Hey, did you miss me? Sorry about the delay, and to those of you who asked, no I'm not taking a break. Honestly, i was just procrastinating. Maybe after you read you'll understand.
House keeping. Thank you to all of you readers for your support. Special thanks goes to battousaisgirl16 for edits and grapejuce101 for putting up with my chats for ideas.
I don't own yugioh. I did do some changing on the cannon, but i hope it makes sense. If you're confused, please let me know and i'll try to explain.
Chapter 41
The car with the others arrived a few moments later. At the sound of the motor, Rebecca came out of the trailer, wielding a screwdriver like a sword. Airi quickly explained what happened. As soon as she heard who was in the car, Rebecca dropped the weapon and ran to the car, yelling for Yugi. The car pulled out front, everyone looking strained after seeing what was left of the professors house. Yugi barely got out of the car before he was attacked by the younger girl. He put up with her crying, saying encouraging things while looking over her head at his sister, looking her over as Yami had done earlier.
After a lot of reassurances and explanations, the group finally went into the the motor-home. Tea offered to make tea to calm everyone down. Yugi had to sit next to Rebecca, but made sure his sister sat on his other side. Yami stood on Airi's other side, hand on her shoulder. He listened carefully as the girls told about what they knew about the disappearance of the professor. The descriptions only fulled Yami's anger even more, which he fraught to control. These people would pay when he caught up with them.
Airi produced the envelope that had been left at the site. The Pharaoh on the front seemed to be accusing him. This was more danger he was posing on his friends. Yugi took the envelop, glancing at his other half as if to ask permission to open mail addressed to him. Yami nodded, and stepped behind him to be able to read the note over his host's shoulder. It was typed and to the point. Be at Lonely Point at dawn. Come alone.
"It wants me to go to some place called Lonely Point, and to come alone." Yugi paraphrased the note for the others.
"Go alone, my deck." Joey said. "No way are you facing those creeps without back up."
"We're dealing with someones life here, Joey." Tea reminded. "We have to do what they say."
"He's still not going alone." Duke said. "We can take him to this point thing, and then wait out of sight. He'd still look alone."
Yugi shook his head. "I don't want to put anyone in danger, especially not the professor."
Rebecca gripped his arm tighter.
Airi shook her head. "I have to side with Duke. Going alone is never a good plan."
"The letter says it wants me alone." Yugi said. "If we all go then they might do something to the professor."
"Lonely Point is to far for you to walk, and we can stay out of sight." Airi's tone left no left no room for argument.
Yugi sighed, folding the note. "Fine, we'll all go in the morning."
Yami gave his host a side glance. The note said at dawn, but Yugi had managed to keep that part hidden from the others. He didn't need the mind link to know what his host was thinking. They were going to do this alone.
Once agreed, the discussion was dropped. Tea started making dinner, refusing Airi's offer to help. The boys were all willing to help, but became more of a hindrance in the small space. Yugi and Rebecca disappeared outside to get some fresh air. Since she was forbidden to help in the kitchen, Airi retrieved a map of the area and took it outside to study it. Yami sat next to her on the front steps as she looked it over. Usually being in her company was pleasant, but all he felt was agitated. He could feel her worry and pent up frustrations. He hated seeing her like this, and despised knowing he was part of the problem. How many more lunatics were out there to get him? Evil Marik had been bad enough, but this Dartz and his followers were willing to kill for what they wanted.
"If you think any more aloud you might as well use the link." Airi said, still looking over the map.
Yami started from his stupor. "I wasn't thinking anything."
She looked up, eye brow raised. "Then maybe you should work on hiding your emotions better." she looked back at the map. "This Dartz guy, he's got you worried."
"And you're not?" Yami looked indignant. "You're not good at hiding you emotions either."
"Point taken." Airi put the map down again. "Whoever this guy is, he's good. I can't believe he got to Mai." hearing about her friend's betrayal had hit her hard. "She isn't easy to convince, and even harder to fool. Dartz seems to have gotten in her head, good. If he can get to her, than he could get to anyone." she was looking towards where Yugi and Rebecca were talking a short distance away.
Yami tensed. "He won't get a chance to get to anyone else."
