Ahoy hearties! Tis been mighty long...yet again. Yeah, sorry. I've had a pretty rough summer work-wise and otherwise. I humbly ask for your kind mercy. *bows deeply*
Grab you sugar, tea and rum and get to readin'!
Silence befalls the office, as the invasive grey eye stares at me accompanied by a taunting smirk. My body has turned to stone, I might as well be staring back at the eye of Medusa. Then my hands began to shake again. Only not solely out of fear this time. Something burns in the pit of my stomach. Stronger than dread, stronger than fear.
An urge swarms me, tightening every muscle in my body, nearly tearing my sutures. Is this the beast that has been devouring Atem's mind for the past twelve years? To not be angry for the sake of his kin, but purely out of hate for outsiders? But for the sake of my brothers and those dearest to me, I can't let it take over.
"What do you want from me?" I ask, my jaw trembling under the pressure.
"I appreciate your forwardness. I do hate wasting time on small talk."
That's a blatant lie if I ever heard one. I fully understand Seto's feelings about this man now. Anyone with a two-sense can see the admiral is agile with words and could dance around any issue as long as he wants. Like a snake toying with a mouse knowing full well it is going to get what it wants. And in this moment, I am the mouse.
"Please don't look so serious, dear Lady," replies Pegasus, straightening up. "You make it seem as if my aim is to tear you from the Kaiba brothers. I assure you it isn't. Believe me, they are suspicious enough on their own. This story of yours would make a wonderful novel. Alas, reality is a whole different matter."
"I did learn one thing during my captivity," I say, feeling venom dripping from my words. "Rotten man can easily hide behind honorable titles, respectable uniforms and grand names."
My statement only makes his smirk grow into a predatory grin, reminding me of Bakura. There's nothing I can do. I've admitted to nothing but wether I say the truth or lie, everything will fall apart. Even now, my silence is a catalyst. All I can do is bend to his will.
"Goodness, my dear, if looks could kill…" he purrs, taking a twisted pleasure in my struggle.
I feel like I've been stripped to my soul and placed in the hands of a madman who can crush me whenever he desires. The teacup in my hand keep clicking as a result of the shivers.
"What do you want?" I ask again.
He takes a long pause to drink from his cup. I'm half certain he's purposely dragging this out to antagonize me and force me to make a mistake.
"I simply wish to make a deal with you," he finally says. "I will make sure your brothers are released and fully pardoned. I might not be able to do the same for your… benefactors. But I can at least make sure they avoid the rope and preserve their lives. In exchange, you'll take me to the orichalcum mines."
In an unexpected reflex, my hands drop the porcelain which shatters on the ground. I bring them to my chest, protectively covering the bracelet on my wrist. I'm ready to fight tooth and nail to protect the one gift my family has left me. My mistrust seems to greatly amuse the admiral who lets out a theatric sigh.
"This was my favorite tea set. Don't look so concerned, dearest. I have no need for your bracelet. Since the demise of the Shayee, the island has been searched many times with no success. All I ask of you is to be my key to your people's heritage."
The anger won't let up and the casualness of his unreasonable 'request' only serves to worsen it. How I wish the Stream would manifest. But as the danger is not imminent or direct, he's found the perfect compromise to pull my strings as he pleases. It's almost as if he knows how the Stream works.
The thought of bringing him—who shares the same motive as the people who took everything from me— to my home is unbearable. Though losing my brothers and my kin is far worse. But even if I want to comply for their sake, there's another issue with his demand.
"I-I can't help you," I say, teeth clenched. "I was four when I left. I have no memories from my home, much less know where the orichalcum mine is. I don't even remember if I've seen it before."
Now that I think about it, I didn't get a full tour of Shayee island but it seems strange that a mine would be there. Can there really be a mine on such a small island? Is orichalcum even found in a mine? It hits me that I know nothing of the little silver greenish stones on my wrist. And as such, I have no value to Pegasus.
I expect him to taunt me some more with my family's fate and demand the truth but instead, he sighs and sets his cup down.
