Unum - Part B
"Seto!"
The priest crushes his little brother in his arms. Around them, other parishioners smile. All knew Mokuba Kaiba, even though he didn't attend services regularly.
"How've you been, Mokie?" he beams.
"Great! Simon's here too, but I didn't want to wait behind everyone else to greet you."
Seto laughs. Mokuba had grown into a brilliant, happy teen and Seto couldn't have been more pleased. Next year he'd be graduating from high school, a feat Seto envied. High school had been dropped so he could do what he thought best for Mokuba. Maybe one day he'd do the equivalency test and go to college, but not until Mokuba had been taken care of and put through school.
Giving his brother another bone crushing hug, he sends him off to their adopted father, promising he'd catch up with them later at the café where they'd planned a late brunch.
Helping his lay leaders clean up the church after the noon mass, he hears the door to the confessional close. Great. He checks his watch. Maybe the person won't stay long.
He enters the other side and waits.
"Bless me Father, for I have sinned," he hears a somewhat familiar voice spout.
He doesn't reply, waiting for the rest.
"It's been two weeks since my first and last confession."
"Yami?"
"How'd you know it was me?" he grins almost bright enough for the priest to see through the screen.
"I think 'first and last confession' gave it away."
"You caught that, huh"?
"Hard not to. So, what do you want to tell me today?"
A pause.
"I met someone. His name's Ryou."
"That's good."
"Unfortunately, he has a psychotic ex."
"Do you think it's wise to get involved, then?"
"I don't know. What do you think?"
"It might not be the safest thing. Maybe you should just be friends."
"You're probably right."
"Anything else?"
He can almost see the narrowing of eyes and feel the agitation.
"Are you timing me, Seto?"
"No! No. I'm sorry, Yami. I don't mean to rush you."
"Yes you do. What, you have a hot date or something?"
"Yami, I'm a priest."
"Your point?"
He sighs.
"I'm meeting my father and little brother for a late brunch if you must know."
"Oh! That's important! Why didn't you say anything? I'll come back tomorrow."
With that, the door to the confessional opens and closes.
"Yami, wait!" he calls, but the young man doesn't stop.
Hoping to catch him before he disappears, Seto scrambles out of the booth and through the front doors. There are people everywhere, milling about in the gorgeous May afternoon. He looks around intently, not that he has any idea what Yami looks like. With a resigned sigh, he heads into the rectory to change.
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"Okay, out with it," Mokuba prods, leaning back in the dining room chair as his brother whips up some stir fry for the two of them.
Every other Friday, after the 6:00pm mass, Mokuba stay over for "big brother/little brother" night. These past two 'bb/lb' nights, Seto has been somewhat distracted. Even now, Mokuba notes a pause before he answers any questions or continues his conversation.
"Out with what?"
"What's wrong? Something's bothering you."
"Nothing out of the ordinary. Parishioners and their problems."
That was sort of true. Except Yami wasn't exactly a parishioner. He was concerned as Yami hadn't been back since that day almost four weeks ago. He hoped nothing had happened with that guy, Ryou, and his ex.
"Right. Try again. I've seen you fret over parishioners, Seto. This is something else."
"It's nothing. I'm probably just overreacting. Besides, I can't tell you anyway."
"Confession?"
"Yes."
"Is that it?"
"That's it."
"What about your wanting to leave the priesthood?"
Seto drops the wok, nearly dumping the chicken, vegetables and noodles all over the floor.
"I knew it," Mokuba mumbles.
Seto goes back to cooking and doesn't respond. He doesn't have to wonder how Mokuba knew he'd been thinking about it. His brother has always had the uncanny ability to read him like a book.
Except about what went on with Gozaboro. God, he hopes Mokuba knows nothing about that. Swallowing a shaky sigh, he finishes up the meal and dishes it out for the two of them. After saying grace, he starts eating as though all is right in the world. Mokuba stares at him.
"When were you going to tell me?"
"I wasn't, because I'm not leaving," he replies, stuffing more food into his mouth.
"But you thought about it?"
"Yes."
"But you're not thinking about it now."
"No."
"You're lying," he states casually, diving into his plate with glee. He really is quite hungry and Seto does great chicken lo-mien.
"I'm not."
"You are. Liar, liar, pants on fire."
Seto nearly chokes on his noodles, laughing at his baby brother.
"What are you, five?" he manages after swallowing.
"Why are you lying to me, Seto?" Mokuba questions soberly.
