I don't own Yugioh.
I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter out! ::bows apologetically::
I would continue apologizing, but you'd probably rather read the story then listen to my lame excuses. So…here's the chapter where the main villain is finally revealed! The one behind the Kurayami group!
Chapter 54
"Shit!" Jou swore as he was locked sword-to-sword with one of the warriors of the Kurayami. The member of his group that had been on his left had just been taken out.
Jou was straining to keep up the summoned monsters…the only one he could keep up was the Flame Swordsman while he concentrated on his task of defeating the very large and muscular demon in front of him. He was pushed back, and pulled a card out of his pocket, "Firegrass!"
The monster appeared, making the demon laugh long enough for Jou to slice it in two. He landed and an arrow skimmed his leg. Wincing, he looked up and saw that there was still a line of archers there. His archers had to fall back to the point of being almost on top of the fire that was blazing behind them so they could still take out the warriors. Still, the archers were going down like flies.
Jou gritted his teeth and, pulling back the Firegrass, summoned the Giant Soldier of Stone once more. "Kay, buddy…You know what ta do?"
The golem nodded and picked Jou up in its hand, then aimed and threw him at the wall of archers, disappearing back into a card.
The archers on the defense wall, not expecting a kamikaze attack, were too stunned to do anything.
"Kyaaaaa!" Jou shouted as he head-butted one guy, who plummeted down from the high castle walls to his death below. Jou landed on the thin ledge that the archers were standing on and pulled his sword out again, slicing them down. One after another, they fell. The last one was able to get its bow string unattached and used the bow like a whip, causing a large bleeding cut to appear on Jou's face.
Jou winced, but impaled the guy with the sword. Pulling his sword out (and noting randomly that demons had black blood), he then wiped the blood coming down his face.
Suddenly, the ground below him exploded upwards, sending him flying into the air and back over the castle wall.
"What the…!?" Jou yelped as he fell. With no time to summon a monster, he used some of the defense magic he had been taught and was able to buffer his fall with a shield. The shield shattered as he went sliding along the ground, but it did mow down a few enemy troops. The blast itself took down half the wall. There was barely any movement, except for some remaining soldiers and archers that were still fighting the Kurayami group.
"Are you alright?" Zuki asked.
Jou nodded wiping blood off his face and standing up, his sword raised. His eyes narrowed at who he saw who it was that walked through the smoke. He walked towards the person that was roughly his size but wearing armor of the Kurayami group.
Jou stopped a few feet from the soldier, who also stopped advancing.
"Why am I not surprised?" Jou spat, "Why am I not surprised to see your damn face here, Honda?"
Honda's eyes were full of fury as he looked up, pulling out twin kodachi blades as he did so.
"Not even gonna say anythin'?" Jou raised the sword.
Honda continued to stare blankly at Jou, getting into a fighting stance.
"So, here we are again," Jou muttered, "Fightin' over territory. I think our grudge goes back all the way to the third grade. We usedta get along…but then you startedta hang out with those stupid cronies of yours, and did more bullying for yourself then you did for others. We were a team…people paid us to take someone down. You were gonna help raise money for my sister's operation that way. But then, you broke off our agreement. I went solo, and earned more money then you did. Even if it meant steal'n. Are you the 'bringer of justice', now? You gonna kill me over it?"
Ignoring the battle around him, Jou's focus continued to stay on his rival as he raised his sword, his eyes a mix of pain, sorrow, and determination. "Sorry, bud. But I can't let Yug' down. So give me your best shot, ya bastard!!!"
Honda sprung into action.
Jou was barely able to block the double-sword attack, then blinked as Honda flipped over him. Pain burst out in his left leg, and he cried out as he fell to his knees, looking at the shuriken that was embedded in his leg. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he pulled it out, then blocked one of the kodachi blades coming at him from Honda's relentless attack. The other blade came at him, aimed at his throat, but he was able to block it with the bloody shuriken.
Honda pushed down with the twin kodachi blades, and Jou winced as pressure was forced on his injured leg. The area around his thy was stained with blood that was still being absorbed by his pants.
