Warnings
Violence
Drama
A good couple of days passed. Mokuba got better. He and Rika easily fixed their problems and were dating again. Happy again. Seto had said goodbye to Liam as they cut their holiday early. They had offered for the older Vampire to come with them, but he declined with a, "Keep the door open."
Seto said that was his way of saying, "I'll see you soon." So the two had returned to Japan and began their normal lives again. A good couple of weeks passed where everything was normal. Seto worked. Katsuya worked. Katsuya fixed the friendship problem he made when his locket had been mentioned.
Everything was normal.
For now…
Katsuya rushed out of the house. He was going to be late! He was catching up with the gang today. Yugi, Anzu and Honda. Otogi was off on a business trip and Bakura had to work at the museum. They were having a nostalgic day. Doing what they would have as teens. Going to the arcade. The mall. Eating at Burger World. Then going to Yugi's to play games the rest of the night. It was going to be great!
He ran across the road to the arcade. He finally made it! Just in time too!
Anzu rolled her eyes and Yugi laughed a little as he approached. It was winter, so they were all wrapped in woollen cloaks and warm clothes. He personally hated winter. It always made his fur stand on end and go coarse with ice.
"And why are you late?" Anzu scolded while Yugi greeted him. "Again?"
"Hey!" Katsuya held his hands up. "Nostalgic times, right? I'm always late."
Yugi laughed and so did Honda. Anzu tried to remain glaring but ended up chuckling a little.
"Ok…"
The group shared smiles before they made their way inside. Katsuya sighed in the instant warmth.
So warm…
"What should we play first?" he asked excitedly, invisible ears flicking on his head.
He wasn't sure why, but over the last month his Kitsune had become more noticeable. To him and other supernatural beings. He wanted to say it had to do with the return of Rei and his insanity. Having not hit the true insane bar, but at least showing here and there.
Except he couldn't help but feel there was another reason…
…something closer to his heart…
"Let's have a fight, Jonouchi-kun."
Katsuya jumped and looked back at his small friend. Yugi gave that always bright cheerful smile as he pointed at the Street Fighter games. Katsuya grinned back, putting his musing aside for later. He could worry about his Kitsune when he got home.
"Awright!"
The games were still old style despite the rapid growth in technology. It was why they loved this arcade. It didn't replace its games, but more added to it. The old stuff was still here, and the old timers like them could continue playing the games they loved. Even if that meant staring at KAI every time he saw the leader board. Honestly, Seto was just too hard to beat! And Yugi was too nice! He didn't replace her highscores even though he should.
Just as he was about to sit down and play, a shout caught his attention.
"Rei!"
His ears perked up and he turned to the voice. Scarcely controlled eyes widened as Kaze ran into him, hugging him as if he were some older sibling. He stuttered in actual surprise.
"A-Ah…"
He looked to his friends first, who were staring with confused expressions, then the direction Kaze had come. If there was one person who would be with the ditzy girl…
Kage gave a soft smile before feigning alarm and rushing over.
"Sorry!" he said while gently grabbing Kaze's arm and pulling her away.
The Wind Kitsune pouted a little at the dark haired man. He glared at her.
"It's ok…" Katsuya whispered while smiling. Had to pretend, right? "Um, who are you?"
Kage smirked a little before looking at them again. Kaze too turned his gaze their way.
"My name's Kage, and this is Kaze." The girl waved. "I'm sorry about her behaviour. Kaze's a bit of an airhead." She gasped and punched him in the arm, earning a light chuckle. "She must have mistaken you for a friend."
Katsuya nodded. At least his friends had backed off a little. Yugi was beaming happily at them and Anzu was smiling nicely. That was a good sign.
"Sorry," Kaze muttered in her soft voice. "I actually did think you were someone else…" She shrugged and looked at Kage. "Should we go play some games?"
He nodded and took her hand.
"Nice meeting you," he said as they turned and left.
Katsuya let out a discrete sigh. Honestly…
"That was…random…" Anzu commented with a light frown. "You sure you don't know them, Jonouchi?"
"Yep," he answered, answering not too quickly and not too slowly. "Never seen them in my life…"
"They feel strange."
Katsuya frowned and looked at Yugi. The smaller man was frowning softly. He looked strikingly like Atem…
"What do you mean?" Honda asked.
