Chapter 16: Details

Kaiba had been mulling over his idea ever since Yami had left earlier in the afternoon. He knew that he needed to talk to his brother, but Kaiba wasn't really sure how to go about it. Assuming he would just figure it out as he went along, Kaiba knocked on Mokuba's open door after taking a deep breath. "Hey, do you have a minute?" Kaiba asked.

"Sure!" Mokuba brightly exclaimed, turning his desk chair to face his brother as he entered.

Sitting on Mokuba's bed, Kaiba tried not to fidget as he stated, "I need to talk to you about something."

Kaiba's demeanor was fine, but Mokuba was still a little worried. "Is everything okay?" Mokuba asked, trying not to sound too concerned.

"It's actually pretty great right now," Kaiba accidently admitted, surprising them both. "That's sort of the reason I want to talk to you. I mean, with you."

"Ooh, is it a new project?" Mokuba guessed, knowing how enthusiastic his elder brother could become over them.

"No, it has nothing to do with Kaiba Corporation," Kaiba denied, although he wasn't surprised that it where Mokuba's mind had gone. "It's about…me, actually."

That piqued Mokuba's curiosity and he questioned, "What about you?"

Hesitating a moment, Kaiba figured he may as well say it straight out rather than making Mokuba keep guessing. "I'm dating—"

"Really?" Mokuba asked in disbelief. "Like, actually dating dating someone? Since when? And who?"

"It just sort of happened," Kaiba said, not really having much else to say in regards to that aspect. "I guess technically we started a few days ago?"

"You don't sound so sure about that," Mokuba commented with a laugh.

"I didn't think to ask," Kaiba said with a shrug. "Like I said, it just sort of happened."

"And you're actually going on real dates?" Mokuba asked, still in shock. "I can't even picture that."

The comment made Kaiba nervous and he questioned, "Why's that?"

"Because—and no offense—but you've never shown an interest in anything but me and Kaiba corporation," Mokuba explained before amending, "and defeating Yami." That's when the dots connected for Mokuba and his eyes went wide. "Wait, you're dating Yami?"

Unsure of how to interpret Mokuba's reaction, Kaiba confirmed, "Ah," and waited for his younger brother's opinion.

He hadn't expected Mokuba to start laughing as he exclaimed, "That's too perfect!"

"How so?" Kaiba wanted to know.

Reigning in his mirth, Mokuba answered, "Because you two make sense together. And he's probably the only person—actually he's the only person I've ever seen you remotely interested in ever."

"You're not…upset?" Kaiba asked, worried about that.

"Why would I be upset?" Mokuba questioned. "He's my friend and honestly, I'm glad."

"Why?"

"Because now you'll have someone positive in your life to broaden your focus a bit," Mokuba explained. "It can't be healthy to only be concerned about me and work alone, you know?"

"And it doesn't bother you that I'm with a guy?" Kaiba asked, not sure about his brother's stance on that since it had never been an issue before.

"Should it?" Mokuba wondered. "If it didn't bother me when Honda and Jounouchi got together, why would it upset me when it's you?" Mokuba reasoned. "Besides, you're acting like I dislike Yami or something."

"It's one thing when it's your friend, it's another when it's my…"

"Boyfriend," Mokuba finished with a grin. "Still not used to saying that, are you?"

Looking a bit sheepish, Kaiba admitted, "Not at all, no."

Sensing that his older brother was still harboring some uncertainty, Mokuba got up and sat down next to Kaiba before hugging him tightly. "I think this is a good thing, nii-sama," Mokuba told him. "You shouldn't worry so much."

Returning the embrace, Kaiba couldn't help but admit, "I still think it's weird."

Laughing at that, Mokuba let go of his brother and reassured him, "It's fine. You're smart, so you'll figure it out. I mean, even Jounouchi did."

"I still can't make sense of that," Kaiba muttered.

"Oh, they were totally made for each other," Mokuba explained with a grin, amused by their relationship antics he had witnessed.

"But they fight all the time and I'm pretty sure Honda is in love with the mutt's sister," Kaiba pointed out, annoyed that he knew so much about that situation.

"He only says that to tease Jounouchi," Mokuba said. "I think he likes the reactions he receives when he says stuff like that. Let me put it to you this way: will dating Yami make you stop challenging him in duels?"

"Of course not," Kaiba immediately answered.

Grinning at that, Mokuba continued, "It's kind of like that."

