**whew!!** Another long long long update, but hey, I have a problem
figuring out where I should stop. The story's -getting there- though
exactly where I haven't decided yet **grins evilly** But I think the whole
plot's pretty transparent. Heh. Bear with me, ok?
----------Thanks and K-poozi to all who reviewed, but again, if you're not snoring by the third sentence of this tale, I'm happy. ^^----------
Disclaimer: Yep. Since I practically own the whole world, I naturally own Yu-Gi-Oh too. (actually I'm waiting for the little green men Out There to deliver this anime to me but that's another boring irrelevant tale)
Ch. 5 (Wow! 5!!)
Look at all the lights. He blinked, and when the dots dancing across his vision faded, he could make out shiny surfaces. Steel. He was lying on a table of steel. And it was cold in this place; he could feel the cold of the table seeping into him. Getting up carefully, he looked around. Large screens were set up all over this strange - yet familiar - place, but they were all filled with static and were silent. Everything was all electronic and metallic, all turned off but humming silently nevertheless.
Rubbing his arm distractedly and wondering why it didn't hurt - was it supposed to? - he took a tour of the room, his footsteps echoing across the immaculate floor. So cold, but it was a familiar cold. He knew this place, but also knew he had never been here before. He scowled, hating the fact that he didn't know something. The light came from nowhere that he could see, but it reflected pale blue on the surfaces.
He nearly stumbled over a sturdy wooden table, the kind that little kids play at in cozy houses with fireplaces. He smiled to himself at this thought: he sure never had a cozy childhood like that. Then, he caught his breath as he saw what was on the table.
A worn and second-hand chess set, some of the pieces half tumbled over. A battered and old teddy bear with a blue beret askew on its patched head. A childish picture frame made with Popsicle sticks encasing the same photo he now wore around his neck. Even then, he'd decorated the simple frame with doodles of what looked like white dragons.
What is going on here?
As if in answer to his unasked question, the screens flickered and the static cleared, showing a view of Domino City as seen from the window of a tall building. The window in his office at Kaiba Corp, to be exact. Then, the scene changed and he was looking at the dimly lit interior of an old warehouse. He was holding something, a small handful of cards - for some reason they reminded him of Pegasus, of all things -
What the heck?
Isis Ishtar frowned as she watched her younger brother pace the room furiously, waving his arms and ranting.
"Malik. Calm down. You've just gotten back from the airport; sit down and control yourself. You're scaring me."
The tanned youth stopped in mid-rant and whirled to face his sister. "Calm down. Calm Down?!" he hissed. "When that -thing- is loose again?"
"You've just gotten back-"
"Yes, and again, YES, Isis I've checked the security vaults and whatever that is down there, it's-not-the-Millennium-Rod!" A deranged note had entered Malik's voice. "And we've got to find it. Now. And you're not taking me seriously!"
"Malik. I am taking you very seriously. But how can you expect anyone else to when you bust into the vaults like a mad man, shrieking curses in Egyptian and looking like - like" She floundered for the appropriate word and finally settled on "like a lunatic."
"Yes but soon there will be one more very dangerous lunatic wandering around with the Millennium Rod and THAT" bang of a fist on the table "makes all the difference."
Isis sighed and gave her brother a reproachful glance. Malik scowled, but slowly eased himself into a chair. "All right. I suppose that doesn't justify what I did."
"Malik, you're the only one I know who beats up his own security guards and breaks into his own museum."
He scowled even deeper and sunk into a sullen silence.
"And how do you propose we find the Millennium Rod? Millions of people are out there, and for all our resources, the one person who has the Item will be the one least likely to give himself up. And don't" here she held up a hand to stop any outburst from her impetuous brother "Do not even think that we are going to break into every likely suspect's house and demand to search for it."
Malik thought for a while, then got up and started pacing again. "The Millennium Rod doesn't stay dormant for long," he said at last in a low voice, "Sooner or later, it'll announce itself to the world, and usually with blood."
