Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
Beta By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
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The limo pulled to a stop at the front of the large arena where Kaiba regularly hosted the lower, local tournaments. It was a place that was on almost regular construction in areas as Kaiba would come up with a new level of technology and have to update the systems. But for this event the construction was held off. The arena was for those who couldn't afford his Duel Disk system, allowing the kids to be able to play. There were six fields that were open daily for those who had time.
Any other time, like now, was for business.
Isono walked to the door of the limo and opened it for Kaiba, allowing him to step out into the lightly chilled morning air under a Japanese sky. Allowing him to shake off any and all talk that had anything to do with Ancient Egypt as he stepped away from the car and waited for Yugi to join him. While giving the building they were going to enter a critical eye, making sure everything looked as neat and pristine as he expected.
Though when he turned to look at Yugi, he almost found himself doing a double take as Yugi 'really' was pulling off the Other Yugi. His posture was completely straight yet casually relaxed with both his hands in his pockets. His eyes were as focused and commanding as the Other Yugi while he talked to Isono. Then without a glance he turned and stepped towards Kaiba the same way the Other Yugi would walk. Even glanced at Kaiba as though to ask 'something wrong'?
It was all Kaiba could do to remind himself that he didn't have his duel disk and demand a duel, to remind himself that the Other Yugi was gone. That this was simply Yugi and that he was trying to be his more forceful past life self. At least with the Other Yugi, Kaiba didn't have to worry about someone getting to the mewling kitten. It was like having to deal with looking after Mokuba only this one was old enough to legally make his own decisions.
When Yugi stepped up to him, he turned his steps away towards the building with Yugi just behind. "What were you talking to Isono about?" he asked as he noted that the man was driving away from the arena, while Fugata stepped outside the arena and awaited their presence.
"Really Kaiba, you're just going to leave Mokuba home alone?" Yugi's voice hinted at teasing, before he got serious, "Actually, I asked him to wait for the others to get there before bringing Mokuba. I figured it would be easier than driving all over the city trying to collect everyone." Yugi explained, even his manner of speaking was as proud as the Other Yugi, switching the pronouns from his normal style.
'Then again there is no reason to believe he hasn't been working on this while I've been recovering,' Seto reasoned to himself as they walked up the steps and towards the front doors of the arena. There had to be a reason he had a mental 'check list' after all, despite how much it might have taken Kaiba aback. Though with the glass before him, he could study Yugi via his reflection, and saw the poker face that the Other Yugi used before a duel. Heh perhaps that was what it was, that he was viewing this as a duel and just going through the motions.
"You think they let animals in here?" He snapped at the thought of the mutt in his limo, again. Before inwardly shaking his head as he saw that arrogant smirk grow on Yugi's face. He hated seeing Yugi behind him though, it was like watching a shadow following a person, and given the history just 'seeing' Yugi being the Other Yugi. It left so many things unsaid, words useless to a memory that didn't remember a past from long ago. That's all the Other Yugi 'was' in the end, sealed memories and aspects of someone from a long time ago.
The doors slid open before him and a blast of chilled air hit his face as he crossed the threshold into his arena. Fugata bowed politely before his boss, standing at attention and waiting for Kaiba's inquiries or outright instruction. Allowing Kaiba to visually scan the area, nothing that the floors looked swept, the walls clean with posters advertising current and up and coming packs. Before him was a large reception area for people to come sign in before going out to the dueling area or to purchase tickets to events that Kaiba allowed to be hosted. The ceiling was a high dome with Roman styled pillars that held the ceiling aloft.
Beyond the reception area was a single large pair of doors that funneled people into the arena where the announcement would take place. The women taking care of the front desk bowed respectfully as Kaiba strode by them without a glance. Heading for the double doors and Yugi hauntingly quiet behind him. Which was fine by his standards, he didn't really want to deal with idle chatter until he made sure the arena was to his specifics. Normally he would have done this the day before, but considering Kaiba wasn't able to properly get around until 'today'...
"Lord Kaiba I fear I need to inform you that the area for the announcement is still being worked on." Fugata stated his voice stiff and clipped in the professional version of worry. After all, Kaiba 'was' a perfectionist and would be upset with the news. But when did any of them have a chance to warn him of this unwelcome delay?
Kaiba froze and looked over at Fugata, watching his own expression darken in those dark glasses the man wore. "What did you say?"
