Hello to all! I just want to let people know I am still working on my other story but since I have a lot of Kaiba girls as readers so I thought I would write this to please, as I had been thinking on the matter. Anyway, hope my second SetoOC will be just as popular as my last one. Looking forward to support from old and new reviewers.
Many thanks to Freakster for reading this before I posted it. I was terribly unsure if this is up to standards so I wanted a dedicated fan to read first to boost my confidence in it. Love and peace to you! Hope it was a nice present.
Review to say if it's good, as it would be nice, as my birthday is soon! I'll be sweet sixteen!
Thanks and love to you all! Love SGCred xxx
Chapter 1: Rundown Places and People
Early morning light gazed through the thin misty clouds on the horizon. The golden glint of the sun that caressed over the skyline reminded all of ancient Chinese paintings of the orient, aged yet majestic and proud. All brightness of the coming day dawned over a bustling city awaking for slumber. Hong Kong displayed glory in the new days light. However one arrival in this strangely cultured land was too ignorant to care about the natural beauty before him.
The quiet outlook of the country changed to a droning din on the outskirts of its boundaries, as jets landed in the busy airport. So many travelled to explore the out of bounds world, so distant from the other revolutionary countries, but still thrived greatly. As passengers departed flight 214 from Domino, Japan, joyful shouts could be heard through the gateway.
"Come on big brother, we're here! Everything looks so cool," a teen cried out in excitement.
Speeding through the crowd's raven hair wildly soaring behind him, baggy blue jeans slowing him a little. The boy was dressed as if on holiday, black and red T-shirt and blue punk jacket, yet this was no vacation for him. He reached the other side of the building. Looking out of the huge window, violet eyes awed the sight of the thriving city that could be so modern yet still is bound in the past.
"Mokuba, get back her. You'll get lost," a man yelled over the mess of people as he made his way towards his sibling.
Icy blue orbs stared ahead, well focused on his brother and his safety. Brown bangs fell around his face, and dark trench coat flowing behind him. In leather shirt and trousers, he meant business. Casually he walked over next to his brother, who was still staring at the view.
"I'm fine Seto, I just can't wait to look around this place! I bet there's tons to do in such a massive city..."
"Don't forget, I'm on this trip for work purposes little brother. We are not here as sight seeing tourists." he stated firmly.
The young boy nodded reluctantly, knowing his brother would of course make this excursion all about his job. To him it wasn't fair, not to mention leaving him with nothing to do for a whole year. Seto had to state business with some of the foreign executives of Kaiba Corp that were stationed here. But surely being with them couldn't take up all his time. Just because this journey was part of his work didn't mean they couldn't have fun.
'Besides, Seto dragged me since he was going to be away for so long here. Even making sure I had things prepared to be tutored so I wouldn't miss any important schoolwork. There is so much I could see and do in this place, and I refuse to spend my break stuck in a hotel suite.'
Mokuba kept pondering this as he followed Kaiba to pick up their luggage and head for the main entrance building. They were hoping to spot the arranged driver from the Chinese branch to pick them up and take them to their accommodation. Unfortunately no one appeared to have shown up. When the CEO checked at the information desk, the woman there confirmed their had been a call from the board members that the messenger couldn't make it through the traffic so they had to make their own way into town. This caused Kaiba to fume viciously at the poor airline assistant.
"Well Seto, you could always call the headquarters and ask for one of the bystanders out on errands to collect us in a company car."
"Damn it! It's obvious, thanks Mokuba. Just hand me your cell phone to contact them, mine isn't charged." he commanded, but was surprised that his sibling didn't hand over the phone, yet smirked craftily.
"I'll give you the cell Seto, on one condition..."
"I don't have time for games little brother. That mobile is the only way we can make it out of this airport." he hissed.
"All I ask is a small favour. In return, you must promise to enjoy yourself on this trip. When not doing stuff for the company, we go out and have fun, see all interesting things to do here. Of course you don't have to. Just plan your important meetings in the airport lobby..."
This of course infuriated Kaiba. He had no choice, was trapped, a feeling he detested to no end. He hated not being in control but couldn't afford more delays so grumpily gave into his brother. As much as he didn't want to admit it, in most little scuffles like this, his sibling usually won. No matter how tough he was, Seto could never say no to those puppy dog eyes of Mokuba's. Sometimes it seemed like he loved his brother too much, as he always broke down in their disagreements.
Finally, one of the passing workers of the Kaiba Corp branch was contacted and arrived after half an hour to pick them up. While driving to the hotel, Mokuba looked out the window and stared at the wonders in front of him. The boy grinned, full of glee that he would see it all, thanks to his cunning, and could take his brother too. It was about time Seto had a good laugh. He had been too engrossed in his work before. He just didn't get the chance to be like a normal seventeen-year-old should.
"This will be such a blast Seto, I mean we'll be here for a whole year, you can't spend every waking moment analysing this countries production line of your duel disks."
All he heard was a muffled grunt as the car pulled up and stopped outside the towering hotel.
It was late in the afternoon when the two brothers left the exquisite accommodation. After eating lunch they had unpacked and settled into their top class penthouse suite, which had been booked out for their entire stay. It was completely furnished and decorated elegantly. All of it was prepared to Kaiba's request due to the extra amount of cash paid to the manager. Then again threat to buy the hotel out and fire all staff without subsequent pay may have had an affect too.
