Child at Heart
Chapter 8
I know there are questions. So many questions. Those will be answered as we progress. Because at this point we didn't know either. Staring at that woman we stood gaping. We didn't acknowledge Seto's sobs. None of us did. Not even Pegasus.
Cecilia was a beautiful woman, with long blonde hair and beautiful eyes. She had an ugly gash on her forearm that was slowly healing. Pegasus first took her into his arms and they hugged in silence.
We turned our attention to Seto. Poor poor Seto, who lost everything.
Coming up behind his huddled form I bent down and laid a hand on his shoulder.
" I'm sorry." I said quietly. I was so stunned I couldn't say anything else. Everything happened so fast.
He turned up and glared at me.
" You're sorry." He hissed. " Sorry. Do you know how many times people told me that? I'm so sorry little Seto, about your parents. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. God, saying that wouldn't have mattered if they meant every word of it!"
" Seto..." Yugi began hesitantly. Seto threw my hand off and stood up, his eyes flashing.
" I am so sick of you all." He hissed as he brushed past us, out into peril.
" Seto!" I called. But he was gone.
" I'll go after him." Joey offered.
" No." Pegasus let go of his wife. " I'll go."
We stared at him.
" I owe him that much." He answered quietly, before rushing out after Seto.
When he came back Seto looked sickly and pale. He was weak and exhausted, still sobbing with grief. Pegasus was supporting him the best he could. Quickly Yugi and I set to work. We helped Seto to the couch and Yugi went to fetch him some water. Seto was shivering. He looked terrible.
Afterwards we had everything explained.
Cecilia's death opened up the Shadow Realm in the first place, which was why she was in the Shadow Realm. In order to close it, the Shadow Realm needs to be filled with the essence of a spirit, which was why Mokuba was needed for the sacrifice. But in order for the sacrifice to take place they need a command from a god, which was Seto. And Seto did it. He killed his own brother.
For a long time Seto remained silent. He seemed haunted. One time Yugi and I found him holding a blunt knife and just staring at it as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. Malik had snatched it away from him the minute he realized what was going on.
I didn't mean to do anything wrong. Seto's haunting words whimpered as Malik stared at him. It just hurts a lot. That's all.
I still remember what happened days after Seto had held that knife. Seto and Pegasus had sat down at the opposite ends of the table, with Cecilia watching on Seto's side.
" No! You cannot play that Toon world thing." Seto had stated. " Otherwise," He made a motion across his neck with his index finger. Pegasus chuckled.
" No worries. It's the Swords of Revealing Light."
" That's much better. Get on with it already."
The friendly game lasted about half an hour, with Pegasus winning. Seto grumbled a little, and Pegasus smiled at him.
" I can always teach you some strategies." He pointed out.
" Try." Seto smiled. " I don't think I can learn." He set down his cards and leaned back. " I've learned so much over this past year, if you understand what I mean. Yugi taught me about the Heart of the Cards, Joey taught me faith, blind or not. But now things have changed. I no longer have any faith left in myself. In fact, I don't think I ever had. The game is nonsense without faith and confidence, you know. It takes all the joy out of it. Now I just feel so empty."
There was a silence. Cecilia patted Seto's hand empathetically.
Was it self pity? Joey had asked that. Was it self pity? But Seto's answer was calm.
" Maybe." He said. " It depends on what self pity is. I don't feel sorry for myself. I don't feel."
And that was that.
" No! He's the guy that got chopped up-"
" No, I was asking WHO is he."
" I know! He's the guy that got chopped up, and then his wife brought him back to life-" Joey laughed as Tristan hit him on the head.
" He's the Judge of the Dead, geniuses." Tea muttered. " That was what Tristan was asking. Many people get chopped up in history."
" Oh? So if Osiris is the judge of the dead, then who is Anubis?"
" I don't know. I don't study Egyptian history. Perhaps the guardian?"
I cocked an eyebrow.
" By the way Tristan, why are you asking these questions?"
" I'm studying Global History."
" Have fun." Joey chuckled. " You'll be studying your head off."
" Sure. I'll be studying Napoleon, Akhenaton, Nicholas II, Marie Antoinette, Washington."
" Confucius."
" Right. And not to mention King George."
I shook my head and turned around. Yugi was rushing up.
" Where were you?" He asked me. " I was looking all around for you!"
" I was with Seto." I answered. " And the two jokers over there."
" Oh." Yugi sighed. " Bad news Yami. Seto just fainted at work. He's still unconscious, at the hospital."
