Chapter 13

Moi-Moi: Hey guys. What's up? I have a feeling you guys are gonna like this chapter… Well, I like it. I know you guys are mad because of what happened to Mokuba. But I promise you, it's going to get a lot worse… Wait. Did I say that right? (Yep ;D) For anyone feeling sorry for Naraku, don't worry. You won't be for much longer… Let's get started before I give everything away!

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Atem sat in the living room of the Mouto residence with Anzu, Jounouchi, Honda, Amun, and Dalilah sitting around him. Yugi stood transparently at his side with a worried expression. Kagome hadn't made an appearance from her band all day. Atem didn't blame her. After he was able to snap her out of the daze she had been in, she'd quickly retreated into the safety of her band without a word. Atem had let Yugi call an ambulance for the Kaiba brothers. There wasn't anything else he could do to help the injured brothers.

"So Mokuba's in the hospital and Kaiba's been bedridden thanks to Naraku. In addition to that, Amun and Dalilah aren't exactly feeling their best because of this bastard," Jounouchi spoke up while rising from his seat. He started to pace the room like a caged lion. Dalilah rubbed an arm on her shoulder to sooth the dull ache she felt there. The curse was spreading. Once it reached her heart… she tried not to think about that. Amun clenched his jaw and looked away, ignoring the sudden throb in his chest. "He hasn't even been around for an entire month yet!"

"How are supposed to stop an immortal, evil sorcerer?" Honda questioned to no one in particular.

"You can't," Amun almost spat. "Like we've been trying to tell you, the only hope we have is to destroy the Wish Granter as soon as possible."

"I don't know if you've realized, but you haven't even told us how to do that yet," Jounouchi growled. The blonde teen got into a glaring match with the Egyptian man then, neither bothering to hide their upset with each other.

"I'd assumed that the almighty Pharaoh would know how to do that," Amun sneered.

"Come on, guys. Now's not the time to start fighting amongst ourselves," Anzu inputted, ready to put herself between the two.

"Anzu's right," Atem supported. "Naraku is powerful on his own. He doesn't need Kagome to prove that. Destroying her won't stop him," Atem spoke up before the two could continue.

"But that hasn't stopped him from wanting her," Amun spoke up.

Atem was surprised when Kagome quietly slipped into the room. She kept her head held down and stuck to his side in a transparent form. "He doesn't want me for my power," Kagome said in a tiny voice.

"What do you mean?" Atem asked her. The others stopped to stare at Atem questioningly before relaxing. Kagome must have decided to show herself…

"I'm the only person who can help him find Kikyou-sama. He must not be able to find her on his own. But, she's been dead for centuries," Kagome answered.

"What's she saying, Yugi?" Jounouchi asked, slightly impatiently.

"Naraku is looking for Kikyou. But he hasn't been able to find her. He needs Kagome's powers to help him," Atem explained.

"Who the hell is Kikyou?" Jounouchi balked.

"Kikyou-sama was an extremely powerful priestess from over a thousand years ago. She was the one who brought Kagome-chan to Egypt while she was trying to destroy her. She came in contact with our ancestor, Amun, and enlisted his help in her mission. Kikyou-sama died before she could complete her task, however," Dalilah explained.

Sensing an amazing lack of detail, Kagome decided to make herself visible to the group. Everyone stopped to watch her with wary, concerned eyes. Even Amun, who was all for the idea of destroying her, took pity on the girl standing quietly at Atem's side. She stared at the floor with her arms wrapped around herself. She even looked a tad paler. Could spirits change in skin tone?

"Kikyou-sama was more than just a powerful priestess. She was Naraku's lover," Kagome started.

Before she could continue, everyone balked. At the noises of speechless surprise, Kagome looked up questioningly. Everyone stared at her with wide eyes. Kagome shrugged once in reply. "Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that this bastard is terrorizing people and threatening the world because of some woman who died years ago!?" Jounouchi exclaimed angrily.

