Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Children of Destiny ❯ Death to Treachery ( Chapter 21 )

Death to Treachery

 

Sam: GAH! I HATE THAT BRAIN FREEZING WRITER'S BLOCK! IT'S NOT FAIR IT'S NOT FAIR!

 

Disclaimer: DON'T OWN!

 

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Joey pressed his back against the wall as his best friend urged him to reveal the terrible secret he had discovered. It had troubled him constantly but he didn't make much out of it at the time thinking it was nothing more but a distant memory that he could keep safely away from the his friend's. It was only after hearing the accounts of his friends' adventures that he realised that it wasn't a memory but merely Yin's way of stalling for time. She had managed to stall the time for five thousand years but the war was still raging on.

 

“Joey please if you know something you have to tell us” Yugi urged pleadingly as the blonde shook with dread of what was to happen but deep down he knew he had to somehow let them know of what he had seen. He stared at the amethyst eyes of his friend before he swallowed.

 

“Open your eye…” he whispered. Yami and Yugi both looked confused at what he meant. “Your eye Yugi… the one on your forehead” the two tri colour headed twins blinked before both of the mysterious third eyes that had formed upon their foreheads since the past few weeks were opened wide and a sudden chill like ice running down their backs and filled their hearts whilst they're foreheads burned like the fires of a volcano and the vision of old that their friend held in his mind filled their own. They heard his distant scream before they were thrown in the middle of the past.

 

“You promised me you would help me” they heard a familiar voice as their blurred vision began to become clearer. They saw Gabriel and to their horror and outrage he was with someone that they both regarded with an intense hatred beyond anyone's comprehension.

 

“Téa?” Yugi whispered staring at the brown-headed girl dressed in a simple Egyptian gown.

 

“And I will princess Anzu” Gabriel replied as he unsheathed a dagger under his cloak. “Give me your hand”

 

“What are they doing?” Yugi whispered. Yami glared at the two conspirators and gritted his teeth. “Yami?”

 

“Anzu, she's one of the daughters of the pharaohs in Lower Egypt if you recall in our previous visions” they watched the interaction of Gabriel and the Téa look alike known as Anzu.

 

“What do you think you're doing?” Anzu growled trying to pull away as the demon sliced a small cut against her palm with the blade and letting the blood from the blade drip into a silver chalice that had materialised in his hand.

 

“Patience princess… I will explain in due course” he leaned back amused as the brunette whimpered from the little cut on her palm. “Tell me princess… why do you think that the most powerful of the seven Millennium Items takes the form of a puzzle?” Anzu blinked at the question before she answered.

 

“Something about it representing the soul”

 

“Exactly, it's a perfect representation of it. The soul like a puzzle can be shattered into many pieces if given the proper force to do so but like a puzzle it can be put back together again provided that the pieces… don't go… missing” he smiled as he said that last word and swirling the silver chalice in his hand that contained Anzu's blood.

 

“So what happens when a piece does go missing?” Anzu asked tentatively. The sly grin became wider as he placed the chalice on the table.

 

“Nothing until the body that contains the soul dies… then it will be destroyed” he replied letting the word roll lavishly across his tongue. “Souls normally move on for reincarnation for they can't really linger without a body to inhabit for too long but you can't really move on if you're missing a piece of yourself so… you die… permanently” the brunette visibly shook as the story unfolded. “An empty void where that missing piece is will eats away at your soul until there is nothing left… kind of like those meddling children that like to take the pieces out one by one” he smiled as he backed away and began to play with the chalice once more.

 

“Why are you telling me all this?” she said calmly in spite of herself.

 

“Because, today I'm one of those meddling children that have just taken a piece of `your' soul” he replied shaking the chalice in front of her face. Anzu stared at her cut palm and glared back at the demon.

 

“You!” she growled making Gabriel bark with laughter.

 

“Don't worry; I won't do anything with it… I promised you that you would get Atemu as you wished” he passed her the dagger that he had cut her with earlier. “The ritual is the Blood Bond of the souls where the two potential partners exchange a piece of their soul with each other. It's a simple but very binding procedure… after all a puzzle needs to be whole for it to be stable… Make sure you obtain a piece of Atemu's soul for the exchange. Given the number of assassinations that go around with the royalty it wouldn't be out of the blue to plant one when he comes to visit then after that…” he passed the chalice with Anzu's blood in it before filling another with his hand. He clinked the two chalices together. “Here's to your success as a happy couple” Anzu blinked before staring at the cup that held her piece of soul. Gabriel smiled before he drank deeply from his cup. Yugi gritted his teeth as the events played out and he watched helplessly as the prince walked into the trap. Atemu had come to visit as was his duty as the future ruler of upper and the most powerful part of Egypt. Anzu was excited to see him and although he was reluctant and wanting to go back to where his wife Atemu smiled out of courtesy. It was at that moment when they were alone that the fake assassin made his feigned attack on the future pharaoh and Anzu secretly smiled as the dagger made the cut and the she nodded her head for the assassin to escape.

