Ahh! It's been well over a month since I updated this story! Bad me! -slaps self- Well, I have a reason, my computer broke. It's been out of commission for the last three weeks, and though I had half this chappy done.... the computers memory was wiped! It don't remember this chappy, nor the very very LAST chappy I had already writen! I loved that chappy, twas the best I'd ever done, and now it's gone! Well... I guess I'll just have to work extra hard now...
Sorry again guys, I feel really bad for this... hope ya enjoy this chappy, though it's crap, and thanks for the reviews and support!
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! AND Song lyrics (c) Delta Goodrem
"This is talking"
'These are thoughts'
but I've only taken the part I think suits!
-ahem- well, now that that's cleared up, on with the story!
Kage was caught by surprise when Ryoura managed to jump and strike a powerful blow to his chest, grip leaving his dagger as he stumbled back, clutching his stomach tightly. He had heard Ryoura yell, but didn't know why. His eyes, though only open by force, glared at the teen before him, who was slouched over and gasping for breath himself. Why was that? "You'll pay for that..." he growled, straightening himself up.
Ryoura raised his eyes, the usually energetic inferno replaced by a weakly flickering flame. Coughing, he reached into his pocket and pulled something out. He had to take Bakura's advice and use his monsters, it was his only option left. Holding up the card he focused all the energy he had towards summoning the monster, widening his stance as standing became even harder. "Uraby!"
"Yugi is... is it really you?" Yami took a further step up the hill, standing now only a few feet away from Yugi. Yugi's insides did an odd sort of flip, from either fear, sadness or happiness, he did not know. Yami's appearance was much better then the last few flashbacks he had seen, he had more colour in his completion and his clothes were clean too.
Through the old yet unmistakable mental connection, Yugi felt a soft wave of curiosity and hope brushing across his soul, trying to confirm Yami's curiosity. He desperately wanted to block Yami out, to disappear before he broke Yami's spirit again, but his dark was so desperate, so hopeful; how could he try to destroy that? So, he merely closed his eyes and allowed Yami recognise his soul.
The spiritual searched stopped, and Yugi opened his eyes. Through the link Yugi could feel Yami's shock, but more noticeably the happiness bubbling up inside him, a feeling that felt foreign to his shattered heart. A smile, a genuine, happy smile, spread across Yami's face and, walking forward, he pulled Yugi into a loving, brotherly embrace, tears streaming down his face.
Yugi was shocked, and slightly confused, as to how he had a solid form. He didn't know how long it would last, but he knew not long. "There's no way I'll be able to stay," his eyes stung with hot tears, "I'm going to hurt him again... all over again..." Shutting his eyes tight he returned the warm gesture, burying his face in Yami's shirt and allowing the tears to escape him.
Unfortunately, as it did, Kage brought up a barrier, causing the monster to crash into it. Stumbling back and shaking it's head, Uraby growled and charged again, then again and again.
"Ryoura!"
"Huh?" Ryoura looked to the side, stopping Ilia, Joe, Steve and the still unconscious tomb-robber heading towards him. He tried to force a smile, but couldn't find the energy. The remained a safe distance from him, as his monster continued to run back to his side, turn, and charge again at the barrier.
"What the heck's goin' on?" Joe asked, setting Bakura down as he did.
"Ryoura can't do this alone," Ilia stated, shutting her eyes and summoning a monster, Sacred Crane, forward. She had not needed a card, she had summoned the monster directly from the Shadow Realm. Joining forces with the dinosaur, Ilia's monster charged at the barrier too.
"Ilia..." Kage growled, clenching his fist as he made a little more effort to keep the barrier up. "I knew you would betray me, you're just like your mother, to soft-hearted and weak of will power. Well, you will meet the same fate as her soon, daughter. You should have learned to pay more respect for your father."
Narrowing her eyes, Ilia pointed towards her father. "You're no father of mine. Just because I'm your blood doesn't make me your puppet, unlike Mark." Another surge of magic brought forth Silpheed appeared, a purple-skinned, fairy-type monster clad in white garments and holding a staff with a wing-like head. With all three monsters attacks, Kage's barrier slowly began evaporating.
