…Did you know skepticism was invented by the Greeks?

And now ladies and gentlemen: the Present.


Chapter 4 – Mokuba's Christmas Present

"I have something I want to show you."

"Something to show me?" Kaiba repeated skeptically. "Why are you people showing me things I already know? I don't know how you're getting hold of them, but those were my memories. I should think I already know what happened in them."

"Are you sure you knew exactly what was happening?" The white-haired spirit asked calmly. "Or did you see something you missed the first time around? Perhaps seeing them side by side has put them in a new light?"

Kaiba hesitated, and, not wanting to have to answer that either, chose to keep his mouth closed.

"Either way, I am not here to show you more of your own memories." The spirit turned his head and looked out into the blackness as if he could see something no one else could. "I am here to show you the present."

"The present? I'm already here. This is the present."

"Not your present." Shapes started to take shape around them again. "His present."

Kaiba looked around in surprise. This was his little brother's room.

And sure enough, his little brother was in it.

Mokuba was lying awake in his bed, arms behind his head and staring up at the ceiling. After a while he rolled out of the bed and sat down on the edge of the small bay window, leaning against the glass and staring up at the sky.

"Mokuba, go back to bed," Kaiba said automatically. There was no response. The older boy moved slowly over to the younger one and waved a hand in front of his face. He didn't blink.

Only shadows…

Kaiba bent and looked out the widow as well, trying to find what his brother was looking at. All he could see were stars.

Beside him, Mokuba sighed. "I know Seto would think it's stupid to wish on a star," he whispered to himself. "He'd say it was pointless. Maybe he's right, I don't know. But I can't think of anything else left to try."

Kaiba blinked and sat down next to him.

"Tomorrow I'm gonna wake up, and I know I'm gonna get a bunch of presents, probably even expensive ones. It might sound greedy or something, 'cause I've already got so much, but there's only one thing I really want. And I don't think I'm gonna get it." Mokuba looked down at his lap sadly. "I want to see Seto smile."

Kaiba's eyes widened in shock.

"Not his cold business grin, or that hungry kind-of one he has on when he duels. I want to see Seto smile for real. I don't think I've seen him really smile since…" He shook his head and his brother thought he saw the glint of tears in his eyes. "I can't even remember. He hasn't really laughed either. Sometimes I think he's forgotten how. But I know wishing for that's out of the question. Even a smile's pushing it…"

Mokuba yawned, sleep finally catching up to him. He closed his eyes against the glass, a single drop of water sliding down the side of his cheek. "Just one…"

And he fell quietly asleep.

Kaiba didn't move. All Mokuba wanted…was to see him…smile? And he was crying…

Something inside ached dully at the knowledge that he'd hurt his brother so much. Did Mokuba really see him as heartless? He couldn't care less about the rest of the world, but Mokuba…

Kaiba looked at his reflection in the window. His face seemed as though it fell naturally into a frown or glare. It was indeed the face of someone who'd forgotten how to laugh.

He reached out to touch the glass. Had he really forgotten how to smile?

Mokuba's clock began to chime softly on the mantel. "Come, Seto Kaiba," the spirit said softly, laying a hand on his shoulder. "My time here is nearly up."

Kaiba stood and turned to him. "What do you mean?"

The image of Bakura seemed paler and more transparent. "On the twelfth stroke I will leave you, and my task will be taken up by a final spirit." His edges blurred and seemed to sparkle a bit, but he grabbed the CEO by the arm and looked straight into his eyes. "Heed his warnings, Seto Kaiba, if you wish to keep what you see here."

He nodded at Mokuba as the room began to darken around them. The clock's final stroke sounded, and the spirit vanished into the air.

All was still for a moment as the young man stood alone in the darkness. Then–

"Seto Kaiba."

A voice rang out behind him. Kaiba spun.

The man in front of him was dark, dressed in long robes the color of sand and a turban to match. A golden key-shaped necklace hung from his neck.

"I am the spirit of the future. Come with me."


Yeah, if you look, the title is sort of ambiguous: Mokie's gift and the present day with Mokie in it.

Let's see if anybody's actually paying attention to my stuff. Cookies to whoever can tell me who Christmas Future is.