Notes: I edited this chapter and added some descriptions to the basement scene on MoonlightTyger's suggestion.

Chapter Ten

Mokuba's plan began with walking the length of the wall and searching for breaks. He wasn't surprised to find one around the backyard. Several more bricks were missing, having fallen through to the snow on the other side. "Here!" He squirmed through the small hole and onto the property, then turned to look back out at the others. "Sorry, though. . . . I don't think too many of us will fit. . . ."

"Probably only me and Leo, and maybe Yugi," Luna said slowly.

"It might be better if I'm alone anyway," Mokuba said.

"Are you sure?" Luna said in concern. "Maybe I should come so I could explain about Ancient Fairy Dragon. . . ."

"I could help too!" Leo said.

Mokuba bit his lip. "I don't know. . . . Maybe you could come, but stay in the background?"

Luna smiled. "We could do that."

"We'll wait out here," Yugi said as the other kids climbed through the hole. "Just let us know how things are going."

Mokuba nodded. "We will!" He paused, looking back out at the alternate Lector. "Oh . . . does this Seto have any alarms or security systems going at all?"

The alternate Lector sighed. "Not like he used to. He wants to keep the paparazzi out, of course, but I don't think you'll run into any trouble going through the backyard."

"We'll take the secret route into the basement," Mokuba said. "Do you know if the supercomputer is still running?"

"Yeah, it is," the alternate Nesbitt said. "Kaiba probably talks more to it than to any people."

"How sad," Luna said.

Mokuba's eyes narrowed in determination. "I won't give up until he talks to me and knows I'm really here," he vowed. "Let's go." He started off into the trees.

"Good luck," Yugi said in concern. He looked torn. He might be able to fit through the hole too, but he wondered if Seto would be more or less receptive if he was along.

"Why don't you go with them, Yugi?" Solomon asked. "Your counterpart was also lost in this tragedy. It might help this Kaiba even more if you're there as well."

"Maybe," Yugi said slowly. "But what if it makes him just think all the more that he's losing his mind?"

"It could go either way," Seto admitted. "If it was me, though, the second witness might help."

Yugi took a deep breath. "Okay then. I'll go."

Atem gave him an encouraging smile and watched as he scrambled through the opening and hurried after the kids.

". . . There was another reason why I wanted Yugi to go," Seto said when he was sure they were out of hearing range.

"Why's that?" Téa frowned as she looked up at him. Somehow she didn't like the way he had said that.

"I don't know that I trust this other me." Seto gripped his arms.

Lector jerked. "You don't mean you think he might harm Mokuba?!"

"Even under these circumstances, would he really?!" Marik stared at Seto and then back at the wall. If there was any possibility of danger, some more of them needed to get inside! But the top of the wall looked electrically charged and there didn't seem to be any other openings where someone could fit.

"If he completely lost his mind believing he was being haunted by phantoms, I don't know what he might do," Seto said. "I don't think I could even harm what I thought was just a fake Mokuba, but some of these alternate mes we've encountered were more than willing to harm the real one!" He clenched a fist.

Lector opted not to remind Seto about when he, too, had harmed the real one—the very thing that had been the main fuel for Lector's outrage against him. Seto could insist all he wanted that the attack on Mokuba had to be real to throw Gozaburo off the real plan, but Lector would never not think there would have been another way.

"If I may say so, Mr. Kaiba, I don't feel that the one here would be capable of that," the alternate Lector said. "Mokuba was his whole world. Without him, our Seto Kaiba completely crumbled. He isn't violent, just heartbroken."

"You'd better be right," Seto growled. "If he thinks it's all in his mind, what would really stop him from throwing things at Mokuba in a mad fury to make him go away?"

"What would stop you from doing that?" the alternate Lector returned.

Seto stared off at the once-proud Kaiba Mansion. "He's my brother," he said quietly. "I couldn't throw something at him and see how he would look if I did. I couldn't . . . not again. . . ." Although Lector had tactfully not mentioned the past, it was on Seto's mind as well.

The alternate Lector nodded in agreement. "This Mr. Kaiba will feel the same," he insisted.

xxxx

Mokuba weaved among the trees until he came to a spot he had memorized in his own world. Brushing away the snow soon revealed a trapdoor in the ground. He grabbed it and hauled it up, much to Leo's delight. "He has a secret entrance to the house?! This is so awesome!"

