I'm going to upload the final two chapters at once because I can. So yes, things are finally starting to wind down >>;;
"I should kill you where you stand, you monster!" Raziel roared as he held the Reaver to Bakura's throat. "Look at what became of Nosgoth after you stole me away!"
"I knew I should have taken your card from the twerp," Bakura snarled in reply.
"But you did not and the woman with her companions returned me like they said they would. Even freed me from the Hell you had trapped me in."
"Such a pity, you really did make a nice card," Bakura chuckled.
"Silence, you snake!" Raziel boomed. "I do not have time for you. I want to kill you this instant. And perhaps I should since I have you where I want you," the fiend snarled.
"You don't know how damned lucky you are that for some reason I can't trap you in a card again," Bakura growled.
"Your threats are idle now," Raziel scoffed. He drew the Reaver back and prepared to strike. Using the slight opening, Bakura used a telekinetic blast from the Ring to knock Raziel backwards. The Reaver of Souls flipped up to his feet and snarled at the Spirit.
"RAZIEL!" Kain boomed as he hit Bakura with a bolt of energy. "You do not have time for this! Follow me, we are needed elsewhere."
Raziel growled back at Bakura as he groaned in the rubble, but turned his back to follow Kain instead.
"Let the demons deal with him," Kain snorted.
"Demons?" Bakura asked groggily. As if to answer him there was a crackle of electricity. Bakura raised his head to see three grey demons with pincers and electricity crackling over their bodies. "Oh," he grunted.
"That... is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen," Ryou muttered as he looked down one of the fissures. A huge tentacle writhed below the ground, the blood of the land stained on it's surface and foaming.
"Get away from it, make sure you watch where you step," Sarah warned as she pulled him away.
"Is that thing in pain?" Ryou asked as he caught sight of another tentacle.
"No, I think that is the Elder God. The Pillars had it trapped or something, he wants the decay. It'll set him free. He's most likely thriving on this..." she answered.
"Oh, he's big."
"Yeah, wouldn't be surprised if he spans miles out from this place," Sarah muttered as he passed the toppled Pillars. She lightly touched the crumbled remains from the Pillar of Balance before moving along. Yami and his Magician were already a good deal ahead, looking for an entrance to the cells.
"You know..." Ryou began. "When all is said and done I want to see the games or whatever you got all this from. It's scaring the crap out of me right now, but I want to see the background story."
"It's thick, quite enthralling though. Despite my experience here, I still love Nosgoth and it's dark storyline. I just never, ever want to come back..." Sarah grunted as she stumbled over a rock, she hissed through clenched teeth when reflex led her to brace herself with her right hand. She picked her hand off the stone and shook it slightly to rid herself of the pain.
"Careful," Ryou said softly as he opted to walk on her right side.
"I'll be fine."
"Sarah! Ryou!" Yami called. "We might have found something, we have to dig it out first though. The staircase is blocked," Yami said as he pointed to a pile of rubble in a part of the Sanctuary Sarah wasn't familiar with.
"Be extremely careful!" Sarah called out as she and Ryou tried to hurry over. "I'm not sure if you're aware of it or not but there's something alive under our feet, and it wants out. We're bound to run into a whole mess of trouble down there."
"Allow me to scout ahead, Master. I can help further protect you all," the Magician said as he bowed his head.
"My friend, any help you can give us will be appreciated," Yami replied. "But first we'll need to get into the cells."
"Not a problem," the Magician smirked. He raised his staff, as he did so the rubble followed, when he moved his arm to the side the rubble came along. He sat it down again and waved to the newly cleared staircase.
"Make us look useless why don't ya," Sarah laughed.
"You do not need to be moving rocks," the Magician said as he pointed to her hand.
"I know, I was kidding," she said as she raised a brow.
Bakura grunted as he shoved the lifeless corpse off of him, he had taken out one of the three lightening demons. Their speed was overwhelming and he easily found himself backed into a corner whenever he'd forget that fact. His chest and back stung from when he had been picked up by the pincers of one, the sadistic demon ran a fairly strong surge of electricity through his body then. Bakura was sure if he weren't a magical being the jolt would have killed him. Instead it had temporarily stunned him. The effect wore off when the beast slammed him into the ground. That's when he had struck and banished the demon's soul, thus the lifeless body fell on him. Now faced with two more he found himself weakened from the first. He didn't know what his course of action would be. There was a great wall that most likely protected a city, if Bakura could get across the open snow field and scale the ruined section of that wall, he might find some form of safe haven for a while at least. He had to get out of the pass he was currently in to get there, though. And the demons effectively blocked the only way out. His other option was the gate, providing they couldn't use it he could get away. Bakura suddenly hated the fact that all the landscape he'd ever seen in Nosgoth was mountains and cliffs with narrow passes.
"Why the devil are you messing with me anyway? I was the one that let you get this far," he snapped at them.
"The Masters are taking no chances," one hissed in reply.
"Does everyone here answer to a higher power? What, are the 'masters' too afraid to let themselves be known?" Bakura growled.
