Chapter 3
" Why did Kaiba suddenly take a vacation?" Jou blinked. " It's not like him. He's a work-aholic!"
" I don't know." Mokuba was rather quiet. " He didn't tell me anything. He just took off."
" Without telling you where he's going?" Yugi asked.
Mokuba shook his head solemnly.
" It's like that time at Duelist Kingdom." Honda blinked. " He just disappeared. Only this time I'm pretty sure Pegasus didn't kidnap him or anything this time."
/ Hear that Yami?/
// Hai. It's odd of Kaiba.//
/ It's not like him to abandon his brother like that. Other than his business and his cards, Kaiba
values his brother above all else. Maybe even over his business and cards. So why? Why leave
Mokuba all alone?/
" The last time he left like that was after you beat him in the duel." Mokuba looked at Yugi
accusingly. " Did you hurt my brother again?"
" Iie." Yugi blinked. " After that day when you invited me over, I never talked to him again."
" Then why did he leave like that?" Mokuba broke into tears. " Why did he leave me?"
Dear Mom, Dad,
There are so many flowers here, so many flowers. You really should have lived here, or rested here, either way. Here everything is calm and peaceful, no one comes here, and always butterflies around. It would be perfect, just like the Butterfly Lovers, and maybe here you can stay with each other in the same grave just like Liang and Zhu. Someday I'll stay here forever and keep you company.
The air is fresh here. It makes me forget everything else. At home I'm constantly reminded of my business, my sorry life, and what I'm missing. Here, I'm all alone, and all is peaceful and quiet. Away from human society. It looks like the doctor was right, I should take a break. Just to relax my mind, and who knows, maybe it would give me the energy to compete in this world again.
There are sakura trees everywhere. They say that in the summer, the cherries are the sweetest. And that since we're far north of Honshu, during the spring it sometimes snows, and when the cherry blossoms bloom and the frost of the passing winter covers them one last time, they're a sight to behold. There are peonies that are wider than my hand, and full of life and color. Mother, you loved peonies, remember? Perhaps on your next birthday, I'll gather some of the peonies here and bring them to your grave.
" Nope. No sign of Kaiba. Don't know where he is. What kind of guys are these?" Jou put down
the newspaper.
" Why would he forget about me?" Mokuba asked quietly. " Why did he leave me like that?
Without even saying...goodbye."
" Oh, of course not, he won't say goodbye. He'll come back soon, I know it." Yugi assured
Mokuba.
Mokuba wiped his eyes and was silent.
" God I'm going to kill him." Honda muttered under his breath, but only Yugi heard him.
" I'm sure he had a good reason," Anzu offered, " I mean, Kaiba cares about Mokuba. He would
never leave Mokuba without a reasonable...you know."
" Well last time he left Mokuba Mokuba got kidnapped!" Jou seethed. " Doesn't that moneybag
have any brains? What if Mokuba gets kidnapped again?"
" I'm sure that Kaiba's aware that Mokuba's safe with us this time." Yugi answered.
" Why are you guys defending him?" Honda asked.
" Well, if you think about it, is it really like Kaiba to just leave Mokuba just because he wanted to?
And if he felt Mokuba was a bother, he would have felt it a long time ago. Think about it, they stuck
together this far." Yugi pointed out. " Now where is that guy? We're all getting worried."
// I'm going to try to find him.// Yami said.
/ You sure?/ Yugi asked. / Do you know where to look?/
// It's better than sitting here doing nothing.//
/ That's true./
" Why don't we try looking for him?" Ryou asked, who had been quiet all this time. " After all,
Mokuba needs his brother, and Kaiba's business is lost without him."
" And where should we look?" Jou demanded.
" Anywhere." Ryou answered. " Though we should stick with Domino, maybe..."
" What if he went out of the country?" Honda asked.
They were silent.
Dear Mom, Dad,
I'm so glad you can make it to this place. Don't you love it? I thought you might like it under one of those tall oaks. See, I put you two together. Just like Liang and Zhu. I wish I can stay here with you two forever. It would be like those times long ago, before Mokuba was born, when there were only the three of us. Sure, it's a small number, but at least we were a complete family. I remember when Dad use to take me to the national park at Mount Fuji. We saw one of those monkeys taking a bath in the hot springs. It was so funny! Remember Mom, how you got so excited when two of the monkeys began fighting over a spring? And when the bigger monkey turned out to be the loser instead of the victor? It was so unexpected! And when one of the monkeys started making bubbles in the water. You remarked that I do that all the time when in the swimming pool.
