A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews, which made me feel better about my try at smut. And now we're back with another chapter! In this chapter I had to pick out a duel monster for Mokuba. That was harder than you might think; as Mokuba doesn't really play the game (Capsule Monsters are quite different, sadly). Finally, I picked out Ryu-Ran, and if you're interested in seeing what this monster looks like, do a Google Image Search. The concept of a dragon in an egg seemed too perfect for me not to use. Enjoy!
Something was wrong. Anzu wasn't really sure what it was, but there was a nagging feeling at the back of her mind that refused to be ignored, like when you walk into a room and know that someone has changed something even if you can't point out what exactly is different. Mai was stalking down the hall about three feet ahead of her, searching for Maiden of the Moonlight, and Isis was right behind them, though she seemed to be fairly preoccupied; she kept touching the Millennium Tawk and shaking her head, lips moving silently. Neither woman appeared to have noticed that anything was amiss, which made Anzu wonder if it was just her.
"Where the fuck did she go?" Mai hissed finally, spinning around. Her long blonde hair flew out behind her before cascading around her shoulders. Anzu watched in fascination. "We were right behind her and she just disappeared! This makes no sense. She's got to be here somewhere. There's no way that any of them would dare leave the castle with a Millennium Item. Hafiz would have a fit."
"Maiden of the Moonlight is a spell caster," Isis pointed out wearily. "She could be hiding from us with magic. Maybe you could use your partners to try and lure her out."
The idea made as much sense as anything else. Mai summoned Harpy Lady with barely a blink of her violet eyes. Anzu looked away and tried to summon Fairy's Gift, but nothing happened. There! a small voice whispered inside of her. Now she knew why something felt wrong, and it wasn't the room, it really was just her. When she tried to reach out to her partner monster, it felt as though someone had built a smooth glass wall that reflected any attempts to pass through. Her magic skittered against it uselessly, unable to find even the slightest crack or weak spot, and then rebounded. She staggered backwards with a pained gasp.
Mai glanced at her. "What's wrong?" Almost as soon as the question was out, her eyes widened and she groaned out loud, stepping forward quickly. She seized Anzu's shoulders before the younger girl could collapse and stared closely at her. "Shit. I should have realized that they might put up the barrier."
"What do you mean? What barrier?" Anzu mumbled. Her head was now throbbing worse than it would have had someone come up behind her with a baseball bat.
"Another precaution to keep anyone from acting against Hafiz." Mai practically spat the word. "It's to keep shadow magic from being used inside the barrier unless you've been here long enough for it to get used to you and vice versa. I've been here for so long, and my magic has built up so much, that it never even occurred to me to worry about you guys." She squeezed Anzu's shoulders and sighed. "I barely feel it anymore, but I remember that it was really hard to get used to at first."
"But I was able to summon Fairy's gift outside," Anzu protested, blinking away the mysterious spots that were dancing in front of her eyes. Mai's grip on her shoulders tightened further and she realized belatedly that her body had been swaying back and forth without her notice.
"You should've kept her here instead of sending her back," Mai muttered, thinking furiously. "The barrier only affects people who are in the castle. I bet Seto and Jou ran into the same problem."
Isis rubbed her hands together. "Is there anything that can be done? Could we take the barrier down?" she suggested, troubled. This was going to be nearly impossible if they were unable to summon any duel monsters. No wonder their entry into the castle had been so easy; Hafiz and Pegasus had been purposely drawing them here to make sure that they would be helpless. For the first time, she was forced to face the idea that none of them might walk away from this… and it was a chilling prospect.
"We could try," Mai said reluctantly. It was obvious that she hated the idea of giving up on the search, but she could see the logic in what Isis had said. Maiden of the Moonlight had been so powered up by magic cards that even Harpy Lady would have a difficult time taking her down alone, and there would reach a point where even Mai would have difficulty summoning monsters inside the barrier. She sighed. "Okay. I'm guessing it's probably a Field Barrier card set to restrict the abilities of any unknown dark magic."
"Which is exactly what shadow magic is," Isis agreed. A thoughtful look crossed her face. If that was the case, then the magic that the hikaris wielded might still be in working order. There was nothing dark about the beautiful, soft white magic that she had seen them use. Could that kind of magic be used to summon monsters? Perhaps they were about to find out. "If that's the case, then Pegasus or Hafiz would have likely put it at the castle's highest point. Where is that?"
