Thus is God's Will
Disclaimer: *sighs*…(translation: not mine…)
I am very proud of my wife. She knows a secret, that really isn't a secret but if you where paying close attention in the last chapter you would've caught it. Oh well, it's all revealed in this chapter anyways.
Chapter Six: The Edge of Life
"There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard" ~ Psalms 19:3
~*~*~
The morning light was something that he came like less and less each day. It was a reminder to him that he was still alive. Being alive meant that he was still in the world in which he so greatly loathed to a part of; a world in which he was used as a pawn to do other peoples deeds but he did things with no real personal attachment. The daylight which crept through the windows every morning was a reminder that he had no true meaning in his life aside from to protect his brother as he slowly withered away.
So many people hated him because of what he was. The gifted, they hated him because he was one of their enemies, even if not entirely by choice. They didn't even notice him before he 'betrayed' them all anyways. Most of his life was used choosing to ignore his 'gift'. He did not wish to have the power to feel other's emotions through touches, but it was something that he had to deal with his whole life. Those of God's Will found that he was impure blood in the organization. They thought of him as a disgrace, something tainted and unworthy of living. The only reason most of them hadn't killed him already was that one of their leaders, Viper, had a great deal of trust in him.
He had no true place for certainly by now his younger brother would not even remember him. Surly he would remember he had a brother, but there where no guarantees he remembered anything about him. What he would found out would most likely turn his feelings towards hate rather then the strong feeling of brotherly love that he, himself had for the young boy.
Then there was Katsuya. He knew nothing of where the gifted's opinion of him stood. The way that he treated them could easily be pity in which could just as easily be mistaken for actually caring about him. The blonde was never one to give away his opinions of anyways too easily. At least, that's the defense he has grown into ever since his younger sister was killed.
Azure eyes looked down at the owner's very hands that had strangled the life out the young girl in disgust. The pained look in those amber eyes as he snapped the fragile neck still haunted him, though not as much as the feeling of tears hitting his shoulder as Jounouchi had mourned the death of his sister in her killer's arms.
"Seto?" The concerned voice broke through his thoughts. Seto turned to see the same blonde that had just occupied his mind, and couldn't help but frown. The tone of his voice made his insides lurch. How could someone be concerned for the one that destroyed something precious to him? "Are you alright?" He felt the faint brush of Katsuya's fingers moving the hair from his blue eyes, the compassion and uncertainty inside of the blonde making him shiver.
He slapped the hand away. "Stop that," the words where muttered harshly under his breath. Had he been looking upwards instead of at the floor, he would've seen a similar pained look to the one that haunts him. "Your kindness makes my skin crawl."
"What would you rather me do?" The shifting of the bench was heard, as Jounouchi sat down, each of the words that fell from his lips where carefully spoken in a sorrowful character. "Would you rather me result to peaty plains for revenge? Or would you just be happier if I hated you silently?"
There was no time for Seto to get anything in, for Jou continued to speak. "I could do neither. You are my sister's kill, but you are my savior."
"I do not see how you could so easily forgive someone who killed the one most valued to you," Again the words where harsh, filled with the self-anger that Seto was feeling inside of him right now.
"If you had not have killed one of us, all three of us would have been killed," was the whispered reply, "so I do not hold you at fault, nor do I any resentment for choosing to take her life rather then mine. You saved her from the trails of the path destiny had set for us both. I would not wish her to suffer the life I have."
All emotions where blocked from entering Seto's body as Jounouchi lifted his head. He was confused as to why the blonde was blocking his emotions; he had never done it to any channeler, as far as he knew. But because he could not feel what the blonde was, did not mean that Katsuya wasn't feeling everything going on inside of him.
He could feel the regret and self-hate in which was burning inside of his veins. He could feel the butterflies forming in his stomach as he moved his thumb to stroke the brunette's bottom lip. "I do not want you compassion," he heard Seto say, but smiled still not in the least worried about the statement.
