Forever Autumn

Reality cared nothing for Seto Kaiba's will. Seto Kaiba, from that day forward, cared nothing for reality.

Frost crackled under Seto's feet as he walked into the empty back yard.  With a trace of a smile, he tipped his head back and searched the air until a bright form resolved itself against the early morning sky.  Leaning back against the tree at the head of the fenced area, Seto watched through the mist of his breath as the great dragon circled and dove, rose and soared and danced through the lightening sky.

The neighbors had been outraged of course.  Seto had bought, intimidated, bested and outlasted every one of them until the sight of white wings sweeping over his patch of sky above New Rochelle was routine. 

Rough bark scraped against his coat as Seto shifted for a better view.  Nothing that can't be bought and sold, Seto knew that as he knew his own heartbeat.  Nothing, not even love and it seemed Seto's was bought with intelligent gaze and fierce beauty wrapped in the proud strength of a dragon that was surprisingly pliable and warm to his touch.

Seto was still trying to understand the coin of the dragon.  No matter how many times Blue eyes launched into the freedom of the heavens, Seto would always find a strong and solid presence waiting for him in the evening.  The fence was a formality, Blue Eyes had been free from the day he arrived on the estate and Seto would have it no other way.

The chilly autumn air bit into his skin, reminding Seto he'd been out long enough and he still had a full day ahead of him.  With a smile curving his lips, Seto left the yard.

When he returned home from work that afternoon, Blue Eyes was dead.

Standing at the edge of the fence, Seto didn't need to touch to know.  The dragon's body lay in the center of the yard, his flowing power now cold and immoble.  He knew immediately, knew Blue Eyes was gone, not there, never anymore.

No.  I refuse this.

Seto's eyes were wide and wild, fists clenched tightly until blood seeped under his fingers.

I said NO!  I will not let this happen.

His eyes were locked on the still form, willing the dragon to move, and the more focus sharpened his will into a weapon against simple fact, the quieter his body grew, until sharp staccato breath was the only visible difference between dragon and man.  Seto stood silent, screaming and raging in progressive stillness, until at last he threw everything that was in him against the motionless grace of the dragon.

NO!  THIS.  WILL.  NOT.  BE!

Reality cared nothing for Seto Kaiba's will.  Seto Kaiba, from that day forward, cared nothing for reality.

With exquisite care, Seto turned and walked back to the house.  He made a phone call, activated the prearranged contingencies.  The truck arrived and he watched in pain too deep to touch as the workers respectfully lay the large body in the fabric-lined bed and waited for him.  Seto stood looking at what remained of his Blue Eyes with a flat gaze and neutral expression until the first drops of rain broke from the heavy autumn sky.

Blinking once, he turned and got in his car.  Seto followed the truck as it moved slowly through the reds and golds of fallen leaves that blanketed the back roads to its final destination.  He had known this day was coming, the permits obtained, the preparations made.  Seto remained outside as the truck moved into the garage of the massive building, waited leaning against the frame of the car as the first wisps of smoke curled up from the chimney into the leaden sky.

Rain lashed against his skin and Seto had the distant thought that this was as it should be.  Someone should weep on this day as he could not.  Someone should grieve.  Black smoke poured thick and dark, rising and soaring and dancing through the raging storm, free from the burden of his regard.  Blue Eyes was flying, unfettered by love, no need to return.

His freedom bought at the price of pain and Seto would gladly have paid it twice.

Hours he stood while the storm raged, stood while the smoke paled and slowed and stopped altogether, stood as the sky cleared and darkened, stood until the cool white moon bathed the road in dark blue shadow.

Stood until the memory of gentle eyes swam before him, sinuous neck bent at an impossible angle to look at him in curiousity.  Closing his eyes, Seto swallowed once, a thick hard motion.  When he opened them again the night was empty.

Hollow and aching and desperately cold, Seto Kaiba drove away.

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