Seto got up and headed over to the Kaiba jet. Mokuba hesitated. He was still tripping over the possibility of running into Pegasus once they arrived back at the Kaiba mansion. Seto stopped when he could not hear Mokuba's footsteps behind him. Without turning around he said.
"Don't worry about Pegasus, Mokuba. He should know better to never mess with me."
Mokuba looked up with big, worried eyes. "Oh Seto, how can you be sure? That creep could be outside Kaiba Corp waiting to attack us when we get home!"
Seto closed his eyes and stopped walking. Those words coming from his brother's mouth hurt Seto. The last thing he desired was for any harm to come to his brother. Seto knew what he must do. He turned around and walked right in front of Mokuba. He held his arms out and smiled at his little brother. Mokuba didn't need another hint. He jumped into Seto's outstretched arms and wrapped himself around Seto's neck.
"Seto! I'm still scared! I know you're right but I...I...I just don't want to lose you again!" Mokuba squeezed his brother even tighter. He didn't want to let go. He felt safe. He always did. Seto had never betrayed his trust in him.
Seto couldn't help but smile. Mokuba was the only one who could make him smile like this. He loved his brother, and he knew how much Mokuba loved him. Seto would do anything to make sure no harm ever came to him. Looking into his brothers eyes, it pained Seto deeply to see his brother worried about someone like Pegasus bringing harm to his little family. Seto was a bit concerned himself. He did not exactly trust Pegasus, but knew it was best for Mokuba's sake to never show his fear.
"You about ready to go kid?"
Mokuba nodded his head. "I suppose. I know you're anxious to get back to work."
"I'm eager to sleep in my own bed again."
Mokuba laughed. "You mean your desk."
Seto grinned. "Yeah, that's what I said kid. My bed."
Mokuba laughed. "You know Seto, you really should sleep in your bed more often. Do you need a teddy bear to help you and cuddle with? I've got a..."
Rawr! To distract Mokuba from finishing his sentence, Seto swooped Mokuba up and lifted him up onto his shoulders. Mokuba loved it when his brother did this.
"Whoa!" Mokuba started to giggle a bit. This reminded him of how when they were younger, Seto would carry him around a lot on his shoulders just like this. He couldn't really complain, for he did have a good view since Seto was pretty tall.
Seto pinched Mokuba's legs gently. "I've good thanks little brother. Besides you're like my little teddy bear. It's a shame you're head's not softer. I sometimes want to use it for a pillow." He grinned at the now reddened Mokuba. Mokuba knew his brother was only joking. He and Seto sometimes slept in the same bed together. It was quite common and there didn't necessarily have to be a reason for it. Usually Mokuba would wander into his brother's room when he had trouble sleeping, was sick, or had a nightmare. Seto didn't mind. He actually preferred it to sleeping alone.
When they reached the jet, Seto let Mokuba down. He climbed in with Seto right behind him.
They were going home.
...
Yugi let out a long sigh. His mind was restless again. He was by himself with his hands on his legs. The gentle, quiet wind was blowing his hair in his face. Yugi didn't mind, or he didn't seem to notice. He gazed upon the crowds of people, searching each one for a familiar face. There was only one he wanted to see. He thought about his best friends and pondered what life would be like if the Pharaoh came back and could be one of them. If he was here, sitting next to me, we would have so much to talk about. We could go places, travel, finish school together...we could do just about anything.
Yugi was sitting on a bench close to Kaiba Corp. Kaiba of course wasn't inside working. He hadn't returned yet. Yugi wondered when he would be back and if he was even alright. He felt embarrassed being filled with curiosity over Kaiba's well being. "Ahh, who cares?! Forget about him Yuge!" Yugi could hear Joey's voice in his head. Yugi knew all too well Joey probably hoped Kaiba's jet would blow up on the way back. Yugi, on the other hand, kinda cared about Kaiba as a friend. Despite Kaiba repeatedly declining offers to officially becoming friends. Regardless, Yugi had done a good job showing he cared for Kaiba by coming to Kaiba's rescue on a several different occasions. Sadly, Kaiba never changed his mind about Yugi. Until recently that is, when Kaiba announced he was done dueling immediately after beating Yugi. He had walked off saying, "I'll talk with you later Yugi." The look on Kaiba' face was not entirely antagonistic as it usually was. It made Yugi think Kaiba was maybe changing his hardened heart and rethinking a friendship with him. After Kaiba destroyed his cards, and vowed to never play again, he left everyone stunned. Especially Yugi. Nobody else expected that from him. They all knew it was way out of character for Kaiba to stop doing what he was so passionate about. Not to mention, he was one of the best. His announcement happened so suddenly. And after just being declared the victor over Yugi? It didn't make sense. In fact, Yugi often found himself never really "understanding" Kaiba's thinking.
An uneasy feeling about what was in store for the days ahead was overcoming and troubling Yugi. He was concerned for not only him and his friends, but for Seto and his brother also. With the thought of the Kaiba brothers going though his mind, Yugi glanced towards the front gates of Kaiba Corp. Be careful Kaiba. Keep a close eye on Mokuba. You guys could be in danger. We all could.
"You be careful Yugi."
