Thanks again to HermioneSakuraGardner07 and Aya El maghrabi for your kind reviews! You guys are seriously the best.
Aya El maghrabi: I hope your tests are going well! Thank you so much for taking the time to read even with all the studying you must be doing!
HermioneSakuraGardner07:Sorry, the main answers will come next chapter, promise! Thanks for the idea about her being a chef; I think that might work out well for her. I might toy with that….hmmm.
Thanks to everyone who reads! I hope you enjoy!
I do not own Yugioh.
Mokuba shifted from side to side anxiously as the boat approached, his thoughts careening in different directions. Where was Tea? Was his big brother all right? Why had Seto requested Mokuba ensure the press wasn't present? Did Tea not come because she was tired, or did it have to do with not wanting to see her friends?
Yes, he knew something was wrong on that front. Many adjectives could be applied to Mokuba Kaiba; brave, messy, rich, impossibly adorable, but never stupid. Although Tea hadn't said anything, the boy had needed no explanation to fill in the blanks. For some reason, Yugi had left Tea behind this time. Mokuba could tell it had hurt the girl deeply, and he was beyond annoyed on her behalf.
Well, in the end, it would be Yugi's loss. Mokuba's friendship with the girl was relatively new, and ordinarily he might be worried about not seeing her anymore once her old friends returned(never mind that he trusted Tea not to forget about him; it was her friends he expected to try and hog all her time). But now there was a rift between them, and Mokuba fully intended to insert himself into that gap, capitalizing on Yugi's group's stupidity by maximizing his own time with Tea(his brother would be proud of his scheming, he was sure).
And then the boat docked, finally, and all thoughts of anyone in the world besides Seto stopped. Mokuba rushed forward as the ramp lowered, and his two older brothers appeared at the top of it.
Wait. Re-count. One Seto there, and another Seto there.
The boy's brain screeched to a halt, even as the two Setos caught sight of him.
"Mokuba!" they cried in eerie unison, and, trench coats flapping, they both ran to him.
"Gaaaaah," said the boy as the first Seto reached him and swept him up in a hug(this was an imposter, right? Some sort of weird joke, had to be had to be.)
"I missed you so much!" the hugging Seto exclaimed, and the other Seto hit the first on the head.
"You're choking him," he growled. "And stop with all this molly-coddling. Or are you trying to make him weak?"
"Hit me again and find out just how weak I am!" snarled the first Seto.
"I don't like this! " yelled Mokuba from where he was pinned in (one of) his older brother's arms.
"Kaiba!" yelled two synchronized voices from the top of the ramp, and to Mokuba's horror two Joey Wheelers scrambled down to join them, both blonde and loud and with a vendetta against his brother. One tackled the Seto who wasn't holding Mokuba; the other cheered the first on.
"Woah, those guys are crazy," sighed Duke, who followed another Duke down the ramp as well. Mokuba felt the beginning of an insane headache creeping up behind his eyes.
"What is going on?" he demanded, pushing out of the hug and standing to his full(not so impressive but damnit he drank milk everyday and one day he would grow taller) height.
"Nothing good, I'm afraid," sighed a polished voice, and Ryou descended the ramp next. To Mokuba's relief, the pale boy had no unexplained double dogging his heels.
"What happened on that island?" Mokuba asked, walking over to him.
Ryou rubbed a hand over his wan face, looking as though he hadn't slept for a year. "More ridiculous magical nonsense," he bemoaned bitterly. "And here I'd hoped that just for once we'd be spared from the cycle."
"That really doesn't tell me anything," Mokuba informed the other boy, and Ryou smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry," he said. "It's been a wearying experience is all. Somehow the host of the tournament managed to split people in two when he defeated them: into halves of light and dark. He hoped to use the dark halves to power some bizarre machine, I think. It was a bit difficult to understand his rantings; you know how villains can be."
Mokuba nodded, commiserating. Pretty much all of the villains he had met(way too many considering his few years) had been in love with their own voices.
"In any case, don't worry. The effect is temporary, and your brother will be back to normal within a few days."
