Pairings: I hate giving everything away. If you read it you'll find out but I promise there will be rivalshipping. :P
Warnings: It's yaoi! Don't like it then go away! Rated T for mild language and violence.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh, only this plot.
A/N: I got this idea after watching a moive, I dont know if it's even any good so if i get reviews saying I should continue then I will...
So, I hope it's ok...
Stepping out of the sleek limo Yugi's face was greeted by the chill of one of winter's arctic winds. Winter solstice this year was sure to be the coldest one in years. Yugi noticed many times while gazing out of the frostbitten windows in the limo, the people of France wearing their warmest clothes for what they were sure to expect would be snow soon. The clouds covered the great sky with their grey feeling of mourning. Yet Yugi found them calming and mitigate his possible resentment for having to travel so far away from home for a masquerade. For a ball, a party, in celebration of the coming of winter solstice that would be this Saturday. Yugi wasn't much into parties but was attending for his boyfriend of a year. He was a millionaire, he'd come across his fortune by being the heir of a long, long line of great rulers.
Yugi more considered it of luck that he inherited everything but he never spoke of it to his lover. Yugi was a very shy soul, speaking to ones he didn't know was well out of the question, yet on the other hand his boyfriend was quite the people person. He immensely enjoyed parties which was why they were here, if this masquerade wasn't in France Yugi wouldn't of come. He'd always wanted to see the beauty of the city, the great history of every building, statue, and fountain his bright, large amethyst eyes laid upon. What a better place to want to know more about the history then the Lune Demeure Allumé. He knew that it was one of the oldest mansions in all of France, he wished he knew more about it and with luck his wish would come true.
From standing in front of the magnificent place he was amazed by the architectural detail put into it's gorgeous white walls. He found it hard to tell how many stories sat upon each other but he assumed four. The windows were each shielded by white veils that looked like cream, each one was incredibly still despite the wind that blew around Yugi's blonde bangs and the clothes around him. Large, marble support beams held up the front of the mansion, so to cover you as you stood in front of the large double doors that were equally as white as the lavish walls. All around the mansion were red roses, each one seemingly, somehow looked different from each other though they were all the same.
Yugi couldn't help but smile ever so lightly at the thought of a fairytale. He felt like this place belonged in a famous novel, he would be surprised if it wasn't already. Soon though, this place wouldn't be as peaceful as it was now, soon it would be filled with laughs, cheers, and languages from all around the world. He only wished a moment like this would last on, even though it was destined not to be. He knew surely he would enjoy discovering all this majestic place had to offer, and he had three days to do it before all of the aristocrats showed in their black and white limo's or accelerated sports cars.
Honestly Yugi didn't like all those things, he didn't like extravagant clothes, cars, or homes. He would have rather lived more of a simple life, one where he wasn't surrounded by servants every waking moment of his life. Being with a millionaire clearly wasn't the ideal way of living for him, though he enjoyed his boyfriends home, it was very pleasant but still he felt like so many things were missing. He wasn't saying he was unhappy, he just still wasn't use to living like that or doing things like this. Before all of this he use to work as a secretary to the CEO of a company back in Japan.
What he remembered most about working there was how threatened he always felt, the CEO had been a cruel, heartless man. Yugi remembered having to work on holidays due to his unfairness. Yugi had worked there three long years before quitting after he met his boyfriend who had walked into the building a few times. The first time had been due to his own business but the four other times had been to see him. Yugi clearly recalled him coming in just to give him a heartwarming smile, talk with him for a little bit, then leave and come back the next to do the same thing. Yugi soon found himself going on dates and then before he knew it he was in a relationship.
Things have long since changed since the first time Yugi met him. He always seemed to have something else on his mind when they spoke, often he wouldn't even remember the last thing said to him. Yugi also found that his boyfriend never did much with him anymore, when Yugi asked if he'd like to go out he would reply in a quick notion of "how about later?" or "tomorrow." He began thinking that his mind was troubled, that something was bothering him, so naturally Yugi had become concerned. In hopes of calming himself Yugi had linked his boyfriends strange actions to the masquerade, he surely had to have been even slightly nervous about it.
