Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Heart and Soul ❯ Part 2 ( Chapter 2 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Completed: 06/08/2003
Modified: 06/08/2003

Here's part 2 of my Yu-Gi-Oh! fic. It's a VERY ROUGH DRAFT, so please
pardon any continuity errors, irregularities in addressing people, and
any other stupid screwups. ^_^;;; Also, I personally don't duel and
I tend to skim over the game mechanics in the anime, so please excuse
any mistakes regarding game details.

Things get rather complicated in this chapter, so I really hope that
it makes sense. ::massive sweatdrop:: If it doesn't, please let me
know so I can fix the problem. In other words, comments and criticism
will be greatly appreciated.

------------------------------------
SUMMARY: When an enemy's treacherous scheme endangers Mokuba, can Yami
and Yugi help Seto Kaiba to confront and accept the true nature of his
soul and the Blue Eyes White Dragon?
------------------------------------

Title: Heart and Soul
Author: Madamhydra
Email: madamhydra@aol.com
Status: continuation/AU fic
Archive:
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: entire series (anime and manga)
Pairings: none at the moment, but who knows....

********** WARNINGS ********* WARNINGS ********* WARNINGS **********
minor obscenities
********** WARNINGS ********* WARNINGS ********* WARNINGS **********

NOTE 1: This fic is based on my own personal blend of the manga,
Japanese anime, and US dub. I'm going with the manga version of
Kaiba's big duel with Yami (i.e., the DEATH-T challenge, Kaiba being
in a prolonged coma from Yami's Mind Crush, etc.)

NOTE 2: Yes, I know that Mokuba always refers to Seto as "Nii-sama"
in the manga and Japanese anime. However, in this fic, Mokuba usually
calls his brother "Seto" and occasionally "big brother", even though I
use the Japanese names. Call it a writer's quirk. ^_^

STORY CREDITS: (1) Yami Czarina and her fic "Coalescence", for the
idea of the BEWD as a guardian of Kaiba's soul. (2) Theria, for her
Yu-Gi-Oh! website, especially her character bios which provided me
with tons of inspiration, especially her comments about Kaiba and the
Millennium Rod, etc. ::evil grin::

Disclaimer: (Full Disclaimers at the end) Yu-Gi-Oh! is the copyright
and property of its creator and legally associated parties. Used
without permission. Not for profit.

(...) and {...} represents mental dialogue and thoughts.

======================================================== ==============
Heart and Soul
An Yu-Gi-Oh! fic by Madamhydra
============================================================ ==========
Part 2
===================================================================== =

As the bearded head scientist, Dr. Tsubuku, went off on some highly
technical and nearly incomprehensible theory about what happened to
Kaiba, Yugi gazed out at the imposing Blue Eyes White Dragon and asked
his other self, (How can that be possible? Is that scientist guy
really saying that Seto Kaiba somehow *transformed* into this Blue
Eyes White Dragon!?)

Yami didn't answer immediately, but finally he replied thoughtfully,
{Considering everything we've been through in the last few weeks, I
hesitate to call anything impossible.}

Yugi remained a bit dubious. (I guess so, but all those things
involved magic and the power of the Millennium Items....)

{Don't allow the presence of all this technology to mislead you,
Aibou. There's powerful forces involved here, ones not recognized by
your modern science.}

After a brief pause, Yugi said, (So you think that whatever caused
Kaiba to change had something to do with the supernatural?)

{Remember who we're talking about. Kaiba may try to deny it all he
wants, but there's no question that he has a very powerful mystical
tie to the ancient past and the Millennium Items. I'm positive that
in a previous incarnation, he wielded the Millennium Rod. And
although he doesn't possess a Millennium Item in this life, he's still
one of their Chosen, as Malik calls us. Kaiba has not only
demonstrated his ability to summon and command Obelisk on repeated
occasions, but on at least two occasions, the Millennium Rod has
apparently acted entirely on its own, judging from the dark Malik's
reaction. And each time, it's had some profound effect on Kaiba.}

(So... maybe the Millennium Rod really belongs to Kaiba,) Yugi said,
rather tentatively.

