Ahoy hearties! The winning streak is still rolling and its spicier than ever! Hope you're all doing well, wherever you're quarantined. But 'nough said : lets get to reading!

Enjoy!

I've known or at least suspected for a while. Ever since the men of the Millennium have shared their stories with me, in fact. The Kaiba company employed some very ill-intentioned individuals. That Johnson fellow who exterminated Joey's tribe. The people who left Xao and his friends to die in the rubbles of a stolen salt mine… So many slip ups, so many deaths and not a single report made. Only the executives of the company —the right hand men of the baron— could've had the authority and means to cover it all up.

I wrestle with myself to force the words out of my mouth. "Who was it? Who hired the pirate crews I mean."

Atem's eyes won't leave the horizon, gleaming with bitter remembrance of darker times. "Robert Gansley. Ex-military man and head of weapon trade and development in the Caribbean and Southern Americas."

I feel sick to my stomach as something shifts in my insides. I know this name. As a matter of fact, I recall meeting the man himself a very long time ago at the Kaiba mansion. I'd gotten lost in the family home during a game of hide-and-seek with Hobson and had ended up hiding in Gozaburo's office.

Though I can't remember their words, the vision is sickeningly clear. I see a tall and fat man in his fifties with almost no hair left and walking with a cane. Just knowing that I've been in his presence makes me uncomfortable.

Again, as if connected to my thoughts, Atem continues.

"Of course, the sea rats didn't have so much as his real a name to give me. Only a brief description. Bald, tall, fat and limping. It took me years to find out who he was and even longer to find him."

"How many years?"

"Six. But when I finally tracked him down to his golden villa in Tuscany, I found him dead in his bed with a smoking cigar in his mouth and two whores under his arms. That buffoon croaked in the midst of his own depravity mere minutes before I got there."

And so fate had not only robbed him of his vengeance but also rendered his actions up till then pointless. Again, I nearly gag in disgust. Maria used to tell me that evil breeds and attracts evil. Once it finds a nest, it sinks its hooks into it and grows like a parasite, poisoning everything it touches. Where did it go so wrong within the Kaiba Company? What was the source?

I suddenly think of Seto who has been working himself to the bone since becoming baron and head of the company. He's closed the weapon factories, pulled out of iron trading, broken off many partnerships with other companies… not to mention the new militia. Could it be that he's realized everything that was happening within his company long before he became the head? I chastise myself for even thinking he wouldn't. He's Seto after all.

An eerie thought then comes to mind : what of Lord Gozaburo? The previous baron died in an accident while visiting a weapon factory of his with Seto five years ago. Could it be that… his death wasn't accidental? Could the corrupt executive have had a hand in it as well? Or worse, could he have…

"My hunt had led to nothing, and once more, I was left without purpose." The tension in Atem's voice pulls me out of my thoughts and captures all of my attention once more. "It's the same as being the last person walking this earth. When feeling like this, all you want to do is…"

"Die," I finish, remembering my own void far too well.

He nods. "I wanted to slit my own throat then and there. But how could I present myself to our people on the other side with this much blood and death on my hands? What right did I have to find peace? I'd already betrayed them and everything they stood for. I became the Judas of my own people, forsaking everything I was to fill an infinite void."

The more he speaks, the bigger and sharper the spikes of ice in my gut become and anguish dances around me, taunting me with my own vicious memories. I suddenly find it hard to breathe when I realize that I already know what happened after that before he even says it.

"Atem, son of the Shayee perished along with his brethren. And so every trace of him had to be erased to avoid tainting anymore of their memory."

A gush of wind invades the cave, suddenly blowing his tainted hair away from his face, but he doesn't so much as blink. He needs not say anything more. That was when he decided to dye his hair with coragro juice, force ale and flesh down his throat and become the mask he's worn ever since.

To erase the Shayee in him that couldn't live without his kin. To kill the real Atem for good. This the devastating result of a lonely Shayee.

A surge of gratitude and guilt swarms me simultaneously, making my heart heavier and my eyes water again. How lucky I am, to have had Seto and Moki my entire life. Maria, Hobson, Roland, Mahaad… I was so blessed while he had nothing and no one, aside from his guilt and anger. When I felt the void, though it lasted barely an hour before Moki reminded me that I had him, I didn't know it was possible to be swallowed up by despair like this. Atem has been lost to this void this for twelve years.

Just how much pain are you in?

"What happened after that?" I ask, taking a deep breath not to let myself get distracted from my initial objective.

"Looking through Gansley's papers, I found out he was an executive of the company and more proof of many other shady affairs. I learned two things : first, he was one repulsively cunning bastard. Second, he was in league with many others just as rotten to the core."

