Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Seto's Wish Alternate World Conclusion ❯ C8 Seto meets Kaiba ( Chapter 8 )

C8 Seto meets Kaiba

 

Mokuba gulped. “Um…. hi big brother.”

 

Kaiba glanced over at the oh-so apparent guilty look on his brother's face, then glared back at Seto again, and finally sent daggers at Aiko. When the guard told him he was home all ready, then mentioned Yugi's friends, he assumed his idiot security mistaken him for one of them....and probably needed his eyes examined, as well as his brain for safe measures. But now he found the guard was actually being honest.

 

Many things clicked through Kaiba's head in that instant, coming up with the best assessment. First thought was this guy was an impostor and a potential threat. But even Aiko wouldn't be incompetent enough to allow anyone dangerous into his household, and leaving Mokuba sitting right next to him, as well. No.....there was a much better explanation that came to Kaiba's head. Mokuba had been lonely for his brother, and probably begged Aiko for another version of him for a playmate while he's working. And since Aiko obviously granted Mokuba his wish, Kaiba wasn't happy.

 

He crossed his arms, snapping at Aiko, “I'm not amused. Mokuba's supposed to be in bed, your not supposed to be practicing voodoo on my brother, Yugi and his friends are NOT permitted in my house, and that `thing' is not supposed to be here!” His hand was now pointing at Seto, accusing him of being some object.

 

`That's supposed to be `me' in this world?.' Seto thought. `He acts like......like......Noah!!'

 

“Now, Kaiba.....just calm down!” Aiko said.

 

A cruel smirk came to Kaiba's lips, as he hissed, “Calm? Oh, I'm very calm. Would you like to see me when I'm `not'? I can show you angry, instead......would you prefer that?”

 

Seto was getting more scared by the minute, and could feel himself sinking further into the couch. Nightmares of Noah's evil were just flooding back to his head. `This is worst than a nightmare! No, Noah isn't here. In this world.....I AM Noah!!'

 

Aiko was frozen on the spot. She too remembered the priest's wrath. No.....she didn't want to see angry.

 

“Seto.....it's not Aiko's fault!” Mokuba said, trying to also calm down his brother.

 

Kaiba's death glare now turned on his brother. “And I thought I told you to stay in bed!”

 

Mokuba slumped back on the couch. He should have known better than to try and talk to his brother when he was in this mood. “I'm sorry, Seto. I was in bed, but then I got hungry, and I....”

 

Kaiba ignored the rest, assuming it was yet another excuse Mokuba made just to stay up, knowing full well how Mokuba could be, at times. He was now glaring at this other version of him, dressed in rags that Joey may not even be seen dead in, and was cringing into his expensive couch. The look on Kaiba's face quickly changed to disgust. He sighed, muttering, “Aiko.....if you were going to make some kind of `playmate' for my brother, the least you could have done was make him dress better, and perhaps not have him act like a total idiot. What did you do, grab one of Yugi's moronic friends and make him look like me?”

 

Everyone froze and stared at Kaiba in shock. Mokuba was quickest to get over it, realizing that once again his brother took the denial route of not seeing what this really was. Hopefully it wouldn't take too long to get him to see the truth.

 

“Playmate?” Aiko asked. “Oh, no.....you don't understand. This is.....”

 

“I don't want to hear your lame excuses. Yugi's group is not to be here, and change him back to normal. That's an insult to have him look anything like me!” Kaiba snapped.

 

“He IS you!” Aiko snapped at him.

 

Kaiba turned his attention back to Aiko, his expression cold and unwavering.....obviously he was not convinced.

 

Mokuba got up again, saying, “Seto, she's telling the truth. He just kinda showed up, and......”

 

“And didn't I just tell you to get to bed?” Kaiba snapped, not even looking in Mokuba's direction, this time.

 

“Why are you yelling at him like that?”

 

Again the room became instantly quiet, as Kaiba turned to glare once again at the other version of him. He was still looking fearful but pried himself out of the cushions and off the couch, in a lame attempt to look tougher, while trying to defend Mokuba.

