Legend of Glory

Legend of Glory

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Eighteen: The Doragon’s Illness

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Tiredly, Seto had made it home. He closed the door behind him, and leaned slowly against it. His hands moved over, brushing back at his sweaty brown hairs. He had vomited twice when coming home, over Blue Eyes’s side. The dragon had not minded. She was too worried over her chosen than whether or not his vomit would land on her shiny scales.

Resting his eyes shut, Seto let out a low sigh. “What the hell is wrong with me?”

“Seto?” came the scared voice of Mokuba.

Opening his eyes, Seto watched in time to see Mokuba rushing over to him. Immediately, the boy’s arms wrapped snuggly around Seto, making the older brother wince. Mokuba’s hands grasped Seto’s robe, holding on tightly and never daring to or wanting to let go. “Seto!”

“Mokuba…” Seto cringed.

“Where were you?” cried Mokuba, resting his cheek against Seto’s stomach. “Where were you, Seto? I was so scared! You keep -- disappearing! Why?” Tears flew down the boy’s innocent cheeks. His grasp around Seto never loosened. “Why do you keep leaving? Where do you keep going?”

Seto heard his brother sniff. Frowning, Seto wrapped his arms around Mokuba, keeping his stomach still. “Mokuba… Let go…”

“No!” shrieked Mokuba. “No! No! No! I’ll never let you out of my sight again!”

“Mokuba….” Seto coughed. He found that he could not move his body, and he heard Mokuba gasp in shock as Seto’s entire body fell to the floor. Mokuba had not let go of Seto, and rolled on top of him.

“Seto?” Mokuba cried. “You’re still sick.”

“I -- I guess I am…” grumbled Seto as Mokuba helped him into the bedroom.

He laid on the comfortable bed, allowing its softness to overtake him. He said not a word as he watched Mokuba help him. Mokuba wrapped blankets over him, and even left briefly to bring him some water in a bowl to drink.

Mokuba handed his brother the bowl. He kept his focus on Seto as the older brother sipped all the water he could. Drinking only half, Seto handed the bowl back to Mokuba. Mokuba set it on the floor. After this, he showed Seto his serious sadness as he laid in the bed next to his brother, snuggling against him gently. They had done this so many times when little -- slept in the same bed. Once, they were able to tell one another anything and everything. It was beginning to get to a point where Mokuba was not so sure anymore.

“Seto, will you promise me you won’t leave again?” Mokuba softly whispered as he rested his head upon Seto’s chest. His ear greeted the soft, long breaths coming from his older brother’s lungs. It was peaceful. Very. Mokuba let his eyes close shut as he whispered, “Promise…”

“Mokuba,” Seto frowned. He brushed back his brother’s tangled hair. He saw that Mokuba had fallen asleep, this sign taken that the young boy had not slept since Seto’s new disappearance. Seto leaned back, feeling as if sleep sounded extravagant. Seto’s own blue orbs closed, and only seconds passed to the sound of Seto’s soft, sleepy breathing.

--

Loud banging awoke Seto abruptly. He groaned, pushing up on his elbows as he watched the door to his bedroom open wide. He watched as Mokuba entered. Behind him followed Gozaburo and Noa. Their sight made Seto groan, and he forced a feathered pillow over his face. A mumbled, “What do you want?” could be heard through the pillow, thus making Gozaburo grind his teeth.

“Seto, we have issues to discuss,” said Gozaburo. Placing his hands behind his back, he hovered over Seto’s bed as Noa and Mokuba stood behind. “Urgent issues.”

“Yes, I figured,” Seto moaned. At this time, his pillow was thrown to the floor by Gozaburo’s swift hand. Wincing, Seto opened his single left orb, glaring over Gozaburo’s massive repulsiveness.

“You look awful,” said Gozaburo, picking up the pillow off the ground.

“I feel awful,” Seto glared. He grabbed back his pillow, setting it gently on his lap. “I am ill.”

Gozaburo nodded his head, and surely Seto was positive to have seen a pleased grin just barely reflecting off of that fake worried frown.

“Tragic,” Gozaburo went on, his frown growing. “Very, very tragic. And such a shame…” He paused, eyeing Seto’s befuddled gaze. Smirking, Gozaburo takes a huge breath before leaning forward. “You have a curious hint to your face. Do you wish for me to share a secret with you?”

Seto held still, momentarily. He took in Gozaburo’s harsh attitude. Glaring, Seto looked over at his younger brother. “Mokuba, take Noa into the living room. Stay out there.”

