Shadow made way up the lawn, using bushes and trees for cover. It was easy enough to get in. People and their security these days. Getting inside was not too difficult. This was starting to get rather dull, Shadow thought. Perhaps this place would bring a bit more fun.

Siegfried leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. His other self had been safely locked away for the night -- after that little revelation on Siegfried's sleep-talk the clone hadn't been careful with revealing, he wasn't taking any chances with him -- and he had finished his allotted work for tonight. What did he have to do tonight? Nothing anymore. He'd admired his good looks, written irritable rants about that festering maggot Kaiba, and read a little. He wasn't tired -- he'd just finished his coffee, after all -- but he had absolutely nothing to do right now. Odd. Inconvenient. Irritating. He stroked his kitten's gray fur while he considered the options. There weren't any. Perhaps something would come up, though, and then he'd have something to do.

Room after room left Shadow empty handed. There was nothing appealing, nothing worth stealing. Oh, wait. Speaking too soon, as usual. Shadow put some electronics in the bag. Yes, those would do nicely. Once it was full Shadow went to other rooms until one became much more of a focus. A light, and that hopefully meant a person. Maybe tonight wouldn't be such a failure. Shadow silently crept along the wall to the door and listened for any sounds from the other side.

"If the world becomes ours," Siegfried said aloud, to no-one in particular, "If we were in charge of the world...what differences we could make." The cat he was petting twitched, and rolled over, exposing her soft underbelly. "It would be...most wonderful." He blinked. "...I am speaking foolishness aloud to myself; how wretched does one get?" He laughed half-heartedly. Myself, and the cat, who cannot understand me, he thought. Even fond you as I am, cat, you are not an intelligent and I will not claim you are. The cat, by no means psychic (despite possible hints to the opposite), had no response to this.

"Siegfried, Siegfried," Shadow said, stepping into the doorway. "How true you are. I don't believe I could have sait it any better myself." The bag dropped to Shadow's feet. "Though the idea of possessing the world...that has a nice ring to it."

"Mmm?" Siegfried looked up. His surprise flickered across his face, and then vanished along with any other traces of emotion. "Ah. You must be...Shadow. The infamous thieving enemy of my enemy. However, I don't believe you're going to try and play the part of my friend, are you? What I've heard of how you act indicates to me that you don't take sides in my sort of matters." He shrugged. "I doubt you'd change that now.."

"Friend or foe? Nobody knows at the beginning of a conversation." Shadow stepped out from the darkness and into a more lit area of the room. The black fabric of the outfit was without wrinkle as it flowed smoothly from head to toe. "Should I be your friend, Siegfried? Would you make it worth my while?"

"I'm not much of a friend person, but..." He stretched his arms out, then folded them over his chest. "I believe that that option sounds better than the alternative; however, I'd really just have to ask what being your 'friend' entails. There are some things I'm willing to do to remain on good terms with one such as you, and some things I would prefer not to do. I don't have many qualms about sinking to any levels, but sometimes I must protest."

Shadow smiled beneath the mask. "You're being such a good boy. I'm not sure if I like it or not. It might ruin my bad boy reputation." Shadow leaned against the wall, arms looking relaxed but prepared for any surprises that might come. "The first thing I would like is money, of course. Cash."

"We'll consider this. What else would you want? Give me a quick rundown; I'm not going to agree until I know what is wanted." Siegfried grinned. "I am a businessman, after all, and apparently a better one than my enemy, if he could not even attempt to barter."

"We'll? It's not polite to not introduce me to any guests that might be hidden?" Shadow scanned the room. No one else seemed to be there.

"Me, myself, and I. It's the royal we, showing up again." Siegfried looked to the side, evidently rather uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, I'm used to speaking for multiple people. It grows on one, after a while."

"There you go, thinking of yourself as royalty again." Shadow pushed off of the wall and took a few steps closer. "I'm afraid I haven't been very truthful with you, Siegfriend. There really isn't much you could offer me. Not objects or money, at least."

