Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Summoning Death ❯ Chapter Three: Dark Spirit and Aphrodite ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh! is owned by its creator, Kabuki Takahashi and its respective anime companies. I'm borrowing the characters and ideas for a nonprofit fan fiction written solely for the enjoyment of myself, and hopefully others.

All rights and privileges to Gundam Wing are trademarks and property of Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties. The characters of these works are used WITHOUT permission for the purpose of entertainment only. This work of fiction is not meant for sale or profit.

Author's Notes: To fully understand this fan fic, which is part of a much larger arc, I highly suggest that you read Animom's "KP Duty" and the first two chapters of the sequel "Coming Clean". I am blessed that she allowed me to play this story in her richly written AU arc about what really happened when Seto Kaiba lost his soul to Pegasus. These stories are about recovery and coming to terms with oneself after the unthinkable happens.

Again, I cannot stress how good these stories are and I am unable to find the words to fully convey my feelings on this subject.

The air rank heavily of brimstone. The sulfuric smell burned Duo's nostrils. It wafted off the glowing scarlet pools of lava below. The intense red light flickered off the dark cavern walls as the lava popped and boiled furiously.

The heavy cuffs around Duo's wrists chaffed at his skin. His arms were flung wide and chained to a stone tablet very much like a cross. He could feel the intense heat rising from below as sweat trickled down his brow and dampened his braid.

Hell. He created a virtual Hell. Now, all I need is a demon tormenting me and it'll be perfect.

Duo blinked as he saw a purple bowler rise from the ground. Following the hat was a head of rich yellow hair, pointed bronze ears and snapping emerald eyes. Duo watched as a slender form continued to rise from the ground, dressed in a sharp matching purple suit.

The pupil-less green eyes shimmered as they looked Duo over. In a honeyed voice, the creature purred, "What a pretty new sacrifice for the dragon." He reached a gloved hand out and gently tilted Duo's face up to look better.

And I wanted to play this because . . . ?

Duo snapped his face away with a smirk. He chided, "Ahahah, no touching, pal."

"And you were captured rather quickly, weren't you? Shame, shame on you," the creature, ("The Witty Phantom" from the flashing letters that appeared beside him) taunted.

Then, suddenly, the Phantom froze. His image wavered back and forth as his eyes looked down at his form. He looked up at Duo and demanded, "What did you do?"

"Looks like de-pixelation, buddy. Looks like you're coming apart," Duo retorted with a grin as the Phantom's image grew increasingly static by the moment.

The Phantom raised his white gloved hands and cried, "No, it's not supposed to be like this! I'm programmed to torment my captives!"

Duo watched as the Phantom cried out. His image shattered in an array of pieces, flying into the program. The Phantom's cry echoed throughout the cavern as the cavern deteriorated.

Duo looked up at the VR Pod and blinked. "Program Error, end program," the AI's voice said through the system.

He rubbed his eyes and asked, "Computer, what happened?"

The AI answered, "Program: Witty Phantom has been deleted, Duo."

"By who?" Duo asked as he climbed out of the Pod.

The feminine voice answered, "Seto Kaiba."

"But it was getting good," Duo yawned, realizing the lag had made him sleepy. I wish I was that creative. I thought I was in Hell for a few brief moments. Fuck, I don't wanna know what happened to Seto to make him create something like that.

The AI retorted, "You were on for only 79.5 minutes - and captured rather quickly, I might add."

"Hey, I don't have a Duel Monsters deck, remember," Duo replied defensively as he stifled another yawn.

He flopped into the chair and idly spun around. He looked at the various books lying on the floor again in the soft blue glow of the screen. The computer stated, "That is why you lost so quickly."

"Oh, bite me," Duo retorted absently as he picked up a copy of Terry Pratchett's Mort and started thumbing through it.

The AI replied, "If I had the equipment, I might be tempted to do so."

"Seto programed you to be a smartass, didn't he . . ." Duo saw, in small letters, MLE right under the massive screen, "Millie."

"Millie?" the computer asked in a confused tone.

Duo put the book down and chirped, "Well, you gotta have a name. I can't keep calling you Computer or AI. So, Millie."

"Millie . . ." she said, trying it out, "I think I like it. Thank you, Duo."

