So, was the last chapter exciting enough for you? Well, if it wasn't, this one will be (I hope)!
I'm having so much fun writing this at the moment, I don't want it to end! There are only a few chapters left!
I've already had an idea for a sequel, but it's a pretty lame idea if you ask me, so I'm not sure if it will do well. Sequels hardly exceed the original.
Anyway, I would like to take a moment to thank:
KaibaYamiLover
Dark Shining Light
kobear91
Greater Lights
yangs
Crystallynne
ImCrazyAndProudOfIt
priestess-one-shot
Applegrape8910
trekker4life
for reviewing the last chapter. Thanks you guys! You're the best! Presents for all! hands out kuriboh plushies
Now, time to get on with the next chapter!
'Thoughts'
Dream/flashback/Shadow Realm
"Speaking in dreams/flashbacks/Shadow Realm"
'Thoughts in dreams/flashbacks/Shadow Realm'
"Speaking (normal)"
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, but if I did, I would have Yuugi/ Anzu an official couple! I'm a Peachshipping fan for life!
-I-
Another World
Chapter 14: Deeper Into The Darkness
-I-
"How much further do we have to go?" Yuugi asked his brother desperately. His patience was beginning to run out. He turned his head to his right to see his twin riding his white stallion.
"I am not sure," Atemu answered. "We crossed over onto the black sand quite some time ago, so we should be close by now."
A flash of lightning could just be seen behind the dark, grey clouds in the sky. A loud clap of thunder roared above, shaking the ground bellow.
Yuugi's own white horse gave a whine in fear. Yuugi bent forward and patted his horse on its neck and soothed calm words into his ear to calm him. The horse soon calmed down and regained it's fast pace.
Yuugi sat back up again, inclining his body forward slightly for a streamline shape, allowing his horse to go faster.
"So how much longer until we arrive at Sharluka?" Yuugi asked his brother again.
"I estimate an hour or two," Atemu answered.
"Tch…" For Yuugi, this was not the right answer. They had already travelled for several hours since leaving the palace. Although one couldn't tell due to the dark clouds covering it, the sun had risen into the sky some time ago and it was now late morning, according to their body clocks.
"And how long have we been travelling, Atemu?"
"I think about seven hours, though it is hard to tell with the clouds blocking the sun like this."
A thought suddenly occurred to Yuugi. "Just how did Anzu and Jonouchi travel to Sharluka? Their horses were still in the stables when we left."
"I believe Jonouchi must have summoned one of his monsters to carry them there," Atemu answered. "And I bet you anything it was his Red Eyes Black Dragon."
"Which means they must have arrived either before or just after we left!" Yuugi said, panic and worry clearly in his voice.
"I am afraid so, Yuugi," Atemu said solemnly. He lowered his head. "Who knows what Bakura has done to them."
"Well, we cannot give up!" Yuugi urged his brother. "Anzu and Jonouchi are still alive. I know they are."
"I hope you are right, Yuugi…"
"I know I am right! And as soon as we arrive in Sharluka, we will help them to finally defeat Bakura once and for all and defeat this evil mask that has covered Kemet!"
Atemu nodded in agreement with his 'other half' and looked up ahead of them. His heart beat began to quicken we he spotted a small dark dot on the horizon of the black sand. That small black dot was the remains of the city of Sharluka. They were close now. This was it. The beginning of the end.
He pointed the city out to his brother, and they both urged their horses to pick up speed. Their horses-although tired from the long journey already- obeyed their masters' commands and managed to gallop faster than they had their entire lives. Sharluka slowly began to come closer and closer into view.
'Hold on, Anzu,' Yuugi prayed silently. 'We are almost there. Wait for me, please…'
-I-
'…Wait for me, please…'
Anzu's eyelids fluttered. Was that…a voice? It sounded like…Yuugi. Whoever-or whatever- it was, the words echoed in her head as she slowly opened her eyes. She soon regretted the action when she saw the new sights before her.
