Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Ryou Bakura: Time Master! ❯ The Council of Many Crossovers ( Chapter 24 )

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh. Takahashi does, and he thought the ending to last chapter was epic in the extreme. I think otherwise.

 

The wait had felt so slow. It felt like years had passed before even a week had gone by since Sith left, and Ryou was already feeling the effects of her lack of presence. Everything felt too quiet around his house, and everything within the city felt too… normal. So much that it felt completely unordinary. When he had asked Bakura about it, the old spirit wasn't entirely surprised Ryou was feeling that way. Without the Mystics' magic, they had lived nearly six years with their world being screwed up. Bakura said that it was highly unusual for things to be so calm for once. Ryou simply said that if things didn't happen soon, he'd go completely insane. He missed Sith and Katt terribly, and he knew everyone else did as well. To cope, they merely didn't speak about it.

 

But now, the third week had just started, and Ryou knew the council was coming up. He had received a letter from Sith just two days previously, telling him that she would be coming for everyone shortly. That made him feel assured; from what the rest of her letter stated, many of the people she invited were on her side for remaining here. That was a good sign.

 

Ryou was now sitting on his porch, as he had just a few weeks previously. November was beginning to set in, and a small sheet of frost graced his yard as a result. It gave him a particularly nostalgic feeling as he reminded himself that winter was Sith's favorite season; she adored the snow, but then again, she'd grown up with it for close to one thousand years at least. He let out a sigh, his breath forming a cloud mist before him. He didn't like to miss Sith so much, but he couldn't help it some days. He just did. Amane tried to help by pulling pranks on their father, but ultimately, the little girl's spirit knew Ryou couldn't keep himself distracted forever. When she glided out to find her brother, she sat on the stair next to him, her yellow dress flowing with an unseen wind. She bit her lip.

 

“Are you thinking about Sith again?” she asked, tilting her head as she watched a tiny speck of snow fall from the roof. Ryou nodded, tugging on his scarf.

 

“Yes. I'm wondering when she'll be coming,” he replied, “Her letter said she'd be coming shortly, but it's been two days. I'm worried something happened to change her mind.” Amane nodded. She didn't understand what was going on, but she did know it was distressing Ryou to some extent, so it must've been important. She looked into the yard across the street, watching as Rosco bounded through it, running back and barking at Ryou. He ignored the dog.

 

“I don't think she changed her mind, Ryou,” Amane stated after a moment of thought, “That's not like her. Maybe she was caught in traffic.” Ryou couldn't hold back his snort. If Sith was coming here, she'd most likely fly above traffic entirely. He doubted she'd take a more humane method unless she had time to burn. And considering what she was doing back in Nesce, he also doubted she had time to spare for much of anything. But for the sake of not dwelling on it, he humored his sister.

 

“Maybe she was,” he said, as Rosco barked at him again. This time, he twitched. Rosco was impatient since Sith had left, and Ryou couldn't possibly begin to understand how Rosco knew Sith might not be coming back. The dog was always fine whenever Sith left for somewhere important, but this time, something was obviously wrong with him. He'd turned aggressive to nearly everyone except Ryou, and even then, he was testy with the boy. Taking in a deep breath, he asked, “What's wrong, boy?” Rosco barked again, tossing his big head back and howling. Ryou and Amane both winced from the sound; Rosco howling wasn't a good sign. But nothing physically appeared to be wrong. Gently, Ryou gave the dog a pat on his fluffy mane of hair.

 

“It's okay, Rosco,” Amane said, as the dog sat down on the sidewalk, “Your mommy will be back soon. I know it!” Ryou smiled, but it was weakly. He couldn't hold the same hope Amane obviously held for Sith. He knew many of the elder Espers would be against Sith staying here; she belonged in her world, in their minds. He scratched Rosco's ear, and heard the front door open as Yaten stepped out, looking around the yard. He looked down at the dog, and frowned.

 

“Ryou, keep your dog under control,” he said sternly, crossing his arms, “I don't want another ticket for noise pollution.” Ryou's face paled. Rosco cost Yaten nearly three hundred dollars the past two weeks because of Sith's disappearance, and there was nothing either he or the dog could do about it. It's just how Rosco was handling it. He nodded as Rosco whimpered. Amane glared back at their father, her brows furrowing in disapproval as she stood up, her barely four-foot-six height doing its best to look threatening, but ultimately failing.

 

“Daddy, Rosco misses his mommy!” she exclaimed angrily, “Poor doggy's doing his best and you're not helping him! Be nice!” Ryou wanted to laugh, listening to how stubborn Amane was being. Yaten sighed heavily and simply went back inside, not wishing to argue with his deceased daughter over their dog. After he was inside, Amane plopped back down onto the stairs, and both she and Ryou continued to stare at nothing in particular. It was uncomfortable, because she knew Ryou was thinking carefully about something, but she couldn't understand what the actual problem was. Finally, Ryou looked up at the sky.

