Disclaimer: If we owned Yugioh, the angst would be angstier, the
fluff would be fluffier, Téa would occasionally do super-scary things for
no apparent reason, and you would be able to TELL that Seto is a hopeless
romantic. Which he is. ^_^
For some reason we got the emails of reviews but they aren't showing up on the site. Oh, well, uploading's been goofy lately.
High Crystal Guardian, the more things change, the more they stay the same. ^_^ We'd love to loan Max out, but Cecilia won't let us. (lol) Actually, Kel and Mysti aren't quite OC's. Think about them a moment.
GriffenFire, the REAL reason that was the entry code is because that's what Golden's mom always does. Hee hee.
Seto Kaiba Red Archery Girl: Tada, update! Gozaburo Kaiba is definitely on my "least favorites" list, too.
Unintentional Nightmare, we're glad we made you smile. (And Deepest Need is still precious! *we're doing the wave, even though you can't see*)
People are still occasionally reviewing "Happy Mother's Day." Hmm.
In this chapter, we're going to have a little fun. ^_^ It's like one of those "non-continuity clean up" episodes that somehow seem out of joint. Of course, it's still dedicated to Mr. T, also to the Name Game, because several times you'll hear Max and Cecilia playing it. Right now we have no plot, so we'd thought a breather would be in order.
--
Chapter Eight: Numerous Names, and LOTS of Sushi
(The Fishmonger's Jubilee!)
--
"How about... Sydney?" Max pondered as he led the crowd of freed prisoners into the sewers. They had been split into several smaller groups, each led by one of their rescuers, although Seto didn't count, seeing as he was unconcious and being carried by Kel.
"What if it's a girl?" Cecilia asked. "And what about middle names?"
"Hmmm... Sydney Levar or Madison Willa?" His wife shook her head.
"What about Sedge Cliff or-- ah, Maxima Primrose!" she suggested with a smile.
Max shook his head emphatically. "I don't even want a cricket named after me, much less my child. Call it modesty. But the 'rose' reference is nice. How about Primrose Aura for a girl and uh... Crawford James, for a boy."
Cecilia made a face. "Crawford J. Pegasus? Somehow that just doesn't sound right."
"Ugh. You have a point."
Mai came a little closer behind them, little Mokuba still in her arms. "Could you two please play the Name Game later?" she asked. "I wouldn't want to get lost down here in the sewers."
The expectant couple blushed. "Sorry," Cecilia told her. "You know it's our first."
"Don't worry, Mai," Max assured her, "We're almost to Sub-Town."
Mai shifted the child's weight. "I sure hope so. Things are almost always heavier when they're asleep, be it cats or little boys."
--
Seto awoke to find himself in a makeshift bed in one of the Sub-Town subway car homes. Sitting up, he looked around a little frantically to see if Mokuba was in the room.
He was, but he'd obviously been awake already. Seto was in the same clothing he'd fought Kaiba in and blood still caked on his skin where the wounds were. Mokuba seemed to be in clean clothing and had probably had a bath.
Seto swung his long legs over the edge of the old seat frames that supported his bed, and Mokuba awoke. He turned a sweet smile on his older brother. "Feeling better?"
"Not normal yet, but yeah. Are you?" The older boy stood and stretched.
"Mm-hm. You're probably hungry. I was when I woke up." Mokuba jumped to his feet and took Seto's hand.
With some surprise, Seto realized he WAS hungry. "When did you wake up, and why'd you wake up before me?"
"I came out of it sometime around noon. It was almost sunset last I remember before that. Mysti says I woke up before you because cuts that've been bleeding take longer to heal."
"What time is it now?" Mokuba checked a little Timex watch hanging on the wall.
"Eight P.M, approximately." Mokuba turned and gave him a slightly teasing look. "You've been asleep almost twenty-four hours! No wonder you're hungry!"
Eight P.M. is around the time that Sub-Town usually wakes up. As Mokuba led Seto out of the subway car, Seto saw that what had once been a dungeon full of prisoners and slaves were still getting used to the idea of sleeping all day and doing the important things at night.
"Hi!" Mysti said cheerfully, hopping out of a nearby car in a manner that indicated she'd been waiting for the boys to emerge.
