Seto clenched his fists in rage at the sight of his younger brother being held prisoner by this madman. "Let him go," he hissed in a low voice. "Mokuba's done nothing to you. If you refuse to release him, I'm afraid I won't be very merciful with your pathetic life." Seto was sick and tired of the games these people were playing with others' minds and well-being. It disgusted and revolted him that this being looked like him, but he knew there was no way to change what was.
Seth gave a dark sneer. "No," he replied as an almost inhuman light flashed through his striking blue eyes. "No, Seto Kaiba, I won't let him go. Not until I've finished testing my plan. If I hold a hostage, especially this one, I know I won't receive interference."
Seto's eyes darkened. "Oh really?" he retorted, sizing up the situation instantly. He was smarter than this priest gave him credit for. And he was not going to let him get away with this. "You seem to forget—if you're holding a hostage, there's no arms free to attack me with. And I can attack you before you can hurt Mokuba." With that he lunged forward, taking Seth by complete surprise, and then delivered a harsh karate chop to the priest's arms. Seth fell backward, his limbs rendered temporarily useless, and Seto caught Mokuba as the child flew free.
"Seto?" the boy whispered shakily, his eyes cracking open and focusing unsteadily upon his rescuer and beloved brother. Weakly he burrowed closer into the depths of Seto's dark trenchcoat.
"Yeah," Seto replied quietly, not hiding a slight smile. Mokuba was safe. And from Khu's expression, it looked as though Seth would not be. There was going to be a brawl between the brothers—that was obvious.
Across the cemetery grounds, Yami Yugi was sending several more beings forcefully into the snow as they attempted to attack. He had performed his Mind Crush, and since these creatures had no minds of their own, instead it rendered devastation upon their controller, Nuru. As she lost her concentration and collapsed to her knees, struggling with the Pharaoh's assault, a large portion of the zombies were rendered useless. Yami Yugi stood over them coldly, watching as they sank back into their graves, not to be called forth by evil again. A Mind Crush performed in this way wouldn't cause Nuru to suffer the full effects, but it would cause her to not be able to control those particular bodies again.
"Yami?"
He looked down as Yugi approached, tired and exhausted and limping slightly from a vicious battle. But the boy seemed none the worse for wear and he smiled a bit as he saw that the ancient Pharaoh was alright.
"Everything will be alright now, Yugi," Yami Yugi assured him, though inwardly he was certain that Seth wasn't about to be beaten already. Most likely he had some other treacherous plan in mind, one that Yami Yugi wasn't looking forward to discovering. "Are you badly hurt?"
Yugi shook his head, typical of him, and sat down slowly on a tombstone shaped like a small stone bench. "Yami . . . what did you mean when you called Seth 'Akunadin'?" he asked quietly. This had completely baffled him all during the battle, but he hadn't had the chance to ask his Yami about it.
Yami Yugi sighed. He had known he would be asked this question. He wasn't entirely certain of the answer himself, but he knew what he had seen in the vision—of how Seth's wicked father in ancient Egypt had become possessed by the promise of power and greed and of how he had tried to fix it so that Seth would become Pharaoh. But in actuality, Seth had no desire to be Pharaoh. He had been one of Atemu's six priests and had only wanted to continue serving him in that regard. But something had happened . . . something Yami Yugi still wasn't certain of . . . and Akunadin had been killed. In rage he had immediately possessed his son's body and Seth had fought against him viciously. Combined with the spirit of a woman Seth had loved, they had seemed to be able to overcome Akunadin's madness. But . . . had he truly been suppressed for good? Yami Yugi was convinced the answer was no. Quietly he explained some of what he had seen to Yugi, the boy listening in shock and horror.
"Then . . ." Yugi paused, searching for the right words. "Does that mean that we don't even know what the real Seth is like, because Akunadin has been possessing him all the times we've encountered him?" This alarmed and sickened him. All this time they had all been thinking that Seth was their enemy, and now he was finding out that perhaps in reality Seth was their ally, helpless and possessed by a madman.
Yami Yugi was silent at first. "Yes," he admitted slowly, "that's quite possibly what it does mean."
Yugi clenched his fist. "Then we have to help him!" he vowed firmly.
Yami Yugi gave a slight smile. "I believe that's the real reason why Khu has come chasing his brother all this way," he replied. "He is here to save him." He turned to look in the direction where Seth had last been seen. Slowly the priest was getting up, his eyes cold and unfeeling as he glared at the older man standing over him.
"I've had enough of this," Khu growled low, clutching his staff as he used it to push Seth back into the snow. "Get out of my brother's body, Father." Yes, Akunadin was Seth's father and hence, Khu's as well, of course. But Akunadin had seemed to have forgotten that Khu was his son. He hated Khu, deeming him worthless. But the feeling was mutual; Khu hated him back.
Seth's features twisted into an expression of rage and disgust. "You aren't worthy to call me 'Father,'" he retorted. "Only Seth was ever worthy of that, but I'm starting to think that he wasn't worthwhile either. Look how easily I was able to take his vessel over. He hasn't even fought back." But he was lying. Seth was fighting. He was fighting against him all the time. But he had gone mad from the influence of the Shadow Realm over so many centuries.
