Chapter 38: The Rise and Fall of Seto Kaiba Part 1

After the botched wedding, Kaiba promptly left and arrived alone at Kaiba Corp Headquarters. As Kaiba was about to enter his company's revolving doors, he noticed a familiar blonde woman walking past him to a limousine, accompanied by another blonde, Rafael, Monte Cristo's right-hand man.

'I think I know where this is going...' thought Kaiba, now heading towards the Board of Director's meeting room, located several floors up. The elevator ride seemed too long and uneventful. Kaiba knew that it was to be expected as everyone was given the day off that day. Everyone except himself and the Board anyway. Once he entered the meeting room, he was instantly greeted by one board member, "Good afternoon, Mr. Kaiba. We weren't expecting you for another hour, however, welcome."

As Kaiba and the Board seated themselves, the CEO curtly said, "All right, let's skip the idle chitchat. I want to know why you summoned me here today."

"Well, Mr. Kaiba, the reason why we called to meet with you today is because of some rather urgent and distressing news," replied one board member. Another board director added, "It is regarding your illicit activities over ten years ago. All of which have recently come to light."

"Such as?"

"Well, Mr. Kaiba," replied one board member, "It is your illegal actions to obtain the 3 Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards, Mr. Kaiba. How you apparently made deals with the Yakuza, Triads, as well as bankrupting the original owners of those cards."

"Have you any proof?" smugly asked Kaiba, who was sure about covering his tracks all those years ago.

"Indeed we do, Mr. Kaiba," answered the Board simultaneously. They promptly gave orders to the several men in the next room, who consisted of lawyers, witnesses (friends and family of the victims and mafia gang members) and private/professional investigators. The board also produced evidence (sound and video recordings and witness reports) that provided authentic claims regarding the blackmail, sabotage, etc, that was ordered out by Seto Kaiba years ago.

Kaiba immediately lost his cool once he realized the severity of the situation he found himself in now. Everything he had worked so hard to reach the top, whether it was in the realms of business or gaming, was now going to be crumbling down. "Now, sir, we have struck a deal. Under your leadership, the Kaiba Corporation has become one of the world's leading gaming companies. If word about your... activities becomes public knowledge, the company's stocks will plummet and hundreds, if not thousands of employees lose their jobs here."

"What are the terms of the deal?" asked Kaiba, hoping that he could escape from this soon-to-be revealed scandal.

"This will remain a secret, but in exchange, you must step down as Kaiba Corp's CEO and majority shareholder/owner no later by tomorrow at noon. This will also coincide with tomorrow's stock offering event, when a new CEO will be announced." said the Board of Directors, firmly.

"I understand, gentlemen." replied Kaiba, "I shall honor my end of the bargain by tomorrow at noon." And with that, Seto Kaiba left for his estate in order to contemplate on how to get revenge on a certain blonde...

It was barely an hour later that Mokuba and Tea returned to the Kaiba Mansion as well. When he heard that his younger brother came back, Kaiba ordered to his butler, "Hobson, will you direct Mokuba into my room. I have to speak with him about something urgent."

"Very well, sir," replied the aging manservant. A young man in his mid-to-late twenties soon arrived in Kaiba's room. "You wanted to talk, big bro?"

"Yes, I did, Mokuba." replied Kaiba, shutting the door. "I need you to do something for me..." Little did the two Kaiba brothers know, a familiar brunette outside the room was carefully listening in on their conversation.

Around six o' clock that same day, Mokuba (along with journalist Takahashi) arrived at the Count of Monte Cristo's urban estate. As soon as two young men reached the large doors, Valon, one of the Count's servants, had answered, much to their surprise. "I regret to inform the two of you that my master has instructed me not to admit anyone until further notice. For he is now having dinner and must not be disturbed."

"Surely we can wait until he is finished dining...?" asked Mokuba.

Valon responded, "He will then be taking a shower soon after dinner."

"How about after the shower?" asked Mokuba, showing signs of slight anger, "Or will Monte Cristo Hakushaku be unavailable for the rest of tonight?"

"If you wish to meet and/or speak with him tonight, he will be attending a performance of Tosca at 8 o' clock at Neo Domino's Opera House." informed Valon.

"Are you certain of that?"

"Yes, I am certain."

Mokuba said, "Very well. That will be all. Arigato."

"Your welcome. And goodnight, gentlemen," replied Valon, closing the mansion entrance doors.

Takahashi asked his friend, "So we're going to see a boring play just to meet with Monte Cristo Hakushaku?"

"Don't worry about it. We won't stay there for very long. Here's the plan. I'll meet you and Shiozaki on the steps of the opera house at a quarter to eight. Can you do that for me?"