In an amused tone, Yami replied, {What the connection between the Rod
and Kaiba is, I cannot say for certain. But even if I were to offer
the Rod to him, I seriously doubt he would accept it. Kaiba has made
it quite clear that he wants absolutely nothing to do with the
Millennium Items, Aibou.}

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

Jounouchi was feeling a little intimidated. Okay, a lot intimidated.
But who wouldn't be when glared at by a dragon whose damn head was
nearly the size of a city bus?

The Blue Eyes tilted that same huge head in his direction and bared
its fangs ever so slightly, almost as if sneering at him.

(Oh great. I'm not sure that I buy this stuff about this Kaiba
turning into this Blue Eyes, but I can say that it certainly ACTS like
the arrogant jerk!)

He felt a little dizzy, then realized to his embarrassment that he'd
forgotten to breathe. Hastily gulping some air, Jounouchi quickly
peeked around at his friends and was relieved to see that he wasn't
the only one majorly freaked out by the sight of a real Blue Eyes
White Dragon.

It wasn't the monster's sheer bulk or the size of its claws that made
the chills run down Jounouchi's spine. What really unnerved him was
the oppressive aura of barely restrained power and predatory menace.

(Man, if this Blue Eyes decided to get pissed off and go on a rampage,
I'll bet that it'll make Godzilla look like a playful puppy!)
Jounouchi thought nervously.

It was Anzu who managed to put some of their emotions into words as
she whispered nervously, "This sensation.... this overpowering
feeling. Doesn't it remind you of... something?"

"Yeah, those monsters from the God Cards," Honda answered in a shaky
voice. "They all give me the same nasty feeling -- like they're just
about to squash me like a puny bug."

Jounouchi muttered, "Except that dragon is no hologram!"

"Don't remind me," Honda muttered back with a scowl.

Practically everyone in the observation room looked spooked, even Dr.
Tsubuku. Yugi was the only one who wasn't obviously rattled, but
maybe that was because he was busy talking to his other side, the
spirit from the Millennium Puzzle.

Suddenly, the Blue Eyes shifted its attention away from them. Against
all common sense and laws of physics, the dragon moved with uncanny
speed and grace, as it whipped its head around and stared down toward
its feet.

(How can something that big move so bloody FAST!?) Jounouchi wondered
a bit wildly. It was as if the Blue Eyes was cat and snake,
quicksilver and lightning, all rolled into one.

But in a weird way, the feline-like agility definitely reminded him of
Kaiba. Despite the bastard's annoying tendency to strike arrogant
poses -- usually accompanied by remarks calculated to piss off any
sane person in the worst possible way -- Kaiba could really move when
he wanted to.

With the Blue Eyes's attention diverted, Jounouchi and the others
edged closer to the window and peered downward into the test chamber
just in time to see Mokuba clambering over a pile of rubble and making
his way toward the exit.

Without warning, the Blue Eyes White Dragon struck, lashing out a
foreleg in Mokuba's direction....

Anzu uttered a stifled scream of horror.

.... and gently snagged the back of Mokuba's belt with the tips of two
huge claws. Then, with exquisite delicacy, the Blue Eyes plucked him
off the rubble pile like a wayward kitten.

Mokuba uttered a startled squeak as he found himself dangling in
midair, but otherwise displayed no signs of panic. With the same
gentle precision, the Blue Eyes returned the youngster to his former
location, tucked between the dragon's forelegs. Mokuba blinked,
stared up at the enormous white head hovering protectively over him,
then heaved a visible sigh of exasperation.

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

As Yami watched the Blue Eyes crouching over Mokuba like a mother
wildcat guarding its young, the memory of Kaiba's passionate
declaration about the Blue Eyes White Dragon kept running through
Yami's mind, over and over again.

/ ....my pride and my soul.... /

He would never forget Kaiba's words during the climatic moments of his
duel with Malik's sister Isis. But perhaps even more important had
been the way Kaiba had spoken those words and the sound of utter
conviction in his voice.