"All right!" Joe cheered, punching the air. "Go monsters! They're gonna cream 'im!"
"I'm not so sure..." Steve whispered, narrowing his eyes. Uraby was getting slower, a sign that his energy was low. It's steps has suddenly become sluggish, the fierce looking dinosaur dragging his clawed feet along the floor. "What's going on?"
Uraby's breaths became heavily, posture tense, but exhausted. It's red eyes dulled and he stood in place, growling weakly in frustration at the effort to remain standing. Suddenly, it's legs gave way, it's body exploding into a black smoke before it struck the floor. In unison, Ryoura collapsed to his knees and forward, lying flat on the floor, motionless.
"Ryoura!"
Steve's cry had alerted Ilia, Joe and even Kage to the boys presence. Steve and Joe were kneeling by his side in a second, Ilia focussing on defeating her fathers barrier.
"Hey, hey Ryoura, wake up man," Joe whispered lifting Ryoura's limp form up and turning him over so he lay across Joe's lap. The usually pale teen was, surprising, even more pale, skin almost grey. His breaths were, if possible, even slower then Bakura's, and he was cold. Ice cold. "R-Ryoura?"
"He's been stabbed..." Steve whispered, face turning slight pale as he stomach turned with worry and fear.
Kage's dagger had missed Ryoura's heart, but only by a short distance, choosing, instead, to drive deep into the right side of his chest. Ryoura had pulled the dagger out and discarded it, but the damage was already done. He lung was punctured, and even if he had the Millennium Ring to heal himself with, his chances were still slim. He hadn't a chance without it.
"Oh no..."
"Ilia! Help!" Steve called, and was surprised to have her by his side so quickly. Glancing back he realised that Kage was busy trying to fend off up to four monsters, so it was safe to say he was preoccupied. "Ilia, you've gotta help him."
Ilia had already placed her hand on Ryoura's injury, a soft glow covering it, then growing stronger. She winced slightly and, with one eye shut in pain, looked up. "Steve, I can't keep this up for too long... My magic is split between four monsters and this, so unless I get more power... I can only keep him alive for a few minutes."
Steve frowned and looked down at Ryoura. "Come on Ryoura..."
He froze as the sound of footsteps met his ears.
The footsteps he heard were louder then usual footsteps, though. Turning his gaze in the direction on the sound, he was half expecting to see a small dragon emerge from the shadows, readying and baring it's sharp teeth to make a meal out of him. What he saw took him by surprise.
A normal person emerge. A man who, by sight, looked only about five foot, nearly six. But the man, in fact, was over twice Bakura's height! Clad in Egyptian armour and bearing an axe in his right hand, Bakura's mouth literally dropped open at the symbol on the mans breast-plate; the Millennium symbol. The symbol of Akunumkanon's army, Yami's father. Taking a step back as the man began to approach he suddenly found himself mixed with both anger and fear.
Yes, it was fear. This man, this very man, had been the soldier who had brutally slaughtered his parents, hacking mercilessly at the bodies long after they had passed to the next world. In fact, he held a strong resemblance to Kage, now that he thought of it. No wonder he didn't trust the man when they had met.
Grinning, the soldier swung his axe back then forward towards Bakura. Quick reflexes and adrenaline fuelled by pure fear saved him from any injuries, but he couldn't help feel, given the soldiers height and the situation, like a kid again, back when his village was being destroyed.
As if on cue, fire erupted around both Bakura and the soldier, mud and rock walls were around them, some destroyed, others quickly crumbling. Blood-curdling screams filled the air, as did the cries of young children, but the swipe of a sword or axe silenced them for eternity. Looking down Bakura found he, himself had changed. He was now much younger, with darker skin, greyer hair and tattered rags.
The setting was identical. The death, the fire and, worst of all, the almost butchered forms of his parents in the street outside the house. Past emotions overflowing, he tried in vain not to cry. A few more swings from the axe, a few more dodges. He remembered this. Next a part of the roof would collapse, blocking the soldier off from him momentarily, and he would sneak back down the trap door his parents had shown him and remain there until the fighting stopped.
