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A Grown-up Bedtime Story	By : acsoundwave Category: zMisplaced Stories [ADMIN use only] > YuYu Views: 1376 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own this anime/manga, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
1. A
  Grown-up Bedtime Story
byline:
Anubis Soundwave

One:
The agony of defeat, a goad to press one on a quest.

“...and
you just...let him go?” asks Jounouchi. “With the white
dragons?”

Atemu
nods. “He must go. No one, not even I, could hold Seto.”

“I
did give him a...parting gift.” Atemu winks as he relinquishes
Yuugi.

“Yuugi!
Are you all right?” asks Mazaki.

“I...I’m
fine, my lady,” smiles Yuugi. “I think he’s done
with me...for now.

“He
and the other high dragons were actually on our side the whole time,
you know. Your ‘betrothed’ really screwed things up.”

“I...don’t
understand. Damien was going to feed me to them.”

“That
was Damien’s plan. Atemu and the others were using this
opportunity to invade the Saiba Kingdom, and retake the castle for
the Kaiba Kingdom, but....”

“That
lout of yours slew them, and they had to find human vessels!”
Jounouchi spits. “They can’t even become eggs again until
their human vessels die, and it takes a thousand years for them to
mature, and hatch from those eggs.”

“In
that respect,” Jounouchi continues, “they’re like
the Thousand Dragon.”

“...and
like the Thousand Dragon, the three high dragons can be awakened
early by summoning the Time Magician,” says Mazaki. “We’d
have to offer a blood sacrifice equal to the life force of a human,
but it can be done.”

“It
will take a year to gather the necessary items, and it is more time
than we have. Damien has built the cannon,” continues a
dark-skinned maiden. He needs only the white dragon hearts to fuel
it.”

“And
in the meantime,” adds Rishid, appearing behind the woman,
“Lord Damien has subjugated--*”

Mazaki
interrupts Rishid, screaming. “You--you’re dead!”

“Not
so, Lady Mazaki. The boy did cut me, and I let Damien think I was
mortally wounded.”

Rishid
smiles, raising a hand. “Do not fear. I was sent as a spy by
the Master of the Four Deserts, the prince Quatre.”

“Along
with my impetuous brother, Lord Ishtal,” adds the woman. “I
am Lady Isis, Prince Quatre’s vizier.”

“Where
is Lord Ishtal now?” asks Mazaki.

“He
is coming to terms with becoming Malik’s vessel,” says
Rishid stonily.

“For
generations, the men of my family were marked with Malik’s
ancient seals, that he would have a vessel to enter on the
chance--however remote--that he could be slain.” Isis sighs.
“But my brother was the unlucky one to be available when the
youth Seto slew Malik and the other high ones.”

“I
had hoped that Malik would choose me instead, that my master Ishtal
would suffer no harm. Yet it was not in Genkai’s will for me to
bear these signs,” Rishid continues, gesturing to the markings
on his face, “or to bear the burden of Malik.”

“...I’m
sorry. All this time, I thought you were loyal to Damien,”
Mazaki says sadly.

“That
is what I wanted you to think. Now, I can tell you that he has other
weapons. The Apsalis, a deadly metal airship; and the Libra,
originally a star colony built by the Sanq Kingdom for space
exploration, is now being turned into a weapon of mass destruction.”

Rishid
sighs. “Thus, I cannot stay long with you. Lady Isis and I both
must return to the Four Deserts, where the next move can be decided.”

A
thin, dark-skinned youth with pale gold hair appears. “That boy
surprised the Great Lion,” the youth says.

“Master!”
cries Rishid, handing the slim youth water. “Lord Ishtal!”

“Brother,”
continues Isis, “you should rest. Your time with Malik has
drained you.”

“I
just wanted to deliver the message myself, rather than bother Malik.”
Ishtal smiles. “As I was saying, the boy that slew him is a
sign. A sign of the end of Damien’s rule, and the return of the
Kaiba Kingdom.”

The
young lord closes his cryptic speech. “He who hath ears to
hear, let him hear.” Ishtal beckons to Isis and Rishid. “We
must go.”

The
three desert inhabitants leave.

Jounouchi
watches them leave, scratching his head. “What the hell does
that mean?”

-
- - - -

“...Exodias
Zo, end it!”

Seto
stared at the golden beam; which streaked toward Honda, Kujaku, and
Otogi. “...no...it’s impossible.”

The
blue-eyed youth sank to his knees as the three dragons disintegrated.
“I lost.... I-I’m defeated.”

“Yes.
And you understand what that means.” Atemu appeared
before Seto, palm outstretched.

Seto
scowled. “What do you want?”

Atemu
touched the youth’s cheek. “You are very
beautiful,” he smiled gently.

Seto
bolted upright; backing away from the enigmatic mage. “S-stay
away...I-I harbor no desires of that kind....” He fell
unceremoniously on his rear.

Atemu
laughed. “Sweet fool. I only meant that your spirit was
beautiful and pure.

“Yet,
as with most rare treasures that one finds; I must first break away
the rough, stony layer that covers your beauty.” Atemu
again put forth his palm, and slammed Seto’s mind.

Seto
glares at three cards in his hand, the three white dragons. “I
suppose...that I haven’t totally lost. I can tear these cards,
get their Hearts, claim my gold, and move on with my life.

“If
I do, my family will finally be free of that hovel.”

“On
your honor as a man, Seto: if you lose, you cannot do them harm.”

“And...it
would teach that fool Atemu that it’s useless to trust people
in this world....”

“Right
now, I just want my Mokuba-dai. Give him back to me!”

“I
will release him, if you can prove yourself.”

“But
then I’m...I’m not as I was...am I?

“I
failed to bring Mokuba back. I didn’t slay the dragons when I
should have; and now that I have this other chance, I can’t
bring myself to do it.

“Why...?”
Seto sinks to his knees, then pounds the grass in frustration. “Why!?
Damn it all, why!?”

