I AM BACK! I put this story on hold due to personal issues, prompt challenges and come creativity stress, but I had a breakthrough over the holidays and I am determined to finish it!
The next chapter will be up tomorrow and after that...THREE CHAPTERS LEFT! My goal is to finish this bad boy this week, but is if ends up bleeding over into 2022 I won't complain!
This is my End of Year/New Years challenge!
Enjoy!
Wild Card
THE VESSEL! The Shadow snarled, low and furious like some rabid enraged beast. He's going to fight!
No. No. No. No. No. No! Pure panic rocketed through Marik's entire being. Fuck. Fuck! Fuck! This could not be happening!
"Bring him back!" Marik snapped through Jonouchi, the harshness of the tone, sharpened by the genuine terror Marik made no effort to hide, even as the Shadow raged beside him. "You're no match for me!"
Yugi stood with the defiance of a Queen: determination burning in those stunning eyes, and dear God, Marik had never seen anyone more beautiful. "Too bad! It's my turn."
And he drew a card.
"Nononononononono. NO! This is wrong! This is wrong!" Marike shrieked. "I'm supposed to kill the Pharaoh! If this continues like this, Yugi could get seriously hurt!" A horrible collection of scenarios raced through Marik's head at once and his heart all but stopped beating. "Fuck!"
It has to be face-to-face! The shadow raged. Killing the vessel won't satisfy the grudge I've held for a thousand years!
We're not killing Yugi!" Marik whirled on the creature. A fiery fury swirled to life within him, a fierce protective rage that refused to submit. "My vengeance…our vengence is with the Pharaoh! Yugi is innocent!" A deadly focus to which only blind love could produce in face of a threat burned those lavender eyes bright and for the briefest of moments the creature looked startled…almost…afraid. Of him.
Marik capitalized on it "You. Will. Not. Hurt. Him. Understand!"
No…of course. A nervous edge crept into the Shadows' voice, but all too quickly it vanished once more donning that ruthless confidence. Don't you see? This is all part of his scheme!
Those words sank like a stone in Marik's gut, rose up like bile in his throat and exploded out as rage.
Realization awoke like a spark erupting a conflagration of primal, protective fury. "That bastard! Using my precious beloved a shield! How dare he! How dare he!" Wrath dominated his vision, blinding all other rational thoughts. Even the relieved smirk that stretched across the Shadow's face.
"I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!"
Yes, the Shadow burned, it's inky tendrils curling to rest on Marik's shoulders, encircling around his feet, feeding his anger and stroking the fires of his rage as tenderly as one would a feral cat. Rage was good after all. It was easier to command rage. Control it. Manipulate it into hate. But we still need the puzzle. You still need the puzzle. Don't you? Is it not crucial to your plans?
"Yes, but…" The tide of red receded as he watched Yugi draw a card. His focus so intense, his determination so fierce and indomitable, Marik could almost call the emotion…
No…
"But what about Yugi…if this continues, Yugi could get hurt, even die! I never meant to put him in harm's way. Or his friend. But if this continues they both might die…." Rage evaporated and now an uncontrollable terror twisted in Marik's gut. Horrifying images of the anchor dropping. Of Yugi's terrified face screaming for help as he was dragged under. Of the darkness that Marik himself has always feared swallowing him whole in a watery vacuum. His beloved, unable to even scream.
No…
He couldn't let that happen.
He couldn't risk it.
"The best I could hope for is that Yugi wins this duel!?" Fear exploded in his head and twisted towards pain so terrible his knees gave out and he wrenched at his hair in a desperate attempt to alleviate it. "What the fuck do I do now!?"
Trust me… The shadow hissed in his ear, that hazy voice low and pleasant, almost tender in its sweetness like smoke laced with something toxic. It was almost…comforting. I will take care of everything.
Marik wasn't sure, but as anger and fear waged war within his heart and mind, he allowed himself to relax into that shadowy embrace.
X X X
Feeling the boy relax, the Shadow smirked but was unable to stop the sigh of relief from escaping.
A knowing chuckle echoed behind him and he whirled, snarling like a beast. Allowing all his audacity and rage to bleed into his shadows and this foolish boy, he slipped into the mind of their puppet and taunted with the fool's voice. "Come'on, vessel," for that was all he was.
A body for the Pharaoh whom he should've known better than to get attached too.
A distraction for his own vessel who threatened to undo all his precious plans.
