I am so sorry it's taken me so long to post this chapter, but school has been a nightmare these past few weeks (and still is now). I have coursework deadlines all over the place and countless music exams, so you can understand why I haven't had much time. But I've finally managed to get this new chapter up so I hope you like it.
As always, I would like to say a HUGE thank you to the fantastic people that reviewed:
Dark Shining Light
Raiy
Greater Lights
ImCrazyAndProudOfIt
kobear91
KaibaYamiLover
Applegrape8910
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Thanks everyone. Your reviews continue to motivate me! The more there are, the more I'm motivated.
Right, lets get on with this, shall we? I'm so excited! This is where things start to get a lot more dramatic!
'Thoughts'
Dream/flashback
"Speaking in dreams/flashbacks"
'Thoughts in dreams/flashbacks'
"Speaking (normal)"
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, but if I did, I would have Yuugi/ Anzu an official couple. And I know a lot of other people would like that too
-I-
Another World
Chapter 13: Into The Shadow Realm
-I-
"You only used me to get to Atemu, didn't you!"
"No! Of course I didn't! You have to believe me Yuugi!"
"No…please…" Yuugi pleaded in his sleep, wanting the painful memories to stop playing again and again in his mind. He turned this way and that in his bed, in an attempt to shake the horrible scenes away.
"You never cared about me, did you? You just used me to get to my brother."
"No! I didn't! I promise you Yuugi I would never do something like that! Why won't you believe me?"
He buried his face underneath his soft pillow to try and block the memories, but they only intensified.
"…Please…stop…" he cried.
"Why can you not admit what you did? Admit you used me to get to Atemu! Admit you wanted to hurt me! Admit you enjoyed breaking my heart!"
"Yuugi I would never hurt you BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!"
"ANZU!" Yuugi screamed. He bolted up in bed, his pillow flying onto the floor. He breathed deeply, trying to regain control over his unsteady breathing. He felt the cold sweat trickle slowly down his body as his body began to recover from the shock sustained from his dreams.
'But they were not dreams,' a voice inside Yuugi's head told him. 'Those were my memories, from what happened today with Anzu. It seems my conscience will not let me forget about my mistake so easily.'
His breathing soon regained its normal pace, he felt more calm and relaxed. That didn't stop the guilt from consuming his heart, however. He clenched his fists and hit his forehead.
"Ra, how could I have been so blind? And so stupid?" He asked himself in annoyance. "I should have known better than to accuse Anzu like that. Malik planted those words into my mind, and they spread like poison. Why did I not see through his lies before? Am I truly that weak? That pathetic?"
He sighed, letting his hand flop onto the bed. He looked to his right towards the archway that led to his balcony. He could just make out the stars shinning in the midnight sky behind the veil separating the balcony from the rest of his room. Being that it was hardly ever cold in Kemet, his archway contained no doors. And he need not worry about intruders entering this way, for guards had been placed almost everywhere near this balcony and were always guarding it.
He continued to stare out into the night sky, when the thought first occurred to him.
"There is no point in trying to go back to sleep," he thought out loud. "My conscience refuses to let me forget my mistake. I guess there's only one thing I can do…" He threw the sheets off of his body and swung his legs to the edge of his bed, slipping himself off onto the stone floor. "I'm surprised I did not do this earlier."
Dressed only in a tunic that covered his…private areas, he slipped on a pair of his royal slippers and walked towards the door. Opening it as quietly as he could, and closing it softly behind him once he exited his room, he walked the few paces it took to get to Anzu's door. Stopping outside the wooden door, he knocked softly.
"Anzu," he said softly, as close to the door as possible. "It is Yuugi. May I come in?"
Yuugi listened for a moment, but heard no answer. He tried again, but still received no answer of any sort.
'I should have expected that. I myself am only just starting to recover from the shock. She won't mind if I come in…will she?'
Even though it was just after 3 in the morning, Yuugi went with what his heart was telling him rather than his brain, pushed open the door and walked into the large room. As the door swung open, he noticed the candles in the room were still alit. Which meant that either Anzu was still awake, or something else…
…Yuugi let out a sharp gasp of surprise when he found it was the latter.
