Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Virus ❯ Chapter 21

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh and no money is made from this.

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Virus - Part 21

Yami was sweating in the chill night air. He was closing in on Bakura, but he was also closing in on the evil place, the Forbidden Keep. He had to get to Bakura before the other yami attacked the castle. It was Yugi's only chance at freedom.

He had accustomed his sight to the darkness and so had no trouble distinguishing Bakura's white hair shining like a beacon in the moonlight. He was hunkered down behind a mound of earth supporting a broken wall. Yami landed Curse and replaced him in the deck. He crept quietly towards the other yami and took his place beside Bakura. They did not look one another in the eye; they both stared at the Keep.

"Let me guess. Pegasus sent you on a wild camel chase."

"Yes, but he left a message for me to find. The message concerns Kaiba," Yami paused for a moment, "and you."

Bakura looked surprised. "Me? Pegasus and I met only briefly, although to him it must have seemed an eternity." Bakura couldn't help but chuckle at the memory of ripping the Millennium Eye from its bearer. The man had scream so deliciously.

"So? What is the message?"

Yami was a little disconcerted. Bakura was acting in a very calm and rational manner. In other words, something was wrong. Rather than answer Bakura's question, he asked one of his own. "Do you recall this place?"

Bakura stiffened a bit beside him, then turned and sat with his back to the Keep. He stared at Yami then dropped his head back against the cool stones and closed his eyes. He allowed his memories to surface. He told Yami about the first attempt at the ritual and why it was not completed.

"I don't know what that creature was, but it's still here, and it's still a threat. Not only to your light, but to us all." Bakura opened his eyes and gazed intently at Yami as he asked, "Did you know it was here? Did you know and fail to warn me? DID YOU KNOW?!?"

Yami shushed Bakura, but could not meet his gaze. "You did know. And still you said nothing." Bakura snorted and turned away. "What would your precious little aibou think of you now? Your cowardly actions have cost him everything. Even if we can rescue him, he'll never love you now."

Yami's red-eyed stare, shimmering with unshed tears, bore through Bakura's back. "Will you still help me?"

Bakura gave a brief nod. "For your aibou, because as irritating as he is he does not deserve such defilement. For Ryou for the same reason. But mostly for myself. When I was released from the altar the accursed chikan kept me as his personal bed-toy for nearly a month. I managed to kill some of the guards and escape. I intend to wreak such vengeance as has never been seen before."

Yami could only nod and accept Bakura's words. A fierce glower was etched on the other yami's face. It was accompanied by eyes filled with intense hatred, and not a little fear. Yami was afraid of what Bakura would do when he read the message from Pegasus. Yami brought out the scroll and handed it to Bakura. Bakura unfurled the parchment and began to read.

Yami was prepared and swiftly placed his hands over Bakura's mouth, stifling the shout of, "NO F*CKING WAY!"

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Seto hurt. He hurt all over. His back hurt, his stomach, arms, and legs hurt. Even his eyelashes hurt. Basically, he felt like shit. He moaned and tried to move, but he found that his arms and legs were restrained. A strap had also been placed around his chest and neck to ensure he remained still. A splash of water in his face made him sputter, and he opened his eyes.

Pegasus. Would that man never leave him in peace? He'd sure like to leave the smug bastard in pieces. Seto's brain slowly came back on line. He remembered what he had tried to do in the cell. Oh God! What day was it? Was he too late? Seto lurched against the ropes.

"Oh, please. Give it up, Kaiba-boy. You'll never escape. By the way, your puny attempt at stopping the Dark Soul Ritual was a complete and utter failure. Little Yugi is sleeping snugly in MY bed as we speak. In a little over twenty hours, the ritual will begin."

Seto relaxed in the chair. He wasn't too late, then. There was still a chance he could save Yugi. But how?

"I imagine you're trying to figure out a way to save Yugi-boy," Pegasus trilled. He saw the look on Seto's face and said, "Don't worry. Without my Millennium Eye I cannot read your mind. It's just that you are so pathetically predictable."

Pegasus took the chair next to Seto again. "As I was saying, in a little over twenty hours the ritual will begin. Yugi will die in the most horrific manner possible. Unless…"

Seto jumped at the bait. "Unless? Unless what?"

