A/N: Sorry this chapter is kind of short. The next one should be longer.
Roads Not Taken: Chapter 7One night, Mokuba had convinced Kaiba to play a game of Monster Capsule with him after their lesson. "So," the younger boy began as he moved one of his game pieces. "What did happen after you were adopted? What happened to change you so much?"
Kaiba took his turn and said nothing.
"I really want to know," his brother continued. "The other two said that you should be the one to tell me about it."
"Not now."
"When?"
Kaiba moved one of his game pieces but remained silent.
"Don't you trust me?" the child asked as he ended his turn.
There was another pause. For a moment, Mokuba thought that Kaiba would not answer this question either, but after a few seconds he replied, "I trust you more than anyone."
The game continued in silence until Mokuba asked, "Do you still want to defeat Yugi?"
"I will defeat him. One day I will find a way to overcome Exodia." Kaiba paused and looked at his brother. "But there are more important things to take care of right now."
Mokuba grinned as he moved his last piece and ended the game.
"You win."
"You let me win," the child looked at him knowingly.
Kaiba only smirked and got up to leave when Mokuba's counterpart entered the room carrying a camera.
"Stay where you are," he told them as he raised his camera. "I thought I'd catch you guys at the computer or something, but this works too. How about you do that last move one more time? Hold that piece up. Now look at me." He snapped the picture.
"What was that for?" Kaiba asked him.
"For the locket I convinced Seto to help me make. Once the picture is developed, we'll cut it in two and give both of you half. Then you'll have one just like us." The raven-haired boy grinned excitedly and ran out of the room.
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As soon as the picture was developed, Mokuba did exactly as he said he would. He cut it in half and placed the pieces in two lockets shaped like Duel Monster cards. He then gave them to Kaiba and his other self.
"Seto and I wear them all the time," he told them. "It means that a part of both of us is always with the other no matter what."
He watched as the two brothers took the lockets. They opened them and starred at the picture inside but seemed unsure of what they should do with them.
"Seto and I usually keep them under our shirts when we wear the clothes you have on now." He grinned at them both. "This will help to remind you of each other even if you're separated."
His alternate self was the first one to actually put the locket on and tuck it underneath his shirt. "I kinda like it."
Kaiba starred at his own locket but did not yet make a move to put it on. However, the curious stare of his brother and the huge eyes of the alternate Mokuba soon became too much for him to resist, and he slowly lifted it over his own head. "I guess it couldn't hurt."
~`~`~`~`~`~
"They're getting closer, Seto. I can tell. What has to happen before we can go home?"
"I don't know, but it had better happen soon. I have a tournament to run."
"Maybe the other me has to choose Kaiba over Yugi. What do you think will happen if he doesn't?"
Seto remained silent. Part of him was worried that they might never return to their world and that he would never prove that he was a better duelist than Yugi. However, he was concerned for this world's Mokuba as well. He did want him to be happy no matter what his final decision was.
Mokuba sensed his brother's somber mood and tried to cheer him up. "Don't worry, Seto. I just know that he'll choose Kaiba. They are brothers no matter what happened in the past, and besides, Mom is helping us. She wants them to stay together."
Seto appreciated the younger boy's attempt, but he could not share Mokuba's optimism. "Whatever he decides, we need to get back to our world before the tournament starts."
To Be Continued