**All right… well as incredibly late as it is… here it is lol… I'm so sorry, and unfortunitly I can't promise updates on a certain date anymore now that I have… a life, and a job. When I first started these stories I genereally had one friend who occupied most of my time… that was occupied lol, now I have several and they occupy much more time because you can't sti em' down with a good playstation game and ignore them for several hours... lol Sorry riss, but ti's true. So yah, on top of having more friends, a job and a dog that still often needs walking… I'm kind of on a writers block thingy which is genereally why the end of this chapter really sucks and practically all talking. Anyway, I've come up with a new little twist for this fic which is going to make it longer for those of you who happen to like it and want it longer and I no longer hate it lol, now that all of that sappy crap is over… anyway… enjoy J J **

Odoroki

Serenity had a great time handing out all the gifts she'd gotten everyone the day after they'd returned. It was slightly difficult to talk to Mokuba, and give him his gifts and she found it slightly annoying that Kaiba was hovering just around the corner the entire time, making sure Mokuba didn't put any moves on Serenity. Serenity was fairly sure he wouldn't, and even if he did she was sure he'd stop if she said no. He loved her, and with love came respect.

Joey's reaction to his gifts was just hilarious. He lined all of his bobble heads up and ran along the table, trying to have the last one bobbling at the same time as the first one. Needles to say he didn't do it. The one time he was so nearly there Gemeia came along and knocked most of them down. He'd liked his other gifts too, but he'd been overly amused with the bobble heads.

Mai and Tea were so thrilled with their bathing suits that they dragged Serenity into Kaiba's pool just to try them out. None of the guys minded though, because they were particularly skimpy. Joey had tried to jump in with nothing but Mickey Mouse ears on, but Kaiba had, rather forcefully, objected. Mai had found it funny, Serenity was fairly sure she was forever damaged though… seeing her brother's penis made her a little queasy. It was after that, that they found out Joey had found Kiaba's 80 years old bottle of wine that had been kept in his armory.

"That wine was worth $2000!" Kaiba yelled.

"What good is wine if you aren't gonna drink it?" Joey demanded, hiccuping slightly.

"I was going to drink it!" Kaiba said angrily. "I hadn't intended on wasting on a mutt like you though!"

"Seto…" Serenity said in a warning tone from where she sat perched on the side of the pool.

"Don't you Seto me," Kaiba said angrily as he stormed past her, chasing Joey so he could wring his throat. "I'm not a god damn dog."

Serenity had to shut the party down then. It seemed Kaiba's truce had been temporary. Very temporary. She wasn't overly pleased with him either. She spent the night playing video games with Mokuba. Over the last few years that had sort of become a hobby of the two young adults. Mokuba loved spending time with Serenity, as did she, but for different reasons. Serenity became slightly irritated when Mokuba let her win though.

"Hit me dammit!" Serenity said angrily.

"I'm trying," Mokuba lied, clicking the buttons he knew perfectly well didn't do anything.

"No you aren't," Serenity said, dropping her remote and pouncing on Mokuba, who was lying on his stomach in front of the TV, propped up on his elbows.

"Umph," All the air in Mokuba's lungs was forced out as Serenity snatched the remote from his hands and kicked her own butt.

"Hmph," she said, getting up and walking back to the couch, her nose in the air.

Just as she was about to sit down, she felt a large, feather pillow make contact with her back, she was thrown into the soft velvet couch, where she turned around, her mouth wide with shock.

"You little bastard," she said, grinning slightly as she grabbed for a pillow as well and swung it at him. The fought for nearly 20 minutes, Mokuba making sure not to hurt her and Serenity doing the best she could to hurt him. Then the inevitable happened, Serenity's pillow ripped open and the feathers went flying everyone. They both stopped for a moment and watched the feathers come floating down, then Mokuba smiled and swung his pillow again. Serenity follow suit, sending the rest of her feathers every where. She dropped her limp pillow case and the next time Mokuba's came at her she grabbed it and ripped the thin, silky cover open, reaching one hand into the pillow, pulling a large handful of feathers out and threw them at Mokuba's face.

