Author's Note: Okay so, it's been around... two months? I'm sorry! *Ducks behind giant duck* I really have no excuse as to the lateness of this chapter, but I hope I can make up for it with some extra darkness. *Grins sheepishly* And I would like to thank you all for sticking with this story. It means a lot to me and Dreamer of Legends. Really. Oh, and thanks to those who have favourited! And now, on with the story!
Yami stood as strong as he could in the pitch blackness, but he could feel the evil force literally speeding toward him faster than he thought possible, and his hands shook uncontrollably. It swirled all around him, growing and swelling until it seemed it would burst forth in one killing wave.
But then suddenly, the aura shifted, and a small hole seemed to appear within it, though of course Yami could not see it. The darkness stopped, as though it could not pass through that hole, and it was frustrated by that fact. Another feeling began to grow, this one opposite from the darkness.
Puzzled, Yami waited, unsure if this new feeling was any worse than the one it had stopped.
Perhaps they are fighting over who gets to kill me first. Yami thought sarcastically, though he could not hide a shiver at the thought.
A shaft of light pierced through the black silence, glowing brightly enough to make him squint and turn his head away so he was not blinded. He threw one arm up to cover his eyes, and waited for the light to fade.
When he finally lowered his arm, and found himself staring once again into Yugi's violet eyes.
Dead silence. Neither one moved, neither one breathed.
Then, he watched Yugi's eyes widen impossibly, staring at Yami as though he could not believe what he was seeing. As soon as he realized he was not hallucinating, he rushed forward as fast as he could, closing the gap between them in seconds. Yugi reached out for Yami, catching hold of his wrists and gripping them so tightly it would have hurt if there was any comprehension of pain in this place. As soon as their skin met, all of the pain and hurt that Yami had been carrying around in his heart completely shattered. The talons of death and apathy that were squeezing his soul lessened, and their painful touch was not nearly so intense.
Yami's heart ached at the fear that was written all over Yugi's face; he wanted so badly to hug him close so that the terrible feelings of loneliness and guilt would subside. But Yugi's intense, pleading, and almost scared expression stopped him.
"Yugi, are you-" he began, but Yugi cut him off.
"Yami, please, listen to me! I don't have much time, he's going to figure out where I've gone any minute!" His eyes unconsciously flickered back and forth, searching the shadows for the unknown nightmare that only his eyes could bear witness to. Yami could feel him shaking softly, literally trembling in fear, and he longed to be able to erase the tense expression that did not belong on Yugi's face. His heart began to burn with sympathetic pain, and this time when the anger washed over him there was no hatred tearing behind it. This time, it was not fueled by negative emotions. Yugi spoke again, somehow knowing exactly what to say.
"Don't give into the darkness. Please Yami, we both know that there are many people out there who want you on their side. Please, please remember that you are good, and that no one can force you to turn into something you're not. Hold on to the light, I know it lives in you; I can see it every time you stand up for what you know is right. I see it every day." Once he finished speaking, something seemed to catch his attention, for his head whipped around and he was staring into the shadows intently.
"It's going to be alright Yugi, I'm going to get you back, I swear," Yami promised, able to think clearly without the evil clouding his heart. "But I need your help, you need to tell me who did this to you."
Yugi's gaze snapped back; his eyes were suddenly filled with dread and apprehension. "I-I can't," he stammered, lowering his gaze to the ground in defeat. "I can't. It's better this way, and you won't have to make such a tough choice." He began rambling in a low monotone. "If you were to find out... if you only knew... I won't make you go through with that. There is no way I could forgive myself... No, it's better for everyone if I just stay here. Out of everyone's way."
"Yugi, Yugi! Snap out of it, you're scaring me!" Yami shook him gently, and this time when Yugi looked at him there was a resigned acceptance in his eyes that terrified Yami even further.
"It's okay, Yami. I've made my decision. He's not going to get away with this, I won't let him. He won't get to you that easily."
