Disclaimer: Guess what? I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Now isn't that a surprise?
Pt Three
Pegasus tapped the arm of his chair impatiently. He found a strange kind of comfort in the continuous, confident noise.
TAP. TIPPETY TAP. TAP. TAP. TIPPETY --
"Mr. Pegasus, sir?"
Pegasus sighed. He didn't even bother turning round.
"I've told you. Call me Maximillian. Maxy. Maxiboy! Anything!!! Just please, please don't call me Pegasus."
"Yes, Mr. Maximillian, sir."
Pegasus shrugged. It was better than nothing.
"So what are you doing here, at this unearthly hour of ... " He checked the clock hanging on the wall. "5.34, PM?"
The young man smiled uncertainly. He was aware that Mr. Pegasus had made a joke, but was unsure how to react. To laugh? To smile? To nod? Before he could decide, the moment passed. He decided it was best to pursue his task.
"There's a letter for you, sir."
Intrigued, Pegasus leaned over the table to take the small manilla envelope from his ... his housekeeper, in a word. He opened it. His eyes fell on the words, 'Yugi Moto - best regards'. Now he really was curious. He unfolded the extensive document and began to read.
Eyes. Eyes, staring at him. He shuddered. Who was -? The housekeeper, of course. Yes, the housekeeper was still standing in the doorway.
"You are dismissed," he said, without looking up. "Goodbye, Mr. Yuko."
As the man left, Pegasus laid the letter on the table. Better get more comfortable. It was a long letter. He stretched, yawned, got a glass of some beverage; not wine, he noted. Good. Wine would help him little to understand what that Yugi boy was trying to say to him. He examined the drink more closely. It was coffee. Of course, the coffee did not make such a delightful effect when smashed against the wall, but, still. This was not the time. Or the place. He retrieved the letter.
"Dear Mr. Pegasus," he began out loud, to his irritation. Then he had a second thought. He reached over the table and pulled out the phone cord.
He began the letter again.
Dear Mr. Pegasus,
Since you are the only person left apart from me - soon to be the only person left, period - that knows what went on that December night, before the eclipse, I was obliged to send you this note.
Wait, that's a lie. Seto Kaiba was obliged to send you this note.
We promised each other - and ourselves - to let the last person know. So ... I wasn't going to send this letter, you know. It was all their idea. Wait - you must think I'm going mad. To tell you the truth, I feel that I am.
You remember we used to hate you? Well, that was why we never told you. When anybody realized they were heading for the chop, they told all the others what they knew about on that night. We left you out of it because ... I'm sorry to say this; we didn't trust you. But now it is time to tell you everything. And, because you are the only one I can confide in, I will tell you what I never told the others.
It was my fault. It was all my fault. I admit; I did it. I was driving that car. Yes, it was Joey who gave me the keys, but I was the irresponsible child who killed Seto's brother, Mokuba. And wait; that is not all. Bakura lied about those guards. It was not him. It was me.
I cannot explain it. You do not understand what it feels like to be tied to a balcony, powerless, as your loved ones are ... Well. You know that part. You were there. I was full of so much anger, so much anguish at the unfair suffering. But I took it out on the wrong people. And Bakura - little Bakura, bless him - covered for me. What he didn't know was the reason the others were getting hurt, was my lies. If I had told him that, would he still have done it for me? I don't know, Pegasus. Maybe you can answer it for me. Maybe not. The point is, it doesn't matter any more. There is only one thing I have left to say, and then my job here will be blissfully complete.
You know why what happened to them happened, don't you? Yes, I know you do. Merciless slaughter of thousands. But it was me! The power ... the anger ... the regret ... combined, they are deadly. Maybe you know more about that than anybody else, huh? But on that December ... I have to tell you what happened.
It was Kaiba Corp. You knew that. You saw that. It was a motiveless, sick act. That's what all the papers said. They said it was a group of young terrorists. I can remember the caption as if it was burned into my brain; TERRORISTS: (LEFT TO RIGHT) Joey Wheeler, Tea Gardner, Tristan Taylor, Mai Valentine, Seto Kaiba. Seto Kaiba? What were they thinking? Why would the CEO himself try to blow up his own corporation? Insurance? Well, he sure would have got a whole lot of it. But the truth is, I did it. I was mad. Don't you understand that? The guilt, the depression, the loss ... I guess they drove me a bit nuts. Heh. Funny. Like peas in a pod, aren't we, Pegsy? I even drink as bad as you, now.
