*Camper sitting on an abandoned lot, late at night*
"Any more news of the missing kids?" Yami asked, kicking back in the crappy rolling chair.
There was silence as Yami listened to the answer coming from the sleek black cell phone. When he heard the answer, he absently picked up a pack of cigarettes on the table next to him and lit one.
"No, huh?" He fell silent once more as he seemed to think of something else. His hand holding the cigarette brushed his bruised cheek and he finally spoke, a totally different tone coloring his voice.
"And is there any good reason you chose to dress me up like that weak shrimp Yuugi?" he growled into the phone. "Do you know how hard it is to let yourself get beat up, you pompous bastard? You just love to laugh at my humiliation don't you? I swear Kaiba, if you weren't peachy friends with Dragon, I would punch your lights out."
Laughter was audible, even to someone who might've been standing in the same room.
"You know why you have to be dressed up as Yuugi Motou," a smooth, arrogent voice said. "We couldn't very well get any information if you look like a spy. Yuugi's friends are tied to..."
"Yes, yes," Yami said. "They are somehow connected to the missing 'gods,' the rulers of underground society, right? But I find that real fishy, Kaiba. Why would a bunch of brats be mixed up in an underground war?"
"What makes you think I know?" Kaiba replied angrily. "All I know is that the last kid captured, that Jonouchi kid, was seen in the area where the three gods were last spotted before they disappeared. It could be a lead, it could be a goose chase, but we need to find those gods before a massive war breaks out in the underground, got it?"
Yami took a long drag before continuing, because he knew it ticked off Kaiba. "That still doesn't explain why I have to look like that useless kid."
"You're the bait, idiot. You have to look like you're Yuugi, coming from Japan to find his friends, calling the attention of their kidnappers. Either they'll want you out of the way, or they'll capture you, too. It doesn't make a difference as long as you get information from them."
"Fine," Yami muttered and snapped the phone shut.
He put out the cigarette and rubbed his forehead, where he could feel a headache coming on. He had to deal with school, an annoying girl, bullies who he could beat up in a second if he wanted, and kidnappers who kidnapped teenagers and were somehow connected to the 'gods' of underground society. That was enough to give anyone a headache.
Maybe it would be best if he went out for a little walk. Yami got to his feet and walked outside. Despite the cold autumn air, he only wore a dark tank-top and jeans. The brisk wind felt good, and Yami set out, the orange glow from steetlights lighting the mostly empty road.
Yami passed the school where he was now imprisoned for five days a week. He heard some laughter and slowed. He backed up a couple of paces and went around the side of the building. Lights from cars lit up the back of the school, showing a clump of kids messing around in the parking lot.
He was pleased to note that most of them were the kids that had hit him earlier that day, and they were all drunk. While it was tempting to go and kick their asses, Yami thought back to what Kaiba said. He was bait, which meant he had to keep a low profile. And while Yami hated Kaiba's guts, he had respect for Dragon, who was his superior. Everything Kaiba said were Dragon's orders, so Yami had to control his rage.
Yami took a deep breath and kicked the school's wall before pulling out a cheap disposable phone and dialed 9-1-1. "Hello, police? A lot of kids are getting drunk behind Washington High, you might want to come pick them up before any of them get into an accident."
On that note, Yami shut the phone and tossed it into a Dumpster next to him. A weak smile lit his features, but he was mad that he didn't get to have direct revenge on the punks. Oh, well. He spun sharply on his heel and stormed away as sirens began to wail in the distance.
*Elsewhere in the U.S.*
"Does he believe that the kids are being kidnapped due to the gods?" a shadowy figure asked.
A scared messanger shuddered and stammered, "Y-yes, Kaiba says that Yami completely believes the lies." A dangerous smirk was visible from the shadowed person.
"Good, good. That'll draw his attention away from what's really going on. You are dismissed."
"Th-thank y-you," the messanger uttered, glad to be getting away from the dangerous person.
"Oh," the mysterious man said suddenly, as if in surprise. "Did you think that meant alive? No, no, we can't have that. You know far too much to be let free. How do I know that you won't leak our information?"
"I-I won't!" the man protested. "Please let me-" whatever he was going to say next was cut off. Literally. A slim sword erupted from his chest, and he stared at it for a while before his body registered it was there. Then he fell dumbly to the floor, not moving.
"What took you so long, Magician?" the shadowed person asked disdain. "I thought you were going to make me sit through another boring speech about why I shouldn't kill him."
"Sorry, sir," the assassin apologized, dropping to one knee in respect.
"You know how much I hate boring speeches. Don't do it again," the unknown man snapped, leaning forward in his chair to reveal glittering blue eyes.
"Yes, sir."