 

That stare from Kaiba unnerved him......forget Noah, Kaiba was even more frightening than him, if it was possible. A stare like that could burrow holes through a person's head. Seto gulped slightly, expecting the guy to explode. But that didn't happen.

 

A cold sneer came over Kaiba's face, as he muttered, “So, the mouse speaks. You think you can challenge me? Do you honestly believe just because you're wearing my face, that's suppose to make some difference?”

 

Somewhere in the recesses of Seto's head, he realized that his scare tactics, which were working quite admirably, also totally averted the question he gave him. So, trying not to get caught in the man's overwhelming `I'll kill you' aura, he stuttered out, “H-he's your brother.....isn't he? A-and.....the kid's sick. So shouldn't you be a-a little nic-...”

 

“His sickness is all the more reason for him to be in bed.” Kaiba stated flatly. “And how I act or treat my brother is none of your business!”

 

Seto took a step back, falling back onto the couch, and looking like a fool. But his shock over this other him was too overwhelming to care how he looked. “You......you act nothing like me......”

 

The smirk widened. “Thank you. And your point being?”

 

Aiko sighed. “Kaiba.....do you remember the alternate world trip you took?”

 

“How could I forget, and your point?” Kaiba asked, never taking his eyes off Seto, who couldn't believe that this version of him not only acted this cruel and terrible, but the guy actually prided himself in it! `No.....that is NOT me!!'

 

As for Mokuba, he was interested in this little story Aiko began to talk about. `Seto was in an alternate world?'

 

“Well......you took over for the Seto's existence in that world for a short time. And....this is the Seto who's place you took.” Aiko explained.

 

Suddenly, the expression changed....and Kaiba's eyes widened, as realization finally began to sink in. He turned and looked at Aiko in surprise, which quickly changed to anger. “And you brought him HERE??”

 

“No!” Aiko exclaimed, hands up defensively.

 

Kaiba moved back over to Aiko, once again ignoring Seto.....to his relief. “Then what is he doing here?”

 

“Uh, well.....I don't know.” she admitted.

 

“What do mean, `you don't know'!”

 

“Well, for some reason or another, when you returned....he didn't. He showed up a little while ago, I'm guessing sometime after you called saying you were going to be running late.”

 

“Please, big brother.....don't be mad.”

 

Kaiba sighed, finally letting some of the anger slip, as he rubbed his temples a moment feeling a migraine coming on. He actually got out of work, cutting the meeting a bit shorter than anticipated, and anxious to see his brother and make sure he was fine. Going home was supposed to be a way to relax....so how did his home turn into such a zoo?

 

More calmer now, he said, “Mokuba, go upstairs.....I need to deal with this, right now. And while you at it, get a sweater on. You should be wearing more than that while you're sick......I don't need you getting worst.”

 

“Okay, big brother.” Mokuba said, going upstairs.

 

“You really should be nicer to the kid.” Seto said. From Seto's view, he assumed Kaiba was still snapping at Mokuba, not noticing the subtle tone changes that Mokuba noticed, and believed Kaiba was once again lecturing the kid. Plus, he was still trying to get over the shell shock that this person was some alternate version of him.

 

But the comment was definitely not a smart one.....which was too bad. For a moment, Kaiba was actually starting to calm down. He turned back towards Seto, bringing his guard up he almost let drop a moment ago. “I don't care who you're supposed to be.....no one tells me how to act around my brother! You've got some nerve criticizing me! Perhaps it's time you turned and looked at yourself. You're so inept, you can't even free your own brother from Noah...allowing him to beat and humiliate you in every game ever designed!”

 

“Allowing him??” Seto asked. “What are you talking about? I've never `let' Noah beat me!”