The forehead of Jounouchi rested up against Seto's, letting his thumb move from the now dry lip for his hand to be able to cup the brunette's chin. "I know you're lying to me, but I'm afraid you've forgotten one thing," He whispered has he used his hand to push the frail face upwards before pressing his lips unbelievably light against the others. 'I can read your thoughts,' he had said into the others mind as he pulled away allowing the kiss to be somewhat of an enigma.
"You where here to help snatch Yugi, where you not?" Katsuya asked turning his head away from the other. The sudden question made Seto visibly twitch.
"That was a dirty trick, Katsuya," His azure eyes narrowed, "When did you find out Yugi was gone?"
"Last night," Jou replied, still refusing to look at him, "after you fell asleep, I went to say goodnight to Yugi and he wasn't there."
"So you messed with my head so I wouldn't block you and to find out what happened?" Seto placed his hand on the blonde's shoulder suddenly, causing him to jump and look at him; the almost unnoticeable feeling of betrayal coming from Seto stinging, painfully.
"Not so much messed with your head as doing and saying things I wanted to anyways," He moved in closer as he spoke, locking his ocher orbs with Seto's ice-like azure ones, "And I'd be willing to do and say them again." The tip of his nose gently nuzzled the side of Seto's face just by his lips to show he wasn't kidding even though he knew the brunette could feel what he was feeling.
"How can you expect me to trust you?" He asked softly, moving his hand from Jou's shoulder and up brushing the slender digits across the side of the blonde's cheek.
Ocher eyes slipped closed, as the owner absentmindedly encouraged into the feather light touches by leaning into them, "I don't. We are enemies after all."
"And there is no way to change that," It wasn't a question, but more of a statement; something he understood completely but had to say it aloud anyways.
"None at all." Jou murmured tenderly, "If I am to die during this, I wish it to be by your hand."
"What makes you think that I'd kill you?" Unknown to Jou, Seto was leaning closer to him, letting thick lashes fall over azure eyes as he spoke the words.
"You might have no other choice."
"What if I prefer to die then to kill you?"
"Then you've damned us both," there was a small chuckle that emitted from Seto's throat when he heard the blonde speak the words.
He let his head tilt, his nose brushing against that of Jounouchi's; letting him become aware of how close the brunette's face was to his own. "And what if I prefer to kiss you?" He questioned faintly not giving any time for the question to be answered aloud before brushing his lips briefly against the others mouth before pressing them fully in a supple kiss.
'I'd have no choice but to fall for you,' a soft whisper of a voice tickled Seto's mind just as the flaxen haired man began to return his kiss.
It was something bizarrely saccharine. Unlike Jounouchi's previous kiss, it was evident that this one held meaning for it was done slowly as if each movement of the lips held vast import. The frail fingers on Seto's hands held the side of the blonde's face as if it where made of porcelain. It was enough to support the weight of it, yet they where so vigilantly it was amusing.
The kiss ended with an affectionate tug of Jou's bottom lip with Seto's teeth, the dulled bone rolling smoothly off the skin before the brunette fully pulled away.
There was a comfortable pause between the two. That was until Jounouchi remember he was supposed to be meeting Bakura soon or rather, ten minutes ago. He shot strait up from where he was sitting and quickly spoke, "I have to go." Azure eyes looked at him questioningly, in a manner in which turned his blood cold. The brunette's gaze was always unnerving, even when it was something of good nature. "You should too," he suggest softly.
"Why don't I meet you half way, and both of us stay," Seto said the words sarcastically, though Jounouchi was in too much of a hurry to lace up his boots to notice it.
"I'm afraid you can't risk it," He switched from one boot to the other, leaving the laces in a tangled mess from his hurrying, "I'll see you again soon." He quickly finished up the second one, bending over and planting a small peck of a kiss on the brunette's forehead. "Abschied!"(1)
~*~*~
"Yugi!" An exasperated voice called out in which was followed by a series of hard steps upon the cobblestone halls. The small boy jumped upon hearing the feminine voice. That could only mean Jade finally stopped praying, had been looking for him; something was telling him it was for more then a few minutes by the tone in her voice.
