Chapter 49
The Last Night
In the darkness of night she made her way to the temple. No one was present to see her as she placed offerings before the statue and lit the altar fires. Clad in simple white linen robes and her favorite necklace, she knelt. It was the last time she would wear that neckpiece. Tomorrow she would receive a new one. And a new burden. That's why she had to do this tonight. Placing incense on the fire and saying a sacred chant she called upon the ethereal spirit.
"Oh great goddess Isis, wife of Osiris, mother of Horus, great giver of life eternal, hear my plea. I kneel before you as a child of the earth and a servant of your divine will. I come to you seeking favor. Not for myself, but for another. One who is dear to me. A true friend through dire times. I ask this of you because I know he would not. He is a good man. He has earned peace and joy. He needs companionship. He deserves to be loved. Send him someone who will give him these things. Someone to make him happy so he might forget past sorrows. And someone to help him swallow pain. He has been denied so much. He has been made to grieve for events he could not change. I wish him to find happiness. Something I cannot give him myself. Almighty Isis, in this life or the next, please do not let Seto be alone."
As she finished her prayers and gave forth offerings, Anck-su-namun could not have known about the ocean blue eyes that silently watched her from the shadows.
Sometimes prayers are answered.
Mokuba camped out on the couch across from the secretaries' desk. All work had been halted since Anna left and Mokuba was worried. For four days now Seto had been locked in his office. He refused to see anyone, even his brother. Mokuba had brought him food, but Seto would not open the door to receive it. Since negotiations had failed, the younger Kaiba now resorted to sleeping on the couch in the hallway. He wanted to be there when Seto finally came out. Seto was his guardian, but in many ways, Mokuba was also Seto's caretaker. He was always there for his brother, and he would remain so, no matter what.
Night crept in on Mokuba as he lay there. He was at a loss of what to do. Should he try talking to him again? Should he have someone break down the door and force him out? Or should he let Seto be? He had not yet made a decision when he heard the clicking of the lock come undone. Mokuba sprang up to see Seto coming toward him down the hall. He carried with him a briefcase. Seto gave no cause to Mokuba; he just walked past him and toward the elevators. Mokuba quickly trailed after him.
Except for a small amount of packing, Anna spent the last four days in a haze. She didn't want to think about it, but every time she tried to work it filled her mind. What passed between her and Seto broke her heart; she could not deny that. She would replay it again and again, in an attempt to convince herself that she did the right thing. Yes, she wanted Seto. But what would come of it? It was an attraction both physically and mentally. With him she would experience the world through new eyes. But what guarantee would she have that it would last? She was no fool, she knew Seto wasn't the marrying type. What if in a month, or a year he grew tired of her? He could discard her and she would have nothing. Her money, her father's business, all gone. And after what she did, Yugi wouldn't take her back. She'd be empty and alone. And she never wanted to be alone again. On the other hand, Yugi was a sure thing. She could count on him to be a husband and father. Plus she would keep her company and assets. It was also a financial security. And she was fond of Yugi, it might work out. No, it wasn't love. She had wanted love, but no matter what she tried she couldn't find it there. But it might grow over time. Love itself was a deeper matter. If she had some proof that Seto loved her she might have been more willing to take the leap. If only he said it, or at least fought harder before letting her go. He had yet to present her with something tangible, something she could point at and say, 'yes, he loves me'. Yet there was nothing but her suspicion and hopes. And she couldn't build a future on those. These are the kinds of things she told herself. And yet every time she tried reassuring herself, the more she began to doubt her actions. The moment she spent with Seto was supposed to last in her memory forever. But after only four days the details became fuzzy. She couldn't remember things that she thought were unforgettable. She feared that in a short time she would forget everything. Then she would have nothing of him to hold on to. She was lost. She needed a sign. She prayed for guidance.
Sometimes prayers are answered.
Drooping her head low a familiar shape caught her eye. There on the coffee table in front of her was a small square and in its center an ankh. It was the corner of an envelope, more precisely, it was a stamp. The mail had been piling up for days. She didn't have the energy to read it. Sliding the envelope out from under the stack she noted the Egyptian postmark and return address, 'Dr. Hawass, Cairo.' The tomb! He was going to send her more information about the tomb. She tore the seal and pulled out three pieces of paper. The first being a letter from the doctor apologizing for the delay and a regret that he could only send rough transcripts. He promised to send more detailed photos and translations soon. Anna flipped to the next page and began reading. Shock overcame her as the story unfolded. Then trembling as she realized what it meant.
