Chapter 5: New Lives

The car ride back to Gozaburo's mansion was a silent one. Seto was watching the man who sat in front of them, waiting for his "father" to speak to them. He finally did.

"I will not have time to baby-sit a couple of kids. I have a business to run. Seto, you will begin your studies right away. Your tutor will give you a list of your classes. Your brother is to stay out of my way and out of the way of my people. Dinner is at six O'clock sharp. Do not be late. You shall then return to your classes, and your brother may do as he pleases until it is time for bed. I expect nothing but the best from you Seto."

Seto nodded, knowing that Gozaburo was watching him. He was determined to do well now that he had gotten himself a second chance at life.

"Another thing. I am not your father, nor shall you call me your father. You may call me your stepfather, if you must call me something, but be certain that you shall never call me your father. Is that clear?"

"Yes." Seto replied. Mokuba was too frightened to answer. It would be alright. Seto would talk to Mokuba later, after his studies, to get him used to the new idea of freedom.

The chauffeur pulled around the circular driveway of the mansion and stopped the car. Several servants came out of the house to open the door for Gozaburo, and also for Seto and Mokuba. The brothers got out of the car and silently surveyed the gigantic house. Several of the servants took their bags into the mansion. An odd looking man met them at the door, and looked mildly surprised as he saw Seto and Mokuba trailing behind him.

"Sir, was your trip…profitable?"

Gozaburo glared at the butler. "Show these two to their rooms. They will be staying with us from now on. Then show Seto to his first class. He will follow the same class schedule as… you know what to do."

"Yes sir." He stared at the boys with a froggy looking face. "Please follow me."

Seto and Mokuba followed the man into the manor, both slightly frightened. They were both determined not to show it, however, both for the same reason. Seto had had a conversation with Mokuba right after they had arrived at the orphanage. Mokuba had been upset about their parents leaving them, and was crying on the swings. Seto had told him to come on a walk with him so they could talk. It was during this time that Seto had given Mokuba some advice as well as comfort.

"Mokuba, don't cry any more. I know how you feel. We're not stray dogs or trash. Don't let people say that you are, and don't worry about those people who made us like this. I'll make sure you'll have a good life. From now on, I'll be your father. I'll protect you no matter what. So stop crying." Then he had said, "Listen—always be on your guard. You'll be finished if you show any weakness."

Now the time to heed that advice had come. They could not be weak. They would be finished if they showed any emotion. So they both set straight faces and walked into the house.

Four hours later, Seto collapsed on a couch in his room. He was exhausted. He had already been through five classes. English and History, Mathematics, Physics, and Philosophy. They had all been grueling. It had been so hard to stay awake. He had dozed off a couple of times, but the butler had been standing there, waiting for him to fall asleep so he could rap his desk with his pointer and startle him into awakeness. Now it was five fifty and he had only ten minutes to clean himself up and get to dinner. He had not seen Mokuba all day, and he was itching for his company. Perhaps after dinner they could go to his room and spend some time together. He dragged his overtired body into a sitting position and groaned. This was too much for him. He was only twelve, and only barely. It was only the first day, and he felt like he had been here for years. He managed to make it to the bathroom to wash his face, then changed slowly. He looked over at the clock to see that he had only two minutes to get to the dining room. He clenched his teeth in light panic and ran out of the room.

Gozaburo glared at Seto when he entered the room.

"You're late," he stated coldly.

"I know sir. I'm sorry." He made no excuse. He knew that Gozaburo would not care. He was right.

"Sit down! You will not be late again, do you hear me? I said it was at six O'Clock sharp. You will obey the rules of this household, or you will not be here much longer." He then calmed slightly. Dinner continued silently and without any further incident. Seto sat across the long table from Mokuba, too tired to even touch his food. Mokuba was looking at his older brother worridly. He already looked exhausrted and it was only their first day. Mokube hoped that Seto had made the right choice in bringing them here.

After dinner, Gozaburo got up to leave. As he left the room, he said, "You may have the weekends off, but you will work through the week. Is that understood?"

Seto gazed up wearily. "Yes."

"Good. You may return to your lessons."

"More?" Seto whispered after Gozaburo had left. "No more, please…"

"Seto, are you O.K.?"

Seto looked up at Mokuba, but did not smile. "I'll be fine Mokuba." He then got up and walked out of the room, leaving Mokuba to wonder why his big brother wouldn't smile, and why he wouldn't call him Mokie. It seemed that things were already changing for the worse.

