Chapter 8: Yugi's Assignment

The next morning Mokuba woke up and at first thought that what had happened at the park had just been another dream. That quickly changed when he saw where he was. He remembered Tristan was carrying him to Yugi's house, and they must've put him in here to sleep. Mokuba thought about his older brother, and tears welled up in his eyes. He was going to help his brother no matter what the cost, like Seto would do for him. It was time that Mokuba could do something for him. He got out of bed and walked down the stairs to find Yugi and his grandfather at the store counter.

"Good morning," greeted Yugi.

Mokuba replied with a sad look.

"I'm going to the museum now," said Yugi.

"Why are you going there?" asked Mokuba.

"Just to check out something," Yugi smiled and headed for the door.

Yugi went directly to the museum. He wanted to get there as fast as possible to try and get some answers. When he walked in, he immediately found Ishizu.

"Hey, Ishizu," said Yugi, walking over to her.

"Hello, Yugi," she said. "I thought you might come here."

"Why is that?"

"I may not have my Millennium Necklace anymore to see the future, but I can tell that something dark is out there."

"That darkness is Anubis, and he's using Kaiba to get around," said Yugi. "We need help to get them apart. He won't stop feeding off Kaiba until he has his own body!"

"He likes people to suffer just like many evil-doers do. But he's the lord of the dead. There's no stopping what he's planning at the moment."

"What! There has to be something!"

"It would be too risky. In the process of destroying him, you could also destroy Kaiba," said Ishizu. "I doubt that's what you are wanting."

"No, it isn't," Yugi said sadly. "But at the moment, Kaiba is suffering. What can we do about that?"

"All I can tell you is that we have to wait it out."

"But..."

"Anubis will become stronger, and then you'll be able to create your own plan to defeat him. Just as Yami had done 5,000 years ago. I'm sorry if I couldn't be of anymore help to you."

"No, you told us what you could," said Yugi. "Well then, I guess we'll see you later."

Ishizu nodded, and Yugi left the museum.

"Well, that didn't work out as well as I hoped," said Yugi.

"Or perhaps it did," said Yami.

"Huh? What do you mean?" asked Yugi.

"We will have to wait until Anubis gets stronger to defeat him. Right now he is connected with Kaiba, and if we try anything it will only affect Kaiba."

"That's true. But how long will it be before we can do anything?"

"Probably not very long. We'll have to start devising a plan now."

Yugi nodded and changed places with Yami. He was about to walk to Joey's house when something stopped him.

"What is it?" asked Yugi.

"It's coming from that direction, and that's the direction of Kaiba's home."

Yami ran off towards Kaiba's. It probably took about fifteen minutes to get there. He stopped outside of the gates to the Kaiba Mansion. They were open which was strange. Yami walked calmly onto the grounds and up to the house.

"Is he here?"

Yami nodded.

"Do you think it's a good idea to be here then?"

Yami turned the doorknob and walked inside. He heard a faint crying. He walked up the stairs to Kaiba's room and walked inside, and found him lying on the bed.

"Kaiba," said Yami.

He was startled a bit by the sound of someone else's voice.

"Yugi?"

"It is Kaiba," said Yugi.

"Kaiba, how are you doing?" asked Yami, not sure of what to say to him.

"How do you think?" said Kaiba sadly. "Where's my brother?"

"I'm not sure I should say it," said Yami. "Anubis would hear."

"Yugi, I need you to do me something."

"What?"

"Keep Mokuba as far away from me as possible," Kaiba said, tears streaming down his face. "I want him safe."

"I will, Kaiba," said Yami. "He's really worried about you."

"I saw his face. I know."

"Anything you want me to tell him?"

"Tell him...that... I care about him."

"I will."

"And give him this," said Kaiba.

He pulled out a picture from under his mattress, and handed it to Yami. Yami looked at the picture. It was of Kaiba and Mokuba when they were younger. Kaiba had a smile on his face that was much like his brother's. That was something that he'd never seen on Kaiba's face before.

"Just keep him away from me," repeated Kaiba.

"Don't worry," said Yami.

"Don't worry? How can I not worry! Anubis wants to kill him, and the blood will be on my hands! My hands! I can hardly take the fact that he has to stay away from me! How can I take his blood on my hands!" yelled Kaiba.

"Kaiba, I know you're upset about Mokuba's safety, but he will be fine," Yami said calmly.

"Yugi, he's using my memories against me," Kaiba said suddenly.

"Using your memories against you? How?"

"He's making me relive moments with my brother which makes me remember that I take him for granted every second of the day! I can't take it!"

"You have to for your brother. He wants to help you."

"Well, he can't!"

"Everything will be fine. We'll defeat Anubis, and everything will return to normal."

Kaiba's hands flew up to his forehead, " He's coming!"

Kaiba sunk to his knees as Yami and Yugi watched on helplessly. Then, he put his arms back down, and stood up before Yami. He had a smirk on his face.

"You think you can defeat me again, Pharaoh?"

"Anubis!" cried Yami.

"I've made sure that you won't defeat me again," said Anubis. "And just remember that no matter what you try to do I will kill his young brother."

"I'll see to it that you won't," said Yami.

"Will you? You didn't stop him from dying in the past."

"What?"

"You heard me, Pharaoh. Only it wasn't me who killed him then."

Yami was shocked at what he'd heard. He wasn't sure if what Anubis just told him was true. There was that chance it was true, but he could be lying to make him think he couldn't do it, and to make Kaiba doubt what he'd asked him to do. But Yami knew he and his friends could protect Mokuba.

"I will protect Mokuba," said Yami. "You can be sure of that."

"No Pharaoh, I know you won't. You won't be there at one point just like in the past, and when that happens, I'll come in and dispose of him."

"I'll stop you before you can get that far in you plan."

"I'm already at that part. It's just the matter of timing," Anubis laughed evilly.

Yami turned to leave, hating that he was leaving Kaiba there, but he had no choice. He hurried back to the game shop where he found Mokuba sitting on the couch.

"I talked with your brother," said Yami.

Mokuba perked up, "When?"

"A little while ago," he answered. "He asked me to tell you that he cares about you."

Mokuba put his head into the pillow and started to cry. He wanted to hear those words, but not under these circumstances! But it was the thought of Seto being in so much pain, and still saying he cares that got to Mokuba.

"And he asked me to give you this," said Yami, holding out the picture.

Mokuba looked up, and took the photo from him. Mokuba looked at the two boys within the frame. They both looked so happy then. Mokuba hugged it tightly to his chest and cried some more.

Yami couldn't imagine the pain they were both feeling right about now. He saw both of them hurt and crying today. It must be extremely hard for Kaiba if he was crying. Yami could hardly take it. But he had a duty to carry out. He had to protect Mokuba. It didn't matter if Anubis' story was true or not, he had to make sure Mokuba stayed safe. Kaiba didn't ask him for anything, but this was different. His brother's life was on the line. Both of their lives could be on the line. Yami couldn't think of anything else to do for Mokuba, so he sat down next to him and gave him a hug to comfort him.