Spoiler Alert!

It goes without saying that I don't own rights to either YuGiOh! or the animated series "Gargoyles".

. . . .

FORECAST HAS SOME FLUFF AHEAD!

Under 18 and hard shippers, here is your warning!

*Suntory is seen wiggling her eyebrows and smirking*


Halloween 2021 FanFic Yu-Gi-Oh! X Gargoyles

When a Gargoyle Falls

Chapter 17:

Beautiful Monster

A sound raised his head from the bent position it had been in for the last hour, the messy workbench before him becoming cloaked in darkness as a wave of his hand flipped the little lamp's light. His breath stalled as footsteps approached but it was released as they faded back into silence. The lamp was turned back on as he faced the work surface once more and picked up the tools he had discarded. When would those men in suits give up?

They pulled away as sounds of running footsteps came from one of the hallway branches. He quickly rose to stand and craned his neck as if he could spot whoever was coming. Some of Kaiba's security must have heard the collapse and were coming to investigate. "Head back to the room for now, Anzu, I shall meet you there."

"As if!"

His hands grasped her own as their gazes met. "Gargoyles are nocturnal, as you know. The sun is still up so if they were to see you they would think themselves mad. If they were to spot me they would deem me an intruder and possibly throw me out." Atem leaned forward to press a quick peck to her forehead. "Run along now, Anzu, I shall catch up."

There was no more room to argue as the footsteps thundered closer.

An amused smile tugged on his lips as he spotted her crawling up the walls towards the high ceilings that would conceal her presence then disappear from sight in the direction that led to her room, faintly hearing the hum of a familiar theme song of a spider hero clad in blue and red. A shake of his head and he quickly moved as shadows stretched out across the floor, ducking into one of the other hallways as the voices grew in volume as someone caught sight of the collapsed entrance.

"It is nearly complete," he whispered, holding up the small item that he had originally begun working on the night she had disappeared. A soft hiss slipped from between his fingers as his hold slipped, causing a thin slice to appear along the pad of his thumb. Crimson droplets immediately began to seep from between the layers of his skin that threatened to drip down his arm.

"Careful or you might lose a finger."

The hand holding the item he had been crafting quickly hid it from sight within one of the multitude of drawers as peach hued fingers gently grasped his tanned own. "You never actually went back to the room."

It wasn't a question but she answered it with a nod. "I followed to see where you'd go then went back to the room."

Amethyst blinked with surprise as the hand she held rose and felt his entire being explode with heat as it disappeared between a pair of lips. The question of when Anzu had snuck up on him was lost as something warm and wet carefully trailed over the cut, sending an odd tremor down his spine that he attempted to disguise it with a roll of his shoulders. His lips parted to assure her he would be fine but the words caught in his throat as the blood in his veins warmed when pressure gathered around his digit and the thrill came again as what had to be her tongue ever so slowly trailed across it again.

So lost was she in the tainted mixture of copper, iron, and cinnamon that it took her a moment to realize what she was doing, cerulean eyes opening as she released her hold upon his wrist. She found his gaze to be hooded, darkened even as she pulled out a handkerchief that she always kept handy and carefully wrapped it up. "There. That should hold until I find an actual bandaid." Her own eyes hooded as she leaned forward more so that their faces were inches apart, a teasing smile lifting her lips. "How'd that feel, huh? You look like you didn't want me to stop."

"Ah, so the expression that is upon my face now must be the same that was on your own when we were on the rooftop or when you were enjoying your first transformation as a gargoyle." A smirk raised his lips as she blinked, blushed darkly, then faced away from him with a huff. He snaked an arm around her shoulders and pulled her flush against him so that he could rest his chin upon her shoulder, lips ghosting over the side of her slender neck. "What was it that you said just before the spell was broken at sunrise?"

Anzu couldn't help but let her head fall back farther when a wave of bliss passed over her from where his breath met her skin. "I don't know what you're talking about." Though she couldn't see him the feel of his smirk against her neck more than gave away his amusement. It was the only warning she received. The peach hued gargoyle suddenly found herself upon his lap, one of his arms had drifted down to wrap around her waist while the other had covered her eyes, the heat of his body slowly seeping into her back as it arched when those devilish lips found the pulse point in her neck. Her sharpened teeth caught on the flesh of her bottom lip to stifle the sound that rose up as the arm around her waist gave a light squeeze when his lips drifted down to the junction of her shoulder. Something rose within the gargoyle as a muted chuckle reached her ears.

