I don't own Yugioh.
Chapter 29
"So this is Brazil," Ryou looked around.
Yugi shifted from foot to foot, "Come on. Let's see if they're here yet."
"What's wrong?" Yami noticed the other boy's anxiety.
"I don't know," Yugi gripped the older boy's hand, "I just have a bad feeling, that's all. Like we should really hurry."
Yami was about to reply, when a deep voice cut into the group.
"You should hurry. After all, you never know what the ones of darkness want."
They all spun around and saw a man in the shadows of an alley. He was wearing a dark outfit, completely black with knee-high boots and a dark cloak. Red eyes shone out from under it, but the rest of his face was completely hidden. One of his hands ended in a black glove, and the other one was a claw. The tips of the claws were sticking out from under the cloak, obviously meant to be hidden.
"Who are you?!" Yami put himself between the stranger and Yugi.
Ryou and Anzu took a step back.
"Me? I am Saigoru. I must warn you on the powers of darkness. They are evil to the core, and want nothing but to spread chaos in this world," the stranger spoke.
Yami slowly lowered his fists, but not by much, "How do you know about this?"
"Th-that's right," Anzu nodded, "How do you know?"
Ryou frowned and Yugi shook in fear.
"I was on the boat, and heard you talking about it," Saigoru stated, "And, I often got premonitions as to the activities. I believe the group who has captured your grandfather wants nothing but utter chaos."
"Chaos?!" Yami exclaimed.
"That's right," Saigoru nodded, "Chaos. To flood this world and every other world with darkness and leave nothing but chaos."
"What are you?" Ryou suddenly spoke up, "You aren't human."
Saigoru regarded him, "So, you can 'see', can you? Well, that won't help you."
"You can 'see'…? Ryou, what is he talking about?" Anzu looked at the boy.
"I have always had some strange ability," Ryou spoke quietly, "To see ghosts and spirits. I don't know why or how…for a while, I thought I was going crazy."
"After what's been happening," Yami glanced up, "I'd be a hypocrite to call you crazy."
"What is he, then?" Anzu asked timidly. "And what does he want with us?!"
"Evil," Yugi muttered suddenly.
They glanced at him.
Yami's eyes went wide, "Wait…I recognize that energy signal you're giving off! Saigoru! You're from the Shadow Realm!"
They looked at the cloaked figure in shock.
Saigoru laughed, "Indeed I am." He snapped his fingers, and they were transported to the Shadow Realm.
"I still think this place is creepy," Anzu muttered, looking around at the blue and black colors around them.
"Welcome!" Saigoru laughed, "To my domain! Welcome to the Shadow Realm!"
"Bastard!" Yami swore at him, "What the hell do you want?!"
"Me? I want little Tenko," Saigoru pointed at Yugi.
Yugi felt his blood run cold in his veins. He gripped the pendant under his shirt, and took a deep breath, then stepped out in front of Yami.
"Yugi…!?" Yami exclaimed.
"Yugi?!" Anzu and Ryou blinked.
Yugi spread his arms out, "If you want me, then you can have me! But let them go!"
Saigoru sneered, "How noble. Sacrificing yourself for your friends."
"Stop it, Yugi!" Anzu shouted, "We're staying by you!"
"I know," Yugi said quietly, "But that doesn't mean you have to be next to me in the line of fire! I can feel that everyone's with me. In my heart. And as long as I remember that, I don't have to be afraid! And I refuse to let anyone else get hurt because of me! Jou and Seto were already captured by this evil force. I won't let anyone else fall to that fate!"
"Yugi…," Yami whispered.
Anzu blinked.
Yugi turned to Saigoru, "Let them go, Saigoru. If it's me you want, then I'll play your game. But let them free."
Saigoru laughed, "I think I'm going to throw up!" He glared at Yugi, "I think I'm gonna destroy you!!"
Yugi gulped, but stood his ground. Wave upon wave of fear flooded through him, but he stayed where he was.
"I see you are steadfast in defending your friends," Saigoru snapped his fingers.
Instantly, Yami, Anzu, and Ryou were transported out.
Yugi glanced back in shock, then back up at Saigoru.
"As you wish," Saigoru grinned, "It is just you and me."
* * *
Yami sat up, looking around.
Anzu and Ryou slowly got to their knees as well.
"We're back in the alley," Ryou observed.
"Yugi?!" Yami shouted. He concentrated, then swore, "Dammit! Why can't I open the portal to the Shadow Realm?!"