 

“Oh Ra Atemu… here drink this… this should help” she cried dramatically as she almost forced the drink that contained her drop of blood down the princes' throat.

 

“No I've got to stop her!” Yugi cried as he ran to push the brunette away.

 

“Yugi!” Yami tried to call after him but his voice came out weak and pathetic. It was at that moment that Téa had appeared behind him and smiled before reaching out a hand to grab him. As if sensing her presence Yugi turned around.

 

“YAMI!” He yelled as Téa grabbed him by the hand and they started to disappear. “YAMI!” Yugi screamed ignoring the events of the memory as Atemu fell into Anzu' trap. Yami tried to wrench his arm away whilst Téa smiled.

 

“LET GO OF ME!” Yami yelled. Suddenly, she gasped as a force pulled the two apart. She disappeared alone and leaving Yami to be wrapped in the arms of his lover whilst Atemu succumbed to the control of her past incarnation. Yugi watched helplessly as the prince and his future lover with a sickening feeling in his stomach before the vision started to blur again and another unfolded to take its place.

 

“Yin,” Rei whispered approaching the princess. The white-headed commander and friend trembled as she spoke of the news. “Yin, the general… she…” Yin started to shake whilst staring at the large brown eyes that betrayed tears. “She's dead…” Yugi looked between the two pre-incarnations of himself and Ryou.

 

“Who's dead?” he whispered. Yin didn't answer but merely stared blankly at Rei before her legs gave way and she dropped to a seat. “WHO'S DEAD!?”

 

“Katsuya…” Yin finally answered as she rested a hand atop the same box that Yugi recognised to be the artefact given to Joey by his grandfather's will. “She instructed me to keep this box safe in her absence and return it to her when she came back. That was the last thing she said before she left to find a cure for Seth”

 

“What should we do princess?”

 

“Even if Katsuya wasn't lost to us we still won't be able to turn the tide against Gabriel's army. All we can hope is to hold the fortress with our lives at least long enough for the pharaoh and my husband to arrive”

 

“We're going to die aren't we Yin?” Ishizu croaked for the first time as she fell to the floor. Her platinum blonde hair obscured her eyes and tears. Yin stood up from her seat and tipped the girls chin towards her gaze.

 

“We were already dead when that bastard killed Katsuya…” Yin whispered. She glared at the darkening sky as she sensed the coming of their demise. Gabriel was coming with a full army ready to slaughter the measly few hundred of soldiers they had in their ranks. “But if we're going to go take a trip to the darkest pits of the seven hells we're going to take as many of `them' along with us” she hissed. Ishizu and Rei followed her gaze and knuckles cracked as they advanced towards the front line where the few hundred of soldiers stood bravely awaiting the tide of death with spears and swords in their hands. Rei sighed as she stared blankly at the gnashing jaw of the skeletal Ghouls.

 

“Any regrets Rei?” Ishizu asked staring at the water mage.

 

“Just one… not being able to tell Bakura how I feel. Or at least to say… see you later” A roaring tide of death flooded down the hillside towards the diminutive defence that was set up along on the border. A clash of swords and blood filled the roaring silence of dread as men died writhing in agony whilst Ghouls screeched their impending victory. The elements of fire and water only did so much to prolong the inevitable as the two observers of the future watched in horror as the pre-incarnations of their friends slaughtered before their eyes. Many arrows rained and impaled the Malik look alike. Her pierced lung brought a trickle of red to escape the corners of her mouth whilst she inwardly choked upon the blood that had leaked into the damaged ventricles. Taking advantage of their weakness from the wounds two of Gabriel's henchmen launched spears as Ishizu in her last breath stood fast as a shield protecting her injured comrades. Yin screamed as she cradled her friend in her arms whilst Rei fought on with further ferocity whilst tears glistened her in her eyes. Yugi stared as his mind shut down as Ishizu fell.

 

“Where are they? WHERE ARE THEY!?” Yami screamed as he stared into the empty distance for the army that would save the doomed soldiers below them in wild despair.

