"Surviving the Hunt"
Yugi was gazing his smooth pools of amethyst seeing water, at what seemed too be an endless utopia of the most beautiful of dreams. He was flouting within the crystal-clear skies of dancing rainbow colors that seemed to glitter as if it where truly breathing. It was as if gravity was non-existence as he acted like he was in space twisting his tiny sexy body in total 360 of motion. He then began to take in every little detail of this weird and wonderful world around him.
Surrounding him ubiquitously were the most astonishing along with uniquely designed buildings he ever seen. All over the great dream society soaring on the celestial winds were winged angelic beings as well as the most remarkable flora and fauna that seemed even beyond the human mind vast as well as wonderful imagination to conceive into existence. This world was beyond words of Man to describe.
A pair of chariots , one of in shape of a gold swan with a matching golden fire swans was being driven by a beautiful maiden as she was involved in a race with a handsome boy driving a silver chariot in the shape of an owl being driven by the same creature. They laugh gaily and pass right through him as if he wasn't even there!
Shocked he looked and saw he wasn't corporal! He was diaphanous! For a few minutes he was overcome by fear then heard a weird and wonderful song traveling throughout the skies. This melody was the most beautiful tune his ears had ever heard.
As the wonderful soothing song continued too resonates, its enthralling tune something weird and wonderful was taking place to Yugi himself. He felt his heart now beating in sync with the out of the ordinary song and then without thinking was being pulled rapidly too the source of the song. He didn't fight it he just let the invisible string pull him closer to the source of the song. Yugi's beautiful eyes saw he was being pulled too what appeared to be a star, yet this star were beating like it was a heart.
Now the song was gradually changing as was the landscape. The closer he got to this star-heart its song was no longer beautiful or full of life. The once heavenly and hopeful melody of something found only in a dreamer heart was now gone. In is place was song full of pure anguish, hopeless and unbelievable pain.
The new song match perfectly what was happing to the society around Yugi which now looked like a war zone full with death, disease and ghosts. The winged race now looked like demons all but a handful hands where stained with fresh dripping blood and covered in the bloodstain soil from head to toe. This entire place seemed to be like a diseased rotten abrasion left wide open on a once innocent face of purity.
The star-heart only had a very faint glow and it was nearly impossible to hear it beating. He felt his own heart in his chest slow down as if too reflect the dying one before him, only a very faint glow from the very heart of this star-heart remained. He pressed his hand on the heart.
"I sense your pain, I hear you plea for help. How can I help fix a Living Heart that is broken?"
The Heart responded to his inquiry with a weak wordless melody. This tune became a wisp of sunset colored glittering light. It danced before the pure soul boy and then entered his own heart. Now the melody became infused with Yugi's own heart's song blending the two songs till they made a new song. This new song was unlike anything heard before.
Before Yugi could ask what just happened everything went black as night and foreign sound invaded the dreamy night as he was forced to greet the dawn fair light.
"Ah! Ow!" Yugi exclaimed as he fell out his bed onto the floor. Rubbing his tender head he turned off his alarm clock. "Funny I don't remember setting it, since today Saturday. But might as well get up anyway and use the shower. Before Grandpa or Yami do, and use all the hot water," he remarked quietly. He went too his dresser to get his clothes and found himself humming a tune he never heard before.
Catching this he looked at himself in the mirror and he thought back too his dream. He like most people didn't remember his dreams very often. On the other hand he could recall everything about this dream in perfect detail and it wasn't the first time he had had this particularly dream.
He started to have this dream shortly after Yami had come into his life. With each passing day the dream was longer in addition to more detail. This however was the first time he remember this tune. He just knew that both the dream and this strange tune were of great significant. He also knew he have too wait till the right time had come for their meaning to be made known too him.
He walked silently down the narrow hallway too the bathroom. He past his Grandpa with no trouble but as started to go past Yami's room he noticed the door was slightly ajar and a faint song was coming out. Tip-toeing quietly he peeked in at Yami and smiled lovingly.
Yami's room now looked more like he actually lived there and not just a guest room being used. The soothing light green walls now adored with various posters as was the bookcase full of a variety of books. Knickknacks and trinkets of all kinds were lined all over and he had his own computer system and CD player with a mountain of CDs as well as burned DVDs. It really looked like a teenager's room now, full of bits and pieces and a tad on the messy side. As for Yami himself?
He was half hanging off the bed with a little drool on his adorable face. The book "The Thief Lord" not quite out his hands; he had obviously been reading it last night. The music that Yugi had heard was coming from the loose earphone from Yami's I pod.
He had told Yugi that it seemed to help him a great deal when he was exposed to music. He said he felt stress-free and in control. Yugi hadn't know what the in control was about, but seeing how music did help Yami, he and all his friends had chipped in and bought him an I-pod and programmed in the best songs they knew which include some of their favorites.
"Here (In your arm) by Hellogoodbye from Joey, Tristan programmed 'Face Down" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, "How too save a life" by Fray from Bakura, "It's not over" by Daughtry from Duke, "It ends tonight" All American Rejects from Grandpa, "If My Heart Had Wings" Faith Hill from Tea, and from Yugi "If Everyone cared" by Nickleback. They had countless others in the I-Pod as well.
