o-O-o
Chapter 2- Five Cents
o-O-o
July 7th, 1996
Domino City, 23:32
His mother was screaming. His dad was calming her down. An ambulance was coming to their house.
Seto was crying.
His dad and him were rushing to the hospital, without his mommy, and Seto didn't know why. After his mom woke up screaming, as mentioned with every other previous event, his dad and him were left to go to the hospital without being in the ambulance.
"Daddy," he sniffled. "What's wrong?"
His dad bit his lip and cursed a red light. "Nothing Seto. Everything will be alright."
After the light turned green, Seto was thankful for his seatbelt. His father was cursing every driver that got in the way of his driving, every stop he had to make, and other obstacles that stopped them.
When they finally did arrive at the hospital, his dad raced to the front desk and asked some questions in which he couldn't understand.
After that, he and his dad rushed to a room where outside he could hear his mother screaming, and a nurse was waiting outside.
"I can go in, right?" His father asked the nurse frantically. He wasn't one to disobey rules, especially in a hospital. After all, he was a doctor himself.
"Of course," the nurse whispered. "I can stay here with him."
"Thank you."
And with that, his father was gone, and Seto had no clue, what the heck was going on. The nurse was trying to comfort him by playing games and trying to get him to sleep.
He was left out there for hours, before it finally clued into him.
It was past midnight.
July 7th.
That day.
The day.
The baby was supposed to be born.
He cried himself to sleep that night.
o-O-o
July 7th, 1996
Domino City Hospital, 06:18
He was being shook awake.
Seto opened his eyes, to see his father kneeling by him, with a bundle in his arms. Something was wrong though.
His dad's face.
His dad was crying.
He wasn't laughing, cheering, celebrating, no he was crying.
No.
Sobbing was more like it.
"Here Seto," His father's voice broke. "Your little brother Mokuba..."
Seto smiled briefly, while gathering the small child into his arms carefully. "So mommy and you picked the name Mokuba."
At this comment, his father sobbed more.
Seto's ghost of a smile left his face completely.
"What's wrong daddy?"
"Seto... your mother... mommy... she won't be here anymore."
"What?"
"Seto, mommy died."
Mommy died
...
Mommy died
...
Mommy died...
His whole world shattered.
o-O-o
July 21, 1996
Domino City Funeral Home, 17: 45
Seto couldn't stand it.
A funeral.
A funeral.
For his mom.
Mommy. His mother. Mum. Mom. His guardian. His protector. The one who taught him chess. The one who loved him dearly.
She promised.
She promised!
"Mommy wont leave, don't worry."
He could've done something! Anything! He wished to go back in time. Tell his mom not to give birth to the baby. Not to be excited. Not to be cheerful.
This was not cheerful.
This was not happy.
This was certainly not what he thought.
Here, at a funeral, leaning on his father's shoulder, silent tears streaming down his face, holding on to his only remainder of his mother.
Two weeks ago, when mommy was giving birth, giving away her last breath, she requested two things.
Give Seto her locket.
Call the baby Mokuba.
The locket was around his neck, while the baby was in his arms. Mokuba...
The baby, in his opinion, was magnificent.
Aqua eyes, tufts of black hair, and pink, cute chubby skin. He was adorable, cute, radiant, a whole bunch of words that Seto's tired brain couldn't come up with right at the moment.
He looked too much like his mother.
It was near the end of the funeral.
He refused to see his mother's, hollow, lifeless, soulless body one more time when offered. He'd rather keep all good memories, not that.
He didn't even want to be there. He was given a card explaining everything and some ways to... cope.
Now, when his mother was getting lowered, the brown wood coffin getting covered in dirt, did he finally cry openly.
In his father's shoulder, he sobbed.
He sobbed because, it wasn't fair!
It just wasn't fair!
His mother was ripped away from him.
Ripped away from the world.
Never again would Seto feel her warm hug, never again would his dad get to see her lovely face again, never again will the world see his mom win yet again another case that she had worked day and night for.
