Spoiler Alert!
It goes without saying that I don't own rights to either YuGiOh! or the animated series "Gargoyles".
. . . .
Halloween 2021 FanFic Yu-Gi-Oh! X Gargoyles
When a Gargoyle Falls
Chapter 9:
(Welcome to the) Freakshow
A door was nearly broken off its hinges as a man in leather marched through an old clock tower's entrance. Well before his time, the city had decided this historical building would be the headquarters for the NYPD but that meant that it was a bit on the rundown despite the cleaning and janitorial staff's best efforts. As old buildings go, the floors were descent but yellowed with age as were the walls, honestly it was surprising that the ceilings were holding up as well as they were. The multitude of hallways and rooms never ceased to confuse the possible suspects or criminals that were brought here for questioning. That worked perfectly because then those said individuals wouldn't be capable of attempting to rescue or release any of their acquaintances.
"Where's chief?" Duke's blazing eyes swept over every office in the room, earring suppressed flinches and weary looks as he continued walking. All knew better than to intervene when the officer came in looking as though he was a wolf hunting his unsuspecting prey. "Chief!"
"Enough of the shouting, Devlin, I'm right here."
He turned to fix his gaze upon a man with hair worthy of a giant bear. "Chief-"
"I assumed you would find out sooner or later since the dancer girl has gone missing. Though I am surprised that it took you so long to hear about it." Toffee eyes met emerald as he inclined his head to the inside of his office. "I'm sure you would want to speak in private so grab a cup of coffee and come sit down." Behind the closed door waited a man dressed in a tailored suit who offered a nod as the officer instead marched through the doorway to plop himself down in an empty chair. "Devlin, meet someone who may prove useful in your search for Miss Anzu Mazaki."
. . . .
She didn't care how but she was flying amongst the stars. Their brilliance and twinkling patterns that were beyond any human hope of comprehension as the breeze toyed with her being. Hair, clothing, even her skin was prickling with excitement as she soared higher through the clouds. What an invigorating feeling! It was as if she was lighter than air itself! As if on command, harps and lutes began to softly play somewhere in the background that eased her muscles to fully relax. Dancing was her sole pride and passion while growing up. The death of her parents only fueled the fire burning in her heart that they stoked. They were her first believers that she could dance her way into people's hearts to where even the greatest of lights could never reach. Psychologists and mind related professionals were going to pale in comparison to the joy or peace she could bring to those who watched her dance. The purity and grace of her motions had earned her plenty of attention from several talent agents but it was the spectacular stage of Broadway that was her true goal. Only there would the eyes of the world be truly upon her. Then, and only then, could she put the childish wish that her dancing could change the world to rest.
"…Anzu…"
Her motions came to a halt as a thick fog formed. The once pleasant and enchanting music was now beginning to warp as the stars around her dulled then vanished. That voice was familiar, pleasant, coaxing her to answer. But who was calling to her? It wasn't her father or that of her closest friend, so who did it belong to? Why did they sound so desperate?
"…Anzu…"
Suddenly she was falling. As if she was nothing more than a meteor, the earth rushed to greet her, buildings and even people swept past her too quick for her to make out any details by an invisible force so strong she couldn't entertain the hope of trying to stop the fall. Where was it taking her?! Ice filled her veins as a black figure who was hanging by several chains connected to a brick wall of some kind came into view as the force released her. The heart in her chest gave a violent thump when a faint light appeared overhead that revealed multiple wounds and violet hued skin.
What was once a pleasant dream had now become a horrible nightmare as a pair of eyes cracked open, revealing agony filled amethyst gems that looked up at her as if they were looking right at her. She didn't have to look farther and rushed forward. "Oh, Atem," she whispered, her hand moving of it's own accord and blinked as her tiny childhood hand met the gargoyle's cheek.
"A…Anzu…" His head weakly rose, flinching as her fingers met his skin. "Be careful…he-" As if her touch was a trigger, the force returned, beginning to pull her backwards once more before he could answer.
"Wake up!"
A groan rose up her throat as a pair of hands shook her again. "Noooo," she huffed, rolling onto her other side. "Five more minutes…"
"You don't have that kind of time! Get up!"
Sleepy cerulean cracked open as another shove came. "Wha…." They shot wide open as the same hands raised her so that she was suspended off the bed of pillows. The rush of adrenaline when she found herself suspended by a familiar lavender hued gargoyle was just what her system needed. "I'm up! I'm up! Now put me down!"
