Author's notes:
Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost in the Shell. Hai hai *nods*
Sorry for the delay in updating. I've been caught up with summer school
and work, and everything else. *sighs* Yeah…that also means this
chapter lacks editing, so if there's any spelling errors or incomplete ideas,
please just live with them for now.
~ dream sequence~
~* quick flashback *~
Warning: Small scene with the most heavy yaoi you're going to see in
this fic. This was more or less a slight request, so I finally came through.
Yay me.
**********************************************
"Was it a vision or a waking dream?
Fled is that music – Do I wake or sleep?"
- Keats, "Ode to a Nightingale"
**********************************************
The Heart of the Cards – Part 2
A small boy with dazzling crimson-black hair lay on a canopy of
grass. Twin magenta orbs gazed blankly into the night sky, unmoving
save for the occasional flutter of lids. His cold body remained a still
statue, counting not by minutes but hours; even eons.
Yami-Yuugi chanced a forlorn glance at his Aibou before
returning to shift restlessly on his spot. The Yami brought a hand into the
empty air, stroking the distant image of his Light with trembling fingers.
"Yuugi…" His firm voice came in a quavering whisper. "Come
back."
****************************************
"Come back."
Pegasus laughed as he mimicked the voice on his screen, taking
a deep sip of his wine while watching with amused eyes the melodrama
playing in front of him. The silver-haired man laughed again when the
screen focused on Yuugi's unmoving figure, and he held his glass of wine
towards the image in a mock-toast.
"Here's to Mutou Yuugi, who has had everyone close to him
destroyed by an evil force."
Pegasus stopped for a moment, eyes suddenly crossing in
comical confusion. "Ooh. I wonder who would be so evil as to hurt such a
poor boy." He put a finger thoughtfully to his cheek, shaking his head in
exaggerated wonder. "Yes. Bad, bad person. What a bad person he is!"
The screen zoomed to analyze the small boy's face closely,
lenses accenting each shimmering tear brimming underneath large
paralyzed eyes.
Pegasus stood up. "I feel sorry for poor Yuugi." He shook his
head, continuing his ironic parody. "I should do something for him." The
silver-haired man's eyes quickly lit up. "Ah! I know! I'll invite him over
for tea!"
A rustling of fabric inside the cage behind him reminded
Pegasus of his prize.
"And we shall serve… cheese and fruit juice!"
***********************************************
"Look Yuugi, I'm sorry. I apologize for what has happened, and
it was my fault that Jounochi got killed." Yami-Yuugi grimaced as he
blurted his sentence out loud. Great – his Aibou was sure going to like
him after saying that.
Fortunately, the Yami was talking to a tree, and not the actual
person. The Darkness was known for his courage and resourcefulness;
sadly, one look at the broken Yuugi had left him shaking and trying to
retain his impenetrable emotions. Yami-Yuugi snorted, mentally berating
himself. Huh, some Game King.
A rustling of nearby bushes stirred the Yami from his thoughts,
suddenly bringing him face to face with reality. Approaching soft
footsteps confirmed his fate, and Yami-Yuugi took a deep breath,
mustering all his courage. For a moment, he faltered, afraid of what his
Aibou might say. Ah, hell. It was now or never.
"Yuugi, I'm sorry and this was all my fault and I really can't
stand this anymore so I apologize and can you forgive me?" The Yami
exclaimed in one long sentence, too afraid to look at the expression on
Yuugi's face.
There was a painful pause where the Yami could envision the
silent tears drip from his Aibou's wide eyes.
"That's great," Seto Kaiba drawled sarcastically, "But next time,
try getting the right person." The brown-haired boy turned to leave, ice-
cold eyes never changing expressions. "But it's nice to know that you
cared."
Yami-Yuugi's eyebrow twitched. His mouth continued to hang
wide open, slack jawed, wondering exactly how stupid he had looked.
Fortunately, there was no one else there to tell him.
**************************
"Jounochi… why did you leave me?" Yuugi whimpered,
whispering his plea to the night air. "J-"
His subdued cry was cut short by his own exhaustion. Yuugi's
eyelids finally shut in peaceful harmony, neither flickering nor wavering
as they beckoned his mind to dream.
Dreamless dreams not meant to be understood by innocent little
boys.
~ A glass mirror. That was all Yuugi saw in the murky shades of
grey. The boy shuffled awkwardly towards the mirror, peering at the
smooth surface of solid blue. He could see his childish face staring back,
though it seemed to twinkle and analyze him with inhumane acquisition.
And then, the reflection disappeared, leaving only a ripple in the glass
face.
A ripple on the mirror that faded to reveal an image of a five-
year-old Yuugi, giggling in a surreal grassy landscape. Yuugi continued
to stare at the younger version of himself, watching his past actions
through the glass.
The Yuugi in the reflection laughed happily as he fell, courtesy
of a blonde-haired boy who had accidentally toppled on top of the smaller
one. Little-Yuugi giggled even harder when the other boy hastily scurried
off, blushing an embarrassed pink.
"It's okay, Jounochi." Little-Yuugi beamed. "You're my friend
so it's okay if you accidentally hurt me."
The Jounochi in the image could be no older than six. "But I
don't want to hurt you." He protested, large brown eyes wide. "I want to
be by your side and protect you."
Little-Yuugi hugged Jounochi, wrapping his arms around the
other boy's slightly larger frame. "I'm glad I have you Jounochi. Let's be
friends forever."
Jounochi's pink blush developed a darker shade. "Yes. Let's be
the bestest friends! Cause I love you a lot, Yuugi!" The boy suddenly
realized what he had blurted, clapping his chubby hands over his gaping
mouth.
The little Yuugi responded with a radiant smile. "I love you
too!"
Then, the provoking images disappeared from the surface as
quickly as they had come, leaving only the blank, bland mirror as a
remembrance. Yuugi stifled a sob, bringing a shaking hand to gently
touch the mirror's porcelain frame. And before his fingers could clasp the
surface, it disappeared.
Yuugi saw only his reflection staring sadly back. And that too
eventually faded away.
Alone, alone. He was all alone, with no one to help him, with all
his friends one by one violently killed.
Yuugi hastily wiped his nose with a scratchy sleeve. Shadowy
darkness and oppressive fog only emphasized his agony, creating a sea of
unfathomable grief. The small boy collapsed wearily to lean a soft cheek
against the smooth ground, letting the hot tears slide down his face and
drip silently against the firm surface. Some of the warm droplets tickled
his nose, mixing with his clammy sweat and creating a salty taste when
they accidentally dripped onto his tongue.
Ah! How sweet even blood had been compared to this bitter
taste! For with blood came promise and potential, teeming with a million
networks of life and energy. There was nothing in tears but death and
sorrow.
A pounding of footsteps broke Yuugi's rhythmic sobbing. The
small boy's blood-shot eyes roved to greet the sound, though his lead lay
limply on the ground, prostrate body tingling with vulnerability. The
Millennium Puzzle began to glow in warning.
Someone separated from the mist to bend down and kneel right
beside Yuugi. Unlike the others, everything about this figure seemed
utmostly dull, from the misty-grey robes to the bland grey eyes. And even
then, the grey was a listless grey; a far cry from the vivid human world of
material reality.
Yuugi swallowed his dry throat, coughing dryly before licking
parched lips and attempting to speak. "Who are you?" His voice was
barely audible, even to himself.
"My name is Shadi." The person said, voice neither ringing nor
penetrating but simply plain; uninteresting. "And I have a proposition to
offer you."
Oddly enough, Yuugi felt placated by this person's strange
hollowness. "Don't even bother," His voice was slowly becoming
stronger, "Nothing matters any more."
Shadi said nothing at first, bending his head to glance
unconvincingly at the smaller boy. " 'We are the hollow men'," He
suddenly quoted, vaguely smiling. "'We are the stuffed men'."
Violet eyes frosted deep in thought. Hollow men? What did he
mean by that? Yuugi slowly shifted his weary head, no longer crying as
he listened curiously to the other's words.
"'Our dried voices, when we whisper together are quiet and
meaningless,'" Shadi continued, every syllable suddenly penetrating and
powerful, though the speaker remained monotonous. Perhaps it was
because the words had a purpose, unlike the desolate limbo of nothing
surrounding them. "'Shape without form… Shade without colour…'"
Tap. A rustle of subdued echoes.
"'Paralyzed force…'"
Tap. The clicking of voices vibrating in the still air.
"'Gesture without motion…'"
Tap. A roar of cries thrashing behind dull grey cages.
"'This is the dead land.'" Shadi flickered his unfocused eyes,
letting the grey orbs wander towards Yuugi's face. The screams, shouts,
murmurs, pleas, all died as soon as his voice dropped into silence.
Yuugi stared at the strange person with awed eyes. "_What_ are
you?"
Shadi laughed, the tone genuine. "I am only human, after all. A
bit different from you, but just the same."
Yuugi closed his eyes in concentrated thought. Finally, he pulled
his lids open, forcing his protesting body to slide off the cool ground until
he was propped in a kneeling crouch. He sighed, "What is your
proposition?"
"This." Shadi took out two golden items from the air around
them. One of them was a beautiful scale, and the other an Ankh, each
glistening with power and ancient mystery.
Yuugi caught his breath. "Millennium Items! He whispered,
awed, "B-but why would you want me to have them?"
