(FF Few Days)

(Emily's POV)

I had managed to fight off most of the boredom once the rest of my things arrived and I was unpacking. When I wasn't unpacking what seemed to be endless boxes, I was either at Yorimo's studio practicing, or in the spare room I had claimed as my own personal practice space at the house either dancing or working through what I could manage remotely for work. Being on the opposite end of the house was working in my favor and I had not seen or interacted much with Kaiba since the day after we arrived. Count your blessings where you can Em. My inner monologue told me Keep it like this and two years will fly by.

That was until Kaiba sent me a text stating to ride in the car picking him up from school that afternoon as we needed to 'talk'. What he deemed so necessary to 'talk' to me about I did not know. Neither did I really care, but I also knew it would be best to play by his rules where I could. I changed out of my workout/dance clothes, and put on a dark sweetheart neck cocktail dress. I pulled my hair in a quick ponytail as I slipped on a pair of dark strappy sandals to complete the look. I really had no clue what he wanted or had planned and by God if I were going to be caught unpresentable somewhere.

My cell rang as I was walking up to the car out front. I recognized the local number as one assigned to my new assistant/site manager, Robin, that flew in soon after I did. I couldn't help but feel a bit better seeing her on my phone. "Robin! How goes the office shopping?"

"Good afternoon, Miss Mikoro. I am with Ms. Nakayama now, and I think we found our top two or three selections. Do you mind if we go over the choices over dinner?"

I knew Robin was the woman for the job when I asked for a volunteer to come out of the New York office to assist me while out of the country. She never directly worked for my mother or father, which I found to be a plus. Rather, she was one of the main receptionists of the main MI building. She was single with no real ties to the city besides her dog. So, when I offered to cover her moving expenses and have the company pay for an apartment here, she didn't have much to say 'no' to. Her experience helping run and navigate the main office is what I needed for the satellite one. She was also trained as a translator which put her a good bit above the other applicants.

I paused thinking of where I was going and internally cringed. How I would much rather go to dinner somewhere that wasn't Kaiba related. "I have a current engagement that I am not sure of the ending time. Can you give me about an hour to see if I have dinner open?" I asked.

There was a brief muttering as I could only assume Robin was talking to the realtor. "Ms. Nakayama says that should work. She has a showing for another client, but will be available come the dinner hour. We only need to let her know."

"Sounds perfect. Send me any pictures, notes, and any opinions you have Robin. I'll read through them regardless." I instructed.

"I will. Oh and Miss Mikoro?"

"What is it Robin?"

"I got a call from one of our naval contacts. Admiral Whitesdale of US Naval Operations wanted to speak with someone about the UAV models and navigation upgrades that are to be supplied to the Navy later this quarter. I believe he just received word of your father's passing and wanted to make sure the deal still stood. He is insisting on a face to face since he too is in Japan visiting the 7th fleet in Yokosuka this week. I know we don't have-"

"We don't have an actual office, but you don't exactly say "no can do" to a four-star naval officer. Especially one that blesses a good portion of our profit checks. Let me see about securing a home office where I am living now. I am sure the Admiral would understand if he is that pressed for a face to face so soon. Get back with your contact and see when the Admiral would plan to leave Yokosuka and stay in town and what kind of itinerary he would have or expect."

"Yes Miss Mikoro. I'll send over the office details first then I will get right on the Admiral."

The call ended and I could only sigh. So much was happening at once, and I felt slightly overwhelmed. Prioritize Emily! It's only daunting because you let it be! I heard the voice of my father bark. "D-daddy?" I looked around for a moment then took a deep breath. Izuo Mikoro was dead. I knew this, but the words were correct. I had to prioritize. I made a mental list of all the things to be done. Robin was handling the realtor and the admiral. There was no need to worry about these events until I had to. The car to pick up Kaiba was leaving in ten minutes, and that one I had to make. "Wait..." I had a packet for Morishita that required a guardian signature. If I was going to have to talk to the asshole, might as well make him follow up on the guardian crap he inherited. I walked over to the desk and picked up the folder with the Morishita Academy emblem and a spare pen. I'd have him sign these and ask about a spare office in the house to use for the admiral.

"I can read over the office notes on the way to Kaiba's school. Then, I can follow up with Robin after. She should have an update on the admiral by then too." I told myself

I made my way down and met the driver out front.

"Hello Miss Emily. You are coming with?" He asked opening the door.