"Yugi, what in the name of Ra is going on?" Yami demanded, just as a cold breeze blew past them. Yugi's determined face wavered the slightest bit. "He's coming. Listen Yami, you have to let go."
"What? Let go? What do you mean?" He was afraid to find out.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine, I promise. Death is just the next big adventure right? I'll be okay..." He trailed off, taking a second to steady his breathing and prevent his gentle voice from cracking. "Besides, it's not me I'm worried about. Yami you have to promise me, promise that no matter what happens, no matter what you see or hear, you will remember that I am still right here." He pressed his hand against Yami's chest and stared at him hard, making sure he understood how important this was.
Yami was breathing hard, slowly piecing together what his friend was saying. "No, Yugi no! I won't let this happen, I won't lose you again! Tell me! Who is doing this?"
Yugi shook his head slowly. "No. I know what that knowledge would do to you. I thought that maybe... maybe I could find a way out myself. But I see now that's impossible. Listen Yami, just get out of here. My time is up. I'm just a pawn in the bigger scheme of things anyway. Just forget about me."
Yami's eyes widened in shock, and he grasped Yugi by the shoulders, trying to snap him back to reality. "Don't talk like that Yugi, you know it's not true!
"Hey..." Yugi mumbled, his eyes glazing over as the cold wind grew. "You have a body of your own now... I guess that means you don't need me anymore..." He laughed, slow and dull. His head drooped, and a huge, obsidian chasm opened at his feet. A ripple of malevolent energy blasted from it, knocking Yami from his feet. He watched as Yugi slowly began rising, his eyes empty of any emotion.
Yami jumped to his feet, calling out and stretching forth his hand. "Yugi!"
But just before his splayed fingertips could catch hold, Yugi was swallowed up in a twisting pillar of ebony smoke, and a loud voice called out.
"Not so fast, Pharaoh. You and I have a deal to make."
And then the darkness swallowed him, too.
XxxxxxxxxxxX
Bakura's eyes snapped open and looked down at his flashing Ring. He grinned, a strange, maniacal sort of grimace, baring his teeth.
"This is it," he growled. "The Pharaoh has been taken. Now he must defeat the man that took away his partner or else the world will fall into his hands."
Bakura stood up swiftly, and Kaiba instinctively moved closer to the couch to shield Mokuba. But Bakura was not interested in him; he grabbed hold of Kaiba's chin again instead, much to his displeasure.
He moved to knock away Bakura's hand, but stopped at the insane light that sparked in his eyes.
"Listen very carefully. You must not let the Pharaoh lose this battle, understand? If I am ever to claim the power that is rightfully mine, he cannot be allowed to fail." He glanced at Mokuba with a wicked grin. "If you should succeed, then I will return your brother to you. If not..."
He left the rest unsaid. Kaiba looked at his brother, his family, and hardened his resolve. He did not believe a word of all this 'controlling the world' nonsense, but he did not trust Bakura at all. He would not let his pride get in the way of Mokuba's safety, for he could not know for sure what Bakura had done to him.
While he was lost in his own thoughts, Bakura placed his hand in front of the Millennium Ring and stoked its powers.
"This may hurt," he said deviously, grinning like a wolf that knows its prey is weak. A great black blot swallowed Kaiba's vision, and he was tugged violently into the Shadow Realm.
XxxxxxxxxxX
Yami groaned heavily and opened his blurry eyes. He was lying face down, and he could not see anything. He opened his eyes further, but still, he could not see. Alarmed, he wondered for one crazy second if he had gone blind. He got to his feet slowly and shook his head, sighing as he realized where he was.
The Shadow Realm. He thought. Of course, where else would he hide?
The knife on his hip glowed with a sickly light, as though it approved of the evil atmosphere. Yami was still unsure whether or not he could trust himself with such a blade, and so he proceeded forward with caution.
"Show yourself!" he yelled out. "You have nowhere left to hide!"
He caught a flash of movement off to the side of him as he spoke, and that same hooded figure seemed to simply melt into view.
