Author's Note: Sentences put in italics are not conflicts held within the mind in this chapter.
Chapter Seven---
Seto Kaiba sat at his desk; determined to finish his lengthy, but conspicuous, task.
-- And what was this undertaking?
Working, of course.
He had been distracted the days before; causing the work the pile up in front of him.
He'd been working for three hours now, and time wasn't exactly on his side. Everytime he glanced at the clock, it seemed that an hour had passed by; rather than a minute.
Was the whole world against him?
A blaring, caustic buzzing sound answered his question in the most negative way possible.
Irritated, he grasped the phone and pressed it against his ear.
"What is it now?" he questioned, not even bothering to sound the least bit courteous.
"My apologies, Mr. Kaiba.." the woman on the other line began quickly, "..but a certain Ishizu Ishtar is on the line."
Ishizu...
What was he going to do; turn her down?
-- It would be no use, of course..knowing Ishizu, she'd probably find another way to get to him. One that might even include face-to-face confrontation; the last thing he wanted.
With no other choice, he decided to take the call.
"Put her through." the CEO stated horasely.
"Yes, sir."
No sooner had his secretary said this did he hear that stern but calm voice..
"Kaiba..I ask of you to stop by my home tonight."
She expected him to see her in person? -- She had to be kidding.
"What for?"
"A highly crucial matter."
"I'm busy." he answered flatly.
"No, you are not." she argued.
"How would you know?"
"Have you forgotten that I'm in possession of a Sennen Item?"
"Listen, Ishizu.." the CEO began, determined to carry this out; hoping that she'd give up herself, "..I have a company to run. I don't have time for your little fairy tale lectures about magical items and Pharaohs."
"Do you mean to tell me that you have not yet begun to believe in your past life?"
"My views aren't easily changed; especially by a few hallucinations and a magic trick." he replied, not giving her a straight-foward answer. He wasn't about to let her know that he'd actually started believing in all of this. She'd never let him live it down.
"I know deep down you want to sort this out as much as I do, Kaiba." Ishizu answered.
"Hn.."
"..That is why I sincerely hope you will consider the idea of seeing me tonight. Good day."
And with that, the CEO heard the other line go dead. After absent-mindedly listening to the continuous dial tone for a minute or two, the mahagony headed being set down the phone on the receiver.
Lacing his fingers together over his desk, the cerulean eyed individual repeated the conversation he just had over and over in his head.
How did she always do this?
She always left him in a position he couldn't get out of.. A dark corner with no way out. A maze that was impossible to exit...
The way she said what she did..
'That is why I sincerely hope you will consider the idea of seeing me tonight.'
'..consider the idea...'
The words almost made him feel guilty for denying her request so quickly.
Either way, he wouldn't go..
He wasn't going to let some woman tell him what he could and could not do.
No.
He was Seto Kaiba, CEO of a multi-billion dollar company. He made his own decisions.
After clicking the top of his pen, the auburn haired being began his paperwork once more.
Although, he couldn't help but hear that nagging voice in the far back corner of his mind..
Go to her, maybe it's for your benefit..
No, I have work to get done.
You've worked for hours, go to her.
No.
You know you feel guilty..how about if it's something about your past?
Forget the past.
Don't you want to get it all sorted out?
Facing defeat in frustration, Kaiba carelessly dropped his pen. Getting to his feet, the CEO made his way to the door and gripped at the icy knob painfully. Turning it forcefully, the amber headed being exited the room; and let the door shut behind him with a loud thud.
As he passed by his secretary's desk; he stopped, but didn't even bother to glance at her.
"Hold all my calls, and have a limousine pull up to the front of the building." he demanded in an acrid tone.
"Yes, sir."
Off once more, the azure eyed individual headed for the exit.
"Where are you going, Seto?" called a voice, causing the other to stop.
Turning his head slightly, the CEO noticed the dark haired boy who was presently sitting with a remote control in hand.
"Out. I'll be back as soon as I can, Mokuba. If I'm late, I expect you to be in bed by the time I get home. Understood?"
"Yeah. Later, big bro.." the boy replied with a small pout, as he once again continued his act of channel surfing on the television.
Turning his head back forward, Kaiba walked a few more strides until he exited the building completely. With his eyes focused straight ahead of him, the blue eyed being noticed the black limousine waiting for him; just as he had requested.
Pulling open the door, he sat down inside.
"Where to, Mr. Kaiba?"
"Our previous destination."
"Right away, sir."
And with that, they were off. In a matter of seconds, the CEO had let his mind wander...
What was it that was so important?
Had Ishizu made yet another 'prediction?' Had she had yet another 'vision?'
Or maybe, she had simply missed giving him his annual session of Egyptology 101. Kaiba sneered. How could anyone be so driven? Sure, the past was important here and there, but only in some cases..
Immediately, he thought of his step-father.
Gozaburo Kaiba...
The ignorant snake that adopted him only after losing to him at chess match. And being his step-son was no easy task. Hours of unrelentless loads of work.. Math equations and expressions...grammar lessons dealing with everything from a noun to the proper use of a semi-colon..history sessions about almost every war that ever took place...science lectures about biology, anatomy, and physics..
How he used to hate it..
Loathe it, rather.
He remembered it so well...
Watching all the other kids having a fun time..living their childhood to the fullest..playing marbles...making sand castles..skipping rocks..
How he envied them.
There he was, twelve years old and living the life of an adult; while they were able to actually have a childhood..
Suddenly, a thought hit him...
What if he wasn't adopted by Gozaburo..what if he wasn't put in an orphanage...what if his parents didn't die and leave Mokuba and himself alone?
Would things be different?
Would his life be different?
Would he be different..?
"We're here, sir."
Kaiba's thoughts abruptly shattered before him as the car came to a hault. Shaking his head so he could clear his mind and focus, the CEO exited the car.
"I'll call when I need you."
"Alright, Mr. Kaiba."
Turning on his heel, the mahagony haired being started up the steps; hearing the car behind him depart with a small screech as he did. As he reached the door, he raised his hand to knock. As he was about to do so he noticed that the door was slightly ajar.
Letting this fact give him more than enough of a reason to simply walk in; the CEO put down his hand, and instead, pushed open the door even further.
Stepping inside, Kaiba guided himself through the entry and into the living room; the only noise being the small tapping sound that occurred whenever he hit the marble floor.
As he made his way into the living room; the auburn haired individual failed to notice the other presence in the room.
"..Kaiba..."
Turning his head towards the sound of the voice, the CEO stared at the being in immaculate silence..
Author's Note: Please review.