Painful Memories: Part III: Consequences

Taking Up the Rod

It looked like a place you would kill people in. That was the first thought Kaiba had as he descended the steps into the unfinished basement beneath the Ishtar household. It smelled of dirt and the air was surprisingly humid for being in the middle of Egypt. Another scent sat at the edge of his senses but he couldn't quite identify it. Somehow it was familiar, but he couldn't make it out.

Pegasus followed him down, and behind him Yugi. As much as Kaiba was unwilling to have too many people witness this, especially after Ishizu spoke of how psychological her battle had been to gain back the Necklace, it looked like he was going to have a small group down here with him. Ishizu, Rishid, and Marik had already gone down earlier to get things together, whatever the hell that meant. At first Kaiba hadn't wanted anyone else down there with him except Pegasus, but then on a whim he had asked Yugi as well. He wasn't sure what he was thinking either, and was still berating himself for that decision. What he had thought would be only one or two people, was now a humiliating five. It wasn't exactly his 'close friends' as Ishizu had suggested either.

Even more worrying was that he couldn't get a hold of Mokuba. He had tried to call him earlier, three consecutive times, but there was nothing. Kaiba was a naturally paranoid man, so his mind had filled with all kinds of terrible possibilities about why he couldn't answer the phone. After all, Mokuba was renowned for getting kidnapped. More than that though, it made him concerned that what he had thought was their reconciliation wasn't actually that. Perhaps he had read a bit too much into that simple text message last night, and they were still indeed fighting. That thought upset him more than any potential death by magic could.

At the far end of the basement sat a chair that could have fit perfectly with a Saw film, especially with the various candles around the room and the way the Ishtars stood around it like a place of sacrifice. He must have paused because Pegasus put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's alright, Seto, we're with you."

"I realize that." He was trying hard not to analyze the place too much, but he couldn't help but notice the discoloration in the concrete around the base of the chair. That discoloration was likely from bleach or some abrasive cleaner being used on what looked like a large surface area. Ishizu had said that the fight to claim the Necklace had been bloody, and Kaiba assumed, quite painful.

Ishizu smiled, and although it was a warm expression, it did nothing to sooth his nerves. "I'm glad you changed."

Pegasus had given him some spare clothes to wear: some sweatpants and a T-shirt. He wasn't as broad-chested as Pegasus was, nor did he have as much muscle on his arms and thighs, so he had to roll up the sleeves and pant legs. At least he was able to keep his socks on.

Kaiba didn't answer her, and instead sat down in the lone chair in the center of the room. "Let's just get this over with."

Pegasus went over to his briefcase against the wall to pull out the Rod. Marik and Rishid were against the far wall, whispering back and forth, probably taking bets on whether or not Kaiba would survive the challenge. Kaiba took a deep breath, then rummaged in his pocket.

"Yugi, if Mokuba calls me back, can you let him know what's going on?"

"Sure," Yugi looked terrified for him as he took his phone. "Don't forget that regardless of what happens, we'll be here for you."

"I don't see how that's going to do a damn bit of good."

"Well, it might actually. Remember the Shadow Game that Marik used on Mai in Battle City? He was able to psych her out because she felt like she didn't need friends. Don't let this thing do that to you. If Ishizu was right and it's able to see our fears and our anxiety, then it might have seen something like that in Ishizu or Pegasus. Don't let it get to you."