Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Emergence ❯ Surprise Visitors ( Chapter 11 )

Disclaimer: Yugi-oh is the property of Kazuki Takahashi, who is a genius. I get nothing from this except giggles and sore fingers.

Read Chrysalis! You might even want to read Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit. Then come back and read this.

Okay, I'm horribly late with this chappie. I've been having problems with writers block. I just couldn't stand one more chapter of Yami suffering. Sadistic as it is, Yugi is kind of fun to torture, but I hate picking on Yami. But I solved both our problems, so on with the story.

Emergence

Chapter 11: Surprise Visitors

~*~*~*

Kaiba and Jame

~*~*~*

Jame yawned and stretched in her chair. She'd come in today, a Saturday, for the express purpose of making Kaiba's life miserable and she felt she'd done an excellent job. His precious files had been transferred out of his office and now resided in her territory, refiled, reorganized and now tucked neatly away in the elegant ebony and mahogany file cabinets that she had stolen from his office. If nothing else she had finally found some of the files that she'd been wondering about. She had found traces of them in the secretarial files and had been looking for the rest of them. Well, found `em. Not that it matters, Kaiba should boot me off to my vacation any time now. She snuggled down into her chair, chortling to herself. I think I'll sleep first, then the beach. Or better yet, go to the beach and sleep, then dinner at a cabaña. Hmmm. What was the name of that hotel with the cabaña, could just stay there…

Jame swung her chair and looked out the window. Domino City spread before her. It's neatly ordered streets stretching out towards the docks, with the bay gleaming in the background. It wasn't that she hated Domino, she enjoyed it. She liked spending lazy mornings wandering through the markets that crowded down along the docks, eating lunch out at the fisherman's wharf. Saturday evenings there was usually a rather good band that played in the open air amphitheater, complete with fire works and sticky cotton candy. The evenings that she spent sitting out in one of the plaza restaurants, eating and drinking and talking with friends till the sun rose, would also be missed when she left. Still, she was a busy person, she couldn't spend her life playing secretary to Kaiba. In only a couple months her vacation would be over and she'd be off once again with Tink, Pease and Drover.

She looked up as the door between her office and Kaiba's opened and her boss walked through. She suppressed her gleeful smile, but couldn't completely hide the happy excitement that bubbled merrily along her veins as he strode over to her desk. She sat up straight, eyes gleaming. He's never done that before! Morocco here I come!

"Jame, where is the file for Quistcell Tech.?" He didn't look upset. He didn't even seem put out. He seemed mildly distracted.

Jame reached back and snagged the file out, barely looking at it and handed it over, eyeing him, waiting for the comment, the moment of freedom she'd spent her Saturday working for. Kaiba took the file and walked back out already scanning its contents. The door closed with a soft thump behind him, leaving Jame blinking at the mahogany panel.

What the hell? Not even a tiny growl? She absently picked up a pencil that had strayed into the pen side of her desk organizer and replaced it back with it's fellows on the correct side. What does it take to be fired around here?

~*~*~*

Yuai

~*~*~*

Yuai stepped out into the hall and walked the few steps it took to get over to Yugi's room. He hadn't been answering his phone and she was a bit worried about him. She hoped the nuttos in the lobby hadn't hurt him. They had looked pretty serious as they had started ripping Yugi's clothes apart and tugging at his hair. She knocked on his door and waited. She heard nothing so knocked again, then felt guilty. What if he's asleep. Poor Yugi, he really hasn't been having a good day. He was so totally zoned out this morning and then he gets attacked in the lobby. He's probably just taking a nap. Maybe, he's coming down with something.

She stepped away from the door and checked the time, it was just a little before lunch. Her stomach, that had become rather decadently used to regular meals, agreed with her watch that lunch should appear in the near future. She looked one last time at Yugi's door then turned and walked down the hall to the elevator.

The lobby was quiet as she pattered through it heading for the main desk. "Hello?"

A young man in an impeccably ironed three piece suit, appeared from behind a privacy screen in the back of the desk and smiled at her, "Yes, how can I help you?" He looked her over carefully and Yuai could see the exact moment he decided she wasn't worth his best efforts. His prissy mouth took on a condescending smirk and his eyes became indifferent.

