And now...the moment you've all been waiting for...uh, well, okay, maybe
not. Anyway, the remainder of the story will be mostly from Kaiba's point
of view (hence the return of first-person perspective). Pegasus appears in
this chapter, and I feel I should explain something. I know he may seem a
bit out of character, but you must remember that after losing to Yugi at
the end of Duelist Kingdom, Pegasus changed. He became...nicer, I suppose.
I don't explain this because Kaiba doesn't know the circumstances of this
change. Also, you'll notice that, though the tournament is over, Pegasus
still has his Millennium Eye. I know Bakura took it from him, but I've
decided to overlook that. I don't want to go into it. Nor did I add the
soul-stealing deal...that would have made this much more confusing and
probably wouldn't make the story work. Well, now that that's out of the
way, enjoy the chapter.
***
After talking to Yugi or Yami or whoever he was, I went home and went to bed. I had nightmares again, and though I cannot recall them now, I know that I woke up screaming. I'm glad I don't remember it.
I woke up at about five in the morning on November 1st, and got up to start getting ready. I didn't take much, just a few articles of clothing and some food, and only that because Hobson insisted. I left my estate at about twelve noon.
Pegasus' castle is on an island about ten miles off the coast of California. Since Domino City is near the eastern border, I had to cross overland for quite a while. I went quickly, though, and by one-thirty in the afternoon I was looking at the front gates of Pegasus' castle.
I pressed the button for the intercom.
'State your name and business,' a deep voice commanded from the speaker.
"I am Seto Kaiba," I said, "and I need to speak to Master Pegasus."
I shuddered to call him 'Master Pegasus,' but I was desperate for his help, and politeness would get me a lot farther than sarcasm. I was still skeptical about Pegasus helping me, and so I was surprised when the gates opened.
A huge man – at least 6'4" and over three hundred pounds of pure muscle – in a suit and sunglasses stood before me. "Follow me," he said sternly. He began walking toward the castle. I followed him through the central courtyard, into the front parlor, up two flights of stairs, down a hallway, and up to an ornate set of double doors.
The broad-shouldered guard knocked twice on the doors, and they swung inward.
"Master Pegasus waits within," the guard said, gesturing at the open doorway. I nodded, thanked him, and stepped inside. The doors shut silently behind me.
I stood at the foot of a long wooden table and Pegasus sat at the head with a glass of red wine in his hand. He wore a suit that was nearly the same color as his drink, and his silver hair covered the left side of his face.
His entire demeanor was different from what I remembered of him. I remembered an intimidating, cunning shark of a businessman; the man sitting before me was not intimidating, nor did he look to be cunning. He seemed scholarly.
"Well, well," Pegasus said. "Seto Kaiba, here again...What brings you here?"
"I..." I cleared my throat. "I've come here...because I need your help."
An eyebrow arched over his visible eye. "My help?" he asked, clearly surprised. "Whatever for?" He gestured at a chair near him. "Come, come, sit. Tell me what I can do."
I walked over and sat down, noticing a faint golden gleam from behind his hair. I figured it was the Millennium Eye Yugi had told me about. I was surprised never to have noticed it before. I cleared my throat again, and leaned forward, resting my hands on the table.
"Well...you see...it's about Mokuba."
"Mokuba?" Pegasus repeated. "What about him?"
"He...he died."
"Died! When was this?"
"Nearly three weeks ago."
Pegasus leaned back in his chair, troubled by this. "The boy was still so young...how did it happen?"
"Car accident...They never caught the man who did it."
Pegasus frowned. "Well...what is it you hope to gain from my assistance, Seto?"
"Well...I...I recently spoke to Yugi Motou...you know Yugi Motou."
"He was the winner of my recent tournament and the first person to ever defeat you in a Magic & Wizards match," he said, nodding. "I know him well."
"Yes..." I said uncomfortably. I don't like being reminded of that. "Well, I talked to him, and he spoke of some sort of artifact from ancient Egypt..."
"The Millennium Items, yes? I believe he holds the puzzle."
"Yes. Well, he told me that you also held one. And since you are a historian, he also figured that you would know about them all. More about them than he, at any rate. He led me to believe that one of these items may have the power to...to bring him back. Mokuba. My question is whether or not that is true. Can one of these Millennium Items bring back my brother?"
"Hmmm..." Pegasus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He stood up from his chair and began to pace. "Well," he said, looking back at me, "it could very well be that one of the items has that capability. The Millennium Items are very powerful artifacts. My eye, for example," he reached up and swiped the hair covering his face behind his ear, revealing his left eye, which was solid gold, "has the ability to look into the mind of any human being. I need only to concentrate. Also, it can harness a person's soul into an inanimate object, but that is a complicated maneuver and one that I will not discuss.
"But I do not know the abilities of the other items. I only know the capabilities of my own, and there are six others. I doubt the puzzle could do such a thing, so that leaves five. I am dreadfully sorry, Seto, but I do not know. I cannot help you."
I sighed, leaned forward and held my head in my hands. "So I'm right back where I started..."