"W-Where am I?" she asked urgently into the empty void. Still lying on the floor, she slowly moved her groggy head to the right and left. All around her a dark purple fog swirled around her slowly, partially hiding the scene behind it. A scene that Anzu had hoped she would never see again.
She slowly sat up and rubbed her aching head. Her whole body ached, sore from experiencing the excruciating pain suffered from when one's mind is sent to the Shadow Realm. She felt sick and weak. And as every second past she felt even weaker, for the longer someone stays in the Shadow Realm, the weaker they become until they die. It is a slow and painful death. One that a mad man like Bakura enjoys watching, like it's some kind of sick sport.
Forcing her body to obey her commands, Anzu managed to stand up onto her shaky legs. This allowed her a better view of the scene amongst the deep purple fog.
By the looks of it, she was in some sort of small, dark room. The floor was covered in cold tiles, based on what she felt when she was lying on it. On three of the walls, various cupboards and work surfaces could be seen, all cluttered and filthy dirty. On the fourth wall was a closed, broken wooden door with a rusty door handle. Shelves had been placed each side of the door and each contained broken china and beer bottles. The wallpaper on the walls was peeling away. Some large bits lay scattered on the floor amongst broken glass.
Anzu looked back behind her at the wall opposite the door. There was a small, dirty window, with a kitchen sink underneath it. An old washing machine had been placed next to the sink. To Anzu's right, in one of the corners was an old cooker. Opposite it, on Anzu's left, was a large, metal fridge. In the middle of the room was a small dinning table. The chairs lay scattered on the floor around it, some of them broken like they had been thrown there.
Anzu immediately recognised the room. She had grown up in it back in Domino.
"This…This is my kitchen," she gasped. "This is my kitchen from back home in Domino. But…how is that possible? I thought I was in the Shadow Realm? What the hell is going on!"
As Anzu warily stepped forward, the fog seeming to get thicker with each step she took, Anzu noticed something strange about the kitchen. Everything seemed…bigger than she remembered. For one thing, her head barely reached the top of the dinning table. Before she had run away, the top of the table came to her hip. Just what was going on here?
Anzu circled the room, the fear and dread inside her heart growing with each passing second. And as her fear increased, the fog grew thicker and her energy grew weaker. Still confused, she passed her metal refrigerator. She would have continued on, if something hadn't caught her eye.
She looked back at the metal fridge and stared hard at it. There, staring back at her, was a six-year-old version of herself, dressed in the very same pink dress she used to where all the time when she was young. She even had the crystal necklace around her neck which her mother had given her.
As she continued to stare at the image, she thought of it only as a flashback of some sort, shown to her like this before of the effects of being in the Shadow Realm. But when she brought her hand up to touch the 'image' in the metal before her, she received quite a shock…
"Holy shit! That's me!" she screamed, jumping back. Her reflection copied her every moment. Scared, she looked down at her hands and her body and saw that it was true. Somehow, her sixteen-year-old mind had become trapped in her six-year-old body.
"What the hell is going on?" she screamed. She looked herself over again frantically, pinching herself to see if she was dreaming. She soon found she was not.
'T-This can't be happening!' she screamed in her mind. 'This can't be real! It's impossible!'
"Help!" She screamed into the fog. "Yuugi! Atemu! Jonouchi! Anyone! Please help me!"
Her cries echoed into the darkness. Scared, Anzu collapsed to her knees. She covered her face with her hands and began to sob.
"Yuugi…Please…Help me…Please…I need y-"
STOMP
Anzu let out a sharp gasp and lifted her head out of her hands. Her heart thumped hard in her chest. She wasn't alone. Someone else was here. And they were standing right behind her.
Her small body shaking, she slowly turned her head around to face the new presence with her. Her heart skipped a beat in fear when she saw who the dark figure was…
"…Dad?"
-I-
"Ah, my dear servant Malik," Bakura said smugly as said person bowed before him. "What have you to report?"
Malik rose from his bow and looked up at his master. He was dressed in simple Egyptian armour and had a simple sword attached around the waist. "The troops are now at the battlefield, master," he reported. "Unfortunately, we were not able to secure the high ground as Pharaoh Atemu's troops arrived before our own."
