9 At The Mercy Of The Sadist
Just to warn all readers:
This story (probably) won't have a happy ending. At least that's how it looks to me.
I sense the flames coming on...
Oh, and for all those wondering why the hell I insist on writing song lines before my fics, it's just cuz I love music as much as I love anime and manga.
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//I won't let you down//
//The words you said to me//
//It's echoing the sound//
//Of what would never be//
//I'm standing here alone//
//The memories remain//
//The same familiar home//
//But nothing looks the same//
//And I'm standing here alone//
//Can't tell if I'm awake//
//Reality is gone//
//In a dream I can't escape//
//You said//
//Hold on//
//But I feel like//
//I'm slipping away//
//I'm getting through it now//
//I guess it's plain to see//
//That everything I am//
//Is not everything you need//
Trust Company—"Slipping Away"
How could you do such a thing?
Answer me!
That's all you have to say?
Mokuba shivered violently as he sat under the branches of a spreading oak. The rain still fell heavily, and he had forgotten to bring a coat.
I trusted you.
*I guess you're right, Seto,* he thought sadly. *I'm sorry...* The black-haired boy brushed away the tears sprang up at the remembrance of his older brother's harsh words.
God, you're going to have to come up with something better than that!
Mokuba drew his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. He sat there for the longest time, waiting for the storm to stop.
****
"Why did you bring me here...again?" Mokuba asked half-fearfully.
Noah turned away from the dark view of the city. "You gave me the passwords..." He smiled evilly. "And now I own Kaiba Corporation, which is as it should be. I also have control over piece after intricate piece of Kaiba Corp's technology." There was a mocking note in his tone. "I wanted to thank you for that."
Mokuba tightened his fists as Noah laughed. This was just as bad as something Pegasus would have done. "You suck," he muttered angrily.
Noah's grin vanished. He advanced menacingly on Mokuba, his eyes piercing deep within. "You will regret that," he declared.
Out of nowhere, Noah's steel fist lashed out. Mokuba's head snapped back. He tasted blood in his mouth.
Noah smirked as his blows fell more intensely. At first, Mokuba resisted the urge to scream. But as Noah's fists tore at his already battered body, the agony became more than he could bear...
"Stop!" he pleaded futilely. "Please...stop!"
"Why should I?" Noah shot back. "You're getting what you deserve! You didn't have to tell me those passwords!"
With a sudden wave of guilt came fierce anger. Struggling fiercely, Mokuba threw Noah off balance, knocking him to the ground. But his energy was short-lived.
Momentarily surprised, Noah nearly let Mokuba overpower him. But, regaining his senses, he kicked the black-haired boy off him and got to his feet...
The smaller boy clearly saw the hatred blazing in his eyes.
For the first time, Mokuba realized that he was at Noah's mercy...
Before he could react, the older boy roughly grabbed him and squeezed him around the neck, crushing his windpipe. Mokuba cried out in pain. The world around him seemed to dim as his body, lacking oxygen, began to shut down. *No. No...please...*
But Noah was far from finished. Filled with blind rage, he tightened his lethal grip. An evil smile twisted his face as Mokuba's body went limp...
****
What was this place, that darkness should be so comforting? What was this place, that one found peace in the blackness of near death?
Wherever he was, it was eerily peaceful. Drifting in space...Mokuba seemingly abandoned his body. Silence and darkness had never been more consoling.
A movement in the night. What was that? Mokuba felt an uncharacteristic urge to panic. Something was disturbing this quiet essence...
"ITAI!!" The word was torn from his aching throat.
****
Agony jerked the boy back to reality. Noah shoved him to the ground, kicking him cruelly in the chest.
Mokuba coughed, his lungs filling with air. He lay shuddering, each breath cutting through his chest almost unbearably. He felt tears streaming down his face, and couldn't stop the sobs that welled up, sending spasms of torture through his bruised torso. Ironic how the breath of life could give the torment of death...
Noah stood gloating over the boy's shaking body. "Feel the pain, Mokuba," he hissed icily. "Feel the agony you so richly deserve!"
With an evil echoing laugh, he was gone.
****
Mokuba lay still on the wooden floorboards, burning but shivering feverishly. He was too tired to move; almost too tired to think.
It was just like before.
Of all the kids his age, he had always been the smallest; the weakest. Oh, it didn't matter that he was the smartest, no, all the other boys wanted a show of brute strength; something he didn't possess.
Unlike Noah. He had surprising power for someone his age and size. Physical and mental powers he loved to use against others, to the evidence of the bruises and cuts all over the boy's body. To hell with him!
All the other times Mokuba had been bullied, his brother had always been there. His brother had always made things right, even when they were both little.
Unlike now.
*Seto...* Slowly, because every move was overridden with agony, Mokuba pushed himself into a sitting position, breathing hard with the effort. His dark hair brushed over his face as he pulled the pendant from his pocket, opening it to see that picture...
He didn't hear the door open.
Before he could react, Noah stooped down, snatching up the small picture.
"No! Noah give it back!!" The younger boy pleaded, struggling to get to his feet.
The light-haired boy kicked him down. "Quiet, you bastard!" He regarded the pendant as if it wasn't worth dust. "Hmm..." With a snicker, Noah threw it to the ground.
"No!!" Mokuba couldn't help screaming as the picture shattered into tiny pieces. He could contain himself no longer. Burying his dark head in his shaking hands, he cried, harder than he ever had in his life.