When Destinies Collide
By Ash Kaiba
DISCLAIMER! We do own Ashley "Ash" Black, Kathryn Takemura, and Mae Black, and any other character you don't recognize on the show or games (which is a lot). Plus, we don't own Kaiba Corp.
Author here...again. I will always be up here. I bless all of you who survived the last chapter... Now...how to kill off Leichter...
Previously in When Destinies Collide: Chapter 29: Fight of the Paladin-Part 2: Necra and the Paladin
Leichter, who used his blood to regain lost heka, bit Kaiba. Noah/Necra, the knight of the dead, was bound in a mass of darkness. Ash, using the Excalibur for the first time, rescues him…but was too late for Seto and Kathryn.
Chapter 30: Moon of a Demon
"Leichter…"
"Yes, Lord Heishin."
"I have a task for you. Capture Seth."
"Seth…There must be millions of them."
"He is now known as Seto Kaiba."
"Seto-chan!"
"Catch him. But before you do, split the 'Moon of a Demon.' I want the halves buried and sealed into his flesh."
Leichter bowed before the dark crystal on his pedestal. "Yes, master…"
"Mokuba…"
Leichter snapped back to reality. Seto-chan had mumbled his little brother's name. It was obvious that he was dreaming. As long as it is pleasant…your future will counteract it. The dark eyes shifted to the girl in his right. She too fell asleep. He only targeted her for the Duel Monster cards in the Games Unlimited shop. The cold air froze his skin of darkness. What concerned him more, however, was that his captives don't get hypothermia. After all, he still had to seal Heishin's treasure into Seto-chan's flesh. Leichter glanced down. His destination hid before him.
He landed, taking Seto out of the armored pocket. He shoved him a cage that resembled a large birdcage. He set the girl next to it. The wings shrank back into his human disguise. A sigh escaped his lips as he picked up the cage by the handle. Once it was positioned, the girl went over his right shoulder. Leichter cautiously stepped toward the entrance.
The building itself was structured of steel. Birds had made their nests in the 'KC' logo. It had been about six years since he or Seto Kaiba had stepped in it. Wood panels barred the broken down door. Leichter found peace here. Seto-chan, on the other hand, did not. Leichter vividly remembered him trying to sell the place or land. He had once came up with plans to tear it down, but never followed through. No matter what Kaiba thought of the place, he could never just let it go. The adult hunched down, ducking under the boards.
Dry, musty air stuck to the top of his mouth. He didn't care. Death smelled a lot worse than this. Dust clung to his clothes and skin. The cage vibrated. The twelve-year-old body can last a little longer, he realized, stepping over debris. Leichter searched in between cracks of the old doors in the hallway. Insects flew around, flying blindly into spider webs. He came to a restored door, its power returned. His fingers punched in the code. The slab of metal retracted into the wall. Two brunettes and a black-haired man stood in the room. Brunette number one turned to face him, while pushing his glasses back up his nose.
"Well, Leichter. I'd have to say that you had a successful hunt."
"You had your part, Johnson." He answered. "Nezbitt, remember him?"
Brunette number two, the man called Nezbitt, peeked into his design. Kaiba still slept.
"It's Seto-chan."
"You know he's going to hate us calling him that," the man with black hair pointed out.
"We know, Crump. That is why we are enjoying it while he is helpless," Johnson cooed, pleased that his plan worked.
"You're not going to believe who I ran into tonight."
They stared at him. "Who, Leichter?"
"The Benedict Arnold…"
Johnson gasped, "Noah…You saw Noah…"
"Yes, and he's in service to the gods."
"How can you be certain?" Crump snapped.
"Noah…or should I say Necra…wields the Soul Blade."
"Sword of Souls," Johnson whispered.
"Yet, he doesn't know our plans. Which reminds me; is the room ready?"
Nezbitt grinned. "I made sure of that. That body must be close to retiring. Clothes have been bought and the collar…found."
"Most excellent," Leichter grinned back. "The Moon of a Demon?"
"Right where you want it," Nezbitt answered.
As he swung the cage off, a grin dominated his face. Nezbitt opened the latch and pulled Seto out by the back of his shirt. Crump brought over the dark clothing, a button-less shirt and a pair of pants. As they dressed him, the clothes sagged on his small body. Nezbitt strapped on a collar. He went down to the fifth hole and placed the rod in. He guided the excess through the other side of the buckle. He stepped back. They sneered at a sleeping Kaiba as he transformed back to his true size. Leichter grabbed him by the shirt and dragged him as he approached the girl.
"Get up," he snapped. The girl moaned. Leichter grabbed her by the wrist and led her away. His destination opened before him. "Get in."
Kathryn felt him shove her body in. She looked back at him. Seto hung in his hand by his black shirt, his body limp. His limbs dragged on the floor as Leichter walked in.
"What are you going to do to him?" She asked as he walked past her.
Leichter ignored her as he stopped at the opposite wall. He put Kaiba down and turned the young man onto his back with his foot. Leichter gripped his young rival's wrists. Kathryn could clearly see that he was angry, but couldn't grasp the degree of his anger. Crash!
