Mokuba stared at Seto's lifeless body, his gray eyes wide. "Big brother . . . he . . . he can't be . . ."
Shakily Tea leaned over and touched her fingers to Seto's neck, feeling for a pulse. "He's alive," she said after a moment, breathing a prayer of thanks.
Mokuba relaxed, but only vaguely. "He's still hurt," he wailed. "What if he never wakes up?"
"You can't think like that, Mokuba," Tea told him softly. She squeezed Seto's hand gently. "Kaiba, you can't let Seth win!" she whispered. "He wanted you to die. But we want you to live! Please . . . come back to us!"
Mokuba embraced his beloved brother tearfully. "I love you, Seto!" he cried. "You . . . you've always been there for me before. If . . . if you leave me now, I . . . I don't know how I'll even go on!"
When he still didn't get a response, Mokuba began to sob again as he hugged Seto. He knew Seto would have replied if he at all could have managed it. "I miss you, big brother," Mokuba whispered.
****
Joey stared in disbelief at the spot where Marik had vanished. "Man," he said softly, "maybe this time the guy really was on the level." He felt overwhelmed again, but this time with staggering guilt and horror. After everything he'd said . . . everything he could never take back . . . he saw that Marik had sacrificed himself for them.
Mai and Tristan nodded slowly in agreement, trying in vain to peer into the flames and see some sign of life from their rescuer. There were no more screams from inside the inferno. Marik was dead.
Tristan coughed suddenly, his eyes beginning to water. "Guys, we really have to get out of here," he said grimly. "We're all inhaling smoke, and Ishizu's hurt—maybe even seriously."
"Marik wanted to save us," Mai added softly. "We can't let his sacrifice be in vain."
"But how the heck are we even gonna get out?!" Joey cried. "The door's locked!" He doubled over in a fit of coughing, barely managing to still keep Ishizu's body supported.
The teens stood for a quick minute that seemed like an eternity, trying desperately to think of something and praying for a solution.
Suddenly Mai glanced at the floor and caught a glimpse of gold. "Marik left us a way to escape," she breathed, reaching for the Millennium Rod.
"Hey, that's right!" Joey exclaimed. "There's a knife in that thing! We can use it to break the door down!"
While Joey and Tristan held Ishizu steady and placed a handkerchief over her nose and mouth, Mai began to hack at the thick wooden door frantically. The door was stubborn and didn't seem to be breaking easily. Mai knew that this could take a long time—but she also knew that they didn't have a long time. A flaming beam fell from the ceiling and narrowly missed hitting Joey, Tristan, and Ishizu. Please, she prayed, help us get out of here!
"Come on!" a voice encouraged then.
Mai paused. "Huh?!" She looked around wildly. Who had spoken?!
"You can do it!!" the voice told her. It was an odd voice, slightly accented. Mai had heard it before.
"Hey, why'd you stop?" Tristan demanded. "We havta get out of here!!"
Mai blinked. "Didn't you guys hear that?!"
"Hear what?" Joey cried, shifting Ishizu's weight in his arms.
"That . . . that voice," Mai replied shakily. "It sounded like . . ."
"Marik," Ishizu whispered. "Dear brother . . ." She had heard it too. And she knew.
Joey and Tristan exchanged Looks.
Mai gave one final whack to the door and it shattered into splinters. Quickly the teens rushed out into the swirling blizzard outside, breathing in the fresh air.
Ishizu, conscious now, pulled free of Joey's and Tristan's grasp and turned to stare at the warehouse. It was entirely engulfed in flames now, and then the roof caved in, completely demolishing the old building. Ishizu stared in disbelief, unable to tear her gaze away. "He is gone," she whispered. "Oh Marik . . ."
"Man, the guy actually did somethin' good," Joey said softly. "He really did change."
****
Ishizu watched as the firefighters put out the blaze, feeling numb. Someone in a private plane had spotted the flames and called the fire department, but not in time to save Marik. But then, he had died almost as soon as he was engulfed in the flames. At least Ishizu hoped he had. The thought of him suffering a long, drawn-out, painful death was horrifying to her.
