Yuki
By: Rogue Fox
Part Nine. My Flesh and Blood
My mind reeled and Himeko, who had finally woken up, was trying to bring me back from the brink of terror.
Will you shut up? she asked me angrily. I had started blabbering again. Fortunately, I was doing it in my head. Although, the expression on my face must have been very odd. You do this when you get upset, don't you? Blabber like a madwoman? Himeko asked me, giving my soul a rough jerk. It's an odd experience, that much you can be sure of. Now what is the matter? Himeko asked me after I finally shut up.
I dreamed about this. I dreamed about Pegasus's games. I said, physically huddling closer to Seto for comfort. He didn't know what I was so upset about, but he seemed to sense that now was not the time to ask questions. In the dream, I had felt brave. Now, I felt terror.
Precognitive dreams. Himeko muttered. You're developing your powers very quickly. Too quickly. she told me, absently, absorbed by her own thoughts.
What does that mean? I asked. Himeko seemed to snap out of her reverie.
Nothing. Let me see the dreams in your memory. she said. I opened my memory to her willingly. I sensed she was focusing on my memories of Seto.
Hey, what are you doing? I asked.
Um, nothing. Himeko said, but actions speak louder than words, or, in this case, thoughts. She had been looking at my memories of Seto. I thought about prying, but I decided not to. If Himeko heard my thoughts, she didn't respond to them. She watched the dreams and then came back to full consciousness, and I returned to the physical world. Jou was making this job hard for the goons who were herding us by constantly trying to trip them. Honda caught on and indulged in it soon. I rolled my eyes and sighed at their immaturity, and Honda stopped immediately after. I wondered why, but decided not to ask. I did notice, however, that Himeko was snickering. I didn't ask about that either.
The hallways that we were being led through were an endless maze of gray concrete and dark corners. I stayed close to Seto, who patted my head and gave my hand a comforting squeeze. I was thrilled to be back with him, but the dreams told me that this game coming up was going to make my happiness seem small and unimportant. I steeled my mind, reminding myself that I was here for my brothers. I would get them back, somehow. I was snapped from my thoughts when we were herded into a room with one small chessboards set up. Pegasus stood on the other side of the chessboard, smiling at us.
" Hello, all." He said cheerfully. I thought about saying something very rude, and Himeko encouraged me to do it, but I didn't. I felt drained, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I don't know if I can take much more. I told Himeko. She instantly became more sympathetic and comforting.
It's all right, girl. If it gets to be too much, I'll take over for you. Just hang in there. she told me. I concentrated on Pegasus. I needed to hear what he was saying.
" I'm sure you are all beginning to feel the effects of physical and emotional drain. So, you will be happy to know that only one person will have to deal with this game. One of the ladies will have to play a game of chess with me. It's that simple." Pegasus explained.
" Well, not me. I don't know a thing about chess." Mai announced.
" I know how to play, but I've never won." Anzu said. Everyone turned and looked at me expectantly.
" I'm okay." I said, letting my voice trail off.
" Okay?" Seto echoed unbelievingly. " You beat me at it all the time. You're the perfect choice." He told me. I shrugged and stepped up to the board. If I hadn't been so exhausted, I might have put up more of a fight. But I just didn't have it in me any more.
" Since you are going to play, I must warn you that any switching with your dark side will result in a penalty." Pegasus said. I nodded numbly. I was so tired.
You okay, girl? Himeko asked me.
No, but I don't think it matters very much. I thought back.
It does to me. Himeko told me quietly. Instead of responding, I sat at the chessboard and glanced at my white pieces. Pegasus was black.
" Ladies first." Pegasus said.
" How very gentlemanly of you." I said sarcastically. And I started the game. I moved a the pawn diagonal to the right of my far right bishop one space. It wasn't a random choice, there was a method behind it, one I prayed Pegasus hadn't noticed. He moved a pawn in front of his knight on the left side of the board two spaces. No, it didn't seem like he was defending against my strategy. As a matter of fact, he had made is easier for me. But, even as tired as I was, I was no fool. I knew better than to trust Pegasus to anything. My stomach suddenly gave a lurch. I whimpered almost inaudibly. I was sure that none of my friends heard it, pretty sure that even Pegasus didn't hear it. But Himeko did hear it. She felt it, too.
Girl, let me take over! You're in no condition to do this! You need rest! You're literally worrying yourself sick! she cried in our head. I hesitated to reply, thinking about my next move and trying to control my bowels. The sickening taste of bile stung my mouth.
