And here we are at chapter 3! Hopefully my chapters will stop growing in length, but this one has a lot of information in it that I felt I couldn't pass up.
Thanks to everyone who has read the story so far, and a special shout out to animagirl for being the first to review! As always, feel free to PM me with any questions, I'll reply just as soon as I can. For now, enjoy chapter 3!
A/N: I do not Own Yu-Gi-Oh or any characters created by Kazuki Takahashi. I only own my OCs, this fic is purely for entertainment.
Chapter 3
Eight years. Eight years had passed since I had last set foot in Japan, and now here I was, back in the Sarota Estate, overseeing the unpacking of our furniture and the finishing touches on the remodeling of the mansion.
Oh, I'm getting ahead of myself aren't I? Let me back up a little then.
Barely four months after I'd been officially adopted into the Sarota family, Uncle Sota had announced that Sarota Entertainment was going global and opening a branch in America. As the CEO, he wanted to be there to ensure that our foothold in the American music industry was secure. So we'd all packed up and moved to Los Angeles, California. Given that America had been my native country in my previous life, it had been good to be back to visit; however, I'd missed Japan. Once you immerse yourself and really live in another culture, it's hard to go back to what you once knew as familiar. I was able to view America through a foreigner's eyes, really see and understand the differences between the cultures. It had been interesting and a little eye opening to say the least.
Plus it gave me a chance to revisit my love for burritos and tacos. But aside from that, there wasn't much to be said about being back in America. I did very little aside from studying and learning how the music industry works from my uncle.
Hojo and I continued our studies with private tutors, and I graduated with a 4.0 GPA at sixteen. After that I immersed myself into the company, helping my uncle with anything that he asked and making a name of sorts for myself. Granted most of my "fame" comes from my last name, but I am a public figure and have been made a role model for others. I maintain a good public image for our company's sake, being called the "Princess of Sarota" by the press, and help build relationships with other companies and our artists. Lately I've also branched out, appearing in some music videos and writing songs of my own, but that's about all I'm willing to do at this point. I still dislike being placed on center stage. I do enjoy producing and helping other artists reach their full potential however. My knowledge of what the popular music styles would be in the future from my previous life helped immensely in this respect, but I do try to let artists and trends develop on their own as naturally as I can. But sometimes someone requires a gentle nudge in the right direction, which I'm happy to provide.
I also do the "cleanup" work for the company, including information gathering on our competitors and weeding out rats in our ranks. The music industry is surprisingly dirty, with rival companies always trying to steal high ranking musicians and producers, corporate sabotage, stealing of music and lyrics… The list goes on and on. My uncle has made it my unofficial job to ensure that Sarota stays at the top of the music industry by not allowing these things to happen to us, and given my protective nature I am perfect for the job. This also ensures him of my loyalty to our company and that I'll do whatever it takes to protect it.
After all, the family is the company and the company is family.
That being said, I know that I'll never inherit the company, and I have no intention of ever inheriting. I have my sights set on becoming the head of the A&R Department, where my influence can be used more effectively to further our interests and not be held back by the restrictions of being the CEO. Let Hojo take that role, whenever he decides to finish growing up.
Please don't be mistaken, I adore my cousin. Hojo and I have only grown closer since our initial introduction, and I can safely say that he is my best friend. Even when I want to strangle him, I still love him unconditionally. My uncle and I have grown rather close as well, and although he can never take the place of my parents he has my love and my loyalty. He understands that my ambition goes to helping the company, not in taking over and he rewards my loyalty with his affection. It's a good trade off, all in all so I have nothing to complain about as far as my relationship with my family goes.
But the current state of our company is another matter.
Since our presence in the American music industry is secure, we were already planning on coming back home to Japan and leaving a trusted advisor in place back in Los Angeles. But a month ago, we discovered that someone in our corporate headquarters here in Domino City was leaking lyrics and music that had been written by our songwriters to our main competitor, Royalty Records. When my uncle and I found out what was happening… I don't think I've ever seen him as angry in the entire time I've known him. He was livid, and I felt the same way; one thing about our family is that we hold loyalty in the highest regards. So for one of our trusted employees to betray us in such a way sent us on the warpath.
I convinced my uncle to give me time to not only find and destroy the spy in our midst, but also to give me time to plan retaliation against Royalty Records. It took some serious use of my persuasive abilities but I succeeded on getting him to not tear through the company like a hurricane.
But until I had hard evidence in my hands I couldn't act. No matter what the circumstance, without concrete proof to back up your words, making accusations against those who were considered your seniors was asking for trouble. To save my reputation, and to give myself time to plot a fully realized revenge I would have to be patient. It's actually not as hard as some would think to get someone to slip up and implicate themselves. You add just the right amount of pressure, let a rumor or two slip and BAM! They begin panicking, and being emotionally compromised makes people slip up and become sloppy. Then all that's left to be done is sit back, make some popcorn and watch as their world implodes around them.
I never claimed to be nice; in fact, I'm a pretty vindictive bitch when you mess with my family's livelihood. But while I'm destroying someone's life for attempting to mess with mine, I have the sweetest smile on my face and that's why no one suspects me until it's too late.
In the meantime, as the sole female in the family it was expected of me to oversee the domestic side of our family. I handled the hiring and managing of the household staff, managed the household expenses and hosted all charity and company functions. This role was a purely traditional one, and my uncle had only recently handed over the domestic domain into my care, but so far I'd done well and had impressed him with my ability to multitask so well. Of course I couldn't tell him that it was from having over forty years' experience, so I just accepted his praise with a smile.
Turning my thoughts back to the present, I walked along the hallways and admired the job the interior design company I had hired and worked with had done. The goal had been to make the home both reflective of our status, but also relaxing for us when we came home; that meant lots of warm, neutral colors which I adored. The rich carpeting, tasteful paintings and overall atmosphere was exactly what I had wanted.
Spotting Hojo I made my way over to him, standing by his side and watching the movers unload his monster of a bed. Why he felt the need for such a large bed I didn't want to know. "Seriously cousin, what's wrong with a California king bed? But no, you just had to have a custom made mattress that's even bigger. I hope you appreciate how much of a nightmare it is to get linens for it."
