disclaimer: I do not own yu gi oh, just Matsuko and Lein
So, ran into some distractions toward the end, and left it where it was in an attempt not to cram too much into this chapter. And I sort of left out Noah, since at the point I sat down to write this, I wasn't aware of him. sorry Noah.
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"Seto, Mokuba, welcome to the Kaiba household. There's someone here, you should meet." Gozaburo preened as he spoke, his chest puffed out and head high, the look of a confident, proud man. When he'd been challenged to the chess game, he'd thought it foolish, and yet here he was, against the odds he'd gambled his and his little brother's lives and won. It was a moment he could savor, choosing such a promising heir, the training would begin shortly but at the moment he had more pressing matters to attend to. "My sister has come from the north, brought her son. It's best you get acquainted with your cousin, he'll be visiting over the summer coming up." Though he'd objected the idea, the boy could at least keep Mokuba occupied while he worked on Seto's training, not only that but it was never too early to start forging business relations. And he knew his sister's husband would name his nephew as head of his company, it was a future investment, and all it would cost was a few moments of 'family time' here and there, it would be worth it.
Raising his hand he motioned the man servant with them to go on ahead of them, let his Sister know he was back. Climbing the steps to the mansion, the doors were pulled open before they reached the top landing, his butler, a tall, well-dressed man, stood in waiting. With a nod from Gozaburo, the butler turned to head back inside. "You both will be show to your rooms, I called ahead to have them prepared. Come back to the parlor once you're both dressed for the occasion at present." With a look back to the two slightly awestruck children he nodded and headed inside, cutting to the right and forgoing the stairs to a pair of large, elegant double doors.
Seto gripped Mokuba's smaller hand tightly, his head tilted to look around, the carpet under their feet was a rich burgundy and the walls were all white with molding at the tops, gold accents were tied into the masonry and carried into the banisters on the twin stair cases that rested to either side of the foyer, the man from before stood at the foot of the right staircase, his arms clasped behind his back. He had angular features but his brown eyes were soft and almost kind, lacking the hardened expression they'd held when faced with Gozaburo. Black hair shifted beside him and his attention went to his younger brother, he'd pressed himself into his side, the nervousness on his face. "Mokuba, it's okay." He offered a reassuring smile to his sibling "I'm right here, we're together and we'll stay that way." He crossed the remaining space to the butler, looking up at him.
"Young master Seto and young master Mokuba." He greeted them both, turning on his heel and beginning up the stairs slowly "If you'll just follow me, I will take you to your rooms and help you dress for Kaiba-sama's event."
"What kind of event is it?" Mokuba was the one to ask, drawing strength from his brother being there with him, the reassurance from their joined hands further easing his nerves.
"Kaiba-sama, has family visiting, Matsuko-san would be your aunt now, and her son Lein-san would be your cousin." He was careful not to refer to his master as their father, of which both boys were grateful, however he couldn't just ignore the new relationships to the other members of the Kaiba family.
Both boys looked at one another and then back to the butler, Seto was the first to let it sink in. Well it would have been silly to think the man didn't have any family, he hadn't been expecting to have to meet any of them so soon, an adopted aunt and a cousin? Were they the same age as this 'Lein' or was he a lot older, maybe younger. Though he wasn't sure how he could handle someone younger than Mokuba, the orphanage had been one thing, this was something completely different. At the top of the stairs, another manservant waited for them, Mokuba was to go with him and for a moment Seto hesitated, not moving from his brother's side.
"It's okay Niisan, remember, we're together here." Mokuba smiled up at his older sibling, even with his brave words he was reluctant when he let go of Seto's hand. Turning to face his new guide through the large home he nodded, as he'd seen Gozaburo do, it was a silent acknowledgment that he was ready and no sooner was it done than he was being led toward the hallway on the left. Blue eyes followed his back until Seto's attention was brought to the butler attending to him.
"This way then, young master." He turned to the right, following the landing to the wing on that side, the opposite side of where Mokuba would be staying. Though it didn't really matter, they'd find a way to be closer if needed, though he did wonder shy the rooms were so far apart, maybe it was just temporary. They only walked for about a minute or so and then came to an abrupt stop, Seto having to take a quick step back so he wouldn't run face first into the butler's side. "Here we are." He stated it seconds before opening the tall door, taking a step in to hold it for the boy. "Your brother will have similar accommodations."