" Oh no. First Mokuba, now Seto." Joey threw his bookbag over his shoulder. " Let's go."
When we got to the hospital both Cecilia and Pegasus were there. Seto was very much conscious by then, and very much pale. Pegasus was holding his hand reassuringly.
" What happened?" I asked.
" Oh." Pegasus blinked. " Hello. You came by quickly. Poor Seto didn't eat much, so now he's anemic." He clicked his tongue in worry. " But luckily, rest and food should do the job."
Seto remained quiet throughout the whole day.
" Hey pal." Joey patted his shoulder. " What did you get yourself into?"
Pegasus chuckled. " Hm. Seto's been taking care of Mokuba for more than five years. Very tough for a sixteen year old. Don't you think it's time someone took care of you?" He ruffled Seto's hair. " That way, we can turn that pink blood of yours redder."
" Pink blood?" Tea grimaced. " Egh!"
" Yeah well, iron deficiency anema." Tristan shrugged.
" Don't worry." Pegasus reassured Seto's unanswered question. " People think less of physical strength then you think. In fact, people still think you're a kid. Where do you think I got the term Kaibaboy from? After all, you're a famous youngster. Everyone knows you're still a teenager, and are rather surprised that your business actually lasted four years. Just don't let that lack of red blood cells affect that brain of yours. Would be a pity of the world of ignorant loses someone who sees."
" Hey, what is that supposed to mean?" Joey snapped.
" Poor Seto needs a guardian." Cecilia smiled sadly. Seto rolled his eyes and sneezed. It was actually very cute.
" You know, you should do that more often." This caused everyone to laugh.
Seto blushed a little.
" So what happened? How did you get from Industrial Illusions here so fast?" I asked Pegasus.
" It was actually very strange." He said thoughtfully. " I was checking up on everything on the island when I got a phone call. One of his assistants asked me for help. He said that Seto kept on calling for me, although Seto didn't really specify which ' Max' it was. That assistant must be pretty smart, but not withstanding, Cecilia and I made our way over here quickly. He was already at the hospital, and pretty much unconscious."
" They took the blood test." Cecilia added. " It was light pink, as anemic people are. Seto's too young to be having this problem!"
" Seto is too young for everything." Pegasus continued. " Mentioned to me one time that he found three strands of white hair when looking randomly in the mirror. He's two meters tall and yet he weighs what? One fifteen? In all seriousness, with Seto still a growing boy, that is seriously light."
" I know!" Joey didn't mention how much he weighed. I didn't either-I don't know.
" So Seto and we agreed to let him stay at Duelist Island for a while." Cecilia smiled sadly. " It's really the least we can do. The island is actually very peaceful. There are deer, really, birds and squirrels. After all, Seto's business is fairly stable."
" Really? You are going to Duelist Island?" Tea asked. Seto just smiled and blushed a little. I guess he couldn't really blush deeply because there's little red blood cells. So he looked more pink then red.
" Poor Seto." I smiled. " So what do you plan to do there?"
" Hopefully nothing." Pegasus laughed. It was a good humored laugh, a real one. " Fresh air is good, isn't it?"
" Of course." Yugi agreed. " Some vacation Pegasus has planned out for ya, eh Seto?"
Seto didn't answer.
Newspapers transfer information very quickly. It didn't take long for the whole world to know that the Duelist Champion and the CEO of Kaiba Corps is anemic-which may be quite bad. Of course, because of this, Seto had to stay at his company to get things in order despite his weary state-people are not confident in an ill boss, and stocks show it. So it wasn't until weeks after he fainted and was diagnosed did he actually begin his vacation. I had a feeling that the only reason Seto was still socially healthy at that point was because he had Pegasus to back up to-and Pegasus, with that golden eye, is not someone most bosses would want to mess with.
We didn't understand. But at least we know now. Seto was anemic, and for at least four years. He had hidden it very well. But Mokuba probably took all of his strength, that fateful day he disappeared forever. Pegasus showed some hope. He seemed almost normal now because of Seto, although some time after that he still showed some signs of insanity. There was something really wrong about one of his statements;
" Ow!" Pegasus had yelled. " Ow! Where did you learn how to do that?" He asked, as Seto took his fingers off his neck.
" I'll share a secret with all of you." Seto answered sheepishly.
" Oh?"
" I'm allergic to aspirin."
" What nonsense!"
" Seriously!" Seto protested. " I get rashes all over my skin and stomachaches."
" How can you survive without aspirin for so long?"
" I don't, remember?"
" Oh." Pegasus laughed. " Right."
