A/N: This is shorter than my usual chapters, but not by much. It felt like a good place to end it before stuff kicked in next chapter. If my characters behave themselves, then a majority of the intricacies of the Shadow Court will begin to be explained. Also, I always see Seto and Mokuba's relationship to be borderline dangerously codependent for many reasons both obvious and subtle. But Seto's pride would often get in the way of them interacting as they should. Now that the stuff from the series is over, they can deepen their sibling bond. And before you ask, no. There will be no SetoxMokuba in this fic other than the sibling love kind. Sorry.

Greetings, Meetings, and Siblings

The group appeared a good ten feet from the lake's edge. The towering buildings of Starling City glittered across the park and through the tangled branches of the trees. Marik sighed when he felt his Shadows respond to him more readily. Whatever had been obstructing his access to them was gone now. He glanced at Kaiba and was amused to see the Shadows reaction to having their Regent back within their easy reach where he belonged. Judging from Kaiba's reaction, it was difficult to tell which was more relieved to have the connection renewed, Kaiba or the Shadows.

Kaiba had literally almost fallen to his knees with the force of the Shadows latching onto him and wrapping around him like a long lost lover, seeking to balance the Dark and Light with his neutrality. They filled the Regent's senses, temporarily blinding him to anything else. He let his unseeing eyes close and cleared his thoughts to fight back against the raging mass of Shadows struggling to welcome their Regent back all at the same time. The rush of ecstasy was so intense, he staggered, only just catching himself as his balance wavered due to the loss of his vision.

Kaiba felt his head fall back and sighed allowing the Shadows to assure themselves of his well being for a good minute before clamping down on his connection and regaining control of himself. The Shadows obediently, if reluctantly, retreated. However, they remained connected to him more closely than usual. They would not let him leave them or sever their connection with him completely for a good while after this. While it was annoying, it was also nice to be needed and wanted as much as the Shadows needed and wanted him.

His sight finally returned and he took in the scene around him in more detail. Or he would have if a pair of golden eyes had not filled his vision. Kaiba did not flinch back but he did gave the other person a healthy glare. "What do you want telepath?"

The golden eyes blinked. "So those are the Shadows," the alien whispered. "They are…more sentient than I thought."

Kaiba grinned. "Would you like to meet them personally?"

J'onn leaned back. "I would rather you did not."

"Then get out of my face and let me find my brother," Kaiba commanded, face stern.

"Mokuba?" Marik said. "I thought he was in Japan."

"He's here now so shut up, lunatic Priest."

Marik bristled, pushing his pale blonde hair over his tanned shoulder dismissively. "Rude."

Arrow watched the exchange with interest. He felt something just on the edge of his senses tug at him like a child grabbing the corner of his shirt begging for attention. It increased when Kaiba did that…worship pose thing before easing off again. Now it was back, but it was less of a tug and more of a stretching sensation. Arrow felt like his hand was reaching out, fingers feeling around a surface in search of something. Was this the power Kaiba was talking about?

He felt something deliberately touch whatever he was feeling and caught the sly grin Kaiba shot him. So it was the magic. Curious, he tried to focus his mind and imitate the reaching sensation. He gasped when he realized he could feel the other Justice League members standing around him like blobs of energy. Marik was a dark entity he did not necessarily feel comfortable around and Kaiba felt like the horizon between the glimmering red of a setting sun and the dark shroud of night. He tried reaching further but felt a headache grow behind his eyes.

"Don't push yourself, Arrow," a voice said.

Blinking back his sight, Arrow turned to the speaker. Marik was watching him curiously. "If you push too far too soon you could get lost," the Egyptian youth said.

"Okay, you guys are officially freaking me out," Flash said.

Marik grinned flirtatiously at the speedster. "Oh? Freaked out already?" The blonde sauntered over to the red suited hero who raised his hands in surrender. White teeth flashed in a hungry smile. "And here I thought you would be my hero." Marik practically whispered the words, his breath brushing the pale skin not covered by Flash's face mask. The pale skin quickly reddened.

Then something whipped out and yanked Marik back causing him to cry out in pained surprise. The others turned to see Shayera standing behind the Shadow user with a fistful of blonde hair. She released her handful and glared at Marik with icy emerald eyes. "Control yourself," she said disdainfully.

