Thanx for being so patient with me. I couldn't get a connection on to fanfiction for a couple days. Sorry for the long wait.
Like I said at the end of the last chapter this one is in Seto's Pont of View. I hope you like it as well as the other chapters. I noticed that most my reviewer wish to cause my three favorite bad guys some pain. Speaking of those three, I think I've been reading way to many fanfic with them sneaking around and WB isn't helping either. I keep getting this funny feeling that I'm being watched by one of the three of them. O_o
Kami = God
[blah] = thoughts
Chapter Eleven: Love or Guilt?
I was dragged into a huge room that had hieroglyphics painted on the wall. In the middle of the room face the door was a huge stone altar. Crystal Hikari, the girl I had met just a few days ago was cuffed to the altar. Fear flashed in her sapphire eyes as she saw Malik, Marik, Bakura, and me. I was shoved into a chair and bound to it. I struggled against the ropes, trying to break free.
"Settle down, Kaiba." Marik chuckled, "The ceremony is about to begin."
"Open the skylight and then leave us." Malik shouted to the Rare Hunters in the room.
The ceiling opened above us, revealing a bright blue sky with no clouds. Then the Rare Hunters hurried out of the room, fear radiating from them. Bakura stood beside me with a smug, satisfied expression on his face. Malik and Marik raised their hands to the air and started to chant in Ancient Egyptian. Dark storm clouds started to gather overhead, thunder rumbling softly. Then there was an explosion of thunder that silenced the two Egyptians.
I heard Bakura chuckle from be side me as a white light spread around Crystal. Then Crystal let out a bloodcurdling scream that sent a chill done my spine. Tears flowed down her cheeks as some sort of energy started to gather above her. I struggled against the ropes even harder as Crystal screamed even louder. Then the light around her flashed brightly, silencing Crystal and making head fall forward.
"CRYSTAL!" I shouted, fearing the worst.
I felt tears threatening to spill out of my eyes, but I held them back. I wasn't about to let Malik, Marik, or Bakura see me cry. Crystal lifted her head and looked at me with her now dull sapphire eyes. I followed Crystal's gaze as she looked up even higher. Hovering above her head was a ball of pure white light. The ball of light slowly floated closer to Bakura and me.
Bakura stepped forward and held out his right hand. The ball of light landed in his hand, causing Bakura to smirk. Then he closed his hand around the ball of light, drawing it into his body. I noticed Crystal move slightly and watched as she leaned her head on her left arm, her hair covering part of her face as her diamond-like tears continued to flow. She looked terrible, like the life had been sucked out of her.
[Oh Kami. Her soul.] I thought desperately.
"What did you do to her?" I asked, horror evident in my face and voice.
"Removed the Light Magic from within her." Bakura smirked, "Now that magic belongs to me."
"Now, I have something for you to do for me." Malik said, turning to face me, "Tell the Pharaoh and little Yugi that the girl is safe."
I was unbound from the chair and led out of the room. I was led back to the helicopter that had brought Crystal and me to this place. Once I was in the seat the seatbelt activated, binding me to the seat as it had done earlier. I felt completely numb all over my body; I couldn't believe what had just happened to Crystal. I stared at the seat beside me, where Crystal had been sitting just about thirty minutes ago.
I barely felt the helicopter lift off, as the event that had just happened replayed in my mind. The one thing that stayed in my mind the most were Crystal's face and her screams. I was so lost in thought that I didn't realize that the pilot had landed until there was silence. The belt retracted and through the pilot Malik smirked at me, reminding me to give the message to Yugi and Yami. I glared at him and climbed out of the helicopter.
I slowly made my way to the Kame Game Shop. I was greeted at the door by Yami's sharp crimson eyes. Yugi had already gone to school, but Yami had stayed behind to wait for me to drop off Crystal. Yami did not looked pleased in any way as he invited me into the apartment above the game shop. Then I noticed a concerned look spread over his face as I sat down a chair.
"What happened, Kaiba?" Yami asked, "You never tremble or look this pale."
"Do you want the long version or the short version?" I asked.
"I'm not going anywhere." Yami replied coolly.