"He loved her, Jounouchi-kun. It was unrequited love, however… Back then, Naraku was just a simple thief. He wasn't the best, but he managed to survive. One night, Naraku broke into a nobleman's home with the intent to rob it. However, there was a fire. Naraku barely made it out alive. While trying to escape, he was on the brink of death. He succumbed to his injuries and collapsed in a cave. That's where Kikyou-sama found him," Kagome started.

Once she was sure that she had everyone's attention, she cleared her throat before continuing. "Kikyou-sama was able to nurse Naraku back to health. It wasn't to his former glory, but it was enough to move on. Kikyou-sama had only seen him as an injured man- an obligation. As a priestess who could help, she was obligated to. But Naraku had seen it as more. He fell in love with Kikyou and swore that he would do anything to prove himself to her and win Kikyou-sama over.

"That's when Naraku heard the rumors of a Wish Granter. He spent months chasing rumors before he found me. One second, I was serving my master, Onigumo. Then, I suddenly had Naraku as my master. Naraku had killed Onigumo in the dead of night and claimed my powers for himself. And with me in his possession, Naraku started wishing for many things- money, land, power. He used these things to try to capture Kikyou-sama's heart," Kagome finished.

"But, she didn't love him back. Did she?" Anzu asked. Kagome shook her head in the negative.

Kagome was about to continue when she felt a dark energy enter her very being. She froze as a chill moved through her. Her eyes widened. 'Kagome, are you telling everyone our story? Why didn't you invite me for story time?'

"...I'm sorry," Kagome said in a small voice after a few seconds. Everyone stopped to watch the ancient spirit questioningly. Kagome had a haunted expression on her face. Her complexion was slowly paling as she started to shiver sporadically.

"Kagome-chan?" Anzu questioned just as Atem reached out for her hand. Upon contact, a burning sting shot up the former Pharaoh's arm. With a loud kiss, he withdrew his hand from her. Kagome frowned sadly at him.

'It's quite alright, Kagome. I'm not upset… at least not yet,' Naraku went on.

"What do you want, Naraku?" Kagome spoke up. At once, Jounouchi leapt to his feet. Everyone in the room leaned in with frantic concern.

'I think that's more than obvious, Kagome,' Naraku spoke up again. She could hear the slight annoyance in his tone and imagined him rolling his eyes. 'You know that I require your assistance to find Kikyou. That's all I want. I'll make you a deal. If you tell me where I can find her remains, I'll leave you and your new master be.'

"I c-can't. I can't tell you that Naraku," Kagome said as a tear fell from her lashes and rolled down her cheek. Kagome remained quiet for several seconds as she waited for Naraku's explosion. He never did have the best temper…

'I'll give you the benefit of the doubt one time, Kagome. Why can't you tell me? Is it because you don't want me to win?' Naraku asked. He was chuckling darkly now. Kagome could feel her breaths coming out quicker. She wasn't shivering anymore. The shivers had turned into full blown quaking now. 'Don't be difficult, Kagome. If you're difficult, I'll get difficult. And right now, my idea of "difficult" is gutting the little insect you now call your master- the boy or the Pharaoh. I don't care which one. Maybe both!'

"Please…"

'Oh… I see… You like them. No, him- the Pharaoh. You've taken quite a shine to him. Well, maybe we should see how much you care for him after I slit his throat and feed is body to the demons in the darkest depths of hell! We'll see how much you care after several millennia of loneliness! Answer me!'

Kagome fell forward before curling up into a tight ball with a scream. The others rushed forward to help her, but Atem kept them at bay. "Don't touch her!" he warned as he knelt at Kagome's side. Helplessly, his hands hovered over her form, unable to touch her.

"I'm sorry! I c-can't! I don't know where they are! I don't know where she is!"

'I can do this all day Kagome. Now that the seal is broken, it's almost too easy to get into your head. I could target the Pharaoh instead if you wish. Or maybe the loud, blonde one? What about the siblings I marked for death?'

"No…"

'Who's the dead man who killed her!? You must know. He stole you away and killed my Kikyou! Who are his descendants? Tell me their name so that I can make them pay.'

"Kikyou-sama did it…" Kagome said. Atem nearly growled at the one-sided conversation. Naraku had gotten into Kagome's head and was now permeating her body with the same dark magic he had used on Mokuba. Suddenly, Kagome stopped shaking. She was only laying in place and taking deep breaths. Slowly, her body relaxed.