Hojo turned a mischievous grin in my direction. "Well that's your department. I enjoy the bed; you find solutions for the problem of sheets to fit it." I rolled my eyes, but when he bumped his shoulder against mine I returned his smile. Hojo may be a pain in my ass at times and a certified playboy, but so long as he wasn't being insanely stupid I took his joking manner in stride. He meant well, and would outgrow his childish ways someday. Or at least that's what I kept telling myself.
Hojo turned with me as I made my way to the kitchen, hunting for a cup of coffee. I didn't really need the extra energy, but I drank it more for the flavor than the caffeine jolt. There was something soothing about a freshly brewed cup of coffee, and as much as I enjoyed tea, coffee still won over in my mind. "So, have you made any headway on finding our mole?" Hojo asked, keeping his voice low. Although we trusted our household staff, there were some things that we didn't want them overhearing; less from fear of them gossiping, more from not wanting to give them information that they might be tempted to sell. A good household staff could be trusted, but I hardly trusted anyone outside the family.
"Not much. I've narrowed down my list of suspects and have a trap set though. Now I just need whoever it is to take the bait. And no, I'm not going to tell you anything other than that. If this backfires on us it's best for you and your father to not be involved." I explained for the umpteenth time. I glanced his way and as I expected found a grimace on Hojo's face on more than one occasion he had made it clear that he disliked my blasé attitude about the possible negative repercussions of doing the dirty work. But I accepted it as a necessary gamble for what I did for the family.
"I wish you didn't have to think like that. Seriously Reila, why couldn't you be a normal girl who's more worried about what clothes you own and not getting so involved with the shady side of business?" He said, opening the door to the kitchen. I shrugged in response, not wanting to get into another heated discussion about what I did for the company. It was like listening to a broken record at times but I knew he meant well.
"Have you finalized the guest list for the party at the end of the month? We need to get the invitations sent off tomorrow." Uncle Sota and I had planned on inviting as many big name companies as possible to a party we would host here at the estate. The party had one purpose; to let everyone know that we were back and had no intention of giving up our moniker of number one in the industry, by strengthening our ties with the major companies here in Japan, and also showcasing the abilities of our family as heads of the company. Although a recording agency, we worked closely with movie production companies, as well as many gaming companies. I'd made sure to put Kaiba Corp. on the guest list, although I somehow doubted that Seto would accept the invitation.
I'd kept tabs on Kaiba Corp. ever since I'd left Japan. My uncle had at first wondered what my interest in a weapons manufacturer was, but once it became public knowledge that Gozaburo Kaiba had adopted two brothers from an orphanage he had understood that the boys he had seen me sitting with when he had picked me up were the boys in question. He had even been impressed when Seto had taken control of the company and turned it into such a powerhouse in the gaming industry. But I had not spoken to either of the brothers since we parted, and I planned to use the invitation to at least give myself a chance to reconnect with the two. I also had allowed myself to be photographed multiple times since our return to Japan, and soon the music video that I had co-starred in would make its debut, although I doubted that either Seto or Mokuba watched many music videos. But since it was with our leading solo artist Gorou Kimoto, who was the equivalent to Gackt Camui from my previous life, I was bound to at least be mentioned to them and that would hopefully open up a way for me to reunite with them.
Hojo nodded as I handed him a cup of coffee. "Yeah, I sent it to dad's assistant so she can send out the invitations in the morning. And I forwarded a copy of the list to your email so you can look it over too." He said, leaning against the counter beside me. "I still don't see why we can't just send out notes to everyone instead of hosting some giant party. Something simple, ya know? Just a piece of paper that says 'We're back, we're bad, and we'll still kick the asses of anyone who stands in our way'." Hojo winked at me and I laughed, because honestly if we could do something like that it would save me a lot of work, not to mention save us all time and headaches.
"Be careful, someday you might meet someone who takes your teasing seriously. And heaven help us if that ever happens." I said, pulling out a stool and perching on the top, kicking off my stilettos. I'd finally grown to a respectable 5' 5" (roughly 165 centimeters since we're back in Japan and I have to readjust to the metric system) but compared to men like my uncle and cousin I was still considered small and petite. As such I tended to wear three inch stilettos to add a little bit to my height, and also because I looked fabulous in them and I'd grown so used to heels that I felt vulnerable without them.
Hojo nudged one of them with his toe, his expression making it clear that he still didn't understand how I managed to wear them all day and not complain. "I am being serious. I know how much work this party will make for you, and you've already got a full plate with finding the mole and overseeing Yumi's next video. Speaking of, her manager sent over a list of possible locations. Since they want to do the shoot at a school he sent a list of ones that he thought would be the best and that will be available during the next break the schools have. He's leaving the final choice up to you though."
I felt a soft smile grace my face at his concern. "Don't worry about me Hojo. I can handle it all, and if I find myself being overwhelmed you know that I'll come to you for help." I knew that he meant well, but sometimes it was hard not to get frustrated with the way he treated me. I had to constantly remind myself that in their eyes, I was a seventeen year old genius who acted way older than her years. But others outside of my immediate family recognized my drive and dedication too; our top female artist, Yumi Sarada blatantly refused to work with anyone other than myself. It was a sore subject amongst the board members and the head of A&R, but it cemented the fact that I would someday be the head of that department and there was little they could do to stop it. With my uncle and cousin backing me, as well as the backing from some of our top tier artists they would have to be completely insane to not let me take over the department in the future.
Finishing my coffee I gave Hojo a quick kiss on the cheek and made my way to my bedroom. Although Hojo and his father had home offices, I didn't have an official role within the company and it seemed a waste to use another room for a home office for myself. Especially when my room was plenty big enough to fit a full sized desk and all the equipment I could need. Stepping inside, I smiled slightly as I soaked in the feeling of comfort and home, pleased that little had been changed. The walls were still a pale blue, the carpet still a pretty cream color but I had updated the curtains and linens to more age appropriate styles. The cavernous closet that I had once believed could never be filled in fact had been, but what I owned more than any of was shoes.
Hey, everyone has the one thing they cannot live without.
Going to my desk I booted up my computer, picking up my PDA while I waited for it to finish the startup process. A flood of emails stared back from the screen at me and I sighed, seeing that the most recent were from Yumi and her manager. Most people would question why a manager was constantly seeking advice and leaving the decision making for his client up to someone else, but the arrangement worked for us; he was manager in name and got the salary and recognition for it, while I remained safely on the sidelines and out of the limelight. For now I ignored those and looked over the list of invitees that we could expect in a few weeks. The usual names were there of course, including some electronics manufacturers, some high profile celebrities and musicians, the current conductor of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and our most trusted associates and companies that we worked closely with on many projects. And there, towards the bottom of the list was Kaiba Corp.
