State of Mind

PAIRING(S): Seto + Mokuba

ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Grey-san, Corvin-san, Field-san and the Kravans.

SPOILERS: None really, since the plot is most likely more AU than anything else.

SUMMARY: Mokuba is now 15 years old and has grown into a confident young man. In the years since Secrets that Remain Mokuba has become aware of Seto's game and the brothers have become inseparably close. Yet many secrets still remain. As the eve of Mokuba's 16th birthday nears, a new and unusual tension is in the air.
What lies beneath the surface of happy days and silent nights? When the demons of the past will not die, how does one continue to live? "This ephemeral peace will one day shatter and all shall fall away...”

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Yuugiou nor am I making any money from this story. Please give appropriate support toward Yuugiou's mangaka Takahashi Kazuki.

*****WARNINGS: PLEASE NOTE that this story contains direct mention and some description of sexual/mental child abuse between two males. This content is portrayed as a damaging, terrible act of violation toward a child as any type of child abuse is; however, if this subject offends you in ANY way, please do not read.

Contains Yaoi/MalexMale/Homosexual and incestuous situations, mature language, mention of attempted suicide, and various other not nice things.

-Blood.


---Chapter 1---

The humidity was terrible. The sun beat down on the streets in visible waves, forcing people indoors for a lazy day where their single goal would be to raise the electric bill. Anyone ignorant enough to go outside would be risking heat stroke. Alas, anyone who was too busy to putter around aimlessly all day could not use this as an excuse. This must be why one young man was not currently sprawled out barely dressed under the air conditioner. Rather, he was clothed in much more than he would have liked. While the soft fabric felt nice and—he had to admit—the blue suit fit him handsomely, this was ludicrous. Who wore a full business suit out in weather like this?

Kaiba Mokuba did. At least, when he felt the respect of his older brother depended on it. An hour before school that same morning, Mokuba had spied the older Kaiba leaving promptly for work, wearing his own full working clothes. These had changed somewhat from what he once wore, some years ago when Kaiba first took over for their foster father. The game of running Kaiba Corp® had dwindled slowly into a more respectable atmosphere. Seto felt a more professional look was required of his employees during business hours. For this reason, Mokuba, too, was to dress accordingly when he reported to his office.

At 15, Mokuba was now a viable employee at Kaiba Corp® assisting his older brother in the family business. Three years prior, the younger Kaiba had been taken on as a modern day apprentice, becoming personal assistant to the Corporation's CEO. Not only did this require plenty of hard work, but also a massive amount of attention and memorization. Seto had insisted he become used to serious work, rather than get by simply by being the boss's brother. There was no one else to depend on if Seto were suddenly unable to work because of an unforeseen accident or, worse, something fatal. Thus, the young Kaiba had agreed to do his best to learn all that he could about the corporation and how to run it as his brother did. He was told, with not a hint of malice, the first year would be the toughest. And it was.

Even the seemingly simple task of growing used to the sheer size of the corporation and the power it commanded was truly not so easy. It had created a sense of awe in the young boy that was uniquely different from his previous childish fascination with money and the dangerous freedom too much of it could bring. This type of power insisted respect and a firm knowledge for correct use, but usually caused greed of the worst kind.

That strict first year surely prevented him from becoming trapped in his own love of money. He was presented with his own bi-monthly salary, which replaced the allowance Seto previously gave him. Three days out of every week, Mokuba would report to Kaiba Corp® after school to watch his new employer's every move and attempt any task that was asked of him. He attended meetings where he quietly took notes until he learned what points to focus on. Paperwork was a never ending assignment, he and his brother spending hours staring at their computers.

That is not to say that the training was cruel in its strictness. Mokuba was never taken past his limit, but merely had it tested several times. Under his brother's guidance, his potential was being released and molded firmly into a fine assistant with many miles to go, but a straight road to travel on. Metaphorically, he was a pretty stone finally being polished into the finest jewel after so many years of neglect. It simply needed a steady hand.

With a small grunt of determination, the raven-haired young man nodded at his own reflection. He turned with his head held high, making his way to the awaiting limousine outside. He could do this; it was just a small distance between the limousine and the mansion. He would not die in that short expanse, or even sweat noticeably. With a calming breath, Mokuba opened the front doors to the estate. He walked down the clean sidewalk toward his black destination, resisting the urge to sprint the short distance. While he could manage it easily, it would only make the heat affect him more quickly. He watched with slight guilt as the chauffeur held open one of the rear doors and waited patiently for the young Kaiba to approach. He too wore a full outfit, the open cuffs of his sleeves the only evidence that the heat was getting to him. With a faint blush, Mokuba sped up his pace, reaching the vehicle in less time and slipping inside without a pause.

