A Brother's Intuition

The rest of the week progressed the same way. Mokuba would stay home to help his brother manage the company and spend time with Guilmon and at the middle of the day, he would play with his friends in the Secret Garden or visit them in their worlds. Kaiba wasn't able to get much out of his brother, though; especially this morning when he saw him leave the estate with a full backpack.

After Mokuba left, Kaiba called his friends and asked them to meet him in the Secret Garden. Thankfully, Yugi, Joey, and Emily weren't too busy today, so they agreed to meet him. Kaiba stopped in his work and left Agumon in charge until he would be back. Of course, it would only be for about ten minutes, so that meant there wouldn't be too much for the dragon to handle. Besides, Kaiba wanted to go to the hot spring near Angel Peak to relax himself anyway to relieve him of the stress from work.

When the heroes met up, Kaiba told his friends about his brother's behavior. "You say he packed up and just took off?" Joey asked.

"Yes, but he didn't say where," Kaiba was saying. "He just said he was going to meet up with Hawkins and they would go to another world."

"He stopped by my house earlier today before you called," Emily was telling him. "He asked for more of my baked goods and told me the same thing. He said he was stocking up on things for his adventure in another world."

The brunette was baffled. Which world would Mokuba go to for an adventure? And why? Well, of course he would know why. His brother had friends from other worlds. Still, what kind of adventure would Mokuba have?

As the heroes soaked themselves in the hot water, Kaiba continued to wander in his thoughts. "I just don't understand it. Why would Mokuba go to another world?"

Joey thought about it and figured, "Maybe Mokuba needed a vacation. Maybe life at the company was getting too stressful."

"Stressful?" Kaiba asked.

"I can imagine that," Emily was saying. "Sometimes when I'm facing a few hardships in our world, I come here to relax. Sometimes I'll even spend a day or two in another world." It was true. She would stay at the Eevee rescue farm for a while or practice her martial arts skills in the Xiaolin world or hang out with the Sailor Scouts.

Kaiba almost didn't believe her. "You hardly ever have any stress in your life."

"That's not true," she protested. "Sometimes Rafael can be too much for me when he gets all charming and whatnot, trying to get me to be his girl. It's really annoying. Even Robert gives me a hard time when he comes to visit."

Then the thought came to Kaiba. "There's something I've been wondering, Briar. How did you and Rafael meet anyway?" He was asking because he was curious about how he came to fall in love with her. Though he assumed it was probably because of her beauty. Back in school, Kaiba remembered seeing many boys become enchanted with Emily because they thought she was beautiful.

Emily remembered that Kaiba wasn't there when it happened, so she decided to tell him the story. "It happened on the same day Duel Monsters appeared all over the world," she began. "That was when Rafael, Alister, and Valon were working for Dartz. The three of them came to the game shop to steal the Egyptian God cards and to capture me and take me to Dartz. I managed to escape and I came to one of the town's Catholic churches, hoping I would be safe. I thought I was until Rafael followed me inside."

"What happened next?" Kaiba asked.

Emily gave a small laugh. "It's actually funny. The interaction between us was like the interaction between the soldier and the gypsy girl from-"

"I never saw The Hunchback of Notre Dame," Kaiba interrupted.

"Really?" Joey asked, surprised.

"I have read the book, though," the brunette admitted. "That's how I know what you're talking about," he told Emily.

Yugi was baffled. "Emily, did it really happen like that?"

"Believe it or not, it did," she admitted.

"So you were Esmeralda and Rafael was Phoebus," Joey said, imagining the concept. He remembered watching the movie when he was young, but didn't like it very much because he thought it was a little too dark for him. "And then what happened?"

"Alister and Valon stormed into the church hoping to capture me, but Rafael wouldn't let them," continued Emily. "He told them I claimed sanctuary. That's when the Reverend appeared and escorted them outside. I spent the night in the church, then left the next morning and hurried to get ready for school."

Kaiba gave a small chuckle. "That's some story," he commented.

"Well, that's how it happened," she told him. "And I know Rafael's crazy about me, but he just can't accept that I'm not in love with him in the same way. It bothers me so much that I need to get away from him and cool off for a while."

As Yugi listened to the details, he wondered if that was the reason Mokuba was always leaving home and going to the other worlds. So he asked the brunette, "Kaiba, did something happen between you and Mokuba? Something that would cause him to want to get away?"

Kaiba thought about it. It could only be one thing. "Last week, we had a bit of an argument. I got upset because Mokuba was spending more time with his friends than he was at home. I didn't have anything against it for a while, but then it started bothering me."

"Why?" Joey asked. "You're hardly at home most of the time. And you go to the other worlds to and spend time with your friends," he reminded him.

"That's different," Kaiba argued. It was different because Kaiba had his responsibilities as company president and as a hero. Still, it did cause him to be away from home for long periods of time and not be able to see his brother. Kaiba just didn't understand why it was bothering him that Mokuba was doing the same thing. He agreed that his brother should have friends to spend time with and it shouldn't matter if they're from other worlds or not.

After thinking about it, Kaiba added, "And since our adventure in the Digital World, Mokuba's been even more eager to go on his own adventures in the other worlds. I guess that's why he's always been seeing his friends in their worlds. But these days, he's always leaving home and coming here and I don't even know what's going on because he won't talk to me." He paused, then added, "Even Guilmon's been concerned. Mokuba used to always take Guilmon with him to meet and play with his friends, but not so much anymore." He sighed and said, "I'm worried, guys."

