I do not own Yugioh.
Chapter 44
Yugi winced and slowly came-to. He sat up quickly and looked around, trying to see in the darkness. I'm alive…but how…? Then, he remembered the fall. /Yami…!?/
//I'm…here…//
Yugi turned in all directions, "Where…!?"
"…here…"
Yugi turned to his left and squinted, seeing the outline of the tall boy slowly picking himself off the ground. "Yami! Daijoubu?"
"…I think so…" Yami broke off in a wince, "…I think I landed on my arm…"
Yugi wiped away his tears, then looked around again, "Mokuba?!"
"I'm okay. Yami-niichan broke my fall," came the scared voice.
Yugi blew out his breath.
"No wonder why my arm feels heavy…mind getting off?" Yami groaned.
"R-right," Mokuba stammered, slowly pushing himself back up.
Yugi searched through his bag and found a flashlight. He clicked it on.
Yami and Mokuba winced from the light, then blew out their breaths in relief.
"Damn…that hurts…," Yami rubbed his right arm, "Where are we?"
"I don't know…some kind of cave?" Yugi frowned, putting his bag back on and standing up. He offered a hand down, and Mokuba took it. Yami stood on his own.
It was quiet and damp, with an occasional dripping noise. The area was surrounded in a mineral type rock, but moss covered the area.
"So that's what saved us," Yami bent down to examine the green stuff on the ground.
"Moss?" Mokuba frowned, sounding skeptical.
"Moss not from the Earth, remember," Yami stood back up.
"What do we do now?" Mokuba kept a hold on Yugi's hand.
"I don't know…I guess continue down the tunnel," Yugi pointed the flashlight in front of them, "We can't go back up."
Yami looked up, "I can't even see the sky."
"I know!" Mokuba looked up at Yugi, "Follow the dripping!"
"Huh?" Yami blinked.
"I took this camp course thingie," Mokuba explained, "And I learned a bunch of survival skills from it! They said that you should always follow the sound of water!"
"You think the dripping is water?" Yami frowned.
"It makes sense," Yugi nodded, pointing the flashlight at one of the cave walls, "This rock is actually a mineral. And minerals in caves usual comes from evaporated, congealed water!"
"But how do we know which way the dripping is?" Yami broke into the conversation.
Yugi and Mokuba frowned.
Mokuba closed his eyes, then pointed to their right, "That way. It's definitely stronger that way."
"Wow…you have good hearing, Mokuba," Yugi blinked.
Mokuba flashed a small smile, "Well…I did like to play outside in the woods all the time, and you hafta always listen for any bad animals that may want to hurt you. Plus going camping…"
Yugi nodded, "Good thing for us."
"But is it the right way?" Yami asked.
"We'll find out soon enough," Yugi started to walk towards the direction that Mokuba pointed, "Let's stay together."
They nodded, and walked down the tunnel.
After a little while of walking, Yugi turned off the flashlight because they could see perfectly.
"I've never seen any kind of moss do that," Mokuba blinked.
"That isn't moss," Yami gathered up a bundle of the glowing stuff that coated the areas near where the walls met the floor and illuminated the cave with his hand.
"It's moving!" Yugi yelped.
"They're worms," Yami dumped the things back on the ground.
"W-worms…?" Mokuba turned green.
"Harmless worms," Yami laughed.
"But we don't know if they're harmless here," Yugi pointed out.
Nobody spoke.
"Let's keep on going," Yami cleared his throat.
They nodded.
"How long has it been?" Yugi asked.
"I'd say…about an hour," Yami responded, looking around, "You're right, Mokuba. The dripping sound is getting stronger."
"Now I hear the sound of water rushing," Mokuba informed them.
"A stream underground?" Yami blinked.
"Un," Yugi nodded, "That's where well water would come from on Earth. There are many underground waterways that we get our water from."
Yami blinked, "Wish I knew that when I lived in Egypt…"
"I wonder who was singing that song," Mokuba spoke up as they kept on walking.
"It sounded so…melancholy," Yugi agreed.
"Dismal is the word I'd use," Yami grunted, "Then again, with the state this place is in, I'm not surprised. Anyone who would still be alive here would be pretty dismal."
