Union of Two Dragons, a short YuGiOh! story by Tsunami Storm

Chapter 1: The Preparations

-Two months after 'Brothers in Time'-

"Okay, guys, that tent goes by the fountain." Mokuba directed, and the dragons nodded- flying off to the correct location. Another two winged reptiles flew up, carrying a stack of tables between them. "Oh good, you found some more. Those go over by the fountain where Ryushiro, Nephthys and Reseph-Ari ['Guardian of Lightning'] are setting up the tent."

Mokuba wiped the sweat from his brow. Who knew setting up for a wedding could be so much work? He checked his wristwatch. "Guess I could go inside and see how the reception plans are coming." He smiled, then ran into the house where there was air-conditioning.

"Hey Mokuba!" Téa waved from the kitchen sink, where she was mixing together the icing for the wedding cake. Mokuba waved back, grinning broadly at his friends. Serenity was feverishly rifling through the recipe booklet, trying to pick a main course that everyone would enjoy. "Go with beef fillets. That's Nii-sama's favorite." Mokuba suggested in a whisper, and Serenity turned another shade redder. "Oh! Th-thanks Mokuba." She stammered, but then smiled shyly, finding a good recipe and walking over to the refrigerator.

"How's it comin'?" The teen asked conversationally, and Téa answered, "Just about perfect, Mokuba. Everything seems to be going smoothly for once."

"Don't jinx us, Téa." Serenity laughed as she gathered ingredients. Then she looked at the raven-haired boy. "How come you're inside, Mokuba? All finished setting up outside?"

Mokuba shook his head. "Not yet, but I got too hot. Besides, Joey and Tristan have things under control." Then he giggled. "Only Seto would use real Duel Monster dragons to help set up for a wedding."

"I heard that, kiddo!" came a laugh from the second floor, and everyone in the kitchen chuckled. Mokuba turned a little pink, then he muttered, "I'll go see if I can help with what he's doing." Then he raced up the stairs to Seto's room.

-A minute later-

Knock. Knock. "Hey, Seto. Do you need any help?" Mokuba asked, and an answer was not long in coming. "Yeah. Come on in, Mokuba. I could use some help with this." His brother grunted, sounding like he was really concentrating on something. Mokuba opened the door, then gasped.

The sight that met his eyes was nothing short of comical. Seto was attempting to sew a cape to the back of Seth's best ceremonial robes- which had been fitted on a mannequin- but wasn't having much success. About twenty pins were sticking out of his mouth, making him look more like a pincushion than a person. Mokuba giggled at the sight and Seto made a face, making him look even sillier.

"You're better at this stuff than I am." Seto admitted telepathically to his brother, who was working to straighten out his expression. "Any chance you could take my place?"

Mokuba smiled. "Sure thing, Nii-sama." He grabbed a stool from the closet, then put it behind the mannequin that Seto had been working with. "Just so you know, you don't need that many pins in your mouth." He teased lightly.

His brother made a face at him, then dropped the pins into a cup- using his magic to make sure none fell out onto the floor. "Now he tells me-" He groused jokingly, but loud enough for Mokuba to hear. As Mokuba worked on affixing the cape to the rest of the outfit, Seto took an old silver trophy from the top of the dresser and crushed it in his hands. Before Mokuba could say anything, Seto growled, "It was one of his, if you know what I mean. I've been meaning to get rid of this for years, and this is the last of his possessions that I still have. The only things I want from him are all that's left. Noah of course, this house, and Kaibacorp."

Mokuba nodded, smiling wryly as his brother reshaped the last of their stepfather's old chess trophies into something more useful, using a combination of his dragon-strength and his magic. Slowly the silver lump of unrecognizable mass began to take shape.

Just as Mokuba finished with the robes, his brother completed his own project- setting the finished piece atop the head of the mannequin. "Well," Seto huffed, pleased with his craftsmanship. "What d'you think?"

Mokuba could only gape at his brother's creation, too stunned for words. The silver trophy had become a silver circlet adorned with the head, neck and wings of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Mokuba smiled, but then cocked his head in confusion. "A little small for Seth, isn't it?" He asked, and his brother smiled. "Whoever said it was for Seth? This is Kisara's tiara for her veil." The older Kaiba revealed, and Mokuba gasped.

"Wow Seto!" He breathed, still awed at his brother's gift. "It's beautiful! You even put in tiny blue jewels for his eyes!"