But most of all.
Mokuba would never meet her.
He knew it would be rough growing up without his mother.
But Seto swore to his mother and to himself, that he would always protect Mokuba.
He fell asleep resting against his father's shoulder.
o-O-o
August 6, 1997
Domino City, 13:54
It's been over a year now.
Mokuba's a year old.
Mother's anniversary for her death was about a month ago.
Mokuba was walking.
Seto was currently playing with his younger brother. The one-year-old was stacking blocks with his older brother, and every time the tower got too high and collapsed, Mokuba squealed with happiness.
Seto now wore the necklace everyday since his mom died, and had added the photo of Mokuba to the other side.
Seto loved his baby brother. And oddly, Mokuba clung to Seto more than he did to his dad. Whenever Seto headed to school, Mokuba cried and had a fit. When he returned every afternoon, Seto was boamboarded with cuddles, (not literally, but he came home to a squealing and giggling little boy) by his excited younger brother.
Anyways, Seto had another thing to look for.
Blue-Eye's White dragon.
It was a card in Duel Monsters that reminded him of his mother. Elegant, graceful, yet strong and fierce with a strong will and good heart.
4 in the world.
He would get them.
Seto started collecting them after his mother died. So far, he had some pretty trashy cards. But they were his. And he loved them.
"Set-o!"
Seto's eyes widened while turning to his baby brother, as well as his father's.
"What did he say?" His father asked putting down the book he was reading.
"Se-to!" Mokuba giggled.
Seto smiled while picking up his brother. "Daddy! Did you hear that?! His first word was my name!"
His father nodded and patted both of their heads lightly. "He really does like you, Seto. You've been a great big brother."
Seto nodded while cradling the one-year-old against his chest. "Now he needs to learn how to say more words.
He dreaded everyday when he went to school, because he couldn't spend time with his younger brother. Then, when Seto got home, he picked his brother up, hugged him, told him about his day, (even though he knew Mokuba wouldn't get anything he was saying) and played with him until dinner or bedtime. On weekends, the baby took naps, and while the baby was sleeping, Seto was bored out of his mind.
Seto loved his baby brother.
o-O-o
October 25, 1998
Domino City, 12:49
He was turning eight!
Seto's brother had turned 2 a few months ago, and today was his 8th birthday!
Chocolate ice-cream cake. He hated regular cake. He hated how much icing was on a regular cake. He hated how sickly sweet the whole peice of cake would be. So, he requested an ice cream cake. Chocolate.
What was important about this fact? His mother hated cake too. She'd eat it, but preferred ice cream
Seto's mother always looked forward to seeing Seto grow up and become something great. She had said it over and over again.
Seto missed her dearly.
He loved his brother and daddy, but she was missing from the picture.
"Set-o!" Mokuba squealed. "Cake?"
He nodded and smiled towards his younger brother, and helped him eat of his spoon. Mokuba smiled, with smudges of chocolate ice-cream on the sides of his lips. Seto laughed quietly, grabbed a napkin, and cleaned his brothers face.
"There you go." Seto pinched Mokuba's clean cheek lightly. The younger squealed again and clapped his hands.
Now that Mokuba was older, and was walking, talking and playing with more hard things, like puzzles, Seto also saw his baby brothers full look.
Black, wild hair (that Seto thought was adorable), aqua eyes with a exotic mix of violet, tanned skin (from playing outside a lot) and chubby hands and feet. Sadly, Seto couldn't call him a baby anymore. He could call him a toddler though!
He intended to.
o-O-o
July 27, 1999
Domino City, 21:08
Seto awoke to whimpering.
It was Mokuba.
Seto ripped the covers from his body, and dashed into his younger brothers room. He peeked on his brother's bed. The toddler retired from his crib about a year ago.
Mokuba was thrashing in the bed and the smallest bit of sweat was forming on his head.
Seto carefully picked the boy up, making sure not to wake him, and sat down in a rocking chair they got while his mother was alive, with the child in his arms.
