Notes: I edited Duke's retelling of the Big Five's escapades to David, because oddly enough, the dub actually put in the thing about them wanting Seto dead while they were conspiring with Pegasus when it wasn't in the original. I'd rather not have the thing about killing Seto in there, and I'd really rather not have it be Lector suggesting it regardless, because the designs and voices are so different in those early episodes, I can't really tell who said what aside from Gansley.
Chapter Three
With the rain, it had been a quiet and fairly peaceful day at the Bakura household. Mr. Bakura was still at the museum, and Ryou Bakura had thought it might be fun to play a casual duel against Yami Bakura to pass the time. Yami Bakura agreed.
"You know," he commented when the game was underway, "you're a far better Duelist than most people even know. I wonder if Yugi and his little friends have ever noticed that it's usually either you or Duke Devlin giving commentary on the duels and how the game is played."
"Well . . ." Bakura flushed. "I don't like to advertise my knowledge, really. . . ."
"Knowing the ins and outs of the game doesn't make you a stuck-up know-it-all," Yami Bakura grunted. "Honestly, you could probably win a tournament sometime, if you ever had a mind to enter."
Bakura looked at him with a start. "You really mean that," he said in awed amazement.
"Of course I mean it," Yami Bakura retorted. "And it seems a pity you keep your talent mostly hidden. Isn't there even some scripture in your religion about not hiding your talent under a bush?"
"Something like that." Bakura scratched his cheek, embarrassed. "I just don't have any desire for the fame. I'd rather just play Duel Monsters quietly, for fun."
"The money couldn't hurt," Yami Bakura said.
"I suppose," Bakura had to consent. "But then why don't you enter sometime, Yami?"
"I?" Yami Bakura blinked.
"Yes! After all, you're a far better Duelist than I am," Bakura smiled. "Look at the score right now. You're just about to beat me."
Yami Bakura laid his final card down and Bakura's lifepoints dropped to zero. "But you gave me a challenge. I can't say that about many Duelists. As for entering tournaments . . ." He paused. "You know, I never actually thought about it. I've always only played for far higher stakes. Now there isn't any of that anymore."
"You should consider it, Yami," Bakura smiled. "You were wondering what kind of job you could have. You said you only knew about thievery and using magic. Well, you also know about dueling, and quite a few people have made profitable careers as professional Duelists. It would probably be something you would actually enjoy doing, and how many people get to have a job they love?"
". . . You make a good point," Yami Bakura mused. "And teasing my pathetic competition would be enjoyable as well."
"Oh, Yami!" But Bakura was chuckling. It would just be harmless teasing now; no danger of being sent to the Shadow Realm.
When the doorbell rang, it startled them both. Yami Bakura got up first and went over to look through the peephole. "It's Yugi and the others," he said in some surprise. He opened the door.
"Hi there," Yugi smiled. In the past he would have felt intimidated greeting Yami Bakura, but now he didn't.
"Hello," Yami Bakura acknowledged with a nod. He stepped back, opening the door wider. "Come in."
"Thanks." Yugi did so, and the rest of the group trouped in after him. "How are you guys doing?"
"We're fine," Yami Bakura grunted.
Bakura got up and went over to greet their guests. "Hello, everyone," he smiled. "This is a nice surprise."
Téa looked to him. "Are you really doing okay, Bakura?" she asked. "We haven't seen much of you outside of school lately."
"I hope you're not having any lingering effects from those students tricking you into getting drunk," Yugi said in concern.
"Oh no, I'm quite well," Bakura said. "There's just been . . . a lot going on the last couple of weeks. . . ."
"At least you weren't mixed up with that crazy serial killer mess!" Joey exclaimed. "That nutcase was going around trying to murder all the big businessmen!"
"I heard about it on the news." Bakura shuddered. "How awful!"
"It sure was," Duke scowled.
Bakura looked to him. "Are you alright, Duke? I heard you were one of his victims."
"Because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, yeah," Duke said. "But I'm okay."
"I hope so," Bakura exclaimed.
"And I may have saved Pegasus' life by being there, so that's some consolation," Duke added.
"At least what happened sure seemed to change Pegasus for the better," Yugi said. "I have to admit I didn't think he'd ever apologize for what he did, but when he came back with you, Duke, he actually did!"
"And he acted like he really meant it," Téa interjected.
