A/N: I promise I'm not a weeaboo or an otaku or anything. But one thing I do like is the additions of honorifics in the Japanese language, rather than titles or pet names like we use in English. In my mind, Mokuba would be referring to Sabrina as 'nee-san' frequently much to Seto's displeasure. It's bad enough that she took part of his company and his inheritance and doesn't admire him the way her past self did, now he has to deal with his best friend getting along with her well enough to consider her family. He also would hate it that Mokuba flaunts having a sister even though no one actually realizes it.
The final two days of the illustrious 'research trip' were markedly dull. While Sabrina worked to catch up with Akira and Honda to perfect the demo VR dragon, the other eight had no necessity to interact and thus worked in silent independence. Perhaps fortune intended it to give everyone time to cool down from the partying and girl talk the night before.
By noon on the last day, the three of them each had a fully rendered Duel Monsters that they treated like pets: Sabrina worked with a miniature blue eyes sleeping in her lap like a cat, Honda with a kuriboh perched on his shoulder to fiddle with the fur texture, and Akira with two scape goats on the floor that he used to experiment with the holograms interacting with each other.
Karin couldn't help but laugh when she came to collect Sabrina for lunch. "I just have this hilarious mental picture of Seto Kaiba sitting in his high back office chair and turning around to face his clients stroking his tiny pet blue eyes white dragon instead of a Persian cat."
"Make it a promotional photo." Honda said, tapping Sabrina on the arm. "Talk to Mokuba and make it happen. People will love it."
"He'd never go for it," Sabrina replied as she closed her laptop and scooted the blue eyes off her lap. The tiny creature glared at her for her insolence of forcing him to wake up and move, but curled up on the bed and soon went back to sleep.
The Lear Jet landed in Alexandra to refuel and drop Ishizu off. Despite the rest of the team asking if they could spare a few hours to see the, sights, Kaiba insisted they get back to Domino as quickly as possible to keep Project Dawn on schedule. Their plans were thrown into question when four police officers to meet them on the tarmac with the airport crew.
"More opposition from Coliseum?" Sabrina asked Mokuba.
"Looks like we're about to find out," Yugi replied gesturing out the window that the two officers ascended the stairs to board the craft.
"Ishizu Ishtar?" one of the officers scanned the faces of the four females present to find the correct woman, accurately addressing the only Egyptian on the craft.
"Yes, sir." The curator stepped forward to address the uniformed officer.
"Miss Ishtar, I'm going to need you to come with me. We'd like to escort you to a private room here at the airport and ask you a few questions concerning a break-in at the Cavafy Museum."
"Yes, of course,"
"With legal council present, of course," Seto insisted. Mokuba was already scooting out into the aisle before he had finished.
Ten minutes later, Ishizu, Mokuba and the two officers were seated across the table from each other in a room provided by airport security. All four of the rooms occupants looked equally uncomfortable.
"Miss Ishtar, we would like you to know that at this time you are not under any kind of investigation, and you are not being detained in any way…"
"Then why is she here?" Mokuba cut the officer off, speaking for Ishizu. "Whatever it is you want, sirs, get to the point so we can get on our way."
The men were taken aback by the steel in his voice. The senior officer stammered a bit before speaking:
"We responded to a tripped alarm at your private office in the museum. When we arrived at your office, the room was completely destroyed." The officer's brow was creased with concern. "Every draw and cabinet was dumped, but the only thing we know was taken was your computer tower." He inhaled, clearly uncomfortable. "Since we were unable to reach you by phone, due to you being in flight, we sent some men to your home address outside the market. The tomb had also been ransacked and we found your brothers…."
"Dead?" she guessed before he could say it. Both men removed their hats.
"We are following every lead, combing through the security footage, trying to find witnesses. We will find out who did this, miss."
Ishizu had to blink away the shock, "Umm…I…I suppose I'll have to identify the bodies?" she stammered.
The other officer stepped forward. "Miss Ishtar, your brothers were killed rather brutally. We believe they were tortured for information before being killed. We have already identified both by their tatoos and would not want to traumatize you any further. We will release the remains to you when the autopsies are complete."
The Egyptian woman sank further back into her seat, trying to process how quickly her life had turned while Mokuba sat by, unable to do anything to help.
"In the meantime, for your own safety, we'd like you to stay out of the city at least for a few weeks. Whoever did this was clearly looking for something connected to you personally, and you are still most likely their primary target. Is there any family you can visit or somewhere safe you can stay until this is all sorted out?"
Ishizu shook her head, "Marik and Odion were my only family."
"She can come back to Domino with us," Mokuba declared. "As she is employed with KaibaCorp, we will provide her with housing and protection as you know we can afford."
"That sounds like a safe option," the senior officer nodded. After a few more routine questions about suspects, what work she did as a curator, and looking at a few photographs to identify people on the security footage, he produced some pen and paper for her to write down her personal information before releasing them back into the airport, both of the men offering their condolences and reassuring her of their determination to find justice.
