The Shadow Games: Shadow World Chapter 2 (Falling Down), a yu-gi-oh fanfic

Skies: Okay guys no more 20 pages chapters
Anna & Kath: *looks at yami blankly*
Anna: Screw you *goes back to writing*
Kath: Not gonna happen *looks at what Anna just wrote and starts typing it*
Drag: *shakes head* We've been trying to tell them this for like ever so don't even try anymore
Skies: Fine but only if someone answers this question
Kath: Yeees?
Skies: Why are we focusing on this one so much?
Anna: *sighs* Because I don't have the manga books to do what I want and don't have time to watch the show and write what they say. The only time I have time is at school which is why I am eating less if you want to know.
Drag: I feel really calm…weird. Anyway Jaden-Lover1634 does not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or the characters so I hope that I won't have to get a lawyer. Also, thank you Mana's Madness for this, but we have found out the shipping Anna doesn't know. It is Supportshipping.

A/N: Hey I didn't think I would get any reviews and such nice ones from really cool people so I was wondering: can I put your reviews in the beginning of my story? Weird request but I didn't want to do it without permission. And any review I get and I already finished this story (doubtful really) I will add another chapter with just all your beautiful reviews and yes even the bad ones. Anyway, ON WITH THE FIC!

~Don't leave me here like this
Can't hear me scream from the abyss
And now I wish for you my desire
Don't leave me alone
'Cause I barely see at all
Don't leave me alone

I'm falling in the black
Slipping through the cracks
Falling to the depths can I ever go back?
Dreaming of the way it used to be
(Can you hear me?)~

- Falling Inside The Black by Skillet; Comatose

Chapter 2: So Cold; Falling Inside

-Last Time:-

Yuugi said with a shrug and glanced at the short haired brunet beside before looking back at the adult. "Not that I don't like this surprise massacre visit why are you here instead of your Castle of Darkness Marik?"

Yami Mariku smiled insanely at the Phoenix and crossed his arms as his dragon blood red wings kept him up float before them, two Red Skull birds flanking behind him. "To watch another one of your family members die before your eyes."

-And Now:-

Before Yuugi could even think of yelling out an order the two Skull Birds flew at them, their claws unsheathed and ready to draw blood, and he moved, hoping that his unit moved out of the way fast enough. Marik's insane laughter rebounded in his head and he looked over his shoulder to see hoards of shadow monsters climbing up on the building they were on. Dread pooled in his gut and he turned to see that his group was staying together with their partner and he let out a gust of air before a tiny smile formed before getting up from his hands and knees to face the oncoming attack.

Magic and adrenaline pounded in his veins and his sword became aflamed with a white fire, purple and red dancing in and out of sight in the fire. His eyes flashed silver before it mixed with the amethyst as he controlled his magic and his mind cleared, the fog of uncertainty fading as training and battle moves crossed his mind, his heart calming its racing pace. As the roof was filled with his enemy he took a breath and got into a attack stance just as the wave hit him and he swung his weapon at the nearest dark creature. Using his training and experience of killing the different types of monsters he mowed down any unfortunate creature that stepped into his path, shutting down the part of him that resented the violent acts.

Ducking an attack from a Feral Imp, Yuugi lashed out with his sword, driving the attacking monster back, putting enough room between them that he could jump and give the Imp a overhead cut before it could recover. A strangled scream left the Imp's mouth before it fell to its side, dead, and he made a face at the dark black blood that sprayed out of its head, around the sword, and landed on his shirt and arms. He pulled the sword out with a quick jerk and turned to block an attack the Giant Soldier of Stone threw at him. His teeth jard at the force of a stone sword hitting his own and pushed the other away just as a molten fireball hit the stone soldier in the chest. Blinking, Yuugi turned to where the surprise attack come from and saw a large black scaled, winged dragon flying over the battle fiels, making him smile at the familiar Spirit and looked around before his eyes fell on the grinning Mage below him on the street who waved when he caught the Paladin's eyes.

"Argatou Jou-kun," Yuugi said through the com. before a Rock Orgre Grotto #1 slammed a fist down where he use to be before he jumped out the way. "I owe you one." He heard a laugh crackle over the frequency and he smile at the carefree sound. "That's twice you owe me, Yug'," he heard his friend say before it went silent with an occasional grunt in the the back ground.

Yuugi turned back to the battle before him and saw a Garmer of the Nordic Beasts running at him, claws out and mouth open to show off the sharp appendages. he huffed before running up to meet the charging monster, his sword in both of his hands on his right side as he met the attack head on. Yuugi rammed is foot into the throat of the beast before he brought the hilt of his sword forward and hit the animal in the head, throwing it back and over the side of the roof, landing with a yowl that made him flinch in sympathy.

"Oi! Watch it!" Someone yelled into the com. but the voice was close and he turned back to where the Garmer fell over to see that Honda was fighting an attacking Celtic Guardian, a green symbol glowing on his forehead and his eyes tinted red, with almost a yard of space between them. Yuugi watched as the Warrior and Shadow Monster exchange glances of dumbfound before the Guardian shrugged and came at the human who yelped and blocked the attack. Behind the attacking warriors were Tea and Ryou and they fought off any thing that slipped through Honda's defense as much as they could with practically useless weapons. A wanna-be Pikachu monster called Thunder Kid and a Beaver Warrior forced the two S.H. members back to back as they fended off the on coming attacks.