Pegasus smiled. "The only reason I'm going along with this whole ritual thing is to escape from the Shadow Realm. If I had my Millennium Eye, well, I wouldn't need to sacrifice anyone, now would I Kaiba-boy?"

Seto was stunned. This could actually happen. Yami Bakura had the Millennium Eye with him, right here in the Shadow Realm. He only had to convince him to give it to Pegasus, and they would all be free. Yugi would be safe.

"You've got it. Untie me, and I'll find Bakura. Then I'll give you the Eye once Yugi is free."

"Now that does sound pleasant for everyone. However.."

"I knew there would have to be a catch, " Seto grumbled. How stupid could he be? Of course Pegasus wouldn't do things the easy way.

"Once I am out of the Shadow Realm, what then? I'm certain Industrial Illusions has been sold, and my own personal fortune has been frittered away. I will have nothing."

Seto looked at him incredulously. "You want money? All this just for money?"

"Not just money, Seto Kaiba," Pegasus drawled. "Your money. I know I can't control Kaiba Corp without you or little Mokuba as a figurehead. But I can gain control of your money. I want it all. The cash, the stocks, the bonds, everything."

"How am I supposed to do that? I'm stuck here without one of the yamis to return me to the real world. And if they did, I can't get that stuff together in the time Yugi has left. It's impossible!"

"You may be right. I suppose I'll have to settle for a little less cash, but I still want the stocks. You and Mokuba control ninety percent of Kaiba Corp stock. You will sell me forty-four percent of those stocks for the total sum of one dollar. Then I will have a steady income, and you and your little brother will still have controlling interest in the company" Pegasus reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled bill.

"Once I have the Millennium Eye, all the current cash balances from your accounts, and after I convert all the stock certificates to cold hard cash, I will release Yugi. Do we have a deal?"

"Deal," Seto answered gritting his teeth. He would do anything for Yugi. And it's not like Pegasus was sending him and Mokuba to the poor house or anything. The dueling disks were about to be released. They would bring in billions. It would be a little tough to explain to the financial oversight committee, but he could handle it. And he wouldn't just give up without a fight, either. Somehow, someway, he would get even with Pegasus. The only thing that mattered right now was getting Yugi out of here before sunset. "Now turn me loose so I can get to work. We don't have much time."

"Sorry, Kaiba-boy, but you're not going anywhere."

"What?! Then how do you expect to get your hands on my money?"

Pegasus' wicked smile unnerved the brunette.

Outside the dining hall, the guards could clearly hear the shout of "NO F*CKING WAY!"

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Yami removed his hand from Bakura's mouth. Bakura hissed, "No f*cking way, Pharaoh! I am not giving that baka my Millennium Eye." His wicked brown eyes narrowed accusingly, "You wanted this all along, didn't you? You couldn't stand the thought of me having two millennium items, of me having more power than the all-mighty Pharaoh! How did you do it? How did you maneuver us all so masterfully? At home, you had Kaiba's pet dog ask me for the Eye. When that didn't work you had to come up with a new plan. No! Find another way!"

"There is no other way, tomb robber. Pegasus' message is quite clear. He wants the Millennium Eye in order to escape the Shadow Realm. If we don't give it to him, he will give Yugi to the Other and escape anyway.

"I cannot force you to give him the Eye, Bakura, but you must consider the consequences of allowing the Other into the mortal realm. Yugi will suffer the fate you so narrowly escaped millennia ago; Pegasus will seek vengeance against you by hunting down Ryou with the Other's assistance. You know that to be true. When your hikari is dead, Pegasus will take back the Eye, and he will have the Ring as well. Is one millennium item truly worth that?" Yami could see his argument was slowly winning over the angry white-haired yami.

He had one more ace up his sleeve. "Besides, don't let it go to your head or anything, but aren't you the greatest thief Egypt has ever produced? If you give Pegasus the Millennium Eye, you can just steal it back again. Right?"

Bakura barked with laughter. "I am the greatest of thieves. You're right, Pharaoh." He grabbed Yami by the neck buckle and dragged their faces within centimeters. "Tell no one I said you were right." He released Yami, then pulled him close again. "Don't let it go to your head or anything."

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