She was lost in her own world now, remembering the past. Marik had done many treacherous things in his life, but he did have a better side too—a kind, sweet side that Ishizu had seen only occasionally of late—at least until her brother had repented after Battle City. Then he had once again been the dear boy she had known from years ago. And when he had gotten amnesia, he had been so innocent, unaware of the horrors he had seen and experienced. . . . Ishizu could only imagine his devastation when his memories had been restored and he had recalled everything that he had done. Marik had been so distraught that he had said it would be better for all concerned if he was dead.
Ishizu shook her head sadly. "Oh Marik. . . . You don't know how wrong you were," she whispered. She couldn't imagine life without her brother. She prayed that he knew how much she loved him. He had been so selfless at the end, concerned only with defeating his Yami to save Ishizu and the others. And what would she tell Rishid now, if he ever regained consciousness? How could she tell him that their brother was dead?
"Ma'am?"
She looked up quizzically to see a firefighter standing in front of her. "Yes?" she asked.
"Are you alright? I know what happened in there must have been terrible." The man took off his helmet and looked at her in concern.
"I will be alright," Ishizu said softly. This man couldn't help her with her pain.
"You must have inhaled a lot of smoke." The man continued to look at her. "You should probably go to the hospital to be treated."
Ishizu glanced briefly over at Joey, Tristan, and Mai, who all just seemed to be standing around in shock as she was. "That will not be necessary," the Egyptian woman replied, turning away. "But thank you for your concern."
"Ma'am?"
Ishizu turned back again. Couldn't the man see that she wanted to be alone? She had just lost her brother and didn't feel like engaging in conversation.
The man slowly reached into his pocket. "I . . . I found these in the wreckage," he said softly, handing her a pair of gold earrings. Marik's earrings.
Ishizu caught her breath as she took the jewelry from the firefighter, her blue eyes shining with tears. To her, this said with finality that Marik was dead. He always wore those earrings. "Dear brother," she whispered, running her finger over them. Slowly she looked up again. "Did you . . . find anything else?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
The man shook his head. "Nothing else yet," he told her. "But it's going to take a while to go through all that."
Ishizu nodded slowly, taking the earrings and preparing to leave once more.
"I'm sorry," the man said sincerely.
Ishizu nodded again, walking into the nearby cluster of trees and sitting on a stone she found. "Goodbye, dear brother," she said softly, and then the tears flowed freely.
****
Yami Bakura went back into the Millennium Ring and Bakura and Duke eventually found their way through the corridors back to where the others were. The thief hadn't been willing to tell them where he'd been, and Bakura had to admit that he hoped his Yami hadn't been getting into some kind of mischief.
"You never can tell with that guy," Duke remarked, shaking his head. "But at least he was here when we needed him!"
Bakura nodded, slowly opening the door to the cabin and going inside.
Yugi looked up, relieved. "Bakura! Duke! We were getting worried about you guys," he declared. "Are you alright?"
"We are now," Bakura replied, and he and Duke quickly explained what had happened while the others listened, wide-eyed.
"With all the commotion, I'd actually forgotten that Seth's minions were still on board," Yugi admitted. "It's a good thing they were captured before they could hurt any of us," he added quietly.
Tea nodded solemnly, turning to watch Seto with concern. The boy was laying lifelessly on the bunk, his head turned to one side. He was breathing slowly, his chest rising and falling with an almost imperceptible motion. Mokuba, of course, hadn't left his side. The little boy had climbed onto the bunk and snuggled next to his brother, praying desperately for him to revive.
"Is he any better?" Bakura asked softly.
"I don't know," Yugi said, shaking his head. Bakura and Duke didn't know that Seto had gone into delirium earlier, but Yugi wasn't about to talk about that in front of Mokuba. The poor boy had been so stricken to hear his brother's cries and strange comments that Yugi and Tea had been afraid that he'd have a breakdown himself. Mokuba was being incredibly brave about everything, but they could see how he was hurting.
Seto shifted in his unconsciousness, startling Mokuba out of his angst-filled thoughts. "Big brother?" he asked hopefully.
The older boy moaned softly, fighting against the death that was trying to take hold of him.
"You'll come back to us, won't you, big brother?" Mokuba asked pleadingly, and Tea felt her heart breaking.
"Mokuba."
