A/N: Ok, here's part one of Seto's challenge within the Ring! Just a quick explanation….in the previous chapter, it was kind of explained to Seto that he had to face some "inner demons." This is the first of those challenges. Hope you guys like it!
Oh, and Hazel-Beka…you'll find out why Seto is being called "chosen" by the Voice soon enough mwahaha!
Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh…NOT MINE!
As the world swam back into view, the wavering walls solidifying, a shrill scream pierced Seto's consciousness.
"Give it back!"
Casually opening his eyes, he glanced over to his left, where the source of the noise seemed to be coming from. An asphalt basketball court stood there, and as he watched, he saw two large, brawny boys holding a beat-up basketball. They seemed to be teasing a scrawny, raggy looking little boy who was leaping in the air, grabbing for the ball held just beyond his reach.
"Come on, that's not fair! Give it back!" the tiny child shouted.
One of the taller boys grinned and shoved the smaller boy, who fell on his behind and stared helplessly up at his tormentors.
"Get lost, pipsqueak," the larger boy rumbled. "This here's our ball, and youse ain't getting it, got it?"
Laughing, the two bullies strode away, tossing the basketball back and forth. The boy they had been tormenting watched them go, his chin trembling, hands balled into small fists. His face crumpled and he began to cry, digging his fists into his eyes.
Seto frowned and headed over to the younger boy, who sat sobbing as if the world had come to an end. He crouched behind the little figure and placed his hand on the child's shoulder.
"Hey, kid, it's alright," he said consolingly. "It'll be – "
His words caught in his throat as the child turned to face him.
Oh dear god, Seto thought, as watery eyes the color of sapphires bore into his own, the child's ragged brown mane falling just so across his forehead, in a style as familiar to Seto as his own name. That's – it's me!
The child sniffled as he wiped his eyes with a grimy sleeve, his face a mask of misery.
"Mister, why'd they steal my ball?" the younger Seto asked, his voice plaintive and sad. "I wasn't bothering anyone. They didn't have to steal my toy."
His lower lip quivered, and his eyes filled with fresh tears. As Seto watched helplessly, the memory began to flood back into his own mind. He recalled that day as a child at the playground, when the same bullies had taken his toy. His hands clenched into angry fists as he remembered the righteous sorrow he had felt, and his heart twisted in his chest as he watched the childhood version of himself cry. His eyes hardened into shards of ice as a wave of anger washed over him.
With a growl, Seto stood up. "Wait here, kid," he said in a low tone. "I'll be right back."
The younger Seto stared at him with wide eyes, and nodded his head. He big nervously at his fingertip as he watched the older brunette stalk away in the direction the bullies had gone.
Don't get hurt, mister! He thought. They're awfully bad and mean!
(--)
Seto stormed over to the still-snickering bullies who sat on the edge of the basketball court. He stood in front of them, his arms crossed, his lips curled back from his teeth.
One of the boys glanced up at him, a look of contempt on his brutish face. "What the hell do you want, jackass?" the boy asked, looking Seto up and down, disregarding him as a threat.
Mistake number one, Seto thought wryly. Actually, mistake number two – they made the first when they took the ball – MY ball.
"You have something that belongs to me," he said in a dangerously even voice. "I suggest you give it back."
One of the bullies gave him a puzzled look. "Hey man, we don't got nothing of yours, ok?" he said, standing up to face the angry Seto. "We don't got nothing of yours, so shove off, asshole."
Seto grinned lazily. "You do indeed have something that belongs to me," he said in the same soft, dangerous tone. "Give me the basketball."
The two other boys stared at him in amazement. "Dis ball don't belong to you, moron," said the boy. "We stoled it offa the pipsqueak back there. It ain't yours, so like I says before, shove off asshole." He took a step forward, and poked Seto in the chest.
Mistake number three, Seto thought with an inward grin. And that's the last one.
He grabbed at the offending finger and, with a lightning fast move, twisted the other boy around, pinning his arm behind his back. The bully bellowed in pain, trying to pull away from the painful grip. The second boy stepped forward, throwing a punch at Seto, but Seto dodged it neatly and threw the first bully at the other, causing them both to land in an awkward pile on the asphalt.
