Chapter 4

"So, how do you like her now, big brother?" Mokuba had relinquished Metsukiao to the new nanny and promptly followed his older sibling back to his room. There, he sat down on his brother's perfectly-made bed and, despite one scowl sent his way, bounced up and down a couple times before settling.

"She's an infant. I won't know if I like her until she is out of any mood swings and done changing, which will be around age twenty-two."

Mokuba let out an exasperated sigh. "You know who I meant! Kiseira. I think she seems nice."

"Yes, I heard you indicate that before." Kaiba paged through a textbook, found the part with the questions, and began to answer them.

His younger brother flopped back onto the bed. "Sometimes, you're impossible," he said. Then, rolling onto his stomach and sliding off, Mokuba left.

Kaiba stopped moving his pen. Casting his thoughts back, he decided he had been more cynical than usual ever since Metsukiao had been dropped off here. Perhaps his brother was right. Still, it would work its way out of him eventually.

Probably as soon as Kiseira does, he thought. Then he went back to work.

-

That night's dinner was the first with the new tenant. That only happened because Mokuba had gone up to fetch her. Otherwise, Kiseira would have remained where she was.

Metsukiao was in her basket near the table, already fed again and changed. Now, the infant was sleeping. Mokuba was twisting around at the table now and then to see the content look on the baby's face.

Kaiba once cast a stern look Mokuba's way, but the boy was immune to it. Either Mokuba never understood what it meant or chose not to.

"Mokuba," Kaiba said finally, breaking silence, "stop squirming and just eat. The sooner you finish, the sooner you can go play with the baby or whatever it is you want to do."

"She's too young to really play with."

"Then I don't see any reason to be so excited to spend every second with her."

The boy stilled himself, but his averted eyes made it obvious he was feeling awkward. One reason was obviously Kiseira's presence. The other was his brother's snappy attitude.

The clinking of forks on plates was the only sound. None of the three was very talkative, and the servants never had anything substantial to say. Now, however, the silence had turned into some loaded, tense moment like in the lull of a battle. Everyone was waiting for the next explosion.

Mokuba put down his fork. "Seto, why do you have to be that way? If you really don't want Metsukiao, then fine. She can go to the orphanage. I just thought you actually wanted to do something nice for someone else for once. But I guess you only did it to shut me up, right? That's the only reason you do anything for me."

Miserably, Mokuba moved his plate and jumped out of his chair. Without waiting for an answer, he ran up the stairs and slammed his door.

Now, the silence at the table was even tenser. Kiseira looked up at Kaiba making a mess of his plate. Her small appetite diminished to nothing.

"I will talk to him and tell him how he is wrong."

"You?" Kaiba scoffed. "You wouldn't know how to explain what is true or not because you don't know."

Very softly, looking down again, she replied, "I know. I can feel it and sense it within you; I can see it in your eyes. Maybe he cannot." Hesitantly, she looked back up to Kaiba's agape face.

When he saw the depths of those eyes' emotion, he pushed back his own chair and went upstairs.

"I'll do it," he muttered. "He's my brother."

How was it someone who was a complete stranger, even to herself, could make him feel so out-of-place and confused?

Reading eyes and people was bizarre. It was not done. There was no truth to what she said. It was all nonsense.

Continuing to mutter to himself outside the door, he raised a hand to knock several times, each time bringing it back down without a sound. What could he possibly say to his brother who had almost gotten him completely correct? At least, so it would appear to Mokuba if not to certain others with the tendency to say annoying lines.

Finally, he just whipped his hand out and rapped on the door before he could take his fist back.

Dully, from the other end, a voice called, "Go away."

Sighing, Kaiba replied, "I'm not going to go away. I have to talk with you."

There was no other sound from the room.

Shaking his head, Kaiba determined his brother was not going to make this easy for him in the slightest. Trying the knob, he was unsurprised to find it was locked. Still, that was not enough to deter him.

Unwilling to leave the door unattended, since his brother might be waiting for just such an occurrence, Kaiba pulled out a wire instead of going to get the key. It was simple work to pick the lock open, something both good and bad.

He had to brace himself as he walked inside. Forcing himself into the room was not the best way to begin a conversation, especially one that was going to include an apology of sorts.

"Mokuba?"

The door opened to a silent room with a small boy crouching on the floor near the bed ignoring his older brother coming inside.

Kaiba sighed, taking his brother's desk chair and sitting on it backward. Mokuba averted his eyes away from his brother.

"Mokuba, you can't mean what you said before. I know I—"

There was no way to make this easier unless his brother did it for him. But, that was not going to happen by the way Mokuba seemed to be ignoring him.

"Mokuba," he tried again. "You know I didn't just agree to keep the baby because of you."

"Then why don't you call her by her name?" Mokuba asked without turning his head. "You named her that unoriginal name. Did you do it on purpose? Why don't you call her it instead of 'baby' or 'child' or 'infant?'"

Kaiba was taken aback. Obviously, his brother had been listening at the door earlier. Who else had given him that idea other than Kiseira?

He could not give a reply to that. After a pause, Kaiba said, "I didn't say you could keep her just to make you be quiet. If I wanted that, I would have refused and given you a puppy. They act about the same at this age, don't you think?"

Mokuba put his head in his arms. Very muffled, he said, "That's not funny."

"Then why are you hiding your smile?" More seriously, he continued, "I'll try, Mokuba. I will."

At that, the boy looked up, eyes still sad but serious. "I hope so."

His brother did not sound very hopeful or enthusiastic. "I will," he said, somewhat taken aback. He had never thought to be on the defensive with his younger sibling.

