Chapter 8

By morning, Mokuba's project was mostly finished. For all his apparent panic that he would not finish, he had an entire day to spend as he wished.

"Let's go somewhere!" he exclaimed at breakfast. "I want to get out of this house for a day."

Kaiba raised his eyebrows. "Where are you suggesting we go?"

Mokuba sat and thought deeply for a moment. Seeing his younger brother's highly-concentrating face amused Kaiba, but he stayed quiet. He hoped Mokuba would choose someplace he might also enjoy. The last time he had been somewhere was his brother's concert. Before that, it had been at least a few weeks since they had gone about. It was time for a break.

"Aha!" the boy cried out. "We should go to Domino Museum."

"Why there?"

"They have a new exhibit. Greece! Don't you want to know more about the Western World's history?"

Keeping his real attitude secret, Kaiba agreed. His brother never would think he already knew most of the West's history.

"Kiseira, do you think Metsukiao can handle a day at the museum?" Mokuba's almost bouncing excitement would be difficult to say no to.

She did not even try. Nodding happily, Kiseira watched Mokuba race over to the closet for his outdoor shoes. As he jumped on one foot putting a shoe on the other foot, he looked back over at the other three.

"Come on!"

"Already?" At Mokuba's silence, Kaiba scraped the last of his cereal and put his bowl in the kitchen. "Fine. Let me get the bag."

Up in the nursery, Kaiba filtered around wondering what exactly they would need. He grabbed at least five diapers, two bottles of baby powder (he was not putting up with a bad smell), three bottles filled with water, and three containers of formula. He wondered about heating the food and decided they could get it warm enough in their hands.

Mokuba was standing at the doorway stifling a laugh as he saw his brother.

"What's so amusing?"

"You-You're carrying a baby bag! It looks ridiculous!"

Kaiba deposited it onto his brother's shoulder. "Fine. Then you can carry it."

Kiseira was covering her laugh with one hand as she turned toward the doorway. She covered Metsukiao with a blanket before carefully picking up her basket. Then, all three were ready and went out to the car.

-

The day was chill—about as cold as it got in winter. At least everyone was efficiently covered, especially Metsukiao. It seemed odd that someone would be out in this weather without a good reason. Still, Kaiba watched out the window for any indication of the gang.

They had neared the end of the street without any adverse sightings. Then, just as they turned to take a different street, one of the kids was watching from the side of the road. One thing was different, however. He was with someone older, but Kaiba knew who he was. Another gang member. Both watched the car drive down the road.

Now, why was that adolescent talking with the gang leader of the deadliest group of young adults? Kaiba did not want to contemplate that. Maybe, he had helped build a grudge that would not easily be dismantled with 3-D images. He stayed quiet. Up in the front seat himself where the view was better, it was doubtful if the others noticed the two at all.

-

The Domino Museum was not too terribly crowded today. What that meant was that no one would see Kaiba and be goggle-eyed and laughing at the infant accompanying him.

It also meant all three could take their time as they walked from exhibit to exhibit. All the questions Mokuba could come up with, and they seemed limitless, Kaiba had time to answer efficiently. Kiseira, if she had questions the boy did not cover, kept them to herself.

After a couple hours had gone by, Kiseira started putting the carrier down when she looked at some of the ancient vases. Mokuba's excitement did not dim, however, and he was immune to others' weaknesses. He moved from one to the other as fast as his little feet could walk. Then, at the new places, he would continue to ask questions about previous sights.

Finally, Kaiba, without saying anything, took the carrier from the floor before she could pick it up.

She stared after him for a moment, then hurried to catch up. "I'm sorry, I—"

"It's no problem. We can all take turns carrying her. Just enjoy yourself." Kaiba then turned to his little brother, mechanically answering yet another question his brother had shot out.

Lunch was from a restaurant. Then, because Metsukiao was beginning to fuss a lot, they decided to head back to the mansion. After paying, they went back out to the car, Mokuba leading, Kiseira next, Kaiba last.

"Hello, Kaiba."