 

“They won't come…” Yugi whispered staring at the amount of death that lay down before them. He wrapped his arms sadly around his lover whilst staring blankly at another dead friend that had fallen.

 

“PULL BACK!!!!” Yin ordered above the chaos asserting her authority as she left the body where it was and the soldiers pulled back as they were told standing firm and bravely as Ghouls threaten to claw and rip out their throats, a testament to their loyalty to the end. The doors to the fortress started to close as the remaining soldiers alive pulled back steadily towards the temporary sanctuary of the walls. A small group of soldiers were trapped among the Ghouls separating them from the main cavalry. Rei summoned the dwindling power that she invested to send a huge water tide that washed the Ghouls away and the small group was herded back towards the main camp. “LOOK OUT!!!!” she heard Yin scream when sudden impact against her chest sent her flying against the wall. She coughed and tried to move but three large prongs impaling her chest and had pinned her against the large limestone walls. Pain was beyond her as she merely stared forlornly at her blood pouring from her still heart. Yin was incapable of screaming this time as the third and the last of her closest friends was dead. She could only watch helplessly as the doors closed leaving the bodies of Rei and Ishizu outside among the dead of the battlefield. The Ghouls were pounding against the iron doors that were locked tightly with thick solid planks of wood. Dust was grated from the walls as the soldiers stood trembling in their positions spears and arrows ready for the final defence to give way. Some of the soldiers were a quivering mess whilst others stared blankly at the floor as if entering into their own world where the pain and fear of reality was non-existent. Yin had been one of those that were silent and sat upon the cold stone floor and bringing her knees to her chest.

 

“Princess? Princess!!!” one of the soldiers shook her. “Please direct us of what we should do princess Yin” he whispered desperately in the hopes that she could hold herself for the bravery of her men. Yin was numbly brought out of her traumatized state.

 

“Pray” was all she said as the dust became heavier from the grated walls became heavier and the snarling of Gabriel's troops roared behind them.

 

“Somebody help her…” Yami whispered as he stared desperately for her watching the horizon for the hope but he dropped to the floor knowing that his pleas would be unanswered. He knew the outcome and he cried. “I couldn't help her… Yugi… I was so weak… pathetic… I couldn't… too late to save her… “

 

“Yami…” Yami shook and sobbed silently into his hands refusing to watch any further as the scenes played over Yin's final moments. They felt a violent shove as they returned to the present and they both fell to the floor of the room with a thump. Yugi still held Yami tightly as they drifted slowly back to reality and it was a while before he heard Joey sobbing and curled into a foetal position in the corner of the bed that he had been resting on with Tristan, Serenity, Mokuba and Andrin hovering over him. Seto was standing over the two-tri colour headed twins with a threatening glare.

 

“Joey?” Yugi whispered as he edged closer to see what was wrong with the blonde.

 

“STOP RIGHT THERE! I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU TORTURE HIM ANYMORE!” Serenity shouted tears running down her cheeks. She had barred their way from seeing the blonde.

 

“What? What happened?” Yami asked confused.

 

“CLOSE YOUR EYES!”

 

“Serenity-“they looked confused but then realised why when they noticed both their third eyes had opened from the reflection on dressing table mirror.

 

“CLOSE YOUR EYES RIGHT NOW!” she screamed pointing accusingly at the third eye on his forehead. They both winced but did as they were told and allowed their third eyes to shut tightly before they were allowed through grudgingly. Joey wails were muffled by his arms, which were wrapped protectively around his head. Andrin had held him closely and rocking him gently in the hopes of comforting his agony.

 

“What the fuck were you two doing to him!?” Tristan shouted grabbing Yami by the collar. They both stared in confusion as the blonde's cries began to subside to whimpers whilst his body shook convulsively.

 

“I… Joey? Joey please…” Yami whispered trying to gently pry away the arms that protected his head. He gasped as he saw the blonde's eyes lined with red tears that trailed down his face. An ugly thick line of crimson leaked from under his bruised lids whilst a third trickle of blood came from his nose.

 

“God… Oh my God Joey!” Yugi cried as he hugged his friend. “I… I didn't know… I'm sorry… I…” Yami realised as he felt the blonde's forehead that had been burning cool rapidly. The sheer force of power that had tried to burrow deep into Joey's mind had caused him tremendous pain when they searched the final archives of memories in his psyche. There was so much pain that he had cried tears of blood. Yugi ran out of the room

 

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“Yugi?” Yami whispered worriedly at the boy who had wrapped himself into ball and was rocking himself as he cried.

