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Winding Road	By : lostintheheartland Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 5138 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh or make any profit from this story.

Chapter List
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Title: Winding Road

Author: Maggiemay

Beta: Fluffiest (I think. I really don’t remember if it was even beta’d)

Muse: Fluffiest

Rating: Mature

Pairings: Jou/Mai, Seto/Jou, Yami/Hikari, Honda/Otogi, Honda/Anzu, Otogi/OC, Also some Y/YY/Anzu

Warnings: Yaoi, Het, and YES even M/M/F. Deal with it. It’s well written and completely plausible. Character death but not our bishies. Minor gore.

Summary: Ten years past Graduation and Jou finds out that some things just don’t change.

***

“Nothing really changes.” Jounouchi Katsuya mumbled sourly as he stared at the silvery limo pulling up to the curb. Sure the model of the limo was modern but the Kaiba license plate and distinctive KC hood ornament were the same. No mistaking it. The rich prick had deigned to grace their ten year alumni reunion with his presence. Of course the perfect asshole had brought along his perfect wife. Kisara, model turned movie star, billed as feminine perfection around the world was exactly what Kaiba would – had – chosen. No real surprise, just as it hadn’t surprised anyone when he, Jounouchi, had ridden off into the sunset with a pregnant Mai weeks before he graduated.

Taking a drag of his cigarette he blew out a puff of smoke and watched the driver open the passenger door of the limo. A familiar figure alighted and stood tall, smoothing over a suit that even across the street, Jou could tell was a designer label. The watching blond snorted to himself, okay so the prick had developed better taste in clothes. Probably the influence of his wife. Even as he thought of her the woman stood beside Kaiba. Tall, as tall as Kaiba, with silvery blond hair flowing to her waist, alabaster white skin and eyes that shone electric blue even in the limited lights of the area. She was beautiful and flawless, exactly as Jounouchi had expected.

Undetected he watched the couple glide into the hotel. Taking another drag of his cigarette, feeling the smoke burn deep in his lungs, he debated turning around and disappearing, just as he and Mai had done that long ago day. That would be cowardice and he wasn’t afraid of anything. Straightening his shoulders, gripping his cane tightly, he smoothed his own expensive tuxedo and, after checking for traffic, left the shadows, moving toward the light. He wasn’t a coward and he had nothing to fear from old friends and memories. He’d come home to pick up the pieces. This would tell him how shattered they were.

Yugi was the first to see him. Of course that was the way it worked with Yugi. Slapping a practiced smile on his face Jounouchi turned towards the joyful shriek of his name.

“Yug!” The forced smile turned to a genuine look of shock. His diminutive friend had sprouted up in the last ten years. He now stood just an inch or two shorter than Jou’s own six foot frame. “Man, you’ve gotten tall. Last I remember you were barely five foot two.”

Yugi was chuckling “When I was nineteen I went through a growth spurt like never before. Ten inches in twelve months.”

A smooth voice interrupted even as a raven haired man Jou didn’t recognize stepped behind his old friend, wrapping his arm around Yugi’s waist. “Ten inches? Are you bragging about me Aibou?”

Rather than blushing and stammering as Jou expected his friend to do, Yugi sent the other man a smile that looked flirtatious. “No I wouldn’t have. I’m a jealous man.”

“So you are.” The stranger agreed before fixing a dark crimson gaze on Jou. There was something very familiar about that look. Before he could place it the man was speaking again. “Although I very much doubt Jounouchi is a threat. He’s got a wife and child and has never shown more than a passing indication of swinging in our direction.”

“True. Hey Jou, where’s Mai? I’d love to see her again.” Yugi beamed.

“Uh, she ain’t here. Hey Yug, not ta be rude but who is this guy?” Jou was glad he had a ready change of subject. He did not want to discuss Mai or Vic with anyone.

For a moment Yugi was nonplussed, then a wide grin split his face. “You don’t know? You don’t recognize him?”

“Should I?” Jou perused the man, focusing on the very familiar eyes.

“Yes, you should.” Yugi laughed. “He’s... Mou Hitori No Boku. The other me. He... he came back about six years ago. He and the others returned to us. They are Guardians of the Soul of Air. It seems that there are fluctuations in power that must be dealt with. They are the only ones who can contain them so they came back.” Love and unconditional acceptance beamed up at the other. “They were given bodies of people who wanted to end their lives. It was an exchange. The donors wanted to leave and the spirits wanted to stay.”

Jou couldn’t stop his alarm. “Others? Like... Bakura’s Other? Malik’s?”

Four men, two of which he recognized as Bakura Ryou and Ishtar Malik, stepped into their group as if on cue. Warily he assessed the two men next to his old friends. “So if he’s Pharaoh Atemu that would make you guys ‘other Malik’ and uhmmm whatever the thief’s name was?”

The tallest man, with long golden hair and dark lavender eyes nodded. “I go by the name Marik here. It’s been a long time.” He smiled and ignored Jou’s muttered ‘not long enough’ to nod at the white-blond man next to him. The hair color was obviously hairdresser magic because the brows and lashes did not match, but nothing could hide the bloody-chocolate gaze of the lethal thief. “He chose to take Ryou’s last name as his first and only. Bakura.”

“Yeah, uh right. I’d like ta say good to see ya but...” he shook his head slightly. “I kinda hoped never to again.” He glanced at the one-time Pharoah “No offense.”

There was a moment of suspended silence then everyone in the group chuckled. Ryou explained softly. “They are bound by the Gods. They cannot fight among themselves or harm anyone but beings upsetting the balance. If they do they will be yanked back to the afterlife and they will be subject to tortures we can’t imagine.” He gripped Bakura’s hand. “They want to stay and we want them to stay.”

He blinked and squinted at the clasped hands. That wasn’t a reassuring friend clasp. They were holding hands like... all the clues fell together like cherries in a slot. He drew in his breath sharply and glanced at the six men. With new eyes he assessed what he saw. “Oh... OH!” He exhaled choppily. “Things have changed.”

“Yeah.” Yugi agreed quietly. “So, you too huh? Where’s Mai? Didn’t she come? And how’s your little boy? Victor right? He’s nine?”

“Almost ten. Mai is with her husband. Vic’s with her.” Jou shrugged as if it didn’t matter. Shattered agony flickered briefly in his golden eyes before shutters came down, hiding his expression.

“Husb...” Ryou blinked in shock. “You’re divorced? But you guys were together and happy last year. You sent us pictures of your second honeymoon.”

The memory of that time was enough to make Jou’s gut twist. “Yeah well, that’s changed too.” Bitter humor made his throat burn. “Or maybe it stayed the same.” He shrugged and pasted on a nonchalant smile.

