A/N: I have a really hard time with Tea. Rewatching the series did help improve my opinion of her, but she really isn't an enjoyable or relatable character. Personally, I think Yugi could have done better which is why I didn't write that they got together.
A/N: Also asking for reader feedback here. I usually keep the chapters around 2500 words, regardless of whether or not that scene in the story is completed. Is it better to break it up into chunks so readers do not lose interest or is it better to go longer as I did the last two chapter to finish the complete though but make for less predictable uploads in terms of time and size? Is it bad to have one chapter only 700 words and another 4100? I have no idea so please let me know.
The stewardess of the KaibaCorp Lear jet would have said it was the quietest flight she ever served. Jetlag, long work days and busy nights were taking its toll on the four travelers/ Seto was rarely seen in the cabin while Sabrina sat in the reclining chair with her bud phones in, furiously working in her sketchbook. Unlike their initial flight, she seemed to be making a conscious effort to avoid her co-workers as she refused to sit with them at breakfast or on the flight. Mokuba and Yugi made small talk between naps, but no matchmaking attempts were made.
"Apparently, this lawyer boyfriend is the jealous type," Mokuba explained when eh was sure Sabrina couldn't hear him. "He called when we were out on the town and got really upset when she found ou she went by herself with a male co-worker. It was ridiculous. He of all people knows we are basically estranged siblings, so its weird he'd get so possessive."
"It explains why she's been so quiet this time around." Yugi whispered in response." It must have upset her."
Mokuba glanced up at the slender woman to ensure she wasn't looking their direction. "Regardless, he's got to go. And as her sort-of-but-only-legally brother, I feel it is my duty to protect my sister."
"And by protect you mean set her up with her older sort-of-but-only-legally-and-also-ancient-destined-lover brother?" Yugi raised an eyebrow in a way that made him look more like Yami than he had in ten years.
"And you're helping," Mokuba reminded him.
The rebuttal silenced Yugi for awhile, but eventually their conversation moved on to other topics. When Seto spent a brief hour on his laptop in the cabin, Sabrina retreated to the sleeping quarters and resumed her spot in the reclining chair as soon as he left. Despite everything they had just experienced together, the atmosphere for the rest of the flight was decidedly cold.
The remaining seven team members were gathered in Dzam's room when the away team from the away team returned to the hotel in Luxor. It was early evening, almost 8 pm, and the only thing still open were the bars and clubs. While Seto was assuming the team would be winding down, he was surprised to find Dzambul and Akira wanted to host a team meeting as soon as he had settled back in.
"We did it." Dzam beamed. He was so excited he grabbed Seto by the wrist and pushed him into a chair to demonstrate the breakthrough.
"Honda installed the hologram projectors here, here, and here." He pointed to the projectors, each the size of a film canister, on the floorboard, mounted on one of the computer towers and suctioned onto the curtain rod.
"It'll be better and have a wider range when we have six projectors that can handle the software." Honda assured him as they all took a few steps back.
Dzam entered a prompt from his tablet, causing the three tiny projectors to whirr to life. At first tehre were only particles of light blue surrounding Kaiba like an aura, but as seconds past, the particles floated and settled, filling the folds of his clothing and catching in his hair. The CEO too a particle between his fingers.
"Coarse, like sand," he nodded, satisfied. The particle vanished between his fingers, fading into the surrounding light.
"Ready for wind?" Dzam asked. Another button prompt and the particle began moving against him by some unseen breeze. A faint howl accompanied the blowing sand. He felt a single particle hit him in the eye, but there was no irritation: no grain lingering for his tears to wash away. It simply dissipated on impact.
And then the dragon screeched. It was thin, like the sound of a newly hatched bird. Unsure of the direction Kaiba looked over each shoulder in turn before the tiny white creature caught his eye at the base of his chair, just behind his right leg. With flawless, snakelike movements, the minimized dragon circled his leg before looking up at him, again crying as if in need. He felt the faint prick of claws poke into his pantleg as the hologram climbed onto his lap before slithering up the back of the chair and perching on his shoulder. The miniature Blue Eyes let out another baby roar, this time spreading his pale, silvery wings as if he could possibly intimidate anyone. This image was continuously and seamlessly refreshed so that the image never dissipated like the moving sand.
"It's compressed photons," Dzam explained. "Using the coding you already worked out to handle the visuals, we were able to make particles that actually are solid enough to touch. The hardware we will design for them in the future will have sensors that detect light intake and adjust the photons to maintain the hologram's opacity."
