More Than Just Saving the World
By Sakura Kinomoto (aka Kaji no Tenshi)
Chapter Thirteen The Will to Live
Anzu took a step forward, wanting to comfort the spirit when golden light surrounded Yami and Koshi. The group watched in awe as the light formed into a barrier protecting the two. Yami, who was inside the light, was experiencing flashbacks in his mind, which he found surreal, yet familiar.
"My name is…Ko…Koshi, my Pharaoh."
Yami stared at Koshi disbelievingly. "You tried to poison me?"
Desperate, Koshi shook her head. "No, I…that's not what's supposed…I didn't meant to…I didn't know..." Her eyes became misty and tears came tumbling down her pale cheeks. They stayed like that for a while, Yami staring at Koshi, Koshi weeping silently.
Koshi paused, then finally stuttered. "Very will, Ya…Yami. The High Priest was like a brother to me when I was younger. He was often nice to me and played with me every day no matter how busy he was. It all changed when he became the High Priest formally. He neglected me and never greeted me anymore." As she spoke, without realizing it, she leaned on to Yami's chest, snuggling into a comfortable position. Yami also stopped soothing her pain and instead, was caressing her skin. "Then three years ago, he started to pay attention me again. At that time, I was happy because my brother was back. But now that I think of it, he probably had some sort of intention. Now I know…If he didn't tempt me…if only he never changed…" Tears started to create a veil over her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
"You really do get embarrassed easily, don't you? Are you afraid of me?" asked Yami.
The girl shook her head. "No. I mean…"
"Good." Them at an amazing speed, Yami circled Koshi's waist in his arms and kissed her right on the lips. Koshi didn't know what to do and wanted to protest. Once she opened her lips though, it gave Yami the prefect opportunity to slip in his tongue, exploring her sweetness. Slowly, she melted and hugged Yami's neck for support. One of Yami's arms still held her waist but the other hand already was caressing her back. His lips slid from the soft lips to the girl's nape, nibbling it. Koshi's lips opened and a small moan escaped from it.
"Who's going to be your Queen?" Koshi stiffened at Seto's question. The Pharaoh her tensed body and smiled inside. He knew how to answer the question. He pulled Koshi to him. "Koshi's going to be my Queen."
Both Koshi and Seto were surprised by the response. The girl looked at Yami in shock while Seto asked, "But Koshi is not part of the imakhu. No one will agree to your decision."
"Who says? I am the Pharaoh so I can do what I want. Besides, Koshi was given to me three years ago. She is part of the imakhu." Yami gave the girl a peck on the cheek. "No one can change my mind."
"Yami," pleaded Koshi. "He's crazy, can't you see? Someone has to stop him." As Koshi spoke, Seto ordered his Blue Eyes to attack. When the girl turned, she stood there, shocked. Before anyone could save her, the attack hit her. Fire engulfed part of the room, destroying the monsters and surrounding an unconscious Koshi.
The Pharaoh stood up and shouted, "Koshi!" He didn't listen to anyone's warnings and rushed towards the fire. Without thinking, he ran into the fire to save his loved one.
Seto, on the other side, cried out, "Pay attention, Pharaoh!" He lifted his Millennium Rod, planning to use it. Koshi ran in front of Yami, protecting him. Was she silly? She knew he could use his Millennium Puzzle, but she didn't want him to get hurt…
"Koshi!" shouted Yami as he caught her falling body in her arms. "You idiot! I could have blocked it with my Puzzle! Why'd you do that?"
The Queen smiled weakly. "Are you sure you could have used the Puzzle in time?" Yami couldn't answer her. "See, this was probably Seto's plan. I felt something pull me here…that was probably his Rod…" She coughed. "I forgot to tell you something, Yami. I'm with a child…but, I don't think I could…"
Yami placed his hand over her mouth. "Don't talk. I don't care if the child survives or not, I just want you, Koshi. You hear me? Only you. I love you, Koshi."
"I'm so sorry, Yami. I'm so sorry. I love you too…" Then, Koshi closed her eyes one last time.
"Koshi!" cried the Pharaoh as he tightly hugged the body of the girl.
