Chapter 20

'Based on what you've told us, I definitely think some kind of outside force is at play here.' SK licked his lips. 'Either he's possessed or someone's manipulating him somehow. I mean, think about it, it's not just Joey's feelings for Mai involved here, it's also the First's feelings for Win; emotions like that don't just turn themselves on and off.'

'SK's right,' Jay folded his arms, 'someone or something has to be controlling him somehow.'

'Well that makes me feel heaps better,' Mai rolled her eyes, 'Joey's not cheating on me, he's just possessed.'

'Well at least possession we can deal with,' Ahna's face filled with a weak smile.

'She's got a point,' SK licked his lips again, 'we simply need to find out who or what's controlling him and stop it.'

'And I'd say our number one suspect is this mystery blonde Covo mentioned,' Jay smirked.

'Oh I don't know,' SK smirked at him, 'you're still pretty high on my suspect list.'

'Oh come on, what would I have to gain from making Joey fall for someone else?'

'The same thing you had to gain from it last time,' he lowered his head in an amused manner.

'I was possessed by evil last time, or had you forgotten. Besides, I'm cleansed and redeemed now, so it's not me okay?'

'You know I was joking, right?' SK licked his lips again as he cocked an eyebrow at him.

'Yeah, well if you weren't so bad at telling jokes...'

'Wow Jay, moody much?'

'Whatever, can we please just get on with the investigation now?'

'Sure, that's exactly what I was going to suggest.'

Kaiba knelt down next to Tristan's still unconscious body and checked for a pulse.

'Well at least you're still alive,' he sighed in relief as he tried to figure out what to do next.

'Shame it won't be for much longer,' a dark voice sounded from behind him, making every hair stand up on the back of Kaiba's neck.

'Who are you?' Kaiba leapt to his feet and spun round to face the figure hidden in the room's creeping shadows.

'Aw Kaiba, I'm offended you don't recognise me.'

As the figure spoke, he shifted the weapon he was holding in his hands. The motion was slow and deliberate enough to allow light to flash off of it and the sight of it made Kaiba feel as though all the air had just left the room.

'The Elemental Axe,' his eyes glanced towards the door, 'but... how?'

'You know for such a powerful weapon, you left it curiously unguarded,' the figure chuckled. 'No traps, no security, no daily checks to make sure it's still in place, hell not even a guard dog. It's almost as though you wanted someone to come in and take it. Then again, I guess it's not as though a whole lot of people even knew the weapon was here, right?'

Kaiba gritted his teeth as his throat emitted a growl-like noise.

'Oh, look at you,' the figure taunted before Kaiba had the chance to say anything, 'you're already cowering in fear and I haven't even done anything yet.'

'What do you want?'

'Right now Kaiba, the better question is, what don't I want,' he laughed. 'Power, control, money, the heavens, the hells, the multiverse. I want it all. I'll take it all. And I'm going to have so much fun doing it,' he pointed the Axe towards the unconscious form of his friend.

'I won't let you hurt him,' Kaiba pulled himself into a protective stance between the shadowy figure and Tristan.

'You say that as if you have a choice,' the figure's voice filled with amusement. 'Besides, it looks like someone already beat me to it; all I have to do is finish him off.'

'I won't let you.'

'Oh Kaiba, again you say that as though you have a choice. You're completely powerless and I have the most powerful weapon ever created in my hands; there's nothing you can do to stop me.'

'I don't care who you are or how powerful you think that little toy makes you, I will not let you hurt him.'

'Oh how sweet,' the figure chuckled, 'the Pure wants to protect her Win. I mean, that is what's going on here, right? You only want to protect him for her sake, because you only tolerate him for her sake, isn't that right?'

'You're wrong, I'm protecting him because he's my friend,' Kaiba glared, 'and I will not let you or anyone hurt him.'

'You're a right little fighter, aren't you? I like that, this little warm up wouldn't be anywhere near as much fun if you weren't.'

'Warm up?' Kaiba curled his lips in disgust. 'Who the hell do you think you're calling a warm up?'

'Please, without any powers you couldn't be anything else. Now the First... the First will be the real challenge here. The main event, if you like. You know I've always wanted to see just how well she would fair without her sisters by her side.'

'First of all, what makes you so sure you can take me out?' Kaiba balled his hands into fists. 'And secondly, aren't you forgetting about the Face of Friendship?'

'The Passive Mistress doesn't concern me.'

