Chapter 36

Mai's cry had cut through the air like lightning across a storm cloud, instantly bringing silence to those who heard it. There was something about the sound of it which didn't sit well with Kashmana. Not because it suggested Mai was still very much in love with her husband, but because… He wasn't sure exactly, there was just something about it. Something which felt more than a little wrong. Something which felt…

Slowly he allowed his gaze to pass across those who surrounded him. Mai appeared to be frozen in horror, whereas the Teen looked as though he were in a state of incapacitating tormented. Beside him, the Teen's servant was inching ever closer to his master.

'Stay where you are,' Kashmana summoned his favourite sword, 'you're not allowed to go to your master's aide, leave him be.'

Instantly the slave stopped moving. His thinning eyes lifted up to meet perfectly with Kashmana's. There was something in them… something about them which suggested a knowledge he shouldn't be privilege to. Something which suggested a heroism he'd long given up caring about.

'Kill me,' he voice was a hollow whisper. 'Kill me now whilst he can't do a damn thing about it. If you kill me now you'll get the First back.'

'W-what,' Mai stammered, her stupor half broken.

'If you kill me now you'll get Joey back,' he repeated. 'Don't you get it; I'm the Teen's link to this world. If I'm gone then he has no power over the First.'

'I don't want to kill you,' she shook her head, 'Duke how…?'

'It's the only way. Would you rather have him keep the First like this forever?'

'No, but…'

'Don't worry about me,' he pulled himself up with all that remained of his pride, 'I'm dead already.'

'But what about Catilin, I couldn't do that to her.'

'Catilin…' he looked confused for a moment, 'the woman who was with me,' he turned slightly. 'I don't think she would care anymore. Not after what I've done.'

'How can you say that,' Mai stared at him, 'your wife loves you.'

'I can't even remember what love is Mai,' he's voice was dry, 'and I don't think it's possible for me to recover from this.'

'You did after you were hurt by the Boy.'

'Barely. And I was younger then. Stronger.'

'You're still strong now Duke,' tears began forming in the corners of her eyes, 'and even if you're not there are so many people who love you; so many people who would be willing to give you strength.'

'That's all well and good Mai, but it's not enough,' he lowered his head strangely, as a slim smile pulled its way across his lips. 'You have to kill me now, it's the only way.'

'I can't believe you'd want to do this to Catilin and your children.'

'They'll understand.'

'How can you say that?'

'Because it's true,' Duke's gaze flicked towards Kashmana and slowly he began making his way towards him. 'I'm the weak link. I'm the Teen's Achilles' heel. You know what you have to do.'

Nodding slowly, Kashmana lifted his sword and prepared to strike.

'You can't do this,' Mai screamed at him, pulling at his sword hand as she did, 'I won't let you kill him.'

'Didn't you hear him Win Mai,' Kashmana glanced towards her, 'it's the only way.'

'How can this be so clean cut to you?'

'This man is not my friend, I don't even know the first thing about him, other than the fact that he works for the Teen. My only interest here is getting the First back.'

'And killing someone to do it's just incidental to you?'

'Look at him Win Mai,' he indicated towards the incapacitated Teen, 'we're never going to have an opportunity like this again. We have to strike whilst he's weak or else…'

'I WON'T LET YOU KILL DUKE!'

'Someone has to.'

'Then let me,' Duke's soft voice cut through the air in a way her screams had not.

Glancing towards him, Kashmana noticed Duke had taken hold of the end of his sword and was slowly positioning himself for his own impalement.

'Duke, no,' Mai shook her head, 'I won't let you do this.'

'You can't stop me. No one can stop me now.'

At that, and with a strength Kashmana could never have predicted, Duke wrenched himself onto the sword.

'Duke no,' Mai wailed, as blood began seeping through his clothes.

'Goodbye Mai,' Duke smiled, as a trickle of blood ran down his chin, 'tell them I loved them,' slowly his eyes flickered closed. 'That in death I remember I loved them. And that I felt it. And it was… wonderful.'

Kaiba was just beginning to enjoy the unusual stillness of the house, when a hideous shriek cut through the air. Worried one of the kids might have hurt themselves, he made his way as quickly as he was able towards the epicentre of the sound, only to find the blob which was cat Drake screeching for all he was worth. For a few moments Kaiba wasn't completely sure what to say, then he felt Tristan brush past him.

'Drake calm down,' Tristan's voice was firm, 'you're scaring Damon.'

For a few moments the screeching continued, then it simmered down to a strange wail like whimpering. Clearly Drake was distressed about something and Kaiba only wished that they were able to find out what it was.

'Something must have happened,' Tristan's head half turned towards him.

'Isn't that stating the obvious,' Kaiba gave a nervous cough, before a wave of something rushed through him. 'Joey…' he turned his head away in uncertainty.

'What,' Tristan breathed.

'Joey,' he felt almost mystified, 'I think something's happened to the First.'

'And that was why Drake was wailing?'

'I… I don't know,' he placed a hand over his heart and gripped at the material of his shirt, 'but something feels…'

'Go.'

'What?'

'Go find out what's happened,' Tristan insisted.

'What?'

'Go find out what happened to your sister, the First, Seto, you won't be happy until you do.'

'Okay,' he nodded shakily, 'you stay here with the kids.'

'Of course.'

'I love you,' he planted a quick kiss on Tristan's lips, before preparing himself to Jump.

'I know,' Tristan's face was close enough for him to see the slim smile there, 'now go.'