:-: Technical Difficulties :-:

ThievesShadow

Yu-Gi-Oh is the intellectual property of Kazuki Takahashi, and is being used in this fan fiction for fan purposes only. All situations, opinions and characters not belonging to Kazuki Takahashi are the intellectual property of ThievesShadow Me. Oh, and I do not own the song "All the Things She Said" by t.A.T.u. … In this version she was changed to he and her to him for purposes of the Jou/Seto pairing that will make itself known later.

Note: II Anything between a pair of II is Yami and Yuugi talking to one another. II

Note2: Xx Anything between a pair of xX is Ryou and Bakura talking. xX

Note3: Anything italisized is the computer talking.

Let me tell you this,

I feel totally lost.

If im asking for help

its only because…

Being with you has opened my eyes,

could i ever believe such a perfect surprise.

I keep asking myself,

wondering how.

I keep losing my eyes,

but i cannot get out.

I'm going to fly to a place where its just you and me,

and nobody else

so we can be free.

All the things he said

all the things he said

runnin through my head

runnin through my head

runnin through my head

all the things he said

all the things he said

runnin through my head

runnin through my head

all the things he said

This is not in mind, THIS IS NOT IN MIND!

(all the things you said...)

And I'm all mixed up, feeling cornered and rushed.

They say it's my fault but I want him so much.

I wanna fly him away,

with the sun and the rain commin over my face

wash away all the shame.

And when they stop and stare,

dont worrying me.

Cuz im feelin for him what hes feelin for me.

I can try to pretend i can try to forget,

but it's driving me mad goin' out of my head!

All the things he said

all the things he said

runnin through my head

runnin through my head

runnin through my head

all the things he said

all the things he said

runnin through my head

runnin through my head

all the things he said

(this is not in mind...)

(all the things he said..)

Jonouchi gave up on the search for the cloth and just removed his own shirt; he crawled towards Kaiba only to be stopped dead in his tracks as the power failed. The tiny room going silent. The pained, forceful breathing of Kaiba slowly died down, leaving Jonouchi to wonder if the CEO had perished.

Sitting within the silence of the room was unbearable and something Jonouchi could no longer do. Questions raced through his mind at light speed. :-: Was Kaiba alright? Was he dead? What about the computer? What should I do ... :-: Bringing himself to stand under trembling legs, Jonouchi shuffled forward in the direction that Kaiba had laid. "Kai .. Kaiba? You there?" His voice rang out like a church bell in the quiet room.

Jonouchi came to a stop as the tip of his foot nudged something. Something soft, something warm. Pulling his foot away, the blond knelt down and extended a shaking arm, towards what should be Seto Kaiba.

As Jonouchi's arm continue to move through the air, which had seemed to take on a new, thicker, heavier form ... which was making it harder to push forward he heard the soft pitter-patter of many feet against the floor.

Holding his breath, his body tensed, his heart began racing until it stopped. Taking a quick glance to the left, and the right and once over the shoulder showed nothing was there. But how long would that last? Finally his hand hit the warm mound, the body ... Seto Kaiba.

"Kai-kaib-kaiba? Kaiba get up!" Jonouchi yelled, demanding that the CEO awaken and move at once. But there was no response. Again the blond sat in silence. :-: Maybe he's just to weak to react right away .. Maybe he didn't hear me. Unconscious:-:Shutting his eyes the blond bit his lower lip, and waited for any inkling that would let him know that Kaiba was alright. But nothing ... with each second he waited, his heartbeat got louder until it seemed as though someone had put a megaphone to his heart in order to amplify the sound. But ... there was no second heartbeat ... only one, only his. Jonouchi's.

"N-no ... Kaiba, you have to get up .. c-come on!" Jonouchi said, his tone dying out as he continued to speak. Reaching out his other arm he pulled the body into his lap, only to feel the dead weight of the CEO. Jonouchi could feel a tear fall from his eyes, and he turned away. His mind wandering off to think back on such occasions where Kaiba had ridiculed him, put him down, and poked fun at Jonouchi's dueling skills. The good times ... the good times? Right now, it didn't matter. "Damn it Kaiba ..." Jonouchi said under his breath, turning back to the weight in his arms.

The door behind Jonouchi creaked, shattering the silence like cheap glass. In an instant, Jonouchi spun, already stumbling to stand. Ready to take on that techo-whore if she dare touch Kaiba ... : ... but, she is Kaiba. Or, she was Kaiba ... unless she got out of him before ... before ... : His mind knew what had happened and there was no need to repeat it.

Within the shadows Jonouchi could make nothing out, but a silhouette of a figure. Neither Yuugi, nor Mokuba … as the height did not match up. "R-ryou?" Jonouchi hesitated, hoping that it was his friend and not any other foe that that bitch had cooked up for them.

"Yes Jonouchi. It's me." Ryou said, his tone calm as usual, though there was a bit of fear within the words as he spoke.

