Disclaimer: YuGiOh and all related characters are copyrighted to Kazuki Takahashi and not to myself. This fanfiction is a work of fun and not intended to infringe upon this legal copyright.

Chapter Three.

"Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance." - Ambrose Bierce

Kaiba Corporation Main Officer Lounge. 5:50 am.

'You've reached Seto Kaiba's mobile line. I'm otherwise preoccupied at this moment in time. Leave a message after the beep.'

'Otherwise preoccupied my eye, Seto. Where the heck are you? Seriously, fifteen year old who really doesn't wanna be up at this hour before school starts, here! Don't tell me you haven't been home all night?

'And then I called up and found that you weren't in the officer here, either. I'm getting kinda worried. Not that I can't handle things perfectly well here, big brother, but you never actually told me how to handle the morning schedule sheets, your secretary's nowhere to be found and I have business workers from Hong Kong breathing down my neck –Hong Kong, Seto! We don't even have a Kaiba Land there! And I took Technology instead of Modern Foreign languages at school this year so I can't tell what the heck they're saying!

'Plus one of the jets is missing and I'm gonna go out on a limb here and assume you're on it. Which means that this is about the Austria thing, right? You're actually giving them a ride, aren't you?

'…Yeah, you are. You must be. Wow. I guess I should've worked that one out sooner. Does this mean you can stop owing Yugi now? Because it's getting a little old.

'Um, look anyway, if you're out there then you're out there and I'll find some way to deal with things back here. You can count on me. I don't know why you went without saying anything though because that's not like you. You always tell me where you're going…

'Hey, Seto, were you embarrassed because the reason you were going in the first place was…

'Uh. Never mind. So just make sure you say hi for me. And don't hurt any of Yugi's friends before you get there. And be careful around the end of the world things, okay? I don't want you getting into trouble again.

'Well. See you later big brother. Call back, okay? Bye.'

Click. Hang up.

Silence. The sound of shuffling trainers on an office floor.

'…Oh, to hell with it already.'

Dial. Ring.

'Hello? Marcus? It's Mokuba. Can you get the jet ready?'

'…'

'No, I know that one's gone, get the other one. Or maybe the copter, whichever is the fastest.'

'…?'

'Austria.'

'…'

'Yeah, you heard me right. Austria. Mmhm, the one currently in national crisis, what, is there another Austria on the map that I don't know about? Yes, I'm sure, get on with it already.'

'…'

'Don't patronize me, Marcus, when I say I wanna go to Austria it means I wanna go to Austria, this isn't a tantrum it's a business request.'

'…'

Look of course I'm just a kid. That alone should mean that following him around is probably in my job description. Or… something. Just do it, already, okay? I have no more idea what's going on here than you do, so do you want me to get there and find out or not?'

'…'

'Great. Um, and while you're at it do we have any sick notes on file? There's supposed to be a test today and I figure I'm gonna be skipping it.'

'…?'

'Oh, I dunno, just tell them I've got flu, or something. Bye.'

Click. Hang up.

New York City, Carmen Street Apartment Block 3, 13:00 p.m.

Click.

'Jounouchi? Jounouchi is that you? Damn it why'd it take you so long to call it's been hours since—'

'Yeah. Glad you finally picked up the phone, Gardner. What took you so long? Afraid it was a reverse call charge, or something?'

'Oh… Oh, damn it. I'm sorry, I thought you were—Wait, what?'

'Hm. Guess so. You know for someone who sounded so worked up about all this in the last message I happened to read of yours, you sure as hell aren't hanging around the phone.'

'Wait, who the hell is…?'

'It's me, Téa.'

'…Seto Kaiba?'

'I don't have to repeat myself, you heard me the first time. Where are you?'

'You are Seto Kaiba. Okay. Okay, that's… surprising. Why exactly are you calling me? What're you--'

'Well let me see, I think I might be currently breaking both my own personal dogma, missing Mokuba's fifteenth compulsory school test not to mention several business meetings, breaking more international relations laws than you can wave a check book at and wasting perfectly good money on calling you from outside of a general service area. In short, Gardner, I'm on one massive money wasting scheme right now and predictably, it's all Yugi's fault, so let's not make this any more difficult than is already is, okay?'

'Kaiba, I have no idea what you're talking ab— is Yugi with you?'

'Hardly. The last I checked he was calling me up to arrange a flight for his little cheerleading group halfway across the planet in apparently record time. Unfortunately they appear to be missing their lead. So I ask again – where the hell are you?'

'Well I was downstairs watching the news on the neighbour's cable. They're the only people who have any clue at the moment what the heck is going on over there.'

'I was being a little more direct than that. Are you within running distance of the New York Central Airport?'

'Uh, no, but I can call a cab. If I get the right one then it should be able to get me there in thirty minutes or less.'

'Good. We'll be there in twenty. Forget about Customs. Just say you're with Kaiba Corp. Tell the to contact the Japanese Main Kaiba Corp Security phone line 81 9778 6955574 and direct them to Security Clearance level Three-Six-Nine-Two-Five-A.'

'Oh my god, you have secret security clearances with the New York Nationa—?'

