Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh.
My Notes: This one is very long. I don't think it was mere coincidence that Pegasus or Yugi just happened to get a Millennium Item. Throughout the Battle City saga, while Marik can use the rod, he's not really entitled to the rod, as 'it knows it's true master.' Which makes me wonder who Marik was in the past, if he was in the past. But then again Ishizu could use the Millennium Necklace...but we see the problems of these items falling into the wrong hands. Yet Bakura seems to have a really good time finding his, and it works just fine for him. Hmm...See this is why I'm writing this fiction because as much as I like Yu-gi-oh, there are plot problems that need to be resolved.
And I'm going to have to put a duel in somewhere. Because somebody by now would have their duel disk out. And thanks for all the reviews. I'll try to keep updating as often as I can.
Guardianship
I have watched this one for a long time, Shadi thought as he began his vigil on Seto Kaiba. The latter had finally returned to his home and remained close by his brother, in an effort to allay the fears of the younger Kaiba. The two of them were in the game room as Mokuba replayed the situation which had frightened him so. Like our High Priest, this incarnation knows much suffering. Though not of his design, this person has, like his ancient counterpart, developed a self-reliance to handle any situation. Shadi watched as Mokuba described the figure he saw.
"He was just like you Seto, just as tall and just as big," the young boy described, "but he was dressed very differently."
"Are you sure you got a good look at him?" Seto asked, as he stood arms-crossed.
"I saw him just like I can see you."
If what the boy says is true, the manifestation of High Priest had to been triggered by something that I had perhaps overlooked. Shadi paced around the room looking for something misplaced. He began searching around the area.
"Hmmph. This nonsense of a ghost has taken me away from my work." Although Seto could never be mad at his brother, his tone seems to emphasize disapproval.
"Big Brother! Don't you remember that story Darius told us at the orphanage?"
"Darius?"
"You remember don't you? The kid with the red hair and glasses who we all used to play kickball with?"
Seto closed his eyes and looked up. "That sounds familiar."
"Well he said that a person who could see ghosts was a special person. And that he had special powers."
"I fail to see where this is going, Mokuba," as Seto redirected his gaze to look him straight in the eye.
"Don't you wonder, I mean if you could see ghosts, wouldn't you want to look?" Mokuba's lip quivered. "I mean, if I could see ghosts, then maybe I could see Mom and Dad..." His big brother was quiet. "...and then when we were all alone all those times, that all I'd do is look and then they'd be right there. Then it wouldn't have been so bad." Mokuba's eyes were getting all watery.
"Mokuba...," Seto crouched and hugged his little brother, who had begun to cry. "It's all right, Mokuba." He patted his sibling on the back. "I will always be here."
Shadi watched this with strange fascination. This kind of event only happened on rare occasions. The High Priest was a most compassionate man, though few could tell from his demeanor.
"But what if you're not?" Mokuba sobbed. "It's not like before. You're never around. And even if you are here, it's still like you're not." He clutched at his brother's white overcoat.
Seto was breathless. "I know, I know. But things are different now. I'm running Kaiba Corp. and am trying to keep it together. Every new invention, every new idea has to be developed as quickly as it can, so we can remain number one. The reputation, my reputation, is always on the line, and I have to deliver the best. Because I only want the best." He let go of Mokuba and gestured to the entire game room. "I work hard so that we could have all this and more. Especially since we had nothing. We were nothing."
Mokuba wiped his eyes with the palms of his hands. "But what if you're gone? I'd trade all of Kaiba Corp just to get you back. We don't need everything, just each other."
Seto had no reply. He opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, but was cut short when there was knock at the door. "Enter."
The white tuxedo butler Patterson stepped in, a tray with a cell-phone was held in his hands. "I'm sorry to disturb you Master Kaiba, but you have call from Headquarters. They say it's urgent."
The interaction between Master and Servant, Shadi observed. There is an aura of respect and fear.
"This should only be a moment Mokuba," Kaiba said as he answered the phone. "Yes. Uh-huh. It did what? For how long?" He glanced at his brother. "Yes. I understand. Put the entire R&D department on it if you have to. What's that?" He cupped his exposed ear and held the phone closer. "Are you sure? You've run a background check?" he whispered. "Then my call my lawyers. They won't like being disturbed a second time, but that can't be helped. No one messes with Kaiba Corp. like that." He turned his back on Mokuba. "Yes. Of course. I'll be down shortly." He ended his call. "Thank you Patterson. Please bring the car around." He turned to face his sibling, as Patterson exited. "A situation is developing. You know I would stay here..."
