Playing Big Brother
Yes yet another Mokuba and Seto Kaiba story written by me, got to love them!
This story is about how Seto Kaiba is always busy, so busy that he has absolutely no time for his little brother, Mokuba. After asking so many times and always getting the same response Mokuba gets bored of asking and makes a decision to try and find another brother, one that can spend time with him and such. What will Seto think, how does Mokuba find one and who is it?
Chapter 7: Brother's Are Nothing But Trouble
Mokuba sighed as he watched the news briefly on his wide-screen TV in his bedroom. He'd just been flicking through channels randomly and saw his brother's company on the news and was slightly curious on what was going on now. The company was forever on the news for something, often had gossip surrounding it and Seto Kaiba.
"Looks like you got what you wanted, Seto." Mokuba commented blankly when the news was read out.
Finally. After what had happened with Doom, the company was now raising back up and gaining it's former glory of success again. The Grand Prix had helped put it back on the map again, especially with all the stars that was in it and the sneaking around from Leon and his older brother, but it was just the starting point. At the time Mokuba had felt sorry for his brother, he didn't even have the time to be in any tournaments or do anything he'd enjoy. But there was only so much you can take... And this was predicted ages ago that the company was going back on top, Seto had the option of cooling it. But instead of paying any attention to him he just pushed the company more than necessary and took up his duel cards again. Seto most likely don't even want Mokuba to know that he'd taken up the cards again, would know he would get the ear ache and such from Mokuba going on at him. But to be perfectly... Mokuba was starting to get past caring, to even start raving about that.
Mokuba sighed again and look up to glance at the clock on his wall. Time to go. That report wasn't going to write itself, now was it?
"Rowland?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Where's Mokuba?"
"Why? Would you like me to go get him?"
"Yes please."
Rowland nodded and left quickly to do his bosses bidding.
Rowland was soon back but sadly was all alone.
"And?" Seto demanded, when he didn't see his brother with Rowland.
"He's... Not here..." Rowland stuttered, almost afraid of his bosses actions.
"What do you mean 'not here'?" Seto scowled and waited for his explanation. What was the matter with staff these days? Couldn't they keep track of a young child now? He had hundreds of staff everywhere! How can so many people miss seeing his younger brother?
"He's just... Not here." Rowland replied, trying to not show fear. "He's seemed to have... Left?"
Seto's scowl only deepened more, he almost had a mad darkened look on his face now. "And what did I request yesterday? Hmmm?"
"Umm..." Rowland stuttered, it wasn't a real question because Seto knew that Rowland knew the order very well.
"I ordered that the staff was supposed to watch him! You were leading it!" Seto burst after waiting a few moments.
"I... I... Know. But... A minute ago he was just in bedroom watching TV and I just checked a second ago and he was gone..."
Seto just put his head in his hands in frustration and shook it. "I want to know where he's going... He has never snuck off before and not told anybody what he was getting up too. Plus after yesterdays meal time and his attitude, somethings up."
"If he has got something going on, sir. He's keeping it pretty tight lipped." Rowland replied softly.
"Did he say anything about today with you?"
"Hmm... No... Oh wait! Yes. He did mention something." Rowland remembered, putting his fingers on his chin and rubbing it as he thought. "I was questioning about that project that's due in for next week..."
"The siblings project?" Seto butted in, remembering Mokuba mentioning that in his anger yesterday.
"Yes." Rowland nodded. "I was worried that he wasn't going to get it done because I haven't heard or seen him working on it at all in this past week. He wasn't bothered at all and said he had it sorted. He said he was doing the report today."
"Today? How can he do it today if he's out?" Seto scowled yet again. "Plus, if he's not talking much to me then who is he doing it on then?"
"Maybe a friend?" Rowland suggested. "A best friend."
"I guess..." Seto grunted at the option. "But he should be doing it with me."
"I know, sir." Rowland tried to agree but could also see Mokuba's side of things too. Seto had just shooed him away and hadn't shown a lick of interest in ages.
"I mean, I'm his brother!" Seto boomed at no one in particular. "No one should matter more than me."
"Yes sir. But you did just tell him to basically go away when he needed to do the project originally." Rowland pointed out finally, not enjoying the glare he got back from him. "But you did explain that you were busy."
