Chapter 40: The Rise and Fall of Seto Kaiba Part 2
As soon as Téa had left his estate, Monte Cristo thought to himself, 'My revenge... after all this time of immeasurable suffering and extensive planning... will unfortunately not reach fruition. I've ruined Joey's fortune and reputation as Neo Domino's prominent banker; forced Kaiba's hand to step down as Kaiba Corp's owner and CEO; and I've done only some damage to Pegasus. Moments ago, I've allowed myself to succumb to human folly when it comes down to revenge: compassion. Well, so much the better. In a few hours' time, at least I'll be compensated with seeing my old friends and family again, namely Atem, Grandpa, and Pa Li Ah.' With these words in mind, the unofficial King of Games realized that his death would have disastrous consequences to those close to him and sought out pen and paper in his study across the hall.
Once he had both pen and paper, he seated himself in his desk and wrote down:
Upon my death hereafter, I have come to terms in which I will bequeath to certain individuals my possessions and/or wishes, which may or may not be fully carried out whether these individuals choose to do so.
First, I bequeath to a certain Mr. Duke Devlin, creator of the Dungeon Dice Monsters game, the sum of ¥25 trillion (A/N: ~$282.3 billion) a part of which he will donate to the rebuilding of the Satellite area, the original Domino City, among other charities of his choosing. Additionally, if he wishes to have Rebecca Hawkins' hand in marriage, he will have my blessing in doing so.
Next, Rebecca Hawkins is set to have the rest of my fortune (the amount which subtracting Mr. Duke Devlin's share, would be ¥75 trillion), including the various properties that I own, all of which will be listed in a white safe inside the master bedroom in my estate in Neo Domino City.
Lastly, the rest of my servants will serve Rebecca Hawkins with the same treatment I receive and expect of them. However, they are free of their services if they wish.
And that will be all of the conditions of my will. My right-hand men, Rafael and Valon, will know the rest if there is any questions.
Yugi Mutou
This was it. At six o' clock, the Count of Monte Cristo would be no more. The young man known as Yugi Mutou had died in prison and was reborn as Monte Cristo Hakushaku. For a few brief minutes earlier tonight, Yugi Mutou had been resurrected, only to die once again. He looked at his wristwatch. It was now 12:26 am. It had been quite an eventful day. The Count decided that he might as well get some sleep, given that he usually gets 2-3 hours of it on most days.
"Rafael!" said Monte Cristo, calling over his right-hand man to his room. In a couple of seconds, a blonde, muscular tanned man appeared before his master. Rafael asked, "Yes, Your Excellency?"
"Wake me up at five o' clock, Rafael. I am not to be disturbed until then. Afterward, I will give you and Valon further instructions," said the Count, haggardly.
"As you wish, master," said the loyal servant, bowing and then closing the master bedroom. "Sweet dreams, sir." He then promptly waited beside the master bedroom's doors, vigilant as ever.
Yugi, having removed his black suit jacket and shirt, (A/N: And for the ladies out there) all the while revealing his battle-scarred, Adonis sculpted physique, immediately collapsed onto the soft white sheets of his king-sized bed, resting his head between two white satin pillows. Despite the heavenly comfort provided by his luxurious piece of furniture, Yugi had trouble sleeping that evening, or rather, early morning. He could only think of his time spent in and after the nameless island prison, particularly, his beatings and his being raped; the training from hell he underwent with Pa Li Ah; his global sojourn (which had mirrored his deceased mentor's own); and his return to Domino following the mysterious disaster that befell it sometime ago. To Yugi, the fourteen years of separation from his previous life that embittered him, was dreamt up all in less than one hour's time.
It was as if he was on his deathbed and his whole life had flashed before his eyes at that point. But then again, he did almost die on a number of occasions, especially anything that related to Duel Monsters all those years ago. However, he should have died when he fell into the cold sea years ago, either from the fall itself (a good 100 ft+ drop) or from drowning/asphyxiation, but he somehow survived and the rest is history.
Yugi felt himself falling again. He was trapped inside a body bag like before. Falling into the cold watery depths below. The water was not as soft as most would think; he heard a thud as he crashed. He could still taste the salt water in his mouth, choking him. He was dying again.
For the first time in years, Rafael heard his master moaning and groaning in his sleep. Rafael pitied his young master and friend. He secretly knew who he was of course, the one person most responsible for saving his life from Dartz and the Great Leviathan many years ago. After all, the only reason why he allowed himself in the employ of the Count of Monte Cristo was to return the favor. Nonetheless, he was given orders to make sure that his friend was not to be disturbed until he awoke.
