Dragons and Shinobi Chapter 25: Divided

Kaiba let a breath out that he didn't know he had been holding. His lung went into a spasm as they were flooded with relief, causing him to cough and his body to shake. He could feel his body quickly fluctuating between warm and cold temperatures as the adrenaline wore off. "Seto," Mokuba's timid voice reminded him that he wasn't alone.

Kaiba turned to look at his younger brother, who was approaching him slowly. His hands were clutched together and his arms were brought up as if he was trying to keep his heart from ripping itself out of his chest. The younger Kaiba brother's face was completely pale and his eyes were large; but through the firm line his mouth was making and the slight sparkle in his eyes, Kaiba could tell his brother was fighting to hide his own fear.

"It's alright Mokuba," Kaiba said, forcing his voice to come out steady, but he knew his younger brother wasn't buying the tough guy act.

"Alright?" Mokuba questioned, anger flashing in his eyes but he bit his lip and then took a deep breath. "I guess so, we won, didn't we?"

Kaiba saw Kakashi's shoulders move from a heavy sigh. The elder Kaiba brother frowned; he didn't believe in magic, nor did he believe in mystical powers, or God given gifts, but there was no denying what his eyes had saw. Kaiba gritted his teeth, trying to keep his anger in check but he was having a hard time of it. "I don't think there is any winner in this circumstance, Mokuba," Kaiba stated as he turned to face Kakashi.

Joey moved towards them, his hands up in the air. "Now look Kaiba, I know you might of gotten spooked, but let's take a big breath here-"

"Just because you are too brain dead to realize the danger of we were just in doesn't mean that you can sit here and try to comfort me," Kaiba knew his voice came out rough and that part of it cracked, but he was becoming too tired to keep up appearances. Joey took a step back, his face contorting so that his eyes were big and his chin was unnaturally pointed from the skin being pulled back.

"You," Kaiba turned on Kakashi, anger boiling inside of him. "Owe us an explanation, like first of all, who the hell are you?"

Kakashi sighed focusing down at his hands. Shakily, he reached up and pulled his head band down, covering his unsightly red eye. "Kaiba," Kakashi said gently but this only angered him more.

"Don't you start either… I don't want your pity. I want the truth and I want it now. Because right now, I have half of a mind to go to the authorities and let them know that you have kept a child in danger from some stupid cult…or whatever the hell those two goonies are a part of," Kaiba increased his grip on his gun, feeling the metal against his clammy hand.

Kakashi turned away from Kaiba and looked at Sasuke, another sigh coming from him. "I don't even know where to begin," Kakashi murmured.

Yami walked forward, his eyes softening. "You can start by telling us where you are from," he said gently and placed an encouraging hand on his shoulder.

Kakashi shuddered as a wave of pain ran through his body. The adrenaline was wearing off and he could feel the stress from fighting begin to take its toll. He sucked air in through his gritted teeth and with his mask on, it made a strange SHTSHHHHH. He then slowly released the air from his lungs, feeling the burning in his muscles, the aching in his bones, and the overwhelming exhaustion in his legs which caused them to shake. "Sasuke and I," he began slowly, taking in another breath and then exhaling, "come from a small village, which you probably have never heard of."

"Try me," Kaiba challenged, his eyes narrowing.

"Konohagakure, but it is better known as the Village Hidden in the Leaves," Kakashi answered.

"I have never heard of that place before," Joey answered, "but then again, I did get a D in geography class."

Kaiba rolled his eyes and then looked at Kakashi, "where is that exactly?"

The jonin shook his head and then shrugged, "I wish I could better clarify where it was. I cannot point it out on a map and I highly doubt that anyone you know would know where it was from. You see, where we live is separated completely from your society. We are a hidden world, that has completely rejected the use of technology," he motioned to the duel disk on their arms, "in order to keep to the sacred arts."

"To keep to the sacred arts?" Tea questioned as she ran a hand through Sasuke's hair.