Yami snapped opened his eyes and the golden light around them dispersed with a burst. He remembered. He remembered what had happened in the past with Koshi. Koshi was his Queen. Well, she was supposed to be…if Kaiba hadn't always interfered between them. No wonder Kaiba was so smitten with her. It was all linked to the past. It was too late though, wasn't it? Even though he remembered…Koshi… He looked down at the girl in his arms. Wanting to feel her lingering warmth, he buried his face in the crook of her neck. That's when he felt it. The movement from the body in his arms. He sat up in shock. Koshi…she was breathing! Placing his hand on her cheek, he could feel her warmth returning. He blinked his eyes. He was not dreaming…right? "Koshi?" he whispered, still unsure of his discovery. "Koshi?"
"Your power has revived the Queen, my Pharaoh."
Yami looked up and found Isis slightly bowing at him. "What did you say, Isis?"
Isis smiled slightly. "You have used your powers and revived Koshi. She is now alive, thanks to you. Of course, the power you have given her in your previous life also helped."
He looked down at the female. "She's alive?"
"She's alive," Isis repeated.
"Thank Ra…" Yami hugged the girl to him, thankful he will not lose her.
"You're…choking me…Yami…"
The spirit grinned, seeing the open eyes of Koshi. "Thank Ra you're alive Koshi!" He looked at the female with caring eyes. "My Queen…"
Koshi blushed. "…You got you memories back?" Yami just smiled.
On the other hand, Seto growled when he realized he had officially Koshi to Yami once again. Deep in his heart, he knew this was the reality all along, but he refused to believe in the power the Millennium items may hold, so he wanted to believe in the Koshi that seemed to love him. With a quick turn, he left the top of the tower, his trench coat fluttering behind him. Mokuba, seeing his brother walk away, also left the group.
Isis wanted to stay, yet she knew she needed to talk to Seto Kaiba, about what had happened and what will happen. She looked at the Pharaoh. Koshi had lived therefore Yami will have the power to continue to duel, without being distracted, just as long he was sure Koshi will meet no more harm. "I wish you luck, my Pharaoh. Save my brother from his evil side and release him from the darkness." With that, she left, going after Seto Kaiba.
Malik snorted. "Pharaoh, are you ready for our duel?"
"Anytime, Malik!" Yami glowered at the male, his eyes burning with anger and the urge to whip him in the duel. Then his looks immediately softened as he titled his head downwards to look at Koshi. "Are you okay?"
"I'm alive, Yami." She smiled. "Go kick Malik's butt for making my head hurt like hell."
Yami smirked. "That I will do."
Jounouchi bounced over and slapped his arm down around Yami's shoulders. "You better help me get revenge as well, Yugi. For Mai too. Save her from that horrid Shadow Realm!" He grinned, filled with confidence about Yugi's victory. He crouched down and placed his hands on Koshi. Looking at Yami, he found permission to take her, so he lifted the girl out of Yami's arms and towards the side. The preparation for the duel was beginning.
&&&&&&&
"Seto, where are you going?" Mokuba took quicker steps, attempting to follow his brother who had longer strides. "Aren't you going to watch the final duel?"
Seto's face twisted unpleasantly at the mention of that. He was still upset at losing the duel against the King of the Games. Not that he would actually admit that. "I have no need to observe that duel. Besides, the Tower will sink into the sea in two hours and we have to prepare for leaving." Then he realized they were being followed. He whipped around, glaring at the intruder. "What do you want?" he growled.
Isis stood her ground, unfaltering against Seto's menacing look. "Priest…Mr. Kaiba, the Pharaoh will need your help in order to win." Seto raised his eyebrow. "You must understand, the tablet in the museum was not a symbol of confrontation or rivalry, it's words to a lost friend, to the lost Pharaoh."
The CEO was definitely not amused by Isis' words. "I have no time or interest for your pathetic speeches on our supposed past lives. I need to prepare for getting our of here." He began to walk away.
Mokuba ran towards Seto, looking up at him as they both continued to move. "Seto, promise me, when the Duel Tower sinks into the sea and disappears, so will all of your hatred. I don't want you to continue like this." The older male didn't answer, but placed his hand on the duel card locket around his neck that contained Mokuba's picture. Mokuba took that as his brother's promise. Satisfied, he settled down and walked along side Seto.
Isis though found the need to continue to talk. "Do you think the Pharaoh will lose?"
