Author's Notes: This story only exists here because of the encouragement of a few friends that wanted to read about Kaede. I will probably only update sporadically, and I've written it so that each chapter is sort of a miniature story on its own. It's heavily based on events from the manga for now, with a few exceptions. If you like this story, please encourage me in the comments, that's the best way to ensure there are more chapters. Thanks for reading.

i.

You remember the hushed tone of voice with which your father informed you,

"Gozaburo Kaiba is dead."

You remember his eyes as he watched, waiting for you to comprehend what his statement meant.

—

You are sixteen years old, death is only beginning to have meaning for you. This death should not have meant much, except that you were tied up in a complex engagement to Gozaburo Kaiba's oldest son.

At sixteen years old, he is just barely old enough to take his own custody. Suddenly, a fairytale wedding you had imagined in your future is a vanishing dream. When you've been engaged since you were a child, you don't question the ethics of marrying someone your parents chose. You close your eyes and try to picture a bright future with the person you're tied to. That bright future now has a dark cloud over it as one of the participants is suddenly faced with an unexpected alternative: choice.

As his own keeper Seto Kaiba could now marry whoever he decided. There had been no contract to tie him to you in the event of his guardian's death, something neither Gozaburo Kaiba nor your own parents had the mindset to foresee. Your father suggests you call him. You wonder what you might have to say.

"I'm sorry for your loss," you mumble into the receiver, "my condolences."

"Thank you," he replies. It sounds as though he wants to hang up, but you hang on for a few more moments.

"You must be very busy, with all your relatives… funeral arrangements…"

"That's been taken care of." He is unsentimental. You think it must be from shock.

"Well if you need someone to talk to, I'm happy to make myself available," you propose.

"That won't be necessary." This time he really hangs up the phone.

ii.

You aren't around to witness the second loss, the one that drives him to bury himself in his work. You find out later, when you call again and ask to visit, and his younger brother Mokuba informs you that he's focused on Duel Monsters right now and won't see anyone except on business.

It's tempting for you to say you are business – doesn't he remember a certain business arrangement involving a girl he's supposed to marry – but you say nothing. A few days later he calls about a renovation permit for the theme park his company is building. You are cordial but forward him to your father when you can't take his emotionless tone any longer.

Later in the week you drop by to deliver the paperwork.

"I heard you're really into Duel Monsters again. Maybe we could play," you propose.

You think you see the hint of a smile, or maybe just a smirk, passing his lips before he responds.

"I prefer my duels to be challenging. Besides, I'm waiting for a rematch with a certain person at the moment. It would be a waste for me to duel anyone until I've defeated him."

You don't respond but nod curtly, taking the hint that you should leave. Mokuba sees you to the door. Once you're outside, he offers an apology.

"Sorry about my brother. He's been acting kind of funny since he lost at Duel Monsters recently for the first time in his life."

"Is there anything we can do?" You ask.

Mokuba shrugs, "I tried to get revenge for him by beating the kid that beat him, but I lost too. That Yugi is pretty tough when it comes to games. But wait 'til you see what big brother has in store for him!"

You force your best fake smile and leave the premises before your emotions get the best of you.

iii.

A regular high-schooler does not build an entire theme park dedicated to defeating his rival. A regular high-schooler doesn't hire serial killers and set death traps for someone they dislike. But Seto Kaiba is not a regular high-schooler. You find this out when you receive an advance ticket to Kaiba Land, for a special attraction called "Death-T."

From the audience you watch as Seto puts a group of his fellow high school students through trials such as deadly games of laser tag and life-risking horror-themed amusement rides. You watch his rivals forced to battle it out locked in a house with a serial killer, until they finally make it back to the main stage to face the Kaiba brothers at Duel Monsters.

Where is the princely figure you imagined would sweep you off your feet at twenty years old? Here is a sixteen year old boy so consumed by revenge that he's willing to kill for it. You knew he was obsessed with games, but no longer do you believe his obsession is innocent.

In the final battle, a strange thing happens. The boy Yugi manages to rise above all the adversity and defeat Seto at his beloved card game. As the match ends, Seto slumps in his chair. His brilliant blue eyes are suddenly empty. His mouth hangs open. This is a totally different kind of loss.

Yugi announces that Seto's evil mind has been crushed, and he must put the pieces of his heart back together by himself. Your betrothed looks comatose, and you will later learn that in fact, he is. But for now you sit spellbound and listen to Mokuba tell a horrific story of abandonment and abuse, starring Seto and himself. Gozaburo Kaiba was a tyrant who worked his oldest son to the bone and only managed to teach him one lesson: that defeat is equal to death.

You free yourself from the audience as the crowd moves to leave after Yugi. On the stage you find Mokuba, shaking his brother's body, trying to wake him up.

"We should call an ambulance," you hear yourself say. When Mokuba doesn't reply, you pull out your cellphone and do it anyway.

Paramedics come and take the three of you to hospital. You stay with Mokuba in the waiting room to hear news of Seto's condition. Hours tick by with agonizing slowness. You fan through the deck of cards in your purse, wishing that you could throw them away. What good has Duel Monsters ever done for you?

A nurse finally approaches, her expression grim.

"I'm afraid we don't know when he will wake up," she informs you. "He may be permanently afflicted."

Permanently comatose. You wish your mind would stop jumping to conclusions like "the nurse is lying" and "Yugi should be punished for this" and "now I'll never get married." None of those thoughts are entirely reasonable. In the flurry of your emotions, amidst the sound of Mokuba crying, you hear yourself make another foolish proposal, as you always do:

"I'll take care of him."