Yugi stared at his old friend in surprise. There was so much pain and bitterness in his eyes for a second. Of course the pain was expected, everyone knew from the newspapers what had caused Jou’s injuries, but the bitterness was unexpected. “Jou...” He started only to stop at Atemu’s warning glance. There was something off here and his partner didn’t want him involved. “I....” He bit his lip and sought a topic that would bring the mood up. “You look great! We saw the papers and were so worried. Did you get our letters? We tried to call but nobody had your number.”

“Yeah, I got them. They kept me goin’ when things got tough. I... I shoulda wrote but... I needed...” Time alone, time to heal, time to cope with the destruction of my career and life. Of course he couldn’t say that but it’s what he meant. So instead he gave a strained smile. “The accident was a shock but not as bad as was first reported. They said I’ll be paralyzed. Not true. I’ll never race again but I’m up and walking so I guess it’s okay. Most people who hit the wall at two hundred miles an hour don’t live, much less walk away practically normal.”

Ryou frowned slightly “So you’re out of the racing circuit? They haven’t officially announced that.”

“They are still running my commercials on television. They will wait until after they have run their time before announcing. It’s a sponsor thing.”

“What are you going to do now?” Malik asked softly, hesitantly.

“Thanks to my lawyer and investment counselor I am set for life. I ain’t as rich as Kaiba but I don’t ever have ta work again if I don’t want ta. I ain’t retirin’ at twenty-eight, but I’m gonna take some time an’ figure out what I’m gonna do.”

“How’s Shizuka?” Atemu asked casually. He could see the topic of his future upset his estranged friend.

“She’s...” Another thorny subject. How could he possibly explain the complex relationship left after his mother’s death and his sister blaming him for it. “She’s fine.” He said quietly. He needed to get out of there, needed to get away from their probing, caring questions. Too many years had passed, too many changes for him to be easy about opening up to them. “Hey food.” He forced a wide grin. “I’m hungry. Lets go!”

A flash of gold caught Seto’s eye as he politely chatted to his old school principal. He identified it immediately. Jounouchi Katsuya, class clown and inveterate goof off. He was hovering at the buffet, which figured, Seto supposed. The blond had always been eating in high school. Some things didn’t change. A sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach reminded him that the other man’s presence had always been vexing and was going to be this time too. Some things never changed but this time the cause would be the woman by his side.

Kisara, media hound and glitterati hanger-on that she was, was fascinated by the American racing society. It was hot, popular and chic to be seen within that circle. Of course the woman had to be there. When she’d discovered his high school connection with Jounouchi she’d demanded they ‘visit’ his old school mate. He’d put her off for years with excuses of work and trips. He had no desire to associate with the mutt. They had nothing in common and even less to talk about. He could care less that the idiot had won Rookie of the Year in NASCAR, then gone on to win the Winston Cup two times. In his opinion Jounouchi had betrayed his roots, leaving Duel Monsters completely behind. And his disgust at the blond’s impregnating and subsequent marriage to the bimbo Kajuki Mai only cemented his decision not to seek out his old wannabe-rival. If there were other reasons he chose to ignore them.

Discreetly he checked around. He didn’t want to see Jounouchi Mai. The woman actually had the nerve to call him months ago asking him to lift the ban on her competing professionally. He’d taken great pleasure in informing her that her ban was lifetime for cheating with perfumed cards and there was no way in hell he’d ever lift it. Of course after she’d hung up in tears he’d realized... Jounouchi had been in a major on-track accident and had been lucky to survive. The reports said that the blond would never walk again. Without the money from endorsements or races, that call had probably been a final desperate hope for income. Medical bills were crippling and he doubted Jounouchi or Mai had saved enough from their previous income to cover it. That and, there was a son, nine years old. Guilt ate at him for days before he’d anonymously sent Jounouchi a get well gift. A duplicate of his old deck plus a selection of the newest cards and a gift certificate for more. The mutt may not be able to walk but he damn well could earn his living with that. At one time he’d been the number three duelist on the planet. He might be rusty but he would soon make his way up.

Now seeing the blond he was both annoyed and a tiny bit relieved. The injuries must not have been as severe as reported. He seemed to be all right, even happy. Furtively he glanced around again. No Mai. He was vaguely puzzled because it wasn’t like the woman to miss out on the opportunity to party, even a party as lame as this one.

“Seto!” Kisara hissed as the principal and his wife moved away.

“What?” He asked with barely concealed irritation.

“That’s Jounouchi Katsuya, the NASCAR driver. Let’s go talk to him.” She demanded. She didn’t wait for his response, but tugged sharply at his arm to pull him along. Discreetly removing his arm he fell in step beside her. “Careful, your social climbing claws are showing.” He warned obliquely.

“Fuck you.” She murmured as she smiled sweetly up at him.

“No thanks. I don’t fuck viper-whores.”

“You used to.” She reminded him coldly, through lips smiling tenderly.

“Not in two years. I can’t get past the scales and I don’t want any of your diseases.”

“Two years of nothing because your pride can’t get past a little peccadillo. You sure as hell have fucked around.”

“Not once. And according to the contract... well you know.” He countered smoothly. “And you cheated, that’s more than a peccadillo. I only wish I’d had a camera.”

“Bastard.”

“Whore.” He whispered softly, enjoying the torture of the woman who’d betrayed him and his rare trust.

Kisara stamped down hard on her rage and smiled prettily as they stepped into Jounouchi Katsuya’s circle. It was all old news. She married Seto because he was the richest, best looking, catch in her sea. He’d been smart, sophisticated, cynical and of course rich. The prenup had been expected and she hardly glanced at it. She hadn’t expected there to be a fidelity clause or anything like that. It was so unsophisticated and bourgeoisie that it never occurred to her. Seto played the game and knew the score. Fucking was fucking. A tool, a weapon, and just for kicks. It was nothing to get hot about, or so she’d thought. Six weeks after their honeymoon, just over two years ago, Seto had come to the set as a surprise and caught her having a nooner with her personal trainer. He’d watched them for a few seconds then drawled in his best icily controlled voice “Well, now I know why you have trouble coming. You prefer women.”

She wanted to kick herself for what she’d done next. Instead of jumping up, all contrite and begging, which at that point might have served her well, she lifted her head and smiled at him, purring an invitation to join them. She could still see the look of disgust he’d given her before he’d turned and stalked out. When she’d arrived back at the Kaiba Manor he and his lawyer were waiting for her. They’d spelled it out in very clear terms.