All of a sudden a hand was placed over Yugi's shoulder In a light motion. Almost like a very slow falling feather. Yugi glanced to the side of him to see his boyfriend, Yami smiling very lightly at him. Yugi couldn't help but smile back, he was glad to see him look happy. Lately his forehead had been creased with worry.
"Are you alright, Aibou?" He questioned in a gentle manor, one he often didn't use.
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to staying in a place that looks so beautiful." Yugi reassured him as his eyes strayed once again to the mansion before them.
Yami sighed a small breath of relief. "Good, I was worried I had forced you to come. I know you don't like leaving Japan very often."
"No. No!" Yugi cried. "I was anxious to come to France. I have never been here before and I know that this city is so full of the unknown that I couldn't help but get excited about it!" Yugi chimed happily.
Yami laughed. "I'm glad France has gotten you excited. I too am very much looking forward to staying here."
Yugi glanced over to the trunk of the limo, watching as servants from the mansion picked up their suitcases to carry into the mansion. Their room must have already been ready for them. Yugi was very much looking forward to this, he hoped that the room they would be staying in had a beautiful view of the city. Yugi felt the soft hand on his shoulder slip down his arm in a slow, hesitant motion until it claimed his hand. He then let himself be led up the light grey concrete steps to the open front doors of the manor. He already felt little butterflies in his stomach coming near this place.
Upon stepping foot in the foyer he gaped at everything before him. The ceiling was very high, painted on it were the words "Une belle âme, flambera mon coeur un feu. Une fois qu'I qui courent l'libre arbitre maintenant meurent dans montait du rouge." In very graceful strokes, the words wrapped around the extravagant, very expensive appearing, chandelier. The arms were a blazing gold, hanging from them were millions of perfectly cut crystals. The lights sat at each end of the arms, bringing great illumination into the foyer. The use of lit candles mounted on the walls was barely needed underneath the great chandelier. The snow white walls were covered in art, paintings off all different meanings and sorts. Even masks hung from some spots between paintings, all of them almost blended into the walls they were just as white.
Underneath his feet was a cherry red rug that descended forward, up the considerably large staircase of marble. Yugi wasn't sure but he assumed it stopped at the double door at the top which opened to revile a young looking man, possibly about a few years older than Yami who was older then Yugi by two. He was very lean and tall, his tanned skin made Yugi believe that he didn't live in France full time. His hair was the color of cinnamon, his bangs fell over his forehead not allowing Yugi to see it and behind him his hair was longer, it reached possibly to his shoulders in slightly tangled strands. He had very glowing blue eyes that reminded Yugi of the coming of winter.
His outfit was fairly simple, he wore a white formal shirt with the sleeves pulled back to his elbows. Around both of his wrists were bulky gold cuffs, as gold as the arms of the chandelier. His shirt was tucked neatly into his black slacks, around his waist was also an equally as black belt and on his feet were very formal dress shoes. Yugi still couldn't see him as clearly since he was farther away but was sure he could see some kind of gold earring on his left ear. Even though Yugi had never seen him before he was going to assume that he owned this mansion.
Yami let go of Yugi's hand as he took a few steps towards the stairs. A very small smirk played along the edge of his mouth. "Seth, it's a pleasure to see you again." He called over to the man known as Seth who had begun his decent down the stairs.
When Seth was in front of Yami he took his hand tightly in his and smirked the very same smirk back at him. "A pleasure indeed." Seth then turned his attention to the shy boy standing nervously a few steps away from them. "And you…" He let go of Yami's hand to walk gracefully in front of Yugi. "Must be Yugi." He smiled kindly before taking Yugi's hand, much more lightly then he had Yami's and lowered himself so that he could kiss it. When removing his lips from Yugi's hand he gazed at him from his slightly lowered position to see the wide spread blush over his soft cheeks. "Yami has told me about you." Seth brought himself back up to his own height then let go of Yugi's hand. "My name is Seth, and I own the Lune Demeure Allumé."
