Yay!!!!! Reviews!!!! Wow.. threats work. ^__^ . My room is so messy now
that I can't get in or out, so while I was trapped I wrote this. I will
now use explosives to get myself out... or (gasp) have to clean it up.
Anyway, enjoy!
The hotel room was small, but comfortable, and there were many thick blankets available to combat the cold desert night. The moon, silvery bright, shone through the thick window panes and cast shadows into the corners.
Yugi was close to sleep, exhausted by the day's events, but Yami was restless.
// Yugi? //
A bunch of blurred and confused images accompanied Yugi's sleepy reply.
/ Hmmmm? /
// Do you mind if I take a walk? //
/ No..... g'night..... /
Yami smiled at the barely coherent permission, then brushed aside Yugi's links to the body they shared and replaced them with his own. It was easier to gain control when Yugi was asleep or unconscious, but he asked permission because he knew from experience how disorientating and even scary it was to wake up with absolutely no links to the outside world. Especially if you weren't used to it. Tonight, however, he needed to clear his head.
He opened his eyes to see the light from the millenium puzzle fade from its place next to the bed. Sweeping aside the blankets, he got up and quickly dressed in warmer attire, hanging the puzzle around his neck. He silently shut the door behind him, and crept quietly down the hallway and stairs.
Out in the street the moonlight lit up the stones of the road and the houses in its silvery glow, and a breeze from the desert beyond the city brushed golden strands of hair away from his eyes as he breathed in the cold night air.
He was home - sort of. Even this smaller town had changed a lot, but it still made him homesick for the town he remembered. The moonlight, at least, was the same. And the desert. They wouldn't change.
Yami slowly paced down the street, the heels of his boots making soft clicks against the stones in the otherwise silent night. The streets were deserted, and that made him feel even more alone. He was the only one who remembered..... the last of the ancient people. Seeing the ruins through Yugi's eyes had made that even more apparent. It was like he didn't have a place here.... a right to exist, to still remember, when the rest of the world had moved on.
Perhaps that was the reason why he hadn't told Yugi yet. He just had a.... feeling.... that it would endanger Yugi to know that the spirit he shared his body and his memories with was actually the pharaoh who sealed away the ancient magic. He didn't know why.
Just then, Yami's line of thought was interrupted when a dark figure, silhouetted in the night, stepped out onto the road ahead of him.
Though the stranger's features were indistinguishable in the darkness, an odd ray of moonlight glinted off something hanging on his chest - a large, golden ankh.
Yami's eyes hardened in recognition. 'You.... ' he said quietly.
They had met before, though Yugi knew more of what had happened than he did. Though Yami had asked, something had obviously occurred that had disturbed Yugi, and the subject was quickly changed.
The dark figure said nothing, but turned and disappeared into one of the shadow-filled side streets.
'Hey! Wait!'
Yami broke into a run and gave chase, his coat flapping behind him with every stride. The other was also running, but no footsteps sounded against the stones. Yami had to seek movement in the darkness ahead, just following the figure that was turning corners ahead of him and leading him deeper into a maze of streets. Eventually he saw one last flash of movement disappearing inside the doorway of an old building. With his back to a nearby wall, Yami waited until his breathing steadied and became quieter, then he cautiously entered.
A stairwell descended to his right - in the moonlight he could just make it out. The steps were stone, and obviously old. He felt for each one with his foot, and cautiously made his way down. The last few were illuminated with a flickering light, and as he reached the bottom the source came into view.
Two torches filled the room with golden firelight, lighting up the pillars and carvings of clearly ancient Egyptian design. Between them stood a man clothed in white robes, the Millenium Ankh glinting on his breast. There was no evidence that he had been moving so fast just a moment ago.
Yami's gaze was cold and his stance was proud as he approached.
'Shadi.'
The other man smiled, and Yami noticed for the first time how curiously soulless his eyes seemed. As if he had seen much more that his youthful appearance suggested, and more than anyone should see. Then, to his pursuer's surprise, Shadi knelt down on one knee in a single, fluid motion. His clear, exotic accent filled the room as he spoke a single word.
'Pharaoh.'
