Disclaimer: Pulled an all nighter last night, too tired to write real disclaimer.
Kris: I missed you, did you miss me?
Anya: You were gone!?!
Kris: Training camp.
Anya: Oh yeah, all the days are one big blur right now. But I finished the next chapter so all is good. But a brief little disclaimer here: NOTHING IN THIS CHAPTER IS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE! Okay, with that said, onto the story.
Kris: So you didn't miss me.
Anya: Now you got it.
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"This…This can't be Domino City. It is a peaceful town full of friendly people. It isn't this."
*Ai, the Domino City you knew was that. This is the Domino City you will return too if you and your parents defeat the siblings with Darkness.*
"I don't understand Clio. How can one little battle change history so much?" Yugi asked, still in awe of what had happened to his hometown. Nothing was the same.
*It wasn't just the battle. The battle was the catalyst. The starting point of disastrous things to come. Once the battle was over, Raya and Yami were changed, forever. The goodness in their hearts was destroyed. They no longer knew what it was like to love or feel peace. And because of that, all the good things they would have done, well, they didn't happen.*
"But, how did that change the past?"
Clio sat down on a rock nearby. *I really shouldn't be telling you this at all. It goes against everything I was taught. It breaks several regulations I was sworn never to break. But at last, it must be done. Yugi, after the fall of the siblings, Raya and Yami went back to Memphis. They pronounced what had transpired and what not. At seeing their once Pharaoh and Queen alive, the villagers rebelled, believing that Yami and Raya were some kind of trick by the Greeks. When they realized what danger they were in, Yami and Raya, as well as all your friends, fled back to the future. The very time we are in now.
Egypt however, never recovered from the shock of seeing their dead Pharaoh. Believing that it was Greece that had caused the vision, the Egyptian army rose together and sailed to Greece, causing one of the bloodies wars ever seen in history. Many lives were lost, Egyptian and Greek alike. And as the two countries battled, more were drawn into their war, including the Empire of Rome and the present day countries of Israel, Turkey, France, and Germany. It was almost like another world war. But since that term had not been coined yet, it was called the War of the Gods.
After the battle, Egypt fell into a state of economic depression. Soon, they were taken over by other countries. This lasted for several years. Conflict and strife were always at the door of Egyptian homes. It caused the people to distrust their leaders which lead to the Great Egyptian Revolt. This basically caused the downfall of the Pharaoh and set up a dictatorship in Egypt. The ruler was a descendent of Setto's and Tea's. And like the other dictators, he ruled with an iron fist, causing more problems that solutions. It was a dark time indeed.
Slowly, things did start to look up, this was the time of the common era. No longer were we in the before common era. But since history had changed so much in the past, it caused the future to fall into disarray as well. Egypt never become the regard country it was. The pyramids and sphinxes were all but destroyed in the wars. This lost caused the country to lose the travel that it would have had if it stayed. And for the Nile, well it became a polluted wasteland. Did you learn in history that in England people sometimes referred to their streets as blood since it seemed like everyday someone new was getting beheaded? Well that very same concept applied to the Nile. During the wars, the river was literally red from all the blood. And because of that, the water became tainted and unusable. Crops failed, livestock died, and people become sick and ill. Eventually, people moved off the banks of the Nile and traveled to distant lands. Some moved to Rome, others as far as Asia. All in the name of finding a home, somewhere were they felt they could live and prosper.
Unfortunately, many of those people met with more hardships than opportunities. Some died on the way to new lands, either through disease or bandits. Others made it to new lands, only to find that they weren't wanted because of their skin. But some did make it and their lives were okay. They did great and wonderful things. But as you can see, those people were few and none.*
"How can one little event change history so much?"
*One major event can cause several repercussions. It is like when you toss a rock into a pond. One ripple causes another and then another.*
"The domino affect." Yugi stated, slowly understand what had happened. "But how did all these events in Egypt affect the world so badly?"
*When Egypt and Greece went to war, towns in both countries suffered terribly. Trade and sale went down, which affected whatever countries were involved. With no food, no money, regions are bound to suffer. And when the villagers of Egypt fled their homes, other countries didn't take kindly to having foreigners in their country. Some people wanted the Egyptians out and took any means necessarily to get them out. Others felt their own countrymen were wrong and it started several civil wars. It was a terrible age indeed.*
"But that was several hundreds of years ago. How does all of that affect this present time? I don't understand any of that."
*It is simple really. Wars change people Yugi. It causes them to become people they really aren't. It affects them in ways that only they can understand. And because of all those wars in the past Yugi, certain key events in history didn't happen. Events that needed to happen in order for our world to function as it should. Look around Yugi, what is missing from this era that wasn't in yours?*
Yugi glanced around. "The first thing I notice is love. I mean, it isn't here."
*That is very true. Do you have any notion why?*
Yugi shrugged. "I guess something happened for people to distrust one another."
*Many things happened. The first great downfall of the human race was of World War Three in 1992. That lasted for several years. Eventually the battle was ceased in 1997. But the damage had been done. The United States stock market crashed in 1999, worse than it did then the Great Depression. It caused many small towns to close and forced many people on to the streets. Here in Japan, our economy crashed just as hard as the United States, maybe harder. Other countries tried to help were they could, but they too were feeling the affects of the war. England lost many of it's population, as well as the death of Royal Family, assassinated right in their own home by their enemies. Russia fell once again to communism, a once thought dead way of government. But the worse hit had to have been what you consider third world countries. No longer were they able to receive aid from their allies. Their allies you see, were trying to save their own people. And because of that, many people died of starvation.
The second downfall of love was the after affects. People had no money for food or to keep a roof over their heads. It became a battle to survive. They didn't care who they hurt, just as long as they survived one more day. And that is what you see here Yugi. The lasting affects of a loveless society. Not a pretty picture is it?*
Yugi should his head, words failing to come to him. 'This is the world we have to look forward to if Raya and Yami kill out of darkness? Can it really be so?' "Clio, I mean no disrespect here. But is this all real, or an image create to scare me into what is right?"
*Unfortunately, everything you see here is one of many possibilities. Come, I have many things to show you.* Clio stood, letting her hair blow behind her.
"Um, sure." Yugi stood and took the Grecian's slender hand. "Can these people see us?"
*No, to them, we are just a figment of their imagination. They can harm us in no way.* She lead Yugi down a street. People gathered on the corners, huddled around a trash can that had a small fire in it. No one was speaking, just trying to get warm.
Yugi gave a small shiver at what he saw. 'Oh Yami, Raya. Please be careful. I promise, I will return soon so I can help defeat the siblings. But first, I have to see what Clio is so desperate for me to learn.'
Clio stopped at an abandon building. The window were boarded up, vacant of any life.
"What is this place Clio? Why are we here?" Yugi asked, confused.
*Do you not recognize your home Yugi?*
Yugi gasped. "NO, it can't be. This isn't Grandpa's store! This can't be the Turtle Game shop! No, I refuse to believe it."
*But it is. Come, let's go inside, shall we?*
Within seconds, Yugi found himself inside his home, only it wasn't. Dust blanketed the floor. The glass counters had been shattered long ago, but yet, glass still littered the floor. The pictures that had hung on the walls had been torn and ripped apart. With out much thought, Yugi hurried upstairs. The living was in worse condition than the downstairs. The couch had been shredded to pieces, fluff all over the room. Chairs were knocked over, and broken into smaller pieces. The TV and VCR was gone, most likely sold for money. Unable to resist, Yugi raced to his room. Upon opening the room, Yugi wished he hadn't. His room had been torched, burn mark were left on the walls and floor. Nothing had escaped the fires wrath. Except one small object. The eye from the Millennium Puzzle. It sat oddly out of place in the center of the room, lying there forgotten, as if the puzzle and Yami had never existed. Moving over to the piece, Yugi cradled it in his hand. Tears formed in his eyes. 'My home, it is gone, like it never even existed. Why? Why did this happen?'
