Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Path to Insanity ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

"Hello Noa," came the voice that awoke Noa on the first day of summer vacation.

"Daddy?" he asked, shielding the sun with his arm.

The man smiled at his sun and wrapped his arms around him. "I heard how strong you were during school, so I've decided to reward you. How would you like to go on a vacation with me?"

A vacation with his daddy! Noa turned his eyes upward to his father to make sure he wasn't joking around with him, but his eyes were dead serious.

"Pack little one. Tomorrow we'll be going. No more tutors for a while, and a well deserved break," he said as the child bounced happily and hugged him back.

"I love you daddy," he said and was released, allowing him to pack his bags.

Turning a rare smile, Gosaburo left to plan his 'lessons' for Noa. The child was still too young for anything major, but there were things he had to know in this world. For example, no one was to be trusted. Not even your own father.

Bounding happily, Noa said good-bye to the house and handed his bag to a servant who placed it gently in the trunk. Gosaburo was a hard man, and getting on his bad side was a sure way of winding up friendless, jobless, and running for your life.

Sitting up in front with his daddy, Noa felt a joy in his life for the first time in many months. He was going to be with his father for two whole weeks. Maybe the lack of attention was finally getting to him, or maybe the tiny fact that Gosaburo never left his office squished any reason for Noa to be afraid. This was his daddy, and daddy had never done anything to breed distrust or fear in him.

Glancing at his son, Gosaburo ruffled his hair and drove a little too fast for his liking, but Noa had his head out the window, like a dog, and was laughing in the wind, so Gosaburo allowed him to remain happily a little while longer. It had been so long since he had lost his innocence, and the envy baked cold jealousy in his heart. This was his son, and what he had planned for him would make him into a monster, both of them. In his mind, there was no other path, however. He was going to do what his father had done to him.

The surface of the ocean was soothing, and several sea gulls fluttered across its huge body, making waves on the otherwise flat water. Noa felt entranced as the waves moved inwards and outwards at a soft pace. The beach glittered with mounds of sparkling white sand, and the sun glinted off the backs of seashells of thousands of colors.

The child's eyes were like the ocean, soft and deep, yet framed by beauty. Beauty that would not last like the never-ending ocean destroyed the beauty of the landscape.

"Come," Gosaburo commanded to Noa, who quickly obeyed and carried his bags to the lone house on top of the cliff the Fire Bird was parked.

The place brought back memories of a happier time to Gosaburo, happier when his wife was still with him, and the glee he had felt when he finally killed his father. His plans would not give Noa the idea to kill him however, that much he knew. The roof was triangular, allowing the water and storms that came to roll off and drop down that endless path to the water it came from, and the huge French windows only served to enhance the vision that the house was a safe haven for them. It felt open, calm, and hiding nothing sinister in it, yet the fact remained. Kaiba's came here to train their heirs.

Opening the door, Gosaburo allowed his son to venture in recklessly. That would have to be fixed. Even here, there were still traps that could damage the body to its limits in an adult, no telling if they would allow a child to survive. Shuddering, Gosaburo locked the main door, the only way out without smashing through a window and taking the chance of plummeting to your death. The mouth turned to a smile. No one would know or even guess what would be happening here the next two weeks.

Things would be different though. He'd use no chains or whips, no burning wax to install obedience. Instead, there was the ability to make Noa dependant on him. Using the mind to create a crutch so Noa could never imagine leaving him, even if he hated him with all his heart. Gosaburo had to hold back a laugh that would have startled his child. No use getting him edgy, yet.

"Noa," Gosaburo said sweetly, "Come here. I have something to tell you."

Green hair bounced down the stairs as Noa tumbled down next to Gosaburo in youthful energy. Smiling, the child looked up at him with huge, naive eyes, and Gosaburo's resolve faded for a brief second. No, he had to do this to make him strong. Gently, he raised his hand and talked softly to his child.

"Listen Noa, feelings are weak, and crying is weaker. Giving your weapon is very foolish, and a weapon can always be turned against you," then he concluded by striking his son across the face.

Staring up at him, Noa felt the cold tears rise up within him, but he held them down. His father would have believed it was weak, and he would die than disappoint him.

His father was the world to him, and he would die to see him smile.