Chapter 10
Was it all just a dream? Or maybe just a nightmare. A LONG nightmare. I was walking along the street. I had dreamed that I was stuck in Yu-Gi-Oh, not only that but the fact that Daniel was still alive. I lived the next few days normally, nothing exciting happened, everyone was normal, no crazy killer after me. Just plain ordinary. In fact, I began to become depressed, like someone gets when they're homesick. What the heck is the matter with me?! People began to talk about me, oh well. On my way home one day I was walking on the sidewalk. I stared defiantly at the ground, my jacket slung over my back.
"Hikari? Are you alright?" A girl asked. I looked up, she was a classmate of mine, an outcast all the same. I stayed silent, the mask was in play. Walking up to my house I turned towards the door and gulped. My mom stood there, she was talking to someone. I couldn't believe it.
" . . . . . . . Dad?!" He turned to me.
"Hikari. Honey, are you alright?" I took a step back, he came towards me.
"What do you-?!" He smiled lightly, almost sadly.
"I . . . . . . . . want to say that I'm sorry. What happened to Daniel just kind of broke me down. I hope you can forgive me." His smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Liar." I spat and took another step back. He took a step forward.
"Hikari please."
"No! You abandoned me, if you really cared about me, you would have sent some sort of message to me. To let me know that you were at least still alive." He sighed.
"I just couldn't Hikari. Things built up on me." I took another step.
"They built up on me as well. So screw off." I took one more step. He smiled at me, there was something wrong with that smile, it seemed evil if you looked at it long enough. He stepped up and grabbed my wrist.
"Hikari. Come . . . . . . . . . . . . my queen . . . . . ." DIRE! I dug my fingers in the base of his nails, he yelped and let go. He changed back to normal shape, I swore.
"What are you doing here?!" I demanded. He smiled.
"You have to die. Now with no protector, you're all mine." I gaped, then ran. I turned around the corner. He walked out after me, smiling. Snapping his fingers, the shadows themselves rose to catch me and trip me.
'Like a nightmare!' I hissed, my fear was rising. This was exactly like some of my nightmares, except in those, I was in control, if I hated it, I could change it. This was reality. I was alone.
***
Nirvana was running down the street when fear slammed into him, the fear was so great that he was knocked over.
"Nirvana!" Damen yelled running up to him. Nirvana's face paled.
"Kari . . . . ." He stood up. Yami and friends came over.
"What is it?" Marick asked. Nirvana turned to him.
"Kari! Something's wrong. But she doesn't have the necklace anymore, I don't know how to find her!" Taia paled.
"You mean . . . ."
"Dire. He didn't give up did he?" a cold voice asked. All of them turned around.
"Bakura? What are you-?" Yami began. Bakura scowled.
"Listen, I'm here for one reason, to get revenge on that bastard. Either you help me, or get out of my way." He growled out. Marick eyed Bakura with interest.
"Well that's settled, all we need now is the high priest." Yami snorted.
"You know as well as I do that Seto will never help us." Marick shrugged. He turned to Bakura.
"Let's go, one more thing though . . . . . Yami? Where's the millennium necklace?" Yami stiffened.
~ Flashback ~
"Take it."
"I can't!"
"Please, it will at least help to protect you."
"I don't even know how to use it."
"That's never stopped me, or even Kaiba."
"*sigh* You're not going to leave me alone are you?"
"No. Take it, please . . . . ."
"Fine." And she took the necklace.
"Thank you Kari."
~ End ~
"I gave it Hikari." Marick surveyed him with interest then nodded.
"Let's go Bakura." Both left towards Kaiba Corp.
~!~
Absurd, why should I care what happens to that girl? Still . . . . . . . I couldn't get this feeling out of my system that something had happened to her. Suddenly something slammed into my mind.
*Help me . . . . .*
I spun around, help who? I saw someone, a girl, she was kneeling on the ground, knees were to her chest and she was crying.
"Who-?" She looked up. A girl, Hikari as a girl . . . . .
"Oh god . . ." I whispered. Her face was marked all over with blood. I saw her wrists, they were slit.
"Death is something I've always wanted. Till I came here. Meeting you all gave me the will to live for a few days. But . . . . . . . . I don't want to die anymore. Though, at the moment. I don't have a choice." Fear leapt to my throat.
"Kari?" She leaned up and kissed me on the cheek.
"Help her Seto." She whispered into my ear. "Help her . . . . . . . . . and help me." She vanished. I stared. I thought for a minute, then spun around and opened the top drawer. I knew what to do now. Grabbing my jacket I pulled it on. Turning to my desk, I hesitated for a second, then grabbed the millennium rod. Even if she was stupid, she had been right. I had no right to say what I did, but . . . . . never mind. Not important. I walked out the door right past an amazed Bakura and Marick.
"Hurry up you idiots." I growled at them. They looked at each other, then grinned and ran after me.
