A/N: Another late night update. I'm falling asleep while writing this actually. I plan on editing this chapter tomorrow morning during breakfast once I've slept on it. Then I'll be awake and have fresh eyes on it. That said, enjoy and good night.
Chapter summary: In which the long awaited meeting finally takes place after a few false starts, Seth is not amused, and Pegasus is not as shocked as he probably should be
Kaiba Boys and Pegasus
He could not risk using his Shadows now. It was too dangerous. There were too many potential and latent Shadows users in the vicinity. If he used too many Shadows too close, he could accidentally make a potential Shadow user become a latent or a latent an active. It was a fine line to walk, but he did not always have the Shadows. He still remembered and was quite capable of getting what he wanted without the Shadows. It was just slow and tedious.
He materialized in the shadow of a tree as close to the building as he dared go using his Shadows. They released him reluctantly, hesitant to leave their Regent alone. They purred and tugged at his coat like a needy child. Kaiba brushed them away. It was not like he was cutting himself off forever.
:Had you not done so in the past, then they would have no cause to worry,: Seth's voice whispered in his mind.
Kaiba scoffed. :Too formal.:
:You complain,: Seth said, :and yet you know you would not like me if I were not as I am.:
:Just because I tolerate you does not mean I like you,: Kaiba said before ducking behind a bush. He hurried through the makeshift passageway between the tall bushes and the stone walls of the building until he reached the doorway.
:You do not mean that,: Seth sighed. He did not speak again until Kaiba was inside the building. :You should shield yourself.:
:I could,: Kaiba agreed. :But it would-:
:No!: Seth said urgently. :Shield yourself now! Someone is coming.:
Kaiba quickly yanked the Shadows over him, closed his eyes, and stood as still as possible. He heard the front door he had just entered through open and close but did not dare open his eyes. The Shadows rarely covered them to prevent distorting his vision. The bright blue irises would stand out against the darkness. So instead, he listened.
:Is anyone else coming?: he asked.
He felt Seth turn to Green Lantern and say something before feeling the sensation of his head shaking. :No,: Seth said firmly. :None that Lantern and I can see. The few still outside show no signs of going indoors.:
:Good.:
Kaiba opened his eyes but remained shadowed. It was the only use of the Shadows he would allow himself. He strode forward and looked both ways. A long hallway ran on either side of him lined with wood panelling and doors. It was dark but not in an oppressive way. It felt old. A wooden staircase was directly in front of him leading to the other floors above. Taking his chances, he turned right and began walking down the hallway, keeping close to the wall so the Shadows could better hide him.
He was almost halfway down the hall when a loud, shrill ringing startled him and the doors swung open pouring what seemed like hundreds of young people out into the open. Caught off guard, Kaiba instinctively sank into the Shadows and immediately felt a presence brush over him. Seth added his essence to Kaiba's and together they did their best to dissolve his presence, concealing it as best they could.
:A telepath!: Seth gasped.
:A strong one,: Kaiba agreed. :Honestly, what is with my luck and finding telepaths?:
"Remember!" someone outside in the hallway called. "Stay in groups and contact your professors if you notice anything out of the ordinary."
The voice belonged to a woman with brown hair. She looked like a teacher except for the suit she wore. It was clearly made for battle, not for teaching. What sort of place was this? Were these young people held here against their wills? A quick study of the children rushing around revealed that they were indeed being guided by both the brunette woman and another woman, this one with white hair, but they were doing so willingly. Not a prison than. But then what...?
:There are children coming outside now,: Seth said. :They seem to be heading towards several buildings nearby.: There was a moment of muffled sounds as Seth spoke to Lantern. :Lantern says if this is a boarding school, then those are most likely-:
:Dormatories,: Kaiba finished.
:Who are you?:
Kaiba jolted and Seth gasped. Immediately, Kaiba pushed Seth's mind away from him and scanned the hallway. He recognized that voice. Sure enough, the brunette woman was standing in the now almost empty hallway staring directly at his location. She could not see him but she could sense him. She must be the telepath he could sense. If that was the case, then perhaps she could be useful.
The snowy haired woman stepped beside the brunette following her gaze but with confusion in her eyes. She was not a telepath, but Kaiba felt the Shadows brush her. She was a potential but her connection with the Shadows was very weak, almost imperceptible. He probably would not have noticed it at all had he not been looking for it.