She’d violated the terms of the prenuptial contract and the marriage would end immediately. She’d called her lawyer over and they’d had a long, hard session. The wording in the contract was explicit, infidelity was defined as sexual contact with a person of the opposite sex while married to each other. It was a loophole and likely would not hold up if the issue went to court, but Kisara had played a trump card. Did Seto want the bad publicity? Sales at KC were up since their marriage and board was showing new confidence in him. Her career was skyrocketing and she could make things very hot for him if she went public about how he had wronged her, not satisfying her in bed and throwing her out for seeking a little relief.

Seto had caved reluctantly, raging viciously and on the stipulation that a new contract be signed, one that prohibited infidelity with anyone or anything of any gender – and that if it be proven – the injured party will end the marriage quickly and quietly. Breach of confidentiality on the matter would result in a multi-million dollar damages settlement.

Kisara had agreed, thinking that she could charm Seto back into his right frame of mind. It probably had been a blow that he’d had trouble pleasuring her, and to find her with another woman had wounded him deeper. She surmised that it had probably crushed his ego. The lack of ability to please her did baffle her though. Seto was wonderfully endowed, had a huge sex drive and should have had no trouble, but Kisara needed her partner to be focused on her, and most of the time it was as if Seto operated on autopilot, not really involved in what was going on. When she’d brought that up in her defense he’d laughed in her face, telling her he’d never be her obedient mutt.

Since then they’d lived separate lives, only together in public. He’d thrown her from his bedroom twice, insulting her and laughing at her pathetic attempts at reconciliation. To the best of her knowledge he’d never so much as touched another woman. Of course she still had her peccadilloes, but they were very, very, discreet and handled in a way that not even Seto would suspect. Sometimes Seto’s ‘God’ complex worked against him.

Putting that out of her mind she smiled sweetly at the circle of men around her then focused on the blond who was eyeing her husband with distinct dislike. Interest flared, quickly hidden. So Jounouchi didn’t like Seto. Perhaps there was an opportunity here. She’d have to test the waters a little.

“Kaiba.” Jou greeted, falling back on old habits.

“Jounouchi.” Seto gave him a cool look. “This is Kisara. She wanted to meet you.” He didn’t bother to introduce the others because Kisara already knew them. They were employees of KC and members of a highly select group of friends.

The golden brown eyes flicked to her, lingering slightly. “Really? Why? Nice to meet you Kisara.” He smiled politely.

“I’ve been to your races three times. I’m a huge fan.” She kept it simple, no point in coming on like a brainless groupie. She was a star in her own right. There was no need for her to gush.

“Thanks.” Jou shrugged it off, but his smile widened slightly and color touched his cheeks. “I’ve seen one of your movies. Silent Rose. It was a great movie.”

That made Kisara smile too. Silent Rose was her best movie to date. She’d gotten rave reviews for it. Unfortunately the next three had been flops, but she had hopes for the one coming out in a month. “Thank you so much.” Assuming a modest air she confided “It’s my favorite so far.”

“Yeah I can see why.” Bakura broke in. “The others stunk.”

There were several indrawn gasps before Kisara laughed and slapped his shoulder in a friendly, chiding gesture. Only Kaiba felt the claws of her other hand dig into his arm. “That is not nice. The next one will be much better. I was letting my old manager choose my scripts. This time I picked it myself. I chose the best script out there.”

“Oh really?” Bakura looked vaguely bored. “What this time? Another rehash of a decent movie?” This time Ryou and Kisara slapped his arm.

“No. And stop being mean. Ever heard of respecting the boss’s wife?” She pouted at the other man. “It’s due to come out in a few weeks. It’s called Empty.” She gave them a sly grin. “Want to hear what it’s about?”

“Uh, sure Kisara.” Yugi nodded politely. Seto shook his head and stepped back. “I lived with it for months. You go ahead. I’m going to speak to a few people.” With a quick nod he left them to Kisara’s ego and tried to get swallowed by the crowd.

Jou listened politely to the starlet then, when she excused herself to the powder room, nodded to his friends and announced. “Guys my leg is killin’ me. I need ta get out of here.”

“Oh!” Ryou and Yugi gave him concerned looks. Malik pointed to a table. “Let’s sit down.”

Jou shook his head regretfully. “Sorry guys I just... my leg hurts and I’ve spoken to everyone I wanted to see. Besides, I’m moving back in a week so we’ll hang out more. But I’m gonna go now.” Moving faster than anyone thought he could Jou hobbled to the exit. He didn’t really want to go outside but he didn’t want any of the others to see him go to the bank of guest elevator’s either. If Yugi or one of his friends knew he was staying at the hotel they’d want to come up and talk. He just couldn’t face that right now. He was still too tired from the plane trip and too raw emotionally to face the questions he knew they’d ask. With a shrug he resigned himself to going around to the back of the building and entering through the ‘celebrity’ door, an entrance shielded from paparazzi by security.

With a groan he stopped at the door when he saw the reporters had arrived. He didn’t want to make nice for the press. All he wanted to do was sit quietly and nurse a glass of Southern Comfort, the only alcohol he could tolerate. Turning away from the door he skulked to the back of the large lobby and slipped through the server’s doors. A tall, elegant form to his right made him spin away and slide into the nearest room. He didn’t want to deal with Kaiba’s wife. She was obviously a glitterati hanger on. He’d moved past the stage where that type of friendship appealed.

He found himself in a huge pantry. Dry goods and food neatly lined two floor to ceiling shelves. A door in the rear led to another area, lit dimly by the service light directly above the door. It was perfect for avoiding people. Now all he had to do was wait it out for a few minutes.

The sound of the rattling of the door knob made him stifle a curse. As the knob turned he slipped into the shadowy back room. He didn’t want to explain to anyone why he was hiding in his hotel’s pantry. He just hoped whoever they were they didn’t come into his bolt hole. There was a click and almost silent whoosh of the door opening and closing, shuffling and footsteps, then silence.

Jou sank deeper into the shadows of the room. He was glad he’d gone with the maroon shirt, a white shirt would have stood out like a beacon in the dim light. A thud, someone tripped or was drunk, then a clatter told Jou he was definitely not alone.

For seconds without end he stood frozen in fear of discovery, but whoever the person was, they didn’t come to the back room, nor did they turn on brighter lights. After the thud, almost as if they’d fallen, and then the clatter of something hitting the floor, they were quiet and as still as he was. He could only hear their breathing, and that was because it was hard and fast.

