A/N: And with this, Shadow Relations ends and the sequel Shadows Ascending begins. For those of you on AO3, the sequel has been added to the Shadow Justice series as the direct chronological sequel to this fic. For those of you on Fanfictiondotnet, the sequel can be found via my profile. Enjoy the teaser and I hope you enjoy the sequel as well. ^_^
Chapter summary: A teaser for the sequel Shadows Ascending.
56: Shadows Ascending Teaser
It wasn't until he stepped out of the bathroom that he first noticed something wasn't right. Ryou's studio was small and, with the exception of the bathroom, was practically without privacy. Other than the built-in wardrobe and maybe under the futon couch, there wasn't any place where a full-grown person could hide.
That being said, where was Ryou?
Marik frowned when he caught sight of the empty mug by the electric kettle on the kitchenette counter. If Ryou had been brewing tea, then he wouldn't have wandered off for long. The Scribe did love his tea, Marik thought with a smirk.
The music Ryou must have turned on while Marik was still in the shower still played softly in the background. The light from the streetlamps outside still filtered in through the sheer curtains hanging over the window. by the scanned the room visually before reaching out with his Shadows. He felt the souls of the neighbors in the apartments around Ryou's, but no one else. Cautiously, Marik extended his search to the hallways of the building, then out to the street below, then further out into the city, then as far as he could reach.
Nothing.
He forced his Shadows to stretch as far as they possibly could, squeezing his eyes shut and wincing. He searched, opening himself as far as he dared until the strain of overextending himself forced him to stop. When his consciousness returned to his body, he was on his hands and knees gasping and sweating.
They were gone. Both of them. How? Where? Why?
Biting back the growing fear in his gut, Marik dug into his pants pocket for his phone. He pulled it out and quickly called Ryou's phone. It took more self-control than it should have for him to keep his heart rate from fluttering frantically.
It rang through the speaker by his ear. It also rang from the floor underneath the futon couch. Marik dropped to his knees and scanned the floor for Ryou's cellphone. He found it half hidden by the fuzzy throw rug that covered part of the floor. Ryou never went anywhere without his phone. Bakura sometimes did, until Marik gave him an earful about the problems of being unreachable.
Like now.
He needed to contact the Pharaoh and inform him of Ryou and Bakura's disappearance, if he didn't know already. Normally, Marik wouldn't have been so concerned about his boyfriends vanishing for an hour or so. But considering the crazy situation they'd left in Greece with Ares, the Priest was feeling somewhat overprotective.
On second thought, perhaps he should contact Ishizu first. Maybe Shaadi had come to take the Thief and Scribe back to Egypt without telling Marik. It certainly wouldn't be the first time Shaadi had done something like that. Honestly, did the Advisor never learn when to stop meddling?
Clutching his boyfriend's phone in one hand, Marik dialed his sister on his own phone and waited impatiently for her to pick up. When she did, she sounded exhausted. He winced in sympathy. He'd probably woken her up.
"Hello?" Ishizu mumbled into the phone, her voice husky from sleep.
"Sister," Marik said, leaning against the corner of the kitchenette. "Sorry, did I wake you?"
"Mm, no," she said. "I haven't gone to bed yet."
The Priest dropped his gaze to Ryou's phone in his hand, brushing a thumb over the as he struggled to find the words. "Have you seen Ryou or Bakura?" he asked, trying his best to sound casual.
"Not since we left Greece," Ishizu said cautiously. "Why?"
"Because they're gone," Marik said, walking to the apartment window. The city lights glittered spitefully in the darkness. "As in gone gone. I can't feel them anywhere. I've reached as far as I can with my Shadows and nothing. I couldn't even catch a hint of their Shadows." His eyes narrowed. "Sister, did Shaadi take my boyfriends again?"
Ishizu sighed. "No, Marik. He didn't. He's with me at the moment. Shaadi," she said, her voice becoming distant, probably turning her head to talk to the Advisor. "Is Kaiba awake yet?"
Mumbled words in the Advisor's soft, distinct tones filtered through the phone speaker. Unfortunately, whatever Shaadi said was too soft for Marik to make out.
"Shaadi can't reach Kaiba so he's probably resting," Ishizu said. "It's about time," she added in a tone Marik knew all too well. "Try contacting the Pharaoh. He might know where your boyfriends are. If he doesn't, then he may be able to help you find them." The faint whistle of what sounded like a kettle rang from the background on Ishizu's end of the call. "Could you get that?" Ishizu called, her voice muffled as she turned her head away to speak to Shaadi.