Jou gritted his teeth and slowly started to push back with all his strength, getting to his feet no matter how painful it was. His left leg didn't want to support him because of the injury, and he ended up going flying back when Honda pulled back and kicked him in the chest.
Jou gasped as his breath left him when he hit the ground. He dully noted that when he was kicked, he had flicked the shuriken which pulled one of Honda's blades away from him. Great…so now he only had to worry about one blade…
Jou rolled out of the way as the said blade came down, piercing into the heated ground where his head had been moments before.
Honda looked blankly at him again, pulling his kodachi blade from the ground.
Jou rolled to his feet, then nearly fell to his knees. He slammed his sword into the ground to avoid falling as his left leg gave out on him, and gritted his teeth. Damn…
Honda came flying at him, his blade ready to strike like a deadly snake.
Jou watched as the light of the flames reflected off the incoming blade…wait…flames? Jou grinned and had a sudden idea. It was crazy, but if what everyone told him was true, it may just work. Concentrating, he could feel the energy inside of him. He could sense Honda getting closer and closer to him, but pushed that to a small part of his mind. Right now, he had to keep his focus on the flames. The flames that were surrounding them like a ring of fire, beckoning any who dared to get close. Jou was always told never to play with fire. But as he felt the spark deep inside of himself and felt it being powered by the element all around him, he decided to take a chance and play with fire. Just this once.
* * *
If the battles around the castle seemed intense, they were nothing compared to the one raging at the front gates.
Clashing of steel meeting steel could be heard for miles, as well as shouts of the men and women struggling to keep fighting no matter how hard they were hit.
The air was filled with powerful bursts of magic and monsters that were attacking each other.
"GO!" Yami pointed to the Dark Magician that he had summoned, "Destroy the sorcerer's Ground Attacker!"
There was too much chaos to target the enemy troops with the magic attacks from the monsters without the fear of their own being taken out.
The Kurayami, however, had no such qualms. Their monsters were firing at the battlefield and at the other monsters that had risen from the two summoners.
Yugi gritted his teeth and pushed back his tears as another soldier was cut down. Daisuke and the other healers were running around like crazy, trying to get to all of the downed men and women. Some of the healers had already been killed.
It was true that they had taken down a lot of the first wave of attackers with their ambush plan, but now they were being overwhelmed. He commanded his Wing Weaver to take down a monster that was causing a bit of trouble, frowning.
Both Yami and Yugi had five monsters out each, which were dealing with both the troops and the other monsters.
"We have to do something, Yami!" Yugi shouted over the roar of battle.
"We're doing all we can! Just hang in there!" Yami shouted back.
Yugi shook his head, tears threatening to spill. He quickly blinked them away. No, this isn't the time for tears. Even with so many people dying…I can't afford to break down now. He looked through his deck for a magic card to use. He growled in frustration when he found a strange magic card with half a table on the picture. This is all no good…
"Look out!"
Yugi barely had time to throw up any kind of defense before a monster's attack hit where he was.
"Yugi…?!" Yami shouted in concern.
Yugi was holding the power back with his abilities as a Holy Spellcaster. Some of it had gotten through, causing slight cuts on him that bled into his now-white robes. Determined, and gritting his teeth as his hands started to blister from holding the energy, he was able to will it back to its sender, obliterating the monster that had cast it.
Yami ran over to him, "Are you alright!?"
Yugi nodded, smiling and looking at the glowing pendant, "Mom protected me…"
Yami blew out a relieved breath, and helped the smaller boy to his feet, "This isn't working."
"That's what I've been trying to tell you," Yugi frowned, "We're slowly being driven back…and we've already lost a good deal of the army. Sure, their summoners are running out of power and can't summon big monsters anymore, but at this rate, we'll run out of power, too."
"Damn," Yami growled under his breath, "Now what do we do?" I can't use Exodia here…it would wipe out the entire battlefield! The Dark Magician is the strongest monster I have… "What about the card that Seto gave you?"
Yugi shook his head, "I've never summoned such a powerful monster before, Yami. It would be a big risk to summon it now. I don't know if I can control its power…"
"It's our only hope of taking out some of those monsters," Yami explained, then pulled them both to the ground as a stray spell from a sorcerer nearly hit them.