Fugata didn't break out in a sweat, though it would have been reasonable if he had. Instead he merely continued his report, "it would appear that there was a change regarding who was working the sound systems it appears. The original sound system was lost when the truck delivering the system drove off the road."
"And what does that have to do with me? Regardless of if it drove off the road or shot off to the moon. The sound system should 'already' be in place!" Kaiba snarled, not sure if he was happy to have someone he could lash out at. Or angry that the first day actually back on the 'job' as it were and he was fixing the mistakes of some idiot.
"Of course sir!" Fugata answered with military obedience before turning on his heel nearly running towards the arena. After all, one didn't work for Lord Kaiba for as long as he or Isono did and 'not' learn unspoken orders.
Kaiba started striding forward, the fact that Yugi was with him was shoved into the back of his mind. Instincts made him check his watch and quietly, inwardly growl at the 7:39am was being pointed at with eternal patience.
"Did you enjoy Maha bathing you?" Yugi asked out of the clear blue with a smirk in his voice, though he kept his voice mercifully low so that no one heard what he said.
No one.
Save Kaiba.
He whirled around and gave Yugi a death glare. "Do. Not. Bring. That. Up."
"Yeah you enjoyed it." Yugi had an expression of pure mischief as he spoke, his sneaky glee quite clear as he strolled past Kaiba and further into the building. As though Kaiba wasn't thinking about reaching out and choking the ever living breath out of Yugi for that crack.
Yugi reached the doors that led towards the arena proper while Kaiba had to force himself to walk at a normal pace. Despite wanting to chase the brat down and outright kill Yugi for opting to tease him right 'now' while they had work to do.
The walk way was akin to what a sports team would deal with, a long passage that ended at a door. It was amusing how Kaiba always thought big even now, with the pale white walls and the door a light shade of blue. The hallway was quiet save the sharp click of the boots that Yugi and Kaiba were both wearing as they took their steps. Florescent lights lit the way until they reached the end of the hallway and Yugi opened the door for himself and Kaiba.
Beyond the door was another hallway, with its impressively high ceiling as this was the arena. Either side sloped down as they walked towards the dueling fields beyond. The ceiling was high above them easily two or maybe three stories high and as they approached, they could see the fields before them, with their dueling posts of red and blue paired off on either side.
Yugi paused as they walked up to the first pair of dueling fields to look behind him and above, as though he had never been there before. Then again if he had, it wasn't as though Kaiba hadn't gotten it renovated from time to time. The duelist shook his head of whatever thought was locked in his head behind that intense gaze and resumed walking towards the other side of the field.
"You've been here before?" Kaiba inquired out of curiosity, as his employees scurried about the arena working.
"Once," Yugi acknowledged with a slight nod while the lights high above came on. He looked about in surprise as the large hydraulics began to churn below the building. Each dueling field began to come apart like puzzle pieces, sinking down and moving into places. Allowing new pieces to rise up and make for a smooth floor with nothing in their way. While the employees quickly began pushing into place a stage that would be placed in the center of the room.
For which Kaiba inwardly growled as this was all supposed to have been done 'yesterday'. Brushing past Yugi he stalked his way down to a man with a clip board who seemed to be in the midst of an argument with Fugata. While everyone who saw Kaiba on the move turned white and movement began to quicken. Which Kaiba didn't bothering paying mind to, instead his focus was instead on the idiot ordering things.
"And who exactly are you to be behind 'this' far of schedule. This should have been done 'yesterday'," Kaiba snapped.
The unassuming man in the gray tweed suit didn't bother turning around from his argument with Fugata as he continued arguing about logistics. Despite everyone else coming frozen in fear at who was standing there, "look kid I'm busy."
"Kid? I'm assuming you don't work for me or else you would know better than to insult me like that. Though I'm sure you're about to find out because when I'm through with you..."
The man turned around in irritation only to see Kaiba, who was already a head taller looming over him despite being a teenager. The man looked a little startled before pulling back his sleeve to check his watch. "Oh, Mr. Kaiba you're early." He began now starting to sound alarmed, as though he didn't just insult the CEO of a corporation by addressing them as 'kid'.
Kaiba all but snarled yanking the clipboard out of the fools hands and going over whatever was on the list. And realized that somehow everything had been delayed to such a point that it would take everyone working non stop to get it ready just at the last second. Something that sent Kaiba's rage into a seething level. 'This' was why he hated being in a coma, 'this' was why he honestly did not need magic in his life!
