Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Gi Oh

Chapter 5. Pleasant Dreams

"No!" he shouted, but it was too late. He had failed; he had lost his little brother.

Mokuba. His little brother's name was the first thing to cross Seto's mind as he slowly began to regain consciousness. Seto struggled to open his eyes. Everything seemed a bit fuzzy. Though he couldn't tell exactly where he was, he knew he was still at the airport in a dimly light room. Seto also realized he was, strangely enough, sitting upright. It was at that point his body began to register the sharp pain coming from the back of his head. Seto groaned softly. He didn't feel much like moving just yet to investigate how he got to be where he was. Seto closed his eyes again and gently bowed his head hoping to help alleviate the pain and to make sense of recent events. Through his rather disjointed memories, he saw Mokuba being taken away from him. Seto recalled there had been a couple, a man and a woman; they were the ones who had his little brother. The woman seemed familiar. He was fairly certain she had blond hair. Seto tried desperately to remember any details that would lead him to her identity. There was the possibility that the couple could be friend or foe. Perhaps, but not likely, they could have been trying to help him and Mokuba. Or maybe they………A slight movement, a quiet rustle of clothes, however, disrupted his train of thought. Seto felt his skin prickle and his breathing quicken slightly.

He was not alone.

"Hey there, Sleepy," said a voice cutting abruptly through the heavy silence. "How nice of you to join us." While the voice attempted to sound friendly, there was an unmistakable undertone of malice. Seto's eyes shot open, and he found himself looking directly into a pair of green ones.

Madeline. Things suddenly began to make sense to Seto. So this is what Sloan was really referring to when he said everything would 'be here tomorrow.' "You!" he accused in barely controlled rage. "What have you done with Mokuba? Where is my little brother?" Seto attempted to stand as he confronted her but realized all too late he had been restrained and nearly upset the chair he was tied to in the process.

Madeline Ohhira watched her struggling captive gloatingly. After a moment, she allowed herself a triumphant sneer. "All in good time, " was her casual reply. Seto ceased fighting against his bonds to stare at her. Struggling was a futile exercise anyway. He needed a different tactic. What he needed was information. Seto, in his fury and slightly disoriented state, shot out the first question that came to mind.

"How did you find us?" He had been so careful in his planning. Seto couldn't figure out how she tracked them down so quickly. Madeline gave an infuriatingly innocent shrug. "Tell me!" His words came out slowly and forcefully.

"How quickly you lose your temper," she admonished as she pulled up another chair and primly sat down in front of Seto. "Now, do you honestly think I'm going to give you an answer to that?" He didn't think she would and mentally chided himself for asking such an obvious question. Seto realized he had to get his emotions under control. He couldn't allow his anger and frustration to get in the way of obtaining information from his captor; he was not going to allow Madeline to outsmart him. Rather than answer her question Seto just glared. "With all your dueling experience you should know better. You always want to keep your opponent guessing," Madeline added. "Hmmm. But maybe you are not as bright as people say. I certainly have had my doubts. I would think by now you would have stopped taking me for a simpleton." Seto rolled his eyes and looked disinterested. Madeline, though a little perturbed, pretended not to notice and continued on seamlessly.

"What I will tell you is this: I'm a little disappointed in you Seto Kaiba. This has been far too easy. I thought that, and hoped that, you would have put up more of a fight. I must admit though, you finding out my plan to take Mokuba away was a little bit of a challenge, but just a little one. Yes. A simple game of cat and mouse," she said breezily, as if recounting a trip to the grocery store. "But it all worked out for the best. You see, it turns out your actions have all played into my hand."

Seto had grown bored of Madeline's weak insults and monologue. He was beginning to think she wasn't going to tell him anything of interest. However, her last statement caught his attention. What does she mean my actions played into her hand? "By all means, do tell. I can't wait to be enlightened with your brilliance," he sarcastically retorted hoping to hide his real interest. Madeline smiled. She had been greatly anticipating this moment.