Nerves taut and straining, he sweated it out for thirty seconds. Then closing his eyes at the stupidity of his situation he decided to just to own up to it. Stepping into the room he donned his clown’s mask. It fell away in horror as he saw the sprawled body of Kaiba Seto, blood pooling around him from a knife sticking out of his chest, his hand reaching desperately for a gold cell phone on the floor just out of his reach.

“Well fuck! Kaiba.” He growled. Blue eyes hazed with pain and life light flickering looked at him in shock and something akin to resignation. “I’ll call for help...”

“My... phone... star one. Now.” Kaiba wheezed painfully.

Jou didn’t argue, just picked up the gold cell and hit the buttons. There was a heartbeat of silence then black light exploded in the room. Shadows swirled and fragmented, reforming into three distinct shapes. Jou barely had time to take in what was happening when Bakura started cursing, Atemu knelt by Kaiba’s head, and Marik was gripping the bloody knife, pulling it slowly from the wound. A bright gush of blood spurted from the wound. Marik immediately clamped down on the gusher, using his hand to stem the spurting blood.

“Hey don’t do...” Jou started to protest only to shut up when Bakura turned on him fiercely catching his throat in a tight grip.

“What the fuck did you try to kill him for? He didn’t blow you right? Or maybe he fucked you too hard? He come too soon? It’s been years for him, cut him some slack don’t cut..”

Jou gasped in shock. Not just from the attack, but the accusation as well. “What da hell? Man I don’t kill. Kaiba’s a prick but I’d never...” The glaring threat and hand at his throat made him shudder and deny quickly “I didn’t do this. I found him.”

A soft, shared moan from Marik and Kaiba caught Jou’s attention. Marik was panting heavily, sweat sheen breaking out on his skin. Kaiba was still pale, but breathing easier, the bleeding seemed to have stopped. “What th’ hell?”

Bakura released his throat and stepped back. Now that Kaiba was out of danger he could see that Jounouchi hadn’t done it. No blood on his hands or clothes. “Pharaoh, get over here and explain to blondie. He’s always been part of it so it’s time he knows.”

Surprisingly it was Kaiba who spoke. “No. He isn’t part of this. This was personal.” For all the weakness in his voice it was laced with steel.

Steel which Atemu cut through like a hot knife through butter. “He found you and saved you. It’s not a coincidence. It’s time he rejoined us.” Atemu stood slowly and faced Jou, assessing him with measuring eyes. “We will explain back at Kaiba’s mansion. This is not the place or time. Marik, take him home. We will meet you there. Jounouchi you will join us.” It was a royal edict that nobody protested.

In an implosion of shadows Marik and Kaiba were gone, the only evidence they were ever there was the phone Jou still held and a large pool of blood. Bakura glanced at it thoughtfully. “They will get fat.” He muttered obscurely. With a wave of his hand shadows dove from the walls into the dark liquid, consuming it until not even a drop remained.

Jou paled at that, nauseous, at the voracious feeding. And it had been a feeding. He had seen the shadow mouths slurping at the blood greedily. “What are those?” He asked, trying to keep from hurling.

“They are my garbage disposal. You said you found him. Was he in here? Did he get stabbed in here?”

“No. I was here, hiding from...” Kaiba’s wife, he started to say, but bit it back. “Paparazzi. When someone came in I hid in back. After a couple minutes of heavy breathing I decided to confront them. It was Kaiba. He told me to dial star one on his phone. You guys know what happened next.”

“So he was stabbed somewhere else. Blood trail.” Bakura waved his hand again and the shadows rushed through the door. “They’ll clean it up.”

“So who did this? I mean yeah, like I said Kaiba’s a prick but not worth killin’”

“We won’t know until we speak to him. Let’s get the guys and head over to the Kaiba’s place.” Atemu opened the door to find a very startled server. He smiled easily and nodded to him. “Had to have a quiet word. Thanks for the use of the pantry.” Cool as a cucumber he strolled away. Bakura nodded shortly and followed. Jou hesitated for a moment, giving the guy an uncertain smile before trailing after them.

Yugi, Malik, and Ryou were waiting by the door. When Atemu and Bakura reached them Yugi gave them a worried look. “The limo is waiting.”

Atemu gave his love a grateful smile. “Thank you Aibou. Let’s go.” But he hesitated when he heard Kisara’s distinctive voice behind him.

“Kinnou, Have you seen Seto? I’d like to leave. I’ve broken my heel and...”

“No Kisara, I haven’t seen him.” Atemu lied without a blink. “We are about to leave as well.”

“I think I saw him a few minutes ago going into one of the small offices off the lobby.” Jou said casually. He didn’t want the woman getting a lift with them. He didn’t like her and didn’t want to have to put up with her ego another second.

“Really?”

“Yeah, he was staggering so I think he’s drunk. Might wanna take him home.” Giving her a slight grin, one that had won hearts around the world, he turned away. “Let’s go guys, we gotta lot ta catch up on. Yugi, so you’re still number one huh? Atemu you don’t duel?”

Jou kept up his casual chat until they were in the limo. Once seated he wiped his brow. “Whew. I thought she was gonna ask fer a ride home.”

“She wouldn’t have.” Yugi shook his head decisively. Malik, Bakura and Ryou chuckled aloud while Atemu snickered.

“No? Why not?” There was some secret here. A shared joke. Jou wanted in on it.

“Because Bakura gets carsick and pukes.” Ryou explained straight-faced.

“He does? But...” then he got it. He began to snicker, then chuckle, then outright howl with laughter. “Oh fuck I’ll bet th’ bitch loved that.”

Seeing the laughter die and the guys exchange odd looks made Jou’s laughter fade and discomfort took it’s place. It had been ten years after all, and just because he hated her with a passion didn’t mean they did. It was obvious they had a relationship with Kaiba now so it followed that they would care about his wife. He was such an idiot. “Uh guys, sorry. I... I don’t like her much. She’s a typical starlet type and I... I’ve seen too many of them. I’m...uhm I didn’t mean to insult your friend.”

Ryou shifted to look at Bakura, Malik looked out the window at the passing scenery, Atemu glanced at Yugi, then met Jou’s eyes. “She’s not our friend. We hate her. But because Seto is stuck with her we put up with her. He was blinded by her resemblance to the Blue-eyes White Dragon incarnate, Kisara. Even the names were the same. By the time he discovered she was a chimera, a distraction from what was real, they were married and he was stuck.”

“A... so they aren’t a happy couple? Why don’t Kaiba divorce her?”

“He’s working on it. But everything about Kaiba is fodder for the public. There are some things he doesn’t want the public to know. If he divorces her she will smear him. His hope is to catch her breaking their nuptial contract.” Yugi explained softly.