"That's the thing," Yugi frowned, "There are people living here if we heard the song. Someone had to be singing it in order for us to hear it, wouldn't they?"
"In normal logic, yes," Yami nodded, "However, with all the recent events going on, I wouldn't rule out the possibility that it was a memory singing, or a spirit."
"A memory? How can a memory speak?" Mokuba asked.
"I don't know," Yami shook his head, "It was just like…a voice from the past."
"I felt that way when I heard it, too," Yugi nodded, "Like the person singing it was long gone."
"Maybe whoever it was purposely guided us here so we would fall," Yami stated.
"Uso!" Mokuba gaped at him.
Yami nodded, "It's probable…"
"Demo," Yugi protested, "Who would know that the song would have that affect on us to make us chase it? I don't think that whoever sang it did so we would fall and get hurt…I mean, whoever did sing it had to have known that there was moss here that would break our fall, ne?"
"What are you getting at, aibou?" Yami blinked.
"I'm saying that…," Yugi looked at him, "…it's likely that whoever was singing was doing so to get us out of some kind of danger."
"I felt that way, too," Mokuba nodded suddenly, "Like there was a choking presence all around us from the moment we stepped onto Gaia."
"A miasma," Yugi nodded, "An evil one that made me want to run."
"I felt it, too," Yami admitted, "But I figured it was just whatever was causing the problems to Gaia."
"It probably is," Yugi said seriously. "But the problem is what it was doing and why."
"Why…that's a good question," Yami sighed, "And 'what'. You're right, Yugi."
"Let's keep on going," Yugi stated.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Yami frowned at the smallest member of the group.
"It sounded like a moan," Mokuba answered.
"I just hear the water," Yugi blinked.
"I don't hear anything," Yami crossed his arms, "Aside from our chatter here."
As they continued to walk, the water they heard became visible, trickling by their feet.
"EWW!" Mokuba exclaimed, picking his foot up, "I think I stepped on something alive!"
"Come to think of it, the glowing worms have become less and less," Yugi pointed out.
"Maybe they don't like water," Mokuba blinked.
Soon, they were blocked in their path when the road became the high rise bank of a lake.
"Woa…!" Mokuba exclaimed, "I can't even see the end of it!"
"But that's where the noises are coming from," Yugi pointed to the darkness beyond what they could see, "The other end of the lake."
"How do we know it has an end…?" Yami asked.
"And how do we get there?" Mokuba questioned.
Yugi smiled and pulled out a card, "Like this!"
"Aibou…"
"Great White!" Yugi threw the card out. In a flash, the shark was in the water.
"Sugoi," Mokuba gaped, "Yugi-niichan…sugoi…!"
"Neat, huh?" Yugi smiled.
"I don't believe it…a salt-water shark can survive in that fresh water pond?" Yami was still staring at the beast that was waiting for them.
"It's a monster," Yugi shrugged, "And, it's not really a Great White Shark…that's just the name."
"So what is its real name?" Yami asked.
Umiro
"It spoke!?" Mokuba fell down, "No way…!!!"
Yami sweatdropped, "Well, they are monsters…"
"Umiro, we need a ride," Yugi smiled at the shark.
Certainly, Tenko-sama
"Maa, maa…how many times do I hafta tell you guys just to call me 'Yugi'," Yugi sweatdropped.
Hai, Yugi-sama
"Let's get going," Yami sweatdropped as Yugi facefaulted.
"Mokuba, loosen your grip!"
"Sorry, Yami-niichan."
Yugi was in front, with Yami behind him and Mokuba in the back.
"It's so dark," Mokuba stated.
"You're not afraid?" Yugi asked.
"Nope!" Mokuba beamed.
Yugi nodded.
"Why?" Mokuba blinked.
Yugi didn't reply for a while.
"Yugi-nii…?"
"I'm afraid."
Yami and Mokuba glanced at Yugi.
Yugi kept his gaze ahead, "I don't know what we'll find. I don't know if there's an end to this lake. I don't know what happened, and what's going on. All I know is that I have to keep on moving forward. It's scary, when you think about it."
"You're not gonna give up now, are you?" Mokuba frowned.
Yugi gave a small laugh, "Nope."