"Gomen Honda-kun," Yuugi said sheepishly as he ducked, twirled in a 360 under a thrusting Kunai Knife and a blue clothed and black braced arm before ending up facing a blue and red clothed back. The Ansatsu stood straight and looked around him, trying to find his target before he felt a tap on his shoulder from behind with a innocent voice saying "looking for me?". He watched as the monster turned in surprise to see his target given him the slip and was able to get behind him without him knowing. His innocent smile widen when the surprise tuning into accepted defeat.

"Oh shit," the assassine said at the wide smile and braced himself for the hit he knew would come.

"That is the last thing you want to be remembered by?" Yuugi asked with a small frown between his eyebrows, his smile fell slightly before he shrugged. "Have it your way then." Yuugi grabbed him by the wrist and twisted his arm, forcing the man to drop the knife he held before Yuugi rammed his knee into the creatures stomach and the slammed his elbow into the creature's back, knocking him down on the floor, unconscious.

Before Yuugi could catch his breath a fearsome battle cry filled the air and he looked over his shoulder to see Amazoness Paladin running at him with her sword over her head as she readied herself to cleave him in two. He sighed as he turned around to face the oncoming danger head on and raised his own weapon in a defense block. "Don't these guys ever give up?!" He asked to no one in particular just as the sword swung down.

J.A

On the street below Jonouchi kept his charge behind him as he struck at any unfortunate Shadow Monster that came across his magic. His Spirit bonded dragon, Red Eyed Black Dragon, made quick work of the enemies but he could feel his partner's energy waning as long as his own and he knew he would have to call him back so that he could still protect Anzu. A Diabound Kernel came at him and he sighed before forming a iron double-edge sword out of the metal around him with the help of his Earth magick. Grabbing the fully formed sword, Jonouchi stood to his full size as the monster rose before him, jabbing the iron sword up through the roof of the great beast's mouth. The monster cried out in pain, clawed appendages attempting to dislodge the growing annoyance from its maw. He held up a hand, radiating a white-green glow as he let out a blast of magic up through his arm and fingers and into the creature's skull with spectacular results. The monster screamed pathetically one final time before its head exploded, covering the tar and buildings with whatever organ of thought existed within its malformed skull.

Jonouchi closed his eyes and mouth as fast as he could before he was covered from head to toe in black blood and other parts and made a face when he looked down at himself at the site he saw. 'Okay now dis is disgusting,' Jonouchi thought and looked at the monster. Just as he did the hands moved to push itself up and started to swing wildly at everything and nothing, making him move back to duck the flying attacks until he and Anzu were backed up against the wall of the building. He looked around for an escape before noticing that other dark creatures formed a circle around them. "Shit!"

"Don't these guys ever give up?" Yuugi asked over the com. and he bit his lip lightly to keep the smile from forming, nodding along with his friend's comment.

He pushed Anzu away as he twisted to the right just as a blast of shadow magic hit the building in the spot where they were just standing. Jonouchi raised his sword and faced the headless monster with a scowl. "Dis ding is really pissing me off!" Still covered in the gore of the creature, Jonouchi ran at the monster with all the speed he could muster to try and intercept the impending attack that was aimed at his charge. Ducking, he slashed at the thing's tail before jumping high, swinging his sword down and cut the raging monster in two, the blade of his sword hitting the tar with a clang below when he landed on the ground on his knees. The two cleaved parts fell on opposite sides of the sword and he stood up, feeling even more exhausted than before and saw that half of the monsters that surrounded him were burned to a crisp.

Thanking Lady Luck he called back his Spirit, feeling some energy come back, before walking up to Anzu who was still sitting on the ground. As he came closer he felt an anxious wave rise within him which only worsen when Anzu didn't look up to acknowledge his presence. He hurried over, ignoring the dark creatures for now, and took a knee beside her, making the Healer look up and he saw her aqua eyes filled with pain as her lips held a grim frown.

"Where does it hurt?" Jonouchi asked when her eyes met his. If anything happened to her then not only would Honda have his ass but Tea would kill him with out a thought and he rather live another day to get his revenge.

Anzu waved his concern away and tried to give a convincing smile but he wasn't fooled. "It's just a scratch Jou-kun," she said in broken, breathless voice and tried to get up only to let out a shout of pain, sniffling it so it became a hiss, before falling back to the ground.

Jonouchi reacted, reaching out an arm to catch her so her descent slowed to prevent another injury, and laid her out stretched on the ground before muttering a shield spell so that they were protected y the other creatures around them. He applied little pressure to her legs, seeing if they were broken again, and let out a shriek when he touched her left ankle, pulling it away to escape the pain only doubling it when she did and stopped. He looked up, intended to tell her to stop moving, when something on her shirt caught his eye. Cherry blood was starking against the green tank-top she wore, seeping it's red fingers in the green as it drowned the top's colour in blood until it could hold no held no more and started to form a puddle on the ground below her. Jonouchi cursed and lifted the shirt enough to expose her belly and lower ribs in order to see how bad it was. Across her stomach, from her waist to her third rib, was a deep cut that looked like it was ripped at the edges, making it longer and deeper.

