A/N: What the hell, two chapters today!
"Grief does not change you, Hazel. It reveals you."
~John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
"Now listen to me, Rebecca. I'm only going to say this one more time," Yugi's voice was almost patronizing, which Destiny didn't think was a good idea. "My grandfather didn't steal your Blue Eyes White Dragon Card.
"He did, he did, he did steal it!" Rebecca screamed, jumping up and down, "It was my grandpa's favorite Card and he took it from him!"
"Do you think she's telling the truth?" Mokuba whispered to Destiny.
Destiny shrugged. She honestly didn't think Solomon Muto could have stolen his Blue Eyes Card from his friend. Why would he treasure it so much if he had? But, at the same time, what had happened that would plant this idea in Rebecca's head?
We need to hear the whole story.
A second crack ripped through the Wall and the Beast of Grief hollowed in protest.
"You're going to pay, you thieves!" Rebecca shouted.
Yugi groaned. Destiny shifted in her seat, tugging her knees up into her chest and holding Teddy between them. The bear reminded her of Mooby so it was comforting.
"Rebecca, there's something you need to hear," Grandpa Muto called to the young girl.
"Now what?" Rebecca scoffed.
"I want to tell you a story" he explained, "It's the story of how your grandfather, Professor Hawkins, and myself faced a great danger."
"In other words, more of your lies," Rebecca snapped.
"No, it is true. I assure you," Grandpa Muto asserted, "and, let me tell you, it was one of the most frightening experiences of my life."
Destiny perked up. Cool, Grandpa's going to tell a story.
Destiny had never had a grandparent to tell her a story like this.
Another crack in the Wall.
"It was four years ago," Grandpa Muto began. "I had traveled to Egypt to participate in an archeological dig; a great new discovery had been found not too far from the Pyramids of Giza. The desert was hotter and dryer then I'd expected, so it was fortunate that I soon made a friend."
A face suddenly wafted into Destiny's mind, transmitted there from Solomon Muto's memories.
He had warm brown skin that crinkled up at the edges where he smiled; his eyes were small and grey and his moustache was thick but well groomed.
He looked exactly like how grandpas should look.
Unlike Destiny's own grandfather; Warren Mage always looked like he had a pole up his ass.
"He was a Professor of Egyptology named Arthur Hawkins and he was kind, not to mention brilliant, and good for a laugh. He was the leader of our expedition and in his field of archeology he was viewed as a very radical thinker."
"How come?" Teá inquired.
"His theories," Grandpa Muto explained. "He believed he'd found evidence that supported the game of Duel Monsters actually playing a role in Egyptian history."
Everyone gasped in unison. "Am I right, Rebecca?" Grandpa Muto called over to the girl.
She dropped her gaze and didn't answer.
"That's crazy," Mokuba whispered to Destiny, "Is it true?"
"Yeah, Destiny, your brother designed Duel Monsters, did he really get the idea from the Ancient Egyptians?" Joey added.
Destiny nodded slowly as the Beast paced agitated in front of the splintering Wall.
"No way, that's crazy!" Tristan cried.
"Indeed," Grandpa Muto agreed. "In all of the hieroglyphs Professor Hawkins deciphered there was one word that came up over and over again. And that word was Duel. Using this word as a guide, Arthur Hawkins deciphered an entirely new portion of Egyptian history."
Destiny stared in awe at Grandpa Muto. She couldn't believe that somebody other than her brother had figured out the link between Duel Monsters and the ancient Shadow Games.
"He showed me what he'd found during the dig where we met," Grandpa Muto went on. "I was astounded to see that there was indeed proof to support his theories. Drawings of Monsters painted on the walls that resembled the ones printed on Cards, passages describing great battles involving magic and Monsters. I thought my friend would revolutionize his field of history, but Arthur's colleagues ridiculed him for his findings and dismissed them as wild fantasy."
Destiny tensed. She kind of felt bad for Rebecca's grandfather; it must have been humiliating for him. However, she also was glad none of his superiors believed him. If the Shadow Games were exposed; she didn't want to think about what the outcome could be.
