A/N: I do not like this chapter. I must have lost my ability to write somewhere in between… I don't know. Translations are evil. Very evil. My mantra had always been 'think English' but mantra my ass when I had to translate. Sorry for the author's note. The important text is below.

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Chapter Three

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To enable Kisara the normal life of a six years old child many things had to be changed in the world of Kaiba. Once she was adopted, she needed to get signed up for school. That could be done by one of Seto's employees; he himself spent his rare free time with making sure there was a nice room furnished for the small girl.

The architect wanted a bright room with many windows and Kisara was happy to agree. But all the opposite from the architect's were Kisara's likes in colors. She loved everything blue and asked her new daddy to furnish the room the way she wanted. Kaiba agreed without any doubt although the architect recommended rather bright yellow or orange.

The first days in school had been less difficult than expected. After work Kaiba inspected his child's homework and was amazed by her intelligence. That was making it a lot easier for him. In the time she was alone at home, she liked to go into Seto's office and snatch away the Duel Monsters cards. New Duel Disk systems were enabling to update one's deck online. Simple card decks weren't even needed anymore but Kaiba praised them like a treasure.

One day when he came back from work, he found Kisara on the ground playing with all his valued cards. Slightly angered he wanted to scold her, but seeing her, playing there, changed his point of viewmind. It had been so innocent that he hadn't been able to stop her. When Kisara realized his presence, she was ready for the lecture she deserved.

But there never was any.

Still, she vigilantly brought back the cards and apologized.

It had been a beautiful day in spring when Seto had promised his daughter to pick her after school and spend the day with her in the park. He had thought he was not able to refuse Mokuba anything. Yet, the girl held an even greater power over the CEO. Therefore he went to a nearby playground with her and sat down on a bench.

He enjoyed watching her.

His peace didn't last long.

"Is that isn't Kaiba! So you really do go out in the daylight."

That voice—he knew exactly who it belonged to and still, he didn't like it any tiny bit. Seto lifted himself into a standing position and turned around to look at the 'intruders' of his peace.

"Wheeler," he snarled, even more pissed than usual.

Joey Wheeler hadn't changed much, apart from the fact that he was married. But as far as Kaiba knew, Wheeler and his wife still had no kids. The presence of both of them would have been enough to make Seto want to run but there also were Yugi and Tea—still not even married considering their long time 'friendship'.

"Quickly recognized," replied Mai for her husband.

Probably, she even was proud of what that third-rate duelist had made out of her.

"Hey Kaiba, what does such a snob like you in the park at this time of the day? Feeding the doves? Are you that lonely?"

Kaiba crossed his arms and glared arrogantly down at them. They were like they had always been, he thought. Beyond any doubt they knew about Mokuba's disappearance but other than that they were clueless and it should stay that way!

"Have you still not learnt to mind your own business?"

"Man, don't throw a fit, old grump. It's just quite an unusual sight, seeing your face here…" Joey laughed.

"Don't take him seriously, Kaiba. We're all happy to see you again."

Yugi—the ever friendly rival. Seto would have liked to retch right now if pride didn't forbid him. Unexpectedly, the situation should develop into a completely other direction.

"Daddy." Something pulled at Kaiba's right leg. "Can I go play with those kids there?"

Kisara gazed with big eyes at the tall millionaire. Seto nodded wordlessly and she scuttled away, leaving him to one problem. The questions of the others were answered with her simple presence but there occurred new ones Kaiba wasn't willed to answer.

"Don't tell us you've got a daughter," Tea said flabbergasted.

"I don't get it," Joey frowned, scratching his blonde head. "Kaiba with a daughter? What kind of sane woman has left you with that child?"

"You're taking it too far, Wheeler. First of all Kisara is absolutely none of your business. Second, you're in serious trouble now, Wheeler, because I'm in the mood to strangle you, mongrel." Kaiba took a step towards Joey, making the blonde also pissed.

"Pah! Did I hit a nerve, Kaiba, or why are you so pissed?" Joey's temper was as usual hardly to suppress and he was about to grab the CEO by his collar without even considering the possibility to come out of this as the loser once again. "It's just that nobody can even imagine you as a good father!"

"Oh yes? You can write a book about it, can't you? Perhaps God doubts your abilities of being father, not mine," said Kaiba calmly and hit Joey's nerve exactly.

He and Mai had always wanted children but she just wouldn't become pregnant. Sometimes the burden of their fate seemed to let their happiness suffer big deal. Joey was mad by now and grabbed Kaiba instinctively by the collar. Typical for Seto, he smirked cruelly down at Joey and quickly grabbed for his wrists, sending him onto the grass.

"I think people call that a déjà vu, Wheeler. But today you won't be that lucky. I'm not finished with you." Kaiba's threatening, raspy voice hanging thickly in the air—and Joey's ears. "You wimpy mutt."

"Hey, stop that!"

Seto was about to take another step towards Joey and lift the man up rather fiercely when Kisara's voice reached his ears and stopped him dead in his tracks. As if nothing else existed Kaiba turned to look for his daughter. Some children were dashing around the girl, pulling at her hair and laughing about her.

Automatically Seto went into their direction.

"You look stupid," one of the kids said.

"Yeah, you are stupid. Kisara is stupid. Kisara is stupid," another small boy sang.

"And you all deserve a good kick in the head," Kaiba spoke with a firm voice and in a dangerously daring tone. "Make yourself useful and get lost, you filthy little brats. Your parents must have wished they were dead the first moment they saw you."