"'Just a scratch' she says," Jonouchi ranted to himself as he opened the bag around Anzu's hip and grabbed the wrapping gauze before setting to work. "'It's nothin' she says." He lifted the adult, a little whine escaping from her, and wrapped the gauze around her midsection as best as he could. "'Don't worry about it' she says." He typed the gauze off and went to set her leg before she could break it anymore than it already was. "Dat's all we here from you, ya know that chick?!" He growled out as he tyed two sticks of wood he found laying around on both sides of her leg so it could heal correctly. "Why didn't you tell me ya got hurt? I can't help ya if you don't tell me these things!"

A faint chuckle came from her as her mind process what he said and he let out a sigh in relief when he heard it, thought of her being in too much pain to coop vanished at the sound. "I can take are of myself Jou-kun, I'm a big girl now." She whispered, eyes hazed in pain and his heart retched at the look she gaze him.

"You're still sixteen kid," Jonouchi said back, swallowing around the ball of tears in his throat.

"Heh heh, age doesn't matter when everything you own died and burned." Her eyes fluttered before she lightly shook her head in order to stay awake.

Jonouchi watched her for a moment before making up his mind and started to pack up the mess he made with the supplies. "Yuugi?" He asked over the frequency, "you there?"

A crackle answered him before the sound of his buddy's voice flew across. "I'm here Jou-kun." He paused before continuing, his tone filled with concered even though he pushed another level two creature off the roof. "Is Anzu-kun okay?"

Jonouchi sighed and gave the sleepy girl a glare as he hazed eyes flickered around. "You heard," he finally said, it was more of a statement then an actual question so he didn't exprct his leader to answer and he didn't. "Why am I not surprised? No. Anzu if barely hanging on, she's keeping herself awake so that we can get her out here and because she needs to in order to make sure she doesn't die in her sleep, but she needs help and we can't do it here."

"..."

Jonouchi heard a few grunts and shuffling before the sound of skittering rocks sounded above him. He looked up and wasn't really surprise to see the Paladin looking down with a calculated gaze before turning around. Before the Mage could question the adult's move, running made him realized what Yuugi was going to do and knew that if he said anything it would mean nothing so he just watched the smaller jump off the roof. Closing his eyes tightly, Jonouchi braced for the thump and a crack of a bone breaking but only a soft tap was what he heard, making him open his eyes to see two huge amethyst orbs almost covering his sight. Jonouchi jerked back with a cry, unknowingly jerking Anzu from the grip of sleep, as Yuugi giggled at his friend's reaction before sobering and moving to Anzu's other side.

"Diagnostics doc?" Anzu asked with a giggle and Yuugi looked at Jonouchi with concern.

"Blood lost," was all he needed to say and Yuugi's face ceared.

"How long until she dies by blood loss?" The Paladin asked as he reached out a hand and clasped the Healer's own between both of his, trying to use his own healing magic but couldn't when it rebelled against him.

Jonouchi saw his captain trying to gather his magic but the golden aura that Jonouchi associated to his magick disappeared and he sighed, knowing that the Paladin didn't have enough energy to do what he wanted. "Can't heal her can you?"

Yuugi let out a sigh, running a hand through his tangled mane, and nodded before giving the barely conscious teen a forlorn look and turned his attention to the blond Mage. "I don't have the energy to heal something that long or that deep." He watched as his best friend's form sunk within itself, giving off a defeated aura, and he was quick to cheer him up. "But I think I have enough energy to get her out of here and into safety before something happens to her."

"Huh?" Jonouchi gave a start at that news since he knew he that that was near impossible and he knew that Yuugi knew that too. "Yug' I appreciate ya trying but you and I both know that that's not going to happen. We're surrounded on all sides and not to mention that Marik's here; if we try to run we'll be shot down immediately."

Yuugi gave him a cheeky grin that promptly put the blonde on alert since that little smile always got them in so much trouble, whether in school in their teens or now didn't make any difference. "Who said anything about running?"

"Then how-" Jonouchi cut himself when he felt that same sunny aura from before but now it was tainted with a darkness that only came from the Paladin summoning his own Spirit bonded partner. his eyes widen when he realized what was going on in his friend's head and reached out a hand to stop his friend before he could summon it. "Wait! YUUGI!"

Yuugi ignored the call of his name as he focus on the focus on the cord that linked himself to his Spirit and mentally pulled on it, summoning his partner. Behind his closed eyes he saw a flash of red with the light erupted from him, bathing anything close in its warm, sunny ray, and bowed his head, clapsed his hands together in front of him, as he called his Spirit. Under his breath he muttered a chant in a language confidently he didn't even know and still didn't understand how he knew the phrase or even what the words mean. He just saw the words in his mind that forced his lips to form the words ans his vocal cords to say them but to him it was a beautiful language and he spent as much time trying to figure out the riddle but never could. It was the words that made his Spirit come and, as the light ended, he looked up to see his partner kneeling before him on Anzu's other side. He felt a smile tug at his lips to see partner before he waved a hand at the Spirit to get his attention. "How many times do I have to tell you Mahaado? You don't have to kneel. We're equals; you know this."

