A/n: We're getting a little deeper into what's actually happened to Mokuba and Seto's search for his murderer in this chapter. Thanks again for the reviews and keep them coming! Warning: angst.

Blood and Candlelight: His Flame Was Snuffed

''

Seto dully entered his room and locked his door.

He crossed to his bed, pulling off his jacket and shirt as he did so, and sat down by the nightstand.

He pulled open the drawer and glanced at the book within, the only content in it.

Gold letters were engraved into the silver plated book cover and Seto read them aloud softly as his fingers traced over the smooth lettering.

"Mokuba's Journal."

He took it up and held it close to his chest, feeling the sting of missing his only kin.

Nearly three years had gone by since the day he'd discovered his brothers body and it still hurt like the day he'd buried him.

This book didn't contain any of Mokuba's writing though.

It was to be a birthday present and ironically came the day of the funeral.

So Seto wrote in it himself.

He wrote all the things he'd ever wanted to say to the precious piece of light he'd had to let go of.

He broke up with Anzu shortly after that and withdrew from the daylight world for nearly six months.

In that time he was able to learn what had killed his brother.

Mokuba came to him in a dream and showed him the face of his murderer and where he would find help.

He carried the book over to his desk and grabbed the pen lying next to the ring box.

He'd worn it...just like Mokuba had asked, but he was unable to ask Anzu to marry him then.

With Mokuba, all love inside Seto died that day.

He was an empty shell and he knew he wouldn't ever be whole again.

He felt hot tears come to his eyes as he began to write, hoping that somewhere in the universe Mokuba was reading it.

'Anzu...almost died today. It made me think about when I stood over your grave. I still didn't give her the ring. I don't think I can...not without you. I took her to the hospital but I had to leave her there so no one would ask questions. I made it look like she had collapsed. I'm such a monster. I heard the doctors...they said it looked just like...when your body came into the morgue. They said they were shocked that she was still alive. I...have a special task for you. Stay with her, for just a little while...please?'

Unable to see clearly enough to write any more he signed the date and time and closed the book.

He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes, allowing the tears to flow from them.

'One day Mokuba...one day I will avenge you.'

He laid his head on the desk and touched the book, fingers tracing over the words again and again until he fell asleep.

''

The next morning Anzu lay quietly in the hospital, still unconscious.

The morning light crept into the room through the window and with it a tiny spark of light danced around her.

It then gently floated down at her side and Mokuba appeared.

A beautiful smile graced his lips as he reached out and touched her hand.

"Nee-sama sent me here. Won't you wake up? Just for a little bit?"

She never opened her eyes but she squeezed tightly on the smaller hand.

"I'm...really tired."

He placed his other hand over hers.

"I know. I just wanted you to know that I'm going to be here with you...just until you're better."

She smiled a little as he brushed his fingers over her hair softly.

"Thank you Mokuba. I'm sure you'll make me feel better...but right now I really want to go back to sleep."

He smiled.

"Okay. If you want to talk to me I'll be right here. Just call me okay?"

She nodded slightly.

"I will, I promise."

''

"The lilies are blooming today Nee-sama."

Seto glanced over at Mokuba as they lay together under an oak tree.

"Really? We'll have to take a special trip over there today."

Mokuba seemed worried about something.

"But Nee-sama, it's almost dusk and...it's really scary over there at night."

Seto chuckled slightly and ruffled up the child's hair.

"Come on, we better hurry than. But don't you worry about that. Nothing's going to get you."

Mokuba took his brother's hand and stood with him, staring into his eyes.

"I wouldn't be too sure of that if I were you. I saw something really strange the night before last. There was a woman and two men standing outside the gate. I couldn't hear what they were saying but...the older man's eyes stared to glow red. It was really scary."

Seto glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.

"Mokuba not this again."

He stopped and got down on his knees in front of the boy.

"There's no such thing as vampires Mokuba. It could have been anything. Now that we've opened the old house as a museum and garden there are all kinds of people there and it could have just been a car light reflecting in his eyes."

Mokuba looked away.

"Whatever you say big bro. But I know what I saw and if you'll remember...the parking lot is in front of the house, at least six hundred feet from where they were standing...and around the corner."

Seto sighed.

"We'll go see them tomorrow."

Mokuba nodded and they began to walk towards the house.

"Seto?"

Seto stopped, taken off guard by the sudden use of his real name.

"Yes Mokuba?"

Mokuba looked down, ashamed to ask such a silly question at his age...and knowing the answer.

"Can...can I sleep with you tonight? Just for tonight? Please?"

Seto stiffened a little.

"Mokuba...you are thirteen years old, that's five too many years to be believing in that nonsense or sleeping in the same bed with your big brother. We have the best alarm system money can buy...not even a vampire can get past it."

Mokuba never lifted his eyes.

"I know...I guess I just am still a little afraid of things, but..."

He put on his best fake smile and straightened up.

"At least I get to sleep to my favorite cd in my room. No vampire would want to stand that!"

Seto chuckled and patted him on the back.

"Not even I will venture into the cavern that is your room."

But he could sense that Mokuba wasn't as okay as he was letting on.

This would teach him that there is a difference between the make believe world that Yugi and co lived in, and the real world that he and Seto were happier in.

"Tell you what, if you live through the night, I'll take you out for pancakes in the morning."

Mokuba smiled, if a little uneasily at this, but nodded.

"Sounds good to me!"

In his sleep, Seto kicked himself for that coldhearted line.

'How the hell could I be that cold? Why didn't I just say yes? Maybe he would still be alive if he had slept with me. I don't even remember saying goodnight to him...I am...the worst man on the face of this planet.'

Seto opened his eyes and just stared blankly at the open book for a moment before he realized there was something wrong.

Why was the book open?

As he sat up he noticed the book was open to the last page he'd written on and tears caught in his throat as he read the simple, childlike writing.

'Nee-sama...she's going to be okay.'