Disclaimer: It's been two full stories, with over 50 chapters of the same disclaimer; do I really need to say it again? I DON'T OWN IT!
If you have the time, PLEASE REVIEW!
WARNING: This chappie contains A LOT of violence....I mean like, A LOT....so, if you have a squirmy stomach, skip over the parts that are uncomfortable!
A/N: Yeah, this new editing system does not allow me to put the stars and the swirly lines whenever I have a POV change....So, unfortunately, I'll be using '---' instead...Boring, I know.... (unless..)...OH! And, I've figured out how to use bold and italics too!
If you have any ideas for memories, please leave them in the review!
Chapter #20: Tinged Red
-----Justi's POV-----
The blade stops poking at my neck as it is drawn above......I know that it will come back down with more force.....
I clench my eyes tighter, praying for a miracle. If I had my sword I could.......I could recover.....Why does it have to be so far away? Please, I need you!
I felt a handle rush into my hands. My sword! I could sense my opponent dropping his sword, so I swung my arm over stopping his stab and holding his sword in mid-air. The crowd gasped at my recovery, but cheered loudly.
I was still on the ground, on my back now, and struggling to get back up. I pushed with my might and the sword glowed. A white film ran across the blade as it pushed the man and his sword back, allowing me to get up.
"You got lucky there!" The man shouts at me. "But, I'm getting this title!"
That voice.....so familiar....
Even though I was trying to match a voice to a face, my body in the past was already charging towards him. Our swords locked again with a loud 'clang'. Over and over again, the blades locked with each other as neither of us were getting a solid attack. The crowds cheered loudly....
He swung his sword at me and I narrowly escaped a slash across my unprotected torso. My silver armour lay scattered on the floor of the arena. With the distance between us, I charged as fast as my legs would carry and by the look in his eyes tells me that I went faster than he expected.
The blade got right underneath the buckles of his helmet and tore them off. Hmph. Without any head protection, he'll surrender for sure. He'd be crazy to continue with nothing covering his neck or face. This match is over!
His body flew backwards from the hit and his helmet flew off. I knew I didn't touch the skin because my blade was still clean.
My opponent lay on the ground for a few moments, in shock I guess. He narrowly escaped the slitting of his own throat. I smirked under my helmet seeing him place a palm over his neck to check for bleeding.
He didn't find any obviously.
Keeping my voice as deep as I could I shout out, "Get up and fight." I point my sword out towards him and wait for him to stand. I couldn't expose that I was female or I'd be thrown out of the tournament and not to mention bring 'shame' to my family. I came into this tournament because I wanted to prove that anyone can make it as anything they want, especially women. The injustice must have driven me to this battle some 3 000 years ago.....And it still does.
He slowly stands. My eyes widened underneath my helmet.....As his face is exposed.
"Jouonuchi!" I whispered in a gasp. But how? Why?! Why am I fighting my best friend? He must have joined the tournament for a job of high ranks.....Jou was always a good fighter.... Oh no! His cheek is bleeding....the metal must have cut it....He's glaring at me, teeth clenched.
He charges at me. He still wants to fight me? I block with my sword easily, but he continues to press down on me, still very angry. I push him off with some effort, but I continue to look sad. What lengths will I go to win this tournament?
Jou staggers backwards a bit; he's tired and breathing heavily. The blood from his cheek has continued to fall....Yet, he resumes his position with his body on an angle towards me with one knee bent.
What lengths will Jou go to win if he does not know it is me he is fighting?
----Atem's POV----
"Ryou! Aria! Get in the house! Darkness falls!" A loud deep voice comes from their home; it must be the father....or another sibling Yami Bakura has failed to mention to us....
Both of the children stop playing for a moment before giving each other saddened looks. Instead of running into the house energetically, both of them walked very slowly.
"Ryou, what's wrong?" I ask him, walking beside him into the hut.
"Daddy's home." He whispers sadly.
His father stood tall in the doorway with short gray hair and dark tanned skin. His face was etched with lines of frustration, anger and somewhat of impatience.....He carried was appeared to be....armour?
"Father, what's that?" Aria asked, pointing to the shining piece of metal.
The dad smirked, but the features of his face were still holding those emotions..... "I've been selected as the newest member of the Pharaoh Akunumkanon's [1] army! I'll be bringing in the bread from now on!"
Pharaoh Akunumkanon? Was he the Pharaoh before me? My father?
