Hi guys! This is a short chapter but the next one is coming soon. We're coming to the end of the story too. Anyway, enjoy!
Warnings
Sexual Implications
Small Nudity
"Alright." Verrac pulled the human girl's arm from the new Vampire's mouth. Yuriko gasped a little and slumped against the alter, eyes pulsing an amber colour. "Now vermin," he bristled at that, "where is Kaseri?"
He tilted his head best he could. After all that. The process of killing Yuriko, turning her and then finally feeding her to keep her alive, he managed to figure out that he knew about 'Kaseri'.
"I do not know." Yuriko said his words for him and Verrac's face darkened in a scowl. "When you took me, we were in the middle of a fight. She could have left the country for all I know."
There was a moment where Verrac seemed to be about to explode, before he calmed and smirked.
"Fine then." He glanced over his shoulder. The Witch stood behind him, yellow eyes glowing with malice. "Go get her."
Seriously? They don't even know where Seto was. They weren't going to find her that easily. They would have more luck digging into their connection than searching blindly–
His heart skipped a beat.
No…
Ravenna dragged a girl into the circular room. The girl stumbled and glared, but she didn't fight. She looked only lightly battered.
Katsuya swallowed.
Shizuka.
"Now let's make a little scene, shall we?"
She woke slowly. Her body ached and her throat was sore. She could barely remember last night…only a lot of pain and tears. She hadn't been Seto Kaiba last night. She had gone back…back to the scared human girl she had tried to cast out.
"Are you awake?"
She sighed. Turning over, Seto looked at Liam. He smiled softly, arm across her stomach gently making patterns. She wasn't bothered by it. It was one of his calming methods.
"How long have you known?" she whispered, eyes flicking over his face.
Liam frowned a little. He sighed and spread his hand out on her side. They hadn't done anything, of course. He was like an older brother to her. She just needed the comfort last night…
She wasn't sure if it helped all that much though…
"I've known even longer than when I met you," he whispered back. He gently rubbed her side, and she had a feeling it was his own way of calming himself. "I've been following him my whole life, cleaning up his messes. When I found you, I was worried you were another monster of his." He lowered his eyes with a small smile. "It was a relief to know you weren't a monster."
Swallowing, she continued to whisper, "How did you two meet?"
Liam's smile turned bitter.
"We…are brothers."
Her eyes widened.
"Y-Your–" She coughed a little. "I-I guess that means…"
Liam nodded.
"I am also an Original." He sighed. "We can compel Vampires, and we can not die by a normal stake. A special stake made with the only wood that can kill us. The sunlight still affects us," he shrugged, "but we're practically immortal."
"And you didn't think to tell me this why?"
Liam quickly became embarrassed and he avoided his eyes.
"Er well…I didn't want you to think ill of me." He glanced back at her. "You don't…do you?"
Seto sighed. No, she didn't. He was still her best friend.
"No." He relaxed, hand resuming to trace patterns. "So how do we get Katsuya back?"
He hesitated. When she didn't relent, he sighed.
"I don't know." He removed his arm and sat up. She watched, idly noting how she was still in her day clothes from yesterday. "I don't even know where he's keeping base. If I did, I would have at least put him to sleep by now."
"Sleep?"
Liam smirked as he said, "Originals 'sleep' when staked with a special dagger. I have my own, so I'm not too worried."
Ok…interesting to know…
"What if we were to stab him with your dagger and then burry him where no one would find him?"
Liam paused.
"…that could work, except then we'd have to find him."
Seto sat up too.
"Well…" She smirked a little, attitude lightening considerably. "I was given a message to meet 'where we died'." His eyes widened. "If I dagger him when I see him…"
"But he could compel you easily."
Seto's smirk only grew. She held her necklace, a similar locket coming to mind.
"I have an idea."
They were on a building. Ravenna had forced him to stay in fox form and teleport them all to the building. He was beyond exhausted. He could barely stand as he was. His legs trembled and his vision doubled/fuzzed. He felt sick…
Verrac held Shizuka in a tight grip. One hand on her arm, blood already trickling from punctured skin, and another at her throat in a threaten of killing. Ravenna's mind was alert and he could feel her pushing at him, keeping a very tight hold. Yuriko was forced to stand near him, even though Ravenna should be able to understand him.
"What are we doing here?" he muttered, Yuriko translating.
They were standing on a building across from his old high school. Domino high was buzzing with activity as students made their way into the school. He didn't have any idea where this was going…
"I want you to burn it down," Verrac whispered.
His head whipped towards the Vampire. The man grinned, tightening his grip on Shizuka. She winced a little, eyes wide and fearful. He swallowed.
"Why?"
Verrac grinned.
"It will catch people's attention." He shifted Shizuka. "Now, do it or I will kill your 'sister'."
What if you had to torture Shizuka?
He growled as those words came back to him. He never thought he'd be in this situation. Shizuka was a distant relative to his body. She knew about him. Knew he was Kitsune. Her whole family did, since he would pop in from time to time needing a place to stay.