Yugi smiled as best he could back. He was often never good a meeting new people. Especially ones that were respectful enough to kiss the back of your hand. "It's an honor to meet you, I find your mansion completely breathtaking." Yugi replied in a soft, gentle voice.
Seth chuckled at the absent humor. "Thank you, except I should say that I wasn't the first to own this mansion. Only a few years ago did I purchase this place from an extremely wealthy man who had no desire to keep it any longer." Seth turned to walk towards the marble stairs. "I find it funny how he was so desperate to rid himself of it. As you can see this place is no curse." He admitted while leaning against the silver railing.
Yugi came to stand next to Yami while gazing at Seth curiously. "No it's not, did he tell you why he wanted to get rid of it?"
Seth's eyes narrowed before blinking a few times and shaking his head, a very strange action for a simple question. "Why don't we continue this conversation in a more… private and comfortable place?" He pushed himself off the railing before walking around the stairs. "Follow me." He instructed.
Yami and Yugi both walked after Seth, he hadn't realize it but there was a door underneath the stairs. Seth held it open for them as they walked into a new very large bright room completely filled with light. The floor was tiled with an interesting design that one could only tell what it was from a high up position. The colors used were beige, sandy tan, and dark brown. Black, metal candelabra's sat upon thick wooden tables on the sides of the walls next to more masks that this time were the colors of the tiles that made up the floor. Yugi was getting the idea that either Seth or the man before was very fond of them, no wonder a masquerade was being held here.
They strode over to a greatly detailed wooden double door. Carved into the wood were roses with very long stems, the thorns on them were very sharp and jagged looking. The carving almost looked real with how amazing the detail was, it was completely precise. Seth grabbed both black handles of the door to pull open. He was the first to go inside followed by Yami then Yugi.
Inside the room Yugi learned quickly that it was just a simple room, nothing very fancy. There were three large, cushioned, dark green chairs. They matches the walls perfectly, and Yugi finally found himself walking on a beige carpet. He had been starting to wonder if there was any carpet in this vast place. In the middle of the three chairs sat a glass coffee table and near the chairs were the cream veils of cloth in front of the windows he'd seen earlier. The room was completely dark except for the window that brought in a gloomy sort of light, one that was produced from the clouds instead of the sun.
"Please, sit down." Seth voiced as he closed the double doors behind them.
Yugi went to sit down in the chair closest to the window while Yami sat in the one closet to the door. He gazed around the room as best he could, though it was so hard due to the insufficient amount of light. Though something did catch his eye in the darkness. Upon the wall beyond the chair in front of his was another mask, this one was strangely different than the others. The mask was black except for in the eye sockets looked to be two blue gems placed behind the mask to make it look like it had eyes. He couldn't help but wonder why none of the other masks had gems like that.
"Would either of you like anything? Coffee? Tea?" Seth offered as he came over to the chairs. He stood near the chair he would be seating himself at to look at both of them with curious eyes.
Yugi glanced to him from the mask to shake his head. "No, but thank you." He said with a smile before looking back at the mask. There was now a difference he quickly recognized, the gems were gone. Had he just been seeing things? His mind could have just been possibly playing a dirty trick on him, after all he was sort of tired, the plane ride from Japan had been long and very tiring. Yugi ruled it as nothing, he had to of just been seeing things.
"I'm also fine." Yami replied simply. As Seth walked from the chairs to the curtains Yami looked over to Yugi. "I hope your not afraid of a phantom legend, Aibou." Yami told him with a playful smile.
Yugi looked on to him very curiously. He couldn't help the small bit of anxiousness that shown through his purple orb's. "What do you mean?"
