Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh or anything related to Yugioh. All OC characters are mine.
Chapter 14 - One Line Of Destiny
Shiro was running as fast as he could to the Domino Museum. He felt his legs would give away and collapse right in front of the steps, but he didn't think about that. All he thought about was the phone call he got from Ishizu at 5:00 AM, telling him there was a break in at the museum.
"I'm here!" Shiro gasped out of breath. "What happen?"
Ishizu slowly walked over towards him. Shiro didn't understand how she could be so calm about this. Maybe some people just have amazing control of their facial features. Ishizu certainly didn't have a hard time.
"I tired to cover up any media attention about the break in. The guards have agreed to sign a confidentiality about what happened."
"And do you know the person who tried to steal the chest?" Shiro asked waving off the minor details Ishizu was giving him.
"Yes" she said quietly. She paused for a moment as if she couldn't find the words to say it.
"Well?" Shiro asked impatiently. "Who is it?"
"It was one of my brother's henchmen." she said flatly.
"Wait a minute." Shiro looked at her confused. "Your brother?"
"Yes." she said with no emotional expression. "Malik Ishtar."
For some reason Shiro didn't seem that shocked about what he'd just heard. He nodded for her to go on.
"He came here from Egypt. I followed him to Domino City and took a place in the museum so that I would watch and wait what he would plan to do as well as discover what this chest is. Now that we've discovered what the chest is. The only thing left to do is to keep it away from my brother until the time comes."
"This has been going on for a while hasn't it. Finding this chest and how it's linked to the millennium items."
"I'm sorry to say that this is not going to end just yet." Ishizu said sadly. "I believe he might have place one of his men here, working at the museum. Or else they wouldn't have known where the chest was kept so well. It could be anyone here." Ishizu said.
Shiro looked coldly away. "I think I know who." he gritted his teeth. "Hajime."
Ishizu said nothing.
"Why else would he leave Cairo and come here? Why else would he secretly interrogate my wife about my research? It all makes sense now." Shiro said angrily.
"Maybe so." Ishizu said calmly. "But we can't point fingers just yet."
"I know it's him." he growled.
"We have to be careful." Ishizu warned. "Now that we know for certain there is an insider in the museum, we'll have to move the chest somewhere my brother can't find it."
"Yes. But where?" Shiro asked.
"Leave that to me. I'll go away and hid it. I won't tell you where, in case anyone should talk to you."
"I'm just a simple archaeologist." Shiro said rubbing his temples. "I've gotten myself into more trouble then I thought possible."
"We can't avoid this Shiro. You know what the scriptures say."
He sighed heavily. "As time grows old the past life will be reborn into the next." he quoted. "But how will we know?"
"When the time comes, we'll know."
"I'm scared for my family."
"I know. This is a dangerous time for you. I have to go. I can't stay here any longer, not after what happened. They're going to be after me." Ishizu started walking with a large suitcase in hand. "Tell anyone who asks that I'm away on a sudden expedition. Be careful Shiro."
"Wait!" Shiro called out. He dug into his jacket pocket and took out his small journal. "Here take this." He handed it to her. "I've written everything I've ever research in this book including everything about the chest. If anything were to happen to me, would you give it to my daughter?"
"I will."
********
"This is it guys. After this match we'll be in the finals."
"Only if we win the duel Joey." Vari said.
"I already know I'm going to win." Joey grinned. "Don't lose confidence in yourself."
"I am confident. It's just that, nothing is a sure thing." argued Vari.
"Hey Yugi, you think Vari is being negative?" Joey asked.
Yugi turned around. With his small innocent face. "I guess maybe a little." he blushed.
"I am not!" Vari huffed, crossing her arms.
"But you shouldn't underestimate your opponent either Joey." Yugi said.
"Ha!" Vari looked at Joey with a smirk.
"Alright! Can we just go to out duels now? They've already selected our opponents. We don't want to be late for our match." The line was shorter, since many duelist have been eliminated from the last match. Now only around 12 remain.
