Shadows of Demons
Pan: Want to find out what Yami has to do? Heh heh heh... I'm so evil!
~
Bakura sighed. "You have to..." Yami looked at him eagerly. "Yes?" Bakura
bit his lip, hesitating.
"You have to let Youkai consume the blood of a mortal." Bakura said finally. Yami's eyes widened in shock. His mouth opened, but was unable to
speak. There were many minutes of silence, and the Pharaoh let this information register in his mind. "Th-the blood of a mortal?" he repeated.
Bakura nodded sadly. "There is no other way. It needn't be anyone in particular, but the mortal must be killed to get the blood. And it must be
human." he added. "I-I can't do that! I can't kill for myself! It's not
right..." Yami said, getting to his feet.
"It won't be you, it'll be Youkai." Bakura pointed out. "But what if he goes after Yugi?" Yami asked. "I'm his guardian - I can't let anything bad happen to him!" Bakura smiled weakly. "You're much more than his guardian,
Yami, we all know that." he said. Yami covered his face with his hands. "All the more reason why I must protect him!" he said, voice sounding as if he was on the brink of tears. "There will be one other mortal in this house
this evening." Bakura said.
"Anzu? Yugi would never forgive me..." Yami looked at Bakura though his fingers. "But I will be here. You forget; I can use Duel Monsters cards in this realm, and there are many revival cards." the Ring Spirit said. "It's not right." Yami argued. Bakura shrugged. "Whatever will be, will be." he
said. "If destiny leads to Anzu's demise, it cannot be helped."
"I've changed my destiny many a time!" Yami half-yelled back. "That's why
I'm here!" Bakura sighed, leaning back. "But do you believe that?" he
asked. "That you've changed your destiny? It wasn't your destiny in the first place to be here, now, with Yugi?" Yami fell silent, lost for words.
Bakura nodded. "When tonight comes around, you'll let Youkai out. And
destiny will take it's course." he said, with a commanding tone in his
voice. Yami sank into one of the chairs. "Yes." he said sadly. "And Ra
forgive me for what I may do."
~
"Hey! Yami-koibito, I'm back!" Yugi said closing the front door behind him. Yami came out of the lounge to greet him. "Konnichi wa, koi." he said. Yugi
ran up and hugged Yami tightly. "You're looking so much better." the smaller boy said, smiling brightly. Yami nodded. "I feel it. Bakura just
came round; Ryou's not feeling well, so he sent Bakura away so that he didn't get it." he said. Yugi blinked cutely. "Oh? Alright then. This house is becoming a hotel!" he said. "You don't mind?" Yami asked. Yugi shook his head. "Of course not. Just need to find somewhere to put him, that's all." "We'll see to that later." Yami said, kissing Yugi on the forehead. Yugi
blushed.
~
Anzu returned just before dinner, laden down with bags from various shops
throughout town. "Konbanwa..." she said, slumping down in the sofa, exhausted. "Hiya, Anzu! Just so you know, Ryou's ill so Bakura's staying
over tonight." Yugi said happily, having just put something into the microwave. He turned to face the two ancient spirits in the kitchen behind him, washing up. Well, Bakura was washing, Yami was drying. "Now, I know Yami knows this, and Ryou probably tells you too, Bakura, but I'll say it
again. DON'T TOUCH THE MICROWAVE!" Yugi said sharply.
Yami rolled his eyes. "He also tells me not to mess with the toaster in the mornings." he said after Yugi had gone to talk to Anzu. "Yami, a) I heard that b) it applies to you too, Bakura!" Yugi's voice called. Yami laughed
softly. "Ryou's just like that. After saving their lives on multiple occasions, you would have thought they'd trust us more." Bakura commented. "When did You SAVE Ryou's life?" Yami asked surprised. There was a moment
of silence. "Well, it applies to you more than me..." Bakura said.
"Yes." Yami's short answer came. Bakura pulled his hands from the soapy water. "Bubbles" he muttered, flicking them at the Pharaoh. "Hey!" Yami
said, putting down the plate he was holding, and looking annoyed at the
white foam streaked across his black outfit. "You'll pay for that, tomb
robber!" he smirked, picking up a handful of bubbles, and throwing them back at Bakura. And so it continued, until Yami decided that the only way
for him to win was to pick up the whole bowl of soapy water, and tip it
over Bakura's head. Which is exactly what he did. A look of shock was frozen on Bakura's face as the water cascaded over him, drenching him from head to foot. His white hair hung limp, and almost straight, dripping onto
the floor.
