Chapter 18: A Puzzling Betrayal

He was fuming at the notion that despite all his foreknowledge and planning and careful suggestions, he'd been bested by that foolhardy waif of a girl.

Again.

That foolish, arrogant and selfishly stupid child had bested his plans, prevented his success and the release of the power that would finally give him what he wanted and what he craved.

The Thief King let out a low growl of agitation, fingers digging into his own palms as he stalked down the tunnel, deep into the darkness. He was neither wary of darkness nor unsure of where his feet were leading him. He knew these tunnels well, these secret streets that led to the true heart of the city of Kul Elna.

'She will rue the day' he thought, his anger roiling hot in his belly 'I will show her the truth and then I will make her pay. I will get what is mine. I will get what I deserve and finally find peace for all those who have suffered. I will exact justice.'

He'd make both of them pay and pay dearly.

"You're a fool."

Yugi met Shada's unflinching glower with a curious furrow of her brows as he towered over her, fingers still wrapped around the key that hung about his neck. The girl spied an interesting tattoo peaking beneath the man's traditional garb.

"I'm not" she remarked quietly, her resolve cementing itself firmly into place as she too placed a protective grip on her own 'key', her puzzle. "It is my decision. I won't let you take that from me."

"You cannot decide-"

"It is her right," Isis cut in, coming to step in front of the perturbed key-wielder, whose rich chocolate eyes darted between the two women, mouth slightly agape and expression laced with incredulity.

"She will die if she does this Isis, you know that!"

Yugi tried not to balk at the comment, only tightening her grip on the chain of her puzzle. She could feel the way the Spirit pushed against her senses, a wave of panic and curiosity directed towards her.

'Why would you think to promise that?' the thought crossed her mind, the Spirit's voice pushing towards her ears. 'I could never allow such an irrational decision.'

'It's not your decision to make,' Yugi thought back, idly transferring her attention between the despairing spirit and the quarrelling Shada and Isis.

'I will not allow you to do that.'

'You don't have the final say' she remarked again, 'It is my decision. You cannot force me not to do something.'

"Do you not understand that she could destroy our present and past with her meddling?" Shada intone agitatedly towards Isis who seemed unruffled by her compatriot's comments.

"I have seen that it will not happen" was her small reply. "And I know that you are fighting a losing battle. My vision was clouded before and I...assumed."

She looked towards Yugi, casting an apologetic smile the girl's way.

"And I placed Yugi in harm's way when it should not have been so. I should not have asked you to go and attempt to take from her, to separate her from the puzzle's power. That was wrong of me."

"You cannot be serious, surely" Shada remarked, flabbergasted, emotions warring on his face. Sorrow mixed with anger and confusion flittered across his face. "I-how can we be certain that you are not mistaken now too?" Shada adjusted his stance, turning away from the girl and towards Isis, squaring off against the stoic would-be priestess.

At the same time Pegasus came closer to Isis, placing a hand on the woman's shoulder, much to Yugi's-and Isis'-surprise.

"You ought to stand down," the duel monster creator intoned lowly, his visible eye narrowed dangerously small, a frown playing on his lips. "Your narrow-minded perspective clouds your judgment and we're only going around in circles at this point. It's hardly helpful my dear lad."

Shada clicked his mouth shut and made to step towards Pegasus, the air surrounding the two men thick with tension.

"You know nothing of the hardship that I have suffered to ensure the welfare of this mission. You know nothing of my past, nor of why I fight to protect this future."

The man cast a brief glance towards Seto Kaiba, who looked both perplexed and vexed by the unfolding drama.

Shada looked conflicted, tormented, and afraid.

"Who, better than I, knows what the girl has seen? Was I not there as well? Did I not experience that fate?"

"She does not know what you mean, Shada," Isis remarked, taking stock of Yugi's shocked expression, her own expression hooded and indecipherable. "You must not give away too much of the tale."

"Who better than I to do so?" he retorted, casting another glance towards the confused girl. "For I was there and I remember well the spell of scorched flesh and flames falling around me as I died to protect the Pharaoh and his cousin. I gave my life for that mission and you threaten to take it all away and make it meaningless. You threaten my sacrifice, and their future choices with your arrogance."