"Destroying your character," she said with a smile. "I can turn this whole chase around to look like the result of the erratic, dangerous behavior of a self-absorbed young man. That is hardly the sort of environment for a little boy to be raised. I can use this situation to help prove you simply are not fit to take care of Mokuba properly. It won't be too hard when I think of how many times his life has been placed in jeopardy due to your own interests." Seeing the look of smug disbelief cross her captive's face Madeline went on. "Oh yes, Seto Kaiba, I have quite a lot of dirt on you."

"Ha! Anything you think you know is a lie or has been taken out of context." He didn't believe her statement was true; he was more than able to take care of Mokuba. Moreover, Seto wasn't even going to pretend to believe that she had hard evidence to support her claim.

"Really?" She cocked her head to one side. "Really? Are you sure you want to make that argument?"

"Yes really! Now get to the point," Seto growled. He was getting irritated. "The longer you keep me here the more I'm going to sue you for when I get Mokuba back."

"Ah, court. Yes. We'll see about that." Madeline paused briefly as if relishing in some secret information. "Anyway, I won't name names, but I seem to recall a story about a particular young CEO who became so distraught over losing ….a game," she waved her hand to emphasize the triviality of such a notion, "that he abandoned his little brother. Poor thing was left alone and vulnerable. It comes at no surprise that he was kidnapped as a result of his older brother's incompetence and heartlessness. The CEO is rather famous. Maybe you know whom I'm talking about." Seto's heart ached at the memory of Duelist Kingdom. He wasn't very proud about that time in his life.

How did she know? "Yes, he was kidnapped, and apparently it wasn't the last time either. Perhaps you would like to explain to the authorities your own kidnapping schemes." He knew he had her there, and yet she remained unfazed.

"Oh, Honey," she began in a maternal fashion. "What I was involved in wasn't a kidnapping. It was an intervention. We had to remove dear little Mokuba from a very precarious situation – from his rather dangerous guardian." Seto threw a menacing look at her. She made a pouty-face back at him then laughed. Madeline was encouraged by the thought that she caught a glimpse of uncertainty flicker briefly in Seto's eyes. "Does the Death T Challenge or your treatment of Mokuba during your KC takeover ring any bells? Try convincing social services or better yet a jury, as you are so keen on going to court, that those events were taken out of context. Perhaps someone else would be able to charm their way into the authorities hearts and persuade them otherwise - though not you. You are not very personable. The only one who probably thinks you are likeable is Mokuba, but that can easily be written off as type of Stockholm Syndrome."

Seto was beginning to see that there was a real chance that he could lose Mokuba. He wasn't going to let that happen. They had been through so much, already gone through those issues that Madeline had brought up. Despite the fact she was dangerously armed with information, Seto wasn't going to let her twist things around. "Stockholm Syndrome. Identifying with his captor," he scoffed. " Hardly."

Madeline gave a sardonic grin. "Are you sure? Picture it this way then, young, impressionable Mokuba blindly following your whims, no matter how absurd and unreasonable, out of love for you because he knows you wouldn't do anything to hurt him. Or maybe so you won't hurt him."

"This is ridiculous. I'm his brother, not his captor."

Mokuba, do you trust me?

Of course I do.

Seto tried to ignore those words that were forcing their way out of his memories.

I've kept things secret to protect you.

"I won't let anyone or anything harm him."

We'll be safe here a little while longer.

"That may be what you say, but your actions demonstrate otherwise. Here is another example of you putting not only him in danger but others if you still don't believe me. The Battle City Finals - you lost out, remember? Now what did you do in response….oh, yes. While people were still in the duel tower, you set off a timer for some explosives that would blow that island sky high. Was that the action of someone who is safe and responsible or even stable for that matter? I think not. Like I said, you are an unfit guardian. Unfit," Madeline repeated. She liked the way the word rolled off her tongue; she liked the way it affected her captive. " Good thing I happened to be in the neighborhood to rescue the boy. From now on, there will be Aunty Madeline who will look after Mokuba."

"Aunty Madeline?" spat out Seto. "Of all the idiotic…You can't be serious."

"Oh I'm very serious. I want custody of Mokuba – to make sure he is cared for properly." Seto saw immediately through her thin veneer of benevolence.

"You…" Seto couldn't think of a strong enough name to call her. "You will never gain custody of my brother. I know all you want are his stocks and our company."

