Kaiomi: I'm really pissed because my entire disk crashed so I have to type this chapter all over again and it was three pages long and I was almost done with it. *Sigh* It had two projects and my essays on it so I have to do it all over again!
Kaiba: That's too bad. Oh well can we just start the story now?
Kaiomi: NO! I still have all this anger in me so lets see since there is only you and Yugi in this room, I guess I'll choose you to torture.
Kaiba: What! That's so not fair.
Kaiomi: Life isn't fair that's why I have exams, bad luck, and tons of homework to do every night. Before I forget thanks to Mel88 and Lily22 for reviewing! You guys have cheered me up a little. ^^ So here you go Yugi *Gives Yugi a dark magician girl and a karibos doll.*
Yugi: Yeah! *Hugs both plushies tightly*
Kaiomi: Hmm lets see what else do I have to do?
Kaiba: Say the disclaimer. Since you're going to start I'll just be on my way and…*Kaiba slowly edges toward the door*
Kaiomi: No you don't *Grabs him by the collar and ties him to a chair.* You are going to stay right here until I finish this chapter. And because you're going to be in this particular chapter you have to stay anyway.
Kaiba: *Sweatdrop* You aren't going to blackmail me or anything?
Kaiomi: Sadly no, but I can still have some fun *pulls out a drawer full of hair accessories and an arrangement of pink items* FYI to you guys this stuff isn't mine its my sister's, but she won't know that a few things are gone.
Yugi: Are you sure you can do that?
Kaiomi: Yep, I'm certain. Yugi, you can do the disclaimer; read that purple post-it by the keyboard for me, okay?
Yugi: Um okay, *walks over to the computer hearing Kaiba's screams from behind him* Er, Kaiomi just wanted to say for the disclaimer that she doesn't own YuGiOh! or any other anime, but since this is fanfiction, she can torture…any character she wants. O_O
Kaiba: You can't do this to me!
Kaiomi: Sure I can *stuffs his mouth with a dirty sock*
Yugi: Okay I'd better send the story *Yugi pressed the upload button*
Key:
~s are my thoughts and opinions
*s are descriptions of actions or just pain descriptions
Italicized stuff are thoughtsTristan: So is this actually a card?
Yugi: I think so. I mean the back of the card still has the same design of different shades if brown swirling into a black abyss and a tanish border. But on the other side the level, attack, defense, and description of the monster is filled with question marks. I've never seen a card like this before…*He examines the picture that showed a girl with dark purple hair and midnight blue eyes holding a staff topped with a large emerald jewel. A pale blue light sparkled off of her silver dress and pure white wings giving her the effect that she was glowing.*
Tristan: You know she does look kinda cute.
Tea: It's just a card, you know.
Tristan: *Sigh* But I wish she were real.
Mai: Boys these days…
Royu: I guess the only way to know that it is real is to use it in a duel monster battle. Then you can see if this thing is real. That's how they usually test cards to see if they're fake from what I've heard.
Yugi: But how do duel with a card I know nothing about?
Yami: The card will control itself and it will tell you.
Yugi: Tell me?
Tristan: Wait a minute, how do you know so much about this card?
Yami: It's none of your business.
Tristan: It is my business now.
Yami: You probably wouldn't understand so all I can say is that this is the only one in existence. So Yugi, you should take very good care of this card and no matter under any circumstances; do not trade or give the 'Heart of the Cards' away.
Mai: So the card's important?
Yami: Yes. *Walks out of the room*
Mai: What is his problem?
Royu: Maybe Yami's attached to this card somehow.
Tea: Why do you say that?
Royu: Maybe because it's similar to someone he met in his past, in Egypt. He's never shared anything about his past when he was a pharaoh, and because Yami's been with Yugi with almost every duel, and Yugi hasn't seen this card before it is probably the only possibility.
Tea: Hmm it's kinda like process of elimination; like how I pass the multiple-choice tests.
Mai: Oh shoot! The exams are on Monday we only have three days to study!
Tea: I almost forgot too. Sorry Yug, we all need to study.
Tristan: There's an exam?
Royu: Don't you remember? The exams on English, math, science, history, and reading, does it ring any bells?
Tristan: Nope.
Royu: -_- Oh well, how about I drop by you house around five thirty?
Tristan: Thanks, I think Joey forgot about the tests too.
Tea: Well I guess we all have to go.