Arrogance?

Yugi shook her head.

"It's not like that," she began. "I would never-"

"You know nothing. He will die because of you. Lose his soul to the shadows because you're too much of a coward to do what is right!"

"Shada!"

Lose his soul?

A sharp jab of anxiety shot through the girl at the thought of the Spirit of the puzzle losing his soul entirely.

Or was it the Pharaoh they were talking of?

Or both?

Either way, it didn't bode well for the girl. True, she'd felt a wariness towards the enigma trapped in the puzzle. And she wasn't too keen on this whole traveling through time or memories or whatever business she was caught up in.

But she'd never wanted anyone to suffer. And if Yugi were the one bringing about another's demise?

That didn't sit well.

If she took one misstep at all, if her judgment wasn't sound and for the good of the others (the Pharaoh and the Spirit) then she'd destroy them.

Or him…

"It won't come to that," She finally muttered, steeling her resolve and squaring her shoulders. "I won't let it."

She could feel the way the Spirit prodded against her senses, a distinct aura of confusion, curiosity, and concern swirling through their connection.

And Yugi was loathe to admit that she felt the same.

"You are all still talking in circles, you realize," Pegasus bemoaned the situation. "It's clear that both of you will never come to an agreement and personally, this is becoming somewhat old. Can we move on to more important matters? Especially since our time together is remarkably short?"

Yugi watched as Pegasus leveled a firm glare towards the unimpressed Kaiba who still sat with his arms crossed, frown firmly planted on his lips.

"Oh don't mind me," Kaiba remarked, his glower shifting between Pegasus and Shada before finally settling on Yugi. Here his eyes narrowed to a more contemplative gaze for a moment before hardening once more, "Please go back to your soap opera. I promise it's as boring on this side as it is on yours."

Pegasus snorted derisively, a smirk on his face as he released his hold on Isis' shoulder.

"Indeed it is, Kaiba-boy," the gaming CEO lauded Yugi's rival. "And as I said before, we have far too many things to take care of. Better not waste our time any longer."

Shada let out a low growl and tore himself away from the trio, shooting a scowl towards Yugi before stomping out of the main cabin,a slamming cabin door left in his wake.

A feeling of unease settled in Yugi's belly as she watched the man retreat. Something felt off about the whole interaction though she couldn't put her finger on what bothered her.

"Now, come Yugi-dear," Pegasus' overly cheerful voice pricked at Yugi's senses and she turned a wary eye back towards the Duel Monster creator who had returned to his seat, a cheerful and menacing looking in his eye as he assessed the girl. "You look about ready to fall. Best sit and rest awhile."

"Yeah, Yug," Jou's voice was closer than the girl expected and she nearly jumped out of her skin as her friend's breath ghosted her ear. "Yer not lookin' so good. Let's take a seat then, eh?"

Kaiba watched the girl nearly tumble into the seat with thinly veiled interest, noting the deep sigh of exhausted relief that escaped her lips as she leaned forward and let her head fall towards her knees. He caught a clearer sight of her discolored cheek and resisted the urge to wince himself.

He knew there was something bizarre going on and Yugi Mutou was at the heart of it. But, watching the waif of a girl nearly collapse into the seat across from him and noting the protective attention Jou was placing on the girl, questioning her about her sudden scrapes and bruises, Kaiba wondered just how much control Yugi had of the situation, herself. She didn't seem to be some legendary mastermind, given her disheveled appearance, and the young CEO was loathe to admit that despite the girl's prowess at puzzles and games, she was hardly a scheming entity.

Kaiba couldn't say the same for her counterpart spirit friend-the doppelganger Yugi as it were-but he didn't suspect the pair of them to be working on different sides of this whole convoluted mess.

"I'm sure that you have questions," Isis' voice was low, soft, and trending towards comforting. "Much has happened in a short time and I suspect that you're far more confused than you'd like to be."

Kaiba quirked a brow towards the young woman, noting that Yugi and Jou had done the same, though Pegasus seemed unruffled by the woman's remark.

'Of course he didn't have questions' Kaiba thought a little dourly, 'He's been orchestrating this from the beginning.'

