At first Joey was certain it was some sort of joke. This was ridiculous! He had never heard of or seen Seto Kaiba fainting anywhere. Seto was always stubborn and refused to let anyone know when he was feeling ill. Joey doubted very much that Seto would let himself pass out right here!
But he realized also that it was even more ridiculous to think that Seto would pull a joke like this. Joey could imagine maybe Tristan doing it sometime as an unfunny joke, but Seto would frown upon it immensely. It was rare, if ever, that Seto engaged in any sort of levity, and certainly pretending to faint would not be what he'd delight in. No, the other boy must have truly collapsed.
So Joey knelt down at Seto's side and shook him. "HEY!" he yelled. "Come on, Kaiba, naptime's over! Wake up!!" He shook the exhausted youth a bit harder than he'd meant to and Seto gave a soft moan, attempting to move away.
"Joey! What in the world are you doing?!"
Joey looked up to see a befuddled Tristan approaching. Apparently Téa and Serenity were still looking in that women's store, as they weren't anywhere with him. Tristan had been aimlessly wandering the corridors while he'd been waiting, and now he'd found his way to the main entrance where Joey was dealing with the unconscious Seto. Joey had to admit he was relieved for the help.
"Give me a hand, Tristan," he ordered. "It's a long story, but Kaiba here kinda fainted or something." Joey grabbed one of Seto's arms and tried to haul him up.
Tristan just stared, unmoving, for several moments. "Fainted? Kaiba?" he said in disbelief. He found it just as impossible as Joey did, knowing how Seto was. But then again . . . maybe not so impossible. Yes, Tristan knew exactly how Seto was—including his obsessiveness with work. If Seto overworked himself, which was entirely possible, he could very well faint. Quickly he ran forward to help Joey, who was struggling to get Seto over to a nearby bench.
"Maybe we should call a doc or somethin'," Tristan suggested.
"You think so?" Joey glanced over at him. "Man, Kaiba would really love that." He snickered a bit in spite of himself. If there was one thing Seto hated more than looking vulnerable in front of Joey or Yugi or any of them, it was being examined by doctors.
"Calling medical personnel is completely unnecessary." Seto Kaiba, regaining his senses slowly, had overheard some of the conversation between Joey and Tristan and was not pleased. He had collapsed, as he'd known he was going to—but in front of Joey Wheeler of all people! He hated himself for that. Nothing that profitable had happened on this outing. The one he had fought with had mysteriously vanished. And if Joey and Tristan were going to hover over him, there wasn't much chance he'd be visiting that store without them tagging along.
"Completely unnecessary?!" Joey wailed in disbelief after recovering from the shock of Seto abruptly speaking. "What the heck's the matter with you, Kaiba?! People don't just pass out for no reason!"
Seto struggled to sit up. He realized now that he needed to go home to bed. If he wound up in the KaibaCorp infirmary—or worse, a hospital!—it wouldn't help things for him any. But when he tried to push past the two boys standing over him, they weren't willing to let him pass.
"Whoa, take it easy," Tristan said, grabbing Seto's shoulders. "Joey's right! You shouldn't stand up too fast. You might bring it on again."
"I'm aware of that," Seto grumbled, his blue eyes looking out piercingly from behind the thick bangs. "But I'm not getting up too fast."
"For Pete's sake, Kaiba!" Joey yelled, and he was certain anyone left in the mall would hear him and come running to see what all the commotion was about. "Quit bein' such a stubborn, thickheaded know-it-all!" What he completely overlooked was the fact that he behaved quite similarly much of the time. Perhaps the problems between him and Seto stemmed from the fact that they were too much alike.
Seto got up anyway, his eyes concealed in shadow. "There's nothing wrong with me," he snapped. "I was just a bit light-headed." With that he swept past them both, determinedly heading for the door.