Smiling to myself I pulled up the email from Mr. Yuji, Yumi's manager. The list was fairly short, as Yumi herself had already screened the first list, but was having a hard time picking form the three schools that had made the final cut. The first one I knew from looking at the information provided wouldn't do at all; the location was bad and the overall look of the school didn't fit her style nor the style of the video. The other two were closer in looks to what the director of the video wanted, and it would be easy enough to get the education board's permission to film; a donation to the arts department would secure the green light on their end, and then all it would take is getting the principal of the school to approve the use of the building for a filming project. The estimated time frame was four weeks, split up over four separate Sundays so it wouldn't interfere with the student's schooling.
A quick online search of the principals and I had their basic information. Both appeared amiable and would be more than happy for their school to get the notoriety that the video would give it, and the uniforms Yumi would adore since they both used her favorite color; pink. I spent some more time looking over pictures of the school buildings and debating the pros and cons when a news article caught my eye. Clicking the link, I scanned the article, a slow, devious grin coming over my face. It would seem that Arisu Watanabe, the youngest of the Watanabe family attended Domino City High School. And the Watanabe family also ran Royalty Records. What better way to show them that they were in my sights than to use the very school that their youngest family member attended?
I sent off the email to Mr. Yuji right away. Tomorrow I would go to Domino City High and secure the use of the building.
One more hour, and he could finally leave this ridiculous school for the day. Although Domino City High ranked as one of the top 5 schools in the area, Seto Kaiba still detested the time that he had to spend here. But just a few more credits and he could get his diploma, and get the current board members at Kaiba Corp. off his back. He couldn't re-write the current terms that required the CEO of Kaiba Corp. to have a valid high school diploma from an accredited school, not tutors like he had been used to. No, that snake Gozaburo had tried to undermine his authority from the grave. Well the joke was on him, because not only was Seto already CEO, but he would be re-writing that clause as soon as possible. And a few of the mouthier board members would be needing to find new employers in the near future, just for good measure.
At least everyone in his class had finally come to the realization that he had no intention of socializing or becoming friends with any of them. Running a company took priority over friendship any day, and as the youngest CEO currently in the business he had too much pressure to deliver and maintain his status at the top. He had his brother, his company, and currently held the title of the best duelist worldwide. He didn't need anything else.
His narrowed gaze lifted from his book to the teacher at the front of the class, who had seemingly given up trying to get his class in order before the bell rang and instead gave them some time in between lessons to socialize and cause as much noise as possible. Something about it promoting a positive atmosphere or some similar drivel. Seto brushed it aside, remaining in his seat and reading a book to keep others at bay. One thing that he could be halfway grateful to the school for was allowing him to make time to read. Since he generally knew most of the course work, successfully maintaining his status as a genius, that left him ample time to brush up on reading that classics that he was fond of. He remembered being influenced by someone to read classical literature, but he could barely remember their face let alone their name; all he remembered were a pair of black eyes.
"Hey, a limo just pulled up outside. Wonder who it is?" Seto's gaze shifted to one of his female classmates standing by the window. Her comment caught the attention of those near her and they wandered over as well, a low murmur starting to circulate around them.
"Who could it be? Arisu is already at school, and she and Kaiba are the only ones who come regularly in limos."
"It's gotta be a celebrity, but what celebrity would be coming to the school?"
"Maybe it's Gouro Kimoto finally coming to confess his undying love to you, Miki."
Seto rolled his eyes and stood, going to one of the farther windows and peering out. No insignias or noticeable marks on the vehicle itself gave him any indication, but what if it was a business rival? He needed to find out who it was so that the class would quiet down and he could get through this last hour in relative peace. Finally the door opened, and a small feminine figure emerged. The most striking thing about her was her hair, deep red wild curls that fell down to her waist lit up like a beacon under the afternoon sun. Her clothes looked to be higher end and were simple yet tasteful, and she was talking on a cell phone as she walked to the front doors. Seto tried to place her but nothing was coming to mind of any recent acquaintances or partners. A high ranking female in the business world wasn't unheard of but still not common, especially one with that hair color. He'd almost dismissed her as unimportant when another voice rang out.
"No way… It's Reila Sarota!" A classmate exclaimed, and the noise level rose as everyone began to recognize her. Seto blinked as the pieces clicked into place, and again peered down at the girl who had stopped to finish her phone call before entering the building. It had been years since they'd seen each other, and then her name had been Reila Castille, but now that he could put a name to the 'face' he wondered how he could have forgotten that hair. Then again, her eyes and her mannerisms were the things he remembered the most, when she crossed his mind from time to time.
"Wait, who is she?" Seto's eyes turned to the blonde haired loud mouth that spoke with such a heavy accent… Welch? Welling? He couldn't remember his name.
"Reila Sarota. Honestly Joey don't you pay attention to anything other than Duel Monsters? She's the youngest member of the Sarota family, and they're huge in the entertainment world. Mostly music, but they also manage models and dancers. Her family recently moved back to Japan and Cure magazine did an entire story on their return." His brown haired friend said, fishing a magazine out of her bag and showing it. Seto caught a glimpse of the cover and sure enough, there she was.
She was no longer a child that was for sure. Although her uncle was the main focus of the picture, being seated on a throne with his son standing confidently to his left, Reila was perched on the right arm of the throne, a confident smirk on her face as her black eyes stared straight into the camera. The picture said exactly what it was supposed to; that music royalty was back in a big way. He quickly assessed everything from the way she held herself to her now grown features; she had never been a beautiful child, but she had grown up to be a striking woman.
"Wait a minute, I remember hearing something about that now. They call her the Princess of Sarota don't they?"
"That's right. Her mother left the family to marry a man she loved against the wishes of her father, but she and her husband passed away after Reila started school; she was adopted by her uncle back into the Sarota family not long after."
"Wow, dat's pretty cool. Think she's here to register as a student?"
"No, she's already graduated. She's like a certified genius or something, but she focuses more on the family business than anything, while taking online college courses for her degree." The girl said, obviously star struck. "The Sarota family is known for not only being sharp witted and powerful in business matters, they value loyalty and honor above anything else. That's what makes them so powerful; the loyalty that their artists and workers have to the family."