-
- - - -

Gozaburo
hears a knock at the door. He grabs hold of his hiking stick, then
carefully opens the door.

“Ohayossu,
father.” Mokuba grins whimsically at his father’s feeble
attempt to ward off an intruder.

The
peasant stares at the boy a moment. He’s...he’s grown
a bit taller since he was taken away.... “M-mokuba...?”

The
boy nods. Gozaburo crushes him in a heartfelt embrace.

“I
missed home, too,” smiles Mokuba. “But I’m fine.”

“I’m
glad.” Gozaburo collects himself. “Where’s your
ingrate of a brother?” he asks coldly, turning his back.

“If
you mean Seto-ani...he didn’t come back with me....”

“I
tire of living in this damned hovel, as does everyone
else--including you. I wanted to do what was best for us all.

“Yet
you would condemn me, because of the acts of those dragons!?

“Mark
my words, father: I will bring Mokuba back to you, along with those
dragons’ heads; or I won’t come back at all. Either way,
you’ll be rid of me.”

Gozaburo’s
eyes widen, then narrow in regret. “I take it he found you and
sent you home, but couldn’t slay his dragons,” he hisses
nastily, belying his hurt.

“Someone
named Atemu was playing a card sorcery game with him for the fate of
the white dragons. Seto lost; and he had promised not to hunt for
them anymore if he lost.” Mokuba sighs, recalling his older
brother’s crestfallen face.

“So
the brat’s ashamed to show his face; afraid to admit he’s
wrong. How typical,” the peasant spits.

“All
in all, I am glad you are arrived, Mokuba.” Gozaburo stalks to
his room.

-
- - - -

Mokuba
drops to his haunches before curling himself into a ball, looking at
the threadbare cushioned chair that sat before their small fire.

The
chair, thrown away by a noble, was the most luxurious item they
owned. Mokuba watches with his mind’s eye as a small, spindly
Seto carefully, tirelessly shoved the chair inside.

Mokuba
sees himself, a tiny boy with a mop of black hair, plop onto it as
Seto finally got it inside. Seto barely acknowledged the child’s
slight weight as he pushed it into the place where it sits now.

It
was a chair for mother to rest in at the first; as she had taken ill
and couldn’t sleep in the chilled bedroom with father. He would
have Seto and Ami bring their best blankets; then father would wrap
mother in two of them, draping the third, moth-eaten one over them
both as they slept together in that chair.

Mother
got better; she usually feels great when it’s springtime.
Father would sit in the chair and tell us about his trips to market;
or some idiotic tall tale, depending on his mood.

They’ve
argued and fought before, but they were always able to patch it up.
What’s changed, Seto-ani? Why can’t you come
home...?

-
- - - -

Seto
releases the white dragons, who revert to their human form. “What,
you’re not going to kill me? This is your chance. Take it.”

“Why
didn’t you take your chance?” asks Otogi.

“Because
I lost the duel against Atemu; I keep my promises.”

“That’s
not what I meant. I meant when the boy Yuugi approached you at the
first. You could have destroyed us without a second thought.”

“Yuugi--or
rather, Atemu--had my brother, who you probably brought to him in the
first place. I wanted Mokuba out of harm’s way first.”

“True,
I suppose. But we’re not going to kill you.”

“Why
the hell not?” demanded Kujaku. “A whole year of our
lives was spent hunting this twit; I want to get this over with so we
can move on.”

Honda
glares at Seto, the dragon youth’s eyes smoldering. “...what’s
the point? I see what Jounouchi was saying now: killing him is
beneath us.”

“You’re
not going to kill me; I can’t kill you. I’ll take my
leave then.” Seto walks away.

“Very
well.” Otogi shrugs and walks away with Kujaku.

Honda
stands still, trembling. Abruptly smiling, he whistles to his
siblings, beckoning them to follow him.

Kujaku
whips her head around after hearing the whistle. “Honda, where
are we--*”

“Just
come on, Kuja-ane.” Honda and his siblings follow Seto
from a distance.

-
- - - -

“You
aren’t letting yourself grieve, Honda.”

“I
don’t want grief. I want revenge. What an insolent human!”

“Leave
him, Honda-dai. Let him alone. Seto has set me free.”

“What
do you mean...?”

“I
was wounded in battle with the Berzerk Dragon--the younger brother,
as you know, of the Five God Dragon--twenty-five years ago.”

“That
weak dragon? You could have defeated him.”

“You
and your siblings were new-lain, boy; the last before mother died. I
had to protect you, keep you out of danger. I was wounded, but I
lived. Forever. Forever in pain, thanks to a spell Damien placed on
me.

“It
was meant as a cruel joke; he said that only when one of the Kaiba
clan slew me would my soul leave my mortally-wounded body. I never
let anyone know of my true condition, save for my human servant who
bears my name.”

“But
you’re dead now...!”

“Yes,
boy! Don’t you see? I’m free, Honda. We’re all
free....”

Honda
and his siblings continue to trail Seto. ...him? That
peasant wretch...? He could save us...?

If
that is the case, Sugoroku-ani; then we three have much work
to do....

-
- - - -

Two:
What hands dare to seize the fire...?

Damien
stands outside on the dais, the same place where he tried to rid
himself of the rebellious Mazaki.

General
Tuberov and Duke Dermeil approach from behind him.

“Lady
Catalonia has reservations regarding the destruction of the entire
forest,” winces Dermeil.

“I
seem to recall,” scowls Damien, “that my last captain had
reservations regarding my orders. Higashi-no tsuchitsukazu,
Toho Fuhai.

“Yet
he is no longer with us, if my memory serves.” Damien gives the
two men a cold smile.

“...Catalonia
will have to remember her duty, then,” says Dermeil soberly.

“Wong
was unable to find the Shuffle Alliance, or the other mecha drivers,”
reports Tuberov. “This was based, mind you, on the information
we obtained from the recently dispatched viscount of Deikun.

“The
princess Artesia seemed most vital in drawing out the information
from the viscount.”

