A/N: I'm so sorry for the delay. I've been super stressed this past week and was only now free enough to finish this chapter and post it. I'm too tired to edit it right now but I will tomorrow morning. Again, so sorry for the delay. I promise, it wasn't intentional.
Chapter summary: In which Kaiba is exhausted, the word is out, and a dangerous deal is struck.
Wary Alliances
Kaiba was strangely silent when they arrived at the Watchtower. He could not afford to open his mouth or release the tightness in his throat. He knew if he did, his voice would betray him. Set had done what he could to give Carter some peace but the result still bothered Kaiba. Set had been fully prepared to offer Carter a lighter sentence but the man had chosen death.
Why?
"Regent."
Kaiba did not move but his gaze sharpened as he fought through his muddled thoughts back to reality. He was standing in the medical wing of the Watchtower, leaning against the wall. Ishizu, Shaadi, and Bakura lay on the beds in front of him hooked up to IVs and medical equipment. The steady beeping from the machines was soothing to his senses.
Thankfully, Yugi had had enough strength left after merging and splitting his summon Mystical Elf and heal Bakura's and Ishizu's wounds so they were no longer vital. But he was exhausted and Shaadi had insisted a good night's sleep was all he truly needed. Only then did Yugi all but collapse. Arrow had to pick the young King up, place him on a bed, and all but order him to rest before he finally slept.
Meanwhile, Jounouchi and Honda stayed faithfully by Yugi's bedside playing a friendly game of Duel Monsters. Mai sat by Shaadi reading a book Shayera had lent her while Mokuba lay on her lap sound asleep. Marik never left Ishizu's or Bakura's sides. He currently sat in a foldout chair between his sister's and lover's bed dozing.
Kaiba had fought Arrow's 'suggestion' to rest. There was no way he would leave his Court in unfamiliar territory surrounded by potential enemies unguarded. He knew he needed the rest but he also needed to stay awake. It was too soon after loosing his soul again to sleep. He would have fallen into a deep sleep so his soul could rest and it was neither the time nor the place for that.
The Justice League had not argued much once Wonder Woman arrived and defended him. She was a warrior and recognized the need and desire to protect and watch over compatriots. Kaiba would have to thank her for her interference later. For now, he needed to stay awake and focused.
He heaved a sigh and straightened his back as he looked around. Several of the other beds nearby were filled with some members of the archeological team for minor cuts and bruises. Only a handful had more several wounds, mostly from stray bullets. They were lucky. Most of the Shadow Court had resisted causing absolute mayhem even though Kaiba was fully aware of their desire to do so. By holding back, hopefully they could at least somewhat hide who and what they were for a bit longer at least.
"I'm afraid that may not be possible," J'onn said.
Kaiba's blue eyes narrowed and slid to the Manhunter's. The alien stood alone in the doorway watching him. Marik stirred in his seat forcing Kaiba to roll his shoulders and walk out of the room so as to keep his conversation somewhat unheard. He could feel Mai's eyes on him from behind her book but ignored her. He did cast one quick glance at his baby brother though. Jounouchi and Honda glanced at him in passing but otherwise remained focused on their game.
:Seto,: Seth whispered softly adding his awareness to Kaiba's to follow the conversation better.
J'onn tilted his head thoughtfully for a moment before gesturing for them to move the hallway just out of earshot of the medical room. "As I said, I do not think secrecy is possible anymore," he said slowly.
"Why?" Kaiba asked, keeping his voice low.
"Because we caused quite, I believe you humans call it 'a stir,'" he said. "The media is calling it an attack though they have not openly laid the blame on anyone specifically yet. For now, it seems they are ready to believe the Justice League was fighting an enemy attacking civilians at an archaeological dig."
Kaiba sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. This was a nightmare.
"I concur," J'onn said.
Kaiba decided against arguing over the telepathic interloping. He still did not trust his voice completely.
"I apologize," J'onn said. "But it seems better if we speak this way." :Diana told me what happened,: he added mentally. :I'm sorry for the pain you have suffered.:
Kaiba barely contained his wince. "Don't," he said simply. Seth brushed his mind, offering soothing comfort as best he could.
