Chapter Text
October 20th, 1998, 07:06pm
“Grandpa, I’m home!”
The older man heard the familiar voice of his grandson, Yugi Mutou. He couldn’t be more prouder of the man he has become within the last few years. From the first duel with Seto Kaiba to the Final Duel against Atem, he has seen his grandson matured and outgrow his gentle and timid personality. He could see the confidence and benevolence his grandson possessed—the exact mirror image of his fierce son Aka. Usually, the middle child would be neglected, not given proper love or not given enough attention. Solomon disproved that myth by always embracing his three children with much love and affection until the day he disowned his youngest daughter Akari for becoming pregnant with a child while not being legally married. His wife Akana refused to have a “sinful” daughter, unconcerned of the well-being of her grandchild and the father of the child, she easily scurried her away from her family. Going along with his wife, Solomon could not afford to have a dysfunctional family, so he regretfully kicked her out of their home. He put those memories on the side, not wanting to alarm his grandson.
“Yugi, I’m over here down the counter. I’m organizing the new booster packs that are coming out this week,” he said, watching as his grandson helped him stand up and then picking up the heavy box of Duel Monsters cards.
“There, that should do it. Now, go get some rest, grandpa,” Yugi looked at his grandpa, noticing the exhaustion in the older man’s voice.
“I will, don’t worry Yugi,” the old man smiled, letting his grandson get settled at home.
The letter from Akari left him awe-struck and hopeful of a possible reunion. In the other letter, his older daughter Akami promised that she would answer any of his pending questions in due time. She made it clear that they had to meet up in person to talk—something that has lit up his mood and eliminated some of his remorse and sorrow that he has hidden over the years. Yugi completely clueless of his controversial past, wanted to keep it under wraps to avoid causing pain to him, the only person who loved him unconditionally. Conscious of the existence of two grandsons from his daughter Akari, he knew it would not be an easy confession to make to Yugi.
The tricolored-haired young duelist sat on one of the couches in the small living room, expecting his grandfather to join him eventually. His mind went back to his date with Téa—the stunning dancer who he has been crushing for years to whom he confessed his feelings days ago resulting in their first kiss. After so much thought, he gathered the courage and asked her to be his girlfriend which the young dancer reacted positively to his question. Yugi had to admit that he was shy and nervous about her possible rejection, but after all the learning experiences throughout the years, he became more self-sufficient and assertive. Perhaps due to years of sharing a body with an ancient pharaoh, his innocence and naivety disappeared little by little. He was forever grateful not only to Atem but to his friends.
“So, Yugi, how did it go with Téa?” he asked, curious of his grandson’s date with the brunette.
Yugi blushed and fiddled with his fingers. “It went great, grandpa. I asked her to be my girlfriend… finally,” he answered honestly, not willing to keep anything from him. “And she said yes.”
Solomon looking amused, patted his grandson in the back. “Good job, my boy. I remember when Akari was young and in love with your uncle Ryuunosuke. Brings back memories…” he remembered the days when his youngest daughter and Ryuunosuke were young, professing their love for one another, not afraid of the reactions of others.
Yugi puzzled by his grandfather’s comment, determined to ask him about it. “Grandpa, you never talk about my aunt Akari. Is everything okay? By the tone of your voice, I could tell there is something going on.”
“Oh, it’s nothing Yugi… everything is fine. It’s just been a long day, that’s all. Let’s get some rest,” he said, heading to his bedroom to get adequate rest.
“Alright grandpa,” Yugi said, not fully convinced with his grandfather’s response.
There was something more, only that he did not know what it could be. He never seen him melancholic about a topic, especially about his aunt Akari. That was a name he had not heard for years so he found it strange his grandfather would bring her up. Was his grandfather hiding something from him? No, he was always upfront and honest about things. Yugi thought for a moment until his eyes felt heavy. Several hours of sleep wouldn’t hurt at all.
Hours later. 11:54pm
“Remind me why I let myself be dragged to this place?” an unamused voice was heard as they walked the busy streets of Domino City. “What’s so interesting about watching citizens roam around like lost children?”
Kisara let out a giggle, finding his comments silly and childish. She could tell that he was not an outdoor person, suddenly understanding his abrasive character to all social gatherings. “Oh c’mon, Kaiba. Don’t be a sour puss and have fun!” she said, having a hold of his hand. “You have to admit the tacos were delicious. Probably the best in town.”
Kaiba rolled his eyes, taken a bit aback by Kisara’s glowing and outgoing nature. He was not used to being around sociable people other than Mokuba—finding it a waste of energy and time therefore, he completely shut down interactions with others such as the band of geeks from Yugi’s group. Mokuba was the exception to the rule. He promised to take care of him, allowing his younger brother to have a pleasant childhood and life overall.