"No matter," Bakura sighed. "We have a higher chance of success than them anyway. After all, I have stolen what little power they had from the Millennium Items. They cannot use their magic to summon monsters like we can. Their defeat will come quickly. When will the battle begin?"
"Soon, master. The men are preparing as we speak." Malik gave another bow.
"Good. And what of our friends, the Pharaoh and his twin?"
"I have heard they left Illuminarta and the Kingdom of Light sometime ago once they discovered two of their own were missing. They should be arriving at the palace momentarily."
"Interesting," Bakura commented, tapping his finger on his 'secret weapon' in thought. "We must send out a 'welcome party' to greet-"
"There will be no need for that!" A voice bellowed into the hall.
Malik quickly turned around and gasped. He took a few wary steps back towards his master in fear. Bakura merely smiled at his two new guests that had entered the hall.
"Well well well," he said calmly and slowly. "Look who we have here. Pharaoh Atemu and his brother, Prince Yuugi. What an honour this is!"
"Stop your mocking!" Atemu ordered. His grip on his sword in his hand tightened slightly in anger.
"Now now," Bakura mocked, wagging his finger. "Temper temper…"
"We are warning you Bakura!" Yuugi warned, stepping up next to his brother. He too held his sword in his hand and stood in his fighting stance. "Do not toy with us or you will regret it!"
"Will I now?" Bakura laughed, amused. "I'd like to see that!"
"Tell us what you are planning!" Atemu shouted. "Tell us right now or you will live to regret it!"
"Oh! I'm so scared!" Bakura said sarcastically, before laughing manically. "Fine. I will tell you. But only because you won't live to see it happen…
"For as long as I can remember all I've ever wanted was power. Ever since the defeat of my great ancestor 3,000 years ago-right here in Kemet-all I've ever wanted was power so I could have my revenge. So for almost a millennia, I've travelled through the universe, through many different worlds in search of a power strong enough to defeat you all and control what should be mine-"
"You have lived for centuries?" Yuugi interrupted.
"Yes," Bakura smiled. He tilted his head to the side. "But I thought you already knew that?"
"I did," Yuugi said, trying to sound strong and brave. "But I thought it was merely a legend. I was only…surprised. That is all."
"Hmph!" Bakura huffed. "Well, as I was saying, my ancestor was defeated 3,000 years ago by the first Angel of Light. I knew there existed a power that could defeat the Angel of Light, so I went looking for it. And it wasn't long before I found this-"
He held up his 'secret weapon' to Yuugi and Atemu. A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, lighting the weapon momentarily. The twins stared at the weapon, and were not impressed. In his hand, Bakura held a small red jewel, about the same size as a large diamond, that emitted an eerie blood-red glow. It was barley larger than Bakura's hand. It's edges were smooth, and it had been formed into the shape of a seven pointed star.
"What is that?" Atemu asked.
"This," Bakura answered, handling the weapon in his hand. "This is my secret weapon. This is the jewel known as the Kulna jewel."
"The Kulna jewel?" Yuugi repeated.
"That's right, you pathetic runt." Yuugi growled at the comment. "This jewel allows me to travel through the worlds and grants me the power of immortality. As long as I have it, I can steal any power from any world, and live forever."
Atemu growled. "You are a mad man…"
"Oh, am I?" Bakura sneered. "You call a man mad for wanting revenge and taking over the entire universe, to claim what is rightfully his?"
"Yes!" Atemu and Yuugi agreed together.
Bakura laughed. "Very well. Maybe I am a mad man. Now, let me continue with my wonderful story. After I found the Kulna jewel and discovered it's powers, I was able to finally begin my main search for a power that would be able to defeat you once and for all. That was when I first began to put my plan into action: The Silent Enchantment of Unholiness…"
"The silent what?" Yuugi asked, confused.
"The Silent Enchantment of Unholiness," Bakura repeated with a smirk. "It's quite simple actually. First, I find a power that I will be able to use to defeat you. Then, I use that power to defeat you once and for all and take over the other worlds in this universe!"
