The Bestest Big Brother

Finding Seto

Seto had never refused Mokuba anything. He had never refused anything Mokuba wanted unless it clashes with Mokuba's needs. Such was the day two months ago on a rainy Tuesday evening, when Seto announced rather sullenly to Mokuba that he " had to go to work".

Mokuba was not pleased, and apparently neither was Seto, but nothing could drag Seto away from whatever he was going to do that night. Seto was very good at keeping to his responsibilities, but he always put Mokuba before anything else. And Mokuba, of course, never gave his brother much trouble, but that day Mokuba had a very good reason to yell and kick and scream at his brother to stay home.

His brother had a fever. Forty degrees celsius, or for the American snobs who think they're better than anyone else and use their own system of measurement, around a hundred and four or so. Seto was supposed to be dying. He should be in a hospital. Alright, fine, Seto did not like hospitals scratch that, he loathed hospitals, but the least he could do was call a doctor and spend several days in bed with something freezing cold over his brain.

But nooo. He had to go to work. And apparently, it was something very important, because no matter what Mokuba did or how ill he felt, Seto insisted on going at six in the evening back to work. Curse him and his stubbornness.

Mokuba did not know what it was, but he had a clear sense of what Seto was doing. It must be something for Mokuba. His college? His tuition? His-insurance? Something for his little brother. Only something that concerns Mokuba would drag Seto out into the freezing rainy night with a temperature of forty degrees and a grouchy and extremely anxious and terrified brother at home. Mokuba was twelve years old. Seto was fourteen turning fifteen in a couple of weeks. A twelve-year-old, no matter how good he is, could not fight a fifteen-year-old. Apparently, even if the fifteen-year-old was weak beyond belief.

And that was the end of that. Literally. Seto Kaiba disappeared for two months straight.

Mokuba was not sure if he was angry at his brother for being so stubborn that he would kill himself to accomplish whatever it was, or if he was angry at himself for not being stubborn enough to force his brother into bed. And he couldn't comfort himself by thinking that Seto was away all these two months working, because first of all, his brother never did that nor ever would do that, and second, Seto clearly did not plan to be away this long.

Yugi-tachi offered little comfort. Friends, in his mind, cannot subsitute family, especially if he had one as great and devoted as his brother. It was obvious that they were trying anyway-they did take his mind off the situation for little whiles with several intervals. Jou and Honda especially. Jou was always fluttering around, enthusiastic not because he was unsympathetic but he was acting strong for Mokuba, who appreciated it deeply. Always talking, never shutting up, dragging Mokuba into duels and games and always whining at the end when Mokuba beated him. Honda was always yelling at Jou and getting into bickerings with the blonde, then finding some way to drag Mokuba into them. Mokuba decided that he liked these two the best. Seto would surely appreciate them for this. Seto always was willing to do anything for his brother when it came to this. That is, if Seto was alright.

Ni-sama, if you come back alright, I'll kill you, bring you back to life, then kill you again, ten times. Mokuba thought bitterly. Just as Jou was about to start some other antic, the bells of the Kami Game Shop jingled, and-

" Pegasus? Whaddar you doin' hieh?" Jou blinked.
" Is Mokuba Kaiba here?" Came the man's quiet voice.
" Hai. What do you want?" Mokuba asked, getting up from behind the counter and stepping up to face Pegasus.

The other members of the gang got up, including Yugi's grandfather, prepared to protect Mokuba from any threat.

" I came because you weren't at home." Pegasus didn't seem to notice. " I was looking for you. Your brother-"
" Ni-sama? What did you do to him? I swear I'll-"
" I didn't do anything other than find him." Pegasus said wearily. " I came to fetch you. He's not in the condition to travel, so you must go to him."

Mokuba paused. " What do you mean he's not in the condition to travel? Why should I trust you?"
" He's..." Pegasus looked at the other members of the gang. " It's...probably personal. And I don't think...it would be wise to refuse the chance to..." He fell silent, and had the decency to look awkward and almost embarrassed.
" You can say everything in front of them or I won't go with you." Mokuba declared.