"It seems he was telling the truth," he mutters to himself before looking behind me. "Come on in!"
A door I hadn't noticed upon entering creaks behind me. But the face I find turning around leaves my blood running cold. His white hair attached in a messy ponytail, the quartermaster of the Millennium flashes a toothy grin at me.
"Hello wench," says the spectre. "Been a bloody minute and a half, wouldn't you say?"
I spring from my seat, the porcelain on the ground cracking beneath my shoes as I back away from the spectre. For a fraction of a moment, a minuscule part of me feels relieved. Relieved that I don't have blood on my hands. Regret and fear immediately choke it out. Why is he here? Unbound, wearing clean clothes and that you're-about-to-suffer grin?
"What's with that face?" he carries on, stepping deeper into the room. "Thought the sea swallowed me, did you? As you can see, the devil decided to send me back. I suppose even hell was too good for me."
"What have you done?" I hear myself ask, knowing full well his presence here means nothing good for me or those I'm looking to protect.
"What I needed to do to get what I want," He turns to Pegasus. "My… former captain has been on that bloody island many times before. If anyone knows where to look, it's him. And unlike the little devil here, he doesn't have any memory troubles."
"That's all well and good, Mr Bakura. But what makes you so sure he'll cooperate with us?" asked the admiral.
"Trust me, old man. Holding the fate of his crew in your hands is all you need. Even if it weren't, having her here is more than enough incentive for him. I guarantee it."
I look to the admiral, hoping some ounce of sense is left in him. For a moment, he seems to be contemplating the words of the pirate. But soon enough, the smirk returns. Before he even speaks, I know what decision he's made.
"Very well then. Seems we have found a solution to our guide problem." The admiral rises from his seat. "I'll have the necessary preparations ready for our expedition."
"Expedition?!" I say, bewildered.
"Indeed. An expedition to find some potential valuable resources for the empire, my dear. Aren't you honored to be a part of it?"
An amused laugh punctuates his sentence. As the words are being filtered into my mind, I can see their plan coming together. Probably the same one that Seto made two years ago. Only without hundreds of Shayee to stand in their way. Instead, Atem and I would be their guide and map to our people's resource.
And to justify it all, he'll claim it the name of the empire. Shivers crawl up my spine and the blood in my veins freezes over. But I can do nothing. Now that Bakura has joined his side, he has all the cards and I have no choice but to be pulled along. Actively ignoring my bewilderment, the admiral continues.
"If all goes well, we'll leave tomorrow morning at first light. I'll leave lady Yugi in your care for now, and I'll send someone to take you to my ship. Do behave yourself, Mr Bakura. I'd hate for a woman to come to harm under my care."
Bakura snorts in return, showing off that same hate for authority. "Don't act so high and mighty, you damn navy dog. As if you give a rat's ass about anyone but yourself. I know that look in your eyes; you'll crush anyone who gets in the way of what you want. "
Pegasus simply shrugs lightly at the insult. "Then you and I have that in common, I suppose. But unlike you, that doesn't stop me from appreciating manners and having principles. Have patience. You'll get your reward soon enough."
My heart stops in my chest. There's only one thing the former quartermaster would demand from Pegasus. The very thing I want. My brothers. I can tell Pegasus has every intention to offer them up to him on a silver platter like lambs to a starving wolf, in exchange for his cooperation and information.
"You can't be serious…" I say, shock and utter terror pitching my voice to a grotesque degree. "The navy will find out. A high ranking officer handing over two nobles to a known criminal won't just disappear!"
A chuckle shakes the admiral who once again is completely unbothered by my words. "From your own experience, dear lady, I think you know full well that many things can be swept under the rug. In any case, I have no intention of doing such a thing. My offer is far simpler : you will help me find and retrieve the orichalcum and in exchange, I will have you brothers pardoned. What comes after however, is entirely between you and Mr Bakura. That is what you asked for, isn't it pirate?"
