Chapter 6 - The Rules of the Game

Kaiba stretched in his desk chair, flexing tired back muscles. He must have been here for hours, the sun was turning the blinds behind him a burning orange.

He felt exhausted, the emails never seemed to end. Plus he was craving another draft of exquisite Italian roast having switched from espressos to watered down americanos for his blood pressure a while ago. Again Kaiba contemplated firing his personal physician for giving him that particular piece of advice but he was no fool, especially when it came to medical expertise. One did not shoot the messenger, especially when they were Harvard Medical alumni and could actually maintain the proper degree of discretion and civility needed to be his doctor. Kaiba forced himself to take another sip of the insipid coffee and grimaced. The screen before him offered no succour.

I owe Mokuba an apology, the young CEO thought, noting again the way his brother and the PR office had managed his affairs over the last six months, never knowing when or even if he would return. If not for his small inner circle things would have been a lot worse. They all deserved a raise and a lot of time off. His brother of course deserved the sibling that Kaiba no longer was.

He sighed. Later…I'll make it up to him later…Just let me beat the Pharaoh and put all this behind me, then Mokuba can have whatever he wants…

The remains of a half-eaten meal lay cold on the wide mahogany desk next to him. He ought to order more, he often forgot to eat and then his stomach would churn in its acid, further exacerbating his mood. Besides, he needed to get back to his strict diet to maintain the impressive muscle-mass necessary for using the Space Elevator.

Kaiba's eyes became hooded. I'll need to return at some point…He glanced at the Quantum Cube sheltered in its protective case, unseen security systems laced around it. Atem will need a little update on his beloved Téa…

How he could do that without incurring further time loss he didn't know, but he would find a way…He always did.

Ten minutes…he had earned himself ten minutes break.

Kaiba switched screens and brought up Gardner's details again, a hunger of a different kind stealing up through him. Here was everything the AI had amassed and categorised in the hours he'd been working on much duller things.

Hmm, what first?

The thing that most intrigued him - Juilliard.

Some of the world's best performers in stage, screen and music perfected their art there, and she'd gotten in on the rarest of beasts - a full-scholarship. Saccharine Téa Gardner, queen of friendship speeches and self-righteous take-downs, the dutiful but hardly intellectual student of Domino High School and four-year employee at Burger World, Domino City.

Kaiba clicked a button on his duel disk, which served as the prime controller for his networked devices, and the blinds lowered, casting the room in shadow. He checked the corridor camera but there was no-one there and the entire suite was sound-proofed regardless.

Perfect.

He sat back as a hologram of his quarry flickered into being, Gardner, all big eyes and shapely limbs, bowed before him. Kaiba smirked at the unintentional deference. How she would have hated it if she'd have known…

"Hello, I'm Téa Gardner, aged eighteen, student of Domino High School in Domino City, applying for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance…" She began to reel off her dance training history.

He could sense the nerves in her from the quick breath at the start of the speech to the overly bright smile, but her gaze was firm and confident. He remembered it all too well.

I belong here, it said. Don't dismiss me, I'm a force to be reckoned with.

Kaiba rested his face on his hand and watched her. Impress me then, Gardner.

The next section started - the ballet part of the audition tape. Kaiba snorted seeing her in stereotypical attire, that leotard was indecent on someone with her figure, the innocent bun complete with pink tights and shoes making it all the more absurd.

Gardner moved through the poses with ease, limbs subtle, expression fresh and engaged. Strange to be the spectator to her talent when so often she had been on the sidelines observing him.

She's good, he thought grudgingly, as bends and kicks were followed by graceful pirouettes. He could tell from the marshal arts and sports training forced on him by Gozaboro that her slim figure held deceptive strength. She was making it look easy just like any master did, just like Kaiba himself with any number of pursuits.

The classical accompaniment was clawing at him though, too reminiscent of those tortuous galas Gozaburo made them attend. The tycoon was keen to show off his precocious trophies and compel them to perform on cue, the threat of the orphanage an unseen miasma underneath the glittering lights and too-loud laughter. It all came flooding back - Gozaburo's endless insufferable conversations, Mokuba terrified to put a foot wrong yet desperately tired, Kaiba's hyper-vigilance, both to protect his brother but also to study the ways of the so-called elite, their tastes and schemes, alliances and assassinations.

Learn well, Seto, his adopted father hissed in his ear, the stench of whisky and cigars on his breath. Watch these people. They'll pretend to be your friend but every one of them is either a potential asset or enemy to KaibaCorp.

I did learn, didn't I, Gozaburo? Kaiba thought, fists clenched on the edge of the desk, I learnt who was the real enemy was just like you wanted. And I destroyed him.

He came to, realising the music had faded with the end of the video. Wait? Is there more?

Gardner appeared again like some spectral fairy, her form infinitely more pleasing than the memories of his childhood. He focused on her, willing the past to leave him. Her hair was down this time but swept away from her face.

"This is my solo piece. The music is by the band Zola Blood, track name 'Good Love', choreography by myself and my teacher-"

Ugh, get on with it! Kaiba rolled his eyes. He wanted her to dance for his pleasure, not bore him with insignificant facts!

