Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh or any of its characters, nor do I intend to make a profit from this story in any way.

XxxxxxXxxxxx

Chapter 2

"MOKUBA!"

No one could move. Everyone was too stunned at what they were seeing.

Then as quickly as it began, the electricity cut away, and Mokuba was left slumped over his panel. His one arm barely holding him up as he panted heavily.

Then it seemed everyone found their voices at once.

"Mokuba!"

"Mokuba! You alright pal?"

"What just happened?!"

"We're coming buddy just hang on!"

The gang began to sprint across the balcony to get down to their fallen friend who was in obvious pain.

Kaiba also regained his mobility and only had one thought in his mind – get to Mokuba.

"Mokuba! Are you alright?!" Kaiba made to jump over his dueling stand onto the arena. Being on the bridge it was the fastest way to get to his brother.

Pegasus decided this was his time to interject.

"I wouldn't move if I were any of you." Pegasus said as he stood up from his throne. "The duel is still in play. If any of you approach young Mokuba that would ultimately be a forfeit. And you all know what that means…"

Everyone on the balcony had stopped and turned to Pegasus in disbelief. Truly he couldn't be this sick. Could he?

Kaiba was so livid he was shaking. "You conniving snake!" He spat at Pegasus.

"Now now Kaiba, there's no need for name calling." Pegasus was more than amused.

"You are a monster! What did you do to my little brother?" Kaiba demanded. He looked over at his brother still slumped over the stand worriedly. The fact that he was breathing and at least still standing somewhat was a slight comfort, but not much. It took every fiber in his being not to run over to Mokuba and take him the hell out of here. As much as he hated it, he knew Pegasus had all the control.

"Did I not mention this part of the game? Whoops, I knew I was forgetting something." Pegasus could have been talking about the weather for all he seemed to care.

"You see," he continued, "I couldn't let a duel of such importance be just like any other run of the mill duel. That wouldn't be any fun. It needed a little more… flare."

Kaiba was gonna be sick.

"So I decided to make some adjustments." Pegasus explained. "Thanks to that metal cuff around young Mokuba's wrist, anytime he loses life points an electric shock flows through the connecting chain, and gives him a little bit of a jolt."

"It may hurt for a little, but I have a feeling the emotional scars of being hurt by the hands of his own brother will last much longer." Pegasus laughed wickedly.

The wide-eyed, broken look on Kaiba's face was exactly what Pegasus wanted. He relished in it.

"No." Kaiba couldn't think straight. "No. This duel is over. There is no way I will intentionally harm my brother you creep."

"This has gone too far Pegasus!" Yugi yelled down.

"Leave him alone!" Joey joined in, his own big brother instincts kicking in. "You're a real scumbag for getting your kicks hurting a kid!"

"Fine." Pegasus shrugged. "Have it your way. I guess Mokuba's soul will just have to get used to its new home." His millennium eye flashed in the light as he held up the empty soul card once again to reiterate his meaning.

"N-no." Mokuba said weakly.

Everyone suddenly looked over to the young boy anxiously, realizing they hadn't heard him speak since being shocked until now.

Mokuba let out a soft moan as he slowly began to pick himself up. He was still panting and pain was evident on his face as he winced at the movement.

"Mokuba?" Kaiba wanted to reach out to his brother.

"Please Seto. I don't… I don't want to go back there." the pleading in his faint voice evident. Everyone could tell he was scared.

Kaiba felt like he was about ready to cry. And that was really saying something from the normally stone cold young man. How could he have gotten his brother into a situation like this? His innocent little brother, who was now staring at him battered and frightened while pleading for this torture.

"Mokuba, I will not hurt you."

"I know," Mokuba was slowly getting more of his voice back. "But you have to. I'll be okay Seto, just do it. Please."

Everyone watching from the balcony was practically in tears themselves. Their hearts went out to the Kaiba brothers. No one deserved to be put in a situation like this. Not even Seto Kaiba.

