Kaiba's Home

"I promise, Mai, I'm going to go look at the enemy's place with Atem, Yuugi and Anzu. I'm his backup. I got his monster," he tried to explain. "I promise, I'll come back soon." Mai was still shaken up. "We got translations that never got to the guy. Atem took care of the Dragon Cards and the guy. There isn't even a fragment left of him." There wasn't, Atem was mad. "I was fine then, and I'll be fine now. I'll be back soon."

Mai nodded. "I just want it to be over. I want it to be all over. I think I want to move to America with Anzu and Satiah."

"What?" Aw, really? "We're having this talk? Look, just quit the America talk right now. We'll discuss it after we go check this guy's house and find whatever he had." Jounouchi didn't want to go to America. "Besides, Anzu might not go. She wasn't going to."

"Yes and then stuff really happened, Jonouchi, and now she wants to. If I go, I could take my winnings and make sure she's okay. She or Satiah could translate for me until I learn the language. We'd be fine."

"I promise, I'll discuss it when I get back to you. Just eat something and I'll be back before you know it." He stole a kiss on the cheek. "Promise."

"You better." Still, she didn't look so good.

"Hey, maybe there's a movie on tonight?" He reached in his wallet. "Why don't you get something to eat while we watch something tonight?"

"A night in?" She took the money with her usual flair. She seemed to like that. "With expensive takeout when you get back."

"Plenty of takeout. A movie with yummy takeout. Your choice." He was getting her warmed up again to him.

"Okay, Jounouchi. When we get home, I'm popping in my favorite movie tonight and we'll eat good food but you better get back here soon. I don't like being just left behind. You already did it once to me."

"Australia going down and coming back up. A lot of people died, just treated like they were toys! I had to help Atem so that he could find the guy who did it. It had to come first. I came back as soon as I could. I would take you, Mai, but I don't want you to break down again. Kaiba's is the safest place right now until I get back. He's got the best security and even updated it even more now."

"Fine, then we'll discuss everything when you get back. Just. I feel it now," she said.

"Feel what?" Jounouchi asked. Oh? "The baby?"

"Mana. Yeah, I feel her presence. I know she's in there now." She sighed. "It's a strange feeling, not quite feeling alone anymore."

Damn. It was time for a feely conversation, but everyone was waiting on him. "I love you, Mai. I'll love her too. Things will be fine. I gotta go." Jounouchi headed out. He would have taken her with them, he wanted to, but her head wasn't in the right frame of mind.

Having seen the double twins part come true though, it scared her too much. He would check it out with others, come get her and then go straight home. As he got into the car, he even said it. "Afterwards, straight home."

"I understand, Jounouchi," Atem answered.

"It's better this way," Yuugi encouraged him. "She's not doing so well. She'll feel better when this is behind her."

"Yeah." Jounouchi looked over Atem's shoulder where he was looking at the text. "So it really from the millennium tome? We get that, this is over?"

"Game over," Atem assured him. "The scripts are jumbled and the translations are jumpy. There is something about a sand and a scarab of energy magic. The translation still needed more time."

"Nah, 'cause the thing it's translating is about to not exist anymore," Jounouchi said assured. Get this done. Get this book. Game over.


Domino Jail

"I can't believe I have to do this." Kaiba didn't want to leave Mokuba, but his extra security force were there as well as Satiah. They were watching a movie. His brother was practically healing. However, Shizuka wanted something. Since she commanded the dragon, he had to follow her lead. After all, it could be her instinct too. "Hurry it up."

Honda came out, not looking at Kaiba at all as he paid attention to Shizuka. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Shizuka cleared her throat. "Kaiba dropped everything and he posted bail for you too. It was expensive. You should thank him."

Honda bent slightly, but he wasn't looking like he gave thanks.

"Hurry it up and let's go. I want to get back to Mokuba." Kaiba started to walk off.

"Why didn't you come with anyone else?" Honda questioned.