Duo shrugged and yawned again. He looked down at his watch. He had about four hours until he was scheduled to meet Mai and get his answers. And he was going to ask Mai to help him meet Yugi Mutou.

As he drifted off to sleep, he thought, And why did the Princess look like Mokuba, anyway?

In Mai's vast experience, men rarely showed up on time. An even rarer occurrence was when a man showed up early. So, one could understand her surprise when she saw Duo Maxwell sitting at a table at the outdoor café that she had chosen fifteen minutes early.

He lowered his black sunglasses to look around and smiled brightly when he spotted Mai. She grinned as she lifted her hand in greeting. Duo pulled off the sunglasses and placed them into the pocket of his shirt. She had to admit that he looked even tastier today in black leather pants, combat boots, and a red tee flashing under the black, short-sleeved dress-shirt.

"Hi," Duo said as he gestured to a chair.

Mai grinned and replied, "Hello, you're early."

"Is that a problem?" Duo asked playfully as she sat down. Mai noted that he sat so he was facing everyone in the café, and only the window was at his back.

She shrugged and answered, "Just surprising, that's all. And, let me tell you, I'm rarely surprised."

"Oh, I'm full of surprises," Duo replied flirtatiously, fluttering his lashes at her.

Mai chuckled, "I figured as much."

Duo said, "You wanted to talk, right, about Seto?"

"You get right down to business, don't you?" Mai asked, bemused by this boy. Maybe he's exactly what Kaiba needs. Someone to open up his eyes. Someone to get him out of his shell.

Duo shrugged and replied, "I'm very direct."

"I've noticed that," Mai said as she tossed her hair. She grinned at Duo and said, "But first, let's get something to eat."

Duo looked relived and said, "Oh, good. I'm starving."

One played a tricky game when a woman offered to buy them food. It was a game of chance, obviously. You could offend them by refusing their offer, make them think that you're cheap because you took the offer, or, if one was really sneaky, like Duo could be, make them think that you were a wonderful guy who wasn't afraid of a woman's independence and strength.

Luckily, Duo had struck gold with the later. Plus, he hadn't been his usual gluttonous self when he ordered either. I can't believe I fell asleep at the computer. I never fall asleep at the computer. That's more of a Heero thing to do.

Ack, don't think about Heero. That only leads to brooding and banging my head against a blunt object while cursing myself. Focus on Seto. He's the one who needs help, not your own stupid self and stupid problems, Duo.

In the middle of a Chef Salad, Mai asked, "So, what are you doing?"

"Well, first I'd like to meet Yugi Mutou," Duo answered.

Mai blinked, spun her fork, speared a tomato slice and replied, "Oh?"

"I don't wanna think about the full details until I've met Yugi and some of his friends," Duo answered as he took a swig of his Coke, the caffeine bringing him back to life.

Mai leaned forward and asked, "How come?"

Duo sat back in his chair and scratched his head. He studied her for a moment and sighed. He leaned forward, tossing his braid back so it wouldn't trail in ketchup.

"First off, if my instincts are right about what happened to Seto, I'm not going to be a happy camper, and I've got this problem where I let my emotions get the better of me, so I don't wanna know anything until I get an impression after I've observed Yugi. Besides, Seto's got issues about people, and I think he had them way before this Duelist Kingdom thing," Duo answered truthfully, his mood darkening.

Mai's amethyst eyes sparkled as she chuckled. She lifted her cappuccino in a toast. She said, "Damn, you're good. I think you've hit the nail right on the head."

"I have my moments," Duo replied slyly.

Mai mused, "Still, one thing's bugging me." She toyed with a golden curl between her manicured fingers as she studied Duo.

Duo asked, "What's that, babe?"

"First off, don't call me babe," Mai chided with a wink and a grin.

Duo chuckled, "What's that, Mistress Mai?"

"Better. I like a man who knows his place and can treat a lady with respect," Mai reflected approvingly.
Duo shrugged and retorted, "Well, when the woman's as pretty as you are, it's hard not to. Still, what's bugging you?"

"How on Earth did Seto Kaiba get involved with someone like you? People don't appear out of nowhere," Mai stated, watching Duo's reaction with keen interest.

Duo sighed and answered, "I'm Death."

