Chapter Nine: Revelations come to light

Seto stared at the wall across the room. Thinking about it, brought back all the pain that he had pushed deep down so long ago. His heart ached for two reasons, 1: not being able to properly answer his brother's questions about their parents stung, and 2: the guilt of not remembering, or ever thinking about his birth parents rose inside him like a rough wave that hits the shore.

"Bro?"

Seto continued staring at the wall, "I'm sorry mokie, I don't know how either of them…" he stopped, afraid to finish his thought.

"I remember dad being sad most of the time," Mokuba spoke.

"Yeah, after mom went, depression hit hard with him," seto explained.

"But he always did his best for us," Mokuba reasoned, "He was a single parent after all."

"Mhmm," Sounded seto.

Seto at this point still refused to look at his younger brother, or in his general direction for that matter. There was something he was hiding. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure if what he felt was truly real, or not. Deciding to sleep on it, Seto stood to take his leave. Glancing at the digital clock on the night stand he finally spoke, "Wow it is late. Time for you to go to bed," he instructed.

Mokuba scoffed, "It's 10:30 p.m."

"Yes, and you need to sleep," he raised an eyebrow at the 16-year-old.

"Fine," he whined as he rolled his eyes.

As Mokuba changed for bed, Seto made his way towards the door. The door knob turned, the sound of blankets shuffling was heard, and then – "Hey Seto," he called out. Seto turned on his heels, "I'm sorry for what I said last night," Mokuba apologized, "

Seto's tired expression, now turned soft. He stared at the floor then at the teen sitting on his bed, "Don't be, it was the wake-up call that was long over do," he paused as he patted the door frame, "Goodnight Mokuba."

"Night."

Walking into his room, the usually proud Seto Kaiba dragged himself towards his bed. Falling face first, he sprawled out on the large bed, and contemplated everything that had happened in just the last few days. The thoughts that weighed heaviest on his mind included his parents, and not wanting to move from his current position. The sound of his phone vibrating from his back pocket sounded in his ears. Not sure if it was work, or not he reached for it without thinking.

It was a text message from Kisara that read, "The contracts are finished, and the techs are finishing up the final details. Do you want me to come over tonight to go over it with you?"

With the day he had, Seto didn't think twice, "No, tomorrow I'll go over it all."

Kisara replied instantly, "Oh okay, see you tomorrow *heart emoji*,"

Seto didn't respond after that, rather he watched whatever movies were on T.V. To his dismay, T.V was not helping ease his thoughts. There was this nagging thought, possibly a memory that he could not shake for the life of him. However, Seto eventually found sleep.

…

Hideki, Seto's father sat in an arm chair with a beer in hand. His eyes were surrounded by deep dark circles. Hideki's hair was greasy, and so matted that his hair stuck to his temples, very evident that he had not been showering regularly, or shaving for that matter. A beard that measured about three inches proved so.

Suddenly, Seto finds himself in the front yard with his younger counterpart. Seto watches as his father gets into the car. A young Seto begs him not to go, but is reassured that by his father that he'll be back shortly. The next thing he knows, Seto is at the scene of a car accident. Two cars were hit head on, and it didn't look like one of the drivers made it.

"No," He whispered

An officer riffles through a brown leather wallet, and reads the name of the deceased driver out loud, "Hideki Hiyashi."

"NO!" This can't be," he screamed.

Running over to the scene, Seto's fears were soon realized. The body of his once vibrant father lay hunched over the steering wheel, bloody, and disfigured. This was no longer a dream, but a real-life nightmare. Seto stepped away to vomit. The sight of his father proved to be overwhelming.

Holding himself up from throwing up, Seto abruptly finds himself back at home. A police officer and a priest stood at the front door to receive no answer. A frightened 8-year-old Seto hid under his bed. 21-year-old Seto watched as his younger self wrapped himself in a ball, terrified. Things fast forward to the day of his father's funeral. Closed casket, lots of mourners, and none of them could console young Seto who had his eyes glued on the casket. Seto struggled to catch his breath. This memory was hell wreaking havoc, as he remembered how he thought this was all a trick, and wished for his father to pop out of no-where.