Marik glowered at the winged woman. "I do not answer to those who pose as gods, witch."

Kaiba lingered longer than he needed to in the Shadows, seeking his brother's presence. He could already feel the Pharaoh's and the King's signatures in the city. They were too blatant to be missed. Not to mention they were right next to his brother's presence which was another relief. They were all settled in his room in the hotel surrounded by the weaker, dimmer forms he knew to be Fuguta and Roland. The tension built up from worrying about his brother's safety was eased know the two best bodyguards in his service were at Mokuba's side was alleviated.

The Pharaoh sensed him first then the King less than a second later. They both seized his Shadows and yanked him towards them almost forcing him into Shadow Traveling. Kaiba felt their worry and relief mix and mesh as they were wont to do as two halves of the same soul. But Kaiba was more interested in the presence he felt amplified by the monarchy's powers. Mokuba.

He retreated back to himself, satisfied with the knowledge of his brother's safety and location. He almost came fully back to reality when he noticed an impression he had not noticed before. It was standing directly behind him and made him feel distinctly uncomfortable. Set's memories deep in his mind rose to brush his consciousness and suddenly he knew why he had been caught off guard by this particular person in his last skirmish with the Justice League. He felt fury and distrust rise from both himself and Seth.

He came fully back to reality seething with hatred and thus caught Marik's words to the object of his distaste. He turned and only just stopped the false descendant of Ra from striking the Priest. Green eyes met his from under the hawk mask and he stared into them angrily.

"Touch the Priest and I will rip your wings from your back," he said calmly, his eyes burning with the raging emotions he felt.

"There is no need for violence," J'onn said. "From either of you," he added, looking at Shayera pointedly.

"Then tell your pet bird not to touch my people," Kaiba commanded.

"Pet bird?" Hawkgirl repeated, a dangerous edge to her voice.

"Okay, okay," Flash said, waving his hands in a placating manner. "Take it easy."

"Knock it off, all of you, " Arrow said. "My city, my rules. You attack an ally, you leave."

Kaiba met Arrow's hooded eyes for a moment longer than was considered polite before releasing his hold on Hawkgirl. Arrow disliked the implied insult but there was nothing he could really do about it at the moment. Instead, he settled with taking charge.

"Did you find whatever you were looking for?" he asked.

"I did," Kaiba said, blue eyes sparkling. "I'm impressed you could track what I was doing."

Arrow nodded thoughtfully. "It felt like stretching or-"

"Reaching," J'onn said.

Both parties turned to the resident telepath with disturbed expressions. Arrow felt distinctly uncomfortable with the thought of someone else watching him use his powers like Kaiba had. It felt like someone was watching do personal things while naked. Now, he thought, he was beginning to understand Kaiba's dislike for telepaths.

"Is that why you dislike telepaths?" he asked.

Kaiba shrugged. "One of the many reasons." The Japanese businessman straightened his stance. "Grab a hold of each other. I don't want to lose anyone halfway there."

"Lose?" Flash asked, taking a hold of Shayera's hand while J'onn placed a hand on his shoulder. Arrow grabbed Shayera's arm so she could keep a hold of her mace and Marik grabbed his shoulder. Kaiba finished the circle by grabbing Marik's upper arm and placing a hesitant hand on J'onn's shoulder.

"Hang on," Marik said.

Then Shadows rose up and surrounded them, drowning them in a living sea of darkness. Kaiba reached for the Pharaoh's and King's Shadows, grabbing them. He felt his fellow monarchy grab his Shadows in turn and pull the eclectic group closer. It was like moving through a thick air but the whole process lasted less than a minute.

When Kaiba opened his eyes again, he was in his hotel bedroom. Fuguta and Roland stood on either side of Mokuba who sat on the bed, hands on their guns Kaiba noted with approval. The Pharaoh and the King sat in the two chairs by the window. Yami stood at their appearance and Yuugi sat up, eyes wide with interest. That was all Kaiba was able to see before he heard a very welcome voice break the silence.

"Ni-sama!"