“Casval
was a stubborn bastard. Even after killing his top captain and his
most trusted adviser, he didn’t break. But my men scourged his
sister, and he spoke.” Damien sighed mockingly. “A pity,
then, that both he and Artesia died for his lies.”

“The
princess Artesia isn’t dead--yet, my lord.” Dermeil
leaves to order the young princess’ execution.

“Tuberov,
I want that entire forest and any adjacent meadows burnt to the
ground. If Catalonia defies me, kill her and do it yourself.”

Damien
glares at the empty sacrificial slab as he continues. “I can’t
permit anything to stand in my way now.”

“Pardon
me, my lord,” says Tuberov, “but what could stand in your
way?”

Damien
continues to glare at the slab where Mazaki was tied. “Not
what. Who.”

“Then
who?”

“Kaiba.”

Tuberov
struggles to keep himself from laughing. “I was there when the
elder Saiba--the former king’s father--hung King Ghiren and
Queen Umiruu.”

“But
no one found the boy, the crown prince Gozaburo.”

“He
was four. He probably died.”

“I
can’t afford ‘probably’. Any probabilities, however
remote, could lead to my ruin. If you recall, they almost did; when
our connections to the Ankoku Circus were revealed to the younger
King Saiba.

“You
see, it regards a dragon slaying. A white dragon.”

“...Sugoroku....”

“Had
all the Kaiba clan died, that lizard would still be in a state of
living decay, instigating fruitless rebellions against me. But
apparently, Gozaburo has lived long enough to sire at least one
child. And a powerful child at that. He slew three high dragons in
one pass, and could have killed me had he wished to.

“If
Gozaburo is living as a peasant, then he most likely had more than
one. I’ll take no chances.

“Burn
down that forest, and kill anything or anyone that escapes the
flames.”

“Yes,
my lord.” Tuberov departs.

Damien
laughs. “That boy will regret ever letting me live.”

-
- - - -

“You
and I are all that remain of the Peacecraft Monarchy, sister. Our
elder cousins of the house of Deikun are both dead.”

The
masked pilot of Tallgeese, Zechs Merquise, kneels before a sleeping
girl. “As long as you are the daughter of the slain Minister
Darlian, and as long as I am a lone soldier of Saiba Kingdom’s
elite corps; there is hope for a brighter tomorrow. But if you are
the princess Relena now, you will die.

“Yet
you must live, sweet sister. You and the child my friend gave you to
replace his slaughtered daughter Mariemaia.” Zechs winces at
the memory....

-
- - - -

-
- - - -

“...Treize....
You still live?” marveled prince Milliardo.

“Not
for long, old friend. We must act quickly.” Treize begins
stripping.

Milliardo
looked down at his young sister, whom his parents had left in the
care of the Saiba Kingdom’s prime minister, Darlian.

His
ice-blue eyes widened in shock. “You...you drugged her! For
what purpose!?”

“...my
daughter Mariemaia is dead. Damien’s men slit her throat as
though she were livestock.”

“General
Khushrenada; you know that as a soldier, you’ll die for
defiling a noblewoman.”

“Yes.
And as a soldier, you will have witnessed what I’ve done to
Minister Darlian’s daughter.”

“Let
me understand. You kidnapped my sister after deserting the army, and
brought her here to rape--right in front of me?”

“Damien
has debased us all; lowered us to a baser state than the beasts of
the earth. Which doesn’t condone what I am to do; but it must
be done.”

Treize
winced. “I am, as you know in truth, the ruler of the Haikakyou
Province. A vassal of the Master of the Four Deserts; and like you, a
descendant of the Twelve Metal Kingdoms of the tetsu-oh.”

Looking
at Milliardo, Treize continued. “We both require an heir to
carry our houses. Let our houses be joined, as our fathers willed.”
Treize was naked.

“You
cast a sleeping spell on my sister, through a potion.”

“Yes.
She won’t awaken until the descendant of Heero Yuy wakes her
with a kiss. In the meantime, the child will be born. When that
happens, take the infant to Captain Mirai.”

“So;
after you impregnate my sister, I kill you and report your act as a
rape. Which it technically is, isn’t it?” Milliardo
resisted the urge to simply shoot his friend then and there.

The
pale-haired prince stooped to his prone sister. “Be strong,
little sister.”

Treize
entered the unconscious maid, while Milliardo, wincing, held her
hand.

-
- - - -

-
- - - -

I
sequestered Treize, letting him plow you, sister. As soon as we were
certain you conceived his child; he knelt on the ground. I shot him,
twice, in the temple.

Forgive
me, sister; and forgive him. I beg of you. Bowing, Zechs leaves
the chamber where Relena sleeps.

-
- - - -

“Father?”
Mokuba calls to his father; he and Noa both approach Gozaburo.

“What
is it?” scowls the peasant.

The
dark-haired boy swallows air. “I...noticed some Saiba Kingdom
soldiers milling about the forest....”

“What
of it? They and Kuwabara’s band of idiots all mill about,”
spits Gozaburo, “trying to devise new ways to kill each other.”

“No,
father: this is different,” counters Noa. “I think they
intend to--*”

A
knock at the door interrupts Noa. “I’ll get it,”
says Mokuba, who answers the door.

“You
were saying, Noa?” asks Gozaburo.

“I
was saying...that they might burn down the forest. The Saiba forces
were receiving orders to do so.” Noa shudders at the thought.

“Ah;
and we may not be safe.” Gozaburo takes out his pipe, starting
to smoke rancid tobacco. “Boy, no one is safe in war. I’ll
not be run out of my home by these.”

“You’d
be wise to heed your sons’ counsel, peasant,” says a
woman who approaches with Mokuba.

“I
am the Lady Catalonia, a soldier in Saiba’s armed forces. My
regiment is indeed under orders to burn down this forest and
everything in it.”

The
young soldier continues. “You don’t concern me, and
wouldn’t concern Lord Damien; there’d be no point in
killing you and your family. Therefore, you should leave with
your--*”

Gozaburo
hurls his earthenware bowl of bad tobacco at her. “...get out.”

