Instantly Mokuba was at the older boy's side, screaming and yelling. "Marik!! Marik, no!! Get up!!" he sobbed, shaking the Egyptian in desperation. He couldn't believe this. One of the spirits had done this? What had been done? Why wouldn't Marik move?! He wasn't . . . no, he couldn't be. . . . Tears cascaded from Mokuba's eyes as he tried again. Marik wasn't dead!! He couldn't be! He couldn't ever die!
The police officers were slowly backing up. Now they were quite terrified. That hadn't been in the original plan! They weren't certain what had been done, but they didn't want to find out.
"Cowards," Seto muttered in disgust before kneeling next to his brother and the boy's friend. Gently he turned Marik onto his side and then placed a hand over the Egyptian's heart, trying to feel if it was beating. He mulled over Marik's words in his mind. He had thought he was having a heart attack, though the spirit or whatever it had been denied it. But if it was something similar . . . then what?
"Seto, what is it?!" Mokuba demanded to know, seeing his elder brother's grave expression. His heart sank. "He's . . . he's not alright, is he?" the child whispered. He knew it, but he didn't want to believe it. Protectively he grabbed Marik's arm, his tears splashing over the tanned flesh and gold armband.
Seto sighed. It was useless to lie to him, but he wasn't sure himself if Marik was dead. Now he turned the other boy onto his back, leaning down to better hear his heart. He didn't want Marik to be dead. And he vowed then and there that he would do whatever it took to save the Egyptian's life. Mokuba would never forgive him if he didn't try. And Seto, as usual trying to convince himself that he was a cold person, refused to believe that there was any other reason for his wanting to help revive the other boy. But he knew he wasn't the kind of person to just let someone die right in front of his eyes without even trying to help save his life.
"His heart isn't beating!" the spirit's voice laughed. "I stopped it."
Mokuba glared into the nothingness. "You big jerk!!" he screamed, at a loss for words. Tears emerged from his eyes again as his body racked with sobs. "Marik, GET UP!!"
Seto appeared to ignore the voice, but he heard every word. Angrily he had to admit it was true—Marik's heart wasn't beating. For several minutes he tried chest compressions, but there was no response. It seemed the teenager was, indeed, dead. But he wouldn't give up. Seto knew Marik was a fighter. The boy just needed a bit of help to keep fighting.
At that moment a door previously unseen flew open and everyone else ran in, led by Ishizu and Rishid. They stopped short when they saw the scene before them, horrified, stunned, and alarmed.
"Marik!" Ishizu screamed. "What has happened to our brother?!"
Mokuba looked up, but he couldn't get any words out. He squeezed Marik's hand tightly, but the other boy was still. He couldn't acknowledge his friend or his family.
Rishid knelt down beside Marik's body, his eyes narrowed and filled with sadness. It had been too much to hope that something else wouldn't happen. But oh why did it have to happen to Marik?! Hadn't he already suffered?! As Ishizu came over as well, she took Rishid's hand and spoke what Seto and Mokuba already knew.
"His heart beats not," she said softly, tears in her eyes. She reached out and smoothed his bangs, a sad smile coming over her face. "We must pray. We must pray that we will know what to do to save him, for he clings desperately to life." She knew this with every part of her heart. Marik would never simply give in to death! He was still fighting. And they could not abandon him now!
So it was that every one of those gathered there bowed his or her head and whispered their fervent, pleading prayers for knowledge on how to save their brother and friend. There had to be something! If it was not Marik's time to die they would be told what they could do.
Suddenly Seto looked up, an idea coming to him. He didn't know why he hadn't thought of it before. "Mokuba, I have a stun gun in my briefcase," he said with urgency. "Bring it to me." In hospitals when patients' hearts stopped, the doctors used electric paddles to try jarring them back to life. A stun gun wasn't as powerful, but perhaps they would be blessed to have it work.