"It is their choice, we are to start it and they shall finish," the other demon said. "It should be of no matter to you, traveler. You will not live to see the Masters." Both lightening demons charged him, Bakura growled and turned heel to flee. The gate it was, then. He'd head back to the Abyss, the others couldn't have gone too far and that seemed to be in the best meeting area anyway. Bakura took the time and effort to close the door behind him, he heard rocks fall as he did and assumed that meant it had been blocked. He had to use the gate now, there was no way out. With a snort he stepped upon the rune and tried to remember the symbol for the Abyss. He cycled through the available options a few times before settling on a spiral between two cliffs, it seemed to be the most logical location.
As he emerged from the gate room on the other side, another quake rocked the location. Bakura narrowly avoided a stream of blood as it burst through the rocks above him. The deluge was channeled by the debris to run towards the Abyss, small trickles led to pools that formed in the pass. Bakura was sure if he didn't hurry more would pour down from above him and sweep him out into the lake. Though he didn't know why, he felt the need to stay far from the thick red liquid, it had a strange smell to it and seemed to emanate a malicious aura.
"I wonder, everything looks worse for wear here. Could this be the epicenter?" he asked himself. "Everything always seems to be drawn to a central point, this is as good a place as any to hunt for the others," he scowled as his Ring came to life and pointed the way Yami had gone. "And I was right, as usual."
"There are sections divided by fissures, this will hamper our progress," the Magician called over his shoulder.
"A beast with wings would be helpful, but I have none that could both carry us and be small enough to move in such a confined area," Yami sighed as he mentally went through the monsters he could call upon. He wasn't sure if he could summon one that didn't reside in his deck when he was so far from where they were imprisoned.
"Mister Magician?" Sarah asked as she tapped his armor.
"Hrm?" he asked as he turned to face her.
"Could you do what you did with the rubble before and make stepping stones for us to cross? Don't have to last, just long enough for us to cross each fissure."
"It will be dangerous, but I might be able to do so," he nodded.
"It's worth a shot, we'll have to stick together so we can watch one another," Yami said. "When ever you're ready, my friend," he told the Magician. The tall slender figure nodded as cool blue eyes searched for viable sections of rock to gather for the task at hand. He didn't have enough large sections so instead said the walkway would have to shift as they went, the back half moving to take the lead.
Despite being told not to do so, Ryou looked down. Below the surface he saw another tentacle, it throbbed and pulsated as it slowly moved to and fro, he made a face of disgust and wished to move faster to get away from the horrible sight.
"The blood flows worry me," Yami murmured as he pointed to walls. The red liquid pooled in places as more streamed and ran to the fissures.
"We must hurry, the chambers are unstable," the Magician announced in his soft voice once the small group had crossed the gap.
"I agree, Yugi's safety is of the utmost importance. The sooner we can get him the sooner we can leave," Yami said as he moved quickly ahead.
"What of Bakura?" Ryou asked. "We can't leave him here."
"Even if we did, I'm sure he can find his way back. But no, we can't. He has a knack for finding persons and things. I don't doubt he'll be with us when we leave."
"The light is fading fast, anyone have a plan?" Sarah asked.
Yami frowned momentarily as he thought of something. "I've never done this before, I just hope it works how I want it to," the Spirit said as he closed his eyes.
"What now?" Ryou questioned. There was a flash of light and a metallic ringing as bright objects fell all along the hall. Yami looked up as the sounds slowly faded, the echoes dying in the tunnels.
"Dude! Swords of Revealing Light," Sarah sputtered as she realized what it was. The swords had not only lit up the area but frozen the blood flows as well.
"And for good measure," Yami said quietly as he picked one up. "A make shift torch in case they didn't span as long as I had hoped."
"How long will they last?" Ryou questioned.
"I'm not sure, but since we aren't in a duel I should hopefully be able to re-summon them when they fade."
"Excellent choice of magic, Master," the Magician bowed.
Yugi shifted on the wall to which he had been chained. The glow was unmistakable, he didn't know what it was but knew it meant someone was on their way. He had only been chained since the night before, but was worn out. When the water turned to blood two days ago he had been unable to drink anything, thus he was slowly dehydrating. The floor in his cell had caved in shortly after Kain left him there, only a slim section remained where he stood. Yugi knew if it collapsed into the cavern below he would be safe, the manacles on his wrist would prevent him from falling into the river of blood beneath. He sighed heavily as memories turned back to the week he'd spent in this Hell, how it could have taken them so long to return he didn't know. Yugi was more than discouraged with the fact he couldn't make contact with Yami, his mind raced with a million questions.
What if Yami wasn't with them?
What if something had happened and Yami was gone, forever?
Could Bakura have claimed the Puzzle?
Did Sarah have it now because Yami was too weak to carry it on?
Was it even any of them coming for him now?
He had to stop the thoughts, the pit of doubt in his stomach was gnawing at him enough to make him sick. The small figure shifted, the chains clinking as he did so. He turned violet eyes once more to the cell in front of him. He turned them away almost instantly. He knew it was there, yet he couldn't avoid it. It was hard, not after he got to know the old man. Not after he had watched it happen...