"You're not going back to sleep, right?" His lilac hued eyes narrowed. "This is the second time I've had to come and wake you."
"Wha- That's impossible! I'm a light sleeper and wake up at the alarm's first ring!"
Understanding filled his gaze as he placed her on her feet. "Your body must still be recuperating if you didn't hear that phone of yours going off." He directed her attention to the device on the verge of disappearing within the mass of pillows as its screen lit up.
She instantly dove for it as she caught sight of the caller ID and raised it to her ear after swiping the answer button. "I'm so sorry I didn't hear-"
"Anzu Mazaki, you better have good reason for abandoning me at the airport!"
Yugi's head tilted to the side as she held the phone out several inches from her now ringing ear. She gave him a shake of her head that she was alright and returned her attention to the phone. "You must have been waiting there for hours, I'm so sorry! Which airport are you at and I'll come get you right away-"
"I got tired of waiting and had a bloody cab drop me off at your complex! Do you have any idea what was running through my head when they said you had disappeared and that your apartment looks like a war zone?! You have some explaining to do! Meet me in Central Park in five minutes!" And the line went dead.
"Yeah, I kinda deserved that," she sighed, shoulders slumping as she stood. "You guys can keep searching but I have to do and fix this."
His hand had latched onto her wrist as she passed before she could make it to the doorway. Atem's order of ensuring that a certain rose hued ex-mate and Kaiba were not to know of Anzu's presence here so if she were to try to leave it would only reveal herself as a possible target to either or both. "Valentine might still be lurking around so it would be best that we don't run into her. We've searched the entire building and palace while you were still asleep, he's not here. He has to be somewhere in the city but we don't know enough about it to search." Yugi released her and offered his other hand. "It would be a win-win if we go with you; you would be able to sort out whatever that was while we keep searching and safe from Valentine."
"Oh, yeah, how could I forget that pink gargoyle is just itching to test me out as a scratch post." The brunette sighed heavily and regarded his offered hand. She knew it was coming but at the time she'd only made the meetup date with Atem, no one else, but now that she was no longer strangers to the other gargoyles this may actually work out in all of their favors. Bypassing his hand, she instead patted his cheek lightly in passing and threw him a smile form over her shoulder. "What are you waiting for, an invitation? Let's get going already!"
He quickly followed, a roar that she had come to recognize as a call for them to gather coming from his open mouth when they entered the courtyard. It was almost instantaneous that the three appeared from the shadows. "As you all know, we've searched all we could here. We are going to set out and search the city with Anzu as our guide. First we are going to start at a place called Central Park and then we'll work our way out."
"Great, I'll carry her-"
"No way, I was going-"
"Enough, both of you!" She rubbed her temple, using her hip to lightly bump the lavender gargoyle's. "Isn't it obvious that I would want Yugi to carry me since he's the only other one of you three that I've spent time with? Sorry, Solomon, you seemed a bit winded from carrying me last time that I didn't want to strain you more." Anzu offered him an apologetic smile, which earned a shrug and nod that it was probably for the best, then fixed a glare upon the two who had been bickering the entire time she had been speaking. "Honda and Joey, listen when someone is talking!" They froze in mid-wrestle motion, each with an arm around the other's neck as if prepared to toss the other. Bright grins lit up their faces as they rushed her. They, however, fell short of reaching her due to two factors: Yugi's tail had knocked out their feet from under them and she had used her forearms to knock their hands away from grasping onto her. "Here's another lesson for you guys: a woman will not hesitate to fight back if someone tries to touch them without permission."
The elder gargoyle barked a laugh. "Ah, you youngins may have very well met your match with Anzu."
Yugi's gaze met cerulean as she beamed with pride, internally noting that she may just use those skills against him if he ever dared to cross her. Good thing he wasn't planning on it. Night by night he was warming up and liking this human female more. Now he could kind of see how she had attracted their clan leader's attention. "Are you ready then?"
As if it were second nature now, she looped her arms around the small gargoyle's neck and was amazed by his strength as he easily lifted her in a similar manner than Atem had; the main if only difference was Yugi's arm was smaller yet more capable of snaking around the crook of her waist where it was petite so that most of her weight was just on the one arm while her legs dangled almost freely below. A bit odd for her personally but so long as he wasn't going to drop her she was fine with it. The wind rushed past her as he took to the air and a quick glance backwards confirmed that the rest of the clan were following. "Stay close, guys, it's easy to get lost!" She called, unable to hide her smile as they "ooed" and "ahhed" at the bustling city below. "Allow me to be the first to welcome you all to New York City!"