Mokuba had to smirk. "Wait till you see the rest of the house. Come on!" He started down the steps. The others followed, with Yugi bringing up the rear.

"What are you planning to do, Mokuba?" Yugi asked. "Are you going to try talking to the supercomputer and see if she has any advice?"

"Maybe," Mokuba said. "Or maybe we should just go on upstairs and look for Seto. I'd rather find him then for him to find us down here."

"Good point," Yugi winced.

Leo was fascinated as it was by the extensive library at the bottom of the stairs. "Have you read all of these books?!" he asked. The safety lights were on, as always—bright enough to see to walk without bumping into things, but too dim for reading or for seeing into the heavy shadows cast by the large bookcases.

"No," Mokuba said, "but it looks like Seto's been reading a lot." He frowned. "I wonder if that's what he does all day, every day."

"Oh, don't forget about the big crack in the floor," Luna exclaimed. "It just has that rug over it!"

"Oh yeah." Mokuba looked at the floor as they walked. "I wonder where it is, and how wide it is. . . ."

"Hopefully not wide enough for someone to fall through," Yugi said in concern.

Almost as if on cue, Mokuba stepped down on what he thought was part of the carpet. Instead it gave way, revealing it was the rug as the boy plunged downward. "It is!" he shrieked in horror. He only barely managed to grab onto the edge with his hands. "And I don't know how deep it is!" The gap wasn't much wider than Mokuba himself, and although he likely could have pulled himself up if he were calm, his panic made that nigh unto impossible.

"Oh my gosh!" Luna ran over, taking hold of one of Mokuba's wrists. Leo and Yugi scrambled to his other side and grabbed him too.

"We've got ya," Leo said, his eyes wide as saucers.

"Don't let go!" Mokuba cried.

"We won't, Mokuba," Yugi assured him. "Okay, everyone, pull!"

"What's going on down here?!"

Everyone looked up as the light snapped on overhead. The alternate Seto was standing on the stairs, staring at all of them in utter disbelief. His light skin was turning unnaturally pale.

"Seto!" Mokuba looked to him. "I'm falling through this crack you left in the floor!"

"No, you're not!" the alternate Seto spat. "You're not even here!" But even as he spoke, he wavered and took a step down. No matter how he told himself it was a delusion, he couldn't resist the sight of a Mokuba in trouble.

"Kaiba, he really is here," Yugi said. "I am too!" Getting an idea, he continued, "You have a chance to save Mokuba! Don't pass it by! Come here and help us pull him up!"

"We can manage," Leo started to say, but Luna elbowed him.

The alternate Seto reached the bottom of the stairs and just kept staring. "You can't be real," he objected again. "You're not a kid anymore!"

"This version of me is!" Mokuba squealed. "I'm from another dimension, Seto! I came in here to talk to you!"

Luna's grasp started to slip and Mokuba gasped as he slid down further again. "Seto, help!"

The alternate Seto came to life. He ran over, snatching both of Mokuba's wrists and pulling him up all in one motion. Then he collapsed to his knees, hugging the boy close to him as he shook. "Mokuba," he choked out over and over. "Mokuba. . . ." The unthinkable happened—silent tears slipped from his eyes.

"Seto," Mokuba whispered. Seto never cried. Now Mokuba was crying too, and he hugged the alternate Seto around the neck as they continued to kneel there.

Yugi stepped back with a touched smile. "I think we got through to him now," he said quietly to the twins.

"I hope so," Luna said.

Finally the alternate Seto pulled back, brushing the hair away from Mokuba's face as he stared into his brother's eyes. Saving a Mokuba had indeed been a form of personal redemption for him, as Yugi had hoped, and now he was ready to listen to the incredible story. "You're . . . really from another dimension?" he asked.

"Yeah," Mokuba nodded. "But we came to help you get your Mokuba back! He's not dead! He really did fall into another dimension . . . just not any that we were thinking of."

The alternate Seto slowly shook his head. "That still just sounds so preposterous, like a dream or a fantasy movie. Not reality."

"We'll explain everything," Luna said. "But we need all the magic users to help us."

"I'm not a magic user anymore," the alternate Seto said.

"I know you don't want to be anymore," Mokuba said, "but you'd get out your ring to save your Mokuba, wouldn't you?"

"I don't have it," was the reply.

"WHAT?!" Mokuba and Yugi cried in horror.

"But Shadi said no one else could wield the rings except the chosen users!" Yugi said.