"If you were using another power to defeat us," Atemu asked. "Then why are you stealing the power from our Millennium Items?"
"Because the power I found was not yet strong enough," Bakura answered. "And to truly defeat you I needed to steal your powers as well, so that you are weaker. Well, weaker than you were before. Plus, it was rather fun to watch you grow weaker like that. Almost as fun as it was to watch your parents die…"
"You are sick," Yuugi spat.
"…But," Bakura continued thoughtfully, ignoring the Prince's comment. "It wasn't as fun as going to a place called Domino…"
Atemu blinked. "Domino? Why does that sound familiar?"
"Because it is the place Anzu once lived," Yuugi answered, his voice quiet and soft. He dreaded what he would hear next.
"Yes," Bakura continued. "Now that was fun. Destroying a little girl's life is always an amusing pass time…"
Something clicked in Yuugi's mind. Yuugi suddenly knew who Bakura was talking about. He shook his head in disbelief. "You did not…"
"Oh, but I did," Bakura smirked. "I had to manipulate the power she possessed somehow, didn't I?"
"You mean you manipulated Anzu's life just for your own needs?" Yuugi cried.
"Why, yes. I did. And she has grown into quite a beauty…"
"Silence…" Yuugi warned.
"Yes, very beautiful," Bakura continued, teasing Yuugi. "Those curves, that skin…that body…" Bakura licked his lips slowly.
"SILENCE!" Yuugi yelled, his emotions begin to spin out of control. "You will not speak about Anzu like that! You hear me? Now tell me what you have done with her!" Yuugi ordered.
"And Jonouchi and Mai!" Atemu added.
Bakura merely chuckled. With one hand he swept it in front of him to indicate the figures lying on the floor before them. "Why don't you see for yourself?"
Confused, the two brothers lowered their swords slightly and lowered their defences as they looked around the hall. Yuugi looked to his right, and was the first to spot the first two casualties.
"Oh no…" Atemu gasped when Yuugi pointed it out to him.
Yuugi felt his blood run cold. Lying on the floor, Jonouchi lay unconscious on his front, his eyes not moving, his breathing slow and heavy. Lying next to him, was what looked like an unconscious Mai. She too was lying on her stomach, her right hand just lingering near Jonouchi's.
"So it is true," Yuugi said, unable to believe what he could see. "Mai was…no. She is alive." He searched with his eyes the area around Jonouchi and Mai, expecting to see another. The dread in his heart increased when he saw only two unconscious bodies. "But, where is Anzu? I cannot see her! Where is she!" 'Could she still be alive somewhere? She must be! I can still feel her in my heart-'
"Yuugi," Atemu said solemnly.
Yuugi looked up at his brother and saw he was staring at the other side of the hall. His heart full of dread, Yuugi followed his gaze until he saw it. Another figure lying on the floor to his left right by the wall of the hall. The figure was female, with short brunette brown hair. She was dressed in clothes not of this world, but of another. Her body was still.
"No…" Yuugi shook his head in disbelief. "No no no!"
"Yuugi," Atemu said gently. He placed a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. "We will save her. I promise."
A tear rolled down Yuugi's cheek. He was too late. He hadn't been able to get here in time. Bakura had already gotten to Anzu before he could come and protect her. Now he would never get the chance to apologise, or tell her how he truly feels. He would never hold her in his arms, never touch her soft skin, never kiss her irresistible lips…
Yuugi's sadness quickly changed into blind rage. Clenching his fists, he looked up at Bakura.
"What did you do to her!" He bellowed. "Answer me!"
Bakura merely shrugged. "I would think that would be obvious to you, runt. After all, they are not dead…yet. You and your brother of all people must recognise when someone has been sent to the Shadow Realm…"
Yuugi's breath caught in his throat. "The Shadow Realm?"
"Yes," Bakura sneered. He enjoyed seeing people in pain like this. "Jonouchi, Mai and Anzu will slowly die as they live out their worst nightmares and fears!"