The song coming out of his I-pod on repeat was "Perfect" by Simple Plan. Yami seemed to really want to hear a few kinds of songs in practically. Songs concerning the concepts of love, friendship, life, dreams, just things Yugi felt any person question in life general but it was almost like Yami was really trying to find for himself that these things actually did really exist. He may've looked incredibly silly at that moment; however in Yugi eyes he was so adorable. He looked like an innocent child dreaming a sugary sweet dream. It was enough to make, Yugi's go slightly red in the face for a moment at the same time as he walked into the bathroom.
As Yugi started the shower his mind became more entangled with thoughts about Yami. His mind was racing so rapidly with so many diverse thoughts along with feelings. The weird and wonderful reoccurring dream, the unexplained phenomenon's that had been happening everywhere, helping Yami with his problems. The most important thought of all was also ravaging his mind. Despite the fact that he wouldn't say it out loud his own personal feelings about the mysterious young man were in the mix as well. They alone were enough to cause a storm that make Katrina look like a small drizzle to what was taking place in his heart and soul.
As the soothing hot water began to crest his small yet very sexy figure his mind drifted to an event from yesterday when something had occurred that had greatly affected both him and Yami.
Despite the fact that Yami had been attending school, in addition to, hadn't gotten into any real trouble, he couldn't keep going without doing two things first. He had to take both an IQ along with an Aptitude test so the school board knew what his needs were. So yesterday during free period the two of them had gone too the office and he took both tests. It should have taken at least two to three hours to finish the tests. He had done it in 45 minutes!
The principal Mrs. Deb Nelson and the Assistant Principal Mrs. Stephanie Jeanblanc along with the School Superintendent were shocked; even more so by the results of the tests, apparently for someone who hadn't been really exposed to normal things of everyday life he was incredibly intelligent!
Grandpa who was Yami 'acting guardian' saw the results he was so shocked he fell out of his chair. Yami's IQ was measure around 350! He did remarkably well in the subjects of Mathematics, Political Science, Science, English, and World Studies. Yugi had questioned him outside the administrative office on how he was so intelligent yet so naive about life.
His only answer for being book-smart was due too two factors of his past, one his upbringing and two he had a very large library back home he'd spent a great deal of time in it when he was very young.
The other thing the school required to let him keep going was a mandatory physical, just a simple routine health check to make sure he was healthily and had all his shots. So they had driven to the nearby hospital to get Yami check out. Yami had taken a great deal of pleasure in the car ride, seeing how riding in a car was better then being almost run over by one.
They parked the emerald green 1997 Chevy Cavalier outside the hospital. Yami didn't like it at first, because the CD player was in the middle of Green Day wicked cool song "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" when the car stopped. Still he'd done what Yugi asked and followed them. He stopped in confusion as he read the unfamiliar words adoring the massive building in front of him.
"Domino City Community Hospital and Non-Profit Clinic? What is this weird place Yugi?" he asked as they walked inside the bizarre dwelling.
"It's a hospital. You know doctors of medicine, medication, needles, blood? Like uh ER only real,"
"I think I understand now this is where people go when they're sick. They're treated by really hunky men and attractive ladies and nurses with attitude and a couple of jackasses that run the desk and everyone have screwy love lives and family problems?"
Laughing his head off till tears came out, he smiled "Yeah I guess you could say that. But your not gonna find anyone with such a cool accent as Luka here or who is weird as Morris. I doubt you find anyone as smart as Neelia here either. Still it is an incredibly good show. I can't believe you watch all 13 seasons up too what they got now! How is that you've been assimilating countless different things so quickly? Do you've a photographic memory or something?"
"That's my secret Little One. Still, why are we, here if no one is sick?" he asked inquisitively as his beautiful pricing amethyst eyes took in the whole thing.
"Yami the school won't let you keep coming in less they known your healthy. So we're here do have you looked over. It shouldn't take too awful long if they don't get slammed."
"Am I to understand these doctors desire too examining me?" he asked turning white as a ghost. He felt a new feeling coursing throughout his body. He didn't know what it was but it didn't feel good at all. The more this feeling grew the more that awful feeling that came about when his Ascending was about too be made known did as well. He reached for his I-pod but then had been dragged back to an Exam Room.
He looked terribly scared as well as bewildered by all this. Like he was a wild animal stuck in a cage and wanted out! He seemed barely able to keep it together as they went over everything. Yugi noticed his eyes seemed to be pleading with him to get him out of there and fast. Yami was becoming more stressed out and they won't let him have his I Pod back till they were done with the examination.
Yugi also noticed that things all over the ER where happening as Yami's anxiety were going on. It was little things like lights flicker, and water fountains not working, just normal little problems. He then heard Yami yelling extremely piercingly as well as incoherently. He turned and saw that a nurse had attempted to remove his jacket so they'd finish up with a few quick blood tests. Yami had kicked the tray over with the needles and was now acting incredibly irrational.
"Yami?" Yugi asked as he watched as Yami now doubled over in some kinda of pain. The nurse and doctor tried to get too him but he just pushed them down as if they were rag dolls and grabbed his I-Pod. He then disappeared down a swarming corridor. At this time all the clocks began spin wildly and a few of the medical cabinets exploded and the lights went out.
After the backup generators kicked in Yugi and Grandpa franticly search the hospital for Yami. They found him passed out in a broom closet like all his energy had been drained yet he was smiling happily as the song Breakaway was playing.
The doctors gave them the best report they could in addition to this; they strongly suggested that they've Yami see a psychotherapist. His outburst suggested to them if he didn't want to be seen shirtless or touched in a certain manner then Yugi's gut feeling on the subject of maltreatment might be very true given the evidence.
