Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Gin no Umi o Wataru ❯ Chapter 18

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Gin no Umi o Wataru
To Cross the Silver Sea
Chapter 18
By Sunsinger

Seto stared at the group around the room. Ninety-six hours and still no plan on how to defeat Noa and Nkosi in their own world. If there was one thing Seto Kaiba truly detested, it was how those two had hijacked his playground. After all Seto didn't like to share his toys.

Neither did I. So we really aren't that different are we?

Shut it, Seferet.

"Gentlemen, Lady, someone better come up with a plan and soon. Already rumors are starting about who did this and why. It won't take long for someone to start connecting the dots."

Tristan snorted. "Yeah, we better hurry before your profits start to fall."

Seto leaned forward, straightening up his chair. He stared at the dull eyed youngster. "True, but beyond that is Kaiba Corp's reputation. If someone in the government finds about this before we fix it, then Kaiba Corp will fall. More importantly, this government tends not to take risks, so they will never send anyone into VR to find them. One would think that since you handed Nkosi the key, you would try to actually fix your mistake, Taylor. Rather, you whine and throw tantrums than actually work with my people because of some pathetic feud. Your mother has done more real work; perhaps I should rehire her and transfer her overseas."

Tristan glared at the arrogant boy and stood up. His voice rusty with pain, "Excuse me, but I think my time would be better served doing some work."

"That's all I want you to do, Taylor! Mokuba, check over Taylor's work. Mrs. Taylor, do you have any ideas?"

"Yes, actually I do. You intend to go into VR, yes?"

"If necessary, which I think it would be." Seto nodded and rubbed his head.

"Well when I was young I was interested in the priesthood, but I chose computers instead. One thing I do remember is this: magic, in all shapes and forms, depends on belief. It doesn't matter if this magic is spoken in ancient Egyptian or in Japanese. What matters is that the 'spell', the words, and cadence mean something significant to you. The spell, the words, the movement, and the rituals are only important in that they channel your thoughts and beliefs into a certain pathway. Much like computers, you type this and it goes this way; you type that and it goes that way. The actions and movements, all of that is decision gates. It is altering the path of your intent towards a goal.

"In VR, that will be magnified. You have these ancient spirits, not sure if I believe in them but apparently they exist within you. And it may be so. Or they could be alternate portions of your soul, I don't know. But whatever they do for you, in VR they can materialize. You will be able to do anything you want to save these people. You will not fail because that world, Kaiba, is your paradise. You are the ultimate controller of it, because it exists because of you. You are the God of that world. And anyone who goes with you will be your avatars with unlimited power. You know more about that world than anyone, so I have faith." Miaka Taylor smiled wistfully. "My job is to make sure you can come out, and we'll do our job. Now, why don't you get ready to get into VR. There's nothing left for us to do here. All we're doing is going over and over the same stuff. Let's get off the double and triple and quintuple checks; let's take this fight to this guy and show him what it means when he messes with Kaiba Corp."

Seferet whispered, "As I have told you before."

Seto nodded and stood up, eyes resting on Joey for a moment. "You are right; there comes a time when you must commit or back away. I have no intention of leaving anyone in there. Tonight we go in. Dr. Hara, please check out everyone who intends to go."

 

* * *

 

Yugi glanced at Joey before he turned away. His eyes flickered over Joey, the room, and the art, before lowering again.

"Just ask, Yuge."

"Are you sure, Joey? I mean… you just woke up from a coma."

"Yeah, but I think if I'm not there, well… I have to be there. This whole thing with Jahi and Seferet and Nkosi. It started long ago but it seems that I caused the end. I'm not making sense. I just need to be there. Nkosi…he kidnapped me; he always saw me as a way to hurt Seto and I need to let him know that I'm not gonna take it anymore."

"I see, but that doesn't mean I'll approve you, Joey." Dr. Hara walked in and sat down on the other side of Joey. "Your friend is right. With the brain trauma, I don't want you going in there."

