The Polaroid Effect
Disclaimer: Forgot about these things, ya? Oh well, I do not own it, and nobody gives me money for writing this stuff...
A/N: Mentions of blood and such. Do note that the President of the U.S. in this is a completely fictional character that I haven't even bothered to name. Boowah. Some swearing.
You can sort of... ignore the title. It made sense at the time, but I'm not entirely sure if it still does. shruggs It makes a vague sort of sense.
Unsure pairings. Though I do mention past YugiAnzu-ish-ness gasp Don't worry about it though, it doesn't stick. Names are mix and match Japanese/Western. Spoilers. noddnodd I foresee spoilers. For like... the end of YGO or so and crud.
Thankies to bast4 (He doesn't know what they do before they do it... he just wishes he could, I think part of it is research, part of it stumbling onto things, part of it probably has a more supernatural base, the other parts you'll see for yourself eventually, and no, I don't think Yugi will go after the Pope), Silvershadowfire (Heh, Yugi doesn't really care if the world understands what he does, he's already gotten justice. As for the rest... wait and see!), MysticJunebugs, lilmatchgirl007, SoulDreamer, Kyoko Komiashi, i love athrun, Endermon, Weeping Angel (Yes, the President of this 'Verse was a rapist and murderer of children, including his own daughter. Which is why he received excruciating death. And sure, add me if ya want!), Alaskantiger, AzzieAz, tsuriai no hikari to yami, kikoken, Nina wyndia, deranged black kitten of doom (You have the best screen-name EVAR XD) and anyone I missed. Apologies for misspelled names.
Please be reviewing!
...it makes me sad that this story has such short chapters.
Chapter 3:
After those first kisses, Anzu and mine's relationship went downhill. The ache was still growing and even though we went on just as many dates and spent just as much time together, it was different. A lot of the time I don't think I was really there. I'd smile and talk and laugh like I usually would, but at night when I'd go home I wouldn't remember a single thing that I'd done. And it'd show.
I'd forget something that she'd mentioned, or a meeting that we'd set up and she'd get annoyed. Never angry, just irked at me and I'd feel guilty. But no matter how guilty I was it wouldn't change anything because the ache inside me kept growing and it was all I could concentrate on. The ache and how much I missed Yami, because in reality, that's what the ache was.
I wasn't happy anymore, but I don't think any of my friends noticed. I guess I'm a really good actor or something, because the most I ever got were a few strange looks from Joey and Tristan now and then.
At least until Anzu finally got fed up with my absentmindedness. There was a lot of yelling then... All of it hers. I just stood silently and let her shout at me because it was my fault she was angry anyway. And after she had gotten it all out and calmed down, she gave me a choice.
"If you don't put some effort into this relationship, then we're over!"
I said 'okay' and left her there. We didn't talk much after that.
Seto Kaiba strummed his fingers against the table top, his sharp gaze resting on the two people sitting across from him.
"Alright, why exactly is he here?" the tall brunette spoke, nodding his head at Ryou Bakura. "The Millenium Items are gone, so it's not like he has any more 'power' than us."
"Actually," the pale-haired man said, "My time spent in such close vicinity to a Millenium Item for so long has left me... well, more sensitive than most."
"Like a psychic, or an empath," Joey clarified.
"...Right." Seto rubbed his brow. "And again 'why exactly is he here'?"
"A few years after the incidents with the Millenium Items," Ryou started, "I began to regain memories of when I was controlled by the spirit of the Ring. Basically, I was the only person around with any real knowledge of the Shadow Realm and how it works. Also, I know what Yugi's mind feels like, if I was ever near him, I'd know it."
"So what you're saying is that you're our consultant and locator?"
"Basically, yes."
"Fine." Cold, blue eyes turned to Joey. "Now what I'd really like to know is what the hell we're up against. What happened to Yugi?"
"Why do you think I would know?" the blonde man said, looking annoyed.
"All I know is that you were his best friend and the last person to see him until now."
"I..." the tall blonde became suddenly reserved. "I found him in his room, packing some things into a backpack. Asked him what he was doing and he told me that he was leaving and I asked him why. He started babbling, can't remember what it was, but it didn't make much sense. I think... I think he might've killed someone. I tried to talk him out of goin', tried to get him to tell me what wrong but he wouldn't listen! He turned to leave and I said something, I can't remember... and then...then..."