Yugi jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He had forgotten all about Clio. "Why did this happen Clio? What happened to Grandpa and everyone?"
*When times got rough, so did the people. Your Grandfather's store was not the only one targeted. Other stores were as well. They had things people needed to survive. It was a sad time.* Clio stated, shrugging.
"What happened to Yami and Grandpa?"
Clio pondered the young heir's words. Finally she answered him. *It is better that you do not know Yugi.*
"Clio please. To fully understand why we can't continue on the path the Royal Family is on, I have to see how everyone is affected, including that of my family and friends."
Clio nodded. *It shall be done then. Who would you like to visit first?*
"Seto and Mokuba. Surly they haven't been affected as hard as the others, right?"
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"I…I…I don't understand it. Where is Kaiba Corporations?" Yugi stared at the offices that were once his friend's company. Now, it was another abandon building, a repeating trend.
*Seto lost his business during the depression era of 2000. He took a tremendous hit when the United States fell in 1999, but he totally went bankrupt when Japan fell the following year. He lost all his business partners. There was no reason to make products when no one was buying. So he did the only thing he knew possible, he filed for chapter seven.*
"What happened to him and Mokuba? Surly they are surviving. They had money saved, didn't they?" Yugi asked anxiously.
Clio waved her hand and suddenly they were in front of the Kaiba mansion.
"Whew, at least his house is still here."
*Really? Look over there."
Yugi followed Clio's gaze. His eyes rested on a sign. It read Foreclosed. "NO! Seto and Mokuba couldn't have lost their home. There is no possible way."
*But yet, it happened. Seto sunk a lot of money into his company, trying to save it. When it went under, he lost a great deal. And the rest of his money was placed in the United State's Stock Market as well as Japan's. And when those took a hard hit, it was the end of Seto's money. He had enough to support himself and Mokuba for awhile, but eventually the banks caught up with him.*
Yugi gulped. "Where are they now? Are they ok?"
Clio gave a small nodded. *They are surviving. Separated, but living. Mokuba is at a boy's home right now. At least he has a roof over his head. The boy's home wouldn't take Seto, since he had reached the age of eighteen. Right now, Seto travels around town, working whatever jobs he can find. Any money he makes goes right to his baby brother.*
"Where does Seto sleep?"
*Here, in the abandon offices. It was his home away from home after all.*
"Isn't there anything I can do for him? Anything at all?"
*No, he and Mokuba are beyond your help anymore. Most of these people are.*
"Will they be ok?"
Clio sighed. *It is hard to tell Yugi. There are factors even I can't foretell. But the future looks very bleak for the Kaiba brothers, Seto especially. At least Mokuba is young. He still has a chance to flee the country and find a home that can really help him. But Seto, well he is too old. He'll spend the rest of his days here in Domino City.*
"But, they'll be separated. They promised each other long ago that that would never happen. That they would always be together."
*Seto would never deny his brother the happiness that he could have. That is why he allowed Mokuba to be taken from him and sent to the boy's home. He knew that Mokuba would be feed and sheltered. Two things Seto himself couldn't provided.*
"I understand, I think."
Clio nodded, but offered no further explanation. She knew the sites and information that she had provided was enough for Yugi to answer what ever questions he could form.
Yugi walked to the door, touching them gingerly. He remembered all the times he had opened those very doors. Remembering all the fun times, as well as scary. "Clio, is everyone's lives this bad?"
*Some are the same, some are better, and some are worse.*
Yugi shook his head, as if that was the very answer he was expecting. "Clio, may we continue? I can't stand here anymore."
*Of course Yugi. Who do you want to see now?*
Taking another glance at the once Kaiba Corporations, Yugi replied "I don't care Clio. I can't imagine who would have worse fate than the Kaiba brothers."
'Unfortunately Yugi, in the eyes of many, the Kaiba brothers have it good.'
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When the mist cleared this time, a house appeared in Yugi's line of vision. Crumbling, roof half missing, and all the windows broken, Yugi was still able to identify the structure. "This is Joey's house!" Yugi exclaimed, shocked, as well as horrified.
*Ai, it is. Come, let's go inside. There is someone you need to see.*
Yugi nodded and followed her into the house. The inside wasn't much better than the Turtle game shop had been. Yugi moved through the room searching for the person Clio had mentioned. Upstairs, Yugi found the person.
'Oh Joey.'
Joey sat in the corner of the room, arms curled around a frame. His clothes were damp and ripped. He rocked back and forth, muttering some in comprehendible over and over again. His golden blond hair was now a dirty blond. Dirt clung to Joey's face, streaked from where unseen tears had fallen.
"Joey, can you hear me. It is Yugi." Yugi knelt down next to his friend. He put his hand on Joey's shoulder, or at least tried to. His hand went right through Joey.
*He can't hear or feel you Yugi. We are not real, we are not a part of this time…yet.*
"What happened to him?"
Clio sighed. She knew that Yugi wouldn't handle what had happened to his best friend well. *It isn't a pretty story prince, in fact, it is far from it.*
"I have to know Clio. Please, tell me."
*Joey's pain started right after you returned to this time. His father became more violent, more of a drunk. Joey tried his best to stay out of his father's path of destruction, but that didn't always work. His dad sent Joey to the hospital numerous times, from broken bones to concussions. The authorities did very little to protect Joey. It wasn't that they didn't want to help him, it was just, there wasn't personal to help.
And then, things got worse for Joey. His mother and sister Serenity were killed in a car crash. That was the last straw for Joey. His one stability in his life was gone. He just, well snapped. His father took whatever money the young man had and left. Joey never really noticed. He just sits in that corner day after day clinging to that picture of his family, when they were all together and happy.*
"What about friends? Don't they care."
*Everyone has their own problems to worry about. People like Joey, tend to slip through the cracks in society. And for his friends, they have their own lives to manage. Friendships no longer exist.*
"That so sad."
*That's life Yugi.* Clio replied. *It is survival. Nothing more, nothing less*
"There has to be more to life than that." Yugi shouted. "I mean, what of friends, what of family?"
*Those things never exist here. By the time all of you came back, the future you had known, was gone. Each minute all of you spent here, the less you remembered about the previous time. To all of you, it was nothing more than a dream.*
"I don't believe that. Surly one of my friends remember friends. I know, Tea. She could never forget her friends."
*If that is what you truly believe Yugi, than Tea will be our next stop.*
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Clio and Yugi stopped short of a house, no a mansion that even rivaled Seto's.
"See, I knew Tea would make it. Surly she hasn't changed that much."
*People change all the time Yugi. Sometimes less noticeable than others. But when the darkness consumed everyone, well the changes became more noticeable.*
Yugi nodded, but gave no respond. He couldn't believe that Tea would give into the darkness. There was no way. The inside of the house was more extravagant than outside. Rich color gave the house a warm, but yet cold feeling. Painting hung all over the walls, from famous artists all over the world. A crystal chandler hung from the center of the hallway, catching the light.
'Wow, Tea has it good. She must be happy.'
*Happiness comes in many forms and is defined differently for people.*
"Is something wrong with Tea?"
Clio wavered her around absentmindedly. "Just watch, you'll see."