"You're not from around here, are you?" the voice asked. There was a cough as a face peered through the bars near the floor. In the dim torchlight Yugi could make out a long grey beard and balding head through the dirt and grime.
"No, sir," Yugi replied as he sat. The chains about his arms made him hold them above his head to do so, but he was tired of standing. He wondered why the old man was just now making himself known, Yugi had been down here for a few hours by now.
"Sad to see such a young one tossed into a cage. I've been here for a few months now, never a visitor. Was rare to find anyone away from the human cities. We'd die and all."
"Why were you out?" Yugi asked.
"M'granddaughter had slipped out. I was playing with her, she was hiding and running trying to keep from being found out. Each time I found her she'd ask to play again. We kept moving further away from her home, eventually we were on the other side of the gates. This was no place to play, hunters were stationed there and tried to get her to turn around and come back with me. She got scared of the armor they wore an' ran, the poor child fell into the water. She was whisked out through the drainage. I dove in after her despite the warnings not to, that she was gone. I didn't believe 'em," the old man sighed and turned his back to lean against the bars. "She had survived the currents, I found her sitting atop a rock on the other side, coughing. I was weak myself, almost went over the falls as I swam for her. Told her to stay there and wait, she was scared and said she didn't like the water. She climbed up, lost her footing and fell down into the waters. I heard her scream the whole way, eventually her cries became the same as the ones the Lake of the Dead always made. Enraged I pulled myself out of the water, stormed off to the vampire's seat of power. Met Kain there, verbally abused him and blamed m'granddaughter's death on him. He said he had no time for me and rather than kill me locked me up in here. I've been surviving on the scraps he casts me every now and then. He says it's my punishment for thinking of blaming something as insignificant as that on him."
"Oh, I'm... sorry," Yugi said softly. He really didn't know what to say in return.
"What's your story there, sonny?"
Yugi stiffened for a moment. What could he say? The truth was far too hard to believe. A variation of it might work. "Someone I know took something from Kain, in return he took one of my friends. The others came to save him and said they would return what the other had stolen from Kain. Kain wanted nothing of it but agreed to make an exchange. You see, the friend of mine he had in captivity before was needed to find the other. The other two with him were needed as well, I wasn't and offered to stay instead. They didn't want to do it, but if we were going to return what was stolen it had to be done. I'm waiting on them to come back..."
"Ah, I heard part of this before. So it was you and them those few days ago? I wondered what that was about, only heard the voices but not the words. You do know Kain's not going to hold to his word right?"
Yugi sighed and lowered his head.
"Didn't mean to rain on yer parade, but I'm sorry. Kain isn't known for his generosity."
"And when they come through?" Yugi asked.
"No one ever has, so I don't know what would happen."
"My friends will, I have faith in them."
He and the old man exchanged more humorous stories as the time progressed. Yugi was grateful for his company, it had taken his mind off what was going on around them. But when the earthquakes began to worsen, he knew it was only a matter of time before one of them would become wounded. At first nothing much was thought of it when the dripping of blood started. That was until it began to harm the old man. Yugi had no choice but to watch him grow sicker as the flow continued, a fissure in the ground kept the stream from reaching him but Yugi still worried about the old man. His skin blistered and melted away eventually, all in the areas the blood had touched him. The old man was too weak to get up off the floor, so it only claimed him faster. Yugi was both relieved and saddened when a quake caused the old man's cell to collapse on him. The section of rock that fell on him killed him instantly. Other quakes eventually cleared the area some and Yugi could now see the man's remains. Smashed and decayed from the land's assaults. Now Yugi couldn't tear his eyes from the spot. Horrible images of his friends replaced the old man, and finally one of him. The gory image of Yami reaching out to him and saying Yugi had failed him caused Yugi to vomit. There was little in his stomach, not that he could tell really. He didn't get to see what his body had purged, the missing floor allowed it to vanish quickly. Yugi wiped his mouth and blinked back tears, he couldn't cry. Not when he was already dehydrated like he was. He had to stay strong, had to keep hope alive. The glow that reached him had helped boost his spirits, he only hoped they would hurry and get to him.
"Shit, this is a fine mess," Sarah scowled as she stood alone on a narrow section of land. Another quake had rocked the area, the Magician had been taken out by a rock slide and Yami couldn't yet re-summon him, the monster had to have time to recover. Should anything jar what she stood on, the woman would be lost to the creature and river below. Ryou had long ago taken to shoving debris into the void, Yami joined when he explained maybe they could plug it in a narrowed section enough so she could try and cross, even if it meant having to climb down closer to the oozing river. The woman sighed as she sat down cross-legged. She had no choice, there was nothing she could do. In her mind she kept telling herself she was going to die, she never once said it aloud so as not to have the other two lecture her again.
"I'm trying to get out of here! I'm not going to fuck anything up, it would be nice if you bastards would just back off!" Bakura hissed as he sent a purple demon tumbling into a fissure. The creature stood on thin legs and feet, it's balance was awkward and allowed him to easily be rid of it. He had to admit, they were agile at least. The other four were hopping across gaps and over stones as if it were a simple game. The large sacks on their back vented the green gas he had yet to come in contact with, he assumed it was toxic and was determined to keep them out of range.