"They are very busy," she admitted, "and I didn't want you to be in jail anymore. So, Kaiba brought me to you. I feel strange enough. Mokuba was shot though, and Mai is restless, so we can't waste time. We have to get back."

"What do you mean get back?" Honda asked. "What's happening?"

"Uh?" Shizuka looked downward. No, she had to be strong. "I'm living with Kaiba now." She heard Honda make a weird choking sound. Not like he swallowed food, but like he couldn't breathe. "Are you okay?"

"No! No, I'm not okay." Honda looked toward Kaiba. "What's she mean?"

"Tell him the rules on the way to the vehicle," Kaiba said.

"He needs me to summon the dragon. It becomes very strong." No, that was nowhere good enough. "I'm helping to save people."

"What? Save people? You're using a monster to make him happy?" Yeah, just like Jounouchi. "No. No way, Shizuka, I won't allow it."

"You have to, or you're going right back," she told him. "Kaiba posted bail, but he'll reverse everything if you push on this. We can be with each other still, but you can't try and talk to me about leaving him while I'm needed. That's all."

"That's all?" Honda's mouth just hung open."No! You are not going to get wound up with Kaiba! I mean, look at you, Shizuka. You're delicate right now."

"I'm blind. It's not changing." Delicate? She would always be delicate. "This is what I want, Honda. I promised Kaiba that I would stay and I'm not breaking it. Mokuba was shot today. Things are getting dangerous."

"So you wanna be a hero with a monster? Pretend this isn't about anything else?" Honda asked as he got into the back of the car. "It's too dangerous for you, and there's no way Jounouchi would let it happen either."

"He has to. Same rule applies. Stop trying to talk me out of it, Honda!" She warned him. "I made a promise to stay and help fight, and that's just what I'm going to do."

"You're putting your life on the line for Kaiba!" Honda didn't give up.

"Honda, Kaiba will reverse everything if you don't quit it." She took a deep breath.

"Look? You don't have to be compelled to be like Jounouchi or me. To want to save the day or risk everything for it. Just surviving life through it's own ups and downs is enough." Honda was trying to be more tender, but he still wasn't close to saying the right things. "You don't have to do this."

"I want to." Why could none of them see it?

"Just answer me truthfully. If you weren't going blind, would you still be putting your life on the line like this?" Honda asked tenderly. "I still love you no matter what."

"Nope, I'm done. I can't take it. Driver, stop the car." Kaiba looked over at Honda. "I didn't bust you out after you tried to break into my own property just for you to start on me! A deal is a deal. Keep it or back you go. But for now? Get out. Get a cooler head before you approach me again, or you'll find yourself right back in there."

Honda didn't stop looking at Shizuka. "You didn't answer. I didn't say anything about leaving, I asked you about-"

"Maybe not or maybe so!" It didn't matter. It wasn't going to change anything whether she went with Kaiba or not.

Honda got out but looked back at her. "I'm gonna figure this out. Just one more bump in the road. Hang on, I promise. I'll find a way to set you free." He closed the door.

The driver started to drive again.

He'd find a way to set me free? Did he think she was being forced against her will? Like she had no will power of her own? I know my own mind. "Let's go back," she said to Kaiba. "Jounouchi will be mad enough I left Mai behind."

"Mai's a big girl. She didn't want to come. I have a whole security team that I am trusting with Mokuba's life. It's good enough for her." Kaiba wasn't in the most pleasant mood. Honda knew the rules and he just walked right over them. It was burning him, but he was giving Honda time to calm down. He wasn't willing to lose the dragon over a hot-headed- "The?" He held onto the seat as the car crumpled in the road. It was changing. Breaking down. He grabbed his rod. "Shizuka, get out!"

Shizuka got out on the other side. Half the road had a crack while the other side was disintegrating like sand. She had no idea what was going on. He went over, grabbed her hand and they started to run from the road.