Seto tuned the rest of their conversation out as he watched one girl hang out the window to wave and yell how much she adored Reila, who in turn looked up with a startled look on her face. But she recovered quickly and gave a polite smile; but he could see it was a fake smile. Seto remembered what her real smile looked like, and this one lacked the warmth that her true smile held. Turning back to his seat he passed Arisu Watanabe, and noted the troubled look on her face. Seto knew that Royalty Records and Sarota Entertainment were rivals, but Reila being here shouldn't have troubled her this much, unless the Watanabe's were too scared to take on Sarota head-on.
Continuing to his seat, he noted that the bell had rung and the teacher was finally able to get the class into some semblance of order, but the general buzz in conversation was a question he was asking himself; what was a member of the Sarota family doing here?
An hour after stepping foot onto Domino City High's campus, I had the written agreement signed by the principal to allow us the use of the campus for the next four Sundays to film the video. I had been right, the principal was amiable and humbled that his school had been chosen for such a "prestigious event". And a ¥15,000,000 donation to their arts department secured the education board's approval. The principal was still overjoyed, bowing low and expressing his deepest thanks and thanking me for the students who would benefit from so much generosity.
Never let it be said that I lack in the persuasion department. It also didn't hurt that our donation to them was three times as much as their highest donation to date.
The final bell had just rung and I sighed as I tucked the paperwork into my purse, debating on whether or not I wanted to fight the crowds or wait until the students had thinned out before leaving. I didn't have any other appointments today, but I wanted to deliver the contract as quickly as possible before word of what happened got around. And given that Arisu was somewhere in those halls, I wondered if it would be wisest for me to keep my distance. I had seen her in the classroom where my supposed fan had been precariously hanging out of the window so I knew she was aware that I was here, but staying out of her immediate way might be the best thing. I don't want to tip them off that I'm onto them too soon.
"Ms. Sarota, I hope you will give me the pleasure of escorting you back to your car? I'm sure you have many other appointments today." The principal said, and although that couldn't be farther from the truth keeping the appearance of a busy person who took time out of her schedule to deliver the news in person was better for my image. I agreed and tucked my hand into the crook of his elbow, allowing him to pull me out into the sea of students.
Almost immediately, I realized his plan; he wanted to be seen with someone famous. I heard my name shouted a few times, and the clicks of cellphones taking pictures, but I kept a pleasant smile on my face the entire time and did nothing but allow him to escort me to the locker area. "Here is fine, sir. I think that there are a few people who want to speak to me anyway." I said when we reached the front doors, and I spied a small party of Royalty Record cronies waiting. Arisu stood slightly behind her older cousin Kaiji, who was glowering at me as though I'd personally insulted him. Which given that I had chosen this school specifically, the case could be argued that I had insulted him. But he would have to have proof of that, which he didn't.
Leaving the principal with a puzzled expression on his face, I stepped out the doors and stopped a little ways from them, with the same pleasant smile on my face. "If it isn't the Watanabe cousins; a pleasure to see you both again." I said, which only seemed to set Kaiji on edge.
"Spare me the pleasantries Reila. What do you think you're doing here? You've no business being at this school." Kaiji said, his dark eyes narrowed as he looked me over from head to toe. From his business suit it was obvious that he had just come from the office. Arisu had probably called him as soon as she saw me come on campus, and given how new she was to the industry she was probably terrified of meeting me face to face without her older cousin as backup. Glancing at the girl my suspicions were confirmed; she was all but trembling with anxiousness to get away from me. I weighed my options quickly, but a small boast couldn't hurt much, could it?
"I was merely securing use of the grounds for Yumi's next promotional video. She adores using authentic school buildings, and since the uniform uses her favorite color for the jackets, Domino City High was the obvious choice. One must keep their artists happy to ensure their loyalty." I said politely, barely keeping the smirk from my face as Kaiji winced. It was a bit of a low blow, reminding him that at least three higher grossing artists had defected for Royalty to join Sarota, but sometimes small reminders that they weren't the top dogs were necessary. "I suppose you're here to pick up your cousin? That's so sweet of you to take time out of your schedule for her."
Again, another dig but one that was so subtle no one without knowledge of their family would catch it. It was rare to see two members of the family together outside of formal functions. The Watanabe family wasn't as tightly knit as my uncle, cousin and I were but they did come together in times of crisis. Although bickering and small grudges between the sons existed, as their father had yet to name a successor to the company, it was surprising that they spent so much time arguing with one another instead of proving to be worthy of the company. Kaiji colored a little at the obvious dig, since I knew for a fact that he was the least busy of his three brothers; he was the youngest and his two elder brothers were halfway decent producers who generally had their hands full trying to manage Royalty's top tier artists. When he opened his mouth to retort, I silenced him by holding up a finger. "Now Kaiji, let's keep this conversation pleasant and peaceful. After all, there are eyes and ears everywhere." I said, glancing to the side where cell phones were out and pictures of our exchange being taken. His jaw snapped shut, obviously wanting to retaliate but having the common sense to keep his mouth shut in front of so many witnesses.
A pity, because I do enjoy putting someone in their place after an angry outburst.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I watched with amusement as he tried to come up with a way to make a remark without it being obviously snide. But he wouldn't be able to match me and we both knew it. When it came to word games and puzzles I was at the top of my age bracket, and given my pristine public image anything said against me would be taken as slander and backlash on him. I had him cornered and he knew it, but being the "Princess" that I was I was willing to accept his quiet retreat graciously. Instead he plastered a fake smile on his face and waved subtly to his hoodlums who backed down from their attempted intimidation stance.
"Forgive me, it was just a shock to see you here is all. You've barely been back in Japan a month and you're already so hard at work; I'm sure that your company appreciates the effort and all your hard work." I could appreciate the subtle rebuke, but comments like that only worked if you took offense to them. It was common knowledge that I wasn't in the running to inherit the company, and it didn't bother me so I shrugged off his comment.
"My uncle does, and that's all the thanks I need." I said simply, and checked my watch. "As pleasant as it's been talking with you, I do need to be heading out. There's no rest for the wicked after all." I said, starting forward only to have Kaiji block my way.
"I'd be careful if I were you, Reila." He said it so lowly I knew that he intended for no one but me to hear it. "Sarota won't be on top long, and when it falls I hope you have more than your pretty face to fall back on."
