Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Seto's Wish ❯ Chapter 21

It was amazing just how much concern appeared on Kaiba's face as he watched Mokuba walk away with anyone else but him. It was probably the most emotion the group saw in him since the accident. Kaiba nervously stiffened up, grabbed the arm of the couch tightly, and looked like he was about to jump out of his skin. In fact, he had already begun to leap up, causing the rest of Yugi's group to hold him back.

 

“It's okay, Seto, he's with Angie - he'll be fine. We understand you care about him, but you need to give him a little space too, you know. You don't want to smother the poor kid.” Yugi chuckled.

 

Kaiba clenched his jaw, and his eyes twitched...all he could think about was that Mokie was alone with a strange girl, and Noah wasn't in sight, and neither was Gozaburo. What if something happened to him? He should be there for him! The last time he let down his guard, `his' Mokuba was captured. Plus, he didn't trust Noah as far as he could throw him. “I should be there.” he said, fighting the group that was trying to pull him back down.

 

“Damn it, Seto...will you chill, already??” Joey snapped. “She's your sister - don't you trust her? She ain't gonna let anything happen to him.”

 

He glared over at Joey, looking uncertain as the chant, `she's my sister, she's my sister' once again began in his head as a reminder of the fact. That would also mean she's now Mokuba's sister, too. Meaning that she would keep him safe.

 

“Yeah, really. You've already gotten to spend so much time with Mokuba with those secret meetings all those years.” Tristan said. “But you need to let Angie spend some time with him, too. If you keep trying to hog his attention all the time, she's gonna think you like him better than her. And don't you want Mokuba to get to know his new sister?”

 

That finally relaxed Kaiba enough to sit back down. Perhaps they were right. If she was his sister, then Mokuba deserved to spend time with his new sister, too. But it was tough...Kaiba wasn't used to sharing anything, especially the affection of his brother. Though he was sitting, he still continued to stare at the doorway they exited from, anxiously waiting his return.

 

But this moment made a good opportunity for another part of Yugi's group...and they seemed to be expecting it, too. Tea went from her seat to sit next to Kaiba, as the rest of the group nonchalantly got up and moved to another part of the room to give Tea a moment alone.

 

“Seto?” she asked. When he didn't answer, still very focused on the doorway and his own deep thoughts, she touched his face and moved it to look at her.

 

He immediately grabbed her wrist tightly, as if he was seeing the contact as an attempted assault. “What do you think you're doing?” Immediately, he noticed the others were away from them (when did that happen?) and that they were both together. In fact, Tea was...uncomfortably close.

 

“Seto, we haven't been seeing each other since the accident. I've been hoping you were getting better, from what I've seeing from you over the last week. And you said you were beginning to remember things, you know? So, uh...do you remember `us', yet?” Tea asked, finally managing to squirm her hand out of his grip when he allowed it.

 

“No.” Kaiba answered almost automatically, not wanting anything to do with Tea.

 

“Nothing?” Tea asked. “Nothing at all.” She now put her hand on his shoulder, attempting to show her feelings for him.

 

Every touch she gave him made his skin crawl.

 

As tempted as he was to throw her little `friendship charms' back in her face, he tried to keep in mind that for some ridiculous reason, the Seto from this world `liked' her. Personally, he couldn't understand why and even considered if he said something to make them both break up in the future, maybe it would do this other Seto a favor in the long run. But then, it was none of his business if the supposed `other' version of him wanted to be with some `save me' ditz like her.

 

So, he calmly brought his hand up, took her wrist, and carefully removed it from his shoulder to make a more polite point to not do that again. “Nothing at all.” Kaiba answered. “But give me a few more days...I'm sure it will all come back soon enough.”

 

Tea nodded weakly, but tried to keep a positive outlook, hoping he was right. At least he wasn't saying anything mean to her, this time.

 

Noah now came back into the waiting room. He looked around, asking, “Where's Mokuba...and that other girl?”

 

Nancy the maid scurried over from the other room and bowed to him. “Mokuba went to pack his things, Master Noah. He took one of the guests with him.”

