Author's Note- Because I wrote this fic in seventh grade (and I've just graduated ninth), I took a look at it and decided it needed work. So I did a bit of editing, and now I feel it's a better piece of work and shows a better writing style. Hope you enjoy.

"Niisama" is what Mokuba calls Seto in the Japanese version. Literally translated, it's a respective term for "older brother". Italics are Mokuba's thoughts.

Disclaimer- I don't own Yugioh, Seto, or Mokuba, nor any other YGO-related stuff mentioned in here.

Seto and Kaiba

By Eriko Myoujin

An open window and a crisp night breeze always seemed to inspire nostalgia within Mokuba. It reminded him of the orphanage, where only the adults had been aloud to close and open windows, resulting in many a cold, frightened night in bed. He'd force himself to stay awake—who knew what could come through the window and get him once he closed his eyes? But Seto had been there, at least…

Mokuba sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor. His black hair fell all around his face, and he brushed it back behind his ear absentmindedly. Nearly half an hour ago he'd been told to go to bed, but sleep, somehow, did not come easy. Perhaps I should close the window, he wondered, but no actions followed the thought.

With a sigh, Mokuba fingered the locket around his neck. Holding it out in front of him, he flicked the locket open and gazed at the picture of his older brother that was inside. The other boy smiled back, and even in the photograph Seto's eyes remained the same as they'd been so long ago—bright and loving. What had happened to those eyes, now…?

"Seto… Kaiba." A whisper--Mokuba hardly realized he'd spoken.

Upon hearing the name 'Seto Kaiba', many would automatically believe that the name merely represented one person. The name simply referred to Seto Kaiba, the rich, powerful owner of Kaiba Corporation.

But Mokuba knew better. No one seemed to notice or care, but there was more to his brother than that. "It's almost like… there's two people inside him," he whispered to himself, closing the locket tightening his grip on it. "Well, not really another part of him, like Ryou and Yugi… but two halves of him…"

Mokuba frowned and let himself fall backwards onto the bed. He stared at the white ceiling, pointed to it, and traced the patterns in the paint.

One half of Seto Kaiba is my big brother, thought Mokuba. He's the one who loves me and cares for me… the one who swore to protect me no matter what, back when we were back at the orphanage.

Mokuba felt tears in his eyes, but he wiped them away in irritation. Why tears, he wondered? They always came to him at the strangest of times. He decided to blame the open window. "Seto… my niisama…"

Seto is the one who takes care of me when I'm sick… the one who comforts me when I'm crying and the one who hugs me when I'm hurt.

"That's Seto… my big brother," Mokuba's lips twitched into a sort of wistful smile at the thought of Seto. "But then there's Kaiba…"

Kaiba. Seto's other half—the wealthy owner of Kaiba Corporation. The cruel, cold-hearted Kaiba, who had only emerged from Seto because of the abuse and torment he had suffered at the hands of Gozaburo. The half of Mokuba's brother that only cared about dueling, rare cards, and money. He didn't seem to care for Mokuba at all—only power. Kaiba would simply sit at his computer all day, answer phone calls, and yell at his secretaries. Days would pass and Mokuba wouldn't see Kaiba at all; he absorbed himself in his work and punished anyone who interrupted him—and then Seto would emerge from the confines of his office, greeting Mokuba with a hug.

What was it Jonouchi had said? Not long ago, at Duel Tower, before he dueled Seto?

'Your brother insulted you, Mokuba—he said there's not one person he depends on! Not even you!'

Not true, Mokuba thought to himself and bit his lip. Jonouchi only knows Kaiba—it was Kaiba who said that. Not Seto.

Kaiba seemed to dominate his brother's consciousness much more often lately… and what if Seto vanished forever? If his work and dueling devoured him and tore Seto away, so only Kaiba remained?

I'd be alone.

Seto won't let that happen—he'd never leave you.

Would he?

The younger Kaiba brother sat up again and jumped down from the bed, his hand clutching the locket again. He walked out of the room and down the hall, turning a few corners and stopping outside a large set of mahogany-colored doors.