"That's IT!" Yugi cried returning to the room. "NEITHER of you two are allowed in the kitchen!" He pushed both of them out, and sent Bakura to dry off. The tomb robber sneezed, while his clothes and hair dripped onto the floor. Yami fell on the floor laughing loudly. Anzu seemed most bemused,
but that might be something to do with her altered view of Yami.
~
It was soon decided that it was most convenient to let Bakura sleep in Yami's room, since Anzu was in Yugi's room. Yugi was perfectly happy with this; he would have stayed with Yami himself, but as Yami's room was right
next to Anzu's, and judging by what usually happened when Yugi was in
Yami's room, it wasn't a good idea.
~
Yami watched the sun sink below the line of the horizon from his bedroom
window. The lights were on in his room, and Bakura was standing by the door. "You're sure about this?" Yami asked, turning from the window. "The
sun's gone, it's officially night now." Bakura nodded. "I am completely
sure about this." he said. Yami sighed, turning back to the window.
"There's no turning back once you switch those lights out." he said. "I know." said Bakura. Yami drew the curtains across the window. "Leave it a
while, that way we can be sure they're both asleep." he said, going and sitting on his bed. "Meanwhile, I'm actually going to go to sleep myself."
He laid back against the pillows. "Why?" Bakura asked, puzzled. Yami laughed softly. "Think. Youkai's wings rip out of my shoulders. That's VERY painful. Not to mention the forceful oppression of my consciousness." he explained. Bakura grinned a little. "I'll put you to sleep later." he said.
"Magically." he added quickly. For a few hours, the two sat in silence,
thinking over what was to happen that night, how much could go wrong...
~
Yami sat up. "Alright." he closed his eyes softly. Anzu was in bed, and
Yugi was lying on the sofa. Both were fast asleep.
The orange light of the streetlamp outside illuminated Yami's curtain. Bakura knew what he was to do - try and bring through a little of Yami's spirit, so that Youkai wouldn't go after Yugi, before the demon was allowed to leave the room. A hard task, while Yami's was harder, trying to force
his way out.
"Come on then." Yami said finally, with an attempted brave tone, though it
was shaky. Bakura looked towards him. "Fine. Lay back." The tomb robber walked over to the bedside. "When you wake up, this should be over." Yami
nodded, resting his head on the pillows. "And may Ra forgive me." he murmured, closing his eyes. Bakura's Millennium Ring began to glow, gently lowering Yami into a deep sleep. The Pharaoh slept almost silently, except
for the faint sound of his breathing. Bakura walked towards the
lightswitch.
He took a deep breath, and flipped it. The room was submerged into complete and utter darkness, for a few moments, before a red glow began to form on Yami's forehead. His body sat up like some puppet, eyes half-opening with a blank stare. Two red-and-black wings pulled themselves from his shoulders, as Yami looked up, blood red Sennen-Eye symbol glowing on his forehead, and
an evil smirk painted on his face. He climbed off of the bed.
"Out of the way, tomb robber." Youkai muttered. Bakura's Ring glowed again. "I think not, at least not yet." he said. "Don't come any closer." "And why
not?" Youkai sneered, staying exactly where he was. "Because my hand is over the light switch." Bakura told him. "If you come closer, I'll flip it, and you'll instantly become Yami again." Youkai growled deep in his throat. The Ring glowed brighter. 'Come on, Yami, come on...' he thought rapidly.
At that moment, the red Sennen-Eye faded long enough for Yami's true voice to call 'Bakura!' before Youkai regained control. The Ring stopped glowing. "Not so great are you?" Youkai laughed, before darting closer to Bakura and
throwing him aside. Opening the door, the demon stepped out onto the landing. "No-one escapes from me..." he muttered, turning towards Anzu's room. Bakura got up and followed him, rubbing sore patches where bruises
would soon form.
Youkai smirked, looking over Anzu's sleeping form. "Your sleep will be eternal soon, Anzu... best not to wake..." he murmured, moving towards her. Bakura flipped through his deck, searching for a revival card. He came upon
Raise Dead (Monster Reborn) and held it ready in his hand.
A pointed black dagger appeared in Youkai's hand. The inlaid silver
glistened eerily in some unknown light, revealing the winding Egyptian
patterns in the blade. He positioned it carefully over Anzu's heart, lifting it back to make the fatal blow. Even Bakura shut his eyes, as in one powerful, fluid movement, the blade rushed downwards and pierced the
girl's heart. Sapphire eyes snapped open suddenly, and she let out a
strangled yell, blood rushing forth from the deadly wound. Youkai
straightened up sneering.