"Huna?" Mai's mouth had dropped as she stared at Duo.

Duo shrugged and explained, "Rather, a Death. There's a bunch of us out there, lurking in other dimensions, getting summoned, running errands, and so on."

"You've gotta be kidding," Mai retorted.

Duo cracked his knuckles and shook his head. He answered, "Nope. Not kidding."

"Get real. You're telling me that you're Death?" Mai asked in amazement as she reached out and touched Duo's arm.

Duo nodded. Mai crossed her arms over her ample chest and stated, "Prove it."

"You don't want me to do that," Duo warned, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

Mai gestured and taunted, "Why not? Afraid?"

"Actually, yeah. I'm not one of the 'nice' Deaths. I tend to come along with massacres and wars," Duo answered darkly, looking down at his drink.

Mai's eyes widened with realization as her fingers gripped her mug. She asked in a soft, cautious voice, "Kaiba brought you here, didn't he?"

"He Summoned me, yeah. For Vengeance," Duo answered, meeting Mai's eyes.

Mai asked, "Why haven't you gone after Pegasus?"

"For one thing, his death wouldn't really help Seto. Seto needs help, not Vengeance," Duo explained.

Mai met his gaze head on, her ruby lips tilting up ever so slightly. "The best vengeance is living well."

Duo beamed at the blond as she clinked her mug to his glass.

Mai's grin was wicked as she sat down her mug. She stated, "Now, let's introduce you to the Yugi-tachi."

"Just what I had in mind, Mai," Duo replied as he stood up and offered his arm.

Mai took it and Duo helped her up. She smiled at him and quipped, "And they say that chivalry is dead."

"Well, I haven't killed it yet," Duo retorted, causing Mai to laugh as they walked out of the café.

The Kame Game Shop was rather impressive, actually, well marked and everything. Standing outside was a dwarf-like man wearing a tight skull cap with some sort of Arabic symbol on it sweeping the steps. He looked up at them and smiled brightly when he saw Mai.

Duo almost laughed at the way he rushed over to the voluptuous blond and beamed up at her. Mai grinned down and tossed her magnificent hair off of her shoulders. The old man's purple eyes almost bulged out of his head when she did that.

She said, "Hi, Sugoroku."

"Hello Mai, you're looking rather robust today," Sugoroku replied as he leered up at her. Duo turned around so that the older man wouldn't hear him snicker.

Mai awkwardly replied, "Thank you. Is Yugi here?"

"Oh . . . Yeah, he's in the store," the old man answered absently, mainly due to the fact he was right on eye level with Mai's breasts.

Duo quipped, "Nice view?"

Mai glared at him as the old man spun to look at him, as if he finally noticed that Duo was standing beside Mai. Duo innocently looked up at the sign above the door. He was trying not to laugh, but it was getting harder and harder by the moment.

Mai sighed as she strolled past them, her hips swaying slightly because of her high heeled boots, making her rump sway becomingly under the tight purple mini she was wearing. Duo watched as Sugoroku did. Sugoroku answered, "Very nice indeed."

"Yeah, I'm looking too," Duo confessed with a wink as he ran after Mai.

Sugoroku shook himself and chided, "I have no idea what you're talking about, young man!"

Duo laughed as Mai rolled her eyes and pushed open the door. A tiny bell rang to announce their presence. Mai strolled confidently in, and Duo walked right beside her, looking around.

"Jonouchi, this is a really good card," the boy that Duo had seen yesterday had said, the one with the hair that looked like a pot leaf. Yugi Mutou.

He was talking to a gangly teen with a wild mop of dark blond hair, good looking in a scruffy sort of way. Standing beside the blond was a tall brunet with a hair style even stranger than Yugi's. His dark hair was stuck up to a sharp point. Standing beside Yugi, looking over his slight shoulder, was a shapely yet athletic girl with shoulder length brown hair cut in a stylish bob.

Mai delicately cleared her throat. The blond's head whipped around, his face brightened up, and he practically rushed over to her side. He wrapped an arm playfully around her shoulders, which she promptly shrugged off with a teasing grin.

"Hey, Mai, how ya doing?" he asked as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

The girl looked over at Duo and he smiled. Her eyes traveled down Duo's form as she asked, "Hey, Mai, who's your friend?"