"Sorry to make you work on such a stifling day, Grey-san" Mokuba offered once the driver had seated himself. "Not at all, Young Master," he said with an easy smile, turning his eyes to the rearview mirror, "I'm at your service at all times, rain or shine."

"Even snow?"*

"Of course," the driver replied, laughing heartily as the limousine coasted onto the street.

Mokuba was quiet, listening to the older man's laughter die away as his concentration on the road increased. He could not remember when the man first started working under the Kaibas, but he was kind and good at his job. The teen was sure Grey knew every street in the city by name and sight, ready to maneuver safely through any detour or traffic stall. It was best not to disturb the old man in his duties. A small smile warmed Mokuba's features throughout the calm ride to Kaiba Corp®.

That same feeling of unease returned to the raven haired teen as he neared his place of work. The trek to the front of Kaiba Corp® was quite a bit longer than his previous short venture outside. He hated it when it was this hot. His black hair absorbed the heat so readily, and even with it pulled back as it was now, it would still be unpleasant. A quick glance at his resilient chauffeur was enough to make him feel embarrassed again about his whining thoughts. It was always the silly things that became exaggerated. When the limousine stopped, all his complaints had vanished. With a respectful bow of his head, the teen released the kind man from his service until further notice.

Mokuba's eyes strayed upward from his quick steps, taking in the intimidating office building before him. A familiar pride filtered into him as he passed beneath the front. This was Kaiba Corporation©. It was owned and run by himself and his older brother. A truly impressive family business.

And it was deliciously cooler inside than out, even more than usual. Compliments from the man upstairs, no doubt. Seto must have noticed the expected temperature for the day.

The lobby was relatively quiet, only the occasional employee could be seen, most clutching their briefcases to their sides and talking rapidly into cell phones as they rushed about. A few more passed Mokuba when the elevator doors opened. He could not help but catch the slight pause in breath of one of the older men as Mokuba was noticed and passed. Even the newest employee knew his employers by a simple glance. A little wariness never hurt anybody. Mokuba quietly stepped into the empty elevator.

The elevator was too slow. It seemed to crawl up through the floors; even with only one person aboard and one destination. Nervous fingers tugged at the bottom of Mokuba's overcoat. He fixed his tie endlessly before he heard the little `ding' as the machine finally located his floor. The doors swished open to reveal a large waiting room with a single secretarial desk at the far end. The right wall held comfortable chairs with auburn velvet linings and polished, wooden legs. A few were occupied by silent businessmen, all with briefcases sitting in their laps, watching the clock for their appointment time.

It was always the same atmosphere. Every client was wary in meeting the CEO of Kaiba Corp®, for no one could forget the way things used to be. And even though the once cruel tyrant of the corporation was no more, Seto was not someone to take lightly. Being friendly still was not one of his virtues.

Strangely enough, this made Mokuba secretly grin and straighten his back as he exited the elevator. He couldn't be slouching in front of prospective business partners, now could he? He ignored the open stares from the visitors, bowing his head slightly at the secretary as he walked past her into the hallway beyond. He passed his brother's office, listening briefly through the closed door before reaffirming the fact that he could hear nothing at all. It was all but sound proof. He knew that, but couldn't stop from trying each time he passed. His office was a room further down.

`Corporate Executive Officer: Kaiba Mokuba'

The bold silver letters on the door never ceased to improve Mokuba's mood. Technically, he was second-in-command and should have a title below his brother. Something like, Executive Assistant, perhaps. But Seto had insisted that he would grow into the title; it was their company, after all. He felt that one day Mokuba would be able to shoulder the entire company if need be. So, why not let him enjoy the powerful title without complete responsibility for a while? Snapping on the overhead light, Mokuba could see there were already papers stacked at the corner of his desk. A quick check of his computer revealed numerous emails and several faxes. The day had already gotten busy without him. He removed his overcoat and laid it across the back of the black leather chair, before sitting down easily. A few clicks and Mokuba's schedule for the day popped up on the screen: 3 meetings, 2 deadlines and of course the countless rudimentary tasks that needed taking care of. The first meeting was in 65 minutes; plenty of time to review the client's personal information as well as his company's reputation and history. Early on, Mokuba had shown a knack for personal relations and dealing with clients smoothly. As long as he was knowledgeable of the situation, Mokuba could easily converse with even the gruffest of business associates; whether he was hounded with questions or required to ask his own. In short; Mokuba was a splendid people- person. This skill later earned him the responsibility of seeing roughly one fourth of the clients requesting appointments each day, thus allowing even more to be scheduled and offered the possibility of a smaller work load for the first CEO.