"Keep the navy and the law out of my way, and we'll be even," confirms the quartermaster. "Even a collared dog likes to hunt."
In other words, once I've handed over the precious resource of my people, my brothers will be freed… and be offered no safety from a monster known to be after them. My reward is a race against the clock with a bloodthirsty beast.
With that, the admiral leaves the office while I contemplate my grim future. But when the doors closes loudly behind him and a deafening silence settles in the room, I'm reminded that I share this room with said beast.
Bakura stretches slowly, reaching for the sky, while the galloping beats of my heart replace the ticking clock to my ears. He grimaces in pain for a moment, carefully holding his side, before looking at me again.
"Now then," he says, the wolf-like grin stretching out across his face. "I've been meaning to give something back to you."
Before I can even think of backing away, the distance between us is no more… and a foot collides with my stomach. All at once, the air leaves my lungs, my head spins and fall on all four, pieces of broken porcelain digging into the skin of my hands. Something burning comes up my throat and mixes in with the tea already spilled on the luxurious carpet. My stomach throbs in pain while my lungs scream for dear air.
Still, the monster's voice reaches my ears. "Consider this payback for the broken rib. Be grateful that's all you're getting, wench. Give me any trouble or get in my way, and I'll be sure to break every bone in your body before I send you to join your devil race."
My own stupidity astounds me. What in the world made me think he'd listen to anything but his own whims? No matter what the admiral said, his will guides his action. And he has more than a few bones to pick with me. He looks down at me, while I try to regain a hint of dignity. From that murderous glare, I suspect him to be fighting the urge to kick me again.
"How the bloody hell did a tiny thing like you ever managed to screw things up so badly?"
Whatever I thought I'd seen in him during the funeral —that semblance of care and humanity for his comrades— it isn't there anymore. Was it ever? Nothing but a mirage in a vague memory, perhaps.
"How…could you…betray them?" I manage to push out, nauseous from the taste of vomit on my tongue. "After everything… Why?"
The questioning earns me a look cold enough to freeze over the ocean. Next thing I know, I'm lifted up my collar, and find my face inches away from the snarling albino.
"Betray them?" he says, his voice so low it resembles a growl. "Don't make me laugh, wench. The one that was fooled was me! He betrayed me first!"
He obviously refers to Atem. The driving force, the source of inspiration to all the men on that ship. Alone, they were empty shells, robbed of their will to live. With his fire igniting the vengeance in them, he's turned them into a deadly crew of vigilantes seeking revenge for their lost ones. His will carried theirs. And went it faltered at the sight of their supposed enemy willing to sacrifice everything to save me, that fire had died, leaving only the void in their hearts.
Except for Bakura.
"I thought we wanted the same thing," he continues. "I knew some of them like Joey and Jaden didn't have the guts on their own. But I thought at least he and I would see this through to the end. Then you showed up."
The pupils pouring hate into mine send shivers down my spine. All my extremities have gone numb and I can only listen to the spiteful speech.
"Thanks to your unwanted meddling, I was able to see just how bloody weak he was. They all were. Let them rot and die in a cell if that's what they want. I'm no coward, I will not renounce. The Kaiba empire will burn, even if I have to do it all myself. And that starts with that scurvy dog of a brother of yours."
"S-Seto did nothing wrong." I don't know what I can say anymore, but my words are the only weapon I have left. "He was forced into impossible situations where he had to choose between his family and others. Everything he did was—"
"Shut up. I've heard your piece back on the ship, devil girl. Now, it's your turn to listen. You're going to do exactly as you're told. Play nice and I might let the runt live. Get on my bad side, and I'll skin him alive before your eyes. Understood?"
My mouth opens to reply but the words stick to my throat. My mind is blank of any ideas. There's nothing I can say to this bloodthirsty beast. Suddenly, the wolf-like grin returns.
"Now that I think about it, I never told you my little fairy tale of a life, have I? You went around asking for everyone's personal tragedy on the ship, like the good little samaritan you are. Except for mine. Too scared to ask, were you? Or do you just not believe scum like me has a good bloody reason for wanting the baron dead?"