But Joey grabbed Seto's arm, pulling him back. "Just accept the fact that you're not indestructible, man!" he growled. "You passed out and you need help! You should have a doctor check you out or something!" What would it take to make this guy see that he wasn't the only person to ever collapse and that it wasn't something that would make him look weak? Joey knew that that's what Seto was angry about. Well, that and also the fact that it had been Joey Wheeler whom Seto had collapsed in front of. Heck, if the tables had been turned, Seto was the last person Joey would've wanted to collapse around. Joey could understand the businessman's embarrassment.
Again Seto wrenched away, looking more irritated than before. "I already know what's wrong," he said coldly. "And I don't need a doctor to tell me what I know." Before he could be stopped, he was gone.
****
Mr. Ryou stared at Bakura strangely after the boy's outburst. "Who?!" he demanded. Never had he heard such an odd name—except in the ancient Egyptian texts he sometimes translated for the college he worked with. Someone living in this day and age with the name was something he had never imagined or fathomed before. Why did Bakura know this person? Why was this Khu dressed so inappropriately for the weather? And when would things settle down? Mr. Ryou felt like his whole life had been turned upsidedown once again. He had been running from life since both his precious wife and later his daughter had been taken from him. He didn't want to think that his son was becoming involved with shady characters.
"Khu!" Bakura repeated. "No wonder Yami is so angry!" Never could he forget the things this man had done. He had tortured Yami Bakura more than once. He and his brother had teamed up with several other villains and caused endless agony for everyone in San Francisco. The last time anyone had seen Khu had been when he had stolen the Horse talisman to heal Seth after Vivalene had shot the younger man multiple times. And now Khu was laying on his worst enemy's porch?! Khu despised Yami Bakura just as much as the thief despised him. If he had any knowledge of where he was going, this was the last place he'd come to. But it was such a strange coincidence. . . .
Yami Bakura yanked Bakura away before he could kneel beside Khu again, his dark chocolate eyes flaming with rage. "You know who he is now," the tomb robber fumed. "And you know I won't lift a finger to help him, nor will I allow you to!"
Bakura frowned. "Yami, it's Christmastime!" he scolded, pulling free and kneeling by Khu anyway. He didn't intend to let Yami Bakura boss him around, not when someone was hurt—even if that someone was one that he himself didn't particularly like.
Yami Bakura snarled. "You fool! I don't care what it is! We should leave him to die!" Bakura was completely defying him to help this scumbag who wasn't deserving of help!! Yami Bakura could barely control the urge to grab the boy again and throw him across the room. He wanted to almost more than anything else right now. Once he'd moved Bakura, he could begin his revenge on Khu.
But Mr. Ryou got in the way before he could. "I will hear no more of this talk!" he roared. "I already said what was to happen to this man as long as he's on my property. Either abide by my decisions or leave this house!!"
Everyone conscious froze and all eyes turned to the thief in shock. What would he say to this? Surely, Bakura thought, he wouldn't leave me; I'm his hikari! He wrung his hands in anxiety, praying that Yami Bakura would have a sudden change of heart. What he was fully expecting was for the tomb raider to disappear into the Millennium Ring.
But Yami Bakura whirled in anger, stepping over Khu's body to walk out on the porch. Very well then. He would leave. He wouldn't stand for this insubordination! If Bakura wanted to hobnob with scum like Khu, then he could. But Yami Bakura, once the proud thief king Bakaré, wouldn't stay to witness it. He wouldn't be shamed in that way.
Realizing his intention, Bakura and Oreo ran forward to stop him. "No, Yami!" Bakura sobbed, reaching for him desperately as Oreo lunged for his pant leg. "Please!! You can't leave!! YOU JUST CAN'T!!"
Yami Bakura slapped his hand away, his eyes cold. "You have made your choice. I have made mine." And with that he vanished into the blizzard, leaving Oreo with the torn cuff of his jeans. Whether he noticed then or not is not known.
But Bakura noticed. He fell to his knees, tears running from his eyes in rivers. "Yami," he whispered, his heart breaking. "Yami, no!!" Every part of him was screaming that this hadn't truly happened. His Yami hadn't just walked out on him! He was just angry, like he got sometimes, but he would come back. He always came back!