Yugi hummed before suddenly running off. Katsuya blinked before looking. Wait! He was going after–
The blond groaned softly as Yugi stopped Kage and Kaze. The rest of the group quickly followed after their friend who seemed to be having friendly conversation.
That was…until both Kitsune froze.
"What?" Kage was asking, his voice hollow and somewhat shallow.
Yugi still smiled, oblivious, as he said, "Yamis." Oh no… "A spirit possessing an Item. That spirit can possess the barer. I used to have one, so I can tell when someone else is possessed by one." Kaze was turning pale while Kage was growing defensive. Katsuya knew he had to interfere, but that would give him away. "I was just wondering if you guys had an item? You feel like Yamis, that's all."
He didn't know Yugi had a Yami metre! The only reason he probably hadn't realised Katsuya was Kitsune was because he was used to Katsuya's presence. Not to mention there wasn't another soul in this body!
But those two…
"...I'm not exactly sure what you mean…" Kage whispered slowly. "But I guess there could be some layer of truth to it. We have items that feel strange, if that is what you are implying?"
Yugi paused, before seeming to mentally shrug and nodded.
"Yeah more or less."
Kaze's light blue eyes flicked up to Kage, then to Katsuya. He didn't know what she was looking for. The brunette looked back at Yugi.
Said man was still talking.
"Do you guys want to hang out with us?" he asked. Katsuya mentally groaned. Seriously?! Yugi knew too much for his own good! "You seem like nice people."
Kage paused but Kaze jumped on it.
"That could be fun!" She grinned up at Kage. "Can we?"
He hesitated, before sighing.
"Alright…"
Kaze grinned and so did Yugi. The group suddenly spurred into action. Katsuya stared as Yugi, Kaze and the others started off to some games. He looked at Kage. They followed at a slower pace.
"Why are you here?" he asked, eyes flashing red.
Kage either didn't notice or didn't care about the red. He rolled his eyes.
"Because of you." When Katsuya didn't respond, he continued. "You want your locket, right? We're looking for it."
"But why are you here?"
Katsuya glanced at him. Kage avoided his eyes now.
"We're going to places with strong presences of your magic." Ok… "We've split into pairs, save the Trio," Yama, Shin and Kawa, "and are searching these places. Kaze and I just got this one. We didn't know you would be here."
Katsuya grunted but understood. It was probably a good thing it was these two that found him, and not someone like Celest of Kaen.
"Although…" Katsuya looked back at Kage. His eyes were fixated on the group ahead. "That small man. Yugi, was it?" Katsuya nodded. "Your magic is crawling all over him." What?! "Have you Tricked him?"
"What? No!" He shook his head for further emphasis. "I haven't touched him."
Kage hummed softly.
"Then there might be a possibility…"
Katsuya frowned.
"Possibility of what…?"
Don't tell him…
"He may have your locket."
She sighed softly. The normalcy of work was comforting, but tiring all the same. The couple weeks of break were nice. Hanging out with Liam and Katsuya. But she guessed with the life she had chosen for herself, she had to see it through. Being a Kaiba was a big thing, and she could only have it for so long. She didn't age past this, after all.
Seto hummed softly as she finished writing an email. She sent it off and leaned back in her seat. She glanced up at the roof.
Mokuba had healed well. He wasn't hangry anymore. He and Rika had made their relationship work too. Different to hers and Katsuya, where they would live together forever, but more like a human aware of a Vampire relationship. It was interesting to watch.
But it had come as a surprise to know the girl was possessed by a Kitsune.
Seto had told Mokuba to keep an eye on the fox side of his girlfriend. From personal experiences the Kitsune could become dangerous. She didn't want either of them to get hurt.
About to begin working again, a knock at the door drew her attention. Seto paused. She wasn't expecting anyone…
"Come in."
The door opened and her secretary poked her head in. The woman smiled before walking up to the desk. There was something in her hand…
"This was dropped at the desk," she said while handing the envelope to the brunette. "I'm not sure who from, but it's addressed to you."
Seto glanced over it. Her name was written in fancy script. Someone old, maybe?
"Thank you. You may go."
The second the woman left, she opened the envelope. Pulling the paper inside out, Seto's eyes narrowed.
