Tenshi no Kokoro
Disclaimer: refer to first chapter
Summary: Chimera has been defeated and the Angel has emerged. But now the Angel seeks only to destroy evil. Seto and Ryuuji, aided by a reborn Marik, must overcome it to find their lover. S/R/R, YY/YB, YM/R
Warnings: OOC-ness, Ryou-torture, Yami-torture, Anubis-torture
Responses to Reviews and Author's Notes:
I have more exams coming up so this may be the last update in, perhaps, two or three months? Really sorry about it though, minna, cos I really want to continue it, but studying is essential. 'By Moonlight' will be temporarily discontinued until further notice, but the next chapter is already in progress.
--------
Chapter Eight: Chamber of Nightmares
--------
The seventh level of the Otherworld was dark and depressing. Everything around them was bleak, grey and lifeless – dull. There was no colour and Ryuuji was reminded, disconcertingly, of the Spirit World. He edged closer to Ryou, who took his hand with a gentle smile
"Daijoubu yo, Ryuuji."
"These people are just bloody rays of sunshine," Malik muttered.
"What'd you expect? A welcome party and an ice-cream cake with party hats and streamers?" Anubis' voice was heavy with sarcasm.
"Chill man," the blonde muttered. Anubis huffed. "You sound like you have a stick up your arse. I was only trying to lighten the mood."
"Well don't."
Seto led the way, his psychic abilities allowing him to reach out in search of Yami's mind and direct them to where he was being held captive. Compared to the rest of the place, the six of them looked bright and colourful, even if they were wearing as subdued colours as they could. Ryou especially stood out with his ice-coloured eyes and Malik and Marik's blonde hair.
"Hush, you two," Ryou scolded.
They made their way within a near-empty corridor roughly carved from the ground. The air was thick and the pressure heavy, pushing down on them from above as if several tonnes worth of weights had been left on their heads. Demons here were dense enough beings to move around freely under the immense gravity pull, and the tablet they had swallowed neutralised the density of their bodies to match those around them.
Everything seemed to go relatively well for a while, seeing as they weren't disturbed or stopped by passing demons. Unfortunately, when they turned yet another corner in the twisted path, an important-looking demon blocked the corridor.
"What is your business here?"
"It is none of your concern," Seto said slowly and clearly. His eyes flashed in annoyance. "Leave us be and let us pass."
The demon was around Seto's height, which was fairly tall, and he had more powerful, broader shoulders and a scraggly, unshaven look about his humanoid face. He was blonde, with lifeless blue eyes, and looked as if he had been drugged, staggering around.
"I am under orders from Haga-sama and Ryuzaki-sama not to let anyone go any further," he said. "I cannot let you proceed."
"I remember him," Marik whispered. "He's Keith Howard, the vampire we recruited after Haga and Ryuzaki! He disappeared after two months and we couldn't find any trace of him for decades!"
"What's he doing here?"
Keith heard Malik's voice and a glint of red tinted his lifeless eyes. His face twisted into an ugly snarl and he bared long, white fangs, eyes glowing the colour of blood. Ryou recoiled, recalling the time he had been attacked by a vampire also, ready to run, but was rooted to the spot. The three Elites instinctively reached for their staves hidden in their belts, ready to defend themselves.
"You!" Keith hissed, glaring at the three former demons. "You caused me to be like this! I'll kill you!"
He lunged at them, teeth bared, but Ryou stood directly in his path. Marik let out a cry of horror, but it was quickly silenced. Keith was hunched over Ryou, eyes wide and unblinking, breathing ragged. Everyone looked down at his chest, just between the ribs, where Ryou's pale hand held a long, wooden stave, embedded to the hilt.
Keith stumbled back, and Ryou yanked out the stave, eyes hard. With a cry of horror, Keith's body shattered into dust. No one spoke, too shaken by the albino's ruthlessness in killing the vampire. And then Anubis saw it.
