Hello, one and all! With the past holiday season and the surface of one of my favorite animated movies (Anastasia) I have felt the urge to create this little number. I say little but many would probably disagree. What can I say, the story got away from me this time!
This is by far the movie I remember the most of that I used to watch as a child. I even still have the original soundtrack that was released with the movie way back when!
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Forewarning: This work will be rated M to be safe!
There are adult situations and themes inside so if you are under 18 or are easily queasy, please proceed with caution.
This will not be the cutesy musical that some of have grown up with (the animated movie) and I honestly have never seen the play/broadway/original so I can't say that it will or won't have any similarities.
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Anyway, as you know I don't own rights to the characters of Yu-Gi-Oh!
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Anastasia (Original Yu-Gi-Oh! Style)
Part 1
A young girl slipped through the boards of the long abandoned palace that once housed royalty, her cobalt eyes darting every which way as a shiver passed over. "Where are those two? They were supposed to meet me here an hour ago." She leaned against the window frame as her brow furrowed in annoyance when the only answer she received was silence. Her eyes widened as a commotion came from outside, her interest peeking when she spotted the pair in question approach from one of the rooms. "Well, it's about time. I don't have all day and there are better things that I could be doing that would be far less suspicious."
The blonde grinned while slipped an arm around her shoulders. "Tea, you won't believe the idea we came up with that will get us out of the slum for good!" Joseph twirled her playfully when she swatted him away and directed her attention to the one of the nearby paintings. Just like herself, he was dressed in clothing that had seen better days but they still found use for the fabrics that were discarded by the fortunate families who still remained within wealth or the abandoned goods that had been left behind. It was hard for many of the townsfolk to speak of the fall of the royal family that had once ruled and though nearly all had long perished there were many who remained loyal. "All of Saint Petersburg has heard by now that the old duke is getting on in his years, yeah?"
"Which would leave the last surviving member to take the head would be his grandson." Tristan grinned as though Christmas had come early. His own clothes seemed a bit worse for wear, which was saying something compared to their own, but she still couldn't see where they were going. "Allow us to explain, and you'll soon be begging us to let you in for a cut of the profit to gain. All we have to do is find a look-alike that would have similar qualities that the late grandson's twin would bear!"
Her expression instantly became filled with doubt and removed herself from their excited grasp. "Are you insane? In case you didn't hear, several people over the years have presented similar counterfeits. What makes you think that you'll succeed where others haven't?" One of her hands rose to rake through her hair as they explained that they had just finished their first day of interviewing persons that they thought would qualify. A unified cry rose as her free hand impacted each upon the side of the head, her eyes threatening to burn them as they complained. "You haven't even thought of how horrible all this must be for them! They are missing a member of their family and you want to exploit them?!" With a huff, she spun on her heel and ventured farther within the empty palace, ignoring their calls for her to come back as she disappeared from sight.
Joseph turned to his companion as they made to exit. "Jeesh, it's not as if the uprising happened just yesterday. It's been a good decade so you'd think that at least a few scabs were healed over."
"You forget, her family served theirs," Tristan glanced over his shoulder to where their friend had disappeared. "She must really miss them."
Back within the palace, Tea was softly humming to herself as she walked aimlessly through the hallways. It had been ages since she had been within these walls and couldn't help but feel nostalgic as she went from room to room. Gone was the splendor that once made the palace feel like a bustling beehive, where servants would wait upon the royal family. Her steps came to a halt as she passed by the broken doorway that was once the throne room. So large and vast it had seemed when she was smaller that it seemed to go on for as far as the eye could see. All of the balls and grand events that were held in this very room teased her memory as she slipped inside. Candlelight, food, dancing, and musicians would fill every inch of the space leaving barely enough room for one to breath. Now, it held nothing but silence and shadows. Her eyes wandered to the end of the room as she descended the staircase where the deteriorated and stripped thrones sat upon a platform that overlooked the space. That was were the Duke and Duchess would be seated, high enough that they could see their guests enjoy themselves as they danced the night away, but her attention shifted to the left corner behind the thrones. No matter the number of guests she would always find them there. Her heart gave a painful squeeze when she swore she spotted their familiar outlines within the shadows and wrapped her arms around herself when her memory conjured faint echoes of the twin princes who beckoned for her to come closer. Although she had been nothing more than a servant's child they had still welcomed her to play and partake in their activities no matter how the adults would whisper under their breaths in disapproval. "Get a hold of yourself, Tea, they are gone. Nothing can bring them back." A tear slipped down her cheek as she turned away from the ghosts, resuming her humming as she took slow steps until she was within the center of the room where she came to a halt as the faint sounds of a harp rang through the air.
A soft chorus of laughter caused her breath to catch as the two ghosts reappeared, their smiles never wavering as they held out their hands to her. "Dance with us, Tea!" She withdrew slightly as though they had struck her, allowing the flashback to grow until the whole room had been transformed back to the glamorous way it once was. In that moment though she didn't care if this was nothing but a memory. Tea would have given everything she owned to see them again and quickly recovered, her hands grasping their own as the music around them grew in volume. In the instant that their hands touched, her clothing became replaced by one of the few dresses that her parents had managed to purchase so that she could assist within the palace while looking somewhat presentable; a cream colored dress that reached her knees that revealed simple thick gray stockings that had a neckline decorated with lace that her mother had made herself that matched the delicate cuffs that hugged her wrists and waist. Tea never truly cared about her appearance whenever she was with the princes since they would always drive her nearly mad with laughter with their mischief and games. To and fro she allowed them to lead, through the large crowd of adults that seemed to manifest as if from nowhere, her light steps occasionally saving them from colliding with someone nearby. Panic filled her chest as an adult suddenly grasped her shoulders and pulled her from them, bringing her attention to the shadow that loomed over her with an expression of distaste as they shoved her towards the servants who watched with worry. She fell to her knees from the stranger's shove, causing her to softly cry in pain, and felt her heart begin to hammer as the towering adults danced around her as though she didn't exist. The beadwork on the enormous skirts of the noble ladies nipped at her skin as they twirled past and every so often the polished shoe of a nobleman would catch her in the worst of places as their shadowed faces leered down at her. Her vision began to swim with tears as she spotted her mother looking through the crowd and made to rush to her when something collided into her side that sent her back to the floor.
Tea groaned lowly as whatever she had impacted with caused unfamiliar weight to nearly pin her to the cold floor, the flashback receding from her consciousness to reveal the desolate and gray throne room as whoever was responsible apologized. Realization that she wasn't alone cascaded over her body as though someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over her caused her to leap to her feet, eyes wide with alarm. She dropped into a defensive stance as the figure came closer. "I suggest you back off if you don't want to be dropped," she warned, earning a gasp. Sure, that was a bit harsh, but a girl couldn't be too careful with how society was. There had been several times where she had to defend herself from those who wanted her clothing or body so she was more than prepared for anything that this weirdo could dish. Her instincts flared as a sound came from behind and twisted her body to the right just in time to dodge as a small blade the size of her pinky to fly by. She instantly recognized the thrower as they launched themselves at her, known on the streets as an American scoundrel as Bandit Kieth, and deftly delivered a blow to the back of his neck where she had learned was a vital point. "Like that." Tea blinked when she found that the it was just herself and the now unconscious man nearly twice her size. Did she imagine the other figure, the who had bumped into her?
A sound came from within one of the rooms farther in, her suspicions of another presence all but confirm when a pair of local thieves sped past her. Her hand shot out and grasped each of their collars before they could speed past. The looks she received from Rex and Weevil told all when they attempted to break her hold, their eyes filled with terror as they spoke of a zombie. They were two more examples of the sorry excuse the once prosperous Saint Petersburg had become, with both of the boys having lost their only families to the devastating riots that claimed thousands. She released them with a roll of her eyes and told them to take Kieth with them as they made to speed off. It wasn't until silence had fallen again that her attention refocused on the door they had come barreling through.
