Chapter 24: Friday Afternoon Confessions

"So after lunch I finally got back to work, and later that day I had some very cross words with my little brother about appropriate use of the house phone." Seto finished recounting the events of the other day. He was currently lying down on a leather couch, half way through a chess match with his current favorite opponent. Who happened to be his step-brother Noah. The green-haired teen looked up from the chess board thoughtfully, he really was starting to feel like the Kaiba family psychiatrist. First Mokuba had come to him with problems he was having with Seto now Seto was here asking for girl advice! Well he'd wanted to be apart of the family and the heritage that was rightfully his, so he wasn't going to complain. Playing big brother to both of his step-siblings was actually very enjoyable if he was honest.
"So tell me Seto…" he paused as he moved his knight to take one of Seto's pawns. "Why on earth made you invite them both over tomorrow after you just took her in your office several times?" The older teen had to admit the brunette had changed a lot since meeting Pegasus' niece, but he never expected the changes to be this far reaching. Neither had Mokuba for that matter, the raven haired teen had come over yesterday and they'd spent an hour speculating on what could have happened between him and Amethyst. He watched as the more experienced chess player used his queen to place his king in check, for the 5th time that match.
"Check Noah." He said smugly, "and I don't really know why… I guess I feel guilty for pushing Amber away and then doing her best mate at the first opportunity. It's such a weird feeling! I don't like it." He complained. Our favorite blue eyed teen wasn't exactly used to feelings of guilt so he didn't really understand them. Watching intently as Noah tried to get himself out of check, he had really begun to enjoy playing chess with his new older brother.
"Well why did you push Amber away in the first place? I thought you really liked her Seto, or was what Pegasus told you really that bad?" Noah replied absently as he studied the chess board carefully. Having already learned the hard way his brother would have a trap in wait for him to get him back in check as soon as he'd be able to get out of it. Still he enjoyed their games, even if he lost nearly every time. If he'd been paying more attention to his brother at the moment he would of noticed the involuntary at the mention of his conversation with Pegasus.