 

Kaiba paused. He had heard by so many in that world that Seto was crushed by Noah. But after returning to his world and having time to think about it, he decided such a thing was too unbelievable. If the Seto from his world didn't think Mokuba was his true brother, then maybe the whole thing was a sham. After all.....he was talking about another version of him. Perhaps Noah convinced him to let himself lose, so that Noah could keep his public image. Maybe while he was in Seto's shoes, there was some underlying threat Noah made to him that he didn't acknowledge because he didn't understand at the time. But, now seeing Seto, he had to ask himself.....it was all true? Was this Seto really that worthless and pathetic? `This person cannot be me. There's no way this guy could have any possibility of becoming me. I'm nothing like him!'

 

“So, your saying that Noah really did defeat you all those times. How pathetic.....” Kaiba stated, in disgust. “I should team you up with the Wheeler in this world. He'd be thrilled to finally be able to beat someone who looks like me, considering he could never normally defeat me.”

 

“Really? You can beat Joey?” Seto asked. “Wow......all my friends always creamed me in that game, too.” Seto wondered how this version of him did it.....how'd be beat them? They were so tough. Then again, this version of him did run Kaiba Corp and act like Noah. Plus, from what Aiko said.....they weren't even friends. He only hoped this version of him didn't bully his friends like Noah did, too.....

 

Kaiba turned away, unable to listen to anymore of this. It was too much. He was half-tempted to call his guards and have the guy shot, just to put him out of his misery. “Forget it. Just don't tell me anymore. You make me sick just looking at you.”

 

But the disgust quickly changed to frustration, then anger that this version of him never bothered to strive for anything in his life.....just be some kind of bum, like Joey was. He whirled around towards Seto, and yelled, “How can you even live with yourself, knowing what a loser you are in your brother's eyes?? I have lived my entire life being the best for `my' Mokuba! You can't be me...you're not even a shadow of who I am. If I were in your shoes, I would have never stopped until I would be able to protect him from Noah. You could have at least mustered up enough self-respect in order to be able to beat Noah in `something'!”

 

`Mokuba was right.....he does call him `My Mokuba.' Seto thought, remembering what Mokuba said. “But....but I tried....”

 

“Bullshit! If you tried, then obviously you didn't try hard enough! If you even took the time to look into Mokuba's background, you could have taken him away from there years ago! I was barely there a few weeks, and I was able to find a loop-hole to keep him from Noah!”

 

“What do mean I could have taken him?” Seto asked.

 

The anger now calmed and quickly became a cocky smirk, as he muttered. “It's quite simple.....something any true genius would have figured out by now. Gozaburo Kaiba is an arrogant bastard that sometimes does things without thinking. He doesn't now and never has had any kind of real custody over Mokuba. If you had ever taken even the slightest bit of time and effort, you would have found that out, yourself!”

 

x-x-x-x-x-x

 

Back in the alternate world, Yugi called Tristan and Tea and told them that Mokuba was missing and felt Noah was responsible. They agreed to search for Noah, and to meet up at a certain time if no one found anything.

 

A little while later, Tea spotted Mokuba with Noah and called the others. They all met up in a small alley, just across from Noah's.

 

“So.....he just walked in there with Noah, willingly.” Tea said. “There weren't any guards, anywhere. I couldn't understand it, myself. Maybe.....Mokuba wants to go back.”

 

“Are you sure about this?” Angie asked. “Noah didn't put his collar on Mokuba, either?”

 

Tea shook her head. “I didn't see anything on him. Mokuba wasn't fighting Noah, at all.”

 

“I don't get it. Why would Mokuba go back to Noah, like that?” Tristan asked.

 

“Maybe Noah threatened him.” Yugi said.

 

“Threatened him with what?” Tristan asked. “I don't know about you, Yugi.....but if someone threatened to hurt me, I certainly wouldn't follow the guy!”

 

“I don't mean threatened `him'......I mean, maybe he threatened us.” Yugi said.

 

“So, then.....Mokuba might have gone in there to protect us?” Angie asked, sadly.

 

Yugi nodded, “It would make sense.” Yugi then paused, and answered to himself, “You got a point.”

 

“What?” Tea asked.