Yugi waves to his friends from the balcony as they cross the street and head to each of their homes. I wonder what caused Yami to act like that, he's usually a nice person. Did the card evoke some kind of painful memory like Royu assumed? *A sharp pang in his heart makes him wince suddenly* Is Yami crying? ~Since Yugi and Yami are connected to each other by the millennium puzzle they sorta have this telepathic bond which tells them how the other feels.~
"Yami?" Yugi knocks on his brother's door and finds it locked. "Yami, are you okay?"
No answer.
Yami's room
Yami leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to the ground and laid his head on his knees. A tear fell and was instantly absorbed by the thick, white carpeting in his room. "Kasumi, why are you trapped in that card? I gave my life to banish all the members of the shadow realm and their shadow games. You assisted me, but when a sacrifice was needed to complete the task I volunteered, not you, that is why I was imprisoned in the millennium puzzle. But now you'll probably be trapped forever as a character in Duel Monsters. I wanted you to continue with your life and live. Why…" A memory hit him suddenly from his almost forgotten past causing him to violently shake into unconsciousness.
"Master Yami where may I ask are you going?" a servant bearing his bowls that once contained his morning meal questioned. ~Okay I admit it, I don't know Yami's actual name when he was a pharaoh in Egypt. If you know please tell me!~
"Out," he answered and started to walk out.
"But you have a conference with the officials of Egypt today at noon. Are you going to be back be—"
"I'll be back in a few hours. If anyone asks where I am, tell them I am in my room and shouldn't be disturbed for any reasons."
"Yes master." The servant meekly hurried away.
"Dimwits, servants are the lowest of the low. Well, it can't be helped." Yami shook his head and changed from his usual colorful outfit that identified him as a ruler to a drab colorless robe and wrapped a white sheet around himself to disguise his unusual hair. He stepped out into the hot desert heat and examined the kingdom he ruled. Here was where he was most comfortable, in the open with no worries of the responsibilities of being a pharaoh. And it was only when he was with Kasumi that made him happy, not the kingdom or endless riches.
"Yami!" a voice called interrupting his thoughts.
He flinched at the sound of his own name called out in the open, figuring that it might attract attention. But the because of the busy sounds of the street, it was barely heard above the shouting of vendors advertising their merchandise.
"Hi!"
This time the voice came from below him and he look to find himself staring in the bright blue eyes of a lavender haired girl. She was short for her age her name was Kagumi, Kasumi's younger sister. "Hey, where's you're sister?" Yami asked her gently.
"She's at a special ceremony now, so she couldn't come right now, but she told me to tell you that uh…oh yeah! You have to meet her in front of the water fountain, she'll be done by then."
"Ceremony?"
"Yeah, she had to dress all nice and stuff and I couldn't come." Kagumi pouted.
"How about I get you the bun I promised you last week?" Yami recalled that he purposely lost to her at skipping stones the farthest across the oasis nearby just to see her grin.
"Sure!" The smile appeared back on her face.
Half an hour later they were able to reach the fountain due to Kagumi's dilemma deciding which bun to get when he could have easily bought the whole bakery, although he didn't tell her that. He also didn't tell her that he was the ruler of Egypt either, only Kasumi knew that.
"There she is!" Kagumi pointed out from her position on Yami's shoulders.
"Hmm?" Then he glimpsed through the crowd of people a glimpse of purple. "I see her now." Being that Kasumi and Kagumi were the only people that he knew that had a shade of purple hair it was easy to identify them during rush hour. After having trouble going in a straight line due to the constant flow of citizens on errands, they met up with Kasumi.
"Sister!" Kagumi yelled and ran to Kasumi's outstretched arms. "I brought Yami just like you told me to."
"Thank you very much," Kasumi laughed and hugged Kagumi tightly. "I have to talk to Yami alone now, so why don't you go play with your friends?"
"Is this going to be one of the adult mushy discussions that I shouldn't hear?"
"You could say it that way; go on now."
"Fine, older sisters are so mean sometimes." Kagumi skipped away toward her waving friends.
"What happened during that ceremony?" Yami asked Kasumi.
"I was chosen to be the guardian of the Shadow Realm," she anwered.
"Guardian. You-you mean that you've received the powers to control the Shadow Realm?"
"Yes, now I get to be with you when you have to control the people that play the Shadow Games."
"Uh," he blushes slightly, "that's great."