She sighed, mentally shrugging. "Yes, I am Yuai Tasuke. Could you see if there are any messages for me from Seto Kaiba?"

The man's smirk wavered for a second, then returned, "We haven't received any messages since this morning." His eyes took on a malicious look. "An unfortunate car accident. Some poor soul crashed head long into a rather large truck and both of them went down into one of the ravines, taking a good section of the lines with them. It is estimated that the phone lines won't be restored till tomorrow at the earliest."

Yuai felt the sudden need to go wash. "Thank you." She retreated from the desk area quickly as the attendant slithered back into his hole. What a slimy git.

She noticed the little sign that discreetly pointed in the direction of the convention and walked in that direction. As she wound her way back into the depths of the convention center, a raising hum of noise reached her ears. The little trail of signs lead her to a set of double doors with a large banner draped above it declaring, "Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here" in slightly smaller letters beneath it read, "Duel Monsters Annual Convention." A large poster next to one of the doors had Yugi's picture on it and happily declared that "The King of Games" would make a special guest appearance. Even in the picture, Yugi didn't look all that thrilled to be there, if anything his picture self looked a little worried about everything.

Yuai looked at the not so inspiring banner then back down to the worried picture. "Why do I have this feeling I should have stayed home with Mokuba?"

She opened the door and the dull hum crescendoed into a wall of sound. Inside hundreds, if not thousands of people surged through the immense hall. Colorful signs eagerly vied for the title of the most gaudy; music blared through the loudspeakers, made indistinct by the crush of humanity; people dressed in various Duel Monster costumes yelled, trying to be heard; kids ran wild, with their harried parents vainly trying to keep up with them; displays flashed neon lights, while others were nearly lost in thick mists of dry ice fog. Yuai stepped in and trudged forward. "Okay, I abandon all hope. I hope the banner is happy now."

The first table she encountered had small figurines on it. Each one was only about two inches high and made of some kind of plastic. She giggled as she noticed a small figure with brown hair and a flaring trench coat. She picked it up and looked at it closely, then burst into outright laughter. It was Kaiba, standing in what was supposed to be a heroic, determined pose. Unfortunately, whoever made it had never really taken a good look at her employer, or any other human for that matter. Statue Kaiba's eyes were crooked and too big, making him look like one of those alien's that occasionally appeared in the market tabloids. The funniest thing was, however, that due to a quirk in the molding process, his crotch bulged out amazingly in the front while his but stuck perkily up in the back. She quickly scanned the table finding a Yugi statue, who's hair looked like it was trying to eat his head; and a small Jonouchi statue was also there, that was stuck to the table with a small glob of florist's putty, the immense weight of it's hair overbalancing it if it wasn't firmly tacked down.

She scooped up the tiny replicas of her friends and was about to flag down the counter attendant when something caught her eye. It was toward the back of the table in the more expensive section, a resin statue of a magician she'd never seen before. It was much larger than the others nearly six inches in height. He was kneeling, holding a scepter of some kind in one hand, long dark hair snaked down his back, blue skin with odd almost tattoo like marks around his eyes seemed to stretch over aristocratically fine features, red eyes gleamed back at her from beneath a hat that branched back into two sweeps like horns. Her hand reached out for it, carefully picking it up without her conscious direction, cradling it as it were something infinitely precious.

"Ah, I see we have a fan of the Magician of Black Chaos." The booth owner stepped over to her, nodding at the small statue in her hand. He smiled at her through a long, though neatly trimmed white beard and mustache.

Yuai jumped slightly, putting the statue down, "Yes, it's quite… I mean it's…" She extended the smaller statues toward him. "I'll take these."

He barely glanced at them as he wrapped them up, his blue eyes never leaving Yuai, "I haven't seen you at one of these conventions before."

Yuai dragged her eyes away from the magician statue. "I came with a friend. I'm just learning how to play."

"Ah, I expect you will find it's a easy game for you to learn." He took her money and handed her the bag. "Just remember not to get distracted, and you'll do fine."