"And all of them worked for the company," I finished, my insides shifting again.

"I went halfway across the world to see for myself just how far their claws reached. Everywhere, corrupt executives abused their power for the same kind of greed that caused the downfall of the Shayee. Everywhere the Kaiba were, there were victims."

"Is that when you started collecting your crew?"

He scoffs out a fake smile. "It's more like picking up those who had survived the same scourge as I. Before I knew it, a few more years went by and I had a ship and a handful of fools ready to follow me into hell. To destroy the Kaiba empire, root by root until only the head was left. The rest, you know already."

There it is, the reason he didn't attack Seto first. He means to return all the pain the company has dealt him to exact his vengeance. Yet he knows without a doubt that even purging all evil from this world wouldn't do anything to soothe the ache of his hearts. In doing so, he's only fanning the flames of their anger and hate. And when those run out, all he…all they will have left is more blood on their hands, along with the hollow feeling tormenting them. All that will have burned, are the remaining fragments of their scarred souls. He's no fool, he can see it and yet, he hangs on to it.

I'm at a loss for words and once again, wrestle with the hurricane of emotions within to prevent the creation of new tears. Too much is happening in my head just as in my heart. I need to breathe, to think. How do I break him free of these invisible chains he placed on himself? How do I pull him out of the fog? It's far too soon to say anything about Seto…

"I had it all worked out down to the smallest detail," he says, with a tone of surrender.

He finally moves, leaning his elbows on his laps and lowering his face into his hand. He inhales and let out a long, exhausted breath. I stare, unblinking and hypnotized by the display of weakness I see before me. It's as if he's only just remembered the weight I can see crushing him. I can guess that the muscles of his entire back are hard with stress, and pulling on his scars so much that I fear they might bleed again. My heavy heartbeats ache painfully at the sorry sight.

I knew there was sadness. I didn't know how deep it ran or what it had morphed into.

When has he last reflected on the tragedy that befell our people? Sought the sadness he desperately tried to burn away in the toxic flames of his silent wrath? I could never go an entire month without my heart aching —even without my memories. I would hide somewhere in the gigantic mansion to find a quiet place to let my heart bleed and my tears fall… When has he last cried?

Without any warning, my legs begin moving into the shallows, taking me towards him with my heart hammering in my chest.

"Everything down to the most improbable setback…Destroying the Kaiba empire root by root until only the head was left and then cut if off to end this spreading plague." He mutters without so much as a sparing me a glance. "And then you appeared. The perfect foil to my resolve."

The muscles in his arm are as tensed as his back, so much that he seem to be clutching his face with painful force. Out of pure empathy, I feel the pressure on my own temples as I keep advancing while a wave of realization hits me :

Atem, the vengeful pirate was never a mask. Only one side of a coin. The one before me is the remains of Atem, the Shayee. And I know that having uncovered him accomplished nothing more than showing me the damage inflicted by his void of hopelessness. We share similar scars and yet the burns that destroyed the skin of my back feel like a mere scratch compared to what he's suffered.

I stop for a moment and close my eyes. As always, when my mind is blank of clear thought, I remember Seto's voice and his many lessons. "The past is set in stone. Regret is a waste of time. All you can do is look at what you are and what you have now. Then go forward without looking back."

What we are is quite easy. What we have is what I must figure out. Unable to formulate an appropriate approach, I let my heart and the waves upon waves of mixed emotions move me.

The closer I get, the more I feel the chaotic fog around him. When I reach him, my back is sticky with cold sweat and my muscles contracted to their limit, so much that I'm shaking. An invisible hand clutches my throat, making it nearly impossible for me to swallow.

He doesn't move or acknowledges my movement in any way as I progress towards him. The sight is frightening. The sun is halfway into the sea now, and the colors are slowly darkening, making the cave's atmosphere much eerier. I swallow hard before extending my hand through that invisible fog, somehow afraid that it might burn me.

To my surprise, he flinches when my hand makes contact with his forearm. But he doesn't uncover his face. So I slide my hand up to his, and pull on it as gently as possible. Again, I'm surprised to be met with no resistance as he lets me remove his hand from his face and looks up at nowhere in particular.

My chest tightens when I see his eyes. I expected as much; not a single tear in them. As if he's forgotten how to shed them or trained his eyes to remain dry as a desert. And yet his expression couldn't more miserable.

"Do you like what you see?" he asks, an insincere smirk pulling on his lips. "This is what you were looking for."