Oh. That's right. I'd asked everyone but him. Somehow, I'd always imagine him being born broken. The violence and sheer mercilessness he showed in his words and actions alike didn't leave room for doubt. How naive of me.
With excessive force, I find myself thrown into an armchair, still catching my breath. Grabbing a nearby chair, he sits facing me, far too close for comfort. I dare not move, fearing he might bite me if I do. His smile is unsettling to say the least.
"Once upon a time, there were twin boys who lived in a brothel. The youngest was frail and kind. The oldest, strong and bad-tempered."
Irony and dark sarcasm are dripping from his tone. I can tell this story is going to be as horrid if not worse than my own. Part of me wants to burry my head in the ground and not listen to it. Another tells me I'll die if I breathe wrong.
"Their mother was one of the whores working there," he continues, "but no one told them which one. Their father was a one time client. Neither ever saw him. The boys would sleep during the day, and at night, they'd play servant to the brothel. Serving food and drinks to the clients, cleaning up after the whores, and such. In exchange, they were allowed to live. They had no one but themselves."
My heart tightens in my chest. What sort of childhood is that? The bitterness pouring from his words is so obvious I can practically taste it in the air.
"One day, a drunk patrons decided to get handsy with the youngest. So the oldest grabbed a knife and left it in that disgusting swine's throat. After seeing that, another client offered to buy the boys. He took them to Liverand with him, fed them, clothed them and gave them a warm bed to sleep in. And that's when hell really began."
Because it wasn't hell before? Swallowing my own saliva takes more effort than it should as I dread the rest of the tragedy.
"Turns out the man was a mercenary. Seeing the oldest killing without hesitation gave him a perfect recruit. So they began training him. Day in, day out. Sickness and broken bones be damned. While he went through hell, the youngest who couldn't fight became the herd's errand boy. Sometimes, he would be used him as bait to lure in their targets. And if the oldest screwed up a job, they'd take it out on him too. The boys soon realized their 'saviors' were dogs lusting for money, blood and whores."
Dogs… That words triggers a not so distant memory. Back on the Millennium, I did have one conversation with the first mate about Bakura, while fixing sail.
"He was picked up and raised by mercenaries and trained to kill practically since the time he could walk," says the Joey of my memories."They broke him in every single way possible to make him into the perfect weapon with no will."
The Black Dogs of Liverand.
Somehow, the grin widens as the story darkens. "By the time he was thirteen, the oldest had become a perfect tool. That's when the Black Dogs were hired by a pompous noble. Didn't know it at the time, but it was baron Gozaburo Kaiba."
There it is. The cursed name common to every story of the Millennium crew.
"The bastard wanted to hire the gang as his own personal lap dogs. They'd have sold their souls to the devil if that got them more coin, so of course they agreed. One day, they were meant to kill a business rival of the baron. Little brother was used as bait, but things didn't go as plan and long story short, he was unmasked and almost killed. To save him, big brother abandoned the mission and the target escaped. Needless to say, the baron wasn't happy."
I don't want to hear this. Whatever other horror Seto's father has committed, I somehow know that it is going to be worse than anything else I've ever heard. It's like a glimpse of a burden that would crush me had I been the one carrying it.
"Of course, they had to get creative since getting the snot kicked out of him was a daily occurrence. They gave him three days to get the target all by himself, and he was to return before the sunrise on the fourth days. Or they'd kill the younger brother. In less than a day, big brother tracked down the target. It took him less than two hours to kill him without leaving a trace behind. And when he returned at dawn on the second day…"
Nausea takes a hold of me again and I stop breathing altogether.
"He found his brother thrown down a pit with starving dogs chewing on his flesh."
Utter dread falls upon me, adding a thousand pounds to my chest.
