Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! If I did, I would be rich as heck and I wouldn't let 4 Kids do the dub… That way, we could watch the first series… I also don't own Clue.
Summary: After an argument, Mokuba runs away. In the process of getting Mokuba, Kaiba drags Yuugi and friends into his dark past. What does Jonouchi have to do with this?
Random talk: I'm back with another fic where Mokuba has an I-hate-the-world attitude! If I make another one, people might think I love to put the little guy in pain… (Which is half-true…) Strange thing is, Mokuba isn't going to be appearing that much…
Notes: I guess this fic could be considered AU… (alternate universe, for those who don't know) You'll see why by the end of the chapter. Japanese names will be used. I know there are so many ways to spell Jonouchi's name, so I'm using the Shonen Jump version. It makes it easier for me. Takes place after Battle City, but before Doom. This way we don't have to worry about Egyptian Arc. But, they do know a little about the yamis' past. I put the translation of some Japanese words at the end of the fic. I didn't do the more obvious ones, like nii-sama. If you don't know what some words are, look them up or ask in a review.
Warnings: Slight OOC, some language (later chapters, both in English and Japanese), AU, and shonen-ai (Kaiba x Jonouchi).
Dedication: This fic goes to gyrrlgenius for helping me come up with the idea that started this fic, being my editor, and being my second beta. Also dedicated to changeofheart18782 for being my original beta!
Chapter 1
The Argument
"Come on, nii-sama!" Mokuba yelled at his older brother. "It won't be that bad if you tell the world! At least tell the teachers so they would believe me!"
"How many times must I tell you?" Kaiba asked calmly as he typed. "You know what could happen to Kaiba Corp."
"You always say that! We don't know what really would happen if you told the world that-"
"That's enough Mokuba," Kaiba snapped. "We can't take that risk."
"We? You mean you can't take that risk! I'm sick of this! I hate you nii-sama!" With that said, Mokuba ran out of Kaiba's office. This left Kaiba, for once, speechless. Several minutes passed before Kaiba regained his composure.
"He has never reacted that way before. I'll talk to him later. I have work that I need to get back to." Kaiba did just that--went back to his work.
It was about 10 at night by the time Kaiba had arrived at his manor. Knowing his little brother, Mokuba would still be playing video games or drawing something. At least, that's what Kaiba was hoping to find. What the young CEO saw when he reached Mokuba's room were random items all over the large room and bed sheets tied together; one end attached to a bed post and the other end hanging out the large, open window. Kaiba walked around the room to see if Mokuba left any clues as to where he was heading. All Kaiba could find that gave him any hints was a letter left by Mokuba.
Dear Seto,
I'm sick of living in your shadow and having to live a lie. I'm leaving to find someone who respects me. Don't even bother looking for me. If you do find me, there's no way I'm coming back here. I hate you.
Sayonara (1),
Your once little brother, Mokuba
"That's the tenth time you won this night, Yuugi!" Jonouchi yelled. The gang, which included Jonouchi, Yuugi, Honda, Anzu, and Ryou was over at the Kame Game Shop. They were playing Clue, and they did not realize what time it was.
"What else do you expect!" Honda exclaimed. "They don't call him the King of Games for nothing!"
"You do have a point," Jonouchi replied.
"It's getting late, guys," Anzu said. "My parents must be worried sick about me!"
"Same goes for me," Honda said.
"Awww… You guys are leaving already?" Jonouchi moaned. "Wait--what time is it?"
"10:15," Anzu replied.
"It's that late already!?" Jonouchi yelled. "I should be going, too! My dad's going to kill me if I'm late again!"
"Might as well go," Ryou said. "Thank you, Yuugi-kun, for your hospitality."
"Don't mention it!" Yuugi said, smiling. "I'll walk you down to the door."
The five friends walked down the stairs to the store portion of the building, still talking and joking around. Their conversations were interrupted by a knock on the door. Everyone looked at the door, wondering why someone would be visiting at this time of night. Yuugi opened the door, only to see a person that no one suspected would return for a second visit to the little store.
"Kaiba-kun, what brings you here?" Yuugi asked. As soon as the other four people on the stairs heard this question, they readied themselves to hold back what they thought would be a frustrated Jonouchi.
"Is Mokuba here?" Kaiba asked.
"Does it look like he's here?" Honda asked sarcastically.
"I'm not in the mood for this… I need to find Mokuba…."
"Wait!" Yuugi yelled. "Did he get kidnapped again? Maybe we could help you find him!"
"For one thing, I don't need your help. For another, Mokuba ran away."