Seth pushed back the curtains to let the room be much more illuminated. He tied the curtains back to show the outside world in, the snow had began to fall just like the city of France had anticipated. Yugi could see the side of the mansion in the midst of a flurry of white crystals falling from the clouds. Seth turned towards both of them and smirked. "The legend of Lune Demeure Allumé."
Now he was very curious. He knew that this place had a lot of history but never did he know there was a legend behind it. "There's a legend?" He questioned. Looking forward to hearing more about it.
Seth nodded his head slightly. He came over to the dark green chair to sit. Before beginning he crossed a leg over the other and sat back against the cushioned back of the chair. "The wealthy man ran a great speech about it, though I barely understood with how worked up he was about it." He began a little humorously. "I've met many of rich men in my life, but I can't say I've ever met a rich madman. He was completely convinced of this legend that he was desperate enough to sell it as quick as the snap of your fingers. I cannot say I believe in this legend but it never hurts to know about it and humor the gullible into it." He explained. His eyes often flicking between Yugi and Yami who listened to his words. Yugi much more anxious then Yami.
"The legend the man told me was of a phantom. A phantom that hides within the walls of this very mansion, not a soul knows what he's after or what he wants. He was even to have said to have written the words upon the ceiling in the main foyer. If I recall correctly it says "Une belle âme, flambera mon coeur un feu. Une fois qu'I qui courent l'libre arbitre maintenant meurent dans montait du rouge." The man was so terrified of him because the phantom's eyes are said to freeze you in place, hypnotize you, while he took out a knife to kill you." He proclaimed. Almost gravely to add more affect to the story.
Yugi stiffened slightly at the words he had heard. He knew better then to believe a legend but he couldn't help the fear that crawled into his veins. "What do those words mean?" He asked. Referring to the words that were written gracefully on the ceiling of the foyer. His french wasn't so great, he knew that Yami knew more than he did.
"In english it says "A beautiful soul, will blaze my heart a fire. Once I who run free will now die within the rose of red." I haven't a clue what his words could possibly mean but I doubt that it is of any importance to us. Trusting anyone could have written those words to add to the legend." Seth explained. He almost seemed annoyed.
This made Yugi even more curious. How could anyone even reach that high of a ceiling? There was no ladder high enough in the world to reach it. Of course there couldn't be a real phantom, things like that don't exist. Though he did remain curious on the subject. "Did anyone actually fall victim to the phantom?"
"The man told me that days before a masquerade party one of his guests went missing and was never found, then during his party a few days later a great tragedy occurred. A fire had been started in the ballroom by who they all believed was the phantom, the fire killed two people and injured four. I still find that hard to believe. How could a phantom hide in this mansion for so many years without being caught or seen? I almost think that man was trying to play a joke on me." Seth told them both distastefully.
Yugi suddenly felt a small pinch of fear. People didn't just disappear and never be seen again, still how could a phantom exist? "Did the man ever give you some sort of description of him?"
"The only thing I was told was of his eyes, I have never seen this mythic phantom. He alludes sight of anyone expect for those unlucky enough to get snatched away by him." He stated while laughing. Obviously making fun of the supposed phantom. "You must admit that it is a great legend to tell the guests, to see the look on their faces is completely priceless."
"I agree." Yami finally said from his long silence. "Not to cut story time short but would you mind showing Yugi and I to our room?" Yami questioned Seth as he rose from his chair.
Seth also stood. "Of course not." He told him while heading to the door to open it and let in the light of the second foyer. Making the room much less dark then it had been before.
Yugi, being the last to stand up glanced to the mask once more. He wondered still if what he saw before had just been his imagination running away with him. Either way the crystals he'd thought he'd seen would stay in his memory for a long time. Something about them had almost taken his breath away. He may have only looked at them for a mere few seconds but he felt like they had somehow touched into his soul, marked him into the memory of sight. As in saying the task of forgetting would be impossible. "Seth…?" He muttered while forcing his eyes away to gaze at the brunette who had been looking at Yami before him.
