X - 02 (31 days until the end of the world)
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or X/1999 (where this idea came from... It was just an inspiration, the plots are not very alike though)
Warning: This story will contain shounen ai (boy/boy love) so beware
Couple: Yami/Yugi
Sided couples: Bakura/Ryou, Marik/Malik, Seto/Katsuya, Hiroto/Anzu and Ryuuji/Shizuka
~ ~ ~
"So, you have told him, Ryou?" a figure asked, and a boy, with white hair and gentle chocolate-colored eyes nodded, kneeling on one knee before the other person.
"Yes. He was already informed about what is about to happen." He said, and the figure nodded, standing up from its crystal throne, walking around the room.
It was a woman. She wore a long simple white dress, and her heels made loud sounds when met the floor. She closed beautiful azure eyes, her tanned hands coming to rest on her chest. Gorgeous, shiny white wings flapped around as she spread them, its length enough to reach almost from one side of the room to the other. She took a deep breath and released slowly, stopping where she was. The other celestial creature behind her now.
"Inform him of his destiny. And what his mission will be from now on." She said, and the other, Ryou, nodded, flapping his wings a little, then walking over to the window. The woman called out for his name and he stopped.
"Yes, miss Isis?" he asked, bowing down before her again. Isis looked at his form with unease eyes before she finally spoke.
"Protect him. I sense upcoming danger upon the chosen one." She said, and Ryou looked up with natural big eyes.
"Is it not because of what is about to happen? What he is about to do?" he asked innocently, and Isis only looked at the ground, her eyes showing no emotion but concern.
"I... I am afraid... That..." she looked at him. "That something else is going to happen to him. And he will suffer. All along." She said, and Ryou widened his eyes.
"Is he... going to get hurt, Miss Isis?" Ryou asked, and she shook her head. She walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, bending down to look directly into his eyes.
"Not physically, my dear Ryou." She said, and Ryou opened his mouth to speak but did not find his voice. He placed his hand on hers, and looked up at her with emotive eyes, full of wonder.
"Do you think... they can do anything to him?" he asked, and Isis stood up straight and brought a hand to her mouth, eyes narrowed in thought. She began to walk around the room in silence, and Ryou waited patiently for the moment she would speak again.
"No." She answered at last, sitting down on the transparent throne yet again. She folded her hands and cast her eyes down to her lap. "But there is not only one way to torture someone... right?" she asked, and Ryou stood up, looking away.
"Yes." He said, and with a nod, flew away from the place.
Isis placed her elbow on the throne's arm and placed her chin upon her palm. She stared at the nothingness for a long time, completely silent, eyes remaining a blank blue, pupils almost non-existent. Then she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply.
"It has begun." She spoke to no one but herself. "The battle is coming... And it cannot be postponed. We knew this would happen.... But..." she moved a hand over to her heart, eyes narrowed. "Why do I sense... So much pain? It's different... From the last time..." she practically breathed out the words, and the breeze within the room seemed to understand her. She sighed. "Chosen one... Will you withstand the trials put before you? Will you be ready, in 31 days, for the purpose your life is all about? Will you be able... to face it? Will you be able... to fight it?"
*
Darkness. Murmurs. Eyes. The sound of rustling. The feeling of moving wind. A faint light of yellow, green, blue, coming from the sides. The sound of moving feet, of heels meeting the floor. A loud sound of a bell. Then silence. Silence and darkness.
He looked up. There was the majestic figure of Him. There, looking down, not meeting his eyes with His own. Arms wide open, looking greater than any of them all. Blood fell down his face, hands and feet. His chest was bare, and His hair fell against His face lifeless. He looked fragile. Defeated.
And the only emotion he could express before the cross was void. Nothing. He felt nothing. He demonstrated nothing. The man... meant nothing.
He looked around him, to the people that surrounded him. They all looked at him with a blank face. They all looked devoid of emotions, as if he was merely... There. Like a mere continuation of the shadows. Useless. Unimportant. But if he was called there...
"Why?" he asked, crimson eyes looking at the faces of each one of them. "Why am I here?" he continued, and the man who brought him them cleared his throat, bringing his face close to his own, blue eyes locked on scarlet bloody pools.
"We called you... Because we know you can help us." He said, and scarlet eyes narrowed.
"Help? Why me?" he continued, and the man chuckled.
"Why you?" he inquired in vain, and he felt himself losing his short patience. The man did not seem to care, but he continued anyway. "Because... you are darkness." He said.
"And so?" he asked, and the man smirked in the dim light.
"So are we." He said, and in a swift movement, black feathers brushed against his face, as the man spread out dark wings from his back, and so did his companions. He stared at them with wide eyes, but other than that, showed no more reactions.
"We are the Fallen Shadows." A blank female voice spoke, her long black dress giving away exactly the personality its owner had. She was merely cold as night itself. And she moved with the grace of swirling shadows. "And you have been chosen."