Flashback – Conversation with Pegasus

"I'm listening Pegasus this better be good." Seto snapped at Pegasus as he took a seat and crossed his arms over his chest showing his impatience. He rapped his fingers against his arm as he waited for the silver-haired man to spit out what ever it was he felt he needed to say. Not paying attention to the obviously pained expression on the older man's face, or the barely audible sigh that escaped his lips as he sat back down and clasped his hands in front of him on the desk.
"Well as you know Kaiba my brother isn't Amber's biological father, he adopted her when she was twelve. She's only been a part of our family for the past nine years or so, and yes it's true my brother is dying." The brown eyed man sighed sadly, "He has lung cancer and its terminal, Amber didn't take it very well when she found out. Although she's trying to stay strong for me, you see my wife Cecilia also died from cancer." He stopped to give Kaiba a chance to let his words sink in, as a solitary tear fell from his good eye. It has been so long since he'd talked about his wife's death to anyone. Kaiba just gave a low growl.
"What pray tell does this have to do with your brother being her master?" he asked icily, only regretting the harshness of his words when he saw the tear running down the other's cheek. "Don't get me wrong Pegasus I know what it's like to lose somebody close to you, but don't forget you did steal my brother's soul and my own in an attempt to take over my company in a bid to resurrect her." He tried to keep his voice softer but it wasn't really something he had much experience with. The silver haired man just nodded to say he knew, it wasn't like he was asking for sympathy anyway. He felt guilty doing this without his niece's permission but he wanted her to be with the man she loved and if that was Kaiba then so be it. It wasn't his place to tell her who to get to together with. No matter how hard she'd tried to hide her true feelings for his business rival he could tell, just like he could tell she loved her friend.
"Amber was raised as a temple slave in Egypt, her real mother died in labor so she was told by those who raised her." He said quietly. Trying not to wither under the younger CEO's cold stare.
"Why couldn't her father look after her?" Kaiba spat venomously. This was getting stranger and stranger by the minute and it didn't make any sense. A person had two parents, so if her mum died her father should have taken care of her surely? Looking at Pegasus intently for the answers he sought.
"It was her father who sold her to the temple in the first place Kaiba." Pegasus's face looked grave and his tone was deathly serious. Nothing at all like his usual cheery flamboyant self like when he was dueling or negotiating a contract. "My brother in law, Leo is an historian he works with archeologists all the time. He specializes in ancient cultures such as the Romans, Greeks and even the Egyptians, after my wife died he got me interested in Egypt and invited me on a few trips and that's how I discovered duel monsters in the first place." He went on to explain, feeling more and more uncomfortable as every word passed his lips, "She spent the first part of her life being taught how to serve and how to please, and also how to dance. She loves to dance and she's got an amazing grace, her original name wasn't Amber but it's the translation of her Arabic name. It suits her, she has such a raw passion I've never seen before in one so young… except in you." The look of surprise on the brunettes face silenced him momentarily, although he wasn't sure why it made him feel so strange.
"What do you mean except in me?" he demanded, practically jumping out of his seat as he uttered the question. Making the silver haired man shrink into his chair a little, he'd forgotten just how intimidating Kaiba could be when he wanted to be.
"Well when you duel you come to life… it's hard to explain. Just when you duel you're a different person you seem more alive, Amber is the same when she dances. It's not important right now though." He replied in a fairly dismissive tone, glad when Seto re-took his seat. "There was a collapse at the temple and they needed to raise money for repairs so they were talking about selling a few of the girls into prostitution and propositioned Leo of all people to see if he would be interested. Naturally he was horrified by the whole thing and rang me straight away asking if he could borrow a large sum of money. Of course I asked why but he said I would understand when he came back, I trust him so I wired the funds to him and he gave them enough for the repairs for Amber's freedom, and Leo brought her back with him the very next day." He paused again for breath and to let it sink in.
"So you've spent the past nine years rehabilitating her I take it?" was the icy response from the blue eyed CEO seated across from him. Pegasus shook his head. "What pray tell if that gesture supposed to mean?" he enquired in an exasperated tone.
"Well it wasn't that easy for her to let go, she couldn't understand the concept that she wasn't a slave anymore. She had been educated and could speak fluent English as well being able to read ancient Egyptian and of course she speaks Arabic although she's forgotten most of it from a lack of use. We wanted to send her to school but it wasn't possible, Leo filed for formal adoption and obviously he was allowed." He was cut off by the rather impatient teen.
"I've heard this part you had her home-schooled. Her tutor just so happens to be Amethyst's late grandpa who brought her round to be a friend for her, and she surprised you all by catching up quick enough to be able to attend the last two years of high school. The girls filled me in on this, it's not what I asked. So what did you do to rehabilitate her?" Seto snapped at the silvery haired man. He was getting fed up with all the meaningless meandering in his story.
"We haven't been able to, it took us a year to get her to stop calling Leo master. When she finally accepted Leo wasn't interested in her in that particular way she turned her attentions to me. I swear to you I never did anything to encourage it and she soon gave up she became very self destructive. She stopped eating, we became very concerned when she began to lose an alarming amount of weight. It was awful she was so happy and full of life when she first came to us, she loved to draw us pictures. She inspired a lot of the artwork on the duel monsters cards too, in particular your beloved blue eyes was one she helped me design. For a while helping me develop the game's basics was a good enough distraction until she discovered boys." He sighed loudly. "Things peaked when her father came looking for her when she was fifteen. He wanted to regain custody of her after he found out she was living in America with Leo unfortunately his staff let him in without realizing who he was or who Amber was with. He caught her making out with a female friend in the living room and got violent. Fortunately for both girls Leo's body guard was on hand to forcibly remove him from the premises and we haven't heard from him again except for a letter. Telling Leo to keep her and that she'll burn in hell for being a sinner… you know what the church can be like." This time Pegasus stopped to get both him and Seto a drink from a cabinet on the other side of his office. He grabbed too glasses and poured them both some scotch, he needed something stronger then wine today he decided.
"I see." Seto replied accepting the offered drink and placing it on the desk in front of him for now. "Was she alright? I'm guessing she's eating properly now, judging from her figure anyway." He observed thoughtfully.
"Needless to say she was incredibly shook up by the whole thing, she didn't remember who he was. We decided it was best if she came to stay with me for a little while and continue her home schooling at my New York residence. However I made the mistake of not keeping things away from prying eyes that should be kept private you might say." Pegasus stopped to take a sip of his drink. "She found some books and images she shouldn't have seen and began asking me about them. I refused to talk about it at first but she started asking Leo and he was just as surprised as my niece about them. As you've no doubt come to realize my tastes tend to deviate somewhat from most peoples and well Amber is no different. After I gave in and explained about the D/s dynamic as a sexuality and well a lifestyle she became a little obsessed with it. I'm assuming you know what I'm talking bout my dear Kaiba-boy judging from the things you were drawing during out business meetings." The final remark made all the color drain from Seto's face, he hadn't realized anyone else has seen those drawings. He'd shredded them at the first opportunity and he wasn't aware of Pegasus paying that much attention to what he was doing.
"Drawings are drawings, it's just an image it means nothing!" he snarled. "So not only are you telling me you didn't try to rehabilitate her into a normal way of thinking but you led her to believe her way of thinking was normal?" he asked dumb founded.
"Not exactly, we did try but she couldn't accept things. When she wasn't allowed to express her submissive self she would shut herself off from everyone. Except for art, she would write poetry, she would draw and it always had some sort of submissive theme to it I'm afraid. When she found out bout the BDSM community I felt maybe it would be a safer outlet for her needs. With the safe word precautions and everything else she would be safer then if she just threw herself at some random person's feet. So even though I knew Leo wouldn't approve I helped her learn about it." Finished with another sigh as he downed what was left of his drink before pouring another. He could feel the anger pouring off the young brunette in waves. 'Well let him say what he needs to say' he thought to himself ' he cant say anything to me I didn't already shout at myself'. Resignedly he allowed himself to look up at the sight of the fuming teen CEO towering over him, hands planted firmly on the desk.

