Ayumu: I'm back! How was Kikico's little story? I really had fun typing, did you like it Marik?

Marik: No! I want to meet my Malik-pretty! I care not about any else!

Ayumu: *blank look* Does Bakura or Yami think this too?

Marik: *nods slowly* I meet Malik-pretty?

Ayumu: In time Marik.*shouts out door* Bakura~! Yami~! Can you come up here?

Bakura/Yami: *storms up stairs* What do you want?!

Ayumu: Are you both fed up with waiting to catch up with Yugi and the gang as well?

Bakura/Yami: Yeah…why?

Ayumu: No reason… Any-who, disclaimer! I do NOT own any YuGiOh! characters nor do I own Kikico.


Chapter 6: Seto Kaiba; enter stage right

(Joeys POV)

'Kaiba…Dat' basta'ds askin' fer me?' My skin paled to a snowy white and I took a step back. I continued to back away until I was in the corner behind my friends. They all watched me in confusion.

(Ra's POV)

As they all watched Joey shrink into the corner Serenity looked at him in confusion and then she walked over to him and said, "Who is this Seto?" Joey looked at her then blinked multiple times.

Finally his eyes went another color to fast to see. But Serenity saw it and gasped. Then Joey sat up and growled, "Dat' basta'd can go eat s*** fer all I care. I ain't going!"

Ryou walked over to Tristan and said, "Can this 'Seto Kaiba' help us? We need to go somewhere safe." Tristan and Miho both nodded in agreement then smiled at the group.

Malik finally spoke and he said, "I think we should take them up on their offer." As Joey began to growl Malik continued, "I think I can speak for the rest of us that we want to go." He turned to Joey.

"I can't protect all of them Joey. I need help to protect them all." The silent 'cause the girls should be our last resort' floated through the air around all seven mutants.

Finally the growls stopped and Joey relented, lowering his head. Serenity gave him a sympathetic look before she turned to the pair and said, "Lead the way."

(With the Hunters…)

The trio had split up in the forest and now they were looking at a small sandy area between them and Domino city.

Marik was looking around for life while Bakura pointed at the sand and looked at Yami, "Was that always there?!" The albino only got a shrug in answer.

They began to cross the sandy ground. They were halfway across 3 hours later so they sat dawn. After five minutes of Mariks' complaining they set off again.

Yami turned to ask Bakura what time it was to see the thief fall into the sand. A grunt was heard so Marik let out an excited noise and jumped in after. Yami heard Bakura grunt loudly in pain for the second time and winced.

If Bakura made a noise you knew it hurt. After a while the two climbed out only for Marik to 'fall' back down the shaft again. Yami shook his head at the thief's antics.

(Meanwhile…)

Yugi and the gang piled into the limo just outside of the hotel. Tristan paid for the room before getting in after everyone. The driver took off into the traffic and everyone tensed.

Joey looked at Yugi in concern as the boy began to pull into a ball. Then Ryou was at his side with a small silver bag. Thrusting it into Yugi's hands then backing away he sat down.

All seven mutants watched as Yugi bit into the bag and flattened it in ten seconds flat.

Tristan was about to ask what was in the bag when Ryou looked at him and said, "You don't want to know."

The rest of the trip was silent and the driver soon pulled up to a gate with a tall brick wall. The driver typed in a code and the gates swung inward to reveal a huge mansion.

All of them gasped and as they pulled in everyone scrambled to get out. Well, not everyone. Joey was the last one out of the car. He followed Tristan and Miho out if the limo at last and let out a sigh.

When Gozaburo Kaiba kept him here as a slave he would torture Joey. The man never did anything indecent to the boy but he did humiliate him.

Joey remembered the cold eyes of his old master and Seto's green locks that outlined his cold face.

Then Joey looked up to see all of his friends. New and old. Now he had Serenity, Yugi, Ryou, Malik, Mai, and Kikico. Then he was tackled by a blur if black hair. Looking down he saw Mokuba, the youngest child of Gozaburo.

The boy had a mess of black locks that sat on his shoulders. He wore a white and blue stripped shirt and a pair of worn jeans. A bright red bandana was tied around his neck and sneakers completed his look.

A smile broke across his face and he said, "How've ya been kiddo? Long time no see eh?" The boy smiled and said, "It's good to see you Joey-nii!"

The blond chuckled at the younger boys enthusiasm. Then a voice that sent shivers down his spine said, "Oh, so you've finally arrived, Mutt."

Joey tensed then smiled down at Mokuba reassuringly. He looked up to see the over familiar ice blue eyes.

The man before him was slightly different from his memories. The short green hair and white suit with a blue tie was gone. In its place was a tall stranger.

The man was dressed in leather shoes and leather pants with a silver buckled belt that hugged his slim waist. His upper body was adorn in a long sleeved black leather shirt and his wrists had silver gauntlets around them.

Extra belts were strapped in pairs around his upper arms and shins. Around his neck hung a locket that looked like a card. Over top of his black attire was a white trench coat.

It flared around his waist and had the initials 'KC' at the collar. It had shoulder pads and a raised studded collar. The coat was sleeveless and showed off his arms.

As Joey looked back up to the man's face he saw sharp, angular features and pale pink lips. With a gulp he looked into the man's eyes. He saw distain in those eyes and he squashed all of his observations.

"WHO YA CALLIN' A MUTT, YA BASTA'D!"

(Hunters End…)

They finally reached the city after another hour and passed a con man. He had black greasy hair and was an overall muscular and bulky man.

Bakura all but ran over to the man. The poor guy looked up and seeing all three of them said, "What do you want? You come back already? Are your friends nearby?"

Bakura looked at him and said, "Do I know you?" The man looked at them again and let out a gasp. "Y-you're not…who are you?!" The thief and assassin looked down at the man as he shrieked.

Yami, feeling sorry for the poor man pulled them away. "Let's go you to, it's getting late and we need to get going."

They began to walk away and the con man let out a sigh. He had just barely gotten away with his life.


Chapter 7: Closing in

Ayumu: Dun, dun dun...The hunters and closer to their quarry than ever? Will they capture them just as easily? *grins evilly*

Ryou: That's real comforting Ayumu. I will trust you though.

Bakura: *sneaks up quietly* Ryou will never see me coming!

Ryou: *sighs* Real mature Bakura. I know your behind me!

Ayumu: *watches as the albino's squabble in amusement* Ah, young love. It brings a tear to my eyes.

Marik: I get moment with Malik-pretty next time?

Ayumu: Maybe. Anyway, the votes are in and Yugi will be getting his powers in the next chapter! Yahoo!

a) influence thoughts - III

b) teleportation - II

or

c) both - IIIIII