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: Ash admits it...but when is she going to tell him? thinking I don't know when, but I do know that it is not in this part. chuckling Here's chapter 18. Enjoy!
Previously in When Destinies Collide: Chapter 17: Remembrance
Ash spends the day with Téa and Kathryn. They go to mall and shop. There, Ash finds a beautiful dress and buys it for the Christmas Dance in December. She admits that she has a thing for her boss, Seto Kaiba.
Chapter 18: The Sharp Gang
A Day before Wednesday the fifth…
Kaiba stepped out of the doors. Fresh air rushed into his lungs. He was out…at last. He immediately desired to talk with Yugi. Kaiba was actually happy to be free. No more sitting in a hospital bed for him. He dashed to the shop. Upon arrival, he walked in.
"Yugi, I…uh, oh," he replied. At that moment, he felt so…so…so…stupid. Joey, Tristan, and Duke were with him. Kaiba's face went beet red.
"Good seein' ya out of the hospital, Rich Boy. But I, Joey Wheeler, know that…YOU'RE HIDING SOMETHING WITH YUGI!" Joey yelled. Kaiba's hair shot straight up. "So, what is it? Does it have something to do with the Rare Hunters and that black thing from Halloween? Tell the truth, Kaiba!"
"I…uh…well, um… How am l going to say this?"
"A simple yes or no would work."
"Yes," he forced out.
"Yeah, right. Who's 'Dragon's Keeper?'"
"Don't say that," Kaiba growled.
"Hey, Joey. It would have to be him since he is the one who reacted," Duke reminded him.
"Oh, yeah." Joey chuckled. "That still can't be true."
"What did you say?" Kaiba growled with a twitching eyebrow. His eyes glowed coldly. Joey looked at his face.
"Ah! Kaiba, stay away, I don't like that look in your eyes." Joey backed away. Kaiba only stood in one spot. With that, Joey sighed in relief. "What are you two hiding? Come on, Kaiba. Spill the beans. Yug won't tell us. I know you have Yugi involved. Involve Yugi and you get the entire package."
Kaiba's eyes extremely softened. Joey was right. Eventually, he would have the entire pep squad with him. His lips curved down a bit. "I…I loosely translated that 'Son of Ra' mystery."
"YOU…WHAT! WHY?"
"I had to…for a special reason."
"Why?"
Kaiba opened his mouth. Then, he heard a click of a doorknob. His mouth snapped shut. The door behind the counter opened. Mr. Mutou, Gozaburo, Mokuba, and Noah stood in its entrance. Gozaburo Kaiba glared at his stepson. Kaiba looked at him with his eyes unusually soft. "What is up with this, Seto?" he growled. Kaiba flinched. Oh, how he wanted to forget that voice. Now, it had come back to haunt him.
"Why are you here?"
"Trying to figure out Halloween. What else?"
"Please, Seto. Tell us the truth about…"
"Don't…"
"Dragon's Keeper," Mokuba finished. Kaiba fell to the floor.
"Too late," he groaned. Kaiba slowly rose to his knees. Everyone blankly stared at him. "I am he! Does that make sense? Call the Rare Hunters and have them take me away! I have had enough! I never asked to be the Keeper of the Blue-Eyes! I never asked to be selected by an Egyptian god! I never asked to find my ancient girlfriend, whose name is…" Kaiba paused as he just noticed Ash in the shop. "Kanika."
Ash stared at him, too shocked for words. There were six other people with her. One of them, a young man with red hair, stared at Noah with his eyes wide.
"Kaiba! What happened to you! You're a little shorter and your hair… It's green!" he yelled.
"Uh…Alister, that's Noah, our stepbrother."
"No! It can't be!" Alister gasped. "Are you telling the truth, Mokuba?"
Mokuba nodded. He remembered Alister all too well. Alister once possessed the Seal of Orichalcos. He had a grudge against his brother. That is for capturing his family. Alister had a little brother named Mikey. While traveling to the U.S., he fought Kaiba on top of one of Kaiba's planes. Learning that Kaiba will defend Mokuba at all costs, Alister loses and his soul is taken. Kaiba later joined him when Dartz's totem attacked his Mirror Force Dragon, which was formed by Critias and Mirror Force. "How is it going, Alister? Any luck yet?"
"No. Sorry, Mokuba, but when I saw you, I knew Kaiba had to be near. I don't believe the rumors of him being in the hospital," Alister answered. "Noah, right? My name is…"
"Alister. We know that, mate," the light brunette commented. "Name's Valon. Mr. Quiet here is Rafael." He introduced. Rafael nodded his hello.
"Noah Kaiba and this is my father, Gozaburo."
"Oh, you're the one Alister is so mad at."
