Kaiba sat in the back of the plane, staring at his laptop on the table in front of him, trying to ignore the throbbing pain from his new tattoo on the back of his neck.
Mokuba and his girlfriend were at the front of the plane, watching a movie, and Kaiba tried to focus his energy on listening to their thoughts as a distraction from the pain, but it was difficult.
He shut his eyes and sat up straighter, running the past 72 hours through his mind.
He had either done something that would pay off in the future, or something incredibly stupid.
Having chosen the first name on the yakuza's recommendation list, Kaiba planned a trip to Singapore, but Mokuba wanted to tag along after hearing about it, so his little brother had jumped at the opportunity to take a pretty girl with him.
Kaiba agreed to it because there was no reason to refuse.
Mokuba and his girlfriend had gone off and done their own sightseeing while he ventured into a sleazy part of the city, following the red dot on his GPS, hoping and praying that the address would lead him to a legitimate residence.
To his relief, he'd arrived at a run-down hospital.
There, he had managed to find and speak with a Dr. Thomas Peng, who seemed unfazed by his request.
After he sent the doctor a payment via wire, they managed to communicate brusquely in English, and Kaiba learned the doctor would be giving him third-degree burns with a cauterizer, causing the skin to heal and form scar tissue.
If all went well, he'd have a lotus and moon-shaped scar illustration on the back of his neck when the scabs cleared.
It was no wonder the yakuza were laughing at him after hearing his request.
This tattoo was no fucking joke.
If it healed badly, he would need a skin graft and essentially have to give up, or start over, on another patch of skin.
Kaiba composed himself and winced, sitting up even straighter, hating how his neck throbbed violently with every breath he took. He had injected himself with three vials beforehand to bear the pain and two vials after.
The doctor had even applied a topical anesthetic, but it had been three days, and the wound was really starting to burn.
Wrinkling his nose, Kaiba could remember the awful scent of his own burning flesh as the doctor traced the image. He remembered feeling a slight tingle, and nothing much else. It had been over before he could blink thrice, and he was sent on his way with an ointment and spare bandages.
Now, after three days, the pain was almost unbearable.
And he couldn't take any medication while he was injecting himself with the scales, so he opted to stay safe and keep his blood clean.
He would have to grit his teeth through this pain for three weeks.
For Atem.
Three weeks.
With this mark, he would pass as a fish walking on land and gain more information on the whereabouts of a Chrysalis.
Wincing again, Kaiba stared at the back of Mokuba's head and at the other crop of black hair beside him. She was leaning on his shoulder and giggling at the movie.
Mokuba-kun is so cute! I love how he likes these kinds of movies!
Ahhh she's leaning her head on me. I could die from happiness…
Kaiba continued to stare jealously at the two of them, feeling a slight twinge of longing.
If only Atem knew what he was doing….
Kaiba wondered how the mer-king would react.
"Like it?" Joey flexed his arm and struck a pose for Atem while Mana giggled and clapped her hands.
"It's…very nice," Atem managed, unable to stop staring at the red patches of flesh around Joey's mark. "Was it painful?"
"Nah, it was fun!" Joey declared, swishing his tail and doing a flip while holding another pose as a couple of palace maidens floated by, carrying baskets at their hips and waving demurely at him.
"Will you get another one?" Mana asked curiously, leaning closer to inspect the mark with awe. "Mahad has them all down his back. I bet that was painful."
"Yeah, but he didn't get'em all at once," Joey said, gingerly patting his raw skin with his pointer finger. "Plus, he earned them. I wanna earn mine too. I look up to him—"
"DON'T TOUCH IT LIKE THAT, YOU IMBECILE!"
Atem jumped, startled at the sudden outburst from behind them, and Shada came swimming towards them at top speed, his eyes wide with worry.
"Wh-Whoa…sorry dude," Joey held his hands up defensively, and Shada reached forward to grab Joey's arm, spitting on it hastily to cleanse the wound.
"If you touch it, you'll ruin The Mark as it heals," Shada said angrily, pointing at his own heavily tattooed face. "You'll heal faster since you are decades younger than me, so any movement to the skin will disturb The Mark."
"Alright, alright, jeez, just tryna show off," Joey yanked his arm back and dove behind Atem for protection. "Bug off, ya old man."
Shada gave Joey an apprehensive look before swimming away quickly, and Mana pressed her hand to her mouth to suppress a giggle.
"That's why Mahad got them on his back," she said with a knowing nod. "Not being able to see it and only feeling the pain made him stronger, he says."
"I wanted to see mine," Joey whined, flexing his arm again and watching his own muscles ripple in the water. "What does that say about me?"
"Says you're weak, fool!" Tristan called, swimming up to them while eating a fish noisily in one hand. "I got mine on my back. Duke was weird and got his on his stomach, says he wants to put marks everywhere maidens can see 'em."
"That means you're vain," Mana said with a sly smile. "Wanting to show off your Marks to women and hoping they'll praise you."
"Who're you calling vain, Maiden?" Duke protested, floating above their heads and doing a slow turn, pointing at the freshly tattoo's mark on his hip. "I want to line the entire edge of my fins with all my achievements."
