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.

Author here. If you don't know how, then you must remember to look under the title. I wish to thank my loyal fans. Enjoy reading this chapter.

Previously in When Destinies Collide: Chapter 27: Determination of Two Blue-Eyes

Ash Black pulls out Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur. Meanwhile, the final stage of Gansley's poison begins to take effect, trapping Seto Kaiba in the body of his childhood.

Chapter 28: Fight of the Paladin-Part 1: Power of the Red-Eyes

"Let's duel!"

"Go, Yugi!"

"Beat his a—, Yugi!"

"Joey, say butt or bottom. Your cursing isn't good for the readers," Tristan groaned.

"Sorry, pal."

Yami Yugi glared at his opponent. Whoever he was, he kept his identity a secret by that deep purple cape. Golden chains held it together. The only thing the cape revealed was that this duelist was a Rare Hunter.

Yami shifted his shoulders. His school uniform jacket covered his black shirt. Matching pants ended in black shoes with buttoned straps. The Millennium Puzzle dangled from the chain links around his neck. "I'll go first."

"Very well, Pharaoh."

Yami drew his five cards and then the one for his turn. "Big Shield Gardna… defense mode."

The Rare Hunter drew his card. "Since your monster has the defense of 2600, I will set a monster facedown as well as two other cards. Make your move, Pharaoh."

Meanwhile, at the Domino City Museum…

She stared. The Excalibur rested in her right hand, her "sword" hand. How can this be? How did I pull out the Excalibur?

"Ash…"

Her icy eyes looked up at the source of her name. Ishizu stood in front of her with her hand extended. Ash threw her left hand into it. The Egyptian pulled her up. "Do you now believe?"

She couldn't answer.

"You are the one…You are the Paladin."

Ash pulled out of her grip. "I better find Yugi."

"We'll help you."

Ash nodded. Then, she turned and ran out the door, ignoring her father and her relatives. The Ishtars followed her shadow.

In Domino City…

"Kaiba!"

Alister, Valon, and Rafael searched. The brunette had just gotten up and vanished. They had absolutely no clue where he might have gone…or how to get there.

"He has to be here somewhere, mate."

"I know, but where?"

"Kaiba has the advantage this time. He knows this city better than us."

At that, they continued.

Somewhere else in Domino…

"Yugi!"

People towered over him. He pushed his way through the crowd. His blue eyes searched for the famous duelist. His legs cried. "Yugi!"

"Are you lost?"

Seto Kaiba turned around. A girl was bent over. She had long black hair in braids hanging over her shoulders. Her purple eyes glowed in the evening sun. Kathryn…

"Come on. I'll help you find whoever you're looking for."

"Are you sure, Kathryn?" A platinum blonde asked her.

Bakura…

"Of course, Bakura. It's never fun to be lost."

She doesn't recognize me. Why doesn't she recognize me?

Yugi's Duel…

"I flip summon my Cyber Jar, Pharaoh. Your only line of defense is destroyed. Now, we draw five cards and special summon any monster level 4 or lower."

Slifer…in this draw… "I special summon King and Queen's Knight. When both of them are on the field, I can automatically summon Jack's Knight."

He listened to a gulp from the Hunter's throat. He obviously had no monsters to defend himself, but he still had two cards facedown. It wouldn't matter. Yami planned on summoning Slifer, one of the God Cards in his deck.

"Your friend is Master Heishin's, and there is nothing you can do about it!"

"Obviously, you're speaking of Kaiba. What have you done to him?"

"Not what I have done, but a Searcher has done."

Searcher…what is a Searcher?

"Yugi!"

"Calm down, Yugi," his grandfather called.

"Yeah, man." Joey and Tristan backed him up.

Yami growled in his chest. It sounded familiar…too familiar.

"Just great! Kai taught Yug' to growl like he does."

The Hunter signaled he ended his turn. Yami drew one more card. Then, he reached for one in his hand. "I sacrifice King, Queen, and Jack's Knight to bring onto the field my mighty beast! Behold…Slifer the Sky Dragon!"

The Hunter flinched back. A God card was out.

Kaiba with Kathryn and Bakura…

A spark passed through his body. It felt similar from the times he summoned Obelisk. Yugi had summoned an Egyptian God Card. All he knew that it wasn't Obelisk. It had to be either Slifer the Sky Dragon or The Winged Dragon of Ra. He took another step. The feeling got stronger. Kaiba knew immediately that they were on the right track.

Somewhere in Domino…

"Kai…OW! Raf, Al is being mean again!"

"WHAT? I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING…yet."

Valon looked up. A muscular bald man towered over him. "AH!" He screamed and flew back…onto Alister.

"Hey, chicken…GET OFF!"

Three other people caught up to him. Two of them were female. One had entirely black hair. The second had blonde bangs and black dyed hair. Her icy eyes scared him to death. Her muscles were not as large as the tall man's, but he knew she could clobber him if she so darned please.