"I don't know... can I?" asked the journalist, poking fun at his friend's minor grammatical error.

"What do you mean...?" questioned Mokuba, now realizing the 'joke'. "Oh, I mean, 'May you do that for me?'"

"Of course, Mokuba. Should I wear my rented tux, too?"

"Yeah, sure whatever." said Mokuba, who was still wearing the same tuxedo from the botched wedding earlier that day.

Around half-past 7, the Count of Monte Cristo left his estate in the luxurious confines of his limousine to the Neo Domino Opera House. He was doubtlessly accompanied by Valon (his main valet) and primary servant, Rafael. Not long after the Count had left, Mokuba, in his Nissan Infiniti Essence, was headed to the same destination. By the time Mokuba arrived, the Count and his servants had already entered the opera house. The younger of the Kaiba brothers promptly met up with his friends at the steps of the city's most prominent theatre building and made it in time to purchase their tickets. The three friends made their way into the lobby and saw that the Count, who not only was accompanied by his servants, but Duke Devlin as well, was on his way to his viewing box.

Mokuba, followed by his two friends, pushed past through the fairly crowded lobby and followed the mysterious celebrity. Once Mokuba was in front of the box door that housed the Count, Duke, and his servants, he promptly knocked on it, and was received by the muscle-bound Rafael. "I wish to meet with the Hakushaku," stated Mokuba.

Before Rafael could open his mouth, his master said, "Let the young man in, Rafael. Tosca doesn't start for another 8 minutes." Rafael admitted the younger Kaiba brother inside the box, with some surprise at this request. Takahashi and Shiozaki were told to wait outside, however. Monte Cristo, in a genuinely friendly manner, said, "Good evening, my young friend. If I had knew that you wanted to see the opera with me tonight, I would have-"

"Shut it!" cried Mokuba, who noticed that his mysterious friend was quite surprised at his outburst.

Duke, incredulous of this sudden outburst, inquired, "Mokuba, what's the meaning of this?"

"I know what you did. What you did to my brother. What I can't figure out is why? I thought that we were friends!" ranted Mokuba. "Why would you want to ruin the Kaiba family, least of all, the Kaiba Corporation? Surely, you aren't some sort of spy working for a rival company?"

"Young man, I do not know what you are talking about. Now, you had the audacity to silence me, allow me to do the same. If you wish to continue this argument at a later time, it would be much appreciated, unless you want the rest of the audience to be involved?" said Monte Cristo, with his usual air of the perfect gentleman.

"Then you leave me with no choice," uttered Mokuba, who was reaching for his (tux) jacket pocket. "I would do this to Rebecca, but since she's a girl...you'll have to take her place." Duke gasped at this, believing that Mokuba was reaching for a pistol, knife, or some other deadly instrument. Rafael was about to restrain the young man, but his master shook his head 'no'. "He would have to be a fool to bring a weapon into the opera house that has metal detectors at the front entrance," calmly assured the Count.

Mokuba produced a white glove and proceeded to throw it at the count's face, only for it to be grabbed in mid-air by the Count's left hand. "I see. So that's how far you want this affair to go, Mokuba? Very well, where and when do you want our duel to take place?"

"The Old Cemetery, tomorrow morning at six o' clock, sharp."

"And the weapons?"

"Duel disks and dueling decks, accompanied with .45 caliber handguns. A quick draw will determine who takes the first turn. The loser, however, will be the first to either die from his wounds, loses the duel, or both. Winner takes the loser's life regardless!" stated Mokuba the terms of the duel.

The Count smirked and said, "Very well. From this moment on, we are enemies, Mokuba Kaiba. Sleep well tonight, for tomorrow morning, you will sleep...forever. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an opera to attend. Take him away at once!"

Rafael immediately led Mokuba outside the box and back to the lobby. His friends had heard the whole thing, as did several other opera guests. "So, you're really going through with this?" incredulously asked Shiozaki.

"Yes. I have to do this. I have to avenge my brother's honor," stated Mokuba, as if he were some samurai in the distant past, willing to die for his own brother on the battlefield.

"All right, then. You'll guys act as my seconds, right?" continued Mokuba, after his anime-esque clichéd line had ended. Both the journalist and government official hesitantly agreed with their wayward friend.

Back at the Count's viewing box, Monte Cristo had trouble watching the opera's performance that evening. He instead reflected on his upcoming duel with the younger man. 'Sorry, Mokuba, but you leave me no choice either. I have my pride when it comes to duels, and your death... although unnecessary, will doubtlessly send your brother over the edge.'

Sorry for the delay, my fellow readers. I have been very busy lately. At least I got around to it, eh? Well, anyway... Happy Fourth of July (to Americans, at least. Not to the British, since...well, you know.) Until next time.