There was a lot of chatter amongst adults. It was mostly mentioning's of how young he was, and 'such a tragedy,' this all was. Seto fell to his knees, and clutched his chest. The room began to spin about, and images of his father and his car flashed through his mind.

"NOOOO!" Ho-," he gasped, "How did this happen!" he cried out with eyes shut, not wanting to see anymore.

"I veered off the road into on-coming traffic and broke my neck on impact," an unexpected voice came from behind him.

…

Mokuba laid sleeping in his bed. Unbeknownst to him, a person stood by, staring lovingly at his sleeping form. The person was filled with overexcitement, and a tinge of fear that held their pacing heart in a vice. Turning onto his back, Mokuba's messy hair fell a bit over his face, and shivered.

Laughing internally, they bent down to fix his hair, only for both of them to be scared half to death. Mokuba felt fingers ever so lightly brush away his hair. Stirring awake, through blurry vision Mokuba was able to make out a somewhat large figure that was very close to him, "Holy -," The figure quickly backed away as Mokuba flailed about, struggling to get up, or away.

"OW, uh, oof," the other person in the room, burst out laughing, "Are you okay?" they asked.

Mokuba picked himself up as he held his chest, "Why is it, that every time someone suddenly appears, I end up getting hurt?"

They went to comfort him, but stopped mid-step from not wanting to startle him even more, even though they desperately yearned so much to do so. Rubbing his eyes, and vision now cleared the young teen stood still, unsure of what to do. Looking around, Mokuba took in his surroundings, "Umm, what's going on?"

The person he asked bounced in place, "I can't believe how tall you are!" they squealed.

The sun was beginning to rise, and light the room. There before him, stood Mokuba's mother. Gasping for breath, Mokuba stared at the beautiful woman that stood before him, and attempted to find the right words to say, "Ma- mom," He finally breathed.

She nodded yes vigorously, as her rose colored lips curled into a colossal smile, "I'm your mom."

Mokuba lost control of his own body as he subconsciously ran to her with open arms. Mokuba ran into her so hard that she lost her footing and they fell on the bed. Both laughing and smiling, they helped each other up.

Mikoto, his mother, cried happy tears as she stared at the son she never had the chance to properly meet. Though she knew exactly who Mokuba was.

Mokuba broke the happy silence, "So umm, where are we exactly?"

Mikoto smiled as she and her son stared at their surroundings, "This was your old room," she explained.

Confused Mokuba asked, "Wait, how do you know that?"

"Hey," she retorted, "I may not had been able to carry you into this room myself, but I did decorate it myself," she answered, "When it was your nursery," she spoke as she touched the lamb decorated wallpaper.

Mokuba just stared at her, 'so this is where Seto gets it,' he thought. After a moment, or two Mokuba felt a bit uncomfortable with his mother's staring. Blushing, he whined, "WHAT?"

"I just can't get over how handsome you are!" She squealed, "I mean, you are so tall, like Seto, and your father too."

"Thanks," he said as he rubbed the back of his head.

Mikoto's smile lessened as she went to go sit on the bed, "So, is there anything you want to talk about?" She inquired, "I've talked to your brother, and I know that there is so much to catch up on, especially about your little girlfriend," she winked.

Mokuba didn't dare stare at his mother. Feeling his ears go hot, blushing deep red, "How – How do you know about that?" he rasped, "And she's not my girlfriend."

Mikoto shook her head, "Oh Mokuba, there's so much to explain," she said.

'I just hope there's enough time,' she thought as looked out the window.

…

Seto instantly opened his eyes, not believing what his ears were processing. Turning around he came face to face with him, and gawked in astonishment.

"This place is a bit dreary, wouldn't you say?" he spoke sarcastically, "let's have a change of scenery, shall we?" he raised his hand ever so slowly, and were both immediately standing in a green field that had jungle gym and a swing set.

"What's going on here?" Seto rasped.

