Disclaimer: Don't own anything. We have been over this, people…

Plot: After being defeated by Mutou Yuugi in the Magic and Wizards card game, Kaiba Seto will go at any lengths to get revenge on him and his friends. However, when Jounouchi's little sister Shizuka enters the picture, how will that work to Kaiba's advantage? Nonetheless, the abduction of Shizuka is merely an "upgrade" for his ultimate plan for vengeance. Or rather, the Ultimate Game.
Genre: Romance/Angst/Drama/Suspense
Pairing(s):

Seto/Shizuka

Warning: T (PG-13) (Parent Guidance Suggested) For Scary Scenes, Cursing and Mild Sensuality
-Imperfect Paradise (Yamiko)

To Freeze Her Heart
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By Imperfect Paradise

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-Chapter Three-
"Deadly Confusion"

The sinister cobalt blue eyes seemed to smirk as they observed the figure down below. This certain, 'auburn haired' figure just (unfortunately enough—for her) happened to cross the street over to Kaiba corporation below, unaware of what was going to happen to her. The grin on his face widened, revealing his molars. His sneer would have sent any employee, who might have been unfortunate enough to enter the room at that particular time, running as fast as he could in the opposite direction. The diabolical expression on Kaiba's face was laced with pure insanity. The top of his face was covered in shadow, only showing his ice-cold eyes, which looked the equivalent of the eyes of Beelzebub himself.

He chuckled as he touched the window with his slender fingers, "Come to me, my prey… my… Shizuka…"

Down below, Kawai Shizuka was unaware of what was about to happen to her. It would be a mistake that would cost her practically everything. She would be unable to prevent because she was, in the meantime, she was trying to correct a mistake of her own.

Earlier that day, she had walked to the mall with her brother, Honda and Anzu. Yuugi would have come under normal circumstances, but his grandfather had hurt his back after running over to welcome a twenty year old girl into the store (A/N 1) (it was the second time that week) and he had to watch the store for a while. The mall was somewhat fun—but there were some things that lessened the pleasure or simply just agitated her. After rejecting Honda's offer of buying her countless things which had caught her fantasy, after listening to Jounouchi gorge himself with food from all the food-stands with a disgruntled Anzu paying for them shortly afterwards (things on Earth are just not free)—Shizuka had hoped to get away for some quiet time. At first, she had just hoped to walk away to a corner and remain there for a while—but Jounouchi, Anzu and Honda must have walked off without her, leaving her alone.

Now, here was Shizuka, blindly searching the city—hoping of catching any familiar voice that might belong to her brother and his friends. Although her sense of smell and hearing were beyond perfect—she wasn't catching any familiar sound or scent. This was so, because the air pollution, the stray gas and oil, and the smells of hundreds of people were interfering with her scent. Also, the noises, such as honking car horns, bicycle bells and skidding motorcycles were blocking her sense of hearing as well. In addition, her sight was beyond terrible—it was as if everything she was staring at was a mirage.

She couldn't and didn't want to reach her hands out—because she didn't want to look too vulnerable in this city. It would attract too much unwanted attention. She was quite aware of the crime status in this city and it frightened her. She had already heard a siren sound twice. She was blind to almost everything, including the two men that were waiting for her underneath the tall and slender shadow of the Kaiba Corporation building.

The second she was parallel with the doorway to the lobby of Kaiba Corporation—was the second she was grabbed by two pairs of large hands. She barely had a chance to even 'think' about retaliating. One hand wrapped around her mouth, the other around her eyes (which was pretty much worthless), and the other two clasped themselves against her shoulders. Shizuka felt her heart jump and screamed into the hands upon her lips. However, all that came out was a muffled 'mmphh' sound—which was beyond useless when it came to help.

On the other side of a street, a cop (who was eyeing a car strangely) saw this and narrowed his eyes. He was about to walk over there when he noticed the building the poor redhead was being dragged into. For the second he saw the K.C. that was printed on the roof of the building, his eyes widened and he cowardly stepped away and went back to writing the ticket for the car, which was parked halfway on the sidewalk.

