Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Seto's Wish Alternate World Conclusion ❯ C14 Ultimate Sacrifice I ( Chapter 14 )

 

C14 Ultimate Sacrifice I

 

Kaiba looked around the room wearily. He was surrounded by plain white walls, floor, and ceiling, with 2 doors.....one on either side. Other than that, there was nothing else in the room. Kaiba was more than familiar with exactly where he was.

 

“Looks like I'm in the virtual reality room...I'm definitely not in the right reality.” Kaiba wondered just how many more of these worlds he would end up in, all ready beginning to feel the stress of how long and messed up he might become going through all these worlds. But he only needed a small mental reminder that it was Mokuba he was doing this for, and he was more than ready to face whatever was thrown at him once again.

 

Then suddenly, a square virtual reality square appeared in the middle of nothingness, showing himself on the screen, looking at him. The Kaiba screen said to him, “Mokuba, there are some unusual activities going on in Kaiba Land, which you need to investigate.”

 

Kaiba was intrigued by the self-created simulation of himself, assuming it was a message for Mokuba. But why would the computer send a message to him, when he clearly wasn't Mokuba? Kaiba quickly looked around, wondering if maybe he wasn't alone, like he believed...yet there was clearly no Mokuba anywhere to be seen.

 

“Mokuba didn't you hear me? Are you okay?” Computer Kaiba asked.

 

Could the computer automatically sense anyone in the system, and simply assumed anyone inside must be Mokuba? That made no sense.....Kaiba was never that careless with his securities. It should clearly be able to ID him as Seto Kaiba.

 

“Hmph....obviously there's a glitch in the program.” Kaiba said, thinking, `And why would I create a computer program with my own image?' Kaiba then commanded, “System analysis...scan for Mokuba Kaiba.” Assuming he was talking to a computer.

 

The holographic Kaiba narrowed his eyes, immediately realizing that Kaiba was `not' who he thought he was. In fact, if anything.....this invader was just like himself, and way too much for his liking. “Who are you, and what did you do to Mokuba!” The image now demanded.

 

Kaiba blinked in surprise the way the computer responded to him...it definitely wasn't a computer message. He could only assume this was some kind of security device. Kaiba glared coldly at the image, snapping, “I don't need to explain myself to a computer program. Analyze voice recognition protocol.”

 

Deciding he no longer wanted to be treated like a program, which was exactly what Kaiba was doing, the computer snapped at him, “I'm not a computer program, you idiot! You look like me, all your life signs register to be me, but you obviously can't be me... `I' am me!”

 

Kaiba was taken off-guard. This was the Seto Kaiba from this world? Then that would mean the Kaiba of this world was sending a direct message to Mokuba into the virtual reality system, from wherever he was. But that didn't make sense, either. First of all......anytime Kaiba ever traveled the various dimensions, his other version always seemed to conveniently disappear, allowing him to take over that reality until he left. Secondly, if that was Kaiba of this world, then he should clearly have no problems noticing that he obviously didn't look like Mokuba!

 

But the only option left meant that this Seto Kaiba was in fact the computer, itself. That might at least explain how the Seto Kaiba of this universe didn't disappear. But it still didn't explain why Kaiba was IDed incorrectly.

 

Kaiba looked confused, but quickly contained his cold glare. He was going to get to the bottom of this. He crossed his arms, asking, “Are you trying to tell me that `you're' Seto Kaiba?”

 

“I believe I just said that!” The other snarled back, also crossing his arms, becoming almost a mirror image of the first.

 

“All right...let's say you are. Then explain to me `why' would I do something as idiotic as shove myself inside my own computer system!”

 

“Hmph.....why should I tell you anything?” the computer asked him.

 

Kaiba stated, “Simple. If you really are me, then you would know that first of all.....I have no escape here without you letting me go. Then the most important reason is if I don't get the answers I want, then I wont tell you anything, as well.”

 

“I could simply lie.” the computer stated.

 

Kaiba smirked. “And so could I......”

 

The computer Kaiba considered what the first one was saying. Finally, he decided it wasn't worth the permanent stalemate. This strange other version of him had a point......he had nowhere to go. And he wanted answers.....he wanted to know where Mokuba was, and where this other Seto Kaiba came from. So with a sigh, computer Kaiba answered, “I did it for Mokuba...”

