Kaiba Corp Building
Fortunately for the furniture and the employee's health, the coaches and chairs were bolted down or not heavy enough to cause much damage of anything. Seto knew this and instead he simply clenched his fists tightly, the knuckles turning white moments later and his eyes blazing with fire. The only employee that dared to stay in the lounge was in fact his personal secretary that brought him here. Either knowing that she was about to get fired or had some underlying strength that neither of them knew she had, regardless Seto was silently thankful that he had not needed to yell for her.
"Miss Katherine," Seto said through gritted teeth, softly though. His secretary slowly inched closer. "I want you to get me Mr. Arnold from the United States Department of Foreign Affairs as well as Mr. Bask the man I'm buying the land from to build Kaiba Land," Seto orded.
"Ye-yes sir, right away Mr. Kaiba," Katherine the secretary responded. Somewhat shocked that her employer even bothered to remember her name.
"And once you've done that call Roland and tell him that I won't be home today," Seto ordered soon after, he walked briskly away towards his office once more. Perhaps today was as good as any to become an alcoholic, if such thoughts last any longer in Seto's mind he might have considered it. I don't need anything to impede my mind right now He thought fiercely.
His secretary scampered off to fulfill his orders and Seto quickly descended into his own mind as he sat down in his office chair. Usually he would be able to quickly configure and fix any problem and issue on the spot but Pegasus unloaded a whole can of worms, and those worms in turn each opened their own can of worms. A lot of worms Seto groaned and leaned back against his chair. Perhaps he should simply not enter the tournament and simply monitor the whole thing. It would certainly take away weeks long of practice against himself and save him the annoying battles of lesser duelist and even give him a different excuse from not dueling Wheeler other than Wheeler being a third rate duelist.
"Mr. Kaiba? Mr. Arnold is on line three and Mr. Bask is currently on his lunch break in which he should return in an hour or so," His secretary Katherine said, opening the door in his office slightly to do so.
She scampered away after hearing Seto mutter something and a sigh of relief escaped from her lips as she continued finishing up her last order from Mr. Kaiba. She certainly hoped nothing more would agitate her employer. She was certain that Mr. Kaiba was one episode away from throwing his red stapler at his employees. Several staplers, several of them.
Kame Game Shop
"Yugi! We got to like pack and like get things ready for perhaps the biggest Dueling Tournament known to mankind!" Joey sputtered like a car engine that won't start.
"Whoah now Joey, calm down a tad now? I know it is very exciting that we'll get back to dueling but I doubt this tournament starts tomorrow you know?" Yugi responded trying desperately to calm down his best friend.
Tea for her part was getting water for Tristan and Duke who all but collapsed on the floor from evidently trying to chase down Joey as soon as they all caught whiff of Pegasus hosting perhaps the largest Tournament ever created. Even Duke, one of Pegasus's business partners, did not of the man's plans. Rather, nobody outside of Pegasus himself, knows what goes on in that red clad man's mind. Tristan doubted even Pegasus made much sense to himself half the time.
"I guess perhaps I should even try my luck in this tournament as well, I mean if a duelist like Joey got to the finals than I even got a better chance than he does," Duke said, graciously accepting the water as he gulped down half it faster than Tea could blink.
"Oh yeah? Listen here Dice Head I got to the top o-" Joey began but was interrupted by Yugi.
"Okay guys I don't think now is the best time to argue, right now we should plan ahead and get ready for this tournament. I mean school is about to finish in a few weeks so hopefully this Tournament will be held during the summer," Yugi stated.
"You're right, well anyways I need to head back to the States anyhow. Even probably talk to Pegasus more about this tournament and phone you guys about more information. Perhaps Mokuba here could also provide some insider information for you guys too," Duke said, slowly stretching himself out.
The group looked over to Mokuba and in return Mokuba barely registered that they were all looking at him. He finally turned his head to see what's up and took a step back when he met five pair of eyes locked on him.
"Uh, um, well I guess I can talk to Seto today and tell you guys more information tomorrow. But right now it was Pegasus who gave the conference and announcement and not Seto. So I'm not exactly sure if Seto even planned on releasing on such information today. Seto wasn't even in the News to being with as well," Mokub explained, trying to shy away from their stares. Honestly he was feeling rather uncomfortable currently.
"Well I guess so, anyways now with the initial excitement out of the way. We got some planning to do guys," Tea said, drawing their attention to her as she made her way back up to Yugi's room, the rest of the guys followed as well, but Yugi stayed down with Mokuba and gave him an encouraging smile.
"It seems that fate is on our side huh Mokuba? We said we needed to search the world for Kisara and that is what were are going to do soon," Yugi said, giving a friendly hold on Mokuba's shoulder.
"Yeah perhaps fate is on our side, I just hope fate is on Kisara's side as well, and my brothers," Mokuba replied as he followed Yugi back up to his room. These last few weeks would sure be crazy and filled with nonstop anticipation to perhaps the largest tournament ever created but Mokuba was more concerned for the events that would happen during the tournament.
Domino High School
Ring
"We are finally out! Finally out!" Tristan shouted as he bum rushed the school's double doors that led to his freedom. He was followed by an equally ecstatic Joey through the doors.
Yugi and Tea slowly walked out through the same doors, laughing at their close friends that were acting as if they haven't seen daylight in ages. Rather Yugi was more concerned about seeing Domino again, the tournament was coming soon and already a list was coming out with names of several duelist that were either invited to go or made themselves invited through several regionals and smaller tournaments. Making on the top of the list to no surprise was Yugi himself but what he did find strange was that Kaiba was nowhere on the list.
"Yugi. Earth to Yugi!" Tea said, waving her hand in front of Yugi's face, her attempt to reel him back to reality.
