A/N: I'm terribly sorry for the delay. School is not too stressful yet but calculus is evil and I hit writer's block. Basically I'm tired all day every day and wake up at all hours of the night for no reason. It's beginning to drain me of energy and I'm not sure how to fix the problem.

Side note: I highly suggest y'all look up the canon YGO card Maiden with Eyes of Blue. It's truly beautiful and definitely Kisara. Also, feels warning in this. The action should start next chapter.

Chapter summary: In which Kaiba cuddles Mokie, gets his Deck back, eats an apple, and gets a surprise he's not sure whether to laugh in relief or cry a flood over.

Shades of Blue

"Nii-sama?" Mokuba murmured from his place on the bed when he heard the door creak open.

Jolted from his revere, Kaiba looked over to the bed to see Oliver nod to him, his vigilante hood thrown back revealing his masked face. Relieved Mokuba had not been left alone during his absence, Kaiba sighed and made his way over to the bed. He avoided looking at the gaping hole in the far wall left from the attack earlier that nigh that was now letting the cool autumn air into the house.

"Roland? Fuguta?" Kaiba inquired.

"They're being treated at the nearest hospital," Oliver replied. "I had the League check up on them earlier. Roland got the worst of it."

Kaiba grimaced and Oliver winced sympathetically. "He'll be fine," the vigilante said quickly. "He has a hairline fracture in his leg but otherwise his wounds are minor. Fuguta should be discharged sometime tomorrow. Nothing serious besides a few burns and bruised ribs."

Kaiba nodded, processing the information but did not respond aloud. Instead, he sat down on the messed up sheets covering his bed and placed a reassuring hand on his baby brother's mussed hair. Mokuba sat up and hugged his big brother properly, tucking his face in Kaiba's shoulder clutching the Duel Monsters card locket Kaiba always wore around his neck. Oliver took that as his queue to slip quietly out of the room.

Several minutes passed in silence as Kaiba and Mokuba just clung to each other, taking comfort from the other's warmth and solid presence. Unfortunately, Kaiba was forced to shake himself abruptly to keep from falling asleep like he desperately wanted to. He had to take care of things first. He moved to slip from Mokuba's grasp but his little brother caught him by his sleeve.

"Nii-sama," Mokuba called softly in Japanese. "I know I gave you back your Blue Eyes earlier but, um… I kept this safe for you. I thought it'd be better if I gave it to you when the others weren't around."

Kaiba's brow furrowed in confusion as Mokuba reached into his pants pocket and pulled out Kaiba's Deck. The Regent's eyes grew round, focusing their unwavering gaze on the Deck of Duel Monsters cards. How had he not sensed them? They had been this close to him the entire time and he had not noticed. He was more tired than he thought.

Without realizing what he was doing, he found himself reaching out and taking the offered Deck from Mokuba's hands. Instantly, he felt calmer, more stable as his Shadows latched onto the familiar Monsters, Spells, and Traps in his hard built Deck. Obelisk rumbled in his mind, shaking his soul and vibrating his Shadows like the strings of a cello. But something important was missing.

Kisara.

He pulled out his three Blue Eyes White Dragon cards and replaced them in his Deck where they belonged. He kept the blank one on top, its empty face staring up at him accusingly. He lost her. How could he lose her? How dare that Bastard touch her let alone steal her. He was nowhere near worthy to be in her presence. Kaiba would retrieve her. He swore it.

"Seto."

Surprised by his first name, Kaiba looked up sharply meeting his little brother's dark blue-gray eyes.

Mokuba's face was open and guileless as he asked in a small voice, "Are you okay?"

He could not lie to his brother, not right now. He was too tired. He pulled out the golden apple from his pocket and studied it absently, rubbing his fingers along its smooth skin as he processed how to answer the question. Mokuba gazed at the fruit with obvious interest.

"I'm tired Mokie," he said simply, settling limply against the headboard. His glacial eyes lifted to stare directly at the hole in his wall unaware of the exuberant smile on Mokuba's face from the beloved nickname.

"Then sleep," Mokuba said, placing an encouraging hand on his big brother's arm. "I'll wake you when we're ready to go," he continued. His heart sank when he saw Kaiba already shaking his head.

"Can't," Kaiba said curtly. "I'll sleep when this is over and Kisara and Helios are back where they belong."

Mokuba sighed but smiled all the same. That was so typical of Seto.

"Why don't you go back to sleep for now," Kaiba said, pushing away from his little brother and standing.

"I'm not tired anymore," Mokuba denied.

"Then go help Ishizu," Kaiba ordered. "She needs help moving around with her injury."

