I don't own Yugioh.
Chapter 46
"Move along! You! Stop dawdling and get back in the line! Let's go!" the ugly beast grunted as groups of tired people plodded through the tunnels. They were all depressed, and their clothing was torn. They wore rope bindings, keeping their hands in front of them and a rope that connected them to keep them from running away. They couldn't see where they were going because the only light was a tiny speck from farther up ahead in the dark, muddy tunnel. All of the people marching kept their heads bent towards the ground in submission, some with no footwear and some with minimal wear. Some were in nothing but rags. The beast leading them wasn't identifiable in the darkness, but none of the people wanted to find out anyway. All they knew was that it could hurt them, and that was enough.
Near the back, Anzu looked around, pulling again at the ropes, "Kuso…they won't come off. How long have we been walking, and who are these people?"
"They're inhabitants of Gaia," Isis whispered from behind her, "My guess is that they were picked off the streets."
"Slaves?" Anzu asked.
"That's my guess," Isis nodded, "I'm sorry we were caught…"
"It's not your fault," Anzu smiled weakly, "You tried."
"They were too strong," Sugoroku shook his head. "There was nothing any of us could do."
"Now we've been taken as slaves, though," Isis stated.
"We'll find a way out," Anzu assured her, "And find a way to free these people."
The other two were silent.
"I don't know where we are," Anzu admitted, "Or where Yugi and the others ended up, or if they're even safe. But we have to believe in them and ourselves. If we try hard, then we'll meet up again. I just know it."
"Have you noticed something?" Sugoroku whispered.
"That we've been walking for over an hour?" Anzu groaned, "I don't know how much I can take…"
"No," Sugoroku shook his head, "Most of these people are women and children."
Anzu blinked, and noticed it for the first time, "True…the kids don't look any older then I am. There are a couple old men with them, but most of them are women. I didn't notice before…"
"That's because we were completely in the dark," Sugoroku informed her, "Now the light has been increasing. I think we're closer to our destination."
Anzu gulped, "I hope it's not that bad…"
More walking. Anzu listened and heard the cries of the children that were plowing ahead. The creatures on either side of them, which were looking more and more progressively like monsters instead of the humans she thought they were, silenced them with a glare. And when that didn't work, a slap. Anzu winced on hearing the contact and the fresh cries of the children. The light got brighter and brighter, when they entered a place where they could see. It was still dimly lit, with torches. There were prison cells all over the place, and inside were dirty and torn up women and children. There were a couple of old men, but no boys between the ages of 10 and 50 seemed to be present.
The guards roughly were shoving the people ahead of them into the cells, barring the doors and ignoring the pleas of the people.
"I don't understand a word they're saying," Anzu hissed to Sugoroku.
"They're speaking their native language of Gaian," Isis replied, looking thoughtfully at the guards, "They look familiar…"
The ones in front of them went into cells, and now it was their turn. One of the creatures squinted at them, then turned to the guard behind it and gurbled something.
"What language was that?" Anzu blinked.
"Troll," Isis shook her head.
"Wow…I've heard of culture shock…but this is ridiculous…," Anzu gulped, looking around at the different species of monsters there. It was now that she noticed that some of the beings in the prison cells weren't humans, either. They resembled humans, but seemed to be crossed with demons or heavenly beings, since she saw different combinations of ears, wings, and tails.
"Okay…now this is getting freaky…," Anzu shifted nervously.
A cloaked figure walked in between the guards, following another guard. It looked like it was a man, but under the cloak, who knew?
The cloaked figure turned to Isis, and addressed her in a voice that definitely belonged to a male, "Isis?"
Isis nodded, "Yes. Who are you?"
Anzu looked at Sugoroku, "What are they saying?"
"My Gaian isn't as good as it used to be…but I think the man knows Isis, and she's trying to see who he is," Sugoroku replied thoughtfully.
"My name is Kodai," the cloaked man stated.
Isis frowned, then her eyes widened when she realized it. "No...that can't be...no... (no...that can't be…no…)"
Laughter from the man behind the cloak, "Come, Isis. We have much to discuss (Come, Isis. We have much to discuss)."
Isis glanced at Sugoroku and Anzu. She looked back at the man. "Only if they will not be harmed (Only if they will not be harmed)," Isis spoke.