Well, we're not at the hot spring, but at least the area is quiet and peaceful, don't you think?
" Seto Kaiba had ordered two graves to be removed from the cemetery." Jou read. " You think those
two are his parents?"
" Maybe." Ryou answered.
There was a silence.
" Maybe he was looking for a new place to bury them?" Yugi wondered.
" Wasn't the cemetery fine?"
" I guess Kaiba doesn't agree."
Mokuba suddenly stood up. " He always mentioned the graves did not have butterflies, because the workers there keep the flowers from growing."
There was another long pause.
" He said that they should have, just like the Butterfly Lovers." Mokuba went on, " Because he
wanted the butterflies to be as devoted to the grave as Liang and Zhu were. The reincarnations, I
mean."
" Who are Liang and Zhu?" Anzu asked.
" They're...Chinese people."
" Alright, so if he wants butterflies, he would go to a place where no one's around and there are a lot
of flowers. Which is basically everywhere." Jou sighed.
" At least we can cross out the cities, such as Tokyo, Domino, and others." Yugi went and fetched a
map. / Good, at least we're getting somewhere./
Yami didn't answer.
" Do you think he'll go to Mount Fuji? You know, sacred waters, might mean a lot to him, if he
burns his letters to his dead parents." Honda pointed out.
" We...can try that..." Yugi looked at it doubtfully. " Maybe around Mount Fuji, but Mount Fuji
itself doesn't really have a lot of flowers. Does it?"
" I don't know. I can't remember. Last time I visited that place was about five years ago." Anzu
answered.
" Well, I'll ask my ji-chan to drive us there." Yugi said. " Goodness, ever since that night Kaiba's
been acting really weirdly."
// He doesn't have a ji-chan.//
/ Must be awful./ Yugi mused. / What do you think he writes in his letters?/
// I don't know.//
And then ever since Mokuba came, our family was incomplete. Sure, the number was still
the same, but it no longer had the wholesome feel of it. I remember the days when I would wake up
and say, " Ah, what a lovely day! Can we go out?" And Mom would say, " Why, of course honey!
Because one day you won't be able to just go out when you want to." Mom, you couldn't be more
right. At the orphanage we weren't allowed to leave the grounds unless someone wanted to adopt
us, and at Gozaburo's, he wouldn't let me go anywhere unless it has something to do with his
company.
Today I feel like I can just sit here forever. It feels like a dream, but what does it matter? Aren't memories dreams? And for years I lived in my memories, the days when Dad would throw me into the water at the beach, and I would come out, yelling at him. We did so many things during the short time together. The kimono festival, Mom picked out the most beautiful one for me, and said that when I grow up I could wear it. Of course, in the end I lost it, but I remember the feel of it, the silk under my fingers. And that first concert, with what's her name? Kazu or someone. You said that she was the best violinist of all those who played the Butterfly Lovers. The tickets must have been really expensive, considering the hall we were in, and I was so excited about the orchestra! Drums and flutes and bells and that day everyone was wearing chinese dresses, the performers I mean, and you said that it was the perfect thing because the violinist was a woman, who represented Zhu Yingtai, and the principal cellist was a man, who represented Liang Shanbuo.The middle part made me want to dance and then cry. You said the conductor was a Chinese, and that she was one of the few famous female conductors, and throughout the concert you told me the story. Remember? The other people around us got so annoyed, but I loved it because it made both the story and the music more enchanting. And when you left, I thought that the ground will open and swallow you, but I thought it odd because I thought Daddy must die first, and much later.
Look, I'm looking over your graves. There are two butterflies over there. Are they you two? I hope so. I want to believe that my parents are also the Butterfly Lovers, and that I can see them dancing every day. The area is so peaceful, I can just go on and on about it. No one will bother you ever again. No one will step on your brave or spit or do anything like those workers had been doing. You two will be safe and at peace here. I promise.
I love you, Mom and Dad.