"Perhaps I need to remind you?" Before he himself had realized it, she had stood, grasped hold of his wrists and forced him to walk backwards until his back met one of the towering bookcases. He was quick to suppress the grunt that rose at the point of impact but utterly failed in stopping the drawn out groan that she elicited as her body pressed against his in a drawn out wave as her own lips tugged upon his left earlobe, sharp fangs lightly catching just enough to send the dullest flare of pain that was soothed by her warm breath.

"I'll make you remember it by causing it to come from our own mouth," she growled against his skin, darkened cerulean meeting shadowed amethyst when she pulled away slightly. "If you aren't careful."

Strength wise he'd found that she had the current advantage but that did not mean he had no tricks up his sleeve. When her head bent back downward he took the opportunity to blow a quick breath into her ear. The effect was just as he predicted: she convulsed backwards, shivering and rubbing the ear. His amusement could not be hidden as even her tail grew stiff when a visible tremor wracked her body. A gargoyle's sense of hearing would put any dog's to shame so even just a breath like he just performed would earn him his freedom. His smirk returned as she pointedly glared.

"You know too much." She sighed, crossing her arms and taking his vacated seat at the workbench. "So what are you working on? I couldn't stand to stay in that room so I came back to found you at this bench."

"Patience is as much a virtue as curiosity that led the cat to a trap. There are things within that are best not viewed or seen by your eyes, Anzu."

To say her curiosity was peeked was an understatement but she knew what she saw. Her eyes narrowed as he attempted to bring her away from the area to browse the shelves instead with promises of old ancient texts that would pique her interest. "I know I saw you put something within one of these drawers and I want to know what." Wiggling her fingers, she trailed them first across the surface as if she were playing the piano while closely watching him from the corner of her eye. He was definitely hiding something judging from how stiffly he walked over to stand beside the desk. "Now, which one should I look in first?"

The heart in his chest gave a violent thump when her fingertips brushed against the drawer he'd stuffed it in but he swallowed the lump of suspense that had threatened to rise. "Surely you do not want to spoil the surprise I have been working on."

She froze. So that what he was slaving away in this library? On one hand, she hated surprises because they never turned out to meet her expectations; On the other hand, Anzu loved the thrill of guessing what it could possibly be. Both were weighed on the scale within her mind but the deciding factor was the hidden plea she'd heard within his words that wished for her to not continue. He was putting so much time and effort into something that she couldn't bring herself to continue. Cerulean softened as she turned to face him. "I definitely wouldn't want that."

A breath he was not aware of holding slipped from between his lips as she scooted to the edge of the bench until her head rested against his chest. "Since you have come to such lengths to find me, Anzu, what do you suggest we do? There is still a few hours until sunset."

"Well, I wanted to ask you about…us…"

He blinked, head tilting to the side as she avoided his gaze while standing and walking past him to browse one of the shelves. Atem took to the neighboring aisle, his steps matching her own. "If that what has been weighing so heavily upon your mind, Anzu, I shall listen if it means that you will return the shine within your gaze once more."

"That just tells me that I was doing a horrible job at hiding it." she sighed, eyes aimlessly scanning over the dusty volumes. "Valentine was supposed to be your…mate… and was designated by your predecessor. Can something like that really be dissolved with a few words?"

"She and I have a long history, this I cannot deny, but what she greatly encouraged the leader before was nothing more than a single sided affection. Valentine was not without her own problems, Anzu, she is the greatest female warrior our clan has seen in several generations and may very well be the last of her line." Their footsteps paused, amethyst meeting cerulean from over the bookshelf between them. "It was for her sake as much as mine that our union was decided."

Her head bobbed in understanding. "So because you guys were friends already he thought you two would be a great pair, not only to continue her species but also that you had not warmed up to any other female."

"I had tried to gain favor or companionship with other females yet they proved difficult to form bonds with."

