Darksidechick – I think they will be, the bigger challenge will be Mokuba having to remember Akira and Ito are not the same people.
I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or it's characters. Just the OC.
"Hatanaka Satoshi, one of six children who had died five years ago, has turned up alive! Police arrested him two days ago during a duel monsters tournament on account of murder. This has raised questions about the other children with an investigation launching to find them. There is speculation that the other five children may also be alive." The news reporter said on the TV. The TV quickly cut to a police man. He was a greying man, his face showing his age the most. A blue bar on the bottom of the screen showed his name to be "Ota Hideki." The chef investigator for this newly revived cold case.
"Hatanaka was very quiet when he took him into custody. It was only after registering a DNA sample to see if there was any other charges against him did he show up in our system as deceased." Hideki explained to the reporter who stood in front of him, holding a microphone to his mouth so his voice could be heard.
"Did he say anything about the others?" The reporter holding the microphone asked Hideki.
"He wouldn't speak of them. The only clue he's given is "Free them." We believe they are alive and possibly being held captive." Hideki said before the screen went back to the female news reporter. She stayed quiet for a few seconds until she got the signal to continue. Next to her head came up six portraits of the children who went missing.
"Police are asking for anyone who knows anything about the children to come forward. The images of the children, names and ages of death will be shown now." She said as the screen showed the portraits bigger of the children at the age of when they all had "died."
A portrait of a girl with black hair and big brown eyes. Her hair was in high pig tails, hair falling over her shoulders as she looked at the camera with a wide smile. Her bangs covered her forehead, if anything she looked cute. Her face looked cheerful, never suspecting what would happen: Nii Hoshi, age twelve, status missing.
The one next to her was Satoshi at twelve. He also looked cheerful, the picture supplied was one taken on a school trip. His blonde hair and green eyes stood out in the photo. The freckles covering his cheeks and nose visible, as clear as day. It looked like he was unaware of the photo being taken at the time: Hatanaka Satoshi, age thirteen, status alive.
Next to him was another boy who seemed shocked to have his picture taken. He had brunette hair and blue eyes. His bangs covered his eyes a little as he looked at the camera in surprise. His hair stuck up in different places, he was holding duel monster cards in his hands. It seemed like the picture was taken on a lunch break at the school: Tsuda Ichirou, age eleven, status missing.
Underneath Hoshi's portrait was a picture of Ito. It was taken when she was helping her brother up from the ground, just before she had "died". She held a wide smile on her face. Her brunette hair matching her brother's in colour. Her hair was side parted, her bangs covering her forehead. Her brunette eyes showed complete joy, unaware of what was about to happen. The only differences between her and Akira in this photo was the uniforms, her hair was longer and she was a little shorter: Naguchi Ito, age twelve, status missing.
Next to her was a boy with black hair and green eyes. He was blind in one eye and it showed in the photo, the right one was a paler green compared to his left one. He held to fingers up to the camera showing a peace sign, a wide, toothy and cheeky grin on his face. Black, wild hair sticking out all over the place the boy regularly got into scuffles at school. Yet he was always so charming and polite, the teachers never understood how or why: Yoshioka Kiyoshi, age twelve, status missing.
The last photo was of another boy. She had red hair and grey eyes. She glared at the camera, obviously not impressed with having her photo taken by someone. Her finger tips showed in the bottom of the photo, showing that she was going to hold her hand up to block her face. Freckles covered her face. Her bangs were swept to the side, a side pony tail hanging over her shoulder and falling out of sight in the picture: Aoki Takako, aged thirteen, status missing.
The photo's soon came off the screen switching back to the female reporter who briefly looked at her papers again and then back at the camera, her calm and professional nature showing through.
"I'll repeat the names of the children for people who have just tuned in. Nii Hoshi, Hatanaka Satoshi who is found alive, Tsuda Ichirou, Naguchi Ito, Yoshioka Kiyoshi, Aoki Takako. Please call the police if you have any information regarding these children who are truly missed."