Yuai nearly snatched the bag from his hands. "Sure, thanks." She bolted for the other side of the hall.

~*~*~*

Yami

~*~*~*

The town was tucked in the center of a small mountain valley. High above the tops of snow covered peaks were wreathed in wispy clouds and set against deep blue sky. Green trees covered the sides of the mountains in a soft carpet of vibrant, reds and russets. The scent of autumn and wood smoke filled the crisp, cool air as the sound of childish laughter and the dull clang of metal meeting metal from the town smithy echoed along the dirt streets. The buildings, made of stone with thatched roofs, bustled with activity as people went about their daily lives.

High on one of the slopes, Yami curled into a ball at the foot of one of the trees, looking down at the gentle bustle of life that was below him. He'd finally stumbled onto this small village this morning and had been sitting under the tree resting, wondering. Someplace in his mind he knew he had to do something, something important, but he couldn't remember it now. Now all he had was this terrible sense of loss.

Tears streaked down his face as he wound his arms tighter about himself. "Yugi, where are you?"

He buried his face behind his knees, blocking out the sight. Each happy laugh ripping into his soul. He held himself tighter and tried to cover his ears, trying to block them out. My fault, my fault. I must have done something... He shivered, feeling a deep, deep cold that had nothing to do with the fall weather, set into his soul. Something bad to make Yugi go away. Make him send me away.

"Why? What did I do. I'm sorry Yugi. Please, what did I do? I'll make it right. Please, forgive." A soft sob slipped out, "Please Yugi. Please. Please. I'm sorry. I'll behave. I promise. Please, please, please help me."

"Hush now, it's alright." Gentle hands stroked through his hair, a soft thick blanket was wrapped around him.

Yami clenched his body tighter, screwing his eyes shut, trying to block out the intrusion, "No, no. No, no."

"Shhh, it's alright." Hands pulled him, lifted him, cradled him against a strong chest. "Everything will be fine, my friend. Your safe now."

"No. Please. I'm sorry." Yami shook his head, trying to push away from the person holding him.

"It's okay. Yugi isn't angry with you." The arms held him still.

The voice was deep, soothing, familiar. Yami looked up into smiling, dark blue eyes. "Mahado?"

"Your servent, always, my pharaoh."

~*~*~*

Jonouchi

~*~*~*

Duke looked alright. Jonouchi peered into the room where he was sleeping, tucked under a light blue blanket. He looked a bit thin and he had bruises along his arms and a couple on his face, but nothing really serious. He wasn't ranting, or raving or doing strange things. He was just peacefully sleeping on a rather uncomfortable looking bed in a room that had a pleasant view of the front of the hospital with it's sweeping drive and cheery flowers.

Jo looked up and down the hall and stepped, checking for any patrolling nurses, then stepped in the room, closing the door silently behind him. He walked over to the bed and peered down at his one time lover. Up close he didn't look too bad either, maybe he was a bit pale and tired looking, but then Jo figured if he had just been mugged and forced to stay in this place, he'd be looking rather tired and pale too. He looked around the room for a chart and his eyes met those of another visitor, causing Jonouchi to bolt back towards the door.

"What are you doing here?" Jonouchi pressed against the door, cursing himself for closing it, desperately wishing he'd thought to drag someone along with him, like Kaiba, or Bakura, hell, right now he was willing to go drive up to that damn convention and drag Yami back to the hospital.

"Just checking something." Marik stood in one corner of the room, a loony, evil smile spreading across his lips.

A suspicion zipped across Jonouchi's mind. "Did you do this?" He pointed at Duke.

Marik shook his head. "Nope, been too busy to play mind games with you people." He looked speculatively at Duke. "Nice idea though. Why fight them when you can just mind wipe them." He fingered the Millennium Rod that hung from his belt. "Could work. Maybe even implant a directive to have you all march into the ocean and drown yourselves. No body disposal that way. Hmmm." He smiled his loony smile at Jonouchi. "Thanks for the thought."

"Glad to have helped." Jonouchi tugged at the door handle, trying to get the door open, without actually looking like he was planning on bolting from the room.