"The dragon is warm," Kaiba finally commented. "It feels like sunlight."
"Everything is warm," Dzam replied. "We are still trying to lessen the heat output but we are dealing with lasers and light. If anyone complains we can just tell them Egypt was hot." With the press of a finger, the projectors zapped off and the dragon evaporated.
"And the noise of the projectors?"
Leo leaned forward. "Soundproofing and ambient noises will eliminate that. I can even adjust them based on noise level. No worries."
"And the blue sand?" He wasn't leaving any stone unturned.
"That is just the default color," Dzam shrugged. "As soon as graphics gets on this, we can have Akira put the lighting and shading in it and have a complete package." He glanced at Sabrina. Kaiba followed the lead's gaze over his shoulder.
"Get to it," Seto commanded, "I'm sure the team here can catch you up. First thing in the morning.
Sabrina nodded and uttered a brief, "Aye, sir."
"This is good work." He stood and addressed the team as a whole. "Under Dzambul's leadership, you're all taking immense strides forward. As the owner and CEO, I take pride in knowing we have excellence in the field: men and women dedicated to the craft. Personally, I think this breakthrough calls for a celebration." He removed the KC company credit card from his wallet, holding it between his first two fingers like it was a trading card he planned to play. Brandishing it for all to see first, he handed the card to Mokuba. "Pick a place, have some fun and a few drinks on me."
The words were scarcely out of his mouth before the younger brother snatched the card eagerly to leave immediately. Setsuna Noriega was equally enthusiastic. "I know a club close by," she volunteered, eyeing the card with a lustful gleam that made Seto a little nervous. He was not sure he wanted to know when she'd made the time to go clubbing on the trip.
"Ah, ah, a few rules with this," Seto added, seizing Mokuba by the wrist that held the company card. "First rule: Mokuba is your designated driver."
"Hey!" Mokuba protested.
"You are the only one authorized to use the card, I won't have you using it while inebriated."
Mokuba crossed his arms and sulked.
"Rule two: this is for food and drinks, not souvenirs and strippers. Our finance department looks at all the charges and I don't want to have to explain anything questionable. If you want paid company, pay for that yourself." When no one objected, he continued. "Rule three, Karin is what? Fifteen? No drinks for her. Do not let her buy them, do not buy them for her."
The petite writer pursed her lips, unsure if he was being hyperbolic about her age or if he honestly thought she was that young. "I'm twenty! I can drink legally!"
"Not in this country. Legal age is 21."
Mokuba muttered something under his breath about making her the designated driver since she couldn't drink anyway, but Seto chose to ignore him.
"We're all adults, we'll be responsible." Leo promised, silently taking responsibility for the party as a whole. Seto nodded in affirmation, distracting him just long enough for Mokuba to jerk his hand free from his brother's grasp.
"Car leaves in ten minutes. Be in the lobby if you're coming," he announced.
Dzam's room experienced a mass exodus as both the front and annex doors were used to vacate. Once they were ready, Mokuba was surprised to see both Yugi and Sabrina intended to come, expecting them to give into the jetlag that was gnawing at al of them. What was no surprise was the four who elected not to come: Seto, Ishizu, Dzam, and Honda. It was a tight fit for the remaining seven in their rental SUV, but with the fun in store, none of them cared much.
Although, he had not planned for it, the situation gave Kaiba the opportunity to meet with Ishizu privately and discuss the events of their meeting with Pegasus and the robbery.
"They are after anything related to the shadow games." Ishizu mused. "But surely they don't plan to harness any power from the other dimensions, not without the millennium items."
"They might not know the items exist or that they even have powers," Kaiba noted. "We had the advantages of your necklace and the pharaoh's memories. Coliseum only has hieroglyphs and archaeological archives."
"Let me call Marik. Part of our tomb keeper duties include maintaining the island where Atem is buried. If anyone has tried accessing the island, he would know."
"Tell him to be cautious. We already know Coliseum has nefarious plans and aren't afraid of using force," Seto instructed as she removed her cellphone from an invisible pocket in her dress.
Ishizu had always wore a kalasiris and shawl in the traditional Egyptian fashion. Seto never knew if it was due to her religion or her status as a tomb-keeper that was the basis of her dress, but seeing the image of such an ancient soul in traditional robes handle something so modern as a smartphone seemed oxymoronic.
A knock at the door drew his attention away from the curator's call. Upon answering, he was greeted by a short Egyptian delivery man holding a sizeable flower arrangement comprised primarily of white roses. "Flowers for Sabrina Harrison?" he held out a receipt to be signed.
