Author's notes:
Usual disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or Sailor Moon. But I do
own a birthday on Monday! Yeah! I'll be officially legal to…
uhmmm… ^^() I'll get back to you on that one…
By the way, Cruzer managed to answer my little riddle, so
congratulations! I still can't believe you read my chapter twice. o_o
Trust me though, your opinions do make a difference.
o.O *reads _all_ of FlameRaven's reviews* -_-;;; I guess I made a
LOT of errors… *sniffles*
BTW, you're not related to Pegasus are you? *grumbles something
about FlameRaven being able to read minds*
WARNING: Excessive dialogue in this chapter. Zoo is not
responsible for people running away in frustration due to lack of
action/a plausible plot.
*****************************************
"The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven."
- Milton, "Paradise Lost"
*******************************************
Chapter: 9 – Types and Attributes
Maximillion Pegasus huffed as he leaned backwards on his
swivel chair, rather peeved at the recent change of events. He angrily
clenched his right fist, unknowingly also crumpling a single Duel
Monsters card in his hand. And then realizing what he had done, the
silver-haired man opened his hand, staring blankly at the crumpled
card. He continued staring until his single golden eye began to glow,
and then, he broke down into laughter.
Complete, unadulterated laughter.
****************************************
Yami-Yuugi withdrew his fangs from his bleeding victim,
wiping away the blood dribbling down his mouth.
Momentarily, he watched in amusement as the scarlet spread along
his pale hand, slowly covering every niche on his smooth skin. The
Yami rang his rough tongue along the blood smear, enjoying its thick
and slightly pasty texture.
/Are you done now?/ Yuugi's voice rang in Yami-Yuugi's
mind no louder than an echo. The small boy sounded rather reverent
and quiet, as opposed to his usual disgust when his Yami went
"hunting". Maybe it was because of the sudden change of events, or
maybe Yuugi had given up complaining. Frankly, Yami-Yuugi didn't
know whether or not to be grateful for his Aibou's sudden
submission.
//Fine. Just let me clean up.// Came Yami-Yuugi's reply,
curt and to the point, lest he leak out unwanted gory details that he
knew his Aibou would only cringe at.
With a twist of healing and memory Magic, Yami-Yuugi
left everything just as it had seen, leaping into the skies to avoid any
straying eyes. The Darkness leapt gracefully over the sleepy
rooftops, careful not to disturb those who slept underneath.
//What's the matter Yuugi?// Yami-Yuugi finally ventured
to ask. //You've been awfully quiet today.//
/I don't know./ Yuugi confessed. /I just have a feeling that
it's all coming to an end./
Yami-Yuugi gave a mental sigh. //If you're still depressed
over Bakura, there's nothing much either of us can do about that.//
/It's not that!/ Yuugi protested. /I-I just feel like everything
has become insignificant. Worthless. I mean, why am I living here?
What am I trying to prove? And what's more; _who_ am I trying to
prove to?/
//Yourself.// Came the glib reply. Upon noticing his Aibou's
blatant expression, he elaborated. //What you do, no one really cares,
unless it affects them for the positive. Truth be told, I think people
are happier under this Authority than they would be without one. But
for someone like you, who has gone past this ignorance, there is no
turning back. What you need to figure out now is whether or not
your difference really matters. Is your new belief really worth
fighting for?//
Yuugi sighed. /No straight answers, I guess?/
//Absolutely none.// Came the sudden reply. //I'm only
here as your guide; I cannot see or predict the future.// Yami-Yuugi
hesitated for a moment. //Even if I could, I don't think I would want
to.//
Yuugi mentally wrinkled his brow. /Why not? Wouldn't
you want to know the future so you could prevent all the bad things
that are going to happen?/
//If I knew every bad thing about to happen, then I
would not cherish the good. Life is not simply for my benefit – it is
an experience.// Yami-Yuugi paused, noticing that his Aibou was not
catching on. //Forget it. I'm just lecturing.//
/N-no!/ Yuugi reassured. /I think I understand. I guess what
it really means is that there is no set "good" or "bad" in life. "Good"
could be seen as a paradise, continually shifting from one belief to
another, as there will always be dissatisfaction no matter how perfect
the paradise. In a way, we're really the 'bad guys' here, trying to
resist this paradise and seek a different belief./
//Good guys, bad guys.// Yami-Yuugi shrugged. //It's really
all a perspective thing. How you value what is 'good' and 'bad'.//
The Yami would have commented more had a flash of
fluttering fabric not caught his eye. Pretending to ignore it, the
Darkness continued plodding on his trek back to the Old City,
although he mentally fell silent. Yami-Yuugi experimentally jumped
over a few more rooftops before concluding with a grim satisfaction
that the fluttering flashes of fabric were moving at a steady pace
behind him.
//Yuugi, we're being followed.// The Yami suddenly warned
his Aibou, mental voice stern to emphasize the situation.
/By whom?/ Yuugi questioned, fear building up in his
innocent mind. /Is it the Authority?/
Yami-Yuugi snorted. //I don't think it's that grave yet.// He
assured Yuugi //But whoever they are, I don't like it.//
Without warning, the Yami suddenly increased his pace, jacket
viciously billowing like a banner behind him. The wind trickled
through his ears, roaring dully as he continued to stride and leap at
tremendous heights, every motion blurring together and creating the
illusion of flying.
Now, the Darkness could see that there were two of them,
one clearly giving chase while the other lingered behind, possibly
waiting for reinforcements. Yami-Yuugi narrowed his eyes, Sennen
Eye burning on his forehead as he invoked a Magic spell. Seconds
later, the air around the Yami began to shimmer, appearing to form
an aqueous bubble-like shield around him.
/Are they still following us?/ Yuugi, not quite sure of what
was happening outside, could only voice his worry in a plaintive
question.
//Not anymore// Yami-Yuugi reassured, smirking slightly as
the effects of his Illusion Spell allowed him to hide invisible from the
eyes of his chaser. True enough, the cloaked persuer faltered, pausing
to peer at the rooftops before shrugging a sigh of defeat and traveling
the other direction.
It was another half-an-hour before the Yami declared their
arrival at the outskirts of the Old City. Yuugi's physical body tingled
as he was again returned to reality, his re-appearance canceling any
previous effects of his Yami's magic. A curious thought suddenly
entered his mind, and Yuugi put a hand on the warm Puzzle for
support, focusing hard on the lingering remains of the Illusion Spell.
The Puzzle flickered a warm gold in response, and the Illusion Spell
immediately locked back into reality, replicating the same effects that
Yami-Yuugi had just invoked moments ago.
//What are you doing?// Yami-Yuugi's mental tone bordered
both curiousity and surprise as he watched Yuugi prod the bubble-
like shield.
Yuugi's mental tone reflected one of excitement and awe.
