Introduction

Hey, this is Lancer Monna and MozartzBallad!

Sorry for the long wait, but both of us needed to regroup in order to make this fic work and plus we wanted a darker fic so we hope that the direction that we're taking is the right one. Anyway, we are continuing this series so please bare with us. Thanks

Disclaimer: Lancer Monna or MozartzBallad do not own or have rights to the characters from Yu-Gi-Oh! They unfortunately belong to their owners especially Takahashi Kazuki. However, they do have the ability to use the characters in anyway that they choose. They also, however, own any of the original characters mention herein. Thank You.

WARNING: Yaoi, Adult Language, Angst, AU, Gore, Psychological, Implied sexual content, Death, Tea bashing


Author's Note: This chapter has 3rd P.O.V. and the characters may or will be OOC whichever comes first. Also be aware that there may be a few sentences that contain curse words.

Now on to the fic! -


Das goldene Zeitalter des Grotesken (The Golden Age of Grotesque)

Chapter 2 : The Darkness Within

"Can't, fall, asleep. . ."

Heavily drooped lids twitched on their own accord as a young man sat drooped over his desk with his head sagging forward in weariness. He was trying to study from his opened text book; however, his efforts would be in vain. His deprived body yearned for sleep, in fact, it craved it. But in spite of all this, his mind and rapidly beating heart remained driven, determinedly focused on one goal:

"Can't, . . . fall-" Body giving out, his head banged hard against the oak wood desk, his vision blurring for the fourth time that night.

On numerous attempts for the past three nights, he had tried to sleep, but whenever he drifted off, visions of his murder kept popping into his head. Each and every dream was completely different from the last. At times, he was killed by decapitation, or drowning; other times he was hung, and yet, each time as his vision faded to black and his last breath passed through his dying lips, a young man would always be there looking at him, eagerly watching and waiting for him to meet his maker. The purple-eyed teen shivered uncontrollably while pulling his knees against his chest, resting his feet against the edge of his chair. He couldn't help himself and felt powerless as he continued to rock back and forth. The sudden rattling of garbage tins and the creaking of old rusted gates outside his bedroom window nearly gave him a heart attack.

For you see, there was a creepiness about the sounds that were made at night, an eeriness that frightened the teen tremendously. Especially the shadows which had their own peculiar way about spooking him. All of them, somehow or another, connected back to his. Each silhouette contorted itself, elongating and warping themselves into the blades and countless bodies of the grim reapers. The teen watched as the forms moved along the walls and lurked in the darkened corners of his bedroom laughing at him, mocking him. They were plotting against him, waiting for the right time to strike when the teen least expected it.

The creepy noises of the tree limbs as they scratched along the windows added to his already present turmoil. Sometimes the scratches were faint: a soft tapping against the windowpane; a light rustling of the leaves as the wind blew past; a minor scrape of the limbs on the glass here and there. But there were other times where the noises were disturbingly earsplitting, almost as if the trees were scratching their nails crudely against the glass on purpose. As if they were banging their arms, pounding angrily against the roof tops which matched the pounding of his rapidly beating heart.

A cold chill trickled down his spine as he frantically scratched the raised goose bumps crawling about his skin. The abrupt slamming of the window shutters forced a shriek past of his pale tinted lips. He lost his balance and he and the chair toppled backwards onto the creaking hardwood floor.

The groaning of the attic beams and the scrapping sounds of nails scurrying about behind the walls of his bedroom only added fuel to his rapidly growing hysteria. Scrambling onto his feet, the teen quickly righted the chair and squatted on the seat trembling in fear. He eyes darted about, peeking out from behind the barred frames of the back of his chair. He frantically looked around the room in a quest to find the source of his uneasiness only to have the shutters slam again. He scrambled to the foot of his bed hastily yanking the quilt over him like a cat clawing on the side of its favorite couch. He curled into a tight trembling ball willing himself to stay awake.


"Yuugi? Honey? . . .You don't look so well. . ."

