Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Gin no Umi o Wataru ❯ Chapter 10

In the Shadow Realm

Jahi stared at Joey. "Draw, child!"

Joey nodded and drew. He looked at the cards he drew: Wall of Illusion, Scape Goat, Fairy Box, Alligator Sword, Pot of Greed. Nodding, he stared down at the board. In front of him appeared 14 glowing squares, similar to the ones on the ground. He chose the magic card, Fairy Box, and placed it face down. Smirking he placed Alligator Sword face up, "Your go!"

Jahi nodded and drew his first five cards, "Thank you ever so much... puppy!"

Jahi stared at his cards. Two trap cards, Bottomless Trap Hole and House of Adhesive Tape, and 3 monster cards, Exiled Force, Armored Lizard, and Minar. Biting his bottom lip, he set one trap, and flipped Exiled Force up. Smiling at Joey, he reached for a card. "I'll set this card, face down, puppy and I'll sacrifice my Exiled Force to destroy your Alligator Sword."

Joey shook his head and drew. Axe Raider. He set it and placed it in attack mode.

Jahi negligently flipped over his trap card, Bottomless Trap Hole. Axe Raider stared in shock as a hole opened below him, he screamed as he fell, into the abyss.

"Oh dear, anything else?" Jahi smirked.

Joey turned set one card and leaned back. "Yer not gonna win..."

"Really? I think I will..." Jahi smiled as Joey drew his next card.

* * *

3:34 PM

Seto sat hugging his younger brother, one hand stroking it's way through Mokuba's silky hair. A knock on the door startled him, frowning, he yelled, "Come in."

An older man entered. He stood no more than about five feet two inches; his stark white hair was cut in a simple style that lay flat against his skull. It framed a face that looked to have spent more time smiling than otherwise. His skin was pale underneath small gold-rimmed half circle glasses. He was dressed in a formal red silk kimono with crimson cherry trees embossed on it. He bowed to the brown, smiling widely. His teeth were small tan stained squares of enamel. "Hello, Kaibas-san. I am sorry for the delay, I was at my son's grandson's wedding. Is there a VCR available?"

Seto nodded at this man, a person he hasn't seen in years and stood up. He slid Mokuba to his feet and wrapped one hand over his shoulder. He gently maneuvered his brother towards the inner room of the office they were in. Sitting on a blue leather couch, he sat back and pulled Mokuba down beside him. He watched Housou walk over and push in the tape. The lawyer turned on the TV and moved back.

On the screen snow started and was replaced by a young woman who appeared to be in her late 20's. She was dressed in a dark navy suit. Her dark brown hair cut in a short feathery look, as she leaned back it was obvious that she was well into her pregnancy. She smiled into the camera, "Hello, Seto."

"Mother." He whispered and pulled his brother closer.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Hello, Seto... my son. And hello to you too, my beautiful and precious little one. If you're watching this then for some reason we can't be here to tell you about this family secret. Housou, thank you for watching out for my children. We have instructed Housou to show you this tape if and only if you have reached 21 or that someone is questioning seriously your parentage. You see Seto... and my as yet unborn child. I don't even know if you are a boy or a girl yet. If you are a girl, you will be named Sakura; a boy, Mokuba." She ran her hand over her stomach, smiling. "As you know my dear Seto, you are blood type A, I am O, and your father is B. So you knew he couldn't be your birth father. As to that, well, you see, your father and I tried for years to have children. We met as children, grew up together, fell in love with each other, and married right out of high school. I got a job at Kaiba Corp immediately and they helped pay for my college education at Todai.

"Your father got a job with the police force and five months later, I was pregnant. I... lost your eldest sister when she was at 4 months. Then followed another girl at six months, a 7-month boy. Finally we sought help and found out that we could never have a child together. This came to the attention of Kaiba who suggested that we seek help at a secure genetic facility. We took his advice and sought help at the 'Goodkind Clinic '. They preformed an assessment on me that included my age, blood type, intelligence, genetic inheritances, and came up with a few sperm donors.

"Yes, sperm donors. It was the only way and we so wanted children. Please my loves do not doubt that you are our children. We love you so much." She looked at someone behind the camera and stroked her stomach. "I don't know what else to tell you, or how to make this knowledge easier... except to assure you both that you are so wanted."

She stood up and the camera stared at the swell of her stomach.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Seto held Mokuba tighter, fingers gently playing against the little tufts of hair that lay on Mokuba's neck. He leaned down, "I remember mom. She was so pretty and she looked so much like you. You were a quiet baby. Almost never kicked mom during pregnancy and slept like an angel."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A noise sounded as the young woman walked off the screen and a young man took her place. His hair was jet black with some early white sprays woven within. His eyes were large and dark dark blue; his skin was sun-darkened and leathery. He wasn't handsome but rather he looked trustworthy. He waited until a door closed. "Hello Seto... and Mokuba. Yes, Mokuba, I already know that you are a boy. Seto told me. Nadi was asleep and Seto crawled up there; he laid his head on her stomach and looked at me, then said, 'I love my Mokuba, tou-chan.' Later I found out that he was right. You are a little boy. So let this reassure you, my youngest son, your brother has looked out for you at every step and his love for you predated your birth. I know he is looking out for you.

"The reason that I waited for your mother to leave is because of ' what ' I found out about your sperm donor. I refuse to call him your father because I am your father. I will raise you, I hope. I will be there. It started when you were about five, Seto. Your mother and I were invited to a company picnic, we went and took you. Your mother was pregnant and you were playing with several other small children. I took some pictures of you and the other playing. After the pictures had been developed, I decided to include them in a bunch of other pictures that were part of a project I was helping your mother with.

