Wow, chapter 15 already? Where does the time go?
I want to say another HUGE thank you to:
kobear91
KaibaYamiLover
ImCrazyAndProudOfIt
Greater Lights
Crystallynne
Dark Shining Light
yangs
priestess-one-shot
Applegrape8910
Thank you so much guys! Thanks to you I now have triple figure reviews! I'm so happy! And it's all because of you!
'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! (Who wouldn't? )
-I-
Another World
Chapter 15: Fighting For Love
-I-
Letting his body recover from the shock of being transported into the world of shadows, Yuugi slowly opened his eyes. He groaned in pain as he did so, for his whole body ached. Even though he felt weak and sick, he slowly lifted himself up and forced himself onto his feet. After a few seconds passed, where in which he rubbed his extremely sore head, he looked around as his surroundings.
"So, this is the Shadow Realm," he said to no one in particular. He looked around and saw nothing but a swirling, deep purple-verging into black-fog. The silence was suffocating, and as every second passed he could feel his life energy being drained from his body. "It is hard to believe all this is an Illusion of some sort and that none of it is real. No wonder Atemu only uses this sort of punishment as a last resort."
The Shadow Realm was used only as a last resort in the Kingdom of Light, for it was so terrifying even the Keepers of the Millennium Items feared it. When no other punishment would work, a prisoner would be sent here, but only for a few hours so as to punish them. But they would never kill the sinner. The three united kingdoms of Kemet were deeply against the death penalty (unlike Bakura). Usually, after a few hours in the Shadow Realm, a prisoner to realise the evils of their actions and changed their ways.
When Bakura began stealing the powers of the Millennium Items, he gained the ability to send anyone and anything to the land of shadows. Every time he would send someone there, and their life was drained from their body, that life energy would be transported to Bakura's Kulna Jewel, increasing the already dangerous powers he possessed.
"…And I have left Atemu to fight Bakura all alone. How stupid was I?" He hit his forehead with his fist, then sighed. "I hope he is all rig-"
"…Yuugi…"
Yuugi's head shot up. That voice. It sounded like…Atemu's.
"Atemu?" Yuugi called warily into the darkness. "Is that you?"
No answer.
Yuugi began to panic. If he could hear Atemu's voice, then that meant he had been sent to the Shadow Realm too. And if that was the case, then Bakura truly was unstoppable.
"Atemu?" Yuugi called again, his voice echoing through the void.
This time, he got an answer.
"…Yuugi…" Atemu's distance voice called, before, "GAH!"
"Atemu!" Yuugi screamed upon hearing his brother in pain. He darted forward, heading in the direction of where he thought he heard Atemu's voice.
"Atemu! Atemu, where are you? Answer me!"
"Yuugi…"
Yuugi froze. The voice had come from behind him. Slowly and cautiously, he looked behind him. Out of the shadows, Atemu suddenly appeared. Yuugi's pupils shrank in his eyes as he stared at his brother. Atemu's robes had been ripped, his face showed nothing but pain and sadness. Yuugi stepped forward towards his twin, but as he did so, Atemu suddenly collapsed to the floor with a loud 'thud'. His body was still and pale. A pool of blood began to appear around the Pharaoh.
"Atemu!" Yuugi cried out in horror. He started for his brother to help him, but stopped when he heard another loud 'thud' behind him.
Terrified, Yuugi turned around, his breathing loud and heavy. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest as he turned to see the sight behind him. He screamed when he saw Anzu lying on the floor, dead. Her clothes were covered in her blood and a gruesome, bloody injury was clearly visible on the top of her head. Needless to say, Yuugi did not want to know what the pink-y mush by her head was.
Yuugi felt sick at the sight of the blood. But the nightmare wasn't over. All around him his friends slowly began to appear out of the darkness; Jonouchi, Honda, Shizuka, everyone. And every single one of them feel to the floor, dead. Each had a hideous injury on their body that must had caused their death. Each had a painful looked on their face, their blood shot eyes wide open for him to stare into.
Yuugi retched at the sight and smell of the dead bodies. His body shook violently, and his breathing was heavy and desperate.
"This is not real," he told himself. He held his stomach in fear of throwing up again. "This is not real…It is all an illusion…" He looked at Anzu's body again, and vomited again.
"None of this is real," he kept telling himself with a shaky voice. But as if to prove him wrong, the shadows grew darker, and voices began to pierce the nightmare world.