"Her eyes, Mokuba." Seto corrected. "Kisara's dragon is female. You're thinking of Reseph-Ari, Seth's dragon."

"Oh. Right." Mokuba muttered, remembering that little detail. "Speaking of Seth and Kisara, where are they?" He asked, and Seto smiled gently.

"Hana, Mai and Mana are helping Kisara with one last fitting with her dress, and Seth is practicing his vows in his room with Atem and Akhenamkhanen." He answered. "Although I wouldn't bother either of them right now. You know how much of a perfectionist Seth can be, and don't even think of breaking the rule that 'No one sees the dress until the day of the wedding', or Mai just might sic her Harpies on you." He laughed, but the warning was clear in his eyes.

Mokuba laughed too, then he decided to return to the backyard to help with the reception preparations.

"Jeez. The last time I wore this much finery was when I raided the old pharaoh's tomb and crashed the new pharaoh's coronation festival." Akefia Bakura joked as he pulled at his sleeves, unaccustomed to the fine linen and silk.

"Be nice." Ryou Bakura pleaded. "This is supposed to be a happy moment." He adjusted his own robes. "Though I have to agree with you on one point: I'm not used to all of this either." He chuckled as he looked at his reflection in a full-length mirror.

"Trust Seth to insist on tradition, the sentimental little fool." Akefia snickered, grinning good-naturedly up at the former Bearer's bedroom window where he knew the three pharaohs were practicing the groom's vows.

"Who're you calling little? We're both at least half a foot taller than you." A shrewd voice commented behind them, and the former Thief King spun around- hand automatically reaching for a knife at his hip that hadn't been there for centuries. Ryou just jumped and squeaked in surprise.

"Word of advice, Kaiba. Don't sneak up on the Thief King unless you wanna get hurt." Akefia growled, relaxing out of his defensive stance and glaring at the smirking dragon knight.

"Only teasing, Your Highness." Seto mock-bowed, then walked off, barely suppressing the urge to chuckle.

"And dragon-boy's not helping." Akefia growled through his teeth to his hikari, who just shrugged. "That's Kaiba for you." He said sagely, helping his yami with the finishing touches of his robes. "There. If it weren't for that nasty scar of yours, you'd look like a nobleman of the pharaoh's court."

Akefia winced and touched the skin beneath his right eye reflexively. "Ah well. Not much we can do about that, save a whole lot a' makeup. Don't even think about it." He growled, pointing at Ryou who had been about to suggest something. Ryou wisely closed his mouth.

-Some time later-

"I still can't believe Kisara is your sister." Ryou commented. "I mean, you two couldn't be more different."

"Half sister." Akefia growled, and Ryou looked at him. "Same mother, different fathers. I won't tell you the whole story here- because this is definitely not the time- but I was the result of rape. My mother was good enough to keep me. She was a good, kindhearted woman. Just like her daughter." He smiled fondly, his mind in the past.

Ryou gasped, holding both his hands to his mouth. Whatever he had expected Akefia to say, it definitely wasn't that.

Akefia shrugged. "Like I said, this is not the time for that." He growled to himself as he cracked his knuckles loudly, rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck vertebrae out of habit. Turning to Ryou, he smiled. "All right, hikari. I'm ready."

Seto Kaiba walked along the sidewalk to the convenience store just a few blocks away, grumbling to himself. Can't believe we forgot ice- He thought, scowling, praying that no press were in the vicinity. He reached the grocer's without much difficulty and purchased about five medium-sized bags of ice. "Is- is plastic okay?" The teenager bagging the groceries stuttered, blushing furiously, and Seto nodded. Within a few minutes Seto was walking out of the store and back home. At least, that had been the plan.

A gaggle of reporters had surrounded the double doors in a half-circle, shoving at least five microphones in Seto's face. A horde of fangirls were there as well, some shoving bits of paper at him and others crying inexplicably. These he ignored as a reporter started speaking.

"Mister Kaiba, do you have any comments about your upcoming marriage? Who is this mysterious young woman who has captured your heart?"

"Mister Kaiba, how will this development affect Kaibacorp.?" Another man asked.