No, the Creature would not take any more risks. He had waited too long for his vengeance. Too long to have the Pharaoh in his grasp and freedom from this cursed flesh.
Yes…malicious ideas started to form. Yes, if this child was precious to both his own vessel and the Pharaoh…yes, what better way to punish them both? Stupid fools. Let this be a hard lesson of what comes from those who foolishly believe in love, who dare to defy the darkness.
Defy him.
Crush him. He hissed the command into Jonouchi's mind. Crush them both…The Pharaoh and the Vessel. Kill them Jonouchi!
X X X
Yugi felt her presence before he even drew her.
The card Jonouchi's Duelist Heart dwelled in.
The Duel monster who had seen Jonouchi's courage and pure love and had chosen him as her own, whatever Rex had said.
The Red Eyes Black Dragon's fiery roar echoed in his ears as he glimpsed her image, felt her heart pulse in his hand: a promise and a plead.
Be careful, Aibou. Yami whispered, concern lacing each word. If either of us loses this duel we'll be dragged to the bottom of the ocean…we have to get Jonouchi back to his senses before that point…
Yugi scrutinized the advice. Pondered the cards in his hand…The one he had just drawn.
Everything depended on her. And they both knew it. "Red Eyes Black Dragon.." Yugi whispered in her heart. Her roar echoed within him, invigorating his spirit. And in her flaming eyes Yugi saw a conviction as bold and serious as his own resolve. "Speak to Jonouchi with your soul. Awaken his Duelist Heart!"
And he gambled everything on his next card.
"Exchange!"
X X X
Yami froze as the pieces of Yugi's plan fell into place and understanding dawned on him.
Other me, Yugi's voice was firm but not unkind. I want you to not say anything and watch what I'm going to do, okay?
A protest was on his lips, but Yami swallowed it down. Instead, he stood at Yugi's side, ready to catch his trembling form. Anxiety rolled off his beloved in waves and did so with each step their opponent took.
He trusted Yugi.
And Yugi trusted Jonouchi…but as their opponent swagger closer, it was not Jonouchi's happy-go-lucky laughter rolling off his lips, nor Jonouichi's exuberant smile and eyes burning with overconfidence. No, that malicious cackle, twisted snarl and vacant eyes empty of all but obsession and audacity was all Marik.
Trepidation rolled off Yugi's trembling frame in waves, but it was overshadowed by the blazing strength of his resolve. With a final sharp intake, he revealed his hand.
Something sparked in those hollowed eyes. Something between recognition and regret, anguish and triumph. Something Yami could not recognize.
"Come on, Jonouchi," Yugi commanded. His voice was soft, neutral, but his eyes were daring. "Go ahead…pick whichever card you want. Then take it."
With a triumphant, malicious laugh that did not belong to their friend, Marik shot forward, hands ready to grasp the Red Eyes. Yugi's eyes closed. Yami limbs felt light, ready to take over and protect them both, his fear and concern, overriding his trust and belief.
Wait…Yami.
The spirit stopped. Looked up.
Marik had yet to take the card.
No, Jonouchi had not taken the card.
X X X
With his eyes glued to the duel and a breath frozen in his throat, Bakura watched in utter shock as Jonouchi, not the puppet Marik controlled but Jonouchi fought not to take the signature card that represented his heart. Watch as his hand trembled against Marik's control. His eyes shut against the strain and a hand flew to his head as if staunching an approaching migraine.
But it was not a migraine, it was a pain and purpose far more powerful, as Bakura knew all too well: a memory.
Did he remember her? The midnight dragon whose crimson eyes reflected the ruby flames of her indomitable soul. The ferociously protective and heartbreaking power of her love. Whose deep jet black scales reflected the darkest night just before the promise of the dawn, and the pitch black finality of death just before the illumination of judgement and new life?
Yes, it made perfect sense why she had chosen this one. Why the Dragon of Promise whose gift was the innumerous possibilities and potential to become stronger, had chosen this courageous young underdog to wield her power. And even now, he proved his worth as he humbly struggled not to reclaim her.
Marik, no, the creature saw only a powerful monster and a wild card but to Jonouchi? She was much, much more. She was his heart: his potential and power, that he, himself, had earned in his quest for someone precious that he loved. The symbol of his friendship and loyalty to the young man who he called his best friend. The representation of the growth he still humbly acknowledged he still had to do…and card that would bring, to him, the true prize of Battle City.
