Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh! And I don't own the "legend" mentioned in this chapter. This "legend" is just an idea I borrowed from those Chinese kung-fu novels and t.v. that I happened to saw and heard about.
Note: Here's the BIG but BAD surprise that I said would be in this chapter. Don't think that surprise is a good thing, it's really depressing… So…
WARNING! There's something really, terribly, extremely BAD happening in this chapter! It will be very depressing, gloomy, sad. So prepare a box of tissue, just in case you happen to be very emotional and might cry… like me… (T.T) (sniff)… But, please don't kill me! (got on knees and begged)...Like I said in chapter 19, the story will have a happy ending! I know I'm cruel, but this is what I planned way before I even start writing this fan-fic, so I'm not intending on changing it. Please forgive me…
Enjoy this chapter… (sniff)… yea, and thanks for the reviews!
The Spirit of the Sword
Chapter 21
The Paramount Sword
Seto Kaiba's grip on Serenity's wrist was tight. He pulled her down the hallway, down the stairs all the way to the basement, and stopped in front of a big, black, heavy door made of steel. All this time, he didn't say anything to her, and didn't look at her at once. His eyebrows were frowned, and there were no temperature in his blue eyes.
Serenity was silent all this time. She, too, was frowning, because Seto's grip on her wrist was a bit too tight to the point it kind of hurts. Her big eyes were still watery, and she couldn't stop thinking about Seto's poor little brother Mokuba. She tried to search every memory she had that might be a clue of how to weld a really powerful sword that Seto could use to defeat Pegasus. But, nothing came to mind.
Suddenly, the gigantic steel door opened. Hot breeze blew upon them. Serenity flinched at the high temperature, for her biggest fear was fire and its hotness. Seto noticed her reaction, but ignored her. He pulled her into the secret room built underground. It was the swords-welding room, but none of the workers were in there, since he let them go home for two days.
Serenity gasped at the image of this giant underground room. It was so hot in here. There were about twenty chimney-like giant structures, and white hot steams were coming out of these 'chimney'. There was also an opening at the bottom of each 'chimney', where red hot melted steel flowed out into a container. She saw molds of sword and hammers sitting at the tables near each melted-steel container. At once, she understood this was the room where the swords should be made, but… where did all the workers went? There was no one in this room.
"This is the sword-welding room. Can this help you remember some of the techniques your brother or father might have told you before?" Seto said icily. He still insisted that she must know something. Originally he would bring her down here anyway, so that she could tell him how to weld a really strong sword, but now, he just wanted to bring her down to see if she might remember anything, anything at all.
"…" Serenity opened her mouth, but no words came. She didn't look at Seto, she didn't want to see the coldness in his eyes.
"Still not going to tell me? So you intend on letting Mokuba suffer? Letting me suffer as well?" Seto yelled angrily.
"I didn't… but… I'm sorry." Serenity uttered apologetically.
"Hmph." Seto snorted. "I guess I wasted all this time for nothing. I shouldn't have brought you to my castle in the first place. I thought you're going to be some use to me, but I see you're not. Maybe if I capture your mutt brother in the very beginning, and torture him, then I might have a bigger chance of saving Mokuba." Seto said cruelly to Serenity. He was so disappointed and so furious that his last hope of pulling Mokuba out of the Shadow Realm died. He couldn't help but to blame it all on her, only in that way could he feel a little better.
"What… do you mean?" Serenity asked with a shaky voice. Her vision was all blurred by the tears in her eyes.
"You still don't get it, do you? I brought you here, gave you the title of Queen, and be patient with you all because I want to use you, use your knowledge to weld a supreme sword to save my brother. But I see I wasted my precious time." Seto continued to be unfeeling, ignoring his real feelings when he uttered those nasty words.
"... You didn't… you didn't mean what you just said…" Serenity whispered and shook her head. Her tears were shook out of her eyes. Those words were so harsh; they sliced across her heart and made her heart bleed.
"I meant every word I said." Seto said as he walked over to one of tables, but his reply made Serenity's face even paler. He poured some hot melted steel into the mold of sword. He decided to work on another sword since she could no longer help him out.
"But… What about… all those times you treated me nicely… like last night…?" Serenity asked eyeing Seto's face. She saw there was no expression on his face. "Don't you at least… like me a little? Not even a little?"
