Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Disquieted Volition of Blue Eyes ❯ Fourth Haunt ( Chapter 4 )

 

Disquieted Volition of Blue Eyes

Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh nor any of its characters.

--

Fourth Haunt

A misplaced frown marked Kaiba's lips as his dazed blue eyes idly claimed the sky above him.

The relentlessness of the sun continued to pour out its unbearable burden down upon the prone male.

But the longer he aimlessly gazed into the vast intangible entity before him, the less he started to feel its realism across his skin.

Something within his being stirred and his heavy lids began to narrow.

After all the trouble he had gone through to get to this place and confront his demons, something still remained amiss.

He felt empty.

A soft whisper of his name lightly traveled over his bare shoulder and he turned to acknowledge it.

Laying nude next to him on his side, Atem's body moved slowly up and down as he collected his breath.

Large orbs of enticement clung to Kaiba's gaze, silently thanking him.

Yet, there was another message within those moist eyes.

An unspoken lament of a previously unveiled sorrow rose to the glossed surface of Atem's eyes.

And within a deceptive split second, Kaiba understood the smaller male's expression and his resolve shattered into regretful shards.

While their moment of passion was mutual, the aftermath was far more reluctant.

“Kaiba...” Atem began softly, but his unborn words were pierced before they formed.

“Don't...say ...it.” Kaiba retorted faintly.

“Do you think I never wanted this to happen? If so, you are wrong. I truly desired this. And above that, I desired you at my side.”

Kaiba could barely muster a sigh. His darkened eyes traveled upto a random spot in the sky and settled there.

They then lingered on the mighty sun above. Oddly enough, he felt no pain and no resistance towards its brightness.

That was when he realized he was dieing. Not because of his illness, but his choice.

When the pharaoh received no answer, he propped himself up on an elbow and peered over at the paler male's face.

His elegant eyes nearly grew as large as saucers when he was able to see the light dusty tinges of the ground beneath them right through Kaiba's body.

“Kaiba!” Atem shouted, scrambling to his knees and grasping Kaiba's translucent shoulders.

“You never told me how you got here!” he blurted out the first sentence that became coherent within his jumbled thoughts as she shook him. “Why didn't you tell me you might disappear!?!”

Kaiba's lips parted for a moment. Lucid blue glazed over the pharaoh's frantic features. Pain gathered in his heart from receiving such despair. “....You...”

“Kaiba!” he cried, even louder, oblivious to the possible attention it could gather. “You selfish bastard! Don't you dare take advantage of me and leave!” he accused as if spouting such profanities would root the other's essence in place and continued to shake him.

“...Stop...that, Atem.” Kaiba murmured with a mock glare. It was the best he could do under the circumstances. “I ...made a deal...”

Atem searched Kaiba's face for any hint of anything he could latch onto and persuade the man to stay.

“You mean to tell me you threw away your life just to come here?”

He scoffed lightly. “I needed ...to get....you...out of...my head... You were haunting me... like a pompous...ghost...”

Atem forced himself to smile a little.

Around this time, he noticed one of his subjects within his vicinity.

Stern aquamarine crystals searched over the two individuals on the ground, then narrowed.

Gingerly, Isis touched the Millennium Necklace. She had indeed become aware of the pharaoh and his “guest's” situation. She also caught wind of Kaiba's volition that brought him into their world.

When she first discovered this, she immediately told the priest Seto. And as she had expected, he had a fit. But he chose not to interfere because of the result of Kaiba fading away.

Silently, Isis knelt beside her pharaoh, ignoring both males' nudity, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Let him go.” she whispered.

“No! I refuse! Leave us!”

“My Pharaoh...” she coaxed softly “Please, leave this to me...”

Wavering red-violet watched his subject brush past him and lean down towards Kaiba's face. A streak of jealousy shot through Atem but he knew better.

“Can...can you save him, Isis?” he inquired candidly.

Her words rested on her tongue as her full eyes scrutinized the brown-haired male's non-blinking features. She knew that he knew if he were to close his eyes, it would pronounce his ultimate omega.