There, he paused.

Kaiba—yes, Kaiba, not Seto—had told him to go to bed. And now Mokuba's brother was at work; he would hate to be interrupted. Even by me.

But, Seto…

"Niisama?" Mokuba whispered, pressing his ear against the smooth wood. "Niisama…"

He could hear the clacking of the keyboard as his brother worked on the computer, probably calculating the Company's savings for the month.

Mokuba drew away again, his gaze falling on the doorknob. Did he dare intrude…?

Go to bed, Mokuba.

The boy frowned. Would he listen to Kaiba? "No."

Frowning in grim determination, Mokuba sighed and turned the doorknob, opening the door a bit without a sound. Peering into the room, he could see Seto… no, not Seto, it was most certainly Kaiba. Kaiba sat hunched over at his desk, his form silhouetted by the light from the computer screen. There were no other lights on in the room, and Mokuba blinked a few times to adjust his vision to the dimness.

Kaiba didn't realize that Mokuba had entered the room.

Or else… he's just ignoring me…

Mokuba swallowed the lump in his throat, "Niisama…?"

"What is it?" Kaiba growled. "I told you to go to bed."

"I… I can't sleep, niisama."

"Go watch TV."

"But Seto…"

"Go!" Kaiba slammed his fists on the keyboard and spun around in the chair, face twisted in anger. "Can't you see I'm working? I can't deal with this right now, damn it! I told you to go to bed for a reason—"

Mokuba recoiled in fear, stepping backward with wide eyes.

Kaiba's eyes darkened, and his face set in a snarl, fists clenched. The light made irregular shadows on his face and below his eyes—Seto's face looked long, somehow old and tired.

Like the face of Gozaburo, so long ago.

For a moment Kaiba just stared at Mokuba, his eyes never leaving Mokuba's scared face. Then his mouth opened in surprise, his dark eyes cleared, and he gasped. "Mokuba?"

Mokuba had his back pressed against the door in fear. His brother had never snapped at him like that before, nor had Mokuba seen him look like… that man. "...N-niisama…"

Seto—or was it Kaiba?—stood up slowly, taking a ragged breath. "Mokuba… I'm sorry…"

The younger boy whimpered and stared at him, shaking. You're not Seto…

Kaiba got down on one knee and leaned closer to his little brother, his eyes soft and his expression sad. "Mokuba…? Are you alright?"

Mokuba looked away, a few tears escaping his eyes. "S-Seto…"

The older brother sighed. "I'm sorry, Mokuba… I didn't mean to yell… I was working, that's all—I was tense. I overreacted. I'm sorry." He took Mokuba into his arms and hugged him softly. "See? It's me…"

Half of Mokuba wanted to cling to his brother and cry onto his shoulder, and the other half of him was terrified of who was actually holding him. Mokuba stood there shaking for a moment, staring into space.

"Mokuba…"

It's him… it's Seto…

Mokuba went limp in his brother's arms, sobbing onto his shoulder.

Seto looked confused. Why was his brother so upset all of a sudden? "Shh… what's wrong? Mokuba…"

He regained control of himself and looked up at his big brother, sniffling and gasping. "Niisama… who are you?"

Seto stared at him, blinking. "Who am I? What do you mean?"

Mokuba snuggled closer to his brother, still trembling. "Seto… a minute ago… you weren't Seto… you were someone else…"

You were Kaiba.

"Who was I, then…?" Seto asked gently.

"I-I don't know… but when you're like that, you don't care about m-me… all you care about is your work and money, and dueling… Seto…" Mokuba sobbed, gasping for breath. He didn't tell his brother that 'he was Kaiba' because he knew that Seto wouldn't understand that at all.

Seto stared at Mokuba. Seto held his brother tightly, trying to calm him. "What's happened to me…? Oh, Mokuba… I'm sorry… "

Mokuba closed his eyes, exhaustion overcoming him. Before he fell asleep, one last thought crossed his mind.

You're sorry, niisama… but Kaiba isn't…

Fin

End Note- I'm quite happy with how the rewrite came out... Review, kthxbye!