Mokuba just stared at him. "You're leaving me again." He noticed the bags under his brother's eyes. "You need rest."
"I know. I know. But they need me down there."
"...I understand." Mokuba just slumped on the ground.
Kaiba was silent for a moment. "There is something that I need you to do for me."
"What's that?" the dejected reply came.
"Make me a list of things I should do on my upcoming two week vacation." He smiled.
"Really Seto?" Mokuba jumped up at once.
"Really. As soon as this problem is resolved, it will be you, me, and whatever's on that list." He paused as he remembered the time of the year it was. "But you'll still have to attend to your studies. I'll have to provide a tutor for you."
"Or you could teach me Seto!"
"Well if it's on the list..."
Patterson knocked before entering. "The car is waiting out front."
"I'll be back in a little while. I promise." Seto Kaiba then took his leave.
Shadi followed this potential vessel. He watched as Kaiba exited his manor and entered his awaiting limo. Shadi took a seat opposite so he could clearly gaze into Kaiba's stern face. Many times, when I saw the High Priest upset, he used to look at all his options. Then he would do everything in his power to solve his problem.
Kaiba touched a panel to his right and hit one of a number of buttons. "Roland." A small vidscreen rose right where Shadi was sitting. It flickered on and the image of one of Kaiba's most trusted assistants appeared. The mustached, sun-glasses wearing saluted.
"Mr. Kaiba."
"Has Security made any moves against this threat, this rogue engineer?"
"We have taken no action against his person, but have retrieved all copies of his outgoing communications. We are prepared to put the entire complex in lockdown, awaiting your order."
"Take no such action. I don't want to arouse his suspicion yet." Kaiba pondered for a moment. "Detain him when his shift is over, preferably from someone like his supervisor.Say that I personally wish to see him. Prepare a report of those communications. Have extra security posted in sensitive areas. There may be others spies that we don't know about. So have security check any package leaving the building."
"Understood. Roland out." The vidscreen returned to its position back in the opposite seating.
Though the image of Kaiba Corp. Tower was shinning brightly in the afternoon sun, the limo drove to nearly the outskirts of the city. Here the vehicle passed through the security check point before driving up to the front of the building. Seto Kaiba got out and strode into the building. Roland was standing there with another of Kaiba's security forces. Roland handed him a tightly bound stack of papers. "The communications, sir."
"Take me to Section 12. I want inspect this discovery before I deal with this breach." The trio marched deeper into the complex. Kaiba began skimming his report.
Shadi passed easily through the number of walls and people as he followed Kaiba go through several key passageways. All of his employees are awed by his presence. They all look up to him as if their very survival depends on it. Perhaps it does. Though much has changed in five thousand years, one thing remains: the strong must protect and provide for the weak. Unconsciously Seto Kaiba maintains the principles that the High Priest imposed on himself. But is that enough? Shadi glanced at the Millennium Rod. If the stories from Ishizu are true, and the host of the Pharaoh believes, then why do I still doubt?
A slightly balding, slightly overweight man approached Kaiba. "Sir, it's an honor to finally meet you." Beads of sweat appeared on the man's forehead. "I knew that once you heard of our achievement that you would come. If you come with me, I can show you the blueprints..." he stuttered.
The CEO cut him off. "Show me the test room. All other documents can be given to me later."
The engineer was taken aback. "Of course sir. This way, please." A small crowd of fellow workers encircled the entourage. The lead engineer babbled and stuttered. "We've been hard at work, and with the success of the duel disk technology, and your report of a superior virtual reality technology inspired us, well we worked around the clock and only knew it was a matter of time before...." The group reached a table where three metallic headbands were laid. The engineer handed one to Kaiba. "If you please."
The device was two half-semicircle metal bands attached by rather taut ribbons. Kaiba made sure that the device had enough slack before placing it around his head. He made sure that the headband was snug as he watched Roland and the lead engineer both put one on.
"Now the excitement begins." The engineer issued quiet orders to his associates, before punching in a coded sequence on a keylock. An audible click and release was heard as a door opened. The three headband wearers walked into a rather gray room. Gray all around. "Start up the program!"