"No…"
Yuugi stared with wide eyes at the scene around him as he slowly stepped forward. Anzu's clothes and belongings lay everywhere around the room, though they had been mainly thrown around on her bed. Some looked as if they had been ripped, whilst others had just been left where they had probably been tipped out from her bag.
To the left he saw the remainders of the food that had been brought to Anzu earlier that evening. To the right, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something very familiar placed on Anzu's pillow. Taking a few weary steps forward, he slowly picked it up with his shaky hands.
"The…B-Black Magician Girl…" Yuugi uttered, staring at the very card he had given Anzu to protect her.
As he held it in his hands, he suddenly realised what Anzu had done.
-I-
Meanwhile, on the other side of Kemet, our favourite heroine was starting to wish she hadn't decided to go after the Empire of Dark Souls in the middle of the night.
Groaning for what felt like the hundredth time in only a few minutes and rubbing her backside-sore from riding bareback on a Red Eyes Black Dragon- she finally gave in to the nagging question in her mind. Tapping Jonouchi on the shoulder to get his attention, she asked:
"Jonouchi, not wanting to sound like a pain or anything, but I've gotta ask. Are we there yet?"
Jonouchi couldn't help but let out a small laugh at Anzu's childish tone of voice. He looked back ahead of him, acknowledging the question for a moment, before answering.
"Actually," he said after a moment. "We are. Look ahead."
Anzu leaned to the side slightly to look over Jonouchi's shoulder. Just above Red Eye's head, she saw a dark clump on the black sand, just on the horizon. All around them storm clouds covered the sky, hiding the light from the moon and the stars. Thunder roared all around and lighting flashed behind the clouds.
"Is that Sharluka?" Anzu asked.
Jonouchi nodded. "Or what is left of it. Before the Empire of Dark Souls came, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Destiny. We used to have some close friends there, until…well, you know…"
Anzu remained silent. It seemed that for over the past two years, everyone in Kemet had had to face some kind of suffering inflicted by the Empire of Dark Souls. No one had managed to escape that pain. There had to be some way to defeat them, right?
"The entire city has been destroyed," Jonouchi continued, "except for the main palace, which the 'Master' uses as a base. Amongst the rubble of the city, his soldiers have made camps from tents. It was easier to do that than rebuild the destroyed city."
"It looks so welcoming," Anzu commented sarcastically, earning her a very strange look from Jonouchi.
"Anyway," Jonouchi said, ignoring Anzu's comment. "We cannot risk being seen by any of the soldiers, so we're going to have to land somewhere else…"
"What do you mean, 'somewhere else'? WHOA!"
Anzu closed her eyes as Red Eyes suddenly inclined forwards, sending them hurtling towards the ground.
"Hold on!" Jonouchi called.
'A little late for that!' Anzu thought. She peeped open one of her eyes and looked in front of her. Upon seeing the blackened ground hurtling closer and closer towards her, she immediately closed her eyes again to save herself from passing out.
After a few more moments of flying towards the ground, without warning at all, Red Eyes Black Dragon suddenly stopped in mid air. With a few heavy flaps of its huge wings, he carefully lowered himself and his passengers onto the black sand.
Once his dragon has finished landing, Jonouchi slipped off the back, landing softly onto the sand. He looked back up to Red Eye's back and saw Anzu was still sitting on the dragon's back. And it didn't look like she was going to come down anytime soon.
"Anzu…" he called to her. "Oh Anzu…Anzu…ANZU!"
Jonouchi's loud yell caused Anzu to jump out of her skin, which in turn caused her to lose her balance on Red Eye's back and fall not-so-gracefully onto the sand, landing on the only part of her body that had a built in cushion.
"Very graceful," Jonouchi laughed, before turning to face his dragon. In a flash of light and with a final loud roar, Red Eyes Black Dragon disappeared from Jonouchi's side and back into his card in Jonouchi's Duel Monster pouch.
'Thank you Red Eyes,' Jonouchi thanked his monster silently. He turned to Anzu, placing his hands on his hips when he saw she was still sitting on the sand recovering from her latest injury.
"You better not be planning on sitting there all night," he said. He turned around and began to walk away.
Hearing Jonouchi's footsteps fading away, Anzu looked up and saw him walking towards the remains of Sharluka.
"Hey! Where are you going!" Anzu called after him.