"Yeah, its quite a bit harder to make friends with women than men. They're always backstabbing each other while causing unnecessary drama. Men are mellow, easy going, complacent so long as you feed and give them attention when they ask." She winked, beginning to walk again. "I only made a small handful of female friends myself but it was enough for me."

His head tilted. "It is not better to have few friends who are closer than several who are distant?"

"Now you're getting it. Back to the topic at hand though."

Atem's amethyst locked upon hers once more. "I just realized how differently you emphasize mate when it leaves your lips. Is it truly that much different than how humans deem each other compatible?" The answer dawned on him like a slap to the face. "We are by physical definition beasts however we are not common animals; we live, think, act of our own accord. It is not as if we allow ourselves to be caged with a member of the opposite gender solely for the outcome of offspring."

"But why use the term 'mate' then? Why not call your chosen partner by something else?"

"And what terminology do humans use, pray tell?"

The flash within her eyes was almost too quick for him to notice but the deep frown of her lips was enough. "When a pair comes together they form a union and are dubbed 'husband and wife', the same for if the members are of the same gender. They were not called 'mates', they are a 'couple'." Her voice that had grown cold eased and warmed as she raised her left hand. "At the ceremony where they pledge their undying love for each other in front of both family and friends, they exchange rings and place them upon this finger here." She wiggled the finger to earn his gaze upon it. "In the culture back home this finger has a direct vein that leads directly to the heart and it is only this finger that is connected to our red string of fate."

"Why would a red string by tied around one's finger?"

"It's an expression, Atem, that at the end of our red string is the person who we are meant to be with. There are kinks, knots, frays from the people who come along and nearly snip it lies or sweet words yet it stays strong until the other person on the end is found. The vein directly leading to the heart is kind of a comfort that even when that partner if far away physically the ring on that finger reminds the wearer that their love is still connecting them."

His brows furrowed. What an odd mixture of symbolism and biology. One thing had been made clear to him though. "I see now. You humans take into careful consideration who you 'marry'."

"Not all of them," she whispered, "but I do."

A heavy weight suddenly settled upon his shoulders at her words. It wasn't that she was female or that she was human; the young woman turned gargoyle walking beside him on the opposite side of the bookcase doubted that she ever would find that special person that she had been raised that would make all of her loneliness and sadness disappear. A horrible thought entered his head right then, nearly causing him to misstep. Had he been wasting her time, toying with her feelings, led her astray? Had he distracted her?

The dark thought was shaken off. He was more than aware of his feelings now. It was her turn to discover if she felt the same.

"I believe you humans call it a divorce and requires a judge's ruling with several mounds of paperwork?" He inhaled deeply through his nose when she gave a nod. "Our rulings are less extravagant. For a union to be dissolved, it must be agreed within both parties involved that it is better for separation. Valentine's change of behavior leads me to believe that she herself is growing to understand that though her species was endangered it was not worth the price of her happiness. She seems happier now that we are no longer tethered," he smiled softly. "And I hope that she will find the one destined to ensure that she lives the rest of her days with joy."

Anzu's hand rose to press against her chest as the heart within throbbed. To hear such kind and gentle words when referring to another being showed just how much he had cared for the rose hued gargoyle. Not only that but he had refrained himself from using the word that ma ever inwardly cringe. "Is she really going to be okay?"

He shrugged, folding his hands neatly behind his back. "It will not be long before she fixes her gaze upon another male. Before the union was announced she was notorious for being a flirt amongst gargoyles and humans. I am sure she will be just fine."

"That sounds like her alright. She was flirting up a storm when we were out and about the other night." She absentmindedly scratched the back of her head as they came upon a fork, dread filling her.

Atem came to a stop when she did, the opening of the aisle giving him a full view of her appearance and stopped himself from reaching out to her when he saw her expression of doom. Here they were, standing as a fork, as if fate itself was testing their conviction or hearts; would they take separate paths or would they merge into a single one that they both could follow? "The ancient ways of man and beast have long since ended," he said finally after a few seconds of silence, "the barriers that once separated us no longer exist. One's happiness and destiny should be decided by the person themselves, not by someone else." He stepped up to stand within the very center of the fork, amethyst meeting cerulean as she hesitated. "You are the only who would be capable of finding the one you wish to stand beside, Anzu, no one should have influence over you. Fate may lend a hand or two but the choice is ultimately yours."

