Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Book One: Opposites Attract ❯ Please ( Chapter 1 )

Lieh: ::reads fic:: Ho boy, has she got it coming to her…. Well, since Nachzes is in Thrain training right now, I'm introducing this thing, okay. ::grins around at everybody::

Summary:
When Mokuba Kaiba faints in the middle of school, and a devastating revelation concerning his health comes into view, will Seto be able to deal with the added complication to his already problematical life? And what will happen when Yuugi and the gang find out?

Disclaimer:
I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or its characters. If I did, it would be…very different.

Warnings:
Mentions of rape and abuse.

Shattered Masks, Healed Hearts

Book One: Opposites Attract

Chapter One: 'Please'

By: Nachzes-Black Rider

—Seto POV—

I was in Math class when it happened. Math. Probably the most boring class in the history of the world. Now, don't get me wrong, I like math; but, honestly, I'm at least five grade levels above them all, so it doesn't excite me at all.

Sensei (1) was giving a lecture to the class about the Pythagorean Theorem, and hypotenuses, and crap like that, when my cell phone rang. Slightly annoyed, I grabbed it; glancing at the caller ID as I did so, and feeling a wave of foreboding wash over me. It was Mokuba's school. 'It probably isn't important at all,' I thought to myself, biting my lower lip nervously. 'Nothing at all. Just some trivial thing like permission for a field trip he forgot to tell me about. Yes, that's it.' I pressed the talk button and put the flip phone to my ear, catching sensei's glare out of the corner of my eye. "Moshi moshi (2)—"

"Kaiba-san (3)," the teacher began, but I silenced her with a cold stare, and turned my attention back to the person on the other end of the line.

"Sorry about that, I said, "but I'm in the middle of a class here…can you call me back?"

"I'm afraid not, Kaiba-sama (4)," the other said nervously—she sounded like an office secretary. "You see, Mokuba—"

"Yes? What about him?" The whole class was looking at me curiously now, wondering what I was talking about, and to whom. I glanced at them to let them know that I saw them, my icy sapphire eyes flashing dangerously, and they turned back to their worksheets as if they had been working on solving how a squared plus b squared equals c squared all day. "Well?" I snapped impatiently, tapping the fingers of my free hand on the rough wooden top of my school desk.

"He's—he's in the hospital, Kaiba-sama."

"WHAT?!"

Everyone looked up again, and the teacher glared at me.

"Kaiba-san, I am well aware of your situation; however, if you cannot manage to keep your voice down—"

"SHUT UP!" I yelled, and then winced as the entire class, as one, drew in breath, expecting me to get kicked out of class, but the teacher seemed too shocked to speak.

"…He fainted in the middle of class and they tried to revive him, but he wouldn't wake up. He's in the Tokyo hospital, but they want to run some tests, and they might have to transfer him to…. Kaiba-sama? Kaiba-sama, are you there?"

I had dropped my cell phone. "Oh, Kami-sama (5)," I muttered disbelievingly, still in shock, staring blankly at the floor, my mind beginning to go numb. I could sense all the other kid's stares on me as I sat there, gaping at the hated piece of black plastic and electrical wiring, still with a voice crackling over the line. 'It's finally happened…Mokuba is dying….'

"Iie (6)," I whisper. "Oh, Kami-sama. No. No!"

"What's wrong, 'Kaiba'?" I made out the voice of the Mutt, loud and boisterous, over the dull buzz in my head. A knot formed in my throat; I couldn't speak. My eyes burned, but stayed dry. "Your precious company lose some stock?" Pain lanced through my heart; in my numbness, in my state of complete and utter shock, I had dropped my defences. A tear pricked at the corner of my eyes, threatening to overflow.

'This isn't happening,' I thought desperately.

The single, crystalline tear traced its way down my pale cheek.

'But it is.'

"Well, Kaiba?" The voice again; it was mocking me, taunting me. My heart seared in pain again. Burning. The tear trembled on my chin before falling onto my hand—clenched into a fist on my knee, fabric waded up into a knot in it. I un-clenched it and smoothed out the dark blue material. 'God, I feel so numb.'

"Jönöchi…" Yuugi's voice broke in on my thoughts; it was hesitant, almost fearful. "Don't—"

"I need to go," I said suddenly, standing up and almost blacking out from the sudden height change. The teacher opened her mouth, as if to protest, but took one look at my pale face; at my contracted irises; my mouth, pressed into a firm, tight line, and closed it; then nodded.

"Alright, Mr. Kaiba."

I bowed to her and grabbed my stuff; shoving it unceremoniously into my metal briefcase. I tightened my grip on its cold grey handle, struggling to control my emotions, and then rushed out of the room. I left my cell phone on the floor behind me.

