Chapter 37

It had occurred to Kaiba, even before leaving the Sacred Huntay, that Body had taken his brother's body for the sole purpose of getting him to follow. The only problem was, he didn't know why yet. And with Body's extreme mutism, it wasn't as though he could just ask. Still there was one thing he was almost complete certain of at this point and that was the fact the scene back at the Huntay had been staged.

There were two reasons which had brought him to this conclusion. The first being that Body and Soul had appeared to act independently of Mind; Body had even gone so far as to block Heart from being able to do the same, as if he knew Mind's reaction would raise questions one way or another. Kaiba had worked out pretty early on that everything the others did came at the agreement of Mind, at least whilst they were all together. Body might have been their strongest, but Mind was clearly their leader. For both Body and Soul to have acted without checking their actions back with her first meant they had preapproval to behave in the way they just had. The evidence for this became stronger when you realised Heart had only allowed Joey to pass out because she'd not received the order to stop her attack from Mind.

The second reason Kaiba believed the whole thing was staged was the way Soul had just allowed Body to walk off with Mokuba. They'd all seen the impish little Voice literally come out of him, so even Kaiba couldn't deny there was some kind of connection between them. The others had all shown concern about the state of their so called Egos and there was no doubt in Kaiba's mind Soul would feel the same way about protecting his own; so then why had he allowed the guy he was fighting with to just take off with it without putting up the slightest amount of a fight. It was possible that Soul inherited Mokuba's current lack of self-preservation, but if you were fighting with someone... truly fighting with someone... you wouldn't care what the point you were arguing over was, you'd just want to argue.

No. No the event had to be staged. There were too many little kinks and quirks about it for it to have been anything but. The only real question now though, was why? Why go to the trouble of knocking Joey out just so you could take off with Mokuba's body? Did they think Joey wouldn't let him tag along? Did having Joey out cold serve some greater purpose? If Kaiba could have thought a little more clearly he might have been able to answer some of those questions. Unfortunately he could feel his mind starting to strain. It was frustrating; normally he could have answered all of these questions and more on his own in no time, but right now... Right now all he really wanted to do was lie down and sleep for a week.

Just as he was thinking this they arrived beside the lake his brother had drowned in the last time they were in Kama Traydon. It was here Body finally came to a stop and cast a curious look back towards Kaiba.

'You know I'm not gonna let you drown him right?'

Body rolled his visible eye; as if.

'So what are you going to do with him then?'

Body used his head to indicate towards a gap in one of the bushes surrounding the lake.

'You're going to hide him?'

Body gave a single nod of agreement.

'From Soul?'

A weird smirk appeared on Body's face as he shook his head.

'From the Reganna?'

Body nodded again.

Kaiba watched as Body nestled Mokuba's unconscious within the bush. From the path they were on he was practically invisible and the care and consideration Body used in hiding Mokuba's body only confirmed Kaiba's theory; the fight before had been completely and utterly staged. It didn't really matter what the reasons were at this point, Kaiba just felt strangely satisfied at being right.

Once Body had finished hiding Mokuba, he posed in front of the bush with a self-satisfied look on his face. It was clear he was proud of himself and that he wanted Kaiba to be proud of him too.

'So you've proven yourself to be a good guy again,' Kaiba shrugged, 'that doesn't mean I'm impressed.'

Body wagged his finger at him as a wry smile pulled across his face; yeah you are.

'So you two faked that little argument of yours back there,' Kaiba gave him a slow once over, 'do you mind explaining why?'

Body tilted his head from side as a thoughtful expression crossed his face; it's complicated.

'I have time,' Kaiba met his gaze, 'it's not like I'm in any hurry to get back to the others.'

Body nodded and smiled; good.

Without warning Kaiba felt his body become stiff. Within seconds he found himself sat down under a tree opposite the entrance to the lake. As soon as he was in position the feeling of control lifted from Kaiba's body.

'What did you do that for?'

Body made a few lose gestures which to anyone else might have been completely and utterly meaningless, but somehow Kaiba interpreted them as; you need to rest.

'Now's not the time for me to be resting,' Kaiba tried to get up, but Body crouched in front of him and held him in place.

The look on Body's face was serious and his visible eye flickered about with strangely emphatic movements; you're tired, you're not acting like yourself, you need to rest.

'Are you telling me you got me all the way out here, just so I can get a little bit of sleep?' He shook his head in confusion.

Body shook his head and tilted it to one side; not sleep, just rest.

'Okay, I'll rest,' he sighed and leant his head back against the tree, 'but there has to be more to all this than that. I really don't see how or why I couldn't have just rested where the others are if that's what you really wanted.'

Body pressed his lips together as he rose to his feet and studied Kaiba for a few moments.

'So are you going to tell me what this is really all about or not?'

In response Body pointed to Kaiba's throat; you mind?

'Yes, I do mind. I don't want you using my voice like that.'

Body frowned; why not?

'Because...' Kaiba hesitated, 'because we're communicating just fine like this.'

Body crouched down in front of him again and his visible eye stared at Kaiba with a searching kind of curiosity; there's only so much you can say without words you know.

'I know, but... somehow I'm able to understand you and maybe it has something to do with the Pure, maybe you unlocked a little bit of her telepathy when you did... whatever it was with my arm earlier, but... I can understand you so you don't need to use my voice.'

Body smiled as he ran the back of his right hand down Kaiba's cheek; or maybe we're just more connected than you'd care to admit.

'Don't,' Kaiba pulled back from him, 'Tristan and I made a promise that we wouldn't let things get confusing between them and us again. It's the Pure you have those feelings for, not me.'

Rolling his eye, Body shook his head and pulled himself back to his feet; you just don't get it do you.

'Get what?'

Body shrugged, before pointing towards Kaiba's right arm which was now glowing again; it doesn't matter, so do you want the rest of it back?

'So is this why we're out here then?' Kaiba found himself studying his arm.

Body tilted his head thoughtfully from side to side as his visible eye shone with an almost teasing look; maybe.

'Is this because Wheeler would give me access to the Pure's powers?'

A huge grin spread across Body's face; got it in one.

'And you had to knock him out, because...?'

Body's head shivered from side to side as he pulled a face; isn't it obvious?

'Because you were worried he wouldn't let you,' Kaiba sighed. 'I guess this whole situation makes a little more sense now. So, how exactly are you going to give me my powers back?'

Nervously Body shifted his gaze away; well that's the bit you're not going to like.

'Let me guess,' he began massaging his temples, 'you're going to have to get way to close for comfort, right?'

The smile on Body's face was somewhere halfway between apologetic and uncertain; just a little, sorry.

'Well you are the physical element I guess I should have expected that,' Kaiba sighed again.

In response Body just grinned stupidly at him; admit it, you like it really.