"I know. But I gave mine to Téa anyway," the alternate Seto said. "I didn't want it and I told her to take it with her to New York."

Leo grimaced. "Um, uh oh. We've got another problem. . . ."

Luna couldn't deny it. But, always practical, she looked to the tired businessman and said, "Can't you just call her and tell her you need it back?"

"I need her back," came the muttered response.

"Then tell her, Kaiba," Yugi pleaded. "Tell her and ask her to bring the ring, that it's urgent."

"Couldn't you just go get her with that candle-holder?" Leo wondered.

"I don't know," Yugi said hesitantly. "It opens portals to other dimensions. I'm not sure it could open a portal to somewhere else in this dimension."

The alternate Seto straightened. "I'll call her," he said. "I can't guarantee she'll come, but I'll try."

"Great!" Mokuba beamed.

"She'll come," Yugi assured the man. "Téa is always very understanding and forgiving. I'm sure that's the same in this dimension too."

"Probably," the alternate Seto agreed.

xxxx

Before calling New York, the alternate Seto opened the gate to allow all the group entrance to the mansion. They walked in, relieved that Mokuba really had gotten through to him. As they stepped into the entryway, Mokuba hurried over to them.

"So what's up?" Crump asked. "Is he gonna use his ring so we can do this?"

"Well . . ." Mokuba shifted. "There's another problem. He was totally serious about not being a magic user anymore. He gave his ring to Téa, so now he has to call her about it."

"Oh man!" Joey threw up his hands in frustration. "Things were goin' so well. Now we can't catch a break?!"

"Things are still going well," Seto insisted. "Mokuba got through to the other me. I'm sure Téa will still have the ring."

"Yeah, but maybe she'll be performing in a play or something and he won't be able to reach her!" Joey shot back.

"He's gone in his home office to try now," Yugi said. "All we can do is wait and see."

Joey folded his arms and muttered under his breath.

Kalin walked off near the window to stare out at the damaged yard. The disrepair was minor compared to what was in Satellite, but it was still hard for those who knew this place to see it like this.

On the other hand . . . what kind of damage had the Seto of this world done to his marriage? Would his Téa really be as forgiving as Yugi thought? Some things were just too terrible to go back from, no matter what one's reasons or motivations were. And if she wouldn't forgive him, would she still bring the ring? They might have to go get it from her.

"What's on your mind?"

He looked up at the slightly gruff voice. Rebecca had come over and was eyeing him with an unreadable expression.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I still don't really get who you are and why you're around," Rebecca said. "So you were trying to help guide the others, but then they found me, someone who actually knew them . . . or some version of them. You could have left then, but you've stayed."

"I don't really know why." Kalin turned away again. "They spoke of redemption, but I don't think I'll find that here. Maybe I'm staying to see if everything works out alright for them. I'd like to know."

"Or maybe you're staying because they want you to and you don't want to disappoint them, even though you can't understand why they want you around?" Rebecca suggested.

"Maybe," Kalin said. He kept staring out at the yard. "Do you think his wife will forgive him?"

"If Téa really understands the close bond between the Kaiba brothers—and I know she does—then I think she will," Rebecca said. "Like I said, she never blamed him for what happened. And I think she understood why he reacted the way he did. He blamed himself, even if others didn't. Kind of like you."

". . . Yusei seemed to understand why I reacted as I did, once all the pieces came together," Kalin reflected.

"From the few snippets I've overheard, I gather that you were mixed up in that Dark Signer mess," Rebecca said. "You were one of them, I believe?"

"Yes," Kalin said. "I will never not be ashamed of what I did. There was no excuse for it, no matter what was going on in my mind."

"Well, in any case, you're sure not the same person as the 'troubled kid' who joined the Dark Signers," Rebecca remarked. "I never met him and I'm glad I didn't. He sounds like he was a real creep. But you . . . you're different. In fact, you're completely his opposite." She folded her arms. "You might not like hearing this, but maybe joining the Dark Signers was good for you in the end."

Kalin whipped around to glare at her in disbelief. "Just what are you saying?!" he demanded in outrage. "It was good that I joined a plot to destroy the world in order to get revenge on my best friend for something he didn't even do?!"

"No," Rebecca said. "But your immense sorrow and regret seem to have brought you back down to Earth. You can't change the past, unfortunately, but what happened in the Dark Signers can either make or break you. Kaiba let Zero Reverse break him. Are you going to be like that, closing yourself off to everybody who still loves you because you can't forgive yourself? Or are you going to rise above it and be a better person than that troubled kid?"

