Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ How Do You Like Me Now? ❯ Chapter 5

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

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'?" Joey asked. "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? You heard 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 many times 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 that some 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 Corporation," 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 forward 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.