Sugoroku looked up from his morning paper at his daughter-in-law's distressed whimper. His grandson's eyes were terribly blood shot with dark circles underneath; his skin was pale and drenched with sweat and his hands shook, twitching every so often. "My word, has he come down with the flu?" He moved from his chair towards his grandson reaching out to place the back of his hand against his forehead, but, Yuugi jerked backwards in fear.

Sugoroku frowned at his response. "It's as if he's seen a ghost." He whispered. He made an attempt to check his grandson's forehead again only to have Yuugi jump back yelping loudly as he pushed himself flush against the kitchen wall.

"I'm calling a doctor." Sakura knew in the back of her mind that something was very wrong as she rushed to the phone attached to the opposite wall. She just couldn't put her finger on it.. "Ah yes, I'm calling because I need to be seen immediately, . . .it's not me, it's my son."

Meanwhile, Sugoroku went to the cupboard and began making tea. He really wasn't too keen on taking medication, but he knew a thing or two when it came to calming nerves. He plopped the tea bag into the cup and poured the hot water in.

". . .hum, hold on please. Yuugi? I need for you to tell the nurse what's wrong." His mother said placing the phone gently to his ear.

"H, he, hello?"

"Hello Yuugi. This is Nurse Wendy from Doctor Taylor's office. I need for you to tell me what's bothering you."

At first he was hesitant. His eyes darted about the room looking a way out of the room. In his mind he wanted to run away, but couldn't; his body remained frozen to the chair. He watched as his grandfather placed the hot cup delicately in his hands, and his fingers start to curl around the curve of the cup one finger at a time. "I'm having these weird dreams." He began with the quivering of his voice matching the trembling of his hands with the hot water sloshing around the rim. "And when I wake up, I get pains all over." Both his mother and grandfather freaked as he broke the cup with his bare hands. "I feel cold at times, then, there are times when I feel like there is something crawling around inside of me." The shards cut into his flesh, embedding into his skin with the mixture of tea and blood dripping down his palms.

"What just happened? Yuu-"

The teen looked at his hands then at his grandfather who was frantically trying his best to pull out the shards. But Yuugi didn't feel any of it. No pain, no anger, sorrow or malice. It was as if he were watching a movie of himself.

"Hey, tell me...am I sleepwalking?" He asked in a faint whisper. Both his mother and grandfather look at him alarmed. "I hope not." He lips curve up slightly. "I don't wanna dream anymore."

Sakura immediately grabbed the phone and placed it to her ear as tears began to form in her eyes. "He just broke the coffee cup with his hands! My father is treating his wounds the best that he can. I really don't know what else to do."

"I'm afraid that we won't be able to treat your son's condition here Mrs. Mutou." She said after a long pause. "But what you can do for Yuugi is get a damp clean dish towel and insert it in his throat-"

"I don't know, if I-"

"Mrs. Mutou!!!" Nurse Wendy interrupted, "you need to do as I am instructing you to do before your son either bites or chokes on his tongue. And I highly suggest that you do this quickly."

"Moooorrrrn-." Yasu, Yuugi's father stopped dead in his tracks at the sight before him. "What's going on? What the hell happened in here?!"

"I don't know, but I'm just doing like the nurse said." Sakura cried frantically rushing to the cupboard. Under the nurses instructions, she told both men to hold Yuugi down as she struggled to get his mouth open then forced the cloth into his throat. "Now what do we do?" She cried out as Yuugi began to violently trash about kicking his mother's leg and flailing his arms about hitting his father and grandpa. "Ow! Yuugi stop it!"

"What's happening?"

"He's gone crazy!! He's violently kicking and punching us. "

"You are going to have to bind his arms and legs so that he doesn't hurt himself or endanger you any further." The mother rushes out of the room to find something strong enough. When she returned she found both her husband and her father-in-law desperately struggling to restrain Yuugi.

