Soigné
Soigné (adj) possessing an aura of sophistication in dress, manner or design; presented or prepared with an elegance attained through care for the finer details
Stepping out of the only glass and metal elevator that had access to the office of Kiaba Corporations CEO the Pharaoh had to refrain from sneering. In the three days between seeing Yugi Moto for the first time and the scheduled meeting with the CEO of Kiaba Corporations the Pharaoh had not gained any chances to view the city.
Domino was a startling reminder of Zerah. The ancient city had been the epicenter of Khemetian rule for twenty-four thousand years before that disastrous day five thousand years ago. Zerah had been ordered abandoned by Heru as Sutekh and Anapa held the wards against the human invading force. No one had been there to see the battle that had occurred once the wards fell. For that the Pharaoh was glad. Three gods against an army of humans, even humans that could use such a disgusting form of magic…the Pharaoh almost pitied the poor fools that had thought it wise to invade the God City.
Almost.
Nothing had remained of the city but untouched temples, houses of prayer, and the royal palace. The rest was sand and ash. Not even the remains of the enemy had survived when the Pharaoh and his court had dared enter the city two days later. So much knowledge had been lost that day. Technology so old even the Pharaoh thought it ancient. Records of pervious civilizations, of magic, how the first vampire had been conceived, all gone in a matter of hours.
It was the gods’ price for having their city invaded. Zerah had been the home of the gods long before it had been the home of mortals. Then one day Heru had extended his hand and offered his home to the scattered remnants of the Lilitu Empire. No one knows why he did it, but that was the day Khemet had truly been born. The tribes of the Black Lands had had a reason to stop warring with each other and could finally reclaim their title as one of the greatest civilizations of the world.
Now Zerah was lost to the sands of Khemet. The Pharaoh and his people had never rebuilt the ancient city. Instead they had allowed the gods to reclaim it as their own. A reminder that nothing ever lasted forever, not even vampires.
That wasn’t why the Pharaoh was tempted to sneer though. No. It was the audacity of the human he was about to meet. The man–for the Pharaoh knew the females of the human species where far more intelligent when it comes to angry vampires–had changed the time of the meeting without giving the Pharaoh and his court any warning. If he didn’t take this chance now to meet with the CEO, the Pharaoh would have to wait another six weeks for an opening in the human’s schedule.
And that was something the Pharaoh refused to allow.
He would meet with the elusive CEO of Kiaba Corporations. Now. And when he was done with the human the Pharaoh would turn his sights on to far more interesting things. Like his hunt for one Yugi Moto.
Mm. The Pharaoh could feel the boy’s supple skin under his fingertips if he focused hard enough. Oh, how the Pharaoh wondered how the little game would react to his fangs grazing the boy’s neck. Would the boy arch into the touch? Shy away? What would it take for the Pharaoh to bring a moan out of the boy’s throat?
The sneer finally made its way onto the Pharaohs lips. He had to take care of his business with the CEO, now. Before he lost himself to the hunt and nothing but his little game occupied his thoughts. It was maddening. How had he dealt with hunts in the past? That’s right. The Pharaoh hadn’t had a hunt since the first time he had met his pale vampire, and that was nearly six thousand years ago. Give or take a few centuries.
Ra, did the Pharaoh want nothing more than to storm into the human’s office and demand what he wanted to know. Yet, he had an appearance to keep. It was imperative that the Pharaoh abide by the rules and laws of this human society. Showing disregard for them would be like putting blood in shark infested waters and watching the feeding frenzy that follows.
The relationship between the vampire race and human-Japan was frayed enough without the Pharaoh rocking the boat. Expecially after the events in Domino’s shopping district the other day.
The sneer grew as the Pharaoh and his court were made to wait in the lavish sitting area outside the CEO’s office. Glass opened the top floor of Kiaba tower to a nearly 360 degree view of Domino city. Only the seamless metallic elevator shaft and the CEO’s frosted glass walled office broke the view. Minimalistic clusters of chairs and small tables dotted the waiting area like water frozen just after a rock was thrown into a still pond. All smooth lines and rippling curves in light blue and clear glass.
