Disclaimer: Praise to Yugioh and its writers, a circle of which I do not belong.
Often relationships become redefined overtime, generally for the best. Seto and Joey have traveled so many roads, yet they have always ended up in the same space, needing what the other has. Coincidence I think not. Mokuba and Serenity give those challenges and the boys must rethink their lives. I hope you enjoy. Dark so be prepared, but not shocked.
Recap: "What the hell is going on," Hand on her hips, Mai assessed the boys and immediately reached for the girl. "It's ok, sweetie, look he moving. I think Mokuba's just fainted."
Ooooooo
Chapter 12: Siblings
"Serenity, Mokuba's is going to be alright, I promise, please just let me hold you right now," Joey's held out his arms and Serenity looked at Mai and at Mokuba in Seto's arms.
"Mai what should I do, I don't want to cause anybody any more trouble, Mai." Serenity couldn't move she froze on the spot.
"Serenity, look at me . . . just look at me." Joey whispered softly. She turned her eyes to the hazel orbs that held so much warmed in them that she stopped shaking.
"Now I'm coming to you . . . slowly. . . . This time I'm coming to save you . . . ." Joey took a step towards his sister and didn't stop until he touched the tightly balled fist she'd made with both hands. With caution he unfurled the tiny fist and laced his fingers through the cold digits. Gently he squeezed and the warmth returned sending shivers and tingles up the little girl's arms.
"Big brother. . ." the words were silently spoken.
"Hush, my little angel . . . you're safe." Joey lifted the fragile arms up high around his neck and hosted Serenity into his arms. She gripped him so tight, the breath left his body, but he didn't mind one bit.
"I can see your wings, my little angel. I can feel how soft they are. Together we will learn how to fly." Joey kissed the top of Serenity's head and stroked the silky bangs from her eyes. "One day you'll forgive me my ignorance and foolishness. One day I'll deserve to be called 'Big Brother' and until that happens I will work hard every day."
Serenity buried her face in Joey's arms and didn't speak a word. Slowly the tears started to come and he set down heavily on the bed and cradled her as they fell. Ever fiber in the child's body cried out; what was once cold now tingled with warmth and the love of one sibling to another.
"Why Big brother, did Daddy hurt me?" Between sobs the dreaded question stumbled from the girl's mouth.
"He was sick, baby. Just know that it wasn't Daddy, but a monster." Joey looked at Seto in the mist of his own grief. It was important to understand, he would not go through this alone.
"Baby that monster is dead. Mia has taken him from your mind and I have released that demon from your heart." Joey placed his hand over the heaving chest of his sister and she sighed.
"Look at me, breathe," Joey pressed his hand deeply over her fluttering heart and promised Serenity's all the demons in her mind and body belong to him, they would never hurt her again. Joey craved a place deep in his heart and silently prayed it would be so. He held on tightly to the idea he was a prince and a demon slayer. His weapon was love.
"I love you, Serenity, I love you. . . . Now Joey cried out loud and threw a bit of that love across the room to Seto. He moved his lips slowly as he watched Seto's tremble. "We can do this together; don't bail out on me man. They need us more than ever."
Seto bit his lip, and tasted the salty blood. He wanted to believe Joey. Mokuba started to wake up, and within seconds Mai was at his side. She knew after one month with the girl, the story needed to be retold. 'Could the brothers come together in time to help heal the deep wounds these kids carried? Hell, they spend all this time protecting their siblings; yet both kids just kept sliding into a hell,' Mai reasoned.
"Mokuba, hay, there, just had to steal the show." Mai winked at the white faced boy. Mokuba scanned the room; he was cornered and scared out of his mind. 'They know . . . . They all hate me . . . look at them looking at the monster,' he thought.
"Mokie, don't scare me like that." Seto whispered his voice filled with anxiety. Mokuba skin felt sticky and cold. He was going into shock.
"Serenity' why I trusted you, I trusted you!!" Mokuba lashed out at his friend. He had become a frighten animal in a locked cage. 'I got to get away . . . they'll lock me up . . . please I can't take this anymore,' the boy started to sweat. 'I'm dirty, Nii-sama hates me.'
"No, No . . . . I didn't, Joey tell him I didn't say anything, please." Joey covered Serenity's lips with his hand and buried her face in his chest. Never again would she have to fight alone. He pleaded with Seto to understand. 'I won't fight him on this,' thought Joey, 'I love you, can you feel it?'
"Mokuba, it's over, we can't do this," Mai grabbed his face with her hands and forced Mokuba's to look deeply into the depth of her eyes.
"Listen, no more Mokuba, Serenity has suffered enough. She has kept every one of your secrets deep inside her heart. Let it go. " Mai looked at Kaiba and eased Mokuba out of his lap and the comfort of his arms. His armed trembled as he felt his brother slip away.
Joey nodded approval. "I'm here baby, just like you've been for me." Only Joey saw the tear run down Seto's cheek. The ice in his heart froze over the offending water.
