Twilight Rising

Chapter 17

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Hammer on wood was the sound to echo through the temple courtyard a few weeks since the Cyclops incident. The others came over to see Dojo busying himself with hammering a small box complete with padlock and tiny bars in the small windowed opening. Yugi blinked curiously as he knelt down to the busy dragon. "What's up with Dojo?" he asked as violet eyes looked back to the master that came up with them. "I'm afraid it's Dojo's ailment, so to speak. It seems as if it's about to make itself known." Fung replied as Dojo turned to look at them with a soft glare, asking why everyone was staring at him like he was some sort of freak. Now Yugi can say that for his duration with the temple, they met plenty of freakish individuals but Dojo was the sanest he got to know. Of course, he wouldn't say such out loud and stood as Fung began to explain the conditions to Dojo's ailment. It was something that happened once every 1500 years or so, that the dragon would fall to an intense craving of Wu that was so overpowering that he would devour anything to stand in his way to get it.

Yugi nodded before the mention of devour played at his ears. "Devour?!" he squeaked, jumping back from the dragon as he was placing the last touches to the box he is to sit in for the remainder of the day to curb the desire. "So if he is allowed to roam free, then it would be the end of the world as we know it, am I right?" Raimundo questioned as he looked to the master and he gave a nod, looking down to Omi as he questioned if the dragon has ever escaped the box before. "He has at least once...it was the last anyone has heard of Atlantis." Yugi looked between the master and Dojo, bewildered that not only that Atlantis actually existed...but that it was removed from history thanks to Dojo. This was clearly a serious matter and one that couldn't be taken lightly. Almost on cue, Dojo emerged from the box with a vicious snarl, making the group step back in fear that Dojo was about to change. "Aha, false alarm. But I am sensing a new Shen Gong Wu...or am I?" Yugi swallowed as he asked if he was. "Well of course I am! I'm not completely invalid yet!" he claimed as he began to grow, telling all to keep their hands inside the dragon.

One could very well say that the term spoken was a bit of a red flag but to their luck, Fung told Dojo that due to his condition, he wasn't able to join them and instead they would take the Silver Manta Ray to grab the new Wu to appear. Yugi took the Wu in hand and went to activate it while Dojo busied in drawing them a map to the Wu's location. "However, one of you will have to stay behind to watch Dojo." Fung added and Omi's eyes glanced to Raimundo before a cough caught his attention, turning to Yugi who gave a pout to him. "I suppose it is wise for me to stay behind...just this once." Omi muttered and the elder nodded, mentioning that he already had Omi in mind to stay with Dojo as the smallest assignments could end up being the most difficult. With the arrangement set and Wu sorted between them, the group was off while Omi waved at their departure.

At his evil lair, Jack had busied with yet another one of his great accomplishments, another aircraft made to get them to places a little faster. A challenge often made when it came to the monks' normal mode of transport. But from what Wuya told him, today was the day where the dragon would be indisposed in being useful so catching the new Wu should be easy enough for even him to not screw up. He even finished the device she been harping on him to get going since Cyclops' usefulness was kaput. Too giddy to finally make things go his way, Jack had accidentally kicked the controls, causing the leg of the falcon shaped craft to lift which left the entire thing unbalanced. An undignified yelp left the genius as the craft collapsed, setting a missile off that blasted a hole through the ceiling of his lair. Wuya sighed as she looked to the boy. Perhaps speaking too highly of his praise was too soon if he still made foolish mistakes like so.

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Once the others were gone, Omi watched Dojo with a wary gaze as the dragon began to pack his things for his stay. Everything seemed well and good as the dragon hummed of the things he planned to bring with him for the next twenty-four hours until Omi took a little peek into the suitcase. His eyes narrowed as he took out the bolt cutters that conveniently found their way in there. A glare at the dragon made him shyly explain he didn't know how they got there. Sure he didn't was the thought present in Omi's mind as he tossed the item away and Dojo was cleared for his incarceration. "Alright, no matter what Omi, you can't believe a single word that I say." Omi nodded as he closed the door on the dragon. Dojo was sure to repeat himself a good number of times to make sure it stuck with the smaller monk that he wouldn't screw this up and Omi assured him that he will make sure that he wouldn't get out. "Excellent...now do me a favor and open the door so I could get those egg rolls." Omi nodded, unlocking the door to allow Dojo out and the dragon screeched that it was a test to see if he was listening.

