Child at Heart
Chapter 9
In truth Yami was a little shakened by the adventure, although he probably would never admit it. I can imagine, seeing your own tomb, when you were thinking-Am I not here right now? Who is that there? And you know the answer. The person in there is you. But it is now a soulless corpse, like an empty bottle without water. Nameless.
I guess it was a good thing we never opened it. Yami was old. Who knows what his body looks like now.
Yugi seemed very quiet for a long time. Especially after the day Seto fainted and was brought to the hospital. Perhaps he was contemplating on that day as well.
As for Seto, well, there were more white hair on his head then one may think.
" Your hair is supposed to be brown." I said one day at Duelist Island, with Yugi, Yami, Joey and Tea there. " I'm the white head here."
Seto chuckled dryly. " Ah well, they'll get white sooner or later."
" But you're only sixteen." I protested.
" What can you expect?" He asked.
And he was right. What can I expect? He was a CEO of a company, a brother or father depending on which way you look at it, a very depressed teenager still suffering from deaths, a Duelist Champion that has grown very unconfident-well, white hair is the minor part of it.
Speaking of which-
" I use to play the violin." Seto stated one time. " After I was twelve-I stopped playing. From then on I just practice in my head. I can't play anymore."
" You can always try. As long as you remember the notes-the finger technique should come back to you." I answered. " I play the violin too...I stopped some time ago."
" Geez, Max." Seto laughed. " A painter and a musician? What kind of life did you lead-artist in the Baroque Period?"
" Not that far." I smiled. " More of Romantic."
This made all of us laugh.
" Come along." I offered. " I have a very old violin-two, actually-"
" Why do you have two?"
" Hm? I'm allowed to have two, right?"
" Oh, I guess?" Seto shook his head. Yugi and Yami gazed on curiously.
" Isn't this interesting." Joey blinked. " Seto Kaiba actually plays the violin."
" Don't get too excited." Seto warned. " It might sound...really bad."
" Whoa, this is one great violin!" Seto cried excitedly as he played scales all over the place. " How much did this thing cost? It's the best violin I've ever played in my twelve year lifetime! This thing must of costed at least a hundred thousand bucks!" At this point the scales turned into arpeggios. " God, if I had known that you had such a great violin maybe I would have stolen it while trying to get into the castle!"
We all laughed. " Right." I answered. " And play for my guards, that's what you'll do! Actually, this violin wasn't worth that much back then. The person that sold it to me didn't know how to play, so of course the value dropped."
" Lucky bastard." Seto humphed. " This bow needs rosin."
" Rosin?" I blinked. " I think I have rosin in my other case." Deciding that Seto ought to enjoy my precious violin-which in truth I had never let even Cecilia touch ( She never asked so I never offered) I fetched out my other violin, which wasn't as good as this one, and handed Seto the rosin. Seto wiped it on his bow, or my bow, and then attempted to play whatever he remembered from Strauss's Fledermaus Overture.
Of course, me being a humble musician I attempted to join him, but when we reached the introduction to the waltz, it crashed and burned.
" What the heck was that?" I asked.
" Sorry." Seto answered sheepishly.
" That bowing really needs improvement." I told Seto.
On the second try of course, he, being the little genius that he was, copied Mozart and I was the one that messed up.
Cecilia and the others must have thought this very amusing, but for once I didn't care really. I guess I realized Seto was just the one I needed to help me out of my madness. If Seto had been less independent I probably would have considered adopting him. But for now...
There were some pleasant activities Seto and I went through. I guess he wasn't very comfortable with Cecilia since she made him lose Mokuba. It really wasn't her fault. It wasn't his either. I couldn't help feeling guilty for it all, and at the same time thankful. After all, Seto gave me back everything that I held dear and still do.
In fact, I was distressed for a while during Seto's stay. Cecilia was just as thankful as I am and felt as guilty. Seto for the most part ignored her, and although I was unhappy I was able to understand his indifference. I guess that was what the poor boy needed all along. Someone to understand, or more importantly, parents.
It's never too late, Seto.