 

“Amane, do you want Sith to stay?” he asked, and Amane looked up at him.

 

“Yes,” she replied, and he glanced down at her, “I think she should stay here forever and ever, Ryou. She's a good person.” Ryou nodded in agreement. Sith was a good person at the heart of it, even if her methods were the result of much bloodshed, either in the present or past. It came with who she was; war was just a part of Esper life, something Ryou had learned accumulatively for the past few years. But what he couldn't agree with was Sith living here forever. He couldn't tell Amane how accurate that would've been if Sith won the argument. She'd be here for thousands of years, outliving everyone she knew except for Katt or Gilden. His mood worsened if only for that reason.

 

“I'm sure she'd be happy to hear that,” he managed, though his voice threatened to break. Just then, Malik was walking up toward them, with Ishtar by his side. Is his gloved hands was a letter, and on his face, a frown sat. Ryou raised a worried brow, wondering just what could've angered his friend so much. Malik continued until he was close enough to warrant Rosco growling at him, but a quick slap on the snout from Ryou silenced the dog. Carefully, Ryou asked, “Malik, is everything okay?” Malik narrowed his eyes as he glared at the ground.

 

“Isis is forbidding me to attend the council,” he growled angrily, and Ryou's eyes widened, “She says it's not my business, nor anyone else's, on what they decide to do with Sith or Katt!” Ryou's mouth dropped open. That was the stupidest thing he'd ever heard. Malik had been with Katt for years now, and Ryou was married to Sith. How could it not be their business!?

 

“How is this remotely possible!?” Ryou demanded, though his anger wasn't directed to Malik at all, “We've known then for years, Malik. Doesn't that count for anything?”

 

“I know, Ryou, I know,” he replied sadly, “But Ishtar says Isis has a point. He's not sure if your marriage is void now, and that was the key to being involved in the council.” Ryou's mouth dropped open again. Voided! His marriage was voided because of some custom he didn't know about. That wasn't fair to him, or to anyone else. He could only imagine how Sith was possibly taking it.

 

“On what grounds?” Ryou asked, “How can they void a marriage?” Malik sighed, and shook his head to say he had no idea. Bakura had poked his head out the window, having heard Ryou's furious outburst between their link, and he climbed out the window to join them all. Ryou glanced back, and saw the dark expression on Bakura's face. Quickly, he asked, “What do you know!?” Bakura's frown worsened.

 

“My guess is that they feel your marriage wouldn't have happened if Sith hadn't been forced here. They want to return this world to what it was before all of this happened, from what Sith told us last week, Ryou,” Bakura said. Ryou's fists clenched. This was absurd. Sith had been through enough, and now they were ripping apart the only reason she'd even argue with them. It infuriated him, especially since he couldn't be there to support her in any way. Or to tell them to screw themselves.

 

“They're giving her no choice but to agree with them!” he cried, standing up so suddenly that he caused a yelp from Amane, “They can't erase the past! They can't just take her away because of a mistake they made! It's not her damn fault, Bakura! It's not… it's not fair!” Bakura hugged Ryou as the younger man struggled to hold back his screams, and subsequently, his tears as well. He knew Ryou was absolutely right. They were definitely trying to force Sith's hand.

 

“I'm sure Sith knows this,” he assured the boy gently, “She knows what she's doing, so I'm not one to count her out just yet.” He looked over at Malik, who nodded in agreement with that. Bakura noticed the letter still in his hand, and asked, “What's the letter say, Malik?” Malik glanced at the envelop, and then took out its contents, a small letter written in Sith's handwriting. Ryou would recognize her penmanship anywhere; it was neat and small, and curved elegantly. But why would she be writing to Malik?

 

“She says the debate's going well and that all surviving Mystics willingly took her side,” Malik replied, and Ryou had to smile at that, “All of her guests arrived safely, and nearly all of them agree that she should go as she pleases and shouldn't work under Bahamut any longer. And…” he laughed at the last few sentences of her letter, “Apparently one of them threatened to shoot the other Espers if they didn't let Sith `have her own way.' Looks like your wife's got a good footing on this, Ryou.” Ryou raised a brow, wondering just who of Sith's friends would be insane enough to think a bullet would be enough to stop an Esper. Malik noticed the look and laughed again. Obviously, Ryou didn't trust Sith's judgment when he wasn't there to watch her.

 

“Relax, kids, I'm sure Sith won't let anyone kill anyone else,” Bakura told them both with amusement, “Did she happen to say when the council starts?” Malik hummed, skimming through the rest of the letter. Most of it was about Katt, which didn't surprise Ryou, since it was addressed to Malik. But finally, Malik nodded.