"Vain," Mana chorused, smiling mischievously. "Us girls have a saying: don't Mate with a merman who has marks on his fins, chest, or face."
"Why?" Atem asked, mildly curious. "Shada and Rishid both have Marks on their face, and they have no issue with women."
"But they don't have offspring," Mana said, tapping her chin sounding thoughtful. "And they're all in high-profile, dangerous jobs. Shada is a Shore Ambassador, and Rishid is also an Ambassador. They both travel too much for any maiden to want to settle down with them."
"Ah shit," Duke groaned, "You should've told me this before I got Marked, Maiden."
"My name is Mana," Mana fumed, rounding on Duke and beginning to sound annoyed. "Go away and leave us be. I don't know you."
"I came bearing gifts for the king," Duke said defensively, holding up a tiny seaweed pouch. "Earrings."
Atem's eyes lit up as he accepted the pouch happily, and he emptied the contents into his palm. Two rounded rubies sat in delicate golden prongs, welded carefully into the center of a sharp, gold triangle. It looked very geometric and artistic.
"Oh, they're beautiful!" Mana gasped, turning to smile at Duke with sparkling eyes, her tone changing instantly. "Make me a pair too!"
"Ha, she doesn't care about your Mark, but what you can make," Tristan taunted, smacking his lips loudly as he continued to eat. "Should've applied to be an Artisan instead of a Dungeon Master, Dungeon Master."
"Had to sell an imperfect ruby to get the gold," Duke said, admiring the earrings in Atem's palm with a sense of pride. "But it's pretty nice, right? I'd be so honored if you'd wear them."
"I'll give you some emeralds or pearls?" Mana said hopefully, floating around Duke excitedly, "Can you make me a matching set to wear with Serenity? Can you make golden hearts?"
"Serenity?" Duke looked immediately interested, and he puffed his chest out proudly. "Golden hearts for you and Serenity? Hell yeah."
"See? Should've been an Artisan," Tristan said lazily, flipping onto his back and floating above their heads with a content sigh. "I'm full, but there's so much grub in your Main Hall, Atem. Hey Joey, come grab some more food with me!"
He swam off slowly, and Atem watched him go, feeling Joey hover at his side.
Mana was dragging Duke away by the arm, talking excitedly about jewelry designs as she led him to his room, and soon enough, only Joey was left at Atem's side.
I'm headin' up to shore next moon after these Marks heal, Joey thought nervously, giving Atem a serious nod. The day is coming up real fast. You got stuff to give me?
"Yes," Atem replied quietly, and he hastily switched to thoughts. I also need to show you what he looks like. I'm sure there might be many humans with the same name, so a photo would help you, wouldn't it?
Yeah, a pic would help, Joey said, his head turning slowly as he surveyed the empty throne room, clearly on high-alert. Where's it at? Your room? Let's go before Tristan asks where I am.
The photo is…in Confinement, Atem began nervously, and Joey grew visibly paler.
"Oh shit," Joey said anxiously, shifting his spear from one hand to the other. "I've never been there."
"It's not as bad as you think," Atem reassured him, feeling a pang of guilt. He had neglected to pay Mai and Anzu a visit these past few moons after having met Joey and his friends, and he wondered if they thought badly of him for not visiting enough.
"Alright, if ya say so," Joey said bravely. "Let's go now before anyone asks where we are."
Atem nodded and led the way, very thankful that Joey was such a reliable and supportive friend.
Atem and Joey hovered above the dark crevice and to Atem's surprise, Joey dove straight down into it without hesitating, wearing a determined look on his face.
"You're not frightened?" Atem asked carefully, beating his tail rapidly in the water as he struggled to keep up with Joey's pace, and his friend shook his head.
I got someone to protect, so I'm never afraid, Joey answered boldly.
"HALT!"
A familiar female voice greeted them in the darkness as they slowed down, and Atem felt himself smile.
"It's me, Mai," Atem called back, hearing his voice sound muffled as it bounced around in the narrow rocks surrounding them.
"Who is he?" Mai asked suspiciously, floating slowly towards them and glaring at Joey. Atem felt Joey tense beside him and send him a private thought.
H-HOLY SHIT. A GODDESS.
"He's a warrior friend of mine," Atem reassured her. "I'm being guarded constantly now. I come seeking the photograph of Seto Kaiba to show him."
Mai sighed sympathetically and reached forward to loop her arm through Atem's much tanner one, throwing Joey a haughty look over her shoulder. "Wait here, Guard."
Joey said nothing and gaped shamelessly, his mouth opening and closing with incredulity as he stared obnoxiously at her breasts.
Rolling her eyes, Mai pulled Atem gently through the water and leaned in to whisper, "A gawker. Is he really your friend?"
"Yes, he is," Atem answered warmly, letting Mai lead them deeper into fissure and he squeezed her arm reassuringly, bursting with secrets to tell.
Hopefully, Joey would consider the sight of Mai as a debt re-paid.
Kaiba watched Mokuba escort his girlfriend into the limousine and close the door for her. He then stood by the car and waved until they drove off down the road past their property.