"I only wanted to use you, Serenity. Do you actually think I love you?" Seto teased sarcastically. He didn't even bother looking at her.
"… That's not… true…" Serenity refused to believe. She had seen his gentleness towards her. He had been there for her several times, like last night when she had nightmare. She knew he couldn't be acting all those times, he's just being cruel again like he used to be. He didn't, couldn't mean all those he just said to her, he didn't! "You're just lying to me, aren't you? It made you feel better to blame everything on me, isn't it?"
"Why would I?" Seto frowned, her words pricked his heart because that was exactly what he was doing to her. He ignored the sobs coming out of her mouth, but just stared at the steel cooling down in the mold, and started to harden into solid.
"I'm sorry I don't know anything about swords… But… that's not my fault!" Serenity cried. Seto was so harsh, so heartless.
"Whatever. It doesn't matter anymore." Seto said coldly. He was no longer as angry as before, he had accepted the fact that his plan of asking for her help just failed. He did feel a little guilty for saying all those ugly words at here earlier though, but he would never apologize. He saw that the steel had hardened into solid in the mold. He took it out and started hammering it. "I have no use for you anymore. You can go find your mutt brother if you want. Just one thing, don't ever tell anyone what you heard and what you saw in my castle."
A chilling fear jolted through Serenity's whole body when she heard his order of her deportation from Domino Castle. Even her lips turned colorless. Her mind suddenly turned as blank as a white piece of paper. All she knew was that she can't leave, not just yet. Seto was still so emotionally unstable, he was still so depressed about not able to safe his little brother. How could she leave him right now? He needed someone by his side, and she will be by his side. Together, they'll think of something!
"No, Seto, don't kick me out of the castle. I can't leave now! Mokuba is still in trouble, I want to help! I can't leave you now! I'll think. I'll think really hard! Maybe I just forgot the details, maybe Joey did tell me how to weld a supreme sword, I just need some time to remember! Or maybe we can come up with some other plans?" Serenity blurted out desperately. She even rushed towards Seto and clung onto his arm like a koala.
Seto shook off Serenity's grips easily. He continued to strike the hammer onto the unfinished sword. Sweats soaked his shirt and his forehead. He totally ignored Serenity.
"… Seto? Don't make me leave… Please…" Serenity pleaded with watery eyes. She looked so fragile, but her will to stay was strong.
Seto suddenly put the hammer on the table heavily. Serenity jumped at the loud sound. He grabbed her wrist again aggressively and threw her out of the room. He slammed the heavy door in her face. He couldn't stand looking at her and listening to her, that would only make his heart soften, then he wouldn't be able to push her away. She would be much happier with her brother and her friends. He just realized that she was crying most of the time he saw her, so she should leave here, and forget all about him. He will let her go, to be happy…
Bang! The heavy door closed right in front of Serenity's face. Seto had shut her out of that room, and out of his heart. Two streams of tears sprinkled down her cheeks. She didn't really understand what he was thinking. Why did he say all those hurtful words? Why did he cast her out?
Serenity turned around and walked with a really slow pace up the stairs back to her room. On the way, maids and guards greeted her, but she didn't hear them. She walked slowly like a lost soul wondering around, and finally got back to her room.
She walked out to the balcony. The sun had risen to the middle of the sky already, it was near mid-afternoon. The blue sky was so beautiful, the white clouds were like soft cotton, and a few birds flew freely in the sky. A cold breeze blew upon Serenity, it was a nice day. However, she was in no mood of enjoying the beautiful scenery. Her heart was still in that underground room where Seto was.
Serenity stared blankly towards the West. Joey should be there, because Yami Kingdom was there. But wait, Joey shouldn't be there, Joey should be in the North, they were on their way to find that white flower to cure Mai of her poison. Serenity turned and stared at the North. She suddenly climbed onto the railings of the balcony and sat on them. No, she wasn't about to jump off, she didn't want to die just yet. She just wanted to sit down somewhere, but there was no chair on the balcony.
