Chapter 10. Fifteen Days
For fifteen days, Neko had been in a strait jacket. No one she knew was aware she was alive. But it was better that way, it was better if they thought she was dead rather than in an insane asylum. A man in a long white coat walked down the hall and into the room.
Hello, psychiatric patient 646.
My name is Neko Mikiko.
Whatever. I was just looking over the last man's notes...you say that the voice in your head-
In the comb, actually.
-right, this voice... she made you kill people?
Yes. Five. She laughed, First, Mrs. Pegasus, then my father, then my mother, than some duelist who she couldn't just threaten into giving her the gauntlet, then Mr. Pegasus. She wants to get Yugi too, but I stopped her. She giggled wildly, her eyes wide with tiny pupils, almost blocked by a few wild strands of black hair, I stopped her... she won't get him now, no...
And you died?
Yes, I died. I ran away from Anubis, but I forgot to take back my heart. How silly of me. That's why I'm not afraid of you. I left my heart with him. I can't feel.
But if you died, why are you here now?
He took me back... he took me back...
If I told you you'd just think I was insane.
I already think that. Who took you back?
Mr. Oni. He wants me to be his queen. He wants control over my body. He thinks I'll be easier to control than who he has now. But I won't. I won't, I won't... I'll never give in to him... I'll get him out of my friend's head... his pretty little head... te he... I don't know how, but I'll do it, when I'm out... te he...
We can't let you out, miss.
I'm not completely insane! You think I'm insane! Ha ha ha! No, every word of this is true... he he... I'm sorry, I laugh when I'm stressed... little white padded rooms and tight white coats are stressful... he he he.... Where's my pretty comb? The gold one? You took it away... that's stealing... don't wear it.. she'll get you then... The man sighed and turned to go.
I'm not as insane as you think I am.
That would take some work. After the man left, the patient leaned against the wall and began to start calling again, like she always did, always, never sleeping, never eating, only pausing to tell them men in the white suits not to wear the comb. Like she always did, with no emotion except for a nervous laugh.
Yugi! Yugi!! Yoooou-giii!
For fifteen days, Yugi had been in shock. Neko was dead. It was kind of numbing, seeing her die, and then die again, after letting her hold the title of one of his friends. The rest of them were dealing with her death differently. Bakura had taken to wandering graveyards, even more so than usual, with ribbons wrapped around his wrists and calling to the graves softly, asking their silent occupants how Neko was adjusting. When he talked to the living, he seemed fine, if sad, and it became obvious it wasn't delusions, just mourning. Joey had buried his raver disuse deep in his dresser (First time he's opened it in a month. Commented Angelie) and Tristan had stopped his usual pursuits, even Serenity. Téa was moaning with guilt, wondering if somehow, her ill will towards Neko had caused her to snap. She found herself twice running up to random brunettes and apologizing perfusely. Yugi hadn't talked much, not even to his grandfather. He didn't even get excited when the prize for Dead Duelist arrived (vouchers for free entry to the Giza, probably more than originally designed, as the owner tried to save his butt), he just put them in a drawer and began to cry. Dead Duelist. Neko Mikiko. He had neither talked to Yami for any stretch of time. Yami himself wondered what more he might discover about his past, and who else would have to suffer for it. I did the right thing. Just for too long. He muttered to himself. I should have told her when we were talking. I knew then. I knew hard who I was, and who she was. I have never been more sure about anything in my prolonged life. And then she might have forgiven the noble friend for being Yami. I wanted to believe that I could not tell her and just start again... I never thought she might think I was leaving her... Wait! How do I remember that? I remember... I remember... a night. I was alone... looking over water... a woman comes behind me, not Mau... she is speaking...
You would tell her, wouldn't you?
I have to. She strikes me...
You cannot strike a king!
I may strike a fool! I return the blow...
You cannot strike a woman!
I can strike a bitch. And that is what you have made yourself recently, nothing more than a mange-racked mongrel that snaps a anything that comes near her.
You know what you must do.
The council says one thing, yet my heart says another.
Hearts are blind and impractical.
You, too, loved once.
Comparing your wife to my daughter is like comparing a lotus to the dirt it sprang from!
Oh? One can be eaten by a passing goat and another can be sown with kamut?
Her hands are soiled!
Better soiled hands than a soiled heart! You, who have never worked harder than to make a sacrifice to the gods, speak of the soiled hands of one who carved life out of dry land, while her king knew nothing of this, and spake him the truth where his council lied. How, with the little labor you put forth, came to power while she nearly died, I still wonder. This world works so ill...
It is not your duty to fix the world. Just to save it. Save it so others may fix it...