Pegasus seemed to ponder this. " Are they your trusted friends?"
" Of course." Mokuba was getting miffed. " What about it?"
" I'm not sure how it happened." Pegasus said hesitantly. " But apparently, two months ago, or in the course of those two months, your brother was...abducted."
" And?"
" He was taken, we think,"
" Who's 'we'?"
" The doctors and I."
" Go on."
" We think he's taken to a p-prostitution center."
" NANI??!!" Jou shouted,
" That's bull!" Honda cried. " Seto wouldn't be taken to a prostitution center!"
" We're not sure yet. The only one who knows is S-Kaiba, but...we can't get him to tell us much."
" Of course not. My brother's not dumb enough to trust you."
" Er..." Pegasus looked nervous. " That's just it. He's...dumb."
" What are you talking about?" Yugi asked suspiciously.
" He's not talking." Pegasus answered. " He's not making a sound. At all."

Whatever he had been imagining, it did not compare to this.

Mokuba stared at his brother with a mixture of horror and despair. He was so use to his brother being strong at all times. That fateful event where Yugi had beat his brother in the duel was the weakest Mokuba had ever seen his brother, but even that would have been strong for everyone else. It was what his brother symbolized in his life. Strength. Not this...ragged piece of tattered bones.

His brother apparently did not know that Mokuba was there, but he knew someone was there, because he was staring at the area where Mokuba was standing, though not focusing really on him but rather through him. It unnerved Mokuba, and for a while the younger boy didn't dare move from the spot.

Pegasus had warned the group not to talk. " He's a bit blind and deaf to the world," He told Jou in particular, " But if you mention things by accident, for example, his last name, his foster father's name, anything to do with needles, toys, knives, forces, whips, syringes, any of his injuries, he'll start struggling, and if that needle of the IV snaps in him, we'd have to go through all the trouble of tranquilizing him to get it out again. So just stay quiet, and I'm sure Mokuba would know what to do."

He was wrong. Mokuba had no idea what to do. What is a person to do in a time like this? In a situation like this? When the person they had been leaning on all their lives suddenly crumbles right before them?

And Mokuba realized, to his utmost horror, that he knew absolutely nothing about his brother. He knew his brother's favorite colors, his favorite animals, his favorite hobbies. But he didn't know what scared his brother, what makes him sad, what hurts him, what makes him happy, what his number one wish is, what his dreams were. And the worst thing of all, was that Seto knew everything Mokuba has to offer. He always knew to make one of those wintermelon and chicken soup when Mokuba comes home from a snowy day, to put Mokuba's room on the sunniest side of the mansion because Mokuba liked a sunny room since it cheers him up-when Mokuba's tired, a bit of videogame bickering would energize him, rats scare him, that any mention of Gozaburo would frighten Mokuba-

Seto seemed to sense something, because he was lifting his arms in a strange position. It took Mokuba a moment to realize that Seto was requesting a hug.

" Ni-sama." His voice came out as a sob, and Mokuba rushed forward, enveloping his big brother in the most loving embrace he could muster. It felt wrong. Instead of wrapping his arms around Mokuba protectively, Seto clung onto him like he was searching for protection. Mokuba choked, tears escaping, and did what Seto wanted. He rocked his older brother. He kissed his messy hair. He ran his hand down Seto's back and rubbed in gentle circles. He understood why Seto could not come to him instead. He understood why Pegasus did not want to tell him of his brother's condition in front of Yugi and the others. And he was so grateful to Pegasus for getting his brother back to him again.

" Let us see! Come on, Mokuba-"
" Iie." Mokuba snatched his hand away. " It's personal."
" Is it bad?" Anzu asked.

Mokuba looked at the list of injuries. They sewn him up. He thought in horror. " Hai. It's really bad."