/That's amazing!/ The boy continued to examine the Spell, as if
half-afraid that it would disappear upon a moment's notice. /Yami! I
can actually use Magic!/
Yami-Yuugi gave his aibou a blatant mental look. //Didn't
you prove that to me in the Shadow Realm?//
/But this is different!/ Yuugi protested, /The Shadow Realm
was like an in-between place full of ancient Magic, but this is
_reality_./
//Trust me, Yuugi// Yami-Yuugi responded with a dry tone,
//Whether real or magical, it doesn't really matter. Once you have
established that link with Magic, you can use it anywhere, provided
that you now the Spells.//
/So, you need spells to make Magic work?/ Yuugi mused
over that idea.
Yami-Yuugi mentally shrugged. //Any effective Magic
anyway. I can teach you some basics if you want.//
/R-really?/ Yuugi felt like it sounded too good to be true.
//Why not?// Was the Yami's reply, //Although I warn you
– some of the Spells are not for the weak at heart.//
Yuugi shuddered, remembering his Yami's Blood-Binding
Spell. /Yeah, I think the basics are fine. Enough for me to handle
myself in case you can't protect me./
There was a sudden silence as Yami-Yuugi's mental tone
shifted to one of embarrassment. //Aibou, I'm sorry I wasn't there
to help you during that part in the Shadow Realm.// The Yami
finally apologized, tone extremely abashed.
Yuugi comforted his Yami with a mental pulse of
reassurance . /It's okay. It's not your fault! Besides, if it weren't for
that, I would have never discovered my use of Magic. And what
would happen later when I _really_ am in trouble?/
//I didn't try hard enough// Yami-Yuugi persisted, //Next
time, Yuugi, I promise you that I won't fail. Never again.//
Now, it was Yuugi's turn to sit in uncomfortable silence. /I
wouldn't want that from you, Yami./ Came the morbid reply.
/Because some promises are beyond anyone's control./
**************************************
Kaiba sighed in exasperation as a loud knock on his door
interrupted his work.
"What is it now?" The brown-haired boy snarled at the door,
trying to keep his eyes fixated on the screen, as he was currently in
the middle of deciphering a complex security password.
The door clicked open to reveal a blonde-haired boy, who
appeared to be the same age and height as Kaiba himself.
"Jeez." This new boy, Jounochi, muttered. "I just wanted
some information. Meiou-san told me that you could help."
Kaiba 'humphed' angrily, closing the current window filed
on his computer screen and turning towards Jounochi. "Look." He
snapped. "Unless you have really urgent business, I suggest you
leave me alone for the next couple of hours."
"It IS urgent!" Jounochi shouted back, rage building up in
his eyes. The others had warned him of about Kaiba, and now, it was
painstakingly obvious why. "I'm politely ignoring your attitude
problem so can you just politely do this one favour for me?"
Kaiba laughed, voice coming out in a low chuckle. "You
really are useless, aren't you? You just happened to come here
because you were rescued. Well, you're doing a good job proving to
be the dead weight you are."
Jounochi bristled angrily under that comment. "If I could, I
would help too, okay?" He angrily clenched his fist, just barely
restraining himself from attacking the brown-haired boy.
However, Kaiba dismissed the entire discussion with a wave
of his hand. "I don't have the time for this. Go and take up your little
doggy fights with the others." And with that, he turned around,
promptly getting back to work and ignoring Jounochi as if he had
never existed.
"Fine! Be that way!" Jounochi barked back, angrily turning
around to soothe his growing temper. "Just in case you haven't noticed, the
others haven't been back for a week already, and there are only two
of them on shift right now."
That seemed to spark Kaiba's attention for a moment.
"Where are the others?" The brown-haired boy asked, voice gruffly
curious.
"I dunno." Jounochi grumbled, reluctant to talk further with
such a hostile character. "They mentioned something about the Game
King coming an'-"
"What?" Kaiba's eyes widened, the tall techno-magic
genius suddenly standing up to reveal his impressive six-foot frame.
"Did you just say Game King?"
Jounochi shrugged. "Yeah. Why?"
Kaiba narrowed his eyes. Quickly, he turned around,
moving like liquid silver to the door and darting out without a
moment's hesitation.
"Oy!" Jounochi cried out, following the brown-haired boy
out the door. "Where are you going?"
******************************************
Yami-Yuugi watched as his Aibou stared in awe at his
Flame Spell. Feeling slightly uncomfortable under the scrutiny, the
Yami quickly banished the summoned flames with a quick wave of
its hands.
"Amazing." Yuugi conjectured, still blankly staring at the
spot which once held a brilliant flame. "You summoned the flame
out of thin air like it was nothing!"
Yami-Yuugi managed a thin smile. "It all depends on how
much Magic you use. I used the easiest Fire Spell as an example."
"You mentioned a lot of spell names." Yuugi cocked his
head towards his Yami. "Exactly how many spells are there?"
"Well, there are more created than actually used." Yami-
Yuugi admitted.
Yuugi's eyes widened. "Then, why create so many?"
Yami-Yuugi chuckled. He put the weight of his hand on
Yuugi's shoulder, comforting the surprised boy. "You'll learn that
Magic isn't as simple as it seems. Magic falls into one of six
elements – Fire, Wind, Water, Earth, Dark or Light. And seperate Spells
are categorized within each of these elements."
"The six elements that you mentioned," Yuugi repeated,
"They're the same the 'attributes' on my Duel Monsters cards! In
fact, you used them in the Shadow Realm."
Yami-Yuugi's eyes misted over, obviously in recollection of
past thoughts. "Back in my times, Games in the Shadow Realm were
played by Spellcasters. Spellcasters would be anyone who had
mastered a certain element of Magic, or sometimes even two or
three."
"Wow." Yuugi murmured. "Then, you must have needed to learn a
lot of spells to battle."
"Not really." Yami-Yuugi replied. "Most
Spellcasters summoned _monsters_ of their element to attack for
them. This was advantageous because it guaranteed some safety, and
also, the monsters could make sacrifices that an actual Spellcaster
could not afford to make."
Yuugi looked down at his cards, flipping through his deck
and analyzing each picture. The cards seemed normal enough, each
with an attack, defense, and level. A glint of violet caught the boy's
eye on one of the card's faces.
"Dark Magician. Spellcaster type." Yuugi looked up at his
Yami, eyes wide in surprise. "Does that mean that-"
"Actually," Came the Yami's correction, "Spellcasters would
create special monsters adapted to their personal preference. These
monsters were also given the title "Spellcaster", since they most
effectively represented the masters who had summoned them."
"Then, whoever created these cards must have known about
the Shadow Realm." Yuugi concluded.
Yami-Yuugi said nothing, although it was evident that he
was brooding over the thought. "What I want to know is _who_ this
person is." He glanced down at the lifeless cards in Yuugi's hand.
"For someone to guess the names and attributes of each monster so
accurately requires someone who is in the same situation as me – a
soul brought to the future by a Millennium Item."
"Another Millenium Item." Yuugi mused, wondering how
many there were in all. "From the looks of it, this person also knew
Magic." Yuugi deducted, showing his other the Magic and Trap
cards also in his deck.
Yami-Yuugi nodded. "For sure. Although in the Shadow
Realm, rules can be twisted and shaped according to the will of
the two challengers. If a challenger's Magic and will is strong
enough, he will sometimes override the effect of a Magic Spell, like
overriding an effect of a Magic or Trap card."
