Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Daze of Paradise ❯ (Part II) Desperate Measures ( Chapter 12 )

Authoress' Notes: I'm still alive! Amazing isn't it? If you all remember the last chapter - which I doubt since I barely remember what happened - then this is merely a continuation of those events. Enjoy!

 

Disclaimers: *yawns* It'll be another 5,000 years until I own. Until then I write fanfiction and pretend…

 

Warnings:The usual.

 

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Chapter 12 - ( Part II ) Desperate Measures

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“It is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things..”

— Henry David Thoreau; Walden, Economy

 

The minute Yugi turned off his phone, he sent his mind out searching for his yami, hoping he'd be able to find him and warn him before the Pharaoh got ambushed by media-people.

{Yami? If you can hear me, please answer…}

{Aibou? Of course I can hear you.} came the immediate reply. {Is something wrong? You sound upset or something.}

{I'm okay. It's you I'm worried about. Has anyone tried talking to you today?} Yugi glanced at Malik, who was trying to get his attention.

{Other than normal? Not that I recall. Why?}

{I promise I'll explain it all soon, but right now you need to get here as soon as you can, before any reporters find you. Where are you now?} Yugi waved Malik off, more interested in finding his dark half.

{I just got to your school, hikari. Where are you?} Yami replied. Yugi let out a sigh of relief.

{Oh good. You know which building I have most of my classes in, right?}

{Yes.}

{I'm with Marik and Malik at the East entrance to that building. Get here as soon as you can, please? And if anyone tries to stop you or asks questions about Egypt, yell for me and tell them `no comment.'}

{Alright. Egypt? Why would anyone be wanting to…oh, Ra.} Yami groaned and let loose a string of ancient curses as it dawned on him.

{Yeah. That's what all of us are saying a lot. Don't worry, though. I called Seto and he's already handling things as best he can for now.}

{At least he knows what to do. Fine, Yugi…I'll see you in a few minutes, alright?}

{Yeah. Be careful, love.} Yugi gave Malik an exasperated, “What?”

“What did Kaiba say? Is there some sort of plan?” Malik asked, fidgeting nervously.

“Of a sort. What's the matter with you?”

Malik smiled weakly. “I don't like cameras shoved in my face. But more, I have this sense that we need to leave, and it gets stronger the longer we stand here.”

Yugi patted his friend on the arm. “I know. It'll be fine, Malik. We just have to wait for Yami, and the others, and then we need to get to the administration building. Kaiba said he'd have a limo there in 10 minutes to pick us up and take use to the mansion.”

“Wow.” Malik blinked. “He works fast, doesn't he?”

“Hmmm…” Yugi looked around, trying to spot Yami or his friends anywhere.

“I see the tombrobber and his hikari. They've got Tea and Devlin with them.” Marik said suddenly, pointing. The two Lights looked and spotted them.

“Great. Now where's Joey and Tristan?” Malik searched the open grounds for Joey's tell-tale blonde head.

“Right here.” Tristan's voice stated from behind them, making all three jump, startled.

“Ah! Don't do that!” Malik clutched at his chest as his heart came down from leaping up into his throat.

“Sorry.”

“Have we got a plan?” Joey asked Yugi. The tri-haired hikari nodded. “Excellent. Let's blow this place, shall we?”

“We're here!” Ryou called as he, Bakura, Tea, and Duke jogged toward them. “My goodness! I haven't run like that in ages.”

“As soon as Yami gets here, we're gone.” Yugi glanced at his watch. “He should have been here by now…”

“I'm sure he's fine, Yugi.” Tea tried to reassure him.

“I know…but…” he started to respond when Yami's voice in his mind cut him off.

{Yugi! I think some of those `reporter' people you warned me of have found me. They're asking a lot of questions about Egypt and my Palace, and they keep shoving sticks with cloth over them in my face.} Yami sounded more curious about what Yugi interpreted to be microphones than he was concerned about the media.

{Wonderful. Yes, that would be them. Listen, where are you now?}

{There's four buildings on either side of me, and I'm standing in a park area.}

{Uh…the Quad? Okay…let me think.} Yugi muddled over the best way to get to the administration building from where they were and avoid the reporters.

