Disclaimer: I do not own YGO

Chapter 9: Help in Unusual Places

It was an extraordinarily beautiful morning at the Crawford estate. Pegasus sighed contentedly as he took in the dewy newness of the waking world and delighted in the fresh air. In his mind, there simply couldn't be anything better than taking his morning repast al fresco. Except maybe in his study when it was rainy out, or in bed when he had been up late the night before. Yes, those were certainly pleasant too.

"Master Pegasus?" queried Crockets. "Forgive my intrusion, sir, but you have a visitor."

Pegasus gave him a petulant look, annoyed that his quiet musings had been disturbed. "This early? Well, tell whomever it is they can wait. I shall be…"

Whatever he was going to say was cut off by said visitor who had taken it upon himself to enter Pegasus' balcony sans invitation.

"I don't have time to wait," he practically growled. "I need to talk to you now."

An amused smile crept over Pegasus' lips. Perhaps he could make time for this guest. Encounters with this young man always proved entertaining.

"Kaiba-boy! What a pleasant surprise. I haven't seen your smiling face in ages." He gestured at an empty chair, inviting Kaiba to sit. "Please excuse me I was just finishing breakfast. Mimosa? No of course not you are too young." Pegasus motioned for a servant to lean in closer. "He'll have juice," he said in a loud whisper placing an order for his unexpected guest.

Kaiba gave him a withering look. "I won't be having anything," he interjected stiffly as he took a seat.

Pegasus merely shrugged. "Suit yourself," was his light reply. He certainly wasn't going to let his guest's inability to take a joke to spoil what was left of a fine morning. "So Kaiba-boy, to what do I owe the honor?"

"You can cut the pleasantries, Pegasus. This isn't a social call."

"Of course not. It never is with you. It is always work, work, work. But from what I hear, work is something you are going to be a little short on sometime soon. Seems a Mrs. Ohhira is 'this close' to taking over for you at Kaiba Corp," Pegasus annoyingly gestured with his thumb and index finger.

Kaiba's eyes narrowed. "Word apparently travels quickly," he growled. "How do you know this?" He asked, suddenly on the defensive. Pegasus surprisingly wasn't on his list of suspected conspirators. There didn't seem to be enough of a motive, but he could never be too careful around that man. Kaiba leaned forward over the table and jabbed a finger in his host's direction. "If I find that you…"

"I have my sources just as I am sure you do," replied Pegasus with a dismissive wave of his hands. "A company is nothing more than a lame duck, or a sitting duck for that matter, without some intimate links into the goings on of the business world. Imagine my surprise to learn that of all people you were the one to get your ducks knocked out of their row. It's a tough break, really," he added. You have my condolences."

Temporarily mollified about Pegasus' lack of involvement though seething at the duck comment, Kaiba sat back down. "I don't need your condolences," he bit out. "Save them for your own employees. Things aren't going to be all peaches and cream for you either. Madeline Ohhira is planning to reorganize the company."

"Mmm, yes, I know," commented Pegasus as he disinterestedly fiddled with his napkin. "She has her little war tech scheme."

Kaiba leaned forward on his elbows and lowered his voice. "Then you should also know the chances of your contract with KC being renewed is slim to none." This was his trump card. He had to play it well.

The napkin suddenly no longer held much interest to Pegasus. He affected an unconcerned visage. "An unfortunate, but small consequence. I still have the Von Schroeder Company to fall back on."

"Ha!" Kaiba scoffed. "That so-called company is worthless by comparison. Their products are second-rate knock-offs of what Kaiba Corp produces. When was the last time they produced anything worthwhile? Depend on them alone and your stocks will plummet. No one will want to play your game if all they have is cheap equipment. If Kaiba Corp goes down, so will Industrial Illusions; I guarantee it."

Pegasus furrowed his eyebrows. There was certainly some merit to Kaiba's dismal prediction he couldn't ignore. "I'll admit that scenario has crossed my mind. It is worrisome, the thought of my pocketbook feeling a little…pinchy, and at the absolute very worst suffering the loss of my company as well, but something tells me you are not here to warn me how my stocks are going to fare."

A triumphant smirk found its way onto Kaiba's face. "I'm calling in a solid 'you owe me'. It is in your best interest, after all."

