Hi everyone! I went on a very long hiatus. It's because my Master's thesis was calling out to me cuz I left it alone for too long. Haha.

Anyway, since I just came back, I recently wrote this somehow filler episode, but I hope you'll enjoy it.

-Yuhiri

Chapter 10: Serenity at the Kaiba Corp

Seto Kaiba, in his Domino High school uniform, walks straight ahead through the grand building's automated door while escorted by two men in suits, his eyes cold and unforgiving. The young CEO of Kaiba Corp enters his building and two lines of men, also in black in suits bows down to the young man.

Not far behind the proud and commanding boss is a young, timid girl with brown hair down to her waist, also wearing the Domino High uniform. She who was scared enough of the magnanimity of the person who took her to the Kaiba Corp main office.

Serenity Wheeler has been tailing Seto Kaiba since the two of left from Domino High School and was since slightly fidgeting since they were seated together in the back of the Kaiba Corp limousine where the two sat without saying a word to each other. She was taken to the Kaiba Corp main office for shelter from the recent appearance of duel monsters, as instructed by her brother and his friends.

She had always been scared of Kaiba and his domineering aura since the Battle City Tournament a year ago. It took her much guts to talk back to Kaiba in the blimp last year. Still, she had to come with the young president because of Joey's insistence.

With no other friends who might have known of the situation about the reappearance of the monsters and no other person with her at home, her best choice for protection was the Kaiba Corp's.

Serenity nervously entered the building after Kaiba when a little boy with long, blue hair who was wearing long sleeves with blue stripes over a yellow vest descended from the elevator and came running towards the Corp's head with a wide smile plastered on his face. The boy had the same Duel Monsters card pendant strapped on his neck as Kaiba's. Her nervousness lifted a bit when she recognized who it is.

"Seto, you're back from school early," the boy said as he came running to Kaiba.

"Mokuba, were you able to see duel monsters hovering around the city again?" Seto Kaiba commandingly asked the young boy.

"Duel Monsters appearance? Nothing from our system maintenance department reported anything about glitches, Seto," the younger Kaiba replied.

Mokuba then paused to tilt his head to notice the girl a few steps behind his older brother.

"You, you're Joey's younger sister right? Hmm… Serenity, wasn't it?" Mokuba said. He smiled at her when she remembered her name.

"Yeah, and you're Mokuba, right?" Serenity said, finally able to manage a smile for the boy.

"Yes, I am. Welcome to the Kaiba Corp main building, Serenity!" Mokuba welcomingly said.

Serenity was finally able to shake off most of her nervousness and smiled sweetly at the young boy. "Thanks, Mokuba."

Her smile made Mokuba blush a little. You really wouldn't see girls near their age in the Kaiba Corp flagship building who only had adult employees and, from time-to-time, investors. Mokuba thought about something.

"Hey Seto, it's unusual for you to bring a girl near your age here, don't you think? Even Yugi and his friends have never been here," Mokuba said with a mischievous grin while slyly looking up at his tall brother.

Seto's eyes momentarily widened at Mokuba's teasing which made him suddenly turn to Serenity. She saw her clutching her left fist to her chest and looked slightly nervous. She looked fragile to her, but he saw her sweet smile towards Mokuba.

When Serenity's eyes turned to return Kaiba's gaze, he quickly turned away. His cold stares returned.

"His pathetic brother, Joey Wheeler, asked me to protect his sister from the Duel Monsters that appeared, Mokuba," Seto straightly replied.

Mokuba suddenly forgot his supposed teasing. "Like I said, Seto, the system did report any glitch."

From the far left side of the ground floor, Roland suddenly ran towards Seto Kaiba, shouting his name.

"Mr. Kaiba, the appearance of Duel Monsters have just been reported at downtown Domino. A large swirl of dark clouds has also been seen in the vicinity," Roland reported while catching his breath.

Serenity's heat sank.

"So they moved from Domino High to downtown, huh?" Kaiba commanded.

Subconsciously, Serenity clutched a part of the back of Kaiba's blue uniform. Her action surprised the young CEO. There was a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. But when he turned to her direction, he saw Serenity's face full of dread while looking at him in the eye.

"Mr. Kaiba, my brother is in there, in downtown Domino… He said they were going to Aya's house. The monsters might be after them…" she said, pure terror evident in her quivering voice.

Kaiba paused for a while, then raised his hand.

"Roland, get my chopper ready. We're heading downtown immediately," Kaiba commanded.

At Kaiba's command, Serenity slowly released her clutch of the boy's coat, leaving the part a little wrinkled.

Mokuba noticed that Seto's usual voice in giving out orders was different that time. There was a hint of mellowness, or concern, in it. Mokuba thought Seto had the same wavelength as the times when he was abducted in Duelist Kingdom.

"Mokuba, stay here with Serenity. Authorize the access to the underground bunker and go there with her," Kaiba said while walking towards the executive elevator to the rooftop.

"Gotcha, Seto," Mokuba answered.

Serenity slightly choked. She looked at Kaiba as he was walking away, escorted by three men in suits. She wanted to follow Kaiba to go where her older brother was.

Mokuba gently held Serenity's wrist to lead her to another elevator. Serenity momentarily snapped out to look at the young boy who held her wrist.

"Let's go Serenity," Mokuba kindly said. He said it as nicely as possible because Serenity was obviously dreaded.

"But Mokuba…" Serenity couldn't make out the words.

Mokuba sighed lightly, and continued with a confident smile. "I know you're worried for Joey. Seto also knows how it feels to worry over a sibling, so he may be going there on your behalf, Serenity. Don't worry and trust Seto about this."

Mokuba's words struck a chord in Serenity. She turned to look at Kaiba's back as he rushed to the elevator.

But Joey's face flashed in her mind.

The time he almost drowned after being abducted by Malik and the time he was struck by lightning and was in comatose during the Battle City finals came back to her. She felt chills crawl in her spine at the thought of what may happen to her brother again.

She balled her fist tightly and mustered her courage.

"I understand, Mokuba, but I'm sorry. I really need to see Joey," Serenity apologetically said as she gently lowered down Mokuba' hand. The boy was fascinated at Serenity's response.

The girl immediately dashed to the elevator where Kaiba entered. Just before the door closed shut, a hand stopped it from closing, which made the door respond to fling open again. Kaiba was shocked to see Serenity huffing at the elevator entrance while holding its doors open with her right hand.

He was even more surprised at the Duel Disk fastened around the girl's left arm.

"Mr. Kaiba, please let me go with you. I need to see Joey," the girl said in a demure voice but with a clear mix of determination while looking straight at him in the eye.

(to be continued)