'Danger is coming.' My, cryptic… 'Someone is planning to kill you and your fox lover.' They knew Katsuya was Kitsune…? 'Meet me at the Raven Nightclub at 10:00pm tomorrow night. I will explain there. Yours truly.' No name…
Seto frowned. What sort of message was that? Who could possibly know about the supernatural secrets they both bore? The only ones she knew who knew about both of them were Liam, Mokuba, Rika, Kage and Umi. It wouldn't have been any of them…they would have put their name by it, or just come to her in person.
So who was it?
The Vampire huffed. She threw the message onto her desk and went back to her computer. She wouldn't entertain this just yet. She had to think it over.
Maybe she should tell Katsuya…
…maybe he knew someone who knew…
He smirked. The car raced at top speed. He pressed the pedal harder. Glancing to the side, he caught sight of his opponent's black car. Smirk turning dark, he spun the wheel and rammed into the other car. Vibrations ran through the seat and the other cursed before pushing him back.
"Stop that!" Kage growled.
Katsuya grinned. He pressed the gas and sped away, leaving the battered car behind. He crossed the finish line and the game ended.
"Oh yeah!" Katsuya grinned at his friend. Kage rolled his eyes. "I won again!"
Kage grumbled something before muttering, "I don't understand the gimmicks of this machine." He sighed and got out of the seat. "You have leverage."
Katsuya smirked and jumped out of his seat too.
"Aww…" He slung his arm around the Void's shoulder. "Don't be like that! I just have a couple hundred years on you that's all!"
Kage glared but it was true. Most of the Thirteen were new to technology. The reaction to his phone the other month was enough proof.
The afternoon had gone smoothly so far. Katsuya and Kage hung out a fair bit. Anzu had latched onto Kaze quickly, while the girl was trying to get Yugi's attention. Honda drifted between the two groups, but he spent more in the Yugi one. Yugi just seemed to enjoy new friends, even though Kaze kept prodding him on the possession stuff.
Katsuya's mood soured a little at that.
He couldn't believe Yugi had his locket. That his best friend was keeping it from him. Yugi wouldn't do that.
"…you're thinking about it again."
Katsuya glanced at Kage. The black haired man stepped out of his grip. They began walking to the pinball machines. Everyone else was there, watching Yugi play.
"I just can't believe he would do that," the blond muttered. "I mean, this is Yugi. He's like, my best friend."
Kage rose an eyebrow in surprise, but said, "He's also human." His eyes darkened and became their proper vulpine black. "When power is given to a human, they tend to use it."
"But not Yugi." Katsuya shook his head, unable to believe such a thing. "He knows I want that locket. He wouldn't keep it from me."
Kage merely shrugged, eyes returning to their human shape. He didn't seem convinced.
"You'd hope."
Just as the pair were about to approach the group, Kaze suddenly gave a shout of triumph. Both foxes froze as she ran up to them, grinning and holding something in her hand, while Yugi and the other two quickly moved into panic.
"Rei! Look look!"
Everything froze.
Cold…
…
…no…
No…no this wasn't…
In her hands was none other than…the locket.
Golden chain. Dark red flame. The same red as his eyes. A white streak in the centre.
His Orb…
A broken breath escaped him. His heart thumped loudly, echoing in his invisible ears. Ice cold replaced his blood, reminding him of a time many years ago…
He slowly looked up from the item to his 'friends'.
Yugi stared with wide eyes, the other two as well. They were caught between guilt and panic.
"You…" His heart…it hurt…that…that wasn't…he had never… "You lied…"
The words seemed to tremble on the air. He hadn't…this wasn't…it wasn't right.
"Wait Jonouchi-kun–" Yugi held his hand out. His eyes reflected the obvious fight or flight mentality. "I can explain–"
"You knew I wanted it." He didn't bother to hide his scowl or the hiss on his words. This feeling… Kaze mutely moved to stand by his side as Kage had. "Yet you took it?" The humans froze, fear replacing anything else as his eyes turned red. How dare they… "How could you?"
The cold…the pain…it was changing…changing to a very old, very untouched feeling…
…if it could even be called a feeling…
Yugi seemed at a complete loss for words. Instead, Honda stepped forward. Anzu gently grabbed Yugi's arm.