The man laughed, and pulled Isis by the chain around her wrists, dragging her away.
"Isis!?" Anzu shouted.
"Don't worry about me," Isis said sadly, "I know this man. But something doesn't seem right here."
Anzu and Sugoroku were pushed into one of the cells as Isis shouted one last thing to them before she was out of sight and out of the room.
"Worry about yourselves, not me!"
Anzu paled, and Sugoroku shook his head.
Anzu wiped her eyes, and sniffled, "Yugi…"
"We're not helpless, Anzu," Sugoroku reminded her, "I'm sure there is some way out."
Anzu was about to say something, when an older, but not quite old, woman's voice spoke up in the cell next to them, addressing them.
"I know that voice…Sugoroku-san, is that you?" came the voice. And it spoke in a language Anzu knew.
Sugoroku's eyes widened, "Who…? It couldn't be…Maya?"
"It is you!" the woman, Maya, sighed in relief, "You came back!"
"Not by myself, I didn't," Sugoroku stated, "If it weren't for my grandson, I wouldn't be here at all…wouldn't be in this prison, either…"
"Your grandson…? You mean, little Tenko!?"
Anzu listened on in confusion.
"He's more grown up then he looks, Maya," Sugoroku replied. "Though, we were all separated…"
"If he isn't here with you," Maya interrupted, "And I sure haven't seen him, then he's hopefully safe."
"Hopefully?" Anzu interrupted.
"If he hasn't been caught by the Kurayami group," Maya sighed sadly.
"The who?" Anzu blinked.
"The Kurayami group. They are the ones imprisoning us now. I don't know what they want. Nobody does. They came by one day, led by a mysterious man. They used the powers of Darkness to enslave the monsters, and seal away the powers of monsters that they thought might destroy them. Those that weren't sealed were either turned to be used for their side, or killed when they fought. And, of course, the ones that were mortally wounded transformed to conserve energy for the day when they may fight once more."
"The cards…," Anzu whispered, her hand unconsciously going to her pocket that contained her deck.
Maya continued, "The men all went to fight the evil forces. But they never returned. The battle waged on for many years, neither light nor dark could get control of the other. But the Kurayami group had someone with them that could summon monsters, and our summoners didn't stand a chance. There were mages and warriors…men of all ages went into the war, as long as they could fight. None ever came back."
"That explains why there are only old men, little children, girls, and women here," Anzu realized.
"Yes," Maya's voice floated back to them, "Our Gaian troops were forced into retreat, and had no choice but to hide after a particular devastating battle that killed many innocent people and completely destroyed the houses that were left. The forces of the Kurayami stormed through villages and towns, leaving a wake of destruction where they passed. Nobody was safe, once our army retreated to who-knows-where. Not their fault…they had many wounded and even more killed. Some civilians were able to evacuate to the secret areas…I dare not speak of it here, else they might be found out. Any who weren't evacuated or those who stayed to put up a struggle were captured. That is why all of these people are here. Some creatures in here are even a mix between monster and human…a result of them experimenting on them."
"Experimenting?!" Anzu exclaimed.
"Human experimentation," Maya said gravely, "It's a taboo no matter where you go, yet the Kurayami group wants to make an ultimate fuse. The brain power and reasoning of a human mixed with the strength or magical power of a monster."
"Horrible," Anzu whispered.
"Indeed," Maya agreed, "These 'creatures' you see used to be human."
"Are…they going to do the same with us?" Anzu gulped.
"No," Maya said, a bit angrily, "They won't, because none of their testing produced a satisfactory product. They gave up on the assignment, and settled for just keeping us here, giving us food and water only to take our children and put them in the Kurayami army, or rape the women to produce offspring that will come back and avenge them should they be defeated."
Anzu listened in horror. Sugoroku looked remorseful.
"Don't blame yourself, Sugoroku-san. It could be even worse…but now that Tenko is here, I'm sure it will get better," Maya seemed to sense the old man's anger.
"I admit he's powerful," Sugoroku spoke, "But he can't do it alone. He's just a boy."
"I agree that he can't do it alone. Isn't that why you came with him?" Maya asked.
"No," Sugoroku shook his head, "I barely have any magic left…I figured I would lend what little I did have to help save my home. I would be of no help to him."
