How Do You Like Me Now?

Part Five


One month later:
“Stop here,” Tristan instructed the driver and immediately the
limousine came to a stop in front of what he remembered being the Kame
Game Shop. It was a lot larger than he remembered it and he shot a
glance at the blonde sitting next to him. “Ready to see some familiar
faces?” he asked, winking.

“Sure thing,” Joey nodded.

“You can go on back to the hotel,” Tristan told the driver. “We’ll
be a while. We’ll find some other way back.”

“Of course, sir,” the driver replied. He got out of the long
limousine and walked around, opening the door for the two young men in
the back. Tristan and Joey stepped out and entered the building, a bell
chiming to announce their presence. It was definitely bigger on the
inside, a new extension to the room coming on the left. However, it
still maintained a friendly, cozy atmosphere and as they stood,
pleasant memories came flooding back to them. They looked around, not
seeing anyone around but hearing someone moving around behind the
counter.
“Welcome,” came a voice. “I’ll be with you in just a minute.”

“I ain’t gotta minute,” Joey responded playfully. “Got things to do,
people to see. Let’s get a move on, Yug.”

A spiky-haired head poked out from behind the counter. “Joey?”

The blonde removed his sunglasses. “Hey Yug. Long time no see.”

“Joey! Tristan!” Yugi exclaimed, running over and giving each of
them a
friendly hug. “I heard you were coming to town! I was hoping you’d stop
by! I tried to get tickets but they sold out in less than an hour! You
two are famous!”

“Nah, that’s just Joe,” Tristan said. “Nobody cares about lead
guitar.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Yugi laughed. “You’re great,
Tristan! I love your music! I’ve been trying to get all your albums!”

“You’re too much,” Joey smiled. “Whatcha been up to?”

“Grandpa left the shop to me about three years ago,” Yugi
replied. “Duke and I decided to team up and combine ideas and we’ve
been doing great!”

“Where is Duke?” Tristan inquired.

“He went down to the store real quick,” Yugi answered. “He should be
back soon.”

“So how’s everybody else doin’?” Joeked.ked. “Heard from Tea
lately?”

A slight shade of pink glowed on Yugi’s cheeks. “She calls every
Sunday to let me know how she’s doing. She loves it in New York. She’s
having the time of her life.”

“That’s great. What about Mai?” Joey went on. “Bakura? Yoard ard
from any of them?”

“Mai’s gone off Tokyo,” Yugi replied. “She sent me a letter
about a month ago. She’s into cosmetics now, working for some agency
out there. And Bakura moved back to England. I think he’s studying
medicine but it’s been a while since I’ve heard from him.”

“What about Kaiba?” Tristan inquired. “How’s he doin’ now that Kaiba
Corp.’s gone?”

Joey sucked in his breath. He had hoped that the name of the
former CEO would not come up. He bit his lip and waited for Yugi’s
answer.

“Well,” Yugi began. “I haven’t heard anything from Kaiba
himself but Mokuba talks to me occasionally. I guess Kaiba’s not doing
too good.”

Joey looked over. “What do you mean?”

“Well, they’ve gotten an apartment on the other side of town,
but they can barely pay the rent every month, let alone ay for food and
stuff. I’ve offered manyes tes to give them money, but neither one of
them will accept it. Kaiba’s fallen into a deep depression and I guess
Mokuba can barely get him up and out of bed in the morning.”

Joey felt a stinging in the back of his eyes. How could Kaiba let
that happen to him? Aw, damn it… Don’t cry, don’t cry…

“Damn, must be hard for Mokuba,” Tristan commented. “So Kaiba ain’t
gotta job yet?”

“So, he can’t bring himself to apply for a new one. I mean,
after so many years of nothing but success and then it all comes
tumbling down…” Yugi stopped abruptly. “Maybe that wasn’t the best
figure of speech…”

There was an awkward silence as they all reflected on the
unfortunate event that had transpired two years go. Joey shuffled his
feet nervously, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.

“Hey Yug,” the blonde said, his voice shaking a bit. “How about a
duel for old time’s sake?”

Yugi’s eyes lit up. “Sounds great Joey! Watch the store, I’ll be
right back!”

Joey watched as Yugi bounded up the stairs to the flat. The
short boy was still the same as Joey remembered him: Sweet, innocent,
always trying to help the people around him. It was a good feeling to
see thame tme things had not changed in his absence.


****

“Do you have any previous experience?” the man behind the desk asked,
not looking up from the piece of paper in front of him.

“Yes…” Kaiba growled, eyeing him as if he were stupid. The man
had been gazing down at his resume for the past ten minutes and had not
seen this yet?

“Please describe your responsibilities when you worked for this
‘Kaiba Corp.’.” He said the last two words as if he had tasted
something unpleasant. Kaiba suppressed his urge to leap up and grab the
ignorant fool by the collar.

“Kaiba Corpora,,” Kaiba began. “Was mine.”

The man looked up at him curiously. “Explain, please.”

Kaiba sighed. “Have you read anything on that paper?” he retorted.
“Have you ever watched TV before?”

The man frowned at the other’s rudeness. “Please explain yourself.”

Kaiba simply leaned fod and and pointed to his name printed
neatly across the top of the resume in bold lettering. The man followed
his finger and read over the words silently. Then he looked back at the
brunette in front of him with a confused look on his face. Kaiba
sighed, defeated.

“My name is Seto Kaiba as in Kaiba Corporation,” he
stated slowly, giving the man time to take in every word. “I was
president of the entire business.”

“President?” the man blinked, looking back down on the paper.
His eyes scanned it as if it could show truth to the other’s statement.
“Can you prove that?”

“You think I’m lying?” Kaiba spat.

The man looked at him skeptically. “You certainly have a foul
attitude,” he commented.

“And you--” He stopped himself. He was supposed to be getting a job,
not starting another fight.

“And I what?” the man asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Nothing,” Kaiba huffed. “Just give me back my resume and I’ll be
going.”

The man nodded as if he was about to suggest the very same
thing. He pushed the piece of paper across the table toward the younger
man who stood and took it. Kaiba turned swiftly and headed out the door.