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.

Previously in When Destinies Collide: Chapter 28: Fight of the Paladin-Part One: Power of the Red-Eyes

Kaiba searches around for Yugi and finds him by Slifer. Ash and the Ishtars (along with Alister, Valon, and Rafael) also chase down Yugi. Yami learns that his friend is in greater danger. Gansley (who is still alive somehow) and Leichter make their appearance. Leichter reveals he has an eye for Seto, whom he separates from Yami and the others.

Note from Katie Mae (the Beta Reader): There are a few disturbing parts in here that may not be suitable for younger readers, so please heed the rating; if you're under 13, I recommend not reading.

Ash Kaiba: Thank you, Katie Mae. If you are a loyal fan, I wish you luck and to inform you that Leichter is like a vampire and Kaiba is the victim. THERE IS NO SEXUAL CONNECTION BETWEEN KAIBA AND LEICHTER PERIOD! Thank you.

Chapter 29: Fight of the Paladin-Part Two: Necra and the Paladin

"Black Fire Inferno!"

The black fire engulfed several of Leichter's army, heading for the general himself. Their screeches pierced the air as they died. Joey Wheeler's actual target dodged the attack…with Kaiba in his arms. Joey snorted in disappointment. Then, he looked at himself. He was covered with leather and patches of metal. A black tail dragged behind him. The wings were folded against his back. He felt the sides of his head. His fingers ran up until they found a point. What the.. Horns? I have horns?

His target growled. "The Red-Eyes! Get him! He has the spirit of the Red-Eyes Black Dragon!" He yelled. Then, he fell to his knee. "Not yet…a little longer." His hand gripped what it could find.

"Let go!"

Seto Kaiba leaned back, his hair ensnared by Leichter's hand. His captor had no plans of giving him up, but he wanted to get away as fast as he could. His blood raced faster beneath his skin. His body complied with Leichter's desire. Kaiba tensed as Leichter's hand fingered his throat. Chills fired down his spine. He dared not to move…despite all what his friends told him to do.

"I can taste it," the man licked his lips.

What? Kaiba panicked as his body was pulled closer. He was guided to face the double-crosser. A faded rose tongue wiped hard to see lips.

"No," a voice yelled. "Don't you dare, Leichter!"

Kaiba turned to the source. A neon green head shoved his way into view.

"Make me, Noah," Leichter growled," once the sun sets, his flesh will be tender to bite."

"Once the sun sets, your nightmare will be unleashed."

The sun crept lower in the evening sky. Noah crouched down and leapt into combat. Leichter released him and charged to meet his adversary head on. Kaiba and Yami took advantage of this distraction. Yami crept toward him as Kaiba crept away. The two met. Kaiba reached for Yami's hand. Yami pulled him through the crowd. But, as fate would have it, Leichter spotted them.

"No, he's mine!"

Leichter swiped Kaiba from Yami's grip. The final rays vanished in the sky. Chuckles haunted their ears. Leichter threw back his head and opened his mouth. His fingers found the perfect spot on Kaiba's neck. Fangs grew as Kaiba struggled to get out of his grip. Then, the head came down. He felt ivory slice his skin, down to his blood vessels. Blood rushed to the area as some sort of relaxant flooded his entire body. His body started to feel fuzzy, even when Leichter's tongue cleaned the wound.

"You have delicious blood, Seto-chan. What blood! That young sweetness will keep me going for months!" he yelled as he threw Kaiba to one of his men.

"Lord…"

Leichter snapped on an annoyed face. "What?"

Yami looked around with Joey. Kaiba was in the arms of another black creature. Fiery wings pounded the air. Yami and Joey tried to find the head. They could clearly see Seto and his shirt with a space before the wings. Then, it stood before them. Seto trembled.

"Take care of him, Kathryn," it replied.

Kathryn Takemura nodded, also trembling. She took Seto in her arms.

"It's all right," she replied, trying to comfort him. Her skin made his tingle. The feeling multiplied as he soon as he realized that she was hugging him. "Aw, I love you!"