"We were asked to make sure you do not leave, that will insure that you never return," one chuckled.
"Oh blow it out your ass," he replied as he took a chance and kicked down part of a narrow strip of land. The whole thing crumbled, the action took other sections of the floor with it. Three of the demons fell, only one remained now. With enough distance between them Bakura could concentrate enough and banish the fiend's soul. The body fell to a heap on the narrow walkway and Bakura turned to advance. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the enormous tentacle rise up and take out more than half the ground in front of him. It effectively blocked his movement. His only choices were to turn around or try and use the cell bars to get around. They were still somewhat intact, he could hop from one section to the other, but it might cause the floor to collapse more.
"Such a persistent little soul," an old voice called out to him. It seemed to come from all around, more importantly below him.
"I've got plans, and dying in this hell-hole is not one of them!" he replied. There was a chuckle, Bakura caught a glint of something for a moment, then a second time. He stared in horror at an eyeball that had to be twice as big as him, it could easily fit him and the other three with room to spare. The huge orb was under him, watching him. It moved slightly to be just in front of him. "I do thank you for your efforts, but I cannot allow you to become a threat. That is why I must remove you and the others, I will not fail when I am so close to my freedom!" the beast boomed. Bakura frowned and took a chance, he closed his eyes and concentrated, calling forth a magic card. The beast was bound suddenly in bands of light, it's massive tentacle was pulled down to bridge a gap for the Spirit, he walked over the slick surface quickly as the beast growled below him. He caught sight of more eyes, all watching him.
Bakura chuckled and kicked the stilled appendage. "I'm afraid we will not be such easy prey. My deed is done here, I have a world of my own to conquer. Yours has no value to me, it's dead anyway," the Spirit snorted as he walked off. The beast growled as it tried to move its tentacle. Bakura knew he had to hurry as it wouldn't be long before the beast actually was a threat, and he didn't want to see just how big it was or how many eyes it had.
"Give me your hand!" Ryou called to the dangling woman.
"I'll pull you with me! Just go!" she replied.
"You will not! And I refuse to leave without you or Yami Yugi!"
"Well you know I'm alive, but how is he, did the rock do damage when it hit him?" the woman asked. It hadn't been long after the rock hit Yami that what she stood on began to crumble. It fell towards where Ryou and Yami were, but Sarah was unable to grab the land in time. She slid down and was currently clinging to a rock, inches above the deep red flow.
"I'm fine," the Spirit grunted loud enough for Ryou to hear.
"He's coming to! Now take my hand, he can help haul you up in no time!"
"Such a mess you've gotten yourselves into!" Bakura called out as he skid down the incline they had passed earlier. He paused for a moment then grabbed a few of the glowing swords, the Spirit took aim and landed them in the rock surface. "Climb them!" he commanded. He stepped back and summoned an equip magic item for himself. Bakura launched Kunai with Chain to bridge the gap. With the blade tip firmly embedded in a sturdy overhead boulder, the Spirit swung across the void easily as the other two helped the woman get on solid ground. "No smart remarks, for now we all work on getting out of here. Fight later," he grunted as he reclaimed his chain. He took note of the bloodied bandage on the woman's hand and laughed. "Why is it only you that gets hurt?"
"You're charred on the chest and back, wasn't just me," she growled.
"Lightening demon, you?" he asked as he took the lead.
"Acid demon."
"I suppose that counts as worse."
"What kept you?" Yami asked as he fell in stride with the other spirit.
"Demons, Raziel and rock slides. Oh, and a big squid thing with a million eyes," he replied sourly.
"The Elder is out?" Sarah asked.
"He's getting there, was nice enough to say 'Thanks for helping my slimy ass, now here's your reward! DEATH!' jolly fellow don't you think?"
"Sounds about like you," Sarah spat.
"Oh, such a low blow!" he chuckled. As Yami opened his mouth to say something, the swords flickered and vanished causing the area to fall into total darkness.
"We'll fall into a pit for sure in these conditions," Ryou sputtered.
"Whoever has their hands on me, move them," Sarah snapped suddenly.
"Not afraid of the dark then?" Bakura asked as he leaned his head on her shoulder.
"You're the scariest thing around," she muttered as she moved away. "So you enjoy messing with me?" she demanded.
"Who wouldn't? I got to fuck around in your head, I know exactly what buttons to push," he said darkly.
"Alright, just knock it off," Yami sighed. "I'd like to get the lights back on but you aren't really helping my concentration."
"I'll take it from here," Bakura grunted as the walls and walkway lit up in fire. Instinctively Sarah and Ryou jumped to avoid the flames, Yami cast Bakura a hard glare.
"I wanted to avoid that one for the panic factor it has!" he yelled.
"The fire is harmless unless I wish it to be." Bakura shrugged.
"Yes, it all depends on you because you cast Burning Land."
"I suggest you move, I'm going to let the fire burn itself out and there isn't much for it to burn." Bakura pushed past the other Spirit and knocked Ryou in the shoulder, "You can quit clinging to her now, you aren't going to go up in an inferno."