Ryou's mother, after some difficulty, found her husband and hugged him. "Oh, Mamoru! Thank Ra!"
I look back at the two siblings, but neither of them has made a move to congratulate their father. Didn't the mother say the dad was out of work? Wouldn't this be good news? Now, they have money for food!
"Aria! Ryou! Aren't you happy?!" The mother cried happy, looking--well, sort of--at them.
Yet, they refused to move.
"Now the Pharaoh is just giving Daddy another reason to carry a weapon." Ryou spat. I hate to say it, but that sounds more like the Yami Bakura I know..... "I'm not sure what good that will do..."
His mother looked at him, then back at his father who was glaring at his son. He was angry, I could tell, but Mamoru made no move.
"Aria, come with me to sweep and set up for dinner." The mother said slowly. She reached out her hand to grasp Aria, but she missed by a couple of feet. Aria quickly grabbed her mother's hand and led her out of the room. I looked at Ryou who was glaring at his father, dark brown eyes narrowed slightly, lips in a tight line. The dog that was sleeping earlier sensed some tension and trotted outside.
Aria looked at Ryou and had a sad face. She kissed him on the cheek, and that did not faze Ryou's face for a moment. After both females left the room, Mamoru advanced on his son.
"Who the hell do you think you are, boy?!" He shouted, grabbing Ryou by the collar. "I go out and get this family a job and what do you have to show for it?! I am give you food....I give you a house to live in....and what do you have to show for it?! Nothing! You just insult me!" A hand was raised and it came in contact with Ryou's pale cheek...the same place Aria kissed it.
Ryou's hair got tousled as his head snapped to the right from the force of the blow. The father held on to him, not letting go...yet.
"Stop this!" I cried as I come between the two. I grab Mamoru's arm...just to go right through it. "What?"
Ryou looked up at me, his face still in the turned position from the smack. "Daddy can't see you...You can't touch him."
"You stupid unpleasant child!" Mamoru delivered another blow to the same side, making a large red blemish appear. It was already turning the colours that would show a bruise....
"You're a good for nothing father, Daddy. You don't deserve to be part of the army. The only person you can hurt is me! An eleven year-old kid! You're nothing but a coward! You--" Ryou's insults were cut off as his father struck him again, this time letting him go and watching him fly backwards into the sand with a 'bump'.
"Ryou!" I cry as I ran close to him. I have to get him out of here! This man's is dangerous! He looked at me, with is cheek turning purple and drawing blood, and shook his head. "What?! Get out of here!"
"If I don't make him mad, he'll get mad with mother...or Aria.....and I don't want them to get hurt." He mumbles. "If anything were to happen to them....I don't know what I'd do."
Ryou looks back to where his father was and sees that he now has a knife in hand. "You little devil! I hope the hells swallow you!" He pushed Ryou to the ground and moved the knife down his chest, staining his simple robe with red. Ryou's eyes were panicky; Mamoru must of never pulled a knife on him before.....He screamed and tried to push him off....But he was only eleven...he couldn't......and his father continued to press the knife deeper until he reached Ryou's belly button.
And I could only watch. I spun around to get away from Ryou's beating.....if I can even call it that. He continued to scream as I heard a loud thump. I peered over my shoulder to see that Mamoru was now working on Ryou's back. No!.....Poor boy....I could feel myself getting close to tears; no one deserves this....not even if they become someone like Yami Bakura....No one.
Finally, the screaming stopped....to be replaced with soft whimpers. "Stupid child...." The father stands and spits on Ryou's open wounds. Ryou hisses in pain as he tries to stand; his clothes barely retaining any of the dripping blood.
"Stupid bastard." Mamoru grunts as he goes to clean his knife. "I wasted my blade on you....." He appears to be more....relaxed?.....now that he has finished with Ryou......If I could, I would killed that man with all the strength I had. I walked over to Ryou who couldn't get up.
"Ryou?"
He sniffed and groaned in pain. "What?"
"Let me help you." I offer him a hand to get up and he takes it. He stumbles out of the room and into a doorway I've never seen. Inside are a bunch of oils and herbs scattered across the shelves and tables.....and his mother and Aria are waiting for him.
I waited outside the doorway until the two females were finished stitching him up. I saw Aria hold Ryou's hand the entire time; she was also holding him down as well. Poor boy, the stitches must have hurt a lot if he couldn't stay still.
Both of the females kissed him, and the mother whispered something in his ear that I did not pick up.
