Turning his back on the applauding crowd, Kaiba felt the adrenaline in his body begin to die down. It was a rush, speaking in front of such a huge stadium full of people in a language that wasn't naturally his own. He had to think hard about what he wanted to say, and it was actually challenging for once to come up with the right words. Although a genius with numbers, he was no wordsmith, and it took many long hours at home deleting file after file of word documents before he came up with the right thing to say.

It had been perfect. Walking off the stage, he knew that his work was done and soon he'd be back in Japan, ready to start the project. His stock holders couldn't say he was lacking the proper support for such an aggressive campaign, and feeling on top of the world, he wondered in the back of his mind where Anzu was.

She had to be in the crowd somewhere. It wasn't exactly easy to get her seats to the conference in so little time, but Kaiba utilized the perks of his position when it suited him. e He found the right people to harass while changing into his clothes for public viewing, calling several supervisors to handle the situation. While kicking off the ruined leather shoes that Anzu destroyed while leading him into a mud filled pond, he made sure she got a seat to watch him.

Now he was very anxious to find her. This had to be what she felt every time she got on stage for ballet. It wasn't like Kaiba wasn't used to the lime light, but it was different in the United States. People appreciated a show. They adored watching successful people entice them with shiny new things and weren't put off by Kaiba's opulence. There was no shame in wearing finely tailored suits or driving expensive cars through town, and feeling more accepted there than in his city of Domino, he felt an odd sense of being at home there.

However, the spot light didn't last. It wasn't really his show, and after turning over the attention to one of his executives, he took a seat in the back stage to watch the rest. Someone handed him a water bottle, and after unscrewing the top and putting the plastic to his lips, he hardly noticed how much he drank until he was out of breath and noticed that the container was half empty.

"Excellent speech Mr. Kaiba!" called out a passing stranger, the man grabbing Kaiba's shoulder before squeezing it and letting go. There was a broad smile across his face, and by the way he showed his over enthusiasm, Kaiba knew he had to be an American.

Kaiba didn't respond to the man although he did turn to watch him walk away. Sitting there out in the open back behind the stage, he was greeted by six more people before finally getting up and going down the hall for some peace. Everyone was scattered around, and after finding a private dressing room to relax in, he took a seat in front of the mirror and stared into it.

Everything was finally going according to plan. His business was going to explode soon, despite the reluctance of support by his board, and soon Kaiba Corp would out shine everyone. No one could over look his power in business, even if he didn't have a main office in Tokyo or have gaming consoles like traditional companies did. He wasn't trying to be another Microsoft, who just barely scratched the surface in computer graphics.

Holograms were the future. Ever since creating that first duel disk some five or six years ago, Kaiba knew it would be the hallmark of his company. People would remember him for decades to come for creating something so seamless, and if he could just built upon that further, he'd be unforgettable. Wow would pass up the opportunity of being in another world, feeling and experiencing everything as if in a dream, only clearer and completely lucid? It would shock the world what Kaiba had in store for them.

And taking a hand to his hair, he messed it up a little before watching the door behind him open, slightly surprised to find a familiar figure standing right behind him. No longer wearing long hair but still appearing somewhat untamed, his teenage brother was smirking at him with his arms folded. He didn't say anything, but Kaiba was nonetheless surprised to see him since the kid never voiced out any intentions over coming to New York.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, eyes narrowing as he turned his head over his shoulder to look at Mokuba.

"I wanted to see your speech. Virtual technology was always important to you, and I wasn't going to willingly pass up the opportunity to watch you show off."

"You could have called first Mokuba before just showing up. I don't like surprises."

The younger male just laughed him off, taking a seat next to his brother before looking at himself briefly in the mirror. He had the same black hair, although much shorter now and styled in a way that didn't look so disheveled like he did as a kid. In a lot of ways, he looked like his father and Kaiba found it slightly unsettling, watching the boy who never really knew the man who he took so much after.

"Seto, just admit already that you're happy to see me. It's not like you have plans or anything that I'm keeping you from," said Mokuba, looking back at Kaiba with a wide smirk on his face, "and I know you'd just end up locking yourself in your hotel room if I hadn't of come."

"I'm not that pathetic, Mokuba."

"Yes you are."

Even if he was an annoying know-it-all, the older man was genuinely happy to see him again. In his mind, Mokuba would always be a kid, despite being almost Jonouchi's size in height and having a far more developed voice now that he was almost done with puberty. Looking at him, Kaiba wondered how it just all happened so quickly, like he'd just grown up while his back turned, but maybe that's how parents felt about their kids. It was a strange feeling for him.

"I still wish you would have alerted me that you were coming," he told Mokuba before getting up from his chair, "I'm actually busy tonight."

"You can reschedule your business dinners, Seto. You've done it in the past before."

"It's not a business dinner."

