Chapter Ten: Eventually

Kaiba/Blue Eyes roared in pain as his arm twisted inwards and thrust the electric orb directly into his own chest, searing through his shirt and scorching the white skin beneath. Joey, Tristan and Téa stared in surprise as he staggered forward and smacked onto the ground on one knee, somehow managing to maintain a firm grasp on Mokuba's collar. The younger Kaiba himself was transfixed in horror on his brother's hidden wound, a rivulet of blood trickling down the hand pressed into it.

Only Pharaoh could see what had seemingly possessed Kaiba/Blue Eyes to injure himself. The translucent spirit of Seto Kaiba—the real Seto Kaiba—had manifested behind his possessed body in the seconds it was lowering the ball of white lightning. The spirit had grabbed at his body's arm and thrust it and the orb it held inwards, wincing as the white lightning dug into his physical form's chest. Now, as the hybrid knelt on the ground clutching its wound, Kaiba's spirit leaned towards its ear and hissed, "I don't give a damn if you're the essence of a Blue Eyes White Dragon—you won't touch one hair on my brother's head. I'll kill us both before I let that happen."

Kaiba/Blue Eyes turned towards the otherworldly voice and snarled in response.

"Uh, could someone please tell me what the heck just happened?" Joey broke the silence maintained for those who weren't tuned into the spiritual realm.

"Kaiba's spirit is here," Pharaoh explained. "He forced the Blue Eyes to injure his own physical form to save Mokuba from harm."

"S-Seto?" Mokuba shivered uncontrollably as he looked up from the concealed wound into Kaiba's body's eyes, the sapphires orbs against the white skin dimmed with daze. "You're still in there somewhere?"

Snarling in defiance, Kaiba/Blue Eyes tried to pull its hand away from the burn, sparks starting to erupt from its palm. Kaiba's spirit quickly shoved it back into the wound, both he and his possessed body wincing as the tiny bursts of electricity added small stings to already burning pain. "Hell…no," Kaiba's spirit weakly snapped.

This can't continue for much longer, Pharaoh thought. If it does, Kaiba, the Blue Eyes essence, Mokuba—one of them will definitely be killed. He narrowed his eyes at the beast in determination. This creature must be confronted now if there's to be even remote hope of bringing it under control.

"Blue Eyes White Dragon!"

Kaiba/Blue Eyes turned towards Pharaoh and emitted a hiss of anger.

"There's no need for hostility." Pharaoh slowly neared the fused creature, fixing an unwavering gaze onto its blue eyes. "I don't actually want to fight you, Blue Eyes. And from past experience dueling your representation, I know that you're too proud and glorious a creature to yearn to harm us either."

The hybrid looked away as Pharaoh knelt down beside it. "Listen to me," he persisted, "I believe I understand why you're being so vicious, but I need you to confirm whether or not my assumptions are correct. Simple yes or no questions are all that I'd like to ask you. Would you be willing to answer those, at least?"

Pressing silence cut by a brush of the outdoor's wind settled for a few minutes. Then, Kaiba/Blue Eyes gave Pharaoh a growl of agreement, though it still refused to meet his gaze.

"Good. Now, then: You're aware of a game called Duel Monsters?"

Kaiba/Blue Eyes responded with a short nod.

"The cards in this game are based off entities from your realm, yes?"

Another nod.

"Would I be correct assuming that the bond between the beings in your world and the representations of them in Duel Monsters is closer than we're aware?"

The creature hesitated before emitting a slow growl of assent.

"So in fact, each and every one of the cards, even the so-called duplicates featuring seemingly identical creatures, is based off a distinct entity from your realm?" Pharaoh pressed on. "And if I were to, say, place two Blue Eyes White Dragon cards before you, you could point at each one and tell me about the Blue Eyes from your realm portrayed on its picture, about its specific personality and tendencies?"

The hybrid had narrowed its eyes as Pharaoh mentioned the assumed 'other' Blue Eyes. Curtly it nodded in response.

