So I'm a little late. Piffle to you.
Important Note: It appears this fic has taken a different turn than I expected. The next chapter will be of Yami's thoughts as he returns to the real world. It will also, however, include a dim memory of him and his priest (hint: it is what Jou is always interested in doing with Mai). Needless to say, I think it will be slightly too graphic for PG-13, so I'm upping the rating to R. Look for updates there!
Subject of Fanfiction: YamixSeto and the wacky symbolism continues. See notes from previous chapters, review with your thoughts, don't think I'm crazy, yada yada yada.
Content of Fanfiction: I must admit the first part of this chapter isn't as original as the others. After finding his heart, Seto goes through his usual issues of hating himself. Many other authoresses have already done this, and I doubt mine is up to par, or any more stirring. I tried to be creative by showing the changing of character in his eyes. There is some action at the end, though…hey, you! Yes, you! Don't you dare skip down to the bottom! For those who asked it, there is dialogue, but mostly in flashback. I tried to add a bit of irony in the fact that Seto convinces himself Yami was wrong to visit him and make him get back on his feet. There is a reference to Yami as a 'murderer' and, well… let's just give Seto a break shall we? He has a lot to recover from. You will also see the word 'Loner' constantly capitalized. This is not a massive typing error on my part, but rather an attempt to drive a point home. There is one short story I had to read in English class called The Open Boat, by Stephen Crane. The entire story is the repetitive movements of four men stranded at sea, and it is to emphasize the idea that there is nothing to do while in a four foot dinghy off the coast of Florida. You may think I am encouraging you to read this. I'm not. It was a horribly boring story, and I hope this chapter's better.
Chapter Origin/Titles: This chapter, "Death's Defiance," is also inspired by a book I've read. In So You Want to be a Wizard, by Diane Duane, the main bad guy in the book is essentially the root of all evil. He terrorizes the heroine and her friends, sending henchmen after them and engaging in a final battle with his goal to submerge Manhattan in eternal darkness. At the end, when the heroine is reading from a book that will lock him away from this world (at least temporarily), she realizes there are admirable traits about him. He is wild and courageous, stubbornly wrong in trying to be different from his life-giving siblings. To quote directly, "he had not always been so hostile; he got tired sometimes of being wicked, but his pride and his fear of being ridiculed would never let him stop." I nearly fell off my chair when I first read it. The similarities are uncanny. Now that is a book I recommend reading.
Reviews: To Crimson Eyed Dragon, I'm glad you liked the chapter. I know I said before that the revival of Seto's soul room was the climax of this story, but I guess Seto waking up to the real world could also be an important part. And since I'm going so far as to bump up the rating, I might as well just make more chapters. Nenya85, I'm glad you like my symbolism. Not to seem like a horse nut, but Seto reminds me of them with his rather spooky personality. He always makes sure to stand a few feet away from Yugi and his group, and when Yami mentions destiny Kaiba makes sure to quickly wake away in a few minutes (it reminds me of when I fell head first off a horse; he had seen a pigeon). Yami will also do some more reminding in later chapters, being his usual know-it-all-yet-somehow-not-as-annoying-as-Rebecca self.
And now, behold Part 4 of Scourge and Renewal: Death's Defiance. Enjoy!
So it hadn't been destroyed.
The puzzle lay uncovered and unsolved before him. As he gazed, flashes of what it held played before his eyes: events he remembered, and ones of a past long ago.
"Seto? Seto!"
He was jolted awake by the groggy voice of his little brother. The one he had sacrificed everything for, yet still felt so worthless in his eyes.
"What are you doing?"
Seto opened his mouth, unsure. How was he to explain sitting next to his brother's bed at two o'clock in the morning? With deadly weapons, no less.
"Are those knives?"
Seto hastily hid the long, prong-handled weapons.
"It's nothing, kid. Go back to sleep."
A glimmer of understanding ran through the child's eyes, quickly hidden from his older sibling.
"O.K., Seto." Feigning a yawn, Mokuba rolled over and snuggled into the covers.
He was a failure. The whole purpose of accepting the beatings, penalties, and punishments was to shield Mokuba. Now his brother's innocence was truly destroyed; ironically, not by the monster who had adopted them but himself.
Reeling in shame and self-loathing, the mustang was hit with an onslaught of memories. Or were they nightmares? It made no difference.