“Oh please, I could find tastier tacos someplace else.”
“Like where?” she curiously asked, wanting to further their conversation.
“Have you heard of a country known as Mexico? Last time I went on a business trip, I ate at a local restaurant. The food was better than this slum.”
She let another giggle, entertained by the blue-eyed duelist words. “Of course I heard of le Mexique, silly. One of my favorite vacation destinations. Now that you mention Mexico, do you want to know a little secret about me?”
Kaiba stopped his walking, staring at the young woman for a moment. “Fine… If I decline, I wouldn’t hear the end of it either way.”
The white-haired female beamed in excitement, pressing his hand a bit more. “I know it’s crazy, but I would love to have my honeymoon in Cancun. I always loved beaches.”
“It’s not crazy actually…” he mumbled, feeling the immense stare from Kisara.
“Wow, you really think so?” she asked, certain of what he said.
“You talk too much.”
“And you’re so cute and funny, Kaiba.”
“Whatever, let’s just keep walking.”
He remained silent for a brief moment, turning away and avoiding her eyes immediately. The brunet was perplexed on why he was letting a girl drag him around as if he was a doll. It’s not as if he was interested in her unless he was starting to realize that she was not too bad. Yeah, he found her annoying in class with her constant wooing and the need to hit on him in front of his classmates. In reality it was nothing new to him. His unofficial fan club of girls tended to do the same on occasions.
Kisara oblivious to his current feelings about her, made a sudden stop at an ice cream shop. One of her favorite desserts have always been cookies and cream ice cream. She had sweet tooth for sugary treats, so it was no surprise that she wanted to take her date into the ice cream shop.
“Ice cream at this hour?” he asked, following the young woman into the ice cream shop.
“Of course, my treat!” she said, lining up in the back of another customer.
Kaiba rolled his eyes. “You realize you ate like three churros earlier,” he pointed out, letting go of Kisara’s hand. “It’s like you never get full.”
“Pfff, please. Those churros were not enough, I need more of a boost. Or do you have something else in mind?” she winked at him before ordering her ice cream cone with two scoops of cookies and cream.
“Not really, but since we are here… I will get a scoop of strawberry ice cream in a cone.”
The white-haired female nodded, excited to have convinced her date to eat ice cream. The two continued walking in the direction of the park. They found an empty bench, sat down and took in the gorgeous nature surrounding them. Kisara’s attraction to the young businessman, curious to know more of his personal life precedes to make conversation. “Kaiba, I enjoyed our time out. Time went by so quick.”
The blue-eyed CEO turned to face her, not certain what to respond to her. He had no experience in the dating world—though he had to admit that spending time with a woman as Kisara was not awful as he imagined. But Seto Kaiba was a proud and stubborn man, so disclosing such thoughts would be news to the world.
“Eh, it was not bad,” he said, feeling the breezy air touch his face.
Kisara elbowed him, finding his response endearing yet as a cover up of enjoying his time with her. “Well Mr. Kaiba, I would love to repeat this again…” she stated not losing hope having another outing with the fashionable CEO.
“Fine, when my next available time slot opens,” he said, watching as Kisara played with her fingers.
“Of course, you silly man. I have my eye on you,” she batted her eyelashes at him then burst out laughing.
Kisara’s attention went to his glamorous and elegant choice of clothing: white suit made of pure silk, something expected of a wealthy businessman to wear. Seto Kaiba was all about presentation—not only professionally also in his daily lifestyle even something as this “weird” date. Mostly every male from Domino City were envious of Kaiba’s sense of fashion which earned the attention of million fangirls. Despite having immense support from the female population, the reserved CEO seemed uninterested of establishing a romantic relationship with a lucky woman. However, his entire date with Kisara Analÿnde was unusual but could not complain that it was up to his standards. He did not think it would hurt to meet with her again. Yeah, it wouldn’t be too bad.
“So, Kaiba, tell me more about yourself. Other than ruling most of Domino City, who is truly Seto Kaiba?” she inquired, followed by a quick bite of her ice cream cone.
Kaiba raised an eyebrow, not expecting this type of question. “What do you want to know?”
Kisara did not have to think twice. “I want to know Seto the person, not the famous CEO…”
The brunet thought for a minute before providing an answer. “Kisara, I don’t go on my way to explain my personal life to just anyone. There’s not much to say but if you care too much, I will tell you what you want to know.”
She nodded, allowing the young executive to speak about himself. Her interest in him kept growing every day in class including the times she got the opportunity to chat with him. “I’m sure someone as successful as you had an amazing upbringing.”