“I’m
trying to be merci--*”

“Trying
to condemn my house to a slow and painful demise--as opposed to just
painful.” The peasant gives Catalonia a bitter smile. “Leave
my home, you damnable whore!

“You
and Kuwabara both have been the authors of my ruin more times than I
can measure, poor miserable peasant that I am. So you’re going
to burn the forest around mine ears as well.”

“Fine!
Go to it then, girl,” Gozaburo spits. “This new habit of
forewarning I find quite irritating.”

“You’ve
sealed your fate then. If you or your house try to escape, and flee
the forest; my men have the outskirts surrounded. Anything that
leaves the forest at that point will die.”

She
closes her eyes a moment, sighing. “Good day, sir.”
Catalonia bows and leaves.

“Father....”
Noa stares at Gozaburo, who trembles in restrained fury.

“...sometimes....”
Mokuba chokes back his tears. “Sometimes...you can be stupid
and stubborn!

“Seto-ani
was right!”

“I
don’t care if that worthless ingrate was right! I will not be
intimidated!” thunders Gozaburo.

“But
we’re all going to die because of your horrible pride! Is that
what you really want?”

“That
pride...is all that is left me, boy. All my life, all the while, I’ve
been the loser.

“What
will happen if we leave; hm, Mokuba? We go elsewhere. We have to
learn the new trade routes, watch for haggard highwaymen, and search
out new game and food. All while trying to survive.”

“And
we somehow manage,” continues Gozaburo, “until Saiba and
Kuwabara--or another pair of dueling kingdoms--decide they want to
ruin me again.

“I
don’t want my loser’s life to end that way. I was born in
fire; and damn it, I’ll die in fire!”

Mokuba
and Noa stare at their father, frightened and confused.

“Father.”
Hiei had quietly crept up on the family as Gozaburo roared, and now
stands behind the peasant. “Is your will to flee, or to stand?”

“To
stand, you nit.” Gozaburo scowls at his eldest son. “Quit
sneaking up on me--you’re no ninja.”

“Then
permit me to save you.” Hiei leaves as swiftly as he came.

“How
can Hiei stop Saiba’s forces?” wonders Mokuba.

Noa
muses on Hiei’s words. “...no! He hasn’t
perfected--Hiei, no!” Chanting an obscure spell he memorized,
Noa vanishes.

-
- - - -

“...calm
yourself, boy. I will summon the ankoku-ryuu and create a ring
around our home. It should act as a shield to protect us,”
continues Hiei, “fighting fire with fire to cancel out the
flames.”

“No.
You don’t yet have the mastery over the ankoku-ryuu to
do that.”

“I
have my jagan.”

“It
doesn’t matter; if the fires of that dragon don’t consume
your body, it will consume your soul, Hiei.”

“Use
your speed to overwhelm father’s pride instead,” pleads
Noa. “Get him and mother to safety.”

Hiei
places a hand on Noa’s shoulder. “No point. The woman
Catalonia spoke the truth. We’d die the moment we left the
forest.”

“Furthermore,”
continues Hiei, a smug smile forming on his face, “there’s
more to our father than what we know.”

“What
makes you say that?”

“This
wouldn’t be the first time the Saiba Kingdom had burned down
this forest. When I was very young, my first memory was of a huge
beast of flame, protecting mother and myself.”

Noa
stares at his eldest brother.

Hiei
smiles. “I should have been terrified, but I wasn’t. It
was father. This, along with each of our unique talents, makes me
believe...that there’s more to father than what we see. Than
what we can know.” Hiei reveals a small blue jewel fashioned
like a human heart.

“It...no
one could sculpt a human heart out of a sapphire....”

“It’s
the white dragon Sugoroku’s heart. Our brother Seto slew it.
Ever since then, he’s been obsessed with slaying the others;
and lately, with obtaining these.”

“Yes;
he had the same goal I did. To leave this horrible place, where we
languish and die of hunger.”

“Yet
you don’t question why. We’re peasants, and we should try
to make out our existence as best we can, right?

“Hn.
I begin to wonder...in fact, I had questioned for some time the
nature of our existence.

“If
we’re peasants, surely we’re under the authority of some
noble.”

“Father
told Seto and me once that we were the surviving subjects of the
Kaiba monarchy. He showed us various emblems on some of his old
things,” says Noa.

“Except
that the Kaiba Kingdom fell over fifty years ago,” the
green-haired boy continues. “We can’t be under the rule
of the dead.”

Hiei’s
eyes widen. “...interesting...what you say, Noa.”

“What
did I say, Hiei-ani?” Noa asks.

“Before,
I had thought something else about us; but your words have shed new
light....”

Noa
drops to his haunches, exhausted from his confusing family.

-
- - - -

“I...I
sense something in the wind....” Kujaku halts, perfectly still.

“What
is it, sister?” asks Honda, pinning Seto to a tree with one
hand. “I still have questions to ask this fool.”

“I
think it’s in regards to our fool,” says Otogi. “While
you were away hunting us,” continues the green-eyed youth, “who
was protecting your family?”

“I
wouldn’t have bothered with heading out to Kisara’s Keep
had you left my brother out of our fight,” Seto spits.

“And
there would have been no fight had you not slain my brother.”
Honda glares at Seto. “I still cannot believe what--who--you
really are....

“What
possessed you to kill my brother? To kill dragons!? Answer me!”

“I...I’d
read once that you’re supposed to slay dragons. Because they
eat maidens, destroy villages....” Seto trails off, noting
Kujaku’s laughter. “Why are you amused?”

“Fool
boy. Our kind hasn’t done that in ages. Some humans are our
servants, others our allies.

“It’s
been this way ever since our mother first wed Ryuukotsutei. We’ve
lived in peace with humans for so long that we’d pretty much
forgotten about that dark chapter of our past.”