It felt as though her heart was tearing itself apart. She'd never cared for someone like the way she cared for him. Ryuo and Duke were like her brothers, Honda and Joey like cousins, little Yugi she held as a younger sibling, Solomon an elderly grandfather figure, even Valentine had found herself within an older sister role within the young brunette's heart. All had become important figures to her but when she was faced with Atem she was lost. Boyfriends were never a thing for her since she had been so occupied and set on school or work, often watching from afar the other students above and below her own class develop relationships; there were fights of course but they always seemed to either find their ways back to each other or they would move on to seeing other people.

"I…"

With him, she felt so many indescribably things that it was confusing. She didn't want to leave his side if it could be helped, she valued the wisdom of his advice, his mischief would cause her to come out of the shell she had developed in hopes to protect herself from the harshness of the world, his embraces helped her feel safe in knowing that he would not let anyone or anything harm her so long as she was within his arms, he supported her from afar, never used her own temper or words against her as so many others had. Even just thinking of him or saying his name, verbally or aloud, would cause her heart to beat a little faster and fill with warmth.

"I…"

Amethyst eyes widened as the wings upon her back began to glow, tiny translucent rainbows appearing in the air as they seemed to double in size. What was happening to her? The peach hue of her skin was starting to lighten, the stubby horns protruding from her temples were shrinking, even the claws upon her fingers were receding back within her fingertips. He stepped towards her as she disappeared from view of courtesy of the wings wrapping around her like a cocoon until they too disappeared between her shoulders, revealing her in tattered clothing but smiling despite the tears streaming down her face as she gazed up at him.

"I love you." She rose up on shaky legs, her arms wrapping around his neck as he welcomed her embrace and elicited a soft gasp from the gargoyle turned man as her lips met his.

All shock vanished from his mind as she made to pull away, his arms tightening so as to keep her close. "Apologies," he whispered huskily, their gazes becoming hooded as his nose nuzzled hers, "I am not familiar with this form of affection." Gravity was taking over, as well as something that filled his being with a sudden need to feel more of her, taste more.

"That was a kiss." Shyness filled her eyes as she took a shuddering breath. "Did you not like it?"

Tanned lips met fair with such gentle pressure that it was as if feathers were touching as they drifted upon the breeze. Deep within his veins, hidden under the pumping of blood, sparked a flame that he thought he himself thought he would never experience. Wrong. He had felt it once before, upon the rooftop when her life had been surrendered into his claws. This was more than carnal hunger. It was as if his heart was begging to reach out and meet her own. She'd called it a kiss and he was finding himself wanting… "More."

Cerulean and amethyst drifted closed as their lips fully met; Atem's as gentle as they were curious while they savored her softness, Anzu's submissive to allow him free range but also giving the subtlest of hints of what he should do next. A tilt of his head, a shared breath, but alien instinct rose up within him when she gasped his name. His body lightly pressed up against hers that caused her to take a step backwards. Tanned hands found their place underneath her thigh, lifting her with ease when her hands rose up to tangle within his hair and lost sense of direction for a moment when something nibbled the flesh of his lower lip. What started as a spark erupted into a mighty flame as her legs wrapped around his hips as he retraced their steps and placed her upon the workbench, earning an arch of her back when he returned the curious nibble.

She was not to be outdone though. Anzu may be a virgin but she'd read many romance novels and *ahem* other informative texts. Not only that but their previous heated exchange was still fresh within her mind. Her hands drifted down to trail across his abdomen, earning a shiver and deep throated growl that caused their lips to vibrate slightly. The need for oxygen burned her lungs first, causing her to lean back far enough to gasp subtly, her hands instantly moving to claw at his back when his lips fell to massage the side of her neck. "O..oh…" The girl writhed as he took a seat and collected her within his lap just as he had that fateful night. Only with him would she allow herself to fall within these uncharted waters of the body. "Atem…"

His answer was another meet of their lips a tilt of his head causing them to meet more. A gasp from the young woman within his hold caused a part to appear, hooded amethyst becoming dilated then slits as the tips of their tongues brushed. The hunger within his abdomen was growing by the second along with the nearing dangerous cliff that was looming closer to the edge of his sanity. As a gargoyle, his sensitivity had been heightened from his sharpened senses. As a human, Atem was finding it harder and harder to keep his conscious will from abandoning him as her hips brushed against his own.

