Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Black Memories ❯ Love Conquers all? ( Chapter 11 )

What would happen if everything you knew was taken away from you? What would you do if you suddenly woke up from an 8-year sleep? A little girl has a quest for something very important to her. Unfortunately, that something is Jonouchi.

Black Memories

Author: Sakiyama

Posted: February 25th

Authors note: I own Aria…well the character…Bakurasgirl gets credit for the name!

And, for a disclaimer, I'm using Bakurasgirl's names for the public relations people but not necessarily their roles only because I couldn't think of any and they sounded so cool…

The Italics hate me…*sniffles*

Chapter eleven: Love conquers all?

Kaiba paced the inside of Jonouchi's room restlessly. He hadn't left after he had called Yugi and informed him and came back from a fruitless attempt to search for Jonouchi with Mokuba and Aria. He was also informed Marik and Malik were back and were willing to help find Jou. None of his public relations had found any clues and Mokuba locked himself in his room, Aria was roaming the hallways hoping Jonouchi would suddenly turn up and say it was all a sick joke.

The CEO sat down on the blonde's bed, wrapping his arms around himself and rocking back and forth, something he wouldn't do in front of anyone else…even Mokuba.

“Mr. Kaiba?” a voice asked from outside the room.

“What is it?” Kaiba responded coldly.

“Yugi and his group of…friends are here to see you.”

“Oh…just a second.”

Kaiba looked into Jonouchi's mirror, fixed his hair and blotted his eyes, staring into the mirror hoping Jonouchi would come back. He almost saw the blonde grinning goofily behind him. Who was behind this sick crime?

I want him back. I don't want to admit it but my life has been in total chaos without him. I tried to eat my fork for dinner…I can't stand it any longer. It hasn't been a whole day yet and I miss him terribly. This is so un-Kaiba like for me.

He walked down the stairs, his composure returned. He was disgusted to find Marik trying to steal his $1000 vase he bought from Italy.

“Marik Ishtar!” He yelled, making the yami cringe and place the vase back.

“We're so sorry, Kaiba,” Yugi said, his huge eyes full of sadness and offering condolence.

“We'll find him somehow Yugi…” The CEO said, unsure of his own words.

“We'll help look, Kaiba. I'll have my men look around in dark alleys and abandoned houses. No place will be un-searched,” Yami said, nodding at the CEO.

“Thank you…you don't know how much this means to me…” Kaiba said gratefully, pulling Yugi into a big hug to everyone's surprise.

“W-wow Kaiba…didn't know you could be so…affectionate,” Yugi stammered, stumbling back towards Yami in shock.

“Sorry, the only person I've hugged today is Aria,” Kaiba grinned sheepishly.

“Where is she anyway?” Yami asked.

“I don't know. She's probably still looking for Jonouchi around the mansion.”

“Who is this Aria?” Marik asked, curious.

“She found Jonouchi somehow. Keeps calling him `mommy'. A lot of strange stuff happens around her. Mokuba named her,” Kaiba explained.

“Mr. Kaiba!” a tiny girl's voice sounded from down the hallway.

“Speak of the devil,” Yami commented.

“He's not here Mr. Kaiba. He's not here!” Aria sobbed, running into the CEO's arms and staying there. Malik and Marik were shocked at the CEO's affection for the child.

“I know, hun,” Kaiba said, stroking her hair gently. Aria sniffled, turning around and finally seeing the guests.

“Oh, hello,” she smiled sadly. Marik looked at her and felt a wave of familiarity wash over him.

I have definitely seen this girl before! Where…where? It's so faint but I know this feeling anywhere. I have definitely seen her, whether in this life or a past one.

“Heyy…its Marik!” Aria said suddenly.

“…Huh?” Marik stared at this girl, wondering who in the seven hells she was.

“She knows you Marik?” Malik asked, surprised.

“I didn't know she did,” Marik responded to his hikari.

