Hi.

This update is coming quicker than I'd expected or planned; which I guess is a good thing! The only bad thing is that the chapter is shorter than I'd intended. But when I finished the section I was writing it just seemed like the right place to stop. This story is so close to done that I feel less apprehensive now about short chapters. It might be completed quicker this way!

That's all I've got to say. Response to the last chapter was greater than I'd anticipated. Thanks for all the positive reviews! I hope everyone will enjoy this. Not much romance here, unfortunately... just a lot of Seto and Mokuba!

Holiday Blues

Chapter 6: At Sunset

"What do you mean you don't have any!"

A pair of cobalt eyes narrowed dangerously, their owner leaning across the counter with considerable menace. The recipient of this piercing glare quailed under the pressure, stuttering out a weak reply.

"J-just ran out ten minutes ago. Still have some others left, though, sir--"

The unfortunate clerk quickly realized that he had said the wrong thing. His customer snarled with agitation.

"Others? Others! Are you suggesting that I should be forced to settle for an inferior product? I want to speak with the branch manager immediately! Umm...please?"

Mokuba blushed as the terrified clerk squeaked and hurried toward the back room. It didn't happen often, but his ruthless, demanding side did manifest occasionally. After so many years trailing after his brother... It wasn't entirely his fault, though-- how dare these people try to stand between a Kaiba and his favorite strawberry muffin!

After striking a deal with the simpering manager to keep a strawberry muffin available for his enjoyment at all times, Mokuba headed back out into the evening street. He sighed, glancing disdainfully at the blueberry muffin he'd received free of charge.

He'd been on edge the past few days, ever since his argument with Seto. Rebecca had been very understanding about the situation-- he sometimes forgot that she had met Seto before-- but the younger Kaiba couldn't share her carefree attitude. He'd thought maybe this Christmas could be different; for all of them.

Christmas had always been a somewhat melancholy time at the Kaiba mansion. No carols, no cookies, no shiny decorations apart from the large Christmas tree that the house staff insisted on erecting in the ballroom each year...

Mokuba had no memory of his and Seto's real parents, but he'd seen his older brother several times over the years gazing sadly at a photograph of their mother and father embracing beneath some mistletoe with a smiling blue-eyed boy clutched between them. Mokuba was sure Seto didn't know he had seen this. The scene always filled him with sadness... and guilt. If Mokuba had never been born, maybe that smiling boy would still have his parents. He never mentioned it, though. He knew Seto wouldn't want him to feel this way.

It wasn't even worth thinking about Christmas with Gozaburo Kaiba. Their adoptive father made Ebenezer Scrooge look like a giddy North Pole elf.

And since Rebecca was now without a family as well... perhaps Mokuba had been naïve to hope that the three of them could help each other to have a Merry Christmas for a change. He kicked at a rock with one worn-out running shoe as he turned into his street, wandering back to his small apartment.

The setting sun gleamed off of Mokuba's dark hair as he fumbled for his keys. Just as he was about to unlock the door, his cellphone began to emit a bleepy ring. Ugh, long distance ring. Can't ignore that. He tried to juggle the items in his hand, but dropped his muffin in the process. It rolled sadly to a standstill on the concrete as Mokuba checked the call display. His eyes widened, and he flipped the phone open hurriedly.

"Big brother?"

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Seto Kaiba sighed as he slid into his office chair, simultaneously powering up his computer out of habit. Posed in an uncharacteristic slouch, he stared at the sleek slim-line cordless telephone on his desk. He had never felt so apprehensive about calling his own brother before. He glanced at the gently glowing computer screen. Maybe do some work first...?

Anzu's pleading eyes flashed into the front of his mind.

'Why do you always push away the people who care about you most?'

He cradled his face in both hands. He felt like she was standing right behind him with her hands on her hips, glaring...

The back of Seto's neck tingled. She wasn't even here and he was at her mercy. He could feel her all around him. Maybe it was the sunny, breezy scent of whatever detergent she had used to wash the shirt she'd lent him. What was it they said? Scent was the closest sense tied to memory?

