DAY 01 - (07:45)

The daylight leaking through my window woke me up the next morning. I shivered and reached around for the covers, but found none. Tossing and turning, I finally gave up and opened my eyes, realizing that I must have somehow passed out yesterday on the floor. I looked down at my wrist-watch. It was nearly eight. Mokuba should be up by now.

Groggily, I stood and felt my way down the stairs and into the dining room. There was no one in sight. I reminded myself the servants were off on Saturdays. Mokuba had to be in his room, playing video games. I found myself trudging back up the stairs to his door.

"Mokuba?" I called, tapping lightly on the door several times.

It was eerily silent in the house. Everything seemed so dead today. Even the sunlight lacked its usual warmth. From the large window at the end of the hall, I could see the bare trees outside, snow occasionally slipping from the thinner branches. Perceiving no response from Mokuba, I knocked again, making sure he would be able to hear me this time.

I sighed. Maybe he's using the bathroom. I made a note to myself to come back in a few minutes before leaving for my room.

A broken laptop was lying on the carpet near the desk. My broken laptop. I could see the shattered pieces coming back together in my mind.

"You've been lying to yourself, Seto."

Suddenly, I felt my body break down into uneven sobs. I clutched handfuls of my hair, trying to ease the unbearable pain that seemed to come from within my body. Gasping for breath, I crawled away from the laptop and toward my bed, pressing my head into the soft mattress as far as it would go, but this did nothing for me but to suffocate me even further.

"Please, stop this insanity…"

But how could I? You're gone, Mokuba, and I think I am truly going insane. Even now, I am being selfish; I am wishing for your comforting presence. Help me. I dug my fingers into the silky sheets, leaving uneven strings of scratch-marks.

"You're killing me, Seto!"

I lifted my face from the bed and screamed until my throat became dry with silence. Had I gone so far as to kill you? As hard as I tried, the tears just wouldn't come. How sweet suicide would have tasted at the moment…

The phone rang.

For a fraction of that second, the world stopped spinning. The phone was still ringing when I regained my consciousness. I forced myself over to my desk, not taking my eyes off the blinking green light. After an unknown amount of rings, the light turned red and the answering machine came on.

"Kaiba? Kaiba? Please pick up. Please be okay," a small voice whined over the line. "I know you're home right now. The police called us this morning to inform us about Mokuba."

I froze, but the words continued.

"I just need to make sure that… Oh, Kaiba! Just answer me… for… for your brother. I-I'll stay on for as long as I need to. Please, I'm begging you! Answer me, Kaiba!"

For my brother…

I gingerly reached for the phone, grasping the cool metal in my hand and bringing the mouthpiece to my chapped lips, only to find that no word or sound could come out.

"Kaiba? Is that you?"

I pressed the phone so hard into my jaw that it hurt. "Y-Yuugi?" The begging tone sounded nothing like Kaiba Seto would ever use. A warm tear tickled my cheek. Finally. "Help me," I whispered to no one in particular. I was drowning in my own disaster. "I need help…"

"I'm coming," he said, his voice shaking nearly as bad as my own. "I'll be there. I promise. Just wait for me." He paused to breathe for a few moments before continuing. "Please… try to stay alive. Mokuba still needs you."

- - -

(08:20)

My jaws trembled slightly from the numbing cold as I stood, leaning against the trunk of a tree near the gate, my jagged breaths forming small clouds. A light buzz managed to reach my ear, dampened by the unmoving air. Yuugi was outside the gate, his thick scarf wrapped so tightly around his face that only his eyes could be seen.

I entered in the unlock code with stiff fingers.

His eyes widened to a larger size than usual as he stepped in, the gate closing behind him. "Kaiba!" he exclaimed, the scarf muffling his voice. "You're not wearing a jacket!"

I chose to ignore this and turned my face toward the blank sky, unsure of what to think. A scarf was being wrapped around my neck, the soft fabric still warm from its previous user. I was too frozen to object, remaining motionless until the scarf was fully covering my shoulders.

"We should go inside before you freeze to death," said Yuugi. As I looked down at him, I noticed his nose and cheeks were flushed pink from the icy mist.

"…before you freeze to death."