-I-
Anzu felt her body shake in fear as her father slowly stepped towards her, trapping her against one of the many cupboards in the kitchen. He staggered rather than walked, for his body and mind had been effected once again by a high amount of alcohol. In his hand, he held a glass bottle that had once been filled with cold beer. It was now empty. Upon seeing his six-year-old daughter before him, his rage intensified and he threw the glass bottle to the floor. It shatter into thousands of pieces when it collided with the hard floor. A few stray pieces cut Anzu's skin.
Anzu screamed when the bottle smashed on the floor and tried to protect her body with her arms. This caused the stray pieces of glass to cut her unprotected arms rather than the rest of her body. After a few tense moments, where the only sound was the sound of her father's heavy, angry breathing, Anzu slowly lowered her arms and look at her father. Fear consumed her heart at the sight of the man that had caused her ten years of pain.
"It's your fault" her father spat in their native tongue, taking another step towards Anzu.
"No! Daddy please don't!" Anzu cried. Her voice was not that of sixteen years, but one of six years. It seemed her voice had changed as well as her body. And yet her mind still remained the same.
"It's your fault she's dead…" her father took another step towards Anzu. He was now towering over her.
"No! Please daddy! Listen to me!" Anzu pleaded. "It's not my fault mummy died! It's Bakura's. He killed her-"
"Shut up!" her father yelled, slapping her across the face.
Anzu cried out in pain as skin collided with skin. She covered her hand over her stinging cheek. It had started again. The beating. She was being punished for her mother's death.
"Don't speak lies to your father! It's your fault mummy died that night-"
"No it's not! I promise you daddy it's-"
"-You're the reason she's not here. You're the reason she's dead-"
"-No! Stop it! It's not-"
"-You're the reason I'm all alone!" In a fit of rage, Anzu's father grabbed the dinning table next to him and tossed it over.
Anzu screamed and covered her head with her hands. The table crashed against the floor loudly. Anzu's father's heavy breath increased as his rage grew.
"You stupid little girl," he spat angrily. "You stupid, pathetic little girl. You're no daughter of mine…"
Anzu just sat in a ball, covering herself as best she could to protect her from what was to come. Tears of fear rolled down her sore cheeks. Blood from her cuts slowly dripped down her pale arms.
"You've been a very bad little girl," her father continued. He wiped something away from his mouth. "You need to be punished…You need to be punished for what you have done to me!"
Anzu's father instantly kicked Anzu's small body. Anzu screamed out as the horrible pain shot up her body.
"Does that hurt?" her father mocked evilly. "Good. But it's not over yet." He then punched her in the arm painfully. "You need to learn your lesson!"
Anzu's father kicked his daughter again, sending her flying to the floor. After a moment, Anzu tried to stand up. But as she did, her father stepped on her back, pinning her to the floor. She felt out a few sobs.
"Yuugi…" she cried. "Yuugi…please…help me…"
"No one can help you now, brat!" her father spat. "Now, time for your real punishment!"
Anzu screamed out as her father continued to beat her small, fragile body. Tears flowed down her face. No one could save her now.
-I-
"Your friends will feel every blow and kick they experience," Bakura said evilly, "until they eventually die. It is a very, very slow and painful death. And one that I will enjoy watching!" He laughed loudly.
"No…" Yuugi didn't want to believe Bakura's words. Anzu couldn't die. Not now. Now when he had so much to say to her. And Jonouchi and Mai had only just been reunited. They couldn't be torn away from each other again.
Yuugi looked back at Anzu, hoping Bakura was wrong. But he wasn't. For when Yuugi looked at Anzu's still body, bruises and cuts began to appear on her unprotected body, damaging her perfect skin. The emotions that consumed Yuugi now were indescribable.
"How can you send people to the Shadow Realm?" Atemu bellowed. "Only those with Millennium Items can do that in the Kingdom of Light! The Kingdoms of Hope and Destiny could never do what we could. So how is it possible for you to use what is ours?"
