A/N- Hello to all of you who may have just arrived here after skipping the
last part. This is it. The chapter wherein things are ironic. I may be
wrong, but I believe that this is the chapter that is the least normal and
contains the most crypticity (Word...?). Yeah... it's called Neologism. It
means to make up new words or words with no meaning. My cousin and I do
this all the time. Did you know if you add "-orama" or "-tacular" to the
end of a word, you get an instant adjective?
Disclaimer- If I own Yu-Gi-Oh, then I am completely sane. We all know where this is heading, don't we?
Memories Come Flooding Back
Leaping to his feet as another crack of thunder split the air, Seto felt his hackles rise, fangs bared as a feral snarl escaped his throat. He felt a moment of disorientation as memories fled from his mind. Memories of warmth and safety. Memories of belonging.
Looking up, Seto's eyes widened at the fat storm clouds that hovered there, flashes of lightning visible through the gloom.
Another peal of thunder forced him back, smooth pebbles giving way beneath his feet. Eyes flitting to the side, Seto felt panic rise within him as the wind began to blow, shaking the trees of the forest and rippling across the lake with ever increasing violence. The birds hand long since taken shelter for the coming storm.
//Hurry!//
Whirling, Seto saw the tiger standing at the edge of the forest, tail twitching nervously as the wind ruffled its fur.
//Hurry, Seto! Before the storm breaks!//
He didn't need any other urging. His legs carried him across the loose stones of the lakeshore, to the pine needle carpeted forest in a flash, the tiger matching his pace beside him.
//Where are we going? //
//Follow me.//
Feeling a measure of relief at the fact that the tiger seemed to know where they were going, Seto fell back a pace, allowing the tiger to lead the way. The forest flashed by around them as the storm built up, a heavy, oppressive presence that seemed to press down upon them.
Skidding a little as the tiger twisted around a cluster of boulders, Seto followed it, ears pressed against his head. He didn't know why, but he could feel the tiger's near-desperation to get them to shelter before the rain fell like a tangible thing. It felt like something was pressing down on his chest, like being caught in a vise.
//Where are we going?//
Sparing a glance back at him, the tiger didn't slow as the path they ran on twisted and turned. They wove through grove of dead trees, under and around boulders and exposed tree roots. Through thickets of dense underbrush and wide clearings.
//The caves. It's the only place we'll be safe.//
Snarling as the rocky path cut into the soft flesh of his feet, Seto forced himself to go faster, the tiger's desperation spurring him on.
Watching the rain as it poured down in sheets from the safety of the cave entrance, Seto felt a shiver go through him. He could feel a gentle nudging at the back of his mind, like the feeling he got when he knew he'd forgotten something. It was annoying and familiar all at the same time, and he hated it. Hated feeling that he was missing something.
They'd reached the caves minutes after the rain began to fall. Fast and heavy, plastering their fur to their bodies and filling the cave with the stench of wet animal. Wrinkling his nose at the smell, Seto edged closer to the cave opening where the air was circulating freely.
He could feel the tiger watching him. Could feel the weight of those eyes on him as he watched the rain.
//Why is it raining? It didn't do that before.//
Admitting that he had a bad feeling about it wasn't something Seto would have done voluntarily. The fact that the weather had been perfect - not so much as a cloud in the sky - the whole time he'd been there so far did not bode well for the current circumstances.
Turning at the soft scrape of claws against rough stone, Seto moved aside as the tiger sat beside him, head turned to watch the rain.
//Seto, what were you doing before I found you?//
Blue eyes narrowing, Seto cocked his head to the side thoughtfully.
//I'm not sure...I think I fell asleep after we came back from the run, and then...I don't know what happened then. I think I was dreaming...//
//Dreaming? What happened in your dream?//
Startled at the tiger's sudden interest, Seto backed up a step, lips lifting from his fangs.
//Why?//
Sighing, the tiger growled softly as it flexed its claws.
//Because if I know the answer to my question I may also know the answer to yours.//
Growling at the tiger's cryptic reply, Seto shook himself, sending water droplets spraying everywhere.
//I don't really remember much...it was like I was outside my body watching everything happen. I could see myself - my real body - working on a project. I think there was someone else there, but...//
//Who was it?// The tiger prodded gently, watching him closely.
//I don't know. I can't remember. I _know_ him, but I can't remember who he is.//
Looking up sharply as he felt the tiger's sigh in his mind, Seto was surprised at the look in the tiger's eyes. They looked as though the tiger held the weight of the world on its shoulders, and it was tired of such a responsibility. So very, very tired.
//What? What's wrong?//
//Seto, where are you?//
Sensing the meaning behind the tiger's question, Seto bristled as he felt a wave of dread go through him.
//The Dreamscape.//
//Exactly. When you sleep here, you don't Dream, Seto.//
Flinching as those piercing, crimson eyes fixed on his, Seto forced himself to ask the next question. The one that was at the tip of his tongue. The one he dreaded most to hear at that moment.
//What do you mean? You said people come here to Dream - //
//Or hide. That's true, but who would Dream of Dreaming, Seto? Everything you do here when you're awake is part of the Dream you Dream. When you sleep here, you no longer Dream.//
Snarling, Seto began to pace the confines to the cave, fangs bared.
//You're not making any sense.//
Snorting, the tiger pushed past him, the tip of its tail brushing his chest.
//Seto, when you sleep here in the Dreamscape, you don't Dream. You remember.//
A/N- Ooh...creepy...Eh? Stuff is all changing and everything...Anyway, thanks for all the new reviews. It has come to my attention that last "Chapter" was confusing for most of you. The summary for that was Seto was dreaming. That was his "Dream". In this chapter you learn that that wasn't a dream, it was a memory. Got it? Yes? Good. One more thing. This whole thing up to here isn't supposed to be very long. Timewise, I mean. Maybe...oh, I don't know...three days at the most if you count this chapter.