The speaker was from directly behind him. He stopped moving. One hand gripped the basket tightly, but he was not fast enough to halt the person behind him from uncovering the bundle.

There was a chuckle. Kaiba turned around and felt a sinking of his heart. This was no pre-teen gang member but someone his own age or older. Still, his infamous crime record was long enough to make him seem twice Kaiba's age. It appeared his former observation was accurate. Those other bullies had recruited older, more professional ones.

"I never thought you would be a father, Kaiba." Being a member of that family never rested well with street gangs.

"Well, you're actually right for once. She's not mine. Not that it is any of your concern. You disrespect my family and you'll regret it."

The other young man laughed some more. By now, Mokuba and Kiseira had noticed the CEO's cessation of walking and turned back to him.

"Seto!" Mokuba ran up behind him.

"Stay where you are, Mokuba!" he snapped.

It was too late; the boy was immediately behind him. However, their placement did not make a difference. Within one minute, a few more members of this man's gang had stepped up to them and dragged them away from the restaurant and into an alley. If any bystanders had seen it happening, they hurried past without a word.

A wailing filled the air. Metsukiao was complaining of the cold, her want of sleep, and the uncomfortable shaking.

"Shut that kid up!" one of the gang members warned.

The leader, Huto, Kaiba recalled, reached out a hand to do something to Metsukiao, but Kaiba whipped the basket away.

"Don't touch her!"

As all three were bunched together in the alley, Mokuba took her out of the basket and held her close.

The thugs were getting closer, but they were interrupted by a couple suited men at the end of the alley.

"Leave Mr. Kaiba alone." They pulled guns, making quite a different predicament.

Huto shook a finger in Kaiba's face, but any further threat he did not dare. Their knives and stun guns were no good against the missile weapons. His cronies had already backed away and waited only for Huto to finish his threat before fleeing.

"You will see us again, Kaiba-fool."

All four of them took off in the opposite direction.

Mokuba was trying to quiet Metsukiao to no avail. He finally handed her over to Kiseira, who obviously needed something to do. The girl was quivering and staring after the gang thugs.

"That was prompt. Good." Kaiba nodded at his goons. One of his best inventions was the intercom in his white coat that allowed for direct correspondence to Kaiba Corp workers. He turned to the others. "I think our little escapade is at a halt. Let's go home."

The CEO gestured for the others to follow him with his head. Then, the car was over to him and all six climbed in. Having a limousine certainly added benefits for odd times like these. One suit went to one side, gazing out the window to keep watch, while everyone else climbed in behind them. The other suit was in the front.

Slowly, once wrapped up warmly and not shaken around again, Metsukiao ceased crying. Instead, the affliction spread to someone else.

"This is all my fault! I'm sorry!"

Mokuba stared at Kiseira and her tears that were streaking down her face and pasting her distinctive loose threads of hair to her face. Then he turned to his brother and indicated he should do something. Helplessly, Kaiba looked from his brother to the girl. It was only when his brother was narrowing his eyes at him that Kaiba tried to pat her knee.

"It's not your fault."

All it took was one touch to her knee before she lunged forward and sobbed into him. He froze as she latched onto him and wet his coat. After a glance at Mokuba blinking in surprise as well, he helplessly waited for her to finish.

"I will leave."

"I said it's not your fault."

"We don't want you to leave, Kiseira." Good, Mokuba was speaking up.

The goons in the car with them stayed silent, thankfully. Kiseira was free to cry in peace, though the one she clung to did not grow any less stiff. A free display of emotion was something Kaiba never knew what to do with because he never did it himself.

"Please, Kiseira, my big brother will take care of these bullies and everything will be fine. What would we do without you? You've become a close friend!"

And, though Mokuba was the one speaking, the girl had a slightly different reaction to his words. There came a lull in her tears and she looked up. But she was looking into blue eyes, not gray.

Uncomfortably, Kaiba realized he was staring at her, but it was not easy to draw them free. Her eyes were the sticky gossamer threads of a spider's web and Kaiba's eyes were caught in them. The time that passed was undeterminable, but Mokuba eventually started talking again, bringing them both back to the surface.

