Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Young God ❯ Epilogue B ( Chapter 24 )

Epilogue B

The crowd stood in awe as the god, followed by six others, stepped upon the alter. All of them were fair and tall, graceful and divine. However, it was one of them that caught their eye.

" Isn't that Seto Kaiba?"
" Wasn't he missing the past few days?"
" He looks different."
" He looks so hot!"
" That can't be Seto Kaiba!"

But he was. The leader of the immortal group was indeed, Seto Kaiba, no longer acting as the bitter enemy of all who live on earth. There ewas a proud smile on his face, not one of those triumphant smirks, but a simple smile that held pride, and in his clear blue eyes laughter sparkled like the sun. He carried a healthful glow to him, and all those who stood beside him were humbled.

And so he stood,
Proud child of gods,
Eyes as fair as the sea,
Skin as white as snow.
His eyes searched for many,
Overlooking the rest,
As the god stood among mortals,
A myth come to life.

Never was there more splendor in the way the gods entered. The crowd keep speaking of it forever after, for the light from the sun shone down upon a tall flat stone, its light concentrated on that ground only, and the spectres appeared, divine and beautiful. They looked out among the crowd, ignoring the shouts and the cries of awe, looking for one group only.

Pegasus had come to Domino with his wife, Cecilia, for a short visit. Perhaps the man knew that Seto was coming. Perhaps he did not. In any case, Yugi, who was currently taking care of the broken hearted Mokuba, as well as everyone else; Malik, Isis, and Shadi, who came at Pegasus's command, Yugi, Yami, Ryou, Bakura, who had came with Jou, Honda, Anzu and Mai, into the park to discuss a few things, as Pegasus had put it. When they reached the park, a huge crowd had gathered, and although Yugi couldn't tell what it was, he was sure it was something big.

Never before had any god graced the mortals openly with their presence, and although Yugi and the others didn't see him, Seto saw them.

" Yugi!" He called. " Jou! Anzu! Mai! Pegasus! Cecilia! Honda! Malik! Ryou! Shadi! Ototo-san!"

At the call of their names they immediately recognized the voice. Seto saw that they were at the far back and he grandly quieted everyone down. Then he signaled for them to move aside and they did, not knowing what will happen next.

Yugi and company waited a moment, unsure themselves, until Seto smiled and beckoned to them. Surprised that Seto had returned so soon, Yugi ran up and they all greeted each other warmly with hugs and slaps on the back.

" Hey, how are you doin bud?" Jou laughed.

Seto nodded kindly, but it seemed that he was suddenly too perfect for them. All the greetings soon finished and Seto sighed, preparing his last speech.

" Yami for all the wrongs you've done, despair not." He began. " For you have now been cleansed. Do not worry over the crimes of the past. They have been erased from your soul. You will not suffer corruption of the Millennium Items from now on. Protect Yugi well, you are destined to have a great future.

Banat, take care of Ryou, who is too delicate to survive in this world without you. Malik, Isis, live well, I offer you my blessings. You will all live long and happily to the end of your days.

Jounouchi, I give you a gift of learning. In the future you shall have much knowledge and never despair of misfortune. Your sister will be as successful as you and you two will never part again once you built your lives. You will be happily married to Mai and the two of you will have children and grandchildren, and your bloodline will never cease in its glory. Honda, I give you the gift of reason. In the future you will also be as successful as Jou and like brothers will look out for one another. You will marry Jounouchi's sister and in this way the families will be tied.

To all the spirits that were doomed, I release you from that doom. When your hikaris die, you will be released from confinement and will journey to Egypt where the portal will await. You will join the table of the immortals and will never be troubled about reincarnation. You will be honored by all the gods.

Pegasus and Cecilia, I give you my blessings. To the end of your days your love shall never fail you." Seto laid his hand on their heads, his eyes closed and smiling. " And neither will need to live alone. You will both die together, and journey with the spirits and their friends to the immortal realm and will taste the wine of gods.

To Domino City, I give you this!" And Seto knelt down. From his skillful, delicate hands, a silver tree blossomed with golden leaves. It grew as if time was chasing it, as if twenty years have passed every second, until it was big enough for all to see.

" This is the Tree of Heaven." Seto called, " And with it, Domino will be blessed with good fortune, and will never trouble in times of war. Let it be known that this city is the favorite and the home of the God Seto Kaiba!"

The streets glowed, the slums glowed, and in place of abandoned buildings, there were gardens, and the dirt and mud were cleansed. The crowd cried in awe and gasped in wonder at the blessed city, now different, yet the same. Could this really be the same city?

Finishing, Seto Kaiba, Child of Immortals, smiled and looked down to the last onlooker, the one dearest to him, but never forgotten.

" Mokuba." He called. " Ototo-chan. Why aren't you going to give me a hug? Aren't you excited about living in the Immortal Realm?"

Mokuba gasped and immediately his eyes brightened.

" Really Oni-chan? You're going to take me home with you?!" Mokuba's eyes flood with tears of happiness.

Seto chided him gently. " You really thought that I would leave you here all alone? I made a promise to you years ago! You'll never want for anything. I'll always be here for you. And wherever I go, you'll come with me, or else I'm not going. So I'm going back home and you're coming with me. Give your oni-san a hug."

Mokuba did, so happy he was, and he leaped into Seto's arms in a cry of joy.

And such were they,
Brothers in soul though not in blood,
The god grasped the mortal's tiny hand,
Kissed the child's forehead,
Smiling, they looked up, now ready to depart,
Their purpose here done.

A divine light shot through the sky and onto the seven immortals. Seto Kaiba smiled reassuringly at everyone he had grown to trust, and the immortals glowed with magnificent light. The crowd gasped as they disappeared, mingling into the light, and the light withdrew, Mokuba and Seto gone, the Kaiba brothers together for all eternity.

Yugi looked at Yami and smiled.

" Did that make you feel better?" He asked. " You don't have to worry anymore. You're purified."

Yami smiled. " I'm looking forward to our future, Yugi."
" So am I." Yugi smiled. And the group looked on with the crowd, even though they knew Seto was gone forever.

And with a touch of his fair hand,
The young god departed,
Never to return to the world of suffering,
But retreating to the world where all is kind.