"Would you like to take a walk?" Kasumi asked to change the uncomfortable subject she knew Yami was thinking about. ~Yami and Kasumi are sorta going steady with the boyfriend/girlfriend thing for a while just to let you guys know.~
After a while of silent walking Kasumi was the first to speak.
"Um do you know how the Shadow Game thing works? The priests and priestesses wouldn't tell me; they just said that it was evil and shouldn't be talked about because most of the citizens don't know that the dark side is gradually becoming stronger each day."
"It's simple actually, the players of the game steal souls to make their own creatures carved in stone tablets stronger with dark magic. The victor of each game banishes the unfortunate one to the Shadow Realm never to be seen again and his evil power becomes twice as strong. But without souls, people are like zombies and they eventually die. My mission is to find the mastermind of this game and to put an end to this reign of evil that is slowly taking over Egypt."
"Oh," she absorbed the information slowly. "Then we don't have much time, right? So is that why the meeting is called today, because of this game?"
"You know about the meeting?"
"Sure, I'm attending it like you."
"The sun's almost at its zenith, so I guess we'd better go soon if we don't want to be late," Yami observed after looking at the position of the sun in the clear blue sky.
"Race you to the capital," she called and began running, leaving Yami behind a good twenty yards.
"You know we *pant* didn't have to run," Yami managed to say while holding the railing to the steps of the capital, so he could stand.
"I know," she smiled showing her white teeth and began melting his heart at the same time.
"Master, you need to change out of those clothes and be ready in five minutes." A servant rushed up to him with an armful of clothes elaborately sewn with gold thread.
"All right, meet you then," Yami waved to Kasumi as he was led up the steps.
During the last half of the meeting…
"I know it may be hard of you to take this in Master Yami, but since the Shadow Realm has been getting out of hand for the local priests to handle we had no choice but to choose a guardian for the Shadow Realm who will assist you and hopefully everything will be under control by tonight," the representative of the temples stated.
"Wait a minute, tonight? Is the matter this urgent?" Yami asked.
"Yes," the priest mumbled and started to twiddle his thumbs under Yami's piercing stare. "The power of the Shadow Realm has broken all of the safety barriers we have set up last month and all of the new one we have began to engrave within an hour. The news didn't reach you because we though the power would recede after a while, but it never did, that is why this meeting was called. And since tonight is the full moon the guardian's powers can be used to its maximum and we have heard that the members of the Shadow Games gather also on this night. So it is ideal that you should go."
"I see. Well, I guess we have no choice right, guardian of the Shadow Realm?" Yami almost said Kasumi, but he wasn't told her name by anyone when she was introduced and it would have been suspicious if he knew the name of a commoner.
"Yes, the sun will set soon, so we should begin our preparations," Kasumi whispered humbly.
"Then this meeting is dismissed. Refreshments shall be brought soon, guardian if you will come with me…"
Kasumi stood up and trailed after Yami. "So this business with the Shadow Realm is important, isn't it?" she asked after they were in his room.
"I guess," Yami answered and watched the sunset through his window. "Listen, Kasumi, if anything goes wrong I want you to get out of there as soon a possible to safety. Who knows what will happen; there is hardly any information about the realm. Are you listening?" Yami turned to find Kasumi looking like she was in a trance with her eyes half open. "Kasumi?"
"The doors to darkness will open fully tonight and evil will reign on the world if nothing is done. The pharaoh will have to make a sacrifice and choose which path to take. One to revolution or the other for the Shadow Realm to close forever. The fate of the world depends on him and him alone," Kasumi chanted in a monotonous tone.
"Kasumi?" Yami gently shook her shoulder. "Are you all right?"
"Huh?" she shook her head and looked at him puzzled. "What's the matter Yami?"
"What was that business about the fate of the world?"
"I said something about that? Maybe I was dazed…I don't remember saying anything like that."
"Never mind, we have to go," he stood and offered his hand to help her up. Yami found himself bound by her deep blue eyes and leaning in toward her face. Seconds later they were kissing and finally departed a minute later. "Er, lets go."
"Okay," Kasumi blushed a deep crimson and followed him out the door.
Out in the crisp night air Yami followed Kasumi as she felt the energy of the Shadow Realm growing.
"There," she pointed to an old deserted shed on the outskirts of the city.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it's definitely coming from below that storehouse."
"Stay close to me," Yami whispered.
When they entered to no surprise it was dusty, dirty, and everything was sprinkled with a thin layer of sand from the cracks in the wall.