—Jö POV—

I was just sitting there in Math class, when it took place. I wasn't paying attention at all; Math isn't my best class—when am I going to need to know about how to calculate what the diagonal-line-thing-y of a triangle is anyways? Anyways, as I was saying, I was just sitting there, staring out the window, when someone's cell phone went off. Only one person would dare leave their cell on during class. Kaiba. The entire student body turned in their seats and stared at him as he took it out of his pocket and checked the caller ID. All of a sudden, his face paled, and he clenched his teeth, kneading his lower lip as he did so. Kaiba looked…I dunno…scared? He flipped the phone open and put it to his ear, glancing at Sensei as he did so. She didn't look too happy, that's for sure.

"Moshi moshi—"

"Kaiba-san," the teacher said, face flushed in anger. Kaiba just looked at her, and she shut right up; everyone was watching them by that point, even Anzu.

"Sorry about that, but I'm in the middle of a class here," he paused, contemplating the situation; "can you call me back?"

There was a murmur on the other end, then:

"Yes? What about him?" Kaiba's voice sounded strained, tense. Again, scared. He glanced up and glared at everyone ogling at him; they turned back to their work as if they had been doing nothing at all, and a few whistled innocently. He rolled his eyes and his long, slender fingers tapped on the top of his desk impatiently. "Well?" he snapped, loosing his patience, and clenching his hand tighter around the cell.

"WHAT?!" He yelled; out of the blue, and everyone jumped, and then fixed their gaze once more upon him. The teacher whipped around and began speaking very fast, but was cut off by Kaiba, whose eyes were flashing dangerously. Ouch. Bad sign.

"Kaiba-san, I am well aware of your situation; however, if you cannot manage to keep your voice down—"

"SHUT UP!" He yelled, and everyone drew in breath, shocked. Even the teacher just stared at him; now this was a side of Kaiba that nobody had ever seen.

There was this really long pause as Kaiba listened to what the person on the other line was saying, and then, suddenly, all of the blood drained from his face. His grip on the phone went lax, and the object clattered to the classroom floor, spinning a little on the wooden floor boards. "Oh, Kami-sama," he mumbled, his eyes just staring blankly at the phone on the ground. "Iie." He moaned low in his throat—scarily low, I'd never heard a sound like that come out of anyone's mouth, let alone Kaiba's—and a pained look flickered over his features. "Oh, Kami-sama. No. No!" His hands dropped to his lap, and they clenched, fabric from his school uniform wadding up in them.

"What's wrong, 'Kaiba'?" I taunted, trying to break the uneasy silence that had fallen over the class, "your precious company lose some stock?"

That was the wrong thing to say, I knew the moment I left my mouth, because Kaiba's face crumpled, and I could tell that he was trying hard not to cry. But, I couldn't stop then. The whole class was had turned their attention from Kaiba to ME. And I had to say something, so I did.

"Well, Kaiba?"

He sucked in breath, running his fingers through his hair with one hand, the other clenching tighter around the material of his pants. And, before my very eyes, a single, diamond-like, shimmering pearly tear trickled down Kaiba's cheek. My jaw dropped.

"Jönöchi, don't…." Yuugi whispered, staring at me, his wide, violet eyes disbelieving—how could I be so cruel? Kaiba's hand unclenched, and he smoothed the fabric out, then looked up, face perfectly composed.

"I need to go," he said suddenly, standing up, and closing his eyes as if he was steadying himself so as not to faint. I guess it makes sense. The guy is all leg, and he doesn't look like he gets much nourishment, so, it would probably feel strange to stand up so quickly. Everyone glanced at the sensei, who looked as if she was about to refuse, but then she glanced at his face—still white as a sheet—and nodded.

"Alright, Mr. Kaiba."

He blinked, and opened his heavy-metal briefcase, shoving all of his school stuff in higgledy-piggledy, and slammed it shut, gripping the handle tighter as his face screwed up with emotion; and then, without a further word, he ran from the classroom. I couldn't help but notice that he left his cell phone on the floor.

—Seto POV—

I ran through the hall, and when I say ran, I mean RAN! My briefcase bumped against my leg painfully, the sharp metal corner scraping the skin beneath my uniform, tearing the fabric. I didn't even notice then. A trickle of crimson blood leaked slowly from the cut as my feet pounded along the hardwood floor.

'Must…get…to…Mokuba.'

A dry sob leapt up in my swollen throat; my breathing hitched; I kept running, panic threatening to drown me, it was so intense. Wild, half-formed images, no, memories, flashed through my head.

A car, speeding along the highway;

A scream;

A huge oak tree, getting closer and closer;

…Now a horrible spinning sensation—faster and faster;

A voice, a high-pitched, panicked voice: "Turn the car, James! Turn the car! It's going to hit the boys!"

…Wailing in the seat beside me….

A harsh, shattering crunch.

Being thrown forward in my seat, the harsh edge of me seatbelt cutting into my chest, sending sharp pain through my upper body….

