Chapter 17: Don't Say Goodbye

Seto appeared in the living room of his home in the middle of the floor. He stood there for a few moments, thinking over Yami's words until his brother came up and hugged him.

"You okay, kid?" he asked.

"I don't want you to leave again," answered Mokuba.

Seto squeezed his brother a little tighter, "I know, but don't worry about it."

"But you have to stay!" exclaimed Mokuba. "I...I can't do anything without you here!"

"Mokuba, you don't need me here to do anything," said Seto.

"What?" Mokuba looked up at his older brother.

"We both need to get some rest after what happened today," said Seto, quickly changing the subject. "Let's go lie down for a while."

He let go of Mokuba and started walking out of the living room to go upstairs. Mokuba stayed behind for a little bit. What did Seto mean? Of course he needed his older brother! He was what gave Mokuba his strength. Why didn't Seto seem sad that he would return to the dead? Finally, Mokuba snapped out of his thoughts and went upstairs to his brother's room. He turned the knob only to find that it was locked!

"Seto," he knocked on the door.

No answer.

"Big brother, open the door," said Mokuba.

Still no answer.

"Come on you have to let me in!" cried Mokuba.

After a few more tries, Mokuba decided that it was time to stop. Seto wasn't going to let him in. He put his head on the door and closed his eyes. He wanted to spend as much time with his brother as possible before he left again, but how was he going to do that when his brother acted like he wanted to stay as far away as possible? Mokuba sighed and went down to his room.

"Wow, I haven't been in here for a while," Mokuba mused to himself before he went in and plopped down on his bed.

In Seto's room, he was lying on his bed. He had heard his brother outside the door, but instead of letting him in he only stared up at the ceiling, listening to his brother's pleads. Seto wanted to let him in, but felt like being alone so he could try and think. He was thinking more and more about what Yami had said to him. At first, he was positive that he would stay with his brother, but then he started to think. He caused his little brother so much pain, and he hated to see that pained look on Mokuba's face. He knew that if he left again it would crush Mokuba, but he had reasons for wanting to do both. But he couldn't decide on what to do.

While thinking about it, he eventually drifted off to sleep for a while. A few hours passed when he was awakened by knocking on his door.

"Big brother," said Mokuba.

"Yes," Seto answered groggily.

"Can I come in now?"

Seto sighed, getting up and unlocking his door. He walked back to his bed as Mokuba opened the door.

"What's wrong?" asked Mokuba.

"Nothing," Seto answered sadly.

"It doesn't sound like nothing."

"Don't worry about it."

Seto laid back down and stared up at the ceiling once again. Mokuba didn't know what to do. He knew something was bugging Seto. Maybe it was that he had to leave him again? Oh well. He decided to not pick at it and make his big brother mad. Instead, he climbed onto his brother's bed and laid down next to him. Then, there was silence between the two brothers. Neither of them knew what to say to the other. Mokuba was trying to decide why his brother would be so sad, and Seto was debating with himself whether or not to tell Mokuba that he had the choice to stay if he wanted to.

Before Seto knew it, Mokuba was fast asleep by his side. He looked over and smiled at him. He pulled the covers over his little brother, sighed, and went out to his balcony. He leaned on the railing and looked all around the yard. Memories flooded back to him. He looked down at a corner of the driveway. He remembered that that was the place Mokuba had fallen a few days after Gozaburo had first adopted them. He'd comforted him until the pain went away. That's when Seto remembered the smile on his little brother's face. It seemed different now. It was like all the pain that'd been in Mokuba's life was starting to show through his smile.

Seto felt that he was a main cause of the pain too. He always saw Mokuba come up to him with a smile on his face and ask him if he'd play or take a break, but Seto always said no. He remembered that disappointed look all too well. It would last for a second or two, then Mokuba would try to put a happy face back on. But Seto always saw it. That was a reason he didn't want to stay. He didn't want to disappoint his little brother anymore. That was also why he wasn't going to tell Mokuba he had a choice. If he told Mokuba he had the choice of staying with him, Mokuba would automatically think that he'd stay there. But what if he didn't stay? Mokuba would be crushed.

He was still torn between what to do. He thought about each reason for staying and for leaving, but just couldn't decide. At least he had three days to figure it all out, but three days wasn't a very long time. He knew they'd pass quickly. Everything passed quickly. The fifteen years he'd been on this earth had passed quickly. The time with his parents had passed quickly. Nothing lasted forever. Finally, he decided to go back inside. He looked at his sleeping brother with his sad eyes, sighed, and went downstairs to the family room.

Family. Where was their family? Why did all this have to happen to them? Well, more of why did it happen to Mokuba? He didn't deserve any of this. He didn't deserve any of the pain he'd felt throughout his life. Seto was the one who deserved to be all alone in this world. He always thought that Mokuba deserved a family that was there for him. A family where he hadn't lost both his parents. That family would deserve to see Mokuba's smile. Eventually, he laid down on the couch and drifted off into sleep.