/ ....my pride and my soul.... /

At that moment, Kaiba had looked both shaken and exultant, as if he
had been the recipient of a terrifying, yet undeniable personal
epiphany. Perhaps for Kaiba, that's exactly what it had been.

/ ....my pride and my soul.... /

But while Yami didn't question the overwhelming sincerity and honesty
in Kaiba's voice, something in the actual words themselves didn't ring
completely true. Something was missing.

/ ....my pride and my soul.... /

Kaiba's pride and soul -- the magnificent Blue Eyes White Dragon....

Suddenly it was Yami's turn to experience a little revelation of his
own.

{You called the Blue Eyes your pride and your soul. Close, Kaiba.
Very close, but not quite.}

With a touch of sadness, Yami murmured, {Is it still so hard to admit
the truth, Kaiba? Is your need to protect yourself from what you
perceive as a hostile world still so great?}

/ ....my pride and my soul.... /

{No, the Blue Eyes is not merely your pride, Kaiba. It's really your
*heart* and your soul, isn't it?}

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

Up in the observation booth, there had been huge sighs of relief as
the Blue Eyes did nothing more than retrieve Mokuba and put him down
unharmed.

"Man, for a second there, I thought that kid was a goner!" Honda said,
wiping the sweat off his brow.

"There was never any danger of that," Yugi said quietly.

"Huh?" his friends chorused.

"Kaiba would sooner die before harming Mokuba."

"Now wait a minute, Yugi. We all know how far Kaiba was willing to go
in order to save Mokuba during the Duellist Kingdom. But he also
nearly scared his own little brother to death during that crazy
DEATH-T challenge!" Honda protested.

Yugi shook his head and said earnestly, "I know, but the twisted,
cruel person who did that wasn't the REAL Seto Kaiba. The real Seto
Kaiba loves and cherishes Mokuba. That dragon down there is a true
reflection of Kaiba's heart and soul, and Mokuba know it. You can
tell by the way he's acting. He's worried about his brother, but he's
definitely not scared."

Far from being scared, Mokuba was busy arguing with the Blue Eyes.
From the way the dragon cocked its head and focused its attention on
the youngster, it was clear that the Blue Eyes was listening. But how
much, if any, of Mokuba's words the dragon actually understood was
anyone's guess.

Mokuba remained unfazed when the Blue Eyes uttered a loud,
discontented grumble. The youngster stubbornly persisted. Finally,
with obvious reluctance, the dragon grudgingly shifted one of its
forelegs aside, clearing a path to the chamber's exit. Mokuba stroked
the Blue Eyes's muzzle as if to soothe and reassure it, then scrambled
toward the door.

When the youngster disappeared from the dragon's view, the Blue Eyes
rose to its feet, tail lashing in visible agitation. The gleaming
white head swung from side to side, as if anxiously searching for
something.

A minute or two later, Mokuba burst into the observation room, gasping
for breath. The youngster didn't bother to greet them, but instead
ran immediately over to the window so the Blue Eyes could plainly see
him.

The dragon arched its sinuous neck and uttered a disgruntled hiss, but
appeared content to merely watch them... for now.

"Mokuba, are you all right?" Yugi said urgently.

"I'm fine. But Seto...." Mokuba waved his hand toward the window and
the Blue Eyes White Dragon hovering just beyond.

Anzu said, "So it's true. That Blue Eyes really is your brother?"

Mokuba nodded wearily.

"How the hell did THAT happen!?" Jounouchi blurted incredulously.

"I don't know!" Mokuba snapped, yanking on his hair in frustration.
"I don't know what the hell happened. The only thing I do know is
that the duel computer went crazy, Seto got hurt, and then he somehow
transformed into that Blue Eyes! And from the way he's been acting, I
don't think he knows or remembers who he really IS!"

Honda's jaw dropped, then he said, "Are you saying that Kaiba's got
some sort of amnesia, on top of turning into that hulking brute of a
monster...!"

"HE'S NOT A MONSTER!!!" Mokuba shouted furiously, clenching his fists.
"He's my brother! He's Seto, even if he can't remember his name!"

