~ ~ ~ Okay, to put my absence in one word: STRESS!!! @_@ I'm sorry - I've
been stressed out of my mind, what with me looking at colleges and doing
school stuff. *bows to readers* Thanks for putting up with me. ^_^
I FINALLY finished the pic of Damien, and I was right. He is SO DAMN HOT!! *_* *begins drooling* Heehee...man-candy...*_*
*recovers* O.O; Sorry about that...He's just so irresistible.
Anywho, disclaimer time: I STILL don't own YugiOh, no matter how many times I beg. BUT Seika, Chuchu's and Oro's characters (I only created their personalities!), Kowaru, and Damien (thank RA!! ^_^) are MINE. Do not takey without permission from me, okay? ^_-
Good! Now, on with chapter number six!! ^_^ ~ ~ ~ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
=(Heaven or Hell?!)= Yugi thought as he blinked a few times to regain his sight. =(What does he mean by that?!)=
"Hey, Yug!" Jou said loudly, seeing his friend space out.
Yugi shook his head as the rest of the group caught up with them. "Gomen, Jou," he said sheepishly. "I was just wondering what that guy was talking about with Heaven and Hell."
"Heaven or Hell?!" Anzu repeated sharply. "Now, why would...well, whoever you were talking to - why would he mention that?"
Kaiba frowned. "Maybe the mongrel and Yugi would care to explain to us what happened?" he asked nonchalantly.
Jou gritted his teeth but told the group what happened with the boy and girl leaving Yugi's house. At the end of the story, everyone was silent.
"Well," Yami began as he fingered the medallion Yugi had, "apparently, these people are trying to help you. I don't see how they could know about all this, but..." He shrugged his shoulders and patted Yugi's shoulder. "Well, the universe works in mysterious ways, I guess."
Anzu smiled. "Yami's right, you know," she said. "It doesn't hurt to use other people's advice."
Kaiba's frown turned towards her, but he didn't say anything. It was Jou, though, who expressed his thoughts: "Well, what about from strangers? Especially those dat appear in your house uninvited?"
Yugi shrugged. "All of this thinking is giving me a headache," he replied and turned towards his house. "Maybe we can get some more answers from in there...and from my..." He paused, swallowing a lump in his throat.
Kaiba's harsh look softened. "We'll take care of your father, Yugi," he reassured the boy, "and we'll make sure nothing happens to you, all right?"
Yugi's violet eyes went back to normal but shifted their gaze back to Yami. The spirit nodded with a silent // Everything's okay, aibou. These are your friends - they know about your past and are willing to help you through it. //
Yugi took a deep breath and led his friends to his house, telling Yami, / I hope you're right...I hope you're right. /
* * * * * * *
A cool breeze ruffled the hair of a passing boy, giving anyone who noticed the impression of a fire angrily responding to air. Damien didn't seem to mind, though. He just kept walking on with his hands in his pockets, a little daemon on his shoulder.
This one was different. He had spiky black hair with two pointed golden bangs framing his face. He wore a sleeveless, slightly open red vest that was tucked into black pants. A black sash tied around his waist, black shoes, and matching black gloves completed his outfit. Two pairs of earrings glittered in the sunlight - one was a set of red diamonds, the other a set of golden orbs. A third gold orb was in his left ear. A black triangular mark pointed down from his left eye, giving him a pirate's look.
Another breeze sent the mini-figure into a shivering fit, his black bat- like wings flapping out behind him. "C'mon, Damien," he whined as he slapped his hands against his bare arms in emphasis, "it's COLD out here. Can't we go back now? Huh?"
Damien's golden eyes pierced the daemon's red ones, his own pair of long golden bangs sweeping in front of his gaze. "Look, this ain't Hell, Itami," he hissed. "Of COURSE it's gonna be a few degrees cooler out in the real world."
Itami groaned but didn't complain again. He and Damien had been friends since the boy was only a tyke, and since then he knew to trust his judgments. =(Whenever Damien does something, it's for a purpose. And usually for a good one, too!)= Itami reminded himself.
"So, Damien," Itami asked casually as their stroll down the sidewalk continued, "I don't suppose you can tell me where we're going, now can ya?"
"Gotta see someone," Damien muttered, stuffing his hands even further into his pockets and hunching his shoulders. He had to admit that Itami was right earlier. =(I'm freezing my ass off here! Jeez, I'll have to stop somewhere and get a winter coat if I ever take a step up here again. Jeez...!)=
Itami's pointed ears perked up, and he flew once around Damien's head. "Who do you have to see?" he asked.
Damien didn't say anything. He only growled at the flying daemon, baring his fangs in the process.
"Well!" Itami gasped, landing back on his master's shoulder. "Look who's grumpy today!" He crossed his arms over his chest and stared straight ahead, shivering every now and then.
Damien rolled his eyes as he continued to make his way through Domino City. =(Jeez, Itami...Why do you have to make this so hard for me? I'd tell ya who we're going to see, but...Just give me time to find what I'm looking for, okay?)=
The rest of the walk was taken in silence as both daemons were distracted with their own thoughts. This, however, came to an end, as they neared the park. Damien stopped as he surveyed the green landscape, children playing among the blades in utter happiness. Watchful adults kept an eye on the children while talking amongst themselves, and teenagers formed groups here and there.
