Everything
By: ChocolateEclar
Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or anything that has to do with the anime/manga.
Claimer: I fully own Ichidou Yachitose and her family, Mrs. Suteki Iyashii, Suteki's deceased father and mother, Ryougi, Karei, Sumizome, Komayaka, Ke-ki and her gang, and Miss Jishi. Please don't use them in any form without my permission.
To Curtis Zidane Ziraa: You're right, and, as such, ol' obnoxious Suteki Iyashii will actually be in the end of this chapter and the next doing just that. By the way, thanks a bunch for reviewing. Reviews always make my day.
To ArtemisObscure: I know what you mean about Isis/Seto. Ick!
Yea… Ichidou's dad died when she was six years old, and, sadly, she was the person who found him dead. Its angsty, I know… But back to "happier" topics. You're right, Nekura's got major issues. (laughs) Anyway, thanks for reviewing again.
To silver swan1: Very true. Ichi really isn't much of anything like Yugi, and as such she's also not quite so happy-go-lucky. Thank you again for the review.
A/N: This chapter features Hilary Duff's song "Come Clean."
Disclaimer 2: I don't own nor am I making any money from using "Come Clean" sung by Hilary Duff.
Duel Five: Hanrui (Troubles)
"Who is that?" asked Yami, gazing down at the motionless corpse. His deep amethyst eyes were wide in mingled astonishment and alarm.
"My Dad," replied Ichidou in the voice of the child she was in the form of.
(Let's go back
Back to the beginning
Back to when the earth, the sun, the stars all aligned)
Yami looked up, studying little "Ichi" for a moment before turning to the image of Riki and Nekura behind Ichidou. "And them?" he queried softly.
"Riki and Nekura," echoed the enveloping gloom. In the next instant, beside the girl appeared the current day Ichidou, denim skirt, tank top, and all. She looked darker in quintessence somehow though, and the Dark Pharaoh recognized the symptoms instantaneously.
He knew Futokui Yachitose wasn't murdered otherwise the final image imprinted in Ichidou's mind would be covered in blood. 'Is this something I know intuitively or are the Shadows answering my queries?' he thought. His pupils dilated once more. He could see the darkness encroaching on the little light emitting from the circular area they stood therein.
('Cause perfect didn't feel so perfect
Trying to fit a square into a circle
Was no lie
I defy)
"What happened?" he gasped, suddenly discarding his usual solemnity with a realization that chilled his soul.
"Nekura nearly killed Riki today," said the older Ichidou. Her eyes were swirls of navy and silver reflected from the diminishing illumination encompassing them.
Beside her the child "Ichi" said dully, her eyes the same dim whirls, "It's happening again."
"Huh?" blurted out the elder Ichidou, her eyes enlarging with anxiety. "What's happening again?"
"The light is leaving just like when Daddy died," replied the child in an eerily calm tone.
(Let the rain fall down
And wake my dreams
Let it wash away
My sanity)
"I – " gasped the other Ichidou a moment prior to being grabbed from behind by two large, snaking tentacles made of pure shadows. They wrapped around the ti-n'e-ja, who cried out and gripped the air frantically. The little "Ichi" vanished with a shriek in the same split second.
In a flash, Yami was in front of Ichidou, clutching onto her hands. Somehow they both knew that if he let go Ichidou would be swallowed up in her own darkness, and it would mean the end for both of them. Yami resolved to be the greater of the two "darknesses" and pulled back on her. Ichidou's hands were warm compared with the dead chill of Yami's, and they kept fumbling in the growing night of the room.
"Yami," grunted Ichidou, clenched onto his hand so tightly it throbbed. The tentacles' grips were loosening and with a renewed fortitude, Ichidou kicked them. The darkness receded more, and finally, with a last great tug, Ichidou was free, and the room was suddenly bathed in radiance. Ichidou went crashing into Yami. They both landed sprawled out on their backs.
('Cause I wanna feel the thunder
I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down)
Yami sat up gradually, examining his present host critically out of the corner of his eye. Finding little lasting damage, he turned fully to Ichidou, who was looking rather as if she was recovering from a psychosis.
"How? – Was that? – I mean – " began Ichidou, turning to the King of Games.
"It's all right, Ichidou," said Yami evenly.
Ichidou cocked her head slightly in thought before saying, "Hmm. Arigatou."
Yami nodded and stood up. He held out his hand for Ichidou who used it to assist her in standing. She smiled sadly at him and followed him into Ichidou's main soul room.
(I'm coming clean, I'm coming clean)
The dark room sealed behind them and Ichidou smiled as she gazed at the familiar cerulean walls. "It's good to be back in here," she muttered.
Yami nodded and turned back to her, an aberrant look on his sharp features.
"I'm fine. Really I am," insisted Ichidou at Yami's incredulous look. "All right, all right. Maybe not entirely. Atleast I'm not being attacked by a dark blob anymore."
Yami smiled faintly. "That's true enough," he consented.
(I'm shedding
Shedding every color
Trying to find a pigment of truth
Beneath my skin)
"I-I'd like to know more about you and the Millennium Puzzle," whispered Ichidou as Yami turned to go.