"They are not for you." Shadi said. "There are many who would
boast ownership, though it is wiser to not even try."
"Then, whose are they?" Yuugi's expression was one of pure
confusion.
The other's lips curved in wry amusement. "You'll figure out
soon enough."
The sparkling objects were shoved in front of the small boy, all
but vibrating with energy. Yuugi's Millennium Puzzle glowed in
recognition with the other two, bathing all three in a warm golden sheen.
Shadi was long gone even before Yuugi had thought about
raising his head in question. ~
*****************************
"Damn." Yami-Yuugi smashed his fist heavily against the tree
bark. Restlessly, he paced back and forth, feet digging harshly into the
loose soil. The Yami fell still for just a few moments before beginning to
bash his head against the same tree's trunk. "Damn, damn, damn…"
"You can stop now." Kaiba shook his head, watching the Game
King continuously hit his head against the tree. As amusing as it was, the
Yami had been doing the same action for a good three hours till the point
of becoming extremely tedious. "Normally, I wouldn't complain, but I'm
feeling quite sorry for the tree."
Yami-Yuugi stopped in mid-bash, flashing a glare at Seto Kaiba.
He then quickly continued his routine, loud thumps evident against the
hollow wood.
Kaiba sighed, shrugging. Well, he did try. The techno-magician
gazed at his free hand before taking out a large chrome contraption from
within his large jacket pocket. Fingers brushed over the steel metal
surface longingly. It had been placed on the shelf for several decades
now, waiting for its moment to be used. And Kaiba knew that it would be
soon – very soon. Now, if only the Game King would cooperate…
Speaking of the Game King, Kaiba swiveled his attention back
on the Yami, only to catch said person splintering his hands, letting the
fragments of wood pierce his skin and create rivulets of throbbing blood.
The Yami was too fascinated with his self-inflicted cuts to notice
the techno-magician suddenly grab him and pull his abused hand away.
"What the hell are you doing?" Kaiba hissed, wondering if he
was the only sane person left on this planet.
"'Here we go around the prickly pear'." Yami suddenly began to
chant in a high sing-song voice, mimicking a child's innocent laughter.
"'Prickly pear, prickly pear.'"
Kaiba slapped his forehead with one hand. The Game King had
lost it.
"'Here we go around the prickly pear at five o'clock in the
morning'."
Angry and slightly desperate, the techno-magician seized the
Yami by the shoulders, giving him a rough heave. Though Yami-Yuugi's
head snapped and recoiled, his eyes still remained half-insane, half-
conscious.
"Will you get yourself together?" Kaiba hissed menacingly. "I
know you're feeling sorry for yourself, but guess what? Everyone makes
shitty mistakes, so don't let just one obstacle degrade you into this pile of
crap."
Yami-Yuugi blinked, crimson irises suddenly re-focusing. Had
Kaiba just given him a speech of encouragement? Had _the_ Seto Kaiba
just told him to never give up? The Yami pulled the startled techno-
magician close to his body until his nose was only inches away from the
taller boy's chin. Dark crimson eyes burned in scrutiny and analysis.
Seto Kaiba was unsure of what to do. His chest suddenly felt too
tight, and his breaths came in shallow gasps. He could feel the throbbing
body of the Game King, and was close enough to count every eyelash on
the Yami's piercing crimson eyes.
Yami-Yuugi smirked, all too aware of his effect on the techno-
magician. As not to disappoint the other, he suddenly leant his frame right
in front of Kaiba's, the golden Puzzle digging against his chest causing
his breath to come in controlled gasps. Playful fingers brushed expertly
over the techno-magician's spine, causing Kaiba to involuntarily shudder.
Kaiba was about to cry out in protest when he suddenly was cut
off from all verbal speech by something _warm_ pressing against his
mouth. It only took seconds before a startled Kaiba decided he liked it.
An elegantly arched tongue retaliated to the kiss, prying the Game King's
lips apart to slip into the mouth cavity and playfully tease the other. Of
course, the Yami would have none of that, embracing his own tongue to
collide and obtain dominance over his other's.
They finally pulled apart when their lungs screamed for oxygen,
glancing at each other with flushed cheeks.
"So." Yami-Yuugi broke into his trademark half-grin. "Am I a
good kisser?"
Kaiba shuddered as the Yami ran another set of playful fingers
against his spine. The warmth traveling along his back was creating
almost uncontrollable urges, his body rising with heat and barely
restrained longing. "I don't even want to know what the hell that was
about."
The Game King said nothing, etching his hands along the taller
boy's frame. Searching fingers outlined Kaiba's eyes, slowly making way
to draw circles around the nose, cheekbones, and finally pausing at the
mouth. Kaiba felt something strangely watery and warm staining his lips,
licking them out of pure reaction. It tasted dully sweet and just a bit
metallic, reminding the techno-magician faintly of exotic spices.
Yami-Yuugi grinned. "You like it?" He mocked, laughing at the
surprised face of the techno-magician when the Yami held up his
bleeding hand, fingers still dripping with the blood. "Don't worry, I'll
have you cleaned up in no time." He placed his firm fingers on both sides
of the brown-haired boy's head, massaging the neatly trimmed hair
around the ears to stroke the delicate scalp underneath. Upon hearing the
techo-magician hiss contentedly, the Game King slowly forced the taller
boy's head until it was at chest level, tilting Kaiba's face against his own.
Slowly at first, the Yami brought his mouth to other's forehead, extending
his salivating tongue to lick a deliberate path on the soft skin.
Kaiba said nothing as the Yami continued to lick the blood once
smeared on his skin, enjoying the feeling of the tongue as it sought for
every spilt drop. The brown-haired boy's breathing began to tighten again
when the tongue finally dropped to mouth level, though the lubricated
tissue slipped under Kaiba's lower lip to clean off the caked blood on the
stubborn chin.
Once done, the Game King spent not even a moment of
initiation before allowing his hands to loosen and drag down Kaiba's
body until they hung near taller boy's jeans. Yami-Yuugi chuckled,
ignoring the sudden smoothing of wrinkles on the upper segment of the
jeans, slipping his fingers to cleverly undo the other's leather buckle. The
Yami felt a set of clammy hands hastily do the same to him, though he
was the more experienced; his emotional arousal still at a minimum. Once
the clasp fell, undone, the Yami deftly whipped the belt off its hinges,
casting the item onto the floor. He shifted his fingers so that his indexes
still hung at the rim of the loosened pants, though the thumbs pried past
the zipper and began massaging the around the sensitive area underneath.
Both thumbs nipped playfully at their objective, hastily averting tactics
before reaching the desired target.
Kaiba groaned involuntarily, his body suddenly both hot and
cold as they tingled with anticipation. He could feel his mind screaming
to break the moment of tension, and he rubbed his legs closer to the Game
King to encourage the other. The Game King was quick to respond, hands
sending brief and erratic pulses of pleasure to freeze the techno-magician
in mid stance, causing him to wrack his trembling body in gratification.
The techno-magician's body fought to breathe while he rode on another
wave of bliss, mind driven almost to insanity by the promise of each
stroke.
Sensing that the other wanted more, Yami-Yuugi chuckled,
slipping his entire hand into the opening and clenching his fists firmly
around the target, his thumb rubbing the tip with precise thrusts. The
Game King was rewarded with a sudden gasp by the other, smiling
amusedly when Kaiba dug his nails into the Yami's skin to sustain the
absolute ecstasy driven by each brush. The Yami could feel the heat
rising in the techno-magician's body, manipulating his fingers to control
the moment of climax.
Kaiba grunted as he rode the unadulterated passion, wracking
into muffled sobs as each tumult of pleasure left his body trembling and
vulnerable. Every muscle quivered, and his legs shook uncontrollably,
completely helpless under the pleasure-manipulating Game King. He
gasped again as he finally rose into the final moment of climax, ignoring
the pain when the Yami shoved his index finger directly against the
objective, stirring the finger to pry slightly pry apart the opening. The
single moment was unexplainable; he felt so powerful and completely
satiated, his warm body rising to millions of degrees and yet leaving a
contented blanket of satiation in its wake. His muscles clenched and
retracted even harder, unconsciously closing his eyes to embrace every
lingering moment. Very rarely in his life had Kaiba felt such gratification,
and the Game King was proving to be an exceptional player. He could
feel the warm fluid ejaculating from the area the Yami's fingers were still
playfully nipping at, slightly guilty when the liquid spread over his jeans
and onto the other's hands.
Yami-Yuugi held up his hand, still scabbed with undried blood
and now covered in a layer of filmy white. The Yami began laughing,
picking out the remainder of woody splinters on his hand and then softly
licking each scarred point. He closed his eyes to cherish the foreign fluid
mixed with his own blood, rubbing the collected liquids on his tongue
against his teeth to savour every flavour. It was slightly musty with a taste
of dull iron, though the mixture teemed with life and fascinating energy.
Kaiba waited patiently for the Game King to complete the
strange ritual. For the first time, he noticed the ivory incisors on
protruding form the Yami's upper lip, eyes widening in surprise. "Those
fangs," Kaiba murmured, unaware that he was saying it out loud, "Is that
even possible?"
"All of us." Yami-Yuugi replied, making the techo-magician
jump as he realized that the Yami was replying to the question. "All of us
are condemned. The lost ones. Millennium Item holders, vampires,
Talisman-seekers. We were fated to meet here."
