To all of my reviewers, heartfelt thanks go out to you. You make me care enough to keep writing. Just think if I never knew anyone bothered to read this. But, since you do, I always like to post as soon as I am able!

Chapter 8 In the Dark of Night…

As anyone could have guessed, the gang was having problems. One, they were lost. Two, Joey refused to admit that he knew this, and three, the others did not yet know they were lost, but when they learned, they would be upset.

He was still cruising along, pretending that he had not missed the exit to go to the city where the Janukas resided twenty minutes ago. He thought he would easily be able to take the next exit. The problem was there had been no new exits since then.

"Ah, screw it." Joey stepped on the breaks, went into the median, and did a U-turn, making cars honk all the way down the highway. "Leave me alone," he muttered.

The others all were looking out their windows, trying to determine just what had happened.

"Hey, man, what are you doing?" Tristan tried to see the map that Joey was going by, but it was too dark to read it accurately.

"Just fixin' dings. Don't ask."

The turning and honking awakened Yugi, who had fallen into a stupor and then a doze ten minutes ago. When he realized his head had been lying on Téa's arm, he blushed deeply and tried to scoot over. But they were all packed into the truck with no room until they fell out the doors. Téa was by one door, with Yugi squished next to her and Tristan. While it wasn't a good idea, Joey was right next to Tristan, who was now asking him a bunch of questions. Joey ignored him.

When he got off on an exit, Tristan triumphantly exclaimed that he understood. He promptly began giving Joey a hard time.

Gradually, everyone went quiet and calm the farther they went. The Januka household was only a few more miles down the road. Then, the plan would be in action.

"Uh, guys? What was our plan?"

Everyone was silent, oddly having no comeback for Joey. Téa groaned, putting a hand to her forehead.

"We don't have a plan? What are we going to do, knock on the door and ask if Mokuba can come out and then grab him?" Téa could sense the acceptance of her plan from Tristan and Joey, so she added, "That wouldn't work! We don't even know what kind of security these Janukas have! I knew there was something missing from our meeting earlier today." She sagged back against the seat as much as she could.

"Well, we could always try a window. Or, we could dress up like guards. Hmm…Maybe we should be food delivery service! People always like food!"

"Man, just watch the road," Tristan warned as Joey swerved.

Yugi had been waiting for silence, and now that it came he said, "Well, I think two of us should go to the door and see if we can go in at all. Maybe the Janukas will have no problem letting Mokuba go visit his brother, especially since I know how much Mokuba will want to go."

"Too innocent," the other three chimed together, causing Yugi utter confusion.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

There was a tall house in the foreground, and Joey slowly stopped still a distance away. "I'm sure dat's it." He turned to face the others. "All right, guys. Yuge's got a point. We should split up and see if we can be let in. But we shouldn't tell the Janukas our plan. I don't dink dey'd like Mokuba to see his brodda. But, if dat doesn't work, we'll have ta try goin' in dere in secret and bustin' out de kid. Deal?"

The others agreed quickly, except Yugi, but he was left in the truck without getting to argue. So, hurrying out, he ran after the others, whispering for them to wait.

Before his eyes sat another large house, its black silhouette solid against the sky lit with tiny stars. Plenty of lights blazed in the mansion, but they did not seem enough to make the building appear any less inky. A fence of rickety bars surrounded the estate, and because that seemed hardly sufficient to keep out thieves, the gang was even further astounded by the lack of any bodyguards.

"No one's here," Tristan whispered.

"There could be a camera, so be quiet!" Téa hissed back.

Joey elbowed her and Tristan. "Don't act like you want ta be secret by sneakin' around. Be casual and cool-like." Joey did not crouch into the bushes but swaggered before the fence as if he were a nightly stroll.

"Yeah, listen to him. He has experience."

Yugi was about to ask Tristan what that meant when Yami began advising Yugi that they should switch places. With a sigh, the smaller boy agreed, and soon, the pharaoh was free.

"Let's go," he said in his deeper voice.