“Aren't you that guy who carries messages for the pharaoh?” Aria asked, tilting her head to the side.

“What?…” Marik asked, glancing over at Yami.

“You know, him!” Aria said, pointing at the former pharaoh, Yami.

“You know that I used to be the pharaoh?” Yami asked, surprised.

“Yep. Since the day I first met you.” Aria frowned, “Don't you remember me?”

“No…sorry Aria,” Yami frowned as well, was he supposed to remember her?

“How strange,” Yugi commented.

“Anyway…I'm going out to look for mommy again…” Aria declared, running to get her coat and opening the front door.

“Wait, hun,” Kaiba called after her, “take them with you.” He gestured to Marik and Yami. “They are very good at finding people.”

“Sure Mr. Kaiba!” Aria smiled, taking Marik's hand in one of hers and Yami's hand in her other. Yami and Marik shrugged at each other and led Aria out the door.

“So…you haven't got any leads yet Kaiba?” Yugi asked him.

“Just one,” he replied, waving them over into his study. Yugi and Malik followed Kaiba and he sat down at his desk.

“So, spill it. Who do you think it is?” Malik and Yugi took seats across from him.

“Well…” Kaiba showed them a photograph of a man with blonde hair around his 40s. “His name is Hector Ransbee. This is an old photograph from when we used to work side by side.”

“He looks kinda familiar,” Yugi squinted at the picture.

“I saw him on the news,” Malik said, pointing at the picture, “It was definitely him.”

“Exactly,” Kaiba said, putting the photograph away. “Jonouchi saw the news before he was kidnapped, and knew what the next warning was. I just have to track this man down, and it isn't easy.”

“We will do all we can to help, Kaiba….really,” Yugi insisted, putting his hand on top of Kaiba's gently. Malik nodded and the CEO smiled sadly.

“Thanks guys.”

~

“What a weird part of town to look,” Yami muttered; glancing up and down the alleyway as Aria barged into every shop and house she came to.

“Honey, you might get people mad if you do that…” Marik said, trying to calm the little girl down.

“Mommy might be here! I have to find him!” Aria declared, searching some more. After hearing this echo throughout the crowded, dark alleyway, people whispered to each other `oh isn't that sad? Lost her mother, poor thing…'.

“Honey, I don't sense Jou at all. Let's look somewhere else,” Yami insisted, feeling a tiny bit claustrophobic.

“Alrighty pharaoh,” Aria agreed, turning a corner and heading off somewhere else.

“Oh so she listens to you, almighty pharaoh,” Marik grumbled, “I was a noble too you know.”

“Oh but not as high as I, dear Marik,” Yami chuckled, joining in the search. Marik grumbled to himself some more and kicked over a box in the street.

“Well he's not under there,” Marik declared, moving on to the next box.

“Oh come on Marik, at least try,” Yami said, shaking his head and going up to a person, asking them a few questions.

“Alright…” he sighed, and concentrated with all his might. The millennium rod he kept close to him at all times started to glow. “Ah…shit.”

“What now Marik?” Yami asked him, pulling Aria over with him. Marik didn't answer, he closed his eyes and saw an image of Jonouchi chained to a wall in a dark room, with a body lying on the ground near him.

“Mr. Marik, sir?” Aria asked, tugging on his hand. Marik's eyes snapped open and he looked around wildly.

“What did you see?” Yami asked in a demanding tone.

“Jonouchi,” Marik said, “Jonouchi and another person. Dark. Chained.”

“At least we have some sort of lead,” Yami nodded, “let's get back and tell Kaiba immediately.”

“I hope mommy's alright,” Aria sighed, heading back with the two yami's.

~

Jonouchi groaned and opened his eyes. Black. He blinked. Still black.

I don't like this…darkness creeps me out

He searched the room wildly with his eyes and finally spotted something on the ground near him. He assumed it was a body from the faint outline he could sort of make out.