Turning my head I looked him dead in the eyes, knowing that my penetrating gaze made him uncomfortable. "Kaiji, the day that you can take me by surprise is the day that I willingly hand over the title of top company in the entertainment industry to you. Until then, keep your threats to yourself and stay out of my way. Those who cross Sarota don't stick around to tell others about their mistakes." I said, my face taking on a serious look. He took an involuntary half step back and I took that as my cue to leave, but before I'd taken three more steps a hand on my elbow stopped me. Taking a deep breath I turned expecting it to be Kaiji again, but instead found piercing blue eyes gazing into my own. It took a moment for my mind to catch on to what had happened before realization came crashing down. I felt my mouth open in shock, but quickly composed myself and a genuine smile formed on my lips.
"Seto…"
When class had finally been dismissed, Seto made his way quickly to the front doors. All through his last class one question had run through his mind; to approach Reila or not. There was little benefit in a personal relationship anymore, but a business relationship would prove beneficial to them both. Sarota was at the top of the music and entertainment industry, and the virtual reality game he was developing could be made even better with the help of the music writers they kept on staff.
He might be a genius in many aspects, but music wasn't his strongest point; and his products would only use the best products.
But the main reason he had decided to approach her was Mokuba. He knew that of them two of them, Mokuba was the one that missed Reila the most. He had looked up to her and idolized her when they had been in the orphanage together, and her leaving had been a serious blow to his little brother. And Mokuba would be very upset it Seto had the chance to reunite them and hadn't.
He had seen Arisu Watanabe excuse herself to make a call and knew that she was calling her family to report what had happened. Too many people thought that the music industry was all sunshine and rainbows but that wasn't the reality. It was just like any other type of business, cutthroat and harsh, and it would each you alive and spit you out if you didn't know what you were doing. He had long suspected that the Watanabe family were just smart enough to make it big but not smart enough to stay at the upper levels for long, and this proved it to him; their youngest not knowing how to handle a rival on her own. Even his younger brother knew how to handle himself, and Mokuba was the nicer of the two brothers and wouldn't leave you bleeding on the floor.
When the bell rang he made his way quickly through the halls, staying at the edges of the crowds that gathered to see Reila and take her picture. He watched as she was paraded down the halls by the principal and studied the way she moved; it was a confident walk, but still feminine enough to be misleading if you didn't know what you were looking for. Her stilettos added onto her petite height, but she was just as tiny and unassuming as she had been when she was a child. Her eyes still held that fire though, the same fire that led her to stand up to a kid twice her size in defense of a kid she hadn't known at the time. It was a warning to those around her; she would not take things laying down, but would come out swinging.
When she made her way alone to face the Watanabe family's attempt at a threat he felt a little bit of respect for her forming. She had seen the blatant scare tactic for what it was and faced it not only head on, but without any support, because she hadn't needed it. Her voice had carried to where he stood just outside the door, and her verbal thrashing had amused him. She knew how to use her words subtly and effectively, making it clear that there was little about the Watanabe family that she didn't know. She was intelligent and insightful, hitting on weak points all while keeping a smile on her face. She'd become devious, knowing how to cut someone to size while keeping the appearance of a well-mannered, unassuming girl.
She'd be a dangerous enemy, and an invaluable ally.
Seto had already decided to approach her on his brother's behalf, but seeing her in action made him think that he should also approach her to have as an ally. At the very least, he needed to keep her in his sights just in case she decided to turn those claws in his direction. Although he had no doubt that he could run circles around her, he had a feeling she would prove to be a challenge to overcome. He vaguely recalled telling her to work on her strategy making skills before she left the orphanage they'd been at; it would seem that she had taken his advice to heart and improved by leaps and bounds.
Skirting around the edges of the crowd that had grown, he waited for her to leave the Watanabe punk behind before he took her elbow, stopping her in her tracks. He felt her initially stiffen in his grasp, but she kept her composure as she turned to him, her face a mask of disapproval as her eyes darted across his face. He waited, and sure enough recognition lit upon her face and her mouth opened in shock. Her eyes widened, and before she could stop herself his name escaped her quietly, as though she couldn't believe it was him.
"Reila." He said simply, releasing her elbow and studying her face closely. The blankness left and her eyes softened, a small warm smile forming on her face. This was the smile he remembered; warm, small, but real in the happiness that she was expressing. In the past he might have returned it with a similar smile, but he had only stopped her for one reason; his brother. "Mokuba will want to see you. Come with me."
Seeing Seto before me was a shock to say the least. Although I had known he went to this school (Which I did my best not to let that influence my decision when choosing where to shoot the video) I hadn't expected to run into him so soon. I had actually been thinking that it would be good not to run into him right away; I didn't want to seem desperate to see him again. Too much time had passed between now and the last time we spoke, time in which we'd both changed in ways that would make it impossible to pick right back up with our friendship. I for one knew that I was more vicious and vindictive, but I also knew that Seto made me seem like a tame fluffy kitten in comparison. There were so many factors that needed to be looked at before I could safely say that we could even be friendly towards one another anymore.
But it would seem that he had taken that choice away from me. He had approached me, and although there was nothing in his facial expressions that gave away any remaining feelings of attachment, his eyes held recognition and just a hint of respect. That was enough for me, for having even some respect from Seto Kaiba was worth a hell of a lot more than the admiration of those around me.
But his tone could use some work. I wasn't a little girl to be ordered around by him, and he needed to be made aware of it. His commanding tone might work on others, but I would make it clear from the start; I was not to be treated as someone beneath him. He may be CEO of a company and hold more sway in the business world than I do, but I am not his subordinate and I won't be treated as such. The only man who can order me about currently is my uncle, and even he watches his tone when asking me to do things.
Taking out my PDA, I made a show of checking my schedule. Again, the appearance of being in high demand and busy was worth a lot. "I don't see anything that can't be rescheduled. I'd love to make time to see Mokuba." I said, giving him a pointed look. He nodded briskly and began walking to his car, with me falling into step easily beside him. Whispers and speculation followed us, and again the clicking of cameras but I ignored them and motioned for my driver to approach.
"Shuichi, you can head home now; I'm heading to visit with some old friends. I'll call you when I'm ready to come home." I said, smiling up at him. Shuichi had been my personal driver for almost seven years now, and a better man I couldn't ask for. He was polite, dedicated, and loyal to a fault. He hesitated, eyeing Seto and looking me over. "Its fine, Shuichi. Go home and say hello to Mariko for me." I assured him, sensing his uneasiness. His wife Mariko would chew him up if anything happened to me, but that's why she was head of our security force. Never piss off the woman; I've seen her make grown men cry with just a look.
