Chapter 7
Itsu Anata no Kokoro no naka de Hoho ... When Your Heart Is In The Way
"Wrong," a rich tenor replied from the open door, a voice that Kioku never thought she'd be so glad to hear in the midst of something like this, "She belongs to me."
And I do, Kioku thought in the rush of exhilaration that followed his statement. Bakura shrieked and disappeared, and Kioku slowly turned to gaze into those deep amethyst eyes.
Neither saw the other; both Yami and Kioku were seeing a day 5 millennia in the past. They saw who they once were, Pharaoh and dancer, and who they could be. They saw their destiny.
Kioku's dress was shorn and her ebony hair mussed, but she'd never looked as beautiful to a Pharaoh who'd never before known love. Yami's clothes looked like he'd slept in them and his hair was unkempt, but his eyes still flashed the way that made Kioku's blood sing through her veins and his arms were still as strong as they reached out to tentatively draw her close.
Ryou coughed in his unconscious stupor on the floor; Yami blinked and with a flush rising to his tanned cheeks stepped back. Kioku snapped her fingers to fix her dress and the fire in her mahogany eyes dimmed.
She turned away from the Pharaoh in the doorway and once again gathered Ryou into her arms. She snapped her fingers and was instantly standing in front of Domino Grand Central Hospital. Unloading her pale burden at the desk of the emergency wing, she smiled sadly as he was whisked away. Then with a flick of her wrist, she was gone.
Yami remained standing in the doorway long after Kioku left, staring at the stained floor and trying to hold back unwanted tears. He didn't even really know why he was crying.
Oh, yes... I've never been rejected before... as the Pharaoh I could demand a person's attentions... but not their love. And now that I'm dealing with love, I'm totally unprepared... He blinked and his crystalline tears flickered into the gloom of the house. But is love supposed to hurt this much? I feel torn, exposed, like I'm laying in the desert, dying, with gashes in my chest made by some dark beast...
He sighed a little, then turned and walked away. His shoulders remained rigid, his walk purposeful. But those were just left over habits from his life as Pharaoh.
Inside, he was broken down and sobbing. Inside, he was heartbroken.
What is wrong, Kioku? Why are you not with the young boy who holds the Millennium puzzle? Kioku!
Kioku tried to ignore Shadi's mental cries but found she could not. He could will her to speak and was doing so.
I ran into some trouble with the Sennen ring, she said bluntly as she walked down the sidewalk. The park next to her was aglow with street lamps as dusk found the city.
The Millennium Ring? Shadi's surprise was evident. Who is in possession of it?
A boy. Ryou. Kioku saw Ryou's pale face smiling at her with wide brown eyes and his sweet shy smile, and a solitary tear made its lonely way down her cheek. She didn't bother to wipe it away.
A boy? Who is the spirit trapped within?
A tomb robber. Bakura.
Bakura... Shadi's 'voice' took on a tone of disgust. Arrogant fool.
Kioku allowed herself a small laugh at this. Yes, he most certainly is.
The boy— Yugi— leaves for Duelist Kingdom in three days. You should visit him tonight.
Yes, master. Kioku nodded her head unconsciously, even though Shadi was thousands of miles away.
Shadi's evident smile colored his 'voice'. Don't call me master, my friend, I am but a Guardian.
Kioku smiled sadly once again before closing the mental connection.
Thinking of Shadi and his undeniable control over her and the rest of her kind, she sneered. Lie all you want.
Snapping her graceful fingers, she walked two more steps and stood in front of the Motos' game shop.
From inside she could hear shouts of dismay, and some sort of pounding. Snapping herself inside, she stumbled from the shock at what lay before her.
Solomon Moto lay on the floor, his eyes wide and staring. Like those of a soulless being, Kioku realized with a jolt of sudden dread. Yugi knelt in front of the television screen, yelling incoherently at the snowy picture with his small fists beating uselessly against its sides. Joey, Tristan, and Tea stared first at their friend, then at the non-responsive Mr. Moto in alarm, dismay, and confusion. It was evident to Kioku what had happened.
Someone sent Yugi a video tape rigged to transfer the watcher to the Shadow Realm, then stole Solomon's soul. But then why is Yugi's deck strewn across the floor? Perhaps... a Shadow Duel?
Tea was the first to notice the card sprite lingering in the background, lost in her own thoughts. The brunette glared and spoke.
"What are you doing here? I don't recall anyone inviting you in."
"Tea!" Tristan exclaimed. "What are you doing?"
"Yeh, Tea," Joey chimed in. Shaking his head, he stood and strode over to extend a hand to Kioku, who took it. Joey grinned. "I'm Joey. Don't mind Tea there, she's usually not so bad. The spike-haired trench coat doof ball over there is Tristan, annnn.... that's Yugi yellin' at the TV. Hey, Yug', whatcha doin'?"
Yugi turned to him and Kioku started backwards at the sight of his angelic face shining with tears.
"Grandpa's gone! Pegasus stole his soul through that video tape, and now I have to go to Duelist Kingdom. I have to win his soul back."
Joey blinked once. Twice. "Wha— what?!"
Tristan echoed his best friend. "Gramps is... gone?"
"Who does Pegasus think he is, anyway?" Tea raged.
"He is the creator of Duel Monsters, and vessel to the Sennen eye."
All eyes turned to Kioku, who stood slightly apart from Joey with a small smile on her face.
Tea continued. "He can't just swoop in here and steal someone's soul! That's— that's—!"
"I know how you feel," Kioku agreed. Her mind was a landscape of turmoil and regret. I could have saved him. If I hadn't lingered so long with Bakura, if I hadn't stopped and listened to my heart... who would have thought I even had a heart, let alone one so easily broken? All these years I have aided duelists without a second thought, watched people come and go by the masses and never batted an eye. But now... now, when I should have been strongest, unexpected love brings me to my knees...
"I could have saved him," she murmured. Joey looked at her in surprise.
"Ya gotta be kiddin' me, right?" He looked at her in all seriousness. She shook her head, feeling tears begin to form once more behind her eyes.
"I have the power, the skills and assets needed. But because I was weak, and let Yugi out of my sight..."
Joey's hands slid on to her shoulders, causing her to lift her head. Stony mahogany eyes, softened by tears, reluctantly met warm chocolate ones. His eyes are beautiful, she caught herself thinking.
He smiled, and her heart thudded painfully. He spoke, serious. "There was nothin' ya could have done. He mighta taken you instead!"
"That would have been bette—," she began to say, but he cut her off.
"No. Don't you start thinkin' like that. What's happened's happened, and now we gotta focus on what's gonna happen. Like how we're gonna get Grampa's soul back. Ya can help with that, if ya really want to."
She tore herself from his grasp almost reluctantly. What is going on with me? She growled at herself. One day I am comfortably aloof to men, the next I want them all?!
"I could have saved him. Only, I was weak..."
"Don't let me hear you say that, Kioku."
She sighed, a small gust which turned into a howl of rage. "Yami, you don't understand! I've failed! Failed you, failed Yugi, failed Grandpa, failed, failed, failed! And don't think that I don't thank you for what you said, Joey, but it really doesn't matter. I'll be punished for this all the same."
"Punished?!" There was a note close to panic in Yami's voice.
"Yes," she replied tiredly, her shoulders slumping. "Punished. That is what happens when I fail. And that is what will always be."
A tender warmth surrounded her, and she sagged in his arms. Now, when she desperately needed their release, her tears would not come.
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As promised, flames will be used to burn Croquet, that evil gray-haired snit who runs Pegasus' security team. He makes me angry. Torch 'im.
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