She is wise, I know... she might fix it while I am gone..she'll understand, if only I could tell her-
But still, she might.. figure everything out.. she is so clever... she'll understand, but still... I don't want to leave her.
Cleanse yourself of want. Cleanse yourself of the m... There, Yami's dream ended. Poor Neko... this is all my fault... but... He thought of who Mau was and saw what would have happened if she had not gotten too caught up in the first duel to ask his name.
You still have not answered my question. Hissed Mauhucomchere. I have told you my name, now tell me yours.
I have had many names over the years, but I believe one of them may be the name you search for. Mau's interest quickened. I know the name Kenophat... I feel a pain in his loss, his early death which I fear may have been my doing. Once, long ago, I was called Yami. The word reverberated with shock. Mau numbed, as her search, so long fruitless, had finally reached it's end. Then she laughed. She laughed and finished the duel quickly, ruthlessly treating her vessel with her prospect so near she could touch him. Licking her lips for vengeance, and no longer distracted by his form, and his eyes... eyes that took every duel she ever played from her, powerful eyes she once loved, eyes which would have lost her the duel did she not know the name of he who owned them.
Forgive me. She laughed, excitement building to a peak as she drew the kris, I've waited so long, dear husband... Yugi screamed for Yami to save him, not to let her collect on the duel, but it was magically sealed, and no one could save him now...
It'll be quick... I promise... She purred, drawing close to him... I'd just take you, but killing a physical vessel is so much more satisfying... and do not draw into the puzzle... it will just make it hurt more for your vessel... and you will join him soon enough, so do not fret... but first... She drew close to him. Dear husband... She kissed him. Her lips were like vanilla-flavored silk. Hungry for something he did not know he wanted, Yami reached behind her head and touched the comb, pressing her face closer to his. And then then blade into his abdomen. In so quickly, and out so smoothly.
Well, isn't this a turn-around, dear husband? I'm sticking something in you! She laughed wickedly, My, what a dirty little mind I have... And she laughed as his blood dripped from the blade and she watched him die.
For fifteen days, Seto Kaiba had been brooding through his paperwork. He had really been looking forward to wiping the floor of The Giza with various idiots who thought a little eyeliner and a deck made them special. But he couldn't have left Mokuba alone when he was sick. Kaiba sighed and took off his trench coat.
=^-,-^= I have every intention to treat Kaiba's character as kindly as I have treated Téa's. ^^
Damn. Seto thought, What kind of idiots do I have working for me? These fools are spending my money on the stupidest things! Hmm. Moral is too high around here. Who is in charge of finance for the duel disk construction anyway? Hmm... Mr. Jilanus. Kaiba tap the intercom on his desk.
Asked his secretary, who was mainly paid for putting up with people yelling at her.
Fire Mr. Jilanus.
Okay, sir. Should I give a reason for this?
No. He'll have plenty of time to contemplate why he got fired afterwards.
Might I put this off until you are in a better mood? You do sound tense.
Damn, woman, you know as well as anyone that I have two moods: Angsty and bitter! Now, which one do you suggest is better?
Angsty. You're quieter then.
Yes, Mr. Kaiba?
When you're done, fire yourself.
Alright, but we are having wiring problems. It might not go through.
Do what you can. He hung up on her, and she proceeded to call Mr. Jilanus.
You're free.
What? Like now? I can just leave?
If you do not vacate the premises in twenty minutes, we'll have to send in security.
Pretend you're heartbroken, would you? Pretend you're not escaping a dictatorship. Good luck kid. She hung up the phone and went back to her typing for fan magazines.
Trapped in his office all day, the head of super company Kaiba Corp, Seto Kaiba, his expression seeped in disdain that is not his, while the shards of once-flawless heart ache within him. Morgan stifled a snigger and muttered, I am so full of it my eyes are brown. She attempted to continue, but found it difficult with the shaking of stifled laughter.
What are you laughing about, Morgan? It's very distracting, you know.
Um, the fool's crys for mercy, sir. Nothing it more amusing then a sobbing spendthrift, sir.
You are full of it, Morgan, which explains the brown on your nose.
Yes, sir.
Stop laughing behind my back.
Note taken, sir. All laughing will take place directly before your back.
Morgan, shut up.
Note taken. And she returned to her column.
Unable to recover from a lost love, he shuts himself off from the world, in blackness forever, drowning himself in work. If only there was someone to cast a light in his bleak heart and teach him to love again- Morgan covered her mouth with her hands and giggled, How do they print this bullshit? She picked up the phone again.
Please inform Kaiba's security to leave the house before ten tonight, as Kaiba's having a hissy-fit.