 

“I don't want them to get hurt anymore, Yami… I don't want my friends to die again,” he sobbed. “I don't know what to do…”

 

“Yugi, Yugi… please calm down… we'll find a way… we still have some time”

 

“NO WE DON'T!!!!” Yugi screamed, “HAVEN'T YOU NOTICED WHERE GABRIEL IS RIGHT NOW? HE HAS US RIGHT WHERE HE WANTS US!!!” he pointed at the block of ice that was thinning every second as the skeletal army clawed their way in before burying his face into his hands. “And his going to force me to watch them die all over again”

 

“No this is different…” Yami countered as he shook Yugi. “Look around you!!! Yugi look around!!!” he yelled forcing Yugi to stare at his friends. “Can you see the difference between now and then? No one's died yet…”

 

“Yami's right…” Ryou added. “Everyone's here, which means we'll have a fighting chance” Yugi looked around as he gazed at the eyes of all his friends alive and well.

 

“I shouldn't have got you guys involved in all this”

 

“We would have got ourselves involved in one way or another Yugi… and we're going to stick to it no matter what” Malik added with his lavender eyes flaring into the same ferocity as his newfound elemental power.

“That's right I'll barbeque those pack of spare ribs out there before they even get pass the front door”

 

“Not with those pathetic candle flames you spout from your mouth, Malik” a new voice growled. They all turned surprised to see the blonde limping towards them on one of the monks' wooden fighting staff. Yugi flinched at the bandage that was wrapped around Joey's eyes as he used the staff like a crutch. Andrin had followed him diligently as he limped across the room.

 

“By the great Anubis, you look shittier every time I see you. Please go back to your room and lay down to recuperate before I feel I have to kill you to end your suffering. We'll handle everything” Bakura said.

 

“Oh please… if I trusted my life to this feeble ensemble of warriors I might as well kill myself now” Joey growled cynically before sitting himself amongst the group. Seto who had been quiet for most of the time stared at the blonde suspiciously.

 

“What? Haven't you seen what we can do? Come on did you notice the huge block of ice that's protecting your sorry ass right now?”

 

“Parlour tricks…” Joey replied blandly much to the displeasure of the group that had relied on Ryou and Malik for protection as he sat back in deep thought. “Gabriel could have easily blasted through that giant ice cube without even a thought. The one thing that's stopping him from doing so is because the princess and Atemu are at the moment together”

 

`Princess? Atemu?' Yugi thought staring suspiciously at the blonde, he noticed Seto narrow his eyes before he began to talk. “Joey what are you saying?” he said aloud. Joey smiled.

 

“He's waiting for you to make whatever move you have so he can play his trump card on his turn. Think of it as a Duel monsters game… Princess”

 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa what's with the calling Yugi a princess Joey? Has your brain been seriously fried by his eye or something?” Honda quibbled. Something gold flew past the brunette before Joey caught the Dragon Sceptre in mid air. He settled down the wooden staff and twirled the sceptre lazily. “Joey?”

 

“You're not Joey… are you?” Yugi whispered. The blonde smirked in his answer.

 

“Katsuya…” Seto rasped in realisation. The smirk widened to a grin as Katsuya Jounouchi sat up. Beneath the deepest depths of Joey's soul, his memories as Katsuya had resurfaced and she spoke through him, a ghostly smooth voice that sounded like running water over smooth rocks was intermixing with the brash voice of her male reincarnation.

 

“As I was saying… Gabriel's waiting to play his trump card”

 

“Do you mean Téa?” Ryou said. Katsuya didn't answer.

 

“He means Yami…” a ghostly voice echoed in the air as the ghosts of Lilly and Alan Motou appeared for the first time at the monastery.

 

“Mom, dad!” Yugi cried with joy. He had been so caught up with searching for answers that he did never realised how long he had been out of contact with his parents.

 

“Glad you could finally join us” Katsuya stated towards the two ghosts that lingered around their son.

 

“We don't have much time Katsuya… we need to get this done before the night is out”

 

“Wha- What do you mean?” Yugi asked in confusion.

 

“Gabriel has been playing with you son. He set up all those memory archives to distract you from planning on how to fight back. We've been trying to reach you ever since we last talked with Yami at the abandoned temple and warn you of this but something kept driving us away.” His father explained quickly.