"Then what? Do you schedule in brooding time for yourself now?"

"No… And you're not funny."

He didn't think it was funny either when Mokuba jumped off his chair with a grin on his face, but Kaiba ignored it. The dressing room was no longer peaceful, and opening the door to leave, he thought about how to deal with the situation that presented itself. Now that his brother had returned, he couldn't very well go and have dinner with Anzu as planned.

Priorities. His brother came first, if only now to keep the peace. He didn't want to explain his relationship to him, or have Anzu trying to meet up with him so quickly. It would only result in becoming a major hiccup in his life since he was still trying to figure out in his head what he wanted with the relationship he had only officially started that morning.

"Seto, why can't I come to this dinner? Don't tell me you've finally managed to-"

"I'll cancel it, since you seem so adamant about seeing me tonight. Consider yourself lucky that I still like you enough to do this sort of shit for you. Next time you want to see me, ask. I'm not at your beck and call, Mokuba."

"I know that, I just thought you'd be excited to see me…" His voice was trailing off and looking back at the teenager, Kaiba noticed his far off gaze. He couldn't tell if he was actually upset or just faking. Mokuba was a fantastic actor.

"And I am," he replied, still keeping a collected face, "but I need to know ahead of time so I don't make conflicting plans."

"You never had plans in the past outside of work."

"Things change."

"Oh, I know they do," said Mokuba, smirking some as he followed behind his brother, cutting through the crowd, "I tried surprising you at your hotel room last night, and you weren't there. I wonder why."

"That's really none of your business."

And Kaiba hoped that would be the end of that conversation. It was hard playing parental figure and sibling to someone five years his junior… someone as smart as he was, but with better social skills. Like it or not, Mokuba was just as able as he was and could easily milk what he wanted out of people, including his own older brother. For this reason, Kaiba became more wary of him as the teenager grew older.

"I'm happy for you though, big bro," continued Mokuba, "I didn't want to end up finally beating you at something like losing your V card. Now that would be an embarrassing defeat, don't you think?"

"When did you become so insufferable, Mokuba? Was that before or after your voice finally stopped cracking?"

"I learned how from the best."

Narrowing his eyes again, Kaiba said nothing more. He didn't even want to give up his previous arrangements for his younger sibling anymore, but he would. It was the right thing to do and no matter what kind of attitude he got from Mokuba, his first responsibility was always to him. Although his hired body guards kept him out of trouble and his tutors instilled the best education into him¸ there was a lot that only he could do for him. Certain things could only be handled amongst family, and having accepted that years ago, Kaiba didn't slack from his duties.

"Since you're so desperate for my attention tonight, I'll be seeing you after this convention is over at my hotel room. We can talk then, but right now I have some things to take care of. And it would be better for both our sakes if you'd just find something else to amuse yourself with until I'm done."

"If that's that you want, Seto."

Kaiba gave Mokuba a funny look, watching the seventeen year old disappear into the crowd before exhaling a long sigh. Teenagers were exhausting. He used to think that Mokuba would be easy because they were so close, but then looking back on himself, he realized that would not be the case. Being smart and clever, the boy would fight against authority like his older brother had. His mouth would get him into trouble, but all things come in phases and it wouldn't last.

Hopefully.

"Kaiba, I was looking all over for you!"

Turning around, he was expecting to find someone from the convention, but to his surprise came, Anzu smiling broadly at the sight of him. He hoped she hadn't seen Mokuba, because that would just result in questions he didn't feel like answering, but she didn't appear aware of his presence. Thankfully.

"… Are you okay?" asked Anzu, who folded her arms against her chest while giving him a funny look, "you look worried about something."

"I'm not. Unfortunately though I'm gonna have to place a rain check on that dinner of ours. Something came up and I can't exactly put it off tonight, but we can try again tomorrow if you'd like."

"Yeah, that's fine," replied Anzu, sounding a little bit disappointed, "I'm pretty tired anyways."

"If it wasn't important-"

"-I completely understand. Don't worry about me. I'll see you tomorrow then Kaiba. Call me when you have a time for us to meet up, okay?"

"I'll come pick you up."

"Of course."

For the rest of the day, Kaiba felt very shitty about the situation. Leaving Anzu high and dry was not his intention, especially since the two hadn't really gone out together for dinner formally in months. It would have been their first real date. And Mokuba ruined it.

Grumbling, he forced himself into the limousine hired out for him and waited to be dropped off again at his hotel. Mokuba would probably appear sometime that night, late, as he usually did whenever they made plans. He didn't know why his brother didn't bother to be punctual, but maybe that had something to do with being a rebellious teenager. Kaiba never had the chance to enjoy that sort of irresponsibility, so the concept of just dicking around was foreign to him.