"She was working on a face and feature recognition program for Kaiba Corp. It would be set to recognize people but also it would try to find relationships in groups of people. It could say that specimen A and specimen B had 97% chance of being related on a first level. In simple language, that they are siblings. Imagine my surprise when it told me that pictures of you and Noa Kaiba had a 99% of relativity. The more I stared at the pictures, the more it seemed that it could be you.

"So I did something that is no doubt illegal and hacked several databases. I discovered that Noa Kaiba had his DNA profile done as part of our school kids program. You see it was a new idea, but a good one. Every child would submit to fingerprinting, photos, and a DNA profile to be kept on file with the national police department. I joined the squad and helped them collect over a dozen schools. I asked a friend in the DNA lab to run matches. I came up with no less than two dozen. I investigated some of them. Each had certain... similarities.

"The mother was between 24 and 32, their IQ's were qualified as genius level, and healthy. Also their genealogy, all were Japanese for the past 4 generations. Seto, Mokuba this means you have no less than 25 siblings... one of who is conclusively Noa Kaiba. You are Kaiba's children. This scares me more than anything because I know our Seto is a very intelligent young man, interested in many things and his IQ is extremely high. And I'm sure Mokuba will be too. I don't want Kaiba to ever get his hands on you. And he can do it. Since you are both his blood children.

"I love you both so much, this fear is one I will never share with your mother, she doesn't need to know it. I also think you will see this tape after our death; it isn't too hard to track down who discovered this. If he finds out, he won't hesitate to kill me. So I might as well tell you what else I've discovered. I've hacked the Goodkind Clinic and found Kaiba used the clinic as a breeding station. A way to make sure that he will have a crop of young people incase anything happens to his son. He's not one to depend on one and only one heir. Be careful and protect your brother, Seto-kun. Moku-chan, never doubt our love, my beautiful and wonderful sons.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mokuba turned and looked up at his brother. " Nii-sama? We're... K-K-Kaibas?"

Seto turned and looked at him, "Doesn't matter if that bastard did contribute to us genetically, we had the best parents in the world in mother and father. Without mother and father we wouldn't be brothers. Kaiba didn't believe in brothers, mother and father taught us to be so."

Housou nodded. "Of course you are the children of your parents. The only thing Kaiba contributed was genetic material and that was without their permission. They did not choose Kaiba's material, he used your mother's material because he believed that a child of the two of them would result in what it did result in... a young man of skill and intelligence. However young Mokuba, you must understand that as far as your mother is concerned you are hers and your true father's children." Housou knelt before them. "Remember this... please. Now we have to deal with what will happen when the news breaks."

"And what to do about the other children." Mokuba leaned against his brother.

"If you will forgive the presumption, I suggest you break the news of what Kaiba did and how you are offended by his actions in treating people like pawns. Offer the other children training in the diverse components of Kaiba Corp, use them as trusted advisors. Give them a sense of the company. Every child who agrees to work in Kaiba Corp should receive one percent of the company. This way they have an incentive to work for the better of the company. Give them a reason to be loyal to you and only you. In this way, you may outfox Noa... for I am sure it is he who released this information. I believe he's trying to shake the foundation of trust in Kaiba Corp. Gather your fellow half-siblings around you to create a shield, (the comma is not needed) he cannot break. If you miss a certain brother or sister, make a big to-do once you found them. As if you view it as a great misfortune to have missed them and welcome them into the fold with open arms. You give this appearance and we can turn this on Noah. It will make you out to be family-orientated. This will be all to your benefit." Housou looked from one to another. Taking a deep breath, he stared into Seto's eyes. "I promised your parents that I would help you through this time, and I shall... if you permit it."

Mokuba nodded and poked Seto, who looked at him with a smile. Seto stood up and held out his hand. "Of course we will, Housou. Now let's make some plans. Nii-sama, I'll call the others."

* * *

4:30 PM

Yugi stared at the television, his brow furrowed. "Yami..."

"Yes?" Yami turned on the couch, frowning at Yugi's expression. "Is something wrong?"

"No... how, I mean, do you remember more about your life back then? How was it to be Seto's brother?"

"He was a good man but demanded a lot from himself and us... He was very devout... never judged another."

"So exactly opposite from what he is today?" Yugi looked at him.

"Not exactly opposite, more like the person he would be if he hadn't been adopted by Kaiba. Why?" Yami leaned close, his lips brushing over Yugi's neck. "Are you afraid of how he will... treat Joey?"

" Sorta. It's just... Yami, it's all so different. I... forget it." Yugi lay back and pulled a pillow into his arms.

Yami stared at his other self for a moment before turning to face him. "Kaiba won't hurt him. And I know that this is all so very strange to you. Me as well, but you must not give up hope, my hikari. We will win... not just this time but for once and for all."

Yugi moved closer and wrapped Yami's hand around his shoulders. "I know... but, this Nkosi ... he already hurt Joey, what about grandpa, Téa, and the others?"

Yami hugged him close, "I don't know, Yugi, I don't know. However, I can say this. On my honor as the son of the Sun God Ra, I shall not allow anyone to harm your grandfather, Tristan, or Téa." Yami stared into the violet eyes of his other half, moving closer. His lips opened as he gave to the young one a kiss. It was filled with benediction, love, honor, and the desert sun. Yami rested his hand against Yugi's cheek and moved back. "Yugi..."

