Chapter 10: The Way Things Go

-1 Day till the 21st-

Luke sat quietly in his home, in front of the TV. He had been watching mindless shows and commercials for almost an hour. He tried to concentrate on the entertainment but his thoughts about the other day still bothered him. Kaiba had come to him, asking him questions about an e-mail concerning the new duel disk. At first Luke thought Kaiba had some how figured it out, but he didn't want to run if there was no reason. So Luke calmly sat through Kaiba's interrogation answering everything with an even voice and a straight face. Luke was almost positive that he was safe. But there was still that question in the back of his head that wondered where did Kaiba get the tip off from? His boss surely wasn't about to snitch on him, not after all that work. But who could have then? The question continued to bother Luke until someone bumped his head.

Luke turned from the couch to look up into the face of his younger sister, Shelby. He offered her a smile that she returned fully and then she sat herself down next to him. "What's been on your mind lately?" She asked.

"What do you mean?" Luke tried to act dumb, but of course it wouldn't work on his sister.

"I mean what has got you so… frightened…"

"Frightened? I'm not frightened from anything!" Luke defended, "what kind of question-"

Shelby held up a hand for silence, "I mean" she stated slowly, "What has got you all antsy? You haven't been acting the same lately and I know something is up. Is it from that interview with Kaiba the other day? He's not going to fire you is he?" Shelby's expression held concern and anger.

"No he's not going to fire me. I've just been doing this…secret project for him. Very dangerous though… and….and…uh…" Luke struggled for words. "So…I won't be home tomorrow cause I'll be with Mr. Kaiba of course and yeah…"

Shelby raised an eye brow in suspicion, "Dangerous huh?"

Luke nodded.

"Kaiba didn't force you to do this did he?" Luke shaked his head. "And you won't be injured in anyway?"

"Come on sis…I'll be fine." Luke forced a smile and quickly got up from the couch eager to escape his sister. "I have to go check my e-mail now…" and with that Luke nearly ran out of the room with his sister watching him the whole way.

As soon as he sat down in his chair Luke let out a deep breathe. He heard the TV and knew his sister was now occupied with that, which left Luke to look in on what's been going on with Kaiba. He turned on his computer and searched his drive for a file which linked to the duel disk he had abducted. He watched the screen and the code that filled the computer was slowly getting changes made to it. "Perfect…" Luke said with a smile.

Seto sat in his home office typing away furiously trying to debug his duel disk system. He had to work extra hard now because he had to test the thing out tomorrow to see if the system was ready for manufacturing. He had been delayed enough with the whole missing of the disk, and then the fake e-mail that was sent to him. Not to mention his thought were getting occupied with suspicions about his cat. Even though Seto blamed it on coincidence, he knew that he was wrong. There was something fishy going on…but he couldn't understand any of it. He let out a growl of frustration and then went back to concentrating on the debugging.

Meanwhile Mokuba and Nakuru sat upstairs, Mokuba playing video games and Nakuru sitting there watching. Of course Nakuru was worried beyond all reason but there was nothing she could do, a fact that she still had trouble grasping. If only she had thought about the whole security system, if only she had thought about being taped, if only she had been smart enough to find the room and get to the tape, if only she had destroyed it. Too many 'if onlys' but they brought some comfort to Nakuru when she imagined all those 'if onlys' coming true.

The day passed slowly by and Seto was coming to an end with debugging his code. After another five minutes or so, Seto heard a faint click and a little window popped up that read: System Clean

A small smirk of triumph formed on Seto's lips and he leaned back in his chair stretching his arms. Not realizing what he had just done.

Back at Luke's home, Luke was again on the computer watching Kaiba debug the system from his own screen. Finally Kaiba had managed to finish and a small window popped up on Luke's screen that read: Virus Uploaded. A smirk of triumph touched Luke's face as he shut off his computer and went to his phone. "One day left now…" he whispered to himself.

