Jupiter Shadow--Headstrong
Mako slowly sat up and blinked as she looked at the room she was in. She blinked before slowly getting up and changing before walking out. The place was like her apartment in Tokyo, but there were a lot of differences as well.
Like more pictures of her parents, with her, on trips and such. She picked up one that caught her eye and suddenly realized exactly how hard it would be to leave this place.
On the picture was Jounouchi, Shizuka and herself smiling for the camera. Behind them were Jonouchi and Shizuka's parents, also happy with their arms around each other, and her parents, smiling and alive.
She set the picture down and sighed. It was all just an image, something that Akunadin wanted her to believe in so they would stay in the Shadow Realm and not leave. But the fact was that she had to find Jounouchi and help him remember, or realize where they were exactly so they could escape to find Yugi and help him realize his full power.
Jounouchi around the apartment and then at the fake Shizuka.
It wasn't real.
It was too wonderful to be real, and he knew that it was all he had wanted. His father wasn't drunk. His mother was loving. His sister lived with him.
He was close to Mako, had grown up with her, had become her boyfriend early on and--.
It wasn't real. It was all a dream.
Mako walked in and he saw that she was in the same dream, knew it as well, and smiled at him.
They walked outside, Shizuka smiling at him as they did, and he sighed as he sat down on the steps. "It's all a dream."
"He warned us," Makoto said, "Atemu said that sometimes the Penalty Games are hard to leave because they're what you want as well as what you fear."
Jounouchi sighed and looked down the hallway towards the last door. "We should leave then."
"This will be hard," Makoto said, "you know that."
Jounouchi nodded, and then smiled at her. "Whoever said I liked easy ways out?"
Mako smiled with him and the two stood up. The door suddenly opened and Shizuka stood there, looking at them with a sad look in her eye.
"You're leaving here."
The two looked at her and Jounouchi finally said, "Our friend's in danger. This is a wonderful place…but I have to help him. We both do."
Shizuka finally nodded and came out to hug him. "Take care, Onii-chan."
"I'll miss you, Shizuka."
The two turned after Shizuka let go and they went down the stairs and out into the sunlight before they went to the street and both looked to where the darkness was despite the time being shortly after noon.
"I guess that's the way," Jounouchi said.
"They made it easy, didn't it?" Mako pointed out, and the two began to run towards the darkness before the streets became darker and more like that of Jounouchi's past instead of his ideal.
The duo raced down the block, trying hard to not stop for anything. The darkness was mainly Jounouchi's own past, and he knew that if they got to the end of it they would be able to escape. To get to Yugi and save him from Akunadin.
I hope the others are okay, Jounouchi thought as they ran, I hope even Kaiba is okay.
…Well, I could live without him being completely okay…just a little hurt.
They suddenly had to stop as they reached a tall ravine. "What gives with this?" Jounouchi asked, looking down.
Makoto pointed and they saw the other end, where a door awaited them and Jounouchi saw a tall being that had it's feet soaking in water.
Why is he making it this easy?
Jounouchi suddenly knew why. Akunadin only knew him from before, when he was the captain of the guard. He had always underestimated him…and in the end he had killed him. This wasn't just to rescue Yugi, it was also to avenge a wrong that had caused a rift in a friendship that shouldn't have been broken.
"Mako," Makoto looked at Jounouchi and noticed his changed look, "I know how we can get over there. I have to summon the Red Eyes Black Dragon, and you have to become Sailor Jupiter again."
Makoto paused and turned back. "He underestimates you, doesn't he?"
"My past self, yes. Kaiba underestimates me this time around, and I think he's not doing it so much now, especially since he remembers the past."
The two smiled and Jounouchi reached within himself, searching for the dark power within him that would open a door to the Shadow Realm.
"Who are you?"
"Set."
The young boy's eyes narrowed slightly, "What do you want?"
"I just want something to drink," he pointed at the small pouch of water he had been getting from the well that had once belonged to the blond-haired boy's village, "Is that a crime?"
His honey-colored eyes stayed narrowed and he glared at the brown-haired boy named Set. "Only depending on the person. This water belongs to my village, and it's protected by a great beast. We're the only ones who can keep it at bay. If you don't pay me, I'll sit by while it eats you."
Set paused and then looked down. "I don't have any money. My village was destroyed a few days ago by raiders."