Joey and Tristan continued on their walk, Tristan looking more like he was getting chased by little dogs than going on a casual promenade, but they should not have attracted much attention anyway.

Téa and Yami headed to the front gate, both a little startled that is easily opened. Shrugging, they continued to the front door of the mansion. Pausing only a second, the other Yugi rapped smartly on the door and stood back, waiting.

The heavy wooden door swung silently open, and before them was a butler in the traditional black jacket.

"May I help you?" The man's voice was slightly croaky, as if he had not had to use it in ages. Probably, no one had knocked on the door in a long time.

Yami took a small step forward. "Yes. We would like to speak to Mr. and Mrs. Januka regarding Mokuba."

The butler almost winced at hearing the final name, but he nodded gravely and ushered them in. He led them to a parlor that was immediately on their left. Explaining he would return soon, the elderly man continued out another door on the left side.

Téa ran her fingers along an ornate shelf above a fireplace that washolding little figurines made of porcelain. Everything in the room was tidy and clean, so even if they didn't have many visitors to put in this room, the Janukas were always prepared. The bookshelves had little dust and the chairs did not squeak from old age when Yami sat down.

Before long, from the right door, where they had entered, a man in another black suit entered, hastily wiping his brow. Startled, Yami jumped to his feet and Téa stepped back from the mantel.

"I only just heard you were here. May I ask why?" The man glanced around quickly, satisfied that no one was watching them, and came closer to the two teens.

"Aren't you…I mean, you just look like one of…well, Kaiba's goons."

"You're right. I'm Fuguta," the man answered. "And I want to know why you are here. I overheard something about Mokuba? Did Mr. Kaiba send you? Don't worry; you can tell me."

Yami and Téa exchanged glances.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about." Téa's puzzled face seemed to be even more expressive from the lack of emotion on her companion's visage. "Kaiba would never send us anywhere. We just came to see if the Janukas would let Mokuba go visit his brother. You heard what happened, didn't you?"

Fuguta sighed. "I had hoped you had good news concerning Mr. Kaiba. I see, now, that you came of your own ideas. I agree that Mokuba should not be here, but I cannot fight the law alone. How much would you like to unite the two?"

"We'll do whatever's needed," Yami said, causing to Téa to shudder slightly. As much as she admired the other Yugi, he sometimes frightened her. Yami continued, "We came here to get Mokuba and we're not leaving without him." From his lack of a quiet tone, it was obvious Yami did not care if they were on cameras or overheard.

Fuguta again cast a look around. "I was hoping you'd say that. Come around back when you're finished here." With that, the goon disappeared out the right door again.

The two friends did not have much time to even share a glance before the ancient butler led in Mr. Januka.

Quickly, both Téa and Yami paid the man his respects, and they then introduced themselves as friends of Mokuba.

"Friends from Domino, I presume." The man had a funny, little smile on his face, as if something was inexplicitly amusing.

"Well, yes. We were just wondering if we could see Mokuba." Téa thought it best to start with a small request.

The gentleman shook his head. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid that is impossible. In fact, I think it would be best if you would just leave before you cause any harm." Instantly, Mr. Januka turned to go.

"Cause harm? What are you talking about?" Téa was already taking the same stance she did when she wanted to teach Kaiba a lesson…Yami was worried that the girl did not understand how different the two were.

"I mean, goodbye. Have a nice drive back." Mr. Januka was gone, the butler herding the two to the door.

Once the main door had been shut right behind them, Téa burst out, "How rude! I can't believe they just kicked us out without explaining anything or letting us explain ourselves!"

Yami was in deep thought as he went around the large block in the opposite direction Joey and Tristan had gone. It took him awhile to vocalize his thoughts, but when he did, he had nothing constructive to say. "Hmm. That was indeed peculiar. I'm just glad Fuguta was there to help us out. Otherwise, we would be having a much harder task." Yami finally listened to the little voice of his aibou, agreeing with Yugi that they might get in major trouble for this.

"That's why we switched, Yugi."

"I had wondered. After all, I know you don't like Kaiba."

