Yami no Game: Dark Saga
Chapter 51
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Keara watched the duel as it went on. She hadn't expected Yugi to come forward but at the same time, she knew it was inevitable. The demons had done so much in protecting him that he felt this was a time to pay them back for it all. Their connections to the soul of the monsters truly had made this duel much tougher on Yami as he heard their cries, their pleas for Jounouchi to return back to normal. Such made it seem like responsibility was forced onto him to bring the blonde back to his senses. He had nearly lost them once and this duel could've solidify the loss in worst ways that he wasn't prepared to handle. Yugi knew...that Yami would've expelled the boy from him completely to let him live if he was to lose and dragged under. "Their souls are so intertwined that neither side knows the depths of their sacrifice towards each other. One will die for the other to make sure they live." she murmured before glancing to her side, seeing red glide past before diving down to the scene.
"Seto!" Ruby called as he went to land and would've charged at the ghoul holding Mokuba if he wasn't halted as the brunet held a hand up. "Don't...do anything. If you do, Kaiser will die." Ruby's eyes widened as he finally assessed what was going, seeing Kaiser rolling the pill between his lips and the duel between Jounouchi and Yugi, both chained to an anchor that hung above the bay. "Seto...what the hell is going on?!" As Seto explained all he knew, Yugi looked at his options. He could send out the Red-Eyes now by sacrificing Guardna and Kuriboh but knew he still had to play things safe. He only hung on by 1300 points and he was sure that more direct damage cards had been loaded into the deck thanks to Malik. There was one thing the violet-eyed teen wanted to do and told Yami to keep quiet for him as he went to make the move. The demon raised his head, viewing through his lover's eyes as he went to cast the spell card.
"I use Exchange!"
Jounouchi sneered at the spell. So they were to look at each other's hand a take a card for themselves. Fine, he'll bite. The blonde walked around the pier and once he was beside Yugi, the teen held his hand out. Jounouchi bet all he had was junk. Nothing worth exchanging for-
Soulless eyes widened as the familiar black scales of Red-Eyes' image met his eye. That...was his Red-Eyes...the one he entrusted to Yami to hold. Malik saw no significance in the card, almost laughing that Yugi was stupid enough to reveal such a rare card to him. /Take it, take the Red-Eyes!/ He told the doll and Jounouchi smirked as he reached for the card to take it but the moment his fingers landed on it, time seemed to stop. Yugi kept his gaze away, not wanting to see what he chose but Yami saw it. Saw the internal struggle and knew that his heart was beginning to remember. He wasn't a true duelist yet, not by the standards he wished to be. His heart knew this isn't what the Red-Eyes wanted to come back to. He can't take the card to a promise unfulfilled. A growl left him, Malik pressuring him to take the card until finally, he took one. As Yugi looked to him, he saw that in his hand wasn't the Red-Eyes but Card Destruction. /How dare you disobey?! You didn't take the dragon!/ Malik roared into the doll's mind, Jounouchi speaking that Card Destruction is all he would need to defeat Yugi.
Yugi went to take a card from the hand Jounouchi showed him before it was snatched from him, Jounouchi walking back to his side as Yugi spoke that he will bring back his true duelist's heart with the Red-Eyes. His heart remembered the promise to Yami, that he wouldn't use Red-Eyes until he was worthy of her power but the words angered the blonde. "Will ya shut the fuck up?! This duelist's heart shit is just that! A load of shit! You will die ta me and take the kings with ya!" Jounouchi roared but Yugi was determined. He won't falter here. It was time, it was still his turn and he hasn't summoned yet. 'Red-Eyes...give me your strength. Even if I can't hear your voice like Yami does, put your faith into me.' Sacrificing the two monsters on the field, the black dragon was brought onto the field with a mighty cry, eyes of ruby looked down to Jounouchi and he could only look back in silent horror. The dragon made no move as she continued to look to Jounouchi, looked into his eyes and into his soul. What she saw...brought so much sadness into her eyes.