There, within the doorway, a shadow was slowly moving into the room. She called out for them to show themselves as she readied once more for an attack. Relief and the smallest spark of joy momentarily flooded her when she spotted wild hair that stuck up in several places but then she felt horror fill her when the situation hit her like a bolt of lightning. "What are you doing here?!" she hissed lowly, quickly crossing the room and closing the door behind her so that none could hear or see them. "You aren't supposed to be here, Yugi! It's not safe for you! If the people of Saint Petersburg found out that the remaining heir has returned and was hiding within the empty palace there would be many that would seek your life." Her hammering heart nearly wept as she faced them fully, her arms wrapping around their shoulders as the tears she attempted to fight off betrayed her and began to slip down her cheeks. He had grown taller since the revolution but she was still taller than him, making it all the more easier for her to weep into his shoulder. "I'm so glad you're alive though so I'll forgive you…just this once…" A flag of warning raised within her mind when no return embrace came nor a word of comfort. Her breath stalled as the pounding of his heart filled her ears when she slowly removed her arms. There was no mistaking the wild hair or the short stature, but if it wasn't Yugi, then that meant… Her hands covered her mouth in shock as she took a step back, the light filtering through the deteriorated wall revealing a pair of amethyst eyes that shone brightly in confusion and alarm as they asked if she was alright. The cobalt pools that were her eyes rose to the painting behind the figure, finding their match.
The young man followed her gaze when it went upward, finding the large painting hanging upon the wall. His eyes traced every inch of the painted tapestry, what was left of it, and felt his breath catch when he spotted a pair of eyes that mirrored his own. "Is that…me?" A shiver danced down her spine when his deep baritone voice filled the room as he took a step towards it. One of his hands rose, fingertips brushing the canvas along the gashes where pieces had been torn away. Most of it was either burned or stolen but there was one segment that remained untouched and that was of a boy who held his head high with confidence. "Why would I be in a painting?"
Tea felt her bones grow cold. All of Saint Petersburg, no, all of the world, thought that the older twin had perished within the fires that had destroyed the lives of several people. What if that wasn't true though? "What's your name?"
"I cannot answer your question truthfully, I'm afraid." His hand retracted from the painting and combed through his hair. "I do not know it. The orphanage that I was raised in gave me the name 'Yami' and it's all I've ever known." Something within him shifted when the name left her lips. He had always felt that the it felt wrong but there had been no other that the orphanage mother would settle for since he couldn't remember his true name. His lips parted, to offer her an apology for his lack of information, but it never came when she took a step closer. Physical contact was something foreign to him so the unease he felt when her hand rose to brush his blonde bangs away from his face nearly made him take a step back. The second their skins touched caused his body to relax against his will as his cheek met her palm. Her skin was much fairer than his, with the noticeable scar or scuff, but the warmth that radiated from her threatened to tear down his defenses. The faintest of memories rang dully as he gazed into her cobalt eyes that swirled with emotions and his breath caught when she was replaced by a young girl who wore a simple dress and hair gathered into a bun. His hand rose and covered her own as the memory receded. "Please, tell me, do you know who I am? You seem familiar somehow."
They jumped, pulling away from each other reflexively, as the door was nearly blasted off its hinges. An all too noisy duo appeared from the smoke as they coughed and reprimanded each other for their lack of strength. "C'mon, she could have kicked that door down better than you!" Joseph patted himself down, causing the dust to cloud the room even more, and perked when he spotted her figure. "There you are! We heard from the two brats outside that you might be facing a ghost so we came as quickly as we could!"
"That makes no sense since you are the biggest scary cat in Saint Petersburg." Tristan rolled his eyes. That was when he noticed the shadow next to her. "Nobody move. There's someone else in here too."
She cast a glance towards Yami as he made to retreat further into the room, his eyes wide as the two made to approach him, and she quickly moved to stand between them. Her arms raised protectively as they made to move past and her eyes flashed dangerously when they attempted to physically move her. "Touch either of us and you die where you stand."
Tristan, picking up on the promise underlying her growl, grasped onto his companion's collar and pulled him back until they were was at least several feet from her. They knew she could be intense and protective but never had she used that tone with them before. Whoever it was she was fully prepared to drop anyone who came closer than she allowed. "What's the deal?"
One of her hands dropped in time to grasp his closest hand as his shadow made to bolt for the door. "Not so fast, Yami, these are my friends." Her voice had grown soft when she had turned towards him, lacing their fingers when his eyes narrowed at the two. Amethyst met cobalt at her words then dropped to their joined hands. Another memory tickled his consciousness as she briefly squeezed but before he could recall completely it dissipated like smoke as her attention turned back towards the pair as her tone grew harsh. "They won't lay a finger on you if they know what's good for them." Neither of the men seemed to hear her, earning an eyebrow twitch from her, and a sense of doom settled over her when she realized why they were oddly silent. The dust had completely settled by now, which meant that the sunlight filtering through the roof was more than enough to expose their appearances. Her free fingers rose and massaged her temples as they both exclaimed in unison.
. . . .
A sigh slipped between her lips as they took their seats within one of the lower end restaurants. Joseph and Tristan rubbed their hands together as they conversed in hushed whispers. She ensured to keep herself between them as they had exited the palace onto the streets but had internally scolded herself when they had stepped out into the sunlight. The second Yami had appeared there was an uproar of those who had seen his appearance before she hastily wrapped a shawl around his head. "I thought we were never going to outrun that huge crowd." Her hand quickly ducked his head as the waitress stopped at their table, her gaze practically burning the pair sitting across as they ordered a round of shots from the top shelf. She manage to catch the waitress before she turned away and quietly ordered a bowl of chowder before turning her attention to their silent companion. "I went ahead and ordered you some soup to help you warm up a little. Those clothes of yours are worse off than ours so I'll be sure to find you some replacements." Her brows furrowed with worry as his gaze remained fixated on the worn table surface.
Feeling her gaze, he blinked as the thoughts clouding his mind dissipated and he offered her the smallest of smiles. "Thank you…" His breath caught as her hand rose and patted the top of his head, words dying on his lips as another memory rippled across the blank surface that was his memory. An older, weathered man took her place as his hair was ruffled playfully and he swore there was a figure that looked nearly identical to him standing behind the figure, grinning at him with mischief glittering within his lavender eyes.
"Y-Yami!"
He startled and quickly released her wrist that he had unintentionally grasped. "Apologies, I do not know what came over me." Concern filled him when she rolled up her sleeve and revealed marks that corresponded with where his hold had been. The two sitting across were glaring at him as he gently took her hand and gently rubbed the angry marks upon her skin. "I think I remembered something," his gaze slowly rose to meet her own after several silent seconds. "I remember a young girl and someone who looks like me, but I cannot be certain that my memories are true." She had initially been caught off guard by his fingers latching around her wrist but the gentle motions they made against her skin made her almost melt with how warm they were. His words though caused her chest to tighten and then their gazes had met. Every fiber in her being wanted to believe that he was here but she wasn't about to force him to become someone he wasn't ready to be and simply remained silent as his expression became conflicted. "I have had several dreams of instruments, even smelled perfumes I've never experienced, but the dancing people's faces are always blurred as I look for something. Perhaps it isn't something I'm looking for but someone." His motions and words came to a stop as she tapped his nose with her fingertip.
"There's no rush," she smiled, accepting the bowl of soup from the waitress and placing it before him. "Take your time in remembering. In the meantime, we'll just call you 'Yami' until then, okay? For now though you need your strength so make sure you eat every last drop."
"You heard the woman," the pair shouted in unison as their drinks arrive. "Down the hatch!"
. . . .