The tri-color haired boy his head briefly towards the older man, Pegasus before muttering a soft apology, "I will meet you again soon, will I not?"
"I would have it no other way," The silver haired man gave a small smile before giving a faint bow of his head just as Yugi had done. "I will meet you hear tomorrow at day break."
"I will count the minutes," Yugi smiled before running out of the chapel though not without glancing back at the silver haired priest he had just met as he closed the doors.
"I've never seen you trip over your own lies – Priest," the mocking tone of voice, most defiantly belonging to a man, made the man cringe. There was only one person Pegasus knew of that held such a sinister tone of voice.
He nonchalantly pushed strands of his silver hair behind his ear before commenting on the man's presence. "I have not time for your foolish mind games, Viper," his mahogany eyes narrowed as if to threaten the raven-haired man. It had no affect whatsoever, as you see, he was glaring strait forward rather then at the man himself.
"Contrary to what you, and everyone half-wit in the organization, may think," Viper spoke as he stepped out of his shadowy abyss. He faced towards the crucifix, staring it with an almost bemused look. "I do not play mind games."
"Any man who believes that is a fool," Pegasus retorted, turning on his heal and approaching the other.
"I would say the same for a trickster such as you, Pegasus," For that statement Viper earned a well-deserved glare; he easily shrugged it off. "Forgetting your own lies could prove to be fatal. If that boy had not been such a trusting sap you could have screwed us all over." He paused for a moment and looked as if he was about to laugh, it quickly faded. "I can't believe that half wit actually bought that you where a priest."
"And who is to say that you are any more convincing then I?" A silver eyebrow quirked upwards questioningly towards the raven-haired priest.
"Why shouldn't anyone believe me?" Viper asked in his infamous mock-tone, "I am a priest after all."
"Murderers and homosexuals are not priests, Viper," Pegasus not so benevolently pointed out to the raven-haired priest, at tinge of disgust found in his voice, "You devotion to your God is a pathetic retribution for what the gifted supposedly did to you. You know nothing of your God, you just use his name as some holy shield to guide you along your way."
"What do you know of my God?" Viper question, his voice holding a faraway tone, and gave a quirk of his eyebrow.
"I know more about your God, and many others, then you could even imagine," He remarked. There was something about Viper that had always rubbed him the wrong way. He never really had to do much but be around. He figured it was the false air about the man, but then it wouldn't be saying much about him, for almost every word that came out of his mouth was a lie. He didn't even truly remember exactly who he was anymore. He was like an actor in a never-ending stream of plays. There was no real him.
"I suppose I should expect that from a con artist. After all knowing all to use in your theatrics is what you are paid for, is it not?" The comment made Pegasus twitch, quite visibly. A satisfied smirk played itself on Viper's lips. Oh yes, Pegasus was much fun to toy with.
"That it is," was the defeated reply.
As much fun as it was to twist the silver-haired trickster, he was afraid that there was an important business matter to attend to. The snide remarks would just have to wait until later. Or maybe slip out sometime during their conversation. They where quite used to insulting each other that it became almost natural. "Did you find out the location of the boy?" Viper asked in a voice that could be titled a 'business voice' for it was very professional and detached.
"These things take time, Viper," Pegasus replied in a matter-of-fact nature. He let his eyes slipped closed, trying not to become frustrated with the unpleasant tête-à-tête he was most certainly going to be dragged into.
"Time is something we do not have," Viper spoke the very hard statement that Pegasus knew had been coming.
"Then find a way to earn some, for it will take more then a day to get the boy's full trust," He let out a sigh after the words. Explaining things was not one of his favorite activities to do; least of all when he had to explain things to Viper, mister high-and-mighty who refused to accept anything anyone else said.
"It looks to me as if you have it already," Viper pointed out, and again Pegasus had expected it. He was tempted to roll his eyes, but knew it would only irritate the other man, making him more of a pain to deal with.
"You are a foolish man," He let his head tilt backwards, as to stop the headache that was coming on from actually doing so, "That very foolishness is what is going to put you in your grave."