Chapter 8
I know there are questions. So many questions. Those will be answered as we progress. Because at this point we didn't know either. Staring at that woman we stood gaping. We didn't acknowledge Seto's sobs. None of us did. Not even Pegasus.
Cecilia was a beautiful woman, with long blonde hair and beautiful eyes. She had an ugly gash on her forearm that was slowly healing. Pegasus first took her into his arms and they hugged in silence.
We turned our attention to Seto. Poor poor Seto, who lost everything.
Coming up behind his huddled form I bent down and laid a hand on his shoulder.
" I'm sorry." I said quietly. I was so stunned I couldn't say anything else. Everything happened so fast.
He turned up and glared at me.
" You're sorry." He hissed. " Sorry. Do you know how many times people told me that? I'm so sorry little Seto, about your parents. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. God, saying that wouldn't have mattered if they meant every word of it!"
" Seto..." Yugi began hesitantly. Seto threw my hand off and stood up, his eyes flashing.
" I am so sick of you all." He hissed as he brushed past us, out into peril.
" Seto!" I called. But he was gone.
" I'll go after him." Joey offered.
" No." Pegasus let go of his wife. " I'll go."
We stared at him.
" I owe him that much." He answered quietly, before rushing out after Seto.
When he came back Seto looked sickly and pale. He was weak and exhausted, still sobbing with grief. Pegasus was supporting him the best he could. Quickly Yugi and I set to work. We helped Seto to the couch and Yugi went to fetch him some water. Seto was shivering. He looked terrible.
Afterwards we had everything explained.
Cecilia's death opened up the Shadow Realm in the first place, which was why she was in the Shadow Realm. In order to close it, the Shadow Realm needs to be filled with the essence of a spirit, which was why Mokuba was needed for the sacrifice. But in order for the sacrifice to take place they need a command from a god, which was Seto. And Seto did it. He killed his own brother.
For a long time Seto remained silent. He seemed haunted. One time Yugi and I found him holding a blunt knife and just staring at it as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. Malik had snatched it away from him the minute he realized what was going on.
I didn't mean to do anything wrong. Seto's haunting words whimpered as Malik stared at him. It just hurts a lot. That's all.
I still remember what happened days after Seto had held that knife. Seto and Pegasus had sat down at the opposite ends of the table, with Cecilia watching on Seto's side.
" No! You cannot play that Toon world thing." Seto had stated. " Otherwise," He made a motion across his neck with his index finger. Pegasus chuckled.
" No worries. It's the Swords of Revealing Light."
" That's much better. Get on with it already."
The friendly game lasted about half an hour, with Pegasus winning. Seto grumbled a little, and Pegasus smiled at him.
" I can always teach you some strategies." He pointed out.
" Try." Seto smiled. " I don't think I can learn." He set down his cards and leaned back. " I've learned so much over this past year, if you understand what I mean. Yugi taught me about the Heart of the Cards, Joey taught me faith, blind or not. But now things have changed. I no longer have any faith left in myself. In fact, I don't think I ever had. The game is nonsense without faith and confidence, you know. It takes all the joy out of it. Now I just feel so empty."
There was a silence. Cecilia patted Seto's hand empathetically.
Was it self pity? Joey had asked that. Was it self pity? But Seto's answer was calm.
" Maybe." He said. " It depends on what self pity is. I don't feel sorry for myself. I don't feel."
And that was that.
" No! He's the guy that got chopped up-"
" No, I was asking WHO is he."
" I know! He's the guy that got chopped up, and then his wife brought him back to life-" Joey laughed as Tristan hit him on the head.
" He's the Judge of the Dead, geniuses." Tea muttered. " That was what Tristan was asking. Many people get chopped up in history."
" Oh? So if Osiris is the judge of the dead, then who is Anubis?"
" I don't know. I don't study Egyptian history. Perhaps the guardian?"
I cocked an eyebrow.
" By the way Tristan, why are you asking these questions?"
" I'm studying Global History."
" Have fun." Joey chuckled. " You'll be studying your head off."
" Sure. I'll be studying Napoleon, Akhenaton, Nicholas II, Marie Antoinette, Washington."
" Confucius."
" Right. And not to mention King George."
I shook my head and turned around. Yugi was rushing up.
" Where were you?" He asked me. " I was looking all around for you!"
" I was with Seto." I answered. " And the two jokers over there."
" Oh." Yugi sighed. " Bad news Yami. Seto just fainted at work. He's still unconscious, at the hospital."
