I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh.
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Chapter 1
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"... Of course due to confidentiality, any callers who wish to remain anonymous can do so at their will. You should remember that, though you're looking to prove yourselves and trying to help as much as possible, these are free lines and there is no responsibility to the callers unless you feel they threaten others or themselves. Should you believe they require more professional help, or a specialist, feel free to ..." The head of the psychology department droned on as Kaiba tapped his pencil against the table.
He wasn't much a people person, but at twenty two with a business and computer science major already under his belt, he figured it couldn't hurt to tackle math and psychology. Having a further understanding of how the brain works and of human behaviors would help with business deals and targeting of customers. Possibly help him understand women as well, but that was not exactly at the forefront of his mind.
He didn't need the orientation to explain what the task ahead would be, it was a simple enough concept. In order to complete his psychology major, he would have to spend six months as a volunteer counselor. He would aid people who could not find professional help over the phone for free, learning the dos and don'ts of of how to deal with people in distress. It was more practical for people studying to be a psychiatrist or psychologist, but it was necessary for the course.
"The callers should already be aware that this is a student run program, but don't forget to remind them of it. Though most of them call for someone just to talk to or vent to, if the situation they're in proves serious and they require real help from licensed professionals, notify me or the supervisors of your section. You're there as a peer for comfort and advice, you're not a therapist." The man at the front finished.
The students nodded and rose, ready to take their spots in the small cramped cubicles. Kaiba wondered if he forced people to sit in such small limited spaces at Kaiba Corp and made a mental note to check into it. His studies in psychology gave him more insight as to how he had treated others, and though his outward actions didn't change much, he'd been feeling much more guilt every time he noticed himself playing out his habits of cruelty.
He squeezed himself into his stall where there was barely enough space for the computer and a phone. The computer recorded every conversation in text and audio file for the teachers of the program to go over for evaluation. Kaiba typed in his student ID and password, then opened the program that would record his calls, activating the phone in the process.
The head of the department, Sam, roamed the cubicles and watched as every student got situated.
"Soon, the phones will come online completely, but give them time. The technology is old and slow. I have to warn you though, you'll never forget your first call." He said with a smile before leaving the room to the supervisors care.
It wasn't long before the phones began to ring. Kaiba could hear the murmurs of a few students already answering and talking to their callers. Kaiba waited patiently for about fifteen more minutes before his first call came through.
"Free counseling hotline. We are student managed and run, is this alright?" Kaiba said, reading out the cue card left at every computer. It sounded horridly distant and cold for such a service, but it was how they had to answer. He waited a few moments, hearing nothing on the other line. "Hello?"
"..Y-yes, I'm sorry. Yes it's alright." It was a whisper. The voice was clear, but hushed, and clearly female. Great. His first caller couldn't have been a boy? At least he would know he had something in common with a boy. Something to relate to.
"Are you in danger?" He asked, scanning a list of topics to converse about.
"no... I just... I just want to talk." She said quietly, but her voice was peeking through her hushed tone. He paused a moment. Many people wanted to talk. Needed to talk, but didn't have someone to go to. That's what the service was all about. And he had to deal with it, and actually try to sound interested.
"So what's been on your mind?" He asked, prodding her to speak.
"A lot of things. School, friends, home..." All perfectly normal things to worry about. She sounded like she was still in high school. Definitely younger than him.
"Is anything jumping out to you? A situation you're having trouble with? Maybe something someone said or did?" He asked prodding more. He squeezed the bridge of his nose as he looked down the list of things to say once more. He wasn't good with people and was just now questioning why he would pursue this course.
"Yes, but I don't want to talk about that. I... I don't know you. I don't feel... I don't want to talk about that." He paused again. There was something distressed in her voice. It wasn't right.
"Are you sure you're not in danger?" He asked again, not taking his feelings lightly.
"I... Can I tell you about my secret place?" She obviously avoided his question, but he had to let her. If she was in danger, he had to find out, and forcing her to talk about it would only make her hang up.
"Sure."
"Well, there's this set of train tracks by my house. If I follow them far enough they go into a forested area. Once inside, there's a small spring there. I love sitting there. It's so far from everything else. So quiet, but loud at the same time. Have you ever really heard life?" She asked. It was as if she was in a trance, a whole new person. The distressed vibe in her voice disappeared and she was calm, happy. She obviously was escaping something, but many people did that. He even did for a while.
When he first started college, he needed a break. Double majoring and running a business was so stressful, along with Mokuba starting school and worse, dating, he needed a retreat. He'd take his lunch breaks along the side of a small pond two blocks south of Kaiba corp. He knew exactly what she was talking about.
"The wind picking up the leaves around you as something scurries across where you cant see them. The hum of people and cars and other things waiting patiently in the distance for you to return from your break, so you know it's still there, but it's not demanding anymore. Yes. I've heard life." Even as he said it, as he imagined it, it put him at ease. He suddenly felt comfortable saying it, not to mention knowing that this stranger only knew him as a stranger helping him feel better. The phone between them, the anonymity of it all... he knew he'd never make it as a therapist, face to face, but this he could deal with. It wasn't so bad now.