I don't. I despise it with every fiber of my being. I can almost feel the extent of his void splitting apart my own chest, and it's as if my heart is catching fire. The kind that burns and reduces to ashes. I bite the inside of my lip until I taste blood to control the new surge of sadness and guilt rising from my core. I will not let myself be swept. Not now.

"What do you see?" I ask back, cursing my voice for shaking as badly as the rest of me.

The ruby irises plunge into my eyes. For once, I doesn't feel like an invasion of my soul and most private thoughts. No, he's looking at me. My face, my eyes, my hair… As if he sees me for the first time. I hold my breath as the empty red eyes inspect me meticulously for what feels like an eternity.

"A miracle," he finally lets out in another exhausted breath. "A curse. A punishment. A reward. A cruel dream or a beautiful nightmare."

The brief words of the usually eloquent captain confuse me and my heart drops heavily in my chest. I've only realized I've kept his hand in mine, when his curls up around mine, gently trapping me. His hand in unexpectedly steady compared my shaking one, and also…cold.

"I-I don't understand," I tell him, willing myself not to back away.

Suddenly, the emptiness in his eyes vanishes, leaving place to an intense soul-piercing glare I know all too well. Instantly under its spell, my body stiffens and paralyzes me. Slowly, Atem rises from his seat to look down at me from the top of his height. Bringing his free hand to the crook of my neck, he gently rubs his thumb on my throat. The sudden cold and odd gesture make me shudder.

"I thought about it, you know? Letting Bakura take your life so that you'd never lay eyes on this shame of mine. So that this rot would never sully so much as your mind. And my resolve wouldn't waver."

My insides freeze over and all rational thought comes to an abrupt stop at the eerie confession. Is he trying to scare me? But his words ring true. I swallow hard, feeling his thumb press harder on my throat.

"Can you fathom it? A Shayee, considering ending the life of his sole remaining kin and most precious person? I'm corrupt to the core, Yugi. A vessel of vengeance, a shadow of my former self, and nothing more. What are you hoping to do with this empty shell of a man?"

I clench my teeth. His words awaken a burning sensation in the pit of my stomach that spreads as quickly as the Stream to the rest of me, unfreezing my thoughts and body alike. Even now that I've seen the extent of his pain and damage, he wishes for me to turn away. As if I'm just an unfortunate spectator who happened to stumble upon his true self.

Yet again, my instincts move my body and I let them. Trying to out-think him clearly won't work, so this is my only way to get through to him. Spontaneity has never been my strong suit but somehow, I feel no apprehension in that moment. I take my hand back and push away the one at my throat. It's frightening to see how easily he responds to my touch like his strength has completely left him.

"How can you hope to convince anyone… with a look like that on your face?" I tell him, peering into the bottomless pit of sadness that are the ruby irises once more.

They stare back at me, impassive and unimpressed by my momentum of confidence. My insides shake, but I can't let this go. I know this is my one and only chance to have him listen. I need to get through that cursed fog and to his agonizing soul. If not, I'll lose him forever.

"A miracle? A punishment?" I state. "I am neither of those things and I'm certainly not a dream. I'm Yugi Muto, daughter of the Shayee. And wether you like it or not, I am your kin. I am your blood and part of your soul."

It might have been a mere impression, but I could swear his jaw tightened. Still the iron fortress that is his face doesn't allow me to know what my words mean to him.

"This time, I'm the one who will bring out the Shayee you tried to kill. Your pride, your vengefulness, your spite… I will take tear them down one by one. No matter how long it takes."

Heaven, I can feel his tenacious reluctance. He refuses to let me through. An entirely new perspective of the Millennium captain hits me. That of a child forgotten while playing hide and seek, hoping to be found and yet spiting those who have forgotten him by staying hidden.

I can't force him out of his hiding spot. But I can wait. I take half of the last step separating us and bring my hand up to trap his face. Finally, his face shows a semblance of surprise. If nothing else, he must hear those words.

"I see you, Atem." My suddenly steady voice surprises me. "I'm here and I am never leaving you alone."

As those words leave me, I realize what this resolve of mine entails : I have to accept his offer. If I ever hope to save him from himself, then I can't let him out of my sight.

Forgive me Seto. I might not be able to see you for a while.

At that moment, the final rays of the sun dive behind the horizon, but instead of plunging the cave into darkness, faint light emits from the moss stuck to the cave's walls. Phosphorescent lucien moss. Mokuba taught me about those. Their faint light allows me to still discern the face in my hands.

Atem's eyes widen, but the surprise only remains a few moments. Seriousness quickly replaces it and I find myself unwillingly studied again.