Yuugi listened closely to his Darkness's words. "So, Yami, what type
of Spellcaster are you?"
Yami-Yuugi snorted, barking out a derisive laugh before
suppressing it. "Sorry. I forgot to tell you that not _just_ Spellcasters
played in the Shadow Realm. Those who could master more than one
element took on more prodigious titles, often playing a long career in
the Shadow Realm." Yami-Yuugi shrugged. "Well, when you played
the Shadow Games, the price was often your life, so you would have
to be good to survive for any period of time."
Yuugi grimaced, imagining the petrified faces of certain
combatants who permanently lost their soul to the Games. "It must
have been horrible."
"Worse." Came the glib reply. Than upon seeing Yuugi's
agitated face, Yami-Yuugi hastily rerouted his words. "However, the
Shadow Games were eventually sealed, almost forever lost in time."
Yuugi noticed the 'almost' in the sentence. "How come the
Shadow Realm could not be sealed forever?"
Yami-Yuugi sighed. "The person who sealed the Shadow
Realm sacrificed his life to do so. Yet, the Shadow Realm is not
some mystical place but an actual existence. It is impossible to seal
an existence away, although it is possible to forget about it. And it
seems that this was what happened until now."
"So, what happens now that the Shadow Realm have been
rediscovered?" Yuugi questioned.
"Nothing good." Yami-Yuugi frowned. "To abuse the
power of the Shadow Realm means sure death. Yet, to ride on the
victory of each Game the Realm provides can result in complete
power and authority."
"Complete authority." Yuugi repeated, slightly
overwhelmed by the entire discussion. "The… Authority!"
"Exactly. All this time, I have been waiting for the
Authority to make a move through the Shadow Realm because I
know enough of their ambition." Yami-Yuugi closed his eyes, almost
in regret. "They are the challengers, and they have set up a Game, an
invitation for anyone to accept. If they win this Game, then they will
win they the prize of dominance. Control. Magic. Enough power to
overtake any rebellious forces and create the utopian dream world of
their desires forever."
Yuugi's eyes widened. "A permanent paradise?"
"Not a paradise. A utopia so perfect, you cannot do anything
but be forced to accept it. That in my opinion is the worst hell anyone
can create."
***********************************
"Not too bad." Yami-Yuugi complimented as Yuugi held
within his cupped hands a small glowing sphere, one of the simpler
Light-type Spells. He was impressed at how fast his Aibou was able
to learn, often picking up certain nuances only an adept would have
pondered to reflect on.
With a smile, Yuugi brought both of his hands over the
sphere, flattening them so that the light collapsed and spilled out
from the cracks between his closed hands. He knew that the Spell
itself would simply blink out of existence the moment he lost his
concentration, although it amused him to manipulate the spell to his
own will. Whenever he invoked upon Magic, it always seemed as if
his Yami was guiding him, even though Yami-Yuugi gave no
pointers save the obvious.
Yami-Yuugi's eyes flickered in amusement as he watched
Yuugi's display at the end. "You're very good, you know. Although
we should just take one element to practice on before tackling any
others."
"What element is your favourite to use?" The small boy
asked his Yami, voice tinged with curiousity.
Yami-Yuugi shrugged. "I'm really a dabbler in Magic,
using all the elements and sometimes a combination of certain types
if necessary. Yet, since a person born with Magic is always tied to a
specific element at first, my natural element is 'Dark'."
Yuugi smiled, recognizing the pun on his other's name.
"Somehow, that doesn't surprise me."
The Yami chuckled in response, playfully ruffling his
Aibou's hair. "And I'd have to say that Light magic is your best bet
so far."
Yuugi responded by extending his forefinger and thumb into
a 'L' shape, concentrating slightly to create a spark of light so that it
rested between his fingers like a sling. He then forced the thin spark
of light to shoot out from between his fingers and straight towards his
Yami's face. The trajectory burst into a shower of glittering light on
the last moment before impact, flickering and dying like a plume of
stars.
Not missing a beat, Yami-Yuugi responded by reversing his
Aibou's spell, freezing the glowing lights to the exact moment when
they had burst into brilliance. He then plucked this eerie assortment
of vibrant white from the still air, handing the entire arrangement to
Yuugi as if it were a flower.
Yuugi graciously accepted his Yami's "gift", giggling as his
Yami mock-pouted when the small boy scattered the arrangement
into a shower of sparks, watching gleefully as they rocketed in
all directions before disappearing into nothingness. He made sure
however, that the largest scattered chunk danced around his Yami's
nose before exploding playfully in front of the Darkness's eyes.
Yami-Yuugi's eyes lit up in the same glowing hue,
reflecting an odd and almost vicious virility. "Why you…" The Yami
growled, voice mockingly deep and menacing.
Only managing to squeeze out a squeak of surprise, Yuugi
found himself lying on the soft untamed evening grass, gazing into a
pair of vibrant crimson eyes. He dared not to move as his Yami
stooped on top of him, firm hands pinning the small boy's shoulders
to the ground in an uncontested gesture for dominance.
The two stayed like that for a moment, each feeling the
warm breath rise from their chests and fall like mist into the biting
night air. Neither one dared to speak as they continued to gaze at
each other, lips frozen in search for words while time continued to
pass by.
And Yuugi realized that he could not avert his normally shy
eyes away from his other. He continued to draw in almost suppressed
breaths, capturing every minute detail of his Yami, from the sleek
muscles under the Darkness's slightly loose shirt to the drooping
strands of golden hair falling against his ivory face. Even the
gleaming white of Yami-Yuugi's canines added a touch of surreality,
creating the eerie image of a lost spectre hungrily waiting to claim
his soul.
In turn, Yami-Yuugi's eyes traveled in admiration at the
small boy's almost fragile form, although he could feel the pounding
of his Aibou's heart beating with a million pulses of determination.
For a single impulsive second, he wanted no more than to consume
his other with a ferocity of hidden emotions. A desire was building
within his tense form, waiting for that single moment between now
and forever.
Compelled by the surrealistic aura of his Yami, Yuugi drew
his head closer to his other, letting his other claim him when their
lips met. A tingle of ecstasy surged across the smaller boy's mind,
the taste of the kiss lingering with the essence of Magic, a force that
only invigorated the small boy. This time, it was Yuugi who
tentatively locked lips with his other, exchanging emotions for only a
scant few seconds before hastily breaking apart rather abashed.
Yami-Yuugi growled in slight disappointment as his aibou
pulled away, his senses now peaked with a passionate intensity
spurred by their exchange of Magic, currently intertwined between
their souls. The Yami clasped his arm over Yuugi's back, drawing
his aibou's body closer towards them until his own body could feel
the soft fabric of his aibou's clothing. The Yami then let his lips
travel down Yuugi's chin, mind screaming with barely suppressed
desire as his tongue gently stroked the side of Yuugi's neck; careful
not to let his canines pierce his Light's soft skin.
