Sands of Time and Shadows of Old

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh is in no way my possession I never claimed to own it and I never will I do admit to owning a big yellow rubber duckie, sugar high ideas, muffin highness and my name. You are all welcome to use my Egyptian names for Seto and Yami, you do have full permission just credit me puleeeaaassseeee ^.^;;; Oh yeah no suing, I have nothing that you could sell for money or that would be of any profit to you. All that comes from suing me is LAWYER BILLS and we all hate bills so let's not sue me! NO DA! ^-^

Oooooooooooooookkkkkkkkkkaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy what have I done to Seto? I think some of the happenings in Chat are starting to ummm come out in my writing? Or at least certain aspects… Anyways! Things are getting fun-kaaaay! Those of you who like Bloody Tears expect more soon and ummm well I don't think I got much else to say other than thank you for all the great reviews and please keep 'em comin'!

One important point: A lot of what I write in this chapter is fictional and ummm please don't take it seriously okay? It all comes from the world of fantasy that I call a brain and I do not claim that it's factual in any way nor do I think that things work the way I depict them to in this story, so please guys I don't want history and informative lectures.

With that said –LET'S MOVE ONNNN!– ^-^

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The swirling mist like chains –thick, heavy and black– began to harden like water turning to ice they gained a hard metallic sheen and strength, they wrapped around Seto's body tightly as though trying in their own dark way to contain the evil that was starting to bloom like a black rose. The chains finally turned solid, they looked almost impregnable and indestructible, deep within the deep soft breaths of a demonic being growing could be heard, the chains rising and falling to meet the exhaling and inhaling. Lahgaz watched the mass of darkness intently, sensing the great demonic powers that Seth had allowed the mortals body, she watched it sneering at the thought of how shocked and hurt the "pharaoh" would feel.

Yami, meanwhile, had wandered the room for about half and hour, he could sense such great evil it was close yet he could not reach it "…..It… smells like …. Seth?.... the air… the aura….. So like the dark one..." Yami whispered to himself as he examined the waterfall, noticing something behind it, but not noticing what approached him from behind. He stepped in to the pool of water, it came up to his knees but the tepid rose waters were not unwelcoming it was nice to feel the soft embrace of water after so long Yami's crimson eyes intently looked behind the constant fall of frothy, crystal like tendrils of water.

Beneath the waters that Yami stood in something began to swirl its black body was clear to see under the rippling waves Yami sensed the disturbance and turned to see a long black wave-y line racing under the waters toward him. There was a great splash as it emerged, rose crystal water rose up in a torrent with the beast the "Splissshhhh" was drowned out by an even louder noise –a thundering hhhhiiissssssssssss– arose and even as Yami looked up he knew what he was coming face to face with.

The cobra hissed wildly, its fan like hood was marked with a strange red marking, symmetrical on either hood and strangely enchanting. The black cobra looked down on Yami it swayed above him like a long thin bamboo cane in the wind, twirling in bunched coils from side to side its scales glittered like polished obsidian and its eyes, crimson in colour, glittered and glowed like rubies. The snake was huge a massive monstrous thing Yami questioned how on earth it could have been in the waters without his knowledge, it then dawned on him that the next demon had been expecting him to come and had prepared the welcome in the form of a spectral snake –for as he thought the beast leapt forward and faded in to what appeared to be nothing but air, but was a ripple portal– Yami looked around for it then up only to find it lunging down, massive jaws open wide and long bone-y fangs dripping a purple venom as it dove.

Yami rolled out off the way of the monstrous snake he was now glittering with droplets of water which clung to him like clear beads of crystal his eyes narrowed as he avoided strike after strike that the cobra made. The cobra then went transparent, the only way Yami could actually manage to see it was by looking at the air and seeing how it swirled and rippled like a distorted image when the cobra moved. But even watching for that was hard, the cobra was fast its body was so lithe that one second it was before Yami then in the next it was behind him; the cobra obviously had incredibly good use of its body.

Lahgaz looked up as she felt Yami's presence she smirked as she sensed that her pet had gotten to him, never-the-less, she decided she would pay him a visit Seto would not be ready for a little while yet she passed through a portal to watch the battle between a man and a demonic monster. She glanced back at the mass of humming darkness and chains, it's aura seemed to be growing even stronger in the unsavoury place, she sneered to herself as she faded her thoughts were on those before her whom had failed and died. She then snorted dismissing them, for they were weak and she knew that only the truly strong would survive.