"But, despite constant taunts, Arthur continued in his research into Duel Monsters' true origins and he invited me to accompany him," Grandpa Muto explained. "We eventually came across an interesting text that claimed the Monsters the Egyptians used to do battle with had actually been summoned from a parallel dimension known as the Shadow Realm."
"The Shadow Realm? What's that?" Mokuba asked.
"The depiction said it is supposedly another form of our world, of our reality," Grandpa Muto replied. "It exists directly next to our world and is separated from us by a barrier. It's a good thing too, for the Realm is full of great and terrible power with catastrophic potential. The Realm, however, can still leak over the barrier and supposedly was able to manifest within the souls of humans, granting them unbelievable gifts."
Out of the corner of her eye, Destiny caught Yugi glance her way.
"We were certain that if Arthur and I found more of this solid proof then we'd be able to convince the other archaeologists. We were about to leave the tomb to present our findings when disaster struck," Grandpa Muto paused for effect. "The tomb was old, the foundations worn and unstable. Therefore, it wasn't too much of surprise to either of us when the ceiling suddenly collapsed in on us, blocking the exits and trapping us underground."
Teá clapped a hand to her mouth. Joey and Tristan both gaped.
"How did you get out?" Mokuba asked.
"Well, we didn't at first," Grandpa Muto was solemn. "We waited for who knows how long. It fell like hours, days, but eventually we were down to the last of our provisions and there was only one sip of water left between us. We couldn't decide which one of us was going to get the final drink so we Dueled each other for it."
Destiny's mouth parted, finally seeing where he was going with this.
"And it is really rather astounding," Grandpa Muto concluded. "Almost Card for Card, Monster for Monster, Yugi and Rebecca have played the exact same Duel I played with Arthur Hawkins."
"So what happened?" Joey demanded, "Who won?"
Grandpa Muto was about to continue when Rebecca suddenly snapped back.
"No more lies!" she screeched, "Why don't you just butt out, old man!"
"What makes you so certain that Mr. Muto isn't telling the truth?" Teá demanded.
"It doesn't matter," Rebecca exclaimed, "What matters is me and Yugi finishing this Duel."
"Yugi and I" Mokuba muttered under his breath.
The Beast laughed but it was slightly quieter as a bitter smile crept onto Destiny's face.
Her brother used to do that all the time.
"Alright then, I'll stop talking and allow the Duel to continue," Grandpa Muto complied.
Rebecca grinned. "Alright, I was getting bored with that dumb story. Now I can go back to kicking Yugi's butt!"
"It is certain that Rebecca learned Dueling from Arthur, but she certainly didn't learn manners," Solomon Muto mumbled under his breath.
"Maybe this will teach her some," Yugi seemed to have heard his grandpa. "I play Catapult Turtle which, at the sacrifice of one of the Monsters on my Field, to deduct half of Catapult Turtle's Attack Points from your Life Points," he added as a green robot shaped like a turtle with a large catapult strapped to its back appeared on the Field (Attack 1,100/Defense 2,000.)
"What a joke," Rebecca sniggered. "Do you think that'll do any good?"
"I will when I combine it with Brain Control."
Destiny smirked. Good one, Yugi.
"Oh no!" Rebecca fretted.
"Oh yes," Yugi asserted, "with this Card I can control any of your Monsters for one turn." As he spoke, a giant swollen purple brain appeared on the Field. A pair of hands sprang out from brain and shot straight towards Rebecca's magnetized Millennium Shield.
"Oh no, oh no!" Rebecca wailed as her Shield reappeared on Yugi's end of the Field and slid onto Catapult Turtle's catapult.
"Now, I sacrifice Millennium Shield by using it as ammo," Yugi declared as the catapult was raised skyward and blasted in a perfect arc straight back over to Rebecca's side of the Field where it exploded in a burst of rainbow light.
"And my turn isn't over yet," Yugi continued. "Summoned Skull, Attack!" in a burst of blue lightning Rebecca's purple Cannon Soldier exploded to nothing but dust.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no. It's not fair!" Rebecca cried, stamping her feet furiously as her Life Points dropped to two hundred. "Oh, I'm still going to beat you, Yugi," the small girl called defiantly. "I'll get you and your thieving grandpa."
