Hey, Serenity Moonrose here! Welcome to my latest fanfic and my first attempt at a Yu-Gi-Oh multi-chapter fic. Seto Kaiba finally decides life just isn't worth it anymore and launches himself from his study window into the waves below in an attempt to find peace. Mokuba, with the help of Yugi-tachi, must learn to cope with life without his Nii-sama; meanwhile, a young woman named Tori comes across an amnesiac young man whom she comes to call Fukachi-kun (Mysterious Boy). How will Mokuba fair now that the only person who's been by his side all his life, who's protected him and raised him, is gone? Who is Fukachi-kun and can Tori help him remember who he really is and recall the life he left behind?
A Renewed Passion for Life
Prologue: At Peace at Last
Seto Kaiba stood solemnly staring out the open window in his study. He listened as the waves crashed against the base of the cliffs below and went over in his mind what he was about to do.
He'd thought about doing this before, just ending it all, the pain, the torment, the loneliness, but he hadn't acted upon it those other times. Mokuba was the only thing keeping him from it, but now, as much as he loved his little brother, it didn't seem to matter anymore.
Yes, he was fed up with everything, everything. Work was as stressful as ever. He was sick of the responsibility, sick of the morons he had to put up with day in and day out, sick of working his tail off all the time, and for what? He had more than enough money to support himself and Mokuba for the rest of their lives. Sure his company had been his pride and joy; he'd worked harder than hell to get it where it was, but now...it just seemed to be more of a burden than anything else.
Working also kept him from spending time with Mokuba. He knew he spent way too much time in his office at work or in his study at home and not enough time with Mokuba. The little boy was his life, the only thing keeping him sane, yet he constantly ignored him and his pleas to take a break, to eat, to get some rest, to just spend some time together as brothers. It was something he'd done far too often and he knew it only too well.
It killed him to know he was hurting Mokuba and even though he tried to break his work habits, he found himself unable to stay away from his laptop for very long. Staying absorbed in his work kept his mind off of the loneliness, the sadness he felt, but it didn't seem to work anymore. Even when he did spend time with Mokuba, he still felt lonely. It bothered him terribly, but he couldn't help it.
He had no friends to speak of even though Yugi continued to try to befriend him. Unfortunately, Seto refused to lower his defenses to let Yugi in. He was too afraid of being hurt even as lonely as he was, nor would his pride let him so much as think of being friends with his rival and group he paled around with.
Lately he'd become even more withdrawn from them and from Mokuba. He was doing it on purpose though, to prepare for what he was going to do. He didn't know why he felt he should distance himself from them. It wasn't like it'd make it any easier or that they'd even miss him, except Mokuba of course... and maybe Yugi.
Seto's eyes shifted over to the laptop that sat on his desk. It was open, the notes and plans he'd made for the night displayed on it so Mokuba would know this wasn't a spur of the moment thing and that he'd been planning it all along. Next to the laptop set a hand written note addressed to Mokuba. It wasn't very long, but he knew Mokuba deserved a personal good-bye. He wanted to make sure his little brother understood why he made the decision he did and knew that he loved him.
Mokuba,
Hey kiddo...by the time you find this I'll be with Mom and Dad. I'm sorry it has to be this way, but things have gotten too hard for me now. All I want is to be at peace and there's only one way I can think of to have that. Please don't be angry with me. You've been the only thing keeping me alive and sane all these years, but now...life just doesn't seem worth it anymore no matter how I look at it.
I hope you'll be able to forgive me one day. I never wanted to leave you alone and in reality I'm not. I know Yugi and his friends will be there for you. Kaiba Corp. will be yours once you're old enough to run it on your own, if you want it, but I'll understand if you don't. Just know that I love you and I'll always be watching over you, Mokie. Good-bye...
Seto
Giving his laptop and the note one final glance, he turned his attention back to the window. This wouldn't be the first time he'd jumped from it. During the time of the Duelist Kingdom tournament, he'd crashed through the glass to escape some of Pegasus' goons and had caught himself, climbing back up. The idiots thought he was dead. This time would be very different...he wouldn't bother trying to save himself. This time...he really wouldn't survive.
He stepped up onto the windowsill, looking down at the water. The moonlight cast a soft glow upon the waves. They held the release he sought from his problems, his worries, his pain, they were his pathway to peace, and they looked so inviting from where he was standing, just beckoning him to let himself fall into their cold embrace.
"Forgive me...Mokuba..." His voice was a mere whisper as he closed his eyes, holding his arms out. "Forgive...me..." He leant forward until he felt his balance vanish and his feet slip from the windowsill.
His chestnut hair ruffled and his trench coat billowed in the air rushing past him as he fell. All at once his ankle cracked against a rock jutting out from the cliff face and he felt pain shoot through his leg. He could have cared less, knowing it wouldn't last long. Soon he wouldn't feel anything at all and instinctively crossing his arms over his face, Seto Kaiba vanished into the cold, dark waves.
A good half hour passed before Mokuba came upon the laptop and the note. Panicked, he called Yugi-tachi as well as the police. A search was launched and continued on all night long. A police officer approached Mokuba early the next morning and not with good news. They hadn't found Seto's body, but they did find something else, something that proved to Mokuba that his Nii-sama was indeed dead: the card locket containing Mokuba's picture that he always wore around his neck. It'd washed up on the beach some time ago.
"Seto would never have let go of that...unless..." He whispered, his blue-grey eyes filled with tears. "He...he must really be..." He couldn't bring himself to finish.
"I'm so sorry, Mokuba..." Tears rolled slowly down Yugi's cheeks has he hugged the younger boy.
Even Jounouchi had tears in his eyes. "I can't believe moneybags is really gone...and he'll never call me 'make inu' again..."
Anzu joined Yugi in hugging and attempting to console Mokuba, who'd collapsed in Yugi's arms sobbing uncontrollably. "We're here, Mokuba...you're not alone..."
"Yea...I know we can't ever take Kaiba-kun's place...but we'll always be with you..." Yugi tried to sound reassuring even though both he and Anzu were in tears. Honda just stood silently next to Jounouchi with an ethereal Yami no Yugi in the background, none of them knowing what to say or to think, not wanting to believe Kaiba could really be gone, that he was really...
Days passed by without any news on Seto. Mokuba refused to have a funeral until Seto's body was found because he wanted to give his brother a proper burial so any arrangements were put on hold and the search continued.
Meanwhile in Checker City, a city down the coast from Domino, a young woman and her mother were receiving treatment for injuries at the local hospital. It was far from the first time they'd been though this routine, but this time would be different...this time they'd meet someone who'd change everything. In fact, things would never be the same again...
A sad way to start a story, I know. Don't worry, things will start looking up soon, I promise! I'll have Chapter 1 up as soon as possible and it'll feature the introduction to Tori and her mother as well as to the boy who'll come to be known as Fukachi-kun. Comments and suggestions are welcome, but flames will be used to torch Pegasus' castle. XD