Day one.

The next morning, Mokuba woke up alone. He shot up, wondering where his brother was. At first he wondered if the entire thing had been one big dream. Then, he remembered that his brother always did get up earlier than he did. So he got out of bed and went downstairs. He walked silently through the house. Mokuba noticed a small smile was coming across his lips. The mansion felt like his home again. It didn't feel like an empty and deserted place now.

He walked into the kitchen, but his brother wasn't there. Well, if he wasn't in the kitchen drinking coffee, then where was he? Could he be up in his office doing things? But what would he do? He's supposed to be dead. So where could he be? Mokuba decided to go into the family room and sit down to think for a while; that's where he found his brother sleeping soundly on the couch.

'Why'd he come down here to sleep?' wondered Mokuba.

Then, he started to gently shake his older brother. Seto's eyes fluttered open and looked up at Mokuba.

"Good morning," smiled Mokuba.

Seto sat up, not even acknowledging that Mokuba said anything.

"Are you okay?" asked Mokuba.

"I'm fine," Seto answered.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Mokuba didn't know what was going on with his older brother, but he could tell that something was wrong. He knew Seto would never admit to it though. So all Mokuba could think to do was to hug his brother. He was about to when Seto got up and walked to the kitchen. Mokuba followed his big brother to the table where they both sat down on opposite ends. Neither of them did anything but sit there, thinking about different things. Seto had to decide, but what was he going to do?

After about fifteen minutes, Mokuba got up and finally hugged his older brother, tears starting to stream down his face. Seto held onto him tightly, just like Mokuba liked. The younger Kaiba smiled into his older brother's chest as Seto rested his chin on his younger brother's head. He didn't want to leave Mokuba again, but he sort of liked being dead. He didn't have any pressures or responsibilities anymore. But that wasn't fair to Mokuba. He still had to stay behind in this life. Now Mokuba had a lot more pressures and responsibilities because of his death! He had to decide what to do with Kaiba Corp. and if he kept it that would double everything and stress him out even more! Why was all this happening?

"Big brother," said Mokuba's upset voice.

"Yes," he answered.

"What am I going to do without you?"

"Don't worry about it, kid."

"But I've already had a taste of it, and I don't like it!"

"I know."

"I don't want you to leave again!"

"I know."

"If you had the choice, you'd stay with me right?" asked Mokuba.

Seto didn't see that coming. What was he going to say to Mokuba if he didn't even know the answer yet? So he just remained silent and hugged his little brother even tighter. He felt Mokuba smile into his shoulder and knew that he just gave Mokuba the wrong impression.

Day 2.

Most of the day, Seto tried to avoid Mokuba as much as possible. He just couldn't take the fact that he may have lied to him. The few times that he did bump into his little brother were awkward. Mokuba could tell Seto didn't want to be around him. Mokuba thought he'd done something wrong, but instead of mentioning it he kept it to himself. Why trouble Seto with it? Seto knew what Mokuba thought, but for some reason couldn't tell him that he didn't do anything wrong. Would he believe him even if he did? After all, no matter what he said to his little brother Mokuba kept on blaming himself for their mother's death!

Finally, around midnight Mokuba came into Seto's room and laid down on top of him.

"Yes," said Seto.

"Big brother, I don't know what I'm going to do," said Mokuba.

"I already told you not to worry about it."

"I mean with Kaiba Corp."

"I told you you didn't have to inherit it one day. Do what you want with it. It's not mine anymore."

"But I want to..." Mokuba trailed off as more tears streamed down his face.

"Kid, you don't have to keep Kaiba Corp. because of me. You're allowed to do what you want with it. If you really want to, you can keep it, but I didn't think you wanted it. Do what makes you happy, Mokuba."

"But if I give up Kaiba Corp, I'll be giving up a piece of you."

"Nothing of me is in Kaiba Corp."

"You were there all the time. Your work meant something to you."

Seto considered what his brother said for a while before speaking again. He understood why Mokuba wouldn't want to give up the company, but he didn't want it. Then, he thought about the other thing Mokuba said.

"Kid, I may have spent a lot of time at work but that doesn't mean that you didn't mean something to me," said Seto.

"I didn't say that."

"You implied it. I still cared about you. I still do. You don't have to worry about that."

"Big brother, promise me that you won't forget me when you go back," Mokuba said, starting to cry.

"I'll never forget my little brother," Seto smiled.

"Never?"

"Never."

Mokuba held on tightly to his older brother. Mokuba was starting to get scared again. Tomorrow Seto would disappear! He would do anything just to have his big brother stay by his side. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do.

