"I've got two pairs, what do you have?" Bakura laid down his cards.
"I've got three of a kind, the loot is mine." The fake Kaiba smirked as he
brushed the money to his increasing pile.
"Stupid mortal games." Bakura muttered. "Waste of time. How about a game of
Duel Monsters?"
"Oh, please," Kaiba waved his hand dramatically. "Spare me the game at
Shadow Realm."
Arielle say on the bed, watching the two antagonists play cards, arguing
once in a while about who's winning. She narrowed her eyes at the fake Seto
Kaiba. The real Kaiba had never laid a hand on her before, except to give
her a hug once in a while, this fake one certainly had no problem. Even
though it was obvious that the Kaiba sitting at the table wasn't anybody to
be messed with, Arielle was bored.
"Can I play?" She piped up.
"No, you need to go to bed." Bakura scowled without looking at her. "I
really do believe it's past your bedtime."
"Seto never made me go to bed at six." She complained, fidgeting with her
hair.
"Then he's not an as good caretaker as us." Kaiba was sorting out his
cards. "Everybody knows little girl like you should be in bed early, don't
we, Bakura."
"Yes, but I don't know why you're talking to her." The evil spirit was
getting impatient. He shot Arielle a glare. "Get back to bed before I make
you!" He snapped. Arielle pouted, but climbed back to bed and sulked.
"Now, isn't that better." Bakura began pleasantly, sarcastically. "Let us
get on with our game, Kaiba."
"What--?" Kaiba looked up, startled. "Hey, I said no, Bakura!"
"That's just too bad, it is not up to you to decide." The tomb raider gave
an evil smile. The Millennium Ring around his neck began to glow, a low
chant accompanying it. Kaiba shoved back from the table.
"Bakura! I meant it!" He exclaimed shakily. "Stop that right now!" Arielle
watched with sheer horror and fascination that she couldn't pull her eyes
away.
"What are you doing?!" She called out in fear.
"Stay out of this, you mortal." Bakura smirked. "Or you'd be next." Arielle
kept quiet as she watched Kaiba scream a silent scream of agony from the
pain of ancient energy. And he.vanished. Bakura's derisive laugh echoed
through the entire thing.
"There." He said smoothly, standing up from his chair. He walked over to
Kaiba's seat and brushed his money into his own pile. His lips split into a
wicked and satisfied grin. Arielle got off bed quietly during that time and
slipped a stray Duel Monsters card into her pocket, for a tiny plan was
forming in her small mind. Then, she quickly slipped back to bed. Not a
moment too soon, Bakura turned, and faced the fearful face of Arielle.
"Now, then," he said in a rich low tone, crossing over the room. "How about
a bedtime story before going to bed?"
"What did you do to Kaiba?" Arielle whispered, swallowing hard and scooting
back further in the bed, away from Bakura.
"Oh, he's back where he belongs." The thief waved her off he continued
advancing. "I simply sent him back to Shadow Realm."
"The.the Sh-shadow Realm?" Arielle wasn't sure where that was, but it
certainly didn't sound pleasant.
"Yes," Bakura calmly seated himself by the side of the bed. He picked up
the girl in the most casual, and even affectionate, manners and sat her on
his lap. Then, he tucked her in, while racking his brain for a story. He
could just order the kid to go to bed, but why do that when it was obvious
that the child is craving for warmth and affection? Beside the main point
that he was bored and doesn't stories always sent the mortal kids to bed
faster?
"Once upon a time," he began in a visionary deep voice that made Arielle
perk up her ears and focus her big verdant eyes on him. "In ancient Egypt,
there was a beautiful Egyptian princess."
Bakura had never been so proud of himself as he watched Arielle fall into a
peaceful sleep. He never known that he was that good of a storyteller.
Heck, maybe he'll just give up all this robbing and stealing and become a
storyteller.
Bakura chuckled to himself lowly. Not a chance. He unrolled his sleeping
bag by the side of the bed and got in. Tired from being separated from his
lighter half for so long, Bakura fell into a complacent slumber before his
head hit the pillow.
