The office seemed daunting. It had done for a while. He stood in the great elevator watching the lights click upwards until they reached the top floor and an overly cheerful 'ping' sounded his arrival. He stepped out into the red hall, surrounded by plush carpets and mahogany walls. He pressed his hand into the sensor under the panel besides the door. It scanned, he waited and then the door clicked leaving him free to enter.

It was a simple office. Clinically white with a black leather sofa and glass desk. Smudgeless and see through, exactly how it should be. When he sat down in the large chair the window behind him looked down onto the city below him, to the people who wandered aimlessly through their own pitiful lives, making ends meet or whatever it was they did nowadays. He pulled open his laptop and the infuriating hum cut through the room. There had been a time when that noise had comforted him, brought about some familiarity and knowingness. Now it was empty, a coven of wasps nesting in his work and waiting to sting, waiting to bring the next cruel blow upon him. His fingers danced across the keys, ticking away at the wasps inside. Something would happen. He didn't know when or how but it would and it would end it all. Him. The company. Everything. It didn't even matter anymore. Since he'd died, nothing mattered. Nothing. His life was empty and he existed only for the satisfaction of everyone else.

The machine on his left buzzed and a woman's voice sounded sharply over the intercom.

'Good Morning Mr Kaiba.' There was a silence as she waited for a response. None came. 'Jin is here with your morning coffee, I shall send him up. The morning reports are on your desk and I shall be faxing through today's schedule in a moment. Have a nice day.' The machine buzzed and her voice vanished from the room. Moments later a shrill knock clacked at the door. Kaiba stared at it for just a moment before sighing.

'Enter.' His voice was even and cool. The door nudged open and a little man with a trolly waddled inside. Upon the trolly were small baked goods, jugs of tea and coffee as well as paperwork, documents and stationary. He pulled a blue mug from the second shelf, polished it and poured a hot coffee into it. He placed the cup squarely on Kaiba's desk. He then collected the documents and papers and placed them before the brunet.

'Today's stats. Yesterdays figures from the stock market. Tomorrows predictions. Various ideas and suggestions from external companies and fans.' He bowed low and exited the room leaving the brunet alone.

For a few moments the brunet just stared at the new documents. He picked up the mug and let it burn his hands before he took a long, slow sip. He flicked through the pages the mass words a blur. They faded into the realms of meaninglessness and eventually the schedule was faxed through. He tore it out and looked it over. Four meetings. Two mergers. One press conference. Lunch was at 12.30. That was three hours away, which was far too long. He stared at the documents again before collecting a handful, his briefcase and coffee and heading out into the hall and down to the conference room.

The first meetings droned on with no events of interest. They had all been on stats and figures and projections. As far as he was concerned his staff should be competent enough to work everything out on their own and not need his say so on every detail. Unfortunately, last year he had given them this chance and profits had fallen for a month. He rubbed his temples. At least it was dinner time.

He headed into the elevator and waited until it reached the ground floor. Signing out he told the receptionist he was taking an hour and a half and to shift any meetings until his return. She nodded solemnly as her boss exited through the great glass doors.

Blue eyes scanned the surroundings. People everywhere seemed to rush around, arms flailing and bags flying. He hated that. He hated the urgency that so many people seemed to feel. Taking in a deep breath he walked out into the street and down the road. Cafes stood on every corner and restaurants on every block. He had tried and tested many of them and come across naught but disappointment. Finally settling on an Italian on the next street, he stepped out into the road and headed to the restaurant.

'Ah, Mr Kaiba!' Fabio smiled at him. The old man had seen him many a time and spoke in a rich southern Italian accent. He was broad in every sense of the word and his hair was slicked back, though stray curls escaped onto his face. 'Your usual table, si?' The brunet merely nodded and was ushered away to the back corner where he could watch the customers in silence and privacy. Just how he liked it. The menu was brought before him and he stared at it blankly. Whenever he was faced with food options, he suddenly wasn't very hungry.

He ordered something exotic sounded and waited as the staff ran around to prepare and bring his meal. A glass of rioja was placed before him and he sat, swirling the contents around and around.

Suddenly something outside caught his eyes, gone as soon as it came a bright flash of yellow hair pursued by a group of men. He watched the now clear street for a few moments.

It wouldn't be.

It wouldn't be.

Here it is, chapter 2.

I hope you like it, I'm gonna bed now as I have glorious work in the morning. I shall update again tomorrow.

Please,

R&R

Much love

AB

x