"Then you, specifically…you are the fourth Blue Eyes White Dragon?"

Kaiba/Blue Eyes lashed its free hand out at him. Pharaoh ducked and just narrowly averted a slash of sharp claws across his face.

"Why you little—" Joey's aura erupted into flame and he menacingly stepped towards the creature, tightening his grip on his sword's hilt.

"No, Joey, it's all right," Pharaoh quickly held up a hand to stop him. "I should have realized that's not a title the Blue Eyes enjoys having attached to it."

The hybrid growled in confirmation.

Undeterred by the sudden attack, Pharaoh continued his interrogation: "Your realm has four Blue Eyes White Dragons including yourself, yes? The representations of the other three are the renowned Blue Eyes of the deck belonging to the one you now possess. And I assume that because of that distinction, they have received a good deal of fame and glory in your realm as well. Meanwhile, your representation has become merely part of a display in a Game Shop. No honor and glory can be found there. You've yearned for something better to happen to your card; specifically, you wanted it to become the fourth Blue Eyes in Kaiba's deck and to therefore earn yourself respect by the association."

The beast said nothing.

"Then, one day, you found out that Kaiba had obtained your card. What had he done with it? He'd torn it in half and tossed it away as though it was a piece of trash. Your representation apparently wasn't worthy of becoming a member of his deck. God-like glory was reserved for the designated trio only; for no justifiable reason, your card, and you yourself, were deemed unfit for an honorable distinction."

Kaiba/Blue Eyes' sapphire eyes snapped shut. Pharaoh gave a wan nod of understanding as tears streaked down its shimmering white skin. "So the moment you discovered that you'd entered Kaiba's body, you decided to retaliate against his apparent declaration of your inferiority by refusing to let him have any sort of control over your abilities?"

The creature choked out a growl of quick assent.

Pharaoh shook his head. "Vengeance is never the answer to your problems, Blue Eyes. Don't you realize what you've done by lashing out at us? You've completed a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy; by lashing out at the people around Kaiba without care, you've created an image of yourself as nothing but a rabid brute in everyone's eyes. And you know yourself that you're a far more honorable creature than one of that mindless sort."

"Mmm…" The hybrid slowly nodded.

"So, then, why continue to cause such cruel harm?"

A pause. Then, everyone let out sighs of relief as Kaiba/Blue Eyes finally released its firm grip on Mokuba's shirt; the child took a few steps back on the path, warily eying his brother's possessed form.

"Thank you, Blue Eyes," Pharaoh smiled. "I assume you apologize for the harm and worry you've caused?"

With downcast sapphire eyes, the hybrid nodded.

"Good." Pharaoh glanced past Kaiba/Blue Eyes into the translucent sapphire eyes of the CEO's spirit. "I believe this is an optimal opportunity, then, for you to also atone for your actions?"

"You can't be serious," Kaiba snapped. "This beast took control of my body, trashed my office, almost harmed Mokuba—and you expect me to apologize to it?"

"I stated before and now state again, Kaiba, that I don't condone the Blue Eyes' act of vengeance," Pharaoh replied. "Your violent act against its card and the subsequent misery it felt because of that act, however, doesn't make you an entirely innocent party in this. You should make amends, especially if you want this newfound relationship with the Blue Eyes' essence to be tolerable while it lasts."

Before Kaiba's spirit could lash out in response, Mokuba called towards the Blue Eyes, "Seto?" He turned and faced his younger brother, sucking in a shocked breath at the sight of Mokuba shaking and sobbing. "Seto, please…" the young child pleaded. "I don't want to lose you to something else's control. Just apologize, Seto, please…"

"Mokuba…"

Snarling in resignation, Kaiba looked back at the Blue Eyes White Dragon and started rapidly hissing into its ear. "I didn't tear your card in half because I thought it wasn't 'worthy enough' to be in my deck, all right? I've grown attached to your glorious breed. Like Yugi said, Blue Eyes are a key part of my deck, and I didn't want anybody else using your card to share in their glory, so when I found out that his old man had that fourth Blue Eyes White Dragon and wouldn't give it up, I had to—"

Kaiba/Blue Eyes interrupted his lengthy explanation with a growl of frustration.