Yuugi let a moan fall from his lips as shivers of pleasure
vibrated across his skin, allowing the Magic between them to
accelerate in excitement, forcing the pair into an almost
uncontrollable lust. The small boy's fingers intertwined with his
Yami's, never letting go as they locked into another ferocious kiss.
The kiss would have lasted perhaps forever, had Yami-
Yuugi not suddenly pulled away, averting his gaze to break the
moment of intimacy. The world suddenly collapsed back into reality,
everything returning with an all-too painful intensity.
Only after a few seconds did Yuugi dare to move, eyes
widening and putting a hand to his lips in surprise, as if just realizing
what he had done. He said nothing, though violet eyes stared
beseechingly at his other.
Yami-Yuugi quickly turned away from the gaze, his own
heart pounding heavily. "I'm sorry Yuugi. I acted wrongly." The
Yami clipped his words precise and to the point, cheeks still burning
a deep scarlet.
Yuugi, however, did not protest, but simply gazed at his
other with the same childish curiosity. "_What's_ wrong Yami?" The
small boy's gaze fell, sad and melancholy. "Was it something I did?"
How did one explain the truth behind a dazzling lie? Not
that he didn't love Yuugi, but because he loved the small boy too
much to hurt him. For in the corner of his mind still stalked the
_real_ truth; the truth he had accepted as his final fate since his
existence. And now, he cursed it. "No, Aibou, its not you. I can't
really explain it right now. Just…just go to sleep."
Kissing his Aibou softly on the forehead, Yami-Yuugi
positioned Yuugi on the grass so that he himself could stretch his
muscles and stand, statuesque, a guardian warding his light against
all forms of harm. And, as the Yami watched his other slowly drift
off into an exhausted slumber, he admired Yuugi's gentle face,
stroking it softly with a hold almost-invisible hand and knowing that
it was the closest he would ever get to him. Correction: The closest
he _should_.
The Darkness finally lay down amidst the dancing fringes of
velvet green grass, eyes shifting to the stars. Absent-mindedly, he
pulled from his pocket a slightly disheveled -looking white card,
letting his fingers examine the smooth surface. He continued to
fiddle with the card until his dark eyes locked with the even darker
words, suddenly spinning on the once-blank white card. The stunned
Yami read the message carefully, not missing a single word:
"We are waiting for you, Yu-Gi-Oh."
And when he flipped the card over, there lay, in the same
place:
"Club 0013"
*******************************
Only until Yuugi had woken up from a good night's rest did
Yami-Yuugi proclaim his sudden change of objectives. With the
young boy traveling rather dazedly in his Soul Room, Yami-Yuugi
took off in an agitated run towards a destination that was vague at
best. He was not concerned, however, with his lack of direction; for
the Puzzle was more than sentient and now, it guided the Yami with
amazing accuracy. Yes, the Puzzle knew where to go.
And so, Yami-Yuugi ran in a ferocious lope against all
coherent time and space, unaware of even a sense of direction. At
along last, he stopped, panting slightly from such a long trek. The
Yami raised his head; crimson eyes scanning the peaceful morning
complete with pine trees and a canopy of lush moss. Unfortunately,
there was nothing else in sight.
Yami-Yuugi frowned, wondering if the Puzzle had guided
him to the wrong destination. He considered this thought for only a
few seconds before deeming it impossible – the Millenium Puzzle was part of
him; the part that gifted him with his reputation as the Game King.
And that part was never wrong.
/What are we looking for?/ Yuugi peered through his
Yami's eyes, just as confused as his other. /I don't see anything,
besides some trees./
Yet, once the Yami desired something, he did not give up
easily. So now, the Darkness prowled slowly around the fringes of
the forest, scanning every inch of tree and moss for clues. He pulled
the white card out from his pocket, noticing rather absently that the
words had long faded away, leaving only the typical "Club 0013"
printed on its face.
Oddly enough, the card was warm to the touch, though the
Yami had left it in his pocket for many an hour. Eyes narrowing in
reasonable suspicion, the Yami again circled around the parameters,
the Puzzle around his neck glowing slightly to reflect his agitation.
He _would_ find the hideout of this "Club" and he would find them
_now_.
Having promised himself that much satisfaction, the Yami,
once again began re-tracing his steps. That is, he would have retraced
his steps had the ground not suddenly gave a tremendous shudder.
Yami-Yuugi barely had time for a startled shout before the earth
trembled again and suddenly split open, a dismal chasm
unfortunately forming right where the Yami was standing. With
another resounding stretch of its crusty surface, the ground happily
swallowed up the stunned Yami, closing its dark brown mass as if
nothing had happened.
However, it was more than obvious that _something_ had
happened to him. Yami-Yuugi was now falling in a tunnel of
darkness, the sheer dropping sensation slightly nauseating. However,
his mind was more than functional, and the Yami rapidly took
advantage of his state to call upon a Wind Spell. Quickly, strands of
wind, stagnant from the strange underground darkness, blew into life,
surrounding the falling Yami and easing his descent. Seconds later,
Yami-Yuugi's feet made contact with the ground, though he was still
blinded by the darkness. Yami-Yuugi quickly took care of that
problem by using the same Light Spell he had taught his Aibou only
yesterday. Immediately, the cavern lit up in a burst of unnatural light,
spilling against the corners and banishing the shadowy edges of
mystery.
Yami-Yuugi examined this strange cavern, noting with
puzzlement the walls carved out of smooth, polished rock, a
fluorescent white in hue. For a cavern so far underground, it
suspiciously boasted even-sided walls, widening and narrowing in a
vast expanse of space like a gigantic corridor.
Slightly curious, the Yami began to trod down this corridor,
his senses always alert and as focused as possible. Unfortunately, he
was not focused enough to sense a person behind him until the said
person politely shifted her clothing, the fabric creating a slight
rustling sound. Startled, the Yami quickly faced the source of the
sound, regarding the figure of an elegant lady, her eyes half closed as
if asleep.
Upon seeing that the Yami was watching her, this lady
opened her eyes, revealing a deep garnet mingled with untellable age
and wisdom, though she appeared barely twenty. The woman stood
up, bowing slightly to Yami-Yuugi as she held in one hand a gigantic
key-shaped staff. Strangely enough, her long forest-green hair
remained pooled behind her back, unnaturally still. The lady then
looked up again at Yami-Yuugi, smiling rather enigmatically.
"The Game King, I presume?" Her voice came out in a
refined and slightly amused purr.
Yami-Yuugi, having been surprised too many times
recently, could only gather enough wits to stare and gape.
**************************************************
End notes:
*reads above* I'm sorry for the slight yaoi. I warned you at the very
beginning of the fic, so you can't blame me. ;P
Eevee muse: Well, review –36787.232123 times, or else the
next chapter won't go up!
Zoo: -_-;; give me a break!
