A/N: Well, here we are again- and it's the beginning of the end! Seriously! When I was planning, I decided to stick to, at a very rough level, to a 5 beginning, 5 middle, 5 end type format. And so, we arrive at the beginning of the end- or the end of the middle, depending on how you look at things. Well, whatever. I'm afraid this is a bit of a talky-talky chapter, and because I've only ever been able to write a little at a time, it feels really disjointed. The descriptions aren't as good as they could be, and neither the dialogue. Meh. To me, it feels a bit… listless. However, I guess you'll have to judge for yourselves! One more thing- I noticed shortly after I posted chapter 9 that I had written it's title in the drop down as 'A Hostage' instead of 'An Innocent'. It's fixed now, but my apologies for the error. Heh…
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, a donkey, or a cardboard boat.
Chapter Ten- A Hostage
"Amane… Amane…" The voice was whispered, strained, and harsh like the bitter winds of winter. It came from far away, the ghost of a voice, calling to her, stretching it's icy tendrils out to catch her as she pulled away. "Amane!"
All at once, the voice became fire, singeing her hair and skin, and the edge of her mind. It rippled out all around her, there was no way to escape. She could see other people running into the flames, and burning like the guy on bonfire night, skin crackling and popping. But the fire didn't want them. It wanted her.
"Amane… please! Amane, come on!"
Now, the voice had carried her into darkness so absolute that it seemed to have swallowed the light and become stronger from it. She ran helplessly from the voice, trying to get away. And then, before her, there was light; muted only by the silhouette standing within it. He called to her too.
"Amane, this way! You can do it, come on!"
She ran towards him, but didn't seem to be getting anywhere. The voice, the friendly, lilting, laughing voice was one she knew. But it wasn't Ryou. She wasn't sure who it was, but it made her feel safe, secure, and she just wanted to reach it.
"Amane, please, hurry!"
"Amane! Amane! Amane!"
The voice faded from its threatening tones into hushed pleading and desperation. As she dragged her eyes open, feeling like a diver surfacing from a vat of treacle, Amane placed it as Penelope's. She looked straight ahead, and saw the girl squatting before her, but her vision was blurred around the edges, as she couldn't quite discard the last throws of sleep. Her head felt so heavy, and she felt terrible, as if only now emerging from the depths of a terrible and prolonged fever. Disorientated, she attempted to lick her lips and remove the stale taste that clung there, making her feel ill. Penelope, however, seemed relieved by this sudden state of consciousness.
"Thank goodness! But we don't have long, he'll be back soon and you'll be sedated again." Penelope gabbled. To Amane, it just sounded like a long, jumbled string of words, some she understood and some she didn't, her English slipping away from lack of practise, or by some other trigger in her sore, fuzzy, head. "I am so sorry, Amy… I know this is bad but it's all I can do… Your brother is a menace, and… well, Tom's as bad, but… I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but I have to do it!"
Amane decided to test her voice. It seemed cracked and broken. "Why…?" She began, but the question was never finished, and remained unanswered as the commanding presence of the man entered the room. Penelope stood immediately, turning to face him, but he ignored her, bending down into Amane's blurred vision and smiling sardonically.
"Goodnight." He smiled, and she felt, numbly, something thin and sharp entering into her skin.
"Goodnight…" She muttered back, slipping away once again.
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"Amane!" Ryou called, running towards her. She didn't turn around, didn't acknowledge him. She couldn't hear him, he realised numbly. He continued to sprint his hardest toward her, full of the feeling something bad would happen if he didn't. It was an instinctual feeling, but, on some basic level, he knew. He called again. "Amane!"
She still didn't turn. She couldn't hear him. But he could hear her, and she was talking to someone; or perhaps to herself. She was asking where he was, why he wasn't there.
"Why isn't he coming?" She said, mournfully. "Why doesn't he come?"
Ryou tried to shout to her, tell her he was coming, that he was almost there, but his mouth seized up, and no sound would come out. The rest of his body followed until he jerked to a stop, his legs refusing to move. He crashed to the pavement, scratching his palms and knees, filling his mouth with blood from his bitten tongue. He managed to raise his head, but was unable to look away again, as he watched, eyes filled with horror, helpless.
A huge wave was swirling up in thick, heavy tendrils like a whirlpool; spreading out into a roaring sweep of water, as far too either side as Ryou could see. And yet, he was watching from beyond a wall, the water wouldn't reach him, but he didn't feel safe in his paralytic condition, not one bit, as he watched it finally tumble down over his sister. As it fell, it became a sweep of fire, burning impossibly brightly. It consumed his sister, burning away her gloves, and causing every inch of her skin to slowly blister up and scar. But she did not scream, her eyes revealed no physical pain, only deep, scarring, sadness.
"Ryou…" She whispered, and she saw him now as the fire at up to her waist. "Ryou, why won't you help me? Why won't you help…?"
The sight of Amane falling slowly into the bright light of the flames faded away into a swallowing darkness. It was cold, so cold, and Ryou shivered. This place shouldn't exist anymore. It didn't exist, except in his dreams. He had hoped, when the Ring was destroyed, that he would never have to come back here. And, for a time, since he had picked up his mask again, he had left it. But like so many fragments of his past, he couldn't shake it off.
Not tonight… He begged, silently, crouching down and drawing his legs up to him. Please, not again tonight…
But the darkness had no mercy, and his dreams faded into incoherent shadows, phantoms, terrifying fragmented images that brushed over his sickened mind but didn't stay long enough for him to truly assess their danger. He closed his eyes, covered his ears, but the darkness still pervaded into his mind. There was nothing to do but wait.