Yugi turned back to the stairway. Two people entered from the North wing. An elderly man and a younger woman, Tea. Her hair was much longer and done back into a long French braid. The dress she was wearing was an icy blue.
"Father, Alexander and I are leaving for the States this afternoon. Do you need anything before we adjourn?"
"No Tea, everything has been arranged for you. You just go and enjoy yourself. Carry the family name proudly."
Tea curtsy. "It shall be my honor father."
Yugi turned to Clio. "That man isn't her father. Who is he? And why is Tea calling him father?"
*That is Christopher Robbins, a wealthy businessman. One of few that wasn't hit hard by all the destruction the economies took. He had a few Swiss Accounts that has kept the family afloat. Anyway, his son Alexander always had a small fancy towards Tea. And when her family learned of this, her parents made a deal with the Robbins. They allow Tea to marry Alexander, for a small dowry.*
"That sounds like something out of the eighteen hundreds. It's wrong."
*It's life. And even though Tea appears happy, she's not. She loved Seto. But when everything fell, her parents refused to let her marry Seto, a man with nothing over Alexander, a man with money. She was forced to engage to a man for money, rather than love.
Tea's life is like this Yugi. A woman who can have no life of her own. Who must obey the men in her life, whether it be her husband, father, or any of their male friends. If and when she has children, she will be expected to yield to her son's authority. For Tea, all her dreams and goals died when she returned from the past.*
"No dance school? No New York?"
*Dance, no. New York yes. But not for what she wants, but for what her husband wanted. Business, not pleasure.* Clio sighed, *Tea would have been an extraordinary dancer, but…*
Yugi nodded in understatement. 'This is what everyone meant when they said that the future had to be protected. That if the siblings won, things would change. But at the same time, no one ever realized that if we won, but not in the correct way, things would change horrible too. Oh god, what have we done? Raya and Yami, please be careful.'
*Are you ready to continue Prince?*
"There's more to see?"
*Lots and I promise you, it won't be pretty.*
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"Clio, I know understand why it is important not to let the darkness consume any of us, but why is the battle between Satire and Jarha so key? I mean, why our battle? What made it so key that Yami, Raya, and I stay to the light, rather than the dark? Hasn't other battles between good and evil been like this? Meaning, the good tapping into the darkness?"
*That is very true, other battles have paralleled to yours. But you must understand Yugi, the High Priest Bakura foresaw that this very battle would be the key to the future, which is why he took great lengths to ensure that you would live. He knew that the Royal family would be needed. For you see Yugi, this battle that your family is fighting it the battle of all battles. The very core of light and darkness. You've heard and seen first hand what the outcome will be if darkness wins over your family. Because if that happens, darkness wins forever. The goodness will never return to what it was. It could never recover. Do you understand that?*
"You mean the light will diminish forever. The light of Horus and Ra and everyone?"
*Exactly.*
Yugi gulped. "But how do I stop this future from happening? The siblings need to be stop, but according to this future, if we stop them, then this happens."
*If you defeat the siblings presently, then yes. But Raya and Yami have forgotten what they are fighting for. They have lost the goodness in their hearts. You, Yugi, have to rekindle that fire of goodness they had in their hearts, as well as the strength in your friends. Look at Seto and Mokuba, do you want them to end up like that? Or Joey, lost in the past? Or even Tea in a loveless marriage?*
"No, of course not. It's just that, it is hard to understand how all my friends gave into the darkness, that is all"
*I see. Come, there is someone I want to you to meet.*
"Who?"
Clio didn't answered, rather lead Yugi to a small building. The old structure was the best building in shape Yugi had seen all day. Oddly, it seemed out of place in the ruined town. It was decently kept, well as decently as you could get in this time. Sure, it needed to be painted, but at least it had a roof. A major plus in the future.
"Where are we Clio?"
*This is Domino City's only chapel. Once it was a shelter for the homeless, but now it is forgotten, like most of the people anymore." Clio replied, face falling a bit. Throughout this whole trip, Yugi never saw the young woman flicker, but now even she was feeling the affects of this horrible time.
"Why are we here?"
*There is someone who comes here you know, quite well I may add.*
Yugi walked into the small chapel. It was dark and dusty, only a small candle on an altar gave away the presence of another person. Hunched over, a white haired boy knelt deep in concentration.
"Bakura." Yugi breathed softly, as if he was afraid of startling the young man. "Why is he here Clio?"
*He's praying for lost souls and asking for guidance. Listen.*
Yugi felt a sense of wariness as Bakura's inner thoughts became a part of his.
"I don't understand why things turned out this way. It doesn't make sense. We did the job we were supposed to do. We defeated the siblings, and yet, the future wasn't saved. In fact, we destroyed it. Why, how did things come to this? So many lives were ruined that day.
Tea, trapped in a loveless marriage. Oh how she pines for Seto and his love. I fear what she may do one day. She feels compelled to follow her parents wishes, but at last, they are not her own. I fear one day that Tea will do some drastic to escape, much like the rest of us are considering.
Seto, forced be separated from the one and only joy in his life, the one constant thread of his inner being, his brother. And then, to have Tea cruelly taken away from him, oh the pain he feels. Why? Why is everyone being punished like this? We didn't ask for this job in the first place, but now we are all suffering from it.
Joey, who's mental stability is in high question. It was hard enough to lose his family, but to see his best friend become what he has, that must have sent him over the edge. Joey, even though the kidder of the group, was the one who took his friend's safety the most. If something happened to someone, Joey blamed himself. And seeing the world for what it is, who caused it, sigh.
Mokuba, whose child innocence is no more. Who's faith in man is all but destroyed. A child who once believed that nothing in the world was evil now much face that his once friends are evil, pure evil.
Yami, Raya, and Yugi. Never did I think, never did I except…no it is too painful.
And finally, Tristan, oh Tristan. I wish things could have turned out differently. But I guess history is correct. If you don't learn from it, it is doomed to repeat.
What I am to do? How can I save my friends from the darkness that has consumed their bodies whole? Is there a way at all? AGH! I need to escape, get far away from here. But yet, I don't. I stay right here and deal with this troublesome cycle. Please, someone answer me. What am I to do? End this cycle. That is what I am to do.
Bakura pushed up from his knees and stood. He started for the door, then stopped and turned to look at Yugi and Clio. "Good bye my friend."
With that, Bakura walked out the door.
"Clio? Please tell me he isn't planning to do what I think he is."
*End his torment? His pain? Unfortunately, I can not do that.*
"I have to stop him!"
Clio placed a hand on Yugi's shoulder. *You can't do that. There is no way to stop him. You, I can do nothing.*
"There must be a way."
*There is nothing.*
Yugi placed his face in his hands. This was too much for him to bear. "Clio, what happened to Tristan? Bakura wouldn't even think about it."
*Look out back. You will see.*
Yugi moved to the window and glanced outside. Out there was a single grave stone. The inscription was faint, but still readable. Tristan Taylor.
"NO! Tristan! Clio, please. Tell me this isn't Tristan."
A single tear casketed down Clio's face. *I…I...can't. This is the future Yugi. Everything you see here is a likely possibility, unless you can make Yami and Raya realize what they have done. What they have become.*
*"How, How did he die?"
*From the injury he received in the battle. He lost to much blood Yugi and no hospital here carried that much blood anymore, not after the wars.* Clio sniffed. *He just bleed to death. Bakura took it the hardest. He watched Tristan die. The only one to see him.*
"Where were the rest of us? We were Tristan's friends, we should have been there!"
