Zypher: now we come to my absolute favorite and the pinnacle of my new writing direction. so to begin, at first i didn't have an idea for Prayer and it was too obvious to do anything in regard to "praying to the gods for Atemu to come back/speak to him" then...it struck. kitsune!Atemu. the ideas kept flowing and made an absolute joy of a three parter with Prayer, Answer and Heaven all interconnecting and while Prayer is short, i promise you, this AU really kicks up in the next two~
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Day 26: Yugi felt lost and alone as he went through the school days with no one to truly watch over him from the wicked folks that chose him as a target for their uncalled punishments. Anzu was busy after school and rumors talk of an old shrine that could answer your prayers if you find the right time of day to make it.
So Yugi followed those rumors to the old shrine...
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Yugi stood across the street one day, looking upon a small but old shrine that rested on the barest outskirts of Domino. Rumors of this shrine told that it answered prayers when done at the right time of day. Many tried to see if what the rumors spoke of were true but attempts were unsuccessful. With time, the people who came dwindled and the shrine was losing its luster from lack of maintenance. It was a terrible tragedy for shrines yet it still held strong. Those very rumors were spoken throughout the school and one ever so curious of the thought of prayers and wishes coming true made him think about this shrine. He was a lonely little teen, with one friend from his childhood but found herself terribly busy after school.
His short stature, gentle face and wide eyes made him a prime target for bullies and he had no one to defend him, to protect him from the bruises, cuts and pain to decorate his weak, pale flesh. He hid them well from his only friend and family but enough was enough. Yugi needed someone there, someone who could scare away the bullies and care for him. His heart yearned for someone and that young heart believed the shrine could be the answer to his problems. A stretch but he hoped the attempt could bode success in comparison to others. It was a trek to get there, the sun just on the horizon when he saw the old, dilapidated shrine, its torii gate old and faded, the donation box covered with vines and weeds and the old bell rusted with the rope frayed and coming apart.
Yugi hesitated, wondering if the idea was as good as it sounded but he didn't want to waste much time from here. It was getting close to night time and if things failed here, then he could turn his back to the rumors and said he had tried. But he truly, utterly hoped his prayer could be heard from there. He made sure no cars were coming before his legs carried him over to the shrine. He looked upon the old structure, almost wondering now if it was truly real. It was so out of touch, it's a wonder how it wasn't finally torn down after all this time. But he still had hope and took out a 100 yen coin, taking a moment to remember what had to be done.
Drop the coin and recite your prayer then clap your hands three times. Once finished, ring the bell thrice. No more, no less or your prayer will fall.
Yugi swallowed a little before doing the first part. He placed the coin into the old donation box, hearing it clatter to the bottom. Next he moved towards the bell, unaware of the stretching shadows behind him as he ascended the short stairs to the bell. Violet hues looked to the old bell, hoping it could still ring true and send his prayer to someone that could hear it before clasping his hands and made his prayer. A friend is what he asked for, someone to be there beside him and protect him from his bullies when Anzu couldn't. He clapped his hands three times then reached for the frayed rope and gripped it. He swung once, hearing the bell ring loud and clear and smiled, the fading sunlight slowly giving away to night as he swung to the other side. Two...
But as Yugi swung for the last, an elderly woman came from nowhere, screaming to not ring it the third time as the sun disappeared behind the horizon. But it was too late for her plea, Yugi turning to her in shock but the bell had still hit for its third ring. Hands quickly let go of the rope as silence stretched after the bell's echo faded. The woman breathed before turning to Yugi with wide, horrified eyes. "Do you know what you have done?!" Yugi shook his head and the answer came in the form of a gale, whipping his golden bangs over his face and covered it, the woman doing the same before they heard something land heavily on the donation box. The gusts petered off and silence took hold once more before both looked up and when they did, a creature of absolute beauty sat on the box.
Sun-kissed skin and scarlet eyes were trained onto Yugi, a smirk across his face. Behind him was the most startling feature as nine beautiful tails swayed, a glossy black with crimson tips. The figure jumped from the box and started for the young teen, Yugi stepping back without tripping over the last step, caught in the powerful gaze and swallowed thickly.
"W-who are you?"
The figure grinned as he leaned close to the small teen, a hand tipped with claws reaching to caress a rounded cheek as he ignored the wailing woman from behind.
"Why, I'm the answer to your prayer and you, the answer to mine. I finally found my blushing bride to be~"
This was a whole well of information to take in as this isn't what Yugi expected of making a prayer at an old shrine so it goes without saying that the only rightful action to not only a handsome male with nine fox tails claiming him as a bride but a woman screaming at him that he had rung the old shrine bell at the worst possible time of the day...
...Was to faint.