“Ah, okay got it.” It did make sense. Jou had moved in celebrity and high society enough to know that reputation and public opinion were very important. “Okay enough personal shit. What’s going on? Who tried to kill Kaiba, why, and what’s up with the phone and the magic. I thought Kaiba didn’t believe in it and would die before calling on you guys for help.”

Atemu and Bakura both laughed while Yugi rolled his eyes and Malik explained. “You’re right Jou. But just over six years ago he got a wakeup call. An imbalance in the dimensions of light and shadow causes the shadows to leak into this realm. He and some of the people on his board were attacked by a shadow and technically killed. While he floated between life and death he was offered a choice by Rah and Set. Accept his past life memories and powers as Seth, and act as a guardian priest to guide to us or be handed over to the underworld for a thousand years of torment. He accepted the former option.”

“Yeah no joke.” Jou muttered.

“The people who were with him, the ones who were attacked, were given the choice of staying in paradise with their loved ones forever, or returning to earth and living a miserable life before ending in the underworld for a thousand years. They had to accept voluntarily because Atemu, Marik and Bakura would be taking their bodies.”

“Uh, lemme guess. They took the paradise option?”

“Yes. And our spirits came back to us. They had full access to their powers plus the benefit of their new bodies, lives and experiences. Atemu is a lawyer, Bakura is a security expert, and Marik is a physician.” Ryou cut in to explain. “That augments their gifts. Atemu can plan and strategize, plus control the shadows. Also as the demi-god he is able to control the natural world around him. Bakura is a security expert and an expert thief. Anything that is related to that, like picking locks or cleaning up evidence he can control. Marik was born of pain, madness and illness. He is a physician and can heal anything mental or physical. As long as the person’s soul stays with the body he can heal even death.”

“Wow handy to know.” Jou shook his head slightly. “So Kaiba was never in any danger of dying?”

Atemu sighed and frowned. “We are worried about him. He is growing distant and seems to be tired spiritually. We are not sure he wants to stay with us. If his body dies he may choose to leave it.”

“Uh won’t he get a thousand years in hell?”

“No. He has done his best. He has counteracted several imbalances. He will go to paradise.”

“Oh.” Jou looked around as the limo stopped. “We’re here already.”

Seto sat at his desk sipping tea when they walked in. Marik sat beside him eating a plate of fruit and cheese. “Took you long enough.” He grouched at them. Glaring at Jou he snapped “Did you have to bring the mutt?”

“We don’t all fly shadow express. And you’re happy to see him. Stop acting like you’re not.” Ryou fired back, scolding cheerfully.

“Glad to see you’re back to normal Moneybags.” Jou gave as good he got. Geez the guy was a jerk. “And you were happy to see me earlier.”

“Hnn... Whatever. I would have been fine without your interference.”

“Bull shit! You couldn’t reach the damn phone. You were as helpless as a kitten.”

“In your dreams mutt.” The remembered antagonism was flaring between them, making them both pink-cheeked and fiery-eyed. “You...”

“Enough flirting. We have more important stuff to talk about.” Bakura snapped. “Who the fuck tried to cut out your heart?”

“That was doomed to fail. He don’t have one.” Jou mumbled sourly as he subsided.

Bakura growled and let it go. “Kaiba, answer. Who stabbed you?”

“Kisara, who else? I caught her fucking the limo driver. Took several pictures. She caught up to me when I went in the hotel. The knife was on a cart left in the hall. Lazy wait staff. I will have to fire someone.”

“You got the pictures?” Yugi sounded excited and happy.

“Of course.” Insufferably smug and cool as ice. Kaiba at his best.

“That’s great!” Ryou enthused. “You’ll be free tomorrow.”

“I’ll be free tonight. As we speak maids are packing her belongings. I’ve called her lawyer. She will be here in about thirty minutes.”

“Kisara is still at the party. She was asking about you.”

Seto shrugged, completely unconcerned. “I called her just as you came through the gates. She will be here soon, perhaps fifteen minutes. I told her we needed to discuss what happened at the party. She was shocked to hear from me until I pointed out that I wear body armor all the time. And an actress should know blood packets.”

Jou sighed and stood up. Okay so now he had his answers. He didn’t need to be here at all. No plot to destroy the world, no evil being trying to take over, just more personal drama. They didn’t need his help dealing with the imbalance between light and shadows. “Well if dat’s it, just Kaiba’s wife going psycho, ya don’t need me here. I’m headin’ out.”

“Jou wait, I’ll give you a lift back when we’re done. If you’re uncomfortable with this scene go wait in the game room.” Atemu offered.

“Nah, Kaiba don’t want me in his house an’ ya don’t really need me. I’ll walk back or call a taxi on th’ way.”

“Walk? With your leg?” Yugi protested.

“Ta be honest Yugi, it’s not m’leg that’s messed up. I did damage ta my back. Th’ nerve is tore and causes weakness. I use the cane for support but m’leg is good.”

Marik, just recovering from performing one massive healing, caught his lover’s pleading look and closed his eyes in acceptance. The reasoning was flawless and would further their cause. He really had no choice, no matter how tired he was. If he helped Jounouchi there was a good chance the man would feel indebted to him, them, and agree to hang around and aid with their mission. His help was critical. The situation was coming to a head and they all knew it. The causes of the imbalances were becoming more unstable, their soul-power flickering, and if either one or the other were to fade all hell would break loose either in a flash of blinding light or a flood of shadows engulfing the earth. “Jou, hold on. Let me take a look. I can heal anything and there’s no need for you to be in pain.”

Strangely, at least to the people watching it was strange, their old friend hesitated, his eyes conflicted and vaguely tortured. Then after an eternal moment he nodded. “Thanks Marik.”

“Move off the couch guys. Let Jou lay down.” The healer ordered. When the blond lay prone he laid his hands gently on his lower back. Metal pins and rods pieced Jou’s spine together. The cord itself was damaged, slightly torn, disks and vertebrae were cracked and malformed. It was a miracle that Jounouchi was able to walk. The pain was horrendous. The drugs in his system told Marik that the blond used chemicals to handle it. He didn’t have the energy to heal it all. Not at one shot, not after healing Kaiba’s mortal wound. Regretfully he lifted his hands. “Jounouchi, I can heal some now, but it will take two or three sessions to heal you completely. I need you to stay perfectly still and I need you to stay off the pain drugs while I do it though. They stop your body’s natural reaction. It is those reactions that guide me to the problems.”

“I... heal me completely? That’s not possible. They took out some of my spine, fused more. Put in rods and stuff.”

