::Dies::
Gomen... I know I've taken a long time to update. I think I'll go with my usual alibi: school.
High school is a drag. They assigned homework on the first day, and I didn't even have the correct textbooks for it. No cute sophomores/juniors/seniors and I just recovered from a terrible bleaching accident in which my bangs turned straw blond (think Yami or Yugi) instead of the platinum whitish they were supposed to.
-_-; But, I guess I shouldn't bitch - why ruin your anticipation.
I should really thank everyone for reviewing; reading them makes me feel better. I have 100+ (^_^ that alone is a milestone for me). So... THANK YOU! I can't express my gratitude. You've made my day, I only hope I can make yours.
Special Note to Kemi:
I'm sorry I haven't returned your email yet. But thanks for the little scene between Kaiba and Snape; it broke me out of my writer's block. Hopefully you'll enjoy this chap, thanks, again.
All right, I split this chapter into two parts because it was so long - 5000+ to be sort of exact. I should install the next part very soon... I hope.
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Turmoil
By Kaitourei
Chapter Eight: Purebloods And Potions (Part I)
"But you can't ignore the resemblance. I mean the height, the hair, and the hips... Ano, did I just compliment Kaiba's hips?"
- Honda Hiroto
"Hey guys!"
Katsuya Jounouchi ran up to meet his best friends: Yugi Motou, Anzu Mazaki, Honda Hiroto, and Ryou Bakura - who stood outside Domino High school, waiting for the bell to announce the beginning of the brain rotting, which some insensitive adult had dubbed "school". The blonde grinned from ear to ear as he jogged, dodging the throngs of waiting students, a paper clutched tightly in his hand as he ran.
"What's up, Jou?" Honda called playfully. "You look happy. Finally get up the guts to ask Mai out?" A few of the others giggled, knowing Jounouchi's long time rival and the monster crush he had on her [1].
Jou didn't answer, instead he skid to a stop and he held the paper out for the others to read. Breathlessly, his infamous grin flashed- he was up to something.
"What's this?" Yugi said noticing the Kaiba Corp. logo half covered by Jou's finger. "Where did you get this...?"
"I better not be illegal, Jou," Anzu crossed her arms.
"Chill, guys," the blonde impishly grinned wider. "Let's just say ol' moneybags is out of our hair..."
Honda slapped his head. "Oh no, Jou," he groaned. "You didn't kill him, did you?"
Bakura [2] arched an eyebrow and grimaced. "I knew I had a bad feeling about today..."
"No, no!" Jou said jubilantly. "Read it, Honda, ya moron! Kaiba's going to a boarding school in England!"
Yugi gasped and took the paper from the blonde, "No way..."
"Yup, that's right," Jounouchi grinned. "Kaiba's gone! Out'a our hair! *Kami-sama is up there and he's been listening to me!" The blonde threw a fist in the air.
"Aw," Honda said in mock sorrow, eyeing Jou evilly. "No more puppy comments... Poor Jou, whose gonna be your master now?"
Jou blinked and threw his hands over his ears, shouting; "There's no way I'm gonna let you ruin this perfectly perfect moment with your jokes, Honda! This has to be the best day of my life... well besides Shizuka's surgery and stuff." He stopped to ponder the thought.
"Look at this," Yugi piped up - catching Anzu and Bakura's attention. "Mokuba will be running the company from here in Domino, while Kaiba also runs it from his school... that's weird, they don't tell what school he's going to." The tricolor haired boy frowned.
Behind them Jou and Honda continued their "friendly" argument unnoticed. Bakura took the newsletter as Jou gave Honda a "friendly" punch to the gut.
"Well, it makes sense actually," Bakura spoke up. "The press would be all over him and the school, if he did release the name."
"Hm…" Anzu commented. "England? Do you think it's safe? I mean have you heard about all those murders involving Egyptologists and archeologists? Kaiba does have a connection to Egypt..."
"I don't think Kaiba's in danger, Anzu," Yugi assure her. "Plus, he can take care of himself."
A thin smirk spread across Ryou's lips, but went unnoticed they the other two. "I pity anyone who decides to take out the High Priest," he whispered darkly as his normal eyes flashed to crimson red for a split second.
"What did you say Bakura?" Anzu asked.
"Huh?" The white haired boy blinked back. "Did I say something?"
Yugi looked at the two, slightly confused. Anzu frowned, "I could have sworn..."
"What did ya say about Kaiba?" Jou said, throwing his arms around Anzu and Bakura. The white haired boy flinched instinctively. The blonde was still grinning, which made the others wonder when his mouth would be getting tired.
"We were discussing the whole Egypt murder thing..." Yugi informed him. "A bunch of murders have been happening in England."