Wrenching the seatbelt off and leaping out of my seat;

"DADDY /1/!"

Blood…blood everywhere…. Flashing lights…blue, red, blue, red….

/flash/

"Seto, your parents are dead."

"NOOOO! OTÖ -SAN (7)! NOOOO!"

Struggling, running

/flash/

Curling up in a corner and trembling uncontrollably…shivering…'I'm so cold, Mommy. Please don't go….' Lowering the shard of glass to my inner-wrist, trembling so violently I can't see straight; vision blurred by tears; screaming….

/flash/

"God, it hurts…."

"What hurts, Seto-kun? Your hand?"

"My…heart…."

/flash/

" Where are Mommy and Daddy?"

A hollow voice answering, my own—the beginning of my Mask starting to form. "They're gone, Mokuba. They're gone, and they're never coming back."

"What?"

"They're dead, Little Brother."

/flash/

"…We're all alone…."

"No, we're not. We have each other."

"That's right, Mokie. And no one can ever tear us apart."

/flash/

"If you don't obey me, Seto, I'll be forced to…discipline you."

A sullen voice replying. "I don't care, anything would be better than this."

"Then…I would have to convince you otherwise, wouldn't I."

"And how are you going to do that?"

"I could…discipline your dear little brother."

"You can't hurt Mokuba!"

"Oh, but I can. …Unless, that is, you give me what I want."

I lick suddenly dry lips. “And…what is it that you want from me?”

A cruel chuckle that will haunt me for the rest of my life. “Oh, but Seto-chan, I want you.”

Searching for some way out…finding none…finally; "Okay."

A clucking tongue. "Tut, tut, but that won't do, Seto-chan, will it?" A harsh, callused, hammy hand smoothing over my hair. I shudder ever-so-slightly, and close my eyes lest he see them fill with tears of betrayal and guilt and shame. "Since you…'convinced' me to adopt you and your little brother, you are now legally my son. Call me…Father."

A flash of Mokuba on the ground, whipped, beaten.

"Alright…Father."

Another sadistic chuckle.

"Good boy, Seto-chan."

A single tear traces its way down my cheek as his hand strays lower down my back— towards the waistline of my jeans.

/flash/

"No, no, not now, please, no…."

"But, Seto-chan, don't you like to be touched?"

"No, no, please no…."

A dangerous purr. "I told you to call me Father, Seto-chan."

"Please no, please—Father, please."

"You know you like it, Seto-chan."

"No, no…please don't. Father, please!"

"Hush, boy."

"No, no, please—"

A harsh slap across my cheek; stinging pain. "QUIET!"

A few minutes pass. One last try. Softly, now. Pleading. Begging. "Please—" a scream wrenches itself out of my throat, tearing the soft tissue, as he drives in hard….

/flash/

`God, it hurts….'

`Poor little baby Seto; can't he even stand a bit of pain?'

`Make it stop…please….'

`Aw…poor baby.'

`Please….'

'You know you like it.'

`No, no, please….'

`Filth.'

`No.'

`Abomi nation.'

`No.'

`Weakling.'

'No...'

'Whore.'

`No…no…. Leave me alone. …Please, just go.'

`But I can't go, little Seto. I'm a part of you. I'm who you are.'

`No…no, you can't be!'

`Oh, but I am.'

`No'

`Foolish boy.'

`No.'

`Poor little Seto, just a little toy for his step-father to play with at night….'

`No, no please…stop….'

A cruel laugh.

`Please….'

`Failure.'

`No 230;.'

`You swore to protect him, but you've condemned him to a lifetime of misery. You caused it, Seto Kaiba. You.'

`No.'

`You know it's true, Little Kaiba.'

`Don't call me that!'

`Why not, it's your name now, isn't it? And all because you had to prove that you were the best.'

`No….'

`Yes, Little Kaiba. Yes.'

`No…no…please, just leave me alone….'

The laugh again.

`Please….'

To be continued….

Translations, End Notes, Etc.:

(1) Sensei: Teacher

(2) Moshi moshi: Hello on the telephone

(3) -san is a Japanese ending commonly used to someone. Normally, the teacher would say last name-chan, or last name-kun, but, as that implies less respect than -san, and Kaiba is the CEO of a company, I used -san. As a further note, in case you were wondering, -chan is the female equivilant to -kun. Anyone know why Gozaboro refers to Seto in that manner?

(4) -sama: Another respectful ending, implies more respect than -san.

(5) Kami-sama: Japanese equivalent of God.

(6) Iie: No.

(7) Otö-san: Father or Dad.

/1/ He talks in English some of the time, because his dad, I say, was European, and taught him (and had started to teach Mokuba) how to speak, read, write, etc. English. Daddy is sort of his 'little-kid's name' for his father. Sort of like Kiddo, but with the situation reversed. (Son to father, instead of father to son.)