"Wow." A rare exclamation of surprise found its way past his lips as he stepped through the doorframe and into what would be his new bedroom. The walls were white like the rest of the house, a soothing light blue carpet under his socked feet drew his attention first, then slowly he noted the two large windows, the royal blue curtains drawn back in gold rope of either one. The light filtering in through their latticed surface casting diagonal patterns across the floor, there was a full standing wardrobe against one wall, a length mirror set beside it. Both were framed in dark wood, a bed rested against the wall parallel to it, set on the same dark wood frame with a drawn canopy on four posters, the comforter a light cream with hints of blue and purple, pillows crowded the headboard and honestly for the first time he wanted to give into the impulse to just jump on it, sink into the mattress and just sleep. He'd been so tired, trying to get comfortable in the orphanage with a dozen or so other children in the same room, his little brother curled right against his side, clinging to him in his sleep. Well he might miss at least that much of it, but a bed to himself was also a wonderful thought. Looking around the area he didn't note much else in the line of furniture, save for the chandelier overhead, but that was a given. "There isn't much here." He voiced his opinion out loud, not expecting an answer even when it came.
"Kaiba-sama requested we hold off on too many decorations, and waited for your tastes to change. We'll be taking you and master Mokuba to get any remaining things you will need, we took the liberty of buying a formal outfit for you however." He smiled, cutting across the room to the wardrobe, opening the doors he took a small suit out, holding it at the boy's level for him to see it. "You will wear this for your meeting with Matsuko-san and Lein-san."
Mokuba made his way back down the stairs, feeling awkward in the suit he'd been given, absently fiddling with the cuffs on the sleeves. He was as used to wearing this kind of clothing as he was to the grand room they'd shown him too, with its rich forest greens and deep purples. The white walls and carpet had at least kept it from feeling too dark, actually the combination with the bleached wood had made it seem almost cozy. The servant who'd escorted him around was now, nowhere to be seen, but looking up he caught sight of the butler coming down the stairs and trailing behind him was his big brother, with a smile he turned to walk toward the stairs, meeting them at the bottom "Niisan." He greeted.
"Mokuba, you look silly." Seto smiled, jumping the last step to stand in front of his sibling. With that wild mane of black hair he didn't really fit into a suit, though his comment on how silly it looked, seemed to have earned him a pout.
"Niisan doesn't look much better." He grumbled in reply, though it was only partially true, his brother did look better in a suit than him, but then, Seto was taller and his hair was short, more businesslike compared to his own.
"I think, you both look fine. Now, it's impolite to keep guests waiting." Their butler smiled as he stepped forward, tucking loose strands of dark hair behind an ear, opening the door for his new charges.
The parlor was a medium sized room, the floor here a smooth white stone, the walls were off white, more cream and each tall window was framed in red curtains. The same red that splashed the floor, the rug having an intricate design weaving around it. Two high backed, overstuffed sofa's rested on either side of it, settled in front of a large mantle fireplace. A portrait hung on the wall above and crystal chandeliers decorated the ceiling, the power to them off for the moment, as the windows offered enough light to flood the room. Gozaburo sat on one sofa, his head turning when the boys entered the room.
"And here they are, the boys I told you about Matsuko. This is Seto, and the younger is Mokuba." He addressed the woman sitting in the sofa across from him, her legs crossed, brown hair cut short, following the line of her jaw. She'd come dressed for business though there was none to be had, a two piece suit, the lower being a knee length brown skirt, instead of a pair of pants, her blouse buttoned to the neck, proper as ever. Her dark brown eyes flicked to the children and Gozaburo watched her expression as it fluidly moved from surprise, to acceptance, and then something he couldn't read.
"Greetings then, children, so you're the newest additions to our family." She reached a thing hand down, patting her own son's leg, her head turning to him "Well go say hello Lein."
Seto watched the woman with wary eyes, he'd understood Gozaburo was a man of success, it had been the reason he'd ever gambled his and Mokuba's lives on that chess match. He hadn't known exactly how great of a man until they'd arrived at the mansion, but he had no idea the social rank of this woman. Was she as well off as their adopted father? She seemed nice when she greeted them, taking steps closer to the pair he stopped at the edge of the carpet, just outside the social confines of the sofas and their occupants. Right, the butler had mentioned a 'cousin' also visiting, he'd find out if he was older or younger now.
