Chapter 9: Failure

-2 Days till the 21st-

It was around 2 in the morning when Mokuba started drifting to sleep. He had tried his best to stay awake to greet and interrogate Seto when he came back. No doubt he was on his way back from having a chat with Luke. Mokuba hoped everything was going okay, he hated being left out. The only reasonable explanation for Seto to take so long is that Luke lived probably far away so to drive out there and then question and come back is why Seto was taking so long. But still Mokuba continued to pet Nakuru to try and calm his nerves. And now all his worrying was taking a toll.

Nakuru waited and waited for Mokuba to fall asleep, she needed to get out of his hands and destroy that computer keyboard as fast as possible. She never knew Mokuba could stay awake for so long. He must take after his brother, she thought to herself as she observed Mokuba start to fall asleep. His hands ceased to pet her and Nakuru found her chance. As fast as she could she hurled herself from Mokuba and jumped for the computer.

Mokuba's eyes flew open when he felt the cat jump from his embrace. He watched in horror as the cat jumped for the computer, Mokuba jumping after her. Just as she was about to land on the computer Mokuba's hands grabbed her. Nakuru struggled with all her might in his hand. Let me go! Nakuru continued to thrash and then she felt her claws extend. Her struggling stopped as she looked down at her paws, then without warning she clawed Mokuba's hand.

"Ouch!" He yelped in pain and dropped Nakuru onto the floor, where she landed on four feet.

Nakuru headed off toward the computer again when Mokuba pressed a button and a drawer extended from no where. Mokuba grabbed Nakuru and quickly shoved her in the drawer and shut it. Nakuru gave a loud meow from within the drawer and started banging against it. Mokuba looked terrified. Had his cat lost its marbles? He looked down at the hand that Nakuru had scratched. There was a thin red line that would probably scab over in the next few days. Mokuba gave a very Kaiba-ish glare toward the drawer that continued to give off a banging noise. What was wrong with Nakuru? She had never hurt him before, did something startle her?

When the banging ceased from within the drawer, Mokuba started to feel bad about leaving Nakuru locked in there. But what if she went for the computer again? Mokuba glanced at the screen that now read: Locating E-Mail…

Something clicked in Mokuba's head and he went over to the computer and pressed two buttons that locked the keyboard. A very simple trick Seto had taught him a while back. Good thing he remembered it too.

Nakuru finally stopped banging her head against the drawer Mokuba had locked her in. This was getting her no where, and now Mokuba probably thought she had gone off the deep end. After a few moments off nothing but darkness, Nakuru heard a faint click and quickly went to the front of the drawer. It slowly opened and Nakuru jumped out as soon as the gap was big enough. She shocked Mokuba and he fell into his chair and Nakuru went for the computer. She started jumping all over the keyboard. Take this she jumped up, and this she jumped again. Feeling victorious Nakuru looked at the screen and her heart dropped.

The computer screen plainly read: Keyboard Locked… and after a few moments went back to Locating E-Mail…

What!

Nakuru was puzzled, what happened? She quickly turned to Mokuba wanting an answer. Mokuba eyed her wearily. Good, you should be scared. If I was my normal size you would be in a world of pain. Now what did you do!

When Mokuba didn't do anything, Nakuru then felt bad that she had terrified the younger Kaiba and realized that with him being scared she wouldn't get anywhere. She jumped onto the younger Kaiba's lap and purred, rubbing her head against his shirt.

After a little while she felt Mokuba relax and then she felt him pet her. Perfect, good Mokuba, trust good old Nakuru.

And just as she had planned Mokuba started to talk to her like a person again and not an animal.

"You gave me quiet a scare there Nakuru. Did something frighten you? I had to lock Seto's computer to make sure you didn't do anything to mess up the search. But you seem fine now." He continued to pet her.

Fine… I seem fine? Nakuru just wanted to yell. I'm not fine! Argh! Nakuru groaned into Mokuba's shirt. Why was nothing going her way and then when things finally go her way they always get messed up again? Life was cruel.

That was the last thought that was in her mind as Nakuru fell into a dreamless sleep.

A small click sounded in the background as the screen read: Location Found…

Both Mokuba and Nakuru were asleep when Seto came back. He found them asleep in one of the big chairs. He gently picked up Mokuba and walked to the back room where a bed was. After laying Mokuba and Nakuru on the bed Seto proceeded back to his computer where he saw the screen and gave a sleepy smile. He had been out most of the night, he finally got a hold of Luke and asked to meet with him. After giving a polite greeting Seto got straight to the point. He questioned Luke for some time, careful to watch any facial expressions that might give away something, but Luke was quiet calm.

