X - 03 (31-30 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
~ ~ ~
Izure koware yuku, kono sekai ni wa
Yume ya kibou to ka dou demo ii
(Of this world, the end is coming
Dreams and hopes do not matter)
~ ~ ~
Yugi was frozen.
"Hello."
The same being from the day before was there, standing very close to him, and apparently having come out of nowhere just like the last time. How did he enter his house? Did he do anything to his grandfather? What did he want?
Yugi had many questions, but as incredible as it may sound, he could not voice any. Or anything at all. All he could do was stare and blink, trying to comprehend what he was seeing. What was it that he was seeing?
At first, he had seemed human. The eyes were a little bit more emotive-like, as if there was a turmoil of colors deep inside the brown orbs, and the skin was so white that it seemed as if the boy had never seen the sun before. But other than that, he seemed ordinary. Normal. Now?
Yugi witnessed as angel-like wings flapped lightly and shook the calm air in the room, creating suave breezes, the fluffy shiny things coming from the boy's back. He knew it. He had seen it before. Where? Now that he could not answer. But Yugi had seen it before. In a dream with his mother or Yami, or something along those lines.
They stopped rippling the air, and Yugi observed as some feathers fell down from them, touching his carpet lightly before shining away into nothingness. It was a magnificent vision. Incredible and breath taking. Who would not want to see an angel standing before them?
But to Yugi, it held a deeper meaning. He could cause spontaneous combustion on people. He could weight as light as the air itself. He could float in midair as if he were merely a leaf in the wind. Within him were even worse powers.
And he grew up knowing that he had the grasp of destiny on his shoulders.
Now, he watched as a mystical creature stood before him, one that had already spoken to him about 'the end of the world'. For him, this boy represented no joy or salvation. He deserved no other emotion from him other than suspicion and awareness.
"Who are you?" Yugi asked, not moving an inch from where he was sitting. Any movement could catch the stranger's gaze and he didn't know what he was capable of. Less did he know what he wanted from him. If his desire was his death, then he had to be cautious. It would hurt less to be careful than to suffer from premature recklessness.
"My name is Ryou." The boy said, and Yugi nodded his acknowledgement.
"I suppose you already know mine." he said, and the boy tilted his head slightly to the side, smiling softly.
"Indeed... Yugi." He replied, and Yugi nodded again.
"What do you wish from me?" he inquired, defensively. There was no point into drifting away from the main subject. Yugi did not have the time to mess around. He wanted to know what this was all about, and he wanted that now. If it would take him anything to find out, then he would do it. Whatever it took.
"I assume you have not forgotten the words I gave you previously?" he said, and Yugi sighed. Of course he did not forget. They were indescribable, confusing and intriguing. Not only did they leave Yugi in darkness, but also they only served as instigation to the confusion his life was all about.
Biting back any kind of sarcastic remark, Yugi replied with a simple "Yes", and the figure nodded. Using a disguise in the form of a bright light, Ryou made the marvelous wings disappear from his back, going back to appearing simply a normal teenager.
But Yugi knew better now.
"I have informed you about the end of the world, and that you would have a participation in it. However, I have not described to you what that would be. Thus why I am here." He explained, but Yugi interfered in his speech.
"Who am I? What am I?" he asked, and the figure stopped. It seemed surprised that Yugi would be so direct and abrupt like that, but the previously mentioned boy was not willing in having so many secrets being kept about him from himself. He had already spent years in oblivion, and if this creature was there to answer his questions, then let that be the first one. Or first ones.
The figure, Ryou, hesitated a bit. Lady Isis had told him to explain to the Chosen One only what they would be doing until the fated day would be about come. But how could he begin such explanation if there were something else to explain first? If the Chosen One directed a question towards him, then he was compelled to answer.
Although, only about the enough amount.