At exactly six o'clock AM in the morning, the doorbell for Kaiba Mansion rang. The mists were just lifting from the ground and raindrops glistened on the flower petals. It was a cloudy and rainy day as Kaiba pressed the intercom to tell the person to go away when he caught sight of Yugi, Yami, and their friends outside of the Kaiba Mansion gates. He pressed a button and the gates automatically swung open. Kaiba opened the Kaiba Mansion door, watching as the group looked around in awe. Only the game king had his eyes directly focused on the master of the mansion. Kaiba and Yami made eye contact and saw each others' reflection as their own. Neither of them looked like they got any sleep. "Morning," Kaiba greeted with a warm smile. The group stopped still, only Téa alone was still breathing. For the smile Kaiba gave them was sincere and genuine. His smile single- handedly explained a tale of love, sorrow, and harmony. And instead of his usual intimidating cold blue eyes, there was light and warmth in the depth of the dark blue pools. "What's wrong?" He asked as soon as Yami's serious eyes met his once again. "We've got to talk, Kaiba." The grave look didn't leave the former pharaoh's face as Kaiba led them through his house and into the living room. "It's Ryou." He began, shaking his head. "Yugi and I went to his house yesterday after all of you left. We found him unconscious in his room. Apparently, his yami had strike again." "How is he now?" Kaiba asked, his features just as somber now. "We were able to get him stabilized, but from his condition, we were able to tell what Bakura had done." He took another breath and plunged. "Bakura and taken part of Ryou's soul and energy for himself." "But what does that mean?" "It means that Bakura was preparing himself from being separated from Ryou for a while." Yugi filled in. "Whatever Bakura was planning to do while he's on the loose, it couldn't be good." "During the time that Arielle's missing, too." Tristan's lips were pursed in a thin, grim line. "I think it would be reasonable to say that Bakura was the one that kidnapped Arielle." Joey scowled and leaned back in the chair. "I mean, if ya put two and two together, it wouldn't sound as crazy as ya think." "I don't think it's crazy at all." Téa added, her eyes sympathetic and resolute at the same time. "Besides, Yami, didn't Ryou said something about reading Bakura's mind and hearing Arielle's name being mentioned when he regained conscious for the minute?" Yami nodded. "He also said something about a cabin." He added, standing up. "Kaiba, if you can find someone to watch over of Mokuba, that would be our first stop." "That would prove to be a problem." Kaiba looked troubled. Everyone could tell that Kaiba was none too crazy about leaving his precious little brother with some stranger after the whole nightmare with Pegasus. From reading through his eyes, Yami swiftly said. "Ryou won't be joining us." He pointed out. "So if you don't feel comfortable leaving your little brother with a complete stranger, I'm sure Ryou would be happen to keep watch of him for you." "That would be good, thank." Kaiba looked grateful and relieved. "We'd better get moving if we want to find Arielle." Tristan stood up, along with Joey and Téa. "Yeah," Kaiba's eyes turned as hard and cold as steel. "After all, I have a score to settle with Bakura."
Four hours before Kaiba's encounter with Yami, Arielle quietly slipped from bed on the other side, the side opposite from where Bakura was snoring quietly. She tiptoed around the bed, perspiration forming on her brows with concentration. Two more steps, she held her breath as she proceeded as silent as a cat. She stretched out her arm, her fingertips almost within the reach of the door handle. A hand grabbed her ankle. Arielle's heart stopped and the only noise she could make through her throat was a strangled, choked sound. She turned around and saw a very tired and very pissed off Bakura. He was lying half in and half out of his sleeping bag and his eyes narrowed. Arielle was surprised that Bakura didn't do anything, all he did was haul her back toward him and tucked her inside his own sleeping bag. He was too tired to do anything right now. "I'll deal with you in the morning." He grumbled, fighting back a yawn, before falling back to sleep once again, his arms encircling around Arielle. And he did deal with her in the morning, though in a way that nobody would have understood it. He was quiet as he folded the sleeping bags and packed up the rest of the belongings. Then, suddenly, he cast a look at Arielle, sitting calmly on the bed, and began raving in Egyptian. He walked back and forth in front of the bed, waving his arms wildly in the air as he cursed and scolded in the ancient tongue. As sudden as he had started it, he stopped, picked up their luggage, and said as he held out a hand, "Let's go." She hopped off the bed, undaunted by the angry spirit of the ring. Beside, she had planted her own clue for Kaiba. Through all the ups and downs of these few days, Arielle hadn't give up the idea that Kaiba would be searching for her yet. And was she ever right.