At the same time as they left the hospital they'd cross path with maintience worker, whom informed them that all the damage from the freak occurrence was very mild in reality. Three broken med cabinets and a few clocks and lights in need of a new wiring all it was blamed on a short circuited. Still Yugi couldn't just brush off the nagging feeling that this minor incident had been a result of Yami being petrified.
"Yugi! Yugi! Are you done in there? Come on there two other people in need of the room! C'mon on! I really need too go!" called Grandpa through the mahogany door.
Yugi snapped out of his daydream and now realized the hot water was all but gone. Turning off the water he called out "I'll be out in five, Grandpa!"
"Please hurry my bladder isn't what it used too be!"
"Grandpa that TMI!" he retorted as he dried off his hair quickly. In five seconds he had all his trademark clothes on and turned off the heater and put back under the towel rack. Then opened the door and saw his grandpa waiting impatiently in his polka dot night clothes.
"Gomenasai about that, Grandpa. I didn't realize how much time had gone by. I'll go get us some donuts from the corner store ok?" he told him with a smile as he hurried off.
Grandpa just smiled for a moment then slammed the door shut. The loud bang awoke Yami who fell on his head. "Ahh Ow! That's smarts!" Yawing he looked at his Dark Magician Alarm Clock and it said it was 7:00 am. Hearing that the only bathroom was occupied at the moment, he went over too his computer and moved the mouse. The dark screen changed too a background of him and Yugi playing Duel Monsters.
Tea had used some kinda of magic flash box thingamabob that held the power to forever preserver a moment in time of whatever it caught in its light. She had called it a 'digital camera." He moved the mouse over too a little icon that looked like his Puzzle and double clicked it. It asked for a clearance name and password. He typed in for name "Prince Atem" and for password he chose "Samira" his mom name. This opened his journal which had been Yugi's idea.
"Listen Yami, I've got an idea that will help you a lot! Sometimes if I can't talk about something that is bothering me or I'm too scared too, I write it down. So at least it's out of me. Furthermore I can share it later if and when I feel comfortable enough too. So since book journal are always found and read we'll put it on your computer ok?"
This had helped him as had this miracle of a device called an I-Pod. He realized as long as he was hearing music he was in an enough of a relaxed state that he had a better grip on his Ascending. He'd quickly realized the more stressed out he was when the bouts of Ascending came along, the more chaotic their effects on his environment would be. So if he was in a relaxed state he'd control how the magical flare-up came out too a degree. It wasn't a perfect plan but at least it was good enough for now. Despite the fact that he had barely managed to tone down the energy yesterday in time before a repeat of what happened at school, he was still extremely confident in his strategy in dealing with this "growing pain" was still be the most effective.
There was still that new feeling that had consumed him so badly the day before. This new feeling was more powerful then any of the others he had experience so far. It worried him a great deal of what would happen if he was caught again off guard when this feeling came. He typed a bit in his journal while listening to his Gath Brooks Greatest Hits.
He was to a great extent loving the sixth song "We Shall Be Free" on disk one. After a few more minutes of typing his privates thoughts on his confusing feeling, strange dreams, and just thoughts for the day he signed out. Then he went to go check his email. He is email address was "Thenamelesspharaoh and his password here was "Yugi Moto" he delete junk mail and looked at the remarks to his own on Youtube and few other things before Grandpa was at last out of the bathroom. Scooping up his clothes and the CD player with a new CD he ran into the bathroom with Grandpa yelling at him as he whizzed by that there was no more hot water.
After locking the door securely he undressed and took off the harness and stretched his wings. He the plugged in the CD in next too the sink and waving his hand over it reinstated the spell that made the wonderful music box unable to be affect by water or anything while he was under the soothing cascading of a self made waterfall of pleasure. Turning on the CD player and stepping in the shower the song "Two Worlds One Family" on the Tarzan Soundtrack played. Smiling he turned on the shower and yes there was no hot water, but he just pressed his hand against the wall and used a tiny bit of his new powers to heat the water to the perfect temperature.
It had been amazing him how so much of Earth music could just describe him so completely. Even this wonderful music being sung by a god of music Phil Collins was blowing his mind. How the man voice and words seemed to be talking about him. He loved the third song "Son of Man" best on the CD. He skipped "Trashing the camp" by batting his left eye so he could get too number 5"Strangers like Me" By the time he was done in the shower it was at six a little reprise of the opening song, "Every moment now the bond grows stronger. Two worlds one family. Trust your heart let fate decide to guide these lives we see!"
He skipped seven and listened to eight "I'll be in your heart" and nine "Two Worlds One Family" for a second time as he dried off and put back on the harness and did the rest of things he had become accustomed too in the bathroom each morning. He put the player back in his room and went to the kitchen too see what was for breakfast.
"Hey, Yami! How did you sleep last night?" asked Yugi as he entered the kitchen with a bright orange, pink and white box. The words "Dunkn' Donuts" adore the top. Grandpa placed three homemade fruit smoothies on the table with some napkins to go with whatever was in the box.
"I slept very well Little One. I wrote the contents of my dream within the sanctuary of that supernatural journal you helped me created. Tell me what are having for breakfast today?"
