Stuck in Another Dimension (Part 1)
Word Count: 1,413 words
Post Duel Monsters anime. This takes place a few years after the end of the show. Dub continuity plus a version of DSoD.
Female reader.
Summary: The reader and Kaiba have been accidentally tossed into another dimension. After a series of adventures, they’ve landed in the possession of this dimension’s version of a man Kaiba was hoping to never see again.
***
This version of Gozaburo wore a snow white suit. He seemed more at ease than the ones you had met in the past, but even a child could read the predatory gleam in his eyes. “So you two are accidental travelers from another dimension, hmm? It sounds like you might be of some use to me, Seto.”
“I’ll never help you.”
“Do I allow you to talk to me this way back in your home dimension?”
“You don’t allow anything, old man. Where I come from, you’re gone.”
“Gone? I’m surprised you can function without a strong hand to guide you, Seto.”
It had been a very long day, and your frustration overcame Kaiba’s instructions to leave the talking to him, “Kaiba’s stronger than you ever were—he outmaneuvered you back when he was just a teenager! All you managed to do was mess up a good kid and then off yourself when he bested you and took over Kaiba Corp.” You avoided looking over at Kaiba as you took a deep breath, “So quit acting so superior and deal with him as your equal.”
“Seto, are you in the habit of permitting your woman to interrupt important negotiations?”
“No.”
You bristled at the phrase “your woman,” but already regretted your outburst enough to keep quiet and avoid a second one.
“Which is one of the reasons” Kaiba continued coldly, “I requested you leave her with the petty criminals in Satellite until the conclusion of our business.”
“And here I thought you were nobly trying to protect your lover.”
“I’ve never been a fool who wasted my time with romance. She’s my assistant.”
“Then you no longer have any use for her. My Seto will be able to provide you with any assistance you may require.”
“I told you, I won’t—”
“Roland?” Gozaburo interrupted, “Take the young woman out to the courtyard and have her shot.”
“What?!”
“Now now, Seto, giving yourself away when faced with an obvious ploy like this? You do have an emotional investment in the girl.” Gozaburo turned to you, “What are you to him? Be honest.”
“We’re friends.”
“Lovers always say they’re friends.”
You glared. “Yes, well, if you know Kaiba at all then I think you know we’re not. But thanks to you, what should have been a simple friendship took years to acknowledge.”
“Nevertheless, tell me about your relationship without trite words like ‘friends.’”
“I’m…He trusts me.”
“Go on.”
“Uh. We’ve been through a lot. We’ve worked well together. And we’ve…”
“Yes?”
“At this point Kaiba’s realized I may be the only person who will neither fall in love with him nor leave him behind. Frankly, it’s a quality I appreciate in him as well.”
“Anything else?”
You hated this, “He gives me freedom, and I give him…whatever the heck it is that makes people like being friends with me.” You shrugged.
“You’re friends?” Gozaburo asked.
You glared and nodded.
“Now that is interesting; friendship is a relationship of equals—souls standing shoulder-to-shoulder and facing life together. It’s a powerful force.” Kaiba looked surprised to hear Gozaburo talking like this. “That being said, I don’t tolerate anyone acting above their station. And however Seto may view you, you’re not at my level, and I do not allow underlings emotional outbursts during business dealings.”
“But—”
“Don’t worry. Pawns are useful, and I’m not in the habit of destroying what I can use.” Gozaburo looked past you. “Roland, fit them with a pair of collars.”
“Very good sir. And shall I have them sent Underground?”
You could hear a man walking up behind you as Gozaburo said, “ Not yet.” You flinched as the man pulled aside your hair and clamped a metal band around your neck. Raising your manacled hands, you tugged at the item experimentally. Immediately, a shock of pain coursed through you. A moment later, when the pain ended, you were panting on your knees, glad to have stopped screaming, disoriented, afraid.
Kaiba was still on his feet, barely. “Whatever you did, don’t do it again.”
