Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh. It belongs to the creators of the show. However, I do have one request though. It's a simple request really. Please don't "plagiarize" off my written work, which includes original characters/places/names/chapter ideas. I mean if you want to use something that I have written out. That I have worked very hard on and spent many hours reediting, please show some courtesy and ask me first, okay, Thanks – Razzleteddy

A/N: Thanks for reading :) Here's chapter 14 :) Enjoy! – Razzleteddy

Shadows Within

They spent an hour and a half in Akio's main office setting up Mokuba's schedules now they were finally on their way to his room, while on their way Mokuba looked around curiously to get familiar with the place.

"And here we have a very beautiful garden, with of all sorts of flowers to walk through. It has benches and a very nice lawn to sit upon. It's very peaceful and most of the time we usually have sessions there."

Mokuba viewed the grounds with a heavy sigh. He then relaxed a bit. He loved the idea of the flower garden. He thought about their garden again. How gorgeous it was, it was full of roses of all colors. It was mostly Seto's garden though, however, he enjoyed going there to contemplate as well. He viewed the garden with a small smile glad he was able to do it here too.

Akio saw him gaze at the garden, he softened his face warmly. "You like the garden huh. I can tell you do. Well maybe we'll have our sessions out there. Would you enjoy that?" he furrowed his brow gently at the boy.

Mokuba thought for a moment and nodded a little, yes, he liked the idea.

Akio, "And over by the far end is where have the barn, which we do animal therapy there. It has all sorts of animals there like pups, cats, horses, you name it," he creased his brow, "Do you like animals Mokuba?" he smiled.

Again Mokuba nodded eagerly at that. He always wanted to have a pet of some kind, like a puppy but Seto would never give in to give him one.

Akio smiled more, "That's good and perhaps you can help out there then."

Mokuba smiled slightly liking the idea right away, he nodded more.

Akio softened his eyes, "All right then," he soothed his back but retreated when he felt the boy stiff up from his touch. He wasn't really upset by it though. He knew he had to take it very slow with him. He sighed some, "Well, let me show you to your room," he headed forward down the hall.

Mokuba gave the garden one last look then followed after him with a sigh.

"You know Mokuba. You'll be having a roommate while you're here." Akio softened his eyes. "He names Noa, a real nice boy. I've told him all about you and was excited on meeting you," he explained warmly but rutted his brow a little, he wasn't really being truly honest. When Noa found out about the arrangement, he wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea and remembered the conversation quite clearly back in his office…

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Sorry for that Noa," Akio hung up the phone. He smiled at boy who sat there fidgety in his seat. He leaned back into his chair. "There always something that has to get done."

"Its okay Akio." Noa chewed his lip a little, "What is it you want to tell me?"

Akio thought for a moment before he began, "Noa…" he lessened his brow soft, "I know you expressed a while back that you didn't want any more roommates because how the last one worked out."

Noa slightly frowned, already he didn't like where this was going. He creased his brow at him, "Yeah so?" he saw him smile warmly at him.

"So I feel like… you might be ready tried another one." Akio smiled at him.

"But I already told that I didn't want any more roommates Akio." Noa began to protest, he shifted in his chair a bit stubborn, "You promised."

"I know I did Noa but this time, this time I think it'll be good for you. Trust me on this." Akio interjected calmly. He softened his face. He needed to try to get the boy to form some type of relations with other people beside him.

"No it won't," Noa sulked down his seat then. He hated when he had roommates. They come and stay and pretended to be his friend, pretended that they cared then they leave and forget about him like they always did.

"Noa…" Akio sighed as he thought on what he was going to say. He knew the boy's issues with trust still he knew this would be good for him. He softened his brow more, "Remember when you first came to live here. How scared you were." He saw him nodded a bit, "Well, this boy will be scared just like you and he would need a friend to help him out, to be there for him…" he leaned forward on his desk, "You could be that friend Noa."

"Me?" Noa inhaled a huge unconvinced breath, "I doubt it," he mumbled.

"Yeah… you," Akio smiled kindhearted, he could see the doubt in his eyes.