"We had to, Jonouchi." Vulpine slits narrowed at the man. Him too? "It was making you crazy!"
"It belongs to me." He looked back at Yugi. "That is like my Puzzle." Yugi gasped a little. "Friends are supposed to help each other! Not hide important things like this!"
"But Jou!" Yugi stepped forward too. "Bakura-kun said it was full of darkness, and it is! I couldn't let you get hurt!"
Get hurt? Hurt he says?
"This is worse than your idea of hurt."
Katsuya looked at Kaze. She flinched before looking up at him. He held his hand out.
"Give it to me."
The Wind Kitsune didn't hesitate. She lowered the locket into–
–what?
Katsuya quickly looked back to the humans. His eyes widened.
Yugi held the locket. How did he get that?
The human paused before backing away.
"I'm sorry Jou," he said as he turned to run. "But you can't have it!"
The three ran out of the arcade, only attracting small stares. Kage and Kaze jerked to follow, but he held a hand up. They stopped, looking at him confused.
"Wait…" After thousands of years, a true, insane and crazed grin crossed his face. Kage smirked and Kaze gave a giddy smile. Red eyes glowed dangerously. "Let's play a little game…"
"Where do we go?!"
He looked to Anzu. Where was a good question. Jonouchi and those other two would be coming after them any second now! And if what he had seen was correct, they were practically doomed.
They weren't human.
Not even Jonouchi.
"I don't–" He cut himself off. If there was one thing that might have a chance other than them… "Kaiba Corp!" Yugi looked at his two friends as they ran. "Kaiba will help us."
He didn't know how she could help but he just had a feeling. The other two nodded and they turned to the massive building. Lucky for them it wasn't too far away from the arcade. Only a couple blocks–
"Going somewhere?"
Anzu yelped and Yugi jumped as the man from the arcade appeared beside them. He grinned, eyes glowing black as they ran harder to get away.
Yugi got the distinct feeling he let them.
The trio bolted into the town square. They stopped, panting for breathes. It was going to be harder to get through this crowd, but then they couldn't attack them in such a crowd. With a nod, Honda began pushing people out of the way as they tried to get through, Yugi and Anzu muttering apologies as they went.
The small man stared at the locket in his hand. To think this was the cause of everything. This thing was destroying their friendship. Jonouchi didn't understand the pain he was going through everyday just holding onto this thing.
He knew Jonouchi wanted. Knew he would do anything to get it. But he just couldn't give it to him! It was filled with Darkness, the darkness of the Millennium Ring.
No.
Worse than the Millennium Ring.
He had to keep it away from his happy friend at all costs.
"My…humans are so fun to watch."
Yugi gasped as the girl appeared beside them now. She grinned and reached out for him, hands clawed, when Honda pulled him out of the way. They burst out on the other side of the crowd and broke off sprinting.
"How are they doing that?!" Anzu gasped.
"They aren't human!" Yugi replied.
They turned the corner. Kaiba Corp was just there! So close–
"Do you really think I'm going to let you get to Seto?"
Yugi skidded as Jonouchi appeared not even five feet from them. His eyes widened.
That grin…
It was…it was like Marik's! Maniacal! Insane!
Without thinking, he pulled his friends into the alleyway away from the blond. All he got in response was dark chuckling.
There must be a back way to Kaiba Corp, right? It couldn't just have the front entrance. Kaiba wasn't like that. There must be a way to get in–
"Oh no…"
Dead end.
A wind blew past, even though it was a clear day, and the trio promptly froze. Yugi was the first to turn.
Jonouchi, Kage and Kaze blocked the exit. Jonouchi stood in the centre, that grin still plastered on his face. His eyes were a deep blood red and were more fox like than human. Beside him Kage was grinning too, but not as much, and Kaze was just smiling happily. All three of their eyes glowed.
It felt like they were predators hunting prey.
And they had just been caught.
"J-Jonouchi-kun–"
"Seriously Yugi." His mouth shut at that. Full name… "Don't bother." Jonouchi's grin disappeared to a disappointed frown. "I thought, for once, I had found some humans who could actually be my friend. Loyal." His eyes somehow darkened further. "Obviously humans are just too selfish to care."
Pain tore at his heart, but Yugi refused to back down. He didn't know what exactly was going on, but he knew this wasn't Jonouchi! He couldn't get this locket.
