maybe this is the last chpt. I cant make it go on forever cuz then it'll just be a pointless story. so read it…see how you like it. if you want me to write more then say so in ur review. or maybe I could write a sequel.

Chapter 14: ~: ~: ~: ~: ~: ~: ~: ~: ~: ~: ~: ~: ~: ~: ~

Seto had spent the last six hours scrutinizing his files, trying to at least come up with an idea of Marik's whereabouts. The search hadn't been entirely fruitless; Seto had at least found out Marik's address. Well, at least where he had lived eight years ago.

With a sigh, Seto stood up from kneeling on the ground, patted his dusty pants, and set out to the address: 1031 Lixiour Ct. His limousine driver had apparently never heard of such a street, but Seto had found it on a dusty old map from ten years ago. Recently published maps didn't have the street listed in the index, and where it should have been, there was a high school.

The drive turned out to be longer than Seto had expected. He stared out through the window at the eternal green fields. Such life, he thought. He used to have a life. He had a great job that dissolved his boredom. He had a little brother whom he loved and cared for. He had an amazing Duel Monster deck and was a proud champion of the game.

And he lost it all.

He might have had gained something: love for a woman, which had never happened before. But he had lost that too. What did he have now? A home. Money. A limousine.

An impossible enemy.

"Here y'are, Mr. Kaiba, sir. That over there's Pariah High School, and that over there's where this Lixiour Street technically is. And I stress technically. Oh, and there's a street sign o'er there…maybe if you'd look closer and brush the dirt off it, it'll say something."

"All right," Seto replied to the driver. "Wait for me here. I may take two seconds; I may take a couple of days."

"Yes, sir."

Seto was about to leave, but turned back.

"Do you have any idea what I'm going to go in there?" he asked.

"No, sir."

"I'm going in there to get my life back. But it'll be dangerous. Chances are, I'll come back here in a few minutes because what I'm looking for isn't there. But if it is, I may not succeed. If night falls and I'm still not back, leave."

"Do you mean if you die?"

Seto began to walk away again. "Yes," he answered without turning his head.

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What's that? Isis wondered. Some kind of golden object protruded through a pile of junk. She dug through the pile until she had hollowed out the entire object. It appeared to be an upside-down cone that extended through the ground. It must have been about five feet long.

"Mokuba, I found something," she whispered, fearful that she had found something she wasn't supposed to know about, yet excited that it could help them escape.

The boy crawled over from his corner. His eyes beamed with curiosity as he examined the dazzling object.

"Isis! Look, there's a button on it. Over there!" Enthusiasm grew in his voice.

Isis's hand was shaking as she reached down to touch the red button.

"Should I?" she asked nervously.

"Yes. If we're going to have to live like this forever, we might as well see what it does."

Isis gently placed her hand on the button. Closing her eyes, she pressed it firmly.

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Seto examined the street sign caked in dust. The dust had literally molded and was as hard as a rock. Seto was forced to scrape it away with his fingernails. After he had done so, he realized with a sigh that it was blank. Then, he spotted words. He squinted his eyes, shaded the sign with his hand, and made out tiny letters engraved onto the sign. It read: SOULKILLERS.

"Creepy, Marik. Nice try," he whispered.

He walked into the wooded area in front of him. The trees were so crowded together that it was difficult to get through. A sticky substance covered the tree bark. Seto moaned in disgust as the slime stuck to his cloak.

There was something suspicious about this forest. The trees seemed to be aligned in ways that weren't natural. Their leaves were black; at least that's what they seemed like in the dark.

A trap?

Suddenly, as if an answer, large hooded men appeared out of nowhere. Their eyes were cold and black; their daggers were sharp and menacing.

"Shit…" hissed Seto under his breath.

"What brings you here?" bellowed one of the hooded men.

Seto could find no words. He didn't want to get killed, yet what could he say?

"Do you not speak? Then leave, or be killed!"

Seto stood his ground. Bravely, yet with a shaking hand, he spoke. "I am trying to locate a Marik Ishtar."

Silence.

Then the hooded man began to speak again. "What reason could you have to see him?"

"I would like to have a chat with him, if that's all right."

"Then we shall escort you. We are his Rare Hunters."

The Rare Hunters walked over to Seto and pointed to the direction that he should walk in. Their daggers were pointed at his body.

"This way."

They walked slowly through the forest. Seto showed no fear, but inwardly his mind was racing. Finally, he decided to take action. Maybe he would pay for it, maybe he wouldn't.

Seto carefully pulled out his miniature sword from his pocket. His finger felt its sides; they were extremely sharp.

Killer material.

