Mokuba froze. He had been heading down an empty hallway, a short cut he often used when he didn't feel like standing in a crowded elevator. No one was working on this floor because of renovations. Most people would find it a bit frightening, but Mokuba liked the quiet was he walked. It seemed the builders had gone home already.
But now he was a bit scared. Something didn't feel right. He quickly glanced behind him. He didn't see anyone, nor heard them. There was no reason to feel threatened. And yet in his gut he knew he wasn't alone.
He quickened his pace as he rushed to the elevator. He'd prefer to be in a crowded one rather than here by himself at the moment.
As he rushed around the corner to where the elevator was he slightly cursed. The elevator was blocked off. His eyes darted to a door further down the corridor. He sighed with a bit of relief. The stairs. He raced towards them.
Something warmed against his chest. He came to a sudden halt and looked down at the source. His eyes widened.
He grabbed the key around his neck and slowly raised it to his face. As he did there was a slight humming in his ears.
"No way..." He uttered as he stared at it.
The obsidian set in the key was glowing faintly, sending black light across his hand. Mokuba tilted his head as he gaped at the key. How is this possible? He thought.
Then, without warning, a hand enclosed around his shoulder.
Kaiba typed steadily on his computer. Sudden his hands froze. Something wasn't right. He could feel it. As if on que the door to his office slammed open. One of his security guards was there.
"What is it?" Kaiba asked, getting up.
"We might have a situation." The guard told him.
Kaiba's eyes widened. "What?"
"There's a man on the roof." Kaiba was told.
"A jumper?" Kaiba asked, almost amused. "Let him."
The guard shook his head. "There's more to it. He has a weapon, and a hostage."
"What?" Kaiba asked. He turned back to his computer and typed, accessing the security camera on the roof. Indeed, there was a guy. He was tanned with black hair. Kaiba blinked. This kid was not much older than him, what the hell could he be up to?
Kaiba's eyes moved to the kid the guy was holding onto. His eyes widened.
"Mokuba." Kaiba uttered. He watched as his little brother tried to squirm out of the guy's grasp. The guy tightened his grip, his sturdy arm wrapping around Mokuba's neck and holding the kid to his chest.
One the screen the guy grabbed something from his pocket. A cell phone. He flipped it open and started dialing. Mokuba struggled and the guy jabbed him with something. Kaiba gulped. A gun.
Kaiba and the guard jumped as the phone on Kaiba's desk rang. Kaiba grabbed it and held it to his ear.
'Hello Seto Kaiba.' The voice on the other end had a Spanish accent. Kaiba almost growled.
"What do you want?" He asked, turning back to the screen. He watched as the guy talking on his cell phone smiled.
'Not a lot.' He said. Kaiba could see his lips moving from the camera. 'Just your fastest helicopter.'
"Should we contact the police?" The guard uttered. Kaiba gave a slight nod and the guard turned and left the room.
'Do you not think I could hear that?' The guy asked. 'The police will only draw on unnecessary violence.'
"Why should I care about your safety?" Kaiba asked.
'Not mine.' He told Kaiba. 'But I wouldn't want anything to happen to your dear brother.'
'Don't give him what he wants, Seto!' Kaiba heard Mokuba cry. On the screen Mokuba pulled at the guys arm, trying to get away.
'Quiet you.' The guy told him, giving Mokuba a hard shake.
"Leave him alone." Kaiba barked.
'Give me the helicopter and no harm will come to him.' The other voice advised.
"Fine." Kaiba uttered. He turned and pressed a button on his desk. Then he uttered something into the speaker. The guy on the roof smiled.
'You've made a wise choice.' He cooed.
The minutes felt like hours. Finally, Kaiba could see the wind pick up on the roof as the guy stepped back a bit, pulling Mokuba with him. A black copter appeared on the screen and touched down.
The guy waved his gun and appeared to yell something. The pilot of the helicopter got out and lay down on the ground with his hands over his head.
He's a demanding son of a bitch. Kaiba thought bitterly.
As he watched his eyes widened. The guy picked Mokuba up and threw him into the copter. He gave a slight bow to the camera, then got into the front.