They were both human now, meaning that their bodies were now similar enough in size that they moved against one another with an ancient rhythm that elicited unified moans from both as her scantily clothed nether lips met something scalding hot and rigid. Only once had he experienced what many of the male gargoyles called an erection, with Valentine it had been awkward and sloppy, but with Anzu it seemed to have taken a mind of its own: it wanted to bury itself within her heat. He regrettably retreated until a string of saliva connected their mouth, which was broken as she fully rested back against his hand that was tangled within her chocolate locks as her heaving chest attempted to catch her breath.

"Anzu," he gasped, biting into his cheek to suppress a strangled grunt as the stiffness between his legs was tortured by a roll of her hips. "I have…something to say…"

The young woman grew serious despite the blush within her fair cheeks and haze lingering within her cerulean gaze.

He was gentle though as he placed a tender kiss upon her lips, earning a soft hum, and rested his forehead against her own. "I too feel as you do." Atem nuzzled her fondly, their lips brushing and ghosting from his motions. "I, the leader of the gargoyles, am in love with you, Anzu Mazaki."

"Oh, my, I truly have stumbled upon a sight!" They drifted apart amethyst shifting to crimson as pupils turned into slits when a figure stepped forth from the darkness of a case, the air ringing with the sound of clapping as the tiny workbench lamp illuminated a malicious smile. She blinked, at first in confusion of how Ryuo had found this place in general, but the look on his face was wrong. Why was he staring at them as if they were the greatest entertainment on earth? His arms opened wide as he approached another series of steps, onyx locking upon her cerulean. "You have no idea how much I have missed you."

"I- It's good to see you, Ryuo, but how did you get in here?" Anzu made to approach him but found herself anchored by the gaze of Atem. "He's one of those friends the others told you about," she whispered, patting his hand as if it was a simple means of introduction. "He, Duke, and I went to the same school and grew up together."

"What are you doing all the way over there? I'm still waiting for you to make it up to me for the whole airport abandonment!"

"What, did your accent phase out already?" She smiled, turning back to face the platinum haired young man as he stalked forward more. "I'm coming, I'm coming, keep your clothes on-"

"Anzu, wait!" A hand lashed out, grasping hold of her wrist and with a vicious tug caused her to stumble but was straightened by a pair of hands that quickly took hold of her biceps. Claws that were deep indigo in color missed her face by mere inches that caused her heart to skip several beats. Atem glared up at the man who was now staring down his nose at them as he drew her away. "Cast off that false appearance, fiend, it will do you no good here."

Platinum hair lengthened, growing more wild as toffee darkened to onyx, a few inches adding to his height as the clothing he wore morphed into that of an ancient pharaoh decorated with gold and a crimson striped coat. Cerulean widened, becoming filled with confusion and a hint of fear when the features she'd come to recognize vanished to leave behind someone unknown. "Ryuo?"

Atem's blood rose to a boil when the white haired man sent her a pitying look. "He is not your friend, Anzu, he never was. It was nothing more than a camouflage he wore to conceal his true identity."

"Oh, now that was harsh." A sickening crack sounded as his head to the side then tilted, his lips forming a pout. "Come now, Yami, was it truly necessary to call me out like that? We were friends once-" What could only be described as sick pleasure filled his gaze as a crystalline tear gathered in the corner of her eye. "Aw, see what you've done now? You've gone and made the girl cry all because you had me dispel the illusion."

"Do not speak that name to me, Bakura, you have no right to." Amethyst drifted down to glance at the young woman in his hold to find her trembling, the shadow of her bangs concealing the upper half of her face from his view. He whispered her name but it went unanswered. He refocused upon the man who regarded the pair with interest. "If you have been alive all these centuries, then why did you not shatter our statues after cursing us to the stone slumber?"