"You are the Chosen One. You were born with the powers to command those who will fight for humanity on the Fated Day, the End of the World, against those who wish for the destruction of Earth. When the date comes, you will have by your side other six companions, those who are called Holy Shadows. Merely helpers of God in your mission. Your enemies are the Fallen Shadows. Dark creatures who hate the humans and think of them dirty and impure, and that will only kill what once was provided to them free: the Earth." Ryou explained, and Yugi went silent.
Fight for humanity? Lead an "army" to save the Earth? He placed a hand to his eyes, and sighed in deeply. He had a way too big of a burden placed upon his shoulders, one that he did not ask for, and that he did not wish for. How could he kill somebody? He had done it before, yes, but none were alive. They were merely... Shadows, yes.
He could spot them. Watching his every move since Ya... he died. They were silent, but he could hear them. They all wanted him to die. He had never known why. He defeated them, one by one, and his requests for them to stop were always ignored. Things never stopped. But they were merely shadows. Imperfections that ran away from the darkness they belonged to. Forsaken beings. Ones that had been dead a long time ago, and he only pried them out of their miserable existence upon this world.
Would he be able to fight alive beings and kill them? Destroy the impure creatures that only fought for what they believed was right? How could he save humanity, when he could not even save...
"Go." He breathed out, but Ryou was unable to listen to his murmur. Intrigued, he was about to ask for him to repeat but it was not needed. Yugi was willing in repeating. "Get out of my house. Go... away...!" Yugi repeated, his voice increasing in volume as he kept speaking. His hand was pressed against his face in agony, as memories flashed to the surface of his mind.
Ryou could not move from his spot. What... just happened to the Chosen One? Was he not willing in accepting his fate? He opened and closed his mouth several times, thinking about if he should say something. He was really going to say something when Yugi looked up.
His eyes were hard and dark. He was not kidding.
"Get away from me. Go away!!" he said, and brought his hand up. Ryou's eyes widened by the seconds as a ball of light was forming on the palm of the Chosen One's hand. So, he had the power of light... Closing his eyes, Ryou spread his wings and flew through the wall as if had never been there. As if it were merely a wall of air.
Yugi panted slightly as he bent forward, his head between his legs, and his hands supporting him. He closed his eyes shut, trying to keep the memories away, but he was not being much successful. He breathed in deeply, and fell on his back on the soft mattress. Tears fell against his skin without his acknowledgement, or maybe he simply ignored them.
He placed a hand to his eyes. Now he could hear the voices. The deafening sounds. The murmurs. The scene flashed before his closed eyelids. He opened his eyes quickly, trying to avoid any further remembrance. He did not wish to remember that day. Not now. Not ever.
"Yugi!!" his grandfather called, his voice near. Probably, he was climbing up the stairs. "Is everything all right in there??" he shouted, and Yugi sighed. At least, he had a distraction. Thankfully.
He climbed out of bed, and went to assure his grandfather that he was okay. There was no purpose in worrying the elder man with things that were not related to him. This was Yugi's problem.
And he longed to deal with it himself.
*
"Where to?"
Impatience.
"We have to sense them."
Calmness.
"Where??"
Irritation.
"Be patient, Keith. Try focusing your powers for once."
A snicker.
"Suck it up, Kyou."
"..."
Ignorance.
"Let's split."
"What about Yami, Seto?"
"... I'm sure he will find one on his own."
"..."
"We have to find them. And try to keep them away from the Chosen One."
"I thought Seto lost him?"
"They won't win him in battle. He is not an award or a prize. He has to choose. No matter how much they want him for themselves."
"... Is that merely an excuse to cover your incompetence and weakness?"
".... Do you want to test it?"
"Stop it, both of you. And let's split already. The time for us to hide through the moonlight is expiring. Soon it will be dawn."
"..."
*
Anzu did not know what compelled her to go there in the middle of the night. She had had many cases of insomnia since Yami died, a year ago, but that never got as extreme as it was now. Usually she would sleep again after a while, and even though she would most likely have nightmares then, she would at least sleep.
But now... Anzu could not even close her eyes.
Maybe... it's because I'm internally afraid... I'll see him again.