Reacting to Mokuba's obvious agitation and distress, the Blue Eyes
snarled and lunged forward, butting its head against the windows of
the observation booth. To no one's surprise, the supposedly
shatterproof window panes cracked and bulged visibly under the Blue
Eyes's assault. Another solid hit and the window would definitely
break.

Dr. Tsubuku said hastily, "Mr. Mokuba, please try to calm down!" He
jerked his head meaningfully at the looming dragon.

Mokuba took a deep, shuddering breath and nodded tensely. He walked
to the window just as the Blue Eyes readied itself to take another
swipe.

"Hey, it's okay, Seto. Really! It's cool," the youngster said,
waving his hands and doing his best to sound calm and reassuring.

The Blue Eyes stared suspiciously at the others, but gradually relaxed
from its attack posture.

"Uh, Anzu? You can let go now," Honda muttered, "I can't feel my
fingers anymore."

Anzu gasped and released her deathgrip on Honda's arm and blurted,
"Sorry!"

Yugi said, "Can you tell us anything about what happened to your
brother?"

Mokuba perched himself on a console, as close to the cracked
observation window as he could, and gave them a short, terse version
of the disastrous test session. When he got to the point about the
mysterious card that apparently started everything, the Blue Eyes
suddenly uttered a hair-raising growl that made everything in the
observation booth rattle and vibrate.

They all jumped nervously and Yugi told Yami, (I don't think that was
a coincidence.)

{I think you're right. But in a way, it's a good sign. It means that
on some level, Kaiba remembers something and can understand us, at
least on some level,} Yami replied.

Taking care not to mention the "Master of the Forge" card by name,
Yugi said, "I've never heard of a card like that before."

Mokuba scowled angrily. "That's because it doesn't exist. I had
someone check with Industrial Illusions. They have no record of ever
releasing such a card."

"Whoa, now that sounds pretty damn suspicious," Jounouchi commented.

"Yeah, but there's more." Mokuba went on to tell them about how the
duelling robot had targeted Kaiba and the resulting catastrophic
malfunction of the holographic projectors.

"So you're telling us that the computer duellist tried to *fuse* Kaiba
with a Blue Eyes?" Yugi said, his eyes widening.

Mokuba nodded.

"Whoa, whoa, time out!" Jounouchi exclaimed. "If this was one of
those nasty 'Game of Darkness' duels like we had with Malik, I could
see how a magic card could actually affect a player. But we're
talking about a computer here! So where does this duel robot get off
with thinking it could do something like that?"

"Exactly," Mokuba said, looking very grim. "A computer only does what
it's told. So I'm guessing that someone must've hacked into the duel
robot system and screwed around with the programming. I can't think
of any other explanation!"

"But why?" Anzu demanded.

Mokuba scowled impatiently. "To get at Seto, of course! He's pretty
much the only person who uses that particular duel robot!" He glanced
around at them. "After what happened with the Big 5 and Noa, Seto
ordered a major security upgrade for all of Kaiba Corporation's
computer networks. But a project like that takes time to complete.
This duel computer would've been pretty low on the upgrade list."

Dr. Tsubuku added, "And therefore more vulnerable to tampering. At
this moment, we're doing an exhaustive analysis of the computer
system, or what's left of it. We're still waiting for the results."

A discreet knock on the door interrupted them. The scientist called
out, "Just a moment! I'll be right out!" before turning to Yugi and
the others.

"Just to let you know, we're trying our best to keep Mr. Kaiba's
situation as quiet as possible, as per Mr. Mokuba's instructions.
Most of the people around here think that we're mainly dealing with
just a hologram system malfunction and nothing more."

As the scientist left the room, Jounouchi said with a grin. "No
wonder. I guess it would cause problems if people found out that the
company president got turned into a dragon."

"That's. Not. Funny," Mokuba snapped in a low, furious tone.

Jounouchi's expression suddenly turned serious. "Yeah, I know. Sorry
about that. You're really worried about your brother."