Khu's expression of disgust now matched Seth's. "I know you're lying," he retorted. His hands shook as he continued to hold the staff. How was he going to free his brother? He could fight Akunadin, but in hurting him he would most likely also hurt Seth's body. But perhaps that was the only way. In order to save Seth, he might very well have to hurt him.
"Let's find out, shall we?" In an instant Seth had sprang up, his eyes wild, and he was sending a wave of magic at the raven-haired man. Khu fell back, crashing against a nearby tombstone. There was going to be one other problem with this battle—Khu had nowhere near the amount of power that Seth had learned over the millennia. And with Akunadin as the driving force of the vessel, things were bound to be that much worse. The last time they had battled was when Khu had become so seriously injured that he had wandered through Domino until he had collapsed on Bakura's porch. But he vowed that this time things would be different. Things would have to be, if he were to save his brother.
Nuru, in the meantime, was slowly rising to her feet, her orange eyes cold as she sought out the silhouette of the Pharaoh. But as she was about to send her remaining zombies after him, the sight to her left was interesting enough that she stayed her hand and simply watched.
Yami Bakura snarled, stabbing several of the undead at once with the Millennium Rod, stolen from Marik after the boy had fallen down the hill. The brown eyes flashed with irritation and rage as he weaved his way through the seemingly endless numbers, not allowing them to get at a limp form sprawled on the ground. Young Bakura, stunned senseless by the zombies' ferocity when he had tried to protect his dazed Yami, was now being protected by the ancient thief.
But it seemed as if even Yami Bakura wasn't going to be able to withstand all of them. Rhea appeared on the scene, attempting to help by smashing a broken tombstone over the head of one of the beings, but she was quickly shoved back by others as three more dropped out of a tree to tackle Yami Bakura to the ground. The tomb raider fought viciously, gripping desperately at the Rod and stabbing at all three while he tried to reach for his deck. At last he managed to shove two of the decomposing bodies away from him and once more shakily stand. The third he held fast in a chokehold before shoving the Rod's dagger through its throat. These actions did nothing to permanently stop the creatures, but it did slow them down. With lightning speed Yami Bakura drew his deck and searched for the card he desired. With a mighty sweep of a Shield and Sword card, the zombies' powers were rendered useless and Yami Bakura was easily able to dispose of them for good.
Except for one, which rose from the depths of the snow-covered ground and snatched the Rod from Yami Bakura's belt. With a treacherous hiss, it slammed the dagger into the thief's heart before he could prevent it. Yami Bakura's eyes widened in pain, but he made no sound as he then collapsed slowly to the ground to lay beside his Hikari, who was just starting to revive.
Rhea, suddenly filled with a horror and rage she had never known before, ran forward with a war cry. "How dare you!" she screeched, her complete and previously unknown abilities making themselves known. With a wild slash of her hand, the zombie had crumpled into the snow and Rhea was stomping on its back. Then, without seemingly any rhyme or reason, the creature went still, having been stopped by Nuru for reasons not clear.
Blinking in surprise, Rhea slowly climbed down. When she was certain it wouldn't get up again, she left the zombie alone and turned her attention to Yami Bakura, who was laying still on the ground, bleeding profusely. The girl bit her lip as she knelt down, her black-and-white tresses tumbling down her back and over her shoulders. This was the man she loved. No one could understand her feelings for him, least of all her, but she knew she loved him. And that she could never have him. Gently she took his hands, clasping them in hers, and then started to cry, the crystalline drops slipping down her face.
"What are these tears?" she whispered then, seeming stunned. She never realized that she was being watched by a stunned Bakura. With one hand she reached up, wiping the tears away, but more immediately appeared. This confused her even more. "Human's tears. . . . I'm crying. . . ." She shut her eyes tightly. "I'm crying for him. . . ." She could hear the thief breathing raggedly, though it was slowing. He seemed unaware of all around him, and certainly unaware of Rhea kneeling beside him. "I was created because of this love for him, this need to protect him. . . ."
Bakura simply stared at her as he regained consciousness, pulling himself up painstakingly into a sitting position. What was going on? What had happened to his Yami? And what was Rhea talking about?! He wanted to run forward, to help the thief, to demand what was going on . . . but he felt powerless. He opened his mouth to speak and nothing came out. His legs refused to allow him to stand. He could only watch and observe as the scene played out in front of him.
"Yes," a new voice joined in now as Shadi's translucent form materialized in front of Rhea. He didn't acknowledge Bakura's presence, though he was obviously aware that the boy was there. Instead he stood nearby, a furry bundle in his arms. It took only a moment for Bakura to realize in stunned shock that he was holding Oreo. Why did Shadi have her? And . . . then who was Rhea? She obviously truly couldn't be Oreo! "Yes, that was why you were created," Shadi went on, standing over Rhea with an emotionless expression. "The feline's immense love for the thief resulted in you, a shadow of her heart, being born." Oreo meowed, seemingly in agreement, and looked down at Yami Bakura with horror.
