I'm sticking with the Japanese names for the characters tied to the Kaiba family in this story, mostly because I imagine Gozaburo being a traditionalist. I don't know why, but it just feels right. For him to be a major factor in the story, I need to make some shifts in priorities.

This felt like one of them.

Those of you who've followed my stories for any amount of time know that I operate mostly by vibes. So, I don't have a real justification for this.

It just happened that way.

.

Seto watched from the second-floor balcony near the staircase, while Gozaburo led five men in charcoal suits through the house. He turned to Noa. "Who are they?"

"The Big Five," Noa said, gesturing to each in turn. "That's Oshita, Otaki, Oka, Ota, and Daimon." He settled both hands onto the handle of his cane. "They're the Kaiba Corporation's board of directors. They answer only to Chichiue."

"So, if they're here," Seto guessed, "that must mean something important is going on."

Noa nodded. "They don't come around much," he said. "They don't like Hahaue."

"Really?"

Noa shrugged. "They're old-fashioned. They think women should be quiet and respectful, or whatever. They don't like how Chichiue . . . lets . . . her do her charity work, or basically anything except stay here in the house and do women's work."

Seto grimaced. "I don't think I like the Big Five very much."

Noa tilted his head. "Yeah. I don't think anybody does, really. But they're good at what they do. That's what Chichiue says, anyway. I don't even think he likes them much. Most of the time, when he talks to them, I think he's trying to remind them who's in charge. I think, if we wake up one morning and find out the whole bunch of them died in a plane crash or something . . . I'm not gonna be surprised. I don't think it's gonna be an accident, either."

Seto grimaced. "Are we going to have to deal with them? Like, when we're older?"

"I hope they're retired by then," Noa said. "They don't take care of themselves the way Chichiue does. They drink too much. Oshita's already had a liver transplant. I think Ota had to quit smoking recently."

"You mean you hope they're all dead by then."

Noa shrugged and didn't answer.

.

Gozaburo wasn't consciously aware that his sons were watching as he strode through the front parlor and headed for the door. He turned, waiting quietly for his visitors to leave, and he wasn't surprised when Daimon stopped in front of him and grabbed the lapels of his jacket.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing?!" he demanded.

". . . Do you?" Gozaburo asked, eyebrows raised. "Take your hands off me, Kogoro."

"Act like a king all you like!" Daimon growled. "Don't forget that you wouldn't be anyone in this city if not for us! You can't throw us out with the dogs! You don't have everyone in this city convinced that you're untouchable, and you're about to find out just how many enemies you still have . . . unless you rethink your position."

"If you're going to threaten me," Gozaburo said, "have the spine to do it directly. Do you want to hurt me, Kogoro? Do you intend to see me dead? Do it. Pull out a weapon and kill me, right now, in this parlor. Let my children watch you prove your quality."

The Big Five turned, looked up at the balcony, and saw the two boys watching them.

"Children," Daimon spat. "How noble of you. You want to talk about doing things directly? Look me in the eye and tell me a cripple and a gutter rat matter more to you—"

Gozaburo's right hand whipped up, quick as greased lightning, and wrapped around Kogoro Daimon's throat. Without even a grunt of effort, the Kaiba patriarch whirled and sent his underling sailing over his shoulder and crashing onto the polished wood floor.

In the next moment, Daimon was staring into the barrel of a gleaming silver revolver.

"Get out of my home," Gozaburo murmured, casually pulling back the hammer with his thumb, "before I turn you into a crime scene."

.

Isono Tsukuda wore shades at all times, mostly so that no one would know where his eyes were pointed. This strategy had served him well in his life as a private security operative, and he'd started to think of them as good luck charms.

He adjusted them as he drove, keeping his head forward and both hands on the wheel; his nerves were shot, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up with this kind of pressure, but he knew he had to keep himself on-track for now.

There were children whose lives were counting on this mission's success.

"When we pull up to this next intersection," Isono said, somehow managing to sound calm and self-assured, "keep your attention on the left side of the street. Watch the pedestrians."

Gozaburo grunted acknowledgement.

Isono drove past the building that he and Fuguta scoped out; he didn't pull up in front of it, but passed it up entirely, trusting in his employer's sharp eyes. He eventually found a gas station and used it as cover for the two of them to step out of the vehicle. Gozaburo pulled a cigar from his pocket and leaned against the car as Isono stepped inside and saw to the fuel.

This business done, he stepped back toward Gozaburo and said, under his breath without moving his lips: "That apartment building hasn't had any tenants for the past six months. Paradius bought it from the previous owners and pushed everyone out."

Gozaburo took a long pull from his smoke and stared up at the sky. "The kid sitting on the porch, in the polo shirt. That green sigil. I've seen it before."

Isono smirked to himself as he sidestepped the car and slid back behind the wheel; there really never was a point in underestimating a Kaiba. Once they were both back inside, away from any prying eyes or ears, Isono pulled a small stack of snapshots from an inside pocket of his jacket and handed it back over his shoulder.

"It seems they use it to mark themselves," he said, as he pulled back onto the street and headed for Kaiba-Corp HQ. "I'm not sure if they're a cult, or a fraternity, or what. But wherever Paradius goes, you'll find that symbol. I can't tell if their leaders are trying to hide it or not, whether they want it to fly under the radar. But that hexagram shows up wherever, and whenever, they do."

Gozaburo sifted through the pictures and hummed low in his throat.

"Good work, Tsukuda," he said. "Keep tabs on that building. If anyone makes a move, I want to know about it."

"Sir," said Isono.

Gozaburo kept his eyes on the snapshots when he said: "You and Hattori work well together, don't you?"

Isono went stiff. "Yes, sir," he said, straining to keep his voice neutral. "We've known each other for a long time. We know how to operate as a team."

Gozaburo nodded sharply. "I think I've a new assignment for the two of you. I'll let you know when I'm certain. Be prepared for a change of pace. Understood?"

"Sir," Isono said again, wondering if his heart would stop galloping in his chest before next week.