The voice came again. His Yami's voice, although admitting that the monster was in any way connected to him was a deplorable fact. He laughed as always, haunting him, blaming him; could not be ignored, could not be escaped…
"Ryou…This is all your fault. If you hadn't been playing hero, this wouldn't have happened. And there's nothing you can do about it. There's nothing you can do. Nothing…"
In his sleep, Ryou moaned, rolling over; but it was not enough to jolt him out of the darkness. He was trapped, forced to remain where he did not want to be for a small eternity longer. However, it did wake Yugi, an abnormally light sleeper, who rubbed his eyes wearily and looked down on his friend with sympathy.
As always, when crisis struck three days previously, the group had come through for each other time after time. Téa, the only member of the gang with room for two, had immediately offered a place to stay for Joey and Serenity. Luckily, due to the quick and hard work of the fire services, their home had not been damaged too severely, and the following day, they had been in to survey the damage. The vast majority of their belongings were salvageable, and they could have moved back in the day after the fire. However, they had used it as an excuse to finally get the place redecorated- with the insurance money- and were staying with Téa until the work was done. They only had one night to go, now. The pair seemed almost cheerful about it- the flat would be redecorated, and their father was still in hospital as the doctors attempted to deal with the adverse effects of his alcoholism, and wean him off the depressant. He wasn't that willing to begin with, but, slowly, he was starting to get there. He was expected to be released soon, although he would be required to join a support group. Something about how fast his spilt beer had burnt, something about the doctor's blunt statement- 'If you don't quit now, you will die'- had woken him up. Perhaps it was being sober for the first time in years. Things were looking up.
Ryou had not been so well off. His flat had been much more severely damaged, and so far, the structural damage had yet to be dealt with. It would be the end of the week before he could even get as far as going back to see what was salvageable, and some time after that before the place would be habitable again. The outer shell of the building was intact, but that was about it. He couldn't claim any money until the Police had worked out what had caused the fire to begin with, and with no witnesses from his flat, where the blaze had begun, they didn't have much to go on; although, cross-referencing with the other fires that day, they had begun to suspect arson.
None of that meant anything to Ryou. For the last three days, Amane had been missing, and although the Police were searching, they were getting no closer. Neither was he- he had no leads and no idea who had taken his sister. Of course, Yugi had no way of knowing any of this, but what he did know was that Ryou's nightmares had re-started. Ryou had been staying with them, his only possessions the clothes he stood in and the items that had been in his school bag. Between Tristan, and Joey's remaining clothing, they'd managed to find him something to wear; although it was all a little too big for him. His home and family had all been ripped brutally away once again, and the only small hope he had left to cling too was the friends that went with him. And yet, there were places they could not go with him. The deepest depths of the dark he stood in alone. Sometimes, he barely felt real. Sometimes, he felt the only thing anchoring him to this world was that occasional touch from someone who cared, and from someone he cared about. He was restless, wanting to do something, but not able to. All Ryou could do was wait and, on occasion, continue his secret work. He refused outright to be treated as a guest, working furiously around the house and in the shop, saying that he wanted to earn his keep. They hardly wanted to say no to him- it almost seemed he was trying to distract himself in the strangely empty days without school, and without much of a future. Besides, he was a wonderful cook.
Yugi rolled over the other way, looking at the clock, it stubbornly the small hours when the day was preparing itself for the slog itself. Ryou would be awake soon, but, not wanting to embarrass him, Yugi, as always, would feign sleep. And, right on cue, Ryou sat slowly up, panting slightly, and then let forward, running his hands through his hair. He staggered to his feet, and silently left the room.
He did not come back. Yugi grew concerned, and dragged himself out of the cabin bed he slept in. He tip-toed out into the dark hallway, and saw there was no-one in the bathroom. Worry mounting inside of him, he hurried on down the stairs, where he spotted the door to the back open. Quietly, he headed out into the back garden, wet grass compressing under his foot.
"Ryou…?"
The boy turned in surprise, silver hair in the silver moonlight. He too was barefooted and in borrowed pyjamas, but he didn't seem to notice the cold. The wind ruffled the baggy clothes slightly, the bottom of his trousers soaked by the dew forming on the grass.
"What are you doing out here?"
"I could ask you that." Ryou responded, discretely hiding his mask behind his back, silently cursing about how close he'd come to being found out. For three days, he'd been confined to the ground, not flying at all, and now he longed for the freedom of the night sky. The stars, so endless, so infinite, seemed to only throw into the light how small their world was. The universe laughed down at their tiny perception of life and the things that matter the most, and yet encouraged him to look after what really mattered. He wanted to take the stars in his hands, but they remained in the sky. Unobtainable. Unobtainable, but the point lay not in the achievement but in the attempt. He had been brought up on the age old wisdom- 'Shoot for the moon- even if you miss, you'll land among the stars'.
But he did not intend to miss.
"Ryou?" Yugi said, uncertainly. "Are you alright?"
"Not really." Ryou answered, honestly. "But it's all we can do to keep moving. All things pass, if you can get through them."
"That's true."
"That doesn't mean we can't help them along, though." Ryou smirked, turning his face back into the moonlight, casting shadows across his face. "As soon as I can do something, I will."
"I know…" Yugi muttered, not sure what to say. "I know."