Yami put a hand on Yugi's shoulder.
Yugi blinked.
"Daijoubu, Yugi," Yami smiled.
"Demo…I'm worried about the others," Yugi looked back at Yami, "They don't know Gaia."
"Neither do we," Yami reminded him, "And, they have jiisan and Isis to guide them. I think they're better off then we are."
"That's not very reassuring…," Mokuba sweatdropped.
"You're right," Yugi sighed, "We should concentrate on what we're doing."
Yami nodded, "They can take care of themselves." He playfully poked Yugi, "They don't always need you to save their asses."
Yugi giggled, then turned back around, "They can take care of themselves. You're right."
"Look!" Mokuba suddenly interrupted them.
They looked up and blinked. The area of the cave was low lit, and they could see the 'shore' around them. There was amble space between the end of the lake and the walls, some of which were open to reveal passageways. There were candles burning on the cave walls, held up by torches. And sitting along the bank were people. They looked like they had been fighting. Some of them were injured, some of them were caring for the injured, some looked tired, and they all looked like they hadn't had a decent meal in a while.
As they neared the shore, they looked at the faces of the people as they looked up. They looked like humans, down to every detail. They looked worn out and tired, as if they had been fighting their whole lives. And every sunken eye turned to look at the three coming towards them on the shark if they could still see.
Mokuba gripped Yami's shirt in fear, and even Yami had to admit that the sight of all those haunting looks unnerved him. It was like they were on the verge of death.
"Yugi…?" Yami whispered.
Yugi didn't say anything. He didn't know how to react. He was scared, but didn't feel like they were in danger. The appearances of the people made him wonder if that's what he looked like when Shike and Takada were abusing him. The look in their eyes…some of them appeared to have lost the will to even live, and just sat there like soulless husks.
Yugi felt a pang of sorrow for them, and steered the shark towards the bank.
"Yugi-niichan, we're going towards them…," Mokuba gulped, squeezing his eyes shut and gripping onto Yami tighter, "I'm scared…"
"Yugi…?" Yami questioned.
"This is what we came to do," Yugi responded in the strongest voice he could manage, but it came out scared and weak.
The people watched them as they stopped before the cave ground and got off, though none of them made a move. Some of the ones that were walking around to tend to the ones that couldn't move were staring at them. Then, as the shark disappeared, they came towards them.
"They don't look happy…," Mokuba gulped, keeping a hold on Yami.
Yugi stood his ground, with Yami and Mokuba behind him. As the people came closer, he spread his arms out as if to ward off Yami and Mokuba from any attack.
I'm scared, Yugi thought as sweat rolled down his face, But I have to be brave for everyone else!
One of the people coming towards them stopped a few feet from them and looked down at Yugi. He wore a torn up, stained, white (at least, Yugi thought it used to be white) tunic and brown pants with a belt around his waist. He had numerous bandages, and a patch over his left eye. He looked frazzled, and had a beard growing. He also had unruly black/gray hair that was tied down in a ponytail and went down to the small of his back. He had a long scar going down his face on the side where the eye-patch was, and dark blue eye was narrowed and hard, glaring at them. At his left side, attached to the belt, was a sheathed sword.
Yugi felt afraid under the man's gaze, but didn't flinch. He didn't feel any real hostility coming from the guy, so he slowly put his hands back at his sides. He glanced sideways at Yami, and saw that he was in a fighting stance, protectively standing in front of Mokuba.
/Daijoubu, Yami. I don't think these guys will hurt us./
//Are you sure?//
/Un. I think it's best if we didn't show that we have any hostile feelings. If they see your stance, they may take it the wrong way. I really don't want to fight, and especially without knowing even who they are or what they want./
Yami relaxed and stepped out of his fighting stance in reply.
Yugi blew out his breath, then turned towards the mysterious man. The man was watching him. Around the man stood two others dressed similarly to the man. The man, however, was obviously older. In his forties, at least. The one on his right was a little younger, and the one on his left looked about 18, maybe 19.
//I'm gonna go crazy if someone doesn't speak. How long do they intend to stare at us like that?//
/Maybe they can judge us. Like how you used to use your third eye thingie./
//It's called 'The Eye of Ra'…not 'the third eye thingie', aibou.//
Yugi stopped himself from sighing, and looked back up at the man, "Ne. Kimi dare?"
