Hello, everyone. At this point, I should stop making assumptions about when the next chapter will come. I can only say that the story won't be abandoned. I've been so emotionally tired lately mostly because of work that any creative process has been quite a luxury. Editing and writing have been things I have to schedule nowadays. I apologize for the wait.
I've got myself a new computer so hopefully this will help with some technical problems. For now, it's just added more to the list of things I have to do. I feel that acquiring a desktop feels a bit like moving. We had to make changes in my room, connect everything, a problem occurred, files and programs must be moved and installed and of course work never ends even at the weekends.
But anyway, enough for my whining. I'm really happy I can finally give you this chapter. If you came here after reading What the Hell, you must know how much I love my Malik. Well, it was time for him to appear and cause some chaos. And chaos could be the second title of this story.
From now on, you'll get more and more information so be prepared.
I want to thank my Bakura who always asks me to write more and encourages me when I tell her I have hit a wall. I also want to thank Kathy with her beautiful drawings and Julia who keeps reading this story. And of course, all of you here who read the story, like it and even leave me some comments. Thank you!
Chapter 21
The playroom was a total mess. Churned chairs were on the floor. The carpet was littered with cards and pawns, and the table had been moved from its original position. A bunch of disheveled boys were standing around, not sure of what had transpired in what seemed like moments. They were having such a great time before all hell broke loose, unleashed by a shell-shocked Bakura.
The appearance of a group of people had dissipated the last remnants of black magic in the room, effectively freeing Mokuba and Joey. It still took some moments for either of them to move. Mokuba was trembling really hard and, as soon as he spotted his brother on the door, he walked straight to him, hiding his face on his long coat, not caring who would see. That freed Joey from the shock of the moment, too. The blonde moved towards his brother, carefully extracting him from Ryou's embrace. The young white haired boy had sunk to the floor under the weight of the unconscious boy in his arms but had continued holding him with such gentleness as if the person sleeping in his arms was the most precious jewel in the world.
"I am so sorry." He whispered, and Joey wasn't sure to whom the apology was directed.
The boy that had spoken when the door opened walked towards them and, still holding his knife, knelt by them, gently touching the unconscious boy's cheek. "I'm here, Yuugi. Everything will be better now."
A lazy smile spread on his face as his eyes took in the trio of magic users standing frozen in the room. "Are you deaf? I asked you a question." His white teeth seemed to shine as he smiled at them. "Should I start with the thief or maybe his second in command? Or should I go straight to the Great Pharaoh?"
If the trio wasn't as shocked as they were from Yuugi's transformation, the boy's words would have caused quite a reaction. Now it only made them tense and acknowledge that he was a force they shouldn't underestimate just because it came packed in a slim beautiful body and a pair of pretty eyes.
"Malik, that's quite enough." A strict feminine voice interrupted the boy's taunting.
A beautiful tall woman with long black hair which trailed down her waist walked into the room and Kaiba and Solomon Mutou made space for her to pass. Something about her made Atem think that this was a woman of power. He instantly became wary of her. She emitted the same energy all users of shadow magic did. Marik and Bakura also came to the same conclusion as they stood in attention.
"My name is Ishizu Ishtar, and this ill-mannered young man is my brother, Malik." She introduced herself and the other boy with a soft gesture of her hand. "I apologize on his behalf but Yuugi Mutou is really precious to him."
"We're dating." Malik announced, proudly, and stood up. His clothes were so tight that they seemed like they were imprinted on his body.
A soft giggle escape Ryou's lips and Malik narrowed his eyes. "I'm sure Yuugi will be delighted to hear that when he wakes up." The white haired boy laughed, finally wiping his tears. "Oh, Malik! I'm so glad you're back."
And with that, Ryou threw himself to Malik who almost lost his grip on his knife trying to catch the other boy properly. "Yes, I'm back. For good." Malik's words were clearly a promise and a threat.
Atem wasn't sure which of the matters at hand he should address first. The room was filled with people who had similar or even greater secrets than his. Were they friends or enemies? He didn't really like his cousin but he didn't think Seto would deliberately hurt them without any provocation so the newcomers probably weren't a threat.
"You and Yuugi are dating?" He ended up asking, and internally cringed. Was that really the most important question to ask at that moment?
