Chapter Nine
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Chapter Nine
It had been two days, but it was done, the entrance to the tunnels was found and opened. The time was now. They had to get going if they wanted chance to stop Gozaburo. The Darks prepared the items they needed for the Ritual. As they packed, the Darks knew that this would be the end of their father, but that this could also be the end of the Lights. They have been dreading this day but it had to happen. As they got ready, the Lights were also getting ready knowing this could be their last day on earth.
They have spent the last two days talking to Ishizu that this was their decision and that they knew that they might die but they couldn't allow the monster Gozaburo to live because he would just hurt others as he had hurt them. She couldn't believe it; those she swore she would protect wanted to go face a thing of pure evil. She looked at them and saw the look of determination on their young faces. She was proud of them but at the same time she felt pain and hurt knowing they might die for something they had nothing to do with.
Malik had also told his sister that Shadi had their best interest in heart and that he didn't betray them. He just wanted to know everything that he could about Gozaburo. He was on their side and that they needed him. That she needed him, he needed her, and they needed each other. He wanted his sister to reopen her heart for the man she loves because when this night was over she would need him if the Lights died. Malik wanted his sister to go on with her life if he and the others die. She has a child on the way and a husband that loved her. She couldn't ask for more. He just wanted to make sure that she would be loved when he was gone.
It was now time, they all stood in front on the entrance knowing that this could be the last time they would be together. Yami and Seto started out first followed by their younger brothers Mokuba and Noah. Ishizu was behind them followed by her brothers. Shadi was behind them and the last was Marik and Bakura. It would take at least two hours to get to the museum, but Gozaburo was gaining his strength back so they would have to hurry if they wanted to stop him before it was too late.
Gozaburo knew that his sons and the kids that were the Lights were on the move but he couldn't detect them. He was still reeling from the attack on the manor. It had depleted some of his energies. He was trying gain them back by channeling all the negative energies he could find on different realms. This took time and he knew that he had to be at full power soon because his sons were up to something. He wasn't going to let them destroy him again. This time they would pay and so would the vessels that carried the Light. He would make them all pay and would enjoy every minute of it.
The walking seemed to go on forever and everyone was tired, but the group knew that they couldn't rest. They had to get to that museum. Ishizu had noticed that Mokuba tried to walk as fast as his older brothers did but he was so small he kept tripping. She couldn't bear seeing that and picked the boy up and placed him on her hip. She felt for both Noah and Mokuba, they like her brothers we innocents caught in the middle of a war they had no part in, She didn't want to see them hurt as well as her brothers.
Shadi had noticed that Ishizu had picked up Mokuba and smiled. He knew that she would make a great mother. She always put others before herself. She couldn't bear to see the child get hurt even if she had an animosity towards his brothers. He hoped that when this was all over he would still be her husband. He loved her, no words could describe how he felt for her, and in mere hours they might not be alive, He didn't know how to wrap his mind around the thought of Ishizu, their child, her brothers all dying. He knew that he would find away to keep them all alive even if it meant his death.
The dread of what was to come was taking its toll on the Lights. They all were scared of what was to come. They have never been in a situation like this before. If you have seen them a month ago they would probably be at the arcade with their friends laughing at lame jokes, but now they were putting their lives on the line for everyone on earth. No one would know what would happen this night. This was the endgame. They have never been so scared of anything before. What was fumy even though they were scared out of their minds, they were never more sure of anything as they were now. They knew that they will probably die but they would die knowing that they saved everyone else from the wrath of the Warlord named Gozaburo.
The Darks could felt the Lights fear and determination. They all knew the end was so near. The Lights were just mere mortals and children as well. They didn't look back or give a second thought about going after Gozaburo. It could be that he had attacked three of them and almost made two lose their minds. The Darks themselves just wanted him gone for good. They hated their father and would do anything to get rid of him. They really didn't care about the fate of the world just those who lived in theirs. That would be each other and their small brothers Mokuba and Noah, but now they felt something for the mortals. They saw how they cared for one another. It reminded them of a time when they were like that, when they had emotions. This was strange for them to actual feeling something different then just a cold void. They didn't know what it was, it was different but in a good way.