"Then…?" Maya asked, her voice fearful.
"Hope is not lost," Sugoroku said firmly, "If one never gives up on hope. There are some people I know that could do much more then I can." He pointedly looked at Anzu when he said that last part.
Anzu was a tad confused.
"You talk in riddles, just like old times," Maya sighed, "Yet, even your speech does not stir me. If Tenko has to fight the Kurayami army on his own, he will be destroyed."
"No he won't!" Anzu shouted, surprising the occupants of both cells. "I won't let them hurt him! Neither will his other friends! Jou, Seto, Yami, Honda, Isis, Ryou…even Malik and Mokuba! We won't let anything happen to him! Neither will Sugoroku-san!"
Sugoroku and Maya were silent for some time.
"I have many questions for you," Maya spoke finally, "What is your name, girl?"
"Mazaki Anzu."
"You are…a friend of Tenko's?"
"His name is Yugi," Anzu responded, "Not Tenko. He doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to do. He isn't destined to save Gaia like you all want to believe. He's doing it because it's of his own free will. He wants to help. He didn't have to, but he is."
"Names are simply to identify people with," Maya responded, then spoke again, "But you mentioned a name…Ryou. Is he…Ryou Bakura?"
Anzu was startled, "H-how do you know Ryou?"
There was a silence on the other end. The noises and moans in the prisons filtered over most other noises, but Anzu and Sugoroku could faintly hear crying.
Anzu blinked, then turned to Sugoroku, "What…happened…?"
Maya spoke up, her voice wavering in the beginning as she gained control, "I'm happy, Anzu. Happy that Ryou is alive."
Anzu blinked.
"Ryou is my son," Maya whispered.
Anzu gaped, "Ryou……is from Gaia……? Then…what was he doing on Earth…?"
"After hearing the prophecy…you know the prophecy, don't you?" Maya interrupted herself.
"Y-yes," Anzu faintly remembered Yugi mentioning it.
"After hearing the prophecy, James became fearful. He didn't want Ryou in that kind of danger, and was not willing to accept what would become later on. He snuck away to Earth with Ryou when the child was only a year old. I never saw either of them again. I feared the worst."
"Well, some crazy stuff has happened," Anzu admitted, "But Ryou is okay……last I saw him. We were all separated, though…"
"Ryou is stronger then he thinks he is," Maya spoke, "I wish I had the opportunity to teach him how to use the magical summoning powers he was gifted with."
"Wait a minute…Ryou can summon, too?!" Anzu exclaimed.
"Yes," Maya nodded.
Anzu blinked, remembering Sugoroku's words a few moments earlier, "Hey…Maya-san?"
"Yes?" the woman responded.
"Can…well, anyone can learn magic if their will is strong enough…right?" Anzu asked.
"I suppose Sugoroku told you that."
Sugoroku scratched the back of his head, "I had no choice…"
"Then," Anzu looked at her deck which had found its way to her hands, "The monsters were plentiful, right? They became cards to conserve their energy…and draw energy from the summoner…that's how it works, right?"
"Yes to all three questions in that run-on, dear."
Anzu looked at her deck, "Can anyone become a summoner?"
"It's difficult," Maya responded. "Most have families that were summoners. Tenko's father was a summoner. But…" She stopped.
"I know," Sugoroku whispered, "He may not be alive anymore…"
"Don't give up hope," Anzu looked at the old man, "You aren't listening to your own words."
Sugoroku chuckled half-heartedly, "So you are right…"
"What about a summoner from Earth?" Anzu asked.
Silence.
Then…
"It is unheard of," Maya spoke slowly, "To have a summoner from Earth. Someone with enough capacity for magic that they can be a summoner. To be a summoner takes extraordinary character and willpower."
"But, then…according to that…," Anzu stated, "A summoner can be from Earth or Gaia. I mean, after all, there are extraordinary people on Earth, too."
"I suppose…what are you getting at?" Maya suddenly asked.