'Not completely, Kaiba-boy' the tiresome voice riffled through Kaiba's thoughts. The young man gazed warily back towards Pegasus who had his gaze trained on him, his smile never faltering.

'I know more than you, that's true, but I do not orchestrate this whole affair. That privilege belongs to another. A common enemy, if you will.'

"We believe the attack on Kaiba's brother and Yugi's grandfather were for the same reason."

At that Kaiba straightened and glared towards Isis who sat, hands folded in her lap as she spoke calmly, her eyes shifting between looking from Yugi and then back to Kaiba.

"What are you talking about?" Yugi's voice was soft, as she swallowed a few times and leaned closer to Isis, "How did you know-?"

"I know more than you might realize, Yugi Mutou" Isis remarked smoothly, her eyes trained on the girl. It had suddenly become a staring contest between the tall, tanned woman, and the pint-sized puzzle wearer.

"Oi, Lady, not for nothin' but ya sound kinda creepy," Jou cut in, edging closer to his friend. "And Yugi here ain't gonna be part of no plan or plot or whatever it is ya got going on here."

"You will be silent Jounouchi," Isis retorted, her voice low and eyes narrowed. She sounded more threatening than Kaiba had ever heard her before. "I may have freed your mind temporarily, but I could not sever the bond completely. You are still tainted."

At that comment Jou rocked back, his eyes wide in surprise and confusion. Kaiba could still see the remains of the drowsiness that tugged at the blonde's eyes from Isis' earlier...interventions, but other than that Jou seemed relatively oblivious to what had just happened to him.

"I don't follow ya lady," he remarked a bit heatedly, "Whadda mean I'm tainted? I ain't got nothin' on me ta taint me."

"Not on you, no," Isis remarked, "It's what's inside of you, controlling you and spying that I take issue with."

And then the woman cast a glance towards him. Kaiba felt himself straighten at the woman's piercing gaze. There was a weight behind her look, a heaviness that settled on his shoulders and weighed him down. He felt as though someone were trying to probe inside his mind, trying to understand his thoughts. He never liked feeling as though someone were intruding into his private world, despite his obvious abilities at running a conglomerate and dealing with a variety of people and temptations. No one truly knew or understood him, not on the deeper, more substantial level. And he was content with that reality. In fact, he reveled in it.

So, he was none too pleased when there remained a distinct pressure against his skull, an invisible push to allow access to his innermost thoughts and concerns. And he wasn't keen on letting that happen. The young CEO shook his head to dispel the notion and pushed up the mental barrier he always had at the ready up higher, willing whatever invisible intruder to abort their mission.

He watched Pegasus smirk at him, eyes narrowed in assessment.

"It would seem that you're stronger than I first supposed Kaiba-boy," the CEO crooned softly, "Not even I, nor Isis-I suspect-can get past your barrier, eh?"

Kaiba frowned at the woman watching the way her eyes flickered briefly towards looking at Pegasus before settling back on him.

There was another push of pressure against his mind before it retreated.

"Oi does anyone wanna tell us what's goin' on then?" Jou ground out, obviously still flustered by Isis' previous comment, though Kaiba also suspected Jou's own ineptitude at grasping some of the simpler realities of the moment also caused a great deal of ire.

They certainly did for him.

"It's quite simple, little pup," Pegasus intoned, turning towards Jou who sat close to the weary looking yugi, whose amethyst eyes shone brightly against her reddened and sunburned cheeks. "We're at war with the shadows, though it would seem that you are on the losing side."

Jou bristled at the comment and only refrained himself from standing up (however slowly that was) because of Yugi's hand on his arm.

"I don't know what it is yer yabbering about," He growled lowly, eyes narrowed at the Duel Monsters creator, "But I guarantee that I'm more than on the right side of whatever it is yer goin' off about."

"I'm 'going off' about your obvious connection to those rare hunters that have a firm fixation on Yugi Mutou, Seto Kaiba and myself." Pegasus retorted coldly, "Whatever you might think, little pup, you're tainted as the lovely lady already said."

Warning bells signaled in Kaiba's mind as he watched the look of shock erupt on Jou's face, mirrored in Yugi's expression as they watched Pegasus idly play with his nails.