Yami dodged for what felt like the 100th time, the Cobra had now coiled around Yami in a circle so that he could not fully escape the hissing lizard, its long black tongue flicked in and out between smirking lips as it hissed and swayed. –Watching for the chance to lash out and inject its potent poison deep in to Yami's leg– Yami rose his hand as the cobra rose up, coiling masses making it tower up. The cobra dove down, straight like an arrow, jaw wide open, long near transparent fangs that dripped venom were aimed for him. In that instant Yami's puzzle flared brightly and in a bolt of gold the cobra found itself impaled on a spear like appendage eyes like obsidian glared down at the Pharaoh, a hiss like twisted metal arose as it fell back in heaps of scale-y black loops. Yami looked at the beast, he was panting slightly, its body was slowly melting in to nothing but ooze.

Yami turned to the feeling of darkness and evil that he picked up on, the feeling that Seth had done yet more chaotic evil, Yami sighed and muttered to himself "First his brother and now me. Curse that swine Seth." He realised that maybe insulting the dark god hadn't been wise, but it had been done now so without any more thought to it Yami headed towards the waterfall cave.

Lahgaz appeared, blocking his way her eyes shining, she hissed in a voice like a shattering mirror "Wish you to get by here Pharaoh? Well you'll have to wait until my plans are finished. I can't have you stopping the work of Seth!"

Yami rose an eyebrow "You shall not stop me demoness!" Yami's crimson eyes narrowed angrily at the demon then he said, in tones that were more hisses "What have you done with Seto?"

Lahgaz grinned, a toothy dark smirk, she looked at him with mocking amber eyes then she whispered "He is no longer "Seto" but more a demon of Sette." She giggled "He is blessed with Seth's darkness, through me."

Yami glared at her his thoughts racing […Seto? A demon? No… it can't be right. There must be a way to undo the wrong doing here. She said so herself he is darkness through her. Maybe that is the key, to undo the wrong I need to defeat her, thus reversing her magic's?…… I hope so. Seto I cannot lose you to the darkness. I released you of it once…. I can do it for you again, just hold on..] finally he growled "Then I shall kill you, put you in to your prison once more Demon Child!"

Lahgaz smirked and rose her hand, summoning a dagger, long and blackened the blade was a brilliant wave-y black-ish purple and the hilt, made of obsidian was fashioned in to a dragon-like snake. She held the blade and looked at him "Come then. I shall either kill you. Or you will kill me. But I warn you. I borrow my darkness from Seth himself and I know more than the others about shadows. Do not underestimate me based on my body, I'm an ancient spirit."

Yami closed his eyes, the golden sennen eye glowed he held out his hand and summoned forth his own blade. He held up the long golden sickle blade, looking at the crescent blade of shimmering gold, its hilt was carved in to a bird almost like a phoenix and was embedded with Fire Opal and Carnelian. "Very well." Crimson eyes looked in to Amber ones with a cold determination, he would not lose not now.

There was an eerie calm, neither moving, merely checking one another out the world around them seemed to freeze as silence filled the air then in a blinding flicker Lahgaz was mere inches from Yami, blade raised high over her head. Yami looked up and then quickly slid back on his heel to avoid a deep downward slash that surely would have struck his skull. Lahgaz clicked her tongue and moved back, her bleeding angel wings rippled like water as did her long blood stained white robes, the shadows seemed to hug her and pull her in to them. She was then faded from view like a mirage, Yami looked around himself, the corridor they battled in was not very wide but it was dark and long his eyes narrowed as they searched. She was no where to be seen. Only the blackness around him moved, cowering away from the few and far between braziers, the golden light of the torches provided little aid as their golden embers were swallowed by the darkness before they could provide light. Yami then noticed that there was an inhaling and exhaling noise around him, the shadows breathed as she did, she had moulded herself to them and was now concealed with them totally. Yami needed no other guidance he thrusted the blade deep in to the blackest part, feeling her flinch then watching her reform. She looked down at the new stain on her clothes, just below her heart, her smile was mocking as she looked over Yami "Nearly." She whispered "But not good enough."

Yami growled and glared at her with eyes that burnt with anger he then growled "You won't be so lucky next time….."

"Oh I will be." Lahgaz then faded in a swirling lavender mist, her presence gone, Yami cursed as he realised she had fled, no doubt off to help bring the darkened Seto to life as a demon. Yami ran down the corridor as fast as he could, the thought of a demonic Seto chilled his bones, he hoped he wasn't too late…….

"Are you ready? One of the darkness?"

"………Wha?"

"Are you ready? To awaken?"

"………… Why would you care?"

"Because, your body requires blood now blood to live and blood to grow strong, the little child has brought you strong blood. Very strong blood."

"Who are you?"

"Me? I am nothing but chaos and darkness. You figure out who I am."

"…………"

"Ha ha ha…You will know. Soon enough."

"…… Very well."

"Now then. Go, awaken from your blackness…"

I hope you are ready Yami. The familiar voice was back after a while in Yami's mind.

[I thought you'd all but run off.] Yami muttered in to his mind to the mysterious voice that both annoyed and helped him and Seto through out the journey.