The Creature would take that card.
But Jonouchi would not. Could not.
His head clenched tight and the words escaping him were not the cruel, arrogant taunts of earlier but commands. Commands! The doll screamed as Jonouchi's mind and memory fought with the Creature who controlled him. The sounds he made could almost be called blood curling.
Bakura's entire body tensed, rigid and for the first time in so many years, Bakura found himself praying.
And then the doll's eyes snapped open with a bold, commanding "Cut it out!" and swiped a card from Yugi's hand.
And it was not the Red Eyes Black Dragon.
Bakura could've cried. Instead, he laughed. Laughed and dropped to his knees, laughed so hard She stared at him from his shadow with eyes wide with shocked concern. Bakura only grinned. "You chose well, Akira. You chose well. Fuck damnit," Bakura barked, another laugh. It was not harsh, but choked, as if holding back sobs. "Now I owe that moron two debts!"
X X X
Nothing could've described the tremendous wave of heartbreaking relief that washed over Yugi when he saw the card Jonouchi, not Marik, but Jonouchi had taken.
Card Destruction.
Not Red Eyes Black Dragon. Not the card that was his Avatar, the reflection of how strong he'd grown and how much growing he still needed to do. Not the card that symbolized the humble promise they had made to one another with the pride of Duelists and the loyalty of friends.
He had taken a terrible gamble and yet it had not been a gamble at all. Not when both he and She knew in the deepest depths of hearts where not even doubt could taint their hope and the love born of conviction that Jonouchi was still there, still fighting. Would always fight. Would never stop fighting. Not when it came to those he loves.
"I don't need powerful monster cards…" Marik hissed in that bastardized version of Jonouchi's voice, but it lacked all its earlier haughtiness. All its triumphant confidence and lethargy conviction vanished behind a harsh wall of defensiveness. An illusion of control, a mask to save face. "All I need is this Card Destruction to crush you!"
Yugi watched his friends receding back, the furious stomp in his gait opposite the assured swagger in which he'd approached. A chip had been made in his armor, a crack in his resolve.
And Yugi had seen it.
And now…now…
"Jonouchi," there was no mistaking the relief in his voice, but neither was there mistaking his resolve. "I know for sure now that you haven't lost your true duelist's heart."
He stopped.
Yugi didn't. "You made a promise to the Other Me in Battle City. You swore not to use the Red Eyes Black Dragon until that time came." He saw his friend shake, whether with rage or rememberance Yugi did not know. "That's why you couldn't take Red-Eyes."
"Shut up!" Marik revealed his hands. Anger contorted his friend's features into something unrecognizable, but there was something else burning in those vacant eyes, and Yugi knew exactly what it was. Fear.
He brushed away the other's harsh words. That grim reminder of the timer ticking down until one of them died. Tears pricked the corners of Yugi's eyes, but they were not tears of sadness or stress. Not when he felt Her fire blazing through him.
"And…I found out…"
She came with a roaring red whirlwind: a fiery storm from the very hellfire that had created her midnight scales, the shimmer of obsidian and her furious eyes the brilliant crimson of the darkest rubies. And in her was all the fury and fervor of the world and all its impossible promise and limitless potential. And when she roared it was a roar of love and remembering and recognition and regret.
She did not leave Yugi's side, but the anguish in that sound coupled with the ferocity of her love, her desire to protect, the clouded color of her eyes told of her loyalty and her promise. A promise She had not forgotten even if he did not remember it.
Through her eyes, like Yugi, glittered with tears, within them was a will that would not be vanquished.
"With the Red Eyes Black Dragon, I'll call back your Duelist Heart!"
Seto and Mokuba gasped, hopeful.
Bakura smirked, elated.
From his prison within the Millennium Rod, Kalim merely smiled "Welcome back, Akira."
In the VERY first Yugioh Movie Yugi claims "The Blue Eyes brings power, but the Red Eyes brings potential" which is very fitting and also makes perfect sense why she is Jonouchi's signature card.
To I believe Red Eyes Black Dragon is female? Yes, Yes I do.
I can't remember who was the first person to bitch Akira as the Red Eyes Black Dragon's true name but it always stuck with me and so I chose to keep it.
Next chapter will be up tomorrow!
NEXT TIME: Marik's plans have come crashing down, the Shadow grows every more violent in its quest to control both Marik and Jonouchi, but through it all neither Yugi nor Akira refuse to give up...