"Mysti," Seto greeted a little angrily, "Don't ever do that again!"
The blonde elf gave him an innocent look. "Do what? C'mon, we'd better get you cleaned up and fed, right, Mokuba?" She spoke so fast, winking at Mokuba, that Seto didn't have a chance to protest as the two practically carried him away.
--
Yugi wandered the subways and sewers alone, several illusionary creatures keeping him company as he wondered how the Puzzle could let him create them.
A brown-furred and green-scaled koosh ball of a creature with yellow eyes bounced happily by his side. A Kuriboh, the Puzzle had called it. There were about fifty more following him in a happy little crowd.
"I sure hope nobody sees this," the little fifteen-year-old muttered. Following up the Kuriboh was a comparitively gigantic, green winged beast that was apparently called a "Feral Imp." It peered into the shadows with curiosity and a bit of malice.
_What would be so wrong about anyone seeing it?_ the-- voice asked him. _No one would bother you, at least._
"Well-- Why am I talking to you?"
_Because it's polite to reply when you're spoken to?_
Yugi found himself pointing at the air, and a spark jumped off, creating another Kuriboh. "But-- you're just the little voice inside my head, as far as I can tell. Do you mean I'm going crazy?"
_Not at all. I'm the crazy one._ Yugi felt a mental grin. Something shivered in the air, and formed into someone who looked like him, but taller, perhaps older. Yugi realized that he would be the only one who could see the taller person, Kuriboh and Imp aside.
A Kuriboh rubbed up against the spirit image affectionately. He laughed and patted it. "Who ARE you?" Yugi demanded.
The spirit shrugged. _I'm a part of you, now. I came from the Millenium Puzzle. When you managed to put it together, you woke me up. Call me Yami._
"Dark? What does that imply about you?"
Yami burst out laughing. _It implies I don't like bright lights._
"You have a very strange sense of humor, Yami."
_Of course I do. That isn't neccesarily a bad thing, Yugi._ Yami conjured up a little fairy-like creature and danced her back and forth from one hand to the other.
Yugi watched. Suddenly Yami caught her in one fist, crushing her into a shower of golden dust. There was a little squeak and Yugi winced. _She's just a bit of air and light, Yugi,_ Yami said, and proved it by reforming the dust back into a graceful little creature, then setting her free into the darkness.
One of the Kuriboh chased after the little beacon, then hopped happily back as she disappeared. "Krr!" it said, rubbing up against Yami and Yugi like a round little cat.
_I don't fully understand the world I've come into,_ Yami admitted. _The Queliyg are very new to me, even though elves are certainly something I recognize. I feel as though I'm here for a reason, but I don't know what it is._
"Maybe you're here to free the Earth, or help, anyway."
Yami shrugged. _Somehow I don't think that's my main purpose, Yugi, but it's as good a place to start as any. But to do anything, I'll need your help, and I'll need to help YOU._
Yugi cocked his head. "Help me with what, and how could I possibly be of any use to you other than as a body anyway?"
Yami put an arm around Yugi's shoulder, and Yugi was a little surprised to feel it rest there. _Fate brought us together, Yugi Moto,_ the spirit said as he steered the boy back towards Sub-Town. _I can tell that you hold a lot of promise, and truly, all you need is confidence, and a teacher..._
--
Mako Tsunami was technically Sub-Town's main source of fish. He went out every evening and morning, always coming back dripping wet and with a netload of fish. He really could get fish any time of day. Even though he fished mostly for himself and his crippled father, everyone knew the enormous surplus was completely on purpose.
This day, Mako apparently decided to go a little crazier than usual. He strolled into Sub-Town, whistling cheerfully as usual, but was missing the enormous net he normally carried the fish in. Instead, he held a rope. The rumbling of wheels followed him.
Everyone around his usual entrance looked up in startlement. He wore mostly sharkskin leather he'd tanned himself (after winning a fight with the fish the skin had come from) and though whatever he was pulling sounded heavy, he didn't seem to be under any strain.
There were a few startled gasps and one little shriek as the onlookers saw what he was dragging behind him.
