A/N: So…I have been gone for a while. Sorry. I've had a lot going on. I'm back now, and I'm determined to finish this story!
This update is shorter than ones I've done in the past. Sorry about that, but I'm trying to get back into the swing of things.
I hope you enjoy it! Reviews would be great! Sorry if this chapter is disappointing after a 6-7 month hiatus, haha.
Chapter Twenty
Seto groaned in pain as his back slammed against the concrete floor. The Blue-Eyes White Dragon statue before him roared loudly as if it were laughing at him. Seto snarled back at the creature, but the action looked and sounded as pathetic as it felt.
Seto didn't understand. How did Yugi bring the statue to life, and how the hell was he supposed to get around it?
Seto rolled away as the Blue-Eyes tried to crush him with its foot.
"Stop it right now! Cease your attack! Why won't you listen to me?"
The sound of screeching tires grabbed the attention of both Seto and the dragon. Mokuba jumped out of the car, earning a frustrated sigh from Seto. When Marik and Ishizu followed him, however, he was absolutely livid.
"What are all of you doing here? I thought I told you to stay at the house, Mokuba!"
Mokuba crossed his arms and frowned. "In case you don't remember, I'm old enough to make my own decisions now."
Seto rolled his eyes. "Then you've made a bad one, little brother. It's dangerous here, I'm not sure what this thing will do if you come any closer!"
Mokuba's eyes flew to the dragon, his jaw dropping open. "Oh…right."
Seto laughed sardonically at his brother's arrogance. "Ishtar! Since you're here, would you mind telling me how to get rid of this thing?"
Ishizu cleared her throat. "I'm not sure. It's obviously being controlled by the Shadows…by Yugi. But perhaps a shred of the true Blue-Eyes White Dragon lies within that statue."
Seto quickly stood up and jumped out of the way as the dragon attempted to swipe its claws at his legs. "And how would that help me?"
Marik shrugged. "It should be obvious. Your past self had a connection with the Blue-Eyes. If you can somehow remind this statue of that, remind that part of it that is the true Blue-Eyes, maybe it will respond to your commands…"
Mokuba smiled. "And maybe even be able to help you!"
Ishizu smiled with approval and looked at Mokuba. "Indeed."
Seto shook his head. "Whatever, I can't remember anything about that."
Marik sneered. "You're lying."
The dragon shoved Seto into the gate to the amusement park, causing the young CEO to cry out in pain.
"You remember something, Seto, now spit it out!" Marik yelled.
The dragon's claws clamped around Seto's lean body and squeezed, knocking the wind out of him. As he struggled to breathe, he also attempted to talk.
"I…remember a…girl…" he choked out breathlessly.
Ishizu grinned. "Oh yes, I'm sure you do."
Seto shot her a glare. "This is…different."
Mokuba frowned in worry, clenching his fists to keep himself from running to his brother's aid. "That thing is going to kill him, Ishizu! You have to do something!"
Ishizu held out a hand to stop him. "No, wait. Seto is on the verge of remembering something important."
Seto shook his head, pain filled tears running down his cheeks. The dragon roared again.
"That's…that's it…no…no name…"
Marik shook his head. "Think harder!"
Seto let out a scream as he glared angrily at Marik. "I…don't…remember!" he yelled furiously, the effect of his anger diminished by his cracked and weak voice.
His gaze traveled to the face of the Blue-Eyes. He stared into the blue sapphire eyes of the statue and could almost see something behind them. He squinted and looked harder, his vision going blurry. He felt like his head was going to explode…
And that was when he saw her.
Blue eyes, long white hair, pale white skin…a rough brown dress…
He knew her instantly. Suddenly, he couldn't figure how he could have possibly forgotten.
"K-Kis…"
Mokuba scrunched his nose. "Kiss? Seto…concentrate…"
Seto mustered up the last of his energy and glared at the statue. "Kisara, forgive me!"
The dragon released him.
Seto crumpled to the floor and gasped desperately for air. He looked up at the dragon warily only to see that it was bowing its head before him, sitting absolutely still.
Mokuba rain to Seto's side and helped him up. "Seto! Are you okay? Can you stand? Are you hurt?"
Seto nodded. "Yeah…"
Mokuba raised an eyebrow. "Which question are you answering?"
Seto stared at the ground, his mind in a different place. "Yes."
"...21 bottles of beer on the wall, 21 bottles of beer, you take one down, pass it around, 20 bottles of beer on the wall..."
Téa sighed. Her hands were bound and there was a blindfold around her eyes. She had been sitting there for what seemed like an eternity. She found a miniscule amount of comfort from the stupid, repetitive old song she was singing.
"…20 bottles of beer on the wall, 20 bottles of beer…"
She missed Joey and Tristan. They would've joined in if they had been there, making the song much more fun and humorous. Atem would've stared at all of them in confusion and Yugi would've laughed at the aforementioned confusion.
Téa frowned. Even when she had been in Yami's presence she had felt love. That love had been clouded by her anger and hatred for the person who had taken Yugi away, but she still loved him after all of the things he had done.
Is there something wrong with me?
Téa laughed. "You take one down, pass it around, 19 bottles of beer on the wall…"
I love Yugi.
Téa frowned again. "Yes…" she said aloud confusedly.
I love Atem.
Téa's frown deepened. "Um…yes…"
Are they just so similar that I don't know which one I love?
Téa fought back tears. She didn't want to go through that again. She had been so confused by her feelings for years, the entire time that the Pharaoh had been with them as a spirit. She could never understand if she truly loved Yugi or the Pharaoh…and it seemed that two years had made no difference. She was still as confused as ever.
Oh Yugi…I miss you…
Téa felt a stray, hot tear streak down her face.
"…19 bottles of beer on the wall, 19 bottles of beer, you take one down, pass it around, 18 bottles of beer on the wall…"
The floor was cold.
The stone was rough and covered with a thin sheet of sand. It felt as if it was an ancient forgotten tomb in the middle of Egypt itself. The gloom and darkness only added to the eerie atmosphere.
Eyes stared unseeingly into the darkness.
All hope seemed to be lost.
But suddenly, there was light. The light was so bright that it burned the unseeing eyes, blinding them further. But this was a different kind of blindness. There was hope after all.
Atem stopped dead in his tracks, his breath hitching in his throat.
Bakura scowled and grasped the former Pharaoh's arm. "It's an illusion. Yami is trying to trick you."
Atem shook his head. "No…no Bakura, this is different…"
Bakura tightened his hold on Atem's arm. "Don't do it, Pharaoh. I can see it in your eyes. Don't be a fool."
Atem ignored him and shrugged out of his grasp. He ran forward and fell to his knees onto the blood covered floor.
"Yugi…"
Yugi's eyes were closed tight, but he frowned in response to Atem's voice. He was alive.
"Yugi, Yugi!"
Yugi reluctantly opened his eyes and the pain was evident on his face. The light was stinging his eyes.
"Who did this to you?" Atem asked frantically, reaching a hand out for Yugi's face.
Yugi's hand shot out and caught Atem's wrist, surprising the former Pharaoh.
Yugi's bloodshot eyes bore into Atem's confusedly.
Atem repeated his question: "Who did this to you?"
Yugi's hold tightened on Atem's wrist as an amused smile appeared on his face.
"You did."