The words 'rare hunters' struck Kaiba funny and he felt a familiar trill of curiosity pique his interest.

If they were the ones who had harmed his brother then…

And Yugi's grandfather?

But what of Pegasus?

"You need to clarify," He finally uttered, turning his attention to his rival. A stone was firmly settled in his belly and a wave of anxiety rippled through him at the thought of anyone harming his brother.

"What's to clarify? I already let you know of how they're involved with you and your company, how they've manipulated me, and how they're attacking Yugi Mutou for her puzzle."

"I have nothing to do with Mutou or you and your weird fascination with Egyptian artifacts, so why would they care for me or my brother?" He ground out darkly, a wave of resentment towards the other occupants of the cabin washing over him.

Pegasus laughed, flicking his silver hair over his shoulder as he eyed the young man before him.

"You really didn't take Isis' comments to heart did you. What a shame, Kaiba-boy, for it would have made this whole affair a great deal easier."

Kaiba resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the assertion.

Of course he didn't believe the woman. She was bizarrely fascinated with some supposed to connection to Egypt as well. And despite the fact that some rather strange things had happened since her appearance, nothing quite convinced him of what she'd said.

Not yet at least.

"I don't understand," Yugi's voice was haggard as she straightened herself and peered between Kaiba and Pegasus. "I don't know what's happened or who these rare hunter people are. All I know is what had happened to my grandfather was at your hand. And now you're telling me it wasn't true?"

"Oh it was. And it wasn't." Pegasus replied cryptically. "And I'm never going to deny my hand in the whole affair, don't you worry. You are justified in your anger towards me. But, I did not commit to that crime of my own free will. Mostly. There were outside forces at work there. My hands were tied."

"That doesn't answer my questions," Yugi replied tersely, her kittenish anger bubbling to the surface as she frowned at the taller man before her. "You can't talk in circles. I need to know what's going on."

Though she wasn't too intimidating in her own right, Kaiba had to respect the ferocity of her remark and the determination he saw swirling in her eyes.

"No his reply does not answer your questions," Isis remarked softly, angling towards Yugi. Kaiba noted that the woman scanned the girl's wounds and disheveled appearances carefully. "Though I had hoped that the letter and photographs would have."

Letter?

Photographs?

This was the first he'd heard of those. What did Isis mean by…

"They were destroyed." Yugi replied a bit morosely, letting out a long sigh as she listed a shaky hand to run through her tangled and mussed hair. "I'd only gotten a glimpse at them before I was...attacked and they were taken from me. I don't...I don't know what was in the letter."

The Spirit tensed at the response the girl made, his anger boiling at the memory of Yugi's all too recent brush with the enemy. Moreso, though, he was angered by the guilt he could sense roiling off of the girl at the realization that she'd lost those photographs and the unread letter.

She seemed to blame herself.

Which was absurd given the circumstances she'd been under. It'd been a miracle that she'd managed to escape her assailants to begin with.

And yet, the girl seemed to focus on her ineptitude rather than the reality of the situation and her sheer resilience for escaping altogether.

"The photographs were evidence of your family's relationship to the Egyptian items. I had retrieved them from the hunters themselves. As for the letter," Isis' voice was muted from The Spirit's vantage within the long hall that connected their soul rooms. Nevertheless, he strained to listen and understand what had happened, pressing an apology when Yugi winced due to his intrusion.

"The letter contained information as to the whereabouts of the some of the other items as well as a testimony from Sugoroku's colleague during their younger years. He gave verifications to their exploits and declared knowledge of maps to the locations where they'd found the puzzle and other items."

He felt Yugi stiffen a wave of horror washing over her as she'd listened to Isis' words. Unbidden, images of the puzzle's box and her grandfather flowed through Yugi's thoughts.

"But if someone else has the knowledge of the whereabouts of the items, why aren't we trying to protect them? They're in danger!"

Yugi's voice had risen, a trill of panic coloring her tone. He could feeling the ire and concern rising within her as she'd listened to Isis. Another image of an older gentleman with well kept white hair, trimmed mustache, and a thin frame flashed before The Spirit's eyes and he wondered if this were the man…?