'I wouldn't underestimate her if I were you.'

'Oh Kaiba, I'm not underestimating her,' the figure stepped forward. 'Haven't you worked it out yet, I am her.'

'Yugi,' Kaiba's jaw fell open, 'but... how...?'

'What's the matter Kaiba? Don't tell me you didn't think I was capable of something like this? Now who's underestimating me?'

'No... no I don't understand, it can't be you,' Kaiba shook his head. 'This... this isn't happening.'

'Oh stop being so overdramatic,' Yugi rolled his eyes, 'don't you think I've had more than enough shock-horror from that pathetic Khine of mine. On and on and on about how this isn't you Yugi, surely you have to know what you're doing is wrong Yugi, you have to stop this Yugi. It was boring when he did it and it will be boring when you do it. Now how about you stand there like a nice little target for me.'

Within milliseconds of Yugi's words a beam of multicoloured light shot out of the Axe towards Kaiba. Instinctively Kaiba used one hand to cover his head and lifted his other arm up towards Yugi as he braced for impact. An impact which never came despite the loud crashing noise which followed. Glancing up, Kaiba saw Yugi getting to his feet having somehow collided with the wall behind him.

'What the hell?' Kaiba blinked at him, before noticing the way his raised arm was glowing.

For a few long confused seconds Kaiba found himself staring at the white aura circling his arm. A million questions moved through his head, but before he could answer a single one of them Yugi was back on his feet and ready to fire again. This time Kaiba ducked to avoid the attack, using the brief interval between shots to scoop Tristan up into his arms and move as quickly out of the room as possible. Once in the hallway every instinct in his body told him to go to Mokuba's room. Whatever higher being or god had given him some of his power back, Kaiba was going to show his gratitude by protecting the two people he cared about no matter what.

Somehow he managed to make it up the stairs and onto the first landing before Yugi appeared in front of him. Kaiba came to an immediate halt. His eyes made a sweeping glance of his surroundings as he tried his best to quickly assess all his options.

'You've been keeping yet more secrets from us Kaiba,' Yugi's voice came out as little more than a hiss. 'Tell me, who did it? Who gave you your powers back? Was it that brat brother of yours? Or Catilin? Or maybe even Mai. Somehow I doubt it was the First and there's no way you could have gotten them back on your own. So tell me, who was it so I can have the pleasure of killing them next.'

'I don't know what you're talking about,' Kaiba kept his voice as level as possible.

'Oh Kaiba,' Yugi wagged a finger at him, 'don't you know it's not nice to lie. Come on, unburden your soul a little, tell me who gave you your powers back.'

'I don't know how I got my powers back,' Kaiba remained firm, 'but if I had to guess, I'd say there's still some good left in you. No, in fact I'm pretty certain of it. Who else except your good side would give me my powers back right when I need them?'

'Good side, bad side, you're talking like I have a split personality here,' Yugi rolled his eyes. 'There are no sides, there is only me and I would never give you back your powers. Never in a million years. Besides, why would this so called good side of mine save you and not Téa?'

'What?' Kaiba took a step back. 'What's that supposed to mean?'

'You know she makes for very good target practice,' Yugi lowered his voice as though this was some amusing titbit, 'you should try it sometime.'

'You've got to be kidding me,' Kaiba felt sick, 'you... you didn't.'

'What can I say, I always wanted to have my way with her,' he laughed, 'I just never thought it would be so much fun.'

'You fiend, how could you, she was your friend.'

'One little friend and suddenly you're the expert?' Yugi's face filled with a look beyond amusement. 'Aren't you the one who's spent years telling your own brother friendship is for losers? Aren't you the one who doesn't have time for friends? Has the Pure's feelings for her Win really had so much of an influence on you? Or is it more than that,' he took a step towards him. 'Do you genuinely care about that fool in your arms or do you just like having an obedient lapdog around?'

'I wish you could hear yourself right now Yugi,' Kaiba took another step away from him, 'I wish you could hear how little like yourself you sound. It doesn't matter who I am or what I think about friendship; what matters is what you think about it. Friendship is important to you, so for you to purposely hurt a friend is unthinkable. Think about what you're doing here Yugi, I know the real you would agree with me.'

'This is the real me,' Yugi aimed the Axe at him.

'No it isn't and you know it isn't. Yugi, please...'

'Enough talk,' Yugi cut him off. 'Just do me a favour and die.'