Chapter 14
The group decided to take a part of the plan. Tea and Ryou will be doing the research on where Noah's hideout might be located since the two of them are not really for fighting. Yugi, who Yami have been training with, and Yami will search the surrounding area in case the bad guys are lurking around. Malik and Marik will go to the Kaiba mansion to retrieve some important documents involving the new Gaming System that Kaiba told them about. Bakura and Tristan will stay here in watch of the shop in case they're under attack. Last but not least, Joey and Kaiba will go to Joey's place to retrieve some important documents that Katashi kept as well. He had told Joey that if something were to happen to him, Joey was to open it and read what's written inside.
The gang argue about letting the two target go alone, but Joey insist that it's best if Noah doesn't suspect anything. Joey and Kaiba got to his front door step and open the door with the keys under the carpet. He unlock the door and was about to open it until he feel a hand on his shoulder. He look at him, "Kaiba?"
"I'll go in first. If you hear gunshot, run away from here as far as you can, you hear me?" Kaiba replied in a sad tone. Joey swallow hard and manage to nod. Looking at him, Kaiba could tell Joey wouldn't keep the end of that bargain. He let out a sigh and slowly open the door. He quickly took the gun out and point it toward the hallway. "Stay here," he demanded and walk in.
Joey cross his finger and gave a little prayer. Kaiba has gone into the house in what seem like a lifetime. Finally, Kaiba emerge into the hallway and usher Joey to come in. he did just that and close the door behind him. He walk up to Kaiba, "What took you so long?"
Kaiba gave a little loving smile, "I was just checking the whole house. I wouldn't want to endanger my little puppy, or should I said red dragon instead.?" Joey chuckle lightly and let his eyes wander around the house. He move into the living room follow by Kaiba. He look at the arrangement that the furniture was in and then toward the kitchen. He want to keep a firm memory of this place. Kaiba put his arms around Joey's shoulders. "Kaiba?" he asked.
"Being with you like this in this house, made me feel like we're a married couple." he said softly. Joey nodded in agreement with a big grin on his face. "We should go upstairs, dad's documents are in his room." Kaiba nodded and they head up the stairs. They walk through the quiet hallway and to the last room on the floor. Joey open it and walk inside. The room was in the color of red with a bit of black. Joey walk straight up to the desk drawer and open it. He pull out a white envelope that Katashi had told him about as well. Kaiba walk over to him. Joey stare at it intensively. He swallow hard again and open the envelope. He pull out a letter instead of documents and a picture of a girl around 15 to 16. There was a birth certificate attach to the photo. Kaiba took the letter from Joey and begin reading, while Joey stare at the red-headed girl in the picture. She look a bit like him, not at all alike. He turn to the birth certificate and look at the name. His eyes widen in shock, "Serenity… Jounouchi?" he whispered.
XXXXXXXXXX
Serenity sneeze a bit. The nurse hand her a tissue, "Someone must be talking or thinking about you." Serenity smile, "Yes. Nurse, for some reason, I feel so nervous. I don't know if I really want to take off these bandages without my big brother here. Maybe I should keep them on until I see him."
"Why Serenity?" the nurse asked in a soft tone.
"I want the first thing I see to be my big brother Joey. All my life, I want nothing more than to be able to see Joey. I don't care if I was blind again after I see him, at least I know how my big brother looks like." she said softly. The nurse smile and held her hand gently, "You will see your brother soon."
A knock came on the door. The nurse let go of her hand and walk to the door. She open it, "Yes? Uh…" A sharp pain stab through her heart. Serenity felt a weird presence, "Nurse? Are you there? Nurse?" she asked a bit terrified. Footsteps that she doesn't recognize came into the room. She grip the blanket tighter. "Who's there? Where's the nurse?" she asked.
"Nice to meet you, Serenity," a voice greeted. Serenity froze, whatever this person is, there's an evil presence around him. She move away a bit, "Who are you?"
"How rude of me, I am Noah Kaiba." the man said.
"How did you know my name?"
"I know a lot about you that even you don't know about."
Serenity bit her lower lips, "Please leave. I don't want visitor from people I don't know. Please leave before I call for help."
Noah look at her with a bit anger, "Why would you be so rude to someone you just met?"
She gulp, "I don't like the aura around you. It's evil and not nice like my big brother."
Noah suddenly grin, "Big brother eh? Let me guess, Katsuya Jounouchi right?"
Serenity tilt her head a bit, "How did you know about my brother. You… didn't do anything to him did you?"
Noah was smirking now, "To him? No. I won't hurt something that I take an interest in, especially something that was mine to begin with."
"Yours? Big brother is not your! That I know of!" Serenity said angrily and disbelief. Noah sigh, "Then I have no choice but to tell you a little tale of our first encounter." Noah took a seat beside Serenity and begin, "I lost both my parents when I was ten. I was visiting the coast near the ocean when I met your brother Katsuya, or Joey if you prefer. He was a year younger than me and was a beautiful person. Your brother was with his caretaker at the time so I couldn't really talk to him. On the last day of his visit, I met your brother near the shore. He was staring at the horizon sadly and lost in thoughts.
Flashback
"Why are you here alone?" I asked. He look at me with teary eyes.
"I'm waiting for my mommy and daddy to come get me," he said in tears. I was a bit taller than he was, so I patted his head, "I'm sure you're mommy and daddy will come get you soon."
"What about you?" he asked after rubbing his eyes. I was as stiff as a board when he asked that. I didn't even realize I was crying until he wipe away my tears with a big smile on his face. "Don't worry, your mommy and daddy will come for you too." he said. That was the first time I ever heard anyone said those words. It made me so happy, that I was lost in thoughts. We play together around the beach after that. We kept on playing until his caretaker came for him.
"Joey! Thank god you're here," he hug him, "Don't ever disappear like that ever again!" he took Joey away before I could even ask for his name. As they left, Joey drop something onto the sand. I pick it up and examined it. It was a necklace with a black dragon with red eyes as the pendant. I went to return it, but his caretaker wouldn't let me see him. I wanted to be the one to hand it to Joey, so I climb the tree to the nearest window. It turn out to be your brother's room. He was looking around the room desperately for something. I figure it was this necklace.
I knock on the window and he turn around. He smile when he see's me. I smile back… that was the first time I ever smile in so long. He quietly open the window, "It's you. Why are you here?" he asked. I show him the pendant, "You drop it by the shore. I was at your front door just now, but your caretaker wouldn't let me through. Here," I handed it to him. He examined it and smile happily. He held it to his chest, "Thank you!" We talk for a bit and it was time for me to go.
"I'm leaving tomorrow," he told me sadly. I felt sad for some reason, "Then we won't see each other again."
He shook his head, "We will. He put the necklace around my neck, "As long as this necklace stays with you, we'll meet again. I promise we'll me again someday."
I look at the necklace and back to him, "Are you sure I can have this?" He nodded and held up his pinky, "Let's make a pinky promise that we'll never forget each other." I smile and linked my pinky with his.
Flashback Ended
"That promise is what kept me going all these years. I've search for him and I finally found him," but Seto Kaiba… stole him already, "I swear I will get him back to me even if I had to sacrifice those around to him to do it."