He paused then tilted his head while the Red Eyes Black Dragon watched from the darkness, the only sight being the glowing red eyes. Set seemed unafraid at this point but was unsure as to what he would do if the boy decided to attack.
The boy finally sighed and jumped down, the Red Eyes disappearing before he walked up and grabbed the rope, pulling up the water and putting some into two cups. He gave one to Set. "I'm Jono."
Jounouchi looked up and felt his clothing change to get two ankhs on his wrists and a darker look to his clothing, red and black instead of his usual near-school outfit. His hand raised, he turned back to the ravine. "Red Eyes, come forth!"
The dark dragon appeared and roared, the two jumping on to travel over the windy ravine. Below there were the shouts and curses of those Jounouchi had known but before he met Yugi. They were all past him, below him…
No, they were simply his past. A part of him that wasn't real anymore, just a dream like the wonderful life that had been behind him. He wondered once more why Akunadin was making this so easy. Did he think it would take too long for them to gain their power, or that they would have stopped in the dark places to take on the gangs to prove themselves?
Mako looked over and took a breath before letting it out. "Okay then. I'm ready."
"I'm with you, Mako-chan."
She nodded and then raised her hand.
The years had gone by, and how exactly it was that Set had gotten him to be Captain of the Guard was one thing he was curious about, but he never asked really. The younger Pharaoh had been a nice boy, and even while he had given him the full amount of respect, the Pharaoh still insisted on acting as his friend and superior rather then just a superior. After his father's death, the Pharaoh had not gained many allies except the priests who served him, Siamun the advisor who had served his father, and Jono, Captain of the Guard and thus the strongest of all the fighters and the only one who could fully summon his ka, the Red Eyes Black Dragon. Luckily, that had been enough that his reign had lasted a few years longer the others who had gained the throne at such a young age.
Despite himself, Jono knew that Set had been instrumental in helping him gain his position, and as well he was also one of the few whom he fully trusted of the priests, with the exception of Mahaado and maybe Isis, but Akunadin…he never fully trust the man who could read his very mind, while the rest were simply the priests who felt that he should show Set, who was the High Priest and one of the strongest of them all, some more respect.
In public, yes, he showed respect to Set as was deserving of one of his rank. In private…that was another matter. He knew Set since the death of his mother and the destruction of his village, and while he had been reluctant at first to speak of it Set had opened up and explained how he had freed a girl and those raiders had destroyed the village while looking for him, and killed his mother. Set's father had disappeared when he was very young and he never knew him, thus he had no one and the raiders were ready to either use him as a slave as they were to use the girl or something worse.
Then a dragon of light blue had appeared from the sky, and the raiders had been killed. Set had been mesmerized by that dragon and wanted nothing more then to see it again. Jono liked his own dragon, but still smiled at this and was happy to listen to Set, giving him someone who would listen and who would help him out.
They were friends, blood-brothers. Once, after a fight, Set had been hurt but helped Jono while they were traveling to the capital. The exchange had caused their blood to mix once so that it looked like only one was traveling, and one of those tracking them had been surprised, thinking one had died. Thus, after that, if there was a major fight or attempt on the Pharaoh's life, they fought together.
"What are you doing, Set?" he couldn't believe his friend was about to do what he suggested, "Have you gone mad?"
"The Pharaoh is gone and was weak anyway," Set said, something in his voice changing, as if he was being held but wanted to break lose, didn't fully believe what he said.
"I don't believe you. Red Eyes--."
When he regained consciousness, Akunadin was ordering the death of the girl that Set had taken a liking to. Kisara, that was her name. She had been the one that Set had helped in the past, and the one which held the dragon he loved and cherished.
"No!" Jono yelled, fighting his way up and grabbing Set's wrists before he saw it. Set was trying to break free. He was being controlled, and he couldn't break free.
"What type of a priest are you?" Jono said to him, still holding him and trying to move him to where he could fight the control a little more. Set looked at him, his blue eyes slowly coming back to life, slowly realizing how important it was that he break free. "You care for this girl, you want nothing more then for her to live! Do you truly think that the Blue Eyes can be yours if you kill her? Her ka will never serve this evil purpose, Set! Wake up!"
"Shut that dog up!"
That was what broke Set's spell for a moment. He turned to glare at one of the men who came up and suddenly there was a move and the man was dead, the blade of the Millennium Rod wet with blood.
"No one calls him a dog," he growled, "and I'm not killing her!" the last was directed to Akunadin. He glared and finally smirked.
