Chapter 4: Ages Passing
Two days later, Seto and Mokuba sat in an empty classroom playing a friendly game of chess. Seto did not have his mind on the game, as he was attempting to find a way to get them out of the orphanage. However, he figured he could take his mind off it long enough to win.
"Checkmate!" Seto said.
"Wow big bro. You won again! And in only five moves this time! You're the best chess player in the entire world!"
Seto laughed. "You'd be best Mokie, if you would only concentrate."
"I could never be as good as you big brother." Just then, the brothers were distracted by something on the television.
"In other news, Gozaburo Kaiba, the owner of Kaiba Corporation has once again retained his title as the world's greatest chess champion in the national competition this last weekend. He has decided to donate a portion of his winnings to a local orphanage that was devastated by a fire several days ago. He will be arriving there later today to give the check to the owner of the orphanage..."
Seto became slightly excited when he heard this. This was it. Gozaburo Kaiba was the way out of this dump. He turned to Mokuba.
"Mokie, pack your things. I figured out a way to get us out of here. We'll be leaving today. OK?"
Mokuba nodded and headed off to his room. When he was gone, Seto began to ready himself as the hour approached at which he would take the next step, the one that would take he and Mokuba out of this horrid place and to one where they could be successful. He closed his eyes and reached into his pocket to feel the half melted necklace within it. "Mira," he whispered. "I will save Mokuba. I will give us a chance. Mira, you would have wanted it." He raised his head as he heard the arrival of a car in the round driveway of the orphanage. It was time. He checked to be sure that Mokuba was safe, then ventured outside in order to watch the arrival of the man who would change his life, and get him and Mokuba out of the orphanage.
Gozaburo exited his limousine to be greeted by a row of obsequious orphanage officials. As he passed by them to enter the main building, he stated to the owner, "I don't want any of those brats touching me."
"Yes, Mr. Kaiba," said the owner. Seto found it amusing that the owner should be seen now. He had never even been to the orphanage before. He had only come now to receive the money from the famous businessman. It served to show what all humans truly valued; money, and power. Seto shook his head slightly as he watched them pass by.
He was closely followed by several cameramen wanting to cover the donation onto a podium set up for the occasion. Seto couldn't care less about the donation. He knew that Gozaburo was a cruel man. He did not need Gorzaburo to be kind to him. He only needed to give him a chance to succeed.
About half an hour later, Gozaburo emerged from the building after giving gifts to some of the orphaned children. Seto immediately confronted him, full of icy determination.
"Mr. Kaiba. I have a proposition for you. I challenge you to a game of chess. If I can beat you then you have to adopt me and my brother."
Gozaburo and Mr. Slane stared at him in surprise. Then Mr. Slane said, "Little boy, leave Mr. Kaiba alone. I am sure that he cannot serve to be bothered by children at this point in time."
Gozaburo laughed. "Yes. I dont have time to baby-sit a couple of children. I have a business to run."
"Then you are refusing my offer?"
Gozaburo laughed. "No one has ever beaten me at chess. I never lose. What makes you think you can win?"
Seto smirked. "I never lose either."
"You've got confidence, I'll give you that. But I'm a busy man. I don't have time to deal with a kid like you."
Seto smiled slowly. "Well, then, I'm sure that the newspapers would love to know that the chess champion of the world was too scared to play with a kid that he could have easily beaten."
Gozaburo stared at Seto in hatred, but grew serious as he saw the grave look in Seto's eyes. The cold, calculating glare of Seto's ice blue eyes bored into his. He evaluated the boy, then sneered, "Fine boy. If I win, which I will, then I do not have to take you and your runt of a brother with me. You can't win a chess match with luck, and I'm not going to go easy on you." He glared at Mokuba, who had entered behind Seto and was clinging to him in fear. The anger within Seto swelled, then burst, flowing freely through him.
"That's all I ever wanted," Seto stated. I have a place set up for us to play."
"Now my child, come with me for a moment-" began Mr. Slane. However, Gozaburo halted him in mid sentence.
"No, no," he laughed mockingly. "The boy will be entertaining. I have more difficult work than this to perform in my sleep."
"Then do we have a deal?" asked Seto.
"Yes." Gozaburo followed Seto into a small room. There was furniture scattered sparsely throughout the room, and in the center sat a table with a chessboard already set up on it. Seto sat down, as did Gozaburo.
"What color would you like to be?" asked Seto, feeling confident in his ability to vanquish the egotistical man.
"Black. You need all the help you can get."
"Fine. It doesn't matter to me." He was aware of Mokuba clinging tightly to the back of his seat. Don't worry Mokie. It'll be OK. I'm going to get us a new life. It's what Mira would have wanted us to do. She would not have wanted us to stay here.
"I have studied all of your strategies. I know all of your moves before you can even make them."
Gozaburo smirked. "Watching them is one matter. Actually carrying them out is completely different. However, for the sake of entertainment, as well as for the fact that I am in a good mood, I will allow you to move twice your first turn."
"I don't need your charity," Seto said angrily. "I only need one to take you down." He moved his pawn to E3, Gozaburo's usual opening move. This was in attempt to fake a four move checkmate. Gozaburo took the bait.
"That's my signature opening move. It's also the oldest move in the book. I invented the four move checkmate. Easily deflected." He moved ahead his knight to his right, blocking Seto's attack.
Seto moved his knight on his left side of the board. He knew that if Gozaburo saw that he was attempting to divide and conquer the board, he would easily deflect it. Therefore, Seto attacked the same flank again, drawing Gozaburo's attention away from his right side of the board. Time passed slowly. Twice Gozaburo almost saw through the farce, but each time Seto was able to place his attention elsewhere. He was determined to win. He had to. If he did not, he would fail Mokuba. He would fail Mira, and that was something he could not and would not do. There would be no reason for life anymore. Then it was his move again. He looked at the board, and realized suddenly that it was over. He had won. He only had one move to ensure his freedom. He had circled Gozaburo's king on all sides without his knowledge but one. He picked up his newly restored queen and moved it directly in front of the king.
"Checkmate," he said quietly, but with confidence.
Gozaburo stared at the board. His face slowly turned to one of shock, then one of utter anger and hatred. "What?" he stated sharply.
"I said checkmate. I win."
Gozaburo continued staring at the board. "No, no! How could I lose? How could I lose to a… I lost."
"Yes, you did," stated Seto coldly. "I believe that you and I had a deal. It is time to go." He turned to Mokuba. "Get your stuff. We're leaving." Mokuba did as he was told.
"How could you beat me?" he whispered.
"As I said, I memorized all of your moves. None of them were any different than they have ever been before."
This child beat me. He's not even a teenager yet. He's just a kid! How – he is brilliant. Yes, perhaps he is just what Noa needs – someone to look up to, someone to compete with. This could work. His brother seems a sorry worthless child, but I suppose that I shall have to take both of them with me.
"Very well." He stood. "Let's go. Meet me at my car. Mr. Slane, I shall be back to sign whatever papers necessary to adopt this boy and his… brother." Mr. Slane simply stood slack jawed and nodded. Gozaburo then left, leaving Seto to himself for a few precious minutes.
I did it Mira. I won. We'll have a new life now. A better one. The one you would have wanted for us. I just wish that you could have been here to share it with me… Mira. Finally, we are going somewhere where we can become successful, where we can live. I swear Mira, I will never forget you. You will be the reason for everything I do. He touched the necklace in his pocket again, then went to gather his sparse belongings.