“I
saw three dragons ready to devour a maiden,” counters Seto.
“Perhaps they preferred the old way of things.”

“...you
misunderstand. Dragons aren’t evil, at least no more evil than
humans can be.

“You
have something to fear from Berserk Dragon and the Five God; the rest
of us are content to leave your kind be.” Honda folds his arms.

“I
think we can have this debate later.” Kujaku scowls. “The
four of us need to go to your home.”

“Even
if I were willing to face my father’s bellowing,” says
Seto, “there’s no way I’d make it in
time...unless....”

“You’d
best do something fast.”

“I’ll
be only a moment.” Seto opens his knapsack, taking out a horn,
and leaves the three dragons alone.

“It
seems Seto is either crazy or craven,” muses Otogi.

“...we
have no choice,” sighs Honda. “That brat’s family
is our one hope of restoring the house of Kaiba. We have to save--*”

“...the
house of Kaiba?” wonders Seto, atop a newly-tamed twilight
dragon. “What has my pitiful house to do with the fallen Kaiba
Kingdom?”

Honda
stares in wonder a moment, then quickly disguises his awe with a
frown. “...everything. And if we don’t save your family,
explanations will be pointless.”

“I
see.” Seto beckons the trio to board the teal-colored,
iridescent-winged dragon. “Then let’s be on our way.”

They
and the twilight dragon vanish.

-
- - - -

Three:
Sunrise, and with it, a ray of hope.

Shizuru,
again chained to Damien’s bed, stares at the lord bemusedly as
he paced back and forth in his bedchamber. A womanly giggle escapes
the princess.

Damien
halts, whipping his head around to face Shizuru. “What amuses
you, my dear?” he glowers smilingly in a forced sneer.

Shizuru
snorts contemptuously. “Your game’s over. You’ve
lost.” She locks her brown eyes to the eyes of her captor. “And
you know it.”

Damien
looks up to the ceiling in his room, then returns his gaze to
Shizuru. “We’ll marry in two days.”

At
that, Shizuru laughs. “It doesn’t matter if you force me
to marry you now. My brother has won.

“Not
only have you lost the Kuwabara Kingdom, but it’s only a matter
of time before you lose this kingdom that you stole.”

Damien
pounces on the bed, forcing his face into Shizuru’s. “I’ve
not lost a thing,” he grins cruelly. “Even if that fool
brother of yours found a bit of something to mate with, the entire
palace will be a memory this morn.

“Kazuma-chan
and his whore will die before the sun reaches the clouds.”

“Hn.
That’s not all I meant. No matter how many times you rape me,
you can’t force me to marry you. I have to consent to being
your bride. It’s part of my father’s will--because he
foresaw this as a possibility. Aside from that fact, my house isn’t
the only one you’re worried about.”

“What?”
Damien stares at his captive, confused.

“Oh.
I know all about it. About the Kaiba Monarchy, about the fact that
you’re the bastard of the usurper of Kaiba’s kingdom, and
that you murdered his son, Saiba Neo, when he learned the truth about
you.

“All
about you.” Shizuru glares at Damien again.

Seething,
the man backhands her. “Miserable bitch. You know nothing.”

“Why
don’t you give up? Nothing you do to me will compel me to marry
you, as it won’t serve any purpose.

“And
you’ve already hurt--killed--others to get at me; I still
refuse.”

Catalonia
enters the room, her face bearing a somber expression. “My
lord: I am returned from the duty you’ve entrusted me with,”
she states, dropping to one knee.

“Good.
Take off your clothes. It’s been a while since I’ve toyed
with a Dorothy.”

Catalonia
reluctantly obeys. “If you recall, my lord: ...I was there when
you, Clockwork Count Gabriel, and Technician Beck
all...experimented...with the doll in question.”

“She...was
unlike any other of her kind--except perhaps Gabriel. He loved the
game.” Damien smiles crudely. “My only problem was that
she didn’t scream--kind of like that stone-hearted princess
over there,” the lord continues, jerking his head dismissively
towards Shizuru.

“But
in her case, the poor toy had no clue about our game until it was too
late. I could see the fright in her cold eyes, but she couldn’t
scream. The pathetic thing didn’t have the power to.

“She
was pitiful,” finishes Damien, beckoning Catalonia to his bed.
“Much like her creator.”

Again,
Catalonia obeys; curling her slender, naked frame into a ball.

Damien
grins. “Two lovely women to play with this morning; and by
nightfall, we shall bathe in the blood of my enemies.” He turns
to Shizuru. “Of course, your brother will be captured alive;
I’ll pierce his neck, let his blood drain into this sherry
glass...and have you drink it to remember him by.

“Is
that not rather kind of me? You’ll have a bit of the wretch
inside you when I’ve sent his soul off to hell.”

Shizuru
sighs. “You just don’t get it....”

Damien
scoffs at her, turning back to Catalonia. “Don’t try to
click your heels three times, my dear. I have a bit of a game.”

The
lord grips Catalonia’s shoulders, forces her body into a lying
position, and moves over her. “I’m taking you.” He
pushes deep into Catalonia.

Aside
from a few tears, Catalonia stoically stares at her liege, biting her
tongue through the pain.

“Oh,
good. For you, screaming would serve no purpose at present. I need
you calm if you’re going to play the game properly.

“I
guarantee, however, that you’ll lose. I know your kind all too
well,” Damien hisses in Catalonia’s ear as he continued
thrusting slowly inside her.

“My
lord....” Catalonia hisses as another tear escapes her eyes.
“...the rules....”

“All
I want is the truth. That will determine how long I get to play with
you.

“Now....”
continues Damien. “You did burn down the forest as I
commanded...?”

“...yes....”
cries Catalonia softly.

“...good....
And you killed every living thing that tried to escape, right...?”

“Nothing
that fled the burning forest escaped...escaped our hand....”

Damien
moves faster inside Catalonia, plunging deeper. “...I like this
game....”

“I--my
lord! This hurts...!”

“...you’re
not being honest at all....”