"Meow," Oreo cried piteously, dropping the piece of cloth and bounding after her beloved Yami. She wasn't intending to let him get away from her now, even though she knew there wasn't much chance of catching him in this snow and fog.
Bakura looked from the cloth to the fleeing cat and stood up to run after her. "Oreo, no!" he wailed. "You can't go!! You'll never find him!!" His heart was sick at the thought of that poor kitty becoming lost in the bad weather. If she did, she'd likely not survive!
Mr. Ryou snatched for his son's arm, trying to stop him from joining in this madness, but he missed. Screaming Bakura's name again and again as the teenager also vanished into the white, the irritated man took a step forward and tripped over Khu. With all that had happened, he had actually forgotten the one at the center of it all. "Curse you," he growled, getting up slowly. He would have to tend to Khu before he could even go out looking for Bakura.
Or so he thought. Again Khu regained consciousness and slowly started to rise. "Actually," he said in a grim voice, "I think someone else already did."
****
Khu pulled himself into a sitting position and snarled as the snow flipped about him. What an irritation. If he'd known the weather here would be so biting, he could've come better prepared for it. Of course, he had been so delirious at the time he had left his previous location that he wasn't really thinking about anything. The only coherent thought he had kept about him was that he had to get to Domino City. And now he was here . . . and at the home of his most hated enemy. Or previous home, which seemed more likely, what with Yami Bakura's sudden exit.
Mr. Ryou simply stared at this strange person, his eyes wide with anger behind the glasses. "What do you mean?!" he said, being the first of them to speak after Khu's remark about someone already cursing him. "Who are you and what nonsense is going on?!" He leaped to his feet and towered over the stranger, eager to find out the reason for what was happening on his property.
But Khu wasn't willing to explain. He struggled up as well, forcing himself to stand without falling, and demanded an herb that Mr. Ryou had only vaguely heard of. If he was to get his strength back in time to stop his rampaging brother, he needed that herb. Khu and Seth often disagreed on their methods of operation, but this time Seth had gone too far. Memories swirled through Khu's mind as he remembered it all.
"She has the power to bring back the dead!" Seth had yelled, a maniacal look in his eyes. "What better way to accomplish this than with those who tried before and died bravely for the cause?!"
Khu had vehemently protested. What business did they have to interfere with what was already said and done? It seemed to him that, since Egypt, his and Seth's roles had been reversed somewhat. Seth had become more crazed than before, and he was willing to go to any lengths to get what he wanted. Of course he had always been that way, but Khu had never known him to take a more "zealot" approach to things. That had been his way in the past, not Seth's. Seth had sometimes tried to talk him out of the different ways that the older man, a fierce zealot, had wanted to do things. Now it was the other way around. Only Seth was being more difficult and dangerous than Khu had been. Ever since Khu had healed him with the Horse talisman he had been like this, and Khu had to wonder if the charm had been very bad for his mind even though it had healed his body.
But enough of reflecting on the past. Khu didn't have time. If he didn't stop Seth, he would have Nuru bring back all the most terrible fighters of the past and a war would erupt amongst them. They wouldn't obey Seth, like he wanted them to. Seth didn't know what he was doing! And what if someone like Pegasus found out what Seth was up to? He would want a part in it all!
"Did you hear me?!"
Khu snapped back to the present, finding Mr. Ryou glaring intently at him.
"I said I don't have that herb!" the man yelled. He was extremely edgy, as was understandable. All he wanted now was to go find his son. And instead he had to be here with this odd Egyptian who was demanding herbs!
Khu narrowed his eyes and picked up something that had been laying in the snow and unseen until now. "Then I suggest you find it," he uttered low, raising his staff in front of him as it crackled with the limited magic that Khu possessed.