The guy wasn't old upon inspection, easily nearing his thirties, with a sharp pair of eyes and neat in appearance. He didn't seem the bit rattled by Kaiba's outrage, which was always risky business, given the current situation. While there would be those, namely Yugi, who could argue Kaiba out of his rage with his ability to discern importance. This person was literally being given responsibility to have the stage, lights and sound systems working already. Failure to do so was something Kaiba would not stand for. He expected competence with those who held any type of employment. The very fact that this person had literally 'one' job and could not meet expectations made him near positively lived.
The workers that were pulled away from the fear induced trance of Kaiba's rage turned to look at Yugi then Fugata. Upon realizing they were standing about gawking and what awaited them when their boss was done, the work began to resume in a stuttering pace. Yugi stood as a dark spot on a field of white concrete as he looked about watching as Fugata took over, calling out instructions to the crew. Beyond all of them, two of dueling fields rose back up from below with two halves of what looked to be the stage that was going to be used.
Staff rushed in, pushing and pulling the parts off the fields before the fields sank once more allowing the staff to unite the pieces. Lighting and sound crews who had just been standing were now chomping at the bit to get to work. Better to be busy with work, than caught gawking at their enraged employer.
"If I ever see you again near any of my projects your company is going to be lucky if they can get the permits to walk dogs!" Kaiba sounded to be winding down, and Yugi turned his attention back onto the CEO as the man he had been ranted to turned and began walking away.
Kaiba watched as Yugi studied the man who was leaving, his expression surprised and serious, which was fine. Because Kaiba was in no mood to hear any complaints about how he was being 'too harsh' on anyone. Once their eyes met, Yugi looked guarded for a moment before he began smiling, his eyes dropping first before he approached Kaiba.
"Come on old friend, let's go somewhere where you can wind down before you accidentally summon Blue Eyes and destroy the building." Yugi teased lightly, unaffected by Kaiba's glare at the words 'old friend'.
There was just too much baggage with that, regardless if it was used to describe the Magician, the Other Yugi or the Yugi who stood before him. For that he didn't move an inch and watched as Yugi's eyebrow got elevated and a smirk start to form on the duelists' lips. As the seconds stretched, Yugi shook his head and reached to his hip where he wore his deck.
"Fine, when I win we go into one of the back offices and out of the way of the crew working." Yugi finally stated, his tone confident that he could overcome Kaiba with casual ease. Not something that the Other Yugi would say exactly, though the intentions would have been the same, Kaiba knew. And as much as his hands twitched to grab his deck and answer that clear and obvious challenge, he was also without his duel disk.
Forcing him to whirl around and head towards the offices that would be behind the stage, at least then Yugi's little acting flubs would not be noticed. Everyone scrambled out of his way, making a path for him to stride through while Yugi was probably following behind. The stage was quickly coming together, despite Kaiba's rage that it wasn't already done. Curtains were being prepped before hung and wiring for the lights and sound systems were being pulled into place.
He couldn't have cared less for the fools and stooges who were bowing as he walked by. Their terror was almost palpable, which was fine, it was what he wanted. Remind the fools who signed their checks and kept them with a roof over their heads. If they thought slacking off was going to be tolerated they were given a solid reminder that it wasn't. When Kaiba reached the office, the few employees who had been running through lists inside dashed out at a glare. Allowing Kaiba to stand near the center of the room as Yugi walked in and shut the door behind him.
Yugi pushed the door shut and leaned against it, his head leaned back so he was facing the ceiling of the room. His shoulders sagged, and he took a few deep breaths before letting them out slowly. From there he sank down to a crouch with his back to the door and almost looked ready to start shaking as though he was actually 'scared'.
"Seriously Yugi? You're going to fold 'this' easily? You look pathetic!" Kaiba snapped, folding his arms across his chest.
But Yugi only looked mildly amused as he turned to look up at Kaiba while sliding his fingers through his hair and pulling it over his right shoulder. "This isn't easy, even when we swapped. I'm still not used to that confidence and self assured the Other Me possessed. What am I doing wrong?"
"Probably because confidence is more than just body posture, it means 'knowing' you're better than everyone else. Even if its a lie, there's a reason the saying is 'fake it til you make it' eventually you 'will' convince yourself of being good enough." Kaiba explained as he towered over Yugi waiting for the tricolored haired teen to get off the ground.
