WhiteAsukalover: Hey, sorry for forgetting to respond to your PM! My bad! Your idea sounds tempting, but it strays away from the idea I have going on here. I'm sorry, I hope you understand! But hey, thanks for the review!

KatrinaKaiba: The name of the country is all thanks to my brother(He made it up off the top of his head based off the name of Alister's brother's name from the Japanese version… yeah, I'm a bit of a dork. A cool one, I might add, hahaha) I am too! And talking to one of my awesome writer friends inspired me to finish this chapter! I might actually leave you guys in suspense about Mokuba though… it's one of those things I kind of want to leave up to the reader to decide and wonder about, and something I don't have time to really explain. I'm sure you get where I'm going with it. Anyhow, thanks for the review! Enjoy!

MythCreatorWriter: Um, yeah… about that… ummm, yeah. Well, what happened with Mokuba is something I'd like to leave open-ended. You know, something to leave the readers to decide. I feel like that sounds like BS, but it's not I swear! I'm quite the creepy character myself in real life, so I find that it's commonplace to find such sketch characters in my stories;) Thanks for the review!

Patriot16: Thanks! I like you!:D

Lace Kyoko: I'm sorry you were undergoing stress:[ I hope you're feeling better now! And thanks for your review! It was quite the happy button for me!(I have no clue… it's 12 a.m. right now…) Enjoy the chapter!

AmePiper: I love you doll face!

Hey guys, so you know how I love you guys? Well, yeah, I do. Actually, that has nothing to do with what I'm about to say. I suppose you can blame that on me writing this at 12:13 a.m. I just wanted to say that I was inspired to finish this chapter by my dearest Rena Redhead, and inspired to post it by LittleKuriboh. Because dammit, we were closer than brothers! And now we have to fight each other! Can we trust our faith to the heart of the cards?

No matter what!(If you guys didn't catch the LK reference that's fine, but you all must know the lyrics to the song I'm referring to! It's only one of the classics from the Music to Duel By CD! Yes, I do have it. Why? Cause I rock the world and your socks:p)

Yeah. Enjoy your chapter, guys. You've earned it by being awesome! :]

Eight

It was a bright and sunny morning on the 7th day of July. Summer was nearing its peak in the season, the temperature seemed to get hotter with each day, and yet there was always a cool breeze to keep it from being overwhelming. The joys of summer and no school were widespread across Japan. That would be unless someone was to enter the Kaiba Mansion. However, even the terror that remained around every corner could not upset Mokuba on this day.

Mokuba sprinted down the stairs, many moments tripping on his feet, but managing to catch himself in the very last second. He slipped down the stairs and raced into the dining room. His head twisted and turned, looking all around. Mokuba frowned, where had he gone? He couldn't have possibly forgotten, Mokuba thought to himself, shrugging.

"Hey Mokuba." The happiness was back and the doubt was forgotten in the young boy's mind. Mokuba twisted around to see his one and only old brother. He was there! It wasn't just a dream! Mokuba's smile might've actually grown three sizes that day.

"NII-SAMA!" Mokuba cried, throwing himself at his brother. Seto hadn't seen this coming and held his arms out. Mokuba's body shot off the wooden floor and came colliding into Seto's, tackling him to the ground. Mokuba was laughing and giggling as he lay on top of Seto. "Nii-sama! You were supposed to catch me!"

"Well, how could I? You have to give a guy a warning before you fling yourself at them!" Mokuba laughed and got off his brother.

"Alright Nii-sama, I'm sorry." Seto shook his head and got up.

"It's fine, really." Seto understood why his brother was so anxious anyway, and his behavior was understood. Today was Mokuba's birthday, which meant that Gozaburo would allow him to spend the whole day with Seto. The entire twenty-four hours would belong to just Mokuba and Seto; the two brothers would be together again outside of the dining room and away from anyone else. They hadn't spent that kind of time together since the orphanage, which had seemed like years ago, but in reality had only been six months. And it hadn't been the happiest of six months, either.