Airi's hand slid over his. They stayed like that for a while, both lost in their own thoughts. Sounds of raised voices and clanging pots and pans came from the kitchen, but they faded as things seemed to be gotten under control. Yugi and Rebecca still talked, or mainly it looked like Rebecca was talking while Yugi tried to give some encouragement. Yami watched, half smiling. The sight gave a strange sense of normal life to the crazy circumstances.
"I'm worried about Joey." Airi said.
Yami glanced towards the trailer. "He's still alive. I don't think Tea did any real harm."
She giggled. "No, not that. I mean about the whole Mai working for the bad guys." her expression turned serious. "I hope he doesn't take any unnecessary risks."
"It's Joey." Yami pointed out. "Why the sudden concern?"
She gave him a look. "He'll try to get her to snap out of it. Of course I'm worried. He probably challenge her again, or Dartz to get her back, and these people snatch souls." she looked up at the stars. "I don't want him to get hurt, but he'll probably do it anyway. People in love aren't always sensible."
Yami looked down at their hands. "Would you?"
"Sorry?"
He looked up at her confused expression. "If something happened, to someone you cared about, would you do something crazy?"
She stared at him, understanding replacing the confusion. Night sounds filled the awkward silence. She looked from him to Yugi, then up at the sky. His gaze didn't shift from her face. He had to know. At last, she looked back at him, eyes meeting his. Her expression was impossible to read.
"If something happened to someone." she swallowed, but continued. "someone I cared about, I would do anything, anything, to help him."
Yami nodded, he knew she meant what she had said, and that meant she would put herself in danger. Images of Battle City, of her collapsing in agony so he could finish a duel, played across his mind. This finalized his decision. She wasn't going to that meeting with Dartz's man tomorrow. He wasn't letting her anywhere near a threat. "You will never get put in that position, I promise." Airi's eyes widened in surprise at the surety of his promise, but she leaned against his shoulder as she looked back to the map. His body was filled with tingles, he tried to push them and the thoughts that came with them away, but they were far too pleasant for him to be successful.
"There's the point." she indicated a spot on the map. "it's several miles from here, but I'm sure it will take no time in Dukes car."
Yami nodded. He looked over at the make shift horse pen. That would work as well.
Airi suddenly sat up. Yugi and Rebecca came back, at the same moment Tea called that dinner was ready. This was followed by a crash sound and Joey saying he was sorry. Rebecca charged in to see the damage. Airi shrugged, smiling at both of them before entering too.
The two boys stayed behind. Yugi's face was grim.
He turned to Yami. "Dawn?"
Yami nodded. "We'll go when they're asleep."
Sharing a small trailer was a group of teens was not fun. The boys found what space they could in the small living area while the girls occupied the bedroom. Airi gathered up Nasira's things to make room for Tea, half listening to the other girls conversations. Sliding the box under the bed, she stood and finally registered what they were talking about.
"The pharaoh is going to take care of this you'll see." Tea was saying. "He's defeated worse than these creeps. He's the most powerful duelest I've seen."
"Well, I've seen Yugi duel, and I'm sure he'll get Grandpa back." Rebecca said. "He promised me."
Airi shook her head. "Have you considered they'll do it, as a team?"
The other girls weren't paying attention. Airi climbed into bed, but her mind wouldn't relax. Even when the the other two drifted off she lay stared up at the ceiling, trying to figure how some ways to help tomorrow without interfering. Also Yami's conversation on the front steps was confusing. He was acting even more agitated recently. She wished there was a way to calm him down, but she was just as worried. Hopefully things would get better after they dealt with Dartz's man and got the professor back. Still, the certainty he showed on the front steps was reassuring. It gave her a glimmer of hope that everything would be alright.
She finally managed to fall into a sleep like state, still going over possible solutions in her head. Threw her sleepy haze she was sure she felt a light pressure like fingertips on her arm and a whisper which sounded like "Be back soon, sis." before another voice from the door way called him back. She slipped away and didn't hear anything after that.
Joey's shouting woke her. She sat up, dazed, but ready to take on any threat. Airi beat the other girls to the door. Tristan, Joey, and Duke were all shouting at once, mostly about stepping on each other. Yugi was no where to be seen.