Mr. Ryou wasn't impressed. "You have a lot of nerve," he said angrily, "turning up on my porch and thinking I'll wait on you hand and foot! If you need medical assistance, I'll take you to the hospital, but otherwise I have to be leaving. My son went out into the blizzard!" He gestured back at the falling flakes in emphasis. He didn't have time for any of this! As far as he was concerned, it was all absurd. He would be perfectly happy if all of these odd people just left him and Bakura alone.
"Forget your son," Khu hissed. "This is more important. Do you want the world destroyed?!" He met Mr. Ryou's glare with his own, the deep violet eyes flashing.
Mr. Ryou's mouth dropped open. What was going through his mind right now was, What sort of nutcase is this?! And what mental hospital did he escape from?! Never would he have believed Khu was telling the truth. Things would have to get much more deadly before he ever would.
Realizing that he was getting nowhere, Khu decided he would have to use his last resort—transporting himself somewhere else. He just hoped he had enough energy to do it. Coldly he spoke as he gathered his feeble magic around him. "You present-day mortals are so oblivious to what goes on around you. The world could collapse and none of you would even believe it had happened." With that he had gone, leaving a shocked Mr. Ryou puzzling over it all.
****
Marik yawned tremendously as he finally placed the phone back in its cradle. Seto had finally come home and Mokuba was overjoyed. Marik had smiled sleepily and the friends had said their goodbyes. Now he snuggled back under the quilt, his eyes starting to close again. His thoughts wandered as he drifted into a semi-conscious state.
Mokuba was such a good friend. Marik wanted to always be there for him when he could be. He hoped Seto hadn't been out engaging in some foolish thing or another. Above all, Seto needed to make sure he was there for his brother. He couldn't do anything that might endanger his health.
Ishizu and Rishid had always been there for Marik. And now that he had struggled to change from what he had been, Marik wanted to return their love with his own. Above everything Marik had to protect them. And he knew that Seto only wanted to protect his own precious brother.
Marik fell into a deep, almost dreamlike state, and visions of flying reindeer leaping off the roofs and running people down swirled through his mind. For a few hours at least he would leave behind the cares of the world and doze peacefully.
Slowly the door opened and Ishizu stepped in quietly, tears starting to show in her eyes. Having visions of the future wasn't always what she called a blessing. She knew now that what she saw wasn't always what would definitely happen without any way to change it, but sometimes it was also something that could be changed if one knew how to go about it. But she never knew which kind of vision she was having.
She stood by Marik's bedside, smiling softly to herself as she looked at this living treasure. Marik was asleep now, his breathing quiet and even. He was burrowed into the quilt, but with one hand reaching out to grab at the pillow. Ishizu loved to watch him. She never knew how much longer she would get to enjoy being with her brothers. The visions of darkness and destruction that she had always made her feel protective again, fearing that something would happen to rip her family apart.
A shadow fell across the woman and she slowly turned, finding herself looking at a concerned Rishid. Dear Rishid . . . so silent and strong, yet gentle. He was fierce enough that it took almost an even dozen to take him down, yet so tender with his siblings that he almost seemed a different person then.
He entered the room slowly and came over to her, taking in the scenario and realizing what must have happened. "Another vision?" he asked quietly. For the last few days Ishizu had been having them, but she had kept the knowledge secret from Marik. Rishid had found out by accident when he had stumbled in upon her two nights ago when she was enduring yet another.
Ishizu could only nod numbly as she embraced her elder brother. "Rishid . . . I never wish to lose you or Marik," she whispered, feeling his loving arms come around her.
Rishid narrowed his eyes. Ishizu had told him of the death and destruction that was prevalent in her recent visions. But he was determined that what she saw wouldn't be reality. "I will do everything in my power to make certain you never do, sister," he vowed softly.
****
A dark figure pondered on everything from his secluded room overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Slowly he raised a glass and swished around the liquid inside, a devious smile coming over his hidden features. "A toast," he said quietly, "to Yugi Muto and every foolish little inhabitant of Domino City. We'll be meeting soon. Very soon. Be very afraid!" He brought the goblet to his lips and drank freely, his maniacal laughter echoing down the halls.