"You know I won't let anyone hurt you. That's why you gave me Serenity. I understand, honey. So you tested the water and look we ain't goin' you drown." Mai's words were firm, but gentle.
"Seto, I don't know what she's talking about, please I just want to go home. We got a business to run. I have a test tomorrow. . . . . "Mokuba just wouldn't stop talking. His voice rose in volume and Mai could see he was getting hysterical. Joey, silently moved to Mai's side, after he placed Serenity in a chair and watched, this didn't look good, he'd been there to many times before.
"No Mokuba we aren't going home," Seto voice cracked. "You have to get well."
"Nii-sama . . . Please I'll be a good boy. . . I promise I'll do all my homework. . . Daddy I'll be smart just like Seto . . . . Don't hurt my brother. . . . I took the apple. . . ." Seto flinched at the mixed words coming from Moki's mouth. All these years his head was buried in the sand. He reached out, but Joey stayed his hand again. 'What have I don't,' the hollow words tortured Seto.
Mai reached in her breast pocket and pulled out a needle and within a few seconds, had sedated the young Kaiba.
"Oh Mai, can you help him."Serenity was on her feet and standing next to Mokuba. He looked at peace, but his eyes moved rapidly under closed lids. Serenity kneed down and whispered into his ear. How many times had she heard Mokuba's words of comfort?
"Big brother, I need to go back with him. He needs me," Serenity spoke; she held his hand in her own. It brought the young Kaiba comfort. Mai sighed as she watched the young couple.
"Listen Kaiba, I'll give it to you straight. I'm not about games, but about what's right. Mokuba needs to go with me. He's fighting to be prefect in your eyes, Kaiba so he threw Serenity out to the wolves. Wanted to see if it was possible to be forgiven; kid admires you a lot Joey."
Joey placed his hand on top of Seto's, it was automatic. Mai watched as the picture grew clear.
"You guys got to get your ass pointed in the right direction. Hell I know you ain't that dumb. Well maybe you are, so whatever planet you dropped your brains on, find them."
Mai moved in close for the kill. She pulled both the brothers to a quiet corner and let it rip. "Listen, those are two precious babies over there and you guys have screwed up big time. I ain't saying it's your fault they got problems, but it's your fault that they ain't fixed them. Hell anybody can see you two got issues. If you're a couple, then act like one and start to love each other, because if I don't see a change, then hell will freeze over before I let them come back to your dysfunctional asses."
Mai flipped open her cell phone and made some arrangements for Mokuba and Serenity. Seto was still in shock, by the time the transport arrived. Mai left without a word and Joey let Serenity go, with the promise she would return in a few days. She just wanted to get Mokuba settled and Joey understood because he needed to do the same with Seto.
Joey stood in the door and watched as Mai took off, it was the second time he witnessed the feisty blond steel his family. He prey it would be the last. Joey turned around and closed the door. Quietly he eased his arms around Seto. The CEO didn't look so big anymore. Joey looked down and realized Seto's legs were shaking, he could hear the soft tap of his shoes on the floor.
"Cold, I'm so cold." Seto whispered.
Joey walked to a closet, but Seto whimpered. And he immediately realized what he wanted. What he could give. Seto needed his warmth, his love.
"Afraid," Seto murmured as the tears gathered in his eyes.
"I know baby," Joey pulled back the covers and eased Seto underneath as best as he could. He then removed his clothes and surrounded Seto with his body heat. He covered him in love. The blond's heat burned through the thin cloth of the designer jeans and linen shirt and stilled the fear that had gathered in the boy's heart. He was not alone. It would take a long time for the shock of losing Mokuba to wear off and Joey planned on being within arm's reach. Mai was right, decisions had to be made.
Once again Seto cried in his arms and he savored the sweetness of the salty tears. The blond kissed the other ever so lightly, and Seto eased into a light sleep. It was enough to be held and comforted. It was enough to be . . . . . . 'Seto, I love you,' now the tears gathered in Joey's eyes.
The night closed in on the little cabin just outside Mai's ranch and they dreamed. One dreamed of a little girl running along the beach; the other of a little boy hiding behind his back. Yet both dreamed of each other. During the night soft cries startled Joey and he realized he was alone in the bed. Seto was standing next to a window and the moon light cast shadows on the crystalline tears he shed.
In minutes gentle hands surrounded Seto's slender waist and he whimpered as he felt a soft body press into his back.
"Joey I've lost him. I've destroyed my brother. . . . ." his words died.
"Don't Seto, come back to bed," Joey nipped his neck and lured his mate back to the bed. He stripped him of his clothes and held him tightly. This time he wouldn't let him go. Seto curled around the strength Joey offered and closed his eyes. Joey kissed them and whispered words that lovers understood. This time he dreamed of life with this man. . . . . He dreamed of a second chance.
Oooooo R/R.