At all costs.
"This isn't you Jonouchi!" Anzu shouted.
"Yeah!" Honda added. "And what the hell is this 'human' crap?"
Instead of answering, Kage stepped forward with a snarl as he growled, "You dare speak to Rei-sama that way?"
Rei…sama?
"It's alright, Kage." Jonouchi easily soothed the man with only a kind glance. The man paused, before looking away with a huff. "They're just idiots."
Yugi wasn't the only one that gasped.
W-Who was this?
"Jonouchi…" Yugi's whisper met death ears. "Jonouchi please! We're only trying to help."
Those red eyes darkened more. This-this thing had to be the locket's doing. Whatever was inside it had already latched onto Jonouchi and was using him! Jonouchi wouldn't do this!
"If you want to 'help' so badly," he growled, voice sounding more like an animal than a person, "then give me my locket."
Yugi gripped the item tighter. The sharp edges were digging into his hand. He felt it could draw blood any second.
"No."
Something snapped.
Yugi gasped, as did the other two, as they were suddenly thrust back. The man choked as–
Were those tails?!
Long, crimson red fox tails surrounded Jonouchi. Three of those tails were currently choking Yugi and his friends, pinning them to the wall behind them. Yugi grasped at the tails, temporarily ignoring the livid expression on Jonouchi's face. Oval shaped fox ears stood high on his head.
"Hand it over," Jonouchi growled darkly while stepping forward, "and I won't kill you."
Yugi gasped as the tail tightened. He couldn't breathe! His vision spotted with black and it was becoming harder to hold on. To hold the locket…
Sharp nails grasped his arm. Yugi could only stare as Jonouchi painfully pulled his arm down. Clawed fingers began to pry open his hand–
No!
Yugi gripped harder, gritting his teeth. A light growl escaped the blond. Red eyes flicked up in a glare.
"Let go…" he whispered. "Let go before I break your fingers…"
Yugi shook his head, closing his eyes. His lungs…they burned….
"Fine then."
As Yugi braced himself for pain, nothing came.
Instead, the tail was ripped from his neck and the hand from his own. Yugi gasped, sputtering and coughing as air rushed back into his lungs. Looking through teary eyes, he was more than surprised by what he saw.
Kaiba. Kaiba and some other man.
Fighting Jonouchi.
Kaiba and Jonouchi were currently playing some sort of game of tag. The blond was standing still, using his tails to try and attack the woman. But somehow, Kaiba was moving faster than that and dodging. She appeared at one point and landed a punch. Jonouchi stumbled back in surprise before turning to chase her in the strange highspeed battle.
Meanwhile, the new man was fighting the other two. Kage and Kaze were currently tag teaming him. The man had the same inhumane strength and speed as Kaiba, maybe even more so! The three stopped suddenly, with Kage flying across the air to slam into a wall while the man held Kaze down by the neck.
"You will fight your boyfriend until I tell you otherwise."
Command…
Yugi stared as Kaze gasped.
"No!" she shouted yet her body began to move of its own accord. Light blue-white fox tails, like Blue Eyes' scales, shot out and attacked Kage. "No! I can't stop them!"
As Kage and Kaze fell into a strange battle, the man stood and turned to Jonouchi and Kaiba. A frown was crossed on his face as he watched the two in their super speed battle. Lavender eyes narrowed.
"My…" he whispered, voice hinting of an English accent, "and here I thought I made myself clear…"
He disappeared into the fray.
"Yugi!" The man jumped as Anzu grabbed his arm. "We have to get out of here! Do you still have it?"
He gasped and looked down. Yes, he did. And they had to go. Now.
Scrambling to his feet, he looked back at the battle. How did they get past something they couldn't see?
"Yugi."
He jumped again. Kaiba stood beside him. He stared.
She was bleeding…
Her arm hung limp and dripping in blood. A cut across her leg and stomach. Yet she smirked and held her other hand out.
"I can get you somewhere safe," she whispered. She didn't sound like Kaiba… "You have to get that locket away from here."
Yugi hesitated. What if she too was being influenced by the locket? What was she? Was she a fox too? Like Jonouchi? What if this was all some elaborate scheme to get him to give it up?