Isis was about to reply when the intercom buzzed and the secretary's voice said, "A phone call for you, Miss. I think it's Mr. Kaiba. Shall I patch him through?"
"Of course."
Kaiba's familiar voice came on. "Isis. I'm afraid a couple of disturbing incidents have occurred. Someone - or some organization - has broken into no less than 6 different museums and artifact galleries within the past few days or so. Oddly enough, all the above museums had Ancient Egyptian-related objects on display." here he paused, as if searching for the information he wanted "You might find this interesting: Four of the six branches belong to you and your brother, and every branch broken into is missing one artifact. Just one."
Isis sat in shocked silence for a while, and looked up to see Malik's violet eyes saying I-told-you-so.
"Are you there, Isis?"
"Y-yes. Just unpleasantly surprised. Is that all the information you have on these break-ins?"
"They all happened when you transferred the security data to me for check-up not too long ago. Perhaps whoever it was took advantage of that fact."
Malik smirked. That was about as close an apology as the Ishtars were going to get from the CEO. "Was there anything particularly 'disturbing' about these break-ins, Kaiba? Like, bodies for example?"
He saw his sister wince. Well, yeah, that was a rather dramatic example, but with the Millennium Rod, one could never be sure.. Malik drummed his fingers.
"Malik? Now that you mention it," Kaiba was sounding uncomfortable reporting to someone else for a change "The burglars did murder some security guards. Six bodies have been found in scattered locations near the scene of crime. From what the hysterical museum clerk tried to tell me, I assume they were pretty much slaughtered."
Silence.
Malik and Isis exchanged very worried looks.
"That's all I have here right now. You'll find more pertaining details with your head of security - and the police want a talk with you as well. Do you want your data back from me?"
"Yes - no." Isis thought it over. "No. I think it will be much safer out of our hands. Someone, as you've said, seems to be targeting us for something. I'd be grateful if you kept it for now."
"Very well. In that case - "
"Do whatever is necessary. And, thank you."
"I'll meet you outside the main Ishtar branch at 8 to give you the file on the break-ins."
"Fine by me." Isis was already imagining possible worst-case- scenarios on the havoc the current holder of the Millennium Rod could wreck in those few hours until then.
"See you then."
Malik turned to face his sister after Kaiba had hung up. "I think that's where we should start searching for the Rod. Alone." With a bitter laugh, he added, "Makes sense that he'd come after us first."
"No." Isis began dialing another number. "Not alone. Perhaps Yugi - or his other self - may be able to shed more light on all of this."
When his sister got that Look on her face, Malik knew better than to argue. He doubted Yugi could do much of anything though.
----meanwhile----
Ryou woke up and found himself lying on his couch at home. How odd, he thought as he got up and straightened himself out, I don't remember coming home. Running a hand through his hair, he glanced up at the clock and was surprised to find that it was already 7 p.m.
"But I don't remember a single thing," he mused, frowning; checking his watch to make sure the clock wasn't just going weird. He recalled the bake sale but that was it. Feeling a bit hungry, he went to the kitchen to fix something to eat, pondering this problem. He used to have these memory blanks every once in a while, but that'd stopped after Yugi and Battle City came along -
"Why, what's this?" Ryou peered at the long steak knife lying in the sink and scratched his face confusedly (A/N: He does this, really! And he's so cute when he does!). Then he sighed resignedly and decided it must be another gap in his memory.
"Alzheimer's at my age?" he shook his head as he began washing the miscellaneous dishes. "Ryou, what am I going to do with you?"
But even so, he hesitated slightly before putting that long knife away. That was one thing he wasn't sure he could just chalk up to a memory problem. The small radio in the kitchen was on and the news announcer was sputtering something about a murderous thief after artifacts in between bursts of static. He shut off the old radio, feeling slightly depressed about all the bad things that were being broadcasted and put the knife away. As he did so, he knocked over a small pile of unfamiliar, addressed envelopes on the counter.
