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Kaiba

She was late. I hated that I noticed. There should be no thoughts on my mind aside from my reputation, my company, and my brother.

It only took her a couple of minutes to show up, not leaving her to be late by much. As usual, I did not acknowledge her, and she slid into her seat quietly trying not to disturb me. This trait only made her more appealing to me and sometimes I wished she did come in carelessly and annoy me. It would lessen my desire for her.

A sudden voice came, providing me with the annoyance that Jem did not offer. "Excuse me." It was very clear and close. I stopped, slowly looking to the noise as Jem did the same, delicately spinning to look over her shoulder.

When I turned, I saw the dweebs headed by my rival, Yugi. He was the one who asked, but he wasn't talking to me. His eyes were on Jem, and when she realized this, her big eyes grew wider. I knew she suddenly felt panicked.

Yugi, still trying to be my friend, took a moment to acknowledge me. "Oh hey, Kaiba," he greeted kindly.

I responded with a cold, simple, "Yugi."

He smiled nervously and then turned back to Jem.

"Hey, Jemmea, I ah, I was just wondering if I could ask you something-"

"No," she said sternly, then promptly spun around, raising her book higher than usual.

He didn't know what to do. I stopped what I was doing, watching meticulously.

"We'll be back at da table, Yug," Joey asserted, his asinine eyes on Jem. He seemed to be trying to thin the crowd, noticing perhaps the amount of people overwhelmed her.

All but Yugi and Téa sauntered back to their table. "I'm sorry," Yugi, of course, began with once they left. "I don't mean to bother you, but I really do need to ask you this question. Then I'll leave you alone if that's what you want. I promise."

Jem didn't respond, seemingly engrossed in her book. She purposely refused to acknowledge him, most likely hoping for him to leave her alone without bothering with his question. I could see how uncomfortable his presence made her. I didn't like it. I respected Yugi as a duelist but expected nothing more than a stupid question from him.

"Please," Téa interjected, going around and getting closer to Jem. She sat down at our table, across from me and next to Jem, trying to get in her line of sight. "It's really important that we ask you this. The puzzle Yugi wears around his neck, we need to know more about it."

Not this again.

"We know you're Pegasus' daughter, and he had another item like this. Is there anything you could tell us-" Yugi began.

"Leave," I interrupted brashly. Not only did I not wish to talk about this, but I despised anyone bringing up her relation to that man, if you could call him that. She wasn't one of them. She didn't deserve any association with him, and certainly not for this fairy tale hunt.

"This doesn't include you, Kaiba," Téa warned.

"Please, Kaiba, I have to know," Yugi pleaded.

I slammed my laptop shut and rose to tower over them, leaning forward. "This does not include you," I threatened, gripping the sides of the table and staring down Téa. "Now I suggest you leave or I will send something very unpleasant your way."

"You won't. Your threats aren't real and you don't scare me, Kaiba," she retaliated.

"Oh really?" I asked. "Do you remember when I sent Yugi's grandfather to the hospital? Was that not real enough for you?" Téa stared me down, but she said nothing. "Go away now."

Téa turned to Jem, trying to appeal to her one last time. "Sorry if we made you uncomfortable, but if you think of anything, we'd really appreciate it you came to us," she said before she got up. "Come on, Yugi. We tried."

I kept glaring at them until they were a safe distance away. Then I sat down, reopening my laptop as I spat, "Idiots," to myself.

Jem ever so slightly looked over at me, finally tearing her eyes from her literature. I looked back, staying firm. I did not want her to think that was for her. I only did it because they bothered me, or at least that was all I would admit to myself. Still, she smiled at me. It was barely noticeable, but it still knotted my stomach. I could see the relief and gratitude in her eyes before she turned back to her book, not wanting to disturb me anymore. I then became re-aware of myself, hoping that I had not shown anything in my surprise, and resumed my work as though nothing had happened.

Alone in my office, my phone rang.

"Kaiba."

"Mr. Kaiba," came Roland's voice. "It took me a while, but I think I was able to find who you were looking for, though the property is listed under, 'Mia Leigh.' If you dig deep enough and make enough connections, it belongs to a Jemmea. Sir, she's a Pegasus."

I hated when he said that and a flare of displeasure began brewing inside me. But I did not correct him, for I did not want to give him any more information than he needed. I simply gave him instructions. "Go about removing the traces. Anything you're unable to remove, send to me and I'll take care of it."

"Right away, sir."

But I knew this would not be enough. Pegasus may have already found the address. I needed to take precautions. "Also, find a good loft apartment in the city. In a secure building. After you've screened them, let me know when you have found a superior one. I expect you to take care of this immediately."

Roland hesitated at my unusual request. "... Of course, anything you say, Mr. Kaiba."

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