Well, I have to say a few things about this. This first chapter is going pretty bad. You guys are gonna hate me for it so much, but I have to have it like this. It's crucial to the whole story.
FYI, I am basing the funeral and stuff off of my granparents' funerals so if it's inaccurate to those of you who will nit pick, then oh well. It's just based off of my experiences.
Title: Where It Lurks
Rating: M
Genre: Romance, Drama, Tragedy,
Warnings: Language, Tragedy, Character Death, Alcohol, Evilness, Anzu-Bashing, Inappropriate Things
Summary: When death strikes the YGO gang, Yugi is left with a hole in his heart. Broken and tired, he also has to go through his love being stolen out from underneath him as well. With everything going wrong for him, Yugi turns to a side of him that he never wanted to see, and it all takes a turn for the worst.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Chapter 1
The morning sky was a pale grey, cloud cover painting it with no real light. Yugi stared into his mirror, lost for words. His normally clear amethyst eyes were as clouded as the sky but with the faintest pink from his tears. He had been dreading this day for a long time. This was a the final day he would ever see him again and it was more painful than he could've imagined. He buttoned the last few buttons on his black shirt and fixed his collar. He picked the Puzzle up from it's rested spot on his bed and strung it around his neck. The Puzzle winked at him with it's shine, almost like a "hello" from the man that had given it to him all those years ago.
Yugi took a deep breath and made his way downstairs to the living room. The whole gang was seated sporadically about the place. Otogi, Honda, Anzu, Jonouchi, Shizuka, Mai, Marik, Ryou, Rishid, Isis, Professor Hawkins and Rebecca, and Yami all mingled with one another, all of them adorned in all black outfits as well. The last stair creaked as Yugi stopped at the bottom. The whole room turned to him and gave him a bit of a half smile. Yami stood and walked over to the teen, pulling him into a hug and rubbing his back. Normally, Yugi would have thoroughly enjoyed the old spirit's touch, but this day was not a day to enjoy anything. "Come on," Yami said solemnly, "We better get going." They all sighed but proceeded to follow Yami and Yugi out.
They all filled into a few cars and they made their way toward a place not far from there. Yugi felt his hands tense up as the neared the place. He bit his lip to keep the pain at bay, but it wasn't doing much. He knew seeing him again was going to make things so much worse and the ceremony was going to rip him apart, but it had to be done. Soon enough, the large group arrived at the all-brick building. It was almost cathedral like in design, and it was a beautiful place to hold this last viewing before the burial.
The pews in the small building were a dark mahogany and they were lined with the whitest of flowers. The casket at the front was a pale blue, the top still open for show. Yugi froze at the start of the room and could only gaze at the casket. The whole room felt incredibly cold, all the happiness ever shared between the viewers and the deceased evaporating from anyone. The others passed by him and slowly filled the pews. Yami was the last one in and he rested his hands on his partner's shoulders and ran them along them for a second to try and calm the grieving boy.
Together, the two of them walked forward to the casket and looked inside. The man that lay in the pure white cushioning was known all too well. The palest of flowers rested in between his hands. The suit that the people had placed him in was a dark grey, similar to his hair. Yugi felt his knees weaken as he stood there and his lower lip quivered. "H-H-Hello Granpda." Yugi managed to stutter out before burying his head into Yami's chest, sobs racking his little frame. The others merely watched, dabbing tears from their eyes at the sight.
Yami had been stroking Yugi's head ever so slightly as the teen poured out the pain of his loss. "Shh. Yugi, we must sit down now. They final ceremony is about to begin before the burial." Yugi took a deep, shuddering breath, and the crying slowly subsided. Yami guided him to the first pew near the body and sat him down and hugged him tightly, tears rolling down his face as well. Suddenly, the doors to the room were opened and two unlikely visitors stepped through them. Seto Kaiba and Mokuba Kaiba made their way to the casket, Mokuba laying flowers on the body, and then they turned to and walked to Yugi. "We're sorry for your loss. Please accept our deepest condolences." Seto said and he laid a hand on Yugi's shoulder. Yugi looked up to the CEO's oddly gentle face and smiled a little. "Thank you Seto. I appreciate it very much." He croaked out and Seto and Mokuba nodded and seated themselves in the back.