Yugi found himself tearing through the body bag, racing against the clock to survive. After all, he wouldn't want to die. Not like this. Not before he exacted vengeance, or as he would put it, punished those responsible for his suffering and rewarded those who remained loyal. He'd think that it was due to his training from hell that he was able to accomplish against all odds, surviving not one, but two quick successive kisses with death. But he knew better. 'The training is just one aspect of survival,' Pa Li Ah once said to him. 'The willpower is what really matters in the end.'
Yugi now motivated, freed himself from the body bag and cannonball restraint. Like before, he rose above the water's surface, but this time, he saw an apparition hovering before his person. The ghostly figure greatly resembled Pa Li Ah. The spirit gestured to him and pointed his finger back to the island prison. 'Meet me here soon, my son.'
Just then, Monte Cristo woke himself up, sweating. He found himself on the bedroom floor, with a torn hole in his white cotton bedsheets beside him. He saw his bedroom doors open. Rafael entered and with a genuine look of concern, had asked, "Are you all right, sir? Did you fall off your bed?"
"Apparently, I did," replied the Count, looking around his person. "Did you come here for any other reason, Rafael?"
"Yes, Your Excellency. I have come to wake you up and to let you know that Duke Devlin has just arrived. He is waiting in the drawing room as we speak. Is there anything else you can trouble me for, sir?"
"Tell my guest that I'll be receiving him very soon," replied Monte Cristo, heading inside his private bathing room, indicating that he's going to take a quick shower. "Oh, and get me a fresh change of clothes and leave them on top of my bed, Rafael."
"Would that be all, sir?"
"For now. You may leave."
The large muscular blonde bowed and took his leave. Yugi promptly took a quick cold shower to sharpen his mind, which helped to relieve himself from his strange dream; he also had to wipe off his sweated body, of course. Once he was done, Yugi dried himself off and wore the black suit Rafael had selected for him that morning. He told Rafael to wake up Valon right away and then have them wait outside the drawing room after Rafael announced his entrance. He also told Rafael and Valon about his will and the plans that are to take place following his death. The Count soon received his guest of honor in the drawing room at about eleven after five.
"His Excellency, The Count of Monte Cristo!" announced Rafael of his master's arrival. Duke turned around after looking at some paintings.
"Sorry to keep you waiting my friend. If I had known that you were going to arrive here this early, I would have made arrangements to better your welcome," said the Count, walking towards Devlin.
Duke replied, "I am the one who's sorry, Hakushaku. I should have called to let you know that I would be here earlier than expected. As you can tell by my weary eyes, that I have been unable to get a good night's sleep. I still can't believe that you are going through with your duel with Mokuba this morning."
"My friend, you need not worry about Mokuba," assured Monte Cristo, with open arms. He took out the will from his suit pocket and handed it over to Duke. "This may seem out of the ordinary, but may I ask, are you in love with someone?"
"Yes, Hakushaku. Very much in love."
"A pity for Rebecca then," muttered the Count. "At any rate, after I am dead this morning, would you be so kind to accept the other conditions of this document?"
"After you are dead?" inquired Duke, who looked at the will. Devlin, upon a quick inspection of the testator's signature, realized who was before him. "You are...? Can it be possible? After all this time?" The biseinen ("beautiful man" or adult term of the Bishonen) fell to his knees, with his hands still grasped onto the document.
"Now, now, Duke. All is well. For you now know that I am alive and free."
"But... you're going to forfeit your life to Mokuba soon, Yugi. How can I be happy to know that you were alive after all this time, only to know that you would die for real this time?"
"Yes, I know," sadly replied Mutou. "It pains me to let you know this late. At least you will be there with me, when I die."
As he has done with Téa from the last night, Yugi retold his life in and after prison to Duke. Like Téa, Duke did not take the story in stride; he often asked quick questions to Yugi in order to elaborate on specific details. It was nearly half past five by the time the story was over.
"Ah, it's now five-thirty. We must be on our way to the Old Cemetary." said Monte Cristo, checking his watch. "Rafael, bring me my Colt 45! Valon, get the car started! You two then meet me and my friend outside in front of the main gate!"
"Yes, Your Excellency!" replied the two right-hand men. The two servants promptly did as they were told.
The Count told Devlin to wait in the drawing room for him. He went back to his master bedroom and retrieved his deck and duel disc, both of which were set onto his left arm by the time he returned to the drawing room. "Shall we get going?" he asked his guest.