Cloaked in all purple his partner nodded, standing up on purple boots, lavender metal wrapping around his feet twice and three more around his cafes, that morphed into purple pants. Purple, lavender lining, shoulder guards where fastened over the the purple flowing rob-like cloth that ended at his ankles as it made a chest plate to cover him. Purple arm braces that clasped on his wrist and ended under the shoulder guards formed with his muscles and in his hand was a green staff, a purple orb if marbel sat at the top. His hat, purple like the rest of his outfit, covered his neck and the back of his head, ending after it covered his eyebrows and over his forehead, until it ended as a curved cone way above his head. Violet stands of hair were seen from the opening of the hat, cut off just at the middle of his neck, as blue electric eyes stared out. An air of respect and royalty was around him as he looked at his little ma-partner (he still was not use to being called equals with the one he was bonded to), waiting for anything he was asked to do. "I know Little Mas-" the Spirit changed the title he was going to give his charge at the look he was given, "Yuugi. I am showing the respect that your position demands."

Knowing that he could never win again his Spirit, Yuugi huffed, grumbled a hit under his breath before rolling his eyes. "Do what you like Mahad," the adult said with reluctance. He looked back at Anzu, who was barely keeping her eyes open, and took her hand, getting her attention. "Anzu-kun I need you to listen really well, think you can do that?" At the nod he was given he looked back at the Spirit for a split second before looking at her. "Dark Magician's going to get you back to the base so you can heal and so that you are safe." When she opened her mouth to protest he cut her off. "We can't worry about you getting hurt anymore than you are now and Dark Magician's the only Spellcaster that can teleport. And really, I'm not giving yo a choice."

Yuugi turned to the Spirit with a pleading look that really wasn't needed since he would have done it as soon as he was asked. He nodded, bending to pick the injured girl up in her hands carefully so that he didn't do any unnecessary damage, and Yuugi stood when he did. "Be safe Little Mater," mentally forgetting not to call his charge that but Yuugi ignored it, nodding to show he understood as he waved good-bye as black smoke surrounded them. "You too." And with a flash, the smoke imploding as they disappeared, they were gone just as a scream filled the air.

Yuugi and Jonouchi looked up to the roof above them just as a flashed of bruised purple came from the roof along with another scream. Jonouchi looked at his leader to see eyes widen in horror before narrowing with a clinched jaw.

"Yug' that surrounded like..." he started, choking on the words as his hands clinched to stop their trembling.

"Honda and Tea? Yes." Was the curt another before he jumped, climbing up the fallen pieces of rubble to get to the roof, Jonouchi following him behind.

H.T.R

"How are you guys doing back there?" Honda asked as he punched the nearest Shadow Monster as it tried to get pass his guard. He took out a pistol from his belt and shot at a zombie that jumped at him, landing at his feet, dead with a smoking hole between his eyes. He turned a bit and shot at another monster that came at him.

"Better than you probably," a breathless British voice said as the adult nicked at the creature before him with his knife. He felt Tea nod behind him as he leaned against her back before yelping when the Man-Eater Bug slashed at him as he pulled him and Tea down to avoid the attack.

"Do you think Anzu's okay?" tea asked, fury filling her at the reminder of their comrade being hurt, giving her enough energy to kill her own enemy before turning and plunging her dagger into the Man-Eater's head, killing it instantly. She bend down, hands resting against her knees as she tried to catch her breath, gasping from the on going attacks she and Ryou went through and heard him gasping beside her, sitting on the ground. She smiled at him, knowing he was as winded as she was, and he smiled back. "Not as in shape as we tho-"

"TEA!"

Pain. Agony. Searing.

That was all she could feel. She was cut off when she felt the burn beginning from her back as she breathed in and it only intensified as her breath left, the pain filling her from her stomach to her back. She looked down in a daze to see a black sword pointing out of her stomach just as an insane laugh brushed against her ear.

"What was that my dear?"

Before she could utter a sound, or even understood what was happening, Marik twisted the sword harshly and a scream tore through her throat, blood tickled out of her mouth as she tasted the metallic liquid on her tongue. Suddenly she felt the sword slide out of her, tearing another scream but not as loud, as it twisted out. She raised a hand to cover the bleeding wound just as she felt a blow on her spin, a snap filling the air as her breath left her with a silent scream, eyes open in horror before closing tightly against the pain, and she was forced forward as her body flew through the air before skidding to a painful stop before Honda's feet; paralyzed.

"Yarou!" Honda yelled when he saw Marik with a sword in Tea's body. He raised his M41A, ready to tear the yami to shreds, just as Tea was kicked away to stop at his feet and he reacted instantly, bending down to help her.

Yami Mariku smirked and raised a hand out before him as he caught the pale wrist that came at him from behind. He twisted the appendage, breaking it, to forcefully make Ryou released the knife with a cry from the Britain and let lose a black flame from his hand. The flame landed on the unprotected Warrior and he let lose a ear splitting scream as the fire burned away at his flesh and he rolled, trying to smother the flames but was a useless effort as it still scorched him alive.

Ryou looked on with wide eyes, not believing that his friends were dying in front of him. He yanked to get his arm free and choked on a sob when pain flared up from the broken bone but was able to get free at the slackened hand his capture had. He crawled away from the insane man-not monster. No one could put people through so much pain, enjoy it and then turn around to put them through even more pain. With tears in his eyes, Ryou scrambled to his feet and ran to his friends, hoping to help in same way as he skid to a halt on his knees beside Honda. "Honda-kun?" Ryou asked with his voice an octave higher with panic and he grabbed the burning arms as softly as he could. When he received no reply he crawled over to Tea, hoping that he wasn't too late, and did the same thing as he did to Honda. Tears fell when he got no response and he let out a sob as he looked at the adult with sad eyes. Caramel eyes opened and he almost let out a whoop of joy before Tea reached out with a shaky hand, making him sober and grasp the hand within his own. "Tea...?" He whispered but she shook her head, cutting him off.

