~Messenger of Betrayal~
Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh, and I think I'm gonna scream if I have to say this stupid disclaimer again. I mean, duh, if I did own Yugioh, I'd be rich!! Which, I am not.
A/N: This is most definitely AU. Doesn't really take place in a modern world, more like the type of world where there are villages, no electronics, no advanced technology. Oh, and of course magic. So, hope you enjoy!
Chapter One
"You know what to do." The deep voice rumbled. The teenager in front of him, bowed, while muttering a reply, "Yes my lord." The light flashed on the pyramid-like shape he wore around his neck.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yo Yuges what's up!" A blonde haired teen, Jounouchi Katsuya known to his friends as Jou, waved wildly as he spotted his small friend.
"Hi Yugi-kun!" The brown haired girl Anzu Mazaki greeted cheerfully from her position crouched in front of Jou.
"Ohayo!" Yugi beamed. in his hands he carried a basket full of berries, roots, and other edibles.
Yugi was a cheerful rather wild haired teenager, about the age of 14; the same age as his three companions. He was rather short for his age, and could have passed for an 11 year old. His wild hair was surprisingly natural with golden bangs and black spikes tinted with magenta at the tips. He and his friends were rovers, traveling around, having no particular permanent home or village.
Leaning against a nearby tree, Honda Hiroto, the brown haired boy who had his hair in a single spike, grimaced.
"Awwwwwwwwww, Yugi do we hafta eat that stuff again?" He protested.
"Yup, sorry Honda-kun! It's not like we have a choice. . .the animals around here are scarce, so we can't have meat. And the closest village is more than three days journey from here." Yugi replied apologetically. He knew how much Honda hated what he called rabbit food (got that from Harry Potter!).
"Well, better make the best of it." Jou stood up and stretched, yawning. Finally, he plumped down next to his wild haired friend, reaching for an apple.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I guess that wasn't too bad." Honda admitted after their meal.
Yugi chuckled. "Considering the fact that we didn't eat all day yesterday."
Jou groaned. "When are we gonna stop this wandering? It's so tiring, why can't we jest live in a village like most people!"
"Well, we could, if it weren't for you two." Anzu glared at the two taller boys, Honda and Jou.
Jou muttered, wilting under her stare. "It's not our fault we get turned down from every village."
"Actually, it is, dolt!" Anzu pointed to the iron shackle on each of Jou's and Honda's left wrist. "No village wants to risk having two fugitives who've been caught for at least three times!" Honda and Jou looked down guiltily. Three black stripes on their shackles indicated they've been imprisoned three times. The third time, they were supposed to be executed, but Yugi and Anzu had come along to help them out.
"But we wuz hungry!" Jou whined.
"Yeah, calm down Anzu-san. They were only arrested for stealing food, and you know how poor their home town was." Yugi defended.
"Yeah, sorry guys. It's just frustrating to be wandering around, chased out every time because we travel with fugitives." The girl sighed.
Honda shrugged. "I would have taken this shackle off, but you know as well as I do that they're magicked. They have a spell on them to make them unbreakable."
Jou bobbed his head in agreement. "If you go off without us, you could probably stay at a village. I mean, you're not the ones who were arrested. You guys don't hafta stick wid us." he trailed off sadly.
Anzu started. "No way, Jou-kun! Don't mind what I said earlier, I was just letting out my irritation. I didn't mean what I said."
Yugi nodded. "Besides, we couldn't leave you two alone. You'd probably be executed once found wandering alone. You guys know well enough by now that by staying with us, you prevent imprisonment."
The two boys sighed dejectedly. "All we wanted was food." Honda muttered.
"And, speaking of food, I think it's lunchtime." Yugi checked the sky. The position of the sun confirmed his estimation.
"Here, there's still some food left from breakfast. I'm not hungry, you three can have it." Yugi offered.
"Arigatou, Yuge."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not too far away, a lone figure walked silently. He looked to be about 16 years of age, despite his short stature. He walked among the shadows, avoiding the light as much as possible. His pyramid around his neck slightly glowed as he got closer and closer to the group of friends dead ahead. It was hard to see among the shadows, but the pyramid seemed to have a hole in the middle, as if it were incomplete.
