Just one thing, and then you guys can have chapter two:

Fuck off, Traveling Reviewer.

Iwaku No Seirei

BONNG!

Kaiba jolted awake as the grandfather clock's deep tone echoed throughout the mansion.

"One o'clock," he murmured, unconsciously smoothing his black night robe. "This is when the first spirit is supposed to come…" He snorted. "Unless I dreamt it all up, of course."

Cautiously, he pulled back the hangings of his bed. Everything was exactly as he had left it following Otogi's visit, which he had immediately gone to sleep after.

He slid out of bed, and checked the whole room—just to be sure. Nothing.

"So it was just a dream," he murmured.

Suddenly, blinding white light filled the room. "Are you so sure of that, Seto Kaiba?"

Kaiba whipped around—and immediately had to shield his eyes. The light was blinding in that direction. All he could tell was that someone was standing in the middle of his room, and it was he that the light emanated from.

"Who the heck are you?" he asked.

The voice laughed softly. "I am know as Iwaku—the Spirit of Christmas Past."

"And why are you here?"

"To help you."

Kaiba snorted. "I don't need any help."

Iwaku seemed to radiate amusement. "Your redemption, Kaiba."

"Whatever," he muttered. "What's with the spotlighting, anyway?"

Soft laughter echoed through the room again. "This? 'Tis nothing more than the light of Truth."

"Well, would you mind putting it out?" Kaiba asked testily. "I'd rather not get blinded before my time, thanks."

There was a sudden silence. When Iwaku spoke again, his voice was deadly quiet. "You would wish me to put out Truth? Do you suppose your world is not infested with enough lies already? If my light were to disappear, do you have any notion of the chaos that would follow?"

Kaiba winced. He knew what utter chaos looked like—when you knew people like Yuugi and Yami Mutou, it was hard not to. But this—whatever it was—seemed to be talking about something far worse.

Iwaku seemed to relax. The light dimmed down, until Kaiba could look directly at him without being blinded.

Iwaku was exactly as tall as Kaiba. His features were aquiline, and strangely serious. His silky, snowy white hair fell softly about his shoulders, and the silver crown on his brow sprayed flickers and flashes of multicolor light onto the walls. Angular, chocolate brown eyes were narrowed a bit in thought as the spirit watched Kaiba's reaction. He wore a white robe with silver trim, and his feet were bare.

The resemblance to one of the members of the so-called 'geek squad' set Kaiba's mind reeling.

Iwaku laughed again. "Yes, Kaiba. You have met my Earth-bound brother, Ryou. Although I doubt you have taken the time to know him."

Kaiba rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

Iwaku cocked his head, as if listening to something. His hair rustled back—and, with a start, Kaiba realized that his ears sloped back to a delicate point.

"Come," he said suddenly, extending his hand. "Take my hand. We must go."

"Go?" Kaiba asked skeptically. "Go where?"

Iwaku didn't reply. Feeling a bit foolish, Kaiba reached out and took the spirit's hand.

Iwaku nodded—and spread a pair of magnificent wings. They were pure white, shading to cobalt blue at the bottom. The wings sprang from between his shoulder blades, arched up over his head, and swept down to touch the floor.

"This is not happening to me," Kaiba muttered—mostly out of habit.

Iwaku smiled. He raised his free hand, and the window flew open with a bang. One powerful sweep of his wings, and they were out. Kaiba expected to see the city going by beneath them—but instead saw nothing but darkness, flickered with crystals of shimmering light.

"Where are we going?" he breathed.

Iwaku continued to smile. "To your past."

And suddenly, they were in front of an old building.

Iwaku watched Kaiba's startled reaction with calm eyes. "You know this place?"

Kaiba gave his head a little shake. "Know it? This is the orphanage I grew up in."

Iwaku nodded. "Come—let us go inside." So saying, he stepped through the closed door.

Kaiba stared after him. There was no way he was going to be able to do that—no way in heaven or hell.

Iwaku peered back out through the door. "Fear not—these are but shadows. You cannot be seen; cannot be heard; cannot be felt. This door, at least, you may pass through safely." He chuckled. "But I would avoid the walls, if I were you."

Kaiba grimaced, stepping through the door. He looked around. Everything was the same—everything. Exactly the way he'd remembered it.

Iwaku stood by the stairway, watching him, wings once more tightly furled against his back. "You know the way?"

"I could walk it blindfolded," Kaiba murmured, heading up the stairs. Iwaku followed, smiling to himself.

As he walked, Kaiba began to remember things he hadn't thought of in ages. The way the food tasted; his daily schedule at this orphanage; all the people who had come for him, but didn't want Mokuba…

Mokuba…

Suddenly, Kaiba stopped dead in his tracks. He had come nearly face-to-face with an eleven-year-old version of himself.

The younger Kaiba was tapping on a door. "Hello? You in there?

A muffled voice came out from the room; "Yeah, why?"

"Can I come in?"

"Go ahead."

Kaiba followed his younger self into the room, Iwaku behind him. The younger Kaiba ran over to the bed, where a five-year-old boy with charcoal black hair lay face-down on the bed.

"Mokie? Mokuba?"

Mokuba looked up. He appeared to have been crying. "What?"

The younger Kaiba sat on the bed. "What's wrong?"

Mokuba sighed unhappily. "Everyone who comes—they all want you, Seto. You're smart and fast, and all that…and I'm just a little kid…"

The younger Kaiba hugged Mokuba. "Don't worry, Mokie. I won't let them separate us."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Kaiba couldn't stand to watch any longer. He turned away, coming face-to-face with Iwaku.

"Such a small boy," the spirit murmured, "and with such an open heart. He was tough."

"Very tough," Kaiba agreed quietly.

Iwaku studied him thoughtfully. "You loved him greatly, didn't you?"

Kaiba closed his eyes. "Mokuba…I did. I still do."

"And he died…?"

"Yes."

Iwaku continued to study him. "Let me show you another time. Take my hand again."

Still a little doubtful, Kaiba took his hand. Iwaku unfurled his wings—and with a great leap, they were off.

Suddenly, Kaiba was watching from the sidelines as he dueled against—Yami.

They were at Duelist Kingdom; Kaiba was dueling Yami for star chips. Pegasus had kidnapped his little brother; if he lost, he would throw himself over the edge of the cliff they were dueling on.

Yami faltered. Something was struggling against him—something didn't want him to make that final attack.

"Yuugi didn't want him to attack," Iwaku said quietly. "You didn't realize it then, but Yuugi was preventing the pharaoh from attacking you."

Kaiba sighed, almost imperceptibly. He did know that—at least, now he did. Before, he'd thought that Yami was being a weakling—that Yuugi was a weakling.

He knew better now.

"Or…do you?" Iwaku murmured.

I should know better. I really should.

Kaiba didn't see Iwaku's triumphant nod. "Come—you've seen enough. Take my hand again."

Kaiba did so. With another powerful sweep of his wings, Iwaku had them flying straight up at—and then through—the roof. Through swirling darkness, broken by crystals of light. And then—

They were back in Kaiba's own room. He collapsed gratefully onto his bed, exhausted.

Iwaku smiled at him. "Rest, Seto Kaiba—you have much more to see. And also…much more to endure."

Kaiba, already half asleep again, glanced at Iwaku—but the spirit had faded, leaving him alone in the room.

Review, please!

PS: In case you were wondering about the title, 'Iwaku no Seirei' means 'Spirit of the Past'.