Mokuba sat on the edge of his bed with his head bowed and hands by his knees tightly gripping the duvet cover. While his breathing was still a little ragged from his argument with Madeline, his mind, at least, was no longer racing with confused thoughts. They all focused on one sentiment.

She has to be lying.

Things just didn't add all the way up. They certainly did when Madeline was doing the adding, but when Mokuba took a closer look, it seemed to him her math was a little fuzzy.

Or maybe it's because my memory is fuzzy. He thought with a sigh then straightened up as he gathered more conviction. No. Well, yeah it is, except the bits I do remember don't fit into what she told me. She said that Seto and I were all alone in the airport. But, I don't think we were. Mokuba folded his arms across his chest as he willed himself to remember. There was another guy there, a weird, creepy guy. I know it. What was his name? And how does this Ohhira lady fit into all of this? I don't trust her. If she's one of our investors, Seto must have mentioned her before. Think, Mokuba!

Pushing himself off the bed, Mokuba began pacing around the room. Okay. I need to find a computer to get to our KC files and dig up some dirt on her. There's got to be one around here somewhere and a phone. If I could just call Seto without her knowing it…

His eyes drifted over to where his coat lay folded on the chair.

Oh yeah! I left my cell phone in my pocket.

Mokuba could feel his pulse quicken as he hungrily searched his coat. He was only moments away from contacting his big brother.

It's got to be here…

Mokuba emptied both main pockets. No luck.

Please be here… The nervous excitement he felt seconds before quickly turned into quiet desperation gnawing away at the pit of his stomach. All the blood in his fingers seemed to have drained away as he looked in the liner pocket.

It wasn't there either. The coat slid from his slackened grasp onto the ground. Mokuba didn't bother to pick it back up and return it to the chair. Leaning against the closed door of the closet, he slumped down in defeat to sit on the floor. Mokuba propped his elbows on his knees and rested his chin in his hands.

"It must have fallen out," he muttered to the traitorous coat. Or, she took it. Just then, something white, nearly hidden by the coat, caught Mokuba's attention.

An envelope?

He vaguely recalled pulling it out during his search. Stretching out his right foot, Mokuba caught the envelope under his heel and pulled it within reaching distance.

"Why was I carrying this?" he asked himself as he turned the envelope over in his hands.

There weren't any identifying markers on it. No logos, no names, no addresses. Nothing.

Weird. He shrugged. I guess it must be mine; it was in my pocket.

Mokuba carefully ran his index finger under the flap and broke the seal. He stared at the open envelope not even realizing he was holding his breath.

What ever is in there might be really important. He reached inside and felt his fingers brush against stiff paper – a card!

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Mokuba watched with wide eyes as the knob began to turn. There was no way he was going to let anyone take the mystery card away from him. Thinking quickly, he folded the envelope, shifted slightly to slide it into the back pocket of his jeans, and sat back down. Madeline walked in just as he got resituated.

"There you are, darling." She knelt down beside him. "How are you doing?" Mokuba darted his eyes in her direction but did not respond. "I know it was hard for you to hear what I told you this morning. I do. Please understand I'm only trying to help you."

Failing again to get a verbal reaction from the boy, Madeline gestured to the toys and games in the room. "Now that you are up and about, I'd hate for you to get bored. All of these things are here for your disposal. I personally picked out…."she rambled.

Mokuba stopped listening and turned his attention to the pile. He had initially ignored it, having other things on his mind, but Mokuba took a closer look now out of curiosity. Most of the things he already owned and, therefore, weren't that interesting. However, his eyebrows did rise when he saw a duel disk. Only one. Madeline obviously didn't understand you need two people in order to make using a duel disk worthwhile. Some stockholder she is, Mokuba sniffed.

….They might help you to take your mind off things. I'm sorry I can't stay longer," added Madeline as she affectionately his hair out of his face. "There is a phone call I need to make, but I'll check on you later."

Phone call. Mokuba saw his chance to get the information he needed so badly and did his best to keep his expression stoic. He held himself back a full ten seconds before he crept to the door and opened it a crack to see which way she went. The envelope was temporarily forgotten. Right now, he wanted to follow Madeline in order to find a phone or at least eavesdrop and find out what she was up to.