"Uh? Oh hey, sorry I was thinking about the World Tournament thing is all," Yugi responded.
"Oh, well I'm sure Joey will make it on the list eventually," Tea said, trying to see what was the matter.
"No, not that, well partly, I know Mokuba would make sure that Joey is on the list regardless of Kaiba's opinion. No it was actually Kaiba that I was wondering about, I didn't see him on the updated list of duelist on the Top Tier list," Yugi explained.
Tea paused to think and gave a shrug, "Perhaps he isn't dueling? I mean remember what happened at his Grand Finals Tournament?" Tea suggested.
"Well, he did duel Zigfreid at the end, but I get your point. But strange though because Pegasus actually named himself a Duelist in the tournament and I assumed Kaiba would do the same," Yugi said, he was actually worried about Pegasus joining the tournament, even though the man does not possess any more powers it was still creepy to face his Toon Monsters.
"Huh, well perhaps we should ask Mokuba when we get our stuff ready for the Tournament?" Tea suggested. Yugi nodded and both noticed that Joey and Tristan were blocks ahead and both started to run after their friends.
Kaiba Corp Building – Seto Kaiba's Office
"Let me repeat myself," Seto started, his voice far from civil, "I. Do. Not. Care. Nor will I ever give a damn about your thoughts of the matter. I am Seto Kaiba in case you have forgotten you sorry excuse of a business man," Seto uttered fiercely. His venomous voice even brought chills down Mokuba's back who was sitting on the sofa inside his brother's office. Mokuba figured that Seto was having a bad day and someone decided to mess up on at the wrong time.
"Fine, get it down and nothing more out of you or I will have crushed and forgotten," Seto said firmly before hanging up his phone. He sighed deeply and rubbed his temple with his right hand.
"Seto, the Tournament will begin in two days from today you know, and you haven't even as much as touched your deck let alone practice," Mokuba said, his face filled with worry. He knew his brother was good but no one was above practice, even Seto knew that.
"I'm not dueling Mokuba," Seto said flatly before returning to his computer once again. His fingers danced on the keyboard effortlessly.
"What!? Seto!? H-How, I mean, why not?!" Mokuba stuttered as he stood up to see his brother, not believing the words that just came from his mouth.
"Mokuba, please do not stutter. And I am not dueling. The reason isn't important, and I don't need to bother with facing dozens of lesser quality duelist to take my shot at the King of Games title, I just want to defeat Yugi but first I want to be sure Yugi is still the same without that Atem or Yami alter ego fellow," Seto replied calmly. Not bothering a glance at his younger brother.
Mokuba huffed before leaving his brother's office. Mokuba was certainly upset with his brother's refusal to join to the tournament. Even Pegasus was joing, PEGASUS! The loony that tried to take over Kaiba Corp and lock the souls of his brother and himself. Mokuba sighed as he pulled out the current list of duelist.
Duelist Tier 1:
1. Yugi Muto
2. Maximillion Pegasus
3. Joey Wheeler
4. Leon von Shroeder
5. Zigfried von Shroeder
6. Rebecca Hawkins
7. Mai Valentine
8. Balfry Ginger
9. Mako Tsunami
10. Rafael Arcam Angelus
11. Espa Roba
12. Rex Raptor
13. Weevil Underwood
14. Abe the Monkey Man
15. Solomon Muto
16. Lord Drake
Mokuba gave a chuckle at the list, this was certainly not a ranking order but close enough to it. To be rather honest Mokuba never suspected both Weevile and Rex to make it high on the Tier One list but they certainly had stepped up their game these past months. Mokuba sighed and wondered how the Von Shroeders would do against these other duelist. No doubt this Tournament would be a stiff competition and for duelist such as Joey Wheeler, they would soon learn that these duelist mean serious business. Though one name certainly brought some curious thoughts , Rafael Arcam Angelus, the man who worked for Dartz. He was surprised that the man wanted to duel but regardless he had shown that he meant well and was all in all a great duelist in his own right. Mokuba took a glance at the Tier three and two lists but took little note of their names. Some were indeed familiar but most were either second rated duelist or nothing special. But of course the underdogs would always surprise and upset any duelist if given the chance.
Mokuba sighed and continued walking towards the limo, he needed to get pack for the trip and wanted everything to be ready for him to grab. He nodded towards Roland and saw in the passenger seat next to Roland as they took off. He looked up towards the black suit man and coughed to grab his attention.
"Um Roland, you ever think, well I know this is weird and strange, but-" Mokuba started, "You ever think Seto would call someone friend? I mean really call someone a friend?" Mokuba asked.
Roland, for the most part, had a tough time remaining calm. He was taken aback by the question, for he had serve Kaiba for a few years already and mostly kept his job because of his sound judgment and never forgetting his place an employee of Kaiba Corp. Now to be asked such a question from Mokuba? What was there to say? Honesty sounded good but if only Roland knew what was true, "Um. Mr. Mokuba I am not sure, you see Mr. Kaiba is man who enjoys his own company over most and such the only being that I would suggest would be someone that cares little about his, um, rash nature, and is rather alright with Mr. Kaiba's work life," Roland said, he was very uncomfortable.
"Well, I guess we know one thing is true," Mokuba said, turning his head towards the window.
"And what is that Mr. Mokuba?" Roland asked.
"Set sure won't be an easy person to get along with," Mokuba responded wearily.
A/N:
Not really filled with plot related things, but I needed to get much of the start of the Grand Tourney as possible. I am still trying to figure out how I'm going to do the duels if I should just skip describing them and simply tell the end result, not sure. Anyways please enjoy reading! Comment and Review if your heart tells you so. =)