Chapter 3
Of all places they had to interrupt us during a meeting. Seto found the strength to think as he felt the hands massage the points at his neck and the whispers of other CEO's go on. And of all places I had to show my weakness...what's wrong with me anyway?
" Mr. Kaiba? Mr. Yaguchi, perhaps you should call the hospital. Mr. Kaiba looks seriously ill."
" Iie," Seto whispered, " No hospital. No hospital. I'm fine, I-" But it was a weak argument because
the man was still soothing his neck and he was feeling dizzy and weak. He stood up, shrugging the
hand off tried to move, but then darkness took hold of him, sudden and abrupt darkness that he
didn't even have a chance to fall before he's out.
" Chapter 3"
" I walked along the park road without any sense of direction. The guards had long since lost me and I was able to walk with a relative feeling of relief. But deep inside I felt bitterness. Everyone else gets to go to school. School prepares them for their future. At least other people have a chance to create their own future for themselves. Me, Gozaburo wouldn't even let me try."
" As I walked I came up to one of my teachers, whose name was Tamagito Mimi. She was carrying some bags of groceries and when she saw me she greeted me, but I didn't see her. She probably noticed that I was crying so she took no offense."
" ' Seto, what's wrong?' She asked me."
" ' Gozaburo won't let me go to school.' I blurted out before I could stop myself. But suddenly I
didn't really care what she thought."
" At first she seemed surprise and almost disbelieving, but I was never the one to tell jokes, especially on these things."
" ' Why?' She finally asked, afraid to fall into some kind of trap. As if I would suddenly laugh and
say, ' Ha! Got you on that one!'"
" I shrugged. ' He said I was an orphan.' I muttered. ' That I have no future anyway, so why prepare
for it?'"
" ' Well don't you think that.' My teacher said kindly. ' You are a smart child. And there's a reason
why every one of us is alive. As long as we're alive and we can command our own thoughts, we can
make our own future. No matter what. So now dry your eyes and go home. I'll excuse you for
today and yesterday. Leave it all up to me.'"
" So it was that I went back. I was reluctant to, but the guards found me because I let them and they dragged me back. I briefly wondered how my teacher would take care of my situation. Gozaburo didn't yell at me. He wasn't even there. But the guards locked me up in my room all day and I didn't get a bite to eat. Later Mokuba came home and wanted to see me but the guards were outside my door."
" The next morning I packed to get ready for school. This time Gozaburo didn't stop me. The guards let me past. I was cautious. There's no telling what the man has up his sleeve, but I went to school unmobbed and I came home just as safely. Gozaburo was at work again and I did my homework, studied, and spent the rest of my time with Mokuba."
" Later I learned that the teacher had strong family connections with a powerful business official, who he was I had no idea. But whoever the CEO was, he talked with my foster father. I could only assume that the CEO had threatened Gozaburo, because my foster father was not someone who would change his mind simply because someone asked him to. So to Takenito Mimi I owed everything I have now, and to the CEO who had disappeared from the records I owe my freedom as well."
" My brother never knew of this incident. He never knew that the ' Great Seto Kaiba' was nearly deprived of education. Nearly deprived of a future, all because he lost that one chess game."
" Call the ambulence!" The boss cried, laying Seto down on the ground. " Call the ambulence!"
There was chaos everywhere. Someone ran to get a cup of warm water and another ran to get a cup of cold water. Another CEO went to call the ambulence and another shooed off all employees.
The men rushed into the building carrying a stretcher. Seto never woke. The men lifted him onto the stretcher and hurried down the elevator to the outdoors. There were many people gathering, all watching in worry as the doors closed and the ambulence drove off.
One CEO had remained on the ambulence as Seto's guardian. People looked after the vehicle with whispers and frowns. After the publishing of the book, no one wanted the CEO to die. Gradually, the crowd dispersed, though reluctantly. Some cars began driving towards the nearest hospital.
" Seto Kaiba fainted at a meeting?" Jou blinked. " Look at the headlines! What kind of nonsense is
that?"
" The Duke Van Hospital requests type R- blood for Seto Kaiba of Kaiba Corps, who is currently
suffering from anemia?" Honda read. " The young CEO is obviously ill for some time as there was
lower than twenty percent red blood cells in his system?"
" What's type R- blood?" Anzu asked. " Wait, this one here says R+."
" God, this newspaper is stupid." Ryou sighed. " I forgot which one it was, but one of those two
includes the ABO blood types, and the other one is quite rare. How come Mokuba didn't have
that?"
