YUGIOH

Eternal Darkness

Chapter 10.

Kaiba turned and with a sneer brought his hand up to launch Yami, as he did Tristan and Joey. But Yami's Puzzle flared to life, and Kaiba was caught feeling an odd hesitation, preventing him from doing so.

Kaiba then vanished, instantly appearing behind Yami, as he grabbed him, yanking him back. But again, an aura of power shot forth, propelling Kaiba back away from Yami. He turned to Kaiba, saying, "Stop this....I don't want to fight you."

"If you don't Yugi, you're soon going to die. I just hope for your sake, pushing me back isn't the only thing your little puzzle can do to me. Because if not, you don't have a prayer...."

"A prayer...." Yami muttered. "Listen to me Kaiba, Ishizu said due to your past, you have the power to shake this hold Cavnar has over you....if you atleast try."

"I don't want to hear any of you or that Ishtar woman's crazy senseless ramblings. Fight me, already!" Kaiba said, appearing next to him in an instant and smacking him hard, causing Yami to be slammed backwards before he had the chance to protect himself.

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As that went on, Cavnar approached Joey with an evil sneer on his face. His eyes glowed red, as he whispered into Joey's mind, "You don't have a chance to resist me, human. Give in, and accept me...."

"I....I...." Joey said, staring into Cavnar's eyes, finding himself unable to resist. He nodded blankly, as he carelessly dropped the spike from his hands.

Tristan yelled loudly as he charged at Cavnar with a wooden stake. But not even looking at Tristan, he waved and Tristan was launched again across the room.

Cavnar was practically on top of Joey now, who bent his neck for him to take him. Tristan got up to see Joey was about to be bitten again, and grabbed his wooden stake. Knowing he didn't have a chance to charge again, or would only be pushed back, he took the chance to throw the steak as hard as he could. The thing whacked Cavnar right in the back of the head, causing the vampire to hesitate.

It did the trick. Cavnar turned and growled angrily at Tristan, looking like he was about to target him, instead. But Joey's voice brought Cavnar's attention back to him, as he said, "S-stay away from me....I mean it!"

Cavnar turned to see Joey had pulled out that cross, pointing it at the vampire. Tristan shook his head, thinking, 'Is he nuts???', as he picked up another stake, knowing he'd have to try and charge again, and hoping not to die from his next move.

Cavnar looked at the item and laughed out loud. "Stupid human....don't you know anything?? This trinket is nothing to me....it's worthless!" He brought his hand out, grabbing the item, as he smirked at Joey, about to lunge at him.

To Cavnar's surprise, he noticed his hand was smoking, and he hissed in pain, dropping the cross. Cavnar's hiss of pain seemed to cause everyone to stop and look at him, even Kaiba and Yami, as Cavnar looked at the thing in shock, then at the cross-shaped burn mark on his hand, trying to figure out how it was possible that the item actually hurt him.

Yugi cried to Yami, 'That's the same cross that Kaiba touched earlier!'

'But that doesn't make sense.' Yami told him. 'If that was the same cross, then why didn't it effect Kaiba?'

'Maybe he's the reason it hurt Cavnar!' Yugi exclaimed. 'Yami, because of Kaiba's past life, that would probably make him a true priest! Maybe he had unknowingly blessed it!'

'Maybe....' Yami said, but that confused Yami. According to Ishizu, the other true priest who was changed couldn't create blessed items, only evil ones due to his transformation. But if that were true, and Kaiba had actually blessed the item, then that would mean....

Yami looked over at Kaiba in confusion, but the undead CEO paid no heed as he stared at Cavnar, not understanding himself what had happened.

Also, while Cavnar was distracted with the item, Joey had pulled out his squirt bottle filled with holy water, and took this opportunity to squirt it in Cavnar's face, saying, "Take that, you freako vampire!!"

Water dripped down Cavnar's face and onto his clothes. Cavnar turned his attention back to Joey and glared, unamused as Joey continuously and ineffectively squirted him. The vampire then let out an angry unearthly cry at Joey, and he was once again launched across the room, holy symbol presently left behind on the floor.

With Kaiba distracted, Yami shouted, "Cavnar....this ends now!" A third eye formed on Yami's head, as he proclaimed, "I banish you to the shadow realm!"

Cavnar sensed the powerful magic, and instantly had the Shadow blade summoned to his hand, causing the two powers to collide. The power of the dark blade seemed to effectively protect Cavnar's banishment, though the force of Yami's power still succeeding in launching him backwards, straight into a wall which blasted him into a cloud of dust, dissipating in an instant later....the sword vanishing with him.

Tristan ran over to Joey, to make sure he was okay. Kaiba looked towards Yami and grabbed him, now hurling him against a nearby wall, knocking the wind out of him and temporarily stunning him. The Eye on his forehead faded from him, and Yugi quickly took over so that Yami could take a moment to recover.