The ride to the Old Cemetary lasted for about fifteen minutes. It was ten minutes before six o' clock when the Count, Devlin, and the Count's two servants arrived. Takahashi and Shiozaki, Mokuba's friends and two seconds (agents of one party of a duel) had arrived a minute later. Mokuba, however, had yet to appear.
It was now a minute until six o' clock. By this time, Mokuba's two friends were getting anxious about his apparently delayed entrance.
"Perhaps 'our son' chickened out and decided not to participate in the duel," humorously supposed Shiozaki, wanting to break the silence between the two parties of the appointed duel.
Takahashi replied, "Oh, look! There he is now! The prodigal son returns!" Mokuba, on his Suzuki Katana motorcycle, had arrived just barely on time before the duel was to take place. Other than his white helmet that matched the color of his motorcycle, Mokuba was found wearing a brown leather jacket, a tight fitting white short sleeved shirt, and gray pants. Everyone noticed that he did not bring a duel disc and a deck with him; even his friends did not carry anything that pertained to the conditions of the duel.
"What's this?" asked his two friends. "Is he making a death wish? If so, he might as well have made a bulls-eye target on his white shirt."
The Count and his side of the party largely ignored the two and wondered what Mokuba was up to this morning. When Mokuba removed his helmet, everyone could tell that he had very little, if not, any sleep at all. The young man also was a bit pale and had a solemn face that seemed out of place for someone like himself. He walked towards his two seconds, turned to face the Count straight in the eyes, and finally said, "Gentlemen. I thank you all for coming here this early Monday morning. I just want to say that I am sorry for bringing you all here so early for a foolish, misguided matter. I have come here deliberately late for a reason, everyone. I am canceling the duel for certain circumstances of which very few people in this world are privileged to know. Monte Cristo Hakushaku, I apologize to you now and I hope to be forgiven in return."
Monte Cristo looked at Mokuba and realized that Téa was behind the younger Kaiba's sudden heel face turn. 'She must have told him about everything.' thought Yugi.
"I forgive you, Mokuba," said the Count, earnestly. The two would-be enemies promptly shook hands and let everyone know that any animosity between them had now vanished. The two parties left the Old Cemetary and returned to their lives. However, Mokuba had other plans regarding his future later that day.
Later that same morning, Seto Kaiba was in his office at the top floor of the Kaiba Corporation Headquarters. The billionaire was wearing his old Battle City outfit, as always. He was busy contemplating on what to do following his brother's cancellation of his duel with the Count of Monte Cristo earlier. He had less than an hour to make his appointed deadline to step down as CEO and majority shareholder/owner. The stock offering was still underway. Neither Mokuba nor Téa had been seen since the early morning. Just then, Seto's administrative assistant had informed him through the intercom. "Sir, Monte Cristo Hakushaku requests to have an audience with you."
Kaiba curtly replied, "Send him in."
Roland, Kaiba's business advisor, opened the doors for the distinguished visitor to enter the spacious office room. "Leave us," ordered Kaiba to Roland.
"Yes, sir." replied the right-hand man.
"Seto Kaiba, I believe that you and I have some unfinished business."
"Well, Monte Cristo Hakushaku, if that is your real name," said Kaiba, reaching for something in a closet nearby. "Whoever you are, have you come here to witness my forced resignation? After all, you are some enemy of mine!"
As he said these words, the elder Kaiba produced a Damascus Steel Katana from his closet and slashed it horizontally across the mysterious man before him. The Count quickly ducked down and threw a powerful uppercut to his armed opponent's jaw, sending him flying over his desk.
"You have some nerve attacking an unarmed opponent, Kaiba." retorted Monte Cristo, who shattered the blade with a Muay Thai knee kick. "At any rate, you would not get as much physical pain from a round of Duel Monsters from me. I even brought my deck and duel disc with me." And indeed he did, for he took out his black briefcase and took out that which he claimed. The Count's duel disc was a black and silver colored variant of the battle city version.
"Very well, Hakushaku." replied Kaiba, who after spitting out some blood from his mouth, took out a Blue-Eyes White Dragon themed duel disc (A/N: The same one that Kaibaman used in Gx) and his dueling deck. 'Damn, that hurt. He hits like a truck.' thought the brunette.
"It's time to duel!" announced both rivals as they drew their cards.