"Where's Yugi?" her shout made the others quiet down.
"That's why I yelled." Joey said. "I fell off this stupid bench and when I looked around he was no where to be seen.
"He must have gone after my grandfather." Rebecca said.
"Alone?" Duke said
Airi pushed passed the others and flew open the door. Duke's car was still outside, which explained why she hadn't heard it. A look over at the pen showed Ptolemy, but not Copernicus.
"Idiot." she said, meaning her brother and herself. Those voices hadn't been dreams. She should have realized. She should have stopped them. She should be with them.
"Do you guys hear ..." Tristan's question was cut off by the sounds of a motor. A head light came speeding towards them. It turned into a motorcycle with a driver and passenger. It stop suddenly a short distance away, and the passenger nearly fell off the bike.
"Grandpa!" Rebecca shouted, running forward.
The professor took a few steps away from the bike, and collapsed on the dirt. The bike's rider gunned up the motor and was gone, long black hair swishing under the helmet.
"Get back here, coward." Tristan shouted.
"Forget about her." Joey was helping Rebecca support the professor. "Airi, you need to look him over. He looks bad."
They brought him into the trailer and laid him out on the main bed. He didn't look physically harmed, besides some bruising on his face, but he looked sick, either from drugs or dehydration. Airi order for a glass of water, and helped reposition him so he was more comfortable.
"Where's Yugi?" the professor's voice was less than a whisper.
"He went after you." Tea said.
He closed his eyes. "I was afraid of that."
"What do you mean?" Airi's fear came back full force. "It was a trap, wasn't it?" she turned to door, but found Joey blocking it. "Move, Joey."
"No, you stay here." he raise a hand to stop her argument. "We'll go get Yugi. The professor needs you right now." he handed her the glass of water, and winked. "Don't worry about Yuge, I'm sure he has everything under control."
The boys headed out. Duke shouted for them to buckle up as the car roared away. The car and name calling from the back seat faded into the night. Airi turned back to her patient, not listening to the girls continue their conversation on whether the spirit or her brother would be the one to get the bad guys. Dawn was beginning creeping over the distant mountains. A familiar jolt turned her insides. She looked towards the horizon. It had started.
The duel was not going well. Yami did his best to stay calm. Dueling with this Rafeal was harder than he's figured. The man had played a card which took away points with monsters in his grave yard. Yami fought to keep control of his emotions. This was like every other duel. He and Yugi could do this. He had Timaeus and Dark Magician Girl combined on the field to create Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight. Still time was running out. Rafeal was sure to play the Orichalcos card soon.
It was his turn. He had to attack the monster. Rafeal had one of his monsters in front of him. According to the story Rafeal told him. According to him he had a connection to his cards, as if Yami didn't. Timeaus wasn't as strong as Rafeal's Guardian Grarl, but he could fix that.
"I discard one card to increase my monster's attack points and attack Guardian Grarl." Yami said.
"I activate Self Tribute, giving up 1000 life points to protect my monster."
"He wasn't kidding." Yugi said. "He is protective of his monsters."
"Unlike you." Rafeal said. "I care about my cards. I don't discard them as soon as I draw them like you."
"I respect my cards." Yami said. "Everyone of them is an important part of my deck."
"You're just like everyone else." Rafeal face was expressionless. "You're willing to throw lives away with out a second thought. You are part of the evil of this war. 10,000 years ago there was a war between those who were evil and those the Orichalcos proved to be good. The evil side won, but Dartz will correct this. We will get rid of the evil people and set things right."
"How can you claim to be good when you're hurting so many people?" Yami felt his patients growing thinner. "Whoever told you these things lied. That stone around your neck is the evil one and that card is evil."
Rafeal laughed. "This stone tells me the truth, and the seal is not evil, just power. You're one to talk about what is wrong and right, pharaoh. I've learned of your history. You were an evil pharaoh."
"I was not." Yami snapped, a bit too quickly.
Rafeal studied him for a moment. He suddenly smirked. "You don't remember, do you? You honestly can't tell me if you were evil or not."