"Oop, sorry." Omi went to lock him back inside and Dojo sighed as he told him once more to not believe a single word he said...before asking once more to be let out to get to the egg rolls. Not wanting to be fooled a second time, Omi denied the request which gained a whine from the petulant dragon that he was serious about it this time and was getting hungry. Sure, he couldn't get to the Wu but at least let him have the egg rolls as a replacement! He was nothing but scales and bone!

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High in the sky, the sleek silver surface caught the light of the sun, Raimundo heading the flight of the manta-shaped craft as they glided over the snowy peaks of the mountain where their next Wu was. Spotting something glowing in the snow, Yugi made to point it out and he nodded before bringing the craft down to land. "Let's bag this Wu!" Clay called as they jumped from the craft and Yugi trudged through the snow to reach for the Tunnel Armadillo that was buried there. But of course, things weren't so simple as Jack made his presence known to them, launching missiles to deter them from getting to the Wu. Yugi leapt back with a huff as he glared at the other, the shade asking if he wished for it to ruin his day. "No no...you did enough before. Wuya is onto you and I don't want to put myself or you at risk." Yugi murmured as he jumped to avoid another missile. "Use your Wu!" Raimundo called as they pulled something to make use of aside from Yugi who didn't bring the lantern with him. "Don't mind if I do~" Jack called as well, slipping on the Glove of Jisaku and activated it, pulling the Wu from the others. Even the Tunnel Armadillo was swiped from them and they could only watch as the tech genius flew off with their things including the new Wu.

"That will pose to be an annoying problem in the future..." Yugi murmured, luckily for them the Silver Manta Ray wasn't caught in the grasping magnetism so they had a way at least to return back to the temple. Speaking of temple...Dojo could only whimper as he achingly watched Omi sitting with the plate of egg rolls he so desperately wanted, eating them right in front of him. This was a crime, a heinous one to someone so hungry. Dojo knew regular words wouldn't work on Omi now that he was onto his game so he tried to use his transformative abilities to get Omi to let him out. He tried the master, that was a bust. Perhaps a little girl lost from home...also a bust. Dojo tapped his chin before snapping his fingers before becoming the one thing that Omi wished to know but never had. "Omi, this is your mother speaking! I order you to open the door this instant!" The elderly voice of the woman that looked much too close to Omi snapped. It was the best he could come up with as the boy was an orphan who came to the temple. Knowing exactly what his mother would look like was beyond Dojo's memory. "Dojo you are wasting your time! Besides, I am an orphan!" Omi countered, popping another egg roll into his mouth.

The dragon sneered before ditching the appearance to now be that of Omi himself. After all, the monk was often too happy to believe in his own words no matter how wrong he could be. What's to say he wouldn't be charmed by a mirror image to be freed. Omi growled, now the game was getting absolutely ridiculous and the boy was ready to get up and leave Dojo to suffer in the cage alone. He didn't have anything to get the lock open so he was sure the dragon could be left on his own while he did something productive. "Ok ok! Perhaps I took it too far but I just want the egg rolls! Pleaaaaaaase! Just slip it through the bars!" Omi sighed and knew the dragon won't stop until he got what he wanted and stood. But as he made it to the box to look through the bars, the box was completely empty. He gasped as he looked at every inch of it but there was no sign of the dragon anywhere within. There was no way...no possible way for him to have gotten out that easily. Unlocking the door and stepping inside, Omi looked around the entirety of the box. There were no gaps, no holes, nothing! It was then that a claw tapped the top of his head and he went to glance up. Omi's mouth widened as he could only watch in horror as Dojo, who physically blended in with the wall made to slip out the open door, growing larger as his tail slammed the door shut on the smaller monk, the lock clicking shut on its own.

Dojo grinned to see his ploy finally worked before feeling his flesh shift, glancing down to his neck to see a growth making itself known there. He grimaced a little to the sight before the growth became a second head and gave a nod to his partner that would join his feast. "Now gimme those egg rolls!" Dojo roared, swiping the plate from where it laid and split the bounty between his two heads. Once the weakly filling meal was done, Dojo lowered his head down to look Omi in the eye and he could see the insatiable spark of hunger that was ready to wreak havoc upon the world for his folly. "Hate to eat and run but we can sense a new Wu going active. But we'll come back for a little stir fried Omi~" Dojo spoke before both heads cackled before the dragon was off. Omi swallowed as he watched the disappearing body of Dojo and rested his head onto the bars of the box. He was most displeased with how things turned out and he would be shamed for his weakness in letting Dojo trick him.