"You're too late," came the first voice. Yuugi felt his blood run cold when realised it was Anzu's. He looked at Anzu's body, fighting the urge to vomit yet again, and saw that her lips weren't moving. It was as if the voice was coming from her mind. "You're too late, Yuugi…"
"You were too slow." That was Atemu's, talking in the same slow, disappointed tone as Anzu. "You couldn't save us…"
"You are not strong enough," came Jonouchi's voice. "You are not strong enough to defeat Bakura and save us."
"No!" Yuugi cried, closing his eyes. "You are wrong! You are all wrong!"
"You will never save us," came Shizuka's voice. "You are not powerful enough…"
"No! Stop it!"
"You are weak," Atemu's voice spat. "Weak and pathetic. You are no brother of mine-"
"No!" Yuugi hollered. "You are wrong! This is not real! This is not real!"
"You are weak Yuugi," the voices began to repeat over and over again. "You are weak-"
"No!" Yuugi covered his ears to blocked out the sounds. He felt the tears roll down his cheeks. "This is not real-"
"-Pathetic-"
"-It is just an illusion-"
"-Powerless-"
"-An illusion caused by the shadows-"
"-You killed them-"
"-It is only an illusion-"
"-You let them die-"
"-I did not! This is all wrong!-"
"-It's your fault they're dead-"
"NO!" Yuugi screamed loudly at the top of his lungs. "THIS IS NOT REAL!"
A ray of bright, white light suddenly shot out of Yuugi's Duel Monster pouch and pierced the darkness. The light spread out around him and momentarily covered the darkness, blinding him. He covered his eyes, aware of the shadows around him changing rapidly. The illusion was beginning to lift. A few tense moments passed before the light quickly faded away. Yuugi lowered his arms only to find himself face to face with a familiar creature.
"Black Magician Girl!" Yuugi gasped in shock. "H-How did you get here?"
"You summoned me, Master," Black Magician Girl answered in her sweet voice.
"Me? But how? I cannot summon monsters with my pendent anymore, can I?" He pulled his eye-shaped pendant out from around his neck.
Black Magician Girl shock her head. "I was not summoned by the powers of the Millennium Items. I was summoned by a different power."
"Oh?" Yuugi placed the pendant back under his tunic. "Then how were you summoned?"
"Love," Black Magician Girl answered with a smile. "I was summoned by the power of love. The love you hold for Atemu, you friends, and for Anzu."
"Anzu!" Remembering what had happened, Yuugi looked at the area around him desperately. The bodies of his friends had disappeared. Not a trace of them was left. It was as if it had never happened.
'But I should have known that. It was an illusion after all. None of it was real. Which means that Atemu must still be battling Bakura, and Anzu must still be in here somewhere.'
He looked out into the darkness. He could nothing apart from the vast emptiness of the Shadow Realm. All that was there was the mysterious and eerie purple fog, which seemed to have increased in thickness.
Yuugi suddenly felt faint. He placed his hand on his forehead and steadied himself to stop him from falling over.
"Master!" Black Magician Girl squealed worriedly, seeing Yuugi stumble. "Are you all right?"
"Yes…I-I'm fine…" Yuugi answered uncertainly. His life was being sucked out of him quicker than he had first thought it would. He wouldn't be able to last much longer. He needed to find Anzu, soon. "Black Magician Girl, will you help me find Anzu? I cannot do it alone."
"Of course I will, Master," Black Magician Girl answered determinedly with a nod of the head. "I will help guide you to my Mistress by sensing for her powers."
Yuugi blinked. "You can do that?"
"Of course! Watch!" Black Magician Girl closed her eyes and hovered still in the air. She switched off her mind and listened with her heart. She listened hard and carefully, trying to pick up anything that felt like her Mistress's presence.
She could sense Yuugi's powers, but he was right in front of her which didn't help matters. Ignoring her Master's powers, she focussed hard on any other sources of power. She suddenly felt something pure enter her heart. Something that seemed to be reaching out to her. Her eyes bolted open. That was definitely Anzu. No one else was a pure as she.
"I have found her!" Black Magician Girl cheered, throwing her staff up in the air playfully and catching it.
"You have?" Yuugi asked happily. "Where is she?"
"Not too far from Master," Black Magician Girl answered excitedly. She turned 180 degrees. "She is this way. Quick! Quick! Follow me!"
Black Magician Girl flew forward into the fog. Yuugi did not hesitate to follow her. Running as fast as he could to keep up with the magician, he ran straight into the fog after her. He could feel himself becoming weaker with every step he took. He hoped they would find Anzu soon.
-I-
CLASH
The two swords belonging to Bakura and Atemu clashed loudly again, echoing throughout the grand hall. The swords remained in contact and formed an 'X' type shape. Bakura and Atemu groaned loudly as each fought against the other's mighty strength, forcing them to break the contact so they could take the advantage and strike.