She gripped Mokuba's sleeve and wouldn't let it go the entire walk back to the plane.
The cabin breathed a universal sigh of relief when they both came back, both that neither of them had been arrested and that they could finally continue their flight home.
"How much did you have to pay them off this time?" Akira asked before realizing the solemnity on their faces.
"Ishizu will be staying with us," Mokuba announced to the cabin in general. "The local police think she might be in danger due to a break in at her museum."
"Marik and Odion are dead," she said dryly. "There is little point in hiding it. They were tortured and killed in our home, meaning someone out there knows where I live and where I work and so the police have advised me to stay away from Alexandria for a few weeks."
The flight attendant standing behind them caught Seto's eye, how long she'd been standing there waiting to be noticed no one was sure. The two made eye contact and she nodded, confirming the jet was fueled and the captain was ready to continue. The slightest nod of his head was all she needed to proceed, nervously shutting and securing the doors before scurrying back into the cockpit.
The best word to describe the overall tone of the away team was stunned. Ishizu was new to most of the team; most had only seen pictures of her brothers, but a double homicide happening to someone they knew was difficult to mentally digest. It was if time had slowed to delay the reality of the situation and the slightest noise would bring everything crashing in. They remained silent, unmoving, letting their laptops and phones go to sleep from inactivity. No one knew what to say. Ishizu gingerly took her seat, buckling the belt around her waist and putting her head in her hands, refusing to speak further. As the others took their seats, they gave her a berth, leaving her by herself in the aisle reclining chair.
A few minutes passed before the PA announced the aircraft would be taxiing soon. The occupants sat and buckled, the interjection the only break in the silence.
By the window, Yugi blinked back tears. All of the Ishtars had become dear friends and their deaths were a blow to him, but he didn't want his emotions to exacerbate or overshadow Ishizu's loss. He felt a hand brush against his, looking away from the window, he saw Karin had removed a tissue from a small package in her purse and had pushed one across the table for him. He smiled a silent 'thank you' before pushing the packet back.
When they reached cruising altitude, Ishizu left for the sleeping quarters.
"Should on of us go with her?" Karin asked Yugi.
"She's a very private person," Yugi responded, "Just let her grieve alone for now. We can give our sympathies when she's regained her composure."
Akira and Honda seized the open reclining chairs both putting their bud phones and ignoring the world around them.
The remaining team felt comfortable enough to start making noise again. Within half an hour of Ishizu leaving, the sound level had returned: keyboards clacked, conversations carried and time had returned to its normal speed. Setsuna and Dzam argued over the placement of a live fountain in the environment while Seto withdrew from the work area, choosing instead to sit caddy corner to Leo so they could both stretch their legs.
"You knew Ishizu before, right?" Karin asked Yugi.
"Yes, she was a quarterfinalist in the Duel City Tournament years back. Both Marik and Odion made it to the quarterfinals, too. Marik and I were the finalists. It's hard to process that they're just gone, that we'll never see them again."
"Do…do you think it was Coliseum?" Sabrina asked gravely.
Mokuba and Yugi looked at each other first before Mokuba replied:
"Coliseum is targeting KaibaCorp. I don't see why they would target Ishizu's career and family. It might be that her family as the last line of tomb keepers was a target for religious or terrorist organizations." He was lying. There was little doubt in his mind Coliseum was behind it looking for information on the Shadow Games. However, the less they knew, the better.
The conversation turned to other topics while Honda pestered Kaiba about the unsolvable 'kira' deaths that were spreading to other continents. Dzam finally overruled Setsuna on the fountain just as lunch was being offered by the flight attendant.
They had to stop in New Delhi to switch pilots, a happy happenstance for the passengers who did not get to stretch their legs at Alexandria. This stop, Seto graciously permitted the team to deplane and walk the terminal while the formalities of flight were being conducted. Ishizu even emerged from the sleeping quarters to exit with the rest of the group but kept to herself inside the gate.
No other private planes were on the air strip, so the team had the terminal to themselves. Mokuba splurged and bought everyone a coffee which they sipped while walking the thinly carpeted floors, or in Leo's case, sprawling on the floor. Seto and Mokuba disappeared entirely, presumably to find an elevator in which to chat. Ishizu was waiting for the pair of them when it was time to reboard.
"I want to go back," she stated.
Kaiba responded with a flat. "No."
"My brothers are tomb keepers and they deserve our traditional funeral. Not to sit decaying in some morgue. Their tatoos are meant to be known only to the tomb-keeper line, and now there's probably hundreds of recorded police photos. It's my sworn duty to see their bodies are properly burned."
"Your safety comes first," Mokuba answered with true concern.
"And what about the safety of everyone else, Mokuba Kaiba?"her voice was laced with desperation. "What if they found the island? What fi they desecrated or robbed Atem's tomb? How long would it be before anyone found out? No. The duty of keeping the secrets and traditions of the pharaoh's is solely on me."