"H- hai?" Yugi eyes fluttered open. He stared at Yami with satiated eyes.

"I have an idea... to help protect Grandpa. To do it, I will need to borrow your body."

"Ok. Hmmm what are ya gonna do?"

"I'm gonna lay wards. As the pharaoh I was taught some magic. Not like Seferet, but some. Enough to lay a ward. Though later we may as Seferet to lay wards on all the homes. I won't let him hurt you, meryt." Yami faded and Yugi took hold of the puzzle. The light flashed and Yami stared out. He went to the kitchen to get salt, pure water, and a knife...

* * *

Eight Years ago

The boy sat watching Gatchaman quietly. It was almost unnatural. He did get up and wander around at commercials; he didn't move closer to see what new toy was being offered. He just sat and stared silently at the TV. His sable hair fell to his shoulders, curving naturally to his head. His dark eyes stared out of a slightly olive face. He sat in his white t-shirt, a thick blue vest, and green jeans with plain white sneakers. His hands stayed folded loosely up.

A noise caused him to turn around, his eyes lighting on a very pregnant young woman. She knelt and held out her arms, "

"Are you enjoying the show, little one?"

He nodded and led her over to a brown leather couch that was sitting before the television. She laughed and pulled him up next to her. He leaned over and placed his head on her stomach, his lips moving softly.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm telling the story to Mokie... he'll love it!"

She shook her head and looked at the lawyer across the room.

Housou smiled. He liked that family.

* * *

5:25

Seto sat in his chair, in his office and stared out the window. The sun was low in the sky and the windows had gradually lightened. He could hear the door open behind him. Turning slowly in his leather chair, he stared at the group in front of him. Mokuba had gone downstairs to escort them up there. Yugi... or rather Yami, was standing there as well as all his ancient brothers and sister, Tristan and two others. A thought flickered across his mind that of all of the people there, Tristan was the one most not needed.

//Everyone is needed, Seto.//

//Sef.//

//After this, perhaps we should journey to the hospital and sit with our loves. Mayhap we can do nothing yet... I wish to assemble some protections for him.//

//I have my people already watching.// Seto stood up and led the group down a side hallway to large room. "Sit down. I brought you here because at least here, I can be sure no one can eavesdrop."

//But they can't see the magic... can they ?//

The group settled down and the two new members at the farthest end of the table. Pegasus turned to his lover and nodded. Duke stood up. "Yugi filled us in and believe me, I may not like Joey all the time, but this is inexcusable. Noa has been working with Industrial Illusions for almost a year, anything we know, we will give you."

"With in limits, Kaiba-boy. I won't sink my company for you."

Seto nodded. "Accepted." Facing the group, he leaned back in his chair. "Joey's situation hasn't changed. However we must decide what to do with Nkosi when we trap him. I vote for his destruction. If I hadn't been so weak the last time, I would have done it properly. I waited and people died. This time I won't make such a mistake."

//Do you think I'd help you do that, Seto ?// Sef asked quietly.

//I know you will or is that your wish? To lose him in this life too? He already killed him once, rather brutally I believe.//

//No! But the destruction of a soul...//

//Don't be pathetic. The choice between them isn't a choice. We will destroy Nkosi.//

Yami stared at Seto. "We can not destroy him."

"Excuse me?

"We will not defeat him by being crueler than he. Also he is our sibling." Yami pointed out.

Shadi nodded. "Hatred only increases hatred and when one is mad, do you really want to escalate this? Nkosi has already shown us that he is dangerous. Next time he may kill more people. Look to what has already happened. Too many are injured and dead for a... family squabble !"

Marik turned and smiled at Rashid. A laugh burbled out of him, making the iridescent millennium eye flicker and flash upon his forehead. "Shadi, you know as well as I that Egypt is famous of its family squabbles. And each time, the people have paid the price for our hurt feelings. It is the same everywhere. In the feudal era, the shoguns went to war at the drop of a shield. We are royalty... of course our battles include deaths. They always have, Shadi. They always will."

Isis nodded and leaned back, "True brother. However, I'd rather limit the amount of death we spread. I admit though, I'd rather a hundred deaths than a million."

Tristan stared at them. "I don't believe you, who do you think you are?! You aren't royalty, you aren't better than anyone else. Maybe back then you thought you were but you're not now! You're acting like this is normal. Like their deaths don't mean much except as a move in a game!"

Yami stared at him. "I've always protected my pawns, Tristan but you make a good analogy. And this exactly how Nkosi thinks. To get ahead of him, we have to play his way... without losing ourselves in his world. Believe me Tristan, we don't take anyone's life as not worthy or unnecessary. Not even Nkosi's."

Seto stood up, his chair falling backwards, slamming his hands on the table. He leaned forward with a twisted look on his face, "Nkosi's life is mine! There is nothing redeemable about him, even if he once was my brother. What he has done is unforgivable and he can not be redeemed ." Seto sneered.

Mokuba looked up at him, "Like you... during 'Death T'?"

Seto turned and stared at him, his voice whispering. "Mokuba... what... how could..."

Tristan looked down at the table while Yami nodded. "Yes, Seto, 'Death T'. You were mad... part of it was what your fa - Gozaburo did to you. Yet you tried to kill us, going so far as to catch and lock us in with a serial killer. You sentenced Mokuba to 'experience death'. Now look... look around. You have family. You have all of us, and we all, to some measure, love you. Yet the love you have for Mokuba perhaps you can share some with Noa. He should have been your brother. He deserved to be your brother. It is unfortunate that he was born to Kaiba and not to your parents."