Kaiba shook his head. “That’s where you are wrong, Kisara.” His demeanor turned serious. “I did not have the luxury to enjoy my childhood as many normal children did. Gozaburo Kaiba may have been respected by many corporate idiots, but he was not the best person he tried to portray to the world. Years of strenuous education and discipline for the sake of gaining knowledge not only about the business world, but also in life. For that reason alone, I do not feel anything about his death. Mokuba, my younger brother is the reason I’ve endured such thing… and besides, that waste of a human like Gozaburo was not my biological father… well, if you can call him human. However, he was the only way I could provide a better life to my brother even if it came with consequences after becoming his adopted son.”
The white-haired young woman listened carefully, grasping everything he was revealing. She heard of the child prodigy that Gozaburo Kaiba was training to become the heir to Kaiba Corporation. At that time, no one expected for it to be a teenager to take over after the tragic death of Gozaburo Kaiba. Hearing the younger Kaiba express his disgust for the former CEO of Kaiba Corporation, indicated that there were numerous secrets not known to the world. She got lost in thought for an instant but his angsty voice made her regain her focus on the conversation.
“Sure, I had biological parents, but it’s been over a decade since both passed. I don’t remember as much, but mother… she loved to write… in journals. Father enjoyed gardening and planting in his rose garden… I don’t have other family members, they all died to me after Mokuba, and I were sent to the orphanage. Now, I am doing what I said I was going to do. Give Mokuba a better life.”
She had no words. Of course, she heard stories from her father about the Kaibas, but she never imagined that the current CEO had a rough background. No pity on her part, it was more empathy than anything else. The only thing that she managed to do was press her hand against his.
“As far as I could tell, you have done a great job,” she said, not willing to let go of his hand.
Silence filled the room as the two individuals gazed at each other. She gently smiled, fascinated by his cobalt eyes. Seto Kaiba had that special shine on him and as she got lost in them, the more she wanted to be closer to him. As much as she desired for this date to last longer, it was after midnight. She hated the thought of waking up early, both had class in a few hours. Nevertheless, her time with Seto Kaiba was worth her loss of sleep.
“I guess it’s time for us to head to bed,” she stated, standing from the bench at the same time as Kaiba.
“Precisely…”
Kisara chuckled as she moved a bit closer to him. “Thank you again for this lovely evening, Kaiba,” she tiptoed as she proceeded by kissing his cheek.
Kaiba’s eyes diverted to hers for a bit until their attention went to her rosy plump lips. His hand managed to reach her left cheek, he carefully leaned in as their faces are at closer proximity. The girl’s heartbeat increased as she felt his breath on her lips. She forgot about the chilly weather; her body feeling all warm inside as blood rushed through her veins. Her blush could not be hidden at the immediate closeness. She continued by wrapping her arms around his neck and whispered. “Kiss me, Seto Kaiba.”
And the gap between them closed. Kaiba pressed his lips against her, feeling the softness of her lips. They are sweet, amazing and with the mission to explore more. Kisara grinned into the kiss, letting the CEO rest his hands around her waist. The two savored the moment until the male broke apart.
Kisara glowed in delight. “Amazing…” she looked into his eyes, unwrapping her arms from his neck while she felt his hands moving away from her waist.
The pair strolled until they were out of the park. Kaiba had parked his automobile near the restaurant where they ate earlier. The trip to his car was brief and as soon as they were in front of the four-wheeled vehicle, Kaiba opened the passenger door. Kisara took this as an indication that he will drop her off to her house. Certainly, Seto Kaiba did not lack manners and possessed a gentlemanly etiquette.
“Thank you, Kaiba.”
The ride home was peaceful—both rather silent and fatigued from the eventful day—and school awaited them for a few hours. Kisara thanked him again as they reached their destination. He did not drive off until he made sure she was inside her house. There were a lot of things on his mind and the white-haired beauty was one of them. For the time being, he drove to the mansion hoping his little brother would be in bed sleeping and not waiting for his arrival.
The door to the lavish manor closed as the young man made his way to the kitchen. Somehow the lights of the pantry area were turned on—maybe one of the house helpers forgot to turn it off—something he wouldn’t be surprised by since it happened occasionally. However, the sounds of pots and broken ceramic caught his attention. He looked around only to find his younger brother trying to fill a cup of milk in a coffee mug. Once he successfully filled his cup, a cookie tin was opened—crumbles all over the kitchen countertop as a cheerful Mokuba munched one cookie at a time. The brunet peeked at the time on his watch which read 3:21 o’clock in the morning.
“Mokuba! Isn’t it late for you to be up?” he questioned the raven-haired boy who only smiled at spotting him.
“Seto! Sorry, I was a bit worried since I called KaibaCorp earlier and your secretary told me you left earlier than usual but I’m glad you are okay,” he said before finishing drinking the leftover milk of his mug.