But Cavnar returned quickly enough, tossing Tristan once again, this time right next to Yugi. He then picked Joey up, holding the black sword against Joey's throat. "Game's over, mortals....it's time to die. Try one little thing lightning hair, and I kill your friend."

"Joey!!" Yugi cried.

Joey struggled, choking out, "Freak'n vampires keep coming back, just like the damn card...." But Cavnar's vice-like grip left Joey completely helpless....his squirming was futile.

Cavnar approached, holding Joey by the throat, as the blade was aimed near his neck. He then took his sword and aimed it down at Yugi's throat, sneering wickedly.

"Cavnar....allow me." Kaiba said.

Cavnar looked over at his pet, as Kaiba picked up one of the wood stakes. He sneered, saying, "What's more fitting than to kill these mortals with their own pathetic object. Then we can drink the blood from him, as he slowly dies."

Cavnar chuckled, amused. "I like your idea, pet. Please....by all means."

Joey weakly shook his head, choking, "Get him, Yugi...."

Tristan wanted to move to do something, but he too was afraid that Cavnar would kill Joey if he did. Plus, the strange dark blade was right against Yugi's throat. He could take them both out in one blink.

Kaiba approached with the stake, sneering down at Yugi as he got in position to kill his greatest rival. "Game's over, Yugi....I win." He said.

Both Joey, and Tristan were frozen in fear and dread that one of their closest friends were about to die, and from Kaiba....and they were helpless to do anything about it. Yami was equally concerned, as Yugi looked up at Kaiba, refusing to show fear from someone he still thought of as a friend. 'You wouldn't do it, Kaiba....would you? Please, Kaiba....be strong enough to fight this!'

In the most swiftest movement possible, Kaiba launched the stake into his target. Everyone froze in surprise as Kaiba sunk the stake deep into his chest....into his heart.

Cavnar looked in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened....his slave had stabbed 'him', instead. His head turned and looked at Kaiba, who smiled coldly at him. "A present for you....'master'", he spat back in despise. Kaiba released his hand from around the stake, as the vampire fell over after dropping the sword.

Yugi scurried away, as the vampire collapsed. Yugi then looked up at Kaiba, relief forming on his face, as Kaiba turned his attention back to him.

Mokuba ran into the room, saying, "Big brother! I knew you could do it, I just knew it!"

"So, Mokuba was right, after all." Yugi said. "I'm sorry I doubted you."

Kaiba glared coldly down at Yugi, saying, "The threat's not over, yet."

"What do you mean?" Yugi asked.

Kaiba pushed Mokuba away, his focus entirely on Yugi. "Have you forgotten? You still have one more to defeat....the strongest of them all."

Yugi turned pale, as Mokuba stood there, frozen. Kaiba bent down and picked up the Shadow blade, with no trouble whatsoever to touch it as he claimed it for himself. "Did you think I was playing with you, Yugi? I suppose part of it was an act....no one owns me. I will not be controlled. But I warned you last night....this time I was going to defeat you. And this game will not end until one of us falls!"

"Seto, no!" Mokuba cried out.

But Mokuba's cry was ignored as Kaiba continued. "I have to hand it to you....your distraction had done me a favor. I knew I only had one shot, and you fools made sure it was a perfect one. Now with Cavnar out of the way, I am free! And in this form, I am unstoppable!" Kaiba cackled in mad laughter down at Yugi, as everyone seemed unsure what to do.

"....nice plan. Too bad, it didn't work."

Kaiba stopped laughing. Everyone turned in shock to see Cavnar begin to rise, the stake still sticking out of him. And as they watched, his hand grabbed the stake, and pulled it from his chest.

"It's not possible...." Kaiba hissed in fear, his mask temporarily shattered. "I hit you perfectly!" Then a sudden realization hit him, as he muttered, "It was a lie....what you said about the wooden stakes harming us. You only said that to throw me off....to test me."

"No, that's not possible." Yami said, now that he had emerged back out again. Ishizu had told him the same, so it had to have worked!

Cavnar tossed the item away, saying, "Oh, no....I was completely honest about it. If I thought for a second that you would have dared try to betray me, I may have considered lying. But I should have known with your strong will, there would have been a greater resistance. You will pay, my pet....I'll make sure you suffer greatly for your treachery."

Cavnar then gave a cocky smirk, saying, "Like a fool, your mistake Seto was counting on these pathetic humans. The wooden stakes they purchased seemed to be made out of fake wood....wrong material."

"What??!" Kaiba snarled, glaring at Joey dangerously.

Joey swallowed, saying, "Uh....they were on sale??"