"Did you find anything, Sakura?" Yasu grunted barely missing a head-butt to his chin. He managed to spot the rope and towels in her hands. "Sakura!!" She began to panic, her eyes widened in fear at seeing her little boy being treated like a vicious wild animal. She slowly starts to back away. "What are you doing? Hand them over now!!!"

"Bu, . . .but. I don't want to hurt him anymore." She whimpered as her body trembled against the wooden cabinet. "My baby, my poor, poor baby!" Her fingers bunched into her hair while she began to cry.

"SAKURA!!!" Yuugi's mother immediately flinches at the sound of her husbands voice. Slowly she forces herself to look into his eyes.

"You want to get Yuugi better right?" Yasu grunted as he thankfully missed yet another head-butt to his cheek. "Than help us by handing over the ropes." She shook her head, trying to plead with her eyes, but the stern looks that both man gave her, forced her to do what she didn't want to. With their combined effort, all three adults manage to restrain Yuugi as quickly as possible.

Sugoroku sighed heavily in relief. "I'll go and start the car." He called as he made his way downstairs; while Yasu and Sakura struggled to haul Yuugi to the car with the teen kicking and fighting along the way. Yasu managed to open the backdoor to place Yuugi securely in the back seat with himself and grandpa while Sakura drove. "So, we're headed to Doctor Taylor's office?" Sugoroku asked as his daughter-in-law sped down the back roads.

Sakura shook her head. "No, the nurse said that they wouldn't be able to help him there." She closed her eyes for a bit trying to calm her nerves. "All I know is that when we get to Archers Lane, I have to make a right."


Corner of South Wind Parkway and Burlington Street


The air was very still this cold, frigid morning as Ryou briskly made is way to the train station earlier than usual, in hopes to seeing his best friend on the way to school. To be honest, he hasn't seen him for a least a good week and it was starting to worry him. This was completely unlike Yuugi. He never missed class unless he was sick and even then it was a little over a few days.

Closing his coat flaps tighter against his throat, he hurried down the stairs with this gnawing feeling that something was wrong, but he just couldn't put his finger on it. As he walked further down, he noticed that the underground platform was filling fast with the morning rush hour traffic. There were times where he thought he saw Yuugi only to find out that it wasn't him at all. "Where could he be?" He muttered clutching his book bag handle tightly. "I wonder if he's still mad at me?" The white haired teen's voice cracked as his mind began envisioning the worst that might have happened. "What, . . . What if he's really sick or worse yet, ill?" He clutched his chest as his heart began to hurt badly. If something were to happen to Yuugi - The door of the train opened and the crowd began spilling into it.

I have to go see him.

With every ounce of strength that he could muster, Ryou tried to force himself out of the rapidly packing train. "I'm getting off! Let me off!!" He cried practically shoving his way forcefully through the tightly packed crowd as someone dashed past him knocking him off balance back onto the train.

"Sorry about that."

Ryou's eyes widened as big as saucers. "Yuugi?!" He breathed. Out of the corner of his right eye he caught a glimpse of red, purple and gold moving to the next car. "WAIT!!" Ryou cried frantically trying his best to follow him.

Car after car, Ryou tried to catch up, but no matter how many times he yelled for him to wait, Yuugi would simply ignore him and act like Ryou wasn't even there. Finally he made it to the sliding doors that lead to the last car, "Yuug-"

"What the fuck ya want?" The other younger teen demanded glaring crossly at Ryou. "You have a problem or something?"

Standing there on the tiny ramp that connected the two cars together, Ryou could only manage to squeak out "Yuugi," . . .or at least that was what he thought was Yuugi.

"Do I look like a fucking 'Yuugi' to you?!" The other teen demanded darkly crossing his arms over his chest. Ryou quickly shook his head. "Well then, get lost and leave me the fuck alone!" The white haired teen stood there dumbfounded as the other teen yanked the door open to the final car, continuously glaring and cussing at him as he found a place to sit.