"I have no intention of breaking my oath." He says, unwavering. "Do you truly think you have what it takes to change my mind? Can you take on twelve years of hate and anger?"

The true source of your pain is sadness. It's the one I'm after.

"I will," I reply, unflinching.

"What If I told you I had no desire to be salvaged?"

"I'd call you a liar."

The tension in his jaw accentuates with no discretion whatsoever this time. "I've hurt you before. I'll hurt you again should you insist on getting in my way."

I remain unflinching. "I'll get up every time."

"I might toss you away."

"I don't think you will."

"You will watch me decay more and more."

"I won't let you."

"I am not the only one. My entire crew is as determined as I am to see this through. Are you prepared to defy Bakura? Or even Joey?"

"I'll face anyone. If I have to salvage all of them one by one to get to you, then I will. Not one of you deserves to be abandoned to their grief."

My answer is met with nearly bared teeth and an annoyed tongue click. I blink and then find my wrists trapped in the iron grip of his large hands. I jump but forbid myself to back away while he brings his face mere inches from mine, his eyes burning crimson.

"Do you think yourself a saint capable of erasing a grudge as deeply rooted as ours with a snap of your fingers? Your naiveté exceeds even your thick-headedness."

I feel the sting of his words and emotion rising to my throat, but still refuse to look down. "I think myself someone wanting to save her kin and do right by others. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Is that so?" His tone can't be more condescending. "And if you fail? What then, your little highness?"

"You've staked your life on this mission. I stake mine on saving you. If you can't handle feeling hope again, then you should take my life here and now. Because I'm never giving up. You cannot force me to forsake you."

He shakes his head in bewildered fashion. "You're even more arrogant than I am."

"You are my kin. I'll be as selfish as I need to be. If I were to turn my back on you, I'd not only betray the Shayee. I'd die of regret."

From the darkest corners of my memory, another fragment is brought up to my thoughts. I hear the soothing voice of my dear grandpa.

"You can dive to the deepest part of the abyss and fly to the highest cloud in the sky, but you'll never reach another's heart if they don't open it to you. Kindness and patience are your only and best weapon."

"I waited twelve years just to see the remains of my home," I tell him. "To save a part of my soul, I'd wait a thousand and more."

Another eternity goes by before the tension on his face loosens along with the grips on my wrists. He brings a hand to his face and pinches the bridge of his nose, seemingly holding his breath. As if he's finally realized I won't give in. I only realize now how quick my heart is beating.

"Of everyone, of course it had to be you," he mutters to himself. "I don't know what else I was expecting."

I say nothing, unsure what exactly my words have pierced through. So I wait and hold my breath until he looks at me again. He's not smiling but a clear sheen of entreaty, of unspoken beseeching. Compelled like a butterfly to candlelight, I extend my hand towards him again. But this time, he reached out to grab it and brings it to his face.

"How bothersome you are," he says, his eyes fixated on my hand, "getting in the way of a broken man's resolve like so."

His tone is reproachful, but when he pulls my hand closer to press his lips on it —executing the gesture of profound gratitude of our people— I know. For the first time in twelve years, the ruby irises that have forgotten how to cry, have deviated from their vengeful path.

How dare you, they say. How dare you make me hope?

The force compressing my insides and and contracting my muscle suddenly releases its hold on me. The brutal lack of pressure nearly makes my legs give in and two tears of overwhelming relief leak down my cheeks. It's not much, but there's a dent in the impenetrable wall.

He closes the gap between us, leaving inches between us and pushing my chin up with two fingers.

"Not all broken things can be fixed. Understand this : I will not make it easy for you. Tonight alone, I am your kin. I am not your ally in this fight of yours."

But you're letting me try.

New tears stream down my face, but I smile at him. I know it will be hard. I know I've chosen a road full of sharp rocks and treacherous obstacles. But I have a path. I've said everything, there's nothing to add. In return, he frowns and he suddenly seems in pain. My heart aches at the sight.

"If you're going to keep looking at me with those eyes, I won't resist being cruel to you."

I know what he means to do the moment the words leave his mouth, and perk up. This time however, he moves in slowly, as if to give me the chance to evade him or push him away. But for a reason unknown to myself, I don't move. Perhaps it's the begging look in his eyes? Or his face distorted by conflict?

When space separates our lips no more, the bittersweet and dizzying smell of sea salt and dried fruit fills my nose. But unlike last time, gentle warmth isn't given to me. On the contrary, it's being taken. It's as if he'll freeze to death if he doesn't take it from me and simultaneously, the process physically hurts him.

