Chapter 10 - N.P.O.V.
"Go ahead Yugi. Attack me." Kaiba's Ultimate Blue-Eyes stood in a pile of acid. He was standing on the edge of the tower, arms thrown wide, accepting his death with the attack.
"Celtic Guardian attack!" the alter ego of Yugi was ready to attack, but his weaker side wouldn't let him.
"NOO!" Yugi fell to his knees, no longer the spirit of the puzzle. The Celtic Guardian stopped in mid-attack.
"You've left yourself wide open Yugi." Kaiba jumped from the ledge. "Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, attack Yugi's Celtic Guardian with Neutron Blast!" the Blue-Eyes let loose it's devastating attack and destroyed Yugi's Guardian and wiped out the rest of his life points. Yugi handed his starchips over and Kaiba was free to enter the castle.
"He's still alive. That's good." Kashadra tried not to show how relieved she was in her voice.
"Yes, but, do you believe his way was the best? Sha, answer me." Kashadra looked over at her father.
"Yes, I do, father. Now, let me go. I saw what you wanted me. I am no longer your captive."
"Very well. Crochett, untie her." He did as her father commanded. The bindings on Kashadra's arms were loosened and she stood.
"I believe I shall be seeing you soon, father." Kashadra strode out of the main dining hall. Pegasus shook his head.
"You are bargaining for more than you know Kashadra."
"Kaiba!" Kaiba turned around to find an out of breath Kashadra facing him. "I'm so glad I found you. What happened?"
"My brother's soul was taken by Pegasus. And then you up and disappear. Is there any reason to explain the last part Kashadra?"
"Yeah, some of Pegasus' guards took me captive." She held out her wrists. "See, I have rope burns from where they tied me up." Kaiba took one of her wrists and caressed it gently with his thumb. Kashadra stepped up close to him. "And I know what it's like to lose a loved one. Even if it is only temporary Seto." She took his hand and laid her cheek upon its palm.
"Don't make it sound like it's your fault Kashadra."
"I'm not. I just want you to know I'm here for you, through thick and thin," She caught his gaze with her emerald eyes. "I love you Seto. And hopefully, nothing will ever change that." She kissed his palm and he took her in his arms.
"You're trying to make me forget."
"Yes, I am. But only to forget the pain." She laid her head against his chest. "Pain should be remembered by no one." Her arms wrapped around his waist. "Not even by those who deserve it. I hate to see you like this Seto. You look so torn up."
"I . . . Kashadra. When you were taken, Pegasus said something to me. I didn't believe it, but the seeds of doubt were sown."
"What was it?" she pulled her head back. He looked down at her. 'He looks terrible. His brother is the most important thing in the world to him. I could never be that important, but I can hope with all my heart, and then maybe I can.'
"Are you really on my side Kashadra? Are you truly with me I this scheme? Because if not, it would be best you leave now."
"If I left, I would be turning my back on you. I'm not going to do that. I've not told Pegasus anything, Seto. Please, understand, I can't stand to see anyone I care about suffer. Pegasus will go down. I know it." She ran her hand along his jaw line. "Your brother may not be here to cheer you on, but he's with you nonetheless. His love for you is still alive. You can't kill that. And I'm right here with you. I may not be at all times, but…"
"Shh . . . Kashadra. I know. And I trust you. I just don't want to lose anyone else." Kaiba pulled her against his chest. "Don't make me lose you Kashadra. I care too much about you." He held to her tight. 'She gets to me like no one else can. It's dangerous trusting her as I do. And if what Pegasus said is true, then she's been lying to me the entire time. But why?' he loosened his grip just a bit. "Kashadra, tell me the truth, what is your last name?" she pulled back, no longer in the safety of his embrace. She was shaking her head.
"You just had to ask that, didn't you?" tears started leaking from her eyes. Kaiba felt as though a dagger had just been jammed through his heart. "You just . . ." she backed up against the wall. Her knees felt as though they were rubber. "You just couldn't leave it alone."