"Perhaps Saigoru sealed it," Ryou stood up, "So that nobody could get in or out until he is through."
"Enough with the pessimism!" Anzu clenched a hand into a fist, standing up, "Yugi's strong. He can do it!"
* * *
"Who are you, really?" Yugi demanded.
"Hmm…," Saigoru regarded him, "You aren't the scared little kid you used to be, Tenko. I remember when you fought Warumono and Tejina…you were scared out of your mind. Too much so to make a decent play in Duel Monsters. That's why they tried that tactic. They thought they could win by making you forget everything you knew about the game out of fear. They both lack in the brains department."
Yugi's eyes widened, "How…how do you know about them…?!"
"Haven't you figured it out yet?" Saigoru sneered, "I am Saigoru Bakemono! The eldest Bakemono brother!"
Yugi stared, unable to form any intelligent words.
"And now, you shall see," Saigoru's eyes glowed, "You shall see the power bestowed upon me to kill you! I do not use the cards as my brothers do. I prefer…a different method."
With that, he started to transform. He grew higher and taller, the cloak and clothing ripping under the pressure. His non-clawed hand became hard and grew claws on it as both his arms extended to fit his growing body. His body was no longer that of a human's, but becoming more beast. As it grew even more, his nose extended on his face, taking his jaw with it. Large teeth grew from the muzzle, and his nostrils smoked. His eyes became narrow and slanted, and his ears retracted to be small orbs in the side of his head. Scales covered his body, and three great horns sprouted out of his head. His scales became even harder and darker in color, almost to a navy blue or black. His feet extended into claws, and two large wings sprouted out of his back.
Yugi backed up, then tripped and fell over, still staring at the large dragon in front of him, his eyes wide with fear.
Saigoru laughed in a booming voice, "Now you see what I really am, Tenko Motou!"
"M-masaka…," Yugi stammered, scrambling away from the dragon, "It's…the Tri-Horned Dragon…"
Saigoru laughed, "That's right! The second strongest dragon in all of Duel Monsters, only two hundred attack points weaker then that of the legendary Blue Eyes White Dragon!" Saigoru gave a shout, and sent a wave of orange energy soaring towards Yugi.
* * *
"Dammit!" Yami swore, looking around, "I don't see any sign of them!"
"We have to wait and be patient…," Ryou started.
Yami grabbed Ryou by the shirt collar and slammed him against the side of a wall, glaring at the younger boy, "Be patient…!? Don't you know who Saigoru is?! He's the eldest Bakemono brother! The Bakemono brothers are three of the strongest in all of the Shadow Realm, and the most notorious!"
"Yami, stop it!" Anzu placed a hand on Yami's arm.
Yami growled and dropped Ryou, who looked a bit afraid of Yami.
"The only thing we can do is believe in him," Anzu whispered, "Yugi will make it back. I know he will."
* * *
Yugi screamed as he went flying back, the energy tearing into him. He landed on the ground a bit away from Saigoru, panting and wincing. His clothing was all torn up, and he was bleeding in a couple of places from the attack. He winced, but pushed himself back to his feet. He stumbled, and regained his balance.
"So, you made it to your feet, did you?" Saigoru sneered, "Unlike my brothers, my game is different. The first one to die…loses."
Yugi's eyes widened. Warumono and Tejina are in a different league then this guy altogether! They played the card game, but this guy doesn't! Saigoru is one of the most rarest creatures in the entire game! Nobody has ever found the Tri-Horned Dragon card in all of Duel Monsters. Yet, everyone knows it exists.
Another blast came, and Yugi quickly scrambled out of the way. He shielded his eyes as it exploded against the side of the Realm.
Yugi looked up. How can I beat a Tri-Horned Dragon!? It has an attack power of 2800! No monster in my deck is strong enough to beat it! Yugi hit the ground as Saigoru zoomed overhead, trying to impale him on his horns.
Yugi winced as one of the horns nicked his arm, causing blood to flow. He placed a hand over the spot, glancing up. The Dark Magician and the Summoned Skull both have attack powers of 2500. They're the strongest monsters in my deck. But they're both three hundred points short of even tying with the Tri-Horned Dragon…!
Suddenly, a large claw wrapped around him.
Yugi cried out as it squeezed, bringing him up into the air.
"So," Saigoru grinned, looking at the small boy, "You're just a weak little boy. What's the matter…? Have nothing strong enough to stop me? Face it! You've lost! Your friends have abandoned you! You can't win!"
