"Stop!!" Tea screamed, knocking Shadi to the ground. It only took the man a moment to regain his balance and get up, however, and he pointed the dagger warningly at her before trying to attack Yugi once more.
"Shadi," Yami Yugi said in a dangerous tone, "I will be forced to harm you."
"No, Yami, wait!" Yugi pleaded. "Shadi, you had control for a minute! I know you won't let this poison or whatever it is control your body!!"
Shadi, apparently not hearing or understanding, advanced steadily.
"He's very sick, Yugi," Yami Yugi said grimly.
"I know, but he's gotta still be in there somewhere," Yugi cried, tears springing into his eyes.
Tea screamed as Yugi was suddenly thrown backward onto the sidewalk by Shadi's hand.
"Yugi, the Shadi we know is gone," Yami Yugi told him. "You must let me attack him before he can hurt you!"
"No! There . . . there must be another way!" Yugi insisted, his heart pounding as Shadi bent over him once more with the knife. "I'm not giving up on you, Shadi!" he said firmly.
To Tea's and Yami Yugi's shock, Shadi abruptly let the knife fall to the concrete and clutched at his forehead agony.
"Shadi!" Yugi gasped. "Are you . . . okay?"
The tortured man looked at the short boy in utter despair. "I . . . I am worthy to guard the Millennium Items . . . no longer," he cried, feeling his strength quickly depleting as his chest wound began to bother him again.
"Shadi, that's not true!" Yugi exclaimed in horror. "You . . . you couldn't control yourself!"
The injured guardian started to slip forward weakly. "Please . . . forgive me," he choked out, his dark hair falling over his face as he crumpled to the ground.
"Oh!" Yugi and Tea said in alarm.
Quickly Yami Yugi rushed over and knelt next to Shadi's still body.
"Yami, what's wrong with him?" Yugi cried.
Yami Yugi shook his head. "Yugi, he's . . . he's dead," the Pharaoh said in disbelief.
****
Joey slowly opened his eyes, looking about in confusion. "Where the heck . . . are we?!" he wondered, blinking rapidly.
Tristan, who was laying next to Joey on the floor, also stirred. "Man, my head is throbbing," he declared.
"Oh hello, you two."
Both boys looked up to see the phony Bakura holding a disgusted Mai close in his arms.
"Hey, you jerk! Let her go!!" Joey yelled indignantly, leaping to his feet.
The imposter started to laugh maniacally, his voice no longer resembling Bakura's.
"Oh man, I know that voice!" Joey fumed. "Seth, let Mai go NOW!!!!"
"You recognized me." The impersonator snapped his fingers and instantly the hologram around him was gone, revealing his true identity. "It took you long enough."
Mai pulled free angrily. "What's going on around here?!" she demanded.
"Wouldn't you like to know," Seth sneered.
"Actually, we would," Tristan snapped.
"Well, you fools are all in my way," Seth replied, "and besides, Vivalene wanted you all here—so I decided she could have you. She'll be along soon." With that he gave a maniacal laugh and disappeared into thin air.
"You know something?" Tristan said after a long silence. "I think things have just gotten a lot stranger."
Joey, who was comforting Mai and making sure that she was okay, nodded emphatically and angrily. "Man, you said it, Tristan!" he growled.
****
Marik, standing in the hallway with Mokuba, suddenly doubled over in pain, clutching at his chest.
"Marik!! What's wrong?!" Mokuba gasped in shock.
The Egyptian boy straightened up slowly. "It's Rishid," he choked out. "We have a bond, the same as you have with your own brother, Mokuba. And right now I can sense that he's in terrible pain!!" Tears filled his eyes.
Mokuba's eyes went wide. "What's wrong with him?!" he cried.
"I don't know," Marik said grimly as he headed for the plank leading off the ship. "I only know that I must find him immediately!"
"I'm coming with you!!" Mokuba cried, chasing after his friend.
Marik hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "I can't let you, Mokuba," he said quietly. "There may be danger, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because you came with me."
