The Heart of a Pegasus

Chapter 2: The Thief & The Protector

The first three matches of the tournament were all brutal events. Kage just preferred to watch the battles or read from a book with a hand worked cover and spine. Or she had a thick sketch book in her hands pencil dancing across the page. Kage made a fast friend in Mokuba Kaiba, he was lonely while his brother was competing. And Kage just sat with him and they gave each other sometimes mean commentary on the duelists. "Rex was really looking forward to this, but that was just painful." Kage said as she watched the Dino duelist step down. He had been taken out in less then four minutes. Kage handed Mokuba her sketch pad and followed, she heard him say they would meet for dinner. The duelist was leaning against a wall in the shadows but his hat was in one hand, his hair covered his face and she saw his shoulders shake. Kage acted on instinct, throwing her body into his, she felt him stiffen for a moment then he crushed her against him almost painfully.

His tears muffled by her neck and shoulder. She heard something and turned her head to see Weevil standing a foot away. Kage reached out and plucked his glasses off his face and yanked the collar of his green jacket. "When do you have to leave?" She whispered some time later. "How?" asked Weevil as the three of them were settled into a love seat. Kage on their laps. "I read the notes in my room this morning. Since you two fought before we have taken to the sky you will be DE-boarded and the games continue." Rex sighed, eyes red but clearer. "Within the hour, You and the others will lift off just before dinner and the second round of matches of the semi-finals will begin tomorrow. Bug-boy and I will watch you compete from the square." He said looking for his hat. Kage blushed and started drawing invisible circles on Weevil's arm. "What is it." Weevil asked. "Um, I made something for each of you. If you have to leave soon I'd like to give them to you now."The guys looked at each other and nodded helping her to stand and letting her lead them to her room. She showed them in and there were two small wrapped presents on the table. The one in green she handed to Weevil and the one in blue to Rex.

Rex was given a vest with a stitched black raptor with red eyes on it. Over his heart was stitched 'Rex' in a lovely blue shade that stood out against the black. Weevil had a full light jacket in a dark forest green. But on the back was a very carefully stitched version of his moth wings spread wide. In brilliant almost glowing green was stitched 'W. Underwood.' His collar was a high folding one that would keep others from reading his lips if he put his head down. "Kage..." Rex whispered then she was being squeezed. "That's why you were hiding after the first time I used my moth in front of you." She nodded and after several more hugs the men came and the boys left wearing their gifts.

She stood on the upper deck and waived to them. She showed up at dinner and a couple new people were there. "Greetings young woman. I am Ishizu Ishtar." Kage smiled softly. "Nice to meet you. You can call me Kage, everyone here does." Ishizu shook her hand and as the red-head walked away the Egyptian's eyes filled with tears. She had seen the child's past but nothing of her future but a great flash of light and a terrifying, heart-rending scream. Then nothing but darkness. Kage stumbled and was caught by someone. "Oh! I'm so sorry!" she said and the man gently settled back on her feet. "Are you always this clumsy?" She laughed. "No actually, I'm very light on my feet. Today is just an off day for me. I'm Kage. And you are?" The man chuckled she was sarcastic and it appealed to him. "Marik Ishtar." She smiled at him a second guy came out of the shadows, he had white hair. Yet something about them told her they were not related but were probably friends. "Who is this Marik?" The other man asked looking her in the eye. His eyes were lovely but sad and angry. Marik shook his head, sending platinum tendrils climbing over his shoulders.

"Kage, this is my acquaintance Ryou Bakura." She smiled at him. "Nice to meet you. I tried to run your friend over but he caught me." Bakura barked out a laugh. "Now that's funny." Kage saw Mai Valentine and she flexed her fingers and arms feeling the tendons pop and loosen. "Not fond of her?" Bakura asked amused. "She and I have met before... It was a back-alley fistfight." Kage's stance shifted and Mai jerked eyes wide in realization. Terror widened her eyes and she backed up a couple steps into Wheeler who yelped and dropped her on her backside.

"What was a girl like you doing in a back alley?"Marik asked. "Rare card duel. Bimbo tried to steal from me... I may not seem like it but I do actually have a temper." The brilliant purple eyes flashed blue for a moment before cooling. "Come with us, Ra knows we could use a dinner companion who is as intelligent as she is beautiful." Kage smiled.

"I'm not beautiful. But thank you for making me feel that way. And I need real sarcasm for once. If I said something around most people I think they'd die of shock." Both laughed. Deep, raspy, rumbling, laughter. Gods above, they were under her skin and she had no idea why. She tucked her hands in their elbows and the sarcasm got very dirty between them as they made their way to the sitting room. They asked her opinion on some of the competition. "Ok I admit it, Wheeler gets on my nerves. I am a dog person actually. But that boy... Creepy." Kage shivered and gave a face. Marik snorted and almost choked on his drink. "Oh Ra." Bakura was in silent guffaws of laughter. "And Yugi?" Marik prodded. Kage raised an eyebrow. "The Pharaoh of shortness? Its kinda hard to respect a guy as 'King of Games' who doesn't even reach my chest bone. I don't know him all that well, I like his Gramps but... But the height thing bugs me, I like tall guys.. Its really hard to duel a man I have to look down at." That was the end of it. Bakura was rolling in his seat as was Marik.

Then Marik noticed his head was resting on something soft. He opened his eyes and gazed in to brighter pools of purple. Amethyst met pale lavender. He realized she was running her fingers through his hair and it felt good, she scratched his scalp with her nails softly. Then he knew nothing, Marik Ishtar was dozing. Kage smiled her fingers continuing to stroke through his hair when she heard a growl. "That's not fair." The heavy scented punch on Bakura's breath made her nose wrinkle. "He only has half my lap if you want your head rubbed take up the other half of the couch Ryou." She was being sarcastic, she didn't actually expect him to do it but low and behold he kicked off his shoes and flopped down. Bakura was no fool, he knew when to take a good opportunity when it presented itself.

It was in vain she struggled to resist that white fluffy hair. And she lost her other hand to his silky white strands. "So soft.. Sexy.. Rotten guys with soft addicting hair.. How in the name of the gods to I get into these messes. The gods themselves must have molded you both by hand." She mumbled to them sometime later not realizing both were wide awake but enjoying the attention. Chests puffed out slightly with male pride with her comments. Hours later she tried stirring them. "Marik? Ryou? Wake up please." Blurry, hazy eyes opened and she smiled at them. "Come on guys, actual bed time. No more sleeping on me. I'm not that comfortable." Both mentally disagreed. "Well I'll see you two in the morning for the selection." She waived and walked into the darkness of the halls. "Interesting mortal. Not afraid of us yet seemingly aware of her surroundings. I look forward to seeing if she survives the quarter-finals." Malik grinned. Bakura snorted. "At least we'll get free entertainment for a while." They parted on that note to rest until it was time to see who they had been pitted against.