When Destinies Collide
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 Ashley "Ash" Black, Kathryn Takemura, and Mae Black. Plus, we don't own Kaiba Corp.
Ash Kaiba: Yes! Katie Mae has updated with beta read chapters! Now you don't have to wait so long. Please enjoy. Later on, you will see the same text as you did in chapter 2. Mokuba is telling the story (think of it as a reminder of how it all started.)
Previously in When Destinies CollideChapter 14: Attack from the Shadow Realm
Kaiba is nearly caught by his greatest enemy. Ash, moving by instinct, jumps into the standoff with only her plastic wizard's staff. Yet, she defeats the enemy by a power that just revealed itself.
Chapter 15: His Second Mind
Simon Muran waited for them in school parking lot. His red Ford Mustang waited silently. "Lay him in back," he ordered to Tristan, who carried the unconscious Kaiba on his back. Tristan nodded as he bent down in the back seat. With Joey, Simon, and Tristan's help, Kaiba was safely secured and positioned in the black cushion. Ash watched him. "I can take one more person." Simon replied.
"Kay, I vote on Tristan," Joey stated. Tristan said nothing.
"Alright," Ash replied. Then, she looked at Mokuba. "I can take you up on the bike." She gestured to her new motorcycle. Mokuba nodded.
"We'll find some way to get to the hospital, Mokuba," Yugi promised.
The boy nodded, obviously shaken from the encounter. Ash looked at him with swelling concern. Then, she looked at Yugi. "Go to Hercules' Café, which is on the corner of 4th. Ask for Captain Ned Black. Then ask him to meet us at the hospital. If he or my sister questions you, tell them that I sent you." She ordered. Joey smiled at her with Yugi and Téa.
"Thanks, Ash. You're a pal." He replied. "OK guys. We're on 4th Street, so…go to the corner. Uh…Ash, which one?"
"Right from the gate," She answered.
"Gotcha." Joey grinned. "Onward!"
The group ran to the Greek café. Simon started the motor and pulled to the exit, where Ash and Mokuba were standing. "Be careful." Tristan replied.
"Come on, Tris. Ya know me. Here, take this." Ash answered with a confused look from Tristan. "It's a two way radio. I've got the headset, so we can keep in touch." She winked. Tristan smiled. Then, they left. Ash watched them go. Mokuba pulled at her shirt, itching to go to Seto. Ash looked at him and a nasty grin appeared on her face. She broke into a run. Mokuba followed. She jumped into the seat of the bike while Mokuba climbed in. She handed him a helmet and put hers on after turning on the headset. "Ready?" she asked. The boy only nodded, holding onto her with all his strength. "Hold on!" she yelled over the engine as she turned it on. Ash twisted the right handle and sped off.
Meanwhile…
Yugi, Téa, and Joey ran to Hercules' Café. They saw Dr. Muran's car with Tristan continuously checking the back seat. Later, Ash's bike appeared. Assured that the most important people were on their way to the hospital, they continued to their destination. Once they made it to the café, they slowly walked in this order: Téa, Yugi, and Joey. A waiter stood at the inside door.
"How can I help you?" He asked.
"We're looking Captain Ned Black." Téa answered.
"Captain Black wishes not to be disturbed."
Their mouths dropped. "Why?" Yugi gasped.
"He is on a date with a Miss Valentine."
Joey froze. "Valentine? Does she have long blonde hair?"
The waiter nodded.
"What table?"
"They wish to be undisturbed…"
"Ya know what, forget it. I'm goin' in." Joey replied. The waiter followed him with Yugi and Téa. People in the restaurant laughed. The manager even came out to kick the trio out. Joey spotted the table with a familiar blonde. He walked up. After a silent cough, he made himself known. "Hey, Mai."
Mai Valentine looked up with a man in a tuxedo. He looked comfortable enough in it to indicate that he owned it. "Joey? What are you doing here?" She asked with confusion in her red-violet eyes. The man growled.
"Ya must be Captain Black. Listen…"
"No, sir. You listen. I am on a date and wish to be undisturbed. Got it!"
"Fine. We'll walk to the hospital," Joey shot back. "Oh, just so ya know, Ash sent us to ya."
Captain Black's stern face softened. Mai looked at him, confused. "Ash?"
"Ashley did? Is she all right? Is…"
"Whoa, Mr. Black. Ash is fine. She sent us to you for a ride to the hospital. K…" Yugi tried to explain.
"THEN, SHE'S NOT ALL…"
"Dammit, Captain!" Joey started. Mai and Ash's father gave him a blank look. "It's her boss. She's got the other with her on the motorcycle." He finished. Ned heavily sighed.
"Boss? Who's Ashley? Captain Black, I hope you can explain yourself," Mai demanded.
