Greetings! This chapter is a little darker than the previous ones. It's
nothing bad, but a bit descriptive on the injuries inflicted on our
favorite characters. I hope it doesn't upset anyone.
Does anyone know the name of Bakura's beast? In the anime, it sounds like Diabundo... I've seen it spelled Diabound, but that doesn't look right. I've been avoiding using it for that reason, and I don't have time to look it up. I would appreciate the help! The scene with Gozaburo Kaiba didn't fit in with the rest of the chapter, so I've left it for the next one.
Reviews:
Yami126: You're welcome, you're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.
SugarHighNeko: Linkin Park has great angsty songs, don't they? No, Gozaburo isn't the incarnation of Akunadin. I think that's the priest you're talking about, though he has the Millennium Eye, not the rod. Gozaburo does have a past life in Egypt. You'll find out more about it in the next few chapters.
AG the Master: I'm glad you're starting to see how the story is coming together. Yugi has seen more than he should have, which has definitely changed him. Kaiba has also gone through something that's completely changed him and it will be a while before he can get back to the way he was.
Dragon-Tsuzuku: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
MotherChowGoddess: Yami does deserve to be whacked upside the head for what he said, but in his defense, he was worried about Yugi and has no clue about what happened to Kaiba. If he'd known, he wouldn't have said what he said.
Yugi's control of the shadows is increased by the fact that both Yami and the pharaoh are there. Technically, they are the same person, which makes Yugi's control a stronger. Also, desperation has a lot to do with it... when you're desperate, you do things you normally wouldn't do. Seto Kaiba is a great character to like. Yugi started out to be my favorite, but I think Seto Kaiba is now up there too.
Ms. Zeal: The theory is a good one, but not quite correct. In my demented little world, the Millennium Items react to a person's soul, not the body, which is why Kaiba and Yugi can both control them, as well as Ryou. You'll understand more about Gozaburo after you read this chapter and in the coming up ones too. Thanks!
Septimius: I like the way you think! Yami will regret what he said to Kaiba at a future time, that much I can guarantee. Yup, they'll all reunite in this chapter. Though it may not be what you have in mind. I'm sorry to hear that you've lost interest in your stories. That happens sometimes. It happened to me with one of my other ones, but I just recently started writing it again. Some people lose interest in writing because they've lost interest in the subject matter. Is that the case with you? Best of luck and thanks for the review.
Shadowwaker: Thanks! I'm glad you liked the chapter. Don't worry, no offence was taken. Some chapters do tend to be better than others. I'm afraid this one isn't very good, because I didn't get to spend that much time on it. Thank you for telling me about your friend, and tell her that I appreciate her interest and am glad that she's enjoying both stories. I do hope to hear from her!
Mimiheart: Gozaburo isn't a popular character, it seems like. He makes a good villain, though, because he's just so fun to hate. He'll get what he deserves eventually.
Ieyre: I think this chapter is going to depress you a lot more, so I think I'm going to go hide now.
TZ: Yami was so cute when he was a baby and a little kid!! He sure cried a lot, though, which makes me wonder how he got to be the way he is now. Sadly, I don't have access to the DSL anymore so won't be able to get any more of the new episodes (sniff, sniff... no more Inuyasha either). The last one I saw was 210, where they kicked Bakura's butt. It was a nice one. I think the preview for 211 had Yami finding out that he was really playing the RPG with Bakura and not really in Egypt. I read that in the manga a while back and was a bit disappointed that it was just a game.
I'm glad you liked the chapter. Yugi had finally had enough, so he went a bit aggressive with Bakura. It was a lot of fun to write, though.
Hobbit13: Oh, yeah, Kaiba seriously needs help. You're right, he wouldn't take it and he won't take it when it's offered. That's just the kind of stubborn sob he is. Kaiba knew that he was pushing Yami's buttons about Yugi, which is why he said what he said. If Yami was angry at him, he'd leave him alone.
Yugi is definitely stronger than most people credit him for, and I like to write him that way. I'm not sure why, but the Bakura/Yugi dynamic really intrigues me. I think they're great together, and had a lot of fun writing them. I hope I get to do it more often. I'm glad you liked the conversation between Ryou and Bakura as well. I don't think I'd ever written one like that before, but I did enjoy doing it.
Restlesspirit: Thank you for the review! 150 stars, huh? Very cool! I'll put them all up in my room.
Mutou Yasu: Yugi may be little, but I think he packs a mean punch when he wants to. After the day he'd had, he was definitely in the mood for some butt kicking. Nope, Yami and Seto are not going to be getting along any time soon. But that may not always be the case. We'll both just have to wait and see.
Black Rose: Soda stopped having that effect on me years ago. I can drink a can of coke and it does nothing for me anymore. I've resorted to black coffee to keep me awake though my classes these days. I'm glad you liked the chapter.
Moonlitspire: Kaiba is not going to be happy for a while to come. What was done to him causes a lot of damage, physical and emotional, and it's going to take a while for him to heal. Besides, Kaiba is going to be very stubborn about the whole thing, which will just make it worse. You're a Yami/Seto slash fan? I think they're a good couple, though I tend to lean towards Seto/Yugi myself. You're right about Bakura's humor. He doesn't mean it to be funny, but it happens to come out funny anyway. I'm glad to get it across okay. Thanks!
Saiyan Jedi: Yup, I twisted things a bit, but not too much. Akunadin has nothing to do with the present Yugi, Yami and Kaiba. He's more involved with Priest Seto in the past. I won't spoil it for you yet, in case you haven't read the Egyptian Arc of the manga yet. You'll find out why Gozaburo can handle the items in this chapter.
Writer's block stinks. It takes a lot to get out of it, but hopefully it'll come to you.
Invader Kas: Wow... thank you so very much for taking the time to review every chapter. I really appreciate it, and I'm very glad that you enjoyed the story.
Yuki Tsukihana: Bakura's monster comes from his spirit. It's an ugly thing that's half monster half snake and kicks major butt. It kicked Ra's butt in one of the episodes. The Egyptian Arc should be available on DVD pretty soon. They're up to 199 now (I think). I like Ra a lot better than Osiris... I just think it looks cooler, so I wanted to use him. Yami seems to like Osiris, though.
Cat Demon of Fire: I hope the wait wasn't too long for the chapter!
Leland Lancaster: Yami and Kaiba both have their issues, and right now, they're clashing. Thanks for reviewing.
Bayleef: Yup, it seems like all of us writers love to torture poor Yugi. There's just something about him. Hopefully it'll all end happily eventually. Yami is kind of cool when he gets angry, especially when it's directed at Kaiba. Too bad Kaiba isn't able to fight back.
Dream Guardian: Thank you very much! I'm glad you liked how I wrote Yugi, because it does seem realistic and fitting that his personality would be altered by what he's seen and had to do. You're right, Bakura is extremely hard to write. I generally hate villains who are bad just because, so I tend to give them reasons for doing what they do. Takahashi-sama has already established a back story for Bakura, but it's still hard to make it work. It's been fun to do, though. Don't worry, you can never write too much! Thank you for reviewing.
CutePrincess0333: Glad to hear you're a Linkin Park fan. They do write great songs, don't they? I've used their songs in a few of my other stories, because they always fit so well. Thanks for the review!
Silver Dragon Golden Dragon: Gozaburo is going to have a grand old time snooping around. That'll be left for the next chapter, though.
Nenya85: Yami does sense that there is something wrong with Kaiba, but in his worry for Yugi, he sort of let it slip. Kaiba wasn't making it any better either, so it was easier for Yami to react in anger, just as it was for Kaiba. You're absolutely right about Kaiba, and I don't think I could have phrased it better myself. Kaiba needs the help, he wants the help, he desperately wants someone to look through his walls and his illusions and see that he's hurting and broken. Even though he would push them away, having someone notice is enough to let him know that he is worth something to someone. Mokuba is the only one in his life who has ever done that for him, because Mokuba can definitely see past the walls and illusions. And he'll be a big part of the story later on.