"Hello? Either of you there? Hmph. I'll have to take care of Metsukiao myself then." A door clicked open and shut. They were home.

Quickly, Kaiba started sliding over to the door, easing a way past the kneeling Kiseira. Something unnatural was happening to him, and it was not just the burning of his cheeks.

-

The police were worthless. So Kaiba was beefing up his own security. With so many helpless people living here, there could be no chances to risk their safety; for, he had no doubt that Huto would carry through on his threat as the younger brats had.

Yet, waiting for them to make a move was not Kaiba's way; instead, he wanted to hunt them down himself. Unfortunately, Mokuba had wanted him to promise that he would do nothing dangerous.

"Big brother, I want you to promise me something important. Promise right now!"

Having had enough time to get over the odd scene in the limo, Kaiba gave a small smile. "You should know I won't promise anything until I hear what it is."

Mokuba's face was determined and even hard. "No, I want you to swear first. If I tell you, you won't want to do it."

Kaiba leaned back. "Then why would I promise?"

"Because, because, because…I don't want you to get hurt!"

Silence.

"I won't get hurt. I would never let myself."

The boy glanced aside. "You can't control other people, Seto. Just promise me you'll be careful. There is Metsukiao and Kiseira to think of. I know I'd be fine, but you need to think of them.

"Mokuba…" His brother was downright lying. He would be the one most harmed by his death. Knowing this, Kaiba did not criticize him. He sat down next to him and said, "I'll promise to be careful, Mokuba. I won't do anything too dangerous myself. That's what goons are for." He tried a smile on his brother. Slowly, a watery one appeared on his brother's face.

"Thanks, Seto."

"That's what big brothers are for."

-

So, Kaiba had sworn. Now, though he had prepared his own security, he had to wait for the others to act. Inept officers.

Meanwhile, he also had to stay away from Kiseira. Ever since that little episode in the car,Kaiba had been having difficulties forgetting her. This time, it was not just because they shared some past history. Instead, it seemed to have something to do with the future…

Unfortunately, avoiding Kiseira meant avoiding Metsukiao for the most part. If Mokuba or the others noticed, they said nothing. Even without their reactions, Kaiba still felt guilty. The child was growing important to him, though he refused to acknowledge it.

Once, before any of the others had been aware of it, a goon came and reported a sign branded to the fence.

"I found this just this morning, sir. Obviously, we took it down as soon as we noticed it."

The sign read, "Give me back my little daughter, you kidnapper!"

This was very amusing to Kaiba. First, he dismissed it as idle graffiti, but the words were something few would guess to say to him. Therefore, he began to think it was the work of the bullies, as they had recently learned about the girl under his care. Of course, they did not know much, yet it was possible they had dug around and discovered new information. Mainly, it was the thought of Metsukiao's unknown father that turned the words into something more.

What if someone did come along and claim fatherhood to the child? Kaiba did not at first believe anyone he had seen, mainly the gang members, could do that, but it started him thinking if someone else could.

"Seto, what's bothering you?"

The words startled him completely a few hours later. He came back to consciousness with the uncomfortable vision of seeing concerned eyes of deep blue. Kiseira was holding Metsukiao, whose own blue eyes were open wide as she looked around.

We're all one big, blue-eyed family, Kaiba thought sardonically. Except for Mokuba.

Those were foolish thoughts. Mokuba was his only family.

"Nothing."

She had a small frown. "I can tell when you are lying to me. Something happened to disquiet you. I thought I might be able to help." Then, turning her back, she slowly began to walk away.

One hand reached out to grasp her shoulder, but he could not touch her. Seeing his own peachy flesh next to her white hair and skin seemed like he would only sully her spirit, make her unclean. Someone like him did not become friends with someone pure of soul. He was like any human being walking through fresh snow: with each step and delight of touching it, feeling it, or breathing on it, the snow was forever defiled. Kaiba would not ever touch her.

Still, his words could fall into her ears with little fear of dirtying her. "Wait."