"Well," Bakura huffed as he tried to force Atemu backwards by pushing his sword forward. A smile appeared on his face as if he was enjoying the battle. "It seems we are at a stalemate. I thought with the power of the Kulna jewel on my side it would be easy to defeat you." He took an involuntary step back as Atemu forced him backwards. Groaning, he quickly recovered and forced Atemu back. "I must say, I am surprised by your strength."
"Looks can be deceiving," Atemu grunted. He continued to struggle under Bakura's power. "When I am fighting for my brother and my friends, I am at my strongest." He forced Bakura to take another step backwards. He groaned loudly as he did so. "As long as they are alive, I will continue to fight!"
Bakura let out a small laugh. "But how can you be sure they are still alive?"
"Silence!" Atemu warned.
"Your brother has been in the Shadow Realm for quite some time now. And the rest of your so-called friends have been in there for even longer. How can you be sure they are all still alive?"
"Because I know!" Atemu shouted. But in truth, Bakura's words were effecting him more than he was letting on. What if Yuugi was dead? What would he do then?
He found his eyes flickering to the left towards Yuugi's still body. He just wanted to make sure Yuugi was breathing, even if it was slow and heavy-
"Fool!" Bakura spat. Whilst Atemu was distracted, Bakura thrust his sword forward. "You fell for it!"
The sudden movement took Atemu by surprise and he found himself stumbling backwards, breaking the contact between his swords and Bakura's. He struggled to regain his footing.
Making use of the opportune moment, Bakura brought his sword to Atemu's body and slashed him on the side.
"GAH!" Atemu screamed in pain. His grip failed on his sword and he brought his hand up to over his wound. His sword landed with a loud clatter on the stone floor and skidded on the floor to Bakura's feet. Atemu fell to his knees in pain. He removed his hand and looked at the blood that now covered it. The wound was deep and bleeding badly.
Bakura laughed manically. "You fool! I can't believe you fell for that!" He laughed again.
Atemu growled at Bakura, unable to say much due to the pain he now felt.
"What's this? Have I finally silenced the Pharaoh? Well, now this is an achievement! I must savour this moment." He laughed again.
"Bakura…" Atemu growled. He felt his body shake as the blood slowly began to seep through his fingers. Small drops landed on the dark floor. Drip. Drip.
"Get up!" Bakura ordered. He kicked Atemu's sword back to him. "This fight is far from over! This battle won't end until you're finally dead. And I'll make sure to kill you as slowly and painfully as possible!" He laughed manically again.
Atemu reluctantly removed his hand away from his wound and picked up his sword, staining the handle with his blood. He forced himself to stand up, even though he blood began to drip down his hip and leg.
"I will not die," Atemu said determinedly through gritted teeth. "You hear me? I will not die. Not whilst Yuugi is counting on me." He stood up straight and stood in his fighting stance, trying his best to fight the pain. "I will win."
"We shall see about that!" Bakura yelled before charging for the Pharaoh. He brought his sword down to strike Atemu again-
CLASH
Atemu blocked the attack with his own sword and forced Bakura back. He winced. The pain from his wound was increasing. He could feel his warm blood down his leg. He wouldn't be able to last much longer. His eyes flickered to Yuugi's body again.
'Yuugi…Please hurry. I need you, brother. We all do.'
-I-
"What is this strange building?" Yuugi asked Black Magician Girl.
The pair eyed the unusual structure curiously. From what Yuugi could tell, the building seemed to have two floors based on the small holes that looked like some sort of windows. There were two 'holes' near the top and two near the bottom, a small door being placed between the latter.
Yuugi carefully walked up to the closest window and put his hand up against it. He soon found that his hand could not pass through the strange material placed inside the holes. What was this material anyway? It looked like frozen pure water. There was nothing like this back in Kemet.
Yuugi looked up at the rest of the structure. It had been covered in some sort of white mixture that felt rough under his hands. In front of the house was a small garden. Yuugi knew one of the plants in the garden. After all, you could find grass in all the oasis' back in Kemet. But he did not recognise the other plants and trees. Though he did like the look of the small tree covered with small pink flowers.
"I think this is Mistress's house," Black Magician Girl answered thoughtfully. She picked up one of the flowers from the garden. It was a beautiful red one, but was covered in thorns. And upon picking the flower up Black Magician Girl dropped it again when a thorn pierced her skin. "This does not look like a place in Kemet," she said whilst sucking her sore thumb.
"True. I have never seen plants such as these," Yuugi commented. "Or materials like the ones that have been used here. And what is that over there?"