Sure enough, he heard the creak of one of the few planks of wood above him, then a snap. What he didn't expect was the wood had fallen on the trap door behind him, not in the right place. "What? That wasn't supposed to happen." Bakura suddenly found himself panicking. What was going to happen now? What was going on? Was he going to die?
The soldier grinned and advanced on the young boy, chuckling as he backed into a corner. "No where to run..." He swung the axe high above his head and Bakura dropped to the floor, shutting his eyes tight, awaiting the blow.
"Bakura!"
A hand reached out from nowhere, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him to the side. Colour blurred before him until it paused at the Shadow Realms usual red, purple and black. "Wh-what?" Bakura looked around him, his body now back to the right age but still shivering with fear and shock. "Who...?" Bakura turned and raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Marik?"
Sure enough, Marik was standing behind him, smiling warmly at Bakura. "Hey tomb-robber."
"What are you doing here?" Bakura asked, dragging himself shakily to his feet.
"Trying to get you to wake up."
"What doe that mean?"
"Do you know where you are?" Marik questioned, arms folded.
"What do you take me for?" Bakura asked, annoyed. Marik, though, help his expression. Rolling his eyes, Bakura replied, "The Shadow Realm."
"Wrongo, your dreaming."
"What?" Bakura looked doubtfully at Marik, then at his surrounding. "That's impossible, dreams don't make you feel like this..."
"They do if Kage says they do. It's another one of his spells." Marik explained. "It's like... he's brought the Shadow Realm into your mind, I think."
"Well then... how do I get out?" It was clear Bakura was still doubtful.
"Well... that's the hard part." Marik scratched his head and looked off the other way. "It's a barrier, you have to break through it. Unfortunately, Kage has drained all, or most, of your magically energy."
Bakura was starting to get confused, "So... how am I supposed to get out?"
"Your not, that's the point." Marik pointed out. "Supposed to sleep til ya die, but we can't let you do that, you have to get out of here, and fast."
There was something about Marik's tone when he said that. It got Bakura not only curious, but worried. "Why? What's the hurry?"
Marik frowned and shook his head. "I'm going to channel what magic I can to you and then you should have enough to-"
"Tomb-keeper..." Bakura growled, narrowing his eyes threateningly.
Marik froze, then sighed, looking down. "It's your hikari... he's... he's not doing to good against Kage... he needs your help."
"What? How bad is he, is he alright?" Marik seemed surprised by Bakura's concern, but looked away. Bakura knew by that simple gesture. Narrowing his eyes he walked over beside him. "Come on then. Make with the magic."
Yugi swallowed hard, trying to rid himself of the lump in his throat. Yami's words were touching, but with each syllable Yugi felt a hot needle of guilt stab through his heart. Yami was so happy... and he was the one who would have to take that away. Again.
"Y-Yami?" Yugi stuttered, his voice sounding truly heartbroken when compared to Yami's bubbly one.
Yami was so blinded by happiness, he had not realised Yugi's tone, and merely responded with a curious "Hm?"
"I..." Swallowing hard, Yugi lost his voice. Trying to speak only resulted in him forcefully suppressing sobs. Instead, he turned to their mind link. Once he spoke, his emotions were completely open to his other half. "Yami... I can't stay." Yugi shut his eyes tight as Yami's embrace tightened suddenly on him, his body tensing and becoming motionless.
"Wh-what?" Yami's voice was shivering with shock, even through the mind like. A wave of disbelief struck Yugi like a ton of bricks, releasing the tears he had tried so hard to keep in. Yugi could feel Yami shaking his head in disbelief, then gripping tightly around Yugi's shoulders. "No! You, you can't!"
"Y-ami..." Yugi sobbed. "Please, don't make this harder, Yami." As Yugi begged, he released his arms from around the taller boy, bringing them in front of his face and leaning his fists and forearms against Yami's chest as he, reluctantly, tried to push the former-pharaoh away.