"If I was correct, this would be the cabin that Ryou had meant." Yami pointed to a dusty cabin sitting alone in the middle of the forest. He turned around when he received no answer. "Kaiba?" When he turned around, Kaiba wasn't among the group and the group pointed to the mad figure tearing crazily down the trail that heads for the cabin. "Arielle!" He shouted as he threw the door open. Everybody else followed him. "Arielle?" The cabin was deserted and a sheet of white dust and spider webs covered everything. "There's no one here." Téa whispered, tears of disappointment shining in her eyes. "But someone has been here," Tristan was kneeling on the wood floor, examining the footprints. "It looks fresh, too." "But what if it wasn't Bakura or Arielle's footsteps?" Yugi asked sadly. "Well," Joey looked doubtful. "The footsteps looked like it, but we can't be sure. It could be from a hunter or fisherman, after all, we are really deep into the woods." "No." Kaiba's voice made everybody look up. He was standing behind the window and his back was facing them. Through his shadow blocking in front the window, everybody noticed there was something in Kaiba's hands. "It's Arielle, alright. She was here." He turned around and faced the group. His face was a combination of pride, worry, and sadness. He walked over to the center of the room and laid down what he had in his hands. Two Duel Monsters cards. "She left these for me on the window sill," he croaked, mists shadowing his eyes. "With a heart drawn through the dust on the window above it, where I'd be sure to find it." Everybody moved closer to the table. Téa picked up the first card. "A Blue-Eyes-White-Dragon." She said in a trembling voice, her hands shaking. "Doesn't this belong to you, Kaiba?" Kaiba nodded his head slowly. "It was the card I gave her to keep for me the first day she came to live with us." His voice was thick. "I had forgotten that she still had it. You would have expected a six-year-old to rip or wrinkle it by accident, but I swear, I had never seen a card so well taken before. Not even my own." Yami had picked up the second card. He nodded and set it back on the table. "What is that?" Joey leaned forward. "It's the Castle of Dark Illusions." Yugi answered. "Did you give to her also, Kaiba?" Kaiba shook his head. "No. I don't know where she got it, but I'm sure it's going to lead us somewhere. It must mean something if Arielle left it for us. A Castle of Dark Illusions--" He drew in a sharp breath. The rest of the group also gasped, realizing what it meant at the same time. "Pegasus's castle!" They exclaimed in unison. "Come on," Tristan cried, springing for the door. "Let's go!" The six of them ran into the rain, which was now showering upon them like the sky was crying. They ran into Kaiba's awaiting limo. They tried to dry themselves partially as Kaiba ordered his chauffeur to drive for his airfield. "Are we taking your helicopter, Kaiba?" Yugi asked, his violet eyes filled with anxiety and excitement. "Yes, it's too late to wait for a commercial ocean liner or airplane to take us--besides the fact that no transportation I know would take us to Duelist Kingdom. But--" he hesitated. "There's only going to be enough room for three of us to go." He finally said. The group fell silent. "I'm going." The guys looked up to see Téa, determined and inclined, say firmly. Before any one of them could protest, Téa went on in a hurry, "Arielle knows me. If something has happened to her, at least I would be there. I'm like, well, like a mother figure to her. After all, you guys are still.guys and she might not be that comfortable. You know," she finished lamely, though the fire in her eyes didn't dim. The guys were quiet. They knew what Téa had said made sense, not that they could stop her now. But which other one of them should go? Everyone was silent, each pondering over the pros and cons of each person. Suddenly, Joey grinned. He leaned over and gave Yami a whack on the back, surprising the King of Games as much as it knocked the air out of him. "Hey, Big Yugi," he said playfully. "Take good care of my gorgeous bud for me, ya hear? She's your responsibility from now on, pal." The others also relaxed, for they knew Yami would be the best one of them to go. "And you know what would happen to you if something happens to her--?" Joey made a motion of a knife across the throat and winked. Yami nodded, smirking, crossing his arms. Kaiba nodded at their decision and took out his cell-phone, apparently calling his plane technician. "I want you to fill my helicopter up and check her engines, I'll need it ready by an hour. WHAT?!" The others looked up from Kaiba's tone. Kaiba's face turned white with rage. He made an attempt to stand up, forgetting that he was in a car, rammed his head against the ceiling of the limo, and crashed back down, shooting daggers at the forgotten car ceiling. "What do you mean it can't be ready for at least twenty-four hours!?" He demanded, his knuckled white from holding the phone so tightly, as if he was about to crush it in his bare hands. Everybody's jaws dropped. "Oh, really?" Kaiba was saying coldly. Everybody cringed at the tone. "Well, do you want to know something? You're fired. FIRED! Just thank your lucky stars that I don't have time to SUE you for all you've got for messing with my plane!" He clicked the phone off. Always trust Kaiba to take his anger out in his voice.and not his possessions. "Well?" Joey urged, leaning forward. "What are we going to do?" Kaiba sighed. "My private helicopter and plane are both wrecked by that useless fracture of that they call a technician. There's nothing we can do but wait."