"What are you doing?!" Kaiba yelled into the phone.
'I said I wouldn't hurt him.' The guy said, his voice almost unheard above the roar of the helicopter. 'I never said I'd release him.'
"Bastard, let him go!" Kaiba demanded.
'He has something I need.' Was the uttered response.
"What?" Kaiba asked. All that answered him was a steady beeping that told him the other guy had hung up.
Kaiba quickly hung up, then picked the receiver up again and dialed a different number. He glared at the screen as he watched the helicopter slowly rise into the air.
You can run, but you can't hide. Kaiba thought. I'll find you.
Torches flickered along the stone corridor. Their crackling and the sound of footsteps were the only things that echoed through the silence.
The source of the treading was a tall woman. She slowly made her way down the hall, her white dress lightly dragging on the ground.
A breeze rushed past her. She spun and gazed around behind her with wary blue eyes. She ran a nervous tan hand through her jet-black hair.
Content that nothing was lurking in the shadows behind her she turned to continue her journey down the hall. She cried out and jumped back a bit.
Without notice a man had appeared before her. Now he peered at her with hollow blue eyes. The woman gasped for a few breaths, then glared at the tanned man in the turban before her.
"You could have forewarned me, Shadi." She hissed.
"I don't believe in such things." Shadi told her. "But you did sense my presence. You are beginning to trust your instincts more, Ishizu."
"Yes." Ishizu said flatly. "I have learned I have to depend on myself rather than the Millennium Necklace."
"A wise decision." Shadi uttered. "Now, what have your instincts been telling you most recently?"
Ishizu brought her hand to her face and lightly bit her thumbnail. "Darkness is approaching."
Shadi nodded. "Indeed it is. The largest threat of all. The Shadow Gems." Shadi added when Ishizu gave him a quizzical look.
"No." Ishizu gasped, staring at him in disbelief. "They have resurfaced?" Shadi merely nodded. "But, they are in the safety of their Keepers. They can only bring upon darkness when together."
"One of the Keepers has lost his way." Shadi informed her. "The Keeper of the Mayans. He journeys to reunite the Gems."
"To do so he'll need to locate all the Keepers." Ishizu uttered, more to herself than to Shadi.
"He's already found one." Shadi stated. Ishizu turned back to him.
"Which Gem?" She asked.
"The Gem of Japan." He told her. "He located the Obsidian's Keeper early this morning."
"Then why have you appeared to me?" Ishizu asked. "If the Gem is in Japan, why not manifest there? The Pharaoh and his hikari are located at such."
"Because, the Pharaoh and his hikari do not know of this threat, nor the power behind it." Shadi explained. "The Pharaoh does, but he does not remember."
"So, what am I to do?" She asked, crossing her arms.
"Go to Japan." Shadi uttered.
Ishizu gave him a questioning glance. "Why? If the Mayan Keeper has already taken the Gem Keeper of Japan we should not be wasting time on returning there. We have to locate the others, to stop him."
"And you presume you can do this on your own?" Shadi asked. When Ishizu looked away he continued. "You will acquire assistance. Those in Japan are sure to help. Besides, things must be explained why the Japanese Keeper has been taken."
Shadi turned to go. Ishizu looked to him again. A thought occurred to her.
"Shadi," Ishizu began. Shadi stopped and turned to her. "You seem to know who the Japanese Keeper is."
"I do." Shadi told her. "As do you."
"I do?" She asked. Shadi nodded. "Then, who is it?"
Shadi looked her square in the eye. "Mokuba Kaiba." Ishizu's hand went to her mouth to help stifle a gasp. Shadi gave another nod. "That is why you must return to Japan." He turned and began to disappear down the corridor. "When you do go to Japan, you will find Mokuba left something of extreme help." With that he vanished into the shadows.
Ishizu stood, staring at where Shadi had been with disbelief.
This is horrible. Ishizu thought as she slowly began to move her feet. Not only is the Keeper of Japan kidnapped, but he is only a boy who probably doesn't understand what's happening... He must be returned. If he doesn't, who knows what will befall the earth...