"Seems so. Not sure why, but we come when he calls right?"

The driver only nodded as he shut the door and took his place in the driver's seat. My cell chimed letting me know that the email from Robin had arrived. I spent the twenty-minute drive scanning through the pictures and notes Robin had collected while touring with the realtor. This woman is more detail oriented than I thought... how was she only a standard desk clerk and not a PA before now?

"Miss, we're here." I heard the driver announce breaking me from my thoughts.

I looked up but saw no one outside. "Have we arrived early?"

"Yes Miss. I usually get here about fifteen to twenty minutes early in case Mr. Kaiba gets out early."

"Lord forbid the master has to actually wait on something like a damn young adult." I huffed opening the door and taking a good look at the school before me. So, boy genius puts up with 'normal' school too? Interesting. Another surprise was that the school didn't strike me as a private academy. Then again, did people like he and I actually need a private education? Our after-school fates were already kind of sealed for us. We had no recruiter to impress no job to apply for. When our educations were over, we would both probably devote any time we spent in school to the companies we both owned. And that is where our similarities stop!

I took out the folder from Morishita and skimmed through packet one more time making sure everything was filled out besides the parts asking for a guardian signature.

"Rich-boy sure has one pretty secretary!"

I raised my eyes from the forms before me and noticed a guy walking out from the gates. He was a decent height with dirty blonde hair. Ever heard of a barber buddy? Jeez! Was this guy talking to me?

"What do you want?" I sighed when I noticed he had stopped only a couple feet away.

"Just wondering what a pretty girl like you is doing working for Rich-boy?" the stranger shrugged arrogantly.

"Excuse me?! Work for who?!" I asked peeved.

"Kaiba. Ya know, Rich-boy? You're standing next to one of his cars." The blonde pointed out.

I closed the folder bringing it to my chest, "Let's get something straight blondie, I don't and never will I work for that self-centered egotistical asshat!"

"Joey, you might want to back off. Can't you tell that the girl is obviously out of your league!" Another voice laughed. Looking towards the origin, I saw a small group making their way towards the blonde. Joey? So that's blonde's name? The group seemed to be a small group of friends. One brunette guy, one brunette girl, another blonde kid that was a good bit shorter than the rest, and the Joey kid.

"Can I... help you all?" I asked slightly irritated.

"Sorry about Joey. The guy doesn't have the best of manners. We were wondering what you were up to as we've never seen you around here before?" the brunette guy asked.

"I don't see where that is any of your business..." I shrugged.

"You know... she acts a lot like rich-boy. We sure she's not his girlfriend or something?" the Joey kid teased.

"That's an even bigger insult blondie!" I snapped fighting the urge to lash at the apparent idiot.

"Y-you're a dancer!" The girl of the group suddenly blurted as if excited.

"Pardon me?" I questioned eyebrow raised. Though she was correct, how did she know?

"That emblem," she smiled pointing at the folder in my arm, "That emblem belongs to the Morishita Academy of Dance. You're a dancer, aren't you?"

"And if I am?" I asked on edge. Who were these people? What did they want besides to be exceedingly nosey?

"Oh wow! You must be really good if you go to Morishita!"

"Last I checked, she doesn't..." a familiar voice spoke up. Looking up, I confirmed that it was Kaiba in an all blue uniform. He looks like a damned prefect! Ha! I could tell he was peeved. Then again, wasn't that pissed off expression just locked on his face?

"Oh... Look! Everyone favorite jerk. How's it going boy-genius?"

"Mikoro-"

"Look Kaiba, don't get your panties in a wad. I'm only here because you told me to be."

"So... are you two like... friends or something?" The Joey kid asked confused.

"As if!" the both of us snapped glaring at each other's direction. Though a part of me was getting a little joy out of his perturbances.

"I'm an old... family contact of the Kaibas. Just arrived in this area, and boy genius here is fulfilling his family's part of an old bargain."

"Oh! You just moved here?" The short blonde asked.

"She did. You know Mikoro, you could probably fit right in with their little geek squad?" Kaiba pointed out. I could tell by the look in his eye that it was a stab at me.

"Sure! Let me get right on that! Seems I'm free to hang out with the likes of them from..." I drew out the word as I pulled out my cell and looked as if I were scrolling through my calendar, "Ah yes. I am free from the 7th of never to the 15th of aint going to happen? Sound good?"

"Ok! Are we sure those two aren't related?!" The brunette guy asked the others.