I forgot her name, Kaiba thought dimly to himself, deciding he wouldn't ask, because he didn't care that much. As long as Mokuba liked her, and she wasn't harboring any malicious thoughts about fame, money or power, all was fine….
"Hey, you!" Mokuba called rudely, and Kaiba almost tripped on his own feet when he realized his brother was addressing him.
"Is that my name now?" Kaiba asked dumbfoundedly, turning around to face Mokuba. "What's the matter with you?"
"No, what's the matter with you?" Mokuba snapped, his demeanor changing rapidly. "You run off anytime we go somewhere. She keeps saying, 'I want to get to know your infamous brother better' and you're nowhere to be seen!"
Gosh, Seto is THE WORST when it comes to stuff like this. It's like I'm talking to a five-year-old kid!
"Infamous?" Kaiba echoed, wondering about the stories people were spinning about him in the press. Mokuba seemed really upset for no reason.
"You act like she's nothing but air, you don't say 'hi' to her, ever, and you don't even acknowledge her," Mokuba ranted, sounding close to hysterics. "I bet you don't even know her name!"
Seto doesn't know her name, I'm pretty fucking sure.
"Do I need to know her name?" Kaiba asked, now wishing there was a way he could read Mokuba's mind to learn her name in order to calm him down.
"What's her name?" Mokuba challenged, crossing his arms and planting his feet apart resolutely. "Tell me, right the fuck now."
"Watch your fucking language," Kaiba muttered, and he probed Mokuba's thoughts frantically for an answer, but all he got was:
I bet he doesn't even know how long I've been dating her.
Kaiba felt his stomach drop to his feet and became slightly lightheaded.
"How long have you been dating her?" he heard himself ask through numb lips, and Mokuba's mouth dropped open in anger and shock.
"You don't know?" Mokuba asked incredulously, and Kaiba could hear Isono's thoughts enter the conversation.
Is Mokuba talking about Ayame-san? Do the boys want to come in? It's getting cold and windy….
"Ayame," Kaiba said instantly, and to his surprise, Mokuba rounded on Isono.
"Stop telling him the answer! Go away, Isono!"
Slightly unnerved, Kaiba turned to see Isono bow hastily and walk away from the door.
"What the fuck?" Kaiba asked, seeing Mokuba flush with anger. "He didn't say anything."
"He probably thought about it, and you heard it in his mind," Mokuba answered cleverly, sounding very impatient. "Because apparently you're some crazy mind-reader now. Isono and I, we talk to each other. I know what happens in my own home, Seto."
Swallowing thinly, Kaiba nodded and mirrored Mokuba's stance, folding his arms tightly and wincing from the throbbing pain still coming from the back of his neck.
"Oh yeah, and…are you on drugs?!" Mokuba continued, looking close to tears. "I found a ton of needles in your bag, Seto. I thought I forgot to pack my swimsuit, so I looked in your bag to borrow yours, and I found this!"
To Kaiba's horror, his little brother held up a fresh syringe still in the wrapper.
"Is it heroin? What is it?!" Mokuba cried, also digging out an empty vial from his pocket. "What's in these? Are you okay, Seto? I don't care that you don't know her name or how long we've been dating. Why are you acting so removed from reality?"
"How long have you been dating her?" Kaiba asked again, growing numb all over. "And has it always been the same girl?"
"SEE?! This is what I'm talking about!" Mokuba shrieked, his voice cracking terribly with emotion. "It's drugs, isn't it? Let's get you to a hospital, right now! Right now, get in the car! I'm driving!"
"It's not drugs," Kaiba replied impatiently, but Mokuba was hearing none of it, talking over him hysterically.
"You never sleep, you never eat, your skin is turning grey, and all you do is stay at the beach property. I bet if Ayame moved in with me, you wouldn't even know cuz you're barely at home!"
"I'm turning grey?" Kaiba asked, startled, and he glanced down at his fingertips, recalling that Atem's fingers had started going grey when he was sick.
"Where…are you, Seto?" Mokuba whispered, tears rolling down his face as he spoke through his hiccups. "I've been dating the same girl for the past six years now, almost seven. I'm thinking about proposing to her after we graduate."
"What?" Kaiba blinked rapidly, "You're too young to get married. You talk big for a high schooler, don't you?"
"I'm completing my graduate studies from graduate school next year!" Mokuba shouted, glaring at his brother through his tears of frustration. "I'm marrying a girl I met in the last year of high school! We go to different schools, but she saves up to fly over here, and she won't even let me pay for her flights! That's the kind of person she is, but you wouldn't know that, would you?!"
Kaiba swayed violently on the spot, nodding.
He couldn't stop nodding.
He was trying to show that he understood.
A lot of time had passed, and he didn't even realize it.
Mokuba had…grown up incredibly fast...while he had been chasing a mythological phenomenon that had happened for one week in his life.
"She wants to know you better, so that's how I know she's really serious about getting married!" Mokuba raged, balling his fists up at his sides. "The next time she comes over, say something to her, or just stop being my brother."
Kaiba grit his teeth, the words cutting him painfully. "What the fuck do you mean by that?"