“Your body created that stuff before you were born. I can help it create it again. But first I need to dissolve the rods. The drugs are inhibiting me. I’ll do my best.” Laying his hands on Jou’s lower back again he went to work, waking the cells and structures he would need to regenerate Jou’s body. Once they were awake he turned to the torn spinal cord. Just a minute tear, microscopic, yet so vital and damaging. Focusing he meticulously began to repair and rejuvenate, absorbing any foreign objects he found.

Seto watched silently as Marik did his thing. He was unwillingly impressed by Jounouchi’s stoic acceptance. Seto knew from several experiences that the healer’s power was far from painless to the recipient. He frowned with annoyance when both patient and healer gasped and went limp at the same time, obviously losing consciousness. “Well damn. We’ll have to move to another room.”

Bakura lifted his limp friend off the floor and dumped him on the loveseat. “We’re not leaving them alone. I’ve never seen Marik pass out from a healing before and they are as vulnerable as babies. If renegade shadows come and we aren’t here they will be unprotected.”

“Shit.” But Seto knew he was right. For some reason the shadows had the ability to invade his home. They had bypassed his safeguards on three occasions. He couldn’t take the risk. “Fine let them sleep. We’ll stay in here. It shouldn’t matter.”

Atemu nodded to Bakura. They ranged around the desk. “Show us the evidence.”

Keeping his expression stoic he pulled out his regular cell phone. With a frown he glanced at the unconscious blond. “He still has my Udjat cell.” Lifting his hand he called the device to him. In a second it had floated across the room, into his grasp.

“Interesting. Why didn’t you do that earlier, before he found you?” Atemu asked, although he knew the answer. Of course he knew, but he also knew that Seto didn’t, or more likely didn’t want to admit it.

“I tried. It didn’t work. I don’t... I don’t know why not.”

“You were probably too weak.” Yugi gave his lover a quick glare. It wasn’t nice to mess with Seto’s head. Atemu rolled his eyes and turned back to his cousin and friend. “Put the Udjat away and show us the evidence. I’d like to see it before Kisara or her lawyer arrives.”

Seto nodded and pulled open his laptop, efficiently connecting it with the cable. In a moment the application displayed a list of pictures and movies. He clicked on the first entry. A picture is worth a thousand words and this definitely proved it. His gorgeous, refined wife was sprawled on the floor of the limo, her legs spread wide, showing her gaping cleft. Her finger was buried deep in the shining pinkness. Kneeling beside her, his hands fondling her breasts, his chauffer enjoyed the show. The next picture was a few moments later and showed the driver dropping his uniform pants to expose a huge, impressive cock.

Bakura blinked and shook his head, “Nice, but he’ll get lost in that canyon.”

Atemu shook his head slightly but couldn’t repress his comment “She’ll need a crane to haul him out.”

“Now the movie. Oh and it has sound. I rolled down the window slightly on the way in, which is how I got clear pictures. Her perfume was overwhelming.”

The sounds were a mix of bad porn ‘fuck me’s, moans and heavy breathing. The video showed clearly the driver mounting and pumping deep as he grunted and Kisara moaned and begged for more. Another few seconds and the driver was pulling out, shooting his load all over the wet pink lips that gaped hungrily between her legs. Yugi gagged slightly and turned away, Ryou simply moved to the other side of the desk.

Atemu controlled his own disgust and nodded. “That should do it.”

Bakura was frowning fiercely. “How did you get stabbed? If you had the evidence how did she catch you?”

A tinge of pink colored Seto’s pale cheeks. “I...”

Jou’s groggy voice interrupted. “He wanted to rub her face in it. You guys know how he monologues. He probably said something like ‘Loser’ and gave it away.”

Because it was close to the truth, not exact because he hadn’t said ‘Loser’ he’d said ‘Goodbye bitch’, he growled “Shut up Mutt, nobody wants to hear your yapping.”

“Truth hurts don’t it Kaiba. Even after all dis time I can predict ya because yer still the same ol’ Kaiba. Nothin’ changes with ya – nothin’” There was disdain and mockery in every word.

Blue eyes narrowed icily. “You’d think you would have learned how to speak to your betters after all this time.”

“Ain’t met nobody better’n me Kaiba. When I do I’ll bow down an’ kiss their ass. Until then – Fuck you.”

Bakura growled and slammed his hands on the desk. “Damn will you just take him up on his offer? We’ll wait, you guys go in the bathroom and take care of it. Your flirting is getting to me. This is going to be a long night and I don’t like blue balls.”

For once Seto and Jou’s expressions were exactly the same as they gaped at Bakura in shock. Then Jou’s face became thunderous and Seto’s became expressionless. “Not funny Bakura.” They said in stereo.

“No shit. Blue ball is damn serious.” Before Bakura could say more the door chime sounded through the house. “Sounds like the lawyer.” Giving Yugi a glance tinged with malice he asked silkily “Do you want me to stall her in the hall so you can hide?”

Yugi flushed dark red, then paled to paper white. “No. No, I’m good. She is a professional on a job. Personally she may hate me but this is business.”

“Hate?” Jou couldn’t imagine anyone hating Yugi. “Who could hate you?”

Yugi gulped and stared at the carpet. “Anzu.” He whispered.

“Anzu? But she loves you. I mean she did. You guys were best friends from first day of school.” Then he hesitated. “Wait she went ta New York ta dance school. How th’ fuck did she get ta be a lawyer?”

Ryou whispered “She washed out in the first year. When she came back her dad sent her to Tokyo University to become a lawyer like him.” He hesitated for a moment then lowered his voice further. “While she was there she... she told Yugi they should see other people. She was just finishing her internship when our guys came back to us. When she returned Yugi and Atemu had started living together. She... She didn’t take it well. She hates Yugi now, says she waited for him and was faithful and he cheated. It’s not true, she’s the one who suggested other people, but she never expected Yugi to find someone else. It was months since he’d heard from her. He thought they were over. He really did. Last he heard she was living with a guy at the firm she was interning at.”

The story ended there as the door opened and Mazaki Anzu, dressed in a power suit of deep red stalked into the room. Jou saw at a glance that the girl with laughing eyes and a warm heart was gone. In her place was a cold, sharp woman with a calculating mind and block of ice where her emotions used to dwell. When she saw the gathering she angled her head up, crinkling her nose slightly, as if she smelled something bad but was too polite to say anything. “Did you bring the whole reunion home with you? I thought this was a professional meeting, not a social gathering.” The remembered voice was the same, but Jou never could have imagined the cold disdain he heard now.

It grated him in an unexpected way. His heart ached for the girl who used to be so much more. “Hey Anzu.” He called from the couch as he struggled to sit.