Seto was struck speechless for a moment, but quickly recovered. He laughed quietly, but loud enough for the press to hear. "I think there's been a small misunderstanding here. I'm not the one getting married tomorrow, my brother Seth is. Although I can't really blame you for the mix-up. We do look almost exactly alike." He explained, amused. Then he pushed his way through the crowd, signing an autograph on a whim and handing it back. The fangirl in question squealed loudly and promptly fainted on the spot. Seto shook his head- still smirking- then made his way back to his house.

"Oh, you got the ice, Kaiba?" Rebecca asked in surprise. "I thought Joey was in charge of the drinks." She stated in confusion as she looked up from her laptop.

"He and Tristan are still busy with the set-up." Seto explained with a shrug. "And I had some free time."

"Oh, well- thanks." Rebecca smiled, and the CEO smiled back. He was in an unusually good mood today, even with the small mishap with the press. Seto rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, then asked, "So- do you know how it's going in there with Kisara's dress?"

Rebecca scowled. "No." She huffed. "They wouldn't let me in, even when I asked if I could help." Then she corrected herself. "Well, Hana and Mana were okay with it, but Mai insisted that they three could handle everything. So I'm stuck out here with the boys."

"Ah, it's not so bad out here." Seto argued with a grin. "Plus, I kinda like the suspense. It raises the energy level a bit, don't you think?"

"Sure, I guess. Whatever you say, Kaiba." Rebecca grumbled, still salty.

Just then Joey called over to where Seto and Rebecca were talking. "'Ey, Kaiba, think ya could give us a hand over here wid dis? Ya got a minute?"

"Sure. Be right there!" He called back, then turned back to Rebecca. "Talk to you later."

"Yeah. See ya, Mr. Kaiba." She answered distractedly, taken by surprise as a dragon suddenly zoomed by overhead and messed up her hair. She glared up at the dragon- who winked at her- his version of an apology. "Which one is that again?" She asked Seto as he was walking away. "Ryushiro. He's mine." He answered calmly without even looking up at the aforementioned creature.

"How do you tell them apart?" Rebecca asked, and Seto shrugged. "When all three are together, Kisara's is a bit smaller- despite being the oldest. Seth's- I don't know. You can kinda see it in his eyes that he's older than mine, but it's not very noticeable at all." He explained. "To the untrained eye, they look exactly alike. We can tell them apart because of our spiritual bonds with them as Ba and Ka, but for someone like you it's close to impossible."

"Hm." Rebecca huffed- a challenge sparkling in her green eyes- but then it faded as quickly as it had appeared, and Seto wondered if he'd really seen it at all as she focused back on her work- which was putting together the seating chart for the reception. Seto shrugged then and walked over to where Joey and Tristan were working on something.

"Wow, Kisara." Hana breathed. "You look just like a princess- no, a queen!" She praised, causing the white-haired young woman to turn pink.

"I'd say she looks like a goddess." Mai commented with a needle in her mouth, immensely pleased with herself for her handiwork and making poor Kisara turn even redder.

"Well, there's our 'blushing bride'." Hana commented wryly, smirking at her red-faced friend. Mana giggled. "Stop teasing her so, you two! If she gets any redder she might break a blood vessel." She chided, and Hana relented. "Sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood." She confessed with a sheepish smirk.

"Remind me to thank Seto when all of this 'wedding business' is over." Kisara requested. "He agreed to have the ceremony and reception here."

"He's actually a decent guy, once you get to know him." Mai commented. "A little rough around the edges- and sometimes it's hard to see it- but he really does have the heart of a hero." She acknowledged, stitching a final pearl into place on the bodice. "There. All finished." She announced with a huff of relief and a satisfied smile.

Hana and Mana could only gape at the sight of the finished bridal gown, too awestruck for words. Mai sighed. "Well, the dress is new, so we've got that covered. Now we need something old, something borrowed, and something blue." She listed, trying to think of possible items that would fit into those categories. Suddenly, a timid knock sounded at the door, and an unmarked envelope was slid under it through the crack. Hana cocked her head and picked up the envelope, opening it and reading the short note inside. She could tell that the handwriting was Mokuba's.

"Thought you might need something borrowed. This hairpin belonged to our grandma. Our real grandma. Apparently it's been in her family for generations.

All the best!

Mokuba Kaiba"

Hana gasped in wonder as an ornate silver barrette fell out of the folded note and into her hand. She could tell that it was made of real silver, and that the jewel set in it was lapis lazuli. The pin was molded in the shape of a dragon, though it didn't look like Blue-Eyes. It actually looked more like 'Diamond Dragon' than anything.