"I would rather be foolish then a low-life cheat," Viper retorted.
"Ah, but that you are," The way Pegasus made the comment was rather dull in lack of interest in the conversation, "Or have you forgotten how you tricked Ishtar to being your lap boy?"
"I suppose that would make you and I alike."
"We are nothing alike," His eyes snapped open at that comment, easily placing a glare that could kill a normal man. That was the one thing that Viper could say to ever anger him, and said it without a second thought.
"And why do you say that?"
"I may be a cheat, but I am by no means, a murderer."
~*~*~
The walk down the cobblestone stairs was painfully slow; painfully slow, and painfully boring. The long path gave him far too much time to contemplate about what was going on in his life, and as far as Seto was concerned, he had contemplated his life enough for one day. He gave out an annoyed sigh, knowing that he was only half way down the steps and it would probably take another ten minutes to make it the rest of the way.
Really, he had no idea why they insisted on making so many of the steps. Most likely it was Viper's sadistic torture for not only the people break into the hideout, but also for any of those low rank members, as Viper would say even though there where no ranks in God's Will.
He groaned as he looked down upon what seemed to be never-ending steps, wishing that there were some way he could get down faster. Well, there was, but it would most likely end up in him breaking his neck. Death was certainly not something he was willing to risk for such an idiotic thing as getting down the ungodly long staircase faster. Though, he had to admit, death seemed far more appealing then making his way down the rest of the steps at that moment.
It seemed like an eternity before he made it all the way down, and Seto still had the labyrinth of a hideout to go through before reaching Ishtar's chambers. Now would be one of those times in which every person wished that they could fly, or that the power of teleportation was indeed true and they attained it. Of course both options are ridiculous since they simply did not exist.
Much to his relief or dismay as soon as he got into one of the larger halls he was pulled into one of the more private of rooms. Seto turned to see his capture, grateful that it had been Ishtar and not Jade or Viper. He found each of the three annoying, but Ishtar was quite a bit easier to deal with then the other two, giving he actually had brain cells and wasn't a man which greatly resembled a stuck-up vampire.
"What took you so long? Jade has been back for almost sixteen hours now!" The blonde snapped at him with a dull glint of frustration in his eyes. It would be just Seto's luck to have to deal with a tired and easily irritated version of the blonde.
"It's not as if I had any other choice," Azure eyes narrowed dangerously at Ishtar, causing him to make a sound that sounded much like 'eep'. Tired Ishtar in most cases also meant paranoid Ishtar if it was all mental and not in the least physical.
For a second he looked as if he was about to make another statement about having taken so long, but any sign of seriousness the boy had held before was lost when an entertained grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "Why are you glowing?" He asked much like child would with a singsong voice followed by a small giggle.
"I am not glowing!" Seto snapped, glowering at the blonde.
"Yes you are! Yes you are!" Ishtar chanted happily, "You're usually Seto-Kaiba-I-have-a-crucifix-jammed-up-my-rump-touch-me-and-I'll-castrate-you and right now you look more like Seto-Kaiba-I-just-got-laid-so-take-advantage-of-my-good-mood-and-sap-me-of-my-hopitality!"
"No, I did not get laid," The brunette rolled his azure eyes, "Can we just find Jade and Viper so we can talk about what's going to happen and get it over with. I feel a migraine coming on."
"If you say so Kaiba-kins," Ishtar said, once again much like a child as he pulled Seto outside of the door.
~*~*~
(1) Simply means "Farewell" in German.
I really don't like that first scene, but if I didn't put it in then the story would most likely be dragged out another two or three chapters for development since they're going to be apart for awhile. So, that's the easiest way for me to put it in here and actually be able to get the story done. Gomen ne to anyone who thinks it's a little rushed, but hey, this is the sixth chapter!
I'm sorry that there was no Malik and Yami in this chapter! If I put the scene with them in this one I'd have nothing to write about in the next! Well, that's not true, but it balances better this way.
Anyways, I do hope everyone enjoyed it. It's nice and long for you this time. ~^; Please review!