'Just do it, Gardner. We don't have time to discuss this if we're going to get to Austria before neither of them is left alive to rescue and this whole trip becomes more of a waste of money than it already is.'

'What're you going on about, what do you mean you'll be here? You're in Japan!'

'Clearly you underestimate your little buddy crew's persistence. If it weren't for them I most certainly would be in Japan right now. As it happens, I'm actually entering the last flight run towards New York Central City Airport. And this plane doesn't like messing about on long runways, so you'd better get here fast enough that I can bribe the Airport to keep our arrival as quiet as a jet with this kind of propulsion power will allow.'

'What?'

'You're asking that an awful lot today, Gardner. Well, you need a ride there, don't you? Or are you planning to swim the Atlantic?'

'…Kaiba.'

'Don't start. Just get there.'

'I. Okay, but wait! You're going to have to repeat that for me, I didn't get half of it.'

'81 9778 6955574 . Security Clearance level Three-Six-Nine-Two-Five-A. That should give you the necessary recommendation from Mokuba. Tell them to access my contact phone number if they have to; just do whatever you can to get through that boundary as quickly as possible. And don't wear any metal for God's sakes or it'll take another fifteen minutes just to get you out there.'

'…Nine-Two-Five-A. Got it. Okay. I. I'll be waiting at the Airport.'

'I thought you said the cab would take thirty minutes.'

'Like hell it will.'

'Either way, you'd better be here. My insurance is not going to cover the excess fuel usage here.'

Click. Hang up.

'Oh, my god,' a glance upwards into the sky. 'Yugi, I think my miracle just came… and in the form of Seto Kaiba.

'Damn it, I really need to get out more.'

New York, 8000 Ft Above Sea Level. 13:08 am.

'Mister Kaiba, sir, we're preparing for emergency landing in new York National Airport and have clearance for runway seventeen as of two minutes ago.'

'Fine, how close is that to the main terminal?'

'It's one of the short bus routes, sir, but it only takes roughly two minutes or five by foot. How long do you wish us to remain here.'

'Just stay put until I give the say so. How long until we land?'

'Approximately twenty minutes and counting, sir. All passengers are advised to put on their seatbelts.'

'I know the drill. Inform me when you've—'

'Hey, cool, man, check this out!'

'…What the hell?'

'Wow, it's all rather complicated isn't it? Always thought I was underestimating how hard it was to fly one of these things, I probably wouldn't know where to start… Oh, hello Kaiba, we were wondering where you'd vanished to.'

'Bakura? Mutt! What the—what are you idiots doing up he—'

'Man we just wanted to see the cockpit before we pick Tea up. Hey check out all the buttons, man.'

'Oh for gods— what do you think this is a freaking day trip?'

'No, actually it's a detour on the plan to save our best bud from some unspeakable horror of some weird sort way over in that placer they call Austria. Man, we've been sitting cooped up in those weird excuses for chairs for hours. I think we've gotta right to see the stuff you're using to get us here, right? Besides, we had to tell you those weird lights have come back on an' everyone's gotta put their seatbelts back on now.'

'Yes. You know that would actually include you, you idiot.'

'I know that! Just checkin' that you knew already. Jeeze that's a Kaiba's gratitude for ya…'

(Sigh). 'Are you quite certain you're the one who's sober here, Wheeler? Because you've caused more chaos that Taylor has this whole flight. Ryou, will please you put this boy back in his seat and get him to stay there?'

'Oh, uh, right. of course. By the way Kaiba is there any sign of Téa?'

'While we're still at least eight thousand feet above sea level? I highly doubt it. When I catch first sight of your little cheerleader, though, I'll let you know. For now just look out of the window and keep your eyes out for a pair of flying pompoms.'

'You know, man, I'm gonna tell her you said that when she gets here and she'll probably wanna kick your ass for it, free flight or no free flight. And need I mention you can totally tell the flight was free, 'cause it's been bumping and shaking all over the place for the last ten minutes, it's like the thing's going to fall outta the sky any second or something. You never said this was gonna be standard class.'

'That's called turbulence, you fool, it happens on all class— I mean, all aeroplanes!'

'Uh, excuse me, sir, but I think it really would be a good idea for everyone to get back in their seats now, we passed the minimum free movement level at least three minutes ago.'

'Your warning is noted, already, pilot, will you just concentrate on landing this damn plane. I'm not paying you to amuse the cargo.'

'Cargo? Oh, alright that does it—!'

'Uh, Jounouchi, please, he does have every right to leave us here, you know, and I don't think we actually brought our passports…'

'And we are fully cleared now for landing at New York Airport Runway seventeen short term stay area. Warning lights are on.'

'Joey for goodness sakes, get back in your seat!'

'Alright, alright, I'm goin' already. Damn, you suits and your rules…'

'Ah, come on, now, Joey, we should really do what the pilot tells us.'

'Hmpf.'

'Yo, Kaiba?'

'What is it now, Mutt?'

'What colour pompoms should we be looking for?'

'Oh for… get the hell out of my cockpit!'

'Heh heh.'

