Chapter 45 – Truly Changing

"Hey brother! I'm going to… Is something… Did something happen?" Mokuba whispered as the two watched Seto quickly walk up the stairs and turn down the hallway without saying a single word to his younger brother. Tea smiled and nodded her head before placing her hand on Mokuba's shoulder.

"It's nothing you did," she stated, making Mokuba blink in surprise and glance up at her before returning his gaze upwards to the staircase.

"Then…why didn't he say hello when I greeted him, like he always does?" he questioned.

Tea sighed, realizing it was going to be her responsibility to inform the boy. Not that she minded, but she didn't exactly prepare a speech for him either. "Why don't we go and sit down?" she asked, trying to keep her voice upbeat to assure him that nothing was really wrong. He didn't seem to buy it, for he sulked into the next room and plopped down on the couch. Tea sat down beside him. "We just…had a big discussion today," she answered.

Mokuba slowly looked over at her and frowned. "What about?"

"A couple of things, really," she replied. She leaned back into the couch and smiled at the boy. "It started when he…he explained to me what had really happened to Sophie."

Mokuba's eyes widened until saucers could find competition. "He…did what?" he whispered in awe.

Tea nodded her head. "He told me what occurred between him and Sophie, up to and including her death. I know… I know now how much of an inhuman person your step-father was."

Mokuba's lips quivered as his gaze slowly found its way to the floor. "He said he would never tell anyone about that… Why did he tell you?"

"He was on the phone when I took out a book from his rather large bookshelf," she explained. "I opened it up to see that it was a scrapbook and began looking through it when he came up from behind me. It scared me, and I went to put it away. He noticed the pictures of you three, however, and began to tell me what was going on when they were taken. He then…continued to explain to me what had happened to her."

Mokuba closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. "So you now know that she was killed?"

"Yes. And…I'm sorry."

"Don't tell anybody. Not a soul. Seto promised to never utter a word about that incident, though I understand why he told you. Still, we made a deal to let her rest in peace, and that means not discussing her. It's…the least she deserves."

Tea nodded her head even if the boy couldn't see it. "I understand."

Mokuba opened his eyes and smiled over at Tea. "At least now I know you two are in a serious relationship. I know Seto wouldn't tell someone who he didn't fully trust. I'm…happy for you two. But…is that why he was quiet when he came in?"

"I think so," Tea replied. "We went out to eat after he told me, claiming that he wouldn't be able to get anything done with her on his mind. It was a peaceful dinner, but we didn't talk about much. I think he was thinking about it, and I figured I would just let him go."

Mokuba sighed and shook his head. "And now he's probably sulking in his room…"

Tea's eyes narrowed at this. "What do you mean?"

"Seto shuts down when he thinks about her," Mokuba explained. "It's why he was on so much medication to begin with, remember? Now that he's thinking about her…who knows what he's thinking. I constantly tell him it's not his fault, but he doesn't believe me. He'll always think it's his fault that she died when it was that…that bastard of a man we were forced to call our step-father!" Mokuba's hands had tightened into fists as he said this, tears beginning to form at the edges of his eyes.

"Mokuba, it's alright," Tea quickly said, standing up and placing both hands on the boy's shoulders to calm him down. The boy looked up and blinked back the tears as he forced his fists to unravel themselves. "Both of these boys can't deal with the memories of Gozaburo," she sadly thought. "The very idea of him invokes such rage and depression in them… And though Seto becomes more emotional over it, Mokuba is just as upset about that part of his life as his older brother is. He just…hides it more."

"Tea, can you make sure Seto's alright?" he suddenly asked, looking up with pleading eyes. "I already promised a friend I'd be staying the night. I can't stand being in this mansion all the time, and I think it would be best for me after what you just told me."

"Oh, but I didn't tell you the best part!" Tea exclaimed, knowing this would cheer the boy up. Sure enough, his eyes went from pleading to curious within seconds, making her chuckle. "Seto and I are planning to adopt one of the kids from the orphanage once the two of us graduate!"

A large grin immediately crossed the boy's face as he jumped up in surprise. "What!?"

"That's right! So you won't just have to deal with me, but once we're done with school, you'll have somebody else to hang around!"

"Who is it? Who is it!?" The boy was beside himself with excitement.

"It got his mind off of Sophie," Tea noted, letting go of the boy's shoulders and winking. "That's a secret."

"No way!" he shouted. "You can't do that to me!"

"Sorry, but it's your brother's orders."

"Grrr, that jerkface!" he exclaimed. Placing his hands on his hips, he asked, "Does the lucky kid know he or she is being adopted!?"

"Nope; it's going to be a big surprise."

Mokuba smirked and rolled his eyes. "At least I'm not the only one out of the loop." Sighing, he said, "Well, I'm going to get ready to go to my friend's house. If I see Seto, I might have to kill him for keeping this a secret!"

"Please don't," Tea remarked, chuckling at the boy's antics. "And at least it will give you something to look forward to in the future."

"Yeah…like a couple months' future," he countered. "Well… I hope Seto feels better, and tell him I said so. I'll see you!" Waving up at her, he quickly ran out of the living room, taking his cellphone out of his pocket as he ran, most likely trying to get a hold of his friend.

Tea burst out laughing at the younger Kaiba. "He is so unlike his brother when it comes to the past. Mokuba can just let things go; he knows that he has to continue living his life. Is that what Seto wants to do but feels he can't? He can never just shake off an incident; he dwells on it, wondering why it was his fault." Tea's eyes widened as she thought this. "Is that what he meant by the road he traveled? He doesn't want me to dwell on the past and the mistakes I've made. He wants me to be easygoing like Mokuba." Smiling, Tea began walking out of the living room and up the staircase. "I can be like that. It's what I'm good at."