It was some time before the others returned, landing the craft down in silence before stepping out the see the sight of Omi trapped within the box. Hearing their arrival, Omi stuck an arm out to get their attention, asking pitifully for them to open the door to the box. Clay and Raimundo looked skeptical, thinking that it was a ploy from Dojo to trick them into opening the box but as Yugi walked closer to it, he felt that wasn't the case here. "I don't think that he's lying." The small male murmured as he reached out to open the door only for his wrist to be tugged back gently. "Now hold on there. We can't be too sure." Raimundo mused as Omi desperately tried to explain himself and it only took his commonplace butchering of "wool over the eyes" to prove that it was indeed Omi. He could never get catchphrases right so that was easily the one way how to ever tell the difference between Omi and a very convincing clone. Omi stepped out with a sigh before looking into the eyes of his fellow monks, their gazes questioning how he got himself caught in the box and he explained the trickery Dojo managed to fool him with that allowed his escape. The master was quick to come out and see the damage done and with a cross look to Omi, he warned them all that the end was upon them.

Yugi gripped his sleeve, the sound of a far off release of power signifying that same fact and they were all unable to think of how they could combat the hungry dragon.

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Jack wished he had earplugs. He really did as the screeching in his ear from Wuya was enough to make them bleed. She raved that Dojo had gotten free and would be coming their way for the Wu if they didn't hurry to find it. "Will you calm the chatter, woman?!" he growled, twisting the controls fervently to get the Juju Flytrap that was deep in the lake he hovered above. Finally, he caught something and smirked as he pulled out the Wu. Item in his possession, she urged the redhead that they had to hide before Dojo got there. With his speed and nose, he'd be on them fairly soon. Jack rolled his eyes, wondering how much she planned to go about this. She was a ghost, Dojo would hardly affect her in comparison but she definitely treated as whatever he is capable of during this hellish phase will do harm to both of them. Pressing a few buttons, he readied himself for takeoff but screamed as the dual headed dragon made his appearance before him, shoving himself back into his seat at the completely transformed dragon. "D-Dojo!?"

"You have something that belongs to me." he growled. "Oh yeah...well you're gonna have to take it from my cold, dead fingers!" Jack sneered as he pressed a button, sending out a flurry of missiles towards the dragon. But for an ancient magical creature, the explosions were nothing more than fireworks to this phase of his. Reaching for another lever, Jack tugged on it, bringing up a firebomb that he launched into the air and watched as the dragon was set ablaze in a ball of flames. Jack breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if he accomplished what he needed and began to set himself up to leave when the flames died down and Dojo was hardly scratched by anything he did. "Well that was fun but really, give it your best shot~" Dojo cooed as he glared into the cockpit and Jack gulped in fear. "That...was my best shot..." he wheezed before hitting the emergency button and turned the craft into a watercraft and ducked into the lake he found the flytrap in. Jack exhaled as he went to get himself somewhere safe but Dojo wasn't going to have any of it. Plucking two stalks of hollow bamboo to provide as straws, he began to drain the lake in its entirety to find Jack.

If he was to ever tell someone about a time he felt he was going to die, this would be the moment. He didn't even have a first date, his first kiss! And this blasted darkness that Wuya kept telling him about! He didn't even get the chance to see it for himself! The redhead pushed the engine as hard as he could but it was doing nothing to keep him from the dragon. "Changing Chopsticks!" he called, pulling out the Wu to shrink himself and get him out of the path to go into hiding. He hoped that being as small as he were would keep him hidden but oh how wrong he was. Tossing the bamboo aside, Dojo took a short whiff before finding where the evil genius tried to hide himself. It was an attempt but it was nothing to him as long as he had Wu in his possession. Taking the small craft into his claws, he grinned sharply like a serpent before tossing the craft into his waiting jaws. "This is all your fault!" Wuya screamed. "Don't even with me!" Jack retorted before their presence was gone in the world deep into the belly of the beast who only laughed in voracious glee. That was one problem nipped in the bud but there was still more to collect and he knew the best place that held a sizable amount for his eating pleasure.

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"I feel like we should take the Wu and run." Raimundo mumbled as they stepped out of the vault with their selected Wu. It seemed like a pointless effort to attempt to fight the dragon but if the elder said it was a wise choice then they can only obey. Yugi held the lantern close to him as he looked to the others. He trusted in their judgement but he felt this was beyond their help. "Yugiii...oh precious little one." The shade whispered as darkened clouds pulled overhead, announcing the arrival of the dragon and he turned an eye to his shadow. A red eye peered from its depths. "Do not risk yourself. Stay to the shadowssss. I will guard you with all the power I haveeee."