The little boy looked up, blinking. "Seto?" His brother was still unconscious, but Mokuba knew he had heard Seto call his name.
"Of course I'll come back, kid." Seto's affectionate-sounding voice echoed through Mokuba's mind. "I promised I wouldn't leave you . . . and I'll keep that promise."
Mokuba's eyes brightened. "Oh Seto!" he cried in delight, hugging his brother tightly. "I know you will," he whispered.
The teens exchanged knowing glances. They hadn't heard anything, but Mokuba obviously had. The brothers had a special bond between them, and occasionally they were able to send and receive messages through their mental connection.
"I think he's going to be alright," Tea said softly, tears of joy in her eyes.
"I know he is!" Mokuba declared emphatically.
****
Ishizu didn't know how long she had been sitting on the stone when she heard Joey calling her name. She looked up as the Brooklyn boy came through the trees and found her there.
"Hey, Ishizu . . ." Joey paused, not exactly knowing what to say. He ran a hand through his hair. "We . . . we were worried about you," he said at last. He wanted to apologize for treating Marik the way he had . . . but how would he apologize for that now? How could he ever apologize for it?
"I appreciate your concern." Ishizu fingered the earrings in her hand.
They stayed there in silence for quite some time before one of the other firefighters came through the trees. "Ishizu?" she said softly as she approached.
Again Ishizu looked up. "What is it?"
"There's something I really think you need to see," the girl replied.
Ishizu stood up slowly. "What did you find?" she demanded.
The firefighter paused. "Just . . . come with me, please," she requested, but Ishizu stood her ground, looking at the other woman suspiciously. Had they found what was left of Marik's body? If they had, then it was simply cruelty to make Ishizu come see. She couldn't bear to view her brother burned and scarred from the fire.
Joey was apparently thinking the same thing as he glared suspiciously at the firefighter. "Hey, Ishizu's been through enough," the boy declared. "You should tell her what it is you want her to look at."
"It's . . . kind of hard to explain," the girl replied softly.
"If you have found Marik's remains, I would rather not come with you," Ishizu said stonily.
"It's not that . . . exactly," the girl said slowly.
"Then what is it . . . exactly?!" Joey demanded.
"Please . . . just come with me," the girl implored again. "Trust me, you will want to see this," she said to Ishizu.
Ishizu narrowed her eyes, but finally agreed. "Very well," she said softly, and the girl led her and Joey back through the trees to the debris left from the fire. Two other firefighters were kneeling amid the rubble, examining a limp body they had found. Ishizu knew it was Marik. She drew closer, feeling a sense of horror, and yet knowing that she had to see him.
As she approached, however, she noticed something very strange and she drew in her breath sharply. Her brother was mostly unscathed. He had a serious cut on his forehead and another on his chest, but he had not been consumed by the fire. The boy had not a burn on him.
Ishizu dropped to her knees next to him, her heart racing. "Marik," she said, her voice cracking. "Dear brother. . . ." She took his limp hand and held it tenderly, tears falling from her eyes. He was so still . . . but he looked as if he were only sleeping. . . . Just sleeping. . . .
A painful-sounding breath rippled through her brother's body and Ishizu froze with a gasp. This was impossible!
"He's still alive," the young firefighter said softly.
"No way," Joey breathed. "That's impossible!"
Tristan and Mai were likewise shocked.
Slowly Ishizu came out of her trance. "He's alive," she whispered, taking her brother's body into her arms. This was nothing short of a miracle. There was no logical explanation for how her brother had survived the fiery tomb. Ishizu said a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for preserving Marik's life. This all seemed so unbelievable . . . so unreal. . . . But it was real, she kept telling herself, brushing Marik's blonde hair away from his closed eyes and hearing his breathing. "Dear brother," she whispered again.
The boy stirred then, his lavender eyes slowly opening. "Sister?" he said softly.
Ishizu pulled him into an embrace. "Oh Marik!" she cried joyfully. Her brother had really survived! It was not just a wonderful dream—he was truly here!
"Sister, what happened?" Marik asked weakly, looking confused.
"You saved us, Marik!" Ishizu told him. "You defeated your Yami and saved us!" She paused. "But we thought you had perished. Marik, how did you survive?" she asked softly.