To Seto it seemed like the e-mail was a fake but he had to be sure and finding out the location was a sure way to check.

He sat down and turned the woman's voice back on, he had turned her off earlier as to not disturb Mokuba. She greeted him once again and Seto started to type on the computer when the screen flashed: Keyboard Locked…

Keyboard locked? Seto didn't remember locking his keyboard. Mokuba must have done it, no matter. "Unlock the keyboard, I need to check the location of that e-mail." He commanded to the computer.

"I'm sorry" she replied "you shut me off and I can not unlock something that was locked when I was shut off."

"What?" Seto hissed, trying to keep his voice down. "I said unlock the keyboard, I programmed you, you should be able to unlock the keyboard."

"Watch your temper, and like a said before, I can't unlock it I'm sorry Seto."

Again Seto tried to command his computer to override Mokuba's lock, but he ended up just yelling at the screen with her sending rude comments back. "Well it's your own fault for shutting me off."

Seto gave out a frustrated growl. He had forgotten how to unlock the keyboard. It was a basic trick he had taught Mokuba years ago and from not using it he had forgotten. He didn't want to wake Mokuba up but he really needed this. Seto stood up from his chair finally admitting defeat, he was too tired anyway. He started to head to the back room when the computer called to him, "You're not going to give up that easily are you? The great Seto Kaiba, giving up because he can't unlock a keyboard, yet you broke into Pegasus's mainframe at Duelist Kingdom?"

Seto glared at his computer, why did he give it a personality? He ignored it and continued to the back room. He needed to rest.

Nakuru woke up and tried to turn over and fall back to sleep, she didn't feel like waking up just yet. As she turned over she came face to face with Seto. Her eyes widened and her heart sped up at the closeness. She felt like she was doing something wrong and quickly got up and looked around, Mokuba was still asleep on the other side of the bed. She turned back to Seto who was sprawled out on the bed lying on his stomach with his faced turned to where she was just moments ago. He looked so cute…

It was as if something was controlling her, Tea walked over to Seto and pressed her lips to his. His lips were so soft, and Seto gave a slight twitch in his sleep. Tea ignored it and licked his bottom lip. Forgetting that she was a cat, her rough tongue rubbed against Seto's bottom lip and he jerked awake. He was using his arms to push himself up and he frantically looked around.

Nakuru seemed to get pulled out of her trance as well, but she couldn't deny the disappointment she felt. Seto's eyes fell upon her and he involuntarily wiped his mouth on the back of one of his hands. Looking at his hand and then back at Nakuru.

Seto just stared at Nakuru, he could have sworn he felt something on his lips, something rough, like a cats tongue. Did his own cat kiss him? There was just something different about her. Seto actually felt something toward the feline, almost as if she was a real person. This weird attachment he felt toward her had to be more than just a love for a pet. But Seto shook the thought away that he was truly in love with his cat. That was absurd, not to mention it was a little crazy. Seto broke the eye contact with Nakuru and quickly got up to splash cold water onto his face.

Seto came back from the bathroom and found Mokuba was awake. Perfect he thought. "Mokuba."

The younger sibling turned to his brother with a small smile, "Big brother, you're back. What happened?"

"I'll explain that later, right now Mokuba I need you to unlock the keyboard." Seto felt a tad stupid for asking his younger brother for help, especially when it has something to do with computers.

"Unlock the keyboard?" Mokuba repeated, "Why? Can't you do it Seto?"

Again Seto felt awkward, "No Mokuba. I've forgotten how to do that little trick."

Mokuba studied his brother and when he realized he was serious he began to laugh. After a few moments Mokuba looked up to see his brother's not amused face and stopped laughing. "Sorry Seto." He quickly went to the computer and pressed the same two buttons he did last night and the screen flashed: Keyboard Unlocked…

Seto's computer chose now to speak again, "You had to ask your little brother for help?" And again Seto ignored the comment.

Setting to work Seto got into the program and opened the folder that held where the e-mail was sent from. His eyes widened as he read the address over and over again.

Mokuba who had stepped back into the bedroom to retrieve Nakuru came back and noticed the surprised look on his brother's face. "What's up big bro?"

Mokuba followed his brother's gaze and read the address on the screen, "What's our address doing on the computer Seto?"

