Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Kaiba Brothers ❯ Battered Tales ( Chapter 16 )

"I hate shopping." Seto informed his cousin, who had dragged him with her so she could buy clothing. Seth was complaining along the same lines in the Rod. Noa was at the hospital still, keeping an eye on Mokuba.

"You used to love it." Kukkî reminded him. "We'd go into stores and try things on that we could never afford, tell each other how they looked, then put it back." She sighed.

Seto rolled his eyes. "Unless is was in a thrift store. Then we would sort through the racks, find what we need, you'd pay for it, and then we'd all leave." He sounded annoyed.

Kukkî made a face at him. "That's mean, Seto-chan. I couldn't help the way we lived."

Seto sighed. "I know, I know. Gomen." He rubbed his forehead. "Kami-sama, but Goza-san's probably having a fit right now..." He grumbled.

"Why?" Kukkî stopped to look at him.

Seto sighed. "We used to have these long arguments about whether I was spoiled or not. If I'd said that around him, he'd have laughed in my face and said, 'Told you so,' or something along those lines. Drove me nuts." They started walking again.

"You miss him, despite what he did." Kukkî pointed out after another long moment of silence.

Seto nodded. "He taught me a lot. Maybe some of the things were the types of things I didn't want to learn, and maybe was too young for them, but he taught them anyway. I wouldn't be who I am, where I am, today, if it weren't for Goza-san."

"Why do you only call him Goza-san sometimes?" Kukkî inquired.

Seto frowned. "I guess, it depends on how I feel, or how much I trust the people I'm with." He sighed.

Kukkî nodded. "I see." She smiled as she saw a shop she thought she might like, and pointed it out. "That one, Seto-chan!"

Seto chuckled and let her lead him to the shop. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed shopping with her until now. He hadn't acted like a normal human being in so long, it was strange to walk around in Domino, looking at shops to buy clothing in. He followed her around the store, smiling as she pulled out this shirt, this skirt, maybe this dress for special occasions... Then they would walk over to the dressing rooms and she would try on each thing, coming out to model it off if she didn't totally hate it. Then he paid for the stuff she wanted and they walked back out on to the street, each carrying a bag. Seto didn't mind the cost. He had plenty of money.

"You little brat! Don't let me catch you back in my house until you've learned to keep your mouth shut!" A man kicked a young boy out of a run-down house and slammed the door. The boy just sat in the middle of the sidewalk, trying not to cry, as people passed him by.

Seto narrowed his eyes and stopped next to the boy. "Oi, kodomo, are you okay?"

The kid looked up and made a mean face at him. "What would you care?" He asked darkly. Kukkî frowned at the boy and looked about ready to yell at the boy for his rude words.

"That's a good question." Seto smiled softly. "Maybe I care because I like your style, or maybe I care because I've been in the same position as you are in right now."

"You, in my position?" The kid gave Seto a disbelieving look. "Yeah, right."

"You'd be surprised." Seto shrugged. "Looks can be deceiving." He glanced back at the house. "Was that your father?"

"Hai." The kid shivered in his light clothing as the wind rushed past them.

Seto pursed his lips. "What's his problem?" He asked in annoyance.

The kid grimaced. "I kinda called him baka for something."

Seto rolled his eyes. "Give me a break. I did worse to my adopted father and all he did was yell. But kicking you out of the house. That's a little drastic, don't you think?"

"He could do worse." The kid pointed out.

Seto bit his lip sadly. "I know." He whispered.

The boy shivered again as he stood. Kukkî went through her bags. When she found her new coat, she pulled it out and put it around the boy's shoulders. "Here. You look cold." She said softly.

The boy looked at her, surprised. "Arigatou..." Seto smiled at his cousin over the boy's head. "Geeze, you folk are so nice. No one's ever helped me before."

Seto shook his head. "I know the feeling." The kid looked back at him. "Do you want me to talk to your father for you?"

The boy's eyes widened. "Nai!" Seto frowned. "I'm afraid he'll hurt you, for helping me, sir, and you look like you're really rich and all."