"I was not evil." Yami said through gritted teeth. He felt Yugi's concern, but he pushed it off. He didn't need help. He wasn't evil. This man was only trying to trick him to get an advantage in the duel. "I saved the world 5,000 years ago. How can I be evil if I did that?"
"Evil makes evil. The world was evil when you were pharaoh, and it still is. If you truly want to save the world you'll surrender now."
"Don't listen to him." Yugi said.
"You're brainwashed, Rafeal."
"I am? You're the one with no memory." Rafeal pointed at him. "I know about your history. Yes you saved the world, but you were willing to pay the lives of your subjects and family in the process."
Yami froze. Again in his mind eye he saw the dead woman and heard Nasira's voice in his head. The pharaoh gave up everything. Everything. Again the throne room in shambles, telling of a great disaster. But not everyone had been dead. Then again he didn't know what happened after that duel. He only had to slivers of memory and those had shown death and destruction. What had he done to his subjects? His friends? His family?
"Your heart is dark, pharaoh." Rafeal sounded smug despite his calm expression. "You didn't get rid of the darkness. You still carry it inside you."
"You're wrong!" Yami shouted. "there is no darkness in my heart."
"Yami?" Yugi tried to say something, but Yami blocked him out. He couldn't afford to let anyone else distract him. He had to win this duel.
Rafeal drew a card. "I'll see soon enough. I play Exchange, allowing us to exchange a card from the other players hand."
Both duelist only had one card. Unfortunately, Yami's Necromancy card allowed the player to have access to the opponent's grave yard. This would probably be used against him. This duel was not going well for them, even if they had Timeaus and all the power he possessed. Yami met Rafeal at the halfway mark of the plateau. He handed his card over, taking the other card without looking at it. He walked back to his place without a word. Not matter what it was, he still had his deck and Yugi. There had to be a way to turn this duel around. he turned to face his opponent. He heard Yugi gasp and felt the youth staring at the card. He looked down and his eyes widened.
It was the Seal of Orichalcos.
Something didn't feel right. Airi glanced around. She was still beside the professor's bed in case he needed something, but he was sleeping peacefully. She glanced out towards the kitchenette where the other girls were sitting, so they could talk without disturbing the professor's sleep. Everything sounded fine out there. Still she couldn't shake off the feeling something was wrong. The energy she felt from her brother's duel was getting stronger,but not in a good way. It felt dark, almost like she'd eaten something burned.
She stood up. Maybe it was just the dark room. Some sun light would be good. She went to the door.
"Hey, one of you want to take over?"
Rebecca jumped up. "Does Grandpa need something?"
"He's fine. I just need to get some air." Airi went out side before either girl responded. The dry heat was a shock, but it felt good. She closed her eyes, willing herself to relax.
The dark feeling didn't go away. She frowned. It was hard to place the feeling. Frustration was one thing, but this was different. An unpleasant jolt went though her and she placed it. Fear. Something was making them both worry. Yugi's felt more like concern, but Yami's . . . she frowned as she tried to identify what Yami's fear was triggered by.
Airi's fingers traced the inlay on the diadem. "It's worth a shot." the burned, sick feeling in her was getting stronger. Even if she couldn't do anything she had to know. "Where is the pharaoh?"
The image before her was grim. Yami stood facing a man she guessed was a follower of Dartz. Timeaus, the dragon he'd showed her before, was encased in a crystal like coating. Dark Magician Girl was also inside the casing, frozen on the dragon's back. Yami had a face down card, but she could tell it wasn't going to be enough. The other man had summoned enough monster, and used one of them to take out the face down card, which turned out to be Big Shield Gardna. The second monster went for Yami directly. The force of the attack knocked Yami off his feet and he collapsed to the ground. She saw Yugi detach and kneel beside him. Airi's eyes were locked on Yami's face. His eyes had slowly opened and she felt her heart tighten. The red irises were on fire, but it wasn't like any fire she's seen before. They reminded her of a hunted animal which is faced with only one solution. To destroy.
Yami only had one choice and he knew it. His life points were down to 600. Above him Rafeal was taunting him, telling him his only choice was to play the card. Yugi's voice was also above him, telling him there was another way, there had to be. There was no other way. He had to play the card. He wouldn't lose.