At exactly six o'clock AM in the morning, the doorbell for Kaiba Mansion rang. The mists were just lifting from the ground and raindrops glistened on the flower petals. It was a cloudy and rainy day as Kaiba pressed the intercom to tell the person to go away when he caught sight of Yugi, Yami, and their friends outside of the Kaiba Mansion gates. He pressed a button and the gates automatically swung open. Kaiba opened the Kaiba Mansion door, watching as the group looked around in awe. Only the game king had his eyes directly focused on the master of the mansion. Kaiba and Yami made eye contact and saw each others' reflection as their own. Neither of them looked like they got any sleep. "Morning," Kaiba greeted with a warm smile. The group stopped still, only Téa alone was still breathing. For the smile Kaiba gave them was sincere and genuine. His smile single- handedly explained a tale of love, sorrow, and harmony. And instead of his usual intimidating cold blue eyes, there was light and warmth in the depth of the dark blue pools. "What's wrong?" He asked as soon as Yami's serious eyes met his once again. "We've got to talk, Kaiba." The grave look didn't leave the former pharaoh's face as Kaiba led them through his house and into the living room. "It's Ryou." He began, shaking his head. "Yugi and I went to his house yesterday after all of you left. We found him unconscious in his room. Apparently, his yami had strike again." "How is he now?" Kaiba asked, his features just as somber now. "We were able to get him stabilized, but from his condition, we were able to tell what Bakura had done." He took another breath and plunged. "Bakura and taken part of Ryou's soul and energy for himself." "But what does that mean?" "It means that Bakura was preparing himself from being separated from Ryou for a while." Yugi filled in. "Whatever Bakura was planning to do while he's on the loose, it couldn't be good." "During the time that Arielle's missing, too." Tristan's lips were pursed in a thin, grim line. "I think it would be reasonable to say that Bakura was the one that kidnapped Arielle." Joey scowled and leaned back in the chair. "I mean, if ya put two and two together, it wouldn't sound as crazy as ya think." "I don't think it's crazy at all." Téa added, her eyes sympathetic and resolute at the same time. "Besides, Yami, didn't Ryou said something about reading Bakura's mind and hearing Arielle's name being mentioned when he regained conscious for the minute?" Yami nodded. "He also said something about a cabin." He added, standing up. "Kaiba, if you can find someone to watch over of Mokuba, that would be our first stop." "That would prove to be a problem." Kaiba looked troubled. Everyone could tell that Kaiba was none too crazy about leaving his precious little brother with some stranger after the whole nightmare with Pegasus. From reading through his eyes, Yami swiftly said. "Ryou won't be joining us." He pointed out. "So if you don't feel comfortable leaving your little brother with a complete stranger, I'm sure Ryou would be happen to keep watch of him for you." "That would be good, thank." Kaiba looked grateful and relieved. "We'd better get moving if we want to find Arielle." Tristan stood up, along with Joey and Téa. "Yeah," Kaiba's eyes turned as hard and cold as steel. "After all, I have a score to settle with Bakura."
Four hours before Kaiba's encounter with Yami, Arielle quietly slipped from bed on the other side, the side opposite from where Bakura was snoring quietly. She tiptoed around the bed, perspiration forming on her brows with concentration. Two more steps, she held her breath as she proceeded as silent as a cat. She stretched out her arm, her fingertips almost within the reach of the door handle. A hand grabbed her ankle. Arielle's heart stopped and the only noise she could make through her throat was a strangled, choked sound. She turned around and saw a very tired and very pissed off Bakura. He was lying half in and half out of his sleeping bag and his eyes narrowed. Arielle was surprised that Bakura didn't do anything, all he did was haul her back toward him and tucked her inside his own sleeping bag. He was too tired to do anything right now. "I'll deal with you in the morning." He grumbled, fighting back a yawn, before falling back to sleep once again, his arms encircling around Arielle. And he did deal with her in the morning, though in a way that nobody would have understood it. He was quiet as he folded the sleeping bags and packed up the rest of the belongings. Then, suddenly, he cast a look at Arielle, sitting calmly on the bed, and began raving in Egyptian. He walked back and forth in front of the bed, waving his arms wildly in the air as he cursed and scolded in the ancient tongue. As sudden as he had started it, he stopped, picked up their luggage, and said as he held out a hand, "Let's go." She hopped off the bed, undaunted by the angry spirit of the ring. Beside, she had planted her own clue for Kaiba. Through all the ups and downs of these few days, Arielle hadn't give up the idea that Kaiba would be searching for her yet. And was she ever right.
