Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh.

Okay, so I'm having inspiration problems with my other main fic, White Tiger, so I've been writing oneshots and twoshots to keep my creative process going.

And I know this is pretty dark compared to my other fics. Decided to go with something new. :) Enjoy!


Yami Yugi had never been so insulted in his life. Nor had he felt so terrified. But he couldn't show that. Not to him.

He had to keep his fearless façade, no matter what. The man standing before him would clearly show no mercy; he would not appear vulnerable to him, lest he be gone and done for within an instant of his guard being let down.

An unseen hatred and bitter disgust hung in the cold, dark air of the black void which was once the Game Shop living room. Faint, disgruntled whispering of eternally-bound souls could be heard if you strained your ears. The dark void's surroundings seemed to be ever-shifting – not holding shape for more than a second.

Yami had been here many times before, but that didn't make each time less discomforting than the next. Especially since each time this place was brought upon in existence, it claimed at least one soul before disappearing again. And he feared this time would be no different.

The rotting stench of a decaying carcass wafted up the two men's nostrils, causing the most bitter nausea one could feel. And to one man, it was a constant reminder of wrongness in the world, of a cruel twist of fate. An innocent was murdered – a slaughter so brutal and ruthless, something in the back of this man's mind questioned if the other was even capable of such a heartless kill. But the darkness residing inside him insisted that any doubts would cause his concentration and drive to go wayward.

Look at that bastard, with that smug look on his face, hissed the voice in the man's head. You're just going to let him stand there like a fool after what he did to your sister…?

The man let out an unsatisfied grunt at the mention of his lost loved one. Angry tears threatened to fall, but he mentally composed himself just in time to push them to the back of his inner conscience. He couldn't show tears. Not to him.


-Flashback-

The ominous feeling of dread crept up on him early, but he ignored it for the time being. He continued to laugh with his friends Tristan, Tea, and Yugi, as they walked back to the Game Shop after spending a fun night on the town together. Yami would have been among them; instead he kindly offered to keep Joey's sister, Serenity, company while the gang went out together. Joey didn't like for his sister to be alone, and thanked Yami immensely before they left.

Yugi, resembling his darker counterpart's kindness, offered to walk Tea and Tristan home while Joey went to pick up his sister. The group hugged their goodbyes to Joey as they separated. Being in a jolly mood, Joey strolled happily down the sidewalk, excited to see his sister and his other companion who missed out on all the fun just to watch over her.

He never imagined that his whole world was taken from him, and he didn't know it yet. In fact, it didn't even register right away as he saw it right in front of him.

Yami was nowhere to be found, but Serenity was right where he could see her: a lifeless heap on the floor, between the couch and the coffee table. Staining her blouse, jeans, arms, hair, face, and the carpet beneath her was her crimson blood. It looked as though someone had taken a switchblade and relentlessly cut her to pieces. Her eyes and her mouth was left wide open, indicating that she died frightened for her life, of which was taken from her soon after. The offending weapon, the switchblade of which he had imagined it would have been, was lying not two feet from the motionless form, soaked in the victim's blood. She died frightened, and painfully tortured.

Everything in Joey's system froze on the sight like a malfunctioning computer. He couldn't think of what to do but run to her side, as if hoping that she was still alive.

"Serenity…" Joey whispered, holding the limp form in his arms that was once his beloved sister. "Oh God…why…"

Warm tears had started flooding his face, but he couldn't feel them; all his senses could register was the cold skin of his sister's arms and the pale look of despair on her face.

Suddenly he felt an inner fiery rage build up inside him. "Who…did this…" he hissed to his sister, though he knew she couldn't answer him.

An abrupt knock on the door made him jump slightly, nearly scaring the daylights out of him. 'It must be Yugi returning after walking Tea and Tristan home', Joey thought.

"Yugi! Yugi, are you in there? I've come back to pick up my socks, I think I might have left them here last night by mistake!"

'Or not.'

Joey gingerly laid Serenity's body back down on the floor and answered the door to find a usual chipper young man with wild white hair and an innocent expression on his face. However, Bakura's face seemed to fall upon seeing Joey's disheartened appearance, not to mention his clothes covered in blood.

"Joey! Good to see you! Uh… what seems to be the matter? And why in literally 'bloody hell' are you covered in…well…blood?"

Joey's troubled eyes bore into Bakura's ebony orbs as he struggled for the words. "Bakura…" he began, beginning to shake and feel tears line up on the brims of his eyes again. "Someone…murdered my sister. Serenity."

Bakura's face went from concerned to absolutely shocked. "Oh my! How horrible, how horrible indeed!"

"Yeah, and I'm gonna find that sorry motherfucker and make sure he pays for his crime."

"Oh Joey, I'm dreadfully sorry about what happened! I am, really! Perhaps there is something I could do to help?"