~~~
'Yami, Seto, Marick, ANYONE!!' I thought wildly. Running along the street I saw people on the sidewalk. Why weren't the helping me?! As I skidded around a corner, I nearly bashed my head into a man, looking up at him I froze. His eyes were dull. Controlled . . . . . . they were all being controlled. The man made a reach for my arms, I leap frogged over his head and ran on. How the hell did Dire get here?! It was absurd, this wasn't his world!! I ran on, my breath was coming harshly now. I couldn't keep going like this!! I growled my frustration and ran on. The school! It hit me suddenly, the two forms on the school grounds. They must've been someone dueling in the shadow realm! Probably Yami and Bakura! So following that information, I darted around the corner towards the school yard. There was a team practicing there, a football team. Shit, wouldn't you know it? Strong as I was, I doubt I could take on an entire team of hulking brutes. Nonetheless I burst out into the courtyard. A few looked at me.
"Hikari? What the hell?!" A voice demanded, I turned and saw the football coach looking at me, I gulped. He took a step forward and placed his hand on my shoulder gently. I slapped it away.
"Leave me alone!!" I yelled and took off. He gaped.
"Hikari!" He yelled, I ignored him. He ran after me. I skidded around a corner into a few girls and we went over in a tumbled heap. They looked at me annoyed.
"What the hell?!" I shut my eyes and thrashed out.
"Leave me alone!! Get off me!!" I yelled. They looked at me like I was crazy, part of their look was etched with fear.
"Hey-? You okay?" I stumbled to my feet, arms grabbed me from behind. I fought wildly.
"Hikari!! Calm down!!"
"He's coming!"
"Who?!"
"Dire!! He's coming to kill me!! Let go!!" I yelled out angrily. The coach turned me around.
"Look into my eyes Hikari." He ordered, I refused, experience with Bakura had taught me that much. I pulled, trying to break free. Nothing.
"Hikari!! Calm down!!" Suddenly I stopped, something had froze my mind. DIRE!! He was trying to control my mind, why hadn't he done it already? WAIT!! I reached into my pocket and pulled out the necklace. Of course!! My object blocked his powers. I pulled it to my face and stared at it. Then glared defiantly at him. I tied it around my neck and then backed away, his arms fell from my arms limply. He simply gaped, he wasn't controlled. Yet. Then Dire came around the corner, I've never been so scared as I have in that moment. I backed away, my whole body was trembling. He smiled at me. The coach turned.
"Who are you?" I ignored him. My back hit the school wall.
"Dire . . . . . . ." I whispered. "Leave me alone!!" I yelled. The coach looked at me, then turned to the boy.
"So you're the one who wants to kill her? Well I have a few things to say to you." He growled and walked up flexing his arms. I was too scared to warn him. Dire sighed and blew a bit of hair out of his face, then turned to the coach. He held one hand out, palm facing out. A strong gale flew towards us. It hit the coach straight on.
"I could control you, but I feel like killing something." I growled, that was the last straw! I walked forward and held an equally stern hand out, the gale hit it. I focused my mind, what had Marick said? Ignore everything except what you want to hear. So, let's focus. I shut my eyes, listen. What was that sound? It was like . . . . . . . water falling? Small drops fell. There was no water around here! I opened my eyes, the background had turned black, all I saw in front of me was a child kneeling by the water. He was sleeping, his back leaning against a stone water pump. The water was falling from the pump. Then everything turned normal again. All I heard was breathing. My own? No, this was calm, steady breathing. The breath of someone in control . . . . . . . . . . Dire?! Dire was the only thing I heard, slowly, I began to get everything Yami and the others had said.
'Keep your mind focused, the minute you let one stray thought into your head, is the minute everything goes haywire.' Marick scolded her. That small bruise on her head seemed to throb a bit.
'You know the saying, you take one day off, then it's two, then three and so on.' Joey and Tristan lectured. She saw their grinning faces.
'You'd do better if you had the sword in your hand instead of on the ground Hikari.' Nirvana said smirking.
'Dodge the spell, then fire one. It's a never ending pattern, attack, defend, attack, defend. Simple isn't it? Then you can go into all sorts of complex patterns, like attack defend, defend, then attack, attack and so on.' Yami declared to her.
'Duel monsters isn't really about the strongest cards, but more of your strategy.' Yu-Gi said grinning.
'Don't worry, it doesn't matter where you end up, it's how you got there that counts!' Taia said cheerfully.
'I promise to protect you. Forever.' She stared ahead, defiant.
'Forever, till the ends of the earth.' Kaiba . . . . . . . Seto. My eyes snapped to life.
SETO!
***
Kaiba walked behind Yami and friends, they were looking for Hikari, but had no idea where to start. Seto sighed. He felt so . . . . . . . . . stupid! How could he have done that?! How could he have said that to her? Shade refused to talk to him. Nirvana, didn't even look at him. Taia shot him cold and scathing glares, while Tristan had to hold Joey back every so often so that Seto would remain intact, despite Kaiba's strength, Joey, in rage could kill. Yu-Gi and Yami ignored him as usual. Bakura was getting impatient.
"Where is SHE?!" He demanded. Yami turned to him.
"I told you, I don't know."
"Then why the hell are we walking around?! We have to get some sort of clue." Seto growled out. Mokubah ran up.
"Anything?" Seto asked. Mokubah shook his head.
"Nothing, we did a whole search of the city and she didn't turn up anywhere." He sighed. "I don't think we'll ever find her."