"I'll bring you dinner later, okay Ryou?" Aria looked at her brother with a sad smile.
Ryou, too weak for words nodded as the other two left. I entered the room. "Ryou, why?"
"Daddy is always mad when he gets home....if I make him hurt me, he'll have no anger left for mother and Aria...." He whispered between pained gasps.
I sat down beside him and held his shoulder. "Why don't you leave? Why don't you take your mother and Aria with you....away from him?"
Ryou shook his head. "Tried. He found us. That's the first time he hit mother and Aria....I vowed that it would be the last time."
I bowed my head in silence. The dog that had went outside during the whole ordeal entered the room and whined.
Ryou smiled. "Hey boy." He let his hand drop and the nameless dog licked his fingers. I looked at Ryou's small frame and I couldn't believe how many bruises he had on his chest and upper legs. Some were fresh and others were almost gone, but there were a lot of them, nonetheless.
"Ryou...." I stated sadly. "This is horrible."
He turned his attention away from the dog and back to me. "As long as he doesn't hurt Aria or mother, it is not horrible. As long as they are safe, they're worth all the pain in the world." He smiled at me, but he winced as his bruised cheek moved.
Silence followed. "You never told me your name." Ryou says, but he does not make eye contact; he continues to stare at the wall.
Should I tell him? If he becomes Yami Bakura, won't he despise me?
"What is your name?"
I breathed slowly. This was only a memory....he can not hurt me here. "My name is....Atemu."
----Elaya's POV----
Wee. This is fun. My eyes stare blankly at the scene in front of us. Sand. How marvelous.
"Uh, where to?" Joey asks.
Sands begin to blow in a swirl as a massive palace stands before us. "Here, I guess..." I mumble as I start to walk up the steps.....not to be followed. "Uh, guys? It's called 'walk-up-the-stairs'....Please tell me you know how to raise your legs..."
"E, I don't think walking into a castle that came outta thin air is a good idea." Joey explained.
"Well, where ELSE do you want to walk?" This was the only thing in this sandy area. "There?" I point behind us where large sand dunes stand.
"Yeah mutt. And while you're at it, why don't you build a sand castle or bury some bones you've been meaning to hide." Seto smirks, hands crossed over his chest.
Joey twitches, but lets the insult slide. This time.
I cough a bit, that cold is coming back. "Come on; let's just get in this place. Remember? The faster we get out of the memory, the faster we can find everyone else." I continue to climb the steps and am happy to hear footsteps following.
Just as I'm about to open the door of this place, Joey cries, "GAH! Don't!"
I sigh. "Why not?"
"I think we should all open it together. Just in case we don't get separated into other worlds when we open it at different times....you know?" Joey explains, climbing the rest of the steps and walking towards me.
I nod. He's right. It IS better to stay in numbers. "Okay." We both wait for Seto to come. "Ready?" I ask, looking at them.
All three of us grab the door handle and pull.
"Priest Seth! I demand you tell me where Jouonuchi is!" Next thing I know, we're in some sort of hallway.
"You cannot demand anything of me." A voice that sounds like Seto's declares.
"Uh, guys? What's going on?" Joey asks, head bouncing from one side to the next. "Where are those voices coming from?!"
A small doorway appeared as two figures walked out. Hey! It's Justi and Priest Seth! Seth is walking in front of Justi, trying to get away from her I guess.
"You know where he is, don't you?" Justi asked coolly. She stopped in her tracks, folded her arms in her arms in front of her chest and waited. Seth turned around and glared. "Even if I did, WHICH I do not, why would I tell you anyway?"
"Who's this 'Jouonuchi' character that Elaya's asking about?" Joey asked out loud.
"Joey, that girl isn't me. It's Justi, the spirit within the Scales." I explained.
"Here we go with that magic mumbo-jumbo." Seto mumbles. I guess he doesn't get the fact that HIS past-self is standing with mine....
"OH! Like Yugi and his Yami, right?"
"Yeah."
Joey stopped for a moment "Is that Jouonuchi guy, me?"
"Yeah."
"COOL! I have a 'Yami' too!" Joey was thrilled. I wonder what would happen if he had an Item...
"Priest Seth....Tell. Me. Where. He. Is!" Justi twitched, saying each word slow.
"I told you I don't know."
"Tell me you Ra-foresaken bast--!"
"--Bite your tongue! You may be Atem's wife to be, but your stature is still lower than mine."