Mokuba stared at his brother. He didn't understand this odd request at all, but he wasn't going to ask questions. Every second meant a slimmer chance that Marik could be saved. So quickly Mokuba found the gun and brought it to Seto, who immediately took it. While Rishid gently removed Marik's shirt, Seto made certain the gun was on the highest setting.
Carefully he lined it over the Egyptian's heart and pulled the trigger. Marik's body jerked from the entering electricity and then was still again. But still Seto tried. Again and again he charged the voltage into the teen's form while everyone else looked on tensely.
"Come on," he whispered in a barely audible voice, "get up, Egyptian! You've got too much to live for to just die now. Don't you know how it'd crush your family? And my brother?" Again the body jerked, but nothing further happened. Seto gritted his teeth in frustration.
****
No one seemed to notice in all the confusion, but two of their number had mysteriously vanished. Bakura and Mai were nowhere to be found. They had been missing since quite early in their journey to Cooperstown. Neither one had been present after Duke had been found hanged. Or anytime after that.
So, if you have noticed their disappearance, you are most likely wondering what has happened to these two. As it turns out, they have been having quite the misadventure ever since they joined in the search to help look for Duke.
****
"UGH!" Mai's irritated voice swept across the desolate area she and Bakura had been going over for what seemed hours. During the search for Duke Devlin, the two of them had somehow got separated from the others and now seemed to be going around in circles. "There's sand in my boots!" Angrily the woman sat down on a rock and removed first one boot and then the other, tipping them upsidedown to remove the sand.
Bakura blinked, unsure of how sand could enter boots almost knee-high. But he didn't ask. "It's so quiet out here," he said uneasily. "And there doesn't seem to be anyone around at all!" Where on earth could everyone be? He had tried calling to them many times, but none of them ever answered. "It's almost as if there's some sort of bubble over us, preventing us from reaching the others." The boy spoke quietly, feeling a bit embarrassed at such odd thoughts.
"That's crazy," Mai retorted, pulling her boots on again. And yet they had seen their fair share of crazy things. She knew that what Bakura said actually wasn't as strange as some of the things that had happened.
"Oh is it?"
Both of them whirled at the sound of the accented, gravelly voice. Standing before them was a strange Egyptian with wild black hair and dangerous blue eyes devoid of pupils. He was the same one who had appeared to Khu before, but they couldn't know that. The only thing they knew was that he frighteningly resembled . . .
"Shadi!" Bakura cried in stunned shock.
Mai blinked. "That's Shadi? He looks . . . psycho." She stood up slowly, not remembering that Shadi looked quite this ominous.
The Egyptian sneered, the electricity crackling from his fingertips. "I'm not unused to derogatory names," he said smoothly. "The own name I'm called by is negative to those who gave it to me." He threw back his head and laughed. "But I don't mind it."
Bakura swallowed hard, staring as the previously-concealed scar became visible. Shadi didn't have a scar like that! At least . . . Bakura was certain he didn't. . . . And this man absolutely didn't act like Shadi at all . . . unless . . . the Millennium Items' guardian truly had cracked up. Somehow the thought of Shadi going insane was very scary. But Bakura had seen Shadi only two or three weeks ago, and he had been perfectly sane then! He was certain it had been Shadi who had saved him and Yami Bakura from the flames they had been falling into. Of course, there had been so much fire and smoke that Bakura supposed he really could have made a mistake. . . . But no! He knew he hadn't! This man here wasn't Shadi at all!
"Oh yeah?" Mai said, bringing Bakura back to the present. "What is your name if you think it's so great?" She frowned at the man, crossing her arms and obviously not impressed.
But he smirked at her and Bakura before turning slightly. "You may learn of my name someday. But right now it isn't necessary knowledge." His eyes glinted. Once he got the attention of the one whom he wanted to challenge, the fun would really begin for him. Until then he would lay mostly in the shadows, doing his deadly tricks under the shroud of darkness.
Bakura glared, experiencing a rare moment of boldness. "And why isn't it?!" he demanded.