Mokuba took a deep breathe through his nose as he stretched his arms above his head, and uncrossed his legs. It had been a couple of days since Akira's death. Mokuba had turned up at his house, in a way he was hoping he was still there; just very sick but he wasn't and he had been expecting that. Akira's and Ito's parents however were grateful for the visit, they invited him to the service knowing how close the two were, saying he was welcome to stop by any time he wanted; he'd always be welcome. They were a nice couple. Mokuba desperately wanted to tell them Ito was alive. It nagged at him to do so. But he couldn't, not right now it wouldn't be right. It'd seem like some sort of cruel joke. Most importantly, he felt it shouldn't be him who told them, it should be Ito.
Now with the news of Ito possibly being alive, as well as the other four students, maybe she could finally go to them, tell them she's alive and okay. Let them know she's not gone. It would be a light at the end of the tunnel for them. However, he didn't know how Ito would exactly go about it; it wasn't like she could show up on their door step and just announce she's there. He needed to think this through, discuss with her how to go about it.
He turned his attention to Ito. She sat on the floor with her legs either side of her, watching what was happening on screen. She wiggled her toes into her thighs and onto the carpet eyeing each five year old photo from the past. She looked sad about it, her eyes darting to each picture, taking in the details of what they looked like back then.
"We weren't all in the same class. I remember Hoshi and Kiyoshi were in my class. Hoshi had a massive crush on Kiyoshi but she never got to tell him." Ito said rather out the blue, but never averting her eyes from the screen. Mokuba continued to watch her, his eyes showing interest in what she had to say. Ito paused briefly before continuing to talk once more, a sigh evident in her voice.
"Ichirou...Ichirou got sick really quickly. They did something to him, took him away and we never saw him again..." Ito said rather cryptically but Mokuba could grasp what that meant. Ichirou, the youngest of the six was indeed so far the only one who was dead if Mokuba understood correctly by her tone of voice and distant look over the young boy.
The television turned off gaining both the teens attention. Ito tilted her head backwards, leaning onto her hands behind her as Mokuba turned his head over his shoulder. They spotted Seto by the door way, watching him carelessly chuck the remote onto the couch. He kept his eyes on the two teenagers as they watched him walking over to them. He crossed his arms as he stood over them, neither of the teens moving or even blinking.
"Because of what's happened recently, I've decided to halt your role in this tournament, Mokuba." Seto said quite bluntly to his brother, earning himself a look of disbelief from the younger Kaiba. Ito looked at Mokuba a little bit surprised, she didn't know what his role was in this tournament...she didn't even realise he had one.
"But, I've always helped!" Mokuba said to his brother, pushing himself off the floor and looking at him in surprise. Seto kept the same look however, not letting his little brother change his decision. Seto had to be tough on Mokuba in some cases as he became a teenager; this was one of them.
"In my other tournaments people weren't killed. This is not up for debate." He told the younger Kaiba. Ito watched the bickering between the two students, her head staying upside as her eyes switched between the two. An amusing pair they both were. They were very different from one another.
Ito watched Mokuba, a small look of amusement on her face. She couldn't imagine what that would be like having not attended a proper school within five years. From the uniform she saw him wear once with Akira, he was a Domino Boys High School student; a prestige school that used to mix both genders. She wondered what happened and why the school was split, but shrugged it off for now figuring out she could ask Mokuba later.
"Ito, until recently you were part of the group that caused this. I want a full explanation tomorrow." Seto said gaining the girls attention. She looked at him again, her head dropping upside down. Awkwardly nodding, she agreed to say everything she knew to the older brother. Ito was more than willing to supply this information; she just as badly wanted to stop it now that her mind was free. She wanted to help free the others, and Satoshi...she only hoped Satoshi would be okay until he was freed. Those people did not take kindly to people who failed, which Satoshi technically did. He won the duel but freed her anyway; being a Messenger meant he had more freedom than others and that was what he chose to do with it, Ito was thankful even though the outcome was not desirable.
"While you're under my roof for the time being you will also be going to school." Seto said, gaining the two teens attention once more. Ito couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, confused at him. How was that going to work out? She could use Naguchi sure, but that might get back to her parents very quickly and as much as she wanted to tell them she needed to wait just a little while longer.