"Yes, traditional ways of fighting, such as taijutsu. We also, as you have seen, implement our chakras to better use than your people do and use them in such forms as genjutsu and ninjutsu," Kakashi answered.

"Ninjutsu?" Joey scratched the back of his head. "Jean-Claude Magnum plays in a bunch of ninja movies and he calls his attacks ninjutsu…." Joey's grew as big as saucers and he grabbed his head and squealed like a little girl, jumping back and waving an accusing finger at Kakashi. "Y-you guys are ninja? Aren't ya?"

Kakashi nodded slowly and Kaiba let out a manic laugh, one which scared even himself with the terrible shrill sound of it. "You have to be kidding," Kaiba argued, his body shuddering, "ninja? Ninja are relics of the past."

"Kaiba," Yami said, his eyes meeting his rivals but Kaiba ignored him.

"I know it sounds strange to you, but where Sasuke and I are from, ninjas are quite common." He paused, turning to look back at the warehouse where Kabuto and Orochimaru had once stood. "Those two, their names are infamous in the world of ninja. Orochimaru is a legendary sanin but also a traitor to the hidden leaf village and he experiments on other ninja to try and make new jutsus. Kabuto is a lackey of his but just as dangerous."

Kaiba's eyes narrowed, "then how did you all get here?"

Kakashi shook his head and closed his eyes, recalling the fight in the training field. "We were ambushed by Orochimaru and Kabuto while we were training. Kabuto used a jutsu but something must have gone wrong for we ended up here."

"What a load of bull-crap," Kaiba grumbled and turned from them. "Come on Mokuba, we are leaving," he said finally, placing the safety back on his pistol and placing it into his pocket.

Mokuba looked back at Sasuke and then at Kakashi, and he took a defiant step backwards. "Why don't you believe them? You saw the same things I did…He helped you take down Kabuto… Why are you acting so cold?"

"Have you met your brother? Cold is his thing," Kaiba heard Joey say.

Kaiba froze and grounded his teeth together. He did see what Mokuba saw and he felt the fear spreading through his veins like poison, clouding his judgement and making every breath feel like it was going to be his last. He narrowed his eyes. Fear. Fear that he had lost control and was no longer in charge. Fear that he was no longer able to protect his little brother. Fear that there was more power in this life then he knew about, and that if magic was a real thing, then Yugi and Ishizu could be correct about his past. Fear is what made him cold.

"I understand that you are upset," Kakashi said and looked towards Kaiba. "You gave up a lot to help Sasuke and I, then you were dragged into the middle of our problems. I don't know what else to say besides that I am sorry… Sorry that I couldn't do more to control myself. Sorry that you all got hurt. But I am also thankful," Kakashi swallowed as a lump began to form in his throat, a rush of emotions wracked into him. He knew they were partially due to the loss of adrenaline and a strong sense of guilt he felt, but that didn't make the emotions any less real. "I am thankful that you stayed behind to help me and Sasuke."

Kaiba sighed and turned to look back at Kakashi, taking in the man's form. He was hurting, that much was visible, as his body shook every now and again, and his stance wasn't as proud and straight as it had been.

Yami let go of Kakashi's shoulder and then turned his attention on Kaiba. The two's eyes met. "We need a chance to calm down and regroup, then once we are more levelheaded, we can come up with a strategy to beat Marik, Orochimaru, and Kabuto," the pharaoh suggested.

"Perhaps you are right," Kaiba admitted and then looked at Sasuke. The boy was still out cold and Tea had her arms wrapped around him like a protective mother. "Besides, I do owe Sasuke, he saved Mokuba's life."

Mokuba gave a thankful smile to his brother and then turned to Tea, "how is he doing?"

Tea frowned, "he is still out cold. I think maybe we should take him back to the hospital, so he can get looked at again."

"That won't be necessary," Kaiba answered, "I have doctors at my mansion who can take care of him."