"Worried about what?" Joey asked. "As long as Mokuba's coming home safely, shouldn't that be all that matters?"

"Try to be a little more understanding, Wheeler," Kaiba scolded. "What if it was your sister instead who was doing all this?"

Joey did stop to think. "I'd be just as worried as you are," he admitted. "Serenity hasn't been to any of the other worlds yet aside from the Digital World, so I'd be worried if she went on an adventure too. And as I think about if she were to go on an adventure, I also ask myself, what if something happens and I'm not there to protect her? And it doesn't matter if the worlds are free. Anything can still happen."

Kaiba relaxed as he saw that Joey was being more understanding of the situation. He was glad that Mokuba was coming home safely, but it didn't mean he didn't have to worry about him. The brunette lowered himself, keeping his nose above the water. Mokuba's really starting to become his own person, he thought to himself. Am I keeping him from becoming the warrior he's meant to become? He had seen his brother hold his own well in many situations.

Yugi showed a more reassuring smile. "Don't worry so much, Kaiba. I'm sure when Mokuba's ready, he'll come around."

The brunette smiled back and rose from the water. "You're right. Thanks, Yugi. Mokuba's proven to me he can take care of himself. Maybe spending time in the other worlds is good for him. It can help him build character, build his confidence as well as his independence. Still, I just don't want him to lose sight of what's important."

"He won't," Yugi assured him. "Besides, Rebecca's with him."

"That's what worries me," Kaiba said. He still didn't trust Rebecca, but he hoped she would at least not get Mokuba into trouble or at least come to Kaiba for help in case something were to happen. Still, one way or another, Kaiba was going to find out what those two were up to; where they were going and what they were doing.

Emily got out of the hot springs and began drying herself off. Just then, she heard a voice in her head, telling her to approach the angel shaped rock nearby. When she did, she heard the voice telling her to let her magic fill her hands and touch the angel's hands. Emily did so and suddenly, a passage was revealed. "Hey, guys, come check this out."

Her friends got out of the water and approached the entrance. "Where'd this come from?" Joey asked.

"I don't know," Emily answered. "I just heard Millennia's voice telling me to emanate my magic and touch the angel's hands and then this tunnel appeared."

"Let's check it out," Yugi said. The entrance revealed a flight of stairs leading down. When they reached the bottom, the heroes came to a room. To their surprise, there was advanced technology everywhere. There was a supercomputer, an analyzer for strange specimen, and the whole place looked like the vastness of outer space. It was dark blue with rock particles shimmering from the walls like stars.

"Whoa, look at all this," Kaiba said in astonishment.

"What is it?" Joey asked.

There was only one person who could answer that and that was the Great Goddess herself. Emily released the Millennium Star from her heart so she and her friends could ask her about this place.

The Great Goddess took on her true form. "Welcome, my heroes, to headquarters," she announced.

"Headquarters?" Kaiba asked.

"After your adventure in the Digital World, I immediately began working on building this secret base for you," the Great Goddess explained. "With the combined powers of advanced technology and ancient magic, I was able to create a headquarters that would accommodate your customs to the technology of your generation and more." She explained the purpose of this facility. "Here you can monitor what goes on in the other worlds and you can even contact your allies in the other worlds for help. You can also do additional research on those worlds or anyone you meet."

Joey was starting to like this place. "This is like one of them research facilities superheroes use."

Kaiba was finding it intriguing as well. "It's almost like the secret headquarters the Sailor Scouts use in their world."

"Yes, that was also my inspiration for building this place," said Millennia. "I figured it would be an ideal type of headquarters for you as well."

Kaiba spoke up. "Great Goddess, I'm concerned about my brother. He's been coming to the Pure Valley a lot. I also know he's been spending time in the other worlds with his friends, but I don't have all the details about where he's been going or what he's been doing. Am I able to use this place to check the history of this place and find out about his activity?"

The Great Goddess understood Kaiba's feelings and concerns. "Seto, my boy, rest assured, your brother is safe. It is good that you worry about him. That proves how much you love him. But you must trust that he can come to rely on his own strength when and if he must. That is why you must let him alone for the moment." She smiled and said, "You can use the resources here to find him if you need to, but for now, wait a little longer before you do."

"But why?" the brunette asked.

"Because in order for your brother to discover the warrior he is becoming, he must come to do it on his own," the Great Goddess answered. "Trust in your brother, Seto. Trust that he can find the courage and strength to find the warrior within."

Emily agreed. "Let's let Mokuba be for the moment."

Kaiba listened to what everyone around him was telling him. "All right. But I have to advise you, patience isn't one of my best qualities."

"I promise you when the time is right, you will be there to help your brother," said Millennia. She returned to her form as a star and returned to Emily's heart.

Joey continued admiring the facility. "Hey, guys, you think we can use the technology here to build machines and vehicles like the superheroes do?"

"I think this place is more meant for research and monitoring," said Yugi.

Kaiba began working on the computer already. The screen showed a layout of the whole Pure Valley. He pinpointed the location of the plants and bodies of water and doors to the other worlds. "This is cool," he muttered. He thought about contacting his friends from the other worlds and asking them in anybody saw his brother, but decided not to. He decided he was going to trust that his brother would be all right. Still, one way or another, he was determined to find out about his adventures.