His closed eyes do nothing to erase the intensity twisting his traits. His free hand finds my hair, clutching it like a talon. I feel the split in my chest again. This is nothing like the meaningless peck he'd stolen from me the night of the funerals. He's not toying with me, but I still can't find sense in this gesture. Only that it's somehow vital to him…and no one else in the world could give it to him.

So I stay still while he absorbs this apparent vitality, and the rest of me shudders and fights off the strange urge to take him in my arms. But I feel the dent widening into a crack.

When he finally pulls away, both of us let out heavy breaths. He releases my hair and slips his hand back on my cheek to wipe away the residue of tears from my eye. The muscles of his face are contracted no more and a gentle yet sad look has settled in his eyes.

"Thank you," is all he says before turning away and making his way out of the shallows.

I haven't the faintest idea as to why he's thanking me but somehow, that is what causes my chest to be filled with that warmth, and my cheeks to catch fire. What in the world had just happened? I cover my mouth as if that could prevent the blush from spreading and glance at Atem from the corner of my eye.

He's putting his belt and weapons back on, his back turned to me. The fact that he's not even teasing me confuses me even more. Hopefully, the light of the lucien moss isn't enough to betray my new colors.

"We should head back," he says, slipping his red coat on.

The comment snaps me out of my confused daze instantly. "Already? But I have more questions…"

"You can ask them on the way back. I'm sure a whole year won't suffice to satiate your curiosity." He clips Drainer's sheath to his belt before turning back to me, wearing a familiar taunting smirk. "Besides, you wouldn't want my men or your brother thinking we've been up to some unholy business, would you? Though I suppose we've been here long enough to make them suspicious."

And there it is. Immediately, the heat returns to my cheeks. "You—" I begin, ready to give him a piece of my mind.

"Speaking of," he interrupts. "I should take this opportunity to tell you, not all Shayee refer to each other as kin, blood and part of the other's soul."

The comment surprises me. But it felt so natural to use them to describe him. I was certain they were part of my memory.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

He smiles. "That, love, is a question I will answer when pigs fly."

With that, he begins making his way to the exit.

"Wait, what do you— Hold on," I call out, trotting after him.

Joey's POV

The first mate of the Millennium shook his head, looking at the sorry sight in front of him. Joey's men were the rowdiest of the crew, and he felt a twinge of pity for their little medic who was being swindled into drinking his third mug of beer by Jaden.

And the others —supposedly grown-ass men— watched, laughing and encouraging while filling their stomachs with the feast they'd ordered from the Drowning Swordfish tavern people. Granted the lad was making it easy, letting himself be challenged without so much as a break. If this kept up, he was gonna wake up with a nasty headache in the morning. Lucky for him, Reed seemed to be trying to reason the rowdy bunch.

Half the town seemed to have shown up after learning they were back, to hear their tales, see what they'd brought back… Without ever really knowing who they were. But this time, the wolf-man stood away from the group, in a quiet corner near a window to get a good view of the sky.

Tonight was one of those nights when his heart was heavy.

After quickly swallowing half-a-dozen grilled chickens and gulping down a couple of gallons of ale, the wolf-man stood and stepped out to inhale some fresh air. Luckily the street wasn't too busy, aside from the occasional fisherman going home or coming to the tavern.

Joey leaned against the stone wall, looking up at the stars. They were the same wherever he went. He couldn't escape them. The sky he looked at with her always followed. He brought his hand to his neck, closing it on the carved amber stone hanging around his neck.

"Good night again, beautiful," he muttered to the stars. "Hope heaven's kind to ya and mama's not driving ya mad like always. Have ya managed to teach Serenity how to howl properly? Is old man Hermos still making that awful meat pot of his?"

He always asked the same questions, as he never received answers. But he knew she heard him. He could imagine, her smiling down at him while her golden locks danced around her face. She was there, but unreachable. Like she'd be until his soul joined hers.

A giggle made him look down. A staggering man holding a bottle and a woman in a revealing corset passed by, laughing and barely sparing him a glance. He could never understand that. Humans could get bored of love, while his kind was meant to love only one, in life as in death.

He could befriend. He could sincerely care. But never love. No other woman would ever have his heart, wolf or otherwise. Such was the destiny of wolf-men, to only love once in their lifetime. That was why when his heart was heavy, he could only turn to the sky for a semblance of comfort.

"Tomorrow, the day after and all the ones after that are gonna be tough. Spare a thought for me, will ya?" he repeated as he always did, smiling at his one and only. "Good night, Mai."

His prayer finished, he released the stone along with a long breath, his heart slightly lighter. But he remained there for a while, his thoughts going to his captain. Atem had always been a mystery, even if Joey had never doubted he was a friend. To think he was a Shayee this whole time…

More surprising even, was the reaction of the man to having another Shayee return from the dead… and shun her away. The first-mate wondered. If his Mai returned to him like this, what would he have done?

