Chapter 2 Serenade

Music played or sung outdoors at night, especially by a young man under his lover's window.

A piece of music suitable for such a performance.

An instrumental composition having several movements

Atlantis, the most beautiful and mysterious place in the Duel Monster World. According to the legend, it's located in the intersection between the vault of heaven in the blue sky, the emerald green shade and the pure spring of light. It's certainly the most unique and quiet wonderland.

However, nobody knew how beautiful this wonderland was. No one had ever seen with own eyes or has been there in person. Atlantis is the place where the sacred dragons live. The land had entirely surrounded and covered by the holy barrier. Regardless whether a demon or spirit trying to penetrate, no one could enter this sacred wonderland.

Nearby the spring which is transparent enough almost may reflect the deep blue sky, a slim figure was sitting beside it. His gaze locked on the water surface, with a kind of dedicated vision, intently gazed at his own reflection on the water.

Ryuu's elegant face was unable to be described by words. His clear and bright eye pupils were like the most precious azure emeralds, glittered with radiance of the stars on the deep sky. His mild lips luster, even the blossoming rose in the early morning couldn't compare.

He mechanically curved up his soft lips, trying to force a smile on his face. The reflection on the mirror like water surface only made him feel worse. He had no smile, only an unnatural expression upon his exquisite doll like face.

He had lost his happiness and smile long ago…

Perhaps smile did not suit him… But why would he smile in the first place? It's not like someone would care about it?

It's not like… someone would care if he's alive or dead…

A few long locks of his snowy hair floating forward and brushed against his soft cheek with the wind breeze. Ryuu did not even bother brushing them back, he only lowered his pale, long eyelashes, as his melancholy reverie turned to that person, Osiris.

He still clearly remembered, the smooth and cold touch of Osiris' dark reddish hair strands; and he would always smiled and intertwined his long fingers with the dragon's silvery tresses, and brought it close to his lips, placing a loving kiss on Ryuu's hair which always made the dragon blush uncontrollably.

"I think you look great with your long hair, Ryuu…"

Yet the past would never return… no matter how much pain he suffered.

With a sigh, Ryuu slowly stood up. His bare foot stepped into the cool spring, as he skims the water over his body, feeling the coldness and fresh water going down from his face, slid down his neck and fell all over his body. Ryuu slowly took off his clothes, revealing his pale skin. His fingers brushed his silvery hair lightly, as he walked into the middle of the spring until the water inundated his chest.

Of all the 3 remaining Blue Eyes White Dragons, Ryuu was the most beautiful and different one. Instead of having long, azure hair and silvery eyes as Seishirou and Seiichirou did, Ryuu had a pair of bluest orbs and long, feather-liked silvery hair which reflected a brightness of moonlight.

Ryuu always liked to bath himself at night time since many centuries ago. Not only he liked the silent environment, he also liked traveling in the cool spring water, and enjoyed this kind of unique freshness.

His favourite spring, this sacred land, was the very place he got reborn…

The wind breeze lightly caressed the green shade, tucked the treetop peak to exude the yellow withered leaf, and slowly descended the soft leaf on to the flowing spring.

Ryuu stared at the piece of falling leaf, and held out his tender hand, silently caught the leaf before it fell into the spring. He gently spreaded out his palm again, the piece of withered and yellow leaf had mysteriously restored back to the lively green colour.

He held out another hand, slightly pointed at the floating leaf. It became back to its withered and yellow condition. Pointed again, the leaf turned into the green colour.

Ryuu sat down in the spring and held his knees together by one hand, using the other hand to play with the fallen leaf.

This was the special power only the sacred dragon possessed…

He put his hands on his chest. He was breathing and his heart was beating in his chest, yet he felt like he's dead from inside, since a long time ago. How long ago… Ryuu himself didn't even know.

The fallen leaf in front of him changed according to the natural rule, but he would not. Time flow seemed to be stopped inside his body; his mind had been blank and lost for eternity. In the other words, he felt like a living corpse… No, he was a living corpse.


Nearby the transparent and clear waterfall, a deep purple long gowned Dark Magician leaned lazily on the tree. The breeze slightly blew his moonlight lilac hair; his handsome face was calm and tranquil. His eyes were closed; he always enjoyed the quiet atmosphere at night.

All of a sudden, a huge metal colliding noise resonated in the air, waking up the almost asleep Kaikou. He opened his emerald eyes, and sighed. "… It's really late at night; kids should be going home and sleeping by now, Mana."

"How many times do I have to tell you, master Kaikou?" Mana the Dark Magician Girl jumped down from the tree and pouted at Kaikou. She was Kaikou's only apprentice, who always loved adventure and following Kaikou everywhere. She was an orphan and Kaikou was always like a father figure to her. "I am 15 years old already! I am not a kid!" Her blonde curls angrily flew over her shoulder as she shaking her fist to her master.

Kaikou shook his head and smiled. He petted Mana's head in a father like manner. "What brings you here, Mana?" He asked. "I am impressed that you actually broke my barrier." Though he only set up this barrier with a tiny bit of his magic, he still would like to give his student some credit.

"Thanks, master Kaikou!" Mana was really happy for Kaikou's compliments and was encouraged at the same time. "I missed you so much, master Kaikou." She gave Kaikou a big hug and smiled at him. "I practiced almost everyday after you went to the Human World, hoping that some day I could be as strong as master Kaikou!" Her young face was written with dream and innocence. Then she suddenly remembered the reason she came to see her master, her face was then frustrated. "Well, master Kaikou…" She nervously looked at her master, and then pointed at Kaikou's back. "I came here… along with… err... Dark Sage."

Before Kaikou had a time to react, his head was hit hard by a huge magic staff. "Ouch! You don't have to hit me that hard, old man!" Kaikou yelped and immediately rubbed his head where was hit by the hard staff. He didn't need to turn his head to the back to see who dared to hit him. There was one person, his master, Aden the Dark Sage.

Aden was holding his huge magic staff and a fuming expression on his face. He was Kaikou's master and one of the most famous and ancient spellcasters. "How could you possibly be slacking off like this, Kaikou?" He waved his magic staff again and tried to hit his apprentice on the head again. Unfortunately, Kaikou was smart enough to dodge his attack.

"This is wrong. When I was young, I never slack. I practiced my magic almost every moment and I did them all perfect." He was proud of his own career.

Kaikou only raised his eyebrow. "I can hardly believe you looking young…" He questioned.

"Ahh!" Aden jumped from the ground and wielded his staff right onto Kaikou's violet hat. "I heard that!"

"Master Kaikou, are you alright?" Mana knelt down and poked the handsome Dark Magician on the ground.

"Yeah, I guess I am fine…" Kaikou stood up from the ground. His master Aden was always a strict and serious person, and he always would expect his apprentices to work hard. "Stop hitting me that hard, old man!" He exclaimed and pushed his hat back to its original position.

"Go wash yourself, you little brat!" Aden was obliviously not pleased with the nick name given by Kaikou. "I can smell you a mile away!"

"That's your stench, not mine." Came Kaikou's defiant reply. "But I guess I will take a break and have a bath." The violet haired magician quickly disappeared before his short tempered master had a reaction.

"Master Kaikou is always a fun person!" Mana commented, and gave a bright smile to Aden. The older magician only gave her an uncertain and suspicious look, and then all of a sudden, he sighed.

Kaikou had always been so cheerful and heartwarming, yet no one could possibly understand his dark past that haunted him to day…

The first arrow… signaling … the End of the World… has been… fired…

Kaikou… You are Ryuu's…