"For what?" he asked again, frustrated with the time it was taking to get a simple question answered.
"Revenge upon the ones who made us forsaken. Who abandoned us." Another female voice spoke, this one a lot softer than her companions.
"Do you not wish revenge?" a woman made her way to him, touching his chest and moving her hands up and down suggestively, showing off white teeth and her fangs shone to him in her smirk. "Do you not want the gods to pay for what they have done to you?" she asked, touching his cold face. Icy skin he had.
He pushed her off, and the woman chuckled, brushing raven bangs away from her dark gray eyes that shone with malice. He watched the insanity radiating from her.
"Yes." He answered simply, and the man with blue eyes caught his attention again when he chuckled.
"Then join us, Yami. And in a matter of time, you will get what you want." He spoke, and the crimson eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"How long?" he asked, and a female laughed, her voice sounding more strident than any of the previous ones.
"31 days, darling. In 31 days we will kill them all and watch them suffer. And the humans... all the humans will perish." She said.
"What will happen 31 one days?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The end of the world." The navy-eyed one spoke, and he turned ruby jewels towards him. Soon, a smirk appeared on his lips, and he seemed delighted with the idea.
"Sounds good to me." he said, and a chorused laugh echoed through the abandoned church where they were located, birds flying off from the roof, startled, a chilling breeze passing around like a bad presage.
"Up to then... We have only one mission." The cold female voice spoke again, and a violent male voice laughed.
"Hunt the pretty angels." He said, and crimson eyes narrowed.
"Yes... That sounds just right."
*
Yugi arrived at his home, and all but collapsed on his bed. He couldn't pay attention to anything in class after the incident the day before with that boy. The message he gave him startled and disturbed him, and all he wished for was more explanations.
What was this 'end of the world'? And what role did the boy say that he was going to play? Was this... what his mother was telling him about? Was he going to do anything that could either save or destroy the world? Was this what his powers were for?
He placed an arm over his eyes, and sighed deeply. The answers were not coming to him, no matter how much he wanted them. And also, there was something within him... Something inside him that was clenching his insides in a tight grip that was hurting him. And he had no idea what was that.
Am I sick? He wondered, facing the darkness behind his pupils. What is going to happen to me? was all he could think, and before he even knew it, he drifted away from consciousness, falling towards the depths of his never-sleeping mind.
*** ~ Dream Sequence/Flashback ~ ***
Yugi giggled. His feet moved back and forth under the table, and he glanced in amusement at Yami, at the other side of the table, who was frowning down at their game. The chess pieces only looked up at him, some mocking him, some waiting patiently for when he would make his move. But Yugi did not see the time when he would finally make a move, seeming like he was finally trapped.
Then Yami's face brightened. He moved a piece down on the board, and Yugi followed its movement, and when he looked back at Yami, this one was smirking. The two 12-year-olds had been playing that game for the past hour, and Yugi thought he was going to win but...
"Checkmate." Yami claimed. Yugi blinked once. Twice. And many other times after that.
"I can't believe in it... How did you... Why do you always win against me?" Yugi asked, pouting. Yami laughed.
"Maybe it's a gift, you know. For me to be so good at games." Yami said and stretched, enjoying staying in his mother's gardens. He liked it there. More than any place inside his family's mansion. For him, it was just an inhuman, empty, silent and lonely place. Even with many maids, and with his mother there. The place was just too big. And you felt so small... It made you feel lonely.
But when Yugi went there, Yami always seemed cheerful and happy. He never seemed down, Yugi was sure he had never seen him sad since he met him. It may have been a short time, but still... It was like Yami was not normal. Like he was some holy creature. Such as Yugi himself. Someone who was different from everybody else. Someone... unique.
And Yugi liked being around him. It was like he had finally found someone perfect for him. Someone like him. So similar, yet so different. And he felt... like he depended on Yami. And like Yami depended on him too. Like they completed each other. The perfect mates. Best of friends.
(A/N: I am not insinuating anything romantic... Not yet.)
Everybody seemed to want to take care of him. They pitied him, felt the need to protect him. And he felt sad by that. He never felt the same around these people... His grandfather, his teachers, his other friends... They all treated him like a little child. But because he had suffered with the loss of both parents and still smiled, they should see him as strong and not weak.
And that's how Yami saw him. Because he understood. And only when he was around him, or around his mother he felt different... He could finally be himself. And that's what made him happy.
"Or maybe you're just a cheater." Yugi said grinning, and Yami blinked.
"Why you little--!!" he said playfully and Yugi giggled, jumping up from his seat and running away from Yami who had stormed after him. They both laughed, chasing each other around the gardens, when Yami finally caught Yugi and threw him to the ground, standing on top of him. He grinned when Yugi blinked, and catching him out of guard, started to tickle him.