"Is it so wrong to look forward to pure unadulterated entertainment when you all finally were to wake?" His arms crossed. "I found ways of spending my time. That rose hued gargoyle, you remember her," the smile raising his lips grew dark, "she and I spent quite a lot of time together until she ran away."

Anzu broke the hold Atem had on her and the air rang with the sound of bone cracking when her clenched fist met his jaw. He was sent stumbling backwards a few steps, crimson droplets splattering across the floor as she was drawn back towards the workbench. "You…" her growl was almost unrecognizable as twin bumps appeared between her shoulders and temples. "So none of it…that was…"

"Anzu, calm down, he fooled us all," he wrapped an arm around her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her. "It was not your fault."

"Oh, I see now. I'll be taking that curse back from you, my dear."

Atem tightened his hold as a violet outline appeared around her form, cerulean wide as an agony filled scream slipped up her throat along with a sphere of familiar swirling malicious energy that left her to bury itself within the man who rolled his shoulders. No sooner had the curse left her that she fell into unconsciousness, the bumps upon her back and head gone. "Anzu? Anzu!"

"Calm down, she is merely dreaming. I thought we could do with a bit of alone time since we were interrupted before." Tanned skin grew indigo and sharpened fangs peeked out from between his lips as he reached for the pair.

. . . .

Shattering stone filled the air as the last few rays of sunlight gave way to the coming dark of night, unified roars of awakening gargoyles that would raise the hairs of any who heard quieted as they all caught the scent of blood. Yugi was the first to follow the trail that led to the archives but it was Valentine who spotted the slumped figure at the workbench. The rose hued female collected the unconscious brunette within her arms as the rest honed in on the droplets of cerise upon the floor.

Cerulean fluttered open, tearing as they met mauve but a finger was pressed against her lips when they parted. "It's alright, hun, you don't need to tell us." Valentine tightened her hold upon the girl as large tears began to spill down her cheeks.

"So Bakura now knows of where the palace is. We can't stay here anymore, we'll have to find a new home." Yugi shared a glance with Solomon, earning a nod, and quickly set the other two in gathering what supplies they might need. A hand grasping his own caused him to glance down and knelt so that Anzu wouldn't have to strain to reach him. "He was here and took Atem, didn't he?"

"He masqueraded himself as my friend!" She wailed. "I trusted him and called him my brother but it was all a lie! I swear I didn't know!"

"None of us blame you," the rose hued gargoyle soothed, her eyes narrowing. "I never would have suspected that he was here in this city."

The elder gargoyle quickly latched onto the young lavender as his eyes flashed crimson. "You knew this whole time and didn't tell us?!" Yugi claws lengthened a few millimeters but his wrist was held tight by Anuz's grip. "How could you not tell us that one who not only cursed us but murdered our previous clan leader?!"

"You have no idea what she went through because of him!" All three gargoyles blinked down at the young woman as she stared down at the floor. "He said it himself that he had spent a lot of his time entertaining himself with her. If what he did to Atem is anything to go by, I'm sure Valentine tried her best to last until she could escape him." Rising to stand, she kept a hold of his wrist as she stepped within his personal space, their noses almost touching as her lip twitched. "Enough of jumping at the chance to put her on the chopping block, that goes for all of you," her gaze locked upon the pair that had just returned and a gasp slipped from each as her pupils became slits, "Valentine is one of you, a part of your clan, so stop acting as though she's responsible for everything wrong."

"That's enough. I think they get the message." Valentine carefully eased the lavender gargoyle's wrist out of Anzu's hold, revealing a slight bruise that was forming upon his skin. "It really doesn't matter to me what they think-"

"Bullshit you don't. You were going on and on about how much fun you all had back in your original era while training or hunting or whatever it is that you gargoyles do but they need to learn that what happened in the past can't be changed but the future can be." Anzu's palm met her face as their heads tilted in unison. "Right, sorry, didn't mean to go all philosophical on you."

"You are right, though your words a bit strange." Solomon nodded, his weathered gaze meeting each in turn before falling upon the lone female gargoyle. "Forgive us, Valentine."