"It's happening all over again."
There in the last few words Anna found her answer. The answer to Anck-su-namun's riddle. She knew now what she had to do. She knew where her destiny lie. And if she didn't stop history, it would be the end of them all.
Knocking over boxes in her wake, she rushed like a madman for the door. She didn't let the threatening skies phase her as she set a new cross-town speed record. Into the building, up the elevator, and to the door. She fumbled with her key for a second. It was a mix between nerves and anticipation. Finally sliding it through the device she burst through the door with document in hand.
"Seto!"
She wasn't greeted by Seto; instead it was another voice.
"Anna? Is that you?" Came a shout from Mokuba.
The two nearly collided as she ran in searching for Seto and he came to her see her.
"Where's Seto?"
"Is it true?" Mokuba rejected her question and replaced it with one of his own.
"Where is he? I need to see him." Anna asked again as she checked the bedrooms.
"Answer me first!" Mokuba made her stop by blocking her way. "Is it true? What Seto said. Are you engaged to Yugi?"
The look of betrayal on Mokuba's face was enough to make Anna cry. She realized she hurt them both. The only reply she could give him was a nod.
"Why did you do this to us?" Mokuba shouted. His heartbreak had turned to anger. "Because of you he locked himself in his office for four days! He would eat or sleep. And now he's running around acting like a madman."
"Mokuba, tell me where he is."
"How do I know you won't make it worse?"
"You have to tell me. If I don't stop him something terrible is going to happen."
Mokuba looked away as he contemplated his next move. Eventually he gave in to his brother's earlier orders. He walked into the living room and picked up a small object off a table. Anna watched intently as he gestured for her to take it. "Seto told me if you came by that I should give you this."
Anna took the card from his hand. One glance at it sent a shiver through her. Why would he give her this? There was only one reason. This was his sign. This is how she knew he loved her. Anna's chest started pounding. She had to find him now more than ever.
"Please, tell me where he is."
"He left. He went to challenge Yugi. He's going to win your freedom."
"Oh god!" Panic set in as she ran for the door.
Yugi couldn't have guessed the turmoil that engulfed Kaiba these past few days. As far as he knew Kaiba was his normal stone-faced self. He wasn't even sure why he had followed him to the top of this construction site. The only information he was given was to get his deck and be prepared to use it. Clearly it was challenge. He waited to hear the terms.
Never flinching, Seto stopped and placed his briefcase on the flat surface of a partially assembled brick wall. He gave no indication of weakness as he stared down his rival.
"Let's get down to business, shall we?" Seto said bluntly.
Yugi cautiously approached.
"I want you to free Anna from your marriage obligation."
"So, you finally found out about that?" Yugi said with a glint of sarcasm. He had finally gotten one up on the great Seto Kaiba.
"You think I'm arrogant. Well I am. You think I'm a monster. Perhaps I'm that too. But I don't care what you think about me. This isn't about her; it's about doing what is right. Forcing someone to marry is barbaric. And if you do this then you'll be a worse tyrant than I ever could be."
"Nice speech. I bet you practiced that." By his demeanor it was obvious that clearly Pharaoh was in control of Yugi's body. "But you left out one important thing. I'm not forcing her to do anything. Our marriage was arranged years ago. Neither of us had a choice in it, and neither of us can break it."
"How can you know so little about your own destiny?" Seto snarled as he opened his briefcase and pulled out a document. "The marriage contract is a legal document. A business transaction if you will. And every contract has a flaw. I found yours." Seto placed the paper on top of the now closed briefcase. "In the contract was written an 'out' clause. And it gives two people the right to terminate the arrangement. The first was Anna's father. If he didn't find you suitable for his daughter he could put an end to it. Unfortunately, he is no longer available to do so. The second person was the intended bridegroom. You, Yugi. Under dire circumstances or if either party was found to be unfaithful to the other, all you have to do is file this document and the two of you can go separate ways." Seto produced a pen from inside his jacket and lightly slammed it atop the case and document. "I'm asking you to sign it."
Yugi gave a half-cocked smile. "But I don't want to sign it. I'm happy with Anna." He looked down at the document and huffed. "Besides, Anna would never betray me."