His eyes, though they were closed, moved in response to the lightest of footsteps that came from his right. They had left the restaurant shortly before midnight, lugging Joseph and Tristan home first before continuing on their way, and she had introduced him to the small apartment she called "hobbit hole". Perhaps it was a bit plain with the bare walls that were worn down to the brick in a few places and bare but her small touched throughout the space made it more welcoming. His eyes cracked open as the sound came again and he held perfectly still as her shadow bent over him while her hands adjusted the patchwork blanket around his being more. "I hope you sleep well, I'm sorry that I can't offer you more." He wanted to clasp her hands as they shook but Yami remained where he was as she withdrew. Through his lashes he could see her turn away, sit upon the floor, and rest her back against the sofa he was occupying. "It's been almost ten years since we last saw each other. There was a party celebrating your father's anniversary of ruling, so the palace was all abuzz. You two were dressed in your finest, even though you hated those monkey suits," she chuckled, her head resting back against the sofa. "I remember the looks on your faces when they had finished dressing you. You both looked so uncomfortable and the maids had to keep swatting your hands every time either of you tried to take them off. Yugi always said that he would rather spend more time with your grandfather and you would do everything you could to make sure that he could do as he pleased so when political matters or your father had sensitive situations you were the one who would be by the duke's side." Curiosity and the longing to understand filled him the more she spoke in soft whispers under her breath. Before he knew it, he was sitting up and leaning against the armrest to better hear, eyes alit with sparks of hope as she absentmindedly began tracing patterns upon the wooden floor.
"It is important that one follows their heart." The words had leapt from his lips before he himself had realized they came from him. He wasn't sure where they had come from to be honest but the reaction from the girl before him spoke volumes as she simply pivoted, her cobalt eyes wide as she asked when he had woken. Yami shook his head and patted the couch, a silent invitation for her to sit across from him. Their gazes never wavered as she slowly rose from the floor and settled within the opposite end of the couch. It was quite small so she kept her legs tucked but they were still close enough to feel each other's warm breaths. "I am unsure of why I spoke those words," he slowly said, his eyes falling to trace the faint patterns in the blanket. "there were things that you have said that made me curious. You speak as though you know me."
Her head hung lowly. "I'm not even sure you are who I think you are." Tea's chin rested against her knee, eyes hesitantly meeting his own. "You look exactly like Yugi, he's my oldest childhood friend." His head bobbed, recalling that she had initially called him that when she had discovered him. A lone tear slid down her cheek as she swallowed the near choking lump in her throat when he asked if she was alright. "Sorry, it's still a little hard to talk about him. I just miss him so much."
"He must mean a great deal to you. It is clear that you value those other two, Joseph and Tristan, but it seems that you care more for this Yugi and the person you have mentioned several times ."
The knot in her chest suddenly grew in size at his words but shrugged it off. Yes, she had cared for Yugi, still did, but it was in a different way than the how she felt toward the two dummies she had found herself in the company with. Over the last several years though the strange feelings had become less intense than when she had initially discovered them. Mother and father had told her several times of how they knew each was the other's half, that when they found each other they were complete, and she had thought that she had found the same with her young friend. Now that she was older though she had come to a realization that the feelings she once held were less complicated than before. Her lips parted then closed. There was no reason for her to justify her relationships to anyone, especially a stranger that she had randomly found. A shiver shot down her spine as a draft swept through the room and made to excuse herself when something warm enclosed around her from behind and she found herself back onto the couch. Heat burned her cheeks as the scents of warm amber and sandalwood surrounded her.
His heart pounded from within his chest as he wrapped the blanket tighter around them both. The thought of her leaving had surprisingly made him concerned and his body had moved before he could prevent it, leading them to be in the nearly awkward situation they currently found themselves in. "It would be much warmer if we shared." Yami's gaze rose to the ceiling as he heard his own words. Technically he wasn't wrong, he had read it within one of the education textbooks that the orphanage had been given, but that didn't mean it sounded any less sappy. "Apologies, that must have sounded…odd."
"A bit," she giggled. "But you're right. Are you sure you don't mind sharing?" His only answer was the blanket being tucked around her form tighter, earning a lift of her lips as her eyes closed sleepily.
. . . .
A loud banging woke them a few hours later, adrenaline pumping through their veins as they heard shouts and spotted a glow from between the door's cracks. Tea's hand grasped his own as the pounding came again but harder. An unfamiliar voice called through saying they knew the lost prince was inside and that he was to come out to face the people. She gave a tug on Yami's hand when his amethyst eyes clouded, panic filling her when tongues of flame began to lick the door. "I'm so sorry, I thought no one had seen us when I brought you here." He gave no response though as his eyes swam with ghosts when her eyes met his own. "Yami!"
He startled at her shout and quickly drew her from the growing flames. The hurricane of memories threatened to cloud his vision as she clung to him desperately. Reality and memory began to merge as the door was broken down, dark figures forcing their way through the flames as their fists rose high in the air. His body reacted the second the door had crumbled and he quickly moved to the bedroom she had gone into earlier in time for the figures to miss seeing their retreating forms as the bedroom door closed behind them. His hand rose and rested atop of her head when he noticed her quivering form. "It will be alright," he soothed, voice barely above a whisper as she clung to him. Something dark swirled within his chest as the sounds of glass and furniture breaking came through the door. They were destroying everything that the girl who had given him food and shelter valued. The dark emotion grew tenfold when he spotted the crestfallen expression on her face, whispering in his ear as she grimaced when another sound of something shattering reached them.
She felt his figure stiffen just before he pulled away and her heart clenched painfully when the moonlight danced with that of the flames from the other room across his features. They looks as though they had been chiseled out of stone, like the statues that decorated the palace once upon a time, but it was the bloodlust within his blazing cerise eyes that caused her breath to catch. "Yami?"
"I will not allow anything to harm you." His voice had become deeper and rang with an underlying coldness that alone made the room feel similar in temperature than that of outside. The hidden ice within his tone seemed to cause clouds of frost to gather around his feet but there was something else mixed within them that caused her stomach to drop.
Panic rose within her as he turned away, his hand reaching for the doorknob as his expression morphed before her very eyes. She quickly moved to block the door and held her arms out so that her palms met his chest, hindering him from moving further. "You can't go out there! There's no point anymore! Those are just things that they are breaking, okay?" Her voice quivered when his eyes remained locked on the door when footsteps went by. "Please, listen to me! All the riches in the world wouldn't matter if they were in that room, I'm not worried about my belongings!" One of her hands instinctively fell to finger the only object she had ever valued that rested upon a slim cord around her neck. It was so far tucked within the layers she wore that most never even knew she was wearing it but the slight weight from it always kept her from losing hope completely. Tears burned behind her eyes as he came closer, the blazing infernos that had replaced his own threatening to burn whatever he looked upon. Her hands rose together to cling to his clothing in desperation when he still did not respond after several seconds. "The only thing I treasure is something that can't be seen so please don't shatter it by throwing your life away!"
The fog covering his mind rippled at her words. He almost hadn't heard them at all if it weren't for the feeling of her hands against his chest. A dark whisper in his ear attempted to drown her out but the more she spoke the more it began to quiet. A small spark of gold appeared within the enfolding grayscale that threatened to obscure his vision, as if it were calling for him to follow. His skin crawled as wisps of ice danced across his being, threatening to keep him within the growing darkness, but the words she had spoken had caused a strange effect. Every syllable within those words caused the darkness around him to slowly melt away and the sentence itself caused the spark to grow into a golden flame that called out to him as its light chased the clinging ice away. The vignette that had appeared around his vision receded, nearly startling him with how vivid her swimming cobalt eyes that gazed up at him were and it felt as though a cube of ice slid down his back when he found fear within their azure depths. The scene wavered, the small girl from before appearing where she stood, and a name leapt from his lips as the door behind her shattered in a fireball. "Tea!" Relief filled her when the darkness had receded from his features and eyes, but it was quickly replaced by shock as he called her name just before her world was engulfed in wood and fire. His arms wrapped around her figure just in time to take the brunt of the force but it still managed to knock her unconsciousness as they fell to the floor. "Tea? Tea!" One of his arms protective wrapped around her shoulders, keeping her head tucked as he moved away from the scorching flames that crept into the room. A voice from within the other room screamed about gasoline that was closely followed by the stampeding footfalls of the intruders fleeing. Yami's free hand striped the bed, ensuring that the sheets were firmly wrapped around their forms as he turned and faced the window. Ensuring he had a firm grip on the sheets and Tea's form, he took steps across the room and bit back a cry of pain as his back met the glass. His hold tightened as icy wind rushed past them, his eyes growing wide as the ground rushed to meet them, and blinked in surprise when the impact never came.
