MP: Hey there readers! Time for the latest installment of the story. Now, this one is where the real action starts. Everything coming down to the climactic scene. Oh, and just so you know. This chapter mostly focuses on Yugi, Yami, and Kutana's gang. There is very little Joey in here, but it's good none-the-less. But hey, you decide. So, without further to do...here's chapter 8...
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of it's characters.
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Friendship Beyond the Grave
Chapter 8
Yami walked through the cold night streets. He wasn't sure that being out at night was a good idea. But if it would help Yugi and him to avenge Joey's death, he might as well give it a try. The dim light guided him further. He peered into the darkness ahead of him to see if he was any closer. He had probably been walking for about fifteen minutes or so. A near by light shone on a grassy land. A small sign stood, planted in the ground. Yami walked up to it. It read; Domino Park. He was here.
Yami scanned the land behind the sign. It looked peaceful enough. The trees calmly swayed in the gentle breeze. It looked perfectly safe. Yet, he still sensed something. Some sort of darkness coming from deep within the park. Perhaps it was that nameless spirit. Come to think of it, that spirit hadn't bothered him in quite a while.
He decided to go ahead and venture into the park. He glance around, searching for signs of movement. The letter had said to meet its sender by the largest tree in the park. That was in the very middle. It would be a long, anxious, walk.
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Kutana stood in the middle of the park. He had his arms folded, a stern look on his face. "Are we all set Yutamu?" he asked. Yutamu was leaning against a tree with a smug grin. "Yes. All should go according to plan." Juro was throwing rocks against a small tree. "I'm still not sure about this." he said. "I mean, how do we know the kid will even show?" Nattero hit the back of Juro's head. "You idiot. Haven't you learned, by now, never to question the boss?"
Yutamu looked at his watch. "It's five minutes to nine." he stated. "All right, does everyone know what to do?" Kutana asked. The three nodded. "Good," he said. "Let's get into positions." The four spread out around the area. Juro hid behind a tree, holding a rock. Nattero and Yutamu hid behind two other trees on the opposite side. And Kutana hid behind a tree in the middle. The biggest tree in the park. Footsteps could be heard in the distance. It was time.
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Yami continued to walk through the park. He looked side to side. Finally, he spotted it. The largest tree in the park. He was finally here. As he searched his surroundings though, he saw no one, but could sense a great power. A dark power. He walked into the clearing around the tree. The sound of a twig snapping made him freeze. Someone else was here. "Who's there? Show yourself!" Yami demanded.
"Well, well. You decided to come. Though you're a bit early." said a voice. "Where are you?" the pharoh called. He looked around, frantically, searching for someone. "Come closer. I must be sure you are Yugi Mutou." said the voice. Yami reluctantly stepped closer. "I'm here. Now show me who you are." he ordered. "Patience. All will be revealed shortly." the voice said calmly. Yami gritted his teeth in frustration. "Listen! I came here for information. Now tell me who you are and what it is you know." he commanded.
The voice sighed. "You certainly are inpatient. Especially for a pharoh who was waiting for 5,000 years to be released from a shiny, golden box." Yami's eyes widened. "What? H-how did you know..." The voice seemed to laugh lightly. "Why, I know everything about you, Yami." Someone stepped out from behind the tree. Yami staggered back. "I-it's you! Kutana!"
Juro stepped out from behind his tree. But he remained unnoticed. His smirked and threw the rock he had as hard as he could. Yami felt a sharp pain shoot through the back of his head. The rock had hit its target. He let out a cry of pain and fell to the ground. He looked up at Kutana through half opened eyes. "So much for the strong pharoh." Kutana mocked. That rock had hit him hard. He might be bleeding slightly. All he could do was emit a soft, angry growl.
Yami! What happened? Yugi shouted worriedly.
I-it's Kutana... Yami responded weekly. He...tricked us
What? No! It was a trap?
Yes, I'm afraid so Yami coughed a little.
Yami, you're hurt! Let me take over
No, you can't. I won't let you get hurt
I'm taking over Yami!
No! Yugi, don't!
Yami tried to protest against Yugi's actions. But, to no avail. The puzzle glowed, and Yugi took the pharoh's place. He slowly sat up. He cringed and brought his hand to the back of his head. He could feel where the rock had hit. Bringing his hand in front of him, he saw the slowly flowing blood. "Ah. It's little Yugi now." Yugi quickly looked up to see Kutana, with an evil smile on his face. He was standing just above him.