"Fate. Do you believe in that crap?" The techno-magician
brought his cold hands against the Game King's warm body, making the
other gasp slightly.
The Darkness shook his head slightly. "No. But you are forced
to acknowledge it." He closed his eyes, panting slightly to maintain his
control over the intimacy; knowing very well that this would most likely
be his last experience. And judging from the very way Kaiba moved his
hands to linger longingly with every stroke, the techno-magician knew it
too.
Sometimes, the best way to approach death was to screw it.
*********************************
A gentle hand stroked the soft crimson-black hair. Yami-Yuugi
gazed wistfully at his sleeping Aibou, managing a twitching smile when
the smaller boy unconsciously leant towards the touch. The Yami kissed
the smaller boy gently on the head. And suddenly, he felt afraid: afraid to
leave the small boy alone; afraid to complete his task; afraid to know that
everything might be just a futile quest. For the Game knew no favours.
Deliberate footsteps striding against the rustle of bushes
betrayed someone else behind the Yami. Yami-Yuugi turned around to
meet a pair of deep garnet eyes.
"We'll take care of the little one." The green-haired lady
exclaimed, smiling her traditional enigmatic smile.
The Yami's eyes lingered for a moment at the sleeping boy
before reluctantly parting to stand beside the waiting Kaiba. He nodded.
"Don't let him get hurt."
"Take care of yourself too, Game King." Came Setsuna's reply.
"And may the fates be with you."
Yami-Yuugi laughed. "I hope not." He turned and gestured for
Kaiba to leave, noticing that the techno-magician was currently absorbed
in glaring at someone behind Setsuna: a tall, rather masculine female in a
jumpsuit, short blonde hair billowing against the wind. She held a hand in
salute to the brown-haired boy before dropping it protectively over the
sword-shaped talisman around her neck.
For his part, Seto Kaiba said nothing and only blinked silently.
"Let's go." He turned to disappear among the shadows.
Mustering all his willpower and strength, Yami-Yuugi tore his
eyes away from his Aibou, still feeling his other's presence always a
heartbeat away. He had to say something. He had to tell his other that he
was leaving and that he would always love him no matter what.
Nothing came out.
And the Yami slunk into the darkness behind Kaiba.
**********************************
Yami-Yuugi skidded to a halt. Until now, the Authority
headquarters had been almost too simple to navigate. His eyes narrowed
at the pathway in front of him, divided into two options.
"Well. We'll have to split up." Kaiba muttered, grip
unconsciously tightening on the chrome weapon cradled in his arms.
"No." The Yami shook his head. "That's exactly what the
Authority wants us to do. Get lost in their maze so they can hunt his down
one by one."
Kaiba snorted. "You got any better options, _Game King_?"
Yami-Yuugi ignored the taunt, closing his eyes in concentration.
The long-trusted Millennium Puzzle began obeyed the beckon to glow
resplendent sheen of gold. Quickly, a beam of light shot from the Puzzle
and steered towards the right entrance. The Yami focused his crimson
irises on the other. "Right."
"All right." Kaiba scowled. "Don't you dare give me that pain-
in-the-ass smirk."
The corner of the Game King's lips curled just slightly. "You're
just afraid to admit that I'm better." He entered the right entrance, risking
a small Light spell to allow a steady clearance.
Both said nothing as they ran down the endless hallways. Wall
after desolate wall loomed in their visions to create the impending illusion
of eternity.
Kaiba glanced suspiciously at his surroundings. "Are you sure
this is right? I could have sworn that we've crossed here several times
already."
That comment was enough to stop the Yami in his tracks. He
frowned, gazing at the blank walls and analyzing their sides for potential
information. "The Puzzle never lies." He stated, as if that was the most
conclusive statement there needed to be.
"Yet." Came Kaiba's foreboding reply. The techno-magician put
a hand towards the grey wall. "Maybe it cannot lie, but it can be
deceived."
Yami-Yuugi opened his mouth to retort only to realize the logic
behind the other's words. He furrowed his brows, deep in thought. "For
something to deceive the Puzzle, it would require a strong will and power
equal to that of the Puzzle. But that should almost be impossible."
"You mentioned Millennium Items before. Are there any other
Millennium Items that you know of with such a power?"
The Yami's eyes reflected doubt. "I don't-" He cut himself off
from the thought. "Wait! I remember. Yuugi and I. We were talking about
Duel Monsters and he mentioned the possibility of a Millennium Item
holder."
Kaiba hissed. "So, that just might be it. Now, if only we could
figure out what exactly the Item is."
Yami-Yuugi was no longer listening but deep in thought.
~ *
"Then, whoever created these cards must have known about the
Shadow Realm." That was Yuugi's voice.
"What I want to know is _who_ this person is. 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." Yami-Yuugi had only mentioned so much
himself.
"Another Millennium Item." Yuugi replied, "From the looks of
it, this person also knew Magic."
*~
"Magic." Yami-Yuugi muttered. "Who would be able to tie
Magic into cards with such accuracy?"
Kaiba shrugged. "Magic isn't my field. My guess is that the
person wanted to preserve the memory of the monster. Maybe the person
was waiting for the right moment, knowing that those who deserved the
cards would invoke its powers properly."
"Deserved?" The Yami questioned. "The question then
becomes: How do you _deserve_ to use a card? How do you know that
your Magic belongs with the cards?"
Kaiba snorted. "I'm a technologist, not a mind-reader."
"Exactly!" The Yami suddenly whirled around to face the
techno-magician in a flurry of excitement. "Seto, you're amazing!"
Kaiba blinked. "Okay." Another couple of blinks as he watched
the Game King divert his attention to the surrounding ceiling and walls.
"Would you like to tell me why?"
Yami-Yuugi couldn't help but smirk. "Only mind-readers would
be able to tell which card was favoured by which owner. Therefore, when
the pre-prepared cards reached the right owner, the mind-reader would be
able to locate _who_ was using the card. For mind-readers cannot see the
future, though they can link the past together."
"You've lost me there." Kaiba shook his head. "All I
got out of it was that the person is a mind-reader."
"Yes." Yami-Yuugi voice came in a low, venomous hiss. "The
leader of the Authority is a Millennium Item holder. And a very powerful
item, by the looks of it."
"So, now what?"
The Yami continued to scan his surroundings. "I have riddle for
you, Kaiba. What is something you can see but cannot touch or feel?" He
began pacing up and down the aisle almost impatiently.
"How about your words?" Kaiba retorted, watching amusedly at
the Game King currently fixated in staring into the darkness.
Yami-Yuugi grinned. He held up his open hand, fingers
extended, suddenly thrusting his hand into a dark-covered wall beside
him. The very fabric of the wall began to ripple and distort, bending to
allow the hand to extend through the shadowy barrier.
Kaiba's eyes narrowed at the observation. "Shadows!" He
finally exclaimed.
"Yes." Yami-Yuugi's eyes flickered slightly. "But you might
find this quite interesting. He swiveled the orb of light in his other hand
towards the darkened area and again tried extending his free hand through
the wall. His fingers met a firm resistance.
"You see, you may only pass in the absence of light. In darkness.
Yami." The Game King sighed.
"Someone is playing a pun on my name."
Kaiba shrugged. "Your loss is my gain." Without warning, he
shoved past the Yami to slip into the shadowy wall.
About to retort, Yami-Yuugi realized that there was no one to
talk to; and after an exasperated huff, hurriedly followed the steps of the
other. Only a murmur of sound located his absence.
*******************************
It was still warm when Yuugi opened his eyes and found it
hiding beneath his tightly clenched hand. Like the others, its dull gold
immediately flared to life the moment the Puzzle recognized it, both
gleaming with a similar light.
Mesmerized, Yuugi watched the interaction between his Puzzle
and the Ankh. A brief pulse of white light, and the Ankh disappeared,
leaving only the satisfied face of the Millennium Puzzle. The boy blinked
only a couple of times before dismissing the entire event.
/Isn't that weird, Yami?/ Yuugi remarked, convention forcing
him to wait for a reply.
There was no response.
Frowning, Yuugi tried again. He briefly wondered if he had
angered his other, or perhaps if his Yami was somewhere else resting.
The boy stood up from his grassy cushion, craning his head to look at the
surrounding trees.
"Yami?" His voice was tentative and hesitant, afraid of the
reply.
Silence.
"Yami?" Yuugi tried again louder, his sharp voice echoing
against the hollow wind and dry birdsong.
Again, nothing.
Plunk. Hot tears dribbled down the boy's cheek, each one
deliberately staining a perfect circle when they disappeared into faded
blue fabric. They were familiar tears, practiced to perfection a million
times over. A grubby hand smeared the glowing orbs pooling against
rapidly fluttering eyelashes. And yet, they stayed, and stung with an acrid
saltiness.
Whimpering, Yuugi collapsed onto the grass, curling into a fetal
ball. He rocked his body back and forth, resting his chin between his
jutting knees while gazing at the world with half closed lids. Visions of
blurred green and lurid blue danced around him and distorted into
grotesque faces. An emerald face seethed behind amber eyes. A sapphire
visage peered impassively through a ruby-crusted irises. And as soon as
they had arrived, they disappeared, back into the contours of the
imagination.
The small boy leaned over to one side. He forced his mouth shut
in an effort of stopping the jagged sobs.