He wanted to offer help. But he didn't know what they- Ryou, or any of them- could do. He just hoped Ryou knew that. He hoped Ryou would get through this.
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They were watching television, as there didn't seem to be much else to do. No school meant there was no homework, and no-one had arranged to meet up. Ryou wasn't in much of a mood for talking, at least initially, so, through lack of inspiration, Yugi had picked up the remote to see what he could find. Ryou had expected him to skip straight to some kind of game or card channel, but, instead, he moved to the travel section. One of Tenzo Ayako's programmes was on, this time, he was up in the Alps. This man had been travelling the globe for the best part of twenty-five years, since he was a young man, and making his programmes and writing his books for at least ten of them. He'd been to every point of the compass, every point of the globe, been to places most people only dreamed of. He had opened the world to hundreds of answers and thousands of questions, and brought to the attention of the general public how large the gap between cultures really were.
At least, that's what Yugi eagerly explained to Ryou, who had never really been a big fan of Ayako's. He'd certainly never watched a full programme of his before; unless when he was a guest panellist on a satirical news quiz counted. Yugi's enthusiasm quite surprised him, and he said so.
"I didn't think you were very into travel." He commented, quietly. He'd barely spoken the last few days, and so his voice held a dull, slightly gravely monotone that he tried to shake off.
"I'm not." Yugi laughed. "Just this guy."
"Why him?" Ryou asked, innocent.
"He's my dad."
This statement, said so simply, obviously did not carry the same sense of revelation for Yugi as it did for Ryou. Laughing at his surprised expression, Yugi continued.
"I'm an illegitimate child! Are you shocked?"
Ryou looked at him, shaking his head. "No, just confused…"
Yugi turned his face back to the television, as he explained easily. He didn't seem to have a problem with what he was saying at all.
"Oh. Well, it's a very simple story; really- and a bit of a pathetic one at that. My dad came to Japan, on a year's break, once upon a time, and met my mom. He wanted to marry her, but she didn't feel she could trap him here- or that she could travel with him. She didn't want him to give up the lifestyle he loved for her, you see. He wanted to marry her anyway, saying they could just be separated, but she refused. She told him she loved him too much for that. And then… 'magic happened'… and she got pregnant. Of course, if she told him, he would have insisted on staying with her after all…"
Ryou gazed at the man on the screen. Yugi obviously took after his mother in looks, but something about the way Ayako smiled down at the small Pilipino child clambering onto his lap and waving at the camera made him see Yugi in him. "He seems to be a nice chap."
"He is!" Yugi agreed, readily. "He doesn't know I exist, though."
Startled, Ryou swung about to gawp at Yugi. "You must be joking. That's just too…"
"Dramatic?"
"No… sad."
Yugi shrugged. "Well, I met him at a book signing once, if that counts… Anyways, nope, my mom never told him. Of course, she wasn't up to much either. She couldn't cope with a child, so moved in with Grandpa for his help. She gave me my name- and her surname- and I'm sure she did her best… but when I was ten, she left. I guess she wanted to have her own life again- 'Find herself'. At least, that's what I think she wanted. She used to write every week, but now it's every few months… Not that she ever says anything interesting, just that she loves me and she'll come home soon." He snorted a little, half giggling. "I'll believe it when I see it."
"…How can you say that?" Ryou wondered aloud. "How can you say that with a smile on your face?"
"Because it's not what's important." Yugi answered, suddenly serious again. "I mean… Sure, it would be nice, sometimes, and once I was lonely… but Gramps takes care of me, and then I have all you guys. I'm not lonely anymore."
"Really?" Ryou asked. "Even without your… Yami?"
Yugi nodded firmly. "I miss him, sometimes. But I'm not lonely. I have everything I need."
Ryou stayed silent for some time, so much so that Yugi didn't think he was going to answer at all. However, eventually, he replied.
"I can't believe that. I wish I could, but I… Without you guys, I don't know how I would have carried on living; that I'll admit. You've done a lot for me, I know. But… it's not the same. I finally found Amane, and now she's gone again. And as for my parents… Well, you know what they say." He smiled slightly, the first smile Yugi had seen him wear for days. He couldn't help but prompt the issue.
"No. What do they say?"
"To lose on parent is tragic." Ryou commented, slowly. "To lose two is just carelessness."
Yugi laughed. "Too true. I-"
Grandpa pushed the door to the room open, glancing to the screen and snorting dismissively.
"Watching your dad again?" He sighed. "He's a great man, but his shows are as boring as reading the phonebook. Change channel." He settled himself down on the settee next to his grandson. Ryou shook his head in wonder.
"You are an amazing person, Yugi…" He muttered. "In so many ways. I don't know how you can say all this so easily, with a smile on your face…"
"Can't miss what you never had." Yugi pointed out, cheerfully. Worried about his friend, his cheeriness was false, trying to pull Ryou out of his stupor. It seemed to be working somewhat…
"I miss my father." Ryou admitted, quietly.
"Nice chap."
The two teens turned to look at Grandpa in surprise, having not suspected such a statement.
"Does that mean you met Ryou's father, Grandpa?" Yugi asked curiously. The old man nodded.
"Didn't I ever tell you? I didn't know him very well; but, yes, we did meet on a few occasions… The first is always the one I recall, though. This wasn't all that long after my retirement from professional gaming, but it was still a long time before Bandit Keith claimed that glory, and you boys and Kaiba hadn't even been born yet. In other words, there was somewhat a void of gamers, and it was hard to find anyone with a real passion. However, your father, Ryou… He happened to be one of them."