Mokuba looked up at him worriedly, his blue-gray eyes shining. "But . . . but what if you get hurt, Marik?!" he wailed.
"I won't," Marik promised, smiling gently. "Now, Ishizu will stay with you until I or your brother come back. Everything will be alright." And with that he hurried down the plank and into the swirling fog. Inwardly he was crying and feeling as though his heart would break. He knew Rishid was hurt very seriously and might not even survive.
****
When Seto approached the museum, everything looked dark and deserted. As he walked up the steps and to the door, however, it suddenly flung open and a hand reached out, yanking him inside.
Seto gasped in surprise and shock. "Hey, what the . . ." He glared into the darkness. "Who's here?!" he demanded.
"Hello, darling."
Seto's eyes narrowed angrily. "Vivalene," he hissed. "Show your face!"
The lights clicked on and the evil woman was standing there coyly, just the way Seto remembered her being the last time he had seen her.
"Dear Seto Kaiba," she purred. "You're looking well."
"No thanks to you," Seto snapped. "What are you doing here?!"
Vivalene smiled nastily. "Well, there's just been a robbery. But by the time the police get here to investigate, you will be the only one around. They won't believe you when you tell them about me being the thief. I'm dead, after all. Or at least . . . I am on their files."
"I don't care whether you're dead or alive," Seto hissed. "What do you want with me and the others?"
"Well, darling . . ." Vivalene paused, then came over and ran her finger along Seto's cheek. "You and your little friends possess some things that I need in order to complete my plans, but sadly, you can't be around when I come to power. You're all simply too much of a thorn in my side."
Seto grabbed Vivalene's wrist and held her hand far away from him. "You're sick," he growled.
"Why, thank you, darling," Vivalene smiled, then paused. "You know, I guess I always could make it look like you had an accident instead of letting you get arrested," she mused now. "It would be so much more fun."
"You'll never have that pleasure," Seto retorted. Before Vivalene could reply, the boy kicked out and shoved her backwards.
"Why, Seto Kaiba," Vivalene gasped, clutching her side, "that wasn't very gentlemanly!"
"You know," Seto said now, standing over her, "I make it a point to never fight with a lady. But . . . you're obviously no lady."
****
Marik ran through the dark, foggy streets of Domino City frantically. He knew why Rishid had left the ship.
"Oh Rishid," the boy sobbed as he dashed around a corner, "you were trying to catch the ones who hurt me, weren't you?" He glanced around frantically. "Rishid!! Where are you?!"
As he found himself in the less respected area of the city and rounded a corner, he suddenly heard a pained moan and dashed down into an alleyway. "Rishid?!" he screamed, dropping to his knees next to the man's brutalized body. "Rishid?!" He bent over his brother's form in horror, his lavender eyes shining with tears. "Rishid, speak to me!!"
Rishid groaned, his golden eyes glazed over as blood trickled down his face. "Master . . . Master Marik . . . I . . . I have failed you . . ."
Marik sobbed, noticing the machete and pulling it out of Rishid's flesh in horror. "No, my brother! You did not fail! You couldn't!!" He dropped the knife to the ground and grabbed Rishid's shoulder. "Please, Rishid!! Please don't leave me!"
Rishid stared ahead blankly, no longer aware of his brother's presence.
"Rishid!!" Marik screamed. "Rishid!!!! RISHID!!!!!!!"
Rishid was silent for what seemed like an eternity. "Brother . . . I . . . I . . . am . . . sorry," he managed to say at last. "So . . . so very . . . sorry . . ."
Marik let loose with a haunting wail and fell across the limp body, weeping uncontrollably.
****
Seto had just thought he had the upper hand with Vivalene when suddenly a cold hand grabbed his shoulder and a maniacal laugh echoed through the room.
"What's going on?!" Seto demanded, tired of all the nonsense.
Vivalene smirked, getting to her feet. "Darling, I want you to meet one of my associates," she purred.
Seto whirled around to face this new threat and found himself staring at a man with jet-black hair and an evil grin.
"You were the one following me!" the boy exclaimed indignantly.
"That I was," the man confirmed.
