"To Love the Dark"
By JessieHeart
~( Disclaimer: Guess what? I don't claim ownership over Yu-Gi-Oh! NOBODY READS DISCLAIMERS! )~

Chapter Nine-
'Regret'
*

Matjutsushi did a bad thing. (No, nothing like THAT, reader! I *know* what you were thinking. Hey, this is my first 'in-fic' note! ~JessieHeart) He crossed the line between master and apprentice.

He felt like one of those children in Oliver's comics; sulking, ashamed... guilty. He knew he shouldn't have kissed Keiko, even if SHE had kissed HIM first.

Matjutsushi had woken up the next morning and didn't even open his eyes. He realized that if he got up he'd have to see Keiko's beautiful, smiling face. Then he'd have to break her heart.

But he didn't want to.

Matjutsushi finally pulled himself out of bed and dressed in a simple tunic.

He went into the library, only to find Sei and Oliver already there.

Oliver made a kissy-face. "There he is, the champion of hearts! Who knew your were such a ladies' man, Matju-San?"

Matjutsushi groaned. He sat down in an over-stuffed chair, rubbing his temples.

"I need something *strong*..." he muttered.

Even though Sei was deaf, nothing escaped him. He could read lips and constant spirit energy, 'ki.' He flicked his hand. A goblet appeared in front of Matjutsushi.

"Don't ask what's in it," he 'said.' Matjutsushi gladly drank the thick liquid.

"I shouldn't have kissed Keiko last night," he admitted aloud, for the first time. Oliver raised an eyebrow.

"And why not?" he challenged. "You love her, 'cancre', and don't deny it. We're all masters of magic, you know."

Matjutsushi took another sip and began to speak louder. Man, that stuff WAS strong! "Of course I love her. She smart, funny, kind and... and just LOOK at her! She's beautiful!"

He stood up and tipped the goblet back over his mouth. Oliver turned to Sei.

"What's IN that stuff?!"

"I told you not to ask."

Matjutsushi was on a roll. "I love her and I want to be with her but I can't because we're damn magicians and masters aren't supposed to love their apprentices!"

Oliver put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Matju-San, you're rambling."

The purple haired one threw a hand in the air. "The hell with it! I. Love. Her. I'm going to make sure she's protected from everyone!"

The other's looked at him quizzically.

"Let's perform the Rite of Strength Release!"

"... Seriously Sei, what was in that?"
*

Keiko dreamed she was laying on a marble table, all three magicians standing over her.

They lit a lot of scented candles, the smoke make everything foggy. Then some marking were placed on her face with a cold, smooth paste.

There was a whole bunch of chanting...

She woke up in her own bed and didn't remember the dream at all.
*

"Oh man, I'm coming back down..." Matjutsushi muttered. It was about half an hour after the Rite had been performed.

"Welcome back to the world of rational thought, Matju-San."

"Maybe that drink was a little TOO strong..."

Oliver patted his friend's back.

"Good morning!" Keiko's loud, cheerful voice called from behind them. Matjutsushi blushed. "Or, as the Japanese say; Ohayo go zai masu!"

Oliver walked up to her. "And a very 'bon moring' to you, fleur." He glanced between the two lovers. "A dislike uncomfortable... silences..."

He disappeared with a swirl of yellow smoke.

Keiko practically skipped over to the man she loved. "Aren't you going to say hello?" she pouted. He didn't answer her. Keiko stood on her tiptoes and leaned forward to kiss him.

Matjutsushi stopped her with one hand. "Wait... you hear that?"

"Here what?"

"We have a visitor."
*

The four magicians gathered on their doorstep. A man rode up, bearing the symbol of the pharaoh's messenger.

The pharaoh's servant (Hey, that's the name of a Yu-Gi-Oh! card series! ~JH) arrived on horseback. He had been searching for the cottage since yesterday.

"You guys are really hard to find," the man gasped. Oliver rolled his eyes.

"This place is protected by magic; didn't that pharaoh of your tell you anything?" The man shook his head. "Hn. Gaijins."

The servant was eager to return to the palace. "My master has sent for you, and you must be at the palace by noon today. If we are to make it, we must leave immediately."

Matjutsushi ushered him inside the cottage. "No need for such rush, friend, first you must rest."

"But the pharaoh-"

"Can wait. We will arrive on time, I promise."
*

While the servant was being fed, (by Oliver, of course. Giving him Matjutsushi's cooking would be murder) Keiko was lead into a whole different room in the house.

The room was circle-shaped, was a high ceiling. Unlike most rooms in the house, there were no books or scrolls. The only thing that decorated the room was an large, swirled pattern on the floor and walls.

"Now," Matjutsushi said, "You have never teleported before, correct?"

Keiko nodded. She hated that he was acting so... so _professionally_ towards her.

"Sei, Oliver and I can teleport easily, you've seen us do it," her master continued. "But to take you and that man along with us will be much harder..." He threw some spices on the floor. "Now, what am I forgetting... Oh yes. Clothing."