"Damien." Itami's voice made Damien turn a little towards his friend. Itami glanced at him and pointed to his left. "Look," was all he said, his voice a monotone to reveal no emotions.
The daemon-boy looked in the same direction and let his eyes fall on a group of children who was playing near some teenage boys. Among the happy faces and energetic bodies, a girl with dark hair that fell between her shoulder blades was standing in the grass, gently braiding the hair of a girl. A little boy who looked no more than four was clutching her leg, his green-eyed stare locked onto her serene face. Her hands moved smoothly from one motion to the next as another girl came up with daisies, begging to have them placed in her hair.
Damien didn't say a word but walked forward until he was only a few yards from her. His stern expression that he had held for so long relaxed, and a small smile played upon his lips. =(Seika,)= he thought as he walked along the path, so that he was out of her sight and behind her. =(Looks like she'll be fine for now.)=
"Will ya look at that, Daisuke?" a voice next to him said in an annoying tone. Damien regained his composure, while he felt Itami leave his shoulder to hide. Turning to his left, he could see a boy with brown hair pointing to the group of children. He watched the group as the boy said, "What do you think?"
Damien's gaze now shifted to a second boy in the group. His hair was red and fell only above his ears. He, along with his buddies, wore the same blue school uniform that Damien had seen too many times. =(He could possibly be a stud, a heartbreaker to any girl,)= Damien thought. =(Still, there's something about him that I don't like...)=
The red-haired boy pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and, brining it to his mouth, focused his sight on the children. His twin orbs turned into shining emeralds as he spied the dark-haired girl standing within the group. "Well now," he murmured softly as he backed away from the tree he was leaning on to get a better view. "I don't think children are that sexy, now are they Suma?"
Suma - the first boy who had spoken - grinned. "No, Daisuke," he replied, "but we should at least show her a good time while she's here."
Daisuke winked at his friend and began making his way towards the girl, but a figure moved in front of him quickly. Blinking in surprise, he backed up to get a better view of the person blocking him. "Now what d'ya think YOU'RE doing, bastard?" he snarled as he brought his hands up into fists.
Damien growled right back at him, fangs glistening in the sunlight. "Don't. Lay. One. Finger. On. Her," he said slowly.
Daisuke sniffed in ignorance. "And what if I do?" he challenged the boy.
The daemon chuckled. "Then, face my wrath," he said softly. "She's been through enough, and she doesn't need leering bastards on her either. So fuck off if you know what's good for you."
Daisuke's fists clenched tighter. "Really? Well, face MY wrath, asshole!" he yelled as he and the other boys launched themselves towards Damien.
But Damien only chuckled again, bringing his hands out of his pockets. "Well, well," he said to himself softly, "a challenge I'm willing to take on."
* * * * * * *
Yugi grimaced as he and his friends entered the house. Although it was clean, broken bits of furniture and glass were still spread out. =(And I hope they don't even ASK about my room,)= he thought as they walked to the center of the living room.
"So, Yug," Jou asked while looking around at the room, "where's your room?"
=(Damn!)= "Uh, it's...Well," Yugi began, placing one hand sheepishly behind his head, "I-I don't t-think you guys s-should see it, y-you know?"
It was Anzu that flashed him a smile and answered, "It's all right, Yugi. How about if a couple of us went upstairs with you? Would that be okay?"
Yugi's shy smile was the only answer the group needed. "All right then," Kaiba said, "the mutt and I will get provisions from down here. Anzu, Yami - you can go with Yugi to his room. And Yugi," he added, "get everything you want. You are NOT coming back here again, all right?"
Yugi nodded in affirmation as he and his two friends headed up the stairs. The last thing he heard from the two downstairs was Jou growling, "What did I say about callin' me a mutt, Kaiba?"
Yugi silently led Anzu and Yami to his room. As he opened the door to his measly quarters, only Anzu gasped in shock. Yami didn't say anything but grimaced a little as he followed his partner into the room. Anzu's blue eyes began filling with tears, and a low moan of "Oh, Yugi!" was the only thing that left her mouth.
"Are you all right, Anzu?" Yugi asked as he dug through the broken items, his violet eyes worried for his female friend.
Anzu nodded, smiling sadly as she wiped away her tears. "Oh, Yugi," she said hoarsely, "I...I didn't know that-!"
"Anzu," Yami said solemnly, "no one knew, except for me. He didn't want his friends to know and pity him." He knelt down next to Yugi as the smaller boy pulled out a cardboard box. His own violet eyes pierced through Anzu's, and she was silent.
"Here," Yugi said cheerfully. "I've got everything in here."
Anzu opened up her duffel bag she had brought along. "You can put everything in here, Yugi," she said, "if you don't have something to hold them in."
"Arigatou, but I don't need to." Yugi's bright smile lit up the room. He began shifting through the items in the box, pulling them out and placing them on the floor one by one. As he set the family picture down, he let out a small sob before turning back to the box. After removing the golden box, he looked up at Anzu and said, "Let's go."
"What's in that box, Yugi?" Anzu asked, pointing to the golden box between his hands.