 

“Tomorrow,” he finally replied, his brows raising in skepticism, “We'd better hope she gets here fast, then. It's not good if she's late to her own council.” Ryou agreed, wondering then what could've actually been keeping her. His first worry went to the possibility that Rath hadn't been defeated and was still alive, but Sith had come back with her head. No one, Espers included, could survive a beheading unless they were undead. Unfortunately, Ryou also remembered that both Rath and Sith were supposedly undead. He shivered. How could Sith be sure she actually won? Ryou wanted to ask Bakura for his opinion, but a crash from inside caught his attention, and he turned toward the front door. Amane nearly laughed, knowing that Yaten had just broken something.

 

“I think daddy tripped, Ryou,” she said, looking up at her brother. Ryou's eyes narrowed flatly, and his face paled, blue streaks of embarrassment crossing his cheeks. He didn't want or have the time to baby-sit his father. He looked at Malik, who snorted and nodded.

 

“Come on,” Ryou said, without enthusiasm at the situation, “Let's go and make sure my father's still alive.” He reached for the knob and opened the door, admitting everyone inside. Immediately, Ryou's eyes widened when he saw the mess. Chairs had been moved, but their cushions were strewn about, the rug seemed to be covered with some form of dirt, papers from all over the place littered the floor, and most of their knick-knacks were knocked over, either broken or on the verge of it. To make it worse, there was an acrid smell of burning rubber in the air. Ryou's eyes narrowed as he stormed into the living room, where he was sure he'd be finding his father.

 

“DAD!” he screamed, and surely enough, found his father trying to pick up pieces to an old vase, “What are you doing!?” Yaten looked up, raising a clueless brow as he showed Ryou the piece of earthen ware he managed to scrape up. Ryou wasn't interested in the least.

 

“I'm cleaning, son,” he replied simply, and Bakura snorted as he looked around at the damage caused.

 

“I'm no expert, but I think you've got it backwards,” the old spirit stated, and Amane laughed, nodding her head, “Isn't the room supposed to look nicer than before you started?” Ishtar tried his best to hold back his own laughter, but he had been raised with Isis. She was a freak when it came to cleaning; mainly, in employing Ishtar to do most of the chores. Yaten stared flatly at Bakura, and then ignored him as he turned back to Ryou.

 

“Well, if your wife's coming here, I've got to pick this place up a bit. She's a queen, and queens aren't supposed to walk around in dirt,” Yaten said, and Bakura's eyes widened at the irony of the situation, “But the vacuum exploded when I turned it on. Looks like it hasn't been cleaned since she left. Anyway, one of the clods of fur came flying out and slammed into the vase, knocking it right off the shelf.” Ryou stared in absolute disbelief. He and Sith had things blowing up all the time, and never once did they have casualties like that. When Yaten saw Ryou's stare, he said, “Son, it's rude to do that. Now, go clean your room. I'm doing something.”

 

“Like what? Making a mess?” Malik commented, “Look, Mr. Bakura, I really don't think you should be cleaning anymore.” He gestured around the entire first floor, but Yaten didn't seem to notice as he picked up another piece of the vase and shoved the two pieces together, even though they didn't fit. Ryou watched, his lips thinning.

 

“Come to think of it, dad, you've never cleaned up before,” Ryou added. Yaten looked back at him.

 

“Well, Sith used to do the housework, and she's not here anymore,” the man stated plainly, “Someone here has to do it, and you don't seem to grasp how much hard labor will build your character.” Ryou growled under his breath, and was about to retort when the doorbell rang. Furiously, Ryou stomped over and threw the door open, wondering who would be bothering him this time. To his utter shock, it was Sith and Katt. He barely recognized them; Katt was in a marvelous green dress that fanned out beautifully as it trailed along the ground, and Sith was wearing a magenta dress that didn't fan, but had purple stripes pointing up from the bottom. Her blue and gold overcoat was an interesting combination, but it matched the golden tiara on her head, which was set with blue gems. The only thing that marred her appearance was the black glove on her right hand; it hid the mark she received millennia ago from Oblivion itself.

 

“Katt!?” he called, his mouth dropping as he looked at the two, “Sith!?” Katt snorted and walked inside, but Sith remained in the doorway, looking at Ryou carefully. Through her glasses, he could tell she was judging him again. She smiled warmly and hugged him after a moment's pass.

 

“It's good to see you again, dear,” she replied, as he patted her back, “I'm sorry we're late. Gilden had trouble turning me into a dragon again.” Ryou pulled away and looked at her in bewilderment. He didn't think she would ever be pushed to transforming again; she had said specifically that anger and desperation were the triggers, and this wasn't worth her fury in the least. She sensed this and laughed, “It isn't, but Gilden is a good persuader.” Ryou's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

 

“What did he do?” he asked her flatly, and Sith laughed again.