And wait Kiseira did. She turned back around and waited for him to speak, to stop staring at her, to walk away, to do something.

Awkwardly, and Kaiba hated every moment of being awkward, he tried to phrase what he was going to say. Maybe he should have just let her leave.

It was obvious he needed some prodding. Taking a step closer, she asked, "Has it something to do with those gang members?"

Finally, swallowing, Kaiba replied, voice completely under control, "Yes. I have reason to guess one of them might be trying to get Metsukiao."

Kiseira did not understand, so Kaiba began to explain to her, "Metsukiao is our—Mokuba's and mine—cousin once-removed. Her father was never revealed before her mother died, so I have no way of knowing…"

White eyebrows knit in deep concentration. "So the rest of her family is dead?" she asked very quietly as if Metsukiao could hear and understand.

Looking away, Kaiba said lowly, "No. They didn't want her."

"Why not?" Such concepts had never occurred to her. Now, Kaiba was certain if he explained, his words would dirty her pure soul.

Still, his tongue unloosed and he found himself explaining about his and Mokuba's own circumstances and family honor in Japan. This was the first time he had ever told anyone, especially all at once. If anyone was to bring it up, Mokuba was always the one to explain or Kaiba would push away the question. Of course, such questions were rare enough as it was. Who would believe Seto Kaiba of Kaiba Corporation had been an orphan?

"That's terrible," she whispered, eyes filling with tears. Tears for him.

"I'm quite over it," he said, lying once more. This lie, however, was so common he almost believed it himself. Always shoved to the back, he had never acknowledged it once.

Her large eyes seemed to hold more water than anything else. "I don't think you are." One overflowed, causing a drip to cascade over her pale skin, shimmering as it fell.

"Don't cry for me." Then, all noble thoughts of purity aside, one long finger reached up to wipe away the trail. Her hands were full, after all, he justified himself. Still, if it was just for that practical purpose, it did not explain his own slight tremor or the way her eyes locked on his again.

"Seto," she said unsteadily, "I want to protect you." Kiseira had a lot more to say, but it did not seem right to do it now. Instead, the girl rearranged Metsukiao in her arms, freeing one.

She took the hand that was still close to her face, just putting her own over it. Then, a natural body habit—she blinked—and Kaiba suddenly jerked his hand away. Confused, she looked after him as he walked towards his room.

-

The boy sighed, looking at both people older than he was. Then, he sighed again, dumping his noodles back onto his plate instead of eating them.

"What's going on?" Mokuba asked. It had been a normal tone of voice, yet the words seemed to fill the entire room with too much sound.

"Nothing."

"Metsukiao," Kiseira whispered at the same time.

Both had answered somewhat hastily. Gazing suspiciously at both of them, Mokuba's eyes slowly widened. Had they found out about that?

"I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to do it!" Now Mokuba was on the verge of tears.

Both Kaiba and Kiseira stared at him.

"I dropped Metsukiao once when I was feeding her in a chair, and she bumped her head on the arm. I didn't think it did any real harm! Just a bruise."

Kaiba shook his head. "That is just a bruise. I saw it the other day."

Kiseira looked over to where the baby slept in her basket.

"You already knew?" Moping slightly, Mokuba spun his food around some more. Now would come some sort of reprimand.

Only silence came. Unable to believe his good fortune, Mokuba finished eating quickly. The boy was just standing up when a shattering sound rent the air and the tinkling of glass sprinkled to their ears. Goons were instantly at the scene and running out the door, one seeing that everyone was all right. None of the glass had hit them. The broken window was in the next room.

"Here, sir."

The rock, complete with a wrapping of paper, was handed to him.

Splintering awakening Metsukiao, a new sound split into the air: that of her crying. Kiseira went over to pick her up as Mokuba crowded over to his brother to see the message. Kaiba, however, stood and brought the rock and note up to his room.

"Payback is coming soon, you filthy kidnapper! Soon, father and daughter will be reunited."

The others were again reminded not to go out of doors alone, and Mokuba's big eyes were silently asking Kaiba to promise again. He nodded at the look.