Then and Now

2. How they became brothers
One Year Later (Seto and Katsuya are 11, Mokuba is 7)

“Set-chan!” The excited scream clanged through the orphanage.

“Set-chan, come on, where are you? I have news; you’ll never guess what!”
Katsuya Jounouichi, the energetic 11-year-old, searched for his best friend. Oh, Seto would be so thrilled to hear…if he could just find him…

Just as he took another deep breath to scream for ‘Set-chan,’ the door at the end of the hallway opened and Seto’s brown head poked out. Of course! The study room. Why was it always the obvious places Katsuya forgot to search for his friend?

“What is it, Katsu-kun? I’m studying, the same thing you should be doing right now if you want to pass the next test.”

Katsuya jumped up and down excitedly. “Oh, never mind studying, guess what!”

Seto raised an eyebrow. He hated these games, and as excited as Katsuya was at the moment Seto knew he would just have to wait a few moments and Katsuya would blurt out whatever news he had anyway. It took exactly five seconds for Katsuya to get impatient. He rolled his eyes.

“You’re no fun, Set-chan. Anyway, you know the business guy who is always on TV, the one from the war machine company? The chess champion you said you could beat? Well, here’s your big chance! He’s coming to our orphanage . He donated some money, remember? Now he wants to take some pictures with the poor children he was so generously helping.” The sarcasm was evident in Katsuya’s voice. “He is coming with a big camera crew and the press. Man, that guy is such a show off. I bet he hates children. What people do just for publicity is really disgusting.”

Seto wanted to roll his eyes. Katsuya hated people who pretended to be something they weren’t. Seto had tried to explain time and time again that in life you had to hide your true self behind a mask in order to have success.

“Anyway, he’s coming next week, and he said he wanted to talk to us children and play with us. So, Set-chan, will you challenge him?”

“That’s why you were shouting through the halls? Just to ask me that? Really, Katsu-kun, I have to continue studying now. But I’ll play with you later, promise,” he added when he saw Katsuya pouting.

The promise made Katsuya grin. Seto was always so busy. Busier than any eleven year old boy should be, in Katsuya’s opinion. And today was Mokuba’s long day at school, so he and Seto would have time to play alone. Not that he disliked Mokuba’s company, but he was much younger than the two of them and… Katsuya really like to have Seto all to himself.

“Okay Set-chan, but I’ll be back in exactly 59 minutes. Don’t back out of your promise.” With that, Katsuya hopped away.

Seto closed the door behind him and let out the breath he had been holding since Katsuya had told him that Gozaburo Kaiba was going to visit the orphanage. Like Katsuya had said, this really was Seto’s big chance, but in another way than the blond had thought.

The brunette boy had studied the man through TV and the newspaper. He had reached everything in life. He was rich, famous and influential. No one dared to go against him. But he was also a proud man. Proud of his knowledge and slight of hand. He thought himself superior to everybody.

Seto was determined to use that to his advantage.

His life in the orphanage wasn’t bad, but he wanted more. He knew he was destined to be something bigger, to lead more than this poor life. There had been people who wanted to adopt him. Rich people. They were fascinated by his intelligence, but he had always declined. They never had interests in adopting more than one child, and Seto would never leave Mokuba or Katsuya behind. Mokuba was his brother, the last connection to his family, and Katsuya…Katsuya was the most cherished person in his life. His first and best friend, his companion. Without him, everything in his life had been dull, but on the day Katsuya had come to the orphanage one year ago everything had changed. Katsuya had brightened his life, and he would not, could not leave him behind.

Seto had planned this for months now, and now his chance had finally arrived. He would challenge Gozaburo to a game of chess, and he would make him accept a deal were Gozaburo would have to adopt Mokuba, Katsuya and him, if he, Seto, won the game.

And he would win!

(One week later)

”Queen to B5. Checkmate.”

Gozaburo’s face, which had become whiter and whiter throughout the game, was now deep red. His anger was almost tangible. How could that small boy have beaten him? He must have been cheating. Despite his thoughts, Gozaburo knew he couldn’t have. It was almost impossible to cheat in chess. And if the boy had tried, Gozaburo was sure he would have known it…being quite the accomplished cheater himself.

Gozaburo worked the situation through his mind. He had never thought of adopting a child, not to mention three, but this kid was quite intelligent and would eventually make a good successor. And the other one, the blond one, was just his taste. He had hardly been able to conceal his leering gaze when he had seen the boy for the first time. The two of them would be quite useful and entertaining. The third one was rather useless, but maybe he would find a purpose for him later.

A warm smile spread over Gozaburo’s face. His false beam was reflected in the cameras which were all around the table, where he had played with the boy.

“Well then, boy. I am a man of honour and won’t go back on a deal. You and your brothers get your things while I deal with the formalities with Misaki-san.”

A triumphant grin stole over Seto’s face. Finally! He had finally managed to take his life in his own hands and make something out of it.

When he managed to wriggle his way out of the mass of people all over the room, he was met with Katsuya’s angry face.