"Where do you think? To the heart of the Empire of Dark Souls." And with that, he continued to walk away.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me." Standing up and dusting herself off, Anzu jogged to catch up with Jonouchi.
Staying silent, the pair walked cautiously towards the remains of what was once one of the most beautiful cities in Kemet, always on their guard. Looking all around them as best they could, they kept their eyes out for any soldiers dressed in black robes. Fortunately for them, they saw none.
After what seemed like an eternity to Anzu, Jonouchi spotted a small oasis just outside the city walls. Double-checking and triple checking that the coast was clear, they made their way to the oasis to rest. It was about this time that Yuugi was just waking up back in Illuminarta.
Anzu collapsed underneath one of the palm trees, thankful for the small rest. She took her plastic bottle from her bag and drank the remaining water she had left. Once she had quenched her thirst, she took her trainers/sneakers off and emptied them of all the sand she had collected on her little hike through the desert.
"Remind me never to do that again," she said to no one in particular.
"Shh!" Jonouchi hushed.
Hearing a slight urgency in Jonouchi's 'hush', Anzu quickly replaced her shoes and stood up, looking around the palm tree she now stood behind.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"There are no tents, or camps," Jonouchi said, surprised. "All the soldiers have…vanished."
Anzu looked at the rubble before her and saw that Jonouchi was right. There were no tents belonging to the soldiers of the Empire of Dark Souls. It was as if they had disappeared into thin air.
"I do not understand," Jonouchi mumbled. "Where have all the soldiers gone?"
"Maybe they've already headed to the battlefield for the Grand Battle," Anzu suggested. "Honda left tonight, didn't he? To secure the high ground? Well, maybe they left to secure the high ground too."
"Maybe, but not all of them left. Take a look."
Anzu looked down at the only building still standing in the ruined city: the main palace, which stood at the front of the city (for unknown reasons). Walking towards the palace entrance were two guards, completely dressed in black. As Anzu looked closer, she soon realised that they were holding-or rather dragging- a person into the palace with them. Anzu guessed they were some sort of prisoner judging by the way they kept on trying to escape.
From her position in the oasis, Anzu could just see that the prisoner was a female. She had long, wild blonder hair that flowed to her curvy hips. She was dressed in lilac robes that had obviously out grown her, but had been sewn together and reused over the years. Unfortunately, the guards and the prisoner quickly disappeared inside the palace; meaning Anzu never got to see the prisoner's face.
"Who was that?" Anzu asked out loud. "Do you have any idea who…that…was…"
Anzu drifted off when she saw the look on Jonouchi's face. His expression was a mixed of confusion, and pain, like he was suffering somehow. His fists were clenched, and his breathing was heavy as if he was trying to restrain himself. Anzu had seen this look of Jonouchi's a few times before. The first being back at the oasis were Yuugi's parents had been buried. The second was when the Empire of Dark Souls attacked Illuminarta. Both times soldiers from the Empire had been present, and Jonouchi had uttered the same name…
'I take it he knows who that prisoner was then.'
And as if right on cue, he said it. "Mai…"
Anzu suddenly realised just what Jonouchi was planning.
"Oh no you don't!" she said forcefully, seeing Jonouchi move forwards slightly. "Don't even think about it Jonouchi!"
"…Mai…"
"Remember what Atemu and Yuugi said to you! You have to control your emotions. You can't go rushing after them like this. Jonouchi, are you even listening to me!"
"MAI!" Jonouchi screamed, before running towards the palace.
"I guess not," Anzu said to herself. "I should've known he would do something like this. I'd better go after him. He's bound to get into trouble…again."
Anzu dashed out of her hiding place and after Jonouchi. Seeing him enter the palace, Anzu quickened her pace and ran after him. Running up the few steps leading to the palace entranceway, she ran through the open archway and found herself in a dark corridor. A flash of lighting flickered outside.
Standing alone in the dark corridor, Anzu felt a familiar fear consume her body. A fear she hadn't felt since she was a small child, just after her mother had died. With only one way to go, she walked forward towards a large, stone door. Pushing hard on the stone, she opened the door a small crack and slipped in, before it closed heavily behind her.