"I'm definitely glad it helped him in that way," Duke said.
Joey was distracted by the remains of the game on the table. "So, what have we got here?" he blinked, peering at the cards.
"Yami and I were just playing Duel Monsters," Bakura explained. "He won, of course."
Tristan glanced at the card layout on the table too. "And he used that lizard again, the one that was bad and turned good." He looked to Yami Bakura. "Hey, I saw some other cards with similar names. It sounded like the character went bad again. If it's the same guy, I mean."
"It's the same one," Yami Bakura agreed. "Although if you saw the cards, you must have seen it wasn't his fault. He went mad from medical implants."
"Yeah?" Joey blinked. "That's a pretty depressing story."
"There's more to it than that," Bakura interjected. "His friend, the one who showed him justice in the first place, found him and got through to him again."
Yami Bakura nodded. "The final card in the series depicts him redeemed once again, and far stronger than before."
Bakura smiled. "Actually, it reminds me of when that horrible Yami Marik tried to hurt Yami with a Shadow Leech and he lost control of himself for a while, but then fought against it and triumphed."
"Or when he fought against the Shadow Poison," Tristan muttered. Louder he said, "Yeah, that does fit."
Yami Bakura quirked an eyebrow. "All of it?"
"Well . . . I guess I don't know if you're stronger than before, but at least you beat back both the poison and the leech," Tristan said. He picked up the card on the table and studied it before setting it down. "That is kind of uncanny, how the guy's story parallels yours so closely."
Joey was now eyeing something else. "H.P. Lovecraft stories?!" He stared at a book on the edge of the table. "Didn't he write all that creepy stuff about the creepy octopus god people were worshipping?!"
"Something like that," Yami Bakura said in amusement. "And did you know that some people in real-life have actually formed cults to worship it?"
"What?!" Joey jerked away from the book. "Why would they do that?! The thing's totally made up! They even know all about its creator!"
Yami Bakura laughed. "Either they believe Lovecraft was writing about something real that he secretly knew about or they have far too much time on their hands."
Joey gulped. ". . . You know, when things like the Leviathan are real, are we so sure Lovecraft's stuff ain't real too?" he quavered.
Duke just rolled his eyes. "Joey, he's trolling you."
"Actually . . . now I'm wondering if the Leviathan could have been the inspiration for Lovecraft's giant worm," Atem spoke up. "If so, perhaps something real also inspired him to create some of his other memorable antagonists."
Joey flinched. "Don't say things like that!" he protested.
Deciding a change of topic was in order, Yugi asked, "So, is that your book, Bakura?"
"It's Yami's, actually," Bakura said.
"You look so surprised," Yami Bakura smirked. "Surely you know I can read. I could hardly play Duel Monsters if I couldn't."
"Yeah, we knew that," Tristan said. "I guess we never thought you'd actually read for pleasure, though."
"As I told you, there are many things about me you probably never would have guessed," Yami Bakura said. "I enjoy reading very much. Mostly horror."
"Okay, now that doesn't surprise me," Tristan said, throwing his hands to the air.
"Of course, I find romance novels to be utterly nonsensical drivel," Yami Bakura grinned.
"Yami Bakura sitting there happily reading Harlequin books . . . yeah, that don't process," Joey shuddered. "That'd be creepier than him reading Lovecraft."
Atem looked amused.
"Say, how do you guys think of each other, anyway?" Joey blurted. "I mean, I know you're friends, but did you ever stop to think about how you're family too? . . . Er, I mean . . . I guess you're family, aren't you?" Suddenly awkward and wondering if he had spoke out of turn, Joey rubbed the back of his neck.
"Of course we are, you dolt," Yami Bakura snorted.
Joey still looked awkward. "But uh . . . how can you guys be related anyway?"
"Joey!" Téa exclaimed.
"I mean, for that, Yami Bakura would have had to have had a kid, or a sibling who had a kid, and uh . . . Yami Bakura was the only one left and he's not exactly Father of the Year material. . . ." Joey trailed off, bumping his forefingers together. It was all too obvious that he was just digging himself into a deeper hole the more he spoke.
Yugi facepalmed.
Yami Bakura looked irritated now. "Well, we'll never know exactly what kind of a father I would have been, will we? My wife didn't give us much chance to find out before she took the boy and left me alone."