PyroDragon2006: Thanks! I'm glad you liked the chapter. Kaiba and Seto have an interesting conversation, but it didn't turn out quite the way I thought it did. It wasn't as violent as I thought . It's in this chapter, though, so you can tell me what you thought of it after you read it.
S.K Hashmi: Congratulations on your SAT score! That's an awesome score, especially in Molecular Biology (which is not an easy subject). Are you going to be pre-med in college, or do you want to do research? I was a Biology/Chemistry major when I started college, and then switched to Computer Science when I was halfway through. I miss the science labs.
Yup, Kaiba definitely needs a shrink. It's too bad he's not going to be willing to see one. I'm not sure what the recommended thing is for. The ff.net front page says that it's just in a testing stage, whatever that means. I think the favorites thing is still the way to go, until they explain exactly what the recommended thing is for. Yup, Kaiba's room is a lab. I'm picturing a computer lab, with several servers and lots of workstations where he can run several applications and code programs at the same time. We have several of those at school and every time I go to one I never want to leave. Nope, Bakura is not helping Gozaburo. If anything, he's concerned that Gozaburo was able to get into the ring. It's got him freaking out. Yup, NKN was finally updated. It took three months, and I hope it never takes that long again. Thanks!
The Nameless Name: I'm glad you have faith in Kaiba... now all he needs is a little faith in himself. You have a good point about Bakura's past life, and I will address it in a future chapter. You're right, Bakura's past has been altered, which means that his future self has to remember what happened. Bakura is just not willing to share that with anyone, not just yet. But he will eventually.
Tsuki Koumori Ryu: Thank you very much! I'm happy to hear that this is your favorite story. It's very flattering and inspiring, in that it makes me want to write more. I'm very glad that you enjoyed the chapter, and don't worry about excessive writing. Feel free to write whatever you like. Thanks again!
Aura Black Chan: Well, I'm not sure about everyone going home soon, but they will get home eventually. I've always liked the thought that Ryou could stand up to Bakura and I hate fics that write him as this meek little thing. I don't think he's like that at all.
Yugi-crazy: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad that you like the story, even though Kaiba being in the puzzle seems kind of weird.
Lilmatchgirl007: Thank you very much for your kind words. It's great to know that you're enjoying the story.
Katkid: Nope, things will definitely not be pretty when they get back (if they get back, I don't want to spoil anything ). Let's just say that Gozaburo is cruel and demented, and will have no problems using those things to his advantage. Thanks for the review!
Hopefire: You're close... Gozaburo isn't one of the high priests, but he's close. You'll find out more in this chapter. I don't think you're going to like me very much at the end of the chapter, so as I told another reviewer, I'm going to go hide now.
Solitaire: Have I ever told you how much I adore your reviews, both to this story and to Last Goodbye? They always make me smile, and I've eternally grateful for that. Nah, you're not a sick person at all... you're just in the right place at the right time for a little Seto torture. Yes, Yami is most definitely going to have a guilt trip. I can't wait to write that!
Right now, Yugi doesn't really know what he's thinking. Bakura has completely blindsided him with all of it, but there will come a time when he'll be able to address it completely. I think Pharaoh Yami and Priest Seto are the ones that are going to get the shock of their lives when they hear what Yugi has to say. Actually, it was Priest Akunadin who did the whole thing. He didn't tell Yami's father that creating the items involved sacrificing 99 lives, because if he had, Yami's father would have told him not to do it. So if there's anyone to blame, Akunadin is your man. He's such a slimy bastard too! It was after he got the Millennium Eye that Seto was told that his father died...
I hadn't realized that there had been more boxes released until recently. It's funny, but my box 7, which I just got, has episodes 172-189. My box 6 is the one that ends up like your box 7 does. I got box 8 too, which goes through episode 199. I've seen up to episode 210 in Japanese, so I can tell you that the Yugi/Kaiba duel against Dartz is definitely worth the wait. It's a really good duel. You'll love it. The Joey/Mai duel is excellent too. That comes after Joey/Varon.
I've been having a lot of fun with Bakura. I think this is the first fic where I've actually written him in any sort of important way, and I need to start doing it more often. I'm just happy that I got the characterization right.
Thanks so much for the long review. It made my day!
Katie Torango: Yami and Kaiba are both complicated individuals and they're very passionate, which is why they're always at odds with each other. They have the potential to become great friends, if only they could get past the petty stuff they hate about each other. But alas, that might not ever happen. Yami gets a bit self involved and jumpy when it comes to Kaiba, so it's easy for him to not notice the good things Kaiba does, but it hopefully won't be like that forever. Thanks!
Now on with the chapter. Enjoy!
Part 21: Bitter Reunions
Yugi screamed. He didn't want to, didn't want to give Bakura the satisfaction of knowing he was hurt, but he couldn't help it. Bakura's beast kept attacking Ra, and every attack felt as if someone was hammering a nail into his heart. The pain from his fall had long since been replaced by the pain of maintaining Ra, so that he no longer felt whatever broken bones he'd suffered. He'd inflicted his own damage to Bakura; the thief's screams were a testament to that. However, Yugi was so out of it that he could not properly control the god. All he could do was tell it to defend, and the monster did as asked. He was still stunned that he'd been able to summon the monster at all, and would, under different circumstances, have been giddy with excitement, but at the moment, it was an effort to just keep his eyes open.
'Just hold on a little more.'
He kept telling himself that, even though Yugi had no idea what he was holding on for. Ra was an incredibly powerful monster, but without someone to properly control him, he was nothing more than a shield.
"Are you ready to give up yet?" Bakura taunted from where he stood a short distance away. "You're not doing much with that god of yours, boy. I was hoping this would be a worthy match, but it looks like I'll be winning very soon."
Yugi ignored Bakura and instead fought against a strong cough. He'd started coughing shortly after his fall, and at first, it hadn't been a big deal. Then blood started coming up with each cough, as it did now, and Yugi became concerned. The blood ran down his chin, and he felt as if he were drowning. Yugi was sure he was finally going to die, when the cough died down and he was able to breathe again.
Bakura chose that moment to attack, but Ra deflected it and launched an attack of his own. Yugi saw Bakura being thrown back into the wall of what once had been a house, and the thief grunted in pain at the impact. Bakura got to his felt slowly, cursing Yugi the entire time.
"You have guts, boy, I'll give you that. You look much worse than I do, so let's stop playing and finish this once and for all."
Bakura's monster attacked again, and Ra was unable to deflect it this time. The god was hit, and Yugi's body felt the attack every bit as much as the monster did. Ra roared in pain, and Yugi's scream matched it.
Yugi had finally had enough. He didn't want to feel pain anymore. He wanted to close his eyes and just sleep. It didn't matter if Bakura won anyway, because he was sure that the pharaoh would eventually defeat him. Yugi wasn't really needed. He was just a small part of the bigger picture, and he'd had enough. He closed his eyes, prepared to drift away, when he felt Ra move away from him. Startled, Yugi looked around as much as he could and saw that Ra had moved closer to Bakura's beast. Bakura was no longer looking in Yugi's direction. Instead, he was looking to his right, where the pharaoh and Yami now stood.
Yugi sighed in relief, because the pharaoh was now controlling Ra. There was another flash of light, and Osiris suddenly appeared next to Ra. Yami had summoned his own god monster. It didn't matter, though. He felt good that his friends had finally arrived, because now Bakura would get what he deserved. It was too late for him, though. With a sad smile, Yugi closed his eyes again.
"Yugi!"
The startled shout brought Yugi out of the darkness he'd been about to sink into, and he found himself staring up at Kaiba. Yugi smiled. They'd found Kaiba and had hopefully helped him with his injuries by now. Good.
"I'm glad you're okay," Yugi whispered and then regretted it as another coughing fit tore through him.
"Don't say anything, just stay still. I'll get the priest and he'll heal you."
"Did he heal you?" Yugi asked.