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Mumbles of discontent rose from the audience, overflows of barely suppressed sceptically and cynicism. Games had no significance to the affairs of man, never had, and never would. They were a leisurely pass-time, to while away the hours between more important and life-changing matters. This theory was beyond controversial- it was downright idiotic.
Or so said the idiot.
Solomon Motto, not yet a grandfather, but not as young and enthusiastic as he had once been, bore this with impatience. The guest speaker at this particular history lecture, he, at least, had some respect for what the professor- one Professor Hawkins, who would not rise to fame for his discovery of Atlantis for many years yet- at the lectern was saying. He also felt quite depressed about the future of their field. He had yet to find a young, talented gamer that had true passion in his heart and the imagination to break boundaries. He remembered well back to that terrifying, proud day when he had ventured into the deadly labyrinth of the Pharaoh's tomb, the intricate rules of a game that had bought him fame both as a gamer and an archaeologist, and a strange puzzle. If he couldn't solve it, he decided, he would sell it. But it had to be more then a game. He knew that. The problem was, other people didn't. And it didn't look like they were ready to believe him, either.
He was invited to speak, and he strode to the front of the stage, intending to give them a piece of his mind. Then he saw the reception his words would receive. It was pointless; he had already been dismissed as an idiot or senile. After all, what would a gamer, his hair slowly turning grey, know about the historical significance of anything? He snorted to himself. Probably more then most. The Shadow Games… A term that came up again and again. But what were they, and how could they be played…?
Behind him, the Professor coughed, and Solomon realised it was high time he actually said something. But, perhaps, a more active demonstration would get these kids- although, in truth, they were far too old for such a term- to sit up and take notice.
"Right." He said, slowly. "How many of you know how to play checkers?"
The hall remained stubbornly silent.
"How many?" He roared again, and, doubtfully, a few hands were raised into the air.
"Ludo?" Solomon checked. "Poker? Backgammon? Blackjack? Rummy? Hearts? How many of you have ever played a video game? Monopoly? Mouse Trap? Twister? Hide and Seek? Tig? Ro-Sham-Bo? Allee- or Akee, as some call it- 123? Charades? Stuck-in-the-mud? Sleeping Lions? Football? Rugby? Cricket, Tennis, Badminton?"
Every hand had been raised at least once, Solomon noted with satisfaction. He smirked.
"Everyone in this room has played some sort of game at least once in their lifetime, and probably many more times than that. Every sport is a game. Everything you did as a child was a game. Trying to beat your personal bests is a kind of game. Games are part of everyday life. And yet, you dismiss them as having no significance? You are wrong. And please, anyone who would care to prove me wrong, step up. But be aware that we would be competing to win. And that, to, is a game."
Surprisingly, there were no takers.
"No? Perhaps a different challenge then. Perhaps I can come out of retirement just this once to teach you a thing or two." His eyes twinkled.
"Solomon…" Professor Hawkins began warily. Solomon waved his worries away, winking in a way that said 'There is a point to this'.
"My game is a relatively new one, and yet, it is a world wide best seller- and I happen to be one of the world's top players. My game is Duel Monsters. Who among you will play me?"
"Did you really speak like that?" Yugi interjected, appalled. "You sound like Kaiba!"
"I can't believe he hijacked an entire lecture and turned it into a duel…" Ryou muttered, half admiringly. "I guess you take after him, Yugi…"
"I wouldn't do something like that! Those poor students…"
"Excuse me." Grandpa put in, peeved at the interruption and the fact his dramatic interpretations had been rumbled. "Do you want to know the story goes or not?"
The hall was silent for a while, but, just as Solomon was about to give up, a single man stood up. The youth, about nineteen or twenty, stood, a little shakily, and looked down at his feet. His hair hung to his shoulders, tied behind his head, a black, almost purple colour, and he shuffled a little uncomfortably. But when he spoke, it was with the confidence of conviction.
"I believe that your theory has potential." He stated, simply. "And…Although I'm a new player, I would be honoured to duel you, Doctor Motto."
"Well then." Solomon smiled. "You'd better get up here…"
The man nodded, and hastened to comply. Hurrying down the steps of the lecture hall, he missed his footing, stumbled, and ended up crashing down the great majority of the way. He peeled his face off the floor, smiling sheepishly as the hall exploded into laughter.
"At least it's faster than walking." He commented, laughing at himself.
Yugi was in stitches to. "I guess you take after your dad, Ryou!" He laughed.
"I…"
"No, he's right." Grandpa said, quietly. "You are very like him, Ryou, though there's a lot of him in Amane to. I guess you both got different parts, you could say…"
Ryou bit his lip at the mention of his sister, and looked down at the carpet. Yugi glanced up at his Grandfather. The story had been doing a fairly good job of distracting his depressed friend up till now, but… Grandpa hastily continued.
The duel quickly got underway. The youth was obviously a beginner, but he knew his cards and his deck; and how to use them. His strategies were not particularly advanced or complicated, but the potential was there. Although he did not know it, the turn he played now would be his last.
Gaia was on the field, probably the strongest monster in the rookie's deck. But, these were the rudimentary rules and, at this point in time, you were not allowed to attack life points directly; but you didn't have to pay tribute for summoning either. Behind him, the young man placed a face down card, but Solomon was fairly sure it was just for show. Either way, it didn't matter. Two cards later- Dust Tornado and the Summoned Skull- the life point counter ticked down 200 more points and hit 0.