 

“He asked a friend from another world to kindly remind me that if I hadn't stopped him from shooting his world's tyrant, he'd have been able to stop him long before he was screwed into Oblivion,” she replied, “Apparently, Gilden is able to take emotion and use them to fuel impossible things to happen. The anger I felt should've turned me into the Panthera, but instead, Gilden was able to direct it toward becoming a dragon.” Ryou nodded. That was a good skill to have; he remembered the Panthera and how she nearly decimated them all when they were dealing with another Mystic Lord gone past, and how terrified he was of her. Sith had little to nearly no control over herself in that form. The dragon was a little more reasonable.

 

“So, then, how are we going to get back?” he asked her, and pointed out the obvious, “You're no longer a dragon.”

 

“I am aware,” Sith replied, and grinned, “I have a plan. Don't worry.” Ryou raised an amused brow, wondering what Sith's plan would've possibly been. An hour later, he got his answer. After they had rounded up everyone who was going, Sith had insisted on going to Kaiba's, despite him clearly saying he would never return to Nesce again. Everyone watched as Sith brilliantly argued with, and then subsequently threatened, Kaiba about using his jet. She couldn't carry everyone who was coming, and after summoning a massive thundercloud above his house, Kaiba had no choice but to agree unless he wanted to deal with his basement flooding. Many people, Jou being the most prominent, laughed at how shaken Kaiba became when he found that, indeed, Sith's magic was very real. Ryou guessed he didn't think she'd back a threat.

 

The trip to Nesce was relatively short, as Kaiba's copter was faster than Sith was in her dragon form, something she was loathe to admit. Immediately, the place was unrecognizable. Whereas everything within the land had been either frozen or destroyed the last two times they were there, it was completely restored now. Brick and stone houses sat in even rows, their thatched roofs shimmering golden from the sun; gardens and trees were abundant, giving Nesce, Aeroglyph in particular, an earthy, innocent feel. As they flew, the castle of Aeroglyph sparkled a brilliant blue, the sun's rays throwing all colors of the spectrum around when it pierced through the crystal walls. But, to Ryou's surprise, they didn't stop there. He looked at Sith, but she seemed calm.

 

“Sith, where are we going?” he asked her carefully. She looked over, and smiled when she saw the worry on his face.

 

“To the castle of St. Roris,” she replied, and when everyone looked over, wondering what she meant, her face went suddenly grim, “I've not yet been coronated as Queen of Nesce. That's why this council has been formed. To see if I even deserve the crown for wishing to stay with you. Many people think I can rule this world and still have my life with you, Ryou, and I'm quite sure I can as well.” Yami's brow rose.

 

“You mean you're not the queen yet?” he asked, “You said…”

 

“I said that a queen wouldn't abandon her kingdom,” Sith replied, “I was assuming I would be crowned because Sceppiro no longer seems to exist in the physical sense, and Katt is younger than I. But it appears that Bahamut would like to judge me himself.” Ryou sighed, knowing Sith might have a very slim chance of winning this. She had defied Bahamut too much for her to be in his graces, even if her choices bettered the Espers.

 

“So, what happens if you lose?” Ryuuzaki asked. Both Sith and Katt seemed hesitant to answer that, and Ryou wondered why. Unless she was executed, nothing would be too bad, would it? Sith glanced at him, and he realized she heard his thoughts. He blushed, and she snorted softly, looking away for a moment. Then, she spoke, her voice seeming much too quiet as opposed to just a moment before.

 

“If I lose, then I might either be exiled from Nesce, or required to serve the new king or queen, whoever that would be,” she replied gently, and the room itself seemed to hush from her words, “It would depend on who the new ruler is.”

 

“That hardly seems fair!” Bakura exclaimed, and Sith turned to him, “You've risked your ass for these guys multiple times, and they're rewarding you with this piece of bullshit!? I'd have stayed with us if I had to deal with it.” Sith chuckled, but Ryou noted the sadness that seemed to taint her laugh, as though she actually agreed with Bakura, but knew she couldn't do as he said. Ryou looked down and patted her arm comfortingly. Just then, a blonde man came toward them, and Ryou recognized him as the man who had performed their wedding. Except, this time, he looked absolutely nothing like a priest. This time, he looked even more provocative in his leather than Yami could ever hope to come to. On his face was a huge scar.

 

“That's what I said, but the idiots here seem to think they can go around bossing us just because they own the only way for us to communicate with each other,” he growled, glaring at the wall as his eyes wandered, “Sith's lucky. She's helped a lot of other worlds, so that's got to work for something.” He glanced at Sith, and she nodded, smiling weakly.

 

“They'll take it into consideration,” she replied, “How are the others?”