"Um, Yug, Kaiba's spirit is trying to apologize, isn't he?" Tristan asked.

"In a way, yes."

"Then why does that thing still look so ticked?"

"Well, knowin' Kaiba, I can take a guess," Joey interjected. He yelled towards the hybrid, "Hey, Rich Boy! Here's a hint to what this essence wants you ta say: Starts with 'I'm,' and ends with 'sorry.'"

"Argh…" Kaiba's spirit clenched his hands into fists and angrily shook in place with for a few moments before he finally snapped to the Blue Eyes essence, "Look, you're well aware that I'm not the nicest guy, but let me tell you something: I am a man of my word. And I promise you, I will make amends for what I did to your card. I will atone for ripping it in half and making you feel like you were an 'inferior' dragon compared to the other Blue Eyes. Just agree to give me back my body, let me control your powers if I need them, God forbid, and keep your hands off of Mokuba, all right?"

Kaiba/Blue Eyes now emitted a thoughtful growl and closed its eyes to ponder the request.

"Pharaoh, what happened?" Téa murmured.

"Kaiba avowed to eventually make up for what he did to the Blue Eyes' representation," Pharaoh explained.

"Eventually?" Tristan scoffed.

"I suggest that Blue Eyes agrees ta that, 'cause it's probably the best it's gonna get," Joey said.

After a seemingly eternal period of consideration, Kaiba/Blue Eyes finally gave a short nod of acquiescence. Pharaoh stepped back to his friends as Seto Kaiba's spirit suddenly vanished. In the same instant, the shimmering white Blue Eyes scales slowly retreated from his face and hands, revealing the pink flesh hidden underneath. The sharp claws wrenched back into Kaiba's body's hands and smoothed out into ordinary fingernails.

Mokuba gasped as jagged white lightning shot up the wings affixed to his brother's back, engulfing them in blinding light. As soon as they had appeared, the bolts vanished, leaving not even a trace of the shimmering appendages behind.

Everyone watched with bated breaths as Kaiba's eyes slowly opened; they rapidly blinked as though he'd just stepped into the afternoon sunlight. After glancing around aimlessly, the sapphire orbs met Mokuba's dark, widened eyes.

"Seto?" Mokuba hesitated.

A rare smile slowly crept onto Kaiba's face. "It's all right, Mokuba. Everything's under control now."

Tears of relief started flowing down the child's cheeks. "Seto!" Mokuba laughed as he leapt forward and wrapped his arms around his brother.

The four friends smiled as Kaiba and Mokuba became locked in a tearful embrace of reunion. Pharaoh saw Yugi's face appear in the back of his mind, grinning with joy and relief. Way to go, partner.

Thank you. Pharaoh closed his eyes and allowed Yugi to regain control of his body; peace was finally setting in again, further proven by the manifestations of the essences vanishing in flashes of violet, fire, silver and gold.

Yugi reopened his eyes at the moment Kaiba and Mokuba pulled out of their embrace. Kaiba stood and walked directly up to the four friends, calm determination again settling on his face and one hand clutched over the wound on his chest. Fixing his cool gaze on Yugi, he curtly asked, "How did you know?"

"Know what?"

"If Moreau's notes are true and not just deluded rants, then that Blue Eyes essence came from another dimension. Yet in spite of that vast distance between its place and ours, it knew that I'd torn the card representing it in half. How did you know that it knew something it shouldn't have?"

Yugi hesitated. "I…well, I just took a guess based on what I was told."

"Told by who?"

Yugi sighed. Considering that the others hadn't indicated that they'd communicated with their Duel Monster's essences, the answer was going to be a bit of a surprise to all of them. "The Dark Magician."

Everyone stared at him in shock. "You talked to the Dark Magician?" Tristan cried. "When?!"