He pushed himself up. Yugi offered a hand, but Yami shook his head. His host stood close by, expression relieved to see his friend standing. Yami faced his opponent. Rafeal's expression was smooth, but there was a smug satisfaction in his eyes which was the final straw. Rafeal was sure Yami wasn't strong enough the play the Seal of Orichalcos. He was wrong. Yami would do anything to win he wasn't going to let his man get away with hurting his friends, for hurting Airi. He's promised to get rid of any threat. This was a threat, and he would defeat it. He raised the card.
Something was keeping his arm from coming back down. He looked to see Yugi's detached form hanging from his arm, desperately trying to stop it.
"Yami, don't do this!"
"Yugi, let go."
"This isn't right!You know it's not!"
"This is the only way. Trust me."
"You're not thinking clearly. The card is affecting your mind. Think of Airi. Think of . . ."
Yami didn't hear the rest. His host didn't trust him? After all he's done to help him, this boy didn't think he could handle a card? Rafeal's words must have poisoned Yugi's mind with the talk of his past. Resentment filled his mind. His own friend thought he couldn't handle the power of the Orichalcos. He'd show them all.
Yami jerked his arm free. He turned away from Yugi's shocked face.
"I play . . ."
"Please don't" Yugi whispered
" . . . the Seal of Orichalcos." Yami shoved the card into the slot on his duel-disk.
The power was overwhelming. It filled him with a rush of a wild fire and a gust of wind. He screamed, the change tearing through him. Yugi's shouted something, but Yami couldn't understand the words. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered. His past didn't matter. The doubts were lost in the rush, power overtaking every inch of him. He had the power. Nothing would stop him.
Airi doubled over, falling to her knees. She couldn't see anything but green light which burned her eyes. Darkness filled her mind and her chest making it hard to breath. She screamed Yami's name, but the darkness cut off her air. She wanted to throw up, to eject the darkness, but her throat wasn't working. It threatened to choke her like smoke from a wild fire. In her link she could hear a roar like a monster, and something that sounded like a scream. Yugi's scream.
As suddenly as it started it was gone. She gasped in air, one arm still around her middle, the other arm gripping the sandy dirt she knelt on. Thankfully it was over. She couldn't feel it anymore. The feeling was gone. She felt nothing. She felt . . . nothing. Nothing from Yami. Nothing from Yugi. A new sick feeling turned her insides. Something had happened. Had they lost? No the last thing she had seen was Yami playing a card before . . . she swallowed, trying to keep the sick feeling from coming back. It had felt like shadow magic. But Yami wouldn't use that kind. She knew him.
Slowly Yugi began to regain consciousness. He groaned. It felt as if he's been hit in the stomach by a charging bull. He hoped Yami was alright.
Yami. Memory proceeded panic. He stood, looking around. he was in his soul room. His old toys and games scattered around as if they'd also been victim to the force which had put him here. He had to get to Yami. Maybe there was still a chance to stop him. He turned to the door, and stopped at the sight of a green barrier extending down the middle of their mind. He couldn't get to Yami's half. Neither could he gain control of his mind. He was a prisoner. He could vaguely feel Airi, and her confusion and panic made the situation worse. He tried to detach, but nothing happened. The pause of the green barrier seemed to mock him. Yugi's frustrated fist hit the green barrier. An image of Yami surprised him and he almost fell over. He had seen the duel. He put his hand out again and touched the green. The feeling coming from the green light felt gross, but Yugi held on. He could see the duel, could hear what Yami was saying. Yami was reviling in the power. He was playing monsters with a frenzy of a machine gun spitting out bullets. Yugi remembered that in the Seal the monsters were no longer holograms, but real spirits. Yami was doing this to his cards and not seeming to care.
Yugi slumped forward. "Why? How could you?"
Airi jumped as she felt something. It was faint, but she recognized Yugi. Her relief was short lived. He was upset, distraught. Something had to have happened to Yami.