 

“Restless,” the man replied, sighing with slight annoyance, “You'd think that sack of scales would be here on time, considering he's the one insisting on this god-awful meeting! But no, not even I'm good enough for him to get his ass here. It's sick!” Ryou had to hide a snort. He didn't know who this man was or what world he came from, but he liked him for some reason. He seemed honest enough. Sith grinned slyly, and motioned for him to take his hand off his gun. He did so grudgingly before she spoke.

 

“Easy, Mello,” she replied calmly, “He'll be there soon. If you can, call Edward and ask him to make sure everyone else has their arguments in order.” Mello nodded stiffly, and turned to leave. Ryou noticed Sith seemed to be considering something, and raised a curious brow when she shortly called, “And don't shoot anyone! We can't afford to waste my escort!” Ryou heard Mello snort, and then he was gone. He looked at Sith skeptically, wondering just how she knew the man, and the sly smile was still planted on her face. When Ryou asked, she said, “I was in his world for about two years before Bahamut caught up to me. We met in a tavern, and after I told him my story, he said he might know the reason I'd be there at all. He helped me when he wasn't busy with his own agenda.” Ryou nodded, but wasn't entirely sure of how to react to that. She had never spoken of her friends before. Finally, though, someone laughed, and Ryou was surprised to see it was Malik.

 

“You sure have some interesting friends,” he replied. Sith laughed again, and went to sit in a chair.

 

“That, I do,” she agreed, “We weren't friends at first. We were simply going after the same thing for different reasons. But that changed. He owes me a favor, so he jumped at the chance to escort me personally to your world again.” Ryou hummed, but didn't press further. Whatever had gone on in their friendship, that was for Sith to share only when she wished. As for Mello, Ryou wasn't sure if he was entirely dependable, but if Sith employed him, he knew better than to question. After that, the rest of the ride was peaceful. Mello came back, followed by Forte and a man in ebony mail, which Ryou guessed was employed as another guard to protect Sith if something went wrong. She spoke to them quickly, and only Forte stayed with her from that point onwards.

 

St. Roris was one of the most beautiful cities Ryou had seen. Aeroglyph was grand with its crystal structures and medieval atmosphere, but it paled in comparison to the shrine that seemed to make up over half the city they now stood in. Everything seemed to be made of gold, silver, diamond, or adamantium. Even the streets were made of such materials, and the city seemed to glow in the sun. Mello and the second man, Gustave, led them through the streets, ignoring the hushed comments made on the parts of the on-looking Espers as Sith passed them. Ryou was impressed with how much Sith's presence affected everyone. But his amazement ceased when he finally beheld the shrine of St. Roris; the building was crafted entirely of gold, and sparkles of gold seemed to rain down from the structure like a thin sheet of snow continuously. There were no windows; instead, the arched windowsills had no glass to them, letting the sunlight in without filter. The courtyard was impressive enough, but the structure of the shrine made its beauty nearly threefold; the green grass had specks of gold and silver hidden in its slender blades, and the flowers seemed to be taking on the resilience of the diamonds that adorned the city. In the center of it all was a large fountain, where a statue of a beautiful woman stood, overlooking the city with an expression of unconditional gentleness.

 

“This place is huge!” Miho gasped, as Gustave spoke to one of the guards, who let them all inside, “Sith, you're going to rule over all of this?”

 

“If we're lucky, I will be,” Sith replied grimly, as they walked through the ornate hallway, which stretched on without having any doors to the sides, “But we'll seen soon.” Ryou nodded, and as Mello and Gustave led them through the hall, they became almost silent. The only sound was Miho and Anzu's excited whispering. When they finally came to two doors at the end of the expansive hall, Ryou heard voices murmuring in there, and when Mello opened the doors up, everyone fell silent as Sith walked inside. Ryou was amazed by how many people showed up to support her; it looked as if someone from every world had come to her aid. Mello grinned and sat next to a red-haired boy, who smiled when Sith passed him. She gave a nod, and took her seat at the head of the table. Everyone turned to her, looked expectantly at her. She remained calm as Ryou took a seat next to her. He glanced at her, and saw that she seemed to almost enjoy this.

 

“When do we start, Lady Sith?” came the gentle voice of a man who looked strangely like the Bards Three, but with golden hair and dressed elaborately in gold and orange silk. Sith looked at him calmly, and inclined her head.