The music was soulful and sensuous with a compelling beat. Gardner started on the floor causing Kaiba to have to lean forward to see her properly. He wasn't disappointed. She pulsed her body as the rhythm began, tilting her head, then limbs one by one, allowing the tempo to live through her. The performance grew and she began to writhe, slowly moving from position to position, building from floor-work to twists and kicks, turns and runs, each flowing into the next.

She held out her hand to Kaiba, eyes capturing his own as if she had suddenly seen him. Kaiba jerked back before he could stop himself. The yearning and sorrow in her gaze was palpable.

Gardner reached towards him and for a moment, against all logic, Kaiba thought she might break through the veil of time and space that separated them, but then she fell back in anguish on the floor.

'…Gold-pressed…temptress…of silence…

Let the morning call unanswered…

And ransom…the day off…'

She was a temptress when she moved like that - hands caressing her own body, mimicking the actions of a lover. Kaiba flushed, his new suit too confining.

He scoffed, both at himself and her, but couldn't stop himself wondering if she had ever been with anyone. Were those motions the pathetic products of an overwrought teenage imagination or did the Pharaoh actually find the courage before his departure?

Not that her movements were vulgar, they were tasteful, vulnerable even. The innocence of youthful passion, cut short by tragedy.

'Always… I'll take…good love…

Or anything that might save… our place for a little longer…'

This is about Atem, Kaiba realised as he gazed at Gardner spinning now in an increasingly tight circle, leg pointed to the ceiling as the music built to a crescendo. There was a depth of emotion flowing through her that spoke of love and loss.

Kaiba sat there rigid, eyes fixed on the ephemeral figure that arched and spun around his office with heart-stopping grace. Jealousy curled deep and ugly in his chest. He reached towards the controls on his duel disk to dismiss her but found he couldn't. He needed to see the end.

She fell to the floor again, ribs rising and falling to the final notes, before stretching out fully in release, face pressed to the ground. Silence stretched out, punctuated only by Kaiba's constricted breaths.

Gardner rose, sweet smile back in place as if she hadn't just decimated her audience. "Thank you for watching."

Kaiba stood up as she faded, his muscles tight, gaze vacant.

So she loved him too…I knew it.

Only Atem though. The instinct that had served him so well in business and duelling confirmed that. Besides, there was no record of little Yugi in New York, no flying visits or trips home to see her beloved. True, the relationship could have been long-distance, but he wasn't going to search through her phone records or social media like some grubby tabloid journalist. Kaiba trusted his intuition - it was the Pharaoh Gardner loved, not his vessel. It stood to reason, he was the most powerful and charismatic and people always gravitated to strength. Like the animal kingdom where only the fittest males gained the privilege of breeding rights, so it was in human society however much the romantics wanted to believe otherwise.

I'll have her eventually, whatever her residual feelings for Atem…but where's the contest in that? The Pharaoh is out of the game…

His eyes fell on the Quantum Cube. Of course! Not for me but for her.

He would pursue Téa Gardner, seduce her with all his manifest power and abilities, then offer her the choice - either stay with him and gain her wildest dreams or go to Atem knowing that he returned her affections.

Perfect! Kaiba let out a laugh. This way it would be fair and given her and the Pharaoh's mutual pining it was a heady temptation for Gardner, so when she chose Kaiba it would mean all the more. Plus it would deprive Atem of the last opportunity of seeing his love, just like he had deprived Kaiba of a proper finale to their rivalry in Egypt.

Seduction wasn't something that came naturally to Kaiba so it would be a challenge, but he would win. This was primal competition and viewing it in those terms he liked the scheme more and more.

And thinking of her performance skills perhaps there was a way to blend business with pleasure…

Kaiba closed down all files, unlocked his office and strode out into the hallway to find Mokuba. It was time to go to New York.

He stalked down the corridor, scaring a maid with his sudden emergence. Kaiba ignored her histrionics, coming to a stop outside his brother's suite. He was about to rap his knuckles across the polished oak grain but started, hearing his two worlds collide.

"…Hey Téa! I'm great! Guess what? Seto's back!"

"That's amazing!" Gardner's enthusiastic voice gasped. "You must be so happy! Is he okay?"

He's talking with Gardner! Kaiba thought incredulously.

"Perfect as always!" Mokuba chirped.

"See, I told you," she said. "I knew he couldn't leave you forever."

Did you now? Kaiba found himself smiling. They continued their cheery update, the amazement in Gardner's voice clear even hundreds of miles away when Mokuba told her of Kaiba's plans.

"You know my brother!" Mokuba laughed. "He's not happy unless he's doing something."

Téa chuckled. "That's sounds like him! So will you have any free time? Can we meet up?"

"I hope so. But I don't know how much time I'll have and you know…I have to prioritise Seto. He's just got back and-"

Don't worry, Gardner, Kaiba thought as he listened, I'll make an exception just for you.

A few sickly sweet exchanges later and Kaiba's mind was whirling, the final pieces of his plan clicking into place.

"See ya!" Mokuba finished and Kaiba knocked, forcing his face to remain blank.

