Destiny and the Dragon

Author's note: Sorry updates have been so slow lately. I've had summer camp for the past few weeks, so I haven't had time. Also, news of the upcoming "Yu-gi-oh!: Genex" anime, as well as the butcher job 4kids did to Seto's big decision to give Yugi the Devil's Sanctuary magic card, have kind of taken the wind out of my sails. Again, I'm doubling the chapter length to make up for it. Furthermore, as it is rather important for this chapter, these are the characters' ages, if only for this story:

Seto: 18

Mokuba: 14

Yugi and the gang: 16

Ishizu: 16

Malik: 18

Rashid(yes, he'll appear eventually): 20

Oh, and even though I'm fairly certain it's not in the Japanese version, I intend to use the sarcastic version of Seto's computer from the "Duel With a Ghoul" episodes, simply because I rather like it. Also, I'm going to include the list of events that you need to know have occurred in my manga/anime fusion continuity in each A/N now. They'll become important later on in the story, so pay attention:

Death-T

Yugi vs. Kaiba's Dark side(aka Death Imposter)

Legendary Heroes

Remember these events. Now, onwards!

Copyright info: I do not own Yu-gi-oh! If I did, though , you can bet we'd see a lot more Seto Kaiba(and, considering he already appears a lot, they'd probably have to rename the show "The Seto Kaiba saga", or some other, less crappy, title.).

Continuity info: First, I'm using all Japanese names, as well as personalities (in short, Jounouchi isn't going to have that heavy New York accent, and Bakura won't be British). Thus, Joey is Jounouchi, the Millennium items are sennen items, and so on. Finally, the actual continuity is kind of a mixture of the manga and anime. This takes place after Battle City, but the Noa saga did not occur. However, in the manga, Yugi immediately uses the God cards to open up the doors to Yami's memory world. In this, like in the anime, he must wait until the appropriate time. Also, this is going to act as an alternative to the Memories arc in the manga so I can add my own little spin on the ancient past. Enjoy.

I want to run away,

I want to know the truth

I want to know the answers,

I want to shut the door and open up my mind.

-"Runaway Reanimation", Linkin' Park

Chapter 9: What Was and What Is

By Blue Eyes Shining Dragon

"My new home?" Kisara asked, stunned.

Seto nodded. "Until I know what it is Ryou wants from you, it's not safe for you to return home. This way, if Ryou tries anything, I'll know in a hearbeat."

Mokuba grinned widely. "Looks like your girlfriend's coming to live with us, Seto!" he laughed happily.

Kisara blushed wildly. Seto glared daggers at his younger brother. "Mokuba! Show some manners!" he scowled.

Mokuba sniggered quietly, but nodded. "I apologize for Mokuba's behavior. He's…energetic…" Seto said, stumbling to find a word to best describe his younger brother's manners.

Kisara, her face still bright red, simply nodded curtly. She walked into the room. After several moments, she turned to Seto. "Aren't you coming in?" she asked.

Seto shook his head. "Sorry. I have work to do, and it really can't wait."

Mokuba groaned loudly. "After all this, all you can think about is WORK?" the young boy asked, exasperated at his older brother's single-mindedness. Seto grinned. "Well, since I'm so busy, Mokuba, you can give Kisara a tour of the building." He said.

Mokuba paled. "WHAT? Tour duty? That's so bo-o-ring!" he moaned.

Seto's grin widened. "Sorry, but I'm too busy, and if Kisara is going to live with us, she'll need to know her way around the Kaiba Corp. building."

Mokuba stuck his tongue out at Seto. Kisara laughed quietly at the two brothers' taunting. The side of Seto she had seen earlier when they toured Domino, the side he had kept hidden so well back when they had faced Bakura, was showing now bright as day. She couldn't help but feel…attracted…to that side of Seto. However, his actions from before made it clear he far preferred that his kinder side be hidden from all but a select few. "Seto…" she said.

"Yes?"

"…I really appreciate all this… just so you can protect me…"

Seto laughed slightly, almost sadly. "I have my reasons."

With that, the CEO of Kaiba Corp. walked into the elevator across from the room.

Kisara thought of following, but chose not to. She looked back to Mokuba, who simply huffed. "I hate tour duty…" he said.

As the elevator slowly moved downwards, Seto stood in deep thought, staring intensely at the door. What Bakura had said before had rattled him more than he dared to admit.

"Even after 3000 years apart, even after death, you're still in love with her!"

"It took Kisara's death to get you to admit your feelings then, and I doubt that even 3000 years will change that!"

"You denied it at first the last time, too."