No. If I let you take over, that means we have to get a penalty. And I don't want to find out what a penalty is. I thought. Himeko continued to protest, even though she knew I was right. I finally reached out my hand to move the pawn directly in front of my queen, and moved it two spaces. It was too far to the right of the pawn Pegasus had moved for him to take it, and he knew it. He immediately moved his pawn that was right across the board from the one I had moved, placing it two spaces forward, to meet mine. That pawn of mine wasn't going anywhere, but Pegasus was falling for my trap. I was setting him up, weakening his defenses by moving them away from his king and getting ready to get in there and knock him out. The idea, though, was to get him to move one pawn in particular. Whether or not he did could decide the game. Time to make a sacrifice. I moved the pawn in front of my far left rook one space, putting it diagonal of the first pawn he had moved. He took the pawn, setting it beside the board. This was the part I was afraid of. If the dream was right.
" Ah!" a familiar voice cried. I could feel my eyes fill up with tears even as I turned to look, to my right. There they were. My brothers. Yoshi had been slashed on the chest. Just like my dream. Instinctively, I reached out for them, Mokuba included, but they were farther away than they appeared. Pegasus tsked me.
" No, no. No touching." He said. At that exact moment, behind me, Seto decided to barge in. I turned just in time to see him crash into some sort of barrier, and stumble back. " Sorry, Kaiba boy, you can't come any closer. Miss Yuki needs to do this herself." Pegasus told him. I looked at him, seeing him in a way I had never seen him before. His eyes met mine, and I saw an emotion I had never noticed before. A special look, just for me. I turned away from him, trying to blink back those tears. I couldn't, not now. I turned to my brothers again. They looked at me with adoration and faith. I wished I could have the same blind trust in myself as they had in me.
" We know you can do it, Yuki!" Mokuba cried.
" Don't worry about us, we're fine." Yoshi added, despite the blood running from him.
" Go, sissy! Beat that crazy man up!" Yukio cried out. Laughter rang out from everyone except Pegasus. Even I managed a chuckle, wiping away a few stubborn tears.
That's them? Himeko asked, an amount of awe in her thoughts.
That's them. I confirmed. I saw my mother's face suddenly, bidding me to fight for what I believed was right. Himeko saw it too. I believe this is right. This is right. I told myself, then reached out my hand to move another chess piece. Using my freed rook, which I had freed my last turn, I took the pawn that had just taken my pawn. Then, Pegasus moved his queen to take the rook. I winced as Mokuba cried out.
" I'm sorry!" I cried, turning to face them. " I didn't see that! I should have been more careful!" I cried.
" Shut up and play." Mokuba said, wiping blood away from the cut on his cheek and smiling at me. I smiled gratefully back, then turned to face my opponent, moving my bishop into the space I had freed at the beginning of the game. Pegasus responded by moving his queen in the fashion of a rook to take the pawn I had right in front of his. Yukio cried out in pain and I tried my very best to ignore him. I had to concentrate and get rid of that queen. Good God, I thought, a grin spreading across my face.
What? Himeko asked.
How could he make such an amateur mistake? I wondered. He had placed his queen right in front of mine. I used my queen as a rook, moving it up the board, and took his queen. I placed it beside the board and looked at Pegasus.
" Oh, I didn't see that! How could I have made that mistake?" he asked. That was exactly what I wanted to know.
" Be careful, Yuki! He pulls stunts like this all the time!" Seto called. I took his advice to heart. There had to be some plan behind this. I moved my bishop to take the pawn of his that was right in front of my queen. Pegasus seemed to see what I was up to, but he couldn't seem to find a way to stop me. That was exactly what I wanted. He moved his king over into the space that his queen had left, thus preventing me from putting him in check when I moved my bishop. I then moved my bishop to take his rook, trapped by his own pieces from escape. Pegasus then paused for a minute before moving his knight in an L-shape so that it was diagonal to the left from his king. It was a good move. I could have sent my queen in and made a checkmate if he hadn't done it. I responded by moving my other bishop diagonally to the left three spaces. Pegasus moved the pawn that I had put in danger, the one in front of his own bishop, forward one space. Then I moved my queen to the left one space. After a few moments, Pegasus moved the pawn in front of the rook I hadn't taken. I knew he was trying to free up some of his more powerful pieces. Well, I would just have to take those pieces. I moved the bishop I had placed in position two of my turns ago clear to his end of the board, moving, of course, diagonally. Then, Pegaus moved the rook he had freed earlier ahead two spaces. That foiled part of my plan. I dared not take the pawn in front of Pegasus left bishop with my queen, which was in front of it, or his rook would get my queen. I could use my bishop, the one that had taken his other rook, but then, the boys would get another slash. That was what made chess so hard. You have to sacrifice pieces to win, and that made this twisted version of Pegasus's terrible. For every piece I had to lose, the boys would get hurt.