She took a deep breath and tried to remember what she'd seen. Yami had stood up and then started to play a card. Yugi had been next to him and had tried to keep him from playing it. She frowned. That wasn't right. They were a team they wouldn't have fought over playing a card. By Yugi's panicked expression something had been wrong with that card. The image of the card suddenly surfaced in her memory. It had the drawing of a strange shape in the middle, almost like a petagram, but more elaborate and growing a sickly green. The symbol was familiar. She'd seen it on the professor's notes back at the dig. The Seal of Orichalcos.
Airi shook her head. "That's imposible. He knows that card's evil. He wouldn't . . ."
But he had. She was sure of it. That's why Yugi was panicked, the sick feeling, and the broken connection. At least she could still feel Yugi. But what if Yami lost? If he did, not only would she lose him, but the other side would have enough power to bring back the Leviathan. This wasn't happening. This wasn't the man she knew. Airi's nails dug into her arms. This wasn't happening.
Another failed attack. Yami glared at his side of the field. He's sacrificed his Dark Magicial Girl, but the attack hadn't gone through. If only that Timeaus hadn't disappeared when he's played the Seal. There had to be something else he could send on his Cacapolt Turtle to attack Rafeal. His opponent's life points were at 100 to Yami's 600. From the other side of the seal he could barely hear Yugi's friends calling to him. He didn't pay attention to the words. there had to be a way to take Rafeal's attack points all the way and remove this scum's soul and go after a real opponent.
Despite being about to lose, Rafeal didn't look worried. In fact, he was laughing.
"What's funny?" Yami demanded.
"I knew the Seal would reveal the truth."
"What are you babbling about?"
"You're evil, just like Master Dartz said." Rafeal motioned to the field. "Where are your monsters. All gone, because you discarded them away, just like your family millenia ago."
Something clicked back in Yami's head. He looked around the field. There were no more monsters. His best cards were in the grave yard, sacrificed to attack his foe. The pleading look on Dark Magician Girl's face before she got on the cannon registered in his mind. Cold panic flooded through him. What was he doing? His monsters had been real, and he sent them to disintegrate in attacks to take away a soul. He finally felt the power for what it was. Shadow Magic.
Rafeal played two cards. "I play Guardian Eatos and activate Celestial Sword." A monster with a large sword stood on the other side of the field. Yami's grave yard started to glow and suddenly his monsters started to reappear on the field: Dark Magician Girl, Dark Magician, Big Shield Gardna, Gazelle, and Beforment. They all looked down at him, but his eyes were locked on his two magicians. Dark Magician Girl looked about to cry, reminding him of the promise he had made to her that he would defeat the Orichalcos. The Dark Magician glared down at him. His most dependable monster's eyes were filled with nothing but betrayal.
"Look at them." Rafeal gloated. "you did this to them, and now their power will be used to straighten my monster."
Yami stared helpless as one by one his monsters began to vanish inside Eatos' sword. The Magicians were at the end.
Yami reached out to them. "Forgive me. I'm so sorry."
Dark Magician didn't react as he disappeared. Dark Magician girl closed her eyes as if accepting her fate and followed behind.
Eatos' strength was immense. The attack points were now 10,000. Time seemed to slow as the monster rose into the air, glowing sword raised. Yami had failed. He'd lost. He's betrayed his friends, his monsters, and his mission. His soul now belonged to Dartz, and the world would end. He was evil. No matter what he touched was destroyed. In his mind he saw Yugi's face as he played the Seal and Airi's when he'd arrived at the camp the night before. He's betrayed them, and now they would pay for his mistake.
"I'M SORRY!" he shouted as the blade swung at him. The words were lost in his scream as the attack sliced through him. He deserved it. It was over. He didn't deserve forgiveness. No one could have heard him anyway.
Yugi heard him. He saw the attack and heard the words of the scream. He could hear Yami. The real Yami had spoken those words. He was still in there, underneath the darkness he'd created. He wasn't completely gone.
The life point counter fell to zero. Yami had lost. Yugi heard Airi gasp, and looked up to see a beam of light forming in the sky over what he was sure was the duel site. He didn't need to see it to know Yami was about to be taken. The other side had won. Yugi knew it was Yami's power the enemy needed. He wouldn't be able to get Yami back if they lost him to Dartz, but . . .