Justi smiled. "Bastard."
"Hey! Elaya! Is that guy me?!" Joey asks, pointing to a figure further down the corridor with blonde hair and brown eyes.
I nod, but continue to watch. I guess Justi has not realized that Jou was near by.
Priest Seth walked right up in front of Justi, looking down at her, but said nothing.
"Seth, I don't know what happened to you, but I don't like it." Justi states. "You don't like me, you don't like Atemu......I don't like it."
"Too bad." Priest Seth mutters coldly.
"Justi?" A slightly timid voice called out.
Justi turned towards the direction of the voice. "Jou! Where have you been?!" She pulled her dress up a bit so she could run to him. She hugged him tightly. "Dear Ra, I was so worried about you....I have not heard from you in seven sun-downs...."
I heard Jou gasp in pain. Oh shit. What's wrong with Jou?!
"Jou? What's wrong?" Justi asked. "Was I hugging too hard?" She put on a smile to lighten the situation.
"It must be the cuts he got from being a disobedient slave-boy." Seth said, grinning ever so lightly.
Seto started to chuckle. "What's so funny, rich-boy?!" Joey glared.
"It's probably just me, but I find it funny that YOU were one of MY servants, mutt."
Joey slumped. Poor guy.....I hope this memory finishes on a happy note. I blinked once to find myself hugging Jou. Huh? How'd I get here?
[Elaya? What's going on?] Joey's voice entered my head.
[Why am I in the clothes of Priest Seth?] Seto asks me. Are we inside the bodies of our past-selves? Oh no. I've got two teenage boys who hate each other in my head and I'm all out of drowsy cough medicine.
I hope this memory ends soon.....
-----
[1] Pharaoh Akunumkanon, I THINK, was Atemu's dad....The Pharaoh before him....If anyone can prove otherwise, please tell me and I'll change it.
Alright! Done!
Hope you guys covered your eyes during Ryou's memory (sorry sorry sorry).....That part was just showing WHY Ryou does not like his dad. Interesting thought: Now three guys have problems with their dads; Kaiba, Joey and Yami Bakura.....
Anyway, the plot thickens! Muah ha ha ha!
For some fun..... COMING UP NEXT CHAPTER: Téa's memory, Pegasus' memory, Ryou's memory!
PLEASE REVIEW!
If you have the time, PLEASE REVIEW!
WARNING: This chappie contains A LOT of violence....I mean like, A LOT....so, if you have a squirmy stomach, skip over the parts that are uncomfortable!
A/N: Yeah, this new editing system does not allow me to put the stars and the swirly lines whenever I have a POV change....So, unfortunately, I'll be using '---' instead...Boring, I know.... (unless..)...OH! And, I've figured out how to use bold and italics too!
If you have any ideas for memories, please leave them in the review!
Chapter #20: Tinged Red
-----Justi's POV-----
The blade stops poking at my neck as it is drawn above......I know that it will come back down with more force.....
I clench my eyes tighter, praying for a miracle. If I had my sword I could.......I could recover.....Why does it have to be so far away? Please, I need you!
I felt a handle rush into my hands. My sword! I could sense my opponent dropping his sword, so I swung my arm over stopping his stab and holding his sword in mid-air. The crowd gasped at my recovery, but cheered loudly.
I was still on the ground, on my back now, and struggling to get back up. I pushed with my might and the sword glowed. A white film ran across the blade as it pushed the man and his sword back, allowing me to get up.
"You got lucky there!" The man shouts at me. "But, I'm getting this title!"
That voice.....so familiar....
Even though I was trying to match a voice to a face, my body in the past was already charging towards him. Our swords locked again with a loud 'clang'. Over and over again, the blades locked with each other as neither of us were getting a solid attack. The crowds cheered loudly....
He swung his sword at me and I narrowly escaped a slash across my unprotected torso. My silver armour lay scattered on the floor of the arena. With the distance between us, I charged as fast as my legs would carry and by the look in his eyes tells me that I went faster than he expected.
The blade got right underneath the buckles of his helmet and tore them off. Hmph. Without any head protection, he'll surrender for sure. He'd be crazy to continue with nothing covering his neck or face. This match is over!
His body flew backwards from the hit and his helmet flew off. I knew I didn't touch the skin because my blade was still clean.
My opponent lay on the ground for a few moments, in shock I guess. He narrowly escaped the slitting of his own throat. I smirked under my helmet seeing him place a palm over his neck to check for bleeding.