Note: Is that Pegasus or no? Whatever the case, yes, I already know that he was supposed to have died in the Japanese version, so I don't need swarms of reviews telling me that.
But he realized also that it was even more ridiculous to think that Seto would pull a joke like this. Joey could imagine maybe Tristan doing it sometime as an unfunny joke, but Seto would frown upon it immensely. It was rare, if ever, that Seto engaged in any sort of levity, and certainly pretending to faint would not be what he'd delight in. No, the other boy must have truly collapsed.
So Joey knelt down at Seto's side and shook him. "HEY!" he yelled. "Come on, Kaiba, naptime's over! Wake up!!" He shook the exhausted youth a bit harder than he'd meant to and Seto gave a soft moan, attempting to move away.
"Joey! What in the world are you doing?!"
Joey looked up to see a befuddled Tristan approaching. Apparently Téa and Serenity were still looking in that women's store, as they weren't anywhere with him. Tristan had been aimlessly wandering the corridors while he'd been waiting, and now he'd found his way to the main entrance where Joey was dealing with the unconscious Seto. Joey had to admit he was relieved for the help.
"Give me a hand, Tristan," he ordered. "It's a long story, but Kaiba here kinda fainted or something." Joey grabbed one of Seto's arms and tried to haul him up.
Tristan just stared, unmoving, for several moments. "Fainted? Kaiba?" he said in disbelief. He found it just as impossible as Joey did, knowing how Seto was. But then again . . . maybe not so impossible. Yes, Tristan knew exactly how Seto was—including his obsessiveness with work. If Seto overworked himself, which was entirely possible, he could very well faint. Quickly he ran forward to help Joey, who was struggling to get Seto over to a nearby bench.
"Maybe we should call a doc or somethin'," Tristan suggested.
"You think so?" Joey glanced over at him. "Man, Kaiba would really love that." He snickered a bit in spite of himself. If there was one thing Seto hated more than looking vulnerable in front of Joey or Yugi or any of them, it was being examined by doctors.
"Calling medical personnel is completely unnecessary." Seto Kaiba, regaining his senses slowly, had overheard some of the conversation between Joey and Tristan and was not pleased. He had collapsed, as he'd known he was going to—but in front of Joey Wheeler of all people! He hated himself for that. Nothing that profitable had happened on this outing. The one he had fought with had mysteriously vanished. And if Joey and Tristan were going to hover over him, there wasn't much chance he'd be visiting that store without them tagging along.
"Completely unnecessary?!" Joey wailed in disbelief after recovering from the shock of Seto abruptly speaking. "What the heck's the matter with you, Kaiba?! People don't just pass out for no reason!"
Seto struggled to sit up. He realized now that he needed to go home to bed. If he wound up in the KaibaCorp infirmary—or worse, a hospital!—it wouldn't help things for him any. But when he tried to push past the two boys standing over him, they weren't willing to let him pass.
"Whoa, take it easy," Tristan said, grabbing Seto's shoulders. "Joey's right! You shouldn't stand up too fast. You might bring it on again."
"I'm aware of that," Seto grumbled, his blue eyes looking out piercingly from behind the thick bangs. "But I'm not getting up too fast."
"For Pete's sake, Kaiba!" Joey yelled, and he was certain anyone left in the mall would hear him and come running to see what all the commotion was about. "Quit bein' such a stubborn, thickheaded know-it-all!" What he completely overlooked was the fact that he behaved quite similarly much of the time. Perhaps the problems between him and Seto stemmed from the fact that they were too much alike.
Seto got up anyway, his eyes concealed in shadow. "There's nothing wrong with me," he snapped. "I was just a bit light-headed." With that he swept past them both, determinedly heading for the door.
But Joey grabbed Seto's arm, pulling him back. "Just accept the fact that you're not indestructible, man!" he growled. "You passed out and you need help! You should have a doctor check you out or something!" What would it take to make this guy see that he wasn't the only person to ever collapse and that it wasn't something that would make him look weak? Joey knew that that's what Seto was angry about. Well, that and also the fact that it had been Joey Wheeler whom Seto had collapsed in front of. Heck, if the tables had been turned, Seto was the last person Joey would've wanted to collapse around. Joey could understand the businessman's embarrassment.