Immediately the first one began to cry. The next one promptly followed as well as the third. They ran to their parents crying and even though they could have argued with the president of Kaiba Corporation, they didn't dare once they met with his icy glare, making them mentally shrink and get away quickly. Seto was quite okay with that.

"C'mon Kisara, let's go." He took the light-haired girl's hand and walked off into the distance. He didn't look back at Joey or Yugi even once.

"Would anybody please explain to me what's just happened?" Joey asked who had watched the whole scene from the ground.

"Do you mean Kaiba or the kid?" Tea asked stupidly.

"Both," Joey said. "Does he really have a daughter?"

"Seems so…" Yugi replied. "You know, maybe Kaiba doesn't seem like much of a kind person but he seems to know how to take care of a kid. Think of Mokuba."

"Yes, and he's gone. Left him just like that…" Joey matter-of-factly added.

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It was the day of Mokuba's arrival with his family. Seto felt strangely nervous; that was something he rarely did. Though his low emotional appearance his nervousness mixed with his grief made him unexpectedly restless. His house suddenly seemed small to him and nowhere was a right place to wait for his little brother.

Finally, in the late afternoon, the intercom announced a visitor. Considering the circumstances Seto had sent the staff home to have the house quiet and peaceful with his family. Therefore he went to open the door himself. In front of him a grown-up young man was standing, who was now twenty-three years of age and whose height nearly topped that of his brother.

Seto gazed into the long missed gray-blue eyes that still held an overwhelming warmth like those of a young boy. The deep black, slightly long hair surrounded his face still. Outside he had hardly changed during the years.

"Please, come in," Seto spoke and opened the door further as a gesture of welcome.

"Seto." Just this one word, the name of his big brother, crossed the younger Kaiba's mind.

He, too, had the impression that his brother hadn't changed much. The chestnut bangs of hair still fell into his face and almost hid his steel blue eyes. Just one thing was different. The depths of his eyes were even more unfathomable than before. As mirror of the soul, Mokuba could read emotions that weren't meant to see ever before. He couldn't help but to embrace his big brother.

Seto let the bangs of his hair hide his face when he accepted Mokuba's embrace gratefully. How long had he missed this? Pictures of the past shot through his mind and how often but still rare embraces had been nonetheless. As proud as the small Kaiba once had been of his big brother, as much pride Seto was feeling when he referred to person Mokuba had grown into.

Nevertheless he would always stay Seto's little brother, who he tried to protect.

After a while they broke their brotherly embrace and Mokuba wore a smile that he hadn't longed to show for a very long time—too long. Seto's gaze fell upon Rebecca who was holding the little bundle of a baby within her arms.

"Hello Seto," she said hesitantly. She was aware that the elder Kaiba had never liked her much and whenever his dangerously icy gaze met her, she flinched inwardly. But his gaze seemed to be different this time.

"Rebecca." His pupils fastened on the baby and he looked at the young boy who began to laugh. "How old is he now?"

"Four months," Mokuba explained and smiled. He was proud of his little son. "Hey Jarik, look at your uncle Seto. Your daddy has a lot to thank him for. Besides, you look a lot alike him."

Seto was quiet and tried to gather Mokuba's words within his mind. Everything was so darn difficult to take in concerning the CEO's feelings. The boring and mind-numbing dullness of the daily schedule was simple routine and easily taken in on the other side.

"Jarik," Seto repeated. He liked the name. Jarik Kaiba. Mokuba had a real small family. But Seto was on the right way himself.

Suddenly Mokuba sensed a boy's gaze upon his big brother. He looked at the stairs where a small child, about seven years old, was standing. The child's big eyes glued expectantly to Seto. Then Mokuba remembered an encounter he had weeks ago.

"Hi, aren't you Serenity Wheeler's boy? What's your name? I'm afraid I can't remember," the younger Kaiba asked with his usual charm.

The boy nodded. "Sebastian."

"Oh yeah, now I remember, Sebastian. Do you still remember me? I'm Mokuba and this is Becky and the baby's called Jarik. Say, is your Mom here, too?"

Again the boy nodded but his gaze wandered upon Seto.

"Sebastian, why don't you tell your mother that our guests have arrived?" Seto spoke fatherly.

Immediately the boy scampered in the direction of the kitchen just to come back a little time later with his mother. She welcomed Mokuba and Rebecca heartily and was amazed how much the little child had grown in only short time. Also, Sebastian dared to get closer to the strangers with his mother next to him.

"Why don't you go into the dining room? Mokuba and I will take care of your luggage," Seto suggested and just like in early days the younger brother followed without any comment.

"Tell me, Seto," Mokuba asked once they had all the luggage into one of the guest rooms, "are you and Serenity truly…a couple?"

"Yes, we are," Seto replied after little later and sat down onto the bed. His shoulders hung deeply comparing to earlier days.

Mokuba had to gather some courage before he was able to voice out his next question. "Do you love her?"

Again Seto hesitated quite long with his answer even though he didn't have to think twice. "Yes, I do." His gaze slowly wandered to meet with his brother's. "In a weird way I am happy even if it might not seem so visibly. It's a narrow path one's walking upon when living between pleasure and pain."

Mokuba nodded understanding. "After all those years it's Serenity. How's Joey doing?" He inwardly grinned. "However, she doesn't seem unhappy. At least she likes you a lot, Seto. One would have to be blind not to see that. How did you meet her again after all this time?"

"Quite nosy you are." Seto leant back and thought. "But I'll tell you."

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End of chapter three.

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