 

“As soon as Bahamut enters, Edward,” she replied, and looked around the room. Next to Edward, the three Bards were seated, all of them looking almost as regal as Edward himself; next to them, a man with messy black hair and an outfit of white sat, twirling his fork in disinterest, and next to him was a man clad in purple with spiky, blonde hair, who was speaking to someone at the other end of the table, which Ryou couldn't see through the centerpiece of glass flowers. Ryou looked down the other side. He was sitting next to Mello, who was snickering as he joked with the red-haired boy. Next to him sat Gustave, who was talking with an elf garbed entirely in green. To Ryou, the elf looked like a rather badassed version of something he'd see from a Santa story; he was tall, but he did have the pointy shoes and the green hat. And, like Sith, he had a sword sheathed at his hip. Beside the elf sat a plump, little man wearing a pair of red overalls over a blue shirt, who looked entirely out of place in this meeting. But, Sith had a reason to seat them all with her, so Ryou didn't comment. As she looked at them all, she knew most of them were getting very, very restless. She couldn't keep them waiting for much longer, and Ryou had a direct inclination that Mello was one of the reasons she was so worried. He glanced at the man, who had noticed Sith was watching them.

 

“Why can't we start without him?” Mello asked her, “If he's going to be rude enough to call this and make us wait while he lollygags, I say we just vote that you win and we move on.” He moved his hand to something toward his hip, but a growl from Sith discouraged him. Ryou hid a snort; whatever had gone on in the last world, Sith had obviously discouraged him from something like this before. He clearly hated it. She ignored him and looked toward the far end of the room again.

 

“And if we do that, you'll be throwing this world into a complete upheaval,” she replied grimly, causing a shiver down both Ryou's spine and Mello's, “And trust me, you really don't want that. When some Espers get angry… well, we know what could transpire when anger gets out of control.” Ryou blinked. He didn't know whether she was referring to herself or to Rath, but either one was a suitable example; Sith in her Panther form could destroy pretty much anything. Rath did destroy pretty much anything. Mello just snorted and turned away, muttering to the boy next to him, who frowned and nodded. The little man at the end of the table looked over at Sith, his mustache twitching. Ryou hummed, again thinking how out of place this man looked compared to everyone else.

 

“Excuse-a me, Lady Sith, but I think I agree with-a Mello there,” he stated, and Ryou twitched at his thick accent. He couldn't place it, but he knew it was used partly in his world as well. Sith gave him a skeptical glance, to which Mello grinned triumphantly. She snorted, and shook her head. The elf stood up as well, and Ryou was becoming worried that Mello had begun a revolt. And, by the look of Sith's glare at the blonde man, she was convinced he had, too.

 

“Unfortunately, my lady, I believe we must wait,” the elf said, and Mello glared daggers at him, “Your world is fragile at best. Best not to anger the other Espers and repeating Oblivion, eh?” Sith just sighed. This was the last thing she needed, and when everyone started to murmur or just shout at her, she had no choice but to silence them. She slammed her tail into the ground, and immediately, the entire chamber fell completely silent. The people seated at the table in particular were terrified, only because they were so close to her.

 

“If you don't calm yourselves, I will have you all thrown out of my kingdom and sent hurtling to the farthest reaches of Oblivion!” she hissed furiously, and when a moment of uninterrupted silence fell, she asked, “Am I understood, Mello?” The boy next to Mello just laughed, and Mello growled angrily as he sulked, looking away from Sith. Ryou glanced at her warily, and she continued again, “I will give Bahamut three hours, and if he doesn't show, then I will adjourn this meeting myself.” Ryou heard everyone either mumble irritably or agree, and he wasn't remotely surprised that Mello was once again the one to raise a ruckus. Before Sith could even react, he had drawn a pistol and shot directly at the ceiling, causing screams from everyone, most of them originating from Ryou's group. Sith glared at Mello, and he glared back.

 

“Three hours!? Sith, are you out of your damned mind!?” he demanded, as Sith's ears lowered, “Look, babe, I understand this shit's important to you, but I just want to go home, catch Kira, and eat the biggest piece of chocolate I can get my hands on. Do I really need to be here!?” For a moment, Sith didn't answer. Ryou's magic may have been faded, but Sith's disbelief was palpable. She continued to stare at Mello, and Ryou wondered if she was even going to take the man seriously. Finally, she stepped out of her seat, walking toward the deranged hitman, who grinned with hope as she leaned closer. Ryou felt his eye twitch; he was beginning to really wonder how Sith's last-world experience had gone.

 

“You were the idiot who offered to come here,” she reminded him, and Ryou couldn't help but laugh. That was a typical response, and he should've known that was what she'd be doing. Mello looked at her, unbelievably stunned; obviously, he didn't expect that from her. She turned and walked back to her chair, and sighing, Mello sat back down. Ryou glanced at him, and he grinned at the younger man.

 

“Sith hasn't changed a bit,” he mumbled, though Ryou could tell he was relieved to see it, “Not a damn bit at all.”

 

“Was she your friend?” Ryou asked, unable to keep his curiosity down. Mello's grin widened, and Ryou suddenly realized he was going to hate his answer. He silently wished he really had brought his dad's battle tank.