Joey sadly shook his head. "Nah, I don't mean to involve you in this. There's nothing that can be done."

But Bakura looked determined. "I quite think there is, Joey." To Joey's surprise, Bakura reached under his off-white sweater and detached the Millennium Ring from his neck. He took one of Joey's shaky hands and gently placed the golden artifact in his hands. "You may borrow this. It will give you the answers you need."

Usually Joey would have certainly declined such an offer and returned it to him immediately, but something stopped him. The pure, raw energy waves coursing through his body at the mere touch of the Ring. Joey looked up from the Ring to ask questions, but the white-haired teen was nowhere to be found. His sister's corpse in the living room still on his mind, he reluctantly walked back into the shop, cautiously carrying the ancient treasure in his hands.

Serenity's body was still there, untouched from where he left her. He once again glanced at the Millennium Ring, still thinking about what Bakura said. Another familiar voice, resounding from the foot of the stairs leading from the shop up to the living room, snapped him out of his reverie.

"Joey?"

At that moment, Joey knew who the murderer was.

-End Flashback-


"Yami, never in my life would I have imagined you would sink this low. A savior of the world, a once great king of Egypt, and a friend to us all… reduced to a cold-blooded murderer. You are going to pay dearly for your crime, and it starts right here, right now-"

"Joey, please," Yami begged his blonde companion, "your mind is clouded! I would never in a million years murder your sister! I'm your best friend for Ra's sake!"

"Yeah? Well some best friend you are! You're nothing but a pathetic asshole, and pure evil, too! Only the evil murder the innocent."

Yami fought every morsel of his inner being to stay levelheaded and not angry towards his friend. He sensed something… something that was tampering with Joey's mind. An outside force. His eyes... they were so…cold, and vengeful. Full of malice and hatred. Nothing coming even close to the warm, shimmery hazel-colored eyes that were associated with his bright spirit. Everything of the like seemed distant now.

"Joey!" he called out, "you must listen to reason! What incentive would I have to kill your sister? Why would I do it? Tell me!"

Joey crossed his arms impatiently. "You tell me; you're the one that tortured her to death."

Yami's fists clenched tightly. Brainwashed or not, Joey was one of the most stubborn men he knew. And right now, it wasn't helping.

"And don't think I don't know that it's you!" Joey added, venom tainting each word. He reached under his t-shirt and pulled the Millennium Ring into view. "I used to think this stuff was dangerous and evil, but this Millennium Ring opened my eyes to the truth. The truth is that you can't trust anyone, not even your own goddamn best friend!"

The pharaoh's eyes widened in horror at the sight of the Ring in Joey's possession. "Oh Ra… Joey! Put that down, it's messing with your head!" he shouted. "Please, that thing is nothing but pure evil!"

Joey had just about lost his temper; veins were bulging from his face against the trickles of sweat running down the blonde's head. "THAT'S IT! NO MURDERER IS GONNA TELL JOEY WHEELER WHAT TO DO! SHADOW GAME THIS INSTANT! NOW!"

"What? Joey, no! Don't do this! You don't know what you're doing at all! Please, just stop!" Plea after plea from the pharaoh did no good. Anger, hate, rage, sadness, and betrayal fueled his energy source, and he was charging up quickly. The pharaoh just stood his ground, though not even attempting to gather his energy to counter.

"What's the matter? Afraid to fight back? Afraid to face up to what you've done?"

Yami held his stance, expression unchanging. "I won't fight you, Joey."

"What? Why not?"

"Because I won't. You're my friend, and I won't fight a friend."

"Suit yourself! Either way, you'll get what you deserve!"

"Joey, please…"

"PREPARE TO DIE!"

Yami barely got a chance to blink before the blast of energy, from Joey's entire dark being, hit him full force in the chest, knocking him off his feet and forcing him to tumble and roll over a few times. The devastating blow left him completely powerless; it even seemed his life energy was leaving him at an alarming rate, even well after the attack had struck him. He did not have nearly enough energy to get back on his feet, so he lied there, panting heavily, trying to stay conscious.

Within seconds, Joey was standing over his weak form, victoriously from his successful onslaught. Yami instantly felt cold, but strong, fingers wrap around his throat and clench it tightly, blocking his air passageway completely as the blonde straddled his small frame. Joey grabbed Yami's throat with both hands, channeled all his negative energy towards his hands, and squeezed with all his might. Even after he was sure he had broken his neck, he wouldn't release his vice grip.

Specks of light and color blended into the pharaoh's vision before, after what seemed like hours, everything went black.


Okay, if I don't start getting reviews, I'll have to update the summary and spoil stuff. Reeaaad and reviewww and tell me that readers are still alive out there! I'm actually almost proud of this one.