"We gotcha!" The unified shout brought his attention to the two figures standing above him as they were lowered to the ground then covered with the sheet that had been used to cushion their fall. "We'll explain later! For now you two will have to get cozy in there until we get somewhere safe!" Joseph collected two corners while Tristan the remaining and they disappeared into the now bustling streets as the building behind them blazed with angry flames that billowed large clouds of black smoke.
. . . .
Deep within the earth, far below the top layers, a shadow stirred as the whisper of power crept along its coffin lid. It sparked across something tarnished and in a blinding golden light it called forth the soul that had been slumbering with it. A groan rose from the bearer as the item around its withered neck became a ring of gold and a pair of sinister eyes rolled until the light revealed the decaying pupils that revealed malevolence. It's cracked lips lifted into a sinister sneer as the coffin and earth surrounding it collapsed, dropping him into the caverns bellow the graveyard. The air resounded with telltale cracks that resulted in its legs snapping in two but with a snarl the dusty bones reattached themselves. A hiss slipped between his rotted teeth as he looked down upon his being when it didn't fully regenerate. His skeletal hand grasped the ring, lifting it above his head as he chanted below his breath. Dark clouds of magic energy swirled around him as his words echoed off the cavern walls, creating a haunting sound that would drive anyone mad. He fell silent for several seconds as the shadows teased his ears and formed shapes that resembled creatures of old that would bestow nightmares if seen by anyone alive. The withdrew slightly when he threw his head back and laughed almost maniacally. "It would appear that a few mice have escaped my curse. Fear not, denizens of the mighty Zork, I will feed him to you soon enough. And when that happens, my power will be reborn and I, Bakura, will be as well!"
. . . .
A weathered old man woke with a start, his cry alerting the young man next door who hurried to his side. His hands grasped his grandson's, eyes spilling with tears as the dream replayed in his mind. "I can't take it anymore, my boy, the pain is just too much." His wrinkled forehead rested against their folded hands. "It was my fault that your brother was lost to us, Yugi, it is a guilt that I will carry for the rest of my days. All of those imposters parading in front of me, attempting to fool us with their acts, I can't do it anymore."
Yugi wrapped his arms around his grandfather, the once ruler who stood tall as a tree now shrunken to a feeble old man, as he wept large tears that soon soaked the blankets. "We know he's out there, grandpa, we have to hope that he will find his way back to us." His bit his lip as the man he held gave a wail of sorrow, hoping to hold back his own tears as he recalled that fateful night.
"Brother?" He cried as the fire around him roared. Everywhere he turned there was nothing but smoke and screams as he recoiled from the crackling flames. It was hard to breathe and he could hardly see a thing with his eyes stinging from the smoke. The tears streaming down his cheeks though weren't solely caused by the destruction. He and his brother had witnessed the sacrifice of their parents to ensure they were spared from the armed townsfolk that had managed to enter the royal chambers. Mother had tried shushing him the best she could with a few words that sounded like empty promises as she slipped them inside the laundry chute. The twists of the pipes had separate him from his older sibling and that was how he had found himself within one of the blazing hallways. "B-Brother!"
A small hand grasped his wrist, nearly causing him to jump in fear, if it weren't for the cobalts that begged him to follow. The little servant girl that he and brother had befriended! "We have to run! No time for tears!" She pulled him into one of the rooms just as a few adults appeared within the flames. Her hands quickly worked at the little cupboard that lead towards the servant quarters, a secret passage he had used several times, and swung the door open. He had nearly fallen back in surprise when he spotted his grandfather waiting with open arms on the other side and quickly hurried inside as his name was called. A sudden cry caused them to look back towards the hallway and his hand extended when she darted back through the flames without hesitation. Both couldn't help but admire the girl for her courage as Yugi sniffled and hid within his grandfather's embrace as the fires crept closer. They exclaimed in unison as she reappeared with his brother in tow. She was struggling but the sheer concentration written across her features were testimony to her determination and inner will as she attempted to pass through the wall of fire. The raging flames arched towards the ceiling as the once monarch called for her to find a different way, earning a nod from her.
"Wait!" Yugi looked up at his grandfather prevent the door from opening, his serious gaze locked with hers. "There is a piece of my family's puzzle that is somewhere within this room! Each member and friend of the royal family receives one as a symbol of the bond that ties us! If you somehow survive this day, bring it to me and I shall reward you for your courageous acts this night!" She nodded in understanding and the door was closed with a click.
His gaze drifted down to the incomplete upside down pyramid puzzle hanging from around his neck. The strange golden item glittered subtly in the moonlight coming in through the nearby window. When a member died or close friend had perished, their corresponding pieces that had been gifted to them seemed to materialize within the puzzle. It had almost been completed the night of the revolution but there were still a few missing pieces that prevented it from perfection. They separated as an explosion of light nearly blinded them, the item growing almost unbearably warm as a voice whispered in his ear. The servant girl he and his brother had played with as children flashed before his eyes as the light dissipated and he felt his heart clench painfully when the fog of the memory lifted enough for him to see her face. For the first time since that night, the profile of the girl who had saved them from death became clear and he could hardly contain the bubbling emotions within his chest.
. . . .
"Alright, it should be safe enough for you to come out now." Yami kept a gentle hold on her as the sheet was pulled back, filling his lungs with fresh air as he inhaled deeply, earning a chuckle from the pair. He had been told to remain silent and as still as possible as the air was permeated with the scent of salt. It took everything within him to solely focus on honing his hearing, ensuring that his eyes remained closed and hold respectable whenever she would shift. There had been one instance where the two responsible for their wellbeing had momentarily lost their grips and caused the girl's body to slip from the cocoon he had wrapped her within himself. He had nearly lost his breath when her cheek rested against his own as she unconsciously snuggled into his warmth and her soft breath tickled his neck as he fought to keep his breath steady. The following unsteadiness confirmed his suspicions that they had embarked on a boat but it hadn't been until the sounds of the city had nearly dissipated that they had given him the green light to breathe. Tristan slipped down on one knee as their new friend sat upright. His brown eyes carefully looked over her unconscious form, occasionally pressing his fingers against the blooming bruises that now decorated her skin, and stood with a sigh. "She'll be alright. Probably will wake up soon so we should get her below deck."
Joseph offered Yami a hand as Tea was passed off to Tristan and hoisted him to his feet with a grunt. "Saint Petersburg ain't safe anymore. We kind of had to smuggle you aboard since we didn't have enough money for you two after the drinks we had." A hiccup erupted from between his lips, earning a raised eyebrow. "Okay, fine, I might still be a bit foggy but I still managed to save ya."
"You mean we." Tristan rolled his eyes, brushing past the blonde to descend the staircase that lead downward below deck.