-June 21st-

Today was the day, thought Nakuru as she sat helplessly from Mokuba's arms. She had been just laying about trying to die but for some reason it wasn't working for her. Mokuba had been following Seto around and they were now located in some top floor where there was a testing area. Apparently Seto liked to test things out himself in the comfort of his own home. He was getting read to experiment with the duel disk.

Mokuba placed her down on the floor going to help his big brother and Nakuru found this as her chance to head out. There was no way she was going to stick around and watch something happen to Seto. She had grown too fond of the guy, yes she admitted to being 'fond' of him, even though she was still partially lying to herself. She just wouldn't admit anything more, so she walked back toward the security room. It would be much easier to watch from TV considering she could just pretend that it was fake.

She found her way back to the security room and luckily the door was slightly open. Nakuru squeezed in and walked up to the huge screens. She hopped onto the black chair that was in front of the main TV and sat there looking around at all the screens. Her eyes scanned over all the black and white camera footage until she found Seto and Mokuba. She watched as Mokuba helped Seto attach the new duel disk system to his arm.

A slight tightness came to her stomach as she watched, what would happen is he really did die? Nakuru felt the tears sting her eyes but she didn't let them fall, she turned from the screen to notice another one with what looked like static covering it. Nakuru hopped onto the desk keyboard and walked over toward the screen examining it. She was leaning toward it when another screen had black and white lines running through it. What was going on? She thought, she carefully walked over toward the other screen when movement caught her eye.

Nakuru was fast to jump to the screen and there she saw two men walking down the hall of the Kaiba Mansion. One was holding what looked like a brief case, and both men were carrying something in their right hands. Nakuru squinted into the screen then her eyes grew huge as she saw the man closest to the camera raise the gun and shoot the camera. She jumped as the static filled the third screen and sat there stunned for just a moment until she lunged from the desk and raced out the door. It was Luke! It had to be.

Nakuru ran as fast as her little four legs would carry her, she raced down the hallway making sudden left and right turns. She claimed the stairs with great speed and ran toward the testing room. How far ahead where they? She thought. They weren't in the main hall that was for sure. Nakuru tried to believe she would get their first to do what? She didn't know but she kept running until she reached the very familiar door that was more that slightly opened.

Nakuru's running came to a stop as she spotted the door. She stopped running and tried catching her breath as she walked to the door. There were voices coming from within.

"You heard me. Now get down to the kitchen pronto!"

The door opened and Nakuru quickly flattened herself to the wall. Luke came walking out holding the new duel disk system with Mokuba and Seto behind him. The other man was bringing up the end with his gun pointed to Seto's head.

Nakuru's legs felt like jelly, she felt the need to vomit but pushed away the feeling. She had to act fast and now! Swallowing the lump of fear in her throat she jumped for the man with the gun's leg. She made contact with his leg and instantly pressed her claws into his ankle. A howl of pain came from the man and his leg buckled.

Luke spun around to find Seto already taking advantage of the situation. He had kneed the man in the face and kicked him in the gut. Luke's colleague fell to the ground with a moan. Thinking fast Luke quickly grabbed Mokuba and took out his gun, as Seto grabbed the man on the floor by the hair pulling his face up.

"Stop!" Ordered Luke.

Seto looked up and instantly dropped the man's head with a thump. Nakuru who was currently underneath the guys watched from the ground as true fear swept over Seto's face.

"That's right," Luke said as he watched Seto, "No more fighting back or I'll shoot this kid right in the temple."

Mokuba gave a little gasp or panic. His eyes were already starting to water with tears of fear.

"It's okay Mokuba," Seto tired to sooth his brother, "Everything will be okay. I promise."

Luke narrowed his eyes at Seto's words. "Back into the room." When Seto didn't budge, Luke pushed the gun to Mokuba's temple. "Now!"

Seto held up his hands in surrender and turned around toward the room. Mokuba was pushed in after him with Luke. Nakuru, having been forgotten, quickly followed in after them making sure to claw the man on the floor's face first.