It was a large, old wooden wagon, huge, really, green paint flecking off and wheels creaking from strain. Its cargo: Perhaps a ton of large fish and one particularly evil-looking shark.
Solomon Moto looked out one of the subway cars and fell over in astonishment.
He went to stand in the doorway. "Good evening, young Mako! That's quite a load of fish!"
Mako grinned at him happily, putting his hands on his hips. "Well, I should think so! We can make it into a real feast, wouldn't you say?"
Solomon chuckled. "That's a LOT of sushi."
Mako nodded, laughing heartily. "Well, I'd better get to my father now, he'll probably be hungry."
Solomon shook his head as the young man walked away, wagon trailing behind him. "I hope he's _very_ hungry."
--
Of course, Mako's father could never possibly be that hungry, which Mako had known perfectly well, so after finding foods to supplement the fish, a feast seemed in order.
Max laughed his head off when he saw the evil shark. "I wish we could take a picture!" he chortled. "It's the _Great White Terror!_"
Cecilia shook her head. "He can instantly come up with names for evil-looking dead fish but he can't decide on one for a child," she muttered, just loud enough for her husband to hear.
He gave her a look. "How about Weatherby James-Quincy?"
"You've gotta be kidding."
"Of course I'm kidding, Ceci!" There was a pause. "Or Princess Petunia for a girl."
Cecilia whacked him over the head with a handy notebook, which she'd been writing names on.
"Ow! Hey!" Max laughed as she continued the assault, putting his arms up to protect his head. "Get a renewal on your sense of humor!"
Yugi walked into the scene and stopped, about to turn around. _I think we've walked into the wrong Sub-Town,_ he thought at Yami, who snickered.
_Expectant couples. What can we say?_
_Actually, I was talking about the fish. Not that I mind it, though. Mako's dad makes a mean Shark-Fin Soup!_
"Yugi!" Yugi turned to see his grandfather walking toward him. "Where have you been?"
"Um... Just around, Grampa. I felt like taking a walk." He glanced over at the fish, Mako, and Cecilia attacking Max. "What's going on?"
Solomon shrugged. "Mako seemed to have better luck today than usual. We're having a feast."
Yugi started. "That's a LOT of sushi."
Solomon chortled. "I'd say."
--
Sometime later that night, they finally managed to set everything up (without Joey, Tristan and Mako devouring everything before it got to the table).
Seto leaned against a car, staring at all the food. "That's a LOT of sushi," he told Mokuba, who nodded.
"I heard someone say that Mako skinned the shark for tanning." The younger brother paused. "Do you think he caught it because his old outfit is wearing out or something?"
Seto shook his head. "Sharkskin leather is supposed to be the best, Mokuba. If anything, it'd be getting too small for him, which I doubt."
Across the plaza set up for eating, Bakura was also staring at the spread in astonishment. Kekatsu chortled in his mind. _That's a LOT of sushi, wouldn't you say?_ Bakura nodded discreetly.
_I did. You weren't paying attention._ Kekatsu shrugged, or gave the impression of doing so.
_I've had my mind on other things, my little friend. Like-- Yugi Moto's Puzzle._
_What are you talking about, Kekatsu?_
--
Five men gathered before the doors, waiting for their new governess to arrive, heads bowed in careful respect.
They didn't have to wait long. The honor guard of warsuiters first entered the room, peering about suspiciously to ensure their lady's complete safety and the human council's humility.
The Queliyg that entered was small for a female, strongly colored for a Queliyg. Her feathers glittered gold and she wore garments of soft green silk. She advanced slowly, at least compared to her guards, treading silently to peer down at the five humans.
"Look up at me," she demanded in cultured Japanese. "So I can be sure no deceit lies in your faces." The five looked up in startlement. Most Queliyg couldn't read human expression other than widening of the eyes.
"G-Greetings, Lady Ryin," the foremost said, nervously.
Ryin relaxed slightly at seeing their fear of her. "Pleasantries some other time. I wish to know the details of Kaiba's-- death. Include everything you consider important, as well as everything you do not."
The first looked over at one of his companions. "Johnson?"
