Wolfie: I don't own anything related to Yu-Gi-Oh, just my oc Yuki and all changes to the canon events of the show to add her in to the story. I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's day. I spent mine eating candy and working on updates for this story. Last chapter Seto was super out of character in the last chapter, but it all has a purpose. So don't get mad about it please. Now then, please read, review, and I hope you like the book so far.
Chapter 31: The Deal
As they had gotten close to the area where Yugi, Joey, Tea, Tristan, and Bakura were still waiting Yuki and Seto went their separate ways. With the heterochromic eyed girl approaching her brother and friends, reassuring them all that she was fine now as she took back her backpack. It wasn't that hard to reassure them, though Yugi was looking at his big sister with a skeptical look. After all Yuki had been gone quite a long while, a little too long for just going to get some fresh air like she said she would. Though Yugi could see that his sister was tired, it was written all over her face, so he didn't want to argue with her. Soon after Croquet showed up with Seto in tow as he motioned for the group to follow him as he led them to the guest rooms. Everyone was given one to drop off their things in before dinner, which everyone did. Yuki couldn't help but admire the room that her and Yugi were given as Pegasus obviously spared no expense for the guest rooms.
After dropping off their stuff they all met back in the hall where Croquet was waiting patiently for them. Yuki couldn't help but notice however that Seto's room was right across from her's and Yugi's though. Maybe that was just a coincidence or something else, she decided not to dwell on it though as they were led into the dinning room. Dinner itself was delicious, and also quite eventful as Joey, Tristan, and Yugi were like bottomless pits with the food. Though that wasn't the eventful part as after Croquet explained what the two kings hand cards were for. He also explained how Seto was excluded from needing one before mentioning that there was a special ingredient that had been added to the soup. The five finalists looking to their soup just in time to see an exact replica of the Millenium Eye float to the surface. The appearance of the eye had caused Joey to flinch back in shock as Yuki suddenly looked green around the gills.
"Welp that killed my appetite..." Yuki muttered as she continued to look at the eye in her soup.
"Ohh! It's staring at me." Tea whined as she flinched in disgust at the appearance of the eye.
"Hey, mine's eyeball-free." Tristan stated whilst swirling his spoon around in his soup.
"Hey, this is worse than having a fly in my soup." Joey said as he stood up, outraged at the blatant contamination of his soup.
"Open up the eye and look inside it, if you will." Croquet said, unphased by the outrage as the five who got the eye in their soup as they hummed in confusion at the request. "Each of you has been randomly assigned a letter." He continued as the five pulled the eyes from their soup, opening them to reveal a rolled up piece of paper inside.
"What's it for?" Yuki asked as she unroled the paper that was in her's to see a large A on her's whilst Mai's was a B, Joey's a D, Bandit Keith's a C, and Seto's was a E.
"And now the island's computer will pair up the letter's to determine tomorrow's duel match ups." Croquet explained as a large screen soon dropped down from a slot within the dining room ceiling.
As they all watched the screen in anticipation as a chart similar to a family tree chart appeared on the screen with a crown at the top and lines going down. It was going to be that A was dueling B and that D was going to duel C. From there whoever was the victor of those two duels would face one another and the winner from that duel would face E for the right to duel Pegasus. Joey was all fired up about finding out who had C and was got even more fired up at the fact that it was Bandit Keith. Yuki and Mai couldn't help but look at each other with smiles as they realized they would be dueling one another. With that out of the way they were allowed to continue their meal in piece before they headed back towards the guest rooms. Though as they walked Yuki's mind drifted back to Mokuba and the condition he had been in. She couldn't in good conscious leave him like that whilst she gets to sleep in a nice warm bed.
"Joey." Yuki said as she stopped walking which caused Yugi to stop as well.
"What's up, Yuki?" Joey asked curiously as he stopped walking and turned to her.
"Can you take Yugi back to my room for me? There's something I have to do." Yuki said cryptically as Joey and Yugi shared a look of confusion.
