Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Kaiba’s Christmas Carol ❯ Chapter 6: Christmas Future ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: Christmas Future

 

Kaiba's eyes sprang open, seeing his bedroom around him. Remembering every aspect of that dream, he immediately pulled himself out of bed and went to the window to see this blizzard that was shown to him. Outside, there were a few flakes of snow, but nothing like the storm he had seen.

 

`What the fuck is this?' he thought, thinking back on that latest trip with the fat slob ghost. “Wait a minute. Mokuba can't be at that party.....that's tomorrow.”

 

Kaiba moved to the phone, pushed a few buttons and waited for security to answer.

 

“Security.”

 

“Did Mokuba go anywhere tonight?” Kaiba asked.

 

“No, sir.” the guard said.

 

“Thank you.” He hung up the phone. So, then.....was that a prediction of what was to come tomorrow?

 

`This is bullshit.' Kaiba thought. `I've had enough. Fuck sleep.....I don't need it. I've missed sleep before. One more night without it isn't going to kill me.'

 

So, Kaiba went into his bathroom and took a shower. He then came out, and went to his closet, putting on a black sweater and violet trench coat. It seemed like as good a night as any to take a walk, and he really needed some air after all those stupid dreams.

 

You can't escape your past. You can't escape....

 

Kaiba smirked, muttering, “Like hell, I can't. Let's see you get me when I'm not here. I bet Scrooge never tried this one before.”

 

Dusting off his sleeve and making sure he looked perfect, he grabbed for his set of keys and casually walked to his bedroom door.

 

Yet, upon opening it......once again the hallway was still not the same.

 

On the other side of the door was an endless void. It looked familiar to Kaiba.....it reminded him of the shadow realm that Yami had banished him to, at one time. And inside this void of swirling purplish mists was a figure that looked strikingly like the Reaper of the Cards.

 

Kaiba crossed his arms and muttered, “I thought you're only supposed to greet me when I'm asleep. Well, listen....I'm tired of this crap. Pack your little shadow realm and get out of my house. I'm trying to leave.”

 

But, the creature shook his head no, as the door behind Kaiba now closed.....leaving Kaiba no other option but to follow the undead.

 

Kaiba sighed, wondering if it could feel pain if he punched a phantom. It also made him wonder if he was still dreaming and he really didn't wake up, after all. But, if that was the case.....then did that mean Mokuba was still stuck at Yugi's?

 

He quickly reminded himself that this was still Christmas Eve, whether he was dreaming or not. The party with Yugi wasn't supposed to be until tomorrow. And that meant, his brother was still safe in bed, and there was nothing to worry about. `It's just a dream.' he said in his head and approached the Reaper.

 

“Okay, fine.....then let's get this over with. I'd like to wake up and get back to my life.” he told it.

 

The Reaper turned and pointed. Instantly, the whole scene around them was different.....they were in a graveyard, in front of one of the graves.

 

Kaiba boredly approached and looked down at the grave marker, reading exactly what he expected to read. Just as he thought, it was his own grave.

 

Kaiba gave an amused laugh, muttering, “Well, that was pretty anti-climatic. Is that it? I already warned your buddy that this wasn't going to phase me. In fact, the only real surprise is that I actually lived as long as I did.”

 

He turned to the Reaper, asking, “So, now what? Is that it? Can I go home? Or maybe you're going to show me life in hell. Then again, I think you missed the part where everyone laughs at my demise and spits at my grave.”

 

The ghost then pointed to the date on the grave.

 

Kaiba shrugged, “So?” Finally, Kaiba caught on to the particular fact of that date. “Oh, I see.....I died on Christmas Day. Is that supposed to be a form of irony or punishment? Or maybe it only proves that this holiday has had it in for me from the start.”

 

Then the ghost pointed to a second grave. Kaiba vaguely glanced in the direction of the creature's finger, only to notice it was another grave marker. Assuming he understood what it was trying to show him, he glared back at the Reaper annoyed. “Gee....another grave. I `have' seen this movie before, so I think I can pretty much guess who else has been buried here. That's that kid's grave, who's supposed to be the son of Bob Elliot....isn't it? Even now, you and your spirit gang are still trying to blame me for Bob Elliot's problems.”

 

He then snapped, “And how the hell is this `my' fault?? I'm not responsible for their lives! Bob had plenty of other options besides my job. I will `not' keep some slacker that doesn't want to work in my facility! If it's anyone fault for this, it's Mr. Elliot! He's responsible to care for his children, and just like my own father....he failed!”