That reminded him. A click of the mouse and a few more keystrokes brought up Seto's schedule for the day. He had a good twenty minutes before Seto's next event. Forgetting his overcoat, Mokuba slid from the leather chair and all but rushed his back office door. Behind his office was a second hallway leading to rooms that were generally off-limits to regular employees. One had to specifically go through one of the top officials to have access to this area. It also worked as an easy way to sneak into or out of his brother's office without being seen by regular personnel. A couple of quick steps brought the teen to Seto's back office door. It was always unlocked, but Mokuba still took another second to pause and listen to the closed room before rapping his knuckles lightly against the wooden surface.

"Enter," answered a slightly muffled, stern voice.

Clearing his throat quietly, Mokuba did as he was told before quietly closing the door behind him. "Good afternoon, Nii-sama," he said with a grin, staring at the back of Seto's chair. He closed his eyes momentarily, brushing long bangs out of the way.

"Good afternoon, Mokuba," he replied simply. Seto did not turn around, his hands still shuffling through a few papers in a final check. Approaching closer to the desk, he could see the small smile gracing Seto's profile. Mokuba's suddenly flustered stomach was quieted easily by this. Mokuba waited patiently, letting his eyes stray over the familiar office. It still had no intriguing features at all, with its simple colors and scarcely decorated walls, the filing cabinets and a few extra chairs for clients. Two stray pictures sat at the edge of the large, paper-filled desktop. They appeared out of place, somehow.

One was an old photo of Kaiba in his late-teens. His eyes were closed, a confident yet reserved smirk curving his lips as he won his final match of Duel Monsters. It was moments before he announced in a short speech that he would retire from the game's tournaments. His excuse was that his company now needed his full attentions. He planned to continue awing the world with Kaiba Corporation© by devoting his self entirely to it. Of course, at that time Mokuba had already been accepted onto the staff for in-depth training. It had shocked the world, but they would get over it. Everything lost to time.

The second was a little more recent. It was not surprising, but a constant comfort for the younger Kaiba. In a simple frame, the image of the two brothers standing side-by-side was held. They wore similar business suits—Mokuba's, a deep ebony and Seto's, a smooth, midnight blue—and serious expressions, though the edge of Mokuba lips was obviously working to stay down. Soon after, he had burst into a wide grin simply to corrupt the stern atmosphere. Seto had followed up with his own proud smile. It was the day Mokuba was promoted to Seto's equal by title; his first picture as a CEO. The moment itself was not so grand a memory, as that night's events. The simplest of pleasures were enjoyed; rented movies and snacks. Perhaps it was a childish thing, but a new one for them to experience together. Mokuba could not help but let his mind wander over the warm memories, his eyes staring through the photo. Therefore, he was startled when a hand settled over his shoulder. He blinked quickly, glancing up to the now standing form of his older brother. He was still taller.

"Mokuba?"

"Ah, nothing," Mokuba said with a casual smile. "I was just reminiscing." Seto studied him for a moment, his eyes questioning. In a sudden movement, Mokuba's hands slipped around Seto's waist in a firm hug that urged familiar arms to return the gesture. Seto complied, pulling the younger man even closer. Neither moved for a long moment. `Old habits die hard;' or so went the old saying. It had become their way of greeting, no matter the situation. They parted soon enough, Seto returning to sit in his chair as Mokuba scooted onto the edge of the large desk. The older male eased back into the cushioned leather in an attempt to relax. Grey eyes regarded him evenly, knowing it was possibly the first time he had allowed himself the privilege all day. If that were true, then Mokuba did not feel any guilt for interrupting his brother's busy schedule. The room had become pleasantly silent around the pair, allowing for a comfortable preparation of thoughts. Seto was again the first to speak.