Eevee muse: ^.^ Well, it saves me from editing your bad material!~
_Actual_ End notes: Myst-Lady, Melinda, Natural Chaos, GET
YOUR NEW FICS OUT NOW!!! *Big glaring eyes* Okay, I'm
calm now…
Usual disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or Sailor Moon. But I do
own a birthday on Monday! Yeah! I'll be officially legal to…
uhmmm… ^^() I'll get back to you on that one…
By the way, Cruzer managed to answer my little riddle, so
congratulations! I still can't believe you read my chapter twice. o_o
Trust me though, your opinions do make a difference.
o.O *reads _all_ of FlameRaven's reviews* -_-;;; I guess I made a
LOT of errors… *sniffles*
BTW, you're not related to Pegasus are you? *grumbles something
about FlameRaven being able to read minds*
WARNING: Excessive dialogue in this chapter. Zoo is not
responsible for people running away in frustration due to lack of
action/a plausible plot.
*****************************************
"The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven."
- Milton, "Paradise Lost"
*******************************************
Chapter: 9 – Types and Attributes
Maximillion Pegasus huffed as he leaned backwards on his
swivel chair, rather peeved at the recent change of events. He angrily
clenched his right fist, unknowingly also crumpling a single Duel
Monsters card in his hand. And then realizing what he had done, the
silver-haired man opened his hand, staring blankly at the crumpled
card. He continued staring until his single golden eye began to glow,
and then, he broke down into laughter.
Complete, unadulterated laughter.
****************************************
Yami-Yuugi withdrew his fangs from his bleeding victim,
wiping away the blood dribbling down his mouth.
Momentarily, he watched in amusement as the scarlet spread along
his pale hand, slowly covering every niche on his smooth skin. The
Yami rang his rough tongue along the blood smear, enjoying its thick
and slightly pasty texture.
/Are you done now?/ Yuugi's voice rang in Yami-Yuugi's
mind no louder than an echo. The small boy sounded rather reverent
and quiet, as opposed to his usual disgust when his Yami went
"hunting". Maybe it was because of the sudden change of events, or
maybe Yuugi had given up complaining. Frankly, Yami-Yuugi didn't
know whether or not to be grateful for his Aibou's sudden
submission.
//Fine. Just let me clean up.// Came Yami-Yuugi's reply,
curt and to the point, lest he leak out unwanted gory details that he
knew his Aibou would only cringe at.
With a twist of healing and memory Magic, Yami-Yuugi
left everything just as it had seen, leaping into the skies to avoid any
straying eyes. The Darkness leapt gracefully over the sleepy
rooftops, careful not to disturb those who slept underneath.
//What's the matter Yuugi?// Yami-Yuugi finally ventured
to ask. //You've been awfully quiet today.//
/I don't know./ Yuugi confessed. /I just have a feeling that
it's all coming to an end./
Yami-Yuugi gave a mental sigh. //If you're still depressed
over Bakura, there's nothing much either of us can do about that.//
/It's not that!/ Yuugi protested. /I-I just feel like everything
has become insignificant. Worthless. I mean, why am I living here?
What am I trying to prove? And what's more; _who_ am I trying to
prove to?/
//Yourself.// Came the glib reply. Upon noticing his Aibou's
blatant expression, he elaborated. //What you do, no one really cares,
unless it affects them for the positive. Truth be told, I think people
are happier under this Authority than they would be without one. But
for someone like you, who has gone past this ignorance, there is no
turning back. What you need to figure out now is whether or not
your difference really matters. Is your new belief really worth
fighting for?//
Yuugi sighed. /No straight answers, I guess?/
//Absolutely none.// Came the sudden reply. //I'm only
here as your guide; I cannot see or predict the future.// Yami-Yuugi
hesitated for a moment. //Even if I could, I don't think I would want
to.//
Yuugi mentally wrinkled his brow. /Why not? Wouldn't
you want to know the future so you could prevent all the bad things
that are going to happen?/
//If I knew every bad thing about to happen, then I
would not cherish the good. Life is not simply for my benefit – it is
an experience.// Yami-Yuugi paused, noticing that his Aibou was not
catching on. //Forget it. I'm just lecturing.//
/N-no!/ Yuugi reassured. /I think I understand. I guess what
it really means is that there is no set "good" or "bad" in life. "Good"
could be seen as a paradise, continually shifting from one belief to
another, as there will always be dissatisfaction no matter how perfect
the paradise. In a way, we're really the 'bad guys' here, trying to
resist this paradise and seek a different belief./
//Good guys, bad guys.// Yami-Yuugi shrugged. //It's really
all a perspective thing. How you value what is 'good' and 'bad'.//
The Yami would have commented more had a flash of
fluttering fabric not caught his eye. Pretending to ignore it, the
Darkness continued plodding on his trek back to the Old City,
although he mentally fell silent. Yami-Yuugi experimentally jumped
over a few more rooftops before concluding with a grim satisfaction
that the fluttering flashes of fabric were moving at a steady pace
behind him.
//Yuugi, we're being followed.// The Yami suddenly warned
his Aibou, mental voice stern to emphasize the situation.
/By whom?/ Yuugi questioned, fear building up in his
innocent mind. /Is it the Authority?/
Yami-Yuugi snorted. //I don't think it's that grave yet.// He
assured Yuugi //But whoever they are, I don't like it.//
Without warning, the Yami suddenly increased his pace, jacket
viciously billowing like a banner behind him. The wind trickled
through his ears, roaring dully as he continued to stride and leap at
tremendous heights, every motion blurring together and creating the
illusion of flying.
Now, the Darkness could see that there were two of them,
one clearly giving chase while the other lingered behind, possibly
waiting for reinforcements. Yami-Yuugi narrowed his eyes, Sennen
Eye burning on his forehead as he invoked a Magic spell. Seconds
later, the air around the Yami began to shimmer, appearing to form
an aqueous bubble-like shield around him.
/Are they still following us?/ Yuugi, not quite sure of what
was happening outside, could only voice his worry in a plaintive
question.
//Not anymore// Yami-Yuugi reassured, smirking slightly as
the effects of his Illusion Spell allowed him to hide invisible from the
eyes of his chaser. True enough, the cloaked persuer faltered, pausing
to peer at the rooftops before shrugging a sigh of defeat and traveling
the other direction.
It was another half-an-hour before the Yami declared their
arrival at the outskirts of the Old City. Yuugi's physical body tingled
as he was again returned to reality, his re-appearance canceling any
previous effects of his Yami's magic. A curious thought suddenly
entered his mind, and Yuugi put a hand on the warm Puzzle for
support, focusing hard on the lingering remains of the Illusion Spell.
The Puzzle flickered a warm gold in response, and the Illusion Spell
immediately locked back into reality, replicating the same effects that
Yami-Yuugi had just invoked moments ago.
//What are you doing?// Yami-Yuugi's mental tone bordered
both curiousity and surprise as he watched Yuugi prod the bubble-
like shield.
Yuugi's mental tone reflected one of excitement and awe.
