I was in my room sitting in my chair with my arms crossed when Marik walked in.
"Where have you been?"
Standing, I removed my helmet tossing it down on the chair and moved over to him, "I've missed you." I said wrapping my arms around his neck. His grin turned dark as his arms wrapped around my waist. "It's been too long Yami," I rest my forehead on his and kissed him lightly.
"You didn't answer my question."
"We ended up in some crazy virtual world of Kaiba Corps, some group of people was trying to take it over, or something, and we ended up beating the group and got out. They still tried locking us in there permanently, hoping to blow up the place before we could escape, but they failed." I moved just a bit closer, messing with his hair lightly, "now, where were we?" I kissed him again and an announcement came on, calling the finalists to the duel tower. I grunted softly and separated our lips, "we're never going to have fun are we?"
He smiled and kissed me again, "we will soon, don't you worry about that my dear." He walked out of the room and I wiped my lips on my forearm grunting. Slipping the helmet on, I walked out of the ship, out to the front of the tower.
"Now that everyone is here, before you are five entrances that will lead you to five stages where the next part of the finals will begin." The ref said and I stepped up in the middle, and then took the first step walking forward, following the long hallway until I made it to a door marked 3 and opened it stepping onto the platform. I was the first there, and was followed by Seto, then Yugi, Marik, and then Joey. "Now, this is a placement and elimination round. The first one who loses all of their life points are eliminated from the tournament, the last remaining four will the battle it out for placement. You will all be dueling against one another, begin when all duelists are ready."
We all hooked up our duel disks and began the duel. For a while, I noticed that Seto and Marik were both protecting me, subtly. I did my best defending the both of them, and the three of us focused our attack on Joey, completely knocking him out of the tournament. Now, it was down to us four, I looked at the three off them thinking. I needed to duel Marik, no one else. So, I then concentrated my attacks on Seto, which he was shocked by. Marik caught on and began attacking Yugi, the both of us defending each other until both Seto and Yugi were below us, and Marik and I had purposefully lost.
"The semi-finals will start with the duel between the Silent Duelist, and Marik Ishtar." The ref said, "Then following up with Seto Kaiba, and Yugi Motu." I only growled and now that we were on the top of the tower, Marik and I took our positions. "I'll start." I drew a card and placed two cards face down in defense as well as another trap card face down, and then ended my turn. A few slow boring turns passed and I saw Marik grin darkly. Both of our points were matched, no one had lost anything yet.
He drew a card and his grin turned even darker. "Why do you shake before me?" he asked holding his millennium rod tight in his hand. "You know I cannot banish your mind like I've done others." He chuckled, "but that doesn't mean we can't up the stakes." He raised his rod into the air and the top of the blimp was covered in the shadow realm. "This will be a simple game, and so much easier if you give up." He played a few face down cards, and summoned a mediocre monster.
I drew a card and smiled. I placed a single monster face down; he only chuckled, and then drew a card.
"I'll sacrifice my three monsters on the field to summon the almighty, Golden Dragon of Ra!" he said and I gritted my teeth.
The large dragon took to the sky and roared violently. My millennium item was around my neck again and glowing slightly. I looked at my arm as I felt something pull tightly at it, to see golden armor appear and fade like a fizzing hologram.
"I play Reverse Ingenuity! When you summon a level six or higher monster from your hand, I get to put that monster into defense mode, and change one of mine to attack." The dragon wrapped its wings around itself and an Egyptian Priestess stood upright. "When my Egyptian Priestess is switched to attack mode on my opponents turn it allows me to choose one monster from your field and send it to the graveyard. I choose the Winged Dragon of Ra." I said and the Dragon disappeared, relieving me of pain, "that also ends your turn and begins mine." I drew a card and smiled. I glanced at my arm to see it normal again. "I now play Massive Summoner!" another Egyptian Priestess took the field. "When this card is played with the Egyptian Priestess on the field I can special any monster from my hand. And I select the Starlight Dragon!" The large dragon took its form behind me, and then I play Monster Reborn, to summon the Winged Dragon of Ra." The large golden Dragon took form beside the Starlight Dragon and I smiled as Marik glared harshly at me.
"Whoa; she's kicking major butt! I've never seen anyone take down a God card that fast!" Joey shouted and I tightened my fist.
"Unfortunately, due to my Priestess's I'm not allowed to attack until my next turn, so it's your move."
"Very impressive my dear," He said drawing a card, "but this duels not over yet." I nodded and he placed one card face down. "I don't know what last face down monster you have, but I'm not taking chances with it." He played a trap card and destroyed my monster. I only smiled devilishly.