The Egyptian's gaze remained on Bakura for what seemed a long while. "Ah, yes, you are Bakaré's descendant, aren't you," he grinned maniacally, casting down lightning from the sky to dance and twirl around him as he made his exit. "You look so much like him, even though your personality couldn't be more different. I can see you're not a scared rabbit, however." He smirked. "Bakaré would never have stood for it if any descendants of his were cowards." And in the next clap of thunder he was gone, leaving the stunned Bakura and Mai behind.
"That person knew my Yami," Bakura whispered in disbelief. "Is he another spirit from Egypt?" Even as he said this, something told him no. That person was not a spirit. Never mind that he must be pushing three thousand plus years, he possessed a real mortal body—not the "mostly normal but not quite" version that the Yamis could generate with their Millennium Items. Nervously Bakura started to wring his hands. If only he could find his Yami! He had the terrible feeling that he and Mai had just met someone extremely alarming.
"Who cares what he is," Mai retorted. "He's trouble and he's got bad taste in clothing." With that she turned and started to sashay off in another direction, hoping desperately to get out of the circular trap they seemed to be in. "Not to mention he really should do something about that scar on his face. No one respectable would be caught going around like that."
That was when a dangerous shadow appeared and loomed right in her path. "Oh, I care what he is," a cold, gravelly voice growled. "Perhaps it would be beneficial if you did as well. Of course I frankly don't care what you think of him." Slowly the figure limped out into the light, blood dripping from a wound on his arm. "After all, I'm only offering a bit of advice. I don't really care what you do with it."
Bakura's mouth dropped open and his eyes widened in stunned shock. "YAMI!!" he burst out.
****
Back in the tunnels, Seto was still frantically trying to revive Marik. He bit his lip hard, nearly drawing blood, and pulled the trigger of the stun gun once more. Come on, he said silently. Get up, Egyptian! Marik, get up! Rarely did he address the other boy by his given name, not even in his own thoughts. But Seto was upset. He knew how he would feel in Ishizu's and Rishid's place if this was his brother laying so still on the floor. And he knew how Mokuba was feeling right now. The little boy was kneeling right beside them, wanting to still hold his friend's hand but not doing so because the electricity would then travel to him as well.
Mokuba sniffled, trying to hold back a flood of tears. "He's gonna be okay," he said stubbornly, gripping at the knees of his pants with his shaking fingers. "Marik isn't gonna let something like this defeat him!"
Ishizu had to smile at Mokuba's determination to believe in her and Rishid's precious brother. She was whispering soft prayers under her breath, pleading that Marik would be able to hold on and regain consciousness with Seto's help. Still she could sense that Marik was struggling. Perhaps, she thought in alarm, the spirit is still preventing his heart from beating! If we could only get it away, perhaps Marik would be able to revive! But she didn't know how they would accomplish such a thing. And so she continued to pray.
Rishid's eyes had never left his brother's still form. Tensely he grasped Ishizu's hand, his countenance a mixture of anguish, distress, and hope. He winced as he watched the electric sparks enter Marik's body and cause the boy to jerk. All he could do was pray that the voltage would help Marik and not hurt him worse. Bare electricity wasn't especially a pleasant thing for him to look at. It reminded him all too well of how he had been struck down by lightning during Battle Ship. Even now he could feel the searing pain coursing through his veins. But he tried to concentrate on happy memories. Sometimes he and Marik were able to communicate mentally. Perhaps if he riveted his attention on pleasant things, he could send images of those times to Marik as continued encouragement.
But he and everyone else were jarred out of their thoughts by the sound of the taser falling to the floor with a clunk. Seto Kaiba glared at it coldly before leaning over Marik's body one last time. He found nothing changed. And so he leaned back again, his blue eyes filled with regret. "I'm sorry," the businessman said in a quiet voice. "I tried to save him." There was nothing more he could do. He had been struggling with the taser for nigh unto fifteen minutes. If it hadn't brought Marik back yet, chances were it wasn't going to.
A collective silence fell over the entire group. None of them knew what to say or do. They had just barely come from almost losing Duke, but now they were being told that another of their friends—and for some, family—was lost? What sort of curse lay over this lonely town?!