:I understand,: J'onn said. His yellow eyes softened with compassion. :The League and I have discussed this issue and have decided to leave the decision of whether or not to reveal your Court's existence up to you.:
Great, more responsibility.
"Not you alone," J'onn correctly. "I meant the entire Court. We will do our best to support you with what we have. We understand you are the victims in this but the matter of the prisoners still being held here must be dealt with."
Kaiba nodded. He would have to speak to the Court about this when they woke up. He ran a hand through his hair humming absently. He still had to get Helios back, deal with Ares, and retrieve his stolen Blue Eyes from the Bastard.
Kisara.
Pain and loss tugged at his heart as he felt the distinct emptiness Kisara used to fill in both his Deck and his heart. At least he still had two Blue Eyes left which could come in handy with getting Kisara back. But he was sleep deprived and short on time.
"I never realized..."
Kaiba lifted his eyes curiously.
"I knew she was once your lover but I did not actually consider the bond you have with her," J'onn murmured in surprise. He nodded slowly, pausing in the middle of the motion. "Two Blue Eyes?"
Kaiba blinked and nodded.
"Show me."
The Regent pulled out his Deck and drew his two Blue Eyes White Dragon cards as well as the currently blank card from the top of his Deck and held them out for J'onn to see but not touch. He watched the alien's eyes widen in surprise.
"Fascinating," the Manhunter said. "I was told only one Blue Eyes White Dragon remained in your Deck."
"One?" Kaiba asked.
J'onn nodded. "Yes," he confirmed. "Arrow informed Flash who told us. Your Adviser went through your Deck and only found one Blue Eyes card. The other two were blank."
Kaiba turned the cards back in his hand and studied them curiously. That made sense.
"How?" the Manhunter asked.
Blue eyes darted up to the shapeshifter's yellow cautiously. When they detected only honest curiosity, he relaxed somewhat lowering his eyes back to his cards. He cleared his throat wishing he had coffee.
"I..." He hesitated before starting again. "When we fought Necrophades, we had gone back in time. Or, more accurately, those last few days had been reconstructed with us thrown into the mess. I summoned my ultimate Monster, the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon which is the fusion of my three Blue Eyes White Dragons."
He stared at his cards trying to organize his thoughts into words. There was so much to do and so little time to do it.
"But the Blue Eyes was originally only Kisara," Kaiba continued. "I had three Blue Eyes which meant there had to be two more sources for those dragons to draw from. I said it then and though I meant it differently at the time, I find it rings truer than I originally thought."
He lifted his eyes to J'onn and felt Arrow standing in the Shadows down the hall listening. When he spoke again, he threw his voice so Arrow would hear as well. The vigilante was his kohai and deserved to know this at least.
"When I summoned my Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, I drew on Kisara's soul, my own soul, and Seth's soul currently animating Set's body in that twisted world to create it," he said. "By fusing both my soul and Seth's with a Blue Eyes card, I was able to successfully summon them and fuse them together as the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon"
"So when two Blue Eyes White Dragon cards were blank..." J'onn began.
"It meant both mine and Kisara's souls were missing. Kisara's literally ripped from the card, mine literally from my body," Kaiba finished firmly.
"Do each of the Courtiers have a Monster representing their soul in this way?" J'onn asked curiously.
"Not necessarily," Kaiba replied. "This soul bonding is caused by the user fusing with that Monster at some point in time. If that Monster was not already a fused Ka and Ba of another person then the bond will stick most of the time. Although stealing the Monster may not directly affect the user it is jarring to the soul bond."
"Do the Pharaoh and the King have a bonded Monster?"
Kaiba nodded, studiously refusing to think of that particular Monster.
"And Red Eyes-" J'onn still when the Regent shook his head.
"No," Kaiba said. "That Monster is not the Knight's representation."
"I see." J'onn cast his gaze down the hall to where Arrow stood watching for a moment before returning his gaze to the Regent. "You should rest," he said simply.
"I can't," Kaiba said feeling the weight return to his shoulders. "Not yet."