“I see. I didn’t think my leave will cause a ruckus, little brother.”
Mokuba scratched his head. “You know how I get worried Seto but if you were not in your office, where did you go?”
Kaiba sighed, understanding his younger brother’s concern. “I went to get some fresh air but got a bit sidetracked…”
The raven-haired boy looked at him suspiciously. He felt as if his brother was keeping something from him—unless he was letting loose and enjoying the wonders of being a teenager and not being an old man stuck in his company every day. “Ah, I get it now. So how was it?”
Blue eyes stared at the shorter kid, perplexed at his sudden question. “Pardon me?”
“I’m asking about your date, Seto. How was it?”
“Wait—how did you? I don’t know what you are talking about, Mokuba. I think you need to head to bed. It’s late.”
The younger brother let out a chuckle. “Oh c’mon, big bro. I am not a little kid anymore and besides dating is normal. So, tell me how did it go? Is she at least pretty?” he asked, trying to feed his curiosity.
Kaiba was one to not keep secrets from his brother thus revealing his time with Kisara would not hurt. “It was acceptable. She is annoying but charming at the same time.”
Mokuba bit another cookie as he listened to his brother. “Awesome! What’s her name? Will you be seeing her again?”
“Her name is Kisara… and to my misfortune, I see her in school every day… so yes. She gets on my nerves sometimes though,” Kaiba stated, reminiscing their first kiss from earlier.
His brother’s small blush on his cheeks did not go unnoticed by the little one. Mokuba laughed as he closed the lid of the cookie tin. “Sounds like you like her, bro.”
“What? I did not say that Mokuba!”
“Oh Seto, it’s okay to not admit it yet. What I will say is if she makes you happy, then it’s what matters to me,” he smiled before wrapping his arms around his brother’s waist and hugging him. “You know, you can start by getting her number and giving her a flower or something like that.”
Kaiba ruffled his brother’s hair. “I think you have been watching too many soap operas.. but enough of this. It is time to go to bed. You have class in a few hours.”
“Fine, I will go to sleep,” he said immediately yawning, breaking from the hug and leaving his brother in the kitchen alone.
October 21st, 1998, 07:45am
“Ya guys think Mr. Furuta will quiz us again?” a blond asked his group of friends, entering the classroom while eating a donut.
“I wouldn’t put it pass him, Joey,” Téa answered as she held Yugi’s hand. The gang was not shocked about the news of their relationship—instead they were more surprised it took this long for them to admit their feelings.
“Let’s sit down. We still have half and hour before the professor shows up,” Duke mentioned, noticing the only other person in the room, Seto Kaiba.
The dashing CEO was typing in his laptop, getting some emails sent out to his team about the upcoming networking event with other company executives. Although it was not on his priority list, he wanted to have everything set up perfectly especially if it was taking part in the Kaiba Dome. His eyes darted to the individuals entering the class but did not pay much mind to them. She still was not in class, so he went back to his task.
“Hey fellas!” Bakura greeted his friends but took the initiative to congratulate the new couple. “Congrats Yugi and Téa!”
The new couple blushed and nodded at their white-haired friend. Before they delved further into their daily conversations, Kisara set foot in the classroom acknowledging everyone. She was doing her best to not fall asleep, but she still had some remaining energy to be present at school. “Good morning, everyone!” she waved instantly smiling as she saw him in class. “It is definitely a good day!”
That caused Seto to turn and watched as she walked into her seat. Instead of sitting down, her blue eyes went to the red rose on top of her desk. She quickly stole a glance at his way, meeting with his cobalt orbs. Those frosty eyes were going to be the end of her. Her smile was detected by the friendly gang and even Kaiba.
That woman… smiling like an idiot. I don’t know why I went through this ordeal. Gee thanks, Mokuba…
“Kisara, what’s with the smile?” Joey asked then his head turned to the single rose on her desk. “Can’t believe you took that rose from Mrs. Furukawa’s garden.”
Kisara shook her head. “No silly, this was left on my desk. And I have my reasons to smile… it is a good day indeed.”
Joey stole another donut from Tristan’s box. “What will the reason be for a good day then?”
“Stop asking stupid questions, Wheeler,” Kaiba said, ignoring the stares from the geeks.
“Who asked you, rich boy?” Joey turned to his cold classmate.
"No one important and besides I don't need to answer you, dork."
Kisara rolled her eyes, aware of the stupid fights between both men. "Alright gentlemen, let's not fight."
"Whatever," Kaiba said, returning to his work on his laptop.