"Kathryn," he yelled, starting to feel strangely tired.

He was able to make out her looking up. The moon appeared to be a half-circle enclosed with a fuzzy covering. He felt extremely lazy (which would normally drive him bonkers.) Kaiba allowed a sigh escape his lips.

Kathryn shifted her gaze from the full moon. From its eerie glow, she was able to detect the creature's face. It had a face of a dog…no…a jackal. Its ears stood on top of its head. Its hand crept down its pants and lured out a dagger, its fingers in position to throw it.

"Ash, come on and fight," it snapped.

Ash Black actually looked scared. Her body refused to move. The creature growled and turned its back toward her. Valon jumped up, ready to yell at it.

"Where's Noah, you demon!"

Seto struggled to look up. Rafael tended to Seto's wound, completely unaware of the fact that he was caring for Kaiba.

"Noah…Noah's here?" He asked as his mind started to shut down.

Bakura looked at the boy. His voice was hushed. His body curled up in Kathryn's arms. He couldn't blame her for liking the boy; he was adorable. Kathryn cuddled the boy, brushing his hair with her fingers. Ash knelt down before looking up. The creature had fought back most of the other ghouls.

"Come on and fight me, Leichter," it challenged.

"I have business with Noah alone," Leichter replied. "So, die!"

The demon's head crashed to the ground right next to Téa. Téa screamed. Kathryn was about to yell at Téa, until she saw it. The dog-like head lay on the ground in a pool of blood. Its red eyes stared ahead. Leichter sneered in great accomplishment.

"You, moron! It takes more than that to kill me!" A voice snapped.

"EEEK!"

Joey and Yami looked at Téa. Her blue eyes stared at the head. Joey laughed as he picked up the head. His tail lashed the air. His sister tried to comfort Téa.

"Come on, Téa. Like a head could say something."

"Do you want to bet?"

Joey's head twitched. The eyes blinked.

"Ah! The head spoke!"

"So predictable…No, stupid body, I'm over here!"

They watched in shock as the body staggered toward the head. The fur-covered hands snatched the head up from the ground. They lowered it.

"No! Turn me around! No! 180°! Now!"

The hands obeyed. The face gazed through them. Then, muscle and flesh regenerated. The creature cocked its head.

"That hurt!"

Then, it approached Kathryn. Bakura jumped in front of her. His brown eyes glowed in anger.

"I have only one intention," it replied as it walked past him. It knelt down in front of her. It nudged Seto with its nose. The boy stirred and opened his eyes. "Seto…Seto, you don't have to be afraid."

"Who are you?"

"It's me," it answered, licking Kaiba's cheek. "You look tired. Get some rest. I'll explain later. The one thing you need to know is that will always protect you."

Kathryn gasped. "Seto…"

"It's Kaiba," Bakura snapped.

Kaiba didn't hear him. His consciousness had already slipped away into dreamland. The creature undid its cape. It then covered both him and Kathryn with it.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"It's hard for me to stand out…a name that neither of them have, something…that I can boast about." The demon moaned.

Her eyes widened. "It can't be. You can't be."

"Can't be who?"

"Noah," she whispered.

Leichter glared. "Noah?"

"My human name, you piece of filth."

Noah reached for a scabbard at his side. He pulled the hilt, revealing a red blade. Yet, it glowed darker in the moonlight. He turned himself around on the ball of his foot. His red eyes froze all his opponents.

"Gansley, you searched his mind. Therefore, I can never forgive you!"

The Kaiba charged into battle…with the red sword held high. Leichter pulled his arm. Fat Gansley stayed behind him. With the quick motion downward, the surviving ghouls attacked. Noah blocked their talons at amazing speed. However, Leichter had another plan…and Noah was falling into it. The ghouls had overwhelmed him with dark rope. One by one, they wrapped around his body. They even targeted his muzzle, sealing it shut. Noah's grip on his sword greatly decreased as it fell out of his hand. Leichter approached him and picked up the blade. His brown eyes scanned it.

"Can it be? The Soul Blade, which is the 'sword of souls.'"

