I am Human

My dedication to Kaiba Noa.

This is a short thing in Noa's POV, cause I love the kid and want to give him cookies. **squeals** You all need to see the end of that story arc! So cute, and in a not-necessarily shounen ai way! **squeals louder**

SPOILER WARNING

I am human, not a machine.

Father, I address this to you: do you know how it feels being unable to age physically? I am not mad, for I still love you, Father, but I am just inclined to wonder. For some time now- I am told it has been about five to six years- I have been trapped in this virtual world that you created. "I" died, and you created me. Thank you for caring, but there are glitches within your system.

For the past six years, I have matured mentally, but have stayed a little boy in a mostly-unchanging world. Did you know that really got to me the time I kicked the stupid virtual dog that would not stop being happy? It showed no emotion, it was a machine.

Over time, I became a machine. It was a lot better than living alone, as I was supposed to do.

But, thanks to you, I met Mokuba and Seto. I know that your original intent was for Seto to challenge me, and he did. I have to admit that it was not too terribly hard for me to get the upper hand either. However, Mutou Yuugi was a different story, but this is not about him.

Father, I realized something while Mokuba and Seto were here. They have each other; they are not alone. I was alone while I was a machine, but I am not a machine, I am human still. And I have you, Father. However, I could not let you hurt Mokuba, Seto, or any of them. Mokuba showed me the human side of my heart.

This is now addressing everyone else, and mostly Mokuba.

I apologize to all of you that I hurt when I was a machine. I was foolish and bent on destruction.

I thank you, Mokuba, for showing me humanity. I have already found the human heart. I am human, not a machine. Thank you, Mokuba. You still cared, even after I showed you all of those horrible things and tried to rip you away from your brother. I apologize and thank you. Because of you, I have emotion again. I could not let Father hurt you. There is no way I can ever fully show my gratitude. Is this what it is like to have someone who cares about you? Seto is very lucky, then, whether he realizes it or not. He has a brother who would do anything to help him.

I bid farewell to all of you, for I feel my mind sinking into darkness. The computer on which I was stored is crashing into the oceanic depths, and I will be lost forever. And I am taking you with me, Father, because you are the only one I have. Seto and Mokuba have one another, and I have you. We will both perish together.

Farewell Father.

Farewell everyone.

Goodbye, Mokuba.

And what the boy Noa could not see were the white lilies that fell from the departing airship that carried one boy's sorrow and regret. He would always remember his experience there, always be scarred from the loss, and never forget the one who was human.

"Boku wa ningen desu. Kikai wa ja nai."

The ending of the Battle Ship arc is sad… I did warn of spoilers, but the last thing Mokuba thinks before he and Seto take off to America (in the COOLEST exit scene) is how he wishes he could show Kaiba Land to Noa. And Noa really did accredit his humanity to Mokuba. It was so. Damn. Cute.

Oh, and Mokuba really did throw down some white flowers that I think were lilies. Yeah, I loved that. I think I'll re-watch it sometime soon.