In A Different Way

In A Different Way
By DarkGiggle
Part 2

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Disclaimer: I don’t own Yu-Gi-Oh. I don’t even like Yu-Gi-Oh but I just love Seto-Chan! I make no money off this so don’t sue!
Plot: Will be very OOC beyond that I haven’t decided yet. :-) However I don’t think I’ll keep it G-rated for long. Language and Yaoi are sure to come.
Author’s note: … still waiting on that thought.
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Saturday and two taxies brought he and his friends to the restaurant, armed to the teeth. Yugi and Katsuya with their decks, Ryuji with his dice, Hiroto with his brass knuckles and Anzu with her pepper spray. Only Ryo came unarmed and now he felt a little out of place.

Coming up to the golden doors, two valet attending lads sprang up, one to pay each cab and usher them in. Cool air and quiet classical music brushed them as they entered the swank restaurant. High glass ceilings let the sun in bounce off fine plates, delicate silverware, and crystal glasses, or to be absorbed on black marble floors. Many exotic plants decorated the main room yet a high quality air conditioning system kept the green house smell undetectable.

An immediate unease hit the group. This did not look like any battlefield they were used to. What was Kaiba up to?

“You all made it!” screamed an exited young voice, bringing their eyes off their surroundings.

Mokuba ran up to his older friends. This was so great! He hadn’t fully believed it when his brother said he had invited them, but here they were! Grabbing Yugi’s hand he started to drag him back to where he came, “You gotta come with me! Nii-san rented the whole place out and the best table is all for us! You gotta see it! It’s the reason this place has it’s name.”

Not having much of a choice Yugi followed and his friends, like the loyal companions they were, walked quickly to keep up with the bubbly younger Kaiba.

Katsuya was about to question the youngster when they rounded vine covered corner and stepped into an alcove with a view of the most beautiful garden he’d ever seen. Now he wasn’t much for gardens and all that femmi stuff but even he had to admit this was stunning.

A squeak of glee ruptured out of Anzu the moment she got her breath back. Automatically her feet were leading her out to the floral extravaganza when a figure slipped into her way. Nearly bumping into the human road block she stopped to look up into amused azure eyes.

“You and your friends were invited to eat, Mazaki-San. You can explore the scenery afterwards, do not hold this lunch up now. I want to get this over with as soon as possible.”

More at hearing her name with a respectful San, then anything else Anzu immediately sat down, a bit dazed.

Hiroto, Ryuji, Katsuya and Yugi all shared a look with each other. Just to make sure what happened actually happened.

‘’‘Yami, did you just hear Kaiba call Anzu ‘Mazaki-San’ and in a non-degrading tone?’‘’ Yugi asked but received no answer.

Yami, through his Hikari’s eyes, had not taken his attention from the tallest brunet since he came into view. Instead of the normal intimidating coat and get up, Kaiba had on a simple yet elegant white shirt and white pant outfit. The pharaoh thought that he should have looked like a normal teenager in it but somehow the other’s person blocked that.

Not seeing any of the subtleties his friends were going through, Mokuba happily shoved all of them into their seats while he reminded, “Nii-San, you promised to spend a hour and a half here, with no working, no dueling, no fighting and especially no being mean!”

That of course brought wide eyes all around the table. Dammit, why did Mokuba have to announce it? Besides he hadn’t done anything…. Yet. Seto eyed his armed classmates, oh yeah, like he was the one who came battle ready! “I promised nothing of the sort, Ototo. That is what you requested and I said I would consider it.”

Katsuya snorted, “Never thought I’d see the day Kaiba Seto is nice. And somethin’ tells me this aint it.”

Seto ignored it and instead blandly focused on Bakura, the only one who didn’t appear be armed. “Bakura-San, can I assume you are the only guest that did not bring your choice in weapon?”

Not liking to be singled out as potentially defenseless but finding no real fault in the CEO’s worlds Ryo answered, “Kaiba-San, you are free to assume anything you want about me.”

Yugi and the other quiet members of the table watch with worry as the blue eyes narrowed a fraction at the diverted question.

This time Mokuba did notice and sent his brother a pleading look, to which he got a mild glare back.

Seto’s hand shot up and he snapped his fingers. Before any of his classmates could even reach for their assorted arsenal several waiters with ninja like stealth skills popped up and rammed menus in their hands. Not looking at it Seto ordered a salmon, tofu and almond salad while every one else but Mokuba gawked at the prices.

Ryuji cleared his throat, before tentatively wondering out loud, “You’re really going to pay for all of this Kaiba? Anything we order?” If Kaiba didn’t he wasn’t sure he’d be able to cover everyone else’s food.

In his most bored tone the he answered, “I would not have said so if I intended otherwise.” A fine brown eyebrow raised. “Surely you’re not bothered by the price. With the way you’re company’s stock is going, you should be able to afford this easily.”

Ryuji balked, “Well yeah, but how do you know that?”