"But I'm not anything special Akio," Noa frowned. He looked down and began to smooth one of his cuts on his arm. What kind of friend would he be? And whoever it was found out about his past would he still liked him? He saddened his eyes some, no they wouldn't. He or she would hate him.

"Of course you are Noa, don't say that." Akio then stood up from his chair and walked over to him. He knelt down and pulled him into a hug, "Give him a chance is all I ask," he hoped the boy would agree to it. He needed it.

"Mm… I don't know," Noa then sat there and thought for a long moment, he rubbed his forehead a little. He still didn't like the idea of a roommate. But when he looked up to Akio's caring face he sighed, he didn't want to let him down, "Mm… I guess… I could give it a try Akio," he finally said.

"Good, it'll turn out fine you'll see, trust me okay." Akio hugged him once more. He then stood back up, he went back to his desk and sat down, "He's about your age by the way," he leaned back in his seat casually.

"What's his name?" Noa sighed again still unsure of the arrangement.

"He's name's Mokuba… Kaiba."

"You mean…" Noa peered up to him a bit surprised, "The boy in the news?" he gulped some, "He's going to be my new roommate?" he saw him nod then he became nervous. He had heard about him, the kidnapping and his attempt to take his own life. He could image the horrible things he had been through speaking from experience, "When will he get here?" he bit his lip.

"Sometime next week," Akio confirmed, "It's still being arranged." He gave him a worried look, "Is there any questions you might have or anything you want to talk about?" he became concerned, he didn't want to overwhelm him to much right now, he knew all too well what the boy would do if he was. He glanced at his arms briefly and at all the cuts there. He frowned.

"No… not really," Noa wondered about his new roommate. He just hoped it wouldn't be a mistake when he got here. "Can I go now Akio?" he felt tired.

"Of course," Akio smiled softly, "We'll talk about more tomorrow, okay."

Noa just nodded, he stood up and slowly walked out. He went up to his room and closed the door behind him. He then went over to his bed and climb on. He picked up his stuff elephant that he kept on his dresser, the one Akio had given him a long time ago and held it to his chest. He sat there in deep thoughts about the boy while he waited for whatever may come.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Akio shook out of the memory and creased his brow. He hoped that Noa would warm up to the idea. He turned to Mokuba briefly and noticed his curious look, probably thinking over about the roommate situation as well.

Mokuba furrowed his brow curiously, a roommate? He wasn't sure if that was a good idea on having a roommate, then again it would be nice to have a friend here. So he thought about it some more, yes it'll be nice to have a roommate. He looked around more, he felt nervous about the place. It was huge. It made him feel small... he frowned, he missed his brother already.

They made a couple of turns while Akio introduced him to people along the way, when finally they reached a long staircase. "This way," he guided him all the way up to the sixth floor then down the hall, "Right in here Mokuba." He pushed open the door and stepped back a bit to let him enter first.

Mokuba slowly entered the room and viewed around with curiosity, as he did once before at the orphanage when he was little. It was a very standard room with two beds, a desk, a closet, two dressers and a bathroom. He sighed some, it wasn't like Seaside though, this room had a warm feeling to it and he liked that very much. He then paused, at the other boy in the room as he noticed him for the first time. They viewed each other up and down slowly but with caution before their eyes locked. He felt his stomach turned as they studied one another. It seemed like they were brewing over the other's memories and secrets they wished would disappear. Nothing but silence filled the room. It felt a bit uncomfortable for the two boys.

Akio strolled in with a big smile, "Well, here we are Mokuba." He settled his bags down on his the boy's bed, "How do you like it?" he drew in a breath.

Mokuba shrugged some. He never broke his stare from the boy.

Akio could feel the tension in the air. He wondered if this was such a good idea to begin with for both boys. However, he thought about it over for a very long time and concluded that it would be best for both them.

Mokuba needed the companionship and Noa surly needed a friend.

He pushed Mokuba forward a bit, "Mokuba, this is Noa and Noa this is Mokuba Kaiba." He smiled but creased his brow when no one made a move. He cleared his throat, "Well, go on boys, shake hands. Mokuba, Noa, go on now," he encouraged them strongly, "I know you guys will become fast friends," he said kindly as he tried to ease the tension among them.