"Well, we tried, didn't we? We did our best." Siegfried looked down at his cat. "It's not like we have anything Kaiba doesn't, is it? No, he has it all. Besides, you're a thief. Offering, however, and then throwing it away is just impolite, you know. Goes to show what kind of people become thieves..."

Shadow pulled out a knife and placed it over the mask, kissing it through the fabric. "What an adorable little cat you have there. I sure would hate for anything to happen to that cat because it's owner was saying rude things. But that is fairly typical of you, isn't it, Siegfried?"

"That's a level of disgustingness even I wouldn't sink to," Siegfried said almost conversationally. "Have you met Pegasus? You seem like his type." He pulled Skadi slightly closer to him, all the same. "Hurting people for kicks...tell me, was it the upbringing, or is it a disorder you've had since birth? I'm not quite sure if I can relate or not, at this point."

Anger flashed in Shadow's barely seen eyes, and in seconds those hands that had been relaxed, even when toying with the knife, were on Siegfried, one covering his mouth, the other holding the knife against his cheek. "How about I tell you this? It's time for you to shut up now and listen to me. I've got a little story I want to tell you," Shadow growled out.

Siegfried shrugged. So tell me. Being Captain Overreactive isn't exactly helping us out. However, he decidedly did NOT voice his thoughts -- he wasn't suicidal, after all -- and went along with nodding. Shall I act afraid for you, too? He wasn't going to act afraid. No. He wasn't going to let his emotions show themselves, not now. Now he had a dragon, and now he was going to stare it down, even if he was burned.

"Little Red Riding Hood walked down a path when suddenly Wolf appeared. All Wolf wanted to do was have a little fun. Just a little game, Wolf said. Little Red Riding Hood didn't like that. Little Red Riding Hood wasn't very nice." Shadow nodded to emphasis the point. "Wolf had to punish Little Red Riding Hood for being like that. He pulled out his gun. Little Red Riding Hood wanted to play then, but Wolf got tired of it all. Wolf had to shoot Little Red Riding Hood. Such a pity."

I'm the Fox, so where do I fit in? Who is Little Red Riding Hood? Let me analyse your little psychotic story for a moment. Do you have issues? I know you do. He chanced a muffled and garbled, "Pity, indeed...", and hoped that this little remark would not doom his face to maiming. He wouldn't be able to live, with a maimed face. His beauty was a radiant--etc., etc., etc.

"I really didn't want to shoot Seto Kaiba. That wasn't my intention." Shadow's hand fell from Siegfried's mouth. "I just meant to leave a little mark. Oh well." The flat side of the knife slid down Siegfried's face and down to his left side before he pressed the blade in and down, leaving a medium sized cut on the side of his waist.

"How sweet of you. I hope you cleaned your knife," Siegfried spat, closing his eyes and trying not to make any expressions of pain -- he didn't need to add any of that humiliation to this one. "God knows what diseases these ill-meaning and unclean people could have. In the meantime, if it wasn't your intention, I am quite unhappy: I was hoping you were an expert at this sort of thing. Seems like all you want to do is leave a little mark - and you fail at that - and what does that do?" Don't do anything else, don't do anything else... "Really, now, it accomplishes nothing..."

"I made sure to keep it extra dirty for you. But I am curious about something," Shadow said, just above a whisper, while climbing up on Siegfried, "what other mark should I leave then? I'm open for suggestions."

"I don't know, and really, I don't care. It seems to me that it's up to you, and you really ought to come up with something good. If you don't, I'll tell what a wretched thief you seem to be. Come now. Be creative."

"I can't have you saying that. Now, what to do, what to do," Shadow said in a sing-song voice. "I can do something naughty, or I could do something...well, it wouldn't nice. Tell me, Siegfried, did you know that there was a place in Domino that studied diseases and things like that? It's a very interested place. I went to visit it the other night, but not one was there to play with me."