"Bro?" Mokuba said with surprised delight as he opened the door.

"Did I hear the dulcet tones of Téa Gardner?" Kaiba asked wryly and Mokuba blushed.

"Yeah…hmm…well…you see we bumped into each other in New York about five months ago-"

"New York? What's she doing there?" Kaiba said, hating himself for the deception but knowing it was necessary.

"She's training to be a dancer at this top arts school. Don't laugh, she's really good!"

I know she is, Kaiba thought. "Is that so?" he said aloud. "And why were you discussing our business affairs?"

"Well…" Mokuba tapped his index fingers together and looked anywhere but at his brother, "I was wondering…I know things will be really busy…but…"

Kaiba lent against the doorway, arms crossed. "But?"

"…Maybe I might get a chance to see her while we're there?"

"Please tell me you haven't developed a crush," Kaiba's eyes narrowed. Now, that would be awkward…

"No!" Mokuba exclaimed, "I mean, Téa's lovely-"

Kaiba raised a brow and Mokuba's blush deepened. "She's like a big sister to me, bro!"

Kaiba maintained the stare until Mokuba threw up his hands. "Ugh, not like you of course, but she's a friend. She was really kind to me in New York when I was worried about you."

"Then it appears I have incurred another debt to her." Kaiba allowed himself a small smile.

"You mean I'll have time to see her?" Mokuba gasped.

"We'll make time," Kaiba said, then snorted when his brother danced around his suite in a burst of adolescent joy.

Mokuba grabbed Kaiba in his second hug of the day. "You won't regret it, Seto! Don't worry, whatever you need, I'll do. I just want to see her for a bit while we're there."

"You've done enough," Kaiba objected, feeling the insidious uprisings of guilt again. "I'm not going to make you work all hours, Mokuba, you can relax with Gardner if you want."

Mokuba grinned. "She's going to be so happy! Let me tell her now." He bent to pick up the phone.

"Wait," Kaiba said and Mokuba looked up, confused. "Keep it as a surprise," he continued, referring to the both of them. I'll tell Mokuba my plan when the time is right.

And by plan he meant on the business front. He had no intention of involving his little brother with any of his ulterior motives. That could prove difficult now Mokuba and Gardner were friends, Kaiba had to tread carefully. He didn't want to hurt his beloved sibling and Mokuba was forever plotting to 'ease Kaiba up' by introducing mundane elements into his life like friends, flirtations and pop culture. He'd even enlisted Roland and others to help him before Kaiba cracked down on them all. The last thing he wanted was for the boy to get his hopes up. Kaiba had no idea what the fallout was going to be from all this.

"Great thinking, Seto!" Mokuba winked. "A surprise it is!"

"Then get ready. I'll tell Roland to load up the jet. We're going to New York within the hour."

"You got it!"

That's four birds with one stone, Kaiba thought. One - I crush the Pharaoh, two - I test out my business ideas, three - my brother gets the affection he deserves, and four - I repay my debt to Gardner for taking care of him.

Téa Gardner, from being a complete annoyance, you have become quite the asset…

Author's Note: I've had a very difficult week so take this chapter for your patience and give this beleaguered author some much needed love ;)

I've given up apologising for the length of these notes. I like sharing my thoughts and creative process with you all, so there! I'm 10/20 years too late to be part of the active fandom for Yu-Gi-Oh! but I'm gonna try nonetheless. :D

So yes Kaiba is a complete selfish, intrusive sh*t here. I wanted to stay true to his surveillance habits, esp in the manga and the sub.

Touching on what a reviewer - Number 13 - (thanks for the reviews btw) mentioned a few chapters ago that while Kaiba could hack anything, he wouldn't need to do so for Téa's info as that would be on public record or on social media. I wanted to clarify that Kaiba did need to hack this information, the info he is after is not on social media or readily accessible. He went for school and government records that should be protected by the Data Protection Act. Yes that is extremely creepy, yes he's done similar things in canon esp earlier in the manga/sub and I seriously don't think he's very self-aware about his habits in this way. Kaiba has a lot of growing up to do in that respect and he feels justified in this control in ways that will hopefully become clear as the story progresses.

Also I always laugh at the bit where he gets impatient about her introducing the song she is dancing to, cos you know it's not for you, Kaiba, it's for the Juilliard Exam Board! Obv he knows that, he's just caught up in the moment.

She's pursuing her dreams, ya creep!

What? Something that doesn't immediately conform to my needs? Inconceivable!

Zola Blood - 'Good Love' is an amazing song and I won't hear different. You can find it on Youtube, itunes etc. Poss I need to remove the lyrics for copyright. I debated on the track/theme she would use to audition for Juilliard for a long time. It's the culmination of her dreams and a way to move on, so would it being about Atem help or hinder that notion? After finding that song and looking at a load of modern dance performances (yes I'm a nerd okay, I love research and do it for fanfic as well as my original stories) I decided Téa would use her audition as an opportunity to express her deepest feelings and move on, get it out of her system. It's this passion and maturity I'd like to think that got her into Juilliard over all the competition.