Yu-Gi-Oh! characters and everything related is (c) Kazuki Takahashi
Legacy of Kain characters and everything related is (c) Crystal Dynamics and Silicon Knights.
"I should kill you where you stand, you monster!" Raziel roared as he held the Reaver to Bakura's throat. "Look at what became of Nosgoth after you stole me away!"
"I knew I should have taken your card from the twerp," Bakura snarled in reply.
"But you did not and the woman with her companions returned me like they said they would. Even freed me from the Hell you had trapped me in."
"Such a pity, you really did make a nice card," Bakura chuckled.
"Silence, you snake!" Raziel boomed. "I do not have time for you. I want to kill you this instant. And perhaps I should since I have you where I want you," the fiend snarled.
"You don't know how damned lucky you are that for some reason I can't trap you in a card again," Bakura growled.
"Your threats are idle now," Raziel scoffed. He drew the Reaver back and prepared to strike. Using the slight opening, Bakura used a telekinetic blast from the Ring to knock Raziel backwards. The Reaver of Souls flipped up to his feet and snarled at the Spirit.
"RAZIEL!" Kain boomed as he hit Bakura with a bolt of energy. "You do not have time for this! Follow me, we are needed elsewhere."
Raziel growled back at Bakura as he groaned in the rubble, but turned his back to follow Kain instead.
"Let the demons deal with him," Kain snorted.
"Demons?" Bakura asked groggily. As if to answer him there was a crackle of electricity. Bakura raised his head to see three grey demons with pincers and electricity crackling over their bodies. "Oh," he grunted.
"That... is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen," Ryou muttered as he looked down one of the fissures. A huge tentacle writhed below the ground, the blood of the land stained on it's surface and foaming.
"Get away from it, make sure you watch where you step," Sarah warned as she pulled him away.
"Is that thing in pain?" Ryou asked as he caught sight of another tentacle.
"No, I think that is the Elder God. The Pillars had it trapped or something, he wants the decay. It'll set him free. He's most likely thriving on this..." she answered.
"Oh, he's big."
"Yeah, wouldn't be surprised if he spans miles out from this place," Sarah muttered as he passed the toppled Pillars. She lightly touched the crumbled remains from the Pillar of Balance before moving along. Yami and his Magician were already a good deal ahead, looking for an entrance to the cells.
"You know..." Ryou began. "When all is said and done I want to see the games or whatever you got all this from. It's scaring the crap out of me right now, but I want to see the background story."
"It's thick, quite enthralling though. Despite my experience here, I still love Nosgoth and it's dark storyline. I just never, ever want to come back..." Sarah grunted as she stumbled over a rock, she hissed through clenched teeth when reflex led her to brace herself with her right hand. She picked her hand off the stone and shook it slightly to rid herself of the pain.
"Careful," Ryou said softly as he opted to walk on her right side.
"I'll be fine."
"Sarah! Ryou!" Yami called. "We might have found something, we have to dig it out first though. The staircase is blocked," Yami said as he pointed to a pile of rubble in a part of the Sanctuary Sarah wasn't familiar with.
"Be extremely careful!" Sarah called out as she and Ryou tried to hurry over. "I'm not sure if you're aware of it or not but there's something alive under our feet, and it wants out. We're bound to run into a whole mess of trouble down there."
"Allow me to scout ahead, Master. I can help further protect you all," the Magician said as he bowed his head.
"My friend, any help you can give us will be appreciated," Yami replied. "But first we'll need to get into the cells."
"Not a problem," the Magician smirked. He raised his staff, as he did so the rubble followed, when he moved his arm to the side the rubble came along. He sat it down again and waved to the newly cleared staircase.
"Make us look useless why don't ya," Sarah laughed.
"You do not need to be moving rocks," the Magician said as he pointed to her hand.
"I know, I was kidding," she said as she raised a brow.
Bakura grunted as he shoved the lifeless corpse off of him, he had taken out one of the three lightening demons. Their speed was overwhelming and he easily found himself backed into a corner whenever he'd forget that fact. His chest and back stung from when he had been picked up by the pincers of one, the sadistic demon ran a fairly strong surge of electricity through his body then. Bakura was sure if he weren't a magical being the jolt would have killed him. Instead it had temporarily stunned him. The effect wore off when the beast slammed him into the ground. That's when he had struck and banished the demon's soul, thus the lifeless body fell on him. Now faced with two more he found himself weakened from the first. He didn't know what his course of action would be. There was a great wall that most likely protected a city, if Bakura could get across the open snow field and scale the ruined section of that wall, he might find some form of safe haven for a while at least. He had to get out of the pass he was currently in to get there, though. And the demons effectively blocked the only way out. His other option was the gate, providing they couldn't use it he could get away. Bakura suddenly hated the fact that all the landscape he'd ever seen in Nosgoth was mountains and cliffs with narrow passes.
"Why the devil are you messing with me anyway? I was the one that let you get this far," he snapped at them.
"The Masters are taking no chances," one hissed in reply.
"Does everyone here answer to a higher power? What, are the 'masters' too afraid to let themselves be known?" Bakura growled.