The colours were coming back now, a vision of splendid
crimson and scarlet. They were strands of garnet, pulsating and throbbing
like an endless network of veins. Each streak of red piled on top of the
other, zig-zagging and cross-crossing for what seemed like infinity. And
each vein teemed with information, yammering and screaming their
existence.
"Stop it." Yuugi pleaded. He could see the glistening threads of
life cross, collide, and fade. They grew and expanded, coiling and
pitching their bulk against each other. And even then, they did not give in
but bulged in their confinements. The hues of red swelled and shifted into
a choking violet. Finally, some strands, unable to bear the pressure,
snapped, their protective covering breaking apart. From their dead violet
membrane gushed fluids of watery-crimson. The crimson splashed and
spilled against the other live vessels, staining their membranes with a
splatter of red. And, like a signal, the other vessels began to collectively
spew and burst out the scarlet liquid until it was a kaleidoscope of violet
and red clashing against each other.
Yuugi screamed. He knew he did that, and he was fully
conscious of his actions when he bent uncomfortably forwards and
retched against the cool grass. Acidic heat and bile mixed with his saliva
to fly into the open air. There, they fell, landing on the emerald green
grass in messy pools of putrid pink and maroon.
The boy clutched his stomach, turning to one side to avoid the
stench. He ignored his stinging throat and wiped a dribble of the acidic
blood from his lips. By now, the dancing veins had died and faded away.
There was only the blue skies and green grass as far as the eye could see.
Yuugi might have delved into a deeper catatonic state, had a
presence not interrupted his actions. A person's silhouette hovered over
the small boy's body. Yuugi turned around, only to greet a pair of garnet
eyes. And having deducted that they were garnet, not crimson, Yuugi
withdrew his excited expression to once again gaze forlornly at the blank
space.
However, the woman was not to be ignored. She took a few
paces towards the small boy and bent beside him.
"Hello Yuugi. Are you lost?" It was a casual and abstract
comment.
Yuugi shuddered. The voice was familiar. He closed his eyes
and looked away.
She, Setsuna Meiou, cleared her throat, clearly stating her
presence. "Just a moment ago, you saw something that bothered you." It
was a statement that she already knew.
Yuugi said nothing. His lips parted in a feeble effort.
"What you saw was every strand of life billowing against each
other." Setsuna continued, "Though each strand is unique and beautiful,
when they become rebellious and different, they will only succeed in
hurting each other."
A pause. "That was what Club 0013 feared. We dedicated our
entire lives to prevent such chaos and discord."
Yuugi suddenly looked up, violet eyes accusing. He coughed
several times before he was able to regain his voice. "You're not better
than any of them! All you want is-"
"-love, hope, peace, equality." The lady smiled. "Of course."
The boy backed away from Setsuna. He hissed, voice
unnaturally low and threatening. "And I thought you were different. I
thought that you could actually help to make a difference."
Setsuna smiled. "Of course we are. We are making a difference.
We want to help everyone, not just you, Yuugi Mutou."
Drip. More tears. "Then, why were you _against_ the
Authority?" Yuugi accused. "You and the Authority both have the same
ideas: enslave humanity, conform society." Drop. Another tear. "_Why_
did you pretend that you were helping us?"
"I am helping you. All of us are. You just have to believe in it
and all will be fine. As all this pain will come to a final, deserving end." It
was a soothing and comfortable response.
Yuugi stumbled as he tried to heave himself as far back as
possible. His lower lip trembled uncontrollably. "I get it now. I should
have known." The small boy suddenly began laughing, though the sound
was forced and all too desperate. "I should have known. What an idiot I
was!"
Setsuna smiled, though she did not walk any closer. "No, Yuugi.
You were very smart."
Yuugi stopped laughing. "Where is Yami?"
*******************************
The Game King landed on a hard surface, boots skidding to a
slippery stop. Immediately, he began looking around.
It was an entirely dark room, a sooty black that enshrouded the
entire vicinity with unease. Taking no chances, the Yami cast a small
Light spell, only to have it suddenly snuffed out. Yami-Yuugi narrowed
his eyes. "Seto?"
There was a choked cough to the call. The cough soon turned
into a hoarse cry and then into silence.
Yami-Yuugi's eyes widened. "Kaiba!" He shouted again, though
this time, he was greeted by silence. The Game King's eyes narrowed in
suspicion. Something powerful was hiding in the darkness unseen,
drawing with it fear and unease.
Sure enough, from the silence emerged the clatter of deliberate
footsteps. The darkness began to glimmer and fade, leaving a chasm of
pale greys and browns in its wake. Now, the Yami could see the owner of
the footsteps.
He was a medium-built man, sporting an odd red suit almost too
formal for any occasion. His pure silver hair cascaded down both sides of
his face to leave a prominent nose and sharp chin. Only one eye,
however, gazed sharply from his face while the other lay concealed in a
clump of silver hair.
The figure smiled. "Welcome, Game King." He gestured to the
Yami, palms face-up and open. "What bids you here to my humble
domain?"
"Drop the shit." Yami-Yuugi immediately responded. "What
did you do to Kaiba?"
The silver-haired man grinned. "What did he do to himself?"
Enraged, Yami-Yuugi snarled, flinging his body against the
other in efforts to strike a blow. However, his extended hands struck only
thin air. The Yami barely had time to react when a heavy force slammed
into his body, forcing his breath out with a stunned gasp.
Pegasus watched the expression on the enraged Yami and
grinned. He withdrew his fist from the other's stomach so that the Yami
collapsed on his knees. The silver-haired man began walking circles
around the fallen Yami, voice persuading and always slightly superior.
"You know that you can't possibly win against me in _my_ domain. Such
a pity you didn't have time to calculate your fatal error."
Gasping in a lungful of air, Yami-Yuugi forced his attention
away from the other in order to restrain his temper. Pegasus was right –
here, the Game King was at a disadvantage. "Why are you here?" He
demanded, winded voice slightly clipped of his usual regal tone.
"The Millennium Eye can read minds. And I can see very well
your fated 'purpose'." Pegasus stated with his mocking tone. "In fact, I
can sense every single feeble thought playing in your mind." He
continued to leer, sliding closer to the enraged Yami. "Does that scare
you? Does that frighten you that I can see the mind of the oh-so-powerful
Game King?"
Yami-Yuugi said nothing, though his eyes flickered from an
impassive crimson to a swirling scarlet-red. His face was set in a half-
snarl, his Sennen Puzzle glittering with the same livid fury. As Pegasus
walked completed yet another circular rotation, Yami-Yuugi lunged,
propelling his weight against the other. And again, he met only empty air
as Pegasus shoved the Yami painfully on the back and forced him to slam
face-down against the ground.
The silver-haired man kept his knee against the struggling
Yami's back. "Don't be so impatient, Game King." He jeeringly
reprimanded. "Why are you in such a rush to leave?"
With unrestrained rage, Yami-Yuugi growled, twisting his body
from the confining knee to flip onto his chest. The Yami laid one hand on
his Millennium Item, eyes furrowed in concentration. Immediately, the
Puzzle responded, flaring to an intense white. It only took the Yami a few
words before a brilliant ring of flames suddenly burst into life to surround
him in a protective barrier. From there, Yami-Yuugi quickly extended
one hand, a sphere of flames bursting from the darkness. Split seconds
later, he flung the sphere, its burning flames aimed directly at Pegasus's
face.
Pegasus, however, stared placately at the threatening Magic-
induced projectile. He covered his mouth with one hand in a fake yawn,
and watched under falsely drooping lids. The flame seemed to suddenly
slow down as they neared Pegasus's face, to warp and vanish into
darkness before they could even touch the intended target.
The silver-haired man feigned another bored yawn. He shrugged
non-comittaly before looking straight at the Yami.
"My turn." A grin played on his perfectly calm expression.
To be continued…
**************************************************
Malik Says:
Honda: What the heck? Malik rarely even appears in the story and _ he_
gets a self-insert?
Malik: *evil grin* You have something against that?
Honda: *sweatdrop!* Eh heh… on second thoughts…
Malik: Anyway, the moral for today's chapter is that I am evil and you're
not. Oh, and that I have the coolest Millennium Item. Yup. That's about
it.
Eevee muse: You're forgetting something.
Malik: Oh yeah. The Eevee muse does all the work on this fanfic and all
that Zoo does is sleep.
Zoo: WHAT?!? Oh right! Everybody make fun of the author! *puts hands
up in defeat* I get no credit around here.
Eevee muse: Good for you ^.^
Zoo: That's it! I'm leaving! *grumbles* You guys go ahead and finish the
stupid fic! I quit, you bunch of meanies! *leaves*
Eevee muse: Yes! *does gives Malik a high five* You know what that
means….
Malik: *trademark evil grin* Oooh.. can I write the ending?
Eevee muse: Go ahead ^_^.
*****************************************
End notes:
Yes! Ff.net finally is open again! Fly my ficcie, fly! I might be a little
slow on writing the last chappy cause I'm working on another fic with
FC-chan – and yes, it does have vampires in it, titled "Scarlet Fangs", I
think…. *coughs nervously*
Ahhh… *sniffles and goes teary eyed* You actually enjoyed my fic,
Pawprintz? I feel so honoured ^^=.