She let her mind wonder… She remembered her happy childhood where Joey was always there for her. Her drunken father… The fire that almost killed her… Then her mother brought her away from Joey…
A picture of a garden popped up in her mind so unexpectedly. She had a vague memory of crying in a garden… then she met someone there, someone who had a pair of blue eyes, just like Seto's… yet the boy's face was blurred. Serenity took out the white jade she always had on her neck, it was the shape of a dragon. She raised the jade high in the air, and the sunlight made it transparent. Serenity loved this beautiful jade. She remembered vaguely that the boy in the garden gave this jade to her.
Her memory drifted to all those things that happened after Joey found her. The happy memories in Yami Castle with all her friends and her beloved brother… Captured by Seto… Got hurt… Mai poisoned… Last night… And just then, being pushed out by Seto… His deep blue eyes appeared in her mind, he truly had a pair of beautiful eyes, but they were always so cold…
Gradually, the image of Seto's blue eyes converged with that little boy's blue eyes. The boy's face also started to get clearer and clearer. Serenity gasped when the image of the boy in the garden became completely apparent. That little boy also had chestnut color hair, just like Seto! Actually, Serenity realized that the boy who gave her this white jade was indeed Seto! It had to be him, plus her mother brought her to Domino Kingdom, so it must be Seto in the garden! It was just that she kind of forgot all about it after six years… Did he also forget about her?
But so what if it was Seto? It makes no difference now… Serenity thought sadly. Besides, Seto probably forgot all about what happened in the garden anyway. She put that jade back into her dress, then continued to stare at a fix point in sky. Nothing more came to mind…
Serenity had been sitting on the railings for hours without moving. She didn't eat, didn't think, and didn't leave like Seto ordered her to. She just sat there like a lifeless doll. The sun was about to set, and the sky was dyed orange by the sun.
Looking at the orange sky, her mind started to drift back in time once again, back to the stories Joey told her before, because one of the story had something about orange sky… One story after another popped up in her mind… But Serenity suddenly gasped at one particular story Joey told her. It was just a legend according to Joey, but it was about sword! But… Serenity shook her head. That legend was really sad… so it couldn't be true… but, if that was the only way to help Seto… even though he treated her so harshly, but… what if that legend can really help him out?
After another hour or so of pondering on the legend Joey told her before, Serenity jumped off the railings back onto the balcony. She walked slowly to Seto's library to find some paper and ink. There was determination in her eyes. Like she said, she would do anything for him no matter how cruel he treated her.
As she scribbled something down, one drop of tears still dropped on the paper. She tried to hold in her tears, but minutes later, another drop dripped onto the paper. It required all the energy she had to finish this letter. After that, she folded the paper in half. She then took off the pink ribbon on her hair. She took off the jade necklace and tied it to the letter with her ribbon.
After that, Serenity went back to the room, hoping Seto would go back to the room tonight. She had something to give to him. She had made a decision, it was about how to make the task of rescuing Mokuba come true. She would do anything for Seto, even if she had to follow the example in that legend Joey told her.
Serenity sat on the bed, waiting. The sky turned into dark blue already, signaling that the sun had set. Stars shone brightly in the sky. She just sat on the bed, staring blankly into the space once again. She had made a decision, so there's nothing more to think about. She had to be brave. Be brave for Seto…
The chirpings of birds woke Serenity up. She was lying on the bed, and her hand was still clutching onto the letter she wrote for Seto, which was tied with her jade by her ribbon. She probably had fallen asleep while waiting for Seto… Then that means Seto didn't come back to the room… Disappointment appeared on her face. He didn't come back.
Serenity grabbed the letter tightly in her hand and rushed out of the room. She wondered towards the library, where Seto might be. But to her disappointment, he wasn't in the library. The library was totally empty. There was no sign of him staying here last night… Serenity stood silently in the empty library, pondering where Seto could have been. The castle was so huge, and she wasn't totally familiar with it. She only knew several places, like her room, the library, and the underground sword-welding room…
That's right! He might still be there! Serenity thought. She rushed out eagerly and went down the stairs back to the underground room. She stood in front of the heavy steel door, unable to move. Her fear of hot temperature and fire… This room reminded her of her worst fear, with all those hot melted steel… Yet, she had to go in. Thinking of Seto made her calm.
