Blue Eyes: Warning, this promises to be very angsty and violent.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the cannon characters, but I do own the robed man and his 'associate'.
All That's left is Shadow
Chapter One
Shadow Born
He could feel his heart breaking. Every fiber of his being just decided to give out on him at once, and he fell to his knees, his breath coming out in ragged gasps.
No. This couldn't be . . . he wouldn't let it be. There had to be something he could do . . . Mokuba couldn't be dead.
Seto would've given his life for his baby brother. Anything, everything, had always been for him. There had been so much darkness in Seto's life, so much pain that he'd shut everything else out for his own protection. The only thing that had forced him to continue to get up every morning after his parents' deaths, his step-father's constant abuse to 'make him strong', the constant lies and deceit within his supposed safe haven, his company, and finally the whole ordeal with Pegasus, had been Mokuba. The child was his light, his joy, his hopes, his dreams . . .
He shouldn't be thinking about this now. He had to do something. The men who had done this were still there, laughing hysterically. He should get up, kill them for what they'd done to the innocent child . . . he had to fight back.
But Seto couldn't find the strength to stand, couldn't see the point in killing these men, couldn't see the point in fighting. He was so tired of struggling, for as long as he could remember that was all he had ever done. He couldn't anymore. Nothing he did would bring Mokuba back.
His reason for fighting was gone.
Nothing was important now, he just wanted to rest. He wanted to curl up next to his brother's lifeless body and finally get some peace.
He needed Mokuba.
Moving one hand slowly, trying to control the violent shaking of his fingers, Seto reached out and touched Mokuba's rapidly cooling hand. How could he be gone so fast? Ripped from life with no chance for closure, no chance for a goodbye. There had been no time to tell him he loved him once more, to hug him, to hear his untaintable laughter.
'Seto, help!' Just the fear, and then he was gone.
Seto couldn't take it. Mokuba was his essence. He was a mere shadow without him.
Darkness seemed to move forward, shrouding Mokuba's angelic form, and it took Seto in his dazed state a moment to recognize it as the shadow of the man who stood towering over him. Darkness over Mokuba. The light was gone, all that was left was darkness.
The mocking voice came again, this time harsh in Seto's ears, but he continued to watch the shadows drifting over his dead brother, paying no heed.
"What's wrong Seto?" It questioned gloatingly, "Where's your know it all attitude now? I've released you from your chains, you can attack me any time you want, like you told me only moments ago that you would."
Seto didn't do so much as blink. The man crouched next to Seto, looking at him with false sympathy.
"An awful shame about Mokuba. Such a sweet boy. And if it wasn't for your pride he'd still be alive you know. We wouldn't have been forced to do this to get your cooperation. It's your fault he's dead you know." Reaching our he roughly wiped a tear from Seto's face . . . wait, when had those begun to fall? The teen hadn't the faintest idea, but they continued to fall at an ever-increasing rate, the only movement in his otherwise stone still form. Seto didn't flinch at the man's touch. Why bother? Let them do what they wanted to him, nothing mattered anymore.
Nothing.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Joey watched Kaiba's collapse in silent disbelief. How had those bastards do that? They'd kidnapped all four of them, himself, Kaiba, Yugi, and Tea after school and killed Mokuba just to get Kaiba to agree to their stupid deal. Was KaibaCorp really worth that much? How could they take Mokuba's life so lightly?
But Kaiba definitely wouldn't agree to anything people who killed Mokuba had to say . . . right? Any second now he'd be dragging himself to his feet and beating the crap out of that robed guy and his associate with the knife. He knew if someone had killed Serenity that's what he'd do.
Yet Kaiba continued to sit there, silent tears streaming down his face, even when the robed creep came over to gloat about Mokuba's death, and Joey began to realize the real difference between himself and Kaiba.
While he would be devastated if he lost Serenity, he'd have friends to support him, to help him through his grief. Mokuba had been Kaiba's only support, and now he was gone.
Kaiba had nothing left to fight for.
*~*~*~*~*~*
'Just let him leave me alone, let me rest. I need to go to sleep, get away from this nightmare for a while.'
Suddenly the man's mocking voice was cut off by a shout from a most unexpected source.
"Come on Kaiba, you can't let that guy have his way!" Seto's thoughts of rest had been interrupted by none other than Joey Wheeler.
"Quiet you fool. You'll have your turn soon enough!" The man promised, before turning back to Seto.
