A/N: Here is the next chapter, everyone. The plot was introduced in the previous chapter (sort of, the next chapter will get a little more in depth with the plot). Just want to say this is not a romance fic but there will be slight hints and "Mokuba's teasing Seto" scene in the previous chapter was just for fun. But who knows? Could something start developing between Alasia and our lone duelist? You never know what I'll come up with. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing except plot and OCs.
/ = Mind Link between Yugi and Yami
Chapter 6: A Lead in the Search
"Téa!"
"Tristan!"
Two high school teens were running around a now destroyed and deserted amusement park, frantically searching for their two lost friends. The taller of the two finally stopped to catch his breath, his already disheveled blonde hair looking messier, sweat pouring down his face. But the other spiky-haired teen just stopped calmly next to his best friend. He knew there was no time to waste, that the others could be in grave danger, but he also knew the toll it was taking on his blonde friend. Even the boy whose mind and body he shared wasn't fairing any better. Yami tried to lift up their spirits.
"Don't worry, we'll find them. Kaiba has promised his satellite will track them. They must be around here somewhere."
-20 minutes earlier-
As Yugi and Joey stepped out into the sunlight, they froze in horror. Kaibaland looked like an ancient ruin. Rides were broken up and small fires were everywhere. Several feet ahead was Kaiba standing in his battle stance: legs spread apart and his fists by his side. They could see his usual confident form quivering in anger. As they approached his side, they witnessed what had their rival so rattled. Across the distance was the duelist that Alasia defeated, his mask off revealing his red and purple stripped hair and his red eyes lighting up his pale face. He had Mokuba in front of him, gripping the boy's hands behind his back with one hand while the other held an unusual, curved knife up to the kid's delicate neck.
"Yugi!" Shouted a familiar female's voice with another familiar voice, a male's, echoing.
"Joey!"
Yugi and Joey saw that behind Alasia's opponent stood two other teens whom were also dressed weirdly for a day out to an amusement park. The young male had dark green hair with streaks of ivory and blue and was wearing a dark green robe with a black fancy pattern all over it and in his tight grasp was Tristan. The female, with long, black hair and wearing a ruby colored dress and a sea-green sash around the waist, was holding onto Téa. But luckily for Téa and Tristan, their abductors were not holding weapons against them.
/No! They've got Téa and Tristan! We have to do something, Pharaoh!/
/I know, Yugi, but if we make any sudden movement…/ The Pharaoh's crimson-violet eyes glared Egyptian spears at the dragon, costume wearing duelist a couple of yards away. /…It could be death to Mokuba, as well as the others./
/There must be something we can do./ Yami felt for his friend. He, too, wanted desperately to do something but knew they would be endangering their friends. Even Kaiba could do nothing, save for shaking in anger and narrowing his eyes at these new enemies. Yami could read his rival's face like a book; Kaiba wanted nothing more than to tear them apart but knew it could cost his brother's life. And that was the one thing the blue-eyed CEO of Kaiba Corp. would never let happen.
The "dragon" duelist spoke to the three enraged duelists across from him and his two companions.
"If either of you expect to get your loved ones back alive, then you will have to find us first!"
Immediately, a flash of brilliant light temporarily blinded Yugi, Joey, and Kaiba. Each had to hold up their hands to try and shield their eyes but it was in vain. They could not see a thing for a few seconds and when the light faded away, the three strangers, and their prisoners, were gone.
"Mokuba, no!" Kaiba sank to his knees in despair while Yami and Joey ran up to the spot where the three punks were just mere seconds before. Joey threw a fist to the ground in frustration.