“Ugh…” the other body groaned, shifting a little bit.

“Hey…kid,” Jonouchi said, nudging the body with his foot.

“Huh?…” a confused reply emitted from the body.

“Where are we?” the blonde asked, realizing he couldn't move his arms at all. Suddenly, the kid started whimpering and Jonouchi watched as the body curled up into a ball.

“Hey…are you okay?” Jou asked, realizing it was a boy.

“Pain…” the boy whimpered. As the blonde's eyes adjusted to the darkness the outline became more defined, he could see the boy supposedly named Toby from the news. There was something wet surrounding the boy and Jonouchi hoped it wasn't blood.

“Hey, you two idiots are finally awake, huh?” A man's voice sounded from above them. Jonouchi looked around the dark room, searching for the owner of the menacing voice when the lights were abruptly turned on. Jonouchi blinked his eyes rapidly, trying to get used to the sudden lack of darkness.

“Pain…” the boy whimpered again, clutching his stomach visibly.

“Oh shut up, you,” the man said, descending the stairs and kicking the boy. “Just be happy you're still alive.”

“Hey, what did he ever do to you?!” The blonde said angrily.

“I suggest you keep your mouth shut or I'll cut your stomach open too,” the man smiled crookedly, showing yellow teeth. Jonouchi wanted to vomit. His breath was disgusting as well.

“Why…why don't you just leave that kid alone?” Jonouchi said, mustering up a little courage to protect him, “I'm sure…he didn't do anything to you at all.”

“I'm sure he didn't either. But his parents sure as hell did, just as Kaiba did,” the man's smile turned into a frown.

“W-what did Kaiba ever do to you?” the blonde asked, trying to inch away from the menacing face.

“He screwed me over. Destroyed my company. Ruined my income. Made me do lowly jobs to stay alive.”

“I'm sure you did something to him first, he doesn't do those things for no reason,” Jonouchi nodded, realizing that his arms were chained to the wall behind him or he would have fought this man.

“Shut up already!” the man slapped the blonde in the face, making him bleed in the corner of his mouth.

“Just leave the little kid alone,” Jonouchi said bravely, “do everything to me, but leave him alone.” The man grumbled and went over to a TV that the blonde didn't notice before.

“Let's see if pathetic Kaiba made an announcement yet,” the man smiled wickedly and flipped to the news station.

“The kidnapper has snatched his next victim!” the lady news reporter said, “17 year old Jonouchi Katsuya was taken from his current residence in the Kaiba Mansion yesterday afternoon.” Kaiba appeared on the screen with Aria.

“We will do everything in Kaiba Corp's power to get Jonouchi back and the other child Toby who was kidnapped earlier,” Kaiba said, his stern face not showing any emotion on the subject, “We will bring this criminal to justice.”

“Please give me my mommy back!” Aria cried, bursting into tears, “please give him back!” the reporter appeared back on the screen,

“The leading suspect is still Hector Ransbee, profile is shown in the upper right corner. If you have any information about this man, call our criminal hotline.”

“How pathetic,” Hector laughed, “that's the best you can do, Kaiba?” Jonouchi felt tears tug in the corners of his eyes. Aria was heart broken. He missed her so much.

Gotta survive…gotta survive for Aria…can't leave her alone…

“So, you're a mother, eh?” Hector was once again in Jonouchi's face. “You don't look like a woman, how is that possible? Are you gay?” Jonouchi didn't answer him, hardly hearing him. “I hate gays, you know, I could make your live a total nightmare.”

“That's none of your business,” Jonouchi snapped, receiving another slap to his face.

“Don't talk back to me,” Hector snarled, getting up and walking up the stairs, leaving the TV on. “Go wallow in your own misery, you slime.” He shut the lights off once again, leaving the TV as their only light.

“Hey, kid? Are you okay?” Jonouchi asked once he knew Hector was gone.

“Yeah…” the boy whimpered, staring up at Jonouchi in the darkness.

