I don't own Yugioh.
Chapter 40
Yami was the first to wake up, and when he did, he noticed that he was in bed, with Yugi next to him, still asleep. Yami sat up and rubbed his eyes blearily, then looked around. They were at a hotel. There were two beds in the room they were in. He and Yugi occupied one bed. And in the other was…
"Yami! You're up!" Ryou smiled, sitting up from his position on his own bed where he was reading a book. "How are you feeling?"
Yami looked around, "Where are we…?"
Ryou started to explain…
***Flashback***
They looked down at Yugi and Yami, who lay there. The silver wolf had disappeared as soon as Yugi lost consciousness, and went back to Yugi's pocket as a card.
The building rumbled.
"We have to get out," Isis stated, "The castle is hooked up to Yami Malik…"
"Yami Malik?" Ryou questioned.
"The evil one that was banished. He came from the Millennium Rod and took over Malik's body, depriving him of movement and anything of his own. He was forced to watch helplessly as this happened," Isis explained, bending down to the small boy, Malik.
Malik looked at her, his big violet eyes red with tears.
"Sort of like…the yami that came from my Millennium Ring," Ryou looked at the ring.
"How are we going to get out?" Honda asked, supporting Yami, "Yugi got us here on the Curse of Dragon, and I don't think that he can do it again…"
"I'll get us out," Isis nodded, getting Malik onto her back, "Ryou, kindly get Tenko. Honda, do you have Ryushin?"
"Who?" Honda blinked. He glanced at the boy he was supporting, "Yami?"
"Is that what you call him now?" Isis frowned.
"I believe some explanations are in order," Ryou got Yugi onto his back and was not waiting, "But for now, we must get out of here."
"I agree," Isis nodded, pulling out a card. "Angelic Blessing!"
A fairy type monster appeared, but didn't look like a monster. Angel wings grew out of its back as it smiled at them.
"I need you to use your Containment Bubble of Light," Isis stated.
The Angel nodded and made some motions with its hands.
"Stand near me," Isis commanded, and the group did so.
Suddenly, they were all surrounded in a golden bubble.
"Woa!" Ryou exclaimed.
"Let's go!" Isis commanded.
The Angel led them through corridors, and burst out one of the ceilings, leading them out as well. As they floated away from the castle, they saw it crumble.
"So much for that," Honda sighed, then blinked, "What about the Rod?"
Honda held it up, "Found it when I went to get Yami."
"Speaking of which," Ryou looked at the boy, "What's this about a 'Ryushin'?"
"That…I should explain when he wakes up," Isis responded.
"Does it have anything to do with some sort of name confusion?" Ryou asked, "I heard of it when Yugi, Yami, and Sugoroku-san went to speak with Sh…with someone."
"You needn't hide anything from me," Isis smiled, "From my point of view, we're on the same side, there."
"But now, won't you be trying to get into Gaia?" Ryou asked.
"Yes, but my reasons are just about the same as yours, I'm sure," Isis responded. "Do you know of a place we can go?"
"Just a moment," Ryou nodded, gently putting Yugi down in the bubble, leaning him against it. Honda followed suit with Yami.
Malik still clung to Isis's back, looking nervous and guilty.
"It wasn't your fault, otouto-chan," Isis whispered to the boy.
Ryou looked up in shock, noting that Honda was talking on a cell phone to someone.
Isis nodded, "Malik is my younger brother." She smiled at him, "He's only seven, too."
"How did you know who I was, by the way?" Ryou sat down in the bubble, watching her.
Isis sat down as well, shifting the sleeping Malik to her lap. "The reason is…because my mother is your mother's sister."
Ryou's eyes widened, and the words could barely come out. "Y…you're my…cousin?"
Isis nodded, "As is Malik."
Ryou was beyond shocked. "How…?"
"You were taken from your mother when you were young. Your father, hearing of danger, didn't want you to be caught up in it, and so you and your father moved here, to Egypt," Isis stated.
Ryou blinked, frowning.
"Didn't you wonder why you were able to stop Yami Malik?" Isis asked.
Ryou nodded.
