Child at Heart
Chapter 12
I felt a chill come up from my stomach. Who is that boy? He looked exactly like Seto. Same chilling blue eyes, brown hair, tall height. He was much healthier then Seto was, but otherwise they were the same. And Seto was regaining his health anyways.
" Who the heck are you?" I asked.
The stranger flinched. " Nkil. My name is Nkil." He answered. " I guess you're Seto."
Seto began to tremble. He flung his arm out to catch the wall to support himself. Tristan came and held his shoulders.
" Are you alright?" Tristan asked.
" Geez, what do you think?" Joey asked. " How would you feel if you see your own image in another person?"
" What are you doing here, Nkil." Seto growled. Pegasus sighed and Nkil stepped back.
" I know you're angry at me, Seti." He pleaded. " But-"
" Angry?" Seto raised his eyebrows. " So now you remember."
" I couldn't find you."
" You had six years. I wrote."
" But-"
" Did it ever occur to you that you still have a younger brother?" Seto asked dangerously. " I don't care about what you did to me, Nkil. But what did you ever do for Mokuba? You ran away like the coward that you are."
" You know him?" Joey asked. Seto and Nkil ignored him.
" Seto, I'm sorry..."
" Sorry doesn't matter anymore, whoever you are." Seto turned around.
" Nkil, give it up." Pegasus answered from behind him. " He pushed you away from all his memories. You might as well leave."
" I'm not leaving until you hear me out, Seti."
" Seti. Get real. I'm no longer ' Seti'. I'm Seto Kaiba. I don't suppose you ever look at newspapers, whoever you are."
" Fine Seto." Nkil answered sadly. " But I'm not leaving. I can explain."
" Explain what?" Seto asked. " Explain why you never answered or why you left in the first place?"
" I left because I was afraid."
" And you thought I wasn't. Some brother you are."
" Wait a minute, you two were twins?" Joey asked.
" Are you an idiot?" Seto answered. " You entered the finals in the Duelist Kingdom Tournament and you didn't figure that out until now? But then again, we were twins, but we aren't now. He's just some stranger, sharing my face and my brother's name."
Every word seemed to hit Nkil like physical blows. I took pity on him, because I didn't understand Seto. Nkil was much easier to understand.
" Maybe you should give him a chance, Seto."
" Give him a chance?" Seto blinked, as if my suggestion was ridiculous. " Give him a chance? After what that traitor did to me? Ever since our parents died he went and never came back. I knew where he was. He went off to the wonderful land of Egypt, with all its dumb pyramids. I knew the address. He was with one of the aristocrats, living a wonderful life. In fact, he was even in the newspapers, playing the piano, and going to England, earning scholarships at Oxford. Sure, he's probably even smarter then I am, that rodent. But he doesn't have too much of a heart to balance his brain. I wrote letters to him every night for four years. That's right! Even when I started Kaiba Corps, built it up myself, I wrote to him for two more years. He never answered any of them. Then I just gave up. It was useless. And now, he just comes busting into my life as if he has that privilege. Well, wrong Nkil! Did it take you this long to realize that your ten-year-old brother is dead? Did it take you this long to realize that your twin fainted during work and was anemic? Did it take you this long to read those letters?"
" Seto, calm down, you're going to hurt yourself." Pegasus went over and held his shoulders.
" How can I calm down?" Seto cried. And with those words his rod came to view. Nkil stepped back, frightened. " Did it ever occur to you that you have a family? Did it ever occur to you that those letters mean something? I didn't write those on a computer or laptop! I handwrote it! I took the time each night to write in my own handwriting, with my own hand, with my own energy and poured out all my heart to ask you to come back. It's over, Nkil! When I give up, I don't give in again!"
With that there was a bright flash. We were sent back with the force of the blow. Pegasus jumped back, away from it. When our eyes cleared...
Nkil had a silver rod. He was blocking Seto's golden one. Seto was trembling with shock.
" You have one too." He whispered. Nkil nodded mutely, retrieving his rod and it evaporated.
" Seto." Nkil began. " I never wrote back because...I didn't want to remember. Didn't want to remember that I had a twin and brother. Mom and Dad had always been so kind to me. So I forgot for a while..."
Seto sighed, his rod vanished.
" Then when you became famous I remembered again." Nkil admitted. " But I thought that everything was alright. You were so successful. I thought you didn't need me. I did try to write, but always ended up keeping the letters because they just didn't...tell what I was feeling."
There was a silence. Yami helped me stand.
" I still have the letters Seto." Nkil said quietly. " I read them every night. When you stopped I thought you didn't remember me anymore. And I thought you wouldn't waste time reading your brother's letters."
Then, before our eyes, Seto crumbled.
" That was a poor excuse."
" It's the truth all the same."
" Do you really expect your brother to accept that?" I asked.
" No, not really."
" Nkil, do you have any idea what you just did to him?" Yami asked.
Nkil did not answer.
" He's a different person now." I said gently. " I don't suppose you can call him Seti anymore, or whatever you called him. It's not going to do either of you any good."