" Oh no. First Mokuba, now Seto." Joey threw his bookbag over his shoulder. " Let's go."
When we got to the hospital both Cecilia and Pegasus were there. Seto was very much conscious by then, and very much pale. Pegasus was holding his hand reassuringly.
" What happened?" I asked.
" Oh." Pegasus blinked. " Hello. You came by quickly. Poor Seto didn't eat much, so now he's anemic." He clicked his tongue in worry. " But luckily, rest and food should do the job."
Seto remained quiet throughout the whole day.
" Hey pal." Joey patted his shoulder. " What did you get yourself into?"
Pegasus chuckled. " Hm. Seto's been taking care of Mokuba for more than five years. Very tough for a sixteen year old. Don't you think it's time someone took care of you?" He ruffled Seto's hair. " That way, we can turn that pink blood of yours redder."
" Pink blood?" Tea grimaced. " Egh!"
" Yeah well, iron deficiency anema." Tristan shrugged.
" Don't worry." Pegasus reassured Seto's unanswered question. " People think less of physical strength then you think. In fact, people still think you're a kid. Where do you think I got the term Kaibaboy from? After all, you're a famous youngster. Everyone knows you're still a teenager, and are rather surprised that your business actually lasted four years. Just don't let that lack of red blood cells affect that brain of yours. Would be a pity of the world of ignorant loses someone who sees."
" Hey, what is that supposed to mean?" Joey snapped.
" Poor Seto needs a guardian." Cecilia smiled sadly. Seto rolled his eyes and sneezed. It was actually very cute.
" You know, you should do that more often." This caused everyone to laugh.
Seto blushed a little.
" So what happened? How did you get from Industrial Illusions here so fast?" I asked Pegasus.
" It was actually very strange." He said thoughtfully. " I was checking up on everything on the island when I got a phone call. One of his assistants asked me for help. He said that Seto kept on calling for me, although Seto didn't really specify which ' Max' it was. That assistant must be pretty smart, but not withstanding, Cecilia and I made our way over here quickly. He was already at the hospital, and pretty much unconscious."
" They took the blood test." Cecilia added. " It was light pink, as anemic people are. Seto's too young to be having this problem!"
" Seto is too young for everything." Pegasus continued. " Mentioned to me one time that he found three strands of white hair when looking randomly in the mirror. He's two meters tall and yet he weighs what? One fifteen? In all seriousness, with Seto still a growing boy, that is seriously light."
" I know!" Joey didn't mention how much he weighed. I didn't either-I don't know.
" So Seto and we agreed to let him stay at Duelist Island for a while." Cecilia smiled sadly. " It's really the least we can do. The island is actually very peaceful. There are deer, really, birds and squirrels. After all, Seto's business is fairly stable."
" Really? You are going to Duelist Island?" Tea asked. Seto just smiled and blushed a little. I guess he couldn't really blush deeply because there's little red blood cells. So he looked more pink then red.
" Poor Seto." I smiled. " So what do you plan to do there?"
" Hopefully nothing." Pegasus laughed. It was a good humored laugh, a real one. " Fresh air is good, isn't it?"
" Of course." Yugi agreed. " Some vacation Pegasus has planned out for ya, eh Seto?"
Seto didn't answer.
Newspapers transfer information very quickly. It didn't take long for the whole world to know that the Duelist Champion and the CEO of Kaiba Corps is anemic-which may be quite bad. Of course, because of this, Seto had to stay at his company to get things in order despite his weary state-people are not confident in an ill boss, and stocks show it. So it wasn't until weeks after he fainted and was diagnosed did he actually begin his vacation. I had a feeling that the only reason Seto was still socially healthy at that point was because he had Pegasus to back up to-and Pegasus, with that golden eye, is not someone most bosses would want to mess with.
We didn't understand. But at least we know now. Seto was anemic, and for at least four years. He had hidden it very well. But Mokuba probably took all of his strength, that fateful day he disappeared forever. Pegasus showed some hope. He seemed almost normal now because of Seto, although some time after that he still showed some signs of insanity. There was something really wrong about one of his statements;
" Ow!" Pegasus had yelled. " Ow! Where did you learn how to do that?" He asked, as Seto took his fingers off his neck.
" I'll share a secret with all of you." Seto answered sheepishly.
" Oh?"
" I'm allergic to aspirin."
" What nonsense!"
" Seriously!" Seto protested. " I get rashes all over my skin and stomachaches."
" How can you survive without aspirin for so long?"
" I don't, remember?"
" Oh." Pegasus laughed. " Right."