A/N: Shame on me for writing and posting this when I should be starting on/working on my Geospatial Analysis hw due Wednesday and starting/working on my 5 page Atmospheric Hazards essay due Thursday. Oh well, at least y'all get something out of it, eh?

BTW, Fuguta is NOT and OC. I repeat, Fuguta is NOT an OC. He is a canon character, just a minor one. He is one of Kaiba's loyal bodyguards, though not as highly ranked as Isono or Roland as he's called in the English dub. Isono/Roland is Kaiba's right hand man and most trusted bodyguard. He's been there through thick and thin whenever he could and puts up with the Kaiba brothers antics with patience and a steady head.

I did take some liberties with Fuguta's and Isono's characters however. I gave Fuguta Isono's last name and made Roland Isono's given/first name. This makes Isono Fuguta and Isono Roland cousins through Roland's father. I see Roland as a Japanese citizen with an American mother who married his Japanese father. His parents agreed to keep the father's surname and give their son an English/American first name thus embracing both of their cultures. My headcanon is that Isono Roland helped teach the Kaiba brothers English for international business relations and serves as an interpretor when needed as well as Kaiba's number one right hand bodyguard.

Isono Fuguta is second in comman and just as fanatically loyal to the Kaiba siblings, particularly Seto, as his cousin he's newer and thus has to earn the trust Isono Roland spent years and years building under the tyrant Kaiba Gozaboro.

Ok, backstory done. Now on to the chapter 3.

Who Stands Where

J'onn Jonzz stared intently at the computer on board the Justice League Headquarters satellite orbiting the Earth. He had pulled another all-nighter after the last Incident which occurred at 15:00 hours local Pacific Time in the United States that resulted in three more lives lost. He pressed several keys in quick succession to bring up the latest crime scene photographs.

Moments later, a series of photos filled the computer screen in front of him. One body was sprawled out on the ground, blank eyes staring at the sky. The young woman's lips were blue and an arm was bent at an awkward angle. She was the only one fully intact.

The other two bodies were literally ripped apart. Limbs were strewn across the taped off section of the park. Blood splatter painted the grass and nearby tree red. The face of one person, the male, appeared to have been chewed off by some sort of animal. The teeth marks and what was assumed to be claw marks had yet to be identified as belonging to any specific animal.

The humans were beginning to panic and the news media seemed intent on spreading the story of the serial killer or killers behind the massacres. According to Flash, the local expert in current American pop culture, the culprit was being referred to on the phenomenon called the Web as Ghost. Several online users reported seeing apparitions in the vicinity of the event in question near the approximate time of death. But no matter what, no one had actually seen the murders take place.

It was strange. Very curious indeed. For all the time J'onn had been alive, he had never heard of such a singular occurrence. It intrigued him.

The Batman was similarly disturbed but the Incidents and even Superman was looking into things. Both were worried the murderer or murderers would tire of their current location in Starling City and move elsewhere. Even though Gotham and Metropolis were on the Eastern Coast of America, the two Justice League members feared their cities' local baddies would attract this killer. Or vice versa.

Green Arrow had been absolutely livid when neither Batman or Hawkgirl showed any initial interest in helping him clear "this vermin out of my city" as he so eloquently put it. There were perhaps a few more colorful words in there as well but J'onn preferred to only remember the actual message, not the individual words. Particularly the insults.

After the second Incident, Batman had begun subtly investigating through his own channels. After the third Incident, Hawkgirl had begun to worry and began requesting a transfer to Starling City. After the fourth, everyone, Superman included, were morbidly fascinated. But unfortunately, by that time Green Arrow was justifiably furious and all but threatened them to steer clear of his city unless they planned on helping and not merely observing like some sick fans at a Justin Bieber concert. Again, the message was edited of any extraneous words.

J'onn had been monitoring Starling City since the first Incident involving the Web dubbed Ghost. For that, Green Arrow had spared him the brunt of his fury. In return, the two League members had shared what information they had managed to gather on the culprit. The person or persons' identity was as of yet still unknown, but Green Arrow had begun to make some headway he thought.

According to the police reports the hooded vigilante managed to get his hands on, all the people involved in each Incident had had disagreements the days prior. Some were minor such as name calling while one involved a former victim and her convicted rapist. This connection between former victims and their alleged offenders was tenuous at best and varied widely from Incident to Incident. But the results were always the same: one victim was generally untouched aside from being dead and the others involved were torn apart, sometimes beyond recognition to the point dental records had been required for identification.

However, there were a select few who survived these massacres but their minds had been completely and utterly removed leaving them in vegetative states or raving lunatics. These individuals were few and kept under watch in secure locations. Green Arrow, being the clever bastard he was, was able to track down one of these survivors and sneak J'onn in to look into their mind. That…was an experience J'onn had no desire to repeat. There was nothing left of the middle aged man's mind except for shreds of thought drowning in a sea of sinister darkness.