"How is that going to work out?" Mokuba asked, equally as confused as Ito, voicing her own thoughts. Seto briefly looked at him as he leaned his shoulder against the wall, and kept his arms crossed. He crossed one leg over the ankle on the floor, the tip of his shoe staying on the ground.
"Yugi's partner Teá has kindly agreed to letting Ito borrow her last name. In the unlikely chance I'm not around if something happens, Yugi will be." Seto said although the way Yugi and Teá rolled off his tongue seemed to be with some distaste. Ito wondered why he didn't seem to like the two; they seemed like alright people from what Ito could tell through her wails a couple of days ago.
"Okay... Then which school?" Mokuba asked, wondering if he could catch his brother out.
"Domino Girls High School." Seto said rather bluntly before looking back at Ito again. To Seto that answer was obvious, Mokuba on the other hand rolled his eyes and huffed to himself about his brother having such in the future plans.
"You can pick up your uniform Monday at the school, Roland will take you in with Mokuba." Seto said and promptly turned on his heels to leave the pair alone.
Mokuba sighed to himself as he slumped back onto the ground, crossing his legs over one another and hands on his knees. Ito rocked herself back up straight again and turned herself to face Mokuba properly. It seemed like he was not happy with Seto's decision to remove him from staff help. Mokuba glanced at her, and shrugged his shoulders.
"It can't be helped; Once Seto sets his mind on something it will happen. Just means I have to be more sneaky about it." Mokuba said, a small smirk falling on his face. Ito snickered under her breathe at him gaining his attention. He was about to say something until he looked up at the clock, and sighed in frustration.
"I'll think of something tomorrow; School isn't until Monday but I feel tired just thinking of it." Mokuba said, pushing himself off the floor. He held out a hand to Ito to help her up, something she took gratefully.
"You do the same, it'll be interesting tomorrow." Mokuba said to her as he pulled her up to her feet. Ito just nodded her head; she was used to not speaking often even more so under the control of the group. Mokuba however found the quietness a little bit odd, it put him on edge. Despite the fact there was nothing to worry about with Ito for now, he couldn't help but still be wary.
-x-
"Hey, Akira~." A seven year old Ito asked her older brother, prolonging the A to his name, sitting on the edge of his bed. Akira glanced at her and sat himself up, he never took his eyes off his sister. He looked at her questionably, raising his eyebrows some what. He had been sick the past few days and Ito had been kind enough to bring him his homework from school so he didn't fall behind.
"I don't understand this." Ito said, pointing to a maths formula. Akira knitted his brows together, giving her a small smile. That "falling behind" thing didn't seem to be an option as he was tutoring Ito regardless. Math's was not her strong point, her strong point was Science.
Akira shuffled over slightly to sit next to his sister and look over the formula. It appeared to be fractions, more importantly finding equivalent fractions.
"You just times the top number and the bottom number by the same number and that's how you get an equivalent fraction." Akira explained to her, pointing his index finger to both the bottom then top number. Ito chuckled slightly as she looked at her brother with a wide grin.
"The teacher made it hard." She said to him. Akira sighed to himself, keeping a gentle smile on his face and plopping a hand on top of her head, rubbing her head and hair gently. Ito kept the wide smile on her face from this action.
She loved this sign of affection from her brother, it showed he cared about her and loved her, just as much as she cared and loved him. Ito would need to remind herself however not to keep bothering him, especially while he was still sick.
-x-
A bunch of people stood in Seto's office. Something Ito wouldn't have minded if the eyes weren't all on her. It was something she should have expected however, and even something she should have been used to. People were often stared at back where she was, especially when they did something wrong and needed a "gentle reminder" not to do it again. Ito kept her arms loosely by her sides as she eyed each and every one of them. Seto sat behind his desk, his fingers laced, elbows propped up on the desk. Mokuba leaned against the desk, his arms crossed over his chest. The other two, Yugi and Joey, who had demanded he be let into the building with his pal, stood in the room watching him. Ito took a deep breathe through her nose.