Marik blinked. "It . . . it was Mother," he replied softly. "She shielded me from the flames."
Ishizu drew her breath in sharply. Their mother had died years before. Marik had never even known her, as she had died giving birth to him.
Marik now looked worried. "You are all alright?" he asked urgently.
"Yes, Marik," Ishizu assured him, and she saw how pale and feeble he looked. "Rest now, brother," she told him softly. "You are weak. You must regain your strength."
Marik nodded obediently, his eyes closing again as he slipped into oblivion. Ishizu held him close, still sending prayers of immense gratitude up to Heaven. Her brother was alive!
****
Seto had spent most of the morning in a strange state, not certain if he was dead or alive. His life had been playing out in front of his eyes—protecting Mokuba in the orphanage, them both being beaten viciously by their adopted father, him trying to save Mokuba from Pegasus. . . . And through it all he heard Seth's wicked laughter, tormenting him, taunting him. . . .
Somewhere through this fog of confusion, Seto was vaguely aware that Mokuba, Tea, and Yugi were with him—or at least he thought they were. Maybe it was just an illusion.
"Everyone hates you," he heard his evil counterpart sneer. "Just die. No one would care."
Seto struggled to rise from the fog. He knew that wasn't true.
****
Mokuba still lay next to his brother's body, hugging him tightly. "It's gonna be alright, Seto," he whispered. "I know you're gonna be okay!"
Tea prayed that was true. "Don't you dare die on us, Seto Kaiba," she said softly.
"I love you, Seto," Mokuba declared, raising up and taking his brother's hand.
Seto's eyes fluttered open a few minutes later and he blinked, looking confused. "Mokuba?" he called, sounding frantic. "Mokuba, are you here? Are you hurt?!"
"I'm here, Seto," Mokuba said comfortingly, leaning into the older boy's line of vision. "I'm fine! It's you we've been so worried about!"
Seto relaxed, smiling in relief. "Oh Mokuba . . ." He held his arms open and Mokuba scrambled into them, embracing his brother tightly. Tea and the other teens looked on, tears in their eyes and prayers of gratitude in their hearts.
Shakily Tea leaned over and touched her fingers to Seto's neck, feeling for a pulse. "He's alive," she said after a moment, breathing a prayer of thanks.
Mokuba relaxed, but only vaguely. "He's still hurt," he wailed. "What if he never wakes up?"
"You can't think like that, Mokuba," Tea told him softly. She squeezed Seto's hand gently. "Kaiba, you can't let Seth win!" she whispered. "He wanted you to die. But we want you to live! Please . . . come back to us!"
Mokuba embraced his beloved brother tearfully. "I love you, Seto!" he cried. "You . . . you've always been there for me before. If . . . if you leave me now, I . . . I don't know how I'll even go on!"
When he still didn't get a response, Mokuba began to sob again as he hugged Seto. He knew Seto would have replied if he at all could have managed it. "I miss you, big brother," Mokuba whispered.
****
Joey stared in disbelief at the spot where Marik had vanished. "Man," he said softly, "maybe this time the guy really was on the level." He felt overwhelmed again, but this time with staggering guilt and horror. After everything he'd said . . . everything he could never take back . . . he saw that Marik had sacrificed himself for them.
Mai and Tristan nodded slowly in agreement, trying in vain to peer into the flames and see some sign of life from their rescuer. There were no more screams from inside the inferno. Marik was dead.
Tristan coughed suddenly, his eyes beginning to water. "Guys, we really have to get out of here," he said grimly. "We're all inhaling smoke, and Ishizu's hurt—maybe even seriously."
"Marik wanted to save us," Mai added softly. "We can't let his sacrifice be in vain."
"But how the heck are we even gonna get out?!" Joey cried. "The door's locked!" He doubled over in a fit of coughing, barely managing to still keep Ishizu's body supported.
The teens stood for a quick minute that seemed like an eternity, trying desperately to think of something and praying for a solution.
Suddenly Mai glanced at the floor and caught a glimpse of gold. "Marik left us a way to escape," she breathed, reaching for the Millennium Rod.