Seto snorted. "Or course. Yugi also has a three percent chance at killing Ra and it's One Turn Kill ability. There's no way he can win." He paused, as if thinking he should continue or not. "A card that I have though, called Devil's Sanctuary, will increase the chance of winning to twenty-four percent."
"Then my brother might win…" Isis whispered. "If that is so, then I will take matter into my own hands….to forever rid the world of his evilness…"
Widening his eyes slightly, Seto realized the meaning of her words. "Are you planning to disappear into the sea with Alcatraz along with your brother, if Yugi fails?" He had stopped moving, looking at the Egyptian woman.
Isis looked into the eyes of the CEO, her own defying. "I will not let the dark side of my brother to take over the world if the Pharaoh fails. It is part of my fault that his dark side came to be and I will take up the consequences!"
Seto contemplated his actions. He could do nothing…or give his card to Yugi so he has a bitter chance to win. He grimaced at the thought. That was not like him at all, helping his enemy. Yet… Finally, he walked towards the elevator that will take him back up on to the duelling field.
"Koshi will be grateful as well."
Right…that was part of his reason too.
&&&&&&&
Yami caught the card Kaiba threw at him. It was the Devil's Sanctuary. He snapped it into his deck then said, "Thank you." He didn't hesitate at all. As if he knew the card will definitely help him win the duel, that he trusted Kaiba will help him. He laughed inwardly in amusement when he noticed Jounouchi making a big deal seeing Kaiba approaching Koshi. Somehow, he knew Kaiba would not harm Koshi. He laughed again when he saw Jounouchi drop open his mouth, watching Koshi bow to Kaiba. Probably thanking him for giving him the card.
"Pharaoh! Pay attention to what's happening here!" Malik sneered. "Are you ready for our duel?"
"Anytime."
Malik held up his deck confidently. "I will win, Pharaoh."
Yami retorted, "I would like to see you try."
The two approached each other. Grabbing each other's deck, they began shuffling the cards. They then took their own decks back and walked towards the position. As the Shadow Realm encased them into its darkness, Yami said, "Let the duel begin!"
&&&&&&&
Obelisk's fist, filled with infinite attack strength was about to hit Ra when it was repelled. Everyone was surprised when it happened. They all thought that Yami was finally going to win. Yami looked at his light side which was still hanging in the air due to the Shadow Realm game. The amount of life points lost affected their own light. Yugi smiled at the spirit encouragingly. They can win this together.
Marik laughed. "Ra is immune to any special attacks of Obelisk. This won't help you at all, Pharaoh! I'm going to win this! Now, it's Ra's turn to attack Obelisk!"
Yami held up his hand. "Just a moment, Malik! I activate Dimension Magic! This allows me to special summon a Magician from my hand just as long I have a Magician on the field and sacrifices two monsters. Then during this turn, I can counter-attack by destroying one monster on your side with an combined attack." He looked at the field. "Now, I sacrifice Obelisk and Gazelle to summon Dark Magician!"
Snorting, Malik replied, "Pharaoh, here I thought you wanted to save my light side. What you're doing doesn't help at all. He'll still be destroyed!"
"Yami!" cried out Yugi. He didn't want to see the tomb keeper destroyed.
"I know, Yugi. This duel won't end like this though."
"Master Malik!" All heads turned at the new voice. Rishid was stumbling on to the top of the tower. Isis immediately wanted to rush over to help him, but he held up a hand. "Master Malik, I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you when you needed me." He coughed a bit.
Marik looked down at him disgust. "You pathetic servant, get out of my eyes and let me win this duel!"
Rishid shook his head. "Master Malik, you must understand! You can fight your evil side! You shouldn't give into resigning one's fate! Learn to live with who you are. This is not only a tomb keeper's duty, but also a person's! Do not give up hope, Master!"
The normal Malik slowly looked up from his chained position. His lifeless eyes seemed to show something different for a second. Everyone anticipated his move as they knew what he decided may change the results of the duel. "Pharaoh, attack me!"
"Very well, Malik," said Yami. "My two Magicians! Attack the Winged Dragon of Ra!" The two Magicians formed a beam of light between them and shot at the Egyptian God. An explosion was heard and everyone's view was blocked for a while.
