Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh.
Kaiba cursed under his breath as he watched the duel on the screen. Yugi Motou, or should he say Yami, was dueling an eliminator called 'the Puppeteer.'
Since they had beaten Kaiba not once but twice (although the world only knew at one time, at the trap he had named Death-T) and also defeated his Game Masters (at least they were still loyal. At least there were some other duelists he could trust), those bastards on the board of directors had agreed to allow Pegasus to take control of the company if Yugi lost to one of Pegasus' duelists.
He knew Yami wouldn't lose, even if Pegasus had that magic he had used (Kaiba, looking back on it, now knew it had to be magic) to anticipate Keith's next move.
But Kaiba Corp was still at risk. The only organization strong enough to oppose Industrial Illusions (it was a huge advantage to control the cards) was at risk.
He had been a fool to arrange Death-T. Technology versus magic was not a fair fight. And whatever Yami had done to him had taken him out of the game long enough for Mokuba to be kidnapped.
Mokuba.
He hadn't cared this much about Mokuba before his mind had been crushed.
Part of him wanted to thank Yami for that. The rest of him knew he had only done it so Mokuba would be a better hostage.
"So what do we do, Kaiba?" The computer asked him.
Kaiba grimaced.
"Pegasus' goons are searching the grounds. It won't be long until they find us, now they know you are here and have a secret hiding place."
"I know." He drew his attention away from the duel. Was he paranoid, thinking Yami and Pegasus were in this together? It was too much of a coincidence that Pegasus and his new partner Dartz (Paradise Corp had appeared out of nowhere) had swooped in to try to take his company as soon as the stock price dropped due to Yami beating him. The loss of face… it didn't matter now. He had other reasons he needed to beat him.
"Computer. Access the files looking for Mokuba or prisoner, other key words." He shouldn't have let the duel distract him.
Even though he needed to study Yami's style. "Computer, download all the recordings of Yugi Motou's duels and save them on disc."
"Acknowledged. And I've found something." Text appeared in a window on the screen.
It was a guard's report. "The 'guest' got lost but was found by…" He slammed his fists down on either side of the keyboard. "Damn Yami!" Mokuba had escaped but Yami had captured him? Now he knew they were working together.
He'd spent too much money on the first Kaiba Land. Spent too much redeeming his promise, gambled on defeating Yami in their second duel and lost. Kaiba Corp. had already been vulnerable. With the creator of Duel Monsters and the new Champion (there was no doubt in Kaiba's mind Yami would be crowned King of Games at the end of this farce of a tournament) ranged against it… he had counted on the revenue from his holographic technology to make up for the shortfall. If Industrial Illusions cancelled the contracts and went with Siegfried's design (Kaiba had had to rush production to get his design out before his), he would be ruined.
"Such language. I'd prefer you not talk that way about my cousin." Kaiba spun around.
"Kaiba, there is an intruder!" The computer seemed utterly surprised.
"I can see that," Kaiba muttered. He carefully drew himself into a defensive position. There was no way anyone could have gotten in here without the computer detecting them in time for him to escape out the secret tunnel. No natural way.
More magic. "Are you one of Yami's kind?" It looked like him. It also looked like Yami, that same sort of feel.
Were they doppelgangers? He had done research. There were creatures that took the shapes of people. They were omens of the deaths of those people. Sometimes they took their places.
His eyes glanced at the grate. He had to get out of here. If he was replaced… well then. Kaiba Corp was theirs.
"Kind? I suppose you could say that." A slight smile. "I'm here to apologize. Pegasus got a little carried away. Taking your brother was uncalled for. When Yami found out he was rather displeased with Dartz for not keeping better track of his light's actions." A frown. "Hardly behavior one would expect from someone with only the power of light. But then, not even my light has escaped the darkness of this modern world." An appraising look, sympathy, sorrow, and reassurance. "That will be over soon, I assure you."
"Your light?" Yami had called Yugi that. Oh, no. "I chose Gozaburo! Don't act like you have any authority over my actions! I choose my own destiny!" So the leader of Paradise Corp, who had appeared out of nowhere, was to Pegasus what Yami was to Yugi? Possibly that would be useful in future.
They both had strange hair. So did Yugi and Yami: similar but different hairstyles and eye colors, the only way to tell them apart. This one actually looked more like him than Yami did Yugi.
"I have to say you choose well." A smile. "Protecting family at all costs. That I understand. If this world had been different you wouldn't have had to, that was all I meant." He reached out his hand. "Join us. You hate this world. It tried to take Mokuba away from you, it let Gozaburo torture you and pervert your dreams of building a paradise into wreaking destruction."
"Join you in what?" He would never join them. He had seen how Yami and Yugi treated each other, Yugi all curled up in Yami's arms like a pet. Like he was happy to be a possession. Never.
Never again would he let anyone have power over him.
"In rebuilding the world that once was. In ending this anarchy and bringing peace. Think about it. No more of your weapons used again. Parks everywhere, free for children to enjoy. All that the light in you strived for."
"It was my dream, not some light. And you want to take over the world? Typical. You're Dark Lords. This isn't some stupid movie, and even in the movies your kind always loses."