 

Yugi looked at them and smiled. “Sorry. Yami mentioned that for all we know, Noah might even have Seto held captive. We couldn't find him, after all. And if Noah threatened Seto, then Mokuba would definitely make sure nothing happened to him.”

 

“If they got Seto, I'm gonna make that kid pay if it's the last thing I do!” Joey snapped.

 

“But, what do we do about Mokuba, now? We can't just leave him in there!” Angie said.

 

“No offense, Angie.....but we're running out of options, here.” Tristan said.

 

“No, I won't accept that! Seto freed him, and Mokie was just starting to warm up to me. I can't.....no, I `wont' leave him! He's my brother now....I want to help him!” Angie exclaimed.

 

“We all do, Angie.....but there's not much we can do.” Tea said.

 

“Well, you know.....maybe we should keep looking for Seto.” Joey said.

 

Tea asked, “But what if Seto's in there, too?”

 

Joey shook his head. “I don't think so. Think about it. We didn't have no problems with Noah, until after they found out we were looking for him. If Noah had Seto, then he woulda all ready known and been after Mokuba before we even starting searching.”

 

Yugi changed into Yami. “Good point, Joey. Since there's little we can do here, we should continue our search for Seto. Once he's found, then we will see what we can do about helping Mokuba.”

 

“There has to be something we can do to help him. What if Noah takes off with him, before we find Seto?” Angie said, not wanting to give up getting her new little brother back.

 

“I know how ya feel, Ang. But Yami is right....the sooner we find Seto, the sooner we can work on a plan.” Joey said.

 

“Besides.....knowing Noah, I doubt he's in any rush to move him.” Yami stated. “Noah tends to feel quite safe and secure in his home, behind his walls of wealth and power. He probably feels there's nothing we can do, now that Mokuba his with him. I'm sure we have time.”

 

“Yeah.” Tristan agreed. “And Seto will know what to do. Besides, he has the paperwork to prove that Mokuba belongs to your parents, now.....and we can't do anything without that. He handled Noah once, I'm sure he can handle it again!”

 

“I hope you're right.” Angie said.

 

“So, let's get going before Noah spots us.” Tristan said.

 

“Where should we go? Should we split up again?” Tea asked.

 

“No. We should stick together, this time.” Joey said. “It'll be safer for all of us, if we aint apart. That way, if Noah's still looking to get us for anything else.....we'll be ready for him!”

 

“That's a good idea.” Yugi said, after changing back. “Lets go!”

 

As the others started to walk away, Angie turned back towards the mansion, thinking, `We'll be back for you, Mokie.....I promise. Even if the others are too afraid to come back, I'll still come and get you! Don't worry about it, little brother.....I won't just leave you there!'

 

Just then, Tea wrapped her arms around Angie's shoulders. “Come on, Angie.....let's get going. We'll get him back, don't worry.”

 

Angie just nodded sadly, as Tea led her away.

 

Yugi watched the scene from the front of the group, and tried to keep a positive attitude.....but inside he was equally worried. It was what Tristan said that had him concerned. /Yami.....the one that defeated Noah wasn't our Seto, it was Kaiba. Even if we find Seto, what if he doesn't have what it takes to stop Noah? What if he doesn't even have the files that Kaiba did? Maybe Noah erased that information on the computer, and without that hard copy.....we have no proof./

 

/Trust in our friendship, Yugi. One way or another, we will find a way to get Mokuba back./

 

x-x-x-x-x-x

 

Inside the house, Noah and Mokuba were in the basement where Noah put on another one of Mokuba's collars and leash, and tied him to a post. Then the phone rang and he got word about the others watching the house.

 

“So.....Mokuba's little friends were watching, were they? Excellent....now that they saw Mokuba come with me willingly, maybe they'll give up and leave us be. Now they fully understand that Mokuba is truly mine! Keep and eye on them to make sure they don't come back, and keep an eye out for Seto. Make sure he never returns!” Noah said, hanging up the phone and laughing.

