Knives, blazing hot, being driven into her skull.
The decaying flesh of the dead and the damned.
Madwoman! Madwoman!
It knew all. It saw all. And it laughed.
Madwoman…
So the birds and the beasts called and cawed. Taylor lay alone in the dark, naked and defenceless before his eye.. Demons flittered around her, pelting her with glass. With excrement. With flames. She tried in vain to cover herself, to cry out. But it was useless, because there was nobody to listen.
Useless. Absolutely useless.
She rolled into a ball, rocking back and forth. She tried to blot everything out, but she couldn't. A song was running its way through her head, the only positive sound in the abyss of hell.
And all the roads we have to walk are winding…
And all the lights that lead you there are blinding…
There are many things that I, would like-
Would like…would like…like what? She couldn't remember. Everything was beginning to fade. She could feel him from afar. The puppetmaster. The man- no, that wasn't right- the scum that was conducting this agony like a symphony. He stood, laughing at her fear and her pain.
He'll come for you.
He'll come and he will die.
Then I'll be all that's left, and he'll ROT!
Just like you're doing…you'll come around, in time.
They all do.
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to blot it all out, but it was useless. He continued to chant, throwing insults and prophecies over her like confetti. She was losing it. She begged for it to stop, promising anything he wanted.
Deals are for the devil. It mocked.
And then, it turned its attention from her. The lidless eyes scanned the mind, looking for the core. Drawn to it.
Drawn by a woman scorned…
"God, you look like hell."
The girl standing before him could have stepped straight from an American high-school cheering squad. She was tall and graceful, seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a criminally short skirt to show off her long legs. She wore a tight, black shirt that was cut off at the midriff, exposing a pierced bellybutton. Her voluptuous breasts seemed to push against the fabric, daring people to stare. Her skin was white and unblemished, distinct from his sickly tone. His wrists jangled with bracelets and other jewellery.
But despite her provocative attire, she did not seem desperate or needy. She held an air of confidence about her, telling all and sundry that this person knew what she had, how to use it, and wasn't afraid to do so. She tossed her long, blonde hair and smiled at him. Her eyes were warm, a pair of ice-blue chips. To anyone else, she would have looked very pretty, perhaps even beautiful.
But not to him.
She looked out of place amid the calm grove that represented Leon's absolute core. But then, he thought, that was to be expected, considering who she was.
Leon smiled wanly. "And people say you don't know what's after death."
She raised her thin eyebrows at the joke. He sighed, as if her presence was an unwelcome distraction.
"What can I do for you, Katie?"
She shrugged. Leon caught the smell of a familiar musky perfume.
"I'm not sure. I just felt like I should be here, you know?"
Of course you did. He thought. He nodded softly.
"You look like you've got something on your mind. You want to talk about it?" Katie asked.
Leon laughed. The sound was as sour as curdled milk.
"What do I have to say to you?"
A confused and hurt look crossed the girl's face.
"What's wrong with you? I thought we were friends?"
Leon burst out laughing. The sound was unnerving.
"Friends?!" he spluttered. "Did you think I was born yesterday? You think I could forgive you so easily?"
The eerie laughter subsided. She stepped forward and laid a hand on his arm, gently.
"Forgive me for what?"
Leon drew back sharply, as if burned. He stared at her, his eyes possessing only the faintest hint of life. She almost gasped at the sight. His words were calm. Cold.
"You know what. You know exactly what you did."
The confused expression was back on Katie's face.
"What did I do?"
He didn't respond. He just stared at her, waiting for her to realise it.
"Oh." She said. She sounded almost embarrassed. "That."
He didn't say anything.
Now she really was embarrassed. "Look, I was younger then. I couldn't control my-"
"Bullshit. You knew exactly what you wanted from me, and when I wouldn't give it to you, you tried your flirting game on me. But it didn't work."
He paused. Katie's face was pleading, as if begging for something. His eyes may have flicked to her chest, but only for an instant. Her blonde hair fluttered slightly in the breeze.
"Just like it's not working now. I told you then and I tell you now."
She couldn't bear to hear it from him. She whispered, trying to keep it together.
"You don't love me."
Her normally calm demeanour seemed to crack as she said this. Her eyes glistened, and she turned her back on him. She didn't see him shake his head. He remained still, unmoving. Her voice quivered as she talked, almost inaudibly.
"Look, Leon…I'm not proud of that. I'm not proud of a lot of things. You were such a nice guy, and you looked so hurt. You tried to hide it, I know, but I could still see it. I didn't know what was causing it…I just wanted to help you, in the only way I could! I thought…if you had somebody…somebody to make you stronger…"
She stopped. She knew what he was going to say.