As their thoughts got away from them, it made the trip faster and soon they were at the basement opening of the museum. It took both Yami and Seto to open the entrance to the museum's basement. Once open Seto got in and help the others in. He saw that Ishizu had carried Mokuba who was asleep in her arms and Noah holding her hand.
"You didn't have to carry him especially in your condition." Seto said taking Mokuba from her arms.
"He was having trouble keeping up with us. He's not that heavy and I am fine. You should have noticed that he is just a mere child and could not keep up with you and the speed you were walking. If I hadn't picked him up, he would behind us. Is that what you wanted? You small brother lost alone in tunnels he has never been before with a warlord on our tail?" She asked. She spoke in a hushed whisper so not to disturber the sleeping child in Seto's arms.
Seto motioned for Noah to come over. He calmly woke Mokuba up and gave him to Noah. After that, he looked at Ishizu and knew that she wasn't just upset about Mokuba; she was upset at the thought of losing her brothers, her husband, her unborn child and her life. He understood her pain, he too was afraid that Mokuba and Noah would die this night and he didn't know how to protect them.
"Thank you for taking care of my brother. I am sorry that I didn't notice that he couldn't keep up with us. You have my brothers and my thanks." Seto told her as he walked away. He didn't want to make her any more upset then she already was.
As he walked away, Ishizu was stunned at Seto's words. She actually felt his affection towards his brothers. She was starting to think that maybe he and his brothers aaren't the evil demons she had first thought them to be. She had been taken from her thoughts when Shadi tapped her on the shoulder.
"Are you okay? I saw you in a heated conversation with Seto and I wanted to make sure that you and the baby were alright." He said. He wanted to hold her in his arms and comfort her but didn't know if she would allow it.
"We are fine. I was just upset that Seto didn't notice that his younger brother was having a hard time keeping up with the rest of us. I guess that I allow my emotions to get away from me and I let him have it." She told him as see looked at him and a small smile grew on his face. "What are you smiling about?" She asked smiling herself. It has been so long she forgot what it was like to smile.
"When you picked the boy up I saw you. I saw what it would be like with you and our child. I don't know how to explain it; it just took my breath away." He told her as eyes filled with tears.
She didn't know what to say. She smiled at him at gave him a small kiss on the lips and hugged him. She couldn't try to talk right now because she would break and she didn't want him to worry about her. They held each other for a brief moment and then a cough broke the silence and the broke a part.
Seto and Yami noticed that the couple was trying comfort each other but they were on a deadline and they had to get a move on. Yami let out a small cough and they broke apart. Ishizu went to be with her brothers and the younger Kaiba brothers while Shadi went over to the Darks and lead them into the museum. Ishizu and the others followed them.
Once inside they had to get ready for the Ritual. They moved to the Ancient Egyptian exhibit. It was there that the final items for the Ritual were kept. The items they needed were here all the time right under their noses. As the entered the exhibit, Shadi took a hold of Ishizu's arm.
"You and the young Kaiba brothers need to be hidden and protected. I am going to take you three to the Vault. There you three should be safe. When this night is over I will come back and get you." He said his voice was soft and strained. He didn't want to send her away where he couldn't watch her, but he needed to know that she would be all right and protected.
"I am staying here; I want to be here with my brothers. I want to be here incase something happens to them. They will need me." Ishizu yelled. This caused everyone to look their way.
"I know that you want to be here but it is too dangerous for you and for the baby. Also, someone needs to make sure that the children have someone with them. I would never ask to abandon your brothers. I know how much you love them. I know that this is hard, but please do this for me and for our child. I do not to see either of you hurt. I will be here with your brothers. I will be here to protect them. I know that you have trouble trusting me over these past weeks, but know this; I love you and your brothers. I would die for all of you. Please allow me to take you and the children to the Vault. I need to know that you will be safe when he attacks." Shadi begged her.
"Ishizu please listen to him, we all want you some place safe. We want you and our niece or nephew safe from harm. Shadi will protect us. If you truly love him, please listen to him and go to the Vault." Malik said. He knew that his sister loved Shadi but she was just being herself, their protector and she didn't know if she could place her brothers' lives in another's hand.