"And your little dog too," Mokuba chuckled under his breath.
Destiny smiled slightly despite the Beast's howling protests.
Hmm, Yugi's a better Duelist then I thought, Rebecca's thoughts seeped through the crack in the Wall. I can see how he won the Duelist Kingdom Tournament. But he's never been up against a genius before. However, everything is going according to plan.
Destiny perked up slightly; her grip tightening on Rebecca's Teddy as she channeled her power further for the first time in months to continue listening.
Let's see, I have six scummy Monsters in my Graveyard, Rebecca continued. That should be just enough, she drew another Card. Her face brightened.
Then aloud, she added: "Great, fantastic, we drew a great Card, Teddy!" she called to the stuffed bear as she giggled with glee.
"What's so funny? "Joey demanded.
Destiny knew. "V is for victory" Rebecca declared, holding two fingers aloft, "for I play this Card, Judgment Blaster."
"What's that?" Yugi cried.
"With Judgment Blaster, I can discard five Cards from my hand," Rebecca began, "and in exchange…"
A purple vortex suddenly bubbled up from the center of the Field, spiraling and spinning like a giant whirlpool.
The whirlpool began rather small, but it didn't remain as such for long. It continued to grow and grow and grow, swelling and expanding until it had engulfed the entire Field with its blinding light. Yugi had to shield his eyes, in fact everyone had to shield their eyes.
"I can obliterate all your monsters," Rebecca declared, "and one more thing," she added once the light had diminished. "I play my favorite Card, Shadow Ghoul."
A familiar, slime-green creature with folds of moss-like skin and a spidery build rose up to an offensive standing position, all of its many bloodshot eyes trained directly on Yugi's empty side of the Field. "And you know what? For every crummy Monster I have in the Graveyard, this adorable fella gains an extra one hundred Attack Points!"
"Every Monster?" Teá gawked.
"I lost count, man. How many Monsters did she send to the Graveyard?" Joey inquired of Tristan.
"I think it was eleven," Tristan whispered back.
"One hundred, two hundred, three hundred," Joey started to slowly add up the total amount on his fingers.
"Eleven hundred," Mokuba cut him off.
"That's right, Shadow Ghoul now has an Attack Power of twenty seven hundred," Rebecca exclaimed gleefully.
Yugi gawked at Rebecca. "You mean you sacrificed elven Monsters to the Graveyard just so you can use their energy to beef up this one Shadow Ghoul?"
"You're just now catching on to my strategy, Yugi?" Rebecca sneered, "You'll have to think faster than that."
"Rebecca," Yugi's voice was almost sad.
"Now what? "Rebecca scoffed.
"Duel Monsters isn't about sacrificing all of your Monsters to only get to the ones you deem to be useful. Every Monster has some form of ability or skill that you can apply to help you win. If you just throw them away-"
"Are you out of your mind?" Rebecca interrupted. "Dueling has nothing to do with respecting your Monsters. Everyone knows that the only thing that really matters is winning. And besides, Duel Monsters are just ink on Cards. What's to respect?"
Destiny felt her insides constrict; the Beast purred slightly at her simmering anger.
Duel Monsters weren't just ink on Cards, that's merely what her brother, Pegasus, had told everyone. The souls of the creatures that the Ancient Egyptians had taken from the Shadow Realm and locked away in their tombs were now sealed within those seemingly flimsy slips of paper. Even Destiny knew that Monsters should be treated with respect; they were tools to everyone and allies to people like Destiny who knew their dark secret: that they were real and not just holograms.
"Rebecca, you've got the strategy and the fundamentals down, but you need to fight with honor and passion too. There's so much more to life than simply being on top, even if you become the best Duelist in the world; it'll mean nothing if you merely played it blank and empty, with not family to cheer you on and no losses to teach you and help you persevere."
"How much longer are you going to keep me waiting, Yugi?" Rebecca ignored him, "I didn't come here to take a nap."
