DECLARAION- This story has been written and produced by Cathrath (FanFiction. net ID: 609465). Distribution of any kind is prohibited without the written consent of Cathrath. If you should see this story posted anywhere other than FanFiction .net or under any other name it has been stolen so please notify the author. I do not own Yu-gi-oh.
Chapter 15 – Past Tragedy
Yami knocked quietly at Ishizu's door but wasn't surprised when the door was swung open immediately.
"I've been expecting you," she said touching her millennium necklace and gestured for him to enter.
Yami followed her into the room and sat down in a tall chair beside her desk. The desk was overflowing with yellowed manuscripts written in a long forgotten language. Yami noticed that several of them bore the symbol of the millennium eye.
"You should be in bed," Ishizu scolded as she sat down in a chair opposite. However, her statement was said more out of habit than any real annoyance at Yami being up and about.
"So should you," Yami responded.
Ishizu looked tired and drawn. The events of the last few days had been particularly hard on her. She had taken the betrayal of her brother Marik badly.
"I guess we both should know better," she said with a weary chuckle.
Yami nodded and indicated to the pile of papers on the desk.
"Any luck?" he asked.
He knew Ishizu had upped her efforts in searching for an answer to their recent problems. Desperately looking through the old manuscripts she had brought back after her brief trip home. Trying to find some way to stop Seto, some way to defeat him once and for all. She shook her head.
"No, nothing. I've found a few references to the millennium items and a strange second power that some of them posses."
"Second powers? What does that mean?" Yami asked suddenly interested.
Ishizu shrugged.
"I don't know. If I understand the writings correctly these extra powers are some kind of failsafe. They can be activated should the original powers of the items be used for a purpose other than that which they were intended for but that's it. There is very little in the way of details."
Yami sighed.
"It's looking a bit hopeless isn't it," he said in a desolate voice.
Ishizu leaned back in her chair and tapped her fingers against her lips in thought.
"Maybe, but I'm not giving up just yet. There must be some way of defeating Seto."
She paused for a little while.
"I have to admit I'm worried. The more time we spend searching for answers the more time Seto has to free himself from the shadow realm. It would help if we knew where he plans to open the portal."
"I know where," Yami said quietly.
Ishizu leaned forward.
"You do? How?"
"Yugi told me."
Ishizu didn't say anything. She just closed her eyes and looked down at the floor. At that moment Yami knew Ishizu had been keeping something from him. He sat up quickly.
"You knew didn't you? You knew Yugi had been effected by the millennium items he had touched?"
Ishizu stayed silent.
"Ishizu, answer me," Yami said angrily.
She sighed heavily. Yes, she had been keeping things from Yami. She had thought it best at the time but now, after recent events, she wasn't sure that had been such a good idea. She lifted her face to Yami.
"No, I didn't know. Not until you told me just now but I feared it would happen."
"How do you mean? Explain," Yami demanded.
Ishizu looked at Yami seriously. Yes it was time to tell him. She should never have kept it from him in the first place. She took a deep breath and began to tell him everything.
"After you came back from the desert Yami you told me of what Seto had said concerning the altered prophecy. I did some more research and looked further back into the old manuscripts trying to find a reference to a time when this may have happened before. I don't know if you've noticed but it feels like time is repeating its self, like were stuck in a loop."
Yami nodded.
"It's one of the reasons I came to see you tonight."
He quickly began to reel off his list of repeated events. Ishizu nodded in agreement when he had finished.
"You're right except for one thing. This is not the first time this has happened. Yami you are not the first bearer of the millennium puzzle, there have been others. Many prophecies and many evils faced and destroyed. Several hundred years ago a similar event as that taking place now occurred. The then bearer fought as you did to seal away an evil that threatened the world. The difference this time being that he did not just seal the evil away he changed it, bound it in the form of a monster, before sealing it away in the shadow realm. The form he chose was that of a blue and white dragon."
Yami eyes widened in surprise at this.
"The Blue Eyes White Dragon! The monster Seto called forth in our duel at Hamet?"
Ishizu nodded again.
"Yes but I don't know how he did it. Seto always had some shadow powers, it went with his role as high priest but he was unskilled. Without the aid of a millennium item Seto should never have been able to call forth that particular monster. I don't think Seto summoned it. I think is decided to appear on its own."
"This is not filling me with confidence Ishizu," Yami said sarcastically.
She signed again. The worst was yet to come.
"There's more. The chosen one back then was also a close friend of the bearer, just as you and Yugi are. There has always been a special bond between the bearer and the chosen one. The bearer of this time also used the powers of the millennium puzzle to revive his friend after he died to fulfil the prophecy."
"So are you saying that the prophecy was altered in this time as well as our own? What Seto said is true?" Yami asked intrigued but with a slight feeling of uneasiness. If Seto had been right about that then how much more of what he had said was true.
"Yes," Ishizu replied.
Yami knitted his brow in confusion as he tried to make sense of what Ishizu was telling him.