Matjutsushi snapped his fingers, and purple robes and staff replaced his tunic. Keiko gawked at him.

The man turned around and nodded. "You don't look so bad your self." He flicked his wrist and a large mirror appeared. Keiko's jaw dropped.

Her own outfit had transformed into the clothing of a true magician. A blue leotard covered her body- barely- with a blue shawl draped over he shoulders. A pink cape was at her back, and a short-VERY short- pink shirt around her waist. She had matching blue boot and gloves with pink lining, and a hat to top it off. Red jewels donned her shoes, as well as a choker and small brooch.

Keiko posed in front of the mirror and smiled at herself. She felt both cute and sexy.

"This is perfect!" she gushed.

Yes, Matjutsushi thought, you are.

He reached behind his back a brought forth a short, blue scepter. "Here. It matches and will help channel your energy."

Keiko took it and posed. "I suppose this makes me the Dark Magician Girl," she joked.

Oliver, Sei and the servant entered.

"A fitting title, fleur," Oliver said. "Are we ready?"

Matjutsushi nodded. All five people stood in the middle of the circle. The Dark Magician's closes their eyes, and a wind rushed up from under them. Keiko stood absolutely still, afraid of being left behind.

The swirls on the floor began to shine a rainbow of colors. Slowly, it spread to the walls and ceiling so the entire room was aglow.

The next thing Keiko knew, the room was gone.
*

"Mai!"

"What?"

"That's them, the magician's from our vision."

Mai looked at the people Jounouchi was pointing at. They were three men and a girl, walking towards the thrown room. They were all wearing impressive outfits.

She shrugged. "First of all, it was MY vision. Second, they're just some magicians Yami summoned. No big deal."

"But," Jounouchi said in a worried voice, "If they're here, that means there's gonna be a fight."

Mai gazed off, but no vision came to her. "I supposed we'll deal with that when the time comes."
*

The Dark Magicians were brought before Pharaoh Yami. Keiko shifted uncomfortably in his wake; she could tell he was a true king.

Yuugi sat in a chair next to him, dressed identically. Seto Kaiba was there, giving a look of disgust to Matjutsushi. He arose and left the room.

Yami spoke. "I believe danger is about to come to my kingdom and the land of Egypt. The white dragons of legend have been seen."

Oliver looked worried, an emotion Keiko had never seen in him. He was always so warm and optimistic. "Those dragons have be prophesized to bring chaos when under the control of their true master."

Matjutsushi nodded. "This is most serious. Not even together could we Dark Magicians defeat the Blue Eyes."

A strong and wise voice reached their ears. "That is why I am here as well."

From an unnoticed corner, an old man stepped forth. He donned a purple robe studded with jewels. A long beard seemed to consume his entire face.

Instantly, the three magicians fell to their knees. Keiko followed their lead, but was uncertain.

"Master..." Oliver and Matjutsushi said. Sei remained ever silent.

The man told them to rise. Matjutsushi ushered Keiko towards him.

"Keiko, this is our master, the Dark Sage," he introduced. "Master, this is Keiko, the newest apprentice."

The old man studied her, and she felt even more intimidated by him then Yami and Matjutsushi combined. Suddenly, the Sage laughed. His kindness rivaled even Oliver's.

"She's the cutest apprentice I've ever seen. And in over a thousand years, I've seen a lot." He slapped Matjutsushi's shoulder. "Lucky man! Lucky man!"

The purple haired magician staggered. "It's- it's nothing like that-! Uh-!"

It's not? thought Keiko. The Dark Sage began laughing again.

Yuugi called them back to order. "But if the prophecy is true, not even your greatness will be able to stop the Trinity."

Matjutsushi looked into him with his piercing purple eyes.

"Then let us hope, young master, that the white dragon sighting was a mistake."
*

Seto Kaiba sneered at the palace. From his place on a cliff-side, the whole kingdom seemed to lay at his feet.

"Yami should never have brought those magician's here. Now they will have to die," he spat.

Seto turned around, where the three Blue Eyes lay. He held up his charm.

"GO!" he commanded. "Reign my destruction and bring forth a battle worthy of legend! Kill the one named pharaoh and anyone who opposes you! AND I WILL BE CROWNED KING!"

The white dragons took flight, letting out their battle cries.

Kaiba turned his head up to the sky and laughed. Egypt lay below, unaware of the terror that was to befall them.
*

End of Chapter Nine
*

Author's Note:
Hmm... I planned to cram the battle scene into this chapter, but that would make it WAAAAAY too long. Please be patient with me! If only there were more hours in the day...
I promise that next chapter will have all that I promised in chapter eight. ^-^
*

Dictionary:

Cancre = Dunce (I don't speak French!)

Ohayo go zai masu = Good moring

Bon moring = Good moring (More terrible French!!)

Fleur = Flower

Gaijins = Foreigners
*