He leaned forward, propping covered elbows atop his desk and lacing slim fingers together. "How was school?" he asked quietly, sapphire eyes glancing up at the dark haired boy.

A smile lit Mokuba's features, "Not bad at all. My first class was changed to a study session, so I had plenty of time to do what I wanted." He leaned forward, his hands gripping his knees for support. "Math was the same as usual." He paused in thought before continuing, "I had two tests today," he ended with a smile. Seto smiled in return. "Ho? Are you confident about the results?" "Of course," Mokuba said cheekily, sitting up slightly for effect. "This is me, you know?"

Laughing slightly, Seto replied, "This is true. Forgive me for doubting you." He ran his fingers through slightly tousled brown hair. "What did you use your study period for?" It was a simple question, but his eyes suggested he wanted a specific answer. Mokuba was ready for him, "Yes, yes, don't worry. I know the report is due tomorrow. I finished it during study hall. There's plenty of time left." He grinned sheepishly; his brother knew him all too well. He always finished his assignments a little too close to deadline to suit his brother. Seto just didn't understand that procrastination was an art form. If Mokuba had twice as many reports, they would still be done as close to deadline. The workload was not the deciding variable. It was time.

"I never said anything," Seto said in mock defense.

"You were thinking it."

"Yes," he admitted straight-faced.

"You…," Mokuba warned, leaning toward Seto in an attempt to look menacing. It was obvious who would win the staring match the moment it began. Determined eyes the color of steel burned into darker blue. After a minute, Seto sighed, closing his eyes and turning his head.

"All right, you win," he said, but his tone was not at all serious. Mokuba just smirked. He never lost these matches, even when it meant he had to stare into those cold eyes without pause. Those other- worldly eyes that seemed to see all, and through every mask and lie. If Mokuba stared too long, would those eyes see through to his secrets? With so much to hide, Mokuba wondered if his brother had not already figured it out.

"You have another meeting with Corvin-san today, don't you?" Seto had passed over the game swiftly, his back now straight in the seat. Mokuba nodded, breaking out of his jumbled thoughts. "Have you come to a conclusion?"

All at once, the atmosphere had shifted to business. Mokuba reacted in kind, "Hai. I believe it would be in our best interests to accept his offer." Seto nodded in silent agreement. "However," Mokuba continued, "I am going to attempt to up our own profit in the project. I have a few suggestions for him to try on." He smiled, confidence covering him as easily as his fitted suit.

"You have some strategy, I take it?" Seto's voice revealed his own confidence in his younger brother's ability to be convincing. His personal skills were truly top-notch, and every client would leave feeling confident the better deal was theirs. None suspected the keen intellect behind those soft grey eyes.

"Hai," Mokuba repeated. He pushed his bangs out of his face, his brows lowered in concentration. "If it goes correctly, we will get 15% on marketable merchandise and 10% overall."

Seto's eyebrows rose, "Impressive numbers. I see I was wise in leaving this project up to you, Mokuba." Their eyes met momentarily, serious expressions softening after the praising remark.

"Thank you, Nii-sama, I won't disappoint you." Mokuba responded with a small bow. "I have a meeting in forty-five minutes that I must prepare for," he said reluctantly, looking at Seto.

"I understand. You may leave." Seto watched as Mokuba bowed once more before exiting through the back office door. He smiled after the door latch sounded. It was impressive how easily Mokuba could fall into the correct attitude. This transition between playful brother and fellow businessman had once startled the unprepared Seto. Where had his younger brother gone; had he made a mistake in training him as his equal, his successor? He had feared for the child in Mokuba. Priceless was the relief Seto felt when he realized the transformation was not permanent. Mokuba was still there. He had simply…grown up. At 15, soon to be 16, Mokuba was above and beyond his fellow classmates; in more ways than one.

`Thank you, Nii-sama, I won't disappoint you,' Mokuba had said. He could never. Seto rubbed his temples, closing his eyes in thought. Even if Mokuba were not the businessman that he was; even if he had not agreed to work at Kaiba Corp©; whatever Mokuba decided on and did with his life, Seto would never be disappointed. He loved him too much. Seto was nothing but proud of the boy, or rather the man, that was his younger brother.

Seto closed his eyes momentarily, pushing aside the nostalgia that threatened him. He had no time for a trip down memory lane, nor did he wish to risk the path his troubled mind would take. He turned his attentions back to the work that was his sanctuary, condemning such thoughts to the back of his mind.