"Alright then, I place a Monster in Defense Mode," Yugi announced as a glowing square blinked on his side of the Field. Rebecca chuckled to herself as she drew her next Card.
"Well, what you think I lack in respect I make up for in talent!" she declared, "I drew a Magic Card, Stop Defense!"
Yugi gasped. It was pretty obvious what that Card did.
"She's forced the Dark Magician into Attack Mode," Tristan cried.
Another crack slithered along the Wall as Destiny's coveted Monster; Yugi's purple-robed Dark Magician appeared on the Field.
"And now, Shadow Ghoul, Attack! Green Vapor Shroud!" Rebecca commanded.
The green Ghoul raised its ugly head and a blast of acid-colored smoke sprayed from its many beady eyes. The Dark Magician shielded its face but the noxious blast consumed and destroyed him without a second thought.
"Bye, bye, Dark Magician," Rebecca giggled as Yugi's Life Points dropped to eight hundred.
"Mr. Muto, Yugi's getting creamed," Tristan cried, "There's no way your Duel with Professor Hawkins could of gone this way."
"Actually, Tristan, it went exactly this way," Grandpa Muto asserted, "and the outcome might surprise you."
"I play Swords of Revealing Light!" Yugi cried as a shower of glittering lights shaped like swords rained down from the ceiling and skewered the Field surrounding the Shadow Ghoul.
"Now you can't attack for three turns," Yugi added.
"How irritating," Rebecca grumbled. "Well, if that's the case, I pass this turn."
"Sheesh, it didn't even faze her," Joey muttered.
"Then I play this Card," Yugi declared. "Monster Reborn to resurrect the Dark Magician" he added as said Monster burst onto the Field, bathed in a glittering aura.
Destiny smiled and the Beast snarled.
"I bet you know what he's planning, Destiny," Rebecca suddenly called to her. "While I can't attack him, he's trying to reassemble all of his forces. But that won't save him!"
Yugi fixed Rebecca with a hard glare. "Next I'll play a Monster in Defense Mode and I'll tell him what it is, 'cause he can't beat my genius brain," Rebecca added. "Whee, another Cannon Solider!" a purple, bazooka clad robot Monster made its second appearance on Rebecca's side of the Field.
Smart move, Destiny heard Yugi think. She wants me to attack, but I can't let that Cannon Solider get in a shot.
"If it's an attack you want, Rebecca," Yugi called, "then it's an attack you'll get! Dark Magician, Attack Cannon Solider!"
In a single blast of navy blue light, Cannon Soldier was blown to dust.
Rebecca smirked as she dropped Cannon Soldier's Card into her already brimming Graveyard.
"Thanks Yugi, you've just raised Shadow Ghoul's Attack Power by another hundred points." As she spoke, Shadow Ghouls Attack Points rose to twenty eight hundred.
"No matter what Card Yugi pulls, Rebecca's Shadow Ghoul's gonna be stronger then it," Tristan muttered grimly. "Rebecca's strategy's working."
"Don't count ol' Yug out yet," Joey asserted. "He learned from the master."
"Oh, I get what you're doing!" Rebecca exclaimed, "You used Swords of Revealing Light to stall for time, hoping some special Card is going to come up. But that isn't going to happen, right Teddy?" Rebecca added to the bear. "I'll pass this turn too, but next time when my Shadow Ghoul is free to attack, I'll wipe you out!"
Rebecca's threat became all the more imminent when the Light Swords surrounding the Monster suddenly faded and the Shadow Ghoul broke from its invisible chains the Monster reared back its head with a guttural roar.
The image of the Duel suddenly grew fuzzy around the edges and a new image wafted into the center of Destiny's swimming vision.
"Since I can't attack, I'm going to pass this turn," Arthur Hawkins announced, "but, next time, you won't be so lucky."
"As you wish," Yugi's grandpa replied simply.
"What Card are you waiting for, Solomon?" Professor Hawkins inquired.
"That's my little secret," Grandpa Muto replied slyly.