Mrs. Awaikage, upon hearing so many laughs and yells, walked out of her house and spotted the two friends there, Yami standing over Yugi and tickling him to death, both laughing hysterically. A smile graced her beautiful features. She had never seen Yami so happy, in such a long time.
Yami had friends, yes, but Yugi was special. They all knew it.
"Hey boys!" she called and waved, and Yami stopped tickling Yugi, both looking up at her, panting and grinning.
"Yes mom?" Yami called back, sitting on Yugi's legs. Yugi brought himself partially to a sitting position supported by his arms, head turned over to where Mrs. Awaikage was.
"There's some tea and cookies ready inside, don't you want some?" she asked, and they both nodded enthusiastically. She giggled. "Then come on in!" she called and waved again, then walking back inside.
Yami turned to Yugi and the boy 'eeped' when Yami leaned over and he had to fall down on his back again. The taller one's hands stood on each side of Yugi's head and he was grinning mischievously, and all Yugi could do was blink up at him.
"I win again." He said, and Yugi pouted.
"That's because you cheated again!" he claimed, and Yami laughed.
"Just how did I cheat this time?" he asked, and Yugi blinked a few more times before answering.
"This game doesn't count, you've longer legs than me, therefore you're faster!" he said, and Yami tilted his head to the side.
"But you're lighter than me, you should be faster." He said, and grinned when Yugi seemed at a loss of words. "Yug?" he asked.
"Yeah?" Yugi replied, still not moving from under him.
"Chase you to the entrance." He said, and with that, jumped off of him and hurried to the mansion's front door. It took Yugi a couple of seconds to take in what he had just said, and when he did, he ran after Yami as fast as he could.
"Hey!! You had a head start!! It's not fair!" he called, and Yami squeaked when he noticed Yugi was not going to stop at the entrance. So when he reached the front door, he opened it quickly and ran inside, Yugi just after him.
Mrs. Awaikage was about to ask what was taking them so long when she saw two blurs running towards the living room and blinked, amused. So much for a relaxing weekend.
When Yami reached the coffee table, he turned to Yugi only to be jumped on and fall down on his back. At the end, Yugi sat triumphantly on his stomach, and he could swear his back was going to hurt for a few hours.
"I win." Yugi claimed, and Yami would laugh did he not have his breath caught on his chest the time Yugi jumped on him.
"Actually... I did..." he spoke breathlessly, but decided to complement that when Yugi gave him a glare. "But I guess... I can let you win this last chase inside... too..." he said, and Yugi smiled brightly, nodding enthusiastically.
"Actually, I've been thinking." He said, and stood up from his position on Yami's stomach, moving to lay in between his legs, and his arms folded on Yami's chest, his chin lying on them to look down at Yami's face. "There's a game I think you won't be able to defeat me."
"Oh, and what would that be?" Yami asked, facing the ceiling.
"Duel Monsters." He said, and Yami blinked, looking down at him with an eyebrow raised. "What?" Yugi asked.
"That new game? Duel Monsters?" he asked, and Yugi nodded.
"Yeah, don't you have a deck?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. Yami smiled and sat up, making Yugi roll to lay on his back, and lay his head on his lap to be able to look up at him.
"Of course I do!! And I tell you, I have had a deck for two months now." He grinned, and Yugi frowned.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, and Yami laughed.
"I wanted this to be a secret." He winked. "I knew your grandpa sold the cards, and wanted to become good enough before challenging you." He admitted, and Yugi 'oh-ed'.
"So... do you want to duel me now?" he asked, and Yami nodded.
"Sure!" he said, and Yugi cheered, jumping up to hug Yami around the neck, making him fall on his back again. In a matter of seconds, Yugi was back on his stomach, and grinning. "Ugh! Cheater!! Mom!! Help me!!" he called, waving an arm up. He heard his mother's laugh.
"You deserved it, Yami." She said and Yami saw her grinning to Yugi when she placed their cups on the coffee table, along with a plate full of cookies.
"Traitor." Yami muttered when she winked to him and walked off. Yugi laughed and finally stood up when she left, and walked to the opposite side of the table where Yami was, getting his cup and some cookies. "Are you two in league against me or something?" he asked, and Yugi shrugged.
"So, let's duel?" Yugi asked, and Yami grinned and nodded.
Later that day, it was already evening when Mrs. Awaikage passed by the Living Room, and she couldn't help but stop at the sight she found there. Yugi and Yami had fallen asleep while dueling, and her son's hand lay on top of Yugi's hand, their other hands being used as a pillow for their heads. The cards lay forgotten, scattered around the table and on the floor.
She moved to wake them up but stopped herself. The scene was too beautiful to be disturbed. Instead, she moved towards the nearest phone and dialed Sugoroku's, Yugi's grandfather number, and asked if Yugi could stay over. He agreed. And when she passed the room again, all she could do was stare, smile, then move away.