" I love him. You know?" Nkil suddenly blurted out. " I always did, but I guess he hates me now."
" Hey, we don't know Seto very well." Yami smiled. " But I can promise you one thing. If you gave him enough time, he'll forgive you. Trust me."
" How? After all-"
" Listen," I began. " Yami's right. You're his twin brother. You're the only family he has. When Seto comes to his senses, he'll realize that. Seto's not stupid. He isn't heartless either."
Nkil wisely remained silent.
" Seto?" I shook at his shivering body. " Seto! Wake up! Seto, god, now I knew why Mokuba called us so quickly that time. Seto!"
" What's wrong?" Yami entered the room.
" This is creeping me out Yami." I answered. " Seto's not waking up. But he's breathing normally and all. Should we call Nkil or Pegasus or Cecilia or should we ask Dr. Tea?"
" Should we call at all?" Yami blinked. " Hm. I don't think it is serious..."
" What are you talking about?"
" He's a little cold." Yami answered briefly. " But he looks rather normal. I think he's fine, he's just very tired and shocked by everything that happened today. I'm rather surprised myself by Nkil. I don't know that Seto had a twin."
" I didn't know that Seto was capable of pushing several years of memories away from his mind." I shivered. " It's kind of like that time with Shadi when he invaded our minds to look for whoever stole Pegasus's eye."
" In any case, it has been even harder on him." Yami answered. " Leave him alone Yugi. That's all anyone can do."
It turned out that we didn't half understand Seto as much as we thought, because although we reasoned he was smart we forgot the fact that he was stubborn as well.
Was it because he saw Tea's mother? Perhaps. Because he suddenly fell quiet. We came back to Domino and Seto went back to work, as if trying to kill himself with it. Nkil was desperate, asking for help, but Seto would no longer accept any of it. We asked Pegasus. Pegasus just shook his head.
" Let him be, Yugi." He answered. " The world is unfair."
Nkil tried to earn Seto's trust. Seto ignored him. We learned that Seto was the oldest of the twins, and Nkil was younger. Seto had always wanted to be a doctor, but Nkil was the doctor now. Seto had been carefree before as a child. One look at him and you'll know how he changed.
Yes, Nkil was sorry. Like Seto had said. Sorry is not enough.
In time, we were right. Seto did relent, but no one understood the sacrifice he made. Nkil was the ultamite blow; if Seto had been able to truly hate him, he probably would still be here. The day he loved Nkil was the day he died.
Chapter 12
I felt a chill come up from my stomach. Who is that boy? He looked exactly like Seto. Same chilling blue eyes, brown hair, tall height. He was much healthier then Seto was, but otherwise they were the same. And Seto was regaining his health anyways.
" Who the heck are you?" I asked.
The stranger flinched. " Nkil. My name is Nkil." He answered. " I guess you're Seto."
Seto began to tremble. He flung his arm out to catch the wall to support himself. Tristan came and held his shoulders.
" Are you alright?" Tristan asked.
" Geez, what do you think?" Joey asked. " How would you feel if you see your own image in another person?"
" What are you doing here, Nkil." Seto growled. Pegasus sighed and Nkil stepped back.
" I know you're angry at me, Seti." He pleaded. " But-"
" Angry?" Seto raised his eyebrows. " So now you remember."
" I couldn't find you."
" You had six years. I wrote."
" But-"
" Did it ever occur to you that you still have a younger brother?" Seto asked dangerously. " I don't care about what you did to me, Nkil. But what did you ever do for Mokuba? You ran away like the coward that you are."
" You know him?" Joey asked. Seto and Nkil ignored him.
" Seto, I'm sorry..."
" Sorry doesn't matter anymore, whoever you are." Seto turned around.
" Nkil, give it up." Pegasus answered from behind him. " He pushed you away from all his memories. You might as well leave."
" I'm not leaving until you hear me out, Seti."
" Seti. Get real. I'm no longer ' Seti'. I'm Seto Kaiba. I don't suppose you ever look at newspapers, whoever you are."
" Fine Seto." Nkil answered sadly. " But I'm not leaving. I can explain."
" Explain what?" Seto asked. " Explain why you never answered or why you left in the first place?"
" I left because I was afraid."
" And you thought I wasn't. Some brother you are."
" Wait a minute, you two were twins?" Joey asked.
" Are you an idiot?" Seto answered. " You entered the finals in the Duelist Kingdom Tournament and you didn't figure that out until now? But then again, we were twins, but we aren't now. He's just some stranger, sharing my face and my brother's name."
Every word seemed to hit Nkil like physical blows. I took pity on him, because I didn't understand Seto. Nkil was much easier to understand.
" Maybe you should give him a chance, Seto."