The blond's hazel eyes flickered over Duo before he glared protectively. "And does Jonouchi need to find another girlfriend?" the boy with the pointy hair taunted, causing the blond, Jonouchi, to glare.

Mai grinned as she gestured grandly at Duo. She said, "Lady and Gentlemen, let me present Duo Maxwell."

"Hi," Duo replied as Yugi bounded over to him and shook his hand.

The gold pyramid gleamed in the store's flourescent lights. The boy's huge, friendly purple eyes looked up at Duo. He said, "Hi, I'm Yugi. Nice to meet you."

"We don't get many travelers here. Nice to see a new face, I'm Anzu Mazaki," the girl said, shaking her hand after Yugi and cheerfully smiling at him.

The Pointy Haired Guy nodded and said, "Welcome to Domino City, I'm Hiroto Honda."

Jonouchi was still glaring at him and Mai nudged him. She asked, "Aren't you going to introduce yourself?"

"Katsuya Jonouchi," the blond grunted with a curt nod.

Duo grinned and replied, "Duo Maxwell."

"So, Duo, where are you from?" Yugi asked as he leaned back on the counter.

Duo shrugged and answered, "A bit of everywhere actually. I'm an American by birth though."

"America, cool. I'd give anything to study there," Anzu said wistfully.

Jonouchi asked sharply, "So, why are you here?"

"He's visiting Kaiba," Mai answered smoothly.

Jonouchi snorted, "Why would you wanna do that?"

Mai answered again, "Duo's a chess player."

Duo felt some sort of dark power flicker from where Yugi was standing. Duo looked over and saw the Puzzle shimmer with some sort of prismatic light for a moment before returning to its natural state. He took note of it before looking back at Mai and Jonouchi.

"Still, Kaiba. You couldn't pay me to visit that bastard," Jonouchi replied passionately.

Duo's eyebrows lifted as he met Mai's eyes. Duo replied, "He seems like an okay guy to me."

Too suddenly, Jonouchi snapped, "He's an arrogant, stuck up, snobby son of a bitch."

Mai grinned knowingly over Jonouchi's head and Duo nodded. Sure he is, Denial Boy. You just keep telling yourself that, Duo thought with a grin. He said, "But he's a great chess player though. Best match I've had in a long time. And have you seen his computer system? Awe inspiring. I mean, I've been losing sleep because of it."

"You're staying at his house?" Jonouchi spat, "Oh, man, I wouldn't wanna be in your shoes."

Mai winked and Duo tilted his head in response. Duo went on, "And the view from the roof is amazing. We spent last night up there talking."

Jonouchi's glare would have killed if he had the power. Yugi asked, "What did you two talk about?"

"We're both orphans, actually. It's great to relate to someone on that kinda level," Duo answered innocently as Mai nodded with a grin.

Honda asked, "So, you Duel?"

"Naw, just a chess player, that's all," Duo answered mischievously as Anzu and Jonouchi both grabbed Mai's attention. Honda nodded at him before turning to chat along with his friends.

"Who summoned you here?" a deeper, almost sinister version of Yugi's voice asked behind him. Duo felt the dark power swirling around him. The Puzzle's "dark spirit" had finally decided to make an appearance.

Duo replied, "So you know what I am?"

"Yes. I felt your presence the other day while Yugi was walking," the Spirit said. Duo turned around to see a taller version of Yugi standing there, except his black hair now sported a few blond spikes in it and the soft, gentle purple eyes were now sharpened and the color of garnets.

Duo closed his eyes and reached out. He got an impression of age, knowledge, cleverness, power, and a bit of confusion. And the Spirit had a title, of sorts. Standing before him was the King of Games, also known as "Yami no Yugi". Yugi's Darkness, or something like that.

No problem.

"Now, I'll ask this again. Who Summoned you here?" Yami asked.

Duo grinned as he wagged his finger reproachfully at Yami. He chided, "Now, that's between my Summoner and me."

The crimson eyes narrowed as Yami hissed, "Why are you with Kaiba?"

"Like I said, I'm a chess player. I like a good game," Duo answered innocently, giving Yami a taunting smile.

Yami snapped, "If you hurt Kaiba . . ."

"Wow, you're rather possessive, aren't you there, Your Highness?" Duo retorted with another grin.