"H-His aura . . ." Anubis whispered, clutching Malik's arm, eyes wide with shock. "Look at his aura!"
Malik and Marik blinked in confusion, not able to see anything. But Seto and Ryuuji drew sharp intakes of breath, terror filling their eyes as they stared at Ryou, who just continued to stare at the spot where Keith had stood moments before his death. No one moved. Then, even Malik and Marik saw it.
For us Chosen, our minds appear to be a blue light and the more powerful we are, the brighter the light is. Human minds are white. We Chosen are blue. A demon's mind is red – for blood, you understand.
Kurama's lesson to Yugi and Jounouchi about life forces, aura colours, rang in their minds. Chosen auras were blue, humans were white and demons were red. Yami, Marik, Malik, Anubis and Ishizu were pale red, pink, because they were former demons, turned humans, with a memory of their demonic pasts.
Seto, Ryou and Ryuuji's auras were the brightest of all the Chosen, because they were the Elites. Someone in tune with the higher, etheric plane of existence would view them as immense beacons of blinding blue. But now, lacing through the blue fire of Ryou's aura was black.
The aura of death.
--------
"Fight the urge . . . fight it! Come on, Ryou, you can do it! Fight the feeling!"
He could almost taste the sweetness of the blood . . . the thrills of watching his victims squirm and writhe in agony. It was just beyond his reach. If he just let go that tiny fraction of doubt in his mind, in his heart, then he could experience it. The ecstasy of it all . . . to give into the temptation . . . it was all too easy.
"NO! Fight it! You can't kill! You're a Chosen! THE Chosen!"
There would be no more pain, or suffering, for him. He would be able to enjoy himself . . . and Seto . . . Ryuuji . . . he would share this pleasure with them. They, too, would be able to feel the ecstasy and the overwhelming desire being able to kill brought him.
"Don't think that way! If you do, then the world is lost!"
His previously dark vision was penetrated by a bright, blinding silver light. He heard the fluttering of wings, before everything settled down again. He was staring into icy blue eyes and a pale, moonlit face.
The Angel . . .
"The Gods will not allow you to take this road," the Angel told him firmly. "You are much too important to the future of the world to turn to the dark side. Listen to me, Ryou – fight it!"
And then an icy feeling flooded through his body, from his outstretched arms, quelling the burning in his veins. The Angel began to dissolve, melding into his body, taking over. A new fire began to fill him, an agonising fire of ice, like millions upon millions of knives coursing through his veins.
"If you won't fight it, I'll fight it for you."
--------
Ryuuji felt something stir within him, a glimmer of recognition, as Ryou began to tremble. The albino dropped to his knees, still shaking, and the stave clattered to the floor noisily. He clutched his upper arms in pain and began to convulse violently, voice choked and spluttered.
"It's the Angel!" Marik exclaimed in panic.
"It can't be . . . Kaiba-tachi sealed it away . . ."
Seto was rooted to the spot; he was too shocked at the immense force used to counter a barrier he had created. He could feel the struggle going on within Ryou for dominance of the body. Wings flared out from Ryou's back, disappearing briefly, before reappearing again. It continued like this for a few moments, the albino slipping in and out of control, still trembling. Seeing that the CEO wasn't going to move, Ryuuji dashed forward and threw himself over Ryou, knocking his twitching body flat.
"Don't you dare give in to it, Ryou!" he said in the albino's ear. "Don't!"
"Let me take control," the Angel's voice came from Ryou's lips. "He cannot fight the temptation of darkness alone . . . he will die."
The struggle inside him was too much and Ryou's body lurched forward, blood spraying from his lips. It ran down from his mouth down his chin and his eyes rolled back into his head, falling into unconsciousness. As soon as he had fallen unconscious, the Angel took over. Ryuuji found his arms latched tightly around a cold, glowing form, and wings brushed against the back of his hands.
"Ryuuji, let go."
Let go, Chosen, the Angel said calmly. I have taken over.