Looking around at her new surroundings, a sudden feeling of déja-vu consumed her heart. She had been here before. Not in reality, but in her dreams. She looked around at the all too familiar surroundings. The walls and floor of the large hall were black and dark. A dark stone throne had been placed in the middle of the floor. A storm erupted outside in the dark sky, and she could make out two small figures on the floor in front of her. But unlike in her dreams, the figures weren't Yuugi and the 'Master'. Instead, Jonouchi was kneeling on the floor, the prisoner from before in his arms. The two soldiers from before had disappeared.
Anzu quickly walked over to Jonouchi, feeling more uncomfortable with each passing second. As she got closer, she saw the prisoner's face. She had slightly tanned skin, just like everyone else in Kemet. She looked slightly older than Jonouchi, but she could see from the look in her violet eyes that she held a deep love for Jonouchi. Even though they had never been introduced, she knew immediately that this was Mai; the girl who had been missing for two years, and the girl Jonouchi never gave up looking for.
As she got closer to the pair-whom were holding onto each other like there was no tomorrow-their voices grew louder.
"Mai," Anzu heard Jonouchi say emotionally. "I knew you were alive. I just knew it!"
"Jonouchi, you're really here!" Mai replied, as emotional as Jonouchi. "I do not believe it!"
"I never gave up looking for you Mai. Never!"
"Jonouchi, listen to me," Mai's tone of voice suddenly became more urgent. "You have to get out of here while you still can."
"What? But why-"
"There is no time to explain. Please, just go!"
"Jonouchi?" Anzu asked, kneeling by Jonouchi's side.
Jonouchi was a little surprised to see Anzu kneeling next to him, but he soon relaxed. Mai, on the other hand, stared at Anzu warily and held onto Jonouchi. Jonouchi sensed her fear and tried to calm her down.
"Mai, it is all right," he soothed. "She will not hurt us. She is on our side. This is Anzu, a friend who has travelled from another world into our own. "
"You…You are Anzu?" Mai asked suspiciously, still holding tightly onto Jonouchi.
"Yeah, that's me," Anzu smiled friendly. "And like Jonouchi said, you can trust me. I'm here to help you."
"Y-You're Anzu," Mai continued in a scared voice. "Y-You're the one he is after. You're the one…"
"Mai, are you all right? Is something wrong?" Jonouchi asked desperately.
Mai suddenly sat up and looked at both of them, fear clearly visible in her eyes.
"You have to go…both of you…NOW!"
"What?" Anzu asked. Mai's fear was beginning to make her feel even more uncomfortable. She felt herself beginning to panic. "But why?"
"There is no time to explain. You have to leave before he gets here! You have to leave! Please!"
"But why?" Jonouchi asked again, holding onto Mai's shoulders. "Who's coming?"
"I would think that would be obvious by now," a low, gravely voice suddenly pierced the air.
A chill ran down Anzu's spine. She recognised that voice all too well. And judging by Jonouchi's and Mai's fearful reaction, they did too. Her blood running cold, Anzu looked up at the stone throne at the back of the room.
Standing in front of the black throne stood a man dressed in deep red robes only worn by a powerful Pharaoh. As a flash of lightning briefly lit up the room, Anzu caught a quick glimpse of the man's long, white hair, two spikes that resembled devil's horn sticking up at the front. His cold, dark eyes looked down amusingly at his guests, a smug smile on his lips. A large, gruesome scar could be seen under his right eye. In his hand, he held onto some sort of small item that emitted an eerie blood-red glow.
"Y-Y-You're him," Anzu stuttered fearfully, slowly standing up with shaky legs. "Y-You're the 'Master'. The one that came to me in my dreams…"
"He did what!" Jonouchi cried upon hearing Anzu's words.
The 'Master' laughed, amused.
"Yes, I am the Master of the Empire of Dark Souls," he sneered. "And it's a pleasure to finally meet the infamous Mazaki Anzu. The stranger from a place called Domino in another world. The one that possesses powers far greater than that of the Millennium Items. The young girl that tragically lost her mother in a car accident ten years ago…"
Anzu let out a sharp gasp. "H-How did you know about that?" she asked, her voice shaking due to her fear. "N-Not even Yuugi knows that."
"Oh, I know everything there is to know about you, young Anzu," The 'Master' replied, stepping away from his throne into the little light there was in the room. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Bakura, Leader of the Empire of Dark Souls."