Kisara giggled, not taking her eyes off from the attractive gentleman. Yugi, however, was not oblivious of the stares both Kaiba and Kisara were giving one another. He felt as if there was something going on between them. It could be fate —their love traced back to Ancient Egypt which met an unfortunate ending. Possibly, life was giving them a second chance in flourishing their relationship. Kaiba and Kisara may not realize it yet, but something as strong as their bond is unbreakable. In the memory world, Yugi learned about Kaiba's ancient past and how Kisara played an important role in his life. Although reincarnation has occurred, both Kisara and Kaiba were completely different entities from their former selves. This Kisara possessed outgoing and playful characteristics unlike her former self who seemed more timid and lonely. So it was surprising to witness her reincarnation be more bubbly and straightforward. During the last few months, everyone from class got front row seats to Kisara's flirty nature around Kaiba since she was pretty vocal about it. She was not shy about her thoughts in regards to Seto Kaiba. Most of the time Kaiba stood silent but there were several occasions were he would talk to the white-haired female. Their chats mostly consisted of Kisara courting the young CEO, who called her delusional and crazy in response. Perhaps, Kisara's attempts were working as Kaiba seemed to be less bothered by her frequent flirting.
"Hey, do you mind if I seat next to you today?" Kisara asked the brunet as she took a seat alongside him. "I promise, I won't bite," she whispered on his ear.
"Even if I say no, you will do it otherwise," he replied, hoping this woman did not get the best of him today. It was wishful thinking at this point.
"Lovely as always, Kaiba," she winked at him, startling him in the process. "Thank you for yesterday, by the way."
The gang watched the exchange between their two classmates but their mouths opened at Kisara's following action.
"Holy shit, moneybags is getting devoured!" Joey exclaimed, observing as the female stole a kiss from Kaiba in front of the class.
"Shut up, Joey! Don't ruin the moment," Tristan pulled the blond's ear. "We are witnessing rich boy's love story. This is better than the trashy movie we watched at the theater last week. We are just missing popcorn."
Kisara was not afraid of the stares — a bit nervous would be the ideal word to describe her current feelings but she was attracted to Seto Kaiba. The kiss did not last long since she did not want to put him on the spot. She understood his reserved and aloof nature so she did not want to make him upset by her actions. Kaiba was speechless but deep inside he had to admit the kiss was unexpected yet welcomed. He wrote down something on his notebook for the girl to only see. Kisara glanced down and noted the set of digits with a few words written on the white paper.
(Xxx)xxx-xxxx. This is my personal phone number. SK.
Kisara grinned and wrote down in the bottom of his note. "I will definitely be hitting you up, Seto Kaiba."
October 25th, 1998, 01:23pm
After twelve years, Akami decided to let her anger subside and allow him to talk to her. Her father Solomon has not heard from her after they had a fallout due to his preference for his sister Akari. Ever since he told her he would support his daughter Akari no matter what, she felt betrayed. Of course, her mother Akana wouldn’t let that happen. She was not going to have a daughter who got pregnant out of wedlock. Akana had a strict set of rules and was a traditional lady who wanted her daughters to marry before having children. However, her father Solomon would continuously defend her, even when she decided to date that wealthy man named Ryuunosuke Haraguchi. She was tired of the constant admiration he had for his “perfect” daughter Akari. It was more heart wrenching that her first love Ryuunosuke preferred Akari over her. She took everything from her—even her father’s love and attention. So over time, she created a big deal about her sister’s pregnancy that would divide father and daughter. With the help of her mother Akana, it worked, and she couldn’t be more happier. But that was back then. Now, Akami felt that her jealousy, insecurity, and selfishness destroyed not only her family but herself. Every day, she is reminded of her youngest sister Akari.
Akari Mutou was a beautiful young woman who had a passion for writing. As a child, she enjoyed writing in journals about her daily adventures. When her father Solomon told her about his expedition in Egypt, she gleamed in joy—hoping that one day he will take her to learn not only about the pyramids, but the many ancient secrets hidden beneath all those ruins. There was something about that country that fascinated her. Many would have dreamt of traveling to places like Europe or North America, but that did not interest Akari. Egypt was her dream. Sadly, her mother Akana did not share that sentiment. The bitter lady scolded her and reprimanded her for her “silly” goals. She expected her daughter to become successful and an example to society. Akana was clear that a medical field job would suit her, especially due to its high paying wage. Akari did not want that to the point of begging her parents to let her follow her dreams. After so much thought, Solomon fell for her daughter’s pleading. On her eighteen birthday, she received a pack of pens and journals so she could continue writing. Her most recent journal entry was a goal list about making her parents proud of her future accomplishments, including becoming an author. She graduated high school as a valedictorian—giving an emotional final speech to her classmates about the importance of overcoming their fears and reaching for the stars referencing to not giving up on dreams. That is what she hoped to do—attend college and graduate with a Creative Writing major despite her mother’s denial. She did not care to become a doctor or a nurse. Her mother never understood that, but that did not stop her from fulfilling her dream. College life demonstrated to be the best time of her life. She met Ryuunosuke in one of her courses, oblivious to the friendship he had with her older sister Akami at that time. Or the crush Akami grew to have for him.