Special friends, indeed.
*** ~ End of Dream Sequence/Flashback ~ ***
Yugi opened his eyes. He blinked them a few times and yawned before looking over at the clock. He had slept for about two hours. He didn't immediately sit up, instead just lied there and stared at the ceiling. He smiled to himself.
That dream... It was one of many of the wonderful times he had had with Yami. He could clearly remember his face, his voice, his laugh... He could even remember his scent and how the warmth of his skin felt like. Yami was within him. When he died, he broke. Broke like when his mother died. He was never going to be the same...
He sighed. Maybe after finishing his purpose in life, he could die. Die and join Yami, at the right time, and stay with him. He meant so much to Yugi that it hurt... Hurt to know he was there, and he lost him. Hurt to know the moments were there, but were not going to be there anymore. Hurt to know that he could have said how much he meant to him... and didn't.
He sat up. And his eyes widened.
"Hello." The white-clothed boy smiled when their gazes locked, standing there, at his feet.
~~~ end of chapter II
A/N: Well... Long, interesting and fluffy. What else do you want me to do, huh? ^^U Heh, please don't yell at me because of the cliffhanger... I know it was mean and all, but there was nothing else to write, I tell you. *shrugs* But I guess it was good enough, wasn't it? I am sorry for the big delay, I don't know what possessed me to take so long to update this story. I love it. I think I'm going to update it next week again... To make up for the broken tradition of monthly update, ne? Then, in April, I post the 5th chapter (or 4th, if you don't consider the prologue)... Anyway, please don't forget to review, alright?
:: Replies to reviewers ::
~ YumeTakato ~ Oh, thank you for clarifying that!! *bows down in appreciation* ^^ Arigatou gozaimasu! Sorry for taking so long to update though... I guess that my inspiration has a very twisted sense of humor...
OH! And sorry for not reading any of your stories yet!! Thing is, I have been kind of busy reading some other stories I just had to, and didn't have the courage to go to your bio and read one of your stories. I feel like I have such a responsibility upon my shoulders XD Don't mind me... Just wait and I'll get to you at the right time ^_~
~ LiLTakariGirl aka Yami Aro ~ Oh heeeeeeey Aro-chan!! Good to see you here ^^ Oh and this is going to be very different from the original X... Or else, CLAMP could sue me XD lol. I'm still reading it too... It's released monthly here in Brazil and I just bought volume 4!! *cheers* *ahem* Anyway... Sorry for the long wait... Hope you liked it ^^
~ kIm ~ Oh really? ^^ Yay!! Sorry for taking long to update... stupid brain...
~ Koishii no Tenshi ~ I must thank you... For having the patience to support me XD Sorry for the delay... I hope you liked this flashback too!! ^^ Young Yami and Yugi are soooo cute, aren't they? I promise to update sooner this time too...
~ Mel Gods ~ *giggles* Wow, I don't think I had ever seen Mel-chan high on sugar ^^U So funny indeed!! *glomps her* Anyway... hmm... Yes, Yami's dead... Or not... Err... I'm going to explain soon XD Don't lay off sugar... They help with wondering, you know... *ahem* Anyway, I'm glad that you're reviewing at last!! Oh, and don't worry about Yugi... He'll be happy... Eventually XD *dodges thrown object* HEY, I HAVE A PLOT TO DEVELOP HERE, OK?? *shakes fist at offender* *blinks and turns back to Mel* *ahem* So... Hey!! You were right!! ^^ It was Seto... Everybody with him and Yami will be introduced in the next chapter, just wait! Oh and... you're so funny with sugar XD
~ SoulDreamer ~ ^-^ THANK YOU!! *glomps* I hope you liked this chapter!
~ Pretenna ~ *laughs* Being far from your computer, Pre-chan? I feel so sorry for you ^^U But well, you did get to read in the end, right? Neway... lol, you like freaky stuff, huh? Well, this is getting pretty freaky later... Or maybe that's just me thinking XD Oh well... I'm glad you like it all the same!! Oh, and... Can I huggle Momiji?
~ Destiny ~ KAMUI IS BETTER!! XD Erm... sorry, that's my fangirl side screaming... shoo, shoo... *shoves fangirl side away* Anyway... Yami playing the uke again? *laughs hysterically*
Yami: -.- Why are you two doing this to me...?
Lily: *snickers* Cause we like seeing you... hmm... you know, submitting to Yugi? It's interesting!!
Yami: O_o...... I'll pretend I didn't hear that... *walks away*
Lily: ... Oh, let's ignore him *waves hand* Well, I hope you liked this chapter!! ^^
~ Miami-chan ~ Yes, he is... But... that was Seto getting his soul from eternal darkness ^^ *nods* Hope you liked the chapter, and sorry for taking so long and... for the cliffhanger XD