Chapter 5 - Friends in High Places

A/N: Minor warning for language in this chapter.

"Was that Mokuba Kaiba? As in Seto Kaiba's little brother?" Elena - their curly haired, actress dorm-mate asked, marching into the lounge with Britney and Corinne trailing behind her.

"Yes," Téa said warily, "do you know them?"

"Know them? I know of them!" Elena said incredulously. "How do you know them?"

"Hmm well…like I told you guys before, my friends were big into Duel Monsters in Domino and one of them-"

-duelled Kaiba into submission after he basically kidnapped and hospitalised Yugi's grandpa as well as tearing up Grandpa's most beloved card-

No…

-became Kaiba's arch-nemesis by consistently beating him in a card game and channelling ancient magical powers to save the world-

No…

-earned the reluctant gratitude and dare I say friendship of the Kaiba brothers by saving Mokuba, Seto and KaibaCorp numerous times, even though Kaiba would never admit it-

"-er…one of them kinda had this rivalry going on with Seto Kaiba for a while," Téa finished lamely.

"Who is this guy, Lennie?" Britney said, "I've heard the name before but…"

"He's a world famous game-tech designer, CEO of the biggest gaming company on the planet and the world's youngest billionaire," Elena replied, her bespectacled eyes still fixed on Téa.

"Wha-?" Corinne's mouth hung open. "Téa, you're friends with a billionaire and you never told us!"

"We aren't friends," Téa said quickly. "I'm friends with Mokuba. Kaiba - well Seto - but we never use his first name, is a complete jerk."

"He's also fucking gorgeous!" Britney gaped at the search results on her phone. "Fuck me, look at those eyes! Those cheekbones! Is he single?"

"I neither know nor care," Téa said, cramming her phone into her pocket and getting up. "How do you know about him, Elena? I didn't think you were a gamer."

"I'm not," Elena said, "but my older sister works for a VR consultancy. He's her idol. He pioneered groundbreaking VR technology as a kid and took over KaibaCorp at just fifteen! The guy's a genius!"

"Well that might be the case, but trust me he knows it," Téa said, remembering all of Kaiba's smug pronouncements at Battle City and the way he treated Joey and the rest of them. "He's not the nicest guy, Britney, so don't get any ideas…"

"But you and Mokuba sure are close…" Britney wheedled, "I'm sure I've heard you guys on the phone before. Just think, you… taking care of his little bro… melting his cold, mean heart…" Her eyes lit up.

Téa couldn't help but laugh. "Me…and Kaiba!" She could just imagine his derision at the concept. "'Me and Yugi's head-cheerleader? Give me a break, I could buy myself better company!"'

"Brit, don't make this into a chick-flick, please," she continued, "it would be a horror story. Plus, he can't stand me."

"Why? You're so nice!"

"Yeah, that's part of the problem."

"He's a Scorpio, isn't he? He sounds like it," Britney said. Téa threw up her hands and pushed past her. "Yep! I knew it!" her friend said, obviously having checked the internet again. "Classic Scorpio man…"

God, when are they leaving again? How many hours am I going to have to listen to this?

"62 BILLION!" Corinne exclaimed and the rest of them gasped. "That's how much he's personally worth. His brother's worth quite a bit too…"

"Leave Mokuba alone!" Téa snapped but they ignored her. Corinne had brought her laptop in from her bedroom and they all crowded round it.

"I can't believe he makes that trench-coat work…" Elena was shaking her head.

"I know, right?"

"Ooh, look he's got a purple one too!" Britney was torn between her phone and the images on Corinne's screen.

"That one just looks silly. He's meant to be a businessman not some Marvel extra," Elena said.

"Shut up, Lennie! He's obviously high fashion, that's all," Britney retorted. "Can't believe I've never seen him before, he belongs in Vogue."

"High fashion? High drama more like! You haven't heard about the dragon obsession yet," Elena grinned.

"Says the girl that regularly locks herself in the bathroom monologuing Shakespeare at top volume."

"I'm a drama student, Brit!"

"Takes one to know one."