Laboriously, Serenity pushed with all her might on the giant steel door. Slowly, the door slid open inches by inches, until it opened up entirely. Hot temperature covered her at once as she entered the room. Seto was there! He was sitting on the floor, lifelessly, with his head lowered… There were three swords on the table. It seemed like he made three swords since yesterday without rest.
Serenity inched towards Seto, he didn't budge. Serenity inspected the swords on the table, they were pretty sharp and hard. They looked like they were good swords, very good… But why did Seto looked so depress still? Was it that Pegasus's sword is even stronger than these fine swords? Unbelievable… No wonder Seto was still so demoralized…
"What do you want?" Seto asked icily. He stood up and started to pour melted steel into another mold. "Didn't I tell you to get out of my castle?" He growled, not looking at her.
Looking at Seto, Serenity suddenly took out a handkerchief that she took earlier. She walked closer to Seto and wiped off the sweat on his forehead. There was something else in her eyes when she looked at Seto, as if she wanted to inscribe Seto's image onto her heart, forever. But he didn't notice, he didn't even look at her. But he was distracted by her gentle gesture. He secretly hoped that this moment would last forever… Otherwise, she would leave him eventually, or so he told her to go away.
"Is… Mokuba always number one in your heart?" Serenity asked softly.
"Of course he is!" Seto growled. The thought of Mokuba just made his mood even more depress.
"Even more important than… me?" Serenity asked again.
"…" Seto didn't say anything at first. That was a really hard question for him to answer, it really was. "Sure, whatever." He said ambiguously.
"You want to save Mokuba… That's your priority over everything else?" Serenity looked into his deep cerulean eyes.
"Yes! Why are you asking me all these things?" Seto growled again. "Didn't you see I'm working really hard here trying to make a good sword?"
"Are you going to sacrifice me to save Mokuba?" Serenity whispered. She just wanted an answer.
"Why are you asking this?" Seto's eyes widened at her question. He refused to answer that question. Yet, his heart was yelling: NO! I won't sacrifice you to save my brother! There's no need to sacrifice you! There will be other ways to save him! But he didn't say it.
Seeing that Seto didn't reply, she thought his answer was yes, just didn't tell her. Serenity nodded lightly.
"Then… my decision is right…" She mumbled, but he heard it. There was calmness in her eyes. No need to be afraid anymore, because it's all for Seto.
Seto finally turned to look at her. He saw the tranquility in her eyes, as if nothing more matters. No more fear, no more sadness, just some desire to carve him onto her heart? He had a feeling she was about to disappear… Fear suddenly seized his heart, he had a bad feeling… And, what exactly did she mean her decision is right? What decision? Seto grabbed onto Serenity's shoulder unconsciously. "What are you planning to do?" He asked with a shaky voice.
"I promise that I will help you out, Seto. I will carry out my promise." She said, not looking at him. She hugged him suddenly and tightly. Tears swelled up behind her closed eyelids. Joey, sorry… forgive my selfishness… Seto, I'm going to… miss you…
Seto wrapped his arms tightly around her also. He didn't know why there was fear in his heart? He didn't understand what she was thinking. Why did she ask him so many weird questions? And what did she mean when she said she will carry out her promise?
"Don't forget me, Seto… I don't want to be lonely anymore…" Serenity whispered softly, so that he couldn't hear her. Her tears sprinkled down her cheeks. He would be her only grief, she would miss him always, forever.
"You should… be going." Seto said, taking in a breath of her fragrance. He didn't forget that he wanted her to leave Domino Castle and go find her brother yesterday. Perhaps if she goes to find Joey, his fear will go away, because he knew Joey was always so over-protective. Joey will keep Serenity safe.
"Okay… I'll be going…" Serenity said as let go of Seto. But Seto stared at her blankly. All he knew was that Serenity's leaving him. She will be going to find Joey… He thought unhappily, yet he was the one who wanted her to go.
She took Seto's hand and handed him the letter she wrote yesterday. The letter was tied with the jade with a pink ribbon. A weak smile appeared on her face, lightened up her pale face.
"What is this?" Seto asked suspiciously.
"Look at it later. Not now…But you must look at it!" Serenity stopped his motion of untying the pink ribbon. "This letter will help you understand everything."
"Understand what?" Seto asked confusedly. Why did she act so weird ever since she stepped into this room today?
