Kaiba follows the forest path in silence. He has no eye for the peaceful beauty around him. His only interest is to get out of this digital world as quickly as possible. His mine is dark. If he gets his hands on this Noah, he will make him understand why it is a grave mistake to mess with him. Brother or not, once and for all, once he gets access to a terminal, he'll put an end to this digital little bugger!
At that moment he lifts his head. A door suddenly appeared in the middle of the way in front of him. Kaiba looks disgruntled. This door should definitely give him a little detour back into the past. Noah certainly wants to hold up a mirror of self-knowledge to him again with a few painful memories from his childhood.
Kaiba snorts. But that really doesn't come up with anything new. Actually, he doesn't really feel like going on such little escapades, but when he looks past the door, he only realizes that the path seems to continue infinitely. This door is probably the only way to get out of this forest. Finally, he makes a decision and opens the door.
As soon as he has stepped through, he becomes aware that he has just stepped out of a small tool shed. An elegant villa with a large garden looms in front of him. Kaiba's eyes narrow. He knows this house. It's the same villa he was standing in front of earlier. He glances down at himself, but he is still in possession of his normal appearance.
He walks slowly across the lawn and circles the corner of the house. Now he has reached the front yard. Suddenly the front door is thrown open and a small figure comes running out. Kaiba gets big eyes. He recognizes himself in the little boy, about eight years old, who is sprinting through the front yard. Only a few moments later the door flies open again. A young girl stands in the doorway and runs after the boy who hurries away.
“Where are you going, Seto?” She yells after him, “Come back!” The boy stops for a moment and turns around: “I can't, I have to go home!” Now she has caught up with him. She seems offended. "You say that all the time!", She complains, "You always say you have to go home. My parents are not there! I have to take care of my little brother!" , she mimics him, "If you don't feel like coming here, just say so!"
"Sorry!", The little boy makes a sad face, "But I really have to take care of Mokuba. Otherwise he is all alone at home." The girl fends off: "Yes, I know the excuse." to him: "Listen to Seto, if you go away now, you don't even have to come back,sure?" The little boy is very torn. Finally he squints his eyes and his face contorts in a painful grimace, then he turns back and runs out of the gate. "Fine!", the girl yells after him," Then go! And something like that is now called afriend! Just get out of here! I hate you! "Then she turns around too, walks back into the house and slams the door behind her.
For a long moment Kaiba just stands there and looks straight ahead. A memory imposes itself on him. Hasn't he heard those exact words before today? No, he resolutely fends off this thought. Noah will have no success with his little games.
He tenses up and after realizing that there is no further possible behind the gate, he now decides to try the front door. He takes a deep breath and then enters the house.
But not the entrance hall is behind the door but a weakly lit small room. He stops almost immediately. In front of him he sees two familiar people. There in front of the wooden closet he sees himself, this time as an eleven-year-old. He sees the girl next to him. She has aged the same number of years. She tinkers with the book wall as silently as possible. Kaiba feels himself tense up and suddenly a heavy lump forms in his throat. He follows the action with a stony gaze.
"Pss!", The girl makes while she pulls a little lever. The bookcase opens almost silently and reveals a wall safe. "Are we even allowed to do that?" Asks little Seto uncertainly. "Of course not!", Comes the slightly reproachful answer, "Otherwise we wouldn't have to do it secretly." The girl operates the code board on the side with nimble fingers. "I don't really know," says Seto uncertainly, "We'll definitely get in trouble because of that. No matter what you want to show me, it's not worth the risk."
"Oh come on!", She replies, while she is pleased that the lock has opened, "Don't be such a coward, Seto! We already have it. You will be amazed, it really iscool! "With these words she pulls the lever and opens the safe. Then she reaches in carefully and carefully takes out a small, flat object.
Now, curious, little Seto peeps over her shoulders. Then she holds out her treasure to him. Seto looks at what she is holding in her hands with wide eyes. "That ... that's aDuel Monstercard!", He is amazed. "Notany Duel Monstercard", she corrects, "This is the rarest card fromDuel Monsters! This is the legendaryWhite Dragon with an ice-cold look! "With his mouth open in surprise, Seto stares at the menu, completely fascinated. "TheWhite Dragon with an ice-cold look!" He repeats softly.