Seto shrugged. "I am really rich and all, but I can't stand those who beat on others that are smaller than them. I have a little brother, you two look about the same age, and he got beat up yesterday by one of my enemies." He ruffled the boy's hair. "Come on. Helping you will make me feel better."

The boy sighed. "Okay. But don't get on his bad side. He hits hard."

Seto's eyes flashed. "I'll bet I hit harder."

"What's your name, anyway?" Kukkî asked the boy.

"Hama." The boy replied.

"I'm Kukkî." Kukkî glanced up to introduce Seto, but her cousin was already knocking on Hama's door. "And that's my cousin, Seto." She sighed. "The baka." Hama giggled.

The door opened to reveal Hama's father. He was a little talker than Seto, by about an inch, and definately bigger around his middle. He held a beer can in one hand and glared down at the boy on his doorstep. "Can I help you, brat?" He growled.

Seto narrowed his eyes. "I believe you can." His voice was hard, like it normally was when he was dealing with morons. "What you did to Hama-kun was rude and sick. You're a pathetic excuse for a father." Seto felt better. He liked insulting other people. "In fact, I think a call to Child Services is in order."

"What would a rich brat like you have to do with my damned son?" The man growled.

"What would a bastard like you be doing with a son?" Seto returned calmly.

"Don't talk to me like that!" The man thundered, then threw a punch at Seto. Seto ducked easily, ready for it.

"I should tell you the same thing." Seto commented, his look bored. "At least you could punch quicker."

The man let out a roar and aimed a punch at Seto's stomach. The boy danced out of the way easily. Seth was laughing in his head. Even Noa was enjoying this show. Noa was doing commentary for Mokuba, who was having a good time laughing at his brother's antics. "Bastard." The man growled, taking another swipe at Seto.

Seto bit back a cry as the piece of broken glass sliced his wrist, not doing as much damage as it could have, due to Seto's tendancy to wear protective wrist guards. The game was over, and Seto had had enough anyway. He narrowed his eyes dangerously, allowing his more cruel side to take over. "It's been fun." He hissed, pulling out his Rod. "But no one does me damage and gets away unharmed." He shot forward and rammed his fist into the man's stomach, causing the man to cry out as the air left him.

//Seto! Grab control! You can't kill him!\\ Noa shouted.

Seto regained control over the killer that he'd let rule his body. /Arigatou.\ He told his boyfriend.

//Don't do that again.\\ Noa grumbled.

~What he said.~ Seth added, breathing a sigh of relief.

Seto met the man's painfilled eyes. "Hope you don't mind, but I think I'll bring Hama with me. When you've realized your wrong-doings, contact me." Seto's eyes flashed. "I'm Kaiba Seto, by the way." And, with that, he spun on his heels and walked back to Hama and Kukkî, putting the Rod away quickly.

"What did you do?" Kukkî asked.

"Punched him. I said I punch harder." Seto shrugged, then hissed as the edge of his protective band rubbed at the wound. He brought his wrist to eye level, to inspect it. "Bastard." He grumbled, putting his wrist in his mouth. When he pulled it away, he spat out the blood in his mouth with a look of annoyance. Then he pulled a bandage from one of his pockets and put it over the cut. He glanced at the other two and sighed. "It was infected. My adopted uncle taught me how to suck an infection out of a small wound. Usually works." He shrugged. "And a friend taught me the value of always having a couple bandages with me."

"Seto-chan, I swear..." Kukkî sighed in annoyance as Seto grinned.

Seto looked at Hama. "Oi, Hama-kun, what do you think about staying with us?" He asked.

Hama's eyes widened. "Really?! You mean it?!"

Seto nodded. "But first, I think we'll need to get you a change of clothing."

Hama's eyes widened even more. "Real clothing? This has got to be a dream!"

Kukkî laughed. "Nai. This is real life, Hama-kun!" She smiled up at her cousin fondly. "I told you Seto-chan has a big heart."