"But I don't mind his brother."

Yugi sighed but said nothing more.

After going halfway around the block, they encountered Joey and Tristan, both of them rushing toward them. For a moment, neither of them said anything, though both of them looked crestfallen and then determined as they listened to the news.

"So we gotta go in afta de little guy, huh?" Joey glanced where the mansion stuck above the roofs of other houses.

"Actually, we found something else out that is very interesting." Téa proceeded to inform them of their conversation with Kaiba's old goon, Fuguta. "Maybe we don't have to break the law—he'll do it instead!"

The others were all ready to go back to the house, though no one lied to say they were not nervous. Joey and Tristan may have gotten into trouble before, but it was never anything against important people. Mostly, it was gang people or bullies. So, it was natural that they were not completely confident. And while Yami had no real qualms, he was sharing the body of Yugi, and Yugi was terrified, so Yami was a little nervous.

Traveling back around the block, they lined up near the fence where they could see into the backyard. Thus far, no one was visible in the lights beaconing forth from the back of the house.

They waited there in silence, hoping no one within the mansion was taking exception to them outside the fence. If Mr. Januka knew they were here…well, they hoped Mr. Januka was unaware of them. From what they had experienced so far, it did not seem like the security system was one to completely fear. After all, Fuguta had not worried about cameras when he sketched out the plan.

So, waiting outside, they were growing restless, more nervous, and agitated. But they had no idea of what was happening within the mansion.

-

"Mokuba, don't make me get the key," Fuguta pleaded outside the door. While the counselor had spoken with the Janukas about what had occurred with the boy, the couple had not thought to pass on the news to anyone else. In response to Fuguta's entreaties, only silence lingered down the corridors and rooms.

The goon sighed and pulled the key out of his pocket. He had never used it yet, since Mokuba was still a Kaiba to him who deserved all respect. But now, for the boy's own good, he had to come out of the room and go back to Domino.

The interior of the living quarters were dark and still; only a lump on the bed was any proof that someone was within. Fortunately, the huddled mass under the covers was going up and down slightly. After what Mr. Kaiba had attempted, Fuguta could never let the fear completely leave him that Mokuba would do the same thing.

Quietly, he entered. Mokuba was sleeping again. He must be really exhausted, Fuguta thought. Poor kid. I hate to wake him, but we have to leave.

"Mokuba," he whispered, hardly daring to touch the covers. "Wake up."

The boy was sluggish in leaving his sleep. When he saw someone was trying to awaken him, he turned and pulled the covers over himself again. Fuguta sighed, going to the other side of the bed and trying again.

"We're leaving, so get up. We'll leave everything where it is; we can get it back at our leisure. Mokuba, wake up!" he finished, accenting the last word with a sharp whisper. Then, the covers were yanked completely off Mokuba.

"Leave me alone," he muttered.

Frustrated, Fuguta stared at the boy for a second. Then he said, "Mokuba, I should have told you this sooner." He took a moment to gain courage with a breath. Yet, when Mokuba spoke next, he exhaled suddenly.

"I'm not Mokuba anymore. Now leave me alone."

He scooted to the end of the bed to grab the covers, hauling them off the floor. Before he could pull them all the way back up, Fuguta had grabbed his wrist, not releasing it even when Mokuba strained.

"What did you say, sir?"

Mokuba glared at him. "You heard me. Let go."

Fuguta did not. Instead, he muttered under his breath and glanced away. Then, with renewed determination, he pried Mokuba out of bed.

"We're leaving, you and I. We shouldn't have ever been here. And you're not going to put up a fuss."

Mokuba blinked. His new name was working already! Fuguta was wanting him to go somewhere. And the Janukas for sure wanted him to stay. People wanted him!

His shock allowed him to be dragged out of the room, then pulled across the hallways, avoiding each hall that had heavy traffic from maids and servants. Soon, they went down a flight of stairs, arriving at last before a large patio door to the backyard. Fuguta cast one look around again, then plunged into the cool night air and caressing darkness.