The spirit of the ring went back to studying Duke closely, leaving Jonouchi alone, letting him recover from his shock. Yugi had mentioned that Marik had calmed down lately, that the spirit had even done something, though Yugi refused to say exactly what, that had helped out Ryou. Jo wasn't about to let his guard down, but maybe the crazed blond yami could give him an idea what was going on.

"Uhm, exactly what are you checking out?" Jonouchi sidled to the side, keeping one hand safely on the door handle, just in case.

"The pharaoh asked me to keep an eye on you lot till he got back." Marik shrugged. "I'm not sure if this idiot qualifies, but…"

Gee thanks, Yami. I feel so safe. "So, nothing strange here." Jo got the door opened and was ready to step back out.

"Nope. Nothing but a bit of shadow magic." Marik waved his hand negligently at Duke's prone form. "Nothing strange in the least."

The door silently closed as Jonouchi let go of the handle and stepped closer to the bed. "What do you mean?"

Marik yawned and stepped toward the door. "His mind's been wiped by shadow magic."

"You mean someone with a Millennium item wiped Duke's mind?" Jonouchi started to reach out to stop Marik, then quickly thought better of it.

The blond yami smiled at Jo's extended hand, which was quickly snatched back, "No, I don't sense that, but it was shadow magic. I'll let the pharaoh know when he gets back."

Jonouchi watched the door slip shut behind Marik, then turned and walked back to Duke's bedside. "What the hell happened Duke?"
The silent form didn't reply. There were no marks to show, no evidence that Duke had been attacked by shadow magic. Nothing. But then, there wouldn't be. Jonouchi remembered what had happened to him during Battle City. Except for a couple of bruises, nothing of that entire ordeal had shown. He'd been captured, his mind had been taken from him and all that he had to show for it was a lingering head ache, a slight phobia of spooky warehouses and a few minor bruises. He'd taken more of a physical pounding going down a waterslide last summer with Mokuba and Yugi.

"Who did this to ya Duke?" He reached out and cautiously brushed his fingers against Dukes cheek. "You've been gone for so long, and here I thought you were just being a jerk." Jonouchi abruptly stepped back, hearing the sound of voices in the hall. "Don't worry about it, `kay? Yami'll be back and I'll get him to come over and help ya out."

He peered out into the hall and ducked out and quickly raced down the hall and around a corner as a group of doctors appeared. He sighed in relief and strode as casually as possible back in the direction of Honda and the waiting room. Who the hell is it now? Who knows shadow magic?

~*~*~*

Kaiba

~*~*~*

Kaiba thumped the file back onto the desk and glowered at the phone. He'd been pretending to work since arriving, and so far he hadn't been able to convince himself that he'd actually accomplished it. All he'd managed to do was stare at the computer, flip through the file, draw a few stick figures in the margins, contemplate taking art classes, notice that his secretary had organized his desk again and brood over Jo. Jo and Duke. Duke and Jo. Maybe he'd been wrong, maybe Jo's involvement with Duke had been more than a way to blow steam. Jo had nearly bolted out the door the second he'd heard that Duke was in trouble. Admittedly, Jo was kind hearted, loyal to his friends, but shouldn't that loyalty carry over? Shouldn't at least a small amount apply to him?

Loyalty? His step father's voice snapped. It you want loyalty get a dog. Even then the mutt is bound to snap at you.

Kaiba shook his head and got up to stretch. The sunlight streaming through the windows said it was still early in the day, probably around noon time. By now Honda should be home watching the walls wobble. By now Jonouchi had seen Duke. By now Mokuba was probably in some group therapy session, cursing his brother while shifting uncomfortably in a plastic chair. By now Yuai was up at the convention center with Yugi enjoying herself and hopefully picking him up some cards. He wished he'd gone.

