A Rose for the Souls of the Innocent

Prologue:

The First Steps of a Marathon

I feel a twinge of regret, but I remind myself that it is for the better. And perhaps, if all goes according to plan, I can go back and revive her soul. But now I must harden my heart.

Back down on the field, the Man-Eater Bug looks around smugly, licks its claw, and retreats back to rest on its card. I smile briefly at it, but my attention is turned elsewhere at the sound of a loud cry from below me.

It is little Yuugi; he seems to have regained his mobility. I can see tears welling up in his eyes, threatening to spill over onto his flushed cheeks. Slowly his devastated gaze finds its way up to mine. I meet it unflinchingly. If I give in now I will surely be defeated. I keep my face stony.

"You… you are a monster! You killed her!"

Inwardly I cringe at this accusation, partly because I know it is true.

Keep the mask on… keep the mask…

I smile coldly. "Have no worries little Yuugi, you will be next. And your little friends after that. So you will all be together soon."

Yuugi's eyes widen, and he looks up at the Pharaoh for reassurance. The boy flashes a quick 'thumbs up' at him, but doesn't look at him. "Don't listen to him Yuugi, he cannot win."

I laugh at this, at the obvious falsehood. "On the contrary, my friend, I am going to win. It is you who has no hope! For now I play…"

Still smiling, I pull the Change of Heart from my hand and lay it in the trap and magic zone. I stop to wonder briefly, what will happen when I play it. This is my soul-vessel's favorite card. Does that mean he will appear on the field as the others have? I rather hope not, for I wouldn't want any harm to come to my own Hikari. But don't think I've gone soft. Oh, no! I simply don't want him whole body I use to be damaged. That is all.

"… The Change of Heart card!" I finish, as I lay it down, face up. The card shimmers, and a form appears out of the light. A white robe take shape; two wings, one feathered and the other webbed; and then a face appears. A pale face, outlined in long white hair.

I hold back my disappointment. It is Ryou, and now he will have to be exposed to this. I had hoped to keep him from the sight of having his friends destroyed, but no such luck. But it is done, and now I must make do, and most importantly show no weakness or hesitation.

Ryou blinks in bewilderment as he looks around at his surroundings, but he refrains from making any pathetically stupid comments as the others had. He takes it all in, first Yuugi and the others, dressed in their Duel Monster garb, then the giant Pharaoh across from him, and finally me.

When his dark eyes reach my own, I see only sadness in them. No confusion, no anger, just a quiet acceptance. He knows what I am doing, and knows he cannot stop me. He slowly turns back to the others on the opposite of him and is silent in response to their gasps and exclamations.

Looking back down at my hand, I lay down two more cards. A Remove Trap in the trap and magic zone, and my Lady of Faith in the monster zone. She materializes prettily, standing silent and calm in her blue robes and decorated crown. But for the moment I ignore her; my move lays in the Change of He--or rather, Ryou's ability now.

"Change of Heart," I say, my voice almost echoing with sinister joy, "Take the Black Magician!"

He turns to look at me again, pleading silently with those dark, tortured eyes. I meet his gaze boldly. He must do this for me, this one thing. Somehow he understands, and he nods sadly. "Yes, Yami."

Across the field the Yuugi and the others cry for him to ignore me, to do what he will, but I pay them no mind, and neither does he. Or does he?

Looking closer at my host's soul, I see indecision lurking in his features. Can he possibly be thinking of betraying me? His own Yami? I must stop him before he makes a fatal error!

I reach out with my mind and establish a link between our minds.

No Ryou! I immediately cry. He jumps with surprise and looks at me, and I know he heard my voice. Ryou, do not betray me! You do, and I swear by Set I will make your life a living Hell.

Still I feel the indecision, the uncertainty. I must change his mind!

Ryou, I continue, more gently this time. Maybe threatening him is not the best way to go about this. Please, think about what you are doing. If I loose, the Pharaoh will banish me to the Shadow Realm. It is not a possibility, it is a fact.

But… you would hurt Yuugi and the others… His tentative voice reaches me, and I am surprised he found the will power to send his thoughts to me.

No, my Hikari. I promise, as soon as I have accomplished my goals I will bring them back. And in the meantime no harm shall befall them. I should know, I spent over five millennia in the Shadow Realm.

I feel a sense of questioning through the link, but I refuse to go into further detail about me. Right now I have a duel to win.

Ryou, you will take the Black Magician? You will not betray me?

I feel unhappy confirmation. Good, I know I can trust my Light's word.

Slowly the image of Ryou in his Change of Heart garments vanish from the field, and a slight mist travels to the other side, towards Yuugi. The tri-colored boy's eyes widen, and he looks up at the Pharaoh above him, but the Pharaoh does nothing. Only looks at me, an unreadable expression in his crimson eyes. Good, at least my opponent does not entertain any thoughts of trying to evade my Aibou's effect. This is a game. There are rules.

Yuugi's friends cry out in horror as their friend's eyes widen, then go blank. It is a look I have seen many times before, unfortunately. The eyes lose the spark of live, appear to be those of a dead man's. But Yuugi is not dead, he is only under my control, through Ryou of course. Quickly my own Hikari's features replace those of the Pharaoh's, and in only a matter of seconds, it is Ryou in the Black Magician's clothes. He keeps his head lowered, does not look at those he had called friends that stare at him in shock. I need no magic to know what they are thinking now, it is clear on their dumbstruck faces. They may as well be speaking aloud, 'Ryou, what have you done?' 'How could you have betrayed us, Ryou?' 'Why do you side with that… monster, Ryou?'

I snarl at them internally. Soon I will divert their accusing glares away from my Hikari. I will teach them what is worthy of those murderous looks! Because by the time they learn, they can spend all the time they want glaring at the Shadow Realm. How can Ryou think these ignorant fools are worthy of his friendship? But, oh well. I turn my mind back to the game.

"Now Ryou, why don't you come back to my side of the field?" I ask, gloating in front of Yuugiou my victory.

He nods meekly, head still bowed, and shuffles over to stand next to the Lady of Faith. Good, my Hikari. Now, attack the Flaming Swordsman!"

Jounouchi blanches at this. "No!" he cries, as if he could stop the coming attack, "Ryou, don't do it! It's not too late, screw that bastard and help us! We're your friends!"

I feel Ryou's decision start to waver, and quickly I reopen the mental link.

Ryou, do not listen to him! He is not really your friend! And, surely you cannot betray your own Yami? Just as I would never betray you, my Light, so must you disregard this imbecile's words. I feel Ryou give in again, and smile to myself. Excellent. I knew he would work for me.

TBC…