Smiling shyly, Yugi opened it and told her, "My grandpa sent this to me with the Puzzle inside." He pointed to the pyramid around his neck, and Yami smiled. "But since I already solved it, the only thing this holds now is my Duel Monsters deck."
Yami's eyebrow rose in interest. "Duel Monsters?" he asked. "Been a long time since I've heard that name."
"Why's that, Yami?" the boy questioned.
"Remember? Back in Egypt, I was a Pharaoh and ruler of the Duel Monsters. They're now sealed in the Shadow Realm, but I guess their influence has spread to this world."
"They're just cards, Yami," Anzu pointed out. "They're not going to spring to life and attack people, are they? But..."
"Nani, Anzu?" Yugi asked. He was getting more interested in Duel Monsters since Yami had arrived, and if Anzu knew something then his curiosity would be at its peak.
"Well," Anzu began, "I know that a man named Pegasus J. Crawford went to Egypt and came back with the concept of Duel Monsters. He then went about creating the cards and the game itself."
"Then that explains it," Yami said. "Pegasus must have dug down into the tombs of my era to get this information."
His eyes gleamed so maliciously that Yugi asked worriedly, / Yami? Are you all right? /
// No, aibou. I'm not all right. Knowing that someone was probably in my tomb...Oh, it makes me MAD!! // Yami finished his silent rant and turned to Yugi. "But that's all over now. Should we head back downstairs?" he asked.
Anzu nodded, and Yugi stood up with Yami. "All right then," Anzu said happily. "Let's get out of this house. No offense, Yugi, but this place gives me the creeps." She turned to go, but Yugi yelped, "WAIT!!"
Anzu faced Yugi again. "What is it, Yugi?" she asked. "Why don't you want to leave yet?"
"I...I have to find something," Yugi answered.
"What do you have to find?" Yami asked, concern written across his face. =(If he hasn't told me something, then I don't see how I can really help him.)=
Yugi's gaze kept shifting from Yami to Anzu as he spoke. "I have to find...a letter. From my grandpa. He gave it to my parents before he left for Egypt. I have a feeling...a feeling that the letter started the fighting. I have to know the truth." His gaze was now determined. "So before we go, I have to find that letter!"
Yami and Anzu glanced at each other as matching grins were plastered on their faces. "All right, aibou," Yami said, and he turned to Yugi with flaming purple eyes, flaming with determination. Yugi grinned at his friends' eagerness to help him.
"Let's go find that letter!"
* * * * * * *
"Lady, what's dat?" a little girl asked as she pulled away from the older girl to peer behind her. Seika sighed, contented with playing with the group of children. She had needed some time to relax and unwind from the day's earlier events. She had settled with placing flowers in girls' hair and braiding untamed locks.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Kaya," Seika answered as she motioned for another girl to come over. "Is it another fight between those boys behind us?"
"Uh-huh," the boy at her leg said quietly, "it's a big fight."
Seika's blue eyes fell on the little boy's green ones. "Then you just stay away from them," she said simply as her skilled hands braided a blond girl's hair. "Fighting is not a wonderful thing to be caught up in."
"Okay, lady," was all the boy said, making Seika smile. The children, not knowing her name, had decided to call her "lady" for fun. =(Though I look much younger,)= she thought.
"Hey, Sukie," Kaya called to the boy, "look over there! That boy's hair is on fire!"
=(Fire?!)= Seika's thoughts were a blur as she turned quickly to watch the fight behind her. She only knew one person who had hair like fire...
Two boys were already on the ground, still and silent. Three other boys were surrounding a fourth. A brown-haired boy suddenly lunged at him with the ferocity of a lion. The boy only sidestepped quickly and grabbed the boy's outstretched fist. A swift sidekick to the gut sent the attacker flying and gave Seika a better view.
A boy with a buzz cut overtook the flame-haired boy and grabbed him in a bear hug from behind. Golden eyes squinted as the "hugger" was flipped and landed with a dull crunch on the pavement.
The final boy - one with red hair and a cigarette in his mouth - launched himself fiercely at the other. A fury of kicks and punches ensued but ended in only a few minutes. It ended with the fire-haired boy being the only one standing, everyone else down on the ground moaning in pain.
Without a word, Seika began walking towards him, while the children went back to their games. As she got closer, Oro peeked out from her pocket. "It's him again," the fairy murmured as they approached Damien.
Seeing the girl getting closer, Damien looked up and revealed a fanged grin. "Heh," he laughed. "Mortals are so much fun to mess with."
"Damien," Oro piped up, flying in front of his face, "that wasn't funny. Someone could have gotten hurt."
"And someone did," Itami piped up as he flew out from behind Damien. "Actually, five someones got hurt." He giggled maniacally.
"Itami!!" Oro wailed, tears already forming in her brown eyes. This set the little daemon off, and in a flash he was right next to her, his arms wrapped around her little body in a hug. (Another kawaii scene!! *^_^*)
Seika had remained silent throughout all of this, but now she spoke to Damien. "You linger behind after we were finished, and then you get in a fight?" she asked quietly, her tone soft and silky.