"It means, stop being a fucking wierdo!" Mokuba shouted, unable to keep his emotions in check. He had kept these feelings bottled up for years and years, watching Seto becoming more and more reclusive as time went on, and there was nothing he could do about it.
"I'm cool and popular," Mokuba insisted, shaking his head. "Seen a magazine cover lately? Of course you haven't. I'm all over them. Wanna know what people say about you?"
"No. No thanks," Kaiba began, "that's why I don't read that garbage—"
"They say you're some kind of lost cause," Mokuba interrupted brutally. "Something happened to you, Seto, something made you like this, because you weren't like this before. Right after we launched the cosmetics line, you turned into this…thirty-year old fucking weirdo!"
"Hey," Kaiba protested, but Mokuba wasn't finished.
"You were also photographed on a street right outside a yakuza establishment a couple months ago," Mokuba cried, glaring at Isono who had appeared in the doorway again. "GO AWAY, ISONO! And where were you on this trip, Seto? Gone somewhere to pump yourself up full of drugs? Is that where you're getting them from? The yakuza are giving you drugs?!"
"It's not drugs!" Kaiba raised his voice, desperate to be heard. "Who do you think I am, Mokuba? I'm not an idiot."
"I don't know who you are!" Mokuba breathed, his chest heaving as he tried to contain his hysterics. "I don't know who you've become! If you're not downstairs in the lab talking to the rats, you're alone on the beach until sunrise. And that's all you do! And yes, I know that because Isono tells me!"
Kaiba turned around to give the old man in the doorway and accusatory glare. So Isono was tattling on him now?
"Don't blame him," Mokuba said knowingly. "I asked him to tell me. Whatever the case, you're always alone, with your drugs, and your rats, and your visits to the yakuza five cities over."
Kaiba's mouth dropped open, and he found that his voice had disappeared.
"This stops now, Seto," Mokuba said sadly. "I don't want Ayame to know that my big brother is this kind of person, because you're not. You're showing everyone a horrible side of you, and you're not doing anything to change it. You're being selfish, and it's making us all look bad as a family."
"It's fish scales, and vitamins," Kaiba said, trying to save face. "I can show you, kid—"
"DON'T call me a kid!" Mokuba yelled, his ears growing red with embarrassment and rage. "And fine, even if its not drugs, everything else you're doing is making everyone worry. You haven't had a boyfriend or girlfriend in ten years…yes, I've been counting. Ten years. I was fourteen when I saw you kissing a random guy who came out of your bedroom at 7AM. I'm 24 now. You've been single for ten years—"
"It…hasn't been ten years…", Kaiba whispered, feeling faint. "Since when were you…24? You were still 18…asking me for a car…"
"Is that the last thing you remember?" Mokuba said quietly, wiping the stray tears off his cheek with his palm. "Maybe it really is drugs. I don't believe you, Seto. I haven't had an older brother recently, so I wouldn't know left from right—so prove me wrong. Start behaving like the Seto that I know and love."
Kaiba fell silent, his eyes burning with tears of hurt and frustration.
Yeah, he had been a shitty brother.
Mokuba was planning on getting married, holy shit!
"And…Ayame said she wanted kids by the time she's 26," Mokuba whispered, his voice barely audible in the wind that had begun to pick up around them. It was completely dark now, and Isono was still standing in the doorway of the mansion, the light from the inside casting a yellow tint on Mokuba's grief-stricken face.
"I'm not gonna let my…. drug-addicted brother anywhere near my future kids," Mokuba breathed. "I'm going to take her last name. The Kaiba legacy ends with you, big bro. I know G-Gozaburo really…did a number on you when we were kids. I know, cuz I'm not blind or stupid."
Kaiba grit his teeth so hard, his vision turned green. A familiar wave of nausea was rising, and he took deep, shuddering breaths, attempting to remain composed.
Right.
Mokuba wasn't blind or stupid.
He knew what things were when he saw them, and Kaiba understood that his own actions probably did look like a bad addict struggling to get his fix.
Except the drug wasn't an illicit substance…it was Atem.
"So, we're going to the hospital…now," Mokuba spoke through clenched teeth, pointing at the garage in the distance. "Prove to me that it's not drugs. Start behaving like a normal human being. Attend my birthday parties, my press conferences, my graduation ceremonies, my interviews and photoshoots, and for fuck's sake, show a happy face to a camera once in a while, or don't show it at all. You're being…"
Disgraceful. Embarrassing. And it kills me to see you like this, big bro.
Kaiba nodded mutely, tears collecting painfully in his lower lids as he heard Mokuba finish the sentence in his thoughts.
He couldn't help but agree that he was acting like a disgrace to his own name.
"See you at the car in ten minutes," Mokuba said, walking off slowly while sniffing audibly.
Kaiba lowered his head and let the tears fall out his eyes, hating himself for becoming so unrefined. Everything Mokuba said was right, aside from the drugs statement, he really was struggling to live life without Atem, and it was showing…badly.
Very badly.
He heard an audible gasp behind him, and Isono's worried thoughts flooded his mind.
MY GOODNESS! What is that bandage behind his neck?! An injury?!