Yugi gritted his teeth, then cried out in pain as the dragon's grip tightened around him. He gasped for breath to draw oxygen into his aching chest.
* * *
Yami closed his eyes, looking at the ground as he rested on his knees.
Anzu and Ryou were buried in their own thoughts.
Yami looked up, a single tear running down his face. //Yugi…don't give up. We believe in you.//
* * *
Yugi's eyes snapped open.
Yugi…
"DIE!" Saigoru laughed, and raised his other clawed hand to spear Yugi.
Yugi squeezed his eyes shut. "NO!" Tears ran down his face, "I won't! My friends believe in me! And I know…there's got to be some way to win! There has to be! My friends believe in me, and my deck believes in me! And I believe in them! With all my heart!" More tears ran down his face.
"No matter what you say," Saigoru brought his claw back up, "You're finished."
"And…I believe in myself," Yugi whispered, "I believe in my parents!"
The pendant around his neck started to glow, causing Saigoru to let go of Yugi.
Yugi winced when he hit the ground, but then sat up and pulled the pendant out. It was shining with a brilliant golden color.
Yugi stared at it in awe as it rested in his palm.
Saigoru backed up, "What's this…?! No…!"
Two cards came out of Yugi's pocket, and hovered in front of him, glowing with the same light as the pendant.
Yugi looked at them. "The Dark Magician……and a Polymerization card…?"
Saigoru tried to attack, but the light prevented him from moving. "NO! It's impossible! How could he have found the true power of what being a Holy Spellcaster is on his own!?"
Yugi suddenly understood what the cards were trying to tell him. He nodded, a look of determination crossing his features as he stood up. "I don't know exactly how this is going to work…but I'm ready!" He closed his eyes, concentrating his thoughts, hopes, wishes, and heart into the pendant and the cards.
The Dark Magician card glowed, and instead of a card, there stood the actual Dark Magician, ready and waiting.
The Polymerization card seemed to vanish, its light going into both Yugi and the Dark Magician.
Yugi felt more energized then ever. The light engulfed him, and his clothing disappeared in a flash of light except for the pendant. The Dark Magician, too, seemed to be stripped as the light engulfed him as well. The light increased, and moved Yugi and the Dark Magician together. A white blur, and then a tall figure was seen. Black and gold hair stuck out under the wizard hat that appeared on the figure, and a white robe with purple linings and sapphire designs went around the person, tying itself at the waist with a sapphire sash. A white pair of pants lined with violet appeared on the legs, and were covered up to the knees with golden boots. A long, golden staff with a violet gem appeared in the person's right hand. A golden pendant hung from around his neck. Innocent yet determined amethyst eyes opened, and the light died down.
Saigoru backed up a step, "No…it's impossible…!"
"It is possible," the being spoke. It had a tinge of Yugi's childish voice representing innocence, and the booming, deep voice of the Dark Magician which seemed to warn anyone who would cross them.
Saigoru backed up, "No…no, it can't be! It can't…!"
"You're looking at one," the being held up its staff, pointing it at the dragon, "You're looking at a Holy Spellcaster!"
Fear showed in the dragon's eyes as it backed up a step.
The Holy Spellcaster took a step forward.
"Who are you…!?" Saigoru demanded.
"I am Tenko, yet I am not. I am the Dark Magician, yet I am not," the being replied, taking another step forward.
The dragon whimpered, and shot out a blast of energy.
The being held out its hand and easily blocked the attack like it was nothing.
Saigoru stepped back again, shaking in fear.
"Saigoru. You are like a mix of your brothers. You fight with power and with cunning. Trying to trick us into thinking that you were on our side at first was sly. Then showing yourself as the wicked Tri-Horned Dragon and demonstrating your power. However, power and cunning are nothing without heart. You can't get anywhere without it. A heart is what lets you carry on, and holds the feelings of yourself and all who care about you. You are wrong if you think that power and trickery can get you anywhere with nothing else."
Saigoru backed up again.
"Now we will show you," the being declared, holding up its golden staff, the violet gem at the end glowing as it pointed strait at the dragon, "We shall show you the power of friendship and love! The power of the HEART!"
With that, a blast of golden energy seared out of the staff, and hit the dragon square in the chest.
Saigoru screamed as the holy energy tore through him, and then he vanished into small pieces.
TO BE CONTINUED…