"Wow, Mokuba! This is something old, borrowed and blue!" She laughed, amazed at the teen's foresight. She showed it to Kisara, who took it reverently and placed it carefully in her hair above her ear. Thank you Seto, Mokuba. This means more to me than I can say. She thought, and- somewhere outside- Seto smiled gently, having somehow heard her mental thanks.

"Sometin' happen, Kaiba?" Joey asked, holding a board in place while Tristan pounded the nails in with a hammer. The white birch podium was coming along nicely. Seto shook his head. "It's nothing." He answered, turning his attention back to the task at hand- which was carving a set of figurines from wood to decorate the 'aisle'.

"Hey, guys! Need any help- Whoa." Yugi asked as he walked up, but stopped when he saw what his rival and friend was doing. "That looks just like Blue-Eyes, Kaiba! Nice job!"

"Thanks." Seto grinned. "Goodness knows I've seen them enough to make an accurate model." He joked, putting the finishing touches on the dragon carved from white driftwood and starting on a second. "Hey, if they aren't still busy, could you call Atem's 'Curse of Dragon' and Joey's 'Red-Eyes' over here? I'll need a reference for those two." He asked, and Yugi nodded, happy to help with anything. He took off back toward the house again, nearly colliding with Reseph-Ari's low-hanging tail as he passed by overhead. "Sorry!" The King of Games called, and the dragon growled back in a friendly way as if to say, "Don't worry about it." The Blue-Eyes dropped the columns he'd been carrying in the aisle, then flew back for more- messing up his Ba's hikari's hair just for the fun of it. Seto made a face at the dragon, who rumbled his laughter before disappearing behind the house.

Just like his Ba. Seto chuckled mentally before resuming his task, this time carving a miniature Red-Eyes Black Dragon out of a block of black walnut. Glancing up at the window to his brother's room and study, Seto mused, I wonder how it's going in there-

"Father, will you perform the ceremony?" Atem asked, looking to the man who had unified Egypt. "After all, you are more practiced at it than I am." He confessed, and the former pharaoh cupped his chin in thought.

"So, I will be the one to unite the White Dragon and my favorite nephew?" Akhenamkhanen asked rhetorically, and Seth looked at his feet with a sheepish smile. "I'm your only nephew, my Phar- ah, uncle." He mumbled, turning a little pink.

The former king laughed loudly. "Very well! It would be my honor to officially tie the knot of your bond with this young woman, Seth." Akhenamkhanen agreed, clapping his 'favorite' nephew on the shoulder in a very familial gesture. Seth's smile grew wider- but also gentler- as he expressed his heartfelt thanks, embracing the surprised man in an impulsive hug. Atem smiled. He had to grow up so quickly back in Egypt. In many ways, his heart is still that of a child. Loving, understanding and compassionate.

In the days of his reign in Egypt, the pharaoh would approve any and all unions and would say a few words to the couples to convey a blessing from Isis and other deities of marriage. Atem's time on the throne had been far too short, so he had not had the opportunity to perform this task- but both his predecessor and his successor had, many times over. And since his successor was the one to be wed tomorrow, it was only fitting that Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen perform the ceremony.

"There is just one problem, though." Seth pointed out a little while later. "Who will walk Kisara down the aisle? Both of her parents are- not with us, and the groom certainly can't do it. Not if we are to follow tradition, anyway." He added.

Atem looked at his cousin in confusion. "Seth?" He began, "Did Kisara ever tell you where she was from?" He asked, and the former king shook his head. "I had always assumed she was a foreigner from a distant land because of her pale skin, white hair and blue eyes." He answered, now also confused.

"Her appearance is thus because of her Ka, the White Dragon." Atem explained. "She's actually a native of Egypt, born and raised in the simple farming village of Kul-Elna, falsely accused of being a village of thieves, robbers and traitors."

Seth gasped in horror at the mention of the taboo settlement, but Atem continued as he hadn't uttered a sound. "At the time the Millennium Items were forged, Kisara had been visiting relatives in another village, and so was spared. Her younger brother, however, was scarred for life, emotionally and physically." He stated, a deep sadness and guilt in his eyes. Even though he'd had nothing to do with it.

"No-" Seth breathed, realizing where his cousin was going with this. No, it can't be!