-I-
SLAM
Yuugi didn't care if the whole palace heard him slamming his door. Only one thing mattered to him at that moment: finding Anzu.
Still holding the Black Magician Girl card in his hand, he threw it onto his bed before dashing behind his changing screen.
'I cannot believe this!' he thought as he changed out of his night tunic into his day robes, complete with gold bands. 'I did not think she would do something as…drastic as this. If anything happens to her, I have only myself to blame. This is all my fault!'
As soon as he was dressed he dashed over to his bed, picking up the Black Magician Girl card. Picking up his Duel Monsters pouch, he placed Black Magician Girl at the top of his deck, before attaching the pouch around his waist. He would need his monsters to help him battle against the 'Master'.
Checking his pouch was securely fastened, he fell to his knees and pulled something out from underneath his bed. Standing up and dusting his knees off, he pulled his sword out of the sheath he had just picked up. He checked his sword for any damage. The metal shone perfectly in the candlelight, showing the sword's flawlessly smooth surface. Satisfied, Yuugi replaced the sword in its scabbard and secured it around his waist, next to his deck.
'Hold on Anzu. I'm coming to help you.'
Making sure he had everything he needed, Yuugi hastened to his door. He pulled it open with great force, sending it flying into the wall. Another loud 'SLAM' echoed down the hall as Yuugi stepped out his doorway-
"And where do you think you are going?" Atemu asked, standing in Yuugi's doorway. His arms where folded across his chest.
Yuugi jumped back in surprised shock. He wasn't expected his brother to be blocking his path.
"A-Atemu" he said, shocked. "Why are you…what are…How did you know I was awake?"
"I heard you slamming your door," stated Atemu. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes with one hand. "I am sure the whole palace could have heard you."
"O-Oh…"Yuugi said, slightly embarrassed. He swallowed his embarrassment, remembering why he was up and dressed, and began to step around his twin. "Well I apologise for that. But I do not have time to stand here talking. If you don't mind I'll-"
Just as Yuugi was about to make his way down the corridor, Atemu grabbed his wrists to stop him.
"You did not answer my question, brother," Atemu said, emphasising the last word. "Where do you think you are going at this hour? And why are you dressed like you are going into battle?"
"That is none of your concern," Yuugi answered quickly trying to escape his brother's grasp.
But Atemu's grip only tightened. "I think you will find it is of my concern. You are my brother after all."
"Let me go!" Yuugi ordered.
"I will only release you once you have told me what you are up to. Now answer me!"
Yuugi continued to try and free himself from his brother's grip, but soon found his brother was far too strong (and stubborn). Sighing heavily in defeat and refusing to look at him, he answered Atemu's question.
"I went into Anzu's room a few moments ago to apologise to her," he said slowly. "But when I entered, I found her gone. She left the Black Magician Girl card on her pillow."
"Gone?" Atemu asked, finally releasing his grip he had on his brother. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean," Yuugi said a little louder than before, turning to face his brother. "Anzu is gone. Disappeared! Vanished! She has gone after the Empire of Dark Souls to fight them!"
"But how do you know this?"
"Because of the Black Magician Girl!" Yuugi practically shouted, annoyed at his brother's stupidity. "I gave her that card so Black Magician Girl could protect her for me when I was not there. The fact that she has left it behind means she wants to try and defeat the Empire all alone. But she is not powerful enough! Not even if she is the Angel of Light we have been searching for. None of us are on our own." Yuugi turned around and began to make his way down the corridor. "So that is why I must go and help her."
"Yuugi! Wait!" Atemu cried, grabbing Yuugi's wrist again.
"Let me go!" Yuugi protested.
"I will not let you do this," Atemu said forcibly. "You are being blinded by your emotions. Affection blinds reason-"
"And love conquers all!" Yuugi retaliated. "Love always finds a way, Atemu. And I'm going to prove it…"
"No! Yuugi, please. Just think about this-"
"My Pharaoh! My Prince!" A feminine voice called from the darkness of the corridor. Atemu released his grip on Yuugi as they both looked up to see Priest Isis running towards them. Her face was that of concern and worry. "I bring terrible news!"
"Oh great. Now what?" Yuugi muttered sarcastically under his breath.