Of course it was.

But-and the Spirit frowned-something felt familiar about this story and about the knowledge that it had been Sugoroku who had found the puzzle in Egypt. He supposed it could have been because of his connection to Yugi's memories that might be fueling the familiarity. But…

He shook his head to dispel the unease that had settled in his belly.

There was the briefest flash of a dimly lit corridor and a large ledge before the thoughts dissolved and he had to shake his head to return to the present and to the conversation at hand.

Though, he suspected there was much more to the story.

"We haven't been able to find them as of yet. Apparently, someone had warned them of the danger before we could and they've disappeared. At least for now."

That knowledge had both the Spirit and Yugi confused and a bit suspicious. He could feel and hear Yugi's thoughts and they mimicked his own. Both wondered who might have alerted this friend of Sugoroku when they, themselves, had had no warning.

"So what do we do then?"

Jou's voice cut through the muffled and confused thoughts that were swirling through Yugi's mind and the Spirit was riveted by the thread of suspicion he felt Yugi exhibit towards her friend.

Honestly, it surprised him. Why would Yugi be wary of Jou?

"Nothing you need to worry about, mut" Kaiba's low, biting tone filtered through.

And here too, Yugi exhibited a thread of suspicion towards her comrade (though this didn't surprise the Spirit as much).

"We have to draw them out and bring the items together" Isis remarked, ignoring both boys it seemed. Her voice was level and calming, if firm. "We can't afford to quarrel and we cannot afford to let this opportunity pass us by."

"And how do you expect us to do that then?" Kaiba retorted heatedly, "Why are we to put our families on the line for your problem? Last I checked, it wasn't my problem, nor do I care about these 'mystical' items as you've declared them to be."

Items?

Multiple items like the puzzle?

This was interesting information.

And the Spirit wondered if that meant that there were other spirits involved with these items as well?

"You doubt?"

Isis seemed perturbed by Kaiba's obvious indifference to her declaration and it set Yugi a little ill at ease as she watched the situation unfold before her. In the back of her mind she could feel the Spirit's curiosity and the questions that seemed to be bubbling beneath the surface of his thoughts, blending into her own.

She had an idea about something...something she wasn't sure if she could or should voice right now. Not to these people, but perhaps the Spirit might listen.

His consciousness nudged at her own, curiosity ebbing into her concerned and convoluted thoughts.

But it was more concerning what was happening at the moment, between the grouchy young CEO who sat with arms folded across his chest, hair mussed and blue eyes cold and assessing as he scowled at the woman before him.

He wouldn't meet Yugi's curious gaze.

Not that Yugi could blame him. She'd hardly believed it herself only a short while , after being thrust into this whole mess and meeting a Pharaoh and other colorful characters-even one that looked like Kaiba himself-she was a bit more willing to accept what was happening (even if she didn't agree with it).

That's not to say that she wasn't more accepting of the fanciful or magical. Afterall, she did have a grandfather who'd filled her head with stories of far off expeditions and daring games. And she was somewhat fascinated with the world of gaming and the mystical creatures of the duel monsters universe.

Even Kaiba was like that too. But, for so long-she suspected-he'd pushed aside childish aspirations and imaginings in favor of a working model that would keep his company afloat. So, even though he knew and appreciated dueling and the world of the game, he wasn't as willing to fall into the story, into the fantasy of that world.

"I have not reason to believe anything you've told me. I hold no connection to Yugi Mutou other than our singular duel. Nor do I care to associate with Maximillion Pegasus who has proven himself nothing but a philandering thief."

"Now now, Kaiba-boy, I resent that assertion about me" Pegasus retorted somewhat agitatedly. "You're not quite filled in with the entirety of the situation. Nor is Yugi-dear here. Best let the lady finish her remarks before you cast judgment."

"Not" Kaiab's voice was steel as he leaned closer to Pegasus, his lips pulled into a deep frown. "I'm tired of listening to this. All I want is my brother back and if I find the person who did this then you can guarantee that I'll exact justice on them. I don't need you stories about Pharaohs and live monsters or anything of the sort."

"Live duel monsters?"