End Flashback.

"Seto?" Noah called his brother's name, he's been spaced out for the past ten minutes and he was started to become concerned. "SETO!" he shouted louder this time, waving his hand in front of the brunette's eyes. Relieved when he finally blinked, and pushed his hand away with a low growl. Clearly not realizing he's been in a world of his own for the time being.
"What?" he growled the word. Glaring at his brother before softening his gaze when he saw his worried expression, it surprised him just how much it reminded him of Mokuba. "Is it my move or something?" he asked.
"Seto you've been in another world or plane of existence for the past ten minutes, are you feeling alright? Was it something I said? All I did was ask about your conversation about Amber's past, then you go all zombie on me." Noah explained concern was evident in his voice.
"Oh…" Seto said quietly, processing the new information. "I was just thinking about everything he said. He made me so angry Noah, the whole thing made me so angry. I thought my family was bad for chucking me and Mokuba from home to home to steal our inheritance but… to give your own child up to be raised as a slave is just.. It's just…" he trailed off not able to find the words.
"Wrong" Noah finished for him. The brunette just nodded numbly, feeling guilt wash over him for avoiding Amber for something that wasn't her fault. It wasn't her fault she'd had such a strange childhood, she wasn't so different from him in a way. Except whereas Seto had gone from a normal life into the life he'd had with Gozaburo, Amber had gone through it in the other way round. She could still smile and laugh with people and it was ok for her to that. Seto couldn't laugh and smile and act his own age around anyone except for Mokuba, that was until he'd met her… Amber Pegasus. Why did it feel ok to smile when he was with her? How come he could laugh with her and it was alright, he didn't understand. He was disturbed from his internal monologue when he felt an arm drape around his shoulders. It was Noah trying to comfort him much to his surprise, he'd completely forgotten anyone else was there.
"Its ok brother, I understand we both know what my father was like to live with. Amber isn't like most people, I know because Mokuba brought her to meet me. You can tell she's very taken with you and Mokuba is very fond of her, just talk to them tomorrow and I'm sure you'll see you have nothing to worry about." The green haired boy said in a reassuring voice trying to sooth his brother's frayed nerves.

"I slept with her best friend though Noah, I betrayed her…" Seto looked at the virtual floor sadly, "what if she doesn't want to talk to me again? I've never had a real friend before, yet alone a relationship I don't know what to do or what to say.. I guess that's one thing we have in common besides Gozaburo huh?" he gave a weak laugh. Not quite understanding the knowing smile on his pseudo-alive step brother's face.
"Well somehow don't ask me why, you can call me crazy if you like but I don't think to it'll matter where those two are concerned." Noah replied in a confident voice, "Trust me on this just be honest with them and it'll work out. Besides they've probably been comparing notes on you anyway." He laughed a little at the image of the two girls comparing his performance.
"Thanks brother I really feel better now!" he growled playfully putting Noah in a headlock catching the other completely unaware, "I was hoping for some reassurance not paranoia" he finished laughing a little as Noah struggled to get out of his grip and finally succeed after a few minutes.
"Well if you wanted a confidence boost the fact that two bisexual girls are both chasing you should be enough of one you know." He retorted as he tried to get Seto in a head lock of his own to no avail as the taller teen stood up using his height to full advantage. "No fair Seto!" he complained as his step-brother simply smirked.
"I didn't think of it that way…" he paused thoughtfully, "I guess I got all the looks and the brains!" he declared smugly before getting hit with a pillow by his shorter brother. "Hey!" he exclaimed as he got a face full of cushion. "What's that for? Just because you know it's true." Noah just grabbed the other cushion and threw that as well.
"Just because you happen to be living every teenagers dream doesn't mean you have to be so smug about it you know. You still have to pull it off tomorrow" he replied grinning from ear to ear.
"What you mean every teen's dream?" he asked out of curiosity not quite understanding.
"DUH! Every man with a libido who likes women would kill to be in your position. Amber and Amethyst both like you, there both young and very attractive. Also you're the CEO of one of the most influential corporations in the world, and one of the richest men in the world on top of that. That what I mean!". He explained whilst trying not to laugh. As much as he respected his step-brother his naivety was rather amusing and endearing at the same time.
"You forgot their both bisexual" Seto chimed in with a smirk. "Anyway you really think I'm not going get my butt kicked tomorrow?" he asked uncertainty in his voice. An extremely rare occurrence I will add! Somebody call the papers!
"Yes Seto I really think you won't get your butt kicked, and since when were you scared of a pair of girls anyway?" Noah responded with a chuckle.
"Seto Kaiba is not afraid of women! However he may make an exception for these two" Seto replied with a sheepish grin. Noah just giggled some more, before he decided they both needed to get back to more important business like running Kaiba Corp.