~*Marley & Marley*~
Kaiba got into his new Cadillac by the time the clock struck 9:30. Darkness embraced the sky, sparkling the atmosphere with glittering stars. Despite living in a suburb, he lived in one of the classy neighborhoods of Domino City. He made a sharp right turn to the entry of his home, letting his security guards know that he's home and to open the gates. Soon, the gates opened as he drove the long road down to the garage.
Meanwhile, Yami and Joey were following behind Kaiba's car, also heading for the gates.
"C'mon Mr. Dickens," Joey wrapped his arms around Yami's waist as they neared the gates. "Can't this thing go any faster?"
"If someone hadn't been using my motorbike to race Bandit Keith the whole week, I would say we could go any faster." Yami then slammed onto the breaks as they gates had closed right in front of them. "What the?"
The security guard that stood at his post looked down at Yami and Joey. "And who are you two?"
"C'mon man," Joey pleaded. "You gotta let us in."
"Do you have an appointment with Mr. Kaiba?" a second security guard looked down at the two.
"Well, actually…" Yami started to say.
"Oh come on you guys." Joey yanked of Yami's helmet. "Do you have any idea who this is?" he started poking Yami's head. "This is a creative genius. This guy is Charles Dickens."
"You're pulling our leg kid." The first security eyed Joey suspiciously.
"Plus," the security guard let out a chuckle. "Charles Dickens is dead." He then ruffled with Yami's hair. "This little shorty doesn't look a thing like Dickens."
"Give us a break," Joey pouted. "We're trying to give the loyal readers a glimpse of the scene. You see my friend knows the entire story of 'A Christmas Carol'."
"Well la-di-da." The second man rolled his eyes back. "BUT WHO CARES?!!?"
"You are not permitted to enter unless Kaiba gives permission." He reached inside his pocket, taking out a walkie-talkie. "Mr. Kaiba, there are a couple of two blonde teenagers on a motorcycle who wish to enter. One claims to be Mr. Charles Dickens."
A hysterical laughter sounded off the speaker of the electronic object. The laughter quickly died down as his voice returned to its cold, sadistic self. "Escort them out."
"Right sir." The two security guards took out their nightsticks.
"Uh-oh." Joey slapped Yami on his back. "C'mon Charlie, step on it!! I think they mean business."
Yami started up the engine, riding off away from the guards that blocked the gates. "I know where we can go. A place that we don't have to get caught by security." He then pulled over by the wall, stopping the engine.
"Oh no," Joey shook his head, pointing up the wall that stood three feet higher than them. "We are not climbing up there. No way!"
"There is a tree that looks over Kaiba's room." Yami started to stand on his motorcycle, climbing up on the wall. "Now come on."
"Have you gone mad?" Joey stared at Yami.
"No I'm not," a grin slowly played Yami's lips. "But if you so desire to get caught by security, by all means, be my guest."
"All right, fine." Joey reached for Yami's hand. Yami pulled Joey up as they jumped onto a tree branch sitting and watching Kaiba moving to and fro in his bedroom.
Kaiba tossed his briefcase onto the floor of his bedroom. Bored to death, he went downstairs to fix himself a cup of coffee before returning up the stairs. He sat down on his favorite rocking chair, gazing out the window, seeing Yami and Joey. Frustrated, he pulled the curtains, blocking their view.
The night grew darker as shadows had cast its glow within the room. Kaiba had fallen asleep, the coffee settled on the nightstand. He rocked himself back and forth slowly on the rocking chair.
Suddenly, the minute hand of the clock moved faster than it usually does. Once the clock struck 11, the alarm went off, startling Kaiba. Sitting up, his eyes wide, Kaiba looked around before taking a glance at his clock. Finally, he then fell back asleep.
About five minutes passed by as the alarms went off once more. Kaiba opened his eyes, looking at his alarm clock. And for five whole minutes, the alarm kept blaring on and off until it finally came to a stop. The lights flickered on and off in his room until it completely shut off.
"What the? What the hell is going on?" Kaiba stood up, looking around.
Suddenly, an evil laughter of one, no wait, two people can be heard within the darkness. Kaiba looked around unable to see anyone. "Who's there? How did you get passed my security? Show yourselves."
And at that point, two people stepped forward from the darkness, an evil smirk on each of their lips. "Well, well, if it isn't our business partner Kaiba."
Kaiba was stunned at what he was seeing. There stood his former business partners. They almost seemed human but as Kaiba reached for one of them, his hand went through their body. "Duke? Tristan?"
"Oh yeah," Tristan glared down at Kaiba. "We have seen your ways as of late on how you treat others."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm not Pinnochio and you two aren't my Jimminy Crickets." Kaiba glared at the two. "You two are dead. There is no way you can be here."
"We are here to warn you Kaiba." Duke brushed the dust particles off his clothing. "With the way things are going now. If you keep up with this attitude, your future will be nothing more than a dark saga."
"It is true." Tristan nodded. "The man upstairs has sent us to tell you this. So either you change or face the future in a suffering of brimstone hell."
"You can't tell me what to do!" Kaiba pointed at the two. "You two are wasting your time being here, rotting away within your feces hopefully."
"We won't go away that easy." Duke shook his head sadly. "You will be visited by three ghosts. Maybe then, they could put some reality into your puny little head."
"Expect the first ghost when the bell tones one!" Tristan called out before the two disappeared. As they disappeared, the lights came back on and everything seemed back to normal. Taking a look at the clock, he noticed it was now 11:30 at the night.
"It was just a dream." Kaiba kept saying over and over again. He then switched off the lights and hopped into bed.
"Hold it, hold it Yami!" Joey tried to stop Yami from continuing to tell the story. "How do you know what's going on? We're out here, he's in there. Kaiba's closed his curtains tight enough."
"That's Mr. Dickens, Joey. But like I said, I keep telling you, I'm Charles Dickens. I know the story by hand."
"Why don't you tell us the next scene then?" Joey crossed his arms over his chest.
Yami sighed. "In case of an emergency, Kaiba had lit up a few candles." And at then, through the curtains, three candles lighted up.
Joey shook his head. How is he doing that?
~*To Be Continued*~