Thank you for these characters and their stories, Kazuki Takahashi. Requiescat in pace.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Dria
Seto's words struck deep within me. I knew he meant and believed every word he'd said, and despite everything we'd been through together, he declared that he viewed me no differently than he did Yugi. Our last conversation reappeared in my mind, when Seto had let his softer side show as we teased one another. Would I ever see him like that again?
I clutched my necklace tightly, wishing that there was something I could do to convince Seto that I did care for him deeply, and that he hadn't lost me because I had chosen to love another man. I knew I was being unfair, wanting to have both the Pharaoh and Seto in my life. Maybe it had become too much for Seto. I sighed in defeat; if I was making him miserable, then I needed to let him go. It would hurt to lose my best friend, but if it was best for Seto, then I could make no other choice. Tears blurred my vision as I lowered my head, keeping my gaze away from him and trying not to think about when I might see or speak to him again.
As Seto headed towards the exit, Joey blocked his way and suggested they have a duel for 3rd place. Seto gave him no response, but Joey wasn't one to be deterred by a stubborn attitude.
"You think you're too good for the rest of us, don't you?"
I'd only heard portions of the story about how Joey and Yugi had become friends, but it was clear that Joey's life had been changed forever because of the sweet boy standing near me. Loneliness wasn't unfamiliar to me, and there had been many years in my long life where I'd had no one to rely on. Friendship became an absolute necessity, even though I knew my friends would die and leave me behind to mourn the loss alone. Having authority didn't mean having happiness; in fact, it sometimes seemed more like it only brought pain and misery with it.
"Please tell me you're done. All of this nonsense about friendship is starting to bore me, Wheeler."
I couldn't help but giggle at Seto's response. Though I disagreed with his words, I still found his biting retorts amusing.
"The last thing my brother needs is a lecture from you, so why don't you just lay off!"
"How can you defend this guy after what he said about you?"
I wanted to reassure Mokuba that his brother's words hadn't been directed at him at all. Seto loved Mokuba more than anyone in the world, and he was so much more to Seto than just a friend. I took a few steps forward to put myself between Seto and Joey, but my feet came to a stop beside the Pharaoh. I had no right to defend Seto anymore; he'd made that inescapably clear. From his position on my arm, Aristokles sent a soothing wave through me, providing the reassurance I had wanted to give Mokuba, and the Pharaoh gently took my hand in his. He understood how Seto's words had affected me.
"Trust me. It won't take my best shot to defeat an amateur like you."
"Then take your worst shot for all I care, tough guy!"
Since the final duel wasn't scheduled until later today, Joey and Seto held their bronze medal match on the island itself. Joey was certainly excited and confident about being able to defeat Seto, but I wasn't so sure.
Just as the duel began, I felt the power of the Millennium Rod nearby, detecting the tangy scent of oranges. I looked around, searching for the evil side of Marik, but he was nowhere to be found. As I scanned the area one last time, I noticed Tea had begun walking towards the plane that brought us here. I slowly slipped my hand out of the Pharaoh's and followed her. Though he didn't act like he noticed, I felt him reach out to me through the connection of our Items.
Where are you going?
There's something I need to do. Cheer on Joey for me until I get back.
At the same moment, Duke noticed that Tea had left as well. I could sense that the Pharaoh wanted to ask another question, but he held it back and didn't argue further. Though I was certain he wouldn't wait long for my return, I appreciated his trust nonetheless. As quietly as I could manage, I followed Tea through the wreckage of the island. She never once turned around, so she either wasn't aware of my presence or was purposefully ignoring me. She finally stopped just outside the plane, and I hid myself behind the larger pieces of scrap metal.
"The time is near, Ishizu."
"Tea, are you alright? You seem a bit lost."
"Sister, it's me again."
My eyes widened as I listened to the conversation. The good side of Marik currently inhabited a portion of Tea's mind. He had probably been there since Tea, Joey, and I had been kidnapped, and now he was controlling Tea's body. Though I wanted to force him out of Tea's mind, I restrained my own anger to listen more closely to the conversation.
"I've been in Tea's mind long enough to learn the truth about our past. I never knew that I was the one who sent Father to the Shadow Realm. I can't allow one duel to decide the fate of the whole world. The time has come for me to step in and reclaim my body, sister. Take care of Odion."
Tea turned from the conversation, running straight past me, and headed towards the Duel Tower. I stepped out from my hiding place and caught Ishizu's worried eyes. I inclined my head and smiled at her before hurrying after Tea again. Though I didn't see, knowing Ishizu, she was currently bowed low with her left foot forward, as she had always stood before me.