"There is Yugi.now to follow Master's instructions." The boy muttered to himself. He took a quick peek to check that the boy ahead was indeed Yugi. Satisfied that it was, the stranger smiled to himself. This mission would be a breeze; the other boy would fall into his trap so easily.
The boy retreated back into the shadows. He whispered to himself, "Phase 1- to be accepted into Yugi's group." He lifted his hands in a gesture as if he were praying. Chanting quietly, a small ray of green light became visible between his hands. He slowly pointed his closed hands, still chanting, in Jou's direction. Suddenly, his chanting stopped. The light from his hands shot forward so fast, it couldn't be seen. Shooting forward, it hit it's target in the blink of an eye.
Right into Jou's abdomen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jou was halfway through a rather hard pear, when he felt a sudden jolt to his body. Lurching forward, he dropped the fruit, and writhed on the ground.
"Jou?! Jou! Daijabou ka?! What's the matter?" Yugi jumped up the moment he saw his friend was hurt.
Anzu and Honda looked bewildered. "The food isn't _that_ bad, I don't think." Honda mumbled, examining the pear Jou had dropped.
"Jou what's wrong? Is it the food?" Yugi asked, worry etched on his face.
The only answer he got was moaning. Jou began to sweat as he held his stomach tightly.
Anzu was getting very worried. "How could a single fruit cause so much pain?"
"I don't think it was the food, Anzu-san." Yugi knelt down by his friend whose face was turning a shade of green.
"Jounouchi-kun, what happened? Please, try to calm down so you can talk!" Yugi pleaded.
Eyes shut tight, the blonde boy opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Suddenly, he jerked forward, screaming.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"
By now, the three friends were beginning to get frantic.
This was where the other mysterious boy decided to make his entrance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Faking concern, the 16 year old boy rushed forward, his golden pyramid bouncing as he ran.
"What's going on over here?" He demanded, feigning ignorance to what had just happened.
Yugi had now begun to cry, frustrated at not being able to help his friend, who was now passed out.
"My friend just all of a sudden started to clutch his middle, as if his stomach hurt. At first, I thought it was the food that was hurting him, but then he started screaming, and I know some rotten fruit can't do that much pain!" Yugi sobbed.
Anzu and Honda eyed the newcomer suspiciously. Whispering to Anzu, Honda couldn't help but point out, "Is it just me, or does this guy look just like Yugi? He's got the same hair, the same face, the only difference is his clothes, darker skin, and red eyes!"
Ignoring the other two, the stranger soothed Yugi. "Let me see if I can help."
Kneeling by the blonde, the boy pretended to examine Jou. After a few minutes, he looked up at Yugi who was wringing his hands in worry.
"Well? Do you know what's wrong with him?"
The boy nodded. "It seems there was a small bit of magic that entered your friend here. Being no mage, your friend's body reacted to this magic quite. . .violently."
Yugi, Anzu, and Honda all gasped. "M-magic?" Anzu stuttered. "But the nearest mage who still holds his magic is known to be far from here! How could this have happened?"
The boy shrugged. Anzu narrowed her eyes; she didn't like how he seemed so unconcerned for Jou, as if he knew Jou would live. 'How would he be so sure?' the girl thought.
"Maybe a spell has been laid in this area long ago, and is activated only when touched. Maybe your friend touched it unknowingly. No matter." The stranger said. "I can fix it."
Honda was confused. "Are _you_ a mage?"
He received no answer. So instead, he watched as the newcomer took Jou's head and chanted. Immediately, a wisp of green seemed to float out from Jou's stomach. Jou opened his eyes.
"Eh. . .h-huh? Wassa goin on?" He said groggily.
"Jou!" Yugi hugged his friend tightly. "You're okay!"
The blonde still had a confused expression. "What happened?"
Honda raised an eyebrow. "You don't remember? You were just sitting there, then suddenly you starting screaming and writhing in pain."