/That's amazing!/ The boy continued to examine the Spell, as if
half-afraid that it would disappear upon a moment's notice. /Yami! I
can actually use Magic!/
Yami-Yuugi gave his aibou a blatant mental look. //Didn't
you prove that to me in the Shadow Realm?//
/But this is different!/ Yuugi protested, /The Shadow Realm
was like an in-between place full of ancient Magic, but this is
_reality_./
//Trust me, Yuugi// Yami-Yuugi responded with a dry tone,
//Whether real or magical, it doesn't really matter. Once you have
established that link with Magic, you can use it anywhere, provided
that you now the Spells.//
/So, you need spells to make Magic work?/ Yuugi mused
over that idea.
Yami-Yuugi mentally shrugged. //Any effective Magic
anyway. I can teach you some basics if you want.//
/R-really?/ Yuugi felt like it sounded too good to be true.
//Why not?// Was the Yami's reply, //Although I warn you
– some of the Spells are not for the weak at heart.//
Yuugi shuddered, remembering his Yami's Blood-Binding
Spell. /Yeah, I think the basics are fine. Enough for me to handle
myself in case you can't protect me./
There was a sudden silence as Yami-Yuugi's mental tone
shifted to one of embarrassment. //Aibou, I'm sorry I wasn't there
to help you during that part in the Shadow Realm.// The Yami
finally apologized, tone extremely abashed.
Yuugi comforted his Yami with a mental pulse of
reassurance . /It's okay. It's not your fault! Besides, if it weren't for
that, I would have never discovered my use of Magic. And what
would happen later when I _really_ am in trouble?/
//I didn't try hard enough// Yami-Yuugi persisted, //Next
time, Yuugi, I promise you that I won't fail. Never again.//
Now, it was Yuugi's turn to sit in uncomfortable silence. /I
wouldn't want that from you, Yami./ Came the morbid reply.
/Because some promises are beyond anyone's control./
**************************************
Kaiba sighed in exasperation as a loud knock on his door
interrupted his work.
"What is it now?" The brown-haired boy snarled at the door,
trying to keep his eyes fixated on the screen, as he was currently in
the middle of deciphering a complex security password.
The door clicked open to reveal a blonde-haired boy, who
appeared to be the same age and height as Kaiba himself.
"Jeez." This new boy, Jounochi, muttered. "I just wanted
some information. Meiou-san told me that you could help."
Kaiba 'humphed' angrily, closing the current window filed
on his computer screen and turning towards Jounochi. "Look." He
snapped. "Unless you have really urgent business, I suggest you
leave me alone for the next couple of hours."
"It IS urgent!" Jounochi shouted back, rage building up in
his eyes. The others had warned him of about Kaiba, and now, it was
painstakingly obvious why. "I'm politely ignoring your attitude
problem so can you just politely do this one favour for me?"
Kaiba laughed, voice coming out in a low chuckle. "You
really are useless, aren't you? You just happened to come here
because you were rescued. Well, you're doing a good job proving to
be the dead weight you are."
Jounochi bristled angrily under that comment. "If I could, I
would help too, okay?" He angrily clenched his fist, just barely
restraining himself from attacking the brown-haired boy.
However, Kaiba dismissed the entire discussion with a wave
of his hand. "I don't have the time for this. Go and take up your little
doggy fights with the others." And with that, he turned around,
promptly getting back to work and ignoring Jounochi as if he had
never existed.
"Fine! Be that way!" Jounochi barked back, angrily turning
around to soothe his growing temper. "Just in case you haven't noticed, the
others haven't been back for a week already, and there are only two
of them on shift right now."
That seemed to spark Kaiba's attention for a moment.
"Where are the others?" The brown-haired boy asked, voice gruffly
curious.
"I dunno." Jounochi grumbled, reluctant to talk further with
such a hostile character. "They mentioned something about the Game
King coming an'-"
"What?" Kaiba's eyes widened, the tall techno-magic
genius suddenly standing up to reveal his impressive six-foot frame.
"Did you just say Game King?"
Jounochi shrugged. "Yeah. Why?"
Kaiba narrowed his eyes. Quickly, he turned around,
moving like liquid silver to the door and darting out without a
moment's hesitation.
"Oy!" Jounochi cried out, following the brown-haired boy
out the door. "Where are you going?"
******************************************
Yami-Yuugi watched as his Aibou stared in awe at his
Flame Spell. Feeling slightly uncomfortable under the scrutiny, the
Yami quickly banished the summoned flames with a quick wave of
its hands.
"Amazing." Yuugi conjectured, still blankly staring at the
spot which once held a brilliant flame. "You summoned the flame
out of thin air like it was nothing!"
Yami-Yuugi managed a thin smile. "It all depends on how
much Magic you use. I used the easiest Fire Spell as an example."
"You mentioned a lot of spell names." Yuugi cocked his
head towards his Yami. "Exactly how many spells are there?"
"Well, there are more created than actually used." Yami-
Yuugi admitted.
Yuugi's eyes widened. "Then, why create so many?"
Yami-Yuugi chuckled. He put the weight of his hand on
Yuugi's shoulder, comforting the surprised boy. "You'll learn that
Magic isn't as simple as it seems. Magic falls into one of six
elements – Fire, Wind, Water, Earth, Dark or Light. And seperate Spells
are categorized within each of these elements."
"The six elements that you mentioned," Yuugi repeated,
"They're the same the 'attributes' on my Duel Monsters cards! In
fact, you used them in the Shadow Realm."
Yami-Yuugi's eyes misted over, obviously in recollection of
past thoughts. "Back in my times, Games in the Shadow Realm were
played by Spellcasters. Spellcasters would be anyone who had
mastered a certain element of Magic, or sometimes even two or
three."
"Wow." Yuugi murmured. "Then, you must have needed to learn a
lot of spells to battle."
"Not really." Yami-Yuugi replied. "Most
Spellcasters summoned _monsters_ of their element to attack for
them. This was advantageous because it guaranteed some safety, and
also, the monsters could make sacrifices that an actual Spellcaster
could not afford to make."
Yuugi looked down at his cards, flipping through his deck
and analyzing each picture. The cards seemed normal enough, each
with an attack, defense, and level. A glint of violet caught the boy's
eye on one of the card's faces.
"Dark Magician. Spellcaster type." Yuugi looked up at his
Yami, eyes wide in surprise. "Does that mean that-"
"Actually," Came the Yami's correction, "Spellcasters would
create special monsters adapted to their personal preference. These
monsters were also given the title "Spellcaster", since they most
effectively represented the masters who had summoned them."
"Then, whoever created these cards must have known about
the Shadow Realm." Yuugi concluded.
Yami-Yuugi said nothing, although it was evident that he
was brooding over the thought. "What I want to know is _who_ this
person is." He glanced down at the lifeless cards in Yuugi's hand.
"For someone to guess the names and attributes of each monster so
accurately requires someone who is in the same situation as me – a
soul brought to the future by a Millennium Item."
"Another Millenium Item." Yuugi mused, wondering how
many there were in all. "From the looks of it, this person also knew
Magic." Yuugi deducted, showing his other the Magic and Trap
cards also in his deck.
Yami-Yuugi nodded. "For sure. Although in the Shadow
Realm, rules can be twisted and shaped according to the will of
the two challengers. If a challenger's Magic and will is strong
enough, he will sometimes override the effect of a Magic Spell, like
overriding an effect of a Magic or Trap card."
