Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

10-10-2-Do-You Too

Chapter 4

Firewall


"Good afternoon," a young waitress greeted the table. "Can I start you off with any appetizers or are we ready to dive in?"

Kaiba saw the shift in Isis' demeanor. He was all too familiar with her defensive posturing. "Your choice, Isis. Today is about you."

Her choice – her day. Isis now felt bitter about that.

"Are you one of the graduates?" The waitress asked.

"She graduated with honors," Kaiba informed with an air of pride.

Isis felt her attitude flip at Kaiba's rush to announce her accomplishments.

"Congratulations. For all graduates we offer a complimentary bottle of wine. Would you prefer a white or red?"

"White please," Isis said.

"Great, I'll be back with your bottle and then I'll take your orders."

When the waitress was out of ear shot Kaiba said, "You can order a different wine."

"Why?"

"Free doesn't mean quality."

"Sometimes the gesture is enough."

"You'd settle for empty gestures?" Kaiba understood the implication but there was only so long he could hold back.

The attitude was back. Before Isis could respond the waitress was back with their complimentary white wine and two glasses.

"Now, what would the honors graduate like?"

"Should we share a pizza, Seto?" The question was asked a little terse.

"Fine."

"A large margherita pizza please," Isis requested.

"Awesome." The waitress took their menus, "That pizza should be right out."

"Do you like margherita pizza?" Isis watched the waitress disappear into the kitchen before looking back to Kaiba.

"It's fine." His expression was unreadable.

"Are you settling for the pizza?"

Kaiba sat more upright in the booth. He refused to take the bait. "No."

Isis reached for the wine only to have Kaiba grab it first, popping the cork. He poured Isis a glass and set the bottle down.

"Are you not having any?"

"I'm choosing not to settle."

"Fine." Isis took a sip and for a free bottle, it wasn't bad at all. She took another sip and set the glass aside, finding Kaiba staring. "Yes?"

"Yes, what?"

"You look like you have something to say." Why was she antagonizing him?

"I don't."

"Are you sure?"

Kaiba clenched his jaw, so much for not taking the bait. He could rock the boat a little, not a full capsize but a little sway. "Where was my invitation, Isis?"

Isis felt this was a very fair question that deserved an answer. An answer she hadn't fully worked out in her head. She ran her index finger around the rim of her wine glass as she stared down into the beverage.

"I should have told you, Seto; I should have extended the invitation."

"Why didn't you?"

"You've been very busy. I didn't know if you'd have time..." For me.

The feeling hit Kaiba hard and fast: resentment.

The waitress returned, setting up the pizza in the middle of their table, "Anything else I could get you two?"

Isis shook her head, "No, we're fine." What a lie that was.

"Enjoy."

Isis watched the woman go, unable to look at Kaiba. He was bothered and she didn't know to what degree. She spared him a glance and found his focus was elsewhere. Isis felt her blood warm: now she was mad.

Kaiba's eyes were glued to his smart-phone – he needed a distraction. He went back to Yami's message, telling Kaiba how the meeting went. He didn't regret missing the meeting earlier but now it was a different story. Photo-ops were dumb but at least if he was there, he wouldn't be here. But he skipped the meeting because he wanted to be here for Isis. Maybe she didn't even want him here. Fuck. Next topic.

He put his phone away and found a familiar set of ruffled blue eyes. What could Isis be upset about? "Did you have breakfast?"

"What?" Isis could barely comprehend the small talk with the angry rumble of voices in her head.

"Have you eaten today?" Kaiba grabbed a slice from the large pizza and plated it. "You should eat if you haven't."

Isis looked from her slice of pizza to Kaiba's stormy vision: this was a peace offering–NO. It was a gag order. A silent request not to talk about what was buried just under the surface. She grabbed the slice and took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. The pizza was delicious, especially to her starving belly.

She could do this. She could eat her slice of pizza, make small talk, and go back to her hotel room. No fights, no arguments, no ruffling of feathers. "The pizza is good. You should have some, Seto."

"I'll take it to go."

