Chapter Six: Roses and Wine

/I've been talking in my sleep. /

"Looky what I made!" the longhaired child cried, proudly displaying his craft of the day.

Gingerly, Kaiba took his brother's thoughtful project into his hands. He was careful not to crush any of the flowers on the garland; particularly the small purple buds just beginning to bloom.

"It's pretty." the blue-eyed boy commented, patting his sibling on the head. "This is one of the best things I've ever seen you make."

Mokuba beamed a smile. "You really think so?"

The other relative nodded his head. "I can see the effort you poured into making it. Very admirable, if I do say so myself."

"That's 'cuz I tried so hard to get everything right." Motioning with his forefinger, he directed his family member's attention to the details of his handiwork. "It wasn't that bad to put together. All I had trouble with was finding these kinda plants here." he explained, pointing to a layer of tiny wine colored roses. "I had to make sure there weren't any bugs in 'em or stuff like that."

"You made it for Mom, didn't you?" inquired the brown-haired adolescent, catching on to the hidden value of the head wreath.

Indigo eyes gave Seto a puzzled look. "How'd ya know that?"

"Because she always loved roses." answered Kaiba, handing the fairy-like accessory back to Mokuba. With a secret grin, he added, "Especially red ones."

"Okay, ya got me on that!" giggled the shorter youngster, toying with a stream of milky ribbons. His laughter surpassed the appeal of a perfectly tuned choir, the notes of his simplicity mirroring the quality of classical music. "It's true, the whole thing's for her!"

"She'll love it."

Suddenly, the blue-haired child's face grew serious. "Will she really?" he asked, his big, dark orbs filled with apprehension.

Lovingly, Seto wrapped his arms around his little brother's body. "I know she will." he whispered soothingly, his voice resembling the tranquil swish that waves produced. "Matter of fact, I'm positive she will."

"But how can you be so sure?"

Turning his head towards the sky, Kaiba appeared to be in deep thought. A multitude of clouds floated over him and his sibling, nomadic cotton candy fluff that resembled the breath of ancient spirits. Daydreaming, he pictured the snow above them as feathers, an immense symphony of whites and grays that an animated conductor composed. Inadvertently, he widened his smile, gazing at the celestial attributes with the naïveté of a child, but saw the entire atmosphere through the eyes of a romanticist. He was the author of even the most inarticulate of souls, who had the logic and reasoning of an adult, but chose to possess a tongue similar to a troubadour's poetic speech. Opening his mouth, he dipped his tongue into the bounty of sunshine, inhaled the intoxicating scent of roses and wine, then let the cornucopia of his lyrical imaginings flow from his mouth like ink from a fountain pen.

/Pretty soon they'll come to get me. /

"I can hear her whispering to me, that's why." the eldest brother revealed, closing his eyes. "It's the voice of an angel, a good spirit, so compassionate and sensitive that it billows out from the heavens just to call our names."

Straining his ears, the longhaired boy listened as carefully as he could. Birds chirped in the branches of the willows, communicating with one another by resounding their archangel trumpets. The trickling of a nearby river served as the winged creature's accompaniment, peaceful sound effects for the children meditating on the philosophy of their mother's love. There did happen to be strange rustling noises in the air, but when he shifted his eyes towards a collection of sunflowers, he found it was only a rabbit seeking a spot to doze at.

Frowning, the shorter male ducked his head, occupying himself by constructing another decoration. "That's just a bunny in the leaves." Mokuba said, looping a silky strand around his finger. Every time he did that, the other strings came undone. "Mommy can't be with us anymore, and--"

A graceful hand held his chin and tipped his face up, allowing him to peer into a set of sapphire orbs. Indigo eyes fell, too reluctant to view the other male, attempting to avoid the expression of disappointment that his sibling had to be wearing. If there was anything he truly reviled, it was dissatisfying his relative.

"I know how you feel," whispered the taller person, "but that's not true."

"She died, though! Mom just went off and left us here!"

"Do you honestly think she wanted to?"

"Yes, no, maybe so--"

Confused by the quantity of emotions swimming in his mind, he ceased all movement. Nothing made sense to him at the moment. It appeared to him that they were speaking in wild tongues, two totally different languages that neither of them could relate to or even comprehend. Although the longhaired boy was standing right next to his brother, he felt as if he were worlds apart from him, on some sort of distant soil unheard of by earth.

"Don't be afraid." Seto said quietly, embracing the smaller boy. His hand stroked the adolescent's blue-gray tresses calmly, affectionately, so very delicately that it resembled the touch of Mother Mary. "As long as you're with me, you're never alone."

Drifting in the blank abyss of the Milky Way, Mokuba saw the shooting star of his sibling's words, full of glittering hopes and promises. "You mean it?" he asked in a small tone, clinging to the remnants of his composure.

He couldn't break the heartfelt mood by crying. His relative would despise it if he did that, even if there were a few tears bubbling beneath his lids. That was okay, though. Someway, somehow, he'd find a way to suppress them. Anything for his older brother, just as long as he said--

"I love you, niisan." Kaiba whispered lovingly, squeezing the slender frame his arms encircled. "And nothing will ever change that."

"Really?"

Cracking a slanted smile, the elder individual replied, "Really, really."

"And you'll never leave me?"

Seto gave a slight shake of his head.

"How do I know you won't, though?"

Again, the taller male grinned. He'd been expecting the doubtful thought to arise from his family member's throat. Dropping his limbs to his sides, he fell to one knee and faced his relative with a raised palm.

"Because I'm going to make you a promise." the brown-haired person answered, his blue eyes flickering with untold secrets.

Puzzled, Mokuba cocked his head at an angle. "What kind of a promise?"

Expanding the width of his smile, Kaiba folded his fingers down until just one of them was left standing.