Kaiba didn't have to answer the question, because Yugi could see the answer in his eyes. A profound sadness went through him at the thought that Kaiba would never be able to tell anyone about what had happened to him, and therefore would never be able to get help and heal.
"I'm sorry I couldn't help you, Kaiba," Yugi continued. "Be strong, okay? You don't have to go through this by yourself."
Kaiba shook his head. "You sound like you're saying goodbye, Yugi, and that's not acceptable."
Yugi let out a short bark of laughter. "I don't want to feel the pain anymore."
Kaiba clenched his jaw, and then ran a hand tenderly over Yugi's forehead. "Then shut up and let me go get the priest. Once he heals you, you'll feel no pain."
Without another word, Kaiba got up and walked away, limping heavily as he went.
"Be strong," Yugi repeated and closed his eyes once again.
It was time to go.
Kaiba fought the pain in his legs and his back as he jogged to where he'd left the priest. He hadn't gone to fight Bakura like the pharaoh and Yami, but had been looking for Yugi instead. The thought of Yugi made Kaiba's stomach churn. The teenager's body had been mangled, the right shoulder dislocated and at a strange angle and his right leg broken. Yugi's right hip must have gotten dislocated as well, since the bone had been protruding enough that Kaiba had been able to see it through the fabric of Yugi's pants. Then there was the blood. One of Yugi's lungs had more than likely been punctured by a broken rib, and if Kaiba didn't get the priest to Yugi soon, Yugi was going to drown in his own blood.
That thought kept Kaiba moving as fast as he could. Contrary to what Yami believed, Kaiba had not abandoned Yugi. If anything, he now felt a strange kinship with the boy. Their experience in the desert had forever bonded them, for better or worse, and he didn't want any harm to come to Yugi. What Yugi had said to him had also left him feeling out of sorts. 'Be strong', Yugi had whispered, in a tone so full of defeat that Kaiba had wanted to pull him up by the shirt and shake him. Yugi never gave up, and Kaiba felt that if Yugi died, a part of him would die with him.
He reached the carriage he'd gotten out of, but the priest had not returned. He was about to circle the carriage in search of the priest when he was hit from behind. He fell to his hands and knees, stifling a moan as his body ached with the impact. He was flipped roughly onto his back and pinned down. Images of Hori and his men rushed through Kaiba's mind and he became paralyzed with fear. The paralysis lasted only a short moment, as his sense of self preservation kicked in stronger than it ever had before.
"No, not again!" he shouted and struggled, but the pressure above him did not budge.
Kaiba finally opened his eyes and was confronted not by Hori, but by another image from his nightmares.
"Gozaburo?"
The terror coursing through him did not abate at having found the identity of his attacker. Instead, it doubled, as his worst nightmare was suddenly and inexplicably, staring down at him. The man looked exactly like Gozaburo had before he'd died, except that this man was not wearing the trademark red business suit Gozaburo had been so fond of.. No, this one wore the garb of an Egyptian priest. The man stared down at Kaiba with such hatred and contempt that Kaiba wondered if they really weren't the same man.
"I thought I took care of you, you meddling priest!" the man growled, ignoring Kaiba's outburst. "You will die today and I will possess the Millennium Rod once and for all."
As if to prove his point, the Gozaburo look alike released one of Kaiba's hands and held the Millennium Rod in front of his face. The bottom of the rod had been removed to reveal a very sharp dagger, which the man now pointed at him. Letting go of one of Kaiba's hands had been a mistake, because Kaiba used the advantage to slam his fist against the side of the man's face, which sent the man flying to one side. Kaiba painfully picked himself up and made his way to where the Gozaburo look alike was getting up. Years of anger and hatred that he'd not been able to express for fear of retribution by Gozaburo bubbled up to the surface, and Kaiba screamed in rage. His body was aching and he could barely walk, but he made his way to the Gozaburo look alike, dragged him up and then hit him again.
"I don't know who you are, what you want, or why you're doing this," Kaiba said as the man picked himself up again. "All I know is that you have that rod, and I need the priest to have it, because someone's life is in danger. Hand it over, or I will pry it out of your hand once I kill you."
"Pretty words for a man who can not defend himself without this," the Gozaburo look alike held the Millennium Rod in front of him. "I took this from you with no trouble, and it will be no trouble to kill you."
For a panicked moment, Kaiba wondered if the man knew how to use the rod. If that were the case, he'd be in major trouble. His mental question was answered as the item began to glow in the man's hands.
"I'm not supposed to use these," the Gozaburo look alike said. "According to you, I'm not 'worthy' enough to handle one of these. That's why you kept me from advancing, kept me as your apprentice. What you don't know is that I can control the items, and I will take this one where it belongs."
The rod flashed and Kaiba was pushed backwards by the rush of power aimed at him. The Millennium Puzzle glowed in response and sent out an equal wave of power. The Gozaburo look alike had not been prepared for him to retaliate and was caught off guard. He was slammed into the carriage and slumped to the ground, bleeding from a wound to the back of his head. Kaiba didn't know if the man was still alive and didn't bother to check. He walked to him, took the rod from the man's hand and smiled.
"I told you I'd take it from you."
Kaiba was by now shaking uncontrollably, and he had no outlet for the pent up emotions that were threatening to burst out of him like a broken dam. He pushed them down into the part of his mind that held everything he didn't want to deal with and continued on his search for the priest. The fight had taken its toll on him and the limp he'd had when this had started had turned much worse, so that he could only move very slowly. He cursed his weakness, disappointed in himself for not being able to overcome this. He was emotionally worn out and felt close to breaking. This was far from his normal, tight control, and he didn't know how to deal with it.
Before he could think any more, he spotted the priest, along with four dead guards, lying next to the other carriage. When he got to his double, he saw a large blood stain spreading over the white robe from a stab wound to the stomach. This was not happening. The priest could not be dead. It was an eerie feeling, walking up to the man, seeing his double lying there, bleeding. Is this what he looked like to everyone else? Did he really look that peaceful when he was asleep?
Kaiba kneeled next to the priest and felt for a pulse. He was gratified to find one, but it didn't change the fact that the priest was still unconscious. If he didn't get back to Yugi soon, the younger teen would be dead.
"I don't know what to do with this," Kaiba said as he looked first at his double, then at the Millennium Rod in his hand. "How can I heal you with this?"
As in response, the rod began to glow. Kaiba aimed the item at the priest's wound, like the priest had done to his wrist earlier, and willed the wound to go away. Kaiba didn't know if he'd been successful or not, until the priest began to stir. The priest's eyes opened, and his hand traveled down to his stomach.
"You healed me," the priest said, eyes wide with surprise. "How did you do that?"
Kaiba shrugged. "I don't know. It doesn't matter right now, because you have to get to Yugi. He's badly injured and needs help."
The priest nodded and got to his feet. "Where is he?"
Kaiba pointed in the direction he'd come from, and pulled himself up. The priest did the same, his eyes taking in the dead guards around him.
"It was Kha, wasn't it?"
Kaiba frowned. "If you mean that deranged priest, then yes," Kaiba replied, not mentioning the fact that the deranged priest looked exactly like his deranged adoptive father.
"Where is he?"
Kaiba led the priest to where Kha still lay unconscious. "I don't know if he's dead."
Seto smirked. "He's not dead. He's going to stay alive and pay for what he's done."
Seto recited a spell and then walked away.
"What did you do?" Kaiba asked.
"I put a binding spell on him so he won't go anywhere. Now, do you want me to get to Yugi or not?"
Kaiba bristled at the harsh tone, but then shrugged it off. He did his best to walk normally but was aware of the priest's eyes on him the entire time.
"You're still injured. I knew it from the moment we picked you up. Why didn't you tell me?"
Kaiba did not turn to meet the priest's eyes. Instead, he continued his steady, but slow, walk towards Yugi.
"One of my guards raped Hori's sister," the priest suddenly said in a soft voice. "I refused to let Hori kill him in retaliation, and he swore vengeance on me because of it."
Kaiba's jaw clenched, as did his fists. He walked faster, refusing to let the pain hamper his movements any more that it already was.
