I had this idea in mind for awhile, just never got down to writing it. I thought I'd try my hand at another Seto fic. I've been doing pretty well with those, it seems, so that encouraged me. Plus, I have two cats of my own, and that helps along the plot. Forgive me, if I don't update quickly; I am a very busy person, and I try my best with updates.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything of particular value in this story...except my cats.

Kaiba's Cat

By: Lynn

Chapter One

It was a rainy Friday evening.

Seto Kaiba sat at his work desk, brow furrowed in thought. Papers were strewn all over the brown mahogany, and on top of some of those carelessly-placed papers was a circular-shaped contraption. The day had gone well at the office, the only problem was that nobody seemed to get along with him.

Well, that's their problem, he nodded to himself, his elbow propped upon the desk with his chin resting on it. He squeezed his eyes shut, his whole body in a thinking position. He'd been putting off this problem for months now, and it was time he'd got to working on it.

The problem was that there was a glitch in one of his newer models of duel disks. It was a serious dilemma, because the new technology was supposed to be released in a few weeks. It needed to be corrected as soon as possible–if not sooner. But he had more important things to do, like...his homework. So the problem had been stalled, and put off, until it was crunch time.

He sighed and rubbed his temples. 'How to fix it' was the one question in his mind, and all his attention was drawn to that one question.

His door was locked so no one could bother him in this sacred time of solitude when it was just him and his creations. Mokuba knew better than to burst in while this period of time was taking place.

The hours flew by, and still he had not figured out the glitch. It was getting tiresome–even annoying, just staring at this piece of metal and not coming up with any ideas.

I'd better not agitate myself over this problem anymore, he thought, finally standing. He'll think about it tomorrow. In the meantime, he'd better check up on his little brother. He told him he could play outside for a while in the rain, and certainly with Seto's absence Mokuba stretched "a little while" into "just a couple hours."

Seto descended the grand staircase, and turned the corner to open the door. He hoped Mokuba hadn't been jumping in mud puddles like his other stupid, brainless classmates. They have been recently rubbing off on him, Seto noted, opening the door.

By just opening the door, Seto could tell that it was no "little" rainstorm. It was more like a hurricane. The wind was deafening. Streets outside were almost flooded, and branches were all over the place.

"Mokuba!" Seto called through the downpour of water, but the pounding rain and howling wind brought his voice down to a whisper. "Mokuba!"

Seto growled to himself, and closed the door to get a coat and umbrella. Now he was going to have to get all cold and wet over his belated brother who doesn't know when it's time to come inside. He was already exasperated over the machine problem, so this only added fuel to the fire.

Slipping on his coat, he was just about to open up the door...when it opened by itself!

Startled, Seto backed up, but then sighed when Mokuba entered.

Drenched from head to foot, Mokuba looked like he had been swimming in a turbulent pool. Though he had a raincoat on, it didn't really seem to do much good right then. He also had something in his arms that looked like it had been through worse.

"Mokuba," Seto forgot all the scolding words he meant to use when he found him. Replacing the objurgation with a warm brother's heart, he quickly removed the soaked coat from his brother's body (all the while curious as to what Mokuba was hiding from him) and got a blanket from a nearby closet.

"I want you to change those clothes right this minute, and then we'll talk," Seto noted that while he was speaking, Mokuba seemed totally have his mind on about the thing he obscured from his elder brother's view.

"Okay, Seto," Mokuba hesitated, then dashed up the stairs before Seto could get a better view of the little object.

Seto shrugged. He'll find out what that thing is. If Mokuba didn't want to tell him about it yet, it was probably because he didn't find the words that he thought would convince Seto to keep it (whatever "it" was).

Seto removed his coat and then strolled into his den, the coziest room in the mansion. With a built-in fireplace, bear-skin rug on the floor, and plushy sofa, Seto could always find perfect relaxation when in times of great need.

Then he waited.

Pretty soon, Seto saw a head peek in. Smiling to himself, Seto knew that Mokuba still hadn't thought of what to say. Might as well hear him out.

"Seto–" Mokuba slowly walked in, his hands behind his back. "I have something to ask you."

"What is it?" Seto kept his face free from all emotions as the smaller Kaiba crept in.

"Remember about a year ago when I brought in that little dog and asked to keep him and you said 'no' because I was 'a small, naive child, and deficient and incapable of any responsibility'?" Mokuba rushed through the introduction of his speech as he tried to remember all the big words Seto used on him when he gave him all the reasons why he couldn't have a pet.

Seto's eyes rolled to the ceiling. So this was it. Again. "Mokuba–I thought we ended this conversation a year ago. Yes, we cannot have a pet in this house because I am always busy and you are deficient and lacking in responsibility!" Seto sighed. "Besides, that 'dog' as you call it that you dragged in was half-drowned and half-dead (hey, just like the mutt Joey at school). Anyway, you still are not responsible enough to have a dog."

"What about a cat?" Mokuba gave a hopeful smile as he brought out his hands from behind his back.

There, in Mokuba's hands, was the cutest and most adorable kitten one has ever seen. It fit in the palm of his hand, and was an orangish-striped color. Its eyes were the widest, most beautiful shade of green and gave a sense of being always afraid. Its little tail curled underneath its body, trying to get some warmth. The poor thing was soaked head to tail and was shivering uncontrollably.

"I found it in the rain," Mokuba quickly added when Seto looked up with an agitated gaze. "It didn't have a collar and didn't seem to know where it was going. So I took it. It would have died, Seto!" he jumped in defensively when Seto shook his head.

"Mokuba," Seto paused, thinking of the right words. "I agree with you that the kitten could have died, but that doesn't give you a right to bring it home. Maybe the owner simply didn't buy it a collar. Or maybe it was an indoor kitten, but escaped somehow. You must take it back now."

"Outside!" Mokuba cried, gesturing towards the window. "Seto! The kitten will certainly die outside if I take her back out!"

Seto hesitated and forced himself to look at the trembling animal. Almost knowingly, the tiny thing looked up at him with those big, emerald eyes and said, Mew! Its little voice was so soft, and yet so touching to Seto.

'Why on this earth am I faltering for a good-for-nothing, meritless thing that came from the gutter!' his reason demanded, but deep inside, his conscience spoke otherwise.

'Come on, Seto,' it soothed. 'It's just a little kitten; how much trouble could it actually cause? At least just keep it until it stops raining. You never know; it just might make Mokuba have more responsibility!'

Mokuba looked at him, drawing every ounce of cuteness he could muster out when he saw his brother's eyes falter. "Please, Seto, let me keep her, at least for a while!"

Seto sighed again and the words, "all right," forced themselves out of his body.

As Mokuba let out a war whoop, Seto conjoined with, "But only until the rain stops!"

Mokuba didn't even hear that last part as he danced back up to his room to begin his new life with his new pet.