Johnson gulped as the alien focused her attention on him with unblinking black eyes. "Well, it seems to have been initially a raid to free the many prisoners that Kaiba kept in the dungeon. Someone called only 'Seto' accidently found himself in Kaiba's presence, and somehow managed to kill him. We've saved the security tapes--"
"Show them to me. It has to be a more valuable way of utilizing my time than listening to you babble."
"Yes, Governess."
--
After a single viewing of all the tapes, Ryin's sharp mind had already organized exactly what had happened. She called the five humans to her side.
"This was not merely a coup to free all of the prisoners," she told them, calling up an image where a tall, white haired man was being led through one corridor by a young red-headed female. She focused on his face.
"They were after Cecilia Pegasus, and perhaps the other woman in her cell. This man is Maximillion Pegasus, her husband and, as you should know, leader of the American resistance forces. The girl with him is Serenity Wheeler, who apparently escaped mere hours beforehand and had alerted him to his wife's presence here in the building. Of course, Pegasus hasn't the heart to let the other prisoners continue to rot in their cells. To him, everyone's escape was important. That is why he brought others, including the boy Seto, with him."
Ryin brought up another image, this one of a boy with no less than three different colors of hair, arms outstretched as though he was calling upon some greater being's help. He was standing right before the front gate, a battalion of warsuiters aiming for him. "I do not know who this boy is, but he is certainly one to be reckoned with. It would seem--" she let the footage play, and the five men watched as a great blue dragon fell from the sky with a great deal of eerie screaming, then landed gracefully. "It would seem that somehow he has obtained a holoprojecter, but where he would get that image, which strikes terror in the hearts of the more superstitious, who believe that this creature still exists to plague our kind, I have no idea."
"Still exists?" one asked.
Ryin's shoulder feathers ruffled in a shrug. "Why, yes. In primitive times, such creatures could destroy a single Queliyg village easily, usually devouring the inhabitants and livestock. Now, look at this here." She pulled up the footage of Kaiba's downfall. "Listen to their conversation."
They listened as Kaiba taunted, abused, and attempted to coerce Seto. They watched as Kaiba pushed the boy too far.
"Hopefully," Ryin said as she stopped play, "Seto was right in believing that Kaiba simply wanted to win him over with promises of revenge. For Kaiba's sake. On the other hand, young Seto seems more than someone to fear. He is someone to treat with respect, and no one to underestimate. He is also," and here she clucked in amusement, "Very intelligent but low on common sense. Here are the other members of Pegasus's little team." The faces filled the screen.
"I have matched them as best I can to global human registrations. Some, like the boy with the holgrams, I have been unable to find. But these are the ones I have."
"This young man is a black market merchant named Ryou Bakura. His father was a notorious rebel in England, before his capture. I believe he's been trying obsessively to free his father ever since that occured, so his reasons for being in Japan are unclear to me."
"You know, of course, Serenity Wheeler. She was born with a defect that would have eventually destroyed her vision. Queliyg doctors replaced her eyes with cybernetic implants which record continously for twenty-four hours. However, the memory must be wiped once a day for them to continue to record. The stoppage of recording has no effect on her vision."
"This boy is Duke Devlin, a former slave. Last time he appeared in records he was purchased by a being called Jardexil Kuperitaj, who took him out to the asteroid belts and freed him." Ryin shuddered a little. She didn't care what her mother said, there were some places a being just had to draw the line, and slavery was one of them. She applauded Jardexil.
"This is Joseph Wheeler, Serenity Wheeler's older brother. He was captured alongside his sister nine years ago, but escaped shortly afterwards, and almost managed to get his sister out with him. The elf here is Kel, of Sherum's clan. He's supposed to be dead."
The five stirred a little. Johnson spoke. "He belonged to an Enforcer called Ushio. After he disappeared, we assumed Ushio had beat him to death. Ushio himself-- well, let it be said he's in bad condition."
Ryin glanced at him. "When I'm through, take me to him. You are all aware that Pegasus's presence in Japan without your noticing is a black mark upon you, correct?"
They nodded mutely. "Whoever smuggled him in must be very good, Governess," the foremost apoligised.
Ryin nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. Very good. Very."
--
End Chapter Eight. (Forboding music plays) What are the BIG 5 doing here? And does everyone remember that Ryin's name appears back in Chapter Four? ^_^ All Ushio can say is "Sah. Mah. Skah." Hee hee. It was Mr. T's idea.