"Only once, when our powers first came out back in the hospital parking lot," Yugi explained. "When he spoke to me, he mentioned that he'd let me use his powers because I'd treated his card with respect. I assumed back then that he just knew that because his essence had come directly from my Dark Magician card. But when you told us that these essences were coming from a completely different world," he glanced at Kaiba, "I realized that the Dark Magician shouldn't possibly have known about the relationship between me and its card…and it did anyway."

"But how, man?" Joey pressed. "How could that Dark Magician or that Blue Eyes know what things were like between you and Kaiba and their cards?" He paused. Then, horrified, he clutched both his hands to his head. "Aw, crap, maybe they're reading our minds while they're inside us!"

"Wheeler, for once don't be such an idiot." As Téa and Tristan held Joey back from lunging at Kaiba, he calmly continued: "If they'd found out about the relationships by looking through our thoughts, then the Blue Eyes essence would have known I tore up Yugi's old man's card because I wanted no one else to have it, not because I thought for some unknown reason that it was inferior to the three in my deck. No, their information is coming from a more indirect source, like—" He stopped.

"Like what?" Yugi pressed him.

Kaiba muttered something under his breath that sounded like "Damn Moreau" before he finished, "A portal such as the one Moreau's looking for. A gateway through which monsters that could pass themselves off as humans come in here, get news about Duel Monsters in this world, and get out."

Joey grinned. "Could you say that again, Rich Boy?" he cupped one hand to his ear. "I didn't quite catch it the first time."

The CEO growled, a hint of the Blue Eyes essence revealing itself through his anger. "I'd tell you to stop looking like a stupid mutt, Wheeler, but I realize how futile that is."

Ignoring the fiery aura that erupted around a livid Joey, Kaiba strode past the four friends and up the mansion's front steps with Mokuba on his heels. He stopped at the front door and glanced over his shoulder, calling out instructions: "I'll see if I can glean any more information from Moreau's lab notes and files about these portals. If you're correct, Yugi, then there must be a gateway somewhere leading to this realm of Duel Monsters, and we have to find it before Moreau does. In the meantime, you four just go and enjoy the pool or something. I'll inform you about anything else I've discovered at dinner; it's served at eight in the dining hall, so don't be late."

Joey snarled at Kaiba's back as he entered the mansion. "Damn jerk. Where's he get off talkin' to us like we're just a bunch of stupid kids?"

"Chill out, Joey; complaining about that brat is a waste of time," Tristan chided him. "Besides, he just told us we can use the pool."

"Yeah, true." Joey grinned. "And heck, lookin' at the size of this place and all the riches practically oozin' out of it, it's probably Olympic-sized with its own water slides and lifeguard and snack bar."

"I call dibs on that last part!" Tristan dashed up towards the mansion, Joey trailing close behind while hotly snapping at him to slow down. Téa sighed at the sight of their childish chase and murmured, "This is why I need female friends…"

Yugi smiled. Well, looks like things are getting back to normal for now.

Yes, Pharaoh's voice conceded, but for how long? I feel without a doubt that there's an entrance to the realm of Duel Monsters somewhere in this world, and that we'll have to go through it in order to return the essences to their owners.

Yugi sighed. Knowing our luck, I wouldn't doubt it. There's still the big question, though: If the portal really exists…where is it?

After receiving the inspirational talk, I'd become determined to find the missing piece of his soul. I'd begun by simply clasping his limp hand in mine, holding back my tears as I touched deceptive warmth. Shutting my eyes, I focused on the center of the powerful energy I possessed, willed it to flow up through my arm and into his body. I'd peeked for just a moment to ensure that my powers had gone through and saw his form had become surrounded with a mystic aura of my own energy's hue.

Nodding, I had shut my eyes again and simply focused. Focused on his powers which I knew so well, on his serious but kindhearted nature, even on the cute accent he'd obtained from his time amidst desert sands. Part of his spirit was still here—after all, his body remained alive, even if it was becoming more and more of an empty shell—and if I focused my energy on connecting with it, perhaps I could go beyond the remnants to the parts being stolen away.