The buildings around them started to collapse. Everything was disintegrating. "Kaiba! What was that? What's going on?"

"Keep running." There was nothing he could do. This wasn't something he could defeat until he found the purpose of it. Mokuba. He had to try to reach home.

Kaiba heard a woman's shriek as he watched a man getting crushed to death by a building that slid on him like it was being tugged out. He held onto Shizuka's hand tighter, his rod tightly in the other hand. "Don't listen to the world around you, focus on me! Focus on just running with me!"

The devastation was accumulating. The buildings were falling like cards, screams were all over the place, and bodies started to stack up. The injured that were pinned, and others that were dead.

"Get it off, get it off, get it off," a woman screamed with a dead man touching her, while her own wounds would be doing her in soon too.

Everyone was dying. Shizuka didn't scream or yell. She knew that something was going on, but she did as he said, ignoring all the sounds and just running.

"Easy, watch it!" Kaiba pulled her faster to the side as a semi came careening at them from the street they were crossing. "Don't think, run!" Their adrenaline kept pushing them. His goal was to get to Mokuba. Nothing else.

He jumped over a body, it was the easiest way through the crumbling. Shizuka had still been following his lead. Their bodies were running at full speed to escape the danger. It's like every residence felt it had to crumble beneath their feet like dominoes. Mokuba.

The path ahead was already crumbled. There would be thousands trapped in the rubble.

"Kaiba!"

Kaiba looked back toward Shizuka, watching her sink in the sand. The rubble was turning itself into sand. Like quick sand, burying the body parts he could see. We'll drown in sand if we don't do something. He looked around, further in the distance.

"Call it," Shizuka said. "It can see great distances. I can see what it sees."

"You know that you're going to see a world dying with death all around." He gave her a subtle warning, but he didn't stop the summoning. "I summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" He called it. As it arrived, he watched her losing it slightly. Natural considering their environment, but she also knew there wasn't much time.

Shizuka pointed to the North. "That way!"

That wasn't the way Mokuba had been. "Mokuba's not that way."

She tried again. She shook her head, crying but trying not to be loud as she made the same pained direction of North.

"Return to Shizuka, Blue-Eyes White Dragon." He pulled her out of the sand that was starting to rise on them. All of the rubble being converted to sand.

He moved forward with her, running as much as he could, but the sand slowed each of them down. "We can do this!" Kaiba assured her. "Just keep it together, we aren't dying here. We're better than that." Mokuba's strong. He can survive this. I know he can. They had a bomb shelter at home, he'd move into there if he got out in time.

He could hear the pains from Shizuka now, she would be able to see a short time after the summoning, and right now, the site's were terrible. They were crossing a man screaming who had a stop sign shoved in his- "Keep going. We'll survive."

"We'll. Survive." She tried to repeat after him, trying to instill some bravery in the face of what was happening.

"No, you just don't repeat it." He pulled her up more. "You believe it! We are not going to die. I won't let myself go. I choose when I visit the afterlife," he yelled, pulling her along more. They were in a natural trench area, and with the shifting rubble and sands, it was worse. "I choose, and it's not now!"

"We'll survive." She said it more strongly. "We'll survive, we'll survive, we'll survive!" Her fingernails were trying to dig into the sand and rubble. They were almost past the harder part. Almost to road that hadn't crumbled.

He pulled her up further once more. He was up, and she was almost up. When she came up, she reached for him. Natural reaction. His view though.

Most of the area was becoming a giant pit of quicksand. What should have been a fairly simple climb up a small hill made them feel like they were looking down from a mountain. They could see pockets of quick sands, with pockets of high areas, like they were now at. Even if Mokuba took precautions and went into the bunker? Everything was shiting sands now. It would shift down and he'd just be lost. Never to return. Little Brother. I don't know how, but you have to survive this.

"Jounouchi." Her voice was as dry as the sand around them. "Honda."

Yuugi. Pharaoh. Everyone out there. Only those close to a decent spot would have . . .