Blue eyes, lighter than Kaiba’s but still blue, stared at him for a second. The ice in them didn’t melt. Recognition but no softening flickered into them. “Jounouchi Katsuya. Figures you would be here. Ready to move in and my client isn’t even gone?”

“What the fuck is with that?” Jou was honestly baffled. He and Kaiba had always been at odds but now there were two people making weird remarks. Bakura he could write off as him being an asshole, but Anzu?

“Please, I was at prom too.” She shrugged stalked to the desk. “I don’t want to discuss the past. It doesn’t matter to me – unless you guys have something you want to confess?”

“Confess?” this was getting weirder and weirder. “Look I just got in town today. My flight touched down two hours before the party. I got in from the airport, had a snack and a shower, changed and went downstairs. I don’t know what your problem is but you need ta back th’ fuck off.”

“You can verify that I hope?”

Jou stared at her for a moment then growled. “Yeah, not that I gotta, but I still got my airline ticked in my wallet. It’s got an arrival date and a return date. So get that stick outta yer ass before I pull it out and beat ya over th’ head with it. I dunno what you got against me but I thought we was friends.” Angrily he pulled out the ticket and extended it for her perusal.

Anzu laughed bitterly but looked the ticket he held out for her. “Friends. I learned that lesson. Fine whatever. I guess it was too much to hope Kaiba would be that careless. So why did you call me here?”

“My client has incontrovertible evidence that your client broke the nuptial agreement. Also when your client found out she attacked and tried to kill him. She stabbed him with a knife. He was wearing body armor and it protected him, but she definitely attempted to murder him.”

“I see.” Anzu’s face was expressionless. “Where is my client?”

“I’m right here Anzu.” Kisara wobbled into the room. Her face was wet with tears and her steps shambling. When she focused on Seto she started to cry hysterically, running to him with outstretched arms. Bakura stepped between them, holding her off.

Undeterred she writhed against the security specialist, fighting to get to her husband. “Seto, Darling, I’m so sorry. Forgive me. I’m so relieved you were not hurt, so glad you wore your body armor. God please forgive me. Let me touch you, let me see for myself.” She sobbed as tears and snot poured down her face.

“What did you do Kisara? Dose with pepper spray?” Seto’s voice was ruthless, completely unmoved by the display.

More tears “Darling, I love you so much. If you would forgive me I know we could be happy again. It was just a little slip. I hadn’t been held or touched in so long. I’ve needed you and you’ve denied me. Just a little slip. Please forgive me.”

“Which little slip are we discussing?” Kaiba asked casually, with the assurance of a man holding pocket aces. “The one from two years ago or the one tonight?”

“Tonight! Both, neither. Seto please, can’t we put it behind us? If you hadn’t stopped coming to my bed I would not have... I have needs Seto... it’s cruel to punish me for a slip. I’m a woman with needs. If you would just love me again I would never stray. I swear it.”

“You swore it on our wedding day.” He pointed out coldly. “And you’ve just admitted to breaking our contract in front of your lawyer and all these witnesses. In addition you’ve admitted to attempting to murder me. I will put it behind me Kisara – I’ll put you behind me. Our marriage is over. You and your lawyer will sign the paperwork tonight. Tomorrow Atemu will file it.” He shoved away from his desk and motioned for Atemu to take the seat.

“I’ll file it electronically tonight. By noon tomorrow the judge will have signed off on it. In two days you will both be single.” Atemu smiled with cool satisfaction as he pulled the paperwork out of the top drawer of Seto’s desk. “Kisara your signature please?”

Anzu grabbed the pen before the woman could pick it up. “This is not incontrovertible evidence. She is obviously under mental duress.” Anzu glared at Atemu challengingly. “Kinnou show me evidence or I’m leaving.”

That made Jou blink. Kinnou? That was the second time Atemu had been addressed in that way. What was that? Ryou hurriedly whispered in his ear “Remember, they took over existing lives. We, you and Kaiba are the only ones who know of their past lives and experiences.” That made sense. With a nod Jou showed he understood.

Atemu nodded and opened the video. The photos were good but the video was the best. Anzu watched for a few moments then averted her eyes. “How do I know it’s not faked?” She spun to her client, assessing the dress and makeup. “Well?”

“It was just a slip. Anzu... Anzu... you are his old friend. Please ask him to forgive me. Ask him to give me another chance.” Desperation shone from the famous blue eyes, the perfect face was a mess of smeared makeup, tears and snot. “Please. Help me.”

Anzu glared at her client for a moment cursing the bimbo’s stupidity. With a tight shrug of defeat she handed the woman the pen. “Sign it. I’ll witness as will the others here. You are in breach of contract. If you fail to sign it he can and most likely will display those images in a very public and nasty divorce case. It will ruin what is left of your career. You will be portrayed as a faithless jezebel adulteress and he will come out with the image of a loving husband betrayed. You can’t defeat him. I’ve only known two people who could. One is dead and one is in this room.” She drew in a breath and admitted “I know Kaiba, but we were never friends. He will do anything to win and he never forgives betrayal. He will hate you forever.”

Kisara took the pen with a shaking hand and crossed to the desk. As she put the tip to the paper she looked up at her husband one last time. “Seto... please, you loved me once. We can try again...”

Seto shook his head slowly. “I never loved you. I thought you were something ~ someone ~ you could never be. I knew before our honeymoon ended. Your tryst with your personal trainer confirmed it. Everything you’ve said and done since then has only made me more certain. You are not the person I’d believed you were.” In his first show of tenderness to her in years he brushed back the shining hair. “Sign it Kisara. Your freedom is the only thing I have left to give you.”

In his eyes she saw the sincerity mixed with pity and realized it was truly over. Seto was telling the truth. There was no future for her with him. They would never be the hottest ‘it’ couple, never be the trendy, chic, to-die-for pair. Seto wanted someone else, someone she wasn’t and could never be. She saw it all, straight to the heart and soul of the man she’d married, and crushing envy was born, because what she saw was more than she’d ever known existed, could exist. And it wasn’t hers, had never been and would never be. Swallowing down hard she scribbled her name for the last time, Kaiba Kisara, across the line and ran from the room. Roland the butler who’d been with Seto for years was waiting with her things. A taxi stood at the ready outside.

Anzu picked up the pen and signed. “I’d like a copy of this as well as the filing motion.”

“Of course.” Atemu nodded agreeably. “Aibou could you go make a copy of this? I need to discuss a few things with Anzu.”

Yugi nodded and picked up the paper, hurrying from the room. He resolutely avoided Anzu. Atemu gestured for the woman to sit down. There were a few details to iron out. She ignored his motion.