For a brief second, my eyes met his compassionate violet ones. My emotions wavered between scorn and gratitude. I began walking toward the house, motioning for him to follow. It took a moment for me to realize that Yuugi had taken my hand in both of his and was rubbing them gently with his woolen gloves. Abruptly, I pulled away and almost regretted doing so as I caught a glimpse of his hurt expression.

He didn't argue. Instead, he lowered his eyes and continued to follow my lead.

- - -

(08:35)

"Hot chocolate?" I muttered out of sheer politeness.

He shook his head, his golden bangs kissing his cheeks. "Aren't you going to make some for yourself?" he asked as I walked away from the counter. "You look as though you need it."

I shrugged and sat myself down across from him, feeling a bit stoned.

"It must be hard for you…" whispered Yuugi. "Do you want to talk about your emotions?"

A harsh laugh escaped my lips. From the corner of my eye, I could see the shock written on his face. Emotions? Where was I to begin? I didn't even know how I felt. Grieved? Hopeless? Indifferent?

I lowered my head in self-disgust. Did Mokuba mean nothing to me? A small hand reached over and placed its palm over my reddening fingers, pressing the warmth into my skin. The pleasant tingle traveled through my arm and I felt my body give into the touch.

"I don't know," I said. The brazen remarks formed in my mind seconds ago seemed to have washed themselves away. "I don't… feel anything."

The fingers squeezed my hand. "How can you say that, Kaiba?" he pleaded. I didn't need to look to know his eyes were brimming with tears. That foolish weakling. His pity was worthless to me. "Mokuba is so important to you…"

"I don't need you to tell me what I think," I snapped, snatching my hand away. I was secretly furious that he was so moved over this, that he appeared to have more concern for my brother than I did.

"I'm so sorry," he murmured, backing in his chair. From fear? Or from surprise? "It's just that… I really want to help you."

At that moment, I realized just how much I hated myself for picking up that phone call. If only… If only I had ignored the ringing… But who knows what would have happened if I hadn't answered.

"Please… try to stay alive. Mokuba still needs you."

Mokuba would be back, Kaiba Corporation's profits would rise again, and soon, everything would return to normal. Unconsciously, I lifted the heavy cloth that was still draped across my shoulders and buried my face into it.

"Kaiba?"

The voice was like honey in my ears, sticky and irritating, yet somewhat soothing. Before I knew what was happening, a pair of comforting arms had wrapped themselves around my chest. A drugged sleepy feeling overcame my senses and I lowered the scarf, leaning into the hug. The sweet scent of Yuugi's fleece overcoat made its way into my nose. I released a shaky sigh as I rubbed my damp cheeks against the soft fabric.

I was crying.

Horrified, I shrank away from the over-trusting boy as reality sank in. What the hell was he doing to me? Was this his sick way of torturing me even further? "Leave," I growled. "And if you say a word of this to anyone, I swear I'll strangle you." I walked him to the main entrance of the house and opened the door for him to exit. "The gate will be unlocked for you." He's only here to make fun of me, to watch me fall apart…

But the look on his face told me otherwise as I slammed the door shut. That was when I realized I was still wearing his scarf.

- - -

(12:35)

"What would you like to have for lunch, Mokuba?"

My brother grinned. "I want a hot dog," he replied immediately. "With ketchup and onions, just like the ones we had in New York a few summers ago."

"But a hot dog isn't special," I said. "Anyone can make them."

He looked at me with puppy-eyes. "They are special when you make them, Seto."

I sighed, knowing that I've lost. "All right," I muttered in feigned disappointment, drawing out the ingredients from the refrigerator. "Hot dogs, it is. But don't regret the decision halfway through your meal." I ripped the sausage pack open with the tip of my chopsticks, carefully dropping two links into the boiling pot of water on the stove. After placing the lid over the steam, I began slicing the fresh onions on the counter. I could feel my eyes watering each time the knife came down on the onion.

Mokuba giggled. "Seto, you're crying!"

I sniffed, wiping the tears away with the sleeve of my shirt.

"Don't cry," he comforted, wrapping his arms around my waist. So he's decided to play along. I felt my lips twitching as he tightened the hug. "I'm here for you, just like how you're always there for me."