I lied about there only being one more thing. There were two things. Here's the second: I hear them, Pegasus. Clear as day. My pals. Kaiba. Even little Mokuba, but he doesn't speak much. He just screams, mainly; in my nightmares. Nightmares, so many of them. That moment, replayed over and over; the car, the screeching brakes. I am flung forward over the wheel. Then there's the scream. Sometimes we get to the hospital. But mostly, I wake up just there, and find myself sweating, but cold, on the floor, next to my bed. I guess I wake myself up. Automatic protection of my sanity? Likely. I'd go mad if I saw Kaiba like that again. But ... they're still there, in my mind. There's Joey. He makes me laugh when I'm on my own in the house. Tristan; heh, he panics all over the place. But Joey just tells him to shut up. It can be quite tiresome, you know. Ever had the voices of two of your former best friends squabble in your own head until they gave you a headache? No? Didn't think so. Where was I? Tea. Tea ... I ... I miss her a lot. But she's still there. Giving the good old advice. Course, it can be a bit ... uncomfortable, when I need the loo, and stuff like that. But I'm not that bothered. She's only a voice. Unfortunately.
Mai can get annoying; hon this, hon that. But she's still there to give me a good kick up the mental **** when I'm wallowing in self-pity a little too much. And Kaiba! God, he's the sanest of them all. For some reason, he never annoys me. I hardly ever hear him, though. He only gives me very helpful advice on business moves, stuff like that. And, as I said at the very start of this letter, he was the one who told me to write. He sensed me going, leaving this world, and yanked me back to write this before going for good.
Now ... I think my job has been done. I had to get that off my chest, Pegasus. You of all people understand that. This I know.
Don't bother replying. You were the oldest, yet you've out lived us all.
Yugi Moto - best regards.
Pegasus finished the letter with a flourish. He sniffed. So Yugiboy was going crazy? He considered that idea. It was quite plausible, after all the kid had been through. Sad, though. Youth going to waste. Then again, Yugi's youth had been pretty short. It was all very depressing, he decided. And why had Yugi chosen to confide in him? Stupid question. It said why in the letter. Oh, well. If he wanted no replies, he got no replies. But still . there had to be something he could do, as a token of respect.
"Yuko?" he called after a moment. "Do something for me."
"Yes, Mr. Maximillian, sir," Yuko agreed breathlessly. "What sir, what?"
"For a start, you can stop calling me sir. It's annoying. And then . send Yugi Moto something."
"Yugi Moto? What?" Yuko asked meekly.
"Don't know," the man replied thoughtfully. "Think of something. And do it soon."
"Yes, si - I mean, yes Mr. Right away!"
Pegasus tapped the arm of his chair impatiently. He found a strange kind of comfort in the continuous, confident noise.
TAP. TIPPETY TAP. TAP. TAP. TIPPETY --
"Mr. Pegasus, sir?"
Pegasus sighed. He didn't even bother turning round.
"I've told you. Call me Maximillian. Maxy. Maxiboy! Anything!!! Just please, please don't call me Pegasus."
"Yes, Mr. Maximillian, sir."
Pegasus shrugged. It was better than nothing.
"So what are you doing here, at this unearthly hour of ... " He checked the clock hanging on the wall. "5.34, PM?"
The young man smiled uncertainly. He was aware that Mr. Pegasus had made a joke, but was unsure how to react. To laugh? To smile? To nod? Before he could decide, the moment passed. He decided it was best to pursue his task.
"There's a letter for you, sir."
Intrigued, Pegasus leaned over the table to take the small manilla envelope from his ... his housekeeper, in a word. He opened it. His eyes fell on the words, 'Yugi Moto - best regards'. Now he really was curious. He unfolded the extensive document and began to read.
Eyes. Eyes, staring at him. He shuddered. Who was -? The housekeeper, of course. Yes, the housekeeper was still standing in the doorway.
"You are dismissed," he said, without looking up. "Goodbye, Mr. Yuko."
As the man left, Pegasus laid the letter on the table. Better get more comfortable. It was a long letter. He stretched, yawned, got a glass of some beverage; not wine, he noted. Good. Wine would help him little to understand what that Yugi boy was trying to say to him. He examined the drink more closely. It was coffee. Of course, the coffee did not make such a delightful effect when smashed against the wall, but, still. This was not the time. Or the place. He retrieved the letter.
"Dear Mr. Pegasus," he began out loud, to his irritation. Then he had a second thought. He reached over the table and pulled out the phone cord.
He began the letter again.
Dear Mr. Pegasus,
Since you are the only person left apart from me - soon to be the only person left, period - that knows what went on that December night, before the eclipse, I was obliged to send you this note.
Wait, that's a lie. Seto Kaiba was obliged to send you this note.
We promised each other - and ourselves - to let the last person know. So ... I wasn't going to send this letter, you know. It was all their idea. Wait - you must think I'm going mad. To tell you the truth, I feel that I am.