As avid a skeptic as he was to the idea of destiny, Seto simply could not help but feel nervous about continuing that philosophy after all that had happened, particularly if it put Kisara in danger. Speaking of Kisara, his admittedly sudden attraction to her lead credibility to Bakura's words. That was the part that frustrated Seto the most; no matter how much he told himself otherwise, he felt a connection with Kisara that he had never felt with anyone before. Without realizing it, he had been willing to put his complete trust in her. The last thing Seto Kaiba was interested in, however, was falling in love, particularly with someone with whom such a bond was destined. "Although," he thought bitterly, "I suppose that's the only way it could ever happen with me."

As the elevator stopped and its doors opened, Seto left it still thinking over his feelings on all that had occurred. He entered a large room filled with computers all lined in rows. During his Battle City tournament, this was where his technicians had kept track of duelists, as well as search for the Egyptian God Cards. However, with the tournament over, the room was unused. Walking up to the large screen located at the opposite end of the room, Seto pressed a few buttons on a nearby console. The screen in front of him came alive immediately, displaying the Kaiba Corp. logo on a silver background. "So very nice to see you again, Seto." The computer immediately spoke up.

Seto grinned. Due to Battle City, he hadn't used his A.I. computer for a while due to lack of time. Now, however, he needed its help. "Sorry if it's been too lonely for you while I was away," he said, "but I'm afraid catch-up time will have to wait until later. Right now, I need your help."

"No problem. Seeing as how the Kaiba Corp. security cameras are my eyes, I pretty much know what you've been doing lately anyway, including finally picking up a girlfriend." The computer said, earning a hard glare from Seto, although the blue-eyed CEO doubted that the computer noticed.

"As much as I'd love to argue with you on where Kisara and I stand, I need you to look up everything you know about her." Seto said, clicking another button on the console which caused a keyboard and chair to emerge from the ground.

Taking his seat, Seto put his hands at the ready. It had been a while since he had given his hacking skills a good run, and he couldn't wait to try now. "So, what do you want to know?" the computer asked.

"Anything. Kisara told me she grew up in an orphanage without ever knowing her parents or even her last name. I need more information than that."

"And you can't just ask her because…"

"Because I don't think even SHE knows the answers I need."

"That, or you're just shy."

"Just start looking."

Immediately, the KC logo was replaced by countless windows, appearing and disappearing in the space of a second, as the computer sifted through news archives and record halls in search of the data it had been sent to find. Finally, a window was selected that met the criteria. "These are the records of all the orphanages in Japan." The computer said.

Seto sifted through the countless files with ease, rapidly clicking on his keyboard. Finally, he noticed Kisara's name flash by. Stopping instantly, he saw that it was part of a list of names of people that had spent time at an obscure orphanage called the Nomiyuki Orphanage. Checking her profile, Seto read it aloud: "Found outside orphanage 8/18/86. Parents unknown. Last name unknown. First name left on tag around neck. Kisara."

"She's a regular Jane Doe, Seto." The computer commented.

"At least I know she's 18 years old, the same age as me." Seto said.

"Oh, yes, that just tells you volumes about her." The computer replied sarcastically.

Seto ignored the comment, and exited the Nomiyuki Orphanage file. "There has got to be more about her than this…" Seto said.

"If there is, it's very well hidden. I can't find any info…WAIT!" the computer started, then stopped as it came across a new file.

Seto looked up. He noticed the folder that had been brought up had the Kaiba Corp. logo on it, and was titled "gsp.html". Seto cocked an eyebrow in confusion. "Odd…this is a Kaiba Corp. file, but I've never seen it before…"

"Maybe it's a pet project of the Big Five's…" the computer suggested.

"Impossible. I deleted all the files belonging to those miserable traitors."

"Well, it's obviously not yours, and if it isn't theirs, whose is it?" the computer asked.

Seto stared in thought for a long time. Looking to the title for a clue, he repeated it over and over in his head. "gsp…gsp…gsp…"

"Gozaburo's Secret Project." He finally said.

"What?" the computer asked.

"Gozaburo's Secret Project. That has to be what "gsp" is short for!" Seto said, excitedly accessing the file.

"What makes you so sure?" the computer asked, slightly worried over Seto's now-obsessive glare.

"I never had the chance to delete Gozaburo's old files when he was CEO of Kaiba Corp., and he's the only other person who could have bypassed the security of this part of the Kaiba Corp. mainframe to place this file here." Seto said.

"But why would it come up in our search for information on Kisara?" the computer asked.

Seto did not answer, as he was too busy trying to access the heavily protected file. Passwords, firewalls, and all other sorts of security programs blocked his access. "Gozaburo really didn't want anyone to see this file…" he thought.