~~~
Life is meant to be lived. Death is the inevitable that comes at the end of life. Both go hand in hand. However, while I live. I want to live with the one I care for. Seto, I was the naïve one here. I ignored what I felt for you from the beginning. Now, I chose to accept what I feel. Seto . . . . . . .
I love you.
***
'I love you.' The words rang clear in Seto's mind. He spun around.
"What the-?!"
(A/N: Parallel talking here folks, things will get confusing.)
'I'm waiting.'
'For who?'
'For you Seto. I'll be here.'
'Why?'
'I'm waiting for you. Come and save me, like you did 5000 years ago.' Seto's eyes went hollow.
'I couldn't save you then, and I can't now.'
'You did not believe in what we had. You do now. Seto, please. I'm asking for your help.' Seto suddenly turned off the street. Yami and the others looked at his back.
"Kaiba?" What are you-?!"
~~~
Dire rushed forward while Kari was dazed. He whipped out a sword and raised it high. She saw it rising. Then it fell, onto her heart.
***
Seto walked right into an alleyway. Yami was running after him and cursing, for a guy in a trance he could walk fast. Seto stared right at a stone wall.
"KAIBA!! What are you doing?!" Yami demanded. Seto didn't reply.
"This is where it was . . . . ." He murmured. Yami gaped.
"This is where she entered our world. Right here." He said while touching the wall softly, suddenly he slapped his other hand on the wall and pushed.
"What are you-?!"
"I don't need powers, I only need my will to save her." He grunted out and pushed harder, the wall began to move, like thick cement. The more he pushed, the more his hand's moved into the wall. Suddenly light repelled him. Seto grunted, he withdrew a bit. Yami ran up to him, Joey in tow.
"C'mon Kaiba! You of all people giving up? Yeesh, what is this world COMING to?!" Joey demanded. Yami began to push Kaiba.
"Outta the way Yug. I got an idea." Joey placed his back against Kaiba's, then placed his feet on the wall.
"1, 2, 3!!" Joey yelled and pushed his feet off the wall, sending Kaiba soaring through the vortex. Unfortunately, he also went through, head first.
"JOEY!" Yami yelled and grabbed his best friend's leg. No good, the vortex pulled Joey in, and proceeded to do the same with Yami.
"Yu-Gi!!" Taia yelled, and like him, grabbed Yami around the waist.
"Crap." Marick muttered, and grabbed Yami by his leg. Bakura watched the whole scene with a sneer. Tristan ran up to grab Yami's other leg.
"Damnit! What is that thing?" Tristan yelled angrily. Suddenly, life like tendrils came from the vortex and ensnared them all, including Bakura and a passing bystander.
"What the-?!" the boy yelled before hurtling into the vortex along with the others.
~~~
Pain, it seared through me, I dropped to the ground panting, I coughed, the metallic taste of blood spread through my body. Dire grinned.
"You're done Yuzara. It's a pity really." He cupped my chin in his hand. "You were so beautiful. Goodbye your highness." He let me drop to the ground. Darkness began to envelope me, what could I do? Nothing . . . . . . . . . . . absolutely nothing . . . . . . . . .
"You're going to die princess." Dire said, his voice soft, eager. It seemed so far away. "You will die soon, and you will never know what love is, never have your first kiss, never know what it's like to have family."
Family? My family was nobody, ever since a child, I've had no one. No one except . . . . . . . Daniel?
~ Flashback ~
Blood, everywhere blood. And she was in the middle of it. Kari lay on the ground, eyes closed, the knife had dropped from her hands, her wrists were slit. He gaped and swore. Grabbing a phone he punched in 911.
"You little idiot!" He yelled out, they were at the hospital now, she was awake, but her skin was pale . . . . so pale . . . .
"Sorry. I'm an accident, I shouldn't even be alive." She hid beneath the covers. "I'm sorry . . . ."
[Next day]
Kari walked through the grounds, she had escaped the hospital, even with cameras, bed checks and all, she had made it out. She had a jacket over her shoulders, and her wrists were wrapped in heavy white bandages. She walked onto the school grounds, no one noticed her, at least, not yet. It was recess and kids were playing on basketball courts, on the swings and on monkeybars. It didn't seem right, how could they be so happy when she was miserable? Suddenly someone stepped up in front of her, that high schooler . . . .
"Ready for your daily beating brat? What's with you? You look like you died." He touched her cheek, his touch was fire to her pale skin. She looked at him dully. He chuckled.
"Pathetic, although you would be good for a play toy." Suddenly a fist came flying from nowhere. The man went flying.
"You sick bastard!!" Daniel screamed, his rage seemed to have no end. He turned on Kari.
"What are you doing here?! You're supposed to be at the hospital!! Do you want to die?!" She looked at him, eyes dull. She smiled, it had no emotion in it. He stared.
"Kari?" She began to laugh, a hollow sound that soared through the silent playground. Her jade necklace glowed. Nirvana appeared behind Daniel.
"It's happening." Daniel ignored him, not knowing who Nirvana was. He walked up to Kari and grabbed her by the arms.
"Kari!! What's wrong with you?!" She still gave that hollow grin. Suddenly, he was covered in a white glow. She looked at him and caressed his cheek.
"My only friend. My only family." She whispered.