The question fell from the girl's lips before she even turned towards Kaiba, a spark of curiosity alighting her senses as the notion that he knew some of what she knew as well. "She told you about live duel monsters?"

"Don't go getting any ideas there, Mutou," Kaiba spat out a reply, unwavering in his staring match against Pegasus. "It's nothing but lies meant to distract."

The girl swallowed warring with herself for only a moment before she frowned at Kaiba.

"But it's not. I've seen them" She remarked softly, "I've-I've been there to see those live duel monsters. It's true."

At that, her dark haired classmate turned towards her, eyes narrowed with such a ferocity that Yugi had to resist the urge to shudder.

"You're insane," He retorted softly, "You're all insane. What a ridiculous argument for their story." he muttered "You think your word matters? You have no proof."

'But you do, Yugi' the Spirit's voice echoed in her ears 'You could try to show them.'

And for a moment, the girl almost agreed, and almost fell into the temptation to try to show Kaiba that he was wrong, that his pride and surety were misplaced.

And yet…

"No I don't have proof other than my word," she finally remarked, rubbing a tender spot on her wrist, "But that makes it no less true. You can see for yourself that I...that I'm not the same one that got on the plane, can't you."

The comment seemed to have caught Kaiba off guard and he could only nod before pursing his lips in disdain.

"There has to be a better explanation for that," he noted tersely, "Something more logical than magic."

"There isn't." Pegasus interjected, "And you know there isn't. There's something inside the girl that's split her. You can see it. "

"Oi just whaddya mean there, then?" Jou remarked heatedly, "This is the same Yugi."

The girl sighed, a tingle of trepidation fueling her next response to her friend.

"It's not though," She remarked. "I mean, I am Yugi, but there's...there's another part of me that you've met before. It's an ancient entity from the...puzzle."

She could sense the tense reaction from the Spirit as she finally remarked on what'd been going on with her to her friend.

She couldn't keep it a secret any longer, couldn't hide the truth any longer.

'Not that there was much to hide to the observant human race' the Spirit snorted in her head.

Jou placed a warm hand on her shoulder, his chocolate eyes warm, and a gentle smile on his lips.

But her veins turned cold as her friend tightened his grip on that same shoulder, causing the girl to wince. A bitter, unfamiliar laugh, escaped the blonde boy's lips.

"Another entity, you say? I might assert it as stupidity that your friend couldn't have figured that out sooner." Jou's voice was lower than normal, sending Yugi into a wary defensiveness as she tried to pull away from her friend.

Jou's grip only tightened further, his other hand coming to rest on the girl's other shoulder, as painful and tight as the first.

"Though, given your reaction, I'd say you're also far stupider than I originally thought." He intoned, the hint of smirk in his voice, "You'll never win against the oncoming storm. You'll never succeed in saving him."

The hesitation she'd felt towards her friend hadn't been misplaced and for that Yugi was grateful, though she was also felt a horror at the reality as well.

Her friend had been hurt and corrupted by whatever had been after her...and her grandfather.

"What's the matter, little lily," Jou crooned, a sinister bite in his comment, "Worried about your little lap dog? Don't fear, I won't harm him too much. Though I can't say the same for you. I need that puzzle you see, and I intend to get it."

Her friend-corrupted as he was-gently fingered the chain about her neck, never quite reaching for the puzzle itself.

The same puzzle that was buzzing against the girl's breast as the Spirit's anger was rising.

'How dare he. I will not allow-'

Yugi tamped down the Spirit's push to take over.

'No. He is my friend'

Jou-but not Jou-squeezed her shoulders again, this time eliciting a wince from her as he smirked down on her, eyes hooded and aloof.

"Come now, friend, it'd be easier if you just gave it up willingly" he crooned softly, "Wouldn't want anything to happen to your friends now would we?"

"Marik!"

Again Yugi pushed the Spirit back, willing him to stay still for just a little longer as Yugi was ripped away from Jou's imposing person.

"Silence you betrayer," Jou spat, glowering towards the young woman as a flash of lighting lit the cabin. "You have no right to speak to me. And your plan to exorcise me as has failed. Jounouchi Katsuya is too weak to fight back. And I will get what is mine."