Noah growled deep in his chest. The ghoul laughed, pointing their talons at him. They mocked him, the knight of the dead. Leichter walked closer to him. He lifted the muzzle, just to look his opponent in the eyes.

"Stupid jackal," he taunted and strolled away from him. "You're weak. Some demon to be feared…" he said sarcastically, "especially when you left her unprotected."

Leichter pointed at Kathryn. Noah struggled to free himself, but his bonds held tight. He could watch Leichter approach her. The adult knelt down and stroked her face.

"What a beautiful young woman, Noah, and you let her down. Your major downfall was failing him," he commented as his hand left her face to Seto's head. "He should just give in. Then, he wouldn't have to suffer so much."

Ash gasped. Flashes of her boss's illnesses flooded her mind. She reached for her side. Her fingers brushed the hilt. Its metal was unusually warm. The man Leichter continued to treat her vulnerable boss as animal. Her ice eyes fell onto the bandage Rafael had put on. Then, his right hand snared her attention. A small, deep red scab covered his injury. Finally, her temper shot off. Her legs forced her body ahead.

"Get away from him!" she yelled.

Her fists automatically pulled themselves up. The adult stared, as if she had startled him to death. However, he quickly recovered and pushed her aside. His arm wrapped itself around Kathryn. Leichter's body grew dark as wings sprung from his back. His left hand ripped Seto from Kathryn's arms. His chest had a strange piece of armor. Then, she realized what it was for as it took Seto and formed an armored pocket to protect him. She looked down and saw Bakura growing smaller.

"Where are you taking us?"

"Somewhere, now sleep."

Back on the ground…

"Ash, now!" Noah sent mentally.

The girl struggled onto her feet. She turned around and faced the ghouls. She had watched Leichter take off with Kathryn and Kaiba. Her right hand went for her side. The hand curled into a fist.

"Ash, that's just air, "Joey and Tristan (dum-dums) yelled at her.

"She's…" Valon was cut off.

"No," Yami answered.

The ghouls mocked her as they did Noah. Yami watched, hope shining in his eyes. Ash's arm pulled. A sword appeared from thin air, as did its sheath. Ash swung it. Its trail glittered white in the moonlight. She crouched and sprang into the air.

"Dragon…Aura…Slash," she yelled as her Blue-Eyes transferred its power to the Excalibur. Ash aimed at the ropes. Almost out of air, she swung. Her body crashed in front of Noah. Worn out, Ash fainted.

Noah's arms pumped and ripped the bonds off. His picked up the Soul Blade and cut a line on the bonds around his mouth. He inhaled. Then, he stretched his jaws. The bonds snapped as the demon yelled in anguish. Alister and Bakura approached him. Bakura turned him around.

"Where's Kathryn?" he yelled.

"Somewhere…Seto's with her."

"But where?"

"I don't know. The minors fled as well as Gansley. Leichter took both of them."

Yami approached him as well. The red irises saw him. The ears went flat against his head. "We'll find them," the Spirit promised.

Noah nodded as Ash moaned. Joey and Tristan helped her up.

"Kaiba-sama?" she asked. "Kaiba-sama! Kathryn!"

"We're going to find them! Calm down!"

Then, they stared in shock. Noah knelt before her. His muzzle touched his chest. The Soul Blade ran beside the left side of his face.

"I swear to protect him. I, Necra, am forever in your service, Daughter of Isis."

Ash slowly nodded. Her body remained standing because of the guys supporting her. Noah stood up and embraced her. His left arm swooped up her legs. The fiery wings flared to life again. Necra spread his wings and sprung into the air. He flapped his wings to gain altitude before he turned toward Kaiba Manor and flew in that direction.

To be continued…

Next Chapter in the When Destinies Collide saga: Chapter 30: Moon of a Demon

Kaiba and Kathryn are held captive in a place of Kaiba's past. Leichter has an order from Heishin. Noah/Necra tracks Leichter with Yami and his friends following.

Ash Kaiba down here! Thanks for reading and praying attention to the rating. Please review as this segment draws to an end.