"Fine," Mokuba huffed in disappointment. His eyes settled on the apple in Kaiba's hand again curiously. "What is that?" he asked.

"Nothing," Kaiba said simply. "Just something an idiot gave me."

"Nii-sama," Mokuba groaned.

"Go help Ishizu," Kaiba ordered, already moving to get ready for the inevitable confrontation later. "Let me know when the Emissary gets here."

"Okay," Mokuba said, rolling his eyes. "But you'd better sleep when this is all over. I'll get Seth to back me up."

:No need,: Seth whispered snidely in Kaiba's mind. :I'll force you to sleep when this is over.:

:You can try,: Kaiba countered.

He felt Seth grin and immediately felt annoyed. :I don't think I'll need to do much except hold you down,: Seth said, his mental words brushing Kaiba's ear. The hallucination was so real Kaiba almost reached up to swat his ear. Seth chuckled. :Obelisk will do the rest.:

Kaiba stiffened, both hearing and feeling Obelisk's deep grumble of agreement and swallowed uncomfortably.

"Nii-sama?" Mokuba asked, befuddled by his brother sudden discomfort. Then he understood and a smile touched his lips, his eyes glittering playfully. "Seth agrees with me, doesn't he?" he asked. He noticed the way Kaiba met his eyes in a silent challenge to that statement and grinned unrepentantly. "He does. Face it, Seto. You're outnumbered."

Without a backwards glance, Mokuba bounded out the bedroom door and down the hall leaving Kaiba standing alone in his ruined bedroom unable to decide whether or not to chase after the imperious brat and spank the crap out of him or laugh at the idea of being outnumbered. It was a difficult decision but ultimately, Kaiba huffed a laugh and mentally smacked Seth, grinning viciously at his Ba's startled cry.

:Attacking the innocent?: Seth whined.

"Hardly innocent, my Ba," Kaiba countered, fiddling with the golden apple again. "You'll get worse before I'm through with you," he promised, lifting the apple to his lips.

:I'd like to see you try,: Seth dared.

Kaiba smirked. "Challenge accepted," he said, deliberately biting into the golden apple and chewing slowly, savoring the sweet and tart flavor.

"It's good isn't it?"

Kaiba stiffened and turned around to see Arawn standing calmly on the remains of his damaged balcony just outside the walls of the house. "The hell are you doing?"

Arawn shrugged. "Making sure you eat the apple," he said casually. "And staring at you because I can."

"You're insane."

"Well, you wouldn't be the first to think so," Arawn admitted with a grin.

Rolling his eyes in annoyance. "Are you just going to stand there all night?" he demanded.

"I don't know. Are you inviting me in?" Arawn countered.

"Yes."

The Unseelie fae stood taller, a bright gleam in his eyes. "You are inviting me in?" he repeated.

"I just said yes," Kaiba snapped. "Weren't you listening?"

Arawn grinned. "Yes, but I feel this should be formal. May I come in?" he asked, throwing n a mocking bow.

"I despise repeating myself faerie," Kaiba hissed. "Get in here or get the hell out."

A Cheshire cat grin filled the Unseelie's face. "That's three," he purred stepping across the threshold and into Kaiba's bedroom. Once inside, he stretched his back listening to it pop to his satisfaction.

"What's three?" Kaiba asked brushing away a dribble of apple juice from his lips. He paused when he realized his hands were empty. The golden apple was nowhere to be seen.

"You devoured it," Arawn said, answering the unspoken question. "That's the thing with golden apples. Once someone starts eating them, they can't stop until they finish." He shrugged. "It's just the way of things." His wine red eyes lost their playful gleam and his smile faded. "You'll begin to feel its affects within the hour."

Kaiba narrowed his eyes. "You didn't answer my question," he said simply.

"Oh?" Arawn asked, arching a teasing eyebrow. "And what question would that be?"

"What's three?" Kaiba pressed.

Arawn winked. "Just counting. You ate the apple faster than I thought you would," he said. "I counted thirty-four seconds. That's fast. Your body needed it more than I anticipated."

Kaiba huffed and turned away. "If all you're going to do is stand there and run your mouth, then leave."

Arawn did not move from his position other than to shift so he could lean against the wall and watch the Egyptian god of chaos curiously. Everything Kaiba did and said was careful, calculated, and planned. The level of self-control he commanded of himself and his powers was on the level of godhood whether the boy realized it or not. For someone to be tossed into the position of a god without warning, particularly a god of chaos, had to strain the body as well as the psyche and who knew what else was involved to the limit.

