Music Lover's Alert: I can't think of much for this chapter, so how about "Dead Hearts" by Stars?

Author's Note: I have a new temporary cover up. However, I'm still looking for a more permanent one. Remember: oneshots for anyone who does art for me!

Chapter 9 Busy

-A Few Months Later-

Serenity bounded into the living room of the Kaiba mansion with a huge smile on her face. She was so excited that she failed to notice that the hair on the back of the head peeking over the couch was black and shaggy rather than brown and smooth. "Seto! It's a girl!" she proclaimed to the man sitting on the couch.

Mokuba turned to face her with an apologetic expression on his face. "Seto is going to be late tonight. I tried to handle his work for him, but unfortunately it's one of those things that only he can do. Congratulations anyway, though."

Serenity's face fell when she realized that she was speaking to the other Kaiba brother. "What's going on at Kaiba Corporation?"

"We're under a lot of pressure to make a hot-selling item for the holidays and make it as cheap as possible, but Seto refuses to sacrifice the quality of our products."

Serenity walked over to Mokuba and sat beside him on the couch. Her stomach had a slight bulge to it, but not so much that it was hard for her to walk. However, her feet noticed the extra weight she had been carrying around all day. Still, she would walk another ten miles if it meant she could see Seto. Unfortunately, Seto's presence would not be available tonight not matter what she did. The best she could do was talk to Mokuba about Seto and his business. "So, why all the pressure for cheap stuff?"

"Wages around the globe have been dropping, and most consumers can't afford quality goods anymore."

"But Joey and Mai both just got raises."

"That's just because of inflation. I meant that real wages are dropping. Joey and Mai are just lucky to work in Domino because Domino is keeping up with inflation. Have you gotten a raise from Kobe hospital lately?"

Serenity shook her head. "I haven't been working there long enough."

"There's more to it than that," Mokuba said dismally, "The members of the oligarchy aren't very fond of Kobe aside from that one seafood place we like, which is far enough from the city's core that nobody sees the slums when they visit it. Domino, on the other hand, is like a haven for rich people."

"So, Seto wants to make a duel disk that people in Kobe can afford?" Serenity asked hopefully.

"Not quite. Pattel Corporation is making a bunch of really cheap toys from its factories in China. They pay the children that work there even lower wages than they pay people in Kobe, so…"

"Wait, they're using children?" Serenity clarified.

"Yes. That's how they make such huge profits. Anyway, they're our competition, so Seto is trying to figure out how to make our stuff more affordable without resorting to the same tactics as Pattel," Mokuba concluded.

"How is that even allowed? Why don't Bakura or Pegasus stop it?"

"Pegasus is doing it, too. As for Bakura, he doesn't care. He's not the same guy we knew in school. He always had a darker side to him, and the darker side won. Seto's fighting a losing battle against them. It's not like he can just duel them into submission like he could ten years ago. It's a different game now."

Serenity sat in silence for a moment, staring at the finery around her. The décor was less ostentatious than most mansions sported, but still beautiful and tasteful. An enormous yet energy efficient flat-screen TV sat in front of them broadcasting a science show on low volume. Serenity watched it for a few moments, then said softly, "I know that Seto is doing something good, but I still wish he was here. I mean, I just want to share this time with him. It's exciting knowing we're going to have a daughter."

"Well, I think it's exciting knowing that I'm going to have a niece," Mokuba said with a shy smile. He gazed at her with a soft glow in his violet eyes.

Serenity smiled back at him. She knew she couldn't ask for a sweeter brother-in-law. "Thanks, Mokuba! Hey, I have a craving for chocolate cake with mustard and anchovies. Would you like some?"

Mokuba made a face, and Serenity laughed. "I could go for some cake. I don't know about the other stuff, though."

Serenity stood up and walked over to the mansion's intercom. Then, she placed their order to the chef and sat back down with Mokuba. "Wanna watch a movie?" she asked.

"Sure!"

Serenity picked up the remote and flipped through a list of the latest movies produced by Global Communications. Although Global Communications subcontracted to a few smaller production companies, they had effectively seized control of all media. Bakura, the CEO of Global Enterprises, had a team of political analysts who censored everything that went on the air.

Serenity scrolled past the horror section and clicked on one of the action movies. She was tempted to pick a chick flick, but figured that she should choose something that Mokuba would like, too. The choices all seemed the same, so Serenity selected one at random. "Have you seen this one?"

"Nope! Sounds good," Mokuba replied.

Serenity started the movie. It was about a cop who could see into the future and single-handedly foiled a terrorist plot against the Oligarchy. Several CEOs, including Gilbert Jones of Sellar Defense, made cameo appearances in the movie. The terrorists were portrayed as slow-witted and ugly, so the audience would not sympathize with them. The cop also had an intensely patriotic wife with a perfect body and alluring bedroom eyes. At some point in the movie, a terrorist kidnapped her and was about to torture her when the cop burst into the room and freed her.

When the Kaiba mansion's personal chef arrived with cake for both of them and extra condiments for Serenity, the cop was passionately making love to his wife. The chef cleared his throat in rude disapproval as he set their food down on the table. Then, the turned on his heel sharply and left.

"What was that about?" Serenity wondered.

"I don't know. That guy can be a prude sometimes. The food is good, though." Mokuba responded.

Serenity grunted thoughtfully as she drizzled mustard over her cake and topped it with anchovies. Then, she took a bite of the concoction and moaned in satisfaction. It really hit the spot! Even though she disliked the cook's judgmental mannerisms, she had to admit that he did his job very well.

After the movie was over, Serenity gave Mokuba a hug and said, "Thanks for keeping me company."

"Don't mention it," Mokuba replied with a smile.

Mokuba went upstairs and got ready for bed while Serenity took out her cell-phone and sent Seto a text message: I just want you to know how much I love you. Mokuba told me why you are working so late and I understand. I still miss you, though! Please come home as soon as you can. I have exciting news!

Serenity yawned and hauled her exhausted body up the stairs. She brushed her teeth and undressed. Then, she climbed into bed. It felt so empty without Seto that she tossed and turned sleeplessly for several hours. At last, she heard someone open the door and rolled into her normal sleeping position. She felt Seto's long, lean body press against hers and quickly drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.