I don't own Yugioh.
Chapter 23
"How are you doing?" Yugi called behind him where Yami sat.
"I told you that I'm all better now," Yami laughed, "Just fine! But you should what about you?"
Yugi winced, feeling his body already weakening from having the Curse of Dragon out for so long. The two were riding away from the town they had stayed at in Canada where they had ended up, and were heading towards Morocco on Africa over the water. They had taken a ferry boat to an island halfway there, but didn't have enough money for full passage. So, Yugi summoned the Curse of Dragon to fly them there. But now that they were over the ocean, Yugi didn't know if he could keep it up.
"If you need a break," Yami spoke up, "I can take over. The Curse of Dragon is a Dark creature. I'll be able to use it…"
"Something's been bothering me," Yugi spoke up, "If those guys are from the Shadow Realm, and use Dark power like you, would they see you as a traitor?"
Yami blinked, "I hadn't thought of that. I'm sure they would. By the way, how do we know where to go again…?"
"Anzu's card," Yugi stated, "When I was crying because I missed my friends, it started to glow, and pointed in a certain direction. I think it's trying to lead me back to Anzu."
"After all this strange stuff…," Yami sighed, "…I'm not about to say that it's a crazy idea."
Yugi was definitely feeling the strain of keeping the magic spell in affect so he could keep the dragon flying them to land. Yami tried to use it, but it only responded to Yugi for some odd reason.
Yugi felt weak.
Yami noticed the dragon drop altitude a bit, "Yugi…are you alright?"
"…I…can't…hold it much…longer," Yugi strained, breathing hard. He squeezed an eye shut.
"Yes you can," Yami shook his head. He certainly didn't want to take a swim now, either.
Yugi was shaking from the exertion, and breathing hard. He winced.
"Hang in there a bit longer!" Yami pointed, "I see land!"
Yugi looked up, wincing and gasping for breath. Just then, his lungs ached, and his chest burned with every gasp. He placed a hand over his mouth and coughed up blood. Things grew blurry as the shore came into view.
"Yami…," Yugi whispered.
Yami glanced up, "Hmm…?"
"Gomen…nasai…," Yugi whispered, then closed his eyes. The dragon disappeared and became a card again, going into his pocket with the rest of his deck in its sealed, water-proof case. The two plummeted into the waters.
Yami surfaced, but didn't see Yugi. He went back under, and saw the boy slowly floating down towards the bottom, sinking since he was unconscious. Yami quickly swam over, grabbed his hand, and pulled him up. He gasped for breath, then made sure Yugi's head stayed above the water.
"Bravest ten-year-old I know," Yami sputtered water, then started to get the two of them to the shore.
When they were finally there, Yami worked on getting the water out of Yugi's lungs. Yugi still hadn't woken up yet, so Yami took the opportunity to rest a bit on the shore. He looked up at the sun. It has to be nearing afternoon now. If we have to go to the opposite side of this continent, we can be here for a year and only get halfway through! We don't have enough money for a plane. Maybe for a bus, but I don't see any cities around here…
"Yami…let's go…"
Yami blinked, then looked at Yugi.
Yugi was sitting up slowly, coughing blood and water a bit.
"No way," Yami steadied him, "You're too weak."
"We have to, Yami!" Yugi felt tears well up in his eyes and spill down his face.
Yami shook his head.
Yugi gritted his teeth and started to stand up. He only made it part way when he sunk back down, putting a hand to his mouth as more blood came out.
"I told you," Yami stated, "Besides…with your sprained ankle, we can't very well walk there. We'll just have to wait…" When there was no answer, Yami glanced over.
Yugi had passed out, and lay in the sand on his side.
Yami shook his head and pulled Yugi up a bit so the boy could rest his head on Yami's lap.
Yugi woke an hour or two later, screaming with tears running down his face.
Yami held him, pulling the smaller boy into him and comforting him, "Another dream about your grandpa…?"
"Yea," Yugi wiped his eyes. "He was really hurt this time…they keep on hurting him, Yami." He cried into Yami's shoulder, his small shoulders shaking with the tears.
"Hush," Yami whispered, rocking him back and forth comfortingly. "Shh."