Then the silence was broken as Mokuba gave a wail of protest. "No!!" he sobbed. "Seto, you just didn't try hard enough! Marik would've come back! He . . . he would've. . . ." The child trailed off, knowing that Seto had done his best. He flung himself into Seto's arms and his older brother held him close, berating himself for not being able to help the Egyptian.
Rishid reached for his brother in silence, gently taking him up from where he lay on the floor near Seto and holding the body close to his heart. He refused to believe Marik was dead. No, he would regain consciousness and be alright! It was what Rishid had to believe to stay sane. He couldn't acknowledge that Marik was dead. Not now, after everything else. . . . Vaguely he could hear himself saying thank you to Seto for trying to save the boy. But he himself was far away from here. He was far from this entire scene. He was back in Egypt, holding an infant Marik in his arms for the first time and realizing that the child loved him. The man closed his eyes tightly, not caring as a few tears escaped.
Ishizu gazed at her brothers sadly. Oh Marik, she said silently, no! You cannot leave us! You cannot! The woman carefully slipped an arm around each brother, trying desperately to feel for even the slightest movement from Marik's limp form. Her heart felt sick. He had to awaken! What sort of holidays could they even feel like celebrating if Marik was taken from them now? Ishizu's grip tightened.
And then they received the miracle they had prayed for. Shaky fingers reached up, clutching at Rishid's cloak. The body stirred in the man's arms and lilac lavender eyes struggled to open. With his other hand Marik grabbed at Ishizu's. Yes, he was alive. Seto had helped him, greatly, but so had all of his friends and especially his siblings. He had never given up because he knew they were all counting on him. And because he hadn't wanted to die. "I'm not beaten yet," he rasped softly. But it was loud enough.
Ishizu and Rishid cried for joy and embraced him tightly, feeling his weak arms go around them. The boy was alive! The boy they both loved and treasured more than anything else was embracing them, full of life!
Mokuba looked up joyously, exclaiming over and over that Seto had done it! Seto had saved him! He let out a happy laugh, worming his way into the Ishtars' hug and greeting his dear friend with tears streaming. Marik laughed, trying to find a way to hug Mokuba as well as his siblings. At last Mokuba backed away, letting the Ishtars continue their reunion. "You did it, Seto," he said softly, smiling.
Seto ruffled Mokuba's hair. "Maybe I helped," he admitted, "but only Marik himself could make the final decision to come back." For Seto did not like to take credit where it was not due. Here, he knew it was not.
The others were all happy as well—and relieved.
"Man, I thought we'd lost the guy for sure," Joey declared, letting out a breath he'd been holding. He pulled Serenity closer to him, thankful for his sister.
"Yeah," Tristan agreed, "but it seems like he's full of surprises."
Yugi smiled, watching Marik embrace and be embraced by Ishizu and Rishid. They were a very close-knit, loving family. He frankly didn't know how any of them would survive without the others. More than once he had witnessed the actions of a brokenhearted Ishtar. It was one of the most heartwrenching things Yugi had ever, or probably would ever, see.
Unseen by any of them was Nuru. Biting her lip she turned away to look at Seth, who was standing behind her. "It doesn't seem right," she murmured, "causing them so much pain. I can see how much they love each other." So often she had longed for that same love, for someone to truly want her and for them to not be able to stand the thought of her leaving. She knew Seth didn't really care about her. She had learned that long ago. But still she couldn't bring herself to leave him. She had nowhere else to go.
Seth traced a pattern on her cheek. "Well, it isn't really them we want anyway. You know that, Nuru. But I can't control what the local spirits do to them. It's hardly our fault they were foolish enough to come here." He smirked in the darkness. "Now come. If Runihura is loose, there's no telling what catastrophes might happen. On the other hand . . . there's also no telling how he may help us achieve our ultimate goals. We should find him in any case."
Nuru nodded. "Yes, Lord Seth," she whispered submissively, following after him as he walked out.