"If you're sure Ms. Sarota..." He said finally, stepping back towards the car. "Just call whenever you're ready to be driven home, I'll be waiting."
I smiled again and made a shooing gesture with my hand, which he responded to with a laugh and finally drive away. Seto's driver opened the door for me and I slid easily across the leather interior, followed shortly by Seto himself. Settling back I sent a quick email to my cousin and uncle, letting them know that I would be a bit later coming home than I originally planned. My uncle didn't mind me going out on my own, so long as I made him aware of where I was going and that I made sure to tell him when I was heading home. Once that was done I set my things aside, seeing Seto watch me out of the corner of my eye. "When my plans change I notify my uncle and cousin so that they don't worry needlessly about me."
"You've grown close to them." It wasn't a question, it was an observation. Time had made me forget just how observant Seto could be; even as a child he'd picked up on things quicker and been more observant than most. Whereas I had the advantage of mental age, he was an actual genius; it shouldn't have been so easy to forget but I had.
"Yes, they've both been very good to me these past years and I owe them a great deal." We lapsed into silence, but not an uncomfortable one. That aspect of our childhood seemed to have remained at least, the ability to be content with not speaking. It wasn't a complete silence, as I could hear the lightest strains of music coming from where his driver sat so I was content to sit back and watch the world pass outside the windows. But Seto surprisingly seemed intent on getting information out of me.
"What brought your family back to Domino City?"
I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, wondering at his uncharacteristic chattiness. Seto Kaiba was not one to mince words, so he was looking for something. But instead of outright asking me about it, he was testing me. What the test was for I didn't know, but if he wanted to play games than I was willing to play along; for now. "We've got a sound start in the American industry now. Our immediate presence was no longer required, so we decided to return home to ensure our legacy here was just as sound as it always has been." I was careful not to give away too much, but also give him enough information to satisfy him. Strictly speaking I knew that there was little chance of him becoming a rival of mine; so long as I stayed out of Duel Monsters I was hardly a threat to him. But he would question my easy acceptance of him after so many years, and I had to maintain the image of a shrewd, business savvy young woman. So I would have to act distant and slowly warm up to him, instead of picking up where we left off all those years ago.
Seto seemed to accept this and sat back, another small pause in our conversation. "You've done well for yourself." I stated, looking at the bold "KC" imprinted onto his briefcase. He didn't comment, but did give a small nod as he pulled out his laptop, presumably working on something for his company. I in turn went back to viewing the outside world, watching downtown Domino slide by at a steady pace. Although I had reservations about how Seto and I would be around each other, I was excited to see Mokuba again. I'd missed those big eyes and his joyful laugh more than I thought I would, but again Mokuba was just the kind of kid that wormed his way into your heart and didn't leave.
It took maybe fifteen minutes for us to arrive at the Kaiba estate, and I stepped out of the car and looked over the outside, impressed by the size. It was roughly the same size as the Sarota estate, but the architectural styling was different enough to make them polar opposites. Still, the size, style, and landscaping was impressive and I looked it over with an appreciative eyes. Seto gave me time to take in my surroundings before leading the way into the house, which was also impressive. Although I personally preferred warmer neutral tones to make the house more inviting, he seemed to prefer darker, more masculine tones; dark woods and deeper colors. But the styling was elegant and pleasing, and again I looked it over with pleasure. I'd been spoiled in this new life of mine and enjoyed being in tastefully decorated areas, if not luxurious ones.
I guess I was like a Sim in that aspect; sign me up for a positive moodlet!
Again, whether it was pride in his home, pleasure from showing off, or giving me a chance to regain my bearings Seto again paused to allow me to study the area. I'm fairly certain it was the first choice, but either way I appreciated it. After giving me a few moments to look things over he led me into a large study, complete with bookshelves lining the walls and comfortable looking chairs beside a fireplace. I could practically feel my eyes light up with joy as I quickly went to one bookcase, scanning the titles. Classic titles mixed with advanced electronic studies, psychology books placed amongst scientific theories; a girl could get used to this. His collection was almost as impressive as my own, and that was saying something. "You've quite the collection." I said approvingly, pulling out a copy of Brave New World and looking it over.
"Of course; someone once told me that the measure of ones intellect is shown in their literary collection." His remark made me pause and I looked over at him, the smallest hint of the boy he had once been showing in his eyes. I smiled at his remark and placed the book back on the shelf, moving to stand next to the desk he had sat himself at. "I did say that once, didn't I?"
He merely nodded in reply, and began unpacking his briefcase. "Mokuba will be home in half an hour. I have some things I need to take care of so find a book or something until he gets home." And with that the flash of the boy I'd known was gone, replaced with this older, harder version. I silently sighed but made my way back to the bookshelf, picking up Brave New World again and settling into a chair by the fireplace, content to read and let him work. It was a cozy scene and one that I was more than used to; growing up I would do almost exactly this when my uncle was working, only then I was studying and doing homework. I tried to allow myself time to read for pleasure, but once I took on more responsibility with the company my personal time had been severely cut down. Between managing the household and running errands for Sarota Entertainment I was kept fairly busy, but still managed to have some time to relax and unwind. Kicking off my shoes and placing the neatly by the chair, I tucked my feet beneath me and lost myself in literary fantasy, Seto's rhythmic typing on the computer keeping the silence at bay.
Seto had reservations at first about having Reila nearby while he worked, but she seemed to pick up quickly on his obvious want for quiet. She was much the same as they had been before; content to merely be nearby but not in the way. If not for her occasional page turning she could easily pass for a statue in his study, she was so quiet and unobtrusive. Remembering that she hated silence, he picked up a remote and turned on low classical music; it helped him concentrate and would put her more at ease so she wasn't tense when she met Mokuba again. He watched for the corner of his eye as she perked up a bit once the music started, and she flashed him an appreciative smile before returning to her book.