He stepped over the two sprawling morons, grabbed them both by the back of their collars and yanked them unceremoniously to their feet, holding each by the scruff of their neck. He glanced at each of their faces, his face twisted in a dangerous smile.
"Had enough?" he drawled, his voice composed and deadly. The two bullies nodded quickly, and Seto's grin grew wider.
"I haven't," he laughed, knocking the two bullies' heads together before dropping them to the ground. The boys groaned in pain as they lay on the ground, one clutching his aching head, the other rolling into a ball with a whine.
Seto crouched beside the figures. "Pathetic," he growled. "You harass those weaker than yourselves, and yet you cannot stand up to those who dare face you. You're useless slime, both of you."
He grabbed each figure by their hair, forcing them to look up at him. "Understand one thing and one thing only, if you can," he spat. "If you even dare look cross-eyed at that boy you were teasing earlier today ever again, I'll come after you. And next time I won't be so merciful. Understand, slugs?"
The two nodded their aching heads rapidly, and Seto released his hold. He strode over to the basketball that lay abandoned on the sidelines and picked it up, dusting it off before heading back to the child who was waiting for him. One of the former bullies sat up with a groan and called after the retreating figure.
"Hey mister," he called.
Seto stopped and turned slowly to face him. "Do not test me," he said quietly. "I have no further need to speak with you."
"Wait, please!" the other boy said. "I just – who is that kid?"
Seto turned away, his lips lifting into a smirk. "His name is Seto Kaiba," he said as he strode away. "Never forget that name."
(--)
As Seto crossed the basketball court, the younger version of himself leapt to his feet, squealing happily at the sight of him.
"You're ok, mister!" he shouted. "And you got my ball! Hooray!"
Seto smiled as he held the ball out to the child. "I did," he said. "And those boys will never bother you again."
The little Seto took the ball, staring up at the man who had suddenly become his hero. "Do you mean it mister?" he said, his eyes wide and innocent. "They won't bug me never, ever again?"
Seto nodded. "Never, ever again," he said, smiling at the gleeful joy that spread across the child's face. "I promise."
He was knocked back a step by the force of the tiny arms that wrapped themselves around his waist, squeezing tightly. The child hugged Seto with all his might, his face buried in Seto's stomach. Seto placed one hand on the child's head and the other on his back, holding him close, his cerulean eyes glowing with emotion as he looked down at the small version of himself. A rapturous smile spread across his face, his expression soft and caring, causing him to look almost angelic. He had never looked more beautiful in his entire life.
The child held him tightly for a moment more, before stepping back and picking up his basketball.
"Thank you so much, mister," he said. "Hey mister, what's your name?"
Seto paused for a second, before grinning at the little cherub. "My name is Seto," he said. "Just Seto."
The child's eyes lit up. "Hey, that's my name too, mister!" he chirped. "My name's Seto Kaiba! Hey, Mister Just Seto, you're my hero! When I grow up, I want to be just like you!"
Seto laughed, an easy, natural laugh. "I bet that someday you will be just like me," he winked. "I just bet that you will."
(--)
As he stepped off the asphalt of the basketball court, the world around him wavered for a moment, before melting away. Seto glanced around nervously.
The hell? He thought. Now what?
As the world came back into focus, he saw that he was back in the central chamber of the Ring. He sighed as he took in the already familiar surroundings.
Guess the challenge isn't over yet, he thought with a frown. Shit!
His eyes widened as he glanced over at the blocked doorway. One of the massive spikes of ice had melted, leaving three. Seto cautiously stepped over to the ice, trying to peer around the remaining blocks.
Damn, still can't see. So now what?"Voice?" he called. "You still around?"
I told you, chosen, that I am a part of you. I will not leave you so easily.
Seto laughed mirthlessly. "I guess that's comforting, in a somewhat creepy way," he said. "So now what?"
I may tell you a bit more about who I am, chosen. I am the other half of your soul, Seto.