Fifteen days was too long.
If you are in a strait jacket with uncombed hair, a nervous breakdown looks strangely like insanity.
Yooo-gi! Yoooo-gi! You said I was your friend... you said you would help me.. but where are you... I've called for days... I don't know how long... can't you hear me.... you said I was your friend... why am I not crying? What started as calling wildly into the darkness slipped into a calm conversation with the shadows.
Can't you hear me... don't you care... I'm alive, I'm alive... I wish I was dead... I'm alive...
Neko Mikiko?
He he he... what happened to psychiatric patient 646?
You asked to be-
She's going insane! That's what happened to psychiatric patient 646! He he he ha HA HA HA HA!!!!
Now you used to be able to hold a conversation and claim sanity, but now-
I didn't come here insane! I going insane! Who is surprised?
That's interesting. Why do you think you're going insane? Suddenly, the young woman who had not moved in fifteen days, just leaned against the corner of the room, talking to herself and laughing, leapt up and threw herself at the pyraglass window.
WHERE IS THE COMB? She laughed loudly.
Why are you so interested in this anyway? Asked the man in horror, pulling a gold comb out of his pocket.
I don't belong here... She laughed quietly, backing up. She threw her shoulder into the window again.
Now, now, that window is unbreakable, and besides, you're very weak, you haven't eaten in days, nor have you slept, I don't understand why you're still alive... your heart should have stopped by now...
I don't have one... She laughed, and put her shoulder again to the glass. First, a tiny spider web and then it shattered. Flipping her arms above her head the straitjacket became undone. She laughed madly as glass caught in her sleeves and skin. She leapt on top of the man and whipped her glass-pierced sleeves around his neck.
Started the young woman before the patient's sleeve whipped out and broke the intercom screen. Patient 646 laughed wildly, her eyes more wild than ever.
I'll take her to a crucible... I'll destroy her... HA HA HA HA HA!!!
She reached down her head and took the tines of the comb in her teeth. She ran from the room, unnoticing of her many cuts and just running in the whiteness of the institution. The sleeves of the strait jacket flying out behind her like wings. She didn't know, and didn't care, how long she ran, just kept at it until she burst out of the front doors and ran into the woods. In the blackness, she let the comb fall from her teeth and fell to her knees. Struggling out of strait jacket, she finally noticed she was bleeding. This made her laugh. She twisted the eye on the back of the comb, like she had seen Mau do many times before, and took out the knife.
This is the part where I play McGeiver... I'm going to make a helpless, sane woman out of a magic comb, a strait jacket, a knife, a deck of cards, and a psychiatric patient... She cut the long part of the sleeves off the jacket and cut the excess up as bandages. Using the kris, she pried pieces of glass out of her arms, and though she could feel the pain, she could not cry. The thought was strangely sobering. She wiped dew from the leaves with a scrap to small to make a bandage with and washed her face, and combed out her hair with something that could kill easily. She bandaged her arms and examined her reflection in the comb.Three cuts on her face were washed with dew but not bandaged more then putting a piece of white paper (a Graceful Charity card with the lamination, and therefore printing, pulled off) on it, which matched her completion disturbingly well. She put the knife back in the comb and the comb back in her hair and wore the white jacket over the bandages on her arms. She ran out of the forest, where it had begun to rain, and examined her handiwork. The gleaming road made a lovely looking glass and the too-wide smile creeped back onto her face. She touched her reddened fingers to her mouth and made herself up with her own blood.
Lovely... all I am is lovely... lovely is he one thing I can do... She sang, turning down the road. She bent her head and waled with the rain so that the blood on her lips wouldn't run until she found someone to help her. She made it to the heart of Domino in under an hour. She paused outside a certain little game shop she had seen once before. She shook her head and turned away.
His grandfather wouldn't have me... and I don't want him to see me like this.. I don't want anyone I know to. My only choice is to find- The lightning flashed and illuminated a mansion with a large iron gate, obviously for show as she could slip though it without sucking in, but then again, she hadn't eaten in fifteen days, -a stranger.
The doorbell rang.
Could someone get that? Hissed Kaiba. It rang again. He hissed, dropping his work. Where is everyone?! He sulked up to the door and flung it open. The lightening flashed again, silhouetting the figure and blinding Kaiba. The red-lipped girl in the torn white jacket fainted. Catching her emaciated frame, Kaiba stood aghast.
Who is this? He asked the rainstorm. Who is this pale waif who you dropped on my doorstep? He looked at her face, the long wet hair and gleaming red lips. Bending closer to her, he tasted those lips, licking his own as he rose.
Blood... who are you?