Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Title: Sow and Reap
Author: Serena J
Rating: R for use of the f-word and some sexual content
Genre(s): Romance, Angst
Pairing(s): Primary Seto/Joey/Atemu
Spoilers: none
Beta: Mishiko
Disclaimer: Just the words, not the folks.
Summary: When Seto takes an impromptu vacation, he turns everyone's life
upside down.

   Chapter 2: Playtime's Over



   Chapter 2

   Four days later, my father called from Tokyo International.

   "How soon can you be in the office?" Honda, Joey and I were sprawled
across their living room.

   "Two hours." I answered.  I had a private charter plane retained at the
local airport.

   "We have a new situation developing."

   "I'm not at liberty to speak now.  May I call you back in thirty
minutes?"

   "Don't bother.  Just put your efforts into getting back to the office as
soon as possible." His tone changed.  "And leave your boy toys where you
found them this time."

   Of all my sins, being gay was the worst.

   Still, something was important enough that he came home early.  I got up
and dressed and, on my bike to the airport, called Mazaki.

   "Father just called me.  He's returned.  Shut down things here and join
me as soon as you can.  Our vacation is officially over."

   "Yes, Kaiba-san." She said smoothly.  "Shall I have a stylist join you
on the plane?"

   "Yes." There was already a change of clothes there.

   By the time we landed, all signs of 'Tak' were gone.  My hair was cut,
my suit tailor made and my hands manicured.  I emerged from the plane,
Kaiba Seto, and my full staff greeted me with questions, problems, ideas
and issues all needing my attention.  A limo was waiting and I called
Mazaki for her ETA as my floating office rushed to an emergency board
meeting.

   By the time I reached the office, I'd signed three new contracts, put 16
people out of work, launched 4 products in 9 countries, hired 246 new
employees and made myself another 2.6 million US.  KaibaCorp and KaibaGames
were both down in the market, but not significantly - normal market
fluctuation.

   Still, the stock price and an emergency meeting at the same time
concerned me.  I arrived at the office - greeted by Mazaki's temporary
replacement and a cup of strong coffee - and went straight to my father's
office.

   I bowed deeply and reminded myself how much I owed this man.  "Good
morning, Father."

   "Son." He barely acknowledged me, looking out his window at a
spectacular view of the city.  He gestured to a stack of newspapers.  "If
you care to read them."

   They were from a variety of countries, most in English, French or
German. Articles in each addressed how Dueling was affecting the education
of young children and - significantly - how the 'privileged but uneducated
child' who ran 'a major Dueling corporation' was profiting off the
interference in the education of others.

   "Uneducated?" I was seething, but even I could hardly deny 'privileged'.

   "They point to your lack of formal schooling." He sounded quite mild,
but I recognized him at his most furious.  The few permanent scars I have,
I received when he was like this.

   "Plebes."

   "They have driven sales down twenty points in eight days.  In ten
markets."

   "What?"

   "Ah.  You did not know.  I was afraid that you simply hadn't reacted."
He turned to me.  "You would have known if you were here, doing your job
and not in some pig sty rutting with some common gutter trash."

   I should have realized he knew where I was.  I said nothing.  This was
going to be bad and what was worse, I deserved it.  We lost market share
and I did nothing.

   "What defense do you have?"

   "None, Father." I replied.  "I failed you and myself.  I am ashamed." I
thought I'd found a glimpse of happiness; I should have known I didn't
deserve it.

   He didn't respond.  I risked looking at him.  He was staring out the
window again.  "It's MGCo.  They can't beat our products on the shelves so
instead they are attacking any weakness they can find in you."

   Monster Game Corp was a small but growing American company.  They had
proved ruthless in their tactics and unrelenting in their push for bigger
market share.  They had not been coy about their desire to destroy
KaibaGames and had not worried about ethics in the process.  Up to now
their methods had little success outside of a few very small markets.  This
was their first effective strike.