'Judging by your face I don't have a lot of time," Tea whispered with a smile and coughed, trying to get the taste of her own blood out of her mouth, "so I'll keep this short." Her face became serious and her grip tightened on the Researcher's as her eyes became glassy and unseeing. "Tell Anzu to keep fighting, she's the only one left."

"I will," Ryou said, fighting back the tears.

"Tell Jonouchi to see the light," she leaned back to the ground, "there's always a light, no matter how small."

"I...I will," Ryou tightened his grip on the hand in his.

"Tell Ryou," she whispered and the teen jerked at his name, noticing that she wasn't looking at him but at the never ending clouds above. "Tell him to practice, there's not always someone there to help."

"...Tea?" He whispered but she went on, not even noticing that someone was there.

"And Yuugi," her eyes stopped becoming glassy and she turned to him, eyes scorching with a hidden fire that could never burn out. "Tell Yuugi that everything has a disguise, don't judge before you know who they really are."

Ryou gently brushed a strand out of her face, nodding as he bit his lip, and saw clear drops fall onto her face. He raised a hand to his face, realizing that he was crying, and wiped the tears away as the Tracker turned back to stare at the covered sky. A smile lit up her face and her eyes shone in the dark. "I can see the stars Ry," she whispered and he broke down, sobs racking through his frame. "I can see the sky again..." And, with that smile still gracing her lips, he felt the grip slack slowly as he watched the life die from her eyes. In shock he opened his hands, releasing the cooling appendage so it could fall back down to lay on her stomach, and brought them to his face to cover the site of his two dead friends.

Too soon a crackle sounded, sending out alarm bells in his head and Ryou looked behind him to see Marik smirking darkly, lazily, as he held a hand filled with a dark back, black lightening flying out and hit anything around him. The site filled him in fear at the fact that he knew he was the next one to die...but also accepted it. Too much he had seen in the six years of this apocalypse. Too much had he learned that no twenty year old would ever learn. There would always be death around him, beckoning him for the blank peace.

"Well wasn't that sweet?" Yami Mariku asked in a sickly false tone and Ryou held back the urge to gag just but the voice alone.

Ryou coughed, turning slightly to face Marik with a weary look in his eyes, and gave the insane yami a pity look. "No one should die alone. And when your time comes you will be."

"Heh, time to die pretty bird," Marik crackled, pointing at the Reseacher.

Ryou watched the ball suddenly jump into action above the yami's head and set his jaw, gripping his faded jeans in his fists. He accepted that he was to die, even welcomed death, but he couldn't die now. His team was barely hanging on and, now with two more dead, he knew that his death would worsen the blow. He couldn't save Honda and Tea but he could keep his friends from falling off the edge of sanity and be there when they snapped; doing something that would get them killed and join the countless others in then afterlife. He had to live another day for his friends.

Brown eyes narrowed and he braced himself to jump when he remembered that his friends were laying behind him, even though they were no longer alive it was wrong to just leave them there to be destroyed anymore than they were. He gritted his teeth, A annoyed growl threatening to escape, before glancing at his fallen comrades with sorrow. If he didn't move he would die, something he realized he couldn't let happen, so he had to move, he didn't have time to move both and then himself.

"Seranial Foreum!"

A flash of white came from the right of his vision when the yell broke through the crackle of the black-on-coming-attack and the insane laughter, making Ryou jump away from his thoughts in time to see the black lightening not two feet away from him. Just as he let out a yell as his chance of survival dwindle down into single digits, a flash of white made him cover his eyes as it clashed with the black ball, pushing off its course to hit a nearby building. There was a silence before a small pop rung in their ears the next second, a tremor in the air the only warning they got before the building exploded with a white and black mixed light and rubble showered on them. He opened his eyes at the explosion and looked at the column of fire before his mind registered that he was still alive. When he processed what just happened, Ryou jumped to his feet as his eyes followed where the white fire ball came from and let out a gasp in happiness at the sight.

"Hey Ryou," a blonde adult said with a save from beside another, slightly panting from beside his friend's side. "Missed us?"

Ryou let out a relief filled, breathy laugh before smirking shakily at the blonde. "Nah, just thought that I would sit around and thought about how much my life would be so much better without all of you screwing it up, Jou-kun."

"Hey!" Jonouchi yelled out in mocking hurt, "blame the Insane Blondy over there for fucking up your life."

At the Mage's pointing the Researcher remembered that they were still in a problematic, dangerous position and he glanced at the annoyed yami before turning back to look at the two newcomers as they made their way to him. As they came near, Jonouchi looked down and sorrow overcame the cheery face when he saw the two forms of his comrades, bending down beside them with a sigh before closing their eyes gently. Ryou swallowed harshly at the scene before quickly glancing away to look at the other human. The Paladin looked at the dead bodies of his friends with pain filled, angered eyes, his teeth grinding against each other as he tried to control the fire of emotions within him.

"Yuugi..." Ryou said softly, reaching out a hand to place it on the tense shoulder, trying to give out comfort, but the adult moved out of his advances, stepping forward with burning, hated eyes withing the normally warm amethyst.