Bakura gave him an incredible look but Marik seemed to share the same feelings as Atem. His eyes hadn't left the iris eyed boy and his lethal body. Naturally, he couldn't but admire how gorgeous the boy was and how skillfully he played with that knife. He was fierce and wild but he had touched Yuugi with such gentleness. Marik felt the need to know more about this boy named Malik, and it wasn't just because he looked so much like him. At this point, he had expected the existence of his own look-alike. If Atem and Bakura had one, he was sure there would be one for him too. Still, his curiosity for the new boy didn't replace his need to be close to Yuugi.
"Which part didn't you get, crimson? We are together." Malik's grin seemed to only widen with each passing moment. "Tsts. I leave for some months and everyone thinks they can claim my little darling."
Ryou started giggling again, and Malik elbowed him, hard. "Weren't you supposed to let me know if anyone made a move on him? What kind of friends are you?" He directed his question towards both Ryou and Joey and even though his words were harsh, his tone was teasing.
"Why don't you move Yuugi to his room?" Kaiba decided to intervene. Malik may have effectively diverted everyone's attention from Yuugi's condition but his words didn't sit well with the CEO. "I don't imagine holding him this way is quite comfortable." He pointed to Joey's kneeling position. "Malik, as I was telling you before we came here, your room is the one by Yuugi's. Your things are already there. Ryou can surely point you towards it."
Back in control, Kaiba gently pushed Mokuba towards the hall and whispered something to him. The teenager seemed to be back to his senses and nodded his head before leaving. "Miss Ishtar and Mr. Mutou, why don't you go refresh yourself until it's time for dinner. You both had quite a busy day. I'll take care of things here." His tone was quite respectful as he addressed his two guests who nodded and exited the room.
Seto's icy blue eyes took in the state of the room. He was pretty sure he would have to replace some of the chairs and probably the carpet but other than that it was mostly untouched by the magic. It was a good thing Bakura hadn't tried to blow anything up. However, if Seto wanted to be honest with himself, he would rather replace the whole room than explain to the others what had happened.
"So, who of you three idiots triggered this?" Kaiba's voice was so casual that anyone would think he was discussing something as unimportant as the weather. Two sets of eyes turned towards Bakura who growled at them. "I thought so." He quickly strode through the room, pulled a chair that seemed sturdy enough and sat down. "Tell me exactly what happened."
Atem was the one who decided to explain what had happened since Ryou joined them; how he had done something to Bakura to stop him from asking questions and how Bakura pushed Ryou during the game after tricking him into a sense of safety. Atem continued telling him about how Ryou seemed more terrified that something would happen than by Bakura's attack and how Yuugi started acting strange, using some kind of power to pull Bakura away from Ryou before passing out.
"Whatever Yuugi did, he didn't exactly seem to be in control." Marik observed, running a hand through his hair. "When Bakura's mist stopped everyone from moving, Yuugi was equally frozen. I was trying to stop Bakura but I could see Yuugi struggling to get free. And then suddenly it was as if the mist wasn't there. He just walked through it."
"His power...what he did...didn't feel like our shadow magic." Atem rubbed his chin, trying to find a way to explain what he saw. "When those rays touched Bakura, they seemed to shine brighter. And when Bakura struggled, they just let him go. Did they hurt you?"
Only then did Bakura check his body. There were no scars or burns. "No. Actually, I feel quite energized." He scratched his head, thinking about it. "While I was fighting to get up, I felt my magic was feeding off his. I felt it around me, keeping me down, but it didn't hurt me. And then, when I broke free, I felt tired for a moment, spent. Then, suddenly, the mist was dissipated and I was full of energy again."
Kaiba fought the urge to kick all of them out of his mansion. It was a sad thing that Marik was the most tolerable of the three and still Seto wanted all of them as far away from his carefully structured life and Yuugi. He had overestimated them. He had thought they would mind their own business and not bother Yuugi or Ryou. He had asked them the previous night to refrain from discussing anything related to their situation in front of Yuugi no matter what and they had agreed. He had even told them that Yuugi's friend and co-worker would come to stay with them and it would be better if they stayed away from both boys. He should have known better than to believe they would follow through.
Maybe he should have gone with his initial plan, moving Ryou, Yuugi and his family to another safe place. Ryou had to be close to Yuugi. It was the best protection for both. With Malik already on a plane, Yuugi's protection would be stronger soon. Moving everyone to another place was an extreme move, though, and Yuugi would fight against it. Moreover, it was a bit risky splitting his personnel and moving so many people could attract attention. He had thought he could manage everyone. But there were so many factors he couldn't control. He hated it.
