"Mokuba, what are you doing here?" My brother demanded.
My eyes filled with tears at the sight of him, tied to by his wrists to the wall. "I . .. .wanted to be with you. " I said. "We can get through this if we're together." I ran over to him.
"No! Stay back!" Too late; I am captured by the stilmulation of the Witty Phamtom card. Soon Seto defeated him, then we have what I've always called, "family hug." Even though it embarasses him. I can tell.
I irgnored the lazy, raspy voice that has been in my head for a while now. I ignored it as much as I could. "Mokuba, who did you call for help?" I suddenly snapped to attention as Seto was asking me a question.
Then I stared down, because I knew he was going to hate the answer. " . . .. Y-yugi Motoh."
"Why didn't you ask someone else?!" I hid my wince.
"I-I didn't know who else to call," I said desperately. "who else should I've called?"
"Anyone else!" Seto abruptly got up; the cue for me to follow him. I do so, jogging to keep up with his longer stride. "Now I have to get us out of here."
Inside my head, I tried to ignore the horrible laughter from inside my own head. I can't tell my older brother about it because-- he wouldn't believe you anyway. The laughter grew louder. You don't want to shame him with a crazy younger brother, do you? Do you!?
I grabbed my head to make him stop and Seto stared strangely at me. The evil guy--- whoever he was, he wouldn't tell me his name--- that controls my body threatened to slit my brother's throat while he slept at night if I ever told anyone about him. I couldn't risk any harm, even though he might be lying.
I don't lie.
For now, I knew I had to keep him a secret. For now. He is right; Seto doesn't believe in magic or ghosts. He would probably send me back to a psychologist. That would only make things worse. So, just for now, I would ignore him. Meantime, I'd make sure that he doesn't go back on his word.
***** Later, in Kaiba Land *******
Still, I knew who could help me with my problem. Before, I had noticed that Yugi Motoh always changed during a battle or a duel. Actually, I noticed that right from the start, when I first met him. He'd be the first one to understand my problem, and possibly help me. Though Seto would be angry again if he'd known. But I was desperate..
Today, he came to our own personal game world, Kaiba Land, to battle against some little girl with a dolly. I'm supposed to be waiting quietly in the lobby, with only Roland for company. He is sitting behind a desk, filled with TV monitors. His job, among others, is to supervise every room of Kaiba Land. That runt can't help you, says the Evil Guy Inside my Head. He'll say you're nuts, then knock you out! Ha ha ha!.
No he won't! I walked casually around the big metal desk, looking for the one that is taping Yugi's duel with the little girl. .
"Mr. Kaiba told you to stay put," Roland said to me. He is a good guy, with a family of four kids. To me, that seems like a lot. "Scoot, squirt.".
I pointed to a tall stack of envelopes. "You'd better get these to the post office. The bank closes at five.".
Roland looked at his watch and muttered a curse word. "I mean, whoops," he said, as he got up. "Keep an eye on things for me, okay? I'll be back soon."
I didn't get his last words because he was already halfway to the limos. Sufficient, dependable Roland. I quickly tapped on the keyboards to make the screens change, looking for Yugi's duel. It was a good thing there were four cameras in that room. He only appeared in one. I studied him. No, he wasn't changed . . . .. that was weird. The little girl kept laughing and taunting him too. He looked angry, but I knew.
See I tooold yooooouu . . . The guy wearing my face appeared next to me. He had my hairstyle and clothes, but his hair was a shocking white, like an old man's..
His--my eyes-- narrowed slightly, I forgot that he could read my mind somehow.. Who are you calling an old man? You should on your knees for---.
On and on; I've heard it all before; it seemed a million times, even though it have been only two weeks or so. Why do grownups always do that? Plus, his eyes were a hard brown color, while mine were blue. I wonder--- he disappeared and I looked quickly back at the screen; the duel was finishing. Yugi had lost..
Strangely, that didn't get to me as it would've from Before. I guess, I realized with some sorrow, that being kidnapped, having your soul ripped out, then going back only to have some weirdo control your body, does that. It could've been worse. I should be lucky to see Seto again. The other stuff didn't matter as much..
I was so deep in my thoughts that that screen went blank. I got up and hurried to the door, wanting to catch Yugi before he left with his friends. And nearly crashed into Roland coming back. "Hey sport, where are you going in such a hurry? Mr. Kaiba says to take you home right now.".
"Um, to the bathroom.".