The hall broke into spattered applause, each member there having been involved despite themselves. Gesturing for his opponent to stay put, who dubiously did so, Solomon strode back to the lectern, and spoke to the crowd, their noise immediately extinguished.
"You all enjoyed that match. It's in your nature- contests are entertainment. Since the earliest ages of time, games have been found." He stated, simply. "Much of Roman life centred around coliseums. Chasing and hunting animals. I can kill you before you can kill me. I can win more votes then you." Solomon paused. "Every decision is a contest. Every contest is a game. Just because they're serious doesn't mean it's not a game of sorts, just because they become more civilised doesn't stop them being games. So if anyone here can tell me why the hypothesis that the Egyptians did the same is so completely unbelievable, I'd be glad to hear it." Silence reigned still. "Professor Hawkins." Solomon muttered. "Please continue with your lecture."
"You certainly showed them…" Yugi said admiringly. "Did Professor Hawkins get anywhere?"
"I'm not sure." Grandpa admitted. "Back then, the idea of the Shadow Games was just that- an idea. We had speculation and theories, but very little evidence. It wasn't until much, much later that it would be proved correct- and even to this day, it isn't historically accepted that the games even existed. Most people haven't even heard of the Shadow Games."
"But I thought the hall was full of students. Surely one of them-"
Grandpa shrugged. "We didn't hang around to hear Arthur's concluding points. I left the hall, gesturing for the youth that had put his neck on the line to come with me. We ended up in a small café inside a supermarket, and that was where he told me his dreams and his name- Kiyoshi Bakura…"
"England!" Kiyoshi declared passionately. "That's where I'm going!"
"England?" Solomon echoed in surprise. "You want to do archaeology in England?"
"It's a fascinating place!" Kiyoshi defended. "Somehow, that little island managed to conquer half the world at one point, and at some point or another, has been conquered by half the world. It's almost, but not quite, in Europe; it was under the Romans, they built tons of castles, they have great cities and country areas, it has some of the largest tin and coal resources in the world, although the Prime Minister seems to be thinking of changing that; they control Northern Ireland and Scotland and Wales, they-"
"Alright." Solomon put in. "So you like England."
Kiyoshi laughed at his own obsession. "There's just so much… history!" he concluded.
"Ah, yes, but how much is there that they don't know already?" Solomon asked, wisely. "Not much money for an archaeologist on digs that don't find anything…"
"No." Kiyoshi agreed. "But I'll travel to other places to- England's just the beginning! Rome and Greece and Australia and Egypt…" He trailed off, eyes sparkling somewhat. "I must admit, your ideas of the Shadow Games intrigue me… If anyone would have been able to gain supernatural powers, it would have been the Egyptians."
"Just be careful." Solomon said quietly, thinking of the inscription on the side of the box containing the Puzzle he'd found. "The one who solves me shall gain the powers and knowledge of darkness…"
Kiyoshi blinked, understandably confused by the statement. Then he smiled, a smile that would be passed onto his son, and spoke once again. "Well, I'm not interested in any powers- it's just the knowledge I'm after! Just you wait, Doctor Motto, some day I'll be good enough to have a controversial thesis of my own!"
"It must be true that you can do anything if you put your mind to it," Grandpa chuckled. "Because Kiyoshi was as clumsy as anything, and although he certainly had the passion for archaeology, I'll admit I doubted him. I saw him only twice more, once when I was giving a talk and he came to watch. Back then, he was preparing to finally move to England. The second time was many years later, when he was giving a talk at Tokyo University. He spoke on the possibility of the Supernatural not only being real but quite natural after all, and, just like we had been all those years ago, he was laughed off. But he shrugged it away. He was already an archaeologist of some eminence, but this time all he could talk about was his family- his wife, and the twins she'd had a little over a year and a half ago. He was as happy a man as ever I'd seen, the only longing he had was for the past to reveal another secret to him, and he found the hunt as fulfilling as the success. I wished him the best of luck, and, after that, I never saw him again, although I often wondered- "Whatever happened to Kiyoshi…?"."
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The television, which had been abandoned in the wake of the story, continued on in its invisible sequence, undeterred by the fact it was being ignored. Ayako's programme had finished, and the news had come on, but Grandpa was the only one who noticed it. He pre-empted what one of the local stories would be, and hastily sent the boys out on an errand to the shops. And so, it was only the two old eyes, that had seen so much in their time, that watched the brief report.
"Police in the Domino City district are investigating a recent outbreak of fires in and around the local high school. The high school was the first target, followed by the homes of two of the students. It is believed that the fires are somehow connected with the inquiries into the disappearance of two girls…"
Grandpa blinked. Two…? Photos appeared on the screen before him. One, although he had never met her, could easily be identified as Ryou's sister, as Kiyoshi's daughter. The other…
"Amane Bakura and Penelope Hightman, both students of Domino High, were reported missing shortly after the fires. The two girls were fast friends, their fellow students are adamant, however, that they would not run away from home. Both representatives from a pair of twins-"
Grandpa pressed the off button. That was quite enough of that. He rubbed his tired eyes, wandering out into the shop, where he had been certain he had heard someone moving about. No-one was there, and he sighed. Business was bad; but not as bad as the business that would shortly be affecting him beyond just the fact that he had a lodger.
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"Joey!" Serenity spluttered. "Where are you?"