 

Kaiba paused from his own words, not expecting himself to blurt out that last part. He never planned on bringing up his own father.....but obviously after Christmas Past had shoved his past back in his face, it must have affected him. He was not going to let these nightmares get to him.....he was stronger than that.

 

Kaiba turned, ready to walk away, saying, “I've had enough.....I'm out of here.”

 

Yet, as soon as Kaiba turned to leave, the ghost held out its scythe to stop him. Kaiba turned to see what the creature wanted, only to notice once again it pointing its bony hand at the second grave.

 

He really didn't want to read it, but obviously the Reaper wasn't going to let him go until he did. “Fine.” he muttered and looked more closely at it, just so he could be done with it.

 

What he saw came at a surprise. It wasn't Elliot's kid's grave sight, after all......it was Mokuba's.

 

`No.......' he thought. Underneath was the date on the stone. It showed the date he was born on, but the day he died was not yet carved into the stone. What did this mean? Was Mokuba dead or not?

 

He pointed at the stone, facing the Reaper, as he asked with the utmost seriousness, “What happened? Did he die?”

 

In response, the ghost waved its arm and they were now inside Kaiba Corp. Kaiba didn't ask why he was brought here. Obviously, this ghost brought him here for an explanation to his question. And if his answer was here, then he'd play along.

 

A secretary walked passed him and he followed her to the main office of the CEO.

 

Kaiba and the ghost followed her inside, where she addressed the new Kaiba Corp President.

 

“Um…Mr. Kaiba sir?”

 

“What is it?”

 

“The lawyers called, they said that they understand that it's Christmas day and that they're suppose to come in to do the books. But, due to the snow storm they can't make it.” the trembling secretary explained to a man who was facing the window.

 

Kaiba didn't recognize the taller man at the window with a professional suit and short black hair. And his name was Kaiba? Maybe this was farther in the future than he realized. Maybe Mokuba had a kid before he died. Kaiba almost smiled at that thought. To think his brother would have succeeded in making him an uncle. At least, his brother seemed to live a more fulfilling life.

 

But as the man turned around, Kaiba froze in shock.

 

It was Mokuba. Never could Kaiba remember his brother ever looking so cold. Frighteningly, his own little brother now reminded him of himself. Something was definitely not right.

 

“Then you call them back and tell them that if they aren't here within the next two hours, they're fired!”

 

“But…but sir….”

 

Mokuba coldly added, “And I suggest unless you'd like to join them on the unemployment line, along with my last 6 secretaries and half a dozen other employees I had to remove this month alone, that you don't question my orders and make that damn phone call!”

 

With this said, the woman fearfully bowed profusely, “Yes, yes....of course, Master Kaiba, sir. I'll get on it, right away!” She then turned to leave. But just before she left, she quickly ran back to his desk. “My apologies, sir. I also meant to tell you that your payment for your burial plot is due. Y-you said that you'd prefer to take care of that yourself.”

 

“Yes, now go!” Mokuba snapped, taking the papers out of the woman's hand. He then coldly smirked, watching her as she fearfully ran out of the room.

 

If that was him Kaiba was watching, he probably would have found it equally amusing. He had to admit, making his employees scared of him he found an enjoyable hobby, himself. But, this was Mokuba, who would never do anything like that. He wasn't like himself at all, and Kaiba didn't like it one bit.

 

He turned towards the Reaper, asking, “What the hell is this? What's wrong with him?”

 

Mokuba looked at the paper and then stood and looked out the window. “Someday, big brother....I'll be right by your side, once again. And if I have any say in it.....I'll try and make sure it's also on Christmas. But sadly, it wont be this year it seems.” He could buy a dozen or more plots outright if he chose to. But he chose to do it in installments as a constant reminder of its waiting there for him.

 

Kaiba approached his brother, attempting to touch him....but he couldn't. In this vision, Kaiba was nothing more than a phantom. He couldn't touch his brother.....not at all. But, while he was at the window, Kaiba glanced out to see the sight that Mokuba was seeing and it surprised him. This was supposed to be close to Christmas. And yet, there was no sign of it, at all. No lights, no Christmas trees.....nothing that indicated it was a holiday.

 

Mokuba smirked, adding, “I wish you could see this, big brother. I was able to get enough people that hated Christmas as much as we do together to ban all outdoor Christmas celebration. I tried to get it banned inside of homes too, but one bleeding heart rejected it, and it was denied. But, you'd be proud of me. There's not a stitch of Christmas seen anywhere in or outside of any business in Domino. Someday, maybe we'll even expand it further. Perhaps over time, we could even succeed in wiping Christmas off the face of the Earth!”