Mokuba chuckled as Seto took a sip of his water then said; “It’s business and I make it my business to know all about my competitor’s business.”

As strange as that was Otogi took it as a compliment, that Kaiba Corp. and Seto Kaiba himself saw him as competition was gratifying. A smug grin spread on his face, the first of the lunch so far. “So I’m a rival am I?”

Rival? That was putting it a little high for the small company; Seto just liked to be thorough. Still it there was no point in arguing. “A rival that appears to be cheap. I should make you pay for your own lunch.”

The whole table, including the youngest Kaiba did a slow blink. There had been no bite to response, in fact it had almost sounded like teasing.

Testing the waters, Ryuji asserted, “But you won’t will you?”

“Hai.” Glancing around at everyone staring at him he was tempted to flip them all off. However as that would ruin his plan and upset his brother he held back. “You all should order now, I’m not waiting for you to start.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth when his food arrived.

Mokuba tried to order just French Fries, put was stopped by a very firm, “No and if you’re going to special order something then pick something healthier. Kami knows how many fries you eat at that school of yours.”

After that the meal was too quiet. Everyone was too stiff to talk freely and this silence did him no good. Turning back to Otogi, who was right next to his sibling he attempted to talk to him again, at least about business but said pest of a brother interrupted with his “no work” policy.

Needless to say it was silent after that, in spite of Mokuba’s continued attempts to chat, the lunch ended well before his hour and a half was over. Dessert came then the bill and it was over. As he waited for his credit card to be returned Seto brooded. This had not gone as he’d thought, yet was this still salvageable?

Standing up the exec drew all eyes to him. “I will be leaving now. The restaurant is rented until three. You may stay or leave as you like. The taxies for your return home have already been paid for.” He paused to make sure he had their attention. “This luncheon did not meet my expectations and gave me no resolution. That being the case I invite you all here again next Saturday. Next week’s appointment will have same specifications as this one had.” He paused again but this time continued with a glare, “With special emphasis on not leaking this to the public. I-”

“Seto,” Mokuba interrupted, “won’t you stay?” Seeing the shake of his brother’s head he tried again. “What is it you want anyway? You still haven’t told me, maybe I can help, or maybe we can all help.”

When the youngest at the table checked around for assurance of their support, with those sad-pleading-puppy-dog-eyes of his, Yugi and his friends could only nod with as little reluctance as visibly possible. It seemed to work and pacify Mokuba.

The elder brother was not as easily fooled. “Thank you all.” He said very dryly. “As I was saying, if you choose to come next Saturday then you’ll be here. You are under no obligation to come.” That being enough of a ‘bye’ as he deemed fit, Seto grabbed his card and left.

Tall, Mean and Handsome was barely gone for a second before Katsuya turned to the remaining Kaiba, “Hey kid, what’s up wit’ yar bro? Sprung a screw loose or somethin’?”

The raven haired boy sighed, “I wish I knew. I have no clue where this all came from. He just told me this morning he arranged a lunch with you guys but not why. And I swear he was acting normal before you guys came.”

“Is he doing some kind of weird market research?” Ryuji asked.

“No, all research is done inside Kaiba Corp. labs and he wouldn’t be doing the research anyway.”

“Do you think that Kaiba is finally trying to make friends?” Yugi asked and suddenly the room was quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

“Feh, yeah right! Like Money Bags would ever want friends. He-”

“Don’t Say That!” Mokuba screamed causing the blonde to recoil, “He would too want friends! He would! He… but he…” Calming down after the short outburst he went on, “But I don’t think he would go about it this way. My Nii-san is very direct. If wants something he goes for it and he’ll get it in the shortest route possible.”

A still moment then fell over them.

“If that’s true,” Ryo chimed in, “then I don’t think he knows what he wants.”

Immediately picking up on it Yugi pondered, “You mean all this was so he could figure out what he wants?”

Anzu nodded as she thought this over, “Then next week’s lunch is to try and get what he wasn’t able to this time.”

Katsuya scratched the back of his neck, “Das all good and all, but what’s he lookin’ our way for?”

Discretely switching, Yami spoke up, “I believe the better question is will we not go along with his proposal? Will we decide to shut him out as he looks to us for answers?”


Nobody chose to answer for a while and as the stretch went on until the dice master rolled out his two cents, “Kaiba said that his ‘benefits’ won’t hurt us, hence the answer to his question won’t hurt us. Yet what I’m not sure of is, what can and will he do with that answer?”

“Not to be cruel but this reminds me of an old saying,” Ryo inserted, “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

Not liking where this was going Mokuba turned to the only girl in the room. “Anzu? How about I show you the garden now?” He couldn’t blame his friends for their thoughts, his brother really did care little fore them, but he’d rather not hear this right now.

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Monday and the second week of school came around with the decision that he and his friends would watch Kaiba for clues. It was a good plan and went along well, with only one hiccup; Kaiba seemed to be watching them too.

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End Part 2.

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