He watched Kaiba pull out a heavy metal box from under his bed, tap a code onto the keypad, open the box, and pull out a handgun. Arawn was mildly impressed by Kaiba's use of mundane weapons over the magic alternatives. It was yet another level of self-control he could not help but admire.

But then there was the one-sided conversation Kaiba had been in the middle of when Arawn had first announced his presence. Or was it truly one-sided? Mokuba had mentioned a person named Seth. Perhaps this Seth and Kaiba had a connection similar to what Arawn had with Pwyll, perhaps not. It was something to look into to distract him from his boredom later on.

Whoever it was clearly meant something to Kaiba if the endearment was anything to go by. My Ba. What did that mean? Was it actually an endearment or was it an insult? Judging from the manner in which it was said, Arawn leaned more towards the prior. Did Kaiba have a lover? Oh the opportunities that opened the young god to. It was positively enticing.

"Don't you have something to do, faerie?" Kaiba demanded as he loaded the handgun. "I'm not a lab rat to be studied." He removed the safety on the gun and lifted the now fully loaded weapon so the muzzle was aimed directly at Arawn's chest.

Arawn tilted his head thoughtfully, unintimidated by the show of force. "You are a study, aren't you?" he asked rhetorically. "How old are you? Not Set, you. Seto Kaiba. Twenty? Twenty-one? Thereabouts?" He pushed off from the wall and strode forwards until the cold metal of the gun was pressed against his sternum. "Am I the first god of chaos you've ever met other than yourself?"

"Kaiba!" a new voice call accompanied by Kaiba's bedroom door swinging open. "Anzu's here. We're almost ready to…go."

Yugi slowed down the moment he stepped into his Regent's bedroom and saw the gun. Yami's presence in his mind kept him calm as he surveyed the scene before him. Kaiba's eyes were cold and clear, his skin was beginning to regain some of its color, and the dark rings of exhaustion under his eyes were fading. Arawn was completely unfazed by the gun pressing against his heart and even wore a smug grin on his face revealing sharp white teeth.

"You should listen to your young King, Kaiba," Arawn said, his grin never fading. "I'll see you at the base of Mount Olympus shortly. From there, Selene will take us to the summit to face Zeus while your Justice League heads to Tartarus. Once there, the Tsukuyomi will guide the League to Helios before joining us at the summit. Laws of interference prevent him from directly helping them, you understand," he added with a wink. "However, that said, I look forward to the fun."

With a sly wink and a mocking salute, Arawn vanished.

"What was that all about?" Yugi asked, watching as Kaiba slowly lowered his gun.

"He was being an asshole," Kaiba replied shortly, turning the safety back on and placing the gun on the bed to retrieve its holster. He attached it to his pants and slid his gun inside, buckling it in place.

Yugi sighed. "But why did you threaten to shoot him?"

"I wasn't threatening him," Kaiba countered.

"You had your gun-"

"He was being an asshole."

Yugi groaned, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "You look better, by the way," he added, changing the subject. He studied his Regent closely. "Did you take a nap?"

"No."

"Then what-"

"Golden apple," Kaiba said curtly. "It's a temporary source of energy. It only lasts a few hours though."

"A golden apple?" Yami gasped, appearing beside his other half eyes wide in surprise. "Where did you get something like that?"

"Arawn," Kaiba replied. "I'll be at full power for our negotiations in case force is needed."

The Pharaoh's crimson eyes darkened astutely. "No one gives away something as valuable and sought after as a golden apple for no reason," he mused. "That was either a true sign of friendship or a way to entice us into his debt to collect at a later date. Possibly even both."

"I'm aware of that," Kaiba said, turning away from Yugi and Yami to run his hands over his face. "But I'm also aware of the shape I'm in. I can't sleep, not in my condition. Seth is helping me fright the urge but it's a temporary fix only. If I sleep now-"

"Your soul will sleep too," Yugi said, nodding in understanding. He closed the door to Kaiba's bedroom most of the way leaving it cracked open as he stepped fully inside. He glanced over to the destroyed balcony and wall in morbid curiosity feeling guilt wash over him. "I'm sorry we weren't here to help you," he said regretfully.

"Yes," Kaiba growled. "About that. What was so important you both left this reality completely without its monarchy without knowing what the potential consequences of your actions would be such as how badly I plan on stringing you up to dry for pulling a stunt like that?"

Yugi blushed and ducked his head in shame while Yami crossed his arms across his chest and glared at the Regent. "We didn't mean to cause trouble-"

"Well you did," Kaiba snapped.