Yami's eyes widened with realization. Then he shifted his body closer to Duo, causing his leather to creak. The garnet eyes looked him over as he said, "Kaiba's the one who Summoned you here."

"Give a cookie to the Game King," Duo retorted as he crossed his arms and looked down at the Egyptian Spirit.

Yami smirked as he looked Duo over. He threatened, "If Kaiba is harmed in anyway, we'll play a little game."

"You know, you're awful jealous for a couple thousand-year-old Egyptian spirit," Duo mused with a grin.

Yami chuckled as he gave Duo another look before meeting his eyes with arrogant satisfaction. The crimson eyes gleamed as he retorted, "You won't hold his interest."

Duo leaned close to him and whispered in Yami's ear, "I'm not planning to, King of Games."

"Are you mocking me?" Yami sneered as he jerked back and held out his hand aggressively.

Duo naively answered, "Me, never. Still, being on the roof with him last night was very interesting."

Yami fumed, the garnet eyes blazing. He hissed, "You do not comprehend the power that you are dealing with, fiend."

"What, gonna send me to the Shadow Realm?" Duo glibly countered with a grin.

Yami glowered. Duo noted he was almost shaking with fury. "I'm warning you. If any harm comes to Seto Kaiba while you are here, I will hold you responsible."

Duo chuckled and turned away, shaking his head in disbelief. He walked over to Mai and touched her arm. She looked up at him and he grinned. He whispered, "I've found out what I needed to know."

Mai nodded and leaned over and gave Jonouchi a kiss. He grinned at her and smirked at Duo. Duo smiled back and Mai wiggled her fingers at the blond. Jonouchi's eyes widened as his mouth dropped open.

Mai linked her arm with Duo's and said, "Well, Duo and I are late for something. See you all later."

"Bye, Mai, nice meeting you, Duo," Anzu said with a cheerful wave.

Honda said, "Yeah, come back, don't be a stranger."

Yugi looked up at them with a look of confusion on his face. He then smiled and said, "You're welcome here any time, Duo. Maybe we can play a game of chess."

"I'd like that," Duo replied honestly, liking Yugi and wondering if he could get a couple more jabs at Yami.

Jonouchi nodded and said, "See ya soon, baby."

As soon as they were out of the store, Mai said, "We need to go somewhere more private."

Duo was sinking back into the couch's soft lavender cushions as Mai fetched drinks. The rather large penthouse was done in subtle shades of violet and white. It was stylishly furnished, a few eclectic pieces of artwork hanging on the walls.

Mai sashayed into the living room, holding two glasses of soda. She handed Duo a glass before sitting beside him, gracefully crossing her long legs. She took a sip before setting her drink down on a coaster on the coffee table.

Duo turned so that he could face her, watching her over the glass.

She said, "You said you think you know what happened to Kaiba on the Duelist Kingdom."

"I have a good idea, after hanging around him for the past couple of days," Duo replied, setting his glass down and bracing himself.

She asked, "Well, what do you think happened?"

"Torture is obvious, probably in the kitchen considering his reaction to washing dishes last night, and . . ." Duo took a deep breath and closed his eyes, not wanting to go on. As if he could deny what would happen, then it would have been that it hadn't happened. If he believed enough that this would go away.

Mai said, "You think he was raped too."

"Yeah, I was just hoping to that I didn't have to say it," Duo sighed as he met her eyes, "So, how do you figure?"

Mai ran her fingers through her hair. "He was strange, even more distant than normal, if you can believe that, on the helicopter coming back from Duelist Kingdom. And then his brother, Mokuba . . ."

"Great kid." Duo grinned briefly.

"Yeah, well, he is. Anyway, Mokuba said that Seto had been beat up and mentioned that it hurt to sit down because his butt was sore. Mokuba said it was from sitting in the cell, but, Duo, if you saw how Pegasus acted around Kaiba . . . The way he looked at him . . ." Mai drew the last word out, shaking her head.

Her eyes widened as she snapped her fingers. She said, "I remember now. Right after Pegasus took Kaiba's soul, he said 'Teach him how to wash dishes or something.' Then he was taken away. Maybe it happened then."

Duo's fists clenched.