. . . .
Metal clanging against metal echoed loudly in the small space as he threw his weight against them for what had to be the hundredth time. The sun had set hours ago and yet there was no sign of his captor. Atem had honestly been unsure of what to make of the predicament at hand when he awoke. Why hadn't Bakura shattered him to pieces while he was turned to stone? Surely something truly terrible was brewing within that man's mind. His violet skin was beginning to callous from him attempting to break free but they meant nothing compared to the pain in his chest. How could a once dear friend have become so warped? A hiss caught in his abused throat when the metal cuffs bit into his skin when he gave them another testing tug. Whatever these were made of was durable enough to withstand a gargoyle's brute strength. He had been calling since he had awoken in hopes that his roars could somehow reach wherever his clan were but there had been no indication that any had heard and it left him with a raw esophagus that was possibly bleeding from strain. Amethyst rose to the opening above his head, the partial moon casting him in its pale light as if it were attempting to comfort him. For now, he would have to bide his time and hope that the rest of his clan were safe.
. . . .
Her head swiveled as what she could have sworn was a roar ghosted past her ear on the breeze as they landed within the park's innermost gardens. It had sounded so distant, lonely even, could that have been him? She took a few steps in the direction she thought it had come from but retraced it when a similar sounding car horn sounded. Maybe it was her imagination?
Yugi came up on her right, eyes attempting to follow her line of sight. "Anzu?"
"I may be going crazy but I thought that horn just now sounded a bit like his roar…"
His hand rested upon her shoulder while locking his clanmembers with looks that said arguing was not an option. "Solomon will stay here but you two are coming with me. We'll start searching a few blocks in each direction starting with the north."
She was grateful for the note of confidence in his voice and made the mental note to thank him as the trio took off to disappear in the direction she had been looking. "At least stay within earshot, okay? I don't need to have to deal with screamers alone!" Anzu's head shook as she turned to Solomon. "I'm supposed to meet my friend over by the Sunken Gardens, just a short walk from here."
"You do whatever it is that brought us here," he said, bowing his head. "I shall not intervene unless you require it." And he disappeared into the canopy of tree branches above her head. Even for an elder he was still as nimble as she was, maybe even more.
The underwater lights of the scattered ponds and plant life cast her in their warm golden glow as she descended the stone staircase, her chest expanding as she inhaled deeply through her nose. Various flowers flooded her senses but it was the water that eased her nerves until they were relaxed. It had been nearly four whole months since the last time she had visited, which was during the heat of summer so the flowers had been in full bloom. Now they were beginning to wither from the cold October nights and the coming frosts would mean that the bubbling fountains would soon be drained then turned off. What Yugi had said earlier nearly coincided with the strange dream she'd had. Momentary hope flared within her chest as she searched the entirety of the gardens below ground level but there was no sign of the violet gargoyle. Sitting upon one of the stones that created a barrier to a pond, she trailed her fingers across the water's surface as a few fish lazily swam past, a shriek nearly sounding from between her lips as hands turned her around.
"Anzu!"
Cerulean widened as emerald blazed brightly above her. "Duke?! What-"
"What am I doing here? No, the better question is what are you doing here, Anzu Mazaki!" Just when she thought he was going to shake her, she was surprised when he suddenly enclosed her within his arms. "You had me worried sick."
Remorse filled her when she found him trembling. Yet here was another friend that she had neglected. She had once been dubbed "Holy Sister of Friendship" by her classmates because she once preached nonstop about how the greatest force on the planet was friendship and here she was being the worst possible person to both who she had once called "best friend". Anzu didn't fight or struggle as he tightened his hold, his forehead resting upon her shoulder. "I know you want an explanation but maybe it had better wait."
He pulled back. "I want answers-"
"And you will get them."
Duke withheld the urge to embrace her again as her expression became one of vulnerability and hesitancy. Whatever had happened to her must have been rough. "It has something to do with Toei, doesn't it." It wasn't a question but the subtle tremble of her body was a dead giveaway. His jaw clenched as he made to walk past her. "I'm going to kill that sicko!"
Anzu lashed out, grabbing tight hold of his arm. "You don't have proof!"
