Chapter 15

Tristan had remained strangely quiet all through breakfast, not even commenting on Drake's sudden cattiness. He was obviously deep in thought about something, but no matter how many times Kaiba tried to probe his mind for what it was he was deflected. That was not only unusual for him, but extremely hurtful and Kaiba couldn't help but wonder what he'd done wrong. After breakfast CiCi and Damon had been sent off to play. Drake and Taylor also disappeared, leaving the two of them on their own to talk. The silence which descended was almost deafening and Kaiba was wondering just how long he'd be able to stand it.

'You've become soft,' Tristan finally broke the silence.

'What?'

'I said, you've become soft,' getting up from the table, Tristan made his way around towards Kaiba. 'Not that it's a bad thing, its just…'

'Just what?'

'I think it makes you worry too much.'

'How can I not worry about you when you're all…?'

'Shh,' Tristan hushed him, 'you're acting like I was dying or something. I was just in thought.'

'About what?'

For a few moments Tristan was silent. Then he took a seat next to Kaiba and sighed heavily.

'I had a visitor last night.'

'What kind of visitor,' Kaiba felt instantly anxious for the safety of his children.

'I'm not exactly sure, they were… different.'

'Different how?'

'Powerful and self-assured, but not in anyway we've encountered before.'

'Were they after Damon?'

'No,' he shook his head slowly, 'if anything they seemed to be there to protect Damon, but…'

'But what?'

'They didn't sound fully enthused to be on our side.'

'What do you mean?'

'I mean… well it was as if they didn't have any allegiances.'

'Maybe they just need to be persuaded into helping us.'

'I think they'll help us without the need for persuasion.'

'What makes you think that?'

'Drake…'

'What about him,' Kaiba couldn't help but frown.

'Well…' Tristan hesitated, before becoming more confident, 'I'm almost certain Drake is the way he is because of my visitor.'

'What makes you think that?'

'A feeling I got from the moment I saw him this morning. As though something wasn't quite right and I think now I know what it is. He's been turned into his Sintoy as some kind of message.'

'Rather than just being a little over the edge you mean?'

For a long moment Tristan was silent.

'What is it,' Kaiba pressed, realising he must have hit some kind of nerve.

'Drake may not be an active Calicaccu, but I still believe he has the potential to end up like his mother; after all, he went through something pretty traumatic at a crucial developmental stage. But in all honesty I don't think that's what's going on here right now. What's more I believe he is able to hear Tay talking. I think Tay might have his voice back, but we're being duped into not hearing it.'

For a few long moments Kaiba found himself staring at Tristan blurred image. He knew his memory problems were a lot more under control this time round, but that didn't mean he wasn't prone to missing the obvious because of it. The obvious being anything capable of duping them into not hearing their son talk would have to be more powerful than they were to begin with and…

'I know what you're thinking,' Tristan's cut through his train of thoughts. 'I haven't been able to stop thinking about anything else. But I also believe my visitor, whatever it was, could have been just that powerful.'

'What makes you so sure?'

'Something in what they were saying…'

'What did they say exactly?'

'I'm not sure I can remember; I'm just so tired right now, which really doesn't help.'

'You should go get some rest,' Kaiba sighed, 'and I think I'll join you. I didn't exactly get much sleep myself,' he hesitated for a moment. 'CiCi kept getting strange dreams.'

'Oh?'

'Its hard to explain, but I think she's awakened a new power of sorts.'

'Oh, I see, well I guess that would have given her strange dreams.'

Smiling tightly, Kaiba just nodded.

'Then I think we both deserve a nice long early morning nap, don't you?'

'Sure,' Kaiba got to his feet.

He then began heading towards the door, only to find Tristan hesitating behind him. Coming to a stop he turned to face him wishing he was still close enough to guess his expression.

'What is it?'

'I'm not sure.'

'Not sure about what?'

'I think…'

'What?'

'Perfect Mimic is a Power Limitless technique, isn't it?'

'Huh?' Kaiba frowned. 'What are you asking about that for?'

Tristan made no attempt at a reply. Kaiba took a few steps towards him in order to better gage what he might have been thinking based on what he could make out of his body posture.

'Tristan?'

'Could someone who was Power Limitless become stronger than us?'

'What?'

'Theoretically,' Tristan gave an edgy sounding cough, 'could someone who was Power Limitless become more powerful than any of us.'

'I…' Kaiba hesitated. 'Well I guess they could. But it would take a lot of work. I mean, first they'd have to become a Master of Mastery and then they'd have to keep training endlessly… It's possible, but you'd have to be really determined.'

'That's what I was thinking.'

'But…?'

'What makes you think there is a but?'

'Something in the tone of your voice.'

'Hmm,' he sighed, 'I guess the but would be too impossible to imagine.'

'What do you mean?'

'A being more powerful than any of us,' Tristan's voice was tight. 'And not one born more powerful, but one who has somehow managed to become so. The very notion of Power Limitless beings leads to scary possibilities.'

'You're right,' Kaiba lowered his gaze, 'it does.'