"Yuugi isn't like you three or anyone else touched by the shadow powers. His powers are different, and they are still asleep. He isn't aware of them and we wish to keep things this way." Seto's voice was clear and cutting. "His family and friends have been protecting him for years, making sure there is no reason for him to be involved in a situation that would force him to awaken." He fought hard to keep his facial expression unchanged as he spoke those words. "There had been an incident some time ago that shook things up but it was taken care of, and since then everyone has been even more vigilant."
"The workhouse fire." Marik interrupted him, and for the first time an expression of surprise made itself apparent on Kaiba's face. "Bakura has hacked the university's system. Yuugi mentioned he was hospitalized and Bakura found those files that proved it. I happened to be around that area when the explosions happened so we put two and two together."
Kaiba quickly recovered. They only knew something had happened. They had no idea what exactly had transpired that day, though. "It was an accident. Something that shouldn't have happened and we refuse to allow something similar to happen again." His blue eyes narrowed at his cousin. "I didn't want to bring you here. In a couple of days you've ruined the work of years."
"You have been protecting Yuugi for all this time, right?" Instead of feeling anger or jealousy, Atem felt relief. He didn't care for what reasons Seto wanted to protect the younger boy. It was enough that Yuugi had such a strong protector. Whatever had caused that fire, had almost killed the boy. No one would want a repeat of that. "Why?"
"That's for me to know. But yes. There was a breakdown in communication at first but I became aware of Yuugi's situation three years ago and since then, I've been keeping an eye on him from afar." That was as much as Kaiba was willing to share at that moment.
"You've hurt him." Marik simply stated. That much was apparent. "He hasn't said anything but it's pretty clear you were the one who pushed him away. Which explains why he was so distraught when he thought we were playing with his feelings."
Kaiba neither confirmed nor denied Marik's words. He simply stayed quiet. It was a good indicator that they wouldn't get more information about his past with Yuugi. So, instead, they went back to the original topic.
"Will Yuugi remember what happened?" Atem asked, concerned. Had they triggered something that could hurt the other boy? If everyone wanted to keep Yuugi from finding out he had some kind of power, they didn't want to be the ones to change everything.
Kaiba didn't have an answer to that. They would have to wait and see. The previous time, the boy had no recollection of what had happened. His grandfather told him he had passed out while returning home from his classes and that he had been in a coma for a while. Yuugi had been distressed but trusting. He had no memory of his involvement in a fire or anything that happened before that.
"If Yuugi has no memory of the incident, I guess you want us to stay away from him and his friends and not cause any more trouble." Atem voiced what all three of them thought.
Quite honestly, he wasn't planning to bring it up anyway. Causing the boy any more pain was the last thing he wanted. He was pretty sure the others would agree with him. He was actually quite surprise Kaiba hadn't tried to kick them out yet.
"We won't do anything but you need to answer some of our questions, rich boy." Bakura was ready to use Kaiba's protectiveness as a bargaining chip even if he had no intension of telling Yuugi what had happened or triggering another incident. "Naturally, we are curious about certain things. For example, you cannot expect us to believe the three boys aren't involved with us when their looks are so similar to ours."
"Believe it or not, that's a game of fate. It's true that these boys look quite much like you but also don't." Kaiba's smirk was a clear indication of whose looks he preferred. "However, I can assure you none of them is your enemy. It'd be more accurate to say that you are more dangerous to them than they are to you."
"Why did you bring Malik and his sister here?" Marik decided to ask because it was clear Bakura was about to start arguing with the owner of the mansion, not trusting his words or intentions.
Kaiba smiled a small smile understanding the Egyptian boy would make up his mind based on the answer he would give him. At least one of them could think with a clear head. "She insisted to accompany her brother back in Japan. We couldn't keep Malik away from Yuugi anymore even if we wanted and with the threat over Yuugi's head we all felt it would be better if both his friends were by his side." Kaiba paused for a moment, considering his next words. "I was against it at first but Miss Ishtar is here to give you a choice. It's up to you if you'll take it or not."
A chance. An offer. Maybe Ishizu was there to help them escape the country. She seemed like an important person. Maybe together with Kaiba she could offer them a new start. But would they take it? Marik and Bakura were against leaving the country and Atem was having second thoughts too. If those had to do with a pair of amethyst eyes, he wouldn't admit it, though.