"What for?" Seto demanded.
This new arrival only sneered, his dark violet eyes glinting nastily. "I had to see what you were up to, Seto Kaiba," he replied. "As it turns out, things have proven . . . very interesting."
"How so?" Seto growled. "I don't get what you're up to!"
"You know," his assailant laughed now, "you remind me of my kid brother."
Seto's eyes narrowed. He didn't like where this was going. "And who's your brother?" he demanded.
"Oh darling, haven't I introduced you yet?" Vivalene smirked, stepping forward. "Seto Kaiba, meet Khu." She gave a grand gesture and batted her eyes bewitchingly, but Khu didn't seem impressed at that.
"Yes, I am Khu," he admitted. "And I believe you are acquainted with my brother." He grinned again. "His name is Seito, as well, you know," he remarked, "but he always preferred for everyone to call him by a different name. You, I believe, would know him as Seth."
****
"What?!" Yugi cried in horror. "Shadi's dead?!?! No, he can't be!!"
Yami Yugi looked at him wearily. "He is, Yugi," he replied quietly.
Tea was aghast. "He . . . he just dropped dead, just like that?!" she exclaimed.
"He was fighting it for quite some time," Yami Yugi told them. "Most likely ever since he was stabbed."
"But the doctor said he was going to get better!!" Yugi burst out.
"It was probably an untraceable poison," Yami Yugi stated softly. "Shadi is—was—the guardian of the Millennium Items, and his assailant most likely decided that he had to die in order for a great and terrible power to rise."
Yugi stared at Shadi's lifeless form, tears welling up in his eyes. "No!!!!" he wailed. "Shadi was innocent!! He didn't deserve this!! He shouldn't have had such a terrible death!!" The boy turned away, clenching his fists. "He shouldn't have died at all!!!"
Tea laid a hand on his shoulder gently. "It's alright, Yugi," she said softly.
Yugi shook his head. "I've had enough!!!!" he screamed. "I . . . I won't stand for our friends being hurt and . . . and . . ." He trailed off, the tears splashing over his cheeks. "I . . . I won't let this go on any longer!!!!!! I won't!!!!!"
"Shadi," Yami Yugi said in a dangerous tone, "I will be forced to harm you."
"No, Yami, wait!" Yugi pleaded. "Shadi, you had control for a minute! I know you won't let this poison or whatever it is control your body!!"
Shadi, apparently not hearing or understanding, advanced steadily.
"He's very sick, Yugi," Yami Yugi said grimly.
"I know, but he's gotta still be in there somewhere," Yugi cried, tears springing into his eyes.
Tea screamed as Yugi was suddenly thrown backward onto the sidewalk by Shadi's hand.
"Yugi, the Shadi we know is gone," Yami Yugi told him. "You must let me attack him before he can hurt you!"
"No! There . . . there must be another way!" Yugi insisted, his heart pounding as Shadi bent over him once more with the knife. "I'm not giving up on you, Shadi!" he said firmly.
To Tea's and Yami Yugi's shock, Shadi abruptly let the knife fall to the concrete and clutched at his forehead agony.
"Shadi!" Yugi gasped. "Are you . . . okay?"
The tortured man looked at the short boy in utter despair. "I . . . I am worthy to guard the Millennium Items . . . no longer," he cried, feeling his strength quickly depleting as his chest wound began to bother him again.
"Shadi, that's not true!" Yugi exclaimed in horror. "You . . . you couldn't control yourself!"
The injured guardian started to slip forward weakly. "Please . . . forgive me," he choked out, his dark hair falling over his face as he crumpled to the ground.
"Oh!" Yugi and Tea said in alarm.
Quickly Yami Yugi rushed over and knelt next to Shadi's still body.
"Yami, what's wrong with him?" Yugi cried.
Yami Yugi shook his head. "Yugi, he's . . . he's dead," the Pharaoh said in disbelief.
****
Joey slowly opened his eyes, looking about in confusion. "Where the heck . . . are we?!" he wondered, blinking rapidly.