" What the hell just happened?" Ryou asked backing himself into the car that he came from. He forced himself as far way from the other teen as possible. "Yuugi, where are you?" He took an available overhead ring handle and clutched onto it till his knuckles turned completely white. He closed his eyes, trying to will his rapidly beating heart to slow to a more normal pace while his legs had given out.

Please do not let this day get any worse.


St. Joan Da Arc Court Yard


"Hey, did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"What do you mean what? The talk has been major news all over the court yard."

"Oh you mean about Mutou?"

Ryou's ears perked up for the first time since he dragged himself past the heavy, iron gothic gates. He looked for the source only to find a small group of girls looking back at him then quickly ran away after they realized that they were caught staring. He wanted to call out to them, to ask more about Yuugi but stopped himself. All around him, everyone was looking at him with mixtures of both curiosity and fright, and the more he would look to someone to tell him about the rumors that are spreading, the more they would back away from him. "Hey, . . .WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON AROUND HERE?!" Ryou finally yelled at his wits end.

He felt someone yank on his arm and pull him roughly towards the direction of the school. "Otogi, . . ." Ryou managed to gasp once he realized who it was that was pulling him so roughly. "What's going on? Why was everyo-"

"I take it you haven't seen nor heard from Yuugi either." Otogi said softly enough for only the two of them to hear. He checked around the room to make sure no one was there before entering. "Let's just put it like this, a lot of things have happened to the Mutou household that have caused a lot of nasty rumors to spread."

Ryou's eyes widened. "What kind of rumors?" When Otogi shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, the white haired teen feared for the worst. "What happened to Yuugi?"

"Again, I have absolutely no freaking clue. No one's talking and the ones that are talking are keeping it between themselves." He then looked Ryou square in the eye. "I was hoping that you would be able to tell me."

Ryou again shook his head. "I haven't heard from him since last week. I'm really worried Otogi. I've called his house but no one's home and even if I can catch them they aren't saying anything either." He slumps further into the chair. "I wonder what could have happened? Do you think that he's ill?"

The tall brunette sighs heavily shaking his head. "I hope not."

"You want to know what I think." Both Ryou and Otogi looked back towards the entrance to see another student leering back at them while leaning lazily against the once locked wood and iron door. "I think you know perfectly well what happened to him, Ryou."

"Insector Haga." Otogi growled out angrily. The damn worm doesn't know when to quit messing where he isn't wanted. "Just what exactly are you getting at? You trying to say that Ryou did something to Yuugi?"

The short green haired teen simply cackled. "Isn't it obvious? Everything points directly at albino boy in the dress." His smile grew wider while his eyes narrowed with a slightly dark glint. "There is no one else that fit's the crime besides him."

It all began to make sense now; the disgusted looks on everyone's faces, the fear that coursed through their eyes at the sight of Ryou, Haga's accusations . . .they were all accusing him of- "You actually think that I would . . .hurt Yuugi . . .don't you?"

Haga snickered, pushing his glasses up his nose. "You were the last student to be seen with him before his disappearance." Ryou gasped covering his mouth in shock. "It looks like my sources where right. In fact there's a rumor going around that you two had a vicious argument th-"

"Even if we did, I would never, and I mean EVER hurt Yuugi!!" Ryou yelled. He clutched his head in agony. "Why is this happening?" He whimpered as tears began to form in his eyes. He was so angry that he couldn't see straight.

"I really have no idea on what game you're trying to pull Haga," Otogi growled yanking the shorter elite member by the collar, "but trust me, it's not going to work."

The green haired teen continued to look at Otogi with a slightly miffed expression on his face before pompously slapping his senior's hand away from him. "Know your place." He said evenly between clinched teeth as he smoothed the various minor wrinkles from his collar. "I have just as much right to know the trust as everyone else . . .isn't that right Ryou?" He called over his shoulder. "Why won't you enlighten us on what really happened that day?" Ryou looked at Haga as if he were crazy. Still trying to play coy I take it? "Fine then, have it your way. Either you talk willingly or I'll just have to find interesting ways to make you."