Sometime later at my study, I found another book that mentioned Seto. This one did not mention his past life much, but did mention what Yami had banished into the Shadow Realm. It was actually Seth, the jealous brother of Osiris, that had murdered his brother many millenniums ago.
I called to Yugi and Yami, and showed them the book. Their reaction was very different from what I expected.
Yami stated that he felt ill. Yugi went pale. They read the passage over and over again and kept on stating they couldn't believe it.
" So Seth took over Seto when Yugi solved the puzzle?" Yami asked wearily.
" Yes." I blinked, not really sure why they felt so unhappy. What's wrong with Seth taking over Seto?
" Ugh, and is Seth the one that kidnapped Grandpa?" Yugi asked.
" Yes?" I blinked again.
They remained silent. And even though I can read their thoughts and feel their emotions, I could not make any sense of it at all.
" Max, I do not giggle."
" You just did."
" I never giggled for ten years."
" Not even when you were eight?"
" No. I told you already, I do not giggle."
" Well," Cecilia entered the room. " If that wasn't a giggle, then what is it?"
" Can't I laugh?"
" It was not a laugh, Setoboy." I smiled.
" It's called light laughter."
" That's what giggles are."
" Look, you two are getting really annoying."
" It's alright Seto." Cecilia sat down beside him. " You're allowed to giggle in this place. After all, there's no law saying that you can't giggle."
Seto grimaced. " Heaven forbid. I don't giggle. Can we drop this topic now?"
" You just did. Now we can."
Seto threw up his hands in defeat. " Whatever."
" Speaking of which," I leaned back. " I found out one of the pegs on that violin I lent you got really really loose."
" It was always loose." Seto glared at me.
" Ah, my boy, I hope you're right." I chuckled. " Otherwise, you'll probably be staying here for a lot longer then you may want. Speaking of which, what day is it? We're getting close to the Duelist Tournament this year."
" You can change the rules for this year." Seto suggested, and before he finished his sentence I started up.
" Yes! That is a great idea! But are you sure you're at my level?"
" Hey, just yesterday when we dueled we lasted two hours without either of us losing life points, and kept on avoiding traps and such. If I'm not going to be your partner, then maybe Yugi will, but anyway you might as well try something new."
" What is his idea?" Cecilia asked pleasantly.
" Double Duelists." I said simply. Cecilia raised her eyebrows. " Hm. That sounds interesting."
" For once, you can join two people together, instead of splitting them apart." Seto lied back. " That way, Joey and Yugi can play on one team-if they decide to join."
" That has never really been done before-except with Yugi and Joey last year." I nodded.
" Ah well. We can watch the kids like you do. You just drink your wine and I'll drink some..."
" Milk."
" No!"
" Yes!"
" Milk?"
" Or chocolate, if you want."
" What do you think I am?"
" A sixteen-year-old teenager."
" Oh, thanks a lot!"
" You're welcome! It's about time you realize your proper age, Setoboy. If you don't, you can never hope to overcome that anemia."
" Oh really?"
" Do you realize how long you've had it?"
At this Seto blinked, completely surprised, then glared at me defiantly. I smiled.
" You poor child." Cecilia laughed. " It's a good thing everything happened the way it did, isn't it? You are great at everything, but when it comes to taking care of yourself, you are just as dependent as any other teenager."
It was then when I scanned Seto's mind, I realized Cecilia did more then she had intended. Seto suddenly grew still. I smiled inwardly. Cecilia always had a talent of getting messages across. I scanned his mind again. Seto's face was expressionless, but inside he was beaming. Parents. Wasn't that what he always wanted?
Several days later Seto began having nightmares. Nightmares about Mokuba, his parents, the Shadow Realm. Nightmares with Mokuba calling out to him. Monsters seizing his wrists and dragging him further into the abyss.
At first during the daytime he wasn't too bothered by it. But then it started getting really serious. He started to wander off and get lost without realizing he had even started walking. He became very reserved. His mind closed its doors and bolted the locks.
I was getting really scared. And I don't like being scared.
Several weeks later I found Seto in his room. At first I thought he was practicing some moves with Duel Monsters. But it didn't seem like it...
