A/N: hey guys! i'm back, with a sequeal to Piecing The Shattered Dragon (PTSD), as requested (: initially i thought of making it a trilogy, starting with Blood Brothers. but i guess none of us has had enough of Seto and gang, right? Especially with the appearance of Seth.
anw, this fic will make more sense if you have read PTSD. but for those who haven't, well, you can always go back to PTSD later. but to help you guys with this fic, here's the characters low-down for you to get started with:
- Seto and Tea ended up as a couple somewhere in the middle of PTSD
- Mischa Hutama is KaibaCorp's image consultant, and one of the employees that is rather close to Seto to be regarded as a sort of friend
- Caroline Lobo is Seto's ex-fiancee from a fiasco once upon a time
- Seth is Seto's and Caroline's son, no thanks to a mistake
anw, hope you guys will like this chapter! review yea!
He looked on from outside the room as he watched the small blond boy bouncing excitedly on his bed as two girls folded his clothes and put them into an open suitcase. Well, the brunette was packing the clothes, anyway; the reverted-to-black-haired one was taking every chance she could to remove several pieces of clothing in the suitcase and replacing them with new ones.
"Mis, stop trying to attack his clothes," The brunette chided her friend, grabbing back a checkered shirt her friend had taken out. "He's still four. He doesn't need to look like a superstar."
Her dark-haired friend pouted as she slumped her shoulders. "Oh come on Tea, do you know how much I miss changing people's wardrobe? Mr Boss's wardrobe has changed considerably. And with you around, he dresses pretty well."
The brunette rolled her eyes as she replied, "Mischa, seventy-five per cent of the time he ditches all those nice clothes you mentioned for his trenchcoats." She placed the last piece of clothing into the suitcase and turned to the bouncing blond toddler. "All done, Seth! You ready to go stay with Mummy Caroline?"
"Ever ready!" The boy yelled happily.
Mischa frowned. "Isn't that a battery brand?" Then her face brightened up. "Oh hey, reminds me of a cheer that I did in high school. Are you ready? Eveready! Are you steady? Eversteady!" She caught Tea's blank look and mumbled, "Well, that cheer of mine was rejected, anyway."
Tea shook her head. "I'm grateful KaibaCorp doesn't require a cheerleading image consultant. Products wouldn't have sell. Unless of course they were selling batteries." She saw a familiar shadow looming near the doorway and sighed as she said in a louder tone, "Seto, you could have just come in since just now, you know."
Seth turned around to see a towering young man with the same blue eyes as him standing at the doorway. "Daddy!" he called out happily as he ran over to the man.
"Hey squirt," Seto scooped him up easily, carrying him in one hand while ruffling his hair with the other. "I see you've been packing."
The blond boy nodded enthusiastically. "Mama Tea and zia Mischa helped put my clothes in my sweetcase."
His father frowned. "Sweetcase? Oh you mean, suitcase." He cocked his head to the side to take a look at the zipped up suitcase. "And everything's all inside? No other things left?"
Seth shook his head, then he tapped Seto's shoulder and pointed to his father's company's image consultant. "But Zia Mischa tried to make me take new clothes. But I don't want them because they're ugly. I want the clothes Mummy got me because they're nice."
"What?!" Mischa shot the boy an incredulous look. "My clothes for him are ugly?" She glared at her employer. "I can't believe he takes after you even in the fashion department!" She diverted her attention to Seto's blond son. "Seth, listen to me. Your father has no taste in clothes. Your zio Mokuba has better taste. Follow him, follow me, but don't follow your father's. Got it?"
Seto shot her an evil look. "Do that again and I'll dock your pay." He bent his head to look at his son and said confidently, "Of course you'll follow in my footsteps and look great everyday no matter what you wear simply because you already looked good from the start, won't you?"
Seth beamed at his words. "Yuppee!"
While Seto and Mischa were 'arguing', Tea was propping the suitcase on the floor and readying it to be carried downstairs to the limousine that would send Seth to his mother's house. Now she stared at her boyfriend in disbelief as she stated her discovery, "Now I know where Seth has been getting all that egoistic streak from."