Destiny blinked away the image with a look of bleary astonishment.
So, if this Duel truly was playing out the same way Yugi and Rebecca's grandpas had then that meant Yugi would have one last trump card.
Yugi drew his next Card. He hesitated, his eyes wavering across the painted image.
"What's the matter, Yugi?" Rebecca taunted "did you not pick the Card you need?"
Yugi didn't respond.
Destiny gasped as the image of a dark tomb, thick strangling air, and a single drop of stale water.
"So, Solomon, did you get the Card you wanted?" Professor Hawkins asked.
Solomon Muto's big, purple eyes, so much like his grandson's, wavered on the Card; they moved to Arthur Hawkins, then back again.
He set the Card aside and placed his hand on top of his Deck. "I surrender, Arthur."
Arthur Hawkins' jaw dropped in astonishment. "Solomon-" he began.
"You win" Solomon Muto's voice was firm.
Destiny gasped quietly as her eyes broke through the Vision and back into her own reality.
Yugi stared down at the Card he'd chosen; he still wouldn't make a move.
What he did next surprised even Destiny. "I surrender," Yugi declared as he placed his hand upon his Deck in a very similar fashion to what his grandfather had done in a very similar Duel.
Everyone did a double take.
"I don't believe it! Yugi's giving up!" Joey exclaimed.
"What's he doing?" Mokuba whispered
"Unbelievable," Tristan murmured.
"The game is over, Rebecca," Yugi continued. "You won."
Rebecca grinned.
"Yugi, why?" Teá demanded, "You can't just give up."
"What's he crazy?" Mokuba agreed.
"Come on, man. You can't let a little brat like here get the best of ya," Joey added.
Destiny didn't listen to them trying to sway their friend. She was staring at Solomon Muto; his expression was solemn, understanding.
With a mechanic whirl, the Dueling Arena powered down; the Monsters vanishing and the Field's lights flickering out.
"Does this mean I win?" Rebecca asked.
"Yes," Yugi replied with a slight smile.
"Whoopee! Rebecca the genius is the winner! Did you hear that, Teddy? I won! And in front of Destiny Pegasus too! I beat the King of Games; I beat the King of Games!" Rebecca squealed as she twirled on the spot and hopped off the descending Arena platform.
"I don't get it, Yugi," Teá whispered as Yugi headed over to where the others were standing. "Why did you surrender to her?"
"I won!" Rebecca suddenly cried, holding out her hand to Grandpa Muto. "Now give me the Blue Eyes."
Solomon Muto's face fell. Hesitantly, he reached into the pocket of his bathrobe and produced the Blue Eyes White Dragon Card in all its pristine beauty.
Destiny watched him with wide eyes. She couldn't believe he was just giving this undeserving brat his most prized Card. There was no way Destiny would just hand anybody her Hydra or Special Olympian Cards.
"Yay, at last it's all mine!" Rebecca spoke like a high-pitched super villain.
Grandpa Muto wavered; the Card slipping from Rebecca's eager fingers.
"Rebecca, please, I ask that you allow me to keep this Card."
Rebecca blinked. "What are you talking about? Give me the Card!" she demanded.
"Rebecca, this Card means so much to me. It is a constant symbol of my friendship with your grandfather."
Rebecca's eyes blazed. "First you steal, then you lie, and now you're going back on your end of the deal!" she screeched, stamping her foot.
"Please, behave yourself, Rebecca," a voice suddenly called.
Everyone's heads whipped towards the door in unison just as a very familiar face strode through the doorway.
It was a man around Grandpa Muto's age; he had worn leathery skin that gathered up at the corners of his warm eyes so that he seemed to be bursting at the seams with a smile. His full lips were mostly covered by a thick grey moustache that was a neat as his well-combed hair. He wore an off-white suit that looked out of place next to his tanned, calloused hands. A sign of years spent working in the hot, desert dirt.
"Grandpa!" Rebecca gaped.
"Is that you, Arthur?" Grandpa Muto beamed as Professor Hawkins came up to the group.
"Solomon, it's been so long," he said with an even wider grin.
