Power Corrupts
Chapter 1
The Offer
Lately Seto's been different. Most people wouldn't notice, but I do. Of course, he's always been different to them. People always thought that my brother was mean to the core, but I know better. He was once sweet and young, and open to everyone and everything. What changed? Our parents dying for one thing. And then the orphanage. That's a hard place to be, and Seto had to become tough to protect me, because I was too little to protect myself. After a while we were a adopted and we were sure things would get better. They didn't. Our stepfather was cruel, and didn't like me. I never got the full details of what happened the night he died, but I know it had to do with me, and Seto protected me as usual. Seto has a reason to be cold.
Recently however, I've begun to worry about him. Like I said, he's always been different to everyone else, but never rough to me. I'm getting kind of scared. While I know my brother would never hurt me on purpose, I'm not sure if he's in control all the time. He's snapped at me, and once raised his hand as though to hit me. He's always horrified afterwards, and apologizes a hundred times if not more, but I'm afraid of the time where he doesn't stop himself in time.
It's the fault of Battle City, or something about it. Maybe it's the God card, Obelisk the Tormentor. Ever since that night when he got it he's been incredibly stressed out. I hear him moaning in his sleep, on the rare occasions when he does sleep. He's become irritable, and mutters something about a Pharaoh and a Priest. Also, he's become more than obsessed with getting the rest of the Egyptian God Cards. He's been letting horrible things go unpunished in the duels because of his real agenda. He doesn't care what happens as long as he ends up with those powerful cards.
Now we're in a blimp, thousands of feet above the ground, with Yugi and the other finalists. The competition has been called to a halt for the night because of a severe rainstorm that's kicked up, and everyone but my brother and the mysterious duelist number 8 is in the dining hall eating dinner. Seto stomped off to his room when the rain kicked up and he hasn't been out since. He told me he had a headache and didn't want to be disturbed, so I'm sitting here quietly with the rest.
Things are very tense here. Marik is standing on one side of the room, looking creepy and fingering that 'Millennium Rod' of his, while the others are standing on the other side and casting glares at him. I'm not surprised, after what he did to Mai.
I'm not sure how it happened, but I'm willing to believe that it has something to do with the magic of that rod. Seto might not believe in the magic of the Millennium items, but I do. I've encountered too much weird stuff with them around not to. Ever since Duelist Kingdom and having my soul sucked into a card I've been able to believe it. How could I not?
For some reason though Seto seems afraid to believe in magic, like it would mean something terrible were true if it existed. I can't imagine what it could be . . . although earlier tonight Marik said something to my brother about ignoring his ancient past.
What he meant by that I'm not sure, but maybe I'll get a chance right now. Seto has just entered the room and is looking shaken. I stand up and move over to him, worried.
"Seto, what's wrong?" I venture softly. It's not like my brother to come out in public anymore looking anything less than the tough leader of Albacore. Something's happened and I want to know what. Unfortunately he doesn't seem to be in the mood to talk to me. His eyes scanning the room determinedly he simply says,
"Not now Mokuba."
Just goes to show how much things have changed. He used to confide in me immediately whenever there was a problem. Now instead he brushes me aside and strides purposefully to the opposite side of the room, quickly pulling himself together as best he can before stepping in front of Yugi.
In a low voice that carries across the room just the same he says calmly,
"I need to talk to you now."
He crosses his arms, but I believe it's to keep them from shaking. Yugi notices as well, and his eyes widen.
"What's wrong Kaiba?" My brother's eyes are like icicles.
"I need to ask you something . . . about the past, Pharaoh."
Yugi's eyes narrow and mine do the same. A lot of people have been referring to Yugi as 'Pharaoh' lately, mainly Bakura when he was messed up and dueling against Yugi, and Marik during his duel with Mai.
For some reason from across the room Marik begins to laugh. Yugi and Seto both turn to glare menacingly at him, and I'd hate to be Marik at the moment and have those furious looks directed at me. But Marik doesn't seem to mind, as he's still chuckling good-naturedly.
"What?" My brother snaps, and Marik pauses and eyes him curiously.
"I've told you you'll have to face up to your past eventually, Seth."
'Seth?'
I can tell my face registers confusion, but Seto's turns furious.