"I'll just do it anyways. I'll find some way out of here and go into VR. You can either monitor me or not. Besides, there's more that I can't explain to you. It may not matter if I don't. I need to be there and I will get there some way." Joey spread his hands out helplessly.

"Somehow it doesn't surprise me that you might be able to slip into that world without interfacing. Let me get a good scan of you now, so we know what we are risking, okay?"

"Thanks."

"I still haven't said you could go."

Joey smiled. "No, but you will."

Hara looked at Joey for a moment and turned back to the diagnostic screen. "Don't move."

 

* * *

 

Tristan sighed and let the pages he was holding drop. "Mom."

"Yes." Mrs. Taylor turned towards her son. "Yes, I will see you when you get back. Be safe."

Tristan nodded. He had created this mess, he had to fix it. Smiling at his mother, he turned and headed toward the Research Lab 17, where their prototypes were located.

 

* * *

 

Yami, do you remember Nkosi? Yugi sat on the catwalk of Research Lab 17, staring at the workers setting up several VR pods.

To my shame, not much. I was expected to follow my father as pharaoh, and my siblings were to love me, worship me, and obey me. I didn't have much time with them. Seferet a bit; there were only us two, but the others, no. Seferet was supposed to garner their love and they were to love me through him.

That sucks. To have so many siblings and not know them. Yugi shook his head.

Yes, it does. We did much right, but this… way of raising kids. If we had been closer, could we have given him the healing he needed?

I don't know, but we can give him the healing now. Yugi shrugged and stood, one hand holding the chain of the Millennium Puzzle so hard that his knuckles were white.

Yes, and this time I will be a brother to him.

 

* * *

 

Duke pressed closer to the warmth of his boyfriend. "They could all die in there, yet they're going."

"Yes, I am not sure how much of this about ancient Egypt is true, but yet… I have experienced many strange things, so how can I say it's not true?" Pegasus laughed. "Though the results from it weren't all bad."

"Yeah, but we're rather useless right now." Duke shifted a bit so he could look up at Pegasus' face. "And Kaiba doesn't trust us. After all we've done for him, he still doesn't trust us."

"I did try to steal his company." Pegasus pointed out wryly.

"Just business."

"Hmmm yes, though I must wonder what the younger Kaiba-boy will do if his brother does lose his life in that world."

"And to think that I thought games were fun."

"Mine are." Pegasus stroked the patch that covered the socket that once housed the Millennium Eye.

 

* * *

 

"Ryou." Tristan walked up behind his silver haired lover. "I… I… I am going. I used to tell Joey that Kaiba was so twisted with bitterness and greed that he didn't care who he hurt. I was so intent on seeing his evil, I didn't see my own. It's my fault that Bakura is lost in there. It was my foolishness and there is NOTHING I can do about it unless I go in there."

"Tristan," Ryou turned around. His eyes were dull. Dark brown bags hung heavily under them. "You are a fool!"

"Yes, I am. Sorry I can't explain how I feel but we're going to go in there and we're going to get our Bakura back. Because you love him, and so do I."

"If you fail…"

"If I fail, I'll already be dead." Tristan held out a hand, a hard look on his face.

Ryou nodded, one finger stroking the Millennium Ring, and took the hand as they walked out the door to Research Lab 17.

 

* * *

 

Isis rubbed her eyes. The dark mirror wasn't too clear, Bakare was injured but he was in good shape. Not that she expected he wouldn't be. He was the best thief of their time, not to mention that the location he was in looked similar to the funeral city of Anmne Kharsis. Nkosi couldn't have known that Bakare had rifled Anmne Kharsis and stolen most of the most valuable treasures from there. The famous robbery had happened almost a year and half after his death. Smiling slightly, Isis brushed her fingers against the Millennium Torc . Turning, she saw Hiraata Yui waiting, holding a map to Research Lab 17.

"Ms. Isis, do be careful," he whispered, holding the map out.

"I will, we will succeed." She promised, taking the map.

"I will trust you, Ms. Isis."

Isis nodded and headed for the door. As she opened it, she leaned back and said. "I'd love to, Yui, when we come back."

