I checked this the other day and did you know that, not including this chapter, I'm going on 50 pages!!! Wow! It didn't take long either. My other ficlet looks set to finish at around 70 at the end of it and that's taken me over four months! I've also gotten over double the number of reviews for that one in less than a quarter of the time! Thanks guys!
Oh, and because of all the reviews I worked overtime this week and as of such the well won't be going dry! Yay! Lots of great suggestions coming my way so I could hammer out quite a few chapters to back-log. They will be posted regularly every Friday from now on so be happy.
I must send a huge 'thank you' out to The Great Knucklehead for giving me the film quote. He said in a review that it would be funny to hear Yami say it so, me writing him/her in my own little way, she says it. Any more suggestions?!!
Oh, someone asked in a review what a 'Tri-Horned Dragon' is and, I'm ashamed to say, I don't know either. I read it in another fanfic when I was searching for a monster that had the power level written next to it, for me convenience, and just plonked it into my work. I don't know if it exists or if whoever wrote that fic made it up so I apologize to that writer if it was your own creation. It's very obvious that I'm new in this fandom, isn't it?!
Right, I know pathetically little about the monsters and their attack levels, appearances, etc, so bear with me here. I am winging this so spare me flames stating that this monster is more powerful than that one, blah blah blah. I don't give a damn.
I chose not to do a proper Duel Monsters Game because I feel that I'm doing a good job with this ficlet and do not want to wreck it with, what would be, a rather clumsy attempt at writing out a complete duel. When writing attacks and strategies for two champions one needs to know a fair bit about said attacks and strategies. Which I don't. So I won't even try. Enjoy this chapter all the same though!
Chapter 9: Loyalty
"As you can see, my dragon with an attack strength of 2850 has the highest attack power save that of Exodia, and as you stated that we are only permitted to one card... Even the legendary Blue Eyes White Dragon cannot beat this creature, its attack strength only at 2600," Pegasus drawled with a smirk, leaning his weight casually to one side as he looked around the huge beast's bulk to watch Yami's reaction.
The Game King watched the dragon for a few more seconds before jerking his head round to see what Tetsuo was doing, momentarily forgetting the peculiar creature's presence. A perfect brow twitched when he found that he couldn't see him. He looked down when he felt something suddenly materialize in his hand, the sensation warm and reassuring against his flesh.
Holding the face of the card up to his face between two fingers, he controlled his expression of surprise before his lips pulled into a smooth, genuine smile.
"And I summon Tet, Guardian of the Evening Star."
"What?!"
After throwing the card onto the ground at the feet of the Tri Horned Dragon, Yami watched with satisfaction as mist rather than light bubbled up from its surface. Towering up, it disintegrated into nothingness leaving Tetsuo standing proudly before the dragon. The markings pouring from the scars beneath his eyes were now moving down his skin faster than ever, and the inscriptions on his arms were beginning to move also whereas before they had been fixed.
"With an undefined attack strength, this card stands only to serve and protect the living Horus, also known as the Evening Star. As I am the only surviving pharaoh, Tet overpowers your dragon and leaves me victorious," Yami explained smoothly the memory that card invoked surging back into his mind, yet another door unlocked from his past.
"That card does not exist," Pegasus snarled, unable to accept defeat. His eyes flickered to Tetsuo who had still yet to move at his dragon, the pair currently immersed in a staring contest between the two humans.
"Ah, but it did. That is why I said that our monsters would be summoned from the Shadow Realm itself. Here," he continued, his arm making a sweeping gesture to encompass their murky surroundings. "All the monsters in all the cards that have ever existed reside. Those from Ancient Egypt, where the true Duel Monsters Games were played, are here also. With Tetsuo's presence, I was able to remember the one card that would guarantee me victory. Now I take me winnings."
In the micro-second after Yami had finished speaking, Tetsuo rose his hands against the dragon, the blood markings on his arms peeling away and encasing the beast in a giant lattice. There was a bright flash of light before the lattice evaporated into golden sparkles, drifting down through the space the Tri Horned Dragon had previously occupied.