"You just tripped my trap. You just destroyed my Parasite Parricide, which now goes straight to your deck, if you should draw that card, it is automatically summoned to your side of the field and you lose 200 life points every turn. You also loose 500 points right now." He growled in pain as his life points dropped and I understood the shadow game now, which made my life points ever more important. I drew a card and both my dragons roared, now being able to attack.
"Prepare to lose Marik," I growled and the dragons prepared themselves. "Starlight Dragon, attack his life points directly!" I shouted and the dragon attacked, suddenly, a trap card rose and the attack diverted itself towards my Priestess. My eyes went wide, and my life points dropped down to 500 as my Priestess was destroyed. I grabbed for my chest again and fell to one knee. I felt tired, swore, and weak, I struggled to stay awake, and to stay conscious.
"Feeling the effects of the shadow realm now my dear?" he asked and I glared at him, struggling very slowly to my feet. "The first one to zero will lose consciousness and something dear to them."
He drew a card and without saying a word, played a card, suddenly both my dragons were growling in pain, from what it seemed like and they were suddenly on his side of the field. I looked at the card and saw it was Orb of Confusion, which switched all monsters to the opponent's field. I was now left with nothing, and he had both my dragons. "Winged Dragon, attack," I rose up my duel disk and was about to activate a trap card. I saw his eyes catch mine, he noticed what I was about to do, and then saw me lower my head and my arms, closing my eyes.
The attack hit me and I fell to one knee grunting very softly in pain. "The winner is Marik Ishtar!" the announcer shouted and a small smile grabbed my face.
"Of course he did." I whispered before falling to my face and into darkness.
Marik slipped his cards away and walked across the platform kneeling down beside me. Slowly, and gently, he picked me up and carried me away, down to my room to rest me on my bed.
A while had passed before I woke up, and I realized my helmet was off on the nightstand, and Marik sat in a chair beside my bed, "you've been lying to me." He said and I was confused and shocked at the same time. "When did your memories become unblocked?"
"In the virtual world, one of the guys we were up against forced me to relive some of my memories, to try and turn on Seto to bring him down. I had no intention of betraying your wish, it just kind of happened." I said and looked over at him.
"I knew it wouldn't hold, your love for the Priest is too strong, but that doesn't mean I can't have fun messing with him," he said standing and I watched him for a moment. "You are mine pet, remember that."
I bowed my head and didn't raise it up too far, to avoid his stare, "no, even that won't work will it? You've already told him to stay away from you." I didn't move, only glanced away. "You've made it certain that I will not hurt him, haven't you?"
"Before I even came to meet you, I made him promise me that no matter what happens during this tournament he will do as I say and stay away. I told him to ignore everything that will happen, and let me go for the time being."
I heard him growl softly, "That makes everything less fun, unfortunately. Come on, you're missing a duel." I nodded and placed my helmet on, followed him out and to the tower, where the duel had just ended, and everyone was standing at the base, arguing.
"Yugi was right Seto; you're so full of hate!" Mokuba shouted and I moved forward slightly, wanting to say something and Marik looked over at me with a thin smile.
"Mokuba," Seto said softly.
"You're so worried about being the best; you step on everything else to get there, including me." Mokuba yelled and I saw tears in his eyes. I tightened my fist slightly and still kept a cornered glace to Marik who only nodded softly and looked forward. "Why can't things be the way they were? Why can't you be who you used to be when we were little?"
"Moki," I said softly and the group turned around as I walked over, the helmet now in my hand. I stopped before him and kneeled, "remember what I told you; remember what Seto told you, back in the virtual world." I said softly and he was crying. Setting the helmet down and slipping off a glove, I wiped his tears away, "Seto loves you; you know he does, I know he's hard to live with but wanting things to go back to the way they were aren't going to change a thing. You don't think I don't go to sleep every night, wake up every morning wishing I'd wake up in the orphanage when I used to sneak into the boy's room and sleep with you guys? Granted, yes, I hate that place just as much as you do, and the times were simpler, but I know it will never be. The only thing you can do is live for now, and look forward to the future."
He wiped his eyes clear, "but, it's hard." He said softly and I nodded as he wrapped his arms around my neck hugging me tight.
"I know Moki, but looking behind you is never going to change. Take each day for what it's worth, love your brother for who he is, even if he is the thickheaded, cold hearted jerk you know him as, he's still your brother, and your only family. Everything he has done was to better your life, though it might seem clouded, or misjudged, but you know it was for the best."