That comment made Seto smirk. "What if I told you I've had her? In my arms. In my bed."
Yugi's violet eyes now turned a dark shade of red. Anger began swelling in him. He knew Kaiba had to be lying, Anna would never do that. And yet there was a little voice in the back of his mind that feared the worst and admitted that it was possible.
"I didn't force myself on her if that's what you're thinking." Kaiba continued with amusement in his voice. "She came to me willingly. Shall I tell you of how she crept into my bedroom? Or how she asked to stay with me as she slid her body under the sheets? Tell me Yugi, have you ever tasted her lips? Or caressed her soft amber skin? Or traced the curves of her neck?"
"Stop it!" Yugi said in a hushed yell.
"Do you believe me now? Are you ready to rid yourself of her?" Seto pushed the paper closer to him.
"Your trick isn't going to work. Sell your lies to someone else."
Seto added a cell phone to the collection atop the case. "Call her. Ask her. She won't deny it."
He stared at the phone for a few seconds. He was actually contemplating it. But did he really want to know the truth? "Forget it! I'm not signing anything. We're done here."
Yugi turned to leave but Seto wouldn't let him. "I've asked nicely, but you've forced me to take more drastic measures." Yugi stopped when he heard the noise of a duel disc activating. "I challenge you to a duel. If I win, you sign the paper and free Anna."
"And what happens if I win? What could you possibly offer me that would be worth her?"
The latches of the briefcase popped open and Kaiba turned it so Yugi could see its contents. "Ten million dollars." Kaiba smiled as Yugi eyes caught sight of the cash. "You'd be a rich man Yugi. Think about it. Your grandfather could retire. No more worrying about scrapping together enough money for food. You could buy anything you wanted. And what about your friends? Think how this money could help them too."
Yugi looked disgusted at the offer. "Anna's not a thing, you can't buy her. No deal."
He took a few more steps when he heard Kaiba speak again. "That's not a very wise decision, Yugi. If you don't do this then I'll have to go to my next plan, and I guarantee that you won't like it. It involves taking your life."
Yugi halted his feet. Glancing over his shoulder he saw the determined look on Kaiba's face. Was he being serious? Would Kaiba really kill him to get Anna? It was not out of the realm of possibility. Then he had no choice; he had to duel him. It wasn't the right thing to do, but it was his best choice under the circumstances. But if he won...then he would get to keep Anna and he'd have the money. There were some benefits to doing it this way.
Yugi faced Kaiba again and activated his duel disc. "You're on."
Pounding on the door didn't make Grandpa move any faster. He could only walk so fast at his age. But Anna was desperate. She had missed Seto at his apartment and according to Mokuba he was coming here. She knew what he had planned and she had to stop him. Not because of what he was trying to do for her, but because of what effect it would have on the rest of the world.
Grandpa opened the door with surprise. "Oh Anna, it's you! What are you doing out so late and in such terrible weather?"
"Is Yugi here?" She said shivering a little from the cold wind that blew against her.
"No he's not." Grandpa answered as he tried to coax her inside. "Come in dear, you're freezing."
"Where did he go?"
"I'm not sure. Kaiba came by and they left together."
Anna's face showed the pain of her frustration as she wandered around aimlessly on the sidewalk.
"Why don't you wait inside where it's warm. I'm sure he'll be back soon." Grandpa encouraged her with a worried smile.
"This can't wait. I have to find them now. Do you know which way they went?"
The old man pointed, "I believe they went..." She didn't wait for him to finish. She took up the direction and ran down the street.
The dueling arena established by the duel discs took up the majority of the platform they were on. There was little room for anything else. Nearly five stories off the ground the cold wind battered them, but both stood steadfast. At this point neither of them were willing to concede one inch to the other. And they lashed out at each other with monsters and monstrous words.
"Tell me Kaiba..." Yugi taunted. "What are you going to do if you win? Do you really believe the two of you are going to live happily ever after? What if things don't work out exactly as you planned? What would you do if you freed her and she still came back to me?"
"Then it would be her decision." Kaiba's face was emotionless. "I would respect that because it was her choice and not something someone made for her."
"How noble. Completely unlike you." Nothing Yugi said seemed to affect Kaiba. But that wasn't Yugi's biggest concern. He had to worry about what Kaiba would do if he didn't win. There was still the possibility that he would pursue his other option and have Yugi killed. "Let's make a side wager."