Serenity just shook her head. She didn't want to tell him. It was all explained in the letter. Seeing that she didn't want to say anything, Seto put the letter aside and went back to work on the sword. "Are you… leaving now?" He asked while he hammered the sword. He didn't want to see her leave, that would make his mood worse.
Serenity didn't answer. She just stood there for a while longer, memorizing Seto's every expressions. When she turned around, she silently wiped away the tears on her face. Seto noticed she walked away, but didn't pay attention to where she went. He was already overwhelmed by her departure, and an unknown fear, so he didn't concentrate on her.
After several minutes of silence, except for the sound of him hammering the sword, there were noises thudding in a rhythmic pattern, as if someone was climbing stairs. Stairs! The thought of stairs in this room alarmed Seto. He quickly looked around and spotted Serenity climbing the stairs on the giant chimney structure. Seto quickly ran towards where she was.
"What the hell are you doing?" Seto yelled in fear. He ran as fast as he could towards her, but she was already mid-way on the chimney. "Get down here right now! Don't you know it's dangerous climbing onto the chimney?"
"It's okay, Seto." Serenity yelled at him calmly. She didn't stop climbing up the stairs. The temperature here was really hot, much hotter than just standing in the room.
Seto finally reached the stairs. He started climbing up also, trying to catch onto Serenity. "Stop right there, Serenity! Don't you move!" He growled at her, trying to halt her movement.
Serenity knew Seto was trying to catch up to her. She climbed as fast as she could. She was almost to the top. Don't give up, Serenity! She yelled in her heart. Just a little more! Don't let him catch you! Otherwise, there's no more hope!
Finally Serenity got to the top of the chimney. The chimney was really high… She stood at the edge and looked down at the hot melted steel a couple of feet down in the chimney. The melted steel was red. It must be really hot… Hot… But, she's not afraid of it. Not anymore.
"I want you to be happy, Seto…" She told him sincerely.
Seto was almost on top of the chimney also. He looked up and saw a faint smile appeared on Serenity's face. The fear he felt earlier started to intensify to the point he could hardly breathe. He tried his best to climb up as fast as he could. "Don't move, Serenity! I'm coming!" Seto shouted to her.
"Make the best sword, Seto, and go save Mokuba." Serenity said with a fragile yet beautiful smile.
Seto was just two to three more steps until he reach the top. He didn't know what she meant by that, he didn't want to understand! "Don't you dare move, Serenity! Don't you dare!" He yelled out of intense fear.
"I'll always be with you, Seto." Serenity declared. With that, she stepped backward into the opening of the chimney and felt her body being pulled downward by gravity. Her smile was still on her face, even when the heat intensified around her.
"Serenity!" Seto roared and his eyes widened. The tip of his finger touched Serenity's sleeves. He almost caught her! Almost! He was finally on top of the chimney, but… all he could do was watch Serenity fell down, being sucked down by gravity! He saw her beautiful smile on her face, her dress billowed when she fell.
Crystal-like tears made her face look so pale… But they weren't tears of fear, not the fear of fire and hotness… But tears of grief, her grief of not able to support him in the future, her grief of not able to accompany him anymore, her grief of leaving him behind… No matter what he's emotion might be in the future, she wouldn't know… because she will be gone in a few second…
Then… reflected in his cerulean eyes… she was engulfed by the melted steel. She was gone. Seto fell onto his knees, his hand was still in the position of trying to grab her hand. She was engulfed by the melted steel right in front of his eyes!
"SERENITY" He roared loudly and miserably, like a wounded beast. "NO!" His heart was being sliced into pieces, thousands if not millions of pieces! He could felt blood pouring out of his heart. It was extremely hard for him to breathe. He clutched his chest with his hands, trying to stop the pain. He repeatedly shook his head. "This must be a nightmare! It has to be a nightmare! She couldn't be… gone… Gone forever…" Seto murmured painfully. He had the urge to jump in after her, but he couldn't. Mokuba was still waiting for him…
"Why? Why, Serenity? Why did you do that?" He murmured some more. His brown bangs covered up his eyes due to his lowered-head position. A drop of tear fell into the chimney where Serenity just fell in. Then, two drops, three drops,… The Seto Kaiba never cries, never, not even when his brother's soul was taken. This would be the only exception.
