Chapter 5

Blackmail for Blackmail

"What are you doing here Amin-chan?" Ana eyed Seto's suit and tie. He cleans up nice. Now if he just didn't open his mouth.

"What are you doing here?" He seemed genuinely shocked.

"Kaiba-san, welcome." An older man with streaks of gray in his hair, sharp eyes, and a proud demeanor, confidently walked up to Seto and shook his hand. Ana plastered on her greet-the-guest smile when she heard her father's voice. She didn't feel like being grounded because she was rude to someone in their own home.

"Sakurai-san, nice to meet you."

Huh? He knows my father's name but doesn't know mine? Amin-chan isn't Amin-chan for nothing. Ana could feel her eye twitch, but she kept her facade up.

"I'm assuming you know my youngest?" He put a hand on Ana's shoulder.

Seto remained straight-faced and put on the most businessman smile she'd ever seen. "Of course, she showed me around my first day in town."

Prick.

"Oh? It's nice you are getting along. Come on in." As soon as her father turned, his back Seto's smile disappeared.

"Amin-chan."

Seto smirked at her. "Yes, Sakurai-san?"

Ana made sure her father was out of earshot. "Good for you. Your ears weren't stuffed full of concrete this time. Even a four-year-old knows enough to listen when someone's being introduced."

She could see his eye visually twitching. They headed to a large dining room in the back where the dinner was taking place.

"This is your place, Kaiba-san." Ana's father directed him to his seat. "Ana, I've changed your placement. Sit here."

Her father gesture to the seat next to Seto, and it took her full self-control not to purse her lips.

"Why the seating change?" She did her best to keep a pleasant smile.

"You're the closest in age to one another and since you get along, I thought it would be less awkward if Kaiba-san had someone familiar to sit by." Her father smiled pleased at himself, then went to answer the door when it rang.

"Your father is so considerate," Seto spoke only so she could hear. She heard the irritation in the last word, but he kept his businessman smile as other guests in the room inspected him.

Ana sighed, then took her seat. The last person entered the room and was settled. Her father gave his usual welcome and let's eat speech. The chefs brought out the appetizer, a small gelatin type dish called sakizuke. Seto sat quietly looking around the room.

"Looking for someone?" Ana stabbed her gelatin with her spoon, earning a glare from her mother across the table.

Seto eyed her before answering, "I'm looking for a Negoa-san. Do you know him?"

She stopped mid-bite and frowned. "Negoa-san... What do you need with the head of a marketing company?"

His eyes widened before he went back to his food. He took a slight bite and smiled at Ana's mother who seemed pleased with his manor, but Ana could tell he was mostly picking at the dish and not interested in it.

"Are you going to eat? You can't pass out here."

"I'm not hungry." He sounded sincere and tired. Black circles lined his eyes, and his skin tone was pale. This guy is going to die young. It's not good to be a workaholic so early in your life.

"Negoa-san didn't rsvp, so he's not here," Ana finally explained.

Seto sighed and rubbed his eyes. Ana had thought since his weird reaction at school that he seemed kind of empty.

"Are you ok?"

Seto narrowed his eyes at her. "I'm physically fine. I'm not going to pass out."

This guy… He really doesn't have any social skills. Ana sighed and clarified for him. "Mentally I meant. You look like someone killed your dog."

Seto tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at her. "I don't have a dog."

"I was being metaphoric."

Seto moved his gelatin around in the bowl. Ana's mother noticed and frowned. Whatever was on his mind to make him forget his facade must be important, because he didn't seem to notice the look he was receiving.

"What, someone kidnap your brother?" She joked.

"No, that wouldn't be anything new," he answered and finally stuck the sakizuke in his mouth.

Ana paused mid-bite. "Does your brother get kidnapped often?"

"Yes, often. After I replaced his entire security detail last time, it hasn't happened in the last six months though."

What the frick is up with this family?

Ana noticed her mother staring at her hard. She put on her greet-the-guest smile and her mother nodded. When she looked away Ana dropped it and whispered, "Sounds like your brother's going to need counseling."

"He sees a councilor twice a week."

"Do you join him?"

Seto shot her a nasty look. "Why would I need to do that?"

Ugh, he definitely needs it more.

"What do you need then?" Ana was referring back to his weird attitude.

"What I need is an electrical engineering team." His eyes glazed over like when he was in class. He quickly snapped out of it and sneered at her when no one was looking. "Know anyone like that?"

Ana rolled her eyes and should have felt insulted, but she was getting used to his attitude. "Uh, yeah. Denki University has the best program in the country. I'm not sure why a CEO who should have a massive group of engineers on call would need them, but you can talk to the head of the department and hire the students for a project."

Seto stared at her blankly. Slowly he raised an eyebrow, his mouth slightly ajar.

"What?" Ana didn't like the look he was giving her.

"Do you know where I could find Negoa-san?"

Ana's mouth tightened. He's looking at me like he's surprised I'm a sentient human being. Prick. "Yes, I know where Negoa-san lives, but I don't see why I would tell you."

Seto's jaw tensed, and he went back to his food. The rest of the dinner they were silent and mopey. When her mother or father's gaze turned their way, their smiles went from zero to sixty in under half a second. Looks like we're both good at keeping up a facade. Ana noticed he made it look like he was eating, but barely ate anything.

After dinner, her father ushered them into a small gallery where the chefs served tea and coffee. Ana meandered over to a secluded corner. She wondered if she could slip out without being noticed. These parties were full of adults who ignored her. When someone talked to her, the conversation was dry, or that person was only looking to advance his or her relationship with her family. The guests didn't really care about her personally.