"The older brother jumped in and killed the mutts, but it was too late. Little brother was already . His hair was drenched in red. One of the dogs had taken a bite out of his mouth and cheek. His left arm had been practically bitten off and you could see the bone of the half-eaten calf of his right leg. From left and right, he slowly bled out…And yet somehow, he was still alive. The damn mutts were so hungry they hadn't even taken the time to kill him."
He laughs a macabre laugh. I feel so sick I think I would've vomited again if my throat wasn't so tight. I can picture the eerie scene as he describes it, holding no macabre or bloody description back. Still, the madman smiles from ear to ear still.
"He screamed and begged for his brother to save him, to make the pain go away. So big brother made it go away the only way he knew how."
A different kind of shock hits me like a slap in the face when I see the flood escaping the pitch black eyes. All while the murderous grin remains, and his voice betrays none of his grief.
"You know all about the screams in your head, don't you devil girl? They keep you up at night, and if not, are the melody to which your nightmares dance."
Yes. That's exactly what it's like. Even as he says that, I recall the screams.
"Ryo's screams have never bothered me," he states, the emotion still absent from his voice. "The real torture, is the sound of them stopping after I snapped his neck."
A pale hand comes up to my face, clutching it with enough force to crack my jawbone.
"Tell me, devil girl," he asks, hate dripping from his words. "Your heard them scream, but did you have to put them out of their misery with your own two hands? Did they beg you for death?"
I open my mouth but only to inhale the air my lungs are begging for. I can't fathom something like that. It reminds me of Atem's words, when he said he'd thought of having Bakura end my life. Killing my own kin? I can't even imagine it.
"Of course, there were spectators to the bloody show. Some of the dogs were there as well as the baron and someone else. That's right. The baron's ten year old son watched the whole thing unfold. I remember his eyes clear as day : unfeeling, cold, unfazed while my brother was agonising in my arms and I begged for help!"
The grip on my face tightens, and the nails digging into my flesh get a yelp out of me. The grin vanishes, finally befitting the hatred pouring from those eyes.
"Even the dogs were at least disgusted by the sight!" he shouts. "I'm no saint, I'll give you that. But tell me, what kind of heartless monster does it take to watch a kid being torn apart, then killed by his own flesh and blood and feel nothing?!"
Bated breath of rage blow on my face, matching my anxious panting. I can see it clear as day, the grief that gave birth to the hateful beast that terrifies me so. And I can find no fault in it. Nothing I say will stop him. He's a wounded beast, enraged by pain. Nothing will stop him. Not reason, not pain. And his target is my family.
"I saw the baron whisper something in his ear. Do you know what your precious brother's answer was? 'I understand father. No weaknesses, no failures.'"
My vision blur with tears for a moment before they leak down my cheeks, mirroring the face before me. This seem to make him regain composure. The same scornful face from always.
"Save your tears for when I send your beloved baron to hell," he says, wiping his own eyes with the back of his free hand. "I have no need for them."
Last time he threatened Mokuba like this, the Stream appeared for a fraction of a moment. But not this time. My blank mind is too dumbfounded to even wish it. Faced with my silence, he stands from his seat, and proceeds to rip the headscarf from my head without me flinching.
"Rejoice, Lady Yugi. You're going home again."
Seto's POV, 3 days later
I've gone back and forth across the humid cell a thousand times already. The steps echoing through the cell replace the seconds of an absent ticking clock. Three days of rotting in this cell, and not a single information to go off on has reached us. The guards that bring us food are as clueless as we are.
If this were handled like a proper investigation, I'd already have been interrogated multiple times. Instead, we've been left to rot. Knowing Alister's efficiency, there is no chance he'd be this slow. Pegasus has to have something to do with this. I feel it in my bones.
"What the bloody hell is going on?"
My sudden shout and the sound of my boot hitting the metal of our cage make Mokuba jump from a restless nap.
"Seto, you've barely eaten or slept in three days," he says."It's no use screaming, they won't answer."
My legs keep going back and forth, as I don't have the strength to answer him without shouting. I know I need to calm down. Nothing good ever comes from panic, anger or irritation. But those three have been overwhelming my entire mind for three days straight and won't let up. It's far worse than when they'd been taken the first time.