Your son,
Seto
" Don't worry, we'll find your brother. I promise." Yugi told Mokuba as they climbed into the van.
" Alright Yugi, do you have the map?" Sugoruku asked. Yugi nodded. The gang waited as the old
man read through the map.
" The nearest way is for us to take this route, switch at this exit. That should do." Sugoruku paused.
" Alright. We're starting." He said cheerfully.
" Alright! Mt. Fuji, here we come!" Jou cheered. The van started and they were off.
The trees passed by with a green splendor. Mokuba looked at the trees and the sight before
him. They passed several small towns, some lakes and mountains. Dimly he remembered how Seto
spoke of those mountains.
Monuments of the Earth's pride,
Symbols of the God's power,
They arch tall over the world and into the sky,
Where Mother Earth can touch Father Heaven.
Mokuba sighed. The others don't understand. Ni-sama is really kind, really sensitive. He enjoys nature, and when the company first began to thrive, Seto had taken him to the mountains. Most Japanese love the sea, for the sea was their main provider. But Seto loved the land, loved the mountains, as if he thought should he ever climb one he will meet his mother and father in some mysterious temple, where Heaven and Earth touch and the gate can open to both.
Anzu looked at Mokuba's thoughtful face and mistook it for worry.
" Your brother will be fine, Mokuba."
" I know." Mokuba was feeling better about going to Mt. Fuji. All of the sudden he was grateful
towards Yugi-tachi. Even if Yugi did break Seto's spirit, they're always willing to help.
" Alright, we need to get to the gas station to refill." Sugoruku announced. " So everyone look out for the gas stations and which exit it's at next. We can also probably get some lunch at the same time.
Mokuba watched the farmers work on their fields. The day was becoming hot, but the car
had air conditioning. Jou was snoring at the left window and Honda was bickering with Anzu.
Ryou was sitting quietly, looking at the scenery. Mokuba turned back to his window.
Ni-sama, where are you?
He thought about the promise Seto had made to him the day they left for the orphanage.
" We'll stick together. I'll never leave or abandon you."
Well, why did he leave now? Mokuba didn't understand. Maybe Seto was still angry at him. Maybe Seto did not forgive him after all. It all started after that night, anyway. So maybe...
Mokuba shut his eyes. No, Mokuba. He told himself. Ni-sama would never leave you, no matter how angry he got. He promised. And Ni-sama always keeps his promises.
Still, part of him felt sick at heart.
Yami stepped out of the car and surveyed his surroundings. There was a cabin up ahead, he
could faintly see it, but they were blocked by a barrier of trees. Mokuba ran up ahead.
" I know Ni-san is here." The boy called, " I know. Ni-sama! Ni-sama!"
The cabin was large yet simple, not as ornate as the mansion was. Yami knocked on the door. Mokuba was fidgeting in impatience. Perhaps it was because of a brotherly bond that he was almost certain Seto was behind that door.
Seto was clad in a robe of white and blue. His face looked emotionless, yet there was some
peace to it. The sight of him was breathtaking, Seto had fuller cheeks that were red with health, and
his eyes sparkled in the sunlight. His locket hung around his neck for all to see, and he was holding
the locket when he answered the door. The first person he looked at was Mokuba, and he smiled, a
breathtaking, beautiful smile, serene and tender. For a moment everyone was speechless.
" Ni-sama!" Mokuba rushed up to Seto. Seto smiled, bending down and picking Mokuba up.
Everyone sighed, relieved at the break of silence.
" Ni-sama, why did you leave me?" Mokuba asked.
" Look over there," The other answered. " See that tree? That stone over there? That's Mom and
Dad's new resting place. There are flowers too. These are all sakura trees, except that one, which is
an oak tree. There are peony bushes surrounding us. Isn't this place magnificent? And look, see
those two butterflies over there?"
Mokuba strained to look. There was the tree, the stone, but there were no butterflies.
" Ni-sama, I don't see any butterflies!"
" Look harder." Seto encouraged. " Look around the rocks, you'll see them. They're fluttering
everywhere. You can't miss it. Both are white, with black frames and black speckles like pepper.
They're so beautiful!
Twin petals of smiles,
Flutter, flutter, dancing light,
And then they vanish."
Yami looked. But there were indeed, no butterflies.