Yuugi listened closely to his Darkness's words. "So, Yami, what type
of Spellcaster are you?"
Yami-Yuugi snorted, barking out a derisive laugh before
suppressing it. "Sorry. I forgot to tell you that not _just_ Spellcasters
played in the Shadow Realm. Those who could master more than one
element took on more prodigious titles, often playing a long career in
the Shadow Realm." Yami-Yuugi shrugged. "Well, when you played
the Shadow Games, the price was often your life, so you would have
to be good to survive for any period of time."
Yuugi grimaced, imagining the petrified faces of certain
combatants who permanently lost their soul to the Games. "It must
have been horrible."
"Worse." Came the glib reply. Than upon seeing Yuugi's
agitated face, Yami-Yuugi hastily rerouted his words. "However, the
Shadow Games were eventually sealed, almost forever lost in time."
Yuugi noticed the 'almost' in the sentence. "How come the
Shadow Realm could not be sealed forever?"
Yami-Yuugi sighed. "The person who sealed the Shadow
Realm sacrificed his life to do so. Yet, the Shadow Realm is not
some mystical place but an actual existence. It is impossible to seal
an existence away, although it is possible to forget about it. And it
seems that this was what happened until now."
"So, what happens now that the Shadow Realm have been
rediscovered?" Yuugi questioned.
"Nothing good." Yami-Yuugi frowned. "To abuse the
power of the Shadow Realm means sure death. Yet, to ride on the
victory of each Game the Realm provides can result in complete
power and authority."
"Complete authority." Yuugi repeated, slightly
overwhelmed by the entire discussion. "The… Authority!"
"Exactly. All this time, I have been waiting for the
Authority to make a move through the Shadow Realm because I
know enough of their ambition." Yami-Yuugi closed his eyes, almost
in regret. "They are the challengers, and they have set up a Game, an
invitation for anyone to accept. If they win this Game, then they will
win they the prize of dominance. Control. Magic. Enough power to
overtake any rebellious forces and create the utopian dream world of
their desires forever."
Yuugi's eyes widened. "A permanent paradise?"
"Not a paradise. A utopia so perfect, you cannot do anything
but be forced to accept it. That in my opinion is the worst hell anyone
can create."
***********************************
"Not too bad." Yami-Yuugi complimented as Yuugi held
within his cupped hands a small glowing sphere, one of the simpler
Light-type Spells. He was impressed at how fast his Aibou was able
to learn, often picking up certain nuances only an adept would have
pondered to reflect on.
With a smile, Yuugi brought both of his hands over the
sphere, flattening them so that the light collapsed and spilled out
from the cracks between his closed hands. He knew that the Spell
itself would simply blink out of existence the moment he lost his
concentration, although it amused him to manipulate the spell to his
own will. Whenever he invoked upon Magic, it always seemed as if
his Yami was guiding him, even though Yami-Yuugi gave no
pointers save the obvious.
Yami-Yuugi's eyes flickered in amusement as he watched
Yuugi's display at the end. "You're very good, you know. Although
we should just take one element to practice on before tackling any
others."
"What element is your favourite to use?" The small boy
asked his Yami, voice tinged with curiousity.
Yami-Yuugi shrugged. "I'm really a dabbler in Magic,
using all the elements and sometimes a combination of certain types
if necessary. Yet, since a person born with Magic is always tied to a
specific element at first, my natural element is 'Dark'."
Yuugi smiled, recognizing the pun on his other's name.
"Somehow, that doesn't surprise me."
The Yami chuckled in response, playfully ruffling his
Aibou's hair. "And I'd have to say that Light magic is your best bet
so far."
Yuugi responded by extending his forefinger and thumb into
a 'L' shape, concentrating slightly to create a spark of light so that it
rested between his fingers like a sling. He then forced the thin spark
of light to shoot out from between his fingers and straight towards his
Yami's face. The trajectory burst into a shower of glittering light on
the last moment before impact, flickering and dying like a plume of
stars.
Not missing a beat, Yami-Yuugi responded by reversing his
Aibou's spell, freezing the glowing lights to the exact moment when
they had burst into brilliance. He then plucked this eerie assortment
of vibrant white from the still air, handing the entire arrangement to
Yuugi as if it were a flower.
Yuugi graciously accepted his Yami's "gift", giggling as his
Yami mock-pouted when the small boy scattered the arrangement
into a shower of sparks, watching gleefully as they rocketed in
all directions before disappearing into nothingness. He made sure
however, that the largest scattered chunk danced around his Yami's
nose before exploding playfully in front of the Darkness's eyes.
Yami-Yuugi's eyes lit up in the same glowing hue,
reflecting an odd and almost vicious virility. "Why you…" The Yami
growled, voice mockingly deep and menacing.
Only managing to squeeze out a squeak of surprise, Yuugi
found himself lying on the soft untamed evening grass, gazing into a
pair of vibrant crimson eyes. He dared not to move as his Yami
stooped on top of him, firm hands pinning the small boy's shoulders
to the ground in an uncontested gesture for dominance.
The two stayed like that for a moment, each feeling the
warm breath rise from their chests and fall like mist into the biting
night air. Neither one dared to speak as they continued to gaze at
each other, lips frozen in search for words while time continued to
pass by.
And Yuugi realized that he could not avert his normally shy
eyes away from his other. He continued to draw in almost suppressed
breaths, capturing every minute detail of his Yami, from the sleek
muscles under the Darkness's slightly loose shirt to the drooping
strands of golden hair falling against his ivory face. Even the
gleaming white of Yami-Yuugi's canines added a touch of surreality,
creating the eerie image of a lost spectre hungrily waiting to claim
his soul.
In turn, Yami-Yuugi's eyes traveled in admiration at the
small boy's almost fragile form, although he could feel the pounding
of his Aibou's heart beating with a million pulses of determination.
For a single impulsive second, he wanted no more than to consume
his other with a ferocity of hidden emotions. A desire was building
within his tense form, waiting for that single moment between now
and forever.
Compelled by the surrealistic aura of his Yami, Yuugi drew
his head closer to his other, letting his other claim him when their
lips met. A tingle of ecstasy surged across the smaller boy's mind,
the taste of the kiss lingering with the essence of Magic, a force that
only invigorated the small boy. This time, it was Yuugi who
tentatively locked lips with his other, exchanging emotions for only a
scant few seconds before hastily breaking apart rather abashed.
Yami-Yuugi growled in slight disappointment as his aibou
pulled away, his senses now peaked with a passionate intensity
spurred by their exchange of Magic, currently intertwined between
their souls. The Yami clasped his arm over Yuugi's back, drawing
his aibou's body closer towards them until his own body could feel
the soft fabric of his aibou's clothing. The Yami then let his lips
travel down Yuugi's chin, mind screaming with barely suppressed
desire as his tongue gently stroked the side of Yuugi's neck; careful
not to let his canines pierce his Light's soft skin.