Cavnar laughed like a maniac, as he lifted his hand....compelling the black sword to return to him, causing it to be wrenched from Kaiba's grip without effort. He then pointed it at Yami, and with his free hand....he grabbed Kaiba by the throat.

But Cavnar's hand wasn't the only thing affecting Kaiba. There was a painful sensation shooting through his mind from Cavnar, who was now using his influence fully on him. His mind couldn't think....he could barely react. All Kaiba was able to achieve was to hiss and claw at the offending hand, as the undead part of him was temporarily taking him over.

"Don't worry, pet....I wont kill you. I will slowly break you, until you are mine." Cavnar stated.

"Oh, no you don't....I wont let you!" Mokuba said, running to a control switch. Everyone turned, looking to see what Mokuba was doing. Only Kaiba and Yami seemed to register what Mokuba was about to do.

Mokuba's voice pulled Kaiba from the darkness for a moment, to witness his little brother running towards the switch. As Mokuba ran, there was an odd peaceful look that formed in Kaiba's eyes, as he closed them, seeming to be ready to accept his fate. But Yami didn't agree to that plan, as he looked wide eyed at Mokuba's full run. He glanced over at Kaiba, and then with the full force of the Millennium Puzzle, blasted Kaiba so hard, he went flying out of the room.

Cavnar had noticed Mokuba's run, Yami's wide-eyed appearance, and the sudden surge of power he used to push Kaiba from his grip....not quite sure what was going on. Then a blinding flash of light struck, preventing anyone from seeing for a moment.

Finally after keeping it on a full minute, Mokuba turned the light back off, asking, "Did I get him?" Then after a heartbeat later, he realized he didn't see his brother, either....and it clicked. "SETO!!!"

"I'm fine." Kaiba said, moving back into the room, clutching his left hand that seemed badly singed....since even despite Yami's power blast, a small part of him was still hit by it.

"Seto, you're okay! I'm so sorry!" Mokuba cried, grabbing onto Kaiba in a hug.

The hunger had past. The shock of everything that had happened seemed to temporarily snap Kaiba out of it. Even the strong scent that Yami seemed to omit he was able to push aside. He looked down at Mokuba, and realized that their bond had not yet been broken, after all....it was still there, merely clouded before by the strong darkness and hunger that was consuming him. But now, all that was left was the growing pain of guilt. He failed his brother....again. Just as in the past, his struggle to save Mokuba had in the end only put his brother in danger from his own self. Why didn't Yami let him just die, so at the very least Mokuba's safety could be assured?

Kaiba looked down at his brother, and for the first time since Kaiba had become a vampire, he showed emotion as he hugged his brother back, his eyes showing a lighter shade of violet once again. "Don't worry about it. You did good, kiddo."

But then immediately after, Kaiba turned his attention to Yami, as he glared furiously at him. "Why did you do it?"

"Do what?" Yami asked, non-challant.

"Why did you push me out of the room? You know what I am!" Kaiba snapped.

Yami smiled. "I know....that's why I did it. It doesn't matter what you became....you're still Kaiba, and nothing can change that."

"You're an idiot, you know that? Thanks to you, there's still a vampire running loose in Domino. What makes you think anyone's safe, as long as I'm still alive?" Kaiba asked.

Mokuba looked in horror as Kaiba stated that, realizing only now what he knew he should have suspected from the beginning. His brother purposely planned on letting himself be taken down with it, along with Cavnar. And thankfully, Yami had once again offered him life, instead. (1)

"Despite what you might think Kaiba, I still believe you have the strength to fight this!" Yami argued with him. "You just have to find it within yourself....just as you're resisting it, now. You have battled your way through every other problem in the past....you can fight your way through this."

"Is there something in this battle you happen to miss a moment ago??" Kaiba spat down at him. "Incase you might have forgotten, I was about to kill you!!"

Yami replied, "Ishizu had told me that the blood of a true priest may have the strength to fight this, Kaiba. And since you were High Priest in your past life, that would mean you have the...."

"....do you have any idea just how ridiculous that sounds??" Kaiba snapped. "As if I would believe in any of that woman's superstitious bullshit!!"

"Uh, hello....did you forget that you're a vampire??" Joey blurted in. He just couldn't help but to rub that into Kaiba's face. "I don't know about you, but if vampires exist, I'd say I can just about believe anything...."

Kaiba ignored Joey's comment, still stewing as he glared down at Yami, heatedly. He was so disgusted at Yami from what he did, and on so many levels....he wasn't sure which he should be more angry about. The fact was, Kaiba was a vampire....and just as Mokuba had realized now, Kaiba originally planned to die. Of course, it was something he was trying to hide from his brother....not wanting to upset him with this information.