Hesitantly, Atem reached out to touch her. Atem sent a mental curse to Naraku when he felt how cold Kagome's form felt. She wasn't normally as warm as a human body, but she had her own warmth. Quickly he placed his jacket over her form. He tried calling out to her.

'What did you say?' Naraku asked in an eerily calm voice.

"Kikyou-sama did it. She despised my dark powers… and yours. She tried to destroy me. I didn't stop her. She sealed me away and fled to Egypt. She died trying to destroy me. I can't find her remains. There were none…" Kagome said quietly. Despite his dark, torturous nature, Kagome couldn't help but feel pity for the immortal.

"Kagome?" Atem tried. With wide eyes, she looked up from where her eyes were focused on the floor beneath her. She allowed him to help her up into a sitting position before leaning into him. Surprised, Atem allowed her to lean on him with an arm around her waist.

~:~

'She died by her own hand…'

Naraku kept repeating it to himself, but it wasn't sinking in. Stepping away from the grand, dining table before him, Naraku began to pace. He left Kagome alone and receded into his own thoughts.

The dining hall of his home was unsurprisingly dark. Demons hid in the darkness of the room, waiting for their master's next command. Attractive, young women dressed in maid outfits busied themselves with pushing in Naraku's chair and cleaning around the room. None batted an eye at the dark chill or demons in the room. They weren't allowed to leave the grounds, but who would want to when they were being paid hefty salaries by the day? Besides, resigning wasn't an option when it could mean having your soul devoured by a demon.

"How could she have done this to me? I don't understand. She… she always spoke of becoming a normal woman," Naraku started to speak to himself. The demons chimed in with their own hisses and snarls, but Naraku shook his head at them. "I would have given her that. We would have- could have- lived together as a normal man and woman."

Naraku frowned. But of course Kikyou had never planned to spend her life with him. He had ignored all the signs while she was still alive. The cold stares, hateful glances… She had despised his dark nature- his black heart. So she had left without a word. "Knowing Kikyou, she would have most likely returned for me- to try to take my life. She would have seen it as her duty to rid the world of my evil," Naraku sneered. She knew nothing of the depths of his darkness…

"It appears that I no longer require Kagome's assistance," Naraku scoffed. "Kikyou is dead and she shall remain that way. If I was half as evil as everyone claimed, I would revive her. Bring her back to life as nothing more than a shell of her former self just so that I can make her live through the pain she has caused me…"

The demons shuddered in anticipation at the dark promise his words held. Naraku smirked. "But, I'm not that evil. Instead, I think I'd rather enjoy what life has to offer. I've spent millennia pining over a dead woman- a traitorous one at that. I think it's time for some fun," Naraku started. The demons were howling excitedly from their darkened corners. Naraku smirked at them before speaking, "No one in this pathetic city knows how to have fun. And no one knows fun batter than you, my demonic underlings. Head out into the city. Show the people of Domino City how to have fun."

Like an explosion, the demons ripped out of the room all at once with loud snarls and shrieks. Naraku frowned once they had gone. The room had been much darker with them around. Is this what his home looked like with sunlight filtering through the windows? Naraku let out a disgusted noise.

~:~

Amun paced the floor of the living room frantically. Everyone besides Atem stared at him with worried frowns. Atem kept his attention on Kagome. The girl was latched onto his side and not speaking. Her warmth had returned, but she hadn't spoken.

"Brother, please calm yourself," Dalilah tried.

"Are you stupid, Dalilah? Or have you just lost you mind?" Amun rounded on her.

"Hey! Watch how you speak to her," Jounouchi warned, but was ignored.

"Naraku is mentally unstable. He's a mentally unstable, evil, powerful, immortal man who just found out that the woman he's loved for thousands of years never loved him and betrayed him. Why am I the only one worried about our current situation!? It's only a matter of time before Naraku releases a curse on all of our families or poisons the city's fresh water supply!" Amun yells.

"That's a bit much. Don't you think?" Dalilah frowned.