Next time:
- Yami vs. Pegasus, and the final outcome of the Game we have all
learned to love
- Why Club 0013 is just as bad as the Authority
- * Next chapter is the LAST chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost in the Shell. Hai hai *nods*
Sorry for the delay in updating. I've been caught up with summer school
and work, and everything else. *sighs* Yeah…that also means this
chapter lacks editing, so if there's any spelling errors or incomplete ideas,
please just live with them for now.
~ dream sequence~
~* quick flashback *~
Warning: Small scene with the most heavy yaoi you're going to see in
this fic. This was more or less a slight request, so I finally came through.
Yay me.
**********************************************
"Was it a vision or a waking dream?
Fled is that music – Do I wake or sleep?"
- Keats, "Ode to a Nightingale"
**********************************************
The Heart of the Cards – Part 2
A small boy with dazzling crimson-black hair lay on a canopy of
grass. Twin magenta orbs gazed blankly into the night sky, unmoving
save for the occasional flutter of lids. His cold body remained a still
statue, counting not by minutes but hours; even eons.
Yami-Yuugi chanced a forlorn glance at his Aibou before
returning to shift restlessly on his spot. The Yami brought a hand into the
empty air, stroking the distant image of his Light with trembling fingers.
"Yuugi…" His firm voice came in a quavering whisper. "Come
back."
****************************************
"Come back."
Pegasus laughed as he mimicked the voice on his screen, taking
a deep sip of his wine while watching with amused eyes the melodrama
playing in front of him. The silver-haired man laughed again when the
screen focused on Yuugi's unmoving figure, and he held his glass of wine
towards the image in a mock-toast.
"Here's to Mutou Yuugi, who has had everyone close to him
destroyed by an evil force."
Pegasus stopped for a moment, eyes suddenly crossing in
comical confusion. "Ooh. I wonder who would be so evil as to hurt such a
poor boy." He put a finger thoughtfully to his cheek, shaking his head in
exaggerated wonder. "Yes. Bad, bad person. What a bad person he is!"
The screen zoomed to analyze the small boy's face closely,
lenses accenting each shimmering tear brimming underneath large
paralyzed eyes.
Pegasus stood up. "I feel sorry for poor Yuugi." He shook his
head, continuing his ironic parody. "I should do something for him." The
silver-haired man's eyes quickly lit up. "Ah! I know! I'll invite him over
for tea!"
A rustling of fabric inside the cage behind him reminded
Pegasus of his prize.
"And we shall serve… cheese and fruit juice!"
***********************************************
"Look Yuugi, I'm sorry. I apologize for what has happened, and
it was my fault that Jounochi got killed." Yami-Yuugi grimaced as he
blurted his sentence out loud. Great – his Aibou was sure going to like
him after saying that.
Fortunately, the Yami was talking to a tree, and not the actual
person. The Darkness was known for his courage and resourcefulness;
sadly, one look at the broken Yuugi had left him shaking and trying to
retain his impenetrable emotions. Yami-Yuugi snorted, mentally berating
himself. Huh, some Game King.
A rustling of nearby bushes stirred the Yami from his thoughts,
suddenly bringing him face to face with reality. Approaching soft
footsteps confirmed his fate, and Yami-Yuugi took a deep breath,
mustering all his courage. For a moment, he faltered, afraid of what his
Aibou might say. Ah, hell. It was now or never.
"Yuugi, I'm sorry and this was all my fault and I really can't
stand this anymore so I apologize and can you forgive me?" The Yami
exclaimed in one long sentence, too afraid to look at the expression on
Yuugi's face.
There was a painful pause where the Yami could envision the
silent tears drip from his Aibou's wide eyes.
"That's great," Seto Kaiba drawled sarcastically, "But next time,
try getting the right person." The brown-haired boy turned to leave, ice-
cold eyes never changing expressions. "But it's nice to know that you
cared."
Yami-Yuugi's eyebrow twitched. His mouth continued to hang
wide open, slack jawed, wondering exactly how stupid he had looked.
Fortunately, there was no one else there to tell him.
**************************
"Jounochi… why did you leave me?" Yuugi whimpered,
whispering his plea to the night air. "J-"
His subdued cry was cut short by his own exhaustion. Yuugi's
eyelids finally shut in peaceful harmony, neither flickering nor wavering
as they beckoned his mind to dream.
Dreamless dreams not meant to be understood by innocent little
boys.
~ A glass mirror. That was all Yuugi saw in the murky shades of
grey. The boy shuffled awkwardly towards the mirror, peering at the
smooth surface of solid blue. He could see his childish face staring back,
though it seemed to twinkle and analyze him with inhumane acquisition.
And then, the reflection disappeared, leaving only a ripple in the glass
face.
A ripple on the mirror that faded to reveal an image of a five-
year-old Yuugi, giggling in a surreal grassy landscape. Yuugi continued
to stare at the younger version of himself, watching his past actions
through the glass.
The Yuugi in the reflection laughed happily as he fell, courtesy
of a blonde-haired boy who had accidentally toppled on top of the smaller
one. Little-Yuugi giggled even harder when the other boy hastily scurried
off, blushing an embarrassed pink.
"It's okay, Jounochi." Little-Yuugi beamed. "You're my friend
so it's okay if you accidentally hurt me."
The Jounochi in the image could be no older than six. "But I
don't want to hurt you." He protested, large brown eyes wide. "I want to
be by your side and protect you."
Little-Yuugi hugged Jounochi, wrapping his arms around the
other boy's slightly larger frame. "I'm glad I have you Jounochi. Let's be
friends forever."
Jounochi's pink blush developed a darker shade. "Yes. Let's be
the bestest friends! Cause I love you a lot, Yuugi!" The boy suddenly
realized what he had blurted, clapping his chubby hands over his gaping
mouth.
The little Yuugi responded with a radiant smile. "I love you
too!"
Then, the provoking images disappeared from the surface as
quickly as they had come, leaving only the blank, bland mirror as a
remembrance. Yuugi stifled a sob, bringing a shaking hand to gently
touch the mirror's porcelain frame. And before his fingers could clasp the
surface, it disappeared.
Yuugi saw only his reflection staring sadly back. And that too
eventually faded away.
Alone, alone. He was all alone, with no one to help him, with all
his friends one by one violently killed.
Yuugi hastily wiped his nose with a scratchy sleeve. Shadowy
darkness and oppressive fog only emphasized his agony, creating a sea of
unfathomable grief. The small boy collapsed wearily to lean a soft cheek
against the smooth ground, letting the hot tears slide down his face and
drip silently against the firm surface. Some of the warm droplets tickled
his nose, mixing with his clammy sweat and creating a salty taste when
they accidentally dripped onto his tongue.
Ah! How sweet even blood had been compared to this bitter
taste! For with blood came promise and potential, teeming with a million
networks of life and energy. There was nothing in tears but death and
sorrow.
A pounding of footsteps broke Yuugi's rhythmic sobbing. The
small boy's blood-shot eyes roved to greet the sound, though his lead lay
limply on the ground, prostrate body tingling with vulnerability. The
Millennium Puzzle began to glow in warning.
Someone separated from the mist to bend down and kneel right
beside Yuugi. Unlike the others, everything about this figure seemed
utmostly dull, from the misty-grey robes to the bland grey eyes. And even
then, the grey was a listless grey; a far cry from the vivid human world of
material reality.
Yuugi swallowed his dry throat, coughing dryly before licking
parched lips and attempting to speak. "Who are you?" His voice was
barely audible, even to himself.
"My name is Shadi." The person said, voice neither ringing nor
penetrating but simply plain; uninteresting. "And I have a proposition to
offer you."
Oddly enough, Yuugi felt placated by this person's strange
hollowness. "Don't even bother," His voice was slowly becoming
stronger, "Nothing matters any more."
Shadi said nothing at first, bending his head to glance
unconvincingly at the smaller boy. " 'We are the hollow men'," He
suddenly quoted, vaguely smiling. "'We are the stuffed men'."
Violet eyes frosted deep in thought. Hollow men? What did he
mean by that? Yuugi slowly shifted his weary head, no longer crying as
he listened curiously to the other's words.
"'Our dried voices, when we whisper together are quiet and
meaningless,'" Shadi continued, every syllable suddenly penetrating and
powerful, though the speaker remained monotonous. Perhaps it was
because the words had a purpose, unlike the desolate limbo of nothing
surrounding them. "'Shape without form… Shade without colour…'"
Tap. A rustle of subdued echoes.
"'Paralyzed force…'"
Tap. The clicking of voices vibrating in the still air.
"'Gesture without motion…'"
Tap. A roar of cries thrashing behind dull grey cages.
"'This is the dead land.'" Shadi flickered his unfocused eyes,
letting the grey orbs wander towards Yuugi's face. The screams, shouts,
murmurs, pleas, all died as soon as his voice dropped into silence.
Yuugi stared at the strange person with awed eyes. "_What_ are
you?"
Shadi laughed, the tone genuine. "I am only human, after all. A
bit different from you, but just the same."
Yuugi closed his eyes in concentrated thought. Finally, he pulled
his lids open, forcing his protesting body to slide off the cool ground until
he was propped in a kneeling crouch. He sighed, "What is your
proposition?"
"This." Shadi took out two golden items from the air around
them. One of them was a beautiful scale, and the other an Ankh, each
glistening with power and ancient mystery.
Yuugi caught his breath. "Millennium Items! He whispered,
awed, "B-but why would you want me to have them?"