"Perhaps not. I do know a man who can help you." He pointed to the far wall, directly in front of him, above the doors I had entered from. There were two paintings hanging there, portraits, one of a beautiful young woman with blond hair, and one of a dark-sinned man in a white robe and turban. Even in the painting, his cutting blue eyes unnerved me. They had no pupils.
"The man depicted on the right portrait," Pegasus said, "is a man known as Shadi. He resides in a remote village in Egypt. He is the man who gave me the Millennium Eye, and he is the keeper of them all. If any of the items have the ability to do as you wish, he will know. I suggest you speak to him."
"Do you know where this village is?" I asked, my confidence renewed. "Could you show me?"
"I could..." he said.
"But..." I coaxed, feeling crestfallen.
"I will show you, but on a condition. You are running yourself ragged, Seto. You are worrying over this far too much, and you are letting your hopes grow far too high. Hope is a good thing, it keeps one going, and a bit of worrying is essential to survival, but either to excess can drive one insane."
I frowned. "So...what is the condition?"
"My condition is this: You stay here, rest, let yourself unwind, and leave for Egypt in the morning. I believe even that is too soon, you look as though you haven't slept in a week. I understand why, and I know I cannot stop you from going, but I cannot allow you to do this now. You are in no condition to cross such a distance as here to Egypt."
I scowled. "I'd rather not."
"If you wish for me to tell you how to find Shadi, you must do this. I'll provide you with all you need in the morning. In that you have my word."
I growled irritably. "I don't like it...but...fine. I'll do as you ask. But I expect you to show me where to go first thing in the morning."
Pegasus smiled. "Very well, Seto. We have a deal, then. Take this day to relax. Explore the island. The forest to the south is quite breathtaking."
I shrugged. "Maybe..."
Pegasus' golden eye flashed. "Just remember," he said after a moment, "he wants you to relax."
My eyes widened. He'd read my mind! He'd seen Mokuba's letter!
"Of course I have," Pegasus said. "I told you I could look into the mind of anyone."
I frowned again. "That wasn't—"
"Necessary. I know. I just need you to realize something."
"Alright, alright, you've made your—"
"Point."
"Stop that!" I snapped.
Pegasus chuckled. "Pardon, Seto. Still, keep that letter in mind. It may help you."
I sighed. "I...I suppose...Thank you, Pegasus, for agreeing to help me."
Pegasus' smile widened. "Think nothing of it, Seto. I wish to clean the slate between us. We are both responsible businessmen. Such petty exchanges as those we've had in the past are entirely beneath us, wouldn't you agree?"
I found a small smile rising on my lips as well. "Yes...I would."
Pegasus nodded. "Good. Very good."
***
As Pegasus had said, the forest was beautiful, but I felt more drawn toward the beach, where I could look out on the ocean. I'd always liked the ocean...power, freedom, beauty, danger...it was perfect, yet it was flawed, gentle yet ruthless...
I spent the day as Pegasus had suggested, relaxing, thinking about nothing in particular. Little did I know that when I went to sleep that night, in a guest room on the second floor, I would be visited again by horror.
***
After talking to Yugi or Yami or whoever he was, I went home and went to bed. I had nightmares again, and though I cannot recall them now, I know that I woke up screaming. I'm glad I don't remember it.
I woke up at about five in the morning on November 1st, and got up to start getting ready. I didn't take much, just a few articles of clothing and some food, and only that because Hobson insisted. I left my estate at about twelve noon.
Pegasus' castle is on an island about ten miles off the coast of California. Since Domino City is near the eastern border, I had to cross overland for quite a while. I went quickly, though, and by one-thirty in the afternoon I was looking at the front gates of Pegasus' castle.
I pressed the button for the intercom.
'State your name and business,' a deep voice commanded from the speaker.
"I am Seto Kaiba," I said, "and I need to speak to Master Pegasus."
I shuddered to call him 'Master Pegasus,' but I was desperate for his help, and politeness would get me a lot farther than sarcasm. I was still skeptical about Pegasus helping me, and so I was surprised when the gates opened.
A huge man – at least 6'4" and over three hundred pounds of pure muscle – in a suit and sunglasses stood before me. "Follow me," he said sternly. He began walking toward the castle. I followed him through the central courtyard, into the front parlor, up two flights of stairs, down a hallway, and up to an ornate set of double doors.
The broad-shouldered guard knocked twice on the doors, and they swung inward.
"Master Pegasus waits within," the guard said, gesturing at the open doorway. I nodded, thanked him, and stepped inside. The doors shut silently behind me.
I stood at the foot of a long wooden table and Pegasus sat at the head with a glass of red wine in his hand. He wore a suit that was nearly the same color as his drink, and his silver hair covered the left side of his face.
His entire demeanor was different from what I remembered of him. I remembered an intimidating, cunning shark of a businessman; the man sitting before me was not intimidating, nor did he look to be cunning. He seemed scholarly.
"Well, well," Pegasus said. "Seto Kaiba, here again...What brings you here?"
"I..." I cleared my throat. "I've come here...because I need your help."
An eyebrow arched over his visible eye. "My help?" he asked, clearly surprised. "Whatever for?" He gestured at a chair near him. "Come, come, sit. Tell me what I can do."