For some reason we got the emails of reviews but they aren't showing up on the site. Oh, well, uploading's been goofy lately.
High Crystal Guardian, the more things change, the more they stay the same. ^_^ We'd love to loan Max out, but Cecilia won't let us. (lol) Actually, Kel and Mysti aren't quite OC's. Think about them a moment.
GriffenFire, the REAL reason that was the entry code is because that's what Golden's mom always does. Hee hee.
Seto Kaiba Red Archery Girl: Tada, update! Gozaburo Kaiba is definitely on my "least favorites" list, too.
Unintentional Nightmare, we're glad we made you smile. (And Deepest Need is still precious! *we're doing the wave, even though you can't see*)
People are still occasionally reviewing "Happy Mother's Day." Hmm.
In this chapter, we're going to have a little fun. ^_^ It's like one of those "non-continuity clean up" episodes that somehow seem out of joint. Of course, it's still dedicated to Mr. T, also to the Name Game, because several times you'll hear Max and Cecilia playing it. Right now we have no plot, so we'd thought a breather would be in order.
--
Chapter Eight: Numerous Names, and LOTS of Sushi
(The Fishmonger's Jubilee!)
--
"How about... Sydney?" Max pondered as he led the crowd of freed prisoners into the sewers. They had been split into several smaller groups, each led by one of their rescuers, although Seto didn't count, seeing as he was unconcious and being carried by Kel.
"What if it's a girl?" Cecilia asked. "And what about middle names?"
"Hmmm... Sydney Levar or Madison Willa?" His wife shook her head.
"What about Sedge Cliff or-- ah, Maxima Primrose!" she suggested with a smile.
Max shook his head emphatically. "I don't even want a cricket named after me, much less my child. Call it modesty. But the 'rose' reference is nice. How about Primrose Aura for a girl and uh... Crawford James, for a boy."
Cecilia made a face. "Crawford J. Pegasus? Somehow that just doesn't sound right."
"Ugh. You have a point."
Mai came a little closer behind them, little Mokuba still in her arms. "Could you two please play the Name Game later?" she asked. "I wouldn't want to get lost down here in the sewers."
The expectant couple blushed. "Sorry," Cecilia told her. "You know it's our first."
"Don't worry, Mai," Max assured her, "We're almost to Sub-Town."
Mai shifted the child's weight. "I sure hope so. Things are almost always heavier when they're asleep, be it cats or little boys."
--
Seto awoke to find himself in a makeshift bed in one of the Sub-Town subway car homes. Sitting up, he looked around a little frantically to see if Mokuba was in the room.
He was, but he'd obviously been awake already. Seto was in the same clothing he'd fought Kaiba in and blood still caked on his skin where the wounds were. Mokuba seemed to be in clean clothing and had probably had a bath.
Seto swung his long legs over the edge of the old seat frames that supported his bed, and Mokuba awoke. He turned a sweet smile on his older brother. "Feeling better?"
"Not normal yet, but yeah. Are you?" The older boy stood and stretched.
"Mm-hm. You're probably hungry. I was when I woke up." Mokuba jumped to his feet and took Seto's hand.
With some surprise, Seto realized he WAS hungry. "When did you wake up, and why'd you wake up before me?"
"I came out of it sometime around noon. It was almost sunset last I remember before that. Mysti says I woke up before you because cuts that've been bleeding take longer to heal."
"What time is it now?" Mokuba checked a little Timex watch hanging on the wall.
"Eight P.M, approximately." Mokuba turned and gave him a slightly teasing look. "You've been asleep almost twenty-four hours! No wonder you're hungry!"
Eight P.M. is around the time that Sub-Town usually wakes up. As Mokuba led Seto out of the subway car, Seto saw that what had once been a dungeon full of prisoners and slaves were still getting used to the idea of sleeping all day and doing the important things at night.
"Hi!" Mysti said cheerfully, hopping out of a nearby car in a manner that indicated she'd been waiting for the boys to emerge.
"Mysti," Seto greeted a little angrily, "Don't ever do that again!"