Kaiba, for once in his life, found himself facing a battle he didn't know if he could overcome. He couldn't deny his brother's plea, and of course he would do anything to keep Pegasus from taking his soul. But how could he hurt his own brother like this? Physically, and most likely emotionally, hurt the only person in the world he truly cares about? And knowingly no less.

Realizing there really was no other option, Kaiba roared in aggravation and slammed his fists onto the panel in front of him. "Damn it Pegasus!"

He had to fight to regain some of his control.

"Fine," Kaiba finally relented venomously. "We'll continue the duel Pegasus. But believe me when I tell you, you will pay for this."

"Oooooo, I'm shaking in my boots Kaiba boy." Pegasus mocked. He sat back down and made himself comfortable again.

"Carry on," he said with a wave of his hand.

Mokuba and Seto shared a knowing look at each other. Seto looked apologetic and Mokuba looked understanding. He knew how much his big brother cared for him. Although he wasn't looking forward to being shocked again, he knew Seto didn't have a choice and would never hold him accountable for that. He just wanted this nightmare to be over and for Seto to take him home once and for all.

"Alright Mokuba," Seto tried to calm his tone for his brother's sake. "It's your turn."

Mokuba nodded. He drew his card. Knowing Pegasus would hold true to his word if he held anything back, Mokuba tried to play the best move he could think of.

"I play Man-Eating Plant (800/600) in attack mode. And to end my turn I'll play the spell card Shrink, and use it on your Swordstalker. This way it will cut your monster's attack points in half for your next turn." Mokuba smiled up at his brother seeking approval.

Seto couldn't help but return the smile. Kaiba was proud, and slightly amazed, at how strong his brother was being through this whole mess. And he didn't realize how much he'd missed actually engaging in friendly competition with his younger sibling. Of course there was nothing friendly about this specific game but the camaraderie his brother never failed to give him was still there.

Kaiba drew his card. He wasn't exactly surprised to see one of his Blue-Eyes White Dragons staring back at him. Rather than welcoming his cherished card however, he looked at it rather solemnly now. He could never do that to Mokuba. With how twisted this whole situation already was, he refused to turn their favorite monster against his little brother on top of it. Pegasus said he couldn't hold back, but as long as he gets the same result he made no promises as to which cards he'd use to do so.

Kaiba tucked his Blue-Eyes into his hand. Instead he places down one of the other monsters he is holding.

"I play Battle Ox (1700/1000) in attack mode." Kaiba's second monster roared to life next to his Swordstalker (now 1000/1600).

Kaiba looked over at his brother and his heart nearly leapt in his throat. Mokuba looked so small behind his Man-Eating Plant. He could see how nervous he really was as he stared up at the two monsters facing him.

Kaiba knew his brother well enough to know he wasn't actually afraid of the monsters. But that he was nervous about what would follow their attacks. And that made Kaiba just as uneasy.

"Mokuba… I am so sorry," Seto hesitated. He really didn't want to do this.

"It's okay big brother," Mokuba looked back at Seto with all the trust in the world. "It's not your fault."

Seto gave him a grim smile. "Brace yourself kiddo."

The forgotten spectators on the balcony all seemed to hold their breath at the same time for the inevitable that was about to come.

"Swordstalker, take out his Man-Eating Plant," Kaiba nearly whispered in defeat as a lump started to form in his throat.

With a slash of his sword, Mokuba's last monster was no more. And just like before, as soon as his life points finished dropping, the burst of electricity flowed through the chain once again.

And although Mokuba was expecting it this time, he couldn't help his strangled cry just the same.

It killed Kaiba to watch his little brother be shocked before his eyes like this. It was an image that will scar his mind forever. Everyone felt completely helpless as they could do nothing but anxiously wait for the shock to release Mokuba. Kaiba wasn't sure how much more his little body could take and it worried him to no end.

Finally, unceremoniously, Mokuba was released from his torture and dropped to the floor on his knees.

"Ugh," He let out as he hit the floor hard.

"Mokuba! Are you okay?" Seto frantically yelled over to him.