Mai gave him a tiny, rueful smile and placed a hand over his fist. "I wish I could make it go away too," Mai admitted as she let his fingers go.

Duo stood up and took his glass. He looked on Domino City from Mai's French window and said, "Sometimes I wonder about humanity."

"You're not the only one, kiddo, believe me," Mai replied quietly as she joined him at the window.

Duo looked at her and asked, "Voice of experience talking?"

"Something like that. Well, if gonna help him get through this you've got your work cut out for you," Mai answered as she absently stroked Duo's hair.

Duo looked out the window and seethed. Bastard. That one-eyed freak doesn't deserve to live. You never, ever force yourself on someone.

Duo looked at Mai and asked, "Do you know where this fucker is?"

"No, I don't," Mai answered gently, giving his braid another stroke, "I don't think anyone does."

Duo clinched his fists and swore, "Shit. Damn, I'd like to burn that place to the ground with him in it. I'd like to send him to Hell, personally."

"And where would that get Seto?" Mai asked.

Duo smirked as he answered, "Nowhere."

Mai mused, "You sound just like Katsuya did when he figured out what happened to Seto."

"What did he say?" Duo asked as he looked at the blonde.

Mai chuckled, "He wanted to find Pegasus and cut him up with a dull knife and feed the pieces to a rabbit."

"Rabbit? A bunny?" Duo asked, confused beyond belief.

Mai laughed and shook her head. She looked out the window and explained, "Pegasus had a thing for a cartoon rabbit. I think Katsuya was trying to be ironic."

"Cartoon bunny. The man was obviously evil," Duo quipped dryly as he took a drink and flinched as he realized it was diet.

He gagged, "Diet, urggg, what are you trying to do? Poison me?"

"I have to keep my girlish figure somehow, you know," Mai retorted as she placed her hand on the curve of her hip, tilting her head up.

Duo grimaced and replied, "Well, I gotta keep cheerfully hyper you know. Sugar helps a lot."

"I doubt Seto knew what he was getting into when he brought you here," Mai said fondly.

Duo huffed, "Well, I am absolutely gorgeous, you know. And adorably manic."

Mai chuckled as Duo took another drink. She sobered as she studied him. She asked, "Do you think you can handle it?"

Duo looked out the window and confessed, "Actually, I don't know how I"m going to handle it. I mean, I don't wanna go up to him and say, 'Oh, yeah, I heard you where raped. Now, how about them White Blue Eyed Dragons?' That's tactless even for me."

"Blue Eyes White Dragons. You'll piss him off if you call them the wrong name," Mai reprimanded.

Duo shrugged and sighed, "Still. I'm a guy. Even though I know things like this can happen to me, especially me with this hair, but since he was soulless I don't think he even remembers any of it."

"Would you want to?" Mai asked.

Duo nodded and answered intensely, "Yes I would. So I know how to deal with it. And so I can face up to it and not be afraid of it anymore."

"Seto's not as . . . instinctive as you. He's stubborn, yes, but he knows when he's over his head," Mai explained.

Duo snorted, "I'd grin my way into Hell. Hell, I have grinned my way into Hell."

"Hell exists?" Mai asked in disbelief.

Duo shook his head and clarified, "Naw, figurative Hell. Not demons and pitch forks with eternal torment. Hell is actually all around you, in hindsight."

"Especially if you're Seto Kaiba," Mai sighed.

Duo nodded and said, "And Seto was pretty distant before this happened, wasn't he?"

"Yeah, he was," Mai answered, "Which is a real shame."

Duo grinned and teased, "You think he's hot."

"Honey, I couldn't get him out of my head for three days after I first saw him. I would have jumped his bones in an instant," Mai retorted wickedly.

Duo chuckled, "He reminds me of an ex in a way, but not really. Seto seems a bit more passionate than that."

"Like how he looks at you when he thinks that you don't know that he's looking. He gets this sort of look on his face, like he's faced with something impossible," Mai added with a nod.

Duo snapped his fingers and pointed. He exclaimed, "Exactly! Or how he glares and insults you if he's jealous."

"God, you should see him and Katsuya together," Mai said, rolling her eyes.

Duo grinned and guessed, "In each other's faces with insults and threats, especially on the Puppy's part?"