 

Kaiba was silently pleased to know that Noah had no idea about it. That also meant Noah didn't do anything to them.

 

“Whatever.” Noah angrily snapped. He tossed a couple things at of Yugi, saying, “Here! Take it, already.”

 

They were the deed to grandpa's store, and his grandpa's BEWD card.

 

Kaiba glanced over as he saw the card that was thrown down. Even now, part of him felt that card should have rightfully belonged to him. His card, and yet, it rejected him. Would it still reject him now, after his heart had been shattered? He turned away, trying not to dwell on it.

 

Noah then showed them all a cardboard box, saying, “This box contains all debts and blackmail for you all.” He then threw it into the fireplace, where a fire was blazing. In no time, the box and everything in it burned up.

 

“And just how do we know that that box wasn't empty?” Tristan asked.

 

“You're welcome to go get it.” Noah said.

 

“No thanks.” Tristan said dryly.

 

“But Tristan has a point. How do we know for sure you will keep your word?” Tea asked him. “You might have even made copies of things to use against us.”

 

Noah answered calmly, “I guess you'll just have to trust me. The requirements of the Duel are to get rid of all blackmail used against you all, not to provide proof that I did it. So if you have a problem with that, that's your tough luck.”

 

“I wouldn't worry.” Kaiba said. “After that little news report earlier, every newspaper and probably even a few TV programs have listed the rules as to what Noah has to abide by and honor from his loss. If Noah tries to back out, he'll be proving to all of Domino that you can't trust him in anything. Then again, perhaps there is a concern. After all, knowing Noah...he probably doesn't really care about his reputation in the public eye, anyway.”

 

Noah looked like he wanted to strangle Kaiba as he snapped, “Fine.” From his pocket, he pulled some more papers and threw them into the fireplace, as well, looking very pissed-off. “Happy now?”

 

“I think I'm satisfied.” Kaiba smirked.

 

It was about that time when Angie and Mokie showed up. Kaiba silently glanced at them both to make sure they were okay, then turned and headed for the main entrance. Everyone just stood and watched Kaiba for a moment before following, expecting him to ask Noah or the maid for the way out any moment. Yet, for some reason, that didn't happen. They were all rather surprised, but didn't say a word. An instant later, Yugi's whole group followed Kaiba out, helping Angie to take Mokuba's things.

 

Mokie then broke free of Angie and grabbed on to Kaiba's hand. Immediately, Kaiba's pace slowed down to make sure he wasn't going too fast for his little brother. He looked down once again wishing he was back home with his own brother...it wouldn't be long now, or so he hoped.

 

On the way out, a couple of guards `accidentally' bumped into Yugi.

 

“Sorry.” they said.

 

“Um, no problem.” Yugi replied, rushing to catch up with the group.

 

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

 

The guards walked into the lounge.

 

“Did you do it?” Noah asked.

 

“Yes, sir. I switched out the Blue-Eyes White Dragon card you gave back to that punk kid and switched it with the fake you had made up.”

 

“Excellent. The fools will never know the difference till it's too late.”

 

“If I might ask, sir...you've rarely used that card and always claimed you hated it. So, why did you insist on getting it back?”

 

“How dare you question me!” Noah snapped back at the guard. But, after a pause, he smiled, saying, “Well...you're lucky I'm in a good mood, so I'll tell you. I'm planning a rematch against Seto, and this card will help me in my revenge to take him down.” Noah said, laughing.

 

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

 

“That was amazing how you got Noah to just give it up like that! I can see the headlines now; 16-year-old Seto Yagakamiya beats the famous Duel Monster's World Champion Noah Kaiba in a Duel Monster's game!” Joey announced.

 

Kaiba hated hearing the similarities between these two universes, and it was strange being the one labeled as the underdog, instead of the successful duelist that he really was in his world.

 

/Yugi, may I take over? I need to talk to Seto./ Yami asked.

 

/Huh? Oh...okay, Yami./

 

Yami came out, and suddenly announced calmly to the others. “Why don't the rest of you go on ahead to Seto's house? I'd like to talk with him for a moment, if it's fine with everyone else.”