Ryuuji slowly removed his arms from around the Angel, eyes wide. He stepped back from him, back to where Seto was. Everyone regarded the Angel suspiciously, on their guard, until he folded his wings back, making them vanish. Then he approached them.
"Why did you take over?" Seto demanded.
Ryou is in no shape to fight the darkness, the Angel replied. It is growing within our body and is taking over his consciousness.
"Darkness?"
I am not about to harm any of you. The only reason why I have taken over is because I am unaffected by evil. Ryou is not. He can be tempted to defect to the darkness – I cannot.
The inevitable had finally begun to take place. Ryou was gradually being consumed by darkness. It was growing within him. They all realised it, when they saw Ryou's aura. The aura of death and evil had begun to appear within his once-pure one. The way he just killed Keith without a second thought . . . how hard his eyes were as they watched him die . . .
Ryuuji's thoughts were interrupted as a scream broke through the silence.
"YAMI!" Anubis cried in alarm, running towards the sound.
"Anubis, wait!"
Malik and Marik took off after him, Seto following. Ryuuji watched the Angel, wanting to see what he would do.
Why do you keep looking at me, Chosen?
"N-Nani?"
You have been watching me, the Angel said matter-of-factly. I have noticed it.
"I don't understand," Ryuuji said quickly. He took off after Seto. "Come on."
The Angel followed, choosing to run rather than fly in order to keep a relatively low profile. It was already strange that there were five people running along a deserted corridor. Adding on someone flying was definitely going to catch the demons' attentions.
--------
Haga's experience as a demon did not go very deep. He was not the most powerful, nor was he the most cunning. But he did have an uncanny ability to convince others that his way of thinking was correct. And that ability was his parasite trait.
If it weren't for this trait, then he would have long ago been killed by Cerberus. The Hound of Hell, as he had named himself, had always had trouble recruiting demons to work for him because he was vicious and bloodthirsty. Normal demons were terrified of him. When Chimera disbanded Haga and Ryuzaki found themselves fleeing for their lives from demons they had once terrorised under Yami and the rest of the Four Kings.
That was, until they accidentally stumbled into Cerberus' realm. The Hound had made them a deal. If Haga would use his parasite abilities to control demons so that they worked for him, then Cerberus would help them become the most powerful demons in the Otherworld. The deal was appealing to the both of them. Ryuzaki was a demon tamer and Haga a parasite, so the two of them worked well in order to gain control over others.
And now . . . the next step to becoming a powerful force in the Otherworld was to destroy the most powerful demonic force in history. The Four Kings of Chimera: Yami, Anubis, Malik and Marik. Even though they had been reincarnated and defected to the Chosen, the Four Kings were still greatly feared throughout the Otherworld. Their infamous cruelty and power was unmatched.
Haga knew this and he was willing to take any measures possible to prove it wrong. In the Otherworld, the key to survival was to destroy those who posed a threat to you. And now, he faced the remaining three of the Four Kings.
"Welcome to the realm of Cerberus," he greeted the former shape shifter, standing outside the door to the torture chamber Yami was being kept in.
"Spare me the pleasantries, Haga," Anubis snarled. "Where's Yami?"
"In here." Anubis was about to yank open the door, but Haga tutted. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. The chamber is cursed. You just heard Yami scream, didn't you? You'll experience the same pain if you enter it."
The albino demon snarled again. Haga knew that, after the defect, Anubis was very vulnerable to threats concerning Yami, and vice versa. Using this, he could get Anubis to do whatever he wanted him to . . . like humiliate himself in front of the whole Otherworld. If that didn't work, Anubis would be driven to enter the torture chamber . . . and eventually end up dead.
"Screw the pain," Anubis hissed.
He wrenched open the door and ran inside.
As he did so, the others arrived. They saw a fleeting glimpse of his white hair and heard the intimidating thud of the doors swinging shut again. Haga cackled insanely as they approached the door.