Mokuba shared his brothers hesitation, despite having been excited to meet more of his new adopted family, the air in the room felt heavy, like their presence had interrupted a conversation, and for all they knew, it had. Reaching for Seto he gripped his hand gently, feeling a reassuring squeeze from the older boy he pressed into his side but didn't fully relax. From beside the woman something moved and another boy came into view, sliding to the edge of the sofa and then standing. Stepping around the woman's legs the boy approached them, he was only a little shorter than Seto which, Mokuba concluded, meant they were probably close to the same age.
"Hello." He greeted them in a soft tone, offering out his left hand toward the elder brother, he was lean, much like Seto with a messy mop of black hair, eyes more purple than blue, wearing a button up white shirt and a pair of black slacks. His suit jacket tossed over the back of the couch, Mokuba stared at the outstretched hand toward his brother, toward him. It was inviting in its own way. Their cousin didn't seem to hold any malice, and as seconds ticked on he even began to look unsure about Seto's quiet demeanor. With the tension creeping in, he nudged his sibling's side.
Seto snapped out of his thoughts, scrutinizing the boy before he got to know him was a bad way to start their new family relationship off anyway. Quickly he brought his right hand out to meet the one offered, gripping it as firm as a ten year old could he shook it. And as if through magic the tension around them eased and the boy graced them with a smile which was returned by both Mokuba and a still unsure Seto.
Blue eyes snapped open quickly, the images of the dream still present in the darkness of the room but they began to fade gradually and other things took their place in the focus of his vision. Leaning back his head he rolled his shoulders and flexed his back, working the stiffness from the muscles there. Groaning once he blinked to clear the final haze from his vision, looking around the dim hospital room, it took him another moment before he remembered why he was there and not at Kaiba Corp going over the final papers on his next project, one look toward the bed reminded him. He'd taken over watching his cousin that night as no one else would have been able to make it there, because even though he'd told them it was family matters, Yugi and his annoying group had decided to come by anyway. "Figures, being in the same room as him probably triggered that dream." He grumbled, though of all the dreams regarding his past that had been one of the nicer ones. Leaning back into the chair, he began to settle into the silence and mechanical hum of the room when he was aware something was pressed against his back. Sitting forward again he cast an annoyed glare over his shoulder, turning in the seat to drag his coat off the back of it. Pawing at the pockets until he found the one that contained whatever object had been under him. Taking it out of the folds of cloth he eyed it, it was a dueling deck, but not his, he knew where his was.
Turning it over in his palm he leaned back against the chair once more, his coat across his lap, the fabric heavy on his legs. Seeing the card on the bottom his gaze flicked up to the teen laying in the bed a few feet away, this was the deck that had gotten him into this predicament. With a sigh he began flipping through the cards, passing them from one hand to the other, eyes scanning title, level, artwork, description. More effect cards than basic monsters, spells and traps. He paused when one card came into view, his eyes narrowing at it. "Star crossed lovers…" and behind it, he found the trigger card, "Tragic Maiden." He muttered, his eyes scanned the effect of the first card, it took 1000 life points from both players, but at the time it was played it had been enough to wipe out his cousin and the man he'd been facing. "You shouldn't have played it, it was a shadow game. Even if you ended it in a draw, loss is loss in a shadow game…" He looked up, a glare across his otherwise stoic features. Among the humming of the machines he heard the beeping, each screen monitoring a different vital of the comatose male. "When you wake up, I'm going to make you tell me your pathetic reasoning behind doing something so stupid." And it was a matter of when, not if, according to Yugi, or Atem, he'd wake up as soon as he figured out how to put his heart back together. It was similar to what he himself had went through after his humiliating defeat at the hands of the duelist. Bringing the cards back together he laid the deck on his lap, atop the coat. Glancing to his watch he gauged the time, well it would be another hour or so before anyone else would be there, tipping his head forward he crossed his arms over his chest. Eyes closing, brown bangs falling over them he was halfway through forcing his brain to shut down for rest, when a beeping sound entered his ears, opening his eyes quickly he looked toward the machines, nothing wrong there but the sound was still insistent, looking around he found the source, reaching into his pants pocket he pulled his phone out. "Kaiba." He answered, tone sharp and annoyed.
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If Seto seems ooc I apologize, tried hard to make it work.
Reviews are nice, just don't flame me, if you don't like oc's then, why are you reading?