Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Fraudulant Shadows ❯ How It Used To Be ( Chapter 23 )

Chapter 23

 

How it used to be

 

A/N: I have great fans! XD Thank you all so much!

 

3-3-3-3

 

Alister watched from the sidelines as they ripped his only son away from his grasp at the age of eighteen. They brutally forced the young man to become the next heir of Kaiba Corp. They, the corporation instructors, had practically slave driven Tet to become the `best' and to the same, cold hearted Kaiba that used to reign over Kaiba Industries.

 

Tet, now nineteen, stood at the base of the Kaiba Corp. building, admiring how this would become his new career. He would become famous, licking at all the pretty boys who would love having their backsides signed or slapped by him. He never remembered the endearing cat that used to taunt his dreams. It was a memory that never seemed to exist. He wet his dry lips and bowed his head, as if in appreciation, but actually with disgust. Everything that he had ever wanted when he was a normal teenager were only a few feet ahead of him, but then those essentials were shoved aside like old leather boots. Is this how Seto Kaiba felt when he became head of the corporation? He probably didn't. It had to of satisfied his taste to some extent, and then drive the old man up the wall until he couldn't climb anymore. Tet smirked as he turned away toward the city.

 

0o-o0

 

“Do you remember…that long road trip we took before the accident, Joey?” Seto asked weakly. He held his lover's hand securely by his side, not even once, glancing at the blonde teen's tears descending over his pale skin. “…and the beautiful countryside?” His voice became weaker as did his grip around Joey's hand. “I wish…we could have done it again.”

 

Joey wanted to shake his lover's hand to keep him awake. However, it wouldn't have done any good since the physicians sedated him. “You're acting very foolish, Seto. You're acting as if you're…dying.”

 

Seto didn't respond for a long moment. “Joey, the doctor says this virus I'm carrying may not be able to be cured. He says I might die from it.”

 

It was only two days ago when the CEO started to act strange. The first day he started leaning against the walls for balance and complained about double vision. The second day he started getting nauseous and paler. Joey thought it might have been the flu, but today just ruled that theory out completely. Seto had woken up fine but then went into a short comma while standing up at the top of the stairs and then stumbled down them. It was a wreck that morning, and the teen practically had nowhere to turn.

 

“Did they even say what it was?” Joey asked and sniffled.

 

The CEO shook his head feebly. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep slumber.

 

Joey stared at the man for what seemed like hours. His lover appeared peaceful, as if already lying in his coffin. He blinked his tears away and stepped away from Seto's still form. “Please, don't die on us. We still need you.”

 

“Mr. Wheeler?” Anui walked into the room, a distraught expression gracing his appearance. “I know this must be hurting you. We just found out that it's an unknown virus. Probably something that will take a while to find the cure for.”

 

“I…just…don't want him to die. He's all Destin and I have left.”

 

Anui smiled thoughtfully. “We'll try our best to save him, Joey.”

 

“I guess `try' is better than nothing.” Joey walked out of the room just as a few nurses walked in to take Seto to surgery. “Please, Ra. Take care of him.” When he reached the waiting room, he was greeted by Destin, whom seemed a little listless than usual. “You alright kiddo?”

 

Destin nodded gravely. “Yeah, I'm fine.” His whole body trembled as he suddenly collapsed into Joey's arms and cried. “I don't want him to die, dad!”

 

Joey held Destin's shoulders firmly for comfort. He kneeled to his son's level and kissed his forehead. “Your father is tough, Destin! He'll make it through this.”

 

“I-I know…,” Destin whimpered. “He wouldn't leave us. Not like this.”

 

“You're right.” Joey smiled and hugged the younger teen close to him. A faint, winter breeze brushed against his face, causing him to look up toward the hospital's exit. A young, red headed man with a black leather coat and pants approached them. “Tet?”

 

Tet gave the blonde teen a wry smile. “So, where's the old man? Is he dead yet?”

 

Destin growled at his half-brother and hid behind Joey. “No, for your information.”

 

“He just went into surgery,” Joey replied coolly.

 

“Oh really?” Tet peered down at the young teen with rapacious eyes. He leaned forward and grabbed Destin's chin with his hand, forcing him to look up. “You're a cute little boy. How would you like it if you became my future lover?”

 

The young teen cringed and pulled away from Tet's hand. “That's gross!”

 

“You may think so. But I like it all in the family,” Tet laughed.

 

Joey blocked Tet from advancing any closer to his son.

 

“What? Would you rather take your son's place? I don't mind. I think you're just as beautiful.” Tet placed his fingers under Joey's chin and steered him closer for a taste.

 

Joey abruptly broke away. “What's happened to you, Tet? You used to be so nice when Jeto was around.”

 

Tet frowned. “That was history. Now that those damned Kaiba Corp. instructors took me away from my pops, I have no choice but to have that cold feeling eating away at my heart, even to this day. I never chose to be that way. It's that old man's fault! I hope he dies!”