"But the others..." he whispered as they went to run out to confront the dragon who hovered before them, jaws glistening with saliva as he looked not just at them but the Wu they held. Never would he believe for Dojo to be so...menacing. A lump fell in his throat and could feel the fear gripping him. Wuya as herself was one thing but to see Dojo like this and easily ready to turn on his friends was something entirely different. Clay was the first to make a move, using the Fist of Tebigong to tear a rend in the ground that was followed by Kimiko using the Eye of Dashi to shock the dragon into the ravine. They watched as he fell to what they hope was a satisfactory defeat to stop his rampage, Yugi looking over the edge to see nothing. "Did...we do it?" he asked softly. "Look out!" The shade hissed, tugging onto his shadow and the smaller yelped as he fell back, nearly rolling across the ground as Dojo shot back up into view, hardly fazed by the attacks and went to claw the ground, catching Clay in his swipe before grabbing him. His heart pounded in his ears as the rushing blood nearly made him dizzy, watching Clay fall to the same fate as the one before him that they didn't know.

We can't...

While the master made to defend, Omi used himself and the orb to be bait, drawing his attention while Kimiko and Raimundo tried once more to deter the beast, using a combination of the Star Hanabi's flames and the Sword of the Storm's gusts. A massive flame tornado was the sight to befall them but just as their predecessor who met with Dojo earlier learned rather quick that one who breathes fire was not affected by it. Rising above the flaming tornado, a single breath dispersed the flames as the dragon grinned before diving down to claim two more.

We can't...

Yugi backed away, watched helplessly as the master was grabbed without resistance, looking to the two of them and reminded them that the future of the world was now in their hands. The temple was a mess, their friends and master were gone and his feet felt like lead. Yugi was sure he was prepared for anything to come his way but to take on Dojo in this state just seemed impossible. Omi was just as devastated, glaring up at the dragon. The greatest offense to the small monk was to eat the master, the one to have housed and raised him after Dashi's reign and this is the payback he deserved for his years?! Omi wouldn't allow this to stand. Dojo laughed at the feeble attempt to sound threatening before he began to suck away, dragging the fighting monk into his belly. "Now, for the littlest one~" Eyes turned to Yugi and he froze where he sat. "C'mere Yugiii~ Join your friends!"

No...no...please...

Yugi couldn't breathe or speak, fear completely shutting down any means to move and the shade growled. This was unacceptable! This dragon had done enough! It did not care for the fate of the monks but it would be absolutely damned if it allowed the dragon to devour Yugi. "Master...Maaaaster...it is obviousss your power cannot do a thing to this dragon but I implore you jussst this once...help your light from this fiendish threat!" The shade whispered, a claw reaching to grab Yugi but was halted as the air pressure dropped and the clouds roared with thunder. Dojo reeled back as Yugi's shadow grew like a pool of water underneath him, a mass slowly rising from it as a sharp and angry growl came. Crimson eyes opened in the silhouette before narrowing at the sight of the dragon, Dojo slowly cowering. "It...it's you! You were dead! I've seen you suffer!" Dojo exclaimed as a roar answered him. The dragon panicked to the illusion, knowing well that this was something he dare not fight. Wild eyes could never make the correlation to Yugi and the illusion, Dojo only knew he had to get away from it. Darkness brought by him pales in comparison to what stood before him.

A frightened cry came from the two heads before the dragon darted from the destroyed temple, leaving Yugi alone. A deep hiss left the illusion before the head turned to Yugi, lowering down to gaze into blank violets that barely registered what stood before him. The illusion began to shrink, losing its monstrous form and became a body, an average human male that reached to touch Yugi's cheek. The touch broke the illusion and a gasp left him before he looked around. There was no one there and Dojo was gone. Tears misted his eyes as he lowered his head, sobbing softly before a scratching at his pant leg had him look to the shade. "Little one, we mussst work quickly." It breathed. The power expended through it was taxing and there was little it could do from here but it was grateful the master heeded his summons to save the light.