He took a shuddering breath. "I don't know what happened. All I know is that it was suddenly dark and cold and I hurt. And then it stopped, and he was standing over me, talking. He told me that I should've been dead, but that he wasn't a murderer and I hadn't done anything wrong... I passed out then, and when I woke up he was gone."
Ryou stared at him sadly, Kaiba's expression unreadable.
"I never told anyone what happened until now..." Joey said softly. "I didn't want to talk to anyone about him because I couldn't believe that he'd betray me like that... that he'd try to kill me..."
He stared up at the hotel, following it as it went up and up and up... Purple eyes glanced down at the piece of paper clutched in one hand, making sure the address was correct.
"Well, it isn't as if the bastard couldn't afford it..." he muttered to himself.
Entering the building he made his way up to the front desk and flashed the woman there a charming smile. A light blush tinged her cheeks. Perfect, she'd be putty in his hands.
"Hey there, I'm looking for one Seto Kaiba."
"Why didn't you notice?" the tall brunette asked. "You say you thought he might've killed someone, even before he left. Don't you think one of you should have noticed your friend turning into a serial killer?! Don't you think one of you should've done something?!"
"What do you think there was to notice?!" Joey shouted, slamming his hands on the table. "What, you think we saw him descending into darkness or something and turned our heads the other fucking way?! We didn't know!"
Ryou cringed, drawing back from the shouting duo.
"Well, you should have!"
"I KNOW!" the blonde snarled, then quieted. "I know... We should have known something was wrong. There were signs, small ones... He smiled less, and sometimes he would sort of zone out or something, just sorta stare into space with this strange look on his face... But I thought it was just, y'know, him missin' Yami and all..."
"You can't blame Joey, Seto," Ryou said softly. "Yugi was always the type that looked out for his friends and wanted them happy. If there was something wrong, I doubt he would've wanted them to know, to worry."
The blue-eyed man snorted, but said nothing in turn.
After a moment of silence, Joey spoke up: "So, Bakura, do you think you could, ah, find Yugi? Sense him and all?"
The pale-haired man shook his head, braid bobbing behind him. "I'm not that strong. I can only sense people if they're in a range of a few metres." He blinked, then turned to stare at the entrance. "Like the distance from here to the hall, for instance. Somebody's here."
Standing quickly, Seto moved quietly to the door, soon shadowed by Joey. Placing an eye to the peephole, he looked out... and was promptly given the finger. Growling, he threw open the door.
Standing in the hallway, arms crossed and smirking, was none other than Marik Ishtar.
Grinning devilishly, the Egyptian greeting the trio. "Hey bitches."
"What the hell-?" the tall brunette started before being pushed to one side as the ex-tomb keeper forced his way in.
Marik glanced around the room before holding up a Duel Monsters card. "Five years ago, Japan, June 29th, Sorota Takahasi was found in his apartment gibbering madly to himself, never recovered."
The tanned man sat down on the table edge and snapped his fingers, the card in his hand changing from Sagi the Dark Clown to Mind Control. "Three years ago, England, Steve Smith was found in his bed almost completely brain dead, following any order given to him."
One dark hand was waved over the other, the card disappearing. "Oh by the way, Ryou, love the hair. Very nice."
The white-haired man smiled, "Nice goatee, Marik."
The Egyptian reached behind the brown-eyed man's ear and pulled out a pair of cards, Pot of Greed and Just Desserts. "Four months ago, New York, two men with undisclosed names, one found dead the other insane."
Joey stared confused at the sudden visitor. "What are you talking about?"
The two cards were tucked away and a photograph was produced from seemingly thin air and tossed expertly at Joey. It depicted a stained Sinister Serpent. "Two days ago, the President of the United States was murdered. That card, as with all the other incidents and their according cards, was found at the scene of the crime. A small sample of the many occurrences stretching from Japan to the US that occurred over the past five years."
Marik studied the rather stunned looks of the three other men. "Oh, didn't you know that little Yugi was a serial killer? Now Ryou, about that limited empathetic ability or whatever of yours..."
The pale-haired man started, "How did you...?"
The blonde Egyptian waved a hand, "Compulsive eavesdropping. But anyway, I think I have just the thing to help you. So, what do you guys say?" He extended a darkly tanned hand. "Partners?"
A look of distrust crossed over Seto's face, but after a moment he reached out and grasped the hand with his own. "Deal."
The devilish grin returned to Marik's face, teeth flashing. "Excellent."