She noticed that there were roses before his grave. And smiled. She knew whom they were from, and that both saddened and brought warmth to her heart. She was not mistaken about Yugi. He was indeed closer Yami than she and Honda ever were.
She frowned, her bright blue eyes losing its spark. Although they already were a lot dimmer than they were only a couple of years ago. If Anzu had dreams and nightmares about the day Yami died, and could not even sleep because of it... How was Yugi? How was he dealing with his death?
Badly. He was dealing with it badly.
It must have been painful for him. To lose his father, then his mother, and finally the only one person he had ever come to be bound so much in his life. He barely talked anymore. He barely smiled anymore. It was like... Like he carried the burden of the world on his shoulders. Like death was plaguing him.
Anzu sighed, and placed a hand over her eyes. It was raining, she was cold, and sad. She was fighting against the tears that insisted in trying to come out, but Anzu did not want to cry. There was nothing to cry about. Yami was probably in a better place... He had to be. The way he died... She knew some holy entity must have saved him.
She had no idea how wrong she was.
She looked upon the name on the grave, and the tears subsided. She could look a little clearer now. She shivered, but paid that no attention. Like always, being in Yami's "presence" calmed her. Kept her warm inside.
Maybe he was the brother she could never have had. Maybe she had loved him. Wait... she still did. And she would never stop. But not in the sense she must have once. Yami was important to her. But she knew... she knew...
That he and Yugi were... special to each other. It must have been painful to be torn apart like they were. Anzu remembered... she remembered that they were always together.
A smile was brought to her lips as she remembered once...
*** ~ Flashback ~ ***
Anzu looked at the empty desks of Yami and Yugi. It was already the second time they had not come to school, and she was getting worried about them. Honda kept telling her she was overreacting, but she couldn't help it. They never were absent at school, and now two times in a roll? And she tried calling Yami the previous day and nobody answered.
"Let's go to Yugi's house. I lost his phone number, and I want to see if he's okay." she told Honda, who rolled his eyes.
"C'mon Anzu, what if you're worrying about nothing?" he asked her, and she pouted and frowned. She was getting frustrated, and he knew it.
"Would it hurt to check?" she asked, and Honda sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Okay, Anzu. We'll check after school." He said, and Anzu squealed, hugging him and almost sending both of them to the floor. She 'eeped' and blushed, and Honda only laughed and shook his head, then patted hers. "Really worried, now aren't we?" he said. Then smirked. "I would have thought you'd try to check on Yami first, though." He said.
Anzu blinked.
"Why would that be?" she asked, crossing her arms. "I like both of them the same." She said and stuck her tongue out at him, but he only grinned.
"Is that so?" he asked, but did not give the girl an opportunity to reply, as the bell rang and he quickly hurried to his next class. Anzu sighed, and followed him.
She knew what he was implying. He always teased her about it. He kept doing that ever since Anzu bumped on Yami once and fell on him and blushed. But he was wrong. She knew it. She didn't.... did she?
Both of them went to the Kame Game Shop after the classes were over, and Anzu wanted to hurry while Honda kept telling her to calm down. She couldn't help it really, she just wanted to check if they were fine.
They opened the door to the shop, but it was deserted. They blinked and looked at each other, before checking over the shop again. Mr. Mutou was a small man, they could have lost sight of him easily, but... No, he wasn't anywhere in the shop.
"Mr. Mutou?" Honda called, and they heard someone calling from through the door that led to the house. They blinked, and walked over to it, opening and entering the Mutou's residence.
"Mutou-san?" Anzu called.
"In the kitchen!" they heard, and followed the voice. Sugoroku Mutou was actually cooking something, but he wore no apron (much to their disappointment, otherwise it would have been quite a scene) or anything. Probably was just checking on it or something.
"Hello you two, what brings you here?" he asked, smiling. Anzu's concern decreased a bit, but she still couldn't help but go straight to the point.
"Is Yugi okay? Is he here? Can we talk to him? Why didn't he go to school?" she asked quickly, and Honda hit her upside down the head. She looked up at him with wide eyes, and he only raised an eyebrow at her. She sweatdropped and blushed, and then went silent.