Mokuba did not want to talk to Fuguta. He did not want to seem at all interested in what they were doing. But the boy was a little frightened. Maybe where they were going was worse than the Janukas. Maybe it was worse than when he had lived with his brother.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked in a small voice, trying to be strong like a Blue-Eyes White Dragon would be, but the fear still leaked into his tone.

"You'll see," was all Fuguta said in response, grimly toting Mokuba onward.

At one side of the fence, the sketchy outlines of people resided, standing as still as trees sprouting roots. Fuguta headed that way, hoping no one in the household had yet noticed their absence. He doubted it; the Janukas usually left Mokuba to himself and rarely had Fuguta do anything.

"Mr. Mouto and Miss Gardner?" Fuguta called softly.

"We're here," came the deep answer, drifting from the one with the spiky hair silhouetted against the street light. At the same time, it seemed he had his own glow.

Fuguta went to the side gate, going silent when he realized it was locked, and he did not have the key. Still, the goon was a member of Kaiba's goon squad for a reason. He pulled out a rope, throwing it over the fence. The height of the fence was about half of his height above him, so the gang grabbed the rope and waited while Fuguta tied Mokuba up to it, the boy hardly protesting.

The others pulled Mokuba up to the top rung. From there, he dragged himself up on top of it and jumped down, letting out a small groan as he hit the ground. When Fuguta's turn came, it took all of them to pull the goon to the top.

"Where's Mokuba?" he asked as soon as he hit the ground.

The others turned around and peered all over. Then one let out a small shout and ran after the little figure calmly walking down the sidewalk.

"We're goin' dis way, Mokuba. My truck's ova here." Joey pointed in the other direction.

Mokuba shrugged, not commenting on the name. By then, Fuguta had arrived and grabbed the boy's arm again. Now that they were free he did not want to lose Mokuba. The Januka household had kept him in, at least.

Joey was staring at the truck, rubbing his chin with a rueful expression. "Uh, sorry guys. Guess we'll be takin' a different route back. I don't want ya ta have ta ride in de back on de highway."

"I knew there was a problem with this," Tristan said, shaking his head. "Guess that means I get to ride without a seatbelt."

"What're ya talkin' about, Tristan? I got seatbelts in de cargo space!"

Téa stared at Joey. "Are you serious? Do you commonly carry so many people in your dad's borrowed truck?"

No one knew when it had happened, but Yugi was back, looking fearful at the big back end of truck. "Um, I hope you drive better than you did on the way over."

"What!"

Tristan gave Téa a hand in, who scoffed when she saw what Joey considered "seatbelts." There were some streamers tied to the truck when it must have been used in some parade, but there was no way those would hold anyone in.

In a few minutes, everyone was where they belonged. Mokuba was next to Joey and Fuguta in the main truck, while the other three rode in the back, already feeling a bit chilled from the night air. With the flying bugs and darkening sky, it did not look like a fun ride in the slightest.

-

Hobson glanced over the papers in his hand, a leering smile making his triple chin more prominent.

"So, they want to have this appeal, do they?" He chuckled lowly. "And they think I will abide by the judge's orders to stop any changes in the company in case I lose? I don't think I'll lose. I've come too far to fail now."

Hobson signed a different document, ordering that the factories that had been making gaming supplies would have to go back to making instruments of war.

Gozaburo had it right the first time, Hobson thought. And I will add tools to make torture devices, furthering my master's ambitions! I do so love seeing how much pain and fear someone can take.

Then the man walked back into his office, looking out of the window Gozaburo had jumped through. For the rest of the night, his thoughts were on how to replicate the feeling of glass, freefall, and then a final crunch.

-

After more than three hours, everyone was sore and cramped. The three in the back were freezing. Bugs were adorning their clothing, limbs were stiffened from sitting in the hard tailgate, and the cold was permeated throughout their bodies. Even once they were at the hospital and inside the warm place, the cold had to go out before the warmth could come in.