I sighed and moved my bishop to take the pawn, and Pegasus immediately took that with his rook, even though he was putting his rook in danger by my queen. I winced as tears streamed down my face while a long bloody gash appeared down Yoshi's back and he screamed. I took the rook with my queen. If I didn't, he would take my queen with the rook on the next turn. I grinned widely. I had Pegasus right where I wanted him.
" You're a really sick monster, you know that?" I asked him. Just as in my dream, he laughed.
" Maybe. But I'm in control, so this sick monster gets to make all the rules." He said.
" I'll make you pay for every drop of blood you spill from the people I love. I'll make you pay dearly." I told him.
" That, Miss Yuki, I seriously doubt." Pegasus said.
" We'll see." I said, moving my queen forward to take Pegasus's bishop. The knight he had set to defend his king was useless.
" Checkmate." I announced, reaching over and tipping his king. " I win." I added. The next thing I knew, someone had grabbed me around the waist and was swinging me through the air. I laughed and turned, expecting to see Seto. Instead, I saw Honda, who let go of me quickly.
" Sorry. I got a little too excited, I guess." He said. Seto grabbed me and gave me a triumphant hug. Anzu and Mai later told me that he was giving Honda a death glare over my shoulder. I pulled away from him and went to the boys, spreading my arms for them. They smiled up at me, their cuts vanishing. And then, the goons grabbed them.
" Hey, let go of them!" I cried, lunging wildly. I was grabbed roughly by another goon and tossed violently away.
" Yuki!" a bunch of my friends cried in unison, running to my aid. By the time Himeko and I managed to regain our bearings, Seto had a bloody nose and was holding his gut, and the boys were gone. Yugi, his darker self, knelt beside me.
" I'm sorry, Yuki. We tried to save them for you." He said.
" It's alright. Thank you." I said, despite the tears running down my cheeks. I was surprised by the urge to call him brother. I stood and walked over to Seto, wrapping my arm around his shoulders and supporting his weight on me.
" Are you okay?" I asked him.
" Yeah." He lied. I smiled weakly at him. Himeko sighed inwardly, but I didn't make any comment.
" Well, you passed all the games." Pegasus said. " I suppose you'll want to rest before the battle that will spawn the new age." He added. He didn't wait for our answer before summoning his goons to take us away. I helped Seto walk, trying to ignore the fact that Honda was walking closer to me than he ever had. I felt like, all around me, everything I thought I had known was coming apart.
*+*+*
Pain made me take in another sharp breath, but that breath only caused more pain. I was exhausted, hurt, worried, and hurt in a totally different way.
All my life, people had held me as emotionless, cruel, and ruthless. And all my life, I had believed them. I had believed that I was heartless. But now, I felt my heart. Felt it like I never had before. I had always thought my heart was Mokuba, but know, it throbbed in a way I had never imagined. For a girl. For a girl who needed me, almost as much as I needed to see her just to make sure she was real. To touch he just to know I hadn't dreamed her up. I was Seto Kaiba, champion Duelist, teenage owner of a multi- billion dollar corporation, genius, the all-time success story. From orphan to billionaire. But no one factored in Yuki. She had always been the calm in my chaotic life. When I went to visit her on her land in America, I found peace and happiness. I would go fishing with her, laugh at her jokes while she laughed at mine. She was normalcy. Sure, her father was also rich, but she had lived out her life like a normal American girl. She even attended a public school. I did as well, when it suited me, but that was mostly something to occupy my time. For Yuki, it was a way of life. I had always told her that I would get her out of there, take her to some far away exotic place, and make sure she was the happiest girl on Earth. Of course, she would only laugh, despite how serious I was. She couldn't comprehend that she was too good for the life she led. That she was a flawless diamond floating in a bed of mud and coal. I had always seen her as a flawless diamond. As long as I'd known her.
I had never considered that I might love Yuki before that night, lying there in a bed, trying to control the pain and get some rest, exhausted but unable to sleep. She was always my friend, my companion, but she had never had the ability to become my lover. But now, my heart pounding in my chest so hard it made my bruised ribs ache, I wondered how I could have missed it. The gentle way I always reached to touch her, the pain I felt when she was hurt. Was this love? Well, if it was, it sure hurt a lot!