"So be it, Set," his features became distorted and suddenly Jono was swept off his feet and thrown harshly against one of the stone pillars. Kisara cried for him before Akunadin grabbed her and started to move her to the place where she would be sacrificed.
Set couldn't move. He was torn, unsure who to go to. The Red Eyes slowly started to take on a form in one of the stone tablets nearby and Set raced to his best friend.
"Jono…no…I never meant…"
"I--" it hurt to talk, but he finally reached over and coughed out blood into his hand. Set was fumbling to try and make him stay still, but the Red Eyes continued to appear on the slab.
"I won't forgive you…you let her die…I can't…forgive…"
The world went dark and his ka, the Red Eyes Black Dragon, fully formed on the stone slab. Set looked up and raced to go after Akunadin before suddenly the gold energy stopped him.
"Foolish child," Akunadin said, "this is a powerful ka. You yourself said you would find a ka which could even take down a God."
"I will not let you kill the Pharaoh!"
Akunadin smirked at Set. "Who said I would kill the Pharaoh? The thief did a good part in disrupting things. It took me years to gain the trust I got from that boy and my brother, now I can finally see you, my son, ascend the throne and hold the Millennium Puzzle, the one item which should have been mine!"
The news that Akunadin was his father didn't seem to stop Set from yelling back, "Let the girl go! You have the Red Eyes, let her go!"
"One dragon is fine, but two…your own ka gains power by sacrificing others, Set. If we sacrifice these two to Duos, do you think he will be strong enough to take on the gods?"
"NO! Let her go, please!"
"I think not. The dog broke my control over you, and this girl helped. I won't lose my hold on you again, and I need you here, not in the Shadow Realm."
The knife was raised and Set's eyes went wide.
"NO! KISARA! JONO! Akunadin, you will not get away with this!"
"Funny…I thought I already had."
The symbol of Jupiter glowed on her forehead, green and bright, as she yelled, "Jupiter Eternal Power, Make-up!" The lightning struck her and from it came an angel in green and pink, her wings pure white. She smiled at Jounouchi and turned back to the monster before raising her hand, her skirt flying up as the electricity sparked around her, flowing up to create a large eagle-shape.
"Jupiter Kamikaze Eagle!"
The electric eagle screeched and flew up before dive-bombing the monster and the water, frying the monster but not killing it. The two looked at each other and then back to the half-dead monster, which roared at them.
"Jupiter Power,"
"Shadow Power,"
"Unite!" they yelled together, "Wraith of Lightning!"
The Red Eyes glowed with fire and lightning before aiming the attack and the monster, their last obstacle, was destroyed.
The Red Eyes dropped them down, and the two looked at each other before they walked over to the door and opened it, stepping in to the next place and leaving the other world behind.
Venus Shadow--Waltz
She was singing.
She was a star, more then just an Idol, much more. She was well known, and always she was smiling.
But there was something missing. Something more.
She looked up from behind her sunglasses at the Black Clown game store and then to the world behind her. What was Akunadin thinking, that simply making her a star would scare her away, would fulfill her wildest dreams? She had tried that with the Three Stars and it hadn't worked. Sure she had always wanted it, sure she had wanted it when the Dead Moon tried to come after her, but she hadn't taken it. Instead she had tried to save the others and ended up not being able to transform, and thinking that Artemis had died.
She took a step to the game store.
Artemis had been her partner, had given her a power that had helped her free the others, helped her fight.
Aino Minako opened the door and walked in.
She was Sailor Venus, the first of the Senshi to awaken, the last to gain their powers, and the leader of the Inner Senshi, second-in-command to Sailor Moon.
Giving her a record deal wasn't gonna stop her from her big dream, from her wish to protect her princess, and no tricks of the light would change the fact that her love, Otogi Ryuugi, was inside this shop and she was going to escape this shadow of a dream with him.
Ryuugi was going to have to look at Akunadin again and wonder if the man really did think this would work against people like himself and Minako. Fame and fortune, really.
His own power had been over dice and while he could play Duel Monsters he had not exactly been big on that game as much as his own creation. His grandfather had been the one who pushed the duel against Yugi to 'repay' Yugi's grandfather for everything, but both during and after the duel Ryuugi had found himself respecting Yugi. He had figured out the game without any knowledge of the rules and had even beaten him, thus he did earn the title of Yugioh, Game King. When he had gotten the full story about Yugi from others, he had even more respect for both Yugi and the spirit within. Now that they were separated, Ryuugi found himself with respect for Atemu and a friendship look at Yugi, a fellow gamer and one who had a grandfather also in the game business…though not as vindictive.
