Sitting heavily into the padded chair. Seto's mind wandered to Mokuba's question. Like the receiver, he exhaled loudly and tried to contemplate the motive behind it. What could possibly have caused Mokuba to ask a question like that. And HER of all people. His brother had shown no inclination toward girls, well none that he had noticed anyway. "But when are you around?" his mind mocked.

"Grr." He gritted his teeth and frowned.

"Why her? Out of all the people in this world, why did it have to be her?"

An older woman tentatively opened the door, holding it close for a quick retreat.

"You wanted something sir?"

Seto looked up, his eyes neither glaring nor welcoming the interruption. His reply surprisingly stumbled off his tongue.

"Ah no, I was just talking to myself."

He didn't fail to notice the shock and relief of the woman as she closed the door with a "Very good sir."

"What the hell! That's three times now, three times that I could have annihilated someone and let them walk away unscathed." Running a hand through his hair in frustration, he got up and walked to the office window. Night had arrived and the creatures that inhabited it were wending their way through the neon streets. It never failed to astonish him the pace at which these night creatures travelled. Living every moment at a frantic speed, so as not to miss anything in case the rising sun should make it disappear forever.

"Disappear forever!" His mind cowered at the thought. Not missing the night specialties but other things that could be given and taken away. He had built himself a shell, and that shell had served him well until Mokuba was taken. No one but his brother could penetrate the darkness that was Seto's heart.

He paced the office, not breaking his thoughts.

Everyone else was a convenience, a commodity to get him where he wanted to go. Feelings were not to be wasted on the lowly, and everyone was lowly to the great Seto Kaiba. Yes Mokuba alone held his heart. "Are you certain?"

"Of course I'm certain," he growled through gritted teeth, leaning and slamming his fist onto the desk in front. Looking through chestnut bangs he noticed the door about to open again. "Just ignore anything you hear in here Tanaka, if I need you I'll buzz."

"But sir," came the timid reply. "You did buzz."

Looking at where his fist had landed the tell tale light blinked accusingly.

"God I'm losing it, and all because of a stupid question." He waved the secretary away without further comment.

"Why is it stupid to ask what girls want?" He ignored the thought, but his tormenting mind went further. "Ahh so the problem isn't really about what girls want, but what Anzu wants." His conscience laughed at him as he slammed his fist on the table some more. "Bingo!"

After five minutes the secretary appeared at the door once more, walking to his desk she placed the days correspondence and minutes for him to check.

"Mr Kaiba, I'm going now. All the appointments you requested have been scheduled, as has your trip. Is there anything else you need?"

Seto sat with the air of a troubled man. First with his head in his hands, eyes downcast. Sitting back in his chair, he tapped the ends of his fingers together and resumed his window gazing.

"No, that will be all."

It was the gentlest she had ever heard his voice. Making her way back towards the door, she halted when he suddenly spoke again.

"Tanaka?"

"Yes Mr Kaiba"

"Would you say I am kind and loving?"

The woman was stricken dumb. She had no idea how she was to answer this question without risking her job. She was thankful that he wasn't looking at her, as she struggled to find the words. How ridiculous she felt. A thirty something woman, fiddling with her wedding band; afraid to tell a nineteen year old the cold hard facts, no you're not kind, her mind said. But her voice pleaded the fifth, and would not speak up.

"Well I, that is to say." She stumbled. "I'm not sure that I'm the right person to ask."

He turned to look at her. The look on her face told him everything. With a look of defeat she made her way back to the desk and sat down before him.

"Can I be perfectly candid, sir?"

Seto's mouth set in a straight line, and his brows joined together in a frown, but he nodded for her to go on.

"You are very clever, and good at what you do, but you have no tact when dealing with others and their emotions." Her eyes widened a fraction as she saw him sit forward, and fearing the worst she hastily raised a hand and quickly finished. "Except with Mokuba of course."

She could see his eyes flash, and resigned herself to finding another job in the morning. Rising to leave, she showed an apparent change of mind and sat back down. "Well since I've already joined the unemployment line I may as well make the dole queue worth the wait."

"Mr Kaiba, as far as your dealings with your brother are concerned, you are extremely kind and loving. None can fault you. Your dedication to this company cannot be questioned, especially during your school years. Your genius in creating new and exciting virtual worlds are breathtaking. You can calculate to the nth degree any possible issue that may arise with the technology. Where you are lacking sadly, though, is your ability to understand the needs and ideals of people outside your immediate scope. You manipulate people and back them into corners to meet your desired ends. You don't care that you may be destroying the very essence that makes that person who they are. And as a consequence you ultimately destroy those who love them. If I am right in understanding the question, you mean are you kind and loving to a potential partner. I honestly cannot say yes or no, but based on how you treat anyone who is not Mokuba. Then I am sorry to say my answer is no, your not."

She had watched him the entire time she spoke, making note of the poker face. "As I thought, this is just another game to him."

Pushing herself up from the chair, she offered him a tired but genuine smile. "If you'll excuse me Mr Kaiba, I'll be going now. My husband is waiting downstairs and is probably worried. Goodnight…..and good luck with what's troubling you."

She opened the door and started to walk out. Seto got up and walked once more to the window. Without looking at her, the CEO regained control over the part of him that was a man.

"Tanaka, there is an American arriving tomorrow, he will need access to the laboratories. Make sure that security is aware and that refreshments are available."

"Yes Mr Kaiba."

Well how we travelling so far? Still interested or is starting to fall apart. Thanks again to all reviewers, particular the repeats. I can only hope it's up to scratch for you.