Kaiba stared him down.
"Whichever one of us gets Anna, the other has to promise to never interfere. That means the loser has to have no contact with her and can never come between them. Do you agree to that? Will you swear on your honor as a duelist?"
Yugi knew that Kaiba had no quams about screwing people over in business or in any other realm of his life. But in dueling Kaiba was his most honorable. He never cheated nor bent the rules to accommodate himself. This was the one thing Kaiba respected and he would never break a promise made on it.
Kaiba thought for a moment then nodded in agreement.
"I draw." Yugi announced as he pulled his next card. It was a good card. He was almost there. He had all the elements he needed in place to summon one of the God Cards from his deck. He just needed to pull one and his instincts told him in the next round he would. He always had a great deal of faith in his card set; it had never let him down. You could say it was an almost psychic bond he had with it. He could tell which cards were where in the deck, and at times he felt like he could move them with his mind. Bringing the cards he needed most to the top of the deck. And right now, the God Cards awaited him.
"I summon King's Knight." Yugi placed the card in the slot on his duel disc and the image of the King's Knight appeared next to its companion on the field. "When King's Knight and Queen's Knight are on the field I can special summon Jack's Knight." Suddenly another monster, Jack's Knight materialized. "King's Knight attack Saggi the Dark Clown." The royal looking creature produced its sword and charged the diabolical looking clown on the opposite side of the field.
"Activate trap card." Kaiba said with the wave of his hand. A card appeared on the field, 'Negate Attack'. Upon the reveal of this card the King's Knight halted his assault and swiftly returned to it's place on Yugi's field.
Yugi nodded. He expected Kaiba to have an ace up his sleeve. He wouldn't be a worthy opponent if he didn't. "I end my turn." Yugi said knowing that in the next round he would find a God Card waiting for him on the top of his deck.
Kaiba started his turn by silently drawing a card. As he looked at it a smile crept across his face, then a chuckle emerged from his throat. Neither of which were encouraging to Yugi.
"What's so funny?" Yugi asked with suspicion.
"This card will bring about your defeat." Finally taking his eyes off the card Kaiba spoke in an arrogant tone. "You talk so much about loyalty and how your friends wouldn't betray you. But you should know that it was Anna who gave this to me, with the instruction that I beat you with it. Fitting that I would use it now." Kaiba slipped the card into a slot on his duel disc. "I activate the magic card 'Convulsion of Nature'."
"What?" Yugi said utterly. He was expecting something powerful, but what he was presented with was a minor card that people seldom played. He wondered what profound effect this card would have on the outcome of this match. He wouldn't wait long to find out.
"As long as 'Convulsion of Nature' is on the field both players must turn their cards upside down and play from the bottom of their decks." Seto gleefully ejected his deck and re-inserted it upside down into the duel disc.
Yugi was quite amused at this turn of events. Kaiba had placed all his hopes on such a simple card. But as soon as Yugi turned his deck over, he realized what had happened. He could now see the next card to be drawn, and it wasn't a God Card. All this time he had been willing the cards he wanted to the top of his deck, but now, the top of his deck was the bottom. All the cards he needed were out of reach, including the Gods.
Kaiba didn't let him ponder the effects too long. "I sacrifice both monsters on the field to summon my Blue Eyes White Dragon." A pair of circles engulfed the monsters and then from a larger circle appeared the infamous dragon. "Blue Eyes attack Yugi's Queen's Knight!"
With a blinding ray from it's mouth the Blue Eyes White Dragon obliterated it's opponent. The blast was not meant for Yugi, but he could still feel the heat and intensity that it gave off. He could not be certain, but Yugi swore that this creature grew more powerful, more real, with every encounter. The way it glared at Yugi made him terribly uneasy.
"I end my turn." Kaiba smirked.
Yugi pulled the now visible top card and studied his hand. He had to find a way to counter Kaiba's Blue Eyes. But he had only one card that would help him now. "I play 'Swords of Revealing Light'.
Kaiba didn't move a muscle as huge saber shaped beams of light surrounded his position. "You've bought yourself some time." He scoffed. "Use it wisely."
Yugi returned to the cards in his hand. He had time, but only three rounds, and then he would have to face the Blue Eyes. He searched his cards. He knew he was in trouble.
