Yami no Game: Dark Saga

Chapter 53

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The anchor hit the water with a mighty splash and the chain reaction, as ironic as the term was, was instant. The chains grew taut and both bodies were pulled into the bay. Seto shouted to Katsuya once more, running to the edge of the pier, seeing the emerging bubbles that signaled their slowly deprived air. Looking to the box where the other key was, the brunet didn't spare a second thought as he ran for the box. Underwater, they were dragged down fast, and it took everything to keep what little air he was able to catch before he was pulled into the water but for Yugi, he had no time. He was fading fast. The blonde swam towards the teen, reaching for his wrist and inserted the key into the cuff before turning. The silent click of the cuff's release was a relieving sight, releasing the other and watched as he was carried from him while the blonde was dragged with the anchor. 'Ok...okokok...Yugi is safe and I wore the puzzle for a reason. I'm no expert on this stuff like he is but I gotta get Yami an' Aqua out. I gotta be missin' somethin'...c'mon...c'mon!' Jounouchi thought, trying one last feat as he tried to fit the key used for Yugi to his own cuff.

But of course, that would be too easy if one key worked for both cuffs. His lungs were stinging, knowing it wouldn't be much longer before he went lightheaded. /Yami...Aqua...if y'all can hear me...tell me how ta let ya free. I...gotta get ya back to Yugi.../ Above, the squeal of tires across pavement was heard as Mai drifted in between warehouses. Her eyes were peeled for any sign of the blonde but she saw nothing yet. "Hold on boys, I'm going to kick up the speed a little. Shizuka, keep your seatbelt on." She told them, pressing her foot down on the pedal. While being happy that no cops regulated the pier, risking her for any sort of speeding ticket, her mind was on Jounouchi. He had been a special case to her since Duelist Kingdom. His dream had at one time sounded so stupid to her. To be at the greatest disadvantage as a new duelist going against the elite, all to help his sister.

If he was any less skilled, he would've been gone but he fought hard and made it to the top. His courage got him through that tournament to see to his sister getting the operation she deserved. 'Now...it's time for that dream to be realized. No more being scared. You need to give your courage to her so she can see you with the sight you gave back to her...'

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'So...this is what death feels like...damn it blows...' Jounouchi thought weakly, looking up as the light of the surface got farther and farther from him. A hand reached towards the puzzle, resting on it as his eyes drifted closed. 'I'm not Yugi...we don't have that connection...I just brought 'em down ta die with me selfishly thinkin' they would save my ass. Some friend I am...I just wished...they got ta be with Yugi one last time...' The thought had sparked a reaction, light surrounding not only the puzzle but also the crystal heart that was under his shirt. The growing light made him open his eyes and nearly screamed when he saw crimson looking into amber. Aqua smiled before motioning his head upward and he looked up, seeing a blob of shadow swimming towards him. /Wish granted, Jou-kun. But don't give up on life yet./ Was the sudden voice in his head before he watched as the two demons bolted towards the surface, towards Yugi. Towards their light. Jounouchi smiled and would've cried though it meant shit being underwater but resolved to closing his eyes.

They deserve this moment though he knew it wouldn't last long. He still had the puzzle and still sinking. Separation from the host pulled them back and he had no oxygen. This was his last hurrah...until he felt something soft press to his mouth and breathed air into him. Eyes snapping open, his gaze met Seto's as he pulled back, passing his air to him to keep him conscious before he took the key he held to unlock his cuff. The cuff fell with the other into the depths of the sea while Seto swam back up to the surface with Jounouchi who clung tight to him. On the pier, Mokuba was with Yami and Aqua while Ruby had gone to Myrrh and Kaiser, pills longed kicked away into the water to dissolve away in the sea. The smaller boy, who had a bit more modern medical knowledge, checked Yugi over while the demons watched the unconscious male. "Yugi...Yugi can you hear me?" he whispered.

Violet hues weakly opened before he rolled onto his side, coughing up water in heavy upheavals, a hand rubbing his back. Once the fit was over, he looked to the two that were there. "Yami...Aqua...where..." he began shortly before feeling himself brought into Yami's arms. The demon didn't want to let him go, tears coursing down his cheeks as he buried his face into soaked strands. Yugi smiled weakly, returning the hug but feebly asked where Jounouchi was before a sharp exhale came from the water, two heads of brunet and blonde breaking the surface. "Nii-sama!" Mokuba cried as the taller male swam over to the pier, handing Jounouchi to Aqua who lifted him from the water, before heaving himself out as well. Jounouchi coughed up a little water himself, shuddering just a little before he turned and looked to Yami and Yugi who returned his gaze.

