Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Seto's Wish ❯ Chapter 23

{The young man will be tired and drained of energy for a few days. Then, he too will recover as if it never happened.}

 

“So, what happens now?” Aiko asked.

 

{“From this day forward, you will have complete control over the magic box, and over time will learn all of its secrets. You will be the one to choose who handles the magic box and who does not, from this point on.”} Toranado said.

 

“Thank you. But if I'm so powerful now, then why couldn't I just heal Mokuba in the beginning?”

 

{Your power in the beginning was still weak, and needed time to grow. At that time, even a wish could not have taken away his illness forever. Ajin could have, had he been of pure heart. But his taintedness kept him from ever reaching his true potential. Even still.....his help was needed to finish so great a task as giving back life. If it were not for the added power, the boy would have been alive but sickly for life, or his brother would have had to be killed to truly revive the other. The strength of the wishes depends on the power level of the genie inside the box.}

 

“Well, then Mokuba's better....right? So, why didn't the power completely cure him?” Aiko asked. “I thought I felt.....resistance when I cast that spell.”

 

{You must be very careful when playing with fate, child. I made sure that the boy would revive slowly and naturally as possible. It's dangerous for people to begin to believe that magic can cure all ills. It's even more dangerous to play with fate. If such power is abused, fate has a way of compensating itself. So use your powers wisely.}

 

“Does that mean that by sparing Mokuba, some terrible disaster can occur?” Yami asked.

 

{Not anymore than the imbalance already taking place in this world, now. You still need to complete your task as well, Pharaoh. You're very presence in this world is upsetting the seeds of fate.)

 

Yami lowered his head. “Yes. There is still a mystery about me that I need to solve. As long as both Kaiba and Mokuba are safe and the threat of Ajin is gone, then I should take my leave and let them rest.”

 

Yami then looked up at Aiko, and nodded. “It was good meeting you again, Aiko. I'm sorry I don't remember knowing you before and the circumstances behind it. But it's good to know that somewhere out there, I have another friend.”

 

Aiko nodded, “Thank you, Pharaoh. I am honored to know I am seen as your friend.”

 

Yami then left. Aiko turned to the dragon, and said, “I understand and will use my powers wisely. I think I will remain here, at least until Kaiba recovers enough to take over Mokuba's care.” Aiko said.

 

{Very well, then. My time has come, thanks to you. Ajin and his evil are gone, and the young boy will recover. Farewell.} Toranado then vanished, leaving the room filled with silver lights before they too like the gold lights faded away.

 

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

 

The next morning, Kaiba began to awaken and realized he was alone in Mokuba's bed. `I'm alive?' he thought. Panic then struck him as he thought of that. If he was alive......what would that mean of Mokuba??

 

Kaiba sprung up, crying out, “Mokuba!” and felt himself pull away from something warm. He looked down, seeing his brother.....still breathing, yet still not conscious.

 

Kaiba hovered over him protectively, checking his head for fever and trying to see if he was well.

 

Mokuba's head seemed a little cooler, which calmed Kaiba down some. He was alive, he was okay, he wasn't dead.

 

His brother then stirred for a moment, and then wrapped his small arms around Kaiba, as he continued to rest....now curled around his brother.

 

Kaiba felt tired, himself. He considered laying back down, but he didn't want to go back to sleep incase this was just a dream. He didn't want to wake up to find out none of it was real, and he was now alone in the world without him. Plus, he had a million questions in his head, wondering what happened.

 

“You should rest.” a familiar female voice said, and he turned to see Aiko standing in the doorway. “How are you feeling?”

 

“I'm still alive, it seems.” Kaiba responded, neutrally. He then looked down at Mokuba, and added, “Forget about me. How is `he' doing?”

 

“He's doing fine. But, if you don't lay down, you're probably going to wake him, soon.”

 

“That doesn't answer my question.” Kaiba snapped at her. “Is he going to be all right?”