"She has gone insane!!" The high school teen yelled. Kari looked at him, he and his friends backed away.
"And you are gone." She said calmly, pointing a hand at him, light flared, he stiffened, then, he fell, his body tumbling towards the ground. A mark was on his forehead, burned into the skin. The mark of one who had been killed by an angel. She lowered her hand. Nirvana shook his head.
"It has begun. And it will never end." He vanished. The glowing stopped, Kari fell limp in his hands, he stared at her, then and there. He knew she wasn't human, he knew, that she was immortal. She opened one eye blearily. He breathed relief, then hugged her tightly.
"Don't EVER do that again! Promise me you'll live till you're an old woman." Kari shut her eyes weakly and smiled.
"Sure. Promise."
~ End ~
I stood up, my breath harsh. I glared.
"For your information," I growled out. "I know what love is. I have had my first kiss. And I have FAMILY!!!" I yelled.
"How are you doing this?!" He shrieked. The coach was still sitting on the ground, gaping at me. The cheerleaders were terrified.
"I'm driven by a promise you bastard." Then I smiled.
"You're done." Heat flared to life and shot at him in a burst of flame. It enveloped his body. Dire gave a shriek of pain and dropped to the ground. I smiled. Suddenly, someone came toppling out of the sky to land in a heap on the ground. I ignored them.
"Kari?" Seto mumbled as he stood up. The boy who had been a passerby looked at Yami.
"So Yu-Gi, has this little realm crossing become a hobby or something?" Duke asked in a monotone. He looked quite bored by the whole ordeal, no doubt he was used to it. Yami ignored him.
"Save now, talk later!!" He gasped out and got to his feet running. I looked at Dire. Suddenly, I swore.
"Yami, can you break mind control?" Yami shook his head. Bakura stepped up.
"I can." I ignored the surprise of his presence, for the moment.
"Try it on Dire." I hissed, he gaped.
"WHAT?!" Dire stared at me, his eyes impossibly large.
"What are you saying? That I'm a mere puppet?!" He bellowed, his voice slightly cracking. Bakura didn't ask questions, just held a hand up, he pointed a finger at Dire who flinched, I never thought that negative thing actually happened in real life, but it did, and the image shattered, just like the thing Yami did on Seto. Dire dropped to the ground on hand and knee. He gasped slightly. I swore. So Dire WAS just a puppet. But who was pulling the strings? And most importantly, why? Dire held a shaking hand to his forehead.
"What the hell? What happened?" He muttered. I stared at him, then walked over to him.
"Who was controlling you?" I growled out. He stared at me blankly.
"Controlling?" His eyes were wide with confusion, this was who Dire really was, an average, teenage boy. I swore. Dire stared at me blankly. Suddenly he looked at his feet, they were disappearing into thin air. I fell back.
"What the hell?!" I yelled out. He panicked.
"Help me!!" He cried, his arm outstretched, I lunged forward to grab his hand, and missed. He vanished, I swore.
"Dammit!! Who the hell did that?!" I demanded. Yami walked up beside me.
"Clearly, someone who didn't want his, or her, secret revealed." I sighed. Bakura helped me stand, I stared at him shocked.
"The hell are you doing here? Why are you still alive?"
"I don't think I'll be dying for some time." He said offended. I shook my head.
"I mean, how are you still alive in the company of these guys?" I jerked my head towards Joey and Tristan. They cracked knuckled and scowled.
"Believe me, given the choice, I would have dumped him, in a well." Joey grumbled. I sighed.
Taia walked up.
"Is this your home?" I nodded. She grinned upon reading a bulletin board.
"So they speak English here right?" She said in perfect English. I gaped, switching to English as well I said
"Where did you learn to talk English?" She smiled.
"I wanted to go to New York so that I could be a famous dancer in a studio, so I learned English to fit in better." I nodded.
"Cool. But you know what's funny?" Joey and the gang were looking at me perplexed, they had no idea what we were saying. Taia cocked her head.
"Well, it's fun to make others think you're talking about them when you aren't." I said and pointed to Bakura laughing. Taia laughed too. Bakura scowled and said in Japanese and in a loud voice
"WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT ME?!!" I laughed even harder. Taia couldn't help but laugh too. Marick was chuckling. I turned to him. Then walked up to him.
"Do you think I can scar you for life?" I asked in English, I was feeling a little idiotic after what had just happened, having that much power flow through you can make someone really giddy and hyper.
"Um, no?" Marick said gulping and trying to guess what I was saying.
"I can prove that I can, want me to kiss you?" I said still in English.
"Uh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . yes?" I laughed and kissed him full of the lips. He took a step back, eyes wide. I let go and he gaped.
"Who is spinning the room?" He asked dazedly. I laughed. Seto walked up, he was glaring. I stared, then smacked him hard on the cheek. He stumbled back holding a hand to his sore face.
"What was that for?!" I glared.
"That, was for everything you said to me before I left." I said in Japanese. Then I walked up and kissed him gently on the cheek.
"That's for coming to help me." I said softly, he blushed crimson.
"Uh . . . . . . . . . sorry?" He murmured. Bakura was growling.
"Now what did you say about me!" I laughed.
