Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Seto's Wish Alternate World Conclusion ❯ C7 A lesson of friendship ( Chapter 7 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

C7 A lesson of friendship
 
Back in the alternate world, Mokuba sadly followed Noah. He didn't want to go back.....he already missed his friends. But for them, he had to do this. There was a time he didn't even know what friendship was, but he had Seto to thank him for teaching him.
 
“Hey, kid.....it isn't smart walking all alone like that.” an older kid said, stepping in front of Mokuba.
 
Mokuba looked up frightened, saying nothing and trying to back away....only to be blocked by another kid.
 
“What's wrong, kid? Cat got your tongue?” the other laughed, but Mokuba didn't dare speak, knowing his punishment from Noah if he did. He was only 7 then, but he had no escorts because Noah didn't think Mokuba was worthy of wasting his guards on.
 
“Freak'n mute.” the first kid said. “I guess on the good side, when we kick your ass....no one'll hear you scream.” His partner only laughed.
 
“Why don't you let him go.”
 
They both turned to see another kid show up, which was close to their age. `Who is he? Why is he here?' Mokuba wondered.
 
The two bullies stepped away from Mokuba and faced the stranger. The first one asked, “Who the hell are you? You with him?”
 
“This aint your fight.” the second said. “Get out of here while you're still standing, stupid.”
 
“The name's Seto, and I'm not going anywhere. Why don't you stop picking on little kids and face someone your own size?” Seto asked.
 
The first one grinned, saying, “Maybe your right. And you know what.....you're just my size.”
 
The two forgot about Mokuba and was now attacking Seto. Mokuba had no idea who this person was, or why he was defending him. He wanted to turn and run, but was too paralyzed with fear and horror, as he watched the two kids practically wipe the floor with him.
 
And yet.....Seto wouldn't give up. He didn't try to run, he didn't beg them to stop.....he kept trying to fight them back, and even got a few good shots at them, too.
 
But finally when it was over, Seto was practically unconscious from the beatings he took. Mokuba quickly hid, as the kids wiped the blood from their faces and hands. “Stupid idiot.” the first one said. He then turned back to where Mokuba was, saying, “Now it's your turn.....hey, where the hell is he? God dammit, the kid's gone!”
 
“Well, no sense sticking around. Let's get out of here before the cops show up.”
 
The two bullies took off, and Mokuba finally left his hiding spot and ran towards Seto....the kid who defended him. He placed a trembling hand on his shoulder, asking, “Are......you all right?”
 
“So....you can talk.” Seto smiled, and looked up at Mokuba through swollen eyes. He knew who Mokuba was. Everyone knew who he was....he was the muted kid that was always collared next to Noah. Everyone claimed he was retarded. This was the first time Seto actually got near him, without Noah being around.
 
Mokuba covered his mouth in horror, begging, “Please don't tell Noah! If he knew I talked, he would punish me!”
 
“I'd never do something like that. Don't worry.....your secret's safe with me.” Seto answered.
 
Mokuba wanted to stay quiet after that, then turn around and leave. But he couldn't.....not after what Seto had done for him. No one had ever been so kind to him in his life. He didn't know it was possible for human beings to show kindness like that. “Why?” he asked. “Wh-why did you help me? Why'd you let yourself get hurt for me?”
 
“Because that's what friends do for each other.” Seto answered, holding out his hand.
 
Mokuba took it, which Seto used to draw Mokuba to him in a hug. “You're safe.....that's all that matters.”
 
Friendship? Hugs? They were all a first for Mokuba. And he liked them both.....things that made him feel warm and good inside. “Thank you.” Mokuba smiled. “I like this friendship thing.”
 