Mauve widened, filling with tears as her breath caught when each in turn bowed their heads as Anzu wrapped her arms around her shoulders. "W-what are you doing? Stop that!" Large tears spilled down her cheeks when the sandy hued gargoyle awkwardly walked forward and offer her his hand. His cheeks were dusted with red as he nervously fidgeted when she just stared up at him. Anzu took hold of her hand and placed it within his as her shoulders quaked. "I…"

"Nah, we were bein' the idiots here," he grinned, "whaddya say? Friends?"

"Moron," she sniffled, her fingers curling around his hand. "As if you have to ask."

Anzu passed off the rose hued gargoyle as Honda approached, her brows furrowing as he held up a bundle of cloth, blinking as it was placed within her hold with no explanation. The weight was unfamiliar as was the shape of whatever was inside it as she began to unwrap it and experienced tunnel vision as the cloth fell away to reveal a blood stained pistol. Her cerulean eyes widened as her phone appeared, its screen lit up with notifications of missed calls and texts.

"Found this in your room." The mahogany gargoyle said softly, placing the bag they had packed her belongings within at her feet as he took a step back.

A shaky hand accepted the device, swiping to unlock it, and raised it to her ear as the first of four voicemails began to play, each separate by the date they were received. She'd forgotten about turning on Airplane Mode, only disengaging it for DroneDelivery orders, and had not checked her messages for a while.

The first night of her taking the job as an entertainment dancer:

"Anzu, it's Duke. What the hell are you doing at Kaiba Corp?

I traced your cellphone and went looking for you this afternoon but there was no sigh of you.

Call me back ASAP."

The day after Kokurano's attack:

"My God, Anzu, why haven't you called me back?!

I saw the destruction within your apartment!

Call me right now or I swear I'm going to trace your phone!"

The date of the night they'd taken refuge near the river:

"If this is about what happened back in the Sunken Gardens, I'm not apologizing.

You were acting strange and we needed answers.

Come back to us, Anzu, we miss you."

The date of the day she spent alongside the gargoyles during the daytime:

"I don't know if I'm crazy or worse but something's been off about Ryuo ever since the meetup in the gardens. He isn't acting like himself and he keeps mumbling at his reflection.

There's something else…he keeps staring up at the rooftops as if looking for something."

The date of the night when Atem had rushed her back to the palace after freeing him:

"Anzu, enough of the silent treatment. Call me back."

The date of when she had been turned into a gargoyle:

"I know you're alive, Anzu, so why are you not returning my calls?

I don't know what's going on with you but you know you can talk to me.

I may be a cop but I'm also your friend.

At least send me a text that you're okay."

The night they had been hit by the curse:

"The whole town is in chaos.

A ball of energy hit something in the sky and two figures were spotted falling to their deaths.

Anzu, I saw the traffic footage and the media snapshots.

Why were you falling out of the sky?!"

The most recent, sent a few hours ago:

"I knew something was off about you the second I found you in that airport! You're not Ryuo!"

"How insightful indeed," a new voice came from the background. "But I'm afraid I cannot let you live now that you know."

Horror filled her as the sound of struggles came from the phone, incoherent shouts and what she recognized as gunfire causing her wide gaze to shift to the bloodied gun in her other hand. It clattered across the floor as she fell to her knees when through the device came an anguished scream that was cutoff by choking and then there was silence.

"That was quite a bit messier than I expected," the voice she now recognized as Bakura's morphed until it was so beast-like it was hard to understand what he was saying, "but this will take off the edge of my appetite enough so I can really unleash myself upon that wretched violet gargoyle clan leader!

I cursed him to fall out of the sky but clearly fate had other plans!

Now I get to enjoy the feeling of torturing him as a weak human!"

