We see a dark room. It seems to be empty, save the shadows and the semi transparent Seto Kaiba leaning against the left wall. A shadow suddenly detaches itself from the wall… literally.

Draco (the shadow) stands half in and half out of the wall. He smirks, "Atleast 'dieing' is interesting."

Kaiba rolls his eyes, apparently bored. With his foot he nudges the lump of fur and flesh on the ground, the creativity demon.

A flash of light suddenly erupts from the ceiling and the demon springs to life, quickly attaching itself to Kaiba's expensive shoe. Draco, on the other hand, is too busy to notice, due to the fact that he is now stuck in the wall.

Draco frowns, still struggling, "What the hell happened? I'm not fading away?"

Seto looked up toward the light's source, "A flash of inspiration."

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Hi everyone, once again I'm back from the dead.

I'm sorry for the wait, yes it was longer than usual. The good news is high schools' over! Yay. Bad news: I'll be taking summer school in the mornings and a college course at night. Life's a bitch, ne? I'll find some way to work things out though.

Ack, this chapter's a bit choppy – atleast in my opinion. Speaking of choppy, is it me or is the 3rd movie a bit too condensed. I was waiting and waiting for the scene where Harry hits Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle(or was it Flint?) with a Patronus… but it never came. I was disappointed. (BTW, does anyone know if the sixth book is called: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince?)

glances at the reviews HOLY CRAP! 370 …I think I'll cry now.

Thank you all, I haven't checked up on fanfiction lately and fining this is just wonderful. It knocked me right out of my writer's block. Thank you so much again, you guys are great. Thanks for putting up with me; I'm very frustrating at times.

Thanks again.

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Turmoil

By Kaitourei

Chapter Sixteen: The Chess Club

"Chess is a game of logic… The only way to win is through logic, whether your opponent understands your moves or not. Keep that in mind before you deicide to tell me what is a 'mistake' and what isn't."

- Seto Kaiba

Kaiba watched his hand mechanically scroll his name on the chess club sign up sheet. A thin crease appeared on his forehead as he notice the sloppiness of his writing. His mind was clouded with disquieting thoughts; inside he was much worse than he let on. But then, what was new?

He was lucky, if he had believed in luck. There had only been room for one more name on the list. In front of him the list automatically rolled itself then disappeared into this air, leaving behind a small sparkling wave of glitter that, in time, also disappeared. Kaiba watched this with a blank expression.

The common room was quieter. Most of the other students were in their dormitories playing some Wizarding games. After all, with the school in it's suspended state of hiatus, what else was there to do. Kaiba was finding it to be very boring. He smirked to himself, and he had thought the classes were bad, this was close to torture. The only things left to do were business related and he was already months ahead of schedule.

This was a mistake, he told himself, the whole idea of coming to this place. He let himself fall into one of the many large, comfortable chairs in the common room. There was trouble in Domino; Mokuba had been kidnapped (though he had been rescued and was now in safe care), not to mention, Yugi had suddenly disappeared, leaving only a note for his friends. It was very uncharacteristic.

Kaiba let his gaze fall on the fireplace in front of him, into the flames. Soft footsteps echoed through the room. Not far from Kaiba another body fell into a chair. It was Harry Potter.

"Hey," Harry greeted unenthusiastically.

Kaiba wasn't planning to answer him but a question formed in his overactive mind: "How do you know my letter was addressed by Sirius Black?"

Harry looked up, a bit startled by the teen CEO's question. He looked around, the common room was empty. "Sirius is, er, was supposed to be my godparent. My mom and dad are dead…" Harry trailed off, Kaiba probably knew that – who didn't?

"Is?"

"Well," Harry started; hopping his years of lying to Snape would help him with Kaiba. He wasn't about to spill his guts to the heartless CEO. "I met him in my third year… He's not like the papers say."

"Media often tend to excaudate, if not twist the entirety of a story," Kaiba muttered, still looking in the fire. Harry was, again, surprised by his comment.

Kaiba continued, "You sympathize with him and you still contact him."

Harry frowned, "No… not really. Last I heard he was heading south."

"And you believe it?"

"No."

Kaiba stood up and turned to leave, his robes spinning characteristically. Harry watched him, "Your parents must be proud of you."

Kaiba stopped, and didn't face the raven-haired boy. "No, they're dead."

"Then you're adopted father… I saw him, you know, when we dueled. He had a golden eye," Harry was staring at the CEO intently.

Kaiba looked over his shoulder with ice cold eyes, "No, all my parents are dead and that man, he's not my father, or any relative for that matter."

"So," Harry muttered, not meaning for the CEO to hear. "Is that why you're always so…"

Kaiba had begun to walk away, "I'll see you and your friends at nine."

Harry was left with the fire and silence.

---

"So this is London?" Yami asked quietly. "It's so…"

"Not quiet what you expected?" Yami Bakura interrupted. "It's quite nice, but noting like Domino or even Tokyo."

Yami shrugged, "I just always thought it would be brighter, more lights and more shops. It's a big city isn't it?"