"Those bandages and bruises are all I need!" He spun back around and forced himself to keep his grip loose while grabbing hold of her shoulders. "What did he do to you, Anzu?"
"You don't have enough evidence for a jury even if it was and you know it, Duke, so calm down-"
"What's all the shouting? Is that Duke I hear?" A voice with a European accent called, causing both of their gazes to rise and meet onyx as a figure came sprinting down the staircase. She barely had time to brace when they tackled her within a near boa constrictor-like embrace that nearly made her fall backwards into the water. "Anzu!"
Duke hurried to assist as her face began to lose coloring from lack of oxygen and held back their classmate when he attempted to lunge at her again. "Down, boy, heel!"
"B-b-b-but she's right there!" The white haired boy sobbed, fighting with every bit of strength that he had. Anzu braced as he broke free but yelped all the same when his open palm met the underside of her chin that caused her teeth to meet. "The next time you go and pull a Houdini act is when I will be angry at you for four times as I am with you right now!" "Anzu, please look at me."
Cerulean rose to meet first onyx then emerald. "Duke…Ryuo…" First it was her shoulders that quaked, then it was her chest that felt as though an elephant plopped itself down upon her, finally a broken sob caused tears to spill from her eyes as they each wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I don't know where to start…" she sniffled, "but I'm sorry…"
They bent their heads until their foreheads met her temples as they each took a seat on either side of her. "Daijōbudesu, Anzu, daijōbu."
Above their heads, concealed by the numerous trees and their canopy of branches, lay a weathered warrior who watched with sympathetic heather eyes as the young woman clung to the two men. The tears that trickled down her cheeks spoke of the immense stress and emotion that he had suspected she was carrying. Yes, what a strong willed girl she was. He crossed his arms while settling into a somewhat comfortable position. It appeared that this was going to take a while.
. . . .
"What's the big idea, huh?! Get your filthy paws off of me!" A hiss erupted from her throat as the assistants who had been practically manhandling her to answer the summons of Kaiba tossed her to the floor. She was a lithe being though and easily landed upon her feet. Lips raised into a cross of a smirk and snarl. "You wanna play rough, huh?"
"Calm down, harpy, you won't be sharpening your claws on my men tonight."
The boiling of her blood simmered dangerously at the superior tone that he used, spinning around so that they were facing and found him watching her with a bored expression. She tossed her head to cause the golden tresses to gather over her shoulder so as to work out a few tangles that had formed from the rough handling. "Alright. I am here. What do you want?"
"I want to know why you've been sniffing around my mansion and having the tailor act as your scapegoat while you do so."
Her claws kept their steady stroke rhythm but a twitch would have been seen if her body had been angled any farther towards him. "Since when has exploring been a crime?"
Sapphire narrowed. "Watch yourself. You are a guest within my home and as such even you should have enough mannerism to not press your luck with testing boundaries."
"But I'm bored," she whined, rolling her eyes while pacing the office, ensuring that her tail slightly waved to better spread pheromones, "and none of your assistants want to play with me. What is a girl supposed to do?"
"Gargoyles are meant to protect and you said it yourself that you were the finest female warrior of your clan. Shouldn't you be hunting or something?"
"If I go out into the city, there's no telling how people would react to such a beauty as I."
"Valentine, I know you've been scheming something and I want to know what."
One of her fingers extended, lazily drifting from left to right. "I have no idea what you're insinuating, Kaiba, but I suggest you change that tone of yours if you want me to help you with anything." Mauve met sapphire. "You want the gargoyles gone and I know of how to do it but you know I won't do it for free yet you refuse to pay my price."
"The fact that you expect me to believe in all of that hocus-pocus nonsense is laughable." His fingers laced together upon the bend of his knee as he regarded the rose hued female. The motions of her tail had been more than enough warning for him and had been quick to inject himself with an antidote that would help his body build up an immunity against the gargoyle's pheromones that she had been scattering about his mansion. The whole place reeked of her now and it was not a pleasant scent to his nose; it smelled of mulch and decomposing vegetables, making him nauseous ever since her arrival. "It's out of the question, harpy, but perhaps we can reach a proposition." He stood and faced the window, keeping a close eye on her reflection as she made approach. "Someone has found out about your clan's existence."
Seriousness filled her features. She instantly knew that this piece of information meant: the entire population of the city, possibly the whole country, outside could target and possibly terminate her clan. They were her family, her everything, so there was nothing she wouldn't do to ensure their survival. "Show me what they look like."