 

“...I don't understand.” Kaiba answered. “How would sticking yourself inside a machine help Mokuba?” With a second thought, Kaiba suddenly added with greater concern, “Is something wrong with him??”

 

“It's a long story.” Computer Kaiba answered. “Besides...I believed I asked the questions first. It's now your turn. Who are you, and what did you do with Mokuba!”

 

Kaiba answered. “Incase you couldn't figure it out yet, I'm you. The reason there's another you is because I'm not from this world.” The instant Kaiba said that, he clearly identified the obvious disbelieving look on the other's face.

 

Kaiba snapped, “Look...I got an item that took me here. I'm trying to find one particular dimension in which Noah's a danger to Mokuba and save him. The problem is it doesn't offer me any way of knowing if I'm in the right dimension or not. And I haven't even seen your Mokuba, so how could I have done anything with him?”

 

Computer Kaiba looked away......at least the last part made enough sense. There would be no way of anyone doing anything to Mokuba without him knowing. A minute ago.....Mokuba `was' here, and now this `other him' was. There was no trace of technology that did this.....it just happened. “I guess it makes partial sense.” he admitted. But he still had the dilemma of finding Mokuba, now.

 

“I believe it's your turn.” Kaiba added. “Why did you think that Mokuba was in the room? That doesn't make any sense.”

 

Of course this supposed version of himself wouldn't know what happened. Again, he gave an untrusting glare at Kaiba, considering not telling him anything. But, after talking with him for the few minutes he did, he could clearly tell it was him......or some version of him. No one could mirror him so well. No one.

 

And if that was him, then what Kaiba said made some sense. Maybe it was all the truth. And even if it wasn't.....he would never do anything to harm or endanger Mokuba. Perhaps explaining to him would help find Mokuba. At the very least, perhaps his story to Kaiba would help bring a warning to him in order to help him protect his own Mokuba......or one from another world. It couldn't hurt.

 

......plus, he had been so alone. It was almost good to talk to someone again....even himself.

 

Computer Kaiba's glare became a smirk as he compared his own history to this Kaiba and realized it would probably sound just unbelievable, if not more so. He materialized a seat for the other Kaiba to sit down, saying, “You might as well have a seat.....this might take awhile.”

 

Kaiba was surprised this computer version of him didn't put up much of a fight to tell him anything. But he said nothing, ready to listen. After all......knowledge was power.

 

Computer Kaiba started his history lesson, saying, “It all started three years ago...”

 

/Flashback/

 

Kaiba sat in the ambulance, as he looked over at his brother lying next to him. He continued to wonder how everything managed to fall apart so quickly. It was only a week ago when Mokuba was jumping around, laughing with him, as he always did. Then he seemed to catch some kind of cough and stayed home for a day. The next day, his fever had dangerously peaked and he was having trouble breathing, being forced into the hospital. The doctors told him he had a deadly disease that was fatal. There was nothing they could do about it...nothing no amount of money could buy to save his brother. Once again, Kaiba was forced to take matters into his own hands to save his brother.

 

From the hospital, he had the ambulance drive Mokuba back home, still hooked up. They didn't expect him to survive another week, even `on' life support. But Kaiba would be damned that he would allow even fate itself to take the only thing in this world that really truly mattered to him. He knew what he had to do...and didn't hesitate to act on it.

 

Mokuba was carried to Kaiba's Virtual Reality chamber and quickly hooked up to it. He then ordered everyone away, leaving himself alone with his brother. Last night, he already made any and all necessary changes he felt would be necessary. He was certain with Mokuba's help and time; he would be able to complete anything else that he needed to do. Kaiba walked over to his brother and smiled, saying, “Forget it Mokuba, I'm not letting you get away from me that easily. You still have a life to live and I'm going to make sure you live it...one way or another. I made a promise to you and that's something I plan on keeping.”

 

Mokuba had no idea how long he had been out, but it felt like forever. He felt tired and drained. His hand weakly came up and grabbed onto the strange walls around his bed...he quickly realized it was the Virtual Reality Chamber he was inside of and not his bed at all. Strange though, it felt more crowded, somehow. He stumbled up out of the chamber and for some reason his very movements felt awkward to him. “What the.....” he began to say and stopped...even his voice was off today. But then he noticed someone else was using a pod, as well. This someone was hooked up to wires and everything. As he approached, he had the worst feeling come over him, hearing a single high-pitched noise that was constant from the machine that was hooked up to this other body. As he approached it, he paled. It was...it was...