“What did he do to you?” Jonouchi saw the pain in the boy's visage when the TV flashed a bright color.

“He…he…carved my stomach…he…. it hurt…”

“That bastard…I'll get him for that,” Jonouchi growled. “I need to get out of these stupid chains.” He struggled fruitlessly for what seemed a really long time while Toby continued to hold his stomach.

“Why…do you wanna help me?” Toby whispered, getting tired from blood loss.

“Because…I can't stand to see other people hurt,” the blonde smiled sadly, continuing his struggle with the chains.

“Thank you…” Toby passed out, and the blonde felt sorry for him. Toby probably led a great life before this happened, he was probably mentally scarred for life.

“I think…I'll rest a little, regain my strength,” Jonouchi said to himself, closing his eyes and falling asleep instantly.

~Dream Sequence~

Jonouchi opened his eyes and found himself on those same silk sheets again.

I must be in that same dream I had last time…

Jonouchi sat up, and looked around. No one was around, the room he was in felt terribly empty. He heard footsteps coming and got out of bed. He put a green silk robe on and opened the door.

“My lord!” a cloaked man jumped, who was posted outside his door. “You shouldn't be up and about!”

“I'm fine,” the blonde replied, looking around for the owner of the footsteps.

“My lord?” the man asked, confused.

“I'm going for a walk,” Jonouchi said, closing the door behind him and leaving. He realized he was in some sort of palace; the ceiling was almost too high to see, carved delicately with images and scenery. People bowed as he passed and smiled politely. He didn't realize where his feet were taking him until he reached a set of huge sleek brown double doors lined with gold.

I wonder what's in here?

The blonde asked himself this curiously, pushing the doors open and finding a huge room lined with people all in different robes.

“Lord Jonouchi? What brings you here at this hour?” a lady asked, who looked exactly like Isis.

“Um…I must tell the pharaoh something,” Jonouchi said without thinking.

“Go right ahead my lord,” Isis bowed and allowed him to pass.

This is so strange. Really strange. This isn't an ordinary dream I'm havin'.

He entered another large room with a throne at the end. The pharaoh was sitting there, chatting with a man dressed in priest clothing that looked like Kaiba.

“Um…hello, pharaoh,” Jonouchi said awkwardly.

“Lord Jonouchi,” the pharaoh greeted, “Miss Aria said you weren't feeling too well earlier.”

“Yeah, but I'm feeling better,” the blonde nodded, smiling a little.

“That's good to hear,” the man who looked like Kaiba said without emotion, although when Jonouchi looked at him he could have sworn he saw a flicker of concern.

“It must have been that spell that damn Hetho cast upon you,” the pharaoh said angrily. “Speaking of which, why haven't we found him yet, Seth?”

“I'm sorry pharaoh, but he escaped from all of our traps,” Seth apologized.

Seth…Seto! This man must be Seto…in his past life! Then this is me in my past life! I was weak? I was a noble?!

“Lord…Jonouchi?” the pharaoh asked worriedly.

“Ah…sorry about that,” the blonde apologized, snapping back into `reality'.

“You should go rest, Miss Aria will be furious if she finds you out of bed,” Seth said, leading Jonouchi back to his room. When they were alone in his room, Seth whispered, “Please love, don't overexert yourself. You must stay healthy.”

“Um…yeah, sorry…love,” Jonouchi whispered back, confused that Seth called him his love, and surprised he answered back the same. Seth gave him a quick kiss on the lips and left hurriedly. Jonouchi stood there, dazed. He got back into bed and sunk into the soft pillows and sheets.

So sleepy…

~End Chapter~

So I finally have updated! Mwahahahhahaaa!! Do you guys like it? Huh? Do ya?! Cuz I worked hard on this one! This took me about a month to write with interruptions and writers block --;;. Well review please and tell me what you think, it's much appreciated ^^. I won't take so long to update next time I hope!