"Never thought I'd get this close without you sniffing me out."

The familiar voice made Joey look down and straighten up. Indeed, a few feet from him, stood a man with black hair, a red headband and a parrot on his shoulder. Joey grinned at the familiar sight and pulled away from the wall.

"It's not like you to be this distracted, master first-mate," said the newcomer, offering a hand.

"Lay off," Joey retorted, grabbing the man's wrist. "Unlike, yar lazy ass, we've been busy."

"Tch. Yes, because you'd know all about how easy espionage and keeping an eye on the navy from the inside are, you filthy mutt."

Joey rolled his eyes. Someone was as cocky as ever. Still it had been a while since they'd seen each other. Almost a year in fact. So just this once, he'd let the tasteless joke slide.

"Good to see ya, Duke. The hearties are inside, ya should join 'em. I was thinkin' of going for a run."

To Joey's surprise, the navigator's smile vanished, leaving a serious look on his usually casual overly-relaxed smug face. Knowing Duke, who'd always taken on the most delicate missions with a cocky smile on his face, it meant nothing good.

"Hate to spring this on you, but we have bigger fish to fry."

Joey straightened up instantly. "What happened?"

"The baron is in town with his posse."

The wolf-man stared back at his friend incredulously, wondering if he'd had too much to drink and if his fine hearing was playing tricks on him. When the phrase finally made it through his thick skull, his eyes widened almost enough to fall out of their sockets.

"What the— How?!"

"I was just as surprised as you when he showed up in New Beruga with a battle ship. Tracking the Millennium down himself, mind you. Too good of an opportunity to pass, wouldn't you say?"

Once more, Joey went silent. This was going far too fast for the wolf-man's taste. Baron Seto Kaiba —the enemy, the final target— was here. His muscles contracted all at once, as he tried to organize his thoughts and not give into the beast instincts rising within.

All the planning of the next five years became instantly meaningless. Duke was right, this was too good to pass. There was no time for what ifs, maybes or hesitation. Yet somehow he felt hesitant. No matter how hard he tried, it had trouble sinking in.

"How do ya know for sure?" he asked, turning to his crew mate again.

"Because he paid me to find you. And that's not all. You and the hearties wouldn't happen to have picked up a hostage during your hunt, would you?"

"Two of 'em, actually. But how the devil d'ya know about that?"

"If I'm correct, and at this point, I have no doubt I am, one of them is the baron's brother."

Again, it took a moment for the second revelation to strike him. The kid was a Kaiba? Impossible. It just didn't feel right that the hot-tempered yet brave and caring short-stack had filth running through his veins. But Duke wouldn't lie. He was their man on the inside for a good reason.

"Judging from your face, you didn't know," continued the latter.

As if to convince himself, Joey turned his head to look through the tavern window only to find that Mokuba was no longer in his seat besides Reed… or anywhere to be seen.

"Shit," Joey cursed under his breath.

Duke followed after him as he returned inside and made his way to the table of half-drunken laughing men. The moment they saw Duke, all of them became louder and began greeting him, but the first-mate went straight to his lieutenant.

"Reed, where's Mokuba?"

"The lad had trouble holdin' down his liquor," explained the sailing master. "Jaden took him out to the back alley to return his guts. Poor lad's gonna feel it in the morning."

Joey exchanged a glance with the Tzigane, and both were in agreement. This wasn't good. Without a word and under the confused questioning gazes of their crew mates, both hurried to the back of the tavern. Upon entering the small hallway that led to the kitchen and reserve, the wolf-man nearly slammed into Jaden, holding a glass with both questionable content and smell.

"Woah! Careful there, Mr Wheeler. Ye don't want that stuff on ye. Pretty sure there's a rotten egg in there. Lil' Moki wanted water but the tavern master be sayin' this be better for hang—"

"Where is he?" interrupted Joey.

"Out back," he replied pointing with his stump towards the wooden door at the end of the hallway. "Looked about ready to puke out his insides, too…"

Joey's legs moved the moment the words reached him, and he pushed out the back alley door with much more force than necessary. On the other side were a cat, the smells of piss and vomit but no Mokuba.

"Oh," said Jaden when he got there, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"There you have it," let out the Duke. "What now?"

Joey stared in the one direction the lad could've gone. Seeing this made it all crystal clear in his mind. Without even willing it consciously, he felt his hair stand on the back of his neck, his eyes lighting up and a couple of fangs growing in his mouth. The beast in him also knew it was time. They couldn't wait for Atem, so it was up to him. He turned to the Tzigane.