Honda walked back into the group rubbing this stomach. "Well, Kaiba's on his own as far as I'm concerned..." He winced suddenly and shot Jou a dirty look.
"Heh, sorry bud, but if you ever compare Kaiba to that supermodel I was in love with since forever, I won't hesitate to do it again..." the blonde grinned and rubbed his fist menacingly.
"But you can't ignore the resemblance," Honda said slyly. "I mean the height, the hair, and the hips..." His grin faltered. "*Ano, did I just compliment Kaiba's hips?"
"Hips, eh? I never noticed any," Jou said smugly while the others snickered. "Who likes who, now?"
Honda shrugged away the chuckles. "Whatever. Anyway, where did you get this, Jou?"
The blonde grinned mischievously. "I picked it us last night, but it's kind of a long story..." Jou blew a strand of hair from his face. "Let's just say it involves peanut butter, an elevator, and a few unwilling Kaiba Corp. employees..."
A few stopped in their tracks, while Anzu rolled her eyes, "Jou, that is so wrong..."
"What?" the blonde shrugged with seemingly unflawed virtue, though his smile was beginning to shatter his poise. "It was totally intimate -I mean innocent."
"Uh hu, sure," Honda smiled as the bell began to ring. "Sure..."
Bakura and Yugi watched their friends laughing and taunting each other. An unreadable look had spread across Bakura's face as he ignored the immature jokes Jounouchi and Honda were shooting off at one and other. Although Yugi was still lost. He sighed, looking from Jou to Honda.
"I still don't get it..." the tri-color haired boy sighed, while Bakura smiled and blushed.
"Trust me," Bakura reassured him softly. "You don't want to."
Shrugging the smaller boy frowned as the duo walked toward their homeroom, their mischievous friends continuing with their adolescent jokes. They pushed past students, Yugi sill having trouble competing with the crowds of taller students. Silence loomed in between the two before Bakura suddenly looked over toward Yugi, his eyes a deep crimson.
"Pharaoh."
"Ah!" Yugi jumped away from the voice instinctively. Looking over at the snickering white haired boy, he realized it wasn't Bakura anymore and instinctively he found himself in his soul room. "Yami" was out once more. Blinking and sighing Yugi laid back down on the soft carpet where he had landed, hoping his other wouldn't cause too much havoc. But on the other side, Yami was ready for anything - whatever it took to best the tomb robber and keep his friends and the world safe, which was what the young Motou feared in the first place.
"Tomb robber," the former Pharaoh said eyeing warily. "So, you've returned once again."
Yami no Bakura grinned wolfishly, sharp canines glinting menacingly, "You know me, I'll always be back. I'm very persistent."
Yami snorted, "I was thinking more along the lines of 'cockroach'."
Yami Bakura chose to ignore that comment, "Why the insults Pharaoh, I've only come to talk."
"That's surprising," Yami eyed the white haired boy. "You usually want my Sennen Items, what makes today so different?"
"There is a disturbance in the Shadow Realm," Yami Bakura said darkly. "You have felt it too, haven't you?"
Yami looked away, his crimson eyes also darkening. "Yes, I have. But what does it matter to you?"
"You disappoint me, Pharaoh," Yami Bakura sneered, crossing his arms. "After all, we are linked to the blasted Realm, whether we like it or not. Any imbalance, any little misperception and we are affected - no matter how insignificant. And Pharaoh, who ever is tapping into the realm is gaining control ever so slowly... soon they will be able to summon forth monsters at will. Like my Ring and your Puzzle allow." The tomb robber looked grim. "The only difference is; this person, has no Item."
"You're kidding," Yami said, slightly shocked. "That's impossible."
"Not necessarily," the darker Bakura said. "The Sennen Items aren't the only form of magic. There are others. Though not as potent, a combination of these could be strong enough to mimic an Item. Do you understand what I've just said, Pharaoh?"
The second bell rang, causing both of the spirits to jumps slightly. They eyed each other with wary as they debated weather or not to do as their others pleaded. Inside their soul rooms, both panicking *hikari's urged their yami's to hurry. Annoyed looks played across each spirits' faces.
"We'll discuss this later," Yami said firmly.
Bakura nodded before turning to walk away. "Tonight in the park central at twelve sharp - be there."
Yami nodded, "One more thing Soul Stealer, do you know where these anomalies are coming from?"
A slow smile spread across the tomb robber's placid face. "Somewhere on the continent of England."
---
The students watched Flitwick's mouth open and close like a dieing fish. This happened quite sometime before the professor shook his head - clearing his thoughts. He looked over at Kaiba, only to find the CEO was slightly paler than usual. Kaiba's eyes were clouded as he met the professor's gaze. For a fraction of a second, the small wizard could have sworn he saw fear in the usual holier-than-thou face of Seto Kaiba - but if there had been, it was gone as soon as it came.