"Why you little-," Mokuba mumbled, grabbing the pillow, throwing it up in the air and wrestling Serenity into a large pile of feathers.

Serenity stared up into Mokuba's bright blue eyes, and as she always did, felt that little spark that still remained light up inside her. She hated it when the situation ended up like this, she still felt for him in one way or another, but she loved him more as her brother in law than a boy friend now. She had changed in the three years she'd been dating Kaiba, and even more in the one year they'd been engaged. But she could never forget the months she'd spent with Mokuba. He'd been a much easier person to get along with, much easier to please, but that fact still remained that she loved Seto Kaiba, not Mokuba Kaiba.

"I can't do this," Serenity said, adverting her gaze from Mokuba's eyes.

Mokuba sighed and hung his head for several moments, one moment too long. Just then, Seto Kaiba walked into the room. He couldn't see Mokuba or Serenity, who were hidden from the door way by the large velvet couch, but he saw the feathers and knew they were either in there or had just left, so Mokuba didn't bother trying to hide. He quickly stood up, rushing past Kaiba and then sliding down the rail and out the front door, disappearing into the darkness of the night.

"What were you doing?" Kaiba demanded when Serenity stood up as well, from the very spot Mokuba had just come.

"You don't honestly think…?" Serenity asked, squinting slightly. Kaiba didn't say anything. "You don't trust me, do you?"

"It's not you I don't trust," Kaiba said, challenging her angry stare.

"It's Mokuba then…" Serenity said angrily. "You don't trust your own little brother?"

"I know he still wants you Serenity," Kaiba defended himself.

"So do I, but I also know he would never hurt me or do anything to me if I said no. Are you afraid someday I might agree?" Serenity said mockingly.

"I never said that."

"But you do think he'll try and make a move on me?" Serenity said, despite that fact Mokuba did, often, she would defend him. She knew she was the cause of any friction between the Kaiba brothers and she wanted, with all her heart, to fix it and if it meant lying, she would.

"I know he would," Kaiba said, getting angry.

"Maybe this won't work then," Serenity said slowly as she stopped and stood just before him. Serenity saw the fear rise in his eyes, and as much as she wanted to continue torturing him she decided not to. "Maybe I can't live here with you… if it hurts Mokuba that much and you don't even trust him anymore maybe it would be better if I lived with my brother and Mai… or even got my own place, you could always come visit."

"You don't honestly think that we could make a marriage work living in different homes do you?" Kaiba said, masking his fear with sarcasm.

"Anything's possible," Serenity said, turning sideways and sliding past him. "I'm going to go get a pillow and a blanket… I think I'll stay in here tonight." She said quietly as she walked away from him.

Two weeks… two goddamn weeks and we are already sleeping in separate rooms… Kaiba thought as he watched Serenity was away and the disappear around the corner leading upstairs to their bedroom. I have to do something with Mokuba… get him married or something, just get him out… Kaiba shook his head. I can't force my own brother out, I can't force him to do anything, and chances of him getting married are slim… Kaiba sighed and walked into the room, sitting down the red, velvet couch. He stared into the huge screen before him, not paying much attention to the blinking sign "game over" on the left side of the screen.

When Serenity came back she was wearing light blue pajama pants with different types of dogs all over them and light blue tank top that matched. She was wrapped in a thick, dark blue blanket and was dragging a heavy water pillow covered in a deep green pillowcase. She had pulled her long auburn hair back in a sloppy pony tail which was twisted every which way making it sloppy, but sexy.

She didn't look at him as she entered the room, but he watched as she threw her blanket on the longer couch next to the one he was sitting one, used both hands to lift the heavy pillow onto the couch. But instead of making a suitable bed she walked over to him and climbed into his lap, like a little girl might do to her grandpa.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, leaning her shoulder against Kaiba's chest, allowing him to wrap his arms around her. "I don't mean to make you and Mokuba mad at each other. I don't try to make him love me… but I can't just ignore him all the time."