Mokuba just looked at him. None of his usual warmth and hope was within the depths of the gray orbs. Instead, there was an utter sadness and wistfulness, as well as acknowledgement of what can never be.

Not knowing what else to say, Kaiba hesitated in the room a moment more. Then, he left, still feeling awkward. There was no reason to go back down to the dining room, so he went to his room to proceed with his working. Even after what had just happened, the CEO had nothing else to do that would make more sense.

As for Kiseira down below, she finished her meal in silence. Then, she brought the sleeping Metsukiao back up to her room until she would awaken and need something more.

-

The following night brought more half-remembered dreams that caused unrest before the morning.

When the morning came as much as it was going to since it did not bring the feeling of refreshing newness, he got up from the pointless rest he had been trying to get.

Going downstairs brought more awkwardness, but there was not nearly as much as before. For awhile, Kaiba wondered if his brother was going to remain annoyed with him, yet when he went downstairs and saw Mokuba, he was relieved at the boy's apparent usual attitude.

Over a little breakfast, Kaiba watched his brother's actions, feeling a little warmth from the smile Mokuba cast him. So, things might have been back until normal. A smile soon after waking was something Mokuba had always done.

Not long after that, the sound of crying was faintly heard from above. Mokuba was going to go up there, but he remembered Kiseira and thought it better if he let her do her work. That saddened the boy, however. If only he had not had school to worry about; then, Mokuba himself could become the infant's nanny.

There was about a half hour until they were going to leave for school when Kiseira brought Metsukiao down. The boy's face broke into a large grin as he hastened over to make baby talk at her. Sometimes, his brother's quick attachments astounded Kaiba.

Kiseira looked over at him once, but she remained silent. He almost thought she could sense his nerves like she had claimed to be able to do last night. That was simply impossible. Somewhat rudely, he turned his back and went to check his bag that was already packed perfectly before going out the door.

Mokuba saw Kiseira looking after his older brother with an expression closely resembling regret.

"He'll get used to her, I suppose," the boy said while shrugging. He tried to look unconcerned, but Kiseira knew better. "And he'll get used to you. Then, he might be back to himself." A dark expression crossed his face. "At least, I hope so."

Slowly, her look focused on the floor at her feet, she asked, "How do you know what he is truly like? I think he is beginning to remember me now, as I remember him. I saw the reflection of his dreams in his eyes."

Mokuba was going to ask how she thought she knew that, but there was a slight ethereal quality to her right then that made him wonder just who she was. Just as suddenly, it obscured into nothing more than the glow surrounding a very white girl. Surely, it was just his imagination. He decided not to comment.

"I'll see you after school, Metsukiao!" He brushed a hand over her wispy black hair and kissed her forehead. Next, he looked up at Kiseira, smiling. "I hope you have a good day caring for Metsikiao." He was going to step aside, but he felt inclined to add something more. "Have a good day yourself, Kiseira. I hope my brother does not intimidate you too much before I get home." Mokuba's school, after all, started and ended later than Seto's.

Kiseira smiled reassuringly, for once all hesitance gone. "I know he will not do anything to bother me. I told you, I know him."

Her words confused him—that was certain. Yet, they also made him feel greatly comforted somehow. Knowing that, the boy went to pack his bag with greater enthusiasm.

-

Sometimes, a goon went in a car to pick Mokuba up from school. On other days, the boy walked with one since it was not exceptionally far. Today, and some previous ones, Kaiba went himself. That way, the young man could determine further if his brother was still upset with him or if he could continue going as he had been. Today, Kaiba did not bring any vehicle with. It would end up being a long walk home or else a rather natural one.

Waiting amidst the other kids flowing around him as if he were a rock in the midst of a stream never enthused Kaiba. Still, at least his greatly superior height made it quick work to spot his brother. And vice versa.

"Seto!" the boy called, hurrying over. For an instant, nothing flagged his spirits. Then, the implications of his brother being there dawned on him. "What happened? Is something wrong with Metsukiao?"

Obviously, Kaiba needed to pick his brother up from school more often or always be seen as coming in a time of crisis. Making a mental note of that, he fell in step with his brother's walk instead of forcing his brother to keep up with his.

"No, she-Metsukiao is fine." Why had that been so difficult?

At least it had been worth it. His little brother beamed happily up at him, the boy's eyes sparkling in merriness.

"Good! So nothing is happening out of the ordinary?"

"No, nothing except me wanting to pick you up from school."

Mokuba's hand crept into his brother's for a moment. Earnestly, he answered, "I like those deviances, Seto." Then, the boy took off at a sprint down the sidewalk, which was just as well since Kaiba did not know what to say.

Sometimes, Kaiba thought wryly, Mokuba acts so young and is almost too…cute to be allowed in the house. That caused a small smile.

Nonetheless, Kaiba could not stop himself from concluding the thought, though he never wanted to have to recall those times again: Maybe it comes from losing his childhood early. Besides, there are other moments when Mokuba is old beyond himself and saying strange lines that turn me contemplative immediately.

Still, he finished, his are no where as odd as Kiseira's.

The mansion continued to creep closer, and Kaiba's senses were all alert for any notice of the bullies that were around. Of course, the police had not found them again, and Kaiba was prepared to take action himself. Surely his own goons would not be slow to arrive and could keep the brats for the officers.

Today, no one was ambushed. Mokuba went inside joyfully, and everything seemed how it used to. Except now, there were two strangers living in the house. And from his research, it seemed unlikely they would leave anytime soon. One at least had a promised place within.