"How many did ya say the baron brought with him?"

Yugi's POV

"This wasn't part of our deal," I protest. "You were supposed to answer all of my questions."

I finally catch up to him as he unties the horse from the tree, still wearing that same self-satisfied smile. He chuckles at my insistence, and once again, I get the impression to be the laughing stock of the Atem audience.

"In all fairness, you already know the answer," he replies, passing the reins above our ride's head. "You simply don't know that you do."

I sigh and renounce. I know him enough to know this sort of cryptic answer means I won't get anywhere by insisting. I'll retreat for now. As he said, my thirst for answers is far from quenched. But just he wait, I can be patient and quite stubborn when I want to.

Still I can't find the meaning behind his words. But referring to him as my kin, blood and part of my soul seems so natural… I can only hope my memories will be nudged and give me a hint. Not knowing frustrates me to no end.

I wait for him to get on the horse, but instead, he pulls something out of his pocket and hands it to me. I immediately recognize my neatly folded wine-colored head scarf. I can't believe he kept it. When he took it from me, he looked about ready to burn it.

"We'll be joining Joey and your brother into town," he explains. "As much as I'd love to show you off to the whole world, I'd rather not have any malevolent eyes on you."

I hold back an eye-roll and a comment about my kidnapping and proceed to wrap my hair into a clumsy braid and stuff it under my head scarf. I can't say I've missed my crossdressing days. It's still very much a pain to make sure not a strand is out of place. Thankfully, my reflexes are still present and I finish fairly quickly.

Atem mounts up first and holds his hand out to me, like before. And like before, I let him pull me up behind him and wrap my hands around his waist. To my surprise, he lets the horse walk instead of cantering.

"If you have any other questions, now is the time." He says. "Once we get to the tavern, I doubt you'll have the opportunity to have me to yourself."

I can't tell if he's attempting to tease or not. Either way, I'm far too interested in asking more questions to let my extra time go to waste.

"You truly won't tell me anything about the appellations?" I attempt one more time.

He chuckles again and strangely, I notice the natural way his waist expends with air as he does. As if I find it extraordinary to see he can laugh with true amusement. I feel my face heating up, thinking I might be part of the reason why. Just what did he take from me with his lips? He seems… oddly soothed. And I can't tell if that's a good thing.

"Since I'm feeling merciful, I'll give you a hint. Speak with Joey when you get the chance."

Indeed, I was not expecting that. "Why Joey?"

"He might enlighten you. If you ask the right questions that is."

"You're not making sense again…"

New chuckles shake him and without so much as a warning, he presses his ankles hard on our mount's flanks, and the latter quickly speeds up to a canter. A cry of surprise leave me when I nearly get shaken off and tighten my hold.

"What are you doing? I could've fallen."

"You don't seem to have any other questions for me."

"I never said that," I protest.

I can feel the grin in his voice. "Then I suggest you hurry up. At this rate, we'll reach the town in no time."

As usual, I'm forced to march to the beat of his drum. Shayee or not, he truly has a way of imposing his will to others. The same rules apply ; play his game by his rules or get nothing. It seems strange after I've uncovered so much…

Two sides of the same coin indeed.

A thought then crosses my mind. I realize then that perhaps this long discussion of ours may have drained him. He has revealed to me his story, something not even his closest men know. This was most likely the first time he ever spoke to anyone about it. Perhaps that's why he's hurrying. To put an end to it and rest his mind.

I'm dying to ask for every little detail, but it might reopen old wounds for him. How can I have been so insensitive? Still, I don't want to waste this opportunity. So carefully, I pick my first question.

"The names carved in the stone on the island, that was you, wasn't it? With Drainer."

I only have to hear his voice to know he's stopped smiling. "Yes."

"Then you must have known everyone's names. Including mine."

"From a very young age, the members of the royal family were taught to know the names of all of the Shayee. An old tradition, set by the very first Shayee king." He pauses before adding. "Despite my best efforts, I still do. Every single one."

"Does that mean…"

"… that I recognized you the moment I heard your name? I did, but I wasn't convinced until I saw your hair."

"On the island, you said you weren't the one who buried the Shayee. Was that a lie?"

"I suppose you didn't recall that yet, but the Shayee bury their dead under the sea floor and carve their names in stones so that traces of them remain both in the sea and on land."

I frown, perplexed. "So when you returned to the island, everyone was already buried? How long were you gone?"

