Chapter Text
9th February
22:56
Dear Diary.
To exactly no one’s surprise, things at Kaiba Corp. are getting even more confusing.You are a book, so you can’t forget, what I told you over the course of the last few weeks, but I’m happy I got you, so I can remind myself.
I need this.
I need to be able to turn the pages and read with my own two eyes, what weird shit my boss does on a regular basis.
I can’t believe it’s been more than a month since he started to act all strange.
Coming in to work at the times he is supposed to, not an hour early. Leaving work only one or two hours after the regular employees, not five to six.
No idea what got into him. Maybe he found some religious awakening? Whatever it is, there are no take away containers in his trash anymore.
(NOT THAT I’D SEARCH HIS TRASH OMG)
But… He never brought food. And he never cared.
Now, he has fresh water and fruit and salad on his desk almost all the time. Is he doing one of those health trend diets?
But he can’t really lose more weight, can he?
He’s skin and bones.
Although, lately, he seemed to look… better.
And no, diary. Don’t think for a second I’m fawning over this almost teenager!
But his face looks… rounder. In a healthy way. His eyes aren’t as sunken in. His demeanor isn’t as hateful as it used to be.
If I wouldn’t know better, I’d say…
Nope.
No it’s so absurd I can’t even tell you. I feel ridiculous.
And I’m rambling again. Got no time for that, have to prepare for tomorrow.
Aime
17th February
15:30
Dear Diary.
I know, my leather clad friend, I told you, stuff is getting weird a LOT in the last few weeks.
But guess what. It got weirder.
Do you see the time stamp?
This is real. It’s 3:30 PM.
And I’m home. Writing this journal entry.
You wanna know why?
BECAUSE I DO.
WHY AM I HOME? WHAT’S GOING ON?
Yesterday has been one of those days the older Kaiba brother rushed into work, all happy, beaming like a street lamp in a dark alleyway.
Which, frankly, in itself is a creepy enough sight.
It was one of those days when he left “early”, not taking any appointments after 3 PM. I don’t know what he does with those free afternoons, but he protects them with his life.
I accidentally dragged a meeting around in his planner, and within 20 seconds, I got an angry text to reschedule. Later, I heard Mokuba offer to go through the upcoming game development contract at this time, and I swear to god. Seto Kaiba gave him “the look”.
Normally, it is reserved for those stupid enough to propose changes in his flawless designs or other grand missteps. I swear to god I’ve never seen him look at his brother like that.
But this appointment?
Whatever it was. It was important.
And apparently, it went really really well. Because today, he walked into work looking like a peacock. That happens after most of those appointments, to be honest.
When I asked him, if I could get off of work early, I meant around 5 PM.
Because I have to take my father to the doctor, one of the regular visits.
You know what he said?
“Aime, you are doing great work. You deserve a full afternoon off. Please feel free to leave after lunch, I’ll manage. See you tomorrow, have a nice day and hopefully, your father will be fine.”
I was sure he’d lay me off. I was CONVINCED, this was sarcastic.
But when I walked into his office to bring him his lunch, he smiled at me, and told me I could go for today.
Seto Kaiba gave praise. Seto Kaiba said please. Seto Kaiba allowed a request without any obvious ulterior motives. Seto Kaiba was pleasant. Seto Kaiba wished my father to be fine.
Seto Kaiba smiled.
I’m not complaining, dear diary, but honestly…
WHAT THE FUCK?
Aime
3rd March
22:38
Dear Diary.
This journal entry is about my work. Again. Ain’t I an interesting person?
I’m going to tell you more about the wondrous behavioral adventures of the older Kaiba brother.
I like to think about myself as a scientist watching an obvious alien to slowly adapt to human society. Today, he had one of those weird moments, when his other-world logic peeped through.
When he arrived at work, a bit early, he went straight to his office.
That isn’t uncommon in itself.
But at some point, the lock clicked.
He had locked himself in.
WHY?
No one would dare to walk straight into his office.
I’m the only person who could do that, and even I will always wait for an answer on my knock. And…
OH MY GOD MOKUBA COULD.
This…
I have to rethink this entry.
I wanted to tell you about the weirdness of the queen bee locking herself in her own cage of golden honey, but…
Why would she… I mean, he, do that?
Because he was scared of his brother walking in?
I just…
I might have found a very human explanation for the behaviour that put me off seconds ago.
Because the lock clicking was combine with a lot of rustling.
Rustling that sounded like clothes, and…
… and I just realised I don’t really want to think why that would be there, behind a locked door, combined with quite heavy breathing.
I mean honestly… His physical build has changed so much in the last weeks, that I thought he might do a workout.
But thinking about it now…
I’m not so sure anymore.
Oh my god.
Save me.
Aime
12th April
21:15
Dear Diary.
Remember when I told you, that the mood of my boss had increased dramatically over the last few months?