"Dose bastards! I can't believe dey just disappeared like dat." Yami said nothing, for he, too, shared Joey's pain. He looked behind him to his arch rival whom also appeared defeated. Kaiba stayed on his knees, his fists on the ground, and his head hung low. Yami saw the usual tough talking, strong-willed, cold-hearted duelist distressed like that once before. The last time was when they first defeated a group of five men, known as "The Big 5", in Kaiba's virtual world. Those cowardly men used their Mythic Dragon to defeat Joey, Mai Valentine, and Mokuba, which being in a virtual world was like murdering them. But back then, the Mystical Elf brought their friends and family back. Yami doubted anyone with powers like the Mystical Elf could bring them back now.
Joey stood back up and turned to find Yami watching Kaiba with a deep sadness in his eyes. Joey was about to make an insult towards Kaiba but stopped short, knowing that if something had happened to his own little sister, Serenity, he would probably look and feel the same way as his rival now did.
"Yug, wait." But Yami ignored him and walked slowly up to his rival, whom was hardly moving but breathing shallowly. Though Kaiba had not raised his head, he knew who was standing in front of him.
"What do you want, Yugi?" His voice was fraught, a way that was rarely heard by anyone, especially Yugi and the gang. They almost never heard him sound like that.
"Can you help us find where they have taken Téa, Tristan, and Mokuba? Perhaps your satellite can track them down." As Yami spoke, Kaiba raised his head, his eyes filled with anguish but they were not tear-stained. He stood up where he could look down on the spiky-haired duelist.
"Look, Yugi, I'm only doing this for Mokuba. My satellite will track them down but I'm only rescuing my brother. As I've told you many times before, when it comes to rescuing your friends you're on your own."
"Can you at least tell us where they are once you've found them? Me and Joey will take it from there."
"Whatever." And with that, Kaiba walked off in the direction of Kaiba Corp., which still stood tall and proud above the city. Yami watched the purple trench coat disappear out of the park's entrance when Joey jogged up to his side.
"So what's da word? Is he going to help us?"
"He will let us know where the satellite finds them, but we're on our own from there."
Joey shook his head. "Dat figures…"
-Present time-
"We must continue to have faith." Joey looked up at the ancient spirit. He really admired his positive attitude. Right now, though, he didn't know what to believe. He saw it happen, right before their eyes, three figures holding their friends captive and instantly vanishes in thin air. He wasn't so sure if there was any way they could find them. And even if they did, Joey was sure they would just disappear again.
"I hope you're right about Moneybag's satellite tracking dem."
"So am I, Joey. So am I."
XxXxXxXxXx
"Damn it!" Slam
The action startled a few employees in white lab coats standing nearby. Their employer had ordered that their company's satellite track down the Vice President's cell phone as well as another person's phone number. It had been almost 20 minutes since he got back to his headquarters and began searching the city from the satellite's view. But so far, the satellite could not find anything.
"There must be a glitch. Find and correct this problem, immediately!"
"Yes, Sir!" Responded a couple of women sitting at their own computers. They typed furiously but everything seemed to be in order.
"Sir, nothing has been found amiss; there are no viruses or glitches. Perhaps something is blocking the satellite's signals?" But how? Mokuba's cell phone was always on and from what he's heard, Téa always keeps hers on, too. It was possible for the abductors to have taken their phones, however. There was one more thing he could try to locate: Mokuba's key card. There was no way that those punks would know about the secret of the lockets around his and his brother's necks. Kaiba was sure they would not have any idea that the locket was actually a card that contained codes to access certain computers in Kaiba Corp. But to give anybody that bit of information, even his own employees, was a very risky move. Kaiba really couldn't trust anyone else.
"I'll continue the search from my office. Just go about the rest of your responsibilities."
"Yes, Sir!" All of the women said in unison. They immediately closed out of the satellite program and went back to their duties of trying to put orders out for repairs to Kaibaland. Kaiba was awaiting the elevator when a teal-haired, black-suited, man joined his side.
"Roland, I have another job for you." The elevator dinged and opened its doors. Kaiba stepped in and Roland followed.
"Yes, Sir?"
