for wasting any of the Kaiba fortune, even on his own son.

It felt like a dream that he was never going to awaken from. What had Seto said to Kaiba? And why had Pegasus accepted him so easily? Was this all a rouse? Some trick to get him to spill the secrets of the abuse Gouzaburo had subjected him to? Shuddering he wondered if Seto had told Pegasus about it.

"Hiya Noa!" Mokuba exploded into the room, hair unbrushed and wild, and a shining smile on his face. "I've another brother, I can't believe it! Christmas has come early!"

Noa smiled as Mokuba embraced him closely. He'd always wanted a younger brother, and now, he felt Gouzaburo's control melt away.

"Hey, Mokuba? Do you want me to show you how to play the violin?" His bother's eyes it up with happiness at that notion, and he called his acceptance out loudly and happily.

Yes, Noa thought. Maybe things would turn out fine. Even though Mokuba stood no chance of ever actually any good with the instrument.

XXX