Disclaimer: Not mine, I only own my characters and the plot
Was it all just a dream? Or maybe just a nightmare. A LONG nightmare. I was walking along the street. I had dreamed that I was stuck in Yu-Gi-Oh, not only that but the fact that Daniel was still alive. I lived the next few days normally, nothing exciting happened, everyone was normal, no crazy killer after me. Just plain ordinary. In fact, I began to become depressed, like someone gets when they're homesick. What the heck is the matter with me?! People began to talk about me, oh well. On my way home one day I was walking on the sidewalk. I stared defiantly at the ground, my jacket slung over my back.
"Hikari? Are you alright?" A girl asked. I looked up, she was a classmate of mine, an outcast all the same. I stayed silent, the mask was in play. Walking up to my house I turned towards the door and gulped. My mom stood there, she was talking to someone. I couldn't believe it.
" . . . . . . . Dad?!" He turned to me.
"Hikari. Honey, are you alright?" I took a step back, he came towards me.
"What do you-?!" He smiled lightly, almost sadly.
"I . . . . . . . . want to say that I'm sorry. What happened to Daniel just kind of broke me down. I hope you can forgive me." His smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Liar." I spat and took another step back. He took a step forward.
"Hikari please."
"No! You abandoned me, if you really cared about me, you would have sent some sort of message to me. To let me know that you were at least still alive." He sighed.
"I just couldn't Hikari. Things built up on me." I took another step.
"They built up on me as well. So screw off." I took one more step. He smiled at me, there was something wrong with that smile, it seemed evil if you looked at it long enough. He stepped up and grabbed my wrist.
"Hikari. Come . . . . . . . . . . . . my queen . . . . . ." DIRE! I dug my fingers in the base of his nails, he yelped and let go. He changed back to normal shape, I swore.
"What are you doing here?!" I demanded. He smiled.
"You have to die. Now with no protector, you're all mine." I gaped, then ran. I turned around the corner. He walked out after me, smiling. Snapping his fingers, the shadows themselves rose to catch me and trip me.
'Like a nightmare!' I hissed, my fear was rising. This was exactly like some of my nightmares, except in those, I was in control, if I hated it, I could change it. This was reality. I was alone.
***
Nirvana was running down the street when fear slammed into him, the fear was so great that he was knocked over.
"Nirvana!" Damen yelled running up to him. Nirvana's face paled.
"Kari . . . . ." He stood up. Yami and friends came over.
"What is it?" Marick asked. Nirvana turned to him.
"Kari! Something's wrong. But she doesn't have the necklace anymore, I don't know how to find her!" Taia paled.
"You mean . . . ."
"Dire. He didn't give up did he?" a cold voice asked. All of them turned around.
"Bakura? What are you-?" Yami began. Bakura scowled.
"Listen, I'm here for one reason, to get revenge on that bastard. Either you help me, or get out of my way." He growled out. Marick eyed Bakura with interest.
"Well that's settled, all we need now is the high priest." Yami snorted.
"You know as well as I do that Seto will never help us." Marick shrugged. He turned to Bakura.
"Let's go, one more thing though . . . . . Yami? Where's the millennium necklace?" Yami stiffened.
~ Flashback ~
"Take it."
"I can't!"
"Please, it will at least help to protect you."
"I don't even know how to use it."
"That's never stopped me, or even Kaiba."
"*sigh* You're not going to leave me alone are you?"
"No. Take it, please . . . . ."
"Fine." And she took the necklace.
"Thank you Kari."
~ End ~
"I gave it Hikari." Marick surveyed him with interest then nodded.
"Let's go Bakura." Both left towards Kaiba Corp.
~!~
Absurd, why should I care what happens to that girl? Still . . . . . . . I couldn't get this feeling out of my system that something had happened to her. Suddenly something slammed into my mind.
*Help me . . . . .*
I spun around, help who? I saw someone, a girl, she was kneeling on the ground, knees were to her chest and she was crying.
"Who-?" She looked up. A girl, Hikari as a girl . . . . .
"Oh god . . ." I whispered. Her face was marked all over with blood. I saw her wrists, they were slit.
"Death is something I've always wanted. Till I came here. Meeting you all gave me the will to live for a few days. But . . . . . . . . I don't want to die anymore. Though, at the moment. I don't have a choice." Fear leapt to my throat.
"Kari?" She leaned up and kissed me on the cheek.
"Help her Seto." She whispered into my ear. "Help her . . . . . . . . . and help me." She vanished. I stared. I thought for a minute, then spun around and opened the top drawer. I knew what to do now. Grabbing my jacket I pulled it on. Turning to my desk, I hesitated for a second, then grabbed the millennium rod. Even if she was stupid, she had been right. I had no right to say what I did, but . . . . . never mind. Not important. I walked out the door right past an amazed Bakura and Marick.
"Hurry up you idiots." I growled at them. They looked at each other, then grinned and ran after me.
