"That'll be all. You're dismissed." Rebecca Hopkins was used to her boss' harsh, commanding tone of voice; she didn't take it personal. She had learned quickly enough that Kaiba Seto displayed barely any emotions, unless his younger brother Mokuba was involved. She understood, though: being the CEO of such a huge, galaxy-spanning company was demanding and tough, and didn't leave much room for compassion or kindness. It didn't matter much to Rebecca. She held a good job as Kaiba's secretary, earning more money than many of her peers, and seeing much more of the universe than other people could ever lay claim on. Her position brought her to every corner of the known galaxies; she didn't always accompany Kaiba on his travels, but if a visit to Yllsen Volta V was scheduled, she knew she had to pack her bags.
The research facility was located on a backwater planet, without the obvious comfort and luxury of Altana, KaibaCorp. headquarters. Every natural resource of Yllsen Volta V was used by this particular facility, concentrating on developing weapons and military technology. Even though Kaiba had distanced himself from his adoptive father's, Gozaburo's, warmongering plans and innovations, he hadn't abandoned the technology completely. Many of the weapons issued to and used by his bounty hunting teams were designed and tested right here. Honda Hiroto had been a leading weapons developer at this facility before Kaiba decided to put his extensive knowledge and expertise to use in Jounouchi Katsuya's team. Rebecca was well aware of this dangerous knowledge. As Kaiba's secretary, she heard, saw and noticed a lot, and she had an inkling that even her knowledge was just scratching the surface of the entire KaibaCorp. empire. Her contract explicitly forbade her to talk about her job, and her abundant salary and luxurious lifestyle were part of the deal to keep her mouth shut. Rebecca wasn't planning to endanger her position and losing everything she had. More so, she enjoyed working for Kaiba; he was very direct and clear in what he wanted, no frills, no bullshit. He appreciated hard work and dedication, and she appreciated his focus and qualities as a leader in return. There was nothing romantic between them, and Rebecca wasn't striving for a relationship with Kaiba. Too complicated, that was for sure. She took her PMA off of the desk and turned around to leave the office. She looked over at Mokuba sitting on the sofa, comfortably propped up, enjoying some kind of game on a handheld device. She refrained from snorting. Games..! But any critique on the kid would terminate her contract. After all, he was the Vice-President of KaibaCorp..
"Have a nice evening, Mokuba, see you tomorrow," she greeted him as she left.
"See you tomorrow, Rebecca! Sleep well!" He waved at her, smiling before turning his attention back to the game again. She always wondered how he could be this happy and joyful, having someone like Kaiba Seto for his brother. Rebecca shrugged. She had lots of work to do, but first a nice, hot shower. She was tired.
He stared at the screen of his laptop, supporting his head with his hands, fingers laced together. His eyes were fixed on the numbers on the screen, but he didn't read them. Due to Yllsen Volta V's restricted energy procedures, he was unable to open multiple vidscreens, as he was prone to do. It was a nuisance, but he knew the limits of this planet very well. He had no choice but to adhere, annoyingly enough.
"Are you all right, big brother?" Mokuba piped up.
"Of course I am," he answered brusquely. "Why shouldn't I be?"
"I don't hear any typing."
"I'm studying the numbers of the last quarter."
"The numbers are good, big brother. Something is bothering you. What is it?"
"Nothing." Mokuba didn't pry. Shrugging, he let it go for now. He returned his attention to the game, keeping the sounds low as not to disturb his brother.
Kaiba changed the screen of his laptop, calling up an image of the Ceremonial Tablet. Bakura Ryou. What were the odds that a prospective Earth Studies student walked into his office, spouting unbelievable nonsense? I think you're a descendant of an Ancient Egyptian priest. The bad thing was… it probably wasn't unbelievable nonsense. Kaiba had heard it before. He had never seen the Ceremonial Tablet at the Expanding Galaxies Contemporary Museum himself, even though KaibaCorp. was the main sponsor. He didn't have time to visit museums, and he had never had any urge to see the Tablet. He knew what it depicted. Of course, that so-called similarity to the Priest standing to the left, carved out in stone, was preposterous and ridiculous to begin with. He didn't even like history, let alone something like Ancient Egypt, a culture that was already dead for millennia when Earth still existed.
