Castle of Dark Illusions

[madimpossibledreamer]

In case I didn't make it clear in this 'verse before now, 'Pharaoh' here is Yugi.  He's the New Pharaoh.
Writing a freaked-out Kaiba is fun.
~Dreamer~

Main Points:
Yugioh Legacy!verse, part of the Phantom Tournament
Chapter Summary: Several people aren't handling the aftermath of the possession well.  (Also, if this summary sounds familiar, that's 'cause people in Yugioh need to STOP GETTING POSSESSED)
Word Count: 865
Rating: teen

            This time, it isn’t easy.  It takes everything Yugi has to pry his eyelids up, but the stinging of his cheeks gives him something to focus on.
            He claws his way out, feeling half dead, and hears someone screaming at him.  He can’t understand the words, but he’s pretty sure it’s Kaiba.
            His head flops to the side, and he finally opens his eyes.  His eyes take a minute to focus, and finally a blurry woman’s face comes into view, lying near him.  “Pretty,” he musters, and there’s another slap in the face.  That’s really starting to hurt.
            “Get yourself together, Yugi!”
            Right, okay, I’ll try.  He blinks slowly, brain feeling like he’s put it in some kind of blender.  Th-at’s Téa.  Something’s wrong.  Besides the fact he can’t think.  Those clothes.  Those aren’t hers.  It’s hard, but he’s slowly remembering how to think and breathe.  Unless she bought them in.  The city.  Then why is she wearing clothes that aren’t hers?
            And then, the shape kneeling watchfully by her, like a stalwart protector…  That’s…Mahaad.  He came.  And…that’s Blue Eyes.
            “YUGE!”  And Joey.  He sounds out of breath.  It’s hard to piece together everything.  What’s going on?
            Joey tries to push Kaiba out of the way, and the man growls like he’s the Blue Eyes, so Joey runs around to the other side.  It’s not the time for arguing, apparently.
            Except it’s always time for arguing with those two.  Even at the end of the world, it’s arguing and petty comments.
            “Yuge, speak ta me, pal.”  Joey’s crying.  He puts together the pieces all at once, seeing them play out like a short film in front of him.  Téa’s fall.  His rush to catch her.  Calling on Dark Magician, and something catching him.  Blue Eyes?
            “You are going to explain exactly why you and Gardner thought cliff diving during the middle of the night was anything like a sane choice,” Kaiba warns.
            He breathes in as deeply as he can and focuses all his strength into rolling over.  He needs to check on Téa.  He’s weak, weaker than he can ever remember being, but he refuses to let that stop him.  He coughs a little, and two sets of hands try to stop him, but he ignores that and his body insisting he needs to rest.  He essentially crawls to her, and Mahaad switches his concerned gaze from Téa to his master.  The others are talking, but he doesn’t have the energy to pay attention to what they’re saying.
            He pushes himself up and sits, finding it somewhere in himself to put a hand on her hair.  “She was possessed.  Again.”  He sighs.  “I’m not going to let her get killed.” 
            “Dat—dat’s Téa,” Joey realizes, sounding a little shocked.
            Kaiba shakes him, looking as frustrated and angry as Yugi’s ever seen him.  “I’d think that even you would realize that getting killed won’t help you save either you or her.”
            “So, after she jumped out the window, and was already falling, what would you have done?  Would you have let the woman you love fall to her death?” the Pharaoh asks, anger in his voice, and then he shakes his head immediately, feeling guilt and regret.  “I’m sorry, that wasn’t…”
            Kaiba waves it off.  He looks solemn, a little frustrated, too.  Yugi notices for the first time that Seto’s wearing Blue Eyes pajamas, which he’s never seen, and fights off the urge to giggle inappropriately.  “Any apologies you have aren’t for me, are they?”
            Yugi shakes his head and opens his mouth to argue, but his attention’s suddenly diverted.  There’s a stirring beneath his hand, and eventually, what feels like an eternity later, hazel eyes blink open and focus on his face.  “Yugi?”
            Kaiba growls impatiently.  “Dark Magician…I feel strange talking to a Duel Monster, but would you mind picking up Gardner?  And Wheeler, you can carry Yugi.  I don’t think that we should stay up here on the roof, especially given whatever Gardner’s wearing.”
            “Rich boy doesn’t feel like helpin’ out, huh?” Joey grumbles, and he’s fixed by a steely blue gaze.
            “Would you rather I carry Yugi, then?” Kaiba snarls.
            “…No.”  Joey comes to the realization defensively, and the taller man snorts.
            “There you are, then.”  He sweeps out.  It looks a little less impressive in a sleepwear set than the traditional trenchcoat, but somehow Seto manages anyway.  A somewhat plaintive call that sounds vaguely like a goodbye comes from the dragon, and he looks in its direction and even possibly smiles for a moment before continuing on.
            “Come on, Yuge.  Stay awake, an’ I’ll find dat hot cocoa in de kitchen an’ make ya some.  An’ you gotta keep an eye on your girl, make sure she’s okay, so don’t go fallin’ asleep on us now.”  It’s false cheer, but Joey’s trying hard, and he’s pretty good at cheering Yugi up.
            “That sounds great, actually.”  His voice sounds a little far away, but he’s gotten this far by sheer force of effort.  Why stop now.  “Marshmallows,” he adds, a little dreamy now, and there’s a chuckle.
            “All the marshmallows dat’ll fit in your cup,” Joey promises, sounding a little calmer himself.