Two weeks later, a grandfather pendulum clock ticked back and forth in the eloquently furnished study that was the classroom for Seto. Although the clock read that it was only three – thirty, Seto felt like it should be twelve midnight. He was beyond exhausted now, barely awake. He felt himself begin to nod off, the illustration of the atom structure blurring before his eyes. He was helpless to stop it. The voice of the schoolmaster droned incessantly in his ear, and became farther and farther away…

Suddenly a sharp rap on his desk startled him back into awareness. He jumped shaking his head to clear it.

"I am sorry for interrupting the lesson, sir," said Hobson, the butler, and also the person in charge of being sure that Seto was doing his work. He then turned to Seto.

"I have strict orders from Mr. Kaiba. He has no patience for slackers."

"I'm not a slacker -" Seto started, but he was cut off by Hobson.

"Until you catch up with Mr. Kaiba's lesson plan, there will be not time for sleep – that is, unless you and your brother want to leave this household."

Seto looked down in frustration, then determination. "I understand."

"Good. Please, carry on with your lesson."

Seto arrived on time for dinner that night, but again, was too tired to eat. As he sat staring at his plate, Gozaburo looked up from his to glare at Seto.

"I hear that you have fallen behind in your studies."

Seto looked up, startled.

"Therefore, you will no longer have the weekends off."

"But, but I've been working hard!" he said, upset. The weekend was the only time he got to spend with Mokuba. He couldn't lose that.

"Not hard enough," Gozaburo stated coldly. "You have no discipline. Discipline is the only way to crush your enemies."

Seto stood up angrily. "I have no enemies!"

"Of course you do! You have to learn that you cannot trust anyone, including me. Until then… Hobson!"

The butler entered the room to stand at Gozaburo's side. "Yes sir?"

"Confiscate Seto's toys immediately." He then turned to Seto. "Maybe that will teach you to concentrate on your studies, instead of wasting your brain away." He then dismissed Seto and Mokuba to their rooms.

When Seto got to his room, Hobson was there. He had put Seto's only toys – his chessboard, his backgammon board, and his go game – into a box and was on his way out. Seto stood there, his fists clenched in anger. Hobson turned to him with a sneer on his face and said, "It's for your own good." Then he left the room, leaving Seto to his despair. He knew that Mira would have wanted them to have a new life, but not this. Not like this. He reached inside his shirt and pulled out his chain. He opened it and sadly and looked at the picture of Mira – the only picture of Mira he had. It wasn't a very good picture – but he could still see the life that Mira had held, before she had… He then looked at the picture of Mokuba, his little brother that he never got to see anymore. He wanted to be with his brother more, but Gozaburo was determined not to allow them to be together. Seto was alone…completely alone…

From his room in another wing of the house, Mokuba looked at the light that was on in Seto's room. He was upset about their whole situation, and he wasn't afraid to say it. The way they're treating Seto stinks. It's not fair. Then he looked down at the Duel Monsters deck he held. But I know how to make my big brother smile. He heard footsteps coming in his direction, and he quickly hid the deck of cards in his hiding place, along with the special card he had made for Seto. As the door to his room opened, he made for the door as well, looking as if he was going out.

"Oh, Hobson. I was looking for you. Seto left his book. I was wondering if you could take it to him."

Hobson nodded and took the book from Mokuba. Mokuba smiled and closed the door to his room. That, at least, would make Seto feel better.

Seto collapsed onto the couch in his room. If I see one more textbook, I'm going to barf! He sat up again as Hobson came into the room. He threw a textbook at him as he said, "You still have one more lesson until you can go to sleep." Then he left. After Hobson walked out, Seto angrily threw the book at the floor. But then he looked again. It had landed with the cover open, and Seto could see that the book had been hollowed out, and there was something inside. He went over to the book and picked it up. Inside was a note.

It said:

Dear Seto, I guess you found my hiding place. Remember big bro, they can't take away everything from us. So enjoy my gift, but don't let them find it. Love, Mokie.

Seto went through the pages and to his delight found that Mokuba had hidden his Duel Monsters deck inside it! He went through every single one, smiling as he remembered his much he loved his deck, and the game. Well, they're not the greatest cards, but they're mine. Then he came to the last page. Inside there was a piece of paper with a drawing. Seto turned it over to find that it was a drawing of a Blue Eyes White Dragon, just like the one he had given Mira. It was colored in crayon, and Mokuba had colored out of lines, but Seto though it was wonderful all the same. He wandered out onto the balcony and looked up at the night sky. I swear, one day I'll have another Blue Eyes White Dragon – a real one again. I will be the best duelist in the world, and I will be free from my Stepfather.