I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh in any shape, size or manner. Reviews of the story, critiques on writing ability and suggestions are more than welcome, but debate about Christianity and other religions are not. Thank you.
9.
It was mid-September and pouring rain outside. Mokuba had refrained from mentioning Rachel to Seto for approximately a month. Seto had noticed this and did his best to keep Rachel from his mind in honor of his brother, but it was very difficult.
It had been three weeks since Mokuba had contacted Pegasus when the housekeeper delivered a package which contained a DVD from Industrial Illusions to him. The package couldn't have arrived at a better time. Their little group consisting of Tea, Kirii, Tony, Seto, and Mokuba were having late Sunday dinner and discussion of the evening's sermon at the Kaiba mansion. Needless to say, they no longer met at the coffee shop.
This time there was no video of Pegasus, only a voice-over. "By the time you receive this, Rachel will have been in America for over two months. She is doing well and is employed at Industrial Illusions."
The video began. Slowly, the name "Rachel" was traced in handsome script across the screen. The completed name stayed on the screen for a few seconds then faded out. The screen then showed a picture of a time Tea, Seto and Mokuba would remember – Rachel mummified in casts and bandages. This scene too stayed on the screen for a few seconds, then faded out; as did the next five pictures.
1. Rachel, still in casts and in bed, with the face wrappings removed. The acid wounds on her face, red, purple, black and angry. The epitaph "SLUT" screamed from her forehead.
2. Rachel, still in bed, with the upper body cast removed. What skin they could see was mottled with green and yellow healing bruises.
3. Rachel, sitting in a wheelchair, scarred face screwed up in pain as she reached for an item being held by her physical therapist.
4. Rachel, securely strapped in her wheelchair, pumping iron in the therapy room.
5. Rachel, wheeled up to the table in her room, reading the Bible.
Then there were several short video clips with no sound.
Rachel was laughing at her continued attempts to type with six fingers.
Rachel and Dr. Marilyn Crawford having an animated discussion, ending with the doctor storming from the room and Rachel praying.
Rachel finishing her embroidery of the Japanese symbols for "Jesus" with silver thread on a black bandana and sporting a huge smile of success.
Rachel, with bandana in place across her forehead, receiving her custom-made electric wheelchair, then a shot of her racing down the hallway testing it out.
Rachel and her physical therapist in deep discussion while doing her therapy, followed closely by Janet praying and Rachel's face shining with joy.
Rachel, Dr. Marilyn Crawford and Janet, who all had obviously become close friends, at a cafeteria table reading Bibles.
The tearful farewell between the hospital staff as Rachel left with Maximillion Pegasus on her trip to America.
The video faded to black once again, then a current picture of Rachel slowly appeared then froze.
--
Seto looked at the picture in disbelief. Could this really be the woman he remembered? The once beautiful face was, of course, covered in healing pink scars and one eye was unfocused and clouded.
Her hair had been strawberry blonde and shoulder length. It was now deep brown and cut short.
Her eyes had been grey and full of smoldering lust and menace. Her good eye now twinkled with contentment and playful mischief.
Her smile, if you could have called it one, had been twisted and sultry. It now was full and clearly conveyed the joy within her.
Within Seto's mind, the old image of Rachel could not hold up against the strength and presence of the new; and it shattered. Audibly, Seto groaned, his knees hit the floor and he clapped his hands to his head. Tears squeezed out from between tightly closed eyelids as he dealt with the mental pain of his idol's destruction.
As Kirii watched Seto, she whispered, "The cancer has been removed. Now true healing can begin."
Tony was watching Mokuba watch his brother. A look of disbelief passed across Mokuba's face. It had not worked out the way Mokuba had planned. He had asked for the video to further punish his brother, not heal him. A great guilt came crashing down around him and he fled the room. Unseen behind him, Tony followed.
Meanwhile, Tea and Kirii knelt beside Seto, placed their hands upon his shoulders and lifted him up in prayer and thanksgiving, surrounding him in love.
--
Mokuba hadn't gone too far; just out into the rain and across the grounds. Back to where he and Seto had sat and Seto had listened to Mokuba describe his new-found faith. He felt ashamed. He had allowed that faith to be pushed aside by anger and bitterness.
"It's gone, isn't it?" Mokuba asked him as Tony approached. His manner indicated that he knew the answer.
"I believe so, Mokuba."
"Do you realize that I requested that video?" Mokuba looked at him, the rain washing away the tears that slid down his face. Tony shook his head. "Yeah, in order to hurt … to find some new way to hurt him. Great brother, aren't I?"
"But it healed him instead."
"Yeah, I felt it. It was like a dark cloud around him and then suddenly, POOF, it was gone. I didn't mean for that to happen."
"Mokuba, do you remember the sermon the pastor gave about two weeks ago?" Mokuba shook his head.
"I really haven't been listening lately."
Tony gave him an understanding smile. "The lesson was on the words Joseph said to his brothers. You remember his brothers, don't you? They were going to kill him because he was his father's favorite, but instead sold him into slavery. Eventually, Joseph became the second most powerful person in all Egypt and, because of that, saved not only Egypt, but the surrounding countries from famine."
Mokuba nodded that he remembered.
"He said to his brothers as they came before him, frightened that he was going to kill them for what they did to him, 'As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result …(Genesis 50:20).' Seto can now say this about you. You, as angry and hard-hearted as you have been towards your brother over the months, are now the vessel of Seto's deliverance from his idolatry."
Tony smiled kindly at the young man who stood before him, drenched from the rain and tears, and said, "Do you realize that this is the second time God has used you to help your brother in a very powerful way?"
Mokuba nodded sullenly, "This is the second time I have put Seto in a position where he does not belong – above myself, above God. Instead of looking to God, I was looking to Seto to save me again, like he always used to. So again He turned it around and made me the way of healing for my brother; just as He used me to lead Seto to Christ."
Tony nodded. "He raised you up, again, to show you that Seto is no better, not more important, not more loved than you are."
Mokuba was silent in the rain for a while. "I have forgiven Seto, but I don't feel any different."
Tony knew this would be hard for Mokuba to hear, but he said it anyway. "There is a wall of unforgiveness between you and your brother. A wall built by you and Seto and its name is Rachel. Seto's side of that wall was just destroyed. In order to bring down the rest of this wall, Rachel is the one you need to forgive."
"You cannot ask that of me, Tony. Ever!"
"I am not asking you, Mokuba." With that, Tony headed back towards the house. About ten yards away, he stopped and looked back expectantly, waiting to see if Mokuba would follow. Mokuba shook his head and turned his back to Tony.
I will work on him …
Reluctantly, Tony left Mokuba alone in the rain.