How had Britney become Kaiba's Number One fangirl in five minutes flat? Yes, Téa supposed to the outside eye he was attractive, okay extremely attractive and rich and multi-talented, but all of those exemplary qualities were wiped out in an instant by his overweening pride. She hated the fact they were gushing over a man that would look down his nose at them, if he even bothered to acknowledge them at all.

"Oh my God, Brit, check out this jet! And he's got a mansion!" Corinne gasped.

"Girl, he's got like ten mansions and a penthouse. He's got a fucking space station for fuck's sake! Téa's hit the big time!"

"How many times do I have to tell you guys that Seto Kaiba is not coming to New York for me, he does not like me and I certainly don't like him!" Téa said, hands on hips. "Mokuba is my friend and well…his brother and I went to the same high school. That's all!"

"You had billionaires at your high school?" Elena said. "I thought you said you were from Domino City?"

"Hon, no offence but doesn't someone like that go to a private school?" Britney replied, tearing her eyes away from Google Images.

"Yeah, like some preppy place," Corinne said.

Téa blinked. She's always wondered about that. According to Mokuba and what little she'd gleaned from the debacle with Noah, Kaiba had actually been forced to undergo accelerated schooling at the behest of his twisted adopted father. His level was always far beyond theirs in class, something he never failed to rub in the face of their poor teachers. She never forgot the first time she saw him, his handsome profile stuck in a Nietzsche book. At first she thought he was just doing it to be edgy, but when he corrected Mr Sorenson's quip with a withering summary of Nietzsche's philosophy during English class, she'd been forced to reconsider. Sorenson was usually able to cut any bloated teenage ego down to size with his anarchic style, but he never singled out Kaiba again.

"He was educated at home but there was some government regulation that said he had to finish a least a term at a proper high school," she said, repeating the rumours she and her friends had heard at the time. Corinne and Elena looked unconvinced.

Come to think of it, I wouldn't put it past him to have enrolled in our school just to get info on Grandpa Muto's Blue Eyes, she thought angrily. It had been years but she still hadn't forgiven Kaiba for that incident. Mr Muto could have died and the card had never been repaired or returned as far as she knew. Given how obsessed Kaiba was with the Blue Eyes White Dragon, it made far more sense than some flaky-sounding rule.

"Whatever, Téa's just gonna have to channel her inner Julia Roberts and steal this guy's heart," Britney said.

"This is not Pretty Woman," Téa sighed, heading off that fantasy as fast as she could. "Kaiba and I never got on. He's rude, conceited and borderline crazy, I don't care how hot you think he is-"

"But he is hot though, you have to admit it." Britney thrust the phone at her. Kaiba's face smirked from the screen as if laughing at her predicament.

"He's an asshole, Britney, trust me!"

"Well he has got a great ass, that's for sure. Not everyone can look that good in leather pants," she said, turning the phone round to get a better view. Téa was appalled, her new friend was ogling her best friend's arch-rival!

"Wait!" Corinne said, holding out her hands to the others, "He's an asshole billionaire, Téa's a sweet, innocent brunette…"

"Oh my God, you're right!" Britney squeaked. "It's Fifty Shades!"

"No!" Téa cut in, "No, no, no. It is nothing like Fifty Shades and I still can't believe you forced me to watch that movie!" Oh my God, Kaiba…doing that stuff…to me! The images were starting to form despite her frantic attempts at suppression. She could see herself pinned down by one of Marik's creepy trap card devices, but this time it was Kaiba standing over her leering, before he…

No!

"Ugh, I'm going to get some air!" Téa stormed towards her room. If any of her Domino friends heard this…Thank God they would never hear about this!

"Well, take a warm coat and be back soon. Corinne and I will be gone by five!" Britney said, face still plastered to her phone as Corinne and Elena giggled.

"Yes, Mom!" Téa called as she shoved on her winter coat and some sneakers as well as her fluffy hat and scarf and finally escaped the confines of their dorm.

The corridors of Meredith Willson were buzzing with departing students. She dodged happy faces, more than a few hung-over, before darting out of the security gates and through the rest of Juilliard into Lincoln Center. The towers of the Big Apple rose around her like silver citadels and she caught sight of the Met Opera House where Ndreka Ezemonye would soon perform. Horns beeped and blared on the wind, mixing with the ever-present scent of pollution and fast food. She thought she could make out the hint of spring though, hopefully the blossom trees would soon be out in Central Park. Téa gathered her coat around her, grateful for Britney's advice, and lost herself quickly in the streets and whirl of people.