"He'll regret going in there," Haga crowed. "No one ever comes back out alive from that cursed chamber!"
Malik's eyes widened and he banged on the door with his fists, shouting to the albino frantically for him to get out. This only increased Haga's laughter to deafening levels. Marik rounded on him angrily, followed by Seto, and they backed Haga against the wall of the corridor, glaring at him.
"You'll be sorry you ever crossed us," Marik hissed.
"Dame, Marik!" Seto said, grabbing the blonde's wrist, as he was about to strike. "He has to tell us how to save them!"
"You can't!" Haga laughed. "They're doomed! The chamber will torture them until they go insane and kill themselves!"
--------
"Yami?!" Anubis shouted into the darkness. "Yami, where are you?!"
He could hear the sounds of a voice choking, hoarse with hours of endless screaming. Even though most of the sound had deteriorated, Anubis could still recognise the deep voice anywhere. He ran towards it blindly, unable to see anything. Dimly, the back of his mind registered someone yelling at him, telling him to get out. But he couldn't. He was so close to reaching Yami . . .
"Yami?" he called.
The sounds drew nearer as he approached. His eyes were adjusting to the darkness and he could just make out the huddled figure of a man, cowering and trembling on the floor. He saw the unmistakable star-shaped haircut, which was completely natural, and knew he had found him.
"YAMI!"
Chains clinked onto the floor in front of him noisily, drenched with blood. Harsh breathing sounded in his ears as the person behind him brought out a whip, lashing out at the ground, making a huge cracking sound.
Anubis choked back a cry of horror, trying to shield himself from the blow. The whip passed through his back in an icy wave and he felt numb inside. His legs gave way under him and he sat down heavily on the ground. Yami was only a few feet away, still sobbing soundlessly.
"You've been a bad boy, Anubis. Haven't I told you not to run away?"
He stiffened, breathing coming sporadically as he recognised the chilly, sickeningly sweet voice. His father . . . the one who had made him steal and sold him off as a pleasure slave when he was eight. He remembered the punishments he had dealt . . . the whips, the lashes, the chains and . . .
"Bend over, Anubis," his father ordered.
"Iya . . ." he hissed, closing his eyes. "Iya . . ."
A six-year-old boy bent over, on his hands and knees, while a man towered over him, fucking him roughly. The boy screamed in pain at every thrust, tears coursing down his cheeks, begging the man to stop.
"IYA!"
His eyes shot open, the image vanishing. He tried to stand, but his legs were still too numb to support his weight and he collapsed again, falling forward onto his front. Yami was so close . . . he reached out for the outstretched hand, falling short by several feet.
"I can't give up . . ." he groaned. "Yami . . ."
Slowly, breathing laboured, he dragged himself forward by the hands. Yami's form gradually got closer. He grinned weakly, continuing to drag himself towards Yami. His legs felt like lead weights, holding him back, straining his arms. Sweat fell from his bangs into his eyes, blurring his vision until he blinked them out.
People screamed. There was fire all around him, burning houses, fences . . . a child ran by, his whole body on fire, screaming in agony. The tear-filled eyes caught sight of him and the child cried out for help, for his mother. His voice echoed and burned into his mind.
"Kaasan!" he cried. "KAASAN!"
A man came over, leering evilly, and poured tar over the child's head. Screaming, the child was further engulfed in flames, the tar seeping into his nose and down his throat, effectively cutting off oxygen. He fell on the ground, crying for help, though no sound came out. The man just laughed and walked away.
"No . . ."
He forced his eyes open, deliberately ignoring the stinging in them as he dragged himself closer to Yami. Finally, he grasped the clammy hand in his own, finally gaining enough strength to pull the motionless body towards him, pulling them into an upright position.
There were multiple scratches all over Yami's face, neck and arms. Some of them were cut so deeply, they were still bleeding. His eyes were half-lidded and lifeless, his lips dry and cracked, muttering incoherently. Anubis brushed back the blonde bangs that stuck to his sweaty forehead.
