Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh and vampires are fantastic!
…And also not mine. They belong to their owners. Which I am not. Yeah.
Thanks for the reviews and faves you guys! I'm sorry I'm not updating so much…schoolwork, y'know? Oh, well, hope you enjoy this…
000
Snowy Glass
The cold wind whipping around them flew through them as well, gusting against their clothes, through their hair, filling and consuming their lungs. Anzu had never gone so fast, nor so high, but that was okay, that didn't matter, she was pushing herself to the limit, but that was fine…
He was laughing. Yuugi was laughing. Every time she glanced down, every time she felt a bit tired, she glanced down to see him staring, awestruck at the world below, looking so happy, so amazed, so pure, she just had to keep going, she just had to keep flying. She didn't want to stop. No matter how cold it got, he was pressed against her and it was warm, they were just flying, so far and fast that the world below them spun and nothing was real or constant but the stars above.
Gasping for breath, Anzu found herself slowing. She grinned as she saw Yuugi breathing hard, lungs catching up from the high-speed flight. He stared up at her. "I-I didn't know you could-could go that fast!" he gasped.
Descending below the clouds, the cool mist of vapor released them above a city, lights and buildings glittering. Down, down they went until Anzu felt their feet touch the top of the skyscraper below them, an enormous floor that held them in the sky.
"Neither did I." She released Yuugi, letting him look to the edge. He stared at the streets and cars gliding by on the asphalt. They looked like gleaming beetles, trundling along, shells shining the streetlights.
Yuugi stared, shoes several inches from the edges, but Anzu stood right by him, keeping a careful eye on his movements. "Wow…" he whispered, voice almost carried away by the ruckus from below.
"Not bad, eh?" He looked back up at her, his enormous eyes shining.
"Do the vampires have a city, Anzu?"
Thinking hard, she placed one hand on his shoulder and pulled him back a bit. "We do, sort of. Some of the others live in groups, but they live underground. Me and Khonsu, we like the surface."
"I'm glad you came to see me again. Did you and Khonsu have a good time the other night?" he asked.
"Yeah, actually. Khonsu's like that, though. I guess he'll be hunting on his own again…" she trailed off. Noticing her silence, Yuugi gazed off at the sky as well.
"You know," he said suddenly, "I don't mind if you don't come every night. I don't want you to be too busy."
"Hey, I like visiting you," Anzu mumbled, giving his hand a squeeze. He smiled at her touch. "Although, I do think Khonsu might get a little irritated at me…"
"He sounds nice, though."
"Oh, he is," she insisted hastily, "but he does have to put up with me being gone all the time, you know? He said he wanted to meet you, though."
"Maybe sometime?"
"Yeah. Maybe." Anzu lowered herself onto the roof, feet dangling above the street. Yuugi followed suit, although with a bit more care. Anzu kept her eye on him as he sat. She noticed with amusement that his feet hung several inches higher than her own, kicking childishly for a moment. Just before he settled down.
"Anzu?"
"Hm?" She glanced at him again. Gazing off into the night horizon, his eyes had acquired a slightly dreamy look. Golden locks swayed and softly fluttered in front of his eyes. A faint trickle of tenderness ran through her veins – just enough to warm her.
"Do you…have a dream?"
Warm feeling gone. (1) "What?" she asked. Her thin eyebrows rose a bit.
"I mean…do you have a dream…? Something you want so badly you'd do almost anything?"(2) He turned to look at her, the curiosity apparent in his eyes.
Her brow furrowed. "A dream, eh? A-" she stopped, thinking harder. "A…dream…"
Soft, crying red eyes swarmed in front of her, swirling with pain. Colorless, fluid tears slid down soft cheeks, a face so tortured and miserable it almost killed her…again.
Snapping her head up, Anzu shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe. I know some people that might. But me? I'm good…not like I could change anyway."
Yuugi very quietly watched her before murmuring, "I-I wouldn't want you to change…Anzu."
Anzu gave him a peculiar look. He blushed, his face darkening to a rosy tint. Though that might have been the nipping wind. "Well…you said someone had a dream, didn't you?"
She gave him a blank look. "What?"
"Before. You said someone else might have a dream. Who were you talking about?"
Anzu's eyes darkened for just a moment. "It's not my place to say." A dark night sky swam before her, the moon hanging low and beautiful, glinting ruby red…
Yuugi nodded. "I understand," he said, so seriously, that she looked back at him again, eyes lightening and softening.
"What about you? What's with the dream talk?" she asked. She leaned back on the building, supporting herself against the roof with her palms.
He shrugged those narrow shoulders. "I don't know, really. I just wanted to know what you thought. I don't really know about my dreams, either." At this, he turned his head, facing her again. He seemed vaguely embarrassed.