Bakura chuckled. "Haven't you been paying attention these past few years? Let me repeat it slowly for you. I, Bakura, Master of the Empire of Dark Souls, have used this, the Kulna jewel, to steal your powers away from your Millennium Items. And once I've absorbed a power, I can use it to my advantage. So now that I have almost all the power of the Millennium Items in the palm of my hand, I can summon monsters and send people to the Shadow Realm just like you can. Or rather, like you used to."
"You monster…" Atemu growled.
Yuugi, upon hearing Bakura's words, tore his gaze away from Anzu and stared up at the Master of darkness. His eyes bore nothing but hate. His grip on his sword tightened dramatically as he stepped forward.
"Bring them back," he said angrily. "Bring them back right now."
"Or what?" Bakura mocked. "You'll beat me with that little stick? I'd like to see you try."
"Bring them back," Yuugi persisted.
"You're weak, Yuugi. Weak and pathetic. You could never save your friends. You could never save Anzu and tell her how you truly feel."
Yuugi froze. "H-How did you-"
"Know?" Bakura laughed. "With my Kulna jewel I can see into people's minds. I can see all they fear and all they wish. How do you think I've been manipulating Anzu's dreams all this time?"
"Enough!" Yuugi cried. He brought his sword up in front of him and stood in his fighting stance. "Bring them back or I swear you will live to regret it!"
"You will not speak to the Master like that!" Malik cried, drawing his own sword. He stepped into Yuugi's path.
"Coward," Yuugi spat. "I did not think you would still be here. I thought you would have tried to escape by now."
"I will not abandon my Master," Malik said, determined, stepping forward every so slightly. He too stood in his fighting stance.
"Why did you betray us?" Yuugi demanded.
"Because the Master showed me the truth. He showed me true power, and promised me that if I fought by his side, I would have the power I so desired."
"You mean he tricked you. Poisoned your mind with lies to turn you against us. Your people. Your friends. Even your own family-"
"Enough!" Malik interrupted. "I will hear no more of this. If you want to get to the Master, you will have to go through me first."
"So be it," Yuugi said quietly. With a mighty roar, Yuugi charged forward and pounced at Malik, his sword above his head. He brought it down to strike his chest-
But Malik expected the attack and brought his sword up in front of him to block the blow. The two swords clashed loudly as they collided. The force of the blow pushed the two young men back and both stumbled momentarily.
Yuugi was the first to recovering his footing, thanks to his training from when he was young. Taking advantage of the moment, he charged forward again and tried to strike Malik for a second time.
But Malik recovered just in time and once again used his sword to block the on-coming attack. The swords clashed again and small sparks flew into the air where the metals collided. Malik used all this strength to try and push Yuugi away, but Yuugi fought back. He too pushed his body and sword towards Malik to break his defence. The two were in a stalemate.
"Yuugi!" Atemu cried running towards his brother, his sword in his hand.
"No!" Yuugi cried. "Stay back Atemu!" Yuugi stepped back involuntarily as Malik took advantage of the distraction, but Yuugi pushed back and fought on.
Atemu reluctantly stopped under his brother's orders. "But Yuugi-"
"No!" Yuugi interrupted, still focussing on Malik. "I can handle this myself, Atemu. Trust me!"
Atemu nodded. "All right, brother…" All he could do was watch.
Yuugi and Malik continued to struggle against each other, each as strong as the other. Yuugi quickly looked out of the corners of his eyes at Anzu's body to his left, and Jonouchi's and Mai's just behind Malik. Seeing the now bruising bodies Yuugi got an idea, and a new strength that he knew would just be enough to defeat the traitor before him.
Gathering all his strength together, Yuugi pushed harder than he had done before. Malik did not expect this sudden burst of strength and involuntarily began to slowly stepped backwards. He tried to push Yuugi back with his own strength but found that Yuugi was surprisingly stronger than he was.
Bakura saw what was happening below and grew angry. "What are you doing, Malik? You are stronger than he is! You should be able to easily defeat this runt!"
"I am trying to, Master," Malik struggled. "But he is surprisingly strong!"