This time, I couldn't be certain whether or not my tears were real.

- - -

(16:10)

Mokuba's hot dog was still untouched when I came back into the kitchen. Yuugi's scarf hung neatly over the back of Mokuba's chair. I stood at the door, motionless, staring at the cold plate on the table, until the sound of the phone ringing finally woke me up.

I ripped the receiver from the wall. "What do you want?" I spat.

For a moment, it was silent on the other end. Then, the same creamy voice from this morning answered, "Hi, Kaiba. This is Yuugi. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Who the hell did he think he was? My savior?

"Oh, yes," I replied, flooding my voice with sarcasm. "I feel wonderful now that Mokuba's out of my life."

He was losing, and I intended to keep it that way. "That's not what I—"

"Good-bye, Yuugi," I said, smashing the phone back onto the hook. I strode over to Mokuba's chair and reached for Yuugi's scarf, planning on tearing it to shreds, but changed my mind as my fingers came in contact with the velvety fabric.

- - -

(20:55)

Why were you smiling then, Mokuba? Was it because you knew your brother was going to become the world's top duelist and the CEO of Japan's largest technology corporation? Or was it because you were simply glad to be with me?

I closed the locket in my hand.

Either way, I've failed you, and that is perhaps my biggest failure of all.

The phone rang for the third time today. I picked it up without hesitating. "Yuugi?"

"No, sir," a man answered. I pictured a large red face with masses of facial hair. "This is the police calling. Is this Kaiba Seto speaking?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Where is my brother?" I demanded. "I want to talk to him."

"Your brother is safe with us, sir," he said. "We've taken him to a children's home away from the city. He'll be staying here for two weeks. The food and water is good and there are other children he can—"

"I don't care," I interrupted. Why should I care what he thought of the place? I wanted to hear Mokuba tell me. "Let me speak with him."

Silence.

Then, "I'm sorry, sir. You will not be permitted to contact him in any way for the next two weeks. We will be handing him back to you in exactly thirteen days. That should be a Friday, sir."

"…handing him back to you…"

"You fucking bastards," I growled. "I don't want you to 'hand him back' to me in two weeks. I want you to bring my brother back to the house he should be living in, now. He belongs here, with me."

"That's against orders," the police said. "Have a good night."

Click.

You forgot the "sir," you ass-hole.

I threw the receiver down and fell back onto my bed, the card-shaped locket still buried in my palm.

- - -

Note: Aaah! How did I end up writing such a long chapter? Well, this is a new writing style of mine and I hope everyone likes it. Will this end up with the Yuugi/Kaiba pairing? Hmm… I don't know. But that hugging paragraph was majorly hinting at something, or at least sounded that way. By the way, I love all you people who reviewed!

Sorry, Chikorita-Trainer1, I doubt there will be a lot of brotherly fluff in this story. More like friendly fluff between Yuugi and Kaiba.

Kaiba: Yuugi? Where?

Lanlan: I think it's safe to say that you're even more obsessed with the cutie than I am. ruffles Yuugi's beautiful crown of silky hair

Yuugi: blushes

As yamachan is my man pointed out, Kaiba would probably never yell at his brother like that. I can assure you that he didn't want to, but Kaiba Corp is supposed to be falling apart and that poor boy has to "snap" sometime (as Dillon put it).

Kaiba: I'm not a poor boy, I don't have to snap, Kaiba Corp is not falling apart, and Mokuba is my life.

Lanlan: Awww… sniff

Wow… I wrote that Mokuba's eyes were amber? Thanks for telling me, moonymonster. It's just that I was once obsessed with someone (who's nickname happened to be Moony) and every fanfic author I knew, including myself, used "amber" to describe his eyes. I guess I wasn't really paying attention when I wrote the last chapter. And thank you for telling me the real color. I changed it to "cloudy amethyst." I must have a thing for stones or something…

Kaiba: Amber isn't a stone. It's a fossil.

Lanlan: Shaddup. I'm the author.

Kaiba: Which happens to be the reason why I think my brother has yellow eyes…

That was the longest note I've ever written! Anyway, please review (good or bad)! It really helps me!