It had all started when Ishizu Ishtar had visited his office. She was the one to take out the bounty contract on her own brother, Malik. Kaiba didn't care, it were often siblings, family relatives or loved ones who took out a bounty contract. The only thing that had surprised him, was the reward in itself: five million genz, the absolute highest reward ever, and all that for a pipsqueak who had run away from home. Brainwashed, she had called her brother, clouded by darkness. She didn't mention anything in particular about the one who had 'brainwashed' him, no matter how much questions he asked. She didn't want any harm to come over Malik, she didn't care about the rest. Kaiba didn't care for family secrets, in his turn. He was here for the bounty only, and nothing else. The woman hadn't blinked an eye as she made a gesture with her hand to the tall, dark-skinned man who accompanied her; he carried a briefcase which he opened at her command. Five million genz, unmarked, illegal as hell. Kaiba could feel his curiosity burning; who was able to keep this much unmarked money and lugging it around as if it was petty change? Ishizu wore a lot of gold, a rare metal in this universe, and Kaiba would've accepted it if she had offered it. The golden piece that was attached to her headdress was probably a few millions worth, but she never spoke about it. Instead, she had steered the conversation towards him. 'Kaiba, this is the first step towards understanding yourself and your past,' she had said. 'You're tied to a man who will enter your life soon, and you will fight him.' He figured she was talking about some kind of competitor, well, he ate competitors raw for breakfast. He had laughed at her scathingly. But his surprise had been the greater, when she started talking about a nameless Pharaoh who was able to summon Gods, which brought him to… I believe that you are involved in a prophecy concerning the God Cards. The God Cards. His heart skipped a beat just by thinking about them. If he could get his hands on the original cards..! He wasn't too far lost in his thoughts to not notice Mokuba getting up from the sofa. Kaiba quickly changed the screen again, calling up the numbers.
"It's getting late," Mokuba said. "Don't you think so, big brother?"
Kaiba checked the time on the laptop screen. It was far past midnight. That wasn't really late in his book, but Mokuba needed his sleep. He was only staying up to keep him company, his schedule completely adapted to Kaiba's. "You should go to sleep," he said.
Mokuba dawdled. "Have you heard anything from Jounouchi yet?"
"I'm sure he's bumbling around somewhere."
"Give him some credit, big brother." Mokuba put his handheld gaming console on the desk. "How long are we going to stay here?"
Kaiba didn't look up. He knew that Yllsen Volta V was a boring environment to Mokuba, who preferred office locations over research facilities, especially ones as remotely as this. "Not for much longer. I have to check up on something."
"Okay." Mokuba wasn't discouraged. "Don't make it too late." He knew from experience that leading KaibaCorp. was a big responsibility and a lot of work… but he also knew that his brother wasn't telling him everything, and that hurt. "See you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," Kaiba repeated, his eyes glued to the laptop screen. He registered Mokuba leaving the office, but he wasn't about to retreat for the night. Malik's sister… Ishizu. The God Cards. A Pharaoh summoning gods. She had to be crazy, of course. Help him, Kaiba. Not even the Gods can pierce that darkness. She had all but admitted that Malik Ishtar possessed a God Card, but which one? How could that kid… how could anyone possess a real God Card? Duel Monsters was illegal, it had been banned… but forbidden fruits were tempting, and Kaiba had a deck himself, safely stored at a location he only had access to. He frowned. Maybe Jounouchi's team wasn't enough for this contract. Maybe he had underestimated Malik Ishtar. It was a good team; Honda was a weapons expert, Otogi a master in strategy, and Jounouchi himself had the luck of the devil. But if Ishtar really had a God Card… then he might have to take drastic measures.
"C-causing trouble? But how… how do you even know my name?" Ryou's voice was nothing but a shrill whisper.
"Maybe we should get inside?" Yuugi suggested as Atemu remained silent, his narrowed, crimson-red eyes focused on Ryou. He disappeared from the doorway, which Yuugi interpreted as an invitation. He started to climb the steel rungs of the ladder, beckoning at Ryou to follow him. After swallowing a few times, Ryou grabbed the ladder and started climbing as well. Yuugi waited for him at the door opening, and extended his hand. Ryou was grateful for the help and walked behind Yuugi to the cockpit. The Datura wasn't a LAV for nothing; the ship was small, barely offering space to two people. With three individuals in the cockpit, it was cramped, almost suffocating. Atemu leaned casually against the cockpit controls, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
"Atemu-kun, this is Bakura-san. I didn't know you two knew each other!"
"We don't," Ryou said, still flabbergasted. Atemu looked at him, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Now I see," he said, "you are his Other, are you not?"
"Other what?"