The whole little ceremony was nice and it was perfect for Grandpa Mutou. As it ended, Yugi stood up and went to the small podium near the casket. "G-Granpda was a great man. He had a heart of gold and an eye for adventure. He wasn't perfect, but when you're a Mutou, you're never perfect. H-H-His whole life was meaningful. He found the Millennium Puzzle, kept it safe for decades, and for some cosmic reason handed it over to his awkward, bullied grandson who saw him as more than a grandpa. I saw him as a father, a father that couldn't have been any more supportive than what he already was. He lived a destiny and started so many more, including my own. He was beloved by everyone he ever knew and he always be. Nothing will change that. E-Even in death, he is my Grandpa and he is Solomon Mutou, the explorer, and the starter of destinies." Yugi sat back down slowly and shook a little from his dry sobbing. Yami leaned over to him and hugged him once more. "Yugi," he whispered to him, "That was a beautiful speech and I'm sure he is very very proud of you."
The burial was nice as well. They had a good spot for him and the perfect tombstone erected for him. Yugi was composed for the most part and when they lowered the casket into it's final resting place, he simply said, "Goodbye Grandpa. I love you." The gang then all went back to the Game Shop where they could sit and remember the good times they all had with him.
The rest of the night was civil. The gang just hung out and mourned. They had ordered food and drink from a local restaurant so no one had to worry themselves about having to cook or anything. It was helpful to Yugi, seeing everyone all together. It helped him not feel so alone. Even Seto and Mokuba had joined in on the whole thing, which was a shock to everyone. Mokuba had made himself comfortable with Jonouchi and Honda as they chatted and Seto kept to himself off to the side. Yugi would occasionally make eye contact with him and Seto would nod to him in approval, maybe for being so together when there was so many reasons to fall apart again.
Eventually, they began to go home. The only people that stayed were Yugi, Yami, and Anzu, having concern for both boys. Yugi turned to Yami once Jonouchi and Honda finally left, and said, "Yami, I'll be in the room. I need to rest." Yami nodded to him and bid him a goodnight. Once Yugi was upstairs, Anzu turned to Yami who was sitting on the couch, watching the stairs as if he could see through the floors to watch Yugi. "Yami, how do you think this is going to go?" Yami faced her and shrugged, "I have no idea. I mean, I'm a bit more composed, but this still hit me hard too. Through the mind link, I feel his pain. I feel his emotion sink through. I feel his sadness, Anzu. I feel his loneliness and depression. It will take a while for those feelings to finally disappear." Anzu frowned, appearing to be from sadness the boys both felt, but it was secretly because Anze was jealous of the bond and the closeness that they had shared with one another for so many years. "Well, can't you say something to him to cheer him up?" She asked. Yami shook his head, "I'm not sure what to say. Aibou just lost his only remaining blood relative and it was someone he was extremely close with at that. I can't think of what I could ever say to him. I'll I can do is hold him and try to calm him." He looked up to the ceiling once more and winced a little, "Like write now, he's crying again. I can feel it. I feel his anguish."
Upstairs, Yugi was in a fetal position on his bed, trying to close into himself to get the pain to stop. He shook as his emotions just erupted from his body. He felt cold and empty. "I hate this feeling. I hate it. Why won't it stop?" He asked himself, his voice stuttering. He looked up at the ceiling and turned away again. "Please. I hope you're happy wherever you are. I hope you know that I miss you." He whispered and shrank into himself even more. As he mourned his loss, the Puzzle rested safely on the desk next to his bed. However, for a moment, it had a bit of purple curl up at the edges at it, like smoke, and for a split second, it flashed a deep black.