"Stocks? Well if they come with the package..." stated Madeline sweetly. Seto saw red at the thought of how Madeline was planning to use Mokuba, but she cut him off before he could say anything by directing the conversation back to where she left off. "By the way, how many times, after putting Mokuba in danger were you able to save him on your own? Seems to me Yugi Mutou does most of that work."

Seto took a deep breath knowing that she was trying to bait him into doing something stupid. "Enough with the mind-games. They won't work on me," he said angrily.

"Now, now. There is no cause for you to be upset with me. I'm not playing any mind-games. You brought this down on yourself. Honestly, you can't make up stories like that!" She laughed then went completely serious. "You are a danger to Mokuba, and you know it, don't you. So you see, all I'm going to do is bring this situation to light and reveal you for what you really are." Seto again tried to fight against his restraints. He wanted to lunge at her.

I can't deny those events…but…It's not true! I'm not a danger to Mokuba. I would do anything for him! He knows that. I'm not a danger….am I? No, no. Not all of it was my fault. Not all of it directly. No.. I can't be. I can't. I can't lose him! Seto was trying determinately not to let her words affect him.

"I shouldn't be telling you all this, but I do so enjoy watching you squirm. Just like a worm on a hook, you are. However, we can't let you hurt yourself can we? It wouldn't look very good on my part, not to mention it is about time I made my exit." Madeline looked up at someone in the room. "Hold him," she ordered firmly. A pair of strong arms immediately wrapped around Seto's head and body, preventing him from moving at all. "Besides, if any of this does come out later, it will just be your word, a delinquent's against mine, that of an upstanding citizen." Madeline pulled out and prepared a hypodermic syringe. His eyes grew wide as she inserted the needle into his neck. Seto could hear the blood pounding in his ears.

"What was that!"

"Nothing much. A simple…sleeping agent; just something to calm you down."

Sleeping agents – Sloan! He is all I need to connect Madeline Ohhira with this plot. "You've certainly covered your bases, haven't you?" Madeline knew what he was thinking.

"You can stop looking for ways that I've slipped up, because I haven't. Do you really think I would be so foolish to leave any loose ends, such as that hermit, Sloan?"

Wait a minute. No loose ends. She wouldn't have gone so far as to have….or would she? The drug was fast acting as it was injected directly into his blood stream. Seto was already having trouble thinking straight, and his vision was starting to become out of focus. Regardless, he could tell she was laughing silently at him. NO! Not happening….this can't…Mokuba…. Seto gritted his teeth, trying to regain his composure.

"As far as everyone else is concerned, she continued, "Sloan never existed. I'm something of a magician. It's amazing how just a little bit of money can be used to make people disappear. Your company, fortune, and little brother will all be apart of my next vanishing act. Lucky you. You get a front row seat for the show. They will all become mine soon. I will easily be given custody of Mokuba. Your company and everything else will then soon follow suit. It's really too bad it has come to this." She patted his cheek as if he was a child. "You really would have been an asset to my project, but you had your chance."

Seto's breathing was becoming more labored. "You..won't..get…..away..with..this."

Madeline Ohhira laughed softly at the defiant young man.

"Sorry, Honey, but I already have. Face it. This 'former gold digger,' as you so eloquently stated, has beaten the great Seto Kaiba." She leaned in close. Her lips gently grazed his ear as she whispered, "And there is nothing you can do about it." Seto shuddered involuntarily and glared at her. "Pleasant dreams," she said as she straightened up. Madeline gave him a taunting smile before leaving. She knew full well that despite his proud appearance she had turned the young man into an emotionally broken mess. The time was now right to finish what she started.

"Madeline!" he shouted wildly, but the door simply shut after her. She did not return. Have to stay awake…have to stay...awake. He repeated to himself over and over.

Several hours later, Mokuba awoke in an unfamiliar bedroom, alone, uncertain, and a little afraid.

Thank you reviewers! What a terrific response! I would normally write indiviual responses, but Ihave heard from a couple different sources that we are not supposed to do that anymore. So until I know more on that subject - Thank you again to everyone who responded! I'm glad you are enjoying the story so far. : )