Once upon a time…
A young boy disappeared.
His name was Kaiba Mokuba.
Kaiba Seto searched everywhere for his younger brother. He deployed his security to search the grounds, contacted the authorities and even alerted other business officials. But he had been missing without a trace for almost twenty-four hours now, and Kaiba Seto was getting desperate.
If you were in the small group of individuals who happened to know Kaiba Seto in any personal regard, and you could be certain he assured it was a few, you'd know there was no one he cared more for than Mokuba.
His young brother had unfortunately gone missing before, though then the culprit of his kidnapping had been easy enough to deduce with the events occurring at the time, whether it was Pegasus or some tycoon hungry for power.
This however, was an uneventful summer day. They'd been discussing business plans, which Mokuba hadn't been thrilled about as he'd be stuck inside again this summer.
Kaiba Mokuba was slightly cautious like his brother, but for the most part, far more extroverted. Mokuba didn't keep many friends due to his influence. However the one's he had from his schooling were steadfast and Seto could recall them by name. The only one who'd seemed to know anything was a young girl named Mieko-chan, whom Mokuba had gone on numerous coffee dates with in the last few months. Seto couldn't yet tell if they were closer than friends. He hoped now he'd get the chance to find out.
She'd mentioned there recent meeting at a coffee shop for a game of Scrabble and duel monsters, but had only communicated via text message about an upcoming trip they wished to plan to Florida. The authorities had searched her apartment and come up empty with any other clues as to where the younger Kaiba could be or why he was missing.
Seto and Mokuba had long ago set up protocols to ensure one another's safety as they moved about the city or the globe for meetings and events constantly. The lockets they kept around each of their necks was a reminder of their commitment to one another as siblings, but also served to locate one another if all other forms of communication failed. Tonight, Seto wished he'd installed body trackers as extreme as they'd sounded, because his connection to Mokuba was turning up empty.
Those were not of course, Kaiba Mokuba's only friends. After Seto's many run-ins with Yugi and his friends, he'd seen them around far more often than he would have expected. And after the many times they'd helped save Mokuba, he couldn't begrudge it, followed by some lighthearted teasing of course, which Mokuba seemed to brush off easily enough. Truth be told, Kaiba Seto didn't always feel at his easiest around these friends. Things never seemed to go quite to plan when they came into play. Whether that was his victory against Yugi or his instances that Jounouchi remain on the sidelines.
They made things unpredictable. Mokuba had reluctantly insisted it wasn't always for the worst, but to Kaiba, their presence brought undue reminders as well of when things hadn't gone in his favor. But, right now, he needed their help. And he could count on them to care about his younger brother.
Which is how he now found himself standing at the front door of Yugi's grandfather's game shop. The lights were off on the lower level, but the scurrying of feet down the stairs indicated that someone was home, despite the pleasant evening weather bringing many out of their homes tonight. It was Yugi's surprised face that answered Kaiba and his guards knock.
"Kaiba-kun," the spikey haired boy uttered "what brings you out here tonight." Given their past relations at this very game shop, Seto couldn't fault the trace of wariness that entered the other bosy voice. Though Yugi was kind hearted and welcoming to the Kaiba's now, he wasn't a fool. Evening visits were not a common thing for the elder Kaiba, and only so often for Mokuba with his busy schedule.
"May I come inside?" Seto asked quietly, reluctant to draw any more attention to themselves as the two reigning duel monsters champions in front of a game shop.
"Of course," replied Yugi. He sensed from the other boys gaze and tone, this was not a casual visit or pleasant surprise; as they'd been hoping to befriend the elder Kaiba for some time now.
"How can I help you, Kaiba," started Yugi confusedly, but it was Kaiba who took the initiative unsurprisingly.
"Mokuba has gone missing," Kaiba said gravely. "He's been missing for nearly twenty-four hours now. Do you know where he is or could be?" The older boy's eyes were heavy with worry and sadness. Yugi knew this could not be an easy blow for the older Kaiba, who kept so few close to him.
That's why his voice lowered in sadness when he had to tell the other boy , "no, I'm sorry Kaiba, I don't," but you can ask the others upstairs if they know anything, he added hurriedly, hoping to learn something about the younger Kaiba's whereabouts, as he too was deeply worried. Mokuba and become close to their group and Yugi worried what could have befallen the younger.
Kaiba signed in annoyance, but he was in no position to turn away his options, so he hurried after the shorter boy as he scurried back up the narrow stairs.
The landing opened up to a short hallway down which they walked to the living area where sat Jounouchi and Honda sprawled on a couch and Anzu perched on a chair as they watched the latest television program that was all the rage about a time travelling wizard. A board game was spread out on the table in front of them. They all looked up in suprirse.
Kaiba gestured for the two security guards accompanying him to take up position against a nearby wall. Yugi had been eyeing them with the same look as they followed after them up the stairs, so he saw it best for them to lay a bit low.
Before anyone could speak, Yugi began, "everyone, Mokuba has gone missing. Kaiba has come to ask if any of us know where he could be." Concern shown in the boys violet eyes as they'd all come to think fondly of Mokuba after having been through so much in the preceding years. Even more so, the young boy had taken an interest in preserving their budding friendship. He'd seen the way they cared for each other. He'd joined in on their movie nights and laughter with joy shining in his eyes as much as he could.
The first to speak was Jounouchi, unsurprisingly.
Author's Notes: I thought of this on a whim so we shall see where the story takes us.