" Oh Kami-sama!" Yugi cried. " That's how Mokuba's mother died! Because Mokuba had a
different R type, and those two mingled. But wait, it doesn't make sense. Mokuba should have
died...not his mother..."
The others looked at Yugi and Ryou in confusion.
" Okay. Let me ask this again." Anzu began. " What's R type?"
" Uhhh...you'll learn that in biology..." Yugi began.
" Hai..." Ryou laughed nervously. " But still, this blood type is rare..."
" In my school I was the best. The best out of the best. I never got below a hundred on my tests."
" Gozaburo was less than happy. He wanted me to stay idiotic that way I wouldn't be smarter than his own son. Again, I was an outsider. I was not his child. He was just ' kind' enough to adopt me and ' save my life'. Even if, in the end, I repay by letting him destroy it."
" I went to school without a sense of purpose really. The victory was small. I wondered how I was going to escape my fate. Escape losing my thoughts to someone I didn't even know. Noa Kaiba. Gozaburo's own child. And I sometimes laughed on my way home, thinking that the only reason Gozaburo adopted me was because he wanted me as a vessel for his own deceased son. I would have been better off with everyone else that had offered to adopt me."
" I was Seto Yagami. It didn't matter that other people spat at me and called me an orphan and detested me while secretly being jealous because I was better than they are. I was Seto Yagami, and I was intelligent. I had a will. I had promise. And I fall into the hands of this sadistic man in the end when I could have led a much better life."
" All for Mokuba. All for Mokuba. I refused all that I could all for Mokuba."
" Even so, I wanted to prove that even though I'm an orphan, I'm still as good as everyone else. So I studied hard. I scored well on tests."
" When I turned ten, I stole several books from Gozaburo's library. They were on technology, and I was immediately fascinated. Gozaburo never knew, and neither did Mokuba. I memorized the entire book. And days after I stole the books I made my first machine."
" It was a simple computer. One that every other company now makes. But for me it was a great accomplishment because I had to steal so many materials underneath my foster father's nose. And to find time to work...that proved even harder, because always there was a maid peeking in, asking if I ' needed anything' or bringing in more bedsheets."
" In the end, Gozaburo found the computer. He was certain I made it, but he didn't know how it was possible. By then I returned the books to his library and played innocent, saying that I knew how to make it all along. He asked me to make another computer, just to make sure I wasn't lying. I did it without a problem. I memorized the book."
" ' Well,' Gozaburo began at last, after seeing my accomplishment. I looked into his eyes and realized he was stunned and shakened by my display of ability. ' This is good work.' He fell silent."
" I waited for him to continue."
" ' Now go to bed. I have work to do.' Gozaburo turned around and left. I watched him go. Inside I knew that he didn't leave because he had work."
" And then came the case of high school."
" I could have gone to high school when I was eleven. I could have. My grades were so good I had skipped plenty of grades and had graduated from junior high school already. But the issue now was that this time it's no longer just wasting time. It's about wasting money. Because everyone knows, as long as you're in Japan, you need to pay your high school tuition."
" Once again, Gozaburo didn't want me to go."
" ' What's the use?' he laughed. ' You're not going to make anything out of this. By the time your
fifteen you would be Noa Kaiba. You can't escape this, no matter how 'well' you do in school,
because I'm telling you, my son will be much better than you'll ever be.'"
" I was use to this kind of promise. It was an empty promise. Who can score better than a full score, extra credit and bonus points all counted? But I wasn't interested in his promise. I was interested in going to high school. I wanted to make myself someone before I become no one."
" ' I don't care about your son.' I began, very slowly, using all of my techniques to intimidate him. ' I care not about your son, or you, or what happens between you two. I care about my future and Mokuba's. Right now, I am not concerned about what you will do to me when you finish with the VSDLE. My future that I am seeing is me going to high school. You are going to let me take that entrance exam, no questions asked. Do you understand?'"
" Gozaburo was unnerved. I could tell that I frightened him, and I decided to push on before the affect wears off."
" ' This little orphan wants to take a test.' I began. ' Are you scared to let him take one? Are you
scared because you're afraid some little ragamuffin would score better than your son ever will? Is
that it, ' Otou-san'? Are you afraid of me?'"
" ' Nonsense!' Gozaburo slammed the table. ' Why should I be afraid of a nameless being like
you?'"