Even the floor kept to this theme, what with it rippling like fluid at each step the Pharaoh took. Water appeared to be the main feature, which did not come as much of a surprise when ancient vampire technology was involved. The Sea States of the past had much the same style and design. Though it had been a main priority of those States to live and grow with the planet.
Humanity just wanted to destroy it.
Only two objects stood out of place in this futuristic setting. The secretary typing away at a slim laptop, and the wood desk she was sitting behind. Bold blue lipstick lined glittering white fangs as blue eyes narrowed at the screen before her. Hair as equally dark as her skin, the secretary wore a blue leather jumpsuit and five inch heels.
The Pharaoh didn’t know how to perceive the secretary. On one hand she was a vampire, a Tahkmar to be precise. She was one of his subjects and should show him the proper respect he deserved being Royalty. On the other hand. She was a citizen of Japan and had most likely been turned after Japan had become isolationist and hostile toward the vampire race. If that was the case then she had never been taught the proper respect and knowledge needed to survive in the vampire community outside of Japan.
So truthfully, the Pharaoh shouldn’t fault her for acting as if humans had just stepped off the elevator and where waiting for her boss to be done with whatever it was he was busy with. Yet, the truth had never stopped the Phara–
No. That was wrong. The Pharaoh was a creature of order. It was his divine duty to find the truth in any situation and maintain the law. Maintain order. The moment he had been crowned The Pharaoh of Shadows and went through the Ascension that was what he was. Atem was the one who discarded the truth if it did not fit his model of the universe.
Drawing air through his nose and releasing it in a silent breath the Pharaoh closed his crimson eyes. He needed this meeting to happen soon. He was slipping more and more with each moment that passed. It would not do to have Atem enter the CEO’s office, nor attend to the hunt. It would be disastrous, cataclysmic even.
The Pharaoh idly wondered how beautiful his little game would look covered in blood… Damnit.
The typing suddenly stopped.
“Mr. Kaiba will see you shortly.” Blue lips smiled reassuringly at the vampires assembled before her. “He is just finishing up with his meeting, right about now.”
As if they had heard her the glass walls that created the CEO’s office became less opaque, showing figures moving closer to the frosted doors leading to the sitting area. In a matter of seconds seven humans of different sexes, ages, and ethnicities where standing before the court. Most of them blinked stupidly at the sight of the Pharaoh’s court in full regalia. A few even turned lust filled eyes onto the Pharaoh himself.
The Pharaoh refused to react and instead briskly stalked around the humans and through the doors behind them. Following their king the court moved beyond the humans. Many of its members couldn’t help the small smile that graced their lips when the secretary begin lecturing the humans about proper manners.
However, all sound died when the doors glided closed behind them and the court had to stop quickly to avoid bumping into the Pharaoh.
Sharp crimson eyes widened minuscule then narrowed. He knew that scent even after five thousand years without it constantly at his shoulder. The urge to bristle ran through the Pharaoh as his gaze wandered over the man before him.
Settled behind a glass consul sat a tall eighteen year old. Sharp icy blue eyes stared back at the Pharaoh from a stoic face. A face the Pharaoh knew very well. Brown hair licked the back of the man’s neck even as bangs threatened to curtain those blue eyes. Paler then the Pharaoh had last seen, the hauntingly familiar man stood slowly from his seat, giving the Pharaoh and his court full view of his commanding figure.
The black slacks wrapped around legs that seemed to go on for miles. A black turtle neck and Armani white steel-studded sleeveless trench coat accented the CEO’s slim form and pale skin. And numerous leather straps on arms and legs did nothing to hide the lean muscled figure the man had. The Pharaoh was certain that the slim body was stronger than it looked, just as its darker mirror image had been five thousand years ago.
Long fingers tapped over the consul almost dismissively as Kaiba Corporation’s CEO did his own study of his guest. The priests where just as he had remembered them to be. Professional, cold, and dressed in ancient styles even in this modern world. A frown wanted to cross Seto’s lips at the sight of a shirtless Karim. The vampire could have at least worn a tunic. Quickly Seto’s blue eyes glanced over the Millennium Items settled among the priests. Noting with some satisfaction that Mahada had not taken another item after the ring had been stolen from him.