Kaiba seemed to see his reluctance. She sighed and lowered her hand.
"Yugi–"
"Enough!"
Everyone turned at the loud shout. Yugi's eyes somehow grew wider than they had when he saw the tails the first time.
Jonouchi glowed. His eyes were livid with anger and betrayal. Behind him, his tails had turned white. They glowed with golden streaks throughout the fur and the tips a glittery gold. His ears were now white with golden tips too. His hair seemed to be dull compared to the gold of his fur.
"Enough of these games," he growled. As he moved, Yugi and everyone else stepped back. This power… "Hand over my Orb now! I will not hesitate to kill every one of you if you do not."
Yugi couldn't tear his eyes away. T-This…this wasn't Jonouchi! He didn't know who this was! He didn't like it! How could Jonouchi do this? Let this happen?
It was like Marik all over again…
"Katsuya…" W-Was Kaiba stepping forward?! "This isn't you…you need to gain control–"
"Fuck you Kaiba!" She visibly flinched and drew back in surprise. "You were supposed to help me!" His anger gave way to pain and hurt. "You said you would help me." His ears drooped a little, giving away the emotion he was trying to hide. "How could you, all of you," he corrected with newfound anger, "do this? I risk everything to protect your lives!" Yugi flinched. He…that was right… "None of you ever give me anything in return! I always shoved away these feelings because I thought there would be something there. Something that would return the favour.
But when it comes to my life. My freedom!" His voice broke a little. "All of you took it away!"
Yugi's grip on the locket tightened. His life…freedom…
There was so much he didn't understand. But this was true.
Jonouchi was hurt. Beyond hurt. Without knowing, all of them had effectively cut themselves out of his life.
They had destroyed him.
"Give me," his voice was a whisper now as a clawed hand opened before them, "my locket."
Yugi didn't realise he was trembling until all eyes turned to him. He had to. He had to give it to him.
They had done something they shouldn't have. They were hurting Jonouchi more than this locket could.
He began to step forward when a hand shot out. Yugi stopped and looked up at Kaiba.
She was looking directly at Jonouchi.
"Calm down first."
The air seemed to freeze. Even the two Kitsune had stopped to watch, despite the seemingly control on the girl before.
Jonouchi's eyes narrowed.
"You are making this worse," he whispered, his hand closing. "Just give it to me."
"Not until I know you won't kill every single one of us the second you get it," Kaiba growled back.
Jonouchi paused. Something seemed to shift. He took a breath.
"…alright…" He held up a hand and placed it on his chest. "I promise," there were small gasps from Kage and Kaze, "I will not kill any of you today. If you refuse to give the locket to me, I will destroy you."
While Yugi stared in fear of those words, Kaiba nodded. She looked at him.
"Let me."
He paused, before handing over the locket. Kaiba took it and seemed to take a breath before stepping forward.
Jonouchi came to meet her. The two stopped and Yugi found it almost impossible to breathe. This had exalted so quickly…
"You will return to normal?" Kaiba whispered.
Jonouchi paused, before whispering, "I don't know."
There was a moment of hesitation, before Kaiba sighed. She opened her hand and the locket hung from her fingers. Jonouchi held his hand out. She began to lower it–
Zing!
Everyone stared.
Where did the locket go?!
Jonouchi drew back quickly, his eyes darting around and his tails flaring. Kaiba quickly retreated back at the panic from the blond.
"Where did it go?!"
"Hnhnhn…"
Yugi looked up. Who was that?!
Someone clothed in all black stood atop a building. Glittering in the sunlight was none other than the locket.
"Well I never thought I'd see you, Rei, in such a distressed and powerful state." Jonouchi instantly paled, fear wiping all anger and hurt from his face. "It just makes my job ever so easier..."
"Who are–" Kaiba started when Jonouchi suddenly cried out in pain.
Yugi jumped as Jonouchi fell to his knees, a scream half a keen half animal and part human escaping him. He held his head and his tails exploded outward, a wave of power so strong Yugi nearly flew back. Kaiba was forced back as well.
What was going on? What was happening?!
"No!" He vaguely heard Kage shout. "No Rei! Don't let her control you!"
He got nothing in response other than more screams of pain. Jonouchi doubled over, his tails starting to curl in as a protective cocoon.