Kaiba walked down the hallways of Kaiba Corporations, with two guards following directly behind him. His silver briefcase swung back and forth, as he took large, swift and formal steps. He smirked. His machine was finally ready. Now all he had to do was to test out its penalty game. In his hand, he held his silver briefcase, which contained all of his beloved cards. It contained some of the most powerful cards in the game—no card was beyond his reach. This was so, for he now had a card, which would win it for him. His deck, was now equipped with one of the four Blue Eyes White Dragon cards. Yes, only one—but it was enough power to go up against Yuugi evenly matched. In a matter of time, he would acquire all of them. The negotiations with the Hong Kong Mafia had been acknowledged and the evil crime organization was already enclosing in on the victim. He narrowed his eyes. That bastard boy, Mutou Yuugi, would pay. As the time ticked by, the countdown for his defeat was slowly decreasing. 'Yuugi, you will pay for that humiliating defeat you had graciously handed over to me. I will make you regret every card you had countered against me. That is a certainty…'

His smirk slowly evolved into a grin as another thought occurred to him. 'and so will his friends. Heh, I'll destroy that 'friendship' within an instant.'

That was true. Once Jounouchi got wind that his sister was in his possession, he would immediately blame Yuugi for her disappearance. After all, it seemed logical that Yuugi was the one who had gotten him and her into this mess. Kaiba couldn't wait to see the looks on their faces.

He stopped at the two metal doors at the very end of the hallway. He cocked his head towards one of his guards, who nodded once, before walking over to it and pressing his hand against it, pushing it completely open. Once the three of them stepped inside, his eyes sparkled with delight. He loved what he was seeing. Other than the dozen scientists and engineers, all in which were at his command—his grand prize stood in the center of the room.

From first glance, it looked like an ordinary closet like box—but it wasn't. It was a box forged with bullet proof glass, with measurements of nine by eight by eight. Inside, stood what looked like an ordinary table; its top forged with a clear plastic material accompanied by strange markings which had been carved into it. Around the glass box were several cords and pipes, sticking out in several places, which were completely necessary to transmit the power needed to start the unusual contraption.

Scientists and engineers rushed around the room, carrying several tools or clipboards, while some stood around, calculating the measurements and total project outcome. However, once they had gotten wind of the young CEO's entrance, they all froze and the room was silent. No one spoke in the room, it had become dead quiet.

Kaiba smirked, though inside, he was wallowing in the pleasure of his success. It was perfect! His money had been well spent. He had spent millions upon millions of yen on this project alone. However, as expensive as that was, he also had money going into something else as well. That project, on the other hand, was top-secret, and only he and his close associates knew about it. However, he allowed a few rumors to go out into the city—but basically, those rumors had been nothing more than false information.

Kaiba smirked before walking up to the chief engineer and asked (or drawled), "I have gotten wind of the project's completion… Is what I have heard correct? Do enlighten me…"

The Chief gulped (trying at once to get rid of anything that might show fear in his answer) before speaking quietly, "That is correct, Mr. Kaiba."

Kaiba smirked, "That's nice…" He was about to walk away when the Chief Engineer spoke again.

"However, the show you put in afterwards, or the, um… "penalty game" as you call it—I am sorry to say that it is extremely advanced and may not be suitable for human—"

Kaiba rolled his eyes before he turned back towards the fool and snarled, "I didn't ask for your opinion, you mumbling idiot, I simply asked if the machine is done—(his gaze softened a bit—but only just) and now that you have answered that, my business with you is finished." He then continued to walk towards the machine and spoke, "Now… all we need to do is test it…"

The engineer heard this and asked (hesitantly), "And just 'who' are you planning to test this machine on?"

Kaiba simply smirked. At that second, the doors burst open as the two guards emerged, dragging a balling and wailing Shizuka—who had given up on trying to fight back. The engineer's eyes widened when he saw this, understanding almost instantly. Kaiba then turned back towards him (his eyes gleaming with a lust for destruction) and asked, "What do you think?"

The engineer then blew a fuse and screeched, both petrified and outraged with the thought and concept, "You're testing that horrid machine of yours on a mere child!"

Kaiba chuckled and walked away. The engineer's shocked gaze never left him, his mouth opened and closed continuously, lost for words.

Inside, Kaiba smirked. He thought, 'Fool, completely unaware of what is going to happen.' Kaiba then walked up towards the two guards and commented (sadistically), "Well done, gentlemen, it seems that you have completely your task with not much difficulty."