{Think quicker, Aibou.} Yami urged. Now he was beginning to sound annoyed. {These people are becoming rather insistent.}

{Got it!} Yugi nodded decisively. {Do you mind retreating to your soul room for now, Yami? It won't be fore long, I promise.}

{Anything's better than dealing with these…jackals.} Yami said in mild disgust. {Have they nothing better to do?}

Yugi smothered a laugh. {Ah…no. Probably not. Just come to me and I'll get us all out of here.} He felt a jolt of shadow energy from the Puzzle and smiled at the familiar presence of his yami's return as it blanketed him. {Hi, love!}

Yami chuckled, the sound reverberating through his hikari in a shiver. {Hello, love.}

“Okay, everyone. Let's get the heck out of here. Follow me…” Yugi turned and went inside the building once more, leading his friends stealthily though the halls toward another exit, which led away from the Quad (and the media who had to be confused and a little scared by now at Yami's sudden disappearance from right in front of them).

As they approached the administration building, they spotted Kaiba's limo, and made a quick dash for it when they heard shouts of “There he is!” and “Over there!” from nearby.

The limo driver had the door open and waiting for them as they approached, and five big men in suits and sunglasses got out of an SUV parked behind the limo and took up positions around it, looking imposing and threatening.

“Gee, how nice of Kaiba to lend us a squad of his gorillas.” Joey drawled sarcastically. Yugi frowned at him in warning and crawled in.

“I know you have…issues, Joey, but right now, please try and put them aside?” Yugi requested. The blonde sighed and slouched in his seat.

“Yeah. Sorry, Yugi.”

“Thank you. We'd be in very big trouble right now if it weren't for Seto.” Yugi rubbed the Puzzle absently, staring out the tinted windows at the crowd of reporters and curious students that had tried mobbing the limo. “By the way, I asked him to have Serenity picked up from school with Mokuba. I didn't want you to worry about her.”

Joey and Tristan chorused, “Thanks, Yugi!” Then looked at each other with small grins. Tea rolled her eyes.

“What about my sister, and Isis?” Malik asked.

“I imagine he'll have them rescued and brought to the mansion, too.” Ryou reassured him. Malik nodded in relief.

Yugi turned out the conversation and tapped his knuckles on the panel of glass separating them from the front of the car. The panel slid down and Yugi met the driver's gaze in the rearview mirror.

“Can we get out of here?” The dueling Prince asked.

“Yes, sir. Campus security is on their way. When they arrive, they'll clear a path for us to get through. I have orders from Mr. Kaiba to have you brought to his home immediately.”

“Alright. Thank you.” Yugi sighed as the panel window slowly rolled back up.

“I hope the security people get here soon.” Ryou nudged Yugi and pointed out the window.

“So do I, Ryou.” The mob outside was just getting bigger and bigger. “I hate being crowded in like this.”

{You have nothing to fear, aibou. I am with you.} Yami's voice soothed. He smiled.

{I know. Thank you, Yami.}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The whole group sat around the first floor sitting room of the Kaiba mansion. Mokuba and Serenity were sitting together at the window, heads bent together as they chatted amicably. Ryou and Malik, along with their yamis, sat on one long comfy sofa, while Tea, Tristan, Duke, and Mai sat on the other sofa. Isis and Ishizu were sitting on armchairs near the fireplace, and Joey sat next to Yugi and Yami on an oversized loveseat opposite Isis and Ishizu. Everyone was waiting for their gracious host, who was currently on the phone barking orders right, left, and centre to who-knows-whom.

“Just do it, or find a new job.” Kaiba snarled into the receiver in his hand before slamming it back into its cradle. “Alright. The Domino city police should be by very soon to deal with the rabid mob of reporters outside my gates.”

“We'll never be able to thank you enough for this, Seto.” Yugi said softly, gripping Yami's hand tightly. “I…we've dealt with the press before, but nothing like this.”

Kaiba waved it off. “Forget it, Yugi. Seriously, forget it. This is something I am quite capable of handling.” He leaned against the mantle of the fireplace, and Yugi could see the phenomenal mind in full gear in Kaiba's eyes.

“That you are, Seto Kaiba.” Yami acknowledged with a small smile. “So what do you have planned for us?”

“First, may I suggest you all remain here, until you can return to your homes without being mobbed.”

“I think that's an excellent idea.” Yami agreed.

“No offence, Kaiba.” Mai spoke up, studying her nails. “But as lovely as your home is and how much I appreciate our hospitality. I will be going home after this meeting. And I think you know I will have nothing to say to the press.”

Joey stared at her for a moment then shrugged. “Her house is just about as secure as this place is. She'll be fine there.”

Duke folded his arms over his chest. “I can't stay either. I have responsibilities that can't be ignored.” He nodded at Yugi and Yami. “I can swear that if the media should try asking any questions, they won't find answers with me.”