Allowing his gaze to wander yet Seto noted just how close Mahada and Isis where. It wouldn’t have surprised him at all if the two of them had finally created a mating bond. Actually, he hoped for it. There were so few royals left in the world. Little vampire princes and princesses would bring new life into the slowly stagnating race.
Seto knew that these thoughts where simply a way for him to deter looking at the Pharaoh. He knew it was juvenile, but Seto didn’t want to face the music just yet. Seto had been planning his introduction to the Pharaoh of Shadows since he was thirteen years old. However, the vampire had trounced through all those plans with a simple no thank you and stood before him as if Seto was a naughty child.
To be fair. In this case Seto was a disobedient child. But the Pharaoh acting like he was Seto’s disciplinarian? That was not acceptable.
Blue eyes blinked closed as Seto released a sigh. If he wanted the meeting to start he would have to look at the Pharaoh. So he did.
Surprise must have shown in his eyes because the Pharaoh’s crimson eyes flickered in amusement before the emotion was extinguished. Unlike the priests the Pharaoh was wearing modern clothing. The smallest in the room at five-eleven, the Pharaoh made up for it with his commanding presence and predatory gaze. Sepia colored skin was cloyingly revealed by the two open buttons of a white cotton dress shirt. A black sports jacket accented the Pharaoh’s slim waist, well pressed slacks reveled in the vampires long legs. Slightly heeled leather dress shoes completed the look.
However, it was the face that looked no older than twenty seven that really surprised Seto. A series of thin barely-there discolorations added to the beauty of the Pharaoh’s sharp features. Seto couldn’t see the discoloration himself, human eyes where not strong enough to see such a miniscule shift in color. But he remembered that they were there on the left side of the Pharaoh’s face. Full lips were pursed slightly revealing a hint of straight white teeth and piercing almond shaped eyes glimmered in the low light of Seto’s office.
The Pharaoh’s hair was reminiscent of Yugi’s, or more specifically Yami’s. What with it spiking up away from his head in a mixture of deep red, black, and antique gold. Golden bangs added to the Pharaoh’s otherworldly features, even as bolts of the color intermingled with the rest of his hair.
To put it simply he was exotically breathtaking.
And a reminder of things Seto would rather not think about.
With a sigh Seto motioned to the seats before his desk. Just because he didn’t want to have this conversation didn’t mean he could be impolite. “Per-a-a’, it is a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”
“And I you, Mr. Kaiba.” The Pharaoh took the middle seat and finally allowed himself to peruse the CEO’s office.
Shimmering holographic display panels glittered along the office’s walls displaying stock values, multiple news agencies from around the world, reports, even a Monsters and Wizards tournament that was taking place. The glass walls had gone opaque again and the office was disturbingly clean of clutter or any personal objects. Not even a plant existed in the large office. As if the reincarnation couldn’t afford to care about such things.
The office should have felt airy and open with the back wall being a window to the world outside. However, Seth’s reincarnation was obviously as paranoid as Seth had been because as soon as the doors had closed behind the court the window had gone dark. Leaving only the holographs as a source of light for the room.
“I was quite displeased to learn that I would have to come to Japan for this meeting.” The Pharaoh began. “However, I have found that this trip has been quite fruitful.”
“I am sure it would be,” Seth’s reincarnation stated in a monotone. “After all, the tie between Japan and the Vampire Kingdom has been strenuous at best these past few decades.”
The corners of the Pharaoh’s lips lifted upwards ever so slightly. Leave it to his cousin’s reincarnation to have knowing set Japan’s Prime Minister on him and feel the need to rub his nose in the knowledge as well.
“Yes, it has. A relatively recent act on Japan’s part nearly severed said tie. I am quite glad that it did not. For I would not be here if it had.”
Seth’s reincarnation leaned back in his seat. It was subtle body language that stated he was in control, yet it didn’t insult the Pharaoh. A flick of the fingers on his right hand told the court to stand down. Let him play this game, after all, it had been a good three hundred years since the last master had dared played against the Pharaoh.
“Oh?” Seth’s reincarnation asked lightly. “I was not aware that there had been a situation between our two nations in the last four decades.”
A black clade leg was draped over the other as the Pharaoh also leaned back in his seat. “Yes, eighteen years ago to be in fact. Japan refused me my right to my cousin’s reincarnation. Even though the child is mine by law and blood.”