"Then . . . it is true . . . your last name is Crawford." No question about it, Kaiba felt betrayed, but he wasn't going to push her away. Not yet.
"Yes, it is. And I hated lying to you, but I thought that . . . if I didn't, you wouldn't believe me. I hate the man I call my father. I hate him. I have absolutely no blood relation to him. I was adopted when I was ten. I didn't know what kind of person he was. . ."
"I made the same mistake Kashadra." Kaiba placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know how you feel. And I believe you. I always will. We can take care of Pegasus. Together. Now. We'll rid both of our lives of him, for the last time. Kashadra, I honestly don't want to lose you. Promise, that whatever happens; that if I lose you won't grieve. Not until you're sure if I'm really gone or not."
"I can't. If you're taken away, I'll grieve. I won't be able to stop that." Kashadra knew he'd lose. He father's powers had strengthened immensely since she had last seen him. "You can't win Seto. Pegasus' powers have grown too much."
"Kashadra, you have to promise to believe in me and to promise me you will move on if I don't make it though this." Kaiba held her close; almost afraid she'd be taken away. 'I love her. That's all I'm afraid of, is that she'll be taken away. I've grown so accustomed to her being right there beside me. She's become my life. She's the only thing more important than my company besides my brother.' He held her tighter. "Promise me Kashadra."
"Fine. I'm not happy about it, but I promise. I will always believe in you Seto. And if the possibility of you never coming back, I will move on. But, you will be the one I will always truly love my entire life. You are my one true love. The only one the flame of my heart will burn for. You, and you alone Seto." Kashadra brought her lips up to meet his. And within that kiss, they said everything words could not.
"Kashadra, listen to me. Watch from aloft. Not close to me. I want you to know I love you Kashadra. Now go."
"I will. And I love you all the more Seto. May you triumph." They went their separate ways to reach the final duel between champion and creator.
'He knows, and he doesn't care. He still confuses me, but I'm beginning to understand him a little better. Crawford, how I loathe the name. Perhaps, it could be changed to something more suiting.' Kashadra came upon a landing over looking what looked like a bottomless pit with a bridge cascading across it. Another duelist stood on the other side of the overlook. Kashadra got a bad feeling about him. 'I just hope Pegasus doesn't harm Seto. I couldn't bear it. But, I truly want Seto to beat him.'
"Master Pegasus has arranged some entertainment for the finalists. The ending duels of the Duelist Kingdom tournament will be held on the morrow. Please enjoy."
'I hate the sound Crochett's voice.' Crochett walked through the doorway to her right, followed by Yugi and the rest of the others. Mai was with them. "Mai! I haven't seen you this entire time!"
"Same to you Sha." Kashadra slapped her palm to her forehead.
"They told you, huh?"
"Yeah, we did. Tha' a problem ta ya, Sha?" Kaiba walked through the door to the right of the bridge. "Kaiba? He's the one who's ta beat Pegasus?"
"Yeah, he is. That a problem to you Joey?" Kashadra just smirked. The other looked down at Kaiba. Pegasus walked through the other door, flanked by his bodyguards. Kashadra, for some strange reason, began to fell light-headed. Her thoughts became jumbled and slow.
'Seto's down there, and so is Pegasus, but why do I feel like this? I feel so very strange. Tired almost. If feels as if I'm in a haze. This is the same way I felt when Pegasus brought home his eye. It's so strange. It's as if a veil has been pulled over my eyes and ears. I can't see to hear them, but I know they're there.
'What's going on? It might have something to do with that strange boy, the one with the Millennium Ring. He has it around his neck. It's calling to me. Saying things. Things it shouldn't know.' And she was right. It was the Millennium Ring. And the evil spirit that lurked inside of it controlled the boy around whose neck it hung. He had his eye on her. And intended to have her, and her powers.
Kaiba and Pegasus had barely begun to duel when she swooned. Crochett bent down and picked her up. He left through the right doorway and took her to her chambers.