"I want you to go over the last hour of video feed that was taken in the park up until the cameras were destroyed by the earthquake. You should see a conspicuous group of three teenagers, two males and one female. Once you've seen what they look like I want you to search the city for them. They couldn't have gone too far."
But Roland had a look of confusion on his face. "Of course, Sir, but may I ask what this is about?"
Ding
The duo stepped out onto the floor leading directly to Kaiba's office. Kaiba answered Roland's question as he opened his office door. "They've taken Mokuba." He shut his door immediately and Roland's face sweated. He turned back to the elevator and pushed the down button.
He was alone in his office, which is what he usually preferred, but now the silence was tormenting him. He really wanted to hear a voice saying, "Welcome back, bro!", but that would not happen today and he feared it wouldn't happen anytime soon.
He turned up his laptop and turned it on, causing his own locket to fly forward, just a little, off his chest. Its movement redirected Kaiba's attention onto it and he gently clasped a hand around it. He opened it and gazed lovingly into the widest violet-gray eyes and widest smile of his younger brother back when they were living in the orphanage. His heart began to ache as he softly said, "Mokuba."
XxXxXxXxXx
"Man, we've searched everywhere! When is Kaiba going to let us know someding?! Ow!" Joey had kicked a wall in frustration, only to hurt himself. Yami just looked amused by this antic.
"Too bad Téa and Tristan wasn't here to see that. He heh heh." Joey glared hard at his best friend.
"Dat's not funny, Yami."
"But I agree about one thing: Kaiba should have gotten back with us by now." As if on cue, Yugi's phone started ringing.
"Hello?"
"Yugi, the satellite hasn't picked up anything. I suggest you find your own way to locate your friends. I'm about to go flying over the city; I don't have time to look for those geeks." Click
"Was dat Kaiba? What'd he say?" Yami drew in a deep breath. He was afraid this would happen.
"The satellite couldn't find them. He said..."
"What?! Dat's it! I'm marching over dere right now, and I'm going to...!"
"Stop, Joey! Violence will not solve anything. We'll have to find them on our own."
"I think I can help you." Said a familiar voice. Both Joey and Yami turned towards said voice and was surprised to see Alasia standing before them. Her face looked solemn and her deep green eyes were cast downward. Did she know where those three strangers took their friends?
"You can? Tell us, do you know where they've gone?" Yami asked her, being as serious as he could but with a little anxiety mixed in his voice. Alasia nodded, though she still did not look up at him.
Something about her silence, however, did not settle well with Joey. She claims to know where they went but was no where in sight when the incident occurred. And even if she was hiding, why didn't she go get help? Joey was going to get some answers.
"How could ya know where dey went when you weren't even dere when it happened, huh? How do we know you're not one of dem?!"
"Joey, that's enough! This isn't her fault." But Joey ignored Yami's pleas.
"You've got some explaining to do, missy!" Joey pointed his forefinger at Alasia in an accusatory manner. Alasia only stood there, still not lifting up her head, but she did manage to surprise both teens in front of her.
"You are right, Joey. It is time I told you who I really am and where I am from." She finally lifted her head up, her emerald eyes welling up with a few tears. The sight was enough to make Joey drop his "tough guy" act. He didn't mean to make her cry.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get mad. We just have to know where our friends are, ya know?"
Alasia nodded in understanding and composed herself before beginning to tell them her story.
"My story begins in a world far away from here. It is called, 'DragonVale'. ..."
Yami and Joey both listened intently as the princess went on about her world full of magic and dragons. She explained how her mentor and dear friend, Master Nogard, helped her mother raise her. She told them how she never knew her father because he died when she was very little and her mother had just passed away earlier in the week.
Both Yami and Joey looked sympathetic but Yugi was even more empathetic as he listened on from inside the puzzle. He barely knew his parents since his grandfather practically raised him. He began to shed his own tears when Yami's soul approached him.