With the power of the Millennium Puzzle once again at his disposal, Yami pulled the souls of his friends from this realm and deposited them in their physical bodies. Looking to Tetsuo, he returned the smile that was granted him before following, his stomach lurching as it always did when he made this journey.
Aching all over from where his body had collapsed to the hard floor once his spirit had fled, Yami was partially relived to find that he was back in his female form. A quick mental scan showed that her fall had not damaged the child in any way, a boy if Pegasus was correct, and she forced her uncooperative legs beneath her to stand. Balancing was a little trickier but a familiar hand on her elbow allowed her to keep herself vertical.
"Your friends are through there," Tetsuo stated from behind, a hand pointing over her shoulder to the left of Pegasus' chair.
Pegasus himself had risen from the piece of furniture, glaring at Yami full-force before stalking out, the fact that magic had begun to crackle around Tetsuo possibly having something to do with that.
"Thank you. What will you do now though? You said yourself that you didn't want to live in this reality by yourself, although it is a possibility. I adjusted over time," Yami said whilst walking towards the indicated door.
"You adjusted because your Light has lived here all his life and, as a part of you, allowed you to accept the changes this world has undertaken since your time. It is such a dreary and impersonal place now, so I believe that I will return to my former home. You will have access to me as before through your deck, Yugioh, and I hope that I have served you as well today as I did when you existed complete."
With that parting speech, Tetsuo simply vanished. There was no other word for it. His body disappeared and the uniform that he had been wearing dropped lifelessly to the ground.
Yami felt something shift in her pocket and she pulled out her dueling deck, grinning when she saw Tet, the Guardian of the Evening Star as the card on the top. That would need to be shuffled in properly later; it was one of the few cards that was truly loyal, obeying no one else but her no matter what the situation.
Continuing towards the door, she saw it slide aside smoothly to reveal Joey and Honda who were lifting up Tea's prone body. The blood down her scalp was dry now but the damage was obviously severe.
"Yami! I dunno what in the hell you did back there but I'm damn glad you did it! Come on, we need to get Tea to a doctor now," Joey exclaimed, lifting the girl up in his arms and following Honda out of their cell.
Yami followed after them, catching the phone that Honda threw to her. The signal was dead inside the building, some machine blocking the signal whilst inside. Still, she pocketed it ready for use outside.
A veritable lightning bolt went through her skull as her Aibou began screaming down their mental link, obviously making use of the puzzle's replacement about her neck. She stumbled slightly under the force and sheer emotion he was sending, a hand raising to her temple as she sent quieting waves down the link so that she could continue to follow the boys out.
//What the heck happened? Yami, I was so worried! Are you alright? Is the baby okay? Tea's hurt and she needs to see a doctor so if Pegasus is around you need to get him to-//
//Aibou! Hush! Everyone is fine aside from Tea whom Joey is carrying outside now. I have no idea where we are so we'll need Seto's car sent for us when we get outside. I just thrashed Pegasus' ass so he doesn't need to worry about any more negotiations, okay?//
//Oh. Good. We'll see you at the hospital once Tea's there then. While I'm here, the decorator came yesterday when you were out. Do you want the nursery blue or pink?//
****
YVO
//Life has finally settled down and I couldn't be happier. Tea was diagnosed with a concussion and had to stay in overnight but she was fine a week later and is back keeping Yugi company in the shop as if nothing happened.
Pegasus has wisely stayed quiet now or 'maintaining a low profile' as Joey so accurately put it. He is well aware that I can issue a Game Penalty if he bothers Seto again and I don't think he is mentally unstable enough to incur my wrath, particularly now that I'm nearly full term.
Seto joked that I should have stared at me feet whilst battling Pegasus as I wouldn't see them again for a while, which, unfortunately, he was entirely correct about. I think I received a 'get out of jail free' card for my outburst against him in the shop because he was so worried which I am truly relieved about. I apologized to both though, which was worth me swallowing my pride for as the reactions were interesting. Joey blushed for some reason, after staring at me wide-eyed as if it took a moment to register that I had apologized to him. I'll admit that I don't confess to mistakes often, which was probably why he was so shocked.
