Chapter Text
Seto Kaiba didn’t care much about fate and magic. To him, the universe can simply be described by its textbook definition—a system consisting of space and time along with the congregation of stars, planets, and other massive objects. It doesn’t have thoughts of its own. Seto’s a part of it but never of its schemes or executions.
He has more important things to take care of. His company, his brother, and himself. If he ever did prioritize taking care of himself.
Whatever whimsical realities he had experienced during his time with Yugi and “his gang of nerds,” (as Seto used to call them) had been stored into the back of his brain. Not forgotten but not revisited. Since the day the Pharaoh left, not a single nerve inside him actively pried into the world of destiny. Yet he stared at the words permanently sketched on his left wrist, running his hand on its lines.
In its temper, it ravages
In its peace, golden harbingers dance in its midst
Weightless expanse, transparent ocean
Seto’s riddle. The answer to this riddle belonged to whoever his soulmate is. If this were still nine years ago, he would make gagging noises (though there was no way he’d let anyone hear him doing this). The thought of needing or having a soulmate greatly repulsed him. But now, it just dances listlessly in his mind. A possibility he doesn’t want to admit that he wants.
He didn’t know, however, that the universe had been conspiring against him. That, on his way to get the most deliciously bitter cup of coffee in a humble café near Kaibaland, he would meet a person from his past. With the same blonde hair. With the same light-colored clothes. Before getting to decide how he would even react, that person turns and glances at him. And they still have the same look in their brown eyes. Jounouchi Katsuya stands before him, with a frown painting his face.
“Oh, great,” Jounouchi says, the irritation in his voice apparent. “It’s you.”
Going to this café is a mistake and Seto can only retrace the steps he took to stumble here.
A week earlier, Seto sat at the head of a large desk, a marble one that occupied the majority of the room. Around him were members of his Board of Directors and on the seat by his right side sat Mokuba, who was doing his best to keep a straight face as his older brother discussed Kaiba Corporation’s current state. Every day it was just the same old meetings with the same old board of directors. (Seto emphasizes “old.”) As the board meeting continued, Seto couldn’t help but let his mind lightly wander.
After almost a decade of Seto being the President of KaibaCorp, the company is facing a stable amount of attention globally. Kaibaland has opened its second branch in Japan while having over seven other branches internationally. Not to mention the success of Duel Academies all over the world. Seto’s already executed most of his bright ideas by the time he turned twenty. From duel disk technology to interactive AR, he’s done it. If he wasn’t stuck mulling in place these days, ideas for future endeavors would appear as they always had.
From under the table, Mokuba lightly kicked his foot. Seto snapped his head to his brother, who gestured to the other people in the room. They were prattling on about new possibilities and prospects KaibaCorp could look into. Reintroducing Cap Monsters? No, that’s a risky move now that Duel Monsters has reached peak interest. Hosting another tournament? No, that’s what his Dueling ARs were for.
Before any function in his body could stop him, he simply stated, under his breath: “Duel History Museum.”
“Seto-sama, may you please repeat that?” One of the representatives far from him requested, averting his eyes from Seto as soon as the words left him.
“Duel Monsters is dominating the industry, and so is, as well, KaibaCorp .” With only just a few words to start, Seto grabbed their attention right away. "Even in just the start of this year, a new generation of youth has partaken in tournaments of various levels and due to the favorable outcome of the Duel Academies, we have a new batch of young duelists. It’s only necessary we finally reveal to the public the whole picture.”
Everyone quickly agreed with his statement, no one dared to go against him. He even earned rounds of “that’s very brilliant, Seto-sama” and “you’re the Chairman, indeed.” These comments flew from one ear through another. As if he needed any more corporate sell-outs kissing his feet.
The meeting came to a close with Seto’s solution being taken as the final decision. They were all easily swayed, even when the young CEO didn’t persuade them hard.
Seto slips into the car. Isono shuts the door behind the CEO and does the same for Mokuba on the other side.
“It’s unlike you, nii-sama,” Mokuba laughs, fixing his necktie which is a bright neon purple. Seto argued that it was a massacre of a tie, but his little brother liked the fact that it matched his skin tone. The two of them had just left Kaibaland, the original one, and are taking a ride back home. “Are we really pushing through with telling everyone the truth about Duel Monsters? Like with the whole Egypt thing with the other Yugi?”
“And why not?” The meeting with the project manager for the Duel History Museum didn’t last long, but Seto couldn’t stop itching to leave. After passing the project memorandum to the head design team and subcontractors, the brothers stayed a few more hours. In three months, the two-floor building should be built. Seto wanted to push for two months, that way they could move on to the other branches, yet they settled for three. Peering outside the window, Seto sees the sky peeling off its soft blues, making way for the warm ball of light to sink into the horizon. Sunset would arrive quickly and the paperwork stacked in his desk at home isn’t going away anytime soon.
“I honestly thought,” Mokuba looks down, gaining interest in his shoes, “you didn’t like remembering them.”
Whether or not Mokuba meant the time he spent going around Egyptian ruins and having awful flashbacks of his past life or the times he spent at all with Yugi’s group of friends, Seto doesn’t have the strength to ask anymore. His brother’s question hangs around in the air, leaving the remaining minutes of their ride in the limousine mildly uncomfortable. Staring outside the window’s the only option for him. He fixes his gray suit, adjusting his navy blue tie as if it was choking him.
The limousine speeds past lines of lampposts and buildings. Numerous lights from establishments here and there are beginning to be switched on, getting ready for the night. Spring was ending; it was evident in the way the locals carry an umbrella by their side. Before the scorching breath of summer could come, the rain would wash off the remainders of spring.
Getting tired from the unbearable silence, a walk outside and a cup of coffee would help him. Though lately, coffee has been Seto’s answer to everything. He does need a way to avoid falling asleep on his desk.
“Drop me off here.” It didn’t take more than two seconds before the driver stopped near a coffee shop. Opening the door, Seto maneuvers to exit the ride, taking his briefcase and stepping on the pavement. Mokuba’s eyes left his window side, examining his older brother’s face, looking for signs of anger, before letting his eyes stray away.
Closing the door behind him, he quickly goes inside the café, pushing its wooden door open. He does a double-take. The line’s too long and there are too many people. But the smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked pastries draws him back in. No other coffee shop near Kaibaland gave him what he needed. He’ll just have to call Isono back here once he’s prepared to go home.
Spotting the end of the line, he stands behind an older man, who Seto estimates is in his mid-30s probably. With nothing else to do, Seto looks around the humble establishment. The shop was decorated with kiwi vines circling the columns and windowsills. Books were beautifully piled on the tables; now and then, customers would read them though they were mostly for design. Soft tunes play from a stereo kept near the cashier area, too far for him to recognize what song is playing.
“It’s Seto Kaiba,” a lady who sat near him exclaims. Next thing he knows, the man in front of him started bowing and making way for Seto to take his space in the line. And so did the next lady. Then so did the next man. His jaw tightens; a part of him used to being given special treatment but another part wanted to tell them he should stay in his original place.
Before he knew it, he got closer to the cashier. The only thing blocking him is— a familiar face. The next person in front of him now turns to look at him. Crystal clear, Seto remembers Jounouchi Katsuya even after nine years have passed. High school graduation seems so long ago.
“Oh, great. It’s you,” Jounouchi sighs, scratching his head. Seto could feel the irritation in the blond man’s voice. “I’m not giving up my spot for you.”
There’s an itch along his throat, but he doesn’t mind it. The past is catching up to him. And so, he just takes a deep breath.