"Too long," his friend agreed.
"I do hope my precocious granddaughter hasn't caused you too much trouble," Professor Hawkins continued apologetically. "You'll have to forgive her."
"For what?" Rebecca demanded.
"Rebecca, did you know that Yugi was actually the winner of your Duel?" Professor Hawkins asked his granddaughter.
"No, he's not! Grandpa, I won!" Rebecca asserted.
Her grandfather turned towards Yugi. "You are just like your grandpa," he said to him. "You're a generous young man, not to mention a fantastic Duelist."
"Thanks," Yugi watched with curious eyes as the Egyptologist walked over to his end of the Arena where his Deck still was.
Professor Hawkins picked up the Card on the top of the Deck.
"I knew it," he whispered. "Rebecca, take a look at this Card," he added to his granddaughter.
Rebecca's eyes widened as he showed her the Card and everyone else gathered round. Destiny craned her neck from her position on the bleachers so as to catch a glimpse of the Card.
The Card's picture was of a beautiful woman with dark green skin and flowing blue hair that cascaded around her shoulders in a shower of sliver sparkles. Her hands were clasped against her chest and her slight form was buried in the folds of her pure, white dress as she slowly rose up into a glittering golden sky.
Another crack splintered against the Wall. Destiny felt her eyes grow hot at the sight of one of her brother's more exquisite pieces.
"This Card is called Soul Release," Professor Hawkins explained, "and if Yugi had played it as his final Card; you would have been defeated. If he had played Soul Release, Yugi could have revived up to five Monsters from his Graveyard or yours. If he had done the latter, then Shadow Ghoul's Attack Power would have dropped significantly and been left entirely at the Dark Magician's mercy."
Rebecca's face fell. "What? You mean Yugi never had to surrender," she asked with misted eyes, "then why?" She turned to Yugi, "why did you surrender?"
Yugi blushed. He didn't seem to know just how to put it.
Luckily for him, Professor Hawkins did: "Don't you see? Yugi wanted to show you that there's so much more to Dueling as well as life, then winning and losing. Just like when that tomb collapsed and Solomon and myself were trapped. We had bet our last drop of water on a Duel and Solomon also sacrificed a victory to save my life."
Everyone gasped and Grandpa Muto looked as embarrassed as his grandson.
"I was weak, overcome by the heat so Solomon tried to give me the water," Professor Hawkins continued. "I told him he didn't have to, but he replied that he couldn't let me lose the Duel since I needed the water more than he did. And he was right. I had just drunken the last of our water when the lantern went out. We were both certain that it was the end. However, as luck would have it, the rest of our digging crew finally managed to break through the rubble and dig us out," Professor Hawkins concluded as he turned back to Rebecca. "He saved my life, Rebecca."
Rebecca looked upon her grandfather with an expression of awe.
"But there's one more thing," Professor Hawkins dropped to one knee so as to be eye-level with his granddaughter. "It is true that during my Duel with Solomon, I sacrificed a large number of Monsters to the Graveyard in order to bring my Shadow Ghoul up to its fullest strength, however; I did not consider those Monsters to be useless. In their own way, there were just as important as my Shadow Ghoul."
Rebecca's mouth parted slightly; she was sucking in her grandfather's words faster than the world's most porous sponge.
Destiny was suddenly tugged back to a distant conversation a million years ago.
Think of it this way, Destiny, your soul becomes linked to the game and therefore your Monsters. They become an extension of your soul. Like a mirror, they reflect who you truly are and who you desire to be. The way you treat your Monsters shows how you think of others and how they think of you, remember to fight with honor and respect for your Monsters and your opponent for they are the representation of your life which, as you know, is something only you can control.
A single tear slipped over the rim of Destiny's eye.
"And it is not just the Monsters but the opponents as well," Professor Hawkins echoed Pegasus's words. "I felt such respect and gratitude towards Solomon for what he did that I gave him my Blue Eyes White Dragon Card."
Rebecca's eyes popped. "So, he didn't take it?"
"Of course not, why would you think so?" Professor Hawkins inquired.