He didn't find any obviously.
Keeping my voice as deep as I could I shout out, "Get up and fight." I point my sword out towards him and wait for him to stand. I couldn't expose that I was female or I'd be thrown out of the tournament and not to mention bring 'shame' to my family. I came into this tournament because I wanted to prove that anyone can make it as anything they want, especially women. The injustice must have driven me to this battle some 3 000 years ago.....And it still does.
He slowly stands. My eyes widened underneath my helmet.....As his face is exposed.
"Jouonuchi!" I whispered in a gasp. But how? Why?! Why am I fighting my best friend? He must have joined the tournament for a job of high ranks.....Jou was always a good fighter.... Oh no! His cheek is bleeding....the metal must have cut it....He's glaring at me, teeth clenched.
He charges at me. He still wants to fight me? I block with my sword easily, but he continues to press down on me, still very angry. I push him off with some effort, but I continue to look sad. What lengths will I go to win this tournament?
Jou staggers backwards a bit; he's tired and breathing heavily. The blood from his cheek has continued to fall....Yet, he resumes his position with his body on an angle towards me with one knee bent.
What lengths will Jou go to win if he does not know it is me he is fighting?
----Atem's POV----
"Ryou! Aria! Get in the house! Darkness falls!" A loud deep voice comes from their home; it must be the father....or another sibling Yami Bakura has failed to mention to us....
Both of the children stop playing for a moment before giving each other saddened looks. Instead of running into the house energetically, both of them walked very slowly.
"Ryou, what's wrong?" I ask him, walking beside him into the hut.
"Daddy's home." He whispers sadly.
His father stood tall in the doorway with short gray hair and dark tanned skin. His face was etched with lines of frustration, anger and somewhat of impatience.....He carried was appeared to be....armour?
"Father, what's that?" Aria asked, pointing to the shining piece of metal.
The dad smirked, but the features of his face were still holding those emotions..... "I've been selected as the newest member of the Pharaoh Akunumkanon's [1] army! I'll be bringing in the bread from now on!"
Pharaoh Akunumkanon? Was he the Pharaoh before me? My father?
Ryou's mother, after some difficulty, found her husband and hugged him. "Oh, Mamoru! Thank Ra!"
I look back at the two siblings, but neither of them has made a move to congratulate their father. Didn't the mother say the dad was out of work? Wouldn't this be good news? Now, they have money for food!
"Aria! Ryou! Aren't you happy?!" The mother cried happy, looking--well, sort of--at them.
Yet, they refused to move.
"Now the Pharaoh is just giving Daddy another reason to carry a weapon." Ryou spat. I hate to say it, but that sounds more like the Yami Bakura I know..... "I'm not sure what good that will do..."
His mother looked at him, then back at his father who was glaring at his son. He was angry, I could tell, but Mamoru made no move.
"Aria, come with me to sweep and set up for dinner." The mother said slowly. She reached out her hand to grasp Aria, but she missed by a couple of feet. Aria quickly grabbed her mother's hand and led her out of the room. I looked at Ryou who was glaring at his father, dark brown eyes narrowed slightly, lips in a tight line. The dog that was sleeping earlier sensed some tension and trotted outside.
Aria looked at Ryou and had a sad face. She kissed him on the cheek, and that did not faze Ryou's face for a moment. After both females left the room, Mamoru advanced on his son.
"Who the hell do you think you are, boy?!" He shouted, grabbing Ryou by the collar. "I go out and get this family a job and what do you have to show for it?! I am give you food....I give you a house to live in....and what do you have to show for it?! Nothing! You just insult me!" A hand was raised and it came in contact with Ryou's pale cheek...the same place Aria kissed it.
Ryou's hair got tousled as his head snapped to the right from the force of the blow. The father held on to him, not letting go...yet.
"Stop this!" I cried as I come between the two. I grab Mamoru's arm...just to go right through it. "What?"
Ryou looked up at me, his face still in the turned position from the smack. "Daddy can't see you...You can't touch him."
"You stupid unpleasant child!" Mamoru delivered another blow to the same side, making a large red blemish appear. It was already turning the colours that would show a bruise....
"You're a good for nothing father, Daddy. You don't deserve to be part of the army. The only person you can hurt is me! An eleven year-old kid! You're nothing but a coward! You--" Ryou's insults were cut off as his father struck him again, this time letting him go and watching him fly backwards into the sand with a 'bump'.
