Wow, took me long enough to get this chapter up. In my defense, you can't post something if it's not written, right? But seriously, I swear I will never discontinue a fic because I hate it when other people do that.

I don't just write Christmas fics at Christmas. You know that saying about keep Christmas all year long? Here's a great way: read holiday stories in the middle of July. I love doing that.

And by the way, anyone who's never seen the Muppet Christmas Carol: go watch it. Now. Go rent it from a movie store or library or crazy aunt who collects obscure movies, but find it. It rules. If you've already seen it, go watch it again. It's that good. There, I've done my advertising for Jim Henson Productions.

On with the story!


Chapter 2 – Christmas Past: It was the Best of Times…

Kaiba woke suddenly to the feeling that something wasn't quite right. He opened his eyes to see a fuzzy shape hovering over him. The shape quickly resolved itself into…

"Ishizu Ishtar?! What the hell are you doing in my room?!" he demanded, shooting upright in bed. "How did you get in here?"

"Be calm, Seto Kaiba. I am not who I appear to be."

"I don't care who you think you are, get out of my house." He jammed the intercom on the nightstand. "Roland, get security up here now." When she was gone he was going to have a talk with his security, one which would likely result in having many of them fired.

There was silence from the other end of the intercom.

"I said now." Nothing. "Roland?"

"They will not come."

Kaiba stood and drew himself up to his full height, imposing even in his pajamas. "And why not?"

"We are only shadows, you and I. Neither of us can be seen or heard by the people of this time."

"What's that supposed to mean, Ishtar?"

She shook her head. "I am not Ishizu Ishtar. I have simply taken on the form of someone you know in order to speak with you."

"Who are you then?"

"I am the embodiment of the emotions and times of Christmases past. A spirit if you will."

"Well I won't. I don't believe in spirits."

"But you believe in the past, correct?"

"If you're talking about that phony Egyptian crap–"

"I am not. I am referring to the past of this life: the one that you remember. There are some things I wish to show you."

The world around them rippled and began to darken.

"What–?!" Kaiba tensed and whirled around but his room was already gone. This was different, totally unlike the so-called Shadow Magic that he'd seen around Yugi and his group. The space around him was pitch black. He could see nothing but somehow he felt as if he were moving very fast, speeding past hundreds upon thousands of places and actions and events…

"What is this?" he called to the woman. He refused to think of her as a spirit.

A bright light sparked far away and began to rush at him with the speed of a supernova. It enveloped his senses until all he heard was the echo of a woman's voice.

"It is the past."


The blinding light receded, leaving him in a cozy-looking hallway that seemed strangely familiar. Kaiba rounded on the Ishizu look-alike. "What the hell was that?"

"I have come to remind you of certain events, Seto Kaiba. We are now shadows in the time approximately ten years before your current present. This building should look familiar to you."

Kaiba paused and looked around at the light blue walls. In shock he realized that he did know this place.

Laughter and the giggling of children floated from an open door a little ways away. Curious and more than a little awed at where he was, he followed it down the hall that he'd once called home.

The door opened up into a brightly-lit living room that fairly glowed from the lights of a single Christmas tree. A young man and woman and two very little boys sat in front of him opening presents.

Kaiba's eyes widened. He remembered this, though vaguely. It was Mokuba's first Christmas, back when their parents were still alive. How was this possible…?

He watched, transfixed, as a very young version of himself walked up to his mom and little brother, dressed in a set of Christmas pajamas covered in holly leaves.

"Hey, Mokie. I got you a present." He held out a little gift so Mokuba could see it, then tore off the wrapping paper for him. "Here you go."

Younger Seto handed the baby the small stuffed bear underneath. Mokuba squeaked happily at being given a toy and immediately began to chew on one of its ears. "I picked it out myself," his brother said proudly.

Suddenly, Mokuba looked up from the bear and held out his arms. "'Eto," he said, obviously wanting his brother to pick him up.

Seto froze. "He said my name," he whispered, slowly reaching out to take Mokie from his mother. "You've never said my name before."

"'Eto," the baby repeated cheerfully, then yawned. He curled up into the older boy's chest, cuddling his new toy. He murmured something unintelligible before he dropped off to sleep. Seto sat down on the couch, gently cradling Mokuba in his arms.

Kaiba walked slowly across the room and stroked his 'baby brother's' hair tenderly. He remember this well. Perhaps this holiday wasn't really that bad.

"You loved Christmas," the spirit – maybe she was a spirit – spoke up from beside him. "Do you remember what changed your mind?"

"Nothing changed my mind," he answered. "I outgrew it."

"Did you really?" The room around them dissolved.

"What's going on now?" Kaiba growled as another place began to take shape.

"There is more you should see."


I had to end it there 'cause my Christmas Present is too darn long. Next chapter should be up sooner: it's in the editing stage.