"But what can I do?! I can't do anything to Dojo!" Yugi cried before the shade hushed him. It told him that his forgotten box would solve all their problems but they had to be where his hunger will lead him next. Yugi whimpered before rubbing his eyes and nodded. Reaching into the shadows, it dragged out the Silver Manta Ray that was spared from the dragon's hunger and pushed it into the teen's hands. "A canyon, my dearest oneeee..." It spoke gently, bringing Yugi's gaze to its single eye and just like the very first time, before the shade was even a presence to Yugi, the location appeared in its vision.

"The canyon holdsss his target...go there and ssset things up." Yugi moved to stand slowly, looking to the shade. "How...do you know?" The shade chuckled weakly, asking if he really expect someone like Omi to actually sit back and be digested. A weak laugh met the inquiry before nodding. Looking through the rubble, Yugi found the discarded PDA and made sure it was in working order, getting a lead on Dojo and nodded before mobilizing the Silver Manta Ray and went to get the box from the rubble. Setting it into the aircraft, Yugi looked back to the shade who sat where he left it. It expended all it could to connect the master to their site. Before it was of his own volition but to be pulled from the burial site was a different case entirely. One great showcase of power is all it could do at the level it were now. "Come on, I can't leave you." Yugi whispered, kneeling down to pick up the shade before climbing into the craft and took off with the shade nestled in his lap.

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As Dojo continued on his path now that things were back under his control and mind cleared of panic, he started for the direction of a new Wu. As he does so, a plan was being formed deep in his belly. Luckily for all that were eaten, he never did think to chew and therefore gave them a rather small window to plan and stop him before the worst could happen to them all. Omi lacked a few things to make his so called plan a success, needing a couple Wu in order to do as he wished. Once he had all in hand, Jack getting yelled at once more for giving up the Changing Chopsticks so easily, now was the time to get out the belly of the beast. He just needed Kimiko to light things up a bit within the dragon. Outside, Yugi followed the PDA's guidance, seeing the tail end of the dragon and hummed. His mind was in a better place compared to earlier but there was still the matter of how to stop him. Alone he couldn't and to ask the shade would be an exercise in futility as it was in the same state as it were the last time it expended so much to save him.

"Tell me...is there any way you can be stronger than you are? These bursts of feat drains you so quickly...there has to be something I can do for you." Yugi asked, petting the shade's back who purred in content. "Oh there issss but the time to ask is not here quite yet. You will know properly of the time but for now, concentrate on this foolissssh one." Yugi nodded quietly, seeing the dragon grab something from the craggy surface of the rock formation and had considered ramming into it to stop him but saw the glow of the Wu signaling that someone was conducting a showdown. "But who...wait. Is that Omi?!" He got free! Yugi couldn't fathom how...well he could but the thought of going in that direction was disgusting to think about and he expected Omi thought the same to be at the front of the dragon instead of the back. Yugi watched as Dojo managed to cough up something to wager and once he did, the challenge was set as the terrain shifted and the canyon became a maze of rocky paths and tunnels. Time to go. Yugi pushing the craft to breeze ahead as Omi began his part, leaving the dragon in his dust as he ducked and dodged his snapping jaws as Dojo tried to reclaim the tiny morsel that managed to get out of him.

Yugi watched from above, fearing for the monk's safety as Dojo came much too close a few times in grabbing him before Omi disappeared through a tunnel in the mountain, causing Dojo to bunch up like an accordion once his jaws got stuck in the tiny opening. But that didn't stop him as he unleashed a lungful of molten lava, filling the passage and shot the monk out like a cannon through the air with a single slab of rock his only footing. Taking a glance to his side did he see Yugi in the Silver Manta Ray and gaped. He wished to question so much but Yugi shook his head, knowing full well that Omi's questions would have to wait, motioning to the box in the other seat and Omi nodded before Yugi had gone ahead of him. Reaching a dead end, Yugi landed and went to set the box up, hearing the angered roar of Dojo in the distance and the small monk heading towards him. "Yugi!"

"No time to explain! Get him back in here!" Yugi spoke as he went to hop back into the craft and ascended high above the battlefield so Dojo's attention won't be tracked to him so easily while in the middle of the showdown. Using the combination of the Reversing Mirror and Changing Chopsticks, Omi enlarged the box to fit the dragon before covering it with the shroud, hearing Dojo arriving just in time to enact the last piece. "With so much Shen Gong Wu to eat, I'd have to be on a diet." Dojo commented before snickering softly as Omi tutted softly. "You have proven a most worthy adversary. Perhaps I would have the chance to beat you again!" Omi teased and that got Dojo's blood boiling. Defeat him?! Really?! Omi was in well over his head and got lucky to not only get free but do so without him noticing. He'd be right back in his stomach soon enough! A roar left the dragon as he dove for the small monk and he was quick to duck out of the way, causing the dragon to ball himself in a surprising and suddenly tight space. Omi pulled the shroud from its place, revealing the box that was to keep Dojo within and kicked the door shut.