"And just what do you know about it?" He hisses, taking two steps toward Marik.
"Only what history tells . . . and what your old rod shows me. If you want to know I could show it all to you . . . for a price of course."
Seto crosses his arms and laughs softly.
"Nice try Marik, but unlike some people on board this vessel I'm not manipulated quite that easily." While saying this, he casts an almost imperceptible glance towards Joey, who starts, but was held back by Tristan. Seto continues as though he hadn't noticed it. "Even if I didn't know that your price would be Obelisk the Tormentor I wouldn't let you use your mind games on me even to save my life."
I'm beginning to get nervous. Though it certainly looks as though Seto's going to turn Marik down, I've seen my big brother handle business deals the same way many times.
Marik uncrosses his arms and claps three times
"Very good Seth, better than I would've expected. Under normal circumstances my price would be the Egyptian God card in exchange for helping you, I might even be tempted to trap your mind in the Shadow Realm . . . but I've taken a special interest in you. You see, you and I are not so very different, and I would not mind seeing the ancient battle come to pass once more in this time. I would like to help you regain your memories, your past seems like someone I'd be able to relate to."
"So . . . it is all true then." Seto muses, looking at Marik with new interest. "Those strange dreams I've been having of Ancient Egypt . . . what Ishizu showed me . . ."
Marik steps forward quickly, cutting Seto off.
"Ishizu?" he hisses. "That meddling woman has been to see you? Of course . . . how else would you have acquired Obelisk? No matter, she has no idea what she's up against." Changing the subject quickly he adds "Anyway, I'll give you until tomorrow before the next duel to think over my offer. Come to see me and we'll discuss the specifics."
Marik turns and strides out of the room, the Millennium Rod swinging at his side. I glance to Seto and see his gaze lingering on the golden staff, before he disappears behind the self-closing doors. The remainder of the room glances nervously to my brother.
Time for me to intervene, I figure. Stepping forward quickly I cross my arms, barely noticing the stance I take is so similar to my brother's.
"You aren't seriously considering his offer, are you Seto?" I ask tentatively. The question is just a formality, I know Seto well enough to know that yes, he was considering the offer.
My brother only glances at me with a strange half smile that chills me to the bone. Yugi steps forward, most likely to talk some sense into my brother, but unfortunately Joey gets there first. He grabs Seto by the shoulders and shakes him (mistake #1) and shouts:
"Are you crazy? (mistake #2) Do you remember what he did to Mai only 2 hours ago?"
Seto knocks him away, sending him sprawling to the floor.
"Don't ever touch me again you pathetic excuse for a duelist. And don't talk about matters that don't concern you." He turns to leave, but Yugi speaks firmly, in a strange commanding voice he seems to use only during duels.
"It concerns me, Kaiba." Seto spins around, but Yugi continues calmly. "You cannot make a deal with Marik."
"No. Perhaps you can't, but I'm not you Yugi." he growls. "Or is it Yami now?" This seems to take Yugi (Yami?) off guard, and Seto smirks, he's gained the upper hand.
"Yes, I remember. Some anyway, but not enough for it to make much sense. For months, ever since Ishizu first came to me and told me of my past I've been having dreams and nightmares from back in ancient Egypt.
"We may have come lived from the same time Yami Yugi, but don't pretend you can understand or order me. You see, some of us didn't have Millennium Items to hide in to escape death. You are still the same person you were back then. You don't have memories of your death coming back to you in nightmares. So do not pretend you can understand what this is like."
Seto storms out the opposite door from Marik. Good. At least, for the moment, he's not going to go and talk to that psycho. But Seto's outburst seems to have shocked everyone. He's never been so personal or passionate about anything in public for as long as I can remember.
Too bad what he's saying seems to be pretty much nonsense.
Joey hasn't moved from his spot on the floor, Yugi's still staring at the door in contemplative silence, and Tea, Tristan, and Duke Devlin are glancing at each other and at Yugi nervously.
I sink into a chair next to Joey's little sister Serenity, who looks at me and confusion and whispers,
"What was that all about?"
I look to the older teens in the room, who are all giving each other meaningful glances now, and decide that she and I are likely the only ones in the room who are at a loss.
TBC
A/N: Well, that was my first chapter, plz review and tell me if I should continue it.