 

Aiko answered, “Yes. His deadly virus is now just a bad flu, which will go away in a couple weeks. He's going to be okay.”

 

With that info sinking in, Kaiba let the stress finally slip from him, and the weariness soon over-took him, having lost too much energy to keep himself up. Kaiba gave up fighting, and laid back down. He still had questions, but decided to let them go, for now.

 

Very quickly after laying down, Kaiba went back to sleep. Aiko approached, smiling down at the sight before her. She pulled the blue blanket back up, covering them both with it, then turned and left them alone.

 

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

 

Kaiba didn't wake up again till the next day. He stretched tiredly, forced himself back up. He didn't know how long he'd been out the first time, and felt like he slept forever. So, why was he still so tired?

 

Forcing himself up despite how tired he was, he stood then covered Mokuba back up. Even as he covered his brother, he thought how strange it was feeling so tired. It reminded him of the sleep deprivation Gozaburo used to force upon him years ago. And just like that time, he also forced himself to shake it off and ignore the so-needed sleep.

 

“Where do you think you're going?” Aiko asked him, suddenly coming back in the room.

 

Kaiba turned, to see her standing there. “Still here, huh? So, why are you here? Are you waiting for another wish from me?”

 

“I have been freed from the box. Now, I control it. I no longer need to grant wishes, Kaiba. I am here because I want to be. You were in no condition to watch over your brother......you still aren't. You need to rest....you are still too weak.” Aiko said.

 

“From what?” Kaiba asked.

 

“In order to cure Mokuba, the magic required a sacrifice from you. But it merely required some of your energy, not your life. You'll be fine in a couple of days.” Aiko told him. “But you need time to recover.”

 

Kaiba could feel his eyes closing, and grabbed the end of the bed to keep from falling over. Aiko approached for added support. “You can be a stubborn one, sometimes. Get back to bed.”

 

“Not until I have answers.” Kaiba insisted. “How long was I out?”

 

“It's been over a day, now. You're still not expected to totally recover for another couple of days.”

 

“I remember the room being a shambles. How did it get cleaned up?” Kaiba asked.

 

Aiko answered, “I'm a Jinx, now. I was able to bring the room back to its natural state. It was the least I could do, after the damage my ex-partner had caused.”

 

“How's Mokuba, now?” Kaiba asked. “Has he improved some more?”

 

“He's doing fine. His fever is down to 102, now.” Aiko said.

 

“Good.” Kaiba said, pausing as he looked down at his brother.

 

Aiko asked, “Are you going back to bed, now?”

 

“.......I'm thirsty.” Kaiba said.

 

Aiko smiled. “I'll get you some water.”

 

Aiko left, getting a glass of water. By the time she came back to the room, it seemed Kaiba had given up fighting sleep, and was once again in bed curled around his brother, as he slept soundly.

 

She smiled and put the water on the nightstand, beside them. She then whispered, “If you wake and still need that drink, Kaiba......it'll be there for you.” She then left to let them sleep.

 

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

 

It was three days later. During those times, Mokuba even woke up a couple of times and she managed to make sure they both got something to drink and something light to eat, to help keep their strength up.

 

This was also now the first day Kaiba felt good enough to get up and not collapse. He quietly slipped from his brother's room, getting a much-needed shower in, changing clothes, and then finally looking for Aiko.

 

“I appreciate all your help.” Kaiba said, once he found her.

 

“It was my pleasure. But I was curious about one thing. Without Ajin or myself to assist you, how did you get back here?”

 

“I found a way.......that's all that matters.” Kaiba answered, being his usual cold self. The last thing he wanted to do was admit to anyone he once again owed Yami a favor. He turned away, thinking, `I kept my promise, Mokuba. I wouldn't leave you......no matter what.'

 

“I see. Well, I'm pleased to see you are once again well. I guess that means you don't need me, anymore.” Aiko said.

 

Kaiba glanced down at her, thinking that for a moment he sensed an almost sadness in her voice.

