Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Seto's Wish Alternate World Conclusion ❯ C15 Ultimate Sacrifice II ( Chapter 15 )

 

C15 Ultimate Sacrifice II

 

Once again, everyone was staring at him strangely. Joey said, “Okay...he snapped. Time to get the guys in white outfits over here with a butterfly net.”

 

“Will you listen to me?? Seto knew I was dying, so he used his Virtual Reality Machine to switch my body with his!” Mokuba snapped. At that point, he began to cry again, as he continued to say, “He sacrificed everything just so I can be alive and have a chance to live my life...but it's not fair! It's his body, not mine! It's not fair for him to do what he did...I don't deserve it!”

 

“Listen Kaiba, we know you're hurting. But pretending to be Mokuba ain't gonna bring him back...” Joey said.

 

“No Joey, I think that really IS Mokuba!” Yugi said.

 

“But that would mean...” Tristan said and paled.

 

“Oh my god!” Tea exclaimed.

 

Joey froze at that moment...he couldn't believe what was being said, what that meant. “That means Kaiba died in order to make sure you're alive. He sacrificed his life for you.”

 

“No....it's worse than that. He sacrificed his humanity for me. Guys...Seto's alive, but...he's inside the Virtual Reality computer...kinda like Noah was. He's still alive, but he's condemned himself to live his life in a machine. It's not fair!” the Kaiba body cried.

 

Everyone stayed quiet and Kaiba continued to cry. Yugi finally said, “Mokuba...do you want me to try and talk to him?”

 

“I don't know if that'll do any good.” Mokuba said. “He made up his mind. If I try and send people in there to argue against what he did, I'd only be dishonoring his sacrifice. I don't want him to feel any worse than he might already feel. I just wish I could do something for him.”

 

“Well...I'll tell him you didn't bring me there to talk to him about that. You told me what happened and I told you I'd only see him to...visit him and make sure he's okay. How about that?” Yugi asked.

 

“I...I guess...” Mokuba muttered. “Maybe we can all go in, to visit him. Maybe he'd like the support for a change and realize he's not alone and we're all here for him.” Mokuba said, brightening a bit.

 

“No offense Mokuba, but you gotta stop acting all emotional like you normally do. You have no idea how weird that looks on `his' face.” Joey said. At that, Tea smacked him again. “Ow!”

 

It wasn't long before everyone was hooked up and Mokuba activated the machine, thrusting them all into the VR simulation area.

 

They were in an open field; with trees in various areas...they could see a village not too far from them in one direction. “Do we go to the village?” Yugi asked.

 

“No, that'll trigger a game to start.” Mokuba answered.

 

“Hey, how come you look like Mokuba? Are you really Kaiba!” Joey asked.

 

Mokuba gave him a look like he was stupid, saying, “You become in this world who you are on the inside. I may look like Seto on the outside, after what he did.....but I'm still Mokuba.”

 

“So, he will look like Kaiba in this world!” Tristan asked.

 

“Well, he should...but then, he's part of the computer now. Technically, he could make himself look like whomever he wants to look like.” Mokuba said.

 

“Mokuba...” a voice said out of nowhere. Everyone turned to see Kaiba at the top of a hill, looking down at them. “What are `they' doing here!” he questioned, accusingly.

 

“Kaiba...” Yugi said, looking up at him. “Uh...Mokuba told us what happened. That was...a very brave and noble thing to do.”

 

“Hmph. No one asked for your opinion, Yugi. This is between my brother and me.” Kaiba told him.

 

`That's the Kaiba we know.' Joey thought, feeling almost refreshed for the moment to see the normal Kaiba, after watching Mokuba break down in the real world.

 

“But, Seto...it's not just between you and me. I thought they should know too, cause I know this is gonna be tough for me to do this alone...” Mokuba said his head down.

 

“Don't say that! You're not alone, you'll never have to be alone!” Kaiba said, his heart ached, looking at his brother. He wanted to say so much more to him, but didn't feel comfortable doing so in front of the others. “We'll figure this out...we'll do it together. I'm still here for you and I always will be.”

