Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Nightmare ❯ Haha ( Chapter 6 )

(YAH!!! *runs from raging fans* GOMEN NASAI!!!!)

-~^~-

"We'll just make sure you two make it to the door all right." Jako offers as Seto and I get off the motorcycles.

"Okay." I shrug. I don't mind them staying a few extra seconds.

Seto and I head towards the door. It opens when we're about ten feet from it. Chichiue's head greets us. "Well, well..." His eyes are chilled.

Seto and I freeze. "Chichiue!" I exclaim.

"First you come home late, then you skip school? This is very bad. I think a couple of lessons are in order."

"Iie!!" I step in front of Seto as he stiffens. "Chichiue, stop it!"

"Leave them alone for once!" Fradt shouts.

I look back. Fradt and Jako are walking over to us. "Baka!" I hiss.

"You know, Gozaburo, I've about had it with you." Fradt growls, resting his hands on Seto's shoulders. Jako stops beside me.

"Is that so? And who, may I ask, are you two?" Chichiue asks almost politely.

"None of your business!" I shout, then quickly cover my mouth as he narrows his eyes at me.

"Noa, we had this talk yesterday, did we not?" Chichiue asks darkly. I nod, scared. "Must we have it again?"

"Nai!" I scramble behind Jako. "You can't give him your names." I whisper quickly.

"Wasn't going to, but thanks for the warning." Jako nods, then turns back to Chichiue. "Our names are none of your business, Gozaburo. I'm tired of cleaning up after you. Next time I find Noa, or Seto, in as bad a condition as I did today, he's going to the hospital."

"No!" I tugged Jako's sleeve. "You promised!"

"I'm making a new promise." Jako tells me, looking at Chichiue. "Mark my word. I've had it. Noa's been my friend for years now. I'm done standing back and watching as you abuse him."

"So, you want him in the orphanage?" Chichiue inquires.

"Better than with you!" Seto shouts. Chichiue gives Seto a death glare, but Seto gives one right back.

~Guts.~ I decide. ~He has real guts. But guts can get you killed around here.~

"They aren't going to the orphanage." Fradt calls. "We'll take them in. I know my uncle would love to have kids in the house again. I also know that he is not the only parent that would."

"A nice show." Chichiue pulls out his cell phone. "You have ten minutes to get off my property before I call the cops, and if Seto or Noa go with you, I'll turn you in for kidnaping." Chichiue narrows his eyes. "Do I make myself clear?"

Jako turns to me. "If I don't see you at school tomorrow, I'm going to the cops. I want you to tell me if he does anything to you." He glances at Seto. "Either of you." He kisses my forehead softly. "Be careful."

"Don't let him overpower you. It's two against one. He may be bigger, but you know enough fighting skills to get out of his way, Noa. It's about time you used them." Fradt nods. Then he and Jako walk to their bikes.

Seto and I wave as they leave, then turn back to Chichiue, huddling together in fear. "Get inside." Chichiue orders.

I hold Seto's hand and we walk through the door. He slams the door behind us. ~Iie!~

His hands fall on our shoulders. "Your friends are stupid. There are cameras watching the front lawn. I have them on tape. I don't need their names." I can hear the smirk in his voice. "My office. Now."

I turn to look at him. "Chichiue-"

His hand flies across my face sharply, knocking me off balance and throwing me to the floor. Then he turns to Seto. "I've been lenient with you, Seto. I now see what a bad idea that is. You stole food yesterday, lied about it, then helped Noa skip school today."

"He didn't help me! And he didn't know food's not allowed in the bedrooms! I dragged him with me to my friend's place!" I cry, pulling myself to my feet with a grimace.

"Food's not allowed in the bedrooms?" Seto gives me a blank look. "The only rule you've told me about food is that there's no candy in the house."

Chichiue blinks at me. "You told him that rule? I'm surprised."

"It came up." I mumble, watching Seto.

"Since Noa claims to have `dragged' you with him, I shall let you slide. Your last time. Noa, my office." I nod and start up.

"Noa!" Seto grabs my arm. "What are you doing?!"