He scratched his face again, and mentally kicked himself for another memory gap.
Maybe he'd go pay Yugi a visit tomorrow, and get around to mailing those letters.
---8pm, outside the Ishtar Historical Museum, main branch---
"By Ra, Osiris and all the gods above," Isis said in a hushed voice. "Ramon, this- there's no way- but why?"
"What were you expecting, Isis?!" Malik was grimly surveying the 'carnage', and Isis noted he was almost satisfied that his gruesome prediction had come true. "At least this gives us something to go on when we're looking for It."
The six bodies had been found and laid on the stretchers to be taken to the hospital for autopsy. Not that it was necessary, Isis shuddered inwardly, Only some very sick person - or someone under a sick influence - would mutilate anyone like this.
"Where's Kaiba? He said he would be here at this time and it's not like him to be late," she said finally, trying to avoid looking at the now covered bodies.
The burly head of security handed Isis a manila file. "Miss Ishtar. Mr. Kaiba came by earlier and said something came up suddenly, so he asked me to give this to you. He looked rather worn-out and acted as if it was a matter of utmost importance that you get this." Ramon was looking puzzled. "He told me to tell you 'Read the back'."
Overhearing all of this, Malik scoffed. "Really." He glanced back over at the bodies, almost hungrily. "It's out there, and finding It is our first priority."
"He looked unlike himself." Ramon shrugged. "I supposed you would be able to make sense of all of this." Then his walkie-talkie buzzed and he turned to bark some orders.
Isis flipped through the papers detailing losses and insurance coverage and then, way at the back were Kaiba's own handwritten notes. She checked the back of every sheet, but came up with nothing - until she came to the inside back of the folder.
A plain white envelope had been taped hastily to the back.
A small slip of paper fluttered out, followed by a blank card. Catching the paper, Isis made out the un-Kaiba-like scrawl:
"Soul less - Pharoah"
Well, that's it for now~ But it *will* start to make sense (hopefully) soon!! (Rather, as soon as I finish all that Other Stuff I was supposed to be doing -__-`````` )
----------Thanks and K-poozi to all who reviewed, but again, if you're not snoring by the third sentence of this tale, I'm happy. ^^----------
Disclaimer: Yep. Since I practically own the whole world, I naturally own Yu-Gi-Oh too. (actually I'm waiting for the little green men Out There to deliver this anime to me but that's another boring irrelevant tale)
Ch. 5 (Wow! 5!!)
Look at all the lights. He blinked, and when the dots dancing across his vision faded, he could make out shiny surfaces. Steel. He was lying on a table of steel. And it was cold in this place; he could feel the cold of the table seeping into him. Getting up carefully, he looked around. Large screens were set up all over this strange - yet familiar - place, but they were all filled with static and were silent. Everything was all electronic and metallic, all turned off but humming silently nevertheless.
Rubbing his arm distractedly and wondering why it didn't hurt - was it supposed to? - he took a tour of the room, his footsteps echoing across the immaculate floor. So cold, but it was a familiar cold. He knew this place, but also knew he had never been here before. He scowled, hating the fact that he didn't know something. The light came from nowhere that he could see, but it reflected pale blue on the surfaces.
He nearly stumbled over a sturdy wooden table, the kind that little kids play at in cozy houses with fireplaces. He smiled to himself at this thought: he sure never had a cozy childhood like that. Then, he caught his breath as he saw what was on the table.
A worn and second-hand chess set, some of the pieces half tumbled over. A battered and old teddy bear with a blue beret askew on its patched head. A childish picture frame made with Popsicle sticks encasing the same photo he now wore around his neck. Even then, he'd decorated the simple frame with doodles of what looked like white dragons.
What is going on here?
As if in answer to his unasked question, the screens flickered and the static cleared, showing a view of Domino City as seen from the window of a tall building. The window in his office at Kaiba Corp, to be exact. Then, the scene changed and he was looking at the dimly lit interior of an old warehouse. He was holding something, a small handful of cards - for some reason they reminded him of Pegasus, of all things -
What the heck?