“Of course.” Yami assured them both that he believed them. “And what else have you planned, Kaiba?”

“The only way out of this situation, as I see it, is to throw the media a bone.” Kaiba replied. Yami just looked at him, not comprehending. “I mean we have to provide them with some answers - enough to satisfy them to the point that they'll leave us all alone - for the most part. There will always be someone who'll be too curious and try to dig deeper, through.” He smirked a little. “But those ones we can deal with as they crawl out of the woodwork.”

Bakura and Marik were staring at him in mild shock.

“Is it me, or did the High Priest just get replaced by a yami of his own?” The white-haired tombrobber muttered under his breath to the other yami.

“I heard that, tombrobber.” Kaiba glared at him.

“What? That's a compliment!”

“How do you propose we give the media their answers, then?” Ishizu asked, before a fight could break out. “Do we compose a statement and send it out to everyone?”

“No. Not exactly. We will have to come up with what exactly we want to say, what questions we will answer, and how we will answer them, etc., but what we're going to have to do is hold a press conference.” Kaiba held up a hand to stave off the protests that he could be forming. “Wait! Just hear me out. There are rules - laws - that even the media have to follow, especially when it comes to high profile people - celebrities, business people, royalty…” Kaiba stressed the last, looking directly at the Pharaoh.

Yami blinked.

“So…what you're saying is, we make a statement at a press conference, answer a few questions, and then firmly assert that it's all any of us have to say about the matter and that further pursuit of it will result in legal action?” Ishizu nodded thoughtfully. “It has merit.”

“Legal action?” Yugi asked.

“They pursue the subject - which would require interfering in our personal lives - and we sue their asses off.” Kaiba's smile was shark-like. “Nothing to it. And there's nothing I like more than making life difficult for the media.”

It was probably the first time he'd ever truly impressed Bakura and Marik - and Malik - by default. The three blondes exchanged looks and Ryou rolled his eyes.

“Hey, big brother!” Mokuba bounced over and tugged on his brother's jacket sleeve. “Can we ask the chefs to make pizza for everyone?”

Kaiba looked down at him. “Pizza? Why not something more…”

“Hey, pizza!” Malik grinned and Ryou nodded in agreement. Yugi smiled at Mokuba and Serenity.

“Pizza sounds great, `Kuba. It's quick and a lot of it can be made easily.” Yugi said.

Joey stood up and dusted his hands. “I'll go with you two and help choose what kinds to have.” He draped an arm around either of their shoulders and led them away, presumably to the kitchen.

Yugi took note that Kaiba was doing his best to not look at the blonde as he spoke and walked out - as was Joey, who avoided looking at Kaiba just the same. He sighed and smuggled into his soulmate's side.

{What's wrong, aibou? You seem troubled.} Yami observed.

{I'm beginning to lose my patience with those two.} Yugi scowled mentally, amethyst eyes flicking from Kaiba to the doors Joey had disappeared through. {I have half a mind to lure them into a room with doors that lock only from the outside and leave them together for as long as it takes for them to get their act together.}

{Uh…I think I know what you mean, but the thought worries me somewhat. Are you saying Seto and Joey are interested in each other?}

{That's one way to put it, yeah.} Yugi rolled his eyes and sweatdropped. {Long story, love. I promise I'll regale you with it later, okay?}

Yami nodded and turned his head to place an affectionate kiss to Yugi's temple.

“Uh, excuse me…” Seto was watching them expectantly. “I'm guessing you didn't hear me, Yami.”

The Pharaoh just looked at him impassively.

“Sorry, Seto. I was distracting him. Go on.” Yugi apologized.

“I asked if two days is enough time for us to prepare before we make any statements.”

“I don't know the logistics involved, Seto, but if you believe that is enough time, then it is enough.”

“Alright then.” Kaiba straightened and strode purposefully toward the doors. “Make yourselves at home. Mokuba will make sure you're taken care of. I'll be in my office making plans.”

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After the pizza had been dished out, courtesy of the Kaiba chefs, Yugi waited half an hour until everyone was completely occupied in Mokuba's favorite room - the games room. At that point, with a quick mental message to his soulmate, the hikari snuck out and went to find Kaiba to have a little chat with him.

He found the CEO in his office, fingers tapping on his desktop as he stared balefully at a flat screen monitor on one wall, bearing the faces of several men and women.

“Mr. Kaiba, sir, that building as yet to be completed. There is a great deal of electrical work that still needs to be finished before it is safe for people to be in the building.” One of the men said in a pleading voice.