"Doughnuts! I've got a variety package. We've glaze, jelly, sugar, donut holes, and long johns. Dig in!" as the three spiked hair men dug in happily too wonderful treat. Yami was about too go for his third long john when an overwhelming sensation took him by surprise. For a few moments his whole body tingling like it had fallen asleep and then a consuming emotion that felt as if the forget-me-not azure heavens had been overshadow by ominous black clouds. His head then began too hurt badly as well.
"Would you excuse me for a moment? I'm going to go take something for this migraine," politely excusing himself. He went to his room and took from his desk a small capsule container. Despite the fact that the music did help him significantly manage his Ascending, it didn't on the other hand prevent the excruciating headaches that came with it or the agonizing random spasms of pain either. Then he had made a great discover called a drugstore.
During the long weekend when he first implicated this plan into action on how to handle his Ascending predicament, he had learned about things called painkillers. He had just finish burning some of his extra energy off by means of using it too magical absorb the contents of the "Pop Culture" that the gang had been exposing him too. Then without warning Grandpa's back had gone out and he had asked the boys to got too the drugstore and fetch something for it.
So they went to a nearby Walgreens and while Yugi was having a discussion with an older man named Lyle about the problem, he had wander off a bit and found out about the weird yet wonderful magical capsule human used to deaden their internal qualms of pain. Making sure no one was looking he used his magic too make copies of the pills and the fused all the strongest ones together into one super potent painkiller. By the time Yugi was done he had in his pocket his own medicine.
The pill was as big as his thumb nail was gold and glowing. Using a nonverbal spell to enhance its power he swallowed it with the rest of his succulent smoothie. He instantaneously felt the pain subside and with his I-Pod on he felt very on top of things. Yet the feeling like the skies had been casted over by evil hadn't vanished. He looked out his window and there wasn't a cloud at all. Yet he still felt like a storm was brewing.
He went back too finish his breakfast yet, he knew without a doubt, in his gut that something really bad was about too come to pass. The only question was would he be able to handle whatever this thing was?
Around ten Joey and Tristan came too the shop. Both looked very happy about something but Joey also seemed a bit agitated with Tristan as well. Yami had been cleaning the card display case while listening to "Who I am" by Jessica Andrew when they came in. He turned down the music and removed his gloves.
"Hey Joey, Tristan. What brings you to the shop today? Do you want me to go fetch Yugi? He in the back with Grandpa unloading a new shipment of cards we got last night."
"Nay we can wait a few minutes for the little dude," Joey replied as he scanned the card cases.
"So Yami, we heard you caused quite a scene at the hospital yesterday. What's that about? You scared of doctors or needles or something?" inquired Tristan as Yami scrubbed the containers squeaky clean.
"No I'm not sacred of doctors. For you're information I've never been sick a day of my 17 years of existence," he told them at the same time as he used both the glass cleaner along with disinfected to get a really hard stain out. Someone had spilled something sticky on this counter and it wasn't coming off easily. He really had too used some elbow grease to get this out.
"You've never been sick ever? You've never had the flu or a measly cold? Not even the chickenpox?" Joey looked at him in shock. Yami looked him straight in the eye and said quite firmly,
"I've never been sick ever. I've been sick as many times as Yugi has had homework and he told me he never had homework a day in his life. (Me personal I went my whole school life and never had homework! ) So does that answer your inquiry about my health?"
The teenage boys looked at the boy before them bizarrely then just when it was getting too quite Yugi walked in with a few big boxes of cards. "Hey guys! When you get here?" Yugi cheerfully asked as they all took a box and began to work together to stock the shelves.
"Thanks for the help guys. So what brings you here today anyway?" Yugi asked as the finished up.
"Well my sister Serenity is arriving in town today. She'll be spending a couple of weeks with me while our mother goes off on this retreat thing for her work. We wanted too know if you want to come with us to the bus depot to pick her up. How about it?" Joey asked them.
"I didn't know you had a sibling Joey. This is a new one for me. What does Serenity look like?" Yami asked curiously so Joey flipped open his wallet and showed him a photograph of a very sweet looking young lady with lengthy sunburned locks and big sparkling chocolate eyes.
"I'd love to come guys, but I'm needed here today at the shop. Why don't you go with them Yami? You really could use the experience and you'd meet Serenity. After all you've stuck pretty close too the shop for the past three weeks. Go on and expand your horizon. I'll be here when you get back,"
"You sure you're gonna be safe Yugi? I've had this weird feeling all morning and it's not going away."
"You're probably just having a bit of digestive disorders from yesterday school lunch, dude. I know that the school ham always makes me sick after I've had it,"
"Maybe dude that because you eat like an overweight swine and fail to remember too breathe!" mutter Tristan sarcastically under his breath.
"Yami I promise I'll be ok and I'm just a phone call away ok? Please go with them alright? I'll have a special lunch ready when you guys get back ok?" he told him soothingly with a warm small.
"Alright if it will make you happy, my friend. I shall go on this quest too fetch this Maiden of Serenity. C'mon Joey let's embark upon this quest for your sister,"
As they the trio disappeared around the corner Yugi looked up to sky and whispered, "Please be safe Yami, I feel the storm brewing as well,"
Meanwhile far away in Doom Alleyway a bolt of gold energy pierced the ground and with a sound that could have been mistaken for a sonic boom appeared the Guardians. They all for a few moments had a feeling similar to that of vertigo from the excursion.
"Wow that was freaky! I felt so odd by that spell. Like I was turned inside and upside down and thrown in a giant underwater funnel!" exclaimed Mana who still looked a tad green around the gills.
