Alrighty. So this story is VERY AU. I'm flirting around the Waking of the Dragons Arc, but be mindful that this won't exactly fall in line with the episodes. I've just got a different way of going about things.

Yes, this is a SetoxOC story. There will be plenty of competition for him as i feel his affections don't come out very well unless he's being "threatened". haha.

I've kinda been wanting to write this idea for awhile, so here it is. Please read and enjoy (as i hope you will). There are several OCs in this story as I felt i needed a few more in my "cast" since this doesn't really focus on Yugi and his gang. It's basically about Seto. lol.

Enjoy!

-TSA

Requirements

"I'm gonna run right to, to the edge with you, where we can both fall in love. I'm on the edge of glory…" –Lady GaGa "Edge of Glory"

Chapter 1:

Hundreds of faces, friends and enemies alike. Of course, in his case, everyone was an enemy. He was Seto Kaiba, an eighteen year old multi-billionaire who was only steps away from ruling the world. The most prestigious company sat in his hands and the rest of the world was willing to comply to his demands. If they didn't, well, he'd have them bought out or run out. Business was a cruel game, and if he couldn't be the best at dueling, he might as well take his victory as the top of the business industry.

Sipping on a glass of champagne, he surveyed the room with his sapphire blue eyes that he had been told were renowned for their piercing gaze. Fine by him…He set aside his half drank glass while shifting through crowds of people, ever so often shaking the hand of an elder CEO, who wished him to meet the younger generation that would run his company. Blah, blah, blah. He rolled his eyes as a young woman was twirling in front of him. With a curt nod of the head, he dismissed any flirtatious glance.

The last thing he had time for was a pesky young lady.

Nearly tripping on the foot of a drunken man, he scowled while his arm was grabbed to keep him on his feet. Straightening out his jacket and tie, he glared at the man standing beside him. He wrestled his arm free and started making his way toward the small bar. He felt the sudden need to drink. When his scotch was set in front of him, he saw that he had been unsuccessful in escaping that man.

"You never say 'hello'." The blonde pouted, bottom lip stuck out, "I thought we had, at least, progressed to friends."

"I'm not friends with anyone, Lionel." Seto took a sip of his scotch, "If I were friends with the men here, then I wouldn't be at the top of the pyramid in the business world."

"My apologies for not bowing, Mighty Pharaoh…"

"Cut the shit, Lionel. What do you want?"

The blonde ordered a drink, shrugging his shoulders, "I think you know the answer to that."

"I won't merge with your company." Seto smirked, "I'd rather watch you lose all your funding so I can buy you out."

"I've got too much pride for that bargain, Kaiba."

"Suit yourself." Seto picked up his drink and turned on his heel, walking out to mingle amongst the other CEOs, "The offer remains the same. Forfeit your company or I'll simply have it destroyed."

It was a simple request, really. If he expected to even remain in the business world then he needed to play his cards right. But knowing Lionel, that bastard would find a young lady to take as his wife and take her company. There were plenty of eligible candidates and if those girls decided to flirt with Lionel then that gave him more time to plot how to take apart his competition. Should a merge happen, Lionel had the opportunity to surpass him.

But he was confident in that not happening. If any of the other CEOs knew about Lionel, they knew he was a whore. Seto paused while finishing his drink and setting it on the tray of a passing waiter. There were so many "ifs" coming up. His brow furrowed as he thought on how he could eliminate the "ifs". His first job would be assuring that Lionel couldn't merge, which meant eliminating his choice in companies. Lovely. This was becoming a hassle…

"Herr Kaiba…"

It was a banner day for running into people he hated.

"I didn't figure you were considered eligible to attend this event." Seto turned his ice glare to Siegfried Von Schroider, "You have yet to create something of worth to this world."

"Your joking has yet to cease." Siegfried rolled his eyes while sipping on a glass of red wine, "My apologies for being worthless in your eyes."

Seto hated the mocking tone in his voice, "Between you and Lionel, I don't know which is more pathetic."

"Come off it, Herr Kaiba. Your arrogance is your folly."

"That's why I'm number one."

"You say that as if you have no competition!" Siegfried smirked, "There is a certain someone who stands in your way."