"Hey, that's right!" Joey exclaimed. "There's a knife in that thing! We can use it to break the door down!"
While Joey and Tristan held Ishizu steady and placed a handkerchief over her nose and mouth, Mai began to hack at the thick wooden door frantically. The door was stubborn and didn't seem to be breaking easily. Mai knew that this could take a long time—but she also knew that they didn't have a long time. A flaming beam fell from the ceiling and narrowly missed hitting Joey, Tristan, and Ishizu. Please, she prayed, help us get out of here!
"Come on!" a voice encouraged then.
Mai paused. "Huh?!" She looked around wildly. Who had spoken?!
"You can do it!!" the voice told her. It was an odd voice, slightly accented. Mai had heard it before.
"Hey, why'd you stop?" Tristan demanded. "We havta get out of here!!"
Mai blinked. "Didn't you guys hear that?!"
"Hear what?" Joey cried, shifting Ishizu's weight in his arms.
"That . . . that voice," Mai replied shakily. "It sounded like . . ."
"Marik," Ishizu whispered. "Dear brother . . ." She had heard it too. And she knew.
Joey and Tristan exchanged Looks.
Mai gave one final whack to the door and it shattered into splinters. Quickly the teens rushed out into the swirling blizzard outside, breathing in the fresh air.
Ishizu, conscious now, pulled free of Joey's and Tristan's grasp and turned to stare at the warehouse. It was entirely engulfed in flames now, and then the roof caved in, completely demolishing the old building. Ishizu stared in disbelief, unable to tear her gaze away. "He is gone," she whispered. "Oh Marik . . ."
"Man, the guy actually did somethin' good," Joey said softly. "He really did change."
****
Ishizu watched as the firefighters put out the blaze, feeling numb. Someone in a private plane had spotted the flames and called the fire department, but not in time to save Marik. But then, he had died almost as soon as he was engulfed in the flames. At least Ishizu hoped he had. The thought of him suffering a long, drawn-out, painful death was horrifying to her.
She was lost in her own world now, remembering the past. Marik had done many treacherous things in his life, but he did have a better side too—a kind, sweet side that Ishizu had seen only occasionally of late—at least until her brother had repented after Battle City. Then he had once again been the dear boy she had known from years ago. And when he had gotten amnesia, he had been so innocent, unaware of the horrors he had seen and experienced. . . . Ishizu could only imagine his devastation when his memories had been restored and he had recalled everything that he had done. Marik had been so distraught that he had said it would be better for all concerned if he was dead.
Ishizu shook her head sadly. "Oh Marik. . . . You don't know how wrong you were," she whispered. She couldn't imagine life without her brother. She prayed that he knew how much she loved him. He had been so selfless at the end, concerned only with defeating his Yami to save Ishizu and the others. And what would she tell Rishid now, if he ever regained consciousness? How could she tell him that their brother was dead?
"Ma'am?"
She looked up quizzically to see a firefighter standing in front of her. "Yes?" she asked.
"Are you alright? I know what happened in there must have been terrible." The man took off his helmet and looked at her in concern.
"I will be alright," Ishizu said softly. This man couldn't help her with her pain.
"You must have inhaled a lot of smoke." The man continued to look at her. "You should probably go to the hospital to be treated."
Ishizu glanced briefly over at Joey, Tristan, and Mai, who all just seemed to be standing around in shock as she was. "That will not be necessary," the Egyptian woman replied, turning away. "But thank you for your concern."
"Ma'am?"
Ishizu turned back again. Couldn't the man see that she wanted to be alone? She had just lost her brother and didn't feel like engaging in conversation.
The man slowly reached into his pocket. "I . . . I found these in the wreckage," he said softly, handing her a pair of gold earrings. Marik's earrings.
Ishizu caught her breath as she took the jewelry from the firefighter, her blue eyes shining with tears. To her, this said with finality that Marik was dead. He always wore those earrings. "Dear brother," she whispered, running her finger over them. Slowly she looked up again. "Did you . . . find anything else?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
The man shook his head. "Nothing else yet," he told her. "But it's going to take a while to go through all that."
Ishizu nodded slowly, taking the earrings and preparing to leave once more.
"I'm sorry," the man said sincerely.