The wind mercilessly bullied Anna as she meandered down the streets. She pulled her thin jacket closer to her body for warmth. This search was getting her no where. If only Seto would answer his phone, then she might pinpoint their location. She was becoming desperate and weary from her ordeal. She looked up at the dark gray skies as if seeking some divine help. She didn't think she would get any. God didn't like her that much. Or so she thought. Like an omen, she saw something out of the corner of her eye. It was a bright white light that flashed atop a nearby construction site.
"That's a Blue Eyes." Anna said to herself as she stood there in awe. She couldn't see it, but she could feel it. The wind caught her feet again as she sped to the suspect location.
The building and it's complex was still being built. There was construction equipment, supplies, and half-assembled rooms to fight with. It took her some time to find away around the mess. A group of makeshift stairs led up and she cautiously climbed them. When she reached the top she was confronted with her worst fear. Yugi and Seto were engaged in battle and on their respective fields stood the Dark Magician and a Blue Eyes White Dragon.
"No! You can't do this!" Anna shouted as she approached the edge of the playing field.
"Anna! What are you doing here?" Yugi was surprised to see her, but he was glad too. He wanted her there for many reasons. One was to get the truth behind Kaiba's lies, but mostly he wanted her there to see him defeat Kaiba.
On the other side of the field, the opposite was true. Seto took a quick look at Anna then immediately fixed his gaze on the field and his rival. He didn't want to see her. Just that momentary glance made his heart sink into his stomach. He was afraid that if she got too close he might break down again. He couldn't afford that. He had a mission to accomplish. He was doing this for her.
"You have to stop this at once! We can't let history repeat itself."
"What are you talking about?" Yugi inquired.
"I got the translation from the tomb. We were right, it was Anck-su-namun's."
The name of the woman from his dreams made Seto pay attention. He listened intently, but made sure to keep his eyes away from her as she spoke.
"The carvings on the wall tell the story of her life. Her birth, how she lost her parents, her marriage to Pharaoh. Everything. It's all there. Including this scene. The same scene from the stone wall in the museum. The queen was accused of a crime and she was sentenced to death. The High Priest defended her and challenged Pharaoh to a duel in order to save her life. But the result was destruction. The battle got out of hand and people died. Don't you see? It's all the same. The three of us, we're caught up in some insane loop that keeps repeating itself. That's why you have to stop this duel. If you don't then people are going to get hurt."
Yugi shook his head. "This isn't Ancient Egypt and these monsters aren't real. Perhaps they were once, but now they are just holographic images. They can't hurt anyone."
"Then look for yourself." Anna presented her hand, which held the documents. The passage was too narrow for her to walk around to him so she took a step onto the playing field. When she did the Dark Magician flew over and took a swing at her with his staff. Jumping back she avoided the blow but landed flat on her butt. The Dark Magician glared down at her and she squinted her eyes and sneered back at him.
"Mahade. It would be you." Anna spoke in a voice alien to her.
She blinked a couple of times and shook her head. When the Dark Magician returned to it's original position it was greeted by a growl and hiss from the Blue Eyes. It was warning him not to try that again.
Anna rubbed her sore butt as she stood. "Do you believe now, Yugi? Do you need more proof?"
Anna carefully walked the line between the playing field and the edge of the building until she was firmly in Seto's space. She stretched her arm out, breaking the barrier of the arena. Her fingers wiggled and they were quickly met by the muzzle of the Blue Eyes White Dragon.
"Hey there, you remember me?" Anna said softly to her old friend.
Just as Seto once did, Yugi stood in awe of the sight. Anna was able to interact and even touch the holograms. Yugi didn't think it was possible, but there he was witnessing the event.
The Blue Eyes nudged her hand in the direction of its master. Forcing Anna to finally seek him out. And once she locked eyes on him, nothing else mattered. Neither Yugi nor the past would interfere.
"Seto?"
The sound of her saying his name felt like a knife cutting through him. She had hurt him yet after all that happened, he still wanted her.