Seth’s reincarnation didn’t even blink at the information. Clever fledgling, the Pharaoh thought lightly, to bad I’ve played this game five thousand years longer then you.
“Reincarnations are to be handed over to their pre-death kin immediately after birth. To not do so is a direct violation of Ma’at and can have irreversible implications.” Seth’s reincarnation frowned darkly for a moment. “I assume you are planning to collect you’re cousin’s reincarnation at the end of this trip and take them back to Khemet.”
“I am,” the Pharaoh conceded.
“Then you know that said reincarnation is still considered a minor here in Japan and can only go with you if their biological parents state that it is alright?” It was supposed to be a statement.
The Pharaoh’s lips lifted just a little more. “I doubt that will be a problem.”
An eyebrow was raised. “Really?”
“Yes. It seems my cousin’s reincarnation was emancipated at the age of thirteen after his father’s sudden death.” It took quite a bit of the Pharaoh’s control to keep the amusement out of his voice. They were slowly getting closer to the truth of the matter.
“You will still need to prove to said reincarnation that they are you’re cousin’s reborn self. Besides that, as an adult the only way you will get you’re cousin back is if they go with you willingly.” Seth’s reincarnation hedged.
“I doubt the first requirement will be much of a problem,” crimson eyes glimmered under lowered lashes. “After all, we’ve been talking in pre-dynastic hetric sense we greeted one another.”
A sharp breath rang through the office as Seth’s reincarnation realized he was speaking the truth.
“Not that it matters,” the Pharaoh continued. “You’ve been very good at drawing me away from the true reason for this meeting. We only have a limited amount of time before you’re secretary will start to wonder what is going on in here. After all, you’re heart beat has slowed down quite a bit since we entered.” Fangs flashed in the low light as the Pharaoh smiled. “One of the effects of a reincarnation being without their original kin. Their bodies try to revert back to their original form when forced to be in the same space as said kin. In you’re case, my dear cousin that is vampire royalty.”
Seth’s reincarnation bared his human teeth in a mockery of a vampire warning. “I do not have time, nor want for such drivel, Per-a-a’.”
“There you go again, Seth, slipping into ancient languages that haven’t been heard or spoken by humans in over five thousand years.” The Pharaoh flippantly replied, counting his cousins heart beats. It was startlingly soothing.
The Pharaoh could hear the reincarnation’s teeth grinding together from across the consul.
“My name is Seto Kaiba.” Seth’s reincarnation growled. “And this is not what we are here to discuss.”
The Pharaoh sat up straighter. “Then let us discus why we are here.”
He didn’t have to worry about finding nothing on the elusive CEO anymore. A few words in the right ear and Seth–Seto’s name would grant the Pharaoh all the information he wanted. Soon the Pharaoh would know exactly what kind of life his cousin had lived these past eighteen years.
“I am not giving you any power over my company.” Seto started.
“I do not want any power over this company.” The Pharaoh scoffed. “I want to know where and more importantly, who you are getting vampire technology from. Specifically when I remember ordering all of it destroyed during the Millennium war.”
Seto remained quiet.
“Well we are on that note,” the Pharaoh continued darkly. “What in the name of Ra gave you the idea that integrating vampire technology into a Human city was a good idea? Much less actually make it accessible and workable for them!”
The folded arms of Seth’s reinsertion told the Pharaoh that his cousin was not sorry one bit. Oh, how the Pharaoh wanted to put his cousin in his place. No one went against the Pharaoh’s orders, his word was law. Leave it to his cousin’s human reincarnation to disregard the one order that had kept the entire vampire species safe for five thousand years.
It made his blood boil.
“There are things you don’t know about with good reason, cousin.” Seto sneered. “You will never find out who has been giving me this technology. They have been under my family’s protection since I was a young child. More over. If you really want to know where the technology I get comes from then you should look around you. The ruins of ancient empires are everywhere. Humanity might have forgotten that the world was round and there were other continents, but we never did! If one knows where to look then they could find anything!”
“Then explain to me why you are doing this,” the Pharaoh motioned to the holographic panels along the walls, the obviously vampire consul Seto sat behind.