"This kind." explained the blue-eyed boy, wiggling his smallest pointer. "It will be something we can both swear by. That way, neither of us can go back on what we declared. Want to give it a try?"

Moving his head up and down, the shorter individual exclaimed, "Let's do it, then!"

At the same time, the two brothers locked pinkies together, beaming at one another as they did it.

"I'll always do whatever I can to make you happy!" vowed the younger person, bouncing a bit as he formed his statements. "That means I'm not gonna get mud all over the house when it rains, or bring stray kitties home, or puppies, or lizards, or pick up crawly things, or, or--"

Seto chuckled, a pleasant effect that served as a fading symbol of his youth. "Alright, alright, I get the picture already!" Using a free hand to cover his mouth, he tried to keep his body steady without being overwhelmed by giggles. "That's good enough!"

"Then I guess it's your turn now." responded the longhaired child.

As his laughter subsided, the brown-haired male glanced at his sibling's face. The petite features gazed at him with unspoken skepticism, studying his gestures, anticipating the phrases soon to be spoken. He could tell from his relative's appearance that he was still cynical about everything, what they were doing, how they could possibly believe everything would be fine once they poured out their heart and soul. Mokuba had been hurt so much in the past, mainly by those he cared the most for. It would devastate him to be lied to again. But this was different from the trials of trauma he had endured throughout his existence, for it would revolutionize the manner in which he would be raised. This was more than just wishful thinking, it would prove to be a cornerstone of his faith, a reason for living, something that he could look back on and appreciate. Most importantly, Kaiba's words were intended to give Mokuba something to hold on to. Setting his limb on his brother's shoulder, Seto wet his lips, preparing himself to speak.

"I give you my entire being, all that I have to offer, everything that I have and own." Staring directly into his relative's eyes, his lids betrayed a funny tingling, a sensation he only knew the day their mother perished. "My life is yours, and I dedicate it towards your well-being. I'll do anything for you, Mokuba, and you know that much. Don't think for a second that I'm going to abandon you, because that would never happen. I want nothing but the best for you, to get you everything that you ask for, to always make you proud of me no matter where we are." Something warm and runny slipped over his cheek, but he didn't stop to flick it off. What he had to vocalize was far more critical to accomplish than tending to a burst pipe. "I solemnly pledge to you that I will be an excellent role model for you, someone you can look up to without being scared or frightened of. More than that, I can promise you this much: I will never, ever, ever cause you any shame or embarrassment. You can count on me for that much."

The younger child's eyes opened wide, looking stunned and touched concurrently. "Are you crying, big brother?" he inquired, his tone unsteady.

Removing his hand from his sibling, the taller boy felt his visage. Liquid greeted his flesh, a tiny drop of water that rejected any movement, which stayed glued to its present location. Dipping his head slightly, he verified his relative's conjecture.

"Yeah, I guess I am."

Mokuba gave him a funny look. "Why?"

"It's okay to let a few tears loose once in a while." Kaiba answered, his mouth skewed in a lop-sided smirk. "Everyone finds themselves doing that once in a while."

"Am I allowed to, then?"

"If it feels right to you, then go ahead. I won't stop you."

"You won't think I'm weak or stupid or--"

"No." the taller adolescent vocalized, tossing his head from shoulder to shoulder. "Not at all. You see, there's a certain strength in being emotional, a wild type of understanding that comes from those inhibited feelings you have. It shows a key aspect about yourself that is necessary for progressing through whatever you may encounter."

"Like--?"

"Like knowing that, even though you may feel invincible at times, it's also good to realize how much frailty you own. If you never express yourself, you'll have trouble being yourself." Tapping his brother's head, he added, "We're not meant to be androids or computers with chips for brains. Hearts, minds, souls…those are all parts of a living entity, someone that learns, who grows to understand those around them. Those are facets of what makes us human. Do you understand, Mokuba?"

When he didn't hear a response, he called his sibling's name once more.

"Mokuba?"

In a dramatic rush, the longhaired boy threw his arms around his relative's neck.

"I love you, Seto."

Returning the show of affection, the brown-haired person replied, "And I love you, too."

Tears slid over their features simultaneously, flowing from their eyes like wine into a crystal chalice. The roses of their brotherhood blossomed, layers of violet and crimson petals twining, weaving between one another, locking themselves in an unbreakable bond to last an eternity. Whispering in the wind was the ballad of fallen angels, music created by a saint that blissfully watched over her miniature cupids. She was always with them, going along wherever they went, singing to them with the divine range her voice produced. Now if only both of her beloved sons were able to listen to her songs--

"I wish you could hear her the music she made." sighed the sapphire-eyed individual wistfully. "She's so talented with that--"

"Sweet soprano accent." finished the other youth, his expression dreamy.

Kaiba blinked, the lines on his visage etched with amazement. "You--you can--"

Nodding, the adolescent gazed at the foamy sea above. "I was wrong to say the things I did. It just wasn't fair. I know wherever I am, wherever you are, that's where she's gonna be. I just have to keep that all in here." he reasoned, tapping his temple with his finger.

"And in here." the taller person added, placing a hand over his heart.

"As long as we do that, we'll always remember her."

"So she'll never stop loving us," Seto said philosophically, raising his sight towards a mass of creampuff clouds. "no matter what. I know that because her spirit plays with ours, in flawless harmony that God provides us with. We're the baby roses emerging in the garden of her soul, sprouting in the showers of her undying love, blooming with a form of radiance that only a truly devout mother could raise. And to us, she is the child of our hearts, the gentle songstress who rocks us to sleep in her embrace. As we drift off into the realm of dreams, she echoes phrases of ever-lasting adoration as priceless and pure as a the wine splashed roses swaying to her tunes."

/Yeah, they're taking me away. /