Chapter 1
The Offer
Lately Seto's been different. Most people wouldn't notice, but I do. Of course, he's always been different to them. People always thought that my brother was mean to the core, but I know better. He was once sweet and young, and open to everyone and everything. What changed? Our parents dying for one thing. And then the orphanage. That's a hard place to be, and Seto had to become tough to protect me, because I was too little to protect myself. After a while we were a adopted and we were sure things would get better. They didn't. Our stepfather was cruel, and didn't like me. I never got the full details of what happened the night he died, but I know it had to do with me, and Seto protected me as usual. Seto has a reason to be cold.
Recently however, I've begun to worry about him. Like I said, he's always been different to everyone else, but never rough to me. I'm getting kind of scared. While I know my brother would never hurt me on purpose, I'm not sure if he's in control all the time. He's snapped at me, and once raised his hand as though to hit me. He's always horrified afterwards, and apologizes a hundred times if not more, but I'm afraid of the time where he doesn't stop himself in time.
It's the fault of Battle City, or something about it. Maybe it's the God card, Obelisk the Tormentor. Ever since that night when he got it he's been incredibly stressed out. I hear him moaning in his sleep, on the rare occasions when he does sleep. He's become irritable, and mutters something about a Pharaoh and a Priest. Also, he's become more than obsessed with getting the rest of the Egyptian God Cards. He's been letting horrible things go unpunished in the duels because of his real agenda. He doesn't care what happens as long as he ends up with those powerful cards.
Now we're in a blimp, thousands of feet above the ground, with Yugi and the other finalists. The competition has been called to a halt for the night because of a severe rainstorm that's kicked up, and everyone but my brother and the mysterious duelist number 8 is in the dining hall eating dinner. Seto stomped off to his room when the rain kicked up and he hasn't been out since. He told me he had a headache and didn't want to be disturbed, so I'm sitting here quietly with the rest.
Things are very tense here. Marik is standing on one side of the room, looking creepy and fingering that 'Millennium Rod' of his, while the others are standing on the other side and casting glares at him. I'm not surprised, after what he did to Mai.
I'm not sure how it happened, but I'm willing to believe that it has something to do with the magic of that rod. Seto might not believe in the magic of the Millennium items, but I do. I've encountered too much weird stuff with them around not to. Ever since Duelist Kingdom and having my soul sucked into a card I've been able to believe it. How could I not?
For some reason though Seto seems afraid to believe in magic, like it would mean something terrible were true if it existed. I can't imagine what it could be . . . although earlier tonight Marik said something to my brother about ignoring his ancient past.
What he meant by that I'm not sure, but maybe I'll get a chance right now. Seto has just entered the room and is looking shaken. I stand up and move over to him, worried.
"Seto, what's wrong?" I venture softly. It's not like my brother to come out in public anymore looking anything less than the tough leader of Albacore. Something's happened and I want to know what. Unfortunately he doesn't seem to be in the mood to talk to me. His eyes scanning the room determinedly he simply says,
"Not now Mokuba."
Just goes to show how much things have changed. He used to confide in me immediately whenever there was a problem. Now instead he brushes me aside and strides purposefully to the opposite side of the room, quickly pulling himself together as best he can before stepping in front of Yugi.
In a low voice that carries across the room just the same he says calmly,
"I need to talk to you now."
He crosses his arms, but I believe it's to keep them from shaking. Yugi notices as well, and his eyes widen.
"What's wrong Kaiba?" My brother's eyes are like icicles.
"I need to ask you something . . . about the past, Pharaoh."
Yugi's eyes narrow and mine do the same. A lot of people have been referring to Yugi as 'Pharaoh' lately, mainly Bakura when he was messed up and dueling against Yugi, and Marik during his duel with Mai.
For some reason from across the room Marik begins to laugh. Yugi and Seto both turn to glare menacingly at him, and I'd hate to be Marik at the moment and have those furious looks directed at me. But Marik doesn't seem to mind, as he's still chuckling good-naturedly.
"What?" My brother snaps, and Marik pauses and eyes him curiously.
"I've told you you'll have to face up to your past eventually, Seth."
'Seth?'
I can tell my face registers confusion, but Seto's turns furious.