Nodding, Mokuba did as he was told. Noa and Mokuba took hands, walking side-by-side out of the bedroom.

Once he was sure the boys were out of earshot, Seto leaned comfortably against the head of his bed as he stared up at Gozaburo. “I understand you, and I am not afraid of you.”

“You should be,” sneered Gozaburo, meeting Seto’s eye level. “I am a dangerous man. I act as I should for this tribe, which I’m beginning to think that you cannot handle.” Controlling his anger, Gozaburo fully stood. He pulled at his robe to loosen it, and re-placed his hands behind his back, giving him an etiquette state. Turning around, Gozaburo allowed Seto’s eyes to focus on his back. “It’s a shame, really. What would your brother think if he -- found out?”

“What are you talking about?” asked Seto, suddenly fearing Gozaburo. That, however, he did not show.

“Oh,” Gozaburo gasped, turning back to face Seto. “You mean you do not know?”

“You are beginning to anger me,” Seto growled, baring his teeth at the man he called leader.

“Is it not obvious to you of your condition?” Gozaburo pondered. “I have seen this before. It begins with a dizzy sense of feeling. After this comes a hot atmosphere, followed by vomiting, and need of rest.”

Seto gulped. Hearing Gozaburo name out symptoms he had obtained made Seto nauseous. “W -- what? I -- I don’t understand.”

“I am most serious,” continued Gozaburo. He let his body inch towards Seto’s own, bowing to the brunette’s frightened view. “For you see, I have seen this before. You may not have been aware, at the time. You were still so young when -- it -- happened.” Gozaburo’s grin brightened, then, at the sight of Seto’s increasingly terrifying face. “That is right, Seto. You are processing similar symptoms to the disease Tawasaki died from.”

Shivering in spot, Seto held still, almost petrified by what Gozaburo had told him. “No…”
At that time, Seto’s head began to shake violently. “You -- lie…”

“Do I?” interrupted Gozaburo, letting Seto see the glare to his disappearing grin. “Was it not these very symptoms that caused your father’s death? Sure, it seemed innocent, at first. Perhaps nothing more but a passing bug?”

“Shut up…” Seto stuttered, prepared to stand tall as Gozaburo. Though, his body was weak. It just couldn’t be true. He couldn’t have what his father had. “Please…”

“It’s a scary thought,” said Gozaburo as he continued. “Not even your father was as young as you are when the disease picked up. He was in his thirties. But you? You are a young man, Seto. Perhaps you should take this into extreme consideration? If you were to, say, die, who would take over from me? Who would take care of Mokuba?”

“You are living it,” Gozaburo went on. “You are feeling what he did. The pain.”

“Stop…” Seto growled, pushing off his covers. He attempted to get out of bed, resulting in pushing a hand against Gozaburo weakly. “It -- is not true. I am too young. I -- I don’t have what my father had.”

“Oh, come now Seto,” Gozaburo nearly shouted. “Stop fighting what you know is true! Look at you! How long it takes just for you to stand to your feet? Miserable.”

“I will not listen to anymore of this,” Seto growled, it almost sounding whiny. His voice began to dry out as he squeezed tightly to Gozaburo‘s robes, only holding onto the larger man for support. “I know what you have planned. You -- you are wanting to go to war with those innocent people. That is wrong, Gozaburo, and you -- know it. What have they done? Nothing!” Seto panted, not meeting Gozaburo’s dangerously angered eyes. “This -- illness I have will go away. I shall rid myself from it, and I will, in good time, become leader of the Doragons. And there’s nothing you can do -- to stop me!“

“I have asked you -- once before, and I shall ask again,” panted Seto. “Leave my house! Never come back!”

A sudden jolt made Seto gasp, and he found his body falling onto the bed. He nearly screamed, it becoming silent as Gozaburo’s large, strong hand placed itself over Seto’s mouth. Seto stared up, horrified to find Gozaburo’s face only inches from his own, glaring down at him with such evil.

“Now, you listen to me,” hissed Gozaburo. “What I do is all for my people! From the very start, I knew that the marking on your arm would bring my people destruction. But I will not allow it, nor your beastlike friend to ruin anything I have planned!”

Removing his hand from over Seto’s lips, Gozaburo forcefully grabbed squished together the brunette’s cheeks. “As far as I am considered, as long as you keep me from doing my job, I will have no choice but to make Noa the next heir to the seat of ‘boss.’”

Quickly, Gozaburo released Seto’s cheeks, leaving reddened imprints on both. He stood, pulling back his robe. “Stay out of my way, Seto. If you do not, I promise that harm will come to you and to your brother.”