"Hey!" she yelled.
Leichter growled as he pinned Seto against the wall. "You brat! You keep claiming my ideas for yourself!"
His hand shoved Kaiba's wrists into a restraint. He pushed the clasp close. Holding it shut, his left hand fumbled around for the lock. Leichter's eyes stayed on him. Seto slept through it, unaware of where he was or what was happening to him. His fingers brushed the cold metal of the lock. His hand picked up the lock and slid it into the loop of the restraint. He turned it around and clicked it shut. Then, he looked mischievously at Seto and left.
Seto's Dream…
Mokuba sat by him. Seto looked around, noting every detail. His mother was across from him, sitting next to his father. A homeless man sat at the end of the table with his grandfather opposite of him. Seto looked back at Mokuba. The teen smiled. This isn't right. Mother died after Mokuba was born. Father died when he was too young to remember him. We just met our grandfather. So who is the old man?
"Hello, Seth."
Seto turned to face him. Gray flesh appeared to peel off. Long fingers reached for his face. Seto retreated back to Mokuba, who was suddenly bigger than normal. The blue eyes turned. A plump man with black hair twitched his mustache. Two skinny brunettes replaced his parents.
"Hello, Seto-chan…"
Seto looked in another direction. Leichter… he panicked. The four pair of hands lifted him out of his seat. The table dematerialized as stone took its place. The old man sat on his throne, pleased. The hands forced him to ground before throne. Seto, however, fought to stand.
"Bow, Seth." Seto shook his "no."
"Heishin, you…ba--ard!"
"Seto," someone scolded him. At that moment, a click reached his ears. A bright veil surrounded him. The person before him held his head low. "Why is this so bright?"
Bright…The word forced itself into his head. He turned to his left, his gaze meeting iron. No…this can't be. Not this place. Anywhere but here, he mentally panicked, trying to keep his cool. He looked up; then jerked his head back down.
"Sh-t, stupid interrogation light."
The figure looked down at him. "Oh, you're up."
"Are you that absent minded?"
Kathryn flinched back. She couldn't think of the answer.
"Don't even bother."
"About what?"
"About answering the question." Seto answered. "Listen, I…didn't mean to be rude to you. It's just that…"
Kathryn faced him and knelt down. "It's okay."
"Remember this place, Seto-chan?"
Kaiba's blood froze. The voice sparked old memories that are better off forgotten. Deception, betrayal, and cruelty outlined his foe's shape. Blue irises dilated. Kaiba violently shifted his gaze down, trying to keep the intensity of the light down to a minimum. The voice laughed at him, taunting his moment of insecurity and helplessness.
"Why did I even bother putting this girl in here with you? Like is she anything of importance to you."
"Harm her, and you die."
"Now, now, remember you are not in the position to be making demands." The voice added as he stepped into the light. "Look at me."
Kaiba figured he had no choice. If it was for Kathryn or Mokuba, he would do anything. The ocean eyes obeyed.
"Leichter," a growl escaped his lips.
Leichter grinned with Kathryn in his arms. "What a beautiful girlfriend you have."
"You're disgusting." Another growl escaped his lips.
The grin stayed on as he pulled her closer. Kaiba gasped, too shock for words. His traitor pulled Kathryn closer. Her violet eyes widened in shock. Leichter lowered his head. Kaiba's heart rate quickened.
"Don't you dare!"
Leichter stopped. Kathryn turned to him. Kaiba tried to launch himself onto him. His blue eyes glowed in fury.
"You ba--ard, you will pay for this and anything you did to her!" He yelled at him.
Kathryn stared, her eyes wide in surprise.
"Why are you defending her…if she isn't your girlfriend?" His captor questioned.
"That's none of your business!"
"She looks like your dead mother."
Kaiba's blood flared. How dare he! How dare he compare her to my mother! He growled. "Leave her out of this!" He yelled, gasping as the iron scratched deeper into his skin.
Leichter turned around and released her. "So be it."
Kaiba panted in the restraint, already adjusted the pain. He watched the man leave. When the sound of the door reached his ears, he lowered his head. His eyes scanned the area. Like before, the light illuminated the room a little farther from the wall. He noticed the faint glow of cobwebs and broken glass from the observation room.
"Seto?"
"Um…"
"Why did you try to defend me?"
"We're family, aren't we?"
"Well, yes, but…"
"Then, I'll risk my life protecting you."
He felt her lean against him. "Thank you."
Kaiba leaned his head against hers. His mind wondered to his little brother. Then, his aunt, uncle, and grandfather followed. He strained to remember his relatives' occupations, but nothing came. He knew that at one point of time, he knew. But, why couldn't he think of it? It started to annoy him.
"Now, what are you growling at?"
"Nothing. Just at myself." Kaiba answered. "Kathryn?"
"Yeah."
"The last thing I remember of you is that you lived in the United Kingdom. So, why are you here…in Japan?"