…… Humph. Just listen. I don't much like helping you but…. Sometimes these things must be done. Anyway. Be prepared for Seth favours this one and has brought him his evil back from long ago. More riddles from the voice.

[So…. This is some kind of ancient Evil, which belonged to Sette?] Yami whispered.

Yes… In it's way, you should try to remember it, before you fight it. After all he's not here to help you this time….. The voice then vanished, leaving another part of Yami confused and somewhat bothered.

[………. Not here to help me this time? So… this is an evil… I've encountered before?] Yami closed his eyes and tried to think back, his mind seemed to be remembering something, hazy but something.

"Pharaoh…… Pharaoh." A voice softly whispered to the dozing Pharaoh.

Pharaoh Nahkat sat up and looked around, half awake half-asleep "Who is here?" he called in to the murmuring shadows.

"I am here. Do you not recognise this voice Pharaoh?" The voice was soft, almost cooing, its words were spoken like black silk.

Nahkat frowned and muttered "…You are not Sette so stop pretending. Now who ARE you?" He looked for a source of the voice and noticed a patch of shadows near his bed, which seemed to breathe.

A soft breeze blew around the young pharaoh, caressing him gently, Nahkat then realised it was actually a hand, as cold as jade and as black as twilight he jerked his head back "Pharaoh I am Sette. Do not mistake that. I am his darkness, the locked up side of him, the darkness that has now been released." The whisper seemed to have a strange deep echo behind it, like it were older than Sette.

Nahkat looked up and noticed that a pair of cobalt blue eyes now looked down on him in the shadows "…Then why do you visit me?"

"Simple. I need to grow strong again. I need blood to be strong. Darkness needs to be sustained. Your blood is strong. Plus with your death his body will be easy to take over again…" There was a low chuckle as the hand, now hooked like a claw, trailed down his neck in a deep chilling drag, fingernails like ice ran down his warm skin chilling him.

"…Get away from me darkness." Nahkat moved back, away from the shadows, but they only swept forward now on the bed. Nahkat could see that these shadows were in the shape of a man, that looked a lot like Sette but also different, stronger built, with bluer eyes an impossible un-natural blue. Its touch was colder its words harsher and mocking. Cold lips, lips like metal, pressed to Nahkat's warm neck and made a dark, animal like, purr. Nahkat shivered at the coldness and found that he was now unable to move from the grip of the shade.

"Stop struggling." The shadow softly hissed as it held Nahkat in its grip and opened its mouth.

"NAHKAT!" Cried a voice from the door and then Sette was next to him, holding the shadow with his cold glare "You! Why are you here?!" His voice was venomously cold.

"Ha ha haa. Silly little Sette, did you think I wouldn't come back?" The shade sneered to his living counterpart.

Sette clenched his fist then held up a hand, murmuring a few soft words of sealing he banished the shadow, seeing as the shade had not had time to feed it was still weak to his magic's. Sette then looked down on his Pharaoh love "Are you okay Nahkat?" He tipped Nahkat's face up and looked in to the crimson pools.

"I-I'm fine Sette……" Nahkat wanted to confront Sette about the shade but wondered if Sette would really want to talk about it.

As though knowing these thoughts Sette whispered "Yes… that was a part of me. A part that formed thanks to the Dark Games. But… I managed to seal it again. Worry not over it any longer Nahkat." This satisfied the Pharaoh and he nodded, settling in to the embrace of Sette, comfortable in the warmth…

Yami blinked as his vision returned he then sighed [So…… This is the darkness of then? No doubt he will be very hungry when he awakens, I only hope he has not yet fed or else he might be harder to stop…] Yami then continued to run forwards, as a shadow began to rise…….

End of Chapter 23

:) Mwaahahahahahahaaa! Can we feel my evil cliff-hanger-ness? I think we cannnn! *Smirk* Well folks I want more of them lovely reviews before I reveal what happens, will the dark side of Sette (Now currently taking home in Seto's body) get Yami, before Yami gets Lahgaz? OR will Yami be able to save the one he loves (But has yet to tell he loves)?

Well the suspense is ummm.. man… it's just suspense!

Seto: ~.~;;; You I hate, why do you make me do these things?

YYC: Ummm…. For Drama?

Yami: . WHY THE HELL AM I ON THE RECCIVING END? WHAT DID I DO? Except exist and look pretty?

YYC: ~.~;;;;

Yugi: Heeeellooooo?

Y. Bakura: @.@ SOMEONE MAKE YUGI STOP WHINNINGGGG! WHERE IS THE OFF BUTTTTOOONNNNN!?

YYC: Mwaaahhahahahahaaa! There is no off button now suffer Albinooo!

Y. Bakura: ~.~;;;;

Ciao! ^_^

--YYC-- "Man…. There is suspense every where. It's so suspense-full that it's got more suspense than a pair of suspenders" (Did we notice I managed to fit suspense in this quote a little too much?) ^-^