"North Tower," came the swift reply. "The other towers were blocked off years ago. No one can get in; believe me, I checked. That's the only accessible one."
"Then let's go." Isis slid an arm around Anzu's waist to help support the younger girl. Anzu moaned faintly when they took a step forward and hung her head. The world was spinning and it was not a pleasant experience. "I know, but the walking will make you feel better," she said soothingly. "It will help to reorient you. The backlash will fade in a little while. Just keep walking."
That was easier said than done - even just putting one foot in front of the other seemed to require major concentration - but surprisingly, Isis proved to be right. By the time that the four of them had made it to the staircase that, according to Mai, led to the northern tower, she was feeling better. Her vision had cleared and her head wasn't throbbing quite so badly, though every once in a while her heart would do a funny little skip, like the rhythm had been confused. She rubbed her chest idly and leaned more heavily against Isis as Mai stopped and bent to examine the door, which was, of course, locked. It was also protected by a trap card, meaning a duel monster's attack - or any force at all - would prove disastrous. Nothing could ever be easy or simple, Anzu thought with a sour smile.
"How exactly are we going to get rid of this card?" she said out loud, trying to remember everything she'd ever heard about Field Barriers. It wasn't much. "Don't you have to summon another one to send it to the grave yard? I haven't got anything like on me. Do either of you?" Her deck was mostly comprised of fantasy creatures with magic cards that would boost their strength and a few trap cards to trip her opponents up. It was strong enough to give Jou a run for his money every once in a while, and as long as she could summon guardians, that was all she'd ever cared about. Cards like the Field Barrier were beyond her expertise.
"We'll figure that out when we get up there." Running a hand through her blonde hair, Mai pulled out a single, slender bobby pin and started working on the lock. "I've never felt as close to my cousin as I do right now," she muttered with a smirk.
After helping Anzu to sit down against the wall so that she could watch, Isis left the two of them to work on the door and wandered back down the hall, feeling unusually restless. It almost felt like they were being watched, but by who? And why? She shifted uneasily as she twisted and began to walk back the other way, wishing that there was more she could do. Even when they were able to use shadow magic, her partner monster, Mystical Elf, could weave spells and enchantments with her voice but when it came to physical fighting she was of very little use. Isis had never felt that more keenly than she did at that moment.
Seconds before the arm wrapped around her throat, it flashed into her mind like a gift from the Tawk that she had been very foolish to leave Anzu and Mai and venture out on her own. Moments later, her back was slammed against someone's front – definitely female, her panicking mind noted – and she heard a cold, cruel laugh in her ear as her breathing was cut off. Maiden of the Moonlight smiled broadly as she pulled a familiar object from her clothing and extended it in front of them, revealing that she held the Millennium Rod with the dagger extended. Isis stiffened as the sharp edge was drawn down her cheek in an almost playful manner and couldn't help thinking about what Malik's reaction would be like if he found out that she had been killed by his own Millennium Item. No doubt her brother would never forgive himself. Isis gritted her teeth.
"I will comply with what you want," she stated coldly, disdain radiating from her voice. "As long as you do not kill me."
Maiden of the Moonlight chuckled. "I thought you might see it my way, but just in case you feel like changing your mind, I think I'll keep this lovely little dagger on you. Never know when you might get another idea." She turned, forcing Isis to turn as well, and the two of them began walking back down the hallway towards Mai and Anzu. It was instinct to try and call out to them for help, but she'd no sooner opened her mouth than the dagger was back, sliding gently over the curve of her cheekbone in an implied threat. Isis closed her mouth with an audible click and winced as they finally moved around the corner into the sight of her two friends.
Anzu was the first to notice, as Mai was concentrating on opening the door. She leapt up with a sharp cry when she saw Isis and Maiden of the Moonlight. "Isis!" she exclaimed. Mai whipped around, the bobby pin falling from her fingers when she saw what was happening. "Let her go!"