Shizuka heard this and looked over towards the direction of the voice. She knew that voice! Her eyes then narrowed and she cried out furiously, "Kaiba! Why are you—"

However, before he could continue, one of the guards tightened his hold on the poor redhead, who cried out, tears almost falling from her eyes. She instantly lost her aggressive will and returned to her vulnerable child air. The guard snarled, "That's Kaiba-sama, to you, missy..."

Kaiba chuckled vindictively before he spoke, coldly but softly, "Gentleman… That is no way to treat a lady…" He grinned after he said that (for in reality—he didn't give a damn if they hurt her or not), before slowly walking up towards Shizuka. Shizuka was whimpering slightly, afraid of what was going to happen to her. She cringed when she felt Kaiba's fingers wrap themselves around her chin. He lightly stroked them, and leaned down closer towards the girl. ' He smirked as he saw the tears finally fall from her eyes, amused with the pain and fear he was causing her. His smirk widened as he thought, 'Yes… Fear… Fear for what is going to happen to you… However, (He then grinned) it won't be what everyone expects.'

And that was true. What he said next would come as a greater shock to everyone in the room than what they had ever had expected to witness coming their superior.

He then leaned down and whispered into her ear. "Don't worry, Shizuka-darling… (He wiped a single tear away from her eye with the tip of his finger) I am not going to plug you into that machine." Everyone's jaw dropped or at least everyone's eyes widened. He said, softly, "I have changed my mind, you are not going to be my experimental subject." He then leaned closer and spoke, "Even like the mouse you are..."

While everyone else stood flabbergasted and what just happened, the engineer heard this and let out a sigh. He didn't know what in the world had caused Kaiba to change his mind—but that didn't matter. The youth was safe. However, although things can change for the good, things can change for the bad as well—this was a lesson that the engineer was going to learn very shortly.

Kaiba eye's then snapped open and turned towards the engineer. He snapped at the guards, "Seize him!" With that, the guards grabbed the engineer by the upper arms. The engineer struggled (although, his efforts were futile) and cried out, "Kaiba Seto! What is the meaning of this?"
Kaiba turned towards him and sighed, "Since you are so reluctant to allow this girl to get hurt—I figured you would be a better subject." He smiled and said, "The creator of the guillotine in the French revolution had his head cut off shortly after the massacre of the political party of the country." He then chuckled, "Rejoice—you are the test-subject of your own work." He then turned away back towards the girl and spoke (not bothering to face the guards), "Lock him in the machine—I am growing rather impatient with the delay…" His chuckle then abruptly evolved into insane laughter as he watched the poor man being dragged towards the instrument of his demise. The engineer tried punching the men off of him, but this earned him a punch in the stomach, instantly stunning him.

Shizuka was scared stiff witnessing what exactly was happening, but then shrieked as she felt someone grab her. Indeed, Kaiba had grabbed Shizuka by the arm and he forcefully pulled her away from the guards. He held her up against him for a moment, before he began to drag her away. He sighed, "I am sorry to get you into this, Shizuka-Chan. Nevertheless, a blind girl is just no good to test out my new project…" He then smirked, "So… By way of apology, you get special reserved seats for witnessing the full power of my penalty game." As he dragged her away, he sighed, "Well, at least you will be able to hear it…"

Shizuka stammered, her voice almost gone, "What kind of penalty game?"

Kaiba smirked before he leaned down towards her ear and said softly.

"The penalty game of death," he spoke. He then sadistically smirked as Shizuka's hair stood on end.

- TO BE CONTINUED -

The following is not meant to be counter fanfictionDOTnet format. These are merely author notes. They are not meant to counteract the rules or restrictions of the webmaster's policies in anyway. Thank you for your attention.

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Author Note 1 – Yes, in the manga, Yuugi's grandfather is a perverted old man. He is also like that in the Japanese anime. In the manga, he asked Anzu, "You have grown since I saw you last time, Anzu; especially your bust! Almost to the thirty two mark, right?" And in the anime, when he saw Otogi's cheerleaders, he started drooling over them. He also did that to Vivian Wong in the KC Grand Prix (not debuted in USA)—he even called her Vivie-chan! OMG!