Mokuba moved closer to Seto, wrapping his arm around Seto's waist. "Big brother... Maybe we can rescue him, like Yami did you. And Yami... he is our brother. Our father was Kaiba. Apparently he decided that he didn't want to risk all his chances on one heir. So when our parents went to a clinic for help, he paid someone to make mother pregnant with his seed rather than our father's. He did this to a lot of women."

Yami shook his head, disgusted. "He must have thought he was a pharaoh. This is just another reason for you to not destroy him. Brother then, brother now. You got a second chance, so must he. "

"So you won't help me, even after he has caused Joey's coma and he tried to kill Mokuba!" Seto's voice scraped out of his throat. He stared at his brother before pushing him away and walking out.

Mokuba rolled over and struggled to stand up. "Nii-sama..."

Shadi stood and walked over to help Mokuba up. "Little one, allow me to talk to your brother alone. He's in pain without Joey and I believe he fears to show weakness to any of us, most of all... to you."

Mokuba nodded and picked up Seto's chair. He sat in it and stared at the rest of them. Behind him Shadi left, quietly.

* * *

Seto prowled in his office, trying to calm down. It would do no good if they saw him like this. A slowly blinking blue light on his phone caught his attention. He frowned, that light meant someone, some business associate was calling him. However both Pegasus and Devlin were here. He leaned over and pressed the speaker button. "Yes."

"Hello... brother."

"Noa."

"Yes, may I call you Seto?" The voice asked smoothly.

"Of course... what do you want?"

"An alliance. I do not know how anyone found out that Kaiba was my father but I would not be responsible for trouble with his company now yours. Today, I have gotten no less than five calls about whether I plan to take over the company. I do not. He was your father too and you have been trained to take over the company. I believe it is necessary for us to present a united front... Seto." Noa's voice crept out of the speaker.

"I see..." Seto thought back to what Housou suggested and nodded. "Very well... come over to the headquarters in two hours."

"Actually, I was hoping to meet in a more congenial place." Seto could hear Noa's chair creaking with a rich leather sound, "Perhaps dinner?"

Seto grit his teeth and stared balefully at the phone. "Fine. 8:30. The Jade Flower Room."

"Very well, please bring my other brother, I so wish to know both of you."

Seto stared as a persistent tone floated from the speaker, growling he slammed his hand on the button and flopped into his chair. Sighing he picked up the phone and dialed. " Suraku, how is Joey doing?"

"Fine, Mr. Kaiba... still in the coma but the docs say the pressure has gone down some."

"Good... Suraku, what have you heard on the news about Asheworth?" Seto rubbed his forehead as he grimaced.

"If you mean the question of him being your brother, I did hear it, sir. I also set some of my people on the trail of finding out where those packages came from. I have also set teams to watch the homes of the other young adults concerned, including the Turtle Game Shop. Only the top 10 men are allowed to protect Joey Wheeler. And there is one more concern, sir. Mr. Iwata... as instructed we have kept him under surveillance.

"He has been building what is tantamount to a shrine in his bedroom to Mr. Wheeler. He addresses him as his 'Angel' and his 'Light'. He's an accomplished photographer and is indulging his hobby by taking several rolls a week of Mr. Wheeler. Whether for his own enjoyment or because he wishes to use it later as blackmail material, I don't know. He has been overheard many a time to be muttering that he will find a way for you to let his 'Angel' stay forever. Do you wish him to be removed?"

"Not yet, Suraku ... However, see if you can get photos of him and his little 'altar of love'. That may prove useful. Also contact Dr. Mozelle in the Institute. Ask him to write me up a profile of Iwata and the best manner to handle him if I choose to do one of three things. First, if I want him to let Wheeler go either for good or temporarily. Second, if I want Iwata to kill Wheeler. And third, if I should want to give Wheeler to Iwata. Wheeler finally has a purpose. Also did you find out what certificates he has or needs?"

"Yes, sir. Before becoming a driver for Kaiba Corp., he worked at the Domino Airport. He's qualified in several forms of vehicle maintenance, though I'm not sure you want him to be servicing any vehicle of yours. Especially after Iwata telling Wheeler that you will give him to Iwata." Suraku sighed.

"Damn him! I will call Iwata tonight and handle him. Thank you."

"It is my pleasure to sure you Mr. Kaiba."

" Suraku ... if for any reason I should not be able to handle Kaiba Corp., I expect you to serve Mokuba to as full an extant as you served I."

"Yes of course, Mokuba is the true heir and only he. No matter how true or false any other's blood claim may be."

"Thank you, Suraku ." Seto hung up the phone and leaned back. No matter how angry he was with Mokuba, he'd never leave him unprotected. Seto sat in his chair, turning one way then the other, lost in thought.

"As you did now... sen ." A dry voice spoke from the doorway.

"What do you wish, Tjatyu?"

Shadi smiled at that ancient name. "Mokuba is upset, scared. He wishes to know that you are all right."

Seto raised his head. " Mokie ... Tell him... no, ask him to come here?"

"In a minute, my friend... tell me, is there anything I can do for you? I overheard you speaking to Noa. Can I... perhaps help you in less obvious ways?"

"You mean magically." Seto stared at him.

"Yes, I don't know if Seferet has taught you any but perhaps I can help prevent Noa from getting into your mind or into Mokuba's. I agree with Yami that we can't destroy him, without at least attempting to rescue him. Remember you being obsessed over winning? Think about how consumed Jahi has been becoming about living again... It is not directly their fault. What they have suffered is driving them mad, and with Nkosi, we know that the Eye drove him mad then too. Ask Seferet, I am sure there were some times when he and Nkosi were happy together. Now I will fetch Mokuba." Shadi moved back silently, closing the door behind him.