Once again Nakuru was in the huge room. It was big and empty, the walls were covered in metal and there was a stair case on the right hand side that led to a room that over looked the whole area. On the left was a complete wall of nothing but windows, it overlooked the gardens and backyard. Nakuru found Luke pushing Mokuba and ordering Kaiba to the middle of the room.

Seto turned around and looked Luke right in the eye. "Why are you doing this?" He asked, his eyes moving from Mokuba to Luke.

"Look, I got a sister to provide for alright. And I've had enough or your crap to last me a life time. So now I'm taking your duel disk system and with you and your pesky brother gone I can market this baby and get some real money." Luke gave a triumphant smile.

"So your just another nobody that needs to steal off of a real men to get some cash huh? Your pathetic."

"Shut up!" Roared Luke and he pushed the gun to Mokuba's temple again this time harder causing the boy to cry out with pain. "I'll do it! Don't test me! It wasn't supposed to be this way, you were supposed to die with your little experiment but no biggie. Guns are just fine."

Nakuru who was slowly making her way toward the men realized what Luke meant. It's in the disk! There some back fire thingy in the disk! That's why he wanted Kaiba to get it! That's what was programmed on it. Oh my gosh I'm such an idiot! But as Nakuru looked at Seto he didn't seem to understand. He raised an eye brow in question but Luke didn't explain anymore. He simply shoved Mokuba into Seto's arms and aimed the gun at the two.

"You should be together when you die at least." He stated with no emotion. He pulled back the little lever at the top of the gun, it made a small click and then his finger went for the trigger.

Mokuba looked complete terrified, his face stained with tears. Seto's face paled as the realized that Luke was actually going to kill them.

"Wait!" he yelled. But it was too late and Seto already closed his eyes and clutched Mokuba close to him.

Nakuru watched on in horror. No! You can't shoot him, I love him! Nakuru then gave a huge leap toward Luke.

A loud shot went off and the sound of breaking glass opened Seto's eyes. He saw Nakuru clawing at the mans hand, he was screaming with pain as the cat clawed deep into his hand. Seto turned toward the window that Luke had shot at because of the interference. Relief swept over him and he bent down to a trembling Mokuba.

"Mokuba…" he whispered. His brother looked up at him with tear filled eyes.

"We're not dead?" he asked in a quiet voice.

Seto smiled at his brother, "No kiddo. But I need you to just stay here and when you find your opening I want you to run up those stairs and call the police."

Mokuba nodded and Seto turned from his brother to Luke who was still engaged with Nakuru.

Nakuru kept clawing at Luke's hand, she barely made it when he was about to shoot Seto and Mokuba. If it wasn't for her cat like jumping abilities she was sure the brother's Kaiba would have been dead by now. She couldn't let that happened, she might have tried denying it but she couldn't anymore. She was in love with Seto Kaiba and she was going to do anything to save him.

As she was biting Luke she saw something out of the corner of her eye the distracted her. She turned her head slightly to find Seto coming toward them, then there was a hard bump on her head and everything went black.

Luke slammed the cats head with his fist, finding the perfect opportunity as it was distracted. He then threw the cat out the window he had shot open.

Seto watched in horror as Luke threw his now unconscious cat out the window. Mokuba screamed behind him, "NO! Nakuru!"

Luke now had his attention on the Kaiba's but before he could aim his gun Seto came running at him knocking him over. "Now Mokuba!" Seto yelled. Mokuba ran toward the stairs and claimed up them two at a time.

"No!" screamed Luke. He tried to get away from Seto but he pulled him back. Punching him in the face.

Mokuba who was so close to just passing out with fear threw himself through the door at the top of the stairs. He quickly ran to the phone and dialed 911. As the phone picked up he quickly told the woman on the other end his address and to hurry. He ran to the windows over looking the room below. He watched as Seto and Luke were fighting it out. Luke had dropped the gun and was throwing punches left and right. Seto dodged the left one but the right one smacked him right in the face and he fell back toward the open window.

"NO!" screamed Mokuba as he watched his brother on the edge of the window trying to regain his balance.