"Now, will you continue to fight us on this?"
'Will he be quiet if I agree? Will he take KaibaCorp and leave me alone and let me sleep with my brother?'
After an endless moment Seto shook his head. No more fighting. Give them what they want and they'll go away. The man seemed unhappy with his response, however, as he frowned, but he was once again interrupted by the blonde haired boy who was still chained to the wall.
"Kaiba, ya've gotta fight him, for Mokuba's sake! This is his killer, ya can't help him out!" Joining his voice this time was Tea's, with a shout of,
"You can't give up!"
The cloaked man stood up, and spun to face the others.
"Don't you see, he already has. Because of him Mokuba is dead. He always tries, but it's never good enough, is it? He lost his brother's soul to Pegasus, and his life to me. A miserable failure all in all. Why not give up? In fact, Yugi Mouto, why don't you just give up your Millennium Puzzle right now instead of putting up a fight like Seto here? You have the advantage, you know. You are aware of how serious I am, what lengths I will go to , to obtain what I desire. Do you really want your friends to die like my associate killed Seto's brother? Do you want to be reduced to what he is? You will be if you refuse.
"Your choice, give up or don't. I'll be honest, I hope you don't, it'll be fun."
Seto was hardly listening. The Millennium Puzzle? It was confusing, it was easier just to sit here. No screaming, no fighting, not even the hysterical laughter that seems to overcome distraught people in those horror movies Mokuba used to love. Nothing could reach him anymore. Mokuba had been his last link to humanity. Nothing could fill the emptiness inside now. Just the tears, his last goodbye.
Moving his shaking hand from Mokuba's now ice cold one he reached up to close the boy's shocked looking eyes, letting him sleep, like Seto wanted to do. Seto would get his wish. As Mokuba's eyes closed that final time something seemed to die inside of him. The tears stopped flowing. Seto had died along with his brother.
Only Kaiba remained, a heartless shell, and as his gaze left Mokuba and turned to the robed man he smirked.
Seto may have been destroyed, but Kaiba was open to revenge.
The cloaked man was still gloating over his supposed victory, which now only served to infuriate Kaiba. How dare he mock him? Luckily for Kaiba however, the man's underestimation of him meant that he was paying no attention whatsoever to the teen. Neither was his right hand man, the one gripping the still bloodied knife. Kaiba glanced at him. He was too busy nodding along with his boss and smirking to be watching the 'broken' CEO.
He had to move fast.
Slowly, so no one would notice, he moved his hands down to rest on the floor.
"Not ready to give it up? Come now Yugi, I'm giving you a fair chance here, I don't want my associate to have to . . .dispose of your friends as well."
Without warning Kaiba kicked out his right leg and spun, knocking the so- called associate off of his feet. Before he could even begin to move Kaiba was on top of him, punching him over and over again, releasing his pent up rage with every blow onto the man's rapidly purpling face.
When he saw that the man was unconscious, which only took several seconds at the level of rage that Kaiba had reached, he grabbed the knife from the man's limp grip and spun to face the robed man, who seemed frozen in shock.
Finally he spun, and began to run, but didn't get very far.
Tea screamed as the man fell, dagger embedded in his left leg.
Kaiba smirked and strolled over to the writhing man.
"Suppose all that time playing darts has finally paid off." He said calmly, leaning over next to him, and roughly pulling out the knife, causing the robed man to scream. Kneeling next to him he asked in mock sympathy,
"That must hurt, huh? Not as fun now that you're on the receiving end, is it?"
The man was sobbing already . . .pathetic. Kaiba had hoped for more out of him, but what had he expected from a pawn such as this?
Rolling the man over onto his back Kaiba held the blood soaked blade to his throat.
"Here me now. You have caused the death of my brother, so I will have no problem driving this blade into your windpipe and watching you suffocate to death. Unfortunately, then you will be unable to give me information, which is what I require of you. Now tell me, who is your leader?"
The robed man sputtered incoherently, then finally stammered.
"I-I am the leader!"
Without pausing for a second Kaiba grabbed the man's right hand and dug the dagger into it.
Somehow the man's screams and curses did not crown out Kaiba's cold, calculating voice.
"Wrong answer. You've mistaken me for a weakling and we've seen how that played out. Do you really wish to mistaken me for a fool as well?