 

“AHHH!!!” Mokuba cried out, backing away. “Why am I laying there?!” It was his own body lying there, hooked up to a heart machine that was telling him there was no pulse and he was dead. “Is this some kind of horrible nightmare?? Someone wake me up!!” he panicked with a voice that was still sounding weird, but at the moment he was still too panicked to think straight. He immediately began to wonder if he was having an `out of body' experience. `Am I a spirit? Am I dead?' He looked over himself and immediately noticed something very wrong...he was wearing a suit and his hands looked very big, with very thin and long defining fingers that kind of reminded him of.........

 

Mokuba immediately rushed to the nearest mirror and looked at himself. Again, Mokuba screamed, backing away, yelling, “This isn't funny, anymore! I don't wanna be in this dream!!” He looked like his brother. In fact, Mokuba pinched himself in an attempt to wake up and found it to be very painful. That's when it finally began to hit him...this was no dream, this was real. “But...that doesn't make any sense. If I'm in this body, then where is...”

 

Mokuba gasped and ran to his dead limp form, shaking it violently, “Seto, Seto, wake up! You can't be dead, you just can't! I don't understand any of this! Why did you leave me like this...WHY??!” Mokuba crumpled on the floor on his knees and began to cry and sob.

 

This lasted a good 15 minutes of constant crying, feeling his brother was gone, forever dead...and he didn't know why. But as he continued to think of what happened and why he woke up like this, trying to figure it out, he began to realize that if his brother did anything rash, the least he would do was leave him with `something', explaining to him what transpired. He weakly got up and moved over to the main control room that on-looked the VR chairs. Sure enough, on the computer's monitor there was a typed-in letter.

 

Mokuba...I'm sure by the time you wake up, you'll be very confused over what transpired. You were in the hospital, dying. You did not have a cold, but some kind of deadly disease. They estimated you had no more than a week to live. That was unacceptable. I only had one option left. And so, I give to you the only thing left I have to give...my own life for yours. I know you wont be happy with this decision, but please do not make my sacrifice to you any harder than it is. Make me proud...Seto.

 

Mokuba began bawling again in tears, “Why, Seto? Why did you have to kill yourself for me?? It's not fair!!!”

 

Mokuba continued to sob on the console, punching at the keyboard. Accidentally, it caused the message to scroll upwards and Mokuba realized there were some other words he missed, since they weren't on the screen at the time, but they scrolled up too fast to read them. He quickly scrolled them back down to get Seto's `PS' message.

 

PS: Don't worry Mokuba, I'm not dead...I'm in the machine.

 

“WHAT??!” Mokuba cried out loud, then looked over at the still active VR unit. “Seto...”

 

Quickly, Mokuba jumped back on and hooked himself up. It was an awkward fit for him though, because he was inside his brother's body. It only took a moment for him to activate it, and got sucked into the machine.

 

In this VR unit, the soul of the person became who they are...and Mokuba looked normal again. He looked around the scattered trees and rolling hills, finding no sight of who he was looking for. So, Mokuba put his hand up to his mouth and yelled out, “Seto!! Seto, where are you?!!”

 

In an instant, Mokuba witnessed the computer creation from pixels pulled from nowhere, taking on the shape of his brother. Kaiba looked down at his brother, and smiled. “Mokuba...I see you got my message. How are you feeling, kiddo?”

 

Mokuba immediately began the waterworks again and ran to him, hugging him tightly. “I thought you were dead!”

 

Kaiba held him tight, so glad to hear Mokuba's voice again...everything was worth it. “You should know better, little brother. It takes more than that to take down a Kaiba...even fate, itself.”

 

Mokuba didn't feel any better, though. If anything, he was angry and pulled away. Still tearing, he yelled at him, “How could you do that?? How could you throw yourself in there and give me your body? That's not right, Seto! I have no right to have what belongs to you! I can't let you do this!”