She wandered mindlessly, trying to clear her head. It wasn't just the dream or the girls' teasing, she hated goodbyes and soon their dorm would be lonely and quiet. Plus she couldn't shake the feeling she had had since last night that something was coming. As much as she wanted to see Mokuba, his brother felt like a bad omen. After all, the last time she'd seen Kaiba was at that disastrous Exhibition match where they'd almost been dragged into a hellish dimension.

Why does he always bring trouble? she thought. It followed the KaibaCorp president as closely as his beloved dragons, and thinking of Kaiba only led her mind back to his rival…

I do love it here, she assured herself as she passed shops, cafes and news-stands; but sometimes it felt like she was meant to be living another life, one where golden dunes met a burnt blue sky and a majestic figure in purple carried her off in a magnificent chariot. Most girls dreamt of meeting a heroic prince when they were young, only Téa could claim to have actually known one. The skyscrapers of New York had kept his ghost at bay for a time, but once again she felt that familiar ache.

It's just the dream…she thought and continued walking, caught in a daze as the tides of New York broke around her.

"Ay! Watch it, sweetheart!"

"Oh sorry!" Téa exclaimed, realising she'd bumped into someone or more likely they'd bumped into her. It had taken some time for her to get used to the abrasive New Yorker attitude, but now she found she quite liked it.

The short, balding man gave her an irritated glance as he hurried on, but his thick Brooklyn drawl made her suddenly heartsick for Joey. She needed to contact them all again, it had been too long. Everyone had gone their separate ways, but Téa was the one who responded the least these days despite everyone dubbing her the 'Friendship Queen'.

It's my course, I've had no time recently…she thought, staring at her hand where she had marked Yugi, Joey, Tristan and herself with a special symbol. The ink had worn off long ago of course but the bonds were still there, no matter the distance.

Téa looked up and saw a mass of ad hoardings and screens promoting everything from the latest blockbusters to cleaning products - Time Square - not her usual haunt. She had meant to turn into Central Park at Columbus Circle but had obviously just kept following Broadway.

What's with me today? Must be the lack of sleep…

'Descent from the heavens, CEO returns!' caught her eye as the nearest news screen broadcast pictures of KaibaCorp station and Seto Kaiba in his usual, imperious stance - arms crossed, expression cold. People around her were pointing and taking pictures.

Speak of the devil, Téa thought as she locked eyes with that haughty stare.

Even in digital form he managed to make her feel like a minion, one of the lower lifeforms forever looking up at his solitary brilliance. She was glad it was just Mokuba she'd be meeting, no-way Kaiba himself would deign to call on one of 'the Geek Squad'. She didn't think she could face him anyway after all of Britney and Corinne's jokes.

Fifty Shades! What nerve!

Below his image was the headline - 'KaibaCorp stock soars! Dow Jones, Nikkei and FISE 100 all up.'

Mokuba will be happy about that, she thought as the financial information flowed across the screen, as meaningless to her as Ancient Egyptian hieratic. Although I still can't believe it's legal to make a twelve year old do all that he does.

She cast her mind back, remembering their first random meeting in Manhattan five months ago, both out of their depth and home-sick. Memories of Duelist Kingdom and Battle City rekindled the old bond and Téa found herself slipping back into the big sister role the boy clearly craved. She'd taken him for an impromptu walk along Broadway, pointing out all the theatres she hoped to perform in one day, whilst he showed her all the important offices he'd visited with his brother. Her gut burned with slow anger as he haltingly confessed his fears in a quiet cafe after, the tears beginning to spill over his eyelids. He worried that he wasn't enough, that he'd ruin the company, that Kaiba had left him just like everyone else precious to him because he was a burden.

"Your brother loves you more than anything else in this world!" she assured him.

Mokuba wiped his nose on his hand. "Then why did he leave? Why couldn't he let go of the past? Téa, you don't know where he's gone!"

"Where has he gone? Another virtual world? Does he need help again?" Téa's stomach sank.