"I think not," the duel monster said. "Sit down, sweetheart. The fun is only just beginning." When Anzu didn't immediately follow the command, Maiden of the Moonlight deliberately pressed down with the knife. The skin beneath the tip split open like butter and a small trickle of blood slipped down Isis's cheek. She couldn't contain her gasp of pain. Anzu's knees folded immediately and she hit the ground with a thump, looking shell-shocked. "That's much better. See? When you follow orders everyone ends up happy. Now you, step away from the door or I'll carve her flesh from the bone." The knife pressed a little harder.
Mai's face went a couple of shades paler, but she obediently got to her feet and stepped back from the door. When Maiden of the Moonlight commanded her to sit down next to Anzu, she did so without saying a word. Maiden of the Moonlight looked the two of them over with narrowed eyes before she twisted Isis around and pushed her against the wall. Isis hit the stone with another muffled cry of pain and slid down slowly as her back, neck and shoulders throbbed. The duel monster hovered over them with a maniacal gleam in her eyes, running her thumb over the sharp edge of the dagger. She'd totally lost it, Isis realized, glancing at Mai and Anzu. Judging by the looks on their faces, both women had come to the same conclusion.
"See, what we could do here is have some fun." She tapped the Millennium Rod against her hand. "I could mind control all of you and make you go attack your little friends. Doesn't that sound like fun?"
"Not particularly."
"Malik!" Isis gasped when she saw her brother stepping around the corner. He was unarmed and appeared to be alone. "What are you doing here? Run!"
"And leave you behind?" Malik looked past Maiden of the Moonlight and attempted to smile. His eyes kept darting back to the Rod and his fingers twitched like he wanted to reach out and steal it back. It was evident that did not like the fact that the duel monster was boasting about using it. "No way, Nee-san, that's not happening."
"So the pretty little light has come to join the party." An ugly smile flashed across Maiden of the Moonlight's face. "Do you want to play, little one? You're so beautiful. I bet we could have some real fun together."
It happened so quickly that no one had the time to react. One minute Maiden of the Moonlight was standing there smirking broadly, and the next a sickening gasp left her lips and she slumped silently to the floor, nearly landing on top of Anzu. Isis stared down at her in shock, wondering what had happened as a small pool of blood began to form on the floor. That's when she saw the small dagger that was sticking out of the duel monster's back, right between her shoulder blades. Likely not a killing blow, but enough to impair and knock her unconscious. Mai dove for the Millennium Rod, snatching it off the floor, as Malik walked towards them.
"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly. "Nee-san? Are you alright?"
"Oh, Malik!" Isis forgot all about Maiden of the Moonlight in her haste to hug her brother. She shot up and clutched him tightly, torn between scolding him for taking that kind of chance and thanking him for saving their lives. He squirmed free and reached up to touch the side of her face, worry shining in his lavender eyes when his fingers came away covered in blood. "I'm fine. It's just a small scratch," she told him. Truthfully, the wound was burning with pain, but she didn't want to worry him anymore than he already was.
"Where did that dagger come from?" Anzu asked, still staring down at Maiden of the Moonlight.
Malik gave her a quick smile. "You really think I'd be allowed to come alone?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. As he spoke, Mariku stepped around the corner, a cocky smirk on his face. He sauntered towards them and only once he was close enough did Isis register the burning fury in his eyes.
"You?" she said with understanding, a little amazed. "You saved us?"
Mariku cast her a bored look. "My light wants you to live and so you do," he said, putting special emphasis on the first word. It was accompanied by a look of pure, possessive hatred in Maiden of the Moonlight's direction. Malik winced and reached out to put a soothing hand on Mariku's arm.
"Don't. She's been dealt with, so please leave it," he said softly, pleadingly. Normally he wouldn't have minded a bit more vengeance after everything that she'd done, but right now all he really wanted was to get off the island. "When you can use your shadow powers, you can send her there, but please don't…" He swallowed hard and Mariku sighed, reaching out and hooking an arm around his waist. The pressure was beginning to get to all of them, but it was especially evident when it came to the hikaris. He cast one more look at Maiden of the Moonlight's prone form, wishing that he had the chance to do everything she deserved. His eyes gleamed. Perhaps he would send her to the shadow realm, if only so that he and Bakura could track her down later and enact a little vengeance...
"Here, Malik." Mai stood up gracefully and held the Millennium Rod out to him. "I believe this is yours."