Disclaimer: *sighs*…(translation: not mine…)
I am very proud of my wife. She knows a secret, that really isn't a secret but if you where paying close attention in the last chapter you would've caught it. Oh well, it's all revealed in this chapter anyways.
Chapter Six: The Edge of Life
"There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard" ~ Psalms 19:3
~*~*~
The morning light was something that he came like less and less each day. It was a reminder to him that he was still alive. Being alive meant that he was still in the world in which he so greatly loathed to a part of; a world in which he was used as a pawn to do other peoples deeds but he did things with no real personal attachment. The daylight which crept through the windows every morning was a reminder that he had no true meaning in his life aside from to protect his brother as he slowly withered away.
So many people hated him because of what he was. The gifted, they hated him because he was one of their enemies, even if not entirely by choice. They didn't even notice him before he 'betrayed' them all anyways. Most of his life was used choosing to ignore his 'gift'. He did not wish to have the power to feel other's emotions through touches, but it was something that he had to deal with his whole life. Those of God's Will found that he was impure blood in the organization. They thought of him as a disgrace, something tainted and unworthy of living. The only reason most of them hadn't killed him already was that one of their leaders, Viper, had a great deal of trust in him.
He had no true place for certainly by now his younger brother would not even remember him. Surly he would remember he had a brother, but there where no guarantees he remembered anything about him. What he would found out would most likely turn his feelings towards hate rather then the strong feeling of brotherly love that he, himself had for the young boy.
Then there was Katsuya. He knew nothing of where the gifted's opinion of him stood. The way that he treated them could easily be pity in which could just as easily be mistaken for actually caring about him. The blonde was never one to give away his opinions of anyways too easily. At least, that's the defense he has grown into ever since his younger sister was killed.
Azure eyes looked down at the owner's very hands that had strangled the life out the young girl in disgust. The pained look in those amber eyes as he snapped the fragile neck still haunted him, though not as much as the feeling of tears hitting his shoulder as Jounouchi had mourned the death of his sister in her killer's arms.
"Seto?" The concerned voice broke through his thoughts. Seto turned to see the same blonde that had just occupied his mind, and couldn't help but frown. The tone of his voice made his insides lurch. How could someone be concerned for the one that destroyed something precious to him? "Are you alright?" He felt the faint brush of Katsuya's fingers moving the hair from his blue eyes, the compassion and uncertainty inside of the blonde making him shiver.
He slapped the hand away. "Stop that," the words where muttered harshly under his breath. Had he been looking upwards instead of at the floor, he would've seen a similar pained look to the one that haunts him. "Your kindness makes my skin crawl."
"What would you rather me do?" The shifting of the bench was heard, as Jounouchi sat down, each of the words that fell from his lips where carefully spoken in a sorrowful character. "Would you rather me result to peaty plains for revenge? Or would you just be happier if I hated you silently?"
There was no time for Seto to get anything in, for Jou continued to speak. "I could do neither. You are my sister's kill, but you are my savior."
"I do not see how you could so easily forgive someone who killed the one most valued to you," Again the words where harsh, filled with the self-anger that Seto was feeling inside of him right now.
"If you had not have killed one of us, all three of us would have been killed," was the whispered reply, "so I do not hold you at fault, nor do I any resentment for choosing to take her life rather then mine. You saved her from the trails of the path destiny had set for us both. I would not wish her to suffer the life I have."
All emotions where blocked from entering Seto's body as Jounouchi lifted his head. He was confused as to why the blonde was blocking his emotions; he had never done it to any channeler, as far as he knew. But because he could not feel what the blonde was, did not mean that Katsuya wasn't feeling everything going on inside of him.
He could feel the regret and self-hate in which was burning inside of his veins. He could feel the butterflies forming in his stomach as he moved his thumb to stroke the brunette's bottom lip. "I do not want you compassion," he heard Seto say, but smiled still not in the least worried about the statement.