People packed the streets as the blue eyed young man tried to keep up with his sibling. He could have kicked himself for being dragged into the silly exercise, but he had to keep his word. Breaking a promise to Mokuba was not an option for him, so he went along with the child's antics. Somewhere within, a small part of the CEO was a bit grateful for this. It may have been nice to take things easy and see the less frustrating carefree side to life. This of course was a thought that would never surface. Kaiba would make sure he never showed he cared.
'Well, this place isn't that bad I suppose. Certainly some parts are a lot more picturesque. These people somehow develop rapidly in technology, yet cling to their roots and grip onto the past...Of course, the best thing is I'll be away from Wheeler and all his little friends for the entire year. No annoying pests to bother me. The joy!'
"Come on Seto, I know exactly where we should go." The teenager screamed, jolting his brother back to reality.
"All right Mokuba, hang on, you might get a ticket for speeding at the rate you're going." he chuckled as he followed his brother down the road.
Soon, they both found themselves in a rushing market area further downtown. This place was quite a distance from the hotel and higher-class district, so you could see less fortunate people buying and selling goods at stalls in the crowded avenue. So many items were displayed on the stands.
Food and drink was sold in huge portions for very large families. Pottery, china and household goods littered the tables and ground, and if you broke it, you bought it. For richer customers, jewellery, glass trinkets and artwork glimmered in the reflecting light. Of course, some clerks behind the counters didn't look so trustworthy, fleecing peasants out of their hard-earned wages with fake goods.
Mokuba was glimpsing at each stall's products in turn, his brother watching closely. The CEO's icy gaze was enough to warn the shady characters not to attempt cheating his sibling out of his money. Otherwise, the consequences would be dire. He certainly would demand more than just a mere refund from them if they made a mistake. At this point, Kaiba just thought of his soft bed at the penthouse. Everything today had worn him out...
"Seto, look over there!" his younger brother called.
He snapped his gaze up to see where his sibling was pointing. Assuming it to be some sort of souvenir stand, he groaned, but soon saw what Mokuba had been talking about. Looking over, he saw a group of children dashing out of an alleyway, bouncing a ball around, and viciously smirking. All in peasant clothes, boys and girls of nine or ten, laughed at some unknown joke.
It seemed strange till another two kids appeared. The boy looked to be the same age as the others. He was somewhat better dressed than them and was glaring, while a much younger girl peered out from behind him. She was also in fine attire, but on the verge of tears for some reason.
"I don't get it, what's up with them Seto?"
"Looks like that little gang stole that toy from the other two kids. Must be a brother and a sister."
"Those bullies! Reminds me of the stuff we went through at the orphanage, being picked on for no reason."
Kaiba nodded, recalling the hell they both faced in that dumping ground. He wasn't sure what to think of the display, but it brought back painful memories none the less.
Suddenly, one of the tough kids tossed the ball hard, so it bounced out onto the road, and then fled with the cackling group of youths. The naïve little girl sprang out from behind the boy to retrieve the toy, not noticing the speeding rickshaw cart heading towards her. Her brother ran after her, trying to pull her back to the pavement, but soon both were frozen to the spot as the driver never slowed, bringing impending doom. The two Japanese brothers were in utter shock.
"Seto, they'll be killed!" Mokuba cried.
Neither one was sure, but for the Kaiba's, the sight of the two siblings, willing to protect each other, even in death stirred something within them. Both rushed out into the path of the rickshaw without thinking. Seto grabbed both of the children; one in each arm while Mokuba obtained the ball. With swift movements, both made it to the other side of the street before being flattened. They heard the driver on the front bicycle mutter some insult, though they couldn't be sure as it was in Chinese.
"Lunatic. They let people like him have a drivers licence. Ridiculous!" Kaiba seethed, as he placed the pair of children on the ground.
The teen nodded in agreement, before kneeling in front of the kids, who were still trembling from the experience. The boy held his sister protectively, as the violet-eyed boy held out his hand giving the ball to the little girl, smiling at her.
"Here you go, next time don't go running out into the middle of the street. It's dangerous for kids like you. Maybe we should look for your parents, are they here with you?" he inquired, but only got a blank stare in return.
"Unfortunately, I don't think they understand English Mokuba, and we don't know any Chinese." Seto expressed rationally.
"We can't leave them here on their own though."
While thinking on if they could turn them into the police and let them deal with finding their family, they took a closer look at the kids. Both, like normal Chinese children, had light tanned skin, and lean features. The differences were that the boy had tinted red streaks through his black hair and dark green eyes. His sister had lighter red, nearly pink highlights in her ebony locks with indigo orbs.
Both children were quite finely dressed, showing they must have been of a high-class family. The boy had a deep navy Chinese silk suit of matching trousers and long sleeved shirt. Golden stitch cuffs and ties lined the top and neck, while slip on shoes of the same fine material. The little girl had a similar outfit, only with shorter sleeves and was lilac with pink lining. Her hair was in two buns on either side of her head, tied with pink ribbons.
While the brothers still thought on what to do, the young girl jerked her head up, eyes fixed on something or someone across the street. Whatever it was lurked in the passageway, hidden in darkness, but the child jumped for joy.
"Jie jie!" she exclaimed at the top of her lungs, making the others jump and stare as well. Desperately she tugged her brother, who seemed to understand and guided her across the road, which was now clear of traffic.
"Hey, come back you two!" Mokuba shouted, though they didn't halt.
"Oh for God's sake! Come on before they end up hurting themselves again!" Kaiba persuaded as they followed the youths.
Once they were on the other side, they noticed both kids being hugged by the figure, who was saying something like 'wui me' and 'ge' to the pair. Extraordinarily, the person noticed the people watching and chose to reveal itself. In the breaking light Seto found himself looking at a strange, but captivating sight...