And so I had remained by his bedside, my hand squeezing his, my magic transcending the physical limits of his body in order to connect with the entirety of his soul.

I had been trying to make the connection for what seemed like an eternity. Then, for just a minute, I was pulled forward by an unseen force. The cool floor pressing into my knees seemed to give way; I was hovering in empty space, held up in some strange void. I attempted to open my eyes, but the lids remained firmly stuck together, as though acting on another's volition.

He was there! I could feel his presence swirling around me, so awe-inspiring yet softened with the touch of familiarity. I was so overjoyed I could only cry out dumbly, "Hello?"

Eagerly I waited, but I received no response, not even a turn of the presence towards me. What was wrong? Couldn't he speak to me?

"Answer me, please!" I cried. "I know that you're here; I can feel it! Please…"

Still no response, but I suddenly sensed another presence amidst his, floating amongst him, mixing with his incredible power…I had no doubt that it was the one who'd stolen his spirit. Before I could gain control over myself, I lashed out at the unknown presence, my speech hurrying and crescendoing with each passing word: "Thief! I know that you're here, too. You listen to me: You've taken something that doesn't belong to you, you heartless usurper. I'm going to find you, and when I do, I'll make you give back what you stole! You will pay for this. Do you hear me? You will pay!"

My body lurched backwards. Hard tile rushed up into my knees, thudding dully against them. My eyes easily opened to reveal almost the same scene they'd last viewed before shutting: His form sprawled atop the bed, outline shimmering with the shade of my energies, limp hand in mine.

But the aura had dimmed, and my firm grip on his hand had relaxed. I suddenly slumped forward, my head plopping onto an empty space on his mattress. For the first time, I realized that I'd been using the full extent of my powers without cease for what must have been hours straight. Now I was tired…so tired…

"No…" Tears swarmed my heavy eyes, clouding my feeble attempt to tighten my grasp on his hand. "I came so close…please, let me find you again…"

No use. Slumber won over me, and I saw the shimmering aura blink off in the same instant my eyes shut.

I was next aware of a pair of hands shaking my shoulder, and a voice whispering into my ear, "Señorita? Are you all right?"

"Mmm…" I opened my eyes and turned my head to see my interlocutor from before kneeling beside me, eyes wide with concern. I knew he sensed that I was exhausted; determined to remain by the bedside, however, I simply smiled and whispered, "Yes, I'm fine. I was just resting for a bit, that's all."

"Nice try," he cocked one eyebrow. "You've been using your magic at full power since I left, haven't you?"

I said nothing.

My interlocutor sighed. "Amiga mìa, when I said your powers were comparable to his, I didn't mean you needed to completely exhaust them in order to find him." He grasped my arm and lifted my weary limbs up from the bedside and floor, placing my arm around his shoulders as support. "Come now, you're too tired to continue for the moment; you need a decent meal and a nap."

"But what about him…?" I murmured as he dragged my limp figure towards the door. "He needs my help…"

"All of us need you to be in best form for finding him, señorita." His eyes narrowed. "Especially because our problems have begun to multiply."

The comment sunk into my mind and jolted my body into alertness. "What happened? Have more been drained?"

"Not that I'm aware of, but…" He hesitated. "We, um, have a small problem with our doorway."

My heart almost immediately began pounding with terror. Not wanting to believe what he was implying, I dumbly asked, "Which doorway?"

"The one that's supposed to only be operable with his magic?" he jerked his thumb back to the figure in the one bed. "It's open."

"What?!"

"No need to worry just yet," he reassured me. "It's just a pinprick of light. You could only notice it if you were looking closely."

"How did this happen?"

"The only explanation I can think of is the one now holding the missing part of him must be in the vicinity of the doorway on its other side. Considering the size of the opening, though, they can't possibly be that close—perhaps just in the same country or state."