 

“But now that Mokuba looks like you, he has a greater chance of being in danger. After all, everyone will think he's you. Even you can't help him with that, in the present state you're in. Maybe we can help on that end!” Tristan said.

 

Kaiba paused for the longest moment. As much as he hated to admit, it...perhaps he was right. Kaiba sighed, saying, “Fine...what do you suggest?”

 

“Maybe the two of you can share bodies!” Yugi suddenly suggested, excitedly.

 

Kaiba shook his head, saying, “Why I am not surprised to have you, of all people, suggest such a ridiculous thing? Mokuba, explain to these fools why that wouldn't work.”

 

“Because as long as you're sharing my body, I wouldn't be able to live my life.” Mokuba said, trying not to sound sad. Obviously, it was a suggestion that already came up.

 

“But Kaiba, he can't do this on his own.” Yugi said. “He doesn't know as much as you do. He can't pull this off, himself. He's still in middle school!”

 

“He's going to be tutored...that was already taken care of. I can still deal with the paperwork side of the corporation, without a problem. As for the human side of it...Mokuba is smarter than he thinks. I know he can do this...he just has to have faith in himself.” Kaiba looked down at his brother, whose eyes began to water.

 

“But Kaiba...” Yugi began to protest, but Kaiba heard enough.

 

“If that's all you came here for, then you're wasting my time. Get out.” Kaiba said and instantly dispersed himself into a million bits that faded to nothing. Before they could say more, everything became black again.

 

They woke up back in the pods. MK sighed, “He kicked us out.”

 

(MK = Mokuba/Kaiba)

 

“Sorry Mokuba, I wish we could do more...” Yugi said.

 

“Hey guys, could...you stay over? Just for tonight? Please?!” MK begged, making him look real weird with sad puppy dog eyes. Joey immediately looked away, so he wouldn't start laughing at him.

 

Yugi smiled, saying, “Sure, why not!”

 

x-x-x-x-x-x

 

That night, another person entered the VR computer, once again.

 

“I thought I told you to leave!” Kaiba's voice snapped at him, though he was not seen, yet.

 

This time Yami was there, arms crossed defiantly. “Kaiba...face me!”

 

Kaiba materialized next to him, saying, “Fine. Why are you still here?”

 

“Mokuba asked us to stay over the night, so he wouldn't be alone. He doesn't know I'm here.” Yami said.

 

Kaiba crossed his hands, saying, “Then say what's on your mind and get it over with.”

 

“Mokuba is afraid to say what he is feeling right now, because he doesn't want to upset you. But seeing you like this...it's hurting him, Kaiba. He can't bare to see you this way.” Yami explained.

 

“That's too bad, because he's going to have to live with it. The only other options are to steal part of his life by sharing it with me, or taking his life from him and throwing him here. Both options are unacceptable. I will not have it.” Kaiba answered coldly.

 

“You say you don't want Mokuba to live your life, yet what do you expect him to do looking like you? People are going to expect him to be you!” Yami said.

 

“I don't care what people want of him, he's not me...and he's not going to be me. Mokuba is now considered an adult, who can do what he wants. The hardest part of this is knowing that I am going to force him to grow up a little faster than I wanted him to. But since his other options were death or worse...I think we can both live with this minor sacrifice for him. He will have to start making decisions on what to do with his life. Whether he wants to or not, he'll figure out what to do and live with them. Whatever they are, I will support him.” Kaiba said.

 

“But what if his decision doesn't rotate around Kaiba, Corp? What if he doesn't want anything to do with the business? Don't tell me it doesn't bother you if he decides to let the corporation crumble, in order to find his true path.” Yami stated.

 

Kaiba's eyes closed, as he quietly answered, “It doesn't...not if that's what he wants to do. That's why I couldn't be a part of him, Yugi. Because if that's not his path, I would keep him from going his own way. He's free, now...free from my shadow, from me. If Kaiba Corp goes down, then it goes down...as long as he's happy and complete, that's all that matters.”

 

“But if Kaiba Corp goes down...so do you. You live in these machines, now. If the machines go down...” Yami warned him.

 

“...I know. I don't care. My life is over, Yugi. His life is all that matters, now.” Kaiba said, turning away.