He picked up the receiver, stalking over to his comfy leather couch and flopping down. He propped his head on the armrest, curling one arm behind him as he dialed Mokuba's number.

"Hn..." There was no answer at his brother's apartment. Maybe he was out?

Unless he's avoiding me...

Seto punched the numbers for Mokuba's cellphone. After a few moments, the line picked up. Seto heard some scrabbling noises and then--

"Big brother?"

Seto smiled weakly. Mokuba sounded surprised to hear from him. "Hey, Mokuba..." There was some clattering and shuffling. "...Little brother?"

"Eheh-- sorry, Seto. I... dropped my muffin. Is everything OK?"

The older Kaiba sighed. He was sure Mokuba hadn't meant to ask such a multi-layered question. He thought of all the ridiculous ways he could answer.

'Well, after being a jerk to you, I got piss drunk and collapsed on a park bench like a common bum. Yugi's cheerleader brought me to her apartment and made out with me in her kitchen. Now I can't stop thinking about her stupid beautiful face and gorgeous body. And I need to apologize to you and admit I was wrong, which is about as pleasant for me as having a root canal without the benefit of local anesthetic.'

If he greeted his brother with such an insane tirade, Mokuba would probably phone Domino Psychiatric and have him in a straight jacket within the hour. "Everything's fine. Look... I need to talk to you... About Christmas--"

"Oh, don't worry about that," Seto could hear the disappointment in his little brother's voice. How could he have been such a total jerk? "I already talked to Rebecca about it. She has other friends in Domino she can stay with, so I'll be able to spend a little time with her, at least..." He trailed off.

Seto steeled himself. "No, no, Mokuba. Listen. I was being unfair..." He paused for a moment, searching for the right words. "...I'm... sorry. OK? I know it's important to you, so... you should bring Rebecca here with you. I guess I was just... acting like a selfish bastard."

Anzu's words reverberated through his mind, bouncing against his other thoughts insistently.

'You know, you really can be a selfish bastard sometimes.'

Why had she been smiling as she said that?

Seto noticed that Mokuba hadn't responded. "Are you there?"

"R-really! Do you mean it, Seto?"

Seto rolled his eyes. He could hear the adolescent exuberance in his brother's voice, still so childlike at times. "Yeah... I just want you to be happy..."

"Yippee! Thanks, big brother! Rebecca is gonna be so glad!"

Seto winced at Mokuba's ungrammatical exclamations. "That's good, I guess." He wasn't really sure if he cared how she felt, but at least Mokuba was pleased.

"So..." Mokuba's voice changed, taking on a curious tone. "...what made you change your mind?"

Seto Kaiba felt a ghostly pressure against his lips, the softness of a small hand tangling gently but insistently in his hair...

"Umm... maybe I'll tell you about it another time." He was glad Mokuba wasn't there to see the blush creeping across his high cheekbones. "When should I expect you?"

"Our plane is supposed to land at 9:15 Monday morning. That's the day after tomorrow! Send a car for us, OK?"

"I'll come and get you myself."

Several minutes later, the Kaiba brothers hung up after ironing out the remaining details of Mokuba's visit. Seto had to admit-- he felt better. Good, even. He exhaled audibly, shifting his slim frame into a more comfortable position. He was so tired, and now he could actually sleep...

A small smile was evident upon the lips of the famously cold-hearted Seto Kaiba as he drifted off to sleep. Visions of sugar plums did not dance in his head; but visions of Anzu, now that was a different story.

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There. I know it was short, but I thought it was a cute chapter! I enjoyed letting Mokuba have a 'Kaiba moment'. I hope you all liked it. I guess I just didn't want to rush, because I have a bit of torture still left for everyone to enjoy!

Like I said, this story is almost done. I have another Seto/Anzu in the works now (an idea came fully formed while I was at work this evening; I really enjoy writing this pairing) which I intend to write to completion before posting. It's going to be shorter, probably more smutty and less sentimental than this one. Keep an eye out for it soon-- I'll say more about it in my next author's note for this one. Review and let me know if you liked this!