Mou Hitori no Boku: True Darkness
AN: Aren't you lot lucky? Due to my insanity, I completely forgot to update this, so you get THREE chapters! Woo hoo!
After making their way over rocks and through copses for almost two hours, they dropped to the ground to rest. Yugi was happy, feeling no temptation towards what Yami had warned him about, but he felt that it may be because of the magical barrier protecting both his and Yami's minds.
He pulled out his deck, and examined the God Card, Slifer. He rubbed his eyes, wondering why he had brought it. It had only ever caused trouble for him.
He didn't notice Seto staring at him. He didn't notice Seto staring at the card, until...
Seto pulled the card from Yugi's hand, his eyes glowing with magic-induced greed. "Power..." he muttered repeatedly. "Seto, give that back..." Yugi stretched out his arm for the card. Seto slapped his hand away. At the sound of the hard smack, Yami leapt to his feet. "Seto, return that card immediately!" he said in his royal giving-orders voice. "Iie! Mine! Mine!" Seto shouted. He turned to run, but Yami caught his arm. "Mine! My power! Stupid Pharaoh, let go!" Seto screamed, making birds fly in turmoil from the trees.
"I didn't want to do this..." Yami said. He raised his hand, and struck Seto across the face with one sharp blow. Seto's eyes widened, and he dropped the red card. Yugi quickly picked it up. Seto dropped down, eyes wide and staring. "Seto-kun, are you okay?" Yami lowered himself to one knee, looking into Seto's sky-blue eyes. Slowly, Seto nodded, placing a cool hand over his hot red cheek. "What happened?" he asked quietly. "You stole the God Card. It was the power of the Realm, don't worry." Yami reassured him.
"We should move on." he announced to the other two. He pointed to a patch of clear, light blue sky near the top of the mountain. "That's the good part of this realm. We need to get there soon."
The four got to their feet, looking in despair at the high peak before them. Tedious as it was, they set out on their march up the steep slopes. Yugi tired quickly, and was carried by Yami after about an hour. Seto remained silent, speaking only briefly to Yami. In his hand was clutched the Millennium Rod, which had come to his hand.
Ryou walked ahead of them, thinking.
'I wish Bakura was here. Yami and Yugi have each other, Seto doesn't need anyone, but I feel so lonely.'
"Ryou, watch out!" Yami called. A rock had slipped from under the young boy's foot as he turned towards Yami. He lost his balance, and reached out blindly to grab onto something. He sighed in relief as his hand closed around something. He looked up, and found himself to be staring into the face of a Man Eater Bug, The Duel Monster stared at him, then opened it's ugly mouth and let out a strange hoarse roar. Ryou froze in fear; he was clinging onto the insect's leg.
Yugi instinctively pulled a card from his deck, and summoned it on his Duel Disk without even looking at it. A sword-bearing elf appeared before them, clothed in green. The Celtic Guardian, with 1400 attack points, was more than strong enough to eliminate the bug's puny 450. "Celtic Guardian, attack the Man Eater Bug! And mind Ryou!" Yugi commanded. A flash of steel blade, and the bug was gone, the guardian retreating to it's card. Ryou breathed a thank you to Yugi. Yugi smiled. "It's okay."
"Hello?" a faint voice echoed down the mountain. "Is anyone down there?" Yami looked up, searching for the source of the voice. "Yes! There is someone here!" he called back. "Oh, good, I was afraid the bugs had got you!" The owner of the voice came into view, a girl with short dark-brown hair, and icy-blue eyes. She bounded over the rocks to join the group, smiling. On her feet were white boots, on her hands, white gloves. She wore a dark blue T-shirt, and matching shorts, with a long light blue coat, ending in curved points by her heels.
Ryou blinked, immediatly liking her. "Who are you then?" he asked. "Imay." she said, taking one look at Ryou, and her tones immediately becoming scornful. Looking back to Seto, she nodded, but when she saw Yami properly, she dropped to her knees, and leaned forward, her forehead nearly touching the ground. "Pharaoh!" she said. Yami stepped back. "Okay then..." he looked at Yugi in confusion. Imay looked up. "Sorry, Pharaoh, if I offended you!" she said quickly. Yami shook his head. "Of course not. It's just surprising when someone does that." He offered his hand to help her up. Imay looked as if she would die of happiness, and took his hand nervously, letting him bring her to her feet. "Is there anywhere safe nearby?" Yami asked her. Imay nodded. "Yes, yes, for those who deserve it..." She narrowed her eyes at Ryou. "Hey, what did I do?!" he exclaimed. Imay screwed her nose up. "You know full well, Tomb Robber!" she said. Ryou sweatdropped.