"I….I don't want to leave you when he attacks; I want to be here, but I know that the young children need someone with them so they won't be terrified. I will go to the Vault with them." She said knowing she would not win this agreement. She followed Shadi as he led her, Mokuba and Noah to the Vault.
As they left, the Darks started to prepare the room for the Ritual. They moved all the cases from the center of the room. They needed enough room for the Lights to lie down. Once they had the room. Yami and Marik started to write weird symbols on the ground, as they did that Seto and Bakura asked to talk to Joey and Ryou alone. They needed something from the young Lights and they needed it before they started the Ritual, they needed the Lights blood. They needed to mark them as Yugi and Malik have been marked.
Before Seto and Bakura had a chance to take the blood from the Lights, Gozaburo attacked. He was miles away from them but he was using stored energy to attack his sons. The glass in the museum blew in and glass went everywhere. The Darks felt the attack before it happen and they wrapped their bodies around the Lights. They knew they had to rush now because Gozaburo was gaining power faster then they thought. They had to get the Ritual underway. There was no time to spare, the end was now and they had to act.
Seto and Bakura didn't want to so blunt with the Lights but they needed to mark them. Seto grabbed Joey's shoulder, and before he could react, Seto bit his neck and started to drink Joey's blood. Ryou saw this and wanted to scream but before he could Bakura bit his neck as well and drank his blood. The Darks drank just what they needed for the Ritual; they had to put the Lights in a semi trance and had them drink their blood. This would create a bond between the Dark and the light and they hoped it would help them defend the Lights from their father.
As this was going on Shadi had just gotten Ishizu and the younger Kaiba brothers in to Vault. He didn't want to leave her but he made a promise to protect her brothers and that was promise he couldn't break. As he shut the Vault door he heard the exploding glass and he knew that it was starting, he just wished that they would have more time. He ran back to where the boys were and he stopped in his tracks as he saw Joey and Ryou drinking blood from Seto and Bakura. He wanted to stop them when Yami grabbed his arm to stop him.
"I know this bothers you but the blood bond has to happen. We were drawn to the Lights for some reason and as time went on, we knew what we had to do. Marik and I have bonded with Malik and Yugi. I have noticed that you saw the marks on their necks, this will help us protect them from our father." Yami then walked away to help Marik complete the area for the Ritual.
Shadi hoped that Yami was right and that the boys were not going to be hurt by this but if the Darks wanted to hurt them wouldn't they have by now. He had to stop pondering ideas and help; he had a promise he had to see through. Seto and Bakura brought Joey and Ryou out of their traces. They helped them to the Ritual area. Neither boy could really remember what just happened just that they were a little groggy.
Ishizu had been on edge since Shadi had shut her, Mokuba and Noah in Vault. She knew that Shadi would look after her brothers. She had to protect her baby and young boys that were in the Vault with her. When the Vault door shut she swore she heard glass exploding but she wasn't sure and since the Vault could only be opened from the outside she had to wait for Shadi or one of her brothers to let her out. Then she started to think about what if they don't make it. What it they all die what would happen to her, to the boys she was with. That's when the baby kicked.
She smiled and rubbed her stomach and quietly said "Alright I will think positively. You will be a lot like your father." Then her thoughts went back to Shadi and love filled her heart. She needed to see him again to hold him. She needed to think about something else before she drove herself crazy with worry. She saw that Mokuba was curled up in his brother's lap and shaking.
Ishizu sat on the Vault floor next too the two boys. She placed a hand on Noah's arms and gestured for him to give her Mokuba. Mokuba latched on to her. She settled him on her lap and then motion for Noah to join them. As the two boys held on to her she started to hum a lullaby her mother use to sing to her and soon both boys were asleep. She smiled as she watched them and her heart went out to her brothers. She wanted to be there and comfort them, but right now two young boys needed her. She closed her eyes and keep on humming.