"Ryou!" I cry as I ran close to him. I have to get him out of here! This man's is dangerous! He looked at me, with is cheek turning purple and drawing blood, and shook his head. "What?! Get out of here!"
"If I don't make him mad, he'll get mad with mother...or Aria.....and I don't want them to get hurt." He mumbles. "If anything were to happen to them....I don't know what I'd do."
Ryou looks back to where his father was and sees that he now has a knife in hand. "You little devil! I hope the hells swallow you!" He pushed Ryou to the ground and moved the knife down his chest, staining his simple robe with red. Ryou's eyes were panicky; Mamoru must of never pulled a knife on him before.....He screamed and tried to push him off....But he was only eleven...he couldn't......and his father continued to press the knife deeper until he reached Ryou's belly button.
And I could only watch. I spun around to get away from Ryou's beating.....if I can even call it that. He continued to scream as I heard a loud thump. I peered over my shoulder to see that Mamoru was now working on Ryou's back. No!.....Poor boy....I could feel myself getting close to tears; no one deserves this....not even if they become someone like Yami Bakura....No one.
Finally, the screaming stopped....to be replaced with soft whimpers. "Stupid child...." The father stands and spits on Ryou's open wounds. Ryou hisses in pain as he tries to stand; his clothes barely retaining any of the dripping blood.
"Stupid bastard." Mamoru grunts as he goes to clean his knife. "I wasted my blade on you....." He appears to be more....relaxed?.....now that he has finished with Ryou......If I could, I would killed that man with all the strength I had. I walked over to Ryou who couldn't get up.
"Ryou?"
He sniffed and groaned in pain. "What?"
"Let me help you." I offer him a hand to get up and he takes it. He stumbles out of the room and into a doorway I've never seen. Inside are a bunch of oils and herbs scattered across the shelves and tables.....and his mother and Aria are waiting for him.
I waited outside the doorway until the two females were finished stitching him up. I saw Aria hold Ryou's hand the entire time; she was also holding him down as well. Poor boy, the stitches must have hurt a lot if he couldn't stay still.
Both of the females kissed him, and the mother whispered something in his ear that I did not pick up.
"I'll bring you dinner later, okay Ryou?" Aria looked at her brother with a sad smile.
Ryou, too weak for words nodded as the other two left. I entered the room. "Ryou, why?"
"Daddy is always mad when he gets home....if I make him hurt me, he'll have no anger left for mother and Aria...." He whispered between pained gasps.
I sat down beside him and held his shoulder. "Why don't you leave? Why don't you take your mother and Aria with you....away from him?"
Ryou shook his head. "Tried. He found us. That's the first time he hit mother and Aria....I vowed that it would be the last time."
I bowed my head in silence. The dog that had went outside during the whole ordeal entered the room and whined.
Ryou smiled. "Hey boy." He let his hand drop and the nameless dog licked his fingers. I looked at Ryou's small frame and I couldn't believe how many bruises he had on his chest and upper legs. Some were fresh and others were almost gone, but there were a lot of them, nonetheless.
"Ryou...." I stated sadly. "This is horrible."
He turned his attention away from the dog and back to me. "As long as he doesn't hurt Aria or mother, it is not horrible. As long as they are safe, they're worth all the pain in the world." He smiled at me, but he winced as his bruised cheek moved.
Silence followed. "You never told me your name." Ryou says, but he does not make eye contact; he continues to stare at the wall.
Should I tell him? If he becomes Yami Bakura, won't he despise me?
"What is your name?"
I breathed slowly. This was only a memory....he can not hurt me here. "My name is....Atemu."
----Elaya's POV----
Wee. This is fun. My eyes stare blankly at the scene in front of us. Sand. How marvelous.
"Uh, where to?" Joey asks.
Sands begin to blow in a swirl as a massive palace stands before us. "Here, I guess..." I mumble as I start to walk up the steps.....not to be followed. "Uh, guys? It's called 'walk-up-the-stairs'....Please tell me you know how to raise your legs..."
"E, I don't think walking into a castle that came outta thin air is a good idea." Joey explained.
"Well, where ELSE do you want to walk?" This was the only thing in this sandy area. "There?" I point behind us where large sand dunes stand.
"Yeah mutt. And while you're at it, why don't you build a sand castle or bury some bones you've been meaning to hide." Seto smirks, hands crossed over his chest.
Joey twitches, but lets the insult slide. This time.