Yami winced and rubbed his arm that was tingling from the lightening spell.
"Yami! Are you okay?" Yugi asked in concern.
"I'm fine…but I don't think we have many options left to us right now," Yami replied grimly.
Yugi looked around.
It was true.
There weren't many options left. There weren't many Curse of Dragons left flying in the air, but there were still Winged Dragons, Wyverns, Typhones, and Skull Red Birds zipping around in the air and blasting at the battlefield with their magical power. Lesser Dragons and Two-Headed King Rexes roamed the ground, breathing fire at whomever they walked near.
Amidst this was the struggle between the warriors of the Hikari Senshi and the Kurayami demons. Arrows flew through the air from both directions, some arrows containing flames that, even when they missed their target, still managed to cause damage to someone. The sorcerers of the Hikari Senshi were struggling against the sorcerers of the Kurayami, and were easily being overpowered. One after another fell to strong spells from the demon group.
Yugi frowned, then grew determined and called back all the light monsters he had out, gathering his energy before throwing down the card that Seto had given to him.
There was a bright glow of light that temporarily blinded everyone…and it blinded the Kurayami group for longer then the Hikari Senshi.
Yami, noticing this as Yugi was summoning the powerful monster, shouted out.
"ATTACK NOW!" Yami shouted, "THEY CAN'T SEE!" At the same time, he pulled his monsters back when the light sprung up from the card into a large dragon.
If they weren't in the middle of a battle, all of the warriors would have agreed that it was the most beautiful, yet dangerous, thing they had ever seen.
White scales glistened as if a bright light was shining upon them despite the fact that the area they were in was surrounded by darkness. Its pearl-colored tail was just the right length for its armored body. A pair of large, sparkling wings spread out from its back as it reared its round, almost innocent looking head up. It opened its mouth and revealed a set of sharp and deadly teeth and let out a roar, its sapphire eyes sparkling with mystic energy and a hint of danger.
"The Blue Eyes White Dragon…" someone whispered in awe.
Even Yami and Yugi were stunned.
The Blue Eyes White Dragon roared again.
"We need you to help us!! Please!" Yugi spoke up, "Please, help us! You have to take out their summoners!"
I am not obliged to help you or anybody! came the booming telepathic voice of the dragon as it growled.
"So you're just going to turn your back on us, with your kind of power?" Yugi asked. He was afraid, staring right at the dragon, but wouldn't let that show.
Why should I help a pathetic human? the dragon roared.
"I'm not pathetic!!!!!" Yugi shouted loudly.
Yami looked over, a smile crossing his face as soon as his shock wore off at the shout.
Prove it! The dragon reared back, and with a mighty bellow, released a devastating blast of energy at Yugi.
"Yugi!" Yami shouted, "Run!"
Yugi put his arms up in front of him as a defense, and concentrated all the power he had. The pendant around his neck shone brightly as the blast hit him head-on.
The Kurayami group snickered, and continued on with their attack.
"Yugi?!" Yami shouted, then trailed off when he saw that Yugi still stood there.
A little burned and cut in some places, but was still standing.
The Blue Eyes dragon looked a little surprised as it regarded him.
Yugi slowly lowered his arms, looking up at the dragon with determined amethyst eyes.
The dragon regarded him a moment, then bowed its head.
Yugi smiled and pet the dragon on the head, "Good girl."
Yami was shocked beyond words as the dragon seemed to purr.
"Will you help us now? Take down these Kurayami demons?" Yugi asked the dragon gently.
Yes, my master.
Yugi smiled, "Just call me 'Yugi'."
As you desire, Yugi. The dragon pulled out of his touch and lifted her head proudly, then turned towards the battlefield.
The summoners of the Kurayami group, after getting over their initial shock, tried to run away.
With a mighty roar, the Blue Eyes took into the air and aimed an attack that, like the dragon itself, was beautiful yet deadly. The attack hit not only the summoners, but also the castle gates. The explosion that ensued took out a lot of the Kurayami archers that were also in the back row as well as some sorcerers.
"Move in, now!" Washi broke out of his stupor at seeing a living, legendary dragon fighting alongside of them, "A third of their army has been taken out!"