"Yeah, but is everything ok?" Joey asked, worried that Yuki was in trouble and was sneaking off to fix whatever mess she was in.
"Yeah, everything's fine. This is just something I have to do, alone." Yuki said, continuing to be cryptic about what she needed to do.
"But big sis, you do know there's a bathroom in the room. Right?" Yugi asked as his head tilted in confusion, thinking that his sister was looking for a bathroom.
"Best not to question your sister about this anymore, kid." Joey stated as he led Yugi down the hallway, the both of them disappearing around a corner.
"Take me to Pegasus, now." Yuki said after she had managed to find Croquet walking down the hallway. Looking at him with a glare that caused the stoic man to slightly pull at the collar of his shirt as if it were too tight.
"Of course. Follow me, please." Croquet said with a nod as he turned and started walking in the opposite direction of his previous one.
Croquet had let Yuki down the hallway, up a flight of stairs, and down a few more hallways to the master bedroom. The grey-blue haired male opened the door allowing the small female he had led there to walk in first before he stepped inside as well. Shutting the door and standing off to the side as the sight of Pegasus sitting in a chair near a small table with a comic and glass of wine is what Yuki saw first. The silver haired male laughing at the antics of Funny Bunny like he wasn't a soul stealing monster caused the heterochromic eyed girl to grit her teeth. As Pegasus took a sip of his wine he noticed Croquet as well as Yuki now standing in his room. In response to this he took his sweet old time with putting down his wine glass and comic on the table after marking his page. Smirking as he noticed how Yuki's right eye twitched the longer that Pegasus prolonged getting ready to give her his full attention.
"Ah, Yuki-girl. What a pleasure it is to see you. I hope the room is to your liking." Pegasus said, deciding to play the role of friendly host for now as he crossed one leg over the other.
"I'm not here to talk about the room, Pegasus. I'm here to talk about the souls you stole." Yuki said as she walked over and crossed her arms, only being as close to Pegasus as she has to be.
"Ah, yes. Your grandfather and little Mokuba. What about them?" Pegasus asked as Croquet placed a chair on the other side of the small table and motioned for Yuki to take a seat.
"Let them go." Yuki stated as she begrudgingly sat down in the chair that Croquet had put there for her.
"You know, it's rude to make me drink alone." Pegasus said, deciding to avoid the subject as Croquet grabbed a fresh wine glass and poured wine in it. "Care to have a drink while we talk?" He asked as the filled wine glass was offered to Yuki by the grey-blue haired male.
"I'm 16." Yuki stated with a frown as she glances at the offered wine glass.
"Yes, but I'm sure you know that girls your age in high school tend to start drinking." Pegasus said as he motioned for Croquet to just put the glass on the table, which he does.
"Yeah, the dumbass ones." Yuki said as she looked at the crimson red liquid that sat in the glass before her as her posture was as stiff as a board.
"Now now, Yuki-girl, no need for such foul words. You are tense, as to be expected given the circumstances. Wine can be very relaxing you know." Pegasus said as Croquet topped off his glass even though it wasn't even empty yet.
"If I drink the damn wine will you shut up about it and stop avoiding the subject I came to talk about?" Yuki asked, gripping at the edge of the table tightly to keep herself from trying to smack the stupid out of Pegasus.
"And what do you think the answer is to that question, Yuki-girl?" Pegasus asked curiously, smirking in amusement when Yuki downed the glass of wine only to shudder at the bitter taste of the liquid.
"There, happy?" Yuki asked after having forced herself to swallow the bitter liquid, placing the glass down as she spoke.
"Very." Pegasus stated as Croquet came forward and poured Yuki another glass of wine. "Now, why would I want to let these two unfortunate souls go?" He asked as he then held up the two cards depicting Solomon and Mokuba.