Down below Luke gave an evil laugh and charged toward the older Kaiba. Mokuba covered his eyes, but opened his fingers to look through them. Luke was just about to hit Seto when he jumped out of the way. Luke went flying out the window with a piercing scream. There was a loud thump and Mokuba covered his eyes again.

Lights flashed red and white in front of the Kaiba mansion. Mokuba sat on the edge of the ambulance with a blanket wrapped around his still trembling form. Seto was talking with the police, he had been for the past hour or so. Mokuba didn't mind his thoughts were still muddled but he was thinking about Nakuru. She had flown out of the third story window, what if she had died? After she saved their lives. Mokuba felt new tears form all over again but quickly wiped them away as he saw Seto approach.

Seto gave his brother a weak forced smile, "Are you alright Mokuba?" He sat next to him and placed his arm around the boy, bringing him close.

Mokuba simply nodded into his brother's chest, he didn't feel like talking.

"Everything is alright now." Seto explained. Again Mokuba just nodded into his chest. Seto pulled back from his brother. "What's wrong kiddo?"

Mokuba looked into his brother's concerned eyes. Mokuba didn't feel like replying but he wanted to find out what had happened to her. "Where's Nakuru?" He asked finally.

Seto shifted next to Mokuba, he looked toward the police for a moment and then back at his brother. "I didn't see her." He replied, "She wasn't anywhere near Luke's body."

"But she could still be alive right. I mean if we didn't see her then she could have walked away. Maybe she's somewhere in the backyard!"

Seto pulled Mokuba to him trying not to look him in the eye. The last thing Seto needed was for his brother to get his hopes up and then have them crushed. "I'll go looking for her later okay?" He also didn't want his brother to have the burden of finding their dead cat.

Later that afternoon, after the police left, after the reports were written, after the other gun man had been arrested, and after Mokuba fell asleep on the couch Seto headed out toward the gardens. He had about an hour before the sun went down and it would be better if he found the cat now, in case it was dead. Seto started down the rose garden calling her name. As if she could answer, he thought to himself.

After the rose garden Seto headed toward the bush maze, it was always a good place to look. Lots of things seem to get lost in there. So Seto started his search, he walked down every aisle looked from ground up for any signs of Nakuru.

Farther into the maze Tea lay on the ground. "Nakuru!" The voice was far away but the noise started to wake her.

"Mm, what…what happened?" Tea opened her eyes and pushed herself up on her elbow, clutching her head.

"Nakuru!" the voice grew louder. But Tea still didn't pay it notice.

"Nakuru!" This time the voice was very close.

"What?" Replied a very angry Tea. "Jeez…" she muttered.

Seto walked into the center of the maze, "Nakuru!" he called out again. "Nakur-"

"WHAT?"

Seto looked up from the ground and noticed a girl in a soft yellow dress, detailed with orange flowers. She was on the ground with her long brown hair covering her face.

He cautiously walked toward her but was still on the look out for any signs of Nakuru. He walked over to the girl and started to bend down, but he decided to give one last try. "Nakuru!" he called again while looking around from his bent down point of view.

"What?" screamed the girl next to him.

Seto fell over onto his backside from the outburst. Why did she just go 'what?' Seto was puzzled but leaned in closer to her, "Nakuru?" he whispered.

The girl wiped around her head to face him, "What already?" she asked looking very irritated.

Seto immediately backed away, he turned his head questioningly, "Gardner?" he asked narrowing his eyes.

Tea's eyes widened. Gardner? She thought to herself, but I'm not-

Tea looked down at her hands, which were hands. "Oh my gosh!"

Not a lot to say really… got my Microsoft Word back so now I can update. School started so I was a little disappointed that I couldn't finish this story, but that's okay I guess. I can still write lots cause I only have 5 classes Yay!

This chapter was really long so I want lots of reviews okay :) Hope you enjoyed it, it's not the last chapter so don't worry. Seto still has to confront Tea! Dun dun dun.