That's right, he was leaving, again. Returning to Japan without her, again. She couldn't do it. She set down her half-eaten slice harder than necessary, the plate thumping against the table. It was her day, and she wanted her boyfriend to be his authentic self. Even if she knew it would hurt.

"Seto."

"What?"

"Say it."

Kaiba steeled himself, "Say what?"

"Say exactly what you're thinking."

This was a trap. Kaiba didn't come for this. Now his anger was simmering. He was so bad at holding his tongue and how dare Isis be ungrateful he was. "I have nothing to say."

"I don't believe that."

"You don't have to."

Isis breathed in through her nose, "Stop lying and say it."

"I'm not lying I'm settling." Just that quick his tone flipped from polite to quiet rage, "Five months Isis. I've given you five months to figure your shit out. So how about you stop lying and say it. Say you don't..." want me. He felt his anger escalating. "Admit you're not coming to Japan."

"But I am—"

"When?"

Isis went silent.

Kaiba couldn't hear the rumble of the crowd, the clanking of the dishes, or even the instrumental Italian music. The restaurant's cacophony went mute. He'd reached his limit. "It was a mistake coming here." He slid out of the booth.

"I wanted to finish my degree." Was Isis' kneejerk response, as she exited the booth after him. "...I didn't want to leave until I was done..." Was this the truth, the full truth? Right now, she hoped it was enough truth to keep him from leaving.

Kaiba's frown deepened. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"You two are leaving?"

Isis and Kaiba turned to find the waitress awkwardly smiling. The pizza was practically untouched, and the atmosphere was not the same. She looked back-and-forth and quickly said, "I can box this up and get the bill." She didn't wait for further instructions, but grabbed the food and made her exit.

Isis picked up where they left off, the words tumbling from her lips. "I didn't tell you because I know you don't like to wait...and I was afraid I wouldn't graduate in the timeline I planned."

Was this really the reason she kept him waiting? Kaiba could understand not wanting to make a promise she wasn't confident she could keep. But he still felt there was more to the story. He was still at his limit, so he chose silence as his frown deepened.

Isis continued under her own emotional duress, "I should have told you – I should have told you something Seto..."

Whether there was more to the story or not, Kaiba didn't care. All that information was in the past tense, he wanted to know what was happening right here, right now. "Then tell me something, right now."

Isis felt her tongue go stiff. "I..."

Kaiba took a step forward and lowered the volume of his voice, barely holding back. "Right. Now."

Isis bit her bottom lip, searching for the right words, but nothing came. She didn't have a 'right now' for Kaiba or even herself. A familiar sting came to her eyes, and she begged herself not to do this.

Kaiba clenched his jaw. He had flashbacks to that penthouse in Vegas; standing in the office while Isis rejected his invitation. He refused to go through this again. This was not happening. Tempestuous words sat just on the back of his tongue, but Kaiba refused to gift Isis with a biting reply.

Isis watched with a melancholy expression as the exit door closed behind Kaiba. No scathing last word, no stare down, nothing. She was back in the present and Kaiba was gone...maybe even for good. She wanted to go after him, but her feet refused to move, terrified at the idea of any decision. The Italian music, murmur of conversations and clanking of dishes seemed louder than before.

"Miss Ishtar?" Isono walked over producing a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill. He placed it on the table for the waitress. "With Mr. Kaiba's departure, I have contacted a driver to take you back to your hotel." His tone was all business, not giving away his opinion on what he just witnessed.

Isis forgot Isono was there. "...Thank you..."

The waitress returned, her smile even more awkward as she set the to-go box down and picked up the large bill. "I'll be right back with your change."

"Keep the change," Isono assured her. "My boss wants you to have it."

The young girl didn't ask any questions, "Thank you, have a wonderful day."

Isono didn't immediately walk away but lingered. He spoke again, "As head of security, when you arrive to Japan, please let me know." Isono tucked an expensive looking business card into one of the side slits of the pizza box. It was black with fancy silver lettering in English.

Isis wished he wasn't wearing sunglasses so she could read his expression. "I will..."

Isono grabbed her pizza box. "Let me escort you out."