“You had no right to do that Seto! It’s not your decision where I live! And I demand that you take it back! I will not leave here, especially not with that man.” Katsuya was almost out of control; he wanted to smash the other’s face in, and he would have, if Seto had been any other person.

“But Katsu-kun, don’t you see? This is our chance! Our chance to make something of our lives…and it’s our chance to stay together. Haven’t you thought about that? We’ll be brothers.”

Katsuya was very quiet. He was still angry with Seto, but…brothers…that would be so wonderful. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Seto.”

The freshly made brothers arrived at the Kaiba mason not two hours later. The house was huge and massive. It looked more like a fort than a home.

“So boys, this will be your new home. We shall discuss the rules tomorrow. Now I will tell you where your rooms are. Don’t stroll around the mansion. Seto, you and your little brother will stay on the first floor. Your room is in the left wing, No.3, while his is in the right. No 8. Katsuya,” Gozaburo stopped and let his eyes wander over the small blond body. “You will stay on the second floor. Room No.2.” Right next to the Master’s Bedroom, but Gozaburo didn’t mention that.

“But why do we have to sleep apart? I want to sleep with onichan and Katsu-chan!" Mokuba said.

´That annoying brat. I never wanted him in the first place. He’s useless, and now he dares to demand something! ´ Gozaburo was furious. He would show this brat his place. He struck out, but instead of hitting the smallest of the three boys, his palm landed on Seto’s cheek. Seto had jumped between them. Now Mokuba was hiding behind Seto, who looked dangerously up at Gozaburo. Katsuya was unable to move. Bad memories of his past with his father flooded his mind.

The slap had been quite hard and had hurt a lot, but Seto didn’t show it. Instead, he fixed his cold blue eyes on Gozaburo. He didn’t say anything. He knew he couldn’t threaten the man with anything, not yet. But his eyes held a promise. A promise to make Gozaburo’s life hell if he ever tried to do that again. Gozaburo saw that. Saw the eyes which spoke of vicious intelligence and determination. In that moment, Gozaburo had a small look into the future. He knew that this boy would play a very important role in it. Whether to Gozaburo’s advantage or disadvantage he couldn’t say, and for that he feared the boy. He normally could read people like an open book. Could say which of them would be useful and which not. Could tell which where disposed to him and which weren’t. But Seto was different.

His fear made him hate the boy. He had never feared anybody, but these cold blue eyes made him shiver. He didn’t know if he regretted adopting this child then, but one thing he was sure of: This boy would make an excellent successor. Gozaburo decided to think about the consequences of this adoption later - he would never know that he had sealed his death on this day.

“Mokuba, go to bed. I won’t tolerate any whining. Katsuya, go to your room and wait for me. Seto, follow me.”

The three of them gazed at each other uncomfortably but complied anyway.

Seto followed Gozaburo. They weren’t going to his new room, Seto realised. When Gozaburo opened a heavy wooden door he found himself in a small library - small in comparison to the house, but it was definitely one of the biggest libraries Seto had ever been in.

Gozaburo walked along the shelves and griped, seemingly randomly three books. He sad those on a small table and motioned for Seto to sit down.

“You are going to read these books, and will review them to me in the morning.” At Seto’s defying gaze he added, “Don’t forget that I hold yours and you precious brother’s futures in my hand. I CAN make life very nice for them, but I can make it very hard just as easily.”

With that, he left Seto alone. “What have I done?!” The boy asked himself in horror.

Meanwhile, Mokuba had settled down in his new room. It was much bigger than the one he had shared with Seto and Katsuya, but it was also very empty. He climbed into bed, but couldn’t fall asleep. He had never slept alone before. Seto had always been there, and for one year now Katsuya had been too. The small boy looked around the dark room. Everything was so big. Big enough for monsters to hide in… Mokuba whimpered. They would come out. Now that neither Seto nor Katsuya were there to frighten them away, these monsters would come out and tear his limbs apart, eat his entrails, and drink his blood. He heard a small scratching noise and jumped under his sheets, curling into a ball and calling silently for his two brothers.

Katsuya too had settled down in his room. He was now sitting on his bed, nervously waiting for Gozaburo to arrive. What did the scary business man want to discuss with him? He could understand the man’s interest in Seto. All the adults were fascinated by his blue-eyed friend’s intelligence. Gozaburo had dismissed Mokuba easily, so what did he want with him? Katsuya knew that the heavy man had no interest in playing happy family. He followed his own interests, but what they were was still unclear to him.

Eventually the door opened and Gozaburo Kaiba stepped in. He clicked the lock shut and loosened his tie. His gaze was fixed on the small boy sitting on his bed. He licked his lips; the boy still looked so innocent.

“You will learn your very first lesson in this house now, boy. Pay attention and follow my orders. This will spare you and your brothers much pain.”

Katsuya nodded and Gozaburo’s face twisted into a lecherous grin. “Strip,” he ordered.


This was the first night in their new life for the three of them, each of them suffering and hoping that the other two were safe and sound.


Thanks to blackwidow for betaing