Even after professing their love a year after, Akari could feel the disapproval from her family. She fought for her love and informed her parents of her boyfriend’s existence. Akana did not approve while Solomon welcomed him after making it clear to Ryuunosuke that his daughter was to never be hurt. Akari was the happiest woman in the world, and she could not ask for anything else. Years after that, her life turned from the best to worst. Akari took a pregnancy test, and it came out positive. Fear came over her, not knowing what to do in that situation. The first person she told about her pregnancy was her boyfriend Ryuunosuke, who surprised her with his total support. His family was happy to learn that their only son was going to give them a grandchild. The toughest challenge was giving the news to her family. Akari was well-aware that they would not be delighted as Ryuunosuke’s family, so she prepared her brave face. It was now or never. She was willing to fight for her baby even if it meant losing her own family. Once she arrived home, Akari gathered her parents, her sister Akami and brother Aka to make the announcement. To say that they were not pleased was an understatement. Her mother started throwing hurtful words and her father trying to comfort her. This was a mess and Akari only wanted their support despite their traditional views. Her sister-in-law Mirei expressed joy since she was also expecting a baby with her husband Aka Mutou. Their parents never opposed Mirei’s pregnancy since she was rightfully married to their son in contrast to Akari who was not. It pained the youngest of the Mutou siblings, but she knew her family wouldn’t change their mind. Not thrilled with the news, her father grew a bit distant with her but from time to time stated that he was trying to accept the reality. That never happened. Her relationship with her family dwindled to the point of getting stressed and overwhelmed with her mother’s daily torment. Akari, not willing to take more of her mother’s humiliation, decides to live with her boyfriend Ryuunosuke who is supportive of her and loves her to the point of getting married to her a year after giving birth to their baby.
After Akari’s departure from her parents’ residence, nothing was heard from her. Only Akami knew of her whereabouts since she acted as the nice and understanding sister. In actuality, the negative feelings she harbored for her youngest sister created a monster in her. Those horrible decisions ended up ruining her life—her now ex-husband Wataru Ono filed for divorce after the passing of their daughter Kairi. Akami’s continuous pressure on her daughter Kairi led to the tragic death of the latter. One night, after calling her name multiple times for dinner, Akami went to Kairi’s room only to find her unconscious on her bed. After close inspection, she realized her daughter was cold and not breathing. Kairi had committed suicide hours ago, leaving a letter to both her parents expressing her pain and loneliness. Wataru will never forgive Akami for the death of Kairi. His guilt got the best of him because deep down he knew that he was not the best father Kairi deserved. He could not bear being tied to a resentful woman as Akami whose lifetime goal was to destroy her youngest sister with the objective to be approved by her parents. And that was with the abandonment of her two nephews. Akami thought giving away her two nephews to an orphanage would be the best idea, especially since she saw them as an obstacle in her life. Ryuunosuke and Akari entrusted her with their well-being and happiness. Not feeling anything for those two children, Akami utilized their inheritance to get a better life with her own family. Ryuunosuke was rich and left things of value, so she had the opportunity to grow her life for the better. Wataru left himself be influenced by participating in taking Ryuunosuke’s inheritance which was to be granted to both Seto and Mokuba. She did not want anything from Akari, and those two kids would serve as pests. Her only daughter Kairi was the only one who deserved her love and affection. Nonetheless, her daughter Kairi never enjoyed the fortune she took from both Seto and Mokuba. Because that legacy rightfully belonged to them only. But Akami failed to respect Ryuunosuke and Kairi’s wishes.
Kairi… my beautiful daughter… I’m sorry for everything… all this regret is killing me… and I feel so alone…
Now she stood at an airport, patiently waiting for the arrival of someone who expressed his concerns about her whereabouts. After receiving her call, he found the earliest date to fly back to Domino City. The plane had landed ten minutes prior, but the deplaning was taking some time, so the passengers were stuck until the flight attendants found it safe to open the plane doors. In the meantime, she purchased a medium-sized coffee to help with her nerves and anxiety.
“Akami, is that you?”
The forty-two-year-old woman turned around to be faced with her brother Aka who appeared worn out with closer inspection. She nodded slowly, embracing him in a hug. “Yes brother, it has been more than a decade since we last saw each other.”
He sighed, placing his carry-on and checked luggage to his side. “Affirmative… it’s like you disappeared from the face of Earth.”
