DISCLAIMER- I don't own Yugioh in anyway
AN: I am sooooo sorry for the wait! I have had skool and medical things going on that required surgery just recently. But now I am MUCH better and on an extended spring break to recover and I can finally update!
Bold italics- Yami
Underlined italics- Yugi
Chapter Six-Enter the Villian
Tea nervously spread her hand along the bed sheets as she watched Yami angrily pace the soul room. Ever since he returned from taking over Yugi's body, he hadn't spoken a word to her, only paced and muttered quietly to himself.
"Yami, what happened?" she asked warily. She couldn't help but flinch slightly when his sharp amethyst eyes snapped over to her. He let out a deep sigh and came to sit beside her on the bed.
"Yugi received a phone call from the person behind this ordeal," he explained quietly. Tea's eyes widened in surprise and she turned her body to face his.
"What did they say?" Yami squeezed his eyes shut as the man's words echoed in his head. How he would lose Tea soon and that he would feel the same pain the man had felt. The thought of losing Tea forever…
"Yami?" Tea gently shook his shoulder and brought him out of his thoughts.
"He said we will meet soon and we can't prevent you from fading."
"But we've prevented it for this long and I was supposed to have disappeared weeks ago!" Tea argued.
"There have been multiple close calls and the only reason you are here now is because you are in my soul room and I'm using as much shadow magic as possible to keep you safe," Yami responded calmly. Tea clenched her fists in her lap to keep herself from shaking. He was right; the only reason she was still in existence was because he was using all the power he could to keep her here. But eventually, even Yami's power could weaken or even run out…
"Tea?" Yami called softly, "Tea, are you okay?"
"You're right," she said, "The only reason I'm here is because of your shadow magic. But even you can't keep it so powerful. Sooner or later, it will weaken and I could vanish," she tightened her fists and kept her gaze down towards the mattress.
"Then I will make sure that we save you before that can happen," he said as he pulled her into a loose embrace, "I'll protect you Tea, I promise. I will save you from such a fate."
Tea wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. A small smile appeared on her face at his protectiveness and her heart swelled in happiness. Even though she was terrified of whatever may happen, she couldn't help but feel contentment in Yami's arms.
She had always had feelings for the mysterious Pharaoh over the course of their friendship. She wasn't sure when or how the feelings came to be, but ever since she appeared in the puzzle and spent so much time with him, it was getting harder and harder to hide how she felt.
"Thank you Yami," she whispered and held him tighter. She felt him place a soft kiss to her temple and she looked up at him. He stared back at her intently and she felt her heartbeat speed up when she realized their faces were growing closer.
"Tea," Yami breathed, "May I kiss you?"
Tea nodded and closed her eyes as their lips met in a sweet kiss.
/oo/
Yugi woke up and jumped out of bed. He began to quickly dress as he called Tristan.
"Tristan, can you meet me at the museum? I want to check out those new Egypt exhibits," He asked.
"Yeah, I'll pick up Joey," Tristan answered. Yugi said a quick thanks before hanging up and running out of the game shop.
/oo/
(At the museum)
"So, why are we here?" Joey asked.
"Ishizu told me how the millennium items were created with 99 sacrificed souls from the village of Kul Elna. Maybe if we find some information on this village, we can find our enemy," Yugi explained.
"But what if we just find information that we already know?" Tristan wondered aloud.
"Then we wait until this guy contacts us again and find a way to meet him," Yugi said. They walked along the Egyptian exhibits, reading as much as they could. Eventually they made it to the end of the exhibits and saw a door marked 'RESTRICTED'.
"Should we go in?" Tristan asked.
"Yeah! This is for a good cause! We have to save our friend's soul!" Joey exclaimed. Yugi pushed the door and was surprised to find it unlocked. Inside was more Egyptian exhibits. The trio immediately began to find anything that could be helpful. It felt like hours had passed and neither of them could find anything. It was as if Kul Elna never existed.
"Yug I'm not finding anything!" Joey complained, "Has the Pharaoh thought of anything?"
"I haven't spoken to him since last night," Yugi said. Actually, he hadn't even spoken to the Pharaoh then either, both were too frustrated by the phone call that Yami immediately went back into the puzzle and he stared at the phone for the next few hours in hopes that the man would call again.