Mokuba heaved a sigh of relief at that. As nice as the prospect of having two brothers sounded, it would have been a nightmare to explain to the press, which would have led to the nightmare of preventing Seto from crushing several network and news stations out of retaliation.
"But wait," he questioned. "Why aren't there two of you then?"
With an achingly sad smile, Ryou fiddled with the collar on his shirt, and Mokuba noticed suddenly that the Millenium Ring was missing.
"Oh," the boy said in realization, then repeated himself in more depressed tones. "Oh. So…that…spirit you had, it has its own body now?"
"We don't know where he went," Ryou said grimly. "But he and Marik and Yami all now have their own bodies."
"Don't listen to him, Mokuba!" cried the first Seto, thrusting himself into the conversation. "He's just going to try and fill your head with nonsense about magic!"
"What a fool," sneered the second Seto, having long since trounced both Joeys.
"Big brother, your power of denial could reshape the universe," Mokuba stated flatly, and Ryou gave a light chuckle.
"Good luck, Mokuba," he bade, and he turned to make the long trek home, hoping against hope that Bakura wasn't waiting for him there.
Tea stood in the alley and breathed, because for several minutes it was all she could bring herself to do. She couldn't go home like this; couldn't make her parents worry more. And the docks? How could she go to meet her friends like this? Poor Mokuba had already had to see her beaten down once.
"Screw the docks," she said to herself-somehow, she needed to hear someone talking, even if it was just herself. If she sounded tough, then maybe she could pretend to be tough, maybe she could hold it together. She breathed deeply and gagged on the rancid air. She needed to go. Whatever had taken away the body of the first monster might come for this one; she needed to leave.
Haltingly, the girl pulled on her socks again and subjected her poor feet to her shoes. Quickly, she swiped at the spit that had landed on her. A second of bitterness almost caused her to leave her broken cane; a following wash of insecurity drove her to pluck the pieces from the ground and cradle them in her hands. Peeking out around the corner, Tea groaned to realize that she was once more lost. She didn't dare ask anyone for directions; she was coated in filth and blood. At least she had money on herself this time; she would phone her parents and tell them she might be later home than she had previously thought. Quick, wincing steps took her down the street to a payphone, where she dug out money from a pocket in her skirt. She remembered being so delighted when she discovered her uniform had pockets...She bit her lip, pained by the innocent memory. Focus, she ordered herself. She dialed the number for home and was grateful to be put through to the answering machine(she wasn't sure she could hold it together if she heard her mother's voice right now).
"Hey mom, dad," she said as cheerily as she could(she hurt all over, inside and out). "I hope it's okay, um, Joey's sister, her name is Serenity, I think you met her? Anyways, she invited me to a sleepover, and I'm sorry I accepted without asking, but I hardly ever get to see her, and I thought, after this morning, what you talked about, that it, um, might be good to start reaching out to friends who weren't so into, uh, the card games." There, that should convince them. She cradled the phone, wishing she had brought her own cell phone with her(from now on she was going to wear it around her neck or glue it to her pocket or something). "I love you guys!" the girl choked out, and she hung up before she started crying again.
Sluggishly, Tea began walking down the street again. She could do this-she would do this. The blood from her feet appeared to have lessened, as judged by the pace of the progression of red throughout her socks and over her scuffed shoes.
Tea took a breath, wished dearly for a walking stick that wasn't broken, and stepped forward. She really just ought to carry a map around with her, as well as a spiked mace.
Yami watched morosely as Solomon Motou laid Yugi down in his small bed. "There we go," the elderly man grunted, covering up his grandson snugly. "Oh, don't look so blue, Yami. You did the best you could, I know, and the doctors assured us that his condition was only temporary."
"I hear what you're saying," the Egyptian teenager sighed out. "And I deeply appreciate it, but I know that this is my fault. And now Marik and Bakura, are free to roam the world and wreck whatever havoc they wish." He ground his teeth at the thought, consumed by his rage at the two criminals.
Solomon chuckled quietly, causing Yami to stare at him, ruby eyes clouded with confusion.