"If I was correct, this would be the cabin that Ryou had meant." Yami pointed to a dusty cabin sitting alone in the middle of the forest. He turned around when he received no answer. "Kaiba?" When he turned around, Kaiba wasn't among the group and the group pointed to the mad figure tearing crazily down the trail that heads for the cabin. "Arielle!" He shouted as he threw the door open. Everybody else followed him. "Arielle?" The cabin was deserted and a sheet of white dust and spider webs covered everything. "There's no one here." Téa whispered, tears of disappointment shining in her eyes. "But someone has been here," Tristan was kneeling on the wood floor, examining the footprints. "It looks fresh, too." "But what if it wasn't Bakura or Arielle's footsteps?" Yugi asked sadly. "Well," Joey looked doubtful. "The footsteps looked like it, but we can't be sure. It could be from a hunter or fisherman, after all, we are really deep into the woods." "No." Kaiba's voice made everybody look up. He was standing behind the window and his back was facing them. Through his shadow blocking in front the window, everybody noticed there was something in Kaiba's hands. "It's Arielle, alright. She was here." He turned around and faced the group. His face was a combination of pride, worry, and sadness. He walked over to the center of the room and laid down what he had in his hands. Two Duel Monsters cards. "She left these for me on the window sill," he croaked, mists shadowing his eyes. "With a heart drawn through the dust on the window above it, where I'd be sure to find it." Everybody moved closer to the table. Téa picked up the first card. "A Blue-Eyes-White-Dragon." She said in a trembling voice, her hands shaking. "Doesn't this belong to you, Kaiba?" Kaiba nodded his head slowly. "It was the card I gave her to keep for me the first day she came to live with us." His voice was thick. "I had forgotten that she still had it. You would have expected a six-year-old to rip or wrinkle it by accident, but I swear, I had never seen a card so well taken before. Not even my own." Yami had picked up the second card. He nodded and set it back on the table. "What is that?" Joey leaned forward. "It's the Castle of Dark Illusions." Yugi answered. "Did you give to her also, Kaiba?" Kaiba shook his head. "No. I don't know where she got it, but I'm sure it's going to lead us somewhere. It must mean something if Arielle left it for us. A Castle of Dark Illusions--" He drew in a sharp breath. The rest of the group also gasped, realizing what it meant at the same time. "Pegasus's castle!" They exclaimed in unison. "Come on," Tristan cried, springing for the door. "Let's go!" The six of them ran into the rain, which was now showering upon them like the sky was crying. They ran into Kaiba's awaiting limo. They tried to dry themselves partially as Kaiba ordered his chauffeur to drive for his airfield. "Are we taking your helicopter, Kaiba?" Yugi asked, his violet eyes filled with anxiety and excitement. "Yes, it's too late to wait for a commercial ocean liner or airplane to take us--besides the fact that no transportation I know would take us to Duelist Kingdom. But--" he hesitated. "There's only going to be enough room for three of us to go." He finally said. The group fell silent. "I'm going." The guys looked up to see Téa, determined and inclined, say firmly. Before any one of them could protest, Téa went on in a hurry, "Arielle knows me. If something has happened to her, at least I would be there. I'm like, well, like a mother figure to her. After all, you guys are still.guys and she might not be that comfortable. You know," she finished lamely, though the fire in her eyes didn't dim. The guys were quiet. They knew what Téa had said made sense, not that they could stop her now. But which other one of them should go? Everyone was silent, each pondering over the pros and cons of each person. Suddenly, Joey grinned. He leaned over and gave Yami a whack on the back, surprising the King of Games as much as it knocked the air out of him. "Hey, Big Yugi," he said playfully. "Take good care of my gorgeous bud for me, ya hear? She's your responsibility from now on, pal." The others also relaxed, for they knew Yami would be the best one of them to go. "And you know what would happen to you if something happens to her--?" Joey made a motion of a knife across the throat and winked. Yami nodded, smirking, crossing his arms. Kaiba nodded at their decision and took out his cell-phone, apparently calling his plane technician. "I want you to fill my helicopter up and check her engines, I'll need it ready by an hour. WHAT?!" The others looked up from Kaiba's tone. Kaiba's face turned white with rage. He made an attempt to stand up, forgetting that he was in a car, rammed his head against the ceiling of the limo, and crashed back down, shooting daggers at the forgotten car ceiling. "What do you mean it can't be ready for at least twenty-four hours!?" He demanded, his knuckled white from holding the phone so tightly, as if he was about to crush it in his bare hands. Everybody's jaws dropped. "Oh, really?" Kaiba was saying coldly. Everybody cringed at the tone. "Well, do you want to know something? You're fired. FIRED! Just thank your lucky stars that I don't have time to SUE you for all you've got for messing with my plane!" He clicked the phone off. Always trust Kaiba to take his anger out in his voice.and not his possessions. "Well?" Joey urged, leaning forward. "What are we going to do?" Kaiba sighed. "My private helicopter and plane are both wrecked by that useless fracture of that they call a technician. There's nothing we can do but wait."