"Puppy?" Mai chuckled.

Duo answered defensively, "Well, he reminds me of a Golden Retriever. I have this insane compulsion to scratch his head and call him a good dog. Don't ask. I'm not sure myself."

"If you think of dogs as insanely loyal, protective, rambunctious, and stupidly brave, then you've got Katsuya Jonouchi pinned," Mai said with an eye roll.

That's sounds like Mokuba . . . Duo realized with a start, and a little like me, too. Except for the protective, almost the exact opposite of Seto.

Duo tapped his fingers on the glass. He said, "So, Seto needs someone who'll grab him by the hand. Someone who won't shy away when he bitches and who'll keep coming back over and over even when pushed away."

"And where will we find such a paragon?" Mai asked skeptically.

Duo grinned and folded his arms across his chest.

Mai chuckled, "You are an insanely brave person."

"I'm incorrigible," Duo retorted, "Now, how to open him up is gonna be the major problem. Damn it."

Mai gripped his shoulder and said, "Well, he knows that I figured out what happened to him, but he still feels like he's alone."

"I've known people like that. Nothing new to me," Duo replied dryly. Yeah, by the name of Heero Yuy. I've even slept with them.

Mai absently twisted a wild curl between her fingers again. She explained, "Seto . . . He's complicated. I think he wants to connect but doesn't know how to."

"But first he has to come to grips with this other thing," Duo sighed, bowing his head.

Mai nodded and asked, "Do you think you can help him with that?"

"I'm going to try my damned hardest," Duo answered as he met Mai's eyes.

Mai gave him a reassuring smile and gripped his shoulder. She said, "Then I think he might have a chance."

The sun was sinking behind the horizon, casting the sky in a soft, pink glow, when Duo returned back to the Kaiba mansion. The conversation with Mai was weighing heavily in his mind, warring with his feelings of anger. It was easy to focus on the anger, to let it feed and intensify until he found himself in the kitchen again.

The first knife hit the wall so hard that it had embedded to the hilt.

In his mind's eye, it had penetrated into a beautiful face framed by long, silver hair. He took another knife and launched it lower, seeing it strike the man's chest. Duo saw Pegasus fall, blood pooling beneath the lifeless body, no mercy given. No quarter gained.

Still, even that would be merciful to what he truly deserved.

"Duo?"

Duo spun around to see Mokuba lurking in the doorway. He froze as he looked into those huge, grey eyes. The poor kid. There's no way that he can know. Oh . . . Mokuba, you weren't hurt, were you? And what am I gonna say? "Hey, kiddo, your brother was raped. How was your day?" Damn.

Mokuba walked over to him and looked at the knives stuck deeply into the wall. He reached up and tried to pull it out. With some effort, the knife came out, littering drywall on the floor. He looked down at the serrated blade and up at Duo.

"What's wrong?" Mokuba asked as he put the knife on the counter.

Duo shrugged and answered, "Nothing you have to worry about." Or should know about. Not now. Not yet, but you can't be protected forever, but this isn't my story to tell. I can't lose your brother's trust, but he can't shield you from the world forever. Even though you deserve it.

Mokuba gave him a wary look and asked, "Where did you go? You weren't home when I got home."

"I went to meet Yugi and his friends and Mai," Duo answered as he pulled the other knife from the wall and sat it on the counter.

A slight blush tinted Mokuba's cheeks when Duo mentioned Mai's name. Duo chuckled despite himself, lifting some of his dark mood. He confessed, "I think Mai's pretty hot too, kiddo."

"She's actually really nice too, she just doesn't think she is," Mokuba replied, "Seto hired her as a consultant for the VR game."

The two of them walked to the living room. Duo remembered Mokuba mentioning a game involving blowing up zombies. Blowing up stuff always makes me feel better. I can't lose my temper. I've got something broken that's worth fixing here. And, damn it, I'm gonna fix it.

"'Now untie him, Wormtail, and give him back his wand,' " Seto read, gently closing the book.

Duo stood from Mokuba's doorway, smiling softly at the sight of Big Brother reading to Little Brother. Mokuba was already asleep, clutching tightly to a plush white dragon, a sweet smile on his sleeping features. Seto gently brushed the wild mass of hair from Mokuba's face before giving him a tiny kiss on the cheek. He rearranged the covers around Mokuba before walking out of the room.