The darkness had sent J'onn fleeing from the broken mind as quickly as he could. That was no normal darkness. J'onn was ready to swear it was sentient; not in the way humans and animals were sentient, but sentient all the same. They acted as if the Martian Manhunter had interrupted them in the midst of a feeding frenzy. That could be what it was, a feeding frenzy. But how could that be?

What devoured minds in such a way and ripped humans apart like shredded meat?

J'onn was ripped from his thoughts by a video call and quickly answered. "Greetings, Green Arrow."

"J'onn. Any new breakthroughs?" the Starling City vigilante asked, all business.

"I'm afraid not," the manhunter replied stoically.

"Damn." J'onn did not blink at the expletive, merely waiting for the vigilante to continue. "Well I do have news. Apparently some big shot from Japan is visiting and I'm expected to be at the press conference and welcoming party. I checked the guest list and guess who made it onto the list of VIPs? Lex Luthor."

J'onn blinked. "I was under the belief Luthor was still in Metropolis."

"Apparently not," Green Arrow said crisply. "He just arrived this morning. The Japanese businessman I mentioned earlier is Seto Kaiba of KaibaCorp. I'm thinking Luthor may try to make a move on our young foreign guest. Kaiba is the second richest person in the world behind Bill Gates with Luthor not far behind. With Kaiba's money and power backing him, he could prove to be a powerful something: ally or enemy I'm not sure yet." The vigilante shook his head. "Believe it or not, I can barely get any dirt on the guy except what's already common knowledge. Neither can my associates. His computer firewalls have proven to be a study in brilliance, or failure depending on how you look at it. The guy's either got a sentient computer or one hell of an IT department."

"I see." J'onn hesitated. "Should I ask Batman to give it a try?"

Green Arrow growled, the technologically altered voice reverberating through the computer speakers. "If the rodent jerk can get himself off his ass long enough then…yeah," he said, obviously not happy with the admission. "I could use the help. If Luthor is involved, it will be worth looking into."

J'onn nodded.

"I assume you'll be telling Superman." It was not a question but J'onn nodded anyway. Green Arrow rolled his shoulders in a sign of annoyance. "Then be sure to tell the Boy Scout that if he decides to come to Starling City, he answers to me. My city, my rules. Metropolis is his, Starling City is mine."

"I believe Superman is aware of this but I will be sure to tell him all the same."

Arrow leaned down to turn off the video call when J'onn cleared his throat. The hooded vigilante paused. "Yes?" he prompted when the Manhunter did not speak right away.

"I would like to see the location of the latest Incident in person, if I could," the sea green alien said hesitantly. "I would like to see if there is any impressions left in the area that might help lead to answers."

Green Arrow hesitated. "Are you sure? It won't be pleasant."

"I understand. But if doing so will help lead to the culprit's capture, then it is worth it."

"Then I'll send Diggle to meet you there this evening. I would do it myself but unfortunately my civilian identity has a full schedule and I can't afford to skip out. If you find anything, tell me first."

"Of course."

"Then good night."

The computer screen blacked out for a moment then returned to the gruesome crime scene photographs.

"Ew! Gross! What the hell is that?"

"That," J'onn said turning to the newcomer in red and gold, "would be the victims of the latest Ghost crime in Starling City."

Flash covered his mouth and tried very hard not to throw up. "I had no idea it was that bad. Now I know why Green Arrow's so pissed at us for not helping him out."

"Indeed."

The two Justice League members turned back to the screen in morbid fascination. Their silence only lasted for a full thirty seconds before Flash spoke. "I'm thinking of going down there and scoping out the area. I heard you were goin'. Mind if I join?"

"I do not. However, Green Arrow might."

Flash balked in mock offense. "But I've been helping him."

"I know and so does he, but you understand his hesitancy." J'onn sighed. "Lex Luthor is in Starling City."

This time, the shock on Flash's masked face was not false. "What? Lex Luthor? As in the Lex Luthor? Of LexCorp? Superman's main baddie?"

"Yes to all of your questions," J'onn replied calmly, very much at ease with his companion's typical energy levels.

"Dude… Not cool."

"Ah yes, another human term."

Flash twitched. "So does the big man himself know?"

"I was going to inform him myself-"

"Oh, good," Flash said, relaxing in relief.

"But now that you are here, you can do it."

"What?!" Flash stared at J'onn's retreating back in horror. "You'd submit me to…to…that? Alone? I thought you were my friend!"

"I am," J'onn said calmly. "But I have a survival instinct; something which you either lack entirely or are adept at ignoring. Either way, you are the best candidate for the job. Good luck."

Without a backwards wave, glance over the shoulder, or any kind of affirmation of worry or their friendship, or anything really, J'onn left Flash alone in the computer room.

"Well shit."

Kaiba woke up in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room. Instantly, he was wide awake but did not move. Carefully, he eased his eyes open, surveying his surroundings. He relaxed only when he saw Isono Fuguta standing by the curtained window. Two thick fingers held back the thick, black-out curtain aside just enough to let a beam of sunlight stream into the room illuminating it somewhat. Still exhausted from last night's escapades, the young CEO stretched and sat up in the hotel bed.