"Uhh. . ."
Yugi turned to the stranger. "Thank you so much for helping him. Who are you, by the way?"
"Yami. My name is Yami."
"Yami. . ." Anzu murmured to herself. "Yami, Yami. Where have I heard that name before? Oh!" Her finger jerked up to point accusingly at Yami. "Aren't you that evil mage who burned down three villages just because one man defied you?"
Yami's eyes flashed, narrowing momentarily. 'Damn, I didn't know I would be known in this region!'
"That was a misunderstanding. I was told by a man that those villages were tainted by demons, so I burned them to expel the evil spirits."
Anzu didn't look too convinced, but she had no proof that he was lying, so she kept her mouth shut.
"You're a mage? Is that how you helped Jou?" Yugi asked, curiosity evident from the tone of his voice.
Yami nodded, watching Honda help Jou to his feet.
"Man, my head hurts." Jou groaned.
"Take it easy buddy. You'll be okay." Honda set his friend down against a tree, in the shade.
"Well, thank you again for helping my friend. I'm sorry but," Yugi blushed in embarrassment, "We don't have anything to give you in return. We're just wanderers."
Yami shook his head. "There's nothing I want, I just wanted to help."
'Suuuuuuuuuuure.' Anzu thought. 'That Yami is a phony- I know it! I know he was that evil spellcastor to destroy those villages. My whole family knows that story!'
"Perhaps I could join you in your travels?" Yami requested.
Yugi glanced to his friends. "Is that okay with you guys? I mean, he is a mage, he could really help us!"
Honda nodded. "Yeah, I suppose he could tag along."
Jou just grumbled in reply, too tired to respond.
"Anzu? What about you?" Anzu jumped. She had been thinking so hard, she hadn't realized they had been talking.
"Huh?"
"Would you mind if Yami came along with us?"
"Uhh." Anzu glanced at the mage, who only smirked at her, a strange glint in his eyes. "I-I guess."
"Great!" Yugi exclaimed happily. "You can come with us Yami!"
Yami grinned. Phase 1- complete.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh, and I think I'm gonna scream if I have to say this stupid disclaimer again. I mean, duh, if I did own Yugioh, I'd be rich!! Which, I am not.
A/N: This is most definitely AU. Doesn't really take place in a modern world, more like the type of world where there are villages, no electronics, no advanced technology. Oh, and of course magic. So, hope you enjoy!
Chapter One
"You know what to do." The deep voice rumbled. The teenager in front of him, bowed, while muttering a reply, "Yes my lord." The light flashed on the pyramid-like shape he wore around his neck.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yo Yuges what's up!" A blonde haired teen, Jounouchi Katsuya known to his friends as Jou, waved wildly as he spotted his small friend.
"Hi Yugi-kun!" The brown haired girl Anzu Mazaki greeted cheerfully from her position crouched in front of Jou.
"Ohayo!" Yugi beamed. in his hands he carried a basket full of berries, roots, and other edibles.
Yugi was a cheerful rather wild haired teenager, about the age of 14; the same age as his three companions. He was rather short for his age, and could have passed for an 11 year old. His wild hair was surprisingly natural with golden bangs and black spikes tinted with magenta at the tips. He and his friends were rovers, traveling around, having no particular permanent home or village.
Leaning against a nearby tree, Honda Hiroto, the brown haired boy who had his hair in a single spike, grimaced.
"Awwwwwwwwww, Yugi do we hafta eat that stuff again?" He protested.
"Yup, sorry Honda-kun! It's not like we have a choice. . .the animals around here are scarce, so we can't have meat. And the closest village is more than three days journey from here." Yugi replied apologetically. He knew how much Honda hated what he called rabbit food (got that from Harry Potter!).
"Well, better make the best of it." Jou stood up and stretched, yawning. Finally, he plumped down next to his wild haired friend, reaching for an apple.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I guess that wasn't too bad." Honda admitted after their meal.
Yugi chuckled. "Considering the fact that we didn't eat all day yesterday."