University Park Airport

Kaiba sat on the back of a golf cart as they traversed the tarmac to his Blue-Eyes jet. A member of his team was debriefing him on the flight checks, but he wasn't paying attention. Kaiba was blocking everything out including his own spiraling thoughts. He felt like he was on the edge of losing it and he didn't know how big the explosion would be. His team possibly sensed this because as soon as the engineer gave the last safety detail, he stopped talking.

The golf cart came to a stop and Kaiba stepped off, removing his jacket. "Where is Isono?"

"Here sir." Isono pulled up in a separate golf cart. "Sorry for the wait."

"Let's go."

The stairs to the Blue-Eyes jet descended as the canopy of the vessel lifted. Kaiba hopped in as Isono got in the seat behind him, the canopy closing.

Kaiba did his own system evaluation before getting the go from air traffic control. The Blue-Eyes jet rose vertically into the air before blasting into the clouds. It was there, already miles from the university – miles from Isis – that Kaiba felt the first wave of unbridled rage.

"Sir?"

The brunet remained silent, glaring a hole through the canopy.

"Sir."

"What?" Kaiba snapped.

"Team one's flight is enroute—"

"Affirmative." Kaiba cut Isono short.

A blue screen materialized showing Kaiba all the statuses of the plane's systems, the time remaining to his destination, and the flight information for his security team headed back to Japan. A small picture in the bottom left corner, showed his passenger.

Kaiba didn't need Isono to remove his sunglasses to know the man was staring right into the camera, and thus at him. He closed the live feed, choosing a different widget to take its place. He could feel those green eyes on the back of his neck, but Isono remained silent.

The longer the silence went on, the more Kaiba's mind ramped up. He crossed his arms, quietly seething. Why the hell did he even do this? The dumbest idea he ever had was pursuing Isis. For five months he sat in Domino, waiting, only to be told today the holdup was her degree. He did not believe her. There was more to the story, and he was done trying to figure it out.

"Incoming call: Atem Morcos," the Blue-Eyes system announced.

Kaiba audibly groaned. "Answer the call."

"Kaiba, are you headed back?" Yami's background noise alluded to him standing on a street somewhere downtown.

"Yes. The graduation is over."

"How was it?"

Kaiba couldn't even say her name. "She graduated Summa Cum Laude."

"Honors from a top university," Yami's smile could be heard.

Kaiba kept his tone even. "How did the meeting with the mayor go?"

"Fine, though it was apparent he tolerated me."

Kaiba rolled his eyes already knowing Yami was about to complain.

"We both know mayor Yamada prefers you over me. Despite us both greatly contributing to the city of Domino."

The mayor of Domino was an extraordinary case of knowing Kaiba on a somewhat personal level, and still being a big fan of him.

"You'd think after all these years he'd warm up to me but alas," Yami sighed, "here we are." The sound of Yami entering a car was punctuated by the street noise going silent.

"The meeting is done, and you got the photo, that's all that matters." The same could be said about Kaiba's day. "I'll be back in time for the inspection of Kaiba Land."

"Yugi wanted me to let you know he's available if you need help."

The mention of Yami's little twin made his rage drop to a boil. "He wants to come?"

"Of course. He volunteered to test the rides once you're done." Yami's smile came through the phone again, "He has that much trust in you."

The anger was now a mere simmer. "Or he's a daredevil like you."

"I'll have you know he gets that from Mana."

"Unlikely."

Yami chuckled. "I'll see you at the inspection."

"Bring Yugi."

Kaiba ignored Yami's happy laugh as he ended the call. He turned on the rear passenger camera to find Isono with a small smile, looking down at the screen of his phone. He closed the feed again.

He looked up at their travel plan: five more hours to Domino. A city where the mayor liked him – where a small child trusted him. The rage was back but so was that painful twinge of disappointment.

He lost. He fucking failed. He hated to lose way more than waiting. His hands started to shake, and the rage felt like it would completely take him under. His demons whispered to ruin her life for refusing to join his. But he wouldn't - he couldn't. This was his fault.