He was getting tired of not knowing the reasons, and had forgotten how hard it was to argue with Seth when his cousin thought he was right. It didn’t help that the court not was taking the news that Kaiba Corporation’s CEO was Seth’s reincarnation.
Seto sat back in his seat again. He hadn’t expected the rush of emotions that had come with arguing with the Pharaoh. He was never an emotional person when it came to business, and that was exactly what this was. Business. Seto knew he had be careful as he continued this argument. There where things set in motion that the Pharaoh could not know about. Seto had to keep his family safe, even from itself.
For once glad that Joey was not sprawled out on a futon before the window, Seto chose his words carefully. “In the last few years it has come to my attention that there are factions of humanity that are growing more…rebellious.”
The Pharaoh nodded.
“These…factions have begun their own study of vampire technology and are trying to gain full access to all its potential.” Seto let his gaze sweep over the vampires before him. “They have not yet been able to gain an entry point, however, there is talk that they are looking for a…key, of sorts.”
“A key?” Mahada repeated from his standing position to the right of the Pharaoh. “There is no key to vampire technology. You must simply be a vampire.”
Seto nodded. “Normally you are correct. However, when the Per-a-a’ ordered all vampire technology destroyed a safety setting that was built in to every single piece of vampire tech was activated. It could only be activated by the Per-a-a’ during a threat of thee eminent death of the species, as per the parameters created by the ancients.”
“And this setting makes it so not even vampires can gain access to the technology.” Shada muttered quietly to the Pharaoh’s left.
Seto dipped his head lightly in the priest’s direction. “You are correct. This key, whatever it may be, has been this faction’s main goal for the past fifteen years. They had gotten close to gaining this key once nine years ago. However, it slipped through their fingers before they realized what they had obtained.”
“And you possess it.” Kamin’s green eye flashed at the thought.
A smirk settled on Seto’s lips. “No. I don’t.”
“Then how are you gaining access to vampire technology?” The Pharaoh asked, oh so lightly.
“The same way anyone gains access to a superior piece of technology that they have no hope of knowing how to work.” Seto’s smirk turned into a full grown predatory smile. “Reverse engineering.”
The court spluttered and Seto couldn’t help but pray Joey was recording the meeting and not simply watching the event unfold from the security room a floor below.
“It takes more than reverse engineering,” the Pharaoh’s baritone voice skated through the room. “One must first know what such devices are made for, and a power source that works–” A flash of eyes the color of amethyst appeared in the Pharaoh’s mind and everything seemed to klick into place, like the lost puzzle piece had been revealed. “–That’s why you’re integrating vampire technology into this city. You’ve found out the key to making the technology work. Or more specifically, who has the key.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Seto denied.
Fangs flashed as the Pharaoh sat forward. “I can hear your heart beat Seth. Do. Not. Lie. To. Me.”
Silence filled the room as the leader of the vampire race and this former high priest glared at each other from across the consul. The tension was so thick it hid the office doors sliding open.
“Nii-sama,” a child’s voice called out behind the court. “I can’t seem to figure out where this million has been placed. Every time I get a lock on it the source scatters into fragments and I’m on the hunt again. Can yo– Oh.” The child had finally looked up from the papers he was holding and realized he had stepped into the dreaded meeting with the Pharaoh of Shadows.
The Pharaoh turned his head slightly so that he could get a good look at the child that had called Seth big brother. So that was why Seth was being so difficult about being a reincarnation. A predatory look crossed the Pharaoh’s face as he noted the blue eyes the two siblings shared and the long curtain of black hair that adorned the child’s head.
No, not a child. A young teenager.
“Mokuba,” Seto softly called the boy over to him. “What was it you needed?”
The boy, Mokuba, the Pharaoh corrected himself, shot the court an untrusting look before scampering over to his older brother. Quickly the papers the boy had been holding where lain out on the consul. Rapidly Mokuba explained what he had been able to do, and what he had not, ending with “– I think we might have a spy in our midst, or somebody has stick fingers. Whoever it is is good at what they do.”
Seto leaned over the papers. Then with a disgusted snort ran his hand over the consul surface. Holographic whirled into life in front of the young CEO. As he began to study the continuing cat and mouse game taking place on the interweb, Seto nearly forgot that the Pharaoh and his court where there.