"The kid finally saw what a jerk you really are and got smart enough to know not to live with you!" Jonouchi exclaimed, beaming. This got him pinned against the wall by the insulted brunette in less than a minute.
"Don't you dare say that again…" Kaiba said, his voice dripping with venom.
"Hey, let him go!" Honda yelled. Kaiba replied by throwing the blond duelist.
"Why don't you explain why Mokuba-kun ran away," Yuugi said, trying to calm the CEO down.
"No," Kaiba started and began to walk to the door. As he reached the exit to the shop, a realization hit him. He had nobody else he could turn to and trust, if only on a relative basis. "Alright," Kaiba sighed. "We had an argument today. Before any of you say anything, this wasn't any normal argument you would have with anybody. This is what happened…."
Flashback
Kaiba was typing on his computer, trying to figure out why these people couldn't figure out how to fix simple bugs in a basic software program. All of a sudden, Mokuba walked in and closed the door.
"What is it, Mokuba?" Kaiba asked, not looking up from his screen.
"You know that science project I had in school?" Mokuba asked. Kaiba just nodded. "Well, the teacher said we had to do most of the work on the visual and written report. And you know that I worked on that project really hard." Another nod from the elder Kaiba. "The teacher had the nerve to say that you did all of my report because it was too complex for me! When I told her that I did all the work with no help, she gave me detention! Can you believe that?! She thinks that just because I'm the younger brother of a so-called genius, it means I'm stupid!"
"It might help if you didn't do it on something that a third year high school student would do," Kaiba said.
"But I thought it would be cool if I did that! All the other kids did volcanoes or made rocket ships out of bottles."
"Let me guess, you want me to announce that I wasn't the one who made almost all of Kaiba Corp technology and that it was my little brother who did?"
"Exactly! The world deserves to know the truth! I mean, they call you a child prodigy when we both know that I design and make the prototype for most of our products!"
"No, Mokuba."
"Come on, nii-sama! It won't be that bad if you tell the world! At least tell the teachers so they would believe me!"
"How many times must I tell you? You know what could happen to Kaiba Corp."
"You always say that! We don't know what really would happen if you told the world that-"
"That's enough Mokuba," Kaiba snapped. "We can't take that risk."
"We? You mean you can't take that risk! I'm sick of this! I hate you, nii-sama!"
End Flashback
"I'm lost," Jonouchi said. "If what you said is true, that means the gaki (2) made the duel disks…"
"So there is something in that head of yours besides air…" Kaiba said. Once more, Honda had to hold Jonouchi back from tackling the CEO. "Yes, Mokuba designed both the prototype and latest duel disks. He showed me the designs before that incident at Duelist Kingdom."
"And those virtual pods?" Anzu asked. "Mokuba said that you made them, and he would sneak in your lab as you worked on them."
"I sometimes build the prototype of our products so Mokuba can work on his homework and be a normal kid. He would sneak into my private lab just to make sure the pods were being built right."
"Okay, I think I got it," Jonouchi said. "Just to be sure, Mokuba is smarter than Kaiba. Am I right?"
"For once," Kaiba said, letting go of most of his pride, "the inu is correct twice in five minutes."
TBC
(1) Sayonara: Everybody knows what this word means "Goodbye". In Japan, however, the polite way to say goodbye is "Ja matte, ne?", which literally means "see you later, right?". Saying "sayonara" essentially means saying "goodbye forever (or at least a very long period of time).
(2) gaki – brat
Next time: Things go from bad to worst when someone brings up some bad news about Mokuba. So, what does Kaiba do? He does the one thing he never thought he would ever do…
Random talk: I think that's a good place to end. I hope I didn't rush things… Mokuba won't be returning until chapter 3 or 4. Also, I'll try to update every Friday. (That is, if my homework will allow me to do that…) The reason I posted today was because I might not go home tomorrow. Please don't get mad at me about Kaiba agreeing with Jonouchi with Mokuba's intelligence level. You have to take into consideration that Mokuba was designing the hardware while Kaiba was programming the games. So from Kaiba's prospective, Mokuba is smarter than he is. Well, review people! Praises cheer me up while flames make me want to delete fics. If I made you cry at any part during this fic, let me know! I count them as praises for some odd reason… See ya in the next chapter!
Rubi-chan
Gyrrlgenius' Random Note: I like doing this. It's fun. Actually, I beta'd this fic, as well as changeofheart18782. She didn't do a very good job grammar-editing, though. Bad grammar is a sin worse than sloth, pride, envy, lust, greed, wrath, and gluttony. Granted, that's going a little far…but, it's a nice metaphor, don't you think? Oh, and feel free to leave comments to me in your review. ;) I like it when people talk to me. No problems with that, right?