Upstairs the Ritual was underway. The Lights were standing where they needed too and the items they needed were on the floor in front of them. It took a while to figure out when Light got what item. Yugi figured it out just by touching an item the first one he touched started to glow that when they figured out the items would choose the Light. Yugi's item was a Golden Puzzle, Ryou's was a Golden Ring, Malik's was a Golden Scales and Joey's was a Golden Rod.
The next phase the Lights would have to lie down on the floor and placed the item on the chest. They would have to cross their arms over the item. Once that was done the Dark that was blood bond to the Light, they have mark they would stand over them and Shadi stated the chant .The chant would release the fragments of light that were in each of the boys and would infuse it into the Darks and that should give them enough strength to destroy their father finally.
Gozaburo could feel the power that his sons were trying to generate. He wanted to tap into that power; he needed those boys and the light fragment that was in them. He would not allow anything to stop him. He was going to rule this world and his sons would be bowing at his feet. He almost taste the power. Soon everything would be over, he would be the ruler over everything at lived on the planet; there was nothing that could stop him. He started his way to the museum to go gain his new power source.
Shadi noticed that the boys were glowing and so were the items. He also noticed that the Darks had glowing Sennen eyes. He didn't know what to make out what was happening but Seto told him that once he starts chanting he could not stop. He kept on chanting not noticing the dark cloud that was pooling at his feet. Before he knew what was happening he was thrown across the room and knocked out cold. The Darks were drawn out of the trace they were in to see their father and he was heading towards the Lights. The Lights were in a trace like state. Gozaburo knew he was close to claiming the power he needed.
He created smoke like tentacles that wrapped around each Light. He drew them towards him. He knew that sons couldn't react because they would have been drained from the Ritual that is why they would needed the light fragments to stop him. If he got to them first, there would be no one to stop him. Yami and the others looked on in horror as their father pulled the Lights to him. They tried to move but their bodies were so tried.
"You were their protectors, what a joke. You failed in the past and you have failed now. I will enjoy watching your faces as you fail again. Back then you killed an innocent and lost your brothers. Now four innocent children will die and you brothers will lose you. I find that to be justice." Gozaburo smirked.
"You won't win; we will find a way to stop you. You will be stopped." Yami gritted.
"You were never the smartest boy were you Yami, I have won. I have the boys. Their light will be mine and you will lose and die. You should have never betrayed me, we could have ruled this place but there will be, more for me when you all are dead. It's a shame they have to die they are kind of cute." He brushed a finger over Ryou's check.
"Don't touch him for filthy maggot. You have no right to touch him." Bakura snapped.
"Oh my, you have fallen for this mortal. Have you all fallen for these creatures? They are so beneath all of you and still you have fallen for them." Gozaburo laughed his sons have been crippled by mortals.
The Lights started to moan and come out of their traces. Yugi gasped as he saw who was holding him. He searched for Yami and when he did, Yami just looked down. Yami had failed him; he could not look into Yugi's eyes and se disappointment.
"Let us go, now before it's too late." Joey yelled. He wanted this man away from him because he almost drove him crazy.
"There, there now it will all be done soon. All I need is your light. Do yourselves a favor give it to me and I will see that your death is quick."
"Yeah that makes us fell better. Like we would do that. I would rather fight you tooth and nail and give my light to who deserves it. I would give it to Marik before I would give it to you." Malik said. Once he said that Malik passed out and his light fragment left him and entered Marik. The others followed suit and offered the light fragments to the Darks. Gozaburo screamed and threw their bodies like rag dolls.
The Darks picked up the glowing items and knew that it was now or never. They had to end Gozaburo now and worry about the others later. As they got ready to fight their father, Shadi and gather the boys bodies'. They were breathing but it was shallow he wasn't sure if they would make it. He was beating himself up because it they die he would never forgive himself. He just hoped that the darks would end their father, them maybe they could try to save the boys before they died.
Please R&R
Next Chapter: The Showdown begins and only one side will be victorious. The Fate of the Lights will be known.
A/N: Sorry that I haven't updated in about 7-8 months. Between school and home life, I was backed up and I had a bad case of Writer's Block. Let me know if this chapter is okay. Flames are okay.