"And why you have a sense for danger?" Isis asked.
Ryou nodded again, his face paling.
"I think you have figured it out. Your mother…as well as mine…they are from Gaia. Because of the prophecy, which you have no doubt heard by now, your father decided that it would be best if you were taken to Earth to live a 'normal' life. That is why Tenko was the one who would be brought up as a Holy Spellcaster. But something happened. I want to know what happened. Why Tenko ended up on Earth. And what is really going on here," Isis looked up.
Honda was off the phone, and was also a bit pale. "You mean…Ryou's from Gaia, too?"
Isis nodded, "His mother's name is Maya."
Ryou thought he had heard that name from somewhere before, and suddenly, everything fit into place. It was too overwhelming for him, and he passed out.
***End Flashback***
"When I woke up again," Ryou finished, "We were in the limo, heading towards the hotel where the others were waiting. Apparently, Honda had called Seto and told him that we would need a ride to where they were staying. After all, arriving in a floating bubble is somewhat conspicuous."
Yami nodded. But he was more preoccupied with the name that was given. Ryushin.
"…and, well, that's how we ended up here," Ryou shrugged, "You and Yugi have been out for about a day and a half now. Not bad, considering how long it usually takes."
"Yea…," Yami nodded, not completely listening.
Ryou stood up, "When you are feeling better, Yami, I'll get Isis-san. She'll explain about your name. For now, you still need some rest."
Yami nodded, and glanced at Yugi, "Will he be…?"
"He'll be fine," Ryou smiled, "Rest." He gently pushed Yami back down and covered him with the sheets, "It's Sugoroku-san's turn to watch you. I'll be back later." With that, he left.
Before Yami fell asleep, he was aware of Sugoroku coming in.
"How are they?" Anzu asked as Ryou walked into the lounge area.
Ryou sighed and sat down, "Yami woke up. Full of questions, naturally."
"That's natural," Seto paused, hovering over the chess board, then moved his rook, "If it were me, I would be asking, too. Check."
Jou frowned, and moved his knight in to block, "It's really confusing, though. I mean, it feels like I found out just the other day that my best buddy wasn't from Earth. Now I find out that Yami ain't, and neither is Ryou."
"It's not our choice," Isis stated, "Nor is it theirs. And with Tenko and Ryou, they didn't have a choice to come to Earth."
"At least we're closer to our goal now," Seto took Jou's knight with his bishop, "Now that we have all seven Millennium Items, we just need to find the 'highest concentration of magical power' according to Sugoroku, and Yugi to cast the spell, and we can go to Gaia. Check."
Jou frowned, "It's all so confuse'n." He moved his queen to take the bishop, placing it on the side.
"I know," Anzu sighed, "I feel the same way. But we're so close. Now we can find out what really happened to Gaia."
"That reminds me," Seto moved his queen into the scene, "Isis, what are you after? Going to Gaia, I mean. What is it you want there?"
"Besides to find out what happened," Isis responded, "And why Tenko grew up on Earth, to also live there once more."
"But the people of Gaia won't allow it," Anzu bit her lip, "Aren't they the ones who exiled you in the first place?"
"I'm hoping to come to some sort of agreement," Isis sighed, "I would rather not have a confrontation. Fighting isn't what I had in mind."
"Just how were you going to get to Gaia?" Jou asked, moving his pawn up.
"I had no idea," Isis shook her head. "I was hoping to do some research, so I left the underground base in the Rainforest, and then…"
"And then," Seto finished, "Yami Malik, Pegasus, and who knows who else came by and took it over without anyone knowing by using the Millennium Eye and the Millennium Rod to control minds and souls."
Isis nodded, "Yes."
"Then it makes sense," Ryou suddenly spoke up.
"I'm glad it makes sense to one of us," Jou muttered.