New melted steel poured into the container at the bottom of this chimney. Seto just sat there on top of the chimney, unable to move. All his energy had been sucked out. After spotting the letter she gave him earlier and the newly poured out melted steel, Seto climbed back down the chimney really slowly. He stumbled towards the letter and picked it up.
He untied the pink ribbon. There was still Serenity's fragrance on the ribbon. He remembered she tied that ribbon on her beautiful auburn hair just yesterday, but now… she's gone… forever… Seto's eyes got red again. He saw that white jade, it was made by him! Seto was astonished by it. He took out his jade, it was exactly the same. Mokuba had one, and there was one more in the safety box in his room. Then… how did this one be attached with the letter? Didn't he lost it or gave it to someone a long time ago?
Put the ribbon and the jade necklace aside, he unfolded the letter. It was from Serenity. He knew, since she handed it to him. She said look at it later. Did she mean… look at it after she… was gone? Seto thought painfully. His blue orbs started to read the letter carefully.
Dear Seto,
I'm really happy! I suddenly remembered where I got this white jade necklace! You gave it to me! Remember, six years ago, in the garden, I was crying, and you saw me? You probably don't remember... Anyway, I really love this necklace, it's so beautiful. And most important of all, I never took it off, it has been through many troubles and loneliness with me all these years.
I also thought of something… A legend my brother Joey told me years ago… It's a really sad yet beautiful legend. A long time ago, the legend goes, there were a husband and a wife. They loved each other deeply. For some reason, which was lost already when Joey heard of it, they need to weld a strong sword. The wife sacrificed herself. Her blood and flesh was melted together with steel. The husband welded the sword with the melted steel, which was mixed with his wife's blood and his wife's love. The spiritual power of this sword was supreme over all other swords, because it contained the wife's energy, her love for her husband, and her sincerity. Isn't it a sad, yet beautiful, story?
Even though it might just be a legend, but… it's the only clue I could think of. This is the only way to help you, Seto. I'm really sorry that I couldn't help you much earlier… But like I promised, I'll help you out if I think of anything. I promised to help you, so I won't disappoint you! If you are that husband from the legend, I'm willing to be that wife of yours. I don't want to see you all depressed and feeling guilty of not able to save your brother again. I'm glad I could help…
Now that you understand everything I did… Make the best sword in the world, a paramount sword, and go save Mokuba! Go beat up Pegasus! Best of luck! I'll always, always be with you… My energy and my love will be in the sword, by your side… I'll fight along side with you! I know, you'll be happy after your brother is safe. I hope, I can see your smile once again… But I will never really see that smile… that is my only regret, the only thing I can never do…
Tell Joey that I'm sorry, sorry I can't see him again… Tell him to forgive my selfishness of wanting to help you… Don't fight with him again, please.
And, like I said earlier in the letter, I really love this fade necklace… Can you please tie my necklace onto the sword? I want to wear it forever… because… it was a present from you… Thank you, Seto.
Love always,
Serenity Wheeler.
After reading the letter, he was speechless for a few minutes, trying to digest the information she wrote down in the letter. His mind was all blank, unable to think. The image of her falling down the chimney kept on repeating and repeating in his mind, driving him crazy. He finally understood what he saw in her eyes earlier. She wanted to carve his face, his expressions, onto her heart, so she would remember him always.
"What kind of stupid legend is that?" Seto growled angrily. Spiritual power of the sword? I don't believe in magic, remember, Serenity? He thought sadly.
Then, the memory of that night when she had a nightmare popped up in his head. Her voice was shaky, he remembered. She said…
I… I was surrounded by a sea of fire…
I called for help… but no one came…
It felt so real… I felt so helpless…
The thing I'm afraid the most in the world is fire.
When I was little, I was almost killed by fire. If Joey didn't safe me, I wouldn't be here anymore.
Ever since then, fire is like a monster to me. The burning heat is unbearable too…
Seto's eyes widened at the memory. She said she was afraid of fire! How could she endure the high temperature of the melted steel? Melted steel was basically similar to fire, they both burn and they were really hot! Her nightmare did come true, didn't it? He promised he wouldn't let that happen to her, but he couldn't keep his promise… just like he couldn't keep the promise to Mokuba that he'll always protect him… He was such a failure… Seto clutched his hands to his chest again, the excruciate pain in his heart…
"Why are you so stupid? How could you trust a legend that no one could prove true? Why can't you be more selfish? Why can't you think for yourself? Why did you do so much for me?" He murmured. "How could you leave the world behind so easily? Leaving me behind?"