"I was wrong." Anna said stepping closer, but he still would not look at her. "I was wrong not to tell you sooner. I was so afraid of losing you." Realizing that he was refusing to look at her made tears well in her eyes. He must hate her. "But I've done you a greater injustice. I left you when you needed me. When I walked out of that room I was only thinking about myself. I left because I didn't want to feel the pain. I didn't realize what it would do to you. I just had to get away." Anna took a deep breath as she fought off tears. "But now I know that it was the pain that made me strong. It was you who made me strong. And no matter how much it hurts, I want you back. I don't want to leave anymore. I want to stay. I want to stay with you."
Seto closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had longed to hear those words.
"But first you have to stop this..."
"Don't ask me to do that." Seto cut her off in mid-sentence. "I'm doing this for you. You need to be free to live your life." He continued to stare at the floor as he spoke. "If I don't then you will forever be under his shadow. I will not allow that."
"For the past four days I've been absolutely miserable. All I wanted to do was hear your voice or see your face, and it killed me to know that I would never be able to do that again. Please don't make me do that again."
"I have to do this. When I win you'll be free and you'll be able to keep your inheritance. I know how important it is to you."
"I don't care about that anymore. My Uncle can keep it. He can have the whole damn thing. You're what's important. All those millions can't replace what I have with you. Even my father would understand that."
"I can't let you do that. Not when I can give it to you."
Anna squeezed as close as she could get to him without crossing the field. She wanted so much to be near him. "You told me once that I was the kind of person who would marry for love, even when love wasn't logical." She took in two deep sobby breaths. "Well, this is the stupidest, most damn illogical thing I've ever done in my life. I mean who gives away millions of dollars just for the chance to be with someone you love."
Seto spotted his briefcase out of the corner of his eye. He knew exactly what kind of person would throw away a fortune for a second chance.
"I love you, Seto."
Courage finally came to him and he peered over at her. He was immediately caught by her tear stained eyes. He hated to see her cry, but when she did it made her eyes even more brilliant. He couldn't stop himself; his feet found motion as he went to her.
But he didn't get far.
"Step out of the field and you forfeit!" Shouted Yugi. He was enraged and had every right to be. He had just stood there and watched as his fiancee pledged her love to another man. He didn't care what was right anymore; he was going to make them both suffer.
The sound of Yugi placing cards in his duel disc made Kaiba return to his mark and prepare to defend himself.
"I play 'Black Pendant' and attach it to 'The Dark Magician'. That brings his attack power to 3000 points. Dark Magician, attack his Blue Eyes White Dragon!"
"No!" Anna screamed, but was drowned out by the sound of both monsters as they fired their weapons.
The explosion that followed was massive. Surmounted only by the effects of an atomic bomb. Seto tried shielding himself from the blinding light, but that was the least of his worries. The force of the blast sent him flying backwards through the air. He didn't remember how or where he landed, but he did recall the pain of the impact. Seto didn't know how long he had laid there before he regained consciousness, a few seconds, maybe minutes. All he knew was that he hurt. His chest ached and blood was seeping from his nose and mouth. He was barely able to push himself off the floor, and it took him another moment before he could stand. Disorientated he searched his surrounds in order to get his bearings. The first thing he came upon was Yugi. He was on the far side of the building. He must have been thrown backwards also. Yugi lay there motionless. Seto thought he was dead until he saw his body shift slightly. 'Damn, he's still alive.' He might have gone to check his condition if Seto didn't have a bigger priority. Scanning the area he couldn't see Anna. That's when the panic set in.
He stumbled a little as he tried to walk, but quickly got his footing. He started his search with the last place he saw her.
"Anna!" He called out to her, but didn't get an answer.
He made small circles in that spot as he frantically looked. She had to be there. His panicky mode changed to that of pure terror as he realized the only place she could be. He held his breath as he peered over the side of he building. His heart stopped when he saw her, lying on the floor, two stories below.
"Anna!" He screamed as he bolted for the makeshift staircase. He ran as fast as he could. His mind was solely on her, but somehow he managed the common sense to call for help on his phone. He didn't wait for the operator to get specific details. He threw the phone of the ground as he fell to the floor beside her. She was awake, but barely. And with difficulty she could move. Not much movement, but enough. Seto scooped her up in his arms and cradled her.
Yugi had recovered enough to witness Kaiba as he made for the stairs. But as soon as he lifted his body from the floor he was greeted by a sharp pain. He placed his hand on the back of his head. It was warm and wet. Bringing his hand around to look at it he noted the blood. He gave a half glance at the wall behind him. The matching blood splatter on its facade indicated where he had impacted with it. With one mystery solved he moved on to the next. Where was Kaiba going? Kaiba was not the kind to run away, something was wrong. Yugi trudged his bruised and beaten body to the spot where Kaiba had stood. Hearing the commotion below he looked over the edge and saw the results of his actions.