An amused smile met Yami's lips.
'No one has used that name in many a millennia. What makes you so sure it belongs to me?'
Shadi rose.
'I have seen inside your mind. There are many secrets..... many traps. Such a complex mind must have a complex history. Do you deny that this title is yours?'
'I will not lie - I was once known by it.'
A glimmer of something - triumph? - lit Shadi's eyes for an instant, then his expression changed as a new thought struck.
'Your host.... '
'Is asleep. He will not hear what transpires here,' Yami finished. If Shadi was surprised that the two souls could operate in such a way, he did not show it but merely nodded to himself.
'That is good. You have sensed the dark forces at work?'
His expression was now much more serious, and Yami's matched it.
'Yes. As has Yugi. What do you know of this?'
Shadi paused, as if wondering how to approach this question. Or how much information to include in the answer. He took a deep breath.
'Over the millennia, the millennium items have chosen their owners in accordance with their own unknown criteria. It has been my duty and heritage to protect ownerless items, and to prevent anyone from gathering them all. Many who gain one item desire others, and the power place at their owner's disposal. Now, however..... I sense that there is another force seeking to unite the items. It is not human.... and so does not have human weaknesses. It may even succeed.'
'Another force?'
'Yes.... I do not know what, yet, it is just a feeling. I suspect, however, that it may be from another realm.... that it is slowly gaining influence, however slight, over events in this realm.'
Yami's eyes grew colder.
'You don't mean.... '
'I do. The magic of the shadow realm and Duel Monsters is closer than ever to breaking the seal of its prison.'
Visions of skies of pulsating darkness, of screams and destruction caused by powerful monsters flashed through Yami's mind. He had thought that it had ended.... only to have this news open old wounds. He would not let it happen again.
'But..... how? Why now?'
Shadi's eyes flickered down to the puzzle around Yami's neck.
'How is difficult to say. My guess is that, after stewing in the abyss you locked it in for so long, it may have formed.... a kind of consciousness. As to 'why now?'.....'
He paused again, and Yami followed his gaze to the golden object.
'The millennium puzzle is also known as the lost item. It was never buried with the others - why is a tale lost to time. Because of this, nothing is known about its magic or abilites.... it is truly a puzzle. Also, and more importantly, it has never been made whole before.'
Yami looked up at this, and found Shadi's blank gaze searching his face for a reaction. He scowled.
'So now all the millennium items can be used to unlock the magic.'
Shadi nodded, his golden earrings shimmering in the light, but his expression remained carefully neutral.
'You must be careful. You are the only one with the exact knowledge of how the power was locked away. And also.... ' Shadi's tone changed and his voice grew quieter. '.....it may be your blood that must be spilt to free it.'
Then, louder again: 'I have answered your questions, now will you answer mine?'
Yami was still absorbing the previous statement, but at this a confident smile spread across his face.
'An eye for an eye? Well, you may ask. I do not guarantee an answer.'
'You once told me that you would allow no harm to come to the boy whose vessel you share. Does that hold true?'
Yami's smile faded. 'It does,' he answered suspiciously. When Shadi said nothing further, he continued.
'This information you have given me is indeed ominous, but I give you my word that I will do everything in my power to prevent the return of this darkness to the world.'
With no sign from Shadi, he turned and made to leave. He was a metre from the stairs when Shadi's next words stopped him.
'Your word that you will stop the darkness.... and protect your host.'
Yami's eyes narrowed in suspicion, but he did not turn around.
'Yes.'
Shadi's voice was calm and quiet, and Yami could hear the smile in his words.
'I wonder..... _what happens when you cannot do both?_'
Yami whipped around, a demand for the hidden meaning of such a sentence on his lips - but the robed figure was gone. The only movement was the guttering of flames in a sudden movement of air.
After a quick glance around the room, Yami hastily climbed the stairs and left, disturbed and worried.
Unobserved, the shadows crept back to their corners.