Damien gulped as he heard her voice. =(Jeez, she's pissed,)= he thought. "Look, the fight wasn't my fault. THEY attacked me," he protested. He tried to brush a golden bang from his eyes but failed. "As for the lingering earlier...well..."
"Look, you don't need to explain it to me," Seika said finally, raising her hands in defeat and turning to go. But Damien's voice stopped her.
"I gave it to him."
Seika turned around again, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why?" she asked simply.
Damien shrugged and turned to look at the children playing in the grass. "Look, Seika - he misses you as much as you miss him. It wasn't his fault that you were replaced - it was an accident. So I decided to give him the key he needs to see you again." His face softened as he heard young laughter in the air. "You can hate me all you want, but I did it for you. I don't like seeing you so sad because of an accident, so I-!"
Damien was cut off by the girl's arms around him, embracing the daemon in a hug. "Arigatou," she whispered as she leaned her head on his shoulder, "I know you meant well."
Damien's heart began to ache as he finally realized what he had done, but hearing the gratitude in the angel's voice made him feel a little better.
"Hey," Damien said a little hoarsely, "what are friends for?"
* * * * * * *
Yugi sighed as he leaned against the wall by the stairs. He, Yami, and Anzu had searched the entire upstairs for thirty minutes, and the letter was still missing. =(Now I'm never going to know what happened,)= he thought as he headed downstairs in defeat.
// Aibou? //
Yugi perked up slightly at Yami's voice. / Did you find anything, Yami? / he asked eagerly.
// Nothing. I'm sorry, Yugi, but the letter is not up here. //
Yugi sighed in defeat and let his sadness seep through their bond.
// Maybe it's downstairs, aibou, // Yami said as an afterthought. He and Anzu had come up behind Yugi and met him at the top of the stairs.
Yugi brightened up a little at the thought. "Yeah, it might be downstairs," he said aloud, hoping to include Anzu in the conversation.
Anzu smiled. "Well," she asked, "where do you-?"
"YUGI!! ANZU!! YAMI!! GET DOWN HERE!!"
Startled by the yell, Yugi and his friends bolted down the stairs. Yugi rushed into the kitchen to see Jou and Kaiba holding a white piece of paper between them. Jou looked as though he had seen a ghost, and Kaiba's blue eyes seemed a little shaken as he turned to Yugi.
"What is it? Nan desu ka?" Yugi asked, scared at the sight of his two friends.
"W-We found dis in da cabinet," Jou explained as he handed the letter to Yugi. Yami and Anzu looked on, concern embedded deeply in their stares.
"It's from your grandfather," Kaiba stated.
"It's the letter!!" Yugi whispered loudly as he took the letter with shaking hands. "We've been searching for it upstairs, and-!"
"Just read it," Kaiba said hurriedly, his voice a little harsh.
Yugi was taken aback by his friend's cold demeanor but focused his eyes on the letter and began to read...
~ ~ Yugi, if you are reading this, then I'm guessing you've solved the Millennium Puzzle. I knew you could do it! But this also means that your parents have been mistreating you. To reassure you, one has left for good, while the other is paying for his sins.
~ ~ Don't ask me how I know this, Yugi. By now, I have left for a safer place. I'll meet you soon, I promise. But right now, I have more important things to tell you.
~ ~ You have an important part to play, Yugi, in what is yet to come. The Duel Monsters Deck I gave you - keep it safe, for in it are the Monsters and spells that will keep you alive. You can Summon them if you want to, in case you don't believe me. But use them when necessary - too many times can drain you. Keep the Puzzle safe, as well, for it contains incredible magic that can tip the fate of future events.
~ ~ Seika - I'm guessing she's gone by now. Solving the Puzzle sent her away, and next time you see her she will tell you why. Yes, I know about your guardian angel, Yugi. I have been able to see her since your birth. She has been faithful and loyal to you, and I doubt she will shy away when you meet again.
~ ~ I must go soon. Time is short. Yugi, you MUST listen to what is in this letter. Your life, your future, and the future of mankind rests in your hands now...They're coming...Time is fading fast...
~ ~ Yugi, follow silver...
~ ~ ...Open the Gate...
~ ~ ...Gather the Seven...
~ ~ ...Prevent the End...
~ ~ ...And, Yugi - remember this... ~ ~
Yugi paused from reading to look up at his friends. His eyes were wide with fear and shock at what his grandfather had written. / Y-Yami, / Yugi began, but the spirit's hand on his shoulder made him stop.
"R-Read the end, Y-Yug," Jou stammered, using Anzu's shoulder to help him stand. Seeing the way his friend was acting, Yugi turned back to the letter and read the last line.
~ ~ ...You are not of this earth. ~ ~ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
~ ~ ~ *cheers* I'm finally done with the chapter! ^_^
Now, this chapter was interesting wasn't it? I know I'm going to have a lot of questions about this later, so let me tell you now: THE LAST SIX LINES OF THE LETTER ARE VERY IMPORTANT!! Especially the last one.
Just a heads up. ^_-
Now, what did Grandpa mean in his letter? What's up with Damien and Seika? And when is this journey ever going to start? (Next chapter - that's a promise!)