"They are not for you." Shadi said. "There are many who would
boast ownership, though it is wiser to not even try."
"Then, whose are they?" Yuugi's expression was one of pure
confusion.
The other's lips curved in wry amusement. "You'll figure out
soon enough."
The sparkling objects were shoved in front of the small boy, all
but vibrating with energy. Yuugi's Millennium Puzzle glowed in
recognition with the other two, bathing all three in a warm golden sheen.
Shadi was long gone even before Yuugi had thought about
raising his head in question. ~
*****************************
"Damn." Yami-Yuugi smashed his fist heavily against the tree
bark. Restlessly, he paced back and forth, feet digging harshly into the
loose soil. The Yami fell still for just a few moments before beginning to
bash his head against the same tree's trunk. "Damn, damn, damn…"
"You can stop now." Kaiba shook his head, watching the Game
King continuously hit his head against the tree. As amusing as it was, the
Yami had been doing the same action for a good three hours till the point
of becoming extremely tedious. "Normally, I wouldn't complain, but I'm
feeling quite sorry for the tree."
Yami-Yuugi stopped in mid-bash, flashing a glare at Seto Kaiba.
He then quickly continued his routine, loud thumps evident against the
hollow wood.
Kaiba sighed, shrugging. Well, he did try. The techno-magician
gazed at his free hand before taking out a large chrome contraption from
within his large jacket pocket. Fingers brushed over the steel metal
surface longingly. It had been placed on the shelf for several decades
now, waiting for its moment to be used. And Kaiba knew that it would be
soon – very soon. Now, if only the Game King would cooperate…
Speaking of the Game King, Kaiba swiveled his attention back
on the Yami, only to catch said person splintering his hands, letting the
fragments of wood pierce his skin and create rivulets of throbbing blood.
The Yami was too fascinated with his self-inflicted cuts to notice
the techno-magician suddenly grab him and pull his abused hand away.
"What the hell are you doing?" Kaiba hissed, wondering if he
was the only sane person left on this planet.
"'Here we go around the prickly pear'." Yami suddenly began to
chant in a high sing-song voice, mimicking a child's innocent laughter.
"'Prickly pear, prickly pear.'"
Kaiba slapped his forehead with one hand. The Game King had
lost it.
"'Here we go around the prickly pear at five o'clock in the
morning'."
Angry and slightly desperate, the techno-magician seized the
Yami by the shoulders, giving him a rough heave. Though Yami-Yuugi's
head snapped and recoiled, his eyes still remained half-insane, half-
conscious.
"Will you get yourself together?" Kaiba hissed menacingly. "I
know you're feeling sorry for yourself, but guess what? Everyone makes
shitty mistakes, so don't let just one obstacle degrade you into this pile of
crap."
Yami-Yuugi blinked, crimson irises suddenly re-focusing. Had
Kaiba just given him a speech of encouragement? Had _the_ Seto Kaiba
just told him to never give up? The Yami pulled the startled techno-
magician close to his body until his nose was only inches away from the
taller boy's chin. Dark crimson eyes burned in scrutiny and analysis.
Seto Kaiba was unsure of what to do. His chest suddenly felt too
tight, and his breaths came in shallow gasps. He could feel the throbbing
body of the Game King, and was close enough to count every eyelash on
the Yami's piercing crimson eyes.
Yami-Yuugi smirked, all too aware of his effect on the techno-
magician. As not to disappoint the other, he suddenly leant his frame right
in front of Kaiba's, the golden Puzzle digging against his chest causing
his breath to come in controlled gasps. Playful fingers brushed expertly
over the techno-magician's spine, causing Kaiba to involuntarily shudder.
Kaiba was about to cry out in protest when he suddenly was cut
off from all verbal speech by something _warm_ pressing against his
mouth. It only took seconds before a startled Kaiba decided he liked it.
An elegantly arched tongue retaliated to the kiss, prying the Game King's
lips apart to slip into the mouth cavity and playfully tease the other. Of
course, the Yami would have none of that, embracing his own tongue to
collide and obtain dominance over his other's.
They finally pulled apart when their lungs screamed for oxygen,
glancing at each other with flushed cheeks.
"So." Yami-Yuugi broke into his trademark half-grin. "Am I a
good kisser?"
Kaiba shuddered as the Yami ran another set of playful fingers
against his spine. The warmth traveling along his back was creating
almost uncontrollable urges, his body rising with heat and barely
restrained longing. "I don't even want to know what the hell that was
about."
The Game King said nothing, etching his hands along the taller
boy's frame. Searching fingers outlined Kaiba's eyes, slowly making way
to draw circles around the nose, cheekbones, and finally pausing at the
mouth. Kaiba felt something strangely watery and warm staining his lips,
licking them out of pure reaction. It tasted dully sweet and just a bit
metallic, reminding the techno-magician faintly of exotic spices.
Yami-Yuugi grinned. "You like it?" He mocked, laughing at the
surprised face of the techno-magician when the Yami held up his
bleeding hand, fingers still dripping with the blood. "Don't worry, I'll
have you cleaned up in no time." He placed his firm fingers on both sides
of the brown-haired boy's head, massaging the neatly trimmed hair
around the ears to stroke the delicate scalp underneath. Upon hearing the
techo-magician hiss contentedly, the Game King slowly forced the taller
boy's head until it was at chest level, tilting Kaiba's face against his own.
Slowly at first, the Yami brought his mouth to other's forehead, extending
his salivating tongue to lick a deliberate path on the soft skin.
Kaiba said nothing as the Yami continued to lick the blood once
smeared on his skin, enjoying the feeling of the tongue as it sought for
every spilt drop. The brown-haired boy's breathing began to tighten again
when the tongue finally dropped to mouth level, though the lubricated
tissue slipped under Kaiba's lower lip to clean off the caked blood on the
stubborn chin.
Once done, the Game King spent not even a moment of
initiation before allowing his hands to loosen and drag down Kaiba's
body until they hung near taller boy's jeans. Yami-Yuugi chuckled,
ignoring the sudden smoothing of wrinkles on the upper segment of the
jeans, slipping his fingers to cleverly undo the other's leather buckle. The
Yami felt a set of clammy hands hastily do the same to him, though he
was the more experienced; his emotional arousal still at a minimum. Once
the clasp fell, undone, the Yami deftly whipped the belt off its hinges,
casting the item onto the floor. He shifted his fingers so that his indexes
still hung at the rim of the loosened pants, though the thumbs pried past
the zipper and began massaging the around the sensitive area underneath.
Both thumbs nipped playfully at their objective, hastily averting tactics
before reaching the desired target.
Kaiba groaned involuntarily, his body suddenly both hot and
cold as they tingled with anticipation. He could feel his mind screaming
to break the moment of tension, and he rubbed his legs closer to the Game
King to encourage the other. The Game King was quick to respond, hands
sending brief and erratic pulses of pleasure to freeze the techno-magician
in mid stance, causing him to wrack his trembling body in gratification.
The techno-magician's body fought to breathe while he rode on another
wave of bliss, mind driven almost to insanity by the promise of each
stroke.
Sensing that the other wanted more, Yami-Yuugi chuckled,
slipping his entire hand into the opening and clenching his fists firmly
around the target, his thumb rubbing the tip with precise thrusts. The
Game King was rewarded with a sudden gasp by the other, smiling
amusedly when Kaiba dug his nails into the Yami's skin to sustain the
absolute ecstasy driven by each brush. The Yami could feel the heat
rising in the techno-magician's body, manipulating his fingers to control
the moment of climax.
Kaiba grunted as he rode the unadulterated passion, wracking
into muffled sobs as each tumult of pleasure left his body trembling and
vulnerable. Every muscle quivered, and his legs shook uncontrollably,
completely helpless under the pleasure-manipulating Game King. He
gasped again as he finally rose into the final moment of climax, ignoring
the pain when the Yami shoved his index finger directly against the
objective, stirring the finger to pry slightly pry apart the opening. The
single moment was unexplainable; he felt so powerful and completely
satiated, his warm body rising to millions of degrees and yet leaving a
contented blanket of satiation in its wake. His muscles clenched and
retracted even harder, unconsciously closing his eyes to embrace every
lingering moment. Very rarely in his life had Kaiba felt such gratification,
and the Game King was proving to be an exceptional player. He could
feel the warm fluid ejaculating from the area the Yami's fingers were still
playfully nipping at, slightly guilty when the liquid spread over his jeans
and onto the other's hands.
Yami-Yuugi held up his hand, still scabbed with undried blood
and now covered in a layer of filmy white. The Yami began laughing,
picking out the remainder of woody splinters on his hand and then softly
licking each scarred point. He closed his eyes to cherish the foreign fluid
mixed with his own blood, rubbing the collected liquids on his tongue
against his teeth to savour every flavour. It was slightly musty with a taste
of dull iron, though the mixture teemed with life and fascinating energy.
Kaiba waited patiently for the Game King to complete the
strange ritual. For the first time, he noticed the ivory incisors on
protruding form the Yami's upper lip, eyes widening in surprise. "Those
fangs," Kaiba murmured, unaware that he was saying it out loud, "Is that
even possible?"
"All of us." Yami-Yuugi replied, making the techo-magician
jump as he realized that the Yami was replying to the question. "All of us
are condemned. The lost ones. Millennium Item holders, vampires,
Talisman-seekers. We were fated to meet here."