 

“How can you say that?!” Yami cried out. “You deserve the right to live, just as much as he does! There's got to be another option!”

 

“There is no other option!” Kaiba snapped. “Listen, I don't care if you don't like my decision...it's already been made and I plan to follow it through, no matter what you say. I was fully aware of the consequences to me what would happen if I did this, and I didn't care.”

 

Yami retorted, “But by doing this, you have condemned yourself into being nothing more than some.....video game to be used and cast away at any time! Kaiba......I know the feeling of being locked away from everyone and everything. I have once lived that way for 3000 years, until Yugi found me. But even `I' hadn't lived a fate such as this. If your confinement is deactivated at any time......you could fail to exist.”

 

“Tell me something I don't know.” Kaiba muttered. “You can say what you want to me, but it's not going to change my mind. I don't regret my decision.....not for a second. If the same decision came up, I would do it again. I have lived my entire life making sure that Mokuba could be happy...and now I have given everything I had in order to finalize that promise. I owe him that much.”

 

Yami's eyes narrowed as he stated, “You owe him? Even now to this day, you're still trying to punish yourself because of the Death-T, aren't you? You don't deserve this, Kaiba.....no matter how much you `think' you do!”

 

“Enough!”, Kaiba snapped, glaring back down at Yami. “I don't care what you think! And I am certainly not going to sit here and be badgered by you or anyone else, no matter how much anyone's against it! Now get out...and this time, don't come back.”

 

“Kaiba.........” Yami said, still frantically wanting to get through to Kaiba. It wasn't just Kaiba and what he said that affected Yami so, but Yami's own personal experiences that he had gone through, and dreaded the idea of anyone going through something as similar as himself. Especially, someone he knew.......someone he believed to be his friend.

 

Kaiba had dispersed and once again thrust Yami back into reality.

 

x-x-x-x-x-x

 

From then on, Mokuba learned to adjust to running Kaiba Corporation and everyone seeing him as Seto Kaiba. Mokuba was also heavily tutored, until he was up to a high enough education standing to run a company and look competent. Mokuba worked together with his brother and achieved in connecting all their computer systems into one, in order to give Kaiba more freedom and control over his new world. The mansion, their emergency systems, all the Kaiba Lands out there, and both Kaiba Corp Japan and USA were inter-connected. During the time this was done, the high reps of Kaiba Corp pleaded with MK that by combining the system, he was inviting hackers to do some serious damage. Because if a virus was successful to get in to the system, it could cripple the company by being inter-connected.

 

Not wanting to inform anyone of what was really happening, MK claimed to have invented a special anti-virus program that no one could infiltrate, no matter what. Mokuba had no fear of that whatsoever, knowing that their computer system was no longer a simple machine...it was a living entity it was his brother. And no mere computer virus would get passed him. He was beyond a firewall.....he was an immovable fortress.

 

Kaiba also helped his brother in the paper work side, which was scanned, to the computer for him to work-on, while doing what he could to give him pointers to run the business. It was all he could do now, since he was no longer in the real world to be there for him.

 

Everyone at the company and in the public eye noticed the changes in who they thought to be Seto Kaiba. He seemed softer and kinder, but people assumed that it was the death of his little brother that affected him so greatly......never realizing it `was' in fact his little brother.

 

Mokuba had trouble adjusting to these changes at first. At night, he would sleep in the VR system where Kaiba was, making him feel safer and secure. Kaiba certainly didn't complain...this became the best times for him, because he would be sharing his time with Mokuba, even if his brother was asleep. The hardest part about it was that Seto could not feel him. He could make himself feel solid and real to anyone else that appeared in the VR world. But he was nothing more than computer inputs, now...he lost the ability to feel his brother physically, like he was able to do when he was flesh and blood. That hurt him more than anything, but he wouldn't tell Mokuba. He wouldn't tell him the terrible loneliness he felt, the depression he would go into, the times he began to feel like he was losing his sanity. He couldn't tell Mokuba.....he made this sacrifice for him. If he told his brother he was miserable, it would only hurt him. His brother Mokuba...the one person he could always tell anything to, he now had to keep secrets from him, for both their sakes.