"Isis? What is it?" Atemu asked.
Isis stopped in front of the two royal twins and bowed, before beginning her report.
"My Pharaoh, it is terrible. A few hours ago I was awoken by a vision from my Millennium Necklace. It showed me a scene from the old palace at Sharluka. I saw Anzu and Jonouchi battling against the Leader if the Empire of Dark Souls. Mai was with them-"
"Mai?" Atemu interrupted. "You mean she's alive?"
"I think so, my Pharaoh. But that isn't all. I saw someone else with them. Someone who has turned against us and joined the Empire of Dark Souls. It was…Oh my Pharaoh! This is terrible! The one who has turned against us and declared his loyalty to the Empire is my own brother."
"Malik!" Yuugi cried out. "He is the spy we have suspected?"
"I'm afraid so."
"I knew it…"
"But how can you be sure your vision is correct?" Atemu asked. "You said yourself you have not received any visions recently. How do you know this was not a dream?"
"I too thought it was a dream at first," Isis answered. "But to make sure, I went and searched the palace for Jonouchi, but I could not find him anywhere. Fearing the worse, I then went to my brother's chambers and found he was not there." She pulled something from behind her back and handed it to Atemu.
"What is this?" he asked, examining the parchment Isis handed to him.
"It is a note from my brother explaining that he truly has left us. He has publicly announced his loyalty to Bakura."
"I told you Malik couldn't be trusted," Yuugi gloated to his brother.
"I take it that you are both out here because Anzu is missing?" Isis asked, though she knew what the answer would be.
"Yes, Anzu is gone," Yuugi replied solemnly. "I went into her room to apologise for my earlier actions to find her missing. She has gone after the Empire, just as I suspect Jonouchi has too based on your vision. We must help them!"
"Yuugi, you are not going alone," Atemu said sternly, seeing Yuugi starting to make a move down the corridor.
"Atemu, no matter what you say, you cannot stop me. I am going to Sharluka, to the heart of the Empire of Dark Souls, to help my friends." 'And to apologise to Anzu, and to tell her how I truly feel.'
"Yuugi," Atemu said, stepping forward and placing a hand in his brother's shoulder. "You have the heart of a true champion, and a soul that is courageous and true (1). But no one can face a battle such as this on their own." He let go and began to walk back to his room.
Yuugi looked up at his brother, confused.
"What are you doing?"
"Changing," Atemu answered. "I'm coming with you, Yuugi."
Yuugi beamed at his brother. "Really?" he asked excitedly.
"Yes. It is about time I stop hiding and face my enemies. Isis," he addressed the Priest. "Follow these instructions: whilst I am away, I leave Priest Mahado in charge. Give him these orders: each Priest is to help protect the people of the Kingdom of Light with their Millennium Items. Soldiers are to be sent out to help evacuate smaller villages and lead the civilians to the larger cities where there are underground shelters. Is that understood?"
"Yes," Isis bowed. "I will inform the Priests immediately. And I will inform the servants to prepare both your horses. I wish you both the best of luck."
And so, within an hour of being woken from his sleep by haunting flashbacks of his mistake, Yuugi found himself riding his white stallion, his brother Atemu by his side on his own horse, exciting Illuminarta and heading towards Sharluka. Towards the heart of the Empire of Dark Souls.
'Anzu…Jonouchi…' Yuugi thought as he urged his horse to go faster. 'Just hold on . We are on our way.'
-I-
"Bakura?" Anzu asked in disbelief. She stared up at the man in front of her. At a first glance, one would have thought that the Leader of the Empire of Dark Souls looked like an ordinary 16 year old boy. But Anzu knew better than that. Yuugi had told her once before that the Leader possessed some kind of 'secret weapon' that allowed him to use powerful dark magic and gave him the gift of eternal youth. The 'Master' may look young, but he was in fact almost a millennia old. She looked at Bakura's clenched fist and knew immediately that that was where his 'secret weapon' was. But what was it?
"You're the Leader of the Empire of Dark Souls?"
"My, aren't you quick to catch on?" mocked Bakura. He stepped forward a few feet to study Anzu more closely.
"W-What are you doing?" Anzu asked hesitantly.