"Maybe we should go to bed, first," Fuguta said, eyeing his watch. It was after midnight. It was only because the nurses recognized Fuguta for one of the Kaiba goons that they had been allowed inside after hours at all. But only two could be in a room anyway. The others would have to be in the waiting room. That way, there was little likelihood the teenagers would rouse the patients.

"Come back in the morning? What, should we just skip school?" Téa was yawning and thinking it might be a good idea to skip school in order to sleep in late.

Fuguta, now joined by Roland, looked over the gang members. In the meantime, Roland was overjoyed to see Mokuba. He bent down to talk to the boy, but Mokuba only had an absent stare in his face.

Roland stood back up and whispered to Fuguta, "Did you tell him about Mr. Kaiba?" The goon thought that must be why Mokuba looked so forlorn.

Fuguta pulled his comrade aside. "Uh, no. I have some things to tell you, Roland…"

Joey looked at the conferring goons, then to the others. "Hey, we came here for a reason. I say we go see Kaiba."

Gradually, dawning came upon the boy's face, and he focused on Joey. "What? Nii-sama's here?" Almost to himself, he added, "I thought I was going to have to talk to another doctor here."

Téa shushed Joey, telling him, "Now look what you did! Mokuba didn't know! Now you'll have upset him!" She smacked himin the back of the head, though it if made him lose any more brain cells, no one noticed.

Coming back to the others, Roland said, "I'm sorry, but Mr. Kaiba is not having any visitors at this time. You'll have to come back another day. Thank you for rescuing the younger Mr. Kaiba, however." Roland nodded to them, putting a hand behind Mokuba's back.

"After we go all this way, we don't even get to see Kaiba?" Tristan moaned as he walked back outside.

"Just keep walking," Téa answered, making certain Joey was with them at the same time.

After the other three had gotten ahead a little, Yugi looked back at the goons and Mokuba. "I hope everything turns out all right. We're wishing for the best for your brother and you, Mokuba!" Then he dashed after the others into the night.

Joey had revved up his dad's truck, waiting with the others for Yugi to squeeze inside if that were even possible. Once wedged in, they drove off into the night to get what sleep was left before school the next day.

There was a deadly silence over the three remaining, made more prominent by the fact that they were in a hospital. Roland nervously looked to Fuguta and Mokuba, then did it again.

"Sir, Fuguta has not finished updating me on everything, but I feel I must tell you the truth. Your brother tried to commit suicide a few days ago." He stopped, anxiously watching the boy's reaction.

There wasn't one for a long time.

Two different personas battled within Mokuba. One was his old self, the one who, though he tried to muffle it, still loved his brother with all his heart. The other was the new one who thought his brother deserved it.

Nii-sama is injured, dying, maybe. I have to go see him!

Him? He doesn't care about me. Why should I go bother to see how he is doing? He wouldn't want me there.

But why did he do it? It couldn't have been because of me, as I was already gone! Maybe he actually misses me!

There was a snide laugh. You think he remembers me? Most likely, it is for another reason he did this. Think of what he loves most—his company.

No! I know he loves me!

Then why didn't he win the trial?

He tried to!

Did he?

There was a silence in the boy's mind. He thought back to what had happened. He remembered seeing the tapes of their own house, tapes that their own camera could have easily made, used against them. The enraged tone in his brother's voice still made him cringe when he recalled the image that the tape had shown, when Kaiba had said Mokuba almost made him lose the company.

Seto didn't give them those tapes. I'm sure of it.

Then who did? One of the goons? Heh. They're closer to you than your own brother.

Roland and Fuguta were both alarmed at Mokuba's silence and stillness. A vacant stare had replaced his gaze, and his breathing had turned very shallow. Fuguta quickly whispered all the changes that had taken place in the Januka household, many of which Roland could not believe.

"Failing classes? No music? Sleeping in his spare time? Is this because he misses the other Mr. Kaiba?"

Fuguta shrugged helplessly. "It must be. I can't equate anything else with it."

I thought you were supposed to be tough and powerful, like a Blue-Eyes White Dragon? Then prove that you don't need him or care about him. Leave him as he is.