 

“Niisama?” Mokuba asked looking up.

 

“It's all right, Mokuba. Angie will help you settle in, until I get there.” Kaiba answered him.

 

Mokuba smiled “Okay, Niisama, whatever you say.” He then ran over and grabbed Angie's hand. “Can we go home now, Onee-chan?”

 

Angie smiled and ruffled his hair. “Sure thing, kiddo.” she said, as he started to drag her down the street, followed by the others who were laughing at Mokuba's enthusiasm.

 

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

 

After the others were gone, Kaiba immediately gave his `duel battle' pose to Yami, as if he was glaring down at an opponent. “All right, Yugi, what is this about?”

 

“It's about time you tell me who you `really' are. You are not Seto Yagakamiya, are you?” Yami asked, though it sounded more like a statement.

 

“And why would you think that? If you start claiming to people I'm someone else, they're going to start to think you're insane. Then again, with that little split-personality act you pull, I'm surprised someone hasn't committed you, already.” he mused.

 

“Don't change the subject!” Yami snapped. “Everything is about you is different...as different as me and Yugi. You know I'm not Yugi Motou, whether you decide to admit it or not. I can see it in your eyes when you look at me. Though I look the same, I am very different from him. The same thing goes for you. Even the very aura of your being is different. And that card...what is that card that you wear? You never wore a Duel card before...”

 

Kaiba's hand automatically moved up and clutched at the card protectively when it was mentioned, as if it was the most precious thing in the world to him. After a pause of contemplating, balancing if he should speak the truth or not, Kaiba finally relented. He clicked open the locket and showed it to Yami.

 

Yami was shocked to see a picture of a 5-year-old Mokuba. “Mokuba? But...what does this mean? How could you have gotten a picture of him when he was so young? Did he give this to you? And why do you seem even more protective over Mokuba than you are of your own sister?”

 

“Because she's not my sister.” Kaiba answered.

 

“What?” Yami asked.

 

Kaiba sighed, tired of the charade, anyway. “My name is Seto Kaiba, and the picture in this locket is my little brother. But he's not the same Mokuba that just went with Angie; he's from...somewhere else. The same place where I belong.”

 

The whole idea of being from another world seemed ridiculous to Kaiba, making it frustrating to explain. “Listen, the point is I have no idea what this place is. For all I know, that Ajin freak is just playing with my head, or sucked me into some kind of computer world. Where I'm from, Noah doesn't exist, Gozaburo is dead, and my parents aren't even alive. So, I don't know what the hell this is, but I don't care, either. I've been here long enough, and I plan on getting out of here!”

 

“How did all these people die?” Yami asked.

 

Kaiba snapped, “I'm not standing here to give you a history on my life, Yugi. Is that all you had to ask?”

 

“No, it's not. You say you don't plan on staying long...so when are you planning on leaving? And what happened to the `real' Seto??” Yami asked.

 

“I `am' the real Seto!” Kaiba snapped. “As for that loser look-alike you call you friend, I have no idea what happened to him. I'm assuming when I'm gone; he'll probably come back. I was supposed to be here for two weeks, but...” At this point, Kaiba hesitated, not wanting to give anything away to anyone, especially Yugi.

 

“But, what?” Yami asked.

 

Kaiba looked away, avoiding eye contact. Perhaps he could tell him a little...it's not like anything here would affect him back home. “My brother's been sick, and I need to get back to him.” The thought of Mokuba dying flashed through Kaiba's mind, but he buried it, refusing to accept that as true. “I promised him I'd get back to him today.”

 

“How sick is he?” Yami asked.

 

Kaiba looked away, refusing to answer. But, from his eyes, Yami could read quite a lot. `That bad?' Yami thought. “So, then, how are you getting back?” Yami asked, changing the subject for Kaiba's sake.

 

Kaiba only became more frustrated from the question, but it wasn't directed at Yami. “I...haven't figured that part out, yet. Ajin said if I didn't want to be here, I could go back. But I don't exactly trust that guy, either.”

 

“Well, how did you get here?” Yami asked.