Bakura had relinquished control to his hikari, as raw anger would not be enough to destroy that two-timing bastard, Kaiba. He needed a plan, something that would show Kaiba whom was superior, i.e. himself. Kaiba had always made himself out to be tough and powerful, but he was just a pompous asshole ... and now it was time someone show him. Bakura continue to think within the mind of Ryou, on how to go about doing this. With a grin on his face, and revenge on the mind ... Bakura set out to destroy the CEO.

Reaching out Jonouchi stumbled in Ryou's direction until his hands found their way onto the shoulders of a friend. Jonouchi wasn't sure what to say, nor was he sure he could just come out and say what had happened to Kaiba. No, he couldn't ... but he wasn't going to let Ryou stumble around the room until he happened to find it on his own.

"Jonouchi, are ... are you alright?" Ryou asked, worried as Jonouchi had fell silent. "Are you hurt?" He continued wishing that Jonouchi would speak.

"Y-yeah .. I'm fine, b-but ..." Jonouchi shut his eyes, and a small stream of tears fell from them, eventually stopping as he began to speak, "But, Kaiba ... he's ... he's not."

"What do you mean, he's not? Is he hurt? We'll have to get him some help then Jonouchi ... come on." Ryou said trying to push past Jonouchi, but the blond wouldn't allow it. "Jonouchi, if he's hurt we outta help him. Mokuba's worried."

:-: Mokuba. :-: Jonouchi hadn't even thought of Mokuba, or in any case what he was going to tell him. How would he tell him? "He's ... he's not hurt."

"Well then ... if he's not hurt Jonouchi, what is he?" Ryou questioned, the entire conversation seemed to go nowhere and Ryou was hoping Jonouchi would clear it up soon ... instead of beating around the bush.

"Dead." The words fell like a rock from Jonouchi's mouth. Harsh, immediate, short-lived.

"What?" Ryou questioned, not at first believing what he had heard.

"He's dead!" Jonouchi shouted, frightening Ryou with the intensity of his voice. Shrinking away the blond turned partially towards the right. Not wanting to look into Ryou's eyes, not wanting to see his face ... and more importantly, not wanting to show off his own.

Xx Dead xXBakura yelled, as his hikari step away from Jonouchi, shocked at the news. Xx No xXEverything was ruined. How was he suppose to torture Kaiba is he was already dead! Damn.

:-: The eyes? ... where had they gone :-: Yami thought, as his own eyes wandered the room trying to pinpoint where the others had come from. But now ... they were gone and how knows where they would be. Inching away from the panel, the ancient pharaoh navigated towards the couch where Mokuba was.

But an obstacle had preventing Yami from moving more than two feet; head tilting up his eyes met the eyes of what had been Alexis, Seto's secretary. This entire time she had remained in this room ... as Mokuba and Yami had forgotten about her, when they had gotten caught up in the infirmary fiasco. "A-a-alexis ..." Yami whispered as her hands reached down towards him.

Yami went to dive out of the way, but found himself immobilized. Unable to do anything but what as cold, pale, withered fingers localize themselves upon his shoulders. Gripping him hard.

Alexis knelt down, pressing her chest to the pharaoh's back and placing her head beside his hear. "You're next ..." She whispered, as Yami felt his stomach drop, and eyes widen.

:-: Next? No! Mokuba .. I have to help, and .. and Seto. Jonouchi. Ryou. No, I can't be next :-:His mind screamed, shouting to him ... trying to get the adrenaline pumping to give Yami the strength to run, to get up .. do anything at this point would be fine.

The young women giggled softly at his ear, her breath, as cold as ice as she continued, "There's no point in trying to escape as that is impossible. And running, will only make the torture go on longer my dear friend." Yami felt the touch of sheer steel against his chest, as a blade was held to him. "You may as well give up and --"

The blade pushed into Yami's chest, working its way in deeply ... but, off target.. As Alexis fell beside the pharaoh, lying silently. Pain shot through the ancient spirits body as the steel tip caught a rib just to the left of his heart. :-: But that's not where she was aiming .. she was aiming for my heart ... how did she, she miss :-:

Yami's mind fought the pain as one hand curled around the butt of the blade, the other holding its ground around the wound. It had gone in deep, and the pain was immense ... but the weapon needed removal.

II L-like ... like a band-aid pharaoh. Quick .. II Yuugi's voice comforted him a bit, though made him worry more as the boy's body was getting partially destroyed. Not as bad as Mokuba and maybe the others, but still. Yuugi didn't deserve this, none of them did.

Taking his lighter halves advice, Yami took a deep breath. In one quick motion he pull the knife fro, his chest and toss it to the ground. Cupping both hands on the wound, as blood spill out ... now tarnishing his clothes.

Slowly removing one hand, Yami turned and reached out to whom had helped him.

Mokuba stood a few feet to the side of where Yami had been sitting. Legs oozing with the metallic-colored blood that had been created due to the scarabs. But that was over, as the pieces of the mechanical monsters fell from the incision across the boy's belly. Giving a half smile to Yami, glad to have helped, the raven haired boy collapsed. His body fighting its hardest but running low on supplies.

As Mokuba lay there on the floor, his heart beating slowly, his breathing pained he uttered the name of his brother. Wishing to see him one last time, as this might be the end.

Alyssa: Once again, sorry for taking so long.