Kaiba didn't say anything, just fiddled absently with the end of her hair, thinking about what she said. She wasn't really the cause of the problem. It was a choice the brothers had each made. Mokuba refused to entirely accept that fact Serenity loved Seto and Kaiba refused to trust his little brother around his wife because he knew Mokuba still loved her.

"It isn't your fault…" Kaiba finally said after several moments of silence. That sort of silence that is louder than any scream or shout. "Me and my brother have chosen to act like we do, it's not your fault that the choice has to do with you…"

"I can go live some where else…" Serenity offered, slightly reluctantly, scared he would accept.

"No," Kaiba said immediately, that was slightly reassuring for Serenity. "No, I definitely don't want that. We just have to… try and set Mokuba up with someone. He just has to move on." Kaiba struggled with the words.

"I know…" Serenity let her words trail off. They didn't say anything else and before long Serenity had fallen asleep in Kaiba's arms. He lifted her gently, and looked down at the things she had dragged down. He knew perfectly well that if her pillow and blanket weren't in her room in the morning she would have a fit. So he set her down gently on the couch, quickly took her pillow and blanket up to their room and then came back to retrieve her.

Kaiba watched as his little wife turned on her side and clutched the top of her blanket, sighing deeply before falling into a deep sleep.

~*~*~*~*~

Mokuba walked, his head down and his hands in his pocket, the odd tear falling from his red eyes. It wasn't fair, it just wasn't fair. Why did stupid Seto have to mess everything up? He would take the thing Mokuba cared most for. He always did manage to get in the way one way or another.

Who was he kidding… that wasn't true at all. Seto was Mokuba's elder brother, and he was an awesome brother. Any time Mokuba needed help Seto would assist him, or save him, whatever he had to do. Kaiba was always willing to put anything on the line for Mokuba, anything and everything.

A thought suddenly hit Mokuba… would he still put anything on the line for him? If it came down to either him or Serenity, would he choose Serenity over Mokuba? The pain was unbearable, more because Mokuba knew he would. Seto was in love, something that didn't come easy to him. His passion for duel monsters and money would easily be overthrown for Serenity. Kaiba would do anything for Serenity, as would Mokuba.

That wasn't entirely true however. If Kaiba loved Serenity more than Mokuba he would have kicked Mokuba out by now, got him out of the way. It would only be the sensible thing to do. Kaiba saw Mokuba as nothing more than a threat now. Someone who wanted his girl, Mokuba had seen what Kaiba did to thieves. He didn't doubt in the slightest that Kaiba would have him killed if he somehow managed to steal Serenity's heart back.

Yet, some where deep down he still had faith in his older brother. Still believed that if he needed Seto's help he would come, that he would always be there to bail him out of any trouble he managed to get himself into. Once upon a time each other was all the Kaiba brothers had ever had and no matter how hard either of them tried neither of them could ever forget it. No girl, card, or game would ever permanently come between them. And Kaiba would never throw Mokuba out, not even if Serenity told him too.

Then again, if Mokuba hurt Serenity he might. He never would hurt her, but the fact still remained that if he ever did Kaiba would probably do more than throw him out. He beat him into a pulp, take all of his credit cards, make sure he never worked in Japan again, kill his dog and then throw him out. It wasn't like Kaiba to do things half ass. Simply throwing Mokuba out would still allow him a change of survival, probably even a half decent life. Before long he'd probably be CEO of some other major company, living in a huge mansion, all alone, turning into the next Seto Kaiba.

Mokuba felt a single drop of rain splatter on the back on his neck. He didn't try to find shelter, turn around, or anything that might keep him dry. He just continued to walk as the rain began to pour down on him. It wasn't until a small ball of ice bounced off his shoulder painfully that he looked up and noticed where he was. He saw a familiar swing set, and then looked down slightly, recognizing the large mucky puddle beneath one of the swings.