Once she reached the second floor, she began walking down the hallway towards Seto's bedroom. She had memorized the pathway one had to take to reach his room; she would be extremely embarrassed for getting lost in her boyfriend's mansion. She finally reached the door and knocked, blinking in surprise when she heard no reply.

"Seto…?" she asked, grasping the doorknob and twisting it. The door opened up, and she stepped forward to see the CEO lying on his stomach on the bed, his head facing the opposite direction. "Did he…go to sleep?" she thought in shock, shutting the door behind her and taking another step forward. Sauntering over to the bed, she looked down to see his eyes closed, a small smile on his face. "You look so peaceful when you're asleep…" she thought aloud, brushing a few strands of hair out of his face.

"Too bad I'm not," he remarked, making her gasp in surprise as his eyes slowly opened. He frowned and asked, "Where's Mokuba?"

"He went to a friend's house," Tea explained, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I told him what you and I had discussed, and he said it would probably be best if he left the house."

Seto sighed and shook his head. "I swear he feels worse about the incident than I do, and it wasn't even his fault."

"It wasn't your fault either."

Seto glanced up at her before letting out a small chuckle. "No… I guess not."

"Oh, and I told him we were planning on adopting somebody when we get out of high school," Tea continued. "I didn't tell him who, though, and he wants to kill you for keeping it a secret now."

He laughed at this, and Tea smiled as the CEO's eyes lit up. "He'll just have to deal with it. I appreciate you telling him what happened, though. I know I should have done so, but I'm just trying to clear my mind out right now."

"It's okay. I think he understood after I explained what happened."

"He always understands…"

"It's because he knows he can trust you, Seto," she replied, lying down so that her head was resting on his back. She closed her eyes and smiled as she felt him place a hand over hers.

"The new orphanage should be done soon," he stated, obviously wanting to change the subject even if they had already discussed the subject a few hours ago.

"He's too modest for his own good," she thought. "I thought it was going to take a few more weeks?"

"I obviously underestimated the work ethic of my workers, for once. They left a message saying it would be done by the end of next week."

"That's really good to hear."

"I want Jade to take a tour of it before we move those kids in just in case there's anything else she deems necessary," he continued to explain. "She's going to be the one in charge, and she'll throw a fit if anything is missing."

"And then the kids will be moving in…?"

"Yeah."

"What about Lilith? Will you have her move in just to be adopted?"

"I think it would be good for her, actually. I want her to really befriend those kids, and I can tell she's still warming up to them. If she stays there a bit longer, then I think when we adopt her, she'll at least have friends to visit in case she wants to get out of the house."

"You want her to be like Mokuba?"

Seto chuckled. "I'm not sure to that extent…but I don't want her like me, just sitting in an office or in my bedroom all day long."

"What if someone tries to adopt her?"

"I'm going to tell Jade that I plan on adopting her. That way, should anyone come to visit, she can tell that person that Lilith is already being adopted."

"How do you think Lilith will react to that?"

"I don't think anyone will come to adopt those kids. People who want to adopt are few and far between these days. However, if that becomes the case, I'll tell Lilith about us planning on adopting her. I could never allow her to think of herself as unwanted."

"You're such a good daddy," Tea stated jokingly. Feeling the grasp around her hand tighten, she glanced down to see a smile on her boyfriend's face.

"And I hope you're a good mother," he countered.

"I'll be the best I can be as an eighteen-year-old."

"Age doesn't mean anything. Some people who are in their thirties don't deserve to be parents. You're responsible and trustworthy, two traits that are needed to be a parent. I think you'll be fine."

"We'll see…"

Hearing the CEO let out a long sigh, Tea slowly sat up and looked down at him. "I'm going to go put the clothes that I bought away," she explained as she stood up.

"Have fun." She smirked and placed a light kiss on his cheek, noting the sudden blush that made itself visible on his cheeks. "Yeah, yeah… Keep embarrassing me like that. I think I'm going to take a shower."

"Oh, so what if I do this?" she asked, deciding to take a chance and jumping on top of him back, straddling him.

Seto quirked an eyebrow and opened his eyes. "Are you trying to start something?" he asked in a sly voice.

"What if I am?" she countered, giggling down at him.

"I'm getting a shower," he repeated. "I think you're in my way."

"You think or you know?"

"You're trying to get something," he observed, slight annoyance hinted in his voice yet keeping a playful tone. "What do you want?"

"To annoy you."

"What are you? Mokuba?"

Tea giggled and shook her head before crawling off of her boyfriend and kissing his cheek once more, staring into his beautiful, blue eyes. "Nope, I'm your girlfriend."

He smiled and slowly pushed himself up before crawling off the bed, standing up, and pulling her up as well. "On second thought, I think a bath is in order…" Wrapping his arm around her waist, he smiled mischievously and added, "And I think you're coming with me."

A large blush covered Tea's cheeks as she tried to maintain her composure. "O-Oh am I now?"

"Oh, so you can make me blush but I can't make you?"

"I-I didn't say that!"

"Just remember you started this," he stated before pressing his lips against hers. She started to kiss him back, feeling his hands wander up and down her back, and was happy that she took this chance. She was also happy that Mokuba had left to go to his friend's house yet again.

"If Seto can push all events aside just for us…" she thought as he led her into the bathroom, "…then he is truly changing."