Seto whispered some calming words to the baby, and rocked him in his arms. If Mokuba was awake, the three-year-old would have told him he was being too cuddly, but snuggle up to his brother anyways.
He stroked his younger brothers hair while still rocking him, and instantly the boy stopped whimpering. The toddler cuddled into his older brothers arms, and gripped on to Seto's pajama shirt.
Seto smiled to himself and got up, then placing his brother in his bed.
He stayed there to make sure the boy was alright before heading to his own room.
Seto's father, who watched the whole ordeal, smiled and one thought ran through his head.
'His mother would be proud.'
o-O-o
December 1, 2000
Domino City, 22:12
Mokuba was 4 and Seto was now 9.
As Mokuba was growing older, he started realizing something. Something that Seto dreaded.
"Where's mommy?" Mokuba asked him for the third time that day.
"Not here."
"But she's been gone a really long time!"
Seto pulled his brother up on the bed where he was sitting. It was 10 o'clock at night, and while Seto knew it was past Mokuba's bedtime, he wanted to explain how wonderful their mother was.
"Mother had long brown hair. She had eyes like yours, and your tanned skin. She had the warmest smile, greatest hugs, and the gentlest voice." Gentlest? Was that a word? Seto really didn't care. Tears brimmed at the side of his eyes. "Her laugh sounded like music, her words were like silk, her touch was warm, her heart was gold..."
"Seto?" Mokuba asked. "Why are you crying?"
Seto looked surprised. He felt his cheeks and felt that there was in fact tears. "Mokuba, mommy isn't coming back... Alright? That's all you need to know..."
Mokuba wrapped his hands around his brother. "Alright, Seto! Don't cry!"
Seto nodded, and brought Mokuba closer to him. "Okay, Mokuba..."
They stayed like that for the rest of the night, until their dad found them in the morning.
o-O-o
January 1, 2001
Domino City, 24:00
It was New year's eve (technically it was New-Year's day...), and despite their father's protest Seto and Mokuba went to see the fireworks
"So, Mokuba," Seto asked to his younger brother, who was sitting contently on his lap. "Did you like the fireworks?"
Mokuba nodded. "Yeah! This was my first time going, and I loved to spend it with my Nii-Sama!"
Seto smiled at the name. Big brother. He pulled Mokuba tighter against his chest, and the younger didn't protest. Mokuba simply snuggled into the warmth, looking up at the different colors that bursted and spreaded out evenly, looking like liquid moon against the dark night sky.
"We should be heading back home. Both of you are up way past your bedtime." Their father chimed in.
"Aww," Both Mokuba and Seto whined. "But we haven't seen the end!"
Their dad huffed and leaned back against the grass they were sitting on.
"Fine. But only a few more minutes."
Both of his children cheered and sat back and watched the fireworks burst, until the last on was used. "Alright boys, pack up, we're going to go home now."
When his father looked over at the pair, he found them in a... unexpected way... unexpectedly cute that is!
Mokuba was laying against his brother's chest, asleep, and Seto had his arms wrapped around the younger, like when he was awake, and his head was buried into his hair.
His dad picked up Mokuba first, and placed him in the backseat of their car, that was parked a few meters away. Next, he got Seto and placed him in the back with his brother.
Their father took a minute just looking at the two brothers sleeping peacefully. How he wished their mother were still here to see this.
o-O-o
August 3rd, 2001
Domino City 14:17
Mokuba was now 5 and Seto was on his way to becoming 10.
Mokuba had doing excellent in school. He hadn't skipped a grade like Seto had, but he was far ahead in his kindergarten class. He had been reading beyond grade level, writing and drawing better than his classmates, and what Seto was most thankful for was the fact that Mokuba had not been bullied. It was summer vacation now, but Seto really couldn't wait for the school to start in the fall.
Right now, Seto and Mokuba were sitting their backyard and Seto was helping Mokuba understand the game Duel Monsters.