Now, I have Chemistry and Math homework to get done before I work on chapter number seven, so bear with me. I'll get it posted later, promise. R & R please, I'll be back soon, I appreciate you all putting up with me, thank you!! *^_^* ~ ~ ~
I FINALLY finished the pic of Damien, and I was right. He is SO DAMN HOT!! *_* *begins drooling* Heehee...man-candy...*_*
*recovers* O.O; Sorry about that...He's just so irresistible.
Anywho, disclaimer time: I STILL don't own YugiOh, no matter how many times I beg. BUT Seika, Chuchu's and Oro's characters (I only created their personalities!), Kowaru, and Damien (thank RA!! ^_^) are MINE. Do not takey without permission from me, okay? ^_-
Good! Now, on with chapter number six!! ^_^ ~ ~ ~ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
=(Heaven or Hell?!)= Yugi thought as he blinked a few times to regain his sight. =(What does he mean by that?!)=
"Hey, Yug!" Jou said loudly, seeing his friend space out.
Yugi shook his head as the rest of the group caught up with them. "Gomen, Jou," he said sheepishly. "I was just wondering what that guy was talking about with Heaven and Hell."
"Heaven or Hell?!" Anzu repeated sharply. "Now, why would...well, whoever you were talking to - why would he mention that?"
Kaiba frowned. "Maybe the mongrel and Yugi would care to explain to us what happened?" he asked nonchalantly.
Jou gritted his teeth but told the group what happened with the boy and girl leaving Yugi's house. At the end of the story, everyone was silent.
"Well," Yami began as he fingered the medallion Yugi had, "apparently, these people are trying to help you. I don't see how they could know about all this, but..." He shrugged his shoulders and patted Yugi's shoulder. "Well, the universe works in mysterious ways, I guess."
Anzu smiled. "Yami's right, you know," she said. "It doesn't hurt to use other people's advice."
Kaiba's frown turned towards her, but he didn't say anything. It was Jou, though, who expressed his thoughts: "Well, what about from strangers? Especially those dat appear in your house uninvited?"
Yugi shrugged. "All of this thinking is giving me a headache," he replied and turned towards his house. "Maybe we can get some more answers from in there...and from my..." He paused, swallowing a lump in his throat.
Kaiba's harsh look softened. "We'll take care of your father, Yugi," he reassured the boy, "and we'll make sure nothing happens to you, all right?"
Yugi's violet eyes went back to normal but shifted their gaze back to Yami. The spirit nodded with a silent // Everything's okay, aibou. These are your friends - they know about your past and are willing to help you through it. //
Yugi took a deep breath and led his friends to his house, telling Yami, / I hope you're right...I hope you're right. /
* * * * * * *
A cool breeze ruffled the hair of a passing boy, giving anyone who noticed the impression of a fire angrily responding to air. Damien didn't seem to mind, though. He just kept walking on with his hands in his pockets, a little daemon on his shoulder.
This one was different. He had spiky black hair with two pointed golden bangs framing his face. He wore a sleeveless, slightly open red vest that was tucked into black pants. A black sash tied around his waist, black shoes, and matching black gloves completed his outfit. Two pairs of earrings glittered in the sunlight - one was a set of red diamonds, the other a set of golden orbs. A third gold orb was in his left ear. A black triangular mark pointed down from his left eye, giving him a pirate's look.
Another breeze sent the mini-figure into a shivering fit, his black bat- like wings flapping out behind him. "C'mon, Damien," he whined as he slapped his hands against his bare arms in emphasis, "it's COLD out here. Can't we go back now? Huh?"
Damien's golden eyes pierced the daemon's red ones, his own pair of long golden bangs sweeping in front of his gaze. "Look, this ain't Hell, Itami," he hissed. "Of COURSE it's gonna be a few degrees cooler out in the real world."
Itami groaned but didn't complain again. He and Damien had been friends since the boy was only a tyke, and since then he knew to trust his judgments. =(Whenever Damien does something, it's for a purpose. And usually for a good one, too!)= Itami reminded himself.
"So, Damien," Itami asked casually as their stroll down the sidewalk continued, "I don't suppose you can tell me where we're going, now can ya?"
"Gotta see someone," Damien muttered, stuffing his hands even further into his pockets and hunching his shoulders. He had to admit that Itami was right earlier. =(I'm freezing my ass off here! Jeez, I'll have to stop somewhere and get a winter coat if I ever take a step up here again. Jeez...!)=
Itami's pointed ears perked up, and he flew once around Damien's head. "Who do you have to see?" he asked.
Damien didn't say anything. He only growled at the flying daemon, baring his fangs in the process.
"Well!" Itami gasped, landing back on his master's shoulder. "Look who's grumpy today!" He crossed his arms over his chest and stared straight ahead, shivering every now and then.
Damien rolled his eyes as he continued to make his way through Domino City. =(Jeez, Itami...Why do you have to make this so hard for me? I'd tell ya who we're going to see, but...Just give me time to find what I'm looking for, okay?)=
The rest of the walk was taken in silence as both daemons were distracted with their own thoughts. This, however, came to an end, as they neared the park. Damien stopped as he surveyed the green landscape, children playing among the blades in utter happiness. Watchful adults kept an eye on the children while talking amongst themselves, and teenagers formed groups here and there.