Then there was Himeko. Yuki's opposite. Where Yuki was kind, Himeko was cold. Where Yuki was naïve and innocent, Himeko was knowing and experienced. Yuki was light where Himeko was dark. They completed each other, yet they confused me. The danger Himeko put off was undoubtedly attractive, and yet, Yuki was a part of my very essence, so deeply connected to me that I would never be able to break the bond.
I sat up in bed, and Yugi, to my right, lifted his head wearily to observe me. I fumbled in the darkness for the bottle of pain killers we had found in a first aid box. I found the bottle and gulped three pills down. For an instantaneous flash, I actually considered gulping the rest of the bottle down and ending this emotional turmoil. Instead, I set the bottle down. It was the first time in my life I had considered committing suicide. Anyone would, if they had lived my life. What with people only interested in you for what you can do for them, and girls always trying to win you like you're some prize at the fair, and all because you're rich... What pulled me through? I didn't know, but I thought it probably had a lot to do with Mokuba and Yuki. Yugi sat up entirely, his eyes still on me. We were the only ones awake in the cold, concrete room. Jou was snoring to my left and Honda was laying spread-eagle on the bed to Jou's left.
" What's the matter with you?" Yugi whispered.
" Just thinking." I said. I stayed sitting up, even though I had intended to lay down. Yugi sighed softly.
" You're thinking about Yuki." He said after a moment. I looked at him, startled.
" How did you know?" I asked.
" I don't know. Yami and Himeko are twins, so that must make Yuki and I related somehow. Besides, everyone's thinking about Yuki. She's been through a lot." Yugi said quietly. I sat silently after a moment.
" I suppose Anzu would say I'm discovering my heart, finally." I said, a small smile passing over my lips.
" Probably." Yugi said with a chuckle. He then became serious. " It's tough to care about someone like that, especially when they don't know." He said seriously.
" How would you know?" I asked.
" I know." Yugi responded, sadness tainting his voice. " I know all about it." He added.
" What's going to happen tomorrow?" I asked after a few minutes of silence.
" I wish I knew. All Yami will tell me is that whoever wins and whoever loses, a new age will be born." Yugi said.
" Why does that scare me?" I asked, not really expecting anyone to answer my question.
" What? You, the almighty Kaiba, get scared?" Yugi asked, feigning disbelief. I chuckled.
" Yes, I do. I am human, you know." I said. Yugi nodded.
" Yeah, I know." He agreed. " I'm scared too. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. All I know is that Yami's scared, so that's plenty reason for me to be blubbering like a baby."
" I wonder how Yuki's dealing with it." I thought out loud.
" The way I should be dealing with it. Sleeping." Yugi said, dropping his head back down onto the pillow. I smiled softly as his breathing became deep and even, noticing that the pain killers had done their work.
" Kaiba, I don't know what you're doing awake, but go to sleep!" Jou growled at me, rolling over in his bed. I smiled again. A friendship had been forged between us, from the fire of anger, by the anvil of murder and hammer of evil. I don't think I'd ever be truly mad at him ever again.
" Shut up and go to sleep yourself." I retorted. That didn't mean I had to act like I'd never be truly mad at him. I flopped back down into the bed. I didn't know what was going to happen tomorrow. History may very well repeat itself, I thought worriedly as I drifted to sleep. I might die tomorrow as my past self died so long ago. I had to have faith, which was a new thing to me entirely. Himeko and Yami weren't alone this time, they had Yugi and Yuki. That was going to turn the tide and this time, things would be different.
A/N: Okay, that part was short and a little dumb. But it get's things going. Next part, the battle of all time will begin! Pegasus vs. Yami and Himeko! But Pegasus has a plan that could ruin our heroes, or win the most deadly game they've ever played! (laughs) How was that? Did I sound like a bad announcer? Probably! Also, I've noticed some people complaining that this story is a bit of a mary sue. Well, sorry! It is about Yuki, you know. If I wanted to write about someone else, I would. And I have tried to make it less so. And on top of that, someone claimed that the girls are a little witchy (they didn't use that exact word ^_^), especially Yuki. Well, news flash! Yuki just happens to be modeled after me. And that just happens to be how I would react. It's called an independent streak. Sorry if you don't like it. Well, don't forget to review! ~Rogue Fox
By: Rogue Fox
Part Nine. My Flesh and Blood
My mind reeled and Himeko, who had finally woken up, was trying to bring me back from the brink of terror.