The brunette however had a stronger connection to the Shadows. She could be a latent but there was something else. He could feel something else there, a presence that was and was not the person he was looking directly at. Another mind perhaps? No.
Cautiously, he touched the brunette with his shadows and reeled back, stunned. She had another soul within her. It was dormant, but there. That should not be possible. Two souls could not coexist like that safely. But that explained the Shadows' interest in her.
:Who are you?: the brunette telepath repeated more forcefully.
Kaiba could feel Seth pushing against him, wanting to help, to return to him but he refused to allow it. It was better if Seth stayed back. Seth and Lantern were his trump cards.
For the moment, Kaiba had business to attend to and talking to a telepath was both a nuisance and pointless. Thus, he extended his Shadows hesitantly, careful not to touch anyone in the vicinity, searching for any sign of his brother.
:Answer me!:
The brunette stepped forward and Kaiba Traveled to the other end of the hallway, stepping forward and materializing, taking care to keep himself shadowed. As long as no direct light hit him, no one would be able to see anything of him except his outline and blue eyes. Once visible, he stood still, waiting for the women to notice him and make the first move.
The white haired woman noticed him first, turning to him and shifting her weight so she stood battle ready. The brunette was not far behind, taking up a position next to her companion. No one moved.
"Who are you?" the brunette demanded again. "What do you want?"
Kaiba tilted his head. "It's polite to introduce yourself first," he said calmly.
"You trespassed on our home," the white haired woman replied, speaking for the first time. She had an accent that sounded vaguely familiar. "That makes you a threat."
Kaiba said nothing so the brunette woman spoke again. "Are you with Ares?" she demanded, eyes fierce.
Ares?! Kaiba stiffened. Ares was here?
The woman's stance eased. "You're not," she said firmly, earning a cold glare from Kaiba.
"I dislike telepaths," he said simply.
"And yet you are one," the brunette said.
"The hell I am," Kaiba hissed.
"Then what do you want?" the white haired woman asked, placing a calming hand on her companion.
Mokuba. The thought entered his mind before he could stop it. Mokuba was the reason he had done anything and everything. The brunette's eyes grew wide.
"My god," she murmured. Her eyes clouded as if she was listening to someone far away. "He kept saying you'd come for him," she said after a moment. "I just didn't think you'd get here so quickly."
She knew Mokuba!
"Where is he?" Kaiba demanded, preparing to attack should he need to.
A gentle tug on his Shadows startled him from his focus and he glanced down at his feet to see a tiny strand of Shadow that did not belong to him. It was struggling to hold its form and tugging pathetically at his coat just like Mokuba did when he wanted his big brother's attention.
He knelt and held out his hand for the tiny Shadow thread to touch. It looped around one of his fingers gingerly and pulled gently. The sight and feel brought a spark of hope into Kaiba's chest.
"Mokuba," he breathed.
Throwing all caution aside, he latched his Shadows on the small thread and Travelled to its source. He followed the Shadow tendril deep below the building and into a large, circular chamber. When he reformed he was immediately greeted by three knife-like blades which lightly pricked his throat. His tilted his head back instinctually but could not make any other move without allowing the blades to slice through his skin unless he Travelled again.
His glacial eyes could not see the metal blades themselves but they could see their wielder; a rugged man with black hair and a rough complexion. The man's eyes were wild and animalistic but there was humanity there. His teeth were gnashed together in a snarl which Kaiba could both see and hear. He narrowed his eyes and drew on his own Shadows, ready to defend himself. He had to get to Mokuba.
"Nii-sama!"
Blue eyes grew wide and frantically scanned the room disregarding the threat directly in front of him.
"Don't hurt him!"
Mokuba was here. So close! He was not going to lose him. Not again.
Kaiba jerked his knee up into the other man's groin, catching off guard. The blades fell away from his throat just far enough for him to move. He slammed a fist into the man's jaw and rode through the forward momentum, rotating on his front leg and turning so he could kick with his back foot. But his target was no longer visible.
He had a split second of confusion before his braced leg was kicked out from under him and a hand planted itself on his chest and slammed him to the ground. He landed heavily on his back knocking the air out of him. He was clearly no match for the wild man in strength, but he was lanky and wiry and knew how to handle his body.