 

“While you two were strolling down memory lane that Gabriel conveniently set up for you he had Téa or should I say princess Anzu work her own magic over Yami.” Katsuya added. “The new body that Yami's been resurrected in was not something of coincidence. Gabriel planted it there to strengthen Téa's power of the Blood Bond of the Souls whilst weakening the bond you share with Yugi. That is why she suddenly appeared in the last memory archive that you've been in”

 

“So in other words we've been wasting our time trying to look for answers in our past. All but one of the memory archives was irrelevant to the current situation. The only thing we needed to know was why and how Yin and the others died and how we can stop history repeating itself” Yami concluded. “We've found that out through you”

 

“And you can see the consequences of two conflicting magic powers for yourself…” Katsuya added making Yugi immediately guilty. “I've been trying subconsciously into breaking the hold Gabriel has over the two of you which explains the recent state Joey's been in lately. I finally got my chance when you insisted in searching for yourself and just in time for you to make your move before the effects of the Gabriel's ritual took full effect on the pharaoh” Yami blinked.

 

“If Téa's Blood Bond of the Souls would have taken full effect of me what'll happen to me?” Katsuya smirked.

 

“You'll become a puppet, bent to do whatever Téa wished” Yami inwardly cringed whilst Yugi held him close in horror.

 

“Katsuya suspected something like this would happen when the High Priest Seth mysterious fell ill forcing her into a difficult and vulnerable position in order to save his life. She was not in a state to try to stop Gabriel's actions herself, which is why she took precautions and had set two tests in the hopes that the two of you would use that experience to defend yourselves with” Mrs Motou added. Bakura leapt to his feet.

 

“That damn `clone' that kicked me in the balls!!!” he roared pointing accusingly at the blind blonde. “You… You set that up!!!”

 

“That was the clone's way of humouring himself. That happens if you have nothing to do for 5000 years. But at any rate he served his purpose for Yugi who managed to destroy him in the end” Yugi gasped as he was reminded of the terrible agony of having thought he had killed the one he loved. He covered his mouth threatening to throw up. “However if Atemu is as successful in blocking Anzu's advances as he did against my own… we might not have to come to that” Yami then remembered the experience in the heaven like world he had suddenly been thrown in and the feeling of not being able to remember his name. It had frightened him deeply of thinking that he'd ever forget Yugi but knowing that he could accomplish such a task he hoped it was enough to fight against Téa's will.

 

“Now that that's been explained. We have to hurry and play `our' trump cards” Mr Motou said.

 

“You might have to say your goodbyes because once the seal that binds you to this world is broken, you'll never be able to come back” Katsuya replied.

 

“Mom?” Yugi whispered anxiously. “What's she talking about?” Mrs Motou swallowed before she knelt down to her son.

 

“My sweet Yugi…” she whispered stroking her face and hugging him as tightly as her ghostly form could allow. “Baby… your father and I had always been wondering why we couldn't move on like your grandfather when we died. It's because we've been bound to a seal that had been made to protect you from Gabriel. It was made by two powerful sorceresses. One controlling earth and fire another controlling the wind and water” Yugi's eyes widened as he looked over to Malik and Ryou who stared back at him dumbfounded. “But now, we've come to a point where the seal can't protect you anymore and the only way for everyone to survive this last battle is if the powers used to form that seal be returned to the spell casters” Mrs Motou swallowed as she was unable to continue.

 

“In the process of this seal breaking… you're mother and I won't be able to linger in this world anymore. We have to move on”

 

“Move on? Y-You're leaving?” Yugi whimpered as tears started form in his large amethyst eyes.

 

“We have to Yugi… it's the only way to save you…” Mrs Motou urged as ghostly tears ran down her face.

 

“NO!” he cried as his parents held him close for the last time.

 

“Do it…” Mr Motou whispered to Katsuya who ripped the bandage covering her reincarnation's eyes. Her eyes were a hue of forest green compared to Joey's normal ochre brown signifying her temporary control of the blonde. Katsuya stood up holding her sceptre in front of her. The crystal orb that was embraced by a golden scaly body of a dragon glowed a bullion light. An aura of red and icy blue flashes had appeared around Motou family.

 

“MAMA PAPA!!!!” Yugi screamed as the aura around them shattered into their two separate colours. Blue aura flew towards Ryou whilst the red aura struck hard upon Malik. They both yelped in surprise as their bodies suddenly burned alive with energy. Both felt themselves being lifted up into the air and a huge gust of wind had formed from the conflicting powers of hot and cold. As the forces mounted to the brim both boys bellowed a war like cry as they're powers climaxed. A red jet of fire suddenly appeared and circled around Malik who twirled it about upon his finger tips like a dancer with a fiery ribbon. With flick of his fingers a massive burnt crater formed on the floor of the monastery. At the same time a watery tornado had formed around Ryou where the transparent liquid that had appeared out of nowhere started to freeze in all sorts of icy sculptures sprouting dangerous crystals spikes before he willed the sculptures to melt and flood the crater before freezing it once more and turning it into a icy floor evidently making a skating rink in the middle of the large chamber. Finally, their powers had started to subside as Ryou and Malik floated back down to the floor and staggered about looking dazed and light headed from the overwhelming experience.

