Serpent's Vow

10: Explain

Motion flickered just above the rim of his laptop screen and he sighed in mild annoyance. Still, he was curious to see what idiot would dare bother him when it was obvious he wanted to be alone in the crowd. He lift his glacial blue gaze, ready to glare the interloper away, when he blinked in bewilderment.

Well. This certainly wasn't something he saw every day. Might as well enjoy this while it lasted. He did have to wonder, though, why this was happening.

"What the hell are you doing?" he said in calm, cool tones.

"I'm deeply sorry for causing you trouble, Kaiba," the brunette bowing deeply at the waist said to the floor. Since Honda's bleached brown hair was gelled up, he could see the boy's face. It was scrunched up in humiliation and shame, his eyes squeezed tightly shut.

That did not explain why Motou Yugi was also bowing waist deep, his bleached and dyed hair flopping down far enough to hide his face. Secretly, Seto really wanted to take a picture of this for blackmail material. If it were just Honda, he could probably get away with it. But since the Pharaoh reborn was involved too, better to err on the side of safety and just remember this scene forever.

So he adjusted his position, crossed his arms, and leaned back in the faux leather couch positioned against one of the walls of the KaibaCorp display structure and stared at the two Japanese boys. He noticed that the blonde mutt did not join his two friends and- Wait. What was Mokuba doing with them?

...was this one of Mokuba's interventions? Dear Ra blazing in the sky above, have mercy on Seto's patience. Or lack thereof.

"I beg your pardon?" he demanded, keeping a firm control on his temper.

"I'm deeply sorry for causing you trouble," Honda repeated fervently. "I will endeavor to do my best to pay more attention to my surroundings next time. And," some of the tensions in Honda's shoulders faded, "thank you for getting me out of there."

Ah. Well, Seto supposed that would do. He glanced at Yugi. "And what are you bowing for?" he said, trying not to sigh.

"I want to thank you for helping me when I asked," Yugi said, the golden reverse pyramid of the Millennium Puzzle dangling loosely from his neck. "You didn't have to. You didn't have anything to gain from that," he lifted his head just enough to catch Seto's eye, "but you still did." Violet eyes sparkled above a warm smile. "You're not very good at hiding your big heart, Kaiba."

How- How dare Yugi tease him like that! Unacceptable. Just for that-

"Is that so?" he purred, slapping his laptop shut and letting it rest on his crossed legs. "Then make up for it."

Yugi jerked up a bit in surprise. "What?" he gasped. "K-Kaiba wha-"

"Yes sir!" Honda said promptly.

"Honda?!" Yugi cried, staring at his friend.

Good. Yugi was outvoted.

"Yugi," Seto said before the young Pharaoh could attempt to change Honda's mind, "your job is to keep a strict eye on Honda at all times. If he has to go to the bathroom," he lifted an eyebrow, "you go with him. He is not allowed to be alone under any circumstances for the duration of this conference. Is that clear?"

Wide violet eyes sharpened and narrowed in determination. "I can do that," he said with a firm nod. "I was already-"

"I'm aware you can do that," Seto said. "Make sure you do do that." He turned his gaze to Honda who was beginning to straighten his posture as he listened. "Motorcycle boy," Honda bounced into something akin to a military ready stance, "the toxin you were exposed can't affect you any more."