"From the sound of it, the members of the Shadow Realm split into two divisions. Isis-san's division, and Yami Malik's division. Isis-san's division merely wanted to find and discuss ways to live on Gaia once again. Yami Malik's division wanted to kill Yugi. For what reason, I'm still not sure…"
"So that he could have the Millennium Items to themselves," Seto interrupted, "That's why they wanted Yugi dead. If they could get him out of the way, nothing could stop them from taking over both worlds and opening a portal to Gaia. You saw what happened down in the dungeons. It was because of Yugi and Yami's power that you lived. That's what they were afraid of, and that's why they wanted him dead. In fact, I'm willing to bet that they wanted Yami dead, too. If I remember the battle with Pegasus correctly." He moved his own bishop to block Jou's pawn, causing the other boy to pout.
"What happened to Pegasus, anyway?" Ryou gulped.
"He's dead," Isis responded.
"Dead?" Anzu blinked.
"Yami Malik killed him," Isis nodded, "He said that Pegasus wanted to see his wife, and that's why they gave him the Millennium Eye as long as he listened and obeyed orders. They would eventually use the Shadow Realm to find her soul and put it into a body."
"Eww," Anzu made a face.
"Yes," Isis nodded, "But Pegasus was unable to carry out his assignment. And without the Millennium Eye, Yami Malik found no use for him. So, he granted Pegasus's wish to see his wife another way. He killed him to join his wife."
Jou shuddered, "Damn…that's harsh. What happened to the Shadow Realm where Yami Malik was knocked inta?"
"It got sealed when Yugi and Yami combined their powers," Honda responded.
"Does that mean that Yami can't use it no more?" Jou asked, moving his pawn towards the end of the board again.
"He can use the power of it," Isis stated, "Just as I or Honda can. But actual access to the Shadow Realm is unavailable."
"That's good…right?" Anzu shifted.
"From what I've heard of it," Ryou nodded.
"Yes," Isis nodded, "It means that those souls that have caused you grief in the past, such as Yami Bakura and Yami Malik, can not come back."
"Whew," Jou blew out his breath.
"Where did you learn about Yami Bakura?" Ryou frowned.
"It took place in the Shadow Realm. I met up with his soul one time when I was traveling through it," Isis responded.
"That makes sense," Seto nodded, then moved his rook, "Check." He looked up, "What about the souls that may have been banished there?"
"Pardon?"
"By a Yami no Game," Honda stated.
"Oh," Isis nodded, "They are sealed there as well."
Jou, Seto, and Anzu blew out their breaths.
Ryou and Honda looked a little relieved.
"Why do you ask?" Isis blinked.
"Yug's foster parents," Jou said quietly, moving his king out of the way, "They beat him bad. Yami told us that he sent their souls there…to the Shadow Realm as punishment, but because of all the confusion there, they didn't get punished yet."
"Well, I assure you," Isis stated, a bit startled at the statement, "Punishment is definitely coming to those souls who deserve it. The Shadow Realm had been restored to what it should be…harmless to us and a place like hell for souls that did too many sins during their mortal life."
"That's what it was originally?" Anzu blinked.
Isis nodded, "Yes. That was the point of the Yami no Game. It was almost a judgment, in place of court. The souls would be judged in the Shadow Realm. But when we were exiled from Gaia, we had to make it our home, and some of the ones living there started to become even more corrupted. They started to evolve and hone their skills, and adapt to what they were given and control the power."
"But then…could Yami Malik control the power there and return?" Seto asked, then glanced at the chess board, "Checkmate, by the way."
"No, he can't return," Isis shook her head, "He got his power from a look-a-like host, and the Millennium Rod."
They glanced at the Millennium Items sitting on one of the shelves.
"What happens when we open the gateway to Gaia?" Seto indicated the items.
"I don't know," Isis shook her head, "It has never been done."
A small, timid voice spoke up for the first time from where he sat, silently listening and taking it all in. He didn't talk much, and mainly kept to himself or Isis for fear of the others and the trouble his twin had caused. Malik looked at them from where he sat.
"Hopefully, they'll be destroyed."
The others had to nod in agreement. After all, that was the best option for most of the items. And they all agreed on the point that most of the items not used for justice (like the Scale) were just too powerful. And something that was too powerful, should it fall into the wrong hands, could be deadly.
"I hope so," Anzu nodded, "I really do, Malik-chan. I really do."
TO BE CONTINUED…