A.N: Another two chapters updated close together. I'm on a role. And before you ask, a couple clarifications:
1) No, Noa is NOT an A.I., but the Justice League don't know the difference or Noa's background yet.
2) No, Kaiba doesn't have anything against women, just people who annoy him.
3) Panic attacks can and do happen to anyone, especially control freaks like Kaiba who suddenly no longer have control over anything.
Panic and Messages
"I don't take too kindly to being tied up," Kaiba said, glaring at the Justice League. "Especially on uncomfortable beds."
He strode confidently into the Control Room, eyes moving to gaze at the videos on the monitor completely ignoring the heroes moving to surround him. "Are these the only copies of the videos from the cameras in the area?"
"Why do you wanna know?" Flash asked, wary.
Kaiba glanced at Flash, face practically dripping with disdain. "I wasn't talking to you."
"Then who-"
"That's all I could find, ototo-kun," a new voice replied drawing everyone's attention.
"Then delete them," Kaiba commanded. "And don't call me that." The Japanese businessman stuck his hands in his pockets and began walking casually up to the computer screens when Arrow stepped in front of him aiming an arrow at his face. Kaiba merely smirked. "Do you really want to do this again, Oliver?"
"Who was that?"
"You tried hacking the KaibaCorp mainframe didn't you?" Kaiba asked.
"What does that have to do with it?"
"I'm the KaibaCorp mainframe," the unknown voice from before replied. Suddenly, every computer monitor in the room was filled with the face of a boy who could not be older than fourteen or fifteen. His hair was a sea green reminiscent of J'onn's skin and his eyes were a dark blue that could easily be mistaken for black. The face smiled and a previously unseen hand lifted and waved childishly to the shocked audience.
"You tried hacking me so I simply hacked you back," the young boy said, shrugging pragmatically. "You should seriously get an upgrade on your firewalls. They're much too easily penetrated."
"Batman?" Superman demanded looking at the resident computer hacker.
"How did you get past the security?" Batman in turn demanded the artificial intelligence.
The A.I. rolled its eyes. "I told you, your firewalls are pathetic. It didn't take me more than a few minutes to crack them. Boring."
Kaiba snorted. "Enough talk. Noa, I need you to send a message for me."
Straightaway, Noa returned his attention to the CEO of KaibaCorp, demeanor serious. "Computer, phone, or other mobile device?"
"Whichever is accessible at the moment."
"Understood. Ready."
Kaiba glanced at the Justice League, his gaze lingering on J'onn. When he opened his mouth again, he spoke in a language none of the Justice League had ever heard before nor could understand. When he finished, the A.I. Noa nodded and vanished from the monitors. Kaiba rolled his shoulders and this time spoke in English.
"Since you're the ones who attacked me, I think it only fair you answer some questions." Cold blue eyes studied each hero individually.
"Considering it was my city and citizens involved in whatever it is you've done, I think you're the one who should be answering my questions," Arrow countered, lowering his bow cautiously.
Kaiba only laughed. "What I've done?" As quickly as the laughter started, it stopped leaving no evidence of it anywhere on Kaiba's face. "What I've done is save a stupid woman from causing the deaths of three people including herself."
"How?" Arrow pressed.
"None of your business."
"Wrong." Kaiba and Arrow turned to Superman who eyed the two sternly. "It is our business. It became our business when innocents began dying."
"Innocents?" Kaiba scoffed. He sighed in frustration and rolled his eyes. "You really are clueless."
"If we're so clueless, then why don't you explain it to us," Diana interjected, hoping to smooth things over. Kaiba glanced at her briefly before dismissing her causing the Amazon princess to bristle in annoyance. "We're not as stupid as you seem to think we are."
"Oh on the contrary," Kaiba said, meeting her eyes with disdain. "You're exactly as stupid as I know you are. How long did it take any of you to get to Starling City and help the vigilante take care of business? Five 'incidents,' as you call them, meaning five different times people had to die before you deigned to do something about it."
"And what about you?" Shayera said, frustration building. "You just showed up yesterday."
"And already stopped a Game from claiming more lives," Kaiba countered sharply.
"Game?" J'onn asked, voice calm and even despite the situation.
