Daisy

Six Months Later...

"Wheeler, just go home. I have to stay late and finish these contracts, but Mokuba would appreciate your...appreciate you more than I would right now."

"Aw, Kaiba, you know Mokuba would kill me if I just let you stay here. Last thing we want would be a repeat of why I'm standing here right now."

The brunet rolled his eyes and massaged his temples. "I really need to finish these for tomorrow. Tell Mokuba I promise I'll be home by six, and if I'm not, I give you permission to come back and drag me out yourself."

"And what makes you think I'd waste all that time coming all the way back? Jesus Christ, Kaiba, you live literally half an hour away! I have things to do!" Joey exclaimed indignantly, but his agitation quelled when Kaiba gave him a look that said, come on. "Okay. Yeah, you're right, I'd come all the way back. But I don't want to. So you better be home, Rich Boy."

"Hnh. Because all of my decisions are always based off what's convenient for you," Kaiba said sarcastically, tuning out the ensuing squawks from the blonde. He had to admit that his life had drastically improved over the past half a year. He'd managed to relinquish responsibilities more to the people he'd actually hired them for, and was very good about sticking to a pretty solid work schedule that he and Mokuba had put together with his therapist. He'd been sleeping better too. Sometimes Joey would actually have to come and wake him up for the day; of course, that would be after Mokuba worked hard rouse the blonde from his sleep, but it all worked out fine for the most part. Mokuba also insisted that they spend time together more as well, outside of working, and Kaiba had easily agreed to that. The one little thing that had concerned him, however, was that Mokuba had at some point made a habit of ending up in his big brother's bed almost every night. Kaiba certainly didn't mind the kid's presence, but when it turned out that this was happening out of anxiety, the elder brother put a stop to it by spending nearly two hours convincing Mokuba that he was fine, and that everything was back on track. He promised the child that he was doing well and would never leave him or lose each other, and that it really wasn't just the two of them anymore. They had other people to support them. Mokuba broke into a huge smile and hugged his brother, and that was the end of that.

Yugi was a regular presence at the mansion now, and Kaiba was essentially all right with this. All the other members of his little group had moved out of Domino-save for Joey, of course-and now that Kaiba could understand how Yugi would feel if he didn't have anyone, he made it clear to everyone that the shorter duelist was welcome whenever he pleased. He even gave his chauffeur orders that if Yugi needed a ride to the mansion, he was to go pick him up. The kitchen staff was more than happy to serve him food and beverages; they were primarily older women who absolutely adored Yugi's sweet and childish nature. All Kaiba really did about that was roll his eyes and leave the room when things got to be too much.

When Joey reached the mansion, he found Yugi and Mokuba playing some video game in the living room. He called out to them while pulling off his tie; Mokuba started to giggle.

"What's so funny? Did Yugi beat you again?" Joey asked, flopping onto the couch. Mokuba rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"No. It's just funny seeing you in a suit. Even Seto doesn't wear suits that much."

Joey shot him a look of his own. "Yeah, why is that, anyway? He's the president of the company, isn't wearing a suit one of the reasons people in his position are called...well, suits?"

"He owns the place," Mokuba said, shrugging. "He can do whatever he wants."

Yugi laughed at that while Joey let out a string of profanity, both knowing full well that Mokuba was correct. Even though the elder brother had softened up a bit around the other two, he was still Seto Kaiba: cold, calculating, and serious. Yugi couldn't quite understand why Kaiba still refused to label them as friends, but he more or less treated them as such. He was happy with the progress Kaiba was making, and he hoped that it would continue.

The door opened again, and Kaiba entered the room, handing his jacket to the new butler. Mokuba turned around and grinned at the new arrival, leaping over the back of the couch and grabbing his brother's hand.

"Seto, I have something to show you!" he urged, pulling Kaiba towards the hallway. Yugi just smiled faintly as Joey shot all of them a weird look.

Mokuba led his brother out to the back garden, and gestured proudly at a magnificent floral masterpiece. There was an entire patch completely filled with daisies, and another with a single amaryllis. Kaiba gaped at this, and turned back to his brother.

"Mokuba, when did you...?"

"You forgot about the landscapers and gardeners coming this morning," Mokuba explained. "Well, actually, we all did, but I felt like the backyard could use a little spicing up. So I did this...I know you liked Mom's flowers and stuff, and that you always had some weird thing against daisies, and I think I know why. Still, we've all turned over a whole new leaf. " He smiled up at his brother, who knelt down to the kid's level and pulled him into his arms. Mokuba buried his face into the crook of Seto's neck. "I know that lady always said that daisies stood for happiness and stuff. Maybe this could be a way of keeping this all going."

Kaiba didn't speak; he never expected anything quite so...lovely. But everything else had changed, why not his opinion over something as benign as a little white flower? He squeezed Mokuba even tighter.

"It looks great, kid. Maybe we should get some more amaryllises in, though...for Mom."