"Marik!" Yuugi cried, his grip tightening on the sword, as the yami smirked lazily in his direction and his anger flared up into dangerous heights. Red covered the edges of his vision and a low growl echoed through him, starting from his chest. Every promise of not killing, every swear of listening to both stories, every word of not letting anger control his emotions flew out the window when he saw the mutilated forms of his friends. He flexed his fingers around his sword at the reminder of his teammates, seeing the lifeless eyes of Tea as she stared unseeingly at the swirling purple and black clouds and the frozen horror on Honda's face as the dying flame still ate away at him in his mind's eye. In the back of his head he could feel a part of him denying his friends death but with the evidence right in front of his face, it was getting harder not to break down, leaving the rest of them in even more trouble since he wouldn't put it pass Marik to try to kill them during their grieving. It was why he pulled away the bigger part part of him that argued against what he was going to do and felt that they should just escape. Feeling the stares of the last two standing members of Unit 16 on his back he raised his sword in front of him, amethyst orb darkened as the flame of hate flared in the eyes and his face settled into a mask of difference.

White-silver fire spread across the amethyst blade as he tapped into his magic, letting all thoughts but one disappeared so that the wild magick control him, and his irises swirled before settling with the color of silver. Silver shimmered into being over the amethyst lining of his hair as the black bled into red, mixing the two colors so that in certain lighting it became a rose red, and his bangs blew with a imaginary wind, the gold changing into dark purple as it waved in the wind. His black shirt faded into snow white when the wind touched it and his pants transformed into white leather, the hems of the legs flared out a bit as silver, purple and red fire ran across them. A purple leather and red and silver spiked belt morphed around his waist as his mark of being a Paladin sunk into his skin, leaving a red and purple ling it's place with a very detailed amethyst eyed white Phoenix over it, silver tipped the feathers of the tattoo. Running across his bare arms, neck and feet showed glimmering silver symbols, unknown and untranslated.

The Paladin took in a breath as the transformation ended, closing his eyes as he relished in the massive power he felt run through his veins with a small smile before snapping his eyes open to gaze at the tensed but taunting yami in front of him. Remembering why he let lose the power he fought to keep back constantly, he growled deeply, rage flashing in the inhuman orbs, as he learned forward to jump and a soft whoosh sound through the air. Impressive eighteen foot wingspan- nine feet from one wing tip to where it connected to his back, between his should blades-expanded from where they had been stored as he moved. His face cleared,turning to stone, before taking his sword in both his hands and took a step forward, his arms moving to his right side, his wings folded slightly to be kept out of his way.

"Let's see how well you are against the Phoenix power," Phirebird Yuugi asked, amused, his voice disoriented and sounded like there was two talking instead of one. "You're dead," and, with that said deadly cool, he moved, practically disappearing as he ran at Yami Mariku.

Time Skip- Destination: Japan; Domino; Shade Hunter Base; Alkrydion Graveyard

There was no rain falling. No grey clouds rolling, no black umbrellas, no black cars, nothing that the millions of Hollywood movies he watched before the world became engulfed in shadows, associated to a funeral. Yes the black clothing, teary eyes, sobbing people, grim faces, wooden boxes, and gaping holes in the ground were all the same but nature was bound by the Shadow World they now lived in; she wouldn't be allowed to show her mourning for the loss of another hero. He, himself, couldn't mourn for his friends because he was bound to look strong, to fight on and not to show weakness; if he did then he would be demoted to another unit and his would have another to take his place. So he mastered the stone, unfeeling mask and grieved inside for the world's loss of her children.

"May you find happiness whatever you are." A girl sobbed out, throwing a handful of flowers in the hole where Honda now laid. The white Carnations, Cosmos, and Lilacs gently fell down to lay with many other flowers from the others that lived in the town. Many different flowers laid in the other two graves as the mourners of Domino and S.H. members sent their wishes to the passing souls in the afterlife. The girl sobbed into her hands and her boyfriend came up behind, pulling her into a hug which she accepted willingly, sobbing in his chest with a whirl of her blue hair.

Yuugi looked away at the scene, biting the inside of his cheek so that he didn't let out his own sobs, and continued to watch as, one by one, the people paid their respects to the heroes that kept them safe with the cost of their life. Flowers raining down on the black boxes that each held his friends from the various people, reasons of choosing the different flowers all but loss to anyone but the giver and the receiver. It was how they said good-bye to the dead now-a-days. People from all over the world banded together until customs and religion blended into nothing as they tried to survive. It was why Ryou was in Japan instead of being in the British S.H. branch or why Anzu was part of their team besides being in America with her mother.

At Anzu's name Yuugi flinched, his eyes straying to the grave besides Honda's without his permission. Anzu's wounds were fatal and she passed out of the operating table but was able to pull through enough to have them fix her. He sighed, running a hand through his messed up hair, as he remembered the shocking news he was giving when he and Ryou went to see how she was doing. Anzu was six weeks pregnant when the baby died, miscarriage the doctors said, but both he and Ryou knew that the infant died immediately when she was slashed at. The teen was devastated. She cried at the news but later she became dead to the world, not answering anyone when she was talked to and the boys didn't know what to do. It was when the news of Honda's death reached the hospital, some idiot telling her about it because he thought that she had the right to know, that it became the last straw. The next day Anzu died, her heart giving up, and the will to live left her.