She gave him a slight, encouraging smile. "Still. What came to mind first?"
"Uh-uh. You first."
"Beauty before age; I insist." He flushed when she said that.
"You're very beautiful Anzu. Besides, I-I…it's kind of embarrassing…"
Anzu cocked her head to the side, eyes twinkling with mirth. "Why?"
"Oh, I don't know…" He slid backwards, away from the edge of the building. He drew his jacket closer to his body, shivering as his breath misted and roiled in front of him.
"Crazy weather. It's almost the middle of spring." At his frigid nod, Anzu shook her head very slightly. She opened her arms, wings spreading very softly. "Come here," she sighed, but very gently. Shrugging off his polite refusal like it was an unwanted air current, she stepped closer to him, wings wrapping like a cloak around them both.
"Too cold for you to stay out," she muttered, breath ruffling through his hair. His forehead came just to her chin. Despite this, she felt her wings instantly warm, his proximity like a blanket, or the steam rising off a cup of hot tea. Or hot chocolate. Against the sensitive membrane of the velvety wings, she could feel his pulse, his movement, even his small chest, rising and falling in synchronized motion. The tops of her wings just brushed below his chin, feeling the pulse beat in his throat.
It must have tickled, according to his slight jerk. She smiled again, letting him watch the city, right next to her. She'd grown much fonder of him…almost abnormally fonder.
"Anzu?" he whispered, raising his chin to gaze at her directly.
"Hm?" she asked, stubbornly hugging him warmly.
"…Thank you."
A twitch of the lips upwards. "Not a problem." Both looked upwards, hearing a soft breeze flying above them.
"There's so many stars. How bright do you think they really are?" he asked softly. Every single one of them glittered in his eyes.
Anzu's smile twitched again, this time into a frown. "I've heard that these stars have already gone out. Only now are we getting the light…because they're so distant."
"So…only in death can we see the beauty?" She blinked and stared at Yuugi. As she watched him, his expression did not change, except in the way he blinked, dark eyelashes making contact with his cheeks.
"Yeah…yeah, I guess so…" she muttered. He'd sounded a lot like Khonsu when he'd said that…no…hadn't she said that?
And why'd it feel so strange, to feel his heart beating, his warm skin? Why was it so strange? That sensation of his pulse beating and pounding, rhythmically?
Maybe because I don't have a pulse. Her temporary amusement faded again. I'm not…human.
Somehow the knowledge hurt. It hurt a lot.
"Hey Yuugi? I think I need to get you home." Her voice was so quiet, that for a moment she wasn't sure she'd heard him, whispering into his hair.
That theory was dispelled as he raised his face, turning to look at her over his shoulder. "Are you okay? You sound a little tired." Great, there was real concern glinting in those eyes, real worry! She hurt him, caused him some distress?
Anzu ignored the desire to kick herself. "I'm good; I just need to get out of the wind. And so do you," she added decisively. He nodded, looking a little more at ease. Ignoring the burning sensation in her eyes, Anzu wrapped her arms around him and with a swift upward thrust, both were in the air. Caught by surprise, Yuugi instinctively tightened his grip around her.
000
It was a human-looking creature that flew from the game shop. Her hair spun and whipped in the wind, colder than before.
Anzu flew higher, ignoring the protests of her cold wings. The sensitive flesh was unused to the freezing air…so used to having warmth up so high…
"Anzu!" Opening her eyes, she jerked her gaze downwards, anger blazing whoever would disturb her.
Yami. The rage faded. He swerved around her, wings angling painfully. They hovered where they were, Anzu without expression. His eyes gazed at her for the longest time before he spoke. "Anzu, didn't you hear me?"
"No. I was thinking. What is it?" He gave her another hard look before continuing.
"Marik hasn't returned. And they called for Ryo to come." Anzu blinked.
"What?" Her voice was shockingly calm, quiet, even serene.
He nodded. For the first time, she noticed his heaving chest, his trembling extremities. He must have flown at top speed to warn her. "Yes, and Bakura took Ryo to the Queen. His own brother!" Yami seemed outraged, coldly so, but she felt the heat radiating from his eyes.
"You don't think the Queen will hurt him…do you?" she asked softly, wings barely twitching to keep her up.
"I don't know. Regardless, Ryo doesn't deserve any pain. He's the most gentle among us, never spoken against anyone-!" Yami's glare grew hotter.
"Isn't that the thing, though?" Anzu continued dully. Yami nearly fell from the sky in shock. "He hasn't done anything cruel to humans, does his best to never kill one; the Queen probably takes issue with that, doesn't she?" Her voice was so flat it was a wonder she was still flying.
Yami stared at her. "What are you saying? Aren't you angry? In the slightest?"