"So what would you like to do, Mokuba? It's your big day, and we can do whatever you want. You name it, little brother." Seto's heavy heart lifted when he saw the twinkle in his brother's eyes. Mokuba was still as inspiring as he had always been, it was just hard to recognize from across the dinner table in the short forty-five minutes a day that they spent together daily. It was the only time in the day that the brothers got to see each other; during dinner, and that was it. It was a sad and cruel thing that Seto didn't want to think about, especially not on his brother's special day.

"I-I don't know!" Mokuba exclaimed with excitement, "I mean, I'm really just happy to have you here… with me!" Mokuba wrapped his arms around Seto's waist and hugged him tightly. "I've missed you…" Mokuba whispered, just quietly enough so that Seto could hear him. Seto gulped, holding back his urge to cling to his brother just as tightly. The truth was; he felt exactly the same way. The only thing that had even kept him going the last couple weeks was just the thought of this day, of being able to see Mokuba, and being happy that he had been born six years ago.

"Well, whatever your heart desires can and will be granted," Hobson said, no one had noticed he was still standing slightly behind Seto, off in the corner. "Master Kaiba has instructed that he will finance whatever activity or gift you desire on this day. Consider it his personal gift to you." Seto and Mokuba looked up at each other.

"That's a new one," Seto said under his breath. Mokuba chuckled. Hobson furrowed his brow.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that just now. So what would you boys like to do?" Hobson asked. Seto looked back down at Mokuba, whom still had his arms around him and was clinging to him tightly, never wanting to let him go. Mokuba was worried that if he let go, he might not be able to hold his brother again for a very long time. The thought made Mokuba hug his brother tighter.

"Go on Mokuba, it's your birthday. I'm up for anything you want to do," Seto said, ruffling the boy's hair. Mokuba stood there and thought for a moment. Another smile came on his face.

"I know exactly where I want to go."

"Alright, where is it?" Mokuba was hesitant to answer. His head shifted a bit, his eyes glancing over at Hobson.

"But… I want to know," Mokuba began, "Can it just be my brother and I, no one else? Gozaburo won't…"

"Of course not, after all, Gozaburo is in an important meeting right now so he won't be finished until dinner time." Mokuba let go of his brother and nodded his head.

"Hooray! Then I know exactly where I want to go." Seto and Hobson stood still, staring at Mokuba, while waiting for an answer. "I want to go to the Domino City Park, where Dad used to bring us." Mokuba turned to Seto. "Don't you remember, Nii-sama? That was your favorite place to go when Dad was alive."

For the first time in a very long time, Seto smiled back at him. His mind was flooded with fond memories of the past; of mainly good time he had with his father. There hadn't been many, but the few that he could remember were imprinted in his mind permanently.

"I do," Seto said softly to himself.

"Alright then, let's go out to the car and I shall escort you there," Hobson declared, getting out the keys to the car. Mokuba bounded up and down, before taking hold of his brother's hand and dragging him outside.

"Come on Nii-sama! Let's go!" Mokuba said, pulling Seto along by his arm. Seto laughed and began running to pick up his brother's pace as they ran out to the car. Maybe the last six months had been dark, but it had all been worth it for this bright day. Seto had a feeling that there was nothing that could ruin this day for him or his baby brother.

Seto took in a deep breath and exhaled a sigh of satisfaction. The Domino City Park… filled with wonder and heart-warming memories. The play ground they had spent time playing in seemed smaller, at least back in the day. And it had seemed to be a lot more amusing as well, when Seto was a kid. But just sitting and watching his brother enjoy all the old play ground equipment that he played on when he was Mokuba's age was enough to make him forget about it.