 

“Whoa…” Malik said shaking his head from his stupor. He stared at his hands that stilled tingled from the effects of the fiery blast. “I know this… this feels good” as he easily conjured a flaming fire ball in his hands without the effort of concentration he had had before. Ryou was also in the same state.

 

“Oh my…” he said. They were about to comment some more but fell silent at the Motou family. Yugi stared down at the locket that had come apart from his neck and had opened from the impact against the stone floor. He looked up at his parents who had started to fade away and leave him forever.

 

“Don't… leave… please” Yugi whispered tearfully as he tried to reach out towards them. Mrs Motou smiled as her ghostly hand touched his own.

 

“We'll never really leave you Yugi… my son” she said as she kissed him on the forehead and stared at the family photo in the metal casing. “You already made sure of that…” With that the two of them disappeared. Yami wrapped his arms around the young boy and wiped the tears away. Yugi gathered the locket from the floor and placed the chain once more around his neck before he wept quietly in his Yami's arms. Katsuya looked away briefly and waited for Yugi to calm down. Yugi looked up at the blonde who only stared back solemnly. He smiled in reassurance that he understood what had to be done. He knew deep down that his parents deserved to have the opportunity to move on rather than linger as ghosts for God knows how long.

 

“Now that the seal is broken we've evened up our forces against Gabriel a bit… Try wielding you're weapons, I think you might find them even easier to handle than before” As she said Malik and Ryou both unsheathed their weapons.

 

“By the Gods…” Malik whispered. “I can't feel the weight of these things at all…”

 

“This staff… it was light before but now it feels more like an extension to my arm…” Ryou mused as he lazily twirled the mythril staff between his fingers. Katsuya grinned as she sat back down on the stone floor and the glow from the sceptre faded away into nothing. “So… um Katsuya… you sticking around for the final showdown against Gabriel and his lackeys?”

 

“Unfortunately, I myself in this current state will not be of much use in battle against the Ghouls… so train hard this night… you'll need it for the ice barrier that Rei's incarnation has formed will be broken through by this time tomorrow…”

 

“What about you?” Yami asked

 

“I'll be watching over you all like I've always done” was the final message from Katsuya's lips before the jade eyes had completely vanished to be replaced by soft golden brown ones that looked confused before Joey collapsed to the floor, the Dragon Sceptre slid away from his fingers with a dull clunk. Seto led the confused blonde back into the small room and lay him down once more for him to rest.

 

“What… happened?” Joey asked timidly and Seto proceeded to explain. The explanations that Joey had received about his sudden possession seemed too unreal. He was physically fit once more; the stabbing pain in his eyes had all but disappeared but the blonde decided to not bothering to think anymore. He was even only vaguely aware of himself snuggling into Seto's chest.

 

`I wonder… from what Yugi told me that Gabriel said that soul missing a piece of itself would be destroyed when the mortal body dies unless that piece of their soul is returned but if that's true then Katsuya's soul was supposed to have been destroyed when she died. So why is it that she is still here… why has she been reincarnated as Joey…?' Seto mused. He had unconsciously been rocking the two of them absently, it seemed so natural, as if he had always done this and yet he could still remember his total indifference to the blonde a few days before. Everything had changed and really rapidly and despite this he hadn't really noticed. It wasn't long before the gentle rocking made the tension that seemed to hold over the blonde loosened and Joey began to feel limp. It was in this moment of silence that Joey started to realise their position and jerked away form the CEO's arms. Seto blinked partially surprised and a bit confused that the brown eyed boy reacted suddenly. The blonde was about to say something but immediately looked down with a faint blush showed up on his face.

 

“Joey?” he questioned.

 

“Um… a moment ago… when you were holding me. It just... I don't know, felt as if I was… dreaming…” he stuttered as the blush across his face deepened. “When I realised that I wasn't dreaming… I… well panicked… I guess…” Seto smirked inwardly. The haze of confusion in the past few months, the dangers with Khan and Katsuya and his seemingly endless search for answers had finally brought him to one satisfying conclusion. He yanked the blonde towards him and wrapped his arms around Joey.