The man raised an eyebrow, confusion written on his face.
//Yugi, I don't think he speaks this language. Try that one when you were casting the spell.//
/Oh!/ Yugi nodded, then looked at the large man. "Who are you (Who are you)?"
"I'm impressed that someone can speak our language. However, that is a question I should be asking you people (I'm impressed that someone can speak our language. However, that is a question I should be asking you people)."
Yugi opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly, didn't know what to say. Which name should he use?
"Who are you people(Who are you people)?" the man to the first guy's left asked, leaning towards them. He was average size, but didn't have as much muscles as the guy with the patch. But instead of a sword, he had some kind of staff tied to his back. He had unruly, dirty hair (that Yugi supposed used to be white) that stuck out, and deep, violet eyes…almost to the point of blue.
"Careful (Careful), Yakan," the first guy held out his hand to stop the white-haired man's advance towards the kids, "They may be agents for the Kurayami (They may be agents for the Kurayami)."
"Them (Them)? They're just kids (They're just kids)!" the white-haired man, Yakan, exclaimed.
"Yea, but I heard that the Kurayami acquired a couple of kids that were wandering around the streets (Yea, but I heard that the Kurayami acquired a couple of kids that were wandering around the streets)," the young boy on the right spoke up. He seemed to be a timid person, and had no weapon on him except for a couple of daggers. Instead, he had a medical satchel around his shoulders and chest, and had sea green eyes and matted, spiky brown hair.
Yugi blinked. A couple of kids wandering the streets…!? But…!
//What's wrong?" Yami asked him. //What are they saying, aibou?//
/They're talking about something called the 'Kurayami', and how we may be agents of it. They also said that that group captured a couple of kids walking the streets! Do you think it could be the others…!?/
Yami gritted his teeth. //It's possible, aibou. I won't lie. After all, we were the only ones alive on the surface.//
"Who (Who)?!" Yugi suddenly turned to the three in front of them, drawing even more attention, "Who were captured (Who were captured)!? What were their names (What were their names)?! What did they look like (What did they look like)?!"
"You have a lot of guts, kid (You have a lot of guts, kid)," the man with the patch growled.
Before Yugi could say another word, he felt a blinding pain just below his right eye, on his cheek. He gave a yelp and went flying back into Yami and Mokuba, causing them all to fall over.
The man with the patch straightened up, shaking the hand he had used to punch Yugi with, "You've got a lotta nerve talking to us like that. We aren't as weak as we look (You've got a lotta nerve talking to us like that. We aren't as weak as we look)."
"Yugi, daijoubuka?!" Yami exclaimed, standing up and helping the smaller boy up.
Yugi nodded, wincing, a hand over what was going to be a nasty bruise. "Mokuba…?"
"Watashi daijoubu, Yugi-niichan," Mokuba gulped, standing up as well.
Yami glared at the man and stepped in front of Yugi, "Hey, bastard! Why'd you do that?! We're in no position to be threatening you! You can't just go around hitting other people without hearing their reasons first! Hear me, asshole!?"
"They speak Earthian," Yakan blinked, now speaking in a dialect the others could understand.
"Hmm…," the boy blinked, "So they do…I guess that makes communications easier."
"Kids should know their places," the man with the patch also switched to the other dialect, but was still glaring at Yami.
Yami glared right back, "Don't look at me like that! I'm not running! If you want to hurt Yugi, you go through me, first…!" Yami blinked when a hand was laid on his shoulder.
"It's okay, Yami," Yugi whispered.
/I started asking questions without saying who I was first. I kinda was asking for that…/
//Yugi…//
/I'm fine…really./
Yami backed off, stepping away from the man.
The man with the patch was eyeing them, "You said… 'Yami'…"
Yugi blinked, then nodded, "Yea…that's not his real name, but…"
"Darkness?" the boy blinked. "Do you think it has to do with the…?"
"Silence, Daisuke! You give too much away!" the man with the patch said in a voice that was not meant to be argued with.
"I'm sorry, sir…," the boy, Daisuke, hung his head.