How stupid could he be to think a random woman he met at a club would choose him? He was an idiot that didn't deserve a happy outcome. An outcome that was impossible—he felt sick. He didn't want to think about this anymore. Isis was done – he would never see her again. It was time to get back to reality. It was time to get back to work. The tournament would be here before he knew it.

"Computer, show me the card picks for the VIP booster pack." The screen changed to a set of cards that were discussed at the board meeting. He scanned them, singling out a few to get a better look.

"Incoming call from the 'Duelist of the Millenium' app," the computer announced.

Kaiba stared at the username, 'Maleficent_Mudora', flashing on the screen. He didn't think twice. "Computer, decline the call and block the user."

"The call has been declined – the user is now blocked," the computer returned.

"...Sir..."

Kaiba reopened the passenger camera against his better judgement. Isono was looking into the camera, but this time his sunglasses were off. The man's eyes softened considerably.

"Are you OK, Seto?"

"Computer, passenger privacy mode."

A large digital blue wall materialized between them, neither party able to hear or see the other. It remained for the rest of the flight.

State College, PA

Isis stared down at her smart-phone:

'TheUltimate_BlueEyed_DragonDaddy has blocked your account.'

The device fell from her hands and landed on the bed. She was going to call; they were going to argue...and then what? Isis still didn't have a 'right now', she was just doing damage control. Tears rolled down her face but not one sob left her lips. She felt like she couldn't breathe.

"Isis Ishtar!"

Isis' suite door slammed open. Duke plus her brother and cousin barreled in with shots in hand.

"Shots, shots, sho—!" Duke's mouth snapped shut at Isis' tears.

Malik took notice next, promptly elbowing Marik in the side since he was still chanting.

"Will you all please leave?" Isis politely asked as she buried her face in her hands.

None of the three moved, not sure what was happening. Duke feared his lack of confession regarding Kaiba's surprise led to ruining what was supposed to be one if Isis' best days. Malik needed to know if this was Kaiba related or his sister's own thoughts. Marik just wanted to take the shots.

Isis' head snapped up, "I said...GET OUT!" she roared.

Duke was the first one out, nearly tripping over his feet. Marik slowly backed out of the room, understanding staying wasn't in his best interests. Malik was the last man standing. Malik closed the door and cautiously approached his sister.

"Isis."

Isis was shaking, her chest felt way too tight.

Malik hurriedly wrapped the sheets around Isis and bundled her up like a burrito. "It's OK."

Isis was shaking so bad she looked like she was freezing. She could not catch her breath.

Malik pulled her into a bear hug and rocked her back and forth. "It's just me and you. Let it go."

Isis felt that emotional snap and buried her face into the comforter, pressing it into Malik's shoulder as the first sob rattled her throat. Malik held her ever tighter, not saying a word. She let her full weight crush into her brother, but he remained upright.

"Why am I like this, Malik?! Why?!" She squeezed her eyes tight, wishing she was somewhere else – someone else. She wished the world would swallow her up.

Malik wasn't sure how long he held Isis, but when her breathing evened out and the sobs turned to whimpers, he knew the worst was over.

Isis sat back but kept the blankets tucked around her. She lay back on the bed, drained from her meltdown.

"I was worried something like this would happen." Malik rubbed her leg reassuringly.

Isis had a horrible habit of neglecting her emotional needs until she exploded. The stress leading up to graduation combined with ignoring the anxiety around Kaiba, made it only a matter of time.

Malik got up and turned the lights off. "Did you want to be alone?"

Isis tugged the sheet down revealing her makeup smeared face. "Please stay."

Malik grabbed a pack of makeup remover wipes off the nightstand. He lay down next to his sister and started cleaning her face.

"Seto blocked me, Malik."

"Another fight?"

Isis closed her eyes, Malik's ministrations soothing. "It wasn't a fight; not like we've had before."

"Did you roast him again?"

Isis could hear Malik's smile. "I was the one getting roasted."

Malik paused, "Did he hurt you?"

"No, but he held me accountable."

Malik continued with a low hum.

"Seto questioned why I haven't come to Japan. I blamed it on school." Isis opened her eyes, "I should have told the truth...the whole truth..."