"What ails you, Grandpa?" he asked brusquely. His fists tightened at his sides, the strength of them further proof that events had changed. His new body differed greatly from Yugi's, which was so small, so frail. He glanced at the tiny form under the covers, pain and guilt squeezing his heart.
Solomon clapped him on the shoulder, waking him from his turmoil. "I did not mean to be rude, Yami," the elder warmly assured him. "It's just that, when you become old, like me," he added with a chuckle. "You come to realize that things will mostly work themselves out." He smiled at something the other couldn't see, and as ancient as Yami was, he felt uncomfortably like a child under the weight of that smile.
Solomon refocused after a moment, and shook his white head with a smile. "Now down you go, my boy, your friends will be wanting you. I'll take care of Yugi." He gently pushed the Egyptian out of the room, shutting the door with another small smile.
The tall teen stood outside of the shut door, clenching and opening his fists. Never had he felt so completely...useless. The sensation weighed heavily upon his shoulders, pushing him down until he felt about as tall as the carpet beneath his tan feet. Even Grandpa treated him as though he were someone to comfort, as though he were weak. Grudgingly, Yami strode down the small hallway. It felt even smaller in his new body, and he realized again how incredibly tiny Yugi was. Like a child, so enthusiastic and bright, only matched in cheeriness when it came to Tea.
Tea, who had not been there to welcome them home.
Yami sat down on the first stair on the flight and breathed deeply. The sensation still disturbed him, his lungs expanding and contracting, a pair of bellows beneath his collarbone. He could breathe more deeply in this body, more quickly and steadily. Every breath was a flood of air that rushed into his body and sent his mind into quick spasms of thought. His mind rose higher, higher, and his breathing quickened as the air he received started to feel more and more insufficient. Dark spots danced before his eyes.
"Yami, man, you okay?"
The Light Joey's voice dispelled the blackness closing in on his vision, and the Egyptian's breathing slowly regulated. "I am fine, Joey," he replied steadily, hiding his shame and fear with an ease carried over thousands of years from a time of poker-faced politics. He stood gracefully, and moved towards his friend, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs.
Joey let him by with a clap on the shoulder, but he didn't believe the other's dismissal. He knew what a panic attack was, had seen his father go into several at the sight of the bills. His friend was too proud to accept concern, so he would watch quietly, as well as he could, and in the mean time hope his other half didn't cause too much trouble.
The two sat down with the others in the small living room. The sofa was already taken by the Dukes, Tristan, and Mai, who had recombined earlier in the evening. The other Joey sat on the floor, nursing the black eye Kaiba had given him. Serenity sweetly offered them her chair-she had wisely avoided sitting with either of the Dukes or Tristan- but Yami and Joey declined quickly, and hauled chairs over from the kitchen table.
Mai rubbed her hands over her eyes wearily, exhausted by the barrage of memories still sorting through her mind. It had not been easy, assimilating the experiences of her two halves and coming back together into one. She looked forward to many sleepless nights.
The two Joeys looked at her with concern, then glared at each other when they noticed the object of their gazes was the same.
"Thank goodness Yugi's going to be alright," Tristan said adamantly, and the others confirmed the statement with a round of fervent nodding. Yami brooded; Yugi had been far too close to not being alright.
"The real question is: what do we do now?" Yami said, effectively turning their minds to the problem at hand. "Joey, were you able to contact Ryou?"
The blonde boy shook his head ruefully. "He went home quick as anything once we landed. We're gonna have to wait 'til school starts to talk t'him. Man, I hope he's okay." Belatedly, he realized that it probably wasn't the most inspirational thing to say. Serenity bit her lip, twisting her hands in her lap.
"Isis, Malik, and Rishid are staying on a street near mine," Tristan offered up. "They found a house to rent until everything gets figured out. They said they'd be over tomorrow."
"Good," Yami nodded. "We're all going to need to be prepared for whatever comes next."
With a loud pop, the two Joeys vanished, and one Joey reappeared on the table in a burst of light.
"Oh crap it's like the worst hangover ever," he moaned, then realized what exactly he had said in front of his little sister. "Not that I would know!" he hastily added on. "Because alcohol is bad, and we do not drink it! Especially underage. Ever."
