AmePiper: Give it up, cause now I'm BACK! Hahaha, yes, YGO CD reference… you know you love it :3 But anyways, onward to your lovely first review, my darling!:] I'm glad you liked that line, it has always been the internal description I would use for Seto's eyes. It's nice to know that it has a great ring on paper too! And oh my gosh, I'm re-reading through this fantastic review you gave me and finding my heart just lifted with joy. You make me so happy, and I honestly think you give me much too much credit than I'm worth! I mean, seriously, your review is so beautifully written, it's almost as if you are the writer and I should be the pupil!(lol, if that made ANY sense at all, which I'm sure it didn't) And you should hear me say that! We most certainly need to talk again, my English love! I can't wait to hear from you again, but for now, thanks so much for the wonderfully written review! It has made my day!

Lil girl pink: Might I say that "Shit son!" has been the greatest opening to a review I have ever received? Hahahaha, I loved it! Mokuba will be okay… we hope. Hahaha. And wait, Seto meets a cute boy? Yeah… I'm sorry to say, but there isn't any yaoi to be found here.(at least not in this story;]) Hahaha, thanks so much for your kind words and your lovely review! Enjoy the chapter!

MythCreatorWriter: Yep, Seto Kaiba most certainly is something else. But oh! In random news, don't you love the fact that the very first day back to school, I get the inspiration to finish this?! Something tells me I'm going to have an even stronger inspiration to write the next chapter of Consequences!:D This makes for a very happy Kari. Yeah, most of Gozaburo's lessons are true for the real world and for life, but the fact that Gozaburo is the one giving the lesson kind of makes you want to runaway and never take his advice. I loved your line "He should just kill himself" Wouldn't life be easier if that just happened? Hahahaha, don't worry though, he will… eventually :] It's actually going to be a pretty epic chapter too, so you may be surprised and a bit astonished by what I have in store for that scene! I'm so happy you liked the chapter, and thanks so much for the review!(Not to mention your lovely PMs which made me feel so much better about life in general) I hope you enjoy this belated chapter, my friend!

Patriot16: You can say that again! Thanks for the review!

Lace Kyoko: I think that's what everyone thinks of Gozaburo as(a bastard, that is;]) And he is. I hate the guy, but oh man, I never realized how fun he is to write! In my past stories I have merely referenced him, or written very, very short scenes with him. But because this story is so focused around him, I've really gotten a chance to enjoy his character. He's devilishly cheesy! Hahaha, I'm a dork:p AND OMFG, I'm SO excited that inspired you to draw a picture!!!! Seriously, the moment you're done with it, PM ME! I must see!(hahaha, it sounds like a great photo actually! I might even frame it when you send it to me :3) Please do send me your deviantart account, I would love to see that photo! Thanks for your review, enjoy the chapter!

WhiteAsukalover: Um, my parents never loved me so I take out my anger on the Kaiba brothers? Just kidding, my parents love me. But I have had some dark times. Maybe that's why I enjoy torturing them… hahaha. Anyways, thanks for the review!

KatrinaKaiba: I know! And now I'm updating this story AGAIN before Consequences! Aren't you proud of me? Yay! I loved your short but fillng response to my last chapter. It was frank and well put, I liked it a lot. Thanks so much for it! I hope you enjoy this largely belated chapter! Thinking of you when I update this story first, as always, so I hope you like it!!!

Princess7Strawberry: It's alright with the belated review, because this has been a very belated update! I mean, I'm really embarrassed about how slow I've been with updates! But thankfully I have got my groove back and I'm ready to roll on with the stories! Thanks for your review, enjoy the much more belated chapter!

SereneShadows: My darling! I was wondering where you had been! I'm always happy to get a long review from you though :3 It's fine! I very much don't mind the long or short reviews. A review itself is enough to put a smile on my face, especially when it's from you! I'm afraid to say I won't be able to answer all of your mini reviews, but I'm sure you understand. But I'll give quick responses to some of them! And the reviews I send you are much deserved, my dear, and do let me know when you're going to be updating your story next! I'll be sure to be the first to review once more :] I didn't know it was possible to make Gozaburo more evil, I must be a good writer then, huh? Hah. And I love that CD too, it's my life!:D I'm really anxious to proof read this baby and post it on the net, I hope you'll forgive me for giving a not-so-very-fulfilling response to your wonderful review! But I hope you enjoy the chapter all the same!

