Chapter 29

There was a hollow look on all three of their faces, as if none of them had had a restful night sleep. The second Taylor had spotted that it made him feel slightly better, but it hadn't been enough to shift the feeling of dread building in his stomach. Without a word the three of them had Jumped themselves to Giya and were now slowly making their way towards the meeting place. Taylor's insides kept telling him it didn't have to be this way, that there was still time to back out before the point of no return. But how could he back out now? How could any of them and the second they entered the cavern he knew there would be no going back.

Just outside, he stopped and turned towards his friends.

'Are you guys sure you want… I mean…' he bit his lip nervously and waited for their reply.

Nothing. And silencing his own objections, he entered the cavern.

'I knew you'd come,' Nayta was stood in the centre of the Yatnuh, her right wrist already sporting the master gold cuff bracelet, 'you three are just the types to sell your souls for a good cause.' Reaching back into her hidey hole, she removed the wooden box she'd shown them the day before. 'Come here.'

Sharing a communal heavy sigh, the trio moved towards her.

'Hold out your right arms.'

Again, the trio obeyed, pensively watching her remove a gold cuff bracelet from the box. Undoing the clasp, she held it under Lus's wrist whilst her eyes coldly locked with Taylor's.

'If only your father could see you now,' her voice was almost chilling, 'do you think he'd be proud? Proud that his son loved him so much, he was willing to switch sides just to give him his eyesight back.'

The bracelet snapped shut, making the trio flinch. A gravely dark look then appeared on Lus's face and Taylor had to look away.

'But not just you,' she continued, 'your friends too. Both willing to sacrifice their freedom, in order to help you, help him. They really must have a lot of love and faith in you to do that.'

Another bracelet snapped shut, this time around Arados's wrist. It was just Taylor left now and as the cold metal touched his arm he couldn't help but think there was something deliberate about everything this woman did and said.

'Before I trap you permanently into my twisted little guild Taylor, there's something you should know.'

'What?' His eyes fearfully flicked up to meet her cold gaze.

'Your noble sacrifice is in vain,' she chuckled, 'I lied.'


'No!'

In a cold sweat, Kaiba shot up into a sitting position; his vision again trapped in painful darkness.

'Taylor,' he began scrabbling about for the phone he knew was on the nearby coffee table.

He didn't know quite how, but a few moments before he'd found himself inside his son's head. Seeing what he saw. Hearing what he heard. Feeling what he felt. The sting of betrayal. The loud snap of the gold cuff bracelet sealing his fate. His son had gotten in over his head and Kaiba couldn't help but feel that it was all his fault. It was his depression which had driven his son to do it. His inability to cope with his problems in a mature manner.

It was the jolt he needed. The force strong enough to start the long journey up out of the pit of despair he was in. He knew it wasn't going to be easy and things weren't going to get better over night, but it was time he got his life back on track. And his first priority was saving his son. Unfortunately in his panic he knocked over the coffee table, causing something to shatter loudly.

'Damnit.'

Taking a deep breath, he sat back in the couch and tried to gather his thoughts. His phone was now on the floor surrounded by broken glass. He couldn't see, so the chances of him getting hurt scrambling around blindly on all fours for it were high. There was no other option; if he was really determined to save his son, he had to swallow his pride.

'Serenity,' he prayed she was close enough to hear him, 'Serenity, get in here now!'

It took a few minutes, but eventually she responded.

'Are you okay,' her voice sounded as he heard the door open. 'Wait, what happened to the coffee table?'

'No time,' he shook his head, rising to his feet, 'if I took a straight line from here to the door, would I step on any glass?'

'No.'

'Good, I'm going to my room to get changed. I need you to call Tristan and tell him to come home now. Mokuba too.'

'Okay…'

'Just do as I've asked Serenity,' he made his way towards the door, 'I'll explain everything when they get here; there's no time now.'

Exiting the room he felt his way, as quickly as he could, towards the stairs. Using the banister as a guide, he made his way swiftly up them before heading towards his room. He hadn't left the house in just over three months and within that time he'd allowed his appearance to slide completely. He'd barely even got dressed most mornings; it's not like things like that really mattered when you were moping round the house all day. But that had to change if he was going to get his life back together; if he was going to get his son back.

Once in his room, he felt his way towards his wardrobe. Opening it, he ran his hands along each item until they finally met with the silver studs of his favourite sleeveless white trench coat. He then quickly sought out a black shirt and trousers, in the same manner. This time it was the feel of the materials telling him when he'd found the right ones.

His outfit chosen, he closed the wardrobe. If he wanted to be showered and dressed before Tristan got back, he had to move quickly. Fortunately, washing and dressing blind were two of the skills he'd mastered as his vision had fled from him. Once dressed, a part of him wished he could check the mirror to confirm he looked as good as he felt. But no matter; trust in blind judgement was just one of these new skills he was going to have to learn if he was ever going to be happy living with his condition.

A noise behind him alerted him to Tristan's arrival.

'Seto, are you…'

Before he could get any further, however, Kaiba had made his way towards him and pulled him into a long, deep kiss. It was strange, but he felt as though he missed him. As if they'd been separated for months, rather than only a few hours. But then again maybe they had been apart for months, on an emotional level at any rate. It was a strange thought and in that instant Kaiba knew it was one of those things which had to change.

'What was that for?' He heard Tristan laugh in shock, as the kiss ended.

'Because I'm sorry, for the way I've been treating you.'

'It's okay, you…'

'No it's not okay. It's not okay at all. I have no excuse for acting like this and now because of it…'

'Because of it what?'

'I'll explain everything soon. Did Mokuba come back with you?'

'He's waiting downstairs, why?'

'Grab him, tell him to call Yugi and Téa. The five of us are going to the Southern Palace.'

'Why?'

'Because Lus, Taylor and Arados are in trouble and all three of their parents have a right to know.'