Seto sat perplexed, //Sef... were there times ?//

//Yes, I have said that we shared the same mother but that is not truly accurate. Our mothers were sisters, you would say half-sisters. Their fathers were different though they shared the same mother. In my time, blood was passed mainly through the mothers, and mothers had the right of final recognition. That means if your mother denied you, then you were left alone without a family.

//Our mothers were both married to the pharaoh. The younger one was his mother but she died soon after his birth. She asked my mother to accept him as her son. So she did. She was just then pregnant by the pharaoh, nine months later she gave birth to Adna. They should have been close but they aren't and with they were. I loved them both; I spent so much time with them. For the longest everything was ok, then... then... then he started to change. I went into the priesthood and Nkosi had some good talent with magic so I asked him to be trained as a priest. He was later given the Eye. After that, the changes became more rampant. He would speak of people who hated and stole from him, those who would lie to him, he would steal from others then maintain that the things stolen belonged to him. Soon he was expelled and the Eye taken from him.//

//But was he a good brother ?// Seto asked, sighing.

//Until he changed, he and Adna were my favorite sibs. Then I got to spend time with Hunefer, ah Yami, and he and I got along much better when we decided to work together. I think that's what Father had in mind.//Sef smiled as he remembered days gone by.

//What about Shadi's offer of magic ?//</i> Seto asked curiously.

//I suggest you take it. You haven't been very attentive to lessons. And I have had much time to teach you about the Scales... but perhaps that is what they are counting on... Tonight you will take a lesson in how to use the Scales.// Sef insisted. //Now look up... Adna's coming.//

Seto jerked up and stood quickly. As the door opened, he ran his eyes over Mokuba. A pale wine stain was creeping up from under his sand he tugged the shirt collar down. Mokuba reached over to try to pull it back up. "Oh... Mokie I'm so, so sorry."

Mokuba stared at him and hugged him gently. "It's ok, Nii-sama."

"No, it's not! I'm sorry... I haven't been very good to you lately. And I can't promise to. If you want to go visit Serenity, I'll let you."

"No... we're gonna make it through together, as brothers and that's final!" Mokuba stared at his brother before hugging him tightly. "Always my brother, right Seto?"

"Always, Mokie. You know if Gozaburo did this to as many people as Father suspects, then we owe it to them to make sure they are given chances to succeed. Like Housou said... it will be a great investment. Each of them will be allowed to claim the name of Kaiba. They can form a core of trusted people and we can spread out. We can redeem the Kaiba name."

Mokuba smiled, "And we'll have a huge family?"

" Hai ."

Mokuba nodded and hugged his brother again before standing straight. "Have you talked to Sef? He knew Nkosi."

"Yes and we plan to talk a great deal tonight. He also believes I need some practice with the scales. So we'll work on that then visit Joey. You need to rest that shoulder, Mokuba so it'll heal faster."

Mokuba nodded and walked over to the door. "Should I tell the others to leave?"

Seto leaned on the desk and bit his lip. "No... you go rest, put something on those bruises and I'll see you before I leave, ok?"

"Yes..." Mokuba slipped out the door, seeing his favorite guard waiting at the stairs, he heads upstairs.

//Seto, you plan to go through with meeting Nkosi tonight??//

//Yes, Sef... I've been thinking of what you said and it looks as if Nkosi was suffering from mental illness.//</i>

<i>//What? We knew the gods were upset with him but he refused to stop stealing even when we warned him.//

//It's not something he can control... Mental illness is quiet; it changes how a person perceives the world around them. They see enemies where there are none, they believe themselves to be hunted or pursued. They become overly possessive and don't listen to logic.// Seto frowned.

//Yes, yes! That was him! An illness? What causes it? // Sef asked excitedly.

<i>//You have knowledge of chemicals don't you? Well we have chemicals inside ourselves and when they are in the wrong mix then it affects how we think. You would call them 'humors' but there are more than a few humors though they are made up of only four basic elements.// Seto smiled twistedly at the thought that all they were dealing with was a garden variety psycho. Malik could probably destroy him easily.

//Then it was this illness not gods who changed my brother ?//</i> Sef seemed surprised.

// Yes, and it may explain why Nkosi and Adna weren't close. The change in the chemicals produce a slight change in smell... so slight you and I may not notice it. Women seem more perceptible to changes in males, as males are more perceptible to the changes in females. Adna was your sister.// Seto stood up and straightened his coat. Yanking the door open he headed down the hall.

//I see... then tonight ?// </i>Sef asked cautiously.

//I tell Noa that Nkosi was suffering from paranoia and schizophrenia. And suggest that he help us... I'll ask him to give up the eye and accept a position as one of my two VP's. The other is reserved for Mokuba.//

//Very well... perhaps I can ask his forgiveness... and get my little sand cub back.//

//Maybe.// Seto took a deep breath and opened the door to the meeting room. "We've been going about this all wrong."

* * *

In the Shadow Realm

Jahi laughed... A perfect card. Smirking he took a card from his hand and placed it face up and stared at Joey. "Armored Lizard attacks... and your life points fall!"

Joey frowned. "We'll see. I activate Fairy box. If I call the flip right then I don't lose any life points!" Joey stared as the coin went up. "Heads."