 

The softness from Kaiba's eyes quickly hardened, as he crossed his arms and turned away. “You of all people should understand my reasons. I had sworn to protect you...I keep my promises. This is just another game and every game has its sacrifice. There was nothing left to sacrifice this time, so I had to offer myself. My final act to you, Mokuba. And you `will' live your life it's fullest. Maybe you're forced to grow up a little quicker than either of us wanted, but at least you'll still have the chance to live your life.”

 

“But what about `your' life, Seto? What right do I have to steal away your life, when...”

 

“YOU ARE MY LIFE!!!” Kaiba snapped back, glaring down at him with those cold eyes. “I have given you the greatest gift I can offer you, Mokuba...don't you dare throw it back in my face!”

 

More tears came out, as Mokuba fell to his knees. “Seto, but...if I'm in your body, they'll expect me to be you. How can I be you?!”

 

This snapped Kaiba back to himself again, once again keeping his rage in check. He calmly said, “It won't be too much of a problem...together we can do this. I've already arranged some tutors to start schooling you, since you will no longer be able to go to middle school, anymore. You'll have to learn your hardest. Don't worry about any of the paperwork. Together we're going to connect this computer system to totally integrate it to Kaiba Corp, networking them together as one. I will take care of all the necessary paperwork that I receive and print it out for you. If anything, by my being in here, it'll make me even more efficient to the company and even help route out any spies working for us. But you're going to have to start learning to properly talk for me at the meetings, from now on. I don't expect you to act like me...I can't run your life. It's time you decide to be who you want to be. You'll need to take on my name, but that doesn't mean you have to take on my personality. I trust you, Mokuba...and I know you'll make the right decisions in your life.”

 

“No, but...there's got to be a better way than this!” Mokuba cried. He then stopped talking and smiled, saying, “Seto! Maybe you can also come in and we can share this body of yours. Kind of like Yugi and, well...the `other' Yugi. If he can do it, why can't we?!”

 

Kaiba snickered, shaking his head. “I'm sure turning into a sqitzo would really help Kaiba Corp. out. If that wouldn't drive the company out of business, it would surely put the both of us in the nearest insane asylum, in no time. No, I'm afraid that wouldn't work. Plus, I don't intend on sharing your life, Mokuba. That would cause me to become far too influential in things you would and wouldn't want to do. You need to be able to make your own mistakes, without me being there to stop you. Besides, eventually you're going to find someone special in your life...and then what? Do you expect me to share her, too? It won't work, so just forget about it.”

 

Mokuba sighed, saying, “Seto.........thank you.” Mokuba wanted to say more...he wanted to scream at his brother and demand he change back. He wanted to fix the computer to force them to switch. But his brother would only find a way to switch back and make sure it's permanent that time. And also, he knew this decision was hard enough for his big brother. He didn't want to make it hurt even more for him. So he would respect his brother's sacrifice, which was the only way he could think of to make his brother feel better, and do as he wanted. But Mokuba continued to wonder how Seto expected him to enjoy a life that wasn't even his to live??

 

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

 

Mokuba's death was in the papers that morning, as his body was brought from his home to be properly buried. His picture was in the newspaper, which was written about his death, after his attempted fight with the deadly disease. The service for him was that afternoon and all of Yugi's friends showed to mourn their friend. They were all very shocked to see that Kaiba did not show up to his own brother's funeral that day.

 

Joey just shook his head, spouting, “That creep...what kind of brother doesn't show up to his only family's funeral? Doesn't he care??”

 

“Kaiba's probably mourning Mokuba in his own way.” Yugi said, trying to defend him. “He did bring Mokuba that night to be comfortable at his home before he died. You gotta give him that much.”

 

The other silently agreed, hoping that was the case. Yet, Joey still didn't seem to believe it, turning away from Mokuba, muttering, “Man Mokuba, I really feel sorry for you. To have a brother like that, you really deserved better...”

 

It was later in the afternoon, when they finally got back. Everyone was very quiet and moody after getting back from the funeral. Joey finally broke the silence, saying, “I'm 1/2 tempted to go over there right now and give that creep a piece of my mind!”

 

“Come on, Joey......maybe Yugi's right about why Kaiba didn't show up.” Tristan said.

 

“That's bullshit! There was no reason for him not to show. It only proves that he really was the lousy brother for Mokuba I always figured he was. There was no reason for it!” Joey continued to rant. But the phone ringing broke his ranting.

 

Yugi reached over and picked it up, saying, “Hello? Kaiba!”