He was thankful for her apparent ease with not talking. He hated idle chatter, and only tolerated it from his brother because of his love for the younger boy; but Reila had always been a quiet companion, preferring background noise to fill silences. Now that he was in her presence, more and more memories of their time together were returning, things that he had locked away and never thought of because at the time they hadn't served any purpose. He'd barely given her a second thought after being adopted by Gozaburo, too focused on his studies and getting the upper hand with the old geezer. It had taken him by surprise that he had missed her as much as he had once she'd left to be with her family, given that they were barely friends. Mokuba had been the glue that had kept the three of them together, but even with his younger brother not here they fell into their old ways easily enough. Perhaps she had been more of a friend than he admitted to himself. Regardless, he kept his mind focused on his work, knowing she would be plenty occupied by the book she held in her hands.
Right on time he heard the front door open and the sound of Mokuba's footsteps grew louder the closer they came to the study. He paused in his work and glanced in Reila's direction, but she seemed engrossed by her book and oblivious to who was approaching. Just as he always did whenever Seto came home right after school, Mokuba came in with a bright smile on his face, happy to see Seto at home instead of at his company office. "Big brother! I thought you'd be at the office today."
"Change of plans." Seto replied, continuing to work. Mokuba waited patiently, pulling his homework out of his bag. Normally when Seto was home he oversaw Mokuba's homework just as he had for as long as both of them had been in school. "You going to have time to look over my work?" Mokuba asked, pulling up a chair to sit beside the desk.
"Too busy. Why don't you ask her for help?" He paused in his typing to look over at Mokuba, who had a puzzled look on his face. He could have easily told Mokuba who it was, but he wanted to see his reaction first hand; it would be a true indication on how Reila and Mokuba reacted to each other after all these years.
I'd set my book aside as soon as I heard Mokuba enter the room, and watched with partial amusement as he completely ignored my presence in the room. Then again, I don't think Seto brought people home with him often (if he ever did, which I doubted) so someone else being in the room had probably not crossed his mind. Watching the exchange between the two brothers I briefly wondered what Seto would be like without Mokuba; his younger brother was probably the only thing that helped him retain some of his humanity at this point. Honestly, Seto without Mokuba was a frightening thought. Although he had yet to show me the ruthless side of him, it was apparent in his mannerisms and way of speaking that he could and would cut someone down to size in the blink of an eye.
I studied Mokuba, and felt my face immediately soften as I took in the younger Kaiba's features. His face had thinned a little, but those big eyes were still the same and his hair just as wild. His eyes were still full of adoration for his older brother, and that more than anything showed me that he was still much the same. He too had suffered under Gozaburo's brief reign over the brothers, but it had obviously strengthened the bond between them and I was glad that at least outwardly he didn't appear that much worse for wear. He was still animated, still cheerful and just purely Mokuba. I stood quietly, not bothering to put my shoes back on; Mokuba was one person I could safely say I was taller than, plus I had a sneaking suspicion that I would be knocked flat on my ass if he decided to tackle me while I was wearing heels.
I waited patiently, and I won't lie I was feeling a little uneasy; there was no guarantee that Mokuba would be as happy to see me as I was to see him. We had been close as children, but so much time had passed that it was difficult to judge what kind of reception I would get. Seto's reaction to seeing me was pretty much what I thought it would be, but Mokuba… This could go one of a hundred ways. It might sound bad, but I really hoped there wouldn't be any tears; I still didn't know how to handle crying kids easily.
Hearing Seto's response to Mokuba's question I almost laughed aloud. I'd always pictured him being straight forward even with his brother, so this almost playful side of him was not something I was expecting. But it was enjoyable to see, even if it was at my expense. Mokuba's look of confusion continued as he finally turned his big eyes away from his older brother and landed on me, and his brows furrowed for a moment as he tried to figure out who I was. It took him so long to say anything that I began to grow nervous, and one hand unconsciously reached up and pulled on a curl, a habit that I thought I'd gotten rid of years ago.
Apparently this was the right thing to do, because his eyes brightened and he was suddenly running at me, latching his arms around my waist in a tight hug before I realized what was going on. "Reila!" His happy cry was slightly muffled, and it took me a moment to make sure I wasn't going to fall before I could return his hug with equal force, still amazed at just how tightly he could squeeze. For a kid, his hugs were surprisingly strong.
"Mokuba… Can't breathe…" I finally said, beginning to grow uncomfortable with how much force his hug had. He pulled back a little and looked up at me sheepishly, but I just smiled and brushed the hair from his eyes like I had so many times before. "I've missed you too, Mokuba." I answered his silent thoughts, and Mokuba snuggled closer, but didn't squeeze any harder thankfully. I looked up at Seto, who was watching us both intently and gave him an appreciative smile. He didn't have to invite me to his house (well order me, but here's to hoping he never pulls that tone with me again) but he did to make his brother happy, and since it involved me and made me happy… Yeah, I was thankful.
Seto nodded once, seemingly pleased with the general state of the reunion and returned to his work. Just in time too, because the next thing I knew I was being peppered with questions from Mokuba. I laughed quietly and led him to the chairs close to the fireplace, and began answering them quietly and letting Seto get back to work. We went through the usual pleasantries, briefly explaining what had happened to each of us since we had last seen each other, so on. Both of us seemed to know that we each had more to say, but time and experience had made me cautious about saying too much and Mokuba seemed to want to gloss over his years with Gozaburo as quickly as possible.
"So you're trying to become the head of A&R for Sarota? What exactly does that mean?" He asked when he asked about my spot in the company, and I had to remind myself that an A&R department was a lesser known but invaluable part of the music industry.
"A&R stands for artists and repertoire, and they're basically the bridge that connects the artists to the record label. Everything from talent scouting, marketing, promotion, producing the albums and setting up touring dates all falls under their jurisdiction. It's one of the most important parts of the industry, and one that I'm best suited for. I'd be working directly with the top tier artists and their managers, overseeing the recording of new albums, and generally ensuring that the talent that signs on with Sarota Entertainment will be first class." I explained, and watched as Mokuba's eyes grew wide.
"So basically you'd be in charge of everything to do with your artists."
"In a nutshell yes that's it. Although the CEO is the more publically acknowledged powerhouse of the company, the head of A&R holds just as much power without being in the spotlight. Right now it's pretty much a guaranteed that I'll one day be asked to take the position, but I want to gain more experience before I take the role officially." I said, feeling myself grow a little bolder as Mokuba looked at me with wide, impressed eyes.
"Wow Reila… But why not just take control of the company? I mean it sounds like you could do that no problem." He asked, frowning a little. I almost started at the comment, but remembered that Seto had done just that. Mokuba worshipped Seto, and what Seto did was the standard to which Mokuba held everyone.