“I need to handle this immediately,” Seto stated too softly for human ears to pick up.
The Pharaoh nodded his head in understanding. Six thousand years of running a species had shown him that some things where too important to ignore. The threat of a spy–spies more likely, since where there was one there were more–was one of those drop everything moments.
“We will continue this discussion at a later date.” The Pharaoh stood from his seat. “Perhaps I can host the next meeting.”
Seth’s icy blue eyes flickered away from the hologram to his left. Blue connected with red.
“Perhaps.” Seth agreed cordially.
It didn’t escape the Pharaoh’s notice that the younger Kaiba sibling didn’t seem to approve, nor care for vampires. Oh, how the Pharaoh wanted to snap his fangs in the boy’s direction. But he relented, there was much to think about with this new information, and he had places to be.
Or more specifically, he had a little game to catch.
The Pharaoh had just walked through the doorway when Seth’s voice rang through office once again.
“Per-a-a’.” Seth’s voice had taken on a winter chill. “Stay away from Yugi Moto, Ryou Bakura, and Marik Ishtar. The same for your court.”
Golden bangs shifted as the Pharaoh tilted his head lightly. “What makes you think I’m interested in them? Humans have never interested me.”
“They have gone through too much already in their short lives,” Seth’s voice had gone artic and a warning the Pharaoh had not heard in Seth’s voice since he had found five fledglings that had been abandoned by their parents rang clear through the office. “Do not continue you’re interest in them. They are mine, and I will always protect that which belongs to me.”
Crimson eyes flickered. Those where the same words Seth had used when the abandoned fledglings parents had tried to take them back six months after Seth had nursed them back from the brink of death. These human’s with shadow magic…Seth viewed them as fledglings, and fledglings are always to be protected. It seemed that more than just long dead languages had awakened in one Seto Kaiba. Just how much did the young CEO actually remember from his pervious life?
The Pharaoh could understand his cousin’s reasoning. However, the hunt for the Pharaoh’s little game had already begun. The only way to end it would be to end the hunt.
A smirk slowly stole across the Pharaoh’s lips as he continued toward the waiting elevator.
“I would never dream of harming that which is you’re cousin,” the Pharaoh said in Badarian. “However,” The Pharaoh stepped into the elevator last and turned to look at his cousin’s reincarnation, “if you have harboring something that is mine, dear cousin, I will take it back without a thought.” The two stared at each other, knowing that they were at a stalemate. “Good day, cousin. May you always drink from the Nile.”
The elevator doors slid shut before Seto could form a reply.
Settled inside the elevator the Pharaoh started to give out orders. He would know everything there was to know about his cousin’s reincarnation by Iah’s rising. Seth’s information regarding this faction and their search for the key would have to be crosschecked, and more importantly, the Pharaoh wanted to see for himself if this ancient safety activation really existed. If it did, why had he never heard of it before?
As the elevator slowed down and finally stopped on the ground floor the Pharaoh quieted. He had only a few seconds before the doors opened.
“Find me this information,” the Pharaoh stated lowly. “We do not need the threat of another millennium war on our hands, one was enough.”
The court bowed their heads in acceptance.
Mahada took the chance to ask a question he had been wanting to know since Seth’s reincarnation told them Yugi Moto was off limits. “Will you continue the hunt, Per-a-a’?”
The elevator doors opened into a busy lobby. Early morning light illuminated the white marble and liquid like floor so reminiscent of the one on the top floor of Kaiba Corporation’s headquarters.
The Pharaoh was silent for a moment as they swept across the lobby. “I will. If I do not find the truth about this Yugi Moto I doubt my fractured psych will be able to handle the endless possibilities. If my other was still here…” the Pharaoh went silent in contemplation. “If my other was here this would not be a problem. The hunt would never be a match for the call of the mating bond, and could be severed in an instant. For now, this is the only way.”
“And Atem?” Isis questioned quietly.
Crimson eyes blinked rapidly at the bright sunlight as they stepped out onto the green. “Atem wants to know as much as I do. That is why I must continue this hunt. So that Atem does not continue it for me.”
There was nothing the Pharaoh’s priests could say to that.