“But--I
can’t tell whether...I can’t--if a lie shortens--your
time with me....”

“So
you don’t want this...? ...is that what you’re
saying...?”

“Yes....”

“Oh!”
Damien strikes the girl deeper. “You do like it, just this
way....”

“N-no...!”
Catalonia screams.

“...then
like this....” The lord lifts Catalonia’s leg, giving
himself more access.

Shizuru,
wincing, glares at the ceiling; wishing that it would all end.

“Tell
me...nothing escaped the burning forest alive...” Damien
hisses. “Is that what you say...?”

“N-nothing,
I tell you...! My l-lord...I beg of you...stop--*” Catalonia
pleads, her tears flowing unabated.

“...yes....
I should stop--toying with you...but I won’t. Too much fun....

“Now
tell me the truth, and maybe...this will end well for you....
Otherwise, you must be a masochist of a whore....”

Despite
Damien’s continued grotesque...debriefing...Shizuru allows
herself a small, bitter smile. Nothing else matters now. No matter
what this bastard does to me, we’ve won. Both brother and
sister have won.

-
- - - -

Hiei
and Gozaburo both wake, finding Seto with an iridescent teal dragon
and three youths. The pair look around to discover themselves in a
cave--set inside a high cliff wall--with the rest of the family.

Glaring
at Seto, Gozaburo leaps up to Seto, livid.
“What...have...you...done..!?”

“...saved
your life, old man,” scowls Seto stonily. “Regrettably,
those three wouldn’t leave you behind to die.” The youth
glares at his three companions.

“I
truly wish you had left me behind. My home is again burnt to the
ground.”

Hiei
shuts his eyes, an understanding smile curling his lips. “It
would only be the second time, father. We can rebuild again.”

“Actually,”
says Honda, “this would be the third time your father
lost his home to fire.”

“The
third?” Gozaburo and Hiei asks in unison.

“Yes.
The first, Gozaburo, was when your parents were murdered.”

“Seto.
Did you tell these of me?” wondered Gozaburo.

Seto,
staring at Honda, shook his head. “I’ve only just learned
that we’re somehow connected to the house of Kaiba. How could
he or anyone know your name?

“The
time’s come for answers, Honda. Do it now.” Seto glares
at the brown-haired youth.

“Watch
yourself, human.”

“Aren’t
you human?” asks Noa.

“No,”
counter Seto and Mokuba.

“Who
they are isn’t important right now,” continues Seto. “All
that we need from them is our connection to the Kaiba family.

Kujaku
laughs. “...you fools! You are the Kaiba family....”

“...impossible!
According to these chronicles,” continues Noa, opening one of
his books, “the Kaiba Monarchy fell fifty years ago. You see!”
Noa points to a picture of Ghiren and Umiruu. “These two died,
along with half the kingdom’s subjects.”

“The
rest of them--those that weren’t pressed into serving the elder
King Saiba,” groans Gozaburo, “fled to the countryside. I
had somehow managed to escape Saiba’s forces. For as long as I
can remember since that time, I have been with Atsuko and her brother
Yusuke. And he, too, was murdered a long time ago. I truly don’t
care to relive the past.”

“How
old were you when you fled the kingdom?” asks Honda.

“...about
four. I can’t remember back that far.

“If
you’re trying to say that I am somehow a long-lost heir to the
usurped throne, I refuse to play along. I won’t be a pawn in
some idiotic political game.”

“You
are the long-lost heir to the Kaiba throne. I don’t play
ridiculous games, especially with someone stupid enough to sire this
murderous lout,” seethes Honda, glaring at Seto.

Hiei
secretly studies the dragon Sugoroku’s blue Heart, hiding it
back within the folds of his cloak. Now is no time to give my
brother back his trophy....

“Seto;
whom have you killed, that this lad is so surly to his elders?”
Gozaburo glares at both Honda and Seto.

“...somehow,
I killed his elder brother,” sighs Seto tiredly.

“Must
have been that white dragon you slew over a year ago--the one you’d
told me endlessly was the key to our good fortune.” Gozaburo
quizzically looks down to the charred, still smoking remnants of the
forest. “Forgive my skepticism.”

“...it
could have been helped then, but not now.” Honda sighs. “My
point is, I speak the truth. You, he--the lot of your clan here--all
of you are the rightful rulers of the kingdom Damien controls now.”

“You
say this, yet without proof,” continues Gozaburo, “I have
no choice except to believe you and your band to be swindlers; a pack
of thieving liars plotting to use me for your own gain.”

“...are
you so miserable that you’ve lost hope?” asks Otogi.

“The
few scant hopes I had are now charcoal below.”

“Don’t
say such things, father,” says Ami. “We don’t know
what we are, or where we came from.”

“What
we are, are peasants, girl. Simple folk. But I, at least, am neither
stupid or naïve.” He gives Seto a dismissive glare.

Honda
scowls, then notes the gold rope around the peasant’s neck. “If
you are a peasant indeed,” he hisses, moving swiftly to meet
Gozaburo face to face, “then what’s this!?” The
dragon/child yanks the hiruiseki pendant from beneath
Gozaburo’s shirt.

“Let
go of that! It’s from my mother, and all I have left of her. My
brother-in-law gave it to me when I was ten.”

“...leave
him alone...” moans Atsuko. “We just want to be left
alone....”

Watching
the events unfold, Hiei takes a deep breath before speaking.
“...mother. We won’t be left alone--not ever again. The
moment Seto slew that dragon: that was the moment that Damien decided
we were somehow a threat to his power.

“Perhaps
we are Kaiba’s seed; perhaps not. Maybe we simply possess
powers that could subdue Damien. If we destroy him, then the war
between his kingdom and Kuwabara’s would end, and we could
rebuild our home in peace.

“Unlike
you and these others, I’m not particularly concerned about the
means to a good end.”

“Using
disreputable means never leads to a good end. I learned that the hard
way, boy, and I lost dearly....” Gozaburo seethed, on the verge
of tears.