Yugi jumped. That voice?! It sounds so familiar! Could it be possible? Yugi used caution with his feelings. He didn't want to get his hopes up. Again. No, there was no way it could be who he thought it was. Still, with a spark of hope burning inside his soul, he called out. "Pharaoh? Is that you?" Yugi knew he heard him. But where is he? Where is his voice coming from? Yugi was on his feet now, glancing every which way for a any sign of him.
"I'm right here Yugi."
The Pharaoh appeared suddenly not far from Yugi. He was standing with one hand on his waist and the other hanging loosely at his side. A proud, confident grin was on his face as he smiled at Yugi. He wasn't dressed like a Pharaoh would be dressed. Instead, he was wearing all black with a chain necklace dangling from his neck. He started to walk towards the flabbergasted shorter version of himself.
Yugi kept staring, frozen by his own doubt. He was pretty convinced this was only an illusion.
"Yugi." The Pharaoh stopped in front of Yugi and looked deep into his eyes. He was searching for that connection the two of them had shared not long ago. The Pharaoh's eyes revealed mystery, love, and admiration for his other half. The Pharaoh had missed Yugi terribly. Probably just as much as Yugi missed him, if not more. He was happy to be standing in front of Yugi, who meant so much more to him than just a friend. He was a part of him and part of his soul. They would be forever bonded together in spirit and in heart even if they couldn't always be with each other.
"It's good to see you again. My friend."
Yugi began to tremble as his lips caught tears that had already fallen from his eyes. He was feeling really emotional right now, and the last thing he wanted was to be tricked into thinking this could somehow be real. He wouldn't know how to bear that kind of torture. He wanted the wishing, wanting, and dreaming silenced and peace placed in his heart about what had taken place in the past and what he must now learn to accept as reality. Living in a dream world, was not the way he should be living his life. Yugi stared at the person in front of him. He wasn't exactly taking this in. He felt he was experiencing yet another one of his dreams. The ones where he tossed and turned late at night as he called out for Pharaoh to come back. He had dreamt so many times of his return. Night after night, he came to find, those had just been dreams, nothing more. Surely, this was just one more of them. It had to be. Yet, the Pharaoh was standing before his eyes and did appear to be real. Did that mean his dreams were finally over with, and he was witnessing the real return of the Pharaoh? The kind of return where he would stay forever?
The Pharaoh looked confused. He studied the expression Yugi had on his face. It reminded him of how he used to look when he was concentrating on a very important duel. The Pharaoh took a step closer and gently placed his hand on Yugi's hand. "Are you alright, Yugi? What's going on with you? Talk to me, please."
Yugi appeared to be in a state of shock and denial. This was surreal to him. He didn't know how to respond.
"You're not hurt, are you?"
"No." Yugi was staring at the Pharaoh's hand. It felt really warm as the Pharaoh continued holding Yugi's hand. "It's just, well...I uh...Is it really you Pharaoh?"
"Yes, Yugi it is me. This is for real and not one of your dreams."
Yugi dropped to his knees and wept. Tears sprang from his eyes. So long had he gone on living and allowing the departure of the Pharaoh to trouble his lonely heart and soul. Now, here he was. Alive and well before him.
The Pharaoh was on his knees too. He put his arms around Yugi, and hugged him close. Yugi's head was on the Pharaoh's heart. He could hear his heartbeat. It was beating quite rapidly. It was a comforting sound to Yugi. The sound went straight into his own heart where it would stay forever. It sent chills down his spine. He would never let go. Never. This wouldn't be like before. No, this time he would fight to keep the one he really had grown close to with him always. He would find a way to make this moment last forever. The Pharaoh meant so much to him. No one had believed in him more than the Pharaoh had. If it hadn't been for their special bond, Yugi probably wouldn't have had the strength to get through a lot of what he was able to get through. He had won tough duel battles against enemies who wanted to hurt the ones who mattered most to him. It was because of the Pharaoh's faith in him, he had triumphed at all. His friends had faith in him too, but it was nothing compared to the Pharaoh's faith.
"Yugi, I'm glad you're safe, but I must tell you. I came back to warn you of an evil rising up again. You and the others must be extremely careful. You are all in danger. I don't have much time to explain, but you must find a way to stop it somehow."
Yugi frowned. He didn't like the sound of that one bit. "You're going to stay and help us, aren't you Pharaoh? That is why you came back is it not?"
The Pharaoh looked away. A shadow of sadness and shame was cast on his face. "I wish I could stay Yugi. I'm afraid I can't. I am unfortunately still bound by the rules of my own time and place. My time with you can only be temporary.
"Oh." Yugi stared down at his feet, disappointed.
"Unless..." The Pharaoh's voice trailed off.
"Unless what Pharaoh?"
The Pharaoh folded his arms across his chest. "There is a way for me to come back for good Yugi, but it requires you finding an extremely rare and powerful item called the millennium heart. Once found, and after it's true power is unlocked, only then will I be able to come back and live amongst you and the others. Till then, I can only appear for a short period."
"Where can I find this Millennium heart Pharaoh? I've never heard of it before."
"I know Yugi. It won't be an easy task. I'm afraid that's all I can tell you. It's up to you now."
With that, the Pharaoh was gone.
Yugi had so many questions. How was there another millennium item? Where was it? What did it look like? How would he unlock its powers? Why was the Pharaoh able to come back just now? How did he know Yugi and his friends were in danger?
To be continued...