Seto just nodded his head and then apologized to me before asking where I'd learned such a strong right-hook. Cue a long conversation about the more ancient art-forms of combat and we agreed to have some more 'physical' duels once I was in suitable condition. It's easy to guess how my imagination twisted that...
The nursery is finished now and, having not been a child for a very long time and as of such having no idea what would be pleasant for a baby in terms of toys, I left that to Yugi. Seto had a moment of insanity and gave him his credit card for the day. I'm surprised it didn't melt, particularly since Mai went with him.
It's a little bit bear-mad in there now but I find it sweet. It's a personal touch from the other side of me and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. However the largest bear which consumes the whole corner in which it sits scares me a little. I think I might sew its mouth shut or make its eyes bigger...//
****
Seto had become a regular occupant at the Game Shop now, freely moving into the living quarters without asking as he had done for the last few months. He always checked in every day now, usually in the afternoon during the lunch-break that he actually took now. Before he often used to forget to eat, only stopping when his stomach was active enough to distract him from work. Of course his excursions from the office had a price and that was he was working later. It worked out perfectly now though as they had just finished the term and he had a good many weeks school-free ahead of him meaning that he could afford to lie in bed a little longer in the mornings to make up from the sleep lost the night before.
Today when he strolled into the living room he saw the woman bearing his son sitting comfortably amongst a swathe of pillows, Yugi sat opposite her in the arm-chair that he had obviously pulled there.
They had not yet noticed his entry as they continued their game without pausing, Yugi taking another piece of pop-corm from the deep bowl in his lap and throwing it at Yami. Tracking the morsel through the air with sharp eyes, Yami expertly moved her head accordingly and caught it in her mouth, chewing once before swallowing. She looked back to Yugi expectantly as his hand dived back into the bowl.
"Well I can see you've both have a productive day," Seto laughed, readjusting the box under his arm slightly and placing a hand on the crown of Yami's head.
"Are you kidding?! Do you have any idea how long it took us to perfect that?!" Yugi squealed indignantly with wide eyes, subtly ignoring the light flush that had crept up into his Dark's cheeks as Seto buried his fingers in her hair.
"With Yami's magnetic attraction to food I'm sure it wasn't too hard," the elder Kaiba brother grinned, curling his fingers into her thick hair subconsciously. "Oh, I bought something today. Would you like to see it?" he asked as the thought suddenly occurred to him.
At their affirmative nods, he handed Yami the long, thin box under his arm, resting his weight against his folded arms on the back of the couch as he watched her over her shoulder.
Testing its light weight in her hands curiously, Yami carefully took off the lid and began searching through the ridiculous number of layers of purple tissue paper, finally finding the prize near the bottom.
Lifting the tiny jump-suit out of the tissue she ran her thumbs over the material, finding that it was so soft that it could barely be felt at all. A rich blue in colour, it had a small, silver 'K' embroided onto the left breast and was lined with a soft silver material around the collar.
She stared at it silently for a few seconds before folding it neatly and placing it bakc in the box, setting it at her side before taking a deep breath. That obviously didn't work, she murmured an 'excuse me' before hurrying into the kitchen.
Seto and Yugi exchanged confused and quite concerned glances before the former followed, leaving Yugi to pick up the piece of clothing and examine it himself. He figured it would be better to let those two sort whatever had happened out themselves.
When Seto entered the kitchen he found Yami with her back to him holding a tea towel to her eyes. Speaking her name, he jumped slightly when she faced him lowering the towel. Her eyes were red and her cheeks damp and to him it was for absolutely no reason.
Confronted with a crying woman, Seto did the only thing that he could. He panicked.
"What's wrong? Don't you like it? What..." he trailed off still holding her shoulders, the position adopted during the course of those few questions. He was at a loss. What the hell was he supposed to do?! How did he fix this?!
"No, it's perfect! It's just..."
"What? It's just what?"