Yuugi pointed to a large, shiny red box. It had four circular 'things' placed on the bottom; two at the front and two at the back. These 'things' kept the large box off the ground. At the front, back and along the side of the box, the same frozen-water-type material had been used so one could see inside the box. Yuugi and Black Magician Girl could see four chairs inside; two at the front and two at the back (1).
"What a strange box," Black Magician Girl said, hovering over to it. "I wonder what it does."
She tapped it with her staff and expected something to happen. But nothing did. She tapped it again, only a little harder. But again nothing happened. Growing angry, Black Magician Girl whacked the box hard with her staff, but only succeeded in causing a very, very large dent.
"Opps," she said, blushing slightly.
"Maybe we should look for Anzu inside," Yuugi said, ignoring Black Magician Girl's antics. He walked up the small path that led to the door and pushed it open. It creaked loudly.
Black Magician Girl flew to her Master and looked over his shoulder inside the building.
"It looks scary in there, Master. I do not like it."
Yuugi looked down the dark corridor in front of him and swallowed, hard.
"I-It does not look that bad…does it?" he asked, his voice sounding unusually high, even for him.
"Yes!" Black Magician Girl cried, ducking behind Yuugi. She began to shiver in fear.
"Come now," Yuugi said. "We have to go in. you know as well as I do that we have to go in…there" Black Magician Girl slowly lifter her head back up to Yuugi's shoulder. "We need to find-"
"AHHH!" A high pitched voice screamed.
"Ahhh!" Black Magician Girl screamed, ducking back behind Yuugi.
"That sounded like Anzu!" Yuugi cried. He bolted forward into the dark corridor.
"Master!" Black Magician Girl called into the corridor. She hovered for a moment, unsure of what to do. But upon looking back out into the thick fog behind her, she made up her mind and flew after Yuugi.
Yuugi ran down the corridor, ignoring all the strange contraptions around him. He stopped when he came to an open door in front of him. He didn't know why, but something was telling him Anzu was here. He looked through the open door…
"You stupid girl!" A low voice yelled. As Yuugi looked into the room, he saw a large man standing a short distance in front of him. "You stupid bitch!"
Yuugi was confused. He did not understand the language this man was speaking. It was not spoken in Kemet. And yet, something for telling him he had heard this language before.
He looked around the room with his eyes, eying the strange objects that filled it. He could make out cupboards and shelves on the walls, and work surfaces too. But there were other strange things made from shiny materials that he could not name. But he could identify the turned table and broken chairs on the floor.
"What is going on?" he asked himself.
He looked back at the man and watched him as he continued to shout and yell. He seemed to be yelling at someone, but Yuugi couldn't see who. But when the man shifted his position to the side slightly, he soon saw what he was shouting at.
Yuugi let out a cry when he saw the figure. Curled up in a ball in the corner, their arms covering their head, was a six year old version of Anzu. Yuugi immediately recognised her by the crystal necklace that hung around her neck.
"Mistress!" Yuugi heard Black Magician Girl gasped from his side. It seemed she had just arrived and was as shocked as Yuugi was.
And they had a right to be. Anzu's body was covered in horrific bruises and cuts that bleed freely. Most of the cuts were on her arms where she had tried to protect the rest of her body. Her right leg looked painfully broken. Anzu's whole body was shaking and tears of fear were rolling down her sore cheeks.
"But who could have done this?" Yuugi asked, horrified.
His question was soon answered.
"It's your fault!" The man yelled in his native tongue. "It's all your fault!" He raised his hand and punched Anzu on the arm.
Yuugi felt his rage boil. He clenched his fists in anger. 'How dare he do that to Anzu! That bastard will pay for what he has done to her!' He stepped forward, raising his fist-
"Please! Stop!" Anzu cried, her voice shaking.
Yuugi froze for a moment. He understood that. He understood what Anzu had just said. But, how was that possible? There was so much about the Shadow Realm he didn't understand. He looked up at Black Magician Girl and voiced his question. After all, magical creatures such as herself were far wiser than human beings (though sometimes they did not show it).
"Master can understand Mistress because Master knows her so well," Black Magician Girl answered. "Whereas Master does not know who that man it since Master has never met him. So to Master, Mistress's words are in Master's language."
"Do you know who that man is?" Yuugi asked, glaring at the largely built man.
"Yes. It is Mistress's father."
"Her father!" Yuugi cried in astonishment. "Her father is beating her like this? But why?"
"Why!" Anzu's father spat, kicking one of the cupboards. "Why was I stuck with a daughter like you!"
"Do you know what he is saying?" Yuugi asked desperately.