As the group circled around the room, gushing over the works of art, Ana waited until her father turned away from her and slipped out. If she went to her room now to sleep she would get caught, so she made her way to the back garden. The night air tickled her face as she walked a path that led through the flower beds, which were fading of life because the weather was turning cold. Making her way to the back of the garden, she made a beeline for the veranda, but stopped when she realized someone was already there. Seto sat on the bench, his face lit up with the luminescence from his phone.

"Oh, come on," Ana blurted out, he looked up at her confused. "How did you even manage to slip out?"

"I'm good at that." He went back to his phone. She ground her teeth and watched him scrolling, his mouth pulled taut. He slouched over with his hand over his forehead. Ana groaned, but made her way over and plopped down next to him. He looked up at her surprised. "What're you doing?"

"Shut up Amin-chan, this is my spot. You're invading it." She leaned back against the bench and relaxed as if to emphasize her right to be there.

"I'll duel you for it then."

She glanced up at him. He wasn't looking at her, but she was astounded to find a cheeky smile on his face, his blue eyes softer in the moonlight. For a moment, her heart skipped a beat, but when she remembered who he was the momentary attraction died quickly. Did he just make a joke? "I'm good. It would look bad if you ended up in the hospital after attending one of my parent's parties."

He grinned, his eyes lighting up, though he still kept his eyes on his phone. "What, planning on sending me to the shadow realm?"

Ana cringed, and had to ask, "The what realm?"

Seto looked up at her and realized he'd said something weird. "It's nothing. Just something someone kept saying whenever dueling was involved."

"Was that person off their rocker? Wait, did you mean duel monsters?"

He nodded. "What did you think I meant?"

She tossed her head back and grumbled. "I don't play duel monsters."

When she didn't hear a response, she looked over at him and found such a funny look of disbelief plastered on his face she couldn't help but laugh.

"Who doesn't play duel monsters anymore?" He stared at her mouth hanging open.

She shrugged. "People without time. My days start at four A.M. for training, then school, then a nap, then homework and dinner, then sleep. Repeat. I get one hour a day to watch a show or do what I want, other than that I stick to a strict schedule."

"Who doesn't play duel monsters anymore?" He repeated.

Ana pursed her lips. "Did you hear a word I just said, Amin-chan?"

"Everyone plays."

Ana gave up on this line of conversation and sighed. Leaning back against the bench, she closed her eyes and relaxed, allowing her shoulders to slump.

"Why do you get up at four?"

"To train with my grandfather. He's the owner of a judo dojo," Ana explained without opening her eyes.

He grew quiet and Ana finally enjoyed the breeze playing with her hair. It was one of those last warm nights before fall really set in. She relished them and tried her best to enjoy them to the fullest…

She jolted awake. Drool was oozing out of her mouth onto something soft and warm. In her sleep, she'd wrapped her arms around something. Opening her eyes, she stared at the dark gray fabric. Slowly looking up, she stared into Seto's blue jewel toned eyes. He was smirking. She let out a small shriek and let him go. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the spit off his suit.

Ana's ears were on fire. She cautiously looked back at him, and he didn't pay her any mind. He's not going to say anything? A nasty feeling pinned itself in her stomach. Seto looked up at her and held up his phone, confused she looked at the screen. Her voice caught in her throat, and she made a weird choking noise. He'd taken a picture of her fast asleep, holding onto him and drooling.

"Delete that!" Ana tried to make a grab for his phone, but he held it out of reach.

"I can, but what about the other copies I've backed up? What am I to do with those?" He smiled at her playfully, but it was obvious he was putting his assery to use.

"Delete them!" Her hand curled into a fist.

"If you hit me, then that will make for even more material, so please be my guest," He encouraged her and grinned widely.

"What do you want?" Ana resisted the urge to smack him. "Blackmail is a crime."

"You're one to talk." Seto chuckled.

Ana stood up to look down on him, but he returned the favor in kind. She held her ground and crossed her arms. "Then we're even."

He sneered. "Good, then I'm not coming to school on Monday."

"You little shit—"

"—No, no, I'm very much a big shit." He was enjoying himself.

Ana's head was throbbing from lack of sleep and anger. "You're going to skip on purpose?"

"Yes."

"To piss me off?"

"Yes."

Ana snapped and slapped him in the face. The smack it made was loud, and her hand left a red imprint on his skin. She paused and looked at her hand. Seto rubbed his cheek, but other than that didn't seem phased. He smiled at her triumphantly.

"What do you want to stop interrupting my nap time?" Ana couldn't believe that she was being blackmailed with something so stupid.

"Two things." He held up his fingers. "One, introduce me to the best engineer at Denki. Two, get me a meeting with Negoa-san. If you can do that, I'll delete these pictures and go to school every day."

Ana was seething, her eyes narrowed to slits. "Prove that you'll keep your word."

"I don't have to prove it. I'll draw up a contract if that makes you feel better." Seto crossed his arms, but it was obvious he'd won.

"Fine." She turned toward her house and stormed off, but shouted back at him. "I'll come over tomorrow to pick up the contract and introduce you. Got it?"

Running into the house, she stormed away to her room and closed the door. She didn't care now if her mother or father found her; she slumped to the ground, her head pounding. Nothing was going right since Seto Kaiba had shown up. She'd have to take him to see her big brother at Denki tomorrow. Great, what else could go wrong?