No. he wasn't going to let them win that easily. Yami's power was immense and could arm the monster with power. Giving them someone else would delay destruction. He ran back into his room, turned and charged at the barrier. He rammed it, but it didn't brake. However, he was sure he felt it shake. On the other side he could see Yami, slumped and defeated. The green light was starting to grow more intensely around him.
"Let me in!" he pushed against the seal, determination fulled by frustration. "This is my body, you can't keep me out!" he struck it with all his might. A thin crack appeared in the surface. That was enough. The familiar connection sucked him inside.
Inside there mind the Seal had already formed around Yami's feet, ready to suck him in. the older teen did nothing to stop it, accepting his fate.
Yugi pushed him out of the way. Yami stumbled, leaning against the wall of their shared mind to steady himself. He looked up.
"Yugi, what are you doing here?"
Yugi tried to smiled. "Only one soul can go at a time, so I'm letting it take me instead."
He felt the tugging as his soul started to be sucked up by the light. He was scared, but swallowed it down. Airi could probably feel the connection through the crack he'd made. He had to be brave.
"No!" Yami reach forward,but the light was already carrying Yugi away. Yami's hand barley missed Yugi's as the last of the light traveled up.
Yugi caught one last glimpse of his friend before he disappeared into darkness. He closed his eyes. It was up to Yami now.
A strange beam of light on the horizon caught Airi's attention. It was like a pillar of light which had disappeared towards the west. She watched, and was suddenly was hit by a wave of jumbled emotions. Horror, resolution, and then nothing. But it was a different kind of nothing. This time Yugi was gone. Panic returned. What had he done? What Yami done?
Yami felt nothing. The horse underneath him could have been a ghost and the landscape a dream. The car was driving close and he could see his friend's faces. Tristan and Duke were still puzzled at his claim that Yugi was gone. Only Joey seemed to have registered what had happened. He glared out the window, as if if he concentrated he could see Yugi.
No one could see Yugi now. He was gone. This was the only clear thought in Yami's mind. Because of him Yugi had to pay for him. If he had only lost to Rafeal before the card was played Yugi would still be here. But he hadn't. He failed, and his host had payed the price.
The horse suddenly stopped. Yami looked up to see they had arrived at the trailer. The girls were already at the door. The three boy climbed out, looking like they were returning from a funeral. The muscles took over and Yami found himself dismounting. He turned just as someone collided with his middle. He registered Rebecca's blond hair, and heard her say "Yugi." He wanted to correct her, but he couldn't get the body to obey his command. Joey was talking. Rebecca backed up, expression confused. Tea was staring at him, a mix of shock and horror in her eyes.
All Yami saw was Airi. She stood there, face expressionless. Her eyes, Yugi's violet eyes, staring at him. She seemed to be looking for something, as if expecting Yugi to appear at his side to tell her everything was alright. He looked at the dead grass. He could meet those eyes. The others had stopped talking, and were replaced by foot steps. The shine of metallic highlights flashed in his mind's eye and he knew Airi was standing in front of him. His faced her, but his bangs kept their eyes from meeting.
"Explain."
The word was soft, pleading. He wanted to answer her, but there wasn't one. He had let an opponent get to him, let his emotions rule his judgment, played an evil card to win a duel, betrayed the spirits of his monsters, and had banished his closest friend, her brother, to the enemy. He stayed silent.
"EXPLAIN"
He saw the hand coming, but didn't move out of the way. Her slap stung his face, but failed to break through the numbness. Hands gripped his shirt front and he was pulled down so there eye met. They stared at each other, hers raging fire, his staring blankly. Her despair ripped into him sharper than any attack. He wished she's hit him again. Maybe she's take out his eyes so he couldn't see her pain.
She let go, and he slid to the dirt.
"You . . . You . . . You . . ." She turned and ran. The others called after her, but she didn't stop. Yami's eyes closed, allowing the numbness to engulf him again. He'd truly lost everything.
A/N: Now do you understand why i didn't want to write this? I hope it was good.
PLEASE! REVIEW! Honestly, i had to look over past reviews to remind myself of you guys. If you still care, please review and help me and the characters get through this.
Thank you for your support. God Bless you.