~~~
'Yami, Seto, Marick, ANYONE!!' I thought wildly. Running along the street I saw people on the sidewalk. Why weren't the helping me?! As I skidded around a corner, I nearly bashed my head into a man, looking up at him I froze. His eyes were dull. Controlled . . . . . . they were all being controlled. The man made a reach for my arms, I leap frogged over his head and ran on. How the hell did Dire get here?! It was absurd, this wasn't his world!! I ran on, my breath was coming harshly now. I couldn't keep going like this!! I growled my frustration and ran on. The school! It hit me suddenly, the two forms on the school grounds. They must've been someone dueling in the shadow realm! Probably Yami and Bakura! So following that information, I darted around the corner towards the school yard. There was a team practicing there, a football team. Shit, wouldn't you know it? Strong as I was, I doubt I could take on an entire team of hulking brutes. Nonetheless I burst out into the courtyard. A few looked at me.
"Hikari? What the hell?!" A voice demanded, I turned and saw the football coach looking at me, I gulped. He took a step forward and placed his hand on my shoulder gently. I slapped it away.
"Leave me alone!!" I yelled and took off. He gaped.
"Hikari!" He yelled, I ignored him. He ran after me. I skidded around a corner into a few girls and we went over in a tumbled heap. They looked at me annoyed.
"What the hell?!" I shut my eyes and thrashed out.
"Leave me alone!! Get off me!!" I yelled. They looked at me like I was crazy, part of their look was etched with fear.
"Hey-? You okay?" I stumbled to my feet, arms grabbed me from behind. I fought wildly.
"Hikari!! Calm down!!"
"He's coming!"
"Who?!"
"Dire!! He's coming to kill me!! Let go!!" I yelled out angrily. The coach turned me around.
"Look into my eyes Hikari." He ordered, I refused, experience with Bakura had taught me that much. I pulled, trying to break free. Nothing.
"Hikari!! Calm down!!" Suddenly I stopped, something had froze my mind. DIRE!! He was trying to control my mind, why hadn't he done it already? WAIT!! I reached into my pocket and pulled out the necklace. Of course!! My object blocked his powers. I pulled it to my face and stared at it. Then glared defiantly at him. I tied it around my neck and then backed away, his arms fell from my arms limply. He simply gaped, he wasn't controlled. Yet. Then Dire came around the corner, I've never been so scared as I have in that moment. I backed away, my whole body was trembling. He smiled at me. The coach turned.
"Who are you?" I ignored him. My back hit the school wall.
"Dire . . . . . . ." I whispered. "Leave me alone!!" I yelled. The coach looked at me, then turned to the boy.
"So you're the one who wants to kill her? Well I have a few things to say to you." He growled and walked up flexing his arms. I was too scared to warn him. Dire sighed and blew a bit of hair out of his face, then turned to the coach. He held one hand out, palm facing out. A strong gale flew towards us. It hit the coach straight on.
"I could control you, but I feel like killing something." I growled, that was the last straw! I walked forward and held an equally stern hand out, the gale hit it. I focused my mind, what had Marick said? Ignore everything except what you want to hear. So, let's focus. I shut my eyes, listen. What was that sound? It was like . . . . . . . water falling? Small drops fell. There was no water around here! I opened my eyes, the background had turned black, all I saw in front of me was a child kneeling by the water. He was sleeping, his back leaning against a stone water pump. The water was falling from the pump. Then everything turned normal again. All I heard was breathing. My own? No, this was calm, steady breathing. The breath of someone in control . . . . . . . . . . Dire?! Dire was the only thing I heard, slowly, I began to get everything Yami and the others had said.
'Keep your mind focused, the minute you let one stray thought into your head, is the minute everything goes haywire.' Marick scolded her. That small bruise on her head seemed to throb a bit.
'You know the saying, you take one day off, then it's two, then three and so on.' Joey and Tristan lectured. She saw their grinning faces.
'You'd do better if you had the sword in your hand instead of on the ground Hikari.' Nirvana said smirking.
'Dodge the spell, then fire one. It's a never ending pattern, attack, defend, attack, defend. Simple isn't it? Then you can go into all sorts of complex patterns, like attack defend, defend, then attack, attack and so on.' Yami declared to her.
'Duel monsters isn't really about the strongest cards, but more of your strategy.' Yu-Gi said grinning.
'Don't worry, it doesn't matter where you end up, it's how you got there that counts!' Taia said cheerfully.
'I promise to protect you. Forever.' She stared ahead, defiant.
'Forever, till the ends of the earth.' Kaiba . . . . . . . Seto. My eyes snapped to life.
SETO!
***
Kaiba walked behind Yami and friends, they were looking for Hikari, but had no idea where to start. Seto sighed. He felt so . . . . . . . . . stupid! How could he have done that?! How could he have said that to her? Shade refused to talk to him. Nirvana, didn't even look at him. Taia shot him cold and scathing glares, while Tristan had to hold Joey back every so often so that Seto would remain intact, despite Kaiba's strength, Joey, in rage could kill. Yu-Gi and Yami ignored him as usual. Bakura was getting impatient.
"Where is SHE?!" He demanded. Yami turned to him.
"I told you, I don't know."
"Then why the hell are we walking around?! We have to get some sort of clue." Seto growled out. Mokubah ran up.
"Anything?" Seto asked. Mokubah shook his head.
"Nothing, we did a whole search of the city and she didn't turn up anywhere." He sighed. "I don't think we'll ever find her."