"So what has all this to do with Yugi?" he asked.
Ishizu took a deep breath before continuing.
"The chosen one, as is happening now with Yugi, developed a connection with the millennium items. It started out with just the puzzle and then other items followed. The more items the chosen one touched the more powerful the connection became. To everyone's surprise he was able to use the items in the same way the bearer could and sense their presence whether they were close by or far away. They called out to him."
Yami glanced up at this. The items had 'called out'. It was just like Yugi had described. He began to listen more intently.
"The guardians and bearer of the time were concerned that the chosen one should have such an ability. However, before any further investigation could be carried out the evil that had been sealed in the shadow realm found a way to escape."
"This is sounding awfully familiar Ishizu."
Ishizu nodded wearily.
"I know but the worst is yet to come. The bearer and chosen one worked together to fight the evil but tragedy struck when the bearer was defeated in a duel. In order to save his friend the chosen one combined the power of the millennium items to seal the evil away in the shadow realm for good."
"This doesn't sound so bad but I can see a 'but' coming," Yami said gravely.
Ishizu stood up from her chair and moved towards the desk.
"The chosen once was never destined to wield the power of the millennium items, that task was for the bearer alone. The altered prophecy that allowed the chosen one to use the power had a deadly twist. The chosen one was possessed by the millennium items, by a consciousness no one had known existed. The items took control of the chosen ones mind and body."
Ishizu reached for a scroll, which had been placed to one side of the desk.
"The items were created to keep a balance between good and evil. If the items are used together the manuscripts talk of the bringing together of the pieces of a puzzle creating a single consciousness. When the bearer combines the power, the consciousness is controlled and contained but when combined in the wrong hands rather than controlling the items the items control them. I once used the word 'curious' to Yugi when I described what happened after he used the puzzle. It was this curiousness that nearly brought about the destruction of the very world the items had been created to protect. The seven millennium guardians exist for a purpose Yami, to keep the items separate and prevent them from combining into the evil force they could become. They cannot exist on their own. They need a living being to work through, the chosen one. If the chosen one dies as he should the chain is broken and these events can never come to pass."
She began to unroll the scroll in her hand for Yami to see.
"The bearer had no choice. In order to save the world from the very items created to save it he had to destroy the chosen one. He had to destroy his friend and reassert the balance."
Yami turned away feeling sick at the drawing on the scroll in front of him.
"He did that...Ra...I can't believe it...he did that to his friend."
Yami normally had a strong stomach but he took deep breaths to help the nausea he was feeling. The drawing had been very graphic as to what the bearer of the time had done to his friend. Ishizu sat back down, the scroll still in her hand.
"We must keep Yugi away from the other items. He has already come into contact with the puzzle and the rod. He must not touch any of the other remaining items."
Yami passed a shaky hand in front of his eyes as Ishizu continued.
"Yami, If Yugi comes into contact with any more items you may have to destroy him."
Yami's head shot up at this His eyes wide in shock at the coldness of Ishizu's tone as she made the terrible statement.
"NEVER," he shouted.
Ishizu's looked at the horror and despair in Yami's eyes. When she next spoke it was in a much gentler voice.
"You must. If the items possess Yugi he could destroy the world. Yami you have a responsibility, as bearer of the millennium puzzle, to safeguard the world from evil just as your ancestors have done before you."
Yami stood.
"Where are you going?" Ishizu asked quickly. Fearful of what Yami would do now he knew the truth.
"To stop Seto. I understand my responsibilities Ishizu. I always have but I will not, cannot hurt Yugi. There is only one choice left. I know where Seto is attempting to break through and I must make sure I can either prevent it or be there to defeat him again. Once and for all this time."
Ishizu stood and moved in front of Yami to block his exit as he moved towards the door.
"Yugi must stay here. If he comes with us he may come in contact with other millennium items. Whilst they are in possession of the guardians there should be no danger to him but I don't know how strong their control over him is yet. It would be safer to leave him here."
Yami nodded in agreement. Ishizu's voice was grave when she next spoke.
"Yami, without the millennium puzzle this is going to be difficult for you."
Yami bowed his head and clenched his fist at his side.
"I know but even without the puzzle's power to boost my strength I have enough to call on the powers of the shadow realm."
"Are you sure?"
Yami laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Yes, I'm sure. I will not fail."
He stepped around Ishizu and moved once more towards the door. He turned to look back at her.
"Come, we must gather the remaining guardians together. We have a long journey ahead of us."
Wow, heavy chapter. Lots of explanations here so I hope it all made sense. Needless to say were building up to the climax but don't worry there are still plenty of chapters to go.
If anyone's confused and needs something clarifying let me know either through review or e-mail (address can be found in my bio) and I will try and help out but hopefully I've covered a lot above. More will become clear in later chapters.
Hope everyone is still enjoying this fic and cheers for all the great reviews. Keep them coming. One more and I level with my first story. (Very excited by this -) ).