Phew! I think i got everything i wanted to in there. man, that chapter did not want to be written! don't worry, i didn't forget about Bakura, he's coming later. The _ things represent italics, since they DON'T SHOW UP!!!!! *sigh* o well, there's nothing I can do. review pleez... you know the drill. And i've got some good threats now!!!!! :D
The hotel room was small, but comfortable, and there were many thick blankets available to combat the cold desert night. The moon, silvery bright, shone through the thick window panes and cast shadows into the corners.
Yugi was close to sleep, exhausted by the day's events, but Yami was restless.
// Yugi? //
A bunch of blurred and confused images accompanied Yugi's sleepy reply.
/ Hmmmm? /
// Do you mind if I take a walk? //
/ No..... g'night..... /
Yami smiled at the barely coherent permission, then brushed aside Yugi's links to the body they shared and replaced them with his own. It was easier to gain control when Yugi was asleep or unconscious, but he asked permission because he knew from experience how disorientating and even scary it was to wake up with absolutely no links to the outside world. Especially if you weren't used to it. Tonight, however, he needed to clear his head.
He opened his eyes to see the light from the millenium puzzle fade from its place next to the bed. Sweeping aside the blankets, he got up and quickly dressed in warmer attire, hanging the puzzle around his neck. He silently shut the door behind him, and crept quietly down the hallway and stairs.
Out in the street the moonlight lit up the stones of the road and the houses in its silvery glow, and a breeze from the desert beyond the city brushed golden strands of hair away from his eyes as he breathed in the cold night air.
He was home - sort of. Even this smaller town had changed a lot, but it still made him homesick for the town he remembered. The moonlight, at least, was the same. And the desert. They wouldn't change.
Yami slowly paced down the street, the heels of his boots making soft clicks against the stones in the otherwise silent night. The streets were deserted, and that made him feel even more alone. He was the only one who remembered..... the last of the ancient people. Seeing the ruins through Yugi's eyes had made that even more apparent. It was like he didn't have a place here.... a right to exist, to still remember, when the rest of the world had moved on.
Perhaps that was the reason why he hadn't told Yugi yet. He just had a.... feeling.... that it would endanger Yugi to know that the spirit he shared his body and his memories with was actually the pharaoh who sealed away the ancient magic. He didn't know why.
Just then, Yami's line of thought was interrupted when a dark figure, silhouetted in the night, stepped out onto the road ahead of him.
Though the stranger's features were indistinguishable in the darkness, an odd ray of moonlight glinted off something hanging on his chest - a large, golden ankh.
Yami's eyes hardened in recognition. 'You.... ' he said quietly.
They had met before, though Yugi knew more of what had happened than he did. Though Yami had asked, something had obviously occurred that had disturbed Yugi, and the subject was quickly changed.
The dark figure said nothing, but turned and disappeared into one of the shadow-filled side streets.
'Hey! Wait!'
Yami broke into a run and gave chase, his coat flapping behind him with every stride. The other was also running, but no footsteps sounded against the stones. Yami had to seek movement in the darkness ahead, just following the figure that was turning corners ahead of him and leading him deeper into a maze of streets. Eventually he saw one last flash of movement disappearing inside the doorway of an old building. With his back to a nearby wall, Yami waited until his breathing steadied and became quieter, then he cautiously entered.
A stairwell descended to his right - in the moonlight he could just make it out. The steps were stone, and obviously old. He felt for each one with his foot, and cautiously made his way down. The last few were illuminated with a flickering light, and as he reached the bottom the source came into view.
Two torches filled the room with golden firelight, lighting up the pillars and carvings of clearly ancient Egyptian design. Between them stood a man clothed in white robes, the Millenium Ankh glinting on his breast. There was no evidence that he had been moving so fast just a moment ago.
Yami's gaze was cold and his stance was proud as he approached.
'Shadi.'
The other man smiled, and Yami noticed for the first time how curiously soulless his eyes seemed. As if he had seen much more that his youthful appearance suggested, and more than anyone should see. Then, to his pursuer's surprise, Shadi knelt down on one knee in a single, fluid motion. His clear, exotic accent filled the room as he spoke a single word.
'Pharaoh.'
An amused smile met Yami's lips.
'No one has used that name in many a millennia. What makes you so sure it belongs to me?'
