WhiteAsukalover: I know, the poor kid! Sometimes I feel bad for him… but then I remember that I'm the one that tortured him! Ha ha! Anyhow, thanks for the review!

MythCreatorWriter: Brother angst and brother fluff is what I do best, is it not? Lol. Yeah for plaguing my readers with dizziness! Hahaha, I'm kidding. I'm really trying my best to focus more on details in my stories rather than plot development because I know I tend to put more events into my stories than just sheer description, so I'm trying to break out of that. And I'll try to start seeing that gold, I promise! Thanks for the review! Enjoy!

SereneShadows: Thank you for the compliment! You're quite the awesome one yourself :] It's okay to say you love a chapter several times, believe me, the chapter and I appreciate it. I'd like to think that after so many years of writing for them, that I feel like I know these characters inside and out. I think there's only one other person who probably knows them way better, but he's such a good writer, he's put in another level! Anyhow, sorry for the shortness of updates, hopefully you can get your fill from this! Thanks for the review!

KatrinaKaiba: I think 'Poor Mokuba' is a phrase EVERYONE will be saying through-out this whole story. I mean, you gotta feel bad for the kid. He always seems to get the short end of the stick. Oh, and just on a random note, whenever I update Consequences and try my hardest to write Severance(with great difficulty, explanation for that in the author's note) I ALWAYS think of you. Just cause I always think, 'Oh man, she's waiting faithfully for my next chapter and I'M KILLING WHAT FAITH SHE HAS IN HUMANITY, AHHHHHo *terrible person death*' So, yeah, sorry for updating Consequences so much instead of this bundle of joy. I don't recall another story you've reviewed, but I feel like there is. At some point I'll check. Hahaha, thanks for the review! Enjoy!

AmePiper: Oh my Amey dearest. You always apologize and say you have been busy, but don't you know that there is not apology that is needed for LOVE? Okay, that was a bit random… I can't seem to write messages to you correctly today, I'm truly sorry for that! Seto abuse is the best, neh? I didn't quite understand the rebel statement, but to some degree I think I did… I just don't think I know how to respond to it well. Agh, my brain is truly dead today. I'm sorry again! I hope you shall enjoy the chapter and take it as a token of apology from me. Thanks for the review, and I hope you feel better soon!

Lace Kyoko: OH MY GOSH, okay, so this is going to be SO random, but when I was 8, I got super sick and threw up all night and pretty much fell asleep on the bathroom floor and it was just an AWFUL EXPERIENCE. Since then, I had been dreadfully fearful of throwing up, but then a year or so later, I did and it was like "Oh… that wasn't so bad!" So then my fear died… sort of. I mean, throwing up still sucks, I just run away when I feel it coming. OKAY, that was seriously the most random thing ever. MY B!o Teehee, hide and seek with Gozaburo… oh man, that would end poorly. And MY GOD, did you just give me an idea!!! *evil grin* I hope you know that you've just done a very bad thing Lace… VERY bad. Hahahaha. Anyways, thank you! I was happy to hear that you think I'm descriptive but not too descriptive. Too descriptive makes me want to kill myself, but I always worry I'm not descriptive enough. I feel like this story can also be seen as my 'challenge story' since I'm trying to do more description and build up and such. Good to see that it's working! Anyhow, I must be off, because I'm sure I've carried this on for much too long and you much want to read the next chapter. Thanks again for the review and ENJOY!:D

Five

His chest tightened. His eyes narrowed. His breath became shallow. Seto didn't know what to expect, but any confrontation with Gozaburo would result like this. Seto felt the air grew thin. He was almost afraid to question what Gozaburo meant by that, but he did… he had to.

"What do you mean?" Seto tried to say as normally as possible. Gozaburo put his arms behind his back and looked down on Seto.

"Seto, do you recall what happened when I commanded you to sit back down during dinner a couple hours ago?" Seto gulped again, he could feel his throat tightening.

"I… I refused."

"And after that?" Seto bit his lip.

"You… punched me in the stomach."