Isis Ishtar frowned as she watched her younger brother pace the room furiously, waving his arms and ranting.
"Malik. Calm down. You've just gotten back from the airport; sit down and control yourself. You're scaring me."
The tanned youth stopped in mid-rant and whirled to face his sister. "Calm down. Calm Down?!" he hissed. "When that -thing- is loose again?"
"You've just gotten back-"
"Yes, and again, YES, Isis I've checked the security vaults and whatever that is down there, it's-not-the-Millennium-Rod!" A deranged note had entered Malik's voice. "And we've got to find it. Now. And you're not taking me seriously!"
"Malik. I am taking you very seriously. But how can you expect anyone else to when you bust into the vaults like a mad man, shrieking curses in Egyptian and looking like - like" She floundered for the appropriate word and finally settled on "like a lunatic."
"Yes but soon there will be one more very dangerous lunatic wandering around with the Millennium Rod and THAT" bang of a fist on the table "makes all the difference."
Isis sighed and gave her brother a reproachful glance. Malik scowled, but slowly eased himself into a chair. "All right. I suppose that doesn't justify what I did."
"Malik, you're the only one I know who beats up his own security guards and breaks into his own museum."
He scowled even deeper and sunk into a sullen silence.
"And how do you propose we find the Millennium Rod? Millions of people are out there, and for all our resources, the one person who has the Item will be the one least likely to give himself up. And don't" here she held up a hand to stop any outburst from her impetuous brother "Do not even think that we are going to break into every likely suspect's house and demand to search for it."
Malik thought for a while, then got up and started pacing again. "The Millennium Rod doesn't stay dormant for long," he said at last in a low voice, "Sooner or later, it'll announce itself to the world, and usually with blood."
Isis was about to reply when the intercom buzzed and the secretary's voice said, "A phone call for you, Miss. I think it's Mr. Kaiba. Shall I patch him through?"
"Of course."
Kaiba's familiar voice came on. "Isis. I'm afraid a couple of disturbing incidents have occurred. Someone - or some organization - has broken into no less than 6 different museums and artifact galleries within the past few days or so. Oddly enough, all the above museums had Ancient Egyptian-related objects on display." here he paused, as if searching for the information he wanted "You might find this interesting: Four of the six branches belong to you and your brother, and every branch broken into is missing one artifact. Just one."
Isis sat in shocked silence for a while, and looked up to see Malik's violet eyes saying I-told-you-so.
"Are you there, Isis?"
"Y-yes. Just unpleasantly surprised. Is that all the information you have on these break-ins?"
"They all happened when you transferred the security data to me for check-up not too long ago. Perhaps whoever it was took advantage of that fact."
Malik smirked. That was about as close an apology as the Ishtars were going to get from the CEO. "Was there anything particularly 'disturbing' about these break-ins, Kaiba? Like, bodies for example?"
He saw his sister wince. Well, yeah, that was a rather dramatic example, but with the Millennium Rod, one could never be sure.. Malik drummed his fingers.
"Malik? Now that you mention it," Kaiba was sounding uncomfortable reporting to someone else for a change "The burglars did murder some security guards. Six bodies have been found in scattered locations near the scene of crime. From what the hysterical museum clerk tried to tell me, I assume they were pretty much slaughtered."
Silence.
Malik and Isis exchanged very worried looks.
"That's all I have here right now. You'll find more pertaining details with your head of security - and the police want a talk with you as well. Do you want your data back from me?"
"Yes - no." Isis thought it over. "No. I think it will be much safer out of our hands. Someone, as you've said, seems to be targeting us for something. I'd be grateful if you kept it for now."
"Very well. In that case - "
"Do whatever is necessary. And, thank you."
"I'll meet you outside the main Ishtar branch at 8 to give you the file on the break-ins."