“That was supposed to have been taken care of last week, was it not?” Kaiba glared and the group flinched back. “Walker, take care of that immediately. As for the rest of you, find a suitable venue and book it by tomorrow morning. No excuses. If I end up having to do it myself, you can all start looking for new jobs.” He pushed a button on his keyboard at his computer and the screen went black. Kaiba swung around in his chair and spotted his diminutive rival duelist.

“Something wrong, Yugi?” He inquired, gesturing at the chairs in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”

“Thanks. Nothing's wrong with me. Everyone's enjoying the games room at the moment.” Yugi replied, folding himself into the rather comfy leather chair. “I wanted to speak to you privately for a moment, that's all.”

“About what?” Intrigued, Kaiba closed his laptop and pushed it aside.

“Just between you and I - and I'll swear on the Puzzle not to say anything about this even to Yami, if you want…”

“How about you ask me whatever it is and I'll let you know before you do something so radical?”

“Fair enough. It's about Joey.” Yugi said, carefully watching Kaiba's expression and seeing him stiffen and his ice blue eyes go carefully blank after a lightning flash of emotion.

“What about the Mutt?”

Yugi ignored that. “I'm worried about him. He's been quiet and sort of withdrawn lately.”

“And you're talking to me about this because…why?”

“It started right after his house-warming party, and since you and Mokuba were the last of the group to leave, I thought perhaps you could give me some insight.” Yugi told him. He was giving the brunette a chance to tell Yugi himself and open discussion himself. However, it seemed that Kaiba wasn't going to take the bait.

“I'm sorry, Yugi. I don't.” He replied coolly.

“Uh huh. Then the rather intense make-out session you and Joey had in the elevator had nothing to do with it?” Yugi smiled and it seemed to scare Kaiba nearly as much as the statement of what he'd been denying so vehemently to himself and anyone else.

“You are truly freaky, Yugi Motou.” He managed to say calmly. “Either you used your…talents, or the Mutt told you.” There was not point in denying it now, not to Yugi, and he knew it. “I'm guessing option two.”

“We have no secrets from each other, Seto. But I'm not lying when I say I'm worried about him. And you.” Yugi's tone and expression softened. “I can see that neither of you have been sleeping well, and believe me, I've noticed how you both avoid each other as much as possible.”

“How very observant of you.” Kaiba glared, trying to detract Yugi from the topic. Yugi, however, wouldn't be distracted.

“Glare all you like, Seto. This is me you're talking to. I just want my friends to be happy, and like it or not, you are my friend.”

“Look, Yugi, I appreciate the sentiment.” Kaiba stood and turned to stare out the window, his back to the hikari so he couldn't see the emotions on his face that he couldn't seem to hide. “But there's nothing to discuss. I don't know what came over me…us…whatever, in the elevator that night, but I do know that it won't happen again. If the Mutt took it to mean something and can't put it aside, then that's his problem.”

Yugi ignored the words Kaiba said and concentrated on his voice and the words Kaiba wasn't saying. Eyes widening, he exclaimed in a stunned, quiet voice, “Oh my god you're falling in love with him! Holy Ra!”

Kaiba spun around, his face taking on that deer-in-the-headlights kind of expression as he denied that fact as vehemently as he could. “I most certainly am not! Don't even think that I would…”

“And don't you insult my intelligence, Seto Kaiba.” Yugi shot back, a bit of his temper beginning to rise up - something that didn't happen very often. “I may not be the genius that you are, but I am far from stupid. And so is Joey. He knows there's something up between you, only he gets these confusing signals from you and so he can't figure out the situation. Your actions are telling him that you're a whole lot more than interested in him, and yet your words and attitude are doing a really good job at making him feel worthless and unwanted.”

“Oh poor Mutt.” Kaiba mocked angrily, slapping both hands down on his desktop and glaring hotly at Yugi. “Did it ever once occur to either of you that maybe I'm not comfortable with any of it? That I may need some time to figure out things for myself? I haven't felt like this before! I don't know how to deal with…I don't know what to say or do! So quit condemning me for someone else's problems, Yugi, because I have enough of my own!”

Yugi relaxed, listening with that pure patience he always seemed to have as Kaiba let his anger and frustration out - to say the things he'd needed to say and vent instead of internalizing it all as he usually did. When Kaiba wound down, he was breathing hard like he'd run a race, and he sank down slowly into his office chair again. He was suddenly pale and wore this stunned expression that said he had no idea what to do with himself. Yugi's expression softened and he sighed, leaning forward to rest his arms on his side of the desktop.

