Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Stranger of the Duel ❯ Openings and Closings ( Chapter 20 )

Disclaimer: GUESS WHAT! {no Lili, it's not chicken butt} I don't own Yugioh!

Note: If you love Cali as much as I do {and I doubt you do} check out her online diary on sitDiaries: http://diaries.suchisthis.com/cscizoran/?list_entries=1 . The site is actually down at the moment, so you can just wait. There's an original drawing of her in her User Info. Thank you Cerridwen aka Raven for being Cali's faithful friend!

Another note: Annualex is pronounced ANNE (like the girl's name) YOU (Yeah, you!) ALEX (like the name).

Openings and Closings

Oten and company were still at Bakura's house, thinking they had Bakura and Cali under siege. They had surrounded the house quickly, after dealing with the "other" whose leg had broken under the fireballed tree.

Snarling directions in harsh whispers, Oten gave the orders to move in. He didn't hear any sounds coming from the house. They don't want to give away their position. He kicked open the front door and ran up the stairs, club at the ready.

***

Talon was growing impatient. He was sitting on his humongous throne in the dark underground lair, lit only by a single torch nearest to him.

Oten and the followers have not returned yet. They were due back quickly. Surely their size makes up for Bakura's skill?

He rose, frustrated with the incompetence of his workers, and began to pace up and down the darkened room.

***

"Can we do this protection spell now, or will we just wait a few more centuries?" Cali too was impatient. Bakura, Ryou, and Calliope looked at her as if she were jumping up and down with these words. Is it my fault if I want to be safe?

"All right, all right, but you must have patience," Calliope said soothingly.

"Yeah, because this spell takes a month," Bakura blurted, without consulting Calliope first.

"What? I don't think we have that long. Is there anything we can do right NOW?"

***

"Big brother?" Mokuba's voice echoed in the grand foyer of the empty mansion. Kaiba was gone.

***

Oten burst Bakura's door open, swinging his club wildly around the room. It was empty. He yelled and growled for one of the others to come. "Search the house. They must be here somewhere. Have a few guard all exits. Do not let them escape, or Talon will have your head for the next Annualex!"

The robed follower rushed away from Oten, in fear of him and in fear of the threat of the Annualex. Each year, Talon would lead the others in leaving their worshiped demonic gods a human tribute, and anyone could be chosen.

***

Kaiba was on the grounds, wandering aimlessly through the gardens. Presently he found himself at a looming black gate in the back, and chided himself for forgetting it existed. He pulled a master key out of a pocket and opened the rusted gate with some difficulty. It creaked open eerily, but Seto didn't mind it. He hardly noticed it at all. His thoughts were on other subjects.

I knew I never should've gotten involved with her. It doesn't matter now anyway. She's gone.

It was of some value to Kaiba, though, that the relationship had been ended on his own terms. Now, after hours of deep brooding, the breakup was rather like the termination of a business contract. Kaiba had broken it off and he left with more, or so he thought.

I wonder if she's as hurt as I was. Then again, she didn't look too sad kissing Bakura. What if she said was true, though? What if it wasn't what it seemed? What if this is all my fault? I'd have hurt her as well… What if it's not what I think it was?

No, it was. What else could it be?

Her magic is another thing altogether. Magic… It's too silly to be believed. Does she take me for a fool? Apparently so.

He was on a little-worn deer trail, walking through a sheltered wood. He was moving automatically, picking his way through the brambles and branches without realizing they were there. He kept walking, and walking, and suddenly- it opened. The forest ended and a black road appeared. The next thing he saw made up his decision on everything.

His own Kaiba Corporation office building.

***

Calliope thought. Prostatevo… Protect…What can I do to help her? Me? She is me…

"There is no faster way," she said finally.

"Well then I suggest that we leave immediately. It won't be long until Oten arrives here." Cali didn't want to take any chances. Perhaps Oten and the others were as dumb as assumed, perhaps they weren't.

"I agree," Ryou said.

Bakura nodded.

"Calliope, I'd like to have a private word with you if you wouldn't mind."

They went off into the kitchen to have a private discussion, leaving the rough tomb thief and polite student alone together.

Their current bodily arrangement was awkward, and Cali intended to do something about it.

"Calliope, for what we are about to do, I think it would be easier if we're more… compressed."

Calliope nodded knowingly.

"But of course. There is only one thing I would like to do first. I would like to let you remember your past; my past, for they are the same. You are me, slightly more than I am you. It had been preordained that I should be reborn and here I am, in you. I will let you live your life, but there are certain times you will need me and my own experience rather than just the knowledge."

Cali smiled in acceptance. Calliope touched her shoulder and whispered, "Thyoumai."

***