 

“It looks like we're both dreaming and I don't plan on waking up anytime soon…” was all he said as he combed the silky golden tresses with his fingers. Joey said nothing for his face was buried into Seto's chest.

 

“Much as I'd like that” Joey's said muffled by Seto's sweater. “You'll have to wake up to perform your duties… High Priest” Seto blinked at the name before he pulled Joey back to see gaze into emerald eyes. Katsuya had taken over again. He narrowed his eyes at her but found that this time the transformation extended further than the shade of her eyes. Joey's fairly long hair had grown to the extent of his hips whilst his jacket and sweater had changed into a long dress of pure silk. Two large mounds had grew pressing heavily against Seto's chest. A slight flush of pink developed on his cheeks as Seto pushed her away. Katsuya smirked at the surprise she still had over the blue eyed brunette.

 

“What have you done to him? What have you done to Joey?” The former general looked thoughtful from the statement.

 

“Strange choice of words considering the boy you seemed so fond of and I are essentially, the same person” Katsuya replied amused. Seto blinked realising his mistake but glared at her.

 

“You're not the same. For a start, I don't believe that even one part of Joey's soul would hold something as psychotic as that piece that you put inside me”

 

“The madness of that piece of my soul did not stem from my origins… Seto Kaiba but I suppose I'll have to agree in part. My reincarnation is stronger in spirit than I was and not as easily manipulated by evil… No we are not exactly the same… Being reincarnated does that sometimes... in your mortal terms it's like your computer software being updated to a superior model but unfortunately its something that I never really got to work out” He wasn't sure when she had retrieved it but once again the Dragon Sceptre was in her hand once more and she traced a slender finger across the golden scales of the dragon staring silently as if it was going to be the last time she was going to hold it.

 

“There's some questions I'd like for you to answer” Seto said. Katsuya looked up from the Dragon Sceptre.

 

“Why I was still able to be reincarnated even after Gabriel supposedly destroyed my very soul? Why do you think that Gabriel went to all that trouble to destroy my soul in the first place?” Katsuya answered with a question of her own. “It's a complicated matter but I expected a self proclaimed genius like yourself would be able to figure it out. I guess I must have overestimated you” Seto growled at the insinuating dominance of the conversation.

 

“Enough of your ramblings just tell me”

 

“Such impertinence but I suppose I'll let it slide,” Katsuya smirked getting the brunette riled. It was almost unreal to Seto how much the tables of turn when he talked with Joey's pre incarnation “Gabriel's infatuation with Yugi has driven him to use his most potent techniques to claim him. The Blood Bond of the Souls is one of the most powerful rituals across this world, the Shadow Realm and many other plains of existence but there is a way to revoke it” Something clicked in Seto's mind.

 

“You… you know how” he whispered. Katsuya smiled and crossed her arms knowingly. “So for Gabriel to be able to use the Blood Bond of the Souls ritual affectively without any drawbacks he'd have to make sure you were out of the game permanently so why is he wasting his time tormenting Yugi?”

 

“He doesn't know that my soul has survived, which leaves me a window of opportunity” Katsuya replied turning towards him.

 

“But that still doesn't explain how-“just at that moment the crystal of the Dragon Sceptre glowed an ethereal gold aura around Katsuya.

 

“The Dragon Sceptre was powerful enough to sustain my soul for it to be reincarnated all these years however I can't invoke it's full potential. Gabriel made sure of that. He's waiting to play his final trump card in this war but not until I play mine... ” Katsuya sauntered towards Seto and pressed her body against his. She wrapped her arms lovingly around him, the Dragon Sceptre in one hand. The golden eyes of the serpentine beast blinked before it started to unravel from the staff. “I cannot hope to that this alone will destroy Gabriel. Only Yugi and Yami can do that. All I can provide is to even out the balance of power and provide our friends with a fighting chance against his army” Seto gasped and his body froze where he stood as the dragon from the sceptre had started to wrap it's body around his. Then it started to merge with him as if their two bodies had become like clay.

 

“What are you-?“ he rasped as Katsuya placed her fingers on his mouth and silencing him.

