I don't own Yugioh.
Chapter 48
Yami glanced over as Yugi healed yet another wounded soldier. He couldn't do anything for some of the sickness that the evacuated townspeople were inflicted with, but he at least healed their wounds. Mokuba, meanwhile, had the task of helping to settle the kids down since they were agitated and miserable. He worked together with Washi's daughter, Jade, to do so. Jade hadn't lost her spark yet, so she was willing to give a hand. Daisuke and others with medical skills helped Yugi get the soldiers patched up.
Yami, meanwhile, was talking to Washi.
"Do you know anything about someone named 'Ryuushin'?" Yami asked Washi.
The grizzled man squinted at the boy, "It's a legend…yea. Nothing but a legend, though."
"Can I hear it?" Yami asked.
"Is now really the time fer this?" Washi glanced at his men, who were starting to assemble themselves once again, fueled by the fact that Tenko was really there and helping them.
"Make time," Yami hissed, "It's important."
"You demand a lot of things," Washi growled, "But fine, I'll tell. Only until my soldiers are ready to fight…"
"And then what?" Yami shot back, "Go in and attack? Even with Yugi and myself helping, that won't get very far." Dammit…I wish Seto were here. He's great at planning. But we have to make do with what we have. "Forget it. Just let me hear it."
"Fine," Washi growled.
Yami obediently fell silent to listen
"Here's the legend," Washi began, "It says that five thousand years ago, the worlds of Gaia and the world of Earth were not yet merged. The Shadow Realm existed in the land known as Earth, as did the monsters both good and evil. Some rulers of kingdoms used the monsters and fought to see who would be powerful enough to be crowned the next king or queen or ruler."
Yami was silent. Something started to click in his memory hearing the story.
"Years passed, and it started to get out of hand," Washi responded, "People were using the monsters for their own benefit, which was sometimes for evil. There existed people who used the monsters purely for evil. Soldiers had to be recruited in different regions to keep the peace and stop the abuse of the use of the monsters. There are different terms for the soldiers, depending on what language was spoken where. But it meant the same thing. The job of the soldiers was not an easy one. They had to stop the abuse of monsters, meaning that they sometimes had to face down the monsters themselves. It became so dreadful that the soldiers were granted the power of monsters to fight the monsters after the death tolls became too high."
"What does this have to do with Ryuushin?" Yami asked impatiently.
"I'm getting to it," Washi growled, "Don't push your luck just because you're with Tenko…"
"Yugi."
"…," Washi glared at him, "Anyway, as this continued throughout the years, a king in Egypt started to get tired of always seeing people die from the attacks. Pillages were common, and the innocent people lived in fear. The pharaoh at the time was only a young boy…perhaps in his teenage years, named Ryushin. His father had been killed in one of the monster attacks, leaving him to the throne of Egypt. The story is that his mother died when he was very young…but back to the story…"
"Do you know more about him?" Yami asked.
"No," Washi shook his head, "It's not detailed in the legend. Anyway, according to what I heard, he gathered a group of six other members of the high council to decide on what to do. All of them had been affected by the Shadow Realm in one way or another. His council, I hear, was the most unlikely bunch. Some were even non-royalty. But the reason he gathered them was because they all possessed the power to seal away the Shadow Realm. They had that power, too. Of course, not all of them had that power. Some of them had what we call 'holy power', the opposite of what those who had the power of darkness drew from."
Yami nodded for him to continue.
"With the help of his own dark powers and the powers of the other six, they carefully crafted seven items. Why seven, I don't know…"
"Seven is a holy number in Egypt," Yami filled him in, "Signifying a great power, or even a God-like power. In Egyptian mythology, there are always seven creatures that follow a master."
Washi nodded in understanding, and continued, "I see. The seven items possessed different powers, depending on who made them and what kind of power they had. You are aware of the seven items, because just as it was used to seal the Shadow Realm, it was used to transport you here."
"The Millennium Items."
Washi nodded, "Yes."
"How did you know we used them?"
"Only the Millennium Items could be used to gain access to Gaia by Earthians," Washi explained.
Yami nodded, "Okay…so what happened next?"
"Well," Washi continued, "Using the seven items and their powers, the seven people gathered sacrificed their souls in order to seal away the dark power and hope that it never returned to threaten the people of Earth. This was the birth of Gaia."
"So…Ryushin and six others used the items to seal away the Shadow Realm, but imprisoned their own souls in the items as the price?" Yami asked.
Washi nodded, "So the legend says."
"Wait…how could another world be created?" Yami frowned.
"The Shadow Realm was essentially another world," Washi stated, "The place where some monsters and people drew their power from was another world. That's where the monsters were borne. There was another place, a Holy Realm. Since some of the seven also used the Holy Realm, and just eliminating the darkness wouldn't take away the monsters, they sealed both realms and the elements."