"And just what do you know about it?" He hisses, taking two steps toward Marik.
"Only what history tells . . . and what your old rod shows me. If you want to know I could show it all to you . . . for a price of course."
Seto crosses his arms and laughs softly.
"Nice try Marik, but unlike some people on board this vessel I'm not manipulated quite that easily." While saying this, he casts an almost imperceptible glance towards Joey, who starts, but was held back by Tristan. Seto continues as though he hadn't noticed it. "Even if I didn't know that your price would be Obelisk the Tormentor I wouldn't let you use your mind games on me even to save my life."
I'm beginning to get nervous. Though it certainly looks as though Seto's going to turn Marik down, I've seen my big brother handle business deals the same way many times.
Marik uncrosses his arms and claps three times
"Very good Seth, better than I would've expected. Under normal circumstances my price would be the Egyptian God card in exchange for helping you, I might even be tempted to trap your mind in the Shadow Realm . . . but I've taken a special interest in you. You see, you and I are not so very different, and I would not mind seeing the ancient battle come to pass once more in this time. I would like to help you regain your memories, your past seems like someone I'd be able to relate to."
"So . . . it is all true then." Seto muses, looking at Marik with new interest. "Those strange dreams I've been having of Ancient Egypt . . . what Ishizu showed me . . ."
Marik steps forward quickly, cutting Seto off.
"Ishizu?" he hisses. "That meddling woman has been to see you? Of course . . . how else would you have acquired Obelisk? No matter, she has no idea what she's up against." Changing the subject quickly he adds "Anyway, I'll give you until tomorrow before the next duel to think over my offer. Come to see me and we'll discuss the specifics."
Marik turns and strides out of the room, the Millennium Rod swinging at his side. I glance to Seto and see his gaze lingering on the golden staff, before he disappears behind the self-closing doors. The remainder of the room glances nervously to my brother.
Time for me to intervene, I figure. Stepping forward quickly I cross my arms, barely noticing the stance I take is so similar to my brother's.
"You aren't seriously considering his offer, are you Seto?" I ask tentatively. The question is just a formality, I know Seto well enough to know that yes, he was considering the offer.
My brother only glances at me with a strange half smile that chills me to the bone. Yugi steps forward, most likely to talk some sense into my brother, but unfortunately Joey gets there first. He grabs Seto by the shoulders and shakes him (mistake #1) and shouts:
"Are you crazy? (mistake #2) Do you remember what he did to Mai only 2 hours ago?"
Seto knocks him away, sending him sprawling to the floor.
"Don't ever touch me again you pathetic excuse for a duelist. And don't talk about matters that don't concern you." He turns to leave, but Yugi speaks firmly, in a strange commanding voice he seems to use only during duels.
"It concerns me, Kaiba." Seto spins around, but Yugi continues calmly. "You cannot make a deal with Marik."
"No. Perhaps you can't, but I'm not you Yugi." he growls. "Or is it Yami now?" This seems to take Yugi (Yami?) off guard, and Seto smirks, he's gained the upper hand.
"Yes, I remember. Some anyway, but not enough for it to make much sense. For months, ever since Ishizu first came to me and told me of my past I've been having dreams and nightmares from back in ancient Egypt.
"We may have come lived from the same time Yami Yugi, but don't pretend you can understand or order me. You see, some of us didn't have Millennium Items to hide in to escape death. You are still the same person you were back then. You don't have memories of your death coming back to you in nightmares. So do not pretend you can understand what this is like."
Seto storms out the opposite door from Marik. Good. At least, for the moment, he's not going to go and talk to that psycho. But Seto's outburst seems to have shocked everyone. He's never been so personal or passionate about anything in public for as long as I can remember.
Too bad what he's saying seems to be pretty much nonsense.
Joey hasn't moved from his spot on the floor, Yugi's still staring at the door in contemplative silence, and Tea, Tristan, and Duke Devlin are glancing at each other and at Yugi nervously.
I sink into a chair next to Joey's little sister Serenity, who looks at me and confusion and whispers,
"What was that all about?"
I look to the older teens in the room, who are all giving each other meaningful glances now, and decide that she and I are likely the only ones in the room who are at a loss.
TBC
A/N: Well, that was my first chapter, plz review and tell me if I should continue it.