The forehead of Jounouchi rested up against Seto's, letting his thumb move from the now dry lip for his hand to be able to cup the brunette's chin. "I know you're lying to me, but I'm afraid you've forgotten one thing," He whispered has he used his hand to push the frail face upwards before pressing his lips unbelievably light against the others. 'I can read your thoughts,' he had said into the others mind as he pulled away allowing the kiss to be somewhat of an enigma.
"You where here to help snatch Yugi, where you not?" Katsuya asked turning his head away from the other. The sudden question made Seto visibly twitch.
"That was a dirty trick, Katsuya," His azure eyes narrowed, "When did you find out Yugi was gone?"
"Last night," Jou replied, still refusing to look at him, "after you fell asleep, I went to say goodnight to Yugi and he wasn't there."
"So you messed with my head so I wouldn't block you and to find out what happened?" Seto placed his hand on the blonde's shoulder suddenly, causing him to jump and look at him; the almost unnoticeable feeling of betrayal coming from Seto stinging, painfully.
"Not so much messed with your head as doing and saying things I wanted to anyways," He moved in closer as he spoke, locking his ocher orbs with Seto's ice-like azure ones, "And I'd be willing to do and say them again." The tip of his nose gently nuzzled the side of Seto's face just by his lips to show he wasn't kidding even though he knew the brunette could feel what he was feeling.
"How can you expect me to trust you?" He asked softly, moving his hand from Jou's shoulder and up brushing the slender digits across the side of the blonde's cheek.
Ocher eyes slipped closed, as the owner absentmindedly encouraged into the feather light touches by leaning into them, "I don't. We are enemies after all."
"And there is no way to change that," It wasn't a question, but more of a statement; something he understood completely but had to say it aloud anyways.
"None at all." Jou murmured tenderly, "If I am to die during this, I wish it to be by your hand."
"What makes you think that I'd kill you?" Unknown to Jou, Seto was leaning closer to him, letting thick lashes fall over azure eyes as he spoke the words.
"You might have no other choice."
"What if I prefer to die then to kill you?"
"Then you've damned us both," there was a small chuckle that emitted from Seto's throat when he heard the blonde speak the words.
He let his head tilt, his nose brushing against that of Jounouchi's; letting him become aware of how close the brunette's face was to his own. "And what if I prefer to kiss you?" He questioned faintly not giving any time for the question to be answered aloud before brushing his lips briefly against the others mouth before pressing them fully in a supple kiss.
'I'd have no choice but to fall for you,' a soft whisper of a voice tickled Seto's mind just as the flaxen haired man began to return his kiss.
It was something bizarrely saccharine. Unlike Jounouchi's previous kiss, it was evident that this one held meaning for it was done slowly as if each movement of the lips held vast import. The frail fingers on Seto's hands held the side of the blonde's face as if it where made of porcelain. It was enough to support the weight of it, yet they where so vigilantly it was amusing.
The kiss ended with an affectionate tug of Jou's bottom lip with Seto's teeth, the dulled bone rolling smoothly off the skin before the brunette fully pulled away.
There was a comfortable pause between the two. That was until Jounouchi remember he was supposed to be meeting Bakura soon or rather, ten minutes ago. He shot strait up from where he was sitting and quickly spoke, "I have to go." Azure eyes looked at him questioningly, in a manner in which turned his blood cold. The brunette's gaze was always unnerving, even when it was something of good nature. "You should too," he suggest softly.
"Why don't I meet you half way, and both of us stay," Seto said the words sarcastically, though Jounouchi was in too much of a hurry to lace up his boots to notice it.
"I'm afraid you can't risk it," He switched from one boot to the other, leaving the laces in a tangled mess from his hurrying, "I'll see you again soon." He quickly finished up the second one, bending over and planting a small peck of a kiss on the brunette's forehead. "Abschied!"(1)
~*~*~
"Yugi!" An exasperated voice called out in which was followed by a series of hard steps upon the cobblestone halls. The small boy jumped upon hearing the feminine voice. That could only mean Jade finally stopped praying, had been looking for him; something was telling him it was for more then a few minutes by the tone in her voice.