J'onn nodded slowly. "Then may I suggest you take Arrow back to Earth and speak with your allies," he said.
"My allies?" Kaiba asked mildly with a raised eyebrow.
"The man currently at your home whom Arrow recognized from earlier today, er," he corrected himself with a soft blush of embarrassment, "yesterday."
"What man?" Kaiba demanded, turning his now sharp gaze onto his kohai.
"The Welshman who visited you in KaibaCorp Tower," Arrow said, speaking up at last.
"He's at my house?" Kaiba asked in mild exasperation.
Arrow nodded with a shrug. "If it means anything, he brought friends this time," he added. "And he did say he liked you."
Kaiba breathed out slowly through his nose, resisting the urge to growl. Damn his luck. He was already tired from the drain on his soul and the few Shadows here in space. Although there were more now due to the increased number of humans here it still made him feel more brittle than usual.
"Fine," he said. "As soon as you can, get my people back to Ishizu's house. Her clan can keep them hidden until they recover. I'll deal with this idiot." He hesitated.
"I'm coming with you," Arrow said firmly. His gaze was hard and determined. "Don't even think about it," he quickly, cutting off Kaiba's denial. "I was there when this craziness started so don't even try to delude yourself into think I'm not in it for the long haul. That Bastard fucked with my friends in my city." He smirked. "You don't really think I'm going to let him get away with that. Besides," he added with a shrug, "I like Helios. He's interesting."
Kaiba very deliberately did not roll his eyes. "Fine," he huffed. "When Ishizu recovers enough to be safely moved, get my Court off this station and back to Earth."
"I'll try to," J'onn said. "But we can better protect you from Earth's media and law here than on the planet itself."
Kaiba grimaced. "I see what you mean." He turned back to where Mokuba still slept on Mai's lap in the medical room and made up his mind. "Tell your League we'll discuss everything once Arrow and I get back. For now, I have a faerie to deal with."
"Unseelie," Arrow corrected, earning him a burning gaze from his Regent which he ignored.
"Whatever."
"What is an 'unseelie'?" J'onn asked curiously.
"I'll tell you later," Arrow said. "Come on. Let's get this over with."
"We'll talk later about you watching my home without my knowledge," Kaiba added.
Kaiba turned back to the medical room and met his Sorceress's eyes. She nodded subtly, placing on hand on Mokuba head in acknowledgement of her new duty as watcher. With one last reluctant glance at his baby brother, Kaiba followed the two Justice League members to the control room where the teleporter was.
Arrow appeared in the middle of Kaiba's front lawn with the Kaiba house behind him and the group of potential allies in front of him. The same Unseelie who visited them earlier in the day stood at the front of the group. His red eyes were hard and dangerous as was the giant wolf-like dog next to him. It's fur was midnight black like the Holly King's coat but its eyes gleamed a hungry amber.
The people behind him were unknown to the vigilante. One stood in an elegant kimono that was midnight black over another of pure white. His hair was a pale lavender that just brushed his shoulders. His moon pale face was framed on either side by long strands of silver white. His eyes were also a soft amber, but these were much softer and more ancient than many Arrow had ever seen. More ancient even than the Unseelie's, perhaps even older then Set's.
"Ah, finally we are welcomed by a presence," the Unseelie King said. "You must be the vigilante of Starling City."
"Holly King," Arrow said curtly. "Who's your friend?"
"A representative of the Japanese pantheon," the Holly King said. "The Tsukuyomi no Mikoto."
"Tsukuyomi," Arrow said, nodding to the god.
"We're here to see Set," the Unseelie fae said. "Will you let us in this fine home?"
"It's not his house to give permission," Kaiba said, materializing from the Shadows behind the faerie.
"So it isn't," the Fae agreed with a smirk. "Well then, will you allow us-"
"Drop dead Arawn."
Arawn lifted an eyebrow in amusement and turned around to issue an equally snark reply when he saw Kaiba. Instantly his smile faded to an expression that could easily be construed as concern. Next to him, the Tsukuyomi simply tilted his head to the side, never moving his eyes from Arrow.
"What the hell?" Arawn gasped.