 

She smiled, saying, “That's fine. I have a lot of studying to do, and new powers to learn.”

 

Kaiba turned away once again, muttering, “Listen, Aiko.....I know you seem to think I'm this other priest, or whatever. I don't know what you had with him, but you do understand that's not the case, now.”

 

She nodded, “I know that. Perhaps over time we outgrew each other. Neither of us are the same people, anymore. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't still enjoy serving under you again, as I have in the past.”

 

Kaiba glanced over at her, a little wide-eyed.

 

Aiko laughed at that. “That's not how I mean by serving you.”

 

Kaiba glared down at her. “Reading my mind again?”

 

“No, simply your expressions. I still know them well.” She picked up the box, saying, “Perhaps we'll see each other again, sometime.”

 

“You never know.” Kaiba said, though feeling uncertain that he'd want to. Anytime he comes in contact with magic, it never seems to be good. The last time before this, he was turned into a playing card.

 

Then in the blink of an eye, Aiko was gone.......vanished, along with the box.

 

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

 

As much as Kaiba wanted to be with his brother the entire time until he got better, he had already missed three days of work. Paperwork was piling up, meetings missed, projects delayed. Without him there, Kaiba Corp would probably loose their direction......or worse. Some young idiot upstart would start delegating authority, and that's when power starts to go to people's heads. Next thing that normally happens is that Mokuba's life is being threatened again.

 

Like it or not.....it was time to go back to work. But then, that left the problem of a babysitter to watch over him, once again.

 

Kaiba thought about this dilemma. `Hmm......maybe I should have asked Aiko to stay a little longer.' he thought. But regrets certainly weren't going to help his dilemma. Besides, after what happened....he wanted her gone. Not that she had done anything wrong; he simply didn't want the constant reminder around him that he almost lost his brother.

 

As he continued to think about what to do about Mokuba, the doorbell rang. Kaiba headed to the front door, assuming maybe it was Yugi or one of his groupies that came to see how Mokuba was. He opened the door, and to his surprise it was the babysitter. `Wasn't she on vacation? Was it over so soon?'

 

“Good day, Mr. Kaiba.” she said. “I was just told from the doctor about poor young Mokuba's illness. How is he? I heard it was fatal.”

 

Kaiba's eyes widened. He quickly made a mental note to fire that doctor for daring to talk about this matter. “Obviously, the doctor seemed to have exaggerated the symptoms. Mokuba has the flu, and he's getting better.”

 

“Oh! Well, that's a relief. When I heard, I was so worried about the poor boy, I even came back early. I can only imagine the amount of work you must have missed.” At that thought, she said, “How `have' you been watching him and working?”

 

“I've been home.” he stated.

 

“You must very behind in your work. You should have called and told me. I would have returned if I knew you needed help. Please, sir.....allow me to assist you.” Lady Bower said.

 

Her words reminded Kaiba of why he hadn't fired her in the past. She might not be the best nanny in the world, but she was loyal, she put work first before vacation time, and she was always conscience over his need to run the company.

 

But he promised his brother......Mokuba didn't like her.

 

Well, though he agreed to have her replaced, he never gave Mokuba an actual time or day. It wouldn't hurt to keep her on a little longer until he got caught up, and maybe until Mokuba got better. No.....it's not a broken promise, it's simply a delay.

 

Kaiba moved back allowing her in, and replied in a very business-like tone, “Thank you. Mokuba is upstairs. Any medicine required for him is on the nightstand beside him. Make sure he drinks a lot of liquids and eats light. I'll be back later today.”

 

Lady Bower smiled. “Fear not Mr. Kaiba, I'll make sure he's in good hands.”

 

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

 

Even though Kaiba was swamped with work, Mokuba kept coming to his mind, still very worried about his brother's condition. And he felt guilty about being away from him, when Mokuba was home sick and in need. So, he took care of the most necessary tasks that could only be done at Kaiba Corp, then piled up his paperwork and took it home with him.