"My uncle is taking care of me. Japanese Social Services finally decided that moving around so much wasn't good for me, so I moved here. I didn't know you were in town." She paused. "In fact, I had almost convinced myself that you and Mokuba were gone. I thought Seto Kaiba was just another person."
"I am another person," Kaiba pointed out, pushing his past to the back of his mind.
Silence filled the air. Kaiba inhaled deeply and exhaled. He knew his cousin was listening, but to what…he didn't care. He only tried to keep his cool.
"Your heart sounds so healthy."
"If you're jealous, then work out."
"When do you have the time?" she asked.
"You'd be amazed," he answered.
Mokuba…I'll come back to you. I promise. He reminded himself.
"Seto…"
Kaiba shifted his glare towards her.
"I missed you," was his answer with a hug.
"Is that all?" He asked with a sweat drop on his face.
She didn't answer as quick as he expected…or even at all. He listened to her mind asking all sorts of questions. It only left her to pick out what to say, which wasn't working at all. "If you keep doing that, you'll rack your brain with unanswered questions."
"Huh?"
"My point exactly," he sighed.
"Seto…"
"I'm listening."
"Where were you…for the past several years?"
"First of all, it has been ten years. Second," Kaiba fell silent, trying to pretty up the next segment for her. "I was in a nightmare." The pretty didn't work.
"What about your father's funeral?"
"You were there?" he stated, his voice transmitting it as a question.
"Of course! He was my uncle and Mom's brother!"
Forgot about that. He noted to himself. "I was there…physically, but not mentally."
His cousin's eyes began to question him. Kaiba started to wish that he hadn't said that. Now, she'd get even more curious and start rambling off every question that entered her head. He turned his head away from her. Every time he looked at her, Mokuba always popped into his mind. Still, he felt uneasy talking about his past. It brought back too many painful memories that overwhelmed the good times he had when he was young. When he was young, he knew his parents' faces all too well. But now, Gozaburo had wiped away almost every treasure he had. Kaiba even had a hard time remembering what his parents looked like. He had managed to find one picture of them, but his stepfather ripped it out of his hand and tossed it into the fireplace. He watched the edges curl up as the flames ate the photo. Since then, he'd given up trying to find something of them to look off of. His journal was enough.
"What did you mean, a nightmare?"
Is she ready to know? No, of course not. We've only just rediscovered each other. She's not ready what I've been through. Neither is Mokuba. And Noah…He's a Kaiba by blood. He wouldn't care anyway. He thought, but his mouth was ahead of his mind. "I couldn't take up the fact that he died. I just wanted to hide from the world and live in my own, where my parents are alive."
He waited for her to say something else, but nothing came. His wait continued. Kaiba aimed his unexamined fangs into the flesh of his lips, trying anything he could to get him mind off the subject he'd trapped himself in. You fool…you pathetic little fool. This is your fault that you got yourself in this mess. Now get yourself out. He snapped.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Kaiba allowed his semi long bangs to shadow his eyes. His mind retaliated against her question. Insecurity flowed in his veins and weaved in between his nerves. A stroke on his right cheek directed his head to her. The blue irises held onto his sadness a little longer; then discarded it as they pulled up his shield. He didn't know the answer. Part of him wanted to keep his life a mystery. A small part, however, wanted to tell her. He admitted to himself…for once…he was truly; horrifying afraid of anyone who was able to crawl into his skin. He couldn't bring himself to tell her…just yet. Maybe when he's ready and when she's ready to hear the horrors of Gozaburo's reign of his life.
"Seto? Do you want to talk about it?"
"Why don't you tell me about yourself? What…made…me is something that I don't like anyone knowing. It doesn't know who they are. I won't say anything. Not even Mokuba knows everything about me."
Out in Domino…
"Kaiba! Kathryn!"
Yami Yugi scanned the area. Panic overcame his senses. We're so close, Yugi.
Yeah, I know. But, Kaiba could have relapsed to his isolated state of mind. I'm worried…about both of them.
Yami shifted his eyes. His friends (Joey, Tristan, Téa, Bakura, the Ishtars, Valon, Alister, and Raphael) and his grandfather all searched the allies and streets. Noah…No, Necra…flew off with an unconscious Ash Black in his arms. Nothing yelled at them to "LOOK AT ME!"
Old Kaiba Corp Warehouse…
Kaiba sighed. He tried to get what Leichter almost did to Kathryn out of his mind. His cousin remained quiet, unsure to stir up a conversation. His mind kept wondering whether to tell a little or none at all.
To be continued…
Next Chapter in the When Destinies Collide saga: Chapter 31: Cold Reflection
Kaiba decides for reveal "a little" about himself to his cousin. However, his painful past keeps him from saying too much. Necra (Noah) joins the search for Kaiba and Kathryn.
... Huh? IT'S THE END OF THE CHAPTER! If you have an idea on how to kill off the Big Five (cause I hate them... Always have and always will.), then tell me. I might use it...if I can't come up with anything better.