Cold blue eyes watched their departure. "I have gotten your message, Runihura," the one the eyes belonged to muttered low. "You wished for my attention. And now you have received it. But the consequences will not be pleasing for you."
The police officers were slowly backing up. Now they were quite terrified. That hadn't been in the original plan! They weren't certain what had been done, but they didn't want to find out.
"Cowards," Seto muttered in disgust before kneeling next to his brother and the boy's friend. Gently he turned Marik onto his side and then placed a hand over the Egyptian's heart, trying to feel if it was beating. He mulled over Marik's words in his mind. He had thought he was having a heart attack, though the spirit or whatever it had been denied it. But if it was something similar . . . then what?
"Seto, what is it?!" Mokuba demanded to know, seeing his elder brother's grave expression. His heart sank. "He's . . . he's not alright, is he?" the child whispered. He knew it, but he didn't want to believe it. Protectively he grabbed Marik's arm, his tears splashing over the tanned flesh and gold armband.
Seto sighed. It was useless to lie to him, but he wasn't sure himself if Marik was dead. Now he turned the other boy onto his back, leaning down to better hear his heart. He didn't want Marik to be dead. And he vowed then and there that he would do whatever it took to save the Egyptian's life. Mokuba would never forgive him if he didn't try. And Seto, as usual trying to convince himself that he was a cold person, refused to believe that there was any other reason for his wanting to help revive the other boy. But he knew he wasn't the kind of person to just let someone die right in front of his eyes without even trying to help save his life.
"His heart isn't beating!" the spirit's voice laughed. "I stopped it."
Mokuba glared into the nothingness. "You big jerk!!" he screamed, at a loss for words. Tears emerged from his eyes again as his body racked with sobs. "Marik, GET UP!!"
Seto appeared to ignore the voice, but he heard every word. Angrily he had to admit it was true—Marik's heart wasn't beating. For several minutes he tried chest compressions, but there was no response. It seemed the teenager was, indeed, dead. But he wouldn't give up. Seto knew Marik was a fighter. The boy just needed a bit of help to keep fighting.
At that moment a door previously unseen flew open and everyone else ran in, led by Ishizu and Rishid. They stopped short when they saw the scene before them, horrified, stunned, and alarmed.
"Marik!" Ishizu screamed. "What has happened to our brother?!"
Mokuba looked up, but he couldn't get any words out. He squeezed Marik's hand tightly, but the other boy was still. He couldn't acknowledge his friend or his family.
Rishid knelt down beside Marik's body, his eyes narrowed and filled with sadness. It had been too much to hope that something else wouldn't happen. But oh why did it have to happen to Marik?! Hadn't he already suffered?! As Ishizu came over as well, she took Rishid's hand and spoke what Seto and Mokuba already knew.
"His heart beats not," she said softly, tears in her eyes. She reached out and smoothed his bangs, a sad smile coming over her face. "We must pray. We must pray that we will know what to do to save him, for he clings desperately to life." She knew this with every part of her heart. Marik would never simply give in to death! He was still fighting. And they could not abandon him now!
So it was that every one of those gathered there bowed his or her head and whispered their fervent, pleading prayers for knowledge on how to save their brother and friend. There had to be something! If it was not Marik's time to die they would be told what they could do.
Suddenly Seto looked up, an idea coming to him. He didn't know why he hadn't thought of it before. "Mokuba, I have a stun gun in my briefcase," he said with urgency. "Bring it to me." In hospitals when patients' hearts stopped, the doctors used electric paddles to try jarring them back to life. A stun gun wasn't as powerful, but perhaps they would be blessed to have it work.
Mokuba stared at his brother. He didn't understand this odd request at all, but he wasn't going to ask questions. Every second meant a slimmer chance that Marik could be saved. So quickly Mokuba found the gun and brought it to Seto, who immediately took it. While Rishid gently removed Marik's shirt, Seto made certain the gun was on the highest setting.