"Wrong room," Seto replied dryly with no intentions of directing him next door.
"Are you sure? This the room specified in the delivery instruction." The extended arm with the receipt began to tremble as he realized he'd walked into something awkward.
Ishizu appeared behind Kaiba to spare him any further discomfort. "Sabrina is my roommate, and I have a key to our room." She stepped next door and held it open so the florist could place the vase on the table in the girl's rooms. When he returned, she signed the receipt for him and bid him a good day.
"What did your brother say?" Kaiba asked as she passed him in the doorway.
"He didn't answer, but I left him a message." He's probably out where there's no reception."
Seto shut the door. "Who are the flowers from?" he asked with almost a snarl.
"I was going to ask how that was going, but perhaps now is not a good time." Her face remained emotionless and pensive as usual, though her voice took on a tone of being slightly peeved. She didn't prefer to have demands made at her.
Kaiba took a deep breath and tried again. "Who were the flowers from?" he repeated, his tone as demanding as ever, but decidedly less desperate.
"The receipt says the charges were paid for by Industrial Ilusions."
Kaiba scowled. "The flowers were delivered to the wrong room on purpose. It was a power play."
"And that bothers you?" Ishizu sat down in the arm chair opposite the couch.
"Yes." He replied shortly.
When he didn't go into detail, Ishizu calmly asked, "Why?"
"I don't know!" He didn't shout, but the reply was harsh and full of frustration. He spoke as he paced between the kitchenette and the sleeping area. "I felt so jealous watching her swoon over Pegasus but I have no claim on her. No one would deny she is a beautiful, talented, accomplished woman, but my professional interest is in her skills as a graphic artist and my personal interest is in Kisara, not Sabrina." He sat on the couch resting his elbows on his knees. "And yet, when she is in the room, I can't stop staring at her. She fascinates me, but not in a romantic way. But then when her lawyer boyfriend calls, I find myself feeling territorial, almost like we are mutually obligated to each other."
Ishizu nodded, understanding. "I can see you feeling obligated toward her for Set's sake. And her? Does she feel the same unspoken obligation?"
"Evidently not. Between the boyfriend and her celebrity crush, I'm just her employer and the guy she sued for her money." Kaiba leaned back on the couch, crossing his arms and looking at the ceiling to avoid making eye contact. Opening up made him feel vulnerable, but Ishizu had insight into this probably more than anyone else. "So, is that where it ends? Are we actually somehow obligated to each other and does that include romantically? Is my fascination with her only because of who she was or is it something of who she is? I don't know."
"You speak as if you wish to fall in love with Sabrina but are frustrated it isn't happening."
Seto lifted his head a little to face her. "That is exactly how I feel," he replied, feeling almost relieved someone was able to put in into words.
"But why?" Ishizu seemed genuinely confused, "This is a chance for you to defy destiny and show the gods who's really in charge. Aren't you all about screwing the rules?"
"Well, yes, but this is different." He sighed.
"But why is it different," Ishizu asked again.
"Because not doing so makes me feel like I've somehow failed and I don't fail. At anything."
The Egyptian exhaled a short 'hmm'. She was finally getting somewhere. "So you feel obligated to woo her just because you can? She's some sort of conquest?"
"That isn't what I mean," Seto replied with agitation. "I just am used to succeeding at everything I do. Surpassing all expectations in everything I put my hand to: finances, academics, business, card games. Now, it feels like Set has laid out this expectation for me: to finish what he started, to woo her as you put it and protect her and consequently have my fairytale ending that he would have envision, with her and a family. But deep down, I don't want to have a family. I never had one: I had Mokuba and I had my money and those things have always been enough for me. So now I'm faced with remaining within my comfort zone, or attempting a new big step in my life. The next logical step in being successful would be to find a woman and start a family, logically that woman would be Kisara's reincarnation to give Set some kind of closure and to accomplish what my father and even Set himself could not. When we met, I honestly thought this was my chance: she'd make me break down my walls, make me want to cure my selfish ways and soften my heat. I wanted to fall in love, but I see nothing long term happening. I still want to pursue her, but I want to pursue her for me, not for her."
"I don't…wow." The ever eloquent Ishizu Ishtar had no deep insightful response.
"I know I sound like I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth, but you understand what I mean?"