"I am sure that there is," Siegfried said, biting his lip. "However, I fail to see how that is relevant to me: diseases are not the most interesting thing in the world, are they? Not for people who like physical violence...like you, I assume."

"Look at you, being such a good friend." Shadow patted the top of Siegfried's head, then moved his hands down to Siegfried's throat. "Sometimes I can be so forgetful." His grip tightened around the neck, thumbs pressing in. That'll teach him. He adjusted himself so his knee pressed into the area where Siegfried's leg met his hip.

Wonderful. This is just a wonderful situation, really. God, that hurts, and I don't think that I can deal with this m--this creature much longer. He winced involuntarily, and hated himself for it. "Ngh..."

Shadow smiled and wished that he could take off the mask so Siegfried could see. He couldn't have that, though, so he contented himself to bringing his masked lips to Siegfried's, grip tighting around his neck. How much would it take for him to fight back? They always just stood there, whining and talking, pleading. No, just take the money, just take the jewelry. No one did a thing, and it was boring yet again tonight. Shadow looked out the window, wondering how he could entertain himself later.

Concentrate on me, if you're going to try strangling me. I'm right here; you can't be bored with this, can you? Why don't you just get it over with and leave me alone, if you are? Siegfried could not voice his claims, and resorted to small and painful noises of irritation and evident disinterest.

Just as quickly as he had jumped on him, Shadow slid off. "Just like the others. I was expecting more." He gave Siegfried a slap on the face, grabbed his knife and walked over to his bag. Even the electronics didn't seem appealing anymore, but he might as well take them. Shadow was about to walk out the door before he turned around. "I don't know why I'm doing this. I'm probably being too hopeful, but any last witty remark, any last anything, that could perhaps make this evening from being a complete waste before I leave?"

Siegfried coughed, clearing his throat, and then tried to speak, voice strangled and rather quieter than normal. "Let me state my frank opinion," he said weakly. "You're really quite overrated. I'd give you tips, if I didn't find your methods beyond correctible...and let me make a request. Do something to me. Make this evening less of a waste on both of our parts, and defend your little name. Do something to me, so I don't have to go out and tell the world how incompetent you truly are. That'll solve your problems, and...I don't have any problems, because I'm perfect, so there's nothing wrong from my end."

Shadow was surprised at Siegfried's words, though he supposed that he had a point. Perhaps he shouldn't have gone out this evening. He hadn't felt too well earlier, but when he walked past Siegfried's...he couldn't pass up the chance. "If you were perfect, the world would explode, and here we are, still standing." With slow footsteps Shadow walked back over to him, tossing his knife aside. He wouldn't be needing that pesky thing. When he reached him, Shadow reached out and grabbed Siegfried's shirt front, hauling him out of the chair and slamming him against the nearest wall. Shadow pulled him forward and slammed him into the wall again, this time adding a fist to his gut. "I hope this is a bit more to your liking."

"...not really..." Siegfried gasped. "I'm not the masochistic type, so...I can't really like this, but...I suppose it has its merits for...the purpose." He grinned. "I wouldn't want to let you get off...seeming like a pathetic person, now, would I? Make it seem like surviving you was hideously easy, and that just wouldn't do."

Shadow pulled his hair hard. "So you want your name in the papers too, yes? Just like me...or, hold on just a moment." Shadow pulled him away from the wall, flipped him around, and then shoved him back, face first. "Are you jealous that you aren't as badly hurt as Seto Kaiba? Oh, Siegfried, and you were saying I had issues."

Siegfried made a small unhappy noise. "Jealous of him? Me, my friend? If you know anything about me, you know that I don't like to share in the pain of others. I merely like to laugh at it, and shrug it off. No, thief, I am merely concerned for your image. I wouldn't want to end up shot, myself; that he ended up shot by you indicates he was pathetically uncooperative and acted stupidly. However, to get off of this encounter with barely a tell-tale sign shows the world you aren't half as wonderful as you're supposed to be..."