"I too Mana, felt extraordinarily uncomfortable by that practicably spell. It reminded me of how I'd felt during the first stage of Ascending. Your internal organs are all entangled up and it feels like a human meat grinder as your entrails rapidly transform to accommodate your new powers," Isis told her daughter understandingly.
"Yeah and it always comes out of the blue. The symptoms of Ascending always make themselves known 3-4 months prior too your 18th birthday. On the other hand just exactly when your Ascending will actually commence is unpredictable. For it's different for everyone when and how it will make itself known. When my Ascending made its self know I had been doing some scroll work and out of the blue my stomach became a sea of acid. Needlessly too say, Mana if Atem has hit his Ascending it must really be causing him problems,"
"Could you all please be silent for a moment? I'm attempting too use my Ring to track the Prince's Puzzle. Isis, could you use your Necklace and see if it reveals what happened at this location?"
"Yes Mahado I can do that,"
"Thank you Isisa,"
"Do you require some help Mama?" asked Mana and then blushed as pink as the color of her chemise.
Isis just smiled and took her daughter hand and lead too the very spot Atem had been when he had experience his first emotion, anger.
"Ok, my little magician while your father and his best friend try of located Atem we are going to try and figure out what happen here ok?"
"Yes Mama. How do we do that? We've very limited magic with these harnesses on. We where told not use the magic in the enchanted rings unless for an emergency reasons. So how can we see what happened?" Mana asked her curiously.
"Well not all things require magic. Take a good look around what do you see?"
Mana slowly looked around the dank cramped alleyway. The faded graffiti told her that someone had claimed this as their land in the name of their lord and master. The unsanitary condition revealed this wasn't a very often occupied place. But it was magical scorch marks with a few lingers sparks that told her something had happened in this creepy spot to Atem. Something very significant given the leftover damage from the incident.
"From what I can see Atem must've been here, but this isn't a very friendly spot. I sorta feel this isn't a place you should be at all. Like there a danger here and it's connected to that eerie emblem on the wall," Mana told her mom who was impressed at her skills at deduction.
"Good job of using your head and not your magic, daughter. Now let's see what did take place. My Item shows not just the future it shows the past as well. Let's see if it can show us what happened," as she touched her charming Item and active its powers. After a few moments Seto came up too her and asked had she'd been successful.
"No my friend I've not been. All I saw within my mind-eyes was a very blurry gray image. I couldn't see what took place all I could sense clearly in the vision was something caused the Prince too experience a rather intense emotion. He got angry,"
"Atem? My cousin? Got angry?" Seto stated out loud his shock; he was very taken back by the statement. Isis nodded and the three of them all knew the great significance of this.
Atem was almost certainly the numbest individual they knew. It was like his emotions as well as feelings had been surgical removed from him due to his usual lifelessness demeanor. So something really significant must have happened to get him to feel anything at all. Given this amount of damage it must've been extraordinarily significant.
"Eureka!" Mahad exclaimed out loud making everyone jump. "What is Mahado?" Isis asked him as she hurried to her beloved side.
"Yeah, Daddy did your Ring find out where Prince Atem is?"
"Not exactly sweetheart, it hasn't found his exact position but it has picked up the Puzzle's unique energy signature. So it can at least point us in the right direction. So we should get going,"
"I don't mean to burst your bubble my friend, but we have to resolve a few other things before we can even start looking for my cousin. Like how we're going to blend in, where we'll be staying and how are we too survive?"
"Seto brings up a good point, Daddy. We know little too nothing about this world or its people. We can't attract too much attention to ourselves if we want this mission too be fruitful."
"Mahado their both right. Despite King Aknamkanon racial discrimination towards this world and its people, we can't do anything that would cause danger to them. We've all agreed the best approach to resolve this predicament is too progressively ease Atem too come home on his own free will. Further hostilities will only make this worse. I don't desire too see anyone on this planet get hurt unintentionally for the reason that we are seeking our Prince," Isis told her lover humanitarianly.
"I do understand Isisa. I do. This world is blissfully clueless and it should remain that way. So Seto what can be done to fix our problems? Whether the King likes it or not this task will take some time to complete," Mahad asked his dear companion.
"My father prides that my Rod has the ability to influence the minds of other individuals. He drools over the fact I could if I desired control the minds of everyone too do my bidding. I don't wished too do that with my Item, however I can use it if we got close enough to a group of humans and scan their minds too obtain the information we require. They have a slight headache but no real harm would be done."
"Make it so"
So they then exited the alley oblivious that someone was watching them from the inky shadows with a serial killer look in their eyes. With sinister sneer etched upon the silhouette figure face they pulled off a Cheshire Cat act and little by little disappeared. The last thing to go was that disturbing sneer.
Seto was able too get the info they need and they splint into two groups. Seto along with Isis would go forth and establish a place for all of them too stay and live at while on Earth. Mahad as well as Mana would seek out Atem just too see if he was ok. They would keep in contact through the mental magical link of their Immortal Items. So they each went different direction.
On top of a nearby skyscraper standing on tiptoes of the stone gargoyles were the Vixens. There catlike eyes were narrowed as the gaze at one of the quarry break off.
"What do you think my sisters?" said one preached on the left gargoyle.