"Gosh, tastes better than I remember it," Mokuba complimented, licking the ice cream cone in his hand. Both brothers were sitting on a swing; it was Seto's favorite piece of equipment in the entire park. Seto could remember the many hours he would spend on the weekend, just swinging back and forth. Seto didn't remember what it was about it that made him love swings so much, but it might've been those five seconds of flying he could feel when he really got some air.

"Yeah, I agree," Seto said, eating his last spoonful of ice cream and placing it down on the ground. Seto closed his eyes and leaned back a bit. The sun was warm, and relaxing. Sweat had begun to form on his forehead, but he didn't mind. The breeze would come in and cool him off. It had a very calming effect on him. Seto loved feeling like this. He hadn't realized how much he loved the sun till now.

"I can't remember the last time I was in the sun, breathing fresh air." Mokuba stopped licking him ice cream cone and turned towards his brother. Mokuba frowned with sorrow, and guilt.

"Gozaburo really doesn't let you do anything, does he?" Seto opened his eyes and looked ahead, the happiness from his eyes disappeared.

"I've got a pretty hectic schedule… you know, with all the tutors and professors I meet with every hour or so." Mokuba ate the last bit of his ice cream before throwing away the paper and standing in front of his brother.

"It's just not fair! You shouldn't be treated this way…" Seto ran his hand through his hair and sighed.

"Not this again, Mokuba…"

"This can't go on forever! We should do something!" Seto brought his hand back down and stood up.

"Like what? There's nothing we can do, okay? So just forget about it." Mokuba shook his head.

"There is something we can do." Seto stared at Mokuba, waiting for an answer. There was a pause. "We can report child abuse." There was a very awkward silence between the two of them. They both knew what the other was saying, but didn't want to address it.

"…No," Seto said calmly, after a couple moments in silence. Mokuba couldn't believe what he was hearing and reacted immediately.

"But Nii-sama, we can't live like this!" Seto gave a loud and angry sigh.

"I still have a lot to learn from him about being a CEO, about working in the business world." Mokuba couldn't believe what he was hearing. That was his brother's excuse? That was what was holding him back from getting out of the mess they were in? Mokuba didn't want to believe it, and he would try and make his brother think otherwise.

"Like what? How to be as evil and mean as him?"

"DON'T ruin this for me, Mokuba don't ruin the only chance I have. This is all I've got so just… don't," Seto had said sternly, looking away from his brother's bewildered eyes. What was his brother thinking? And why was he so determined? Was becoming the next CEO of Kaiba Corp. that important? Mokuba was starting to think that maybe he didn't know his brother anymore.

"I don't get it…" Seto placed his hand on Mokuba's shoulder.

"And even if I did try to explain, you never will. It's something…" Seto sighed and looked away, "Never mind. Let's not talk about this again today, alright?" Mokuba looked down and nodded.

"Yes Nii-sama…" Seto felt bad for bringing the mood down, but there was nothing else he could do. He had to stop the conversation before it had gotten any worse. But now Mokuba was sad and Seto felt terrible. Seto turned back towards the swing set behind him.

"Come on Mokuba, Hobson said he was going to be here soon. How about I push you for a little bit before we go?" Mokuba didn't say anything; however, he did walk over to the swing set Seto had been sitting on and sit on it himself. Seto walked behind him and began pushing him back and forth. Neither one of them said a thing more to each other for the rest of the afternoon at the park, until Hobson picked them up. The mood lightened up at that point and they continued to enjoy the day together.

Seto was staring at the board. He was staring at it long and hard. His eyes never seemed to lift from the playing field. He was in total concentration. Mokuba sat opposite from him, watching his brother intently for a sign. His brother had been like this for nearly a half hour. Seto hadn't said a word or moved a muscle during that time span. It amazed and frightened Mokuba to no end, but he dared not say a word to him to interrupt his thoughts.

There was a shift in movement. Mokuba practically jumped with fear when he had heard it, since the room had been so quiet for so long. He watched as his brother took up his arm and reached forward. He grabbed the tiny chess piece and slid it across the board. Mokuba sat there speechlessly, staring at the board. What did this mean?