"What is the truth?" Malik couldn't deny he'd been wondering why his sister was still in the US. He never questioned her as it was her choice to make, but as the weeks went by, he grew more concerned. Concern turned to confusion when he'd overhear her on phone or video-calls with Kaiba. Communication was there, or so he assumed, so what was the hold up?

Isis grabbed Malik's wrist. "Promise you won't judge me?"

Malik nodded and set the dirty make up wipe aside.

"I don't know why...but I'm scared... Terrified even."

"Are you afraid of him?"

Isis didn't expect Kaiba to cause her bodily harm but there was something there. "I don't know..."

"Remember the night you got engaged?"

Isis furrowed her brow, "I try not to."

"You were really upset. It was the first time I saw you like this..."

Isis vividly remembered her breakdown. That was the first time it happened in front of someone. Even after all they'd been through, she was still embarrassed Malik had to see her like that then, or even now.

"I told everyone you were sick, so we could eat ice cream and play Duel Monsters until you fell asleep."

"That was the best part of the day." Isis took Malik's hand and kissed his palm. "I beat you three times."

"That's beside the point," Malik playfully squeezed her hand. "You had a breakdown over being tied to your ex-husband, but now you're freaking out over losing Kaiba."

There was a large ball of anxiety rolling around her chest that was covered in barbs of insecurity, doubts, and worries. It was a typical ball found when starting new relationships with the baggage that Isis had. But the underlining terror of being tethered to someone was nowhere to be found.

"You're scared to lose him, Isis."

Isis closed her eyes and dug deeper. She remembered how handsome Kaiba looked today; the bouquet he brought, the bracelet still on her arm dripping with diamonds. She felt the tears bubbling up at her discovery.

Kaiba's methods were unorthodox in general and maybe that initially distracted Isis from seeing the truth: this man wanted her. Really, wanted her. He flew across the globe twice in five months just to see her. She felt overwhelmed by the attention, thinking that she might not be able to deliver on what Kaiba wanted. Maybe that part was the most terrifying, to fully surrender to Kaiba's advances.

"Malik...I'm hopeless..." Isis gave a dry laugh amid her tears. "I've never had someone pursue me so adamantly. What if he gets to know me...and he doesn't want me anymore?"

Malik heaved a sigh well beyond his years, "A lot of people have abandoned us. I know you're scared of it happening again, but you must try." He shrugged, "And I will never abandon you Okhti." (Sister) His small smile reminded her of their childhood. "It's not much, but you can always come back to me."

Isis embraced Malik and put all her love for him into the squeeze. If something didn't work out, she always had a home in Malik. She wouldn't be out on her own trying to figure it out. The reassurance meant the world to her.

"Isis, you're crushing me."

"How else can I fit you in the suitcase?" She kissed his forehead.

"Very Marik of you to say," Malik wiped the tears from her eyes. "What's next?"

"It's time to show Kaiba I want him too..." Isis fiddled with her graduation gift hanging from her wrist. "I need to go home. Now."

Domino City, Japan

Yugi giggled uncontrollably as his father tickled him into submission.

"Share your mochi ice-cream with me!" Yami leaned down and opened his mouth.

Yugi, still giggling, shoved the whole thing into Yami's mouth. Yami's eyes went comically wide. "That should keep you quiet, Baba." (Father)

Kaiba wished that would keep Yami quiet. He was more than ready to get Yugi more mochi if needed.

This time Yami scooped his son up, throwing him over his shoulder and swatting Yugi's behind playfully. He pulled the mochi from his mouth taking a bite. "You're turning into a little terror."

Yugi laughed more, happily enjoying his treats and being a terror, before he got distracted. "Oh! Can I ride that one?"

Kaiba looked up from his tablet to find Yugi with a ring of powdered sugar around his mouth, pointing to the newish Blue Eyes rollercoaster. "You're not tall enough."

Yugi shoved another ball of ice cream in mouth. "When I get tall like you then I can!"

"Tall like me? Fat chance kid." Kaiba couldn't hide his snarky smile from Yami's glare. "But one day you'll meet the requirements."