"Yes," the tomb robber added snidely. "But things in Europe are different than Japan."

They had left the plane and the internationally airport over half an hour ago, the hikari reluctantly staying in their soul rooms. Thankfully for the yamis, the cheerleaders had veered off to another terminal and the only trouble they'd had was with an elderly senile man who claimed Yami's luggage as his own. After speaking with Yami Bakura for a few moments the man gladly handed over the luggage and ran from the airport, screaming for his life. Yami was surprised no one really took notice.

They had then taken a cab to a quaint hotel Yami Bakura suggested. After dropping their luggage off, the two quickly left – but not before they noticed the odd looks the staff were giving them. It might have had to do with the fact that their room had a single bed, but neither of them had planned to spend anytime in the room. It was purely for the luggage.

"What exactly are we looking for? And where are we going?" Yami asked with annoyance. His white haired "friend" had been pulling him through throngs of people in what seemed to be circles – it was hard to tell, many of the streets looked the same: dark and cobblestone.

"Really pharaoh," Yami Bakura muttered, his red eyes flashing over the people and the shops. "I thought you would have guessed. Look for something out of the ordinary."

Yami shot the tomb robber a dry look. "Like what?"

Yami Bakura made a face, "Can't you feel it Pharaoh? The air around this place, it contains magic. There are faint traces everywhere…"

Yami frowned; there was something in the air – something foreign. But it wasn't the usual dark aura the Shadow Realm radiated. Yami Bakura was much more learned in magic, Yami mused darkly; the tomb robber seemed to be very capable of finding the source of the disturbances in the realm by himself. Yami had begun to wonder why he was asked to come, and if he and Yugi were in more danger than he'd first suspected.

"Lost in thought again, Pharaoh?" the dark Bakura asked. He rolled his eyes, as Yami glared back. "You're just as bad as my hikari."

"What?"

Yami Bakura smirked, holding up the Sennen Ring. All the loose arrows at the Ring's sides pointed in the direction on a large building complex. "It seems there's an Item here in England."

"It is in there?" Yami asked, surveying the building and the suites pouring in and out of it. "It would make sense if Kaiba were holding it."

"No," the other yami said casually, leaning against a light post. "It's much farther than that. In fact it's miles away." He paused in thought.

Yami continued, "This does complicate the original theory, though. We suspected Kaiba was causing the disturbances without an item. If an Item suddenly appears, someone else is here, most likely looking for Kaiba as well."

Yami Bakura snorted, "Maybe it's that Egyptian, Malik."

"But he has no motive, why would he come after Kaiba.

The dark Bakura raised an eyebrow, "It could always be someone we don't know of. After all, we haven't seen all the Sennen Items."

Yami raised an eyebrow, "So, we may have completion?"

"Yes we may," Yami Bakura said with a smirk. "Let the hunt begin."

Yami rolled his eyes, "Must you be so cliché?"

---

Ron Weasly was glad to see Harry return from the common room; he was in dire need of someone to practice with. Hermione had left to go find Ginny, and playing against himself wasn't much of a challenge. He smiled as motioned for Harry to sit.

"Nice to see you've finally decided to join me," Ron said, noting Harry's brooding mood. "What's up?"

"I was talking with Kaiba," Harry shrugged, not intent on playing.

"You got him to actually participate in a conversation willingly," Rom joked. "That's almost like Malfoy not cheating."

Harry shrugged, "He didn't say much."

"What did he say?" Ron asked, forgetting the chessboard. The black king glared up at him. "C'mon Harry."

"His parents are dead, like mine," Harry muttered. "He was adopted…" Harry hesitated. "And I think they abused him… like me."

Ron looked less excited, "What are you saying, Harry?"

The-boy-who-lived exhaled and leaned back in his seat, not meeting the redhead's eyes. "I guess in a way, I'm like him. We're both orphans, we both grew up with people who didn't treat us right, and we're both legendary… I could be like him; I could be cold and uncaring. Maybe someday I will have to be. If I were like that, life might be easier, you know? I guess I… I envy him."

Ron leaned forward, "Harry look at me." The green-eyed boy did reluctantly. "You're not like him, you're not going to become him. Kaiba is whole different person… personally he's more like Malfoy than anyone, arrogant and proud. Trust me, Harry, you will be a much better person."

"Thanks," Harry mumbled. "It's just that sometimes Kaiba seems like the reflection in a mirror only this mirror tells the future not your desires…"

Ron shook his head, "Harry, you really need a girlfriend…"

"What are you two still doing here!?" Hermione had come hurdling through the door. "Honestly, the escort's already come for the chess club!" She spoke rapidly. "Well? Stop staring at me, let's go!" She disappeared.

"Did you catch a word she said?" Ron asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Not a word," Harry said half smiling. 'But I get the feeling it's time to go."

---

The room was moderately large with table staggered here and there. Kaiba couldn't help but notice the absence of the instructor. The students were milling around the room, most talking in small groups.