The older man standing before him bellowed out a hardy laugh, "Geeze son, I know you didn't recognize your mother at first, but I was sure you'd remember me."

"Son," he repeated with wide eyes.

Hideki grinned from ear to ear, his eyes looked glossy, but had sparkle to them, "You've grown to be a great man, Seto I- OOF,"

Seto didn't waste any time. Embracing his father, similar to how he did with mother he wept, "You have no idea how much I have missed you,"

"Not as much as I wished I could have been there for you,"

Pulling back to take in the full sight of him, Seto finally understood what Mokuba meant by his comments. Seto was almost an exact replica of his father: they shared the same eye color, hair color, and facial structure. However, Hideki's skin tone was a little more olive-like, similar to Mokuba's.

Being too large to sit on the swings, both men decided to sit on the grass.

"Do you remember this place?" Hideki broke the silence, "We used to come here all the time," Hideki was careful with his words.

"Mm, I used to sneak out of the orphanage sometimes with Mokuba to come here," Seto commented.

"Seto, while I ha-,"

"Dad," the word weighed heavy on his chest, "I need to ask you something,"

The older man flattened his lips, then pursed them, "Okay, that's why all of this is happening, go ahead."

"Why did you leave that day?!" he blurted out, "We were just kids when everything went to hell!" Seto didn't hold back, "You have no idea what life has been like for us."

Hideki allowed his oldest son to unleash all of his anger onto him. Seto screamed out of anger, and being lost from the reality that he once knew. Hideki, carefully took Seto into a tight embrace, and whispered in his ear, "I'm sorry, I know that there is nothing that I could do, or say to make up for the time we lost, but I truly am sorry. When your mother died, I lost my soulmate, and I had no way, no one to help me cope with the loss of her. Drinking numbed the pain, and for so long it helped. However, I would run out and the pain would return."

Seto wiped his tears, and sniffled, "So you left so you could medicate?"

"I am ashamed, but yes." He answered, "I never expected that I would die" he paused, "It was a complete freak accident."

Seto gave his father a dirty look, "You were driving under the influence, what did you expect to happen?"

"I deserve that, but I wasn't drunk, honestly," Hideki tried to sound sincere, "Something happened, and the next thing I knew, I was with Mikoto."

Seto was taken back by his father's statement. Although his death was a sad, and gruesome one, it was not a painful. Hideki stressed that, "Yes, my body may have looked too horrible for words, but I did not feel anything, not even when the air bag broke my neck," he explained monotonal.

Seto shot his father a look of disbelief, "How do you know you broke your neck?"

Hideki laughed through his nose, "The funeral home was also a morgue," he informed, "I was there when they read through the results."

Seto processed his father's words, unsure of what to do, what to say, it was all so mystifying as to how to this situation came to light.

"Hey, don't look so down, let's make the most this while we still can," he noted as he reached for his pocket, and pulled out an old-warn deck of cards while waving it back and forth.

Seto smirked in amusement, "Of course he still has his deck," he thought as they began to play.

"Well while wouldn't I still have my deck?" he questioned, "You did bury me with it after all," he said looking at seto without picking his head up.

Seto went a shade paler than his natural skin tone, and remained silent in embarrassment.

Hideki stared into his adult son's eyes, "Seto, I know we were not physically there for you, however your mother and I never left your side.

"But, you still didn't do anything to help us," he retorted to himself.

"That is true in some part, we are limited to an extent in both life and in death." He placed a card faced down," Nonetheless, you don't need me to tell you we can't change the past."

"How are you doing that?" he blurted, "I want answers none of this makes sense, you're dead, Mom is dead…." he trailed off.

"What do you want me to answer first, how I can read your mind, or how I'm here?"

"I suppose the mind reading first, and if you don't mind I'd appreciate it if you'd stop," Dream or no dream, this was still his father and Seto knew better than to disrespect the man who gave him life.

"My dear sweet boy, I have so much to teach you."

Seto raised an eyebrow, "I already know how to run a multi-billion-dollar company," he stated bluntly.

Hideki snorted, "Anyway, I can read your mind beca.."