Hey guys, long time no read, huh? Well, here it is, the next chapter! Now, as I mentioned before, this takes place three years into the future. I decided to indicate this as well as their names by using the Full-Metal Alchemist thing that they did on the very first episode, just because :3 I thought it was quite fitting. Anyways, do enjoy this belated chapter! Thanks for your patience!

Eleven

Older brother: Age Thirteen… Young Brother: Age Eight

"Ow," Mokuba whimpered, flinching a bit. Seto didn't look up from what he was doing.

"If you wouldn't move, it wouldn't hurt." Mokuba let out a loud sigh.

"If I didn't have to get dressed up in a suit, I wouldn't get hurt." Seto finished by buttoning up the last button and then standing back up.

"There. All done." Mokuba looked down at himself and frowned. He hated getting dressed up. It always made him feel so uncomfortable and… weird looking. Mokuba looked at his brother desperately just as Seto turned towards the mirror to straighten his own suit he had on.

"Do I really have to go to this boring party?"

"Yes Mokuba, we already talked about this." Mokuba walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of it. Mokuba rested his head in his hands and looked down with boredom. This party was going to suck so bad, Mokuba was already bored of the idea of it. He really didn't see why he had to go to this thing in the first place.

"Why do I even have to go?" Mokuba asked, looking up and saying his thoughts out loud, "I mean; you're the next heir to the company, why would he want me to come along?" Seto didn't look away from the mirror as he was tying a tie around his neck.

"Because we're the Kaiba Brothers, you know that. Gozaburo takes us to all of his business gatherings." Mokuba rolled his eyes. He didn't see that response as a logical explanation for why he had to tag along anyway. All the parties they had ever gone to, Seto was always in the spotlight anyway. And it wasn't like Gozaburo even cared about Mokuba when it really came down to it. He just wanted to improve his public image and seem like an even more 'down to earth' man by having adopted two boys from an orphanage.

In the end, what it all came down to was public image and nothing else. That was all Gozaburo ever cared about in the long run whenever they managed to travel outside of the Kaiba Mansion.

Mokuba lay back flat on the bed. "The Kaiba Brothers… pfff, yeah right. You say that like we're famous or something. It's not like we're the Mario Brothers or anything. We're just brothers who happened to be adopted by a guy named Kaiba." Seto turned Mokuba's way.

"If you haven't noticed, Gozaburo Kaiba is one of the most powerful men in the world."

"So I have noticed… doesn't make him any less of a jerk," Mokuba sat up, staring at his brother, "And since when do you talk about Gozaburo like he's just another guy? If you ask me, he's evil enough to be the devil." Seto turned back towards the mirror and continued to fiddle with his tie. It had been tied completely at this point, but now it seemed Seto was just trying to burn off nervous energy from the awkward conversation he was having. He gave a deep sigh and let his shoulders drop.

"I guess I'm just tired of fighting." Both the idea and the statement made Mokuba chuckle.

"Seto Kaiba? Tired of fighting?" Seto looked at Mokuba's reflection in the mirror and gave a tired smile.

"It could happen." Mokuba looked at him in disbelief.

"Was that after you suffered massive head trauma from him bashing you in the head?" Mokuba said in a dark, joking way. Mokuba's pain could be seen through the attempted joke, however. Mokuba had tried to become more advanced in hiding his emotions, but Seto was the one person who could see through the act. It wasn't a sad thing that the boy would have to resort to joking about Seto's extreme medical condition a couple years back, it was what any occupant had to do as a child of Gozaburo Kaiba.