"Well I think my dear sister; one of us should keep an eye on the Cyclops's putrid spawn along with that pathetic soothsayer. One of us stalker him and the other two go after that idiotic mage and his waste of time and wings neophyte," said the one on the right sadistically to her sisters.
"Let's not be too hasty, my sisters. I too would like to embark on this hunt. On the other hand, like the beautiful queens of the African Savanna, the almighty proud as well as stunning lionesses, we must work strategize in addition to swiftly if we are too bring down a raging wildebeest. So Oba, Pomona here what we are going too do." Shakti told her sisters in very low voice.
After a few minutes they got ready to go out for the hunt. Pomona on the right sarcastically asked, "Oh dear sisters what on earth we going too do if the humans get in the way of our goal?"
"Yeah what if the weak and helpless little runts get in the way?" Oba asked in the same cynical sarcasm as her sister.
"Then the end up like this ugly statue," replied Shakti calmly as she ran a single finger around the neck of the gargoyle. A second later the stone beast head fell 75 stories and smashed to dust on the pavement nearly smashing a young pregnant couple to death. Laughing insanely Oba and Pomona named for a goddess of water and earth speed off after Seto and Isis. Shakti named for the goddess of time and destruction went after Mahad and Mana.
Meanwhile while both search parties where beginning there search for him, Yami had been very busy with learning some vital skills from his two new friends. Joey was tutoring him in the ways of survival in the real world. At least that what he'd called it, teaching him about the dos and don'ts of the streets. This program of study incorporated, public transportation, the buying of things, a few good self defense moves, just simple basic things he should already known but didn't and was thankful for learning of them.
Tristan was schooling him in the art of social skills, body language and manners. Like holding doors opening, giving complements, doing things because they needed too be done. How too recognize others feelings and help them.
He was attempting too put them all into play when they had stop at a store to get a few things. It was right next door too the bus station so they needed be concerned about missing Serenity. Joey was trying too chose a crystal statuette in addition to Tristan was getting some flowers for Serenity.
Yami had just held the door open for an elderly woman and smiled when she thanked him. He in turned replied in full sincerity "You're welcome and your blouse is the nicest shade of ginger I've ever seen, it brings out your eyes so well, milady."
"Your too kind, young man,"
"I try to be," glad he had really learned both the lessons Joey and Tristan had taught them on the long walk here. Wanting to show he was appreciative for the lessons and their helping him; he had shared with them a bit more info about himself.
The gang had all been wondering how if he was so smart he could be so naïve about everyday life. Showing that he trusted them he revealed too them when he was very young and his mom had died he was very trouble and upset. His dad, Yami told them wouldn't tell him what happen too his mom and wasn't very kind too him and his needs. So after a few months of her being gone he wanted too disappear as well. He couldn't deal with his dad lack of sympathy and no one really seemed to be able too help him.
"Story of my life, me unable to help myself or anyone helps me. I went too our library which is very, very large."
"How big we talking?" Joey had asked at the same time as he showed him how too ride the subway.
"You've seen both "National Treasure and Day after Tomorrow, correct Joey? Well if you combined both of those libraries together, mine would still be a thousand times bigger," he paused for a moment at their odd look and continued, "The Archives was the one place I could go within my home and not be found. To be alone, yet it was also a bit scary for its extremely shadowy in addition to inharmoniously soundless location. I got lost amongst the thousands of tomes in addition to manuscripts kept within the chamber the first time I went there. I'd probably still be lost if Shimon hadn't found me,"
"Who is Shimon dude? That an odd name too say the least," remarked Tristan after he returned a lady purse too her.
"Shimon is an elderly man whom now that I think of it, he reminds me a great deal of Grandpa. They could be twins. He was extremely compassionately too me. He told me stories, read and played with me. He was a great comfier too me and got me learning early. I liked our time together very much," smiling a rare smile as he thought back to his childhood for a moment. He saw himself as a child half asleep with his head resting on Shimon lap as he was being read a breathtaking myth.
"Then about the time I was 8, Father found out I had been going to the Archive. He became enraged by the news and forbidden me to go there or interact with Shimon ever again. I wasn't allowed to see the kind soul until his punishment was through or I was 18, whichever came first. I don't understand what my Father has against him, but its wise not anger him in any matter,"
As the guys were busy with there things, he felt some money in his jeans pocket and decide too get them both something to show his thanks for helping him. He saw a candy rack with huge Crunch and Hershey bars, big as his computer screen back at the shop. He went too get them when he felt that weird and wonderful feeling come again. He also felt a tingling sensation go up and down his whole spine. He looked everywhere but didn't see anyone. Then out of the corner of his right eye in the huge mirror he saw two new people had come into the gift shop. Even in normal human clothing he recognized Mahad and Mana.
His heart began to pound like a drum of thunder. He tried to obscure himself behind a snack cake rack. The familiar sensation of his Ascending was making itself known. "Damn it! I can't expel the energy here, not with Mahad and Mana only 4 feet away! Think Yami think!" as he tried too remain calm.
Without thinking about he turned up the volume on the song, "Numb". Taking a deep breath he tried too focus his energy in a non-destructive manner. Placing his hand on the wall, he focused his energy. Instead of his powers reeking havoc they'd the exact opposite. Any of the problems that the customers or staff where having were immediately resolved as was any problem in the building. Also now the place was beyond spick and span as his energy rippled through the store like when you threw a stone in a pond.