"Only one person could do that for me. But I understand why you did it. I can forgive that."
She didn't move. Leon continued to speak.
"But I had my reasons for turning you away, and there is something that you did that you haven't realised yet. Something I can't forgive you for."
Her hands tightened into fists. Tears of pain and anger fell from her eyes, and she no longer tried to keep them closed.
"Reason? What reason?!" she shrieked, spinning around. Her eyes were wild and fierce, her hair messy. She looked like she was about to hit him.
"Damnit Leon, I loved you! I loved you…but no, the great untouchable Leon couldn't lower himself to be with someone like me."
Her tear-stained face twisted into a sneer.
"Nobody's good enough to help Leon, oh no. Leon must suffer alone, because that's exactly what he wants. Nobody can make him feel anything for anyone except himself. Your superiority is horrible! Telling me you can't forgive me, while not even telling me what I did!"
Leon listened to her outburst impassively. When she finished, he began to speak.
"Do you even remember her?"
His tone shunted away all of Katie's anger. She wondered whom he meant. Then it hit her.
"Taylor? But she disapp-"
Leon cut her off, furious. "Let me tell you about Taylor. She was your best friend, as close to you as your shadow. In many ways, that's all she was. She wasn't as hot or as sexy as you, despite being a far better person. So wherever you went, guys would be too busy ogling you to take any notice of her. And you loved it that way- loved being the centre of attention. I know- I watched it happen."
"That's not tr-" she began to object, but Leon ignored her.
"Everybody except me. She wasn't any more special to me then to everybody else. She didn't need to be. But…"
"But what?"
"But I wasn't enough. And when it happened, I couldn't stop it. She drowned for months in her own fears, and I was the only one who cared to do something about it. You…you and your little cliques, who claimed to be her friends…you forgot about her. And you dared to insult her…just because…because she was ill!"
She didn't answer. There wasn't one to give.
"How could I be with you, and love you, when she was like that?"
Still no answer.
"How could I, when the person I loved, needed me? You think I'm cold and unfeeling? You don't have a bloody clue."
Katie's anger was gone, leaving her drained and empty. She understood, finally, why he had been in pain. Exactly why she couldn't have helped.
And why forgiving and forgetting would never be an option. She hung her head, whispering.
"We didn't know."
Leon was unmoved. "You didn't want to know."
"She never loved you. You were just a friend to her. But I did, and you still turned me away. You knew that…knew what it would do to yourself, and to those around you… and yet you didn't give up on her? You still chose it?"
He nodded. She shook her head, confused.
"Why?"
His answer was simple. He seemed impassive, as if carved from stone or ice.
"She touched my heart."
The words held a note of finality. The conversation was finished. Katie nodded, sadly.
"You'll need a defence against the dark- three azure windows to the soul, and God to watch over them."
She turned and walked away, slowly disappearing beneath the boughs of the trees.
"Best of luck, Leon. I'm sorry I can't help."
A thought crossed Leon's mind, but he put it aside. He would look at it later.
Nobody can.
It smiled. It knew, now, where to go.
He knew where the rat had hidden itself. It would not be necessary to torture the girl further, but he would do it anyway.
Just for fun.
Checkmate. Time to bring the mountain to Mohammed.
It had found him. Leon could sense it. Quite how he didn't know, but he did. He felt like he was being watched, like a bird right before the cat decides to eat it. He shivered, despite it not being particularly cold.
Three azure windows to the soul, and God to watch over them.
This was a riddle, pure and simple. Katie's words echoed in his head.
You'll need a defence against the dark.
He sat down in the grass, and mulled it over to himself. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the landscape.
He stayed like that for a long time. His brow was furrowed with thought. Memories of past games were flashing in his head, both his own and those of a legend. He pictured them…
Standing atop a castle's battlements, slashing a throat.
Surrender now, unless you have the courage to unleash your attack!
A volcanic pit, two players stood on rocky outcrops.
I'll show you real power! Let's go!
Portraits lining the walls, a glowing green seal on the floor, and a women clutching a blade of white light.
I've fought too hard…so you can't lose this!
"Three azure windows to the soul, and God to watch over them…"
The light flicked on. He smiled, showing his uneven teeth.
He'd found the answer.
He rose quickly, calling out a name.
A summoning.
The air shivered at the sound, seeming to pulse with energy. Leon concentrated on the memory he wanted, shaping the complete figure of what he wanted. A great tear seemed to open amid the trees, into blackness. From it, a man could be seen. Leon knew who it was.