“Right.” You mentally kicked yourself for tugging on the stupid thing, of course it would be designed to prevent removal. And although your memory of the moment was hazy, you were pretty sure your actions had triggered Kaiba’s collar as well.
“Is there anything I can invent you won’t steal and misuse?” asked Kaiba as you shakily stood.
“How perceptive, Seto. These shock collars are an invention of your counterpart.”
“So you’ve got access to a contactless neural interface. What do you need us for again?” You suspected you wouldn’t like the answer.
Gozaburo appeared to see you in a new light, “You could recognize the technology after only one use?”
You kept quiet.
“I asked you a question!”
“Yeah, of course. It’s the primitive version of the neural interface we use in our Adventure System.”
“Which is?”
You wanted to be out of the spotlight, “An escape game system which combines Solid Vision with a neural interface to create an immersive experience for the player. Obviously our technology is much more advanced than yours, but I remember the earlier prototype stages well enough to recognize the sensation.”
“I’ve always assumed Seto’s obsession with games developed as a coping mechanism to deal with his separation from Mokuba. But perhaps you’re simply fated to waste your potential on frivolity.”
“Mokuba?” You could hear the change in Kaiba’s voice.
“Oh, don’t worry, you’ll be spending a great deal of time with your brother’s counterpart.” Gozaburo walked back to his desk and pushed a button on his intercom, “Seto, come to my study.”
You raised your manacled hands.
Gozaburo smiled, “Ask your question.”
“What exactly are you planning to do with us?”
“She’s rather direct, Seto. But then, you’ve never had much subtlety either.” Gozaburo turned back to you, “Seto will be sent underground, where he will work in a labor facility until I send for him.”
“I’m not working for you,” Kaiba interjected.
“Oh, Seto, I think breaking your spirit will be much more fun this time around.” Gozaburo smiled and placed his hand over his wristwatch.
Your eyes widened in realization, and then you were yelling in pain, dropping to one knee, yanking desperately at your collar in a mindless effort to remove it. When it was over, you could see Kaiba in a similar pose. For a moment, it was all you could do to fight off a wave of dizziness, “What about me?”
“My Seto has his birthday in a few days. You will be my gift to him. A reward well earned.”
“Oh?” You weren’t in the right frame of mind to respond intelligently.
“He’s never had a slave of his own before. I wonder how he’ll put you to use?”
“Wait,” Your mind finally cleared, “you’re splitting us up?”
“Indeed, although with these collars your lives will continue to affect one another. I find it rather poetic.”
“I hate you.”
“No doubt you do. But if you want to say your goodbyes, you should reorder your priorities.”
Kaiba sneered, “If you think you can hold either of us for long, you’re delusional.”
“You have spirit, Seto. But how long can it last?”
“Kaiba…” You weren’t sure what to say.
“Same rules as always?” he asked.
“Yeah. Of course. Do what needs to be done. But…if we could limit your rebellion to the bare minimum, that would be good.” You forced a small smile, “The pain settings on these collars are really high.”
“You can take it.”
“Yeah, but I’d prefer not to.”
“Hmh.”
“You're rather different than I expected,” observed Gozaburo.
“Shut up, old man.” Kaiba turned back to you, and his eyes softened a smidge, “I forgot; this is your greatest—”
“Don’t,” you tilted your head towards Gozaburo.
Large men grabbed Kaiba and pulled him to his feet. “If my duplicate gives you any trouble, don’t hesitate to make him suffer.”
“Sure.”
“You’ll pay for this, Gozaburo!” Kaiba shouted his last words before the men dragged him out of the room.
“Now,” Gozaburo loomed over you, “I believe we still have the small matter of your outburst to settle.”
“You’ve made your point abundantly clear, there’s no need to make it again.” You tried not to sound panicked.
“Without consistency, rules are useless.”
You tried to keep from crying out when the pain came, but couldn’t. You could hear Gozaburo chuckling over your anguish, and then your vision blurred, narrowed, and faded to darkness as you passed out.
Part 2
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