"Hello there, Yugi Mutou." Kutana greeted. Yugi turned serious. "Kutana! I should have known this was a trap!" he almost shouted. "Yes, you should have. But it's too late for that." Kutana said smugly. Yugi's eyes narrowed. "You...you murdered Joey didn't you!" he shouted angrily. "Hmph. You mean that stupid blonde kid? Yeah, I took care of him." Kutana responded, acting as if it were nothing. Yugi's anger rose. Kutana didn't even care that he had taken the life of someone so kind. "Why did you kill him?" Yugi asked. Hot tears were beginning to fall down his face. "Why? He simply heard too much. Your little friend overheard our attack plans, so we had to make sure he didn't rat us out."
Yugi stared at Kutana for a moment. Joey had overheard Kutana's plans? That's why he was killed? Yugi clenched his fists. "You...killed him...just because...he overheard your plans?" He stood up. "You're despicable..." he said softly. Kutana's expression didn't change, but he silently signaled Yutamu and Nattero to come out and take their next positions.
Yugi was still filled with anger. How could someone be so heartless? "How can you act so proud of yourself? Even if Joey did hear your plans, whoever you where planning them on never would have believed him! He couldn't have done anything too you!" Kutana kept his voice low and cold. "Oh yes he could have. That person would have believed him." "And how would you know?" Yugi continued the argument. "Oh Yugi...haven't you figured it out yet?" Kutana asked. "Those attack plans weren't just on anyone. They were on you." Yugi's eyes widened. "Me? But, why me?" he asked stunned. "Simple." said Kutana. "The answer is hanging around your neck."
Yugi glanced down. The Millenium Puzzle was glinting in the moonlight. "M-my Puzzle? But...why would you want this? You couldn't possibly know about the..." "-Millenium items." Kutana finished the boy's sentence. Yugi looked up at him. "But, how do you know?" he asked. Kutana reached inside his coat and pulled out a golden cage with the Millenium eye symbol on it. "Yugi...this is the eighth item. The Millenium Cage."
Yugi stared at the small, barred box. "Eighth? But, there are only seven." he said, his perplexed expression never leaving his face. "Little Yugi...you are so very naive. Haven't you figured out by now that nothing is as it seems with a Millenium item?" Kutana asked. "So...what does that one do?" Yugi asked, almost afraid of the answer. "I've got an idea. How about I give a demonstration?" Kutana said, placing his hand on the eye of the cage.
There was a click. He had unlocked the cage. Kutana opened a small door on the side of the cage. He gave an evil grin. Yugi tensed, waiting for something to happen. Suddenly, the puzzle began to glow. "What the? What's going on?" Yugi shouted. The puzzle morphed into a ball of light. It zoomed off of Yugi and right into the cage. Yugi saw Yami's spirit form flung out of the cage. "Yami!" Yugi called out, worriedly. Kutana quickly slammed the cage door shut. The ball of light morphed back into the puzzle, but was now smaller, so it could fit into the cage. Kutana had captured the Millenium Puzzle.
Yugi rushed to Yami's side. Yami, are you ok? he asked. Yami held his head.
Uh...what happened? Yami asked.
I think you got thrown out of the puzzle.
What? Yami shot up. Where's the puzzle?
Yugi looked to Kutana. He was grinning, an evil glint in his eyes.
No... Fear filled Yami's eyes. The puzzle was under Kutana's control.
The evil madman began to laugh triumphantly. "Now the Pharoh's power belongs to me! With this, I will rule the world as the new pharoh!" "No you won't!" Yugi shouted. He stood up, bravely confronting Kutana. "I won't let you! That power belongs to Yami!" Yami stood up as well.
Aibou, I'm unable to take over, but I'll help you in any way I can. he said, taking his place next to his light.
"You'll do nothing of the sort Pharoh. As long as I control the puzzle, I control where you go." Kutana said, turning to Yami. Yami looked stunned. "You can see me?" he asked. "Of course." Kutana responded. "I control the puzzle. I see all that is a part of it." "No matter what you see, I'll defend Yugi, as best I can!" Yami said, clenching his fists. "No you won't." Kutana repeated.
"Watch this." Kutana turned to Nattero. He threw the cage to him. Nattero caught it. Yami suddenly started to feel like he was being tugged toward the cage. "W-what's going on?" he yelled. He was pulled toward the cage, and was soon next to Nattero. "Yami!" Yugi shouted. Yami tried to go back to Yugi, but felt himself being held back. "W-why can't I move?"
Kutana chuckled. "Because...you are bound to the puzzle. There's only a certain amount of distance you can travel away from it." Yugi and Yami both developed a look of fear and shock in their faces. Kutana looked Yugi straight in the eye. "So, I suppose I should make sure you don't tell anyone about tonight's little incident." He snapped his fingers. Yutamu and Juro advanced. Yutamu stood in front of Yugi, and Juro behind him. Yugi looked from Yutamu, to Juro, to Yami, and back to Kutana. He was surrounded, and helpless.
