Hey everybody! Yup, tis the third and FINAL story of the Soul Destruction series! Are you not all relieved? I think so!
Look at the pretty title! ... Ok, it ain't pretty, but it's different! Was trying to figure out a name for it and just found that word at random. Weird, but it's interesting. And YES, it has a reason for being called this.
Well... sense you guys are gonna guess the story-line it won't be so creepy... but meh, we'll see

Hope yaz enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

"This is talking"
'These are thoughts'

Prologue

"Thank you sir." the receptionist nodded in thanks as Yugi handed her a credit card. She scanned it through the machine and handed it back, along with two other white cards. "Now, here are your card-keys. You rooms are on the second floor, rooms 34 and 35."

"Thank you." Yugi smiled forcefully, taking the cards back and handing one of the white one's to the two standing next to him. Ryoura was quick to grab it, just before Bakura did.

"We gotta share huh?" Ryoura said, examining the card. Smiling, he put on what he liked to call a 'posh accent', "Peppah darling, we look like a queer couple."

Bakura rolled his eyes. "They're the only two rooms left in the hotel, we don't have a choice. And there better be two beds!" he directed his last statement at the receptionist.

The receptionist smiled, "Um, yes sir."

"Good," Bakura nodded, picked his bag up off the floor and slinging it over his shoulder.

Ryoura put on a childish pout, accompanied with a shivering, childish voice, "B-but Pepper, wh-what if I have a night-may-er..."

Bakura took a step away from Ryoura and raised an eyebrow, "Ok, there's something really wrong with you..."

Yugi remained silent, returning to his sullen state after receiving the key-cards. Leaning his arms on the windowsill, he stared blankly out the window. He watched the sun setting on the sandy horizon of Egypt; the origin of the Millennium Items and closest place on earth to the Shadow Realm. If Yugi was to find a way to save his hikari from the eternal shadows, this was the only place to get answers.

"But I'm a-scared o' da dark!" Ryoura whined as he clung to Bakura's arm, the yami trying desperately to pull himself away from his over-dramatic lighter side. Ryoura giggled as Bakura tore his arm away, storming towards the stairs to get away from him. Still smiling, he looked over at Yugi, who hadn't moved from his spot on the windowsill. "Poor guy..." he frowned, "I wish he'd stop beating himself up." Shaking his head, he set off after Bakura.

Yugi sighed heavily, resting his chin in the palm of his hand as he watched the sun begin to sink below the horizon. The receptionist cleared away a few papers and the last few people in the lounge either headed to their rooms or the dining area, leaving Yugi alone with his thoughts. He shut his eyes slowly, resting his tired mind slightly. As the sun lowered, his shadow grew longer behind him; a narrow, black image of his form.

But then that image changed shape, moving it's arms out, form growing more pointed and causing it's hands to resemble claws. The empty room grew darker as the last rays of sunlight disappeared, but the shadow remained unchanged, it's dark form wavering like black flames. The shadow shortened to a human height, then floated from the ground like a ghost, gaining a slightly transparent, black form. Clawed hands flexed lightly as they reached out towards Yugi's shoulders, the black ghost floating slightly behind the unsuspecting boy.

"Yugi!"

The black creature turned it's head to see the source of the voice as it quickly faded, hissing angrily as it dissolved.

"Wha?" Yugi's eyes snapped open and he turned around. Ryoura stood at the other side of the room, looking shaken. "Ryoura?" Yugi tilted his head slightly when the boy didn't respond. He started walking across the room. "Ryoura, are you ok?"

"What?" Ryoura seemed in disbelief. "Di... Didn't you see it?"

"See what?" Yugi asked, genuinely confused.

"That giant shadow!" Ryoura yelled, pointing towards the window Yugi had been standing by. "There was this huge shadow floating right behind you! ... I swear!" he added when he saw Yugi's suspicious expression.

Yugi raised an eyebrow when he realised Ryoura was serious, then smiled and shook his head. "It's just your mind playing tricks on you. It might have been the lighting in the room, but it's probably from being out in the sun to long."

"But-"

"Ryoura," Yugi interrupted, smiling reassuringly. "There was nothing there. Don't worry."

"Well..." Ryoura looked down doubtfully at first, but slowly he seemed convinced. "Ya. Guess I'm just not used to the heat."

"And to many horror movies." Yugi added as he walked past the teen. "We better get some sleep, we've got a lot more researching to do tomorrow."

"When you saw 'researching', you mean 'exploring', don't you?" Ryoura asked. Yugi looked back and smiled, causing Ryoura to whine, "Aww! Like I haven't baked enough already!"

Yugi chuckled lightly as he stepped into an open elevator. "Goodnight Ryoura."

Ryoura's smile vanished as soon as the elevator door shut, blocking Yugi from sight. "Was I really imagining things?" he wondered, turning and walking back to the window. He looked around the window frame and the floor and walls around it. Nothing. After a minute or two more, Ryoura scoffed and waved his hand dismissively. "I'm turning into Pepper! I worry to much!" he turned around and darted back towards the elevator. "Better get some sleep, gonna get cooked tomorrow!"

From outside the window a black, ghostly figure faded into view, eyes locked on Ryoura until his disappeared from sight. The ghost narrowed it's non-existing eyes, it's form still impossible to identify, only appearing as a black, wavering shadow. The creature drifted slowly upwards and began drifting past the windows, scanning each room for one lone soul.

Through the darkness of the night the creature blended so well with, one name escaped it's lips in a low hiss...

"Yugi..."


To Be Continued
Oooo... shadow thing! Whacha think? Hope anyone who read it liked it! Loved Ryoura's part at the start. Man I've missed him! -glomp-
I have the next chappy done but you're just gonna hafta wait a while before I put it up, kk?
Welp, hope you don't mind leavin' me a review. Me's loves reviews, yupyup! Tog go bog é!
Bay Bay!
Bayleef