Chapter 2

One week later, Kaiba still hadn't told Mokuba. The last time he'd been diagnosed, Mokuba had been with him. This time he'd have to tell him, and he was dreading that. He was told he most likely wouldn't make it past six months without chemo, and if he went through with chemo and a marrow transplant, he might get a little over a year. They'd caught it late. Signs didn't point to a positive outcome

When the all too familiar fatigue, headaches, and joint pain started, he knew he'd have to tell his brother. All his life, he'd protected Mokuba. He'd tried to keep him safe, and he'd tried to shelter him. He hated that three short years ago; his brother had seen him at his worst.

He remembered chemotherapy much too vividly. He would go into the hospital, get an IV, and eventually fall asleep as the cell destroying drugs went into his blood stream. When he'd wake up, he'd feel horrible. The nausea was almost unbearable. He'd be violently sick. He couldn't keep anything he ate down. After two treatments, he'd lost quite a bit of weight. As much as he didn't want to go through with it again, it would give him more time. Time was something he'd become much more aware of.

He spent that Saturday with Mokuba. They played chess and Duel Monsters and just enjoyed each other's company. It had been quite some time since they'd had a day together. Kaiba was always overworked.

"How'd the doctor's visit go last week, Seto?" Mokuba asked.

Kaiba hadn't expected Mokuba to bring it up. Now. You have to tell him now. "Not… Not great…" he admitted.

"You're still okay, though, right?" Mokuba asked, concerned.

Kaiba bit his lip and shook his head, fighting back tears. He would not cry in front of Mokuba.

Mokuba paled. "You don't have…"

Kaiba simply nodded, and Mokuba started to cry.

"But… they can just do another marrow transplant and chemo, and you'll be fine again, right?"

"One year," Kaiba answered. "If I'm lucky… And obviously I'm not very lucky." He hugged his brother tightly and finally let the tears flow.

Mokuba could only really remember Kaiba crying three times, including this time. The first was when their father had died, the second was when he was first diagnosed with leukemia, and then now. To him, it was unnerving. Kaiba was supposed to be the strong one. Nothing bad was ever supposed to happen to him. Nothing.

"You're dying…" Mokuba said quietly. Those were the two words he never wanted to say, and the two words Kaiba never wanted to hear.

"There's still a chance I'll make it, though," Kaiba replied, his voice cracking.

"Seto, don't lie to me."

"I'm not. There's a chance… It's just… miniscule…"

The two brothers held each other and cried until neither had a tear left. "I'm getting my first chemo treatment in a few days."

"Why go through with it when it's not going to help?" Mokuba demanded.

"Because it'll at least give me some more time."

"But that time isn't going to matter if during that extra time you're going to be more sick and miserable than you would be otherwise!"

"I have to try, Mokuba. I can't just give up!" With that, the brothers went to their respective rooms.

Kaiba lay down and stared up at his ceiling. I'm sorry, Mokuba. I'm not going to be here for you much longer.

Mokuba punched a wall in his room. This can't be happening! Not again! Seto is all I have! I can't lose him! That night, he had realized that contrary to his belief, his older brother, the one he looked up to, his hero, was not invincible.

A/N: I'll probably be updating this randomly. Anyway, what do you guys think so far? Leave me a review?