"Have you seen Kaiba?"

"Which one, Rafael?" The girl asked.

"Seto…"

"Seto Kaiba," the white head exclaimed.

"Ishizu…"

"Let's find him, Marik, Odion."

The men nodded at her. Ash stood with her arms crossed. Alister agreed with them and allowed the Ishtars to lead them.

Kaiba with Kathryn…

"Wheeler," he yelled. His voice even sounded young. He didn't understand. Why did he sound so young?

The blonde duelist turned around with the "geek squad." His brown eyes only saw the two behind him. "Kathryn! Bakura!"

He didn't see me. Why? Is he ignoring me?

He silently followed them to Joey. Téa, Tristan, and Yugi's grandpa all greeted them…except him. Do they care about me? Why? What is wrong with them? What is wrong with me?

"Slifer, attack. Heaven Lightning Strike!"

The blue eyes jumped up. Violet/red spikes reached for the sky with lightning jagged bangs. Violet eyes hardened as the Egyptian God attacked. Yugi…he thought as the Life Point counter fell to zero. Yugi marched across the dueling field to the Rare Hunter. He was once shorter than he was, but now, it is backwards. He is shorter than his rival is.

"What have you done to Kaiba?"

"You don't sense his presence now, do you, Pharaoh?"

"ANSWER MY QUESTION! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO KAIBA?"

"His heka is sealed away. Oh, and one final thing, he is in your presence right now. So take a good look."

The Rare Hunter turned and ran from the scene. Yami pondered. Kaiba…he's here. "So, take a good look." He turned toward his friends.

"Way to go, Yug'!" Joey thumbed up. Everyone else nodded.

"Kathryn…Bakura…"

"Hi," she happily answered. "This works."

"Whoa, hold on a sec. 'This works'?" Joey asked, dumbfounded as usual.

"I was on my way to see my cousin. Since he's here already, I'll just wait for him."

Kathryn…I'm sorry.

"Kaiba…your cousin?" Yami pondered out loud.

Kathryn Takemura nodded with a grin on her face.

"It's a shame you won't see him that long." A voice mocked.

I know that voice. "Leichter!"

A light brunette materialized in the space before them. His brown eyes scanned the group for the caller. "Now, now, no need to be afraid. I bring no harm."

"Leichter…" Yami tried to piece together. Then, the adult staggered.

"Gansley, you idiot. You said he would come here." He snapped.

"I know he will. Remember, he turns to Yugi Mutou whenever he needs help." Another voice reminded Leichter. It sounded familiar to Kaiba's ears. Then, he saw who had spoken. Gansley limped into view. He still gripped his cane in his right hand.

GANSLEY! Yami then knew the answer. "Heishin revived the Big Five."

"Hey, aren't ya supposed to be dead?" Joey snapped.

"How about greatly wounded?" The bald scolded at him.

"You wouldn't be that way if you listened. I told you. We can't stand against Ra's power." Leichter reminded him.

"Then, what have you done to Kaiba!" Yami angrily yelled at them.

Gansley grinned at his question. "Why, Yugi, I searched him. I went into his mind and searched him."

"Gansley is responsible for this." He answered with his altered voice.

Seto Kaiba pushed his way between legs. He could tell Yami immediately recognized him. His neck cried in agony as he looked up into Yami's eyes. "Yami…"

"Kaiba…"

Leichter chuckled. "What a touching reunion. I'm afraid though, Seto, it is time to go."

"I'm not going anywhere…Not with you!" Kaiba snapped, praying his body could jump up six years.

"You 'cough'…" Leichter hunched forward. Gansley waddled over to him.

"Leichter…"

"Just get him. Since he's in this form, he'll be an easy victim."

Yami jumped in front of him. "Kaiba is my friend. If he doesn't want to go with you, then I'll make sure that his wish is granted."

"He doesn't have a choice in the matter."

Ash with the Ishtars…

"The pharaoh summoned a God card," Marik suddenly said. He jumped off the curb.

"A God card?" Ash asked.

Ishizu replied, "Three cards that Pegasus created. However, he could not control them. So, he gave them to me to protect. I hid them in Egypt, but Marik stole Slifer the Sky Dragon and the Winged Dragon of Ra from their hiding place. In response, I took Obelisk the Tormentor and lend it to a duelist here."

"Who," Valon asked.

"His name is Seto Kaiba, one of the chosen who can summon an Egyptian God card."

She tensed.

"I sense it too. Ghouls straight ahead."

"Let's banish them." Marik growled.

"We are only to reveal our power to the Chosen, the Pharaoh, and whenever necessary." Ishizu reminded him.

Odion started to run, leading them. However, Ash gained speed and passed him. She's in shape after all. People parted to let them through. Ash wanted to see if Yugi was in trouble. Upon arriving, she slowed. Yugi stood with a little kid behind him. Her friends stared in shock as the Ishtars and Valon's group caught up.