I give him a tired look. "Take my stuff to our room, will ya?" Then I pull away from him and continue up. I knew Jako and Fradt wouldn't help keep away a lesson. What would Chichiue have to be afraid of? Both boys are at least bi, and considered misfits. Jako was kicked out of school for his behavior, and Fradt was thrown out by his own parents. Let Seto have his hopes. I lost all mine years ago.

I walk into Chichiue's office and sit on the floor, on the new rug that covers the last stain. I watch the door and frown when I hear Seto storm down the hall. Chichiue came in and closes the door, but doesn't lock it. I am surprised. "Chichiue?" I blink up at him.

"What do you think about a vacation?" Chichiue asks with a grin.

"A-a-a...." I shake my head. "I don't get it."

"A vacation, tomorrow. I have to go to America to settle some business anyway. Why don't we all go?"

"But, school...." I whisper.

"You're doing fine in school. If Seto falls behind, you can help him catch up." Chichiue says lightly.

Suddenly, I get it. "Why are you messing with their heads like that?" I whisper.

Chichiue smirks and sits in his chair. "I am a businessman, Noa-chan. Your friends have handed me a challenge. If I remember faces correctly, these boys are delinquents. The police will have very little reason to believe them. If the police do believe them the first time, they will find it to be no more than a prank." He leans back in his chair. "You've helped me a lot by always showing a strong face to the public. Mokuba knows nothing, and, if he is anything like Seto, I will make sure he never learns anything. Seto is nosey. Teach him to behave, I may never threaten him. He acts out of line once more, he will regret it. Now, come here."

My head is still spinning from everything he has just said, but I stand anyway. "What's to say Seto or I won't warn our friends of your little `prank'? I inquire, staying on the rug.

Chichiue chuckles. "I've thought of that. The phone line's circuit runs through my office." He turns around and flips a switch. "Hope no one was on the phone. Now, you see, my cell is the only line in this house that is working and it," He turns around and places the phone into a drawer, which he locks. The key, which is on a small string, he places around his neck and tucks it into his shirt. "Is now locked away. Anything else?"

I narrow my eyes. "This vacation. What sort of `lessons' are you planning?"

Chichiue nods. "You're sharper than I have given you credit for. Come here."

"Answer my question, first." I growl. "I'm not even going to think about trusting you until I know what you're planning."

Chichiue frowns. "You'll make a good businessman some day, Noa-chan. The lessons I'm planning are simple. Anyone pisses me off, namely Seto, lately, I will introduce them to my knife."

"And, may I step in for Seto?" I inquire.

"I really don't see how your brother will learn anything if you won't allow me to give him lessons." Chichiue complains.

"Maybe he learns them better when I take the lessons." I say slyly.

Chichiue looks at me sadly. "You're like your mother. She always stood up for others. You must really care for your new brother."

I look away. Chichiue never speaks of Haha to me. When he has in the past, it has always been cruel, blaming me for her death. I've never even seen a picture of her. "Chichiue, what did Haha look like?" I ask sadly, looking up at him.

Chichiue sighs and pulls out a picture from a drawer. "I never did show you, did I? Come here. You look like her."

I walk over and allow Chichiue to pull me up into his lap. Then I look at the picture. She has the two shades of green in her hair, as I do. Her eyes are the same pale blue as mine, and she's smiling in the picture. It's that sort of brilliant smile that one can give only when one is truly happy, like Mokuba, or Yuugi. Chichiue is standing beside her in the picture. He, too, is smiling. His business suit is gone, and he is wearing a colorful shirt and bright green shorts instead, something that looks out of place on him. I feel the tears well up in my eyes. "What was she like, Chichiue? Was she really nice?"

Chichiue sighes and hugs me, putting the picture back on his desk. "She was the nicest person I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, and she loved children. She was pregnant with you when we took that picture. She was so happy." His voice breaks and he hides his face in my hair. "All she ever wanted for you was your happiness. You are happy, right Noa-chan?" He whispers.

I consider saying no, telling him the truth, but I can't. I can't hurt him like that. "I'm happy, Chichiue. I'm really happy." I say softly.

-~*~-

"We're going on vacation tomorrow, boys." Chichiue announces at dinner that night. "We're all going to America for a week!"