“Oh gods…”

“Take a few deep breaths and let them out slowly, Seto. Don't panic on me, alright?” He advised. He would have preferred to run around the desk and hug Seto - which of course he wasn't going to do because it was likely Seto would pound him into the floor or something on instinct. Instead, he tried talking him through it. “I know you're just as confused as Joey is, Seto. And I know that your reaction was just reflex and defensive for you. Actually, Joey knows that, too, somewhere in his head. He just can't think that clearly. So what I'm going to suggest to you is that you take a moment to talk to him. Not tonight, maybe not even tomorrow, but soon.”

Kaiba shivered, suddenly feeling chilled. “My head is telling me you're right, Yugi. But the rest of me…” he buried his face in his hands. “I have a headache.”

“I can fix that for you, if you want.” Yugi stood up, moving around the desk. Kaiba shook his head and held up his hand, giving him a small smile.

“No. It's alright. You don't have to expend more energy on me, Yugi. But thank you for offering.”

“Well, if you're sure. You don't have any other calls or anything to make do you?”

“No.”

“Then take my advice and go to bed. Relax and rest.”

“Sounds like a plan to me. Don't all of you stay up too late, either.” Kaiba warned as they walked to the door together. “The next couple of days could be really draining.”

“Don't worry!” Yugi grinned cheerfully. “We'll be just fine.”

“Uh huh. If you say so.”

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Two days later, the press conference was held in Kaiba's yet un-finished Duel Dome stadium.

Yami and Yugi - together with their council of Seto Kaiba, Ryou and Bakura, Ishizu and Isis, Malik and Marik, and Joey, Tristan, and Tea - stood before a large crowd of media people from TV news crews, magazines, and newspapers. Also in attendance was Pegasus, at Yami's… “request,” as well as Professor Hawkins - who came at Kaiba's suggestion.

And so it was that the Pharaoh was introduced to the world 5,000 years after he'd taken the throne. However, he didn't use the opportunity to take over the world, as many believed he would do - apparently, as the questions seemed to point in that direction frequently.

“I have already ruled as Pharaoh, and I have done what I was required to do in this time in order for everyone to continue to live their lives as they have become accustomed to. It is not just all of you who have been given a second chance to live. I have, also.” He paused, glancing at Yugi, then around at their friends. “I have friends and family now, and someone I love very, very much. I have all that I need. The governments and leaders of the world can rest easy, and keep their positions, because I don't want them.” Yugi's hand slipped into Yami's and squeezed. “On the topic of all things ancient Egypt, I do have a few words to impart upon everyone. To do so, I have asked an old friend to assist us.”

Professor Hawkins stepped up to the podium, as Yami introduced him. “The Professor has spent a great deal of his life trying to…resurrect Egypt's ancient past - and its many mystical secrets. I say to the world and the Professor's colleagues that he has come closer to the truth than any other, and that I am placing my faith and trust in him to continue to make his discoveries and educated us all about the home I have not seen in five millennia in its full splendor.

“So now that I have said my piece, I think we can all go back to our lives, and we would all appreciate your cooperation in allowing us to live in peace. From this point on - in fair warning - none of us will ever speak to the media again on this topic, so do not bother trying to win more information from us. I will now turn this conference over to Professor Hawkins. Thank you for attending and listening.”

Yami led the way off the stage with Yugi at his side and their friends following behind. Isis and Ishizu remained behind, however, to field questions concerning the museum.

{You were perfect, love.} Yugi smiled, getting into the limo that would take them back to Kaiba's. The group would stay at the mansion for one last night before returning to their own homes.

{Hardly, aibou. But I appreciate the sentiment.} Yami raised their linked hands and kissed the back of Yugi's affectionately.

“Well.” Ryou heaved a sigh of relief. “Perhaps now life can return to normal now.”

“No kidding. I just have one question.” Malik was frowning. “What are we going to do about classes?”

Yugi, Ryou, Malik, and Joey exchanged looks of resigned distress.

“Wonderful.” Joey muttered.

“We'll figure it out, guys. Don't worry about it.” Yugi assured them, though he silently wondered just what they were going to do.

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Authoress' Notes: Okay, so that whole plot line was a little anti-climactic. Really, though, it served its purpose, and I got rid of a little nagging thread that's been loose for a while now. You'll all just have to believe me on that. Anyway, Ryou's going to be vastly disappointed about things going back to relative normalcy for the gang, as we'll all see in the next few chapters…so stay tuned, folks! Please R/R!!!!