"I did not want to show that there was any sort of problem with the guards in front of the villagers, which is why I refused to let Hori kill the guard. The man was punished for what he did, however. I executed him myself for raping that woman."
The words, however they were meant, only made Kaiba angrier. They only reminded him that he'd been caught in something he had absolutely nothing to do with, and would carry the scars of it for the rest of his life.
"Hori said he'd make me feel what it had been like for his sister. Is that what he did to you, Kaiba?"
Kaiba took a deep breath and then released it through clenched teeth. He didn't stop, nor give any indication that he'd heard the question. He would not admit what happened to anyone, not even to the priest, who was a duplicate of himself. He would have kept going, except Seto pulled him to a stop with a hand to the shoulder, which Kaiba immediately brushed away.
"You need to let me heal you, Kaiba. Pretending that nothing happened is not going to do you any good."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Kaiba hissed. "You have no idea about what went on in that camp, and you don't give a damn either. You should be happy that Hori took whatever anger he had out on me and not on you. Now you're safe."
Seto took a step back, apparently surprised by the sudden anger directed at him.
"I want to help you, Kaiba. I can help you. Deluding yourself into believing that everything is okay is only going to make things worse."
Kaiba shook his head. "If you want to help me, then leave me alone! Besides, what would you know? What do you have to base your conclusion on? What makes you the expert on what makes me well or what doesn't? You don't know me, Priest. You may look just like me, but you don't know me." He continued to walk, but Seto's arm stopped him. Kaiba pulled on it and pushed the priest away from him. "Don't touch me! Leave me the hell alone, okay?"
The priest stood, speechless. Kaiba could care less what the man thought had happened. He could imagine all he wanted, but he was never going to get the truth out of Kaiba.
"Just heal Yugi, that's all I ask."
Priest Seto sighed and nodded in agreement, having given up for the moment. Kaiba led him to where Yugi was lying, and his heart stopped when he saw that Yugi was pale and very still.
"Yugi?"
With some effort, Kaiba kneeled next to the teen and put his fingers next to Yugi's throat. After a few seconds, he failed to find a pulse. He picked up Yugi's wrist, but could not find a pulse there either.
"Yugi, answer me!"
There was no response. The priest kneeled down as well and put his ear above Yugi's nose and mouth. He felt Yugi's chest for a moment, and then straightened up.
"He's dead."
Yami's rage boiled over the moment he'd seen Yugi lying on the ground with Ra floating above him. Even from this distance he'd been able to tell that Yugi was badly hurt, and he'd turned to the pharaoh, letting the man know that as soon as Bakura was dealt with, he'd be next. Yami wanted nothing more than to go to his partner and friend and make sure he was okay, but knew that his first responsibility was to eliminate Bakura. His anger had been focused on Bakura the moment the pharaoh had taken control of Ra, which had helped Yami summon Osiris.
Bakura, with only one monster, turned out to be more of a threat than Yami had thought. The shadow games he'd played with the Bakura that inhabited Ryou's body had been nothing compared to this all out duel, and Yami was proud to note that Yugi had been able to hold his own against the thief. Bakura was tenacious, but already injured. Even so, the monster he controlled was powerful. It had attacked both gods relentlessly until Ra and Osiris had inflicted major damage to it. It was then that Bakura decided to flee, and both he and his monster had disappeared.
As both gods disappeared, Yami turned to the pharaoh. His hands were clenched into fists, and his blood was boiling. The adrenaline that had been running through his body during the fight with Bakura was at an all time high, and Yami badly needed to release it. He did the first thing that came to his mind, which was to punch the pharaoh. The man staggered with the blow, but did not fall, and Yami was satisfied to see blood dripping down the man's chin.
"If only you would have begun your search earlier, then neither Yugi nor Kaiba would have been hurt."
Pharaoh Yami touched his lips and clenched his own hands into fists.
"How dare you strike me?" the pharaoh asked as he stepped closer to Yami. "You have no idea of the magnitude of the infraction you just committed."
Yami laughed. "Spare me your indignation, Pharaoh, because I owe you no allegiance. You do not command me, nor do you control me. My loyalty here is to Yugi and Kaiba, and with your lack of action, you've managed to endanger both."
Pharaoh Yami stood in front of Yami, both matched equally in both strength and determination. "If we'd left when you wanted to leave, Priest Seto would have been unable to come with us. If the priest hadn't been here, who would have healed Kaiba? Who would heal Yugi now?"
"If we'd left when I wanted, Yugi and Kaiba would never have been injured in the first place. I haven't seen Yugi yet, but if he's hurt as bad as Kaiba is, I will hold you personally responsible. I do not care if you are the pharaoh or not, I will avenge my friends."
Yami turned away and made his way to where Kaiba and the priest kneeled next to Yugi. As Yami got closer, he began to get a good look at Yugi's condition. He saw Kaiba feel for a pulse and then the priest listen to Yugi's breathing. When both men looked at each other, the expressions on their faces made Yami's heart constrict in dread. The priest said something, but Yami was too far away to hear it.
"Is he okay?" Yami asked as he reached the two men. "What can you do for him?"
Kaiba turned to Yami, and the expression Yami saw in Kaiba's face was one he had never seen before, one he hoped to never see again. Kaiba was in shock.
"What's wrong, Kaiba? How is Yugi?"
Kaiba swallowed a few times and then looked down at Yugi. Yami saw the delay tactic for what it was, so he kneeled next to Kaiba and forced the taller man to look at him.
"What's wrong?"
"He's dead, Yami. Yugi is dead."
Yami felt as if someone had kicked him in the stomach as his breath was knocked out of him. He couldn't have heard that correctly. He turned his attention to Yugi's pale face, bluish lips, and mangled body. It was not possible. Yugi was not dead. He returned his attention to Kaiba and said the only thing that occurred to him.
"What?"
Yugi was flying. Well, not exactly flying, but floating. There was nothing around him, but the darkness didn't seem oppressive or frightening. Instead, it felt warm, cozy, and inviting. He felt no fear and no pain. His body was whole again, and Yugi laughed in contentment. He stretched his limbs and grinned at the wonderful, rested feeling that coursed through him.
He stopped floating suddenly and found himself standing in the middle of a small garden. The place seemed vaguely familiar to him, but he couldn't recall where he knew it from. A small swing set stood empty in the middle of the garden, and Yugi saw that a picnic lunch had been spread out on the grass beside it. He smiled at the sight. It looked so peaceful, so calm.
Yugi frowned. There was something he was doing, somewhere he needed to be, but he couldn't recall what it was. He felt that it was important, but the feeling of safety this place gave him overrode everything else. He had wanted to be here, of that he was sure. He'd told himself that he wanted peace, but couldn't remember why he'd wanted it so badly.
Shrugging, Yugi made his way to the swing set and stopped when a man and a woman walked out of the door to the house behind the swing set, which Yugi had neglected to notice until now. The woman saw him first, and her face lit up when she smiled at him.
"Little one, there you are. We've been waiting a long time to see you again."
The woman was short, thin, and sported a long mane of red hair. She held out her arms for Yugi to walk into, but he stood where he was. The woman was also familiar to him, but he couldn't place her.
"It's okay, son," the man standing next to her, taller and with black and blonde hair, said. He also smiled and beckoned to him. "It's okay to hug your mother, Yugi. She's been waiting a long time to hold you again."
Recognition hit him like an electric shock, and Yugi's eyes watered as he realized that he was indeed looking at his parents, the same people he'd last seen in caskets the day of their funeral. He'd longed to see his parents, hold them once again, ever since the day they'd died, and he couldn't believe that it was finally happening. Yugi ran to his mother and launched himself into her arms, grinning as her arms wrapped around him, surrounding him in the warmth and love that only a mother could give. A second pair of arms encircled him, and Yugi realized that his father was hugging him too.
Tears fell unchecked down his cheeks, but Yugi felt no shame. "I'm so glad to see you, mom and dad. It's been so long."