I cough a bit, that cold is coming back. "Come on; let's just get in this place. Remember? The faster we get out of the memory, the faster we can find everyone else." I continue to climb the steps and am happy to hear footsteps following.
Just as I'm about to open the door of this place, Joey cries, "GAH! Don't!"
I sigh. "Why not?"
"I think we should all open it together. Just in case we don't get separated into other worlds when we open it at different times....you know?" Joey explains, climbing the rest of the steps and walking towards me.
I nod. He's right. It IS better to stay in numbers. "Okay." We both wait for Seto to come. "Ready?" I ask, looking at them.
All three of us grab the door handle and pull.
"Priest Seth! I demand you tell me where Jouonuchi is!" Next thing I know, we're in some sort of hallway.
"You cannot demand anything of me." A voice that sounds like Seto's declares.
"Uh, guys? What's going on?" Joey asks, head bouncing from one side to the next. "Where are those voices coming from?!"
A small doorway appeared as two figures walked out. Hey! It's Justi and Priest Seth! Seth is walking in front of Justi, trying to get away from her I guess.
"You know where he is, don't you?" Justi asked coolly. She stopped in her tracks, folded her arms in her arms in front of her chest and waited. Seth turned around and glared. "Even if I did, WHICH I do not, why would I tell you anyway?"
"Who's this 'Jouonuchi' character that Elaya's asking about?" Joey asked out loud.
"Joey, that girl isn't me. It's Justi, the spirit within the Scales." I explained.
"Here we go with that magic mumbo-jumbo." Seto mumbles. I guess he doesn't get the fact that HIS past-self is standing with mine....
"OH! Like Yugi and his Yami, right?"
"Yeah."
Joey stopped for a moment "Is that Jouonuchi guy, me?"
"Yeah."
"COOL! I have a 'Yami' too!" Joey was thrilled. I wonder what would happen if he had an Item...
"Priest Seth....Tell. Me. Where. He. Is!" Justi twitched, saying each word slow.
"I told you I don't know."
"Tell me you Ra-foresaken bast--!"
"--Bite your tongue! You may be Atem's wife to be, but your stature is still lower than mine."
Justi smiled. "Bastard."
"Hey! Elaya! Is that guy me?!" Joey asks, pointing to a figure further down the corridor with blonde hair and brown eyes.
I nod, but continue to watch. I guess Justi has not realized that Jou was near by.
Priest Seth walked right up in front of Justi, looking down at her, but said nothing.
"Seth, I don't know what happened to you, but I don't like it." Justi states. "You don't like me, you don't like Atemu......I don't like it."
"Too bad." Priest Seth mutters coldly.
"Justi?" A slightly timid voice called out.
Justi turned towards the direction of the voice. "Jou! Where have you been?!" She pulled her dress up a bit so she could run to him. She hugged him tightly. "Dear Ra, I was so worried about you....I have not heard from you in seven sun-downs...."
I heard Jou gasp in pain. Oh shit. What's wrong with Jou?!
"Jou? What's wrong?" Justi asked. "Was I hugging too hard?" She put on a smile to lighten the situation.
"It must be the cuts he got from being a disobedient slave-boy." Seth said, grinning ever so lightly.
Seto started to chuckle. "What's so funny, rich-boy?!" Joey glared.
"It's probably just me, but I find it funny that YOU were one of MY servants, mutt."
Joey slumped. Poor guy.....I hope this memory finishes on a happy note. I blinked once to find myself hugging Jou. Huh? How'd I get here?
[Elaya? What's going on?] Joey's voice entered my head.
[Why am I in the clothes of Priest Seth?] Seto asks me. Are we inside the bodies of our past-selves? Oh no. I've got two teenage boys who hate each other in my head and I'm all out of drowsy cough medicine.
I hope this memory ends soon.....
-----
[1] Pharaoh Akunumkanon, I THINK, was Atemu's dad....The Pharaoh before him....If anyone can prove otherwise, please tell me and I'll change it.
Alright! Done!
Hope you guys covered your eyes during Ryou's memory (sorry sorry sorry).....That part was just showing WHY Ryou does not like his dad. Interesting thought: Now three guys have problems with their dads; Kaiba, Joey and Yami Bakura.....
Anyway, the plot thickens! Muah ha ha ha!
For some fun..... COMING UP NEXT CHAPTER: Téa's memory, Pegasus' memory, Ryou's memory!
PLEASE REVIEW!