"On the contrary, Pharaoh, it is you who has nowhere to hide. I have you trapped, and now I can finally take you down and claim your powers for myself. This is the way it should have been all along."
The man reached up to his hooded face, and drew back the cowl of his cloak. "Greetings, O dark and mighty wielder of evil," the man said, giving a low and mocking bow. "My name is Yami, Pharaoh of the ancient lands of Egypt. I have come to kill you."
Yami looked as though a slight breeze would knock him right over, for he stood trembling with his mouth agape. Staring straight at him, ruby eyes glinting in this lightless world, was Yami himself.
"You," Yami breathed, the only word he could manage to utter. "You..."
"No, actually, you," the man said, deliberately trying to confuse him. "Don't you see? This whole mess is your fault. You were the one who killed Yugi. You are the servant of Chaos. I have been trying to stop you all this time, and now I finally have you right where I want you."
Yami tried to smirk, though it was mostly to cover up his inner turmoil. "You cannot fool me. You are nothing but a lie, a shadow fabricated by the land of shadows."
He drew the knife out and pointed it threateningly toward his counterpart. The man only laughed in his face.
"A lie, am I?" he chuckled, eyes flashing. "Look at the blade you wield, scar of vileness. It belongs to Chaos himself, this you cannot deny! You are his servant, whether you will freely admit to it or not. But don't take my word for it, look inside your own heart and see the answers it holds!"
"Enough!" Yami roared. The man's words scared him more that he cared to admit, even to himself. "I care nothing for your lies! I have come here to stop you from seizing control of powers that were never meant to be released, and I shall!"
"That is where you are wrong," he sneered. "You came here only to kill me, you care nothing of the fate of the rest of the world. Not your friends, not your allies, not even your most trusted partner."
He drew closer then, seeing that his words were obviously having a great impact on Yami. He was shaking hard, trying not to listen to the poisonous accusations. But despite that, he doubted.
What if he is right? What if I am the servant of Chaos? I have always sensed the darkness, always been privy to its powers...
"Yes," the man whispered, pushing him along. "You are evil. You knew this from the beginning, and that knowledge was only proven further on that fateful day so long ago. The day the Orichalcos unlocked your darker half. All this time, you thought you had destroyed it, but you were wrong. You are the darker half, and I am the light."
"No," Yami mumbled through shaking lips, but he did not believe his denial even as he spoke it. "No, it cannot be true! Tell me your name!"
"I don't see why I should," he teased, showing his pointed fangs. "You would not remember me anyway." Then his face suddenly grew dark. "But why not? You deserve to know the name of your better half." He leaned forward slowly, bending to bring his lips close to Yami's ear. "Atsu," he breathed.
A flood of strange emotions surged through him at the word. It felt so very familiar... as though it was linked to him in some way. He grappled with it for a moment, sensing that it was important. But it floated just out of his reach.
Why can't I remember?
Atsu reached out his hand. "Join me," he whispered. "Together we can rise up and conquer this world together, and destroy all of the evils that lurk within it. Only then may you redeem yourself."
Yami slapped his hand away, one final burst of denial raging through him. But then his strength faded, sapped by the knowledge the man had given him. He fell to his knees.
"Fine," Atsu growled, seemingly uncaring. "Your denial only proves me right. You would protect those evil-doers that live in the world, so you are no better than they."
He twirled suddenly, his cloak snapping out behind him. "But fear not," he called over his shoulder. "I will never allow your evil to escape this prison. You shall remain locked away here, where your influence cannot harm any others ever again."
Just before he disappeared into the darkness he paused, his stance suddenly sorrowful. He reached into his cloak and pulled forth Yugi's lock. "A pity that your aura had to contaminate one so pure and just," he murmured, gazing at the necklace. "He and I could have accomplished much together, but unfortunately he is as stubborn as you are. A pity..." he repeated. "I was hoping that together we would be able to convince him of the error of his ways. But since you are so firm in your decision, there is nothing I can do. His mind cannot serve me now..."