Hesitating only a little, Malik reached out and took the Rod. As soon as his fingers closed around the hilt of the burnished gold, his eyes rolled up and he collapsed. Only Mariku's tight grip on his waist prevented him from crumbling to the floor in a heap. Instead, he fell safely into Mariku's arms. The yami scoffed at the surprised cries from the girls and rolled his eyes, scooping his other half up protectively. "There is nothing wrong," he said tightly. "The Millennium Rod is merely re-establishing a connection and it overwhelmed him."
"You seem fine," Anzu said suspiciously.
Mariku glared at her. "I am also a darkness, not a light," he stated coldly and then changed the subject. "Bakura and Ryou have gone to track down the Millennium Ring. It would be most helpful if they were able to use shadow magic while facing down other duel monsters." He gave them a pointed stare.
"Oh!" Shaking her head, Mai knelt and scooped up the bobby pin she'd dropped. She went back to work on the door, tilting her head in order to listen to the lock's mechanisms. Bakura had taught her how to pick locks when they were both very young; it was something her cousin had always been incredibly skilled in, and no wonder, considering his background in both of his lives. She'd never be as good as Bakura was, but... A triumphant smile spread across her face as the lock finally gave way beneath the pressure. "And that's how it's done," she crowed, rising quickly and putting a hand on the knob. The door swung open, revealing a tall, winding set of steps.
"And the card is up there?" Malik said doubtfully, staring tiredly through the door. He could see the problem with this immediately; anyone going up the stairs would be blind, never knowing what awaited them around the next corner. Just the thought of climbing that many stairs was making him feel dizzy, and he closed his eyes, resting his head on Mariku's shoulder. His yami shot him a worried look.
"We'll go," Isis said, frowning at how clingy her brother was being. Either the separation from his yami had bothered him more than he'd let on or Malik was in pain. Neither option made her overly thrilled to contemplate. "You two find Bakura, Ryou, Seto and Jou. It's time to finish this mess once and for all."
For once, Mariku didn't argue with her, though he would have sorely liked to have gone with them just in case Hafiz was hiding at the top of the tower with his precious card. Instead, he merely nodded to her and began walking back down the hall, half-carrying his hikari. Malik just sighed and tried to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. Isis gazed after them, concern flashing in her deep blue eyes. Anzu and Mai exchanged looks before Mai sighed and put a hand on her hip, gesturing for Harpy Lady to go first. If there was something waiting up there to ambush them, she had no intention of being the first in the line of attack.
GMA
Shizuka stared down at the Millennium Puzzle for a long time before she dared to move. Tentatively, she knelt down and reached out, poking the puzzle with the tip of her finger. When nothing happened, she felt safe enough in reaching out and picking it up by the chain. It was quite a bit heavier than she had expected it to be, and bizarrely, the first thought that came to her mind was to wonder how Yuugi could wear it around his neck all the time without experience back and neck pain. She shook her head, dismissing the thought, and stood up before turning to look at Mokuba, who looked as floored as she felt. Both of them glanced down at the golden puzzle, uncertain as to what they should do next.
"Do you think Yuugi-san is in the puzzle with Yami-san?" Shizuka asked finally. Part of her felt like she shouldn't have been holding the puzzle at all, like she was committing treason just by touching it, but then again, it didn't feel right leaving it in the dirt, either. The part of the chain that she wasn't holding flapped loosely in the wind, clinking against the puzzle with a high-pitched sound that made her teeth ache. She tried not to grimace.
"I hope so. I don't know where else he could be." Mokuba seemed doubtful. He didn't know that much about the Millennium Items, and the puzzle was the most mysterious of all. "Maybe we should wait a little while and see if something changes."
"Like what? I don't feel comfortable waiting out here, Mokuba. What if something has gone wrong inside the castle?" A worried look flashed across her face and she tightened her grip on the chain, wishing that they had never come to Illusion Island. She just knew that something wasn't right. "I think we should go inside. The others might need our help and, as long as we have the Puzzle with us, we're technically still protecting Yuugi."