"The people I was with don't have an official name but the Messenger's used to called them "The Hive Mind". They're a group of people who want to take over the world for their own reasons." Ito began saying. She paused briefly, thinking over the next part...more like remembering the next part and what they disclosed to them.
"The duelling tournament...they're using it as a cover up." Ito said, perking the interest of the Kaiba brothers as well as Joey's. "They know Kaiba Corp. used to be a military business first creating military weapons; they are convinced that information is still lurking." Ito explained to them, her eyes jumping to each of the people in the room.
Yugi hummed briefly to himself. He placed a hand to his chin and stared at the ground, thinking over her words. Was the group so out of the loop to think that Kaiba Corp. still had that information? It was destroyed long ago as far as Yugi was aware and even if it did exist, the general public wouldn't know anything about it.
"Didn' dat get destroy'd when you blew up dat island?" Joey asked, voicing Yugi's thoughts. All eyes fell on Seto, who nodded his head once. He kept his fingers laced and stared back at Ito, his eyes never changing from the cold stare it gave her throughout this whole afternoon. Ito didn't flinch, she was used to such things back from The Hive Mind.
"That information is long gone your old group appear to be out of touch." Seto said to her. Yugi bought his attention back to Ito, keeping a calm expression on his face. Ito looked over to him as he dropped his hand from his chin.
"Why did they decide to capture children? And why take this long?" Yugi asked her, the cogs in his brain trying to work out why. After all, it had been five years since they "died"; that was a mighty long time for a plan to take affect, especially one where it now sounded like it failed before it even began.
"No one will harm a child, especially one they thought was dead." Ito started off. She kept her gaze on him, remembering exactly what Silver had said when they also questioned her. "It's a surprise. If you come face to face with someone you thought was dead the chances are you won't fight them you'll be in shock. Related or not." Ito explained to him. Yugi nodded his head, humming slightly to himself. It appeared he had accepted this answer as truth.
As the room fell silent, Ito fidgeted on the spot. She didn't know anything else to do with their plans. What she had said was everything. The brunette looked to Seto and Mokuba.
"That's all I know, we weren't told much else. Messenger's like Satoshi knows more." Ito said to him, receiving a single nod from Seto. Mokuba sighed slightly as she stretched his arms in front of him, grunting slightly and then rolling back his shoulders.
"I guess we'll just need to be careful and be on the look out for anyone trying to break in." He said,turning to the other two. Yugi and Joey nodded their head in agreement; it seemed like they were all on the same page at least. Mokuba turned his attention fully to Ito, keeping the calm look his brother held on his face. He was about to open his mouth to say something until his brother beat him to it.
"I'll be placing more security around the city, you two keep in contact with each other." Seto said, making the two teens nod their head. They could at least do that, keep each other safe. With the group dismissed, Mokuba and Ito decided to head back home. Mokuba needed to get his uniform out and ready for school tomorrow and Ito needed to make sure her books and bag was in order.
-x-
"Tell me again why we were going to the boys school." Mizuki, a black haired girl with low pigtails asked.
"I'm not repeating myself pay attention next time!" Reiko, another black haired girl had scolded, blowing air through her nose. Ito watched the two communicate silently. Her brows knitted together slightly and a small smile on her face.
"We're teaming up for the culture festival this year." Ito explained to Mizuki, earning a rather dark look of disapproval from Reiko. She really had planned to let the poor girl suffer.
It had been a couple of weeks since Ito joined the girls school. Seto Kaiba had called off the tournament off completely after a talk with his legal team, death does not look good in a simple card game competition no matter who was hosting it. He played it safe rather than sorry. He had promised he'd re-host the tournament once things had settled in the city again.
Since the news of the missing children possibly being alive was published, the city had been up in arms about where they could be. The cold case revived and people who had given up hope had found a new light. Ito couldn't help but feel guilty. Her parents must have been worried and she was hiding it out in the Kaiba house hold until she could find the right time to come forward.