"Yes?" He questioned as Yami walked out of the room to stand outside the doors.
"Why are there so many masks hanging on the walls? I seem to find them everywhere." Yugi asked finally. The curiosity of it almost wanting to eat away at him. He walked past Seth into the foyer before he heard his reply.
"The man who owned this before me had… I guess you could say sort of a fetish for masks. The damn things are bolted to the walls, if I wanted to remove one I'd have to take down the whole wall." Seth told him as he closed the doors behind them.
Yugi found that oddly very strange. He had never heard of anyone with a fetish for masks. He neither had heard of the legend of Lune Demeure Allumé but he seemed to be learning something new every minute here. Soon Seth led them back the way they came, to the main foyer. They ascended up the marble staircase then took an immediate right down a long, almost never ending hall. Yugi found doors upon doors with who knows what inside. The hall kept quite the same often, he walked along a red rug much like the one in the foyer that led from the entrance, up the stairs, to the double doors. There were many potted plants along with tables that held more of the candelabra's that shed light for them.
Once in while they would come across a window that was shielded by their sight. That made him even more curious if the snow was still fluttering to the ground. He hoped it was, then tomorrow he'd be able to really enjoy it. Yugi never knew a moment in his life when he didn't like snow, in Japan it often didn't snow in the winters. Normally it only rained, though he did enjoy the wet weather he much would have rather had it snowing.
"Here we are." Seth told them as he stopped in front of a dark red door. The same color as blood when exposed to oxygen. "I hope everything is to your liking." He said with a slight smirk aimed towards Yami before opening the door for them.
Yugi was the first to walk in and he was instantly impressed. The bedroom was a fair size, not too small and not too big. The bed was a double and pushed against the left wall, a white laced canopy hung from it. The sheets were as white as the canopy and the comforter was a lavish azure. There wasn't much current light in the room expect for a candle lit on the nightstand on the left side of the bed. Upon the back wall was a wardrobe followed by a window that sat right above it. He found it interesting by how the curtains were moving ever so slightly yet he felt no breeze, the window could have possibly been open.
On the right wall was a door that he assumed led to a bathroom then next to the door was a full body mirror which was encased in a silver frame hung onto the wall. He noticed how all of their suitcases were sitting next to the wardrobe, strangely already open and with nothing inside.
"I hope you don't mind but I had my servants already organize your things into the wardrobe and bathroom." Seth admitted. He walked into the room right after Yami had.
"No, not at all. Thank you." Yami reassured while very subtly rubbing his arm against Seth's. A motion unknown by Yugi but well acknowledged by Seth.
Yugi turned from gazing around the room to smile lightly at Seth. "Yeah, thank you." He said respectfully.
Seth nodded. "Then I'll leave you to get comfortable. If you like you both are welcome to join me for dinner at six. The dining hall is downstairs to the left, you'll find it." He reassured them before leaving. Closing the door behind him.
Yugi instantly went to sit on the bed. Glad that it was comfortable. He took his attention to the time for a moment to see that it was thirty after five pm. He hadn't eaten since noon so he was most likely going to join Seth for dinner. "Seth seems pretty nice, how did you already know him?" Yugi questioned. He recalled Yami saying that it was a pleasure to see him again earlier today.
Yami came to stand in front of Yugi. "I've known him for a few years actually. I met him through my business, he's a great translator."
"How come he's so tan though? He couldn't possibly live here all the time?" Yugi asked curiously. He felt left out for the two already knowing each other, but obviously Yami had already talked to Seth about him.
Yami shook his head. "He only comes here in the winter, the rest of the seasons he lives in Egypt." He explained while moving to sit down next to Yugi.
Yugi turned slightly so that he was more facing Yami. "Why does he come here for winter? I would think he'd want to stay in Egypt since I'm sure it's much warmer."