Yugi peered, trying to see through all the gas and smoke. "Did it work?" As their views cleared, Yami saw that the Maliks were still were they were, but Ra was definitely destroyed. The questions, which Malik is in which position? The answer was immediately revealed when the duellist looked up from the ground. "Malik, you two switched places!" exclaimed Yugi.
The tomb keeper nodded his head. "When the Ra was destroyed, it wrecked the combination of Ra and my dark side, which allowed us to switch places. Now, my dark side is the one who's in danger of being banished."
Marik growled as he struggled against the chains. "Why am I here? Damn you light!" He calmed himself and smirked. "Malik, my light side, why don't you finish this silly duel and kill the Pharaoh? It was after all his order of duty that kept your whole family in the darkness. You should take revenge. It was because of the Pharaoh that you had to take the role of the Tomb Keeper, a role that you loathe!"
Shaking his head, Malik replied firmly. "I know what I want." He placed his hand on his deck of cards. "I surrender this duel to you, my Pharaoh."
"What?" Marik screamed in agony as he disappeared and was banished into the darkness. The Shadow Realm also disappeared, and the duelling field became normal once more."
Mokuba stepped out. They had returned to the top of the tower near the end of the duel. Seto was just too curious to know how it will all end. "Okay, as head referee, I'll declare that Yugi has become the winner of the Battle City Tournament." He ignored the scowl on Seto's face and the cheering sounds from Yugi's friends, including Koshi. "Malik, now according to the tournament's rules, you will hand over the Winged Dragon of Ra to Yugi."
Malik looked at the card in his hand. The final Egyptian God card. It was finally leaving his hands. He took a tentative step forward and looked at the Pharaoh. "Here's your card, my Pharaoh." Yami nodded and accepted the card. He also noted the politeness in the tomb keeper's side. All three God cards now belong to him. Malik lifted his shirt and turned around. "There is something you should see, my Pharaoh." It was then that he fully took off his shirt and showed Yami the tattoo on his back. Yami gasped. "This is the secret that has been passed down through the generations of my family. We know it has to do with unlocking your memories, unfortunately, it remains a mystery right now." He took out his Millennium items and gave them to the spirit. "These belong to you as well."
"Thank you, Malik."
Kaiba then snorted, catching everyone's attention. "Now that we're done with all the Ancient Egyptian crap, I would like to mention to you that Alcatraz is about to explode so I suggest you to get the hell out of here. There's around 46 minutes left."
"What!" Everyone was shocked at the information. "Why didn't you tell us sooner, Moneybags?" exclaimed Jounouchi.
"Was there a need?" With that, he left along with Mokuba, leaving the rest of the group still in shock.
&&&&&&&
Everyone boarded the huge helicopter in haste as they wanted to get off the island as soon as possible. Mai had woken up from her slumber in the Shadow Realm as Marik has been destroyed. There was five minutes until the island will explode, yet the Kaiba brothers were no where to be found.
Koshi looked around the island before stepping into the helicopter. "Are you sure Seto and Mokuba will be fine, Yami?"
The Pharaoh wrapped an arm around his Queen's shoulder. "I'm sure they will be fine. If I know Kaiba, he has a plan to get out of here alive."
Koshi leaned on his shoulder. "I hope so."
Just as they took off, the island exploded. Everyone was quiet, perhaps, thinking that Kaiba and Mokuba have perished in the explosion. Then Anzu who was sitting near the window cried out in surprise, "Look, it's another Kaiba Corp fighter jet!"
Everyone turned to look out a window. They were surprised and relieved, sort of, to see Kaiba and Mokuba sitting in the jet. The radio sparked to life and Mokuba's voice was heard. "Yugi, and everyone else, we're going to the United States to make Kaiba Land a world-wide event, so we'll see you guys soon!" Then the jet, piloted by Kaiba was turned into another direction, towards their own destination.
"Is it over, Yami?"
"I believe so." And he planted a kiss on her forehead.
&&&&&&&
Author's Note: I'm finally finished with this story….I'm so glad. By the time I finished this story, I realized that I didn't really like this story... I think it's the way I changed my style of writing since I started this story. It just doesn't satisfy me anymore. I'm just glad I finished this story and got this over with. You can tell because I was being lazy and barely elaborated on anything. I didn't even include more about the duel between Yami and Malik. Oh well…there's still an epilogue…but I'll wait a few days before posting that up. R+R if you want...I don't care much anymore. I'm finally done!