“Not I, Pharaoh.” she answered back tenderly, but uncertainty lingered in her tone. “The choice is upto him.”

Kaiba's decrepit eyes continued to stare off into space, still refusing to close, as his form began to flicker within a short rhythm.

--

“Charging. Clear!!” the nurse timed as the doctor shocked Kaiba's exposed chest with high voltage panels to restart his heart.

Tense seconds slipped abundantly through time while the medical staff tried to reclaim Seto's pulse.

Fragmented bits of pain and wavering hope varied across Mokuba and Ishizu's faces as they waited outside of the hospital room, peering through its glass windows.

Both remained silent. Both clung to whatever belief they could that would possibly bring Seto Kaiba back into their lives.

“Charging. Clear!”

...

“Clear!”

..
“Clear!”

Ishizu's body jumped each time she heard the shock and saw Seto's chest rise from the voltage, then return to remaining still.

A hot sting pricked the backs of her eyes and a lump formed in her throat. 'Seto...please. Please come back' she silently begged, lifting her fingers to the base of her slender neck.

“Clear!”

Her body shuddered again and a small cry escaped her, but she did her best not to cry and remain strong for Mokuba.

The younger Kaiba didn't bother to hold any of his sorrow back and allowed his tears to flow freely from his sorrow-contorted face.

Although he was still rather young, he meant what he said to his brother. If he chose a ghost over his own family, he would give Kaiba Corp's rights over to Pegasus and separate himself from the Kaiba name completely.

“Clear!”

Ishizu's hands soon balled into small fists and her eyes pressed tautly shut.

Her battle with sorrow was getting the best of her and her grief materialized into a warm string of droplets that coated around her lashes.

“Seto...please... return to where you belong... ...Seto..”

--

Seto...

Kaiba's vulnerable body continued to fade and flicker while he still remained on his back.

Dull blue remained captive of the bright hues and mystical celestial bodies above; lacking all luster.

“Seto...”

The sweet call of his name gingerly brushed past his ears. But his eyes did not move.

They didn't need to.

The majority of she sky was soon chased away from his line of vision by the enveloping sight of Isis.

Her calming eyes trailed down to his whilst genuine concern swam in them. And although she appeared to him in a time of dire circumstances, her features remained serenely composed.

For a moment, Kaiba thought he was hallucinating and frowned. “Ishizu...?”

An unreadable expression fleeted across her features at the name, but the tenacity in her eyes didn't falter.

“Seto... I have seen a vision of your present. You do not belong here.”

The lowering of his pale lids was the only reaction Kaiba gave in response.

Fearing he was accepting his decision of death without any second thoughts, the mystical woman leaned in closer to him. Delicately, a slender hand glided over his fading arm and clasped it.

The very instant they made contact, everything around them dissipated into a dark void littered with tiny wisps of light.

“Look.” Isis' elegant voice lightly instructed as a wavering transparent screen of the two individuals Kaiba had left behind appeared before them.

And at this, his eyes steadily began to widen.

Ishizu was there. And so was Mokuba.

“Wh-what...?” the confused male stammered, both astounded by the enchanted display before him as well as the scene that unraveled itself. “What kind of trick is this?”

“Do not speak. Just watch.” Isis gently scolded,

Swallowing his pride for that moment, Kaiba acknowledged her words.

--

After lengthy moments of continuous failure, the doctor heavily exhaled and handed the panels to the nurse.

She regrettably accepted them and glanced at the wall clock before putting the devices away.

“Time of death...” the doctor trailed off and looked to the nurse.

“2:15 am. Monday morning.”

The doctor nodded, then slowly looked towards the fretting woman and dejected young boy outside the room.

The grim look in his eyes was all it took. And once the realization hit her, all of Ishizu's will was destroyed and fell from her body in clattering fragments.

“No...”

All the tears she had held back rushed through her defeated barricades and spilled down her face mercilessly.

“No!” she wailed and for a moment lost all sense of reason.