"I'm not exactly sure, but I know that this year he came for winter solstice. There is a party hosted here each time we have one, you could say it's a tradition." Yami explained.
Yugi sort of felt like a burden for asking so many questions but he felt like he needed to be more filled into the events. "Why did we come so much earlier than everyone else if the party is on Saturday?"
"He invited me to come earlier and I felt it would be rude if I said no. Plus coming here was something I think both of us could say we were looking forward too." He explained while gazing around the room for a moment. "The décor is outstanding. I wish my mansion looked half as amazing as this."
Yugi nodded. No one could deny the class and beauty of such a mansion. He stood up and walked towards the mirror, when in front of it had looked at the encasement. So much detail was put into something so simple. He then looked at his reflection. Taking note of his slightly more than normal messed up hair, the red scarf still around his neck from being out in the cold weather. The black long jacket he had on and grey pants along with the nicest pair of shoes he could find. Yugi removed the scarf from around his neck then looked away from the mirror to toss it onto the wardrobe. Barely getting it to land on top of it.
When he looked back he saw a pair of two blue crystals staring intently at him from the mirror. Surprise made him quickly shake his head and close his eyes, when looking back at it he saw just his reflection again. What had he just seen? Did he really just see those crystals or were his eyes playing tricks on him again? Yugi almost wanted to laugh at his own questions. Of course he had just been seeing things, he didn't know why he was thinking so irrationally. Seeing crystals In the mirror wasn't possible, after all he was tired. Going to bed would be smart but skipping on dinner wouldn't be.
"Yami?" He called as he looked to him from the mirror.
He looked up from the floor to gaze at Yugi through the mirror. "What is it Aibou?"
"Do you… Do you believe in that legend Seth was talking about?" Yugi asked softly. Not sure exactly how Yami might react since he hadn't said much with Seth was telling them about it.
He stared idly at him for a moment before laughing wholeheartedly. When he collected himself a short moment later he grew a humorous smile. "Of course not! I didn't believe it the first time Seth told me and I still don't believe it today. Legends and myths are just stories Aibou, nothing more. Think of them as a fairytale if your scared." He told him a little teasingly before standing up from the bed to walk up behind Yugi.
Yugi gave him a look of protest. "I wasn't scared of it! I was just curious if you believed it…"
Yami wrapped his arms around Yugi's waist to pull him closer. "Do you believe in it?" He whispered in his ear.
Honestly Yugi wasn't very sure. From what Seth had told him he knew people didn't just disappear before a party. Though the man could have already been completely crazy and just thought that who ever had gone missing. The fire could have also been by accident, there were a lot of candles lit around this place, something like that was bound to happen sooner or later. "I don't know… I don't really want to out rule it…" Still if Seth said it wasn't true then it couldn't be. After all he lived here for the few months of winter. Surely if the phantom existed he would have seen him already.
Yami chuckled lightly. "Are you afraid that the phantom is going to come get you in your sleep? That he will take you away?" He teased very playfully.
Yugi pushed Yami's arms from around him to turn and frown. "That's not funny…" Yugi would have taken it much lighter if he wasn't still unsure about the whole legend. He probably would have laughed.
"I'm sorry, I was just kidding. I wouldn't let him take you." Yami reassured before kissing Yugi gently on the forehead.
Yugi smiled before hugging Yami around the stomach and placing his head on his chest. After Yami was hugging him back Yugi heard his boyfriends stomach growl. He looked up at him cutely and laughed. "I think your hungry."
Yami laughed also. "Really? And what did my stomach growling give away?" He jested as he let go of Yugi to walk over to the door. "I don't think Seth will mind us going down a few minutes early." He proclaimed as he opened the door for Yugi.
He nodded as he exited the room followed by Yami. Looking forward to what this place would have to offer.
Reviews would be nice if you want me to continue...