Will you shut up? she asked me angrily. I had started blabbering again. Fortunately, I was doing it in my head. Although, the expression on my face must have been very odd. You do this when you get upset, don't you? Blabber like a madwoman? Himeko asked me, giving my soul a rough jerk. It's an odd experience, that much you can be sure of. Now what is the matter? Himeko asked me after I finally shut up.
I dreamed about this. I dreamed about Pegasus's games. I said, physically huddling closer to Seto for comfort. He didn't know what I was so upset about, but he seemed to sense that now was not the time to ask questions. In the dream, I had felt brave. Now, I felt terror.
Precognitive dreams. Himeko muttered. You're developing your powers very quickly. Too quickly. she told me, absently, absorbed by her own thoughts.
What does that mean? I asked. Himeko seemed to snap out of her reverie.
Nothing. Let me see the dreams in your memory. she said. I opened my memory to her willingly. I sensed she was focusing on my memories of Seto.
Hey, what are you doing? I asked.
Um, nothing. Himeko said, but actions speak louder than words, or, in this case, thoughts. She had been looking at my memories of Seto. I thought about prying, but I decided not to. If Himeko heard my thoughts, she didn't respond to them. She watched the dreams and then came back to full consciousness, and I returned to the physical world. Jou was making this job hard for the goons who were herding us by constantly trying to trip them. Honda caught on and indulged in it soon. I rolled my eyes and sighed at their immaturity, and Honda stopped immediately after. I wondered why, but decided not to ask. I did notice, however, that Himeko was snickering. I didn't ask about that either.
The hallways that we were being led through were an endless maze of gray concrete and dark corners. I stayed close to Seto, who patted my head and gave my hand a comforting squeeze. I was thrilled to be back with him, but the dreams told me that this game coming up was going to make my happiness seem small and unimportant. I steeled my mind, reminding myself that I was here for my brothers. I would get them back, somehow. I was snapped from my thoughts when we were herded into a room with one small chessboards set up. Pegasus stood on the other side of the chessboard, smiling at us.
" Hello, all." He said cheerfully. I thought about saying something very rude, and Himeko encouraged me to do it, but I didn't. I felt drained, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I don't know if I can take much more. I told Himeko. She instantly became more sympathetic and comforting.
It's all right, girl. If it gets to be too much, I'll take over for you. Just hang in there. she told me. I concentrated on Pegasus. I needed to hear what he was saying.
" I'm sure you are all beginning to feel the effects of physical and emotional drain. So, you will be happy to know that only one person will have to deal with this game. One of the ladies will have to play a game of chess with me. It's that simple." Pegasus explained.
" Well, not me. I don't know a thing about chess." Mai announced.
" I know how to play, but I've never won." Anzu said. Everyone turned and looked at me expectantly.
" I'm okay." I said, letting my voice trail off.
" Okay?" Seto echoed unbelievingly. " You beat me at it all the time. You're the perfect choice." He told me. I shrugged and stepped up to the board. If I hadn't been so exhausted, I might have put up more of a fight. But I just didn't have it in me any more.
" Since you are going to play, I must warn you that any switching with your dark side will result in a penalty." Pegasus said. I nodded numbly. I was so tired.
You okay, girl? Himeko asked me.
No, but I don't think it matters very much. I thought back.
It does to me. Himeko told me quietly. Instead of responding, I sat at the chessboard and glanced at my white pieces. Pegasus was black.
" Ladies first." Pegasus said.
" How very gentlemanly of you." I said sarcastically. And I started the game. I moved a the pawn diagonal to the right of my far right bishop one space. It wasn't a random choice, there was a method behind it, one I prayed Pegasus hadn't noticed. He moved a pawn in front of his knight on the left side of the board two spaces. No, it didn't seem like he was defending against my strategy. As a matter of fact, he had made is easier for me. But, even as tired as I was, I was no fool. I knew better than to trust Pegasus to anything. My stomach suddenly gave a lurch. I whimpered almost inaudibly. I was sure that none of my friends heard it, pretty sure that even Pegasus didn't hear it. But Himeko did hear it. She felt it, too.
Girl, let me take over! You're in no condition to do this! You need rest! You're literally worrying yourself sick! she cried in our head. I hesitated to reply, thinking about my next move and trying to control my bowels. The sickening taste of bile stung my mouth.