"Checkmate." Mokuba's eyes widened.

"What?! No way!" Seto looked down at the board again to make sure, but the calculations this time were easy to make, and he nodded.

"Yes way. Checkmate." Mokuba stared at the board in disbelief.

"I can't believe it." Seto grinned.

"I've always been good at chess, don't you remember?"

"I remember; I'm just amazed you beat me. I was almost sure I was going to beat you!" Mokuba laughed and looked down at the board. "Good old Nii-sama, you have a way of tricking everyone." Seto had a smug look on his face.

"I do what I can." Mokuba laughed again.

"You want to play again?"

"Course, if you want me to. Let's set up the pieces."

"Okay!" Seto and Mokuba began gathering up the pieces and placing them in the correct order on the board again. Playing chess had been the brothers' favorite pass time, even when they were little kids. Seto had learned the rules of the game on his own, and had taught Mokuba immediately when the time came. Seto loved the game, and eventually he had taught his young brother to love it too. It was a game that kept them connected with their past.

Just as the final pieces were being put into place, the creaking of the door could be heard. Both brothers looking up from the playing field and over at the door to see who it was. A dark shadow was cast over the room when it was the one and only Gozaburo that had come to give them a visit.

"Good evening boys."

"Good evening," They both said, almost robotically. Mokuba looked down at the ground, trying not to look his step father directly in the eyes.

"Playing chess, I see." Seto nodded but said nothing. Gozaburo walked over to them and sat down on the floor. He looked at the chess board fondly. "Chess was always my favorite board game as a kid." Gozaburo turned to Seto, "I'm guessing it's always been your favorite pass time too, hasn't it?" Seto nodded once more, continuing to not verbally answer him.

Gozaburo's gaze turned back and fell on Mokuba. A sharp shiver was sent down Mokuba's back and his posture had straightened. His heart was already beginning to race, just by having Gozaburo near him.

"Happy birthday Mokuba. Have you had a fun day?" Mokuba gulped and nodded. Gozaburo smiled, but Mokuba didn't feel the kindness and honesty in the smile he saw. "Good." He replied.

"Thank you," Mokuba replied politely, hoping Gozaburo would understand that it was his cue to leave. But Gozaburo had no intention of leaving.

"July 7th…" Gozaburo turned to Seto, "Wasn't that also the day your mother died?" Seto was immediately filled with anger, while Mokuba's heart stopped. Seto was furious that Gozaburo would decide to bring up such a topic on this day. Seto didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to respond to it. Gozaburo waited for an answer. "Well?"

Seto had no other choice.

"…Yes," Seto said, regrettably.

"You know, I had a mother once," Gozaburo paused, "Let me tell you about her." Seto didn't like where this was going. But nothing could stop it. Nothing could stop Gozaburo from whatever evil story he had to tell. He would continue to say it no matter what Seto did; he would do so until the full effect of his tale had been distributed. There wasn't one thing Seto could do about it.

"It all began in this very house… the mansion the Kaiba family has lived in for the past fifty generations. This was the birth place of true power."

A/N: Hey guys, now before you say ANYTHING, Gozaburo's story WILL be told at the beginning of the next chapter, so don't you worry! I would've liked to have finished it in this chapter, but it seems everything else that has happened took up more room than I imagined it would. So sorry about that! But don't you fret, it's going to be an epic story! Oh, but before I forget, I wanted to say a couple things; technicalities, I suppose. So, in the Japanese series, Seto was adopted when he was 10, making Mokuba 5(explaining why he turned 6 in this chapter) I felt like a lot of what Mokuba said was really grown-up for a 6 year old, so I apologize for that. It can be hard for me to keep him more child-oriented when I'm use to him being older and more experienced and such. I just hope it wasn't too off-putting/illogical for anyone. Thanks for reading!