Yami laughed. "Now, now Imay! This is not the Tomb Robber Bakura! Just his host. See, Ryou carries the Millennium Ring. He is our friend." Yami told her. "Oh!" she exclaimed, turning to Ryou. "I'm so sorry, Master Ryou, very, very sorry!" she said, her voice apologetic. "But I do not understand. A host?" Yami smiled. "Yes, see, here is my host, more my friend, Yugi." Imay looked down at Yugi. "Hello! Didn't see you down there!" she said. Yugi rolled his eyes. "I'm often overlooked." he said. "And this is Seto Kaiba..." Yami continued, pointing to Seto. "Yami, it's not nice to point." Seto said. Imay bowed. "Pleasant to meet you, High Priest. Now, I will take you somewhere where we don't have to worry about those nasty bugs."
Imay lead them up the slope, clambering over the rocks with ease. Seto found the climb easy, as did Yami, but Yugi and Ryou had more trouble. Every few metres, Yami and Seto stopped to pull them up.
Finally, they reached a dark opening in the rocks, a cave. Imay signalled for them to follow her inside. Yugi was a bit afraid of entering the gaping mouth of the rocks, but once inside, it was well-lit by flaming torches. Further down, through a short tunnel, and they were in a place suitable for humans to live in. Imay sat down on a big soft cushion, similar to the other four in the room, as if she had been expecting them.
"What brings you to the dangerous Seventh Realm Mountain, Pharaoh?" Imay asked Yami, as they willingly relaxed into the pillows, legs aching from the climb. "A quest." Yami replied. "A being called Yugiou has taken two of our friends, Gravekeeper Malik and Tomb Robber Bakura captive in the Second and Third Realms." Imay looked at him funny. "You want to find the Tomb Robber?" she asked. "Yes!" Ryou exclaimed. "Sorry..." "And..." Yami continued. "the Shadow Realm has alerted me to it's wish for a new Master. When we reach the First Realm, we're going to find out who it is." Imay nodded. "Good, good."
"Who exactly are you then?" Yugi asked her. "I am Imay Merrin, Guardian of the Seventh Realm." She got to her feet. "If you so desire to descend into the Realm of the Key, you will have to pass my challenge." Seto made a funny noise in his throat. "I need the two eldest members of your group to participate." she finished. Seto got up. "That's me then." Yami stood up. "Me too."
"Pharaoh, I request that you leave your Puzzle in your aibou's care while you attempt the challenge. It is only so that you cannot communicate with him. It must just be you two." Imay said to Yami. "You, however, are free to take your Rod, Priest. Both may use Shadow Powers." Yami slipped the chain holding Puzzle over his head, and handed it to Yugi. "Don't worry, Yugi." he whispered, bending down to his aibou while Seto and Ryou were distracted by Imay. "I won't be long." Yami kissed him lightly on the cheek, and went to join his team-mate. Yugi blushed, remaining silent.
"Let's go."
AN: Aren't you lot lucky? Due to my insanity, I completely forgot to update this, so you get THREE chapters! Woo hoo!
After making their way over rocks and through copses for almost two hours, they dropped to the ground to rest. Yugi was happy, feeling no temptation towards what Yami had warned him about, but he felt that it may be because of the magical barrier protecting both his and Yami's minds.
He pulled out his deck, and examined the God Card, Slifer. He rubbed his eyes, wondering why he had brought it. It had only ever caused trouble for him.
He didn't notice Seto staring at him. He didn't notice Seto staring at the card, until...
Seto pulled the card from Yugi's hand, his eyes glowing with magic-induced greed. "Power..." he muttered repeatedly. "Seto, give that back..." Yugi stretched out his arm for the card. Seto slapped his hand away. At the sound of the hard smack, Yami leapt to his feet. "Seto, return that card immediately!" he said in his royal giving-orders voice. "Iie! Mine! Mine!" Seto shouted. He turned to run, but Yami caught his arm. "Mine! My power! Stupid Pharaoh, let go!" Seto screamed, making birds fly in turmoil from the trees.
"I didn't want to do this..." Yami said. He raised his hand, and struck Seto across the face with one sharp blow. Seto's eyes widened, and he dropped the red card. Yugi quickly picked it up. Seto dropped down, eyes wide and staring. "Seto-kun, are you okay?" Yami lowered himself to one knee, looking into Seto's sky-blue eyes. Slowly, Seto nodded, placing a cool hand over his hot red cheek. "What happened?" he asked quietly. "You stole the God Card. It was the power of the Realm, don't worry." Yami reassured him.
"We should move on." he announced to the other two. He pointed to a patch of clear, light blue sky near the top of the mountain. "That's the good part of this realm. We need to get there soon."
The four got to their feet, looking in despair at the high peak before them. Tedious as it was, they set out on their march up the steep slopes. Yugi tired quickly, and was carried by Yami after about an hour. Seto remained silent, speaking only briefly to Yami. In his hand was clutched the Millennium Rod, which had come to his hand.
Ryou walked ahead of them, thinking.
'I wish Bakura was here. Yami and Yugi have each other, Seto doesn't need anyone, but I feel so lonely.'
"Ryou, watch out!" Yami called. A rock had slipped from under the young boy's foot as he turned towards Yami. He lost his balance, and reached out blindly to grab onto something. He sighed in relief as his hand closed around something. He looked up, and found himself to be staring into the face of a Man Eater Bug, The Duel Monster stared at him, then opened it's ugly mouth and let out a strange hoarse roar. Ryou froze in fear; he was clinging onto the insect's leg.