He turned to walk back into the room. Seto was lying still, the IV running into his arm. He was deeply afraid of needles, so the IV had to stay for as long as possible. Mokuba hated the sight of it, but did not protest, especially as he read the information on those horrible papers.

" It's surprising he's not dead yet," Pegasus said quietly, " Given how this all started. Everything makes sense now. How he got abducted in the first place. Your brother's as stubborn as a mule."
" It was always one of his bad traits, but it served me well." Mokuba's voice cracked a little. " Probably what's keeping him alive right now." He winced at the charts.
" He's lucky despite being luckless," Pegasus looked over Mokuba's shoulder. " None of the physical injuries are permanent."
" I think they actually made sure of that." Mokuba's voice hardened a little. " When can he come home?"
" I don't know. The doctor did not say. He's coming by tomorrow afternoon, I'll probably know by then. Do you want to stay with him tonight? I can arrange it."
" We're staying too." Jou announced.
" That's fine." Pegasus nodded. " And try not to call him by his last name, or mention anything...yeah."
" I'm heading back to my brother." Mokuba said to the others, and folded the papers as he went. Seto was asleep, but as soon as Mokuba closed the door, he awoke with a jerk. He stared ahead of him for a long time, as if trying to pinpoint where the stranger was, and Mokuba stood still to let him do it.
" Ni-sama?"

Seto visibly relaxed, and his eyes turned to the direction where Mokuba was standing and lingered there when Mokuba moved. The younger boy took his brother's hand in his and tried to warm it. Seto lowered his eyes. It was almost audible- I'm sorry...

" You stubborn jerk." Mokuba muttered. " That's what you are, a jerk. Getting yourself out there with such a high temperature and expecting me to put up with it." Mokuba lowered his head. " And I did. Like I always did. But I guess our roles have switched, you're going to have to put up with me now, right Ni-sama?"

Seto did not respond-he did not even seem to have heard. Instead, he attempted to snuggle closer to Mokuba, but failed miserably. Mokuba bit his lip at the display of weakness and decided to lie down next to his brother.

" What was it that you were doing?" Mokuba whispered softly. " Was it worth all of this?"

Seto closed his eyes and fell asleep.

" What did Kaiba set out to do that night?"

The chair slid back and there were sighs.

" It's for his brother."
" I know that. He's done quite a lot of those things for his brother, and none of them involved Kaiba going out and staying out for six hours at night with a high fever that could have killed him or at least give him some extent of brain damage."
" It has to do with Mokuba Kaiba's happiness."
" I find it hard to imagine what would make Mokuba Kaiba happy if his brother were dead."
" You're thinking from the younger Kaiba's point of view." The elderly gentleman answered. " But the elder Kaiba does not think that way. Or rather, did not think that way."

Pegasus set his cup of coffee down. He was a morning person, but the night had been a rough one. " So what was he doing? Ensuring Mokuba's finances?"
" Iie, nothing of the sort. Or rather, it's not directly related."
" I find it hard to think of Seto Kaiba doing anything other than what's money-related."
" That's Seto Kaiba, the CEO."
" Right. I'll have to think from a brotherly point of view." Pegasus mused a little. " Education?"
" Iie. Seto Kaiba has full confidence that his younger brother would do well without any help on his part."

Pegasus frowned. " Then what? It's not finances, it's not education. Bloody hell, Kaiba was enough of a headache when he was just a plain fourteen-year-old CEO. Arranged marriage?"
" Of course not."
" Then what?"
" Ever since Kaiba's loss to Motou, you do realize that his brother had been the center of interest for many...individuals..."
" His security? What can Seto Kaiba do for Mokuba's security?"
" By getting rid of Mokuba's identity, of course."
" He's disowning him?! That's what drove him out on a rainy night with a temperature of forty degrees? Disowning his brother?"
" I wouldn't put it that way."
" ...That's preposterous!"
" Kaiba did not disown him. It's actually, the smartest move Seto Kaiba has made for his brother ever since they became a Kaiba."
" It would break Mokuba's heart."
" It would not. Because Seto Kaiba was actually doing Mokuba a favor. I'm sure you realize that the Kaiba name does not rest well with these lads. It's not for no reason."

