DS: Hi people!
Kairu: Nice seeing you.
DS: Anyway, here's chapter nine…where is DCOH anyway?
Kairu: Grabbing some popcorn—she's totally excited about this, with this being a Ryou-centerd fic and all.
Ryou: Did someone call me? I think I heard my name—
DS: You certainly did—because this chapter I'm writing is all about you!
Ryou: Really?
DS: Yup.
DCOH: AAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! RYOU-KUN!
Ryou: YIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Runs away from the room as DCOH chased him all around the house.)
Kairu: Oooooh, SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You Are Not Alone
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Nine—
One True Friendship
Merciful, Healing Isis
Day 10:
Welcome, Unwelcome One!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Ryou tumbled down a grassy spot, which seemed to be a luckier landing place than the rocky path next to it.
The boy groaned then turned around. The stone path leads to a murky barrier…a barrier with what looked like the White House in USA at the other side.
"Where on earth am I?" Ryou wondered. Then he noticed a lone sign standing on the only two directions the path was pointing.
It read:
-à Ghost Town
-à Rogue Village
-à Forest of Nightmares/Barrier to the Real World
ß- Northern Tower
ß- Magi Town
ß- Forest of Shadows/ Barrier to the Realm of the Neko no Meiro
WARNING! BARRIERS ARE DEADLY TO THE TOUCH! BE CAUTIOUS, THEY HAVE CLAIMED ESTIMATED 4,500 LIVES TO DATE!
"Come to think of it, I am near a forest here so…" Ryou noticed for the first time the eerie forest draped over by so much fog that nothing is visible. "…this must be the barrier to the real world…but…"
When Ryou touched it, it burned his palm. Ryou quickly flicked his hand off.
"Boy, the sign wasn't kidding with the warning thing!" Ryou blew cool air against his sore hand.
/Ouch, this stings!/
What stings?
/?! Yami, is that you?/
Of course, it's me!
/Wait, I'm in some realm here…why haven't I lost connection?/
Some realm? What are you talking about?!
/I'm not in the real world anymore!/
How sure are you?
/I'm standing in front of a barrier leading to it!/
Shit! What realm do you reckon you are?
/Let me think…might be the Shadow Realm./
THE SHADOW REALM?!
/I honestly don't know how I landed here. All I remember is loads of light. Strangely but thankfully, I'm having not having troubles with my soul being torn…though I am a bit confused about directions./
Maybe that isn't the Shadow Realm—might be a realm next to it.
/What made you guess?/
The Shadow Realm is never merciful with mortals.
/Oh./
Ryou decided to find his way across the foggy road, stepping northward without any particular destination.
Well, he hoped that at least he'll arrive, according to the directions said earlier, at Ghost Town. The name doesn't seem reassuring safety, but it was a lot better than being all alone in this place…right?
Oh how wrong he was…
Ryou stepped near the Town Gates with the huge black and silver sign with bold, crimson letters (which Ryou hinted might be blood): WELCOME, UNWELCOME ONE, TO GHOST TOWN!
"Why do they say 'welcome' when visitors are unwelcome anyway?" Ryou mused. But that's the least of his problems…he just hoped the sign wasn't trying to warn him of anything… at least, he hoped so…
The town was bustling with creepy looking monsters, all who were familiar to Ryou.
Three Mystic Clowns were fighting over what seemed like a grayish orb being sold by what looked like the Baron of the Fiend Sword, while the Witty Phantom didn't seem to make things any lighter for the fight, if anything he made it worse. And some of the spectators of the fight were making bets to see who wins ("Personally, I vote for the green one!" The Sorcerer of the Doomed said to the annoying Witty Phantom)
There were stalls nearby owned by most likely Barons of the Fiend Sword selling weapons ("Sorry, the Fiend Sword is not for sale!"), potions ("Which one would you like—the one that heals quickly or the one that poisons to death with only one drop?"), voodoo dolls ("Easy on the case of the Voodoo Cyber Commander doll, missy. Wouldn't wanna break something, would you?"), even souls trapped in orbs ("The Moth's larva stings, man! If you break the orb, you pay for it!").
One stall was draped completely with dark velvet sheets, and also was the only one that smelled foul. Ryou wrinkled his nose. Just what was the business down there? But deciding that it was safer not to let curiosity take control, he swiftly moved away from the crowded stalls to the town plaza. There was a strange skull statue at the center of the square, surrounding it were smaller skull like lanterns.