`Seto......will I ever see you again? Noah will never let me leave the mansion again, not after this. I may not even live here, anymore.....Noah will probably take me away. Their company is also in many other countries. He might take me somewhere else, to make sure Seto can never get me back. Seto.....I just wish I could be able to see you one more time. But maybe it's better this way. None of you.....my friends will ever get hurt. And I'm not really worth it, anyway.'
 
x-x-x-x-x-x
 
After Yugi and the others left the mansion, a dejected Seto flopped on the couch just as Mokuba came back down stairs.
 
“Aiko, I'm hungry.”
 
Aiko looked up and walked over to him, then checked his head. “Well, you still feel slightly warm. You can sit next to Seto for now, while I bring you some soup.”
 
“Okay.” Mokuba said, sitting next to Seto and grinning at him for some reason.
 
“Seto, would you also like something to eat?” Aiko asked.
 
“No thanks, I'm not hungry.”
 
There was silence for a moment, before Seto looked over at him, and asked, “What? Why you smiling at me, like that?”
 
“You're still here.” Mokuba answered. “I was worried that they'd find a way to send you back, by now.”
 
“Well.....at least someone's happy about that.” Seto sulked.
 
“What's wrong?” Mokuba asked. “You sound depressed.”
 
“Of course, I'm depressed.....I'm still here!” Seto said.
 
Mokuba now looked sad. “Don't you like it here? It'll be sad to see you go. I kinda like having another Seto around to play with.....even if it's not `my' Seto.”
 
Seto smiled up at him. “Thanks, I guess your brother works a lot. It must be tough running a big company, like that.”
 
“Yeah.” Mokuba said. He then asked, “So, what's the problem? Why can't you get home?”
 
“You're friend Aiko couldn't do it.” Then Seto dropped his head, muttering, “And I asked Yami to get me home, and he said he couldn't, either.”
 
“Uh......who's Yami?” Mokuba asked. “I thought you asked for Yugi and his friends to come over.”
 
“You know, Yami is.....wait a minute. How did you know about them coming over? Weren't you in bed?” Seto asked.
 
Mokuba's eyes widened, guilt reflected across his face. Then with a mischievous smile, he muttered, “Well, I kinda snuck to the railings at the top of the stairs to see what was going on. But don't tell Aiko.....she'll get mad!”
 
Seto smiled. “I wont tell.....it'll be our secret.” Seto couldn't help but smile. This moment reminded him of when Mokie was so afraid he'd tell someone that he talked, and he promised not to. Strange that thought suddenly hit his mind......maybe there was a part of this Mokuba that wasn't so different from Mokie, after all.
 
Mokuba then shrugged. “But I couldn't really hear too much, so I came down here. I'm not really that hungry. I'll just eat it slow.”
 
“You're terrible!” Seto snickered. `God, what a terror this Mokuba was.....'
 
“So, who's Yami?” Mokuba asked.
 
“Oh, that's right.” Seto said. “I keep forgetting that not everyone knows about him in this world. You know the puzzle that Yugi wears around his neck, right? Well, it has an ancient spirit living in it....he calls himself Yami.”
 
“Wow!” Mokuba said. “My Seto hasn't admitted that the other Yugi is real, since Death-T. You actually believe in him. That's so cool!”
 
“Death-T?” Seto asked.
 
“Don't worry about it.” Mokuba said, quickly skirting the issue. “So, his name's Yami, huh? Well, even though Seto pretends not to believe in him, he still wants to duel him anytime he gets a chance.”
 
Seto smiled, as Mokuba talked. Though there were similarities, he couldn't get over how different the two Mokuba's were. This one might be more active and mischievous, but he was definitely a lot happier. He sighed, saying, “I wish the Mokuba in my world can be as happy as you, someday.....”
 
Mokuba looked at him, strangely. “You talk weird.”
 
“Excuse me?” Seto asked.
 
“Well.....why do you say `the Mokuba in your world'? Why don't you just say `your Mokuba'? I mean, it's not like you're talking about a stranger.” Mokuba said.
 