"Since I'm the challenger, I'll go first!" announced Kaiba, arrogant as ever, "I draw. I activate the spell card, Polymerization! You know what it does, don't you, Hakushaku? It lets me fuse monsters from hand and/or field to special summon a fusion monster! Now, I fuse together my 3 Blue-Eyes White Dragons from my hand in order to summon the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!" As expected, a blinding flash of light covered the field and was followed with the appearance of a three-headed version of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, except a bit larger in size. It was the very same creature that defeated Yugi Mutou all those years ago at Duelist Kingdom.
As Kaiba discarded four cards into his graveyard slot, he added, "But that's not all! I also activate another spell card, Summon Incapacitation! I have to skip my battle phase this turn, but you can't summon or set any monsters on your turn after I activated this card!"
Monte Cristo was not fazed at all by his rival's strong opening turn. In fact, he was going to win without summoning or setting any monster card. "I'll end my turn by setting one card face down."
'The card I just set is Call of the Haunted. With it, I can revive my dragon if Monte Cristo Hakushaku somehow destroys it on his turn.' thought Kaiba, planning ahead of the situation.
"My turn now, Kaiba-kun," announced the Count, with a voice that mimicked that of his youthhood. "I draw."
'What the...? That voice! It's sounds so similar and yet...'
Monte Cristo continued with his opening move, "I activate the spell card, De-Fusion! I don't think I need to explain its effects to you, eh Kaiba-kun?"
Kaiba's Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon separated into its 3 original forms, which was prompted by his duel disc sending the 3 Blue-Eyes White Dragon cards out of the discard holder. "What's the meaning of this? All you're doing is giving me even more monsters to attack you with on my next turn!" cried the arrogant duelist.
"My, my. You poor fool. Don't you get a sense of déjà vu here?" asked the Count. "Doesn't this remind you of anything at all?"
Kaiba vividly remembered his first duel with Yugi Mutou all those years back. How he was on the verge of victory with his 3 Blue-Eyes White Dragons on the field. How he was virtually unstoppable back then!
"No...! It can't be...!"
"You know what's coming, Kaiba-kun! I have in my hand the five cards of... Exodia the Forbidden One! I've assembled all the five needed cards!" replied Yugi Mutou, placing the five Exodia cards onto his duel disc. In an instant, large black void appeared, following by a greenish lined hexagram inside it. A large behemoth resembling a bulky Egyptian sorcerer climbed out of the hexagram filled void, towering over Kaiba's 3 dragons.
"No way!" cried Kaiba, startling at the appearance of the very monster that first defeated him. "You actually summoned Exodia through a miracle?"
"Now Exodia! Hellfire's Rage! Exodo Flame!" announced Yugi, as his most powerful creature then shot a godlike blast towards the 3 dragons, completely obliterating them.
"So, you are Y—!" Kaiba screamed in pain as he witnessed his trademark dragons being destroyed, whilst he was thrown across the room by the powerful attack.
Kaiba eventually got back up after the numbness faded away from his body. The updates on the Kaiba Corp Duel Disc Systems really made the holograms much more earth-shattering than ever. "Uhh..." weakly uttered the brunette. He quickly looked at his old adversary, with such fear and hatred in his eyes. "You can't be alive! Not after all this time!"
"And yet I am alive and standing in this very room with you, Kaiba." retorted Yugi, with the calm of a cold, calculating vengeful man. Kaiba quickly looked at his watch with a defeated look. It was now 11:59 AM. Kaiba's cell phone had rung. It was from Mokuba.
"Mokuba?"
"Hey, Seto. I just wanted to let you know that Téa and I are going away now. I know that you and I are brothers and all, but there are certain things in which I can't bear your burden. Téa feels the same way. I also have no desire to run Kaiba Corp, and I just wanted you to know that despite everything you've done to others, good or bad, I'll always be your brother. Goodbye."
Kaiba, welling up with tears, could not believe what was happening to him. Even his own brother had disowned him for his sins in the past. He then looked at Yugi Mutou and then faced towards the room-sized windows...
"Like father, like son..." remarked Mutou, standing upright, realizing what his rival intends to do.
There was a knock at the door. "Mr. Kaiba? The Directors of the Board request that you meet with them in the board room right away, sir," said Roland, opening the doors. "Sir?"
Roland saw his employer, Kaiba toss his desk chair straight at the large window and leap outside. "Sir? What are you doing?"
"Yugi Mutou!" cried Kaiba, madness in his voice, who was now falling from the top floor of his company building, very much like his adopted father, Gozaburo Kaiba had done years ago. "Sir!" cried Roland, unable to stop his boss from committing suicide. A bloody mess was found in front of the company's main entrance doors, sparking much disgust and curiosity among the nearby civilians. And thus ends the Rise and Fall of Seto Kaiba.