thank you so much to everybody who's reviewed, you all keep me inspired to continue.
Tsuguri Princess - i always look forward to hearing from you, your support means so much! u're the best!
Random Rockstar - thank you! thank you! thank you!
Dejavu - sorry to keep ya waiting, but thanx a bunch for sticking with me!
well, on to the next chapter. this one's a little short, but i figured i had better update anyway so there's something more to read. i keep telling myself i'm gonna get better about updating more often, but so far that hasn't happened. maybe next time... :P
and just incase u forgot or didn't catch it, i gave kira's yami a name in the last chapter: kali. it means energy or dark goddess, and i thought it fit. shrugs and now that u've commited my little tidbit to your endless memory of all those useless little facts, on with the good stuff...
Part 1 (Chapter 12) – I Promise
Yugi, do you feel it?
Yugi closed his eyes and let his consciousness flow through his soul, combining his power with that of Yami. Yes. Faintly, but I can sense it. Yugi drew himself out a little, still listening to Yami.
It is the same disturbance as always. We need to go.
Whatever Bakura's doing, it's time to put a stop to it. We can't fail this time.
Agreed. Yami hesitated. I don't think we will have another chance.
Then what are we waiting for? Yugi let himself go, his own consciousness following Yami as the ancient spirit pulled the both of them into the Shadow Realms. Kira. If it really is you I've seen. Hang on. Don't lose hope. I promise to come for you...
"I promise..." Ryou whispered to himself. He sat hidden amongst the ghostly plants of Bakura's garden. His own dark self had not yet appeared, but it wouldn't be long. His knees pulled up to his face, Ryou trembled slightly, not wanting to face the person he had become, yet not able to do otherwise.
"I promise to protect you." Ryou spoke the words, though they seemed like foolishness. How could he protect Kira? He couldn't even stand up to his own yami, much less a second shadow spirit. True, Bakura seemed considerably more dangerous than Kali, but such a rebelliousness act might be the death of Ryou. He was dealing with a magic darker and more potent than anything he ever could have imagined long ago, before the ring.
"You were right, Kira." A tear crept unheeded down Ryou's cheek. "I betrayed you to protect myself. I don't expect you to ever understand that. I don't expect to ever be pardoned. But I won't make the same mistake again. Even if I have to pay the ultimate penalty, I'll refuse to betray you any more." A strange warmth rose from Ryou's heart, healing his broken soul and drying his sorrow. Slowly and surely, he stood up.
"Coward," Kira scowled at her yami as she dragged the helpless girl into the shadow realms. Though her eyes glinted with an almost unbridled anger, her face was formed into an expression of cold amusement.
"Who's the coward?" the darker one whispered. "Not I."
The air flew out of Kira, and she slipped to the ground with a single punch. Grunting, Kira refused to back down and stood again to face her reflection. "You attack me without cause, leaving me no way to defend myself. I can't fight a spirit."
"True enough," Kali stepped closer. Only once before had Kira tried to return her yami's blows, but the spirit had never even flinched.
"You are both a coward and a bully," Kira accused. "Why else would you attack? You certainly don't do it with honesty."
"I've warned you before," Kali drove Kira to the ground, "not to question my motives."
"How can I not?" Kira asked, gasping for air. "When you try to destroy me without justice."
"Justice?!" She only had to look at Kira to send pain through every nerve in the body. Fire seemed to race through Kira's veins, bringing a near unbearable torture to every part of her, and for several long moments after that, Kira could not speak. "I am doing my world a justice to destroy you."
Still gasping for air, fighting off what pain still lingered, the lighter one shook her head in defiance.
"If you do not show respect, I will break you," her yami threatened. "You must know that."
Kira closed my eyes, forcing her breathing to return to normal. "I know. But I don't think you do."
"What do you mean?"
"You can make me fear you. You can make me despise you. If you keep up with this torture, I will. But respect itself has to be earned through honor and trust. It can't be forced."
"You pretend you are innocent, that you are the one wronged," she accused. "I don't understand why you bother."
"I bother because I know it's the truth," Kira whispered. "You've listened to Bakura and closed your mind to anyone but him. But how do you find him honest over me when you won't listen to what anyone else has to say?" she closed her eyes, waiting for the other's response.
Kali stood silent for a long moment, then finally spoke, "I trust my own kind." Her statement was soft but powerful. Kira stood before her in failure. For a moment, she had thought the darker would listen, but Bakura had placed himself too deep in her mind for Kira to change what Kali thought. Kira had given her the truth, and she had rejected it. What was to happen now?
good question, huh?
No! don't be mad! i'm sorry, i promise there'll be more really soon...
the next chapter should be where it finally starts getting good, so don't miss it!
(cheap self-adverstising right there...oh well, wutever works... ;)