Seto sighed. "Unless I'm working or dealing with people like your father." He motioned for them to follow. "I know where to go for clothing this time." He smiled at Kukkî. "I took ototo-chan shopping once or twice, but we don't normally walk the whole street." He gave her an annoyed look.

"What?! I wanted to see what they had!" Kukkî complained.

"I know, I know..." Seto rolled his eyes. "Kami-sama...."

Hama giggled at them. "You two bicker like husband and wife!" He told them.

Seto pointed to Kukkî with a grin. "She took care of me for three years. We've been apart for five years after that. You'll have to forgive us, but we just met up again today. We're still trying to catch up, I think."

"Oi! Kaiba!" Seto turned to see Jyou and Honda running up to them, Jyou sister, Shizuka, in tow.

"Jyou, Honda, Shizuka. How pleasant." Seto rolled his eyes. "Kukkî, Hama-kun, these are some friends of mine. Jounouchi Katsuya and his sister, Shizuka, and Hiroto Honda. Jyou, Honda, Shizuka, this is my cousin, Yama Kukkî, and a new friend, Hama." Seto introduced.

"I don't see a family resembalance!" Jyou said. "She doesn't look like she has a bad temper!"

"Why you little..." Seto pushed his lips together to stop himself from talking while the other five laughed. "Bad dog." Seto finally said, smirking.

Jyou's face grew red. "Why you...."

"What, out of insults?" Seto asked lightly.

"Nah. I just don't want to be rude around Hama-kun and Shizuka-chan." Jyou grinned.

Seto rolled his eyes. "Sure..."

"Really, tell us what your insults were, Jounouchi-kun." Seth said from behind the boy, causing him to jump.

"Don't do that!" Jyou cried while the others laughed.

"I wish you guys would stop popping up outta nowhere." Seto complained to his yami. "Seth, this is Hama and Shizuka. Hama-kun, Shizuka, this is Seth, an old friend of mine."

"You two look a lot a like." Hama complained.

"He's older." Seto grumbled.

Seth smiled. "And he's richer."

Seto rolled his eyes. "And he's an ass."

Seth gave his hikari a sour look while the others laughed again. "I thought you were going to get Hama some clothing." Seth pointed out dryly.

"Party pooper." Honda told the yami. Seth gave him a dark look. "Gomen!"

Seto sighed and led the group into the store. "This is a guy's clothing store. Come on, Hama-kun, let's find you something..." He started.

"Tell you what!" Kukkî cut in. "Let's find you something else to wear, Seto-chan. Your choice of clothing is always so drab."

Seto shot the woman a dirty look. "I don't see anything wrong with my clothing."

"It has blood on it, for one." Jyou pointed out. He made a face. "How'd you do that, anyway?"

"Don't ask." Seth suggested. Kukkî nodded.

While Seth and Kukkî were busy with Jyou, Seto and Hama slipped away. "Seth will find me really easily, but it's Kukkî we need to watch out for." Seto warned the boy. "Come on."

Hama giggled quietly as the hurried past the men's clothing and into the children's clothing. "This is fun, Seto-san." He said. They stopped and walked over to a rack of clothing. "Are you really Kaiba Seto?" Hama asked after a moment.

Seto nodded. "The one and only."

"I heard you were really mean and never smile." Hama confessed. "If I'd known your name before you tried helping me, I would have turned you down."

Seto sighed. "I'm not surprised. I normally am a cold person, but there's two sides to every coin, and I'm no exception."

Hama giggled. "That's a funny way of putting it."

"I guess so..." Seto nodded to Seth, who was walking towards them calmly. "I told you he'd find me."

"How does he do that?"

"He just knows me really well." Seto shrugged.

"Too well." Seth commented as he joined them. "I got the others to drag Kukkî to a woman's clothing shop next door. She won't bother us until she gets really bored."

"Arigatou." Seto sighed.

Seth shrugged. "Sure. She's kinda annoying sometimes. Reminds me why I dislike women."

"You can't dislike them all!" Hama exclaimed.

Seth shrugged. "You're probably right. Shizuka's a nice girl. I could learn to like her. She's a lot like Yuugi, Ryou, and Moku-chan."

