Original Yu-Gi-Oh Series

Parallel

Chapter 030

Originally Written: Wednesday, April 13, 2022 639AM to 735AM

. . . . .

Seto adjusted his glasses on his face, feeling jittery. He looked back down at the book he was reading. With Obelisk helping him, he already had enough locator cards, so he was just waiting. However, Pegasus had sent him an alarming message.

He didn't call back though. He couldn't. He could only hope that they were all okay. The others certainly felt like they had many eyes on them with his security detail scattered around the city. They had no idea of the eyes on him. So he sat near Domino's pier, waiting, enjoying the partially cloudy skies and cool breeze, and reading another fantasy book he couldn't really concentrate on. It felt weird without Mokuba's poofy hair pressed into his side. He forced himself to clear his mind, or at least think of something else.

It wasn't long before he saw someone arrive: Marik's assistant. He was a tall dark skinned man with a tattoo running down his face. He never showed more than his face. He covered most of his body with long flowy purple robes. Seto thought they looked a bit like magician's apprentice robes. He didn't know the man's name. No one told him Marik's name either. He didn't even know what the man looked like. For all he knew this man was Marik. Noah didn't tell him anything anymore.

He closed the book he wasn't reading, and stood. The man led him closer to the docks, where Joey stood next to a rare hunter. The rare hunter had Tea unconscious and thrown over his shoulders.

"E-Excuse me," Seto's gaze focused on the eye on Joey's forehead, "what is this? This wasn't in the plan."

"You've not been very cooperative, Seto Kaiba." Joey spoke in a warped voice.

"You haven't let anyone read your mind, Marik." He replied, "I have half a mind to let Amane know of your stunt against Pegasus. You know he's off limits."

Joey scoffed, "It was a necessary precaution. I have no qualms about letting her know my reasoning personally."

"I-I see." Seto filed the information to memory. He could very well be standing next to Marik. Through his own admission, he had already reached Domino City. Where he was now was anyone's guess. Noah would have his head if he found Seto searching for Marik via his duel disk. Taking control of Joey also indicated that Marik had no intentions of dueling anytime soon.

Joey walked up to Seto, and looked at him eye to eye. "I had the curious idea that you could…," Joey smirked, "Repay my kindness."

Seto frowned. "Please make your claim, Marik."

Joey raised a hand and pressed a finger to his chest. "I could have taken Mokuba instead. As I understand it, he's not well liked under the Kaiba name. He wouldn't be missed."

Seto kept a neutral expression. "Thank you for your kindness, Marik. What would you have me do?"

"Exactly!" Joey spun around holding out the hand that wasn't holding his briefcase out to the side. "We're working under the assumption that Bakura and that evil Pharaoh have gotten past Lumis and Umbra."

"Do you expect them to?" Seto knew he was pushing it by asking this question, but Marik kept working under the assumption that Yugi would win, and then he did. Was Marik sending him cannon fodder on purpose for his own amusement, or did he actually expect Yugi to lose in these ridiculous matches he set up?

"No." Joey spoke slowly, voice dropped in pitch a few notches. "But if they do, we will be ready. They'll make their way here, along with his brainwashed court members. We'll crush them here."

Seto blinked, 'If you're as powerful as you claim, why do you need Noah, Amane, Duel Academic's funding and an entire gang's help to take down a single person?'

Joey looked at him as though responding to Seto's thoughts. Seto almost tensed, despite knowing he didn't say anything. He felt an unpleasant pressure on his mind.

Joey narrowed his eyes, and turned away. "Amane claims you're a good dog, Seto Kaiba." He tapped the chain around Joey's neck, specifically the key designed to open his briefcase. "I'm not inclined to agree. Your God Card will be mine as previously negotiated. Even if I have to fish it out from the sea."

Seto refrained from actually barking. Marik wasn't much better than a common thug. Didn't trust anyone he couldn't control. The tall, cloaked man pressed a hand against his back. Seto followed Joey in silence.