Yuugi let a moan fall from his lips as shivers of pleasure
vibrated across his skin, allowing the Magic between them to
accelerate in excitement, forcing the pair into an almost
uncontrollable lust. The small boy's fingers intertwined with his
Yami's, never letting go as they locked into another ferocious kiss.
The kiss would have lasted perhaps forever, had Yami-
Yuugi not suddenly pulled away, averting his gaze to break the
moment of intimacy. The world suddenly collapsed back into reality,
everything returning with an all-too painful intensity.
Only after a few seconds did Yuugi dare to move, eyes
widening and putting a hand to his lips in surprise, as if just realizing
what he had done. He said nothing, though violet eyes stared
beseechingly at his other.
Yami-Yuugi quickly turned away from the gaze, his own
heart pounding heavily. "I'm sorry Yuugi. I acted wrongly." The
Yami clipped his words precise and to the point, cheeks still burning
a deep scarlet.
Yuugi, however, did not protest, but simply gazed at his
other with the same childish curiosity. "_What's_ wrong Yami?" The
small boy's gaze fell, sad and melancholy. "Was it something I did?"
How did one explain the truth behind a dazzling lie? Not
that he didn't love Yuugi, but because he loved the small boy too
much to hurt him. For in the corner of his mind still stalked the
_real_ truth; the truth he had accepted as his final fate since his
existence. And now, he cursed it. "No, Aibou, its not you. I can't
really explain it right now. Just…just go to sleep."
Kissing his Aibou softly on the forehead, Yami-Yuugi
positioned Yuugi on the grass so that he himself could stretch his
muscles and stand, statuesque, a guardian warding his light against
all forms of harm. And, as the Yami watched his other slowly drift
off into an exhausted slumber, he admired Yuugi's gentle face,
stroking it softly with a hold almost-invisible hand and knowing that
it was the closest he would ever get to him. Correction: The closest
he _should_.
The Darkness finally lay down amidst the dancing fringes of
velvet green grass, eyes shifting to the stars. Absent-mindedly, he
pulled from his pocket a slightly disheveled -looking white card,
letting his fingers examine the smooth surface. He continued to
fiddle with the card until his dark eyes locked with the even darker
words, suddenly spinning on the once-blank white card. The stunned
Yami read the message carefully, not missing a single word:
"We are waiting for you, Yu-Gi-Oh."
And when he flipped the card over, there lay, in the same
place:
"Club 0013"
*******************************
Only until Yuugi had woken up from a good night's rest did
Yami-Yuugi proclaim his sudden change of objectives. With the
young boy traveling rather dazedly in his Soul Room, Yami-Yuugi
took off in an agitated run towards a destination that was vague at
best. He was not concerned, however, with his lack of direction; for
the Puzzle was more than sentient and now, it guided the Yami with
amazing accuracy. Yes, the Puzzle knew where to go.
And so, Yami-Yuugi ran in a ferocious lope against all
coherent time and space, unaware of even a sense of direction. At
along last, he stopped, panting slightly from such a long trek. The
Yami raised his head; crimson eyes scanning the peaceful morning
complete with pine trees and a canopy of lush moss. Unfortunately,
there was nothing else in sight.
Yami-Yuugi frowned, wondering if the Puzzle had guided
him to the wrong destination. He considered this thought for only a
few seconds before deeming it impossible – the Millenium Puzzle was part of
him; the part that gifted him with his reputation as the Game King.
And that part was never wrong.
/What are we looking for?/ Yuugi peered through his
Yami's eyes, just as confused as his other. /I don't see anything,
besides some trees./
Yet, once the Yami desired something, he did not give up
easily. So now, the Darkness prowled slowly around the fringes of
the forest, scanning every inch of tree and moss for clues. He pulled
the white card out from his pocket, noticing rather absently that the
words had long faded away, leaving only the typical "Club 0013"
printed on its face.
Oddly enough, the card was warm to the touch, though the
Yami had left it in his pocket for many an hour. Eyes narrowing in
reasonable suspicion, the Yami again circled around the parameters,
the Puzzle around his neck glowing slightly to reflect his agitation.
He _would_ find the hideout of this "Club" and he would find them
_now_.
Having promised himself that much satisfaction, the Yami,
once again began re-tracing his steps. That is, he would have retraced
his steps had the ground not suddenly gave a tremendous shudder.
Yami-Yuugi barely had time for a startled shout before the earth
trembled again and suddenly split open, a dismal chasm
unfortunately forming right where the Yami was standing. With
another resounding stretch of its crusty surface, the ground happily
swallowed up the stunned Yami, closing its dark brown mass as if
nothing had happened.
However, it was more than obvious that _something_ had
happened to him. Yami-Yuugi was now falling in a tunnel of
darkness, the sheer dropping sensation slightly nauseating. However,
his mind was more than functional, and the Yami rapidly took
advantage of his state to call upon a Wind Spell. Quickly, strands of
wind, stagnant from the strange underground darkness, blew into life,
surrounding the falling Yami and easing his descent. Seconds later,
Yami-Yuugi's feet made contact with the ground, though he was still
blinded by the darkness. Yami-Yuugi quickly took care of that
problem by using the same Light Spell he had taught his Aibou only
yesterday. Immediately, the cavern lit up in a burst of unnatural light,
spilling against the corners and banishing the shadowy edges of
mystery.
Yami-Yuugi examined this strange cavern, noting with
puzzlement the walls carved out of smooth, polished rock, a
fluorescent white in hue. For a cavern so far underground, it
suspiciously boasted even-sided walls, widening and narrowing in a
vast expanse of space like a gigantic corridor.
Slightly curious, the Yami began to trod down this corridor,
his senses always alert and as focused as possible. Unfortunately, he
was not focused enough to sense a person behind him until the said
person politely shifted her clothing, the fabric creating a slight
rustling sound. Startled, the Yami quickly faced the source of the
sound, regarding the figure of an elegant lady, her eyes half closed as
if asleep.
Upon seeing that the Yami was watching her, this lady
opened her eyes, revealing a deep garnet mingled with untellable age
and wisdom, though she appeared barely twenty. The woman stood
up, bowing slightly to Yami-Yuugi as she held in one hand a gigantic
key-shaped staff. Strangely enough, her long forest-green hair
remained pooled behind her back, unnaturally still. The lady then
looked up again at Yami-Yuugi, smiling rather enigmatically.
"The Game King, I presume?" Her voice came out in a
refined and slightly amused purr.
Yami-Yuugi, having been surprised too many times
recently, could only gather enough wits to stare and gape.
**************************************************
End notes:
*reads above* I'm sorry for the slight yaoi. I warned you at the very
beginning of the fic, so you can't blame me. ;P
Eevee muse: Well, review –36787.232123 times, or else the
next chapter won't go up!
Zoo: -_-;; give me a break!
Eevee muse: ^.^ Well, it saves me from editing your bad material!~
_Actual_ End notes: Myst-Lady, Melinda, Natural Chaos, GET
YOUR NEW FICS OUT NOW!!! *Big glaring eyes* Okay, I'm
calm now…