"Small," she wailed before breaking into a fresh torrent of tears.
Utterly dumbfounded now, Seto stared down bewildered at the head that had buried itself into his chest, her fingers curling into the sleeves of his jacket. Bringing his hands up slightly awkwardly, he placed them on her back and started moving them in slow soothing circles. "Erm, it was supposed to be," he stated, not knowing how she would react to that and admittedly afraid to find out.
Cringing when he heard her sobs intensify, his jacket being thoroughly soaked now, he resorted to plan B when simple reasoning failed to pan out. "Yugi! Help!"
The younger boy practically skidded into the room, his eyes bouncing between the two figures before he placed a hand up on her shoulder. "Yami? What's wrong?"
She broke away from Seto then, taking a step back and watching him with severely upset, watery eyes. "It's small!"
Yugi nodded slightly whilst wondering where the hell this 'turn' was going. Yami's emotions were unpredictable to say the least. An example was when he showed her a new teddy-bear that he had got for the nursery. Yami had grinned before breaking down. Working through various routes he had found out that it was because the bear had been so cute with light colour fur that it had reminded her of him, and then of how lucky she was to have him. Then she had moved onto how wonderful it was that there was going to be three of them in a few weeks, and then that Seto was showing signs of joining the fold... This outburst proved to be just as spectacular.
"Yes, it's small, because Kiroko will be small. Hence he will fit into it," Yugi reasoned hoping that he was at least making some progress with the hysterical woman.
"You're small too," she replied sadly, a curled hand coming up now to rub at her tears. Seto was watching the exchange with deep confusion, sincerely glad that he was at the office so much so as to avoid all of these volatile emotional outbursts. Part of him was saddened too though; if he had been around more in the pervious months then he would have know what to do to help.
Yugi narrowed his eyes at her in consideration before asking seriously, "You don't know why you're upset, do you?"
"No! It's bloody ridiculous! My front's done in, my back's done in, my insides are a wreck and I haven't seen my feet for weeks but I hear they're fat too so I think I have the right to be upset! Stupid pregnancy's destroying my brain cells and I can't believe I just said that!"
Yami was breathing hard now looking more pissed off than upset now. Pissed off Yami Seto could deal with so he was relived that fresh tears weren't falling. Mainly it was because he had angered her so much in the past and was therefor used to seeing her on the verge of hammering his head through a solid object. Upset Yami on the other hand he was utterly screwed with.
"Feel better?" Seto asked lightly knowing that shouting was probably what she needed to do in such a state.
Yami paused for a second in thought before straightening and smiling. The tears looked out of place now. "Yeah I do," she said with a firm nod.
Seto turned wide eyes to Yugi who simply shrugged. "She does that. Joey swears she's possessed. He says he's just waiting for her to turn her head 360° "
"Only so he can sell the video," Yami shot back, her arms crossing casually. "Are you hungry Seto?"
"A little, why? You cannot seriously be hungry again, not after that breakfast I saw you down this morning. I think you're rivaling Joey for the name of head termite."
Yami scowled at him before slapping his shoulder. "Sit down, be quiet and stop endangering your very existence."
"Yes ma'am."
"Now what did I just say?"
TBC
Yup, I have rather abruptly left the 'drama/mystery' realm and gone straight back to 'humor'. Personally writing the latter is easier. My whole Buffy-Fandom story is entirely 'drama/mystery/horror' and I'm struggling to finish it. I haven updated for months, literally, and now that I'm doing this fic it doesn't look to be getting finished any time soon either. Not that I particularly care; you lovely people review me more and I'm having *way* more fun writing this!
If you're confused at that last bit of the fic don't be as I have had a very similar conversation with a pregnant women to that. It was a very tricky situation that I thought would be quite entertaining if Seto was on the receiving end of it.
The newest arrival is going to make its appearance soon! Yay! Of course, it's going to be a rather, 'eventful' journey to get to that event. It always is in the world of Yugioh fanfics though, isn't it?! Hope I've made it creative enough to be enjoyable.