"Students," Flitwick squeaked. "I-I must consort with Dumbledore... for the moment, please open your books and review the first chapter. Ms. Granger, you will be in charge, if there are any... disruptions, please feel free to take house points." He turned his gaze back to the CEO. "And Mr. Kaiba, I suggest you not try any charms while I'm away..."
"I don't think that's necessary," Kaiba spoke up suddenly, his composure regained.
Flitwick turned sharply to face the student, "Might I inquire why, Mr. Kaiba?"
Kaiba looked slightly guarded. "He already knows of these... anomalies."
Harry nudged Ron and sent his a questioning look. Was this what happened at Diagonally? They knew what and where they were to be that night. Hagrid, after all was one of the few who knew, and Kaiba showed no signs of yielding to anyone; even the current professor.
"I must differ..." Flitwick's voice was shaky; the smaller man was never good at asserting his dominance. "Mr. Kaiba, I suggest you stay in your seat and do as I say or I will have you expelled for severe disobedience!" The familiar silence continued to hang in the room, the students anticipating Kaiba's next move.
He made none, "Fine."
The CEO sat amongst his peers and was silence, glaring icily at the professor - who on good judgment fled to the door and was out; walking as fast as his small legs would carry him. The wizard headed for the headmaster's office leaving Kaiba with thirty or so students looking for answers.
There was an that uncomfortable silence in the room as a few students pulled out their textbooks and began to read, although most of the more curious Gryffindors and Slytherins were still watching the CEO. Kaiba showed now signs of discomfort or revelation, his attention was focused back on his book.
Gradually, a single applause spread through the room, causing many of the students to look up. With a smug smile upon his face, Draco Malfoy descended from the back row and slowly approached the news student's desk, his clapping lowering with each stride nearer. Upon reaching the desk, his applause stopped, although the CEO had not looked up - choosing to ignore the blonde.
Malfoy frowned and cleared his throat. "That was some display you put on," he said. "I'm Draco Malfoy, if you haven't already heard."
Kaiba's blue eyes lifted slowly to meet Malfoy's steel gray. His brow furrowed, "I haven't, in fact; care to tell me what you want, or perhaps just leave. I have more important things to do, such as resuming my reading. "
There was a shocked silence from the class, then few students gasped and snickered. But Malfoy shrugged the insult off, and as unnatural as it was for his character, turned back to the Kaiba looking less infuriated than he felt inside - nevertheless the CEO wasn't one for cheesy smiles and cheep talk.
"I was just commenting, not many other wizards appreciate a power such as yours," Malfoy looked unnaturally sincere. "Like that dolt, Flitwick... pathetic really."
"'Pathetic', yes. Perhaps I'll agree with you there, but," Kaiba's eyes narrowed instinctively. "What do you mean 'power such as' mine?"
"I mean that spell you cast," Malfoy said nonchalantly. "Flitwick is a fool to teach us cheep tricks at a time like this. Did you see the look on his face when you called it an 'anomaly'." Malfoy chuckled harshly. "By the look on his face, you'd think that spell was rogue."
"It was."
"You mean to say you didn't do that on purpose?" Malfoy's poise was broken as his face faltered. "I thought..."
"Yes, I didn't do that on purpose." Kaiba said, "What makes you think I did?"
Malfoy regained his composure in time to answer the CEO's question. "I was only assuming."
"Assuming what?"
"That you were special, like myself," a smirk had spread across the blonde's lips and he leaned closer, so that Kaiba and himself only heard what was said. "My father, Lucius Malfoy, would be pleased to meet you. He respects power like ours, he could give you more... After all, we are the richest and most pureblooded wizard clan here. My father - "
Kaiba turned away. "Piss off Malfoy."
"W-what?"
"I said 'piss off'," Kaiba's attention was focused back at his charms book. "I assume you know what that means."
"I do," Malfoy said with narrowed eyes. "And I assume you know what I mean when I say; you don't want us as your enemy."
Kaiba raised an eyebrow. "And what is that supposed to mean?"
"It means you're making a big mistake in refusing, Kaiba," Malfoy turned away. "Consider the offer, it still holds." He began to ascend towards his seat. Kaiba, on the other hand, had already silently given his answer as he turned toward the book in his hand. He continued reading, why bother with these pathetic folk anyway? He had enough problems.
---
"I should really stop this," Hermione sighed as Malfoy made his way dramatically toward Kaiba. "Kaiba doesn't look like he wants to hear Malfoy right now." She bit her lip. Next to her, Harry and Ron watched as Kaiba predictably insulted the blonde after a few words of greeting.
"Don't," Ron sighed. "Maybe they'll kill each other off in the process."