Seto saw a few drops of dried tears on the letter… Was it painful for her to write all these and did that for him? Was it even worth it? Didn't she know that he didn't want her help like this? How could she just plan everything without telling him?
Seto's eyes went back to look at that jade. Suddenly, his memory of a little girl crying in the garden became clear. He had forgotten about that for years. That little girl was so cute, hazel eyes, auburn hair… It really was Serenity… He really did give her that jade…
… I want you to be happy, Seto…
… Make the best sword, Seto, and go save Mokuba…
… … I'll always be with you, Seto… …
Serenity's voice kept on replaying in his mind. "But how can I still be happy?" Seto roared with all his might. "I don't deserve to be happy…" He said gloomily. "Not after what you did…"
Another drop of crystal-like tears dropped onto the letter, it was from him. The new tears accompanied the dried tears on the letter. Seto wiped his eyes. He folded the letter nicely, and kept it in his pocket.
He spotted the newly poured out melted steel in the container. He hated it, hated it so much! Because she was being engulfed by that despicable melted steel! But her voice and her letter were like a strong force, pulling him over to the container. It was her will to help him, her love for him, that made her aspire to sacrifice herself…
"I won't let you sacrifice for nothing." Seto stated. He poured out the melted steel into the mold. He kept in mind that her blood and flesh were in there, so he would weld the sword carefully. He wouldn't waster her wish. This sword will be the paramount sword!
After hours of hard work, Seto finally finished a beautiful sword. It was really sharp, and really shinny. The hardness was also the most durable he had ever seen so far, he predicted that this sword was unbreakable. But ironically, if he could choose, he'd rather not have this sword, because… he got it by trading in her life…
Seto walked over to the table and picked up the jade necklace. As her wish, he tied it onto the bottom of the sword's handle. The necklace will always be with her now. While he was tying it, there was tenderness in his usually cold blue eyes. Even his gesture was gentle, which rarely happens.
However, after he put the sword back into the sheath, and put it on his waist, he walked out of this sword-welding room. He never wanted to step in here again, never. It would only remind him of her, of this painful memory. He wanted to forget… yet he wanted to remember her…
His eyes turned back into temperatureless. The cerulean orbs were even icier than ever. From now on, Pegasus will pay. He will pay for all these troubles he caused. He will pay for her death! And pay for Mokuba's suffering!
"No more love." Seto murmured. He would never repeat his mistake ever. He loved Mokuba, and when his brother was captured and he couldn't save him, he felt unbearable pain. He made the same mistake again. He opened his heart to Serenity, and now that she was gone, he almost wanted to kill himself. His love for Mokuba will always be there, when he saved him. But, no more love for any other people, no more.
After the preparation for visiting Duelist Kingdom in the North, he started on his journey. Destroying Pegasus was no longer enough. What he wanted to do was to destroy the whole Duelist Kingdom!
"Just you wait, you snake!" Seto gritted his teeth as he departed from his castle, holding tightly onto his newly made sword…
Note: (T.T)… I know, I know (sniff)… You want to kill me, didn't you? sniff (Hide in my room and pray…) I will revive Serenity though, so let me live so I can compensate for what I did here… Remember, I put this fan-fic in the "supernatural" genre, so basically I will have some way of reviving her. I'll revive her, I promise! (bow down at readers to show my sincerity.)
About the legend I wrote here, I remembered either seeing it in a really old movie, or I read about it somewhere in those kung-fu novels my father likes. There is a name for that husband and that wife, I think the husband is called "Gan Jiang" and the wife is called "Mo Xie"… The whole story about this couple, I really don't remember. I saw it a really really long time ago, when I'm still in public school… It was also this "legend" I heard about that gave me this idea of this fan-fiction… Of course, it's not really a legend in real life, it's just a story some famous writer created.
(sniff) Okay… would any kind people please review? Pretty please? I know you are in a bad mood after you read this depressing chapter… but… pretty please?