He stopped looked out the window at the noontime sun and made a few calculations. It would probably only take a few moments to pack the files he'd need into his briefcase. A quick trip to the house to pick up a few things for the weekend, a couple of phone calls and he could be on his way. He turned and scanned his office quickly and nodded. Why not? Mokuba doesn't need me at home. Jo is probably going to spend the rest of the weekend hovering over Duke and I know that hotel has internet connections. He scooped up the file he'd been pretending to work on, grabbed his briefcase off the floor and was striding toward the door even as he tucked the file away and snapped the case shut. He poked his head into Jame's office as he passed by and smiled to see her busily flipping through the file cabinets, taking out some papers and placing them in a neat stack on her desk.

"I'm out for the weekend. If anything happens I'll be at the Itadaki Convention Center." Kaiba stepped back intending to make his get away.

"Wait a second, you." She neatly straitened the papers with a snap and placed them in a waiting file. "Take these. They've got to be done by next Thursday." She handed him the newly made file, then reached over and pulled two more files out of the cabinet and handed them to him too. "You'll need these, too." She then went back to fussing over the files, waving a dismissing hand over her shoulder. "Now go away. You're bothering me."

Kaiba stashed them in his briefcase and walked out the door, feeling a little bit better. His at least his work life was still organized. He walked down the hall to the elevator, then stood waiting till the doors opened with a small discreet ding, trying to figure out if there was anything else he would need. Not really. Probably should at least talk to Jo before I leave. Let him know where I'm going. Give him the chance to come along if he wants.

Not likely. The voice whispered back.

~*~*~*

Yugi

~*~*~*

Yugi sat down at the small table in the coffee shop and smiled happily up at the waitress, who stared doubtfully back. "We'd like two chocolate milkshakes please."

The waitress nodded casting a questioning look at the place across from her client. The little guy had been insisting that `his friend' and he wanted lunch. She even had to get two menus and pull out the chair for his friend. She was now wondering if she should inform hotel management that they had a loony on the premises. "Anything else I can bring you…two, right now?"

"Nope." He smiled, then looked over the table as if his friend had made a comment. Then shook his head with a tiny laugh. "Can you bring us some bread sticks?"

"No problem." She made a quick note then backed quickly away, after reaching what she considered a safe distance she turned and bolted for the kitchen.

Yugi watched her go, "Wow, she must really be in a rush Yami."

He giggled, "Yeah, she was acting a bit weird. But she's just probably having a bad day."

Yugi watched as a slight blond figure pulled the door open and entered the restaurant. He bounced up and waved to his friend. "Hey, look it's Yuai. Isn't it nice to see her again. I wonder what she's doing here."

He frowned, "But Yami, you said not to teach her Duel Monsters, so why would she be at the convention."

He paused a moment then nodded thoughtfully, "I suppose it's possible. She does know a lot of games. Oh, look, she's really cleaned up. I wonder when she got her hair cut."

Yuai stopped at the table and smiled. "Hi Yugi."

"Hi. Wow it's great to see you here. Want to sit down?" He pointed to the chair next to him.

Yuai looked at the spot were a menu sat as she settled in the indicated chair, "Are you expecting someone?"

"No. Why?" Yugi opened his menu and looked curiously at the offerings.

Yuai shrugged.

The waitress walked over and handed her a menu, just as she was reaching for the extra one. "Here, hon, take this, and if you need help, you just ask for it. Okay?" The waitress looked pointedly at Yugi.

"Uh, sure." Yuai watched her retreat to the other side of the restaurant. "She's strange."

"Yami thinks she's overworked." Yugi nodded to the empty place with the menu.

"Yami?" She looked around expecting to see someone. Finding no one she looked questioningly at Yugi. "Who's Yami?"

"Oh, I guess that's right. I never did introduce you." Yugi laughed, "That's really rude of me." He waved toward Yuai. "Yami, this is my friend Yuai." He waved in the direction of the empty chair. "Yuai, this is my best friend Yami."

"Excuse me?" Yuai looked wide eyed at him. Oh, Kami. He must have really gotten smacked in the head hard.

Yugi frowned at her, then giggled, "Ooops. I'm really sorry Yuai. I forgot. I'm the only one who can see him. But, honest, he's sitting right there."

Yuai only nodded. Oh poor Yugi.

"So when did you get your hair cut? Oh and I really like those clothes too. Did your mom and dad get them for you?"

