Independence

Independence

Disclaimer: I don't own anything legally except for this fic you're reading

Welcome readers to Chapter 17. As promised, you will get to learn about Kaiba. I know you're
saying that you 'know' the Kaiba in this fic, but you really don't.... So, take it from his POV, and
learn about the man who is in love with Jou.

Chapter 17: The Real Me

A fake. That's all my life is. That's who I really am.

I'm stringing Katsuya along with me. I despise myself for doing it.

I finally got that client out my hotel room. I hate that he had to come while I was talking to
Katsuya...now he's suspecting that I may be cheating or something.

"Seto-sama?"

I turn around to see my right-hand-man Izono standing in my door.

"Yes Izono?"

"Ino-san sent you this payment." he says handing me a briefcase.

I open it up to see a case full of 1,000 yen bills.

"I counted it for you and it's exactly one million."

"Arigatou."

I want to escape this lie. But I can't. I'm buried too deep in it.

Too deep to escape.

Right after I gained control of KaibaCorp, my father's business partners abandoned the
company because they felt that I was too young to run the company properly. With sales
and production reaching all-time lows, I was forced to shut it down.

With the last of the money, I paid the media and anyone else who was a threat to reveal
the truth to keep their mouth shut.

The mansion, fashion, and the high-life, things I was accustomed to since I was born was
something I was not readily willing to give up. I looked for ways to make some quick money.

Just as I was about to give up, my best friend, came up with a solution.

*Flashback, about 8 years ago*
Damn...what now?? I used up all the savings bonds. Now there's nothing else I can use...

"Seto?" I look up from my bed to see my best friend, Pegasus Crawford standing above
me.

"Hey."

"Ran out of ideas? Eventually someone's going to find out."

"I don't want that. I still have everyone fooled."

"Except me and those people you have to pay every month." he says sitting in my desk
chair.

"Pegasus, I just don't know what to do. I'm out of money and ideas."

"I have a suggestion for you...I don't know if you really want it or not."

"Anything! I'll try anything!"

"Well...I don't know..."

"Pegasus! You're my best friend! We're like brothers! I know you wouldn't tell me anything
that wouldn't help me..."

Why is he looking like that?

"Look, Seto, I was talking to Seigfried."

"He's that famous European businessman right? What does he have to do with anything?"

"His company, Mirage is one of the biggest gaming company in Europe."

"Rub it in will you..."

"Listen! I'm not finished. Mirage is in a similar situation to KaibaCorp and he works an
alternate job in the underground market."

"Illegal..."

"I know, but he makes 5-10 times as much as he does just with Mirage."

"I'm interested."

"Here's his number. Call him." Pegasus says writing a number on a piece of paper and
handing it to me. "Call him now. That's his personal line."

I pick up my phone and dial the number.

'Hello?' a man hesitantly says.
'May I speak with Seigfried?'
'Speaking. May I ask who this is and how you obtained this number?'
'Seto Kaiba. I got this number from Pegasus Crawford.'
'Hello Mr. Kaiba. I've heard about your situation and I'm willing to help on one condition.'
'Anything.' I say desperately needing to find a way to get some extra money.
'You have to work under me.'
'Decline.'
'Well, before you decline, how about we schedule a meeting? I'll be in Domino City
tomorrow around 2. So we can meet at La Mer Restaurant at 3?'
'Fine. I'll see you there.'
"Bye bye.'

I hang up the phone...not knowing what I just agreed to.

"If this backfires in any way, then it's going to be me and you Pegasus!"

"Don't worry. It won't."

(Next Day, 3pm La Mer Restaurant VIP Room)
Pegasus and I had met and went to La Mer around 2:45. When we got here, the hostess
escorted us here to the VIP Room.

It's only me and Pegasus here, not the man I talked to yesterday...

Where is he? I hate waiting!

"Pegasus..."

"Hey, don't fuss at me Kaiba-boy."

"You know I despise that name..."

"Yes, always was 2nd in line to Noa..."

"Shut up. Go back to California for all I care."

"Fine. If I leave, then you'll really be messed up. Seig doesn't talk to new clients or employees
without me."

"So, you're someone little bitch."

"Surprised?"

The door opens and a tall man with long reddish hair walks through the door.

We bow to each other then sit.

"I'm Seigfried von Schrader. And you must be the infamous Seto Kaiba. I know all about
your situation."

"You...do?"

"Yes. Word travels fast. Heard about KaibaCorp's demise soon after you gained control."

"So, what can you do?"

"I can get you back to where you once were. Maybe even higher."

"How?"

He opens his briefcase, revealing bags full of a white powdery substance.

"Sell it. All I want is 20%. You keep the rest and do whatever you want. I've been wanting
to get some clients in Japan for the longest."

"What is that?"

"Something a lot of people want, but too afraid to ask. I know people in Japan who want
this stuff. Here's a list of people who I used to ship this to. With you here, I don't have to
ship it to them, you can give it to them. My clients pay top dollar."

"I don't know...what if I get caught?"

"Don't worry, you won't."

"How much do I sell it for?"

"I can only tell you if you agree."

"I don't know..."

"Well, if you're doubtful Mr. Kaiba, then those people you're paying to keep quiet will open
their mouths. Just think about where your life will be if that happens."

His words hit me like a bolt of lightning...I don't want to give everything up that I have...

He extends his hand and I shake it.

"Welcome aboard, Seto Kaiba."

We sit in the room for about another 4 hours. He told me about how to weigh and sell the
substance. Where to go to sell them, and how to put money I make into my account from 'Kaiba
Corp'.

He even told me how to pay police to not bother them. Hell, even some of them were
clients of Seigfried.

After the meeting with Seigfried, I had to make a delivery to a client in Tokyo.

Surprisingly, I learned that Pegasus worked with him. His father had been employed under
the Mirage Company for so long that when Pegasus was old enough, he became Seig's
partner.

"When did you and Seig become partners?" I ask Pegasus as he drives to the exchange
site.

"After my 16th birthday. My father and his father had long been discussing it and they
officialized it when Seig and I turned 16."

"And you had been hiding this from me for this long?! I thought we were best friends!"

"We are. Now do you understand why I told you I couldn't tell you about Industrial
Illusions? Even though the company is doing well, it has a black market division that is
so well kept secret that if anyone tells, they will be killed."

"And you're telling me...?"

"Because, now you're with us."

What have I gotten myself into?

We make the delivery and head back to Domino City.

"100,000 yen just for that!" I say as I put the money back into the bag.

"Yea. Don't forget about Seig's 20,000. We have to send it to him, before he sends
someone for us."

*Present Day*
Since then, I've been wrapped up in 'Kaiba Corp' and 'Mirage, Inc.'. I became a partner
of Mirage about 5 years ago, making 'Kaiba Corp' skyrocket once again.

Also, I'm battling myself and my forming addiction to the drugs...

Thanks for that Pegasus. That's what I get for sniffing with you.

About 8 years ago...my life changed once again. I have a feeling that one day I'm going
to get caught. But until then, I must give Katsuya all that he's ever wanted because he's
all that I ever asked for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome to Kaiba's undercover life. It may not be much, but now we understand more
about the type of character I'm portraying in Kaiba. The next chapter has a lot going on.
We're fast forwarding time another year, to Jou's start at Kyoto University.