Seto smirked as he shrugged. "Like father, like son." His eyes landed on the suitcase and any trace of arrogance was removed as he asked softly, "Is it already time?"
Tea and Mischa exchanged uneasy looks as they nodded half-heartedly. Sighing, Seto picked up the suitcase with his free hand. "Well, then, guess it's time for us to go," he muttered as they exited Seth's room (it was not difficult to set one up for him; the east wing of the mansion – the only place designated for living space, since the other wing was converted to an in-house hangar – had more than enough spare rooms).
The quartet, with Seth still in Seto's arm, descended the stairs silently in tandem. Nana, the mansion's housekeeper, along with the rest of the servants and Seto's security men, gathered at the foot of the stairs to say their goodbyes to Seth. The little boy had entered the family unexpectedly six months ago, and everyone quickly fell in love with his warm and talkative character. Seth, on the other hand, immediately took to Nana, who offered him an entire plate of chocolate chip cookies on his first day in the mansion, much to Seto's displeasure, and his teenage uncle who had won him over with his sneakers collection. The moment Seth saw Mokuba's new pairs of Converse All Stars on that day, his blue eyes had gone wide as he blurted out, "Cool!" Mokuba had figured that a four-year-old capable of identifying how cool Converse sneakers were was too cool to spend time with his boring older brother and took as much time as possible to play with Seth.
After Seth yelled out an adorable goodbye to the other people in the house, and they had their chance to bid farewell to him, the trio continued on their way out to the limo. Just before they entered the black car, Seto hesitated, "Do we really have to go now? How about we wait for Mokuba to get back home?"
"We do have to get him to Caroline by 2pm, as stated by the court," Tea answered him in a barely audible voice. She knew that the real reason he was stalling had nothing to do with Mokuba; after all, the younger Kaiba had been the first person to say goodbye to Seth before he was whisked off to school in the morning. Still, they had to follow orders.
Mischa sensed the cloud of uncertainty hanging over the couple and announced that she would be following them in her own Mercedes, so they could have the limo to themselves. However, Tea quickly offered to ride with her, and Seto wasted no time in agreeing. The limousine carrying the father and son rode off first, with the Mercedes tailing it.
Seth snuggled up to Seto in the backseat of the limo as he rattled off about his new favourite superhero that he insisted was inspired by his father (Seto had a feeling it had to with his sense of dressing) and acted out excitedly the scenes in the morning cartoon where Batman pummeled the Joker, complete with sound effects. Seto looked on as interestedly as possible in a bid to humour his son, but he barely heard what the noise in the limo was all about as he drifted further into his thoughts.
I had six months to make up for the three years I left you, but I wasted them, Seto's thought with a sharp stab of remorse. Now I have three days a week forever to try and make up for all the time I wasn't there to watch you take your first walk, said your first word…
He closed his eyes as he inhaled deeply. I'm sorry, Seth.
XO XO XO XO XO XO XO
A little more than six months ago…
The moment the judge gave his verdict, and court was adjourned, the blonde Lobo Industries CEO turned to glare at her ex-fiance with as much spite as possible. However, she managed to grit out, "Congratulations. I hope you'll take care of him well for the next six months."
The said ex-fiance regarded her coolly as he replied, "Be grateful I decided not to put you into jail and completely take Seth away from you." He averted his gaze and proceeded to walk off, his purple studded coat billowing out behind him. "But if you can't fix yourself within the six months, then maybe I have to do that."
Caroline Lobo stared after the KaibaCorp CEO as he disappeared from sight. Do you still hate me for everything, Seto? After all my apologies and my explanation, haven't you still forgiven me? She wiped the stray tears from her eyes as she gathered her stuff. Today would be the last day she would see her son for the next half a year. The judge had accorded Seto rights to refuse Caroline visiting rights if he wanted to. Knowing him and how much he hated her now, Caroline could probably give up the hope of occasionally seeing her son.