Smiling that he had really control the energy he managed, to avoid Mahad and Mana along with pay for the candy and get out without being caught he hurried over too the bus depot and waited by the vending machines for the guys which were there in moments. They thanked him for the candy and went too waited for bus, 14 too get there.
Yami was a bit drained so he waited on a bench and in next to no time was dead to the world. The song "Numb" was on repeat and as he slept a very morbid dream overpowered his mind. In his mind he was seeing his own life being interpreted by the words and he wasn't like how it was playing out. As the song was ending he felt someone shake him.
"Huh? Joey!"
"Hey I wanted you too meet my sister. She just got off the bus. Serenity this is Yami he new in town. He staying with Yugi for awhile," Joey enlightened Serenity.
"It's a pleasure too meet you, Yami," she said in a charming angelic tone of voice that seemed to mimic her name.
""It's a great honor too meet the charismatic sister of such fine young man whom I'm proud to call my friend. I hope we can be friends as well," he said as gently kissed her hand as Tristan had instructed him too do. She giggled with a faint blush.
"Hey, big brother? Do you know where the ladies room is? 8 hours on a bus and no bathroom isn't good."
"I'll show you the way. I need too use it too," Yami told her as he lead her too the bathrooms. Leaving her pink rolling suitcase outside with her brother she disappeared inside. Yami went inside and was shocked that Mahad was waiting for him.
"Mahad!" he exclaimed startled as he fell over a trash can and on too the filthy floor.
"Relax, Atem" he said as his Item glowed faintly. A faint sparkle light enveloped the tiny public bathroom. Mahad then helped the Prince too his feet and dusted him off.
"Thanks Mahad, now what did you just do?"
"The same thing I did when I gave you the information on that brain-dead Serafina. Anyone who sees us will only see two young men having a chew the fat regarding a competition on something called TV last night. So how are you, my Prince?"
"I'm doing very well. Thank you for asking. Now why don't you drop the facade of bogus concern and just tell me the truth as if I didn't already know it."
"Prince Atem, I am concerned for you, because I do care for you. You're not just my future king too me. You're a friend and someone my daughter cares about a great deal,"
"Daughter? So I was right about how you felt about Mana and I suppose Isis also sees her as her daughter as well?" he asked with his eyes half closed and an eyebrow cocked and arms folded.
"Isisa and I both see Mana as our child yes. Look you're right your father has sent me, Isisa, Mana and your cousin too bring you home. However unlike Aknamkanon we aren't gonna try and force you to go back against your wishes. We the Court minus your Uncle all have the same opinion; you ought to come back on your own free will,"
"I see, then why are here now? Why where you in the gift shop?"
"While Isisa and Seto have gone too establish a place for us too stay while here on Earth, Mana and I sought you out. We didn't wish to start a confutation because we strongly suspected you've by now begun too Ascend, am I right?"
The mere mention of the cursed word, for his divine puberty made his whole body hurt all over. He pulled out his pill container and swallowed a pill to dull the feeling thus confirming Mahad statement. "Yes I've begun too Ascend but I've found my own way too deal with it,"
"Look Atem, none of us are going too try and force you back too Xanadu. All I wanted too do was find you and see if you're ok. I'm not gonna follow back too where your staying nor is anyone going to harm any of the humans you've befriend. We'll keep our distance and if we do interact it will be in neutral ground and no harm will befall any of the humans. Just tell me are you ok?"
For a few moments the winged prince who for three weeks been masquerade as a human was silent. That out of the ordinary ominous cloud sensation was still in the pit of his stomach.
On the other hand when he looked at Mahad that wasn't what he felt. He felt like he was in a meadow under a summer sky, calm along with at peace. He knew Mahad long and well enough, to know that he wouldn't lie in less it was too protect those he cared about. He had notice the faint trace of his father's sinister handiwork with his new power echelon and was able to deduce for himself what had passed.
"Mahad, I'm alright. I've found a safe refuge with a real angel. I won't give any names. But I will at least tell you for the moment I'm safe and well. I believe you when you say you won't engage in a sadistic manner too bring me back too Xanadu."
"I can tell you must leave soon. Can we at least promise this too each other? My family along with Seto won't harm you or anyone but in turn you must at least keep us informed on your condition. We can meet as I suggest on neutral ground."
"Mahad I trust you my friend. Gomenasai for having to take that cursed punishment because of me," he told him with his guilty head hung low.
"Prince Atem, don't be consumed by guilt. I'd willingly endure that and a thousand other punishments too keep out of harm's way the ones I care about. Don't trouble yourself Prince. I'm not angry with you. So do you agree to the terms?"
"I agree Mahad but we'll meet each night at a different location chosen ahead of time and no magic or tricks. You swear no harm shall come too anyone of my human friends?"
"None I give you my word of honor Prince Atem. Now go back too your friends we've spent a lot of time in this room. Just be careful especially now that you've begun too Ascended,"
"I will Mahad. I promise too honor your terms. We'll meet tonight in the park on the bridge overlooking the koi pond agreed?"
"Agreed Prince Atem," as he got ready too drop the false impression, "Mahad wait,"
"Yes Prince Atem?"
"Look I won't feel right unless I brought this up. I've been experiencing since first light a sensation, which I can only portray as heavy gray clouds chocking life out of the stunning azure heavens. I don't know what it is exactly, but I just got this feeling that something sinister is afoot. So for your family sake and Seto along with mine, watch yourself and not just me. I don't desire anyone too get hurt," he warned his old friend.