Jahi laughed as it fell and a gold etched tail shone. Sands fell from Joey's life point counter. "Fifteen hundred points gone. Your move..."

Joey growled and drew. Premature Burial. Shaking his head, he plucked a card from his hand, "I play Jar of Greed!" Draws and snickers when he sees he's pulled Red Eyes Black Dragon and Reinforcement of Army. "I end my turn, Joky ."

"It's Jahi, Pup!" Jahi stares at his hand and draws. Jinzo. "I sacrifice Armored Lizard to call out Jinzo who attacks your points directly. Down to 100, Boy."

"Yeah, yeah... now let's see..." Joey stares at his cards, a plan forming. "I play Scape Goat!"

Jahi shook his head. "Trying to escape? You have one hundred Life Points... give up! You can't play well because you don't have a reason to. Jinzo destroy one of his Scape Goats."

"Well, you're wrong... I have Seto. Hear me... I HAVE SETO!" Joey growled and drew. He took a deep breath as he pulled out, Banner of Courage. "You're gonna go down! I sacrifice my last two Scape Goats to use..."

* * *

7:47 PM

Domino Hospital

Honda ducked into the room and closed the door. Joey was lying pale against the medical blue. His hair dull and brittle framed his face except where they shaved it to do the surgery. The translucent tubes crawled all over him, almost as bad as that soft intrusive beeping coming from the machines. Honda pulled a chair close to the bed and stared at his friend.

"Joey, I don't know if you can hear me... I don't know if you will remember this when you wake up but you have to wake up. Kaiba's become an even greater asshole. He's seriously off his rocker... and you've only been together for two weeks. He's determined to kill Nkosi. Or he was.

"He came in after storming out because we wouldn't allow him to kill Noa, rather I should say, Yami wouldn't let him. Then Mokuba told us that Noa is really their brother. Surprise huh? It turns out he may be the original Kaiba Heir. Seto thinks that Nkosi was mentally ill; combine that with Noa's jealousy. Boom... Damn, wake up already!

"Look, if you wake up, I promise that I'll try not to hate Moneybags so much, k? Just wake up." Honda stared at his best friend before standing up. The soft annoying beeps still sounded. Sighing, he opened the door and nodded at the guard.

* * *

In the Shadow Realm

Joey smiled, "First I play my magic cards, Premature Burial, which brings back my Alligator Sword. Then I play, Reinforcement of Army, that lets me call out Gierfried the Iron Warrior! Scared yet? I also play Banner of Courage to increase all my monsters attack point by 200 and sac two of my Scape Goats to bring forth, Red Eyes Black Dragon!"

Jahi stared at him before a twisted smile crossed his face.

* * *

8:45 PM

Outside Noa's house

//Damn brat, I can not believe I'm doing this! As long as I'm useful he's all sweetness and light but the minute I'm not it's constant whining! //

//Baku-chan, thank you for doing this...// Ryou's mind voice whispered into his head.

//I'm not doing this for you! You did however bring up a good point. If he kills you, I'm stuck in that infernal ring again for another five millennia! It's insufferable that he killed me, me! The Thief King! But for him to do it again is not acceptable. Now go back to your miserable weeping about the pointy headed boy.// Bakura snapped.

//Bakura... still I thank you.// A mental kiss pressed itself to Bakura's lips. <i>//Thief King? You were Thief King Bakare? //

//The greatest Thief King ever. We stole so much of the gold from the tombs. They didn't need it and we did. Now get out of my head so I can do this.//

// Hai , Bakare, beloved.//

Bakura shook his head and smiled, if Tristan thought that he could just have Ryou then Bakura will have to teach him differently. Bakura stared at the glass as if he could melt it. He was however glad that Ryou had taught how to use that computer, the sheer amount of information they had on present day alarms and traps made him salivate. Such useful information just lying around. Smirking, he disabled the window alarm and opened it. He dropped to the floor and looked around. A hallway, an empty hallway. Very empty. No pictures, no tables, no knick-knacks. And dust everywhere... frowning Bakura walked carefully through room upon empty, dusty room. He growled angrily and kept looking. He knew he was in the right place, he knew it but the house was empty. He turned and looked over to a stairway, if he was right that led to Noa's bedroom. Noa wasn't here since he was supposed to be meeting with Seto right now. Making his choice, Bakura moved up the stairs and walked carefully to the room. Strange, this door was the only one not coated with dust, instead the inlaid bamboo shone golden. Silently he pushed the door open.

Another empty room, another empty room, yes but not dusty. Bakura smiled and looked around the room. On one wall was mounted a small gray box. About a foot on each side, it was the only thing in the room. Bakura walked over and examined it carefully, making sure it wasn't booby-trapped. He flipped the latches at the top and it fell down to form a keyboard. Nestled into a hole in the wall was a small monitor. The screen flickered and a cursor appeared onto the screen. Puzzled he read:

Available Battery: 69%
Time Remaining: 15 hours 32 minutes
Location tracking
Cybernetic body performance: 98%

//Ryou.//

// Hai , Bakura? Are you done? //

Bakura rolled his eyes, //No, but tell me... what does 'cy-be-net- ic ' mean?//

// Cybenetic ... do you mean C-y-b-e-r-n-e-t- i -c ?// Ryou asked cautiously, he knew that Bakura hated to be corrected.

//Yes.//

//Cybernetic... it's like the show I showed you Cyborg 009. It means a machine that's part human, why? //

<i>//Then Noa is a robot... I'm coming back! // Bakura smirked.

//What? Bakura! Bak -// Ryou shouted.