"Fine by me." Isis was already imagining possible worst-case- scenarios on the havoc the current holder of the Millennium Rod could wreck in those few hours until then.
"See you then."
Malik turned to face his sister after Kaiba had hung up. "I think that's where we should start searching for the Rod. Alone." With a bitter laugh, he added, "Makes sense that he'd come after us first."
"No." Isis began dialing another number. "Not alone. Perhaps Yugi - or his other self - may be able to shed more light on all of this."
When his sister got that Look on her face, Malik knew better than to argue. He doubted Yugi could do much of anything though.
----meanwhile----
Ryou woke up and found himself lying on his couch at home. How odd, he thought as he got up and straightened himself out, I don't remember coming home. Running a hand through his hair, he glanced up at the clock and was surprised to find that it was already 7 p.m.
"But I don't remember a single thing," he mused, frowning; checking his watch to make sure the clock wasn't just going weird. He recalled the bake sale but that was it. Feeling a bit hungry, he went to the kitchen to fix something to eat, pondering this problem. He used to have these memory blanks every once in a while, but that'd stopped after Yugi and Battle City came along -
"Why, what's this?" Ryou peered at the long steak knife lying in the sink and scratched his face confusedly (A/N: He does this, really! And he's so cute when he does!). Then he sighed resignedly and decided it must be another gap in his memory.
"Alzheimer's at my age?" he shook his head as he began washing the miscellaneous dishes. "Ryou, what am I going to do with you?"
But even so, he hesitated slightly before putting that long knife away. That was one thing he wasn't sure he could just chalk up to a memory problem. The small radio in the kitchen was on and the news announcer was sputtering something about a murderous thief after artifacts in between bursts of static. He shut off the old radio, feeling slightly depressed about all the bad things that were being broadcasted and put the knife away. As he did so, he knocked over a small pile of unfamiliar, addressed envelopes on the counter.
He scratched his face again, and mentally kicked himself for another memory gap.
Maybe he'd go pay Yugi a visit tomorrow, and get around to mailing those letters.
---8pm, outside the Ishtar Historical Museum, main branch---
"By Ra, Osiris and all the gods above," Isis said in a hushed voice. "Ramon, this- there's no way- but why?"
"What were you expecting, Isis?!" Malik was grimly surveying the 'carnage', and Isis noted he was almost satisfied that his gruesome prediction had come true. "At least this gives us something to go on when we're looking for It."
The six bodies had been found and laid on the stretchers to be taken to the hospital for autopsy. Not that it was necessary, Isis shuddered inwardly, Only some very sick person - or someone under a sick influence - would mutilate anyone like this.
"Where's Kaiba? He said he would be here at this time and it's not like him to be late," she said finally, trying to avoid looking at the now covered bodies.
The burly head of security handed Isis a manila file. "Miss Ishtar. Mr. Kaiba came by earlier and said something came up suddenly, so he asked me to give this to you. He looked rather worn-out and acted as if it was a matter of utmost importance that you get this." Ramon was looking puzzled. "He told me to tell you 'Read the back'."
Overhearing all of this, Malik scoffed. "Really." He glanced back over at the bodies, almost hungrily. "It's out there, and finding It is our first priority."
"He looked unlike himself." Ramon shrugged. "I supposed you would be able to make sense of all of this." Then his walkie-talkie buzzed and he turned to bark some orders.
Isis flipped through the papers detailing losses and insurance coverage and then, way at the back were Kaiba's own handwritten notes. She checked the back of every sheet, but came up with nothing - until she came to the inside back of the folder.
A plain white envelope had been taped hastily to the back.
A small slip of paper fluttered out, followed by a blank card. Catching the paper, Isis made out the un-Kaiba-like scrawl:
"Soul less - Pharoah"
Well, that's it for now~ But it *will* start to make sense (hopefully) soon!! (Rather, as soon as I finish all that Other Stuff I was supposed to be doing -__-`````` )