Sugoroku laughed, amused.
"Yugi is sick, so he couldn't go to school. He had to stay in bed all weekend, and we only let him get out of bed this morning, though he couldn't go to school either. We called to school, informing that he was sick." He explained, and Anzu blinked.
"'We'?" she asked, but at that moment they were interrupted.
"Grandpa, who's the-- AAHHH!" they heard Yugi's voice, and widened their eyes when they heard his scream.
"Yugi!!" they all exclaimed and went to check what had happened and if he was all right. They all stopped when they came upon the stairs that led to the next floor where the bedrooms were.
Two figures fell to the bottom, one wincing in pain while the other blinked, oblivious to what had happened. Apparently, he was not expecting the outcome that the incident had. He looked up when he felt the figure below him sit up, and gasped.
"Yami, are you okay??" he asked, and touched an arm Yami was holding. The taller one winced, but smiled in an assuring gesture.
"I'm fine, what about you? You didn't get hurt, did you??" he asked and made Yugi slowly stand up, but the smaller one shook his head, and he had tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry Yami, I didn't want you to get hurt because of me!" he said and hugged him, which only left Yami embarrassed. He did not know what to do to make him stop feeling so guilty and sad. He looked at Sugoroku and gave him a pleading look, while patting Yugi with his injured arm. He winced, but did not pay it any further care.
"I-it's okay, Yugi! I'm fine, really! Come on, I brought your medicine, go back to your room, ok? I'll be there in a second." He said and Sugoroku had a bad thirty seconds trying to convince Yugi that Yami was indeed fine and that he had to talk to the visitors. Yugi gave Yami another guilty look and Yami had to give him another assuring smile before he finally agreed on climbing back up to his room.
"Hey guys! Sorry about that!" Yami said, finally turning to Anzu and Honda. The two had awkward smiles on their faces, but had stopped sweatdropping already. "You guys weren't worried about me, were you?"
"Oh, why do you think that? Just because you gave us no clue about why you have not been going to school? Of course not..." Anzu said a bit sarcastically, but then pouted and crossed her arms. In the inside, she was just happy that they were both okay. Yami only scratched the back of his head.
"Sorry about it... Yugi has been sick since Saturday, and I had to take care of him while Sugoroku-san took care of the shop. Of course we switched tasks sometimes and he often told me to go to school, but Yugi was really sick and I didn't want to leave him." He said and looked towards the stairs.
Anzu looked at him with wondering eyes. Last time she was sick, he gave her flowers to remind her of him the times he couldn't be with her. Now, with Yugi, he spent all his time with him...
"Yami, your arm! It's bleeding!" Honda pointed, and both Yami and Anzu looked down at it, actually noticing that the brunet was right. Anzu widened her eyes while Yami only covered it with his other hand. He smiled weakly.
"It's no big deal..." he said, and finally noticed he was still holding Yugi's medicine. "Oh, I have to give this to Yugi!" he exclaimed, and was about to climb the stairs when Anzu stopped him, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"What about your arm?" she asked, eyes concerned. He only smiled.
"I'll take care of it once Yugi takes his medicine... He needs more assistance than me right now, don't worry!" he winked. He started to climb the stairs, leaving both his friends at the bottom. "I'll talk to you guys later, ok? Don't worry about me! Yugi and I are probably going to school tomorrow or the next day! Then we'll talk, ok? I'm busy now, sorry!" he said, and went inside Yugi's room.
Anzu stood there, frozen in place. Then, she smiled. She shook her head. Honda was wrong. Yami was only a brother to her, nothing else... If maybe she felt something else for him previously, that had just vanished.
But him and Yugi... they...
They were perfect.
*** ~ End of Flashback ~ ***
"You knew him?"
Anzu jumped, turning around quickly. She was completely startled by the voice, since she was so absorbed in her thoughts. Although maybe she was spacing out a bit too much, she did not recall hearing any sound around her. And she would have noticed if someone walked behind her.