Disclaimer- If I own Yu-Gi-Oh, then I am completely sane. We all know where this is heading, don't we?
Memories Come Flooding Back
Leaping to his feet as another crack of thunder split the air, Seto felt his hackles rise, fangs bared as a feral snarl escaped his throat. He felt a moment of disorientation as memories fled from his mind. Memories of warmth and safety. Memories of belonging.
Looking up, Seto's eyes widened at the fat storm clouds that hovered there, flashes of lightning visible through the gloom.
Another peal of thunder forced him back, smooth pebbles giving way beneath his feet. Eyes flitting to the side, Seto felt panic rise within him as the wind began to blow, shaking the trees of the forest and rippling across the lake with ever increasing violence. The birds hand long since taken shelter for the coming storm.
//Hurry!//
Whirling, Seto saw the tiger standing at the edge of the forest, tail twitching nervously as the wind ruffled its fur.
//Hurry, Seto! Before the storm breaks!//
He didn't need any other urging. His legs carried him across the loose stones of the lakeshore, to the pine needle carpeted forest in a flash, the tiger matching his pace beside him.
//Where are we going? //
//Follow me.//
Feeling a measure of relief at the fact that the tiger seemed to know where they were going, Seto fell back a pace, allowing the tiger to lead the way. The forest flashed by around them as the storm built up, a heavy, oppressive presence that seemed to press down upon them.
Skidding a little as the tiger twisted around a cluster of boulders, Seto followed it, ears pressed against his head. He didn't know why, but he could feel the tiger's near-desperation to get them to shelter before the rain fell like a tangible thing. It felt like something was pressing down on his chest, like being caught in a vise.
//Where are we going?//
Sparing a glance back at him, the tiger didn't slow as the path they ran on twisted and turned. They wove through grove of dead trees, under and around boulders and exposed tree roots. Through thickets of dense underbrush and wide clearings.
//The caves. It's the only place we'll be safe.//
Snarling as the rocky path cut into the soft flesh of his feet, Seto forced himself to go faster, the tiger's desperation spurring him on.
Watching the rain as it poured down in sheets from the safety of the cave entrance, Seto felt a shiver go through him. He could feel a gentle nudging at the back of his mind, like the feeling he got when he knew he'd forgotten something. It was annoying and familiar all at the same time, and he hated it. Hated feeling that he was missing something.
They'd reached the caves minutes after the rain began to fall. Fast and heavy, plastering their fur to their bodies and filling the cave with the stench of wet animal. Wrinkling his nose at the smell, Seto edged closer to the cave opening where the air was circulating freely.
He could feel the tiger watching him. Could feel the weight of those eyes on him as he watched the rain.
//Why is it raining? It didn't do that before.//
Admitting that he had a bad feeling about it wasn't something Seto would have done voluntarily. The fact that the weather had been perfect - not so much as a cloud in the sky - the whole time he'd been there so far did not bode well for the current circumstances.
Turning at the soft scrape of claws against rough stone, Seto moved aside as the tiger sat beside him, head turned to watch the rain.
//Seto, what were you doing before I found you?//
Blue eyes narrowing, Seto cocked his head to the side thoughtfully.
//I'm not sure...I think I fell asleep after we came back from the run, and then...I don't know what happened then. I think I was dreaming...//
//Dreaming? What happened in your dream?//
Startled at the tiger's sudden interest, Seto backed up a step, lips lifting from his fangs.
//Why?//
Sighing, the tiger growled softly as it flexed its claws.
//Because if I know the answer to my question I may also know the answer to yours.//
Growling at the tiger's cryptic reply, Seto shook himself, sending water droplets spraying everywhere.
//I don't really remember much...it was like I was outside my body watching everything happen. I could see myself - my real body - working on a project. I think there was someone else there, but...//
//Who was it?// The tiger prodded gently, watching him closely.
//I don't know. I can't remember. I _know_ him, but I can't remember who he is.//
Looking up sharply as he felt the tiger's sigh in his mind, Seto was surprised at the look in the tiger's eyes. They looked as though the tiger held the weight of the world on its shoulders, and it was tired of such a responsibility. So very, very tired.
//What? What's wrong?//
//Seto, where are you?//
Sensing the meaning behind the tiger's question, Seto bristled as he felt a wave of dread go through him.
//The Dreamscape.//
//Exactly. When you sleep here, you don't Dream, Seto.//
Flinching as those piercing, crimson eyes fixed on his, Seto forced himself to ask the next question. The one that was at the tip of his tongue. The one he dreaded most to hear at that moment.
//What do you mean? You said people come here to Dream - //
//Or hide. That's true, but who would Dream of Dreaming, Seto? Everything you do here when you're awake is part of the Dream you Dream. When you sleep here, you no longer Dream.//
Snarling, Seto began to pace the confines to the cave, fangs bared.
//You're not making any sense.//
Snorting, the tiger pushed past him, the tip of its tail brushing his chest.
//Seto, when you sleep here in the Dreamscape, you don't Dream. You remember.//
A/N- Ooh...creepy...Eh? Stuff is all changing and everything...Anyway, thanks for all the new reviews. It has come to my attention that last "Chapter" was confusing for most of you. The summary for that was Seto was dreaming. That was his "Dream". In this chapter you learn that that wasn't a dream, it was a memory. Got it? Yes? Good. One more thing. This whole thing up to here isn't supposed to be very long. Timewise, I mean. Maybe...oh, I don't know...three days at the most if you count this chapter.