He loomed through the smoke into her vision again. "There's no way to the door!" He choked. "It'll have to be the window!"
Téa struggled with the handle. "It won't open!" She screamed.
"It has to!" Joey yelled back, grimly, and, without another thought, slammed his fists into it with the inhuman strength that asserts itself in a crisis. The glass shattered, and he turned, using his cut and bleeding hands to assist his friend and his sister out of the ground floor window, smoke pouring out of them as the fire spread from the hall. They squatted, coughing and choking, in the front garden, sucking in the fresher air as if they had not had any for months. Téa rolled, staring in silent horror at the hallway of her home, flames jumping and leaping, throwing a party, inside it.
"I can't believe it happened again…" She whispered. "Another fire…"
Sirens took their place in the smoke filled air, a fire engine and an ambulance. They'd be there before the fire could really take grip and before Joey's wounded arms could cause him to bleed to death or get infected. That was some small mercy. Téa had to be grateful. But, as they were bundled into an ambulance, she couldn't help think how awful this was for her guests. And then, she decided she wanted to phone Yugi.
"Everything alright?" Ryou checked as the boy slowly hung up, slotting one of the tins they'd brought into the appropriate cupboard.
"No." Yugi answered, simply. "That was Téa. She says that her house burnt down to. She and Joey and Serenity are all on their way to hospital." He sighed worriedly. "This isn't right. Who could be doing this? What could they want…?"
Ryou said nothing, looking at him in shock. But it seemed obvious to him. He was what they wanted, and he'd gladly have given himself up, if only he could have done. But he had no idea where to even start. For now, all he could do was leave the shopping where it was, turn on his heel, and head for the door. He had to get to the hospital right now.
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"You guys should go through and see Joey." Serenity said, again. Yugi and Ryou were inside her small hospital room, and exchanged concerned glances. "Honestly! Téa and I are only being kept here in case of smoke inhalation, and I'll be moved into one of the wards in a minute- Joey's the one who not only managed to get burnt but also shred his arms up by punching through a window… I'm fine, please don't worry."
"Well…" Yugi began, sheepishly. "The thing is…"
"You don't want to leave me on my own?"
"Yes." Yugi admitted.
"I'm honestly absolutely super-duper fine." Serenity assured them. "But I don't know about Joey. Please?"
"Well, I would like to see how he is, but…"
"Here's a solution." Ryou put in, suddenly. "One of us stays here, and the other goes to see Joey. Simple."
Yugi nodded, and, a moment later, left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. He moved next door, to where he knew Joey was. The boy had an impressive amount of bandages around his arms, but, in true fashion, that was not his primary concern.
"Have you seen 'Ren?" He demanded the second Yugi walked in. "Is she okay?"
"She's fine." Yugi said innocently. "Ryou's with her."
Joey growled to himself. "Those two…" He grumbled.
"Joey… Can't you trust them just a little?" Yugi tried, shaking his head at Joey being so overprotective. "Ryou's not going to do anything, is he?"
"That's the problem!" Joey snapped, pain making him irritable. "Tristan and Duke bug me because she's not interested and they won't take a hint. Plus they'd do all sorts of… stuff… to her. Ryou bugs me because she is interested and he won't take a hint!"
Yugi, a little surprised, laughed. "I suppose that's true."
"Yeah, it is." Joey confirmed. "I'm telling you… She likes him- as much as I hate to say it- and he likes her… and both of them are too shy to do a thing about it!" He scowled. "I'd hate to see 'Ren dating anyone, I'll admit it- and if Ryou ever hurt her, he'd be dead before he had time to say 'Oh my!'- but I can't stand the idea of her being unhappy because she thinks he doesn't like her! They're such idiots…"
"He's probably just scared of you." Yugi pointed out. "He'd be worried you'd pummel him, I suppose."
"Mmm…" Joey muttered, which, as intended, didn't mean anything.
"Although, I think Ryou's got rather a lot on his plate at the moment." Yugi stated, his voice hushed with sympathy. Joey nodded.
"Amane… I wonder where on Earth she could be…" And then his face hardened. "The second these bandages come off, Yugi, I'm going to find the guy who did it and give him the beating of a lifetime!"
Yugi remained silent, wondering just how bad the damage to Joey's skin was. His arms might have scars to bear forever, that no amount of stitching and cleaning could get rid of; so that all that could be done was to try and cover them up, hide them away, where the world would not see.
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"I'm honestly absolutely super-duper fine." Serenity assured them, again. "But I don't know about Joey. Please?"
"Well, I would like to see how he is, but…"
"Here's a solution." Ryou put in, suddenly, wanting to make life simple for them all. "One of us stays here, and the other goes to see Joey. Simple."
Yugi nodded, and, a moment later, left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. Serenity sagged slightly in relief, falling back into the pillows and exhaling noisily.
"Now then." Ryou said quietly. "How 'fine' actually are you?"
"I'm a little tired…" Serenity admitted. "And… I'm a little scared… but otherwise, I'm alright. No harm done…"
"Are you sure?" Ryou checked again.
"Yes!" She insisted. "Goodness me, stop fussing! You're beginning to act like my mom!"
"I'm sorry…" Ryou mumbled, coming and sitting in the chair beside her bed. "I'm just worried about you."
Serenity turned vividly red, but he didn't notice. She was glad for a moment, and then concerned. He didn't seem to have been noticing much at all for days. She knew how worried all his friends were for him. Losing Amane had really hit him hard.