This wasn't her proud master. This was someone corrupted, vile, evil. She would not allow this to be what her master has become. "See the sorrow in her eyes, Jou-kun. She knows this isn't you and we both want you back to the person you were." Yugi whispered as he stepped forward. "So, we will fight to return you back to yourself! Wake up to the sight of your most treasured monster!" A roar sounded with Yugi's words and at his command, she sent a blazing fireball at Alligator Sword, destroying him with ease and bringing Jounouchi down to 3100 life points. Jounouchi's eyes were shadowed after the attack and Yugi hoped that it had done something but as he raised his head, it showed that it did very little. It only made to further anger him and he promised to make up for the life he lost, he'll continue to use illegal spells to eat away at his health until he had nothing left. Yami knew that he was indeed serious and made to get up. /I'm taking the duel back into my hands./ he spoke to Yugi but he shook his head, reaching for the puzzle and slipped the chain over his head.
Both felt the chain leave his neck and was quick to get up and prepare to leave. His presence was still near the puzzle so the binding rule did not apply but at Aqua went to open the soul room's door, it was locked. /Yugi!/ Yami called. /Yami, I know you both wish to keep me safe and I'm happy you care so deeply for me. But for this, I have to fight alone./ he whispered. The teen told the demon that without him, he would not have learned the hidden courage he held. They have learned from each other and time after time, Yami and Aqua proved they had learned from their lover, kept to their compassion of a worthy human life. Now it was his turn to show what he had learned after watching long enough from the sidelines. Yami gritted his teeth as angry tears slipped from his eyes. He did not want to see Yugi die. It would crush him if he let this happen but he also put his full faith into Yugi. He wanted to take on this fight alone and the demon wanted to honor that but after the fire at the warehouse, he was scared.
He didn't want to lose the one person to matter so much to him. He didn't want the last thing he held dear of his precious light be the memories they made. /Please, my sweet light...be careful./ he whispered, head resting on the cool oak door and Yugi nodded. Chain wrapped around his hand, Yugi watched Jounouchi as the other mocked him for his thinking. That he would have so much time to think once he was dead. And what better way to make that a quick reality than to use yet another illegal spell. Another fireball rained from above, sending the smaller body flying and Ruby cried out Yugi's name, absolutely horrified to see Jounouchi using such cards. But as Seto told him, he couldn't do a thing to interfere.
So many lives were at stake in one place and if he dare to take a step, Malik would command all he had in his control to commit to their death. The only thing to concern the brunet is allowing Yugi to continue the fight. Yami was more resilient. He can survive the direct attacks of the technology that made each attack, spell and trap as real as if they were existent in the world physically. Why did Yugi refuse to have him take over again. There was a connection he did not see and a reminder that the demon was still a spirit to some extent. His body, real or not, is still bound to the puzzle. He didn't know all the intricacies but it was clear distance limits their ability to appear.
'The question is will he still be conscious before his life points runs out...' Was the brunet's thought.
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-Domino Station: 5:05 PM-
Honda stretched as they stepped out the station, welcoming Shizuka back home. Though she couldn't see the scenery around her, she took in the familiar scents and sounds. It was almost unbelievable to think it had been ten years since she last stepped into the city. Memories flooded back to mind, childhood days where they would take walks around the calmer parts that were safe for kids their age. As she reminisced, Honda looked to Ryuji about cab fare and the raven growled, telling him that he treated the brunet for the whole trip to pick Shizuka up. "Fine, suppose we can walk over to the pier but that would be about 40 minutes. Let's roshambo for giving Shizuka a piggyback ride." Honda spoke and Ryuji nodded. Jade rolled his eyes as he watched the two before Honda got distracted long enough for Ryuji to shift his choice. A laugh floated over the air, a flighty laugh that sounded all too familiar. Taking a glance back to Ryuji and smacking his hand once he saw the raven cheated, he moved over to the crowd where the voice came from the loudest and just as he suspected, a familiar blonde was there having stomped her competition.
"And that makes six puzzle cards! I'm well on my way to the finals~" Mai spoke happily as she took the card and the rare from the male she defeated before spotting Honda. With a wave, she stepped over to him and had questioned how Jounouchi had been. With a rub to the back of his neck, he explained what was going on, telling her that there was someone waiting to meet him and they had to get over to the pier as it was the last place he suspected the dirty blonde to be. Taking a glance over to the bench, she saw the small girl who was guided to sit there by Jade. Must be his sister, Mai thought before claiming that she would come with the two to see Jounouchi herself. Walking over, Mai shooed Jade away before lowering her head down to her. "You must be Shizuka, right? Jounouchi's sister?" Shizuka nodded, smiling softly as she heard Mai's words of praise about her brother, trusting in her even if she hadn't seen her yet. Mai didn't want to ask about the bandages and was sure she was waiting for the right time to remove them. With a nod to the boys, she led them towards her flashy sports car and nodded for them to get in.