*Yes, I guess you should have been there. But the darkness was so strong in all of you, it override any of your other feelings.*
"And my family? What has become of them?"
*Your Grandfather is dead as well Yugi. He was murdered, not long after you returned. Killed by….*
"Who killed him Clio? Who?" Yugi couldn't control the tears that ran down his face.
*Your parents Yugi.*
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"Raya and Yami killed Grandpa? No, I refuse to believe it. They wouldn't, couldn't." Yugi stuttered. 'Raya and Yami would never.'
Clio knelt down next to Yugi and embraced him. *Oh Yugi. I wish it wasn't true. But they did. You have to understand though, the people who killed your grandfather, they were not your parents. They weren't the Raya and Yami you came to know and love. It was their darker selves. The ones who knew nothing of love. Their memories clouded, common sense gone. It wasn't totally their fault.*
"I want to see them."
*I can't allow that. It would destroy you.*
"CLIO, please. I have to know. To fully understand what is going on. I must see them."
*You will not like what you see Yugi. I will not lie to you.*
"What have I liked so far?"
*Nothing, but this will pale in comparison.*
"I'm willing to take that risk."
*Alright then, let's go see the Royal Family.*
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Clio and Yugi walked for several miles till they reached the outskirts of town. Yugi understood why Clio hadn't instantly taken him there. It was a matter of preserving the mind. She was giving him the time he needed to collect himself. It was hard to imagine that his very own parents had murdered his grandfather. What amazed him more, was that no one had cared. 'I can't let the future become this. I must do something…'
*We're here.* Clio said suddenly, breaking Yugi's concentration.
Yugi glanced down the small dirt road. "We live down this path?"
*Ai, you do. Secluded from everyone else.*
"Gee, I wonder why."
*Leaders normally do not want to be in the public eye constantly, even if they are dictators.*
"My parents are the rulers?"
*Come, it is better if you see it with your own eyes than hear it from me.*
Clio led Yugi to the front door. Standing on the porch was Raya, at least her darker half. Yugi couldn't get over how different this Raya looked from the girl he had come to know. Her eyes were narrower, a much darker, richer purple. Ones that held a constant icy glare to them. Her brown hair was now a chocolate brown, striped of any of it's previous lighter shades. Her body tone was stronger too. Just one look at Raya sent shivers down Yugi's spine. 'That woman can't be my mother. She's so cold, so evil. It's like she doesn't care for anyone, anything, but herself.'
A few minutes later, another presence joined Raya on the porch, Yami. He too was different. A long red cape hung from his shoulders. His facial expression were hard and cold, one wrong look could kill a person instantly. The purplish tint to his eyes were gone, replaced a black color, a sign of true and utter evil. His hands were worn and rough, as if he had seen many battles since returning to Domino City. He showed no expression of love or thoughtfulness to Raya, rather greeted her with a slight nod, nothing more. It was like the two never had a history. Just two souls bent on domination.
"I assume the job was taken care of?" Raya asked, never facing her husband.
"Are you doubting my control? My authority?" Yami asked angrily. There was no speck of humor in his words.
"Of course not." Raya replied sharply. "I was only making sure the deed was done so my people could start on their next mission. We must act quickly if we are to purge this world of doubters."
"All in due time my sweet. No one will dare to rise against us. The lesson we made on Sugoroku and the other leaders made sure of that. No, let us draw this blood bath out. Enjoy it some." Yami clasped Raya's hand tightly, the only sign of slight affection between the two.
Raya sighed noisily. "If we must. I do wish though we would hurry, it is more fun to see the people run. The longer we give them, the more time they have to plan against us."
Yami laughed. "And who would plan such a battle? Seto? Please, after we destroyed his precious Kaiba Corps, he was no longer a threat. Bakura is dead, though he was never much of a threat. I'm just sorry I wasn't there to see the traitor go. And dear old Joey is in no state of mind to fight us. He is lost in his own little world. The reason why I won't eliminate him is because I know he will never rise against me. Besides, he does provide much entertainment."
"You do have a point, I guess I am just eager for battle."
"After the way you killed Satire, I can understand. The power you wield, I must admit, I was quite proud." He gave a small peck on Raya's check before heading to down the steps.
"Just promise me Yugioh, that I will have that power again." Raya called after him.
"Soon my Queen, soon."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Clio glanced down at Yugi. She had no idea how the young man was going to take seeing his parents in this condition. A quick glance down revealed that Yugi was no longer with her. 'Where could he have gone?'
Walking around the side of the mansion, she found Yugi throwing up, into a not so real bush. Gently, she rubbed the heir's back, whispering soft words to him, in order to calm him down. She knew that Yugi would react at like this. But maybe this is what he needed, to see what would have become of his parents to make him realize that the future was indeed in deep trouble.
*Are you alright Yugi?*
"No Clio. I understand now. Ra, do I understand. My parents are on the brink of destruction. We must stop them. But why? Why are they finding pleasure in hurting our friends? Grandpa?"
Clio sat cross - legged on the ground and motioned for Yugi to sit her lap. She had to make sure he was feeling well before they returned to Egypt. *It is not that they sense the pleasure of hurting others Yugi, to Raya and Yami, it is a source of supreme power. It drives them, fuels them to hurt others. And as for your friends Yugi, Raya and Yami directed their original attacks at them because they knew that Seto and the others could prove to be a threat to them. And Grandpa, well, he was a powerful and influential man Yugi. He almost beat Raya and Yami. But in the end, the darkness prevailed. Mainly because it had consumed so much of the light already. There isn't much light here anymore.*
Yugi nodded. He felt literally sick and feverish at the knowledge of what his parent's had become. And yet, he knew there was more. Something just as sickening, possibly worse. "Clio, where am I in all this? What side am I on?"
Clio brushed a piece of hair out of Yugi's eyes. *You are no longer here Yugi. Originally, you were on Raya's and Yami's side. Fighting with the darkness, destroying people day after day. But now, you're not. I can't sense you. This may be because you have seen the truth of what may become of the future. And because of that, your path is unclear right now. One path may be that you never exist here, or it means, well you're dead.* Clio replied bluntly.
"You mean, Raya and Yami might have killed me here? But…."
*It is only a possibility Yugi. Please, do not over react. Remember, nothing is set in stone yet. You can change all of this. Prevent it from happening. None of this has to happen. It can all just be a horrible, horrible vision. Just show Raya and Yami the errors of their ways.*
"You make it sound so easy."
*I won't lie to you Prince. It will not be. But still it has to be done. Or else, this future will become a living reality.*
"I don't want that."
Clio smiled. *I figured you wouldn't. Are you ready to return to the past?*
Yugi nodded. 'Don't worry everyone. I won't let our lives become like this. I'll die first.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tea jumped back in shock when Yugi reappeared before her. "Yugi, you're back! But you just left!"
Yugi stared at Tea in surprise. 'My trip only took a second? It felt like a lifetime. But Clio's purpose now is very clear. I must protect the real future, at all costs.'
"Um…yeah." Yugi pushed past Tea. There was no time to lose.
Tea turned to face Yugi. "What are you going to do?" Nervousness nipped at her subconscious. 'What if Yugi still fights with darkness in his heart? Then what?'
Tea's concern did not go unanswered. Yugi whipped around. "I'm going to save the light and our futures."
"Yugi? What does that mean? Yugi?" Tea shouted, but was drown out by a loud scream from Satire.
Tea watched in horror as Raya raised a sword, where she got it Tea had no idea, and screamed in disbelief as Raya brought it down, a small smile of pleasure on her face.