Serenity leveled a very flat stare at him.
"It was one time!" Joey broke down. "Just once; just to try it! It was horrible anyways."
Tristan whooped with laughter at his friend's humiliation, and Mai helped the blonde down to the sofa, shoving the chortling brunette out of his spot.
"Oh yeah," sighed the Darker Duke. "We're so doomed."
Tea sighed miserably. She was so doomed. How in the world did she manage to get herself even more lost? Grungy apartments loomed over her to either side with intermittent vacant lots filled with gravel, rubbish, and old beer cans. The girl sighed and limped over to a partially standing wall. Luckily for her, the street appeared to have nocturnal inhabitants, or maybe it was unlucky, but she was tired enough to just be grateful for the quiet. She sagged against the wall, supporting herself on the rough bricks. The sun told her it was past three, possibly, but then the sun started moving, and it wouldn't stop. Tea blinked, but her eyes wouldn't reopen, and she was only aware of the sensation of falling, falling-
-and a hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently.
"Tea? Tea!" A voice even gentler than the hand pulled her up from the darkness. Groggy, she sat up, her head colliding with the chest of a person leaning over her. She rubbed a hand over her eyes, a futile action considering the grime coating her skin. Blinking brought the world into clarity, and a white topped head came into focus before her.
"Ryou?" she whispered roughly. "Is that-Ryou?"
She laughed weakly, half-delirious, and Ryou jumped a bit, his brown eyes confused and worried as they took in her state.
"It is you, but what on earth are you doing here? Like this?" He asked, his hands hovering over her. Tea saw fit to clasp his left hand, and she heaved them both up to a standing position, wincing as her feet decided to remind her that, yes, she was still in excruciating pain.
"I'm making a habit of it," joked Tea weakly. From her periphery, she noted that the sun had long since hidden itself behind the buildings.
"Ryou," she said, and she meant it so many ways that just saying it made her dizzy. "I'm lost." And it was rather appropriate to say it to him, after all, because he understood it best. His brown eyes flickered, then warmed. He tucked an arm politely around her waist.
"We can go to my apartment for now," he told her quietly. "Night is no time to be traveling here, and you are in no traveling condition regardless." He led her down the block and right, to a section of newer buildings. Small flowerpots ornamented the balconies of occupied apartments, splashes of color that fed Tea's weary eyes. Luck favored her once again; for the street's inhabitants seemed to have turned into their beds. No one was present to witness their strange passage down the sidewalk, which would be best for both of their sakes.
Ryou led her to a light yellow apartment building. Small balconies outfitted each unit, and from those balconies trailed long blooming vines. Their scent gentled the air, relaxing the girl. The boy helped her up a flight of stairs and walked her along a small hallway, pausing in front of a door at the end of the hall. He withdrew a small key from his pocket, and he unlocked the door speedily, ushering Tea inside.
"Here," he said, guiding her to an enormous fluffy blue sofa. "Sit here. I'll be back shortly with some bandages."
Too tired to object, Tea plopped down, listening dully to Ryou padding about. Slowly, she came to realize something, and she promptly burst into tears, panicking Ryou.
"What's wrong?" he cried, flying to her side.
Tea sniffled. "I'm getting blood all over your apartment!" she wailed, and it was to the sight of Ryou's bemused face that she fainted.
Ryou stared in disbelief at the unconscious girl, torn between panic and amusement. Who worried about getting blood on people's furniture when they were on the verge of collapsing?
Tea did, apparently.
He dallied for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. Should he call the police? An ambulance? Her parents?
Did his phone even work anymore? He hadn't paid the bill for the past month since the tournament rendered it pointless. He picked up the phone from its holder and was greeted with the annoying buzz of the dial tone. Well, there went that option.
Her injuries needed attention, at the very least, and after years of waking up to find himself injured mysteriously(damn that Ring, and twice damn its spirit), Ryou had some medical knowledge at least.