"But, we're not here to cause you any harm," Yugi stated, "You are occupants of Gaia, aren't you? An army?"
"What of it, boy?" the man with the patch glared at him.
Mokuba glared at the man from behind Yami, "W-we're not g-gonna hurt you! S-so you don't have to h-hurt us!"
The man with a patch glared at him, causing Mokuba to duck behind Yami again.
"We really want to help," Yugi insisted, "Protect Gaia, I mean. That's why we're here. Well, one of the reasons. But we got separated from our friends who came with us when we heard a song, and ended up in this cave when the ground started to shake."
Some of the other soldiers were gathered around or also listening.
"What of it?" the man with the patch asked again.
Yugi blinked, "I'm saying that we wanna help…"
"Feh. What can little kids do?" the man with the patch grunted.
"A lot more then you think, gramps," Yami countered.
"Gra…?! I'm too old to be somebody's grandpa!" the man with the patch shouted, "And besides, that dialect…is used by someone from Japan on Earth!"
"You just noticed this, boss?" Daisuke asked as he and Yakan sweatdropped.
"Of course not, you fools!" the guy turned red a bit.
"We came from Japan," Mokuba interrupted.
There was some whispering.
"Who are you kids?" Yakan asked.
Yugi smiled, "Sorry…we forgot to introduce ourselves, didn't we?"
"I'm Mokuba Kaiba!" Mokuba stated, poking his head out again and standing on his own.
"Ryushin…but I prefer 'Yami'."
Yugi held out his hand and smiled, "I like the name 'Yugi' better…that's the name I was given on Earth. But my real name is Tenko Motou. Nice to meet you."
"Tenko?!"
"Motou…?!"
Whispers went up.
"Are you really the Motou boy?" an emaciated soldier asked with tears in his eyes.
Yugi nodded.
"Really?!"
"What's the commotion…?"
"It's Tenko! He's alive!"
"Tenko died with Shinbu!"
"No, look! Tenko's alive!"
"Then what about Shinbu…?"
"Is it really Tenko…?"
"Look at him! The resemblance! It has to be him!"
"Just like Shinbu and Nagisa! Like the little baby…!"
"He's come to save us from the shadows!"
Mokuba blinked, "Woa…you're popular, Yugi-niichan…"
"QUIET!!"
Everyone quieted down and looked at the man with the patch.
"But, Lord Washi, the prophecy…"
"Shut your mouth, soldier," the man with the patch, Washi, growled at the wounded man who had spoken.
"Right away, sir," the man bowed his head.
"Boy, how do we know you're really Tenko and not pulling our leg?" Washi turned to Yugi.
Saying that he was afraid was a major understatement. Yugi gazed around him at the wounded (and in some cases, dying) soldiers around him, all happy that he had shown up, and then at the leader, Washi, who was glaring at him.
Yami put a hand on Yugi's shoulder. //Don't be afraid. Show them what you can do.//
Yugi gulped and pulled out a card.
"What's that?" Yakan blinked, then caught a glimpse of it, "No way…!!"
Yugi concentrated, "Silver Fang!" He threw the card, and it instantly transformed into the silver wolf. The wolf howled, and looked around. It sniffed at Washi, then its tail wagged.
Yugi blinked, "What is it, Fang?"
I know this person. This is Gaia. I'm happy to be back the wolf seemed to smile at him. We have more power here, so less is required of you, Tenko-sama
Forgetting where he was for a moment, Yugi held up his hands, "Maa, maa! Didn't I tell you guys to just call me 'Yugi'?"
My apologies, Yugi-sama
Yugi facefaulted.
Yami laughed.
"He sounds like that shark," Mokuba blinked.
Washi looked up from where he was petting the wolf, "You are Tenko…the beasts do not lie."
If I am not needed, I will return now
"Okay," Yugi held out his hand, and the wolf glowed, returning to the form of a card.
Yugi put it back in his pocket, "Maybe now we can find out why you have to be a card all the time, Fang…"
Washi knelt down on one knee, and Yugi was shocked to find that everyone else did so as well. Those who could, that is.
"My apologies, Master Tenko," Washi bowed his head, "For hitting you and disbelieving you. Please accept this unworthy man's apology."