/Yugi? Are you alright?/
/I'm fine, Pharaoh. I know what she's feeling, that's all./
Alasia continued on to how she met Zankou and the other two though she really didn't know enough about them, only that she had classes with them. She was beginning to explain her position as being not just a princess but a wizard too when Joey interrupted.
"You're a wizard?! Dat is so cool! Let's see what you can do!" His new excitement made Alasia smile a little. She was glad to see he wasn't too mad at her. But Yami cut in, there was still a rescue mission needing to be carried out after all.
"As much as we would like to see that we still need to find the others. Now, are you trying to tell us that Zankou has taken them to this 'DragonVale'?"
"I'm afraid so, but why, I cannot answer that. Perhaps Master Nogard can tell you more. You will have to come with me to meet him. He doesn't get out much anymore."
Yami nodded curtly as he spoke, "Okay, lead us to your world, but first, I must communicate this to one other person. Your presence and assistance will be needed to convince him to go with us."
"Let's go, then. There is no time to lose."
XxXxXxXxXx
The sun was setting and businesses were closing up. Many of Kaiba Corp.'s employees were already walking out the doors and down the steps while others were still in the lobby chatting away about the day's events. Roland was riding the elevator to the roof of Kaiba Corp. He had completed his tasks but could not find whom he was searching for, much to his dismay. And that wasn't the only bitter news he was about to deliver.
The elevator dinged and opened, a cool breeze slapping Roland in the face. Or was that his employer's icy stare that he felt? Either way, he couldn't get mad at whatever slapped his face; to him, he was a failure and deserved whatever came his way.
Seeing his right-hand man silent and wearing a solemn expression only angered Kaiba more than he already was. It was obvious that Roland had no luck in his search neither, and the day was just about over. He would have to conduct (and oversee) a more thorough search in the morning but he knew he was not going to be able to sleep tonight.
As Kaiba approached him, Roland mentally prepared to deliver the bad news to his employer. He bowed and informed, "Master Kaiba, I was unable to find the kids that you had wanted me to look for. I have already dispatched a few security teams to do another sweep of the city."
Well, at least he's staying ahead of the game, Kaiba thought to himself as he kept his gaze to his most trusted employee. Roland continued on.
"And one more thing, Sir. Mr. Moutou and Mr. Wheeler, accompanied by a young woman, are waiting for you in your office."
That did it; whatever calmness Kaiba had been able to keep control of just went over the roof.
"What?! What are those dorks doing in my office, Roland?! Explain yourself, right now!"
Roland winced at his master's shouts. Though Joey was about to get violent if he didn't let them in, Roland knew his boss would be angry. But when they told him the girl with them knew where to start looking for Mokuba and the others, Roland felt he had no choice. She may be their only hope.
"Sir, the young lady with them knows where the kidnappers might have gone. Please hear her out, Sir. She's our only lead."
"Hmph. I'll hear her out but consider yourself being docked in your pay, Roland." He stepped into the elevator with Roland behind him. Mulling this consequence over, Roland had to admit, it was better than being fired. He smiled as he thanked his boss whom said nothing in return.
When the elevator reached its destination, Kaiba stormed out, walking briskly to his office. He yanked the doors open to see who Roland told him was there: Yugi, Joey, and a young girl. But Kaiba's eyes widened a little as his oceanic eyes fell on her. She was the same girl back at the stadium, the one who had played the Alexandrite Dragon. His eyes narrowed and he focused all his attention on her.
"You have five minutes to tell me what I want to know. Where is my brother?" Before Alasia could say anything, Joey spoke.
"Well, first, Kaiba, we –"
"I wasn't talking to you, damn Mutt." He shifted his Arctic gaze back to Alasia. "I was talking to her." She winced at his harshness. He really was proof of "not all that glitters is gold". He may be handsome but he sure wasn't pleasant. Joey was about to make a biting retort when Alasia answered Kaiba's question.
