STORY ARC TWO: THE PARTING OF LOST SOULS

Chapter Three: The Date at Death's Door

"Damn it!" Kaiba said through gritted teeth as he paced back and forth in his room. He then threw himself on his bed and stared at the stucco ceiling , his irate gaze seemingly able to burn a hole through the ceiling.

"What the hell have I been thinking? She'll always think of Yugi. The longer time passes by, the more I feel like I'm walking in someone else's skin...especially when she's around..."

Kaiba then sat up by the foot of his bed, sighed, and cracked his knuckles as he pondered, "This is just not like me. It's such a huge mistake to like her. The sooner these five days go by, the sooner she'll leave us alone."

--------------

Throngs of anticipating fans waited in droves to enter the Radio City Music Hall. The tickets for Alexa's concert were completely sold out months ago.

Emrys, Mokuba, and Kaiba waited inside her dressing room. Thirty minutes from now and it was show time.

"You'll knock them dead just like you did at Domino," the younger Kaiba said as Emrys paced back and forth.

"I'm just a nervous wreck for some reason. I don't know why," Emrys responded with pursed lips as she sat down on the sofa and fidgeted in an uncustomary way. She was already dressed up for her first set. She wore a two-piece black skirt outfit with matching knee-length high-heeled boots. A red ruby accentuated her navel. Her wavy black hair was down.

"That's all there is...nerves," Kaiba scoffed. He was sitting on the opposite side of the sofa.

Emrys sighed and fidgeted. "I hope you guys are right..."

After someone knocked on the door, a masculine voice said, "Alexa - sound check was done. We also did an equipment check. Everything's a-okay."

Without standing up, Emrys replied, "That's good. I'll come out in twenty minutes."

"Just like how they say it in show business...break a leg, kid."

Emrys smiled and then said, "Thanks, John..."

As soon as John left, a puzzled Mokuba glanced at Emrys. "Why did that guy want you to break your leg?"

"Oh - that!" Emrys chuckled. "It's the customary way of saying 'good luck' to someone who is about to perform. They said that wishing someone who is about to perform on stage 'good luck' would bring bad luck instead."

Mokuba laughed as he scratched the back of his head.

Kaiba shook his head. "People still make room for such superstitious nonsense."

Emrys stared at Kaiba as she said, "Unbelievable, isn't it? Well, superstitions and such beliefs are part of any culture. This will always be the case no matter how much you try to deny its existence."

"Superstitious people are idiots. People control their destinies - not the other way around," an annoyed Kaiba retorted.

Emrys' gaze into Kaiba's sapphire eyes deepened. "I used to absolutely believe in what you just said, but I've learned that life is full of unusual surprises. You'll never know what life has in store for you..."

--------------------

The last stretch of Emrys' concert tour was another success. The Radio City Music Hall was packed with adoring fans. Just like in Domino City, the crowd was satisfied with her performance.

The Kaiba brothers, both seated in the first row, watched as if this was the first time for them to see Alexa in action. Kaiba's heart felt like surrendering to his fond emotions for her, but his old hardened heart prevailed even though Alexa gave such a heartfelt thank you and acknowledgement to him and Mokuba before her fans.

As the three of them agreed before parting ways, they reconvened in Emrys' dressing room. The brothers waited about ten minutes before the dressing room door opened.

"That was awesome!" Mokuba exclaimed as soon as Emrys stepped inside. "I told you that you'll knock them dead!"

"I guess you're right. There was nothing for me to worry about," Emrys replied with a warm and relieved smile. She then gave Mokuba a hug and then did the same for Kaiba as the CEO sat on the couch, only to have her hand brushed off. Although startled with Kaiba's gestures, she nonetheless ignored it as she saw Mokuba.

Emrys smiled once more, focusing on Mokuba. "I really thank you both for being out there with me."

"Wasn't she great tonight?" Mokuba then looked up at his older brother.

Kaiba did not reply, his anger smoldering quietly inside him as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Peeved with Kaiba's open display of irritation but nonetheless chose to ignore them once more for Mokuba's sake, Emrys said as she pointed at another door inside the dressing room, "I'm going to change. I'll be quick, since we still have an after-party to go to."

As soon as Emrys left to change her clothes, Mokuba stared at Kaiba. "Ni-sama, you've been like this all night. What's wrong?"

The elder sibling replied through clenched teeth, "Nothing's wrong."

"But -"

"There is no but, Mokuba. I'll just go out and get some air," the older Kaiba snapped as he got up from the couch and stormed out of the dressing room.

The boy ran towards the doorway. "Where are you going?"

"Out!" an irate Kaiba yelled as he walked towards the nearest exit.

Emrys, who changed quicker due to the commotion, joined Mokuba. With a scowl in her face, she inquired as she glanced sideways, "What in the bloody hell is going on with him?"

"I don't know," Mokuba worriedly murmured and then abruptly ran after his older brother.

Emrys followed suit. At first, she was unable to keep up with the young boy due to her high heels. She eventually took off her shoes and ran after Mokuba.

Once Kaiba reached the exit door, he pushed the bars with all his might. He flung the doors wide open to a usually open street that was barricaded for tonight's concert.

Then everything happened in the blink of an eye.

As soon as Kaiba stepped out into the street, bright and blinding lights from a waiting car came on. The driver, unable to be seen due to the intensity of the lights, stepped on the gas to run over Kaiba.

Mokuba impulsively dashed to join his brother.

Before the car hit the siblings, Emrys pushed Mokuba and Kaiba out of the way. She crashed against the car's windshield and then rolled into the pavement like a rag doll.

The car then reversed and sped off into the night.

This time, Kaiba's heart went to the pit of his stomach. Stupefied, he absentmindedly and tightly embraced a hysterically crying Mokuba just a few feet away from a bloody and unconscious Emrys.

Author's Note

Although this story arc stands independently from The Encounter of Lost Souls and There Will Come Soft Rain, the three stories are inter-connected. This fact will also apply to subsequent Yu-Gi-Oh fan fiction that I will post in the future.

Normal Disclaimer

Yu-Gi-Oh is the copyrighted property of Kazuki Takahashi. This fan fiction, as well as the original characters, is the author's property.

Enjoy reading!

Zatken