Shadi rose.
'I have seen inside your mind. There are many secrets..... many traps. Such a complex mind must have a complex history. Do you deny that this title is yours?'
'I will not lie - I was once known by it.'
A glimmer of something - triumph? - lit Shadi's eyes for an instant, then his expression changed as a new thought struck.
'Your host.... '
'Is asleep. He will not hear what transpires here,' Yami finished. If Shadi was surprised that the two souls could operate in such a way, he did not show it but merely nodded to himself.
'That is good. You have sensed the dark forces at work?'
His expression was now much more serious, and Yami's matched it.
'Yes. As has Yugi. What do you know of this?'
Shadi paused, as if wondering how to approach this question. Or how much information to include in the answer. He took a deep breath.
'Over the millennia, the millennium items have chosen their owners in accordance with their own unknown criteria. It has been my duty and heritage to protect ownerless items, and to prevent anyone from gathering them all. Many who gain one item desire others, and the power place at their owner's disposal. Now, however..... I sense that there is another force seeking to unite the items. It is not human.... and so does not have human weaknesses. It may even succeed.'
'Another force?'
'Yes.... I do not know what, yet, it is just a feeling. I suspect, however, that it may be from another realm.... that it is slowly gaining influence, however slight, over events in this realm.'
Yami's eyes grew colder.
'You don't mean.... '
'I do. The magic of the shadow realm and Duel Monsters is closer than ever to breaking the seal of its prison.'
Visions of skies of pulsating darkness, of screams and destruction caused by powerful monsters flashed through Yami's mind. He had thought that it had ended.... only to have this news open old wounds. He would not let it happen again.
'But..... how? Why now?'
Shadi's eyes flickered down to the puzzle around Yami's neck.
'How is difficult to say. My guess is that, after stewing in the abyss you locked it in for so long, it may have formed.... a kind of consciousness. As to 'why now?'.....'
He paused again, and Yami followed his gaze to the golden object.
'The millennium puzzle is also known as the lost item. It was never buried with the others - why is a tale lost to time. Because of this, nothing is known about its magic or abilites.... it is truly a puzzle. Also, and more importantly, it has never been made whole before.'
Yami looked up at this, and found Shadi's blank gaze searching his face for a reaction. He scowled.
'So now all the millennium items can be used to unlock the magic.'
Shadi nodded, his golden earrings shimmering in the light, but his expression remained carefully neutral.
'You must be careful. You are the only one with the exact knowledge of how the power was locked away. And also.... ' Shadi's tone changed and his voice grew quieter. '.....it may be your blood that must be spilt to free it.'
Then, louder again: 'I have answered your questions, now will you answer mine?'
Yami was still absorbing the previous statement, but at this a confident smile spread across his face.
'An eye for an eye? Well, you may ask. I do not guarantee an answer.'
'You once told me that you would allow no harm to come to the boy whose vessel you share. Does that hold true?'
Yami's smile faded. 'It does,' he answered suspiciously. When Shadi said nothing further, he continued.
'This information you have given me is indeed ominous, but I give you my word that I will do everything in my power to prevent the return of this darkness to the world.'
With no sign from Shadi, he turned and made to leave. He was a metre from the stairs when Shadi's next words stopped him.
'Your word that you will stop the darkness.... and protect your host.'
Yami's eyes narrowed in suspicion, but he did not turn around.
'Yes.'
Shadi's voice was calm and quiet, and Yami could hear the smile in his words.
'I wonder..... _what happens when you cannot do both?_'
Yami whipped around, a demand for the hidden meaning of such a sentence on his lips - but the robed figure was gone. The only movement was the guttering of flames in a sudden movement of air.
After a quick glance around the room, Yami hastily climbed the stairs and left, disturbed and worried.
Unobserved, the shadows crept back to their corners.
Phew! I think i got everything i wanted to in there. man, that chapter did not want to be written! don't worry, i didn't forget about Bakura, he's coming later. The _ things represent italics, since they DON'T SHOW UP!!!!! *sigh* o well, there's nothing I can do. review pleez... you know the drill. And i've got some good threats now!!!!! :D