The demon moved to stand, bringing Yugi up with him and Jounouchi took the hand held out to him, thanking Seto silently with his eyes before the two walked towards each other from their significant lover. Yugi watched him, seeing so much flash through amber eyes. His regret, his frustration, his bitterness towards himself and more. Jounouchi bore so much on his shoulders for what he had gotten himself into and no amount of apology could make up for what he has done. "Yugi...I can't even think how much I could say sorry to ya ta take back what I have done..." Jounouchi began but the boy shook his head. Yugi told him that it was ok, that he accepted any and all apologies he had to say to him, to Yami and Aqua.

What really matter that all three of them were proud of him for doing was protecting what bound them together. He blinked before looking down to the puzzle and touched the cool surface. Yugi made a damn good point. He was sure that he'd never be able to call the demons out as he wasn't the true chosen one of the puzzle. The item had no reason to obey him and his wishes but it did and reunited the dark and the light as it should have been. The blonde pulled the item from over his head and brought it back to Yugi. "This is rightfully yer treasure. You'll keep it safer than I ever would." Yugi smiled, taking the item in hands and held it close. It would take some time, but the bond was being restored, his soul room growing in color once more and the emotions of relief, love and compassion filtering through from the two demons that rightfully shared his soul.

"Kaiser...Kaiser please..." Ruby whispered as he shook the other. Silence was there for a moment before a blink had him back to his old self. "Goddamn, what hit me..." The silky blonde had no chance to gain a reply as he felt himself pressed to Ruby's chest, the redhead whispering nothing to his inquiry before they all turned their gaze to the sound of a car pulling up towards them before a voice called to them from Mai. She brought the car to a stop before resting a hand on Shizuka's shoulder. "Your siblings are waiting for you." she whispered before she got out the car to help her out while Honda, Jade and Ryuji hopped out themselves. Aqua went to grab the duel disks off the pier as Myrrh and Kaiser walked over to the others but as they talked, Yami watched his small lover.

Yugi performed with great strength and resilience to what was spiraling into a losing situation. He was beginning to stand on his own feet and slowly gain independence. Yami was proud but also knew this was just a step towards what destiny is sure to have in store for them. His gaze turned upward, seeing Keara upon a warehouse rooftop and she gave a nod to him which is all he needed to know. "Katsuya!" Shizuka called and the blonde turned towards the voice, stunned to see that his sister was there. "Shizuka!" Seto watched as the blonde ran over to the smaller girl before following him, listening as Katsuya asked how she got there and she told him that Honda had brought her over to see him. Eyes turned to the other who shrugged. "You still have a long way to go as a duelist and I thought having her here to cheer you on will get you working harder." he said before wincing as he felt a heel dug into his foot. "So that's where you went~ You little sneak." Kaiser cooed though the gleam in his eye promised death if he did anything to his sibling.

Honda tried to assure he did nothing, not even Jade or Ryuji but while he was defending himself, Jounouchi couldn't believe what they had done and personally, he couldn't accept it. He had failed as a duelist and as a role model. How can he face Shizuka after what transpired with Yugi? He nearly killed him for god's sake! He couldn't think to let Shizuka see him as such an all-time low. Mai's lips curled in a bit of a sneer before excusing herself to walk over to Jounouchi and before Seto could register what she was about to do, she had slapped the blonde...hard. "I can't believe what I am hearing! You of all people so willing to throw away your pride as a duelist!" she snapped as Jounouchi rubbed his cheek, the sting ringing hard across his face as he looked to her. She told him how hard he worked through Duelist Kingdom with all the odds against him to have his sister regain her sight. She may not have known what happened here but whatever the case could've been, she didn't expect him to become a simpering dog for it. Seto had the mind to return the hit back to Mai but she had a point.

He wasn't there for most of Duelist Kingdom and even then, he wasn't as close to Katsuya and the others as he was now. But even for all the jabs and insults he gave back then, he had to acknowledge that the blonde had grown in skill. His entry into the tournament here was clearly set up by the one he had his eye and his anger for but still, Katsuya had made it and all with the loss of only one rare which was unsolicited from the start. The blonde listened to her words before looking around him as the docked boat gave another blare of its horn and he was reminded of the beginning. Of standing on this same pier before the boat that would take them to Duelist Kingdom. Of all the hard-fought battles he went through on that island. He did all of that to become a duelist and now he was here, growing to become a true duelist and fight Yami in a real battle. An honorable one. He let out a soft exhale and thanked Mai for her encouraging words before turning to Shizuka only to look on in shock.