Joey went red. "You were married?!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, I was actually married," Yami Bakura shot back.
"Well, uh, that's great," Joey stuttered. "I thought maybe it was a one-night stand or something. . . ."
"I never tried that, believe it or not," Yami Bakura said dryly. "But in any case, yes—Bakura is my direct descendant without a shadow of a doubt." He smirked. "I suppose in some ways, he is the closest thing I have to a son."
Bakura looked to him in surprise.
"Technically you're only about five years apart in age," Tristan said.
"Give or take three thousand," Yami Bakura replied.
". . . Right," Tristan said in chagrin.
"The years do weigh on a soul at times," Atem quietly acknowledged. He had to admit that was something he could understand about Yami Bakura.
Yugi looked to him with concern in his eyes. "But you still want to stay here?" he asked.
"Yes," Atem smiled.
"As do I," Yami Bakura nodded. "We're old, but we have chances to live again and we want to take them."
"And we are so glad," Bakura smiled.
With the awkward moment over, the group settled in and visited for a time. When they departed, Bakura was in good spirits.
"That was nice to see everybody," he smiled as he settled back on the couch.
"It's good that they thought of coming," Yami Bakura admitted. "With everything that's gone on, you haven't felt much like going out lately. But you still wanted company."
"You can read me so well, Yami," Bakura said. "But that's not surprising, really, considering all the years we've spent together." He peered at his friend. "I was surprised by what you said about me being like a son."
"Well, it's true, isn't it?" Yami Bakura said gruffly. "Joey called me your thousand-great-grandfather once. Although he was being sarcastic, it's undeniable that that is biologically our relationship. Oddly enough, my son looked a great deal like you, judging from pictures I've seen of you as an infant. I'd like to think he grew up behaving similarly to you." He studied Bakura. "Do you find that odd or awkward?"
"Oh no." Bakura smiled more. "I'm honored, really. I was just surprised." He hesitated. "But you know, Yami, even though you technically are old, I don't really see you as such."
"Yes, and I imagine Yugi feels the same way about the Pharaoh," Yami Bakura said. "They relate well to each other, even with the immense generation gap. And despite our biological relationship, we're more like strange friends rather than many-great-grandfather and grandson."
"And I am just fine with that," Bakura smiled. Another hesitation. "Yami . . . what Atem said about the years weighing on you. . . . Do you feel like that a lot?"
"Somewhat. Usually I feel it most when I'm in this form. It reminds me of how long I've been around. Perhaps that's also why I like to switch forms," Yami Bakura mused. "I feel younger in the other form, perhaps because it is a form specifically generated for the present-day."
"Well." Bakura smiled and linked arms with him. "I love you just as much in either form."
Yami Bakura looked at him and finally gruffly smiled a bit too. When his wife had left him and taken their son, the last bit of family he had had left had been snatched away. He hadn't thought he would ever have any family again. Now he did.
"Yami . . ." Bakura looked up at him. "What did you name your son?"
"Bakare," Yami Bakura said. "Similar to my name, yet different. When I was younger, I sometimes used it as an alias for myself."
"How did you feel about being a father?"
Yami Bakura paused, staring off into the distance. "Amazed," he said at last. "Overwhelmed, confused . . . and proud. Very proud. Heh." He frowned. "You know, I wouldn't be surprised if Dalilah poisoned him against me."
"Oh, I hope not!" Bakura exclaimed. "I didn't think she left because she was angry at you. . . ."
"Not angry," Yami Bakura agreed. "Although I don't fully know what her reasons were. But she might have spoken against me if she realized I was the madman descending on the Pharaoh's court later in life and disrupting everything."
"But she knew why you were angry, didn't she?" Bakura said in surprise.
"Yes," Yami Bakura admitted. "I just don't know if it would have made a difference. I couldn't really blame her if it didn't. Naturally she wouldn't have wanted the boy to follow in my footsteps, as he might have done if he idolized me. But for all I know, she told him I was dead. It was true before long anyway."
"I'm so sorry, Yami," Bakura said softly.
"Eh." Yami Bakura shrugged. "It's all over and done with. I mostly made a mess out of my mortal life."
"It wasn't entirely your fault," Bakura insisted. "And you haven't been making a mess out of this one. If Dalilah and Bakare are seeing you now, I'm sure they're proud."
"It's a nice thought, anyway," Yami Bakura shrugged.