 

And as time continued to pass, Mokuba began to see his brother less and less. He had a lot of work to do for Kaiba Corp, a lot of press coverage to get through, meetings, dinner reservations, friends to see, a new girlfriend to meet. Soon enough, the only time they were seeing with each other was when Mokuba needed projects done for Kaiba Corp, and scanned those files to his brother. But it was business, not pleasure. And soon enough, Mokuba began to look upon his brother more like a piece of program, and less of a big brother who gave literally everything to him.

 

(End Flashback)

 

“So, that was the reason you thought I was Mokuba.” Kaiba muttered. “Since he had now taken over your body.”

 

CKaiba nodded.

 

“At least it sounds like he adjusted well.” Kaiba muttered.

 

“He's dealt with it over time, but it's still not always easy for him. He was only 14 when it happened. But seeing what his other option was, I'd say he's doing great, in comparison.”

 

Kaiba nodded his head in understanding. “But because of this matter, you haven't been able to talk to him, either. That means you have no one.” Kaiba only knew himself too well. Mokuba was the only person he had ever trusted. He can't see himself opening up to anyone. And being stuck inside a computer with no one, it could probably be quite maddening over time.

 

It didn't help that his Mokuba also almost died from a rare disease, which he still attempted to convince himself never happened. But being in various realities had a way of convincing him otherwise.

 

Computer Kaiba avoided Kaiba's gaze now, and shrugged. “There's been someone else I've been talking to, on occasion.”

 

“Who?”, Kaiba asked.

 

Computer Kaiba sighed now as he admitted, “Wheeler ended up coming over one day and wouldn't leave me alone, until I at least considered him as an option to discuss things with.”

 

Kaiba raised an eyebrow, as a flash of memory from the last ultimate dimension came to mind.....him and Joey together. He shook the thoughts away quickly, and asked, “Why would he come over here in the first place, unless he knew something......”

 

Kaiba was right.....computer Kaiba was trying to hide that part. But afterwards, he decided what's the sense. At least talking to him was like talking to someone who would best understand his situation, without fear of pity from the other. He nodded, and said, “It happened not to long after I started to have less time talking to Mokuba.....”

 

(Flashback)

 

One particular day, Yugi ended up at the arcade with his friends. Yugi and Tristan were playing games next to each other, while talking. “Hey Yugi, have you heard from Mokuba, lately? Oh, I mean...Kaiba? I wonder how they're doing...”

 

“I don't know, I haven't heard from them. I guess, uh...'Kaiba' has been going through a lot of tutoring to get to his proper age level. I guess he has a whole lot of adjustments to go through...” Yugi said.

 

Since Mokuba became his brother, Yugi's group were trying to talk about him like he was Kaiba, incase anyone might overhear their conversation, and wonder why they were talking about Mokuba like he was alive. But they were still having trouble doing so.

 

“Damn, I lost!” Tristan said. He looked around and said, “Hey, Joey's on the VR game system. I wonder what he's playing?”

 

“I don't know.” Yugi said, pulling himself from his game. “Let's find out.”

 

“Hey Yugi, what about your game?” Tristan asked.

 

Yugi smiled, saying, “Don't worry about it...someone will pick it up.” They walked away and as they did, the game began to play by itself, taking out the monsters like nothing.

 

Joey appeared in a field, hooked up with a duel disk and his cards. “All right bad guys, let's see whatcha got!”

 

A Giant Rat quickly attacked Joey. “I'll pick Axe Raider, in attack mode!” The Axe Raider took out the giant rat, but his destruction caused a labyrinth wall to appear and surrounded him. “Oh great, a labyrinth maze. Now I gotta get through this to get outta here.” As he walked, his monster hit a trap and got destroyed. “No, my Axe Raider!” That same moment a Wall Shadow appeared to attack Joey directly.

 

“La Jinn, attack that Wall Shadow!” a voice called behind Joey. A LaJinn suddenly came forth and took out the Wall Shadow.

 

“Wow, that was close.” Joey said and turned to see a kid, smirking at him. He looked like he was only about 14, with short light brown hair, brown eyes, and supporting his own duel disk. “Say, who are you? Are you part of this game?”