I just wanted to be wanted, that's all. I just wanted to be appreciated like a Blue-Eyes.

Well, it is obvious you're not. Only these goons in suits care anything about you. And they're trying to figure out how to use you to their advantage.

No! And you're wrong about not being appreciated! Seto loves his Blue-Eyes a lot! He has all three! They saved him before with his duels and Gozaburo, and I have to save him again!

Mokuba took off running into the darkened hallways. It was fortunate that Roland and Fuguta were members of the goon squad, therefore having a quick reaction and following after the youth. Mokuba, after all, did not know where he was going.

"Mr. Kaiba, wait!" they called, trying not to be too loud, but not being completely quiet either.

There was a nurse's desk coming up, and she glared at them all. Without listening to any explanations, she stopped all three of them, even reaching out an arm to grasp Mokuba's arm.

With a frenzied look, the boy turned toward her, twisting his arm free at the same time.

"I need to find my brother!" he cried.

Pursing her mouth, the nurse waggled a finger at Mokuba. "That is no excuse for running down the halls in a hospital after midnight, young man! Residents are trying to rest and heal. How can they do so if someone is running? I will call security if you do not cease your ways."

"Yes, ma'am. We're terribly sorry." The goons were also extremely grateful, for she had halted Mokuba's mad dash. Roland put an arm on Mokuba's shoulder to ensure he would not take off again without warning.

With one last withering glare, the nurse let them go on their way again. This time, with the goons behind him holding him tightly, Mokuba walked, though he was like a dog straining at the leash.

"Sir, his room is right down here." Roland gestured down a very dim hallway, indicating to the room with alert goons outside. While the goons still lived with each other in an apartment, they did not feel their duties had ceased with the fall of the company. Instead, they still watched outside Mr. Kaiba's door every day and night, trading off.

Fuguta walked over to the others, shaking their hands with a smile. He had not seen Jaques and Sung for a long time. Roland turned toward Mokuba and had a grave look on his face.

"Sir, Mr. Kaiba is in there, and we will let you in—I think he'd do better with you there—but it will not be an easy sight. You see, Mr. Kaiba, the elder Mr. Kaiba attempted suicide. As of yet, he has not regained consciousness."

Mokuba's large eyes seemed to catch all the light that was in the dim hallway and reflect it back in order to make Roland uncomfortable. He thought the boy could see far more than was natural, almost as if he were blaming the goons for what they had been unable to prevent.

Finally, the younger Kaiba nodded, going slowly to the door and placing his hand on the doorknob. Then, taking a breath, Mokuba twisted it slightly, disappearing into the gloom where machines kept a steady beat and no true light reached.

-

The crisp knock at the door was unwelcome, but Hobson was not foolish enough to ignore it. He let in his main spy, smiling in sadistic pleasure in thinking what new victims the man could indicate for him.

"I have, sir, news of vast importance. It seems Mokuba Kaiba is at the hospital where his brother is."

"Ahh." Hobson gave a large grin, rubbing his fleshy hands together. "Then their attempt at a mistrial will go astray since they are now breaking the rules set by the judge." He paused a moment to bring more emphasis to his words. "And this company will remain mine. You can leave."

The spy hesitated a moment, casting a glance back at his employer. "And of my second role? What shall I do with Mokuba and Seto? Do you still want them gone?"

Again, there was a brief silence. Hobson had his immense back to the spy, gazing out the window. This time, his thoughts were on specific people.

"I have always wanted them gone. They should have never even become Kaibas. But I wish to deal with them myself. Now that they are together…it won't be too difficult. I have known them since they were young. I learned what symbols meant things to them. I spied even back then, in case it would come in handy. And so I have triumphed. I will turn them so far against each other that no one will bring them back together."

The spy nodded and left. The dark view of Domino City had very few moving lights at this hour, but of the few that were there, they made their presence known well. Yet, from so far below, all they could see was a light on in the president's office of what had been Kaiba Corporation. Hobson liked it best to be able to see and not be seen.