"Oh god! What have I done?"
"Just take it easy. Don't struggle." Seto advised Anna as she slightly squirmed in his arms. "I've called for help; they'll be here any minute."
He tried to portray a cool demeanor as he stroked her hair, but inside he was terrified. It was obvious she was having trouble breathing, and who knows what she would have broken in the fall.
Yugi had joined them now, but neither of them noticed. They were fixed on each other.
Anna's shaky hand slid across her chest and reached into her jacket pocket. When she removed her hand it held a card, a 'Blue Eyes White Dragon'. She presented it to him.
He grabbed her hand to steady it. "I gave that to you. It's yours."
"Keep...it...safe...for...me." Anna's breath was shallow as she tried to speak. And when she did speak her words were just louder than a whisper.
Seto looked in her eyes again. He knew what her gesture meant. He took the card from her, but he wasn't willing to give up. "You have to hold on." The sound of ambulance sirens in the distance gave him some encouragement. "See, they're coming. They're almost here. Just hold on."
Anna could see he was struggling with his emotions. He wanted to tell her so much, but he was unaccustomed to such words. She knew that, and she knew what he wanted to say. And above all she wanted to live so one day she would hear him say those things to her. But sometimes fate has it's own devices.
Anna wheezed and convulsed as she tried gasping for breath. It was becoming impossible for her to breathe. She could feel her chest collapsing in on itself. It only lasted a moment, but it was enough to scare them both.
"Just hold on." Seto whispered. His bottom eyelid was pooling with water. At any moment the gates would open and no matter how hard he tried, tears would once again find his checks. Something they had not done since his parents died. Something he swore would never happen again.
Yugi felt like a voyeur as he watched them. He had no right to be there. Now he couldn't blame Kaiba for his comments earlier in the evening. A man in love would say or do anything to keep the woman he needed. And that's what Kaiba was, a man in love. Yugi thought he knew love, he thought that was what he and Anna had. But it wasn't true. If he had loved Anna half as much as Kaiba, he might have been able to keep her. Or at least justify his actions. As it was now, he saw himself as an evil tyrant who didn't deserve her.
In times of despair you sometimes get the hope you need from unexpected places. This was so for Pharaoh.
The shadowy figure of little Yugi appeared next to Pharaoh. Pharaoh could not look at him; he was still ashamed of his previous acts.
"You know what we have to do?" Yugi said to Pharaoh.
Pharaoh nodded.
"It's the right thing to do." Yugi knew how difficult this was for him.
Pharaoh stared off into space as he spoke. "I can't do it. I'm not strong enough."
Yugi placed his hand on Pharaoh's shoulder. "I am."
Pharaoh looked over at Yugi. His big purple eyes reassuring him. Pharaoh nodded and with a flash of light the pair switched places. Little Yugi could hear the sirens as they got closer. He knew it was time. He just wanted to watch for just a moment. He wanted to know what it was like to be loved so much that you would die for someone. He needed to know. Just in case...perhaps one day...he might find such a quality in himself.
Seto held her tight as she once again gasped for breath. His pain meant nothing. If he could he would take on hers as well. But he couldn't. So he found torture in watching her suffer. He was losing her.
"Don't leave me. Please don't leave me again." His voice full of fear.
Anna found enough strength to run her fingers along his face. He thought she would stop to caress his check or perhaps wait to catch a tear, but she didn't. Her hand slid across his temple and into his hair. It came to rest at the start of his hairline. And as she gently pressed down, he realized what she was trying to do. She was reminding him of the scar. The scar she said was hers. She was telling him that she would always be with him for the rest of his life.
And in an instant it happened. A small drop of water leading a trail along the curves of his face. Such a thing had been a stranger to him for many years. Only now could he find a reason to cry.
Yugi turned his head from the scene. It was a private moment, he shouldn't have intervened. But maybe he could make it all better. Maybe he could account for past sins. All with a simple gesture. Yugi took his right hand and slowly positioned it over the duel disc. And in a graceful act placed his hand on his deck, conceding the match.