And in that instant, Tea knew the future would never be the same again.
Kris: I missed you, did you miss me?
Anya: You were gone!?!
Kris: Training camp.
Anya: Oh yeah, all the days are one big blur right now. But I finished the next chapter so all is good. But a brief little disclaimer here: NOTHING IN THIS CHAPTER IS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE! Okay, with that said, onto the story.
Kris: So you didn't miss me.
Anya: Now you got it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"This…This can't be Domino City. It is a peaceful town full of friendly people. It isn't this."
*Ai, the Domino City you knew was that. This is the Domino City you will return too if you and your parents defeat the siblings with Darkness.*
"I don't understand Clio. How can one little battle change history so much?" Yugi asked, still in awe of what had happened to his hometown. Nothing was the same.
*It wasn't just the battle. The battle was the catalyst. The starting point of disastrous things to come. Once the battle was over, Raya and Yami were changed, forever. The goodness in their hearts was destroyed. They no longer knew what it was like to love or feel peace. And because of that, all the good things they would have done, well, they didn't happen.*
"But, how did that change the past?"
Clio sat down on a rock nearby. *I really shouldn't be telling you this at all. It goes against everything I was taught. It breaks several regulations I was sworn never to break. But at last, it must be done. Yugi, after the fall of the siblings, Raya and Yami went back to Memphis. They pronounced what had transpired and what not. At seeing their once Pharaoh and Queen alive, the villagers rebelled, believing that Yami and Raya were some kind of trick by the Greeks. When they realized what danger they were in, Yami and Raya, as well as all your friends, fled back to the future. The very time we are in now.
Egypt however, never recovered from the shock of seeing their dead Pharaoh. Believing that it was Greece that had caused the vision, the Egyptian army rose together and sailed to Greece, causing one of the bloodies wars ever seen in history. Many lives were lost, Egyptian and Greek alike. And as the two countries battled, more were drawn into their war, including the Empire of Rome and the present day countries of Israel, Turkey, France, and Germany. It was almost like another world war. But since that term had not been coined yet, it was called the War of the Gods.
After the battle, Egypt fell into a state of economic depression. Soon, they were taken over by other countries. This lasted for several years. Conflict and strife were always at the door of Egyptian homes. It caused the people to distrust their leaders which lead to the Great Egyptian Revolt. This basically caused the downfall of the Pharaoh and set up a dictatorship in Egypt. The ruler was a descendent of Setto's and Tea's. And like the other dictators, he ruled with an iron fist, causing more problems that solutions. It was a dark time indeed.
Slowly, things did start to look up, this was the time of the common era. No longer were we in the before common era. But since history had changed so much in the past, it caused the future to fall into disarray as well. Egypt never become the regard country it was. The pyramids and sphinxes were all but destroyed in the wars. This lost caused the country to lose the travel that it would have had if it stayed. And for the Nile, well it became a polluted wasteland. Did you learn in history that in England people sometimes referred to their streets as blood since it seemed like everyday someone new was getting beheaded? Well that very same concept applied to the Nile. During the wars, the river was literally red from all the blood. And because of that, the water became tainted and unusable. Crops failed, livestock died, and people become sick and ill. Eventually, people moved off the banks of the Nile and traveled to distant lands. Some moved to Rome, others as far as Asia. All in the name of finding a home, somewhere were they felt they could live and prosper.
Unfortunately, many of those people met with more hardships than opportunities. Some died on the way to new lands, either through disease or bandits. Others made it to new lands, only to find that they weren't wanted because of their skin. But some did make it and their lives were okay. They did great and wonderful things. But as you can see, those people were few and none.*
"How can one little event change history so much?"
*One major event can cause several repercussions. It is like when you toss a rock into a pond. One ripple causes another and then another.*
"The domino affect." Yugi stated, slowly understand what had happened. "But how did all these events in Egypt affect the world so badly?"
*When Egypt and Greece went to war, towns in both countries suffered terribly. Trade and sale went down, which affected whatever countries were involved. With no food, no money, regions are bound to suffer. And when the villagers of Egypt fled their homes, other countries didn't take kindly to having foreigners in their country. Some people wanted the Egyptians out and took any means necessarily to get them out. Others felt their own countrymen were wrong and it started several civil wars. It was a terrible age indeed.*
"But that was several hundreds of years ago. How does all of that affect this present time? I don't understand any of that."
*It is simple really. Wars change people Yugi. It causes them to become people they really aren't. It affects them in ways that only they can understand. And because of all those wars in the past Yugi, certain key events in history didn't happen. Events that needed to happen in order for our world to function as it should. Look around Yugi, what is missing from this era that wasn't in yours?*
Yugi glanced around. "The first thing I notice is love. I mean, it isn't here."
*That is very true. Do you have any notion why?*
Yugi shrugged. "I guess something happened for people to distrust one another."
*Many things happened. The first great downfall of the human race was of World War Three in 1992. That lasted for several years. Eventually the battle was ceased in 1997. But the damage had been done. The United States stock market crashed in 1999, worse than it did then the Great Depression. It caused many small towns to close and forced many people on to the streets. Here in Japan, our economy crashed just as hard as the United States, maybe harder. Other countries tried to help were they could, but they too were feeling the affects of the war. England lost many of it's population, as well as the death of Royal Family, assassinated right in their own home by their enemies. Russia fell once again to communism, a once thought dead way of government. But the worse hit had to have been what you consider third world countries. No longer were they able to receive aid from their allies. Their allies you see, were trying to save their own people. And because of that, many people died of starvation.
The second downfall of love was the after affects. People had no money for food or to keep a roof over their heads. It became a battle to survive. They didn't care who they hurt, just as long as they survived one more day. And that is what you see here Yugi. The lasting affects of a loveless society. Not a pretty picture is it?*
Yugi should his head, words failing to come to him. 'This is the world we have to look forward to if Raya and Yami kill out of darkness? Can it really be so?' "Clio, I mean no disrespect here. But is this all real, or an image create to scare me into what is right?"
*Unfortunately, everything you see here is one of many possibilities. Come, I have many things to show you.* Clio stood, letting her hair blow behind her.
"Um, sure." Yugi stood and took the Grecian's slender hand. "Can these people see us?"
*No, to them, we are just a figment of their imagination. They can harm us in no way.* She lead Yugi down a street. People gathered on the corners, huddled around a trash can that had a small fire in it. No one was speaking, just trying to get warm.
Yugi gave a small shiver at what he saw. 'Oh Yami, Raya. Please be careful. I promise, I will return soon so I can help defeat the siblings. But first, I have to see what Clio is so desperate for me to learn.'
Clio stopped at an abandon building. The window were boarded up, vacant of any life.
"What is this place Clio? Why are we here?" Yugi asked, confused.
*Do you not recognize your home Yugi?*
Yugi gasped. "NO, it can't be. This isn't Grandpa's store! This can't be the Turtle Game shop! No, I refuse to believe it."
*But it is. Come, let's go inside, shall we?*
Within seconds, Yugi found himself inside his home, only it wasn't. Dust blanketed the floor. The glass counters had been shattered long ago, but yet, glass still littered the floor. The pictures that had hung on the walls had been torn and ripped apart. With out much thought, Yugi hurried upstairs. The living was in worse condition than the downstairs. The couch had been shredded to pieces, fluff all over the room. Chairs were knocked over, and broken into smaller pieces. The TV and VCR was gone, most likely sold for money. Unable to resist, Yugi raced to his room. Upon opening the room, Yugi wished he hadn't. His room had been torched, burn mark were left on the walls and floor. Nothing had escaped the fires wrath. Except one small object. The eye from the Millennium Puzzle. It sat oddly out of place in the center of the room, lying there forgotten, as if the puzzle and Yami had never existed. Moving over to the piece, Yugi cradled it in his hand. Tears formed in his eyes. 'My home, it is gone, like it never even existed. Why? Why did this happen?'
