Archive of Our Own ^beta

Taking a deep breath to help center himself and bury his annoyance, the young CEO of Kaiba Corpations picked up the phone. "Hello," he answered in Japanese.

"Hello, could I speak to a Mr. Seto Kaiba please?" a distinctly American voice asked politely over the line.

"This is he," Kaiba replied, switching to English with ease. "May I ask who is calling?"

"Ah, yes, I am Alexander Luthor of LexCorp. I was wondering if I could borrow a few minutes of your time? I'm told you will be visiting Starling City, Oregon, for business soon. I will as well and I was wondering if you would mind meeting me. I have a business proposition I'd like to discuss with you."

Kaiba resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I can't guarantee anything, Mr. Luthor."

"Please call me Lex," Luthor interrupted. "Mr. Luthor was my father."

A bright blue eye twitched. "As I was saying, as of now, my schedule is full. I'll contact you if I have an opening."

"Of course," Luthor replied, smoothly accepting the subtle decline. "I'll be in contact then."

Before the man could say more Kaiba hung up. He swiped a hand down his face rubbing his forehead. Damn it all. He had been hoping to keep his visit to America on the down low. He would have to find out who let the news out and give them a firm stripping down of their duties. Standing, the brunette turned to face the wall to ceiling windows of his office in the KaibaCorp Tower. Thoughts whirled in his head, none escaping to show themselves on his calm, cool visage.

He was not excited about returning to America since the DOMA incident. There was no reason to blame an entire country for something that had nothing to do with it except as the backdrop of a series of unfortunate events. He still had nightmares of losing Mokuba's soul and feeling helpless to do anything but watch and then the horrendous shredding sensation as his own soul was forcefully ripped from his own body. No one involved in DOMA, the madness that was Duelist Kingdom, the MORPG, or even his own Battle City events had escaped unscathed.

The difference was a select few had recovered enough to continue on. Well, perhaps recovered was not the correct word; overcome would probably be the better choice. They had overcome the trauma and decided there was no use dwelling on it. Instead, they learned from their experiences and decided to use what they learned.

Since acquiring Industrial Illusions, Kaiba Seto, CEO of Kaiba Corporations, was now the third richest person on the planet, two places behind the American Microsoft genius Bill Gates. Lex Luthor of LuthorCorp followed on Kaiba's tail, close enough to keep an eye on but not close enough to be intimidating, yet. Bill Gates was a goal Kaiba intended to reach and surpass.

Lex Luthor, on the other hand, was more than a businessman, that much Kaiba was well aware of. The man reminded Kaiba too much of himself in a way that did not sit well with the CEO. Luthor reminded Kaiba of the way he had been before the Pharaoh's infamous Mind Crush Penalty. That was something Kaiba Seto had no desire to repeat in any sense of the word.

Speaking of the Pharaoh, the brunette felt a tug from the shadows and did not need to turn around to recognize the presence behind him. His eyes narrowed as did his shadow senses; make that two presences.

"You're late," he said simply in hieratic.

Two voices chuckled behind him, one deeper than the other. "My apologies," the deeper voice replied in kind.

"We were busy. Grandpa got home later than expected due to traffic so we had to stay at the game shop until he arrived," the younger voice continued.

Kaiba harrumphed and shrugged his shoulders in an act of dismissal. "I figured. Any news from the others?"

The younger voice answered, steadily moving closer until its owner stood beside the CEO looking out the window. "I've contacted the Sorceress and the Emissary. Neither are in the area but they've told me what they know. Starling City is watched by a member of the Justice League."

"Green Arrow," Kaiba said, eyes narrowing.  "Yes I'm aware."

The young man next to the CEO nodded. "That's what the people of Starling City call him. Before that, they used to call him The Hood."

Kaiba scoffed. "That sounds about as ridiculous as your hair."

The youth chuckled while the owner of the deeper voice balked at the insult. "It's alright, Yami," the owner of the younger voice soothed. "I don't mind. Besides, you know it's true."

Yami stepped next to his younger companion and sighed gustily. "Well, I don't remember having any say in what I looked like then or now. Then it was a product of genetics and my close association with the Shadow Realm. Now," crimson eyes slid sideways to meet the soft violet of his nearly identical companion, "it's a product of your genetics and my mimicry."

"Careful Pharaoh. You came first, so the blame for Yugi's genetics falls squarely on your shoulders," Kaiba said.