"You know, I sort of like you. I am curious about something, though. Why are you being so helpful? Not that I don't mind your concern about my image, but it seems a little unusual. It almost makes me think that there is something you want. Don't leave this little kitty without his string."

"Don't be silly," laughed the other man. "Don't be so utterly ridiculous. You have your motives, and I have my motives, and I'm not stupid. I'm not going to allow you to see my cards unless I get a good look at yours first, and since it would be foolish for either of us to show the other our cards..." Siegfried trailed off.

This really peaked Shadow's interest, and he was finally glad that he stuck around. "A game? It sounds promising." Or maybe Siegfried was just bluffing and blowing steam. That was probably it. Tooting his own horn with a puff-puff of smoke, the Little Engine That Could, only this time it couldn't make it up the hill. But that was part of the game. "As for my cards, I believe the paper spelled that out clearly: thieving and causing general havoc among Domino citizens. Now it's your turn."

"My game is quite simple, isn't it? Win at life, defeat and decimate Kaiba Seto, have the revenge my family has coveted for generations...now, I don't know if the above really was yours, and I really would be sad for you if it was, but motivation...ah, motivation is a far more tricky subject. It's an entirely different animal. As for which motivation I am subject to at the moment...it's difficult to say, really."

"I would think you would want to aim for goals that you could be successful at, but who am I to tresspass in the delusions of others." Shadow gave him one last punch in the chest before walking back over to his bag and picking it up. "You said earlier how you wanted to be in charge of the world. A good statement, a good goal, but one you can never achieve. Even if you did become such a powerful being, you wouldn't rule the people completely. Their fear would rest with me, and fear is a very persuasive thing." He swung the bag over his shoulders, wondering which way he should go. The window was he last exit. Maybe he'd stroll out the front door this time. "I suppose I'll be on my way. It's been a splendid time, Siegfried."

"I'm sure it has been," Siegfried said, sneering slightly. "A word to the wise, however: fear is motivation; however, fear of the dark is easily quelled. Once you have been captured, my friend, you will be forgotten. Once you have been captured, the people will find a new bogeyman to be afraid of, a new monster hiding in the shadows to fear. You are not unique: through the fear you wield, you cannot rule. You are a specter, popping up to haunt and howl at people. You are merely another tool of the darkness, and as you are no more than a tool, you cannot garner the fear you think you have. People aren't afraid of the shadows..." Siegfried's eyes flickered slightly; he staggered a little, but managed to remain standing. "What people fear is the darkness, of which a shadow is only a tiny, insignificant part. You are a tiny speck on history, because you attack from darkness. The ones who go down as a blot are the ones who aren't afraid to walk out in the light." He laughed quietly, wretchedly, painfully. "You are too afraid to inspire real fear, my friend. Too afraid..."

Shadow held up two fingers. "You made two mistakes. The first is thinking I will be caught. I won't. The second is that you think I'm afraid, but I'm not afraid of anything. I have control over the darkness, manipulating it to form any shadow I want. If I want to be concealed, I am. You, Siegfried, are the one who's afraid. You and your blah blah nonsense that's more then beginning to grate on my nerves." Shadow reached over his shoulder and to the side of the bag, opening up a little pocket, pulling out a needle and vile. He loaded the vile and pushed down on the handle. A stream of liquid burst from the tip, making a pretty little rainbow arc.

"You seem to be suffering from delusions of grandeur," Siegfried purred. "You seem to think you're special, you're new. You aren't; people like you have been around since the beginning of time: all ego, no real talent. They were brought down, and you will be too. I guarantee it." His legs shook and, furious with himself, he allowed himself to sink to his knees. "And I will be there, and I will be laughing. You'll see; it's inevitable."

