Ragnarok Solstice

Part I: The Admonitions

By Healing Spirit

Chapter 6: What's to Come

"Yukari! Matte!"

Yukari didn't answer to Takashi's pleas, only trudged along the sandy surface of Egyptian land. The bottom of her dress was smudged with dirt and faded the beautiful shade of bright pink. Her hair released itself from the boundaries of hair pins, flowing down her face in silky tresses.

Takashi quickened his pace, leaving Susan to tag behind. Being captain of the basketball team in their college, his athletic abilities were unquestionably unmatchable.

"Sarah-kun! Anzu-kun! Where are you?" In a split second, her foot crashed into a small stone, disrupting her balance. "Yukari!" Takashi's cries echoed in her head as she was falling, shutting her eyes for the sudden impact.

Seconds ticked by when Yukari realized that she was being hoisted up. But when she turned to thank her rescuer, she screamed in terror. "YUKARI!"

With a heart-jerking collapse, the shy and innocent girl lay still on the dirty floor, her eyes shut in calm. "Yukari! Deja bu?" (Deja bu: Are you all right.) His voice faltered upon laying his gaze on her still body, kneeling down to become closer to his angel. "Yukari…"

Slipping his arms around her, he prepared to lift her up when his eyes expanded at the sight that entered his vision.

A giant red blemish resided in the middle of her arm, smooth but stained with blotches of crimson red. No blood, but the two bite marks settled in the middle was evidence enough. "Yukari-chan… what happened?"

"Takashi!" Susan finally caught up and gasped upon seeing her unconscious friend. "Oh My GOD! What happened to Yukari?" Rushing in to aid her friend, she was stopped by Takashi who stood instantly and shifted his position so that Yukari leaned against his chest. Carrying her bridal style, he turned to a nearby man. "Sir, do you know-"

"No! Let me go!" Screaming hysterically, he rushed down the path with Susan and Takashi staring after him. "We have to get Yukari to a hospital!" Takashi shouted in aggression. "Where's a HOSPITAL?!"

"Takashi, calm down. We need to think clearly if Yukari's going to get better!" Susan insisted. Suddenly, a scream emitted from Yukari and their attention was drawn to her. "YUKARI!" Takashi struggled to keep the floundering Yukari from falling from his embrace but she kicked him hard in the stomach, causing him to groan and sink to the ground.

"Yadonoushi! Yadonoushi!" (Yadonoushi: host of a parasite)

"Yukari! Calm down Yukari," Takashi gathered her in his arms once more and tenderly stroke her hair. The parasite she was screaming was probably what bit her. "No, Takashi! Yadonoushi!"

"Yukari!" He turned her face towards his and stared into her eyes intensely. "Listen to me! The yadonoushi is gone now. He's gone…"

She breathed heavily; her labored breathes shortening with each gasp. "I'll go find someone that will help us!" Susan shouted and ran off swiftly.

"See Yukari? You're going to be all right!" Takashi said soothingly and continued running his fingers through her hair. Her eyelids grew heavier and her body limped in his arms. "No, No!" Fumbling to support her sudden flaccidity, he took her hand in his and squeezed it lovingly. "Yukari! Stay awake!" When she wouldn't respond, he knew that she had once again gone into unconsciousness.

"Yukari…" His gaze softened upon her chaste face. Burying his face in her silky hair, he closed his eyes and breathed in her sweet scent. "Mamotte ageru… my hime… Aishiteru…"

(Awwww!! He said I love you! In Japanese of course. Hmmm… I wonder why he called her 'my princess?' gasp! 0.0 Could it have something to do with their ancient Egyptian past? hinthint Or maybe, maybe it's something else. Who knows, Takashi is willing to do anything to save Yukari, perhaps he- OKAY, I'll shut up now! And Yuki, please don't kill me! You were unconscious when he hugged you! But don't worry! He'll kiss you soon! .; On with the story!)

000

SLAP!

Min Sung was stunned at the reconciling sting of the cuff he had received. His head was jerked to the left. He attempted to pull himself up to face the fuming female in front of him.

"How dare you?" Sarah shouted, scrambling to stand up. "You just come waltzing here to Egypt, grab me out of the way of some lunatic, and then just show up again after ALL THESE YEARS?!"

His eyes flashed with hurt as Sarah glared menacingly at him. He sighed and looked down at his hands in deep embarrassment. "I-"

"You, WHAT?" Sarah questioned and waited impatiently for an answer. "What motive could you possibly have? I- I thought that you were DEAD!"

Min Sung was speechless and didn't know what to say to calm her down. When Sarah gets mad! He shivered at the thought. "Sarah, you don't understand!"