But he had already lost control once, and feared it would happen again, becoming a danger to everyone....even to Mokuba. He had hunted with Cavnar and killed a human for food, and Kaiba believed if he wasn't destroyed, he'd do it again. Then lastly and the worst of all crimes Yami committed, was the insult that once again Yami saved him! Now Kaiba had to chalk-up yet another point to Yami for saving his....well, existence. Why Yami? Why always Yami??

He would have continued to stew, and probably even start to throw another fit about it, if it wasn't for the sound of something smashing that caught his and the other's attention. Again, everyone was shocked to see Cavnar alive and well. He was next to the light assembly that he had just smashed into a million pieces with his bare hand.

Cavnar smiled evilly, saying, "I'm afraid we're done playing, now. It's time for all you fools to die!"

Narr: I would like to thank Madison for helping to give me a couple ideas for part of this chapter.

(1) This part is a reference to many parts in the show. First was Death-T, when Yami promised Kaiba death, but instead he shattered his heart, giving him another chance at life. Then was the end of the Pegasus season, when Kaiba was trapped in a card and Yami's demand to Pegasus was also to free both him and Mokuba. Another time was when they fought together against Lumis and.....well, the other guy. (Ombra?) Kaiba was about to die from their attack, and Yami cast a Kuriboh wall to save Kaiba. I'm sure the list goes on from there.

Well, hopefully this chapter will give the readers almost everything that they wanted. Speaking of which, you should be happy to know that the next chapter is what everyone has been waiting for.....Kaiba transforms! Yep, so everyone better watch out, and whatever you do....don't get in his way! ;)

Also, the next chapter is the final battle. The only part after 11 is the epilogue. I hope you've all enjoyed it, but it looks like it'll soon be coming to a close.

There were parts near the end that I'm hoping I worked out smoothly, but I'm not sure. Even after I did this chapter, I've made so many modifications to it that I probably doubled the size of it. But every time I change something, I have to change everything around it, to make it fit well. So, hopefully it worked out.

cantdueldontaskme: I agree....I think Duelist Kingdom in manga form made a lot more sense too, then the editted. Well, Kaiba's the type of person that when he gets something stuck in his mind, it's hard to change it. Mokuba had a strong part in this chapter too, so hopefully you liked that, as well.

Jasmine Reinier: Well, yeah.....this is a partial angst story, afterall. (Left you speechless, huh? heh...) I'm glad you liked it. Sorry for more suspense, but when you're near the end of a story, ya gotta kind of expect it. ;)

rubisora18117: Glad to see you back.....you missed a lot. Don't worry, you'll be seeing that next chapter. Yeah......the 'animal' form. Naww.....the Red Eyes part meant nothing at all. Honest. Trust me. Would I lie?

Doma Yuset (): I see. Well, I originally decided to learn the game so I could teach my young kids. And then.....I got interested in it. Now I got to try and keep myself from hoarding all the good cards from them. Anyway......regarding Kaiba. You have to understand that first.....this is an angst story. You're going to see a dark side. Infact, I tend to like playing a darker Kaiba. Hopefully this chapter helped you to see a more sane Kaiba again. As for why he acted the way he did.......well, I thought the story was rather self-explanatory. I think the main explainations as to why Kaiba was doing what he did was described with his own thoughts in Chapter 5, then later with Ishizu's conversation in Chapter 8. But if you're still confused, feel free to email me and I'll be more than happy to explain it to you in private. But you need to understand, I don't plan on publicizing spoilers on my own story. It kinda ruins the purpose of reading it.

Nenya85: Yes, Kaiba has already lost himself once in Death-T. So one could imagine what this is doing to him, now that Cavnar is screwing with his brain. Well, as you know Kaiba is not a real conversationalist, so Mokuba sometimes has to look beyond the words. And if anyone can understand Kaiba's moods, it's Mokuba. So 'this' is where you asked me about the Vampire Lord....I knew it was somewhere. Yeah, Vampire Lord was indeed one of Kaiba's cards. I also find this a very 'very' good card in Duel Monsters. Though it can be destroyed in battle, any cards effects that take it out will only result in it coming back next turn. And if it does battle damage you can call a type of card (trap, magic, monster) and have your opponent discard one of those cards if it in the person's hand. Quite dangerous. But his possession of the card is merely coincidental, and not the reason I chose him to be one. I simply wanted to make Kaiba a vampire, that's all. ;)

xXXkIkOkEnxXx: Of course Kaiba knows what he's doing.....he's always in control. Well, maybe.....he can atleast fake it well. Well, that's good....I'm looking forward to hearing your own update.

shiku (but not shiku): Hi Doma. You really shouldn't say such things about your brother, especially on his own account. There's always the possibility that he might find out. Besides, you're a Kaiba fan. What would Kaiba think if he knew you were being mean to your little brother (heh....).