Pegasus downed the coffee in one gulp as he suddenly realized what the boy had been up to. " Blasted...and he went out with all that to..."
" I heard he even bought a rather charming chateau in Europe."
" Oh that foolish boy." Pegasus shook his head. " It all makes sense now, why he was willing to do it even in his condition. And why Kaiba Corps was alright even with their CEO missing."
" It didn't bode well for Seto Kaiba." The gentleman rose stiffly. " But it would bode well for his brother, even if he would not be as happy as if Kaiba were not attacked two months ago."

Pegasus shook his head as he set the coffee back down.

" That foolish boy."

Mokuba woke to find Seto staring up at the ceiling, perfectly awake. He did not seem afraid though, but he did not seem relaxed enough to go to sleep either.

" Ni-sama? Are you alright?"

Seto's blue eyes focused on him this time, and there was the faintest of smiles. Mokuba sighed in relief. So his brother was recovering.

The doctor came in. Seto greeted him with a smile, causing the man to stop in surprise.

" I see our patient has a...grip on reality now, so to speak." He sat down next to Seto. " How are you feeling?"

Seto remained silent, smiling a little again, but it was a clearly wry smile.
" Not so great, eh?" The doctor smiled back. " Let us check on your pulse..."

Seto would not let the doctor check his heart, something the doctor understood perfectly and managed to avoid doing. He did become rather nervous when his attention was forced onto the IV when the doctor proceeded to take it out. With his brother there, however, Seto managed to remain relatively still.

" He's still very weak." The doctor muttered to himself. " Keep him warm." Mokuba nodded his thanks. Seto blinked slightly, as if trying to stay awake. Mokuba closed his eyes.

" He's a strong boy." The doctor nodded. " If he's survived this long, the rest of the way should be no trouble."

" Seto Kaiba...raped." Jou shook his head. " Man, I don' like that guy much, but this is bad, even for him."
" No one deserves this." Anzu sighed. " Truthfully, I can't believe this would happen to Kaiba of all people."
" Yeah, he's always so...untouchable. Wouldn't think of standing next to him if I had it my own way, much less...that." Honda looked at Jou. " How's the little guy taking it?"
" Mokuba's surprisingly handling it well." It was Yugi who answered. " A little bit of crying here and there, but in front of his brother he's being very strong."
" They have a lot in common." Ryou said quietly. " Before, Kaiba was always placing Mokuba before everything, making sure he's okay and all. Now that Kaiba can no longer do anything Mokuba's doing the same for his brother. What do you think will happen now?"
" What did Kaiba set out to do that night?" Yugi asked. " I mean, what could be worth all this?"
" I don't think he was exactly planning it," Anzu answered.
" Still, going out on a rainy night with a fever is not a trivial thing." Yugi answered. " And Kaiba is not an idiot-he wouldn't do something like this to himself if it wasn't important."
" I should hope not." Jou sniffed.
" Jou!"
" Alright, alright." The blond mumbled. " Geez, Yug, 's not like I'm enjoying this idea or anythin'. Kaiba has a tendency to do weird things, y'know."
" Fool of a-whatever he is!" Pegasus stormed through the dining room with several smart-looking gentlemen behind him. " A forty-year-old would not have done it without help, how can a fifteen year-old? Who does he think he is, that-" The rest of his words faded away as soon as the door slammed shut. The group looked towards that direction in silence.

" Okay, that was weird." Jou declared.
" What was that?" Ryou asked.
" Dunno." Honda shrugged. " Must be Pegasus on one of his dumb things."

The was a loud " WHAAT??!?!" followed by a wail. The group jumped up.

" Okay, now this is getting serious." Jou declared helpfully as they rushed towards the sound of the voice.