With all the energy he could muster, he stabbed the Rare Hunter behind him in the stomach. The Rare Hunter groaned and staggered back; Seto felt his sword slide out smoothly. The other two abruptly stopped and went over to examine their comrade, not suspecting foul play.

Eagerness and fearlessness overcame Seto. He jumped onto the Rare Hunters' backs and thrust his sword into their backs one at a time. They fell forward silently.

Seto laughed. "Kaiba the savior. Kaiba the murderer. What a joke."

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The red button triggered no effect. For a moment, at least. After that moment, Isis felt the ground shake. The upside-down cone's center opened. Stairs spiraled all the way down.

"Mokuba. Oh my god, look."

"Where do they go?" asked the little boy.

"I don't know. Let's see."

The stairs were difficult to get down, especially while supporting a weak Mokuba. At the end was a tiny room. A chair with its back facing the stairs was rocking back and forth.

Marik was sitting in it.

"…what's the deal?" Marik asked, talking into his microphone.

"We've got a man here, says he wants to talk to you. Should we let him in?"

"Hmm…is he tall and strongly built?"

"I suppose so, yes. Although – "

The voice was suddenly cut off. A moan followed.

"What the…!" exclaimed Marik.

Isis grabbed Mokuba's shoulder and pulled him into a corner. She mouthed the word "hide."

Marik's murmured and muttered. He turned over in his chair.

"Isis?!" he hissed, seeing his sister and Mokuba. "You – "

Suddenly, a door in the back slammed open. Standing in the doorway was none other than Seto Kaiba. Marik, astonished, jumped up from his chair. He noticed the silver crown on top of Seto's head and the silver sword in his hand.

"Kaiba! Where did you get those?" screamed Marik. With a sweep of his hand, he thrust his Millennium Rod toward Seto. A golden jet spurred out. Seto instantly blocked it with his sword. He was unscratched.

"Damn you, Kaiba! I cannot believe that such a puny man such as you could…could – "

Seto ignored Marik's comments. He twirled his sword around with his fingers and charged at Marik. Trying to absorb the power from the crown, he muttered, "Marik, release your Rod and lie down…"

For a second, Marik's eyes grew into the same dullness as Mr. Kenton's had, but a second later, he laughed and was back to normal. Seto panicked but quickly wrapped his arm around Marik's neck, with the edge of his sword pressed against the flesh.

"Marik," Seto whispered angrily. "You have caused me so much stress and anger. But that will end today. Now."

"Wait," murmured a small voice. Isis appeared out of her hiding place. "If you kill him, you'll kill me."

"What…?"

"We share a strong bond. Death to one of us means death to us both."

Seto's grip loosened, but he refused to let go.

"Kill him, Seto. It's ok. We've lived long enough." Isis managed a smile. "Do it, Seto. If you don't, he'll kill you."

Seto's emotions overcame his actions. Fear, horror, and dread filled his senses. He dropped the sword.

In an instant, Marik was on top of him. His Rod was raised high above Seto's body. Marik snickered his high-pitched laugh.

"You idiot. Yes, it will end today, Kaiba. Now."

The Rod was plunged down toward Seto's chest. But Marik suddenly collapsed.

Dazed, Seto sat up and looked around. Isis's body lay crumpled in front of him; blood trickled from her sides. She had stabbed herself. Seto crawled toward her, his limbs functioning wildly.

"Isis…how could you?" he lifted her face from the ground. He knew she was dead. "Why would you…how could you…?" He felt her body over. Warmth still radiated from it.

"Seto."

Seto whipped around and realized it was only Mokuba.

Mokuba.

In a flash, Seto had grabbed his little brother in a fierce hug. Tears erupted down his face. Here was the reason he had been on this journey. Had he succeeded?

"I'm sorry, Seto."

Seto stared into his brother's eyes.

"So am I, but it's ok."

"Can we go home now?"

Seto looked back at Isis and tenderly placed Mokuba down on the ground. He walked over to Isis's body.

"Isis, you didn't have to do that, you know? Death wouldn't have been that bad. But you did. You gave up your life for me. Here, take this." Seto took out the little silver heart that Mr. Motto had given him. "You can make anyone fall in love with you. Not that you need it, of course. But anyway, I'd always hoped you loved me, because I love you. Guess I'll never find out, huh? But you died for me, and that's enough for now."

He kissed Isis softly on her lips. Then he walked away.

"Let's go home, Mokuba."

~`THE END`~

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I guess that's the end…sry I made it so depressing (well it wasn't that depressing but she did die). its late so ill revise the whole story later and maybe fix all the mistakes.

wow I actually finished a fanfic. I thought id just keep writing on and on.

R&R!

~dxdevlin

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