The Pharaoh snorted. "As I recall. I died before siring any children. It was you who continued the royal line. So I believe that makes you the guilty party."

"Not so," Kaiba countered. "I died wifeless and childless." Sharp blue eyes narrowed. "Like hell I was going to sleep with anyone other than Kisara."

The mood in the room dropped back to darker levels as memories both welcome and unwelcome filled the silence. It was Yugi who eventually spoke first. "The Emissary said she would try to meet you in Starling City but she couldn't guarantee anything because she's currently performing in New York. The Sorceress promised to get there when she could. But it would most likely not be in time to meet you."

"That's fine," Kaiba replied. "I can handle this myself. It's not like this is my first trip outside Japan or anywhere near my first. I don't need a babysitter."

Yugi smiled while Yami snickered. "So you say."

Kaiba glared at the taller of the two virtually identical individuals standing next to him through the corner of his eyes. "What are you implying?"

Yami shrugged. "Nothing, nothing."

"Is Mokuba coming with you?" Yugi asked, breaking the tension between the other two.

"Not immediately, no," Kaiba said. "I want to get the layout of the situation before I bring him into it."

Blue eyes returned to the cityscape of Domino. He planned on leaving for the company plane in a few more hours. If he planned everything right, he would arrive in Starling City in the early hours of the night. He did not want to attract more attention than was necessary. Besides, he worked best in the shadows.

"Another Game was played," Yugi said softly, breaking into Kaiba's thoughts.

The CEO stiffened, eyes darkening furiously. "How many does that make?"

"Three."

"Idiots," Kaiba hissed viciously. "They have no idea what they're dealing with."

"Maybe they don't," Yami said, voice hard. "But that doesn't change anything. The punishment is still the same. Ignorance is no excuse."

"If you need us," Yugi said, turned to face Kaiba directly, "don't hesitate to call. We'll come as quickly as we can."

"Who knows," Yami said, "we may join you just because."

"I'd rather you didn't," Kaiba grumbled.

"Your opinion has been noted my Regent," Yami said with a smirk.

"And ignored," Yugi finished with a grin.

Kaiba sighed in resignation, one hand slipping into a pants pocket while the other covered his face in mild frustration. "I do not need this right now."

"Yes you do. You wouldn't like it any other way," Yugi chirped. "You couldn't exist without someone to push against. You need a constant challenge."

Kaiba hesitated before speaking again. "I wasn't referring to you. Lex Luthor called me and my idiot secretary patched him through even though I explicitly told him not to." The hand covering his face lowered to slip into the other pants pocket. "He wants to meet me when I get to America. I informed him of my busy schedule but I don't think he cares. He'll doubtless try again. I don't like the way he handles things. He's a good businessman but I doubt his interference in this is coincidental."

"I know of Luthor," Yugi said quietly. "He's an American businessman from Metropolis, correct?"

Kaiba nodded. "Mainly real estate but he dabbles in chemical engineering and technology. He's decent with technology but nowhere near my level. I'm mainly concerned with what Luthor's interest is in all this." Kaiba glanced at the identical due once more. "If he comes to Starling City, Superman won't be far behind. And where Superman goes-"

"The Justice League goes," Yugi finished. "And with Green Arrow already there…"

Kaiba returned his attention to the city for a moment before turning to grab his long white trench coat. "I'll inform you of my findings."

Both Yugi and Yami nodded. "By the way," Yami called after the CEO, "have you given any thought as to where the new Battle City will take place?"

Kaiba smirked. "Let's just say I have several options open."

Yami snorted and rested his arms possessively around Yugi's neck, leaning on him from behind. "I look forward to hearing your ideas."

"Are you implying I have to go through you to host my own Battle City Tournaments?" Kaiba asked in mock offense.

Yami shrugged. "I am the Pharaoh."

"And I'm the Regent," Kaiba replied. "I have just as much authority as you and the King do," he said, nodding to the faintly blushing Yugi. "You know that."

"And what an interesting Triumvirate we make."

Yugi groaned before switching to Japanese. "I can't believe you two."

Yami grinned, nuzzling Yugi's neck affectionately. "I was merely finishing what he started."

"Yes, because we all know who tops in this mess," Kaiba said before leaving the room.

Yami and Yugi started dumbstruck at the door before bursting into cackles, vanishing into the shadows.