" ' Then let me take the test.' I answered. ' Let me attend high school. It certainly wouldn't change
anything with the VSDLE. And it certainly wouldn't change what you've planned for your dear
son.'"
" Gozaburo laughed but he knew he lost. To refuse me would mean to admit cowardice and that he would not do. So I took the entrance exam."
" At first Gozaburo wasn't very worried. He saw my face when I stepped out from the testing buildings. I was almost fainting. I was concentrating so hard I nearly passed out. Gozaburo misread it as nervousness."
" ' See?' He taunted. ' I told you. No use exhausting yourself over something that you have no control over. Still blindly searching for a way out, eh?'"
" I said nothing to him. There was nothing to say. He drove me home, pleased with himself. Mokuba knew nothing of what happened and I was glad he knew nothing."
" And then, the results were mailed. Gozaburo refused to show me what I got."
" ' Why do you want to bother? You know you got a bad score anyway.' He sneered."
" ' If I got a bad score, the last time I remembered, you would be jumping to show me to express
your triumph.' I answered, then I smiled. ' I got a good score, didn't I, Gozaburo-sama? In fact, I
have a hunch that I'm one of the best! So why don't you just hand over the envelope. Don't be a
coward.'"
" Gozaburo hated being called a coward and I used that against him. I used it too far. He jumped up
and hit me in the head, and kicked me in the stomach."
" ' Don't you dare say that, boy!' Gozaburo roared. ' No one, especially not an orphan or a nameless
bastard, speaks to me that way. Do you understand?'"
" But I accomplished what I wanted. I got the envelope and saw my score. I was the best. I had the full score. I was so ecstatic I lost control and I showed it off to my brother."
" That gave Gozaburo ideas. He came to me that same night with a smile that showed he had
something bad in mind."
" ' Come Seto.' He said, almost sweetly. ' Here, I'll make you a deal. You go to high school, and
Mokuba will stop going to school. Or, you can let Mokuba go to school, and you stay home like a
good boy."
" I was horrified. I could never imagine that Gozaburo would pull a prank like that. It came so unexpectantly that I couldn't shoot back. I sat there stunned. Should I sacrifice Mokuba's future for my own? Or should I sacrifice my future for Mokuba's? I had a promise. I made myself a promise. I wanted to prove I am someone before I become no one. Am I willing to break that?"
" Gozaburo gave me a night to think over it. And I did, long and hard. Then I decided that my future, which would not be long, was not as important as Mokuba's. So that night I woke Mokuba up."
" ' What's wrong, Oni-chan?' Mokuba asked."
" ' Mokuba,' I began, ' I need you to promise me something.'"
" ' Hai?'"
" ' You need to promise me that you will become someone special. That you will become someone
great, no matter what happens to me, and whatever I fail to become, you will become. Do you
understand that?'"
" ' But Oni-chan, you're so smart. How can you fail to become-'"
" ' Just promise me that.' I said desperately. ' Promise me.'"
" ' I promise.'"
" With that, I threw away my education."
" Who donated the blood?" Jou asked, looking at the newspaper.
" That's where I'm getting to." Honda answered. " Noa! Noa donated blood to Seto Kaiba? He has
that...R whatever type blood?"
" Whew, I think he just saved Seto Kaiba's life." Ryou laughed. " Guess the guy did come around
after all, eh?"
" Looks like the guy's not as bad as we thought." Yugi looked at Ryou. " Despite the fact that
Gozaburo wanted to insert Noa into Seto."
" Ulgh," Anzu shuddered. " Don't even say that name..."
" Come on, why don't we give the guy a visit?" Jou laughed.
" What, and listen to him call you ' mutt'?" Honda joked.
" I'll cope with that." Jou sniffed. The group made their way over to the hospital.
" Where am I?" Seto nearly screamed if he had the energy. A hand rested against his and he turned
his head.
" Noa..." A flash of fear appeared on the boy's face before he sighed and closed his eyes. Being
nervous wouldn't save him.
" I'm not here to hurt you." Noa said quietly. Especially not after finishing that book. " You fainted
because of anemia. You have a rare blood type, Seto."
" Oh." Seto didn't know. " What blood type was it?"
" R-"
Seto gaped at Noa. " No way..."
" Hai. The hospital was desperate to find anyone with that blood type."
" I guess they succeeded. Who was it?"
Noa was silent.
" You?" Seto's voice got very shrill. " You donated blood to me?!"