Seto turned to his brother, his mouth slightly open. "That's where the e-mail was sent from Mokuba."

Mokuba's eyes widened, "What? But how did that… I don't understand…" Mokuba's mouth was now slightly open as well.

Nakuru watched from Mokuba's arms, the only thought going through her head at the moment was Crap!

"This can't be right," Seto again typed on his computer and the screen with their address came up again.

"So the e-mail was just a fake then?" Asked Mokuba.

"I guess," responded Seto as he typed again and the same address popped up yet again. "But who wrote it?"

Seto turned to Mokuba who caught his eye and gave a shrug. Seto turned back to the screen and gave a 'hmm.' "Let's go find out then." He got up from his chair and headed toward the exit. Mokuba followed with Nakuru still in hand.

Nakuru found herself once again in a hidden place, this time located inside the Kaiba Mansion. As soon as Nakuru was completely inside the room she knew exactly where she was. The Security Room. There were dozens upon dozens of TV screens showing different parts of the mansion in black and white. Kaiba didn't even have to tell her his plan, she already knew it. He was going to view the tape of her in his office. What would they think when they see their cat typing an e-mail? She didn't want to think about it, Nakuru was just going to let fate take its course.

Seto sat down in the middle of the room in front of the biggest TV screen that would alternate views from all the cameras. He looked under the desk and pulled out a box that contained dozens if not hundreds of tapes all labeled with the dates and what room the camera is located in. He fingered through them until he found the date he was looking for in his office, he carefully removed it and placed it into the VCR on the middle screen. His office appeared in black and white on the screen. Seto started to fast forward, as he watched nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary.

Suddenly there was something on the screen. "There!" announced Seto. He quickly stopped the tape and rewound it, then played it. Nakuru watched in utter horror as she saw herself enter the office and use the computer. How she just wanted to disappear. She closed her eyes and put her head down on Mokuba's hand. After 10 minutes or so, Nakuru knew the brothers were done watching the video because Seto had stopped it. She looked up to find both of them staring at her. Well she could only see Seto but she could feel Mokuba's eyes on her.

Mokuba looked down at the cat in his hands, "How did Nakuru do this?" he asked to no one.

Seto just sat there with his eyes fixed on Nakuru, he shook his head slightly in response to Mokuba's question as it repeated in his head. How did Nakuru do that? Seto knew there was something different about his cat but now for once he wished he was wrong.

The three sat/stood there in silence until Mokuba broke it, "there's only one explanation for this."

Seto looked at his younger brother questioningly. There was?

"IT'S A ROBOT, WE HAVE TO DESTROY IT!" He yelled. The sudden outburst caught both Seto and Nakuru off guard.

Mokuba suddenly lifted Nakuru into the air. Something clicked inside of her, Mokuba was going to slam her into the ground! Her eyes grew wide as she felt Mokuba's arm start to head toward the ground. She gave a loud meow cry.

"Mokuba No!" Seto lunged from his chair as his younger brother was about to smash their cat into the floor. His hands caught Mokuba's hand and Nakuru just before he let go. "Mokuba, No." he repeated again. He took Nakuru from his hands and placed her on the floor. "She's not a robot. It was just a coincidence that she was in the room at the time the e-mail was sent. The e-mail was indeed a fake." As certain as his voice sounded, Seto's face was still showing a mix of emotions that didn't seem to certain of anything.

Sitting on the floor shaking, Nakuru didn't know if she felt relieved or not. Seto had saved her but now they believed the e-mail to be a fake. She failed, she couldn't save him. What was she going to do now?

Well this chapter had a whole bunch of stuff going on huh? It was fun to read all the reviews and some of you guys were really catching on to what I was getting at, the e-mail being traced back, the security camera, Tea getting caught and I even got inspiration from Living Arrow to add that argument Seto had with his computer. I hope you guys liked it. This chapter also had a little kissing scene, I don't know how that's going to go down with you guys but I hope you liked it. I know some people kiss their pets so why can't it be the other way around? Plus it's adding to the fact that Tea is falling for Seto, did you notice how I used Tea's name? Anyway a lot of you are talking and asking about when Nakuru will change back into Tea and all I have to say is that from this point on it will be soon! And sorry for the long wait, I went on vacation and that was a blast but I won't bore you with the details. I would've had this up sooner but my computer was freaking out so I couldn't write or save anything and it's still freaking out so I'm writing this from a different computer I can save on. Please leave a review!