"Oh! What don't I understand? That you just decided that you would come to visit me in Cairo?"

Min Sung lowered his head and stood to match her glare. "Actually, I came to meet Professor Hawkins! So if you don't wish to see me again, then I guess that our relationship doesn't matter to you! Goodbye!" Turning on his heel, he treaded into the street and down the path, pushing away anyone who got in his way.

"Fine! Be that way!" Sarah crossed her arms but then her expression turned crestfallen. "He expects me to accept him just like that? I was hoping that his stubborn attitude would change a bit! However, it's a good thing that his cute hair didn't change!"

(Sorry Sarah! - Couldn't resist!)

"My cute hair?" Sarah's heart stopped when she heard the voice of Min Sung pop up behind her. His smirk was so smug that she felt like slapping it off his face. "Why Sarah, I never thought that you thought of me that way…"

000

"Emsis, send in the next one!"

The stern guard dragged in another girl, roughly shoving her to the ground in front of his commanding officer. She stared at the ground, every nerve in her shaking with fear. Her shiny black hair was cut short when she was caught from Greece as a slave, bruises studding her smooth skin.

"So," Tutsumen smirked at her trembling posture. Good, she was terrified of him. "What's your name?"

"K- Kara, sir," she boldly lifted her head, though it took her all her might not to swoon at the sight of the handsome officer. He wore a pleated kilt, showing high position. His wig could not hide the masses of hair beneath them, in silky shines.

"From?"

"Greece, Athens, sir."

"How did you learn Khametian?"

"I picked it up when I arrive here, sir."

"Liar!" He slammed the pole in his hand to the ground, petrifying Kara and causing her to flinch at the stinging vibrations. She could feel his temper steaming from his furious eyes. Oh, how terrified she was of this man! "No slave can learn that quickly!" He shouted to her.

"I- I don't understand the word… slave…" Kara stammered, not daring to look up at him. Tutsumen's eyes narrowed, gently placing the tip of the pole on Kara's head. "This pole is punishment for all those who dare to defy me. All SLAVES have to obey me. And that includes you. UNDERSTAND?"

Kara nodded furiously and she was pushed out of the room. The guard led her to a kitchen; the air was saturated with delicious smells which made her shiver from dread. She hadn't eaten for weeks and the hunger was making her dizzy. "Hello," the sudden voice made her lift her head.

In front of her was another slave, who was smiling kindly. She reached out her hand.

"Hello, Kara. I'm Anna." Kara smiled gratefully and took her hand. "Come. Let me lead you to your work. Don't worry! I'll help you every step of the way!"

"Thank you!" (Can you guess who they are? . Good luck!)

000

"What's wrong with Anzu?" Shizuka asked worryingly when Kaiba laid her in the back seat of the limo. "I found her on top of a roof, lying on the floor. I'm going to continue looking for the others."

Shizuka nodded and Jounouchi and Mai crowded around Anzu. Mai recognized tear stains clearly evident on her face, her hands were clutched together tightly, her eyes shut tight.

"Anzu… why were you crying?" She whispered.

000

Yuugi maneuvered in and out through the streets, not knowing which way was an exit. The monsters had probably left Cairo by now and moved southward. However, bedlam still ensued. Many had run from the charging army and the monsters, some had even boarded ships headed for Asia.

'Where are my friends?' He thought worryingly. Continuing down the pathway, he stopped short upon hearing an uncanny sound.

Yuugi… Yuugi... He peered around him. There was no one there.

Yuugi… Beware… Where was it coming from? The scenery around him blurred like swirled shakes.

LISTEN….

"Who are you!" Yuugi shouted, hands trembling at the unknown source.

Minna… I need your help… trapped… lost… destruction…

"Leave me alone!" Yuugi clutched his head as it suddenly flared up with pain. "Ahhh!"

Yuugi… it's me… Help me…

"Stop! NO!"

"Yuugi!" He turned to see Susan running up to him. "Hurry! Yukari's in trouble!" She grabbed Yuugi's hand and pulled him along to where Takashi and Yukari sat, leaning on the wall.

Yuugi… Help me… Yuugi shook his head to relieve himself of the voice. Where was it coming from?

YUUGI! A deep glow engulfed him as pain tore at his every nerve. He could hear screams and shouts, but none was as loud as his. White light blinded him as it abruptly stopped. When he slightly recovered, he felt something heavy tugging on his neck. "Yuugi, what happened? And where did you get that?" Susan asked, pointing to something around his neck. When he looked down to look, the moonlight glinted off its golden surface.

"The millennium puzzle!"