"If you saw her again, Yami, what would you say to her?" Bakura wondered.
Yami Bakura paused. "I would ask her why she really left me," he said, "and if she ever regretted it. I would ask about our son . . . and tell her about you."
"Do you think she would like me?" Bakura wondered.
"I suppose that might depend on if you reminded her of Bakare as well," Yami Bakura said. "I honestly have no idea how she would feel. But that doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is how I feel about you."
"If you ever did see her, Yami, I'd want to tell her a thing or two for what she did to you," Bakura said.
Yami Bakura regarded him in surprise. But then, slowly, he smirked. "Yes . . . I think you really would." He chuckled low. "You really have started to become assertive."
"Always, when I'm defending my loved ones," Bakura smiled. "You taught me that."
"I suppose I did," Yami Bakura mused.
xxxx
Duke had ended up driving everyone to Bakura's. Of course, he then drove them back to the Turtle Game Shop. After leaving them there, he decided to check in across the street before doing anything else. It was no longer raining, but the sky was deeply overcast with purple, gray, and actual black clouds. More rain would definitely come.
He frowned as he parked the car and got out. There was a definite feeling that he was being watched, but no one was visible. Still, the feeling was not going away.
"Who's here?" he demanded.
The eerie laugh from around the corner was unpleasantly familiar. He ran to the edge of the building and looked around it with a start. Seeing no one did not ease his concerns in the least.
"Duke?"
He started and turned. David had come outside and was watching him in confused concern. Sighing, he walked back to his friend. "I thought I heard someone," he said. "It's impossible, and yet . . . I know what I heard. . . ."
"After everything we've gone through, it's impossible?" David blinked. "Who was it?"
"One of the Big Five," Duke muttered. "Nesbitt, the one Tristan, Serenity, and I dueled. I could never forget his voice."
David's eyes widened. "You didn't know what happened to any of them," he said. "Maybe it could be him."
"It doesn't make sense!" Duke protested. "Maybe I just have him on my mind because of that stupid article in the paper today."
"Is that really what you think?" David asked. They reached the doors and were admitted entry.
"No," Duke grumbled. "But if they're back . . . what kind of chaos are we all going to go through now?"
David looked to his friend in concern. It wasn't often that he heard actual fear in Duke's voice or saw it in his eyes, but he did now. Duke's experiences in Noa's virtual reality world had deeply affected him, maybe more than he even consciously knew. That, plus everything else that had happened to them over the last years. They were both still shaken by the catastrophe of the drug smuggling ring that they had tried to stop, which had resulted in David's death until Duke had found a way to reverse it. Duke was desperately afraid for David now, and Serenity as well.
"Whatever it is, we'll face it and we'll take care of them," David promised. "They won't beat us, Duke."
Duke looked away. "You've said that before," he mumbled. "And these guys hate anyone who keeps them down. Nesbitt probably hates me, for instance, and Serenity. If I really heard him . . . if they're all possibly back . . . we're all in extreme danger."
David didn't know what to say. It was true that he had tried to encourage Duke before, and sometimes it hadn't worked out as planned. But he wasn't about to give in and feel beat by the Big Five, or by whoever they were going to go up against.
"So far, it really has been true that we haven't been beaten," he said at last. "Even when everything looked hopeless, you still didn't give up. Duke, you found a way to bring me back from the dead! I can't think of anyone else who would have been so stubborn and determined not to just give in and accept what was!"
"And I always thought I was the most realistic of Yugi's friends," Duke said with a weak smirk. "That sure proved I wasn't." He sobered. "But David, that's exactly my point! You were saved once. If something else goes wrong . . . how can I believe you will be again? Or Serenity?" His voice lowered.
"Duke . . ." David hesitated, then laid his hands on Duke's shoulders. "If it's not our time to go, things will work out. That was the message we were given when that tomb collapsed. I have to believe in that or I'll go crazy."
Duke slowly nodded. "I want to," he said. "I thought I did. But now, thinking about what might happen if someone comes back who has a grudge against me and Serenity and almost everyone else . . ." He shook his head. "It's hard to keep hold of an idea like that."
"And that's when you need it the most," David said quietly.
Duke knew he was right. "You've always kept me grounded," he said.
"I've always tried, at least," David quipped. "You're not easy to contain."