What kind of town is this? Ryou gulped. Passersby seemed to be staring at him as if he was some show off at the party, and it didn't help Ryou feel better.
Great, why don't I just sell tickets? Hey, there's a superstar in the middle of the street and his name is Ryou Bakura! Ryou thought sarcastically.
Then someone came close to him and gave him a pat on the shoulder.
Ryou shivered. The hand didn't seem even a bit comforting; it felt rather like rock solid ice.
He slowly turned around to face a grey hooded stranger. "C—can I help you?"
"Aren't you Ryou Bakura?"
"Y—yes I am…why?" Ryou answered the stranger.
Then whispers and murmurs erupted. Ryou panicked. Oh boy, now they're acting as if they've never seen a mortal before!
"Forgive them. They haven't seen any mortal step into this realm. They don't know what to do in case it happens."
I hate it when I'm right about these things! Ryou noted bitterly.
"But I do—"
"Huh?" Ryou snapped back to his senses.
"—mortals who step down here must NEVER survive!"
Ryou gasped. That part I missed.
Then the stranger threw off his hood.
Ryou's gasp grew even more. Please tell me this day won't get any worse!
Dark Necrophia glared at her Master. Her blue head tilting slightly. "But I am interested how you have come this far."
"If the answer's an 'I don't' know', what'll happen next?"
"Well, since you don't have any answers…I don't have a reason to spare your life any longer!"
THWACK!
"AAHH!!!" Ryou gasped, avoiding the ghoul's blade. "Yikes, you sure are angry!"
Ryou, what's going on?He heard his Yami sound in his head.
/You won't believe it! The Dark Necrophia is actually thrusting her knife at me!/
WHO?!
/DARK NECROPHIA, asin OUR DARK NECROPHIA IN THE FLESH!/ Ryou echoed. /And she sure wants me dead!/
But isn't she…?
/I know she's our card. But I wish I know why she hates me!/
Can't someone down there help you?
/I don't think they even want to!/ Ryou can only dodge the weird fiend. /But I'm currently hoping for a miracle./
I'm trying to take over but something in this damn prison is blocking me!
/That made me feel a lot better, you know that?/
Ryou rolled over and looked up to find Dark Necrophia leaping up with her knife pointing straight at him.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Ryou covered his head with his arms, trying to defend himself.
BANG!An energy ball made contact with Dark Necrophia and it sent her to the ground. "Ouch…"
"Who…?" Ryou gasped then turned around.
Standing behind him was a brown haired girl in a green robe with tucked dragon skin-like wings, glaring at Dark Necrophia.
"Damn you, useless Magic Card!" Dark Necrophia growled, getting up. "Who asked you to interfere?"
"Your manners fouler than rubbish as usual, ne?" Change said in her dark pitch. "Didn't your mother teach you how to be hospitable with guests? Oh no, you must have already killed her even before she could've!"
"YOU'RE NEVER OUT OF WORDS, AREN'T YOU?!"
"Too bad I never do." Change said flatly. "And too bad that you've run out of brain cells to think of some nice things to say, you filthy idiot!"
"I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU!" Dark Necrophia raised her knife and attacked.
"Perhaps you're forgetting what my power is, Chaos maker." Change narrowed her eyes and focused a bit.
Then, Dark Necrophia started screaming and groaning, her head flung up into the air held by her hands, daggers dropped down the floor.
"What the hell happened?" Ryou gasped, astonished.
"You—AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Dark Necrophia screamed once more before fainting.
"Oh shut up!" Change rolled her eyes and approached Ryou. "Are you all right, Master?"
"Uh—me?" Ryou stuttered, surprised. "Yeah—pretty OK, I guess…"
"Good, then you can come back home with me!" Change said, grabbing Ryou's hand before he can say anything else and lead him away from the surprised crowd.
Ryou soon found himself in a huge, cozy house painted in light blue and green. The building, thankfully, looked at lot more cheerful than the grey, black and purple painted buildings which seemed drab.
"Come in, Master." Change said politely. "Welcome to our home…"
"Our?" Ryou wondered as he stepped in. He is now at what seemed the living room. There were velvety green couches, a light blue rug and light green furniture. The fireplace with fire burning the logs cheerily, walls and stairs were also painted light green. The pillows on the couch & the beanbags on the floor were colored light blue.
