Morning came as it normally did at the quiet Kaiba mansion. The episode from the previous day brought to the teen some very interesting dreams consisting of a number of different subjects such as the ancient past. He gave none of it a second thought when his eyes slid open to see early sunshine streaming lazily through the windows. Seto sat up, rubbing the last remnants of sleep from his eyes before diving into his normal morning routine. He was satisfied with the serene silence coming from Seth. One might have expected protesting about waking up so early from the priest, awake and aware now of what was happening, but nothing was said.

The CEO showered and dressed, throwing one of his trademark jackets on as he descended the stairs. A breakfast consisting of oatmeal was halfway eaten before a sleepy Mokuba stumbled into the kitchen. "'Mornin', nii-sama," he mumbled through a yawn, grabbing a bowl of cereal for himself. To the brothers, it seemed like a very normal morning. Seto went into the spacious living room to read the newspaper as he waited for Mokuba to get ready. Then the two would head off to the Kaiba Corp. building, as per usual on a Saturday. There was no school, so the younger always helped around with the business. He was about to check his stocks when normal became the word that least described the day so far.

/Hikari, we need to talk about some things. /

Don't speak to me.

Seth scoffed. /So, what, am I just supposed to sit here all day in your head and--/

You shouldn't even be there in the first place! You, for now, should just shut up and do your very best to never make your oh so lovely presence known to me. I don't want to have to ever think about you. I don't wish to remember that you exist. So if you would kindly leave me the hell alone…

Just as calmly as he had begun, Seth explained. /Like it or not, I'm here to stay. You willingly took the Rod and released me into your mind. Neither of us can do anything about that. And as for your brilliant idea of me sitting back and watching the world go by until you die, let me inform you that there is no way that can happen for one, and for two, I'd never go along with that anyway. Now that we've gotten that out of the way for the fifth time, there are things we need to discuss. /

Seto crossed his arms, trying to ignore the voice. But he relented anyway. If Seth spoke the truth, then there would be no way to avoid him. "Fine," he muttered through gritted teeth. "What is it that you want?" He found himself standing in the dark, rather dilapidated hallway supposedly in his mind. "And furthermore, I thought I told you to call me by my name."

Seth stood before him, trying to keep a smug look from his face. "I'm sorry…Seto…but you are my light as I am your dark. Knowing that fact makes it almost a force of habit, I'm afraid."

"I don't care. I want the cutesy nickname thing to stop. Now speak your peace."

Seth frowned. "Always straight to the point. Very well. Since we now find ourselves in this…situation…there are things that should be addressed. One item was when you wish me to appear to you, when you wish my opinion…but you've obviously made your opinion quite clear on that."

"Quite," huffed Seto. "But something tells me your two cents will be thrown in whenever you want anyway."

"I shall do as you wish, Seto, unless I feel that it is better to disobey. Keeping me silent isn't going to help either of us. Especially once you are able to read me."

"That's something," began the CEO, "that I've been meaning to speak about. Perhaps you know already that I'm not too comfortable with the thought of someone who can see what's going on in my mind. As you've said, this is unavoidable. But how can I be sure that you can be trusted?"

The other was silent for a long moment, contemplating. "I am…unsure as to how to prove my trustworthiness to you. I had hoped it would be an automatic kind of thing, but that certainly wasn't true. Trust is essential in a…relationship like this. We are meant to work together, to live together in a harmonious way. Think of the Pharaoh and the Yuugi boy. They trust each other so much; it's plain to see."

"Well, excuse me for not being the instantly trusting type."

"More like paranoid and completely anti-social," Seth scoffed before his voice became soft. "Why don't you tell them? About your past, I mean. Yes, I can see it; I can read your thoughts, but…I still cannot understand. I wish to understand you, Seto."

Fury flashed in Seto's eyes. "Why I say nothing about it is none of your concern. I don't care if others want to know more about me or what, but they're not any of my concern, either. I would appreciate it if you never spoke of what happened to me ever again."

"It's not something easy to talk about."