The funeral for her brother was held a week ago. Mokuba had gone to pay his respects for obvious personal reasons and also on behalf of Seto. That's what hurt her the most, she couldn't be there with her family; turning up at the funeral alive was definitely not the right time to say to her parents "I'm back." That was insensitive, cruel almost. Ito only came later once it had all died down to pay her respects to her brother, promising she'd finish whatever it was he was hoping to start. She couldn't be too sure if the goal was just to find her, or to find everyone; neither of the teens would ever know as he never disclosed it to Mokuba. She could only imagine the pain he must have felt once he saw her alive.
With the tournament now cancelled, it suddenly left Ito and Mokuba a lot of free time. They were planning to secretly roam the tournament grounds. Take the investigation into their own hands and locate the kidnappers for questioning over why they would want old information about military weaponry. But now, it was almost like the group dropped off the side of the planet. They had vanished, quite literally into thin air. It unnerved Ito, she knew they were scheming but she couldn't quite pinpoint what, when or why.
"Ito, rumour has it you know one of the boys on their committee. Is that true?" Reiko questioned as they walked through the gates of the boys school. It dragged Ito out of her thoughts, making her look at the black haired girl and nod her head showing that these "rumours" were in fact true.
Since starting, Ito had been placed onto the planning committee for the school. A way to "help her get to know people." That and no one else wanted to join and if the school wanted to do anything they needed three members at least.
Reiko smiled widely at her, knowing exactly who it could have been. It wasn't not obvious, turning up in the Kaiba limo as it was easier to drop off the pair of them at the same time than it was for one to be driven and the other to walk.
"Close to the little brother of Seto Kaiba; that's quite an achievement." She said slyly, holding her chin between her index finger and thumb, slightly nodding her head as they arrived at the front desk. Mizuki was about to squeal with delight, until a boy walking past them raise an eyebrow at the small group, causing her to shrink and press her lips tightly together.
They explained who they were, and the kind receptionist gave them directions to the room they needed to go to. Mizuki took a deep breath through her nose as she turned her attention back to Ito, making the brunette glance at her from the corner of her eyes.
"The little brother of Seto Kaiba, he's cute! His brother is cute too don't get me wrong but it's two different types." She started to explain, making Ito raise an eyebrow at her seemingly somewhat amused. "Seto Kaiba has that older person cute to him, being older and all. Mokuba Kaiba has that school boy cute, the one that makes you wonder how he'd act all alone with you when it's just the two of you." She continued on, her smile turning to a smirk then turning into an almost dazed wonder, clearly unaware that Reiko had long since knocked on the door to the boys planning committee room and standing rather bashfully, or more so awkwardly was the boy she was talking about.
Ito kept a small smile on her face and raised her hand, waving it slightly at the raven haired boy catching Mizuki's attention. Mizuki hummed to herself slightly and turned her head over her shoulder. A chill ran up her spine, the colour falling from her face as she quickly shoved past Ito and Reiko, her back turned to the boy while she tried to compose herself. The brunette sighed at her slightly, turning her attention to her committee member.
"Well it serves you right for talking about someone behind their back." She said to her, knitting her brows together.
Mizuki had opted to stay outside to recompose herself. The boys had been kind enough to lend her a chair to sit on, seeing as it looked like she was having a hard time standing while the colour was drained from her features.
Ito looked around the room, her hands in her lap. It was clean and seemed quite comfortable. Everything was neatly put away and kept to a high standard that Domino High school for Boys seemed to keep. Taking a deep in take of air, Reiko turned her attention fully to the three boys who sat across from her, her own hands in her lap.
"We're working together this year for the culture festival so there's a few things we need to go over. Which school are we holding it being the most important one, and which class's from each year will participate." Reiko said to them in a business like ton.
The blonde male nodded his head, his arms folded over his chest. He seemed scruffy, his shirt unironed and hanging out over his blue trousers. It seemed like he was in deep thought to himself but rather or not he was actually paying attention was something Ito couldn't decide. Mokuba narrowed his eyes at the male, he seemed to know that he was indeed not paying attention.
"I think maybe the girls school, it's a reasonably new building so it'll be nice to show case it to Domino City." The boy sitting in the middle explained to Reiko. He seemed pleasant. He had very light brown hair, it was neatly combed along with his uniform that was all neat and tidy. Reiko nodded her head in agreement to this.