"SETOO!" Mokuba shouted from afar, causing Seto and Hideki to turn their focus towards the two people fast approaching.

"It appears we have company," Hideki announced.

"Mm," Seto now annoyed by the inconvenience.

"Seto!" Mokuba shouted as he ran up to the 2 men sitting on the ground. A moment later Mikoto slowly caught up, and huffed out her words, "Woo, hu, hu, the boy is faster than he looks," she said with her hand on her knees.

Hideki comforted his wife with a kiss, "Okay there, mi-mi?"

Mikoto blushed at his closeness, "Yes just a bit winded?"

"How does that make sense?" everyone turned toward Mokuba, "You're ghosts you can't breathe!"

Hideki and Mikoto looked at each other in thought, then burst out in hysterical laughter, "The boy got us there, dear," Both parents struggled to keep a straight face. After the laughter was all done and over with, things became serious.

"So," Hideki took the lead, "Just before you two arrived Seto asked how I am able to read his mind."

"Yes, and please explain how all of this is possible."

"All in good time," Mikoto shot her husband a peculiar look, sadly he didn't take notice.

"Hmm, where was I," he pondered, "Oh yes, as ghosts, or rather spirits as is the technical term, we are given somewhat of what you might call powers," he paused, "We know what you're thinking, see what you see, and have fun with those still alive."

What do you mean by that last part?" the boys questioned?

The parents gave each other a sinister grin, "What, you think Gozoburo falling out of the mirror was by sheer luck," Mikoto spoke.

The boys became enthralled in their parent's stories, "We saw an opening when you shot at his office window, and did what we could," Hideki finished.

Their son's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their heads. That was the day their entire lives turned around for the better, and they never questioned how it happened, just accepted it and moved on.

"Now on to your next question, how is this all happening, well –"

"WAIT!" Mokuba jumped up, and quickly apologized for his behavior, "My entire life I went knowing how dad died and a few things about him that I can remember, but now I really need to know," he looked his mother with pleading eyes, "How did you die?"

"I knew I would have to answer this sooner, or later," she took a deep breath, "I just wish I didn't have to."

"Come now dear, Seto knows how I went, I'll inform Mokie later, so no its your turn." He winked.

Mikoto nodded and sat before her son's, "When I went into labor with you, it was much more difficult than it was with Seto," she hesitated, "and being so much longer too, I became exhausted, but what killed me was not the exhaustion, but a blood-clot that traveled from my leg to my heart," Mikoto was afraid to continue, but decided to do so, she owed Mokuba this much, "I was so excited to a be a mother again," she smiled.

Mokuba began to weep, "I'm sorry mom,"

Mikoto was so shocked she grabbed her son by his face to make him look at her, "My baby, you have nothing to be sorry for, it was a freak accident."

"Yeah," *sniffle, "Bu-but," sniffle, "if I was never born you would still be alive with dad, and Seto."

"Don't be foolish kid!" Seto interrupted, "Death, or no death you'd still be here,"

Mikoto kissed Mokuba's nose, "He's right, your father and I wanted you more than anything, you were the final piece to our family," she continued, "I knew you for 9 months, and wouldn't have given those months up for anything."

Mokuba laughed at his mom's weird humor, and felt reassured of himself.

Hideki wrapped an arm around Mokuba's shoulder, "I'm so glad that you two finally have some light on these dark subjects," he looked around," Sorry boys, but our time is up for now."

Seto suddenly became lost in his emotions, "What, no this can't be!" he begged, "You have to stay."

Mikoto and Hideki joined hands, "Don't worry kids, we'll be back here soon," Mikoto sang, "Until next time…."

A/N: Thank you to everyone who has been reading and especially patiently waiting. College has been keeping me busy, and I really wanted this chapter to be perfect. These kinds of questions have always bothered about their parents and I hope that I have shed some light for those who have also wondered. There will probably be 2 or 3 more chapters, so they will be long like this one, and thusly will take longer to work on. Thank you for reading, and Happy Thanksgiving :D