"Nattero, get those items to the base." Kutana ordered. Nattero nodded and started to run off, dragging Yami along with him. "YUGI!" Yami tried desperately to fight the force of the puzzle. "YAMI!" Yugi tried to reach out to his dark half. "Yugi! Just hang on! I'll save you!" Yami shouted. Nattero disappeared into the darkness. "Yami! Come back!" Yugi tried to get to him, but was held back by Yutamu and Juro. His eyes filled with tears. Another one of his friends was being taken away from him, and he couldn't do anything about it. "No! Yami!"
Yutamu and Juro pulled Yugi back into the middle of the three. "Alright," spoke Kutana. "Time to meet the same fate as your friend." Yugi's heart began to beat a mile a minute. His face turned pale with fear. Yutamu held his right arm, and Juro his left. He struggled as hard as he could, but it was useless. He couldn't escape. He was going to die.
Kutana pulled something out of his coat pocket. He pointed it straight at the side of Yugi's head. Yugi could feel tears flooding down his face. He was trembling, and his heart was racing. Yami was being taken away, Joey's death would be in vain, and he was going to die. All Yugi could do was whimper, and brace himself for death. Kutana smiled in amusement. "Say hello to your little friend for me." He pulled the trigger. A loud shot was heard. And a scream of pain echoed throughout the park.
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"Joey...Joey...JOSEPH WHEELER!" "AAAHH!" Joey fell face first onto the floor. "Wha? What happened?" he said, looking around frantically. He saw that he was on the kitchen floor of Yugi's house. "What da? Where am I? And who was dat voice?" he questioned. "Joey! Up here!" called the voice. It was coming from the kitchen table. Joey stood up and discovered that the voice was just Kiko on the monitor.
"Oh, Kiko, what's da matter?" he asked rubbing his eyes. "You fell asleep you idiot!" Kiko scolded. "Eh, so what?" Joey yawned. "So what? So you feel asleep, and Yugi could be in danger!" yelled the angel. Joey glanced at the clock. "Oh come on, what kinda trouble could he get into at 9:17 at night? He's probably asleep by now."
Kiko was fuming. "Look at the monitor you moron!" The image on the screen quickly changed to where Yugi was. He was being surrounded by Kutana, Yutamu, and Juro. Nattero could be seen, running off in the distance. With him was the Millenium Cage, Millenium Puzzle, and Yami. Yugi was shouting out to Yami, tears building up in his eyes. Yami was also shouting, yet seemed to be being pulled away. Joey's eyes widened.
"What? How? Where is he?" Joey was shouting out questions. Kiko appeared on the screen again. "You see what happens when you fall asleep on the kitchen table?" she shouted. "Now get your butt over there and save Yugi!" Kiko demanded. The blonde boy nodded. The monitor went blank. Joey made a mad dash for the door, but stopped suddenly. "Wait a minute...I don't know where he is!" He looked around the room for clues. Spotting a note on the coffee table, he pick it up and read.
Joey's eyes widened in fear. "He walked right into a trap!" He looked at the clock again. It was 9:15PM. It would take at least 15 minutes to get to the park. He was short on time. He dropped the note and ran out the door. He sped to the park, as fast as his legs would carry him. "Please Yugi...be ok!" he prayed. Fear arose again, as a loud gun shot shattered the quiet silence of the darkness. A scream echoed in the night. Joey ran faster than he ever had before, hopping he wouldn't be too late. "Yugi!"
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MP: Bwahahahaha! More suspense! I just love keeping my readers on the edge. This way, you'll all come and read my next chapter. Oh, by the way, my next chapter is kinda...well, let's just say I think I should change my rating to PG-13. But, the next chapter is the cool yet confusing, Alternate Ending! So keep checking back for updates. RR!
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Preview for Chapter 9
Yugi screamed as he felt the bullet hit. But what was odd, was the fact that it had hit his right shoulder. He opened his eyes to see why. What he witnessed was something entirely unexpected. It was amazing, but at the same time confusing.
Yutamu was in mid air. He was being thrown to the side, head first. It looked like he had been punched in the face, very hard. He fell on the ground, and looked up, spitting out a little blood. "W-what the heck was that?" he shouted, wide eyed. Yugi was also confused. "Hey Yugi..." came a familiar voice. The teen's eyes widened. He slowly moved his eyes infront of him.
He gawked at the image infront of him. It was a person he knew. They had scraggly blonde hair, and honey brown eyes. He wore a blue, boy's Domino High uniform. Much to Yugi's surprised, he also wore the Millenium Puzzle around his neck. The figure stood there, smirking proudly. It was none other than Joey Wheeler. "...what's up pal?"