"Elements?"
"As you know," Washi pointed out, "Each monster is of a certain element. Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, Light, or Dark. Light and Dark draw their power from the same place. Water, Fire, Wind, and Earth draw their power from the place where Light and Dark are from. So, by sealing away Light and Dark, they sealed away the other elements, forever banishing the monsters to their plane."
"But then, how did people get there?" Yami asked.
"Inadvertently," Washi stated, "According to the legend, some people with strong affiliations with the monsters either decided to or had no choice in the matter of joining the monsters in the other realm. Obviously, the realms were not suited for humans to live in. Not only that, but the two realms had merged as one in the banishing, and became another world parallel to Earth itself."
"Gaia," Yami's eyes were wide.
Washi nodded, "Yes. There were areas in the Shadow Realm that refused to join and become another world, and therefore, was another plane of existence."
"So there were three parallel worlds to Earth?"
"No," Washi shook his head, "The Shadow Realm was not another world. It was just a dimension…another plane. A place where the evils of the worlds retreated to. A Hell, if you'd like to call it that."
Yami nodded in understanding. "So…it was Hell."
Washi nodded, "Yes. However, it still had too much power to just be another realm. Unfortunately, none were powerful enough to seal it off completely to mortal souls."
"What?"
"Hell," Washi stated, "Like Heaven, should only be available for the deceased. The ones whose physical bodies failed them and their spirits were freed. However, some mortals were able to travel to the Shadow Realm and suffer no consequences."
Yami nodded.
"As time passed, Earth was safe, but Gaia was becoming violent. The history does not state just how long the turbulence went before a war broke out. A war between the people of Gaia and the mortals of the Shadow Realm. This was supposedly about a thousand years ago…fairly recent. It was during that battle that lasted for five hundred years that developed what there is today. Summoning. The mortals of the Shadow Realm discovered a way to bring the horrible monsters created by the dead souls to life as monsters, and unleash them on the people."
"So…now we're into the truth instead of myth?" Yami asked.
"Yes…but judging by the fact that you are alive and real," Washi stated, "I would have to say that the entire 'legend' is true."
Yami nodded silently.
"As Gaia became involved with this, soldiers were created to battle against the darkness, recruited from homes and villages to fight if they had any skill with a sword, with magic, or with summoning. Summoning became the thing that tipped the war into the favor of whoever could summon more creatures that were powerful. It didn't matter of the element…however, no summoner could summon any Dark or Light monsters. They were too strong for the user to handle. Some tried, and were devoured by their own power," Washi said solemnly.
"I didn't realize that could happen," Yami whispered.
Washi nodded, "It was still in the beginning stages. Nobody really knew what they were doing. The only ones who knew were the warriors who did not use as much magic as the others. The war went on, like I said, for five hundred years. Then, we were blessed with a miracle. A person appeared who could summon monsters of Light and not be devoured by their power. Because of that person, we won the war. Peace lasted for the next five hundred years, until suddenly, just ten years ago, the face of the evil Shadow Realm reared its face again. It was gathering minions and boding its time to attack. When the Prophecy of Light and Dark was foretold by our mystics, those with the ability of ESP, they struck shortly after a series of disasters. They called themselves the Kurayami group, and are the ones we are currently fighting now. They have more help then before, and we were without summoners that could summon Light or Dark monsters. The Kurayami group, however, had found people that could summon Dark monsters. That is why we are pushed down to living in these tunnels and fight a futile battle. We can not stand up to the power of the Kurayami group."
Yami was silent for a time. So, then…I really am this 'Ryushin' person. I can use the powers of darkness, and can transport people to the Shadow Realm. According to what he said, I am a summoner of the Dark kind. I should belong with the Kurayami group. But I can't…I won't. It's my choice. And I choose to help Yugi. I have my own mind.
"Now, then," Washi looked at him, "I think we need an answer to the question that is apparent here."
Yami glanced up.
Washi nodded, "It's your choice."
"My name is Yami. I may be Ryushin, one who uses the powers of darkness, but I refuse to use them for the wrong side," Yami looked at him, his crimson eyes piercing, "I do not know what the Kurayami group is after, but they have caused more harm then good. And, they have broken into Earth. It took the combined power of myself and Yugi to seal the portal to the Shadow Realm on Earth. I know who I am now. I know my powers, and I also know my friends. I will not betray them because of 'destiny' or whatever you want to call it. I have my own will. I choose to fight for what I believe in."
Washi grinned, and extended his hand, "Well, then, Yami…welcome aboard. I, as the leader of the Hikari Senshi, the army of Gaia, welcome you to our side."
Yami smiled, then shook the hand of the larger man. This feels so right. I know who I am now, and where I belong. Right here.
TO BE CONTINUED…