Chapter Seven: Rejection
By Lasafara Fett
"Tea, he did it. Yugi's free. And he's heading up there."
"Okay. Have you found the Kaiba brothers yet, Tristan?"
"Yeah. Trying to get the door unlocked right now."
"Good. Keep in touch."
The whispered conversation was duly noted by Pegasus, though he did nothing to stop it. There was no point. Besides, Cecelia had not yet been freed, and Pegasus would do nothing to harm any of them before she was returned.
A lone man, dashing through the halls intent on revenge…
"I have done as I promised. Now, return my wife!"
Joey carefully untied Cecelia, and took the loop of rope off from around her neck. Then, carefully, like a gentleman he helped her over card panel to the holographic projectors below. From there, she would be able to walk over to Pegasus.
"Now, release Seto and Mokuba!"
Pegasus nodded.
As he began the process, a figure appeared at the door to Joey's side of the arena. Calmly, he walked up to the platform and put a hand on Joey's shoulder, pushing him gently aside.
"Pegasus!"
The fire in his eyes was unmistakable, the smirk on his face held more than a touch of evil. Yami Yugi was back, and in control, and Pegasus was going to die.
Pegasus was startled. He had not expected Yugi to allow the Yami control so soon, nor had he expected to be interrupted. The Millennium Eye's energy died, before the Kaibas were released.
Cecelia stopped in her tracks. She didn't understand what was going on, but she was only halfway across the huge board before the young man had come in.
"You tried to hurt my friends. You banished my hikari to the Shadow Realm. Three others were banished by you. For what? For getting in your way, Pegasus. Now, you will pay."
Pegasus was desperate. He didn't know what the boy had in mind, but he felt sure it had something to do with Cecelia. Vaulting over the card panel, he was between Cecelia and Yami Yugi before anyone could register what he was doing.
"I don't care what you do to me. But you will spare her!" Desperation gave Pegasus's voice a small hitch. After trying so hard, was all his success to come to this?
Yami Yugi sneered at the man on the board. Out of the transparent third eye in his forehead appeared a laser-like beam, headed directly for Pegasus. Pegasus blocked with his own left eye, projecting a beam to intersect Yami's. His hand went up to the side of his head, helping to aim his eye a little, while the other hand gripped Cecelia's shoulder. But he was wearing thin. The panic and adrenaline that had run through his body were dissipating, and he didn't know how long he would last.
A broken man, desperately guarding the one he loves…
Tristan finally freed the Kaibas. Nothing happened. After the success with Yugi, he had hoped Pegasus would keep his promise. Obviously he was mistaken.
"Tea, why aren't the Kaibas free yet?"
"Yugi just showed up, Tristan. He interrupted, and Pegasus is too busy guarding his wife from harm."
"Well, tell Yugi to cut it out! He can't kill Pegasus! At least not until we've freed Seto and Mokuba!"
"I know. But he's not listening…"
'Yami! What are you doing?!'
'Yugi, please, don't stop me. He hurt you, he hurt everyone.'
'Look at him, Yami.'
Pegasus was kneeling over his love, holding her in his arms as the tears rolled down his cheeks. He knew the Yami's power, the Mind Crush, and he was sure it was coming. He knew that he could have just resealed Yugi's soul, but he had made enough mistakes in his life. His strength was almost gone, there was no way he'd be able to block anything. If this was to be the last time he was here, he wanted to go holding her, protecting her. At least then, he could say he tried…
'I am.'
'Do you know why he hurt us, Yami?'
'Yes.'
'Why?'
'To gain back the one he loved.'
'Yami! STOP IT RIGHT NOW! If that's why he hurt us, then its no different from us hurting him to gain back my grandfather.'
'But, Yugi…'
Tea looked at Yugi. "Please! Stop it! He has yet to free the Kaibas! Besides, I don't think he'll hurt you, Yugi. I don't think she'll let him."
The blow Pegasus was expecting never came. Yugi slumped forward over the card panel, holding himself up while his head hung almost touching the panel's surface. When he finally looked up, it was with the wide eyes of an innocent. Yugi was back.
Pegasus was still crouched over Cecelia, keeping her close. He refused to look in her eyes. He feared what he would see there, what hatred and anger would emerge to scald his heart. The will to fight was gone; had she been killed today, he would have followed her in death.
"Pegasus."
Pegasus looked up to the source of the voice. There stood Yugi, directly above him. Pegasus didn't respond, but his eyes showed a fear, not for himself, but for her. Pegasus carefully placed himself between her and Yugi, hoping that Yugi would kill him quickly.
"Here, let me help you up."
Shock was written across Pegasus's face. Cautiously, he took the hand that was offered to him, and used it to lever himself up. Even before he could turn to Cecelia, Yugi was there, gently helping her to her feet.
"Why?"
"Your love for her. You didn't want to hurt others…It was the only way, wasn't it?"
Pegasus nodded. "I'd do anything for her."
Yugi nodded. "Then, all is forgiven."
Pegasus smiled softly, the first true smile Yugi had ever seen on his face. Turning to Cecelia, he tried to take her hand. She pulled away from him.
Shocked, Pegasus reached for her again. She turned away. Slowly, Pegasus nodded. "Very well. I will release the Kaibas now."
In a flash of light, it was over. Tea received confirmation from Tristan, and soon the whole group was up at the arena.
But Cecelia was hurt. Where was the man she had known? Not this man, this monster who stole other people's souls to gain what he wanted! Surely not!
Pegasus sat huddled in the arena's corner, a lost and forlorn child in a great big world.
To Be Continued