Mokuba couldn't help smirking. "I'm not quite sure that's what Nii-sama had in mind," he muttered, but he couldn't deny that Shizuka had a valid point. What was the point of waiting outside when there was no one around to protect? He turned and looked apprehensively at Illusion Castle, then impulsively pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. His eyes widened. Amazingly, his phone had found a signal. Immediately, he tried calling Seto and then, when Seto's phone went straight to voicemail, Jou. No answer. Undeterred, he put in a call back to the mainland, determined to get into contact with someone. It was incredible how much better he felt when someone actually picked up on the other end.
While Mokuba was speaking into the phone, Shizuka wrapped the chain around her belt so that the puzzle hung from her hip. She didn't feel right in wearing it around her neck, but putting it in her backpack left it open to being stolen again if someone took her bag. And if Yuugi and Yami were really inside, that was the last thing that she wanted. Mokuba turned to her with a triumphant grin as he closed his phone. An eyebrow rose when he saw what she had done with the puzzle, but he let it drop in favour of sharing his good news.
"I got into contact with Kaiba Corp," he reported. "They're tracking the signal on my cell phone's GPS. As soon as they have a lock on it, they're going to send two helicopters out to us. We're going to have a way off of this island."
Relief flooded through Shizuka and she let out a sigh before she grabbed his arm and squeezed it tightly. "Thank god. How long will it take them to get here?"
"A while. They have to prepare the helicopters and make sure they've got enough medical supplies," Mokuba answered grimly. "They'll be bringing our personal doctor along, too." His jaw tightened. "It looks like our journey on the boat was designed to take an especially long time. From what I was told by our security personnel, it sounds like the captain purposely steered the ship in a huge circle a few times, probably to throw us or anyone who might have been trying to follow our progress off. Fortunately, since the helicopters will be coming straight here, the journey won't take them nearly as long."
Shizuka was trembling with anger as she remembered their miserable journey. "That bastard," she seethed. "Is there nothing that Pegasus won't do?"
"Probably not." He turned towards the door of the castle and closed his eyes. Shizuka felt the shadow magic twisting the air and a dull cloud of purple smoke appeared. It slowly morphed into Mokuba's partner monster, Ryu-Ran. The duel monster peeked out at them and voiced an inquisitive chirp from within the shelter of its egg. Mokuba reached out and stroked the shell softly as he said, "Do you think you can summon Red Archery Girl?"
"I think so. She should be okay." She hadn't tried to contact her partner since Red Archery Girl had fallen during the fight with the spider duel monster. At that time, Red Archery Girl had retreated to the Shadow Realm when Shizuka passed out to avoid being sent to the graveyard. Shizuka breathed in slowly and felt something deep inside of her wrench. It took much longer for Red Archery Girl to materialize than Ryu-Ran had, and when once she had, the duel monster looked as tired as Shizuka felt.
"Okay, let's go." Mokuba took her hand and walked briskly over to the door, pulling it open like he wasn't at all worried about what lay on the other side. Ryu-Ran marched through first, shell open a slit so that the duel monster could see any enemies that might coming. He and Shizuka followed with Red Archery Girl bringing up the rear.
Illusion Castle was eerily silent. There didn't seem to be anyone around, though Mokuba remained on guard just in case. The door had led them into what appeared to be the servants' quarters. They passed by several empty bedrooms and storage rooms and found themselves standing in a massive kitchen. Half-filled pots and pans, measuring cups, bowls, and silverware were cluttered on the stove and counters, like the staff had walked out in the middle of cooking. The stove had even been left on and there were several pots boiling over, creating a dreadful mess, and there was a ton of food sitting out on the table. Ryu-Ran made a hungry sound when it noticed the display of sweets.
"How odd; it's like they were expecting company." Unlacing her fingers from Mokuba's, Shizuka walked across the room and examined the desserts closely. There was every kind of confection imaginable, from pie to cookies to cupcakes, and every single one looked delicious. She swallowed hard, suddenly aware of the emptiness of her stomach.
Mokuba moved over to the stove and turned the burners off automatically. "Don't eat those. You don't know what's in them."
"It just seems like such a waste," Shizuka said with a sigh. Her eyes widened when she spotted a particularly delectable cupcake. It was covered in bright blue icing and decorated with small pieces of blueberries and strawberries, and she couldn't resist reaching out to pick up. She peeled the wrapping off just enough to reveal that it was chocolate. Oh god. Her stomach growled even louder and she could practically feel the drool sliding down her chin.