Ishizu nodded again, walking into the nearby cluster of trees and sitting on a stone she found. "Goodbye, dear brother," she said softly, and then the tears flowed freely.
****
Yami Bakura went back into the Millennium Ring and Bakura and Duke eventually found their way through the corridors back to where the others were. The thief hadn't been willing to tell them where he'd been, and Bakura had to admit that he hoped his Yami hadn't been getting into some kind of mischief.
"You never can tell with that guy," Duke remarked, shaking his head. "But at least he was here when we needed him!"
Bakura nodded, slowly opening the door to the cabin and going inside.
Yugi looked up, relieved. "Bakura! Duke! We were getting worried about you guys," he declared. "Are you alright?"
"We are now," Bakura replied, and he and Duke quickly explained what had happened while the others listened, wide-eyed.
"With all the commotion, I'd actually forgotten that Seth's minions were still on board," Yugi admitted. "It's a good thing they were captured before they could hurt any of us," he added quietly.
Tea nodded solemnly, turning to watch Seto with concern. The boy was laying lifelessly on the bunk, his head turned to one side. He was breathing slowly, his chest rising and falling with an almost imperceptible motion. Mokuba, of course, hadn't left his side. The little boy had climbed onto the bunk and snuggled next to his brother, praying desperately for him to revive.
"Is he any better?" Bakura asked softly.
"I don't know," Yugi said, shaking his head. Bakura and Duke didn't know that Seto had gone into delirium earlier, but Yugi wasn't about to talk about that in front of Mokuba. The poor boy had been so stricken to hear his brother's cries and strange comments that Yugi and Tea had been afraid that he'd have a breakdown himself. Mokuba was being incredibly brave about everything, but they could see how he was hurting.
Seto shifted in his unconsciousness, startling Mokuba out of his angst-filled thoughts. "Big brother?" he asked hopefully.
The older boy moaned softly, fighting against the death that was trying to take hold of him.
"You'll come back to us, won't you, big brother?" Mokuba asked pleadingly, and Tea felt her heart breaking.
"Mokuba."
The little boy looked up, blinking. "Seto?" His brother was still unconscious, but Mokuba knew he had heard Seto call his name.
"Of course I'll come back, kid." Seto's affectionate-sounding voice echoed through Mokuba's mind. "I promised I wouldn't leave you . . . and I'll keep that promise."
Mokuba's eyes brightened. "Oh Seto!" he cried in delight, hugging his brother tightly. "I know you will," he whispered.
The teens exchanged knowing glances. They hadn't heard anything, but Mokuba obviously had. The brothers had a special bond between them, and occasionally they were able to send and receive messages through their mental connection.
"I think he's going to be alright," Tea said softly, tears of joy in her eyes.
"I know he is!" Mokuba declared emphatically.
****
Ishizu didn't know how long she had been sitting on the stone when she heard Joey calling her name. She looked up as the Brooklyn boy came through the trees and found her there.
"Hey, Ishizu . . ." Joey paused, not exactly knowing what to say. He ran a hand through his hair. "We . . . we were worried about you," he said at last. He wanted to apologize for treating Marik the way he had . . . but how would he apologize for that now? How could he ever apologize for it?
"I appreciate your concern." Ishizu fingered the earrings in her hand.
They stayed there in silence for quite some time before one of the other firefighters came through the trees. "Ishizu?" she said softly as she approached.
Again Ishizu looked up. "What is it?"
"There's something I really think you need to see," the girl replied.
Ishizu stood up slowly. "What did you find?" she demanded.
The firefighter paused. "Just . . . come with me, please," she requested, but Ishizu stood her ground, looking at the other woman suspiciously. Had they found what was left of Marik's body? If they had, then it was simply cruelty to make Ishizu come see. She couldn't bear to view her brother burned and scarred from the fire.
Joey was apparently thinking the same thing as he glared suspiciously at the firefighter. "Hey, Ishizu's been through enough," the boy declared. "You should tell her what it is you want her to look at."
"It's . . . kind of hard to explain," the girl replied softly.
"If you have found Marik's remains, I would rather not come with you," Ishizu said stonily.
"It's not that . . . exactly," the girl said slowly.