No. If I let you take over, that means we have to get a penalty. And I don't want to find out what a penalty is. I thought. Himeko continued to protest, even though she knew I was right. I finally reached out my hand to move the pawn directly in front of my queen, and moved it two spaces. It was too far to the right of the pawn Pegasus had moved for him to take it, and he knew it. He immediately moved his pawn that was right across the board from the one I had moved, placing it two spaces forward, to meet mine. That pawn of mine wasn't going anywhere, but Pegasus was falling for my trap. I was setting him up, weakening his defenses by moving them away from his king and getting ready to get in there and knock him out. The idea, though, was to get him to move one pawn in particular. Whether or not he did could decide the game. Time to make a sacrifice. I moved the pawn in front of my far left rook one space, putting it diagonal of the first pawn he had moved. He took the pawn, setting it beside the board. This was the part I was afraid of. If the dream was right.
" Ah!" a familiar voice cried. I could feel my eyes fill up with tears even as I turned to look, to my right. There they were. My brothers. Yoshi had been slashed on the chest. Just like my dream. Instinctively, I reached out for them, Mokuba included, but they were farther away than they appeared. Pegasus tsked me.
" No, no. No touching." He said. At that exact moment, behind me, Seto decided to barge in. I turned just in time to see him crash into some sort of barrier, and stumble back. " Sorry, Kaiba boy, you can't come any closer. Miss Yuki needs to do this herself." Pegasus told him. I looked at him, seeing him in a way I had never seen him before. His eyes met mine, and I saw an emotion I had never noticed before. A special look, just for me. I turned away from him, trying to blink back those tears. I couldn't, not now. I turned to my brothers again. They looked at me with adoration and faith. I wished I could have the same blind trust in myself as they had in me.
" We know you can do it, Yuki!" Mokuba cried.
" Don't worry about us, we're fine." Yoshi added, despite the blood running from him.
" Go, sissy! Beat that crazy man up!" Yukio cried out. Laughter rang out from everyone except Pegasus. Even I managed a chuckle, wiping away a few stubborn tears.
That's them? Himeko asked, an amount of awe in her thoughts.
That's them. I confirmed. I saw my mother's face suddenly, bidding me to fight for what I believed was right. Himeko saw it too. I believe this is right. This is right. I told myself, then reached out my hand to move another chess piece. Using my freed rook, which I had freed my last turn, I took the pawn that had just taken my pawn. Then, Pegasus moved his queen to take the rook. I winced as Mokuba cried out.
" I'm sorry!" I cried, turning to face them. " I didn't see that! I should have been more careful!" I cried.
" Shut up and play." Mokuba said, wiping blood away from the cut on his cheek and smiling at me. I smiled gratefully back, then turned to face my opponent, moving my bishop into the space I had freed at the beginning of the game. Pegasus responded by moving his queen in the fashion of a rook to take the pawn I had right in front of his. Yukio cried out in pain and I tried my very best to ignore him. I had to concentrate and get rid of that queen. Good God, I thought, a grin spreading across my face.
What? Himeko asked.
How could he make such an amateur mistake? I wondered. He had placed his queen right in front of mine. I used my queen as a rook, moving it up the board, and took his queen. I placed it beside the board and looked at Pegasus.
" Oh, I didn't see that! How could I have made that mistake?" he asked. That was exactly what I wanted to know.
" Be careful, Yuki! He pulls stunts like this all the time!" Seto called. I took his advice to heart. There had to be some plan behind this. I moved my bishop to take the pawn of his that was right in front of my queen. Pegasus seemed to see what I was up to, but he couldn't seem to find a way to stop me. That was exactly what I wanted. He moved his king over into the space that his queen had left, thus preventing me from putting him in check when I moved my bishop. I then moved my bishop to take his rook, trapped by his own pieces from escape. Pegasus then paused for a minute before moving his knight in an L-shape so that it was diagonal to the left from his king. It was a good move. I could have sent my queen in and made a checkmate if he hadn't done it. I responded by moving my other bishop diagonally to the left three spaces. Pegasus moved the pawn that I had put in danger, the one in front of his own bishop, forward one space. Then I moved my queen to the left one space. After a few moments, Pegasus moved the pawn in front of the rook I hadn't taken. I knew he was trying to free up some of his more powerful pieces. Well, I would just have to take those pieces. I moved the bishop I had placed in position two of my turns ago clear to his end of the board, moving, of course, diagonally. Then, Pegaus moved the rook he had freed earlier ahead two spaces. That foiled part of my plan. I dared not take the pawn in front of Pegasus left bishop with my queen, which was in front of it, or his rook would get my queen. I could use my bishop, the one that had taken his other rook, but then, the boys would get another slash. That was what made chess so hard. You have to sacrifice pieces to win, and that made this twisted version of Pegasus's terrible. For every piece I had to lose, the boys would get hurt.