~~~
Life is meant to be lived. Death is the inevitable that comes at the end of life. Both go hand in hand. However, while I live. I want to live with the one I care for. Seto, I was the naïve one here. I ignored what I felt for you from the beginning. Now, I chose to accept what I feel. Seto . . . . . . .
I love you.
***
'I love you.' The words rang clear in Seto's mind. He spun around.
"What the-?!"
(A/N: Parallel talking here folks, things will get confusing.)
'I'm waiting.'
'For who?'
'For you Seto. I'll be here.'
'Why?'
'I'm waiting for you. Come and save me, like you did 5000 years ago.' Seto's eyes went hollow.
'I couldn't save you then, and I can't now.'
'You did not believe in what we had. You do now. Seto, please. I'm asking for your help.' Seto suddenly turned off the street. Yami and the others looked at his back.
"Kaiba?" What are you-?!"
~~~
Dire rushed forward while Kari was dazed. He whipped out a sword and raised it high. She saw it rising. Then it fell, onto her heart.
***
Seto walked right into an alleyway. Yami was running after him and cursing, for a guy in a trance he could walk fast. Seto stared right at a stone wall.
"KAIBA!! What are you doing?!" Yami demanded. Seto didn't reply.
"This is where it was . . . . ." He murmured. Yami gaped.
"This is where she entered our world. Right here." He said while touching the wall softly, suddenly he slapped his other hand on the wall and pushed.
"What are you-?!"
"I don't need powers, I only need my will to save her." He grunted out and pushed harder, the wall began to move, like thick cement. The more he pushed, the more his hand's moved into the wall. Suddenly light repelled him. Seto grunted, he withdrew a bit. Yami ran up to him, Joey in tow.
"C'mon Kaiba! You of all people giving up? Yeesh, what is this world COMING to?!" Joey demanded. Yami began to push Kaiba.
"Outta the way Yug. I got an idea." Joey placed his back against Kaiba's, then placed his feet on the wall.
"1, 2, 3!!" Joey yelled and pushed his feet off the wall, sending Kaiba soaring through the vortex. Unfortunately, he also went through, head first.
"JOEY!" Yami yelled and grabbed his best friend's leg. No good, the vortex pulled Joey in, and proceeded to do the same with Yami.
"Yu-Gi!!" Taia yelled, and like him, grabbed Yami around the waist.
"Crap." Marick muttered, and grabbed Yami by his leg. Bakura watched the whole scene with a sneer. Tristan ran up to grab Yami's other leg.
"Damnit! What is that thing?" Tristan yelled angrily. Suddenly, life like tendrils came from the vortex and ensnared them all, including Bakura and a passing bystander.
"What the-?!" the boy yelled before hurtling into the vortex along with the others.
~~~
Pain, it seared through me, I dropped to the ground panting, I coughed, the metallic taste of blood spread through my body. Dire grinned.
"You're done Yuzara. It's a pity really." He cupped my chin in his hand. "You were so beautiful. Goodbye your highness." He let me drop to the ground. Darkness began to envelope me, what could I do? Nothing . . . . . . . . . . . absolutely nothing . . . . . . . . .
"You're going to die princess." Dire said, his voice soft, eager. It seemed so far away. "You will die soon, and you will never know what love is, never have your first kiss, never know what it's like to have family."
Family? My family was nobody, ever since a child, I've had no one. No one except . . . . . . . Daniel?
~ Flashback ~
Blood, everywhere blood. And she was in the middle of it. Kari lay on the ground, eyes closed, the knife had dropped from her hands, her wrists were slit. He gaped and swore. Grabbing a phone he punched in 911.
"You little idiot!" He yelled out, they were at the hospital now, she was awake, but her skin was pale . . . . so pale . . . .
"Sorry. I'm an accident, I shouldn't even be alive." She hid beneath the covers. "I'm sorry . . . ."
[Next day]
Kari walked through the grounds, she had escaped the hospital, even with cameras, bed checks and all, she had made it out. She had a jacket over her shoulders, and her wrists were wrapped in heavy white bandages. She walked onto the school grounds, no one noticed her, at least, not yet. It was recess and kids were playing on basketball courts, on the swings and on monkeybars. It didn't seem right, how could they be so happy when she was miserable? Suddenly someone stepped up in front of her, that high schooler . . . .
"Ready for your daily beating brat? What's with you? You look like you died." He touched her cheek, his touch was fire to her pale skin. She looked at him dully. He chuckled.
"Pathetic, although you would be good for a play toy." Suddenly a fist came flying from nowhere. The man went flying.
"You sick bastard!!" Daniel screamed, his rage seemed to have no end. He turned on Kari.
"What are you doing here?! You're supposed to be at the hospital!! Do you want to die?!" She looked at him, eyes dull. She smiled, it had no emotion in it. He stared.
"Kari?" She began to laugh, a hollow sound that soared through the silent playground. Her jade necklace glowed. Nirvana appeared behind Daniel.
"It's happening." Daniel ignored him, not knowing who Nirvana was. He walked up to Kari and grabbed her by the arms.
"Kari!! What's wrong with you?!" She still gave that hollow grin. Suddenly, he was covered in a white glow. She looked at him and caressed his cheek.
"My only friend. My only family." She whispered.