You remember we used to hate you? Well, that was why we never told you. When anybody realized they were heading for the chop, they told all the others what they knew about on that night. We left you out of it because ... I'm sorry to say this; we didn't trust you. But now it is time to tell you everything. And, because you are the only one I can confide in, I will tell you what I never told the others.
It was my fault. It was all my fault. I admit; I did it. I was driving that car. Yes, it was Joey who gave me the keys, but I was the irresponsible child who killed Seto's brother, Mokuba. And wait; that is not all. Bakura lied about those guards. It was not him. It was me.
I cannot explain it. You do not understand what it feels like to be tied to a balcony, powerless, as your loved ones are ... Well. You know that part. You were there. I was full of so much anger, so much anguish at the unfair suffering. But I took it out on the wrong people. And Bakura - little Bakura, bless him - covered for me. What he didn't know was the reason the others were getting hurt, was my lies. If I had told him that, would he still have done it for me? I don't know, Pegasus. Maybe you can answer it for me. Maybe not. The point is, it doesn't matter any more. There is only one thing I have left to say, and then my job here will be blissfully complete.
You know why what happened to them happened, don't you? Yes, I know you do. Merciless slaughter of thousands. But it was me! The power ... the anger ... the regret ... combined, they are deadly. Maybe you know more about that than anybody else, huh? But on that December ... I have to tell you what happened.
It was Kaiba Corp. You knew that. You saw that. It was a motiveless, sick act. That's what all the papers said. They said it was a group of young terrorists. I can remember the caption as if it was burned into my brain; TERRORISTS: (LEFT TO RIGHT) Joey Wheeler, Tea Gardner, Tristan Taylor, Mai Valentine, Seto Kaiba. Seto Kaiba? What were they thinking? Why would the CEO himself try to blow up his own corporation? Insurance? Well, he sure would have got a whole lot of it. But the truth is, I did it. I was mad. Don't you understand that? The guilt, the depression, the loss ... I guess they drove me a bit nuts. Heh. Funny. Like peas in a pod, aren't we, Pegsy? I even drink as bad as you, now.
I lied about there only being one more thing. There were two things. Here's the second: I hear them, Pegasus. Clear as day. My pals. Kaiba. Even little Mokuba, but he doesn't speak much. He just screams, mainly; in my nightmares. Nightmares, so many of them. That moment, replayed over and over; the car, the screeching brakes. I am flung forward over the wheel. Then there's the scream. Sometimes we get to the hospital. But mostly, I wake up just there, and find myself sweating, but cold, on the floor, next to my bed. I guess I wake myself up. Automatic protection of my sanity? Likely. I'd go mad if I saw Kaiba like that again. But ... they're still there, in my mind. There's Joey. He makes me laugh when I'm on my own in the house. Tristan; heh, he panics all over the place. But Joey just tells him to shut up. It can be quite tiresome, you know. Ever had the voices of two of your former best friends squabble in your own head until they gave you a headache? No? Didn't think so. Where was I? Tea. Tea ... I ... I miss her a lot. But she's still there. Giving the good old advice. Course, it can be a bit ... uncomfortable, when I need the loo, and stuff like that. But I'm not that bothered. She's only a voice. Unfortunately.
Mai can get annoying; hon this, hon that. But she's still there to give me a good kick up the mental **** when I'm wallowing in self-pity a little too much. And Kaiba! God, he's the sanest of them all. For some reason, he never annoys me. I hardly ever hear him, though. He only gives me very helpful advice on business moves, stuff like that. And, as I said at the very start of this letter, he was the one who told me to write. He sensed me going, leaving this world, and yanked me back to write this before going for good.
Now ... I think my job has been done. I had to get that off my chest, Pegasus. You of all people understand that. This I know.
Don't bother replying. You were the oldest, yet you've out lived us all.
Yugi Moto - best regards.
Pegasus finished the letter with a flourish. He sniffed. So Yugiboy was going crazy? He considered that idea. It was quite plausible, after all the kid had been through. Sad, though. Youth going to waste. Then again, Yugi's youth had been pretty short. It was all very depressing, he decided. And why had Yugi chosen to confide in him? Stupid question. It said why in the letter. Oh, well. If he wanted no replies, he got no replies. But still . there had to be something he could do, as a token of respect.
"Yuko?" he called after a moment. "Do something for me."
"Yes, Mr. Maximillian, sir," Yuko agreed breathlessly. "What sir, what?"
"For a start, you can stop calling me sir. It's annoying. And then . send Yugi Moto something."
"Yugi Moto? What?" Yuko asked meekly.
"Don't know," the man replied thoughtfully. "Think of something. And do it soon."
"Yes, si - I mean, yes Mr. Right away!"