 

“Well, Mokuba.....it seems your little friends have given up on you. They saw you come with me, and yet they never dared to try and confront us. It shows you just how much they truly care about you, doesn't it?” Noah said, laughing once again.

 

Just then, the door upstairs opened.

 

“Noah, get up here. NOW!”

 

“Coming, father! Now, Mokuba......you be a good little slave dog and wait here for your master. I shall return soon.” Noah said, patting Mokuba on the head before going upstairs.

 

After the door closed, Mokuba sighed.....relieved to finally be alone away from Noah, for a moment. Of course, he understood it wouldn't last long. Soon Noah would be back to finally give Mokuba his punishment, for disobeying.

 

“I hope Seto doesn't get hurt. I couldn't bear to think if Noah and the guards got to him.....what they would do.” Mokuba muttered. He looked down at the ground, now......depression sinking in, as well as Noah's words. `Maybe they don't care about me. Maybe they realized what a problem I am, and gave up. It would be better for them, anyway.' A tear fell from his eyes. `Seto's gone, and Noah doesn't even know where he is. Maybe he too realized I wasn't worth it.'

 

No. Seto wouldn't think that.

 

Despite himself falling into depression, Mokuba still felt that Seto would never abandon him, and would do all in his power to get him back.

 

`But if Seto gets hurt.....it'll be all my fault.' And that would be even worst. `Seto, please don't come for me. Save yourself. I don't want Noah to hurt you, the way he hurt me.....'

 

x-x-x-x-x-x

 

Meanwhile......upstairs, Noah's father just learned from his lawyers about the adoption. “Noah, I heard about your loss. First you gamble away the kid I gave you as a playmate, and then you're going against your word and snatching him back! Do you know what this kind of publicity could do to the reputation of our company? Do you have any idea how this is going to look in the public eye, once they learn that you agreed to give him up then backed out! There're already rumors beginning, and reporters sniffing around to find out if it's true. This not only makes you look bad, it makes `me' look bad!”

 

“Father, please......I'm sorry!”

 

“That pet of yours is here, isn't he? You dragged him back into my home, despite everything that happened!” Gozaburo snapped.

 

Noah whined, “But, father.....he's my pet!”

 

“A pet that you lost in a public gambling bet with some nobody. What were you thinking?? You shouldn't have lost him in that bet. In fact, you shouldn't have lost in anything! I've told you before, it was dangerous to keep betting that pet of yours....and now look where it's gotten you! Do you realize what a fool that stranger made of the Kaiba name? Not only did you let some punk beat you, but also ended up adopting Mokuba right under your nose! That is leverage that they can use against you, now! And thanks to your stupidity, you no longer have any leverage left to use back against them! As for that pet of yours....I thought you had that thing trained better than that! Not only is it talking to other people, it even tried to abandon you! So, I'm waiting....what do you plan to do about this mess you made?”

 

“I'm- I'm not sure, father. But how was I one to know after all these years, you never bothered getting custody! I thought you adopted him!”

 

“Don't you dare try and accuse me of being at fault for your failure! As if I would allow myself to be legally responsible for anything that brat might accidentally say or do. Do you have any idea what would be expected of me, if I signed that paper? So, no....I didn't go for custody. You should have known that. And being that you're my son, I never expected that you would be stupid enough to let someone oppose and defeat you!”

 

“Father.....you're not going to let them take him, are you?”

 

“Don't be ridiculous. No one opposes a Kaiba and gets away with it. But `your' the one who allowed someone to make a fool of our name. And you're going to take care of this!” Gozaburo snapped, pointing at his son. “I didn't invest the best teachers and scholars in the world for you, just so you can show the world what a failure you are. You're going to find the person that tainted our name and make it right. Do you understand, Noah? Prove to me that I didn't waste all that money on you, for nothing!”

 

Noah smiled, and bowed. “Yes, father. Don't worry.....I will not disappoint you. I'll make you proud.”

 

Noah then turned and left Gozaburo's office. `Don't think this is over, Seto.....not by a long shot. This time, there won't be any cheating from you. I'll make you pay for humiliating me!'