"Hello and welcome!" The voice belonged the none other than Lucius Malfoy. Kaiba already disliked his sniveling son, and the Malfoy senior had pushed his luck by selecting him to duel Potter.

Lucius' lips were curved upwards in an attempted smile, "Welcome, welcome, to the first meeting of the Hogwarts Chess Club." Most everyone was too surprised to cheer. "Before we start off, I have an announcement from the Headmaster: class will resume tomorrow morning. It seems that the ministry and Hogwarts officials have struck a deal. Sadly, though, many parents have opted to transfer or remove their children, so classmates may also be leaving in the next few days."

Kaiba could feel the golden trio's nervous stares. They hadn't suspected the classes to reappear so early, but nevertheless the plan would have to go through. It was now or never.

"Well, I suppose everyone knows how to play?" Malfoy continued. "If you don't, then I'll be instructing you. Advanced players please move to the right of the room, while those who are in need of some pointers move to the left." The crowd began to disperse and Kaiba moved to the right. "Good, good," Malfoy said. "Now those in advanced please begin a game."

"Hey Kaiba," it was Harry's redheaded friend, Ron Weasly. Kaiba faced him, noting the boy's challenging expression. Ron was seated alone at a small table. "You have a partner yet?"

"It doesn't matter," the CEO said sitting down. "Either way you'll be crushed."

Ron raised his eyebrows, "Really? Well, I haven't lost yet and I don't mean to tonight."

Kaiba chuckled coolly, "Neither have I and nor do I intend to." The CEO took two pawns of the opposite color in each hand and held them behind him. "Now which hand?"

"Right," Ron muttered automatically. Kaiba produced a black pawn, causing Ron to frown. Black was not his favorite color.

"I have white, then," Kaiba said smirking. "I always play with white." A pawn went forward - it was Gozaburo's famous move, but no one in this world would recognize it.

Ron nodded and looked down at his black pieces. "Knight to C8. My father taught me that move."

"Touching," Kaiba said sarcastically. "My father taught me my opening move also. But I taught myself this game." He moved another pawn.

"In the orphanage?" Ron asked, debating whether to move a pawn or his knight.

"I suppose Harry told you that," Kaiba said taking the pawn Ron had just moved with his queen. Ron watched with surprise, Kaiba had left his queen open for attack. "Go ahead," Kaiba said intertwining his fingers. "Take her."

Ron looked at the miniature woman and unhappily ordered his rook forward. "That was a mistake, Kaiba. The queen is the most powerful piece."

"Chess is a game of logic," Kaiba said moving another piece. "The only way to win is through logic, whether your opponent understands your moves or not. Keep that in mind before you deicide to tell me what is a 'mistake' and what isn't." A black pawn was obliterated.

Ron focused on the game; the nose of the other players was a soft hum in his mind. "Whatever, Kaiba." Black moved forward.

It continued, blow for blow. Neither player spoke and to world around them ceased to exist. Ron surveyed his remaining pieces, a rook, two bishops, his queen, king, and a fair amount of pawns. Kaiba, being a more conservative player, had the king, both knights, a bishop, and five pawns left to continue with. Kaiba was moving his king and the pawns steadily forward.

His defense was strong, but Kaiba was lacking serious offensive power without his queen. Ron felt his lips turn upward.

"Kaiba," the redhead said, moving his queen into a 'check' position. "Check…"

There was a small crack and the black queen was shattered into pieces. Ron was suddenly aware of the white knight standing where his queen had once been. Kaiba looked victorious.

"Really," the teen CEO sneered. "It looks like your unbeatable streak has come to an end. Perhaps you should know," the brunette said. "That my stepfather was once the world champion of chess. He only lost once, and that was to me."

Ron grimaced. "I don't care who you are or who you've beaten." His bishop took the white knight. "I'm going to win."

Kaiba continued to smirk as a white pawn reached the opposite end of the board. "I suppose you know what happens now. The pawn's able to transform into any piece I desire." Ron gulped. "And I've chosen the queen."

The white pawn shook violently then, in a burst of light became the white queen. Ron winced; Kaiba had many more pawns lined up for the same transformation. He suddenly understood the CEO's choice to destroy the queen, on a cluttered board the queen was simple to trap; destroying the queen was an easy way to deceive the opponent and give them false confidence. But now, with the few pieces left the board was open and easy for the queen (or queens) to navigate. Ron knew he'd have to end the game quickly, before Kaiba could bring out more queens.

"Finally understanding you can't win?" Kaiba asked snidely. The CEO brought another pawn to the edge of the board. "I want another queen." [1]

Ron frowned and surveyed the board. A smile twisted at his features, Kaiba did have a weakness. He was just surprised he hadn't realized it before.

"I told you before," Ron said, ordering his queen forward. No check yet, though. "I've never lost."

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[1] When a pawn reached the opposite side of the board they are able to become any piece the player desires. Thus, you could have more than one queen on the board.

Next Chapter: Midnight Meetings

The chess club results! (Hint: Kaiba's unhappy.) Harry-tachi meet some more of Kaiba's "friends" and Voldemort finally makes an appearance.