Mokuba looked down at his wrist and noted that he'd taken off him watch only several weeks before. The item that had allowed him and his older brother communicate whenever they needed to from where ever they were whenever they wanted too. One of Kaiba's more brilliant ideas. More than once when Mokuba had been little he'd used it to contact Kaiba to tell him several different things, whether it be what a card said, the location of a Russian satellite or anything else he'd needed to know.

Then Mokuba looked up and noticed three funnel clouds above the city. It was just like the first day Mokuba had ever seen Serenity. That's not entirely true, it was the first time he'd ever seen and paid attention to her. She'd been at battle city with her brother when they were both younger, but neither of them paid much attention to each other.

All he needed now was for his older brother to come and save him again. Mokuba sighed, realizing that Kaiba had no way of tracking him, he'd taken' every tracking device Kaiba ever had him wear off two weeks before the wedding. He didn't want to have to depend on Kaiba for anything, to interrupt their perfect marriage.

Mokuba sat down in the swing Serenity had fallen off of over four years before and placed his chest against his thighs, putting both hands on the back on his neck and just sitting, allowing the hail to pound down on his hard body. He didn't wince, or yell, he wasn't really even fully conscious of it, therefore then it magically stopped he didn't notice that either. The sound of the hail hitting the ground around him and throbbing pain in his body made it feel hardly any different.

It was several moments later that something did finally hit him however. He was no longer bathed in the light of the street lights just above the swing set. Mokuba studied the shadow on the ground just in front of him, trying to find out if he was in any sort of trouble and when neither he, nor the mysterious umbrella holder moved for several moments Mokuba decided to try his luck. He turned his head slightly to the side, he immediately recognized Kaiba's long white trench coat.

"Seto…" Mokuba said quietly, wincing slightly as he sat up and looked into his brother's shadowed blue eyes.

"Mokuba…" Kaiba replied, holding on hand out.

Mokuba hesitated, but only for a moment before he reached out and clasped onto Seto's hand, allowing him to pull him, rather painfully, to his feet.

"How'd you find me?" Mokuba asked as they walked towards the entrance of the park. Mokuba was slightly surprised to see Kaiba's 60 000 dodge Durango sitting near the gate. He loved the truck, and it wasn't much like him to take it out in the hail with funnel clouds in the sky.

"Lucky guess…" Kaiba replied, opening the passenger door and holding the umbrella so Mokuba could get it. Then he quickly ran around to the other side, opened the door, closed the umbrella and quickly shut the door before more hail managed to get into his truck.

"Why did you come and find me?" Mokuba asked as Kaiba pulled out and drove down the flooded street.

Kaiba didn't answer immediately. He just stared out the front window, driving slowly and cautiously. "I know… I know it might not seem like I care much anymore Mokuba… but I do." Kaiba said slowly, he wasn't much into the mushy fluff situations an older brother is supposed to have with his younger brother on several different occasions. He never really did have any of those conversations with Mokuba. Once in a while he would tell one guy or another if they hurt his little brother he'd have them castrated and then have their balls shoved down their throats and choked… but he wasn't really good with the 'I care' speeches. "I'm really sorry… about the way I've been acting, with Serenity and all. And I realize that it's hard for you, and I'm not making it any easier the way I'm acting… but I'm trying. I'm trying to love Serenity and still be the brother I'm supposed to be to you…"

Mokuba didn't say anything. He just let Kaiba's words sink in. So Kaiba did still care, that was comforting. Mokuba understood more now, and he realized it was hard for Kaiba to deal with a younger brother who loved his wife…

"It probably seems… like I don't trust you. Which, quite frankly I don't, but I'm trying to. I think, little brother, that if we both try we can make this work," Kaiba continued… before stopping and awaiting Mokuba's reply.

"We can try…" Mokuba said, one tear rolling down the side of his face.