"Fate. Do you believe in that crap?" The techno-magician
brought his cold hands against the Game King's warm body, making the
other gasp slightly.
The Darkness shook his head slightly. "No. But you are forced
to acknowledge it." He closed his eyes, panting slightly to maintain his
control over the intimacy; knowing very well that this would most likely
be his last experience. And judging from the very way Kaiba moved his
hands to linger longingly with every stroke, the techno-magician knew it
too.
Sometimes, the best way to approach death was to screw it.
*********************************
A gentle hand stroked the soft crimson-black hair. Yami-Yuugi
gazed wistfully at his sleeping Aibou, managing a twitching smile when
the smaller boy unconsciously leant towards the touch. The Yami kissed
the smaller boy gently on the head. And suddenly, he felt afraid: afraid to
leave the small boy alone; afraid to complete his task; afraid to know that
everything might be just a futile quest. For the Game knew no favours.
Deliberate footsteps striding against the rustle of bushes
betrayed someone else behind the Yami. Yami-Yuugi turned around to
meet a pair of deep garnet eyes.
"We'll take care of the little one." The green-haired lady
exclaimed, smiling her traditional enigmatic smile.
The Yami's eyes lingered for a moment at the sleeping boy
before reluctantly parting to stand beside the waiting Kaiba. He nodded.
"Don't let him get hurt."
"Take care of yourself too, Game King." Came Setsuna's reply.
"And may the fates be with you."
Yami-Yuugi laughed. "I hope not." He turned and gestured for
Kaiba to leave, noticing that the techno-magician was currently absorbed
in glaring at someone behind Setsuna: a tall, rather masculine female in a
jumpsuit, short blonde hair billowing against the wind. She held a hand in
salute to the brown-haired boy before dropping it protectively over the
sword-shaped talisman around her neck.
For his part, Seto Kaiba said nothing and only blinked silently.
"Let's go." He turned to disappear among the shadows.
Mustering all his willpower and strength, Yami-Yuugi tore his
eyes away from his Aibou, still feeling his other's presence always a
heartbeat away. He had to say something. He had to tell his other that he
was leaving and that he would always love him no matter what.
Nothing came out.
And the Yami slunk into the darkness behind Kaiba.
**********************************
Yami-Yuugi skidded to a halt. Until now, the Authority
headquarters had been almost too simple to navigate. His eyes narrowed
at the pathway in front of him, divided into two options.
"Well. We'll have to split up." Kaiba muttered, grip
unconsciously tightening on the chrome weapon cradled in his arms.
"No." The Yami shook his head. "That's exactly what the
Authority wants us to do. Get lost in their maze so they can hunt his down
one by one."
Kaiba snorted. "You got any better options, _Game King_?"
Yami-Yuugi ignored the taunt, closing his eyes in concentration.
The long-trusted Millennium Puzzle began obeyed the beckon to glow
resplendent sheen of gold. Quickly, a beam of light shot from the Puzzle
and steered towards the right entrance. The Yami focused his crimson
irises on the other. "Right."
"All right." Kaiba scowled. "Don't you dare give me that pain-
in-the-ass smirk."
The corner of the Game King's lips curled just slightly. "You're
just afraid to admit that I'm better." He entered the right entrance, risking
a small Light spell to allow a steady clearance.
Both said nothing as they ran down the endless hallways. Wall
after desolate wall loomed in their visions to create the impending illusion
of eternity.
Kaiba glanced suspiciously at his surroundings. "Are you sure
this is right? I could have sworn that we've crossed here several times
already."
That comment was enough to stop the Yami in his tracks. He
frowned, gazing at the blank walls and analyzing their sides for potential
information. "The Puzzle never lies." He stated, as if that was the most
conclusive statement there needed to be.
"Yet." Came Kaiba's foreboding reply. The techno-magician put
a hand towards the grey wall. "Maybe it cannot lie, but it can be
deceived."
Yami-Yuugi opened his mouth to retort only to realize the logic
behind the other's words. He furrowed his brows, deep in thought. "For
something to deceive the Puzzle, it would require a strong will and power
equal to that of the Puzzle. But that should almost be impossible."
"You mentioned Millennium Items before. Are there any other
Millennium Items that you know of with such a power?"
The Yami's eyes reflected doubt. "I don't-" He cut himself off
from the thought. "Wait! I remember. Yuugi and I. We were talking about
Duel Monsters and he mentioned the possibility of a Millennium Item
holder."
Kaiba hissed. "So, that just might be it. Now, if only we could
figure out what exactly the Item is."
Yami-Yuugi was no longer listening but deep in thought.
~ *
"Then, whoever created these cards must have known about the
Shadow Realm." That was Yuugi's voice.
"What I want to know is _who_ this person is. 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." Yami-Yuugi had only mentioned so much
himself.
"Another Millennium Item." Yuugi replied, "From the looks of
it, this person also knew Magic."
*~
"Magic." Yami-Yuugi muttered. "Who would be able to tie
Magic into cards with such accuracy?"
Kaiba shrugged. "Magic isn't my field. My guess is that the
person wanted to preserve the memory of the monster. Maybe the person
was waiting for the right moment, knowing that those who deserved the
cards would invoke its powers properly."
"Deserved?" The Yami questioned. "The question then
becomes: How do you _deserve_ to use a card? How do you know that
your Magic belongs with the cards?"
Kaiba snorted. "I'm a technologist, not a mind-reader."
"Exactly!" The Yami suddenly whirled around to face the
techno-magician in a flurry of excitement. "Seto, you're amazing!"
Kaiba blinked. "Okay." Another couple of blinks as he watched
the Game King divert his attention to the surrounding ceiling and walls.
"Would you like to tell me why?"
Yami-Yuugi couldn't help but smirk. "Only mind-readers would
be able to tell which card was favoured by which owner. Therefore, when
the pre-prepared cards reached the right owner, the mind-reader would be
able to locate _who_ was using the card. For mind-readers cannot see the
future, though they can link the past together."
"You've lost me there." Kaiba shook his head. "All I
got out of it was that the person is a mind-reader."
"Yes." Yami-Yuugi voice came in a low, venomous hiss. "The
leader of the Authority is a Millennium Item holder. And a very powerful
item, by the looks of it."
"So, now what?"
The Yami continued to scan his surroundings. "I have riddle for
you, Kaiba. What is something you can see but cannot touch or feel?" He
began pacing up and down the aisle almost impatiently.
"How about your words?" Kaiba retorted, watching amusedly at
the Game King currently fixated in staring into the darkness.
Yami-Yuugi grinned. He held up his open hand, fingers
extended, suddenly thrusting his hand into a dark-covered wall beside
him. The very fabric of the wall began to ripple and distort, bending to
allow the hand to extend through the shadowy barrier.
Kaiba's eyes narrowed at the observation. "Shadows!" He
finally exclaimed.
"Yes." Yami-Yuugi's eyes flickered slightly. "But you might
find this quite interesting. He swiveled the orb of light in his other hand
towards the darkened area and again tried extending his free hand through
the wall. His fingers met a firm resistance.
"You see, you may only pass in the absence of light. In darkness.
Yami." The Game King sighed.
"Someone is playing a pun on my name."
Kaiba shrugged. "Your loss is my gain." Without warning, he
shoved past the Yami to slip into the shadowy wall.
About to retort, Yami-Yuugi realized that there was no one to
talk to; and after an exasperated huff, hurriedly followed the steps of the
other. Only a murmur of sound located his absence.
*******************************
It was still warm when Yuugi opened his eyes and found it
hiding beneath his tightly clenched hand. Like the others, its dull gold
immediately flared to life the moment the Puzzle recognized it, both
gleaming with a similar light.
Mesmerized, Yuugi watched the interaction between his Puzzle
and the Ankh. A brief pulse of white light, and the Ankh disappeared,
leaving only the satisfied face of the Millennium Puzzle. The boy blinked
only a couple of times before dismissing the entire event.
/Isn't that weird, Yami?/ Yuugi remarked, convention forcing
him to wait for a reply.
There was no response.
Frowning, Yuugi tried again. He briefly wondered if he had
angered his other, or perhaps if his Yami was somewhere else resting.
The boy stood up from his grassy cushion, craning his head to look at the
surrounding trees.
"Yami?" His voice was tentative and hesitant, afraid of the
reply.
Silence.
"Yami?" Yuugi tried again louder, his sharp voice echoing
against the hollow wind and dry birdsong.
Again, nothing.
Plunk. Hot tears dribbled down the boy's cheek, each one
deliberately staining a perfect circle when they disappeared into faded
blue fabric. They were familiar tears, practiced to perfection a million
times over. A grubby hand smeared the glowing orbs pooling against
rapidly fluttering eyelashes. And yet, they stayed, and stung with an acrid
saltiness.
Whimpering, Yuugi collapsed onto the grass, curling into a fetal
ball. He rocked his body back and forth, resting his chin between his
jutting knees while gazing at the world with half closed lids. Visions of
blurred green and lurid blue danced around him and distorted into
grotesque faces. An emerald face seethed behind amber eyes. A sapphire
visage peered impassively through a ruby-crusted irises. And as soon as
they had arrived, they disappeared, back into the contours of the
imagination.
The small boy leaned over to one side. He forced his mouth shut
in an effort of stopping the jagged sobs.