"My cousin Hojo has been being groomed since the day he was born to eventually become the CEO of the company. He's better suited for managing a company than I am. People and artists I can handle; but when it comes to the actual business side of the industry he's one of the best. There's a reason why the Americans called him a shark in the water; he can sense a weakness that can be used to further our company's goals better than anyone I know. For all his immaturity and wild ways, when he enters that boardroom he is all business and not afraid to kick ass and take names." I said, smiling proudly as I thought of Hojo's accomplishments. "Besides, the CEO has less freedom to do what they want than the head of A&R. Hojo's perfectly willing, able, and accustomed to the idea of being limited by the position, so long as I'm where I can help him and the family's interests." I said, noticing out of the corner of my eye that Seto was studying me intently.
"But shouldn't your uncle and cousin be protecting you? I mean, after all you're the youngest and the older ones are supposed to protect the younger, right?" Mokuba asked, and I smiled at his comments. It had been a long time since someone outside of the family thought that I needed protecting.
"That may be the case, but I'm also the one who can move easiest outside of view." I said calmly, staring into the fire. "Of the three members of the family, I'm the best at keeping out of sight and laying traps. My uncle and Hojo are the ones who operate in plain sight; I'm the punch you never see coming."
Mokuba thought this over and I bit my lower lip, wondering if I had said too much. Mokuba was young and didn't need to know about the dirtier side of business and life, although I knew he would be getting a crash course in the near future. My conscience still plagued me about actively not working to change the future, but what could I do alone? Seto would never believe me if I told him I knew what was coming, and anyone else would think I was insane. The only ones that could possibly believe me would be Yugi and his friends, but I wasn't about to go out of my way to be friends with them. I can only handle so many "I believe in you" or "friendship" speeches before I want to strangle someone.
We left behind talk of business and I spent the rest of my time with them comfortably; I helped Mokuba with his homework (again, he's a sharp kid and didn't really need it but I think he liked the attention) while Seto continued working, making calls and typing away on his laptop. I wanted to ask him what he was working on, but seeing the focused look on his face I decided against pestering him with questions. It was hard to pick up the flow of working once your concentration had been broken after all.
I stayed and had dinner with them, and Mokuba convinced me to stay until he went to bed. I called Shuichi a little before it was Mokuba's bedtime and he assured me that he would be waiting for me outside within a half hour. I didn't want to intrude on what I'm sure was a family moment, but Mokuba insisted on both Seto and I following into his bedroom to see that he was settled and tucked in. I stayed out of the way as much as possible, feeling that this was a private moment that I shouldn't really be involved in, but Mokuba's cheerful face and obvious happiness eased my misgivings. Once he was changed and had brushed his teeth, he clambered under the covers and sat patiently waiting. Seto caught my eye and gave me a nod, which I took as permission and stepped forward, hugging Mokuba again and giving him a brief kiss on his forehead.
"I'm glad you came today Reila. And I'm glad you're back in Japan; does this mean we'll be seeing you more often?" He asked, stifling a yawn. I think the excitement today wore him out, and I hoped that he would get a good night's sleep easily.
"As often as you'd like, Mokuba. I'll always make time to see you." I said honestly, ruffling his hair a little. "I'll leave my cell number with your brother so that if you ever want to see me you can just call and set up a time. I'll also make sure that your name is left at our gate so if you ever want to come over you won't have any problems." I explained, and that seemed to please him. "Good night Mokuba. Pleasant dreams."
I stepped out into the hallway to give the brothers privacy while they said goodnight. One thing about having any obvious notoriety was that privacy was a rarity, and I felt for sure that I had intruded enough on their time together. Although Seto didn't seem to outwardly mind, and Mokuba didn't seem to care, the moments that they spent together as brothers should be cherished together, without any outsiders.
Seto came out of the room a few moments later, and wordlessly we went back downstairs where Shuichi was waiting to take me home. Gathering my purse and jacket I turned to him, a grateful smile on my face. "Thank you for having me over Seto. I really enjoyed seeing both you and Mokuba today. I know you're a busy man so thanks for taking the time for me to see him again."
Seto studied me, nodding once. "You haven't changed much." I blinked in surprise, because of the three of us I felt that I ran a close second to Seto on how much we'd all changed. I tilted my head to the side, musing over what he meant. Eventually I shrugged and gave him a small smirk. "That's only because you haven't seen that much of me. Small things are still the same, but I'm not the same girl you knew." Seto seemed to accept this, and as I turned to walk out the door I stopped and turned back to him. "I think the one who has changed the most is you Seto. There are times when I still see the boy I knew; but of the three of us I think the years have changed you the most." His brow furrowed, and I gave him a reassuring smile. "The one thing that hasn't changed is your love for your brother. And that's probably the thing I most respect and admire about you. Loyalty is a hard thing to find these days." Pulling one of my business cards from my purse I handed it to him. "I promised Mokuba that I would give you my cell number so he could have it."
Seto took the card and looked it over, seemingly judging it from a business point of view. He made no comment as he pocketed it, so I assumed he approved of the look of the card. "My office received an invitation to a party being hosted at the Sarota estate; what's the occasion?"
"It's simply a way of making our return to Japan noticed by all; both our allies and our enemies. As my cousin so eloquently put it: to say that 'We're back, we're bad, and we'll still kick the asses of anyone who stands in our way'." I said, grinning. "If you and Mokuba will be there I'd be very happy, however if you can't attend I understand." Anything involving Seto had to be handled delicately for the time being; in truth he was always busy, and taking a night to attend a party that I knew he probably wouldn't enjoy was asking a bit more of him than I normally would. However, it would also serve as a way to give the Watanabe's a wakeup call. After all, Arisu and Seto attended the same school, yet they had never once entered into a business agreement or joint project. Honestly that was just poor management on Arisu's side, since having a powerhouse like Kaiba Corp. as an ally was something only an idiot would pass up.
Seto thought about it a minute before nodding. "We'll be there." I didn't question it, but instead gave him a smile and thanked him, hiding my joy at the comment. "Just be sure to wear white; after all it's a white party." I reminded him, stepping outside and down the stairs to my car. I was very pleased with how things had turned out. Not only had I gotten the approval from the board for the use of the school, I'd put Kaiji in his place and been reunited with the first two friends I had made. It had been a fantastic day. Hopefully things kept going smoothly in the future.