"Damien." Itami's voice made Damien turn a little towards his friend. Itami glanced at him and pointed to his left. "Look," was all he said, his voice a monotone to reveal no emotions.
The daemon-boy looked in the same direction and let his eyes fall on a group of children who was playing near some teenage boys. Among the happy faces and energetic bodies, a girl with dark hair that fell between her shoulder blades was standing in the grass, gently braiding the hair of a girl. A little boy who looked no more than four was clutching her leg, his green-eyed stare locked onto her serene face. Her hands moved smoothly from one motion to the next as another girl came up with daisies, begging to have them placed in her hair.
Damien didn't say a word but walked forward until he was only a few yards from her. His stern expression that he had held for so long relaxed, and a small smile played upon his lips. =(Seika,)= he thought as he walked along the path, so that he was out of her sight and behind her. =(Looks like she'll be fine for now.)=
"Will ya look at that, Daisuke?" a voice next to him said in an annoying tone. Damien regained his composure, while he felt Itami leave his shoulder to hide. Turning to his left, he could see a boy with brown hair pointing to the group of children. He watched the group as the boy said, "What do you think?"
Damien's gaze now shifted to a second boy in the group. His hair was red and fell only above his ears. He, along with his buddies, wore the same blue school uniform that Damien had seen too many times. =(He could possibly be a stud, a heartbreaker to any girl,)= Damien thought. =(Still, there's something about him that I don't like...)=
The red-haired boy pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and, brining it to his mouth, focused his sight on the children. His twin orbs turned into shining emeralds as he spied the dark-haired girl standing within the group. "Well now," he murmured softly as he backed away from the tree he was leaning on to get a better view. "I don't think children are that sexy, now are they Suma?"
Suma - the first boy who had spoken - grinned. "No, Daisuke," he replied, "but we should at least show her a good time while she's here."
Daisuke winked at his friend and began making his way towards the girl, but a figure moved in front of him quickly. Blinking in surprise, he backed up to get a better view of the person blocking him. "Now what d'ya think YOU'RE doing, bastard?" he snarled as he brought his hands up into fists.
Damien growled right back at him, fangs glistening in the sunlight. "Don't. Lay. One. Finger. On. Her," he said slowly.
Daisuke sniffed in ignorance. "And what if I do?" he challenged the boy.
The daemon chuckled. "Then, face my wrath," he said softly. "She's been through enough, and she doesn't need leering bastards on her either. So fuck off if you know what's good for you."
Daisuke's fists clenched tighter. "Really? Well, face MY wrath, asshole!" he yelled as he and the other boys launched themselves towards Damien.
But Damien only chuckled again, bringing his hands out of his pockets. "Well, well," he said to himself softly, "a challenge I'm willing to take on."
* * * * * * *
Yugi grimaced as he and his friends entered the house. Although it was clean, broken bits of furniture and glass were still spread out. =(And I hope they don't even ASK about my room,)= he thought as they walked to the center of the living room.
"So, Yug," Jou asked while looking around at the room, "where's your room?"
=(Damn!)= "Uh, it's...Well," Yugi began, placing one hand sheepishly behind his head, "I-I don't t-think you guys s-should see it, y-you know?"
It was Anzu that flashed him a smile and answered, "It's all right, Yugi. How about if a couple of us went upstairs with you? Would that be okay?"
Yugi's shy smile was the only answer the group needed. "All right then," Kaiba said, "the mutt and I will get provisions from down here. Anzu, Yami - you can go with Yugi to his room. And Yugi," he added, "get everything you want. You are NOT coming back here again, all right?"
Yugi nodded in affirmation as he and his two friends headed up the stairs. The last thing he heard from the two downstairs was Jou growling, "What did I say about callin' me a mutt, Kaiba?"
Yugi silently led Anzu and Yami to his room. As he opened the door to his measly quarters, only Anzu gasped in shock. Yami didn't say anything but grimaced a little as he followed his partner into the room. Anzu's blue eyes began filling with tears, and a low moan of "Oh, Yugi!" was the only thing that left her mouth.
"Are you all right, Anzu?" Yugi asked as he dug through the broken items, his violet eyes worried for his female friend.
Anzu nodded, smiling sadly as she wiped away her tears. "Oh, Yugi," she said hoarsely, "I...I didn't know that-!"
"Anzu," Yami said solemnly, "no one knew, except for me. He didn't want his friends to know and pity him." He knelt down next to Yugi as the smaller boy pulled out a cardboard box. His own violet eyes pierced through Anzu's, and she was silent.
"Here," Yugi said cheerfully. "I've got everything in here."
Anzu opened up her duffel bag she had brought along. "You can put everything in here, Yugi," she said, "if you don't have something to hold them in."
"Arigatou, but I don't need to." Yugi's bright smile lit up the room. He began shifting through the items in the box, pulling them out and placing them on the floor one by one. As he set the family picture down, he let out a small sob before turning back to the box. After removing the golden box, he looked up at Anzu and said, "Let's go."
"What's in that box, Yugi?" Anzu asked, pointing to the golden box between his hands.