Yugi jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He had forgotten all about Clio. "Why did this happen Clio? What happened to Grandpa and everyone?"
*When times got rough, so did the people. Your Grandfather's store was not the only one targeted. Other stores were as well. They had things people needed to survive. It was a sad time.* Clio stated, shrugging.
"What happened to Yami and Grandpa?"
Clio pondered the young heir's words. Finally she answered him. *It is better that you do not know Yugi.*
"Clio please. To fully understand why we can't continue on the path the Royal Family is on, I have to see how everyone is affected, including that of my family and friends."
Clio nodded. *It shall be done then. Who would you like to visit first?*
"Seto and Mokuba. Surly they haven't been affected as hard as the others, right?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I…I…I don't understand it. Where is Kaiba Corporations?" Yugi stared at the offices that were once his friend's company. Now, it was another abandon building, a repeating trend.
*Seto lost his business during the depression era of 2000. He took a tremendous hit when the United States fell in 1999, but he totally went bankrupt when Japan fell the following year. He lost all his business partners. There was no reason to make products when no one was buying. So he did the only thing he knew possible, he filed for chapter seven.*
"What happened to him and Mokuba? Surly they are surviving. They had money saved, didn't they?" Yugi asked anxiously.
Clio waved her hand and suddenly they were in front of the Kaiba mansion.
"Whew, at least his house is still here."
*Really? Look over there."
Yugi followed Clio's gaze. His eyes rested on a sign. It read Foreclosed. "NO! Seto and Mokuba couldn't have lost their home. There is no possible way."
*But yet, it happened. Seto sunk a lot of money into his company, trying to save it. When it went under, he lost a great deal. And the rest of his money was placed in the United State's Stock Market as well as Japan's. And when those took a hard hit, it was the end of Seto's money. He had enough to support himself and Mokuba for awhile, but eventually the banks caught up with him.*
Yugi gulped. "Where are they now? Are they ok?"
Clio gave a small nodded. *They are surviving. Separated, but living. Mokuba is at a boy's home right now. At least he has a roof over his head. The boy's home wouldn't take Seto, since he had reached the age of eighteen. Right now, Seto travels around town, working whatever jobs he can find. Any money he makes goes right to his baby brother.*
"Where does Seto sleep?"
*Here, in the abandon offices. It was his home away from home after all.*
"Isn't there anything I can do for him? Anything at all?"
*No, he and Mokuba are beyond your help anymore. Most of these people are.*
"Will they be ok?"
Clio sighed. *It is hard to tell Yugi. There are factors even I can't foretell. But the future looks very bleak for the Kaiba brothers, Seto especially. At least Mokuba is young. He still has a chance to flee the country and find a home that can really help him. But Seto, well he is too old. He'll spend the rest of his days here in Domino City.*
"But, they'll be separated. They promised each other long ago that that would never happen. That they would always be together."
*Seto would never deny his brother the happiness that he could have. That is why he allowed Mokuba to be taken from him and sent to the boy's home. He knew that Mokuba would be feed and sheltered. Two things Seto himself couldn't provided.*
"I understand, I think."
Clio nodded, but offered no further explanation. She knew the sites and information that she had provided was enough for Yugi to answer what ever questions he could form.
Yugi walked to the door, touching them gingerly. He remembered all the times he had opened those very doors. Remembering all the fun times, as well as scary. "Clio, is everyone's lives this bad?"
*Some are the same, some are better, and some are worse.*
Yugi shook his head, as if that was the very answer he was expecting. "Clio, may we continue? I can't stand here anymore."
*Of course Yugi. Who do you want to see now?*
Taking another glance at the once Kaiba Corporations, Yugi replied "I don't care Clio. I can't imagine who would have worse fate than the Kaiba brothers."
'Unfortunately Yugi, in the eyes of many, the Kaiba brothers have it good.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When the mist cleared this time, a house appeared in Yugi's line of vision. Crumbling, roof half missing, and all the windows broken, Yugi was still able to identify the structure. "This is Joey's house!" Yugi exclaimed, shocked, as well as horrified.
*Ai, it is. Come, let's go inside. There is someone you need to see.*
Yugi nodded and followed her into the house. The inside wasn't much better than the Turtle game shop had been. Yugi moved through the room searching for the person Clio had mentioned. Upstairs, Yugi found the person.
'Oh Joey.'
Joey sat in the corner of the room, arms curled around a frame. His clothes were damp and ripped. He rocked back and forth, muttering some in comprehendible over and over again. His golden blond hair was now a dirty blond. Dirt clung to Joey's face, streaked from where unseen tears had fallen.
"Joey, can you hear me. It is Yugi." Yugi knelt down next to his friend. He put his hand on Joey's shoulder, or at least tried to. His hand went right through Joey.
*He can't hear or feel you Yugi. We are not real, we are not a part of this time…yet.*
"What happened to him?"
Clio sighed. She knew that Yugi wouldn't handle what had happened to his best friend well. *It isn't a pretty story prince, in fact, it is far from it.*
"I have to know Clio. Please, tell me."
*Joey's pain started right after you returned to this time. His father became more violent, more of a drunk. Joey tried his best to stay out of his father's path of destruction, but that didn't always work. His dad sent Joey to the hospital numerous times, from broken bones to concussions. The authorities did very little to protect Joey. It wasn't that they didn't want to help him, it was just, there wasn't personal to help.
And then, things got worse for Joey. His mother and sister Serenity were killed in a car crash. That was the last straw for Joey. His one stability in his life was gone. He just, well snapped. His father took whatever money the young man had and left. Joey never really noticed. He just sits in that corner day after day clinging to that picture of his family, when they were all together and happy.*
"What about friends? Don't they care."
*Everyone has their own problems to worry about. People like Joey, tend to slip through the cracks in society. And for his friends, they have their own lives to manage. Friendships no longer exist.*
"That so sad."
*That's life Yugi.* Clio replied. *It is survival. Nothing more, nothing less*
"There has to be more to life than that." Yugi shouted. "I mean, what of friends, what of family?"
*Those things never exist here. By the time all of you came back, the future you had known, was gone. Each minute all of you spent here, the less you remembered about the previous time. To all of you, it was nothing more than a dream.*
"I don't believe that. Surly one of my friends remember friends. I know, Tea. She could never forget her friends."
*If that is what you truly believe Yugi, than Tea will be our next stop.*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Clio and Yugi stopped short of a house, no a mansion that even rivaled Seto's.
"See, I knew Tea would make it. Surly she hasn't changed that much."
*People change all the time Yugi. Sometimes less noticeable than others. But when the darkness consumed everyone, well the changes became more noticeable.*
Yugi nodded, but gave no respond. He couldn't believe that Tea would give into the darkness. There was no way. The inside of the house was more extravagant than outside. Rich color gave the house a warm, but yet cold feeling. Painting hung all over the walls, from famous artists all over the world. A crystal chandler hung from the center of the hallway, catching the light.
'Wow, Tea has it good. She must be happy.'
*Happiness comes in many forms and is defined differently for people.*
"Is something wrong with Tea?"
Clio wavered her around absentmindedly. "Just watch, you'll see."