Tea. Honda. Anzu. Mai. Jii-chan. Kaa-san. Nii-san. Yuugi felt the sting of oncoming tears and he blinked rapidly to get ride of them, mentally promising himself to break down in his room as soon as he could. He shook his head to get rid of all the faces that died because of the Shadow Creatures and their master, Yami Mariku-Marik for short, but they swam in and out of focus through his mind's eye. It hurt. It hurt that he was the reason for so much death and no matter how much he tried to keep the others safe the ones he loved still ended up dying. And it hurt even more to know that the one that was his main enemy was still alive. Even in his Phoenix form he still couldn't kill of the main threat against his friends life. He even used the Phoenix's Wings, a move that practically obliterated anything within it's range. It was almost like the Big Boy the Americans used on them back in World War 2, that powerful but only would leveled four blocks with it's range this time, thankfully. But there would be more death now because he failed again. How much more could he take before he cracked, going insane and just pulled the trigger.

He looked at the two that flanked him on both sides. Jonouchi looking at the graves in a shocked disbelieving look and Ryou sobbed quietly into his hands. They were the only ones let of Phoenix and who knew when someone else died. Yuugi swallowed, almost choking because of how clogged up his throat was with the unshed tears, at the unwanted thought and tried banishing it to the farthest corners of his mind before it could form but it held on, showing what could happen. Ryou, sweet Ryou, would die easily and he would be left with the guilt and horror at the fact that he failed to save another, especially a friend. Jonouchi would be hard to beat but everyone had limits and the blonde had only made it this far on pure luck, something that always ran out in the end. What would happen to him if his friends died off, leaving him alone to fight off the demons in his head and heart? He wouldn't survive. If all of his family died then he couldn't see any reason of staying alive. He would probably join them as soon as he could.

A hand landed on his shoulder, breaking him out of his overcoming dark thoughts, and Yuugi looked over at the hand before following it to the owner who turned out to be Jonouchi. The blonde gave him a questioning worried look which he answered with a shake of his head, not really understanding why he did or what he meant by it but Jonouchi gave a sharp nod, obviously understanding what he didn't, before stepping forward: his turn to give his respects.

"I'm not going to go traditional since I actually knew ya," Jonouchi said, his hand gripped the handful of dirt tightly, and Yuugi knew that the Mage had just come to terms of what was going on. "So deal with it. Honda I'm sorry that I wasn't there to help and didn't protect Anzu like I said I would. I'm sorry that your baby wasn't able to see their wonderful parents or even the first light of day. And Tea, I'm also sorry...for not protecting your sister or your would-be niece. I just hope that ya are finally happy, with the others and can live a day without fear." With a flick of his wrist, Jonouchi tossed the dirt in the air, letting it settle over all of the boxes with a shower of dust. "Be happy for once."

Jonouchi stepped back, moving to Yuugi's other side with a calm face. The Paladin knew that the other had made peace with the loss, it was in the blonde's nature to go with the flow and move on, over the bump in the road. Yuugi looked over, checking up on Ryou, when he saw the Britain gone from his side. Before he could panic his eyes moved to the graves and saw the albino standing over the graves, ready to show his respect next. With Daisies and Cherry Blossoms in his hands, Ryou tossed the flowers into the grave in front of him; Tea's. Yuugi watched him take a breath to calm himself until the only sign of his distress was the quivering of his shoulders.

"I-I... I'm," Ryou shook his head, his voice quivering in his pain and cleared his voice. "Tea...I don't know how to say this but...arigatou...for everything." Then, without warning, the Researcher did something that no one had done in almost four years; Ryou bowed, like a student would do to his teacher. Yuugi didn't even know that the Brit was taught in the old forgotten ways of the Japanese by Tea, all he asked was that the girl taught the newest edition of their group (at that time) self defense. The first smile Yuugi wore in the two weeks that passed spread on his lips at the familiar move and had to duck his head so that no one could see the few tears that were able to slide down his face. Ryou straighten, a small blush dusted his cheeks as he walked back to his spot that he was assigned to and that was when Yuugi realized that he was next.

He froze, mind shutting down and throat tightening, and he felt a hand at the small of his back, pushing him before the graves because he couldn't command his muscles to move. He didn't know what to say. he couldn't even apologize to them because of his mistake six years again or he would go against the promise he made to his friends that same day to never tell how the Shadow World came into being. What could he say to his friends that laid before him instead of him being down there? His mind couldn't work and he suddenly felt claustrophobic, even if the funeral was outside.

"Yuugi," Jonouchi said from behind him, moving away slowly to stand back next to Ryou and the smaller's ears perked up at his name, forcing his mind to focus on his best friend's voice. "Just say whatever you can."

'...say whatever I can...?' Yuugi glanced at the blonde out of the corner of his eyes at the thought. He couldn't even get his mouth to work let alone speak! He let his body go on autopilot as he tried to think of what to say, what he wanted to say. His hand tossed the three Tiger Lilies in his hand in each grave before sprinkling dirt in the air above the coffins. As he watched the dirt danced down to the holes he felt himself wishing he had the power to turn back time instead of the unknown power of Light. Amethyst orbs widen at the thought and he suddenly knew what he wanted to say to everyone he watched died. It only took the death of his friends to find the right words. With a small smile, eyes swimming in tears, he said a quote that only his friends would know and understand where he got it from. "May your soul fly straight and true throughout eternity."

