Author's Note: I have always wanted to write a Yu-Gi-Oh! fanfic, and after revisiting the series I've been inspired to do so. Something that has bothered me about the series, or at least the English 4Kids version, is the lack of realism to the story and characters. In this I'm going to be grounding a much greater sense of reality, as dark and hard as that may be. Now, it has been a great long while since I have written any work of fiction, so this will doubtlessly be rusty, but I hope it is enjoyable all the same. I would heavily welcome any feedback in the form of review.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or any of its characters. All rights belong to their respective owners.

Chapter One: Separation Anxiety

"Okay, Seto. You have given us twelve great reasons why we shouldn't allow you to adopt Mokuba. Can you give us a good reason to do so?"

The faces behind the desk were cold, sneering and condescending, without even a lick of sympathy despite the predicament of the two brothers. Seto Amakusa balled his hands into fists, placing one gently on the desk despite his desire to slam it. For six long years he and his brother Mokuba had lived within the confines of the orphanage walls, waiting until the day that they could both escape together. Over the course of their stay they had encountered several prospective homes, though never were they granted to both boys. It was either they wished to adopt Seto for his smarts, or Mokuba for his youth, but never were the two desired together.

So far they had managed to abstain from separation, but no longer, it seemed. Seto had reached his eighteenth birthday, and, while the legal age of adulthood was twenty in Japan, the eldest that the orphanage would shelter was eighteen, and thus he had to leave. The brunet sat there before the headmasters, brilliant mind spinning with no solutions. He'd already presented his case, and they disregarded every bit of it. They were sending him out that door-without Mokuba, from the looks of it.

"Show some compassion," Seto sneered, glowering up at the headmasters before him. "I'm all the family that Mokuba has left. You can't just rip us apart! I promised-"

"Well, I suppose that just goes to show that you shouldn't make promises that you can't keep," responded a tall redhead sitting adjacent to Seto, adjusting his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "We are not bound by law to continue to house you here, Seto, nor are we bound by desire. You have been nothing but a nuisance since you arrived here, setting a bad example for others, your brother included. He will be in good hands here. Should he not find a good home over the next four years, he too will be sent out into the world and there you can reunite."

Seto lowered his head, gaze penetrating the desk in front of him. "Please," he said at last, a note of desperation taking house in his voice. "Let him come with me. I promise to be a sufficient guardian, and you are welcome to keep tabs on me as often or as much as you want."

"With all due respect, Seto, you do not have the resources to be a 'sufficient guardian,'" stated the elder headmaster before him. "You have no wealth to your name apart from the five-thousand yen which we've given to you as a parting gift, and no leads on a steady income save for a job interview at a local burger joint that we set up for you."

Sadly it was the truth; Seto had nothing to offer Mokuba presently, but all of that was going to change. He was intending to make sure of it. That didn't change the fact that presently he had nothing working in his favor to adopt Mokuba. They required proof of residency, income, background checks, and perhaps some references to certify that he would be worthy of caring for a child. The world felt like it was crashing down hard and fast, and for perhaps the third time in his life, Seto felt helpless.

"Do not make me repeat this again," interrupted the lead headmaster from Seto's thoughts. "Pack your things. A taxi is coming this afternoon to pick you up to take you to your temporary place of residence."

"And if I decline?"

A smile appeared on the headmaster's face, though no sense of warmth or amusement accompanied it. "Then you will leave without your things in a police escort."

That would look really good on a background check.

Seto furiously spun on heel and exited the room, allowing the door to slam shut behind him. He nearly trampled his little brother Mokuba, who had been standing at the door at the time. The raven-haired youth gasped, and for a moment their blue eyes locked before Seto broke his away.

"Seto . . . ."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"But what happened in there?"

Seto shrugged, shooting his brother a quizzical glance. "You heard it; there's no need for me to repeat it."

The clock tower outside the square began to chime, indicating that it was twelve o'clock. Within hours a taxi would come to retrieve Seto, and he would be expected to leave. The time between the brothers was short; every moment of silence seemed wasted. Mokuba looked wounded, wide eyes darting outside toward the square and then back at his brother. "What does this mean for us, Seto?"

"It means . . . ." Seto drew in a breath, dropping to his knees before his brother as he grasped the boy's shoulders. "That we need to come up with another plan. We'll find one-I promise."

A frown furrowed Mokuba's brow as he gazed down at his older brother. So sincere and sure of himself, though Mokuba knew the truth: the situation was out of Seto's control, and true to the headmaster's word the two would be in very different places in the country by this time tomorrow. Mokuba shifted uncomfortably.

"I don't want to be alone, Seto."

"You won't be." The look that Mokuba threw him felt like knives piercing his heart, causing him to rephrase his statement. "I will always be with you, Mokuba, even if not physically. We may be apart for a short while, but I can promise you that it won't stay that way. I'll be back, and I will bring you with me, no matter how many hoops they make me leap through."

Of this he could promise with all certainty, assured that he would in fact keep his word. Mokuba nodded stiffly, though he appeared less confident than his elder brother. Seto tried to offer Mokuba a smile, yet they probably both knew that his positivity was merely a facade at this point. He had to be strong for Mokuba, otherwise who would?

"Now come on," Seto urged, rising to his feet and giving Mokuba's shoulder one final pat before striding away. "We have a chess game to play."