Yami flipped Yugi around back on his feet. He paused at a dark food stand and grabbed napkins, cleaning Yugi's face. "You look like you have a mustache and beard."

"Ho ho ho," Yugi deepened his voice the best he could, "Happy Christmas." He spread his arms wide and tried to jiggle his belly.

Kaiba had a small smile as he continued working on his tablet.

Yami couldn't stop his laughter. "No more treats for you! You've met your limit."

"Yes Baba!" Emphasizing this, the eight-year-old took off in a random direction, a pair of security guards following close behind.

"I will be blaming you when Mana asks what he had for dinner." Yami tossed the dirtied napkins in the trash.

"We needed someone to test the new snacks," Kaiba responded looking from his tablet to a ride in the distance.

"And you can't say no to Yugi."

Kaiba didn't respond.

"How are the rides looking?" Yami watched as Yugi stopped at a stand, happily playing one of the carnival style games, the guards looking on with smiles.

Kaiba was looking at a 3D model of a ride, each component and part running diagnostics while it cycled through a test run. "Fine."

"With Duke running a booth at the tournament, Isis will be in attendance?" Yami grabbed a plushie from a nearby stall. It was a fluffy Kuriboh. "If you haven't already invited her yourself." Yami was feeling things out, not sure how Kaiba's turn-and-burn trip to see Isis went. Ever since they met up at the park, Kaiba had been quiet and not his usual quiet, especially after such an important trip.

Kaiba kept his glare glued to his tablet. The rage started a slow ascent from its burial under Kaiba's responsibilities at the mention of Isis' name. He could feel the scathing retort burning on the back of his tongue.

Yugi ran back over, poking the plushie in his father's arms. "What a great prize."

"Did you want it, Yugi?"

"No Baba, this can stay here for the other children. I have a lot of Kuribohs at home."

Kaiba felt that rage slip on the climb, falling back down into darkness. "Take it Yugi."

"Really?" Yugi gasped; those big purple eyes locked in on Kaiba. "Can I really?"

"Sure." Kaiba continued walking.

Yugi took the plushie from Yami and hugged it to his chest. "I'm going to give it to one of the littles." He rushed to walk with Kaiba. "Thank you." Kaiba placed a hand on the top of his head, Yugi grinning at the while.

They stopped at a Capsule Monster themed carousel. Yugi named each creature on the ride. "What about this one?"

Kaiba took the plushie and placed his tablet in Yugi's empty hands, "See the green button? Press that to run the ride."

Yugi felt timid at such an important task. "Should I really press it?"

Kaiba nodded.

Yugi cautiously pressed the button and watched as the carousel lit up, a charming tune playing as it spun in a circle. "What do I do now?"

Kaiba pointed to the screen, "The computer is showing a breakdown of each part that makes up the carousel. Each one will turn green as the diagnostics are run. If any one of them turns red, you tell me."

"OK!" Yugi was locked in, taking his new job very seriously. Despite his eyes being locked into the tablet, his feet carried him to the fence around the ride. He hummed along to the Capsule Monster's theme song, still staring at the tablet.

Yami watched his first born with pride, "He loves when you involve him." He took Yugi's new plushie from Kaiba.

Kaiba didn't say anything, staring at the looping ride.

"You'll make a great father one day, Kaiba. You've always been good with children."

Kaiba continued to remain silent.

Yami prodded again, "Do you know if Isis wants children?"

The rage clawed its way to the surface. Kaiba couldn't hold back the lightning-fast reply, "Isis wants nothing."

"Nothing of what?"

"Look, it's red!" Yugi ran back over, careful not to drop the device. He thrust it up into Kaiba's hands. "See?"

Kaiba looked down at the tablet and sure enough, one of the mechanisms was outlined in red. He hit the necessary prompts to schedule the carousel for maintenance. "Good job, kid."

The praise not only left Yugi's chest inflated and smile never ending, but soothed the savage beast in Kaiba, putting it back to sleep.

