Chapter 18: Mr. and Mrs. Kaiba

The legendary Seto Kaiba: CEO of the famous Kaiba Corporation, and currently, the Top-ranked Duelist in the world. Although fourteen years have passed since we last saw him, the thirty-two year-old man seemed to have barely aged in terms of physical appearance; mentally, he's become a bit more sober.

As usual, the elder Kaiba wore his trademark Battle City outfit. He began to step forward towards the savior of his younger brother.

"Nii-Sama," said Mokuba, "I have the honor to introduce to you, his Excellency, Monte Cristo Hakushaku. The same man whom I was lucky enough to be saved from certain death."

"You're welcome to my home, your Excellency. You saved the life of the only heir the Kaiba family has. In doing so, you have earned our everlasting thanks."

The three men then descended the stairway and went into the parlor room. Once there, the elder Kaiba motioned his guest to a chair, while taking another, facing the count. Although the count took said chair, he made it so that his face hid under the nearby curtain's shadow. As for Mokuba, he found himself sitting on a sofa between the older men.

Ignoring the other man's strange action, Kaiba began, "My wife, Téa, will be joining us soon. She's taking a bath; she just finished her daily dance routine."

"I must be very fortunate today, Mr. Kaiba. The same day of my arrival in Domino, I get to meet the Seto Kaiba. A man whose excellence is only matched by his worldly renown. Especially for his prowess in the gaming world."

For the first time in years, Kaiba actually blushed at the foreigner's statements. Mokuba saw this reaction and slowly made a small grin.

Monte Cristo added, "And although you were defeated by a virtually unknown boy... you decided to find ways to defeat the same boy, rather than giving up, like most others. Truly, you are an extraordinary person."

"You, who are an honored guest of the Kaiba family, honor me once again, Count. Perhaps the next time you visit, I shall be kind enough to bring you to Kaiba Tower; there I would show you my latest inventions."

"It would greatly honor me, Mr. Kaiba."

"Indeed it would. But, I'm afraid that I have an important business meeting at 3:00; it is now 2:30... Ah, here is my wife now."

The count quickly turned to where Mokuba's sister-in-law stood. The woman's sudden pale skin, complimented with her white dress. She seemed to be immobile for some strange reason. Monte Cristo got up from his chair, and made a deep bow to the Mrs.

Her husband noticed that she was out of character. Concerned, Kaiba asked, "Téa, what's wrong? Did you overheat during your routine? I thought that the mansion's cooling systems were still on."

"Yeah, Téa, are you somehow ill?" inquired Mokuba.

"No," she smiled, "I was merely touched at seeing your savior, Mokuba. The same man who rescued you, should receive a thousand blessings from the three of us Your Excellency, I thank-- no, bless you from the bottom of my heart!" As she said this, she began tearing.

"Mrs. Kaiba," said the count, "you and your husband are much too kind to reward me for the rescue of a precious family member. To save a life such as one like this, is to spare his family and friends' suffering... I simply did what anyone would do; nothing more, nothing less."

"Excellency, my brother-in-law is very lucky to have met you. I thank God for sending you to save the life of Mokuba."

Meanwhile, Kaiba went over to his wife. He whispered into her ear, "I have to go to a meeting now. I shall be back in a few hours. And, I've already told the count about this."

"All right, then, Seto," replied Téa, "Hakushaku, if your schedule permits, will you be spending the rest of the day with us?"

"Thank you, Mrs. Kaiba--"

"Pardon me, but please, call me Téa."

"Very well, then... Téa," said the count with much emotion, "but, once I've arrived in Domino, I went straight to this estate. As such, I haven't a clue as to where I will be housed."

"So, I assume that you will visit us again sometime soon?"

Instead of giving a verbal answer, the count bowed. Téa then continued, "Because of the circumstances, I won't let my feelings of gratitude delay you any longer."

Mokuba offered, "Count, if you'd like, you may use the guest room in here, or perhaps you'd prefer my penthouse?"