"You don't want a name? Need an address?"
"There's no need," she growled, coming up on his right so that their gazes could meet in the glass window's surface. "Only a face or description is what I require."
His lips raised into a smirk. Perhaps now he could see this so called warrior's skills for himself. A wave of his hand caused the screens to appear throughout the room with a picture of the person he has been attempting to find. What the tycoon had not anticipated was the howl of laughter that raised the hairs across his body when her gaze darkened. Kaiba nearly lost the calm exterior he always wore when realization all but slapped itself across his face. "You already know her."
"You poor, pitiful little human!" she crowed, wrapping her arms as she spun on her heel to march towards the door. "It is clear that you had no idea and it only makes this all the more sweeter!"
"What are you talking about, you harpy?"
A malicious smile raised her lips as she paused within the doorway. Hatred shone within her eyes but it was nearly outshone by the joyous blaze deep within their mauve depths. "You know what I want, Kaiba, present it to me and I'll happily throw her down at your feet. Until then we have nothing more to discuss."
The double doors closed with a resounding bang behind her as his sapphire eyes widened. There was no mistaking that the rose hued gargoyle knew where the girl was currently. If she could find him, then why couldn't his own special contacts find the brunette dancer girl? His hand lashed out to lift the phone as it rang loudly. "Yes?"
"Big brother, is now a good time?"
"Tell me you have something, Mokuba."
"We traced her cell signal and you won't believe where it leads. One of the pings was at Kaiba Corporation, which would make sense she had been one of the entertainment dancers, but the most recent was at Central Park's Sunken Gardens. I have a patrol heading there now but you should be aware that one of my best is with her as well. How ironic that a dancer girl is best friends with a decorated officers."
. . . .
Exhaustion has taken root within his body as he fell to his knees, the muddied water and soil mixture surely staining his skin but he cared nothing about it as droplets of crimson trickled along his jawline sourcing from his throat. Nothing had worked to free him of the chains. Amethyst eyes that had been clenched closed in pain opened widely as upon the breeze that wafted his face filled his nose with the scent of apricots. She was nearby?! Had she been captured?! Resolve filled him as it was joined by the chalky scent of his second in command. He had to somehow get their attention! Agony rippled through his esophagus as he took a deep breath. One more…please let his voice last one more…
. . . .
"I guess that about sums-" Her sentence was cutoff as the entirety of her nose was teased by the scent of sandalwood as there, in the distance, came the sound she would never second guess again. A rushed apology was given along with the promise that she would soon be in touch, and she was sprinting down the concrete passageway.
"Anzu? Wait!"
She gasped as two hands clasped onto her own, throwing every bit of her weight against their holds as they prevented her from ascending the staircase where she knew would take her up to a level so that the gargoyles could hear her. "You guys don't understand! Let me go, please!"
"You can't just disappear like that on us!"
The officer were taken aback by her desperation while attempting to free herself from them. Never had she reacted like this, it was almost as if their high school friend was on the verge of a meltdown. Duke's instincts flared as a sound came from above their heads, a hand falling to rest upon the concealed pistol he kept hidden within his jacket. "Ryuo, keep a tight hold on her. Something isn't right."
"A-alright." He nodded, taking hold of her other wrist as the leather clad man disappeared up one of the staircases.
Cerulean met onyx as the roar in her ear strained. "You have to let me go! Please!"
"Anzu, try to calm down! Duke will find out what's making that bloody racket and then we can get you out of the cold, okay?" He tried to soothe her by speaking softly but it only made her more agitated. Though he increased his hold, she still fought against him. A shout of surprise rose from his lips as she suddenly turned on him and used her added weight to abuse him to stumble backwards enough that she wrestled free from him. "Anzu, wait!" His pursuit was halted by the crystalline tears that clung to her eyelashes when their gazes met for the briefest of seconds from over her shoulder.
Her chest was burning, the heart within weeping as it prayed for their forgiveness as she sprinted up the concrete staircase when the roar faded to silence. There was no doubt in her mind: that was Atem! "Hold on, I'm on my way!" The second she reached the top was when her lungs filled to the maximum and exhaled in a near scream-like sound that she'd heard Valentine use. Seconds later, she was suspended several feet in the air by a lavender hued gargoyle who was surrounded by the others of his clan.
See you next time!