He was eight, standing with his new charge while blinking back tears from innocent orbs. The ambulance pulled out of the driveway.
"Seto, why was Daddy lying in paint?"
He was twelve, staring passively up into the eyes of his defeated opponent. Angry grey eyes glared back, veiled by a wisp of smoke curling up from a cigar. He always thought smoking was a disgusting habit.
"Boy, you are going to regret this day."
He was fifteen, watching in wide-eyed disbelief as his dragon, his heart, rejected him. The dark spirit smirked.
"Kaiba, you still don't understand the true meaning of this game. That card won't attack me because your soul isn't in that Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
He was sixteen, empty eyed, as he watched former nightmares materialize and attack his loving sibling, his only family member. Distantly he heard his cry.
"S-Save me, big brother!"
The mustang stumbled back, horrified, as he saw himselfat the pinnacle of his darkness. His companion watched silently, heart twisting but hooves standing firm.
Legs trembling anew, the horse wheeled and tried to bolt. If that was his only impact on the world, why should he go back?
As he turned, the stag jumped in front of him. Locking antlers under his rival's head, he braced himself. Shove as he might, the mustang could not pass. Flailing wildly, he stepped back and reared. Striking the stag with his front hooves, he caught his legs in the horns.
Thinking quickly, the stag dropped to his knees and twisted his head. His attacker's legs came free as he tumbled into the soft grass. The spooked animal began to rise, only to find himself pinned down by the stag's own body.
The stag grunted as he felt his rival heaving up into his stomach, but clenched his teeth. This land was wide, and if he let the animal run he might never see him again. Mustangs were flighty creatures, and would avoid a spot for days if they had been scared by something.
He stayed crouched over the mustang until he felt no stirrings. Cautiously the stag raised himself up off his companion.
Quivering slightly, the mustang rose to his feet and stood, head hanging shamefully. The torrent of memories had stopped, but the stain of guilt was resolutely painted on his mind. He did not move as the stag again pushed the broken gold pieces towards him; he was too bogged down with depressed emotions to shy away.
Dully he gazed at the one thing that kept him anchored to the harsh, unforgiving world. Solving it would bring him back among the hatred and contempt from humanity. The sad, antagonized gaze of his betrayed younger brother emerged in his conscience, and he shuddered.
He would not touch it.
Ignoring his companion's impatient shuffling, the horse sank into deep contemplation. There were many choices to accept, and he deliberated carefully. It was not often he had the time to think over important decisions.
Would it be so bad to stay here? There was peace and quiet in this mental paradise, ample room for exploration, and security in the fact there was no one to judge him. That was the biggest blessing. From orphanage aids to employees to classmates he was categorized. Pathetic child, boy genius, sadistic lunatic? Of all the places he had been sorted, he liked Loner the best. It echoed in his head, both peacefully empty and respectfully avoided. No one bothered a Loner, because they simply weren't there.
Here was a good place to be a Loner. Not only was there nobody to avoid and ward off, but he didn't have to separate himself from an intrusive group of people in the first place. Every two-dimensional, shallow individual was gone. There was no one, no one at all, save for the stag…
Who was walking away from him.
Snorting in surprise, the mustang trotted after him, only to be fended off with flying cloven hooves. The stag would not look at him. The mustang attempted to trot in front of him only to be rebuked again, this time by horns.
After a short period of bewilderment, the horse realized his companion was walking towards the exit of this Eden. Neighing in anger, the mustang galloped back to their original spot.
Why should he care if the stag leaves? The arrogant animal was a rival, nothing more.
How dare he shatter his mind, breaking his psyche only to come wandering in among the wreckage? It was like a murderer coming to see how the family of his victim was doing. That stag, that king had woken him up, herded him out, and forced him into early recovery. It was as if he thought the world ran by his schedule, and his subjects should be glad of it. Well, wild creatures such as he needed no condolence, no friend. The other beast was hampering him anyway.
Yes, just a hindrance holding him back from freedom.
Let him go, he means nothing.
As the mustang turned away, he did not notice the glance sent his way. A look full of longing and sadness, tortured by familiar yet forgotten memories. Nor did he see the state of the soul who sent it.
"My Blue Eyes, why do you treat me so callously? Have you also forgotten what we went through?"
Sorry if I annoyed you with all my authoress notes. Leave your reviews at the door and look for some citrus flavor next chapter!