"I know, sweetie, I know," his mother whispered in his ear as her arms held him close to her. "You'll never have to leave us again."
Does anyone know the name of Bakura's beast? In the anime, it sounds like Diabundo... I've seen it spelled Diabound, but that doesn't look right. I've been avoiding using it for that reason, and I don't have time to look it up. I would appreciate the help! The scene with Gozaburo Kaiba didn't fit in with the rest of the chapter, so I've left it for the next one.
Reviews:
Yami126: You're welcome, you're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.
SugarHighNeko: Linkin Park has great angsty songs, don't they? No, Gozaburo isn't the incarnation of Akunadin. I think that's the priest you're talking about, though he has the Millennium Eye, not the rod. Gozaburo does have a past life in Egypt. You'll find out more about it in the next few chapters.
AG the Master: I'm glad you're starting to see how the story is coming together. Yugi has seen more than he should have, which has definitely changed him. Kaiba has also gone through something that's completely changed him and it will be a while before he can get back to the way he was.
Dragon-Tsuzuku: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
MotherChowGoddess: Yami does deserve to be whacked upside the head for what he said, but in his defense, he was worried about Yugi and has no clue about what happened to Kaiba. If he'd known, he wouldn't have said what he said.
Yugi's control of the shadows is increased by the fact that both Yami and the pharaoh are there. Technically, they are the same person, which makes Yugi's control a stronger. Also, desperation has a lot to do with it... when you're desperate, you do things you normally wouldn't do. Seto Kaiba is a great character to like. Yugi started out to be my favorite, but I think Seto Kaiba is now up there too.
Ms. Zeal: The theory is a good one, but not quite correct. In my demented little world, the Millennium Items react to a person's soul, not the body, which is why Kaiba and Yugi can both control them, as well as Ryou. You'll understand more about Gozaburo after you read this chapter and in the coming up ones too. Thanks!
Septimius: I like the way you think! Yami will regret what he said to Kaiba at a future time, that much I can guarantee. Yup, they'll all reunite in this chapter. Though it may not be what you have in mind. I'm sorry to hear that you've lost interest in your stories. That happens sometimes. It happened to me with one of my other ones, but I just recently started writing it again. Some people lose interest in writing because they've lost interest in the subject matter. Is that the case with you? Best of luck and thanks for the review.
Shadowwaker: Thanks! I'm glad you liked the chapter. Don't worry, no offence was taken. Some chapters do tend to be better than others. I'm afraid this one isn't very good, because I didn't get to spend that much time on it. Thank you for telling me about your friend, and tell her that I appreciate her interest and am glad that she's enjoying both stories. I do hope to hear from her!
Mimiheart: Gozaburo isn't a popular character, it seems like. He makes a good villain, though, because he's just so fun to hate. He'll get what he deserves eventually.
Ieyre: I think this chapter is going to depress you a lot more, so I think I'm going to go hide now.
TZ: Yami was so cute when he was a baby and a little kid!! He sure cried a lot, though, which makes me wonder how he got to be the way he is now. Sadly, I don't have access to the DSL anymore so won't be able to get any more of the new episodes (sniff, sniff... no more Inuyasha either). The last one I saw was 210, where they kicked Bakura's butt. It was a nice one. I think the preview for 211 had Yami finding out that he was really playing the RPG with Bakura and not really in Egypt. I read that in the manga a while back and was a bit disappointed that it was just a game.
I'm glad you liked the chapter. Yugi had finally had enough, so he went a bit aggressive with Bakura. It was a lot of fun to write, though.
Hobbit13: Oh, yeah, Kaiba seriously needs help. You're right, he wouldn't take it and he won't take it when it's offered. That's just the kind of stubborn sob he is. Kaiba knew that he was pushing Yami's buttons about Yugi, which is why he said what he said. If Yami was angry at him, he'd leave him alone.
Yugi is definitely stronger than most people credit him for, and I like to write him that way. I'm not sure why, but the Bakura/Yugi dynamic really intrigues me. I think they're great together, and had a lot of fun writing them. I hope I get to do it more often. I'm glad you liked the conversation between Ryou and Bakura as well. I don't think I'd ever written one like that before, but I did enjoy doing it.
Restlesspirit: Thank you for the review! 150 stars, huh? Very cool! I'll put them all up in my room.
Mutou Yasu: Yugi may be little, but I think he packs a mean punch when he wants to. After the day he'd had, he was definitely in the mood for some butt kicking. Nope, Yami and Seto are not going to be getting along any time soon. But that may not always be the case. We'll both just have to wait and see.
Black Rose: Soda stopped having that effect on me years ago. I can drink a can of coke and it does nothing for me anymore. I've resorted to black coffee to keep me awake though my classes these days. I'm glad you liked the chapter.
Moonlitspire: Kaiba is not going to be happy for a while to come. What was done to him causes a lot of damage, physical and emotional, and it's going to take a while for him to heal. Besides, Kaiba is going to be very stubborn about the whole thing, which will just make it worse. You're a Yami/Seto slash fan? I think they're a good couple, though I tend to lean towards Seto/Yugi myself. You're right about Bakura's humor. He doesn't mean it to be funny, but it happens to come out funny anyway. I'm glad to get it across okay. Thanks!
Saiyan Jedi: Yup, I twisted things a bit, but not too much. Akunadin has nothing to do with the present Yugi, Yami and Kaiba. He's more involved with Priest Seto in the past. I won't spoil it for you yet, in case you haven't read the Egyptian Arc of the manga yet. You'll find out why Gozaburo can handle the items in this chapter.
Writer's block stinks. It takes a lot to get out of it, but hopefully it'll come to you.
Invader Kas: Wow... thank you so very much for taking the time to review every chapter. I really appreciate it, and I'm very glad that you enjoyed the story.
Yuki Tsukihana: Bakura's monster comes from his spirit. It's an ugly thing that's half monster half snake and kicks major butt. It kicked Ra's butt in one of the episodes. The Egyptian Arc should be available on DVD pretty soon. They're up to 199 now (I think). I like Ra a lot better than Osiris... I just think it looks cooler, so I wanted to use him. Yami seems to like Osiris, though.
Cat Demon of Fire: I hope the wait wasn't too long for the chapter!
Leland Lancaster: Yami and Kaiba both have their issues, and right now, they're clashing. Thanks for reviewing.
Bayleef: Yup, it seems like all of us writers love to torture poor Yugi. There's just something about him. Hopefully it'll all end happily eventually. Yami is kind of cool when he gets angry, especially when it's directed at Kaiba. Too bad Kaiba isn't able to fight back.
Dream Guardian: Thank you very much! I'm glad you liked how I wrote Yugi, because it does seem realistic and fitting that his personality would be altered by what he's seen and had to do. You're right, Bakura is extremely hard to write. I generally hate villains who are bad just because, so I tend to give them reasons for doing what they do. Takahashi-sama has already established a back story for Bakura, but it's still hard to make it work. It's been fun to do, though. Don't worry, you can never write too much! Thank you for reviewing.
CutePrincess0333: Glad to hear you're a Linkin Park fan. They do write great songs, don't they? I've used their songs in a few of my other stories, because they always fit so well. Thanks for the review!
Silver Dragon Golden Dragon: Gozaburo is going to have a grand old time snooping around. That'll be left for the next chapter, though.
Nenya85: Yami does sense that there is something wrong with Kaiba, but in his worry for Yugi, he sort of let it slip. Kaiba wasn't making it any better either, so it was easier for Yami to react in anger, just as it was for Kaiba. You're absolutely right about Kaiba, and I don't think I could have phrased it better myself. Kaiba needs the help, he wants the help, he desperately wants someone to look through his walls and his illusions and see that he's hurting and broken. Even though he would push them away, having someone notice is enough to let him know that he is worth something to someone. Mokuba is the only one in his life who has ever done that for him, because Mokuba can definitely see past the walls and illusions. And he'll be a big part of the story later on.