Seto felt a slight tugging in his chest, and then what felt like a gentle hand touched the back of his neck. He yelped in surprise, spinning around. What he saw caused his brow to crease in puzzlement, his eyebrows lifting.
A shapeless mist the size of a human hovered in front of him. It was featureless and formless, yet Seto felt no fear. The being – whatever it is, he thought – radiated peace and contentment.
"Seto Kaiba," the mist lilted in a voice that resonated throughout the chamber, causing Seto to jump in surprise. The voice, which was neither male nor female, but rather seemed to be a combination of both, was calming and gentle.
"Seto Kaiba, I know of your quest," the voice spoke again. "I am here to help you. I will be your guide throughout this challenge."
Seto knit his brow. "Who are you?" he questioned. "And how do you know of my purpose?"
The voice laughed. It was a musical sound, full of warmth and cheer, causing Seto's heart to leap with joy and small butterflies to flit about in his stomach.
"I know much about you, chosen," the mist said, shimmering in the light of the chamber. "I am who you have been calling 'voice.' Together we must complete your task. It is only then that you will discover who it is that I am."
Seto lifted an elegant eyebrow. "Now I know I really am crazy," he muttered. "Now I'm seeing the voice that was in my head. What, you weren't content just speaking to me?"
The spirit floated gently over to the ice spikes. "We must dispel this barrier, chosen," it said. "It is the only way to leave this place. For beyond this doorway are the answers you seek, and the portal back to your world. You have destroyed the first block, but many more remain. By facing your demons, your angry memories, your fears, you will succeed in opening the chamber. Come, precious one, let us continue this journey together. We have much to do."
Seto shrugged. "Yeah, I'm just going to go with it," he said. "Ok, voice…uh, do you have a name?"
The mist shimmered slightly. "I cannot tell you the answer to that question yet, chosen," it said. "But if you succeed, you will learn who I am, that I promise you."
Seto shrugged again, and followed the spirit onto the pedestal in the center of the chamber. He closed his eyes as the world spun and twisted around him.
What must I face next? He thought, as he felt the misty figure wrap itself around him. I hope that I can survive this and find you, Jou…just hold on. I'm coming for you.
(--)
Bakura sat alone in the living room, his eyes fixated on the glowing Ring he held in his hands. He looked up as the door creaked open, a smile crossing his face at the sight of Ryou poking his head nervously around the corner.
"Ryou, it's alright," he said. "Come in, please."
Ryou smiled as he crossed the room, and knelt in front of Bakura, wrapping his hands around those that clutched the Ring tightly. He looked up into the eyes of his yami, his chocolate orbs scanning for any answers in those of his darker half.
"What do you feel, Kura?" he asked softly. "Is Seto doing alright?"
Bakura shook his head. "I don't know, aibou," he said in a low voice. "I can't feel that he's in danger, and yet I cannot feel that he is not."
He grit his teeth in frustration. "Dammit, for once in my life I want to know what is happening in that Ra-forsaken Ring, and I can't," he growled, his eyes angry and uncertain. "I can't, Ryou, and it's really pissing me off."
Ryou placed his hand on his spirit's cheek. "Kura, it will be alright," he said. "We must have faith in Seto. It will be alright."
Bakura sighed. "I hope so, hikari," he said quietly. "I don't want him to have to go through what I did."
He lowered his head, gripping the Ring tighter, his knuckles whitening. "No one should ever go through what I did," he whispered.
Ryou wrapped his arms around Bakura, holding him tightly, the two momentarily lost in their own world.
And unbeknownst to them, Seto passed into his next challenge….
A/N: Ok, just to let you know, I like this chapter! I think it turned out pretty good…but I really, really want to know what you guys think. Tell me the absolute truth! –sigh- I totally love Bakura, y'all know Lol!
Also…basically, Seto has to confront his sad or angry memories, and lay his demons to rest. This was a pretty mild memory…but obviously there's more to come hehe!
Anyways, please read and review! Oh, and be ready for the return of Jou in the next chappie!