Relax, it's a tattoo, old man, now shut up, Kaiba shot back angrily, palming his tears off his face and feeling something gritty rub off in his hands.
He gazed down at it, shocked to discover that it was a tiny diamond.
Reeling with a mixture of wonder and distress, Kaiba held it up to the light between two fingers, seeing it sparkle cleanly back at him. Holy fucking shit.
He knelt down quickly and patted the concrete around his shoes, taking out his phone and using the flashlight to see if there were any more of his diamond tears.
Sure enough, several gleaming gems were littered around his dress shoes. Kaiba fell heavily onto his knees, his heart thudding rapidly inside his chest, a thousand beats per minute.
This…was…phenomenal.
Something about the PH in his tears had created diamonds? He needed to get these into a lab as fast as humanly possible! Were these real diamonds?
Isono let out an awkward cough, and Kaiba spun around to stare at his manservant, who was observing him keenly from the front door with a worried frown on his face.
"I'm crying diamonds," Kaiba said matter-of-factly. "Come, take these to a lab."
Isono visibly shook and turned white as a sheet.
Master Kaiba said what? Crying…diamonds?
"Yes, come look, and Mokuba's expecting me, so hurry the fuck up," Kaiba said excitedly, his sorrow melting away quickly at this new discovery.
Isono hurried out of the house and knelt beside Kaiba, gazing dubiously into Kaiba's palm.
"You had those in your pocket, Master Kaiba," Isono said gruffly, annoyed that Kaiba was trying to lighten the mood with such a childish joke. "Give me those, and go to a hospital now, as your brother requested."
"You don't fucking believe me!" Kaiba exclaimed, feeling annoyed. "I'm not high or crazy! If you won't take them into a lab, leave them on my desk."
"I'll do it, I will," Isono replied hastily, accepting the palmful of diamonds from Kaiba with trembling hands. "But please….be well, Master Kaiba. I have seen you administer yourself with whatever you put in the syringes. Who do you think signs for the packages of these needles, sir? And it's no secret—"
"Yeah, you all think I'm high and crazy all the time," Kaiba said, standing up slowly and making his way towards the garage, but apparently Isono was intent on giving him an earful too.
"And I believe it began early, with your vomiting!" Isono insisted boldly, pocketing the gems and crossing his arms sternly. "Your vomiting increased, then decreased, then increased again. You no longer consume alcohol, and you don't even take medication for headaches! I know you do this because everyone knows that mixing drugs is dangerous. Master Kaiba—"
"Oh my fucking god, this conversation is over," Kaiba fumed, stalking off across the grass towards the garage. "I'm not high!"
No one believes you! Isono shouted back furiously in his thoughts. I know you can hear me, so you can't run away, young master. Confront your issues in the hospital. Find a nice girl, and marry her. Take example from your brother, won't you?
Shut up, shut up, Kaiba chanted, seeing headlights in the distance as the sound of the engine started with a roar.
But Isono was keen on letting out his feelings too, and Kaiba was beginning to feel attacked.
If it's 'vitamins' like you say, then why do you vomit? Isono continued, Why am I signing packages for thousands of needles every few months? Why do you need to speak with yakuza? We know why! It's because your supply runs out, and you vomit!
Kaiba growled angrily to himself and yanked the passenger door handle with more force than was necessary and threw himself into the seat beside Mokuba.
"Good, it only took you forever to get your ass over here," Mokuba said ruthlessly, stamping on the pedal, causing the car to lurch forward.
"I'm not on drugs!" Kaiba insisted, also sending the furious thought towards Isono. I'm NOT ON DRUGS, stop lecturing me!
No! You need to hear this! Isono replied anxiously, his figure nowhere to be seen, but his voice was as strong as ever. Kaiba winced, beginning to regret everything.
I know you don't plan on having any children given how you can barely take care of yourself, so I have made an agreement with young Mokuba…
"…And they'll keep you for as long as they need to…until you're clean…"
…stating that we will not let you anywhere near children if your habit continues. How did you let yourself slip this far, Master Kaiba? I honestly blame myself sometimes…
"...I already called ahead and told them we're coming. No cameras. Back entrance only, and you'll be under supervision even when you're asleep, so no sneaking…"
…And I wonder if there was a way I could've prevented you from hurting yourself. I'm very sorry to have failed you…Master Kaiba…
Feeling very fragile, Kaiba pressed his hands into his face and let himself cry in earnest. Everything was shitty. He had somehow ruined his own image, and caused Isono to become a worried, lecturing old bat, and even forced Mokuba into a position where he was acting like his older brother, scolding him while driving him to the hospital.
He felt the gritty tears leave his lids and gather in the cracks of his fingers. Everything hurt. His heart hurt, his head hurt, his stomach hurt…his soul was hurting.
And Mokuba was still lecturing him.
"…You made Isono worry so much, one night, he came into my room and cried while telling me about it! You made him fucking cry, Seto. I've never seen that in my entire life! That's when I knew it had to stop."
Stop talking…I'm only hurting myself, Kaiba thought numbly.
Mokuba heard this but kept going.