 

He gave a defeated laugh. “The explanation's just about as ridiculous as this world being real. There was this box with a dragon on it, and these two crazy people somehow got into my house and claimed to be genies from that thing, and here to grant me wishes. One of them, who calls himself Ajin, said he heard some unspoken wish I had to see my parents alive. If that really was one of my so-called unspoken wishes though, this was definitely `not' what I had in mind.”

 

“Do you regret coming here?”

 

Kaiba paused to think about that, crossing his arms in thought. “I'm not sure. There were pluses and minuses from me showing up. I did get a chance to see my parents alive again, I suppose. And I did manage to help save Mokuba from Noah, here...obviously something the other version of me was too stupid to handle on his own. So, no...I don't.”

 

“We all appreciate what you've done. Our Seto has tried for many years to free him and always failed. But anyway...perhaps, if you called to the people who sent you here, they would appear and return you to your world.”

 

“Hm...I guess it's worth a try.” Kaiba first looked around to make sure there was no one else near to think he was insane by talking to the air around him. He then yelled out, “Ajin, I want to talk to you NOW!!”

 

Kaiba looked around...nothing happened, nothing changed. Kaiba tried one more time with the same result. He then shrugged, “Well...so much for that idea.”

 

Yami rubbed his chin in thought, contemplating a solution to this. He then said, “I seem to recall owning a box such as you describe. There was also a legend to that box. It is said that if the person was drawn to the box by means of a symbol, and if the desire of that said person is important enough...they may be able to offer a sacrifice in able to grant that desire.”

 

“Meaning...?” Kaiba asked.

 

“That means, when you get back...you could ask the dragon of the box on your own deepest heart's desire in exchange for whatever it would want in return from yourself. That is...if you are willing to do that.”

 

“I want to get home. But, since that box isn't here, it seems to be a moot point.” Kaiba snapped, sarcastically.

 

Yami shook his head. “I'm not talking about the wish to get home. I'm talking about your brother. Maybe it can help, where others cannot.”

 

There was a long pause as the two stared each other down. Though Kaiba didn't say it, somehow Yami had once again guessed more than had been said to him. And, though Kaiba was not about to admit anything, he wasn't about to deny it, either. And, as ridiculous as Yami's idea sounded, if he really was in danger of losing his brother, he would be willing to do anything to save him...even if that sacrifice required Kaiba to lose his own. He would gladly give his own life to save Mokuba - he'd do it in a heartbeat.

 

In fact, Kaiba was surprised Yami even told him this. The Yami of his world seemed to know Kaiba enough to realize just how willing Kaiba would be to throw his life away, when it came to Mokuba. And, since this Yami gave him the information...then perhaps the Seto of this world was different in that sense, as well.

 

“I'll keep that in mind. But that doesn't help the situation. I still need to find my way back there.” Kaiba finally replied to him.

 

“You need more than to think about it, Kaiba, you need to be certain. Is your brother worth it to you, or not?” Yami questioned.

 

“Who are you to question me?!” Kaiba snapped back, insulted that he would even ask that. “Of course he's worth it!”

 

“Is he?” Yami smirked. “Then let's find out. If he is truly worth it to you, then touch my puzzle.”

 

“Hmph.” Kaiba snorted. “Is that puzzle of yours supposed to scare me? Is this another game?”

 

“Actually, it's more of a test of heart. If your desire for a wish is as strong as you claim, then I can get you home. But, if your desire is not willing enough to offer a sacrifice...” Yami hesitated.

 

Kaiba smirked, “What...I'll become a card again? Or maybe you'll shatter my heart. Too late, Yugi, I've been through it all. You can't do anything more to me than you've already shown me in the past. So do your worst!”

 

In sheer defiance, Kaiba grabbed onto Yugi's Puzzle, and in a flash of light he was gone, leaving Yami confused and wondering just exactly what he and this Kaiba had gone through from his world. “A card? Shattering his heart?? Did I do these things to you, Kaiba?”

 

Light was all around him. Yet, from a distance, he could hear a voice calling his name. And it was getting louder with every second...