Marik sighed. "Alright," he said. "I don't know where he is, but I'll try-"
"About that," his sister said suddenly, "try reaching downward with your Shadows."
"Down?" Marik parroted in confusion. "What? You mean down into the earth? Like underground?"
"No," the Priestess said. "I mean allow your consciousness to enter to Shadows as if you're about to Travel, then, instead of reaching out horizontally, try reaching downwards."
"Wha- I mean, okay, but why?" the Priest asked. "What does that do?"
"It's how Kaiba, Shaadi, and Mai traveled to the other reality," Ishizu said.
Instantly, Marik sat upright, his eyes wide.
Marik narrowed his eyes as he mulled over this new information. "Would that work with different dimensions?" he pressed. "I doubt the Pharaoh is in another reality. I can still feel the Dark and it's not… It's still here, if you know what I mean."
"I do," his sister said. "I honestly don't know if this will work," she admitted hesitantly, "but it is worth a try."
Marik nodded even though he knew she couldn't see. "I'll give it a go," he said. "If it works, I'll let you know."
"Thank you," Ishizu said. "I'll keep watch over your progress from here."
"Don't strain yourself," Marik said, closing his eyes and focusing on his Shadow senses.
"I won't," the Priestess said. "I doubt Shaadi will let me."
A blonde eyebrow twitched. "One day, I swear-"
"Watch your words, brother," Ishizu warned.
Rolling his eyes, Marik grumbled. "I'll call you later," he said.
"Please do. Be safe, brother."
"When am I not?"
"Always."
Before his sister could elaborate, Marik hung up and let his hands drop to his lap. He studied both his and Ryou's phones in his palms. After a moment, he clutched them tightly and closed his eyes, drawing his Shadows to him. They came whispering and grasping to his call. Their words were a mesh of voices that clamored over each other despite never growing in volume.
He shushed them with a firm thought, waiting for them to calm and begin swirling around him, waiting for his command. When he was ready, he allowed his consciousness to drift into the Shadows' clutches, feeling them writhe with him, whispering their excitement, ready for the hunt. He grinned both here and in the human world as the Shadows' enthusiasm infected him.
Then he plunged downwards, feeling for a 'bottom' of some kind. Was there a bottom? He couldn't feel one no matter how far he reached. However, curiously, the further down he dove, the further he felt the Pharaoh's signature Shadows drift. He stopped his descent and lifted his Shadow senses upwards. If down led to alternate realities, then would up lead to alternate dimensions?
No reason not to try.
His Shadows surged upwards, carrying his consciousness with them. He was lost in a cloud of whispers and brushes, continually climbed. When the Pharaoh's Darkness neared, he knew he was heading the right direction. He felt a tingle but ignored it. He hadn't reached the Pharaoh yet. Another tingle, again he ignored it. A third tingle and this time he slowed to a stop.
The Pharaoh was here. He knew it. He could feel it. He could hear it. The Pharaoh's Shadows whispered incessantly, speaking of Osiris, or the Darkness, of the Light, of curiosity, of worry, of the Regent. Marik felt his body smirk. The Regent was here too. The Shadows of the Balance were soft, resting, but they were here. So was the Balance's Fulcrum and the Knight. Everyone in one place.
Everyone except the Thief and the Scribe.
He lashed out with his Shadows, tangling with the Pharaoh's Shadows and yanking hard. He felt the Pharaoh stumble in surprise before he was suddenly the focus of the monarch's full attention. The full force of the Pharaoh's Shadows would have intimidated any Balance, except the Regent, and terrified any Light. But it was a warm welcome to the Priest of the Dark Tried; a welcome which Marik readily accepted.
A mass of inky blackness grew from the shadow cast on the patio from the tower of Avalon. The blackness coalesced in a humanoid form, then a pair of lilac eyes opened where the shadow person's head should be moments before the blackness faded away.
"Theatrical as usual, Marik," Yami said.
The Priest sniffed. "Coming from you, that's almost funny," he said. "But I didn't come here to put on a show." His eyes darkened to something dangerous. "Tell me Pharaoh," Marik said, his calm voice a stark contrast to the raging fury blazing in his eyes, "where are Ryou and Bakura? Where are my boyfriends?"