"Me and my sister's home, Master Ryou."
"You have a sister?"
"A younger twin sister." Change said. "Heart, come here! We have a visitor!"
"Ok, ok! I'm just fixing dinner! I'll be there!" A sweet, cheery voice floated from a room nearby.
Ryou sat down a couch and gazed at a nearby table.
There was a picture frame on the table. Ryou took a closer look at the photograph.
On the photograph was dark brown-haired Change wearing a light green coat, purple top and purple pants with her arms around a blonde girl who looked a bit younger. She wore a cheery light blue robe, a pink top and a pink skirt and she was smiling brightly with Change.
"Hi, are you the visitor?" Ryou turned around to meet the blonde girl in the photograph.
The girl gasped. "Oh my god, you can't be…"
"Yes, Heart. This is our young Master Ryou."
"Wow, what a lucky day!" Heart said joyfully. "Wait here, I'll get dinner set. Change can keep you company. Don't worry, this'll only take a minute!" After shaking her Master's hand, Heart ran back to the kitchen.
Ryou suddenly understood. This house belonged to his Change of Heart—ok, it belonged to his Change and Heart…hey, that's confusing! "So I'm in your house right now, Change—uh did I get your name right?"
"Yup, I'm Change." The harsher one said. "And that blonde over there is my younger twin sister, Heart."
"Great, where's 'Of'?" Ryou joked.
"Dunno." Change shrugged. "Anyway, welcome to our home. It might be small but it's perfect! You'll find everything you need here."
"Yap, and we'll make sure your stay here will be a blast!" Heart added.
"Right you are, sister!"
"Uh thanks!" Ryou smiled. Unfortunately, the other monsters around here don't seem to like me…judging by their looks earlier…and they call this house small? Then what's their point of view of large? A mansion as wide as Japan?
Ryou lay down his bed in the guest room. The guest room had a white color scheme, which Ryou seemed to like. The sight of light blue and light green all over the house seemed to make Ryou sick, because it seemed that they were the only colors in the house.
Now what could Change and Heart's favorite colors be? Ryou thought jokingly. But he didn't mind. Change and Heart were so far the nicest people around. And he grew to be attached to them. He liked them instantly, and wished he could spend more time with the twins. Too bad he had Seth to think about…
/Yami, are you asleep?/
I don't sleep.was the sarcastic reply.
/Oh yeah…/
How are you?
/I'm fine. Change saved me./
Change? Who the heck is that?
/Change of Heart, our favorite card./
?! I think I'm coming to conclusion that you're in some place where our cards are.
Ryou sweatdropped. /Ok, that wasn't obvious./
So what happened to that maniac Dark Necrophia?
/She's gone…for now…/
For now? That doesn't sound so reassuring.
/I know…because like what I said, she sure wants me dead. And probably all of the cards here do./
I'm going to burn the deck later after I get out of here and get my hands on it.
/You don't have to. And it was your idea to get this occult themed deck anyway./
/Shut up!/
Ryou grinned. /Good night, Yami. I'm turning in./
Suit yourself.
Ryou tucked himself in, and for the first time this week, he slept soundly.
Meanwhile, Sehkmeth was atop Change and Heart's home.
She glanced at the unsuspecting, sleeping Ryou.
"Enjoy your night for now, Ryou-kun…
because it'll be your last night alive…"
Day 10.2—
In the Eyes of the Cat
Ryou woke up greeted by the smell of fish and the sound of crackling oil.
He smiled as he remembered that he was with his Change of Heart (I mean, Change AND Heart) today. OK, so the fact that he is living with his cards right now is still freaking him out, but he felt a bit relieved that he had a place to sleep rather than sleeping on rocks again.
"Ohayou…"
Ryou went down the stairs, still rubbing his eyes.
"Ohayou, Master Ryou." Heart, in a blue green apron, served some fish and eggs on the table. "Have you slept well?"
"Yes, a lot better than most of the days I've been sleeping." Ryou looked around. "Where's Change?"
"Still in bed, as you can see she's no morning person."
"Bakura isn't a morning person either, did you know that?"
"Eh? Master Bakura isn't a morning person nowadays?" Heart said thoughtfully. "Back in Egypt 5000 years ago, he would start raiding tombs even before the crack of dawn."