He looped his legs around his assailant's back and jerked all of his body weight to the right, rolling the two of them so he was on top. He lifted a fist to punch the man when his attacker threw a fist at him instead. He leaned back, easily out of reach of the man's knuckles. But the next moment, sharp blades extended from the man's flesh and pressed against his neck again. Kaiba froze in surprise just long enough for the wild man to gain the upper hand and switch their positions so Kaiba was again on the floor.
"That's quite enough," a new voice said sternly.
Surprisingly, the wild man backed down, removing his claws from Kaiba's throat slowly before they vanished back into his fist. Instead of marveling at the strange instance, Kaiba glared and punched the man viciously in the jaw, knocking him aside. Without waiting to see what would happen, he scrambled inelegantly to his feet, his eyes focused on the mop of unkept black hair and large dark gray eyes he knew and loved so much.
"Mokuba!" he cried.
"Nii-sama!"
Kaiba fell to one knee and held out his arms for Mokuba to run into. The force with which his baby brother hit him with when he leapt into his arms was enough to propel Kaiba backwards. But he did not mind. He hardly even cared. Mokuba was here, in his arms, safe, right where he belonged.
A scuff met his ear and he tightened his grip on his little brother and called his Shadows to him. It was not something he would normally do with such a strong latent nearby, but hardly anything he ever did regarding his brother's protection was within the range of 'normal.' His glacial eyes opened and glared at the person who stood where his little brother had been moments ago. Or more accurately, the man who sat where his little brother had been.
The man in question was older, bald, and sat in a mechanical wheelchair. His face was lined with faint wrinkles and laugh lines. His blue eyes twinkled merrily, a perfect match for the gentle smile he gave the brothers.
"Well," the man said. "I must admit, I'm surprised. I was not expecting you to find this place." He held up a hand and gazed at the what was probably the wild man still behind Kaiba. His blue eyes returned to the brothers and softened. "I apologize for the rude welcome. Let's just say, you aren't the first uninvited guest we've had this morning."
"It's okay, nii-sama," Mokuba said softly in Japanese, drawing Kaiba's attention. "He's a friend, I promise. He helped me and Helios." His gray eyes saddened and his dropped his gaze. "Helios is gone. I'm sorry I didn't try to-"
"Ares," Kaiba said, startling his little brother.
"How..."
Instead of answering, Kaiba looped Mokuba's legs around his waist and stood picking up Mokuba and holding him in his arms. Mokuba grinned and burrowed his face in his big brother's neck.
"I see," the older man said. "Pardon my rudeness. I am Professor Charles Xavier and the man behind you is Logan." His eyes gleamed. "Now, why don't you invite your two friends inside so we can talk about this like sane gentlemen instead of brawling like drunkards in a bar."
Kaiba's face remained unmoved but he eased open his connection to Seth and almost instantly regretted it.
:You utter imbecile!: Seth screamed. :Do not ever do that to me again! Do you have any idea what that felt like? You gave me no warning. For shame!:
:Lantern?: Kaiba asked.
Seth flinched mentally at the name and fell silent. :He is here,: he said finally.
:It seems we'll be staying for a while,: Kaiba said. He felt Seth's hurt vibrate in his mind and sighed. :Seth.:
:We'll be at the front door,: Seth replied before deliberately blocking Kaiba.
The Regent groaned internally. Today was just not his day.
"Now, now, back off all of you," Pegasus said, stepping forward and pushing away the over excited fans. "You'll see him tomorrow during the tournament. Let him be for now."
He held out a hand and helped Yugi to his feet. The young King staggered to his feet and dusted himself off. J'onn stepped up next to him looking distinctly uncomfortable.
"I...apologize," the disguised Manhunter said awkwardly. "I have never seen... That was..."
"It's okay, J'onn," Yugi said in a reassuring manner. "It happens. I guess I'm famous here too."
A hum interrupted Yugi's musings and reminded him of why he was here. He turned to Pegasus and was surprised to see him staring hard back at him. The creator of Duel Monsters then smiled and held out his hands flamboyantly. "Come, Yugi-boy," he sang loudly. "It's been a long time since we've seen each other. We absolutely must catch up. After all," he said, his one eyes gleaming coldly, "you have some explaining to do."