The blonde elf gave him an innocent look. "Do what? C'mon, we'd better get you cleaned up and fed, right, Mokuba?" She spoke so fast, winking at Mokuba, that Seto didn't have a chance to protest as the two practically carried him away.
--
Yugi wandered the subways and sewers alone, several illusionary creatures keeping him company as he wondered how the Puzzle could let him create them.
A brown-furred and green-scaled koosh ball of a creature with yellow eyes bounced happily by his side. A Kuriboh, the Puzzle had called it. There were about fifty more following him in a happy little crowd.
"I sure hope nobody sees this," the little fifteen-year-old muttered. Following up the Kuriboh was a comparitively gigantic, green winged beast that was apparently called a "Feral Imp." It peered into the shadows with curiosity and a bit of malice.
_What would be so wrong about anyone seeing it?_ the-- voice asked him. _No one would bother you, at least._
"Well-- Why am I talking to you?"
_Because it's polite to reply when you're spoken to?_
Yugi found himself pointing at the air, and a spark jumped off, creating another Kuriboh. "But-- you're just the little voice inside my head, as far as I can tell. Do you mean I'm going crazy?"
_Not at all. I'm the crazy one._ Yugi felt a mental grin. Something shivered in the air, and formed into someone who looked like him, but taller, perhaps older. Yugi realized that he would be the only one who could see the taller person, Kuriboh and Imp aside.
A Kuriboh rubbed up against the spirit image affectionately. He laughed and patted it. "Who ARE you?" Yugi demanded.
The spirit shrugged. _I'm a part of you, now. I came from the Millenium Puzzle. When you managed to put it together, you woke me up. Call me Yami._
"Dark? What does that imply about you?"
Yami burst out laughing. _It implies I don't like bright lights._
"You have a very strange sense of humor, Yami."
_Of course I do. That isn't neccesarily a bad thing, Yugi._ Yami conjured up a little fairy-like creature and danced her back and forth from one hand to the other.
Yugi watched. Suddenly Yami caught her in one fist, crushing her into a shower of golden dust. There was a little squeak and Yugi winced. _She's just a bit of air and light, Yugi,_ Yami said, and proved it by reforming the dust back into a graceful little creature, then setting her free into the darkness.
One of the Kuriboh chased after the little beacon, then hopped happily back as she disappeared. "Krr!" it said, rubbing up against Yami and Yugi like a round little cat.
_I don't fully understand the world I've come into,_ Yami admitted. _The Queliyg are very new to me, even though elves are certainly something I recognize. I feel as though I'm here for a reason, but I don't know what it is._
"Maybe you're here to free the Earth, or help, anyway."
Yami shrugged. _Somehow I don't think that's my main purpose, Yugi, but it's as good a place to start as any. But to do anything, I'll need your help, and I'll need to help YOU._
Yugi cocked his head. "Help me with what, and how could I possibly be of any use to you other than as a body anyway?"
Yami put an arm around Yugi's shoulder, and Yugi was a little surprised to feel it rest there. _Fate brought us together, Yugi Moto,_ the spirit said as he steered the boy back towards Sub-Town. _I can tell that you hold a lot of promise, and truly, all you need is confidence, and a teacher..._
--
Mako Tsunami was technically Sub-Town's main source of fish. He went out every evening and morning, always coming back dripping wet and with a netload of fish. He really could get fish any time of day. Even though he fished mostly for himself and his crippled father, everyone knew the enormous surplus was completely on purpose.
This day, Mako apparently decided to go a little crazier than usual. He strolled into Sub-Town, whistling cheerfully as usual, but was missing the enormous net he normally carried the fish in. Instead, he held a rope. The rumbling of wheels followed him.
Everyone around his usual entrance looked up in startlement. He wore mostly sharkskin leather he'd tanned himself (after winning a fight with the fish the skin had come from) and though whatever he was pulling sounded heavy, he didn't seem to be under any strain.
There were a few startled gasps and one little shriek as the onlookers saw what he was dragging behind him.
It was a large, old wooden wagon, huge, really, green paint flecking off and wheels creaking from strain. Its cargo: Perhaps a ton of large fish and one particularly evil-looking shark.
