YUGIOH

The Times Between Darkness and Light

Chapter 8.

"Big brother!" Mokuba said, running over and hugging him, so glad to see him.

With hesitation, Kaiba hugged him back, but offered no other sign of softening, as Kaiba asked, "Anything I need to know? What's on the priority list?"

"The Big 5 wanted to see you, as soon as you got in." Mokuba said.

"Fine....I'll go see them, now." Kaiba said, turning and headed towards the elevator.

Mokuba ran after him, asking, "Can I come?"

"Of course." Kaiba said, making sure the elevator was kept open for him.

Once they got there, Kaiba entered the meeting room. Noticing the darkness inside, Kaiba reached over and turned on the lights, making them look like normal lawyers and stock holders, instead of the Big 5 evil people plotting in the dark.

"Ah, Mr. Kaiba....we see you made it back." Mr. Johnson said. "I speak on behalf of all of us when I say that we are pleased to see you up and around, again."

"Whatever." Kaiba said, not in the mood for the bullshit. "Why don't you get the point of this meeting? After all, I have a lot to catch up on, and the longer I'm here talking to you 5, the less time I have to get started."

"Of course." Mr. Johnson said. "We are merely concerned about Kaiba Corp's reputation, which is now in danger due to your loss from this....unknown."

"....do you have anything to tell me that's new?" Kaiba asked. "I am well aware of Kaiba Corp's position, and plan on taking care of the situation as soon as I have the chance."

"Actually Mr. Kaiba, you have the opportunity to fix this problem tomorrow." Nesbitt stated to him.

Kaiba crossed arms, asking, "And what's tomorrow?"

"Why, the next preliminary Duel Monster's tournament, of course." Nesbitt explained.

Somehow, hearing that bothered Kaiba. Something in him just didn't want to deal with tournaments right now. After his battle with Yugi, it was just too soon. He kept his mask of disinterest on him at all times in front of these vultures, making sure he showed them no sign of weakness.

With only a moment's paused, he answered, "Sorry....but it's a bit early to be dealing with tournaments, right now. I got a corporation to run, and that comes first. When I decide to go to a tournament, it'll be one of my choosing...."

"Mr. Kaiba." Lector spoke up, "Going to this tournament 'would' be for Kaiba Corp's best interest. After your crushing defeat at the hands of this nobody, people are beginning to question the strength of this company....our reputation is on the line. And after you have been totally closing the market on Kaiba Corp's weapon's industry, our reputation is not something we can afford to lose, right now. If you truly feel that Kaiba Corp comes first, then you 'will' go to this tournament."

Kaiba glared coldly at Lector, saying, "If I go rushing off to the first peon tournament that comes along, all it's going to do is make me look frightened and desperate by showing up to it. It's one thing if this was one of the more major tournaments on the schedule, but some minor preliminary is hardly the kind of competition for me to be jumping into. After all, I'm not just the duelist champion of Japan....but the entire world."

"Not anymore, Seto Kaiba." Gansley claimed. "And as long as you continue to avoid the tournaments, it's not going to change any, either."

Again Lector spoke, explaining, "If you don't go to this tournament, you 'are' going to look afraid, Mr. Kaiba. People are going to start thinking you are purposely avoiding these tournaments, no longer able to handle playing the game after you've been beaten. Even if Yugi Motou doesn't show up, it'll boost the moral of this company, showing that you are just as skilled and capable as you have been in the past. And if Yugi Motou does show up, then all the better. You....'do' think you can handle reclaiming your title, don't you Mr. Kaiba?"

"He just got lucky." Kaiba answered, hiding any doubt from the world around him. After a long pause, Kaiba finally responded, saying, "I'll consider it...." And turned to leave.

"Very good, Mr. Kaiba." Johnson said. "We'll look forward to hearing on your victory in the tournament, after tomorrow...."

Kaiba left, with his brother following behind him. They headed to the CEO's office and entered, where Kaiba sat down and began to catch up on anything he missed regarding the company.

Mokuba watched him for a minute, before saying, "So, Seto....are you going to go?"

"I suppose." Kaiba answered, saying nothing more.

"You don't sound very anxious." Mokuba said, looking down at his feet. After a moment of silence and Mokuba shifting his feet a bit, he then asked, "Do you think Yugi will be there?"

"How would I know?" Kaiba asked.

Mokuba said, "Actually you could probably look up the roster on it, on-line."

Kaiba then slammed his hand down irritably from the comments Mokuba was making, instantly shutting Mokuba up. Kaiba had the urge to snap at his brother, but stopped himself quickly.

Instead, he took an even breath, before saying, "Look....I really don't care who's in the tournament right now. I'm 2 weeks behind in my work, and the Big 5 did not pick the best time for tossing me into a tournament. I'm not going to be the best prepared for this, there's just not enough time."

"But....how come?" Mokuba asked.

"You know how often the game updates. I've already missed two weeks worth of new cards which I haven't had a chance to research and work out. There's just not enough time in the day for all of this." Kaiba answered, sounding very tired for the moment.

Mokuba couldn't help but find it strange. His brother never made excuses for not being able to do something....he would only push harder to be able to get it done.

"Seto....if you're tired and need a break, I'd be more than happy to take over for you. And that would give you the time to check out the new cards. We got them all in, after all. Anything new that comes in, Kaiba Corp always buys up multiple copies on. You know that." Mokuba said.

He didn't really want to push his brother, but in all honesty....Mokuba wasn't sure why he was hesitating, either. Kaiba was normally really into the game. Now it seemed like he was almost....avoiding it, for some reason. He hoped by asking more about it, he could get his brother to open up and talk to him on what was really bothering him.

"Thanks Mokuba, but not right now. How can I expect to take a break, when I just got here?" Kaiba said. "Don't worry about it. Go ahead and finish up what you need to do, and let me get started on what I need to get finished on."

"Okay, Seto." Mokuba said, and cautiously left the room.

Kaiba worked an entire hour on his catch-up work, while in his head some of the questions and comments were stirring through him, as well.

'You can handle defeating him, can't you, Mr. Kaiba?'

'He just got lucky'

'People might start to think you're afraid of playing the game'

'Seto, are you going to go? You don't sound very anxious....'

Kaiba pounded on the table again in frustration, as he put his hand to his head, feeling a headache coming on. He was now trying to figure it out, himself....why didn't he feel all that anxious to go to this tournament? The Big 5 were probably right. It probably 'would' be best for the moral of the company if he showed up and smeared these nobody's, just to remind the rest of the world that he's not a force to be reckoned with.

With that in mind, his mind was made up....he 'would' go to the tournament, and win it. And if Yugi was there, he'd take him on, too. He decided he'd look through the new cards and figure out the best strategy tomorrow morning. Today, he had work catch up on.