Mokuba looked away, then stared at his sneakers and went very quiet.
Finally, he said in a soft, tight voice, "Seto's made so many
sacrifices for me. You have no idea of what he's been through, what
he's had to endure. From our adoptive father Gozaburo, from
Pegasus...." He abruptly stopped, choking back what he about to say.


Without looking up at them, Mokuba continued, "That happened to Seto
was my fault." His fingers dug hard into his knees. "After the
computer attacked him, he was badly hurt, but... but he was still
human. It was only afterward, when the ceiling started to fall...
when he saw that I was in danger.... He tried so hard to reach me,
but when he couldn't, THAT's when he changed. He changed to protect
ME. If he can't change back...."

His voice faltered, then with a deep shuddering sigh, Mokuba said in a
barely audible voice, "Seto's already given up so much of himself, all
for my sake. And now... now he's given up not only his human body,
but maybe his memories and his mind, too!"

They couldn't see his face, but from the way Mokuba's shoulders
quivered, they knew he was fighting back tears.

It was Anzu who moved first. She elbowed Jounouchi and Honda aside.
Ignoring the white dragon looming only a few feet away, she put her
arm around Mokuba's shoulders and hugged him tightly.

"Don't blame yourself, Mokuba. It isn't your fault. It's not," she
murmured as she looked helplessly at her friends.

"It's not fair!" Mokuba mumbled, rubbing angrily at his eyes. "He
does so much for me and there's so little I can do for him!"

Yugi moved forward and said, "You're wrong, Mokuba. You do a whole
lot for him, just being yourself. If it wasn't for your support and
understanding, I think that your brother would be a very lonely shell
of a person. Your brother loves you, and he relies on you to remind
him that he is loved."

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

In the depths of Yugi's mind, Yami murmured, {Well done, Aibou.
Mokuba really needed to know that he's much more to his brother than
just a tiresome burden.}

(But why would he think such a thing?)

{Mokuba's probably heard other people call him that, either to his
face or behind his back -- how it's such a pity that someone as
talented as Kaiba has to be saddled with a bothersome child. You get
the idea.}

(That's very cruel of them!) Yugi said indignantly.

{Yes, it is, Aibou, but hardly surprising.}

While Yugi was busy talking to Yami, Mokuba had suddenly clapped his
hands over his mouth and turned to look at the Blue Eyes White Dragon
with an expression of acute chagrin and embarrassment.

(Now what?)

Yami's reply was tinged with wry amusement. {I think that Mokuba's
just realized that he's blurted out some of his deepest insecurities
and feelings in front of his beloved older brother -- feelings that
Mokuba would've preferred to keep hidden from Kaiba.}

(Oooh....)

{And now Mokuba's probably wondering just how much Kaiba, in his
present condition, actually understood.}

Judging from the Blue Eyes's reaction, clearly *something* had gotten
through. It had gone utterly silent, and simply stared at Mokuba.
And while it might have been his imagination, Yugi thought that the
dragon's fierce blue gaze seemed to... soften... ever so slightly.

Then the moment passed as the Blue Eyes twitched its head restlessly
and looked away.

Mokuba made a frustrated sound. "Seto's in there. I know he is. I
can feel him, but it's like he's somewhere just out of reach. I've
tried and I've tried to make him wake up, to remember who he is, but
I'm just not getting through!" Mokuba then grabbed Yugi's sleeve and
added, "But maybe you can!"

"Me!?" Yugi blurted in astonishment.

Looking very puzzled herself, Anzu said, "I don't understand.
Certainly we'll try our best to help Kaiba, but if YOU can't reach
him, Mokuba, what makes you think your brother will listen to Yugi?"

"Because he's probably the only other person who *understands* about
the Blue Eyes White Dragon, and what it really means to Seto.
Everyone else around here thinks that it's just some imaginary monster
in a card game. But there's a lot more to the Blue Eyes than that...
isn't there, Yugi?"

But before Yugi could answer, Mokuba continued, "I'm right, aren't I?"
The youngster looked both relieved and a bit smug. "Seto's been
fascinated by the Blue Eyes as long as I can remember, but ever since
he met you, Yugi, something changed. It's like the Blue Eyes somehow
became REAL to him, especially during the Battle City finals."