PyroDragon2006: Thanks! I'm glad you liked the chapter. Kaiba and Seto have an interesting conversation, but it didn't turn out quite the way I thought it did. It wasn't as violent as I thought . It's in this chapter, though, so you can tell me what you thought of it after you read it.
S.K Hashmi: Congratulations on your SAT score! That's an awesome score, especially in Molecular Biology (which is not an easy subject). Are you going to be pre-med in college, or do you want to do research? I was a Biology/Chemistry major when I started college, and then switched to Computer Science when I was halfway through. I miss the science labs.
Yup, Kaiba definitely needs a shrink. It's too bad he's not going to be willing to see one. I'm not sure what the recommended thing is for. The ff.net front page says that it's just in a testing stage, whatever that means. I think the favorites thing is still the way to go, until they explain exactly what the recommended thing is for. Yup, Kaiba's room is a lab. I'm picturing a computer lab, with several servers and lots of workstations where he can run several applications and code programs at the same time. We have several of those at school and every time I go to one I never want to leave. Nope, Bakura is not helping Gozaburo. If anything, he's concerned that Gozaburo was able to get into the ring. It's got him freaking out. Yup, NKN was finally updated. It took three months, and I hope it never takes that long again. Thanks!
The Nameless Name: I'm glad you have faith in Kaiba... now all he needs is a little faith in himself. You have a good point about Bakura's past life, and I will address it in a future chapter. You're right, Bakura's past has been altered, which means that his future self has to remember what happened. Bakura is just not willing to share that with anyone, not just yet. But he will eventually.
Tsuki Koumori Ryu: Thank you very much! I'm happy to hear that this is your favorite story. It's very flattering and inspiring, in that it makes me want to write more. I'm very glad that you enjoyed the chapter, and don't worry about excessive writing. Feel free to write whatever you like. Thanks again!
Aura Black Chan: Well, I'm not sure about everyone going home soon, but they will get home eventually. I've always liked the thought that Ryou could stand up to Bakura and I hate fics that write him as this meek little thing. I don't think he's like that at all.
Yugi-crazy: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad that you like the story, even though Kaiba being in the puzzle seems kind of weird.
Lilmatchgirl007: Thank you very much for your kind words. It's great to know that you're enjoying the story.
Katkid: Nope, things will definitely not be pretty when they get back (if they get back, I don't want to spoil anything ). Let's just say that Gozaburo is cruel and demented, and will have no problems using those things to his advantage. Thanks for the review!
Hopefire: You're close... Gozaburo isn't one of the high priests, but he's close. You'll find out more in this chapter. I don't think you're going to like me very much at the end of the chapter, so as I told another reviewer, I'm going to go hide now.
Solitaire: Have I ever told you how much I adore your reviews, both to this story and to Last Goodbye? They always make me smile, and I've eternally grateful for that. Nah, you're not a sick person at all... you're just in the right place at the right time for a little Seto torture. Yes, Yami is most definitely going to have a guilt trip. I can't wait to write that!
Right now, Yugi doesn't really know what he's thinking. Bakura has completely blindsided him with all of it, but there will come a time when he'll be able to address it completely. I think Pharaoh Yami and Priest Seto are the ones that are going to get the shock of their lives when they hear what Yugi has to say. Actually, it was Priest Akunadin who did the whole thing. He didn't tell Yami's father that creating the items involved sacrificing 99 lives, because if he had, Yami's father would have told him not to do it. So if there's anyone to blame, Akunadin is your man. He's such a slimy bastard too! It was after he got the Millennium Eye that Seto was told that his father died...
I hadn't realized that there had been more boxes released until recently. It's funny, but my box 7, which I just got, has episodes 172-189. My box 6 is the one that ends up like your box 7 does. I got box 8 too, which goes through episode 199. I've seen up to episode 210 in Japanese, so I can tell you that the Yugi/Kaiba duel against Dartz is definitely worth the wait. It's a really good duel. You'll love it. The Joey/Mai duel is excellent too. That comes after Joey/Varon.
I've been having a lot of fun with Bakura. I think this is the first fic where I've actually written him in any sort of important way, and I need to start doing it more often. I'm just happy that I got the characterization right.
Thanks so much for the long review. It made my day!
Katie Torango: Yami and Kaiba are both complicated individuals and they're very passionate, which is why they're always at odds with each other. They have the potential to become great friends, if only they could get past the petty stuff they hate about each other. But alas, that might not ever happen. Yami gets a bit self involved and jumpy when it comes to Kaiba, so it's easy for him to not notice the good things Kaiba does, but it hopefully won't be like that forever. Thanks!
Now on with the chapter. Enjoy!
Part 21: Bitter Reunions
Yugi screamed. He didn't want to, didn't want to give Bakura the satisfaction of knowing he was hurt, but he couldn't help it. Bakura's beast kept attacking Ra, and every attack felt as if someone was hammering a nail into his heart. The pain from his fall had long since been replaced by the pain of maintaining Ra, so that he no longer felt whatever broken bones he'd suffered. He'd inflicted his own damage to Bakura; the thief's screams were a testament to that. However, Yugi was so out of it that he could not properly control the god. All he could do was tell it to defend, and the monster did as asked. He was still stunned that he'd been able to summon the monster at all, and would, under different circumstances, have been giddy with excitement, but at the moment, it was an effort to just keep his eyes open.
'Just hold on a little more.'
He kept telling himself that, even though Yugi had no idea what he was holding on for. Ra was an incredibly powerful monster, but without someone to properly control him, he was nothing more than a shield.
"Are you ready to give up yet?" Bakura taunted from where he stood a short distance away. "You're not doing much with that god of yours, boy. I was hoping this would be a worthy match, but it looks like I'll be winning very soon."
Yugi ignored Bakura and instead fought against a strong cough. He'd started coughing shortly after his fall, and at first, it hadn't been a big deal. Then blood started coming up with each cough, as it did now, and Yugi became concerned. The blood ran down his chin, and he felt as if he were drowning. Yugi was sure he was finally going to die, when the cough died down and he was able to breathe again.
Bakura chose that moment to attack, but Ra deflected it and launched an attack of his own. Yugi saw Bakura being thrown back into the wall of what once had been a house, and the thief grunted in pain at the impact. Bakura got to his felt slowly, cursing Yugi the entire time.
"You have guts, boy, I'll give you that. You look much worse than I do, so let's stop playing and finish this once and for all."
Bakura's monster attacked again, and Ra was unable to deflect it this time. The god was hit, and Yugi's body felt the attack every bit as much as the monster did. Ra roared in pain, and Yugi's scream matched it.
Yugi had finally had enough. He didn't want to feel pain anymore. He wanted to close his eyes and just sleep. It didn't matter if Bakura won anyway, because he was sure that the pharaoh would eventually defeat him. Yugi wasn't really needed. He was just a small part of the bigger picture, and he'd had enough. He closed his eyes, prepared to drift away, when he felt Ra move away from him. Startled, Yugi looked around as much as he could and saw that Ra had moved closer to Bakura's beast. Bakura was no longer looking in Yugi's direction. Instead, he was looking to his right, where the pharaoh and Yami now stood.
Yugi sighed in relief, because the pharaoh was now controlling Ra. There was another flash of light, and Osiris suddenly appeared next to Ra. Yami had summoned his own god monster. It didn't matter, though. He felt good that his friends had finally arrived, because now Bakura would get what he deserved. It was too late for him, though. With a sad smile, Yugi closed his eyes again.
"Yugi!"
The startled shout brought Yugi out of the darkness he'd been about to sink into, and he found himself staring up at Kaiba. Yugi smiled. They'd found Kaiba and had hopefully helped him with his injuries by now. Good.
"I'm glad you're okay," Yugi whispered and then regretted it as another coughing fit tore through him.
"Don't say anything, just stay still. I'll get the priest and he'll heal you."
"Did he heal you?" Yugi asked.
Kaiba didn't have to answer the question, because Yugi could see the answer in his eyes. A profound sadness went through him at the thought that Kaiba would never be able to tell anyone about what had happened to him, and therefore would never be able to get help and heal.