When he moved to approach the Regent Arrow knocked an arrow and drew his bow, aiming the bolt at Arawn's back. But the vigilante was nowhere near as swift nor as efficient as the Tsukuyomi. The Japanese deity grabbed Arawn's wrist firmly enough to halt his movement and something in his gaze froze Arrow's muscles.
"He is recovering from an assault of an exceedingly personal nature," the Tsukuyomi said. His voice was soft, gentle, almost like a night breeze. But there was an edge to it like the uncertainty of the dark. It was a threat and Arawn respected it.
"I am surprised you are on your feet," the Tsukuyomi said to Kaiba, still not turning around. "You left my sight before I could act."
"It has nothing to do with you," Kaiba said coldly.
"I cannot step into the sunlight by order of my sister," the Tsukuyomi said. "I can, at times, defy her edict, but not as often as I would prefer." Finally, the Japanese moon god released Arrow from his paralyzing gaze and turned around. "And yes, it did have something to do with me. That was an attack on you personally, not your pantheon; thus it open to my interference." His eyes lowered. "Unfortunately, my gaze was elsewhere at the time and I did not hear of the attack until an ally informed me of it. She herself could not act due to her physical state."
"Who is this woman?" Kaiba demanded.
Tsukuyomi tilted his head and lifted his eyes. "I believe you know her as Selene."
Kaiba's blue eyes darted to Arawn suspiciously. The Unseelie eased his stance but his eyes remained dark and concerned.
"I thought Selene was with the faerie," Arrow said.
Arawn blinked and glanced back at the vigilante in wry amusement. He snorted something that sounded distinctly like he was holding back laughter.
"She was," Tsukuyomi replied. "Until she came to me. It was she who informed me and mine of Ares' attack on you in Starling City and of the assault from which you are still recovering." His amber gleamed. "When was the last time you slept?"
"I don't have time for this," Kaiba snapped. "What do you want?"
"I gave you my name as a sign of good will," Arawn said. "It may not have been my true name but had you called me I would've come." His crimson eyes glinted. "Why didn't you?"
"Are you telling me you had me followed?" Kaiba demanded, stalking up to the Unseelie without fear.
"Not directly," the Tsukuyomi said drawing Kaiba's ire. "Selene was already set to watch over you during the night in my place."
"What were you doing that was so important it required an exchange of duties between gods of two different pantheons?" Arrow demanded. "Two pantheons that aren't on the best of terms at the moment, I might add."
"I was seeking out her brother," the Tsukuyomi answered serenely. "If she looked, the Olympians would sense her power and seek her out."
"But they wouldn't sense you," Arrow guessed.
"They would, but they would most likely not know who or where it came from."
"Then why are you here and she isn't?" Kaiba said.
The Tsukuyomi's eyes glowed and the faintest smile graced his lips. "Because I found him. I found Helios."
Kaiba stiffened. His eyes flickered to Arrow over the Tsukuyomi's shoulder seeing the same expression of shock on the vigilante's face.
"We thought you'd want to know," Arawn said, his characteristic smirk worming its way back onto his face. He rested a hand on the large dog's head, running his fingers through the dark fur between its ears earning him a soft snort of approval.
"And to give you this," he added, tossing something small and gold to the young CEO.
Kaiba deftly caught the object, pulling it down so it was eye level. One of his eyebrows sketched a perfect arch when he realized the object was an apple, a golden apple.
"Straight from the orchards of Avalon," Arawn said. "You think the Norse and Greeks are the only ones with apples like that? Avalon is the Isle of Apples for a reason." He crossed his arms proudly. "It will temporarily restore you to full strength both physically and magically. For all intents and purposes, you will completely healthy and whole. But only," he insisted, holding up a finger, "temporarily."
"How long does the affect last?" Kaiba asked, examining the apple with interest.
"That size? A few hours maximum," Arawn answered seriously. "It's not a gift I give lightly. It comes from both myself and my counterpart, the Oak King of the Seelie Court. We're willing to go with you to retrieve Helios."
Kaiba's eyes lifted to Arawn's. "What's the catch?" he demanded.