"I don't see anything," Yami began to against the wall causing him to trip over an overturned bucket, which activated a switch that was hidden beneath it. A dark passage dimly lighted by small torches illuminated the staircase. "Hold onto my hand." He felt the familiar warmth embrace his sweaty palm and began to walk down.
When they reached the bottom of the staircase they were surprised to find a large chamber with walls carved with mystical beasts. This time large torches were placed every three feet giving the room look like it was lit from daylight and it was uncomfortably warm due to the number of small fires also lit.
"Greetings, you know that being here has already sealed your death," an eerie voice called from a tall man wearing a dark brown garment, which hid his face. "But we shall make good use of the girl's powers one you have been destroyed." He walked down the platform and headed toward them. "With her on our side the full potential of the Shadow Realm's powers will be unleashed, and there will be no one that will be able to stop us." He didn't seem at all surprised to find them in the chamber.
"I assume you were expecting us," Yami said and held his ground as the stranger walked closer.
"Why yes, how did you come to that conclusion?" The man seemed almost amused. "How about we duel? Say if you lose the world will be transformed to darkness and if you win the Shadow Games will stop and the Shadow Realm will weaken to its original state so it can be controlled by the priests."
"No, I have come here to destroy the Shadow Realm forever."
"Too bad, you could have come out alive but you declined my offer," the man began to glow and a silver aura. A black ball of lightning began to form in his right hand.
"Kasumi get out of here now!" Yami yelled and began to glow a golden aura.
"I'm not leaving, I have to help you." She stood unmoving.
"Kasumi you're going to get killed if you don't go!"
"Too late," the stranger sneered and doors shut the only way out.
"Shadow Realm hear my call release yourself unto me, powers of the heaven give me your strength to trap the dark forces within me," Yami chanted the spell that would steal his soul as well as the power of darkness. "Kasumi, please go," he managed to whisper before a bright light completely encompassed him and a few seconds later he blacked out.
Yami woke to find himself stiff and his eyes almost glued shut from his dried tears. The painful memory sill replayed in his mind as he dressed and opened his door to find Yugi sleeping outside his room. Yugi please take care of Kasumi, he thought to himself and walked out the door to pick up breakfast at McDonalds a few streets down.
Yugi awakened and saw Yami missing from his room. I wonder where he is…maybe he's eating already. Yugi walked to the kitchen and saw his brother finishing his breakfast burrito and one left out for him. "Yami are you okay?" he asked worriedly.
"Yeah," Yami got up and tossed the wrapper into the trashcan. "You want to go to the mall then study? You should have fun first then do your school work."
"Sure," Yugi smiled and went to brush his teeth after he ate hurriedly.
"Let's walk instead of catching the bus," Yami said.
"Okay."
After fifteen minutes of walking, ~Yugi's house is only a mile away from the mall. I wish I lived that close to a mall…~
"Hey isn't that Joey and Tristan talking to Kaiba?" Yugi asked.
"I think so, but why would they be talking to Seto Kaiba of all people?"
"Hey Yug! Uh hi Yami." Tristan waved them over.
"So Yugi I heard you have a rare card from dog-boy here and is friend Idiot," Kaiba said in his usually unemotional voice.
"I guess," Yugi scratched his head.
"I challenged you to a duel then today. Your Heart of the Cards for my Blue Eyes, how about it Yugi?" Kaiba stared at Yugi daring him to refuse.
Kaiomi: Sorry Lily22 but I couldn't help it to write this chap two different ways…again.
Kaiba: How about you untie me first?
Kaiomi: First I have to take a picture. I did a nice makeover job don't you think Yugi?
Yugi: *Sweatdrop* I guess but what are you going to do with the picture?
Kaiomi: Blackmail him later of course.
Kaiba: WHAT!!!
Kaiomi: Here it is *Click, click, click* Aw the camera ran out of film, oh well I can make copies later.
Yami: *Knocks then opens the door* Yugi, we need to go. You still have to finish your…*He sees Kaiba with the makeup, hair stuff, and nail polish on* Oh my gosh….ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! *Rolls on the floor laughing* Ouch my stomach hurts, Kaiba I didn't know that you were a girl! Wait until everyone hears about this!
Kaiba: Kaiomi wait until you untie me I will kill you!
Kaiomi: Oh well, I can at least send these pictures to the newspapers about this.
Kaiba: You wouldn't dare…
Kaiomi: Sure I would but I guess we have to end this soon because I have to study for my exams too so bye! And please review!