I walked over and sat down, noticing a faint golden gleam from behind his hair. I figured it was the Millennium Eye Yugi had told me about. I was surprised never to have noticed it before. I cleared my throat again, and leaned forward, resting my hands on the table.
"Well...you see...it's about Mokuba."
"Mokuba?" Pegasus repeated. "What about him?"
"He...he died."
"Died! When was this?"
"Nearly three weeks ago."
Pegasus leaned back in his chair, troubled by this. "The boy was still so young...how did it happen?"
"Car accident...They never caught the man who did it."
Pegasus frowned. "Well...what is it you hope to gain from my assistance, Seto?"
"Well...I...I recently spoke to Yugi Motou...you know Yugi Motou."
"He was the winner of my recent tournament and the first person to ever defeat you in a Magic & Wizards match," he said, nodding. "I know him well."
"Yes..." I said uncomfortably. I don't like being reminded of that. "Well, I talked to him, and he spoke of some sort of artifact from ancient Egypt..."
"The Millennium Items, yes? I believe he holds the puzzle."
"Yes. Well, he told me that you also held one. And since you are a historian, he also figured that you would know about them all. More about them than he, at any rate. He led me to believe that one of these items may have the power to...to bring him back. Mokuba. My question is whether or not that is true. Can one of these Millennium Items bring back my brother?"
"Hmmm..." Pegasus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He stood up from his chair and began to pace. "Well," he said, looking back at me, "it could very well be that one of the items has that capability. The Millennium Items are very powerful artifacts. My eye, for example," he reached up and swiped the hair covering his face behind his ear, revealing his left eye, which was solid gold, "has the ability to look into the mind of any human being. I need only to concentrate. Also, it can harness a person's soul into an inanimate object, but that is a complicated maneuver and one that I will not discuss.
"But I do not know the abilities of the other items. I only know the capabilities of my own, and there are six others. I doubt the puzzle could do such a thing, so that leaves five. I am dreadfully sorry, Seto, but I do not know. I cannot help you."
I sighed, leaned forward and held my head in my hands. "So I'm right back where I started..."
"Perhaps not. I do know a man who can help you." He pointed to the far wall, directly in front of him, above the doors I had entered from. There were two paintings hanging there, portraits, one of a beautiful young woman with blond hair, and one of a dark-sinned man in a white robe and turban. Even in the painting, his cutting blue eyes unnerved me. They had no pupils.
"The man depicted on the right portrait," Pegasus said, "is a man known as Shadi. He resides in a remote village in Egypt. He is the man who gave me the Millennium Eye, and he is the keeper of them all. If any of the items have the ability to do as you wish, he will know. I suggest you speak to him."
"Do you know where this village is?" I asked, my confidence renewed. "Could you show me?"
"I could..." he said.
"But..." I coaxed, feeling crestfallen.
"I will show you, but on a condition. You are running yourself ragged, Seto. You are worrying over this far too much, and you are letting your hopes grow far too high. Hope is a good thing, it keeps one going, and a bit of worrying is essential to survival, but either to excess can drive one insane."
I frowned. "So...what is the condition?"
"My condition is this: You stay here, rest, let yourself unwind, and leave for Egypt in the morning. I believe even that is too soon, you look as though you haven't slept in a week. I understand why, and I know I cannot stop you from going, but I cannot allow you to do this now. You are in no condition to cross such a distance as here to Egypt."
I scowled. "I'd rather not."
"If you wish for me to tell you how to find Shadi, you must do this. I'll provide you with all you need in the morning. In that you have my word."
I growled irritably. "I don't like it...but...fine. I'll do as you ask. But I expect you to show me where to go first thing in the morning."
Pegasus smiled. "Very well, Seto. We have a deal, then. Take this day to relax. Explore the island. The forest to the south is quite breathtaking."
I shrugged. "Maybe..."
Pegasus' golden eye flashed. "Just remember," he said after a moment, "he wants you to relax."
My eyes widened. He'd read my mind! He'd seen Mokuba's letter!
"Of course I have," Pegasus said. "I told you I could look into the mind of anyone."
I frowned again. "That wasn't—"
"Necessary. I know. I just need you to realize something."
"Alright, alright, you've made your—"
"Point."
"Stop that!" I snapped.
Pegasus chuckled. "Pardon, Seto. Still, keep that letter in mind. It may help you."
I sighed. "I...I suppose...Thank you, Pegasus, for agreeing to help me."
Pegasus' smile widened. "Think nothing of it, Seto. I wish to clean the slate between us. We are both responsible businessmen. Such petty exchanges as those we've had in the past are entirely beneath us, wouldn't you agree?"
I found a small smile rising on my lips as well. "Yes...I would."
Pegasus nodded. "Good. Very good."
***
As Pegasus had said, the forest was beautiful, but I felt more drawn toward the beach, where I could look out on the ocean. I'd always liked the ocean...power, freedom, beauty, danger...it was perfect, yet it was flawed, gentle yet ruthless...
I spent the day as Pegasus had suggested, relaxing, thinking about nothing in particular. Little did I know that when I went to sleep that night, in a guest room on the second floor, I would be visited again by horror.