Smiling shyly, Yugi opened it and told her, "My grandpa sent this to me with the Puzzle inside." He pointed to the pyramid around his neck, and Yami smiled. "But since I already solved it, the only thing this holds now is my Duel Monsters deck."
Yami's eyebrow rose in interest. "Duel Monsters?" he asked. "Been a long time since I've heard that name."
"Why's that, Yami?" the boy questioned.
"Remember? Back in Egypt, I was a Pharaoh and ruler of the Duel Monsters. They're now sealed in the Shadow Realm, but I guess their influence has spread to this world."
"They're just cards, Yami," Anzu pointed out. "They're not going to spring to life and attack people, are they? But..."
"Nani, Anzu?" Yugi asked. He was getting more interested in Duel Monsters since Yami had arrived, and if Anzu knew something then his curiosity would be at its peak.
"Well," Anzu began, "I know that a man named Pegasus J. Crawford went to Egypt and came back with the concept of Duel Monsters. He then went about creating the cards and the game itself."
"Then that explains it," Yami said. "Pegasus must have dug down into the tombs of my era to get this information."
His eyes gleamed so maliciously that Yugi asked worriedly, / Yami? Are you all right? /
// No, aibou. I'm not all right. Knowing that someone was probably in my tomb...Oh, it makes me MAD!! // Yami finished his silent rant and turned to Yugi. "But that's all over now. Should we head back downstairs?" he asked.
Anzu nodded, and Yugi stood up with Yami. "All right then," Anzu said happily. "Let's get out of this house. No offense, Yugi, but this place gives me the creeps." She turned to go, but Yugi yelped, "WAIT!!"
Anzu faced Yugi again. "What is it, Yugi?" she asked. "Why don't you want to leave yet?"
"I...I have to find something," Yugi answered.
"What do you have to find?" Yami asked, concern written across his face. =(If he hasn't told me something, then I don't see how I can really help him.)=
Yugi's gaze kept shifting from Yami to Anzu as he spoke. "I have to find...a letter. From my grandpa. He gave it to my parents before he left for Egypt. I have a feeling...a feeling that the letter started the fighting. I have to know the truth." His gaze was now determined. "So before we go, I have to find that letter!"
Yami and Anzu glanced at each other as matching grins were plastered on their faces. "All right, aibou," Yami said, and he turned to Yugi with flaming purple eyes, flaming with determination. Yugi grinned at his friends' eagerness to help him.
"Let's go find that letter!"
* * * * * * *
"Lady, what's dat?" a little girl asked as she pulled away from the older girl to peer behind her. Seika sighed, contented with playing with the group of children. She had needed some time to relax and unwind from the day's earlier events. She had settled with placing flowers in girls' hair and braiding untamed locks.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Kaya," Seika answered as she motioned for another girl to come over. "Is it another fight between those boys behind us?"
"Uh-huh," the boy at her leg said quietly, "it's a big fight."
Seika's blue eyes fell on the little boy's green ones. "Then you just stay away from them," she said simply as her skilled hands braided a blond girl's hair. "Fighting is not a wonderful thing to be caught up in."
"Okay, lady," was all the boy said, making Seika smile. The children, not knowing her name, had decided to call her "lady" for fun. =(Though I look much younger,)= she thought.
"Hey, Sukie," Kaya called to the boy, "look over there! That boy's hair is on fire!"
=(Fire?!)= Seika's thoughts were a blur as she turned quickly to watch the fight behind her. She only knew one person who had hair like fire...
Two boys were already on the ground, still and silent. Three other boys were surrounding a fourth. A brown-haired boy suddenly lunged at him with the ferocity of a lion. The boy only sidestepped quickly and grabbed the boy's outstretched fist. A swift sidekick to the gut sent the attacker flying and gave Seika a better view.
A boy with a buzz cut overtook the flame-haired boy and grabbed him in a bear hug from behind. Golden eyes squinted as the "hugger" was flipped and landed with a dull crunch on the pavement.
The final boy - one with red hair and a cigarette in his mouth - launched himself fiercely at the other. A fury of kicks and punches ensued but ended in only a few minutes. It ended with the fire-haired boy being the only one standing, everyone else down on the ground moaning in pain.
Without a word, Seika began walking towards him, while the children went back to their games. As she got closer, Oro peeked out from her pocket. "It's him again," the fairy murmured as they approached Damien.
Seeing the girl getting closer, Damien looked up and revealed a fanged grin. "Heh," he laughed. "Mortals are so much fun to mess with."
"Damien," Oro piped up, flying in front of his face, "that wasn't funny. Someone could have gotten hurt."
"And someone did," Itami piped up as he flew out from behind Damien. "Actually, five someones got hurt." He giggled maniacally.
"Itami!!" Oro wailed, tears already forming in her brown eyes. This set the little daemon off, and in a flash he was right next to her, his arms wrapped around her little body in a hug. (Another kawaii scene!! *^_^*)
Seika had remained silent throughout all of this, but now she spoke to Damien. "You linger behind after we were finished, and then you get in a fight?" she asked quietly, her tone soft and silky.
Damien gulped as he heard her voice. =(Jeez, she's pissed,)= he thought. "Look, the fight wasn't my fault. THEY attacked me," he protested. He tried to brush a golden bang from his eyes but failed. "As for the lingering earlier...well..."