"Except a female." Seto finished.

Seth nodded. "Exactly."

Hama smiled. "You two are weird. It's like you can read one another's minds."

"You'd be surprised." Seto mumbled. He looked at the clothing Hama held. "You wanna try some of that on?"

Hama shivered. "Uhm..."

"I'll go in with you, if you want." Seto offered.

"I-I guess..."

Seto and Seth shared a glance. ~Well?~ Seto asked as he went into the changing rooms with the boy and Seth sat on one of the benchs.

~I'm glad we got rid of the others.~ Was all Seth said.

"You okay?" Seto asked as Hama picked a stall.

Hama shivered again. "I'm perfect."

~He almost sounds like you.~ Seth pointed out.

~You noticed too, huh?~ Seto replied dryly. Hama picked a stall and they went in. As soon as the door was closed, Seto leaned against it and gave the boy an annoyed look. "Seriously, what is it? I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong." Despite the look on his face, his voice was soft and kind.

"Nothing." Hama turned away and took off the coat Kukkî had given him, then old shirt.

Seto narrowed his eyes at the small scars on the boy's back. "Hama-kun, turn around." He ordered.

Hama turned slowly and Seto bit his cheek, to keep from shouting. Fresh bruises, cuts, and welts covered Hama's chest. Seto remembered how scared he'd been everytime he'd had a 'chat' with Gozaburo, and he felt his heart go out to the smaller boy. He knelt down in front of Hama and hugged the boy gently. Hama leaned against him and sobbed quietly into his shirt while Seto rubbed his back comfortingly.

When Hama felt better, he pulled away and made a face at the wet spot on Seto's shirt. "Gomen..." He mumbled.

Seto looked at the spot and shrugged. "You know what, I don't care." He stood calmly. "When I was in your postion, I didn't have anyone to comfort me. You've got it lucky, you've got me. You've got Seth, too. He's worried about you. Seriously, we can help you, at least a little."

"You said you were in my position when Otosan kicked me out of the house. Are you also saying you were beat, Seto-san?" Hama asked softly. Seto nodded slowly. "Prove it." Hama challanged.

Seto paused a second before removing his coat, then his shirt. Hama's eyes widened. Seto sighed. "I was never kicked out of the house, just beat. I think you got the better end of the deal." Mokuba's screaming filled Seto head and he shivered. "I take that back, I know you got the better end of the deal."

"Why do you say that?" Hama frowned. He kinda liked Seto's scars. They made strange patterns, because there were so many.

"Do you have a brother of sister?" Seto asked. Hama shook his head. Seto sighed. "You'll never have to hear your sibiling screaming down the hall while you're stuck in your room." He said softly. "And, trust me, you don't want to. This," He waved at his scars. "means nothing. The real pain is all mental. Physical scars go away, in time. Mental ones, they may need a little more help than just what time can offer. They say time heals, I've yet to see that as so. Seth and another of my friends finally got me to open up to the rest of my friends the other day, and it's helped, I'll admit, but I'll never get over my past. I can't."

Hama watched the cold face. He saw a scared little boy, much like himself, in the eyes of the teen. But that boy was hidden beneath tons of walls of ice. He imagined a crack in one wall and watched it fall apart, only to show another wall behind it. Seto's defences were formitable, but they could be destroyed easily by someone who had the time, and the reason, to do it. "You, Seth, and your other friends, you'll help?" Hama asked sadly.

"You bet." Seto smiled warmly. "And we can start by getting you to change and joining the others. You work well in a group. It's when there are fewer people around that you break down." Seto pointed out.

Hama frowned. "What about you? When do you break down?"

Seto sighed. "When I'm faced with things I really don't want to face. Rejection, anger, disgust..." Seto shrugged. "But it's always in large quantities, and only when it's people I care about that are showing those emotions." He smiled. "Now, do you want me to stay in here?" Hama nodded. "Alright. I won't go anywhere." Hama turned back to the pile of clothing while Seto put his shirt and coat back on. ~Think he'll be okay?~ He asked his yami.