He sat down and I began to explain what had happened. When I mentioned Bakura's name, Yami's eyes became fiercer and sharper. Something told me that Bakura was the main reason Crystal was here. As I continued, Yami's expression changed from fury to horror. As I finished, I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill out of my eyes, but I failed; it was too much for me to handle.
"She was in so much pain." I choked out, "I couldn't do anything to help her, nothing at all."
"Where is she now?" Yami asked, as I tried to regain my composure.
"She's safe, but with Malik and Marik." I replied, "She looked like Mokuba did when Pegasus sealed his soul in that card."
"She lost her only line of defense against Shadow Magic." Yami said, "I have a feeling she'll been much weaker from now on."
"Now it's your turn to explain." I said, "Crystal never told me why she was in Japan, especially since she doesn't speak Japanese."
"That ball of light that Bakura absorbed into himself is why she's here." Yami explained, "Bakura kidnapped her from another realm, one where our world is nothing but fantasy. Crystal is sensitive to Shadow Magic. Now that her Light Magic has been removed from her soul, she will been even more sensitive."
"How sensitive is she?" I asked.
"When Malik released Crystal from the power of the Millennium Rod, she was almost dead from the exposure, and that was when she had the Light Magic." Yami explained, "She got worse when Shadi went to inspect her soul room. Now that Crystal doesn't have the shielding from her Light Magic, I don't know what will happen to her."
"Crystal needs to get back to her own realm." I said.
"Without her Light Magic, the trip there would kill her almost instantly." Yami replied, "I'd have to take Crystal through the Shadow Realm to get her home."
"Oh." I said softly.
"Kai- Seto, what's wrong?" Yami asked, in a gentle tone, "You have never been like this before. Not even with Shizuka."
"Crystal didn't turn down my challenge." I mused, "Her eyes flashed with determination, as she dueled against me, even when she saw my Blue Eyes. Then Crystal looked like she was going to slap me when I mentioned the mutt."
"She was actually going to slug you in the gut." Yami chuckled, "Crystal knew about you martial arts skills, so she chose against it."
"Then when she brought Mokuba home, Crystal actually wanted to walk back here, at night." I said, "She has a strong will and determination. I've never met a girl like her before."
"Now, I know why you're this way." Yami said with an impish smile, "You love her, don't you?"
"I don't know if it's love or guilt." I replied, "I couldn't bare the look of pain on her face, and her screams are still echoing in my mind."
"I think you do love her." Yami said quietly, "You just wept for her here."
"I think you may be right, Yami." I said softly, "I really think you might be right."
"You'd better head back home." Yami said, "Jono will not let you live it down, if he saw your tears, no matter who they were for."
"Right, but what about Crystal?" I asked.
"I will go to your mansion tomorrow, while the others are in school." Yami replied, "You and I will work on a plan then."
"You don't understand Yami." I exclaimed, "Crystal is in danger."
"Now you understand why I was so desperate to find my friends in Battle City." Yami said coolly, "I will help you, but I can't right now."
Even though I hated to admit it, Yami was right. I wouldn't be able to help Crystal by rushing into Malik's headquarters without a plan. I sighed heavily and rose to leave the room. Yami gave me a comforting pat on the back, which I did not expect to receive especially from him. I wiped away my tears and called for a limo to pick me up. I lost myself in thought as the limo headed for the mansion.
[You love her don't you?] Yami voice echoed in my mind, [I think you do love her. You just wept for her here.]
"I know I respect her, but is it possible to love someone you have only just met." I asked myself softly.
When I closed my eyes, I saw Crystal looking at me from the altar, pain and weakness written all over her face. Her once bright and determined sapphire eyes were dull and lifeless. Then she shattered into a million pieces. I opened my eyes, gasping in fear as the nightmare faded away. The limo was now pulled into the drive. The driver opened my door and I stepped out.
[I will rescue you, Crystal.] I thought glaring into the distance, [That is a promise I will keep.]
So what did you think of Seto's PoV (Point of View)? I know he's not really how the series portrays him, but this is my story and I can change what I like. Next chapter I'll go back to Crystal's PoV. I hoped you enjoyed this journey into the mind of Seto. I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can.
I'm getting that creepy "I'm-being-watched" feeling again. I'd better go.
Read, Review, and I'll get out the next chapter as quick as I can.