"That probably means it was made so he could refer back to it later and keep track of progress on whatever he was up to without tipping any of his enemies off." Seto continued thinking, almost completely forgetting about his search for information on Kisara's practically non-existent past upon the discovery of this new secret his stepfather had hidden.

However, when he had at last completely breached the security, the first word he read was her name. "What in the…" Seto started, utterly confused how Gozaburo could've known about Kisara at all.

Seto checked the file's date. 8/18/96. That meant this was made the same year Gozaburo had adopted him! "None of this makes any sense. How the Hell could Gozaburo possibly have known that Kisara even existed, let alone what orphanage she was at?"

"Hello? Earth to Seto? I've been talking to you for the past five minutes!" the computer shouted, snapping Seto to attention.

"Sorry. This file's very confusing, that's all."

Seto then decided to read it aloud, partly to inform the computer of what was on it(although he doubted that was necessary) and also simply to remind himself this was real. "Kisara is ten years old now. She has progressed nicely since her rebirth. I do not doubt the fact that the three Blue Eyes White Dragons cards were produced on the same day she returned was more than coincidence. Without her, however, the cards are meaningless. To take control of them, I need her soul destroyed. However, I also need the other two dragons. It did not take long to recognize Seto in the newspapers as 'the orphanage Chess prodigy', and I knew that where he was, Mokuba had to be as well. Once I have them, I'll mold them to my will; I'll destroy their souls even without the sennen eye. I'll start with Seto. All I need to do is beat him enough…show him that compassion and friendship are illusions and nothing more. I'll move on to Mokuba next, and then all three dragons will be mine."

Seto could only stare at the screen in shock. Everything he thought he had understood about Gozaburo had been a lie; somehow or other, his stepfather was linked to Ancient Egypt and the sennen items.

"…and over here is the design room. This is where Kaiba Corp. technicians design and build Kaiba Corp. technology." Mokuba droned, obviously unenthused at showing Kisara around a fifty-story building.

Kisara followed Mokuba silently. She was too preoccupied with all that had occurred. She knew that she and Seto had a relationship in their past lives, although she wasn't sure what kind of relationship it was. Either way, she also guessed that Bakura somehow knew about the ancient connection between the three Blue Eyes White Dragons and Seto, Mokuba, and herself. That left the questions of what to do next, how to explain all this to the skeptical Seto, and who that white cloaked man with Bakura was. As all this flowed through her mind, she was still paying enough attention to her unwilling tour guide to notice that Mokuba had passed one of the rooms. "Mokuba," she said, "what's this room?"

Mokuba stopped dead in his tracks. "Um…it's not important…" he said, quietly and almost fearfully.

That didn't make sense to Kisara. The door to the room was far more elaborate than the others, with golden, elongated handles. "It looks pretty important to me." She said, opening it.

The room was rectangular, extending a good distance. In its center was a large black onyx table with seven seats around it. At the table's head was an eighth chair, far larger than the others. Mokuba hadn't noticed Kisara opening the door until she entered the room. When he did, he silently cursed to himself, a nasty habit he had picked up from his older brother. Following Kisara into the room with trepidation, Mokuba found the silver-haired girl looking around the room in interest. "Why didn't you want me to see this room, Mokuba?" she asked.

Mokuba sighed. She had him now. Any lie he told would be suspect to her after his attempt to pass the room failed, and he knew she wouldn't leave him alone until he answered her truthfully. "This is…was…the office of our stepfather, Gozaburo Kaiba." He said, his voice shaky in the face of having to remember the monstrous man who had adopted Mokuba and his brother ten years ago.

"Your stepfather?" Kisara echoed, wondering if perhaps this person, who she easily deduced Mokuba feared, had anything to do with Seto's inability to express his emotions.

"Yeah, although 'father' is a title he doesn't deserve! A real father cares for his kids! A real father would never do to his own son what he did to Seto!" Mokuba said, starting to tear up towards the end of his outburst.

Kisara immediately regretted forcing Mokuba into this uncomfortable situation. Seeing the young boy's eyes, so full of joy and life, immediately convey soul-shattering despair and regret was terrible. She kneeled beside Mokuba. "He destroyed Seto, Kisara…" Mokuba said, tears still in his eyes, although he fought ferociously to keep them from falling.

"Seto endured years of suffering Gozaburo's so-called 'lessons' to ensure I had a good future, but at the same time, he lost sight of himself…Gozaburo hurt him so badly and in so many different ways…he just couldn't be the Seto I knew and still survive being Gozaburo's son."