Just where did this girl come from?
Anzu hugged herself, feeling a shiver tracing down her spine. This girl... She gave her the creeps. Not only did her long black dress almost cover her completely in oblivion from sight, but her eyes were another story. They were crimson and penetrating, and her pale white skin reflected the moonlight faintly. She seemed.... unnatural. If Anzu weren't rational enough, she would have sworn she was some sort of vampire.
"D-did you know Yami?" she asked, and the girl seemed the smirk. Because it was too dark, Anzu could be easily mistaken. But... by the aura the girl emanated... it could be highly possible.
"Partially. So... does this mean you know Yugi too?" the creepy girl asked, her voice icy as a frozen lake. Now Anzu could tell that that smirk seemed really out of place if it ever were on her face.
"I-I do." Anzu said, and she only wished she would stop stumbling over the words. It only made her look even more of a fool than she already seemed.
"So..." the girl seemed to touch her shoulder, near her neck. Could Anzu be hallucinating, or did she carry something on her back? "...What exactly do you mean to him?" she asked. Anzu blinked.
"I'm his friend... what... why do you ask?" she inquired, backing away from the strange girl a little. She just did not trust this girl. And she did not have any reason to.
The girl looked at her straight in the eyes. And Anzu shivered. Their gazes had not met like that since she appeared, and now... Now, Anzu wished they hadn't.
"Do you think he would cry over your dead body?" she asked, and Anzu's eyes widened, just as she took a huge step backwards.
Everything seemed in slow motion the next instant. Anzu tripped over Yami's grave and fell backward, just as the strange girl took a sword from her back and advanced. Before she could slash her, however, someone grabbed Anzu by the waist and brought her backwards, farther away from the attacker.
When everything went back to normal speed, Anzu could hear her heart beating loudly against her ears. She was panting and flushing, and she had to place a hand on her chest. She almost... that girl, she almost...
She looked up at her savior, and met a pair of bright emerald eyes.
"Are you okay?" a friendly voice asked, and Anzu hesitantly nodded, then feeling the person sighing in relief. Black locks barely covered the amazing green eyes of the stranger as her moved to place Anzu safely on the ground.
"Mighty Ryuuji." The strange girl said, standing in front of Yami's grave with a long samurai sword in hand. 'Ryuuji' narrowed his eyes.
"Chris." He said, and stood in front of Anzu, protectively.
Anzu blinked. What was going on??
~~~ end of chapter III
A/N: And so, Lily's finally back!! Sorry for the delay... And for the long chapter XD I know that some of you might not like long chapters, but I guess it wasn't that long... was it? Anyway, you have a few explanations, a little bit of fluff, and some action... How do you feel? You don't hate me, now do you? I hope not! More about Yami's past and Yugi's future in the next chapter! We still have to know what happened to Yami's mother, how he died, and what leaves Yugi so anguished about that day... But you can't forget to review, now can you? Please... And up to the next time we meet, I bid you farewell...
:: Replies to reviewers ::
~ Yana5 ~ Hi to you too! ^^U I'm fine, yes... and I'm glad you liked the last chapter. I hope you liked this one too!
~ SoulDreamer ~ Oh, thank you, I really liked your compliments ^^ I guess I'm learning how to hide information from CLAMP itself XD They know how to intrigue someone... I hope I'm doing a good job in that part! I don't want to confuse people, or be too mysterious... So I hope it keeps you guys interested, only ^^ Here's the new chapter, and I hope you like it
~ Hime no Ichigo ~ lol, don't worry about not reviewing chapter 2, Kaoru-chan... Ra knows I can't ask you to review my stories, when I was supposed to do the same with yours XD Anyway... I'm sorry this didn't have much fluff, and way too much of Anzu ^^U I know ya hate her, but... I wanted to put her there *shrugs* Don't ask why... And about Yami... hmm... I'll explain why he's acting like that soon, don't worry! I know I may have confused people by making Yami suffer in Eternal Darkness (it was not exactly hell), but I shall explain that soon too...
