Dreams Of Angels

Pan: That which is written in italics for this chapter is Yami's thoughts (except the first bit. That's Yami's thoughts too, but too much italics pisses me off).

Angel Reaper: hands over Youkai and Tenshi plushies Here, huggle these. I need to use the real ones for a while yet. And they're not dying anytime soon. And don't worry... whispers Ya-chan will soon be free, and Kahi will be gone. But the story doesn't end there, oh no, no, no!

S.Chensu and Luff (well, Luff at least): I know, I know, I should really update A Summer Dream and Mou Hitori no Boku! It's just I've kinda got a writer's block on both of them ( and any other unfinished fanfics I've got) so I'm concentrating on this until I get some good ideas for those. And I am four months older than you! My birthday is on 25th December. Heh. Thanks for your emails too! And the idea of controlling with white came from when I used to RP on Neopets, playing two characters named Yami Kage and Hikari Sama.

On with the fic!

=== --(I had to change my part breakers because of ff.net's new Quickedit thingy!)

You don't know what it's like to see through eyes that aren't yours. You don't know what it's like to hear with ears that aren't yours. The best way I can explain it... it's like watching a very small, black-and-white television, with the sound turned down.

You also don't know what it's like to be incarcerated in white. I expect you don't know why it's so bad, so I'd better explain. You see, if your soul errs on the side of darkness, however slight, the colour white can be used to control you. It's a very ancient magic, which existed even before shadow magic. If a dark soul is clothed from head to foot in pure white robes, then they are at the mercy and command of the person who caught them. This happens to be why so many school uniforms have white shirts, though nearly everybody has forgotten the actual reason. And yes, I do have a slightly darker soul.

Then there's the Youkai Karyuudo - the Demon Hunters. They started up after the very first demons were released from the shadows. They capture demons (and darkers) with Capture Arrows, or ShadowSoul Arrows. The demons are then destroyed, and the darkers put to use - which is what they are trying to do with me. The leader of the Karyuudo believe that there should be no balance - light and angels should prevail, and there should be no sign of darkness anywhere. Very stupid, if you ask me, since light can't exist without darkness, but I'm in no position to argue.

Every so often, Kahi stops by to gloat. I'd kill her if I could, but if I even tried, she could command me to drop dead first, and dead I'd be. She likes to command me to speak my mind. Whenever she does, I just spurt out the kind of crap she wants to hear. That my friends will find me, and then she'd be sorry, yadda yadda. In truth... I'm not so sure they can find me. I don't like to doubt Yugi and the others... but the Karyuudo are very clever at hiding. I have first hand experience of this; they were disliked in Egypt, because they kept destroying people's demon friends and protectors from the shadows. I ended up having to decree demon destroying illegal (except in duels, when they aren't really destroyed anyways), and then having to search them out. Every shadow creature in my deck sought for them, but none could find them, and it is not an easy task to hide from a shadow creature.

So, for now, I am resigned to waiting, and getting myself lost in memories. I miss Yugi. I want him here with me... I keep thinking that, and then deciding, no, maybe not. Oh... Yugi...

Ah, and here's the bitch again, ready to command me to do that which I would rather not. Oh joy of all joys.

===

"Get up, doll." Kahi said. Yami rose to his feet slowly. She smirked. "Our plan is to be put into action."

Our? OUR? Excuse me, but I fail to see what changes 'my' into 'our' here.

"You see, from my visions into your mind, however strong your defences are, especially when it comes to your past, Atemu," She said his name in a jeering fashion.

Use that name again, and I kill you.

"I have discovered your itty bitty little boyfriend's weakness. And I bet you'll love it when I tell you that it's YOU."

You know, I have lived in his mind for several years, and then with him for at least one now. You don't get that close to a person without knowing stuff about them. Not that you'd understand, Miss Karyuudo. Oh, and he is NOT 'itty bitty'!

"And so, I shall force him into turning over the demon by holding you for ransom. To start with." Kahi continued. She smiled darkly. "Atemu,"

Right, that's it. You just wait until I get free.

"Call your house. Speak to Yugi. Speak: 'Yugi, it's me, Yami. The Karyuudo are holding me captive. If you don't come to Domino Pier at midnight tonight with Youkai, they will kill me.' Then, hang up immediately. Do not allow him to reply. Now, go." Kahi ordered with a distinct air of one who believes they are greater than others. Yami took the mobile phone she handed him. He slowly dialled the number of the Kame Game Shop, and put the phone to his ear.

