I'm taking a Group Therapy course as one of my final classes, and in researching for a project, I came across a particular website, and a particular topic of discussion, that made me think of the Kaibas. To be sure that I could properly focus, I wrote this out before I got too distracted.


"'…a pattern of failing to provide for a child's basic needs.' Well, that's obvious."

"The point isn't to belittle the definition," Yugi said, leveling a reproving look at Tristan. "The point is to know it. And just because you know the definition doesn't mean you're going to be able to ace this test. You and Joey have the same problem; you think common sense is all that's called for in a test. You need specifics. Now…what are the warning signs of neglect?"

Tristan grumbled under his breath and looked back to his book. "Ah…shit. Where's my p—ah. There it is. Okay. So…uh…'Older children might not show outward signs of neglect, becoming used to presenting a competent face to the outside world, and even taking on the role of the parent.' That's not…" He trailed off, and looked up.

Yugi followed his gaze. Mokuba, who had been putting together a dueling deck in one corner of the shop, had stopped moving. He was staring at the table without seeing it, various cards in his hands.

"…What are the other topics on this test?" Yugi asked.

"Uh…emotional. Constant belittling, shaming, humiliating; negative comparisons to others; threatening or bullying…ignoring or rejecting a child as punishment…limited physical contact…telling a child he is 'worthless' or 'a mistake.'"

With each bullet point, Mokuba flinched. His eyes narrowed, his teeth clenched.

"…Physical. 'Many physically abusive parents and caregivers insist that their actions are simply forms of discipline; ways to make children learn to behave.'"

Mokuba gave a derisive scoff.

"Uh…Mokuba?" Yugi said, sounding almost frightened. "Are you…feeling okay?"

"Been better," Mokuba muttered. He looked up at them both. "What class are you studying for?"

"Uh…C-Dev," Tristan said. At Mokuba's blank look, he amended, "Child development. Uh…hey, Mokuba. There's no real way to ask this without sounding like a dick, so I'll just do it: are you—"

The boy's grey-violent eyes snapped wide, and he suddenly looked like he wanted to tear Tristan's throat out. "What are you, stupid? Don't even finish that question. I know you guys get off on insulting my brother when he's not around, but don't you dare start thinking he…that he would…!" He seemed to be choking on his own words, sputtering with indignant fury.

"Okay, okay," Tristan held up his hands in surrender. "Sorry. Forget I said anything. Just…checking. Jesus, kid, don't go burning us at the stake just yet, it's just…well, since we started on this subject, you've been…well…"

Mokuba visibly calmed. "I…sorry, guys. I just…it just bothers me. To hear you talk about that stuff like it's some kind of checklist, like it's…clinical or something. Excuse me, sir, but before we can admit you, we have to go over a little checklist to make sure we can help you. Question one: has anyone beaten you savagely in the past month?"

And just like that, dark, brutal anger visited his face again.

Tristan looked stunned, but Yugi actually chuckled. "I know, huh?" He lifted the study guide with one hand. "Doesn't really do it justice, does it? They talk about fear, they talk about how kids might be unwilling to talk to authority figures, but…they don't mention the way your stomach ties itself into knots and wants to burst right out of your body because you know you've got school in the morning and you've missed too many days already this quarter. It doesn't go into how you…don't know how you're going to make it home because unfortunately you're not a ninja, and jumping from roof to roof is about as physically possible as walking up the walls."

Mokuba blinked, looking surprised.

Tristan suddenly looked guilty. He shut his book. "Ah, fuck," he muttered. "Yugi, you…goddamn it, I'm an idiot. I'm sorry, man, I'll…I'll just go home and study. No need to bring you guys into this. Shit, I'm stupid."

But Yugi was still smiling. "I'm over it, Tristan. Really. You know something Yami told me that helped? When he was first starting to actually talk to me, he said, 'No child is born knowing how to curl his hand into a fist, and no child intuitively knows how to use that fist as a weapon against his brothers. In fact, true strength and true nobility come from that first child who has been taught these things, and learns to use them to defend, rather than attack.'"

"…Cute," came a new voice from the stairs; Joey Wheeler had his hands in his pockets and a dark look on his face. "Noble and honorable and all that shit. But it's a bunch of crap. Best thing us assholes can do for ourselves is admit we're assholes. There's no nobility in anything I've ever done with my fists."

"The nobility doesn't come from fighting back," Mokuba murmured softly, and he didn't look like he was there anymore. He looked like he was watching something far away. "The nobility…the dignity…comes from standing back up. From getting knocked down and climbing back onto your feet. From…from looking at the person attacking you and…and…just standing."

Joey, Yugi, and Tristan all noticed a moment later that Mokuba had abandoned his cards.

He was clutching his locket.


The information from Tristan's textbook is actually lifted from:

www(dot)helpguide(dot)org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect(dot)htm.

To my estimation, Seto was a victim of every type of abuse under the sun save sexual. I know some people think it's possible or even likely that he was molested, but I have a hard time with the theory. I won't go into why. Those of you who have read "Back from the Dead" know that I don't shy away from the topic, but I just don't see it happening to Seto.

But physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect? He had it in spades. He tried to hide it from his brother, but Mokuba knows. He knows far more than Seto thinks he does, but Mokuba doesn't let him know because it wouldn't be fair to him. Seto thinks he's done well in hiding the worst of his past. It just wouldn't do to prove that he hasn't. There's no point. Mokuba doesn't hero-worship his brother because he doesn't know any better; he does it because he's one of the select few who know the truth.

In another project that never really went anywhere, I said, "[Gozaburo] was the sort of man you love when you don't know any better. He was a master. He's the sort of guy who could convince you he beat the wall at tennis...[Seto] is the sort of man you hate when you don't know any better. He wouldn't convince you he beat the wall at tennis; he'd play the hell out of that wall until he did."

That, I think, sums it up.

While the entire song doesn't fit Seto, certain sections do. Such as: "…and he fights so you won't ignore him, 'cuz that's his biggest fear. And he cries, but you'll rarely see him do it. He loves, but he's scared to use it…He's so much more than worthless; he needs to find the surface, because he's starting to get nervous."

Told you, a touch angsty this time around. 'Cuz that's what happens when you talk about Seto. But, he seems to have done well enough for himself, and Mokuba will keep him balanced, won't he?

So, see you all this weekend.

Take care.