"I'm serious!" Duke shot back. "David, you've always been there for me. I'll never forget that."
"And I always will be," David insisted. "Why don't you tell me what you know about the Big Five? If we're prepared, maybe we can fight them off better."
Duke sighed and leaned backwards against the counter. "Well, from what I was told later, these guys were always seriously messed up. They formed that alliance with Pegasus to take over KaibaCorp, and they didn't have any qualms about kidnapping Mokuba or Seto Kaiba. Unlike Pegasus, they didn't have a magical item corrupting them or the loss of a loved one driving them nuts. They wanted Pegasus to keep Seto Kaiba prisoner until the transaction was complete."
David gave a low whistle. "You're right. These are not nice guys."
"Then they trapped Kaiba in his own virtual reality game, and went in after him to control their Five-Headed Dragon. When they got trapped instead, they wandered around until they found Noa. And then I told you about most of that." Duke stared off into the distance. "I'm willing to admit that maybe being trapped in virtual reality so long did make them a little crazy. Their plan was insane! Trap us in there and then escape in our bodies. . . . And they didn't care about using any of us to that end, even those of us who had nothing to do with them being trapped in the virtual reality world in the first place."
David shook his head. "I really don't like the thought of you tangling with those guys."
Duke snorted. "Neither do I. But I like the thought of them coming after you or Serenity even less. Nesbitt's probably especially ticked off at Serenity, since she'd never even dueled and she managed to beat him." He pushed away from the counter and hurried over to the phone. "I'd better call her right now and make sure she's safe."
David watched as Duke quickly dialed the number. Duke always tried to present the image of a smooth-talking guy who was completely cool under pressure. Only David, Serenity, and their friend in Los Angeles had ever seen the vulnerable side of the teenage businessman. David was seeing it again right now, in how Duke's hand trembled. He was downright fearful for his loved ones' safety, and after what he had told David, his store manager couldn't blame him in the least.
xxxx
Patience hadn't been one of the Big Five's strong suits in a long time. While the Kaiba brothers and Marik continued to test the augmented reality game, most of them wandered, visiting their other old enemies and continuing to plot for their scheme. As night dragged on and the group was still examining the game, the cruel businessmen were just about to lose whatever patience they had left.
"This is ridiculous already!" Lector fumed. "They probably really will be here all night."
"We should make our move," Nesbitt agreed.
"A lot could go wrong if we act now," Crump worried. "We should wait until they're gone."
"But if they're here all night, they won't go and the crowds will come," Johnson pointed out.
Gansley frowned, contemplating the problem. "As I see it, we have two choices," he said. "Wait for them to leave or move in now and knock them unconscious so we can take control."
"It's risky when something might go wrong and Mr. Kaiba could act without warning if we try to ambush him," Johnson said. "He could remotely disable the game and then we'd probably be stranded inside it."
"We should wait a little longer and see if they'll go," Crump said. "They must be close to the last level by now. How about we review what we know about these new people?"
"Go ahead," Gansley nodded.
"But we want really important facts, Crump," Lector interjected. "Not just how often they eat pizza or leave the lights on!"
"Then try this on for size," Crump retorted. "This guy claiming to be from ancient Egypt is three thousand years old, has a mystical item that grants him a mortal form, and can switch back and forth between two radically different physical appearances. He's also highly protective of the white-haired boy who's a friend of Yugi's."
"We'll have to watch out for him," Johnson said.
"The Pharaoh Atem also has a mystical item," Crump continued. "And since this is augmented reality and not virtual reality, both their items will probably work even after we trap the city of Domino inside Mr. Kaiba's game."
"We can depend on that," Gansley said.
"The boy, Ryou Bakura, is normally quiet and gentle, but he can become fierce if his loved ones are threatened," Crump said. "Then there's this boy, Marik Ishtar—formerly the leader of the Rare Hunters criminal organization, but now reformed and a staple of Yugi's group. He has two older siblings, a sister and a brother, and they are all devoted to each other. If one is hurt, the other two will risk everything to help."
"They will likely be problematic as well," Gansley mused. "But no matter. We will crush everyone who stands in the way of our claiming KaibaCorp as ours! As soon as these three leave, we will commandeer the game and spread its effect throughout the city, instead of merely keeping it here at Kaiba Land. Seto Kaiba wants Duel Monsters to be real, eh? He may change his mind after this!"