" No no," He muttered, collecting all the cards and putting them back into the deck. " Swords of Revealing Light first, after that is Arrow...No, Exodia. I'm missing Exodia. Exodia is in the middle. That's right...But I don't have Exodia. I don't have Exodia. I'll have to borrow from Yugi, but Yugi doesn't have all of them."
For a while I stood behind him without him knowing, listening to him mutter to himself. Then he began to design a huge circular web, complex and illogical. The hole in the middle probably represented Exodia, but there were other monsters he was missing.
I thought Seto had finally lost it.
" What are you doing?" I asked.
" Ra told me to do it." He quickly defended. " He said I'll have to if I can ever go there again. But I don't have all the necessary cards Max. What am I supposed to do?"
" Ra told you to do what?" I asked. " Ra? Who's Ra?"
" The God. I don't have Exodia-any of them, and I need at least one of its class to make this work."
" Make what work?"
" This."
" What's this? What did Ra want you to do?"
" Find the Heart of the Cards."
That did not make sense, even for me.
" How are you doing it?"
" The cards have a pattern." Seto laid down one card, thought for a minute, then switched places with the Mystic Elf.
That probably would have made sense if Seto didn't mention everything else.
" Reaper of Cards goes after the Dark Magician-wait, that doesn't make sense. I'll do that later. White Hat goes with-that doesn't make sense either-"
" None of this makes sense to me." I blinked. " What are you trying to do?"
" Find the Heart of the Cards."
" You said that already."
" Magical Hats and Dark Magician-that's right. And then the box, Celtic Guardian goes on top-"
" Seto, you're losing it."
" Mystic Elf doesn't go there. She goes with the Elf Guardian. But then the Elf Guardian isn't supposed to be there either-"
" Seto,"
" The Virus goes here,"
" Seto, listen to me. Seto, are you listening?"
" Hold on, I'm almost done."
" You're not even close and it's time for a break. How long have you been at this?"
" Since I woke."
" That's six hours."
" I can't stop now, I'm so close."
" You don't have Exodia. I have no idea what you're doing but I know you won't be an inch closer if you don't have Exodia in front of you, so just quit it."
" I can't!" Seto covered his ears. " I can't! Stop it! Leave me alone!"
I sighed.
" Seto. You can always finish it later, and maybe I can help you. Maybe Yugi and Yami can too-no one is going to touch it."
" But I'm so close-"
" You're going nowhere." I was convinced the poor boy had finally cracked. " Now why don't you join me for some lunch? Perhaps you can explain everything."
" I need to finish this. I'm almost done."
" You don't have Exodia."
" I'll borrow from someone."
" Borrow! What outrage!"
" Or maybe I can create one. Blue Eyes White Dragon goes with Red Eyes,"
" Seto, slow down. Why are you trying to find the Heart of the Cards, or whatever you're doing?"
" There's a spell." Seto suddenly grew excited, as if he wasn't already. " It can bring dead souls back to life."
I sputtered. " You're trying-don't tell me you're-"
" So I can place this over here-"
" You're trying to bring Mokuba back?"
" Sure, why not? It will give me a reason to live again. Curse of Dragon goes down there. No, that doesn't make sense. Ugh! I know I had it there for a moment,"
" Seto, you're losing it." I repeated.
" I know, I'm almost done. I'll be down there in a minute."
" Seto, this is madness."
" Hehe, I know." Seto giggled, and that was a real giggle. " Jolly! Sagi goes down there,"
" Seto,"
" Now I need Toon World to create a cartoon Exodia."
" What?!"
" Now what was the spell? Mash-no, I can't say it right now, the thing's not finished."
" Seto."
" But maybe I can remember the other spell."
" Seto."
" This can't go wrong now, not after I worked so hard-"
" Seto!"
Seto started and suddenly stared at me as if he noticed me for the first time.
" Seto, what's wrong with you?" I asked.
There was a moment of silence.
" I need to get this done."