Yami would have followed if it weren't for the sudden chill down his spine, causing his gaze to rise towards the horizon before them. It was as if something was out there that was watching him but he couldn't distinguish where it was coming from. He hurried below as a shriek sounded and slid to a stop in an open doorway, eyes wide with worry. What was waiting for him caused a chuckle to rumble within his chest. It was as if it was straight from a comical performance skit! Tea had woken, apparently still within Tristan's hold, and she must have reacted in the most surprising way judging from the flabbergasted excision on the brunette man's face as he lay stunned upon the floor; Joseph was attempting to keep a straight face as she reeled on him when he mentioned that they had carried her and Yami within some rolled sheets, shrieking shrilly when she grabbed the front of his clothing and demanded that he never spoke of it ever again for as long as he lived; her cheeks were a blaze with a bright red blush as she caught sight of Yami in the doorway, and she quickly released the blonde to stand before him. "I'm alright, Tea," he soothed, raising a hand and patting the top of her head. "We both survived."
Under his gentle pats, her body slowly released the tension that it had been plagued with since she had found herself within one of her friend's arms -talk about awkward!- and they had told her they were now on a boat heading towards France, where it was rumored that a close friend of the royal family was currently living that might have a lead to where the survivors were. "Are you sure you're alright, Yami?" Her question was heavy with the underlying reference to what had happened earlier and he nodded. Her cobalt eyes searched his own, looking for any of the shadows or hints that he was lying, but found sincere honesty within their amethyst depths.
"Uh, hello! We're still here!" Tristan grunted, sitting up and glaring sideways at her.
Joseph nodded his head, folding his arms. "I'm tellin' ya, no respect." Her low growl, which was meant as a warning, caused both to bristle and quickly occupy themselves with various objects about the room. Their motions paused not even a second later, their attention fixating on Yami. "We've got a long ways to travel, so why don't we settle down and you can tell us who you really are."
. . . .
Little creatures that resembled deteriorated animals of various breeds whimpered and shrunk back as a shadow paced about the cavern, their forms eerily illuminated by the floating willowisps that flickered with a sickly green color. "Why can't I locate them?" His hand lashed out in time to catch a critter that was far too slow to dodge and it shrilly shrieked as his skeletal fingers squeezed fiercely. The magic ring hanging from his neck gave no answer as he glared down at it. If he had been fully resurrected, there would be no doubt that his chest would be rising with harsh breaths worthy of a fire breathing dragon. The critter in his hand yelped as it was suddenly thrown into the darkness as he loomed over the reflecting pool he had summoned a short time ago. "I was once the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Nations bowed before my shadow when I was in full power! Now look at me," his voice growled, grating like two stones rubbing against one another as he glared down at his reflection. Once luscious white hair that stood upright in a malefic way now was dwindled down to a few clusters that pitifully framed his face in see-through clumps, skin so rotten that chunks were missing, one of his eyeballs would not say within its socket for more than a few seconds but that might be the result of the numerous worms that squirmed within his deteriorated being. "I'm nothing more than an echo of the man I used to be and it's that blasted royal family to blame!" His bare skeletal hand swept across the water's surface, causing droplets to rain down on the unfortunate familiars within reach who squealed with pain as the acid ate away their beings, his temper reaching its max. His motions came to a pause when a dark voice whispered in his ear, directing his attention towards the ring upon his chest as a single beam from the eye in its center met the water. A scene began to form as he moved to investigate and his lips lifted into a poisonous sneer when a boat appeared. "Perfect. I know just the spell…" The critters scurried in haste as he issued orders for them all, his laughter reverberating off the walls as his shadow grew tenfold.
. . . .
They sat in silence as the golden piece dangled from Yami's hand. The fact still remained that he had no recollection of his true name, nor of the family he was a part of, but the evidence of the trinket itself meant that they had to see this journey through to the end. Joseph and Tristan had their suspicions the second they had laid eyes on him but now the gravity of the situation was beginning cast shadows upon their once seemingly effortless plan. None had yet to notice the expression on the lone woman's face though until she stood, mumbling something about food, and then slipped out of the room. Yami quickly made to follow but was stopped by a pair of hands. "You're not going anywhere. Memory or not, there's no mistaking that you are the missing prince." He sweat dropped at the underlying hints of excitement in their voices. "There's lots of work to be done, so we better get started!"
Even though she was down the hall she could hear the various sounds coming from their shared room. Her back met the wood as the ship rocked slightly, the tears that had been clinging to her eyelashes spilling as she covered her mouth with the fabric of her shirt. She'd had her suspicion of who he was, but seeing the trinket had brought that horrifying night screaming back.
Her eyes rose from the secret passage as the former king closed it with a click. There were others but the true question was if she could make it from the room with the prince she carried. Shifting him onto her back, she swallowed the lump in her throat and was about to begin contemplating on how to get through the flames when a group of intruders paused within the doorway. One of them stepped through, their weapon of choice a shovel, and she fell back with a scream as the cold metal struck her middle. The room swam as she collided with the wall but it was nothing compared to the near blinding pain that prevented her from moving even after she crashed through to the neighboring room. The adult's shadow loomed over her as they picked her up by a handful of hair before tossing her back into through the hole in the wall to land in a crumpled heap at the feet of their companions. Something cool and jagged found its way into her hand when she had collided with the pile of ruined furniture that now obstructed where the secret entrance was, her eyes growing wide as rough hands began to tear at her clothes. No matter how much she begged they were relentless as they practically stripped her of everything but they fell back as a familiar voice called out to them. They retreated from her and she felt her heart break when she spotted her mother's tear stained face before disappearing from sight among the flames as he drew them away. One however remained, the shovel wielder, their expression hungry as their leering eyes traced her body. Her eyes clenched shut as her hold tightened on the strange object in her hand, praying with every fiber for someone to help her as they came closer.
With a roar, the fire formed a cyclone that enclosed them within its center, earning a confused shout from the man above her. His eyes returned to her though when she made to move away and quickly latched a hand around her wrist to prevent her escape when an opening appeared in the swirling fire. A figure surrounded by a strange purple haze appeared from the fire, entering the space without so much of a word, and with a sweep of their hand the opening disappeared. Frightening cerise eyes briefly glanced down on her as the clouds of violet attempted to reach for her but a flex of his brow caused it to retract and return to his being. The adult scoffed then threw their head back with a laugh as they raised the shovel. It was then that she realized who this figure was, her supposed rescuer: the older twin had woken in time to halt the adult's attack. This wasn't the stoic prince that she had come to know though. His entire demeanor was changed, more intense and far more angry than she had ever seen him. It was so frightening to behold the fury within his nearly black eyes that she couldn't help but quiver with fear that rendered her speechless as the boy before her wickedly smiled. The adult sneered. She felt her heart stall as he removed a war device from his rugged clothing, one that she had once seen in the books the twins would read. With a cackle, he pulled the trigger ring and the last thing she remembered was the loud explosion closely followed by the man's dying screams.
It seemed impossible for anyone to survive an explosion like that, especially from a grenade, and yet here she was. Her hands rose to comb through her hair as she made to stand. The ship rocked in that moment though, causing her to flail forward slightly and the wood blurred until it was replaced by snow as a memory surfaced.
Someone was carrying her, the soft crunching of the snow beneath their footsteps unifying with the rise and fall of the chest her head was resting against. A scent teased her nose as she clung to them, one that was unfamiliar and yet it soothed the lingering fear within her bones. She could feel that her clothing had been retrieved thankfully but they did little to shield her from the nipping wind. Her body though couldn't move from exhaustion or the throbbing pain still present in her middle, either way it still left her feeling vulnerable as a few snowflakes hissed slightly against burns against her skin that she hadn't initially noticed. Heavy footsteps were coming up from behind, causing whoever was carrying her to pause before they carefully placed her amongst some hay as a soft whiny came from somewhere above. A hand gently patted the top of her head before the person's warmth disappeared completely. Her throat was raw but she still managed a soft cry for them to come back. No answer came. Hot tears slipping from between her closed eyes to cascade down her cheeks as the footfalls from before came running. "Tea?!" Large arms wrapped around her as the familiar scent of wood polish filled her nose, clinging to her father's shirt desperately as he openly cried.