She wanted to hate Seto; she had been trying since the day she found out she was pregnant and he was nowhere interested in taking her calls. But each time she nearly succeeded, she took a look at her son and realized she could never hate the man who had given her such a beautiful son. Seth possessed the best qualities from both his parents; the smooth blonde hair from Caroline and Seto's piercing blue eyes, to state the most obvious.
Her lawyer, a bespectacled man in his mid-forties with a bald patch, cleared his throat. That quickly gained her attention. Caroline understood what he meant and nodded. The two of them briskly exited the courtroom and headed for their own cars. They would have to go to the place where Seth was placed under temporary welfare care while his parents battled things out in court for the past two months. Both she and Seto had argued in disagreement over the arrangement, but the court had stood firm to their decision to keep Seth away from his parents until the case was settled.
Luckily, the welfare home was located not too far from the court. Caroline pulled up just outside the entrance and killed the engine excitedly. She missed Seth so much. However, the moment she stepped out of her Porsche, her excitement faded. She knew too well the black limousine parked in front of her.
Her eyes widened. Seth! He can't take Seth! Not yet! She was just about to dash into the building when she stopped right in her tracks. A certain fellow CEO was striding out with her son in hand. Caroline fought back tears as she watched her son being led towards the limousine. Don't take my son. Not yet. Please.
Just then, Seth saw her and yelled out, "Mummy!"
His father's head turned sharply in Caroline's direction, but he released his hold on Seth's hand. Seth wasted no time in bolting towards his mother's outstretched arms. "Mummy, I want to stay with you!" Seth cried into her chest. He tugged at her arm and pleaded again through tears, 'I don't want to stay with him! I want to stay with you! Mummy, I want to go home!"
Caroline stroked his hair and choked back a sob, "Honey, I want you to come home with me too, but you have to follow Daddy. You've always wanted to be with Daddy, right?"
Seth shook his head stubbornly. "No! I want to go home with you!"
Just then, a strong hand grabbed his shoulder from behind and dragged the screaming boy away from his mother. "Let's go, Seth."
"Mummy! Mummy!" Seth kept crying for his mother as he was gently steered into the limo. He tried to push the man away, but the latter was much stronger than him. Even after the limousine took off, Caroline could see her son peering through and pounding the window at the back of the vehicle. She did not have to hear to know that her son was crying out in vain for her.
XO XO XO XO
Three months later, in Seto's study…
"I can't believe the new school year's going to start real soon," Tea complained as she leant back into his shoulder. "It feels like as if the holidays just started."
Seto smirked. "My heartfelt condolences to the death of your holidays."
His girlfriend shot him a despised look as she got up and sat further away from him. "But of course, people like you don't understand the meaning of holidays," she retorted, annoyed. "Is there even the word holiday in your dictionary of life, Seto?"
The blue-eyed brunette snorted at the ridiculous notion. "Tea, holidays are just an excuse to while away from work. If people love holidays so much, then why do they keep complaining that they're bored and have nothing to do? Trust me, if they have work, they won't feel that way."
"That's your logic?" Tea was incredulous at his answer. "I can't believe this."
"Then don't" came the uber-simple reply.
She resisted the urge to take the laptop on his desk and crash it down on his head. The reason she did not do likewise was because she had ended up falling in love with the supercilious CEO. And also because Joey would never forgive her for doing something he had been wanting to do. At times like this, Tea wished her blond friend was with her. It would make trying to get back at Seto so much more easier.
Tea opted to change the subject. "How's Seth doing? Is he okay with you already?"
Seto said nothing for a while. Tea waited for him to speak up. He usually would, and he did. "I suppose. He's okay with calling me Daddy, and hanging around me. But I still feel he's not … accepting me like he accepted you, Mischa, Nana and Mokuba. As if there's something I've not given him."
Nana's and Mokuba's trick to win the boy over (albeit accidentally for the black-haired Kaiba) aside, Tea and Mischa were quickly accepted by him too. Tea won him over after she sat down with him one day and treated him like how she suspected Caroline must have. After two days of lollipops and home-made brownies as bait, he already called her Mama Tea. Mischa accidentally stepped into the Kaiba household from the rain one day, and with her smeared makeup and wet red suit, Seth simply laughed at the sight of her and called her 'Crazy Clown'. Tea had to remind him repeatedly that the said clown should be addressed zia Mischa.