 

“For the sake of living, I'll say yes,” Mello replied, “Besides, it never went far.” Ryou didn't know whether to be relieved or pissed off with that, but Mello's next comment made him sure that whatever happened wasn't Sith's idea, “I suppose I was just too much for the old girl. Not her fault, really. Most women wouldn't handle me.” Ryou's eyes widened as he looked over at Sith, and her face went completely red. Everyone dropped their conversations, as Mello had spoken loudly enough to warrant the attention. Ryou was positive it had been on purpose, but as the man beheld Sith's flustered reaction, his grin reached full width.

 

“MELLO!” she screamed, and he just laughed, “Do not ever…”

 

“Want me to try and kill him?” Ryou asked, cutting her off. She looked at him, knowing there was no way he'd win, but she herself wanted to lop off Mello's head for that one. Ryou knew that if someone didn't do something, that'd be the case. He was starting to see this was probably one of the `geniuses' Katt had suggested, and Sith had desperately wanted to decline.

 

“No. This is my fault. I allowed him to come,” she replied, and Mello's mouth opened to protest, “He isn't what you would call the most polite…”

 

“Hey, wait a minute!” Mello exclaimed, but Sith wasn't about to be interrupted a third time. She turned sharply to him and pointed to his seat.

 

“Mello, sit down now,” she growled angrily. Ryou blinked, watching them. He wasn't entirely comfortable with how this was turning out, but in its own way, it amused him. Mello seemed to refuse being ordered around, and Ryou knew Sith wouldn't take that well; she never took Bakura's stubborn attitude well, either.

 

“Hey, babe, if the shit's going to hit the fan, why not tell him the truth?” Mello asked her, and her eye twitched in outrage. Ryou was sure she'd snap.

 

“I will warn you once more,” she spat, glaring, “Sit down or I will make Kira seem like a sanctuary.”

 

“But…”

 

“MELLO, SIT DOWN!” she screamed, and finally, Mello sat. Ryou hoped the man realized he'd crossed a very sore line, and as Sith stormed back to her seat, both of them saw that she was trembling. Ryou gave her shoulder a pat and made a mental note to ask her more about her past; mainly, her world-hopping. She took a moment to breathe deeply, calming her accelerating heart. Everyone in the room watched in silence, and after the moment passed, she calmly said, “Now, as I was saying, we will wait three hours for Bahamut to arrive and judge me. In the meantime, I suppose a meal is in order. If not because we deserve it, then because it will shut up a certain man joining us today.” She looked directly at Mello as she spoke, and he just grinned sheepishly. She clapped her hands and called, “Lerena, we're ready.” The back door opened, and a young woman came hurrying out, carrying two plates with her. Ryou watched as Pierre, Sith's boss, came next with a tray of food, and then three more waitresses ventured in. Ryou's mouth watered when he smelled the food.

 

“Wow, Sith went all out on this,” Jou commented, as Lerena placed a plate in front of the red-haired boy, the two of them exchanging a brief word before she served Sith herself. Yugi nodded as another waitress handed him a plate.

 

“Well, if she's going to be a queen, she probably has to do things like this a lot,” the smaller boy replied, taking a hearty bite of garlic potatoes, “So, did anyone figure out who all of these people are? I don't recognize them.”

 

“Friends from other worlds,” Gustave replied, looking back toward where Ryou's group stood against the wall, “Most of us are political leaders in our world, but some are just good friends of hers.” Ryou snorted, glancing at Mello. Good friends indeed. The blonde man ate silently for once, and seemed to be avoiding looking up, lest he receive Sith's fury a third time. Ryou didn't know whether to feel it was warranted or pity him. Technically, Mello had a right to bring it up, especially if he forgot she was married. But that didn't seem likely; he was the one who married her off.

 

“Are you going to be all right?” Ryou asked, his voice barely carrying over a whisper. Mello glanced over, smiled weakly, and nodded, poking at a strip of steak. Or what Ryou could only hope was steak.

 

“Yeah. I'm fine,” he replied, a soft snort escaping him, “I just forget how irritable she could be. I didn't think the mention would make her so mortified.” He chuckled as he risked a glance around the table, but Ryou felt no actual amusement in it. He didn't blame Mello much, either. Somberly, the blonde whispered, “I'm sorry I brought it up, Ryou. I just haven't seen her for a while.” Ryou nodded slowly, judging the tone in the man's voice. He seemed pretty sincere, albeit a bit of a wiseass about it. Ryou ate another bite of potato.

 

“Actually, she never told me,” he replied, and Mello blinked, “She lost her memory when she came here. Something happened when she was caught and brought back. I doubt she could remember, if anything.” He heard Mello give another amused snort, and then shook his head. Ryou looked over and saw he was grinning again, crossing his arms.