I sighed and moved my bishop to take the pawn, and Pegasus immediately took that with his rook, even though he was putting his rook in danger by my queen. I winced as tears streamed down my face while a long bloody gash appeared down Yoshi's back and he screamed. I took the rook with my queen. If I didn't, he would take my queen with the rook on the next turn. I grinned widely. I had Pegasus right where I wanted him.
" You're a really sick monster, you know that?" I asked him. Just as in my dream, he laughed.
" Maybe. But I'm in control, so this sick monster gets to make all the rules." He said.
" I'll make you pay for every drop of blood you spill from the people I love. I'll make you pay dearly." I told him.
" That, Miss Yuki, I seriously doubt." Pegasus said.
" We'll see." I said, moving my queen forward to take Pegasus's bishop. The knight he had set to defend his king was useless.
" Checkmate." I announced, reaching over and tipping his king. " I win." I added. The next thing I knew, someone had grabbed me around the waist and was swinging me through the air. I laughed and turned, expecting to see Seto. Instead, I saw Honda, who let go of me quickly.
" Sorry. I got a little too excited, I guess." He said. Seto grabbed me and gave me a triumphant hug. Anzu and Mai later told me that he was giving Honda a death glare over my shoulder. I pulled away from him and went to the boys, spreading my arms for them. They smiled up at me, their cuts vanishing. And then, the goons grabbed them.
" Hey, let go of them!" I cried, lunging wildly. I was grabbed roughly by another goon and tossed violently away.
" Yuki!" a bunch of my friends cried in unison, running to my aid. By the time Himeko and I managed to regain our bearings, Seto had a bloody nose and was holding his gut, and the boys were gone. Yugi, his darker self, knelt beside me.
" I'm sorry, Yuki. We tried to save them for you." He said.
" It's alright. Thank you." I said, despite the tears running down my cheeks. I was surprised by the urge to call him brother. I stood and walked over to Seto, wrapping my arm around his shoulders and supporting his weight on me.
" Are you okay?" I asked him.
" Yeah." He lied. I smiled weakly at him. Himeko sighed inwardly, but I didn't make any comment.
" Well, you passed all the games." Pegasus said. " I suppose you'll want to rest before the battle that will spawn the new age." He added. He didn't wait for our answer before summoning his goons to take us away. I helped Seto walk, trying to ignore the fact that Honda was walking closer to me than he ever had. I felt like, all around me, everything I thought I had known was coming apart.
*+*+*
Pain made me take in another sharp breath, but that breath only caused more pain. I was exhausted, hurt, worried, and hurt in a totally different way.
All my life, people had held me as emotionless, cruel, and ruthless. And all my life, I had believed them. I had believed that I was heartless. But now, I felt my heart. Felt it like I never had before. I had always thought my heart was Mokuba, but know, it throbbed in a way I had never imagined. For a girl. For a girl who needed me, almost as much as I needed to see her just to make sure she was real. To touch he just to know I hadn't dreamed her up. I was Seto Kaiba, champion Duelist, teenage owner of a multi- billion dollar corporation, genius, the all-time success story. From orphan to billionaire. But no one factored in Yuki. She had always been the calm in my chaotic life. When I went to visit her on her land in America, I found peace and happiness. I would go fishing with her, laugh at her jokes while she laughed at mine. She was normalcy. Sure, her father was also rich, but she had lived out her life like a normal American girl. She even attended a public school. I did as well, when it suited me, but that was mostly something to occupy my time. For Yuki, it was a way of life. I had always told her that I would get her out of there, take her to some far away exotic place, and make sure she was the happiest girl on Earth. Of course, she would only laugh, despite how serious I was. She couldn't comprehend that she was too good for the life she led. That she was a flawless diamond floating in a bed of mud and coal. I had always seen her as a flawless diamond. As long as I'd known her.
I had never considered that I might love Yuki before that night, lying there in a bed, trying to control the pain and get some rest, exhausted but unable to sleep. She was always my friend, my companion, but she had never had the ability to become my lover. But now, my heart pounding in my chest so hard it made my bruised ribs ache, I wondered how I could have missed it. The gentle way I always reached to touch her, the pain I felt when she was hurt. Was this love? Well, if it was, it sure hurt a lot!