Seto rolled his eyes and turned around, walking off into the darkness. "You understand nothing? Good. It should stay that way. You should not tell me what to do. I am how I am now, and it doesn't matter why or how. Now, if we're quite through here, I'll take my leave." Not that he stuck around to find out if Seth had more to say or not. He snapped back to reality in time to see a dressed and fully awake Mokuba come bounding down the stairs.

"You ready, Seto?" he asked joyfully, already halfway out the door. The older nodded and left with the younger at his side toward the limo waiting to take them away.

It was during the drive that Seto, while absent-mindedly fingering the Rod hanging at his side, wondered what, if anything, he should tell others. Namely Mokuba. The kid hardly even knew about the Rod; how would he react to his brother having a spirit of old? Probably just like how he expected all the others to react if word got out. Fear, doubt, paranoia, perhaps a few calls to the funny farm thinking he was schizophrenic or just plain crazy. The only ones who would understand might that damn Yuugi and his buddy the Pharaoh, and then anyone else who happened to have a Sennen Item. But Mokuba was a smart kid with a big heart. He might figure it out without having been told and then accept this willingly. Before he told his little brother, however, it was advisable that he accept Seth for himself. How could he? Maybe over time, some form of trust would begin to grow. That didn't seem likely at the moment. Seth wanted to understand. Seto would not allow such a thing. Although he wouldn't admit it, it was frightening. Like from some horror movie or nightmare. Someone knew him as well as, if not better than, himself. Not even Mokuba knew so much, and he granted the younger one access to his feelings, what little compassion he did show. Seth could prove to be an enemy, a liability.

He had no idea what to make of this, and that angered him. He, the teen genius of Japan, couldn't figure out a solution to his problem. Perhaps because the so-called problem was deeper and more complex than any numeric equation or technological malfunction. It dealt with another person. It dealt with himself. It dealt with monsters and magic, trust and understanding, belief and lack thereof, past, present, and future. Was it even something he could deal with?

The question was left unanswered, his train of thought interrupted when the limo came to a stop, pulling up by the skyscraper. The brothers sauntered in, Mokuba greeting all he saw and Seto not bothering anyone with a glance lasting longer than a second, much less with words. Another bout of uncomfortable silence arrived in the elevator. Neither spoke going into the large office reserved for the elder until Seto sent the younger off minutes later with something to do that he had found in his stacks of documents to be looked at. Seto was bound and determined to keep his mind off of Seth, setting the Rod inside one of the drawers of his desk, and so buried himself in a regular day of hours of hard and productive work. The question he had failed to have time to answer stuck with him, however, tugging at his attention from the back of his mind. He was determined, too, not to let that or anything Seth might have to day bother him or even manage to take his attention away. Ignorance, it seemed, really was bliss at times.

And while on the topic of the High Priest, the man was determined in his own ways. Seto would not be bothered until the time seemed right to talk again. He felt sorry for the boy, still not sure what to think. He spent the time looking through his hikari's memories, and also his own tragic life in Egypt. Perhaps sad, misunderstood souls such as themselves were meant for each other. How could he get the hikari to see what was right in front of his eyes without causing more damage than he had already done? His own thoughts strayed from the depressing, seemingly hopeless subject and went to something happier. He decided that tomorrow he would speak with the Pharaoh. Not only would the wise ruler be able to help him and Seto, but also it would be lovely to catch up with his dear cousin. Three thousand years, of course, was a long time, and there was much for them to talk about. Seth could help him remember some of the past, even. It would be good for all. It wasn't very likely that Seto would be inclined to agree…but Seth would find a way, as he normally did.

Seto's day went as planned, working, meetings, etc. At the moment, he sighed and rubbed his eyes, pushing away from his desk. Before he felt like his eyes would fall out of his skull, he took a break and stretched his legs, looking out one of the wall-high windows out at the city.