Jou groaned. "When are we gonna stop this wandering? It's so tiring, why can't we jest live in a village like most people!"
"Well, we could, if it weren't for you two." Anzu glared at the two taller boys, Honda and Jou.
Jou muttered, wilting under her stare. "It's not our fault we get turned down from every village."
"Actually, it is, dolt!" Anzu pointed to the iron shackle on each of Jou's and Honda's left wrist. "No village wants to risk having two fugitives who've been caught for at least three times!" Honda and Jou looked down guiltily. Three black stripes on their shackles indicated they've been imprisoned three times. The third time, they were supposed to be executed, but Yugi and Anzu had come along to help them out.
"But we wuz hungry!" Jou whined.
"Yeah, calm down Anzu-san. They were only arrested for stealing food, and you know how poor their home town was." Yugi defended.
"Yeah, sorry guys. It's just frustrating to be wandering around, chased out every time because we travel with fugitives." The girl sighed.
Honda shrugged. "I would have taken this shackle off, but you know as well as I do that they're magicked. They have a spell on them to make them unbreakable."
Jou bobbed his head in agreement. "If you go off without us, you could probably stay at a village. I mean, you're not the ones who were arrested. You guys don't hafta stick wid us." he trailed off sadly.
Anzu started. "No way, Jou-kun! Don't mind what I said earlier, I was just letting out my irritation. I didn't mean what I said."
Yugi nodded. "Besides, we couldn't leave you two alone. You'd probably be executed once found wandering alone. You guys know well enough by now that by staying with us, you prevent imprisonment."
The two boys sighed dejectedly. "All we wanted was food." Honda muttered.
"And, speaking of food, I think it's lunchtime." Yugi checked the sky. The position of the sun confirmed his estimation.
"Here, there's still some food left from breakfast. I'm not hungry, you three can have it." Yugi offered.
"Arigatou, Yuge."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not too far away, a lone figure walked silently. He looked to be about 16 years of age, despite his short stature. He walked among the shadows, avoiding the light as much as possible. His pyramid around his neck slightly glowed as he got closer and closer to the group of friends dead ahead. It was hard to see among the shadows, but the pyramid seemed to have a hole in the middle, as if it were incomplete.
"There is Yugi.now to follow Master's instructions." The boy muttered to himself. He took a quick peek to check that the boy ahead was indeed Yugi. Satisfied that it was, the stranger smiled to himself. This mission would be a breeze; the other boy would fall into his trap so easily.
The boy retreated back into the shadows. He whispered to himself, "Phase 1- to be accepted into Yugi's group." He lifted his hands in a gesture as if he were praying. Chanting quietly, a small ray of green light became visible between his hands. He slowly pointed his closed hands, still chanting, in Jou's direction. Suddenly, his chanting stopped. The light from his hands shot forward so fast, it couldn't be seen. Shooting forward, it hit it's target in the blink of an eye.
Right into Jou's abdomen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jou was halfway through a rather hard pear, when he felt a sudden jolt to his body. Lurching forward, he dropped the fruit, and writhed on the ground.
"Jou?! Jou! Daijabou ka?! What's the matter?" Yugi jumped up the moment he saw his friend was hurt.
Anzu and Honda looked bewildered. "The food isn't _that_ bad, I don't think." Honda mumbled, examining the pear Jou had dropped.
"Jou what's wrong? Is it the food?" Yugi asked, worry etched on his face.
The only answer he got was moaning. Jou began to sweat as he held his stomach tightly.
Anzu was getting very worried. "How could a single fruit cause so much pain?"
"I don't think it was the food, Anzu-san." Yugi knelt down by his friend whose face was turning a shade of green.
"Jounouchi-kun, what happened? Please, try to calm down so you can talk!" Yugi pleaded.
Eyes shut tight, the blonde boy opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Suddenly, he jerked forward, screaming.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"
By now, the three friends were beginning to get frantic.
This was where the other mysterious boy decided to make his entrance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Faking concern, the 16 year old boy rushed forward, his golden pyramid bouncing as he ran.
"What's going on over here?" He demanded, feigning ignorance to what had just happened.