He cocked his arm back, and made as if to hurl the pendant into the darkness. But he paused again.
"No... perhaps there is a use for him yet." He mused. He turned and brought Yami under the scrutiny of one blood red eye. "I'll keep his spirit alive for the time being. That way you will know how it feels to have a loved one just out of your reach. Then you will know how I felt for so many long years."
Then he vanished, and Yami was left alone in the dark with the lies that felt like truths and the pain that was tearing him apart.
XxxxxxxxxxX
Kaiba peered into the gloom intently, trying to see more than just the shapeless tendrils of shadow that flickered across the barren land. Bakura's words echoed in his head.
"If you want to find the Pharaoh you must concentrate all your energies on him. The Shadow Realm is no easy place to navigate, and if you are to save your brother you must be persistent."
But he had been wandering in the darkness for what seemed like hours, and he had still found no trace of Yugi.
"Forget this," he grumbled. "This stupid hoax is obviously designed to keep me out." Then he remembered a rather interesting tidbit of information concerning the nature of this supposed 'Shadow Realm'.
"Why not?" he said softly. It was worth a try at the very least.
He brought his duel disk up and pulled out the top card. Sure enough, it was exactly the one he needed. He smirked.
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" he yelled. "Come forth!"
Kaiba felt a huge energy gathering within the card, and a bright beam of white light shot out and morphed into the great dragon. He raised his huge head and let out a roar that shattered the pressing silence. He spread his magnificent wings wide and slowly pumped them.
"You know what to do," Kaiba said confidently, but in truth he had no idea what it was he expected of the great beast. The dragon fixed him with one luminous eye, and Kaiba could've sworn he saw him nod. Then all of a sudden, Blue-Eyes snaked his long neck around to Kaiba's back and lowered his huge head. Moving slowly, he parted his massive jaws and carefully snagged the collar of Kaiba's jacket on his ivory teeth.
"Hey!" Kaiba gasped, startled, but he was wise enough not to struggle. The dragon growled softly as he turned about and deposited Kaiba onto his back. Kaiba clutched at him for dear life as he spread his wings further and leaped into the dark air with another almighty roar.
XxxxxxxxxX
Atsu paced back and forth anxiously, feeling as though his plans were slipping through his fingers. He was tossing Yugi's golden lock back and forth between his hands. He growled once, low and dangerous.
"It's not working. He's still clinging too strongly to his faith and his light. The darkness is there, to be sure, but it cannot consume him. This is not working!" he roared, fiery rage coursing through his veins. This had to work! All of the hatred he had nurtured these past millenia demanded no less. His final sweet revenge all hinged on the Pharaoh's surrender; the ultimate light succumbing to ultimate darkness. But he could not just kill Yami and be done with it, he had to utterly destroy his pure heart, or else Yami would always find a way back from the darkness.
"If I cannot destroy the Pharaoh, then I cannot claim his powers. And without a body of my own, I cannot destroy him on my own terms."
He growled again in frustration. "I need to find a way to defeat him. I need to kill his heart in order to regain the life I lost! I need-" He cut himself off, both his eyes and his grin growing wicked and wild. "I need a body." The thought was not an unpleasant one.
Fine then Pharaoh, he spat mentally. We'll do this the hard way. All because of your refusal... you could have saved him so much pain.... Oh well, it's by your own hand this deed comes to pass.
He started chanting slowly, enacting a simple, yet clever spell. As the words flowed from his lips, his Pharaohs garb morphed into a jean jacket and other modern day attire, and his eyes deepened in hue and depth until they were rich purple.
He held his hands in front of his eyes, making sure the mask was flawless. Then he gave one last wicked grin and departed into the darkness.
XxxxxxxxX
Yugi sat with his knees drawn up to his chest, staring into the darkness with a glazed look in his eyes. In reality he was looking inside himself, trying to put together some semblance of understanding.