Mokuba merrily went down the hall, about to greet his brother now that he was done with what he had been working on. He put a hand on the handle but stopped, brow furrowing. Was Seto talking to himself? He heard voices inside, seemingly belonging to two people from within, but they sounded so alike…

Seth seated himself atop the desk, hoping to take another crack at this. "I don't know how you manage all of the hours spent here with a family life and your health to worry about. I know you've given up a lot of your social life to do so, but…" He smirked.

Seto sent a glare over his shoulder. "Must you? Right now? I don't think this is the best time for you to rear your head."

"I have a proposal," continued the Egyptian as if he hadn't even heard. "To benefit the both of us, I believe we should meet with the Pharaoh. It will help us get along better if we get advice from him. Also, I wish to talk to my dear friend. Does tomorrow suit you? Sometime in the afternoon?"

"It doesn't particularly suit me at all," Seto spat, looking back out the glass again. "You surely must know how much I despise him. I already regret going to him to get your little stick."

"Oh, you really shouldn't say that," mocked Seth. "You'll hurt my feelings. Honestly, what harm could be done if at least he and myself speak? Will you stop being such an anti-social, Ra-forsaken twit and go willingly?"

"He's done far too much damage already."

Seth stared at his back for a while. "Why do you blame him for your problems? This little obsession you have with being the best, why is it so? Just because you've found someone who challenges you in a mere game doesn't mean you get to hate him."

Seto turned slowly around, staring with an icy look about him. "I was the best."

"Or so you think," quipped Seth.

"I won every damn duel," he reiterated, beginning again. "And that kid came out of nowhere, preaching about soul and trust and faith—he did the impossible. In more ways than one. And since then, I have never been the same. I have come so close, and yet he makes a mockery out of me. I should be—no, I am the best. And it should stay that way!"

"But it didn't. He is the true King of Games, Seto. Shadow games more than anything else. Why could one duel change you? It was a wake-up call. You have these grand illusions of being the best, but nobody can succeed in everything. So you're second best. Be proud of that. He has done nothing to you but defeat you in a game."

"He ruined my life! And I won't forgive him for that!"

Seth scoffed. "Ruined your life? You're living a pretty decent life right now, I'd say. Many people would like to be where you are now."

"Heh, but would they like to endure the hardships? I know people want this. And I would gladly give it away. But what good would that do? All that I had worked for, all I went through would be thrown out the window."

"Do you hate him because he has what you have always wanted?"

"I have all that I need."

"You say that, but do you mean it? What are you so afraid of?" he pried.

"Stop. Enough of this," Seto commanded.

"Are you afraid of their pity?"

"I said enough!"

"Are you afraid of love and compassion, or is it just the thought of being used and abused, a broken trust?"

"Stop! Just leave me be!"

"Or are you afraid that Gozaburo was right all along and you're the failure he always told you you were?"

"Shut up!" He was almost to the point of screaming by now. "Shut up! Leave me alone! Get out of my head!"

Seth faded quickly from view, a very concerned and guilty look upon his face, before Seto knocked the high-backed leather chair over to the ground with a small crash.

Mokuba rushed in. "Nii-sama!" He was greeted with the sight of his brother clutching his head tightly with shaking hands, obviously trying very hard to get himself under control. "Nii-sama, are you…okay…?" He dared approach. Seto's face was an almost indescribable mix. Anger, pain, a deep sorrow, disbelief…fear. There appeared to be no one else in the room. Fearing the worst, he began to reach for the phone. "Should I…call the doctor?"

"No." Mokuba pulled his hand away. "Don't. I'm…I'm fine…I…" He knew he wasn't fooling the younger who started to pull him into an embrace. Seto only shook his head,grip tightening onit and pulling away. "Don't…just don't touch me."

Mokuba stopped at first. Wasn't there something he could do? Seto needed him. He needed comfort, even if it wasn't verbal or psychological. He put his arms around his brother's mid-section again, digging his face into the soft black shirt.

Seto didn't pull away this time. He sunk to his knees and wrapped his own arms around Mokuba's shoulders and held him tightly, body shuddering every now and then. The calm silence, other than his uneven breath, was welcomed.