"I am a father of two girls. One is eleven and the eldest is fifteen."
"Yup." Yugi jumped in. "Her name is Ash. She won the…"
Mai cut him off. Then, she looked at her date. "You are the father of the War of the Roses champion? But, why does she have a boss? Who is it?"
"I'll answer that in one word, Mai: Kaiba," Joey answered.
Mai's face froze. "Kaiba…KAIBA! AS IN SETO KAIBA! MISTER ANGRY MELON THAT RAN BATTLE CITY." She yelled. The group could only nod. Then, she grinned. "What are we waiting for then, an invitation? We have one if Mokuba is there. Let's go." Then, she looked at Ned. "As for you and me, we're done. We can be friends, but I don't like men who hide stuff from me. Besides, I have my eye on another man. Right, Joey?"
"Awright! Let's go." Joey yelled with excitement as they left the restaurant. They followed Black to a 1997 forest green Ford Explorer. Ned climbed into the driver seat and Mai in the front-passenger. Joey, Téa, and Yugi sat in the back seat. Captain Black dialed a cell phone number on his phone.
"Mae! Meet me at Domino Hospital!" He ordered.
At Domino Hospital…
Simon pulled up. Tristan slowly rose from his seat. "Ow… Talk about a painful position," He replied as the doctor looked at the radio. Tristan looked at him.
"Go inside and get a stretcher. I'm going to try to get a hold of Ms. Black." He ordered. Tristan ran into the building. Simon looked at Kaiba. He hadn't moved or awakened. Then, Simon focused on the radio. He decided not to anything with it. That was until Ash's voice rang.
"Mustang, come in Mustang. Mustang, this is Leo. Do you read me?"
"We're not on a sub."
"So? Where are you two? I can't see you."
"We're at the hospital."
"Gotcha." She ended the transmission.
Simon turned it off as the nurses ran out with Tristan. Simon went to aid them. Together, Kaiba was gently lifted up. His body was limp and cold as if Osiris had touched him. Kaiba's mouth hung open and cold breath seeped out. His skin was sickly pale with a touch of blue, black, or some sort of dark brown. It was so faint that they couldn't tell what color it was, but one thing was for certain: his lips had a frosty blue tint to them. "Get him inside and keep him warm." He ordered as a SUV pulled in. Five figures got out of it. One ran up to the stretcher. He looked like the King.
"Kaiba!" He yelled as the nurses ran the stretcher inside. He fell to his knees in tears. The others joined him. A clown rubbed his shoulder.
"Come on, Yug. Let's go in."
"Yugi and party?" Simon asked, scanning the group.
"Yup." Joey answered. He looked at his friends. Then, he looked at Simon. "I guess you just got Kai inside. How is he?" He asked with Yugi nodding to know. The rest of the gang stared at him for the answer.
"I need to go in and see if he is a well insulated room. Then, I must check his vital signs." Simon answered as he headed in. Then, the gang followed him. When they arrived at his room, Mr. Mutou was sitting in the hall. He looked up in surprise.
"Yugi, what are you doing here?" He asked with a child's curiosity.
"Is Kaiba in there?" Yugi asked, ignoring his grandfather's question.
"Yes."
"Step aside, punk. Now! Shades! My boss is here, darn it!" A yell echoed in the hall. Ash Black and Mokuba Kaiba ran to them. "Yugi!" Her face suddenly lightened up. Then, she looked at Dr. Muran. "Sorry it took so long. The traffic was terrible." A nurse glared and ordered Ash to shut up. Ash looked at her with her teeth bared. Mokuba pulled on her sleeve like a child with his mother. She looked down at him and smiled. Then, she apologized to the nurse. Finally, Ash turned her attention toward Kaiba. "How is he?"
Dr. Muran remained silent as he walked in. They waited for about ten minutes. But, to them, it felt like forever. Mokuba sat down by Mr. Mutou. "Tell us, Mokuba. What happened?"
"When Seto first passed out…" Mokuba started with everyone with him watching. "Seto and I were arguing. Then, I told Mrs. Hays to cancel all of Seto's meetings. Then, it happened…
'"WHAT? BUT, YOU'RE MY SECRETARY! YOU ALWAYS LISTEN…" Kaiba rose from his desk. Then, he dashed toward Mrs. Hays. However, his physical fatigue caught up with him. "TO me…"Suddenly, Kaiba collapsed to the floor (face first) and lost consciousness. He landed with a hard thud. His fall alarmed everyone in the building. All his employees dashed to his office as Mokuba headed for his brother.
"SETO! Let's get him up to the couch. Somebody, please fetch a doctor." Mokuba ordered, running to his brother's aid. He tried to reach him before the employees got there. Finally, he made it. Gently, Mokuba turned Seto onto his back. Then, turned his head to the side.
