Reviews and critiques are welcome as to my writing skill. Pot shots at Christianity or any religion are not welcome at all. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any copyrights, trademarks or registry in Yu-Gi-Oh. Wish I did!
11
/Well, our get together won't be outside that much is certain./ Kirii sighed. The whole week had been hot, humid, and sunny, but today had started out blustery, the sky full of low, dark clouds and thunder rumbling.
Tony and Kirii had opened the two double doors that provided access to the other's side of the duplex, connected the stereo speakers so the music played through the whole house and blocked off access to the second floor.
Kirii hung up the phone and turned to Tony, "Well, that was the hospital, the children from the ward will not be coming because of the bad weather. The kids from your group have already cancelled. So that just leaves the Kaiba brothers, Yugi's gang and us."
"And we are not even sure if Yugi and his friends are going to show up," said Tony.
"Well, Seto is having them picked up, and we haven't heard if they contacted him about canceling."
"Okay, let's go ahead and close up my side of the house, we won't be needing that much room now." They disconnected the stereo speakers and relocked the double doors.
There was a knock at the door, then, not waiting for someone to open the door, Seto struggled inside trailing Mokuba behind him. "Come right in there, Seto." Kirii said laughing.
"Didn't think you would have wanted us to blow away." he retorted. "Yugi and Téa will be here in a few minutes. Joey and Tristan had other plans already. And I take it that everyone else cancelled because of the weather."
Through the window, Mokuba caught a flash of movement and opened the door. Yugi and Téa stumbled in. "Thanks!" they said.
"Make yourselves at home. You are among friends." Kirii did a silly little curtsey. Yugi looked confused, but Téa laughed (she had experienced Kirii's sense of humor during Yugi and Kaiba's duel). "We were expecting about 12 more people and to have this outside, so all of our plans are skewed."
The rain started slamming against the house and the wind was howling making a deafening racket.
The food was dug into and the drinks poured. Téa and Kirii were already deep in conversation in the corner of the room. Mokuba was being shown Tony's guitar and practicing a few chords.
Picking up his drink and a bowl of snacks, Kaiba looked at Yugi and tilted his head toward the kitchen. There they sat at the counter on bar stools facing each other.
"Glad to see you didn't bring your Puzzle."
"What is your problem with the Puzzle?"
"I thought I made that clear at the duel."
Yugi shook his head, "No, we are not dueling now, but you still don't want the Puzzle around. Again, what is your problem?"
"I like to know who I am dealing with. I know you. You are good-hearted, friendly and compassionate. When you wear that Puzzle, you can change, at a moment's notice, into someone else—someone older, hardened, jaded and powerful. That person concerns me."
"Why?"
"Because the first time that person and I met he was powerful enough to affect my mind and, the second time, he was willing to let me die to win a duel. I was so wrapped up in myself and my own problems at Duelist Kingdom that I didn't realize what had happened. But now I understand. Thank you for stopping him."
/Can I trust Kaiba/
/yes …/
Yugi looked up at the ceiling and sighed, "Yami is starting to concern me too. He was so angry after I lost to you. It scares me – so much so that I haven't worn the Puzzle since our duel."
"Is he a spirit connected to the Puzzle?" Yugi nodded. "Tell me about him."
So Yugi did. As he did so, he noticed that Kaiba was truly listening to him, never looked at him like he was crazy and actually nodded a few times. /Kaiba sure has changed. He used to deny such things existed. I wonder what happened./
When Yugi had finished, Kabia said, "A lot of what you said goes along with what I was thinking. My problem is I don't think he is the spirit of the Pharaoh. He might have existed at the same time as this Pharaoh, maybe even possessed him, like he does you; but I don't think it is really him. I think he is a demon - evil."
Yugi was shocked. "No! Yami isn't evil. Through me he has done all these good things, he CAN'T be evil. The spirit of Bakura's Millennium Ring, now there is an EVIL spirit."
"I would say they both are, but whether one is more so than the other is not the point. What were your feelings about him when you first became aware of him?" Kaiba asked.
"The first time I actually realized that someone else was there was the duel where he was ready to let you die to win. That scared me – bad. I didn't like you, but I didn't want you dead. After that I realized that every time I had dueled, he was the one actually dueling. I fought against him during my duel with Mai Valentine and was losing against her until he made a deal with me and I let him take over again."
"Has he ever taken over without your permission?"
"Not since our deal at Duelist Kingdom. But I believe he did several times before I was aware of him. I don't want him to take me over again. Something in the way Yami reacted to my loss has got me worried."
"If he starts thinking he can't control you subtly, he might try taking you over by force."
Yugi was disturbed at this thought. "I can't allow that, Kaiba. I'm not saying that he is, but if Yami is evil, has a body he can control and the power of the Puzzle to back him, there is no telling what he can do. He wants to get all the Millennium Items together, so no one else does."
Kaiba frowned, "What is so important about that?"
"It is supposed to give the holder of all seven ultimate power."
"Then I think the best thing you can do, is to get him out of your life. But you have to want to, be willing to do it, even destroy the Puzzle if you have to." Kaiba leaned back as the thought took hold. "Actually, that might be the best way."
Yugi was looking at Kaiba in horror. "Destroy the Puzzle! There is no way I would ever do that. Never!"
"Why not?" The look in Kaiba's eye told Yugi that he was dead serious. "If one or more of the Items were destroyed, no one would ever get all seven. You wouldn't have to worry about it anymore."
Now Yugi was looking at Kaiba like he was crazy.
/Back off. The idea has been planted, that is all that matters …/
Kaiba shrugged. "Just a thought."
They were silent for a few thoughtful minutes.
Then they both turned their heads when the sound of a flute and guitar started in the next room. Both found they welcomed the interruption.
"Shall we rejoin them?"
Yugi nodded distractedly and they walked back into the front room. Kirii was playing the flute and Tony was on his guitar. Kaiba folded his tall frame and sat on a cushion next to his brother and asked what was up.
"I convinced Kirii to sing the song David wanted for his funeral."
Kirii's eyes were bright with tears as she brought down the flute and lifted her smooth alto voice to sing When Its All Been Said And Done by Robin Mark (Revival in Belfast, Integrity Incorporated 1999). In between the verses, her flute was brought up and the haunting strains swirled around those listening.
Kirii lowered the flute after playing the ending, tears flowing freely now. "Thank you, Mokuba. I realize now that I would not have been able to get through it at his funeral. I barely made it this time."
"All that anger at his Mom was for nothing?" Mokuba asked with a sly smile.
"Anger, especially hatred, usually is. But it's something I struggle with all the time." She gave him an embarrassed smile. /Maybe I have more in common with these people than I thought/, thought Seto.
As the storm's rage died out into just a rain shower, the friends spent the rest of their time together speaking as friends would, of school, work, games, hopes, dreams and possible futures.