"So the monster with the higher attack power, that card can destroy it's opponent." Mokuba stated setting down a monster card face up smiling from ear-to-ear
Seto nodded, smiling equally as big. "Yeah, exactly!" The brunette's smile then turned into a mischievous grin and set down a monster card that was 400 ATK power more than Mokuba's card. "I win."
Mokuba huffed in fake annoyance. "Why are you so good at this game?!"
Seto giggled and tousled Mokuba's hair playfully. "Cheer up, Mokuba! You'll beat me for sure one day!"
"Yeah right."
"You will!" Seto insisted with a grin still plastered to his face. "Come on," Seto said standing up. "I'll ask dad if he can make some ramen for us, how does that sound?"
Mokuba instantly perked up at the mention ramen "Last one there gets less ramen!" He raced past Seto, his laughter being heard from the far part of their backyard.
There couldn't have been a more calming and musical sound.
Seto let out a chuckle and ran after his little brother. "Hey, wait up!"
o-O-o
November 23, 2001
Domino City, 21:47
Seto was more than annoyed at the persistent knocking at his door.
TAP TAP TAP TAP!
It was too late for this! This knocking would guarantee to wake his baby brother! Just as Seto was about to climb out of his warm and cozy bed, he heard a faint "I'm coming, hold on!" from his babysitter. He heard someone stumble around downstairs and fumble with the lock.
He might've even laughed if the knocking wasn't so annoying.
Even though the babysitter had answered the door, curiosity got the better of him, and he creeped downstairs as quiet as he could. The floorboards beneath him groaned under his weight a few times, and he was almost positive he would be caught.
As he peeked around the stair railing, time immediately froze.
The tears streaming down his babysitter's face, the sympathetic gaze that was locked on a police officer's face that was standing outside on their doorstep, two sets of wide eyes that locked with each other when his babysitter finally noticed him standing there, the quiet patter of Mokuba's footsteps as he approached everybody around him.
But it wasn't exactly the actions that everybody was performing.
It was the words.
Four words.
Four of the worst words that Seto ever imagined hearing.
No.
He had already lived these words.
He didn't need to imagine anything.
All this ten year old boy needed was to take them in.
"Drunk dri... ar crash... sorry, but..."
Here they came...
"He didn't make it."
o-O-o
January 29, 2002
Domino City Orphanage, 15:34
"Give it back!"
"No way, 'Mokie!'"
The orphanage was so bad, that it almost made Seto want to just sob to his heart's content.
Three meals a day, consisting of the same food for each meal every day; creeal for breakfast, half a sandwich for lunch, and mashed potatoes, peas, and a chicken strip for dinner; a room he had to share with 8 other boys; many bullies; home schooling; old toys from way too far back; lumpy mattresses; cob webbed rooms.
Seto hated it.
But, as mentioned before, as much as he wanted to break down and cry, he simply refused to give up, becuase this was harder for his little brother. And his little brother was of far more importance then him.
Like me right now for instance. The bullies at the orphanage were picking on Mokuba by taking his toy airplane away and taunting him with the nickname Seto had given him.
So the young brunette did the only logical thing.
He tackled the ugly, pudgy bully.
"Don't you dare call my brother any names!" Seto shook the boy with one hand, while the other scratched the other's wrist, resulting in the toy airplane being realeased from the sweaty grasp it was contained in.
Seto glared, face to face with bully. "And don't you dare," Seto paused kneeing him hard in the stomach "Take my brothers toys!"
Seto was satisfied with the happy giggle that escaped from his baby brother at getting his toy back, but he was not however satisfied with the hand that grabbed the back of his shirt. He looked up to see a very upset Mrs. Kashiro.
"Come with me young man!"
Like she was giving him a choice. Mrs. Kashiro was dragging him by the back of his shirt and towards the office of the orphanage classroom. There was only one teacher at the orphanage, along with one chef and one caretaker for each gender.
Anyways, he was plopped down harshly into a seat by Mrs. Koshiro with a desk separating him from another chair which Mrs. Koshiro sat upon.
"Why did you physically attack Momo?"