"There is no way that you would be able to think this situation up, nor would any leader able to get this far have the idiocy to show up here with only one guard present and risk the whole operation. Now, you still have one good hand, I could keep going, or you could tell me what I want to know." He smirked, and mimicked,
"I'll be honest, I hope you don't, it'll be fun."
"Oh, Gods.' he heard Joey mutter in disgust. Kaiba didn't spare a second thought for him however, and concentrated on the worthless man in front of him. his hood had fallen down during his writhing, and his face was tearstained.
"You're insane." He whispered. Kaiba considered.
"Quite possibly. But I'm giving you a lesson now, and you should pay attention. Death doesn't seem so funny hewn you're being threatened, does it? You found it so amusing when Mokuba died, why aren't you laughing now? I'm finding your whimpering quite amusing. You killed my brother, and for that you will die. An eye for an eye, that's sensible, right? But as you probably well know, my brother is far more of a person than you will ever be, and I doubt one hundred of your deaths could fully repay for his one. I will find your leader, and I will kill him as well, whether you help me or not. The only choice you have to make is how easily you die."
"Kaiba!" Yugi shouted. The teen was in grief, but this was seriously sick.
"You made the mistake of trying to take me on, and now you will pay for it."
The man had had enough, for Kaiba was waving his blade dangerously close to his eye.
"Ok, I'll tell you, you psycho! It was never supposed to happen this way! We were supposed to get you mad, get you wanting revenge, yeah, but not like this! The leader . . . he's someone you know very well but have never met. He told me to say that if you asked. He wears a purple cloak like mine, and . . . and this golden rod thing he never puts down. He says his name is Seth, but his oldest followers call him 'Master Marik'. I . . . I don't know anymore. Please, have mercy."
Kaiba smiled.
"Alright, since you've been so accommodating, I'll be merciful."
Then Kaiba swiftly drew up his blade and plunged it into the man's heart. Then he promptly stood to leave.
Tea shrieked, horror stricken.
"I thought you were going to be merciful!" Kaiba shrugged.
"I was. I really wanted to try that thing with the windpipe."
And then he turned and left.
*~*~*~*~*~*
TBC
*~*~*~*~*~*
Blue Eyes: This was inspired by some very evil muses and a lot of disturbed music. Please review, criticism is welcome as long as it's constructive. I warned you up top that it would be violent.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the cannon characters, but I do own the robed man and his 'associate'.
All That's left is Shadow
Chapter One
Shadow Born
He could feel his heart breaking. Every fiber of his being just decided to give out on him at once, and he fell to his knees, his breath coming out in ragged gasps.
No. This couldn't be . . . he wouldn't let it be. There had to be something he could do . . . Mokuba couldn't be dead.
Seto would've given his life for his baby brother. Anything, everything, had always been for him. There had been so much darkness in Seto's life, so much pain that he'd shut everything else out for his own protection. The only thing that had forced him to continue to get up every morning after his parents' deaths, his step-father's constant abuse to 'make him strong', the constant lies and deceit within his supposed safe haven, his company, and finally the whole ordeal with Pegasus, had been Mokuba. The child was his light, his joy, his hopes, his dreams . . .
He shouldn't be thinking about this now. He had to do something. The men who had done this were still there, laughing hysterically. He should get up, kill them for what they'd done to the innocent child . . . he had to fight back.
But Seto couldn't find the strength to stand, couldn't see the point in killing these men, couldn't see the point in fighting. He was so tired of struggling, for as long as he could remember that was all he had ever done. He couldn't anymore. Nothing he did would bring Mokuba back.
His reason for fighting was gone.
Nothing was important now, he just wanted to rest. He wanted to curl up next to his brother's lifeless body and finally get some peace.
He needed Mokuba.
Moving one hand slowly, trying to control the violent shaking of his fingers, Seto reached out and touched Mokuba's rapidly cooling hand. How could he be gone so fast? Ripped from life with no chance for closure, no chance for a goodbye. There had been no time to tell him he loved him once more, to hug him, to hear his untaintable laughter.
'Seto, help!' Just the fear, and then he was gone.
Seto couldn't take it. Mokuba was his essence. He was a mere shadow without him.
Darkness seemed to move forward, shrouding Mokuba's angelic form, and it took Seto in his dazed state a moment to recognize it as the shadow of the man who stood towering over him. Darkness over Mokuba. The light was gone, all that was left was darkness.
The mocking voice came again, this time harsh in Seto's ears, but he continued to watch the shadows drifting over his dead brother, paying no heed.