"For a sane person, yes. For Naraku, its child's play," Amun replied seriously.

"So what does this mean? Is Naraku just gonna crawl back into whatever hole he was living in before Kagome was unsealed or what?" Honda questioned.

"I don't know. What I do know is that he can't be allowed to get away," Amun answered.

"Finally!" Jounouchi exclaimed and stood up from his seat. "That's what I've been saying the entire time! We need to find him and kick his ass before he can even think about hurting anyone else."

Suddenly, the sounds of loud shrieks, growls, and snarls could be heard. The sounds came through the walls, even shaking the building's foundation slightly. Everyone froze more monstrous sounds sounded. Just as quickly as they came, they were gone. "What the hell was that?" Jounouchi asked. Against all better judgement, the group rushed outside.

Anzu gasped. Wide-eyed Dalilah covered her mouth in shock. Jounouchi cursed. Amun and Atem glared harshly at the skies above. Honda took a step back in fear. Kagome felt herself sink further downwards into the hole of despair that had appeared under her today.

Naraku's demons filled the skies- serpent-like demons, bat-like demons, demons that were nothing more than skeletons with bits of flesh stuck to the bone. They were soaring high above the any building, nearly blocking out the sun and blue sky. Some struck down an airplane as it was flying by. The explosion left a cloud of fiery smoke in the sky just as the flaming debris began to fall to the city below. In the distance, the group could hear the sounds of women screaming, men yelling, and car horns honking loudly. Across the street, a woman was chased down the street by a dark purple, dragon-like demon just before she was snatched up into the demons claws.

"This is madness!" Atem exclaimed.

Kagome stared around her in sadness. This was all her fault. She hadn't meant to cause pain to anyone- much less an entire city. It was all her fault. She shouldn't have let Kikyou take her away. She shouldn't have hid from Naraku. If she'd just done better… If she hadn't been so evil. Kagome hung her head in deep shame.

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"The generators are going down! We're losing power!"

"I need some help over here!"

"We're losing him!"

"What the hell are those things!?"

Seto Kaiba wanted to yell at whoever it was that was yelling so loudly. Upon further inspection, he identified it to be several voices.

"I'm trying the best that I can!"

That was a man. Seto frowned deeply before opening his eyes slowly. It was dark… Now it was light. Then, the lights flickered out again.

"Will someone please check on the backup generators!? Patients are about to die if we don't get their machines back online!"

That was a female voice. Kaiba looked around him in confusion before frowning. He was in a hospital bed. With all of the energy he had, Kaiba sat up in his bed. It hurt more than he cared to admit. He was alone in the room, but the door was wide open. He could see nurses and doctors running around frantically outside his door. Some were pushing patients in wheelchairs and on hospital beds. Kaiba frowned deeply. What had happened to him? Kaiba placed a hand to his sore mid-section. That's when the memories came rushing back to him. 'Naraku…' Kaiba growled. Where was Mokuba? Ignoring his pain, Seto set out in search of his brother.

The hospital staff were so busy, they hadn't even noticed him walking around the halls in his hospital gown. The signs on the wall told him that he was in the critical care unit. He scoffed mentally. He highly doubted that his injuries were that serious. Mokuba's on the other hand…

Purely by luck, Kaiba was able to locate Mokuba's room at the end of the hall. Like him, Mokuba was alone in his room. Kaiba stepped in and shut the door quietly behind him. His normally tan younger brother now looked a sickly pale color. He laid perfectly still under his white sheets. Kaiba could barely make out any signs of life from his brother. Kaiba grabbed the chart at the foot of his brother's bed.

'Severe blood loss… lacerations to the torso… slight concussion to occipital lobe… cracked sternum…'

Kaiba glared at the file before returning it to its holder. He took up Mokuba's side before placing a hand to his brother's unruly hair. "Mokuba, I made a promise to always look out for you. I wasn't able to stop that madman before. But, don't worry. I'm going to make Naraku pay. He'll be sorry he ever met me," Kaiba promised in a cold tone.

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Moi-Moi: Finally… I've been sitting on this thing for weeks. Sorry about the hold up everyone. Review!

Edited: 7/7/15