She gave him a level look. "Yes. But getting angry won't solve this, will it? It's not like we can oppose the Queen or we'd have done it already, wouldn't we?"
Yami lowered slightly, as though unable to believe his ears. "What?" His voice grew weak, confused. "Anzu…what's wrong with you?"
Anzu blinked, the stinging, burning sensation building in her eyes. "I don't know. I don't want to talk, alright? Why'd you come and tell me, anyway?"
He looked hurt by this. "I was worried about you. I was afraid-afraid they would summon you next!" He seemed absolutely stunned.
At this, she finally seemed to stir. "Worried? About me?"
"Who else?" Usually so calm and intelligent, Yami was not one to anger. His voice was cold, and his eyes looked like blood left in the ice too long.
She lowered her eyebrows. "Who says you have to worry about me?" she scowled.
He returned the glare, but she felt his relief; she was acting like tomboy Anzu again. "So do you know why we're all being summoned left and right?" she asked sharply. He shook his head.
"All I know is that none of them have returned…you don't think-?"
"That Bakura would let his brother get hurt?" she asked skeptically. "No. He may be a complete idiot, and the most hated sentient being ever, but even he has limits." Ryo's large, frightened brown eyes seemed pleading in her mind. "No, he won't let the Queen kill him. But I'd feel better if I had some idea of what was going on."
Khonsu beat his wings a little harder, and they both began to move, flying over the city that came looming on the horizon. "Bakura seems to be helping the Queen a great deal, as of late. What do you think they're looking for?"
Anzu shrugged. "Like I know. Probably some spy or something, helping humans."
"Like you?" he asked. She ignored him.
"Of course, they could be looking for something – or someone – more important. Y'know, like the lost Prince."
Yami's eyes widened. "What?"
"Oh yeah, didn't you hear? With all the new people being taken to the Queen, there've been rumors that they're looking for her son or something. I don't buy it; I'm almost positive Bakura is her son. Most recent, I mean. He's got the evil for it."
"True." They flew in silence for a moment.
"Might explain the reason he's so good with black magic, too." Anzu added this, thinking. "He's got so much dark power, it's a wonder he can't turn a mortal into a vampire without biting…"
Yami nodded. "Do you think she'll come for you or me?"
"Not if she knows what's good for her, she won't," she replied grimly. The only sound from then on was the beat of their wings as they vanished into the dark.
000
"He does not know of it." The voice was only mildly disappointed. The soft rustling of a black dress against the black onyx tile and the clack of thin heels was the only sound.
"No, my Lady. I beseech you; explain what is so important about a human? They are weak." The voice was urgent, male, rasping lowly.
"Ah." The black mouth – lipstick gleaming – smiled, almost kindly. Ivory fangs glinted. "It is not the human that is so important. But the mortal will spark a fire that must be put out." The black figure moved, dress rustling, and ran its fingers over a glass surface.
"A pity I have no Seer; he was most helpful. Now I must take things as they come. Ah well," it whispered, "he ought to have known better than to use such powers to assist my foes…one is not banished for nothing."
"Yes, my Lady. But still, how will you find this mortal that will so change our existence?" Sharp, dark eyes followed to the glass surface. A strangely pained light entered them before they again became cold.
Gazing into the glass, the figure said mildly, "I do so love the tale of Snow White. 'And there she slept, in the case of glass, until awakened…'" The words broke into a warm mirth. "The case of all sealed here." (3)
"…I already know how to claim the mortal, the spark, the light. You needn't worry. I have them sufficiently frightened, I think." Looking away from the glass, the being said, with authority, "It's time for me to leave. I must merely prepare, for a time. Within the month, the mortal's blood will be mine. And oh, how sweet it must taste…"
The other one, the male, knelt on one knee, taking the snow white hand in his. Ignoring the freezing black nails, he pressed his lips to the ruby on the pale ring finger. "I am your servant, my Lady."
She smiled, oh so sweetly and gently. "Do not fear for your brother; he will awaken at the mortal's death." Her gaze landed on the glass case again, where a boy's pale face was clearly visibly, the glass so clear it seemed invisible. So close, that he could easily be touched…
The white, expressionless face was peaceful and yet disturbed. Completely blank and void, his white bangs around his eyes, Ryo Bakura slept, and even his chest did not stir in the cold, cold air.
000
Here's another chapter…hope you guys enjoy it! Now I have to do my homework…Dangit.
Quoting Marlin from "Finding Nemo" here, at least halfway. "Good feeling's gone," are his exact words. I don't own "Finding Nemo."
"Haven't you ever had a dream…?" Inspiration came from Disney's "Hercules." Also not mine.
I don't own Snow White. It inspired some of this, though.
Well, hope you all enjoyed this…until the next update!