Arawn grinned. "Now we're talking," he purred.
"You are Kaiba Seto, a Japanese citizen and therefore deserving of my protection," the Tsukuyomi said. "My sister cannot come, but my brother the Susanoo no Mikoto is willing to offer his assistance. Selene has offered to help as well."
"She's pregnant," Kaiba countered.
"Be that as it may, she has offered," the Tsukuyomi replied. "Helios is her brother and the last, sane living member of her race."
Kaiba nodded slowly.
"Naturally, you have my cooperation as well as the Seelie Court's," Arawn added with a sly grin. "We have no love for Zeus and I personally would enjoy a good dose of chaos."
"At least some of the Justice League including myself are willing to help to as well," Arrow said suddenly. "J'onn in particular," he added, meeting Kaiba's gaze.
The Regent heaved a sigh. "I'll bring the Pharaoh and the King with me as well as anyone else who can cone," he said after a moment. "You said you found Helios." The Tsukuyomi nodded. "Where is he?"
"Tartarus."
"The hell?" Arrow gasped.
"I can freely move there so long as I avoid Helios's direct light. However, though I can walk there, I cannot actively interfere," the Tsukuyomi said. "But you have no such limitations. The Shadows are yours to command at will."
"Or we could just raid Olympus in a full frontal assault," Arawn suggested with a wink. "Guaranteed that asshole Zeus will never even suspect something so brazen. Besides, we may not even have to break Helios out at all. It could be done for us by Zeus himself."
"How?" Arrow demanded, finally coming to stand by his Regent. "Diana has told us stories of Tartarus. That's where the other Titans were banished. They never got out."
"Because Zeus never let them," Arawn said nodding. "But you," he said to Kaiba, "have a legitimate complaint against his pantheon as do we, Selene, and the Japanese pantheon. You and the Tsukuyomi here want Ares to pay for what he did to you. But you and Selene also want Helios returned. Helios was taken from under your protection entangles you deeper and Selene is currently a ward of the Courts so that involves us. Three pantheons and a furious Titaness against a single pantheon still basking in their former glory. Hardly a fair fight."
"You want to conduct a trade," Kaiba concluded shrewdly.
Arawn grinned viciously. "If you demand Ares to come as your prisoner for his attack on you, Zeus could refuse and decide to fight you."
"However," the Tsukuyomi said, "if I backed you with my own demand for Ares's blood, he could be willing to deal."
"Ares for Helios," Kaiba said.
"Correct," Arawn said nodding sharply. "Naturally, Zeus won't be too happy about that." The Unseelie King fingered the pommel of his sword poking out from under his coat. "I'm sure we can," he paused to find the right word, "convince him to see things our way. Of course, I wouldn't be opposed to some theatrics. A little chaos is fun."
Arrow turned to his Regent. Kaiba was clearly considering the offer. But perhaps one last push would not hurt.
"I may not be a god," he said drawing his Regent's attention as well as that of the others' present. "But I am the vigilante of Starling City, a member of the Justice League, and a member of the Shadow Court. In every case, Ares crossed the line. He attacked civilians, my friends, in my city without provocation. That was the offense against my as a vigilante. The fact you are my Regent and you were one of those harmed during that attack is an offense against me a member of the Shadow Court. The fact Ares's actions were essentially those of a terrorist is an offense against me as a member of the JusticeLeague. Even J'onn will back me up on that."
He straightened his stance and said firmly, "I can't speak for everyone in the League, but I do speak for myself when I saw I want retribution against Ares as well. If you make the trade of Helios for Ares, then I'll arrest Ares under the authority of the Justice League for crimes against humans." He shrugged haphazardly. "If I happen to defer to your judgement in the prisoner's punishment, then who could blame me?"
:Did you really think I would let Ares get away with what he has done to us?: Seth whispered in Kaiba's mind. :Your kohai is correct. You may trade Ares for Helios, but that still leaves him and me with a chance to exact revenge. And I must admit, I'm not feeling particularly merciful at the moment.:
A slow, devious smile stretched across Kaiba's tired face giving some life once more. "You have a deal."