"YUGI, IIE!" Bakura's voice shouted as the short hikari rushed past him
once again answering the screams of Anzu. Youkai turned, eyes widened. Yugi's hand clapped over the switch, sending bright white light straight
into Youkai's eyes. The young light looked on Youkai in terror, quickly
changing to disbelief, as the demon raised his arms to shield his eyes, dark wings dissolving into nothingness. Yami fell forward, still spellbound asleep. The marks in his left arm glowed momentarily, but it subsided. Yugi was frozen, looking in on the scene. Anzu's dead, bleeding body was lying on the bed, and Yami was here, and had seemingly murdered her. And Bakura here had done nothing. Yugi fell backwards, eyes rolling back in his head in a dead faint. A crystalline tear trickled from the corner of his eye.
~
Ruby coloured eyes fluttered open. Yami sat up, looking around the room. He was in his own bed, and bright noon-daylight streamed through a crack in the curtains. He threw the covers off of himself, and walked towards the
door. He could hear voices though it.
"Yugi, stop, you don't understand!" Bakura called, and the sound of hurried footsteps thumped on the stairs. "I understand perfectly! He killed Anzu!" Yugi voice yelled back, from just beyond the door. "Yugi, please..." Bakura
said.
Yami stepped away from the door, just in time for it NOT to hit him, as his angry aibou threw it open. "Yami!" Yugi shouted, voice echoing with anger
Yami had never heard before. "I know you didn't like her; but surely it wasn't that bad!" the boy continued. "She was my friend, Yami! Even if YOU didn't like her, it's no reason to become a murderer!" "Yugi, please, let
me explain!" Yami said, tears forming in his eyes. "There's nothing to explain!" Yugi yelled. He pulled the Puzzle from around his neck. Yami's
eyes widened, wet streaks gliding down his face. "Please..." he said, choked by sobs. Yugi dropped the Puzzle to the floor, where it shattered.
Yami looked down as his physical form began to fade. "Goodbye, Yami..."
Yugi said, turning away.
"Demo... aishiteru, Yugi!" Yami's panicked voice faded with his body, and
he was gone.
Pan: Want to find out what Yami has to do? Heh heh heh... I'm so evil!
~
Bakura sighed. "You have to..." Yami looked at him eagerly. "Yes?" Bakura
bit his lip, hesitating.
"You have to let Youkai consume the blood of a mortal." Bakura said finally. Yami's eyes widened in shock. His mouth opened, but was unable to
speak. There were many minutes of silence, and the Pharaoh let this information register in his mind. "Th-the blood of a mortal?" he repeated.
Bakura nodded sadly. "There is no other way. It needn't be anyone in particular, but the mortal must be killed to get the blood. And it must be
human." he added. "I-I can't do that! I can't kill for myself! It's not
right..." Yami said, getting to his feet.
"It won't be you, it'll be Youkai." Bakura pointed out. "But what if he goes after Yugi?" Yami asked. "I'm his guardian - I can't let anything bad happen to him!" Bakura smiled weakly. "You're much more than his guardian,
Yami, we all know that." he said. Yami covered his face with his hands. "All the more reason why I must protect him!" he said, voice sounding as if he was on the brink of tears. "There will be one other mortal in this house
this evening." Bakura said.
"Anzu? Yugi would never forgive me..." Yami looked at Bakura though his fingers. "But I will be here. You forget; I can use Duel Monsters cards in this realm, and there are many revival cards." the Ring Spirit said. "It's not right." Yami argued. Bakura shrugged. "Whatever will be, will be." he
said. "If destiny leads to Anzu's demise, it cannot be helped."
"I've changed my destiny many a time!" Yami half-yelled back. "That's why
I'm here!" Bakura sighed, leaning back. "But do you believe that?" he
asked. "That you've changed your destiny? It wasn't your destiny in the first place to be here, now, with Yugi?" Yami fell silent, lost for words.
Bakura nodded. "When tonight comes around, you'll let Youkai out. And
destiny will take it's course." he said, with a commanding tone in his
voice. Yami sank into one of the chairs. "Yes." he said sadly. "And Ra
forgive me for what I may do."