Kaiba is also watching them. That day I saw this card for the very first time! he remembers. He grits his teeth. Oh yes, I still remember that day very well.“This card is incredibly rare and precious,” the girl explains, “which is why my father keeps it in his safe.” “May I hold it in my hand?” Asks Seto hopefully. The girl hesitates for a moment, but then gives in. "All right! But be very careful! This is a very special card. Only very special people are worth possessing this card. This card is so powerful that only very exceptional duelists can use it properly. At least that says mine Father."
Seto receives the card very carefully. He seems to be enchanted by this card. Now the girl comes a little closer to him: "I'll tell you a secret. My father promised me that he would give me this card as soon as I turn twelve. Isn't that great?" Seto is still looking longingly at the treasure in his Hand: "If only I could have such a card. I've always wanted something like this!"
The girl hesitates for a moment, then she says: "You know what Seto, I promise you something: When I turn twelve and my father gives me this card, I'll give it to you!" Little Seto looks up with a jerk: "Whatare you serious? You really want to do this for me?" Your strange twinkle creeps into the girl's eyes. Then she says: "Of course, Seto! I promise! After all, we'refriends, aren't we?" Seto beamed at the girl with a happy smile before carefully handing the card back to her.
Kaiba has seen enough! He turns around abruptly and leaves the room. Suddenly he is no longer standing in the long hallway of the villa but in a sandy break area in front of an inconspicuous, elongated building. Kaiba knows this place all too well. After all, he has spent part of his life here. It is the orphanage that he and his brother were admitted to as children.
But gradually his collar bursts. "Stop this circus right now, Noah!", He shouts angrily to the sky, "Enough! I don't know what you're aiming for with the whole thing, but it won't work, do you hear? don't impress. So please stop messing with my past, get it? "
But there is no answer. Kaiba waits a little, but Noah does not show up. Disgruntled, he wants to leave the premises, but suddenly he sees a familiar face again. Again he sees his younger self in front of him. He's on a swing some distance away. Sadness and incomprehension lie in his mine. The girl is standing in front of him again. She wears elegant clothes and gives him an appraising look.
“Unfortunately we only found out about it recently,” she is saying, “I'm really sorry for you, Seto.” The little boy tries not to let his grief show and looks away."Don't let Mokuba see that!", She says lightly, "After all, you're his big brother. He looks up at you. He relies on you. What should he think when he sees you with crying eyes?" young Seto swallows hard several times. "You are right. I have to be strong, for Mokuba!" He takes a deep breath.
"I'm sure you'll manage somehow," says the girl. Then she looks to the side: “Really a shame that you can't come for my birthday anymore.” Seto looks up worried: “But ... but what about your promise? You promised me that you ... "I beg you, Seto!", The girl interrupts him, "I told you that only extraordinary people deserve to have this card. Would you describe an orphan as an extraordinary person?"
The boy stares at the girl in disbelief. At first he doesn't know what to say about it, then his lips begin to tremble and tears fill his eyes. "But ... I thought ... we were friends," he squeezes out. Unimpressed, the girl turns away. "Who wants to be friends with a crybaby like you? First show me that you are not as soft as I always thought." She turns away coolly and walks away. "Before that I won't come to visit you either. Farewell Seto!"
Young Seto looks after her with tears in his eyes and a sniffling nose. "No, don't go!" He whispers, "I can be different too. I can improve myself. One day I'll be worth being your friend!"
With a fixed look, Kaiba watches as the little boy crouches on the swing and looks after the girl with a wet face. His heart is beating harder than he would like. Damn it! In fact, he had vowed never to think about these events again. Noah! He will pay for that! Show him that ... how dare he?
He turns away slowly. He's seen enough. He knows what's next. But he hasn't spent all these years wiping this event out of his mind and now refreshing it. He has better things to do: find this Noah and dismantle him bit by bit!
With a firm step he leaves the property. Behind it lies a wide meadow with light, grassy hills. There is a tree some distance away. The sun shines warm above him and the clouds cast contrasting shadows on the grassy hills. Kaiba is startled. His face now clearly