The tri-color haired boy his head briefly towards the older man, Pegasus before muttering a soft apology, "I will meet you again soon, will I not?"
"I would have it no other way," The silver haired man gave a small smile before giving a faint bow of his head just as Yugi had done. "I will meet you hear tomorrow at day break."
"I will count the minutes," Yugi smiled before running out of the chapel though not without glancing back at the silver haired priest he had just met as he closed the doors.
"I've never seen you trip over your own lies – Priest," the mocking tone of voice, most defiantly belonging to a man, made the man cringe. There was only one person Pegasus knew of that held such a sinister tone of voice.
He nonchalantly pushed strands of his silver hair behind his ear before commenting on the man's presence. "I have not time for your foolish mind games, Viper," his mahogany eyes narrowed as if to threaten the raven-haired man. It had no affect whatsoever, as you see, he was glaring strait forward rather then at the man himself.
"Contrary to what you, and everyone half-wit in the organization, may think," Viper spoke as he stepped out of his shadowy abyss. He faced towards the crucifix, staring it with an almost bemused look. "I do not play mind games."
"Any man who believes that is a fool," Pegasus retorted, turning on his heal and approaching the other.
"I would say the same for a trickster such as you, Pegasus," For that statement Viper earned a well-deserved glare; he easily shrugged it off. "Forgetting your own lies could prove to be fatal. If that boy had not been such a trusting sap you could have screwed us all over." He paused for a moment and looked as if he was about to laugh, it quickly faded. "I can't believe that half wit actually bought that you where a priest."
"And who is to say that you are any more convincing then I?" A silver eyebrow quirked upwards questioningly towards the raven-haired priest.
"Why shouldn't anyone believe me?" Viper asked in his infamous mock-tone, "I am a priest after all."
"Murderers and homosexuals are not priests, Viper," Pegasus not so benevolently pointed out to the raven-haired priest, at tinge of disgust found in his voice, "You devotion to your God is a pathetic retribution for what the gifted supposedly did to you. You know nothing of your God, you just use his name as some holy shield to guide you along your way."
"What do you know of my God?" Viper question, his voice holding a faraway tone, and gave a quirk of his eyebrow.
"I know more about your God, and many others, then you could even imagine," He remarked. There was something about Viper that had always rubbed him the wrong way. He never really had to do much but be around. He figured it was the false air about the man, but then it wouldn't be saying much about him, for almost every word that came out of his mouth was a lie. He didn't even truly remember exactly who he was anymore. He was like an actor in a never-ending stream of plays. There was no real him.
"I suppose I should expect that from a con artist. After all knowing all to use in your theatrics is what you are paid for, is it not?" The comment made Pegasus twitch, quite visibly. A satisfied smirk played itself on Viper's lips. Oh yes, Pegasus was much fun to toy with.
"That it is," was the defeated reply.
As much fun as it was to twist the silver-haired trickster, he was afraid that there was an important business matter to attend to. The snide remarks would just have to wait until later. Or maybe slip out sometime during their conversation. They where quite used to insulting each other that it became almost natural. "Did you find out the location of the boy?" Viper asked in a voice that could be titled a 'business voice' for it was very professional and detached.
"These things take time, Viper," Pegasus replied in a matter-of-fact nature. He let his eyes slipped closed, trying not to become frustrated with the unpleasant tête-à-tête he was most certainly going to be dragged into.
"Time is something we do not have," Viper spoke the very hard statement that Pegasus knew had been coming.
"Then find a way to earn some, for it will take more then a day to get the boy's full trust," He let out a sigh after the words. Explaining things was not one of his favorite activities to do; least of all when he had to explain things to Viper, mister high-and-mighty who refused to accept anything anyone else said.
"It looks to me as if you have it already," Viper pointed out, and again Pegasus had expected it. He was tempted to roll his eyes, but knew it would only irritate the other man, making him more of a pain to deal with.
"You are a foolish man," He let his head tilt backwards, as to stop the headache that was coming on from actually doing so, "That very foolishness is what is going to put you in your grave."
