Chapter Four- Perks and Weaknesses

Kaiba awoke to sunlight poring through the window, the curtains still drawn back. He blinked at the light and used a hand to shade his eyes as he got out of bed and closed the curtains. Well, last night wasn't so bad once the pain was done, he thought as he padded into the bathroom. He mused about breakfast and thought about sausages and maybe a steak. On second thought, sausages, eggs, and toast. I may be a werewolf, but I do need to eat more than just meat. He turned on the tap, splashed water on his face, groped for the hand towel, and patted his face dry. He lowered it, blinked at his reflection, and dropped the towel as his hands went to his ears.

They were pointed! The tips barely poked through his hair, but they were clearly pointed. He seized his comb and used it to style his hair so the tips were concealed. He nodded to himself. I'll grow the side out a little more to cover them. He checked his reflection carefully but saw nothing else unusual. He then got dressed before getting his case and heading downstairs. He met Mokuba at the bottom and couldn't believe how grown up his brother looked in his own business suit. He is ready for more responsibility, that much is clear now.

Mokuba had smiled but then frowned a little as Kaiba had been adjusting his hair a little. "Seto? Is something wrong with your hair?"

"No, but I've got pointed ears," he blurted out.

"What?" Mokuba gasped.

Kaiba exposed an ear. "This is clearly a sign of my curse while human. I will need to grow the sides of my hair to cover them." He re-adjusted his hair. "Now, let's gather the staff before breakfast." He reached up and pulled a rope that rang a bell through the entire house and waited as everyone gathered before them.

Once they had, Kaiba affected his usual expression thought his heart was pounding at what he was going to say. "I have a very important announcement and before I say it, I want it understood that it does not leave this house." Everyone nodded and Kaiba licked his lips. "The other night as I left the office, I was attacked and bitten by a werewolf.

"I know it sounds impossible and I didn't believe it until I burned my hand with my silver soup spoon yesterday. I was finally convinced when I turned into a wolf. A talking, self-aware wolf. There are only a few things that will be different. One is no more silver in the house. Two is an increase of meat as I will crave it, particularly at night and it will be cooked. Three, I just found out that my ears are pointed." He exposed an ear again and then covered it. "Now, Mokuba and I will have breakfast and then go to work. I expect to see no silver when we return."

"Yes, sir," was the reply from everyone.

Kaiba nodded, dismissed them, gave his breakfast order to the kitchen staff as well as Mokuba's, ate their breakfast once it was presented, and were soon out the door with Mokuba to climb into the limo.

Kaiba said, "I don't know if everyone believed me, Mokuba."

"Showing your ear gave them physical proof," Mokuba said as the limo drove down the road. "If you come down after dark that will convince them."

"You're right. It will and I will need to learn to climb the stairs with four legs."

Kaiba pushed all thoughts and concerns about his curse aside as he instructed Mokuba about the work he did every day, explaining the paperwork and how it fill it out. He then showed the files he used on a daily basis. Mokuba left shortly before lunchtime and returned with bags and drinks. Kaiba looked in the bag he was given to see a lot of hamburgers, plain. He gave Mokuba a quizzical look.

"I…thought you would want a lot of meat for lunch so I ordered plain hamburgers," he said meekly, not sure how his brother would react.

"I appreciate the thought, thanks." He then flashed a sly smile. "Is there any chance I could steal some of your fries?"

Mokuba laughed as Kaiba spread a wrapper out and Mokuba put some fries on it. The two brothers ate, talked, and laughed and Kaiba felt rather relaxed, a first for him when at work. The burgers satisfied a craving he hadn't realized was there until he didn't feel the way he did earlier: It was a hunger he couldn't identify before.

Kaiba was supervising Mokuba as he practiced a monthly budget when the door opened and a man with black hair and deep green eyes entered and closed the door. Kaiba narrowed his eyes at him. "Who are you? You have a lot of nerve to burst in here without an appointment."

The man smiled. "My name's Aaron and I came to speak with you." Aaron brushed aside some hair to reveal a pointed ear.

Kaiba rose from his seat. "You," he said. "You're the one who cursed me the other night."

"And I had hoped you would see it differently now that you've changed." Aaron said, sounding hurt.

"Differently!?" Kaiba exclaimed, anger seeping into his voice. "You've made me a…a freak!"

"Seto!" Mokuba cried. "Calm down, please!"

Kaiba shut his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly let it out. He slowly opened his eyes and resumed his seat. "You made me a freak," he repeated calmly.

"How do you figure that?" Aaron said.

"People do not transform into animals. They remain in one shape though their entire lives."

"Yes. That is a pity as you and I are a superior form of human, Kaiba."

"I fail to see that. You and I become wolves every night and ones who desire to turn others on the full moon. Can we talk on the full moon?"

Aaron shook his head. "We're self-aware, but the desire to bite is hard to resist and that is what reduces us to speaking only as wolves."

"At least I would be self-aware on those nights, too."

"Oh, yes." Aaron gestured at the chair before the desk. "May I?"

Kaiba nodded and Aaron sat. "Now, as you know, I was told you are dismissive of magic and the supernatural. It's clear that you are accepting of it now."

"You chose Seto just because he doesn't believe in magic," Mokuba said, looking disapproving. "He did not deserve it."

"Be that as it may, the damage is already done. I am curious, Mr. Kaiba, what convinced you to accept the truth?"

"When I grabbed a silver spoon yesterday. It also prompted me to tell Mokuba what happened as he witnessed my red hand."

"I thought you would. I assume you've also told your staff."

"This morning. Aaron…tell me if there are any advantages of being a werewolf. I have no interest in discovering them on my own."

"Oh, there are. The burns from silver eventually fades but other injuries heal in seconds. Once you reach physical maturity, your aging will slow and when reached the age of 100, he or she becomes immortal but can die by silver impalement or silver bullets."

"She? Women can be turned?"

"Yes. They are called wifewolves. Anyway, you have the speed, strength, and senses of a wolf all the time and can control them during the day. I learned that a werewolf's saliva can heal minor injuries on a human and can be done day or night."

"I see." Kaiba lapsed into thoughtful silence but did see Aaron leave. He had learned of the perks of being a werewolf and felt a bit better about being one.