White bandages fell to the ground, her eyes staying closed as she spoke to how Jounouchi gave her enough courage to finally take off the bandages and see her siblings for what they have become after so many years. His friends had told her all she wanted to know about the last tournament since the blonde never did himself and it was through them that she felt closer to them than she ever had before, even when they were apart. "Now, nii-chan...it's my turn to be brave..." she whispered as hazel eyes opened to a world unknown to her. The first to assault her was the bright light of the setting sun, her vision blurry but as her eyes adjusted, her vision got clearer and the first thing to come into view was sunshine blonde. Jounouchi sniffed before holding his arms open and Shizuka ran towards him, embracing him tight and buried her face into his chest.

"At last...I found you and Kaiser-nii..."

Seto didn't dare to interrupt the moment and instead turned to face Yami who watched him critically. "I had my concerns if you'd actually keep to what you preach...and you proven that well. You gave me an answer and...I thank you for saving Katsuya." he spoke and Yami nodded, speaking that the bonds bet on that duel couldn't be crushed as Malik had hoped. Seto didn't make to acknowledge the statement but the demon knew he had even if it wasn't shown. With a turn of his coat, he told them that they would meet at the final battlefield for Battle City. It would be best for them to hurry along...if they wished not to catch a cold. Jounouchi groaned, knowing that Seto was right. He could already feel the chill creeping through his clothing as dusk settled over the pier. As Aqua handed the duel disk back to Yami, he slipped it on, watching Seto's retreating back, heading for the location of the finals. It was there that the gods will clash. There that his and Aqua's destiny will bear fruit. Where it will lead them from there on...he knew it revolved around a blazing sun and miles of desert.

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Zypher: now i got plenty to talk about with this chapter since somewhere in the near future, someone is gonna give me shit about what occurred and why it shouldnt happen because canonical rules are to be applied to an AU retelling. imma try and keep this short and sweet. so the reason this has occurred is the more i read over my old work between this and its predecessor, Death's Awakening, i thought to apply a rule to Yami and Aqua when it comes to the puzzle. a single but hidden rule that they as spirits had to abide to regardless of having a body. the host body of the chosen one cannot let the puzzle be of a certain distance from it. if it is, they are slowly drawn back in to be locked in within the puzzle without the source.

this is something i had applied to an old chapter on ao3 where such thing a thing was more potent because they havent gotten strong enough yet where the pull isnt instant the moment the puzzle is taken from Yugi. this also makes a return in the fixed chapters of DDM following the manga which will be an ao3 exclusive once the sequel is up there as well. in fact, the whole story over there has been retooled for a darker but more enjoyable experience as a version two to match my writing style so check it out if you're looking for a whole new spin on the original yami no game posted here.

now how does that apply here, one will demand of me. obviously in both manga and anime, Jounouchi sets the puzzle to the side before making the rescue but for this re-imagined plot that has demons within a physical body as a basis, he keeps it on. he knows that Yami and Aqua could very well help in breaking the chains but he doesnt understand in full the puzzle capabilities and how to get them out as a bond wasnt forged between him and them. under a new host in this instance, the puzzle takes longer to forge a so-called "path" for the two to emerge. stories of the past says that the puzzle grants one a wish, that was played on here with the bond of both the chosen one and his best friend allowing the puzzle to give Jounouchi that wish and let Yami and Aqua get free to see their lover. now if this all made sense and someone wont try and test my patience as one who is a veteran of this series from start to finish and had to re-research A LOT for fixing half the crud that got away from me as a young dork, next question will be Seto. why did he dive in when manga, he drops the key to Jounouchi and in the anime, Shizuka had arrived sooner to dive in herself and save him?

do you really expect the puppyshipping to get any stronger here without me making this silly lovesick brunet continue to attempt and prove himself to his golden haired lover drowning as he's dragged down by an anchor? this is just one of many instances that Seto will show his real heart if it meant Jounouchi is safe -and if you know what will happen in the finals, he's going to be out for blood more than he already is from this chapter alone-