 

Kaiba blinked, not understanding. Even he never asked for that. Just because he disagreed with Christmas, didn't mean he ever thought of pushing his belief on anyone else. Why was Mokuba doing this? His brother loved Christmas!

 

Kaiba now turned back to the Reaper. “I want answers! Mokuba was never like this. Just because I avoided him around Christmas, it does not justify Mokuba's total change in his beliefs. He never felt this way about this time of year! I want to know what changed him!”

 

The ghost did not speak. He merely swiped his scythe across the air. The next thing Kaiba knew, he was once again inside of Yugi's place. But, it didn't have quite as many decorations as it used to.

 

“Hey, Yugi....ya home?”

 

“Yeah, Joey....I'm in the back.”

 

Kaiba reluctantly followed Joey. He wanted nothing to do with being here, but obviously this ghost could not speak, which meant the only way he would get answers was to follow. Even if he had to listen to them droll over more Christmas cheer, if this was the way to find out about Mokuba.....then he would have to endure it.

 

“So, any business yet?”

 

Yugi sighed, “No. And it's really depressing to not be allowed to decorate for Christmas, anymore. If any cops saw the few I have out front, I'd probably be fined for it. It's like the Christmas spirit is totally dead though out Domino.”

 

“Yeah, it's so lonely, too. Tea's in America trying to be a professional dancer, Tristan married that chick out of high school and they're living who knows where. And who could blame them for not wanting to stay here. Who ever heard of not being allowed to celebrate Christmas!” Joey snapped.

 

“It's nothing like it used to be.” Yugi muttered, sadly.

 

“I know what ya mean.” Joey said. “I always thought Kaiba was bad. Who would have guessed that Mokuba could be 10 times worse!”

 

“Well, you can't really blame him for hating Christmas, Joey. I mean, Kaiba basically taught him to hate it. And even though Mokuba refused to believe the same thing....I guess when that sniper took Kaiba out on Christmas day, he just snapped.”

 

“Yeah, that's a good word for it.” Joey muttered. “That kid's totally mental. And I always thought Kaiba was the nut job. Now, I'm not so sure.”

 

Kaiba's eyes twitched, hearing this information. This wasn't what he was expecting, either. Mokuba took his death that hard? Kaiba always had his own death prepared, so that Mokuba would still be taken care of and provided for if anything happened to him. But for some reason, he never considered if his death could have any emotional repercussions on his brother or not. Mokuba might have ended up with everything.....but he still lost his brother. And the saddest part was, Mokuba was following the same vicious loop that Kaiba had followed as a kid when he lost his parents on Christmas....but only worst.

 

Yugi sighed, “I just can't help but feel sorry for him. He was still in a lot of ways young when Kaiba died. He probably never really had the chance to be a kid. He wanted to be more grown up and Kaiba treated him that way. So, I guess its no big surprise that he turned out to be even more cold hearted.”

 

“That's a lie!!” Kaiba spat angrily at that imagine. “I did everything I could to make sure my brother had a childhood! What the hell more did you want from me?!!”

 

Joey gave a bitter laugh, saying, “Gee, Yugi....maybe ya shoulda tried to shatter Mokuba's heart. It at least worked a little for Kaiba.”

 

Yugi shook his head. “Yami's gone now, remember? But, even if he was around and could do it, it wouldn't do any good.”

 

“Why's that?” Joey asked.

 

Yugi looked down in sadness. “Because Mokuba was Kaiba's motivation to come back. Mokuba has nothing left but the sadness and anger in his heart. If that happened to him, he wouldn't survive it. I've tried to see Mokuba and talk to him about this myself, but he wont even let me in the building, anymore.”

 

Joey added, “I've heard he already has a head stone and burial plot all ready for him, too. Is that true?”

 

Yugi nodded. “I've seen the grave sight, the last time I visited Kaiba's grave. It's there, all right. The stone's already in place just waiting for himself to die. I guess joining his brother is all he thinks about, now.”

 

“That's just creepy.” Joey said.

 

Yugi shook his head. “No, it's sad. He's lost any reason or will to live.”

 

Kaiba just froze there, hearing what was said. He couldn't be angry, anymore. It didn't matter anymore what their opinion was......Kaiba knew what he had done. `Mokuba......I failed you.'

 

The Reaper then waved his scythe once again, and they were back in his bedroom.