The man approached, stepping out of the tear in reality. He walked with a swagger. The confidence was reflected in his grin.
"If you wanted my autograph, you could have just asked."
Leon merely grinned.
"I have a job for you. And I'll be watching to make sure you do it right."
I'm a bloody genius…He was touring Leon's mind, humming a tune to himself as he headed for the centre. He watched random clips and memories along the way, pictures amid the total blackness. He laughed at a particularly gruesome one and carried on singing quietly to himself.
"To-day, is gonna be the day, that they're gonna throw it back to you. By-now, you shoulda somehow realised what you gotta do…"
He broke off, suddenly. He could hear footsteps approaching. He quickly fanned out his deck, removed five cards, and slipped in the ones he took from Taylor. He didn't bother to shuffle it; instead he merely slotted it into his duel disk. He cooed softly, disturbingly to his cards.
"Soon, my pretties…soon a third shall fall to your might. But who? That is for him alone to know…all we can do is play the roles that are given to us."
"You know talking to your cards can get you locked up, right?"
The voice rang out through the darkness ahead of him. It was full of confidence, as if its owner did not comprehend the thought of losing. He closed his eyes briefly as he placed it.
That sly bastard Leon…oh well. I think I'll enjoy this one even more then the last.
His opponent approached. He wore a duel disk, the twin of his own, in the old style of Battle City. He was dressed in a white duster, worn open to show off a black shirt that matched his dark trousers and boots. Blue eyes gleamed like sapphires in his face, almost hidden by the mop of brown hair. A card dangled as a pendant from around his neck. He was fairly tall and thin, giving off an impression of power and respect. The thing that wore Leon's body smirked as his opponent arrived.
"Seto Kaiba. I must say I am honoured. I hardly expected my other half to call you just to get rid of little old me. He must be more terrified then I thought. Tell me, how did he do it?"
Kaiba did not respond. He chuckled.
"Well, at least you're in character. As you wish."
His opponent nodded. "Let's get this over with."
Both duel disks armed without a word.
(Kaiba: 4000/???: 4000)
"After you, Kaiba-boy."
He grimaced. "Shut it. I'll start with one monster facedown, and another facedown card. That ends my turn."
His cards appeared, one in each zone.
How unlike Kaiba to play so conservatively.
The parasite drew, sliding two cards into his duel disk.
"I start with two copies of Wyrm Summoning. Now I select two Dragons with fifteen hundred points or fewer from my deck and play them in attack position. I summon Masked Dragon (1400), and Red-Eyes Black Chick (800)!"
His two monsters leapt from their cards and roared at Kaiba. He didn't flinch. One was black and small, a barely grown dragon hatchling, the other a fully-grown dragon with a pale white face, and alternating red and white skin.
"You dare challenge me to a battle of dragons? Who do you think you are, you fool?"
He sighed.
"Kaiba, you arrogance is exceeded only by your pig-headedness. Seriously, don't you ever learn? Nobody's invincible, not even you."
He paused, eyes glinting.
"If nothing else, I'll prove that. I play my Chick's ability, sending it to the Grave to summon Red-Eyes Black Dragon (2400). Next, I sacrifice Masked Dragon for my Kaiser Glider (2400)!"
His two dragons shattered, replaced by much larger and deadlier specimens. One was gold and oddly mechanical, the other onyx and all too organic. They both glared hungrily, teeth bared and eyes hungry. Despite such a strong opening, his opponent kept cool.
This guy wouldn't sweat if you tossed him into a volcano. He mused wryly. He spotted a slight glow from behind Kaiba, but it vanished as soon as he glanced away.
Could he be getting help?
In truth, Kaiba was indeed getting help. The window in Leon's mind was giving him a front-row seat to the game. By speaking, he could communicate with his "champion". He knew he risked having his other half notice him by doing it, but he had to help Kaiba if he could. He didn't want any more deaths on his hands, even if these people didn't really exist.
Kaiba, make sure you can defend yourself at all times. The way this guy plays, one opportunity and it's all over.
He could sense Kaiba's annoyance.
I know! You don't need to tell me what to do. There isn't a player on Earth who's equal to my skills!
I'm sure Yugi, Pegasus, your stepbrother, and Dartz disagree. Hell, even Joey Wheeler nearly beat you. Trust me Kaiba, in this duel you need all the help you can get.
Kaiba uttered a curse that would have made a pimp blush. Amused, Leon closed the link, leaving him to get on with it.