"Thank you, I'll keep it in mind. See you at midnight at the park," as the illusion died away and they exit the restroom. Mahad departed with Mana and Yami knew he keep his word and not follow him back the game shop.
He departed as well with his friends too get too the subway too take back too the game shop. But he couldn't shake the feeling something evil was watching him. Watching like he was rat with her feline eyes was Shakti. She had been in the gift shop trying out perfumes. Now she had found the one she liked and she had spotted her prey.
"Well finally," she said as she stuffed the gold bottle in her pocket and was just out the door when the owner came running after her. "Hey, girl! You need too pay for that! You can't just take off and not pay!" he said grabbing her hand and her to face him.
"Excuse me, you fleshy basterd!" and with the strength of Amazon warrior threw the poor man right through the glass window. Then using telekinesis combined with spontaneous combustion and caused a gas explosion. As a chunk of concert landed at her dainty feel, she smiled sadistically. With a few squirts of her new fragrance she was off on her hunt.
Yami who had just gotten to the subway station head shot up. It was like he was hearing the screams of many be forever silenced in one snuff as it a candle had been put out. He looked around and blinked and rubbed his eyes but what is eyes saw hadn't changed.
All the people surrounding him at this place had an aura. Many of the auras like those of his friends where a soothing pale blue, a few were them were a maroon color but only one was jet-black and felt colder then death. It was a young woman with tricolor locks. She was coming straight for him like he was a mouse and she was the cat.
Remember two things about the subway Joey had taught him when the woman tried to go through the metal decorator he focused his energy to make sure it went off very loudly. The big Security Guards were able too restrain her, just long enough for them too get on the train and then using an illusion trick he'd picked up from Mahad, she saw the wrong train with him on it. So she when she finally busted free, not only did she make the mistake of stepping on third rail she was going the wrong way. By the time she had realized her error he was long gone and the trial was cold.
The group made it back to the shop in time for a nice lunch of peanut butter saltine crackers and homemade chocolate pudding with chocolate milkshakes. After lunch Joey along with his sister and Tristan left. Serenity ran ahead them eager to get home that Joey slipped on something as did Tristan. It was feathers, very odd feathers that had got stuck on their shoes.
Yami that night as promised showed up at the desired location too talk with Mahad. His new heighten powers didn't sense any of the ill-omened he felt around that wicked lady from the subway. He got prepared too utilize a can of pepper spray in case of trouble. It was very creepy being in the park alone at night. Still he waited and at exactly midnight Mahad appeared. He showed that he had honor the agreement by not having any tricks up his sleeve.
They both exchange tales of their encounters and what been going on since he fled home. For a second time Yami express regret to Mahad for having to suffer along with the rest of the Court because of his actions. He begged the Magician for his as well as everyone forgiveness for suffering because of him.
Mahad told him they'd suffer one way or another and it's not his fault. Mahad for a second time told him that he and the rest of his party would watch over Yami. They keep their distance only intervene if needed and just let him make up his own mind of coming home. If they did interacted when he was with his human friends they won't do anything to endanger anyone life. If he kept his promise to talk to one of them each night and assure them he was alright they keep this plan in place.
"It's almost 1:00 a.m. I need too get back home, Mahad. The people I'm staying with will worry about me if I'm not in my bedroom,"
"I understand but one last question before you depart back too your place of refuge,"
"Yes?"
"We arrived in the same spot you did in this city. Isisa wasn't able too figure out what took place in that alley. But she was able too figure out you felt anger for the first time. So I'm curious Atem. What cause the numbest being in existence to experience such a powerful emotion?"
"If I tell you the truth it will remain a secret? You won't tell father or anyone?"
"I swear my Prince,"
"When I came too this place I was ambushed by thugs. They attempted to steal my Puzzle. They're merciless, viciously and ruthless. Then out of nowhere a boy came. His name was Yugi and he risked his mortal life for me. Me! A complete stranger he risked his life for me and when I saw those beasts hurt him I felt like a fire had gone off. I used Mind Crush on them. Shortly afterward Yugi offered me shelter in addition to friendship. I didn't know anything about this young man other then he looks a lot like me but I knew I could trust him. So I've stayed with him and his grandpa. I won't tell you where for their safety you understand,"
"I do understand, Prince Atem. If you for any reason need to reach me or anyone of us we're staying at a place called Holiday Inn. Here a number I've made it impossible for anyone but you too reach us by that number," giving him a slip of paper which he pocket.
"One more thing, remember that strange feeling from before I mention?"
"Yes what about it?"
"I think it was warning me of a great danger. A woman today tried to unspeakable evil on my way home. I was listening to a song called "Bring me to Life" and I felt as if many voice were forever silence into oblivion and then my vision changed,"
"How so?"
"I could see auras around the humans though I didn't think they possessed them. Many had blue ones a scattered few were of a maroon color but only one that woman was black and colder then death. Do you know what this is or who she was?"
"I can answer your first inquiry by telling you've acquired the power of inner knowing. Meaning you can see what kinda of a person is inside. As for the lady I don't know at all but Isisa and Seto both remarked they encountered two more just like the one you described. Look don't let this threat force you back too Xanadu. Only come back if that is your wish. Just be careful, Atem."
"You the same Mahad," as both men left going opposite ways but now both knew this. The one being hunted by the passive hunters was being hunted themselves by a deadlier beasts. Who neither knew what exactly they were capable of?