"Look, you don't need to explain it to me," Seika said finally, raising her hands in defeat and turning to go. But Damien's voice stopped her.
"I gave it to him."
Seika turned around again, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why?" she asked simply.
Damien shrugged and turned to look at the children playing in the grass. "Look, Seika - he misses you as much as you miss him. It wasn't his fault that you were replaced - it was an accident. So I decided to give him the key he needs to see you again." His face softened as he heard young laughter in the air. "You can hate me all you want, but I did it for you. I don't like seeing you so sad because of an accident, so I-!"
Damien was cut off by the girl's arms around him, embracing the daemon in a hug. "Arigatou," she whispered as she leaned her head on his shoulder, "I know you meant well."
Damien's heart began to ache as he finally realized what he had done, but hearing the gratitude in the angel's voice made him feel a little better.
"Hey," Damien said a little hoarsely, "what are friends for?"
* * * * * * *
Yugi sighed as he leaned against the wall by the stairs. He, Yami, and Anzu had searched the entire upstairs for thirty minutes, and the letter was still missing. =(Now I'm never going to know what happened,)= he thought as he headed downstairs in defeat.
// Aibou? //
Yugi perked up slightly at Yami's voice. / Did you find anything, Yami? / he asked eagerly.
// Nothing. I'm sorry, Yugi, but the letter is not up here. //
Yugi sighed in defeat and let his sadness seep through their bond.
// Maybe it's downstairs, aibou, // Yami said as an afterthought. He and Anzu had come up behind Yugi and met him at the top of the stairs.
Yugi brightened up a little at the thought. "Yeah, it might be downstairs," he said aloud, hoping to include Anzu in the conversation.
Anzu smiled. "Well," she asked, "where do you-?"
"YUGI!! ANZU!! YAMI!! GET DOWN HERE!!"
Startled by the yell, Yugi and his friends bolted down the stairs. Yugi rushed into the kitchen to see Jou and Kaiba holding a white piece of paper between them. Jou looked as though he had seen a ghost, and Kaiba's blue eyes seemed a little shaken as he turned to Yugi.
"What is it? Nan desu ka?" Yugi asked, scared at the sight of his two friends.
"W-We found dis in da cabinet," Jou explained as he handed the letter to Yugi. Yami and Anzu looked on, concern embedded deeply in their stares.
"It's from your grandfather," Kaiba stated.
"It's the letter!!" Yugi whispered loudly as he took the letter with shaking hands. "We've been searching for it upstairs, and-!"
"Just read it," Kaiba said hurriedly, his voice a little harsh.
Yugi was taken aback by his friend's cold demeanor but focused his eyes on the letter and began to read...
~ ~ Yugi, if you are reading this, then I'm guessing you've solved the Millennium Puzzle. I knew you could do it! But this also means that your parents have been mistreating you. To reassure you, one has left for good, while the other is paying for his sins.
~ ~ Don't ask me how I know this, Yugi. By now, I have left for a safer place. I'll meet you soon, I promise. But right now, I have more important things to tell you.
~ ~ You have an important part to play, Yugi, in what is yet to come. The Duel Monsters Deck I gave you - keep it safe, for in it are the Monsters and spells that will keep you alive. You can Summon them if you want to, in case you don't believe me. But use them when necessary - too many times can drain you. Keep the Puzzle safe, as well, for it contains incredible magic that can tip the fate of future events.
~ ~ Seika - I'm guessing she's gone by now. Solving the Puzzle sent her away, and next time you see her she will tell you why. Yes, I know about your guardian angel, Yugi. I have been able to see her since your birth. She has been faithful and loyal to you, and I doubt she will shy away when you meet again.
~ ~ I must go soon. Time is short. Yugi, you MUST listen to what is in this letter. Your life, your future, and the future of mankind rests in your hands now...They're coming...Time is fading fast...
~ ~ Yugi, follow silver...
~ ~ ...Open the Gate...
~ ~ ...Gather the Seven...
~ ~ ...Prevent the End...
~ ~ ...And, Yugi - remember this... ~ ~
Yugi paused from reading to look up at his friends. His eyes were wide with fear and shock at what his grandfather had written. / Y-Yami, / Yugi began, but the spirit's hand on his shoulder made him stop.
"R-Read the end, Y-Yug," Jou stammered, using Anzu's shoulder to help him stand. Seeing the way his friend was acting, Yugi turned back to the letter and read the last line.
~ ~ ...You are not of this earth. ~ ~ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
~ ~ ~ *cheers* I'm finally done with the chapter! ^_^
Now, this chapter was interesting wasn't it? I know I'm going to have a lot of questions about this later, so let me tell you now: THE LAST SIX LINES OF THE LETTER ARE VERY IMPORTANT!! Especially the last one.
Just a heads up. ^_-
Now, what did Grandpa mean in his letter? What's up with Damien and Seika? And when is this journey ever going to start? (Next chapter - that's a promise!)
Now, I have Chemistry and Math homework to get done before I work on chapter number seven, so bear with me. I'll get it posted later, promise. R & R please, I'll be back soon, I appreciate you all putting up with me, thank you!! *^_^* ~ ~ ~