Both Otogi and Ryou balked, both knowing full well that Haga meant business. "I, . . . I have to find Yuugi." Ryou blurted quickly dashing out of the room. He couldn't take it anymore. The look that Haga just gave him was enough to give him nightmares for years. He wanted nothing more than to get away from the worm as much as humanly possible; the sooner the better.

"We're not running away are we?" Haga called after the slamming door. Smiling to himself, the green haired teen pushed his metal bug shaped glasses back up the ridge of his pointy nose. Well then, this could get really interesting. He couldn't help the chuckle that was rumbling from the pit of his stomach. Instinct immediately told him that pursuit was the next thing for his investigation, however, his senior thought differently.

"Not so fast Haga." Otogi yanked on the closest arm that he could reach, pulling them back into the room. "I've heard a lot of interesting things about you." Haga arched his eyebrow and tilted his head to the side showing mock intrigue. "Your interest in bugs and your wannabe detective sleuthing, . . . normally no one would give a rats ass what you did, but this time," The dark brunette's eyes flared in anger twitching every now and again. "This time, you've gone way too fucking far."

Haga closed his eyes and chuckled deep within his throat. "What's wrong Otogi? To close for comfort?"

The last bit of reason that Otogi had was quickly banished as he slammed the younger teen hard against the door. "I am warning you Haga, leave Ryou alone or else." He growled yanking Haga off the floor by the collar in hopes of finding a way to get that sickening placid look off of that repulsive face.

"Awww. How sweet. " Braising himself against the door for added leverage, Haga raised his foot enough to kick the other teen off of him, making him crash into the desks behind him. "So sweet, it'll give me tooth decay." Looking down on his senior in satisfaction, he leaves the room laughing loudly to himself with Otogi sprawled haphazardly on the floor.


The halls of St. Janne Da Arc were unusually quieter than usual. In fact, what was most unusual was the fact that they were mostly empty. The massive bells for the clock tower have yet to toll and there was barely a person in site. This fact alone started to make Ryou uneasy as he ran full speed down the cold stone floored hall that was lined with massive rose windows. Almost missing his stop he slid almost slamming flush against the stone wall. He yanked open the door and called out, "Yuugi!" All the students that were in the room looked up at him in alarm. "Has anyone seen Yuugi?" All of the other people in the room stare at him blankly shaking their heads. Ryou's heart sank. "I see, he's not here either, . . . Okay thanks anyway." He muttered before continuing his desperate search.

A female student enters the room still looking at the retreating figure running down the hall. "Hey, wasn't that Bakura just now?" The group of students look at each other uneasily then back at girl who they now realize was Tea before nodding their heads in unison.

Tea leaned against the door frame grinning to herself while she continued to stare down the hall. "Makes you wonder doesn't it." The group of students look up at her expectantly. "So, just how much truth do you think is behind all of those nasty rumors? She drawled with her eyes shining with mischief as she plopped down in her seat. "You want to know?" Everyone crowded around her asking her all at once about what she knew. At first she played indifferent, but after a while she couldn't help herself. "Alright, listen up and listen well for I will only tell this once."


Still not having much luck in finding Yuugi, Ryou franticly continued his desperate search around the school; however, everywhere he searched had turned into one dead end after another and it was really starting to get the best of him. There was no other place that he could think to find him besides the music room. And if that failed then he would leave school and go to Yuugi's house demanding to see him. With that in mind he made his way past the central stairs when he saw a large crowd gathered staring at something with horror stricken faces. Blood started to slowly turn cold and drain away from Ryou's body as he was finally able to see the full image on the gigantic billboard. On it, was a massively blown up image of Yuugi sitting on a white bed in a white padded room, with his eyes dug out , a spoon stuck in his throat with writing on the wall behind him that read:

This is penance for Zelig's death. May his vengeful soul not rest until the debt has been paid.

:oBis zum nächsten Mal (Until Next Time)o: