.
*Seto's POV*
I sat typing at my computer, carefully looking up the God cards and their power…soon I would have all of them in my possession and be the King of Games…
As I overlooked the God of Ra and its special ability, I realized that I could read the inscriptions on the card on my computer screen…why?
My thoughts turned to the ability it held-One Turn Kill. I clasped my hands in front of me, smirking…I could activate One Turn Kill and be invincible.
Suddenly I felt a tug from the inside, like a forewarning. I frowned, trying to ignore it and continue working. I had never believed in things such as intuitions or psychic abilities.
"Nii-sama…" I heard my younger brother stir from sleep in the chair to my right. He lifted a hand, rubbing his eyes.
"N-nii-sama…you should be in bed…you have to prepare for the finals…" He shifted, causing my coat to slide off of him slightly.
"Hai, Mokuba. Wakatta," I didn't look up from typing.
…
"N-nii-sama…" Apparently he wasn't going to give up. I sighed, hesitating.
"Kaiba-sama!" Two of my employees burst into my room, inviting themselves in.
"What is it?" I growled, turning in my chair. I thought I had told them not to bother me while I was working…I noticed Mokuba frown out of the corner of my eye; he had been trying to stop them from intruding also.
I crossed my arms as they panted, as if in a hurry to get to me. Of course I wasn't worried; it was probably just something that damn Yugi had done.
"Kaiba-sama…*pant* someone was dueling…*pant* on the arena at the *pant* top of the air ship…*pant pant*" I frowned too, somewhat interested now. Could this really be serious?
"Do you know who it was?" I awaited an answer from the panting men in suits. Weren't they overreacting?
When one of them finally caught his breath, he spoke up. "Duelist number 6 and Duelist number 4, sir!" My eyes widened…duelist number 6…Bakura?!
I heard my voice shake slightly so I cleared my throat. "Why were they dueling?" Bakura had lost to Yugi…something wasn't right here.
"We saw Yugi Motou up there; he explained everything. It seems that Number 6 and Number 4-"
"They have names," I interrupted.
"R-right…Bakura and Malik were dueling in some sort of Shadow Game. Apparently Bakura lost…Kaiba-sama, Bakura's dead!"
It took a moment for those words to sink in. "N-nani?" Had I heard correctly…? Bakura…dead?
"He was lost in the Shadows…" The men looked confused as I stood up, shaking slightly.
"Thank you," I dismissed them from the room.
"Nii-sama?" Mokuba looked up at me confused at my behavior. "Daijoubu des ka?"
"H-hai Mokuba…" I collapsed into my chair, still trembling. "Perhaps you should go the bed now..."
"Y-yosh.." He watched me worriedly slowly leaving the room.
I felt strangely weak, those words repeating in my head. "Bakura's dead!" My heart had skipped a few beats at those words that only a few months would have meant nothing to me. I had come to love him...I regretted all that time I could have spent with him, but didn't. I could've loved him so much earlier…
And what of Ryou? Ryou…I had always liked his kindness and gentle ways…would he be lost to me forever also?
Standing up, I managed to regain my composure. I rarely let anyone see me upset. Also, instead of sitting around and getting upset, I take action. There had to be something I could do.
I clenched my fists, composing myself into the calmest manner I could. There had to be an explanation. I would not be convinced without further proof.
I made my way down hallways that seemed endless, looking for…well, anything. Any sign of Bakura or even life in this place…
Unfortunately, I did see someone. I noticed Yugi standing there too late, before I could avoid him.
"Kaiba," He called out to me, walking this way. I frowned, crossing my arms, trying to be patient.
"What is it, Yugi?" practically spat out at him. He, however, seemed unfazed.
"I wanted to tell you about Bakura," I was surprised. He was actually being useful… "Marik defeated him in a Shadow Game…only one less duelist from the finals, right?" He winked at me, grinning.
I stood there, feeling numb, wanting to punch him for those words. He treated Bakura like a toy, just something in the way. How could he speak of the power of friendship and the heart of the cards? It only made it seem more fake to me…
"Kaiba?" He looked up at me, confused. I couldn't reply, my throat growing tight and my lips going dry. This wasn't happening…
As he called my name again, I turned and fled down the hallways again, not seeing where I was going. I finally ended up in my office, that all-too-familiar place…pushing the door open, only to slam it behind me, I collapsed in my chair that I had been sitting in only moments before.
Yugi had witnessed it. Yugi had talked about Bakura's death as if it were nothing. As if he were simply another enemy to be eliminated. I felt my body shaking with rage….at Malik, at Yugi, but mostly at myself.
Almost everyone I came to know and love had been taken from me. I should've realized the impact I would have on Bakura…I had been aware of his intense need to get revenge on Malik for what he'd done to me. If not for me, Bakura would still be alive now. I felt as if I had betrayed him.
My whole being felt as if it were going numb…I could see Bakura around me, all around me, and yet he wasn't there. He was gone now. Ryou, too…he had hoped that we would make each other happy…
* * *
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow
Every step I take is another mistake to you
Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow
I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I've become so tired so much more aware
I've becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
Can't you see that you're smothering me
Holding too tightly afraid to lose control
*Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you*
Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow
And every second I waste is more than I can take
**And I know
I may end up failing too
But I know
You were just like me with someone disappointed in you**
* * *
It felt like it was more than I could take. I put my head in my arms on the desk, feeling my chest tightening as I told myself not to cry…all those memories of life at the orphanage, life with my stepfather, came rushing to my head at once. I had been such a fool. All my life I had been searching for one thing, and when I finally had it, it slipped from my grasp.
It seemed like more than I could take. Tears streaming silently down my face now, I grit my teeth. Now that I had lost the one thing essential for life, what was the point of living?…thoughts of suicide filled my mind as I closed my eyes, still resting my head on my arms, sobbing softly.
"Seto…Seto…" I heard a voice calling out to me…as I opened my eyes and looked up, I saw Bakura standing there, grinning cockily at me like he always did.
"What happened to my King of Games?" He smirked at me, lifting my chin with his hand. "Stop…no reason to cry." He wiped the tears gently from my eyes.
"Now don't worry about me, Seto, I'm not dead. You can't kill me that easily…although I'm going to kill that bastard Mariku for doing this to me…" I could only blink at him.
"I'm coming back, Seto. Stop worrying. What you should be worrying about is the finals that are coming up." I felt his soft lips on mine… "I love you. Don't forget. And remember Ryou, too." I watched his eyes soften as he pulled out a card, placing it on my arm. "It was always his favorite…"
I sat up abruptly, then realized that it was only a dream…but how could it be? It was so realistic…
It was then I noticed my eyes were dry…coincidence…? As I raised my arms off of the desk, a card fell in my lap. Looking down at it, my heart pounding, I turned it over to reveal the Change of Heart. Examining it closely, I noticed both sides, both of which I had come to love. The hikari side, which had led me from the darkness, and the yami side, which directed me towards the light…
That had been the first time Bakura confessed his love to me. Somehow, it gave me new hope, something to live for.
*Bakura's POV*
I grinned to myself, leaning on a knee and gazing around the large labyrinth. Indeed, Yami no Malik had not gotten rid of me completely. I had sealed soul in a piece of Yugi's Puzzle so long ago, just for times like this.
I had been able to summon the last bit of energy from my Ring to come to Seto in his dreams. I had been worried he would react like this…
Looking around the large labyrinth of Yugi's soul room with interest, I decided to put off gathering the Millennium Items for a while. Maybe I could find the room that held the secrets to his soul while I waited…and maybe somehow I would regain my body…to go back to Seto where I was meant to be.
***The End***
(So, we're finally at the end. ^^; Did you like it? I, for one, am not really pleased with how I wrote this chapter. The characters seemed..yes out of character again. Hm. Well, I was just wondering the nice people who read this would kindly state in a review which chapter was their favorite? =3
PLEASE review!!!
And thank you so much for all your time and commitment to reading my fanfic. ^-^)
*Seto's POV*
I sat typing at my computer, carefully looking up the God cards and their power…soon I would have all of them in my possession and be the King of Games…
As I overlooked the God of Ra and its special ability, I realized that I could read the inscriptions on the card on my computer screen…why?
My thoughts turned to the ability it held-One Turn Kill. I clasped my hands in front of me, smirking…I could activate One Turn Kill and be invincible.
Suddenly I felt a tug from the inside, like a forewarning. I frowned, trying to ignore it and continue working. I had never believed in things such as intuitions or psychic abilities.
"Nii-sama…" I heard my younger brother stir from sleep in the chair to my right. He lifted a hand, rubbing his eyes.
"N-nii-sama…you should be in bed…you have to prepare for the finals…" He shifted, causing my coat to slide off of him slightly.
"Hai, Mokuba. Wakatta," I didn't look up from typing.
…
"N-nii-sama…" Apparently he wasn't going to give up. I sighed, hesitating.
"Kaiba-sama!" Two of my employees burst into my room, inviting themselves in.
"What is it?" I growled, turning in my chair. I thought I had told them not to bother me while I was working…I noticed Mokuba frown out of the corner of my eye; he had been trying to stop them from intruding also.
I crossed my arms as they panted, as if in a hurry to get to me. Of course I wasn't worried; it was probably just something that damn Yugi had done.
"Kaiba-sama…*pant* someone was dueling…*pant* on the arena at the *pant* top of the air ship…*pant pant*" I frowned too, somewhat interested now. Could this really be serious?
"Do you know who it was?" I awaited an answer from the panting men in suits. Weren't they overreacting?
When one of them finally caught his breath, he spoke up. "Duelist number 6 and Duelist number 4, sir!" My eyes widened…duelist number 6…Bakura?!
I heard my voice shake slightly so I cleared my throat. "Why were they dueling?" Bakura had lost to Yugi…something wasn't right here.
"We saw Yugi Motou up there; he explained everything. It seems that Number 6 and Number 4-"
"They have names," I interrupted.
"R-right…Bakura and Malik were dueling in some sort of Shadow Game. Apparently Bakura lost…Kaiba-sama, Bakura's dead!"
It took a moment for those words to sink in. "N-nani?" Had I heard correctly…? Bakura…dead?
"He was lost in the Shadows…" The men looked confused as I stood up, shaking slightly.
"Thank you," I dismissed them from the room.
"Nii-sama?" Mokuba looked up at me confused at my behavior. "Daijoubu des ka?"
"H-hai Mokuba…" I collapsed into my chair, still trembling. "Perhaps you should go the bed now..."
"Y-yosh.." He watched me worriedly slowly leaving the room.
I felt strangely weak, those words repeating in my head. "Bakura's dead!" My heart had skipped a few beats at those words that only a few months would have meant nothing to me. I had come to love him...I regretted all that time I could have spent with him, but didn't. I could've loved him so much earlier…
And what of Ryou? Ryou…I had always liked his kindness and gentle ways…would he be lost to me forever also?
Standing up, I managed to regain my composure. I rarely let anyone see me upset. Also, instead of sitting around and getting upset, I take action. There had to be something I could do.
I clenched my fists, composing myself into the calmest manner I could. There had to be an explanation. I would not be convinced without further proof.
I made my way down hallways that seemed endless, looking for…well, anything. Any sign of Bakura or even life in this place…
Unfortunately, I did see someone. I noticed Yugi standing there too late, before I could avoid him.
"Kaiba," He called out to me, walking this way. I frowned, crossing my arms, trying to be patient.
"What is it, Yugi?" practically spat out at him. He, however, seemed unfazed.
"I wanted to tell you about Bakura," I was surprised. He was actually being useful… "Marik defeated him in a Shadow Game…only one less duelist from the finals, right?" He winked at me, grinning.