He'll be fine.
"Red-Eyes, attack with Inferno Fire Blast! Destroy his facedown monster!"
A fireball cascaded from his dragon's maw, thundering towards his monster in a crimson arc. Kaiba smirked.
"How gullible. Reveal Ancient Lamp!"
His monster flipped up, a glowing gold lamp. It shone as the fireball hit it.
"This lets me redirect your attack to one of your own monsters. Kaiser Glider will survive thanks to its special effect, but your Red-Eyes isn't so lucky."
The fireball blasted back towards Kaiser Glider, which prepared to counterattack. Golden flames began to build in its mouth.
His opponent glared at Kaiba, visibly miffed by the counterattack. "Interesting choice, but it's all for nothing. I activate a Spell- Troop Relief!"
The card's art was of several tired soldiers wearily getting into the back of a truck, assisted by several younger, fresher soldiers. As he spoke, his monsters vanished, the fireball missing its target.
"You know what it does, I assume?"
Kaiba nodded. "First, you declare a monster type. Then you return all monsters on your field with that type to your deck. You may then summon monsters from your deck that are of the same type as the monsters that you returned, as long as the total levels of the monsters you summon are exactly equal to the total levels of the cards you returned. You then must destroy one monster on the field. However, you lose your Battle Phase on the turn you use it."
"In short, I may now summon thirteen levels' worth of Dragons from my deck and destroy a monster, but I can't attack. Wasn't that easier to say?"
Kaiba's smirk was back. "Not really. Pick your dragons and let's get on with it."
Ancient Lamp shattered. At his command, Kaiser Glider and Red-Eyes reappeared on the field.
"I end my turn. Go ahead and show me your skill, Kaiba."
He drew, slamming a monster down even as he did so.
"I summon Kaiser Seahorse (1700) in attack mode!"
His new monster was some form of aquatic warrior, brandishing a gold, double-bladed polearm. Its skin was a blue and sea green, twisted with fins and webbed parts, like a fish.
"Then I play one card facedown and end my turn."
His opponent looked disappointed. "Is that all? I expected far more from the mighty Seto Kaiba."
His eyes flashed. "Are you going to make a move or just stand around and yap?"
He smiled, enjoying the baiting. "Touchy, aren't we?"
The glare Kaiba gave him could have struck him down on the spot. He shivered dramatically.
"God, if you cracked a smile it'd kill you. You're worse then Leon. In fact, you're even worse then Goza-"
He stopped. Kaiba was shaking in anger, looking like he was tempted to spring and rip a throat out.
"One more word. One more word and I assure you that you will regret it, for a very long time. You got that punk?!"
His rival sighed wearily as he picked up his card, not wanting to get into a war of words with the near-livid CEO.
I'm starting to see why he picked you. You've got a lot in common, anger management notwithstanding.
The telltale glow was behind Kaiba again. He'd made the connection as to what it meant, but ignored it.
"Kaiser Glider, attack Kaiser Sea Horse!"
His monster took flight, soaring high into the air on its wings, half organic, half machine-like. White fire shot from its mouth, a pure blast of heat that seared Kaiba's retina. He shielded his eyes, pushing a button on his duel disk.
"Activate Shrink!"
An innocent, wide-eyed look crossed the face of his opponent.
"Oh no, whatever will I do?"
Kaiser Glider shrank to about half its original size, its attack strength dropping to a mere twelve hundred. Kaiser Seahorse threw his weapon through the flames, skewering it. The dragon screeched in agony and began to glow white.
(Kaiba: 4000/???: 3500).
The suffering of his dragon only drew a smirk from its owner. Kaiba was disgusted at such lack of concern, but didn't comment.
"Kaiser Glider's effect returns Kaiser Seahorse to your hand."
The anger on Kaiba's face was gone, replaced by his trademark smirk. The triumphant expression he wore whenever he got the better of anyone in his way.
"I discard a card to activate my facedown, Card Guard!"
A large, blue-red shield appeared in front of his monster. Kaiser Glider exploded in a titanic burst of sound and light, but the massive blast failed to reach him.
"This protects my monster from your special effect. Perhaps you should try some sort of strategy next time?"
His opponent hissed in impatience.
"You want a strategy?! Red-Eyes, Inferno Fire Blast!"
A stream of flames erupted from his dragon's mouth, roasting his monster to little more then a skeleton. Kaiba flinched.
(Kaiba: 3300/???: 3500).
"I set a card and then play the Shallow Grave. Now we each choose a monster and resurrect it in facedown defence mode."