"I'm sorry I couldn't help you, Kaiba," Yugi continued. "Be strong, okay? You don't have to go through this by yourself."
Kaiba shook his head. "You sound like you're saying goodbye, Yugi, and that's not acceptable."
Yugi let out a short bark of laughter. "I don't want to feel the pain anymore."
Kaiba clenched his jaw, and then ran a hand tenderly over Yugi's forehead. "Then shut up and let me go get the priest. Once he heals you, you'll feel no pain."
Without another word, Kaiba got up and walked away, limping heavily as he went.
"Be strong," Yugi repeated and closed his eyes once again.
It was time to go.
Kaiba fought the pain in his legs and his back as he jogged to where he'd left the priest. He hadn't gone to fight Bakura like the pharaoh and Yami, but had been looking for Yugi instead. The thought of Yugi made Kaiba's stomach churn. The teenager's body had been mangled, the right shoulder dislocated and at a strange angle and his right leg broken. Yugi's right hip must have gotten dislocated as well, since the bone had been protruding enough that Kaiba had been able to see it through the fabric of Yugi's pants. Then there was the blood. One of Yugi's lungs had more than likely been punctured by a broken rib, and if Kaiba didn't get the priest to Yugi soon, Yugi was going to drown in his own blood.
That thought kept Kaiba moving as fast as he could. Contrary to what Yami believed, Kaiba had not abandoned Yugi. If anything, he now felt a strange kinship with the boy. Their experience in the desert had forever bonded them, for better or worse, and he didn't want any harm to come to Yugi. What Yugi had said to him had also left him feeling out of sorts. 'Be strong', Yugi had whispered, in a tone so full of defeat that Kaiba had wanted to pull him up by the shirt and shake him. Yugi never gave up, and Kaiba felt that if Yugi died, a part of him would die with him.
He reached the carriage he'd gotten out of, but the priest had not returned. He was about to circle the carriage in search of the priest when he was hit from behind. He fell to his hands and knees, stifling a moan as his body ached with the impact. He was flipped roughly onto his back and pinned down. Images of Hori and his men rushed through Kaiba's mind and he became paralyzed with fear. The paralysis lasted only a short moment, as his sense of self preservation kicked in stronger than it ever had before.
"No, not again!" he shouted and struggled, but the pressure above him did not budge.
Kaiba finally opened his eyes and was confronted not by Hori, but by another image from his nightmares.
"Gozaburo?"
The terror coursing through him did not abate at having found the identity of his attacker. Instead, it doubled, as his worst nightmare was suddenly and inexplicably, staring down at him. The man looked exactly like Gozaburo had before he'd died, except that this man was not wearing the trademark red business suit Gozaburo had been so fond of.. No, this one wore the garb of an Egyptian priest. The man stared down at Kaiba with such hatred and contempt that Kaiba wondered if they really weren't the same man.
"I thought I took care of you, you meddling priest!" the man growled, ignoring Kaiba's outburst. "You will die today and I will possess the Millennium Rod once and for all."
As if to prove his point, the Gozaburo look alike released one of Kaiba's hands and held the Millennium Rod in front of his face. The bottom of the rod had been removed to reveal a very sharp dagger, which the man now pointed at him. Letting go of one of Kaiba's hands had been a mistake, because Kaiba used the advantage to slam his fist against the side of the man's face, which sent the man flying to one side. Kaiba painfully picked himself up and made his way to where the Gozaburo look alike was getting up. Years of anger and hatred that he'd not been able to express for fear of retribution by Gozaburo bubbled up to the surface, and Kaiba screamed in rage. His body was aching and he could barely walk, but he made his way to the Gozaburo look alike, dragged him up and then hit him again.
"I don't know who you are, what you want, or why you're doing this," Kaiba said as the man picked himself up again. "All I know is that you have that rod, and I need the priest to have it, because someone's life is in danger. Hand it over, or I will pry it out of your hand once I kill you."
"Pretty words for a man who can not defend himself without this," the Gozaburo look alike held the Millennium Rod in front of him. "I took this from you with no trouble, and it will be no trouble to kill you."
For a panicked moment, Kaiba wondered if the man knew how to use the rod. If that were the case, he'd be in major trouble. His mental question was answered as the item began to glow in the man's hands.
"I'm not supposed to use these," the Gozaburo look alike said. "According to you, I'm not 'worthy' enough to handle one of these. That's why you kept me from advancing, kept me as your apprentice. What you don't know is that I can control the items, and I will take this one where it belongs."
The rod flashed and Kaiba was pushed backwards by the rush of power aimed at him. The Millennium Puzzle glowed in response and sent out an equal wave of power. The Gozaburo look alike had not been prepared for him to retaliate and was caught off guard. He was slammed into the carriage and slumped to the ground, bleeding from a wound to the back of his head. Kaiba didn't know if the man was still alive and didn't bother to check. He walked to him, took the rod from the man's hand and smiled.
"I told you I'd take it from you."
Kaiba was by now shaking uncontrollably, and he had no outlet for the pent up emotions that were threatening to burst out of him like a broken dam. He pushed them down into the part of his mind that held everything he didn't want to deal with and continued on his search for the priest. The fight had taken its toll on him and the limp he'd had when this had started had turned much worse, so that he could only move very slowly. He cursed his weakness, disappointed in himself for not being able to overcome this. He was emotionally worn out and felt close to breaking. This was far from his normal, tight control, and he didn't know how to deal with it.
Before he could think any more, he spotted the priest, along with four dead guards, lying next to the other carriage. When he got to his double, he saw a large blood stain spreading over the white robe from a stab wound to the stomach. This was not happening. The priest could not be dead. It was an eerie feeling, walking up to the man, seeing his double lying there, bleeding. Is this what he looked like to everyone else? Did he really look that peaceful when he was asleep?
Kaiba kneeled next to the priest and felt for a pulse. He was gratified to find one, but it didn't change the fact that the priest was still unconscious. If he didn't get back to Yugi soon, the younger teen would be dead.
"I don't know what to do with this," Kaiba said as he looked first at his double, then at the Millennium Rod in his hand. "How can I heal you with this?"
As in response, the rod began to glow. Kaiba aimed the item at the priest's wound, like the priest had done to his wrist earlier, and willed the wound to go away. Kaiba didn't know if he'd been successful or not, until the priest began to stir. The priest's eyes opened, and his hand traveled down to his stomach.
"You healed me," the priest said, eyes wide with surprise. "How did you do that?"
Kaiba shrugged. "I don't know. It doesn't matter right now, because you have to get to Yugi. He's badly injured and needs help."
The priest nodded and got to his feet. "Where is he?"
Kaiba pointed in the direction he'd come from, and pulled himself up. The priest did the same, his eyes taking in the dead guards around him.
"It was Kha, wasn't it?"
Kaiba frowned. "If you mean that deranged priest, then yes," Kaiba replied, not mentioning the fact that the deranged priest looked exactly like his deranged adoptive father.
"Where is he?"
Kaiba led the priest to where Kha still lay unconscious. "I don't know if he's dead."
Seto smirked. "He's not dead. He's going to stay alive and pay for what he's done."
Seto recited a spell and then walked away.
"What did you do?" Kaiba asked.
"I put a binding spell on him so he won't go anywhere. Now, do you want me to get to Yugi or not?"
Kaiba bristled at the harsh tone, but then shrugged it off. He did his best to walk normally but was aware of the priest's eyes on him the entire time.
"You're still injured. I knew it from the moment we picked you up. Why didn't you tell me?"
Kaiba did not turn to meet the priest's eyes. Instead, he continued his steady, but slow, walk towards Yugi.
"One of my guards raped Hori's sister," the priest suddenly said in a soft voice. "I refused to let Hori kill him in retaliation, and he swore vengeance on me because of it."
Kaiba's jaw clenched, as did his fists. He walked faster, refusing to let the pain hamper his movements any more that it already was.