"Oh. Well, hurry up." He awkwardly stepped aside to let me through. I ran toward Staduim Five, but it was empty. I was too late..
***** Later, at home ********.
I brooded on my stupidness alone in my room. Playing my twenty five hundred collection of video games didn't seem to cheer me up. The Weirdo would go into some strange 'mind room', as he calls it, and plot and plan all day. I didn't know what. I didn't think that I wanted to know. I was glad he left me alone most of the time.
Seto was in what he called his office, thought it was as big as a lab really. I stopped by his closed door, and hesistated. I didn't want Weirdo to get anywhere near my brother. .
But I needed to see him. I pressed my hand into the hand scan, and the door slipped open with a whoosh..
"Hello, Mokuba. What do you want?" He called without looking up from the computer screen. I waited until he turned to me..
"W- what are you working on now, Seto?" I stalled, shifting foot to foot..
He turned back. "I'm going to host a new duel monsters tournament soon, by my own rules. Right now," he said, pointing at a number on the screen, "I'm designing a new prototype for my duel disc, so they'll be ready for use.".
I was fascinated. "Wow . . .. a brand new tournament . .. . but why?".
"It's a good way to advertise my designs and . .. . . " he plucked a card from his hand, "to get the God cards.".
"What are those, big brother?".
"The most powerful cards of duel monster history," he answered reverently, staring at it. .
"Oh I get it. You're hoping that other people in the tournament'll have them so you can get them." I summarized. "Is that one? Can I see it, please, big brother?".
"Okay but be very careful, Mokuba. Just for a second." I stared admiringly at the blue card. It had stars out of the wazoo. It glinted; there was some sparkly stuff on it. Seto is watching us both. I felt my fingers tighten slightly..
Very nice. Would you like to have it, Mokuba?.
The Weirdo doesn't know how much I wish Seto would say that to me. Even though I don't play too often. Oh . . . . I know . . . .. and I think I'll steal it from you! Won't he be surprised?.
My brother plucked the card back and held it up. "With this card, I plan to possess it's brothers." I know he means the other two. "And then . . . ." he continues darkly, "I'll beat that yuppie Motoh . Now run along and tell Cook to fix us dinner. I have to stay all night working, so you'll eat with Godfrey and Pilar. That okay?" he said absently. Tik tik tik went the keyboard..
"Fine. I'm going over to Tommy's house to play.".
"You can't. It's too dark now." .
I mumble okay and leave, shuffling my feet, scruffing my shoes in the wide hallway. I have get help now, I thought to myself. That card means the world to Seto. I can't take it away from him. I gotta get help.
The front door is heavily guraded by God frey, our butler, but I'm not planning to use that way. Instead I slipped into my room, and climb out the window. My room is on the fourth story, but there is a tall pine tree right outside. I knew I shouldn't make Seto worry, but I had to help myself. As he always said, "The only person who can help you most is you.".
It was getting pretty dark outside, but it was too late. I might as well get through it, I thought. Yugi wouldn't tell if I'd asked him not to. And if he did, well . . .. I was fresh out of ideas..
I never minded having a little adventure, anyway. The damp smell of rain was sharp in my nose, as I hurried down the street. I had my big heavy jacket on, so I don't hink anybody recognized me. That was a good thing, because I didn't want our reputation shamed by my problem. I had no idea what he wanted from me, he wouldn't say..
I paused to catch my breath, and looked around, trying not to panic. I was lost; I thought that this was the way, but nothing looked familiar. Then I spotted a nearby high school and started jogging towards it..
At least it was familiar . . . .let's see . . .turn right here . . . . .Now I remembered! And it wasn't too far, either. Suddenly desperate, I began to sprint. Bad idea. Now I had a stitch on my side..
"Mokuba. .. .?" A soft voice made me turn towards a tall boy standing behind me with a gray raincoat on, with a hat that hid most of his face. But he looked vaguely familiar. One of Yugi's friends. Oh yeah! That pale, shy boy, with strange white hair. From somewhere far off .. . .England, that was it! His dark gaze was unblinking; he looked shocked even more so than usual. .. ..
"That's you in there, .isn't it!" he said in a strange, thoughtful voice. What was he talking about?.He was weird, t---
Then, all of the sudden my vision started to fade into black; that meant that Weirdo wanting to control me and I was helpless to stop him. I hoped he wouldn't kill him. . . .. .
TBC.
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