Slowly, Yuugi pushed Malik back and every step they took brought him closer to his target. Once Malik was in place, he prepared for his next attack.
"This is for Anzu!" he cried. With another sudden burst of strength, Yuugi gave Malik one final thrust and pushed him backwards.
From the shock of the force, Malik lost his footing and wobbled on his feet momentarily. He took a step back to try and regain his footing-
"GAHHH!" he screamed as his foot touched Jonouchi's hand. His sword dropped to the floor as his grip failed him. An excruciating pain shot up through his body, as his mind was sent to the Shadow Realm. His body collapsed to the floor just above Jonouchi's.
"No!" Bakura cried seeing his servant on the floor.
Yuugi lowered his sword and looked down at Malik's body. "That was for betraying us," he spat.
Atemu felt his jaw drop. Never, in all his sixteen years, had he seen Yuugi act with so much determination and strength. It was a side of Yuugi he had never seen before. He had to admit, it was somewhat frightening. Seeing that his brother was all right, Atemu ran to his side.
"Yuugi!" he exclaimed. "That was incredible! I never knew you had such strength."
Yuugi blushed. "Never did I!" He let out a small laugh, to which Atemu replied with a laugh of his own.
"You think this is funny, Pharaoh?" Bakura yelled, his anger now at boiling point.
Yuugi and Atemu ceased their laughter and stood in their fighting stance with their swords in their hands, ready to fight.
Bakura continued to yell. "You just defeated my most loyal servant and you think it's funny? You will pay for what you have done!"
The Kulna jewel glowed in Bakura's hand as a sword suddenly appeared in his other. A small indentation was visible on the swords handle. Bakura placed the jewel inside it to keep it safe and began to make his way down the stairs towards the twins.
"Now what do we do?" Atemu whispered to his brother.
Yuugi looked frantically around the room in the hope of finding something that would help them defeat Bakura. He soon found his gaze fall on Anzu again. Her body had received more bruises and small cuts could been seen bleeding on her exposed skin. Upon seeing Anzu's still face Yuugi got another idea.
"I have an idea," Yuugi whispered back to his brother. "How long do you think you can battle Bakura alone?"
"With my sword, maybe an hour. But if he used any heka I will not last very long. Why? What are you planning?"
Yuugi replaced his sword in it's sheath. "An hour is plenty of time."
Without warning, Yuugi dashed away from Atemu and headed towards the left side of the hall, away from Bakura. Bakura stopped upon seeing the Prince's actions and merely watched. Atemu on the other hand tried to stop his brother.
"Yuugi!" he cried. "What the hell are you doing!"
"Trust me!" Yuugi called over his shoulder as his brother. He stopped by Anzu's body and knelt down beside her.
"Anzu," he whispered, seeing her pained face. Slowly he brought his hand up to touch her face…
Atemu saw what his brother was doing and knew what he was going to do next. He rushed forward without thinking to try and stop him.
"Yuugi! Wait! You must not do this! Please!"
But Yuugi didn't listen. He moved hand forward to touch Anzu's skin…
"Yuugi!"
But instead of feeling the soft warmth of the girl's skin, Yuugi felt a horrific pain erupted through his entire body. He yelled out in pain as he felt his mind and body become separate.
"NOOO!" Atemu screamed seeing his brother in pain. He froze in the middle of the hall and could only watch as his brother's screaming stopped. Yuugi's body fell to the floor with a loud 'thud', landing next to Anzu's body. His right hand came down and landed on Anzu's left.
Atemu stood frozen in shock. His pupils shrank in his eyes and his blood ran cold. His grip on his sword loosened until it fell onto the floor with a loud clatter.
"No," Atemu gasped, falling to his knees. "No…It cannot be…Yuugi…My brother…My other half…NO!"
He punched the hard stone floor with both his fists and leaned forward, lowering his head as the tears began to stream out of his violet eyes. His body shook as he cried, his heart broke in his chest.
"Yuugi," he sobbed. "Why? Why did you do it? WHY!"
"You want to know why?" Bakura's voice pierced the air.