“Yeah, but why would I call him `mine'? I don't own him.” Seto said. Then it clicked. “Oh, wait a minute. That's right.....in this world, you two are actual brothers. We're not actually related in my world. I mean.....he calls me Niisama, but that's just a figure of speech. We're not really brothers. He's Noah's adopted little brother.”
 
Mokuba looked at him shocked. He then crossed his arms in defiance, saying, “That doesn't make any sense.”
 
“Why doesn't it? Our worlds are totally different.” Seto said.
 
“But we `have' to be brothers.....nothing's `that' different! Does this Mokuba look different from me?” Mokuba asked.
 
“Well......his hair's a little shorter. But other than that.....no, I'd have to say he looks just like you.” Seto said.
 
“Then, it doesn't make sense.” Mokuba protested. “We have to be related!”
 
“Well, I....I don't know. You're younger than me, so I think I would have known.”
 
“Well......maybe you were separated at the orphanage or something.” Mokuba said.
 
`Uh-oh.....how do I explain this one, without hurting the poor kid?' Seto thought.
 
“What's wrong?” Mokuba asked, noticing the tension in Seto's expression, suddenly.
 
“Well.....the thing is.....I-I'm not an orphan. I live with my parents.”
 
Mokuba looked down, understanding. “Oh.”
 
“Sorry.....I didn't want to say anything.” Seto turned away. “I felt pretty bad when Aiko told me. I couldn't imagine being without parents, like you and your brother did. So, how did your parents die?”
 
“Mom died when I was born, and Dad died in a car accident when I was three.”
 
“So, you never knew your mother at all.” Seto realized.
 
Mokuba shook his head no. “Seto's always been everything to me....my mother, my father, my big brother and closest friend. He's all I ever had.”
 
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
 
As they talked, a limo pulled to through the front gate next to the front door. Seto Kaiba stepped out of the limo, in a normal cool and professional stance, briefcase in his hand. As he calmly left the limo, and security ran up in surprise.
 
“Is there a problem?” Kaiba asked, not expected to be greeted by a member of his security, unless there was an important matter that needed to be discussed.
 
“Mister Kaiba!” the man exclaimed. “It's just that.....we had all ready assumed you were home.”
 
He looked away, annoyed. “And why would you think that?” he asked, approaching the front door.
 
“Well, we've.....all ready seen you home for the last hour, at least. And a Yugi Motou and his friends came to the house as well, and.....it was kind of strange the clothes you were wearing......” the man stuttered out.
 
Kaiba stopped walking immediately, and glared daggers down at the guard. “Did you say Yugi?”
 
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
 
Just then, the echo of a slamming door could be heard reverberating throughout the house.
 
“Uh-oh......” Mokuba muttered.
 
Following the door slam, was a yelling voice. “Aiko!!” Another loud slam. “Get your magic-wielded ass over here, NOW!!”
 
“Who the hell is that?” Seto asked.
 
Mokuba began to nervously get up off the couch, saying, “Um.....you might want to hide somewhere.”
 
“Why? Who was that?” Seto asked, suddenly worried over Mokuba's safety.
 
Aiko came from the other room, glaring daggers at Seto. “If you want to stay in this house and have any way of finding your way home, you better be more polite to me and this `magic wielding ass'.....do you understand?”
 
Mokuba quickly shoved his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing, and snickered out, “Aiko.....that wasn't him.”
 
“What?” Aiko asked.
 
“Aiko!! Where the hell are you?? You have three minutes to get over here, and explain to me why Motou was IN MY HOUSE!!” the voice boomed.
 
“Oh dear......” Aiko muttered.
 
“Will someone please explain to me what's going on??” Seto asked.
 
“Well, you see......big brother's home.” Mokuba sheepishly answered.
 
And with that said, footsteps approached. An instant later, the second door was slammed opened to reveal the real Seto Kaiba, who glared daggers at Aiko, then turned his total attention at the Seto sitting on the couch.
 
And Aiko knew......this was not going to be fun.