"She has gone insane!!" The high school teen yelled. Kari looked at him, he and his friends backed away.
"And you are gone." She said calmly, pointing a hand at him, light flared, he stiffened, then, he fell, his body tumbling towards the ground. A mark was on his forehead, burned into the skin. The mark of one who had been killed by an angel. She lowered her hand. Nirvana shook his head.
"It has begun. And it will never end." He vanished. The glowing stopped, Kari fell limp in his hands, he stared at her, then and there. He knew she wasn't human, he knew, that she was immortal. She opened one eye blearily. He breathed relief, then hugged her tightly.
"Don't EVER do that again! Promise me you'll live till you're an old woman." Kari shut her eyes weakly and smiled.
"Sure. Promise."
~ End ~
I stood up, my breath harsh. I glared.
"For your information," I growled out. "I know what love is. I have had my first kiss. And I have FAMILY!!!" I yelled.
"How are you doing this?!" He shrieked. The coach was still sitting on the ground, gaping at me. The cheerleaders were terrified.
"I'm driven by a promise you bastard." Then I smiled.
"You're done." Heat flared to life and shot at him in a burst of flame. It enveloped his body. Dire gave a shriek of pain and dropped to the ground. I smiled. Suddenly, someone came toppling out of the sky to land in a heap on the ground. I ignored them.
"Kari?" Seto mumbled as he stood up. The boy who had been a passerby looked at Yami.
"So Yu-Gi, has this little realm crossing become a hobby or something?" Duke asked in a monotone. He looked quite bored by the whole ordeal, no doubt he was used to it. Yami ignored him.
"Save now, talk later!!" He gasped out and got to his feet running. I looked at Dire. Suddenly, I swore.
"Yami, can you break mind control?" Yami shook his head. Bakura stepped up.
"I can." I ignored the surprise of his presence, for the moment.
"Try it on Dire." I hissed, he gaped.
"WHAT?!" Dire stared at me, his eyes impossibly large.
"What are you saying? That I'm a mere puppet?!" He bellowed, his voice slightly cracking. Bakura didn't ask questions, just held a hand up, he pointed a finger at Dire who flinched, I never thought that negative thing actually happened in real life, but it did, and the image shattered, just like the thing Yami did on Seto. Dire dropped to the ground on hand and knee. He gasped slightly. I swore. So Dire WAS just a puppet. But who was pulling the strings? And most importantly, why? Dire held a shaking hand to his forehead.
"What the hell? What happened?" He muttered. I stared at him, then walked over to him.
"Who was controlling you?" I growled out. He stared at me blankly.
"Controlling?" His eyes were wide with confusion, this was who Dire really was, an average, teenage boy. I swore. Dire stared at me blankly. Suddenly he looked at his feet, they were disappearing into thin air. I fell back.
"What the hell?!" I yelled out. He panicked.
"Help me!!" He cried, his arm outstretched, I lunged forward to grab his hand, and missed. He vanished, I swore.
"Dammit!! Who the hell did that?!" I demanded. Yami walked up beside me.
"Clearly, someone who didn't want his, or her, secret revealed." I sighed. Bakura helped me stand, I stared at him shocked.
"The hell are you doing here? Why are you still alive?"
"I don't think I'll be dying for some time." He said offended. I shook my head.
"I mean, how are you still alive in the company of these guys?" I jerked my head towards Joey and Tristan. They cracked knuckled and scowled.
"Believe me, given the choice, I would have dumped him, in a well." Joey grumbled. I sighed.
Taia walked up.
"Is this your home?" I nodded. She grinned upon reading a bulletin board.
"So they speak English here right?" She said in perfect English. I gaped, switching to English as well I said
"Where did you learn to talk English?" She smiled.
"I wanted to go to New York so that I could be a famous dancer in a studio, so I learned English to fit in better." I nodded.
"Cool. But you know what's funny?" Joey and the gang were looking at me perplexed, they had no idea what we were saying. Taia cocked her head.
"Well, it's fun to make others think you're talking about them when you aren't." I said and pointed to Bakura laughing. Taia laughed too. Bakura scowled and said in Japanese and in a loud voice
"WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT ME?!!" I laughed even harder. Taia couldn't help but laugh too. Marick was chuckling. I turned to him. Then walked up to him.
"Do you think I can scar you for life?" I asked in English, I was feeling a little idiotic after what had just happened, having that much power flow through you can make someone really giddy and hyper.
"Um, no?" Marick said gulping and trying to guess what I was saying.
"I can prove that I can, want me to kiss you?" I said still in English.
"Uh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . yes?" I laughed and kissed him full of the lips. He took a step back, eyes wide. I let go and he gaped.
"Who is spinning the room?" He asked dazedly. I laughed. Seto walked up, he was glaring. I stared, then smacked him hard on the cheek. He stumbled back holding a hand to his sore face.
"What was that for?!" I glared.
"That, was for everything you said to me before I left." I said in Japanese. Then I walked up and kissed him gently on the cheek.
"That's for coming to help me." I said softly, he blushed crimson.
"Uh . . . . . . . . . sorry?" He murmured. Bakura was growling.
"Now what did you say about me!" I laughed.
Disclaimer: Not mine, I only own my characters and the plot