"What's wrong Seto?" It questioned gloatingly, "Where's your know it all attitude now? I've released you from your chains, you can attack me any time you want, like you told me only moments ago that you would."
Seto didn't do so much as blink. The man crouched next to Seto, looking at him with false sympathy.
"An awful shame about Mokuba. Such a sweet boy. And if it wasn't for your pride he'd still be alive you know. We wouldn't have been forced to do this to get your cooperation. It's your fault he's dead you know." Reaching our he roughly wiped a tear from Seto's face . . . wait, when had those begun to fall? The teen hadn't the faintest idea, but they continued to fall at an ever-increasing rate, the only movement in his otherwise stone still form. Seto didn't flinch at the man's touch. Why bother? Let them do what they wanted to him, nothing mattered anymore.
Nothing.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Joey watched Kaiba's collapse in silent disbelief. How had those bastards do that? They'd kidnapped all four of them, himself, Kaiba, Yugi, and Tea after school and killed Mokuba just to get Kaiba to agree to their stupid deal. Was KaibaCorp really worth that much? How could they take Mokuba's life so lightly?
But Kaiba definitely wouldn't agree to anything people who killed Mokuba had to say . . . right? Any second now he'd be dragging himself to his feet and beating the crap out of that robed guy and his associate with the knife. He knew if someone had killed Serenity that's what he'd do.
Yet Kaiba continued to sit there, silent tears streaming down his face, even when the robed creep came over to gloat about Mokuba's death, and Joey began to realize the real difference between himself and Kaiba.
While he would be devastated if he lost Serenity, he'd have friends to support him, to help him through his grief. Mokuba had been Kaiba's only support, and now he was gone.
Kaiba had nothing left to fight for.
*~*~*~*~*~*
'Just let him leave me alone, let me rest. I need to go to sleep, get away from this nightmare for a while.'
Suddenly the man's mocking voice was cut off by a shout from a most unexpected source.
"Come on Kaiba, you can't let that guy have his way!" Seto's thoughts of rest had been interrupted by none other than Joey Wheeler.
"Quiet you fool. You'll have your turn soon enough!" The man promised, before turning back to Seto.
"Now, will you continue to fight us on this?"
'Will he be quiet if I agree? Will he take KaibaCorp and leave me alone and let me sleep with my brother?'
After an endless moment Seto shook his head. No more fighting. Give them what they want and they'll go away. The man seemed unhappy with his response, however, as he frowned, but he was once again interrupted by the blonde haired boy who was still chained to the wall.
"Kaiba, ya've gotta fight him, for Mokuba's sake! This is his killer, ya can't help him out!" Joining his voice this time was Tea's, with a shout of,
"You can't give up!"
The cloaked man stood up, and spun to face the others.
"Don't you see, he already has. Because of him Mokuba is dead. He always tries, but it's never good enough, is it? He lost his brother's soul to Pegasus, and his life to me. A miserable failure all in all. Why not give up? In fact, Yugi Mouto, why don't you just give up your Millennium Puzzle right now instead of putting up a fight like Seto here? You have the advantage, you know. You are aware of how serious I am, what lengths I will go to , to obtain what I desire. Do you really want your friends to die like my associate killed Seto's brother? Do you want to be reduced to what he is? You will be if you refuse.
"Your choice, give up or don't. I'll be honest, I hope you don't, it'll be fun."
Seto was hardly listening. The Millennium Puzzle? It was confusing, it was easier just to sit here. No screaming, no fighting, not even the hysterical laughter that seems to overcome distraught people in those horror movies Mokuba used to love. Nothing could reach him anymore. Mokuba had been his last link to humanity. Nothing could fill the emptiness inside now. Just the tears, his last goodbye.
Moving his shaking hand from Mokuba's now ice cold one he reached up to close the boy's shocked looking eyes, letting him sleep, like Seto wanted to do. Seto would get his wish. As Mokuba's eyes closed that final time something seemed to die inside of him. The tears stopped flowing. Seto had died along with his brother.
Only Kaiba remained, a heartless shell, and as his gaze left Mokuba and turned to the robed man he smirked.
Seto may have been destroyed, but Kaiba was open to revenge.
The cloaked man was still gloating over his supposed victory, which now only served to infuriate Kaiba. How dare he mock him? Luckily for Kaiba however, the man's underestimation of him meant that he was paying no attention whatsoever to the teen. Neither was his right hand man, the one gripping the still bloodied knife. Kaiba glanced at him. He was too busy nodding along with his boss and smirking to be watching the 'broken' CEO.