"Maiiiiiiiiiiii! Shizukaaaaa!"

Atem stood, looking down. Yuugi and Anzu did the same thing. They had been in an area of safety in the middle of their driving. They had no idea what was going on, but they started to hear screams. Jounouchi had driven them out toward the screams, and when he stopped.

It felt like he stopped at the edge of the world. Streets. Buildings. Everything. It was just . . . gone. There were people that were trying to get out, but they were so far down, and the sand seemed to hold onto them. To even try to go after them, would be suicide.

"Maiiiiii!" Jounouchi yelled out again. "They gotta be out there somewhere. Oh? Honda?!"

"Don't!" Yuugi tried to hold Jounouchi from going down. "It's death down there, Jounouchi! Maybe Kaiba's was okay too."

"Look at that **** out there!" Jounouchi struggled against him, but Atem pulled his weight to make him stop too.

"Mai had dreams of this, Jounouchi," Atem yelled, trying to make him come to his senses. "Chances are she did because she will be okay. That means everyone at Kaiba's should be okay. If you go down there, you won't be. We'll get to them."

"But Honda!"

Yuugi couldn't say anything for that one. No one could.

"Oh . . . I can't . . ." Anzu shook her head. "I can't, I just-!" She started to scream, having trouble coming to terms with what she saw too.

Yuugi seemed to be trying to look out in different directions. "This area's fine. Why is it fine and the rest sunk into sand? What is this, Atem? Who could do this? What monster could even . . ."

No one. "Only the gods themselves."

"I-Is it just Domino City?" Anzu was trying to keep it together, but she had already gone over on the other side of the car making ghastly sounds. No one could blame her. Their home. Their city. Atem was surprised Yuugi had kept it together.

There were several people they cared about out there, and there was a great chance they were trapped in the rubble and sands. The last of the shrieks started to die out.

"There's nothing the Dark Magician can do for this." Jounouchi held his head. "He just won't help."

No one had the power to help this. This makes no sense. If the gods wanted to end it all, why bring me back?

"Move the other way." Jounouchi got back in the car. "There's gotta be something about this somewhere around here." They all got back in the car and started to drive toward the center area. The farther they went, the more beautiful it had been. Some people were reacting, while others hadn't left the area to see it. It was like nothing happened at all, like they just envisioned a terrible nightmare.

Right in the center of the area where large screens often ran, there was only a display of a chair and a desk. Every screen.

They all stood there. Other people stood there. As more minutes passed, more people seemed to find their way to the center, congregating around, and asking if anyone knew anything.

"Will someone just say something already?" Jounouchi tried to keep his anger in check, but some still seeped out. There were more calls like him, and in another few minutes there were demands and shouts to know what was going on.

Finally, something appeared on the screens. Hanasake?

"Tomoyo Hanasake?" Yuugi couldn't believe it. "No. He wouldn't."

"Sorry, this is a very busy time for me right now," Hanasake said on the large screens. "However, I wouldn't let my area dwell in confusion forever. You can call me Hanasake." He held a gold scarab that was on a chain around his neck. "This is the reason this area still has power. It's responsible for your lives and your deaths. If we all get along peacefully, everything will be okay. First off, yes. This isn't a dream. Domino City no longer exists. I don't have a name for this area yet. As the new dynasty gets established, it will get a name."

"New dynasty?" Jounouchi asked, along with more people. Questions and shoutings were coming left and right. As sand erupted from the ground in front of them, people quieted down again.

"Hey! Be grateful mortals, 60% of Domino City is gone," he said on the screens. "Bless the fact you survived."

Mortals. He said mortals. I knew it. Yuugi took a deep breath.

I know, Other Me. That was not the sweet Tomoyo Hanasake they once knew. He had been possessed by something. He's wearing the gold scarab the translations mentioned.

"Even though you will find your electronics still work, you also won't find help from other places." He shrugged. "The rest of the world is just like our area."