J'onn was not exactly sure how that particular phrase was intended to be taken, but it was clear Yugi took it as a command and not an invitation. Together, the two of them followed after the man in the glaring red suit. Pegasus's long silver hair hung loose down his back and shifted with ever move he made. It was in pristine condition, smooth and silky, just like his tailored suit. It was...odd.
The Martian followed Yugi and Pegasus into one of the many tents where people were setting up tables and chairs. Pegasus sat down in one of the chairs at the table furthest from the ruckus and waited impatiently for Yugi and J'onn to do the same. The moment they did, however, his gleeful demeanor vanished, replaced by cold distrust.
"Who are you?" he demanded. "You look exactly like my Yugi-boy but you aren't him." He crossed his legs and steepled his fingers. "I happen to know my Yugi-boy is attending a friend's dance recital and won't be able to come until tomorrow. Tell me."
Yugi winced and scratched his head. "Well," he startled, "you see... I am Yugi, just not...your Yugi." Pegasus's eyes narrowed and Yugi tried again. "Look, it's a long story and I don't have much time so I'll try to make this quick. We need you to make more Duel Monsters cards for us."
Pegasus stared at the King blankly before throwing back his head and guffawing loudly and obnoxiously. "You amuse me," he said as he regained control of himself. "Who do you think I am?" he demanded, the hardness returning to his eye. "What do you think I do for a living? I certainly don't sit around eating Bon-Bons all day."
Yugi hung his head. "I'm not doing this very well," he grumbled.
"Perhaps, it would help if I lent a hand," J'onn said.
Pegasus turned his cold gaze on the Martian who glanced around once to be sure no one else was looking before allowing his disguise to melt away, revealing his more natural sea green skin, alien features, and yellow eyes. Pegasus gasped and half stood from his chair staring at J'onn in amazement.
"Who...? What are you?" he gasped.
"I am a Martian," J'onn said simply, reverting to his disguise. "In the reality we come from, such things are not unusual."
"Reality?" Pegasus repeated, his lone eye dark as he began to understand. He straightened his suit and sat back down, obviously ruffled but not willing to allow something like this get to him. "You mean like an alternate reality?"
"Yes."
J'onn blinked and turned his gaze to where the Pharaoh now stood next behind Yugi. Pegasus's eye bulged and his mouth dropped open.
"It is also where Yugi and I are able to exist together in our own forms both connected and separate from each other. You can call me Yami," the Pharaoh continued, meeting Pegasus stunned gaze evenly with his own. "Unfortunately, our world, or more specifically the Shadow Realm is under attack and we need your help to defend it."
"Defend the Shadow Realm?" Pegasus gasped. "Whatever for? It's full of Monsters and Beasts perfectly capable of defending themselves. I should know, I made most of them." He huffed and crossed his arms. "Supposing I believe all of this, why come to me, Yugi-boy? Why not go to your Pegasus, hm?"
"Because our Pegasus is dead," Yugi said. "He died when Bakura took the Eye from him."
The Pegasus of this reality hummed and leaned back in his chair. "That would mean my company belongs to someone else." He groaned. "Please tell me it isn't Kaiba-boy. He's a genius and a devil at Duel Monsters but he's nowhere near my level when it comes to creating cards."
Yami huffed a laugh. "Actually, Kaiba absorbed Industrial Illusions into KaibaCorp. He managed to make one card with his powers but only one. No other cards have been made since the last ones from your vault were released."
Pegasus tsked. "How droll," he said in disappointment. "Well, at least your Kaiba-boy admits to believing in magic. That's more than I can say for mine. The prick outright refuses to believe in magic. Fool."
"Ours used to be that way," Yugi admitted quietly. "He didn't have much of a choice after the Shadows chose him as their Regent though."
"Ah," Pegasus said, letting the word linger in the air. "That explains it."
"Explains what?" J'onn asked.
"I was wondering what had happened to the Shadow Realm for a while now but without the Millennium Eye," he lifted his hands and shrugged, "I'm afraid my ability to see directly into the Shadow Realm has greatly diminished. However," he said, resting his palms on his knee and meeting Yugi's and Yami's gazes, "I am very aware of powers that are present there now but weren't there before. Three powers the be precise," he said, holding up three fingers. "Dark," he bent his index finger, "Light," he bent his middle finger, "and Balance," he finished, bending his ring finger. His lone eyes gleamed. "Care to explain?"