And by the way, nope, I don't have 30 chapters to go XD I'll skip some days soon, ya shall see... 30 is just... too long... @_@ I bet it'll have about 20 though *shrugs* We'll have to see... Oh, and Yugi has a very difficult decision to make too... anyone who knows X/1999 knows which one ^^U
Sorry for taking so long to update my stuff, but you know how I was With Writer's Block and obsessed with my little PlayStation again... *sighs* I'm back now, though!! Hope you liked the chapter ^^ *gives her Neko Yugi plushies and Kouichi some Demon Yami plushies*
~ Destiny ~ Ya know, for some reason I'm getting extremely obsessed with Kamui... He's such an interesting character, and also... He's so handsome... *sighs dreamily* *blinks* Oh, and about Isis... erm... since I know her, her eyes are blue XD And her clothes are light too, so I suppose she'd look nice in white ^-^ *pictures it* Hmmm... nice ^^ By the way... I don't get your comment about the Flashbacks O_o sorry...
Yami: And before leaving, I shall say... I AM NOT AN UKE PERSON!!
Lily: ^^U Right... *shows him some Yugi/Yami stories*
Yami: *blinks* ..... *reads* ...... ooh...
Lily: XD That'll keep him busy... ^^ I hope you liked this chapter, and no, I won't let people kill you! XD *gives her some magical shields for protection*
~ YumeTakato ~ lol, I'm stopping by your stories soon, I PROMISE!! ^^ I'm glad you like the flashbacks, and don't worry, you were helpful yes ^-^ I hope you liked this chapter and... ^^U Long list of favorites, huh? *pats her back*
~ Kitty Neko ~ Sorry!! I'm afraid I did a cliffhanger again... XD Please, don't hit me... I'll be back with this fic soon, I promise!! And about Yami... erm... he'll be like that for a while... ^^U Sorry... *bows* I hope you liked the chapter though...
~ Sansi ~ I'm glad you like the idea, and I'm glad to know you're around again!! ^-^ Thanks for the compliments, and please stick around! I hope you liked the chapter as well.
~ LiLTakariGirl aka Yami Aro ~ You got a bit confused?? If you want, you can ask me anything... As long as it doesn't contain a spoiler in the answer, I'll answer it to you gladly! ^^ I'm happy to know you like my stories, and thanks for always reviewing! Hope you liked the chapter!
~ Cherry-Wolf ~ Hmm... I'm afraid this won't have a direct connection with the original X as you were expecting ^^U I mean, though the 'end of the world' idea is the same, there are many things that differentiate this story from CLAMP's manga... and that includes the character's and such. Though it'd be interesting to make the characters be alike... XD Jou somehow reminds me of Sorata... ^^U They're both really funny! But sorry for not making a real semi-crossover with the stories -.- I hope you still read though! Thanks for stopping by ^^
~ Pretenna ~ Tee hee!! *huggles Momiji* You're so cute!! *pats him* *turns to Pre* Don't worry about not reviewing, it's good to see when you do anyway! ^^ I like hearing from you! *blinks* Hmmm... maybe I'll stop by and read your stories ^_~ and review, of course!
Iris: That makes 3 in your list... you should have already began reading those, you baka...
Lily: *sweatdrops* You're right... *ahem* Anyway, good to know you liked last chapter, and sorry if this chapter's flashback wasn't much fluffy... But I guess I had to do it cause... oh well, I wanted to make Anzu nice once in a while! *laughs* And I'm glad you like it cause it's freaky and mysterious and stuff...
Iris: ^^U Poor M-chan though...
Lily: *only laughs more*
~ Kinsako ~ Thank you! ^-^ I like doing the flashbacks... I guess X/1999 is really influencing this story in more ways than one XD *points to her X/1999 mangas full of flashbacks* *ahem* Anyway, I'm glad you lime Yami's last name ^^ *gives a Yami plushy* Stick by, ok?