"It is their choice, we are to start it and they shall finish," the other demon said. "It should be of no matter to you, traveler. You will not live to see the Masters." Both lightening demons charged him, Bakura growled and turned heel to flee. The gate it was, then. He'd head back to the Abyss, the others couldn't have gone too far and that seemed to be in the best meeting area anyway. Bakura took the time and effort to close the door behind him, he heard rocks fall as he did and assumed that meant it had been blocked. He had to use the gate now, there was no way out. With a snort he stepped upon the rune and tried to remember the symbol for the Abyss. He cycled through the available options a few times before settling on a spiral between two cliffs, it seemed to be the most logical location.
As he emerged from the gate room on the other side, another quake rocked the location. Bakura narrowly avoided a stream of blood as it burst through the rocks above him. The deluge was channeled by the debris to run towards the Abyss, small trickles led to pools that formed in the pass. Bakura was sure if he didn't hurry more would pour down from above him and sweep him out into the lake. Though he didn't know why, he felt the need to stay far from the thick red liquid, it had a strange smell to it and seemed to emanate a malicious aura.
"I wonder, everything looks worse for wear here. Could this be the epicenter?" he asked himself. "Everything always seems to be drawn to a central point, this is as good a place as any to hunt for the others," he scowled as his Ring came to life and pointed the way Yami had gone. "And I was right, as usual."
"There are sections divided by fissures, this will hamper our progress," the Magician called over his shoulder.
"A beast with wings would be helpful, but I have none that could both carry us and be small enough to move in such a confined area," Yami sighed as he mentally went through the monsters he could call upon. He wasn't sure if he could summon one that didn't reside in his deck when he was so far from where they were imprisoned.
"Mister Magician?" Sarah asked as she tapped his armor.
"Hrm?" he asked as he turned to face her.
"Could you do what you did with the rubble before and make stepping stones for us to cross? Don't have to last, just long enough for us to cross each fissure."
"It will be dangerous, but I might be able to do so," he nodded.
"It's worth a shot, we'll have to stick together so we can watch one another," Yami said. "When ever you're ready, my friend," he told the Magician. The tall slender figure nodded as cool blue eyes searched for viable sections of rock to gather for the task at hand. He didn't have enough large sections so instead said the walkway would have to shift as they went, the back half moving to take the lead.
Despite being told not to do so, Ryou looked down. Below the surface he saw another tentacle, it throbbed and pulsated as it slowly moved to and fro, he made a face of disgust and wished to move faster to get away from the horrible sight.
"The blood flows worry me," Yami murmured as he pointed to walls. The red liquid pooled in places as more streamed and ran to the fissures.
"We must hurry, the chambers are unstable," the Magician announced in his soft voice once the small group had crossed the gap.
"I agree, Yugi's safety is of the utmost importance. The sooner we can get him the sooner we can leave," Yami said as he moved quickly ahead.
"What of Bakura?" Ryou asked. "We can't leave him here."
"Even if we did, I'm sure he can find his way back. But no, we can't. He has a knack for finding persons and things. I don't doubt he'll be with us when we leave."
"The light is fading fast, anyone have a plan?" Sarah asked.
Yami frowned momentarily as he thought of something. "I've never done this before, I just hope it works how I want it to," the Spirit said as he closed his eyes.
"What now?" Ryou questioned. There was a flash of light and a metallic ringing as bright objects fell all along the hall. Yami looked up as the sounds slowly faded, the echoes dying in the tunnels.
"Dude! Swords of Revealing Light," Sarah sputtered as she realized what it was. The swords had not only lit up the area but frozen the blood flows as well.
"And for good measure," Yami said quietly as he picked one up. "A make shift torch in case they didn't span as long as I had hoped."
"How long will they last?" Ryou questioned.
"I'm not sure, but since we aren't in a duel I should hopefully be able to re-summon them when they fade."
"Excellent choice of magic, Master," the Magician bowed.
Yugi shifted on the wall to which he had been chained. The glow was unmistakable, he didn't know what it was but knew it meant someone was on their way. He had only been chained since the night before, but was worn out. When the water turned to blood two days ago he had been unable to drink anything, thus he was slowly dehydrating. The floor in his cell had caved in shortly after Kain left him there, only a slim section remained where he stood. Yugi knew if it collapsed into the cavern below he would be safe, the manacles on his wrist would prevent him from falling into the river of blood beneath. He sighed heavily as memories turned back to the week he'd spent in this Hell, how it could have taken them so long to return he didn't know. Yugi was more than discouraged with the fact he couldn't make contact with Yami, his mind raced with a million questions.
What if Yami wasn't with them?
What if something had happened and Yami was gone, forever?
Could Bakura have claimed the Puzzle?
Did Sarah have it now because Yami was too weak to carry it on?
Was it even any of them coming for him now?
He had to stop the thoughts, the pit of doubt in his stomach was gnawing at him enough to make him sick. The small figure shifted, the chains clinking as he did so. He turned violet eyes once more to the cell in front of him. He turned them away almost instantly. He knew it was there, yet he couldn't avoid it. It was hard, not after he got to know the old man. Not after he had watched it happen...