~I think he'll be better, now. You've already helped him, by showing him he's not alone. Meeting Moku-chan might help as well.~

~I agree. We'll take him by the hospital later.~

~Noa's right. You can be really nice, when you feel like it.~ Seth chuckled.

~Alright. Joke's on me. I'm nice. Can we change the topic?~ Seto asked, annoyed.

//You're hot. You're sexy. You're kawaii...\\ Noa started.

/Take it back, bud. I'll go with hot and sexy, but I'm not too happy with kawaii.\ Seto grumbled.

//You're also no fun.\\ Noa whined. Seth chuckled.

/Stop whining! Kami-sama!\

///You two sound like three-year-olds!\\\ Seth told them.

"Seto-san?" Hama tugged on Seto's shirt and the teen broke away from his conversation. "What are you thinking about?"

Seto grinned. "Seth, my friend Noa, and I, have this strange ability to speak in one another's minds. It's one of the reasons Seth can always find me."

"What are you talking about?"

"It started out about you, then Noa started being a general pain. Last thing was Seth calling us three-year olds." Seto admitted.

//I'm not a pain!\\ Noa complained.

/Sure?\ Seto threw back.

///He has a point, Noa. You can be a real pain sometimes.\\\ Seth cut in.

//Shut up!\\ Noa cried.

/Seth, be nice.\ Seto sighed.

Hama smiled at the peaceful look on Seto's face. The teen looked happy talking to his friends. ~It's good for him. I assume it will be good for me, too!~ Hama nodded, making his decision. ~I'll try. Seto-san's right, I already feel better! It's nice to know someone cares about me enough, I guess. Even better is the knowledge that Seth-san cares about me, and maybe even Noa, who I haven't met yet! I think that's cool! It's kinda unnerving to know I'm talking to three different people when I'm talking to Seto-san, but I like it! It makes me feel even better to know so many people care about me.~

///What if I don't like being nice? What if I'd rather be naughty?\\\ Seth tossed back.

Seto shivered. /You too?\

Noa laughed. //You mean, you hadn't noticed a pattern? Yuugi and Yami, Ryou and Bakura, Seto and Seth?\\

///Seto, Seth, and Noa.\\\ Seth corrected.

//I feel loved.\\ Noa joked.

/That's because you are.\ Seto told him.

///He has a point...\\\ Seth mused.

//I hate it when he does that...\\ Noa grumbled.

/I give up!\

Hama pulled on his shirt again. "Done." He told the teen when Seto looked at him. Seto nodded, took the pile of clothing, then let Hama hurry out ahead of him. "Seth-san!" Hama hopped over and demanded a hug, so recieved one.

Seto smiled at them. /Now that is kawaii!\

//Hai!\\

///Shut up...\\\ Seth grumbled. The other two laughed. ///Seto, go pay.\\\

/Come on. Carry him, if you have to.\ Seto started towards the counters, and Seth followed him, carrying Hama. Seto smiled softly when the boy fell asleep. /I guess he can meet ototo-chan tomorrow...\

//Moku-chan's asleep, anyway. I'll meet you three out front.\\ Noa told them.

///Okay.\\\ Seth said as Seto paid.

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~~A/N: That's sweet... *sighes* I'm still trying to find that muse, but at least it's not being EVIL this time!!! *huggles Hama* He's sweet!!!

Also, looks like I got this out on time!!! Yay!!! FF.N is being a bastard this morning, so maybe I'll try again later. *sighes* Whatever.... I give up.

TEST TIME!!! In your reviews, just for the hell of it, does anyone have a synonym for penis? I'm trying to find as many as I can for lemons... Uhm, it's a long story, don't ask... But, anyway, if you know of a synonym for penis, tell me! I probably have them all somewhere, but I just wanna see what you guys say!

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REVIEWS!!!:

N/A

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DISCLAIMER: Nope. Don't own Yu-Gi-Ou! So sorry... I know, it sux... I want me to too... *sighes*

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Ja!

Katmon =^.^={AKA Okusama KK}

R+R PPLS!!!!!