" I know." I said quietly, to calm him down and not show that I was just as nervous and edgy as he was by now. " But you ought to rest and pull yourself together. Open your mind to me, Seto."
" I can't do that." He started pleading. " Please Max, I can't, you have to understand, I mean-"
" You have something to hide." I stated quietly.
He fell silent.
" Whatever you're hiding, Seto," I warned, " It isn't going to do you any good. I'm not going to force you for now, but you have to understand that I do have strong powers. Quite frankly, I will tear your brain apart if I have to."
" I'm sorry." Seto started sobbing. " I'm sorry, I'm sorry,"
" Why?" I asked, holding him by his shoulders. " What's wrong?"
I was thoroughly convinced that this is too much. Even an insane Seto Kaiba wouldn't be acting like this...
/ Right.../ Yami spoke after a while. / But I still don't understand. What do you mean, find the Heart of the Cards? What is he trying to do in the first place?/
I understood what Yami was saying.
/ He was trying to rebuild Mokuba's soul./ I answered. / He's using the cards to perform some kind of spell./
/ Madness!/ Yami cried. / That kind of spell is forbidden! There's a curse to every spell like that!/
/ There are more, you mean?/
/ Yes, some are spells that erase souls from the world. In Mokuba's case that's different, but if you erase sould from this realm, you are imprinted with a curse. Others are creating a new monster, which you were never able to do, and some are wiping away monsters. But Seto's is a big spell. No one is allowed to do that./
/ Speaking of which,/ I said through my dark powers. / What exactly is the curse?/
There was a long hesitation.
Seto wouldn't tell me exactly what the spell was. No matter how much I tried to persuade him he just sat there and sobbed. Why was he crying so much all of the sudden? Was his inner child taking over?
And then the door broke down and went up in a flash. But during that flash I felt his emotions. He was making a sacrifice. A horrible sacrifice. But what it was I cannot tell. And that scared me more than anything. What's happening to him? What was he about to do?
/ He is going to sacrifice his soul for Mokuba./ Yami said slowly. / So if he succeeds completing the Ring of the Cards, we will lose Seto Kaiba forever./
Chapter 9
In truth Yami was a little shakened by the adventure, although he probably would never admit it. I can imagine, seeing your own tomb, when you were thinking-Am I not here right now? Who is that there? And you know the answer. The person in there is you. But it is now a soulless corpse, like an empty bottle without water. Nameless.
I guess it was a good thing we never opened it. Yami was old. Who knows what his body looks like now.
Yugi seemed very quiet for a long time. Especially after the day Seto fainted and was brought to the hospital. Perhaps he was contemplating on that day as well.
As for Seto, well, there were more white hair on his head then one may think.
" Your hair is supposed to be brown." I said one day at Duelist Island, with Yugi, Yami, Joey and Tea there. " I'm the white head here."
Seto chuckled dryly. " Ah well, they'll get white sooner or later."
" But you're only sixteen." I protested.
" What can you expect?" He asked.
And he was right. What can I expect? He was a CEO of a company, a brother or father depending on which way you look at it, a very depressed teenager still suffering from deaths, a Duelist Champion that has grown very unconfident-well, white hair is the minor part of it.
Speaking of which-
" I use to play the violin." Seto stated one time. " After I was twelve-I stopped playing. From then on I just practice in my head. I can't play anymore."
" You can always try. As long as you remember the notes-the finger technique should come back to you." I answered. " I play the violin too...I stopped some time ago."
" Geez, Max." Seto laughed. " A painter and a musician? What kind of life did you lead-artist in the Baroque Period?"
" Not that far." I smiled. " More of Romantic."
This made all of us laugh.
" Come along." I offered. " I have a very old violin-two, actually-"
" Why do you have two?"
" Hm? I'm allowed to have two, right?"
" Oh, I guess?" Seto shook his head. Yugi and Yami gazed on curiously.
" Isn't this interesting." Joey blinked. " Seto Kaiba actually plays the violin."
" Don't get too excited." Seto warned. " It might sound...really bad."