"I agree," Harry said with much accord. "I wonder how Kaiba ended up working in such a successful company, anyway? You'd think his employees would quit on him, that or he would have fired them all."
"I read that he pays more than other companies, even Illusion Industries, which was known to be really generous to it's employees," Hermione said.
"I wonder why that is," Ron added with sarcasm heavy in his voice. "Probably a bunch of misers anyway..."
The three turned back to watching the small discussion between the two egotistic students. Though they couldn't hear what was said, the look on the faces of the students seated near the duo gave away the situation's outcome. Harry turned away this time.
"Doesn't it seem a little odd how Malfoy's trying to weasel his way onto Kaiba's good side?" he asked.
Hermione nodded. "Odd indeed. Malfoy's up to fowl play again, he would never treat a Gryfindor like that. What makes Kaiba so different? After all, Kaiba is most likely muggle born... you know how he would act."
The other two nodded.
"Or maybe he knows something about Kaiba," Harry wondered aloud. "Think about it. Not many people from Japan get transferred to Hogwarts... even if Dumbledore invited them. Which brings up another question; why did Dumbledore transfer him here?"
Ron frowned. "That's true. And just what was that... that thing that happened with the feather?"
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "It was cold. Kind of like a Dementor, you know, but it wasn't my happiness getting drained. It was like my energy was."
Hermione's eye lit up. "Wait," she whispered, quickly checking if anyone was listening. "Doesn't it all fall into place? Kaiba's transfer, these anomalies - once in Diagon Alley and then in here. Have you ever seen Kaiba do a simple spell or charm?"
"No," Ron said dryly. "But the guy doesn't seems to want anything to do with us."
"You're missing the point, Ron," Harry continued. "I think what Hermione is trying to say is that Kaiba is a special case."
Ron grinned, "You didn't have to word that out for me, Harry. I already know he's a special case." Ron tapped his head. "A special mental case."
Hermione sighed. "No, no, no. You all know that there are different types of magic; heathen, voodoo, even very ancient kinds. I'm speculation that Kaiba possesses some exceptional type... not many other schools would take him in, and what would he want us to stay out of his business, even if it was so private. He wouldn't want us to think any differently of him; that explains the hostility; that explains why he didn't want Dumbledore or Hagrid releasing any thing about Diagon Ally."
"Okay," Ron said sheepishly. "But that doesn't explain the whole dark, spooky, energy draining thing... and the exploding feather - "
"Piss off Malfoy." The three heads snapped back to the duo. Kaiba looked less contented as he gave one last glare toward Malfoy. But the blonde didn't seem so pleased and continued to speak to the brunette, although his composure was rigid with anger.
"Looks like Kaiba's got one good trait," Harry commented. "Or maybe he's like this to every one, Malfoy not being a exception."
Hermione began, "Actually I think - "
The door opened slowly and Professor Flitwick walked in leisurely. Hermione shot the boys a we'll-talk-later look. The small man strode toward his desk, nodding abruptly toward Hermione who shook her head back to show that there had been no trouble - atleast any trouble that would have been fatal. The Kaiba, Malfoy conversation was still on everyone's mind.
"Good then," Flitwick chirped. "The Headmaster reassures everyone that the situation was nothing to be worried about. I apologize for my rash actions, Mr. Kaiba, the situation - as you said - was already anticipated."
The trio exchanged knowing glanced, while Kaiba nodded silently, sending Flitwick an as-you-should-be gaze. But the Professor chose to ignore it, probably under Dumbledore's advice. He turned toward a stack of books that blocked his way to a small black board at the side of the room, trying to find a way around. But it was all too late.
There was a sudden booming noise and all hell broke loose.
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*Kami-sama = "Kami" is a title given to the celestial gods of the first mythical dynasty of Japan, while "-sama" is an ending added to show respect - like "sir". ("Kami-sama" is just like saying "God" in English.)
*Ano = Japanese for "um"
*Hikari = Japanese for "light"
[1] Ok, I do support Polarshipping (aka Jou/Mai) but don't expect any romance in the fic. Mai is not going to make a guest appearance, but she will be mentioned. Like I said, I suck at writing romances.
[2] Just to set the record straight, I refer to Ryou as "Bakura". Only his family/close friends/yami call him "Ryou". The tomb robber shall be called "Yami no Bakura" or "Yami Bakura", because (according to my research) the spirit is only referred to as Bakura in ancient Egypt, or rather Yami no Yugi's memory world. Whatever.
Next Chapter: Purebloods and Potions (Part II)
Seto's long awaited meeting with Professor Snape (finally), meanwhile the Dark Lord plots evilly, as usual. Yami and Yami no Bakura have their midnight conversation and come to an inevitable decision... which they both agree on. Scary.