"And what about you?" She asked, gently. "How are you holding up?"
"I…" Ryou stammered, suddenly standing again. "I don't deserve your concern!" He looked down at the floor. "I don't deserve it." He repeated.
"Ryou…" She answered awkwardly. "Come on. Sit down. Talk to me."
He did so, slowly. "I… I failed you." He said, not looking at her. "And all the others."
"How?" She asked, smiling reassuringly. "How have you failed, Ryou?"
"I… I wanted to protect everyone. But I failed."
Serenity placed a hand over his, trying to comfort him.
"None of this is your fault, Ryou."
"You don't know that." He snapped, suddenly looking right up into her eyes. "Why do you think Amane was taken? Why do you think you were targeted? Someone is trying to rob me of everything precious to me."
Serenity bit her lip slightly. Now was not the time to ask him to elaborate on what his words were insinuating. "Ryou, I'm sure that's not true." She told him, firmly. "There was nothing you could do to prevent this- any of it. There was nothing you could do."
"Yes there was." He said, so quietly, she had to bring her face close to his just to hear the words. "There always was. But I wanted to protect people. I wanted to help people. Then it was too late. Too many lies, too much deceit, too many bad choices. There was something I could have done. I could have chosen differently…"
"Ryou!" Serenity said, sternly. "I'm telling you- it is not your fault! Stop beating yourself up! You didn't start the fires! You didn't kidnap Amane! You didn't provoke anyone to do such terrible things! It's not your fault! Please, Ryou… believe me… You couldn't have stopped it. Please, I can't stand seeing you like this…"
"It is my fault." Ryou insisted, breathing shallowly, turning his face away. "By trying to protect people, I'm only endangering those closest to me."
"That's not true." Serenity tried.
"It is." Ryou closed his eyes. "Serenity… I'm going to be honest with you."
He was tired of lies. He was so tired of it all.
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"Amane! Amane!" Penelope begged. "Please, wake up, hurry; I don't know how long he'll be gone!" She shook her friend fiercely, and, at last, the girl woke up, looking around blearily, but she seemed to be lucid this time. "Amane, are you alright?"
The girl blinked at her in confusion, looking slowly around them, and then back at her body, tied up in a corner. "Well, sure, I'm fine- apart from the fact I'm tied up! What the hell is going on here!"
Penelope sighed in relief. "The sedatives wore off…" She muttered.
"Excuse me?"
"Amane." Penelope said, simply. "I… I'm sorry… It's not you, it's your brother…"
"Ryou?" Amane asked, even more confused. "What's he got to do with the price of fish? And why haven't you untied me yet!" Penelope did not answer. Amane stared at her, horrified at the thoughts that were slowly trickling into her brain. "Oh, Penny… No, you didn't. Penny, tell me you haven't…" She trailed off, unsure of what she was actually trying to ask.
"I…" Penelope couldn't look at her. "Ryou's Masquerade, Amy. And… after what he did to Jay, I just can't believe…"
"He saved you!" Amane screamed at her. "He saved you! Twice!"
"I know!" Penelope shrieked back. "Don't you think I know! Don't you think I wonder! But… you can't see it, Amane, but there's something not quite… right. I couldn't let him hurt other families like he hurt mine."
"You don't believe that." Amane whispered. "Penny, tell me you don't believe that…"
"I just don't know anymore…" Penelope sobbed. "I mean, this guy, he seems to be almost as bad… He's setting fire to the city, and kidnapping you…He…" She choked, but then continued with conviction. "But it's just to lure Ryou out, I promise you. Once we stop Masquerade, that'll be it, I swear. His family were…"
"Penelope…" Amane begged again. "Please, you have to believe me, Ryou's not a bad person. He makes mistakes, but who doesn't? He isn't a bad person. Just untie me, and let's get out of here…"
"He hurt Jay." Penelope said, softly. "Amane, my brother's a vegetable because of him. We came all the way out to Japan for the world's best doctors, and even they can't fix him. Because of Ryou. I can never forgive him. I can't…"
"It wasn't Ryou's fault!" Amane defended fiercely. "Penny, the Millennium Ring, it controlled him! I find it hard to believe to, but it-"
"Shut up." Penelope shook slightly. "Stop it. Stop it."
"But-"
"Oh, is she awake?" A new voice said cheerily. "I wasn't expecting you to so soon, Miss Bakura!" He walked in, grinning happily. "I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience, my dear… alas, the causalities of war. So young nowadays… Whatever is the world coming to…?"
"Are… Are you going to sedate her again?" Penelope asked, cautiously, interrupting the man's mumbling to himself.
"Ah…" He considered, head on one side, as though deciding something as uninteresting as what to have for lunch. "No, I don't think there's much point now. We're almost finished here." He smiled again. "I really must thank you for your information, Penelope. It's been simply invaluable." He busied himself with taking off his coat, short, stubby fingers working the buttons out of their bearings. "Things are looking better then ever. Fires have been set at all the houses of his little friends, and it should only be a little while now before he comes across the calling card. Then we just have to wait for him to come, and…" He gestured at Amane. "He can see how it feels to have his family murdered before him."
Penelope recoiled in horror, and stared at Amane, who met her gaze levelly.
"Kill her…?"
"Yes." He replied, as if surprised at the question. "That's what he did to my family, after all." He moved off, whistling, going up a staircase in the left hand corner. Penelope continued to stare at Amane.