A hand rose to cover her mouth as the memory faded. There was no mistaking the scent that had tickled her nose and she allowed her gaze to wander back to the room's door as sounds came from inside. No normal human being could have survived that blast. She recalled the strange feeling and what she had witnessed when they had been attacked back in Saint Petersburg and hushed the little voice inside her that reminded her of the fear she felt as a child. Magic or not, she was not going to back out now. There was a debt to be paid. This was a life debt, something that was considered sacred and obeyed by nearly all, and she wasn't about to let anything prevent her from fulfilling it. A newfound courage took root in her chest as she stood and continued on her way.
. . . .
Yugi smoothed the blanket back over his grandfather's sleeping form. He had fallen back to sleep under his grandson's care and was soon snoring away. The young man rose to his feet as a soft sound came from the doorway. A glance towards the bed confirmed that the sleeping elder hadn't heard it and his lavender eyes rose back to the door as the sound came again. Crossing the room, he quietly slipped out into the hallway and was ensuring that the door had closed behind him when a giggle filled the air. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a small figure darting into his personal room and hurried to follow when he spotted a pair of cobalt eyes. "Wait!" The door nearly smacked into the wall with how forceful he opened it but he couldn't have cared less. The second it had opened, an unseen curtain had fallen over his eyes, causing instant loss of consciousness as his breathing deepened when a moth danced around him, its dust causing his eyelids to close.
. . . .
"There's one little prince," the sorcerer growled, its deteriorated tongue slipping out to lick his lips as he sneered. "Such youthful innocence, I can't wait to consume it…" His eyes narrowed in concentration as the spell began to take its course, leading the young man from the room. The little moth he had enchanted was proving its worth as it painted a dreamscape that many would call paradise and felt the prince's consciousness give way completely. "Pleasant dreams, your highness." Bakura's lips fell into a frown when the other aimlessly wandered about the ship he had found. Was he mistaken, was the other prince not upon that particular vessel? No, the ancient ring around his neck was never wrong. His hands buried within his hole-filled clothing and stifled a hiss when he fixated a similar relic around his neck while causing the ankh to hover over the reflecting pool. "Ancient items, show me what I seek! Thy target is the prince, whose twin is under mine spell!" Both items flared with heat as he tapped within their power. If he had been living they surely would have caused him to flinch at their intense gravity but the fact that he was dead nearly caused him joy as the once troublesome items became easily to control. The moth morphed before his very eyes, becoming a rainbow swallowtail, and the pollen that fell from its wings became glitter particles that threatened to enchant any who gazed upon it. "Yes, that's right, find that sniveling coward of a prince and cast an even more powerful spell than your counterpart." His lips rose into a victorious smile as it entered a room, revealing four sleeping forms, and spotted his target sleeping soundly. "Goodnight, sweet prince."
. . . .
Her glare rose to the ceiling as the snoring that had filled their small room caused the last of her sanity to leave her. How was she supposed to sleep with all the ruckus those two were making? Sitting upright, her hand exasperatedly combed through her hair as she glared at their sleeping forms. When they reached the port she was definitely going to make them pay for the night of sleep that they stole. A movement from the door caught her eye in time for her to spot someone standing in the hallway before the wooden door closed. Standing, she quickly crossed the room and felt her stomach drop when she found it locked from the outside. A chill passed down her spine when her gaze was drawn toward the cot that was Yami's and found it empty. "Guys, wake up!" She appeared between the two still sleeping men when no answer came. No matter how loud she shouted or how roughly she shook them neither stirred, causing the knot in her gut to tighten. She turned her attention back to the door and pounded against it. The crew members should have still been awake but none answered her desperate pleas. Her trembling fingers wrapped around the trinket she kept hidden, begging for the lock to open, and blinked as a resounding click filled the air. The ship rocked hazardously as she began to run, searching every room below deck first before ascending the staircase.
Blustering winds tore at her clothing as she clung to the wooden railings for dear life, lightning forking across the sky as freezing rain coated everything in a thin sheet of ice. She was about to retreat back down below when she caught sight of a rainbow sparkle near the bow. What was a butterfly doing on a boat so far out from any coastline? A lightning flash nearly blinded her as it was reflected off the surrounding ice and she felt the blood in her veins stall when she spotted a figure moving to stand upon the ship's banister. She shouted his name as she attempted to cross the deck, her hands latching onto one of the ropes securing an emergency raft, her eyes wide and locked on him as his head turned in her direction. Her voice cracked as she called out to him again but it was cutoff by a shriek as a large wave came cascading over the deck that threatened to toss her overboard. Panic filled her when the ice clustered together and wrapped around her ankle in a vice-like grip. The ice bit into her exposed skin as it crept up her leg like a vine, the butterfly drawing his attention back towards the bow's point. His eyes were closed, as if he were sleeping! Sleepwalking? No, this had to mean magic…did this mean that a spell had been placed over him with that butterfly?! She didn't recall any of the other passengers or even the crew members appearing as though they were familiar with the lost art and none had been so shady for her instincts to flare so who was casting it? She shook her head. Wasting time was not something she could afford and she refocused on the ice as it reached her waist. "I don't think so!" Her free hand that had been rummaging around the emergency raft lashed out, the harpoon it had found shattering the ice into tiny fragments. She clung to the banister with everything she had as she slowly made her way down the ship's length.
Panic filled her when he successfully balanced, taking the first step along the bowsprit. "Yami, no!" His movements came to a halt. The loud thunder must have been difficult for him to hear her but the fact that he had stopped meant that her voice was somehow still reaching him. Her eyes widened when the butterfly attempted to direct his attention back to the original path it was leading but he remained where he was, as if he was waiting for something. "Come this way!" His brows furrowed, head tilting to the right. "That's right, this way!" She silently cheered as he made to step down but the ships sudden jostle caused him to lose his footing. Her eyes clenched shut in horror as the dark frothing sea rose and released a piercing cry when she thought she saw his figure begin to fall beneath the water. Though her vision was flooded with tears and the ice threatened to trip her, she quickly crossed the remaining distance in time to grasp his hand before the water enclosed around him completely. A vigorous pull came from within the now swirling water as she altered her hold. Her fingers had long ago gone numb from the ice, making it incredibly difficult to grasp his own. The butterfly rose from the water, transforming into a deformed raven as it made to attack her face, but it fell back with a screech when her other hand rose and impaled it with the harpoon she still held. "Take that, you freaky unicorn-butterfly-bird-zombie!" It fell out of sight over the boat's edge but her attention was solely focused on the hand she clung to. The ship suddenly rocked to the right, the ice under her feet causing a misstep, and she mustered every bit of power within her body as she gave a mighty pull on his hand.
An air splitting scream threatened to deafen her as he rose from the water, the cyclone of water instantly calming as the ice and rain disappeared. His eyes were still closed though as he thrashed upon the deck like a fish out of water. Her hands latched onto his shoulders, sitting him upright so that he wouldn't hurt himself, and practically shouted his name as his expression became pained. He startled suddenly, his body convulsing as she somehow found herself being pinned against the boat's deck, his wide glazed eyes unseeing as she held perfectly still in shock when she noticed that his body was trembling like a leaf. "…curse…" His weak voice caused her heart to clench painfully but it was the tears that fell from his eyes that made her breath catch. Unadulterated fear permeated from every cell in his being and she slowly sat up so as not to startle him to gently cup his cheek within her palm. He flinched at the contact, but the soft voice that was calling his name soothed the tremors that caused his body to quake. Despite the tears, his vision cleared enough to reveal the young brunette whose cobalt eyes held worry. "The curse…Tea, a sorcerer cursed the royal family… why would I…" Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as his head fell to her own and held him as his tears grew tenfold.