"Your brother has been taken to my home world, DragonVale." Joey shut his eyes tightly, preparing for the onslaught of verbal abuse. Surprisingly, there was an eerie silence, like the eye of the storm, and then... slap. He opened his eyes to find Alasia's head turned, a red hand-print forming on the right side of her face. Kaiba was a few inches from her, seething, and Joey could have sworn his eyes were ablaze.
"How dare you! How dare you walk in here, uninvited, and make a ridiculous claim like that! I am in no mood for childish games and fairytales! My brother has been kidnapped and all of you want to waste my time with your pathetic nonsense?! Get out!"
"Kaiba –"
"I said, 'get out', Yugi. Roland!"
"Yes, Sir." Roland began ushering them out the door and Kaiba stood facing his desk, more exhausted from these nuisances. Suddenly, his office was lit up very brightly and, like a flash of lightning, the light was gone. But now everything was silent, not even his door had been closed. Kaiba slowly turned back around to see everyone staring in shock at the ground, well everyone but the girl who appeared to be concentrating on something. There, on the ground, was a baby red dragon with white claws, yellow belly and wings, with yellow frills on the neck and tail. It gave a soft growl as its little, yellow beady eyes looked lovingly upon Alasia. It jumped into her arms and snuggled up against her bosom.
"I will say this: I'm impressed with your hologram but you won't fool me for a second. I've been writing virtual software for a long time so enough with your illusions and get out like I already told you. I do not like repeating myself." Kaiba turned around again and walked over to his window, staring at the sky in thought, when he felt a sharp point brush up against his shoe. He looked down and glared at the red beast behind him.
"Growl." The dragon smiled up at Kaiba, God only knew what he was saying. He returned the sharp, icy gaze back unto Alasia.
"Get this 'thing' away from me." He commanded in a dangerously low tone of voice. The dragon seemed to be offended for at that moment it latched onto the teen CEO's leg and bit down… hard.
"Arrrrrgh!"
XxXxXxXxXx
"Wake up, you fools! I have your dinner." A female with black hair clad in a ruby dress commanded in an authoritative voice. She peered into the cell and could make out three silhouettes in the shadows of the dungeon. They stirred but gave no evidence they were awake yet. This angered their abductor more. She pulled out a stick with a glowing orb at the top and flicked it at them. A little green fireball flew towards the trio huddled together. Feeling the burning heat against their skin jolted each of them awake and with a wave of the wand, the fireball dissipated.
"That's better. Now, eat!" Clunk
A large, metal tray hit the floor hard. The young woman laughed sinisterly as she walked back up the stairs and slammed the heavy gated door behind her, locking it afterwards.
"I wouldn't touch whatever they give us, Tristan. It could be poisonous." A female with short brunette hair warned the older of the two males in the cell with her. But Tristan just snorted back.
"Well, not eating anything will kill us too so I guess we're screwed then." He hated this as much as the girl but he knew they would die of starvation if they didn't take the chance on what was given to them. Even the younger of the three had to agree with Tristan.
"Tristan's right, Téa. We need to try to get a little something on our stomachs." Upon hearing his weak sounding voice, Téa realized it was futile to resist. They all needed to keep their strength up somehow and if their kidnappers wanted them dead, they would've already done it, right? So, how bad could the food really be?
"Alright, but I vote Tristan checks it out, first." Tristan was about to make a defense when the third person spoke against the idea, but it wasn't in Tristan's favor.
"Are you sure you want him testing it out, Téa? He'll probably eat every bit of whatever there is."
"Good point, Mokuba." Tristan huffed and crossed his arms defiantly. But he also realized they were right due to his and Joey's track records with food. He smirked as an idea came to him.
"Alright, Mokuba, seeing as how you're the youngest and therefore need more strength than us, you get to test it first." That's what he gets for turning the tables on me. Heh heh heh.
But Mokuba just said matter-of-factly, "Sure, but if something happens to me, you will be the one answering to my brother." Mokuba had a Kaiba trademark smirk on his face, and both Tristan and Téa had to admit: it was pretty scary.