Yugi turned back to the stairway. Two people entered from the North wing. An elderly man and a younger woman, Tea. Her hair was much longer and done back into a long French braid. The dress she was wearing was an icy blue.
"Father, Alexander and I are leaving for the States this afternoon. Do you need anything before we adjourn?"
"No Tea, everything has been arranged for you. You just go and enjoy yourself. Carry the family name proudly."
Tea curtsy. "It shall be my honor father."
Yugi turned to Clio. "That man isn't her father. Who is he? And why is Tea calling him father?"
*That is Christopher Robbins, a wealthy businessman. One of few that wasn't hit hard by all the destruction the economies took. He had a few Swiss Accounts that has kept the family afloat. Anyway, his son Alexander always had a small fancy towards Tea. And when her family learned of this, her parents made a deal with the Robbins. They allow Tea to marry Alexander, for a small dowry.*
"That sounds like something out of the eighteen hundreds. It's wrong."
*It's life. And even though Tea appears happy, she's not. She loved Seto. But when everything fell, her parents refused to let her marry Seto, a man with nothing over Alexander, a man with money. She was forced to engage to a man for money, rather than love.
Tea's life is like this Yugi. A woman who can have no life of her own. Who must obey the men in her life, whether it be her husband, father, or any of their male friends. If and when she has children, she will be expected to yield to her son's authority. For Tea, all her dreams and goals died when she returned from the past.*
"No dance school? No New York?"
*Dance, no. New York yes. But not for what she wants, but for what her husband wanted. Business, not pleasure.* Clio sighed, *Tea would have been an extraordinary dancer, but…*
Yugi nodded in understatement. 'This is what everyone meant when they said that the future had to be protected. That if the siblings won, things would change. But at the same time, no one ever realized that if we won, but not in the correct way, things would change horrible too. Oh god, what have we done? Raya and Yami, please be careful.'
*Are you ready to continue Prince?*
"There's more to see?"
*Lots and I promise you, it won't be pretty.*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Clio, I know understand why it is important not to let the darkness consume any of us, but why is the battle between Satire and Jarha so key? I mean, why our battle? What made it so key that Yami, Raya, and I stay to the light, rather than the dark? Hasn't other battles between good and evil been like this? Meaning, the good tapping into the darkness?"
*That is very true, other battles have paralleled to yours. But you must understand Yugi, the High Priest Bakura foresaw that this very battle would be the key to the future, which is why he took great lengths to ensure that you would live. He knew that the Royal family would be needed. For you see Yugi, this battle that your family is fighting it the battle of all battles. The very core of light and darkness. You've heard and seen first hand what the outcome will be if darkness wins over your family. Because if that happens, darkness wins forever. The goodness will never return to what it was. It could never recover. Do you understand that?*
"You mean the light will diminish forever. The light of Horus and Ra and everyone?"
*Exactly.*
Yugi gulped. "But how do I stop this future from happening? The siblings need to be stop, but according to this future, if we stop them, then this happens."
*If you defeat the siblings presently, then yes. But Raya and Yami have forgotten what they are fighting for. They have lost the goodness in their hearts. You, Yugi, have to rekindle that fire of goodness they had in their hearts, as well as the strength in your friends. Look at Seto and Mokuba, do you want them to end up like that? Or Joey, lost in the past? Or even Tea in a loveless marriage?*
"No, of course not. It's just that, it is hard to understand how all my friends gave into the darkness, that is all"
*I see. Come, there is someone I want to you to meet.*
"Who?"
Clio didn't answered, rather lead Yugi to a small building. The old structure was the best building in shape Yugi had seen all day. Oddly, it seemed out of place in the ruined town. It was decently kept, well as decently as you could get in this time. Sure, it needed to be painted, but at least it had a roof. A major plus in the future.
"Where are we Clio?"
*This is Domino City's only chapel. Once it was a shelter for the homeless, but now it is forgotten, like most of the people anymore." Clio replied, face falling a bit. Throughout this whole trip, Yugi never saw the young woman flicker, but now even she was feeling the affects of this horrible time.
"Why are we here?"
*There is someone who comes here you know, quite well I may add.*
Yugi walked into the small chapel. It was dark and dusty, only a small candle on an altar gave away the presence of another person. Hunched over, a white haired boy knelt deep in concentration.
"Bakura." Yugi breathed softly, as if he was afraid of startling the young man. "Why is he here Clio?"
*He's praying for lost souls and asking for guidance. Listen.*
Yugi felt a sense of wariness as Bakura's inner thoughts became a part of his.
"I don't understand why things turned out this way. It doesn't make sense. We did the job we were supposed to do. We defeated the siblings, and yet, the future wasn't saved. In fact, we destroyed it. Why, how did things come to this? So many lives were ruined that day.
Tea, trapped in a loveless marriage. Oh how she pines for Seto and his love. I fear what she may do one day. She feels compelled to follow her parents wishes, but at last, they are not her own. I fear one day that Tea will do some drastic to escape, much like the rest of us are considering.
Seto, forced be separated from the one and only joy in his life, the one constant thread of his inner being, his brother. And then, to have Tea cruelly taken away from him, oh the pain he feels. Why? Why is everyone being punished like this? We didn't ask for this job in the first place, but now we are all suffering from it.
Joey, who's mental stability is in high question. It was hard enough to lose his family, but to see his best friend become what he has, that must have sent him over the edge. Joey, even though the kidder of the group, was the one who took his friend's safety the most. If something happened to someone, Joey blamed himself. And seeing the world for what it is, who caused it, sigh.
Mokuba, whose child innocence is no more. Who's faith in man is all but destroyed. A child who once believed that nothing in the world was evil now much face that his once friends are evil, pure evil.
Yami, Raya, and Yugi. Never did I think, never did I except…no it is too painful.
And finally, Tristan, oh Tristan. I wish things could have turned out differently. But I guess history is correct. If you don't learn from it, it is doomed to repeat.
What I am to do? How can I save my friends from the darkness that has consumed their bodies whole? Is there a way at all? AGH! I need to escape, get far away from here. But yet, I don't. I stay right here and deal with this troublesome cycle. Please, someone answer me. What am I to do? End this cycle. That is what I am to do.
Bakura pushed up from his knees and stood. He started for the door, then stopped and turned to look at Yugi and Clio. "Good bye my friend."
With that, Bakura walked out the door.
"Clio? Please tell me he isn't planning to do what I think he is."
*End his torment? His pain? Unfortunately, I can not do that.*
"I have to stop him!"
Clio placed a hand on Yugi's shoulder. *You can't do that. There is no way to stop him. You, I can do nothing.*
"There must be a way."
*There is nothing.*
Yugi placed his face in his hands. This was too much for him to bear. "Clio, what happened to Tristan? Bakura wouldn't even think about it."
*Look out back. You will see.*
Yugi moved to the window and glanced outside. Out there was a single grave stone. The inscription was faint, but still readable. Tristan Taylor.
"NO! Tristan! Clio, please. Tell me this isn't Tristan."
A single tear casketed down Clio's face. *I…I...can't. This is the future Yugi. Everything you see here is a likely possibility, unless you can make Yami and Raya realize what they have done. What they have become.*
*"How, How did he die?"
*From the injury he received in the battle. He lost to much blood Yugi and no hospital here carried that much blood anymore, not after the wars.* Clio sniffed. *He just bleed to death. Bakura took it the hardest. He watched Tristan die. The only one to see him.*
"Where were the rest of us? We were Tristan's friends, we should have been there!"