Tristan, who was laying next to Joey on the floor, also stirred. "Man, my head is throbbing," he declared.
"Oh hello, you two."
Both boys looked up to see the phony Bakura holding a disgusted Mai close in his arms.
"Hey, you jerk! Let her go!!" Joey yelled indignantly, leaping to his feet.
The imposter started to laugh maniacally, his voice no longer resembling Bakura's.
"Oh man, I know that voice!" Joey fumed. "Seth, let Mai go NOW!!!!"
"You recognized me." The impersonator snapped his fingers and instantly the hologram around him was gone, revealing his true identity. "It took you long enough."
Mai pulled free angrily. "What's going on around here?!" she demanded.
"Wouldn't you like to know," Seth sneered.
"Actually, we would," Tristan snapped.
"Well, you fools are all in my way," Seth replied, "and besides, Vivalene wanted you all here—so I decided she could have you. She'll be along soon." With that he gave a maniacal laugh and disappeared into thin air.
"You know something?" Tristan said after a long silence. "I think things have just gotten a lot stranger."
Joey, who was comforting Mai and making sure that she was okay, nodded emphatically and angrily. "Man, you said it, Tristan!" he growled.
****
Marik, standing in the hallway with Mokuba, suddenly doubled over in pain, clutching at his chest.
"Marik!! What's wrong?!" Mokuba gasped in shock.
The Egyptian boy straightened up slowly. "It's Rishid," he choked out. "We have a bond, the same as you have with your own brother, Mokuba. And right now I can sense that he's in terrible pain!!" Tears filled his eyes.
Mokuba's eyes went wide. "What's wrong with him?!" he cried.
"I don't know," Marik said grimly as he headed for the plank leading off the ship. "I only know that I must find him immediately!"
"I'm coming with you!!" Mokuba cried, chasing after his friend.
Marik hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "I can't let you, Mokuba," he said quietly. "There may be danger, and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because you came with me."
Mokuba looked up at him worriedly, his blue-gray eyes shining. "But . . . but what if you get hurt, Marik?!" he wailed.
"I won't," Marik promised, smiling gently. "Now, Ishizu will stay with you until I or your brother come back. Everything will be alright." And with that he hurried down the plank and into the swirling fog. Inwardly he was crying and feeling as though his heart would break. He knew Rishid was hurt very seriously and might not even survive.
****
When Seto approached the museum, everything looked dark and deserted. As he walked up the steps and to the door, however, it suddenly flung open and a hand reached out, yanking him inside.
Seto gasped in surprise and shock. "Hey, what the . . ." He glared into the darkness. "Who's here?!" he demanded.
"Hello, darling."
Seto's eyes narrowed angrily. "Vivalene," he hissed. "Show your face!"
The lights clicked on and the evil woman was standing there coyly, just the way Seto remembered her being the last time he had seen her.
"Dear Seto Kaiba," she purred. "You're looking well."
"No thanks to you," Seto snapped. "What are you doing here?!"
Vivalene smiled nastily. "Well, there's just been a robbery. But by the time the police get here to investigate, you will be the only one around. They won't believe you when you tell them about me being the thief. I'm dead, after all. Or at least . . . I am on their files."
"I don't care whether you're dead or alive," Seto hissed. "What do you want with me and the others?"
"Well, darling . . ." Vivalene paused, then came over and ran her finger along Seto's cheek. "You and your little friends possess some things that I need in order to complete my plans, but sadly, you can't be around when I come to power. You're all simply too much of a thorn in my side."
Seto grabbed Vivalene's wrist and held her hand far away from him. "You're sick," he growled.
"Why, thank you, darling," Vivalene smiled, then paused. "You know, I guess I always could make it look like you had an accident instead of letting you get arrested," she mused now. "It would be so much more fun."
"You'll never have that pleasure," Seto retorted. Before Vivalene could reply, the boy kicked out and shoved her backwards.
"Why, Seto Kaiba," Vivalene gasped, clutching her side, "that wasn't very gentlemanly!"
"You know," Seto said now, standing over her, "I make it a point to never fight with a lady. But . . . you're obviously no lady."