Then there was Minako. She was just as lovely as when he first met her in London, and when he had been silly enough to find out who she was and smiled, protecting her secret. When he had met up with her again in Domino and saw how much she had forgotten, he had helped her out and later on helped her gain enough power that she could sway the crowd.
If what he saw happening was her power, he'd have to say she was, indeed, the Goddess of Love.
Ryuugi looked up as the door opened and in walked Minako. He smiled at her. "Hey."
"Hey."
His grandfather now turned and looked at him. "Ryuugi?"
He looked at the old man and said, "I'm leaving, and I'm not coming back."
"What?"
Minako looked over and Ryuugi turned. "You heard me. I'm leaving, and not coming back."
"But we--."
"There's no 'we' and there never was. There was just you for a very long time. I created Dungeon Dice Monsters, and I'm not about to stay here for the rest of my life."
His grandfather's eyes started to narrow but before he could say anything, both Ryuugi and Minako were at the door. It locked quickly and the two turned back to look at him.
"I think not. I think you'll both stay here."
The two looked over and the old man glared at his grandson. "I will not have an ungrateful grandson, nor will I allow her to take you from me. I need you here! Ryuugi, you will stay here with me!"
Ryuugi and Minako moved back, Minako suddenly knowing that this was their test.
Well, at least Akunadin wasn't trying to be too harsh with them.
She flipped her Moon Mirror into her hand and threw it, "Take that!"
The old man ducked while Minako grabbed Ryuugi's hand and the two turned to run the other way, heading for the back door.
"Your tricks won't work on me, girl! You won't get away with my grandson!"
Ryuugi turned now, dice rolling into his hand easily and he threw them as well at his grandfather. "She can and she will!"
The dice hit their target and his grandfather stopped. "Ryuugi…you attack your own grandfather?"
"If you try to stop me from leaving, yes. I have important things to do, and you're holding me back with your want for vengeance. I will live my own life, away from you!"
His body omitted a glow and he pulled out a black die. "I'm not going to be controlled anymore!"
The die rolled towards him and then exploded as the two went for the door. Minako stopped suddenly as a metal barrier came up against them and the two turned back to the changed grandfather.
"You truly think…that you can defeat me!"
Ryuugi pulled out more die and tossed them, this time he grabbed Minako and they headed upstairs towards a window. When they looked out, though it was as if they were higher up then just one more story.
"Since when did we get up ten stories?" Ryuugi asked.
"Don't ask me, it's your house!"
"NANI? MY HOUSE DOESN'T HAVE TEN STORIES!"
"WELL IT HAS AN INSANE GRANDFATHER, AND HE'S YOURS!"
"DON'T BLAME THIS ON ME!"
The two looked over as the grandfather, now looking like a demon from some old Japanese painting, came in. "You two think you can defeat me?"
"We can," Minako said, raising her hand, "and we will! Venus Eternal Power, Make-up!"
There was a flash of golden light, and with a smile there appeared Eternal Sailor Venus, her wings white while her outfit was gold with blue.
"We will defeat you, in the name of the Moon!" the two said at the same time.
Three die rolled into Ryuugi's hand and he tossed them at the demon-grandfather. Two were dodged as one hit and exploded while Venus clapped her hands together and lifted them up, taking them apart to create a heart shape out of gold roses. "Venus Heartfelt Revenge!"
The roses turned into a long chain with long thorns and it wrapped around the man, trapping him and hurting him even more.
"You…"
Eternal Sailor Venus and Ryuugi put their hands together and turned to the trapped demon.
"Shadow Power…"
"Venus Power…"
"Unite!" The gold power turned dark with some Shadows and the two glared at him before their hands flung out towards the demon. "Lovely Lucky Dice!"
The string of flowers turned into the different colored die that Ryuugi carried and now the demon was engulfed in light before two die and a yellow rose fell down where he had been.
Ryuugi looked over at Minako and smiled. "Well, that was easy."
"…Only you would think that was easy."
They walked back downstairs to find that the front door now had the Wedjet Eye and the symbol of the Moon on it. The two didn't hesitate, but instead walked right out and left that world behind.