Before Kaiba's eyes, the entire grey room dissolved and in its place was the landscape of a white beach somewhere on the equator. He felt the warm sun shinning burning down on him, causing him to sweat. The roar of the ocean was distinctly heard as the waves lapped the sand. "Impressive," was all he could say.
"Touch the sand," the engineer suggested.
Small, gritty particles fell from his hand as he scooped some up. It felt like finely grained salt in his hands. His feet felt a dampness, and Seto realized that he was standing too close to the water's edge. "This feels so real..."
The engineer smiled. "Mr. Roland, would you please run to the other end of the beach." Roland checked to confirm with Kaiba before he ran off into the distance.
"But the room...it was only...." One could tell he was trying to imagine the room's walls and dimensions. But without any reference points, he had no idea where one wall began or ended.
"We've come a long way sir." But as he spoke parts of the beach scene were flickering and before anyone could do anything, the entire scene collapsed back into the gray room they all were in before. Roland was no farther apart from the rest of them than he had been before he stepped into the room. Yet he was panting as if he had run a great distance.
"I don't understand, Mr. Kaiba. I could feel my body moving. I felt like I had run a mile at least," the security agent told him.
"No longer will people be bound into small cramp pods Mr. CEO to experience the wonders of your VR technology. People will be free to move about and exercise their bodies as we exercise their minds." The engineer did fall silent for a moment. "Though as you can see, we can only create the illusion for a short period of time. The energy required to power the projectors is off the scale. But imagine it Mr. Kaiba. No longer will people have to travel all across the globe to take a vacation. We could have entire buildings dedicated to sending people wherever they wanted to go. If the technology progresses, we could even have these 'holo-rooms' inside people's houses. Kaiba Corp. would make billions."
Seto Kaiba was silent, his eyes resting. Both his underlings looked towards him with concern. But they were quieted when Kaiba opened his eyes. "Yes, I can see it clearly. I'm assigning you to head this project. You will report to my office every week to submit status reports." He began removing his headband, and the others followed suit. "Congratulations, Mr...."
"Stevens, sir," he replied as they all exited.
"Well congratulations Mr. Stevens. You've earned my trust. I expect your best." Kaiba glanced at Roland who only nodded. "Now if you'll excuse me."
If this is what it takes to earn Seto Kaiba's trust, Shadi thought, then what happens to those who break his trust? He didn't have to wait long to find out. Kaiba and Roland both walked to an elevator, proceeded up two flights, and met with two men. Both were dressed stylishly, though one wore sunglasses similar to Roland. They discussed matters with the CEO. The young man paused a moment outside a door, collected himself, and entered. A young white collared man sat inside smiled as he shook Kaiba's hand. Shadi watched as the two engaged in small talk and then watched as Kaiba's fury came to full force. A verbal barrage exploded at the accused spy. A full hour passed as Shadi observed the symptoms of the accused: marked sweating, growing paleness, shaking, and a general cowering away. The CEO however had just started and began to pick up steam. When the entire ordeal was finished, Kaiba let his assistants handle the broken man, who seemed to have lost his mind and will. Loyalty, the chief virtue of the High Priest. Practice it and be protected. Disobey and the endure the consequences. Yet the High Priest broke that very virtue in opposing the Pharaoh. Why? Was it usurpation as many of us concluded? Or was it something else?
Shadi watched as the Kaiba returned to his limo, as everything was cast in a purple hue. He noticed the young man showed signs of heavy fatigue, the deepening of his bags under his eyes, the slumping of his shoulders. There was a listless in his breathing. As the car arrived, Shadi watched as Kaiba summoned enough strength to walk into his home unaided. He dismissed his servants and walked up the stairs, his hand firmly attached to the banister. He quietly opened the door to Mokuba's room and found the young boy already asleep in bed. The light of the room allowed him to see the list he had told the boy to compose. He chuckled at a few suggestions before placing it back on the desk. Quietly shutting the door, he walked to the other side of the mansion and retired to his chambers. Undressing, Kaiba put on his night clothes and retired to much needed slumber upon this four posted bed.
Shadi walked in from the shadows he had been occupying. In his hands lay the Millennium Ankh. The only way to confirm my last few doubts of the High Priest is to enter the mind of Seto Kaiba himself. He stood before the sleeping man, placed the Ankh right over his forehead, and turned the key.