But Yami merely moved his arms and wrapped them around Yugi tighter, as if afraid he would disappear. "No." He sobbed stubbornly, swallowing hard. When Yugi said his name he shook his head again. "No, I won't lose you again."
"Yami..."
Yami's voice became desperate. "Yugi, please, don't you understand? Yugi, you're my other half, my friend. No, no you're more then that, you're my brother... You're my brother and I love you Yugi, I don't want to lose you again." He buried his face in Yugi's shoulder and sobbed. "Please... d-don't leave me... don't leave me again..."
"I love you too, Yami. But I don't have a choice-" All of a sudden their connection was severed and Yami stumbled foreword through him. Shocked, Yugi turned around to see a bewildered Yami standing alone, looking around franticly, more tears brimming in his eyes.
"Yugi?" Yami called, looking around.
Confused, Yugi ran in front of him. "Yami I'm here." But Yami looked over him, eyes seeing through him as Yami turned his back to Yugi while still looking around. "Yami..."
"Yu-gi..." Yami sobbed, collapsing to his knees, then sitting down and covering his eyes. "Yugi, where... Wh-where'd you go...?"
"Yami I didn't leave," Yugi sobbed, kneeling down in front of Yami and trying to look his other in the eyes. "I'm still here. I'm here."
Yami showed no sign he knew Yugi was there. "Why d-did you leave like that...? Do... Do you hate me?"
"No!" Yugi shook his head, tears staining his face. "Yami no, don't think like that."
Yami sat there, crying, for so long... a minute felt so much longer to Yugi, and if seemed like an eternity before Yami's tears, as well as Yugi's, began to slow. Yugi had been sitting by his side, unmoving, the entire time. It was the only thing close to comfort he could offer Yami at this time, but the torture on not being able to offer physical comfort was the worst feeling of all.
Through sunset, and many cold hours after, Yami was still sitting by the hill. Yugi had become accustomed to the silence, save for the distant sounds of the city and the chirping crickets, but it was suddenly interrupted by something else. Yugi looked at Yami with slight surprise, hearing the former-pharaoh murmur a soft melody under his breath, tears brimming in his eyes. It was a few minutes before Yami sung loud enough for Yugi to understand his tears.
"All I know is I'm lost without you, I'm not gonna lie...
How'm I going to be strong without you? I need you by my side...
If we ever say we'll never be together and we ended with goodbye... I don't know what I'd do...
I'm lost without you
I keep trying to find my way, but all I know is
I'm lost without you,
I keep trying to face the day I'm lost without you..."
If I could only hold you now, and make the pain just go away,
Can't stop the tears from running down my face..."
Yami covered his mouth and stared forward, eyes shining, before lowering his head and allowing the tears to escape. "Yugi..."
The heartbroken hikari sat by his side, silent, as tears of sorrow flowed unchecked. "I'm sorry..."
Mark smirked and walked towards the boys lifeless form, protected from his monsters by the Millennium Rod. Standing beside him, Mark leaned down and grabbed some of Yujhi's hair, twisting his head awkwardly so he was facing him. "Beg for mercy and I may end it quickly for you." Mark said, chuckling.
Yujhi gasped slightly when Mark grabbed him, but forced his azure eyes open to meet Mark's. He would have given almost anything for the strength the smash Mark's face in that very minute, but it was a challenge to even keep his eyes open at this point. Narrowing his eyes, Yujhi turned his head away from Mark, ignoring him.
"Hm... Have it your way." Mark shrugged, standing up. Swinging his leg forward he struck the unsuspecting boy in the stomach. Had he the strength, Yujhi would have curled himself into a ball to try and offer some defence against the continued assault. He could do nothing but let Mark see him die slowly and painfully, his breaths heavy, slow... just like his heartbeat.
As his soul was destroyed, so was his life force. His heart beat slower... and slower...
He drew in a heavy breath. Another slow beat. He sighed out. Another beat.
...
...
He didn't breath in again.
To Be Continued
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Welp, I hope peep'll review and hope yaz enjoy the not-so-super chappy. Slán slán for now peeps, please review!
Bay Bay!
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