That statement made everyone go mad.

"I wish Satiah had come. I should have made her come." Anzu covered her face. "We should have picked up . . ."

"Mai dreamed of the future. Mai must be there. She was with Mokuba and Satiah." Yuugi reiterated what Atem had said. "At the very least, we know they are okay. Honda, he's always been able to take care of himself too. Keep the faith, Anzu."

A new picture showed up on the screens. A map of Domino City.

"This area." Hanasake's voice came over the map and he was using an arrow button to point out places. "This is the area you are in. You're lucky, I picked the same 20% area. That means you'll still have a nice place to visit to remind you of the old times, before you adapt to the new. Kaiba Corp as you can see still exists so people can play games in this tough time. Restaurants. Any general entertainment that was in this area, it will still run. Supplies will still come. For now." He gestured to another part. "This all divided up area in Domino City isn't run by me. Once the sands settle down again, you will be able to walk across all of the landscape. Now, I am sure you have more questions like housing, but I have to get going. The leader of us all beckons. I will be back later."

All the screens shut off. People were starting to try and head count, to see how many were there.


Game Shop

Satiah helped everyone in. She knew Anzu's security codes, but they really didn't do any good. It was out of service. Mokuba and Mai went in first ahead of her. Then, Bakura. "Come in."

"Briefly. I'm not staying here long." Bakura was on the first level. "Take the ring again."

Satiah took it and held it carefully. At first when he came to Kaiba's, she backed away. He pointed out his ring though. He had control already. If he wanted to do something, he would have done it. Then, he gave it to her, so they all knew Ryou Bakura was in control.

Ryou Bakura told the dreadful story. Mai felt faint and Mokuba had trouble believing it. She didn't though. A big event did have to happen. She just didn't want to imagine it would be like that. She gave him back his ring after they all understood.

Ryou Bakura emotionally explained what was going on, also focusing on the changes in Bakura. How he could have always kept the ring and how there was a game that could get rid of him now. That made no sense either, the host soul was needed. Lose it and lose everything. Who could beat that? Only the gods surely. Meanwhile, Bakura himself had fought the guards and used the magic of his item. They were on a strict race against time.

They made it through safely. But now? "Where is everyone?" Were they the only ones that made it?

"I don't know. Stay in here and don't let Mokuba look out the windows," Bakura declared. "I. Somehow have to run this . . . mess. More are supposed to come to help."

"Thanks." Mai was fairly silent, but she finally spoke up. "If you hadn't made a choice, then only twenty percent would be standing." She rubbed her neck gently. "What kind of world am I bringing Mana into? Oh, Jounouchi."

"Lay down upon my bed, Mai." Satiah told her. She went upstairs and opened the door. "Mokuba, take any of the others you would like." As she got them settled into the bedding, she went back downstairs. "Is Atem alive?"

Slight irritational look. "Would I care? I took the woman and the boy because you wanted me to."

Satiah didn't let his anger distract her. "Is Anzu alive?"

"If Jounouchi is alive, the rest probably are. That would be just their luck," Bakura answered.

"I wouldn't call this situation 'luck', Bakura." I have his power. Would it do anything? "We need to find Atem. I need to breathe into his mouth."

Bakura's nose crinkled. "You're a strange woman."

Satiah shook her head. "Anzu and Yuugi kissed and he got more information. However, it took time to get enough. I don't believe it's kissing or coupling, but that the breath releases it." It was worth a shot.

"He can't do anything anyhow. What's he supposed to do? What's he going to do? Last time I heard, he was no longer Pharoah. He's been replaced with someone else. He's just another boring mortal who can't do squat." Bakura looked back at her. Her mixed-up thoughts. Bakura thought back to what Hanasake had said about past lives. More than once. I had no power, yet this new Pharaoh gave me room in his scheme, like I was still someone to be concerned with in his kingdom. He wants her power, I'm supposed to keep her safe. Why?