 

“That'd explain why she never once spoke during the wedding,” he laughed, and leaned back in his chair, “I tried to wish her luck and she looked at me like I was some sort of stalker.” Ryou didn't exactly know what sort of man Mello was, but he definitely looked like someone who you'd want to avoid. The fact that he carried a gun simply confirmed that. Ryou's eyebrow rose, and Mello seemed to guess his thoughts, for he exclaimed, “I know! I know I look like one, okay!?” Ryou couldn't help but laugh. He respected Mello's explosive nature, even though obviously he had been an important part of Sith's life. But right then, Sith was speaking again, and both had decided it was best to listen to her; currently, she was addressing Edward.

 

“And so you feel that one of my armies could help you find the Crystal?” she asked, and Ryou wished he had been listening earlier to understand the problem, “Edward, what you're asking is difficult. Both in this world and in Ryou's. I doubt any army could track it down for you.” Her voice held a level of calm that, while Ryou was used to, she saved for when there was a very real problem. He just hoped it wouldn't involve him, but his friends had all been listening more than he had.

 

“Why would we even be interested in those four Crystals, anyway?” Ishtar asked, placing a hand on his hip, “Look, we've got the Millennium Items to worry about, that stupid hobo has some sort of notebook, that elf has a princess to keep watch of, and everyone else has something to look after. What's so important about the Crystals?” Obviously, the discussion had gone in the direction of crystals for some time for Ishtar to be that rude. Sith's lips went thin as she looked over him carefully. Her ears were lowered in slight fear.

 

“It's not entirely about the crystals. Edward is worried because he doesn't know how his had been taken,” Sith replied gently, “I'm not sure I'm surprised. Oblivion literally shifted when I killed Rath. Any number of magical artifacts could've been sent there merely by accident. It's what happens; my guess is that something changed in their genetic coding to make it impossible for them to exist anymore.”

 

“Did it ever happen before?” Anzu asked her. Sith hummed in slight annoyance, tapping her fingers on the table.

 

“I'm not sure of that either,” she finally replied, and Ryou frowned, “The other Espers would know, but I don't. I've spent a long time away from Nesce, and this is where most magical disputes are discussed.” Ryou guessed now at why so many people had attended. It wasn't only to crown Sith, but it was to make sure Oblivion was properly in order. He could only guess how many were skeptical about Sith. Bakura just grunted in annoyance.

 

“Sure is taking those bastards a long time to get here,” he grumbled, and Sith looked out of the window. Ryou followed her gaze, knowing she was looking for signs of any dragon. There was none, but something else caught both of their attention. The light outside wasn't shining right. Sith looked critically at everyone assembled and snapped her fingers. Immediately, Katt was by her side, and the two rushed toward the window. Even in their dresses, Ryou could barely believe the speed of which both women moved. He stood up as well, and with Mello and Malik, ran over to join them. Darkness was beginning to engulf the sky, something that really shouldn't have happened for hours at that point. But with his dwindling ability, Ryou couldn't sense any other disturbance.

 

“This doesn't feel right,” Katt whispered, and Malik nodded as they both looked off toward the left, Sith keeping her eye on the center of the view outside. Ryou noticed that her knuckles gripped the sill to the point of nearly cracking the gold. He bit his lip.

 

“Dear, what is it?” he asked her, “Something from Rath again?”

 

“Please tell me you got that bitch this time,” Mello growled. But Sith answered neither of them. Ryou didn't need her to. The expression on her face told him something was very, very wrong. As if to prove it, the next moment, Lerena came bursting out of the kitchen, nearly slamming into Sith as the red-haired man Mello had been speaking to tried to stop her fast approach. She was pale, her body trembling.

 

“Sith, one of the elder Espers is dying!” she cried, “We just received word from Aeroglyph! You need to go there!”

 

“What!?” Sith exclaimed, glaring at her, at first unable to believe that this was what was causing a disturbance. Espers have died before, and none of them had ever caused a collapse in the world, from what she remembered. Not one… but then a new worry gripped her. If what she feared was right, it would explain Bahamut's severe delay. The room went quiet as she cleared her throat, and voice shaking, she asked, “…who is it?” Lerena gave the one answer neither Sith nor Ryou wanted to hear, because it caused one more problem in their lives. A huge one.

 

“Bahamut.”

 

-----------------------------(End Chapter)

 

And so, even though Ryou and his friends arrived at Nesce to participate in the Esper council, it's obviously not planned to go well. With crossovers abound to help them with getting Sith on the throne and stabilizing everything within all of their worlds, it looked like everything would be right for once. But only one blow could cause everything to be put on hold, and unfortunately, it just happened. What happened to the God of all Espers, and why is he dying? What will Sith do to prevent this from wreaking terror on her kingdom? And can Ryou, his friends, and everyone else involved help her just one last time? Find out next chapter, so click that Review button!