When Destinies Collide
A side story to How to Steal a Thief's Heart
By Ash Kaiba
DISCLAIMER! We don't own any of the characters/term(s) from the Yu-Gi-Oh show and games. We do own all of the original characters, especially Ashley "Ash" Black, Kathryn Takemura, and Mae Black.
Ash Kaiba: So many reviewers! Okay, just a few over and over, but I owe you all. Did anyone see Kaiba's prank on Joey? I had a lot of fun thinking of it.
Previously in When Destinies Collide: Chapter 13: Halloween Party
Kaiba and Mokuba go to the Halloween Party at Domino High. Kaiba gets suspicious of the area around him. As a gift, Kaiba gives Ash his prize from the milk bottle game: a dragon bracelet. Then something appears.
Chapter 14: Attack from the Shadow Realm
A scream pierced the air. Ash, startled, ran to find Yugi. "Yugi!" She yelled through the crowd. Everyone was screaming and in a panic. Ash paused to scan the crowd for her friend. Then, the air itself hissed.
"Dragon's Keeper. Come to me, Dragon's Keeper."
"Ash! Hey, over here!" A group yelled. It was Yugi, Joey, Tristan, Téa, and Mokuba. Mokuba looked at her with a confused look. "Where's Seto?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Ash snapped over the noise. Her eyes scanned the area for the eldest Kaiba, but the crowd was blocking her view. Still, she didn't give up. She spent all these hours working for him that she promised herself that he would be safe. The monster hissed again. Ash looked in its direction and saw something that she didn't expect. Kaiba, who looked stiff as a board, stood several feet from the beast. "There!" She pointed in that direction.
Mokuba quickly responded, running toward his brother. Yugi followed him, remembering what Kaiba had said before they entered the gym. "Our first encounter." Could this be what Kaiba meant? Is that beast our enemy? Yugi's train of thought jerked to a stop by Mokuba's cry of help. The younger brother pulled at his brother's arm. It looked like his arm was about to be pulled out of its socket. Joey ran past Yugi to aid Mokuba.
Kaiba stood in place. He started to look carved out of wood and painted. His arms refused to budge. The eyes of the businessman remained focused on the monster. His mouth hung open. Kaiba couldn't hear the cries of his brother, though he felt Mokuba pulling on his arm. He was helpless. He never got a chance to redeem himself of the shadows, but a chance to join them. The shadows within him swirled with excitement.
"Dragon's Keeper…" The creature called again.
This made a spark of desire grow in him. Kaiba allowed the darkness to control him. His irises dilated as he slowly picked up his foot. Then, it landed with a soft pound on the floor. Mokuba screamed, but the power of the shadows was too strong. Even Joey couldn't snap him out of the spell.
Yugi stood with Ash and Téa. He gathered up his courage and took a deep breath. "YU-GI-OH!" He shouted as the Millennium Puzzle flashed to life. Yami sprang out and dashed to Kaiba's rescue. Ash jumped in surprise of the taller Yugi, but quickly recovered and ran after him. Téa ran to get help.
"Kaiba!" Yami Yugi yelled. "It's me, Kaiba. Snap out of this." But he got no response. Yami turned to face the monster. He saw it come closer to them. When Joey looked into Kaiba's blank stare, he let out a cry of fright. Then, Joey fell silent and still. The next thing Yami knew was that he was on the ground. With him were Simon Muran, Joey, and Mokuba. The monster was almost touching Kaiba. Then, Yami heard a battle cry ringing in the air. It was Ash.
Her icy eyes turned into inferno flames of danger. She stood in front of Kaiba. Her mouth curled into a snarl, her white teeth bared. The muscles on her arms and legs tensed, ready for her to pounce onto her prey. Her staff was pointed at it. Then, the air started to change. It became full of static.
Kaiba gasped. He felt the change of the air pressure. It changed so quickly that it brought him to his senses. However, it was too late. The shadows had taken most of his energy, and he passed out…
Ash stood, posed for a fight. Her schoolmates were witnessing the great American duelist in fight mode. She rarely moved a muscle or let a sign of fear show. Her entire body was tense and ready for the kill. No one will bring harm to my boss. I've worked for him for so long that I won't let this pass. No ONE! She mentally growled. Then, a strange feeling enveloped her. Ash kept eye contact with the monster. Occasionally, she glanced to her right at Yami. Beside him was Kaiba, out cold. Against the darkness of the floor and his costume, Seto Kaiba was dead pale. It looked like he'd seen a ghost. In this case, he did. Focus, Black, focus…you're trying to save your boss, who is out cold on the floor, she reminded herself. Ash twirled the wizard's staff. While she was doing it, she faintly saw electric sparks around the staff. Suddenly, she pointed the staff at the beast. Sparks of magic in her veins roared to life. Ash felt it move from her body to the staff. The plastic jewel on the staff glowed with an electric charge. At the same time, Ash swore that she heard a dragon in her head. Ancient words came to her head without her knowing it.
"Blue Electric Lightning!" Ash cried out in a voice that she didn't know or recognize. She watched the power in the staff come to life. The beast roared in agony. A dark fog appeared behind it and it dashed in. The power surge sent Ash flying backward from the recoil. She flew into the base of the stage. After a moment, she slowly rose and shook her head. Her heart raced in her chest. Her head pounded with confusion and something else she'd never felt before. Ash rose to a sitting position. She looked over at Kaiba and Joey. Kaiba was still out, but his vital signs dropped over the ten minutes. Ash was baffled at the moment that had only lasted ten seconds. Plus, Ash couldn't risk losing him, but also wait for them to come up in his huge house.
"Ash, are you okay?" Yami asked with concern written all over.
"Yeah. I think so." She sighed. Ash struggled to hear the words she used.
"Let's get him to a hospital." Joey suggested. Ash nodded, her head whirling in confusion. Joey looked at her and smiled. She returned it and turned towards Téa. Téa gave her a look. Poor Ash didn't know how to explain herself.
To be continued…
Next Chapter in the When Destinies Collide Saga: Chapter 15: His Second Mind
Kaiba is taken to the hospital. Ash, Tristan and Joey hold him down as if he is possessed. Kathryn Takemura makes her second appearance.
Ash Kaiba: Here's the end of Chapter 14. As for the split, When Destinies Collide is going to be divided into three parts. Please review!