Then there was Himeko. Yuki's opposite. Where Yuki was kind, Himeko was cold. Where Yuki was naïve and innocent, Himeko was knowing and experienced. Yuki was light where Himeko was dark. They completed each other, yet they confused me. The danger Himeko put off was undoubtedly attractive, and yet, Yuki was a part of my very essence, so deeply connected to me that I would never be able to break the bond.
I sat up in bed, and Yugi, to my right, lifted his head wearily to observe me. I fumbled in the darkness for the bottle of pain killers we had found in a first aid box. I found the bottle and gulped three pills down. For an instantaneous flash, I actually considered gulping the rest of the bottle down and ending this emotional turmoil. Instead, I set the bottle down. It was the first time in my life I had considered committing suicide. Anyone would, if they had lived my life. What with people only interested in you for what you can do for them, and girls always trying to win you like you're some prize at the fair, and all because you're rich... What pulled me through? I didn't know, but I thought it probably had a lot to do with Mokuba and Yuki. Yugi sat up entirely, his eyes still on me. We were the only ones awake in the cold, concrete room. Jou was snoring to my left and Honda was laying spread-eagle on the bed to Jou's left.
" What's the matter with you?" Yugi whispered.
" Just thinking." I said. I stayed sitting up, even though I had intended to lay down. Yugi sighed softly.
" You're thinking about Yuki." He said after a moment. I looked at him, startled.
" How did you know?" I asked.
" I don't know. Yami and Himeko are twins, so that must make Yuki and I related somehow. Besides, everyone's thinking about Yuki. She's been through a lot." Yugi said quietly. I sat silently after a moment.
" I suppose Anzu would say I'm discovering my heart, finally." I said, a small smile passing over my lips.
" Probably." Yugi said with a chuckle. He then became serious. " It's tough to care about someone like that, especially when they don't know." He said seriously.
" How would you know?" I asked.
" I know." Yugi responded, sadness tainting his voice. " I know all about it." He added.
" What's going to happen tomorrow?" I asked after a few minutes of silence.
" I wish I knew. All Yami will tell me is that whoever wins and whoever loses, a new age will be born." Yugi said.
" Why does that scare me?" I asked, not really expecting anyone to answer my question.
" What? You, the almighty Kaiba, get scared?" Yugi asked, feigning disbelief. I chuckled.
" Yes, I do. I am human, you know." I said. Yugi nodded.
" Yeah, I know." He agreed. " I'm scared too. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. All I know is that Yami's scared, so that's plenty reason for me to be blubbering like a baby."
" I wonder how Yuki's dealing with it." I thought out loud.
" The way I should be dealing with it. Sleeping." Yugi said, dropping his head back down onto the pillow. I smiled softly as his breathing became deep and even, noticing that the pain killers had done their work.
" Kaiba, I don't know what you're doing awake, but go to sleep!" Jou growled at me, rolling over in his bed. I smiled again. A friendship had been forged between us, from the fire of anger, by the anvil of murder and hammer of evil. I don't think I'd ever be truly mad at him ever again.
" Shut up and go to sleep yourself." I retorted. That didn't mean I had to act like I'd never be truly mad at him. I flopped back down into the bed. I didn't know what was going to happen tomorrow. History may very well repeat itself, I thought worriedly as I drifted to sleep. I might die tomorrow as my past self died so long ago. I had to have faith, which was a new thing to me entirely. Himeko and Yami weren't alone this time, they had Yugi and Yuki. That was going to turn the tide and this time, things would be different.
A/N: Okay, that part was short and a little dumb. But it get's things going. Next part, the battle of all time will begin! Pegasus vs. Yami and Himeko! But Pegasus has a plan that could ruin our heroes, or win the most deadly game they've ever played! (laughs) How was that? Did I sound like a bad announcer? Probably! Also, I've noticed some people complaining that this story is a bit of a mary sue. Well, sorry! It is about Yuki, you know. If I wanted to write about someone else, I would. And I have tried to make it less so. And on top of that, someone claimed that the girls are a little witchy (they didn't use that exact word ^_^), especially Yuki. Well, news flash! Yuki just happens to be modeled after me. And that just happens to be how I would react. It's called an independent streak. Sorry if you don't like it. Well, don't forget to review! ~Rogue Fox