Yugi could do nothing but stare at the man.
Yami and Mokuba were also shocked beyond words.
"It…wasn't your fault…I have no reason to blame you…," Yugi stammered, "But if it'll make you feel better, I forgive you…"
Washi nodded, "Thank you, Master Tenko."
"Um…you don't have to call me 'master'…," Yugi felt a little strange with that title.
"But you have come to save us," Daisuke smiled, "You are our master."
Yugi exchanged looks with Yami and Mokuba.
"I was planning on helping anyway," Yugi stated, "But…I don't want this special treatment. We're on the same level. You can stand up."
The ones kneeling down who were able to do so, stood up.
"I'd rather be a friend instead of a master," Yugi smiled at Washi, extending his hand once more, "Well?"
Washi blinked, then smiled and accepted the hand shake, "Let me start over. I am Washi Shithu."
"Nice to meet you!" Yugi, Yami, and Mokuba stated…Yugi more enthusiastically then the other two.
"We should get everyone cleaned up," Yugi explained, "Then see what we can do." He started towards one of the wounded people, "So, I gather that the evil around this place is this group 'Kurayami'?"
Washi nodded, "Yes. We've been fighting them since they first came here nine years ago."
"Nine years…," Yami's eyes went wide, "Yugi…!!"
"I know," Yugi nodded, "Then they were the ones responsible for the state that Gaia is in, and the ones that caused me to grow up on Earth. They interrupted the peace…"
"We have been holding out until now," Washi bowed his head, "But it isn't good enough. Our spellcasters, warriors, sorcerers, and sorceresses are no match for theirs."
Mokuba blinked, "Some of these soldiers are girls…and some are pretty young!"
Washi nodded, "The people who were left on Gaia united under here. Some of them fight, some of them don't. Many have died of malnutrition and disease from conditions down here. We can't go back up without starting a fight. The Kurayami group dominates the outside. We are all lucky to be alive."
Yugi clenched a hand into a fist, "All because of this group…people can't live in peace like they want to…for what purpose?!"
"We do not know," Washi shook his head, "All we know is that it involves the destruction of this world, and we couldn't allow that."
"We fought, but we're not strong enough," Yakan added.
"No matter the age, we accepted any help we could get," Washi stated, "If they were willing to fight, or had the potential, then we allowed them to fight with us."
"I was one of the kids that joined," Daisuke admitted, "I was only nine at the time."
"Then…you're only eighteen?" Yami blinked.
Daisuke nodded, "Yes. And, lucky to be alive. There were times when I was fighting that I thought I was going to be killed."
"Why do you fight?" Yami asked.
"To protect the people living down here," Daisuke indicated some people that were obviously civilians, non-fighters, or pacifists that were gathered in the entrances of the tunnels to listen to the conversation.
"This is so cruel," Mokuba was looking at one girl who was dirty and torn up, down to her unruly brown hair, hiding in the back and clutching a ripped up stuffed animal to herself, looking up with wide, emerald eyes. She seemed no older then Mokuba.
"This is what living down here is like?" Mokuba asked.
The girl nodded, "I'm Jade. We don't have a choice. If we go up there, we'll get our souls taken! That's why papa and the others are fighting!"
"Your dad?" Mokuba asked.
"She's my daughter," Washi shook his head, "I wish there was more I could do for her. But she is right…if we allow our children to go up there, their souls will be taken. Those not on guard will end up as soulless dolls."
"Horrible…," Mokuba whispered.
"Just like…," Yami realized, "The Shadow Realm!"
"Aa," Yugi nodded, "I'm supposing that's the problem here." He stood up, "Yami, we have to help these people. Get them cleaned up. Then, we fight."
Yami blinked. He hadn't heard such determination or passion in Yugi's voice before. Sure, he had heard the emotions in Yugi at times, but never to the extent he heard and saw them now. He shook himself out of it and smiled, "You're stronger then you were, Yugi."
Yugi sniffled, but smiled, "Let's get to work. We don't have much time."
The group cheered.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Japanese – English
Uso - No way! / Lie / Liar
Maa maa - Now, now…
Sugoi - Cool
Hai - Yes
Watashi - I (used by males)
Kimi dare - Who are you?