Duo closed the door behind them and asked, "Isn't that a little intense for a bedtime story? I mean, that Harry kid was cut open to bring a guy back to life."

Seto answered, "I've already read the book to him once."

"So, I take it that Harry gets away then," Duo replied as they walked down the hallway together.

"Yeah, he does," Seto answered wistfully, looking down at the hardback book in his hands.

Duo scratched his head as he followed Seto through the mansion. He said, "Too bad real life isn't like that."

"What do you mean?" Seto asked as he put the book down.

Duo tossed his braid over his shoulder. Don't blow it. The book analogy is a perfect way to get this out in the open. Just don't do something stupid. Keep cool, Duo. Keep cool.

Duo answered, "Well, the good guy getting away variously unscathed in the nick of time while the villain fumes in the background."

Seto froze for a moment. He then turned back to look at Duo. His eyes were wide with shock and realization.

"I know," Duo said gently.

Seto snorted, "No. No you don't."

Duo stuffed his hands in his pockets and replied, "But it wasn't your fault, Seto."

"How kind of you to say that," Seto retorted acidly, retreating slightly, "You don't know. You weren't there."

Duo crossed his arms and said firmly, "And neither were you. That bastard took you unwillingly and you couldn't even defend yourself. He . . ." Duo growled in frustration and slapped the wall. "Fuck."

Seto turned away and said, "I have work to do."

"You can't run away from this. Look, I know it's hard and it's going to hurt, but you can get past this," Duo exclaimed.

"I have work to do," Seto repeated in a dull monotone. Dull and lifeless.

Duo pleaded, "Let me help, please."

Seto gave him a look. Duo unfolded his arms and gently said, "I want to help you. Please."

The blue eyes were unreadable as Seto turned away again. Duo sighed as the tall brunet walked away. I have something broken that I need to fix, something worth fixing.

"Good night. I'll see you tomorrow," Seto replied woodenly without turning around.

Duo ran up to catch Seto's long strides. He snapped, "You can't keep running from this."

"What happened to: 'I may run and hide, but I'll never tell a lie'? You can run away and hide, but no one else can? A little hypocritical, if you ask me." Seto retorted, glowering at Duo.

Duo put his hands on his waist and scolded, "Don't you throw my fucking words back at me, damn you."

"Well, you've found out why I Summoned you here. Is this the type of Vengeance that gets fucking repetitive? Gee, but what's another few deaths to you? You've probably done things that would have made them cringe," Seto rallied back.

Duo clinched his fists. He growled, "Don't say that."

"Or what? Are you going to kill me too? Come on, Duo, show me what the Shinigami can do," Seto retaliated.

Duo felt all of his anger leaving him and sighed. He had a quick temper, but luckily enough, it deflated just as fast as it flared up. He's attacking because that's what he knows he can do. He's trying to push my buttons and he almost got it. Well, Seto, good try, but I'm gonna help you if you like it or not.

Duo answered, "No. I wouldn't do that."

"What? You feel sorry for me? Don't. I don't need a flirtatious asshole's pity," Seto hissed.

Duo did feel sorry for Seto. He wanted to find Pegasus and burn Duelist Kingdom to the ground, but that would do more damage than favor. Seto didn't need someone to feel sorry for him. He needed someone to be there with him despite everything. He needed someone to care for him for who he was, not pity him for what he had gone through.

Finding such a saint was going to be a real bitch Duo realized. I can't stay here forever. I have a home. Even though Heero made his choice, we're still close. I can't hold Seto's hand forever, but maybe I can give him a good push in the right direction.

Duo smiled because he knew that it would piss off Seto more than anything he could have said right then. He smiled, fluttered his eyelashes and turned away, his braid swinging wildly behind him. Then he chuckled. He didn't have to see Seto to know that he was fuming; hell, Duo could feel the anger radiating off the taller teen where he stood.

"Well, good night Seto. Tomorrow I'm gonna prove you wrong. I just thought you should know that," Duo cheerfully stated, giving Seto a tiny wave as he walked away.

Seto snorted, "I find that highly improbable."

But not impossible. I'll show you, Blue Eyes, trust me on that. "Nighty night, Seto."