"Hey! I found something!" Tristan exclaimed. The two made their way over to him and looked at the wall.
"Well, where is it?" Joey asked.
"What are you blind?" Tristan asked and pointed to the wall, "Right there!" Yugi walked up to it and read what was typed:
"Kul Elna" was a village of thieves in Ancient
Egypt. Not much is known about this
village except for its mysterious past. All of the
villagers vanished without a trace one night and the
village was soon forgotten. Some believe it was a mass
murder by old bloodstains found among the ruins, but others
say that the occupants simply left for a new home.
"Did anyone else get the chills while reading that?" Tristan asked.
"This doesn't tell us anything!" Joey groaned and sat down on the floor.
"Not so fast Joey, maybe this is a good clue," Yugi said, "What do you think Pharaoh?" Yugi asked through the link, only to get silence as a response "Pharaoh?"
"Hmm?"
"What do you think about all this?"
"All of what?" he asked as he materialized next to Yugi who was taken back. This wasn't like Yami.
"About Kul Elna."
"Oh,"
"Are you okay Pharaoh?"
"I'm perfectly fine Yugi," he said and Yugi saw a small smile appear on his face and a pinkish tint to his cheeks. He chose to ignore it for the moment as Yami continued, "I do not recognize the name at all nor do I remember anything."
"Ishizu said that the 99 souls from the village were murdered to get the millennium items. Maybe there was a survivor or two,"Yugi said aloud.
"Or maybe the person wasn't a villager in Kul Elna. Maybe there was someone in Kul Elna that he cared for and wants to avenge?" Tristan asked. Suddenly, a deep laughter filled the room causing everyone to jump.
"Both of your theories are correct except for one minor detail," a deep yet raspy voice said "I did live in that village."
"Who are you?" Tristan yelled. The voice seemed to come from thin air as it echoed through the room.
"Come to the roof and find out," with that, the voice was gone and everything was silent again. The three wasted no time running to the roof. When they got there, a man stood on the other side. He was very large and muscular with dark tan skin. His black hair was pulled back into a ponytail and he wore Ancient Egyptian clothing.
"Who are you?" Yugi demanded.
"Why so quick to the subject? I believe we are missing a guest," the man said as he stepped forward, "Oh Pharaoh! Come out and play!"
Yugi's puzzle began to glow and within moments, Yami stood in Yugi's place.
"Who are you?" he demanded angrily.
"You sound just like your host," the man sneered, "My name is Akori."
"What do you want Akori?"
"I want you to feel the same pain I felt when I lost the woman I loved!" Akori yelled angrily.
"Why me?"
"You have your father to thank," Akori angrily yelled.
"My father?" Yami asked cautiously, the word almost foreign to him.
"Your damned father is the reason Kul Elna was destroyed! The reason I lost my home and my Akana!"
"What are you talking about?" Tristan asked from behind Yami.
"Yo Pharaoh, I'm starting to think this guy is a little crazy," Joey said. Akori laughed darkly, making shivers run down everyone's spines.
"Of course your precious Pharaoh would not remember this he probably was a mere infant," he said.
"I'm kinda having trouble picturing Pharaoh here as a baby," Joey said with a smirk.
"Quiet Joey," Yami said as Akori continued.
"Your father banished me from the palace where I was a servant after he found me with a few jewels that I'm sure no one would have missed. I lived in Kul Elna and met my true love," he began to explain.
"Oh, gag me," Joey groaned causing Tristan to elbow him in the ribs.
"So you come after me for something that my father may have done?" Yami asked. He clenched his fist, feeling his anger rise.
"Your father did do this Pharaoh, he died before I could get my revenge, making you next in line," Akori growled, "However, maybe I can reverse the spell if you indulge me in a little game."
"A game?"
"I'm sure you are familiar with Shadow games. You win you get your girl back, I win and you can kiss her goodbye. Do you accept?" Yami stood in silence a few moments before answering.
"I accept,"
"Excellent," Akori sneered, "I can't wait to watch you lose and I will get my revenge for the lost souls of Kul Elna and for that little white-haired boy."
"What white-haired boy?" Yami asked. Akori gave a sinister smile.
"Wouldn't you like to know," he snarled and suddenly the wind picked up, causing everyone to shield their eyes. When the wind stopped, everyone looked and saw Akori was gone.