"That's still too near for me." I attempted to twist around, but he held fast onto my arm.

"Señorita, I repeat, you won't be of much use when operating while weary. Trust me, if you want to ascertain he gets the best help he needs, you must rest for a little while."

I sighed. "I know, I know, but I hate the idea of the doorway being open, even if it is by just a crack."

"None of us like it, amiga mìa," he murmured sympathetically. "But the guard will do all it can to keep the thief from going far in here if, gods forbid, they happen to find it. Hopefully their powers will be enough to keep his at bay."

Hopefully? How could they hope to defeat the thief? They were in possession of the powers, the very spirit, of one of the greatest spell-casters ever known in this realm. Attempting to defeat him or her if they came with those abilities would be…would be…

I was surprised that the idea suddenly sprang into my tired mind. Then again, perhaps only my weariness would permit me to even think such a thing. And the more I thought of it, the more rational it seemed.

"Señorita?" My interlocutor stared at me curiously; I was certain my eyes shone with the light of inspiration. "What are you thinking?"

"I've changed my mind," I replied matter-of-factly. "I want the thief to reach the doorway. Yes, I realize that sounds like insanity," I hurried to add as he stopped with stone-cold shock, "but consider this: If the thief currently possesses the missing part of his spirit, we wouldn't need to use up so much time and energy searching for it anymore. The thief could come here, we could hopefully incapacitate him or her before they could try to pull anything on us, and while they're out cold his spirit could be restored to his body with my powers' help!"

"Amiga mìa—"

"I'm well aware that the idea's dangerous," I interrupted before he could give me a lecture, "but what other choice do we have? I attempted to find his spirit's missing part using all of my power; I felt his presence for less than a minute before I lost it again. A master spell-caster might know a way to restore his soul to wholeness, but our sole resident one is out-cold on that bed and there aren't any others around for miles. And let's not imagine the havoc we'd cause if we attempted to send monsters through the doorway to find the one carrying his soul."

He blinked. His gaze strayed from my face and became lost in serious thought.

"Please," I weakly pleaded, "it might be our only chance. Don't you think it's viable?"

After a long pause for his pondering, he finally admitted, "All right, I agree that the idea has some potential. But it hinges a bit too much on chance occurrences. First the thief would have to find the portal, and like I said before, they're much too far away at the moment to even have hope of discovering it by accident. Then if the thief arrived, the doorway still wouldn't open all the way; they'd have to somehow find out the final spell that needs to be cast in order for it to be rendered passable. And finally, once we've defeated the thief…well, we'd have to hope that we're not too late."

"We won't be too late."

"Time hasn't slowed down, amiga mìa," he softly responded. "With every passing moment the essence remains in the thief, it grows more and more attached to her or him. And when it's rendered totally inseparable—well, only someone skilled in magical arts could perhaps figure out means of separation without killing someone off."

"Don't talk like that!" I suddenly snapped at him. "We'll find a way to bring all of his spirit back to his body, even if it takes us until the end of time!" I glanced upwards, seeing in my mind's eye beyond the marble ceiling the indigo sky dusted with starlight. "No gods would be so cruel that they'd just let him die without a fight."

"I do hope that you're right." He continued towards the door, my feet shuffling as he dragged me along with my arm wrapped around his shoulder.

"Anyway…what's your final verdict?" I asked.

He sighed. "If the one possessing his spirit eventually nears the doorway, I'll agree to your plan, I suppose. You'll have to figure out how to guide her or him straight to it and get the opening spell into their head, though."

I nodded. "I'll ask the gods for a flash of inspiration while I rest."

"May they hear you and put your request under 'rush job' status, señorita."

Before we could exit, I turned and cast a final glance over my shoulder at the one figure lying atop the hospital bed. He looked as though he was merely sleeping, like a wearied child.

I smiled. In my mind, I whispered words of reassurance towards his soul: Wherever you are, don't worry. I'll make sure that my plan pans out. I will bring your spirit's piece back before time runs out. I promise…