Their altercation was drawing the attention of the team, none of whom were about to interrupt them to pass through.
"I can arrange…" Kaiba began.
"You don't understand," she cut him off. "This is now my responsibility. I was born into this life, and duty comes first. Always. Keeping and preserving our culture used to be my father's calling, then my brothers' and now it is mine because there is no one left. I have no one left." Her last statement vanished into a hush as she lost her composure entirely. Her usually stoic eyes filled with tears as the sorrow overcame her. She buried her head in her hands and began to sob bitterly.
Kaiba froze. He didn't know what to do. She had never been a woman who shoed weakness, but now she seemed so fragile, her strength and determination shattered. He didn't want to let her go back, but didn't know what to say to make her stay. He didn't want her to be hurt, but had no words to comfort her. He had mastered how to engage strangers, but being a supportive friend was still foreign to him.
Luckily, Yugi stepped up gently folding the grieving woman into his arms. She kept her hands in her face out of embarrassment. He snapped lightly at Karen and gestured for her to produce the tissues again. Karin nodded and slipped the packet into his hand.
"I know it isn't fair," Yugi said, "But right now, if you go back, there might not be anyone to bury your brothers or keep the tombs, and I know Marik and Odion would rather you stay out of harm's reach than bury their bodies properly. Please. Until we have a plan. Stay with us."
She took the tissue from his hand, wiping her eyes before nodding. Yugi escorted her up the jetway, the others following, not looking forward to another eight hours in the air.
"Where will I stay?" Ishizu asked when they began their final descent into Domino.
"We rent several hotel rooms and apartments for housing out of town clients, employees, and assets such as yourself. I'll have my secretary make sure you are sufficiently accommodated." Even when trying to set her mind at ease, everything Seto said came across as a business matter.
"Where were these apartments when I was in Domino?" Sabrina asked suspiciously.
"Reserved," Kaiba replied, "They are for clients and VIP's not interview candidates." Even with Sabrina, his comments came out harsher than he had intended, though he was a bit irritated she had been indiscreet enough to mention coming to Domino prior to receiving a job offer from KaibaCorp.
"At any rate, I doubt is it wise she should stay alone," Yugi said, trying to change the subject, "If they could track her down where she lives, the next place they'll look is where she's working."
"What do you suggest then?" Seto asked, 'Where is she going to stay?"
"With me," Sabrina stated, "I have a spare room. It is currently unfurnished and she can decorate it as she pleases. I have my own bathroom, so the only thing we'll really be sharing is the living area and the laundry. Since I own it outright, all you'd have to pay is utilities."
"Which KAibaCorp will gladly cover for you," Mokuba noted.
"Is that ok?" Sabrina asked, finally asking Ishizu's opinion on the matter.
"I would much rather stay with someone I know than alone. Thank you." Ishizu smiled numbly.
Sabrina smiled. "Then it's a slumber party. As soon as you get settled, we can go get you some more clothes and toiletries."
A few short minutes later, the plane landed at the Domino International Airport. The research trip had come to a close. With a clear direction, breakthrough programming and a wealth of gathered source material, Project Dawn was on the road to launching ahead of schedule. Yet, despite the massive progress and keystones being set, the away team felt deflated. Jet lag, Ishizu's brothers and the letdown of the whirlwind adventure being over dampened everything that was supposed to be celebrated.
The overcast skies matched the tone of the travelers as they collected their luggage and prepared to go their separate ways.
"It was good work, all of you," Dzam said, bowing politely.
"Well, if I never see you fine gentlemen again, it's been a privilege," he said clapping Akira and Honda on the shoulders.
"Nothing lasts forever," Honda replied, ever the philosopher. "We have lived entirely separate lives until a few weeks ago, and from this point, they'll all diverge again."
"But we'll still be friends, right? I mean, we can still keep in touch on social media and meet up for drinks or something?" Karin got a little bleary eyed at the finality of it. "I'm not expecting us to get matching tatoos or anything, but we can at least stay connected."
Yugi looked at his hand with a pang of nostalgia.
"Even if we can't meet up physically, we'll always have pictures and memories, plus the project when it's finished. And, we'll probably get to see each other in passing around the office." Akira said, trying to cheer her up.
"We'll always have Luxor." Sabrina mused.
Everyone laughed.
"I like it," Karin smiled. She hugged her newly found sisters and it escalated from there: Seto was unfortunate enough to be within arms' reach of Leo as he was literally strong armed into a group hug as the cars pulled up to the curb to separate them.
The Kaibas' limousine pulled up making them the first to leave. A company car followed taking Dzam, Leo and Setsuna. Akira, Karin and Sabrina's personal vehicles were brought to the curbside, leaving Yugi and Honda to take the bus home.
For the first few weeks, keeping the away team together was easy. As many as possible would eat lunch together in the basement cafeteria, find excuses to stop by each other's works stations and even spend time together after work, but as the project came into full swing, schedules changed and conflicted; life was interfering.
The fellowship was breaking.