Mokuba hesitated, then added, "But I've got another reason for calling
you. I know that there's some special connection between you and my
brother, Yugi. Something to do with the Millennium Items and ancient
Egypt. Something that happened three thousand years ago."

{How did he...?} Yami sounded rather taken aback.

Yugi looked a bit stunned himself as he echoed Yami's surprise and
stammered, "How... how do you know about that?"

"After Seto lost to you in the finals, that Ishtar lady started
talking about this stone tablet. Seto got really upset with the whole
discussion. I had to see for myself if what she said was true, so a
couple of days ago, when Seto was busy in a meeting, I went to the
museum and snuck down into the basement to take a look for myself."

"Ah."

"At first, I couldn't believe it, but there, on this ancient stone
tablet was my brother and the Blue Eyes, facing off with someone who
looked almost exactly like you, complete with that Puzzle and the
Black Magician!"

Jounouchi and Honda looked stunned, while Anzu merely bit her lip
anxiously.

"That's when I started to really put things together. I remembered
what you said to Seto and me just before that crazy death duel with
Jounouchi. You told us how there was another you, a spirit inside the
Millennium Puzzle who used to be a Pharaoh of ancient Egypt. The same
Pharaoh who appears on that stone tablet!"

Yugi nodded slowly. "But your brother refused to believe in any of
it. He claimed it was all hypnosis or delusions."

Mokuba gave them a wry shrug. "Seto can be really stubborn, you know?"

Jounouchi muttered, "Man, that's a total understatement!" He would
have gladly continued on this theme, but Anzu's angry glare hushed him
up.

Mokuba went on, saying, "Seto's always been that way about
supernatural or magical stuff. It seems to...." He glanced over at
the watching Blue Eyes, then leaned forward and whispered to them,
".... well, spook him."

Jounouchi snorted and said, "Then I guess it's lucky that he didn't
have to face off with Bakura and that totally creepy occult card deck
of his!"

Mokuba scowled at the blond-haired teenager. "Ghosts, zombies, and
those sorts of things never scared my big brother. I was talking
about other stuff!"

"What sort of stuff?" Jounouchi said curiously.

Mokuba hunched his shoulders and muttered, "Just... stuff, okay?"

{I think I know what Mokuba is referring to, Aibou. It's not the
occult itself that disturbs Kaiba, but the possibility that he himself
might have some mystical or spiritual power. I don't know why, but it
seems that Kaiba feels very threatened by the mere idea.}

(And when Kaiba feels threatened, he gets mad and goes into big-time
denial, right?)

{Yes, Aibou. Mokuba, however, seems to have a much more open mind
than his brother.}

Yugi said, "So you believe in all this stuff about the Millennium
Items? And you think that I, or rather the other me, can get through
to your brother because they knew each other in a past life?"

Mokuba nodded slowly. "I know it sounds crazy, but... I mean, with
Seto being able to control Obelisk and understanding all that weird
writing on the God Card of Ra...."

Yugi gasped and said, "Kaiba understood...!?"

"Yeah, as soon as he looked at it," Mokuba said with a slight frown as
he remembered the particular incident and his brother's strange,
almost panicked reaction.

{That explains how Kaiba knew so much about Ra's special abilities.
He actually *read* the card!} Yami exclaimed.

Honda interrupted by saying "But didn't that whacked out Dark Malik
guy say that only special people could make heads or tails of that
stuff? The chosen ones, or something like that?"

"That's right," Yugi said quietly. "Which proves that Kaiba, whether
he admits it or not, has a strong connection to the Millennium Items,
just as I do."

Anzu jumped to her feet and protested, "But even if you're right and
that tablet shows that Kaiba and Yami knew each other in ancient
Egypt, what makes you think that your brother will listen to him now,
Mokuba? I mean, weren't they enemies? Because on the tablet, they
certainly look that way!"

Mokuba stared at her in surprise. "You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"You don't know what the stuff on the tablet really says?" Mokuba
said, looking even more astonished.

As Anzu shook her head, Yugi asked Yami, (Could you read those
hieroglyphics?)