Kaiba was talking again so everyone focused their attention on him. "She can help you leave the country and hide somewhere that will be really hard for anyone to find you. Your life there won't be one of comfort and modern facilities. I must warn you about that. You will be protected and free but until your tracks are lost for good, you will be hidden from the world."
Marik clearly didn't like the idea. He enjoyed everything the city could offer even if his budget often limited his choices. His life was always full of colors and music. Could he survive with whatever part of his sanity was still intact in a hidden hole, trying to lie low? Was that how the rest of his life would be? Would he always have to hide and change countries, hoping he could get away from an enemy that would stop at nothing to find him? No. That wasn't what he wanted.
Bakura had similar thoughts. They had run away some years before trying to find a better life but each time they left a place in haste, a part of them was left behind. He wasn't really sentimental and he wasn't afraid of hard work. Living a life of no comforts wasn't something new to him but he'd be extremely bored hiding in what he supposed would be a village on a mountain or a dessert. Not to mention, he was quite tired of running away.
Atem saw the moment both boys made up their minds, understanding setting on him like a layer of fresh snow. They wouldn't take the offer. If there was a chance for them to stay and regain a sense of normalcy, they'd choose that option instead. And he would do the same because there was no way he would abandon the two boys that were closer to him that his real family. Those two were his brothers and he would go to the end of the world for them.
"And if we refuse?" His crimson eyes were bright even if he felt resigned. Hinata's words rang in his ears. Would Kaiba help them? "Is there another option?"
The older boy quickly understood the change that came over the other three boys and stood up, slowly. "If you choose to stay, then I guess it's time to end this farce once and for all. Miss Ishtar will be a valuable help in this endeavor." Without feeling the need to waste a glance at the other occupants of the room anymore, Kaiba made his way towards the door. "You see, she is the keeper of two of the Millennium Items."
With that, Kaiba left the room, not caring about how much his words shook the ones that were left behind.
A knock on Yuugi's door stirred Ryou away from the bed the tri-color haired boy was lying in. He opened the door without a question and let Seto walk inside. The ice in the CEO's eyes instantly melted taking in the unconscious boy. Yuugi would recover. He was sure of that. He simply needed enough rest to get back all the energy he had used. This time was nothing in compare to that incident years ago, he kept reminding himself.
"I'll ask someone to bring you dinner here. I assume you don't wish to leave his side until he wakes up." Consideration wasn't one of Seto's strongest points but he knew certain things applied to everyone. He hadn't left Mokuba's side when he fell seriously sick years ago even if he had a thousand things to do. "Can you still feel him?"
"He's just sleeping." Ryou gently answered, his eyes on his friend's lying form. "It's not too serious. He used more energy than he could spare at that moment. Everything came as a shock to his current memories, too. I think what happened overwhelmed him so much that he shut down."
Joey moved his hazel eyes away from his brother and met those of Kaiba. There was uncertainty in those deep eyes and Seto saw the vulnerability the blonde felt. "They'll stay away from you all and not ask any questions." He heard himself comforting the boy. Why did he say that? It was a fact but why did he offer it as a comfort? "They were surprised by what happened, of course, but they don't wish to hurt Yuugi. They'll be cautious from now on. That's for sure."
Seto had sporadically seen Joey Wheeler through the years. The blonde had invited himself to his mansion once, accompanying his brother, declaring that Kaiba had to be approved by him if he wanted to be friends with his brother. It had taken Yuugi's pleadings and a great deal of Seto's patience not to kick the boy out. He was cocky and loud, and his eyes never left Yuugi. But he could be quite amusing, too. Seto thought of him as a good guard dog that wouldn't let Yuugi alone, and a small part of him respected him for that. After all, Seto had a brother of his own that he wanted to protect. Maybe that's why, when Solomon Mutou brought the blonde with him two years ago during a meeting they had about the Items, Seto allowed him to stay and even answered some of his questions. In all honesty, his questions weren't that bad either.
"We won't be able to keep this a secret for much longer." Joey stated with a finality that chilled everyone in the room. "You must know it, too. The moment Atem walked into his life, everything started falling apart." He hid his face in his hands. "I should have stopped it. I should have grabbed Yuugi, pushed him in my car and leave Atem behind."
Guilt. Joey felt the blame was all his. He should have done something to stop the avalanche that was about to bury all of them alive. He should have kept the boy away from Atem. He had failed Yuugi.