"Valon, I planned on Kaiba repaying me," Alister growled at him with a deadly look in his eyes.
Kaiba couldn't help but to laugh at the occasion. He held his hand close to his mouth, trying to cover it up. Soon, Ash joined him. Kaiba paused to catch his breath. He looked at Ash's face and saw the little girl inside. If only I was like that, he thought, remembering his own childhood. Kaiba turned away, ashamed of what Mokuba had told him. It was true. He had forgotten how to smile. Now, after so long, the curving on his lips felt strange to him. He was a boy again; except he was 18 years of age.
"Yugi, these are my former gang members: Lava, Tenor, and Streak."
"Wow. Cool, Ash." Yugi gasped.
"You're Yugi Mutou. Volcano has been saying a lot about you."
"Volcano…"
"That was my street name," Ash explained with a soft chuckle.
What? Kaiba pondered. His sixth sense sparked through his nerves. His back straightened as he tensed his muscles. The sapphires looked around. "Yugi," he growled as the teen ran to his side.
"Kaiba, what is it?" Yugi asked with concern.
"I wish I knew," was his only answer.
Yugi tapped into the power of the Puzzle. Yami sprang out. He suddenly felt what Kaiba sensed. "A shadow stone."
"Shadow stone?" Kaiba asked. He had never heard of a shadow stone. He redirected his attention to Yami. "That doesn't sound good."
"Kaiba, you look…" Alister started as he finally noticed him.
"Save it!" he yelled.
"And you haven't changed, Seth. My Pharaoh, it has been a while," a voice replied. Kaiba tensed at the sound of his ancient name. Joey jumped up, ready for a Duel. Ash stood by Mokuba. Her face had turned hard, her mouth a scowl. Kaiba grunted in his throat. It came out as his traditional annoyed grunt.
"Who are…?" Yami yelled as Kaiba had cut him off. "Kaiba!"
"What do you want, Heishin?" Kaiba growled as he took a step forward. His blue eyes were hard. "Who are you hiding behind? You might as well say it. I know you're stuck in the Shadow Realm."
"Seth, how nice of you to remember me," a female voice answered. Purple hair shined in the sunshine. Ash's face softened.
"Streak."
"Duel me, Kaiba. How about two-against-one?" Streak questioned. "Now, your partner. Pharaoh, Joseph, you two have meddled in my masters plans long enough. However, Ash Black, I would like to have you join us."
"No thanks," Ash declined.
"I insist if you want your friend back."
"Streak… All right. I'll duel you," Ash growled. She grabbed her Duel Disk.
"Ash, you don't have to do this," Mokuba whined.
"I'm afraid I must," she answered. "Leave it, Mokuba. I'm with your brother, though I am disappointed that he didn't call." She looked at him. "No need to worry, sir," she replied as she joined Kaiba across from Streak.
"Don't forget the Heart of the Cards, you two," Yami reminded them. The two nodded their heads. "Kaiba, good luck. She has to be tough."
"We can do it, Yugi. Think about it: I'm dueling with the War of the Roses Champion." Kaiba grinned. He and Yami shook hands. Then, he took his position. Kaiba felt his duel instincts rise in his head. Okay. Let's save the shadow stone, whatever that is, for later. Keep emotions in check and keep the shadows down. He mentally growled. Ash and I have to work as a team. What is Streak hiding? What was Heishin's purpose with her? He wondered as they shuffled each other's decks. Streak was shuffling his. Ash had Streak's deck. That left Kaiba with Ash's deck. When he was finished, he felt a power in her top card. The power felt familiar…way too familiar. Kaiba gave her deck back as he took his own. Streak, Ash, and Kaiba walked to their spots.
"Are you two ready? This will be the duel of your life." Streak laughed, throwing her hands in the air.
This is wrong! I feel it. There is a stronger force behind this. I can't lose this duel. I can't let Ash lose either. Kaiba told himself in his head. Remember that this hocus-pocus is real.
To be continued…
Next chapter in the When Destinies Collide Saga: Chapter 19: Darkness Will Not Stop Me
Ash, Kaiba, and Streak begin their two-on-one duel. Streak forces the secrets of both Ash and Kaiba's past to come to life. Will Ash and Kaiba be able to handle their past? Will Ash work with her boss or will Kaiba have to get her to help him?
Ash Kaiba: The End!
Kaiba: What? What about saving the world?
Ash Kaiba: You're taking this too seriously. Of course, it's not the end. It still says "To be continued...".
Kaiba: Review...please. Ash Kaiba is crazy.
Ash Kaiba: You're the one who can DESTROY the world. So, shut up! My story!
Kaiba: Help...(being chased offstage)