Yami replied somewhat apologetically, {I was too distracted by the
images carved on the tablet to pay attention to the actual writing.
And then we got interrupted by Malik's sister....}

Yugi said urgently, "Mokuba, you know what the tablet says?"

"Yeah. Isis Ishtar told Seto all about it."

"And...? C'mon, spit it out!" Jounouchi said impatiently.

"It's supposed to be a prayer for the dead, a poem written by the
priest for his honored opponent... and friend." He looked Yugi
directly in the eye. "The Pharaoh."

Yugi, Yami, and everyone else were left totally speechless.

"Are you SURE?" Anzu finally gasped.

"That's what she said to Seto. And from my brother's reaction, I'm
guessing that he believed her, even if he absolutely refused to admit
it."

With desperation creeping into his voice, Mokuba continued, "That's
why I called you, Yugi. You're my last hope. I can't reach him and
there's no one else that Seto feels...," he groped for the right word.
"Feels a real *connection* to, if you get what I mean? Okay, so
you're not exactly friends in this life, but I know that Seto respects
and even trusts you -- you and your honor as a duellist!"

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

{He might be right, Aibou.}

(Do you really think we have a chance of getting through to Kaiba,
when Mokuba couldn't do it?)

{It's a gamble, but who else is there? Sadly, Mokuba's correct. I
doubt Kaiba will listen to anyone else under these circumstances. And
there IS an undeniable link between us, both in the past and in the
present.}

(Then we have to try!) Yugi said, sounding very determined.

Yami replied with an equally determined nod.

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

Holding his Puzzle, Yugi smiled encouragingly and said, "Don't give up
hope, Mokuba. We'll help your brother find his way back to you!"

"Yeah, that's right!" Jounouchi said, waving an enthusiastic fist in
the air.

Just at that moment, Dr. Tsubuku reentered the room, carrying a thick
stack of paper.

"I have the preliminary reports, Mr. Mokuba, including a transcript of
the test session, as you requested. If you don't need me right now,
I'll go back and see if I can help the rest of the analysis team."

"Thanks. There's not much you can do here so you might as well check
on the other guys," Mokuba said, taking the papers. After Dr.
Tsubuku's departure, the youngster eagerly asked Yugi, "Have you got
any ideas?"

"Maybe, but I'd like to take a look at that transcript first, if you
don't mind."

"Sure!"

Yugi quickly read through the document, then passed the transcript
over to Jounouchi. As he waited for the others to finish reading, he
sat down and pondered their next move.

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

(So how do we reach Kaiba?) Yugi asked Yami in a worried tone. (It's
not going to be easy, that's for sure. I mean, when I look into those
eyes, all I see is the dragon, not the person....)

Yami didn't reply immediately. Something Yugi said had obviously
grabbed his attention. Sensing his other self's intense
concentration, Yami waited patiently.

Suddenly Yami spoke up with quiet, but unmistakable excitement. {Of
course! Why didn't I realize it before?}

(What?) gasped a startled Yugi.

{Everyone's been assuming that Kaiba's acting like a dragon because
he's forgotten who he really is. But what if we're wrong about that?}

(Wrong about what?)

{About Kaiba being the one in control of that body.}

(Are you saying that Kaiba's NOT in control!? Then who or what is!?)

{The Blue Eyes White Dragon, Aibou.}

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

Jounouchi tossed the transcript over to Anzu and Honda, then threw up
his hands.

"Well, that didn't doesn't tell us a whole heck of a lot. I mean,
it's pretty much as Mokuba said -- computer tries to pull something
screwy with the duel, Kaiba gets pissed off, and kaboom!" Without
bothering to look at Yugi, he said, "So what's the plan? Just yell at
that dragon and hope that it listens to you instead of biting your
head off? Because if it is, I gotta say that it sucks!"

When he got no response, Jounouchi turned to look at Yugi, who was
holding his Puzzle and gazing distractedly at nothing in particular.

In the meantime, Anzu huffed and snapped, "You're a fine one to
complain, Mr. Leap-before-you-look Jounouchi!"