"I've been thinking, Rowland." Seto replied in quite a firm voice. "After listening to Mokuba I've realised how much I've been neglecting him. I was so focused on trying to get the company back on top that I just shoved him into the background. And I continued to shove him into the background when I had finally done it... I remember him virtually coming into my office everyday, often to just basically see me or ask whether we could do something together, but I'd always looked at him annoyed and basically telling him to go away and he was distracting me from my work."
"Then it might be best that you speak to him when he comes back, sir." Rowland suggested softly.
"Yes... I think that would be a good thing." Seto agreed with a grunt. "I wish I knew where the hell he was right now! That's going to be one of the things I'm going to have to drag up with him."
"Don't be mad with him, sir." Rowland tried to defend the younger Kaiba.
"Don't tell me what to do, Rowland." Seto gave him a death warn with a added warning glare.
"Just friendly advice, sir." Rowland replied nervously.
"Leave." Seto ordered, gotten bored with Rowland's presence in the room. He didn't feel much like a lecture right now, he just wanted to be left alone.
Rowland gave a quick soft nod and turned and left the room.
Seto just put his head in his hands, he didn't know whether to be mad or worried about and for his younger sibling. It was hard to tell what to think or feel when he felt that he was being left in the dark by Mokuba. It felt... Like he was losing him in a way, which scared him to death. He guessed the saying was true, you don't realise what you get till it's gone. But he had that warning several times... And still he hadn't taken heed of it. Was he that stupid?
Did Mokuba honestly think he hadn't noticed? That he hadn't been popping in to see him in the office or at the company building. Because Seto had noticed. He always visited, no matter what the situation, weather or whatever cropped up. So for him to stop all of a sudden and to have a recent attitude, something was not correct. And Seto Kaiba hated it when things weren't correct.
Mokuba wandered into his bedroom and dumped his bag down.
"And where have you been?" A voice asked in a plain tone but had a certain firmness to it at the same time.
Mokuba almost jumped out of his skin, already knowing the voices owner before slowly turning around to see it's owner. "Seto... What are you doing here?" Mokuba stuttered, trying to act innocent.
"I believe I asked you a question first, Mokuba." Seto replied sternly, sitting on a chair near the window. Not looking the least bit happy.
"Just... Out." Mokuba shrugged off but in quite a blunt tone of voice.
"Hmm... Really? So important that you just had to repeat yesterday's offence?"
"Really. I was just out. No big deal." Mokuba tried to reassure, giving his best attempt of looking like he was honest.
"If it's not a big deal then why didn't you say anything about going out?" Seto raised an accusing eyebrow.
"Because I know we were still stressed from yesterday." Mokuba frowned at him. "Which I'm still not totally happy with you about."
"You're the one making it hard, Mokuba." Seto shot back.
"What?" Mokuba gasped in disbelief. "You're the one that's not showing any interest in me!"
"Yes but do you honestly think that you acting off like this is making the situation any better?" Seto pointed out and frowned.
"I'm not acting off."
"Really? And what would you call yesterday's thing then?"
"It was not really a 'thing', Seto." Mokuba snapped. "You're doing it again, like usual."
"Doing what?" Seto scowled at the comment.
"Shifting the blame."
"I do not 'shift the blame'!" Seto shouted back, looking like he just got slapped in the face.
"Yes, Seto. You really do do that, quite well too." Mokuba retaliated. "Yesterday, you were realising your mistakes but now you're just shifting all the fault on to me."
"I know I've done mistakes, Mokuba. I'm well aware of that." Seto snapped back. "And I've apologised too. But there was no need for that attitude yesterday, even if you are upset with me."
"And why shouldn't I have an attitude Seto?" Mokuba snapped. "After the way you've been acting and treating me I think I've got every reason to act this way. I'm your brother, not someone you can order around and treat like a pest. Like one of your servants. Plus, don't like this attitude? I learnt it from you."
Seto just sat there glaring at him for ages. Mokuba started to fidget, not liking how Seto was giving him such a dodgy look and staring at him as if he was in deep thought process. Had he pushed it maybe a little to far? Most likely yes, especially with the last comment.
"Look... I'm sorry, Seto... If I had you worried." Mokuba finally apologised, anything to break the silence and maybe that stare.
"I should hope so." Seto replied sternly. "But what about that project?"
"Project?" Mokuba questioned with a confused face.
"Yes, the one that you accused me of not giving a shit about." Seto reminded, in quite a cross tone.
Mokuba's eyes widened a little when he heard his brother cuss at him for once, he must be serious. "Ah... It's... Finished now."
"Finished? How?" Seto persisted. "Last time I checked you hadn't even started the thing."