Mokuba didn't answer though, he seemed to be clenching his body tight to try and relieve some of the pain. He was shaking. But still conscious thank God.

Pegasus was enjoying every second of this. The only thing that could make this moment better was a glass of wine.

"Mokuba please, answer me." Seto tried again. He couldn't bare the silence from his brother. He needed to hear him say he was alright.

The gang above was just as worried. Mokuba's head was bowed, so they couldn't see his face behind his hair.

"This is just awful," Tea whispered. Tears running down her cheeks.

Then they heard it. It was so soft they almost missed it but it was there. Coming from Mokuba was the sound of a little sniffle.

"Mokuba?" Seto couldn't take it anymore. He knew his brother was hurting obviously, but he needed to assess the damage.

Although they still couldn't see Mokuba's face, they could still recognize the motion of someone wiping away tears from their eyes. And it broke their hearts.

Mokuba slowly got up off the ground, leaning heavily onto the panel for support. Finally he lifted his head up revealing his face. And the whole room couldn't believe what they saw.

His eyes were red and puffy, from his shed tears no doubt, and he looked exhausted and in pain. But what floored everyone else was the fact that he was smiling.

Mokuba was actually smiling.

"Is that all you've got?"

Mokuba, the remarkable kid that he was, never ceased to amaze. He had just been shocked out of his skin for the second time in a short period, and not only was he smiling, he was taunting now.

Kaiba couldn't help letting a rare and unexpected laugh escape him. He really couldn't describe the love he felt for his brother.

"That is one tough kid." Joey said in admiration as he wipes his nose with his thumb.

Pegasus, impressed by the will of the younger Kaiba, let out an obnoxious laugh at his words. This was just too good.

"Looks like Kaiba boy isn't the only tough one in the family." Pegasus joked.

Kaiba regained his fury of the situation as he glared at Pegasus.

"He's been through enough Pegasus. Now stop this." He said through gritted teeth.

"Stop now? But you're almost done." Pegasus chirped. "Just one more move Kaiba boy and this will all be over."

"Pegasus!" Kaiba roared.

"Seto," Mokuba cut him off. Seto looked over at his brother.

"It's no use. Just finish it." Mokuba pleaded once again.

"Mokuba – "

"Please." Mokuba squeaked. "I just want to go home."

Seto knew he had to do it. He wanted this to be over just as much as Mokuba. And he was right, there clearly was no use trying to argue with Pegasus. So if his brother was ready then he had to be too.

"Mokuba just remember I'm right here for you okay?"

Mokuba nodded, and closed his eyes as he waited for the final blow.

With tears finally forming in his eyes, Kaiba roared his last command of the duel.

"Battle Ox, wipe out his life points!"

Battle Ox charged up to Mokuba and with a final swing, wiped out the remainder of his life points. Mokuba flinched at the assault but he didn't get much of a reprieve as the now all too familiar shock flowed through his body. But this one was more intense than the first two, and Mokuba could feel nothing but pain.

"AHHHHHHHH!"

And just like that, Mokuba's world went black.

This last shock was so intense, the light from it temporarily blinded the room. As soon as it was done though, without even a moment's hesitation, Kaiba was on a full out sprint.

Without a word he jumped onto the arena and ran toward his brother as the holograms simultaneously disappeared.

As he got closer he saw that Mokuba was lying awkwardly on the ground. And he wasn't moving…

This pushed Kaiba over the edge and with a few more quick strides he came down next to his brother.

Kaiba put a gentle hand on his shoulder, afraid to move him.

"Mokuba!" he whispered urgently.

Time stood still as Seto saw nothing but his broken little brother before him.

"C'mon Mokuba wake up. It's over, we can go home now." Seto willed Mokuba to stir but nothing was working. For the first time in his life Seto Kaiba let his tears flow freely. "Please, you have to wake up!"

But no matter what he tried, Mokuba remained limp in his arms…

XxxxxxXxxxxx

Final Chapter coming soon.

Thank you for taking the time to review, it is sincerely appreciated. – J