"And then what happened?" Seto was desperate to get out of this awkward conversation.

"Please Sir is there a point in me repeating what happened tonight?" Seto asked with desperation.

"Answer the question, Seto."

"I begged you to let me help Mokuba to his room and you eventually did grant me permission." Gozaburo looked at him with satisfaction. He loved the confused look Seto had on his face, the fear that was hidden behind it. It fueled him, excited him, even. "What does it matter what happened?"

"Because you see Seto…" Gozaburo turned back his head to Mokuba, starting to stroke him again gently. Seto stood there completely still, but he was restless on the inside. He felt REALLY uncomfortable with Gozaburo touching his brother like that. He didn't like where this was going at all. "How you acted at dinner proved to me that Mokuba is both your one true weakness in this world."

Seto shook his head with denial, "That's not true. Mokuba isn't my weakness at all."

"You defied me Seto, by demanding you help your brother out."

"Mokuba was sick, that was all. I promise to never defy you again, just please…" Seto was finding it hard to focus on Gozaburo's face with Mokuba's hair being stroke in such a provocative way. His eyes kept glancing back down to his brother as he spoke. "Stop this. He's just a boy. I'll be better, I promise. I'll study harder and…" Seto continued to stare at Mokuba. Gozaburo stopped stroking the boy's hair.

"Seto, look at me when you're trying to make a point." Seto's eyes floated back up to his step father's face.

"My apologies Sir, but could it be possible that-" Gozaburo sighed loudly with frustration. He thought Seto to be smarter than this. He wasn't catching onto the point Gozaburo was trying to make.

"Seto, I adopted you to train you to be the next president of Kaiba Corp. You have the abilities and smarts; you are a prodigy after all. But your greatest weakness is your brother; he's always distracting you from your work, and your goal. As a CEO you can't trust anyone and you can love no one." Seto shook his head.

"What? That can't be true. Look, I can't help that I care about my brother… he's my the only family I-"

"Seto, don't you understand? There is no such thing as a 'family' in the business world. And if you plan to work in this world operating MY company you're going to have to learn this." Seto was becoming more frustrated and losing his professional mind set. He knew that showing weakness to Gozaburo would only make him more displeased, but with his brother involved, he found it was hard to ignore his emotions.

"So what am I supposed to do? My brother will always be my brother; I'll always care about him no matter what. There's nothing I can do about that! What am I supposed to do? He won't just disappear!" Seto covered his mouth when he realized how loud he was being. He looked over at his brother, who thankfully was still asleep. The tiny boy's body stirred a little after the shout, but merely turned back onto his other side and remained asleep.

"Now, now, Seto… in the business world, there's always a solution to everything…" Gozaburo said calmly, which was an opposite of how Seto was speaking.

"Like what?" Seto seethed. Gozaburo turned his head once more and looked down at Mokuba lovingly, an evil smile on his face.

"We could just send him back to the orphanage. I'm sure there's another family that would enjoy his uselessness in the world." Seto took a step forward with his arm raised.

"Don't you dare." Gozaburo twisted his head and glared at him.

"Are you threatening me, young protégé?" Seto's anger was extinguished and he retracted his arm. He stood in a more relaxed and professional way before continuing.

"You're right, there is always a solution to every problem in the business world… but not all solutions work. Sending Mokuba away won't help me concentrate, instead, I'll be even more distracted. Rather than pay attention in class, I'll find myself worrying about him even more, thinking about him even more. I'll sleep less, and my performance will be hindered." Seto crossed his arms and nodded. He had held a good argument to counter Gozaburo, and he was happy about it.

"If Mokuba goes, then I go."

"Hm… you sound proud," Gozaburo said, still with a calm and collected tone. Seto was a little thrown off by it, but stood by what he said.

"I know more about the business world than you think." Gozaburo's eyes were still staring deeply into the face of the sleeping boy. He brought his hand up and began to inch it closer to Mokuba's neck.