It was much harder to remain stealthy in the Tower than it had been outside. Every door Tea entered was automatic, which meant I had only seconds to get through without alerting Marik to my presence. When we reached the final door, Tea stopped and stood immobile before it. I had nowhere to hide, so all I could do was stay quiet and see what Marik would do next.
"I was hoping to speak to you before attempting anything, my Lady, if you'll allow me."
I froze as Marik addressed me directly. He'd figured out at some point that I was behind him, though I wasn't sure when exactly. I might have been many things, but a perfect spy wasn't one of them.
"I assumed you would be following me when I compelled Tea to leave from Joey's duel. You know better than anyone that she would never leave her friends when they need support. At least, I hope I'm not speaking to empty air at the moment. If I am, I don't know you nearly half as well as I believed I did."
Slowly, Tea turned to face me. Though her eyes were devoid of her own personality, they still carried an intense gaze. Marik was determined to do whatever he could to regain control of his own body and prevent the darkness from spreading further. Before I could respond, Marik dropped to his right knee, bowing low before me.
"Please allow me to apologize for everything I have done to you and to the Pharaoh, my Queen. I don't expect you to forgive me nor do I think you should. After studying and admiring you for so many years, I allowed my own selfish desires to outweigh my duty to you. For that, I'm truly sorry. If I fail here, and if the Pharaoh loses his duel, I'm comforted by the fact that you will still be present. I know that you'll do what is necessary to keep the world safe, even though it'll likely involve you taking my life. I can't apologize enough for putting this burden on your shoulders. Please, do it if you must. I understand and accept that as my possible fate."
Throughout his speech, Marik never once met my gaze. He kept his eyes downcast, just like my former servants had once addressed me. There was nothing I could say to refute his words; he was right on nearly every front, except one. It was all that I could offer as encouragement to him now.
"I believe that the Pharaoh will win, regardless of how the odds may be stacked. You should believe in him too. There will be no need for me to take drastic measures."
Tea nodded solemnly before standing upright again. Turning back towards the final door, she ran through it to the main dueling platform. The evil side of Marik was already there, shouting inane orders at the Millennium Rod.
"I command you to obey me now. Show me the ancient images that you showed the Pharaoh and Kaiba."
I narrowed my eyes at him as he attempted to exert control over the Item that he'd technically stolen. As he threw the Millennium Rod away from himself, surprise was evident in his eyes when he caught sight of Tea and me. I addressed him first, "The Rod will never fully obey you, Marik. You are not its rightful master." As I spoke, Tea leaned down to collect the precious Item. "You should be more careful with this."
Marik glared in response, at first not understanding why Tea was holding the Millennium Rod. He must have not been able to tell that it was his better half in control of the girl's body. As Marik approached, the Millennium Rod activated, sending the evil force away from Tea. My Pendant began to glow as well, taking the cue from its fellow Item.
"What's going on? No one can use the Millennium Rod but me."
Dria! Tea! Through the Items, I heard the Pharaoh and Yugi calling for us. Something must have alerted them to our current predicament. It would only be a matter of time before they figured out where we were. Tea stood before me, both ready to attack the evil side of Marik and defend me if necessary. Though I couldn't step in to help the good Marik take back control, I would make sure that nothing happened to Tea's body. Using the Millennium Rod, Tea slowly pushed Marik back towards the edge of the Duel Tower.
"So, you left a piece of your mind inside this girl. How sad. Marik, I'm the real you and you're nothing but a piece of my memory, thanks to Odion."
The brief mention of his beloved guardian caught Marik off guard long enough for his dark side to grab the Millennium Rod. I stepped forward to intercede, but he turned the Rod on me, using a deflection spell against me once again. I was thrown back, beyond reach of the fight.
"My Lady!" Using Tea's flexibility and dancing strength to propel himself upwards, Marik maneuvered his way above his dark side, but it wasn't enough. Soon, Tea's body was also on the ground and the evil Marik was on the verge of destroying his better half. I stretched my hand out, feeling my Item activate again as I attempted to shield Marik from the spell. Even though I knew I wouldn't make it in time, I still had to try.
"Stop this at once." Ishizu appeared, having followed Tea and me from the earlier conversation. She strode fearlessly towards the madman currently possessing her brother's body and stood between the two versions of her sibling. I used the few moments to crawl toward Tea. Marik was weakening by the moment, and he likely wouldn't last much longer.
"Be gone! You're not my brother."
"Sister, you're too late. Stop him but forget me."
As Marik's control failed, Tea fell back onto the platform. My hands cushioned her head from hitting the solid metal directly, but nothing I did woke her from the sudden faint. The evil Marik raised the Rod once again, this time against Ishizu. Feeling my power surge again, I raised a small barrier in front of her, but it would only last for a few moments.