Again Seto wrenched away, looking more irritated than before. "I already know what's wrong," he said coldly. "And I don't need a doctor to tell me what I know." Before he could be stopped, he was gone.
****
Mr. Ryou stared at Bakura strangely after the boy's outburst. "Who?!" he demanded. Never had he heard such an odd name—except in the ancient Egyptian texts he sometimes translated for the college he worked with. Someone living in this day and age with the name was something he had never imagined or fathomed before. Why did Bakura know this person? Why was this Khu dressed so inappropriately for the weather? And when would things settle down? Mr. Ryou felt like his whole life had been turned upsidedown once again. He had been running from life since both his precious wife and later his daughter had been taken from him. He didn't want to think that his son was becoming involved with shady characters.
"Khu!" Bakura repeated. "No wonder Yami is so angry!" Never could he forget the things this man had done. He had tortured Yami Bakura more than once. He and his brother had teamed up with several other villains and caused endless agony for everyone in San Francisco. The last time anyone had seen Khu had been when he had stolen the Horse talisman to heal Seth after Vivalene had shot the younger man multiple times. And now Khu was laying on his worst enemy's porch?! Khu despised Yami Bakura just as much as the thief despised him. If he had any knowledge of where he was going, this was the last place he'd come to. But it was such a strange coincidence. . . .
Yami Bakura yanked Bakura away before he could kneel beside Khu again, his dark chocolate eyes flaming with rage. "You know who he is now," the tomb robber fumed. "And you know I won't lift a finger to help him, nor will I allow you to!"
Bakura frowned. "Yami, it's Christmastime!" he scolded, pulling free and kneeling by Khu anyway. He didn't intend to let Yami Bakura boss him around, not when someone was hurt—even if that someone was one that he himself didn't particularly like.
Yami Bakura snarled. "You fool! I don't care what it is! We should leave him to die!" Bakura was completely defying him to help this scumbag who wasn't deserving of help!! Yami Bakura could barely control the urge to grab the boy again and throw him across the room. He wanted to almost more than anything else right now. Once he'd moved Bakura, he could begin his revenge on Khu.
But Mr. Ryou got in the way before he could. "I will hear no more of this talk!" he roared. "I already said what was to happen to this man as long as he's on my property. Either abide by my decisions or leave this house!!"
Everyone conscious froze and all eyes turned to the thief in shock. What would he say to this? Surely, Bakura thought, he wouldn't leave me; I'm his hikari! He wrung his hands in anxiety, praying that Yami Bakura would have a sudden change of heart. What he was fully expecting was for the tomb raider to disappear into the Millennium Ring.
But Yami Bakura whirled in anger, stepping over Khu's body to walk out on the porch. Very well then. He would leave. He wouldn't stand for this insubordination! If Bakura wanted to hobnob with scum like Khu, then he could. But Yami Bakura, once the proud thief king Bakaré, wouldn't stay to witness it. He wouldn't be shamed in that way.
Realizing his intention, Bakura and Oreo ran forward to stop him. "No, Yami!" Bakura sobbed, reaching for him desperately as Oreo lunged for his pant leg. "Please!! You can't leave!! YOU JUST CAN'T!!"
Yami Bakura slapped his hand away, his eyes cold. "You have made your choice. I have made mine." And with that he vanished into the blizzard, leaving Oreo with the torn cuff of his jeans. Whether he noticed then or not is not known.
But Bakura noticed. He fell to his knees, tears running from his eyes in rivers. "Yami," he whispered, his heart breaking. "Yami, no!!" Every part of him was screaming that this hadn't truly happened. His Yami hadn't just walked out on him! He was just angry, like he got sometimes, but he would come back. He always came back!
