After a moment of peering into the room and studying Mokuba, it was clear he was not hurt. Concern turned to anger and hurt in Kaiba's eyes. But it was anger that drove him to demand, "What are you doing, Mokuba?!"
And to his continued surprise, Mokuba had an answer ready.
"What's best for me!"
And that just enraged Kaiba even more for he'd done everything he could to ensure his brother had the most comfortable life. What drove Mokuba to do such a thing as run away? They'd always stood by one another's side.
Apparently, it was time for Kaiba Seto to find out because Kaiba Mokuba was not in any mood to shy away from the subject. "Let's not do this in the hall. Come inside," and with that he turned to let them walk in and took a seat at one of the comfy puprle armchairs in the entry of the posh apartment.
As Jounouchi and Seto settled into to the twin sofa, it was Mokuba who started. "I'm not going back if that's what you think," arms crossed tightly across his chest.
At that, Kaiba knew he wasn't following. "Mokuba what has gotten into you?!"
"In to me!? What's gotten into you!? The past few years have all been work and grumpy Seto Kaiba as far as even I can see."
"That isn't fair," Kaiba bit out, sullen.
"Isn't it?" Now Mokuba looked determined to be understood. "You didn't even try to make it with me to Florida next month. I've been making a life without you Seto and you don't even notice."
The younger Kaiba looked close to tears now. But he pushed them aside, wanting to stand his ground.
After his impromptu duel with Kaiba after Battle City, Jounouchi remembered the young Kaiba brother exclaiming to each of their surprise and empathy that he missed is older brother. That they hardly ever had fun or smiled anymore together.
It appeared this was a deeper wound than one young boy's outburst could solve because they were now sitting in an apartment, trying to, what? Convince Mokuba to come with Seto? Stop being angry? Things had certainly unfolded for the dramatic in a way Jounouchi hadn't expected when he first offered to help, but the sadness in the young boy's eyes and the thought of his sister alone, made him stay quiet and listen. And perhaps, even Seto didn't deserve to be alone.
It seemed the older Kaiba had more to take in tonight then he was normally ready for, because all he could say is, "I thought you were happy. What happened?" Seeming unable to process that his younger brother had left him, rather than been forced by any outside powers, to be sat here demanding to be left alone in… peace? Resolve? Kaiba didn't know, but he knew his brother well enough to know he was hurting.
"Ni-sama," Mokuba spoke quietly now. "Every day I came home and you were often nowhere to be found. We barely spent any time together. You just wanted to speak to me about work. You've been mad ever since Gozaburo came into our lives and I don't know what's going to change it. You forgot your word from when we spoke after your duel with Jounouchi. It became too painful to be around you," his sad eyes gazed at the ground as he spoke those final words.
To Kaiba's credit, he didn't react but he also didn't seem to know how to respond to Mokuba pouring his heart out.
"Kaiba, can I have a word with you?" said Jounouchi suddenly, interrupting the heavy silence.
Kaiba looked up in surprise and seemed to stiffen slightly before relaxing, and to Jounouchi's relief, accepting the request to talk.
The two slipped out to the hallway, where Jounouchi took the lead and turned to face the taller boy.
"Look Kaiba, I'm worried about your younger brother. Kids who lose family have it hard enough but if he loses you now, things could get really tough. Kids estranged from their families don't do well, I can tell you that from experience that I'm not proud of and I've seen plenty get far worse."
"It's your call Kaiba, but I think you need to become friends with your brother again. He doesn't feel like you're there for him and that's dangerous at his age especially. Mokuba needs you right now. "
Kaiba seemed to be considering his words at least before he responded, "he doesn't trust me and I need him to be safe." He then quickly swept back into the room leaving Jounouchi to follow behind him.
Hopefully this delayed understanding was better than none.
Sitting back down, Kaiba looked as determined as if he were ready for a duel. After what seemed like a long while, he spoke. "Mokuba, I know things have been tough for us ever since you were young. It's not what either of us wanted. I was trying so hard to make sure we never felt as helpless as we did back then, I can see I've become something I can't even stand. I've become someone you can't trust."
"After losing to Atem," he paused to frown, "I couldn't stand the feeling of being outdone, like there was something more I could do. I threw myself into my work, into dueling; I can see I forgot about us." Then he paused, "I became like him, like Gozaburo," now Kaiba looked away, with shame and guilt written in his sharp blue eyes.
Then he turned to look directly at Mokuba, the same resolute look back in his eyes, "I'll do what it takes to win your trust Mokuba." Then Kaiba's eyes softened. "You mean more to me than any of the duels I've won and the money I make."
Mokuba sat, listening intently. His eyes had become clearer now rather than misted with sadness as before.
"I know you meant well, Seto," now he looked away sheepishly, "I just needed you to understand."
"That doesn't mean I'm leaving though," he retorted. You've told me this once before. How do I know it won't just happen again? I want to trust you, but you've got to show me you mean it. I know this isn't going to be easy for you, Nii-sama."
Mokuba wasn't wrong. Being fun-loving and enjoying himself were not experiences that the older Kaiba had had much in a while.
But the same intense nature that took duel monsters so seriously could take any activity to task. And so, he said, "I've got a proposal for you."
Author's Note: I'm not sure this is exactly as I envisioned but I'm pretty happy with it given the constraints.