Yugi had now begun to cry, frustrated at not being able to help his friend, who was now passed out.
"My friend just all of a sudden started to clutch his middle, as if his stomach hurt. At first, I thought it was the food that was hurting him, but then he started screaming, and I know some rotten fruit can't do that much pain!" Yugi sobbed.
Anzu and Honda eyed the newcomer suspiciously. Whispering to Anzu, Honda couldn't help but point out, "Is it just me, or does this guy look just like Yugi? He's got the same hair, the same face, the only difference is his clothes, darker skin, and red eyes!"
Ignoring the other two, the stranger soothed Yugi. "Let me see if I can help."
Kneeling by the blonde, the boy pretended to examine Jou. After a few minutes, he looked up at Yugi who was wringing his hands in worry.
"Well? Do you know what's wrong with him?"
The boy nodded. "It seems there was a small bit of magic that entered your friend here. Being no mage, your friend's body reacted to this magic quite. . .violently."
Yugi, Anzu, and Honda all gasped. "M-magic?" Anzu stuttered. "But the nearest mage who still holds his magic is known to be far from here! How could this have happened?"
The boy shrugged. Anzu narrowed her eyes; she didn't like how he seemed so unconcerned for Jou, as if he knew Jou would live. 'How would he be so sure?' the girl thought.
"Maybe a spell has been laid in this area long ago, and is activated only when touched. Maybe your friend touched it unknowingly. No matter." The stranger said. "I can fix it."
Honda was confused. "Are _you_ a mage?"
He received no answer. So instead, he watched as the newcomer took Jou's head and chanted. Immediately, a wisp of green seemed to float out from Jou's stomach. Jou opened his eyes.
"Eh. . .h-huh? Wassa goin on?" He said groggily.
"Jou!" Yugi hugged his friend tightly. "You're okay!"
The blonde still had a confused expression. "What happened?"
Honda raised an eyebrow. "You don't remember? You were just sitting there, then suddenly you starting screaming and writhing in pain."
"Uhh. . ."
Yugi turned to the stranger. "Thank you so much for helping him. Who are you, by the way?"
"Yami. My name is Yami."
"Yami. . ." Anzu murmured to herself. "Yami, Yami. Where have I heard that name before? Oh!" Her finger jerked up to point accusingly at Yami. "Aren't you that evil mage who burned down three villages just because one man defied you?"
Yami's eyes flashed, narrowing momentarily. 'Damn, I didn't know I would be known in this region!'
"That was a misunderstanding. I was told by a man that those villages were tainted by demons, so I burned them to expel the evil spirits."
Anzu didn't look too convinced, but she had no proof that he was lying, so she kept her mouth shut.
"You're a mage? Is that how you helped Jou?" Yugi asked, curiosity evident from the tone of his voice.
Yami nodded, watching Honda help Jou to his feet.
"Man, my head hurts." Jou groaned.
"Take it easy buddy. You'll be okay." Honda set his friend down against a tree, in the shade.
"Well, thank you again for helping my friend. I'm sorry but," Yugi blushed in embarrassment, "We don't have anything to give you in return. We're just wanderers."
Yami shook his head. "There's nothing I want, I just wanted to help."
'Suuuuuuuuuuure.' Anzu thought. 'That Yami is a phony- I know it! I know he was that evil spellcastor to destroy those villages. My whole family knows that story!'
"Perhaps I could join you in your travels?" Yami requested.
Yugi glanced to his friends. "Is that okay with you guys? I mean, he is a mage, he could really help us!"
Honda nodded. "Yeah, I suppose he could tag along."
Jou just grumbled in reply, too tired to respond.
"Anzu? What about you?" Anzu jumped. She had been thinking so hard, she hadn't realized they had been talking.
"Huh?"
"Would you mind if Yami came along with us?"
"Uhh." Anzu glanced at the mage, who only smirked at her, a strange glint in his eyes. "I-I guess."
"Great!" Yugi exclaimed happily. "You can come with us Yami!"
Yami grinned. Phase 1- complete.