"Meow," Oreo cried piteously, dropping the piece of cloth and bounding after her beloved Yami. She wasn't intending to let him get away from her now, even though she knew there wasn't much chance of catching him in this snow and fog.
Bakura looked from the cloth to the fleeing cat and stood up to run after her. "Oreo, no!" he wailed. "You can't go!! You'll never find him!!" His heart was sick at the thought of that poor kitty becoming lost in the bad weather. If she did, she'd likely not survive!
Mr. Ryou snatched for his son's arm, trying to stop him from joining in this madness, but he missed. Screaming Bakura's name again and again as the teenager also vanished into the white, the irritated man took a step forward and tripped over Khu. With all that had happened, he had actually forgotten the one at the center of it all. "Curse you," he growled, getting up slowly. He would have to tend to Khu before he could even go out looking for Bakura.
Or so he thought. Again Khu regained consciousness and slowly started to rise. "Actually," he said in a grim voice, "I think someone else already did."
****
Khu pulled himself into a sitting position and snarled as the snow flipped about him. What an irritation. If he'd known the weather here would be so biting, he could've come better prepared for it. Of course, he had been so delirious at the time he had left his previous location that he wasn't really thinking about anything. The only coherent thought he had kept about him was that he had to get to Domino City. And now he was here . . . and at the home of his most hated enemy. Or previous home, which seemed more likely, what with Yami Bakura's sudden exit.
Mr. Ryou simply stared at this strange person, his eyes wide with anger behind the glasses. "What do you mean?!" he said, being the first of them to speak after Khu's remark about someone already cursing him. "Who are you and what nonsense is going on?!" He leaped to his feet and towered over the stranger, eager to find out the reason for what was happening on his property.
But Khu wasn't willing to explain. He struggled up as well, forcing himself to stand without falling, and demanded an herb that Mr. Ryou had only vaguely heard of. If he was to get his strength back in time to stop his rampaging brother, he needed that herb. Khu and Seth often disagreed on their methods of operation, but this time Seth had gone too far. Memories swirled through Khu's mind as he remembered it all.
"She has the power to bring back the dead!" Seth had yelled, a maniacal look in his eyes. "What better way to accomplish this than with those who tried before and died bravely for the cause?!"
Khu had vehemently protested. What business did they have to interfere with what was already said and done? It seemed to him that, since Egypt, his and Seth's roles had been reversed somewhat. Seth had become more crazed than before, and he was willing to go to any lengths to get what he wanted. Of course he had always been that way, but Khu had never known him to take a more "zealot" approach to things. That had been his way in the past, not Seth's. Seth had sometimes tried to talk him out of the different ways that the older man, a fierce zealot, had wanted to do things. Now it was the other way around. Only Seth was being more difficult and dangerous than Khu had been. Ever since Khu had healed him with the Horse talisman he had been like this, and Khu had to wonder if the charm had been very bad for his mind even though it had healed his body.
But enough of reflecting on the past. Khu didn't have time. If he didn't stop Seth, he would have Nuru bring back all the most terrible fighters of the past and a war would erupt amongst them. They wouldn't obey Seth, like he wanted them to. Seth didn't know what he was doing! And what if someone like Pegasus found out what Seth was up to? He would want a part in it all!
"Did you hear me?!"
Khu snapped back to the present, finding Mr. Ryou glaring intently at him.
"I said I don't have that herb!" the man yelled. He was extremely edgy, as was understandable. All he wanted now was to go find his son. And instead he had to be here with this odd Egyptian who was demanding herbs!
Khu narrowed his eyes and picked up something that had been laying in the snow and unseen until now. "Then I suggest you find it," he uttered low, raising his staff in front of him as it crackled with the limited magic that Khu possessed.
Mr. Ryou wasn't impressed. "You have a lot of nerve," he said angrily, "turning up on my porch and thinking I'll wait on you hand and foot! If you need medical assistance, I'll take you to the hospital, but otherwise I have to be leaving. My son went out into the blizzard!" He gestured back at the falling flakes in emphasis. He didn't have time for any of this! As far as he was concerned, it was all absurd. He would be perfectly happy if all of these odd people just left him and Bakura alone.