"Bakura! Open up, it's the People of Prophecy!"

Bakura opened the door and went out. "People of Prophecy, huh? Is that the Greatest Pharaoh's army that has decided to remodel Earth?"

"We have many names," one of them answered. "We are here for Masika."

"I think the slipper is starting to fall off the foot." They already wanted Rider. "Tell me? The new Pharoah? Is he a god? I'm anxious for details considering we destroyed more than half the world's population for it."

"Bakura. That is your name?" the other asked. "We shall help you and show you what to do in this new world. But first, we need Masika."

"How do you know my name?" Masika approached the door area. "No one uses that name except Atem."

"Atem is not within the household right now. We should talk to him?" One of them looked at the other. "I don't know. There is still room. We'll see if the Greatest Pharaoh has room for him. But you, Masika, you are coming with us." The men both held strange golden items too. One looked similar to the ankh, but with a round circular top. The other held a gold scarab, like Hanasake had.

Bakura, they can't take her!

I would do nothing but get killed which would leave this area to fend for itself without any item help. I don't think they are going to kill her.

Rider moved toward them. She would willingly go, hoping she could find out more, or find Anzu Mazaki again. She did that kind of thing. She had always been a weird one. A street rat, an outcast, and yet. An almost strange jive came to her sometimes. In her attitude, and in her mannerisms. He never quite knew what to expect with her.

"No, I refuse to go yet," she said.

Things like that. Stupid things like that. Ugh.


Atem leaned against a building with Jounouchi and Yuugi. Yuugi had Anzu leaning against him.

"Come nightfall, you guys get rest," Jounouchi said to them. "I'll watch out."

There was a headcount of 2,236 people. Give or take some that were hiding in houses. Although it was by no means the biggest number, it was a desperate time. Taking a nap could equal being killed. "I will switch watches with you."

"I guess, I'll never go back to America," Anzu said from Yuugi's side. "Seems like such a small trivial thing now. Where to eat. Where to live. We don't even have a place."

"Oh, we are getting a place," Jounouchi said as he cracked his knuckles. "Property owning isn't going to be by money alone no more. We are all getting a place and we are surviving this. Every single one of us. Every single." Jounouchi didn't get into greater details, but the point was made. He hadn't forgotten about Honda.

Most likely. I must believe in my friends. Yet? I must believe somehow that this can be won against. Yet?

"Atem."

Atem instantly stood up as someone came around and addressed him. Someone knew him. "Who are you?"

"Atem. Yeah. New Kingdom, right?' He introduced himself. "I'm Li. The Greatest Pharaoh of All Time wishes to see if you would like to help rebuild and bring peace to the world again."

Atem barely managed to keep his clenched jaw from showing. His nose wrinkled. A Pharaoh. Someone claiming to be Pharaoh caused this travesty? "I would like to meet Pharaoh in person."

The man scoffed. "You jest. What sway do you have? You aren't even a great grandchild."

"I was once Pharaoh!" He wasn't mincing words.

"You're not his descendant though. You just ruled as a man, pretending to have ties to gods. Egypt Pharaoh's stopped being divine long before your time." He shrugged. "Either way, I have no authority for that. My status is below Hanasake. Hanasake is below Mitsuma. Mitsuma is below Sakura. Sakura is below Indila. Indila is below Masamune. Masamune is allowed to speak to Pharaoh."

"Bureaucratic nonsense!" Atem commanded him once again. "Take me to this Pharaoh you speak of, now!"

"I don't have that authority. You're more on a list of things to do, that's why I'm here. I can't get you that, it's way above my status."

"Then get me to someone who can!"

"I can't really do that either. I mean? Sorry dude, you aren't important enough. Um?" He rubbed his chin. "I know. I can probably take you to Hanasake or Bakura. They are the local leaders now."

A loss of air. Bakura! His teeth were so jammed against themselves, bearing the weight of those words. "Take me to Bakura."