Endgame (Part 1)

"Zorc is out, but I am still in it," Set warned. "This game isn't over yet."

"You have only one battleship left," Bakura noticed.

"Yes, and the only one who'd know where it went to, won't be telling you," Set reminded them. "You'll have to guess where Mokuba is at."

"What happens when we've used all 40 cards?" Kaiba interrupted. "Who wins the game?"

"We are not using 40 cards," Yuugi insisted. "Kaiba, his soul will be safe. Once he's gone, we win, and it's over. He'll be right back."

"I am not just letting someone kill my brother," Kaiba told Yuugi. "You are not killing my brother."

"It's the only battleship to saving the world," Bakura answered. "What else would we do? Defeat him but not lose his life?"

"Yeah," Kaiba answered back. "There must be a way to preserve the life of a battleship and still win."

"We defeated Zorc, and we lost Jounouchi in the process!" Yuugi reminded him. "Do you think your brother wants you to defend him if he knew his death would save the world? It's only temporary too, he won't get far before he is given his life back."

"Take your guess," Kaiba insisted. "Meanwhile, I will find a way to win, without hurting Mokuba."

"There is no way to do that," Bakura criticised him. "Give up on it."

"Jounouchi was given the strength of the Black Magician. Shizuka was given the strength of the Blue Eyes. Jounouchi was given a monster daughter, to help change a card. Yuugi and Atem have their puzzle. I am not going to stand here and believe there was nothing different for the innocence of Mokuba!"

Hm? "Mokuba." ///Yuugi: Hang on, maybe he is right, Atem. Something was special about Mokuba.///

///Atem: Yes, there was. Kaiba might be right, it might even be dangerous to send Mokuba. Tell him, Yuugi.///

"There was something special about Mokuba," Yuugi agreed. "Maybe you are right. Part of his soul was part of Masika's daughter. Not biological, but in a loving way. That might be the reason that Satiah being near Mokuba made him well after being shot."

"Or why he grew so damn close to the card since the beginning," Kaiba agreed. "I see it. Mokuba's own spirit was sometimes more . . . gentle. For how we grew up, he should have been harder. Like a stone." He nodded. "There is a tie in it, something that will let me save Mokuba without killing him."

Yuugi looked at his cards. ///Yuugi: Nothing written on a card can help. All that's included is attack and defense power in the game. If the defense broke the barrier but only knicked his life points? It would wound him. I hate to say it but///, "Set!" Yuugi demanded. "Does a battleship have to be destroyed or just sink, and how many life points does it take to sink it?"

Set didn't look like he wanted to answer. "As long as it loses some life points, the ship is sunk."

///Yuugi: So we can destroy the barrier, but leave Mokuba some life points. But determining the strength of the environment to get to Mokuba is an issue. Only Zorc has given out a few numbers. Too light, and the barrier stays intact. Too heavy, and it destroys Mokuba. I can try asking Set?/// "How many-"

"Don't bother me about the barrier. Giving away numbers can give away an idea of places he could be hiding. I don't have to do that," Set answered back.

///Atem: Yuugi. If Mokuba passes on only to come back, his split soul might join him before then. We know things will get tougher to separate if they join. I imagine anyhow.///

///Yuugi: Yeah, those goddesses were doing everything they could to never join together. Even Zorc, he said . . . not that I'd fall for Zorc's tricks. They'll be back.///

///Atem: Split. If one is named Anzu, then it is Anzu. Dangerously strange words.///

///Yuugi: We shouldn't think about that, Zorc was being deceitful. They can be brought back.///

///Atem: We have found a way to win, without sacrificing Mokuba. It feels like a built in safety. That's . . . worrying, Yuugi.///

///Yuugi: I don't care, I know I'll get Anzu back!/// "Kaiba, it's up to you," Yuugi admitted to him. "If we get rid of the barrier, but don't take all his life points, Mokuba will be spared. The more personal, the higher the protection. Do you know where he'd choose to go?"

"There is no way to know the life point value of the barrier. Set won't give it, it's risky," Kaiba said. "If it's a barrier we have to break through." He looked toward Set. "What did you tell Mokuba?"

"Hmm." Set sighed. "I told him people would be firing on him to end his life so he should pick somewhere safe. Nothing else. You aren't getting more than that."

"That's enough for me already," Kaiba said.

///Yuugi: If Set only said that, then would he choose his home as the shelter? Deep inside it, thinking they couldn't get to him?///

///Atem: Maybe. Either that or Kaiba's Headquarters. It did have the most advanced security system. However, others did get inside.///

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Shizuka whispered closer to Kaiba. "Do you know?"

"Yes," he answered, "but I don't know the barrier points. Too much, and I could . . ." He looked toward Yuugi. "It's Yuugi's turn."

1600 points. A mere 1600 points between life and death. Between losing and saving the world. Shizuka had promised Kaiba she would protect his brother if he couldn't. It turned out, that the rules were different, and he would be able to use her for him if he needed too. But?

Too much power. "How much power do you think he has, and how much power do you think Yuugi has?" She was technically on the same team. She walked over toward Yuugi. "Which card?"

Yuugi seemed surprised to see her. He looked sadly at Mana. He then shifted Hikaru around some. "Did Kaiba give you a clue?" He gestured to his cards. "They aren't much."

1500. 500. 2200. 300. 1000.

"If the barrier is in a weaker place, the 1500 might be perfect," Yuugi told her. "If it's strong, even the 2200 won't do much good. We have to smash the barrier in one turn. If Set counterattacks with a really strong card, your attack might be the perfect amount."

Or it might be too much. It depended on Set's card. Shizuka walked back toward Kaiba. ///Shizuka: It's different with me than with Jounouchi. The dragon and I? We're different. We run differently, our energies . . ./// "Yuugi. Bakura. I need you to trust me," she spoke. "Skip your turns."

"Done," Bakura said easily.

"Skip my turn?" Yuugi didn't look as convinced. "If we do that, then it will be Set's turn. Honda doesn't have any coverage, or the other one who's hiding with him," he reminded her. "He'll be open for attack, and you've seen my cards."

It was risky, but a promise was a promise. ///Shizuka: My Blue Eyes is not like the Black Magician. I am not my brother either. Each of us are different. I know this is right./// "You have to trust me, Yuugi."

Yuugi wasn't moving. Shizuka held Mana out to Kaiba.

"You're joking?" Kaiba complained. "I have to hold Jounouchi's problem?" She didn't move it away. He took Mana and held her. "Only because I'm the only one who can do this right now. Yuugi has his curse, and no one would give a baby to the Bandit Thief or Set. This better be worth it." He held his cards away. "Don't touch my cards. Jounouchi bugs me enough, I'll never heard the end of it if I take more life points from you."

Still? Shizuka smiled. He was holding her just fine. When Atem's turn came, he always seemed to rearrange poor Hikaru, like it was a tricky thing to keep hold of. Kaiba seemed to do better, like he had held babies before. His brother always relied on him. Maybe that connection was there before they even lost their parents. She pictured Big Brother Kaiba holding his baby brother for a moment.

Yes. She had to. She looked back toward Yuugi, who would appear very strange to someone right now. She knew though, he was probably talking things out with Atem.

Jounouchi would be yelling at her right now for telling Yuugi and Bakura not to take a turn. Others could be found or destroyed by Set. But, Jounouchi wasn't there, and she . . . ///Shizuka: I am the mutual partner of Blue Eyes.///