I know! I should have done this before.

I don't own or pretend to own anything except the idea. YuGiOh! Is most certainly not mine.

Seto scowled.

"What do you need with him?"

Yugi remained leaning against the crates, but explained. "This whole war was planned, started, funded, orchestrated, by that…thing." Seto looked skeptical. Yugi explained further. "Movia, and the surrounding countries now involved in the war, sit atop a mine of rare and very valuable minerals. Some can only be found in this area. Gozeburo had a nice little plan: start a war, clear out all the natives. Step in as savior, receive reward, gain control of vast amounts of valuable resources. Simple."

"Sounds just like him. But how do you know all this?" Yugi grinned. "I know more about Gozeburo Kaiba than almost anyone else. And I'm sure it was really him, not Dartz in disguise or anything," he added.

"The more I looked, the more I realized just how much he was pulling the strings. Every rebel carried a gun paid for- discreetly, of course-by KC. Public support went to the 'Official Government'. Hah! There's a new rebel group in charge every few months. When I was twelve, in fact, we averaged a new leader once a week for the entire summer. Fall and winter didn't do much to help that average, either."

"This has been my research when I got back to Japan. I had gathered some information, but it's rather hard in a war zone with no resources. Back in Japan though, some of this information was as easy as an internet search. Some basic hacking skills, meeting the right people- within three months I had all the info I needed. Not that it did much good, mind, but still.

"I felt like I was doing something. Don't worry, I didn't look into you or your business either," Yugi hastened to assure Seto.

"When you took over, the company funding ended. Actually, you're quite the hero around here. People picture you as the White Knight defeating the evil King. Everyone knows because all of the fighters complained about not getting new weapons."

Yami couldn't help it. The shock of imagining that whole countries thought of Seto Kaiba as their hero was too much. All he could do was sputter whilst Yugi sat on the floor, grinning like a madman at his yami's reaction. Seto didn't look in much better shape than Yami, though it was plain to see he was pleased.

"Did you honestly have to tell him that? Wasn't his ego big enough already?" Yami finally managed. Yugi just grinned mischievously and pulled at a blond strand.

Sobering, he continued explaining the political situation. "At first, it was just rebels and army. But it grew. Factions, anti-rebel groups, they all popped out of the woodwork. They usually start with noble intentions- 'protect the country' and all that. But they always end up just as bad as whoever they're supposed to be fighting. It's quite the vicious circle."

"So. Gozeburo had orchestrated everything. But something interrupted his perfect plan: you. When he died, it became 'every man for himself'." Seto halted Yugi's explanation with a hand motion. "Why don't I know about this?"

"Simple," answered Yugi. "Because not even the Big Five knew about this. In fact, everyone who was in on this plan from the start is dead. Either from 'natural' causes, suspicious accidents, outright assassinations, or the hazards of battle. But…" A worried look passed over Yugi's face.

"Spit it out, Moutou," demanded Kaiba.

"But, what worries me is this…other. It's not like Gozeburo to not have a…a failsafe. The ace up the sleeve, that is. And I think he did have one. I also think that there is one more person involved, and that there is a possibility that HE is still alive."

The room was silent, except for the faint happy chatter of Mokuba and the others, and a slow drip of water falling from a distant spot on the ceiling.

"And the failsafe…I think," Yugi said slowly, "is an ultimate weapon designed to make a clean slate. There's no doubt that it could be rigged to look like a rebel groups work, or even an accident. And the fact that one person…one person has control over it, well honestly, it worries me. An unknown factor. I've tried desperately to find out who, what, etc., but it eludes me."

Yugi looked up, and shook his head as though trying to clear everything away.

"Of course, it's quite likely I'm wrong. There's very little actual evidence of anything, you understand. It was all done quite well. If it was done, I mean." Yugi waved his hand as if to say, 'take from it what you will'.

"No, I do believe you are right, Yugi," said Seto. Yugi opened the mind-link to find that Yami shared his shock. Seto, while he had…mellowed, since their trip to Egypt, still didn't simply agree with anyone. Or tell them that they were right.

::Just how much of that painkiller stuff did you give him, Yugi?::

:Not that much! Maybe he's having a bad reaction:

They shared a look. Seto deliberately ignored them. "I recently discovered some papers indicating that there were…branches of Kaiba Corporation, business ventures, that were more than top secret."

Yugi just nodded, it was no surprise.

"What fresh hell is this?" muttered Kaiba. Yami looked at him, not quite understanding.

"I thought I could make up for everything he" –there was no need to clarify who he was- "did, I thought I could rid our lives of his influence by closing off and destroying those weapons factories. I thought by remaking the company I could cleanse it.

"Now I find myself stuck in the hell of a world he created for whole countries. He must be laughing at me from the grave."

Seto's face showed grave displeasure. "I do not like being laughed at. Or leaving things unfinished. We will fix this. After we get out of here, the first order of business is for you," he looked at Yugi, "to show me all this information you have gathered. Especially that which refers to the failsafe weapon you mentioned." Yugi nodded.

"Of course. And since you are no doubt wondering why I never brought it up before, once again, it was my problem. Added to that- well, I considered how much evidence it took to convince you magic was real, and considering how little concrete evidence I had…" Yugi tilted his head slightly, en eyebrow rising.

"Anyway. Perhaps I should explain what the next few days are going to look like. As long as all goes well. 'Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and if the worst comes, come out shooting.' That's my own personal variation of an old, popular adage."