" Give him a chance?" Seto blinked, as if my suggestion was ridiculous. " Give him a chance? After what that traitor did to me? Ever since our parents died he went and never came back. I knew where he was. He went off to the wonderful land of Egypt, with all its dumb pyramids. I knew the address. He was with one of the aristocrats, living a wonderful life. In fact, he was even in the newspapers, playing the piano, and going to England, earning scholarships at Oxford. Sure, he's probably even smarter then I am, that rodent. But he doesn't have too much of a heart to balance his brain. I wrote letters to him every night for four years. That's right! Even when I started Kaiba Corps, built it up myself, I wrote to him for two more years. He never answered any of them. Then I just gave up. It was useless. And now, he just comes busting into my life as if he has that privilege. Well, wrong Nkil! Did it take you this long to realize that your ten-year-old brother is dead? Did it take you this long to realize that your twin fainted during work and was anemic? Did it take you this long to read those letters?"
" Seto, calm down, you're going to hurt yourself." Pegasus went over and held his shoulders.
" How can I calm down?" Seto cried. And with those words his rod came to view. Nkil stepped back, frightened. " Did it ever occur to you that you have a family? Did it ever occur to you that those letters mean something? I didn't write those on a computer or laptop! I handwrote it! I took the time each night to write in my own handwriting, with my own hand, with my own energy and poured out all my heart to ask you to come back. It's over, Nkil! When I give up, I don't give in again!"
With that there was a bright flash. We were sent back with the force of the blow. Pegasus jumped back, away from it. When our eyes cleared...
Nkil had a silver rod. He was blocking Seto's golden one. Seto was trembling with shock.
" You have one too." He whispered. Nkil nodded mutely, retrieving his rod and it evaporated.
" Seto." Nkil began. " I never wrote back because...I didn't want to remember. Didn't want to remember that I had a twin and brother. Mom and Dad had always been so kind to me. So I forgot for a while..."
Seto sighed, his rod vanished.
" Then when you became famous I remembered again." Nkil admitted. " But I thought that everything was alright. You were so successful. I thought you didn't need me. I did try to write, but always ended up keeping the letters because they just didn't...tell what I was feeling."
There was a silence. Yami helped me stand.
" I still have the letters Seto." Nkil said quietly. " I read them every night. When you stopped I thought you didn't remember me anymore. And I thought you wouldn't waste time reading your brother's letters."
Then, before our eyes, Seto crumbled.
" That was a poor excuse."
" It's the truth all the same."
" Do you really expect your brother to accept that?" I asked.
" No, not really."
" Nkil, do you have any idea what you just did to him?" Yami asked.
Nkil did not answer.
" He's a different person now." I said gently. " I don't suppose you can call him Seti anymore, or whatever you called him. It's not going to do either of you any good."
" I love him. You know?" Nkil suddenly blurted out. " I always did, but I guess he hates me now."
" Hey, we don't know Seto very well." Yami smiled. " But I can promise you one thing. If you gave him enough time, he'll forgive you. Trust me."
" How? After all-"
" Listen," I began. " Yami's right. You're his twin brother. You're the only family he has. When Seto comes to his senses, he'll realize that. Seto's not stupid. He isn't heartless either."
Nkil wisely remained silent.
" Seto?" I shook at his shivering body. " Seto! Wake up! Seto, god, now I knew why Mokuba called us so quickly that time. Seto!"
" What's wrong?" Yami entered the room.
" This is creeping me out Yami." I answered. " Seto's not waking up. But he's breathing normally and all. Should we call Nkil or Pegasus or Cecilia or should we ask Dr. Tea?"
" Should we call at all?" Yami blinked. " Hm. I don't think it is serious..."
" What are you talking about?"
" He's a little cold." Yami answered briefly. " But he looks rather normal. I think he's fine, he's just very tired and shocked by everything that happened today. I'm rather surprised myself by Nkil. I don't know that Seto had a twin."
" I didn't know that Seto was capable of pushing several years of memories away from his mind." I shivered. " It's kind of like that time with Shadi when he invaded our minds to look for whoever stole Pegasus's eye."
" In any case, it has been even harder on him." Yami answered. " Leave him alone Yugi. That's all anyone can do."
It turned out that we didn't half understand Seto as much as we thought, because although we reasoned he was smart we forgot the fact that he was stubborn as well.
Was it because he saw Tea's mother? Perhaps. Because he suddenly fell quiet. We came back to Domino and Seto went back to work, as if trying to kill himself with it. Nkil was desperate, asking for help, but Seto would no longer accept any of it. We asked Pegasus. Pegasus just shook his head.
" Let him be, Yugi." He answered. " The world is unfair."
Nkil tried to earn Seto's trust. Seto ignored him. We learned that Seto was the oldest of the twins, and Nkil was younger. Seto had always wanted to be a doctor, but Nkil was the doctor now. Seto had been carefree before as a child. One look at him and you'll know how he changed.
Yes, Nkil was sorry. Like Seto had said. Sorry is not enough.
In time, we were right. Seto did relent, but no one understood the sacrifice he made. Nkil was the ultamite blow; if Seto had been able to truly hate him, he probably would still be here. The day he loved Nkil was the day he died.