"Yami," he whispered. "Yami . . . ore da. Anubis da."
"A . . . nu . . . bis . . .?"
"Hai, Yami . . ." Anubis murmured, holding him close. "Ore da."
"Don't close . . . eyes . . . see things . . ."
"I know, I know . . ."
--------
Seto looked at the carcass on the floor with disgust. Haga had had no useful information about how to save Anubis and Yami and Marik had crushed the demon's windpipe in pure anger. The parasite demon was a weak one, with no physical attributes, so he was easily destroyed.
"ANUBIS! YAMI!" Malik shouted, still pounding on the door. "GET OUT!"
"They're not going to hear you, Malik," the Angel said calmly.
"Then we need to find a way in," Seto challenged.
He held the Angel in contempt. There was no way he would forgive the – the creature for taking over Ryou. By doing so, Ryou suffered so much pain. And now he was taking everything so calmly, when Yami and Anubis' lives were in danger. He knew that Ryou had long accepted the fact that the Angel was part of him, but Seto just couldn't find it in himself to feel the same.
If you just walk in there, you will suffer like they have, the Angel told him, ice-blue eyes steady. You cannot just walk into the Chamber of Nightmares. Only someone unaffected by its powers, by fear itself, can enter unharmed.
"Someone meaning you," Marik realised, turning to him. "You alone are unaffected by evil – because you destroy it! Then you should be the one going in there! Hurry up! They're in danger!"
Stand aside. I must revert to my true form in order to walk in there.
He approached the door, his aura gradually growing brighter and brighter again. The wings flared out behind him, lighting up the dark corridor, creating a misty glow. They all shielded their eyes from the blinding silver, taking a step backwards. Then it all stopped.
The Angel fell down onto one knee, clutching his chest, breathing heavily. His wings drooped and the glow was dim. Ryuuji rushed over, worried, touching his shoulder hesitantly. The Angel glanced sideways at him, managing a weak smile to reassure him, placing a shaking hand over his.
Daijoubu . . . just . . . a bit too much energy at a time, he said. It was the first time any of them had ever heard the Angel stutter, even a little. I'll be all right in a moment, just don't open the door.
"You're bleeding," Ryuuji exclaimed, pointing to the Angel's back.
It's nothing, the Angel assured him. Just some minor side effects of the transformation.
The blood was seeping out onto the white robes from the base of his neck, under his hair. Ryuuji opened his mouth to say that losing so much blood was not nothing, but the Angel had begun to get to his feet, staggering.
Marik, Malik, he said, could I trouble the two of you to open the door for me?
They did so quickly, careful not to get too close to the open doorway. It was pitch black inside. The Angel made his way to the doorway, clutching his chest. When he reached it, he stood up straighter. The blood began to flow quicker as he spread his wings again and Ryuuji couldn't help but worry.
"I'll go with you," he volunteered, grabbing the Angel's arm.
No, you cannot. You are vulnerable to the effects of this chamber.
"But you're injured. I can't just watch you walk in there!"
It's because this body belongs to Ryou, isn't it?
Ryuuji didn't say. The Angel nodded slowly.
You may come along, he said. I will just need to take precautions to protect you as well. Come along, we must save them.
--------
End Chapter Eight
--------
Author's Notes:
Well, this chapter took me long enough! I realised I didn't have the Angel in the last chapter (thank you for reminding me!) and now there will be a sad lacking of Ryou in the next. A sort of . . . punishment for me forgetting one of the most important characters in the fic.
Myself and tsutsuji have started a Seto, Ryou, Bakura, Priest Seth and Thief Bakura group on Yahoo. It's under Yaoi and Shounen-ai, called SetoBakuraRyou. Please feel free to join, it's a discussion board for all people who love SetoRyou or any other combination of the above five characters.
PLEASE REVIEW!
Relinquished