Disclaimer. I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! It belongs to Kazuki Takahashi and crew.
Bakura stood silently in the rain, grinning like a madman. Yami trembled. "Name your challenge already! Jonouchi is dying!"
Bakura snorted. "Like I should care? Alright. This isn't a fun enough challenge for me but I can't think of anything else right now. Your test is to reach the hospital in time while carrying Jonouchi."
Yami crossed his arms. "That's it?"
Bakura smiled slyly. "Tut tut. I wasn't finished. This fog is thick, and you don't know where the hospital is do you?"
Yami went blank eyed as he listened to Yugi tell him where the hospital was.
Bakura tutted. "Tch. I suppose you have your little friend there to tell you where it is. No matter. Fog isn't always fog you know. Better hurry. I can hear the last of Jonouchi's life trickle away! Ahahahaha!"
With this the fog swallowed him, and he disappeared. Yami instantly went to Jonouchi, pulling him up and slinging his arm across Jonouchi's back while holding one of Jonouchi's arms across his shoulders. With this he slowly made his way foward. He could feel Yugi fretting and worrying.
Gritting his teeth, he stepped out of the alleyway. Cars rushed by, their headlights glaring through the fog. Shifting Jonouchi's weight a bit, he turned down the sidewalk, hobbling as fast as he could. Vaguely he noticed that not a single person was on the street. Nor in any shops. Pausing to inspect a passing car, he froze as he saw nothing but a shadow driving it.
The air was cold. He shivered, his skin forming goosebumps. He started to lug Jonouchi down the street again. /Wait! Hang a left. The hospital is only a few blocks away to your left./
Yami follwed Yugi's instructions, growing more and more anxious as Jonouchi's weight seemed to get heavier. His face was paling fast, and his chest barely moved from his ragged breathing. Something stepped out of the shadows, and Yami froze, eyes sharp and searching.
Anzu was revealed, the fog curling around her. But her face was blank. She tilted her head at Yami, and laughed. Mannequins formed around her, leaping and twisting in the air.
Yami hurried past, unnerved. Yugi was silent, but fear radiated off him. Yami send a wave of calmness towards the frightened teen, but it did little help. A couple steps later and Jonouchi walked up.
Yami blinked, confused. But this Jonouchi was different. A shattered expression was in his eyes but his mouth was smirking. He rushed towards Yami, fists raised.
Yami lifted his head proudly. "You can not hurt me. You are an illusion."
And he was right. The fist passed right through him. Yami hurried on, ignoring the Jonouchi lookalike. Next to appear was Bakura. Yami immediately recognized him as the good Bakura. Light shone off him. Wings spread from his back, bloody and broken.
He stared up at Yami, crying. "Help me."
Yami hesitated for a split second, before a moan from Jonouchi reminded him of what he had to do. Glancing at Bakura apologetically, he ran around him as best he could, grimacing as the cries of Bakura tore at his heart.
Lastly, Sugouroku showed up. He looked at Yami with disappointment. "Why do I even have you as a grandson? You're weak. Fragile! You don't deserve to be called my grandson! All you ever do is paint and hide in your room! No wonder your father left you! It's probably your fault that Hirosuki died too!"
Yami gasped as his heart felt like it was being wrenched open. Cries of rage and despair echoed painfully in Yami's skull. He winced, glaring at Sugouroku.
/Yugi don't listen to him! He's just an illusion!/
He waited for a response. Quietly he heard Yugi chanting something over and over. /It's all my fault. It's all my fault. It's all my fault. It's all.../
He stopped suddenly as Yami appeared right in front of him. Yami grabbed Yugi and hugged him tightly. "Stop. It's not your fault. Okay? Please. Just stop. We'll rescue Jonouchi. Remember. I'm here for you too. Okay?"
Yugi clutched Yami's shirt. "It's my fault Nissan died. If I wasn't so stupid to ask for a snow fight that day..." He hiccuped, and stopped talking.
Yami blinked down at him. "What happened that day?"
Yugi shook his head. Yami gave him one last squeeze and left the mindscape, returning to the real world. Sugouroku was gone.
Jonouchi lay on the muddy sidewalk, looking practically dead. Yami picked him up, pulling both arms over his shoulders as Jonouchi lay against Yami's back.
A huge building rose in the distance. "We're almost there Jonouchi. Hang on!"
He dragged Jonouchi up to the building that he now recognized as the hospital. He stumbled up the stairs, exhausted and called out for help.
He collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily. Thumping footsteps, echoed through the haze of unconsciousness as the calls for help was the last thing he heard.