"So then we are goin' back to ya place Kaiba?" Joey questioned a smile spreading across of his face as he thought about stepping into the Kaiba mansion. They probably had some really good snack food there.

"We?" Kaiba scoffed walking past them and stopping infront of Tea. "The only people who are coming back with my is Mokuba and Sasuke."

"Wait-" Joey began to argue but Kaiba silenced him with a glare.

"I said I owe Sasuke, but not you all. Besides," Kaiba turned to Kakashi. "It might be beneficial to keep you and Sasuke separated for a little while, at least until we are sure that Marik doesn't have control over you anymore."

Kakashi's eyes narrowed but he gave a nod.

"Don't worry," Kaiba said as he knelt down to pick Sasuke up. Tea increased her grip on him, her eyes challenging Kaiba. "I am not going to hurt him," he reassured her, his voice so soft and calm that it sounded like it came from another being entirely. Tea hesitantly let Sasuke go and Kaiba picked him up.

"So what?" Joey yelled at Kaiba as he began to leave, Mokuba trailing after him. "How are we supposed to get home?"

"The same way you got here," Kaiba answered as he opened the back door to his car and gently laid Sasuke down on the leather seats. He then watched as Mokuba climbed in next to him. He then turned to Joey, "your legs are not broken Wheeler."

"Why you selfish, good for nothin, two faced-" Joey began to hiss as he stomped his feet.

Yami sighed and shook his head as Kaiba's car pulled away, driving back to the Kaiba mansion.

"Are you hurt, Kakashi?" Tea questioned as she rose slowly.

Kakashi flexed his hand, feeling the pain racing through his muscles, ligaments, and bones as they worked together to move his fingers. It felt cramped, and burned where punching the concrete wall of the warehouse had torn away his skin. "I will be fine, no major injuries."

Yami gave him a smile and then felt his own eyelids growing heavy. You okay partner? Yugi questioned through their mind link.

I forgot how much calling upon the powers of the millennium puzzle wears me out. Do you mind taking over for a little while? Yami answered slowly taking in a deep breath to try and wake his tiring body up.

Yugi took back over with a flash of the millennium puzzle. No Problem pal, he said as he placed a hand over the puzzle, feeling the unnaturally warm pieces on his fingers.

Tea sighed and then shivered as a breeze past by them. She tugged her bathrobe tighter around her thin frame. "We are going to look like a sight going down to the street," she joked giving a nervous laugh.

"Yeah," Yugi joined in the laughter and then light heartedly said, "but on the bright side, I can take the day off today, since I got all six locator cards."

"Speak for yourself," Joey groaned as he turned to leave the pier. "I still have to get out there and duel."

"And we will be right behind you," Tea began, her voice rising with her confidence, "cheering you on, every step of the way."

Joey gave a sigh as he continued to walk forward. They walked back into the sleeping city, the sun peeking through breaks in the building as the sun began to rise. It colored the dark streets orange and gold, and this color slowly climbed the buildings, preparing to wake its sleeping inhabitants. "Thanks Tea," Joey said as they rounded another corner.

Kakashi paused, looking at the brightening sky. Everything seemed so peaceful but he felt a war going on inside of him. He clenched his fists, relishing in the pain and telling himself he deserved every bit of it. He caused this pain that he felt, that these people, whom he hardly knew felt, and now they were paying the price. And now Sasuke is in an even worse state, Kakashi could feel the guilt tearing his heart apart. No, I shouldn't think like that. I couldn't have known that Marik would have been able to get control of me like that, next time I will just have to be more careful.

A deep sigh escaped Kakashi as he glanced down at his hands, seeing their pathetic torn up state. But, even though I know this, I cannot help but feel that I should have done something more…

"Hey," Yugi called back to Kakashi, after he noticed the jonin had fallen behind. "Are you sure you are alright?"

Kakashi nodded, giving them a weak smile through his eye and took another step forward.