"I didn't think anyone could beat you without cheating," Rebecca replied in a small voice.
Professor Hawkins' expression softened.
"Thank you, it was sweet of you to try to get my Blue Eyes back for me but it belongs to Solomon now."
"Okay," Rebecca whipped her nose with her sweater sleeve. She and her grandpa hugged.
"Now do you understand, Rebecca?" Professor Hawkins asked as they broke apart. "Great Duels can create great and lasting friendships. The Cards you play reflect who you are and who you want to be. The passion you fight with on and off the battlefield is an admirable quality that I'm sure many people would appreciate to have as a trait in a friend."
Rebecca nodded, a slight smile teasing at the corners of her lips.
But it fell slightly when her eyes wavered back over to Yugi.
"Yugi, I'm sorry," she whispered.
"It's okay, Rebecca," Yugi replied with a grin. "I forgive you."
"You do?" Rebecca's eyes glistened.
"Of course," Yugi replied, reaching into his pocket. "Here, I want you to have this," he held out a Card to Rebecca.
Destiny's heart hammered in her chest when she saw the Card. It housed a picture of a small, white angel with flowing blonde hair and beautiful feathered wings.
The Ties of Friendship. The last Duel Monsters Card Maximilian Pegasus had made before he died.
Crack!
A sound like shattering glass and tearing concrete rolled into one sharp, piercing sound.
The Beast howled, but Destiny swung a leash around it and tugged it into the background of her mind, holding it at bay in the depths of her darkness where it belonged.
"The Ties of Friendship?" Rebecca read the Card.
"Yeah, it's a very special Card, only one of its kind and I'm giving it to you" Yugi explained.
"What's it mean, exactly?" Rebecca asked.
Destiny got to her feet. Yugi's head snapped towards her.
He paled and took a step back; expecting Destiny to be angry for giving away the Card her brother had given him. Everyone watched with bated breath as Destiny slowly walked over into the center of the group, trailing Teddy under one arm
"Isn't is obvious? It's about the importance of the friends you form in life. Friendship is something that should be valued above all other things. Whether it's with a relative or someone who years before might have been a complete stranger. The bonds you form with people are something to be treasured, something of worth. It is in these bonds that keep you going in life, they define who you are, and reflect who you want to be."
Everyone froze, mouths open.
Destiny Pegasus had just talked.
Everyone except Rebecca, she smiled. "Oh, I see. That's cool, Destiny. I'm never gonna forget that."
"Here. I believe this is yours," Destiny continued, holding out the teddy bear with a returning grin.
"Oh, thank you," Rebecca exclaimed as she took the toy and hugged it.
"And what about that autograph?" Destiny added, whipping out a pad and pencil.
"Really?" Rebecca looked elated.
"Sure," Destiny replied as she scribbled a quick little note on the corner of a page.
TO: REBECCA
YOU DUEL LIKE A QUEEN
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
LET'S PLAY A ROUND SOME TIME
STAY ADORABLE
DESTINY PEGASUS
"Here," Destiny tore out the page and handed it to a beaming Rebecca, who accepted it gratefully. "Hey Mokuba, can you snag my coat for me?" she added over her shoulder.
Mokuba blinked, seeming to be coming out of some sort of stupor.
"Sure," he mumbled as he tossed Destiny her faux Siberian tiger fur coat.
"Thanks, Mokuba," Destiny slid the jacket over her shoulders.
"What the hell was that?" a voice suddenly called from the door, making everyone jump.
Destiny turned to see Seto Kaiba striding over to them.
"Kaiba!" Destiny smiled as she rushed up to her friend and threw herself into his alarmed arms. "You didn't have to come pick us up."
Kaiba gawked at her. "Did I miss something?" he demanded, forcefully prying Destiny off him. "This is the first time you've spoken in over four months."
Destiny shrugged. "I just feel chatty today. Is that a problem?"
"No. Whatever. Let's get going. I've got a meeting tomorrow morning. Mokuba, come on," Kaiba called to his brother, who hurriedly got to his feet and scampered over.