Hiei
studies his father’s face. “...I know.”

“What!?”
Gozaburo’s eyes widen.

“I’ve
always known.” Hiei shrugs. “We all have our secrets.”

“What
secrets!?” demands Seto hotly.

Hiei
smiles at the guileless, blue-eyed youth. “I forget; Seto hides
nothing.”

Seto
ignores Hiei. “What are you hiding from us, father...?”
he hisses.

“I...lost
a daughter, twenty years ago. That is all that Hiei is speaking of.
He is her twin, therefore he had some small link with her, perhaps.”
Gozaburo stares at the ground. “...all in the past. I was to
forget about her....”

“I
could no more forget than you,” says Atsuko, crying softly. “It
doesn’t matter. She’s gone, now; and we won’t see
her again--all the same in the end.”

Noa
holds Atsuko’s hand. “Mother....”

Atsuko
stares at the pale-haired youth, then draws him to her, sobbing into
his shoulder.

Seto
eyes the events stonily. “...that’s why. That’s why
you favored him above the rest of us; isn’t it, father...?

“Noa
reminds you of the phantom child you lost long ago,” he states
calmly.

“And
except that the hair color is different--and the age, of course--he
looks like the lost King Ghiren,” muses Ami, looking at Noa’s
book. And you, Seto: you and Mokuba both have the same build and
features.”

“...this
is absurd,” scoffs Gozaburo. “Quit believing in fairy
tales, child.”

Atsuko
sighs, raising her tear-streaked face from Noa’s shoulder.
“Your father is right, Ami. My brother--when he died, when he
bled to death--promised me that he’d return to us, in our hour
of greatest need.

“But
your uncle Yusuke has yet to come. Perhaps he simply wished to
comfort us with his final breath. But it’s a cruel joke all the
same, in a cruel world.

“Young
man, or dragon, or whatever you are,” continues Atsuko to
Honda, “leave us to cope with that hard reality in peace. We
don’t seek your damned pity.”

Roaring
in frustration, Honda transforms and flies out of the cave. Shaking
their heads bemusedly, Otogi and Kujaku follow after their headstrong
brother.

-
- - - -

Four:
Disastrous homecoming, and a bitter fare thee well.

As
Minamino silently returns the tower to its place in the meadow,
Kazuma kisses Rapunzel.

The
girl opens her eyes to find herself back home. “K...kazuma-san?”

“Beloved.”
Kazuma plants another kiss on Rapunzel’s forehead. “I
will return for you shortly. My desire is to meet with your mother
face-to-face, and declare my intent. To marry you.

The
youth places his cloak over Rapunzel’s shoulders. “Wait
for me.” Smiling softly, Kazuma leaves the tower.

-
- - - -

Outside
the tower stand Mitarai and Hagiri, both with haggard expressions on
their faces.

Kazuma
lands before them, his smile fading as he notes his advisors’
weariness. “What is the matter?”

“...please
forgive us, your Highness; we don’t wish to burden you with ill
news,” begins Mitarai.

“Or
to interrupt your nuptials, my liege,” continues Hagiri,
grave-faced. “However, we’ve received word. Damien has
begun his assault.”

“When
will the Saiba forces reach the palace?” sighs Kazuma.

“Four
days.”

“...damn
it. Damn him.” Kazuma winces, giving Rapunzel’s window a
glance. “I’ll have to postpone our union--*”

“No.”
Sawamura glares at the ground. “We’ll hold our ground,
for as long as we can. Let the wedding proceed.”

“I
have to lead our army,” counters Kazuma.

“My
prince,” says Mitarai, “Sawamura is right. Laying aside
the fact that Rapunzel makes you happy: as a practical matter you
must be crowned king. The wedding and the coronation must take place
in order to frustrate Damien’s designs on the kingdom.”

“Even
amid the battle, Mitarai?”

“Yes.
We will die for you both if it comes to that. Rapunzel will come to
no harm.”

“Shall
I take her back to the palace?” asks Itsuki.

“No.
I won’t hide from the witch. The woman deserves to know who I
am.”

“We’ll
head back to the front, then,” says Mitarai.

Okubo
bows with Sawamura and Kirishima. “We await your return, your
Highness.” The advisors and retainers leave, while Kazuma waits
behind a bush for Tou-momoiroi’s return.

-
- - - -

“How
fine for you to concern yourself with our sensei’s
goodwill now, boy,” mutters Kaitoh.

“Better
late, than never; as is the proverb,” smiles Kido.

“Hn.”
Tou-momoiroi glares at the tower. “Not a brick out of place.”

The
old sorceress sighs. “It seems that love may reside between
them, but I must be certain. Love is a matter that begins in delight
and ends in knowledge.”

“Huh?”
wonders Yanagisawa.

“Think
of a rose. The sweetest of all flowers that bloom on the earth. I
have seen men, women and children rend their arms--sometimes even
lose their lives--to pluck a single rose amidst the thorns.

“I
must know if Rapunzel and Kazuma are willing to do the same. It
grieves me to do so; but go, Yana. Do as we discussed.”

“As
you wish.” Yanagisawa bows and opens the hidden trapdoor.

-
- - - -

Rapunzel
wakes from a nap, and sees Kazuma inside her bedchamber. “Hello,
Kazuma-san,” she smiles. “Are you well?”

Kazuma
glares at Rapunzel, not answering.

“Have
you spoken with satou-kaasan?” More silence. Rapunzel
tugs on the youth’s sleeve.

Kazuma
curls his fist, then backhands Rapunzel; sending the girl down to the
floor of her room. He chuckles crudely.

Rapunzel’s
eyes brim with tears. “...have I done something wrong? I don’t
think I have.... Why did you strike me?” she asks haltingly,
staring at her lover in unbelief.

“That
is how we send our whores away, little one,” Kazuma states
dismissively.

“...I
don’t understand. Did satou-kaasan speak with you?”

“I
didn’t talk to your mother. Why should I bother with that?”
asks the youth contemptuously.