" Whoa, this is one great violin!" Seto cried excitedly as he played scales all over the place. " How much did this thing cost? It's the best violin I've ever played in my twelve year lifetime! This thing must of costed at least a hundred thousand bucks!" At this point the scales turned into arpeggios. " God, if I had known that you had such a great violin maybe I would have stolen it while trying to get into the castle!"
We all laughed. " Right." I answered. " And play for my guards, that's what you'll do! Actually, this violin wasn't worth that much back then. The person that sold it to me didn't know how to play, so of course the value dropped."
" Lucky bastard." Seto humphed. " This bow needs rosin."
" Rosin?" I blinked. " I think I have rosin in my other case." Deciding that Seto ought to enjoy my precious violin-which in truth I had never let even Cecilia touch ( She never asked so I never offered) I fetched out my other violin, which wasn't as good as this one, and handed Seto the rosin. Seto wiped it on his bow, or my bow, and then attempted to play whatever he remembered from Strauss's Fledermaus Overture.
Of course, me being a humble musician I attempted to join him, but when we reached the introduction to the waltz, it crashed and burned.
" What the heck was that?" I asked.
" Sorry." Seto answered sheepishly.
" That bowing really needs improvement." I told Seto.
On the second try of course, he, being the little genius that he was, copied Mozart and I was the one that messed up.
Cecilia and the others must have thought this very amusing, but for once I didn't care really. I guess I realized Seto was just the one I needed to help me out of my madness. If Seto had been less independent I probably would have considered adopting him. But for now...
There were some pleasant activities Seto and I went through. I guess he wasn't very comfortable with Cecilia since she made him lose Mokuba. It really wasn't her fault. It wasn't his either. I couldn't help feeling guilty for it all, and at the same time thankful. After all, Seto gave me back everything that I held dear and still do.
In fact, I was distressed for a while during Seto's stay. Cecilia was just as thankful as I am and felt as guilty. Seto for the most part ignored her, and although I was unhappy I was able to understand his indifference. I guess that was what the poor boy needed all along. Someone to understand, or more importantly, parents.
It's never too late, Seto.
Sometime later at my study, I found another book that mentioned Seto. This one did not mention his past life much, but did mention what Yami had banished into the Shadow Realm. It was actually Seth, the jealous brother of Osiris, that had murdered his brother many millenniums ago.
I called to Yugi and Yami, and showed them the book. Their reaction was very different from what I expected.
Yami stated that he felt ill. Yugi went pale. They read the passage over and over again and kept on stating they couldn't believe it.
" So Seth took over Seto when Yugi solved the puzzle?" Yami asked wearily.
" Yes." I blinked, not really sure why they felt so unhappy. What's wrong with Seth taking over Seto?
" Ugh, and is Seth the one that kidnapped Grandpa?" Yugi asked.
" Yes?" I blinked again.
They remained silent. And even though I can read their thoughts and feel their emotions, I could not make any sense of it at all.
" Max, I do not giggle."
" You just did."
" I never giggled for ten years."
" Not even when you were eight?"
" No. I told you already, I do not giggle."
" Well," Cecilia entered the room. " If that wasn't a giggle, then what is it?"
" Can't I laugh?"
" It was not a laugh, Setoboy." I smiled.
" It's called light laughter."
" That's what giggles are."
" Look, you two are getting really annoying."
" It's alright Seto." Cecilia sat down beside him. " You're allowed to giggle in this place. After all, there's no law saying that you can't giggle."
Seto grimaced. " Heaven forbid. I don't giggle. Can we drop this topic now?"
" You just did. Now we can."
Seto threw up his hands in defeat. " Whatever."
" Speaking of which," I leaned back. " I found out one of the pegs on that violin I lent you got really really loose."
" It was always loose." Seto glared at me.
" Ah, my boy, I hope you're right." I chuckled. " Otherwise, you'll probably be staying here for a lot longer then you may want. Speaking of which, what day is it? We're getting close to the Duelist Tournament this year."
" You can change the rules for this year." Seto suggested, and before he finished his sentence I started up.
" Yes! That is a great idea! But are you sure you're at my level?"