Bakura ignored him and shut the link. Securing the computer, he turned towards two doors inset in an adjoining wall. He opened the first one, a dusty bathroom. Then he opened the second one... row upon row of pressed suits. Bakura laughed, if Noa was going to pretend to be human then of course he needed clothes. A memory of a story that Ryou told him about a tin soldier flooded through his mind. Laughing delightedly, he set to cutting every piece of clothing save for one of those ugly white uniforms. Happy once again, he closed everything up and left the house, whistling.

* * *

8:25

Jade Flower Room

Seto sipped from his cup, eyes cast down as he sat on a tatami mat in a private eating room. Beside him the whisper of paper and wood sounded as the (shoji?) were pulled back. Suddenly pair of gray leather loafers appear at the corner of his sight.

"You're early."

Noa nodded to the hostess and knelt carefully on the opposite side of the table. "Yes I am, Kaiba-san or may I call you Seto, nii-chan?"

"Call me what you wish. What did you want to talk about?"

"I am sorry about what happened, is Mokuba alright?"

"Yes..." Seto rubbed the bridge of his nose "but he was tired so I let him go to bed early. Not to be rude but what do you want, Asheworth. "

"For you to call me Noa, for you to know what Kaiba did to me, for you to give me a chance to meet and know Mokuba. A chance to have a family again. That's all."

"Truly?" Seto looked at him skeptically.

"I understand that you find this hard... even impossible to believe. As for the unfortunate revealing of our relationship, I did plan on telling you. I thought it best if I approached from a position of equality. Where I would have my own money and company and so forth so that you would not assume that I only wanted to use our relationship to take over Kaiba Corp. It is yours." Noa paused, looking at his half brother and sipped from his cup. "Also I didn't know if you were my half-brother or not. There were other... possibilities. One is a young man named Duke Devlin. I found out that he too owns a company and then there was Joseph Wheeler. Since Kaiba did as he did in Domino, I had to look at all children born in certain years.

"Joseph Wheeler? Devlin?" Seto shook his head. "They still may be, Noa. I have uncovered evidence that indicates that not only my mother was used as a..." Seto sneered, "brood mare. We may have at least five or ten others. That's a big family."

Noa nodded, "I see, then let's you and I find them."

"I already have people working on it. It's been over 16 years and some may be older. It will be hard to find them especially if they have spread throughout Japan." The shoji was pushed delicately aside once more and several bowls were placed before them. "Now to dinner and tell me more about your life."

"Well, I was born and raised here in Japan until I was nine, when I was hit by a car. Afterwards Kaiba kept me around for maybe a year then shipped me off to England. My mother's family were Asheworths and I..."

* * *

Monday

12:45 PM
Lunch

Yugi sat down on the bench and waited. He pushed his food around the tray and looked for the others. Suddenly Tristan sat down beside him. "Eat, Yuge. Joey won't like it if you don't eat."

Yugi jumped and looked up at his friend, "I know... did you notice that Kaiba wasn't in school today. Maybe he went to visit Joey."

"You think so? I don't know. I wonder if Mokuba went to school today, poor guy was all shaken up." Tristan looked up suddenly, a smile sweeping across his face. He half stood and waved to a slim white blond haired young man. "Ryou. Hey... sit down."

Yugi's mouth dropped open and he shut it quickly, calling to Yami. //Yami! Tristan, I think he likes Ryou. //

<i>//Hmmm well we knew he likes Ryou, otherwise he wouldn't be Ryou's friend, Yugi.//

//No. He likes Ryou. The smile on his face as Ryou came over. //

//NANI?! Hmm... he is a nice young man, but we'll have to see if he's suitable for my brother. For now, could you perhaps... discourage him from falling too quickly? //

//YAMI! No I can't. It's sweet and here I thought he'd keep going after Serenity. But it's all cute that he's head over heels for Ryou. I wonder what he thinks of Bakura. I wonder what Bakura thinks about this!//

//He hates it, in his mind Ryou should be his as you are mine. Think too, if Bakare is my brother that should make Ryou as close as a brother to you as well. And as willing to check out anyone who is interested in him. //

Yugi shook his head and looked up, straight into Ryou's eyes. "Sorry, I was talking to Yami."

Ryou nodded, "Ah... well we were thinking of visiting Kaiba after school and then Joey tonight. Bakura has something to tell Kaiba."

Yugi nodded, "Ok." Then turning, he noticed that Malik and the rest had joined them. Smiling at Malik he asked him about some of the books they needed for their history report.

* * *

1:30 PM
Kaiba Corp Main Headquarters

Seto stood staring at a monitor and noticed how many people had entered the room. Frowning, he walked over and opened the door. Not looking at the people he headed to the stage and stepped up to the podium.

"On Saturday, cowards attacked a small child. This was their second attack on him. Friday afternoon, a dark car careened wildly around a corner and shot at my ten-year-old brother as a friend of mine was picking him up from school. As a result of protecting Mokuba, he was injured and is now in a coma. They fire into the school with no thought of who they might hit, luckily the school was mostly empty as it was after school. Saturday was another matter entirely.

"These cowards placed a bomb underneath the elementary school, knowing that Mokuba was going to be there for a competition. A district wide competition, which meant the school would be full of student, teachers, parents, and helpers. I do not know what these cowards want because they have failed to give any demands to me. No one has called to claim responsibility. And for a while I believed that it was not Mokuba who was the target, the second attack unfortunately confirms it.