He glanced down at himself and noticed his trench coat and shoes were missing and his shirt had been unbuttoned. He found a fresh set of clothes neatly folded on the bedside table on his right and stood to beginning stripping away his dirty clothes.

"I'm taking a shower."

"Would you like room service to bring up anything?" Fuguta asked.

As if on cue, Kaiba's stomach growled. The bodyguard wisely said nothing, instead picking up the room phone and called the front desk to order lunch. The tall brunette sighed and stepped into the bathroom, closing the door just enough to leave a small crack in case something happened and Fuguta had to get to him quickly. It would not be the first time.

He slipped his shirt off and peeled his pants away, dropping both in a haphazard pile on the tile floor before reaching the shower knob and turning it to scalding. Completely naked, he stepped into the steaming stream of water, hissing as the heat eased his tense, sore muscles. He clearly needed this much more than he originally thought. It took about a minute to get his body used to the temperature and then he began washing his hair.

It had been a long day and night and it was shaping up to be a long day again today if his achy muscles were any indication. He leaned against the cool tile wall as he scrubbed the shampoo into his hair. Thoughts raced through his head, trying to sort out which were truly his and which were the remnants of his former incarnation left behind in his current self's subconscious.

While he had been hesitant at first to accept magic as anything other than children's hocus pocus, he could not deny its existence now. It ran through him more deeply and inseparably than his own blood. It roared through him like a dragon. He now understood his extreme obsession with the Blue Eyes White Dragon, the origins and practical use of the Millennium Items, the ins and outs of the Shadows Games, as well as certain other unpleasant things.

High Priest Seth had been obsessed with protecting the Pharaoh long before he learned of his relationship to the incarnation of Ra made flesh. Seth had been loyal to a fault, proud, and stubborn as a mule. It was these traits as well as his incorruptible spirit that prevented Ahke- that Traitor from getting a strong foothold on his mind. He never wanted to think of the man who claimed to be Seth's father. It seemed no matter what incarnation he lived, he would have father issues. At least this time he had Mokuba to keep him sane and at least mostly stable. Mokuba had become the focal point of his existence as Pharaoh Atem and then Kisara had been in Ancient Egypt.

Kisara.

He grit his teeth against the immense sadness that rolled over him like a tsunami threatening to overwhelm him. Seth's mourning merged and meshed with his own in such a way that Kaiba could not clearly differentiate between them. He could not find where his emotions started and the Seth's ended. Kisara, the Ba to the Blue Eyes White Dragon's Ka. If that Traitor had not discovered her secret, would events have unfolded as they had in both the Memory World MORPG and reality those thousands of years ago?

Perhaps.

But still…

Kisara's loss ate away at him. Even though Kaiba Seto had never met the woman with white hair and blue eyes in person save for in the Memory World MORPG, and that was suspect, his first incarnation Seth had. Seth and Kisara had been lovers during the brief time they had known each other. They had been devoted to each other, going out of their way to protect one another. And though Kaiba was not Seth and Seth was not Kaiba, they were still, at their deepest most secret soul, the same in every way that mattered most.

"Sir."

Kaiba jerked away from the wall to stare through the translucent shower door at the blurred shadow that was Fuguta. "Yes?"

"I'm putting your clothes on the counter for when you come out. Also, your lunch has arrived." There was a pause. "Would you like me to contact the conference staff and tell them we'll be delayed?"

Kaiba pushed away his emotions to the back burner. He could deal with them when more important things, such as finding the cause of these unauthorized Shadow Games and putting a stop to them, were dealt with. "No," he replied, proud of how strong and steady his voice sounded considering how close to tears he had been mere moments ago. "I'll be out in a few minutes."

"Understood sir."

When he heard the bathroom door close to the usual crack, Kaiba finished washing and stepped outside, ignoring the urge to wince at the abrupt temperature change. He grabbed one of the soft, folded towels and dried off his body before mopping his cropped locks ruthlessly. Tossing the used towel aside, he dressed and stepped back into the hotel bedroom. Fuguta was standing by the window again, the black-out curtains pushed aside to fill the room with bright natural light. The cart with several dishes stood on the other side of the bed near the table and two lounge chairs nestled on the far side of the hotel room near the window.

"You forgot my coat," he said simply.

He could see the bodyguard's forehead crinkle behind the dark sunglasses and lips inside a neatly trimmed goatee press together to prevent a tell-tale smile from escaping.

"My apologies sir, but I thought it best to keep that on the bed until after you've eaten. It is white and it would hardly suit the image of the KaibaCorp CEO to appear to a press conference with a stained coat."

"Are you implying I'm a messy eater, Fuguta?" Kaiba asked, taking a seat in the chair directly across from the one closest to his bodyguard, gesturing for the other man to join him.

"Hardly," Fuguta replied. "But accidents happen. I believe the American phrase is 'Karma is a bitch' comes to mind."

Kaiba snorted and began eating. Perhaps this would not be such a long day after all.