Yuai felt her mouth drop open. "Huh?" her voice squeaked.

"They look nice on you. Much better than that uniform." The waitress deposited two milkshakes, one in front of Yugi and the other at the empty chair, then turned and gave Yuai a pointed look and nodded to the back of the restaurant where a couple of men were peering out of the door to what was evidently the kitchen.

Yuai nodded and stood up. "Hey, I need to just…uh…well use the lady's room. I'll be right back."

Yugi nodded and leaned over the table as if he was listening to the someone who was defiantly not there.

Yuai retreated with the waitress. Nearly stumbling in her hast to get away and hopefully find someone to help her friend. The waitress pushed open the kitchen door and ushered her inside, where the two men stood eyeing her warily.

"Is he a friend of yours?" The waitress asked, glancing behind her.

"Yes, we came up here together for the convention." Yuai couldn't help the nervous glance she shot at the door. "He wasn't acting…" Suddenly she remembered Yugi's odd behavior this morning, then shook her head. No he was just a bit sleepy, that's all. "He got attacked in the lobby when we came in. All these people just started grabbing and shoving him around."

The two men nodded. The taller one, who looked like a chef, turned away. "Probably got his brains scrambled. Probably needs to go see a doctor."

The shorter of the two, a slender man dressed in a messy apron, sighed. "With the phones down, that'll be hard to do."

The waitress peeked back out the door. "Do you think he's dangerous?"

"Yugi would never hurt anyone." Yuai poked her head out the door too. Yugi was sitting happily drinking his milkshake and having a animated conversation with his invisible friend. "When do you think the phone lines will be fixed?"

"Not till tomorrow afternoon. Those drivers took out a good section of line and some kind of important junction box thingie." The waitress ducked back inside when Yugi turned in their direction.

"Is there a doctor in the hotel?" Yuai asked, frantically trying to figure out what to do. It was months since she took a first aid class and she wasn't all that sure if they covered delusional friends in it.

"We called him a few minutes ago. He'll be here soon." The man in the apron, waved toward a phone hung on the wall. "He's not much, but maybe he can give your friend a sedative of something."

"Okay, I'll be out with Yugi, then." She opened the door and stepped out. "Just hope he gets here quick."

~*~*~*

Okay folks, I've finally come up with an idea for a companion piece to Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit, but I need a bit of help. I need to know what do you really find annoying in Yu-Gi-Oh fanfics. I have a few ideas of my own, but I'd like to hear from you. What makes you want to beat your head on the computer in bad fics? Leave out bad grammar, spelling mistakes and the like. The more I get the funnier it will be!

Also, does anyone know of any Seth/Seto/Jonouchi fics? Just curious. Thanks!

Amunra: Yeah for Kenshin! I always like it when people share their favorite stories. You can really wade through so many bad ones that it's nice when someone can point you in the direction of the good ones and cut out the wading part.

DemonandGoddess: Yes, Yugi has defiantly remembered Yami ^-^. This is a fun fic to write, at least when I don't have to torture Yami…

Daebird: Pink bows on the BEWD. You are cruel, evil, sadistic. I love it. Kaiba and Jonouchi will be working their problems out in the next chappie, so you'll just have to wait to see what happens between our little love birds.

Velvetina: Eeek! Exploding computer! Run! (lol) And yep, Yugi defiantly doesn't have a clue. Poor guy.

Moshi Moshi Neko: Hello kitty! Thanks *blush* I love to hear from happy readers. Don't worry Mahado will start clearing things up soon. Just hang on, the funs just starting.

Sakiyami: I'm heading over to your fics just as soon as I post this. *sigh* I never seem to have time anymore to read, but for you, I'll make time. Now where is that time recipe…. Oh, I haven't forgotten that pict of Honda I promised. It's done, but my scanner is down so you'll have to wait till it gets fixed. Considering how much money I have, it may take awhile.

Anubiset: I like Duke too, he's not my favorite, but he's fun. It seems I always put the characters I like through the ringer. Which I suppose is why everyone is suffering….Thanks for reading!