Chapter Text
"Big brother," Mokuba called as he entered his brother's study. Knowing he had his attention, Mokuba continued. "Bakura didn't pick me up from school today. Anzu came and said he was sick."
Kaiba Seto looked up from his coding with a small frown.
"He never misses Mandatory Sweets Thursday, something must be really wrong," Mokuba continued," And he didn't reply when I texted him to ask if he was okay."
Kaiba thought about his unanswered messages. They weren't much, but he'd expected them at least to be read. Bakura evidently hadn't opened his phone in over a day. Perhaps Bakura decided he wasn't worth his time. Kaiba bowed his head. He didn't mean for things to go this way.
"I've messed up," he admitted quietly.
"Hmm?" Mokuba walked up closer, and pulled a chair close to his brother's desk.
"I guess he's given up on me. I barred the gates and didn't talk long enough that he's gone off elsewhere."
Mokuba sat back in his chair and sighed. "Is that why I haven't seen him around? How long ago was this?" He'd thought it strange that Bakura hadn't come over, but he figured his brother was rather busy with the product they planned to launch soon. He might have just told Bakura he was busy, Bakura would have understood. This was so much worse.
"Monday."
Mokuba looked to his brother sadly. He loved him dearly, but he wondered if Seto knew that he hurt himself more often that not. "He really cares about you. I don't think he'd give up on you."
"Then why isn't he replying?"
Mokuba rolled his eyes at that logic. "I don't know. Why did you stop talking to him?"
"I don't know what to do. I've probably ruined everything. He probably hates me. What could I possibly do to fix this? Where could I even start?"
"It's obvious," Mokuba declared. "Go apologise to him."
Kaiba looked to his little brother like he had grown a second head. He literally had not considered that. It seemed clear in hindsight, but he would have never come to that conclusion on his own.
Getting to his feet swiftly and grabbing his hanging jacket, Kaiba looked to his brother and asked," Mokuba, could you take over for the board meeting at six?"
Mokuba smiled and gave a thumbs up. "Sure thing!" As his brother left urgently, Mokuba called out good luck after him. Quietly, after he was completely out of earshot, Mokuba held his hands together and begged any higher force to help out his brother.
~~
~~
Bakura answered the door hesitantly as the bell rang a second time. He undid the deadbolt and latch, but left the chain in place so it only opened enough to peer out. His stomach flopped with a mixture of joy and dread as he saw his caller.
He looked sickeningly beautiful, Bakura decided as he rubbed at his own puffy eyes. Kaiba didn't look like he'd even bat an eyelash over the course of the last few days. He shut the door most of the way so he could undo the chain, opening it only slightly more than it had been.
Silence grew unusually awkward between them, when they often comfortably went days without speaking.
"Why are you here?" Bakura finally broke the silence.
Kaiba answered dryly, like this was a business affair," You haven't been answering your phone. I was worried."
Bakura shrugged, though most of his body was hidden behind the door. "My phone's broken."
Kaiba seemed to weigh this, and tentatively asked," May I come in?"
"No."
"Oh, okay," he said uncharacteristically unprepared.
"Master Bakura has expressly denied your entrance," the thief quipped, and Bakura offered him a wry smile. He didn't miss how Kaiba followed his gaze as he looked to what probably appeared to be thin air.
"The thief thinks you're an idiot," Bakura announced. The thief had said no such thing, but it was written all over his face, and he gave a short, agreeing, nod. Bakura took solace in the ghostly image showing him support.
"I hate when I have to agree with the thief, but-"
"I really don't feel like talking right now," Bakura said softly. It was hard to even hear him with how he leaned into the door.
Kaiba opened his mouth to say something, but closed it and bowed his head. He stood quietly for a short while before saying," I'll be out of town for the next week. I've been invited to the Hokkaido regional tournament. It's been awhile since I've played in a proper tournament."
He wasn't quite sure what expected, but the door softly closing in his face wasn't it. Sighing, Kaiba walked dejectedly to his limousine and returned home. He came over to say two simple words, and he failed.