Blue eyes met gold steadily for several seconds before thin lips twitched up in the vaguest hint of what could be a smile had it not been so vicious. "I take that back. One of you is quick."
"I would appreciate it if you did not insult my friends," J'onn said.
"It's hardly an insult if it's the truth."
"You still did not answer Shayera's question," J'onn pressed. "Why did you only arrive yesterday?"
Kaiba glared at J'onn before turning his eyes to the far side of the Control Tower to glare in annoyance. However, this was apparently Kaiba's first time looking in that direction because suddenly all the confidence drained out of him to be replaced by awestruck horror. J'onn followed Kaiba's gaze out the view ports to the Earth above. Kaiba moved towards the viewports as if in a trance, eyes wide and mouth parted in shock. Superman made to halt Kaiba's movements but J'onn caught his friend's arm, shaking his head. The Martian and his fellow Justice League members simply watched Kaiba closely.
To say Kaiba Seto was shocked was an understatement. Space. He was in space orbiting the planet Earth below. Or was it above or directly ahead? He did not know. His mind was racing so fast he could barely make sense of his own thoughts. He vague felt the transparent pane under his palm but was still having trouble believing his eyes. No wonder his Shadows were sluggish to respond to his commands. No wonder he was having trouble contacting Yuugi and the Pharaoh. He was no longer on Earth where his powers were based.
He could feel the shaking begin in his fingers, the muscles in his forearms twitching and his chest start to move quickly and shallowly. His vision began to tunnel as he beheld Japan in all its tiny glory far below him. He felt cold then hot as his blood raced through his body enhancing the innate fight-or-flight responses. He was barely able to keep his knees from giving out as he fought down the impending panic attack. Already his chest was aching and he could feel his heartbeat pounding his ribcage painfully. His free hand instinctively reached up to clasp the Duel Monsters card locket he always wore around his neck for reassurance.
Mokuba was down there. Mokuba was down there with whoever was creating these Shadow Games. Whoever was…
:Set.:
Kaiba flinched away from the nightmare voice. But now his mind had something to latch onto in its mad spiral into panic. It clamped down on that voice and used it to haul itself back to a semblance of the usual functioning genius Kaiba needed to be.
Why now? Why was he hearing that voice now of all times? What prompted it? Usually nightmares that involved Akhn- the Traitor's voice were caused by something jarring 's and Seth's shared memories as Set. What could have done that? The Traitor was dead, had been dead for 5,000 years give or take a century or so. Good riddance.
But then, why?
Why were the enemy Shadow user's Shadows so familiar to Kaiba? Why was the Game he stopped started over something so petty? Why was the Game Master just a stupid woman with no real Shadow magic? Was this truly just a trap and if so, had he just walked headlong into it? What about Yuugi and the Pharaoh? He had left instructions with Fuguta to contact the King if he didn't receive any communication within four hours; although knowing Fuguta, it would probably have taken less time for his bodyguard to act. But that meant Yuugi was most likely already aware Kaiba had gone missing without any explanation and he would come to Starling City in person to find him.
Kaiba grit his teeth in frustration. He needed a computer, something to tinker with, something to keep his hands busy and calm his mind. He needed to think. He brushed his Deck and felt a faint response, too faint for comfort. He narrowed his now clear and focused eyes. He had to get back to Earth.
Yami hated time zones. He really did. It seemed like they were simply out to give him a headache. His mind knew it was sunny outside and thus must be daytime all while his body insisted it was midnight and he should be asleep. It was absolutely maddening and the worst part was that Yuugi was taking it all in stride. The lighter half of their soul was practically running through the airport to the baggage claim area. Although, in his partner's defense, Mokuba was strong enough to pull Kaiba of all people so a featherweight like Yuugi was nothing in comparison. At least Jounouchi was hanging back to walk with the former Pharaoh.
"I got a call from Ryou-kun while we were flyin' in," Jounouchi said, waving his phone idly as he spoke in accented Japanese. "It went to voicemail, but he said he made it to Japan thanks of Shaadi-san and wanted to let you know he's still keepin' tabs on the stuff in Egypt. I think Bakura-kun took over somewhere in there cuz he mentioned something about the lunatic."