"Oh for goodness sake, you two…" Téa stood up and walked over to the cell door. She crouched low so she could get her slim arm through and she was able to pull the tray inside the cell. But what was on the tray was not very appetizing at all. Just three bones with just enough meat on them for one person.
"So, what did they serve us Téa? Something smells like fried chicken." Tristan approached a very stunned Téa and saw what she was holding and gasped.
"You have got to be kidding me! This is all?! Argh!" Téa nodded in silent and looked over to Mokuba who was watching them curiously. She then whispered in Tristan's ear.
"I think Mokuba should have what he can get first."
"Good plan." Tristan whispered back. They set down the tray in front of Mokuba. He looked down at it and back up to the others.
"What about you guys?"
"Just eat, Mokuba. You need as much strength as you can muster." Tristan smiled genuinely to show he agreed with Téa.
Mokuba blinked back a tear trying to form and smiled back. "Thank you."
XxXxXxXxXx
"Ugh. What happened, Yug? My head hurts." Joey was on his back in Kaiba's office with Yami and Alasia hovering over him. Kaiba was on a couch with his leg propped up and Roland attending to it with a First Aid kit. The dragon was snuggled back in Alasia's arms, soundly asleep. Yami just looked at his best friend with an "are you serious?" look.
"Why don't you tell us? Because it looked like you fainted at the sight of a little blood." Yami smirked as he said that last part which caused the former's eyes to widen in surprise.
-Flashback to 10 minutes ago-
"Growl." The dragon smiled up at Kaiba, God only knew what he was saying. He returned the sharp, icy gaze back unto Alasia.
"Get this 'thing' away from me." He commanded in a dangerously low tone of voice. The dragon seemed to be offended for at that moment it latched onto the teen CEO's leg and bit down… hard.
"Arrrrrgh!"
Gasps came from everyone in the room and both Roland and Alasia ran over to pry the dragon off. Kaiba had stumbled back into the window and hit his head a little against the bulletproof glass.
"Draco, LET GO." Alasia ordered the baby dragon. It obliged happily, blood dripping from its fangs. Alasia turned around to go back to Yami and Joey when Joey began to feel dizzy.
"I don't feel so well…" Thud.
"Joey!" Yami and Alasia cried in unison as they knelt before their unconscious friend.
-Present time-
"O-oh yeah, heh he, sorry 'bout dat." Joey responded sheepishly. "But, how can a hologram cause someone to bleed?"
"Draco isn't a hologram, Joey. He's very real. I should know; I was there when he hatched in my room and he's been my closest friend since." Alasia was talking to Joey but her confident emerald eyes were having a stare down with a pair of frozen cobalt ones.
"Hmph. Fine, I'll admit that your 'friend' is real, but don't expect me to apologize any more than that." Now Yami and Joey gasped and looked at each other as if they were sharing the same thought: did he just say what I think he did?
"So, now do you believe me? We are not from Earth." Kaiba closed his eyes deep in thought. Alasia took his silence as a "yes" so she continued. "I promise that is where your brother has been taken."
Kaiba slowly re-opened his eyes and saw Alasia looking at him, her eyes filled with sadness. Or was it pity? Either way, what choice did he really have? It definitely explained how his satellite could not track his brother nor Yugi's pathetic friends.
"Alright, I will follow you to this... whatever this place is. But you better not be leading me astray, because if you are then I promise you, I will make you regret it."
"I can assure you, you won't regret coming with us. We leave at dawn. I need to recover my energy after calling Draco here." The dragon gave a soft growl at the mention of its name, but continued to sleep in its owner's arms.
A/N: I'm going to try to get the next chapter up before New Years if possible but it may be afterwards. I've got another story that I'm trying to update too so I've been alternating my updates. Merry Christmas (or whatever tradition you celebrate if you're of another culture;) and Happy New Year!