He turned to walk to his friends, seeing the smile on Jonouchi's face and confusion on Ryou's, before glancing over his shoulder to see a few men with shovels move forward and started to cover the holes where his friends now laid. In the background a young girl started to sing a song for each soul laid to rest as they were covered and others joined in if they knew the words, Yuugi singing along. He knew that he would grieve for his fallen family and the worse has yet to come. He knew Marik would try everything to destroy the world but, he looked around at the smiling tear-stained faces and felt a wave of protectiveness go through him, Yuugi would not give up fighting. He still had to earn his right for death and he was a long way off and a, at the rate of how much death Marik dealt, it would probably be never.

As the people left, the funeral unofficially coming to a close, Yuugi took one last look at the headstones, placing a hand on the nearest one, and smiled. It was the first true smile that he ever shown since the Beginning and a breeze gently caressed his face like Tea would do from time to time, stroking his hair almost exactly like Anzu use to do and ruffling his hair just like Honda did after every mission. "Thanks guys," he whispered, gently running his hand over the top of the stone, "you don't know how much you mean to me."

"Yugi'!" He turned, looking over his shoulder to see that Ryou and Jonouchi standing at the gates of the cemetery, the latter waving his hands. "Come on!"

"Coming!" He hollered back, petting the rock one last time before running over to his friends. Jonouchi pulled him into a headlock, using his skills as a Paladin to slip out of his hands to tackle the blonde to the ground before running, laughing happily as his friend went after him in retaliation. Ryou laughing before saying that the last one to the Mess Hall was paying and ran off, the other two running after him. As the laughter died away, three tombstones sat under a Cherry Blossom tree, the flowers falling to the ground as another breeze swept through the area.

Here lies Tea Mary Gardner-Mazaki

Beloved sister and friend

"There is always a light, no matter how small"

1989-2011

Here lies Anzu DeAnne Mazaki-Gardner

Beloved mother, sister, fiancee, and friend

"Stand up when you're broken because it's not over"

1995-2011

Here lies Hiroto Sasuk Honda

Beloved father, fiance, and friend

"The destiny does not exist, only the choices"

1988-2011

~Do you wander through this life,

Like a child without a care?

Do you fear the things you love?

Do you seek the things you fear?

When the world comes crashing down,

Do you just smile and say,

I am the great pretender?

Oh yeah, willing to dream forever

Oh, I'll just float away and let the waves keep pulling me in

I'll just sit out here and watch the world pass over my head

Because I still believe in all of the things you've said

All of the things you've said~

-The Great Pretender by Cherry Lane; Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie Soundtrack

ANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTEANOTE

Anzu's Song: Fireflight; Unbreakable

"Wrapped In Your Arms"

Is this the whole picture
Or is it just the start?
Is this the way you love me?
You're capturing my heart
I used to try and walk alone
But I've begun to grow
And when you tell me just to rest
I'm finally letting go
I let go

And I'm here to stay
Nothing can separate us
And I know, I'm ok
You cradle me gently
Wrapped in your arms... I'm home

I'm seeing so much clearer
Looking through your eyes
I could never find a safer place
Even if I tried
All the times I've needed you
You've never left my side
I'm clinging to your every word
Don't ever let me go
Don't let go

And I'm here to stay
Nothing can separate us
And I know, I'm ok
You cradle me gently
Wrapped in your arms... I'm home
I'm home...(ohoh ohoh ohoh ohoh)
I'm wrapped in your arms.

And I'm here to stay
Nothing can separate us
And I know, I'm ok
You cradle me gently
Wrapped in your arms
And I'm here to stay
Nothing can separate us
And I know, I'm ok
You cradle me gently
Wrapped in your arms... I'm home
I'm home

Tea's Song: Superchic[k]; Ice Princess Soundtrack

"Get Up"

I'm not afraid to fall
it means i climbed up high
to fall is not to fail
you fail when you don't try
not afraid to fall
i might just learn to fly and
i will spread these wings of mine

[Chorus:]
If i get up i might fall back down again
so let's get up come on
If i get up i might fall back down again
we get up anyway
If i get up i might fall back down again
so let's get up come on
If i get up i might fall back down again
I might fall back down again
We'll just jump and see, even if it's the 20th time
we'll just jump and see if we can fly

I'm not afraid to fall
and here i told you so
don't want to rock the boat
but i just had to know
just a greener side
or can i touch the sky
but either way i will have tried

If i get up i might fall back down again
so let's get up come on
If i get up i might fall back down again
we get up anyway
If i get up i might fall back down again
so let's get up come on
If i get up i might fall back down again
I might fall back down again
We'll just jump and see, even if it's the 30th time
we'll just jump and see if we can fly

i'm not afraid to fall
I've fallen many times
they laughed when i fell down
but i have dared to climb
I'm not afraid to fall
i know i'll fall again
but i can win this in the end

Honda's Song: Savage Garden; ?

"Crash And Burn"

When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold
When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take anymore

Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone

When you feel all alone
And a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one way street
With the monsters in your head
When hopes and dreams are far away and
You feel like you can't face the day

'Cause there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breath again

When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please
To tame your wild wild heart