~
"Hey! Yami-koibito, I'm back!" Yugi said closing the front door behind him. Yami came out of the lounge to greet him. "Konnichi wa, koi." he said. Yugi
ran up and hugged Yami tightly. "You're looking so much better." the smaller boy said, smiling brightly. Yami nodded. "I feel it. Bakura just
came round; Ryou's not feeling well, so he sent Bakura away so that he didn't get it." he said. Yugi blinked cutely. "Oh? Alright then. This house is becoming a hotel!" he said. "You don't mind?" Yami asked. Yugi shook his head. "Of course not. Just need to find somewhere to put him, that's all." "We'll see to that later." Yami said, kissing Yugi on the forehead. Yugi
blushed.
~
Anzu returned just before dinner, laden down with bags from various shops
throughout town. "Konbanwa..." she said, slumping down in the sofa, exhausted. "Hiya, Anzu! Just so you know, Ryou's ill so Bakura's staying
over tonight." Yugi said happily, having just put something into the microwave. He turned to face the two ancient spirits in the kitchen behind him, washing up. Well, Bakura was washing, Yami was drying. "Now, I know Yami knows this, and Ryou probably tells you too, Bakura, but I'll say it
again. DON'T TOUCH THE MICROWAVE!" Yugi said sharply.
Yami rolled his eyes. "He also tells me not to mess with the toaster in the mornings." he said after Yugi had gone to talk to Anzu. "Yami, a) I heard that b) it applies to you too, Bakura!" Yugi's voice called. Yami laughed
softly. "Ryou's just like that. After saving their lives on multiple occasions, you would have thought they'd trust us more." Bakura commented. "When did You SAVE Ryou's life?" Yami asked surprised. There was a moment
of silence. "Well, it applies to you more than me..." Bakura said.
"Yes." Yami's short answer came. Bakura pulled his hands from the soapy water. "Bubbles" he muttered, flicking them at the Pharaoh. "Hey!" Yami
said, putting down the plate he was holding, and looking annoyed at the
white foam streaked across his black outfit. "You'll pay for that, tomb
robber!" he smirked, picking up a handful of bubbles, and throwing them back at Bakura. And so it continued, until Yami decided that the only way
for him to win was to pick up the whole bowl of soapy water, and tip it
over Bakura's head. Which is exactly what he did. A look of shock was frozen on Bakura's face as the water cascaded over him, drenching him from head to foot. His white hair hung limp, and almost straight, dripping onto
the floor.
"That's IT!" Yugi cried returning to the room. "NEITHER of you two are allowed in the kitchen!" He pushed both of them out, and sent Bakura to dry off. The tomb robber sneezed, while his clothes and hair dripped onto the floor. Yami fell on the floor laughing loudly. Anzu seemed most bemused,
but that might be something to do with her altered view of Yami.
~
It was soon decided that it was most convenient to let Bakura sleep in Yami's room, since Anzu was in Yugi's room. Yugi was perfectly happy with this; he would have stayed with Yami himself, but as Yami's room was right
next to Anzu's, and judging by what usually happened when Yugi was in
Yami's room, it wasn't a good idea.
~
Yami watched the sun sink below the line of the horizon from his bedroom
window. The lights were on in his room, and Bakura was standing by the door. "You're sure about this?" Yami asked, turning from the window. "The
sun's gone, it's officially night now." Bakura nodded. "I am completely
sure about this." he said. Yami sighed, turning back to the window.
"There's no turning back once you switch those lights out." he said. "I know." said Bakura. Yami drew the curtains across the window. "Leave it a
while, that way we can be sure they're both asleep." he said, going and sitting on his bed. "Meanwhile, I'm actually going to go to sleep myself."
He laid back against the pillows. "Why?" Bakura asked, puzzled. Yami laughed softly. "Think. Youkai's wings rip out of my shoulders. That's VERY painful. Not to mention the forceful oppression of my consciousness." he explained. Bakura grinned a little. "I'll put you to sleep later." he said.
"Magically." he added quickly. For a few hours, the two sat in silence,
thinking over what was to happen that night, how much could go wrong...
~
Yami sat up. "Alright." he closed his eyes softly. Anzu was in bed, and
Yugi was lying on the sofa. Both were fast asleep.
The orange light of the streetlamp outside illuminated Yami's curtain. Bakura knew what he was to do - try and bring through a little of Yami's spirit, so that Youkai wouldn't go after Yugi, before the demon was allowed to leave the room. A hard task, while Yami's was harder, trying to force
his way out.