Solomon Moto looked out one of the subway cars and fell over in astonishment.
He went to stand in the doorway. "Good evening, young Mako! That's quite a load of fish!"
Mako grinned at him happily, putting his hands on his hips. "Well, I should think so! We can make it into a real feast, wouldn't you say?"
Solomon chuckled. "That's a LOT of sushi."
Mako nodded, laughing heartily. "Well, I'd better get to my father now, he'll probably be hungry."
Solomon shook his head as the young man walked away, wagon trailing behind him. "I hope he's _very_ hungry."
--
Of course, Mako's father could never possibly be that hungry, which Mako had known perfectly well, so after finding foods to supplement the fish, a feast seemed in order.
Max laughed his head off when he saw the evil shark. "I wish we could take a picture!" he chortled. "It's the _Great White Terror!_"
Cecilia shook her head. "He can instantly come up with names for evil-looking dead fish but he can't decide on one for a child," she muttered, just loud enough for her husband to hear.
He gave her a look. "How about Weatherby James-Quincy?"
"You've gotta be kidding."
"Of course I'm kidding, Ceci!" There was a pause. "Or Princess Petunia for a girl."
Cecilia whacked him over the head with a handy notebook, which she'd been writing names on.
"Ow! Hey!" Max laughed as she continued the assault, putting his arms up to protect his head. "Get a renewal on your sense of humor!"
Yugi walked into the scene and stopped, about to turn around. _I think we've walked into the wrong Sub-Town,_ he thought at Yami, who snickered.
_Expectant couples. What can we say?_
_Actually, I was talking about the fish. Not that I mind it, though. Mako's dad makes a mean Shark-Fin Soup!_
"Yugi!" Yugi turned to see his grandfather walking toward him. "Where have you been?"
"Um... Just around, Grampa. I felt like taking a walk." He glanced over at the fish, Mako, and Cecilia attacking Max. "What's going on?"
Solomon shrugged. "Mako seemed to have better luck today than usual. We're having a feast."
Yugi started. "That's a LOT of sushi."
Solomon chortled. "I'd say."
--
Sometime later that night, they finally managed to set everything up (without Joey, Tristan and Mako devouring everything before it got to the table).
Seto leaned against a car, staring at all the food. "That's a LOT of sushi," he told Mokuba, who nodded.
"I heard someone say that Mako skinned the shark for tanning." The younger brother paused. "Do you think he caught it because his old outfit is wearing out or something?"
Seto shook his head. "Sharkskin leather is supposed to be the best, Mokuba. If anything, it'd be getting too small for him, which I doubt."
Across the plaza set up for eating, Bakura was also staring at the spread in astonishment. Kekatsu chortled in his mind. _That's a LOT of sushi, wouldn't you say?_ Bakura nodded discreetly.
_I did. You weren't paying attention._ Kekatsu shrugged, or gave the impression of doing so.
_I've had my mind on other things, my little friend. Like-- Yugi Moto's Puzzle._
_What are you talking about, Kekatsu?_
--
Five men gathered before the doors, waiting for their new governess to arrive, heads bowed in careful respect.
They didn't have to wait long. The honor guard of warsuiters first entered the room, peering about suspiciously to ensure their lady's complete safety and the human council's humility.
The Queliyg that entered was small for a female, strongly colored for a Queliyg. Her feathers glittered gold and she wore garments of soft green silk. She advanced slowly, at least compared to her guards, treading silently to peer down at the five humans.
"Look up at me," she demanded in cultured Japanese. "So I can be sure no deceit lies in your faces." The five looked up in startlement. Most Queliyg couldn't read human expression other than widening of the eyes.
"G-Greetings, Lady Ryin," the foremost said, nervously.
Ryin relaxed slightly at seeing their fear of her. "Pleasantries some other time. I wish to know the details of Kaiba's-- death. Include everything you consider important, as well as everything you do not."
The first looked over at one of his companions. "Johnson?"
Johnson gulped as the alien focused her attention on him with unblinking black eyes. "Well, it seems to have been initially a raid to free the many prisoners that Kaiba kept in the dungeon. Someone called only 'Seto' accidently found himself in Kaiba's presence, and somehow managed to kill him. We've saved the security tapes--"
"Show them to me. It has to be a more valuable way of utilizing my time than listening to you babble."
