Clarissa shuddered inwardly as she heard Gozaburo's black limousine drive forebodingly into the hospital parking lot. However, she swallowed the lump in her throat as the towering businessman walked purposefully in the door, his heavy expensive personalized boots clunking. "Would you like to speak with Noa?"

The man barely met her gaze as he and his two sons walked in the direction she motioned without replying.

Noa was sitting in his hospital room watching television courtesy of Janine, the young nurse from before. On the outside he appeared to be a calm, recovering teenager while in reality he was experiencing inner turmoil. He tried and failed to laugh at the ridiculous cartoon he was watching. Then the door opened. There he stood, Noa's father, if he should even still be called that. Standing right beside him were two boys. One appeared to be Noa's age, the other a few years younger and much meeker.

The older boy gazed fiercely at Noa for no reason while the young one hid behind him. "Shhh, Mokie. It's okay." The older boy attempted to comfort the smaller one.

"Noa", Gozaburo spoke and everyone in the room directed their gaze towards his tyrannical presence. "I'm not sure you've realized this but I have adopted two sons, the eldest of which", he looked proudly at the brown haired tall stately boy, "is to be my heir to KaibaCorp."

"Oh that's nice, hello." Noa fought to keep his voice level but failed miserably. He never had been one to conceal his emotions that well.

"Seto, my name is Seto." Seto said with an arrogant smirk. A bit more confident now after that comment Noa observed.

"You are well enough to come to the Kaiba mansion with us, from what that nurse told me." Gozaburo basically demanded.

Noa knew he couldn't refuse; he was well physically but emotionally there was no way he could be prepared to be replaced.

"Yes sir." Noa tried hard not to let a tear escape but Gozaburo noticed as Noa knew he would. The older man frowned and looked away. He hated any show of weakness with a burning passion.

Noa gathered his things and followed Gozaburo and company out the doors. As he turned to exit the double doors he noticed Clarissa looking at him sadly and a bit helplessly. Noa could barely meet her gaze as he continued to walk towards the ominous car.

Noa's heart broke again if that were possible as he watched Seto slide smugly into the front seat. Noa remembered when he would smile as he hopped into the front seat when Gozaburo and he used to ride around town. The two would go places and just have fun together. Oh, how he missed those joyful days of yore.

Noa had always been much closer to his father than his mother. She worked as a nurse at a prestigious hospital; she was rarely home and when she was she hardly ever paid him any attention.

One night, Noa had stayed up late to listen in on his father and mother's conversation as all kids do at some point in their lives.

He wished he hadn't.

The two had eventually argued and yelled. It was difficult to believe his parents cared about him after that. For if they could not love themselves, how could they love their son?

Noa was jarred out of his disturbing memory when the car pulled up outside home, I mean the manor.

Gozaburo whispered something to Seto and he nodded. He then took Mokuba's hand as the two walked on ahead to the manor. Gozaburo exited the car just as Noa was attempting to avoid conversation.

"Noa," Gozaburo called tauntingly. His tone of voice all but commanded Noa to stay and listen. This was important; would the man apologize for his indifference? Noa smiled to himself at the happy thought. His hopes were soon dashed, however.

"You," he drew the word out cruelly, "are to stay in the guest room. Your room is being used by Seto."

Noa couldn't take it anymore. "Why?" He sobbed, losing all composure completely.

"If you don't care about me and don't love me anymore why did you bother bringing me home? To torment me?" Tears ran down his pale face. He slowly looked up at his father; a bit afraid of being struck. Years ago he never would have dreamed his father would be capable of hitting him, how the times had changed he thought bitterly.

"You may prove useful," was all that passed out of the man's mouth as he stepped rudely in front of Noa to enter his home.

The distraught boy could do nothing but unconsciously follow suit. Hopefully his descent into hell on earth wouldn't be too painful, maybe I'll be mostly ignored instead, Noa thought apprehensively.