"If I am no one special, why do you fall to your knees before me? Or maybe you like the idea that someone's got the power over you." It took only a few steps before he was back over to Siegfried. Again. A Shadow yo-yo. He reached out and ran his hand over Siegfried's head and down his face. "Shadow's got a little present for you. Any preferance where I put it? Or can I stick it anywhere?"

"I fall to my knees because I am tired, and injured, and it's all my own doing," he said, with a kind of detached pride. "My fault. My fault. Hn..." He shrugged. "Whatever you wish. It really doesn't matter to me anymore. You see, I'm in control here, really..." His voice had begun to sound weaker and weaker. "That's why this is happening; your failed attempts don't ma...don't matter to m-me."

Shadow continued rubbing Siegfried's cheek as he got to his knees in front of him. "That's right, that's right, just pathetic little Siegfried," he cooed. He took is hand away and began pushing up Siegfried's right sleeve. His gloved fingers ran up the skin before he flicked it a few times, wanting to get a good vein. There it is, like a little ocean wave rising up, wanting the diseased river to join. With his other hand he took the needle and began pushing it into Siegfried's arm.

“Pathetic? I am invincible; I am a god; I am too good, too good, to fall before you. I have accomplished what I had set in my mind the moment you showed your little covered face to me, and now I shall wait. Perhaps you’ll see my endgame soon, perhaps you won’t see it until it pops out suddenly and bites you in the face…either way, be assured, I will win at this.” He grinned. “And when I win, you lose so much, you see…” He shuddered slightly. “Now, pray tell: what’re you going to be injecting? Simple curiosity, you know.”

"Oh, who knows what's in this vial. It was like a grab bag there, and so hard to choose, so I closed my eyes and Ta-Da! I had a vial in my hand." Shadow pushed down, emptying the content of the vial into Siegfried. It was nothing but sugar water, but what fun would it be to share that little secret? He did wonder, though, what Siegfried was talking about. Endgame? Perhaps Siegfried wasn't such an unworthy opponent. He stood up and threw the needle to the ground, stepping on it, hearing the crunch of glass under his foot. "I think now I should really be going. You know, things to steal, people to scare."

"Whatever you say," Siegfried said, closing his eyes and attempting to sense if there was any difference. Behind the pain, the dizziness, and the exhaustion, he didn't really feel anything different...but it could be slow-acting. This one, however, didn't appear to be the type to kill: sadism, perhaps, was his game, but he hadn't killed thus far. He made a mental note to assure his other self that there was nothing wrong with Shadow, and then to send him right into the face of danger. At last he would be free of him...hn. Cruel, but necessary for...for Siegfried's happiness. "You really are leaving a bit of a mess, though, with that; I ask that you exit in a less-than-messy manner, if you don't intend on cleaning that up; I have blood and such things to get out of the carpet, and it'd be better to have them start sooner on that rather than later."

"Shame on me. I am ever so clumsy." The window caught his eye again. Sure, he had planned on the front door, but that wasn't very dramatic. Or messy. He grabbed his bag once again and strolled over, whistling a little tune. It would be too much effort to reach over and open it. Shadow took the full bag and swung it forward, smashing into the window. Shards of glass flew everywhere, and he used the bag as a shield. "Oops. There I go being clumsy again. So sorry." He waved to Siegfried and jumped out, landing with bent knees below and ran off, laughing on the inside.

"Idiot, now we'll have to get a new window. It's worth it, though; now I have every excuse." He giggled weakly, and then coughed, his eyes narrowing, as the slightly-giddy state left him. Well, he ought to get himself looked at, and loathe hospitals though he did, he would be forced to resort to going to one. ...the one Kaiba was at? Hopefully not, but it was pretty close to his current location, he knew. Ah, well. He stood up slowly, painfully, and made his way to the wall, opened up a small panel, and typed a few keys to sound the "excuse me, but I'm nearly dead and wondering if you could be so kind as to remind me why I'm paying you" alarm. Well, better they get here late than never, he thought, and sat down in the chair next to it. At least he hadn't been bored for some twenty minutes.