Tea spoke out the solution quietly, "Let him meet Caroline, Seto."
She expected his heated reaction and his sharp answer, "No."
"Why not? She's his mother, after all."
"She kept his existence a secret from me until the kid's three years plus, Ti," Seto was starting to sound incensed. He had gotten out of his seat and was now talking over his shoulder as he stared out of his study's window. "Tell me why it's not okay for me to keep him away from her for three months."
Because that's as mean as what Caroline did to you? She sighed and neared him, taking his hand into hers. With her free hand, she reached up and turned his face so their eyes locked. It took her by surprise when she saw not anger, but rather a well-hidden trace of anxiety in his blue orbs. Tea opted not to mention it to him. However, she did say, "Seto, tell me you don't feel sorry for Seth everytime you see him wishing for his mother." When he could not bring himself to deny it, she continued, "Do it for Seth, please, Seto. Maybe … just maybe, that could make Seth accept you more."
Seto seemed unconvinced. "And if it just makes things worse?"
Tea shook her head and leaned in to hug him, snaking her arms gently around him. "It doesn't hurt to try. And if you don't want to see her, that's okay. I can help send him over."
Her boyfriend bent his head to quickly peck the top of her head. "I'll think about it."
"Aren't you going to ask your typical 'why are you doing this' question like you always do?"
That actually caused him to crack a small smile. "Apparently your memory must have failed you, because I don't."
"Can you ever stop being stubborn?" Tea was starting to sound annoyed again as she playfully punched him in the stomach.
"Never."
XO XO XO XO XO XO XO XO
The door to the limousine opened, and Seth raced out of it. Seto skulked out of the vehicle after him. "Keep the engine running," he ordered. "I won't take long."
Seth was already tugging at his coat. "Come on Daddy!"
Mischa's Mercedes pulled up right behind the limousine, and out popped the two women who had became an important part of the CEO's life. They scurried over to Seth and rained him with hugs and kisses. Seto rolled his eyes at the sight. He turned to the security man beside him and issued his instructions, "Walk Seth until the door, and then pass the suitcase to whoever answered the door. Make sure he's safely inside the house before you leave."
Tea overheard him and reached out to grab the suitcase from the man's hand. "It's okay," She voiced out, shooting Seto a look. "I'll take him in." She held another hand out to Seth, who took out without hesitation. "Are ya ready kid?"
"Aye aye captain!" Seth straightened his posture and gave Tea a mock salute.
She grinned back, but wagged her finger at him. "Uh-uh. Hug, kiss and say goodbye to Daddy first."
Seth was only too happy to comply. Seto knelt to receive his son's embrace, and the father and son hugged tightly. Seth promptly planted a kiss on his father's cheek, but that move seemed to stun his father, who let his arms drop. With a quick wave and a goodbye yell, Seth dragged Tea as he bounded towards the front door of Caroline's sprawling mansion.
Mischa turned down Tea's offer to follow them in. But the Indonesian declined with a smile. "I don't think she quite forgave me for last time," she had explained weakly. Rather, she opted to stay outside with her employer, who witnessed his son near Caroline's doorstep with stoicness. Mischa had to prod his arm as she whispered, "Mr Boss .. ?"
Her employer replied emotionlessly, "I'll see him again next Friday, Mis." He turned to his driver. "Send Ms Gardner to wherever she wants to go after this. I'm heading back to the office."
"The office?" His driver echoed. "But how are you going to get there, Mr Kaiba?"
Seto snorted as he proceeded for the black Mercedes parked behind his limo. "I have my own ways." He looked sharply at Mischa. "Are you coming along?"
Mischa hurried to plonk herself into the driver's seat. Seto coolly got in beside her. There was no way she would risk having her dear darling employer ruin her beloved Mercedes. Especially since she had not finished paying the installments yet.
word glossary (Italian-English)
zio/zia - uncle/aunt