Yami snorted. "I bet he did. Jounouchi-kun, when we get to our hotel, do you think you could keep an eye out for any news that could pertain to what's going on here? English is not my nor aibou's first language and while Mokuba-kun is good, he doesn't speak it as fluently as us or Kaiba. Even Yuugi and I struggle with some words and phrasing."
"Kaiba couldn't make a mistake in anything business related even if he tried," griped the lanky blond. "Bastard."
Yami chuckled, taking that as Jounouchi's form of agreement to help, and turned his attention Yuugi and Mokuba currently struggling with a particularly big suitcase. Before Yami or Jounouchi could hurry over and lend a hand, a man in a dark suit and sunglasses appeared behind Mokuba and easily hefted the bag from the cart into the limousine trunk. Yuugi blushed in frustration and Mokuba laughed, thanking the bodyguard happily before clamoring into the long, black vehicle.
Jounouchi gawked at the limousine forcing Yami to smack his friend playfully on the back to force him into motion. "Come on, Jounouchi-kun. Let's go take care of business at the hotel first."
Once everyone was comfortably seated in the limousine cabin, the bodyguard slid in after them and took the seat closest to the door. Jounouchi had settled into one of the seats by the window and plastered himself against the glass to Mokuba's intense amusement. The young Kaiba was settled close to the bodyguard, Isono. Yes, that was the bodyguard's name. Isono something.
Isono had black hair that was carefully combed in place. Streaks of early grey lined the sides of his head and a thin, perfectly manicured mustache sat just above his upper lip. The man was Kaiba Seto's right hand man and had been with the two brothers through thick and thin, even going so far as to accompany the gang on at least a couple of their adventures. He had the patience of a saint and, Yami suspected, was the real father figure for the boys.
"Hey, Isono-san," Jounouchi called. "How long's the drive?"
"About an hour or so without traffic, longer with traffic," the bodyguard replied. "I suggest you all rest while you can."
Mokuba took the advice to heart, leaning against Isono. It took Jounouchi a little longer before he succumbed. His body now adorned the opposite side of the limousine, draped over all the leather seats snoring softly. A familiar and very welcome warmth pressed against his side, nuzzling under his arm. Smiling quietly, Yami lifted his arm and drapped it comfortingly over Yuugi's shoulders.
/Relax, Aibou,/ Yami said through their mental link. /I'm sure Kaiba's fine. He's been through a lot and come out on top before, remember./
/I know,/ Yuugi sighed. /I just can't help but worry. I can't…Yami, I can't feel him./
Yami tensed, immediately forcing himself to relax when he saw Isono mirror him. He nodded to the bodyguard and turned to Yuugi, pressing a kiss into the soft, spiky hair so alike his own. /He isn't dead. We both know that. The balance still holds. Well find him. I promise./
Yuugi nuzzled deeper into Yami's chest, looping his arms around his darker half's torso. /But I can't feel him. I can always feel him./
/Aibou./ Yami waited until Yuugi's liquid violet eyes met his own before continuing. /I promised we would find him and I never break a promise. We'll find him and put a stop to these Games together. Do you believe me?/
Yuugi blinked at the question. /Of course. Why would you ask such a-/
Yuugi's thoughts derailed when soft lips pressed against his own. His eyes drifted shut as he surrendered to the kiss. He shifted to a more comfortable position to match the kiss with one of his own. He could hear Yami growl in his mind causing shivers to trace up his spine. He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against Yami's.
/We'll find him, Aibou,/ Yami whispered in Yuugi's mind. His lips continually brushed Yuugi's own in feather light kisses. /There's nothing we can do right now. Just rest. I'll keep watch./
/But…/
/Aibou./
Yuugi groaned softly and slid down so he lay across the leather seats with his head in Yami's lap. He was asleep within minutes, and naturally that was when their phone dinged indicating a text message. But that particular tone…
Yami worked the phone out of his pocket and flipped open the device to read the message. It was from KaibaCorp, or more specifically Noa, but contained a message from Kaiba.
/From: Kaiba Seto via Noa
Received: 12:34pm, PST
"I'm alive. The Games are decoys. I think this is a trap. Stay away."/
Well, too late for that, Yami thought wryly.