"I don't know." Fresh tears flowed. "I can't reach him, I can't monitor him and bring him back like before. It's not a virtual world, it's something else." He shook that unruly mane and rubbed his eyes. "But I can't tell you more, please understand. It's a secret!"

"I understand," Téa said, even though she didn't. How dare Kaiba put his brother through this again! "Listen, your brother is the strongest, most stubborn person I know. He's sure to be back soon. Try not to worry. Whatever you do will be better than if he had no-one here. I'm sure you're doing just fine, Mokuba!"

"Thank you, Téa!" the young boy gave her a watery smile. "Let's do this again sometime, okay? Oh and you won't tell anyone what I said, will you?"

"Pinky promise!" Téa solemnly held out her finger, "but only if you make sure you ask for help. And talk to someone about your feelings. I'll do, but I'm not going to be able to advise you with stocks and shares, I'm afraid, unless the investors are looking for dance lessons!"

He clasped her little finger with his own. "Pinky swear! And yeah I do have a few people I can ask. Like Roland - you remember him from Battle City?"

"The guy with the moustache and shades?"

"Yeah, that's him!"

"Is there anything that guy doesn't do?" she said, remember him piloting the blimp, helicopters and refereeing the Battle City Tournament. Not to mention putting up with Kaiba's moodswings…

Mokuba laughed, fears forgotten. "He's a real all-rounder. You kinda have to be if my brother trusts you. There's only a few people he actually relies on."

Maybe he should try widening the net… Téa thought but didn't mention it, knowing how sensitive Mokuba was about Kaiba.

They had met a few times after, but mainly kept up the friendship via video link and text in-between her classes and his hectic schedule. He'd even come to a performance of hers at the end of first term despite how busy he must have been.

Such a cutie, she thought. I can't wait to catch up.

Unlike his icicle of a brother, Mokuba was sweet and considerate. Although he didn't have Kaiba's height or striking good looks, in time those kind eyes and luxuriant locks were going to make him the heartthrob his brother refused to be.

And a good thing too, Téa thought as she turned back, purchasing her favourite breakfast smoothie on the way. I can't imagine Kaiba falling for anyone other than the human version of the Blue Eyes, White Dragon, but if he does they are in for a world of trouble!

Given how obsessive the man was about Atem as a mere rival, she dreaded to think how he would behave with someone he was romantically attached to. Christian Grey wouldn't even cover it. His partner would never get to leave the house or do anything without ten bodyguards and Kaiba's omnipresent cameras everywhere to make sure they didn't accidentally catch sight of someone he could feel threatened by.

Possessive boyfriends are the worst! she thought as she sipped her drink, sighting the glass fronted doors of Juillard in the distance. Not that I'd know, of course…

Perhaps Britany was right…maybe she did need to start looking for someone special…

Author's Note:

Thank you as always for your lovely reviews - take this chapter as a reward and let me know what you think ;) It might be the last for a while. I'm having to sort out employment stuff this next week and we all know how fun that is! I wasn't able to proofread as thoroughly as I'd like to, so I hope there aren't any typos.

Aww the Téa/Mokuba sibling bond is so adorable to write! Expect more of that in future. Someone questioned Mokuba's age. I'm not completely sure of his actual age now, but it varies between 11-12 in the Japanese and 13-14 in US. Either way you are totally right, he has no business running a global corporation but the wiki has him as VP so…

A few people have asked me if the 'Geek Squad' will be at part of the fic. I love those guys but this story is primarily Téa and Kaiba-bros-centric. The gang might turn up at some point but the story is becoming long enough without more characters so I can't promise anything. You might notice Téa seems more detached from them than before, that will be explored but don't worry their bond is still as strong/important as ever.

I confess I'm not a fan of Fifty Shades (apologies to those that are) but it gets mentioned in the Azureshipping fandom so I thought I'd give it a nod.

I'm not sure what Kaiba's net worth is, nobody answered my question on Tumblr and it's not given in canon so I guessed a figure between Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg on the Forbes Rich List. The cost of a space station is (literally) astronomical so in reality he'd likely have more than this and be the Bezos of our world, but then KaibaCorp would have had to diversify into other areas like movies which in canon they haven't yet.