Ever since that night, Seto promised to never again let her spend a night alone with only Kuriboh as company, and he was doing great until ... IT happened.

Seto Kaiba, the 20 year old CEO and one of the youngest, but most successful businessmen in Japan and the world, sighed as he continued listening to the head of his board of directors, getting fed up with the fat man. They were all at the least twice his age, just like most of his employees, but it was somewhat expected since Seto had taken over the company at the young age of 15 in hopes of finally being free from his sadistic stepfather. He had managed to turn Kaiba Corporation from a weapons to a gaming company and it had all been inspired by his long forgotten dream of building Kaiba Land that had only stayed alive because of his brother and an old picture he cherished.

Mokuba, now 15, was one of the most popular kids in his high school and he had many friends, something that really gave Seto hope that he had at least done one thing right. He, himself, had ever only had one friend besides Mokuba, and he had never been able to find her after she was taken away from him. Seto still remembered the things he had agreed to just so the statue would be found, but even Gozaboro's most shadiest business partners couldn't find her.

A few months, about five or six, after he had first been defeated in chess, or any game for that matter, someone broke into the house during one of the times Seto was forced to attend a business party with Gozaboro. When they had returned, half the house was on fire and wrecked from an obvious gun fight, almost all of the outside security killed and the maids were in no better condition. It had taken three hours for the fire department to take out the fire, but when they did, Gozaboro was surprised that the culprits had only take away one thing.

Yuna.

Seto had raged and demanded that the statue be found, only managing to convince Gozaboro to look for it by saying that someone was mocking Gozaboro's authority and power by doing something like this. And yet, even with everything that Kaiba Corp could do, Yuna was never found.

That had been over 10 years ago, and Seto was still searching for her. But it was as if she had vanished from the face of the Earth and it was seriously disheartening. He often wondered if she had found a way to free herself from the curse that had kept her as a statue and had just moved on. But something in him told him that wasn't true, so Seto had continued searching for her over the years.

As the now tired CEO continued making up for the afternoon's search, he wasn't aware of his younger sibling worried expression as he watched Seto work into the early hours of the morning. Mokuba chewed on his lower lip, knowing that his older brother was now trying to catch up on the work he had neglected during the futile search for that statue. Mokuba knew that Seto loved that one statue and that he wasn't ready to replace it, the space where it once stood was still empty as a testimony to that, but he had never understood why. Sure, he had asked a lot of times over the years, but Seto always looked so vulnerable to the younger that Mokuba never lasted long enough to actually hear the answer.

But this was really worrisome! Seto would go for days without sleep and minimal food when he thought he was close to finding it, only to become so cold and distant when he realized that it really hadn't been the statue he was looking for. Those troublesome days were than followed by days where Seto was so focused on work he almost didn't even use the bathroom! Mercifully, after that, he passed out for two days before returning to work like normal until the cycle repeated yet again. Mokuba really didn't know what to do anymore.

It seemed that only the return of the statue would make his brother at least a bit more relaxed.

So Mokuba decided to go to the only person he knew that could actually help, Ishizu Ishtar. Ishizu and her brothers were in charge of the Domino museum and Mokuba knew that their exhibits weren't always legally gained. If anyone had connection in the black market, it would be them and they could get Seto's precious statue back!

''You have summoned a meeting with me, young Mokuba?''

Mokuba jumped out of his skin as Ishizu appeared from behind him. ''Um, yeah. Remember how Seto stood up for you a few years back?''

Ishizu frowned. ''It is a bit hard to forget, so yes, I remember. And I gather that you now wish for my assistance.''

''Yeah. I need you to find a statue for me.''

''Seriously!?'' Mokuba turned in time to see Ishizu's younger brother, Marik Ishtar, coming up to them with six other teens. There was only one girl in the group, and there were two albinos there. One guy was a blond and there was one brunet. The shortest guy in the group had strange tricolored, spiky hair and huge violate eyes. They were Seto's age and he used to go to the same school while he still bothered with it.

''So, which is this statue you're looking for and why do you think I can find it?'' Ishizu snapped his attention back to her.

''Um, it's a statue that was stolen from our mansion, years ago, but Seto was really attached to it. He's been searching for it for a decade and I thought that, maybe, you could find it.'' He said as he scratched the back of his head.

''So there is something not even the great Seto Kaiba can get by himself.'' Joey, the blond from the group, commented with an interested expression on his face.

''Actually, it's so he doesn't search anymore. Seto's been spending so much time awake just so he could both search for it and work, so I thought that if he found it he would a t least sleep a bit more, you know.''

It seemed like the woman was contemplating it for a moment before shaking her head. ''I'll need you to describe it to me as best as you can.''

Mokuba's grin could light up a room.

00000

When Seto got home, late that night, he saw that Mokuba was sprawled out on the couch, obviously having been looking through some old pictures that they had taken in the mansion. Seto thought nothing of it until he saw that most of them were of the entrance hall, where the statue once stood. A strange hollow feeling entered his chest as he remembered that there once stood a friend of his.

He sighed, feeling that emptiness in his heart.

It seemed it was enough to wake up Mokuba as the kid was soon sitting up and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He started when he saw the almost broken look on his brother's face and he immediately feeling guilty about looking for the picture of the statue. He needed it for Ishizu so it would be easier for her to find it, but he had not planned to let his nii-sama know about this. It was supposed to be a secret and a nice surprise, but now he doubted it would stay secret for much longer.

''Um, hi Seto.''

''Why are you still up?'' Mokuba flinched at the detached tone in his brother's voice. It was always like this when he spoke of or remembered the statue Mokuba could barely recall. This was one of the main reasons Mokuba didn't talk or ask about it all. Seto was still hurting and that was enough knowledge for the younger Kaiba brother to know not to do something that causes his brother more pain. After all, Seto was the best big brother in the world who had given up everything for Mokuba, and therefore Mokuba refused to do something that would pain his big brother.

''Um, I was just looking through some old photos for, um, a school project ... about fine art ... that isn't all too ... famous?'' Mokuba winced at his own lie. But it was best he could do so suddenly! He had wanted to be done before the young CEO got back home! However, Seto didn't seem to notice, too lost in his memories and the pain he felt whenever he thought of how lonely his friend must be now, when she only has that fuzz-ball for company.

''Do you want to know about her?'' Mokuba was shocked at what his brother had just asked, as Seto had always refused to so much as utter a word or two about the statue. Even to Mokuba! But here he was now, willing to talk and answer Mokuba's questions that had been piling up over the last almost decade.

''You-you don't mind?'' He left out the question of why Seto always talks about the statue as 'her' and not 'it' as he does for every other piece of art they come across or own. The brunet only smiled sadly.

''I know you've wanted to ask about her for years now. I think ... I'm finally able to talk about it ... '' Here he actually grinned at the younger boy and Mokuba's face lit up with joy. He asked all sorts of questions, everything from how exactly Seto got it, why it meant so much to him and why he insisted on getting it back. He left out the question of how it was stolen, because he got rather confusing answers for his first two questions. They talked well into the night, and by morning, Mokuba had all the information Ishizu might need to find the statue.

Let the real search begin!

A/N: HI! I'm sorry for the loooong wait! I know it is a bit mean of me, but I simply couldn't find the time. I hope things will go a bit faster now, but I doubt it. School had started once again and now I have a lot to do. Please excuse my lateness!