"There's still time." Malik spoke, decisively. "And if we cannot stop it from happening, we'll make sure this time things won't end up the same way. We aren't losing him again." The iris-eyed boy moved a bit from where he was sitting on Yuugi's legs on the bed, making himself more comfortable. "It took us by surprise before, but it won't happen again. This time, we'll keep him safe. After all, crimson-eyes isn't even close to our dear prince." Gently, he touched one of Yuugi's hands that was resting on the top of the blanket. "It's my duty to make sure he has no chances with him; a duty that I've taken quite seriously."
No one in the room missed the way Malik's eyes darkened or how the room suddenly felt quite suffocating, as if the air was stale and dry. It lasted mere seconds but it left them with a feeling of dread. Things were changing too fast but they were all ready.
"Are they going to accept Ishizu's offer to join the clan?" Malik asked a moment later, understanding there was more to what Kaiba had to tell them.
"We didn't discuss it in details but I don't believe they'll even consider it. Marik and Bakura were clearly against it and Atem won't follow this path without them." Once again, Kaiba's voice was the same as the one he used for reports and business. It was just facts. There was no space for emotions to be involved.
Another moment of silence followed before Ryou decided someone should address the elephant in the room. "If you are to collect the Items, maybe we shouldn't stay here." He worried his lip, not sure how to proceed but then he sighed. "Malik and I could help. We won't be as much help without Yuugi as we could be, but there may be things we can do. The sooner this is over, the sooner we'll be able to return to our lives." He didn't want to be separated from Yuugi. He didn't want to stay in the same place as Bakura and the others. However, he'd do it if it was what was needed to be done. "But Yuugi must leave. Joey and his grandfather could keep him safe. Everyone's attention would be on us. They may not even understand Yuugi isn't with us."
Joey shook his head. He was pretty sure Yuugi wouldn't agree to leave them behind. There was no way his brother would hide in a secure location while everyone else was involved in something he couldn't even understand or know about. He addressed those issues and Kaiba seemed to agree with him, much to Joey's surprise.
Still, they needed to make sure Yuugi would stay away from the Items and their enemy. "After dinner, we'll discuss everything. We need to find out what those three know. What made them run away and how much control they have over their powers? Then, we all need to make some serious decision. But no matter what, our goal is to end this business without Yuugi." Seto's words were carefully calculated, his shoulders tense from all the stress of the moment. "The mansion is the safest place you could be at the moment and no one knows you're here."
Joey wasn't worried about security. If there was one thing that he respected about Seto Kaiba was the fierce way he protected his little brother. In that, they were similar. So, no. Joey wasn't worried about security. Kaiba would pull all stops to make sure no one would touch them while they were in that mansion. What worried him was his brother. Yuugi was the wildest card of all, and Joey knew first-hand how far the tricolor haired boy could go to protect someone he loved. No matter how much Joey hated keeping secrets from Yuugi, his brother had to stay in the dark.
"How is Mokuba?" He asked, remembering the way the teenager shook after what had happened in the playroom.
Seto barely managed to suppress a look of surprise. He hadn't expected Wheeler to ask him about his brother. "He's alright. He's a strong boy." There was a hint of pride in his usually unemotional voice. "We talked about some things last night but this was his first experience with magic. If anything similar happens, he'll be more prepared."
Ryou whispered how he hoped the black haired boy wouldn't have to experience anything similar ever. Concerned, he asked if Mokuba had asked about Yuugi's powers but Seto dismissed his concerns. It seemed like Mokuba was too deep into the mist and had no idea what was happening around him. His senses had been so shaken up by the shadow magic that his surroundings had been lost for a while. Unlike Joey who was no magic user but was connected to Yuugi in such a way that offered him a basic protection, Mokuba was just like every other mortal being. He was able to retain most of the information he heard just because he got them straight from the people who were involved in those past incidents.
"I'll send him over to stay with Yuugi after dinner." Was the last thing Seto said before closing the door behind him, leaving everyone in the room to contemplate everything that had happened so far and whatever was to come.
It becomes harder and harder writing these chapters because of all the information I need to give but I'll never get tired of writing the interactions among all these characters. The trio of magic users and the way they care about each other as well as Yuugi….Ryou, Malik and Joey being Yuugi's protectors knowing Yuugi will give his life for them…Seto being overprotective when it comes to Mokuba and Yuugi.
Let me know what you think! See you soon (Hopefully!)