I'm sorry, Yugi, so sorry...

Almost robotically, he said the words Kahi had told him to when Yugi answered. Without hesistation, he hung up.

I will die. They will kill me. By midnight, Youkai will be gone.

===

Yugi returned the phone to its base on the table. He sighed, and looked up at Youkai. "Th-They'll kill him." he said, shaking. Youkai looked surprised. "Why!?" he asked. Yugi sobbed quietly. "They want me to take you to the pier at midnight tonight, but by then, you'll be gone!" he said hysterically. "And if we don't go, they will kill Yami! It's not fair!"

Youkai bit his lip. "W-well..." he said nervously. "If I took over your body, I'd have an extra day..." The words were spoken quietly. Yugi looked at him with teary eyes. "How would that help?" he asked, anger leaking into his sad voice. "If they release Yami first, and take me with a ShadowSoul..." Youkai said, disliking the idea more for every second he spoke of it. "...arrow, then I'd be gone, but Yami would be free..."

Yugi frowned. "You're my friend. I don't want to lose you either. And Yami wouldn't want you to give up for him." he said. Golden words glistened in his mind as he suddenly solved the riddle the Puzzle had given him. "The one of pure heart returns the Puzzle to the one of golden heart..." he said. "Tenshi told me there were words missing!" His face lit up, tears drying. "If I give the Puzzle back to Yami, that will free him!" "That may work..." Youkai said. "But we need a way to give it to him. We need a plan."

"Bakura's sneaky. He can help." Yugi said, almost bursting with excitement. Youkai laughed, and Yugi joined him, his voice splitting into two different tones as Tenshi giggled in the recesses of his mind.

===

Midnight came around all too soon. Yugi shivered in the chill night air, as he walked to the end of the pier, alone. Or seemingly alone. He wrapped his arms around his body, and looked out over the dark waters, listening to the steady movement of the waves. The last time he had been here, the water had glistened golden with the light from the setting sun, instead of the gleaming silver the moon tinted the waves with, and he had been wrapped in someone else's arms, instead of his own.

Yugi turned at the sound of footsteps behind him. Cloaked in dark blue, Kahi smirked at him, her blonde hair shining in the dim light. "So, you came, Yugi." she said, in superior tones. "Where is the demon?" Her eyes cast about for the shadowy form she had expected. "Er... I-I..." Yugi stuttered. Convincingly, could be added, as this was part of their plan.

"Tell me now, boy!" Kahi said impatiently. "You know the consequences if you have not forfilled my demands. Doll!" She turned her head as she called the last word. The white robes that covered Yami glowed in the moonlight as he walked towards them. "Look up!" Kahi commanded. Yugi gasped as dull red eyes met his own, expressionless, emotionless eyes, that seemed to see striaght through Yugi, and out beyond the waters. "Where is the demon?" Kahi asked again. "If I command him to die, he will die." she added.

Yugi shook with anger, fists clenched tight, as he looked at Kahi furiously. "Last time, boy!" she said. "Where is the demon?" Yugi took a deep breath, and shouted. "In me!" Kahi was surprised by the outburst, but already the kanji for 'Youkai' had etched itself beneath Yugi's feet. In a swirl of purple light, Youkai's bat-like wings exploded out from Yugi's shoulders, and Youkai looked at Kahi with his deep, blood red eyes.

"Here I am, Karyuudo." he said harshly. "Let Yami go." Kahi smiled at him in a sickly sweet manner. "You are turning yourself over freely, demon?" she inquired. Youkai scowled at her. "I am doing this to free Yami." he said quietly. "Ah! So it's a noble act, then? How... uncharacteristic of a demon. No matter." Kahi smirked. "You have evaded us for a long time, demon. You are one of the last. I believe that there are only two more after you... but then we shall begin to take out the darkers." "Shut up, and get this over with." Youkai said.

"Whatever you say, demon... By the way, it shall be Yami who destroys you. I cannot be bothered to wash your tainted blood form my hands tonight. Doll!" Kahi smiled. Yami stepped forward, moving his hands forward so that Youkai could see the dagger held in them.

"Yami! The Karyuudo command you! Destroy the demon!"