"No, it was after he put you in a wheelchair as a result of breaking your leg," Seto said in a much darker and serious tone. That was because he couldn't play the event off like a joke. Even though the injury was referring to the same night Seto had received the head trauma, Seto couldn't get past the many months he spent, wheeling his brother around the house, or watching him hobble from place to place. It was a sad sight to see, and possibly more painful than all the head trauma in the world for Seto to watch.

Seto could still vividly remember many occasions where he would comfort Mokuba, spending late hours into the night, as he held his younger brother while he cried from the pain. Mokuba had never broken a bone in his body, and the process of breaking his leg and feeling absolutely immobile was too hard for him to handle most times. Seto felt completely responsible for the incident. He hadn't been able to protect his brother that night and Mokuba had paid the price.

"Are you boys ready yet? Get down here!" Seto heard Gozaburo yell from downstairs. Seto immediately snapped out of his thoughts and ran over to grab his brother's hand. Both of them came out of the room and went down the stairs, where Gozaburo was awaiting them at the end. His eyes were scanning each boy and each outfit, making sure nothing was out of place and both were looking in tip top shape. Gozaburo stared the longest at Mokuba, with his hair drawing most attention.

Gozaburo brought out his hand and reached out towards Mokuba. Mokuba flinched, afraid Gozaburo would strike him, when instead the man pressing down on his head. Mokuba opened one eye and stared at him. Gozaburo frowned.

"What are we going to do about this hair? It's too out of control. Hobson," Hobson was always nearby, especially when Gozaburo was around. Just like that, the toad man appeared from what one would've assumed the darkest corner of the room. As always, no one had noticed him until he had been summoned by Gozaburo himself. "Would you mind getting me something to keep his hair in tact?"

"Perhaps something like hair gel, Sir?"

"Sure, just get it for me, quickly." Hobson hurried out of the room as Gozaburo continued to try and shift Mokuba's hair into a reasonable shape. Seto stood there awkwardly next to him as Mokuba tried to keep himself from making any faces, even though it was obvious he was just as uncomfortable as his brother, possibly even more uncomfortable with Gozaburo touching his head. Gozaburo let out a frustrated sigh.

"We should really do something about this hair… we may just have to cut it, it's unacceptable for a boy your age." Mokuba instantly jumped back, putting his hands over his hair in a protective fashion.

"No way! I like my hair! I don't wanna cut it!" Seto's body tensed; he knew where this was going, and it wasn't a great direction. Seto had to do something quick before the situation got serious. Seto placed his firm hand on Mokuba's shoulder, and Mokuba turned his head towards him. "Nii-sama?"

"I'll race you to the car." Mokuba's eyes sparked with the opportunity at beating his brother in a game of speed. Mokuba's child-like mind instantly forgot the argument that was about to go on as he lowered his hands. He smirked.

"You're on!" With that, Mokuba sped off down the hall and out of the door. Seto gave a sigh of relief, looking towards the door, then back at his step father. Gozaburo had been staring at him with his typical non-emotional face. Seto looked at him back with an almost a replicated expression.

"Smart move Seto," Gozaburo said, "That must've been the first attempt I ever witnessed of you successfully protecting your brother, as opposed to, you know, just attempting." Seto's body burned with all the anger he had pent up over the years, but he dare not show it. Seto had become just as skilled at concealing his emotions, especially when he was around his step father. Seto said nothing and walked towards the limo.

Mokuba had known better than to ask many questions. Gozaburo was the last person anyone would want to go to ask a question since he wasn't one to be seen as a patient man. The limo was driving up the driveway and nearing the mansion where the party was being held. There were several other limos ahead of theirs; each was different by way of color or style. Never the less, each car was, indeed, a limo. They were attending a business party after all, and the CEO of Kaiba Corp. didn't go to just any business party.

Yet Mokuba was curious as to the reasoning behind going out of his way to go to this party. Gozaburo had a tight schedule and didn't have a lot of time for anything that didn't direct involve his own company. The mansion was on the other side of town, so it didn't make sense to spend nearly a half hour driving all the way to the place. There must've been another motive Gozaburo had. Mokuba, being the curious eight-year-old, couldn't help but ask.

"Is there a reason we're going to this party?" Seto froze up, but not before turning his head and gapping his mouth towards his brother. Seto loved Mokuba very much, but that was just a stupid move. Hadn't Mokuba known Gozaburo well enough to never question the man's motives?

Surprisingly, however, Gozaburo seemed to be amused rather than annoyed, as he chuckled by himself from the seat across from the two boys. His eyes removed themselves from looking out the window at the magnificent mansion and turned back to Mokuba.

"There is, actually." Gozaburo cleared his throat. Seto straightened his back and the way he was seated. When his step father cleared his throat it meant that a lecture was soon to be mixed in with the conversation. Gozaburo had taught him that whenever an older person, or at least a person of power, was speaking, he was to sit up straight and focus all his attention on that one person until they were through with what they had to say.

"Do you boys know what company is throwing this party today?"

Both Seto and Mokuba shook their heads at the same time. It was easy to tell that Gozaburo wasn't too astonished that neither of them knew which company was throwing the party, but Gozaburo did direct his attention towards Seto for a moment to tell him something important.

"Well, I want you to make sure you pay close attention to what I have to say, Seto. As heir to the Kaiba Corp. thrown, you'll have to know all about the competition. And this is one of Kaiba Corp.'s biggest competitors; you might even call them our rival." Mokuba blinked for a moment.

"Our rival?"

"Yes, our companies have been battling one another for generations upon generations. But Kaiba Corporation has always reigned supreme for the most part. This party is in celebration of their latest innovation within the company. They're to be signing an international contract that should be making them millions." Seto didn't get it. Why would they be attending a party to celebrate another company's success? Scratch that, why would they attending a party to celebrate a rival's success? This didn't seem very much like Gozaburo at all. He must've had something else in mind.

"Then why are we even here?" Seto spat back, scolding the idea of even associating with a competitor of Kaiba Corp. It just didn't seem logical, nor did it seem like 'good business' as Gozaburo might've seen it. Gozaburo smiled at Seto like the naïve child that he was.

"This is another lesson you must learn, young Seto. For as a business man and a CEO, you may keep your friends close, but you should always keep your enemies closer." So that was what this was about. It all became clear. Before Seto could give a proper response to what Gozaburo had said, the limo came to a stop. The side door was opened and the chauffeur's head was soon visible as it peaked inside.

"Master Kaiba, we have arrived at the front entrance of the Schroeder Mansion."

"Good. Thank you, William. Be sure to park close by. We won't be here long," Gozaburo said with confidence, getting up and walking out of the limo, "Come along boys, we wouldn't want to be late for the party." Gozaburo had said it in a sarcastic tone. Seto followed as commanded, with Mokuba not far behind.

The moment they walked into the mansion, Mokuba took the first chance he could to latch onto his brother's arm. Seto couldn't blame him. The scene was a little intimidating. There were adults everywhere, dressed up in expensive clothing; suits and dresses as far as the eye could see, and they were all talking in hushed tones. There was eeriness to it as they walked through enemy territory. Seto was hoping they would avoid the host of the party, but instead, Gozaburo led them straight to him.

There stood a sternly man, with fading brown hair, much like Gozaburo's hair. It was short and cut in a perfectly square fashion with his bangs combed back. The suit he was wearing was nearly identical to Gozaburo's, not to mention the mustache he held as well. It was almost like seeing an identical twin, minus the facial features.

"Ah, at last, the CEO of Kaiba Corporation is here. How are you my old friend?" Gozaburo gave a fake friendly smile as he approached the man.

"I'm doing well; I've been doing quite well, actually. How have you been?" The two men shook hands. Seto was trying his best not to stare at his step father, even though Gozaburo was providing a spectacular show for him. The fake smile, the fake friendly handshake, it was all too obvious. Seto was wondering whether or not the man was even catching on to this deviously brilliant act Gozaburo had on display.

"I've been doing quite well myself," Mr. Schroeder nodded politely; then looked down to his side. A boy was standing there, dressed to perfection as everyone else appeared to be. His hair was more circular than his father's, and most certainly more oddly colored. He had hair that was a vibrant light pink, and suddenly now Seto was trying to hold the urge to burst out laughing at the poor boy. "Oh yes, Mr. Kaiba, have you had a chance to meet my son, Zigfried?"

"I don't believe I have," Gozaburo said, looking down and smiling. He held out his hand and Zigfried looked him straight in the eye and shook it. Gozaburo grinned. "And you have yet to meet my son. This is Seto, my young protégé, and Mokuba, his brother."

"Oh, well, how very nice to meet you, Seto." Mr. Schroeder shook Seto's hand, and Seto politely shook it back. Mokuba held out his hand to shake, but Mr. Schroeder didn't even give the boy a second glance. "Your protégé, eh? I'm guessing you expect him to take on the company?"

"Of course, I have been training the boy since I adopted him."

"Are you sure you can trust that which is not your blood?" Gozaburo narrowed his eyes.

"Of course," Gozaburo placed his hand firmly and confidently on Seto's shoulder, "There's not another boy fit for the job." Mr. Schroeder looked less than convinced as he eyed Seto suspiciously. The man continued to ignore Mokuba like his presence meant nothing or didn't even exist, the little boy standing right beside Seto, continuing to cling to his brother's arm in fear.

"Well, I have been training my boy since birth. He'll make a fine CEO one day, as all Schroeder have been for generations," Mr. Schroeder took another look at Seto. "After all, success does run in our blood." If Gozaburo was annoyed by that, he was truly the master at hiding it. His face was masked with nothing but that eternally friendly smile that Seto could see right through it, but Mr. Schroeder appeared not to even notice. Seto looked down at Zigfried, whom was beaming with pride and was looking at Seto like he were less than.

"Which, that reminds me," Mr. Schroeder said out of blue and with surprise that he had nearly forgotten, "Have you heard? Schroeder Corp. is about to sign an international contract that—"

"I'm sorry to say, but you're too late," Gozaburo stated, his friendly face disappearing. Now Seto began to see his real intentions, the real reason he had even considering arriving at this party. The real Gozaburo had finally come out of the box. "They've chosen me. I've already signed that contract." The one thing they had been celebrating, Mr. Schroeder had just found, was the one thing Gozaburo had beat him to. And it was the reason Gozaburo was there; he had only come there to tell him, to make him feel that much more of a loser.

Suddenly, Seto found himself, for the first time, admiring and almost priding himself on what his step father had just done.

"Better luck next time," Was the last thing Gozaburo said before walking away. That was when Seto felt himself compelled to do the same. Compelled to, in many ways, be like Gozaburo. For all his life, he had always been walked all over, and cheated out of what he felt he had a right to. Seto's life had been stolen from him the moment he stepped onto the orphanage grounds.

But the first time ever, he saw the light. Seto saw the power that Gozaburo could pass onto him, and the techniques that he possessed. Seto wished to over power people too, just as they had done to him when he was growing up. Seto longed for it; total control, ultimate power. Seto found himself yearning to be like his step father more and more.

The horrified look on Mr. Schroeder's face was all the convincing Seto would need to show him what he wanted, and who he wanted to be like.

A/N: OH MY GOD. I ACTUALLY UPDATED!!!!! Isn't that exciting?! I'm SO excited! Gosh, and I'm SO sorry for taking so damn long to update! Seriously, it's kind of embarrassing. Writer's block can do that to you . But hey! Now I'm back in business and best of all, I've got my groove back! Now, this chapter went on for a bit long, and I'm not exactly done for it. Oh yes, Zigfried/Seto action is about to come underway in the next chapter. If I were you, I'd be excited. I'm excited!(Gosh, I always friggin say that!) Anyways, I hope you guys had a great Easter and Spring Break! Expect more from me soon!(I know I will, or someone will have to die!:]) Hahahaha, see ya!

P.S: This was the first time I've ever proof-read one of my chapters! I'm kind of proud of myself, I'm not gonna lie :3 I wonder if there was any difference… let me know if there was and if you felt just a little more tanginess with your HiKari dish after reading this chapter ;) Thanks!