Task done, he shrunk the box and slammed the lock on the door, ending the challenge and held the Wu in his hand with the Silk Spitter a new addition. Dojo had to admit, he definitely didn't see that move coming. He was so confident he'd win but of course, being blinded by hunger left one open to any easy tricks. Looking up, he saw the Silver Manta Ray descend, the cockpit opening to reveal Yugi. "Looks like we got him." Yugi murmured as he looked to the dragon who cowered under his gaze. A trace a fear echoed through him and truly, whatever brought that darkness to be, he knew well it was solely focused on Yugi's well-being. Put him in danger and something wicked would be sure to ruin the enemy's day. But that begs the question...was it really them? They were dead, weren't they? Dojo knew that for a fact. Perhaps it was just a trick of the light...yeah. A trick of the light and weird weather conditions. He did like to make a show of his power when he was in this specific ailment. The box was loaded into the ray and Omi hopped in to take the passenger seat, Yugi closing the hatch and returned back to the temple.

Clean up was going to be a tiresome process.

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Omi sighed as he scrubbed the scorched walls, bowing profusely to the master as he told him that he did well to resolve the error that he had brought upon the land. Omi nodded, promising that he would never again lead the world into yet another close call of destruction. Dojo himself was back to his usual self, everything from the event nothing but a blur to him which was good for the shade. It had to count its lucky blessings that the dragon would never remember what it had to do to protect the child as his power hungry mind was now a thing of the past to be a problem in the far, FAR, future. Yugi's secret was safe from the monks for a while longer. Speaking of Yugi, he was situated on the broken foundation of the fountain, eyes trained on the ground. "Yugi?" A voice piped up as Kimiko walked over to him. She was certainly not pleased by the method they had to deal with to get out -which is still objectively better than the OTHER way- but she was glad to be free...and once plumbing was back in order she would take the longest soak. But she was concerned for her friend.

Yugi was paralyzed by fear thanks to Dojo and she was worried that such would take a turn for the worst on his mind. Being a Xiaolin warrior was tough, filled with grueling training, fights and challenges. He had been perfectly fine with most of the things that were stacked against him but for a situation like Dojo...he never saw his eyes so dead. Yugi looked up before smiling softly to Kimiko. "Hey there. Is everything alright?" She nodded, moving to take a seat behind him. "I'm fine but I'm worried about you. After everything that happened..." Yugi sighed as he looked away. He was grateful for her concern, he truly was, but he felt a little bad for it too. He didn't want to have anyone worry for him but he knew well the girl would check up on him and be sure he was able to continue. She reminded him so much of Diamond back home. He told her that it was just a mere pass of weakness. That the idea of his closest friends under the temple could turn so bad just messed with his thoughts. Knowing well the event was clearly out of Dojo's control, without making note that all of it could've been avoided if Omi wasn't tricked, he just didn't expect to react so badly.

Perhaps it was the fear of death from something that would only make sense in films, horror films. No common human being would worry about any sort of situation where being eaten whole by a dragon and while he had his element, there were still things that even he couldn't properly comprehend a means to counter. "I just have to get stronger, steel myself for whatever awaits us. I guess Dojo reminded me that there are things out there, so much hidden in the lands that are stronger than the mere human. Monsters and magic. If it wasn't for what I got to learn now, I'd probably be dead. Or maybe I'm just really lucky." Yugi murmured, glancing to the barely there shadow under him from his position in the sunlight. Really, he owed the shade more than just his life for all it did. It stood beside him, guides him and definitely saves him with every little inch of its body even if it meant it would be out for a couple days after. He wanted to do something for it and the best he could think of was to grant it more power. He didn't know how until he was told but he would be rather willing to do so. He felt arms wrap around him and a warmth that made him blush just fleetingly as he turned his head to Kimiko. "It will be alright, Yugi. We'll get through things together. No matter what the future holds, we'll be right there beside you every step of the way."

"...arigatou, Kimiko."

"Dōitashimashite."

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Zypher: i swear as i watch through these episodes, i ask how so many things get misplaced...especially Wu. but enough about continuity, let's talk about how the primal darkness is getting stronger~