"Sounds like a good idea. So now we just need classes; not all classes can participate the school just isn't big enough for that." Reiko said to them, keeping her businesslike tone of voice.
Ito decided to stay quiet, she was after all still new and still learning about the school itself; so it wasn't like her in put would make sense.
The group turned their attention to the door as it creaked open, a very nervous looking Mizuki peeking her head in and bashfully looking around. Once she spotted she raven haired male she instantly stiffened up, her face cheeks turning a rather amusing shade of red. She quickly slammed the door shut, deciding against entering the room after all. Ito sighed slightly to herself. She knew the black haired girl had a very big crush on the boy she was currently staying with, it was something she picked up on when she first joined the committee and learned they would be hosting it with the boys.
Reiko huffed annoyed with the girl and turned her attention back to the three boys. Mokuba seemed to be taking it rather, especially as now the blonde haired male had decided to pay attention and was prodding the raven haired boy with his finger, a sly smirk on his face.
"I'm sorry about Mizuki...she's shy." Reiko apologised to Mokuba, who just waved his hand at her keeping the calm look about him.
"It's fine don't worry." He said to her, placing his hand back down onto the desk. "Let's think of the class's and and decide a date for the next meeting." Mokuba said to the pair, urging the meeting to continue.
Ito found it amusing. He was like his brother in the sense of meetings if Sunday was anything to go by. Keep it going and straight to the point.
-x-
The teens sat in the entertainment room of the Kaiba mansion. They had been doing their homework. They left the TV on for some background noise, Mokuba had put on some sort of show called "Takeshi's challenge" and Ito for the life of her couldn't get her head round it. Still; it didn't seem to matter that she couldn't the show was still funny to occasionally glance at.
The pair sat at a Kotatsu, something Mokuba had actually bought himself after falling asleep with Akira under the one at his house; he found it surprisingly nice and had just grown used to doing his homework there from then on. Plus it made for something warm when it got cold. Since the rainy season was over, there was no need to turn on the heating function of it.
Mokuba soon learned that Ito's worse subject was Maths. Being bothered every five minutes or so had taught him that very quickly. It was only the fact that he was very good at Maths was he able to help her out. Although Mokuba couldn't work out if this was because of years of not actually attending school or if she indeed did not get the subject at had at all.
"Your committee members seem nice." Mokuba commented, catching Ito off guard. She stared at him briefly, before turning her head down to the piece of paper, watching Mokuba's hand continue to write down the way to do the equation. He had to admit, he was surprised at first when he opened the door to find Ito with the girl committee group, but he couldn't help but be grateful she was. It made sticking by her and keeping an eye on her easier.
"They're pretty nice yeah." She agreed with him as she continued to watch. Silence fell in the room before a slight chuckle sound could be heard coming fro Mokuba, catching the brunette's attention.
"That girl that talked about me, Mizuki right?" He asked, briefly looking at Ito who nodded her head. "Does she always gossip about boys?" He asked her, seemingly amused by the black haired girl, a sly grin on his face. Ito snorted slightly, turning her head back to the paper.
"I'm not sure; I know she actively talks about you a lot but I think this is the first time she may have met you." Ito said to him as Mokuba slid the notebook over to Ito, placing the pen across the page to point at the equation.
She had to admit, the way Mokuba acted in the comfort of his own home and at school seemed to be different. At school he acted very professional and at his own home he was more playful; almost mischievous. Ito was still trying to get her head around the change of personalities but put it down to that fact he was representing a name and in theory, a company.
He hummed in his throat as he went back to his own homework. The raven haired boy was about to say something to Ito until a red banner popped across the screen gaining his attention. He stared at the writing scrolling past; his eyes going wide as he lightly shook Ito's shoulder gaining her attention. Ito turned her attention to him, watching his line of vision. She followed it and stared at the screen, the pen in her hand dropping to the Kotatsu, lightly clinking against the wood work.
The pair stared at disbelief at the screens, taking in the information more and more but neither wanting to believe what was being read.
Satoshi was dead.