"Then what is it . . . exactly?!" Joey demanded.
"Please . . . just come with me," the girl implored again. "Trust me, you will want to see this," she said to Ishizu.
Ishizu narrowed her eyes, but finally agreed. "Very well," she said softly, and the girl led her and Joey back through the trees to the debris left from the fire. Two other firefighters were kneeling amid the rubble, examining a limp body they had found. Ishizu knew it was Marik. She drew closer, feeling a sense of horror, and yet knowing that she had to see him.
As she approached, however, she noticed something very strange and she drew in her breath sharply. Her brother was mostly unscathed. He had a serious cut on his forehead and another on his chest, but he had not been consumed by the fire. The boy had not a burn on him.
Ishizu dropped to her knees next to him, her heart racing. "Marik," she said, her voice cracking. "Dear brother. . . ." She took his limp hand and held it tenderly, tears falling from her eyes. He was so still . . . but he looked as if he were only sleeping. . . . Just sleeping. . . .
A painful-sounding breath rippled through her brother's body and Ishizu froze with a gasp. This was impossible!
"He's still alive," the young firefighter said softly.
"No way," Joey breathed. "That's impossible!"
Tristan and Mai were likewise shocked.
Slowly Ishizu came out of her trance. "He's alive," she whispered, taking her brother's body into her arms. This was nothing short of a miracle. There was no logical explanation for how her brother had survived the fiery tomb. Ishizu said a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for preserving Marik's life. This all seemed so unbelievable . . . so unreal. . . . But it was real, she kept telling herself, brushing Marik's blonde hair away from his closed eyes and hearing his breathing. "Dear brother," she whispered again.
The boy stirred then, his lavender eyes slowly opening. "Sister?" he said softly.
Ishizu pulled him into an embrace. "Oh Marik!" she cried joyfully. Her brother had really survived! It was not just a wonderful dream—he was truly here!
"Sister, what happened?" Marik asked weakly, looking confused.
"You saved us, Marik!" Ishizu told him. "You defeated your Yami and saved us!" She paused. "But we thought you had perished. Marik, how did you survive?" she asked softly.
Marik blinked. "It . . . it was Mother," he replied softly. "She shielded me from the flames."
Ishizu drew her breath in sharply. Their mother had died years before. Marik had never even known her, as she had died giving birth to him.
Marik now looked worried. "You are all alright?" he asked urgently.
"Yes, Marik," Ishizu assured him, and she saw how pale and feeble he looked. "Rest now, brother," she told him softly. "You are weak. You must regain your strength."
Marik nodded obediently, his eyes closing again as he slipped into oblivion. Ishizu held him close, still sending prayers of immense gratitude up to Heaven. Her brother was alive!
****
Seto had spent most of the morning in a strange state, not certain if he was dead or alive. His life had been playing out in front of his eyes—protecting Mokuba in the orphanage, them both being beaten viciously by their adopted father, him trying to save Mokuba from Pegasus. . . . And through it all he heard Seth's wicked laughter, tormenting him, taunting him. . . .
Somewhere through this fog of confusion, Seto was vaguely aware that Mokuba, Tea, and Yugi were with him—or at least he thought they were. Maybe it was just an illusion.
"Everyone hates you," he heard his evil counterpart sneer. "Just die. No one would care."
Seto struggled to rise from the fog. He knew that wasn't true.
****
Mokuba still lay next to his brother's body, hugging him tightly. "It's gonna be alright, Seto," he whispered. "I know you're gonna be okay!"
Tea prayed that was true. "Don't you dare die on us, Seto Kaiba," she said softly.
"I love you, Seto," Mokuba declared, raising up and taking his brother's hand.
Seto's eyes fluttered open a few minutes later and he blinked, looking confused. "Mokuba?" he called, sounding frantic. "Mokuba, are you here? Are you hurt?!"
"I'm here, Seto," Mokuba said comfortingly, leaning into the older boy's line of vision. "I'm fine! It's you we've been so worried about!"
Seto relaxed, smiling in relief. "Oh Mokuba . . ." He held his arms open and Mokuba scrambled into them, embracing his brother tightly. Tea and the other teens looked on, tears in their eyes and prayers of gratitude in their hearts.