 

“Hush… this transition won't hurt a bit… I'm transferring all of the Dragon Sceptre's the powers protecting my soul into you. Just relax” Seto widened his eyes. `That means Joey won't have its protection. If Joey dies his soul `will' be destroyed this time'

 

“Take it back!” he shouted as the dragon seemed to burrow inside him. Katsuya backed away staring at him. “TAKE IT BACK! I don't want your soul to be destroyed… take it back pl-” he cried as a rush of energy filled his body as the crystal that the dragon had held onto for five thousand years disappeared into his body thrusting him into a dream where time ceased to exist. “Joey” was the last thing that was uttered from his lips as he felt himself slip into oblivion. He fought to stay awake and his silent screams of fighting back the power that was forced into him. He let out one final scream that seemed to penetrate through and the powers seemed to dissipate.

 

---------

 

“Joey!” he jerked awake sitting up from the bed to find that he was alone.

 

“Oh I'm so sorry Seto” Seto turned to find Mokuba staring at him.

 

“Joey… where is he?” Mokuba blinked.

 

“He's just outside with Andrin…” Seto clutched at his chest as he last felt the strange crystal orb being burrowed inside him. “Are you alright?”

 

“The Sceptre where is it?”

 

“Isis has it. She picked it up after Joey dropped it and you took him to the room an hour ago”

 

“An hour? Did you see anything happen?”

 

“Well no, I came in to check on you two about five minutes after you left and found that you were both asleep” Mokuba grinned evilly. “In each other's arms” Seto ignored the insinuating remarks of his brother and got up immediately to seek out the blonde.

 

-------

 

“Remember, this is only so you can defend yourself tomorrow.

 

“Yeah, I know” Joey said calmly.

 

“Do you want me to go through the motions with you again?”

 

“Just hit me Andrin” Joey growled and although Andrin seemed reluctant he did. Andrin went to slash down on the blonde who blocked it successfully with a parry. This set of a chain of motions as Andrin attacked Joey defended. The swords clashed in time when Joey knocked the mercenary off his feet, successfully disarming him. “See? I told you I'm a quick study” Andrin shook out the dust from his shaggy ebony hair before he smiled. His grey eyes revealed the rare emotion of affection that he usually hid under a mask of indifference. He rarely showed this and even if he did it was only in the presence of the blonde and Seto could feel the pang of jealousy over the interaction of the two.

 

“Ok, let's try archery” Andrin said as Joey pulled him up and he skilfully guided the blonde's hands upon how to hold the bow and arrows at the target practise ahead.

 

“Keep both eyes open on the target. Lock and shoot” he whispered. Joey nodded in concentration as he grabbed an arrow positioned it between the string and wood and let it loose. The arrow hit straight at the bull's eye. Andrin smirked. “Just like Katsuya, a natural” Joey giggled and blushed. “Ok… get some rest… we've got a long battle ahead of us tomorrow night so it may be our last”

 

“We're going to get through this Andrin” Joey said. Andrin smiled but said nothing more.

 

-------------

 

It was late that night as Yugi stared at the stars above the ice. They would be fighting tomorrow. Yami wrapped his arms around his waist.

 

“You feel her don't you trying to take over”

 

“Yes…” Yami rasped as he rubbed at his temples. “Aibou… I'm afraid to fall asleep… I'm at my weakest when I'm dreaming and she'll come…I wish I knew what to do… Katsuya's helped us by releasing Ryou and Malik's full powers but… I still can't help but feel I might lose you. Keep me awake Yugi… I don't fall asleep because she'll be there waiting…” Yugi snuggled into the warmth of Yami's body and took his love's hand and kissed it once before biting down hard, making Yami wince. Yami pulled Yugi even tighter into himself. The stinging pain stopped when Yugi released his bleeding hand. Yugi wept as he wrapped his arms around his soul mate.

 

---------

 

Téa growled in frustration as she concentrated. Gabriel chuckled as she watched her struggling. “You have little patience don't you?” Téa glared at him but continued to try and invoke will upon Yami's curse but yelped clutching her wrist. Welts of blood started to appear on her right hand and she snarled.

 

“That damn Yugi…” she muttered staring at the teeth marks but continued to force her will on Yami” Gabriel sat back twirling a lock of his silky white tresses in one slender hand. His diamond eyes glanced over to the icy wall that his Ghouls were still digging frantically at the barrier. It had troubled him though as he found that something had broken his memory spell he had cast over the group and that Yugi discovered the curse that was placed on his lover, but it didn't matter to him. It was already too late for Yugi to be able to counter his final attack and he grinned relishing in seeing the little one's broke spirit watching Téa play with Yami like a girl with her doll. His hand morphed into a claw and his eyes turned blood red. He licked his lips in anticipation as the final battle was drawing to a close and he was going to emerge victorious with Yugi fully submitting to him.

 

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Sam: Next is the last chapter followed by an epilogue!!!