"You're not from around here, are you?" the voice asked. There was a cough as a face peered through the bars near the floor. In the dim torchlight Yugi could make out a long grey beard and balding head through the dirt and grime.
"No, sir," Yugi replied as he sat. The chains about his arms made him hold them above his head to do so, but he was tired of standing. He wondered why the old man was just now making himself known, Yugi had been down here for a few hours by now.
"Sad to see such a young one tossed into a cage. I've been here for a few months now, never a visitor. Was rare to find anyone away from the human cities. We'd die and all."
"Why were you out?" Yugi asked.
"M'granddaughter had slipped out. I was playing with her, she was hiding and running trying to keep from being found out. Each time I found her she'd ask to play again. We kept moving further away from her home, eventually we were on the other side of the gates. This was no place to play, hunters were stationed there and tried to get her to turn around and come back with me. She got scared of the armor they wore an' ran, the poor child fell into the water. She was whisked out through the drainage. I dove in after her despite the warnings not to, that she was gone. I didn't believe 'em," the old man sighed and turned his back to lean against the bars. "She had survived the currents, I found her sitting atop a rock on the other side, coughing. I was weak myself, almost went over the falls as I swam for her. Told her to stay there and wait, she was scared and said she didn't like the water. She climbed up, lost her footing and fell down into the waters. I heard her scream the whole way, eventually her cries became the same as the ones the Lake of the Dead always made. Enraged I pulled myself out of the water, stormed off to the vampire's seat of power. Met Kain there, verbally abused him and blamed m'granddaughter's death on him. He said he had no time for me and rather than kill me locked me up in here. I've been surviving on the scraps he casts me every now and then. He says it's my punishment for thinking of blaming something as insignificant as that on him."
"Oh, I'm... sorry," Yugi said softly. He really didn't know what to say in return.
"What's your story there, sonny?"
Yugi stiffened for a moment. What could he say? The truth was far too hard to believe. A variation of it might work. "Someone I know took something from Kain, in return he took one of my friends. The others came to save him and said they would return what the other had stolen from Kain. Kain wanted nothing of it but agreed to make an exchange. You see, the friend of mine he had in captivity before was needed to find the other. The other two with him were needed as well, I wasn't and offered to stay instead. They didn't want to do it, but if we were going to return what was stolen it had to be done. I'm waiting on them to come back..."
"Ah, I heard part of this before. So it was you and them those few days ago? I wondered what that was about, only heard the voices but not the words. You do know Kain's not going to hold to his word right?"
Yugi sighed and lowered his head.
"Didn't mean to rain on yer parade, but I'm sorry. Kain isn't known for his generosity."
"And when they come through?" Yugi asked.
"No one ever has, so I don't know what would happen."
"My friends will, I have faith in them."
He and the old man exchanged more humorous stories as the time progressed. Yugi was grateful for his company, it had taken his mind off what was going on around them. But when the earthquakes began to worsen, he knew it was only a matter of time before one of them would become wounded. At first nothing much was thought of it when the dripping of blood started. That was until it began to harm the old man. Yugi had no choice but to watch him grow sicker as the flow continued, a fissure in the ground kept the stream from reaching him but Yugi still worried about the old man. His skin blistered and melted away eventually, all in the areas the blood had touched him. The old man was too weak to get up off the floor, so it only claimed him faster. Yugi was both relieved and saddened when a quake caused the old man's cell to collapse on him. The section of rock that fell on him killed him instantly. Other quakes eventually cleared the area some and Yugi could now see the man's remains. Smashed and decayed from the land's assaults. Now Yugi couldn't tear his eyes from the spot. Horrible images of his friends replaced the old man, and finally one of him. The gory image of Yami reaching out to him and saying Yugi had failed him caused Yugi to vomit. There was little in his stomach, not that he could tell really. He didn't get to see what his body had purged, the missing floor allowed it to vanish quickly. Yugi wiped his mouth and blinked back tears, he couldn't cry. Not when he was already dehydrated like he was. He had to stay strong, had to keep hope alive. The glow that reached him had helped boost his spirits, he only hoped they would hurry and get to him.
"Shit, this is a fine mess," Sarah scowled as she stood alone on a narrow section of land. Another quake had rocked the area, the Magician had been taken out by a rock slide and Yami couldn't yet re-summon him, the monster had to have time to recover. Should anything jar what she stood on, the woman would be lost to the creature and river below. Ryou had long ago taken to shoving debris into the void, Yami joined when he explained maybe they could plug it in a narrowed section enough so she could try and cross, even if it meant having to climb down closer to the oozing river. The woman sighed as she sat down cross-legged. She had no choice, there was nothing she could do. In her mind she kept telling herself she was going to die, she never once said it aloud so as not to have the other two lecture her again.
"I'm trying to get out of here! I'm not going to fuck anything up, it would be nice if you bastards would just back off!" Bakura hissed as he sent a purple demon tumbling into a fissure. The creature stood on thin legs and feet, it's balance was awkward and allowed him to easily be rid of it. He had to admit, they were agile at least. The other four were hopping across gaps and over stones as if it were a simple game. The large sacks on their back vented the green gas he had yet to come in contact with, he assumed it was toxic and was determined to keep them out of range.