"Really?" Gozaburo asked, his fingers just barely touching Mokuba's skin, "How knowledgeable are you when it comes to threats?" Gozaburo's fingers gently wrapped themselves around Mokuba's neck without applying pressure. Seto could no longer breathe. His feeling of triumph had disappeared.

"…You wouldn't." Gozaburo's fingers traveled up a little, his thumb and index finger pressing into the spot right below Mokuba's jaw. He tightened his grip slightly and Seto gave out a whimper without thinking. "Please don't."

"If you EVER talk back to me again and disobey my orders AGAIN, I will see to it that Mokuba will suffer."

"Why not me? I'm the one you want to train, not him! I'm the one that defied you! Leave my brother out of this." Gozaburo shook his head and chuckled.

"Oh come now Seto, are you that clueless? This is nothing but business. You think every company got to where they were just by playing fair? Of course not. You know why?" Seto didn't have an answer for him, and he didn't want to. He was utterly disgusted by the way his step father was justifying his actions. It made Seto hate him even more. Gozaburo's eyes narrowed.

"I'll tell you why. Because life is a game and if you're not in it to win it, then you might as well pack up and go home," Gozaburo paused for a moment, letting his words of wisdom sink into the poor boy's skull before continuing his psychological onslaught, "Now it all comes down to you…"

Seto looked up at his step father.

"Do you want this?" Gozaburo asked in the most serious of tones. Seto stared at him. He didn't know what to say. Gozaburo had thrown so many issues at him all at once that he wasn't sure what would be the right answer. He did want this, deep down, he did want this, but he wanted it for Mokuba. But now with Gozaburo's explanation, he was making it seem as though wanting it would mean hurting Mokuba. Seto's mouth opened, but no words came out.

Gozaburo waited a moment longer for a reply. He was about to make a statement of his own until he heard some coughing. Mokuba moved his head a bit and opened his eyes slowly. Gozaburo was slowly moving away from the bed. Seto ran past his step father and to his brother's side as Mokuba continued to cough uncontrollably.

"Mokuba!" Seto cried, putting his hand on his brother's head. Gozaburo opened the door and took one last look at Seto. Seto sensed it and turned around.

"Think about what I said, Seto. Your next lesson will begin tomorrow at dawn." Gozaburo left the room and closed the door. Mokuba opened his eyes and smiled when he saw his brother beside him, but frowned when he saw the worried look he had as he was staring at the door.

"Nii-sama?" Mokuba asked in a quiet tone. Seto seemed as though he had awoken from his thoughts and turned his attention back to his brother. He smiled gingerly.

"Mokuba… how are you feeling?"

"Better but… are you okay?" Seto nodded slowly.

"Yeah, I think I will be." Mokuba sensed that something was still wrong and that Seto wasn't telling him the whole truth. Mokuba wanted to probe his brother further so he could really know what was going on, but it seemed like there was a lot on his brother's mind. It would've been rude to try and dig up more information. So he left it alone and let his brother take care of him in silence.

Both the brothers would leave the subject untouched and move forward with issues more relevant. Although Seto would care for his brother with the utmost care and converse with his brother like nothing had happened only seconds before in the exact same room, his mind was filled with worries and strategies of how to deal with his predicament. Were the things Gozaburo proposed empty lies? Wouldn't the law have any effect on what Gozaburo could and could not do?

Somehow, Seto felt as though the law wouldn't be on his side. Something told him this man was above the law. Something let him know that he was dealing with a real mad man. The thing he hated the most, though, is the fact that he needed to learn from this man, and that these threats and his actions were most likely part of Seto's journey to becoming a true CEO. It both scared him and excited him at the same time.

On the other side of the mansion, in another room entirely, in the office to the left of the main stairway, a man stood in his room quietly. Gozaburo stood with a wine glass in his hand, twirling the alcohol within it as his eyes looked out the window. It had begun to rain softly, and it had appeared it had been raining for some time now, but no one had kept the attention to notice it. Not with the battles going on or the bets being made.

Gozaburo sensed another presence in the room, but relaxed when he recognized the hobble-like foot steps the person was taking.

"Master Kaiba?"