"Really? Guess all the sleep in the Ring for 5000 years affected him." Ryou sat down.
"Please help yourself with breakfast, Master Ryou. Change will come down soon, and I've still got some chores to do."
"Thanks a lot."
Ryou took a sip of tea when his brown eyes flashed open.
"What was that?!" He cried, jolting up from his chair.
"What was…what?" Heart asked.
"That dark feeling…I—AH!" Ryou's head shifted to the stairs. "—it came from over there!"
"MASTER RYOU!!!"
"AH! Who the hell are you?! What do you want from me?!"Change growled as magical chains bound her to the bed.
Sehkmeth laughed at the bound Magic Card. "You don't look so tough now, do you Change-chan?"
"CHANGE!"
BANG!
Ryou brought the door down.
"MASTER RYOU!"
"I was wondering when you'd be coming, Ryou." Sehkmeth smirked.
"This is our fight, we shouldn't involve Change or Heart!"
"I don't have time to listen to your boring speeches, stupid kid!" Sehkemth waved her hand and lashed magical chains.
Ryou leapt away from the chains.
"You're good. But it'd take more than that to avoid me!"
"HEART WAVE!!!"
The chains were destroyed by a burning wave.
"AH!" Sehkmeth growled as the waved burned her hand.
"Thanks, Heart." Ryou turned around to see the blonde running up the stairs.
"Heart!" Change ran to Ryou and Heart.
"Tsk, more victims to play with. Ryou, I should have you list up some guests for my next sacrifice!!!"
"Sorry, don't have time to accept job offers!" Ryou held out his hand. Osiris, give me strength!
GREEN BLAST!
"DARN!" Sehkmeth held her injured shoulder.
"Good aim, Master Ryou!"
"Shit, I didn't expect to use this too early!" Sehkmeth aimed a finger at Change.
CAT'S KISS!
"Change!"
The brunette was rooted with shock on the spot.
"CHANGE, WATCH OUT!"
Heart pushed her sister out of the way and…
"AH!"
Change regained her composure and screamed. "Heart!" She held out her hand, as if trying to reach out to her.
"Change…nee…san…"
Heart's eyes shut as she collapsed against Change's arms.
"HEART!"
Ryou's brown eyes blazed furiously at Sehkmeth. "You…you…bitch!"
"Just to inform you, Ryou…" Sehkmeth shook her red locks. "I'm a cat."
"WHO THE HELL CARES?!"
Sehmeth's green eyes narrowed as she sent Ryou a telepathic message.
If you want your dear Magic Card to live, see me at the Neko no Meiro…that is if you want to.
What?! Ryou heard the voice just as Sehkmeth disappeared, laughing.
"HEY, WAIT!"
But Sehkmeth turned to smoke.
"Bitch!" Ryou growled then turned back to a shocked Change. "Heart, Change are you Ok…?"
He caught sight of a steaming wound, gushing blood out, staining Heart's pink robes.
Change's shocked, wide eyes were trembling with tears. "Heart…?"
Heart remained still.
"Change…" Ryou whispered.
In a sudden motion, Change hugged her sister tightly and screamed.
"NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Ryou placed a wet towel on Heart's forehead as he tucked the blonde in.
Heart was sweating rapidly, her temperature higher than normal, her breathing short.
Change was right beside her, holding her pale hand. "She—she'll be Ok—right?"
"I don't know for sure. Her symptoms don't state anything specific. All we can do right now is wait…"
"Then this is all my fault!" Change cried. "If only I avoided that, that lady's arrow or whatever…Heart would
be…Heart would—"
No, Change, it's all my fault. Ryou thought as he watched Change break down again. For dragging you in this mess after everything you've done for me…I'll save Heart for you…
…because I don't want you to go through what I've been forced to go through years ago…
Ryou exited the window late that night. He left a note for Change & Heart on the table near Heart's bed.
He recalled seeing the sign in his landing spot yesterday that pointed to the Neko no Meiro, or the Forest of Shadows.
If I can't protect my Magic Card Friends from that monster, how can I ever protect my other friends…and the other person I care for the most…
Then Bakura's face came into his mind.
If I can't beat Sehkmeth, if I can't protect them, then I don't deserve to be called his hikari! Never!
Now more determined than ever, Ryou ran forward, unaware that he kept the link with his Yami open…
Ryou crossed the vast Forest of Shadows, walking down the narrow, rocky path.