"Look, as fun as this has been, I have places to be, and I'm sure you do too boy genius? Shall we?" I sighed gesturing to the car.

"I think that might be the one time I agree with you on something Mikoro." Kaiba sighed making his way to the car.

The group just stood in silence as the two of us got into the car and left.

"You have some weird friends there Kaiba." I shrugged.

"Look, that group of dweebs are no friends of mine." He snapped crossing his arms over his chest.

"Fine fine.." I sighed not wanting to push his buttons further, "Before we get whatever this is started, I wanted to give you these." I held out the papers from Morishita.

"So, you chose a school after all?" He pointed out as he opened the folder looking through the papers.

"Yes. The dance instructor I hired last week suggested this campus. I just need my..." It felt like swallowing glass as I said the words, "legal guardian's... signature on a couple papers and I can go through with the audition."

"And what is your plan if the audition fails?" He asked looking over the edge of the papers at me.

"I won't fail." I growled. This guy knew nothing about me and my dancing. Who was he to think I'd fail?! He's a perfectionist like his damn dad! Everyone makes mistakes but them.

"So, you have no back up plan then?"

"This audition is a formality. No back up plan is needed Kaiba. Trust me."

"Those last two words aside, if you insist on going with only one option that's on you." He shrugged as he took out a pen and signed the documents handing them back over to me.

I put the folder back in my bag. "Thanks. So, what did you want me for?"

"I was going to see about the schools you lined up, but seems you have that taken care of."

"That's it?"

"Unless you had something else of relevance?"

"Actually, now that you ask-"

He suddenly rolled his eyes pinching the bridge of his nose, "What do you want?"

"Don't catch an attitude with me mister!" I quipped on the defensive, "I was just going to ask to borrow a spare office or study until I got a satellite office up and running."

"That's it?" he asked through half closed eyes as if trying to get a read on me.

"Unless you had something else of relevance?" I shrugged imitating his tone from a moment ago.

"Alright." He sighed shaking his head, "I think there should be a small study somewhere in your wing. I can ask Yuri to unlock it and clean it up."

"Sounds perfect. May or may not be around this evening. Speaking of satellite offices, I have a dinner with a realtor about some sites."

He gave me a somewhat peeved glance, "And you plan to be home when?"

"How about whenever I damn well please genius?"

I could tell by the side glare I received that he was holding back, "Mikoro, do you have a quota or something of how much you have to piss someone off in a single day? I'm curious."

I couldn't help but grin slightly, "Oh shit! You figured me out! I was originally going for three to four time a week, but I got told I was doing only rookie numbers and needed to pump those up. Have to shoot for at least twice a day! You know... relieves the stress."

He closed his eyes and took a breath. I knew I was probably having a little too much fun, but I couldn't help it. I relished in his pissed silence and took out my cell to call Robin.

(Seto's POV)

What the absolute fuck was wrong with this girl?!

I wasn't going to survive two years of this. There was no way. I was convinced. My old man set whatever deal he did with the Mikoros knowing that she would be the perfect annoyance and torture.

"Robin, it's me. Dinner is open. Please get in touch with Ms. Nakayama and set up a time. Then set up the reservation for thirty minutes prior to that so you and I can go over the details you just sent me one on one. Understood? Please send me the where and when once you have them? Good!"

Her entire voice had shifted. Where not only twenty seconds ago she was abrasive and outright defiant, she was acting like a perfectly polite woman with some damn sense!

"What about the Admiral?" She paused listening to the person on the other line. It was faint, but I noticed a twitch in her face. Something that was said struck a nerve on her, "Please call the secretary back and see if I can interest the Admiral in an after-dinner meet. He is the one pressing for this, so I'm sure he can find a way to accommodate. Uhhuh? I can give you the address once his secretary confirms. Thanks Robin. Bye."

Her focus immediately shifted from the call to her phone's screen where she started going through what looked like a series of photos. You know, she actually looks mildly attractive when she keeps her mouth shut. You mentally noted to yourself. The curve in her dress' neck line contoured with the fullness of her chest and her skin was just light enough that her dark hair popped against it. Her face was soft and subtle. Not to mention her years of dancing only did good for her long slender legs. Too bad she ruins the experience the moment she opens her mouth!

The two of us kept to our silence until the car stopped at KC.

"See ya around boy genius." Mikoro muttered giving me a middle finger but never once looking up from her phone.

Yep! Good looking or not. She needs to go! Somehow!