When Destinies Collide: Acceptance
By Ash Kaiba
DISCLAIMER! I don't own any Yu-Gi-Oh! characters. Wish I did, but I don't. However, I do own any character(s) that you don't recognize. Kathryn and the Takemura family belong to my best friend, fellow author, and beta reader, Katie Mae. (And Kathryn's crush on Bakura. Shh…)
I wish to thank all the readers for the WDC series and my other fan fics. Thank you. The page is yours.
Previously on When Destinies Collide: Acceptance: Chapter 6: Kathryn's Plot
Kathryn, Téa, and Mai talk about going on a camping trip. Téa and Mai agree Kaiba can come, still doubting Kathryn's tale of cousins. Kaiba spots his stepfather from a window, which leads him further into his panic attack.
Chapter 7: Kathryn Understands
Bold - Young Seto (his soul)
"Plain" - Kathryn
Italics - thoughts
"Huh?" The girl moaned as she opened her eyes. Her violet eyes scanned the area. Pitch-blackness surrounded her. Nothing… No one was with her. Fear crawled in her throat. "Seto? Seto, where are you?" She asked. No one answered. Kathryn Takemura looked around, uncertain of her surroundings. Nothing appeared in the darkness. "Seto…"
A screech grated her ears. Kathryn pulled her hands up to block out the noise. She tried to find someplace to hide, but she had the disadvantage. There was nothing. It was just an empty void. "Someone…please…anybody…"
Shh…
A tiny hand had covered her mouth. A small boy hid behind her. Fright shined in his eyes. She went silent. Only then did the boy remove his hand. Kathryn turned around to look at him. The boy glanced at the void with wide blue eyes. Neatly combed brown hair rested on his head. He wore dark blue khakis with a light yellow shirt. A dark blue pullover covered the shirt. "Seto…"
The boy didn't answer. His face appeared to be bruised. Patches of light blue dotted his pale skin. He looked away from her, as if he was ashamed.
"Seto…is that you?"
Yes, Kat, it's me.
Both of them went speechless: Kaiba in reflection, Kathryn in shock. The boy appeared to be about twelve years old. Innocence held onto his eyes, slowly diminishing. He appeared to be aging…too quickly. But, he stayed in that same body, never moving…until another howl. Kaiba dove behind Kathryn and clung to the pocket of her jeans. "It's okay…"
Kaiba shook his head. It's never okay…not with 'it.'
"'It'?"
Kaiba let out a hiss. Kathryn used it as a signal to turn around. A man in red stood in front of them. He said nothing, but held out his hand. The little Kaiba started to yell at him, using every curse word he knew. But one thing was certain… He was not going to the man. The man produced a whip and threw the end out. The leather wrapped around Seto and pulled his body toward the man.
Kat…Kat, please! Help me! Kat!
"Leave him alone!"
The phantom disappeared and she noticed something. Thin wires were tied to his ankles and wrists. Invisible screws attached the wire to his upper arms and thighs. He hung limp, frightened and alone.
Kat…Kathryn, please. He whimpered. Kathryn responded. Her fingers felt for the screws and she undid them. Then, she cut the wires from his wrists and sat him down as she worked on the wires around his ankles. Blood seeped out of the places where the wire had cut into his skin.
"Seto, I'm sorry. I thought you meant you didn't play games or with friends. When you really meant…he hurt you. How long did this go on?"
Two years…I took over Kaiba Corp when I was twelve. He answered as he nestled against her. His eyes closed and sleep claimed him. The void appeared to be a little brighter. Furniture started to appear in the fog. Kathryn pulled her cousin close and fell asleep again, cradling the tortured soul of her beloved relative.
To be continued…
Next chapter in the When Destinies Collide Saga: Chapter 8: Hot Temper
Ash Black reflects back to her youth…and the War of the Roses tournament. She recalls her best friend and some sort of connection that allowed her to grasp what happened to her boss.
Please review. Reviews make me happy (it's like chocolate for a writer).