"You probably think you're so cool, on top of the world, making all this money, all cuz you invented this cool tech thing that lets you communicate telepathically. But that doesn't excuse your disgusting behavior."
Disgusting behavior?
Frustrated, Kaiba let out a pained yell, thoroughly sick of being misunderstood.
He heard his voice shake the cabin of the car, and suddenly, all the windows shattered. Glass cascaded down around his shoulders, and his eardrums thrummed strangely.
Mokuba stamped on the brakes and came to a screeching halt in the middle of the deserted freeway, his eyes wide with fear, his chest heaving, his lap covered with shards of broken glass.
All the windows in the convertible had shattered, including the windshield.
Kaiba opened his eyes and gazed down in his palms, staring at the pile of diamonds in his hands. Several had slipped through the cracks and landed on his legs, mixed in with the shards of glass, gleaming at him softly as they reflected the silvery moon above their heads.
"H-Holy…f—" Mokuba gasped, composing himself enough to maneuver the car onto the side of the road. He sat very still with his hands glued to the wheel, his eyes wide, staring straight ahead at nothing.
Stunned, Kaiba stared at the diamonds in his palms.
This was not a dream. This was not a dream.
This was real.
"What…the fuck, Seto!" Mokuba cried, turning to give his brother a fearful look and staring at the diamonds in Kaiba's hands. "Where'd you get those diamonds? Are you carrying some kind of ultrasonic device to get you out of bad situations?! You didn't have to do that here! This was my favorite car!"
"I cried them," Kaiba said monotonously, very tired of explaining himself. "Do these sequences of events ring a bell?"
"Yeah, yeah it does," Mokuba said heatedly, getting out of the car gingerly to brush himself off, trying to avoid all the glass. "You're mimicking the time when you captured that mermaid. If you're trying to scare me, it's not gonna work, Seto. We're still going to a hospital whether you like it or not."
Kaiba grit his teeth in frustrated silence. It seemed this was so unbelievable, no one would listen to him until he took a drug test and proved himself clean.
"Get out and brush off the glass," Mokuba commanded, sounding very determined. "You're very smart, Seto, but I know you, and I know your tricks. You're gonna try to worm your way out of this, but there's no way out."
Mokuba circled the car and opened the door for his older brother, stepping back to let the shower of glass fall down at his feet.
Rolling his eyes, Kaiba carefully edged himself out of the car and jumped up and down glumly, feeling the glass fall off his body.
He pocketed the diamonds and watched Mokuba take off his hoodie to use it as a barrier between his ass and the glass-covered seat.
"Get in," Mokuba said dully. "I was even nice enough to drive the long way around beside the ocean, but clearly you've lost that privilege."
"I'm not high," Kaiba repeated fruitlessly, and he got back in the car, not bothering to clear his seat of glass. He was going to heal anyway, so why bother?
Underneath the water, thousands of leagues below, the entire kingdom of Muran perked their ears up and glanced upwards fearfully.
Atem bolted upright in bed and shivered, his bones vibrating strangely in response to the scream. He had felt that merperson's pure anguish and sorrow, coupled with unending desperation.
Did his scream affect everyone like that? Terrifying.
"A cry! Someone is hurt!" Mana cried, whizzing through the hallways in a panic, banging on everyone's door. "Atem! Shada! Mahad! Rishid! Priestess Isis! Solomon—"
"Mana!" Atem burst out of his room to join her in rousing everyone. "Did you feel that?"
"Yes," Mana replied tearfully, grasping tightly onto Atem's hands with both of hers. "It felt worse than yours, if you can believe that! Emergency gathering in the throne room, now!"
Atem swam beside her, keeping up with her frantic pace as he asked, "How did mine feel?"
"Angry, and trapped," Mana said solemnly, gabbing Atem's hand and not letting go. "We knew you were being held somewhere against your will. This one…felt…."
"Like a thousand years of pain and sorrow," Atem finished for her. He was also having a hard time describing how that felt, but he could relate to it, strangely. It also almost felt like heartbreak, but that couldn't be right.
They arrived in the throne room, where Shadi, Solomon and Mahad were already waiting, floating in an anxious circle, bobbing up and down in the water.
"Not one of ours," Mahad growled sleepily, rubbing his eyes. "That was a different resonance. Perhaps a neighboring colony. It sounded very Pure."
"Is that why we can feel it so deeply?" Mana demanded tearfully, "Whoever let out that cry is hurting right now!"
"Exactly," Atem nodded, unsure of how to proceed. "We need to help them."
"No need to take immediate action," Solomon said stiffly. "If it's not one of ours, we don't need to get involved."
Atem clenched his fists in anger, "So if it was the neighboring colony's grandson who's been captured, you won't rouse yourself to help them?"
"Don't fight, don't fight," Isis swam forward quickly, holding her hands up between Atem and Solomon, sensing hostility. "Remember, we have a team of warriors being deployed onshore very soon, right, Mahad? We can send them up early to see if anyone can find the merperson calling for help."
"Is it a man, woman, or child?" Rishid asked, directing this question at Mana and Mana closed her eyes and trying to analyze the scream.