"It's just a temporary crisis of faith. It'll pass."
"But what if it's not? Would you actually leave?"
"It is temporary and no I wouldn't. It's my obligation."
"Obligation?"
Once again he'd said too much.
"It shouldn't be a burden, Seto."
"I didn't say burden, I said obligation."
"Semantics."
"Let's just drop it."
"No! Do you want to leave, Seto?"
"No. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want to disappoint you and Simon."
"Disappoint…Seto," he leans toward his brother. "We wouldn't care as long as you were happy."
"It doesn't matter, because I'm not leaving."
"Seto…"
"Drop it, Mokuba," Seto retorts sternly.
Mokuba leans back and finishes eating, knowing that once his brother gets that tone, the conversation's over.
'For now,' he muses to himself.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It had been a very slow Saturday afternoon. Even Anzu hadn't been by for her almost daily confession.
Come to think of it, he hadn't seen Anzu for confession since her graduation last month. He smiles, maybe she took his advice and he really will be doing their wedding soon.
The confessional door opens and closes and he sits up straight, giving his full attention to the occupant. After a few moments, the strong smell of alcohol filters in from the other side. He stays silent. Whoever this is must have a lot on his mind to have gotten that drunk.
"S-Seto," the almost forgotten voice slurs.
"Yami?" he gasps, moving to open the partition, but thinking better of it. The normally jovial man probably wouldn't want to be seen in this state. Who would?
"B-bless me father, for I have sinned," he chokes.
"Yami…"
"It has been three months since my last confession."
"Yami, what's happened?" Seto prods quietly.
"I-I hurt someone. Really badly. I almost killed him."
Seto catches himself before inhaling sharply.
"Tell me."
Between drunken sobbing and one trip to the bathroom to throw up, Yami tells Seto about Ryou and Bakura. He and Ryou had become lovers, but it was more of a 'friends with benefits' situation than a relationship and everything was fine. Then, two weeks ago, Bakura showed up.
"I was in the laundry room folding towels," Yami chokes, "And someone pushed me against the wall. I turned, ready to fight whomever only to find Ryou standing there grinning evilly at me. I dropped my guard and laughed at him telling him he'd scared me half to death.'
"Only half?" he'd smirked. That's when I realized it wasn't Ryou, or not exactly Ryou. His hair was wilder and he had an almost feral look about him and his presence was that of someone who liked to hurt people. I'd known people like that in high school. I adopted a fighting stance, but he laughed and walked out.
"I thought that was the end of him until yesterday. Ryou and I had just finished having sex and were lying together when it happened." Yami falters, falling back into the seat.
"What happened," Seto urges.
"I'd heard about that sort of thing, but I thought it was just Hollywood," he murmurs.
"What sort of thing?"
"It's not like I was a virgin, Seto, but I've always been on top. I thought that if I ever did…let anyone, I'd have to be in love with that person."
A pause.
"Ryou sat up away from me and ran his fingers through his hair and then he was a different person."
"I don't understand."
"Bakura isn't his ex. Bakura is the other personality living inside of him."
Seto frowns. Multiple personality disorder is exceedingly rare.
"Are you certain, Yami?"
"Yes!" the other screams. "Because Ryou would never have…" he breaks off.
A pause.
"I'll be back. I feel sick," Yami mumbles and the confessional door opens and closes.
Seto finally understands, feeling more than just a distant sympathy.
"Did he force himself on you, Yami?" Seto questions evenly several minutes later after he hears Yami settle back down on the other side.
"No. But he tried to. And I had to…" he breaks off again.
"Had to what, Yami?"
"I just hit him once! The lamp was there and I swung it as hard as I could. There was a lot of blood. I got dressed and called an ambulance. They said I'd cracked his skull and he was lucky to be alive. The police questioned me and said I can't leave town in case they decide to press charges even though I told them I was defending myself. I went out today and got drunk and then I didn't know where else to go, so I came here. I guess you're the closest thing I have to a friend in this city, Seto."
Seto hears him slump back into the confessional, calming his breathing and getting himself together.
"I have to go now, Seto. Thanks for listening."
"Do you need any help getting home, Yami?"
"No. I'll be fine. And please don't come out until after I'm gone. I would like to meet you one day, but not like this."
"Fine, Yami."
"Thanks. I'll be back tomorrow."
Seto listens to the confessional door open and close. He waits at least two minutes before exiting his side and heading to the bathroom to splash cool water on his face.