"Yes." Pharaoh Akhenamkhanen took over when his son fell silent. "Kisara's younger brother is Akefia, the boy formerly known as the Thief King."

"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!" An outcry could be heard from the house, and everyone in the vicinity heard it. Everyone looked up in the direction of Seth's room with surprise, not understanding what caused the outburst. Most surprisingly, the present Bearers felt the power of the Shadows. Ryou and Akefia felt it too, and so felt their apprehension grow as a livid Seth suddenly stepped out of a Shadow portal in the wall of the room they were using.

"What- whatever is the matter, Seth?" A frightened Ryou asked, but the reborn Bearer didn't answer right away. His cobalt eyes were locked on the white-haired yami. "This does not concern you, hikari." Seth answered, trying to keep the malice from his voice as he spoke those words. After all, he wasn't angry with Ryou. Then he rounded on Akefia.

"Why?" He breathed, deceptively calm. "Why did you never tell me or anyone else that Kisara is your sister?!" He nearly shouted, glaring at the now visibly terrified teenager.

Akefia gulped. "I assumed that Kisara herself would have told you by now. Everyone else found out right after you and Kaiba left to find Critias in the Dominion of the Beasts." He explained, and Seth's murderous expression turned to one of surprise. "I hadn't remembered it myself until Kisara recognised me."

Seth relented- the fire in his eyes slowly dying as he heard the truth in Akefia's words- remembering that it was Zorc who did all those terrible things in Egypt. This young man was just as much of a victim as he himself had been. Maybe even more so.

"You might have given me some warning." Seth grumbled, embarrassed, and Akefia grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. The next time a forgotten connection of the past surfaces between me and your wife-to-be, you'll be the first to know." He promised, but there was a mischievous gleam in his blue-violet eyes as well, and Seth recognized a thin layer of sarcasm in his tone.

"Oh, ha ha." He groused, glaring at the smirking Thief King, but there was a hint of amusement behind his sapphire eyes. Seeing that the danger had passed, Ryou spoke up timidly. "Um- er- Seth?" He asked, and the blue-eyed man turned to look at him, all anger gone from his face and replaced with curiosity. "Yes, Ryou?"

"Was- was there another reason th-that you- barged in here so s-suddenly?" The white-haired teen stuttered, and Seth closed his eyes and bowed his head.

"Yes." He answered. "There was indeed." Then he turned back to Akefia. "Since you are Kisara's closest living relative on this Earth, would you be willing to- walk with her down the aisle?" He asked, displaying an emotion in his eyes that Akefia had never seen from him or Seto before: Humility. A soft smile widened on the young man's face, and he too looked down. "It would be my honour and privilege, Seth. It's the least I can do to repay you for all my transgressions of the past."

Seth nodded his thanks, then stepped back through the Shadow portal he'd created earlier. Just before he vanished, he turned back and commented, "By the way, those robes are very becoming on you. You should wear white more often, Ryou."

The hikari turned pink and looked down at his sandals, but his yami threw an arm around his shoulder and laughed. "For once, I agree with him. You do look good in that colour, 'White Mage Bakura'." He teased gently but sincerely, subtly reminding him of his favorite game, Monster World.

Then the dark turned to his light and grinned. "Let's make ourselves useful, shall we? I'd bet my best knife that we could help with something around here."

End of chapter 1

Next chapter teaser: The Wedding

I've wanted to write this ever since the end of 'Brothers in Time', but I could never think of a good wedding scenario. This one still had a few bugs in it, but it's the best I could come up with so I'm sticking with it. I had a lot of trouble deciding who would be Seth's best man, but I finally decided. Sorry that this was the reason it took me so long to write this story.

Ryushiro is a reference to my other stories *cough*Empire*cough*. Nephthys (Kisara's dragon) is named after the goddess, and Reseph-Ari is an Egyptian name that Seth came up with.

Yeah, I put some horror in this story too. And no, I don't know who Kefi's father is. Wait- maybe I do- Oo-hoo! Another plot-twist in the future! And a little humor between the white-haired duo. Can you imagine Kefi with makeup on? Neither can I. XD

Originally this story was only two chapters, but chapter 1 was way too long! Fifteen pages! So I cut it in half. On that note, I'll see you there in chapter 2!

Constructive Criticism is greatly appreciated!

Glowing reviews are even better!
But flames will be tossed right in the fireplace where they belong.

God Bless!

Tsunami Storm