Yami noticed this, putting clues together as to why Kaiba wanted Yugi there. He made it a point not to bring up Isis for the rest of the inspection.

Later that Evening

When it was time to leave the park, Yugi was disappointed that the adventure was over. "Do we really have to leave now?" He yawned, crashing from his sugar high. "I'm not even tired Baba."

"Our work here is done, little one."

Yugi held his father's hand and gave another big yawn, his eye lids drooping. "Yes Baba."

Yami unlocked his car, "Why not wait in the car for me?"

Yugi dutifully got in the backseat and buckled himself in. His head was already drooping against the door.

"Kaiba."

Kaiba looked up from his tablet to his co-CEO. "What?" He finished composing a last-minute email.

"Thank you for allowing Yugi to tagalong. He'll be talking about this for weeks."

"Cool."

"He adores you." Yami watched Kaiba's eye soften, the brunet's ears turning pink, as he looked at the sleeping boy against the window. No matter what was going on, Yami wanted to leave him with a little bit of joy. "Best I get Yugi home. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yami."

Said man paused by his open door, "Yes?"

The words tumbled out of Kaiba's mouth. "Isis and I are over."

Yami stated the obvious, "She doesn't want to come to Japan?"

"No."

"Her reason?"

"An excuse."

Yami had so many questions, but he focused on the most important one. "Are you OK?"

"No." Kaiba's eyes widened at the quick admission.

"Seto—"

"Yugi needs to go home. It's getting late."

Yami didn't push. "I'll see you tomorrow." He gave Kaiba one last lingering look before getting into his car and driving away.

Kaiba returned to the park doing a second walkthrough. This one would go a lot faster without Yami and Yugi slowing him down, but now nothing was distracting him. Not he and Yami going back-and-forth or the infectious laughter of Yugi. It was just he, his thoughts, and his creations. An experience he was all too familiar with.

He stopped at the Ferris wheel and hopped the gate, getting into one of the passenger cars. He typed a command into his tablet and the wheel lit up, slowly making an ascent to the top where it stopped. Kaiba looked out over the dark amusement park, pleased with the adjustments they made. Originally you couldn't see the entire park from the top, a few adjustments and now you can see well past it. The inspiration came from his ride on the High Roller in Las Vegas.

"FUCK!" His voice boomed into the quiet of the park.

He buried his hands in his hair, utterly losing his shit. He was shaking and his eyes were huge. Kaiba was livid, he was vengeful, but worst of all he was hurt. And that hurt had him spiraling. He shouldn't be feeling this way. In the grand scheme of things, Isis was a small blip on his timeline. Logically he shouldn't be so attached but he was, and he didn't know how to rationalize it.

To lose is to die, a voice from his past echoed in his head. Suddenly the height of the Ferris wheel left him feeling uneasy. He pressed a button on his tablet and closed his eyes until he was back on the ground.

Kaiba continued his inspection, appearing more as a wandering stranger than the mastermind behind the park. The silence was deafening – his thoughts had him backed into a corner. It brought him back to his youth where he medicated feelings with irrational actions that were borderline illegal or were morally bankrupt. Or both. (He heard that last part in Yami's voice.) But things were different. Kaiba was an adult now; disappointment was a reoccurring theme in his life and always would be. That was his cross to bear.

This was all a reminder that Kaiba didn't need anyone before Isis, and he wouldn't need anyone after.


PLEASE READ:

You didn't think I'd let these two off the angsty hook so soon? Still some hurdles to overcome for these two.

Arabic Words:

Okhti – Sister

Baba – Father

Posted Especially For:

Lovereading92: The rumor mill is spinning 'round and 'round! I love how you pay attention to the details. And would it be Kaiba if he wasn't ambushing someone?

Aberry: Awww, thank you! I hope it lives up to the first one.

Lauradbz13: They're one of my favorite obnoxious trios. Go big or go home! Hahaha.

A Gentle Reminder...

My dear friend Em is illustrating the OG story, 10-10-2-Do-Me. Please check out her page for more details!

emdrawsmanga/art/Cover-10-10-2-Do-Me-by-Indigo-Token-1029247732


See you soon!