"Why, I am merely studying you my dear," Bakura answered. Anzu felt more uncomfortable as he continued to stare. "You look so radiant in those…revealing clothes. I've travelled to countless worlds these past centuries and I have never seen a sight quite like yours. I was told you were ugly and grotesque. But I should have known better than to trust Malik's words-"
"Malik?" Anzu suddenly asked. "What's he got to do with this?"
"Didn't you know?" Bakura laughed evilly. He walked back to his throne and sat back down. "Malik has been a very loyal servant of mine for what' going two years now."
"Malik works for you?" Anzu screamed. "He's the spy who's been working for you?"
"Of course he has! He is my most loyal servant. He has told me everything there is to know about the former three kingdoms of Hope, Destiny and Light. His information is always accurate…apart from the things he has said about you. Now lets see, what did he say exactly? Ah yes, I remember. I was told that you were as ugly as a witch and as powerful as a parasite. But I can see now that he was wrong. I will enjoy using you to fulfil my plan. Taking advantage of both your powers…and your body." Bakura laughed humorously.
It was then that Anzu's fuse finally broke.
"Kutabacchimae (2)!" she shouted. "I'll kill you!"
"Tut tut tut," Bakura mocked, wagging his finger in the air. "Don't use that language with me, abazure (3)."
Anzu stumbled back from shock.
"Y-You…You speak Japanese?" she gasped.
"Of course I do!" Bakura said proudly. "I have travelled to many different worlds, searching for the powers I can use to my advantage, and I have learnt many different languages during my travels. As it happens, Japanese is one of my favourite. It's hard to think it's only been ten years since I was last there…"
Anzu felt the dread in her stomach increase.
"Yes, I remember Japan well. I recall being in a large town know as…Domino." Anzu's heartbeat quickened at Bakura continued. "Yes, I remember that town well. And I remember the very night when I first saw you, Anzu. Your family were driving home from a party, if I remember correctly. Your mother gave you some Duel Monster cards. The very cards that are in your pouch right now." He let out a small laugh. "I must say, it was rather fun to destroy your life like that…"
Anzu covered her mouth with her hands. Her blood ran cold. "No. No, you couldn't have. It's not possible!"
"Oh but it is," Bakura sneered, enjoying every minute of Anzu's suffering. "Did you honestly think it was an accident? Ha! Far from it! Using the powers of my secret weapon, I was able to manipulate your father's driving, crashing your car into that oncoming lorry. It was rather amusing watching your mother die so painfully…"
Anzu felt the bile build up in her throat. "No! No! Stop!"
"You want to know why I did it?" Bakura continued. He stood up from his throne. "It was because of you, Anzu. As soon as I saw you, I could sense the strong powers inside of you. And I wanted them. I wanted them so badly. But your mother was in the way!"
"No! Stop!"
"Throughout the centuries a power has been passed down through your family, only being inherited by the female members. A power that was once used to destroy an evil that threatened Kemet 3000 years ago. But the keepers of this power never knew anything about it, except for your mother. She somehow found out about your family's gift, and about the prophecy. I don't know how, but she did. You remember the prophecy, right?"
Anzu remembered all right. She was the one that had translated it for Yuugi and Atemu when she had first arrived at Illuminarta.
'When the sacred items fail their task,
And the land is covered in evil's mask,
Pureness and truth must then fight,
Our fate hangs with the great Angel of Light.'
"She somehow figured that out!" Bakura continued to rant. "And because she knew you held the power, she did everything she could to protect you from finding out the truth." Bakura laughed again. "But it wasn't enough. She wasn't expecting me. And so, to get my hands on your power, I first had to kill your mother and wait for you power to grow. When the time was finally ready, I created a portal so you could enter this world."
'The tapestry at the shrine!' a voice said in Anzu's head. Everything was beginning to come together.
"You found the portal sooner than I expected, but no matter. I'll just use what you have to finally take over this world!"
"Think again!" Jonouchi suddenly cried, standing up. He drew his sword and stood in his fighting stance. "If you want Anzu, you'll have to go through me first!"
Bakura growled. "You're still here? I thought you would have gone by now. But no matter." He held up his clenched hand as his 'secret weapon' began to glow an even brighter light. "That will soon be taken care of."