"We left you behind," he cried and I chuckled softly.
"Yes, I was left behind but it doesn't matter anymore." I pulled him away gently and smiled brightly, "You know why it doesn't matter?" I asked and he shook his head, "because I have you and him now, and that's all that matters."
"What about…" he trailed off and his eyes shifted behind me.
"Don't worry about Marik; it's another trial we will overcome. Now, keep your chin up, and keep that smile, tears aren't going to bring back what has already been laid to rest. Okay?" I asked and he nodded with a soft smile, "good." I stood picking up my helmet and looked over at Seto. "You, on the other hand," I said in a more defiant tone, "need to relax, you are indeed hurting your brother, you think by your actions you are bettering the both of you but have you ever stopped and asked him? Have you ever considered that maybe that's not what he wants? Yes, having a multi-billion dollar company to fall back on is great, but what would you rather have? You, alone, with your company, or Mokuba, and have no company? Cause if you keep going the way you're going, Mokuba will in fact turn from you because of your ice wall you put up."
He growled looking away, "You're wrong."
"Am I Baka?" his eyes shifted to mine and I heard Mokuba chuckle lightly. Baka was a nickname for Seto, anytime he did something stupid, it meant 'idiot', and I was the only one able to call him that without him going into freak mode. "Suit yourself Baka; I have no use in arguing with you, you and I both know it'll get us nowhere. But, do know that everything I have ever said to you is the complete and honest truth."
Turning, I started walking away when he said, "Renai." Pausing, I looked over my shoulder to him and smiled softly.
"You were always so sweet, any time I said something bad about you, you always said that to me," I chuckled shaking my head. "Though, it is strange hearing you say it after so many years."
"Let's get this duel over with," Seto growled turning. "Marik, Yugi, for the finals. Aura," he turned towards me, "for the bronze."
"It's yours Seto, I don't want it, I forfeit your tournament," I waived him off and looked towards Marik, "ready?" he nodded and we walked towards the tower again.
"Renai?" Marik asked me and I nodded leaning against the elevator.
"It was his nickname for me when we were kids. I always called him Baka, meaning Idiot as a gag." I let out long sigh thinking.
"You've seen the future?" he asked randomly and I didn't say anything, "who wins this duel?" He asked again and I didn't say anything still. I did know who would win, but I wasn't about to tell Marik. The door opened and we walked out onto the platform, he turned towards me, "Keep your head up, never faulter from your path." He said and I looked at him, confused; he knew he was going to lose this duel.
The duel went on for a while, and as every turn that had passed Marik began to slip further into the lead, and his lighter half was slipping to the shadows. Gritting my teeth, I watched the duel continue, as Marik fused himself with Ra, I crossed my fingers and lowered my head closing my eyes. My item began glowing and I began muttering something in an ancient language, not exactly knowing what I was doing, but knowing it was going to help.
Suddenly, Yugi's deck began glowing and they all looked over, shocked as he turned his head from the light. Looking up, the light faded and the Pharaoh looked over at me, 'Draw the card, you must use it this turn, it will be the only way to defeat Ra.' I thought to him and he nodded. 'Light,' I thought and little Mariks slowly opened his eyes barely able to look at me, 'this is my fault, if I had listened to you and stayed out of the ritual room none of this would have happened. Please, take my power, fight against your darker half, banish him and finish this duel.' He didn't have the strength to argue and only nodded very softly. My item stopped glowing, and then little Marik began glowing brightly just as Yugi played the card he drew, Ragnarok.
For a moment, I dropped down to a knee, most of my energy had been pulled from me and Ishitzu moved kneeling by my side, "what have you done?" she asked and I chuckled softly.
"Saved your brother, and this world," I said very softly and looked up to see Marik overcome his darker half and apologize to Yugi, forfeiting the duel. Pulling off my helmet, I dropped it, without a care and before the arena began to lower itself, I jumped up on it, bolted across it and down on the other side falling into Seto, nearly knocking him back, instead we turned, both now facing the opposite direction, my arms wrapped tight around his neck, my head buried in his neck. I felt him chuckle softly and wrap his arms around me pulling me just a bit closer. "I'm sorry," I said just barely loud enough for him to hear.
"Don't worry," he said kissing my ear and I moved just a bit closer. For a second I remained still and pulled back just enough to look up at him, smiling softly. We just watched one another for a couple of moments and my smile grew as I rest my forehead on his closing my eyes. "Everything's as it should be." I nodded very softly and felt Mokuba tug on my jacket lightly. Pulling from Seto, who ended up keep an arm on my waist, I looked over at Mokuba.