 

Both Joey and Destin gasped to Tet's exclamation.

 

Everyone in the waiting room looked up as well, staring disdainfully at the boy who wished for his father to be dead.

 

“You don't mean that!” Destin wept. “Father loved you!”

 

Tet's lips curled into a venomous smile. “Don't I? If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be so miserable and looking forward to become the next leader of Kaiba Corp.”

 

“You don't deserve it,” Joey growled. “No one with such low class conduct deserves to be leader of Kaiba Corp. I'd rather see it fall from low income!”

 

The auburn haired man boasted. “You just keep pushing it, Wheeler, `cause next time I won't be so lenient.” He walked away from the two blondes and exited the building.

 

“I wonder what would happen if Jeto was still around?” Destin pondered aloud. “Would Tet be the evil jerk he is now, or the nice guy he used to be?”

 

Joey smirked. “There's absolutely no way of telling, Destin. If I could choose, it would have to be the latter.”

 

Destin nodded to agree. “I wish Jeto was here.”

 

“I do too, kiddo.” Joey patted his son on the head and gave him a smile. “Maybe he'll come back someday.”

 

“It'd make father happy too,” Destin whispered solemnly.

 

0o-o0

 

Jeto sneezed twice into his bowl of soup and sniffled.

 

Patience, Pegasus, and Duke all looked up stunned.

 

“Are you alright?” Patience asked with concern.

 

“I think I'm catching a cold,” Jeto replied.

 

“Nonsense,” Pegasus stated. “You haven't been outside in the cold.”

 

Jeto blinked with annoyance. “Well, gee wiz I wonder why, mother hen?”

 

Duke chuckled. “Then that must mean someone is talking about you behind your back.”

 

“Why would they do that?” Jeto stared naïvely at his soup bowl. “I haven't done anything wrong.”

 

Patience blew a small raspberry. “I wouldn't say that. What about all those guys you beat up in the tournament?” He took a sip of his chicken broth and smiled with content.

 

Jeto sighed and shrugged. “Yeah, I guess that could be it.” He flinched slightly. “Uh…may I be excused?”

 

Pegasus stared at the cat expectantly. “Hmm? Of course, Jeto.”

 

“Darling, after taking care of Patience and Jeto together, I was wondering if we could have another baby.” Duke smiled shyly as he leaned over Pegasus' arm and kissed him on the cheek for good measure.

 

Patience sputtered on a mouth full of soup. “Are you serious?” His ears flattened against his head in apprehension. “Dad, you can't let mom do this.”

 

“It's his decision, son. If he wants another baby, he can have one. Actually, I don't mind having another one either.” Pegasus gently stroked the top of Duke's hand lovingly and kissed him repeatedly on the forehead.

 

The panther grumbled. “I've lost my appetite.” He sank down to the floor and crawled away from the table. “I don't want a baby brother or sister!” When he got upstairs, he noticed Jeto leaving his room and approaching the stairway. “I wouldn't go down there,” he warned.

 

“Why not?” Jeto blinked.

 

Patience paled. “They're talking about having another baby.”

 

“Awe, I think that's sweet,” Jeto chuckled. He suddenly felt awkward in the heavy atmosphere floating around him, like the time Patience caught him off guard in his bedroom the other day. He nervously peered at Patience who had a serious gaze in his eyes and a small smile, giving him more than an irresistible charm to him. “What?” Jeto sweatdropped.

 

Patience cocked his head downward and closed his eyes with a smirk. “Nothing. I'm just thinking.”

 

“Thinking about what?” The cat asked, not for certain he liked where this was going.

 

“Thinking what it would be like if you were a mother and I was the father.” Patience purred as he pressed the blushing cat up against the wall and kissed him on the lips attentively.

 

Jeto tried to swallow the lump in his throat, but failed. How was it that Patience always caught him off guard? “Patience…I didn't tell your parents about what you did to me last time, because I trusted that you wouldn't do it again. However, you're about to do it again…and I won't hesitate telling them `this'…time.”

 

Patience pulled away slowly, realizing what he had just done. “Uh…” He shook his head and continued down the hall to his room as if nothing happened.

 

Jeto slid down the wall and panted slightly. “I wish he'd stop doing that. Next time I don't think I'll be able to resist.”

 

To Be Continued

 

3-3-3-3

 

A/N: XD I'm so enjoying the moments I have with Jeto. However, what is going to happen to Seto? T_T I don't know either! n.n'

 

Tet is evil!!! Man! I loved him during the first part of this story, but now he's just…grrr! He must die! >D

 

This chapter resembles `Lover of Shadows' where Seto is ill, but it is mere coincidence! I had already planned on making Seto ill to begin with. It's all part of the plot! So, no, I did not steal from Jonouchi-Kaiba-Mokie's fic!