Kisara took in what Mokuba said, suppressing the urge to ask for more. She knew the basics, and pressing for more information on an obviously painful chapter of Mokuba's life would be unfair. However, just as instantly as he had saddened, Mokuba brightened again. "But that's where YOU come in!" the little boy said.

Kisara was now confused. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"Oh, come ON! You can't tell me you don't know…?" Mokuba asked incredulously.

Kisara could guess where this was going by now, and remained silent. Mokuba sighed in exasperation. "He likes you. You like him. He needs someone who can see past what Gozaburo…did…to him, and see what he's really like, even when he can't see it himself anymore." He said, as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

Kisara sighed as well. "I was afraid of this…" she thought.

Putting her hand on Mokuba's shoulder, she said, "Mokuba…it's not that easy. Your brother…"

"Don't say you don't like him, 'cause I know you do!" Mokuba interrupted, still upbeat.

She laughed slightly, but continued, "It's not that I don't like him, it's just that he's…uneasy…about expressing his emotions, opening up to others."

Mokuba, to Kisara's surprise, didn't sadden at all. "I know, and that's exactly why he needs you! You're willing to accept him for who he is, while still helping him to become more like he was!"

Kisara prepared to respond, when a new voice came. "I'm afraid I can not allow that. Oh, and please get out of my office…"

"Damn it, this isn't good!" Seto thought, closing the file quickly.

"What's going on, Seto?" the computer asked worriedly.

"Mokuba and Kisara aren't safe!" he shouted, quickly running out the door. Ignoring his computer's cries for further explanation, he simply kept running. "I have got to find them NOW!" he thought desperately. Suddenly, he heard two familiar voices screaming as if in agony. "MOKUBA! KISARA!" He shouted, hoping that it was loud enough for them to hear him.

When there was no response, Seto simply ran even faster in the direction he had heard their screams coming from. "Please let them be OK…" he begged, although to who he was unsure. At last, he came to the area he estimated the screams had originated. As soon as he realized where he was, he clenched his fists in rage. "Gozaburo's office…" he thought with a mixture of overwhelming fear and undying rage.

The dark memories of his time with Gozaburo rushed him then, filling him with fear and self-loathing. Even now, it was if Gozaburo was watching him, laughing at his every move as a failure. For that one instance, Seto felt that the laughter was inescapable, and he considered not entering. However, just as suddenly, he could see Mokuba and Kisara right before him. "You're not alone…" he heard Kisara's voice.

Although he didn't fully know what was going on, he noted that his three Blue Eyes White Dragon cards were glowing from within the coat pocket he had them stored in. "I guess it's time to defeat destiny again…" he said.

Opening the doors, he entered the completely pitch-black room that had once been his stepfather's office. Although he used a room almost identical to it for his own office, Seto had decided to leave this room alone after he took over Kaiba Corp. It was, after all, the place where his stepfather had met his demise. "Mokuba? Kisara?" he called, although quietly.

He looked around the room desperately, his fear returning to him. He didn't know what he would do if they had been harmed, and it didn't help that he wasn't sure who the attacker even was. Still, he continued to look around the room. Suddenly, the room's lights turned on. Seto blocked his eyes, which had only now become accustomed to the darkness of the room. "Who's there?" he hissed angrily.

Blinking to adjust to the light, Seto looked around through the now-lit room to see where Mokuba and Kisara were and if they were OK. As his vision returned to him, he could see them both standing on the left and right sides of the chair that had once belonged to his stepfather. "Mokuba, are you and Kisara OK?" he asked.

When there was no response, he moved in closer to them. His eyes had finally adjusted to the brightness, and he realized that neither Mokuba nor Kisara were looking at him. They were simply staring blankly at the ground. It was a position all too familiar to Seto. "They look just like Mokuba did when Pegasus…" he thought.

He cut his own thoughts short, however. Remembering what Pegasus had done to Mokuba before was bad enough, but he had also experienced that fate. He knew the soul-eating loneliness, the mind-numbing darkness, that was the result of a soul being trapped outside of its body. That Mokuba was experiencing that again…that Kisara was feeling it now…it was not a pleasant road to go down. He approached them cautiously, hoping beyond all hope that they were OK. However, as he moved towards them, the chair they stood next to swiveled around to face him. Seto stepped back in surprise. There, sitting in the exact same chair he had been in minutes before his death, sat Gozaburo Kaiba, the Sennen eye gleaming in his right socket. In his hand, he held two duel monsters cards, with pictures of Mokuba and Kisara in them. "Hello, Seto," he said, grinning viciously, "how very nice to see you again!"

To Be Continued…