" Relax." Noa answered. " I didn't do it because I wanted anything from you."
" Then why did you do it?" Seto coughed. He coughed again, and then he fell into a coughing fit.
Noa soothed the boy. " Don't talk too much. The doctors didn't give you a lot of blood because they
had to drain away all your other blood so you wouldn't have high blood pressure. You're still
accomodating."
" Why did you do it?" Seto asked again, a bit calmer now.
Noa was silent for a while. " I read the book."
" Gee, a digitized dead guy actually became sentimental over a book that I never meant to publish."
Seto said bitterly, trying to let his brother hear, wherever Mokuba was.
" Oh, is that the way you thank your savior?"
" Thank?" Seto choked. " Please. It was because of you that I suffered all these years, in case you
forgot from the book."
" I wasn't the one that caused your misfortunes. Gozaburo was. If Gozaburo was the one that
donated blood, snap at him all you want." Noa stood up. " Remember, I can do what I want with
you here. Sure, I might go to jail, but it'll be worth it. And what would poor Mokuba do without his
brother?"
Seto paled and he looked at Noa in silence. The other boy sighed and sat down.
" Gomen nasai." Noa said uncomfortably. He never apologized before. " I didn't mean to scare you. I just lost my temper."
Seto studied him for a long while and closed his eyes.
" I'll leave you to rest now." Noa stood up. Just then, the door opened.
" Hey Noa!" Yugi grinned, " How are ya? We heard from the news that you donated blood."
Noa suddenly transformed to something much more cold and aloof. He ignored Yugi-tachi and left.
Yugi blinked. " That was uncalled for." He turned to Seto. " Hey! Say, we haven't heard much from
Mokuba recently. But he's with some other business official, it says on the news. I think the
hospital nurse said that they're going to come over soon."
" Oh." Seto blinked, confused. Yugi went over and took the boy's hands within his own.
" How're ya feelin?" Jou asked.
Seto didn't know whether to yell at Jou or just answer him nicely. He sighed.
" Tired. Mutt."
" Ye jus' had to add that, didn' cha," Jou sniffed, but he was smiling. Seto was smiling too.
" It lightens up my mood." Seto smiled as Jou slapped his shoulder.
" You're still a little pale. What did the docs say?" Honda asked.
" I don't know." Seto answered. " I just woke up a few minutes ago. I can't remember what
happened. Noa mentioned I had R- blood. That's odd. I always thought I had type B."
" Heh, you wish." Ryou laughed. " The whole hospital was practically screaming for someone with
R-blood to come. Speaking of which, what's type R- blood?"
The others ignored him.
" Odd. It turned out to be Noa. Not Mokuba." Seto blinked. " Why is that?"
" I think because Mokuba had type AB." Yugi answered. " He's an R+."
" Alright." Seto answered. " And where did Noa get his from?"
" Don't know."
" How long was I out?" Seto suddenly asked.
" Couple of days." Jou answered. " You fainted in a meeting. Gee, I thought you were tougher than
that, Seto!"
" Oh thanks a lot. That makes me feel so flattered." Seto answered sarcastically. The group
laughed.
The door opened and the doctor came in. " It's good to see you're awake, Mr. Kaiba." He began. "
How are you feeling?"
" Tired. Dizzy. But other than that, I'm fine." Seto smiled. He rarely smiled, but after everything that
happened, he was too tired not to. " These losers here are enough to make any patient forget
anything."
" Hey!" Honda cried, and the doctor chuckled.
" I have good news and bad news." He said directly to the patient. " The good news is, you're
getting better, and you're not in the ' danger zone' anymore. The bad news is...apparently you've
been anemic for a long time, so some of your brain cells..."
" Oh..." Seto's face became even paler. " So...what will happen?"
" Well, from what we could tell, none of your coordination seems to have been affected. Therefore a
big possibility is that your thinking abilities may not be as great as before. You'll occasionally get
some memory losses at times, and have constant headaches. There's also a chance of..."
" Stroke?" Jou asked.
" Iie." Seto knew what the doctor was saying. " Stroke is when your vessel pops. He's talking about
another one."
" What other one?" Honda asked. But the doctor and patient ignored him.
Mokuba entered and jumped onto his brother. Seto smiled and looked at his brother fondly. There was a silent connection, and suddenly Mokuba hugged his brother hard. There was again silence.
" What happened?" Jou asked.
" Seto made Mokuba promise again." Yugi answered.