Two coffins rose up, one on each side of the field. Each deposited its ghastly cargo, the contents oblivious to the other player.
"I end my turn."
Kaiba drew. He studied his hand, contemplating a move.
Hold on a moment, Kaiba.
He froze.
What do you want this time?
I'm just watching the show. Did you think I was going to sit around and wait for the end?
Kaiba didn't have an answer for that. He gritted his teeth in annoyance.
Is there a point to this visit?
Do not underestimate him. Two have already fallen by doing that, and I wouldn't have you meet the same fate. Go ahead and duel. But remember, I'll be watching.
"Get on with the duel, Kaiba-boy. My patience is wearing thin."
"Fine. First I flip the monster I had facedown into attack mode. Meet Blue-Eyes White Dragon (3000)!"
With a roar and a cry, his beast flew free from the card, blasting skywards like a rocket. It filled the sky, seeming to dwarf both him and his monsters. It radiated a white light from its skin and scales, its azure eyes gleaming like sapphires in the dim light. It beat its wings, sending shockwaves everywhere, ready for battle.
"Of course…Card Guard. I should have guessed."
Kaiba was not a man to be surprised easily. He'd seen many things over the course of his life that most men would deem insane and impossible. But what happened next made even him blink, in something approaching shock.
His opponent began to clap. Real, non-sarcastic clapping. He was applauding Blue-Eyes.
Kaiba raised an eyebrow.
"I missed the joke."
His opponent stopped clapping, but continued to stare at his dragon, as if transfixed.
"Magnificent. It truly is as stunning as the legends claim. I assure you Kaiba-boy, I'm not making jokes. I'm merely admiring this beautiful creature."
There was a hint of a smile on Kaiba's face. Evidently he'd found a kindred spirit.
"I only handle the best."
Kaiba could hear Leon's voice in the back of his head again, warning him not to screw up.
I know what I'm doing.
I know. But you're not the only one who knows. Finish him off!!
I don't take orders. Especially not from bloodthirsty psychotics.
On his end, Leon slammed the link closed. He clenched his fists, then let his breath out slowly, trying to calm down.
Bloodthirsty psychotic, am I? He'll pay for that one later, assuming he wins. What a jerk!
Kaiba raised a hand to his great white beast. It seemed to hunger, to want to be used. Kaiba had no intentions of making it have to wait.
"Blue-Eyes, attack his Red-Eyes with White Lightning attack!"
A blue-white beam of energy crackled around his dragon's jaws. It roared with the thrill of battle, letting the blast loose. It shot through Red-Eyes, incinerating it completely.
(Kaiba: 3300/???: 2900).
His opponent uttered a curse. Kaiba wagged a finger patronisingly.
"I end my turn. Maybe next round, you'll give me a challenge."
"Why don't I just tear out your throat, you arrogant bastard?!"
Kaiba's eyes widened in shock. A black aura sprang up and surrounded his opponent's body. It choked his body in darkness, surrounding it with a polluting, vile smoke. Kaiba recoiled from the sight.
"What the hell are you?"
It jeered, the eyes turning jet-black with rage.
"Listen to me carefully, you egomaniacal freak. You think I can't see my other half standing behind you, watching you try and fail to beat me? Of course I can! He's me! You want to know who I am?"
He threw out his hand, stabbing a finger at the space behind Kaiba. He glanced over his shoulder. It took some time, but he eventually could make out a ghostly, shadowy shape. He recognised it as Leon, identical to his opponent save for the lack of anger and hate. It smiled quietly, as if with regret.
Sorry Kaiba, I can't stay here any more. It's up to you now.
It was always up to me. Kaiba pointed out bluntly. The remark drew a smile from Leon.
Typical. One last annoyance then. He can't lie in here. Twist, manipulate, and cheat, but not lie. You see, it's his mind as well. That may be to your advantage…
It began to fade, becoming even more insubstantial. The smile disappeared.
You'll win, Kaiba. You have God on your side. One god in particular…
Kaiba nodded, understanding. Leon's projection vanished. His opponent began to laugh, a cackle filled with madness.
"Idiot. That's all he ever was. I am the Leon without all the petty restraints he puts on himself. He- no, we- could be the greatest power mankind has ever known; if only he'd accept it- accept me. But he's weak…his stupid morality shackles him. He chose to lock me away rather then take what I had to offer. So now…I'm going to do the job myself. Since he's gone, I don't mind telling you this, Kaiba-boy."
Kaiba raised an eyebrow. "Tell me what?"
"Leon's not really here. He's in a bloody coma!"