"Yes, that's exactly it. I feel like I've found my heaven." He understood that as well. The one piece of refuge in a chaotic world. Anyone would think the same.
"Are you there now?" he asked, truly curious.
"Oh, no. I'm not allowed out until the weekends." she said giggling, as if it was so obvious. She must be a high schooler. Curfews tend to stop after the child moves out or, starts college, at least, strict ones like that.
"So you're at home? Who lives with you?" She paused and he waited. He didn't know what girls liked to talk about, but he knew boys loved venting about parents and brothers and sisters.
"I live with my mom and dad." She said after the wait.
"No siblings?"
"No, I'm the only one." She said cheerily.
"You must get all the attention."
"Yup. Hey, you're a student right? What else are you studying?" suddenly it was on him. He was a peer counselor, but he didn't know how chummy he was supposed to get with the callers, and generically, it wasn't like him to open up to anyone.
"Psych and math." He answered briefly. She didn't need to know more.
"Math? I love math. I wanted to go to school to be a math teacher, but... my parents wanted me to be a doctor... I don't mind it, but I just always wanted to be a teacher and math was so easy for me. My freshman year in high school I got into Transition from Trig to Calc I loved it." Kaiba was impressed. He was already in Calc 2 by then, but it was still a feat to start high school at that level.
"Maybe if you talked to them about it they would-"
"No, they... they're stuck in their ways... I probably shouldn't have said anything about it. I'd just get myself excited."
"That's what I'm here for. There's always the future. You have your entire life to pursue your dreams. If making your family happy now means you'll get a good paying job and pay for your own schooling later in life to do what you really want, then I think it's worth it." The girl was quiet, taking in his words on the other side of the line.
"I guess you're right. I just wish I had some control over my life. I just want to have a say."
"Control will come with time. For now, you should focus on enjoying your home, and go to your... Heaven if you need to."
"Yeah... thanks. Hey... if... if I need to speak to someone again... are you the only one?" Kaiba glanced down at the phone for a moment. She clearly wanted to talk to him again. He shrugged, even though she couldn't see it. She wasn't horrible to talk to. Just needed someone to let out her stress with.
"No, but I can give you my extension. When it asks, my extension is 323. I'm here between one and four Monday through Friday. I don't work the weekends." He informed her.
"Ok, great... I guess... I'll talk to you later...thank you." Her last words, though appreciated, were somewhat distant. He could feel an entire different level of meaning behind them as he hung up the phone. Was what he did really all that important? He thought back to when he was struggling with the weight of the world on his shoulder and thought about how it would be different if someone was there for him.
The thought was cut short as his phone rang again.
"Free counseling hotline. We are student managed and run, is this alright?" He recited into the phone, ready to help the next caller.
Kaiba laid down on his bed, completely exhausted from the day. Classes started at nine in the morning and he had only just left work and got home an entire thirteen and a half hours later.
"Hey, Seto?" Mokuba's voice called from his door. Kaiba lifted his head, but didn't get up. "Mind if I have Connie over?" Of course it was a girl. It was always a girl. Connie... which one was that? The blonde with the short skirt... no that was Sarah... the redhead with all the rings? Kaiba didn't care.
"Mokuba... it's eleven thirty." He observed glancing at the clock.
"We wont keep you up." Mokuba argued. He was quite the charmer, now seventeen and almost fully grown. Kaiba didn't approve of his flirtatious lifestyle, but did little to stop him, other than upholding curfew and making sure he kept up with his schooling.
"No, Mokuba. You cant have someone over this late." He said, letting his head fall back onto his pillow. "Have her over tomorrow... at a decent hour." he said, and the boy gave up. He didn't like the decision, but it was his brother's to make.
"How was that school thing? I imagined you yelling at people complaining about stupid little problems all day." He joked, laughing while the elder sighed.
"I'm not allowed to yell, and I'm quite in control of myself, unlike the other Kaiba in this room." He shot back. Even half asleep and fully exhausted, he was able to get his brother.
"Well, at least I have a girlfriend. And I'm not laid out at eleven thirty. I could party for another four hours before I crash." Kaiba sighed again. Mokuba developed an attitude once he hit puberty that Kaiba could frankly do without. He remained silent, not entirely in possession of enough strength to argue with Mokuba that night, he let the boy walk away victorious.
As sleep claimed him, his mind drifted off to a calm sweet place with a pond and no troubles.
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So thus ends the first chapter of a fic I'm on edge about. I wrote it a long time ago, but never posted it (back when fanfictions were only written in notebooks during school) it's come back to mind a few times, but I finally found the guts to put it up. Please please please, don't hold back. I want to hear what you think. I neeeeds my reviews!
Read, Review, Enjoy~Love Ya!