Akami had her own reasons for avoiding contact with her family. Her current situation made her reflect on the type of person she became but also on the amount of pain she caused not only to her late sister but to her father. “It’s a long story, brother… but I’m glad you were able to fly to Domino City. There are a lot of things that I need to talk about with you… and father. But how was your trip?”
The blond noticed the pitiful look on his older sister. It’s as if something was killing her inside—his gut instinct told him it was serious which petrify him of whatever it could turn out to be. “Yeah, the business event lasted longer than anticipated but everything went perfectly. Good thing the next meeting will be in Domino, so I will be able to visit Yugi and our dad.”
His trip from Australia had been a hectic experience—and to top it off, his business event had been extended due to more executives appearing meaning possible clients. Working for a tech company named Tinker has its ups and downs. Fortunately, the following networking event will take place in Domino City which will hopefully they can get the stern CEO of KaibaCorp, Seto Kaiba, to approve their proposition of adding their Virtual Reality equipment to their Duel Monsters duel disks. It will be their biggest business partnerships if KaibaCorp was willing to work with them.
Akami slightly smiled, following her brother to the exit of the airport. Within minutes, he managed to order a taxi so both siblings could head to a nearby restaurant and have a lengthy conversation. Other than catching up, she felt her brother deserved to know the truth of his unknown nephews, Seto and Mokuba. Bottling all these secrets had been her demise. It was time for it to be revealed after twelve eternal years.
“What did you want to talk to me about dear sister?”
That was his initial question. He could not wait any longer, especially after years of not knowing the whereabouts of both sisters. Aka has always been a perceptive person or had the ability to recognize things that may not seem obvious to others. In this case, he figured out his older sister did not appear for just a friendly reunion but something far serious.
Akami attempted to look at the menu, but her nerves were too strong. She turned to face her brother and sighed. “There are a lot of things that I need to tell you… I don’t know how much longer I will be able to handle this… all of these secrets are becoming my demise,” she started, followed by a small whimper.
The memories of her daughter came back to haunt her and the yells from her ex-husband wouldn’t leave her mind. It pained her that everything she worked on throughout her life turned into ruins—no leftover money from her nephews’ inheritance and her family has crumbled due to her actions. Everything was lost and she could not rewind time at all. Her younger sisters essence lived on her dreams and would not go away. On the other hand, Aka never took his attention from his sister. Her mannerisms were telling of something deep and serious that was about to be revealed.
“Go on, sister. You are beginning to worry me,” he stated before making his order to the waitress. “Shrimp scampi with angel hair pasta, please. And a glass of wine will do, thank you miss.”
The waitress waited for the woman to order. After so much deliberation, Akami told her choices. “Just the chicken alfredo. And a glass of orange juice, thank you.”
The young lady wrote down the orders and left the two individuals to proceed with their conversation. “Aka, I don’t know where to start… all I know is that father will suffer from everything I am about to tell you.”
Aka could not take more of the suspense. “Akami, what’s going on?” he asked, not fully prepared of what the older woman’s words.
“Oh brother, please forgive me. I think you would understand because you are a father to Yugi… but your son is not the only grandson father has… Akari was pregnant when she was kicked out from our parents’ home… she…” she stammered, fearful of his reaction.
“You must be bluffing. Yugi is his only grandson. You told me Akari lost her baby due to all the emotional trauma. I did not tell our father because I did not want him to feel at fault.”
He could not believe such a thing. Aka drank from his glass of water. His sister must be fabricating all these lies.
“No, Yugi has cousins. Akari… she…” she sobbed, ignoring the tears that were forming in her eyes. “Other than the daughter I had… Akari, our sister had two sons with Ryuunosuke. Her children are alive and well…”
Shocked, startled, confused were some of the few words to describe Aka’s current emotional state. “Then why did you tell me that sister lost her baby? Does father know about all this now?”
She simply answered. “Because I thought it was the best thing for you to lose any connection with Akari… so she could be seen as an irresponsible woman,” she revealed, watching as the waitress left their dinner plates on the table. “And no, father does not know yet. For years, Akari wrote letters to our father hoping for a reconnection so he could meet her children… but those letters were never given to him because mother and I kept them.”
Aka stayed still for a moment, agitated at all this information been brought into light. His sister’s behavior was questionable and after years of not getting ahold of her, he felt like he needed an explanation. Even with the revelation that both his mother and sister hid letters from his father, it did not explain the need to keep Akari away from the family. Certainly, the news of her pregnancy caused havoc within the family. Their outspoken mother vocalized her displeasure of having a daughter pregnant before marriage—some traditional values that were never erased in their parent household. Looking back, he could not find a reasonable explanation of ruining their father’s dream to talk to Akari.
The silence was killing the older woman, getting a bit fearful and anxious of her brother’s possible reaction. “Aka, you haven’t said anything. Brother, I know this—”
He cut her off. “What were you and mother trying to accomplish? Why go through all the trouble of keeping Akari far from us?”