. . . .
"Damnit!" Bakura screamed, annihilating several of the surrounding creatures with a sweep of his magic. "That little meddlesome girl ruined everything!" His frustration and anger caused the shadows to writhe with power as he lashed out for several minutes, cursing the existence of the girl and the rotten luck that his magic still was not fully restored. Even the dead seemed to require time to heal it seemed. Silence fell as his power silently simmered. It was just as dangerous as when he had been physically lashing out, if not more so, resulting in the familiars keeping their distance as his being radiated with silent rage. A wave of the malicious green light resounded with a heartbeat that wasn't his own but it earned a sneer from the sorcerer as his eyes focused on the reflecting pool. "No more shall you be a thorn in my side, little girl."
. . . .
Yugi startled as a pair of hands grasped his shoulders, his eyes widening as a girl with brunette hair gazed up at him with eyes glistening with tears flashed before his minds eye. It was the servant girl from back then! The scene around him morphed as he reached for her and stiffened when she was replaced with the extravagant gardens that were behind their residence. A chill passed down his spine when his gaze traveled downward and he found himself about to step off the wooden railing. He hurried towards the safety of his room, breathing ragged as his arms wrapped around himself. "W-what was I doing?! This is the eighth floor! I could have…" The words died on his lips as he fell to his knees as realization dawned on him as the sun peeked over the horizon, its golden rays filing his room. His wide eyes spotted the form of a fallen moth and felt his blood run cold when it shriveled and disappeared when the sunlight touched it. "It must be true then. That man, the one with the white hair that interrupted father's reign celebration, he truly has cursed our family."
. . . .
"I hear what your'e sayin', but how are we gonna go the rest of the way?" Joseph crossed his arms, pointedly glancing at the little bag that held their belongings. They had woken just in time to see Tea place Yami back in his cot, earning a hush from her when they spotted the dried tear tracks that stained his cheeks. She ushered them out of the room and into the hallway so they could converse. "We practically used all we 'ad to get the boat tickets for Tristan and I, but that was to get us to the next port." He held up his hands when her eyes glared at him. "We thought no one would notice us hanging around after the port…if we hid…"
Her fingers massaged her temple, silently cursing her friend's shortsightedness. "And you didn't even think that this was something Yami or I needed to know?"
"The fewer who knew the easier it would be to execute." Tristan made to rest a hand on her shoulder but retracted it when her glare shifted to himself. Between him and Joseph he had been the one who would correct or deter the blonde's actions. The disappointment within her eyes caused him to bow his head in shame. "It may not have been the honorable way of doing it but it was our only option."
"Well, it's not safe to travel by this ship anymore now that they know where Yami is." She sighed heavily, her aching and exhausted body protesting as she leaned against the wall. Her eyes felt so heavy since she hadn't slept thanks to those two and then witnessing the curse attempting to claim Yami's life was beginning to take its toll. A fierce shake of her head though caused the looming fog to clear enough for her to think clearly. What they needed was to finish the journey no matter what, to ensure that Yami's life was no longer in danger, and to hopefully retrieve his lost memory along the way. Her gaze drifted down to the bag at her hip. "You two managed to grab a few of my belongings before the building went up in smoke, so if I have to I can sell some of them."
"Tea, we can't ask you to do that!" They chorused, hands searching their pockets. The girl had nothing left but the clothes on her back and the measly little items they had found! They knew her well enough to predict that she would selflessly offer everything and even herself if it was to help a friend, she'd done so several times for them in the past, and this was the perfect time for them to repay her kindness. A stroke of genius hit them both and they nodded in unison when their gazes met before they smiled, each taking one of her hands. "If we have to we will go out and get temporary jobs when we get to the port." She made to include herself in the job search when they returned to land but they deterred her, saying that someone should remain with Yami until the time was right.
She gently squeezed their their hands as the bell from above sounded, signaling that the coast was within sight. They patted her gently on the back as they told her to go back to the room for a bit while they headed up to the deck and departed after assuring her that they would come back to check on them when the boat was docked. The weight returned upon her eyelids as she quietly slipped back inside the room and practically fell upon her cot. Her body felt so heavy as she struggled to find a comfortable position and nearly cried in frustration when none could be found. Something incredibly warm caressed the top of her head, nearly startling her if it weren't for the scent of amber, and her tossing finally came to an end as the soft strokes lulled her into unconsciousness.
Yami waited until her breathing had deepened then slowly drew his hand away. His cot was within distance of her own that he could just reach out his hand to offer her the only things he could: assurance and comfort. Relief filled when his small offering enabled her to find sleep but it turned to anxiety as his mind replayed the nightmare he'd been ensnared within. Was there any truth that it had shown him? The fear he had felt swirled within his chest as he recalled how the monster of darkness had attempted to devour him and the other person who looked similar to himself. Something soft brushed his cheek, causing him to blink in surprise, but he closed his eyes as her gentle fingers brushed against his skin. Their cots were side-by-side, their heads so close together that their reach was limited to the other's faces and upper shoulders but no further. Amethyst eyes drifted closed as her fingers caressed his face, allowing them to carry him along the waves of a dreamless sleep.
. . . .
A knock came on the door, causing lilac eyes to widen. One of the guards called for him to open the door so that he could receive breakfast but Yugi shouted back that he would be fine without it for now. He blinked as a much softer knock came, closely followed by a voice that caused his eyes to swim with tears. "Yugi, I was worried when you didn't come for morning meal. Is everything alright?" His hands worked quickly at the locks and all but threw himself into his grandfather's arms. The old man's weathered eyes grew tight with seriousness when he heard the young prince mutter "curse" under his breath. With a sigh, he dismissed the guards and entered the room, ensuring that the door closed behind them as he moved his grandson to the bed. "Yugi, you must calm yourself." His wrinkled hands gently cleaned the young man's face. "Now, tell your grandfather what troubles you."
. . . .
"Tea…Tea!" Her eyes cracked open, spotting the person responsible for pulling her out of the near blissful darkness she had found, looking upon her with apologetic amethysts. Her body still ached as though she had been hit by a carriage then rolled into a cigar. Yami retreated slightly when she rose on one elbow. "Apologies, but it seems that we are supposed to disembark the ship now." He helped her to stand and kept a gentle hold on her so that she wouldn't fall when she swayed as they reached the deck. It was as they crossed the bridge that connected the boat and dock that he had to quickly adjust his hold as her legs buckled dangerously. Alarm filled him when their skins touched and found it radiating with heat. He called out to the pair waiting for them, quickly picking her up so that he could carry her better. He recalled how soaked she had been before they had returned to the room and a glance to her clothing confirmed that she had not changed from them.
Joseph and Tristan looked to one another as they saw for themselves her flushed cheeks. Her skin as fair by nature but even they could tell that she had grown pale during the last few hours on the boat. Neither of them had been to this town so where were they supposed to find a trustworthy doctor that would be willing to treat her without the money up front? "We have to start somewhere. Tristan, you go look for a temp job first. Yami and I will search for a doctor that way we can at least get the ball rollin'." With a nod, Tristan turned and disappeared into the crowded port. Joseph's eyes combed the nearby stalls and persons who passed by as they began walking towards town. For as long as he had known her she was not one to easily succumb to illness, so what had happened that would make her health deteriorate so quickly? A chill passed down his spine when he spotted a strange mark upon her leg as the wind blew her skirt up slightly.
Yami raised a questioning eyebrow when the blonde suddenly pulled him to the side of the street and made to deter him when he spotted Joseph's hand on her skirt but fell silent when he too saw the strange vine-like mark upon her calf. His hand rose to her cheek as she whimpered softly when Joseph gingerly touched it. A thin sheet of cold sweat was beginning to form across her skin, causing her clothing to cling to them both. Her breathing was rapidly becoming gasps as her hand clung to his clothing. The soft sound of a bell caused his attention gaze to rise as a figure walked past, causing his breath to catch. "Wait, please!" He slipped past Joseph in time for the person to turn around and he felt as though his luck was beginning to change for the better. "Lady Ishizu, it is good to see you."
