Chapter 7

Hikari's Misunderstanding

Ana trotted up the stairs to the entrance of a large modern brick building. She glanced over her shoulder at Seto, who was following her and taking in the campus surroundings. Resisting a loud sigh, she continued on into the building and headed to the engineering lab where she knew her big brother would be working. She'd visited him many times before. Lately she'd been too busy to stop by. Walking into a gigantic room filled with machinery and computers, Ana spotted a slender young man with short bright blue hair, emerald eyes and a beauty mark next to his mouth over in a corner. His eyes shone with excitement as he tinkered away, immersed in a tiny metal object.

"Onii-san," Ana called out to him and his head snapped up excitedly.

Her big brother grinned at her and practically hopped over to her, but he stopped dead in his tracks, staring horrified at something behind her. Ana glanced over her shoulder, Seto had followed her in and was looking at the nearest machine.

Her brother cleared his throat, drawing Seto's attention. "I'm sorry, but this room is off limits to unauthorized personnel."

Seto raised an eyebrow, but despite Ana's expectation he kept his mouth shut and looked at her waiting for her to explain. Her brother looked back and forth between them. His mouth twitched at the corner of his smile.

"Onii-san, this is Kaiba Seto. Kaiba-san, this is Hikari, my big brother and the one in charge of the engineering lab," she introduced them.

"Nice to meet you," Seto gave him a polite bow.

I wonder if I can catch a nap after this. Ana shivered, the engineering room was always cold.

"Ah, yeah, nice to meet you," Hikari's voice strained. "So, how do you know my sister?"

"We go to school together," Seto answered lackadaisically.

"Ah, Ana-chan, what brings you here today?" He turned his full attention on her ignoring Seto entirely.

Her brother's reaction surprised her. He didn't normally snub people without a good reason. Does he already know Amin-chan?

"To introduce Kaiba-san to you," she explained.

The blank look on her brother's face was comical, and she wanted to tease him, but she resisted.

Seto spoke in a business-like manner, "I'm here today to introduce myself and ask—"

"No," Hikari snapped and glared at Seto, who returned his look with one of surprise. The shock didn't last long and Ana could see him straightening up at the sudden opposition.

"Pardon?" Seto's eye twitched, and he was making this weird half polite, half irked smile. Ana resisted the urge to laugh.

"The answer is no," Hikari repeated and stood tall, which was still shorter than Seto.

"Do you even know what I was going to ask?" Seto's voice was nearing venomous.

Ana was wondering if she should step in, but that wasn't her job. She leaned back against a table to watch. Seto trying to be polite was amusing.

"I can surmise what it's about." Hikari crossed his arms and continued glaring.

"Is that so?" Seto's eyes narrowed, turning his weird smile into a smirk.

Hikari growled at him, "Yes, and the answer's no."

Seto's smirk disappeared, replaced with anger and irritation. Ana wanted to laugh. It was amazing how expressive he could be in such a short time frame.

"Your reason?" Seto asked quietly.

"I don't like you," Hikari said matter-of-factly.

Ana let out a snort, and Seto flashed her a glare.

"Don't you make that face at my sister," Hikari puffed up his chest trying to be menacing.

Seto's face was turning red and Ana realized this was getting a little out of hand. I guess I should hurry this along so I can go home and sleep.

"Onii-san, he's here to hire students from the department for a project for his company," Ana finally explained.

Her brother smiled at her, then glared at Kaiba and shouted. "NO!"

Ana and Seto both stared at him, confounded.

"Onii-san, what do you mean no?" Ana could feel her patience being tried. Her brother didn't have a proper reason to stop his department from getting a high-end project like the one Seto was bringing them. It could lead to potential jobs after college. Why is Hikari acting this way?

"I don't like him, so the answer is no. He has a whole corporation at his disposal, so he can get engineers elsewhere. I'm certainly not going to help if this is a media stunt to make his company look better by interacting with the community." Hikari's nostrils flared.

"It's not a media stunt. I want to hire engineers for a new development. I'd provide the plans and funding, I just need a team. It would be a practical experience for your team and—"

"NO." Hikari wasn't budging.

Oh, great. He's gone into stubborn ass mode for some reason.

"Ana, why do you even want to help this thing?" Hikari turned to her and Ana resisted laughing at Seto's pissed off reaction from being referred to as an object.

"He's blackmailing me," she said in the most joking manner she could manage, but it went over her brother's head.

"WHAT! Then of course I'm not helping him." He pointed a finger in Seto's face. "Get out before I call security."

Hikari's face turned a deep scarlet, and he stomped to the back of the room. He picked up his device and went back to tinkering with it. Seto scowled at Ana. She could feel a headache coming on. Great… I mean it's true he's blackmailing me, but I'm doing the same. If I say it was a joke and that we're friends, he won't believe me. Stupid Onii-san! You're interrupting my nap time. A horrible, disgusting idea formed in her mind as she looked at Seto and she felt like throwing up right there, but if it got her nap time back, then so be it.

"I was kidding about the blackmail. We're dating."

Hikari's device slid out of his hands and shattered apart against the ground. The color drained from his face.

"Whelp, see you later, Onii-san."

While her brother was stunned she grabbed Seto's hand and dragged him from the building. When they got outside, she released him and let out an irritated sigh. Surprisingly, Seto was quiet. She looked up at him. His face was blank, and he was staring over at the nearest tree.

"Amin-chan?"

He slowly looked down at her, his mouth curled in disgust. "We are not dating."

Ana resisted the urge to punch him, and explained her plan instead, "I know that Amin-chan. He doesn't need to know that though. This is where you put your assery to use."

He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, but waited for her to explain.

"After I leave, you can go back in there and play up your assery, not that you really need to try to do that. Convince him we're dating and I'll do the same when he gets home."

"And how would that help anything?"

Ana smiled mischievously. "Because he hates your guts. My brother's overprotective of me, he'll want you gone. Make a deal with him that if he helps you with your project that you'll break up with me and return to Domino city."

He looked at her impressed. "You know you're more conniving than I thought."

Ana put her hands on her hips and acted proud. "Anything for my nap time."

Seto smiled a genuine smile. It threw her. "So, if someone wanted to take over the world, would you help them because if you didn't, it would interrupt your nap time?"

"I'd consider it."

He let out a small "ha" that was the most genuine laugh she'd heard from him. If he wasn't such an ass and just smiled like that, he'd be more popular.

"So, how am I supposed to convince him we're dating?" He asked seriously.

Ana considered the question and groaned because she realized what would have to happen for her brother to believe them.

"We're probably going to have to go on fake dates to prove it," she muttered. To her surprised Seto didn't look at her disgustedly just thoughtfully. "Anyway Amin-chan, I'll leave the acting up to you."

Ana ran off down the street and turned back to look at Seto. He was staring at that tree again. I wonder if it was alright to leave it up to him. Can Amin-chan act?