"You know how quick I work." Mokuba replied, moving his eye direction to feet, which he started to shuffle.
"Hm..." Seto grunted as if to sound like he didn't believe him.
"I don't need to be checked up on, Seto." Mokuba's turn to frown now.
"Oh really? You don't need to be checked up on but you seem to love to go missing. God knows what could have happen to you while you're 'wandering' around!" Seto burst at him.
"I'm not a child!" Mokuba shouted back.
"Yes. Yes you are! That's exactly the definition of you! Child." Seto yelled back at him. "Someone in my care, that needs my protection."
"I need nothing from you!" Mokuba shot back. "You haven't been there much for me in god knows how long! Recently even that took a nose dive!"
"I'm willing to try if you are." Seto said softly, finally cooling himself. He saw that if he just continued with that conversation he wasn't going to get anywhere. Besides, he hated arguing with his baby brother, especially the yelling at him. He was the adult figure, he should be the one to be more mature and take control of the situation. And that's what he did best, take control of situations.
"Huh?" Mokuba was caught off guard by the sudden change of the conversation. They'd just been yelling, right?
"Look, I know I haven't been the best big brother to you... And I've been so busy and stressed recently... But that was no excuse to shove you away." Seto continued.
"Actions speak louder than words, Seto." Mokuba frowned, unsure whether to be happy about this new twist.
"I know. Which is why I'm going to try really hard." Seto replied softly. "The business is back up and running, no excuse to take... A bit of time off. Or... Take an afternoon off here and there."
"Are you sure?" Mokuba questioned wearily. He'd heard all of this before and it didn't pull through, Seto would start making all the excuses under the sun and then be in constant bad moods with him.
"I know what you're thinking." Seto replied, seeing the look on Mokuba's face. "I mean it this time. I know I've said all this before but... Come on, Mokuba."
"I guess..." Mokuba shrugged in caution. Whatever. He had Alister as a big brother now. If Seto let him down it wouldn't be that bad this time, would it? Would he feel as bad as all the other times that Seto let him down? This wasn't the way he had it planned... He hadn't planned that his time going out to meet Alister, just this weekend, would make him... Jealous. Even though he doesn't know anything about Alister. It wouldn't be a problem, would it? Tons of people have more than one sibling and they made it work...
"You don't sound that happy, Mokuba." Seto observed with a frown. Usually Mokuba would be jumping up and down at the thought of spending time with him. What had gotten into him?
"... Just not in a happy mood right now, I guess..." Mokuba shrugged off. "Sorry."
"Do you still want to do that sibling project on me?" Seto asked, trying to ignore Mokuba's off attitude, which was not easy. It was like talking to someone new.
"I told you. It's already finished." Mokuba reminded him sternly. "It's fine, nothing you need to worry about."
"You're sure?" Seto questioned, finding it a little hard to hide his disappointment. But then again, what did it matter? It was just a stupid little report anyway. He most likely just did it on one of his close friends instead because he wasn't paying attention at the time.
"It's fine." Mokuba insisted. He was happy with the work he'd done on Alister for the project, he was actually quite surprised that Alister was so interested in doing it. Plus after finding out more about him he was actually quite interesting to and didn't mind telling Mokuba some more personal details.
"Ok, if you're sure." Seto tried to shrug off. "I'll go back and work for a bit in the office, see you at dinner?"
"Ok." Mokuba smiled and watched his brother leave his bedroom. He couldn't help but feel a little happier that things had been smoothed over between him and Seto. He didn't really like it when himself and Seto fought, especially when he idolised him.
Beep Beep!
The dark red head turned onto his side while laying on his bed and picked up his mobile phone that had just gone off.
Hey Alister,
Glad to hear that you and that Kaiba kid are getting along so great, I know he reminds you a lot of your own baby brother and he helps fill that hole. Who would've know that a company like that would actually do some good for once, huh?
Just one thing though. I thought Seto Kaiba was staying out of it. I saw him and Mokuba together in town, very strange sight that is to see that suit out of the office. Now, I'm not saying anything but I'm not sure whether you actually want Seto lingering around, you know he does nothing but butt in. The kids cool but his older brother ain't.
Alister glared at the mobile and didn't look at all to happy about hearing that, Mokuba had said he was staying out of it. There was always the option of dropping Mokuba as a younger sibling but he'd already grown attached to him and wasn't going to let Seto Kaiba ruin it.