The colours were coming back now, a vision of splendid
crimson and scarlet. They were strands of garnet, pulsating and throbbing
like an endless network of veins. Each streak of red piled on top of the
other, zig-zagging and cross-crossing for what seemed like infinity. And
each vein teemed with information, yammering and screaming their
existence.
"Stop it." Yuugi pleaded. He could see the glistening threads of
life cross, collide, and fade. They grew and expanded, coiling and
pitching their bulk against each other. And even then, they did not give in
but bulged in their confinements. The hues of red swelled and shifted into
a choking violet. Finally, some strands, unable to bear the pressure,
snapped, their protective covering breaking apart. From their dead violet
membrane gushed fluids of watery-crimson. The crimson splashed and
spilled against the other live vessels, staining their membranes with a
splatter of red. And, like a signal, the other vessels began to collectively
spew and burst out the scarlet liquid until it was a kaleidoscope of violet
and red clashing against each other.
Yuugi screamed. He knew he did that, and he was fully
conscious of his actions when he bent uncomfortably forwards and
retched against the cool grass. Acidic heat and bile mixed with his saliva
to fly into the open air. There, they fell, landing on the emerald green
grass in messy pools of putrid pink and maroon.
The boy clutched his stomach, turning to one side to avoid the
stench. He ignored his stinging throat and wiped a dribble of the acidic
blood from his lips. By now, the dancing veins had died and faded away.
There was only the blue skies and green grass as far as the eye could see.
Yuugi might have delved into a deeper catatonic state, had a
presence not interrupted his actions. A person's silhouette hovered over
the small boy's body. Yuugi turned around, only to greet a pair of garnet
eyes. And having deducted that they were garnet, not crimson, Yuugi
withdrew his excited expression to once again gaze forlornly at the blank
space.
However, the woman was not to be ignored. She took a few
paces towards the small boy and bent beside him.
"Hello Yuugi. Are you lost?" It was a casual and abstract
comment.
Yuugi shuddered. The voice was familiar. He closed his eyes
and looked away.
She, Setsuna Meiou, cleared her throat, clearly stating her
presence. "Just a moment ago, you saw something that bothered you." It
was a statement that she already knew.
Yuugi said nothing. His lips parted in a feeble effort.
"What you saw was every strand of life billowing against each
other." Setsuna continued, "Though each strand is unique and beautiful,
when they become rebellious and different, they will only succeed in
hurting each other."
A pause. "That was what Club 0013 feared. We dedicated our
entire lives to prevent such chaos and discord."
Yuugi suddenly looked up, violet eyes accusing. He coughed
several times before he was able to regain his voice. "You're not better
than any of them! All you want is-"
"-love, hope, peace, equality." The lady smiled. "Of course."
The boy backed away from Setsuna. He hissed, voice
unnaturally low and threatening. "And I thought you were different. I
thought that you could actually help to make a difference."
Setsuna smiled. "Of course we are. We are making a difference.
We want to help everyone, not just you, Yuugi Mutou."
Drip. More tears. "Then, why were you _against_ the
Authority?" Yuugi accused. "You and the Authority both have the same
ideas: enslave humanity, conform society." Drop. Another tear. "_Why_
did you pretend that you were helping us?"
"I am helping you. All of us are. You just have to believe in it
and all will be fine. As all this pain will come to a final, deserving end." It
was a soothing and comfortable response.
Yuugi stumbled as he tried to heave himself as far back as
possible. His lower lip trembled uncontrollably. "I get it now. I should
have known." The small boy suddenly began laughing, though the sound
was forced and all too desperate. "I should have known. What an idiot I
was!"
Setsuna smiled, though she did not walk any closer. "No, Yuugi.
You were very smart."
Yuugi stopped laughing. "Where is Yami?"
*******************************
The Game King landed on a hard surface, boots skidding to a
slippery stop. Immediately, he began looking around.
It was an entirely dark room, a sooty black that enshrouded the
entire vicinity with unease. Taking no chances, the Yami cast a small
Light spell, only to have it suddenly snuffed out. Yami-Yuugi narrowed
his eyes. "Seto?"
There was a choked cough to the call. The cough soon turned
into a hoarse cry and then into silence.
Yami-Yuugi's eyes widened. "Kaiba!" He shouted again, though
this time, he was greeted by silence. The Game King's eyes narrowed in
suspicion. Something powerful was hiding in the darkness unseen,
drawing with it fear and unease.
Sure enough, from the silence emerged the clatter of deliberate
footsteps. The darkness began to glimmer and fade, leaving a chasm of
pale greys and browns in its wake. Now, the Yami could see the owner of
the footsteps.
He was a medium-built man, sporting an odd red suit almost too
formal for any occasion. His pure silver hair cascaded down both sides of
his face to leave a prominent nose and sharp chin. Only one eye,
however, gazed sharply from his face while the other lay concealed in a
clump of silver hair.
The figure smiled. "Welcome, Game King." He gestured to the
Yami, palms face-up and open. "What bids you here to my humble
domain?"
"Drop the shit." Yami-Yuugi immediately responded. "What
did you do to Kaiba?"
The silver-haired man grinned. "What did he do to himself?"
Enraged, Yami-Yuugi snarled, flinging his body against the
other in efforts to strike a blow. However, his extended hands struck only
thin air. The Yami barely had time to react when a heavy force slammed
into his body, forcing his breath out with a stunned gasp.
Pegasus watched the expression on the enraged Yami and
grinned. He withdrew his fist from the other's stomach so that the Yami
collapsed on his knees. The silver-haired man began walking circles
around the fallen Yami, voice persuading and always slightly superior.
"You know that you can't possibly win against me in _my_ domain. Such
a pity you didn't have time to calculate your fatal error."
Gasping in a lungful of air, Yami-Yuugi forced his attention
away from the other in order to restrain his temper. Pegasus was right –
here, the Game King was at a disadvantage. "Why are you here?" He
demanded, winded voice slightly clipped of his usual regal tone.
"The Millennium Eye can read minds. And I can see very well
your fated 'purpose'." Pegasus stated with his mocking tone. "In fact, I
can sense every single feeble thought playing in your mind." He
continued to leer, sliding closer to the enraged Yami. "Does that scare
you? Does that frighten you that I can see the mind of the oh-so-powerful
Game King?"
Yami-Yuugi said nothing, though his eyes flickered from an
impassive crimson to a swirling scarlet-red. His face was set in a half-
snarl, his Sennen Puzzle glittering with the same livid fury. As Pegasus
walked completed yet another circular rotation, Yami-Yuugi lunged,
propelling his weight against the other. And again, he met only empty air
as Pegasus shoved the Yami painfully on the back and forced him to slam
face-down against the ground.
The silver-haired man kept his knee against the struggling
Yami's back. "Don't be so impatient, Game King." He jeeringly
reprimanded. "Why are you in such a rush to leave?"
With unrestrained rage, Yami-Yuugi growled, twisting his body
from the confining knee to flip onto his chest. The Yami laid one hand on
his Millennium Item, eyes furrowed in concentration. Immediately, the
Puzzle responded, flaring to an intense white. It only took the Yami a few
words before a brilliant ring of flames suddenly burst into life to surround
him in a protective barrier. From there, Yami-Yuugi quickly extended
one hand, a sphere of flames bursting from the darkness. Split seconds
later, he flung the sphere, its burning flames aimed directly at Pegasus's
face.
Pegasus, however, stared placately at the threatening Magic-
induced projectile. He covered his mouth with one hand in a fake yawn,
and watched under falsely drooping lids. The flame seemed to suddenly
slow down as they neared Pegasus's face, to warp and vanish into
darkness before they could even touch the intended target.
The silver-haired man feigned another bored yawn. He shrugged
non-comittaly before looking straight at the Yami.
"My turn." A grin played on his perfectly calm expression.
To be continued…
**************************************************
Malik Says:
Honda: What the heck? Malik rarely even appears in the story and _ he_
gets a self-insert?
Malik: *evil grin* You have something against that?
Honda: *sweatdrop!* Eh heh… on second thoughts…
Malik: Anyway, the moral for today's chapter is that I am evil and you're
not. Oh, and that I have the coolest Millennium Item. Yup. That's about
it.
Eevee muse: You're forgetting something.
Malik: Oh yeah. The Eevee muse does all the work on this fanfic and all
that Zoo does is sleep.
Zoo: WHAT?!? Oh right! Everybody make fun of the author! *puts hands
up in defeat* I get no credit around here.
Eevee muse: Good for you ^.^
Zoo: That's it! I'm leaving! *grumbles* You guys go ahead and finish the
stupid fic! I quit, you bunch of meanies! *leaves*
Eevee muse: Yes! *does gives Malik a high five* You know what that
means….
Malik: *trademark evil grin* Oooh.. can I write the ending?
Eevee muse: Go ahead ^_^.
*****************************************
End notes:
Yes! Ff.net finally is open again! Fly my ficcie, fly! I might be a little
slow on writing the last chappy cause I'm working on another fic with
FC-chan – and yes, it does have vampires in it, titled "Scarlet Fangs", I
think…. *coughs nervously*
Ahhh… *sniffles and goes teary eyed* You actually enjoyed my fic,
Pawprintz? I feel so honoured ^^=.
Next time:
- Yami vs. Pegasus, and the final outcome of the Game we have all
learned to love
- Why Club 0013 is just as bad as the Authority
- * Next chapter is the LAST chapter!