"We were asked to make sure you do not leave, that will insure that you never return," one chuckled.
"Oh blow it out your ass," he replied as he took a chance and kicked down part of a narrow strip of land. The whole thing crumbled, the action took other sections of the floor with it. Three of the demons fell, only one remained now. With enough distance between them Bakura could concentrate enough and banish the fiend's soul. The body fell to a heap on the narrow walkway and Bakura turned to advance. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the enormous tentacle rise up and take out more than half the ground in front of him. It effectively blocked his movement. His only choices were to turn around or try and use the cell bars to get around. They were still somewhat intact, he could hop from one section to the other, but it might cause the floor to collapse more.
"Such a persistent little soul," an old voice called out to him. It seemed to come from all around, more importantly below him.
"I've got plans, and dying in this hell-hole is not one of them!" he replied. There was a chuckle, Bakura caught a glint of something for a moment, then a second time. He stared in horror at an eyeball that had to be twice as big as him, it could easily fit him and the other three with room to spare. The huge orb was under him, watching him. It moved slightly to be just in front of him. "I do thank you for your efforts, but I cannot allow you to become a threat. That is why I must remove you and the others, I will not fail when I am so close to my freedom!" the beast boomed. Bakura frowned and took a chance, he closed his eyes and concentrated, calling forth a magic card. The beast was bound suddenly in bands of light, it's massive tentacle was pulled down to bridge a gap for the Spirit, he walked over the slick surface quickly as the beast growled below him. He caught sight of more eyes, all watching him.
Bakura chuckled and kicked the stilled appendage. "I'm afraid we will not be such easy prey. My deed is done here, I have a world of my own to conquer. Yours has no value to me, it's dead anyway," the Spirit snorted as he walked off. The beast growled as it tried to move its tentacle. Bakura knew he had to hurry as it wouldn't be long before the beast actually was a threat, and he didn't want to see just how big it was or how many eyes it had.
"Give me your hand!" Ryou called to the dangling woman.
"I'll pull you with me! Just go!" she replied.
"You will not! And I refuse to leave without you or Yami Yugi!"
"Well you know I'm alive, but how is he, did the rock do damage when it hit him?" the woman asked. It hadn't been long after the rock hit Yami that what she stood on began to crumble. It fell towards where Ryou and Yami were, but Sarah was unable to grab the land in time. She slid down and was currently clinging to a rock, inches above the deep red flow.
"I'm fine," the Spirit grunted loud enough for Ryou to hear.
"He's coming to! Now take my hand, he can help haul you up in no time!"
"Such a mess you've gotten yourselves into!" Bakura called out as he skid down the incline they had passed earlier. He paused for a moment then grabbed a few of the glowing swords, the Spirit took aim and landed them in the rock surface. "Climb them!" he commanded. He stepped back and summoned an equip magic item for himself. Bakura launched Kunai with Chain to bridge the gap. With the blade tip firmly embedded in a sturdy overhead boulder, the Spirit swung across the void easily as the other two helped the woman get on solid ground. "No smart remarks, for now we all work on getting out of here. Fight later," he grunted as he reclaimed his chain. He took note of the bloodied bandage on the woman's hand and laughed. "Why is it only you that gets hurt?"
"You're charred on the chest and back, wasn't just me," she growled.
"Lightening demon, you?" he asked as he took the lead.
"Acid demon."
"I suppose that counts as worse."
"What kept you?" Yami asked as he fell in stride with the other spirit.
"Demons, Raziel and rock slides. Oh, and a big squid thing with a million eyes," he replied sourly.
"The Elder is out?" Sarah asked.
"He's getting there, was nice enough to say 'Thanks for helping my slimy ass, now here's your reward! DEATH!' jolly fellow don't you think?"
"Sounds about like you," Sarah spat.
"Oh, such a low blow!" he chuckled. As Yami opened his mouth to say something, the swords flickered and vanished causing the area to fall into total darkness.
"We'll fall into a pit for sure in these conditions," Ryou sputtered.
"Whoever has their hands on me, move them," Sarah snapped suddenly.
"Not afraid of the dark then?" Bakura asked as he leaned his head on her shoulder.
"You're the scariest thing around," she muttered as she moved away. "So you enjoy messing with me?" she demanded.
"Who wouldn't? I got to fuck around in your head, I know exactly what buttons to push," he said darkly.
"Alright, just knock it off," Yami sighed. "I'd like to get the lights back on but you aren't really helping my concentration."
"I'll take it from here," Bakura grunted as the walls and walkway lit up in fire. Instinctively Sarah and Ryou jumped to avoid the flames, Yami cast Bakura a hard glare.
"I wanted to avoid that one for the panic factor it has!" he yelled.
"The fire is harmless unless I wish it to be." Bakura shrugged.
"Yes, it all depends on you because you cast Burning Land."
"I suggest you move, I'm going to let the fire burn itself out and there isn't much for it to burn." Bakura pushed past the other Spirit and knocked Ryou in the shoulder, "You can quit clinging to her now, you aren't going to go up in an inferno."