"I would rather be foolish then a low-life cheat," Viper retorted.
"Ah, but that you are," The way Pegasus made the comment was rather dull in lack of interest in the conversation, "Or have you forgotten how you tricked Ishtar to being your lap boy?"
"I suppose that would make you and I alike."
"We are nothing alike," His eyes snapped open at that comment, easily placing a glare that could kill a normal man. That was the one thing that Viper could say to ever anger him, and said it without a second thought.
"And why do you say that?"
"I may be a cheat, but I am by no means, a murderer."
~*~*~
The walk down the cobblestone stairs was painfully slow; painfully slow, and painfully boring. The long path gave him far too much time to contemplate about what was going on in his life, and as far as Seto was concerned, he had contemplated his life enough for one day. He gave out an annoyed sigh, knowing that he was only half way down the steps and it would probably take another ten minutes to make it the rest of the way.
Really, he had no idea why they insisted on making so many of the steps. Most likely it was Viper's sadistic torture for not only the people break into the hideout, but also for any of those low rank members, as Viper would say even though there where no ranks in God's Will.
He groaned as he looked down upon what seemed to be never-ending steps, wishing that there were some way he could get down faster. Well, there was, but it would most likely end up in him breaking his neck. Death was certainly not something he was willing to risk for such an idiotic thing as getting down the ungodly long staircase faster. Though, he had to admit, death seemed far more appealing then making his way down the rest of the steps at that moment.
It seemed like an eternity before he made it all the way down, and Seto still had the labyrinth of a hideout to go through before reaching Ishtar's chambers. Now would be one of those times in which every person wished that they could fly, or that the power of teleportation was indeed true and they attained it. Of course both options are ridiculous since they simply did not exist.
Much to his relief or dismay as soon as he got into one of the larger halls he was pulled into one of the more private of rooms. Seto turned to see his capture, grateful that it had been Ishtar and not Jade or Viper. He found each of the three annoying, but Ishtar was quite a bit easier to deal with then the other two, giving he actually had brain cells and wasn't a man which greatly resembled a stuck-up vampire.
"What took you so long? Jade has been back for almost sixteen hours now!" The blonde snapped at him with a dull glint of frustration in his eyes. It would be just Seto's luck to have to deal with a tired and easily irritated version of the blonde.
"It's not as if I had any other choice," Azure eyes narrowed dangerously at Ishtar, causing him to make a sound that sounded much like 'eep'. Tired Ishtar in most cases also meant paranoid Ishtar if it was all mental and not in the least physical.
For a second he looked as if he was about to make another statement about having taken so long, but any sign of seriousness the boy had held before was lost when an entertained grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "Why are you glowing?" He asked much like child would with a singsong voice followed by a small giggle.
"I am not glowing!" Seto snapped, glowering at the blonde.
"Yes you are! Yes you are!" Ishtar chanted happily, "You're usually Seto-Kaiba-I-have-a-crucifix-jammed-up-my-rump-touch-me-and-I'll-castrate-you and right now you look more like Seto-Kaiba-I-just-got-laid-so-take-advantage-of-my-good-mood-and-sap-me-of-my-hopitality!"
"No, I did not get laid," The brunette rolled his azure eyes, "Can we just find Jade and Viper so we can talk about what's going to happen and get it over with. I feel a migraine coming on."
"If you say so Kaiba-kins," Ishtar said, once again much like a child as he pulled Seto outside of the door.
~*~*~
(1) Simply means "Farewell" in German.
I really don't like that first scene, but if I didn't put it in then the story would most likely be dragged out another two or three chapters for development since they're going to be apart for awhile. So, that's the easiest way for me to put it in here and actually be able to get the story done. Gomen ne to anyone who thinks it's a little rushed, but hey, this is the sixth chapter!
I'm sorry that there was no Malik and Yami in this chapter! If I put the scene with them in this one I'd have nothing to write about in the next! Well, that's not true, but it balances better this way.
Anyways, I do hope everyone enjoyed it. It's nice and long for you this time. ~^; Please review!