"If I wasn't so weak, then we could be flying already…," Yugi cried.
"You're not weak, aibou," Yami assured him, "You're still learning. You almost got the Curse of Dragon to fly us from halfway across the Atlantic Ocean to coast of Africa. And, the Silver Fang took us from the arctic wilderness to a city in Canada that was nearby. You have grown stronger. Not just in your powers, but mentally, too. You've grown a lot since I first met you. Back then, you were a scared little boy afraid of your own shadow. But look at you now! Wandering the world to save your grandpa and find your friends. You're incredible, Yugi."
Yugi sniffled, but stayed close to Yami. "…I'm not brave. I'm still afraid."
"I know you're scared," Yami cooed to him, "But you're not letting it stop you from saving your grandpa. You're trying, and that's what counts. So what if you cry or get scared? Everyone does."
"Even you, Yami?" Yugi whispered.
Yami paused.
"Yami…?"
Yami nodded, "Yes, aibou, I do. I have cried before. When my mother died, I cried. And, there is now something that scares me. Before, nothing scared me, but now it does."
Yugi blinked in confusion.
Yami held him closer, "Losing you is my greatest fear."
Yugi's eyes went wide, then tears trickled down his face. He hugged the other boy, quietly crying into him. But he had a slight smile on his face. "Thank you."
"What…are you surprised to hear that you are cared about? That you're worth a lot? Don't sound so surprised. You're the world to me. And I know you mean a lot to Anzu, Jou, Seto, and Mokuba as well. Cheer up, Yugi. You're greatly loved."
Yugi cried a bit in joy upon hearing that, and hugged his 'older brother'.
Yami just held him, comforting him. "So get some rest, alright? We'll continue when you're ready."
"But how will we get there, Yami?" Yugi asked, his eyelids drooping, "I don't have enough energy…"
"That's why you need to rest," Yami held the boy in his lap and wrapped his arms around the smaller one, "Close your eyes…there you go."
Yugi was asleep in seconds.
Yugi concentrated as they flew. He had a nice long rest, and they were on the Curse of Dragon again, soaring through the air. He yawned as night approached.
"Aibou? Maybe we should set down…," Yami stated, concerned as they dropped in altitude.
Yugi smiled at him, "I'm tired, Yami, not the dragon."
The Curse of Dragon screeched in agreement.
Yami shook his head, "I don't understand how this is happening, still…"
Yugi shrugged, "I don't know, either."
Yami nodded, when suddenly, pain like needles went through him. He clutched his chest by his heart, wincing, and wavered. The pain increased, as did his headache. With a grunt of pain, he slid off the dragon's back and fell towards the ground, a dark aura surrounding him.
Yugi felt it, and looked back. Then, with a wave of panic, looked down, "YAMI!?"
Yami didn't respond.
"Stop!" Yugi told the dragon, "We have to go back and save Yami!"
The dragon banked, coming around.
"Dive!" Yugi commanded.
The dragon obeyed him without a second thought, and dove in a dizzying line towards the falling boy.
Yugi winced, giving the dragon some of his own energy to increase the speed. "We're not going to make it! I hate to ask you to go faster, but if you can, please lend me your strength!" Yugi started to glow as tears whipped back behind him. The dragon pulsated with the same energy, and increased speed by at least 40%.
They caught up to Yami.
Yugi gave it a little more energy so they went soaring below Yami. Yugi stood up a bit on the dragon, trying to keep his balance but catch his brother. "Bank!"
The dragon evened out, and Yami fell on top of Yugi.
Yugi winced under the pressure, and the dragon slowed down its flying speed.
"Yami?! Yami!?" Yugi propped the older boy up. He turned to the side and coughed blood from the exertion, but then shook Yami a bit, "Yami!?"
Yami opened his eyes, then winced.
"What happened?" Yugi was in tears.
Yami slowly sat up and then suddenly held Yugi close.
"Y-Yami?" Yugi blinked.
Yami was breathing heavily for a while, then was able to reply, "They…are after my soul."
"Who's 'they'? Who wants to hurt you!?" Yugi blinked.
"The Shadow Realm," Yami whispered, then slipped into unconsciousness.