Mokuba sighed then offered his hand out, leisurely and watched Noa do the same. They grasped one another's hand, nervously but with softness. They stood in that moment and it felt like time slow down to a stop.

"Hello," came out Noa's shy voice, almost above a whisper.

Mokuba nodded respectfully in return before he viewed down, he noticed the cuts on his arms, some deeper than others. He raised his brow curious and wondered about them, how they got there and most of all why.

Noa halfheartedly pulled back when he noticed his stare and drew his sleeves down quickly to cover them up. He gave a quick glance down to the other boy's wrists, at the bandages that occupied there. He sighed deeply then pulled his attention away and to somewhere else. He didn't really want a roommate, he wasn't sure if this boy could be trusted. He had been used and betrayed so many times before, he was so unsure.

Mokuba gave him a worried look when Noa turned his gaze away. He wondered if he did something wrong. He didn't mean to stare at his… he looked down again. He shouldn't start things off on the wrong foot.

Akio lessened himself sadly as he watched them both. "Well... I'll leave you boys alone so you can get better acquainted with each other. Unless you want me to help you unpack Mokuba?" he saw Mokuba shook his head at the offer, he sighed briefly, "Okay well lunch will be in twenty minutes, so I'll see you boys then. Noa, help Mokuba out all right," he walked to the door, "If you have any questions Mokuba, don't be afraid to ask me." He then left, he closed the door gently behind them and stood in the hallway for a moment. He hoped this arrangement would work out for both boys, "Well, I guess I have to wait and see," with that he continued on his way.

Meanwhile...

An uncomfortable calmness filled the entire room. Mokuba went over to his bed and very tiredly opened his suitcase. He began to unpack his things when he suddenly paused, he felt a little sad when he came to a particular object. It was his old teddy bear, the one that Nanny had given him a long time ago when they came to live with their Stepfather for the first time. He didn't remember packing it but of course he was in a daze at the time.

Maybe Charles put it there. He embraced the bear for a moment and placed it down gently on the bed. Then he picked up the next object and more sorrow overcame him. It was a picture of Seto, his brother. He caressed the photo lightly. He didn't have the heart to set it down.

Noa sighed heavily and plopped down on his bed. He sat there quiet and watched the other boy unpacked his things with care and misery. He knew he should say something to him, a welcoming remark. But what? He tried to think up something but shook his head, he felt lost for words.

He rubbed his forehead uneasily before he viewed his wrists once more and after a long moment, he finally found the courage to speak up. He took in a breath, "Did it hurt?" his voice was soft, he saw the boy viewed over to him.

Mokuba viewed him, he wondered what he meant.

Noa softened his eyes, "Your wrists... did it hurt when you..."

Mokuba drew his eyes away little by little. He shook his head a bit while he spaced out. No. It didn't hurt. He couldn't feel anything when he cut them.

"You felt numb then." Noa rubbed his own cuts somewhat.

Mokuba slowly nodded as he started to stroke the photo once more.

Noa nodded as well, he knew the feeling. He then looked on with wonder as he watched him stroke the photographic in his hands. "What's that?" he stood up and walked over to him then glanced at the picture. "Who's he? He looks a little mean," he laughed a little but then bit his tongue.

Mokuba turned to him a little angrily. He settled the picture down upon his dresser and continued to put his things away. He shouldn't be upset with him though. He was use to people saying Seto looked mean even though that wasn't the case. He laughed very lightly to himself at that thought.

"I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean that really." Noa chewed his lip. He didn't want Mokuba to be angry with him, not at the very first day. He frowned some.

Mokuba viewed the boy again as he watched him fidget around with a frown. He softened his features then and patted Noa's shoulder reassuringly, to show that he wasn't upset with him.

Noa relaxed at that and began to toe the floor. "Well..." suddenly he was interrupted by the lunch bell. So, he sighed, "It's lunch time. They're expecting us. The food here is pretty good. Come on, let's go down and eat. We can talk some more, well I can do the talking," he smiled a bit, he walked to the door and opened it, "Coming?" he looked over to him.

Mokuba uneven his brow a bit then followed him. He somehow deep down knew he was going to like it here and he was glad to have a roommate.

Thanks for Reading :) Please Review :) - Razzleteddy