"Ah, but that is movies." The not-Kaiba smiled. "And with me in command of our forces we will not fail. As for darkness? We are of shadow, not of darkness. You saw the Shadow Realm when Yami called it. You liked it there. Peace. You felt like something you had been missing was there. Your light craves shadow."
"I don't need you. I don't need anyone." Except Mokuba. "And trying to destroy everything I've worked for and kidnapping my little brother isn't going to make me like you."
He shook his head. "Not my decision, Seto."
"Don't call me Seto!" Without any honorific! As though they were the closest of friends or lovers.
"Why not? We are close enough for that. We are each other. You can call me Seth." He held out his hand. "Your brother is safe. Come with me and you can see him."
"I don't trust you. I'll get him back on my own."
Seth took a step forward. Kaiba dived for the grate to get out of the room, only to find it blocked by a swirl of shadows. "You don't trust me? You really need me then." Seth sighed. "This world has hurt you so much."
"For the last time, I made my own decisions, and I don't need anybody, especially not some demon or whatever you are!" Seto backed up against the shadows, hard as rock, as Seth approached. "Stay back!"
"You have a ruler's heart. Don't you want to use it for more than a company that despises you?" Seth took another step. In range.
Seto attacked, only to find his kick blocked, punches grabbed and wrists held against the wall. He struggled against the grip only to have shadows wrap around his wrists and ankles. Trapped.
Trapped!
He struggled madly, memories of Gozaburo rising in his mind. No!
"Shh. It's all right, it's only us." Seto's eyes were closed as he tried to calm himself, convince himself it wasn't happening again. Seth's hand stroked his cheek. "Calm down."
Seto gulped than took a deep breath, against his own will calming down. This thing could control him this easily?
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have captured you." Seth backed away and Seto opened his eyes to see him bowing. "I will let you go, all right? Just don't attack me."
"Just let me go," Seto growled. It was hard to remain hostile. This thing made him feel soft. He hated it.
He felt like a dog, wanting to roll over and show its master its belly in submission and desire to be pet. He wasn't an animal. He was Seto Kaiba. He had paid in blood, sweat and tears to be Seto Kaiba. He controlled his own destiny.
"Right now." The bonds disappeared. Seth sighed. "Well, that was a bad idea. We both hate having control taken away, don't we? I remember being pulled away from myself. You. I swore to Penalty Game whoever was responsible as soon as you got me back, but they are thousands of years dead and gone."
Seto shifted his ankles and felt his wrists, stepping away from the wall of shadow even though it meant he was closer to Seth. "Kidnapping my brother and attacking my company were bad ideas." He didn't care what happened to him. What mattered were his promises and his brother.
He could tell Seth understood that, and it scared him. No one should be able to read him. "Honor. You care more about him than yourself." A smile, a nod to a worthy opponent. "It will be difficult to win you over, and you have my talents as a general. You are already trying to build up an army, contacting Duke Devlin and convincing him to give the rights to his game, and his talents, to you and not Pegasus. Another light on your side. You will be harder to defeat than this world's poor excuses for governments."
Devlin was a light? Whatever that meant. Wait a minute. He had gaming talent, so did Devlin. These guys were gamers too. Something about opposite yet equal.
So, logically, if they had powers so should he. Shadow and light, light destroyed shadows. And cast them. So maybe he was more powerful than Seth?
Seth continued. "Bakura and Marik think I should simply take you prisoner and convince you to see the truth as they did with their lights. I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"I would never give in to anyone who acted like that. You're already convinced we're the bad guys instead of the good guys as it is." A predatory smirk. "So I'm going to play a game with you."
"What if I don't agree to play?"
"You've already started. A game of armies and companies, the game of games. Life. You have sworn to stop us, haven't you? So try."
"You're just going to let me fight you?"
"Fighting is the best way to study your opponent. If you study us, I hope you will understand what we are, what you are, and that your place is with me. That siding with us will give you your dreams." Seth held out his hand. "Shall we shake hands to start the game?"
Seto steeled himself. He never turned down a challenge. "Shake on it."
When their hands touched a bright light erupted. Seth jumped back and gasped, clutching his hand to himself. "You really are me. Very good at figuring things out. Very bright, pardon the pun."
Seto panted. "So I can do it."
"Yes, you can. Do you want to learn more? Come with me?"
Seto laughed in between pants. "You don't think it'll be that easy, do you?"
"No, but you can't blame me for trying."
"I blame you for existing. And for kidnapping my brother."
"Yes. That was a dishonorable thing to do. One moment." Seth disappeared into a dark portal.
The exits were sealed. Seto considered trying to blast his way out, but he didn't have the energy after that attempt. There had to be a more effective way to do that.
The portal appeared again and Seth walked out.
"Ni-sama!" Mokuba threw himself at Seto, arms around his neck.
Seto hugged Mokuba, eyes closing in relief. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine."
"I hope you accept this apology for kidnapping him. He was not mistreated."
"I'm not going to forgive you just like that." Seto gave him his patented glare.
Seth only smiled, a gamer's smile. "I know." The portal appeared again and then disappeared after he walked through it, the exits becoming unsealed as well.
Seto stared at where he had been until Mokuba asked to be put down. He had been so lost in thought he had been oblivious to the fact he'd been squeezing Mokuba too tightly.