 

* * *

 

Malik brushed his thumb over the carvings in his lover's face. "I never thanked you for this. I wish you hadn't had to feel the pain, but it does mean a lot to me that you did this for me."

Rashid shuddered under the touch.

Marik picked up the Millennium Rod and detached the knife from the bottom, silently he pressed the hilt into Rashid's hand.

Rashid nodded, opening the door. He had already gone to Research Lab 17; he could lead Marik there.

"Let's go."

 

* * *

 

Shadi opened his blind eyes and his fingers caressed the Millennium Key; it was warm and throbbed. It was time. He removed his heavy robe and let it drop. The light, sheer robe flowed about him, somewhat translucently. Beneath his robe were thin pants but no tunic. His turban fell from his head, revealing a long scalp lock. Around his wrists and ankles were several flat circles of gold, carefully scribed upon. A wide flat belt lay flat over his stomach. It was time to do what he was finally born to do. As the last documented blood royal in direct lineage from Tatjyu, he was going to save his many times great uncle. He opened the door and could feel the presence of all the others. That must be Research Lab 17.

 

* * *

 

Seto Kaiba stared at the bank of VR pods. The main computer sat humming. On three sides lay a bank of three pods. He was glad Mokuba didn't even ask to go. Lifting the Millennium Scales, he let one finger tap against the cup, the gold ringing. Steps sounded behind him. Turning, he looked at everyone.

Joey stepped forward and handed a stack of sheets to Seto. "Mokuba had us all sign release forms, and I got a release from Hara. We're ready."

Seto nodded numbly. "Let's go."

Several workers fell silent as the group headed towards the machines. Seto chose the middle one right in front of him. As he lifted the clear cover, he felt warm fingers brush against his hand.

"We stopped him before, we'll do it again." Joey gave him a lopsided smile.

"Yeah, last time, all he did was cut you open. This time he can do it over and over."

"Maybe, but you won't let him." Joey let go and slipped into his pod.

Seto frowned. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the scientists rubbing a bracelet of small red beads. He realized that his worker was praying for him and for some reason it didn't bother him as much as he thought it would. He slipped the helmet over his head.

 

* * *

 

Seto opened his eyes. White flat surfaces stretched as far as he could see. He noticed the others looking at him.

"We located where Bakura was last reported." He held out his hand and a tangle of necklaces appeared. Separating them, he handed each person one. "These will not look out of place here. Each one is a key - a passkey of sorts - to let you move from realm to realm in here. Take it in your hand and think of a word that you will use to activate it. Anywhere you are; if you activate it, you can escape. You can use it to come here or anything else. They will also let us talk on a secure private link."

Joey took the first one and held it close, closing his eyes. A soft golden glow came from it and suddenly it turned into a heavy link held medallion. Seto walked over and lifted the medallion to look at it. A sandboat sailing across the dunes.

Joey tilted forward, eyes closed as if in pain. Seto grabbed for him, right before he was driven to his knees. Marik screamed as he fell victim to whatever was happening. Rashid looked at Isis and Shadi before whirling around as another scream sounded and Yugi fell to the ground. Tristan pulled Ryou behind him.

Ghostly shapes stood up. One was a young man with pale skin and white-blond hair. His eyes were the color of the sea. Turning, he gave off a cry of delight and flung himself at a taller young man. "Seferet!"

Joey groaned and stood up. "Seto… SETO!"

Seto Kaiba groaned and tried to stand up. Turning his head, he saw his counterpart. "Great, so you're not just going to be a voice in my head."

"Sorry, my dear other self." Seferet smiled. "Now I know why Nkosi wants this place. To be with my Jahi again. To hear his voice. I never thought this could happen."

"Whatever!" Seto stood up and pulled four more medallions out of the air. "Fine. If we are through reproducing asexually, let's get going."

Seto reached up and opened a door that no one could see and stepped through.

The others shrugged, charged their medallions and walked through. They looked down upon a stone town.

Isis gasped, "Behold, the funeral city of Anmne Kharsis."