Seto raised a brow, though he looked less than concerned with that proposition, "Pegasus has taken a leave of absence-"

"And his daughter has taken over."

The smirk on Siegfried's face made Seto cringe, though he was careful to hide it. He glanced around the room in search of anyone with a resemblance to Pegasus, "Since when did he have an offspring?"

"She's adopted." Siegfried took a sip of his wine, "I'm surprised you weren't 'in-the-know'."

"Don't patronize me." The venomousness of his words made Siegfried shudder, "Who is this woman?"

Siegfried pointed across the room to a short girl wearing six inch pink heels. She had boy-cut, blonde hair that tumbled across her forehead. Her black rimmed spectacles made her green eyes look beady, but overall she was an attractive individual. But he could hardly consider her a serious business woman since she wore a pair of "booty shorts" with a pair of black tights under them, topped with a white blouse under a navy jacket.

"Samantha Crawford. She's enchanting to talk to, I insist you introduce yourself!" Siegfried lifted a brow when he saw Seto glare at him, "Come now, Herr Kaiba. You're being stubborn."

"What did I tell you about patronizing me?"

"You simply told me not to do it." Siegfried gestured for someone, "If you won't introduce yourself then I will do it for you."

Seto was tempted to punch Siegfried, but the fact that he needed to present himself amongst these other businessmen restrained him from proceeding with it. He fiddled with his tie, wanting to loosen it, yet he only succeeded in tightening it. Taking a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, he gave a nod of the head to the blonde woman that strode up beside Siegfried. She greeted him with a kiss upon the cheek before turning her gaze to him.

"Seto Kaiba, I presume?"

Her voice was delicate in all manners aside from the crispness of her articulation, "You talk as if we're acquainted."

"Your life is no secret." She sighed, bored with the topic already, "Do you expect me not to know the second best duelist in the world?"

Seto brushed off her insult, "You've obviously forgotten who stands at the top of the gaming industry."

Samantha laughed, throwing her head back, "I didn't forget, Silly!" She smirked as his cheeks turned a slight scarlet, "But I see you have forgotten."

"You offer little competition-"

"Correction." She hummed the word for a moment, "I am your greatest competition." She gave a little tug at Siegfried's sleeve, "Sieg, could you be a dear and ask the bartender to make a dry martini for me? Thanks." Seto was slightly impressed with how she left it as an order, not a question. When Siegfried walked off, she gave Seto a smile, though it twisted like an agitated cobra, "Your industry would not exist without my father's. I am the key stone."

"You're nothing but a stepping stone." Seto swished the contents of his glass around, watching the champagne climb up the sides, "I've already surpassed your father's industry."

Samantha sighed profusely, a look of pity crossing her pale face, "They aren't kidding when they say you are blinded by your ambition." She winked at him while Siegfried walked back over to them, handing her the martini, "Thanks, Darling." She gently patted Siegfried on the cheek, "You look as handsome as ever, Herr Schroider."

Seto grinned, musing on the way Siegfried's name rolled off her tongue. He watched as Siegfried attempted to keep himself composed when he was under her little spell. Impressive was the least he could say. Samantha was the only women he had met that could handle herself this well amongst men.

"I'm curious about your father's leave of absence," Seto said.

Samantha shrugged, "He needs the time off. You know very well of the dealings in Duelist Kingdom."

"That was over a year ago."

"Yet it still weighs on his conscience." Samantha took a sip from her martini, "In the meantime, he has left things in my care. But enough about me!" She winked at Siegfried, who was peering over her shoulder with the expression of a lost puppy, "Tell me, Kaiba, who here interests you?"

Seto was unsure where her question was implied, "I'm currently trying to buy out Lionel Kensington."

Samantha laughed, "How coincidental! I am too!" She took a step closer to Seto, tapping him on the nose, "But I meant the other 'interest'…"

"I have little patience for these 'princesses'." He noticed that Siegfried seemed surprised by that, "I'm investing in business, not pleasure."

"I think you'll soon find out that they go hand in hand."

Samantha delicately sipped on her martini, trying to hide her cheerful smirk. Her eyes danced gleefully when Siegfried asked her to dance and Seto was glad that he was back to being alone.