His heart was heavy, like he had an anchor tied to it. He understood what it was; it was the weight of the lock. That same pendant that that dark man kept tormenting him with. So long as it was safely out of his reach, Yugi could not leave. Tears started pooling in his eyes.
"How did we get ourselves into this mess?" he wondered aloud. He lowered his voice until it was no more than a whisper, a solitary tear slipping down his face.
"I'm sorry Yami, so sorry. Please... if you can hear me, you need to leave. I'm just the bait, he wants you."
Another tear joined the first.
Scarcely a second later, a desperate cry echoed through the shadows, and Yugi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yugi! Yugi, can you hear me? Where are you?"
He gasped, hestiating for a split second out of shock before he bounded to his feet.
"Yami! Here! I'm here!" he cried out before he could stop himself. A dark blot separated itself from the surrounding mists, barreling toward him with all speed. And then, the face that Yugi needed to see so badly was in view. Yami stepped into his prison.
But the immediate joy Yugi had felt at seeing him again was short lived, for other dangers pressed on his thoughts.
"Yami, you've got to get out of here! That man, the lock holder, he's-" Yugi began, needing to explain.
"I know," Yami stopped him. "He's my darker half, the one I unlocked when I played the Seal of Orichalcos." Atsu tried his best to paint a pained expression on his face, attempting to seem hurt by the memory. He need not have worried, Yugi looked confused at his words and was not paying much attention to his facial expressions.
"No, it's not just that. He's-" but 'Yami' cut him off again.
"There's no time! We have to leave before he escapes!" He grabbed Yugi by the hand and tugged him along. "I've locked him in a corner of the Shadow Realm, by turning his own powers against him. We have to get out of here before he finds us!"
Something about his words did not settle well on Yugi's shoulders. As much as he wanted to trust his companion, he found himself questioning.
"How did you trap him? And how do you know where you're going?"
Atsu snarled inwardly, having no answer for these inquiries. He stumbled in his mind, trying to fabricate a decent lie that would convince him.
But then, Yugi suddenly jerked to a halt. "Did you hear that?" he said softly, listening hard. "That sounded like Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
Atsu grasped at the idea that would hold together his flimsy lies. He looked as though Yugi's observation had filled him with dread.
"No... I was afraid of this! He has escaped! Now he has our friends trapped within his grasp! We have to go save them!"
All traces of doubt flew from Yugi's mind at his words. The knowledge that his friends were in danger overwhelmed any other thoughts.
"What are we going to do?" he asked, determination burning in his voice. Atsu smiled to himself.
"I cannot destroy him on my own. He is too strong and..." he paused, seemingly trying to choke back his emotions. Yugi's face softened with sympathy. "I cannot find the heart to forgive myself. He is my creation, my evil come to life. If it wasn't for me..." He had to stop again, but he got his intended effect. He squeezed his eyes shut to hold back the flood of fake tears.
Yugi reached up one hand to grasp his shoulder firmly. "You know it's not your fault, Yami," he said softly. "We've talked about this before. Don't you realize that we should put it behind us?"
Atsu opened his eyes and smiled slightly. "You're right Yugi, as always. I should put it behind me."
Something flashed in his eyes for a moment, something that did not belong there at all. But then it was buried, leaving Yugi confused and wondering if he had only imagined it.
Atsu knelt down and fixed Yugi under the gaze of his dark eyes. "He posseses strange powers Yugi, and we have to be careful. He will try to cloud your mind and poison your thoughts. Don't lose sight of what you know."
"Don't worry," Yugi vowed. "He won't be able to fool me again, I promise."
"Good," Atsu purred. "Then there is only one thing left to do."
He saw Atsu's hand being raised, but he did not comprehend what it meant until it was too late. An explosion erupted on the side of his head, and Yugi fell forward into blackness.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Oh, and as always, if you have any questions, or if you spot any errors, please feel free to mention them in a review! (And I promise I'll update WAY faster next time!)