"No, but I can change it so Master can." Black Magician Girl held up her staff in front of her. The jewel encrusted on the top let out a small glow. Yuugi felt something in his ears, as if a shock wave had just passed through him.
"There," Black Magician Girl said suddenly, satisfied. "Now Master can understand their language."
"What was that?" Yuugi asked.
"A small language spell Black Magician taught me!" Black Magician Girl answered smugly.
Yuugi eyed her, before turning back to the scene unfolding in front of her.
"Why did you do it?" Anzu's father shouted. This time, Yuugi could understand what he was saying. "Why did you kill her? How could you kill your own mother!"
"I didn't!" Anzu wailed. "I didn't kill mummy! I didn't!"
"Don't lie to me!" her father shouted, slapping her across the face. Yuugi felt his rage intensify. "You killed her. On the way home from the party, remember?"
"No! It wasn't me! It was Bakura-"
"You were the one that distracted me and caused me to crash that car. You were the one that took so long to escape from the car before that damn lorry came. If you hadn't had been so bloody slow, you're mother would still be here!"
"No! Stop!"
"She wouldn't get out until you were out first! It's your fault bitch! It's all your fault!"
"No!"
Yuugi stood in shock. They were talking about her mother's death. The tragic accident that Anzu had never wanted to talk about. Yuugi now understood why it was painful for her to talk about, and why she hated her father so much. For ten years he blamed and punished her for her mother's death. For ten years he beat her to get rid of his own guilt and depression…
But Yuugi refused to believe one thing; that is was Anzu's fault her mother had died. He couldn't believe that. Anzu was too pure to cause the death of someone she loved so much. What had she said? Something about Bakura? Did he cause her mother's death? Bakura did mention something before…
-Flashback-
"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…"
-End Flashback-
So Bakura had been the one to kill Anzu's mother, just so he could somehow get to her powers. He had caused the accident, framing it on Anzu so that her father would blame her.
"You're the reason I'm all alone!" Anzu's father yelled. He kicked Anzu's broken leg, causing her to scream out in pain. "I'm going to kill you!"
"NO!" Yuugi yelled, running forward. His rage was uncontrollable. He had to save Anzu. He had to stop her 'punishment'. He had to stop her so-called father-
Yuugi was suddenly forced back. He stumbled but regained his footing quickly. He looked up, but saw nothing that stopped him from going to Anzu. He ran forward again, but was stopped once again.
"What is going on?" he asked out loud.
He held out his hand in front of him and walked forward. His hand was soon stopped by something that was hard, yet invisible at the same time.
"What is this?" he cried.
"It is a force field," Black Magician Girl answered sadly, floating to his side. "It is here to stop Master from saving Mistress."
"A force field?" Yuugi repeated. "But how can I break through it?"
"I do not know," Black Magician Girl shook her head.
"What?" Yuugi couldn't believe what he just heard. Force fields were usually created by some sort of magic. Something that a creature like Black Magician Girl could easily break. But if even she couldn't break through this one, then how could he break it?
"I'll kill you!" Anzu's father bellowed as he punched Anzu again in the stomach.
"Stop it! Stop it you bastard!" Yuugi yelled, banging on the force field. But the man did not hear him and continued to beat Anzu.
"AHHH!" Anzu screamed as her father kicked her broken leg again.
"Anzu!" Yuugi yelled.
"Mistress cannot hear Master," Black Magician Girl said sadly. "The force field is stopping that."
"No…" Yuugi gasped. He punched the force field in frustration. A tear rolled down his cheek.
Time was running out. He felt extremely weak as his energy was continually being drained. If he didn't hurry, both he and Anzu would soon die. But how was he suppose to save Anzu now? He couldn't break through the force field. And he couldn't yell to her since she could not hear him. Or see him.
What was he going to do?
-I-
To be Continued…
-I-
(1) Yuugi pointed to a large shiny red box. It had four circular 'things' placed on it; two at the front and two at the back. These things kept the large box off the ground. At the front, back and alone the side of the box, the same frozen-water-type material had been used so one could see inside the box. Yuugi and Black Magician Girl could see four chairs inside; two at the front and two at the back: If you couldn't guess, they're looking at a car. I'm not good at describing them like this :P
And the parts were the text is in bold means that their speaking Japanese. I'm too lazy to find out what those sentences are in Japanese :P
And aren't I evil, leaving you on a cliffy like that?
So, how did you like that? Enough excitement for you? I was going to put more in but I just couldn't fit it in! There's so much to write! This story is getting longer and longer.
Please R&R and let me know what you thought. Next chapter will be up asap.
Oh, and 1 more thing…MY BIRTHDAY SOON!