"Are you back now? Is everything going to be okay?" he asked and I smiled brightly nodding. With one of the biggest smiles I've seen, he launched into me, wrapping his arms around me and placing his head against my stomach pulling me as tight as he could. I pulled him back gently and kneeled in front of him.
"Thank you Moki, for being strong for me," I smiled and he kept his smile then gave me a firm nod. "I'm sorry, for everything I have put you through this weekend."
"It's okay, you know? Cause you're here now." He responded and I nodded laughing softly, and then stood looking over towards the group as they spoke with the Ishtar family. Mariks glance crossed mine and he walked through the group to us, I heard Seto growl and step forward but I raised an arm stopping him, and took a couple of steps forward.
"Don't say anything," I said just before he did. "This is my fault, whether you'll agree with me or not. I was the cause of the creation of your darker half. If I had just listened to you, and stayed out of that room, none of this would have happened."
He placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled, "Everything happens for a reason, yes, a lot of darkness did come out of this ordeal but at least, after ten years, I was able to see you again. Will you, at least forgive me for everything that happened?" he asked and I smiled pulling him into a hug.
"I forgive you Marik, if you forgive me."
"I do," he said and we split, then his eyes crossed Seto's who stood there glaring at him. "Seto, I apologize for everything that has happened, I did not mean to come between the two of you. You two are destined to be together the Priest and Princess." He said and bowed softly towards Seto, "please accept my deepest apologies."
Looking over to Seto, I saw him grit his teeth grumbling softly and only softly nodded looking away. "That's his way of saying ok," I said and Marik smiled softly, returning to the group.
"Aura," Seto said and I looked back over towards him. "We're leaving," he said walking towards the door with Seto and I nodded softly, we stood in the elevator, and Seto placed a card key in, then a door opened up revealing a secret button, which he pushed. The elevator rode down into the underground and we were all silent.
When the elevator door opened; Mokuba ran down the dimly lit hall and I followed beside Seto, "May I ask?" I said softly.
"I plan on destroying this island; there is no need for it anymore," he said and I eyed him for a moment. "This island was the birthplace of Kaiba Corp; my step father made it, and if this sinks, so will the last living memory of him." He stopped and I did as well as his glance shifted down slightly, "The entire time I've worked for his company, I've lived in his shadow, I've turned his minor military operation into a multi-billion dollar company with my own hands and I'm still living in his shadow." He growled rather harshly and tightened his fist. "He disappeared on this island, and this is his last remaining icon, it's overshadowed me for too long. When this falls; so does he. I will no longer live in the darkness," he hissed.
Without a word, or much of any sound I moved close to him kissing him lightly; then pulled back just enough to comfortably look at him with a smile, still remaining quiet. He unclenched his fist and smiled softly shaking his head, "Renai." He whispered and he touched the side of my face, this caused me to smile just a bit bigger and tilt my head in his hand a bit more.
"Come on, we have some explosions to start," I smiled taking his hand and walking down the hall. Once in the main computer room, Mokuba and Seto did their thing, red lights began flashing and Mokuba shot down another hall. When Seto turned to look at me I was holding the small card Mokuba drew for me in my hand.
Seto walked up beside me, "Ready?" he asked and I nodded softly slipping the card away and walking with him down the hall. Mokuba was waiting at another elevator and it arrived just as we walked up to it. We rode the elevator up two levels to a hangar, when the door opened I laughed.
"Really Seto?" he only smiled and walked forward with Mokuba. Shaking my head I followed, there was a large Blue Eyes shaped jet, with its head resting on the ground where the cockpit was.
"I'm gonna ride in the body!" Mokuba shouted running to the side and Seto glanced at me momentarily noting for me to follow him, and I did to the cockpit, where there were two seats, one behind the other. I jumped up onto the seat in the back and he sat in front of me, the lid closing as we buckled up, I slipped on the headset and let out a long sigh.
"I can't believe you actually built this Seto," I shook my head crossing my arms.
"This was one of the first things Seto built when he gained rights to the company." Mokuba said and I looked out the window as explosions started ringing around the island.
"Any day now Seto," I chuckled and as soon as we were clear of the hangar, we shot off into the sky, looking down I watched the island explode, "I left my helmet on that tower." I muttered and Mokuba laughed.
"Looks like Yugi and the gang got out of their alright," Mokuba said and I glanced over to see they were riding in a helicopter. Seto only smiled softly shaking his head and shot forward, spinning the jet around and shooting past the helicopter at full speed.