"No, I understand," Ishizu said slowly, "I'm just not sure what I should advise or even what I should say next. The only thing I can say, Kaiba, is give it time. You've known her for all of two months and with Project Dawn and Coliseum vying for your attention, you haven't had the time or focus to get to know her deeply. Perhaps working with her further will settle your mind on her, one way or the other. One thing at a time."
Seto was reminded of his resolve when he was first deciding what to do with his encounters with Sabrina in the first place.
The door unlocked with a click. The two occupants turned their heads to see Mokuba and a slightly buzzed Yugi, who were confused by the scene in front of them.
"Are we interrupting a therapy session or something?" Mokuba asked with a raised eyebrow.
The elder brother abruptly sat up, as if being caught doing something embarrassing. "No. No. I was just relating events of our trip to New York."
Yugi suddenly froze as if smitten with an unseen force before diving for the bathroom.
"I suppose with your roommates back, I'll retire for the night," Ishizu stood and nodded respectfully at Kaiba, ensuring to him silently that he had her confidence in the matter. When she reached the door, she turned to Mokuba. "Leo might need you out here." Mokuba poked his head out to see Akira struggling to hold up Leo.
"Not sure if he's more soused than Sabrina, but he gave her a run for her money," he commented before leaving to help Leo get into his room while Ishizu returned to hers. He reappeared through the annex door a few moments later. "I think we're good. Everyone's in, and let me tell you, Setsuna is one party animal." He was going to say more, but Seto had his hand held up as if asking for silence. He listened and could hear the girls voices through the wall, albeit muffled. Seto beckoned his closer to the wall, a knowing nod between them.
"Yes!" Sabrina's usually modulated voice cut through the wall as she uttered some kind of victory shout.
"Who are they from?" Karin asked.
A moment of silence followed as Sabrina was undoubtedly fumbling with the card left in the arrangement. "Something to remember me by," she read aloud, "Hope your time at my estate was as enchanting as mine. Max." She paused awkwardly, "I think," she slurred, "I think Maximillion Pegasus sent me flowers."
"Are you serious?" Karin's voice was laced with disbelief. "Wow. Well, if your want to break up with the pushy lawyer boyfriend, at least you have options."
"I know," Sabrina replied with a hint of melancholy. "I really like Justin, but sometimes he is just too much. But, but, but Pegasus, I don't know. He's so…" her tone lowered into a muddled string of mumblings too quiet for the Kaibas to hear.
The bathroom door opened, flooding the room with the whine of plumbing and white noise of the overhead fan. Yugi exited, holding his head.
"Next time, Mokuba, I'm not taking any dares. I don't care how much of a…" he stopped when eh saw the two brothers standing suspiciously close to the wall and frantically waving at him to be quiet. He immediately lowered his voice and joined them. "Who are we eavesdropping on?"
"Kisara."
"You mean Sabrina?"
"Ssshhh," Mokuba silenced him.
"…and the whole time he was the perfect gentleman. I mean, how is he still single. He isn't even thirty-five." Her words came out slowly as if she had to choose them one at a time. "He's like a young Ger.."
"I thought you were having sexy dreams about Seto Kaiba too, right?" Setsuna interrupted her suddenly. Sabrina blanched.
"Nnnn No!" she objected indignantly.
"Um…actually, Sabrina, we heard you," Karin meekly backed up Setsuna on the issue. "You talk in your sleep a lot."
"I do not!" Sabrina insisted.
"I mean, we all heard it. 'Set, Set no. Set, please," Setsuna drunkenly mocked adding unrealistic breathy gasps and moans.
Yugi and Mokuba looked at each other then at Kaiba, who was so rapt in the conversation, he didn't even notice them. He stood listening, not even daring to blink, trying to absorb everything he could.
A violent thud shook the wall. "Shut up!" Sabrina roared, her surge of anger brought on by her inebriation. The boys all took a step back.
"I'm not scared of you," Setsuna cackled.
"Whoa, whoa," Karin interjected, "Let's not start anything you two will regret when you're sober."
"We still have two days to wrap anything we need to do before returning home, and I doubt you want ot spend all the time in these hotel rooms and the ride home mad at each other." Ishizu admonished them. "Perhaps the best thing is to just drink some water, forget anything was said at all, and go to sleep."
Seto exhaled. "I think that probably is best." he huffed, leaving his roommates and changing for bed. They followed suit soon after, but the distinct scowl on his face made it clear not to talk to him. Mokuba and Yugi remained silent and dressed for bed.
For a night meant to celebrate success, not very many people went to bed that evening happy.