Reikonfumetsu (Immortality of the Soul)
Book I: Return of the One
- Prologue -
"In the many years after we left our youth behind, I still remember our
childhood adventures like yesterday. Our quest at Pegasus's
island, the battle against Malik and his Rare Hunters, the search for the God
Cards and the past of the Nameless Pharaoh. Plus many
other adventures.
It seems like yesterday it all happened. Lately I wish I was back to the days
when we where young and duel obsessed. The days we spend under the blue sky and
the sun being carefree and young. I really miss those days with my
friends."
Ageless eyes sadly read the diary; he knew it through and through, page by
page, word by word. He closed the old
book and placed it with gentle care into the chest. The chest was filled with
books, pictures and other stuff that were of emotional value to the man. His
hands wandered over to an old photo book. They roamed over the old, smooth,
leather surface before grabbing it.
The figure moved silently toward his bed and sat down. Once settled he opened
the book, his eyes gliding over the old slightly yellowed pictures. His friends
smiled up to him, their youthful faces full of hopes and dreams for the future.
The photo book was where his friends came back from the dead, even if for a
while. He smiled, tracing everyone's hair and face as if he actually feel them again.
A sad smile and look was casted on every picture. It
always saddened yet joyed him to look at the
pictures. They reminded him of the good times, but also that those times were
over forever.
His eyes lingered the longest on one particular photo. The
photo of the original 'Gang'. He smiled as four young faces smiled up to
him; he traced a finger over the photo clearing away the thin sheet of dust.
The original Domino gang, as they where called. Two of them
great duelists and the other two great supporters of them. His eyes fell on a similair
picture below the gang. This one had more people in it.
This one was most precious to him; it had all his friends in it. He smiled at
the blond and brunnete boys fighting in the
background with a small tricolor haired boy trying to get them to stop. A black
haired, green-eyed teen and a brown haired and brown-eyed teen were sweat
dropping at the blond and brunette. A silver haired boy and a brown haired girl
gave the camera a 'save us' look while a short black haired child just smiled.
He had to laugh at the memory that came with the
photo. Yes, his friends where an odd bunch, but they where the best friends a
teen could wish to have.
Yet, sadly, they were all gone. Old age and disease had gotten them, while he
was still alive.
The man closed his eyes as tears escaped them, he never told them the sacrifice
he made for them. He couldn't bare
himself to tell them. They where so happy he could not bare telling them he had
sacrificed all hopes for a normal live.
He had given his mortality in exchange for two of his friends' release.
Malik and Ryou had grown old and happy with grandchildren, not bonded to the
effect of being holders of the Rod and Ring, which he now possessed. He was the
last of them all. He held the weight of protecting all the items.
He was Yuugi Mouto.
He was immortal.
The past would soon come back to haunt him...