Rhea looked up at him with a start and then lowered her gaze. "I . . . no, we . . . we thought that at last our love for him could be fully shown if I were to be in human form, but . . . I realize now it's foolish." She smiled sadly. She was Oreo's voice in the human world, her heart and soul, yet a shadow of the actual cat. Some would call her a doppelganger. "In the end . . . I'm only part of a complete soul . . . and in truth, I am only a cat. He and I could never be together." She swallowed hard as tears filled her eyes once more. "And . . . especially not now. . . ."
Shadi let Oreo get down and run over to the thief. He watched as the feline meowed plaintively, nudging at Yami Bakura's lifeless body. "There is still a way to save him," he remarked. He knew that Rhea knew and understood what it was, though part of her likely didn't want to admit to the price.
But he was wrong. "I know," Rhea said shakily, clutching Yami Bakura's hand as if it were a lifeline. "And I'm gonna do it. By giving up my lifeforce, I can give my strength to him to help him fight."
Bakura let out a small gasp. He still couldn't believe everything he was hearing. Rhea was a shadow of Oreo's heart? Oreo loved Yami Bakura that much? He had known the feline was always adoring and devoted, but still, the thought that she had apparently fallen in love with her human owner was mind-boggling. Of course, he supposed it wasn't impossible. But what was impossible was for Oreo to really let Yami Bakura know that she loved him in that way—and for anything to ever come of it. When the monster had been attacking Yami Bakura back in Cooperstown, it must have caused all of Oreo's feelings to come to fruition and create Rhea! It was eerie, but yet it made sense. And in some way, it was quite melancholy. Both Oreo and Rhea realized it was a love not meant to be.
Now Rhea was shimmering, almost as translucent as Shadi by now. With a sad smile she bent down, kissing Yami Bakura softly on the lips. "We'll never meet again," she whispered, "and you'll never know how much I love you." Gently she brushed the white hair away from his face, hearing his breathing starting to even out. She would tell him the truth now, though he likely wouldn't be able to hear it. But perhaps some part of his heart would. . . .
"I'm not a real person," she admitted sadly, watching Oreo lick at his cheek. "I'm only a shadow of your cat's heart. I am Oreo and she is me." Several more tears, transparent and clear as glass, trickled down her cheeks. "I . . . we love you, Yami Bakura. . . ." She chuckled weakly. "I don't even know your real name. . . . Well, I know you were called 'Bakura,' just like your descendent. . . ." She trailed off, knowing that she was only trying to delay what was already happening. "I don't wanna say goodbye," she choked out. "I finally got to talk to you and be around you just like a human, but I have to go back to Oreo's heart. I'm only a doppelganger. . . ." She smiled as she faded away entirely. "But you're going to be alright because of it and that's all that really matters."
Shadi finally met Bakura's eyes as Rhea vanished into the night snow. "Your Yami will recover," he said, saying nothing about the strange phenomenon that had just occurred. He didn't feel that it was necessary to say anything. Rhea had explained most all that needed to be explained. Why Oreo had been with him was of no immediate consequence.
Bakura nodded slowly and shakily, relieved that this was so. Quickly he scooted forward, occupying the space where Rhea had just been, and worked on halting the bleeding of the wound. He felt sick as the warm blood trickled out from under the cloth he was pressing on the abrasion. It was a wound that would be fatal to anyone. Well, anyone except his Yami. He had to smile a bit. When he chanced to look up again, Shadi had gone.
Oreo meowed, rubbing against Yami Bakura worriedly and willing him to wake up. She knew he would, but still it was an agonizing wait. When she felt the thief stir slightly as he started to revive she let out a loud purr and curled up by the uninjured side of his chest.
"Yami?" Bakura whispered hopefully. He wasn't certain of everything that had happened while he had been unconscious, but he had a fairly good idea. He was certain Yami Bakura had been trying to protect him, though he knew the tomb robber would deny it. Gently he continued to hold the cloth down, relieved to see that the flow of blood was slowing.
Yami Bakura grunted, hearing the boy through a thick haze that had fallen over his mind. Vaguely he was aware of immense pain in his chest, and of a furry motor sitting next to him, but not much else. He was lost in his confusion.
Also confused was Khu, as he struggled to block "Seth's" attacks. He wielded his staff as best as he could, but the fact was that they both knew Seth was stronger. But Khu didn't want help from anyone, especially not the Pharaoh. He had to rescue Seth himself. Only he knew of what was really going on and what his brother truly was like. He shouted a curse in Egyptian as he somersaulted over a tombstone to avoid the next round of fire and then ducked as fragmented pieces of stone went soaring in all directions. But as he was ducking, Seth was able to blast him directly in the back and send him to the ground.
An eerie laugh echoed throughout the cemetery as Seth advanced, placing his foot on Khu's back to hold him down. "This is the end, Khu," he sneered, magic crackling at his fingertips. "Now, you die." He prepared to deliver the final blow.