'I return to my grave tomorrow, and I still don't know what I'm going to do!' Seto yelled mentally at himself. 'I know I should stay with Mokuba, but I don't want to stay in this world. Everything is easier there. I don't have to worry about Mokuba hating me, or having him disappointed in me. I don't have to see that sad look on his face when I say no to him. I don't have to feel like the worst brother in the world there. But where does all this leave Mokuba? I can't just leave him here alone. I promised him I'd never leave him.'

"Big brother," said Mokuba, snapping Seto from his thoughts.

"Yes," he answered.

"Wh-what's it like to die?"

"Well," he started, "I don't know if it's the same for everybody, but for me it felt like I was hanging from a cliff. I could hear you trying to wake me up, but I couldn't. I guess if I were standing on the cliff I would have been awake, but because I was hanging there between life and death I couldn't. You'll never know how exceptionally hard it was to hang on. I tried so hard to stay with you, but I couldn't climb back up the cliff. I was too weak. I had to let go."

"Wow."

"Mmhmm."

"Were you scared?"

"A little."

"Why?"

"I didn't know what to expect once I hit the bottom."

"After you hit what happened?"

"Everything went black."

"That's all?"

"Mmhmm."

"So you're not with Mom and Dad? You're just gone?"

"For the time being," Seto lied quickly. "Then, I'll be with Mom and Dad."

"How do you know?"

"I know everything," answered Seto.

Mokuba smiled.

After a while, Mokuba fell asleep in his brother's arms. That's when Seto took him over to his own room and tucked him in. The older boy watched his brother sleep for a while. Mokuba seemed so peaceful and at ease. That's all he ever wanted for his little brother.

He'd finally made up his decision, but first he had to do something. It took him most of the night and a lot of tears, but he finally finished what he wanted to say to Mokuba. Then, he went downstairs and walked out the front door.

Day three.

Mokuba couldn't find his brother anywhere! He wasn't there when he woke up! Where could he have gone? It was almost five. Seto had told him that was the time he'd disappear, but Mokuba hadn't seen his older brother all day. Mokuba looked for him everywhere. The same outcome was at all the places he looked. Seto apparently didn't want to be found. Finally, he went back home and sat on his brother's bed. He felt really awful. Suddenly, he saw a folded up piece of paper on his brother's bedside table that had his name on it. Mokuba picked it up and opened it. It read:

Hey kid, I don't know when you've found this but hopefully you're not sixty-two. Do you remember when you asked me if I would stay if I had the choice? Well, I did have the choice. I honestly didn't know what to choose. I had my reasons for staying and for leaving. You want to hear my reasons for leaving? Well, they revolve around you, kid. Don't take that hard. I'll tell you why I wanted to stay dead. I couldn't be who I wanted to be anymore. No matter how hard I tried. I couldn't hug you tightly like you liked for no reason. I could when you were asleep but not when you were awake. I think I know why too. I was afraid it wouldn't be the same for you. Gozaburo changed me. We both know that. I lost most of my soft side. I knew it would make you happy if I acted remotely like who I was when we were younger, but I couldn't do it. I'm sorry. Another reason is that I didn't like disappointing you. I should have taken some time from my work to play with you or to just spend some time with you. I'm sorry for that too. But I did have my reason for staying. You were also that reason. I liked it when you smiled, kid. It made me feel like I was doing somewhat of a decent job of being an older brother. I thought I wasn't a very good older brother. Whether or not you agree, that's what I think. You deserved a better family, and I deserved to be alone. Half the time I didn't even know what made me think I could be a brother.

Just remember that I love you, Mokuba. Even if it doesn't seem like it. I'll always be there to watch over you. Don't worry. You'll be fine. I don't want you to be sad because of me. I'm not worth that. Keep smiling, and keep being your happy little self. That'll keep me happy. I'm sorry I barely spent any time with you. Both when I was alive and when I was brought back. If I could, I'd go back and change everything. But I can't. Just know that my decision here is final…

Mokuba wasn't sure what to think. What decision?

"But, Seto…" Mokuba trailed off. "I need you."

"Don't worry, kid. I decided to stay."

Mokuba looked up at the doorway, shock evident on his face.

"Big brother?" Mokuba smiled.

"Hey, kid."

"Seto!" Mokuba cried as he jumped up and ran to give his brother a hug. "Seto, you're here! But I read your note. I thought…"

"I know. But trust me. Despite the fact that death brings peace to a person, I'd much rather be here with you."

"I love you, big brother! Never leave me again!" Mokuba hugged him tighter.

"I won't. I promise."

DGG: Yes. This is my new and improved ending...Well, it's new, at least. A happy ending this time. So if you read any of the reviews and people are ranting/yelling/complaining at me, it's all because in the original ending I had Kaiba choose to stay dead.

Thanks for reading. Shoot me a review if want!