" Hey, just yesterday when we dueled we lasted two hours without either of us losing life points, and kept on avoiding traps and such. If I'm not going to be your partner, then maybe Yugi will, but anyway you might as well try something new."
" What is his idea?" Cecilia asked pleasantly.
" Double Duelists." I said simply. Cecilia raised her eyebrows. " Hm. That sounds interesting."
" For once, you can join two people together, instead of splitting them apart." Seto lied back. " That way, Joey and Yugi can play on one team-if they decide to join."
" That has never really been done before-except with Yugi and Joey last year." I nodded.
" Ah well. We can watch the kids like you do. You just drink your wine and I'll drink some..."
" Milk."
" No!"
" Yes!"
" Milk?"
" Or chocolate, if you want."
" What do you think I am?"
" A sixteen-year-old teenager."
" Oh, thanks a lot!"
" You're welcome! It's about time you realize your proper age, Setoboy. If you don't, you can never hope to overcome that anemia."
" Oh really?"
" Do you realize how long you've had it?"
At this Seto blinked, completely surprised, then glared at me defiantly. I smiled.
" You poor child." Cecilia laughed. " It's a good thing everything happened the way it did, isn't it? You are great at everything, but when it comes to taking care of yourself, you are just as dependent as any other teenager."
It was then when I scanned Seto's mind, I realized Cecilia did more then she had intended. Seto suddenly grew still. I smiled inwardly. Cecilia always had a talent of getting messages across. I scanned his mind again. Seto's face was expressionless, but inside he was beaming. Parents. Wasn't that what he always wanted?
Several days later Seto began having nightmares. Nightmares about Mokuba, his parents, the Shadow Realm. Nightmares with Mokuba calling out to him. Monsters seizing his wrists and dragging him further into the abyss.
At first during the daytime he wasn't too bothered by it. But then it started getting really serious. He started to wander off and get lost without realizing he had even started walking. He became very reserved. His mind closed its doors and bolted the locks.
I was getting really scared. And I don't like being scared.
Several weeks later I found Seto in his room. At first I thought he was practicing some moves with Duel Monsters. But it didn't seem like it...
" No no," He muttered, collecting all the cards and putting them back into the deck. " Swords of Revealing Light first, after that is Arrow...No, Exodia. I'm missing Exodia. Exodia is in the middle. That's right...But I don't have Exodia. I don't have Exodia. I'll have to borrow from Yugi, but Yugi doesn't have all of them."
For a while I stood behind him without him knowing, listening to him mutter to himself. Then he began to design a huge circular web, complex and illogical. The hole in the middle probably represented Exodia, but there were other monsters he was missing.
I thought Seto had finally lost it.
" What are you doing?" I asked.
" Ra told me to do it." He quickly defended. " He said I'll have to if I can ever go there again. But I don't have all the necessary cards Max. What am I supposed to do?"
" Ra told you to do what?" I asked. " Ra? Who's Ra?"
" The God. I don't have Exodia-any of them, and I need at least one of its class to make this work."
" Make what work?"
" This."
" What's this? What did Ra want you to do?"
" Find the Heart of the Cards."
That did not make sense, even for me.
" How are you doing it?"
" The cards have a pattern." Seto laid down one card, thought for a minute, then switched places with the Mystic Elf.
That probably would have made sense if Seto didn't mention everything else.
" Reaper of Cards goes after the Dark Magician-wait, that doesn't make sense. I'll do that later. White Hat goes with-that doesn't make sense either-"
" None of this makes sense to me." I blinked. " What are you trying to do?"
" Find the Heart of the Cards."
" You said that already."
" Magical Hats and Dark Magician-that's right. And then the box, Celtic Guardian goes on top-"
" Seto, you're losing it."
" Mystic Elf doesn't go there. She goes with the Elf Guardian. But then the Elf Guardian isn't supposed to be there either-"
" Seto,"
" The Virus goes here,"
" Seto, listen to me. Seto, are you listening?"
" Hold on, I'm almost done."
" You're not even close and it's time for a break. How long have you been at this?"
" Since I woke."
" That's six hours."