Something inside her snapped and her body reacted upon pure impulse.

Mokuba's grieving indigo opals looked up at her through a blurred film of tears as she stole to the door and tore it open.

Her legs vaulted her into the room with a powerful sprint and took her to Seto's bedside.

Ishizu aggressively pushed against the medical staff and threw the sheets from off of the pale man's face.

Once delicate hands turned gruff and teeming with determined strength as she pulled back his nose and chin and enveloped her mouth over his.

And blew.

Receding only slightly, she pressed her hands fiercely against just below his ribs and pushed.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

Then returned to forcing air into him.

She tenaciously repeated these actions for several minutes, doing all she could to bring him back.

The doctor and nurse sadly watched her react in such a useless manner,

But she wouldn't give up. She refused to come to terms with his empty sacrifice.

“Breathe, Seto. Breathe!” she commanded.

But his features didn't flinch.

Mokuba continued to watch. And before long he felt his sorrow malformed into anger and he bounded into the room.

“Seto!”

--

Kaiba flinched and turned to look at his spiritual host. “I want to go back.” he ordered. “I can't stay here. I can't leave Mokuba like this!”

Isis made a sound of understanding, then glanced to him out the corner of her eye.

He was now sitting up, intently immersed in the spectacle she was showing him.

“Are you certain? Your illness will surely claim your life if you were to return. But if you stay here, you will also experience death.”

“You think I don't know that! I'm dead either way.”

“What of the woman? Do you wish to return to her as well?”

He paused to think. “...Ishizu...?”

“Yes.”

He scoffed. “What does she have to do with any...” he trailed off. There was no use trying to hide it anymore. “...Maybe...”

“You must have done something satisfactory in order for her to be so concerned about you...”

He shrugged and shook his head. “She shouldn't be. I don't do anything special.”

“Then stop trying to protect her so much with such a brash facade when you don't need to. Let her be the strong woman she is.”

“I'll do as I please, Isis.” he retorted arrogantly, then shot her a faint smirk. “It's the way I've always been. Now take me back.”

She nodded with a challenging mark of amusement of her own. “As you wish.”

And the moment she desired it, the surrounding void melted into the bright sandy hues of the vast desert and kingdom around them.

The instant they “returned”, Kaiba chanced a look over to Atem. Now fully clothed, the ancient pharaoh stood perfectly poised with a noble air floating about him.

Silence fell between the two as they caught the other's stare.

No words needed to be exchanged as their eyes translated the other's thoughts.

I am going to be lonely without you, Kaiba.

...Atem... I never wanted this to...

Don't... Farewell... Seto Kaiba.

Atem slowly shut his eyes. He couldn't bear to acknowledge the twisted expression on Kaiba's face.

A cross between confusion and regret.

He didn't want to believe that was what he saw. Lifting his liquidy eyes once more, a strong jolt ran through him as he realized Kaiba was gone.

It felt like a part of him and been ripped from his beating heart and left along with him.

A false smile shifted across his formerly pained features and he turned to leave.

“My Pharaoh.” Isis' gentle voice stopped him before going any further.

He stood perfectly still for a moment, attempting to gather himself before addressing her.

“Yes, Isis?”

“We have a certain matter to discuss...”

The hinted tone in her voice caused him to face her with curiosity swimming in his eyes. “What certain matter?”

--

Nearly 15 minutes had passed and Ishizu had significantly begun to tire.

Mokuba clutched his brother's hand, awaiting any possibility of success from the determined woman.

The nurse and doctor exchanged mutual looks, but didn't bother to stop Ishizu.

Sooner or later, they knew she'd have to give up.

And the grotesque truth wormed into Ishizu's mind and left a nasty feeling in the pit of her stomach.

She also had become very light-headed, but gave Seto's chest a few more heaves before returning her mouth to his.

But she was too weakened to give him anymore air. Yet, somehow, she filled her lungs with oxygen and prepared to deliver it when she felt something beneath her move.