"Yami…? Yami! Don't die!" Yugi cried, "I don't know what to do! Yami! Please! YAMI!!!" A sudden flash of light pierced the darkness, originating from Yugi.
Yugi could practically hear his heart beat, and looked around. He was in a strange place filled with blue and black…darkness, all around him. "Is this…the true Shadow Realm…?"
He heard a noise and saw a shadow carrying an unconscious Yami away.
"Yami!" Yugi shouted, rushing over.
The shadow glanced up, and easily knocked him back.
Yugi hit the ground, but pushed himself back up, "Give Yami back!"
Again, the shadow used some sort of magic to send Yugi back.
Yugi hit the ground and coughed, his ribs aching with the hit. He gasped for breath and curled up in pain, but then gritted his teeth when he remembered that Yami was in danger.
"YAMI!" Yugi shouted, "Wake up…!!!" He broke off as he coughed up blood, then stood up shakily.
The shadow turned around.
"I won't let you have him!" Yugi cried. He curled up, almost within himself, and started to give off a white light.
The shadow dropped Yami to shield itself from the intense brightness. Eventually, it was melted away by the light.
Yugi sunk down to his knees, his eyes wide. "What…was that…?"
Just then, the area started to shake. The chunk of land Yami was started to break off.
"Yami!" Yugi shouted, and lunged forward, grabbing Yami's hand, "Hang on, Yami! I'll get us out of here!" He concentrated, "Please…someone…anyone……let us out!"
They glowed, and vanished as the world crumbled.
When Yugi woke up, he was laying on the ground near a large, wide river. Yami was laying on his side in the grass next to him, and on the other side, the Curse of Dragon was looking at him, concerned.
Yugi smiled weakly at the dragon, reaching a hand out to it.
The dragon nuzzled his hand.
"You…saved us," Yugi whispered, "When…we were in the Shadow Realm…you brought us…to safety."
The dragon seemed almost to purr, nuzzling his hand some more.
Tears rolled down Yugi's face, "Thank you."
The dragon gave a quiet but proud screech, then glowed and became the card again, going into Yugi's pocket.
Yugi lay there for a while before darkness took over.
When Yugi woke up next, he was aware that he was in someone's arms. The presence was familiar, and he liked it. It was warm and comforting. He snuggled into the person some more, getting comfortable.
"Aibou…?"
Yugi opened his eyes and saw Yami looking at him, concerned. Yugi sat up quickly, tears running down his face as he hugged Yami, "Are you alright?!"
Yami wrapped his arms around the boy, "Yea. I'm okay. Thanks to you. You saved me."
Yugi shook his head, still crying. Suddenly, fatigue caught up to him, and he started to sink back down to the ground.
Yami caught him and let the smaller boy lean against him, holding him from behind while Yugi's back was resting on Yami's chest.
"Yugi?" Yami whispered, brushing some tears away from the boy's face, "What's wrong?"
"I'm tired," Yugi whispered, leaning his head into Yami's chest, shivering.
Yami wrapped his arms around him, then found a blanket in their packs and placed it over Yugi.
"Yami…?"
"Hmm?"
"Where are we?" Yugi asked sleepily.
"Well…," Yami looked up at the stars, "I'd say…about halfway through the continent already. Somewhere in Libya. Wow…that dragon can really fly. We're right alongside of the Nile River."
Yugi was quiet, and snuggled into Yami even more. "I love you."
Yami smiled at him, "I love you, too, Yugi." He gently kissed the boy on the forehead, then straitened up again, "Get some sleep, aibou."
Yugi nodded, then whispered, "Ne…Yami?"
"Hmm?"
"Things will work out…right?"
"Of course," Yami hugged the boy, "With your bravery, of course."
"I'm not brave…"
"Yes you are," Yami nodded, "What you did today was very brave."
Yugi sniffled, but just rested on Yami.
They were quiet for a while.
"Why do the stars shine?" Yugi asked suddenly.
"Huh?" Yami blinked.
"Do you think that the stars really are other worlds?" Yugi whispered, looking sleepily up at the sky.
"Well, I was told they're balls of gas that…," Yami started.