"He doesn't have a choice in the matter."

"What matter?" Ash snapped.

A light brunette shifted his gaze towards her…as well as the little boy. His wide ocean eyes reminded her of her boss. Even the brown hair forced her boss's image into her mind. Ash shook it off. She felt and did what she thought was best. She strolled to her friend's side. The pale blue irises hardened into ice.

"Everyone has a choice," she growled from her chest.

Yugi glanced at her with a slight turn of the head. His hand instinctively reached back. Kaiba grabbed it and held onto it with all his might. Yami closed his eyes with a grin. Then, they snapped open. Violet determination glowed in his eyes. A noble expression carved itself into his face. His lips tinted down, seriously and wanted to get down to business. The kingly irises glared at the two who opposed him.

"Kaiba is my friend. I WILL NEVER GIVE HIM UP! IF YOU STILL WANT HIM, THEN YOU HAVE TO GET THROUGH ME FIRST!"

Joey pulled himself up to Yugi. "Count me in, pal."

Yami and Kaiba stared. Téa and Tristan joined him.

"We've been by your side for months," Tristan reminded him.

"We're friends to the end," Téa added, Yami smiling. She knelt down and tenderly looked at Kaiba directly. "New and old, we're always there."

For once, he was actually comfortable with them by him. Kaiba started seeing the entire "geek squad" differently. Maybe this event, ill as it is, was to provide him that warm feeling later on down the road. Plus, Ash was right. He has a choice, and it was made when he first learned he was Ra's Chosen…He was not going to Heishin. He would rather die than go to an old man that he has no memories of. He was actually glad that they were here…by his side. And even though he can't fight, there was someone that will fight for him.

"Go through one, ya hafta go through all of us." Joey barked at Leichter and Gansley.

"First, who are these two?" Ash asked, never seen them before.

"The fat bald guy is Gansley, and Leichter is the light brunette with a beard. They were once part of the Big Five," Kaiba explained.

Leichter raised his shoulders. "You are correct, Seto-chan."

"For what seems forever," Gansley growled, roughly from his throat. Then, he changed his attention direction. "Well, Leichter, the sun is getting ready to set. Let's tango."

"Just leave it to me." He snapped as he raised his arm. His legion materialized behind him.

"Stay behind me, Kaiba."

Kaiba nodded to his archrival. If anything else, he would rather have time repeat itself…that is all his duels with Yugi Mutou.

"Bring to me…the Chosen One of Ra!"

A hand gripped his wrist. An old man pulled Kaiba toward him. He buried his head in his overalls.

"Mutou-san…" Kaiba addressed.

"We'd probably want to stay out of this," Mr. Mutou replied.

Kaiba said nothing. Staying out of Leichter's grasp occupied his mind more than staying out of the way. He watched the Ishtars' appearance change, as well as Alister, Rafael, and Valon. Then, something went wrong. Leichter vanished from their sights. Kaiba pushed himself out of Mr. Mutou's grip. He took a couple steps. Something brushed his skin. The wind rushed to his face. Kaiba turned to look…at a double-crosser.

"Kaiba!" Yami yelled.

"Yami," was all he could say.

"If I were you," Leichter paused, "I would worry about what would happen when the sun sets in the west."

The ocean eyes got brighter in a surge of fright. Leichter tossed up his head and laughed as he landed, the setting sun silhouetting their bodies. The young flesh trembled in his hands. He smirked at the trapped teen, looking pleased.

"How is it to tremble at pure terror…unable to do anything…unable to fight back?" He asked. Kaiba only stared. The body hair raised itself up slightly with goose bumps. Little whimpers escaped his lips. "How long has it been since you were truly afraid? How long has it been since you were submissive?"

"Stop," Kaiba gasped.

"LEICHTER, STOP WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING TO HIM!" Yami cried over his opponent's army.

Leichter chuckled, ignoring Yami's warning. "How long has it been since you were powerless?"

Kaiba turned his head away. Leichter kneeled down to his captive's ear. "You've become soft, Seto-chan. What is this? You actually have friends to fight for you."

Kaiba didn't answer. He didn't notice Leichter removing his blue slip on or even unbuttoning his shirt. His mind rushed back to reality when he felt fingers stroking his neck.

"DON'T!"

Leichter's attention shifted. Joey stood, posed to fight.

"Horus…Knight's Crest!"

To be continued…

Next Chapter in the When Destinies Collide Saga: Chapter 29: Fight of the Paladin-Part 2: Necra and the Paladin

The sun sets in the west and Kaiba's time on Earth is ticking. Leichter refreshes himself by drinking a dose of Kaiba's blood. Noah appears, taking his true form in this full moon. All his valiant efforts are waste as Ash reveals her power to Yugi and the gang, followed by Kathryn and Kaiba's abduction.

Howdy again. Please review. I pray that you have a hard stomach...for the next chapter.