~*~*~*~*~

"I can't win against the stupid computer!" Serenity howled from where she was lying in front of the television screen, the remote to their xXx-box in her hand.

"Why don't you put it on easy then?" Kaiba asked from where he sat on the red velvet couch.

"Because I can beat the easiest one," she said angrily.

"So play the middle one."

"I can beat it too," she said, throwing her remote at the TV. Kaiba winced slightly as it made contact with the expensive, yet delicate flat screen.

"That TV wasn't free you know," Kaiba said, almost as if it was nothing.

"It's not like you can't afford another one Seto Kaiba," She said angrily, sitting up and looking at him. "Hey, get your but over here and play with me."

"No," he said in a flat, irritable tone.

"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear," Serenity said, angry as well.

"It's just a game…" Kaiba said, frowning slightly.

"Exactly," Serenity growled through clenched teeth.

"I don't know how to play…" Kaiba admitted slowly.

"All the better, I can kick your butt at least one thing."

Unfortunately for Serenity, it didn't work that way. Kaiba quickly figured out which buttons were which and unlike her, discovered the actual buttons to push to accomplish which move. Serenity just pushed random buttons and expected herself to get lucky, she almost always did against Mokuba and even when it wasn't working out for her, he usually let her win. Seto wouldn't do that, it was almost as if it were against his religion. If he could win, he would, at any cost possible.

"Oh what a pain," Serenity said, pouting slightly. "Where's Mokuba when a person needs him?"

"He's probably out getting in a fight with someone," Kiaba said, shrugging and standing up, easily pulling Serenity to her feet. Then wrapping on arm around her waist, kissing her gently.

"S'ok, this is more fun anyway," She smiled slightly, then stopped, her face paling slightly as she place one hand on her thin, flat stomach.

"What's wrong?" Kaiba demanded immediately.

"It's nothing, I just stood up too quickly, a slight nausea," Serenity mumbled.

Kaiba was about to protest further when the phone on the table rang, he picked it up slowly.

"Seto Kaiba," he said, returning to his normal, moody tone.

"Mr. Kaiba, I was wondering if I could speak with you." A ladies voice replied.

"Talk," Kaiba said, slightly irritated.

"In person, please Mr. Kaiba," the voice was pleading, but Kaiba didn't care.

"Anything you have to say to me can't possibly be important enough that you need to see me in person," Kaiba said angrily.

"This is Officer Leigh speaking, Mr. Kaiba, I'm with the domino police department, and I really can't press the importance that we speak with you in person."

"What has my brother done now?" Kaiba asked, rolling his eyes slightly. "Stolen something? Broken something? Abused public property?"

"Unfortunately it's much more serious than that," she said, almost angrily. "If you would please just allow us to meet with you-"

"I said no!" Kaiba said angrily. "Anything you have to tell me can be said on the phone."

"Seto… who is it?" Serenity asked from where she now sat on the couch.

"The Police," Kaiba said, rolling his eyes. "If that's even who it is, how did you get this number?" Kaiba demanded suddenly.

"I told you, I'm with the Domino Police department. I really must insist that you allow us to come to your home and speak with you."

"I'm hanging up," Kaiba finally said after several moments of silence.

"No, please Mr. Kaiba, it's about your younger brother, Mokuba Kaiba… he's been murdered," she said slowly.

**Soooooo, wut did you think? Good, bad, delete?? I could re-write the ending when I'm in more of a mood to write if you guys would prefer it that way, but you generally get the idea. I was going to go through the entire writing of the murder, but I cam eup with a better idea which is going to be very difficult to write well… or write at all actually, but I think you guys will like it… especially all of those who like the entire A&E murder trial show things… it could be interesting…I'm gonna start watching that show so I can get things good just for you guys. SO if I make the chapters really good will you forgive if sometime they take me… like a month?? Lol I'll try to speed things up, I really am trying, but now I have a play station two and such… I'm just making excuses, I'm sorry… anyway, let me know what you think J J **