And lo, we reach the end of this particular snapshot.

I'm going to be returning to this AU whenever I come up with a solid idea that spans 10 installments. I think keeping order and giving myself solid limits will help me keep on track. It definitely helped with this one.

So, until next time, y'all.

Hope you had fun. I know I did.

.

Téa shook Mokuba's hand and pinned the little lanyard he'd passed her onto her vest. "I'm pretty sure you saved us from getting arrested," she said. "Thanks, Kaiba-kun."

Mokuba smiled and gave a little nod. "I'd make some snide comment about sneaking onto a cruise ship," he said, "but I don't have any room to judge you." At the suspicious, searching look Yugi sent his way, Mokuba's smile sharpened into a smirk. "Now. Obviously, I'm not expecting you guys to actually fill the same positions I'd expect from my security team. You haven't been trained, for one thing. But I would appreciate it if you could help me keep an eye on Seto while we're here. He's going to be doing a lot of walking, a lot of exploring, in a place none of us have ever seen."

"No problem, man," said Tristan, with a little salute.

"Of course," Téa added.

"I'll have some contracts drawn up for you, and we'll settle everything once we're back home." At their confused expressions, Mokuba rolled his eyes. "You don't expect to do work for me and not get paid, do you? I don't do debts. Don't worry about it. Right now, we have more important things that demand our attention."

"Agreed," Yugi mumbled.

Mokuba turned his attention to Yugi and Joey in turn. "Heads on a swivel, you two. If Crawford is anything like the other eccentric rich bastards I've met, the fact that he's holding this thing on a private island, in deliberately murky jurisdiction, means he's specifically taking the law into his own hands. We can't expect him, or anybody working for him, to operate within the confines of any laws or societal norms. That's the whole reason he's isolating us in the first place."

Joey looked grim. "That sounds about right," he said.

"Whatever you're here for," Mokuba went on, "your grandfather, or your sister, or whatever other motivation you have . . . it's not worth your life. You need to protect yourselves." He held up his hands. "I know, I know." He seemed to be directing this specifically to Yugi. "I'm not saying you should give up, or not try your damnedest to help family. I hope that's obvious. What I'm saying is, there's always another solution. Don't play by his rules just because he sounded really confident when he laid them out. Nobody is all-powerful. Nobody has all the cards. If he tries to make you dance to his tune, only do it for as long as you have to, and not a second longer. I'll handle the rest."

"How can you be so sure?" Yugi asked.

Mokuba leaned back in his seat. "I'm a Kaiba. Being sure is what we do."

It became clear to the group—in that moment—that supreme, ineffable, blasphemous confidence wasn't just a Seto trait; it was a Kaiba trait, and Mokuba had it too. He had no fear of Pegasus J. Crawford; he had no sense that it was possible for him to be outmatched, private island or otherwise. The very concept of losing was as foreign to the elder Kaiba as it was to the younger.

"Kaiba-kun, I appreciate the vote of confidence, but . . ."

Mokuba held up one finger. "Ah," he cut Yugi off. "You already thought it was impossible for Seto to save your cards. He proved you wrong." He winked. "Now it's my turn."

Yugi stopped, then shook his head. He smiled. "Okay, Kaiba-kun. Okay."

Ryo nodded to himself. "That man has no idea what he's in for. He's gone and opened Pandora's Box."

"Hey, uh . . . Kaiba?" Tristan asked, eventually. "Just how many eccentric rich bastards have you met?"

"More than you're imagining," Mokuba said. "I've attended so many galas and ribbon-cuttings that I should get one of those punch cards. I deserve a free milkshake or something by now. And you know the worst part about all of them? The catering is awful." He shook his head, then glanced over at the food spreads across the deck. "One thing I'll give Crawford: he did that part right."

"Food is pretty good," Joey admitted.

"Enjoy it while you can," Yugi said, "because we've only got a couple more days before we make landfall. I have my doubts he's going to feed us once the tournament starts."

Mokuba grunted. "Huh," he said. He looked up, seemingly at nothing, and said: "Oi! Kiddo!"

Seto's head popped out from atop an awning twelve feet from the floor. "Yeah?"

Téa shrieked, Joey cursed; Ryo and Yugi both started laughing.

"These fine folks think we aren't gonna get fed on the island," Mokuba said. "I'm not sure if they're right, but on the off-chance they are . . . you up for a little game?"

Seto's eyes gleamed. "I'm listening."

"Thirty minutes. Whoever's got the best haul gets to decide how it's distributed. Get caught? Disqualified."

". . . Oh, you're on, big guy."

Mokuba flashed a grin. "Anybody got a timer?"

Tristan pulled a stopwatch from a pocket of his long jacket. "I do," he said.

"Why do you have that?" Téa asked.

"I dunno. Could be useful. Want I should count you guys off?"

"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Yugi asked. "Stealing from a rich man?"

"I take home Pegasus Crawford's annual income in a month," Mokuba said. "Let him try to nail me on this. I'll bury him."

Yugi sighed. "You know what? Go for it."

"My money's on the shrimp," Joey said, pulling out a $20 bill and slapping it onto the table.

"Mokuba just has the aura of a career criminal, somehow," Ryo said. "I'll take that bet, Joey."

He set a bill of his own on top of Joey's.

Mokuba stood up, rolled his shoulders, cracked his knuckles.

"All right," he said, eyes on his brother. "Let's do this."

Seto hopped lightly from the awning onto the table, then to the floor. "Ready to lose, Moku-nii?"

"I never lose."

Tristan clicked his stopwatch, and the Kaiba brothers vanished.