   I nodded.  "I'll get a team on it.  I'm sure they have a few
'privileged' or 'uneducated' children lurking in their closets."

   A secretary called, alerting us that the board was ready to meet.  We
entered, as always, together; presenting a united front regardless of what
private horrors he may have visited on me.

   "Gentlemen, I will assume you are familiar with the MGCo situation."
Father started.  "I'd like your proposals."

   Either they were or they covered their ignorance well.  Suggestions came
from around the room for marketing campaigns, stock tactics, a way to hire
away several of their top designers, and other methods to attack them
directly or indirectly.  Father listened intently.  After the board argued
the merits of various ideas for far too long, Father gestured for silence.

   "Approved," he decreed.

   They looked at each other in confusion until Konosuke, the oldest member
of the board, asked for clarification.

   "All of them." I answered.  Father almost cracked a smile and I knew I
read his intention correctly.  "They have declared war.  They have sown the
wind; they must now reap the whirlwind.  All of these ideas are approved
and new suggestions should be brought to my attention immediately."

   "What about a hostile take-over?"

   "NO." I stopped that one forcefully.  "I've seen their products.  They
are inferior.  I don't want them to become part of KaibaGames, I want them
removed from the deck."

   "Sir?"

   "I want them off the market and out of business." I looked around the
table.  "How much clearer can I be?"

   "Kill them." My Father said.  "Metaphorically, of course."

   I wouldn't have phrased it in that way, but it was what I wanted.

   "There is one other plan we will be implementing in the next two weeks.
This issue brings to a head my son's image problem."

   "Image problem?" I looked at him to see if he was joking.  He wasn't.

   He started a video, a collection of interviews from conventions, game
shops and tournaments.  Duelists were talking about me and it quickly
became apparent that worldwide I was viewed as cold, aloof, unapproachable,
and arrogant.  I was seen as inarguably brilliant, but disconnected from
anyone in our target market.

   Two months ago, I would have called it a trivial waste of time; a
pointless exercise in character assassination.  And one more reason for
MGCo to die.  Now, all I could think of was to wonder if Joey and Honda
would think it was accurate.

   "Do you agree this is an issue?" My Father asked me.  I could hardly say
no.  "Good.  I have a solution.  After you completed your primary
education, it was clear that you would quickly outpace any standardized
program.  As an indulgent father, I spared no expense to provide you with a
wealth of private tutors, but I fear that has made you..." he paused,
"...remote."

   I swallowed my real response to the description of my educational
history.  The truth was that after I beat him at chess, he had me test out
of several high-end primary school programs and I 'graduated' as a remote
student.  My on-the-job training and a few tutors enabled me to complete my
secondary schooling remotely and I was already two years into duel
Bachelors programs in Computer Programming and Business Management.  If I
was 'remote', it was by his design.

   "I could attend more Duelist events as a non-competitor." I suggested.
"As a spectator rather than as a presenter." For once, that actually
sounded fun.

   "You could and you will.  But my solution is more drastic.  You will
enroll in a local public high school starting with the next term in two
weeks."

   "What?"

   "There, you will have the opportunity to behave just like the average
teen.  You'll have a few additional responsibilities - KaibaGames will
still need your leadership - but we will provide you with a local staff to
assist with that."

   "I see."

   "This is where you will be attending school." He handed me a printout.
It looked like a hundred other schools in Japan.  "I trust this meets with
your approval?"

   "Of course, Father." I answered mechanically.  "Thank you."

   After the meeting, I went to my office.  Mazaki was at her regular desk
and followed me in without my request.

   "Status?"

   Someone had apparently brought her up-to-date about the move. 
"KaibaGames has purchased a condo in a gated community for your use.  It
has all the standard amenities plus a concierge service that has been
retained to handle mundane things like cooking, cleaning, laundry and so
on."

   "And this gets me away from appearing 'privileged'?"