*Yes, I guess you should have been there. But the darkness was so strong in all of you, it override any of your other feelings.*
"And my family? What has become of them?"
*Your Grandfather is dead as well Yugi. He was murdered, not long after you returned. Killed by….*
"Who killed him Clio? Who?" Yugi couldn't control the tears that ran down his face.
*Your parents Yugi.*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Raya and Yami killed Grandpa? No, I refuse to believe it. They wouldn't, couldn't." Yugi stuttered. 'Raya and Yami would never.'
Clio knelt down next to Yugi and embraced him. *Oh Yugi. I wish it wasn't true. But they did. You have to understand though, the people who killed your grandfather, they were not your parents. They weren't the Raya and Yami you came to know and love. It was their darker selves. The ones who knew nothing of love. Their memories clouded, common sense gone. It wasn't totally their fault.*
"I want to see them."
*I can't allow that. It would destroy you.*
"CLIO, please. I have to know. To fully understand what is going on. I must see them."
*You will not like what you see Yugi. I will not lie to you.*
"What have I liked so far?"
*Nothing, but this will pale in comparison.*
"I'm willing to take that risk."
*Alright then, let's go see the Royal Family.*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Clio and Yugi walked for several miles till they reached the outskirts of town. Yugi understood why Clio hadn't instantly taken him there. It was a matter of preserving the mind. She was giving him the time he needed to collect himself. It was hard to imagine that his very own parents had murdered his grandfather. What amazed him more, was that no one had cared. 'I can't let the future become this. I must do something…'
*We're here.* Clio said suddenly, breaking Yugi's concentration.
Yugi glanced down the small dirt road. "We live down this path?"
*Ai, you do. Secluded from everyone else.*
"Gee, I wonder why."
*Leaders normally do not want to be in the public eye constantly, even if they are dictators.*
"My parents are the rulers?"
*Come, it is better if you see it with your own eyes than hear it from me.*
Clio led Yugi to the front door. Standing on the porch was Raya, at least her darker half. Yugi couldn't get over how different this Raya looked from the girl he had come to know. Her eyes were narrower, a much darker, richer purple. Ones that held a constant icy glare to them. Her brown hair was now a chocolate brown, striped of any of it's previous lighter shades. Her body tone was stronger too. Just one look at Raya sent shivers down Yugi's spine. 'That woman can't be my mother. She's so cold, so evil. It's like she doesn't care for anyone, anything, but herself.'
A few minutes later, another presence joined Raya on the porch, Yami. He too was different. A long red cape hung from his shoulders. His facial expression were hard and cold, one wrong look could kill a person instantly. The purplish tint to his eyes were gone, replaced a black color, a sign of true and utter evil. His hands were worn and rough, as if he had seen many battles since returning to Domino City. He showed no expression of love or thoughtfulness to Raya, rather greeted her with a slight nod, nothing more. It was like the two never had a history. Just two souls bent on domination.
"I assume the job was taken care of?" Raya asked, never facing her husband.
"Are you doubting my control? My authority?" Yami asked angrily. There was no speck of humor in his words.
"Of course not." Raya replied sharply. "I was only making sure the deed was done so my people could start on their next mission. We must act quickly if we are to purge this world of doubters."
"All in due time my sweet. No one will dare to rise against us. The lesson we made on Sugoroku and the other leaders made sure of that. No, let us draw this blood bath out. Enjoy it some." Yami clasped Raya's hand tightly, the only sign of slight affection between the two.
Raya sighed noisily. "If we must. I do wish though we would hurry, it is more fun to see the people run. The longer we give them, the more time they have to plan against us."
Yami laughed. "And who would plan such a battle? Seto? Please, after we destroyed his precious Kaiba Corps, he was no longer a threat. Bakura is dead, though he was never much of a threat. I'm just sorry I wasn't there to see the traitor go. And dear old Joey is in no state of mind to fight us. He is lost in his own little world. The reason why I won't eliminate him is because I know he will never rise against me. Besides, he does provide much entertainment."
"You do have a point, I guess I am just eager for battle."
"After the way you killed Satire, I can understand. The power you wield, I must admit, I was quite proud." He gave a small peck on Raya's check before heading to down the steps.
"Just promise me Yugioh, that I will have that power again." Raya called after him.
"Soon my Queen, soon."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Clio glanced down at Yugi. She had no idea how the young man was going to take seeing his parents in this condition. A quick glance down revealed that Yugi was no longer with her. 'Where could he have gone?'
Walking around the side of the mansion, she found Yugi throwing up, into a not so real bush. Gently, she rubbed the heir's back, whispering soft words to him, in order to calm him down. She knew that Yugi would react at like this. But maybe this is what he needed, to see what would have become of his parents to make him realize that the future was indeed in deep trouble.
*Are you alright Yugi?*
"No Clio. I understand now. Ra, do I understand. My parents are on the brink of destruction. We must stop them. But why? Why are they finding pleasure in hurting our friends? Grandpa?"
Clio sat cross - legged on the ground and motioned for Yugi to sit her lap. She had to make sure he was feeling well before they returned to Egypt. *It is not that they sense the pleasure of hurting others Yugi, to Raya and Yami, it is a source of supreme power. It drives them, fuels them to hurt others. And as for your friends Yugi, Raya and Yami directed their original attacks at them because they knew that Seto and the others could prove to be a threat to them. And Grandpa, well, he was a powerful and influential man Yugi. He almost beat Raya and Yami. But in the end, the darkness prevailed. Mainly because it had consumed so much of the light already. There isn't much light here anymore.*
Yugi nodded. He felt literally sick and feverish at the knowledge of what his parent's had become. And yet, he knew there was more. Something just as sickening, possibly worse. "Clio, where am I in all this? What side am I on?"
Clio brushed a piece of hair out of Yugi's eyes. *You are no longer here Yugi. Originally, you were on Raya's and Yami's side. Fighting with the darkness, destroying people day after day. But now, you're not. I can't sense you. This may be because you have seen the truth of what may become of the future. And because of that, your path is unclear right now. One path may be that you never exist here, or it means, well you're dead.* Clio replied bluntly.
"You mean, Raya and Yami might have killed me here? But…."
*It is only a possibility Yugi. Please, do not over react. Remember, nothing is set in stone yet. You can change all of this. Prevent it from happening. None of this has to happen. It can all just be a horrible, horrible vision. Just show Raya and Yami the errors of their ways.*
"You make it sound so easy."
*I won't lie to you Prince. It will not be. But still it has to be done. Or else, this future will become a living reality.*
"I don't want that."
Clio smiled. *I figured you wouldn't. Are you ready to return to the past?*
Yugi nodded. 'Don't worry everyone. I won't let our lives become like this. I'll die first.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tea jumped back in shock when Yugi reappeared before her. "Yugi, you're back! But you just left!"
Yugi stared at Tea in surprise. 'My trip only took a second? It felt like a lifetime. But Clio's purpose now is very clear. I must protect the real future, at all costs.'
"Um…yeah." Yugi pushed past Tea. There was no time to lose.
Tea turned to face Yugi. "What are you going to do?" Nervousness nipped at her subconscious. 'What if Yugi still fights with darkness in his heart? Then what?'
Tea's concern did not go unanswered. Yugi whipped around. "I'm going to save the light and our futures."
"Yugi? What does that mean? Yugi?" Tea shouted, but was drown out by a loud scream from Satire.
Tea watched in horror as Raya raised a sword, where she got it Tea had no idea, and screamed in disbelief as Raya brought it down, a small smile of pleasure on her face.
And in that instant, Tea knew the future would never be the same again.