Atemu tilted his head, the golden earrings shifting with the movement. For a moment, he thought Yuugi had brought Bakura along… but this wasn't the Alternate. This was his Other, Bakura Ryou. The one who grounded him in this universe, in this galaxy. His smirk increased. Too bad, thief. I found him first. But now he had made the mistake of identifying him as the wrong Bakura, and he couldn't take back his words with an 'I thought you were someone else, sorry'. It didn't matter much. Soon, he had to tell his aibou the truth… at least, some of the truth. This was an unexpected, but not unwelcome twist of events. Now that he had found both Others, he was ahead in the game… as usual.
"Atemu-kun?" Yuugi looked at him, and Atemu made sure to put his hand on his shoulder. Yuugi seemed to enjoy these little touches and sure enough, he scooted closer.
"Forgive me for the sudden reaction, Yuugi, but a man named Bakura plays an important part in my life. His name is the same, and he looks exactly like your friend here."
"Really? You never mentioned him before."
Atemu showed a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "We do not know each other well enough to share this kind of information. It is rather personal."
"I'm sorry," Yuugi was quick to apologize. "I shouldn't have imposed on you."
Ah, how deliciously gullible he is. "It is all right," Atemu said, voice suave. "So tell me, Bakura Ryou, what are you doing here?"
Ryou launched into his story about his love for history and Earth Studies, how he got to meet Kaiba and how he was doing research for him, about the Ceremonial Tablet, the Priest and the Pharaoh…
"Ceremonial Tablet?" Atemu frowned. "What is that?"
"I'll show you," Ryou said. He pulled out his PMA and scrolled through the database for the image. "Here you are. Let me open a vidscreen, so you can take a better look."
"Bakura-san showed it to me as well," Yuugi said. "Look, this is the Priest and that's the Pharaoh. Don't you think you really look alike? Bakura-san thought it was me at first!"
Yuugi didn't see it, but Ryou noticed the ghost-white color of Atemu's face. He also noticed how close Yuugi was standing to Atemu, and how the latter made sure to touch Yuugi all the time. His hand on his shoulder, or on his elbow, or on his back… why did Yuugi allow this?
"Something the matter, Atemu-san?" Ryou asked, keeping his voice neutral. His thumb had, however, switched on the record mode of his PMA. No way was he going to miss a word of the upcoming conversation.
"I have seen this before," Atemu said.
"At a museum, right?" Yuugi asked obliviously.
"At my Palace." Atemu answered so softly, that Ryou thought he didn't hear it right at first. Yuugi picked it up immediately, because of his close proximity to the other.
"Don't be silly," he said. "You might look like a Pharaoh, but you aren't one. You don't have a Palace..!"
Silence. Yuugi kept staring at Atemu, who was totally focused on the vidscreen, showing him the Ceremonial Tablet. As entranced, he reached for the screen, his fingers touching the spot where the intricate carving had been damaged. The bottom part was missing, lost in ancient times and history…
"It was your name, wasn't it..?" Ryou carefully gauged Atemu's reaction. "Your name was on the Tablet, and it's been removed. Tell me who you really are, Atemu-san. You're tied to this, you and Kaiba."
"Kaiba?" Atemu's trance seemed to be broken, even though he still didn't take his eyes away from the image.
"The Priest," Ryou explained.
"Kaiba Seto? The CEO of KaibaCorp.?" Yuugi asked incredulously.
"Seto, huh?" Atemu withdrew his hand. Ryou ignored the shiver running down his spine. He had just written history. He had discovered the name of the nameless Pharaoh on the Ceremonial Tablet! The whole archeological world would be at his feet, and they would ask him, no, beg him to take Earth Studies for free, and he would become an authority on the subject matter… Atemu was real, he was the Pharaoh, he just had to be! From the corner of his eyes, he realized that Yuugi was talking.
"….didn't even know his name when I met him," Yuugi said. "Jii-chan knew how to read the silver nametag he was wearing."
"Oh, I see." Ryou felt dizzy. So many discoveries in such little time! He'd never known that something like this could happen. Not a week ago, he'd been lonely in his apartment, working on school assignments, and now he was a KaibaCorp. employee with a fund that was almost limitless, and he was talking to someone who could be… used to be… a Pharaoh? That last thought brought him back to solid ground. Something was terribly wrong or distorted, if he was talking to a genuine Pharaoh. Whoever Atemu was, he wasn't normal. His similar appearance to Yuugi, and his claim that there was another Bakura… the euphoria started to ebb away. Instead, a sudden fear started to grow. The chilling redness of Atemu's eyes. The ominous sound and dark timbre of his voice, his threatening stance, so aggressively focused on Yuugi. Something was terribly, terribly wrong, and Ryou realized that he was up to his neck in trouble.
Chapter 12 | Chapter 14 |