Yugi… Where are you?
I wasn't hallucinating when I saw Pegasus look at her on the ship. No, in fact something shady has been going on in his mind the second he learned she was a Shayee. Whatever it is, no doubt it's taken effect now that I'm out of the way. What has he done with her? Lock her up in a cage to make her an attraction for curious eyes? Sold her to the science market to have her torn apart and studied like an animal?
"Seto!"
I sudden run into an obstacle in the form of my little brother blocking my path and grabbing my arms pulls me out of my thoughts.
"You have to calm down," he slowly says. "Starving and exhausting yourself won't help Yugi."
Those words step on my last nerve. "Do you have any idea—"
"I know! I know what's happening as much as you do. Still, we're helping no one like this. You have to eat, and sleep. You can't think straight like that."
So we've reached this point? Where I need Mokuba to tell me the most obvious things. He's right I know he is. I rub my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose to try and focus my scattered thoughts. He offers me some water and a half rotten fruit from the last meal which I reluctantly take. I need to think.
I need a plan. Something. If no one can give us answers, then we have to get out of here.
The sound of clicking metal doors and multiple footsteps interrupt my process before it even begins. Soon, four guards stand in front of our cell. One of them is Alister's right hand man.
"Rise and shine, milords," says Valon with an insolent grin. "Time for your appointment with your host."
Mokuba and I exchange a look. This by no means mean we're being released. We're chained and dragged out of our cell and deeper into the prison. Midway down a long flight of stairs, I decide to interrogate the haughty navy man.
"Where are you taking us?"
"You Kaibas have a lot to answer for, baron. So we're here to help jog your memory."
A moment later, we stop in front of a large wooden door which Valon opens. As I eerily expected, we enter a windowless less chamber filled with a burning fireplace, chains and tools meant for making criminals talk.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"As I've said, you seem to need help loosen your tongue. At least, the lieutenant seems to think so. I'm only following orders. Chain them up," he orders.
Without hesitation, the soldiers proceed to seat us both down in wooden chairs, securing our wrists and feet to them. Struggling is meaningless. But the unsettling part is having Alister order this. Just as I'm about to reprimand our captors, the doors opens again and the man in question shows up, wearing the same look as three days ago. Curses.
"What is this Alister? I demand an explanation."
"I believe Valon has already explained that," replies the lieutenant. "You have many things to answer for, Kaiba."
"You must be joking," I retort, teeth clenched. "Nothing I've done warrants torture! And why is my brother here?"
"For the same purpose. You're both involved, it's only right you both answer for it."
Without sparing us another glance, He removes his hat and sword, placing them on what evidently looks like a table with chains on it. He then orders his men to leave. Does he mean to get his own hands dirty? Was I a fool for underestimating his grudge against pirate? Of course I was.
"Tell the tool master he won't be needed," Alister says to Valon. "I'll take care of this myself."
"Yes, Sir! Everyone, back to your posts."
The door closes behind them in an eerie slam, and Moki's face goes pale as a sheet. Alister locks the door behind them, and proceeds to remove his coat and gloves as well. Something twists my insides.
"Aliser, you can't be serious! We're not common criminals or enemies of the empire."
My former comrade, turns around to eye me with a glare full of judgement and cold sweat makes my dirty shirt stick to my skin. I can tell this is no joke or a cheap attempt to frighten us. Whatever is going on, is decisive and thought out.
"This is the only chance I'm giving you, Kaiba. Don't you dare waste it."
A knock on the door is heard. Alister doesn't move and lets a long silence go by. Four knocks follow, then another silence. And then two other knocks. Finally, the lieutenant unlocks the door and allows a figure with long flowing white hair slip in and immediately locks it again.
"Kisara?" I can't help but let out.
Unlike her usual smiling self, she throws me an attentive but piercing look. "Hello Kaiba. We need to talk."
Got ya there for a second, didn't I ?
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