He decided that it would be best to stop picking up drinks and abandoned his champagne glass. Glancing about the room, he noticed a few young women staring his way. He rolled his eyes and stomped off, less than amused by Samantha's belief that business had anything to do with pleasure. Before he strayed too far, an elder gentleman with a rotund stomach grabbed his arm. Seto nearly lost his balance as he was tugged backward and into a suffocating hug.

"Kaiba, My boy!" He gasped for air as he was finally let go from the bear's grasps, regaining his footing with limited grace, "My God, you've grown! Last time I saw you, you were a tiny tyke!"

Seto grimaced as his hair was ruffled. He straightened out the wrinkles of his suit jacket while staring at the giant fellow in front of him, who was six foot seven with a gut that was once considered a symbol of wealth. His mustache and hair were sprinkled with grey, though his eyes were endlessly youthful. Even Seto couldn't deny him a tiny smile, remembering how this man, Mister Gunter Thompson, had been fond of his intellectual ability the instant he was admitted into the corporate world. It was true that he hadn't actually seen him in person since he was fifteen. Not exactly a tyke, but certainly not as large as this fellow.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Mister Thompson."

"So, tell me! Where are you standing? I can only imagine at the top! You were certainly an ambitious boy as I hope that much about you hasn't changed!"

"I'm in control currently." Seto tried to ignore Samantha's words stabbing at his brain, "The competition is dwindling."

Mister Thompson threw an arm around his shoulders while pointing over to where Siegfried and Samantha were dancing, "Who'd have thought that Pegasus would have a lovely daughter? She's no pushover, My Boy."

"But she's a woman." Seto heard him chuckle, "There's a ruthlessness demanded of this work-"

"She's the closest to buying out poor Lionel." Mister Thompson saw Seto's eyes flicker with disgust, "I think that just has to do with him tripping over her."

"Siegfried is the same…No respect." Seto surveyed the room, realizing someone in particular was missing. Why it took him until now to notice was bemusing him, "Where's Ronan O'Malley?"

Mister Thompson's eyes dimmed and he drew in a deep breath, "Passed away, I'm afraid. He's been battling Pancreatic Cancer for the past year and a half."

"I never knew-"

"He was a very private man." Mister Thompson chuckled, "Very few of us were aware of it."

Seto found himself staring at Samantha, who was mingling again with several young entrepreneurs, and he had to laugh at the dropped jaws and sparkling eyes. She was certainly intriguing, but to him it was simply because of her control, "How's his wife doing?"

"Last I heard, it's been the hardest for her. Though I've been married for thirty years, there was a degree of admiration Ronan and Deanna had for one another. She's torn herself away from reality."

Seto's brow furrowed, "Where will his company go? He has an empire over in the United States."

Mister Thompson's smile had returned to full life, "His daughter was named his heir. Damnable Ronan snubbed his Board of Directors, yet all of them have agreed to assist the young lady."

Seto was more than appalled by that statement. Another girl? What the hell were these men thinking? O'Malley's empire would crumble just as Rome did when incapable hands took over. That notion made him wrinkle his nose, "Is Ronan an idiot?"

"I figured you'd say that."

"I've never even heard about his daughter. Why would he entrust his company to a young woman?"

"He must have his reasons. May he rest in peace!"

Seto grimaced, "May he not roll over in his grave…" He declined a drink as Mister Thompson helped himself to a glass of wine, "Should we be expecting her to make an appearance as the representative of his corporation?"

"For your sake, I certainly hope so! I hear she's a real diamond!"

Seto rolled his eyes, "I'm not impressed by rhinestones…"

"You'll be impressed with her…" Mister Thompson nudged his shoulder, "She's a raven haired young lady. I never have believed that grey eyes could be spellbinding, but I've not met a fellow who hasn't tripped when he's met her gaze-"

"You'll meet one soon," Seto muttered, referring to himself.

"What if you are impressed with her?"

"That'll be a cold day in Hell."

OK. that's kinda it... chapter two is up and i hope that you all continue on to it! you'll actually get to meet Gwen, this "raven haired young lady". haha. Trust me, Seto is never going to swoon over her. that's just soooo not him. He's going to be Seto, a ruthless business man.

review if you're feeling up to it. :)

-TSA