"The other unfortunate thing about this is that these cowards did not care who they hurt in addition to Mokuba. That is why you are all here. You have all suffered family who have been hurt or killed by these cowards. Behind you is the press, here to record my words to these dishonorable, low, no account bastards.

"I have arranged to pay for the hospital stay and therapy for everyone injured by the blast as well as the funerals, help with insurance, and a monetary settlement. I am not trying to buy off your family deaths, my brother and I, truly feel a responsibility help you through this. As head of Kaiba Corporation, I understand an attack on myself. Mokuba (take out the comma) is my heir, and we can understand an attack on him. The people who were hurt and killed by the blast, especially the children, were innocent. They have nothing to do with Kaiba Corp or us. To try their best to kill innocents is the mark of someone who is a coward, without honor, without humanity.

"As head of Kaiba Corp , I have always tried to give my little brother a relatively normal lifestyle, yet now others are paying for it. To this end, I am announcing a withdrawal of Mokuba, Joseph Wheeler, and myself from public school until the threat to others is over. In addition, we are supplying the police with the newest forms of security technology that we have in hopes it may help. I know this can not make up for the loss of your family but maybe we can make it easier to bear." Seto stepped down and moved toward the people. A guard touched his shoulder briefly, whispering in his ear before handing him a folder. Frowning, he opened the folder and read the information.

Control Sample: Kaiba Seto

Subject A: 100% Match (subject is control)

Subject B: 75% Match - first level relationship (sibling)

Subject C: 90% Match - first level relationship (sibling)

<i>Damn, Noa is B.</i>

* * *

4:20 P.M.

Noa stared out the tinted window, wondering. //What is Seto up to? After that press conference, does he really expect me to think he doesn't know it's me. Something is wrong. And now he's pulling Mokuba out of school and himself as well, but what about this Wheeler character? What is his connection? I-//

A ringing phone demanded his attention. Noa answered it. "Yes?"

"Mr. Asheworth , something peculiar came up today. When the household staff went to pick up your clothes to be washed, they discovered that all your clothes have been methodically cut into small strips. None of which are longer than four inches and two inches wide. Naturally we were told and we checked the computer in the room. It was triggered at 8:52 last night. Whoever did it, did it with skill and precision, the only difference was the rhythmic pulses in the wire. The way we have it set up is that every so often you get an energy pulse through the alarm wire. These are set randomly so that you may get one pulse, five second pause, another pulse, another pulse, three seconds later, another. Except that in this case between 8:48 and 8:49 there were three pulses exactly twenty seconds apart and during the time period from 8:55 to 8:56 there were five pulses exactly twelve minutes apart. We have failed Mr. Asheworth, someone broke in and we have no idea what they took."

"I see."

* * *

5:37 PM
On the way to Kaiba Corp.

Malik smiled as Tristan teased Yugi. Slipping one hand into Rashid's, he just let himself relax. Rashid pulled him closer and wrapped his arm around Malik's waist. Malik shook his head and thought of how calmly his lover had been waiting outside the school for him. Leaning in, he laid his head on Rashid's arm. Suddenly a slim line of uncomfortableness crept up his back until he stopped. Rashid continued walking until he was caught up short.

"Mali? Something wrong?" Rashid looked at him.

Malik turn to catch Ryou's eyes, then Yugi. Slowly all three of them turned towards the street, to watch a dark sedan pass. All four windows were tinted, as was the back. Rashid watched the car as it approached the corner and turned. Tristan looked at them, then down to a piece of paper he had in his hand.

"I got the license number. One-M-N-K-Zero-Five-One. There's something odd about it."

Rashid nodded and tugged gently on Malik's waist. Malik turned and looked up at him, a smile on his lips. "I'm ok, I think he was in the car."

Ryou and Yugi nodded. Yugi stared at the corner. "Yes, I think he was."

* * *

5:50 PM

"And Wheeler?" A voice floated in the air. Two doctors in their white lab coats and shiny silver colored badges sat in the lounge, reviewing case files.

"Almost ready to be moved to an outpatient clinic, except that we have been ordered not to do outpatient on him. He has a high rate of recidivism. We'll keep him another three weeks and then release him." The other doctor replied happily,

"Three? He already has aversion to alcohol. It's interesting that we were allowed to experiment with shocks and aversion as we did. He's remarkably suggestible. I think we only need to keep him for two more weeks."

"Hmmm well you do spend more time with him, so two weeks sounds good to me. Oh Ghosts! Five minutes to rounds, let's go."

Neither man noticed Iwata sitting by the window. His lunch gone cold and his face drained of blood. //No... they can't take my angel!//

* * *

6:00 PM
Kaiba Corp Lobby

Mokuba ran up to Yugi and hugged him. "Hey! I know you're looking for Nii-sama but he's not here. He went to spend time with Joey."

"Oh... well we were planning to go over after we talked to him, I guess we should go now. Are you coming?" Yugi asked softly.

"Sure, but instead of walking, I'll just call a car. Besides Seto doesn't want me out of our security's eyesight at all. Not that I blame him."

Tristan nodded. "True. Got a car to fit all of us?"

Mokuba nodded. "Just wait here?"

"No problem."

Five minutes later, six young men left through the side door and climbed into a van, heading to Domino Hospital.

* * *

6:07 PM
Domino Hospital

In a dim room at the end of the hall, a young man moaned, his blond hair hung limp over his eyes, except where it had been shaved to reveal the scalp wound. Slowly, pale lid opened, sticking slightly with sleep. He smiled and looked out with blue green eyes at the hospital room. Seeing a young man sitting by his bed, he calls out, "Seto?"