   She continued on.  "Transportation has also been arranged.  There will
be a plane on call 24/7, and two cars - one for local travel and one for
out-of-area trips.  Kaiba-sama made sure that you would be able to attend
weekend events at your convenience."

   "How thoughtful of him."

   "Your suite at your Father's home has been packed and is in transit to
your new residence.  It should be ready for you when you arrive."

   "What did you tell them?"

   She wasn't expecting the question and looked at me, confused.  "I'm
sorry?"

   "What did you tell Honda and Joey?" She still looked confused.  "About
my leaving.  What did you tell them?"

   "I didn't tell them anything." Her brow furrowed.

   "So you just left, you didn't call them?"

   "I just assumed...."

   "Assumed what?"

   She looked down and her cheeks turned pink.  "I presumed that you had
told them all you wanted them to know, sir."

   I was in a forgettable town under a false name fooling around with a boy
I wouldn't even have stepped on ordinarily.  She thought exactly what would
have been true at any other time.  "Of course." I said finally.  "You are
correct.  I told them everything they needed to know." Something caught in
my throat and I coughed for a moment.  "Please continue."

   She went on with the status of my Father's plans - which were well under
way - and with other issues more pertinent to KaibaGames directly.  I had
two meetings already scheduled.  There was a factory visit that needed to
be arranged.  I needed to approve my staff for school and determine who
would run things in the office while I was away.  Then she said something
that actually caught my attention.

   "What?"

   "Your new personal secretary will start on Monday.  His background
checks and security clearances were completed last week."

   "What new personal secretary?"

   "Your permanent placement." I looked at her blankly.  "I am only a
temporary secretary from the pool to fill in while a suitable new hire was
found."

   "I don't want a new secretary." They can take Honda and Joey, but they
can't take Mazaki too.

   "Kaiba-san, I am not a senior secretary.  I was only placed here because
I was the only one available the day Kanan-san left.  I am not worthy to be
your -"

   "SHUT UP!" I hit my speakerphone and called personnel.  "This is Kaiba
Seto, I want the manager.  Now." I glowered at Mazaki while we waited.  She
should have told me she was only a temp.  She'd been on my staff at least a
year.  I thought; maybe it was less.

   "Kaiba-san, how may I help you?"

   "I am making several changes to my staff.  Two are effective as of start
of business this morning.  First, Mazaki Anzu should be promoted to Senior
Secretary..."

   "But Kaiba-san..."

   "Are you questioning me?"

   "No, sir."

   "Mazaki-san is now a Senior Secretary, MY senior secretary.  Is that
clear?"

   "Yes, Kaiba-san."

   "In addition to the increase to her base salary, please give her a 25%
increase to compensate for being on-call 24/7 as part of her standard work
load."

   "Yes, Kaiba-san."

   "She will need a car and driver at her disposal and an unlimited expense
account.  I expect all of these changes to be in place before the end of
the week."

   "Yes, Kaiba-san."

   "Now.  Second.  A new administrative staff member was hired for my
office?"

   "Yes, Kaiba-san.  Bakura Ryou.  He is a -"

   "Irrelevant.  His correct title is Educational Secretary.  You may leave
his payroll at its current level."

   "But sir, he's a -"

   "I don't care who or what he is, this is MY personal staff.  Is that
clear to you?"

   "Yes, Kaiba-san!"

   I hung up and swallowed hard.  I took a breath to calm down.  "Now, what
else is on today's agenda?"

   Mazaki looked like she was about to cry but was struggling not to. 
"Sir, I - I don't know what to say.  I'm...."

   "I simply have neither the time nor the patience to train someone else
in my preferences or needs.  You know my habits and have proved competent
at anticipating what I want and when.  Besides," I had to smile, "who else
knows when I need a hair cut?"

   She smiled and wiped her cheeks.  "Yes, sir.  Thank you, sir."

   "Add to your list making housing arrangements for yourself and this
Bakura person.  And met with him yourself before Monday to bring him up to
date.  I don't need him getting in our way during this move."