Destiny glanced over her shoulder one last time as she, Kaiba, and Mokuba turned to leave.
"Hey, Yugi, are your parties always this crazy?" she asked playfully.
Yugi smiled sheepishly.
"Thankfully, no," he replied.
Kaiba was giving Destiny a queer look as they headed out into the dry January air. It was almost as though he expected her to disappear if he so much as breathed on her.
Destiny caught him in the act, and he immediately dropped his gaze.
"Getting you to say five whole sentences in the span of a few minutes," he muttered under his breath. "Perhaps I should let you hang out with those geeks more often. Maybe they've finally found a use."
Destiny gave him a wry smile as they all loaded themselves into the limo and gratefully submerged into the roaring heat.
Mokuba fell asleep before they'd even rounded the corner, which was to be expected as it was past midnight.
Kaiba watched his younger brother snuggle into the plush folds of the limo seats, looking anywhere but at Destiny.
She was sitting with her knees knotted together and tucked into her chest.
The silence was screaming in both their ears with only the gentle hum of Mokuba's even breathing to silence it.
Destiny glanced over at Kaiba. His eyes shifted her way as well.
She looked away; her hands tightening their hold on her ankles.
More silence, blaring louder than any radio music.
Finally, Destiny couldn't take it anymore.
She'd been silent for months, no more of that. She couldn't stand the laughing of the Beast of Grief, the stone cold solidity of the Wall, the rushing churning of the dark waters. It dragged her down further and further, folding her in on herself. But she was like a piece of construction paper, there were only so many times you could fold her. Eventually, she'd collapse from the outside in.
"Kaiba?" Destiny's voice was hesitant.
"What?"
"You know that day after the Ph-after Yugi beat you and you were lying on my couch and I was giving you a massage."
"What about it?"
There was a pause as Destiny scrambled to regain her lost composure. The question she wanted to ask burning at the back of her throat was her only source of energy.
"You started to say something to me," she finally blurted. "What was it?"
Kaiba closed his eyes. "I don't remember something like that and besides, it probably wasn't important."
"It seemed important," Destiny insisted.
"Don't push it," Kaiba shut her down.
Destiny stared at him, startled. She was about to fold in on herself and shut up for the rest of the night, but a sudden thought occurred to her.
Kaiba didn't mean to snap at her. He was merely frustrated with her. He was helpless to heal Destiny's broken heart and shattered spirit. There was nothing he could do and, for someone like Kaiba, that pissed him off considerably.
Destiny glanced back over at Kaiba, their eyes met.
Crystal blue like a cloudless sky, rust brown like dried blood.
"Kaiba?" Destiny's voice was louder this time, bolder.
"What?" Kaiba's was thick and blunt.
Destiny was too: "I love you."
Kaiba choked on his own breath. His eyes grew wide and he gasped slightly. He turned to look her full in the face. His surprise the most blatant emotion she'd ever seen on his face. It wasn't marred at all by his icy mask.
"Just thought you ought to know," Destiny attempted to fill the silence.
She looked away, but Kaiba grabbed her shoulder and tugged her back to face him.
"Destiny, what do you mean that you love me?" he hissed.
"Exactly what I meant, I love you," Destiny replied simply. "You're my best friend and I would do anything for you and I trust in you to be there for me."
Kaiba seemed to relax at this. "So, it's platonic?"
"If you want to put it that way."
"Good" Kaiba released his hold on her shoulder. "I could never love you that way, romantic. We've been through too much. It would never work."
Destiny smiled grimly as she scooted closer to Kaiba and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I'm fine with that."
Kaiba's arm wrapped around her shoulder, and Destiny cried into his coat sleeve the rest of the ride home.
A/N: Wow, a confession in chapter 3! And not the kind of confession you might have been expecting. Sorry to say for those who are disappointed, but Destiny and Kaiba's relationship is a platonic, surrogate sibling kind of love. Something that I enjoy writing just as much romantic relationships or familial relationships. Anyways, Rebecca's arc has ended and another arc is about to start in the next chapter, an arc I had a TON of fun with. Stay tuned!