Mai looked up from her position on the ground. As soon as she saw the 'secret weapon's' eerie glow, she knew what to expect. Being a prisoner of the Empire of two years had allowed her to experience nearly all of the weapon's powers. And Bakura was about to use one of it's most deadliest on Jonouchi.
Suddenly, a red beam of light shot out from Bakura's hand, heading straight for Jonouchi. Before she knew what she was doing, Mai jumped up.
"Jonouchi! Look out! AHH!"
Jonouchi-frozen from fear at the red beam shooting towards him-felt someone push him to the ground. His sword fell out of his hand and skidded on the floor, landing with a loud clatter. Upon hitting his head on the stone floor, Jonouchi let out a loud groan. But seeing the sudden flash of blood red light and hearing an all too familiar scream soon brought him back to his senses. Picking himself up off the floor, he looked back behind him just in time to see an unconscious Mai falling to the floor.
"NOOO!" he yelled. He picked himself up off the floor and ran to his lover's side. "MAI! MAI!"
He came to her still body and knelt down beside her.
"Mai!" he cried. "Mai! Wake up! Please wake- AHHHHH!"
Upon touching Mai's skin, Jonouchi yelled out in pain, before falling beside Mai's body, unconscious.
"JONOUCHI!" Anzu cried in horror. She stared at the pair lying on the floor, unable to believe what she had just witnessed. She turned to face Bakura, hot tears of anger flowing down her cheeks. "What the hell did you do!"
"Simple," Bakura replied calmly with a shrug. "I used my weapon to send that ass into the Shadow Realm. Unfortunately that blonde whore got in the way, so she was sent to the Shadow Realm instead. But if you ever touch someone who has been sent to the Shadow Realm, you will be transported there yourself instantly. Jonouchi should have known that, if he had a brain." Bakura laughed.
"The Shadow Realm?" Anzu whispered.
"Yes," Bakura answered eagerly. "It's a place where your worst nightmares become a reality, killing you slowly and painfully over time!"
"No…" Anzu gasped. "No…Jonouchi…Mai…No…"
"Don't worry. It will take several hours before they are completely dead!"
Anzu felt her rage boil again. "Hiretsukan (4)!"
"Now now. There's no need for language like that." Bakura walked down the stone steps leading from his throne towards Anzu.
Fearful of what he planned to do next, Anzu stepped backwards trying to get away from him. However, for every step she took back, he took two steps towards her, making sure she could not escape. She was soon trapped against the hall wall.
Bakura stopped right in front of her, pining her to the wall. He grabbed her face with his hand and forced her to look into his eyes.
"Now, where were we? Ah yes. I was about to take your powers from you. The powers your mother tried to desperately to keep hidden."
Anzu tried to struggle free from Bakura's grip, but he was far too strong for her.
"I'll give you two choices," Bakura continued. "Either you give me your powers willingly and I will allow you to walk away freely. However if you don't, then I'll just have to do things the hard way."
"I'll never give you my powers!" Anzu spat.
Bakura threw his head back and let out a loud, amused laugh.
"Well then," he sneered after his little outburst. "I guess I'll just have to do things the hard way." He held up his other hand-the one holding his secret weapon- to Anzu's face. The weapon began to emit another eerie red glow. "Do say 'hello' to Jonouchi and Mai for me. I'm sure you'll see them…in the Shadow Realm!"
Bakura's secret weapon shot out another red beam, this time landing right on target. When the beam collided with Anzu's face, an excruciating pain erupted throughout her body. She screamed out in pain, feeling like her body was on fire. Painful memories flashed through her mind, as the view of Bakura and the hall behind him faded from view. She felt her mind being painfully separated from her body, splitting her soul into two…
…Then suddenly, everything went black.
-I-
To be continued…
-I-
(1) You have the heart of a true champion, and a soul that is courageous and true: I know. I used a line from the dub. But I just love it when Atemu says this line, I had to use it!
(2) Kutabacchimae: Japanese for "drop dead, you bastard; fuck you!". Great word, isn't it?
(3) abazure: Japanese for "bitch"
(4) Hiretsukan: Japanese for 'bastard'
Wow, what a chapter. I have to say I'm surprised I wrote this. My hands were writing something completely different to what my brain was telling them to do! But I think the end result is way better.
Anyway, please R&R. The next chapter will be up as soon as I can write it!