Bruises ringed her throat, and the boy felt his blood run cold at the notion that someone had tried to strangle her. Strange purple gunk littered her hair and clothes, and when Ryou tried to pick a clot of it out her hair he found it stuck to his fingers nastily. Her feet seemed to be bleeding, and Ryou carefully unbuckled her shoes and rolled off her socks.
Both articles were dripping with red, and Ryou actually gagged when the injuries in the girl's feet were exposed. A hole gaped in the center of each slender foot, the flesh torn so badly that the white of bone was exposed.
His hands shook as he wrapped bandages around the arch of her right foot, hiding the ghastly wounds under a layer of white. He repeated the action on her left foot, and then sat back on his heels, blowing out a sigh of relief that the job was done.
Rising, he went to the sink, cleaning the blood off his hands.
What exactly had happened to her? Was it Marik, or Bakura? Such gore seemed out of line with what he had learned of Bakura, who preferred scheming and threats and soul stealing magic to sullying his hands. Marik, though, deranged and terrifying Marik, who had left Ryou in a coma after Battle City…Marik might have done this.
The boy braced his hands on the counter and forced himself not to panic as he thought about the two villains running free. Bakura knew where he lived, had lived there with him. Would he come back to punish Ryou for all the times the boy had defied him? Come back to shove him just that little further down, like it wasn't enough that his father was never home, that the friends he had made in the past had all been driven away, and the scant friends he had now always had to hold him at arms length.
At least that might be over with. His body was his again, fully in his own possession. He flexed his fingers, reveling in knowing that Bakura could not seize control of his hands anymore, could not taint them with any more sins.
He did not know what the future held, or whether he would survive it, but, for now, he was his own person, and there was an undeniable joy in that.
Soft rustling drew his attention: Tea had roused, blinking about herself with bleary blue eyes.
"Urk," she said simply, and Ryou couldn't help but smile in relief that she had woken.
He fixed a glass of water and carried it to her. "Here, drink this," he recommended, pressing it into her scraped hands.
She accepted gratefully. "It's so good to see you, Ryou," she whispered hoarsely. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it down to the boat to greet everyone. I, uh, had something come up."
Ryou felt his eyelid twitch. "Something come up?" he exclaimed. "Tea, you have gaping wounds in your feet!"
The girl blinked down at the feet in question, painstakingly wiggling her toes. "This is true," she conceded. "Thanks for wrapping them."
She took a sip of water and the boy stared blankly at her. "Well," he prompted slowly. "What happened?"
Tea set the glass down, her mind racing. Here it was, the chance to explain what had been going on to someone who might actually believe her. She would have preferred Yugi and the others, but Ryou had knowledge of magical things as well, no matter how ill begotten that knowledge was.
She opened her mouth, the whole gruesome tale poised to tumble out of her mouth, when the stone embedded in her hand suddenly lit up like a beacon, bathing the apartment in a sickly pink light. Ryou froze as it touched him, seeming to petrify beneath the touch of the glow.
"You shouldn't bother trying to bring other people into this," snapped a voice behind her, harsh and quick like the curl of a whip.
The girl spun about, coming face to face with a most peculiar person standing behind the sofa. Physically, he appeared almost normal, but that just made his abnormalities all the more striking. The boy looked to be about her age, but his eyes were far too old and tired, the iris as dark as the pupil. His skin was deathly pale, and he stood wrong somehow, as though the air was burning around him. In his hand, he clutched an umbrella.
The girl stood slowly, mind racing as she ignored the cries of pain from her feet.
"Don't bother," the boy rebuked her, and she bristled at the condescension.
"What did you do to Ryou?" she demanded harshly.
"Shut up and sit down; I'm not here to fight," he bit back, and his teeth were too white and too sharp to be human.
"I imagine," he said imperiously, tapping the umbrella against the floor. "That you might like some answers."
And in the city of Domino, Yugi rested while Yami rallied his few troops, and Mokuba struggled to mediate between two equally stubborn older brothers. Deep in the shadows, somewhere hidden and secret, Marik reveled in his freedom and madness, while miles away Bakura schemed, and turned his feet towards a familiar path. And down that path, in the apartment of the hapless Ryou, a monstrous boy finally gave Tea the answers she had been seeking.