When Gozaburo left, Seto slowly came to a sitting position. He gasped loudly, feeling his heartbeat racing. Never -- never had he been so afraid. Never had he seen Gozaburo act so out of character. The man was mad; insane, even! Seto could not allow Gozaburo to harm Katsuya, nor the people in Katsuya’s village.

He had to do something --

Anything.

What?

And then, when all hope seemed lost on his part, Seto heard a familiar, haggy voice. “You -- seem frustrated, young Doragon. Has Gozaburo -- has -- has he finally shown you what he’s prepared to accomplish?”

Swiftly, Seto’s blue orbs turned, meeting the decaying figure of Mina. She sat, hiding like a mischievous cockroach in the darkest corner of the room. “You…”

Mina giggled, glad to know Seto remembered her. “Why -- look at you. You -- have your father’s aching heart.”

Seto glared her over. “What do you want, old hag?”

The witch cackled, this time, giving Seto the fine opportunity to sicken at the sight of her rotting yellow teeth. “I -- come not to argue, but to befriend. I know you suffer -- Seto… Yes, yes, yes! You -- are in lots of pain…” she hissed into sad laughter, cooing at Seto.

“How intelligent of you to see,” Seto said sarcastically, resting against his bed’s edge. His sarcastic tone, however, only made Mina seem more insane.

“Ah -- ah -- you have such strength still in you,” Mina grinned. “But that strength is slowly dying.” Mina was then overjoyed to see Seto’s tuned expression. “Yes Seto, I know that you are ill. I know that you carry a -- devastating disease in your heart, and I know that, in good time, you shall -- die…”

“Do not say that,” spat Seto. “I am not dying!”

“Sadly, it cannot be fought,” moaned Mina, as she showed her sorrow for Seto. “Gozaburo’s words were as good as gold, Seto. I’ve seen this -- in your father… But I understand your other pain…”

“My other pain?” Seto glared. “I am afraid to ask…”

“You know this pain,” said Mina, her voice seeming more croaky than a toad’s. “The pain you have -- for the one named Katsuya.”

“Katsuya,” Seto’s brow rose. “What about Katsuya?”

Mina softly hummed as her body rocked back and forth. She acted alone. It seemed faire, considering her lovely pet and tooled bones were not with her. Instead, she painted invisible patterns in the softness of the floor. As she did this, Seto grew impatient with her childish behavior. “Answer me, hag!”

Hearing Seto’s words made Mina pause. She quickly lifted her head, making Seto wince as he finally caught sight of the filth that hid underneath the hood. A skeletal face, yellow and grim. The witch’s skin seemed rough. It clung to her bones, completely wrinkled and wart-engulfed. Seto only saw it briefly, for Mina’s head immediately disappeared back behind the hood as she lowered her head to the floor. Seto was thankful that he did not have to see it for long.

“Katsuya -- is now Chief of his people,” Mina calmly worded. “He is disoriented. He is not himself. He is -- unsure with himself. He is afraid. He is lonely. He -- needs you…”

“I angered him,” Seto sighed. “Gozaburo had found Katsuya’s village. I do not know how…” Seto was interrupted by Mina’s cackle. He looked over her, seeing her panicking by what he had said.

Yet, he understood.

“You…” Seto glared. “It was you. You told Gozaburo!”

“Yes -- yes!” Mina quickly chirped. “I told him.”

“Why?” Seto asked, confused by Mina’s nature. “Why do such a thing?”

“I do so -- for you,” was Mina’s answer. “You -- this way, since he -- understands what had happened with you and Katsuya…”

“Humph, you make no sense,” growled Seto, feeling a headache forming. “How can I meet Katsuya? He probably doesn’t want to see me. Not for your terrible mistake!”

“Come to the waterfall tonight,” said Mina, her tone serious. “Come by midnight. Meet with Katsuya at the top of the waterfall. I shall -- make sure he meets with you. And together -- you two can -- form plan…”

Seto watched as Mina began to disappear. “Wait!”

“Midnight…” Mina cooed as her figure fully vanished. “Tonight…”

-End Chapter Eighteen-

Here’s the next chapter!

Katsuya: So that’s what’s wrong with Kaiba!

Seto: *grumbles in a corner*

Yes. Seto is sick! WOOT! Uh -- I mean… *hugs Seto in the corner*

Seto: Gah! *gets bloody nose and faints*

Oops…

Hey everyone! Please review! See ya!