Painful Memories: Part III: Consequences

Back Home

"Thanks for your help back there." Yugi was still breathless and looked a little banged up.

Kaiba nodded. He still felt jarred by the entire experience, and Anzu and Joey hadn't stopped talking about it since they got into the vehicle.

"I mean, I like having fans as much as the next person," Joey said. "But I never want to have that many chasing after me again."

Anzu turned around in her seat and gave a sly smile, "Oh, come on! It wasn't that long ago that you were begging to be popular enough to have girls screaming after you!"

"Not like that!"

Yugi grinned, "It's a bit different when you actually experience it, huh?"

Joey folded his arms and sat back in his seat again, grumbling something under his breath that Kaiba couldn't quite make out. For once he found himself agreeing with him. Kaiba had never been good in crowds. It was different when he was on a stage or behind a television camera. Those were distant admirers, and he couldn't as easily see the desire in their eyes. They couldn't reach out as easily and grab him or take something from him. Perhaps it was all those years in the orphanage, dealing with the school yard bullies that always tried to pick on Mokuba. Either way, Kaiba kept his arms and legs crossed so that the others didn't see how shaken he was by it.

Pegasus leaned against the door a bit, as best he could considering they had Yugi and Joey squeezed in between them. He was giving Kaiba a concerned look, trying his best to find out if he was okay without breathing a word. It was a kind gesture, but he was pretty sure Pegasus could have used the Millennium Eye to read his mind and find out for himself.

Kaiba shook his head and turned away. Had he really just considered that? Had he forgotten what had happened last time Pegasus had the Eye?

They pulled off the highway and entered a much less urban area. The businesses and shops had turned into apartment complexes and condos, all brimming with beautiful green lawns. How did they have so much grass out here? He tried to recall when he had flown in a few years back when he was returning the Millennium Eye to Pegasus. Had there been so much greenery? Massive palm trees cast long shadows over the empty morning streets. It felt like they were in California more than Cairo.

Pegasus leaned forward and put a hand on Rishid's shoulder, "How is Ishizu doing? I take it she's still recovering."

"Yes. She wasn't feeling well when I was heading out earlier." He lowered his voice, "She said the Necklace had something it needed to show her as well."

The Jeep pulled into the driveway of their home, which had big box hedges on either side. The place was a brilliant white with hard angles everywhere, giving it a very modern look. Rishid hadn't quite turned the vehicle off when Kaiba pulled the latch and got out, eager to stretch his legs. Being stuck in the car with so many people after being surrounded by that crowd was nerve-wracking. His legs still felt shaky. Yugi got out beside him, and leaned back against the vehicle with a heavy sigh. He was so short that he didn't even come up to the top of the spare tire on the back of the Jeep.

"Whew," Yugi said. "I have to admit, it feels good to be outside again. I feel like we've been cooped up for days."

"The long flight probably didn't help," Kaiba said. It was strange how it was always easier to talk with Yugi when they were somewhat alone.

As Joey got out on the other side with Pegasus and Anzu, he grabbed at his stomach, "Oh man, I'm so hungry! We should've picked up something on the way over. Hey Rishid, think we could swing back around and pick up some McDonald's? I think I saw one a little ways back."

Rishid got out with a smile on his lips. "We could do that if you'd like, but I anticipated that you might be hungry and already prepared a meal."

"Like real Egyptian food?" Anzu added. "Last time we were here the guys only wanted take-out. We totally missed out on all the local food."

"Why do you have to look at me when you say that? Tristan didn't want to try any either."

"Well Tristan's not here, Joey."

They wandered toward the front door, leaving Rishid standing there in confusion. He looked down to Yugi, "Does that mean I should go get something else?"

Yugi laughed, "No, I think they want to try what you made first."

Kaiba held back while Yugi followed Rishid up to the front door and let themselves in. Instead of following, he made his way over to Pegasus. "You did a nice job back there."

Pegasus flashed a smile, "Why, thank you! I was impressed with how you just picked up Yugi. Have you ever thought of trying out as a quarterback?"

"I'm sorry, is that supposed to be some American joke or something? If so, it was terrible."

Pegasus laughed, "Cracking jokes and talking with Yugi, you must be feeling better."

He shrugged. "I guess."

He put a hand on Kaiba's shoulder, "It's alright. You've got friends here, and people who have had to take up their own Millennium Items as well. We'll get you through it."

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I don't think that's going to help much when we're dealing with magic."

Pegasus gave him a thin smile, which did far more to confirm Kaiba's suspicions than anything Pegasus could have said. At the end of the day, it was on his shoulders alone to deal with the Millennium Rod. All the friends in the world wouldn't help that much.

He followed Pegasus inside and pulled out his phone as he went. He needed to give Mokuba a call before he did this. He hadn't a clue what time it would be in Domino right now, but he couldn't wait. Something told him that taking up the Rod was urgent, and he couldn't put it off much longer.

If something happened to him, he wanted to at least have this sorted out with Mokuba first.

*****

Author Notes:

So Wattpad hates me and won't let me view or respond to any reviews. ;_;

I do read every one of them though and I love reading the theories so far! We still have Part 4 to go, so there's still quite a bit of story left to have theories about too!