"Hold on!"
Finally, he'd gotten here. I sighed in relief as I saw the glow from the Millennium Puzzle emerging from the dark staircase. Though he likely hadn't accessed his magic knowingly, his presence alone brought me comfort. Even as the magic of the two Items began pressing upon the air itself, and the atmosphere itself darkened from their influence, I felt a surge of confidence in my own abilities to defend those I loved. Ishizu took my place beside Tea, and I quickly rose to stand in front of them both.
"On second thought, I don't want to end this just yet. I have something more fun in mind."
Marik began to walk away from the four of us, instead wanting to extend his game a little longer. He paused as he passed me, a wicked smile spread across his lips. He placed the Millennium Rod under my chin, nearly pressing it into my throat but not quite touching me. Though he spoke no words, I could see the threatening promise in his eyes; once he'd handled the Pharaoh, I was next. If he won, he'd be free to do with me what he wished, and not even the will of the Items themselves could stop him. I glared in response, hoping he could understand my threat as well; if I had to, I would fulfill my promise to his good side and remove the problem permanently, no matter how much I hated considering that path. He cackled in response as he lowered the Rod and strode away from me.
"Is she alright?"
As the Pharaoh worried over Tea, I continued to stare into the darkness that Marik had disappeared into. I couldn't lose faith that Marik would soon be saved. I had experienced the darkness more than enough times throughout my long life. It had never been easy, and some moments had certainly felt nearly hopeless, but I knew that the light was on the horizon. I glanced over towards the Pharaoh as he and Ishizu finished their conversation. The vision I'd seen of him all those years ago still held true.
Purple eyes tinged with scarlet gleamed in the sunset as the proud young man overlooked the thriving kingdom below him. He stood on the balcony of the palace, his chest bare to the falling sun, and his golden earrings gently swayed in the evening breeze. Even without the official crown, his natural posture marked him as a leader. Confidence and intelligence rippled over his body, following the contours of the visible muscles across his arms, torso, and legs. He turned away from the kingdom below, and the once firm and serious expression softened immediately. Whatever, or perhaps whomever, had caught his attention brought love into those fierce eyes and a gentle smile onto his face as the final light of the day shone behind him.
As I awoke from my dreams that morning in the palace, I could remember the first time I'd had that same vision. I had been wandering in the desert, having journeyed far from the kingdom of my birth. I didn't even know where in the world I currently was, and honestly, I didn't care. I had already experienced more lifetimes than anyone who'd ever walked this earth. I'd wanted nothing more than to fall into the sand beneath my feet and simply fade away. There was no need to continue, especially since I knew that my homeland would never return. I had no one in my life and no place to call my own.
Eventually, exhaustion caught up to me and I did fall into the sand below. There was nothing near me for miles except the endless wasteland. I closed my eyes as the dust swirled around my body, slowly burying my limbs. Perhaps this would be the end. I didn't understand the spell that currently controlled my life, and nothing I'd tried had removed it. It was in this moment that the vision first came to me. The sight was so overwhelming that I immediately woke up from my stupor, feeling purpose restored to my journey once more. I had to find that man, no matter how long it would likely take me. I couldn't begin to guess where I should look, but something told me that if I stayed in the desert, I would succeed. Swaying slightly as I stood, my feet began carrying me in an unknown direction.
Years passed in the blink of an eye, but that vision sustained me as I continued to wait for the man I'd seen. Though it wasn't clear to me, I somehow knew that I hadn't missed him yet, that his time on this earth hadn't passed by without my knowing. I found myself beside the beautiful Nile, disguised as a small child to avoid suspicion; orphaned children were not an unusual sight in this age, and they were mostly ignored. One man, however, had taken an interest in me. After rescuing the Pharaoh from a wayward crocodile, he'd placed me upon his horse and taken me into his kingdom. He'd claimed that the man I had described sounded like an older version of his son. Though our first meeting had been less than ideal, considering I had knocked him to the ground in my attempt to escape from Shimon, our second meeting was much smoother.
"Dria, this is my only son, Prince _." The Pharaoh gently pushed me forward into his son's room. The young boy glanced up from the toys on the ground at the sound of his name, and a joyous smile spread over his face.
"The pretty girl from the hall! You're still here!" I smiled and politely curtsied in response, somewhat surprised at his command of speech at such a young age.