"Man, this place sure creep me out."
Ryou then caught sight of a huge building behind the clump of dead trees.
"What's that? Could that be the Neko no Meiro?"
As Ryou stepped closer, he noticed that the building is actually a huge, ruined temple.
After climbing the dust caked steps, he arrived by the Temple gates.
"This is it then…" Ryou said as he entered.
As soon as he took his first step, the earth shook.
"Wha—what the hell?!"
Ryou lost his balance.
"Ah, that hurts." Ryou groaned.
"Glad you could join the party, Ryou."
"Sekhmeth!"
Sehkmeth smirked from her sitting position up the Temple gate. "Now why did you come here in the first place, anyway? Oh, yes, yes, I know…" She drew out a vial containing a magical potion. "You're looking for this little medicine for the damage Cat's Kiss caused on little Heart, aren't you?"
"You know you're right, so hand it over!"
"Do you take me for an idiot? You're so confident bossing the Goddess of War around like that!"
"I'm scared of someone like you? Maybe it's your looks that I can be frightened of—you look like a sickening joke!"
"Ah, becoming like your Yami now, aren't we?"
"Maybe, maybe not…" Ryou smirked. "Want to hear some more or would you prefer seeing me in action? I think I'm a lot better now thanks to you and your useless attempts of trying to loop my head off!"
"Laugh while you can, reincarnation of Shinji!" Sehkmeth stood up. "Because this will be the day you will be sent back to the Underworld—AGAIN!"
"You know about me and Shinji? I'm not surprised. A damned God is still a God, I suppose." Ryou smirked. "Too bad a wimpy God is still a wimp."
Cat's Kiss!
Ryou jumped away from Sehkmeth's attack. "That won't fool me again!"
Green Blast!
"AH!" Sehkmeth screamed.
"But I think I just fooled you." Ryou added.
"You little foul creature. And I thought the Tomb Robber was bad!" Sehkmeth jumped again, then she muttered something.
Cat's Eye, open yourself!
At once, the earth shook.
"Wh—what's happening?" Ryou gasped.
"Nothing to worry about, little one." Sehkmeth smirked. "We're just going to move to a newer dueling arena for the both of us to fight properly. And this time I won't guarantee your life."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Meanwhile, Change was frantically searching for her master around the house.
"MASTER RYOU, MASTER RYOU ARE YOU HERE?" Change shouted, near in a verge of panic. She had already let Heart down, if something happened to her master Ryou she wouldn't think she'll live with it. "MASTER RYOU, GOOD RA, WHERE ARE YOU, MASTER?!"
Then the trees shook as a scream reached Change's ears.
Her brown eyes widened. "No, Master Ryou!!!"
Change ran out of the house and bolted the door to make sure that Heart be safe while she's out. "Don't worry, Heart. I'll be back."
Then she made a dash to the dense forest, hoping that her master would be there.
Little did she know that after a while, the door she closed was opened again…
OK…I made this chapter short, I know. Writer's block is so not good for me! Can you guys contribute any ideas? Would be really appreciated! Thankies!
Love lots, DS
Day 10.3— Oh my Ra!!!
No, no, no, she can't be winning! Ryou thought as he jumped away. I'm getting weaker, but she looks anything but!
WHAT?! You can't lose to her! She's a bitch!
/A super tough bitch, you should say!/ Ryou jumped away from Sehkmeth's attack. /But I'll try to be tougher too. I won't let her win, Bakura!/
You'd better win! I don't expect anything less from my hikari.
/Oh no, she's coming a—/
Cat's Kiss!
"AH!"
RYOU!
/I'm—fine—/
Ryou fell to his knees in pain.
Sehkmeth smirked. "Looks like it all ends here then…"
Shit, I can't move…what now…?
CLAWING RENEGADE!
GOLDEN PYRAMID ATTACK!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Sehkmeth screamed as she was thrown away, badly injured.
Ryou, Ryou, are you OK?
/Yeah but…woah…/
Ryou, what's wrong…?
/Yami…the one who saved me from Sehkmeth…/
Yeah? WHAT?!
/It's Ra…/
You've got to be kidding me! As in the GOD named RA?
/No, as in the WINGED DRAGON of RA…!/
Day 10.4—Brave Heart
The conclusion for Ryou's adventure is here! But no sneak peek!