The small electronic fell from her hand as the sounds of bones breaking and liquid spilling filled the air, Valentine quickly catching it before it could meet the ground as Yugi embraced the sobbing girl tightly. "That bastard…" Each gargoyle's heart clenched as she wailed and cried, each large crystalline tear that fell down her face testimony to her grief as she curled into a ball within his hold. What they didn't expect was the pair of crimson wings that burst forth from her back that forced all to retreat form her as a mighty wind cyclone formed around her. "He murdered my best friend then ate him…" Her voice rang with a bloodthirsty undertone that caused their being to stiffen in response as the blue of her eyes was replaced by blazing twin infernos the color of a blood moon they'd once witnessed. Even the wise elder of the clan was left speechless as she straightened to her full height, much taller than any member of the clan had ever been, pure white skin that glowed, the clothing upon her being becoming long flowing robes that looked oddly like those the high priestess, Lady Ishizu, had once worn. Not fully a gargoyle, nor a human woman, she had become a sort of hybrid; claws that looked as though they could easily shred steel, four pairs of wings that looked like those of the fae folk, chocolate hair once short now flowing within a breeze they couldn't feel. "Let's go get him back," she growled, taking steps that led to the courtyard leaving a trail of pitch black scorch footprints in her wake. "And put an end to all of this."

. . . .

"Don't go passing out on me yet," Bakura smirked, grabbing a fistful of ebony hair and lifting the head it was attached to so that he could see Atem struggling to stay conscious despite the heavy bruising that was beginning to bloom across his face that caused it to swell. "Things are just starting to get interesting!"

"You said that you were holding me personally responsible for your sister's demise yet you fail to acknowledge the fact that is was your own hand that led her to it!"

The platinum haired man removed a familiar black shape from within his striped jacket, waving it under the nose of the one he had by the hair. "Careful what you say or my hand just might slip." Atem bit back the retort that rose up his throat. He was all too familiar with the taser and now that he was human there would be no telling as to what it could wreck upon his being. Staying silent was proving to not be as safe as he though when the expandable baton that had been use previously appeared with a flick of Bakura's wrist, onyx blazing with glee when amethyst locked upon the metal stick. He raised it above his head, taking aim at the left leg that had yet to be decorated with bruises as the other limbs, and it was swinging downward as an explosion came from behind that nearly knocked him off his feet. "Who dares-" His howl of rage was cutoff as a figure stepped out from the cloud of ruin that was the wall, onyx widening as the crimson glow of the blood moon above their heads revealed a figure that he'd never expected. "It can't be!"

Cerulean just for a moment made an appearance within her gaze as it found Atem bound as he had been within the cistern, heavy thick chains around each of his wrists and ankles that were anchored to the brick wall behind him, but it was overruled by bloodthirsty crimson once more as they found each wound that had been inflicted. The robes she wore were shed until she was within the under-dressings made of a simple white cloth while the extravagant outer layers were thrown over his trembling form. "Forgive me," she whispered, the palm of her hand cupping his chin as not Anzu's voice but the ancient Egyptian princess Teanna's came from between her lips. "I am correcting a wrong that has taken too long for me to repay. You and the clan, you had nothing to do with the disappearance of our father nor did you deserve my spite." Her finger rose and placed itself against his lips when they parted. "I shall return the one you love when my business is done with my brother."

Amethyst searched her features, finding them to be a mix between the two women, but the pounding of his heart with worry and fear when the cerulean of Anzu's gaze rose within the right eye. "Anzu-"

"She is not in pain so do not fear for her safety. Though I am borrowing her as a vessel, I had been chosen by the ancient gods to take Lady Ishizu's place within the council." The left eye that was still blazing crimson became filled with regret. "Please, let me make things right so that you may live your life happily."

"Swear to me that she will not be harmed!" The heart in his chest gave a violent tremor when what some would call a goddess stood, a shadow falling over her face. "Princess, I beg you do not use her! Anzu has suffered enough-"

"He murdered my friend then ate him, Atem, I can't forgive that."

His breath caught at Anzu's cerulean returned from over their shoulder as they turned away. "No!"

A wave of her hand caused a protective bubble to form around him, one made of divine energy that would prevent him from interfering along with protecting him from any backlash from the battle about to ensue. Though his lips moved no sound could be heard coming from it as she fixed her gaze upon the indigo human-gargoyle hybrid who glared with blazing onyx eyes. "Prepare yourself, Bakura, devourer of man and gargoyle, wielder of Zorc's malicious sorcery," her chin raised as the wings upon her back unfurled. "By the hand of your beloved sister whom you yourself betrayed will be the one who ends your life!"


See you next time!