“You...you
sought to marry me. That’s what you said....”

Kazuma
laughs. “Forgive me, Rapunzel-san. I am the villain. We men say
a lot of pretty things that we don’t mean, so we may get what
we want.”

“And
what did you want from me?” asks Rapunzel.

“My
use of you. You were sweet.” Kazuma smiles thinly. “But
it is ended. I have done with you.” Kazuma leaves through the
door.

Distraught,
Rapunzel calls after him. “Kazuma-san, I don’t
understand. What do you mean...?

“...do
you not love me?” Shivering at the very thought, Rapunzel
cries, her tears clattering onto the floor.

-
- - - -

Tou-momoiroi
looks up at the lone window to her tower. Hn. Rapunzel won’t
carry me up, not after that shameful business. And for what my part
must be, I am not proud. Using her broom, the witch ascends to
the window and flies in.

Rapunzel
lies, prone, on her bed; her back facing the window.

“Face
me, Rapunzel,” commands Tou-momoiroi. Rapunzel slowly obeys,
revealing a sorrowful face. “Don’t bother speaking--your
eyes tell me all.

“Do
you regret your choice, little one? Do you regret not heeding my
counsel?”

Rapunzel
shuts her eyes a moment. They reopen, glaring at her adoptive mother
coldly. “My choice, I do regret--perhaps. There is much I don’t
understand.

“As
for defying you?” Rapunzel smiles bitterly. “I don’t
regret one bit.”

Tou-momoiroi’s
eyes widen. “What?”

“Perhaps
Kazuma-san is a deceiver. Perhaps all men are deceivers. I don’t
know. Nonetheless, I have learned it for myself; and am the better
for it.”

“You
are still heartbroken.”

“Yes,
I am. I don’t blame Kazuma-san nearly as much as I blame you.
If he found me to be an easy prey, it is your doing. You, who have
kept me prisoner almost from my birth. You, who denied me life--both
the bitter and the sweet.

“All
to protect me. And yet, I am hurt.”

“You
foolish girl. I have fed you, clothed you; I kept you almost from the
moment you took breath. Yet you repay me with reproach because you
decided to heed lies?”

“How
can I be certain it was Kazuma-san who lied to me? How do I know it
wasn’t you?”

“I
just flew in here.” Tou-momoiroi shows Rapunzel her broom. “You
are my child; I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“Then
Kazuma-san did lie--because you made him. Or perhaps he did speak the
truth this past hour, and was lying to me before.

“I
don’t care. I loved him. I believe I still do.”

“Even
now? So you will go to him, then, and grovel?”

“No.
But I won’t stay with you.” Her eyes burning with intense
sorrow and anger, Rapunzel snatches her few belongings and rolls them
into a bed sheet.

“Then
come here, before you leave me.” Tou-momoiroi takes a pair of
scissors off the end table near the bed. Rapunzel walks to her,
glowering.

“Don’t
scowl at me like that,” hisses Tou-momoiroi. “I can’t
help it if you’re headstrong. Nonetheless, I must grant you one
final kindness; ingrate though you are.”

The
old witch cuts off Rapunzel’s shimmering tresses. “I’m
done. Go through that door; take the stairs to the very bottom, then
push the door above you. That is the other way out. Leave, as that is
your wish. I won’t beg you to stay.”

“It
is best that way...mother.” Stonily, Rapunzel leaves.

-
- - - -

Kazuma
chants for Rapunzel to lower her hair, returning from a quick
excursion to the woods. Damn it all--a fine time for a man to take
a piss....

A
silver-sea green braid falls down to him. Hm; the braid today. The
last time, I trust. Smiling with hope in his heart, Kazuma climbs
the braid.

Tou-momoiroi
sits in a chair, smiling wryly.

Kazuma
chuckles bashfully. “So I’m found out, eh?”

“I’ve
known about you for some time. For a year you’ve troubled my
old house, young prince Kuwabara.”

“...my
men. I ask your forgiveness. They acted on my behalf.

“May
I see Rapunzel?” continues Kazuma. “I want her to see
what happens. At the least, if you have forbidden me to see her
again--and I don’t blame you--let me say goodbye.”

Still
hot from Rapunzel’s rebuke, Tou-momoiroi seethes at Kazuma’s
innocent remark. “Love is a rose, young prince. The most
beloved of all the flowers of the field.”

The
old woman rises, with a rose in hand, and moves slowly toward Kazuma;
she causes the youth to back away towards the window. “The
rarer the rose, the sweeter and more precious it becomes. And the
most beautiful of roses is guarded by the sharpest of thorns.”
Tou-momoiroi stops abruptly in front of Kazuma. “Do you not
agree?”

Kazuma
feels the windowsill at his back. He squares his shoulders,
resolutely facing Tou-momoiroi. “As the prince braved a
thousand thorns to rescue the briar rose, so will I for my sweet
cabbage.”

Tou-momoiroi
flings the rose out the window, its thorns scratching Kazuma’s
face. Kazuma fixes his eyes on the witch’s without flinching.

The
old woman chuckles ruefully. “Stubborn-willed fool.”

“I
take it you don’t approve of us being together at all,”
states Kazuma, ignoring the slight trickle of blood on his cheek. “If
I must die, so be it. As the cherry blossom is a flower among
flowers, and the mulberry a tree among trees; so is Kuwabara a man
among men.

“Only
let me see Rapunzel-san one last time.”

Rapunzel
stirs from her bed, and turns to face Kazuma. “You won’t
see her again,” the girl smiles, transforming into a tall
youth. That youth laughs as Kazuma’s eyes widen. “She is
gone.”

“What
have you done with her!?” demands Kazuma, starting to summon
his reiken.

“Why
should that matter?” Tou-momoiroi unceremoniously shoves Kazuma
out the window, negating his reiken in the process.

The
young prince falls into a gnarled patch of thorns.

---
END CHAPTER 5 ---
- 4
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A Grown-up Bedtime Story