Peach. The bully's name was peach.
Well in Seto's opinion, this 'Momo' kid was no peach.
He gave her an icy stare "He bullied my brother."
"I'm betting that he didn't bully your brother." She said, returning his icy stare. "You want to know why, Seto?"
"Because you're an incompetent fool who only believes in your own needs, and is blind to the world around you."
SLAP!
Seto's head snapped to the side from the force, and a red rash in the shape of a handprint was starting to form on his cheek. Seto smirked and turned his head "Wrong answer?" he asked in a mocking tone. "I've got plenty more."
She gave him a cold glare "Wrong. Answer."
Seto kept the smirk plastered to his face, and raised and eyebrow. "What's the right answer?"
She pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes tight. "I don't believe that Momo was bullying your brother because you like to pick fights on your own terms." Mrs. Kashiro spat, opening her eyes. She folded her hands neatly before continuing on. "You don't need a reason to attack someone. You'll just do it."
Seto rolled his eyes. "That's what you'd like to believe."
"It's what I know, brat."
Seto slammed his fist down on the desk. He felt satisfied when she yelped and jumped. "I hate this place! You 'caretakers' need to die in a hole."
With that he walked out.
o-O-o
January 29, 2002
Domino City, 19:57
Later that evening, Seto couldn't really stand being at the orphanage any longer, so he took his precious little brother out for a walk on the Domino City bridge. The fiery orange sun speckled with hints of ruby, and hung low on the horizon at sunset, turning the still, blue water into liquid flame. The fish had found this stunningly beautiful and jumped for joy out of the water and splashed back in, scattering thousands of gorgeous crystal droplets a short distance away into the water.
It was absolutely gorgeous.
...
Seto hated it.
Why wasn't life this pretty and elegant?
"Seto?"
Seto's attention was quickly directed to his little brother when he heard the soft innocent voice from the petite boy.
"Yes, Mokuba?" he spoke in a soft, gentle tone, but didn't smile.
Mokuba noticed.
The ebony haired boy looked down at his shoes as they kept walking. "Why..." he paused, as if thinking the question carefully through first. "Why won't you go with the parents that want to adopt you?"
Seto answered without hesitation, like he was already expecting this question. "I'm surprised you don't already know."
Mokuba blinked in confusion. "Please tell me! Why won't you go live with a happy family? If you left you wouldn't have to defend me anymore, and you wouldn't get in trouble, and you'd have your own room, and you'd-"
Mokuba got cut off by gentle arms wrapping him in a familiar embrace. "Because if I did that, I wouldn't be happy. I wouldn't get to see my precious brothers face everyday. I'd be worried sick everyday about if you were hurt or not." Seto pulled back and stared into the aqua and violet eyes of his younger brother. "I'll never leave you. I'll always protect you."
Mokuba smiled and grabbed his brothers hand, then they continued walking hand-in-hand.
"No one will help us anymore."
Mokuba sent a questioning glance towards his brother, but kept quiet.
The gentle moment they had a few minutes ago was completely vanished.
Seto was dead serious. "We only have each other. We have to stick together, because we're alone. No one is your friend. You can't trust anybody."
Seto still hadn't smiled.
Mokuba noticed.
o-O-o
Febuary 4, 2002
Domino City Orphanage, 18:37
"Checkmate."
Mokuba did a double take on the chessboard before him. "Aww. You're too good at everything!"
Seto ruffled the younger boys hair. "You'll beat me for sure one day! I'm sure of it!"
Mokuba huffed in frustration and disbelief. "Yeah, that's what you said about duel monsters too. It's almost been a year and you beat me on the third move!"
As Seto was about to tell him about the moves his mom taught him in chess, the small TV beside them suddenly got loud with clapping.
"Mr. Gozaburo Kaiba has won the national chess competition and is now named the National Chess Champion." The TV showed Mr. Kaiba holding up a chess trophy with a fake smile plastered to his face. "In other news regarding Mr. Kaiba, he will be donating toys to the Domino City Orphanage on Febuary 21."