"Is this really yours!?"
"Well of course~ Battle City isn't so bad when you have a nice set of wheels!"
Once everyone was buckled in and settled, she shifted the car into gear and peeled off into the streets, heading for Domino Pier and the hidden horrors that awaited.
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Yugi coughed as he struggled to stand, Jounouchi cackling to the weak sight. The vessel was extremely pitiful and surely couldn't take another hit like that. Just one more direct and Yugi would be done for. Yugi breathed sharply before looking up to the blonde solemnly. "Jou-kun...please honor me one wish..." he whispered, wobbling on his feet much to the concern of the demons within. Jounouchi tilted his head, deciding to humor his pathetic whims and listened as he told him the same. That he would not die in this duel, not by his hand. The blonde spat to the side angrily as he continued with his turn as he had yet to summon, bringing out Rocket Warrior and explained its crippling ability. The monster, as its name pertains, would turn himself into a rocket and in doing so, would shoot himself at any monster. He does the same amount of damage no matter what the power of the monster is and if it wasn't destroyed from his attack, the resulting shot would leave the monster weakened by the same amount of his attack.
Yugi made a slow step towards the blonde as he conducted his battle phase, not caring for what the smaller teen had to tell him. Red-Eyes roared as she went to attack the flighty monster but her attack missed and the rocket tore through her wing, making her cry out in pain. Such a cry jolted something in Jounouchi, her attack falling to 900 as Rocket Warrior returned to his side of the field. Malik was pleased with the result. A downed dragon unable of flight was a dead one and weakened as she were, she was hardly a challenge now compared to before. But for Jounouchi, that satisfaction didn't hold the same as he felt his heart clench. A once proud dragon, one second to the Blue-Eyes in strength, reduced to this. This wasn't how she should be. She should be standing tall, proud, able to take whatever came at her. The blonde curled in on himself, feeling sick to his stomach and only then did he hear Yugi as he came closer.
"Jou-kun...I love them too much...to let them sink to the bottom of the bay." Yugi whispered, lifting the puzzle to him before slipping the cold weight around his neck. "So please...when the time comes...hold onto it. Let them live for me..." His words were like a flag, a raised flag that harbored the end of his time. Yugi knew this as he took over but he didn't want Yami to stop him and take his place. They had worked too hard for a second life and even if it was without him, he wanted them to have the life they deserved. "Yugi! No Yugi, please! Please don't do this to us!" Yami wailed, banging and clawing at the door to open it but it was sealed to them while Aqua could only watch. Around them, the soft room of childhood toys and warm colors began to fade, adhering to a new host at the original's behest. "No...no...please don't let it end like this...don't let me lose my sweet habibi..." Yami simpered, falling to his knees. The distance grew and the bond slowly withered. In time, their connection to Yugi would be gone and they would feel nothing from him.
But for Malik, he thought the boy foolish for taking over the duel but now to give up the puzzle? He is practically handing him his revenge on a silver platter. Yugi resolved to his fate, knowing he'd die. There were only twenty minutes left on the clock and if someone wasn't finished off, they both would be dragged under. That did not matter however as he was weak and so was the black dragon. But the true satisfaction is what laid around Jounouchi's neck. /He gave it to you, entrusted you with it. Now show how much you care to protect it./ Malik's words were like a poison to his thoughts and he went to obey.
He laughed as he took the puzzle from his neck. "You were a fool ta give me this, Yugi! Clearly the fate of yer lovers mean nothin' to ya!" Jounouchi spoke as he removed the center piece with ease, a biting roar from within echoing through the withering bond to Yugi. /Throw it! Throw it into the sea where it can't be found!/ Malik ordered as Jounouchi winded up to do just that but something stopped him. Memories flowed into his subconscious like the tides under their feet. Memories of the demons and how they protected him. The fun they had and the trust they put into him to harbor their secret. Their devotion to Yugi, to see him happy. To see him smile...to love him unconditionally.
Who was he...to take all that away?