Kaiba was forced to take a step back from the force of the impact, eyes wide and staring down at the mop of messy black hair that suddenly filled his arms and clung to his neck and waist. He recognized the small person and the rushed Japanese and wrapped his arms securely around Mokuba's body, supporting him and offering him the comfort he obviously needed.

"You scared us there," Yami said, speaking in Japanese. "For a while, we could not feel you unless we strained to the limits of our senses."

Kaiba said nothing. He merely held Mokuba and moved over to the bed. He nodded to Fuguta and Roland, acknowledging them and silently thanking them for keeping watch over his brother. He sat on the bed with Mokuba, still securely clinging to him, now resting in his lap.

"That kid can jump," Flash said.

"He can kick too," Marik said, wincing at a particular memory.

"He is your brother," J'onn said.

"What was your first clue, genius?" Marik said sarcastically.

"Marik, what are you doing here?" Yuugi asked, speaking for the first time. "In fact," he added, eyeing the rest of the supers, "why are any of you here?"

Marik avoided Yuugi's gaze while Flash stared at the taller of the identical twins speaking to them. Shayera took the lead while Arrow watched the two bodyguards standing by the Kaibas who were currently regarding him with open distrust. J'onn seemed content to observe the scene unfolding before him.

"I am Hawkgirl of the-"

"I'm aware of your identity, Hawkgirl," Yuugi said softly. "As I am aware of all of your identities both hero and civilian."

"Oh, great. There goes the neighborhood," Flash grumbled.

Surprisingly, Yuugi giggled. "Aw, don't say that. I'm not that bad." He smiled brilliantly. "I'm Motou Yuugi and this is Yami." He gestured to his taller, darker counterpart who nodded but remained silent. "Why don't we step into the common area and give the brothers some privacy."

Violet eyes glanced fondly at the Kaibas who were still wrapped up in each other figuratively and literally. Shayera's eyes softened and she nodded in acquiescence. She and her compatriots followed her lead out of the bedroom of the hotel suite and into the sitting area. Yuugi closed the door after casting one last fond glance at the brothers. Now that no one would be watching, Kaiba could properly greet his little brother.

Once the door was closed, Yuugi turned to his guests and said calmly but firmly, "Now, may I ask what a false descendant of Ra, an inexperienced Shadow user, a telepath, a speed demon, and my other half's Priest are doing here together?"

When he was sure they were alone save for the two bodyguards, Kaiba squeezed Mokuba close and closed his eyes. Having Mokuba here right now was exactly what he needed. He was feeling the drain of lack of sleep, dispelling a Shadow Game, enacting and dispelling a Judgement Game, testing the Justice League, escaping, trying to use the Shadows in space, then the overwhelming pressure of the Shadows now that he was back on solid ground. Seeing his fellow monarchs was a relief, but finally holding Mokuba was what he truly needed. His eyes drifted closed as he listened to Mokuba cry and speak to him in tear-garbled Japanese. Everything was alright for now.

"Mokuba," he murmured softly in his little brother's hair.

Mokuba promptly tightened his hold on Kaiba's neck and leaned back to meet his tired eyes. A watery smile lit up the cherubic face and dark gray eyes sparkled with tears. "I…they said…" The younger Kaiba sniffed and fell forward, hugging Seto tightly again. "They said they couldn't feel you," he said. "I thought…" He leaned back again, this time with determination in his eyes. "Don't ever do that to me again, Ni-sama," he ordered.

Kaiba Seto blinked at the authoritative tone in his younger brother's voice and smirked. "I don't plan on it."

Mokuba burst into another brilliant smile, pressing their foreheads together. "You're tired, Ni-sama. Don't lie," he scolded before Seto could get a word in. "We're safe here. Yuugi and Yami are keeping watch."

Now that he could rest, Mokuba was here, and he was sitting on his bed with his two most trusted bodyguards standing watch and his fellow monarch's keeping the Shadows under watch, he nodded, giving in. He kicked off his shoes and leaned back against the decorative pillows propped up against the headboard. Weary blue eyes closed when he felt Mokuba snuggle up close to his side, resting an arm protectively around the smaller form. He took a deep breath letting it out slowly, and fell asleep.