"That's why you're taking this so well, is it not?" the Pharaoh said rhetorically.
"I'm the Light," Yugi said. "I'm...well," he blushed. "It's kind of embarrassing but I'm the King of the Shadow Realm now."
"And the Earthbound Shadow Kingdom," J'onn added.
"Ah, yes," Yugi said, rubbing his burning face uncomfortably. "That too."
"I am the Pharaoh of the Shadow Realm," Yami said. "And the Earthbound Shadow Kingdom," he added glancing at the Manhunter. "Kaiba is the Regent and the Balance."
Pegasus said nothing. He merely took a sip of wine from a glass goblet and watched them thoughtfully. Yami blinked. Since when did that goblet get there?
"And you need me to make you cards," Pegasus said finally, breaking into Yami's thoughts. "Why?"
"We're under attack," Yugi said. "Someone is stealing our Monsters directly from our cards. He's already stolen Jounouchi's Red Eyes Black Dragon but we know he's taken more than that."
"How?"
"We don't know. Ishizu had a vision," Yami answered. "If we don't act fast, our enemy will invade our world as well as many others using the Shadow Monsters he's stolen."
Pegasus lifted an eyebrow. "I may not have the ability to read either of your minds anymore," he drawled, "but that doesn't mean I can't tell you're hiding something from me. Come, come, Yugi-boy, Yami-boy. Tell me."
"It's Kaiba," Yugi said hesitantly. "He'll die if we don't do something."
"Kaiba-boy, hm?" The creator of Duel Monsters interlaced his fingers and rested his hand daintily in his lap. "Well, what can my cards possibly do for you? I don't necessarily mind helping seeing as I don't like the idea of my creations getting stolen. But I think there's something else you're keeping from me."
"Ishizu asked us to relay a message to you," the Pharaoh said slowly. "I... She wants you to create a card for Kisara."
"Kisara?" Pegasus repeated in confusion.
"The Blue Eyes White Dragon," J'onn said. "Kisara is her name."
Pegasus shook his head. "No," he said. "I made four copies of the Blue Eyes and Kaiba-boy has them all including the one he ripped in two. I won't make any more. If he's lost or damaged the others, than it's his own fault."
"You misunderstand!" Yugi exclaimed. He stood and grabbed Pegasus's shoulders, startling the CEO. "Not Blue Eyes. Kisara. She wants you to make a card for Kisara."
Pegasus blinked. "I don't understand. Who is Kisara?"
"She is the woman who's ka is the Blue Eyes White Dragon," the Pharaoh said, placing a hand on Yugi's shoulder and pulling away from Pegasus. "She was the lover of my cousin, the High Priest Set, Kaiba's former incarnation. She was murdered in Ancient Egypt and bonded her ba and ka together to birth the Blue Eyes as it is now."
"Kaiba needs her," Yugi said. "You should see the way he and Seth look at Blue Eyes. It's painful."
"Seth?" Pegasus asked, intrigued.
"Kaiba's ba," Yugi said. "The other half of his soul. I don't know how it is here, but in our reality, I'm the ba and Yami is the ka of the Pharaoh Atem."
"Ah," Pegasus purred. "So you've discovered your true name in your world, I see."
Yami's eyes darkened. "I take it I have not done so here."
"Not as far as I know," Pegasus said. "I'll keep it a secret if you wish and I'll make you more cards including one for this Kisara woman. I'll even make sure only Kaiba-boy can use her. However," he said, holding up a finger to halt any early celebrations, "I want something in exchange."
Yugi winced. "Like what?" he asked warily.
Pegasus stood and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I want to have a copy of the card your Kaiba-boy managed to make," he said. "I also want to meet Seth and I want to be there when your Seth and Kaiba-boy meet my Kisara." He extended his hand and took a sip of his wine. "Do we have a deal?"
Yugi looked at Yami. Neither of them were sure allowing Seth anywhere near Pegasus was a good idea ever. Not to mention Kaiba would be absolutely furious if that ever happened. But then again...
"Deal," Yugi said firmly.
:I hope Kaiba doesn't kill us for this,: he added mentally to Yami.
