I woke up to the smell of incense. It was dimly lit, and I felt a thousand questions burning in my mouth. I tried to get up, but found that my body was not listening to me. I felt like lead—heavy, poisoned perhaps. And Mokuba…
"Mo…ku…ba…" I managed with lips that didn't want to move.
"You're awake," a familiar voice said. Since moving my lips had been such a disaster, I decided not to attempt moving any other appendage. I waited for her to come into my current line of vision—for the curator to come into my view.
"I used a sedative to calm your nerves. When I found you, your airways had been blocked shut—from the shock, I believe. I apologize for using more than the necessary amount, but the effects will wear off in around a half hour," she explained, coming into my eyesight.
She looked wearier than the last time I had seen her. Dark circles were underneath her eyes, and she wore no jewelry except the millennium necklace. As she surveyed me—no doubt considering my condition—something like relief passed through her features.
"Mo...kuba," I said again, finding it easier to move my mouth than the last time.
"Your brother is safe. I will send him in now that you are awake," she replied—and then patted my hair in what I could only guess was an affectionate way. I wanted to swat her hand away, but my arm would not budge.
"Seto!" Mokuba cried, running into the room.
"Mokuba," I said, feeling stupid that that was all I could manage to say.
"You're okay! I was so worried…you had stopped breathing, and there wasn't anything I could do…you were starting to turn blue," Mokuba said in a choked up voice, "But then she popped up and gave you something to drink—I dunno what it was—but then you started breathing again. She brought you and Pegasus here and said it would be safe here. Pegasus looked awful…he kept throwing up and is feverish now."
I managed to turn my neck to face curator Ishtar. She had saved us for reasons I did not understand. And it was obvious that her weary looks had developed from taking care of Pegasus and me. As much as I still did not trust her, for the moment she had my gratitude.
"Thank you," I said. She nodded in reply and then left the room, probably to take care of Pegasus.
Pegasus—that bastard had concealed the fact that he had a millennium item. Since when did he have the millennium eye? And what did he do to the robed men? After seeing them disappear like that—no it had to be a trick of my mind. I was losing consciousness fast that time, after all. But if it was my mind playing tricks on me, what happened to the mob? Were they also only a figment of my imagination?
And why did Ishizu Ishtar know to find us there? It was possible that she had been tracking us since we left the museum. But for what purpose? And if she truly meant us harm, there was no way she would go through these lengths to heal us. Unless she wanted us to drop our guard—but if it was our death she wanted, she could've just left us out there on the street.
Finding that I could move my limbs, I struggled to sit upright. I felt Mokuba supporting me.
"How are you feeling, Seto?" he asked, watching my expressions carefully.
"I've been worse," I replied gruffly, "Can you help me get to my feet?"
"Sure," he said, still looking at me in concern. We must have made a comical sight; a full-grown man leaning on a boy half his height…
"Can you take me to Pegasus?" I asked him. He nodded, and led me to the adjacent room.
Pegasus did look horrible. He was currently vomiting into the bowl that Ishtar was holding up to him. His face was paler than I had ever seen it, and he made no efforts to conceal his eye. If Ishtar had noticed it, she made no show of surprise. Probably she had already known. After wiping his mouth, Pegasus looked up and saw me.
"Hey," he said weakly, "You've looked better, Kaiba-boy."
"As have you," I retorted. He gave me a small smile, and then shuddered. Ishtar placed a fresh wet towel on his forehead.
I then remembered his response to the men I had killed by dropping the sign on them. He was beyond disgusted—at first I had thought his response was that of inexperience, of having never seen death—but I now knew differently. That eye of his had killed all those men—and it didn't look like the first time he had used it for that purpose.
"My bodyguards…are arranging a flight back to Japan. As soon as it's safe, we'll head back home," he said, once his shivering had subsided. Japan—it was possibly the safest place Mokuba could be.
"We're not leaving until you're better," I retorted, surprising even myself. When did I start caring about him? Since he had saved my life? He owed me as much, placing my brother in that much danger. The curator looked up at me and nodded.
"His fever has dropped from what it was earlier this morning. He will be better by evening. I suggest you leave then," she replied. I could see a glint of light flash across the millennium necklace.
"I'm not leaving until I have some answers from you," I said firmly, "I need to talk to you in private. Mokuba, keep an eye on Pegasus."
Mokuba looked surprised, but nodded. He probably knew from experience that when I used that tone, I meant business.
When the curator and I had entered the adjacent room, I shut the door behind us. Her eyes narrowed.
"Well, Mr. Kaiba, what else can I do for you today?" she asked.
"How long was I unconscious?" I asked.
"Two days," she replied, watching me for my expression.
"And Pegasus has been in that same condition?"
"Yes. But I know his fever will subside tonight."
"Just like you knew where to find us."
"I see that you are not as doubting of the necklace's power."
"After what I saw Pegasus do with that eye of his…"
She replied with silence. Feeling my weakened legs begin to give way, I began to make my way to the nearest chair. The curator pulled the chair closer to me, but made sure to not touch me directly. Good, she was learning fast.
"You know who was responsible for attacking us," I said, more as an accusation than a question.
"Yes, but it would be best if you did not know now," she replied. I stood up in fury and pushed her up against the wall.
"You're trying my patience," I hissed, "My brother was almost killed. If you have any idea who…"
"You are not strong enough yet," she replied levelly.
"What?" I snapped, stepping back from her sharp gaze. Then I remembered the words Muto had said in the alleyway…'You are not ready yet.'
"If you face him as you are now…I would only be seeing you to your death," she responded. Her usual strong, confident voice wavered slightly when she said this.
"Fine. What can I do to prepare then?" I asked after a brief awkward pause.
She looked up at me with an expression I could not read.
"You need a millennium item—and you need power," she replied.
"And where can I get one of these millennium items?" I asked.
"Yami Muto will be able to aid you with that," she replied.
"Muto," I muttered. I knew he was behind this. I turned to face her again.
"Why do you know so much about all this?" I asked, trying to probe carefully.
"I am part of the Tomb Keeper Clan that guards the pharaoh's tomb. Protecting the millennium items, and keeping them from ending up in the wrong hands has been our duty. But now that the pharaoh has been reborn…" she began.
"Pharaoh?"
"Yami Muto is the reincarnation of the pharaoh. His birth means only one thing: he is here to defeat the great evil that will rise again. An evil that he can only defeat with the aid of his magi—his loyal warriors," she replied.
We were returning to stories of ancient Egypt again, but as much as I disliked it—the answers I had wanted were here.
"So the reason those thugs attacked Pegasus and me...?"
"A way to weaken the pharaoh—eliminating his magi."
"So Pegasus and I are supposed to be the protectors of the reincarnation of the pharaoh?" I asked. I couldn't believe what was coming out of my mouth. And more so because of the serious tone of the conversation. But after the attack…
"Yes. And you, Mr. Kaiba, are crucial to the struggle against this evil," she replied.
"I see. And you? Is your role just to watch from the sidelines?" I asked.
"Yes and no. I am sorry, but I cannot answer that now," she replied cryptically. She was looking at me in a curious way that made me feel—uncomfortable. I cleared my throat and got to my feet.
"Thank you for all your help. If there is anything I can do for you…" I said, keeping any sarcasm out of my voice. I wanted her to understand that I honestly meant my gratitude—though why this was so important to me I had no idea.
"You will be returning the favor—a thousand fold, Seto," she replied. I felt my cheeks turn warm as she called me by my first name—out of embarrassment? —and I nodded, leaving the room in confusion.