'Oh, Joey.'

Austria, Vienna, 10:05 p.m.

'So. Not that I wish to be personal, Yugi, but you look very much like death cooled down, right now.'

A sigh. 'Warmed up, Yami. Its death warmed up.'

'Yes, that too.'

'I'm not the only one. There are a whole lot of people out there with the same lack of resistance. Relax; I've got more of a balance than a lot of people like…'

'Like you?'

'Well, yeah. Like me. I'll be okay once I get used to the magical assault being raged on my spine.'

'Oh-kay. I'll trust you on that one for now, but you'd better mention it if you start losing your eye-hand-coordination or seeing in double vision.'

'We shouldn't have called them.'

'What?'

'Our friends. We shouldn't have. We should've left them in Japan where they were safe. Now they're going to get dragged into this and it's going to be my fault if they all get Shadow Poisoning.'

'…There is no such thing as Shadow Poisoning, Yugi.'

'Well if you can think of a better name for the immense pressure building up in my skull, Atem, feel free to mention—ach!' A flash of light, sudden and sharp from overhead, and then a plunge into darkness. 'Ow! Damn it!'

'Yugi? Yugi!'

'Ngh, I'm fine, it's just a power cut.'

'You said "ow".'

'Yeah, we humans tend to do that when red hot glass light filaments make contact with our faces unexpectedly. Sorry, Yami I…'

'My name again. You said my name out loud, there, didn't you?'

'Uh yeah. I think I just deprived us of out remaining electricity.'

'You can see why they never told me it, back in ancient Egypt.'

'You know it's officially been twenty four hours now without a sunrise or a sunset.'

'Yes, I think it was supposed to have risen a couple of hours ago. Personally I think Europe will be able to consider itself lucky if they ever get to see another sunrise.'

'Damn. Still, we're gonna have to remind them about that when they get here, Yami… don't say your real name, especially not in the presence of electrical items, at least until we get the sun back. If they even get here. Damn it, Yami what have we gotten ourselves into? And worse still, what are we not getting them into? I hope Téa doesn't try to get here because I don't have any idea how she'd manage it from all the way over in New—'

'Yugi, you really shouldn't think like that. They understand the risks they are taking.'

'I can't help thinking like that, Yami, it's how things are. What about… about Bakura?'

'What about him?'

'Well, he's been a host; he's got the same Millennium issues as I do. I'm not going to start taking the comparison to Disney's Snow White too seriously here because it drives me mad enough when the rest of you do it, but magical wise it's pretty much accurate. We're both magical light comparisons to balance out the two of you. Shadow Realm power doesn't like us. If Ryou comes he'll be in the same state as…'

'Yugi, we are talking about Bakura Ryou here. He's been dabbling on occult superstition for years. The boy knows how to operate voodoo dolls for goodness sakes.'

'Well I can see how— wait, he can operate what?'

'Voodoo dolls. You know. Those dolls you can use to help or harm somebody by—'

'I know what they are, Yami, I just had no idea Bakura ever dabbled in the things.'

'Hm, more like he avoids them with a passion.'

'Spirit?'

'Ah, there was... an incident, a while back. You were out of town and Yami-Bakura was playing up again and uh. Look, I hardy see how this is important, the point is that Ryou Bakura, if he's anything like you, Yugi, is capable of handling this. You're shaking like Gods only knows what and I'm not exactly enjoying all the excess Shadow magic flying around here myself. We can't do this alone.'

'I…'

'Mm?'

'...Guess you're right. No need to rub it in, though.'

Not an uncomfortable silence follows, considering. Nobody dead yet and that was always a plus sign, a reason to count your blessings and enjoy the silence, even if that silence happened to be dark, creepy and mostly disturbing.

'Yugi.'

'Mm?'

'The door, Yugi. behind you. I heard knocking.'

'…'

'…'

'Yeah. You're right that's— Okay that's not actually knocking. That's more like how things knock when they don't actually have hands to knock with and… Uh oh.'

'Guess it's too much to hope that this is the cavalry.'

'I think it would be, Yami. I think the guys from the bar have found us.'

'Or rather whatever remains of the guys from the bar inside of those spiritually possessed animate corpses.'

'Please don't talk about it like that, they— Yami? Wait, what do you think you're doing?'

'Looking for a heavy and-slash-or blunt object. Get behind me. If we have to—'

'Uh. No. No way. If you're going to face those things out there then you're either doing it with me or you're not doing it at all!'

'I don't think that's what I would call a safe option, Yugi. Not with you in this state.'

'And attacking them on your own is?! Yami get real, those things used to be people. They still are people we can't just—!'

'Well as you might say, Yugi, if you have any better ideas I'd certainly like to hear them. Like try right here and right now.'

'…Actually, I think I might.'

'What?'

A hand grips the very-much-tangible-these-days Spirit's upper arm and pulls him backwards. 'There's a back exit, provided we're both up to shimmying down drainpipes. Yami, we've got to run for it. Now!'

With any luck we'll be able to get some contact in from Egypt next chapter. I say "with any luck" for a good reason, too. Reviews are appreciated.