Chapter 7

As if he was just going to wait there for her to brainwash him; how dumb did she think he was? He didn't believe for a second she'd really gone for the phone and it didn't take a genius to work out he'd been kidnapped. He was a little curious as to exactly how and when she'd managed to kidnap him, but only a little curious. After all, he'd managed to escape now so all he had left to do was get home.

Unfortunately for him that was easier said than done. Nothing looked even remotely familiar and the more he kept moving the less familiar things became. Knowing his kidnapper was probably already out looking for him, he kept moving forward. It didn't matter if he was heading in the wrong direction or not, because eventually he would come across someone or something which could help fix that little problem. What mattered was sating ahead of her. So long as he stayed ahead of her he would be safe.

As he turned into a new street, the lamp above him began to flicker. Swallowing hard, he lowered his head; he didn't really want any reminders of the dream which had woken him. Okay, maybe the dream waking him was the only reason he knew he'd been kidnapped to begin with, but that didn't mean he was going to thank it any time soon. It was a bad dream. It was a very bad dream and the further he could get his mind away from it the better.

He suppressed a shudder and forced himself to pick up his pace a little. As he moved along he kept his eyes alert for something... anything familiar which would help him get home. But there was nothing and his bare feet were starting to feel numb and sore. He was starting to wish he'd had time to search for some kind of footwear, but he doubted somehow he would have found anything. Kidnappers rarely left you with shoes, because shoes meant a means of escape.

The street he was walking down narrowed into a dimly lit alleyway. Instantly fear began to rise in his stomach; he didn't want to go down there, but if he stopped now she might catch up with him. Quickly his eyes flicked about for another route to take, but there was none. He had no choice, if he wanted to keep moving and stay ahead of her he would have to enter the alleyway and take his chances with the dark.

This wasn't the first time Kaiba had to hit the streets looking for Tristan in the middle of the night, but at least those times he'd started out from their home and had been easy enough to find. Sighing heavily, he stared out of the window as the car he was in slowly made its way along.

'Stop,' the words were out of his mouth the second he spotted a dark shadow stumbling blindly out of an alleyway.

Before the car had a chance come to a standstill, he'd leapt out of it and dashed over to the figure.

'Tristan,' grabbing him by the arm, he spun him round towards him and was shocked to see just how frightened his friend's face was.

'Seto…'

Without even thinking about the consequences, Kaiba wrapped his arms around him and felt him tremble in a mix of fear and cold.

'It's okay,' he whispered, 'its okay, you're safe now, I promise.'

'I knew you'd find me,' Tristan's voice was small and child-like as he clung onto Kaiba, 'you always find me.'

'You remember that, huh?' He tried to smile, but it felt stiff and awkward.

'Of course I remember. I remember everything about you. I love you.'

The sound of those words made Kaiba's heart stop dead in his chest. Ever since his encounter with Body, Kaiba had been paying more attention to the way Tristan acted. He wasn't stupid; he knew these words were going to come eventually, but he hadn't expected them now and he sure as hell didn't know what to do with them. So he just did the only thing he could do and just pretend he hadn't heard them. A part of him almost cursed himself for once again choosing to bury his head in the sand instead of dealing with things, but he was far too good at it now and he wasn't ready to stop yet. Instead he gave a heavy sigh and led Tristan back to the car.

'Take us home will you,' he glanced at the driver once he and Tristan were settled in the back.

'Yes sir.'

As the car pulled away again, Tristan rested his head against Kaiba's chest and closed his eyes. Tentatively Kaiba placed an arm loosely around his shoulder. His mind then became scattered with a thousand thoughts. Why now? Why did Tristan have to say those words now? He didn't want to hear those words now. He wasn't ready for them yet. He wasn't sure if he was ever going to be ready for them. Mixed feelings of fear and resistance began to pull through Kaiba; his own thoughts were confusing and muddled and all he wanted to do was suppress them and pretend they weren't there.

'I can feel it slipping away,' Tristan's voice was little more than a low murmur, 'I'm frightened.'

'Don't be afraid,' Kaiba sighed and wrapped his arms tightly around him, 'it'll be okay. Even if it all goes away, it will come back again. It always does.'

'I can't be afraid if you're around,' his fingers began playing with the material of Kaiba's shirt; his voice sounding younger by the second, 'because I know you'll always protect me.'

'How can you be so sure,' Kaiba's mouth felt dry.

'Because I am.'

'I'm not,' he shook his head, 'I'm not sure of anything, not anymore,' he gave an awkward sounding laugh. 'There was a time... there was a time I thought I knew exactly who I was and what I was capable of,' his voice was so low he was certain he was the only one who could hear it. 'There was a time when I thought I knew what I needed and how to get to where I was going. But I'm not the person who knows that anymore. Somewhere along the line I lost all the confidence I used to have and all I want is to get it back, but I don't know how.'

There were a few long moments of silence, broken only by the sound of gravel crunching against tires as the car made its way up the driveway. When it came to a stop, the two of them got out of the car and stumbled towards the house.

'Will it be scary when all my memories are gone?' Tristan's brown eyes met with him.

'It can be sometimes,' Kaiba kept his voice soft as he led him upstairs.

'Then I want to stay with you.'

'Huh?'

'I don't want to be scared again and I'm never scared when I'm with you. Let me stay with you, please? I want to stay with you.'

'I still don't understand why the pictures didn't appear this time,' Covo's voice was low, as the pair of them quietly examined the Chamber of the Three Mistresses, 'they've always appeared before.'

'That's probably because whoever took my son didn't want anyone to find him,' Ahna gave a frustrated sigh.

She had no idea how long they'd been there for now. All she knew was that it was late and she was tired.

'Well at least we're saving Jay and SK a job,' Covo rubbed his face wearily, 'I mean, we can officially tell them the scene of the crime is clear.'

'That's not exactly a good thing you know.'

'I know,' he lowered his gaze, 'I was just saying.'

'Maybe you should try that rhyme again,' Ahna ran her fingers back through her hair, 'or better yet, maybe I should try it.'

'I suppose it's worth a shot,' Covo shrugged. 'You do know it, right?'

'Of course,' she rolled her eyes.

'Then I think you should give it a go.'

'Fine,' she took a deep breath. 'A light born from shadows, a shadow born from light. What once was day will now be night. What once was night will now be day. And all the shadows shall run away. The time has come, the time has passed. What once was first shall now be last. What once was last shall now be first. And all the heavens shall take the Earth. And I that once before you stood shall know you through your cloak and hood. You may hide, but never far. And I who know you, know who you are. For you are the shadow and I am the light. Though we may quarrel, we'll never fight. For I who know you, shall know you then. Chaosa, Chaosa, Chaosen.'

Almost instantly the chamber around them filled with light and the walls became covered with the missing painting.

'Great, it works for you,' Covo's voice was filled with more than a tinge of sarcasm.

'Just be grateful that it worked Covo,' Ahna glared at him, 'now where exactly did my son disappear?'

'Over there,' he pointed towards the depiction of the Yatnuh.

'Huh,' she walked curiously towards it, 'it seems pretty harmless to me.'

'Don't be fooled,' he wandered over to her, 'it's a pretty powerful mark, trust me.'

'Really?' She reached a hand towards it.

'Careful Ahna, that's exactly how it's activated the last two times.'

'Two times?' Ahna glanced back at him.

'Yeah, that's how I watched the battle between the Mistresses and the Reganna, remember?'

'Oh yeah,' she turned her attention back towards it. 'So it's activated by touching it, huh?'

'I guess so.'

'Then maybe we should activate it.'

'What?'

'Come on Covo, how else am I going to get my son back?'