Sighing, he looked back at the school. What harm could there be? There weren't many kids in yet, and they should be able to get out…
And anyway…
Humans were an overpopulated species…
With a sigh, he took a deep breath. Bracing himself, he blew out a stream of golden red fire. His tails reared up as he did so, helping to keep him balance at the high-powered attack.
The school set a flame almost instantly. It started at the roof, and slowly began to spread. Alarms went off and children screamed as the windows exploded. People fled the scene.
All the while he collapsed. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get up. His head was swimming and his heart ached. It was sputtering as it attempted to pump magic through his spiritual form.
If only he could go back into the locket…he could at least heal and rest in there…
A sharp stab at his mind made him flinch. Ravenna wouldn't let him…
"Hmpth." Verrac let Shizuka go. The girl quickly retreated, getting as far as she could. "You can go."
Shizuka sent a fearful and concerned expression his way. He smirked best he could, breathing heavily.
"Go Shizuka," he whispered while telling Yuriko through his mind not to repeat. She didn't. "I'll be fine."
The poor human who had become trapped in his family game gave a short nod and fled into the building. He turned his eyes up to the Vampire.
"Now what?" he growled, Yuriko translating this one.
Thank god she knew English…
"You know."
He sighed. Great…
She stared at the TV. Well…she hadn't been expecting that…
A sudden fire outbreak in Domino High? This early? Couldn't the world wait a couple hours before destroying things?
Seto sighed as she switched off the TV. She had to get back into persona before the Kitsune got here. She had asked Kage and Umi to come over, and maybe bring a couple friends. She had also intended to invite the Yugi-tachi so she could explain, but she found herself too exhausted to even try. They were safer in their homes.
Despite all the missed calls and texts she had been receiving from Yugi.
"They're here," Liam whispered just as the doorbell rang.
With a huff, Seto got to her feet. She walked to the front door and opened it. She blinked at the extra two.
Kage, Umi, a girl with platinum blond hair and a woman with auburn hair.
"Ah, come in…"
Kage offered a smile but she ignored it until they were sitting in the living room. He was the first to speak.
"So what is this plan you've come up with?"
She smirked.
"First, who are you two?"
The woman smiled while the girl looked away with a grunt.
"My name is Seishin," the woman said while gesturing to herself. Her eyes flashed. "And this is Celest."
Spirit and Celestial…
Powerful.
"Seto," she replied.
The girl, Celest, seemed unimpressed as she looked her up and down.
"Can't believe he chose someone like you," she muttered, instantly causing Seto to frown boarder scowl. "You're not…the same…"
While she was confused by the comment, Kage just rolled his eyes and muttered, "Not everyone has to be messed up to be Rei's partner, Celest."
Celest just grunted and looked away again. So…bitter ex? Probably…
"Ah," Seto coughed a little, "anyway…" She looked at Kage and Umi. "I think I might know how to get Katsuya back."
She then proceeded to explain the events she and Liam had fleshed out that morning. Verrac's message. His powers. And her idea of prevention.
"How many Kitsune can possess one body?" she asked.
Kage frowned. Seishin was the one who answered.
"Three max," she said. "In a human with strong mental capabilities, they can hold three, but not control three. They would be exhausted though, and severe mental strain. Anyone less than that would die under the pressure."
"So it's safe to assume a supernatural creature can double that number?"
All four Kitsune stared at her.
"…how is this supposed to prevent Verrac from compelling you?" Umi asked.
Seto gave her Kaiba smirk. She leaned back in her seat.
"If I am possessed by enough spirits, we may be able to block the compelling. If he compels me, there will be enough of you to overpower his compulsion and use my body to free Katsuya." She caught the realisation in Kage and Seishin's eyes. "I am one hundred and fifty seven years old. I should be able to handle six Kitsune."
"But we are Nine Tails," Umi protested. "We're stronger than the normal Kitsune. A human may only be able to handle two of us at once."
She shrugged.
"I'm willing to risk it." The Kitsune each showed variations of confusion and suspicion. "Katsuya made a valid point." She lowered her eyes as the memories came back. "He always sacrificed himself for us. I might as well try to return the favour."
There was a moment of silence, before Kage sighed. She glanced up.
"Alright…" She would not admit her heart jumped like a giddy child. "I'll help." He looked at his companions. "You guys in?"
Umi paused, before sighing as well and nodding.
"But I don't know if I will be able to go in," she pointed out. "I have to keep an eye on his body."
Seto nodded.
"That's fine. I assumed so anyway." She looked at the other two. "Is it possible you'll help? I know this is the first time meeting but…"
Celest glared at the wall but muttered, "I guess…" Her yellow eyes flicked back to Seto. "It's to help Rei."
Now Seishin. The Spirit Kitsune frowned lightly.
"I do not think it is safe for me to enter you too," she admitted. "Having Void and Celestial is strain enough as it is." Said two stiffened a little at that. "I will work on others though. I believe Arashi would, and Jikan."