Carefully he lined it over the Egyptian's heart and pulled the trigger. Marik's body jerked from the entering electricity and then was still again. But still Seto tried. Again and again he charged the voltage into the teen's form while everyone else looked on tensely.
"Come on," he whispered in a barely audible voice, "get up, Egyptian! You've got too much to live for to just die now. Don't you know how it'd crush your family? And my brother?" Again the body jerked, but nothing further happened. Seto gritted his teeth in frustration.
****
No one seemed to notice in all the confusion, but two of their number had mysteriously vanished. Bakura and Mai were nowhere to be found. They had been missing since quite early in their journey to Cooperstown. Neither one had been present after Duke had been found hanged. Or anytime after that.
So, if you have noticed their disappearance, you are most likely wondering what has happened to these two. As it turns out, they have been having quite the misadventure ever since they joined in the search to help look for Duke.
****
"UGH!" Mai's irritated voice swept across the desolate area she and Bakura had been going over for what seemed hours. During the search for Duke Devlin, the two of them had somehow got separated from the others and now seemed to be going around in circles. "There's sand in my boots!" Angrily the woman sat down on a rock and removed first one boot and then the other, tipping them upsidedown to remove the sand.
Bakura blinked, unsure of how sand could enter boots almost knee-high. But he didn't ask. "It's so quiet out here," he said uneasily. "And there doesn't seem to be anyone around at all!" Where on earth could everyone be? He had tried calling to them many times, but none of them ever answered. "It's almost as if there's some sort of bubble over us, preventing us from reaching the others." The boy spoke quietly, feeling a bit embarrassed at such odd thoughts.
"That's crazy," Mai retorted, pulling her boots on again. And yet they had seen their fair share of crazy things. She knew that what Bakura said actually wasn't as strange as some of the things that had happened.
"Oh is it?"
Both of them whirled at the sound of the accented, gravelly voice. Standing before them was a strange Egyptian with wild black hair and dangerous blue eyes devoid of pupils. He was the same one who had appeared to Khu before, but they couldn't know that. The only thing they knew was that he frighteningly resembled . . .
"Shadi!" Bakura cried in stunned shock.
Mai blinked. "That's Shadi? He looks . . . psycho." She stood up slowly, not remembering that Shadi looked quite this ominous.
The Egyptian sneered, the electricity crackling from his fingertips. "I'm not unused to derogatory names," he said smoothly. "The own name I'm called by is negative to those who gave it to me." He threw back his head and laughed. "But I don't mind it."
Bakura swallowed hard, staring as the previously-concealed scar became visible. Shadi didn't have a scar like that! At least . . . Bakura was certain he didn't. . . . And this man absolutely didn't act like Shadi at all . . . unless . . . the Millennium Items' guardian truly had cracked up. Somehow the thought of Shadi going insane was very scary. But Bakura had seen Shadi only two or three weeks ago, and he had been perfectly sane then! He was certain it had been Shadi who had saved him and Yami Bakura from the flames they had been falling into. Of course, there had been so much fire and smoke that Bakura supposed he really could have made a mistake. . . . But no! He knew he hadn't! This man here wasn't Shadi at all!
"Oh yeah?" Mai said, bringing Bakura back to the present. "What is your name if you think it's so great?" She frowned at the man, crossing her arms and obviously not impressed.
But he smirked at her and Bakura before turning slightly. "You may learn of my name someday. But right now it isn't necessary knowledge." His eyes glinted. Once he got the attention of the one whom he wanted to challenge, the fun would really begin for him. Until then he would lay mostly in the shadows, doing his deadly tricks under the shroud of darkness.
Bakura glared, experiencing a rare moment of boldness. "And why isn't it?!" he demanded.
The Egyptian's gaze remained on Bakura for what seemed a long while. "Ah, yes, you are Bakaré's descendant, aren't you," he grinned maniacally, casting down lightning from the sky to dance and twirl around him as he made his exit. "You look so much like him, even though your personality couldn't be more different. I can see you're not a scared rabbit, however." He smirked. "Bakaré would never have stood for it if any descendants of his were cowards." And in the next clap of thunder he was gone, leaving the stunned Bakura and Mai behind.