"-but it was necessary," the Pharaoh continued, his voice overriding Kaiba's. "We need more cards, Kaiba," he said seriously. "You know that."

"The Pegasus in the reality we went to no longer has the Eye," Yugi said, drawing Kaiba's cold gaze. "He agreed to help us. He's an ally to myself in that reality. We've agreed to meet up so he can give us a new group of cards as he creates them on the understanding the credit for their creation in this reality goes to Industrial Illusions."

"Bastard," Kaiba hissed in annoyance.

"He also made a card specifically for you," Yugi said, pulling something out of his pocket. "It was Ishizu's idea. She said you'd probably need it eventually." He held it in his hand facing away from Kaiba as he paused in thought. "I promised I'd give this to you with Pegasus present," he murmured, "but hopefully I can get away with this."

He lifted his head and pinned his Regent firmly with his violet eyes. "When all this is over, I want you to come to see Pegasus in that other reality," Yugi said. "It's important," he said quickly, cutting off Kaiba's immediate rebuttal. "I made a promise, Kaiba. It was the only way to get Pegasus to help us."

The Regent fumed. "I told you he was a godforsaken bastard," he hissed harshly.

"He's a businessman," Yami countered. "We had to give something in order to get something in return. You know how that is."

"Why me?" Kaiba demanded.

"He wants to see your Kaibaman card," Yami explained. "He wants to make one for the version of you in his reality."

Kaiba's eyes narrowed. "Pegasus wouldn't settle for just that," he said. "What else does he want?"

The Pharaoh glanced at Yugi uncomfortably before turning back to Kaiba. "He wants to meet Seth," he said.

The air grew noticeably colder as Kaiba gripped his Shadows, refusing to let them lash out at his fellow monarchy in the cold, hard fury he felt. "You told him about Seth," he growled.

"We had to," Yugi said reluctantly. "It was the only way to convince him to help us and to make this card."

"We don't need his help!" Kaiba roared. "And what's so special about that one card, anyway? What makes it more important than-"

Instead of replying, Yugi flipped the card around so the image faced Kaiba who immediately fell silent at the sight of it. All the air rushed out of him and he felt cold as the blood left his face. Seth was eerily silent in his head, just as dumbstruck as he was. It took them both a moment to fully comprehend what they were seeing.

There, staring back at him with a tender smile, was a breathtakingly beatiful woman. Her sky blue eyes gazed dreamily off to the side while her long silver hair rippled in an unseen breeze. She wore a long, soft looking brown dress embellished with platinum and mother of pearl ornaments that hugged her slim figure flatteringly. Her hood was thrown back against her back, revealing her beautiful alabaster face illuminated by rays of golden sunlight streaming through the trees surround the forest clearing in which she stood.

She was a level one Light oriented Spellcaster/Tuner Monster with zero attack and defense points which meant she probably had a special effect or ability mentioned in the details at the bottom of the card. Her official name was Maiden with Eyes of Blue; but both Kaiba and Seth knew her as the one person they loved more than anything else, Mokuba aside.

"Kisara," he breathed.

"It's the only one in existence," Yugi said kindly. "He'll only make one more, but that one will be for the Kaiba in his reality. He won't make any more of this card ever. She's one of a kind and only you can use her."

"How?" Kaiba asked finally after fumbling with his words.

"She can be used to Special Summon a Blue Eyes White Dragon from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard," Yami said. "Only you have all the Blue Eyes White Dragons in this reality and in Pegasus's reality. That means only you can use her."

Neither Kaiba nor Seth could find the words to speak. They were too lost in their roiling emotions to form a complete thought other than Kisara's name. They tentatively reached out and brushed their fingers tenderly across the beautifully rendered image of their lover. They took the card numbly when Yugi pressed it into their hand unable to tear their eyes away from it.

"We'll get her back, Kaiba," Yugi said kindly. "I promise."

Yami laced his fingers with Yugi's and gently tugged him out of Kaiba's room. "We'll be getting ready," he said to his half oblivious Regent. "Take as long as you need."

He closed the door behind him and pressed his forehead to Yugi's, needing to feel his partner. The heartbroken expression on Kaiba's face had almost ruined his resolve. Clearly Yugi felt the same judging from the way the young King clung to his Ka and quivered as he fought back tears.

"That's enough Mai," Yami said quietly. "Text it to us then delete it, please."

"Fine by me," the Sorceress said grimly as she stopped recording and began readying the video to be sent. "Pegasus had better accept that or I'll beat the shit out of him myself."

:You won't be the only one,: Yugi thought. Yami nodded in agreement.