Yami turned back and nodded impassively, his mulberry eyes glinting. He sat down, in one graceful motion, onto a chair in front of the wooden desk. Ichidou sat down in an adjacent spot on a blue beanbag in one corner of the room, her legs drawn up to her chest.
Yami noticed with a wave of agitation how her eyes still had the wild appearance of the eyes of a rapid hare being chased by a ravenous predator. He sighed and thought back to the very beginning… He told her all of the Egypt he recalled from the deserts to the Nile River. His tales were interlaced with the priest who was now Seto Kaiba and Duel Monsters. He revealed to her all about the Millennium Items, their capabilities, and their previous holders. He even recounted his escapades with Yugi Mutou, his friends, and family.
"… I've been latent within the Millennium Puzzle for twelve years now," added Yami.
"'Not too bad compared to the first time though, no?" Ichidou asked, grinning.
"Anything compared to several millennia isn't bad at all," agreed Yami.
('Cause different
Doesn't feel so different
Feel the wind)
"Ichi?" inquired Kyouko as she neared her daughter's room.
"Yeah, 'kaasan?" Ichidou asked, her attention turning back to her corporeal body and away from her soul room and Yami.
"Are you really okay?" questioned Kyouko.
"I'm all right," replied Ichidou cheerfully.
Ichidou's tone puzzled her okaasan for a moment before she nodded and said, "'Ready for dinner?"
"Sure!" said Ichidou, hopping off her bed. The metal frame creaked in protest.
(Let the rain fall down
And wake my dreams
Let it wash away
My sanity)
Inside his partner's soul room, Yami muttered something about "quick changes of mood."
"I'll be down in a minute," Ichidou told her okaasan. When Kyouko was a secure distance away, Ichidou reappeared with startling clarity inside her soul room and snapped at Yami, "They're called mood swings nowadays and buzz off."
"A perfect example of my point," mumbled Yami turning to go into his own soul room.
"What was that?" Ichidou screeched, bristling.
('Cause I wanna feel the thunder
I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down
I'm coming clean, I'm coming clean)
Yami didn't even stop, but Ichidou had the distinct feeling he was smirking. "You're teasing me," she accused, frowning.
"Never," said Yami.
(I'm coming clean
Let the rain fall
Let the rain fall
I'm coming clean
Let the rain fall
Let the rain fall
I'm coming clean)
"You're lying!"
"Hmm."
"Admit it."
"I will do no such thing."
"Argh! That's it! I'm leaving!" yelled Ichidou.
"All right."
"That's it? Just "All right?"
"Good-bye," said Yami serenely as he went through the doorway.
"Fine!"
"Fine."
"Fi – Oh! Forget it!" And with that said, Ichidou left the soul room as well and bounded downstairs. Her spirits were still a bit lackluster, but she put on a smile for her okaasan as she sat down at the kitchen table.
(Let the rain fall down
And wake my dreams
Let it wash away
My sanity)
As soon as food was served and Ichidou was about to take a sip of her iced tea, the doorbell chimed. "I'll get it," grumbled the ti-n'e-ja, setting her glass down and pushing her chair backwards. She walked out of the kitchen and down the passage to the front door. When she opened the white door, she came upon a short woman with long russet tresses in a brisk business suit. The obsidian fabric glistened in the diminishing light of the sun as twilight approached.
('Cause I wanna feel the thunder
I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down
I'm coming clean,
Let the rain fall
Let the rain fall)
"Konnichiha. Are you Miss Yachitose?"
"Hai," replied Ichidou warily. 'There's something odd about this lady,' she thought.
"Very good," exclaimed the woman, tightening her grip on her brown briefcase. "My name is Suteki Iyashii. I am here to make a deal with you."
"Which would be?" asked Ichidou.
"I will give you whatever price you desire for that pretty pendant around your neck," Mrs. Iyashii answered.
"Oh," muttered Ichidou, peering down at the Millennium Puzzle resting against her chest. "If that's all you want then sayonara."
"But you don't understand, Itoshigo," cried out Mrs. Iyashii. "I'm Yugi Mutou's magomusume! I should have the Millennium Puzzle!" (A/N: Itoshigo=beloved dear child, magomusume=granddaughter)
(I'm coming clean, I'm coming clean)
I'm afraid you are the only person who thinks so. Sayonara," said Ichidou, shutting the door in her unwelcome visitor's face with a smirk.
(Let's go back
Back to the beginning)
A/N: Don't think that's the end of Suteki Iyashii's attempts to get the Puzzle. She's a relentless woman. (sweatdrop)
A/N 2: I hope you guys like this chapter. The following one will probably feature old and flashback (young) Seto Kaiba. Maybe even Ryou Bakura. I'm not sure yet though. We shall see…
A/N 3: Don't forget to review. All reviews are welcome, but flames get doused with fire extinguishers or buckets of water.
Cineris: (cheep) (coo)Iyami: zzzZZZZzzzZzz
Choccy: Bye!