"That person knew my Yami," Bakura whispered in disbelief. "Is he another spirit from Egypt?" Even as he said this, something told him no. That person was not a spirit. Never mind that he must be pushing three thousand plus years, he possessed a real mortal body—not the "mostly normal but not quite" version that the Yamis could generate with their Millennium Items. Nervously Bakura started to wring his hands. If only he could find his Yami! He had the terrible feeling that he and Mai had just met someone extremely alarming.
"Who cares what he is," Mai retorted. "He's trouble and he's got bad taste in clothing." With that she turned and started to sashay off in another direction, hoping desperately to get out of the circular trap they seemed to be in. "Not to mention he really should do something about that scar on his face. No one respectable would be caught going around like that."
That was when a dangerous shadow appeared and loomed right in her path. "Oh, I care what he is," a cold, gravelly voice growled. "Perhaps it would be beneficial if you did as well. Of course I frankly don't care what you think of him." Slowly the figure limped out into the light, blood dripping from a wound on his arm. "After all, I'm only offering a bit of advice. I don't really care what you do with it."
Bakura's mouth dropped open and his eyes widened in stunned shock. "YAMI!!" he burst out.
****
Back in the tunnels, Seto was still frantically trying to revive Marik. He bit his lip hard, nearly drawing blood, and pulled the trigger of the stun gun once more. Come on, he said silently. Get up, Egyptian! Marik, get up! Rarely did he address the other boy by his given name, not even in his own thoughts. But Seto was upset. He knew how he would feel in Ishizu's and Rishid's place if this was his brother laying so still on the floor. And he knew how Mokuba was feeling right now. The little boy was kneeling right beside them, wanting to still hold his friend's hand but not doing so because the electricity would then travel to him as well.
Mokuba sniffled, trying to hold back a flood of tears. "He's gonna be okay," he said stubbornly, gripping at the knees of his pants with his shaking fingers. "Marik isn't gonna let something like this defeat him!"
Ishizu had to smile at Mokuba's determination to believe in her and Rishid's precious brother. She was whispering soft prayers under her breath, pleading that Marik would be able to hold on and regain consciousness with Seto's help. Still she could sense that Marik was struggling. Perhaps, she thought in alarm, the spirit is still preventing his heart from beating! If we could only get it away, perhaps Marik would be able to revive! But she didn't know how they would accomplish such a thing. And so she continued to pray.
Rishid's eyes had never left his brother's still form. Tensely he grasped Ishizu's hand, his countenance a mixture of anguish, distress, and hope. He winced as he watched the electric sparks enter Marik's body and cause the boy to jerk. All he could do was pray that the voltage would help Marik and not hurt him worse. Bare electricity wasn't especially a pleasant thing for him to look at. It reminded him all too well of how he had been struck down by lightning during Battle Ship. Even now he could feel the searing pain coursing through his veins. But he tried to concentrate on happy memories. Sometimes he and Marik were able to communicate mentally. Perhaps if he riveted his attention on pleasant things, he could send images of those times to Marik as continued encouragement.
But he and everyone else were jarred out of their thoughts by the sound of the taser falling to the floor with a clunk. Seto Kaiba glared at it coldly before leaning over Marik's body one last time. He found nothing changed. And so he leaned back again, his blue eyes filled with regret. "I'm sorry," the businessman said in a quiet voice. "I tried to save him." There was nothing more he could do. He had been struggling with the taser for nigh unto fifteen minutes. If it hadn't brought Marik back yet, chances were it wasn't going to.
A collective silence fell over the entire group. None of them knew what to say or do. They had just barely come from almost losing Duke, but now they were being told that another of their friends—and for some, family—was lost? What sort of curse lay over this lonely town?!