"Ngh..." Jounouchi hissed, falling to his knees as he clenched the golden piece in his fist, the corners digging into his palms. Yugi called to Jounouchi softly, Red-Eyes raising her head as the blonde struggled under the control. /You're refusing my orders?! No one is to refuse my orders!/ Malik snapped as the shaking of his form under stress finally ceased and he stood, pressing the golden piece back into the puzzle. "I...am a duelist...I don't give a shit 'bout some grudge or some 3000 year old prophecy." he began before looking up. "But I will finish this duel of my own merits! So pipe down an' let me do this my way!" The defiance stung but it goes without saying for Malik, a doll that has been broken is of no use to him.
Besides, has he not realized that the demons would not take this sitting down. If their original vessel dies, their personality will surely take a reset for the new host and if they don't like it thanks to past memories, he will surely die. With the parasitic control over Jounouchi's mind, their personality will shape towards wild, man eating monsters. His body would no longer be his, it would just be a husk to the evil that was rumored to be in the puzzle. And it would be all the fault of the blonde's for not listening to him before and threw the puzzle piece into the bay. Yugi smiled softly.
It was slow but it was working. It broke his heart to give up the puzzle but his heart was firm with its decision. Yami had put his life at risk too much for him and the fear that lies deep that someone would take the demon, both of them, from him had been too strong, especially now. He was sure Yami could break free of the chain but the idea of how far he could've sunk before doing so scared him. They wouldn't want to live without him, sure, but they still had a destiny to fulfill. If Yugi could ask for any dying wish, it was to see that they found out their past in full. 'I will carry their memories with me and their love in my heart. I won't ever forget.' A glance to the clock reminded him of the time and that he didn't have long to dawdle or they both will be dragged in. Fourteen minutes left. Drawing a card, the teen looked down to his hand, contemplating the card choices he had.
He gave a nod to himself as he looked back to the controlled blonde. "I set two cards face down and summon Beta the Magnet Warrior onto the field." he spoke as he placed the two cards down before the magnet warrior appeared onto the field. He gave the turn to Jounouchi and with a demand to end this and prove he wasn't useless from Malik, Jounouchi drew his card. Malik observed the field silently. Red-Eyes was still in attack mode, a beginner's mistake. If he truly wanted him to snub out the last memory of his, he'd gladly do so. Blank eyes turned to Panther Warrior, the 2000 point monster having just enough to finish off the Red-Eyes and securing his win. /Play it...play it and kill him! Kill that Red-Eyes and the rest of his life points!/ Jounouchi summoned the beast warrior to the field, a glance back to him showing his displeasure before he turned to face the field. 'Akai...what have they done to hurt you like this...' Ritoru thought. Rocket Warrior shifted into rocket mode in preparation for its attack while Jounouchi commanded the warrior to attack.
But to Malik's horror, it wasn't for the Red-Eyes but for Beta. 'What...what is he doing?! Why does he still resist my order to finish the Red-Eyes?!' The flaxen blonde thought angrily before watching as the small vessel activated his trap. "I activate Magic Arm Shield!" he called, the shield appearing on Beta's arm and aiming for the rocket, it grasped the creature and brought it to his side, allowing it to shoot for the attacking cat warrior who groaned in agony as the rocket sliced through him, taking his points down to 500 and ceasing his attack. Eyes of understanding looked down to Yugi and smiled as he landed back to Jounouchi's side of the field along with Rocket Warrior. With his attack finished, Jounouchi turned over his turn to Yugi who nodded. He drew his card and looked to it with a soft smile.
"Kin always comes to help and I don't doubt this is Yami's silent call to me." he whispered before sacrificing Beta to bring out the Beast of Gilfer who roared and angry call but not to the blonde before him but to the one behind the scenes, the one that has brought such animosity onto what could've been a sacred field of battle. Monsters have felt pain like they never had before to this forced duel and they all wanted to channel their anger back on the one that has caused it. Yellow eyes looked down to the Panther Warrior and both shared a silent nod before Yugi commanded him to attack. "Gilfer Flame!" Gathering the demonic flames around him, eyes glancing to Rocket Warrior who bowed his head in submission as the flames engulfed him. "Rocket Warrior is gone." Yugi murmured as Jounouchi growled.
'What doesn't kill me makes me stronger...but I will fight to the death to bring you back, Jou-kun.' Was the quiet thought in mind as the timer ticked down, leaving eleven minutes before the anchor was set to fall.