 

“Kaiba!” Tea asked.

 

“What does `he' want?!” Joey demanded.

 

Yugi immediately brought his hand up for them to quiet, as Yugi continued, saying, “Now, Kaiba...calm down. It's not your fault, how can you say that?!” That immediately shut the others up, as they stared at Yugi on the phone. “Kaiba...you can't help what happened to Mokuba. This could have happened to anyone. Uh...are you sure? We don't mind, but...okay. We'll be over. I'll see you soon, then.” Yugi then hung up and continued to stare at the phone, as if he just had a close encounter of the third kind, over the phone.

 

“Yugi, what did he say?!” Tristan asked.

 

“He invited us all to come over to his house.” Yugi said, still looking pretty freaked out. “Guys.....Kaiba's taking this `really' bad.”

 

“How so?” Tea asked.

 

“He was insisting that it was his fault for Mokuba's death and he was.........crying on the phone.” Yugi said.

 

“Well, his brother did just die. You can expect him to maybe cry a little over this.” Tristan said.

 

“Yeah, but that was more than I'd expect to ever hear Kaiba sound like. I mean, he was outright bawling on the phone. I didn't think Kaiba was capable.........it just sounded so weird from him.” Yugi said.

 

“Well, what are we all waiting for?!” Joey immediately said. “This I gotta see!”

 

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

 

The butler let the group in. Yugi asked, “So, where's Kaiba?”

 

From the question, the butler looked awkward and nodded, “He's in the living room...that way.” Immediately after, he b-lined it the opposite way, as if desperately trying to avoid Kaiba.

 

They slowly walked to the living room, to see Seto Kaiba on the couch, with a box of Kleenex on the coffee table, tissue in hand, still crying his eyes out, like a child. Everyone stood and stared, not sure how to react to it.

 

In-between sniffles; Kaiba realized that Yugi's group was nearby and waved to them, sniffing pitifully, “Over here, guys.”

 

They approached cautiously, not sure how to react, all of them carefully finding seats as far away from Kaiba, as possible. He sniffed again, saying, “Thanks for coming...I really appreciate it.”

 

“All right, who the hell are you!” Joey immediately asked.

 

“Cut it out, Joey!” Tea snapped. Tea had never seen Kaiba act like this and for once it was like a breath of fresh air to her. Maybe Kaiba really `was' human in there, somewhere. “Can't you see the guy is hurting? He doesn't need this right now from you.”

 

 

“It's gonna be okay, Kaiba. We're...we're here for ya.” Tristan stuttered out his attempted support, trying not to look too freaked out at Kaiba looking like this. It was very awkward to see, making Tristan almost...uncomfortable. Kaiba being emotional...too weird.

 

“No, you don't get it! I...don't know what to do, guys. My brother...my brother...it's all my fault he's like this, now!!” Kaiba said and began to outright bawl again, like he was on the phone.

 

If the group wasn't freaked out before, they were now. Everyone shut up and just stared at him, like he was an alien. Kaiba calmed down a bit, now sniffing and hiccupping, saying, “I...I just don't know what to do. I can't do this without him. He's always been with me. I feel so helpless...”

 

“Yeah, well...we knew he meant a lot to ya, Kaiba. We just never really realized how much. I mean...wow. He really was the one to hold ya together, wasn't he?!” Joey asked, observing Kaiba with almost fascination.

 

“Joey!” Yugi scolded, then turned to Kaiba, saying, “But Kaiba, it's not your fault what happened to Mokuba. You tried your best to make him happy. Maybe he's in a better place, now.”

 

At that moment, Kaiba became angry and they fearfully believed he was beginning to snap back to normal. He snapped out at them, “Don't you get it yet?? You guys keep calling me Kaiba...do I act like Seto to you?? Do I???!”

 

“Well...you are acting a bit out of the ordinary, Kaiba. But after what happened to Mokuba, that's understandable.” Yugi said.

 

“You're wrong! Seto would never act like this! He'd never cry in front of anyone, no matter what happened to him...you guys should know that!” Kaiba yelled at them.

 

“Hey, don't get mad at us that you started bawling in front of us. We're here to support ya!” Joey snapped back.

 

“Grrr....I'm not Seto!! I'm Mokuba!!” Kaiba snapped back at him.