Before she could react, she felt large strong hands cup her face firmly as the body beneath her sat up. For a moment, she could have sworn she felt the lips below hers press back before those comforting hands lightly pushed her face away.

“Get...off me... Ishizu...” An all too familiar voice groused.

Her eyes shot open and her heart nearly skipped two beats.

Puzzling turquoise was found captive to glinting azure.

Seto... was back.

A cheer from Mokuba flew into the air and chased away the forlorn grief in the room.

The doctor nearly tripped over his own feet as he dashed to the patient he could have sworn was deceased just moments ago.

The nurse hurried to his side and aided him in running a series of tests.

“Ishizu, you did it!” the younger Kaiba exclaimed, throwing his arms around his big brother.

A mild blush shaded her cheeks with a warm rosy hue as she stumbled to find her excitement-stolen words.

“Seto...h-how...?”

“Don't know and I don't care. I just wanted to come back.” he stated honestly, then scowled at the doctor. “Watch my arm, will you! Make one more mistake and I'll have the two of you owing me in court.”

Watching the two scramble, Ishizu shook her head. “As if you needed more money.”

He turned silent at that comment, remembering how badly Kaiba Corp had suffered since his obsessive slump.

But before he gave an answer, Ishizu leaned closer to him. Her teal eyes flickered. “Why...did you come back?”

His brows raised a bit in response. “What do you mean why?” he asked flatly. “Was I more appealing dead?”

“No...nono, Seto, I mean...”

“She's talking about your illness, Seto.” Mokuba spoke up.

Surprise littered Kaiba's flushed features as he beheld his brother. “Mokuba, you... I see. You knew.” Seto determined, trailing his narrowed eyes over to Ishizu.

She glared back at him then adverted her glimmering eyes from him. “Yes. I told him.”

“Why”

“If his brother was dieing, he had to know why, Seto.”

“No, he didn't. And he still doesn't. I'm... still going to die.”

“Again...” Ishizu murmured under her breath.

“What did you say?” the doctor asked, making sure to be more careful with his patient. “Losing your life once is more than enough for one day.”

Seto frowned. “You're a terrible joker. I should have your license revoked just for that.”

“Seto!” Ishizu scolded, but he only shrugged. “My company needs the money... I'll use any means within reason to get it. Suing fits rather snugly into that category.”

“Anyway,” the doctor continued, running an ultrasound of Seto's heart, “I'll see to it that you are appropriately discharged, Mr Kaiba. May you live a healthy long life.”

Seto's frown burrowed even deeper, ignoring the images on the screen. “You're fired in advance.”

“Your illness is gone, Mr. Kaiba.” the nurse tersely chimed in.

But Seto wasn't buying it. “How can you detect the progress of something unidentifiable?”

“That is what scans are for.” she announced, pointing to the screen. “There were non-cancerous masses around your heart like a looming shadow. But since your 'death', those nuisances have completely vanished. Somehow, they were self-inflicted. I guess you made some right choice, or whatever it was while unconscious.”

Seto humphed.

“Wait a minute, what?” Ishizu inquired. “Does this mean...”

The doctor nodded, finishing up his tests. “Yes. Whatever the problem was before, it's gone now. However, whether it makes a return or not, I can't say for sure. But, it may be best to not keep so much bottled up inside yourself for too long.”

“What are you, my psychiatrist now?” Seto snorted, already pulling out needles and yanking off patches. “Ishizu, Mokuba, we're leaving.” the disgruntled male proclaimed and already made it midway across the room before dizziness overtook him and he started to stagger.

The two individuals that cared immensely for him dashed to either side of him and helped balance his weight while they trudged out the door.

Taking a peek behind her, Ishizu smiled. “And by the way, neither of you are fired.”

“Don't put words in my mouth, Ishizu!” Seto snapped back.

“Then don't you go around making blind threats to other people!”

“Whatever!”

Left in the room, the doctor and nurse stared blankly at the doorway, then exchanged looks.

“Are they married?” he asked, only to be met with a shrug.

--


-Mel