"A male, but I can't determine the age or race, strangely enough," she said quietly. "But it was a Pure scream indeed, given how we all felt it deeply."
Then, she spun around to grab both of Atem's hands in hers, "My king, swim quickly to the warrior's quarters! Rouse your friends! Perhaps they may be brave enough to surface sooner than the intended date."
Atem nodded quickly and shot off through the water, leaving behind him a trail of white bubbles, and Solomon let out an angry growl.
"Why are you sending him on such a useless task?" The old merman asked, raising his staff in protest. "Mahad has a messenger for that purpose."
"I think I know who it is," Mana said firmly, gazing at the faces around her with a determined grimace. "It's the merman who Atem loves. Seto Kaiba."
A sigh echoed through the court and Shadi's face turned an unpleasant shade of purple.
"Again, Mana, it's not that we don't believe you…" Isis began carefully, "But perhaps it was another merman Atem was mating with."
"No," Mana shook her head fervently. "I asked Atem who he was, and he answered me truthfully. He said that man's name was Seto Kaiba. They were laying together in the sand for longer than 500 heartbeats."
"Humans can hold their breath," Shada added, looking skeptical, but Mana talked over him excitedly.
"He was wide awake and sending me insults…about you, Mahad!"
"Me?" Mahad frowned, "What did he say? You neglected to mention this before."
"Because I only remembered it just now," Mana said, exasperated. "He said, 'send that Warrior my regards.'"
"That sounds too polite," Rishid said with a smile. "I heard him onshore, and he doesn't speak that way."
"It was him!" Mana insisted shrilly. "He looked and acted annoyingly Pure. He had brown hair, blue eyes, fair skin…and he even had a fin, but he was hiding it! He had claws!"
Everyone nodded stiffly, listening to Mana politely, but looks of doubt were still obvious on everyone's faces.
"He could've been hiding his legs," Mahad said gently, not wanting to argue with Mana. "And if it was Seto Kaiba, what was he doing on a shore in Spain?"
"He's on an Assignment," Mana said aggressively. "I know types like him. He'll follow Atem around until he's satisfied and then disappear. Mark my words."
"There is a way to confirm if this Seto Kaiba is human or merman once and for all," Solomon said tiredly, thoroughly fed up with the topic. "Mahad, summon the warriors who are going onshore and ask them to spy on this man. If he is a merman, there will be tell-tale signs he cannot hide."
"Agreed," Mahad nodded, floating towards the hallway exit. "Are we still keeping this information from Atem?"
"We'll tell him when we know if he is human or merman," Mana said firmly, folding her arms across her chest. "Atem is very taken with him, he won't hear one bad word against Seto Kaiba. We will gather evidence, and then present it to him. He can't refuse facts."
"Very clever Mana, I'm going back to bed," Shadi said with a groan and stretch. "If Seto Kaiba is a merman, I'd love to fight him."
"If he is a Warrior, you would've seen a Mark," Mahad mused, and Mana frowned, answering quickly, "He kept his back against the rock. He wasn't moving at all when he saw me. He behaved like a warrior on guard, and even sounded like a Scholar in his thoughts."
Mahad mirrored Mana's frown and nodded. "I see. Well, he is either a very skilled Undercover Warrior, or a very stupid human. When I heard his thoughts, he was singing nonsensical songs."
"It's a warrior tactic, is it not?" Isis asked, passing him by and giving him a sleepy wave. "Throw your enemy off with nonsense while you plot away. Even I know that. Goodnight, Warrior Mahad."
Mahad folded his arms across his chest, feeling increasingly unsettled as the throne room emptied.
Had he somehow missed the signs that Seto Kaiba was a Warrior? He was wearing clothes that covered his entire body, even his neck. Everything about their encounter was unsettling, especially the way he had blatantly read his mind.
Perhaps he is a Warrior! Mahad thought worriedly to himself, beginning to doubt his own abilities to spot his own kind on land.
Just as that thought left him, Atem swam rapidly into the throne room, panting and out of breath, flanked by his three warrior friends.
"Ah, perfect timing," Mahad said stiffly, nodding gratefully at Atem. "Please give us a moment."
"He can stay cuz he's cool, right?" Tristan asked nervously, shifting his spear from shoulder to shoulder, clearly nervous in the presence of a warrior stronger than himself.
"No, I'm afraid this will be a confidential briefing," Mahad said solemnly, giving Atem a thankful pat on the shoulder and sending him off down the hall. "Rest, my king."
Atem threw Joey a grim look. His friend mirrored his expression and nodded. He knew Joey would tell him everything in private later. There were no secrets between them.
Mahad noticed this and waited until Atem rounded the corner before he addressed the other two mermen named Joey and Duke, "You're both dismissed. I only require one man for this job."
The three men glanced around and pointed fingers comically at one another.
"You're dismissed."
"No, he said you're dismissed."
"Why me?! He clearly meant you, ya dolt!"
"Apologies," Mahad said deeply, rubbing his forehead in exhaustion. "I meant to dismiss you both, Warriors Tristan and Duke. Thank you for your service, and please wait at the end of the hall."