". . . I'm searching to find out if that's even possible," Kalin said. "Right now I don't know."

"Well, if you're in doubt, think about how much faith your friends still have in you," Rebecca said. "They see the good person in there, even if you can't. If you can't trust yourself, why can't you trust them?"

". . . Because I think they're blind to the truth," Kalin confessed.

"You can say that even after Yusei saw you at your very worst?" Rebecca scoffed. "Yusei isn't being naive or turning a blind eye to all the bad things you were capable of. It's just that he sees all of you, both good and bad." She pushed away from the wall. "Maybe you really are hopeless."

Standing near enough to hear, Nesbitt flinched. He had thought that about himself so many times, but his loved ones never had. If they had given up on him, he knew he couldn't have pulled through. It was only because they had never lost sight of his good heart and had kept reminding him of it that he had finally pulled out of the worst of the pit of self-hatred.

Sensing eyes on him, Kalin turned to look at the man who had admitted that he struggled with self-hatred too. Nesbitt had certainly said things that showed he understood much of what Kalin felt, even if the specifics of their actions weren't the same.

". . . Does it ever go away?" Kalin finally spoke. "The horrible empty pit inside yourself that tells you how rotten you are and how everyone who thinks otherwise is just blind?"

Nesbitt sighed. "Yeah, it can," he said. "But you can't overcome it all on your own."

Kalin sighed too. "How do I overcome it at all? If I can't believe what everyone else says . . ."

"If you can't believe their words, start by thinking about how you trust them and their judgment on other matters," Nesbitt said. "Then maybe you can gradually start considering the idea that maybe they know you better than you think, and that them seeing value in you might not be just a crazy idea."

"It's a nice thought," Kalin admitted. "I wish I could feel that way."

"Maybe you can, in time," Nesbitt said. "I didn't feel like that overnight."

The door to the alternate Seto's home office opened and he slowly walked out, looking completely overwhelmed.

"Well?" Joey asked. "What'd she say?"

Téa frowned. "I'm sure it was a private conversation, Joey. We just need to know about the ring."

"That's what I meant!" Joey defended.

"She's coming right out," the alternate Seto said, sounding far away. "And she's bringing the ring. She kept it safe all this time."

"That's great," Yugi smiled.

The alternate Seto shook his head. "I pushed her away. How can she forgive me and want to come back? She's just dropping everything to come, even her performance tonight. . . ."

Téa gave him a sad look. "If you don't know that, Kaiba, maybe you don't know her very well."

"It's not about her," Kalin spoke up. "It's about himself and how he feels about himself."

Seto nodded. "He's right."

The alternate Seto nodded too. "Yes, that's exactly it." He stared out the window. "She was going to catch the next flight, but I arranged for a private jet to pick her up. She'll get here faster that way."

"That's awesome," Téa smiled.

"So then I guess all we can do is wait for her to come," Crump said.

"Pretty much," Luna said. "Everyone with magic needs to be here. When she comes, I'll let Ancient Fairy Dragon know and then she can tell the Yami Bakura over there to start using his magic ring at the same time all of you are using your magic objects."

"Great," Crump said.

"And in the meantime, we could take you guys on a tour of New Domino City!" Leo chirped. "It'll take a couple of hours for our Téa to get here, at least! There'll be plenty of time to see some things!"

"That sounds fun, doesn't it, guys?" Yugi looked up at everyone else.

"Yeah, let's do that!" Joey chirped. "It's better than just sittin' around trying to think of things to talk about!"

Almost everyone else chorused in agreement.

"I think I'll stay here, though," Mokuba said. "Someone should wait with this Seto."

"You don't have to do that," the alternate Seto said. But from his eyes, he liked the idea. This wasn't his Mokuba, but it was a Mokuba, and that was more than he'd had for 17 years.

"It's fine," Mokuba said. "I can see New Domino City later. Or . . . for that matter, why don't we all go? It will be a couple of hours or more. Why don't you come with us?" He looked up at the alternate Seto, who could only blink in surprise.

"Me?"

"I think that's a great idea," Téa smiled. "You should get out of the house more! Come on!"

Joey looked doubtful that the invitation would be accepted. But finally, slowly, the alternate Seto nodded. ". . . Alright."

Mokuba beamed.