"Because Seto and I are both here, we're going to duel like you want us to. I see no reason for you to hold onto their souls any longer." Yuki explained as she took a much smaller drink of the bitter wine this time, she doesn't want to be dependant on it but she might need a drink for this...
"Oh but I do see a reason, Yuki-girl." Pegasus stated smoothly as he placed the two cards on the table.
"And what reason is that?" Yuki asked, her grip on the stem of the wine glass tightening ever so slightly.
"The fire and determination that it causes. The feeling that you will do anything to win, no matter the cost." Pegasus revealed, smirking behind his glass of wine as he took a sip of its contents.
"Yeah well this cost is a little too great for my liking. So let them go." Yuki said causing Pegasus and Croquet to share a look with one another.
"I believe there may be a way for us both to benefit, Yuki-girl. I will release one soul and one soul only, if we strike a deal." Pegasus said cryptically as Yuki's eyes narrowed suspiciously at this as her Millenium Puzzle glowed and pulsated, radiating distrust.
"What kind of deal?" Yuki asked as she ignored the pulsating puzzle that hung around her neck.
"As you may or may not know, I have no children or next of kin to speak of. In exchange for the return of one soul, I request that you become my heir." Pegasus uttered causing Yuki choke on the mouthful of whine she was about to swallow.
"What? Your heir?" Yuki asked between her fits of coughing as she put the glass down. "That's fucking blackmail!" She exclaimed as it was obvious that once again Pegasus was using the souls of Mokuba and her grandpa as bargaining chips to get what he wants.
"Call it what you wish, my dear. Regardless, it's a once in a lifetime deal." Pegasus stated with a nonchalant shrug as he relaxed back into his chair.
"In addition to being named Master Pegasus's heir you will be the sole beneficiary in his will. Upon his death or time of retirement you will inherit Industrial Illusions as well as any and all company related assets and business. As well as present and all future profits from the company at the time of your inheritance." Croquet explained as he presented Yuki the will that he spoke of, showing how what he said was already in writing.
"And you have all of this written up all nice and neat cause you actually think I'll agree to this?" Yuki assumed after having read over the will that was presented to her.
"Oh I don't think you will, I know you will." Pegasus stated matter of factly as Croquet put the will away. "Because I know that you are too kind hearted to pass up the chance to save someone without unnecessary fighting." He added causing Yuki to let out an annoyed huff and finish her glass of wine, for she knew he was right.
"And if I were to agree, then how do I know that you won't double cross me when my guard is down?" Yuki asked with a raised eyebrow as once again Croquet refilled her glass, making this her third glass of wine.
"You don't. I may be deceitful and underhanded, but I am a man of my word, Yuki-girl. You become my heir, and I will release a soul of your choosing." Pegasus promised as he motioned to the cards that still layed on the table before them as Yuki looked at them.
Yuki looked at the two cards, the frozen depictions of Mokuba and her grandpa staring back at her. Causing her to gnaw at her bottom lip as this was a hard decision to make as her mind began to drift off. Before she left she had gone to the hospital to check on her grandpa's body. The doctor had said that they believe that he is just in a coma and reassured Yuki that his vitals were normal and that he was resting peacefully. That information had been comforting in a way, to know that her grandpa didn't seem to be suffering physically. Yuki couldn't help it though as her thoughts drifted to Mokuba, to the condition he had been in as he was paraded out by that goon. The memory was still fresh in her mind and still chilled her to the very core to know that something like that could happen. And just like with how she had made up her mind about that duel that was going to happen, she had made up her mind yet again.
'I'm sorry grandpa.' Yuki thought apologetically as she looked at her grandpa's soul card. "I'll be your heir. Now, let him go. Let Mokuba's soul go and release him to me..." She said as she slid Mokuba's soul card back over to Pegasus, drinking her glass of wine in hopes of quelling her guilt and her nerves.
"Interesting choice." Pegasus murmured as he picked up the chosen soul card and stood. "Follow me, Yuki-girl." He stated as he walked towards a bookcase in the room, pulling on a light fixture next to it.