 

“Do I look like it?” the kid snapped, but his mood quickly changed, seeming to be a light-hearted kid. He smiled innocently, saying, “Sorry. The name is Kasey...I'm in the seat next to you and jumped on your game. I hope you don't mind.”

 

“Not at all...the more the merrier.” Joey smiled. “That was a pretty good monster you threw at `em. But we're gonna need some pretty strong monsters to make it through this maze. If we're in a labyrinth wall, then no doubt they'll have some labyrinth tanks floating around here.”

 

“I'm sure it's nothing I...'we' can't handle.” he smiled up at Joey.

 

“You sound awfully confident for a little kid.” Joey smirked; hearing the first thing Kasey was beginning to say, before he changed it.

 

“Well, you can say I'm used to playing alone a lot. I normally count only on myself.” Kasey answered. “Come on, let's get going.”

 

“So I guess you have no siblings then, huh?” Joey asked, as they began to walk the maze.

 

“Well...I...” The kid stuttered. “I have a brother. But we've been rather distant, lately. He has his own life, now.”

 

“Yeah, I know how that is. I got a sister, myself. My parents are separated, so we don't really get to see each other that much. It's kinda hard at times, but just knowing that they're out there and thinking of you...it really helps.” Joey said, thinking of his sister.

 

“Yeah...I suppose.” the kid said, sounding rather depressed. Suddenly a Millennium Golem appeared.

 

Joey cried, “I call forth Buster Blader! Attack that Golem!” Buster Blader took down the Millennium Golem, as they continued on. “So, why so down? You two fighting or something?”

 

“No, it's just that we're...very distant. It feels like we're a world away. Even when he comes to visit on occasion, it's like I can't get near him. Things just aren't the same, anymore. I...I don't wanna talk about it.” he said.

 

“Hey, you shouldn't be afraid to talk about these things. It's good to let it out, sometimes. You keep it bottled up inside, you'll end up going crazy. Just take it from Joey Wheeler, here...I know something about crazy, believe me.” Joey joked.

 

“Yes, I can definitely believe that. Then again, you have to have a brain first, to be able to be insane.” The kid answered. Joey glared down at the kid, but the kid had such a cute laugh from his joke to Joey, he couldn't be mad at the kid.

 

“Yeah, well...you should show some respect to yer elders, kid. I may not be the smartest kid around, but I bet I can kick some butt compared to what you study at school.” Joey said.

 

The kid looked away, hiding a smile, as he said, “Yeah, I guess you got me there.” At that moment, two labyrinth tanks appeared.

 

Joey said, “Uh-oh...this ain't good. I might be okay with my Buster Bladder, but you're outta your league with that LaJinn.”

 

“Not a problem.” the kid smirked. “Just watch a master duelist at work.” He pulled a card and announced, “I draw Thunder Dragon, and then discard it to the Graveyard. In accordance with its special ability, I can now draw 2 more Thunder Dragons. I will then use Polymerization to fuse them together, creating the Twin Headed Thunder Dragon. And....with a dragon on the field, your Buster Blader also gains a 500-attack boost. Now my dragon, attack that Labyrinth Tank!”

 

“Buster Blader, take out the other Labyrinth Tank!” Joey ordered and both were destroyed. “Oh, yeah!” Joey cheered and looked over at the kid, who was giving an almost cold sneer at the area he destroyed the monster. “Hey, you know kid...we make a pretty good team.”

 

The kid's face became a blank and quickly turned away from Joey's view, as he answered, “Uh...yeah. We make a great team.”

 

“Hey, look! We're out of the labyrinth!” Joey cried. They both came out of the labyrinth and were not too far from the city.

 

“So, are we continuing on our adventure?” Kasey asked.

 

“Well...it's getting late. I can't spend too much time on this. How about we cut it short and duel each other. Care for a real challenge?” Joey asked.

 

“If I was looking for a real challenge, then why would I fight you?” the kid teased, as he laughed.

 

“Ha ha...very funny, kid. I think I should have you know that you happened to be playing `the' Joey Wheeler: one of the top known dueling finalists of every tournament since Duelist Kingdom.” Joey bragged. “If you aren't careful, I might end up creaming you for good.”