Anzu looked at her deck, and for the first time, could actually feel the cards calling out to her when she looked hard enough. Concentrated with just the right amount of energy and focus. I am going to help Yugi. And if I have to summon in order to do that, then that's what I'll do! I don't care how hard it is! Yugi's my friend…maybe something more…and I won't let him down! I refuse to! This is his home. Where he was born. I know that…when this is all over…maybe he'll go and stay on Gaia instead of Earth, depending on how this all turns out. Help repair everything, maybe. But as long as he's happy…well, best not to think of that right now. Right now, he could be anywhere, and he needs our help! Even though my level doesn't even compare to his…I'll still help.
"Stop it."
Anzu blinked, and looked up. Maya had said it, and Sugoroku was eyeing her strangely.
"Stop what?" Anzu frowned.
"Stop giving off that energy signal," Maya hissed, so low that Anzu had to move closer to the wall to hear.
"What energy signal?" Anzu frowned.
"You were giving off a strong aura," Sugoroku responded.
"Yes, and the creatures here are sensitive to it," Maya agreed, "Since they work for the Kurayami. If they found out that someone else here has magical powers, they'd be recruited."
"But…they must have known you and Sugoroku-san…how come…?" Anzu sputtered.
"Just like Sugoroku-san, my magical power isn't enough to help anyone," Maya responded. "I know some healing magic, but that's all. And some small things that normal people pass off as 'parlor tricks'. But you…I believe your words you mentioned before now."
Anzu blinked.
"About someone from Earth being a summoner. You were giving off the signal of a summoner just now," Maya responded.
"Really?" Anzu whispered, not daring to hope but still hoping at the same time.
"Yes," Sugoroku nodded, "I felt it as well. But Maya is right…we want to save it."
"But…I've never done it before…," Anzu stammered, suddenly nervous.
"You can help us and everyone else here escape," Sugoroku stated, "But we have to wait for the right moment to do it."
"I still don't know if I can…," Anzu gulped, tears in her eyes, "What if I mess it up…?"
"There is no room in what we are dealing with to mess up," Maya said seriously, "It may be your first time…but…the first time can be just as powerful."
Anzu remembered the first time Yugi had 'summoned' a monster. It was a magnificent silver wolf, that glowed with supernatural powers and protected them.
"We'll help you," Sugoroku put a hand on her shoulder, "Although our magic is useless, our brains are not."
Anzu brightened a bit.
"He is correct," Maya smiled, "Why do you think my husband fled? Because I was one of the people in charge of training the summoners, as was Sugoroku-san. We'll give you the direction you need. The rest is up to you."
Anzu wiped her eyes and nodded, determination replacing the fear, "Right." She frowned, as if suddenly realizing something, "Are we going to help Isis, too?"
Maya and Sugoroku were quiet.
"Isis…," Maya was the first to speak, "…may not end up on our side, Anzu. I advise you not to think anymore on it."
"What?" Anzu blinked, "But she…"
"She is a puppet caught up in a game," Maya agreed, "But unfortunately, she is a puppet for the Kurayami group."
"But she hasn't done anything…," Anzu started.
"Has she?" Sugoroku said darkly, surprising Anzu. "From what I heard, she was the one who gave Honda his powers. Humans with no ties to Gaia don't just acquire Dark power. Magic, yes, but not Dark power. The kind of power that Honda has. It was lucky that you discovered her, or else something else might go terribly wrong as well."
"I don't understand," Anzu shook her head.
"I doubted you would," Sugoroku responded, "But it is clear to me, now that I think about it. Isis uses the powers of Darkness. Honda can travel freely through them as well. She granted Honda some of her powers, to make him stronger. In return, he worked for her. But who was Isis working for?"
Anzu blinked, and her face turned white as realization dawned on her, "Impossible…Isis wouldn't work for the Kurayami group…"
"Maybe not directly," Maya decided to chime in, "But under a pretext. Or, maybe she was tricked into working for them. I agree with you, Anzu…Isis would never willingly work for anybody who wished for any harm to come to Gaia. Like Sugoroku-san suggested, perhaps she is a puppet caught up in their plans. She must have been working for someone. And if we're right, it's the Kurayami group."
"And if we're right," Sugoroku added, "Then Isis…and Honda…will now be our enemies."
It took Anzu a full five minutes to find her voice, and her wits, and even though in the back of her mind something was telling her they were right, she tried not to lose all hope in what they said. Wishing upon wishes that they were wrong, she voiced her opinion of the matter.
"Then let's just hope…that you're wrong."
TO BE CONTINUED…