"Look," Yugi pointed to a cluster, "That one looks like a pan. Doesn't it?"
Yami smiled and looked up, "Yea. It's called the 'Little Dipper'."
"And that one…sort of looks like a man," Yugi pointed.
"That's Orion's Belt," Yami smiled.
"What do you think the man's doing, Yami?" Yugi whispered as sleep started to come over him.
"He's drawing his arrow back, prepared to shoot," Yami stated.
"Not at the bear over there, is he…?"
"No," Yami shook his head, "At a cluster of stars that is so far out that you can't even see them. They are called Sister Stars. The legend…," Yami stopped when he realized that Yugi's breathing had evened out, and he glanced down. He chuckled. Yugi had fallen asleep.
"Sleep well, my little brother," Yami whispered, holding Yugi close to him and closing his eyes as well, passing into a light sleep should he need to wake up to defend them.
By morning, the two were back in the air after eating breakfast with what little they had left.
Yugi wiped sweat off his forehead, "It's getting hot…"
Yami nodded, "Yea…" He trailed off when he noticed something, "Hey, Yugi. Go down a bit."
Yugi nodded and asked the dragon if it could go down.
The Curse of Dragon complied, and they came closer to the ground.
"That's Anzu!" Yami recognized the girl riding on the back of a camel.
"Anzu?!" Yugi blinked, "Okay, Curse of Dragon! Can you take us down now, please/"
The dragon screeched in agreement and descended.
It was Ryou who spotted them, and instantly panicked, "What in the world is that…?!"
Anzu glanced around him. It can't be…Curse of the Dragon!? It looks like it! And riding on his back…can it be Yugi and Yami?! But how did they get the dragon…!?
The camel stopped as Ryou and Anzu slid off of it and stood there as the dragon landed, and the two figured got off, the taller one helping the shorter one off. The shorter one said something to the dragon and patted its nose gently. The dragon seemed to smile, then vanished into a white light, becoming a card and going into the shorter boy's pocket.
Anzu stared. "No…way…"
The short boy looked up, a smile breaking on his face, "ANZU!!!" He half ran, half limped over to her, then jumped up and hugged her, tears running down his face.
Yami walked over, smiling.
"Y-Yugi?!" Anzu exclaimed, "…Yami…?!"
Ryou watched, "Are these your friends?"
Anzu nodded, "Yea…"
Yugi broke away, tears still running down his face, "I was so worried…when the plane went down and you weren't there…I thought…I thought…" He started to cry again, holding onto her, "…I thought I'd never see you again!"
"Don't cry," Anzu softened up. She hated to see Yugi cry. She looked to Yami.
"Long story," Yami sighed, "When we woke up, we were in Canada."
"Canada?!" Anzu and Ryou exclaimed.
Yugi drew apart, sniffling and hiccupping.
Anzu took his hand, "Yugi, I'm so glad you're alright." Now it was her turn to hug him.
Yugi hiccupped again, tears still streaming down his face. He held onto Anzu's arms, and buried his head in her shoulder, crying.
They were quiet for a while until Anzu and Yugi drew apart.
Anzu wiped her eyes, and Yugi was sniffling and wiping his eyes fervently.
"I'm glad to see that you're alright," Yami spoke to Anzu. "I was worried, too."
"I'm glad you're alright, too," Anzu smiled at him.
Just then, Ryou handed a bottle of water to Yugi. "You're going to dehydrate if you keep on crying. It'll be alright. Have something to drink."
Yugi glanced at Anzu for a moment, and she nodded. Yugi then took the bottle of water and slowly drank some of it, then handed it back to Ryou. "Thank you."
Ryou smiled, "It's no problem."
Yugi wiped his eyes again. He smiled a bit, "Are you a friend of Anzu's?"
Ryou nodded.
"My name is Yugi. Over there is Yami. It's nice to meet you," Yugi smiled.
Ryou nodded. "My name is Ryou Bakura. Pleasure."
"Bakura?!" Yami exclaimed, jumping forward and grabbing Ryou by the shirt collar and holding him out, snarling, "Bakura!? Demon!" He curled his hand back into a fist.
TO BE CONTINUED…