The young lady of faith's lips lifted into a warm smile as their gazes met. She was a traveling woman who offered healings and teachings who had happened upon the orphanage he was at while she waited for her brothers to distribute the supplies they had brought with them. "Yami, it is good to see you." Her cornflower eyes darkened when she caught sight of the unconscious girl. "Oh, goodness, what has happened to this poor girl?"
"Lady Ishizu, I do not wish to bother you after all that you have done for me during my stay at the orphanage but I'm afraid I must." Yami bowed his head lowly, his worry growing when Tea shivered violently.
Joseph glanced between his companions and the woman, his own worry shinning within his walnut hued eyes. He too bowed his head as the woman looked to him. She took note of their ragged clothing but that mattered little when she noticed their levels of malnutrition. Yami had approached this woman and it sounded as though they were acquaintances. "Please help us." His heart felt as though it was going to freeze over when her gaze slipped back out to the crowd around them, desperation forcing him to swallow his pride with a loud sound. "We're beggin' here! Please save our friend!"
A gentle hand on their shoulders caused them to raised their heads, her deep blue eyes meeting each in turn as she instructed them to follow her through the crowd. They kept close to her side as she began walking and had even rendezvoused with her two brothers who were quickly informed of their situation. Yami nodded in greeting to them as his blonde companion excused himself to find their other. Odion, the eldest, attempted to divert the young man's attention from Joseph's retreating form by asking how he had been but only received silence as Yami's eyes fell to the girl in his arms. The youngest, Marik, was also silent, which was odd for their usually talkative sibling. His gaze was also locked upon the unconscious girl. It wasn't until they were securely within a building that he finally locked gazes with the young man who was a stranger to himself. "She's under a curse."
The bluntness of his words nearly took Yami by surprise but he had honestly suspected it when he had spotted the mark upon her skin. "Our situation is rather unusual, but I will be more than willing to tell you if I am allowed to assist." His amethyst eyes were down cast while carefully placing Tea's form across the bed Ishizu had prepared, his hand briefly cupping her cheek before he was put to work in helping to grind some of the herbs that they suggested.
. . . .
"So you're saying that the revolution was not the sole cause of our family perishing?" Yugi's lilac eyes had never wavered from his grandfather's plum hued eyes as he spoke. It had been several hours since the former monarch had begun that it was midday mealtime, meaning that he himself hadn't eaten in over half a day. His hand rose to rake through his wild head of hair, attempting to make sense of all that he had heard. "So that white haired man that said he was a sorcerer was behind the whole uprising?"
Solomon nodded wearily, accepting the cart of foot that a tenant presented them and began to plate food for his struggling grandson. Yes it had all happened well over a decade ago but the loss of his fellow siblings, cousins, and children were still fresh within his mind. "To think that my own son had allowed that practitioner of dark forgotten magic to enter the palace still makes my blood boil but all had understood why such measures were taken. It had all been risked to save the queen, your mother, from certain death once you two had been born. Childbirth had caused her health to nosedive and she was unresponsive to the royal family's private doctors's treatments. That despicable man had promised her recovery but his administrations had caused her demise and his permanent banishment!" The silverware in his hand clattered to the floor as pain seared through his chest, causing him to gasp for breath as the room swam. He waved his worried grandson away as he managed to catch his breath and cleared his vision with a few blinks as he took a large gulp from his glass of water. "I knew that you would ask about it eventually but never did I imagine that the curse would still be within effect. There were several rumors that on the night of the revolution he met his end amongst the angry people."
"What was his name?" The young prince flinched when his grandfather growled lowly, something that was entirely out of his usual character, and hung his head as the former monarch demanded he never ask him again. Solomon's expression softened when he realized how harsh he was sounding to Yugi and playfully nudged him with his fork while encouraging him to partake in the food before it disappeared. He reluctantly picked up a plate and pair of silverware when the offer of a game was voiced. It appeared best that he allowed the topic to drop for now but he was not about to go without answers. Seems that he was going to have to do some sleuthing once his grandfather had gone.
. . . .
"It's an ice based curse, a very strong one at that" Ishizu called over her shoulder as she used a sponge to clean Tea's grimacing face. "We will need cayenne pepper."
Marik's eyes combed every inch of their spices but found none of the one his sister requested. "I will have to go back to the market, we have none." His hand grasped Yami's shoulder, motioning with his head for him to follow, and placed Odion in charge of grinding the remaining herbs. Amethyst eyes clouded when they had exited the building and was about to walk straight into one of the street lamps if it weren't for his quick nudge to the right. "Be careful, we can't afford to take care of you both right now." He kept a close eye on the downcast young man as they hurried through the streets until they reached the correct vendor. If they were dealing with a powerful ice curse, they would need more than just what his sister had said. "Please package 314 grams of cayenne pepper, 142 grams of bloodroot, 8 fluid ounces of peppermint oil, and 662 grams of white sage please." The owner quickly bagged what was requested and was about to request payment when a medallion was flashed before them; the medicinal cross with braided vines of white lilies that decorated its edges. "Many thanks, we must take our leave now."
Yami had been so lost within his thoughts that he hadn't heard a single thing that was being said. A dark whisper within his ear caused his breath to catch, his wide eyes combing the people around them as a chill passed down his spine. Someone was watching but it was impossible for him to pinpoint the gaze he felt when there were so many people around. Two pairs of hands grasped onto each of his shoulders, nearly causing him to jump. "It appears that you have found me," he greeted Joseph and Tristan with slight bows of his head when they asked why he was alone. "There's no time to explain." Marik cast a glance towards the newcomers when they demanded to know about their companion but he was deterred from answering by the intensity within Yami's amethyst eyes when their gazes met.
In no time, they had managed to get back to where the traveling siblings were staying without delay but the scene they came upon was horrid enough that the youngest Ishtar quickly removed the three from the room before they could fully comprehend what they had seen. "You three will have to wait in the other room," Odion's eyes and tone dared them to disobey as he quickly diverted their attention to the food he had set out then disappeared back into the examination room with Marik in tow.
. . . .
His eyes rolled as another wave of spirit energy washed over him. "Yes, fight for your pathetic little life. You're only feeding my power more when you struggle." Bakura rolled his shoulders, earning several cracks. The curse he had placed was slow to start but it was doing the job. "The Soul Devourer Ice Flower curse is certainly a pain to perform but it was beautiful to behold once it is complete. One of the slowest for sure however it was necessary, for now I have found the remaining pieces that are required for my ultimate curse to be complete." A shiver slipped down his spine when another wave of energy entered his being, earning a groan of pleasure. To his pleasure, his skin was nearly completely reformed and the gaping chunks of missing flesh were beginning to fill as he leered down at the reflecting pool where he could see her pained expression. "Just a little longer, my dear, and your suffering shall be at an end."
. . . .
The pair bent over the chessboard looked to once another in unison as a whisper came from the incomplete puzzle that was their family heirloom. They both had heard it as if someone within the room had been the source. It came again as Yugi, who wore it, felt it grow cold against his body. "I think someone is asking for help." The young man's breath caught as he swore that his reflection in the polished gold surface was replaced by another's, someone he thought he had seen within his nightmare last night, and felt his chest tighten when he saw the desperation within their amethyst eyes. Closing his own, Yugi rested his hands upon the relic and mustered every bit of energy he had to pour into the item. He himself had been doubtful of the existence of magic for several years but current events had caused him to enter a new way of thinking. Solomon too had seen the reflection change and didn't hesitate to place his hand over his grandson's.
See you next time!