Well, today wasn’t one of those lucky days.
He was… enraged, to say the least. And it got worse with every passing hour. I watched him text a lot, almost every break, and when he wasn’t texting, he kept checking his phone feveredly.
I don’t know WHO made him that angry, but I pity this person above everyone else.
Diary, I’m not a religious person, but maybe I should pray for them.
Because his gaze screamed bloody murder, when I left.
At this point, he had been aimlessly opening and closing a chat again and again, not even pretending to listen to his advisors anymore.
Whoever the poor soul is that enraged him and dared to ghost him afterwards, they might be already dead.
Maybe. Just maybe.
It was a girlfriend?
I can’t really think of another explanation.
But it would make sense.
His healthier lifestyle. The sport.
Him being pleasant and dare I say kind.
The text messages.
And the fact his door had been locked.
Repeatedly.
I don’t know what she did.
But maybe I’ll know from the media tomorrow, when they find a pretty, lifeless woman.
Aime
14th April
22:56
Dear Diary.
Can you die of exhaustion at another person’s place?
Because I have seen Mister Kaiba today.
And oh boy.
He had been riled up yesterday, grumpy and a lot like his old-year self, until he suddenly told me to cancel his evening plans in the afternoon.
For a minute, I had dared to hope that things might have cleared up a bit. Maybe, he would be talking to his girlfriend?
And I don’t know. Maybe he did.
But whatever happened at this discussion… Seemed to have broken him.
Normally, he wouldn’t leave the house looking anything less than perfect, but today…
His face was puffy and a little red like he had been crying some time ago, his clothes looked disheveled and thrown on without care, and his eyes…
I’ve never seen them so unfocused, so empty of fire before.
He seemed to get better over the day, but he never reached a point where I would have suggested that he showed his face to the public like that.
Most of the time, he hid in his office. Mokuba handled most of the conferences, and not many questions were asked. Those who were dumb enough to demand anything would be advised to his office and run upon seeing him open the door.
An angry Kaiba was terrifying to deal with, but today, he looked heartbroken, and somehow, that was worse.
Aime
24th April
20:39
Dear Diary.
Remember how I mentioned some days ago, that Mister Kaiba looked heartbroken?
Well, whatever happened, he must have made up with his girlfriend.
His mood in the morning was an interesting mixture of flushed and excited. Over the day, it improved considerably. He texted a lot and seemed happy about it.
He even payed attention to the meetings most of the time, instead of just sitting there looking sorry for himself like he did some days ago. Wow.
Do you know, why I’m sure that it was his girlfriend, that improved his mood so significantly?
The lock.
He locked his door again.
And I mean. I know, it’s kinda weird and probably highly inappropriate, but honestly, if it grants all of us with a calm and peaceful day… He isn’t really hurting anyone with it.
He pays me well and treats me nicely.
So I’m just going to accept his behaviour and try to help him by sending people away before they can rattle the door when he’s alone.
He’s hard working, and at the end of the day, he is a nice person.
Give him a break.
Aime
1st May
22:31
Dear Diary.
I might have made a wrong deduction.
Took me long enough.
Seto Kaiba. Isn’t dating. A woman.
I know.
I know it sounds crazy.
But… If you combine all the hints…
It’s highly possible.
Listen:
- He isn’t talking about his relationship publicly. And Seto Kaiba has never been a man of small gestures.
- Mokuba doesn’t know about it. I don’t think any woman would ever be important enough to hide her from his partner and best friend. But… if it’s not a woman? Possible.
- I’ve never heard him express interest in any female being. Granted, I never heard him express interest in ANY person, but maybe I’ve been looking for the wrong clues the whole time.
- Okay this might be the most convincing of all the points: I’ve seen him do the gay waddle today. Multiple times. Like, you know? For the untrained eye, his stiff and careful movements could have been the consequence of sore muscles or something. But diary. My brother is gay. And I’ve lived with him. I know, what this way of walking means. Seto Kaiba has a boyfriend. Fight me.
Aime
5th May
23:04
Dear Diary.
I feel like the first rays of sunshine on a long day.
Like the rustling of leaves in a warm autumn breeze.
Like the crisp air foreshadowing new snow on a winter evening.
I was right.
Seto Kaiba is dating a man and NO ONE can convince me otherwise.
We will leave for a conference in another city in a few day.
Guess what he made me book.
Another room, luxurious and spacious, for a person I have never met before. Yami Mutou.
Seto Kaiba, the man himself, would bring a partner.
A business partner, as it was stated in everything official.
But honestly? Why did Mister Kaiba pay for his suite then? And such a treat of a suite? Why would I book an all around care package for him if he was just a mere acquaintance?
Something is going on between the two men, I can sense it.
During the conference, I’ll keep an eye on them.
Seto Kaiba.
I know your secret.
Your secretary, Aime