Disclaimer: I still don't own it!
Chapter 7
Yami edged his way bit by bit round the tiny ledge towards the crack. Below him in the pool, the blood still swirled and boiled while the lost souls cried out for help. He carried on steadily placing one foot in front of the other until he was standing in front of the crack that was much bigger now that he was right in front of it.
He peered into it but he could see nothing in the gloom. Thinking that nothing could possibly be as bad as the pool of blood, he took a deep breath and stepped through.
It was pitch black and Yami couldn't even see his hands in front of his face. He felt his way along gradually using the wall and testing each step before making it.
He walked on and on through the darkness that was so oppressive that he could feel it as if it was a real thing to reach out and touch.
He felt cold and afraid as he moved onwards, his footsteps echoing as he went. A light began to permeate the gloom and he walked towards it hopeful that this was a way out of this.
He watched the light as it grew closer and in the light he could see a figure beginning to take shape, a figure with spiky hair…
"Yugi!" Yami exclaimed in joy and he ran forwards to take his koi into his arms and hold him close.
"I've found you! My search is over." He said crying tears of relief.
But something was wrong; Yugi did not acknowledge him or hug him back as he had expected he just stood stiff, cold and unfeeling in Yami's arms.
"Get off me."
Yami was so shocked by the words that he froze for a moment or two.
"I said get off me!" Yugi said and pushed Yami off him with some considerable force.
Yami stumbled back and fell over hard onto the rocky floor.
"Yugi?" He said questioningly.
"Stay away from me Yami, You abandoned me on earth."
"I…I didn't…" Yami said utterly confused.
"You did, you allowed yourself to get hit by that truck on purpose knowing I had given everything up for you but you didn't care. Did you think you could become an angel because you died? Or did you just hate me so much you wanted to leave me? Well I have news for you Yami, I…hate…you."
Yami was so shocked and stunned by Yugi's outburst that he could say nothing for a moment.
"See? You're guilty, you're not even trying to defend yourself!"
"Yugi…I…" Yami faltered not knowing what to say. He loved Yugi and never wanted to leave him but Yugi thought he had abandoned him on purpose. Had he? Was it true? No! It couldn't possibly be true.
"Yugi, I never abandoned you, I love you too much and I have been through trials and tests to reach you. I came to find you so we could be together again."
"I don't believe you. I think you have come here to gloat because you got to go to heaven and I am stuck here in this dark place forever."
"But Yugi I have come to take you back with me so we can be together, I'm sorry if you think I abandoned you but I didn't do it on purpose."
"Liar!" Yugi shouted and stared at Yami intensely, his large eyes staring coldly at him.
His eyes…
Yami looked closely at those eyes he had come to love so well. They were amethyst, or were they? As Yami looked he could see red fleck in those eyes that he knew were not there before.
"You're not Yugi…"
"But I am Yami and I hate you."
"No you're not, you're not Yugi! I know him and I love him and he loves me and I swear to you that I will find him and rescue him!"
The Yugi look-alike snarled showing fangs before his appearance changed to become that of an evil looking demon. It screamed and ran off into the darkness that surrounded the light area they had been in.
Yami breathed a sigh of relief; he had almost believed the impostor and lost all hope.
A hole suddenly opened up below him and he plunged into nothingness as he fell. He screamed once before hitting something soft and malleable.
He lay there winded for a few minutes before sitting up and looking round. He saw Jou standing by the side of him, waiting for him.
"Well done." He said smiling.
"What was that?" Yami asked still trying to shake the image of Yugi telling him he hated him out of his head.
"You had to face your worst fear."
"I saw Yugi…He told me he hated me." Yami said.
"Then that was your worst fear." Jou said. "You came through it though and now we can continue.
"He doesn't hate me?" Yami asked still sounding worried. Jou shook his head.
"No, it was merely your worst fear realised but you beat it and you're nearly there."
"I am?" Yami smiled slightly. It would all be worth it when he found Yugi and they could be together again.
Jou stole a glance at Yami and saw his smile. If only he knew what was up ahead when they got to where Yugi was, Jou knew he wouldn't be smiling but he was forbidden to say. He had never heard of anyone making it this far but this one had and he was glad but would he be able to pass the final test? He didn't know but he was beginning to have faith in him. Maybe he could do it, he hoped so.
Together they walked on past swirling pools of lava and walls of fire travelling downwards all the time.
"You have been through hell Yami, are you ready to face the final test?"
"Definitely, where is Yugi?"
"In a place that is even deeper than hell itself. It is not a pleasant place but you will find Yugi there."
"Thank you." Yami said.
"For what?"
"For giving me the chance to find him and bring him out of it."
"No need to thank me, it has been your determination that has brought you this far."
"I couldn't do any less, I love him with my whole being, to spend eternity without him would be like the world existing with no sun."
"I understand." Jou said and they walked on in silence. Yami thought about Yugi and what they would say to each other when they finally saw each other.
Jou knew what was coming and sent a silent prayer to give Yami the strength he would need to face what was coming.
"We're getting close." Jou said and Yami noticed that they were passing strange dwellings that rose up out of mud and silt. There was the smell of death and decay in the air and he could hear crying coming from the 'houses'
"Where are we?"
"This is hell beyond hell. This is where people who commit suicide go, they create their own hell and become trapped in it for all eternity."
"This is where Yugi is?"
"Yes. I am sorry but I couldn't tell you what this place was like, it was forbidden for me to say."
"It's okay, once I see and talk to him then it will be fine."
"You have strong faith in your love, that's good but I must warn you that he will be lost within his own hell and probably won't recognise you when you see him."
"He will recognise me." Yami said determinedly.
"I am just forewarning you that it won't be easy to rouse him from his depression." Jou said gently.
"Okay, I will be careful." Yami said.
They walked on, their feet sinking into the mud that was everywhere in this place. It was oppressive and they had to struggle to even walk.
"He is there." Jou said finally and Yami looked to where he pointed. He could see a dwelling much like the rest of them here but this one seemed even darker and more foreboding than the others.
"My poor Yugi." Yami whispered looking in horror at the dark and dingy place that held Yugi suffering all on his own.
"I must go to him."
"One more warning, once inside I cannot help you and you will not have long before Yugi's depression will overcome you and you will have to remain here. You will forget who he is and you will forget even yourself. You will be trapped here for eternity."
"I am ready to fight for him." Yami said his face set. "I will never give up."
"I hope you succeed Yami."
"I will succeed."
"Then go." Jou said and taking a deep breath, he began to walk towards the dwelling where Yugi was trapped in the hell of his own making…
TBC…