Slack-jawed with dismay, Duke and Tristan floated away, grumbling while shooting dirty looks at Joey over their shoulders.
Joey fidgeted nervously and bowed stiffly, stammering, "Uh, um…I'm not the best guy for your job. I failed all my exams like ya said…and you only picked me cuz Atem likes me—"
"Wrong," Mahad corrected gently, grabbing Joey by the shoulders and gazing deep into his kind brown eyes. "Gaining a king's trust and being likable is a wonderful trait to possess as a warrior. Now, I believe you can go to shore and gain the trust of a certain someone."
"Oh man…you're sendin' me on like, an Undercover type of thing?" Joey asked, his eyes widening in panic. "I don't know nothin' about that!"
"Just behave like yourself, and it will be enough," Mahad said firmly, giving Joey a solid shake. "The person's name is Seto Kaiba. We would like to know more about him. Mana believes he is an Undercover Warrior."
Joey's mouth dropped open and he closed it with a click, listening attentively.
"If the situation is not dangerous, you can approach him, and be his friend…if possible," Mahad said, letting go of Joey's shoulders. "Look for his Mark if he has one. Look for tell-tale signs of shore sickness, common in merpeople who haven't soaked in a Chrysalis for over a decade."
Joey grit his teeth tightly and nodded, doing his best to keep his questions to himself. If Seto Kaiba was a merman, wouldn't Atem know?
"Atem would not know because this Seto Kaiba would have lied about it," Mahad said smoothly, anticipating Joey's questions. "A true Undercover Warrior never gives away their motive, even in the face of love or adversity. It is in their Code. That's why it's a dying profession. Many Undercover Warriors perish before completing their Assignment and never return."
Joey gulped visibly and nodded. Scary.
"Don't ask him to reveal himself," Mahad said sternly, "Because he won't tell you. And lastly, don't blow your own cover if Seto Kaiba is human. Remember, we believe he was the one who captured Atem."
"But Atem said it was an accident," Joey blurted, "His tail got speared by a weapon, and he was immobilized in a trash-filled net. He wasn't even sure Kaiba was the responsible party until he opened his eyes and found himself in a tank."
"Really?" Mahad's eyes widened, wondering why there was so much new information he had not yet learned. "What else?"
"Ah...n-nothing," Joey waved a hand across his face nervously, thinking he had already said too much. "This Kaiba guy gave him food, brushed his tail, and even made him a homey little pool with the same water we have here. Th-That's all."
"I did not know this," Mahad said through gritted teeth, his fury rising steadily. "Kaiba brushed Atem's tail on land? He must be a merman. That's a dirty mating tactic used by mermaids who want to trick men into laying their eggs."
"I-I dunno…" Joey said nervously, shaking his head and backing away slowly. "Sorry, Warrior Mahad. Atem is my friend, and I can't spy on this Kaiba guy for you, even if he is a merman."
"Well, I believe we need proof, now more than ever," Mahad fumed. "Please, Joey, if you can do this, you will earn another Mark for your bravery and service. I'll speak to the Board about it. Would you like that?"
Joey blinked rapidly and shook his head before nodding tentatively. "Can I ...think about it?"
"No time," Mahad said furiously. "You will surface soon. There was a scream, and everyone in neighboring colonies will also be deploying their warriors to find this merperson. Mana believes it was Seto Kaiba who made the scream."
Joey nodded stiffly, "Wow, I mean, girls got a better feelin' for these things, right? That's what I learned…literally last week."
"And I fear she may be right," Mahad said seriously, reaching forward to grab Joey's hands in his and give them a solid squeeze. "Please do this for me, for Atem, and for our kingdom. We might have a lot to gain by approaching an Undercover Warrior."
A horn sounded in the distance, and Joey perked his ears up, feeling himself sweat.
It was a call to arms.
"I needta say goodbye to Atem first," Joey said desperately, already swimming away towards the hall. "I'll meet everyone at the Chrysalis! I can't just go without telling him!"
Mahad nodded and watched Joey swim off rapidly. He sighed and placed his hands together in a small prayer to the gods, hoping that Deployment would go smoothly, and for Atem's future happiness without Seto Kaiba in the picture.
Author's note:
Joey sees Mai for the first time and is lovestruck.
Kaiba got a warrior's mark and Mokuba thinks he's doing drugs. He lets out a scream that sends the underwater king and queendoms into a frenzy…what will happen next?
(edited by taedae)
so i've been working on this story for the better part of the year now, according to my postdates, i started this story on jan 4th! I think this might be the longest story i've ever done to date, even longer than 8sidedshape, because as of this post, i am writing chapter 42.
yes.
FORTY TWO.
I'm not sure if i should be disappointed or amazed at myself for either dragging this story out for too long? or giving it all the time it deserves...
either way, i have an ending in mind (a happy one, i hope, nothing like the dark twist in 8sidedshape) and i want to give this story a glorious finish, no matter how long it takes!
thank you for sticking with me for so long. i really appreciate your love and support for these stories i write, and for the ygo fandom itself.
Your reading support has really given me confidence and helped me grow into a better writer.
I seriously owe you the world (HUGS hugs hugs hugs)
-ugli