"Shin!" Kage interrupted. "Shin too. He's Forest, so if we need a stake…"
Seishin nodded. Seto watched. They were making the decisions for her…
Good.
"That should be enough," Seishin said. Seto frowned. That was only five… "There's no saying what Rei will do once you touch his locket. He may possess you too. Seven is too much of a risk."
True…just the exhaustion after having him inside her for a couple of minutes had been enough…
"So…" Celest muttered, "that's me, Kage, Arashi, Ji and Shin, plus Rei maybe?" She shrugged. "Ok. When do we do this?"
"As soon as possible," Seto said.
"Then tomorrow it is," Seishin decided while standing. "We'll talk to the others. Right now," her multi coloured eyes sparkled and she smiled, "you need to rest. If you are to hold six of us, you are going to need all the strength you can get."
As much as she didn't like the idea, she nodded anyway. The four soon left and she was alone with Liam again.
Ok…now things were getting somewhere…
Draining…draining…draining…
So boring.
He sighed as he glared ahead. It had to be night by now. Maybe…actually…
A grin spread across his muzzled snout. I wonder…
Closing his eyes, he slipped into 'sleep'. As a spirit, sleep was more of an 'away from body' experience. When he reopened his eyes, he was hovering in a space of infinite black. Ok…
Now who's dream to infiltrate? It would be fun…
Grinning, he ran across the black with newfound strength. It felt good to move again…
Abruptly, he broke into a forest. The fox stalled, looked around in surprise. Huh…where was he…?
Walking through the underbrush, he soon found a mansion. The lights were on, but it was isolated. It looked old English style…
Hmm…
Crawling through the partially open window, he found the house to be quite well off. He wondered…who did it belong to?
Paws pattering on the ground, he turned into the living room–
"Ah…"
So…Seto's dream…
Or memory?
No, it was probably a memory…
Many things were happening. One, was a young boy and some other girl doing something he'd rather not think about by the fire. Two, was the naked woman on the couch with a man on top of her, practically sexually assaulting her–
Wait.
"Seto?"
Running to the couch, he got a good look at both their faces. Oh gods…that was Seto! And–
Verrac…
This was a memory. Of her human days…
Her eyes were clouded and she seemed mostly 'unconscious'. Blood stained her neck and various places of her body. Glancing back he could see similar bite marks along the boy, who he know guessed was Mokuba, and the girl. Turning back, he glared at Verrac.
Stupid Vampire…
Since this was a nightmare…
The fox jumped onto the back of the couch. He dived onto Verrac's back. The Vampire disappeared in a puff of smoke. As he looked up, the rest of the house began to smoke out of existence. Looking down, 'Seto' blinked and came to. Soon, an old English dress donned her previously naked body.
She pushed herself up, groaning softly. Her hair was fluffy and curly, something he had never seen before. She wore light makeup too. The dress was weird enough as it was.
To think Seto used to look like this.
The woman looked around the black space. Due to it being a dream, he highly doubted she would know who he was. In a dream, even those you loved could become blurry. Especially in this case where she had just been reliving the past.
"Oh!" He blinked as she finally noticed him. She cocked her head a little, eyes innocent. "A fox?" Those blue orbs drifted behind him. "…with nine tails…"
Yeah…this wasn't Seto…
This was Kaseri. The human.
"I can talk too," he whispered.
She jumped and her eyes snapped to his. He smirked, tilting his head and letting his ear flick. She paused, before relaxing.
"A talking…fox…" She shook her head with a soft laugh. "My dreams are so strange…"
So she knew she was dreaming at least…
"What was going on just before?" he asked quietly.
Kaseri stiffened. She slowly looked away, avoiding eye contact. He suddenly caught sight of the dried blood still on her neck.
"It's not important…" she muttered. "It's something that can't be helped."
"…why do you let him?"
She glared at him with a little of the current Kaiba scorn.
"I don't mean to!" She looked away again. "It just started happening one day and now I can't stop it. When he looks at me I just…" She huffed again and looked at the roof. "It's worse for Mikey." Mikey…? "He's only a child."
Mokuba! Mikey was his old name? Or a nickname? Probably a nickname. It was very close to Moki actually…
"Is there some way to stop it?" he asked softly.
She paused. When she looked back at him, he almost frowned.
Now hold on…the dream shifted…
"…we've come up with a way…" she whispered, eyes distant. "We think if someone is possessed already they can't be compelled."
We?
"Who helped you come to this decision?"
"Kage and Umi. Seishin too." She smiled as she lay back down. He blinked in confusion. His friends? "We're going to save someone very important to me…" He remained silent. "I hurt him, so badly. I want to make it up to him, but I don't know how. I didn't mean for any of this to happen…" He flinched as her clothes flickered into the Battle City outfit. Seto… "I'm going to do what he always did for me."
He swallowed. Please no…
"Which is…?" he whispered.
She smiled and closed her eyes.
"I'm going to save him by any means possible."