Atemu shot his head up and looked angrily at the mad man.
"It's because he's stupid," Bakura continued. "He thinks he can go to the Shadow Realm and save Anzu before she dies. Hmph! What a stupid little boy he is. His death will come quickly."
"You're wrong," Atemu growled, wiping away his tears. He picked up his sword and stood up on shaky legs. "You're wrong!"
Bakura watched as Atemu struggled to his feet. It was clear that his emotions were controlling his actions.
"YOU'RE WRONG!" Atemu yelled when he finally stood up. The words echoed around the hall. "Yuugi will not die. He will save Anzu and the others. And then we will defeat you together. Side by side!"
"Do you really believe that?" Bakura asked, holding his sword up in front of him. "Do you honestly believe any of you stand a chance against me? You will all die, Pharaoh. One by one you will all die. And I will finally be able to rule this world and the universe. I'll finally have my revenge!"
"We will see about that," Atemu spat, holding his sword up into his fighting stance. 'Yuugi, please come back soon. I cannot fight him without you. I need you. Otherwise, we are all dead.'
-I-
"Looks like a storm is coming," Honda commented to himself, looking up at the dark sky. Thunder and lightning roared and flashed behind the thick black clouds.
Honda looked down at the scene below. 100,000 men all lay before him, each busying themselves with their own preparations. Some were sharpening their swords, others were preparing their armour. And there were the occasional few that were practising their heka ready to be used in the Great Battle that lay ahead.
Honda looked up across the plain, being that he was on a high sand dune and could easily see the opposition. He had managed to secure the high ground for his troops just in time, but he knew it may not be enough. He sighed sadly when he saw the enemy.
They too were preparing for battle. And even though Honda could not see them all, he knew they greatly out numbered his own troops. Not to mention they could use more heka than his troops put together. They had been stealing their powers after all.
The Empire of Dark Souls' camp lay on the edge of the blackened sand, Honda's own troops choosing to stay on what was left of the pure sand that used to cover Kemet before it was contaminated with evil.
As Honda stared out into the soon-to-be battlefield, his thoughts came to those he cared about the most; his friends. He prayed he would see them again, especially Shizuka. Although he knew she was very much in love with Priest Seto, he had always had a special place for her in his heart, and he always will.
"Sir?" a voice interrupted his thoughts. Honda turned around and saw one of his shoulders kneeling before him. "I have received news from Illuminarta."
"News?" Honda questioned. "What news? Has something happened?"
"I am afraid it is to out disadvantage, sir," the soldier reported. "I have just received word that Prince Yuugi will not be joining us in battle, for he and the Pharaoh have travelled to Sharluka to fight Bakura face to face."
"What!" Honda exclaimed. "But why are they doing that? What has caused them to make such a decision?"
"It is Jonouchi and Anzu, sir. They left in the middle of the night to try and face Bakura themselves."
"That idiot," Honda growled, clenching his fists. "I knew he would do something like this!"
"I am afraid that is not all, sir," the soldier continued. "I have also received word that Malik has betrayed the Kingdom of Light and Kemet, and announced his alliance with the Empire of Dark Souls."
"He did what!" Honda cried, outraged. He paced up and down in anger. 'I cannot believe this! First Jonouchi goes after the Empire with Anzu, then the Pharaoh and the Prince go after them, and now this? What next?'
"What do you suggest we do, sir?" the solider asked. "Should we continue with our original orders?"
Honda stopped pacing and thought for a moment. After a brief pause, he turned to face the soldier.
"Yes, we will continue as planned," he said finally. "Prepare the troops! We go into battle soon, and we will be victorious!"
"Yes sir!" The solider bowed, before standing up and running down towards the camp.
Honda watched him go, before turning back to look at the sky. A flash of lightning erupted before him.
"I hope we know what we are doing…"
-I-
To be Continued…
-I-
Well, that's chapter 14 over with. What do you think? Personally, I didn't think it was as good as the last chapter. But that's up to you to decide. Please R&R! The next chapter will be up asap!
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