He turned and gave her a nonchalant shrug. "Hey, I'm just worried,
okay? I know Kaiba loves Mokuba and wouldn't hurt a hair on his head,
but there's no telling what he'd do to anybody else! Kaiba's a proud,
arrogant, nasty-tempered bastard who probably couldn't care less if
the rest of the world fell into a Trap Hole! And to tell you the
truth, I think that a dragon suits his personality down to a T!"

Mokuba spun around and glared furiously at Jounouchi, but before they
could start arguing, Yugi suddenly gasped, jumped to his feet to gape
open-mouthed at the Blue Eyes. The dragon, reacting to Yugi's sudden
movement and his tense body language, leaned forward to eye the
teenager in a decidedly suspicious manner.

Jounouchi said instantly, "What's up, Yugi? What's wrong?"

Yugi ignored his friend, too busy concentrating on what Yami was
telling him.

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

(But... but the Blue Eyes IS Kaiba! You said it yourself -- it's his
heart and soul!) Yugi objected, now sounding thoroughly confused.

{No, it's a PART of Kaiba. But a part that is strong enough to have
an identity and will of its own.}

(Are you saying that Kaiba has another personality, like Malik did!?)
Yugi exclaimed. (I mean, did it take over because it wanted Kaiba's
body or something like that?)

{No!} Yami said quickly. {Unlike Malik's dark side, the Blue Eyes
isn't hostile, at least to Kaiba himself. Quite the opposite, I
think. Just as the Black Magician protects the sanctity of our Soul
Rooms, the Blue Eyes probably serves as the guardian and protector for
Kaiba's innermost self.}

(Oh, I get it,) Yugi said, sounding relieved. He suddenly looked
anxious. (But if you're right about it only wanting to protect Kaiba,
then why did it...? Uh oh.) His voice trailed off with a tone of
dread.

Yami nodded grimly. {Exactly, Aibou. Something happened, either
during the duel with the computer or immediately afterwards.
Something serious and/or traumatic enough to provoke the Blue Eyes
into physically manifesting itself and taking over Kaiba's body!}

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

"Yugi!" Jounouchi repeated urgently.

Sounding slightly dazed, Yugi finally replied, "I think Yami just
figured out why Mokuba hasn't had any luck reaching his brother."

"Why!?" the youngster demanded.

"Because that's not exactly Kaiba," Yugi replied as he pointed vaguely
at the Blue Eyes.

Jounouchi said incredulously, "Wait a minute! Are you trying to say
that thing's NOT Kaiba!?"

"No way! I told it's Seto! I'm sure of it!" Mokuba objected
vehemently.

"You're partially right, Mokuba. It IS Kaiba. Just not the part we
all know," Yugi said, a bit disjointedly.

Jounouchi looked like he was ready to pull his hair out.

"I don't get it! That thing is Kaiba, but it's not him? What
gives!?"

Yugi raked a hand through his multicolored hair and struggled to find
a way to explain Yami's theory to his friends.

"It's Kaiba's body, but Kaiba that we know is not in the driver's
seat."

"Then who the hell is!?" Jounouchi demanded, giving the gleaming white
monster an extremely wary look.

"The Blue Eyes White Dragon," Yugi blurted out in a rush.

Honda protested, "That's crazy, Yugi! How can the Blue Eyes be in
control when it doesn't even really exist!"

"But it does! Really exist, I mean," Yugi said.

They all stared at him with various degrees of disbelief.

In a tentative voice, Anzu finally said, "Yugi, are you trying to tell
us that Kaiba's somehow been *possessed* by the Blue Eyes!?"

"If a person can be possessed by a part of his own soul, then... yes,"
he told them with a helpless shrug.

------------------------------------
(end part 2)

Part 3 teaser: The return of the Millennium Rod? ^_-

-------------------------------------------------
Keeper of Duo's Dark Side ~~~ Duo no Seishi
Saitoh no Koibito ~~~ Corruptor Extraordinaire
-------------------------------------------------
ma damhydra@aol.com /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/:E
http://www.madamhydra.net/
---------------------- ---------------------------

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