"Come on then." Yami said finally, with an attempted brave tone, though it
was shaky. Bakura looked towards him. "Fine. Lay back." The tomb robber walked over to the bedside. "When you wake up, this should be over." Yami
nodded, resting his head on the pillows. "And may Ra forgive me." he murmured, closing his eyes. Bakura's Millennium Ring began to glow, gently lowering Yami into a deep sleep. The Pharaoh slept almost silently, except
for the faint sound of his breathing. Bakura walked towards the
lightswitch.
He took a deep breath, and flipped it. The room was submerged into complete and utter darkness, for a few moments, before a red glow began to form on Yami's forehead. His body sat up like some puppet, eyes half-opening with a blank stare. Two red-and-black wings pulled themselves from his shoulders, as Yami looked up, blood red Sennen-Eye symbol glowing on his forehead, and
an evil smirk painted on his face. He climbed off of the bed.
"Out of the way, tomb robber." Youkai muttered. Bakura's Ring glowed again. "I think not, at least not yet." he said. "Don't come any closer." "And why
not?" Youkai sneered, staying exactly where he was. "Because my hand is over the light switch." Bakura told him. "If you come closer, I'll flip it, and you'll instantly become Yami again." Youkai growled deep in his throat. The Ring glowed brighter. 'Come on, Yami, come on...' he thought rapidly.
At that moment, the red Sennen-Eye faded long enough for Yami's true voice to call 'Bakura!' before Youkai regained control. The Ring stopped glowing. "Not so great are you?" Youkai laughed, before darting closer to Bakura and
throwing him aside. Opening the door, the demon stepped out onto the landing. "No-one escapes from me..." he muttered, turning towards Anzu's room. Bakura got up and followed him, rubbing sore patches where bruises
would soon form.
Youkai smirked, looking over Anzu's sleeping form. "Your sleep will be eternal soon, Anzu... best not to wake..." he murmured, moving towards her. Bakura flipped through his deck, searching for a revival card. He came upon
Raise Dead (Monster Reborn) and held it ready in his hand.
A pointed black dagger appeared in Youkai's hand. The inlaid silver
glistened eerily in some unknown light, revealing the winding Egyptian
patterns in the blade. He positioned it carefully over Anzu's heart, lifting it back to make the fatal blow. Even Bakura shut his eyes, as in one powerful, fluid movement, the blade rushed downwards and pierced the
girl's heart. Sapphire eyes snapped open suddenly, and she let out a
strangled yell, blood rushing forth from the deadly wound. Youkai
straightened up sneering.
"YUGI, IIE!" Bakura's voice shouted as the short hikari rushed past him
once again answering the screams of Anzu. Youkai turned, eyes widened. Yugi's hand clapped over the switch, sending bright white light straight
into Youkai's eyes. The young light looked on Youkai in terror, quickly
changing to disbelief, as the demon raised his arms to shield his eyes, dark wings dissolving into nothingness. Yami fell forward, still spellbound asleep. The marks in his left arm glowed momentarily, but it subsided. Yugi was frozen, looking in on the scene. Anzu's dead, bleeding body was lying on the bed, and Yami was here, and had seemingly murdered her. And Bakura here had done nothing. Yugi fell backwards, eyes rolling back in his head in a dead faint. A crystalline tear trickled from the corner of his eye.
~
Ruby coloured eyes fluttered open. Yami sat up, looking around the room. He was in his own bed, and bright noon-daylight streamed through a crack in the curtains. He threw the covers off of himself, and walked towards the
door. He could hear voices though it.
"Yugi, stop, you don't understand!" Bakura called, and the sound of hurried footsteps thumped on the stairs. "I understand perfectly! He killed Anzu!" Yugi voice yelled back, from just beyond the door. "Yugi, please..." Bakura
said.
Yami stepped away from the door, just in time for it NOT to hit him, as his angry aibou threw it open. "Yami!" Yugi shouted, voice echoing with anger
Yami had never heard before. "I know you didn't like her; but surely it wasn't that bad!" the boy continued. "She was my friend, Yami! Even if YOU didn't like her, it's no reason to become a murderer!" "Yugi, please, let
me explain!" Yami said, tears forming in his eyes. "There's nothing to explain!" Yugi yelled. He pulled the Puzzle from around his neck. Yami's
eyes widened, wet streaks gliding down his face. "Please..." he said, choked by sobs. Yugi dropped the Puzzle to the floor, where it shattered.
Yami looked down as his physical form began to fade. "Goodbye, Yami..."
Yugi said, turning away.
"Demo... aishiteru, Yugi!" Yami's panicked voice faded with his body, and
he was gone.