I stood there, feeling numb, wanting to punch him for those words. He treated Bakura like a toy, just something in the way. How could he speak of the power of friendship and the heart of the cards? It only made it seem more fake to me…
"Kaiba?" He looked up at me, confused. I couldn't reply, my throat growing tight and my lips going dry. This wasn't happening…
As he called my name again, I turned and fled down the hallways again, not seeing where I was going. I finally ended up in my office, that all-too-familiar place…pushing the door open, only to slam it behind me, I collapsed in my chair that I had been sitting in only moments before.
Yugi had witnessed it. Yugi had talked about Bakura's death as if it were nothing. As if he were simply another enemy to be eliminated. I felt my body shaking with rage….at Malik, at Yugi, but mostly at myself.
Almost everyone I came to know and love had been taken from me. I should've realized the impact I would have on Bakura…I had been aware of his intense need to get revenge on Malik for what he'd done to me. If not for me, Bakura would still be alive now. I felt as if I had betrayed him.
My whole being felt as if it were going numb…I could see Bakura around me, all around me, and yet he wasn't there. He was gone now. Ryou, too…he had hoped that we would make each other happy…
* * *
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow
Every step I take is another mistake to you
Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow
I've become so numb I can't feel you there
I've become so tired so much more aware
I've becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
Can't you see that you're smothering me
Holding too tightly afraid to lose control
*Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you*
Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
Caught in the undertow just caught in the undertow
And every second I waste is more than I can take
**And I know
I may end up failing too
But I know
You were just like me with someone disappointed in you**
* * *
It felt like it was more than I could take. I put my head in my arms on the desk, feeling my chest tightening as I told myself not to cry…all those memories of life at the orphanage, life with my stepfather, came rushing to my head at once. I had been such a fool. All my life I had been searching for one thing, and when I finally had it, it slipped from my grasp.
It seemed like more than I could take. Tears streaming silently down my face now, I grit my teeth. Now that I had lost the one thing essential for life, what was the point of living?…thoughts of suicide filled my mind as I closed my eyes, still resting my head on my arms, sobbing softly.
"Seto…Seto…" I heard a voice calling out to me…as I opened my eyes and looked up, I saw Bakura standing there, grinning cockily at me like he always did.
"What happened to my King of Games?" He smirked at me, lifting my chin with his hand. "Stop…no reason to cry." He wiped the tears gently from my eyes.
"Now don't worry about me, Seto, I'm not dead. You can't kill me that easily…although I'm going to kill that bastard Mariku for doing this to me…" I could only blink at him.
"I'm coming back, Seto. Stop worrying. What you should be worrying about is the finals that are coming up." I felt his soft lips on mine… "I love you. Don't forget. And remember Ryou, too." I watched his eyes soften as he pulled out a card, placing it on my arm. "It was always his favorite…"
I sat up abruptly, then realized that it was only a dream…but how could it be? It was so realistic…
It was then I noticed my eyes were dry…coincidence…? As I raised my arms off of the desk, a card fell in my lap. Looking down at it, my heart pounding, I turned it over to reveal the Change of Heart. Examining it closely, I noticed both sides, both of which I had come to love. The hikari side, which had led me from the darkness, and the yami side, which directed me towards the light…
That had been the first time Bakura confessed his love to me. Somehow, it gave me new hope, something to live for.
*Bakura's POV*
I grinned to myself, leaning on a knee and gazing around the large labyrinth. Indeed, Yami no Malik had not gotten rid of me completely. I had sealed soul in a piece of Yugi's Puzzle so long ago, just for times like this.
I had been able to summon the last bit of energy from my Ring to come to Seto in his dreams. I had been worried he would react like this…
Looking around the large labyrinth of Yugi's soul room with interest, I decided to put off gathering the Millennium Items for a while. Maybe I could find the room that held the secrets to his soul while I waited…and maybe somehow I would regain my body…to go back to Seto where I was meant to be.
***The End***
(So, we're finally at the end. ^^; Did you like it? I, for one, am not really pleased with how I wrote this chapter. The characters seemed..yes out of character again. Hm. Well, I was just wondering the nice people who read this would kindly state in a review which chapter was their favorite? =3
PLEASE review!!!
And thank you so much for all your time and commitment to reading my fanfic. ^-^)