Seto's eyes widened. His mouth fell open. This was an opportunity! Seto smiled happily.
"Seto? Seto what're you smiling about? Seto?"
And for the first time ever, he blocked his little brother out completely. He had work to do.
o-O-o
Febuary 21, 2002
Domino City Orphanage, 12:09
Seto peeked his head around the corner. His eyes actually kinda widened at the sight of Mr. Kaiba.
He was tall, with broad shoulders. Gray bristled hair was combed over the back of his head as if that made him handsome or something. The man was also big. Not just the kind of big that you knew if he tripped over you, you'd suffocate under his fat, but also the big where if he did trip over you, and after you've suffocated, he'd beat you with his fist for getting in his way.
He took a breath, prayed that his sweet little brother wouldn't do anything that would make Mr. Kaiba mad, and stepped out in front of the hobbling man.
The caretaker looked like she could pass out at any minute. She gave him a hideous look, that seemed to scream 'What're you doing?'
"Mr. Kaiba?"
"What do you want, kid?" The burly man asked looking down on Seto as if he were an ant that infested someone's house.
"I want to challenge you to a chess match. If I win you adopt me and my brother." Seto said determined and confident.
Gozaburo let out a thunderous laugh. "You think you can beat me?" He gave off another cruel laugh. "I'm a national champion, brat. I'll pass on that offer."
"Yes, indeed he is Seto." The other caretaker of the orphanage was there along with the female one, and he continued on. "And he's already been so generous to-"
"Be quiet fool, I wasn't asking you."
Even Mr. Kaiba got startled by Seto's additude. Seto directed his attention however, towards the rich man before him.
"Are you afraid of losing?"
"Of course not! Didn't you hear me, brat? I'm the national champion of chess." The man glared down at Seto with a challenging look in those brown eyes, as well as mockery.
"Then I guess it wouldn't be a problem if I tell the press you passed up a chess challenge against a kid."
At this, the millionaire physically stumbled backwards. "You wouldn't, brat!"
"Try me."
Mr. Kaiba's eyes narrowed. "I can't say I like your additude, brat." He paused and scratched his hairy chin. "You got a deal. Can you set up a quiet room for us?"
The question was directed towards the male caretaker, and the man nodded in affirmation dabbing sweat away from his forehead with a hankerchief . "Yes, right away. Follow me."
They were led into an empty classroom, and the female caretaker pulled up a chair to a desk for Mr. Kaiba without hesitation.
Seto pulled his own chair over.
A chessboard was put on the desk, with the two competitors staring each other with looks that could send you ten feet under. Mokuba and the adults stood a little ways back watching in astonishment
"You ready to lose, brat?"
The game started. Seto went first.
"Pawn to E3."
Gozaburo let out an 'hmph'. "That's my opening move." After moving his chess piece to that same position on the opposite side of the board, he gazed up into Seto's eyes. He did a double take.
Deep blue eyes glared at him, but they were filled with hurt, agony, frustration, but they also held... something deadly. A monster about to emerge from the black void, that knows your darkest secrets and will go to great deadly lengths to achieve his goals.
The rest of the game was a blur. Mokuba was trying hard to see what was happening, but it was a flurry of hands, fingers and chess peices. About 27 minutes later, he heard something he never thought he'd hear.
"Checkmate."
Mr. Kaiba looked absolutely furious. "That's outrageous! You've cheated somehow!"
Seto leaned back in his chair and a smug smirk played over his face. "No. I think you're a sore loser."
"I am not you stupid brat!"
"Then I'll tell the press you've lost against a kid in chess, AND that you're a sore loser when it comes to bets."
Gozaburo snarled. "You... You!"
"If you adopt me and my brother, then your social status will uphold." Seto reasoned.
Gozaburo sat there.
For actually quite a while. He and Seto stared each other down icily, the thick tension floating in the air with a suffocating grasp.
"You have a deal."