" I can't stop now, I'm so close."
" You don't have Exodia. I have no idea what you're doing but I know you won't be an inch closer if you don't have Exodia in front of you, so just quit it."
" I can't!" Seto covered his ears. " I can't! Stop it! Leave me alone!"
I sighed.
" Seto. You can always finish it later, and maybe I can help you. Maybe Yugi and Yami can too-no one is going to touch it."
" But I'm so close-"
" You're going nowhere." I was convinced the poor boy had finally cracked. " Now why don't you join me for some lunch? Perhaps you can explain everything."
" I need to finish this. I'm almost done."
" You don't have Exodia."
" I'll borrow from someone."
" Borrow! What outrage!"
" Or maybe I can create one. Blue Eyes White Dragon goes with Red Eyes,"
" Seto, slow down. Why are you trying to find the Heart of the Cards, or whatever you're doing?"
" There's a spell." Seto suddenly grew excited, as if he wasn't already. " It can bring dead souls back to life."
I sputtered. " You're trying-don't tell me you're-"
" So I can place this over here-"
" You're trying to bring Mokuba back?"
" Sure, why not? It will give me a reason to live again. Curse of Dragon goes down there. No, that doesn't make sense. Ugh! I know I had it there for a moment,"
" Seto, you're losing it." I repeated.
" I know, I'm almost done. I'll be down there in a minute."
" Seto, this is madness."
" Hehe, I know." Seto giggled, and that was a real giggle. " Jolly! Sagi goes down there,"
" Seto,"
" Now I need Toon World to create a cartoon Exodia."
" What?!"
" Now what was the spell? Mash-no, I can't say it right now, the thing's not finished."
" Seto."
" But maybe I can remember the other spell."
" Seto."
" This can't go wrong now, not after I worked so hard-"
" Seto!"
Seto started and suddenly stared at me as if he noticed me for the first time.
" Seto, what's wrong with you?" I asked.
There was a moment of silence.
" I need to get this done."
" I know." I said quietly, to calm him down and not show that I was just as nervous and edgy as he was by now. " But you ought to rest and pull yourself together. Open your mind to me, Seto."
" I can't do that." He started pleading. " Please Max, I can't, you have to understand, I mean-"
" You have something to hide." I stated quietly.
He fell silent.
" Whatever you're hiding, Seto," I warned, " It isn't going to do you any good. I'm not going to force you for now, but you have to understand that I do have strong powers. Quite frankly, I will tear your brain apart if I have to."
" I'm sorry." Seto started sobbing. " I'm sorry, I'm sorry,"
" Why?" I asked, holding him by his shoulders. " What's wrong?"
I was thoroughly convinced that this is too much. Even an insane Seto Kaiba wouldn't be acting like this...
/ Right.../ Yami spoke after a while. / But I still don't understand. What do you mean, find the Heart of the Cards? What is he trying to do in the first place?/
I understood what Yami was saying.
/ He was trying to rebuild Mokuba's soul./ I answered. / He's using the cards to perform some kind of spell./
/ Madness!/ Yami cried. / That kind of spell is forbidden! There's a curse to every spell like that!/
/ There are more, you mean?/
/ Yes, some are spells that erase souls from the world. In Mokuba's case that's different, but if you erase sould from this realm, you are imprinted with a curse. Others are creating a new monster, which you were never able to do, and some are wiping away monsters. But Seto's is a big spell. No one is allowed to do that./
/ Speaking of which,/ I said through my dark powers. / What exactly is the curse?/
There was a long hesitation.
Seto wouldn't tell me exactly what the spell was. No matter how much I tried to persuade him he just sat there and sobbed. Why was he crying so much all of the sudden? Was his inner child taking over?
And then the door broke down and went up in a flash. But during that flash I felt his emotions. He was making a sacrifice. A horrible sacrifice. But what it was I cannot tell. And that scared me more than anything. What's happening to him? What was he about to do?
/ He is going to sacrifice his soul for Mokuba./ Yami said slowly. / So if he succeeds completing the Ring of the Cards, we will lose Seto Kaiba forever./