Mokuba was certainly enjoying the adolescence he never had. He couldn't help but be a little jealous of him, wandering how differently he would have come out if he only had the same opportunities as a teenager. Would he had have friends? Kaiba didn't know. Even before Gozaburo, he didn't really associate with too many of his peers. To put it quite frankly, he didn't like any of them.

Until now. And it bugged him how he wouldn't be seeing her despite having Anzu's full attention all morning. He had no right to be upset over it, but still. It had been a long separation and he still wanted her company. But it would have to wait.

Getting out of the car and walking into the hotel, he realized that maybe Mokuba needed something from him. He had been too distant with everything that was going on, and even though his brother never asked for anything, that didn't mean he didn't need Kaiba either. Communication was so hard, and despite the acts of rebellion and the snarky attitude the younger Kaiba was displaying on occasion, he was still a good kid.

"And a pain in my ass…"

He had to stop himself from getting mad. Sure, Mokuba had ruined his plans, but he didn't know. And for him to keep ignorant of the whole thing, it needed to stay that way. His brother did not need to get nosey in his relationship… Especially since he liked Anzu. It would be awkward, trying to explain what happened between them when they could hardly stand each other in high school. Mokuba wouldn't get it.

Not that Kaiba really understood much of it himself. His attachment scared him a little, and walking into his hotel room, he found it comforting to just collapse on his bed and wait for his brother to come. It was already late afternoon and he would show up eventually, since Mokuba probably got a copy key to the hotel room from Isono. Head security always had one, and waiting for his few moments of real peace to end, Kaiba turned around to face the door.

It wasn't until an hour later, after falling asleep on the mattress, did Mokuba creep in, surprised to find his older brother passed out on the couch. Walking over to him, he took a seat near his head and briefly touched his hair but said nothing. He made no attempt to wake him up, despite demanding the man's time just a few hours ago.

Kaiba eventually woke up on his own. Mokuba was just sitting there staring at him, his violet eyes beginning to make him feel nervous. It was like he already knew something was up. And trying to avoid the look he was getting, he was pleasantly surprised to find a cart of food laid out before the bed, dinner for two set up with a simple carination between two covered plates.

"I ordered dinner, since you seemed grumpy at the conference and I know you get like that when you're hungry. Its filet mignon your favorite, with a French vingarette inspired salad and fresh pear slices. Since you like that sort of thing, I thought it would be best for dinner," explained Mokuba. "I'm sorry about ruining your plans, Seto."

"It's fine."

Getting up, Kaiba took the tray of food from the cart and left the silver top there, placing the plate on his lap. Cutting into the tender meat, he was pleased to find the middle still pink. It looked perfect. And taking a small slice to his mouth, it tasted good too. Kaiba didn't eat beef too often usually, but when he did, he liked to treat himself.

"What did you get?" asked Kaiba between bites, glancing over at his younger sibling as he went to get his own food.

"Stuffed chicken breast with vegetables. I didn't feel like going out tonight."

Grunting, Kaiba rolled his eyes and shook his head, finding himself once again manipulated by his little brother. Apparently acting like a demanding brat was his way of begging for attention. It made a little sense, since he wasn't at the hotel the night before and Mokuba was probably shocked to find the place empty. That was incredibly unusual for him, and Mokuba probably panicked.

Their relationship dynamic was getting too complicated. It was turning from siblings to father and son, and finally back to siblings. Mokuba was getting to that age where he was almost able to take care of himself, but not quite. And not unlike his older brother, generally didn't bother to ask others for help.

"Mokuba, you could have just asked for me to stay with you if that was the case. You didn't need to manipulate me into spending time with you."

"Last time I asked," replied the teenager somewhat spitefully, "you told me you had a meeting that couldn't be ignored."

"That was true."

"So, you probably would have come up with the same excuse again."

"Mokuba, you don't know that and maybe if you bothered to plan ahead," said Kaiba, trying to keep from becoming frustrated, "you'd get a hold of me when I'm not busy. It's not that difficult to plan ahead."

"You never call me, Seto."

"And neither do you. What am I supposed to do; I'm not a mind reader."

There was no reply. Mokuba was quiet, picking at his plate awkwardly, avoiding eye contact. Kaiba felt a little bad at being so short with him, but it wasn't fair that he had to be the one jilted over and over again by his own little brother. That he never bothered to talk to him, but somehow still expected Kaiba to just drop everything for him whenever he decided to show up. That sort of thing would no longer fly anymore.

"And I'm sorry I wasn't here last night, but something came out. It's going to happen, and I can't guarantee anymore that I'll be around every time you want me. If you actually need me, I'll be there. But you need to learn how to rely on yourself, Mokuba. I won't always be around."

"I know that, Seto… Where were you last night?"

"Out with a friend."

Mokuba blinked once, titling his head a little before replying, "Since when did you have a friend?"

"It's a long story."