Seto and Mokuba cheered.
o-O-o
March 1, 2002
Kaiba Mansion, 13:24
The ride was long and boring on the way to the Kaiba mansion. The were told to sit in a absolute silence by the chauffeur that Gozaburo had sent to get them from the orphanage.
The two boys gasped in amazement at the mansion as the pulled into the driveway.
It was huge and made of brown bricks. Two white columns stood on each side of the large door that would envelope them inside the mansion. A large amount of flowers, trees and trimmed bushes were placed at the sides and the front of the large building, while a marble fountain sat in the middle of a circular driveway. Made of limestone were stairs that led to the large wooden door.
"Woah..." Seto let out a breath of astonishment.
They got their backpacks out of the limo they arrived in and walked inside the large mansion.
Once they were inside, a fat, wrinkled, petit man in a butler outfit came up to the two and took Seto's belongings, while a maid came up and took Mokuba, and his belongings into another room.
"Where are they taking my little brother?" Seto demanded the petit man before him.
He let out a shaky laugh. "Mokuba will be shown around the mansion, as will you. My name is Hobson, and I will tour you around the mansion then send you to your studies as Mr. Kaiba instructed."
Seto narrowed his eyes into slits. "I didn't agree to homeschooling. Besides it's our first day."
"Oh, dear," Hobson frowned. "Mr. Kaiba will not like that answer, but you're free to talk it up with him. In the meantime, I will tour you, then you may protest against Mr. Kaiba all you would like."
The way Hobson said the last statement made Seto's skin crawl with unwanted discomfort. He sounded like there was no way out of it... Seto followed the ugly man anyways.
The tour was not short timed. Seto was shown all the important rooms of the mansion and that took almost half and hour. That was not including the recreational rooms or study rooms.
When the tour was finally over, Seto was led to room that had large wooden doors, and a KC symbol engraved in the wood. Hobson knocked on the door three times. "Come in." was heard from the other side.
The large doors were pushed open, and Hobson bowed as Seto walked in, then excused himself leaving them to chat amongst themselves.
"So," Gozaburo started. "Hobson has told you about your studying."
"Yeah and I disagree with it. I didn't a-"
This hurt much more than a slap.
Before he knew what was happening, Gozaburo had a switchblade, and had used the blunt and smooth side of it to smack his chest. Seto clutched at his chest and looked up with tears misting at the corners of his eyes.
"The deal was that I'd adopt you and your stupid little brother if you won that chess game. You're obviously no retard, and you're now the eldest Kaiba."
Seto didn't say anything, for the first time not having a remark to snap back, but found that his mouth was hanging open trying to form words that didn't make sense.
"That means that you will become the heir to KaibaCorp. You will study, and this is not up for discussion. Unless you want you're brother to be thrown back into the orphanage." Gozaburo had a wicked smiled across his face as he glared down at the terrified boy.
That's not fair! You can't make me-"
Another cruel slap with the switchblade, in the same spot.
"You can, and you will." Gozaburo returned to the papers he was writing on when Seto had first entered, and told the kid harshly, "Get out of my sight. Your studying will start tomorrow."
He scrambled out of the room and right into Mokuba.
Mokuba was smiling and began to tell Seto everything he had seen and done in the matter of a hour that they've been here. Seto bobbed his head up and down absentmindedly, only half listening to the glorious things his brother had done.
"Unless you want you're brother to be thrown back in the orphanage..."
Gozaburo's cruel words kept replaying in his head, and he wanted to cry in a corner.
The pain.
The frustration.
Seto was practically becoming a father at ten years old. No one was here to protect his Mokie, as it was obvious Mr. Kaiba didn't care at all for him and everyone else here was ordered to take Gozaburo's command.
Seto let tears fall out of his eyes, and only heard the distant voice of his brother asking if he was okay, and only a distant feeling of small chubby arms wrapping around his skinny frame.
The only thought he could focus on, was why?
Why?
Why did his parents have to die?
He wanted his mom and dad.
"Knowing some isn't coming back doesn't mean you ever stop waiting."
-Toby Barlow