****
Marik ran through the dark, foggy streets of Domino City frantically. He knew why Rishid had left the ship.
"Oh Rishid," the boy sobbed as he dashed around a corner, "you were trying to catch the ones who hurt me, weren't you?" He glanced around frantically. "Rishid!! Where are you?!"
As he found himself in the less respected area of the city and rounded a corner, he suddenly heard a pained moan and dashed down into an alleyway. "Rishid?!" he screamed, dropping to his knees next to the man's brutalized body. "Rishid?!" He bent over his brother's form in horror, his lavender eyes shining with tears. "Rishid, speak to me!!"
Rishid groaned, his golden eyes glazed over as blood trickled down his face. "Master . . . Master Marik . . . I . . . I have failed you . . ."
Marik sobbed, noticing the machete and pulling it out of Rishid's flesh in horror. "No, my brother! You did not fail! You couldn't!!" He dropped the knife to the ground and grabbed Rishid's shoulder. "Please, Rishid!! Please don't leave me!"
Rishid stared ahead blankly, no longer aware of his brother's presence.
"Rishid!!" Marik screamed. "Rishid!!!! RISHID!!!!!!!"
Rishid was silent for what seemed like an eternity. "Brother . . . I . . . I . . . am . . . sorry," he managed to say at last. "So . . . so very . . . sorry . . ."
Marik let loose with a haunting wail and fell across the limp body, weeping uncontrollably.
****
Seto had just thought he had the upper hand with Vivalene when suddenly a cold hand grabbed his shoulder and a maniacal laugh echoed through the room.
"What's going on?!" Seto demanded, tired of all the nonsense.
Vivalene smirked, getting to her feet. "Darling, I want you to meet one of my associates," she purred.
Seto whirled around to face this new threat and found himself staring at a man with jet-black hair and an evil grin.
"You were the one following me!" the boy exclaimed indignantly.
"That I was," the man confirmed.
"What for?" Seto demanded.
This new arrival only sneered, his dark violet eyes glinting nastily. "I had to see what you were up to, Seto Kaiba," he replied. "As it turns out, things have proven . . . very interesting."
"How so?" Seto growled. "I don't get what you're up to!"
"You know," his assailant laughed now, "you remind me of my kid brother."
Seto's eyes narrowed. He didn't like where this was going. "And who's your brother?" he demanded.
"Oh darling, haven't I introduced you yet?" Vivalene smirked, stepping forward. "Seto Kaiba, meet Khu." She gave a grand gesture and batted her eyes bewitchingly, but Khu didn't seem impressed at that.
"Yes, I am Khu," he admitted. "And I believe you are acquainted with my brother." He grinned again. "His name is Seito, as well, you know," he remarked, "but he always preferred for everyone to call him by a different name. You, I believe, would know him as Seth."
****
"What?!" Yugi cried in horror. "Shadi's dead?!?! No, he can't be!!"
Yami Yugi looked at him wearily. "He is, Yugi," he replied quietly.
Tea was aghast. "He . . . he just dropped dead, just like that?!" she exclaimed.
"He was fighting it for quite some time," Yami Yugi told them. "Most likely ever since he was stabbed."
"But the doctor said he was going to get better!!" Yugi burst out.
"It was probably an untraceable poison," Yami Yugi stated softly. "Shadi is—was—the guardian of the Millennium Items, and his assailant most likely decided that he had to die in order for a great and terrible power to rise."
Yugi stared at Shadi's lifeless form, tears welling up in his eyes. "No!!!!" he wailed. "Shadi was innocent!! He didn't deserve this!! He shouldn't have had such a terrible death!!" The boy turned away, clenching his fists. "He shouldn't have died at all!!!"
Tea laid a hand on his shoulder gently. "It's alright, Yugi," she said softly.
Yugi shook his head. "I've had enough!!!!" he screamed. "I . . . I won't stand for our friends being hurt and . . . and . . ." He trailed off, the tears splashing over his cheeks. "I . . . I won't let this go on any longer!!!!!! I won't!!!!!"