"Pretty cliche don't you think?" Yuki asked as the bookcase slid to the side to reveal a secret passageway.
"Any good castle has a secret passageway, Yuki-girl." Pegasus said as he walked down the stairs of the passageway with Yuki trailing a few steps behind him.
"Oh, Mokuba..." Yuki muttered sadly as they reached the end of the stairs and she saw Mokuba's body sitting limply in a cell, shackled to a wall.
"You have agreed to our deal, Yuki-girl. Therefore I am duty bound to release this soul." Pegasus stated, his Millenium Eye glowing a soft blue as he held up Mokuba's card, which glowed as well as said boy groaned as he began to stir.
"Mokuba?" Yuki asked as she opened the cell with the keys that Pegasus had handed to her and stepped inside.
"Yuki?" Mokuba asked softly, looking at Yuki with slightly blurred vision as she began to undo his shackles.
"Yeah, it's me. C'mon kiddo, let's get you cleaned up, some food in you, and get you back to your brother." Yuki said as she took a moment to use her thumb to wipe some dirt off of Mokuba's face.
"Stop it!" Mokuba said with a laugh as he slightly swatted Yuki's hand away, causing her to chuckle with a smile.
With Yuki's help Mokuba was able to stand up as they left the cell, keeping a safe distance away from Pegasus as they left through the secret entrance. Croquet waiting in the room patiently as he then led the two out of the room and to the kitchen as if he was reading the female's mind. Which Yuki thought was kind of creepy but she said nothing about it as she made Mokuba something to eat. The youngest Kaiba sibling couldn't help but ask questions as she does so, mostly wondering if his brother was ok. Mokuba also honestly wanted to know how Yuki go Pegasus to agree to let him go but he could tell that she didn't want to talk about it. So he decided not to press on the matter, thanking her when she placed a plate containing a ham, chese, lettuce, and mustard sandwich infront of him. Yuki also handed Mokuba a bottle of water, sitting back waiting for him to eat his sandwich and drink his water.
Then once Mokuba was done Yuki took him to her room, leaving him there with Yugi to get cleaned up in their bathroom. By then she was honestly starting to feel the effects of the wine that was running its way through her system. It made trying to find the room that Seto was in a lot more harder than it really should have been. And it did not help that this castle was a maze of hallways with doors that lead to some of the most useless rooms ever. What person in their right mind would need an indoor olympic sized pool with an artificial yet natural looking waterfall anyways? Yuki had also come across one too many home gyms for her liking as she was so close to screaming and hitting something. Thankfully though someone seemed to be looking out for her up above as she finally managed to find the room that Seto should be in. Trying to seem like she is not drunk, even though she is totally drunk, as she reached out and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Seto called out from within the room, sounding like he was asking this from the bed.
"It's Yuki. Open the door, Seto. Please." Yuki said, quietly cursing at the slight slur that had happened to her words as Seto opened the door.
"Are you drunk?" Seto asked with a raised eyebrow as he noticed Yuki's flushed cheeks and the slight slurring of her words.
"Yes. No. I dunno..." Yuki admitted as she looked at Seto, noticing his slightly tousled hair and wrinkled clothing. "Shit, were you trying to go to bed?" She asked, feeling guilty at the possibility of preventing the cobalt eyed male from getting some sleep.
"No." Seto said as he crossed his arms and leant a shoulder against his doorframe. "Hard to sleep when I know that madman still has my brother." He admitted with a frown as he glared at nothing at the mere mention of Pegasus.
"Yeah, I know how you feel Seto. He has my grandfather still..." Yuki admitted, she didn't know why she did but she did nonetheless as Seto didn't really know how to respond to that.
"Did you need something, Yuki?" Seto finally asked after a few moments of silence as he looked down at Yuki.