"Yes, Governess."
--
After a single viewing of all the tapes, Ryin's sharp mind had already organized exactly what had happened. She called the five humans to her side.
"This was not merely a coup to free all of the prisoners," she told them, calling up an image where a tall, white haired man was being led through one corridor by a young red-headed female. She focused on his face.
"They were after Cecilia Pegasus, and perhaps the other woman in her cell. This man is Maximillion Pegasus, her husband and, as you should know, leader of the American resistance forces. The girl with him is Serenity Wheeler, who apparently escaped mere hours beforehand and had alerted him to his wife's presence here in the building. Of course, Pegasus hasn't the heart to let the other prisoners continue to rot in their cells. To him, everyone's escape was important. That is why he brought others, including the boy Seto, with him."
Ryin brought up another image, this one of a boy with no less than three different colors of hair, arms outstretched as though he was calling upon some greater being's help. He was standing right before the front gate, a battalion of warsuiters aiming for him. "I do not know who this boy is, but he is certainly one to be reckoned with. It would seem--" she let the footage play, and the five men watched as a great blue dragon fell from the sky with a great deal of eerie screaming, then landed gracefully. "It would seem that somehow he has obtained a holoprojecter, but where he would get that image, which strikes terror in the hearts of the more superstitious, who believe that this creature still exists to plague our kind, I have no idea."
"Still exists?" one asked.
Ryin's shoulder feathers ruffled in a shrug. "Why, yes. In primitive times, such creatures could destroy a single Queliyg village easily, usually devouring the inhabitants and livestock. Now, look at this here." She pulled up the footage of Kaiba's downfall. "Listen to their conversation."
They listened as Kaiba taunted, abused, and attempted to coerce Seto. They watched as Kaiba pushed the boy too far.
"Hopefully," Ryin said as she stopped play, "Seto was right in believing that Kaiba simply wanted to win him over with promises of revenge. For Kaiba's sake. On the other hand, young Seto seems more than someone to fear. He is someone to treat with respect, and no one to underestimate. He is also," and here she clucked in amusement, "Very intelligent but low on common sense. Here are the other members of Pegasus's little team." The faces filled the screen.
"I have matched them as best I can to global human registrations. Some, like the boy with the holgrams, I have been unable to find. But these are the ones I have."
"This young man is a black market merchant named Ryou Bakura. His father was a notorious rebel in England, before his capture. I believe he's been trying obsessively to free his father ever since that occured, so his reasons for being in Japan are unclear to me."
"You know, of course, Serenity Wheeler. She was born with a defect that would have eventually destroyed her vision. Queliyg doctors replaced her eyes with cybernetic implants which record continously for twenty-four hours. However, the memory must be wiped once a day for them to continue to record. The stoppage of recording has no effect on her vision."
"This boy is Duke Devlin, a former slave. Last time he appeared in records he was purchased by a being called Jardexil Kuperitaj, who took him out to the asteroid belts and freed him." Ryin shuddered a little. She didn't care what her mother said, there were some places a being just had to draw the line, and slavery was one of them. She applauded Jardexil.
"This is Joseph Wheeler, Serenity Wheeler's older brother. He was captured alongside his sister nine years ago, but escaped shortly afterwards, and almost managed to get his sister out with him. The elf here is Kel, of Sherum's clan. He's supposed to be dead."
The five stirred a little. Johnson spoke. "He belonged to an Enforcer called Ushio. After he disappeared, we assumed Ushio had beat him to death. Ushio himself-- well, let it be said he's in bad condition."
Ryin glanced at him. "When I'm through, take me to him. You are all aware that Pegasus's presence in Japan without your noticing is a black mark upon you, correct?"
They nodded mutely. "Whoever smuggled him in must be very good, Governess," the foremost apoligised.
Ryin nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. Very good. Very."
--
End Chapter Eight. (Forboding music plays) What are the BIG 5 doing here? And does everyone remember that Ryin's name appears back in Chapter Four? ^_^ All Ushio can say is "Sah. Mah. Skah." Hee hee. It was Mr. T's idea.