"I didn't know…" She stated, in shock. "I thought he just wanted to stop him, not kill him, not kill you…" She shut her eyes tight, breathing deeply, for the longest time. When she spoke next, her voice shook, and it was clear she wasn't entirely sure of what she was doing.
"Amane…" She said slowly, shakily. "Swear it. This 'Ring' thing. Swear to me it's the truth. Swear you're telling the truth."
"I swear it." Amane said without hesitation. "I swear it on my relation as a twin. I swear it."
"I…"
"Penelope!" Tom bellowed down from upstairs. "I'm putting the kettle on! Fancy a cuppa?"
"I have to go." Penelope said, hurriedly. "I'll get you out of this. I'll think of something. Just hold on…" She turned and ran.
Amane was left entirely alone.
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Seto's eyes scanned idly over the screen again, his mind looking beyond the world, linking and cross-referencing with the amazing speed that came to every successful entrepreneur in time. The page he read was about the recent increase in fires in the area. He had also been reading about the disappearance of the two girls, and, oddly, Masquerade's silence on the subject. He hadn't been seen for days now. But the person had not got what they were after, because the fires were still burning.He had no doubt that's what the fires were. A way to get to Masquerade, trying to- quite literally- smoke him out. Still, there was the fact that all the homes so far had been those friends of Yugi's. There was a chance it was just another weirdo on his rival's tail. Seto snorted. If that was the case, he didn't give a toss. But Masquerade… He was another matter entirely. These people were running around playing at being Superheroes, and he didn't like it one bit. He didn't like the idea of people's talents being put down to 'They just can'. No-one 'just can' do anything. Seto had worked long and hard and schemed his way to the top, to get what he had, to be what he was. Anyone who said he had it because he had 'natural ability' would quickly find themselves on the receiving end of his temper. Seto had made himself what he was, and no powers or magic had put him there. Powers and magic were what the deluded and dependant hoped for, so that they didn't have to do anything to achieve what they wanted; and if they didn't get it, they could simply say 'It's not my fault, I just don't have this skill or that talent'. It sickened Seto, all this reliance on heroes and amazement at what they could do. He would show Masquerade to the world as a fake.
And he would do it soon. This was getting ridiculous. He sighed ruefully, the only sign of the stress he felt. He had to unmask Masquerade, and he only knew one way to do it. He had no choice.
But this would be the absolute last time.
Freedom, and the pursuit of it. That was the name of the game.
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It's strange, how I'm afraid of water and not fire. But water is unpredictable, incomprehensible. Fire is straight forward, simple, primitive. Its mood is defined by the conditions it's surrounded in, and you know what it intends to do. It will burn and burn until it burns itself out. Water is not so easy to understand. It can be a friend one minute and a foe the next. You never know which mood it's in, there's no way to tell; and it can change in an instant. Fire is a lot more basic. It has hurt me many a time, but I understand it. It is out to burn and kill and hurt, and that's all. But by understanding it, we can control it. We can create it from gas and heat and sparks and whatever else, we can use it, cook food, get it to the heat we require. Water we cannot. We can force it through pipes, perhaps, but it will always find a way out through even the most tiny crack or crevice. Perhaps I am just afraid of unpredictability. Perhaps I am afraid of the unknown. Perhaps I am afraid because I just don't know what will happen next; to me, to Amane, to Serenity; to any of us.
I am afraid, and I am tired.
I'm so tired of all of this. I thought my life was back on its feet, and I've fallen face down again; with no choice to crawl on. I'm sick of the lies. I didn't tell them because I thought it would protect them, but it did not. Now, there is no reason for me to keep it from her. She's so kind to me, she has a right to know. And… I really just want, so much, someone I can talk to. I find it hard to talk to most people. I can talk to her without fear of judgement or condemnation. I can't do this alone. I'm going to burden her with the truth. It's selfish, but I cannot carry it alone. I can't keep it secret, and I cannot lie to her. I have to tell her. I have to.
I'm sorry…
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Ryou closed his eyes. "Serenity… I'm going to be honest with you."
"Ryou-"
"I'm Masquerade."
The truth was out.
The consequences had yet to be decided.
Her grip tightened on his hand, and she stared at him in shock, as tears leaked from his eyes.
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A/N: Gasp! So now Serenity's in on the secret to! Heh heh heh… Now, you've probably all identified by now that my favourite characters are Ryou and Seto. My fics tend to centre around them, but this chapter, I fancied a change and bunged Yugi in. ;-) Besides, I can't be the ONLY one who wondered what happened to his mom and dad. His mom's in the manga, of course but… I'm off-topic. Anyways, next chapter features Seto, yay! Lace my palm with silver and I shall tell you what I foresee coming next…
Seto's not a happy person at the best of times, and a chance meeting with a street fortune teller will doing nothing to improve his mood. But, as he finally achieves his goal, what consequences will his actions have? What spirits of his past will return? What will Masquerade be willing to do to save his sister when Seto interferes? Speaking of whom, just who was that in Amane's dream? And what will Serenity do now the secret is out…? More than just Ryou's hopes go up in smoke in A Superhero Story Chapter Eleven- A Psychic…
Finally, I'd like to thank all those who reviewed, and also all those who are patient with me and my slow updates! Oh, and in response to the anonymous Kawaii Chibi Shun: Thanks for your kind, flattering comments! I hardly think I'm 'amazing' though… I've just had rather a lot of practise. (Sweatdrop) Thanks for the reviews, everyone!