Akami, not willing to look him in the eyes, she focused on the food in front of her. “It was for the best… she failed our family… and father did not deserve to suffer because of Akari’s mistake.”
Aka could not believe his sister. Did she lack human emotions? It’s as if he did not recognize his sister at all. He had a feeling there was more to all this confession. “You might believe she failed the family, but she still had a right to see father… he’s been living in torment for years not knowing about her whereabouts. She’s our sister, Akami. I want to talk to her as well and meet my nephews.”
More tears fell from her eyes. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible, brother.”
“Why not? Is Akari against it?”
She slowly shook her head, not prepared on disclosing her sister’s state. “It’s not that… Aka, our sister is dead. She has been dead for over a decade…”
Aka’s eyes began to fill in tears as his heartbeat increased each second. “No, you are making this up! It can’t be truth! My sister is full of life and has a lot to live for. She can’t be gone! Tell me that she is alive, Akami! Tell me…” his cries were overheard by some customers and restaurant staff. “My little sister can’t be dead… please deny it, Akami! For God’s sake, speak!”
Akami grabbed his hand trying to calm him down. “Aka, I wish I could tell you otherwise, but Akari is dead… she passed away after giving birth to her second child.”
“WHAT??? But why didn’t you call father and me? We could have been there for her… why keep us away from her? Why sister?”
She could not hold it any longer—it was eating her alive and as each day passed her mental state kept deteriorating. “Because I was tired of the constant admiration and attention father gave to Akari over me. I could not take more of his preference for Akari, so mother and I agreed to tarnish their father and daughter relationship… that way Akari was gone from the family and that happened once her pregnancy was announced,” she explained, not even once looking at her brother.
Anger overtook his sadness because he was disgusted with his own mother and sister. They did not care about throwing away their own flesh and blood. And now that young soul who was full of life and love is gone forever. “How could you? You realize your selfishness and jealousy ended her life… and you have no shame!”
“That’s where your wrong, brother! I have been living these past years with regret and guilt… My marriage is over, and I lost my daughter Kairi so I’m all alone… I thought going through all that will give me a better life… not even Akari’s husband fortune brought me happiness.”
“What do you mean Ryuunosuke's fortune?” he asked, grabbing a napkin to clean his tears. At this point his eyes were puffy and red from all the crying. “What did you do to him?”
“I didn’t do anything to him… his depression after the passing of our sister affected him immensely. One day on his way to work, he suffered a car accident that claimed his life. Ryuunosuke fell asleep on the wheel after not sleeping for days. Coming from a wealthy family, he had an inheritance left for his children once they grew up. His two children were unable to acquire his fortune because they were sent to an orphanage,” she admitted.
“So, both my sister and her husband are dead… but why were their kids sent to an orphanage?” he asked, trying to control his anger because he felt his sister was not done. He felt her hesitation with her shaky behavior but after everything she had put the family into, he could care less how she felt. “Spill everything, Akami!”
She drank the rest of her water. “Because those kids were in the way of my success. After their father Ryuunosuke passed, I took all his valuables… and send them to an orphanage because I didn’t want two insignificant children to ruin my life. I did not care what happened to them.”
“You are a despicable human being. Do you lack a heart? I think you do because what you did to my sister and her family is horrible. I don’t think I can be related to someone who committed all these acts for the sole purpose of gaining father’s validation and love. You disgust me, Akami.”
“Aka… I know how you feel but I thought that was the best decision… and those boys seemed to be doing well…”
“Stop with the excuses, Akami! My nephews deserved to be filled with love and have a family they could count on… they could have received the same care as my son Yugi… but you took that away from them,” he murmured, pushing his food to the side. He had lost his appetite.
“Father and you still have a chance to meet those kids… they are alive and healthy,” she said as she got up from her seat. “They have been closer than you think. Yugi has met them without knowing their family history.”
“Where are my nephews? They deserve to know their roots.”
Akami left a few bills on top of the table. She could not take more of this. Emotions were running high, so it was best if she departed but before she answered her brother’s question. “KaibaCorp. Seto Kaiba and Mokuba Kaiba. I do have to say how ironic life is today… it is Seto’s birthday.”
“What? No… that can’t be…”
And with that she ran from the restaurant, leaving an astounded Aka not knowing what to feel about the last part. Seto Kaiba and his little brother Mokuba were Mutous just as his only son, Yugi.
hey y’all! thank you so much to MayMayTheBayBay and Larirubyjane for the comments and the kudos left for last chapter. it really does mean a lot to me. also, my apologies for the long wait. summer courses started so i got a bit sidetracked with assignments. i will do my best to update the next chapter soon. until next time!