"Yes, sir." The employees sprang to action. Wanting not to cause any injury, they slowly picked up Kaiba, whom was limp and clammy. One by one, they removed his jacket and the belts on his upper arms. Then, the jewelry (even his locket) and metal wristbands came off, followed by his black turtleneck. Under that, Seto wore a white, sleeveless shirt. All this happened while Mrs. Hays called the hospital for a doctor or an ambulance.
"Seto." He moaned as he watched him through all the commotion. His brother's skin was pale and sticky. Seto's breathing was very shallow. Roland, a worker that served a judge and body guard during Battle City, had placed an oxygen mask over his boss's nose and mouth. Yet, he hasn't responded to his surroundings. Mokuba immediately decided to find him a personal assistant as he worked his way to his brother. This occurrence proved it. He couldn't tolerate the possibility of losing his brother. "Mrs. Hays, any luck?"
"Darn 9-1-1. They have us on hold." She snapped back.
"While you are waiting, please write an ad for a personal assistant. And please, try not to sound like Seto."
"Yes, Mr. Mokuba. Of course."
Mokuba looked toward his brother with concern swallowing his heart. Seto was the only family he had left and he was the same to him. Ever since Duelist Kingdom, Mokuba has faithfully followed his brother. Of course, he did disagree with some of his brother's ideas, like forgetting his past to focus on the future during the Battle City finals with Yugi. That duel was to decide who would face Marik Ishtar for the Winged Dragon of Ra card. Now, he might lose him forever.
"Mr. Mokuba! Domino Hospital has sent an ambulance here. They should be here any moment," Mrs. Hays yelled as Mokuba's train of thought suddenly stopped.'
"The ambulance arrived and took Seto to the hospital." He ended. Everyone stared in surprise. Ash only looked at him with concern in her eyes. Then, Dr. Muran appeared from Kaiba's room.
"Mokuba, you may go in and see him. In fact, all of you." He replied. Everyone followed Mokuba; the last person in the line was an Egyptian girl. Mokuba looked at his brother. An oxygen mask was over his mouth. The heart monitor made a beeping sound. The blanket up to his shoulders covered Kaiba. He was fixed in one position. Everyone gathered around the bed. Mokuba climbed into the chair. His eyes were fixed on his brother. Then, Kaiba's eyelids slowly opened, but his eyes were dark and forbidden.
"You should've let them take me…" He whispered in the oxygen mask. With a sudden force, Kaiba sat up. Joey tackled him down. "YOU SHOULD'VE LET THEM TAKE ME!" Kaiba screamed as Mokuba shrank back in terror.
"A little help here?" Joey gasped, using all his strength to keep Kaiba down. Tristan kept his legs down as Ash helped Joey with Kaiba's upper body. Dr. Muran ripped the mask off and covered Kaiba's mouth with a towel. Seto struggled in their grip. His screams in the towel were muffled, but they knew what he was saying. Yugi looked at the door.
"Bakura! Kathryn!" He yelled. "Please help us."
They walked in. Kathryn gasped at the sight of three people struggle to keep one man down. "Who is that?" she asked as Bakura came forward to help hold Kaiba down. However, her question wasn't answered, as she was pushed aside by an intern. The young doctor grabbed a syringe of tranquilizer from a drawer and pulled up the sleeve on Kaiba's left arm, revealing a birthmark that looked strangely like an ankh. Kathryn gasped as she felt a flash of déjà vu, watching the intern swab the area and proceed to inject tranquilizer into Kaiba's body. Kathryn took a step closer to him and gently placed her hand on top of his.
"His skin is hot," she whispered as she watched the tranquilizer do its job. Kaiba's screams started to grow softer and shorter. His eyelids fluttered as his breathing slowed. The struggles ceased. Finally, it all stopped. Kaiba exhaled one more time. Then, Dr. Muran let go of Kaiba's head. It fell, facing the doctor. Kaiba's body was slippery with sweat. In fact, Joey and Ash were partly covered with it. Tristan was the lucky one. Then, Joey, Tristan, and Ash slowly climbed off of him. Mokuba put the mask back on his brother's face. He couldn't tell if his brother was now resting in peace or if this episode was to happen again. To ponder that matter, he silently crept out. Ash followed him with her friends. The young Kaiba put his head in his hands.
"What's wrong with him?"
To be continued…
Next Chapter in the When Destinies Collide Saga: Chapter 16: Kaiba Reunion
While waiting to find out if his brother is all right, Mokuba gets a surprise from his stepbrother. Ash is suspicious about these family members she has met yet. Is her gut right about them?
Ash Kaiba: Who's ready for chapter 16? If you are or not, just review anyway. They make me happy.