"Forget your son," Khu hissed. "This is more important. Do you want the world destroyed?!" He met Mr. Ryou's glare with his own, the deep violet eyes flashing.
Mr. Ryou's mouth dropped open. What was going through his mind right now was, What sort of nutcase is this?! And what mental hospital did he escape from?! Never would he have believed Khu was telling the truth. Things would have to get much more deadly before he ever would.
Realizing that he was getting nowhere, Khu decided he would have to use his last resort—transporting himself somewhere else. He just hoped he had enough energy to do it. Coldly he spoke as he gathered his feeble magic around him. "You present-day mortals are so oblivious to what goes on around you. The world could collapse and none of you would even believe it had happened." With that he had gone, leaving a shocked Mr. Ryou puzzling over it all.
****
Marik yawned tremendously as he finally placed the phone back in its cradle. Seto had finally come home and Mokuba was overjoyed. Marik had smiled sleepily and the friends had said their goodbyes. Now he snuggled back under the quilt, his eyes starting to close again. His thoughts wandered as he drifted into a semi-conscious state.
Mokuba was such a good friend. Marik wanted to always be there for him when he could be. He hoped Seto hadn't been out engaging in some foolish thing or another. Above all, Seto needed to make sure he was there for his brother. He couldn't do anything that might endanger his health.
Ishizu and Rishid had always been there for Marik. And now that he had struggled to change from what he had been, Marik wanted to return their love with his own. Above everything Marik had to protect them. And he knew that Seto only wanted to protect his own precious brother.
Marik fell into a deep, almost dreamlike state, and visions of flying reindeer leaping off the roofs and running people down swirled through his mind. For a few hours at least he would leave behind the cares of the world and doze peacefully.
Slowly the door opened and Ishizu stepped in quietly, tears starting to show in her eyes. Having visions of the future wasn't always what she called a blessing. She knew now that what she saw wasn't always what would definitely happen without any way to change it, but sometimes it was also something that could be changed if one knew how to go about it. But she never knew which kind of vision she was having.
She stood by Marik's bedside, smiling softly to herself as she looked at this living treasure. Marik was asleep now, his breathing quiet and even. He was burrowed into the quilt, but with one hand reaching out to grab at the pillow. Ishizu loved to watch him. She never knew how much longer she would get to enjoy being with her brothers. The visions of darkness and destruction that she had always made her feel protective again, fearing that something would happen to rip her family apart.
A shadow fell across the woman and she slowly turned, finding herself looking at a concerned Rishid. Dear Rishid . . . so silent and strong, yet gentle. He was fierce enough that it took almost an even dozen to take him down, yet so tender with his siblings that he almost seemed a different person then.
He entered the room slowly and came over to her, taking in the scenario and realizing what must have happened. "Another vision?" he asked quietly. For the last few days Ishizu had been having them, but she had kept the knowledge secret from Marik. Rishid had found out by accident when he had stumbled in upon her two nights ago when she was enduring yet another.
Ishizu could only nod numbly as she embraced her elder brother. "Rishid . . . I never wish to lose you or Marik," she whispered, feeling his loving arms come around her.
Rishid narrowed his eyes. Ishizu had told him of the death and destruction that was prevalent in her recent visions. But he was determined that what she saw wouldn't be reality. "I will do everything in my power to make certain you never do, sister," he vowed softly.
****
A dark figure pondered on everything from his secluded room overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Slowly he raised a glass and swished around the liquid inside, a devious smile coming over his hidden features. "A toast," he said quietly, "to Yugi Muto and every foolish little inhabitant of Domino City. We'll be meeting soon. Very soon. Be very afraid!" He brought the goblet to his lips and drank freely, his maniacal laughter echoing down the halls.
Note: Is that Pegasus or no? Whatever the case, yes, I already know that he was supposed to have died in the Japanese version, so I don't need swarms of reviews telling me that.