"I did not want to show that there was any sort of problem with the guards in front of the villagers, which is why I refused to let Hori kill the guard. The man was punished for what he did, however. I executed him myself for raping that woman."
The words, however they were meant, only made Kaiba angrier. They only reminded him that he'd been caught in something he had absolutely nothing to do with, and would carry the scars of it for the rest of his life.
"Hori said he'd make me feel what it had been like for his sister. Is that what he did to you, Kaiba?"
Kaiba took a deep breath and then released it through clenched teeth. He didn't stop, nor give any indication that he'd heard the question. He would not admit what happened to anyone, not even to the priest, who was a duplicate of himself. He would have kept going, except Seto pulled him to a stop with a hand to the shoulder, which Kaiba immediately brushed away.
"You need to let me heal you, Kaiba. Pretending that nothing happened is not going to do you any good."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Kaiba hissed. "You have no idea about what went on in that camp, and you don't give a damn either. You should be happy that Hori took whatever anger he had out on me and not on you. Now you're safe."
Seto took a step back, apparently surprised by the sudden anger directed at him.
"I want to help you, Kaiba. I can help you. Deluding yourself into believing that everything is okay is only going to make things worse."
Kaiba shook his head. "If you want to help me, then leave me alone! Besides, what would you know? What do you have to base your conclusion on? What makes you the expert on what makes me well or what doesn't? You don't know me, Priest. You may look just like me, but you don't know me." He continued to walk, but Seto's arm stopped him. Kaiba pulled on it and pushed the priest away from him. "Don't touch me! Leave me the hell alone, okay?"
The priest stood, speechless. Kaiba could care less what the man thought had happened. He could imagine all he wanted, but he was never going to get the truth out of Kaiba.
"Just heal Yugi, that's all I ask."
Priest Seto sighed and nodded in agreement, having given up for the moment. Kaiba led him to where Yugi was lying, and his heart stopped when he saw that Yugi was pale and very still.
"Yugi?"
With some effort, Kaiba kneeled next to the teen and put his fingers next to Yugi's throat. After a few seconds, he failed to find a pulse. He picked up Yugi's wrist, but could not find a pulse there either.
"Yugi, answer me!"
There was no response. The priest kneeled down as well and put his ear above Yugi's nose and mouth. He felt Yugi's chest for a moment, and then straightened up.
"He's dead."
Yami's rage boiled over the moment he'd seen Yugi lying on the ground with Ra floating above him. Even from this distance he'd been able to tell that Yugi was badly hurt, and he'd turned to the pharaoh, letting the man know that as soon as Bakura was dealt with, he'd be next. Yami wanted nothing more than to go to his partner and friend and make sure he was okay, but knew that his first responsibility was to eliminate Bakura. His anger had been focused on Bakura the moment the pharaoh had taken control of Ra, which had helped Yami summon Osiris.
Bakura, with only one monster, turned out to be more of a threat than Yami had thought. The shadow games he'd played with the Bakura that inhabited Ryou's body had been nothing compared to this all out duel, and Yami was proud to note that Yugi had been able to hold his own against the thief. Bakura was tenacious, but already injured. Even so, the monster he controlled was powerful. It had attacked both gods relentlessly until Ra and Osiris had inflicted major damage to it. It was then that Bakura decided to flee, and both he and his monster had disappeared.
As both gods disappeared, Yami turned to the pharaoh. His hands were clenched into fists, and his blood was boiling. The adrenaline that had been running through his body during the fight with Bakura was at an all time high, and Yami badly needed to release it. He did the first thing that came to his mind, which was to punch the pharaoh. The man staggered with the blow, but did not fall, and Yami was satisfied to see blood dripping down the man's chin.
"If only you would have begun your search earlier, then neither Yugi nor Kaiba would have been hurt."
Pharaoh Yami touched his lips and clenched his own hands into fists.
"How dare you strike me?" the pharaoh asked as he stepped closer to Yami. "You have no idea of the magnitude of the infraction you just committed."
Yami laughed. "Spare me your indignation, Pharaoh, because I owe you no allegiance. You do not command me, nor do you control me. My loyalty here is to Yugi and Kaiba, and with your lack of action, you've managed to endanger both."
Pharaoh Yami stood in front of Yami, both matched equally in both strength and determination. "If we'd left when you wanted to leave, Priest Seto would have been unable to come with us. If the priest hadn't been here, who would have healed Kaiba? Who would heal Yugi now?"
"If we'd left when I wanted, Yugi and Kaiba would never have been injured in the first place. I haven't seen Yugi yet, but if he's hurt as bad as Kaiba is, I will hold you personally responsible. I do not care if you are the pharaoh or not, I will avenge my friends."
Yami turned away and made his way to where Kaiba and the priest kneeled next to Yugi. As Yami got closer, he began to get a good look at Yugi's condition. He saw Kaiba feel for a pulse and then the priest listen to Yugi's breathing. When both men looked at each other, the expressions on their faces made Yami's heart constrict in dread. The priest said something, but Yami was too far away to hear it.
"Is he okay?" Yami asked as he reached the two men. "What can you do for him?"
Kaiba turned to Yami, and the expression Yami saw in Kaiba's face was one he had never seen before, one he hoped to never see again. Kaiba was in shock.
"What's wrong, Kaiba? How is Yugi?"
Kaiba swallowed a few times and then looked down at Yugi. Yami saw the delay tactic for what it was, so he kneeled next to Kaiba and forced the taller man to look at him.
"What's wrong?"
"He's dead, Yami. Yugi is dead."
Yami felt as if someone had kicked him in the stomach as his breath was knocked out of him. He couldn't have heard that correctly. He turned his attention to Yugi's pale face, bluish lips, and mangled body. It was not possible. Yugi was not dead. He returned his attention to Kaiba and said the only thing that occurred to him.
"What?"
Yugi was flying. Well, not exactly flying, but floating. There was nothing around him, but the darkness didn't seem oppressive or frightening. Instead, it felt warm, cozy, and inviting. He felt no fear and no pain. His body was whole again, and Yugi laughed in contentment. He stretched his limbs and grinned at the wonderful, rested feeling that coursed through him.
He stopped floating suddenly and found himself standing in the middle of a small garden. The place seemed vaguely familiar to him, but he couldn't recall where he knew it from. A small swing set stood empty in the middle of the garden, and Yugi saw that a picnic lunch had been spread out on the grass beside it. He smiled at the sight. It looked so peaceful, so calm.
Yugi frowned. There was something he was doing, somewhere he needed to be, but he couldn't recall what it was. He felt that it was important, but the feeling of safety this place gave him overrode everything else. He had wanted to be here, of that he was sure. He'd told himself that he wanted peace, but couldn't remember why he'd wanted it so badly.
Shrugging, Yugi made his way to the swing set and stopped when a man and a woman walked out of the door to the house behind the swing set, which Yugi had neglected to notice until now. The woman saw him first, and her face lit up when she smiled at him.
"Little one, there you are. We've been waiting a long time to see you again."
The woman was short, thin, and sported a long mane of red hair. She held out her arms for Yugi to walk into, but he stood where he was. The woman was also familiar to him, but he couldn't place her.
"It's okay, son," the man standing next to her, taller and with black and blonde hair, said. He also smiled and beckoned to him. "It's okay to hug your mother, Yugi. She's been waiting a long time to hold you again."
Recognition hit him like an electric shock, and Yugi's eyes watered as he realized that he was indeed looking at his parents, the same people he'd last seen in caskets the day of their funeral. He'd longed to see his parents, hold them once again, ever since the day they'd died, and he couldn't believe that it was finally happening. Yugi ran to his mother and launched himself into her arms, grinning as her arms wrapped around him, surrounding him in the warmth and love that only a mother could give. A second pair of arms encircled him, and Yugi realized that his father was hugging him too.
Tears fell unchecked down his cheeks, but Yugi felt no shame. "I'm so glad to see you, mom and dad. It's been so long."
"I know, sweetie, I know," his mother whispered in his ear as her arms held him close to her. "You'll never have to leave us again."