He had to move fast.
Slowly, so no one would notice, he moved his hands down to rest on the floor.
"Not ready to give it up? Come now Yugi, I'm giving you a fair chance here, I don't want my associate to have to . . .dispose of your friends as well."
Without warning Kaiba kicked out his right leg and spun, knocking the so- called associate off of his feet. Before he could even begin to move Kaiba was on top of him, punching him over and over again, releasing his pent up rage with every blow onto the man's rapidly purpling face.
When he saw that the man was unconscious, which only took several seconds at the level of rage that Kaiba had reached, he grabbed the knife from the man's limp grip and spun to face the robed man, who seemed frozen in shock.
Finally he spun, and began to run, but didn't get very far.
Tea screamed as the man fell, dagger embedded in his left leg.
Kaiba smirked and strolled over to the writhing man.
"Suppose all that time playing darts has finally paid off." He said calmly, leaning over next to him, and roughly pulling out the knife, causing the robed man to scream. Kneeling next to him he asked in mock sympathy,
"That must hurt, huh? Not as fun now that you're on the receiving end, is it?"
The man was sobbing already . . .pathetic. Kaiba had hoped for more out of him, but what had he expected from a pawn such as this?
Rolling the man over onto his back Kaiba held the blood soaked blade to his throat.
"Here me now. You have caused the death of my brother, so I will have no problem driving this blade into your windpipe and watching you suffocate to death. Unfortunately, then you will be unable to give me information, which is what I require of you. Now tell me, who is your leader?"
The robed man sputtered incoherently, then finally stammered.
"I-I am the leader!"
Without pausing for a second Kaiba grabbed the man's right hand and dug the dagger into it.
Somehow the man's screams and curses did not crown out Kaiba's cold, calculating voice.
"Wrong answer. You've mistaken me for a weakling and we've seen how that played out. Do you really wish to mistaken me for a fool as well?
"There is no way that you would be able to think this situation up, nor would any leader able to get this far have the idiocy to show up here with only one guard present and risk the whole operation. Now, you still have one good hand, I could keep going, or you could tell me what I want to know." He smirked, and mimicked,
"I'll be honest, I hope you don't, it'll be fun."
"Oh, Gods.' he heard Joey mutter in disgust. Kaiba didn't spare a second thought for him however, and concentrated on the worthless man in front of him. his hood had fallen down during his writhing, and his face was tearstained.
"You're insane." He whispered. Kaiba considered.
"Quite possibly. But I'm giving you a lesson now, and you should pay attention. Death doesn't seem so funny hewn you're being threatened, does it? You found it so amusing when Mokuba died, why aren't you laughing now? I'm finding your whimpering quite amusing. You killed my brother, and for that you will die. An eye for an eye, that's sensible, right? But as you probably well know, my brother is far more of a person than you will ever be, and I doubt one hundred of your deaths could fully repay for his one. I will find your leader, and I will kill him as well, whether you help me or not. The only choice you have to make is how easily you die."
"Kaiba!" Yugi shouted. The teen was in grief, but this was seriously sick.
"You made the mistake of trying to take me on, and now you will pay for it."
The man had had enough, for Kaiba was waving his blade dangerously close to his eye.
"Ok, I'll tell you, you psycho! It was never supposed to happen this way! We were supposed to get you mad, get you wanting revenge, yeah, but not like this! The leader . . . he's someone you know very well but have never met. He told me to say that if you asked. He wears a purple cloak like mine, and . . . and this golden rod thing he never puts down. He says his name is Seth, but his oldest followers call him 'Master Marik'. I . . . I don't know anymore. Please, have mercy."
Kaiba smiled.
"Alright, since you've been so accommodating, I'll be merciful."
Then Kaiba swiftly drew up his blade and plunged it into the man's heart. Then he promptly stood to leave.
Tea shrieked, horror stricken.
"I thought you were going to be merciful!" Kaiba shrugged.
"I was. I really wanted to try that thing with the windpipe."
And then he turned and left.
*~*~*~*~*~*
TBC
*~*~*~*~*~*
Blue Eyes: This was inspired by some very evil muses and a lot of disturbed music. Please review, criticism is welcome as long as it's constructive. I warned you up top that it would be violent.