"Cool!" Mokuba exclaims, smiling brightly. He tugs on Seto's arm. "Isn't it cool, Oniisama?! I've never been to America!!"

Chichiue gives Seto a warning look. "It's great, Mokuba-chan." Seto mumbles, looking down at his food. I'd already told him what was really going on, and made him swear to me that he would be on his best behavior, since Chichiue was in a reasonably good mood, and we didn't need it to do a sudden turnaround, especially not with Mokuba around.

Mokuba is too excited to notice how down Seto's voice is. "Gozaburo-sama, can we go and do fun stuff while we're there?!"

"Yeah! Since we're going to NYC, can we go spend money in Times Square?!" I say, excited suddenly. Chichiue never lets me waste money, but I want to get my friends at the hide-out stuff, and I know Yuugi would like a game or two that he can bring to school and play during lunch break.

Chichiue blinks at me. "What is my rule about wasting money, Noa-chan?" He asks, eyes hard.

I make a sad face. "But, Chichiue, we're not poor or anything... Can't we at least go see a movie?" I see Chichiue struggling with himself. He doesn't want to blow up in front of Mokuba, but he's always hated spending money like there were holes in his pockets. "It would make us happy." I push, recalling our talk earlier.

Chichiue sighs heavily. "Fine. But only this once!" He shouts the last part as Mokuba and I cheer. Seto laughs at us and even Chichiue is forced to smile. The cook looks in from the kitchen and chuckles. It is a rare moment to hear laughter and see such smiles in the mansion. Unbeknownst to Chichiue, he has given me a weapon against him.

Haha.

-~*~-

Chichiue knocks on our door when Seto and I are ready for bed. He peeks his head in and receives a glare from Seto. I smile. "What is it, Chichiue?"

Chichiue walks in and sits on the edge of my bed. "Here. I thought you might want this." He hands me the picture of him and Haha.

I set the picture on my bedside table, then hug him tightly. "Arigatou."

Chichiue sighs. "And, Noa-chan, don't use your mother against me again. I don't like it, and I won't let it slide next time. Understand?" He looks at me seriously.

~Oh well... I got one thing off him.~ I think bitterly. "I understand."

Chichiue stands. "Good. Get some sleep, both of you. We have a long trip ahead of us tomorrow." He leaves, closing the door behind him.

Seto sneaks over to my bed. "What did he give you?" He asks, sitting on the edge of my bed.

"A picture."

"Of?"

"Him and Haha."

"Cool. Will you let me see it in the morning?"

"Of course. And, Seto?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't glare at Chichiue. He really doesn't like it."

"So?"

"He's bringing his knife with us on the trip. Please don't glare at him like that." I beg. I won't tell him it's because I made that deal with Chichiue. The deal that I take all of Seto's `lessons'. I don't want him to know. He'll get upset if he finds out. If he gets upset, I fear he might act stupidly, and not even I can keep Chichiue from hurting him then.

"Alright."

~~~

A/N: Well, that was, err, short....

Noa: *sighes in relief* At least you didn't let him beat me up too bad...

KK: Kam-kun, Seiji-baka, and Pugio all promise worse next time.

Seto: Money...

Noa: *wacks Seto on the head* You know, you need to behave.

Seto: KK-san, how is the yaro gonna get the knife from Japan to NYC, anyway? Don't you kinda have to travel by plane?

KK: Well, if you ever want to get there, yeah.

Noa: So?

KK: I dunno!! You come up with something!! I don't care!!

Seto: She's skipping straight to NYC.

Noa: She is a wimp.

KK: The plane can explode. And, anyway, I've never been on a plane trip that was INTERESTING in my life, and I've been on a lot of plane trips. You want me to include the plane trip? I'll have someone try and kill Mokuba, have Goza-baka pull out his knife and slash the living daylights outta the dude!

Noa: No, no... Skip the plane trip...

Seto: Please?

KK: *shrugs* It was Seiji-baka's idea. I only used it as an example b/c of the blood. *dreamy look* ...blood.....

Seto & Noa: O.o o.O Help?

~KK