“You called him Aibou.” She observed woodenly. She stayed standing.

“It’s what I’ve always called him.” Atemu said quietly.

“He told me you’ve known each other for years, but I’ve only known one person to call him that.” Sharp blue eyes examined him closely for the first time ever. She’d only ever met him in professional capacity and had avoided him at all other times. When Yugi dumped her she’d flatly refused to meet him, refused to even discuss him, raged at Yugi for being the unfaithful bastard he was and walked out vowing to never see them again. Now she was haunted by a sense of déjà vu, a familiarity at those crimson eyes. “But he’s dead.”

“I am alive and healthy Anzu.” Atemu said softly.

“I meant the only other guy to ever call him that.” She corrected sharply as suspicions and a dark understanding started to bloom. It couldn’t be... if it was she had been so wrong...

“So did I.”

Recognition, shock and fear raced through her. She knew, and then she understood. “Atemu, Pharaoh. You’ve taken possession of another body.”

“Bodies willingly given are not considered possessed. It is a change of ownership.” Atemu explained softly. “They are our bodies now.”

“Our?” Wildly Anzu’s gaze swung to the others. “The... Other Malik and the Thief?”

“Yes.”

Anzu, already pale and frightened, backed towards the door slowly, as if in a room with wild animals. “F... fine. Welcome back. Send me the paperwork tomorrow.” Without another word she whirled from the men and ran out.

Seto waited a few minutes then checked with his front gate. Both Kisara and Anzu were gone. With a deep breath of relief he pulled out his plain cell. He punched in the star six number. It was answered on the first ring. “Yes Sir, will you be needing the car again?”

“No, in fact I will be trading it in on something different, maybe a Saab or something more fuel efficient. I won’t be needing a chauffer. I wanted to congratulate you your new relationship. The best man won after all. She chose you.”

The man laughed “Sir, I’m glad we were able to talk about this. I was afraid you would kill me when I told you that we were in love. She didn’t want you to know – was afraid of your temper. But I don’t cheat anyone. I’m sorry but we love each other and...”

“Not at all. As I said, we were estranged and getting divorced. We, she and I, discussed it and you’re the man she wanted more than me. She is no longer my wife by the way so feel free to pursue her as you like. Invite me to the wedding. Of course you can’t continue to work for me, but with the bonus and reference, I’m sure you will find a great job.” He clicked the phone closed, threw back his head and laughed.

“What the fuck? Kaiba what was that about?” Jou asked the question everyone was thinking.

“My limo driver came to me about a month ago saying that he was in love with my wife. The feelings were mutual, and he felt...” Seto broke off to chuckle again “Felt it was only right that he tell me he was banging my wife.”

“What?” Jou couldn’t wrap his mind around that. “Ain’t ya mad? Ready ta kill someone? I know I was when I found out...” He broke off abruptly.

“Mad? Ready to kill someone? No. I was ecstatic. I knew the slut was whoring around, I just couldn’t figure out where. I had spies on the sets of her movies, her maid was watching everything she did. Private investigators watched every move she made. Of course nobody considered that the limo driver was fucking her in parking lots and garages.” Kaiba controlled his mirth, but his eyes still danced with happy lights. “I kept the limo driver with me the last few weeks knowing she would be so horny she’d take a chance. I was right. She insisted on going to the reunion tonight. I knew she’d slip out and when she did I followed her, gave them a few minutes and got the ‘evidence.’”

“That guy must have a death wish or be stupid.” Bakura observed.

“He is one step above an idiot. His I.Q. is actually lower than the Mutt’s by a few points. She was fucking someone too dumb to hide it. She thought she could control him but she didn’t count on the fact that he is too unintelligent for deception.”

Jou stared at him in shock while the rest of the men shared chuckles. Even Marik, whom he’d thought was unconscious or asleep, was chuckling weakly. It finally dawned on him. “You set her up. You had a shot at a decent wife, kids, and... you fucking set her up. You caught her with a trainer but I’ll bet ya had somethin’ ta do with that too.”

Kaiba chuckled smugly. “She and Kisara were lover’s at one time. I simply arranged for her to be assigned to her again. I knew she wasn’t who I thought she was and wanted to get rid of her.” He frowned. “I miscalculated on that. Took two years too long.” He shrugged “Inserting the fidelity clause after the prenuptial agreement was signed was a trick. But it worked.”

Jou was sick to his very bones. He stood slowly, leaning heavily on his cane. “You cold ass bastard. Ya never cared about her sleepin’ around. Ya had a wife who woulda loved ya and wanted ta stay with ya. Ya had a shot at a real life, and ya threw it away. Ya got any idea what that’s worth? Ta have something real? Somethin’ that nobody, not no man or law can take away?” Abruptly his throat closed and he rasped “Yer a bastard Kaiba. I always knew that, but I used ta respect ya. Now...” He shook his head slowly. “Now ya disgust me.” With slow, halting steps, shoulders squared with dignity, he crossed the room and gripped the door handle tightly with his free hand. “I nevah wanna see any of ya again. If ya can do dis, ya ain’t th’ people I thought I knew.”

As he tried to take a step forward agony shot through his back, down his spine and into his legs before a numbness more terrifying than the pain sent him crashing into something strong and warm. “What the fuck?” He gasped, his breath wheezing from his lungs.

Yugi caught his collapsing body with strong arms. “Little help here guys.” He groaned when Jou lost consciousness and his full weight settled on him.

Marik, who’d already been in motion cursed sharply. “He forgot I took out the pins. It’s a miracle he could move at all. Kaiba, you’re the tallest and strongest. Get him to a bed carefully. Don’t jar him. Atemu, I’m going to need to borrow some of your god power.”

Atemu nodded. He knew that the situation was critical if Marik was going to tap into the equivalent of a live electrical current to heal Jou. “Whatever you need. He... he misunderstood I think.”

Kaiba was lifting Jou carefully, cradling him as tenderly as a mother would a child. For an instant Marik saw the stark yearning on his face before it was ruthlessly wiped away. It was a look Seto wore very rarely and usually meant a large scale shadow invasion. They didn’t have time for it. Hoping to avert disaster he tried to explain. “No, he understood only too well. You all know I heal mental, emotional and physical. I’m not going to tell you what I saw, it’s not my place. But this plan, this scheme to get rid of Kisara, cut directly into a festering mental and emotional wound. He has reasons for what he feels, and on a very basic level he is right.” He motioned them ahead. “Kaiba take the lift to your room. We’ll meet you there.” It was the best he could do to avert an imbalance

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Winding Road