"Six days. And before you ask, I have no idea who did it. I imagine some kind hearted soul sailing by or grateful inhabitants of nearby islands that couldn't bare to leave them like this. For that, I'm thankful. I didn't have to witness the scorched corpses."

He adds nothing. It seems I've already lingered too long on the sour subject. Unlike me, all his memories from back then are present. The sudden coldness deters me from asking anymore questions related to the massacre. For now at least. He's given me enough today, and I am more than grateful for that.

I stay silent as we pass along the beach where the Millennium is resting under the stars. To my surprise, he's the one to speak first.

"I meant what I said, Yugi. I'm not your ally in this fight of yours. No one is."

The sudden reminder of my new resolve, and the attempt at making me back away irritates me. I detach my hands from his waist to reach for the reins and pull on them hard until the grey horse comes to a full stop. Then I wait until the captain of the Millennium deigns turn his head to look at me over his shoulder.

"I've told you already," I say looking at him dead in the eye, "I'm never leaving you alone again. I have no intention of losing this fight either. And you should know better than to underestimate me by now."

The look in his eyes bothers me. I can't tell what he's thinking but the emptiness is still majorly present in his irises, like a persistent poison. One I must rid him of, one way or another. After another minute or so of stare off, a half smile pulls on the corner of his lips.

"I know."

I release the reins, and the horse resumes its walk. I rejoin my hands around Atem's waist and let out a sigh. The weight I've decided to take on is starting to be more noticeable. Many questions still swarm my mind but I also need some rest to digest all the information I received tonight.

The horse picks up the pace to a gallop once again, and the rest of our ride is spent in silence. Finally, we pass the cliff's trail and end up on downhill trails leading to a very small port town that seems in dire need of maintenance. It doesn't seem to be getting many visitors. In a way, it's very clever to bring the Millennium to a backwater place like this.

We stop on the edge of town where stables are located. An old man with a pipe welcomes us and salutes Atem as if they were old friends. They exchange a few words before the man takes the horse away, and Atem and I make our way into the town.

After a few minutes, I judge that our silence has gone on long enough. Besides, there's one more thing I must make clear. I have no clue if Moki has managed to give the slip to Joey's men so I'm not risking anything by pushing my luck a little.

"Atem," I say slowly, as we make our way through the unkempt streets. "I've accepted your offer. So in exchange, I have a request."

"Do you?" he says, his voice dripping with taunt again. "It's really is no fun whatsoever if you're asking for it, love."

No, cheeks! You shall not redden. No, mind! You shall not get distracted.

"Let Mokuba go," I say. "I don't mean bring him back to Kingtown. Our family… I mean, his family is well known in the Caribbean. All you'd have to do is leave him somewhere with a navy post."

I hold my breath and await his answer. I expect he'll tell me he won't risk Moki revealing anything about the men of the Millennium to the navy. Or that he's too valuable as a medic. But just as I prepare my arguments to counter his response, I receive an unexpected one.

"Very well."

I stop in my tracks, dumbfounded beyond belief and stare at him, looking for the catch or the slightest hint of a joke on his face. But there is none.

"Do you mean it?" I ask.

Instead of an answer, he brings his hand to his face and presses his baby finger to his lips. Just like when he swore he'd keep his end of the bargain after our duel. It's a promise I know I can trust, and strangely it moves me. Perhaps because it feels like he's reconnecting with our people, unbeknownst to himself.

Ishizu was right. He's not completely lost.

"Thank you," I say, overwhelmed with gratitude and hope.

He smiles sadly and shakes his head at me as if I've said something idiotic.

"For the love of God, don't thank me," he replies before resuming his walk.

So close, yet so far. But a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. And the one I've taken tonight might be the most crucial to my new resolve. To my mission to find the other half of his coin. He'll keep trying to turn away from me, to complete his bloody mission. But no matter what, I can never let go.

"Wait for me," I call out.

I hurry after him to catch up until he comes to an abrupt stop and I slam into his back. A cry of pain leaves me. I might as well have ran into a brick wall. But just as I'm about to question what's happening, I see his face. Shock, dismay and intensity widen his eyes while he stares without blinking or breathing, as if he's seeing the devil in person.

I follow his gaze straight ahead to the small square our street is leading to. In a street on the other side, a couple of men —one of whom I identify as Reed— are carefully and sneakily approaching the square, their eyes fixed in the same direction as Atem's.

In said plaza —not fifty feet from us— a familiar tall and lanky figure is peeking into the window of a closed shop. One I know all too well.

The blood in my vein freezes as terror seizes my insides and grabs a hold of my throat.

Seto.

*LE GASP* Told ya to bring your handkerchieves and comfort blankets!

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