"Go ahead. It's not going to hurt you."
"Shit!" Mokuba yelped, jumping about a foot in the air, and spun around. There was a very familiar, very tall man with long silver hair standing in the doorway. He was dressed in a bright red suit that would have drawn attention in the thickest of crowds. Both teens recognized him instantly. "Pegasus, what are you doing here?" he demanded warily, all instincts going on red alert. Ryu-Ran shifted and growled threateningly.
"I was hungry," Pegasus said as though it was obvious, sauntering over to the table. "Good choice," he added, glancing at Shizuka as he selected a cupcake of his own. The one he had picked up had brilliant pink icing the color of cotton candy, and it had been carefully and lavishly decorated with red and green gummi bears. He plucked a bear off and popped it into his mouth, closing his eyes in bliss. "I just love gummi bears, don't you?"
"Um, yeah," Shizuka said tentatively, confused. The last time she had seen Pegasus, the man had been sending her and Mokuba back to Jou and Seto after it became clear that their siblings did not possess a Millennium Item after all. Those few nights had easily been the most frightening of her life and she never wanted a repeat. Pegasus glanced over at her and she caught sight of a gold flash from behind his curtain of silver hair.
"There's no need to be afraid," he said, sounding surprisingly gentle. "You won't be harmed while you're with me."
"We're not with you," Mokuba said. "We came to rescue Yuugi and fight you!"
"Ah yes, fighting. Such a boring activity." Heaving a put-upon sigh, he took a huge bite of the cupcake, accidentally smearing pink icing all over her cheek. Shizuka giggled before she could stop herself and he winked at her with his visible eye. "Honestly, even though I created Duel Monsters, it was never my intention for it to lead to such drama. If you want the boy, you're free to take him as far as I'm concerned. But of course, my yami might have something to say about that. He does get in such dreadful moods when he can't have something he wants."
There was a moment of silence during which Shizuka absorbed his words and realized that there was something not quite right about them. "Hang on, your yami?" she repeated, blinking at him in confusion. Suddenly, she jumped, nearly dropping her cupcake, and looked away from Pegasus, staring down at the Millennium Puzzle.
"That's correct," Pegasus said pleasantly, ignoring her odd behaviour. "Enjoy your cupcake, young lady." He wandered out the room, leaving behind two completely baffled pre-teens behind.
"Did that just happen?" Mokuba asked after a moment's pause. When he didn't get an answer, he turned in time to see Shizuka biting into the cupcake she was holding. "Shizuka-chan!"
Shizuka held a finger up in his direction. "Fgoo," she mumbled through a mouthful of chocolate, icing and berries. She finished chewing and swallowed, staring down at her cupcake with a speculative expression. Half of her was expecting to feel the effects of some kind of poison, but of course, nothing happened except for the subtle tingling that spoke of an incoming sugar rush. "It's good," she repeated thoughtfully, looking up to stare in the direction that Pegasus had gone. Then she glanced down at the Puzzle and touched it tentatively with the tip of her finger.
"Oh, I know that look," the boy said with resignation. "You're planning something that's going to get us into a lot of trouble when Nii-sama and Nii-san find out."
She smirked and licked some icing off of her fingers. "You love it," she teased, walking quickly towards the exit. Just before she left the room completely, she unhooked the puzzle from her belt and set it gently down on the counter. With one last loving stroke, she stepped out into the hall. "Now, come on, unless you'd like to stay here and clean the kitchen." Mokuba just shook his head, holding back a grin, and headed after her with Red Archery Girl and Ryu-Ran in tow.
In the empty room, a strange, haunted silence descended. It almost seemed as though the room was waiting for something to happen. After a long, tense moment, the Millennium Puzzle shuddered and the gold began heating rapidly. The eye symbol started to glow with a strange grey light before a beam shot out into the middle of the kitchen. Very slowly, the beam grew and took on an unusual shape that gradually solidified into two teens, one of whom was safely cradled in the arms of the other, and the tall figure of a duel monster. Both boys glanced around with interest as the light shining from the puzzle grew dimmer before disappearing altogether, leaving them alone.
"We're back, Aibou," the older one stated simply. His crimson eyes glimmered as a faint smirk crossed his face. "Now... it's time to have some fun."
Please review!