"Come on Vari." Tea said. "I'll be watching you in the crowd. You'll hear me cheer the loudest."
"Thanks Tea." Vari smiled. She looked round to Yugi. Somehow he didn't act like he usually act. She swore his enthusiasm had gone down fifty percent. "Yugi, you ok?" she asked.
Yugi looked up at her with a forceful smile. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Oh I don't know...you seem a little down."
"It's nothing. We should be going." Yugi started ahead and walked off.
"What's wrong with Yugi?" Joey asked.
"I don't know." Vari said, watching Yugi walk away.
********
Yugi gave a deep sigh. He felt grounded by the heavy weight on his shoulders. He didn't want to tell Joey and the others about it. It would just worry them with a concern they shouldn't have to think about.
"Are you alright Yugi?" Yami asked.
"Not you too." said Yugi
"Well it is a little noticeable." Yami gave a small joking laugh.
Yugi paused not saying anything for a couple of minutes.
"Yugi?" Yami suddenly looked a little concern for a second.
"I feel that something terrible is going to happen. Our mission to find your identity and save the world is going to bring the worst kind of evil imaginable. There's something about the past that is going to affect us all." Yugi turned away. Maybe Yugi shouldn't have told Yami. He was giving the exact look that Yugi didn't want.
"There is no telling what might happen Yugi.. I won't deny that it won't be dangerous. But only the future can decide what's in store." Yami said.
"Let's get going. I think we're late for the duel." said Yugi abruptly. He didn't want to think about it anymore.
********
The darkened warehouse was shut off from any form of sunlight from the outside. The doors were closed and the windows were shut so that no one can hear any screams.
"I should kill you right now." Mailk said maliciously. He stared down on his servant, who was bowing low on the ground, making him tremble before his feet. "You failed to steal the chest and you let my sister get the best of you. Because of that she knows we are close you fool!"
"Forgive me master. But her millennium item was too strong, she..."
"She frightened you like a scared little puppy. You are pathetic." he snared.
The servant glimpsed up at Malik with pure hatred. For a second his mind seem blink. Then thoughts flooded through him like water filling into a cup. For a brief moment he seemed like himself again. "I don't want to do this anymore." he said quietly.
Mailk felt his grip slid, as if his hand was letting go. "What?" he growled. Then the servant looked up at him, with a defiant stare.
"You can't control me any longer. Your hold on me is slipping. Admit it. I've been fighting you all this time and you are losing your edge."
"Think again." he held up his millennium rod. It glowed with power, blinding him and pulling his mind away from him again. "I still control you. I will control you. There's nothing you can do to stop it."
His head burned with sear agony. Clutching his head with both his hands he screamed. "NO!" The whole warehouse echoed with his shrieks.
"Now go." Malik commanded.
The servant obeyed and walking out. His eyes were diluted and unfocused. His mind had been taken over once again, unable to think or move freely by his will.
Another servant appeared beside Malik. "He may be right." he did not look directly at Malik. "He is fighting the millennium rod. He might be able to break free from your control completely with each passing day."
"Are you questioning my powers Rishid?" Malik hissed at him.
"No of course not. But we do not want to underestimate him." Rishid said carefully.
"We won't have to worry about that. When he plays out his part. You will kill him." Malik said.
Rishid gave a solemn look. "Yes master."
"The only thing to worry about is the tournament finals. We will encounter Yugi Moto in the final match. Then..."
Rishid stared at Malik's paused silence. "Then what?"
Malik's eyes grew wide and vicious. "Then all hell breaks loose."
Author's Notes: The story is getting to the point where major plots are coming together. It's going to be more dramatic and more tragic. Where is Ishizu hiding? Will Seto and Vari ever stop going at each other's throats? Is the mysterious servant Hajime? What does Malik have in store next? And a surprising revelation about Bakura. Please stay tune to find out what happens next...
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