"Hobson… what perfect timing." Gozaburo did not turn Hobson's way. Although Hobson was unable to see his boss's face, he could tell by the tone of his voice that there would probably be a grin on it. He had thought up something terrible, and Hobson was almost positive it had something to do with Seto, especially after his actions at dinner.

"What are you scheming, Master?" Gozaburo stopped twirling his glass, his eyes fixated on the tiny droplets that traveled down the window in front of him. Gozaburo said nothing, and Hobson felt obligated to probe further. Sometimes his boss would refuse to answer a question he found unfit or not to the point. It was the way he had always been.

"It has something to do with the other orphan boy, does it not? The Mokuba child… He was a problem from the very beginning," Hobson stated in anger, hoping to gain Gozaburo's respect for having a similar opinion.

"Do not be so quick to judge, Hobson. Every problem has a solution, and every problem serves a purpose," Gozaburo kept staring at the window. The rain began to pick up and the tiny droplets had suddenly become large, and solid. The hail collided with the window and the droplets from before had seemed nothing but a mere memory. "It's like water, for example."

Hobson raised his eyebrow. "Water, Sir?" Gozaburo nodded.

"Water is one of the most interesting elements, because it exists in three forms. Water can remain a liquid, but when the temperature is hot enough, it can also melt and evaporate into gas. When the temperature is cold, however, it can also freeze and take the form of ice." Hobson blinked for a moment, his mind truly trying to grasp and comprehend the analogy Gozaburo was giving, but finding it hard to really understand.

"I'm sorry Sir, but I'm afraid I don't follow you." Gozaburo turned around and faced him.

"It's quite simple, Hobson. Just as water can turn into a gas, it can also turn into a solid. Although Mokuba is living proof of Seto's weakness, Mokuba also serves as his one true strength. If you remember correctly, I had given Seto a good punch to the gut when he attempted to leave the table, and do you not remember what his reaction was? Seto didn't even appear to care that he was in pain; all he wished to do was help his brother to his room. Even if I had beaten the living hell out of him, it wouldn't have mattered, he would've still felt the same; he would still want to help his brother."

Hobson stood silently as the piece in his head came together.

"Seto has shown me by those actions that he would do almost anything for his brother. That is why physical abuse to this boy will do no good, at least not with his brother around. His intentions on why he's here have become clear; part of him is doing this for his brother."

Hobson was almost afraid to ask the next question, for fear of what answer Gozaburo would give, "So… what does this mean, exactly?" Gozaburo breathed in a loud sigh.

"It means mainly things… from one end, it may seem as though he would be a waste of time to take up. For no man whom works for someone other than himself could truly achieve what I have… but I sense a drive, one similar to mine, instilled in the boy. If trained correctly, if led on the right path, his priorities can be straightened. It'll just take some time…" Gozaburo said, "For now… we'll hit him where it hurts… his brother."

Gozaburo began to laugh and it sent chilling thoughts into Hobson's head. But there was nothing he could do or say to change things. Hobson was sure Seto wasn't aware of what he was getting himself into, but if Gozaburo's speculations were correct, nothing would change the boy's mind. Still, Hobson couldn't keep himself from wondering just how far his master was planning to go before transforming this child prodigy into the man he idealized him to become.

But thoughts and opinion would not matter. Gozaburo was God, the supreme law in this mansion. Anything he said could and would be carried out. It gave Hobson this feeling of madness.

There was no common sense, no logic in this god forsaken mansion. Just plain madness.

A/N: Hey guys! I know this took for-ev-ev-er to update but I finally did! I'm really sorry I have been failing on the updating end, it's just that… well, this story is an interesting case because never have I encountered a story where I had little to no planned events, planned chapter length, or really a planned… anything. I think it might be because this story had been born many years back and I'm finding it hard to simply start from scratch again. But I promise to try and get a better handle on things so I can give you the best damn story the world ever did see! Oh, and before I let off, sorry for so much dialogue! Hopefully it was bearable/interesting. Thanks for reading and waiting! You guys are troopers!