"Jonouchi…" Yugi found himself whispering.
Is this what he was trying to avoid? This pain? How did this happen? It didn't happen when Yugi had the locket.
What was this woman doing?
"I hate to come to his aid." The man who appeared with Seto was muttering as he looked up at the woman. "But even he doesn't deserve this."
The man disappeared to reappear at the woman's side. They both disappeared in a sudden fight–
"Yugi look out!"
He stared as Kaiba jumped in front of him. She gasped and blood trickled from her mouth as something stabbed her back, but she grit her teeth and planted her feet.
"D-Damn…" She clenched her fists while he just stared in shock and fear. "Get out of here Motou!"
Startled, he ran backwards. Honda grabbed his arm and pulled him behind him as another white tail came for them–
"Ghk!" This time Kage came to their rescue. Black fox tails made a barrier against the white. Vulpine eyes turned back to them. "Kaze will take you out."
The girl suddenly appeared and her blue tails wrapped around each of the human's waists. Yugi yelped as he was suddenly lifted of his feet. They landed on the other side of the alleyway, far enough away that Jonouchi's tails couldn't reach them.
"Go," Kaze whispered while pushing him gently. "We'll deal with this."
But he couldn't! Not without knowing his friend would be alright!
Kaze ran back into the fight just as the man reappeared from his highspeed battle with the newcomer. Yugi's eyes widened at what he saw.
The man was falling. A stream of blood followed his decent from his chest. The woman held something red and bloody in her hand.
"Liam!"
Kaiba moved and she caught the man before he could hit the ground. Yugi's brain barely even processed the genuine fear in her voice as she shouted the man's name.
"Vampires are nothing compared to me!" the woman shouted down to Kaiba. Kaiba growled but made no effort to move even as blood soaked her white coat. "Now I must be leaving." Her eyes turned to the still distraught and pained Jonouchi. "Come, Rei! You belong to me now!"
There was a moment where Jonouchi's tails spasmed, before he began to stand. It was jerky, as if he were fighting some sort of pull.
"No…" came a duo whisper from Kage and Kaze. "No Rei!" Kaze continued.
Jonouchi looked up.
Heartbroken. Fear. Tears.
"I-I can't control…"
Fresh tears fell down his face before he disappeared. Yugi looked up to the woman and Jonouchi was standing beside her. The woman smirked.
"Kill that female Kitsune, will you?"
Jonouchi's eyes widened but his tails moved anyway. Kaze couldn't even react as his tails teared her in two. Yugi gasped, staring as one half hit the wall and the other the floor.
"Let's go."
They disappeared.
The silence that followed was so sudden and heavy that Yugi felt physically ill. He didn't realise he was running forward until he had knelt by Kaiba's side.
The woman was staring with almost dead eyes at her friend. She…she was trembling…
"Kaiba-san…" he whispered. Those blue eyes drifted to him. "We have to get out of here…"
She swallowed but nodded. Slipping her hands under the body, she lifted it. It was then Yugi realised what had happened to the man.
His heart.
It was gone.
Looking over to the Kitsune, he was met with the heartbroken and angered face of Kage as he knelt over the upper half of Kaze's body.
"Damn…" he whispered. He took something from around her wrist. "And just after you found a good one…" He sighed and stood. His hands were bloody. Looking their way, his eyes darkened. "All you had to do was give him that damn locket." He shoved the thing in his pocket and pulled his tails back into himself. "Now he's been resealed. You've just robbed him, and us, of the little freedom we can have."
And with that the Kitsune disappeared.
Yugi slowly looked up at Kaiba. She let out a breath before griping her dead friend tighter. She looked down at Yugi.
"…I have to get home…" Her eyes drifted to the body. "I apologise for getting you involved…"
She began to walk away. Stirred with a sudden anger, Yugi quickly grabbed her arm. She stopped.
"Kaiba," he said urgently, "you can't just walk away. We have to help Jou!"
"I know that," she whispered. The usual Kaiba tone wasn't there. She sounded like someone else. "But I can't if I don't have any allies. Let me heal, and then I might call you and explain." She shrugged him off. "Now go home, stay indoors, and don't come out."
This time Yugi did not stop her as she left. He shuddered before looking at his remaining two friends.
"What have we done?"