Then the silence was broken as Mokuba gave a wail of protest. "No!!" he sobbed. "Seto, you just didn't try hard enough! Marik would've come back! He . . . he would've. . . ." The child trailed off, knowing that Seto had done his best. He flung himself into Seto's arms and his older brother held him close, berating himself for not being able to help the Egyptian.
Rishid reached for his brother in silence, gently taking him up from where he lay on the floor near Seto and holding the body close to his heart. He refused to believe Marik was dead. No, he would regain consciousness and be alright! It was what Rishid had to believe to stay sane. He couldn't acknowledge that Marik was dead. Not now, after everything else. . . . Vaguely he could hear himself saying thank you to Seto for trying to save the boy. But he himself was far away from here. He was far from this entire scene. He was back in Egypt, holding an infant Marik in his arms for the first time and realizing that the child loved him. The man closed his eyes tightly, not caring as a few tears escaped.
Ishizu gazed at her brothers sadly. Oh Marik, she said silently, no! You cannot leave us! You cannot! The woman carefully slipped an arm around each brother, trying desperately to feel for even the slightest movement from Marik's limp form. Her heart felt sick. He had to awaken! What sort of holidays could they even feel like celebrating if Marik was taken from them now? Ishizu's grip tightened.
And then they received the miracle they had prayed for. Shaky fingers reached up, clutching at Rishid's cloak. The body stirred in the man's arms and lilac lavender eyes struggled to open. With his other hand Marik grabbed at Ishizu's. Yes, he was alive. Seto had helped him, greatly, but so had all of his friends and especially his siblings. He had never given up because he knew they were all counting on him. And because he hadn't wanted to die. "I'm not beaten yet," he rasped softly. But it was loud enough.
Ishizu and Rishid cried for joy and embraced him tightly, feeling his weak arms go around them. The boy was alive! The boy they both loved and treasured more than anything else was embracing them, full of life!
Mokuba looked up joyously, exclaiming over and over that Seto had done it! Seto had saved him! He let out a happy laugh, worming his way into the Ishtars' hug and greeting his dear friend with tears streaming. Marik laughed, trying to find a way to hug Mokuba as well as his siblings. At last Mokuba backed away, letting the Ishtars continue their reunion. "You did it, Seto," he said softly, smiling.
Seto ruffled Mokuba's hair. "Maybe I helped," he admitted, "but only Marik himself could make the final decision to come back." For Seto did not like to take credit where it was not due. Here, he knew it was not.
The others were all happy as well—and relieved.
"Man, I thought we'd lost the guy for sure," Joey declared, letting out a breath he'd been holding. He pulled Serenity closer to him, thankful for his sister.
"Yeah," Tristan agreed, "but it seems like he's full of surprises."
Yugi smiled, watching Marik embrace and be embraced by Ishizu and Rishid. They were a very close-knit, loving family. He frankly didn't know how any of them would survive without the others. More than once he had witnessed the actions of a brokenhearted Ishtar. It was one of the most heartwrenching things Yugi had ever, or probably would ever, see.
Unseen by any of them was Nuru. Biting her lip she turned away to look at Seth, who was standing behind her. "It doesn't seem right," she murmured, "causing them so much pain. I can see how much they love each other." So often she had longed for that same love, for someone to truly want her and for them to not be able to stand the thought of her leaving. She knew Seth didn't really care about her. She had learned that long ago. But still she couldn't bring herself to leave him. She had nowhere else to go.
Seth traced a pattern on her cheek. "Well, it isn't really them we want anyway. You know that, Nuru. But I can't control what the local spirits do to them. It's hardly our fault they were foolish enough to come here." He smirked in the darkness. "Now come. If Runihura is loose, there's no telling what catastrophes might happen. On the other hand . . . there's also no telling how he may help us achieve our ultimate goals. We should find him in any case."
Nuru nodded. "Yes, Lord Seth," she whispered submissively, following after him as he walked out.
Cold blue eyes watched their departure. "I have gotten your message, Runihura," the one the eyes belonged to muttered low. "You wished for my attention. And now you have received it. But the consequences will not be pleasing for you."