Arching an eyebrow, Kaiba asked, "And when did you get so knowledgeable about such things?"

"Hanging out with the Yuugi-tachi has taught me a lot," Mokuba answered with another laugh.

"I don't think I like the sound of that…" Kaiba said, wondering what happened when he wasn't there to witness.

Realizing his brother had immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion, Mokuba clarified, "No, it's good things like what a good friend is supposed to be. And seeing how dating is from all sides."

"All sides?" Kaiba repeated in confusion.

"Yeah, Jounouchi and Honda have been together for a year now and Yuugi and Anzu have been dating for about six months or so," Mokuba explained.

Shaking his head, Kaiba muttered, "That group is so inbred."

"And now you're officially part of it," Mokuba gleefully pointed out to his brother.

Kaiba groaned, "Don't remind me."

"So now you're actually going to have to hang out with us," Mokuba realized.

Rather than reflecting on such an unpleasant thought, it occurred to Kaiba, "Wait, if they're all dating, then who are you…?"

"Nobody," Mokuba quickly reassured his panic stricken older brother. "I mean, I liked Anzu for a little while, but she's only ever been interested in Yuugi." Mokuba left out the part where he had his suspicions that Anzu had also been interested in Yami; he didn't think Kaiba would handle the news well.

"When was this?" Kaiba asked, feeling bad that he had never noticed such a thing.

"You remember when she helped me escape from that warehouse?" Mokuba reminded his brother, even though he knew Kaiba would never forget such a thing. "I thought she was really cool and I sort of had a crush on her for awhile. But like I said, she only had eyes for Yuugi and I'm too young for her anyway."

Having skipped that phase of development, Kaiba was shocked to hear that of his little brother. "How did I not know that?" Kaiba wondered, disappointed in himself that he had missed such an important thing.

"Because I didn't want anybody to know," Mokuba replied with a shrug.

"What about now?" Kaiba asked, not sure if he was ready for the answer or not.

Shrugging again, Mokuba said, "Not really, although there is this one girl in my math class that is kind of cute."

"Oh," was all Kaiba could say, amazed that his younger brother was having such a normal experience. It made Kaiba feel like he had done something right in raising Mokuba, but he wasn't sure he was ready for his younger brother to grow up so fast yet.

Sensing his brother's distress, Mokuba shifted the topic again. "So have you and Yami been on a real date yet?" Mokuba asked, really curious about it because it was so hard for him to imagine on one level.

"He says we have," Kaiba replied with a shrug, still not sure if he believe Yami about that or not.

Laughing at the response, Mokuba wondered, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"We dueled each other earlier today," Kaiba clarified.

"Oh, now I am mad!" Mokuba playfully exclaimed. "I wanted to watch!"

"Sorry," Kaiba apologized, feeling bad about it, but knowing he had made the right decision given the aftermath. "It just seemed like a private thing this time."

Letting his brother off the hook, Mokuba warned, "I'll forgive you this time, but I better see the next one!"

"Okay," Kaiba agreed, knowing it was important to his younger brother.

"So what happened?" Mokuba wanted to know, eager for details.

"I won," Kaiba replied, still a little in disbelief over it.

Staring at his brother in shock, Mokuba exclaimed, "Seriously? You finally won and I missed it? This sucks!"

"There will be other victories," Kaiba reassured him, knowing that now that he had actually beaten Yami it could be done again.

"How did Yami take it?" Mokuba asked.

"Pretty well, actually," Kaiba responded.

"That doesn't surprise me," Mokuba finally decided. "I think part of him always wanted to see you win, even though he hates to lose."

"I think you're probably right," Kaiba agreed, still finding it strange.

"I want details!" Mokuba pressed. "Tell me all about it!"

Now that they were onto a safer topic, it was easier for Kaiba to talk as he related the battle to Mokuba. He was just relieved that his younger brother seemed to be handling everything so well. It was a huge relief to know Mokuba was so accepting of Yami and Kaiba felt marginally less guilty for hiding it.


A/N: Always so awkward, but at least Kaiba's trying. Thankfully Mokuba seems to have a little bit of a better grasp on things…

NEXT CHAPTER:

"Stop that," Kaiba commanded, but it was useless when Yami started feeling impish.

Because we all know it's true. The next chapter will be posted on Sunday, October 5th. Until then, I look forward to hearing your reviews on this installment!