"No thank you, my young friend. My right-hand man, Rafael, should've made some arrangements as to where I shall take up residence in. In addition, a limo should already be at the door, waiting for me by 2:45, about two minutes from now."

Mokuba decided to walk his guest out, with the intent of finding out whether or not, the count's orders would be carried out with the notion of punctuality. And lo and behold, a black limousine waited at the Kaiba Mansion gates.

When he was about to enter said limo, the count said to his young friend: "Unfortunately, Mokuba, you may not accompany me, as my housing will require much improvisation. As such, I require one day's time. I'll then invite you; I do hope that I'm not transgressing the principles of hospitality?"

"Not at all, Count. But, I'm sure that it'll be more of a mansion, rather than a house..."

"It's settled then. I shall send you a message in one day's time. Until we meet again." said Monte Cristo as he went inside the black limo. As the car started to leave, the count noticed that one of the mansion's drawing curtains moved ever so slightly from a certain parlor room.

A couple minutes later, Mokuba found his sister-in-law collapsed onto the sofa. "Téa, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Mokuba."

"Then, why were you pale about ten minutes ago?"

"I was pale?" asked Téa.

"Yes, it doesn't really suit you. Which was the reason why Seto and I were concerned."

"Mokuba, I have a question to ask of you."

"Ask away, then."

"What title does the name Monte Cristo hail from? Family? Country? Or is it just a title?"

"I believe that it's just a title, Téa; nothing more, nothing less." replied the younger Kaiba, who then realized that he just repeated the count's four words.

Téa quietly muttered, "His manners are superb... just like... him."

Mokuba inquired, "It seems that you've taken a sudden interest in the Count of Monte Cristo, sister. And he's only been in here for a few hours at best, too."

"Since you have been with the Hakushaku longer than I have," said Téa with an ironic tone, "I don't suppose that you seem a bit suspicious of him? What I mean is... does he seem to be all that he appears to be?"

"You mean, what do I think of him, other than for being a great man?"

Yes, exactly."

"Well, I think he is Chinese," answered Mokuba.

"I'm not referring to his nationality; I'm asking you about his person."

Mokuba scratched his head. "That's something entirely different. Because of his eccentricity, the count displays several different abilities, such as the power to pardon someone from execution, influence leaders of powerful criminal organizations, etc."

"And how old is he?"

"Well, after breakfast, he had a brief interview with Takahashi, and revealed that he is thirty-years old."

"That young?! Impossible!"

"Impossible, you say? Why, for the Count of Monte Cristo, he makes the impossible, possible. He's like Nero."

Téa nervously inquired, "So, this count wants to be your friend, Mokuba?"

"Yes, it would seem so, sister."

"And the feeling's mutual between the two of you?"

"Probably. Some of my friends who came over earlier, mockingly said that the count was a vampire or someone who's come back from the dead."

Mrs. Kaiba immediately became pale once again. With a stifled voice, she advises: "Mokuba, even though I'm not your mother, although I sometimes act like a mother to you... and now that you're a man of your own right, be careful."

"Of what, mother? My new friend neither gambles, nor drinks any beverages other than water. And besides, he's supposedly richer than even us."

"How wealthy?"

"I don't know exactly, but he said that he stopped counting after 3 trillion yen (around 30 billion USD)."

"All right, Mokuba, but before you go do whatever it is you do... what are your final thoughts about the Count of Monte Cristo?"

"Well, from what I have seen so far... the count has seen much, studied much, and..."

"And...?"

Mokuba continued, "suffered... greatly."

"How did this man suffer greatly?"

"Not much detail was given, but by the looks of it, it has to do with some young woman that was supposedly taken away from him."

Téa began to become almost as deathly pale as Monte Cristo. Seeing this, Mokuba decided to not push it any further and left.

As soon as her brother-in-law had left, Téa wondered, 'That man... it can't be him... He died a long time ago, didn't he...?'