Yugi instinctively pulled a card from his deck, and summoned it on his Duel Disk without even looking at it. A sword-bearing elf appeared before them, clothed in green. The Celtic Guardian, with 1400 attack points, was more than strong enough to eliminate the bug's puny 450. "Celtic Guardian, attack the Man Eater Bug! And mind Ryou!" Yugi commanded. A flash of steel blade, and the bug was gone, the guardian retreating to it's card. Ryou breathed a thank you to Yugi. Yugi smiled. "It's okay."
"Hello?" a faint voice echoed down the mountain. "Is anyone down there?" Yami looked up, searching for the source of the voice. "Yes! There is someone here!" he called back. "Oh, good, I was afraid the bugs had got you!" The owner of the voice came into view, a girl with short dark-brown hair, and icy-blue eyes. She bounded over the rocks to join the group, smiling. On her feet were white boots, on her hands, white gloves. She wore a dark blue T-shirt, and matching shorts, with a long light blue coat, ending in curved points by her heels.
Ryou blinked, immediatly liking her. "Who are you then?" he asked. "Imay." she said, taking one look at Ryou, and her tones immediately becoming scornful. Looking back to Seto, she nodded, but when she saw Yami properly, she dropped to her knees, and leaned forward, her forehead nearly touching the ground. "Pharaoh!" she said. Yami stepped back. "Okay then..." he looked at Yugi in confusion. Imay looked up. "Sorry, Pharaoh, if I offended you!" she said quickly. Yami shook his head. "Of course not. It's just surprising when someone does that." He offered his hand to help her up. Imay looked as if she would die of happiness, and took his hand nervously, letting him bring her to her feet. "Is there anywhere safe nearby?" Yami asked her. Imay nodded. "Yes, yes, for those who deserve it..." She narrowed her eyes at Ryou. "Hey, what did I do?!" he exclaimed. Imay screwed her nose up. "You know full well, Tomb Robber!" she said. Ryou sweatdropped.
Yami laughed. "Now, now Imay! This is not the Tomb Robber Bakura! Just his host. See, Ryou carries the Millennium Ring. He is our friend." Yami told her. "Oh!" she exclaimed, turning to Ryou. "I'm so sorry, Master Ryou, very, very sorry!" she said, her voice apologetic. "But I do not understand. A host?" Yami smiled. "Yes, see, here is my host, more my friend, Yugi." Imay looked down at Yugi. "Hello! Didn't see you down there!" she said. Yugi rolled his eyes. "I'm often overlooked." he said. "And this is Seto Kaiba..." Yami continued, pointing to Seto. "Yami, it's not nice to point." Seto said. Imay bowed. "Pleasant to meet you, High Priest. Now, I will take you somewhere where we don't have to worry about those nasty bugs."
Imay lead them up the slope, clambering over the rocks with ease. Seto found the climb easy, as did Yami, but Yugi and Ryou had more trouble. Every few metres, Yami and Seto stopped to pull them up.
Finally, they reached a dark opening in the rocks, a cave. Imay signalled for them to follow her inside. Yugi was a bit afraid of entering the gaping mouth of the rocks, but once inside, it was well-lit by flaming torches. Further down, through a short tunnel, and they were in a place suitable for humans to live in. Imay sat down on a big soft cushion, similar to the other four in the room, as if she had been expecting them.
"What brings you to the dangerous Seventh Realm Mountain, Pharaoh?" Imay asked Yami, as they willingly relaxed into the pillows, legs aching from the climb. "A quest." Yami replied. "A being called Yugiou has taken two of our friends, Gravekeeper Malik and Tomb Robber Bakura captive in the Second and Third Realms." Imay looked at him funny. "You want to find the Tomb Robber?" she asked. "Yes!" Ryou exclaimed. "Sorry..." "And..." Yami continued. "the Shadow Realm has alerted me to it's wish for a new Master. When we reach the First Realm, we're going to find out who it is." Imay nodded. "Good, good."
"Who exactly are you then?" Yugi asked her. "I am Imay Merrin, Guardian of the Seventh Realm." She got to her feet. "If you so desire to descend into the Realm of the Key, you will have to pass my challenge." Seto made a funny noise in his throat. "I need the two eldest members of your group to participate." she finished. Seto got up. "That's me then." Yami stood up. "Me too."
"Pharaoh, I request that you leave your Puzzle in your aibou's care while you attempt the challenge. It is only so that you cannot communicate with him. It must just be you two." Imay said to Yami. "You, however, are free to take your Rod, Priest. Both may use Shadow Powers." Yami slipped the chain holding Puzzle over his head, and handed it to Yugi. "Don't worry, Yugi." he whispered, bending down to his aibou while Seto and Ryou were distracted by Imay. "I won't be long." Yami kissed him lightly on the cheek, and went to join his team-mate. Yugi blushed, remaining silent.
"Let's go."