"My son, this is Dria. She will be your companion from now on." The Prince quickly came toward us and grabbed my hand. A light blush covered my cheeks at his sudden touch as he pulled me further into the room. Though I should have protested my sudden designation as a companion, I found that I didn't mind if it meant I could be in his presence. Under the watchful eyes of Shimon and the Pharaoh, the Prince and I spent the afternoon playing together in the garden. We chased one another through the bushes, hid around the columns, and splashed in the fountains to cool down. We finally collapsed into the grass from the exhaustion of a day well-spent, and I turned my gaze towards my companion. My breath caught in my throat as a younger version of the eyes and smile from my vision returned my glance.
"Dria? Are you alright?" A hand on my back brought me out of the memory, even though the view remained the same. I smiled in response to his question as I turned to face him. Tea was gone from the arena, probably having gone back to Joey's duel.
"You knew it was Marik controlling Tea, didn't you?" His hand drifted down to mine, intertwining our fingers together. Though I could hear the irritation beneath his question, he tried to keep his tone light and curious. I shrugged before answering.
"I didn't know for certain. I just felt the power of the Millennium Rod activate around the same time that Tea left Joey's duel. I was worried that the evil Marik had done something to her, so I followed just in case. I certainly wasn't expecting the real Marik to be the culprit. Once I realized that, I stayed to protect Tea."
He didn't respond immediately, but he seemed satisfied by my answer. My currently free hand rested on his cheek, pulling him closer. He smiled as he touched his forehead to mine, and we both closed our eyes. Though it only lasted a few moments, I reveled in every second of the quiet we had together. We stayed that way for as long as we could, knowing that it would only be after the most difficult fight of his life that we'd be able to have time for this again.
"You should go check on Joey. I would bet that his duel is nearly over now."
He knew I was right, and I knew that he would go, but neither of us made a movement to separate. I would have been content to remain wrapped in his arms, inhaling his unique cinnamon scent. Having a similar thought, he tilted my chin upwards and caught my lips in a gentle kiss. Releasing his hand and wrapping my arms around his waist, I returned his affection wholeheartedly. After a few more moments, we reluctantly parted. He tapped my nose, smiling once more, before stepping away. He would hurry back to Joey's duel before returning here for his own match.
As he disappeared, I sat atop the railing to wait for his return, overlooking the ruined island below. The tangy scent of oranges suddenly permeated the air once more. Marik had returned first, clearly eager for their long-awaited duel to begin. He passed by me this time without a comment and headed straight for his side of the platform. Believing that this would be my final opportunity to try to understand his reasoning, I addressed him without leaving my spot.
"You won't succeed, so why are you doing this? What are you hoping to gain?"
The silence that followed lasted so long that I thought he hadn't heard my questions. Just when I considered addressing him again, his maniacal laughter echoed across the tower.
"I told you, My Lady, the Pharaoh's power belongs to me. Why should he be permitted to keep such strength in this age? He doesn't even remember his own name, let alone you or your history together. Though I suppose that didn't prevent you from taking him into your bed, did it? I don't know if I should call that loyalty or desperation. Tell me: have you told him of the other men you've shared that space with yet? Does he know that I'll take his place there too after he loses?"
Before he could say anything more, I turned my red eyes on him and forced him onto his knees before me, just as many others had once done willingly when my authority was unquestionable. Without releasing control, I descended from the railing and walked towards him. Not trusting myself to touch him, I stopped a few steps away and lifted my hand, raising his head to meet my gaze.
"Just so we're clear, Marik, I may have played the role of wife many times, but I have never shared my bed with another man, nor do I intend to. You claim to bear the secret of the Pharaoh's power on your back, but you don't even know what this power you're seeking truly is. Perhaps you should determine that before you decide whether it's something you want. I can tell you with complete certainty and honesty that power isn't everything."
I maintained eye contact with him for a few moments of silence before I released him from the spell. He stood immediately, anger clear yet restrained in his eyes. I had won our battle of wills for now. He wouldn't try anything else until he claimed victory in the duel, and I was completely confident that he wouldn't succeed. For the next several moments, we ignored each other's presence, waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. I leaned against the railing once more with my back to Marik. I knew the others had returned when I heard Marik's cackling begin once more. The Pharaoh headed straight for his position on the platform, never removing his eyes from his opponent. The group migrated towards me, except for both Kaibas and Ishizu. I was surprised that Seto had bothered to attend the final duel since he wasn't participating. Perhaps Ishizu had said something to him. Though I wanted to catch his gaze and smile at him like I normally did, I instead avoided eye contact, trying to give him the space he'd demanded.
"Hold on, Yugi. I've got something you need." Seto threw Yugi an unnamed card. I had no way of knowing which card he had just given Yugi, but something in my gut told me that it was Seto's way of showing his support. The final duel was about to begin.