The Blue Eyes roared again, and started firing blasts at the monsters that were in the air.
Yami rushed over to Yugi when the boy had fallen to his knees, "Are you alright?!"
Yugi smiled, "I'm okay." He allowed Yami to help him up.
Yami grinned, "It's about time you said that."
"Eh?"
"That you aren't pathetic," Yami smiled as he faced the battlefield once more, "You don't know how long I've been waiting to hear you say that."
Yugi smiled and looked at the other boy, "It kind of just came out."
Yami nodded, glancing at the boy, then turning his attention back to the battlefield and held up a card, "Ready?"
"Yea," Yugi nodded.
Yami smiled. I can't believe how much he's changed. He keeps on surprising me with every new turn that this little 'adventure' takes. And to think…it all started out with something so simple as stopping child abuse…
Before he could mull it over more, the ground started to shake.
What remained of the troops were thrown off balance or to the ground in the quake.
Yugi yelped as he lost his balance, but Yami caught him. Unfortunately, Yami lost his balance and fell as well.
"What's going on!?" someone yelped.
"I don't know!" another gulped.
"Are you okay?" Yugi asked Yami, holding onto the other boy's arms in fear.
Yami nodded and looked ahead as the quake intensified.
"Don't panic!" Washi's voice rang over the din of alarmed soldiers.
Just then, something burst up from the ground. It hit the Blue Eyes directly, and the dragon became a card again. Yugi gasped in pain.
"Yugi?!" Yami steadied him.
"I felt her pain," Yugi whimpered, a hand clenched over his chest where his heart was located.
The ground exploded upwards, scattering fortunate soldiers and killing the others.
"Minna?!" Yugi exclaimed. He looked around as the bodies of the soldiers continued to rain down, sliding back. He yelped when he saw a couple familiar ones, "Daisuke!? Washi!? Daijoubu?!"
Daisuke rubbed his head, wincing and painfully sitting up.
Washi muttered a curse word in Gaian as he struggled up.
Laughter boomed around them, instilling fear in all of their hearts no matter how brave they were.
A figure was rising from the ground, the proportions of the body wrapped around the billowing black cloak distinguishing the person as a male. His shoulders were shaking with maniac laughter as he just floated up.
"Who the hell are you!?" Yami demanded, getting to his feet.
A shaking Yugi stood up next to him, "He looks familiar…"
The man chuckled, and landed on the ground where it wasn't split. In a deep voice, he spoke, "I'm surprised you recognized me…even with the cloak on. I suppose I can't hide from a genius Holy Spellcaster like you, Tenko."
Yugi tensed, trying to keep the fear from gripping him. He relaxed a bit when Yami gave his shoulder a quick but reassuring squeeze.
Yugi took a deep breath, then spoke, "My name is YUGI!"
"Names…pfeh. Perhaps I should introduce myself…," the man reached up and pulled back the hood of the cloak. Long black hair fluttered free, only restrained by a band at the base of the head. Sinister crimson eyes looked at them, tinted with the slightest hints of a dark violet tinge. A scar ran down from the top of his forehead on the left side down to the cheekbone. Hints of a black tunic could be seen under the black cloak. "My name is Lord Kodai."
Yugi frowned. He put a hand to his forehead. The name sounded so familiar…he knew he had heard it from somewhere. He knew he had seen this person before…minus the scar. But where…?
"Yugi…?" Yami frowned in concern.
"I've seen him before…I know that name…," Yugi muttered, "…but I can't remember…"
Kodai smirked cruelly, "Let me jog your memory, Tenko. I'm related to Shinbu. Ringing any bells yet?"
Yugi frowned, still, and stared at the man. His eyes widened at the next sentence that the evil man across from him said.
"I am your father's twin brother."
TO BE CONTINUED…
I know…I'm evil for ending it there. And for not saying what happened to poor Ryou yet.
I want to thank everyone for continuing to read this, even though I haven't been able to update as much as I wanted to. I won't offer excuses. But I do want to, again, thank all of you for checking back with this story despite the length it takes me to update it these days.
I thank you for your patience. I am honored that you have stuck with this story so long.
::bows:: Arigatou gozaimasu! ^__^