"Yeah, there's something back at my room I want to show you." Yuki said as Seto's eyes widened slightly since he thought she meant something totally different than she actually did. "Get ya mind out the gutter. Just cause I'm drunk that doesn't mean that's what I'm talking about." She said as she smacked his arm in response to him even thinking that she meant something possibly risque. "Just, come with me." Yuki stated before grabbing Seto's hand, the brunette barely being able to shut his room door before he was pulled down the hallway by his hand.
It was a miracle in itself that Yuki didn't get lost again as they found their way to her room. Immediately Seto and her could hear a commotion going on from within the room as well as, laughing? Both teens locked eyes with one another as they looked to each other in confusion. Both obviously wondering what was going on as Yuki turned the knob and opened her door, getting their answer instantaneously. Mokuba and Yugi were the cause of the commotion, the two boys were laughing as they had an all out pillow war. Pelting each other with the throw pillows from the couch and smacking one another with the pillows from the bed. Neither boy had noticed that the door had opened or the fact that their siblings stood in the open doorway watching them in shock. The 11 and 8 year old clearly having way too much fun as their pillow war had left the bedding and pillows strewn across the floor.
"Ha! You pillow fight like a little girl!" Yugi exclaimed as he had managed to hit Mokuba in the face with a throw pillow.
"Ha!" Mokuba exclaimed as he hit Yugi with one of the pillows from the bed, which obviously had not been made to be used as a weapon. Cause as soon as it hit the younger boy it burst open from the force, sending feathers everywhere.
"Yugi!/Mokuba!" Yuki and Seto called out simultaneously, causing both boys to look their way.
"He did it." Yugi said whilst pointing at Mokuba who looked at him in outrage as they both were now covered in feathers.
"I don't care who did it. Clean up your mess, now." Yuki said, suddenly feeling very sober all of a sudden as she crossed her arms.
"Yes Yuki." Mokuba and Yugi said in unison as they slowly began to clean up their mess.
"Sorry, that's not exactly how I wanted to show that I got your brother back." Yuki said, turning to see that Seto was watching the boys clean up their mess with a small smile.
"It's alright, I'm just glad he's back." Seto stated, watching as Mokuba and Yugi quietly argued about who told who that a pillow fight was a bad idea. "I don't like to be indebted to anyone Yuki, so I am going to pay you back. For all of this." He said as he looked towards Yuki, obviously very serious about repaying her.
"If I ever did try to cash in it wouldn't be for money, Seto. It would be for advice on how to be heir to a multi million dollar company..." Yuki admitted as she leaned her back against the wall next to her room door.
"What do you mean?" Seto asked, confused as to what Yuki was talking about.
"...To get Pegasus to return Mokuba's soul and release him, I had to agree to become his heir." Yuki revealed as Seto's confusion morphed into shock at this new information.
"Why would you do that?" Seto asked, wondering why Yuki would make a deal like that for something that could've been done after defeating Pegasus.
"Because, no sense in both of us having to suffer because of Pegasus." Yuki said before she went inside the room to see how Yugi and Mokuba were doing with the cleaning.
When Yuki walked in she saw that the boys had just finished up remaking the bed, the room no longer looking like a war zone. The only evidence of the fight was the busted open pillow and feathers that had been shoved into the trashcan in the bathroom. Seeing as that trashcan was the biggest one in the room and could fit all of the feathers and the rest of the destroyed pillow inside. After thanking her Mokuba went to his brother, obviously ready to leave as Seto looked like he had something he wanted to say. However Yuki wasn't in a talking mood anymore, and he could see that, so he just quietly led his little brother back to his room so they could go to bed. Eventually the Muto siblings went to bed as well. Though that was after Yuki stopped at Tea's room asking for a spare bed pillow. Receiving one only after she explained to the brunette female what had happened to her own extra bed pillow. Only telling Tea what was necessary before taking the pillow, her and Yugi settling in for what she hopes is a goods night rest.