spiritfire: (Yawn) Warning: Angst, Tragedy and more anger issues

XXI. Ancient Seal

Magician Valkyria just stood there where Dark's Seal of the Ancients Spell was ready. Yami was still chasing after the magician. With one step at a time, the Lunar Prince was getting one step closer to the trap that the spiky-haired boy set up. Finally, Yami stepped the circle and the light of the seal brightened itself. Lightning began to cackle, trapping the prince's body, rendering it useless. He tried to use magic but nothing came out.

"It's useless, you're already in my trap," said Dark. "Look below,"

Yami did indeed look below and under his feet was a large circular seal. The first layer consists of two crescent moons opposite to each other while the second layer bore the written ancient text.

Dark suddenly fell on his knees due to his injuries. Magician Valkyria was a bit concerned but he decided to swallow the pain at least until her master is finished with the seal. He walked slowly towards the seal while Yami struggled. Even though he knew he could cast his healing magic, there wouldn't be much time for he has no idea how long the spell would last.

"I have to hurry…." said Dark, struggling as Yami tried to cast or stand but to no avail. Mana and Valkyria were worried as their master entered the seal. He stood straight and did some breathing exercises despite the wounds, pain, and injuries he has. He used his right hand to cover Yami's eyes and he gave the prince his first kiss then he began the incantation to stop the Spell Rage.

Seal your powers in ancient time

Shall stop your rage and conceal your mind

Return to once you came to be

And shatter the darkness in your heart

The ancient text began to spin faster and faster as the seal respond. Lightning began to cackle the entire forest that some of the trees were cut down. The seal went much faster after a few hours then later it began to slow down. Yami's body became numb and Dark finally let go of his kiss. His body fell into his arms as the light died down. He stared at Yami with pitiful eyes as he set his body down.

"The two of you listen to me: Don't tell Yami about the uh-you-know-what 'cause…. He might think any stupid gestures. I hate wasting time." said Dark with a very hard frown on his face. The two magicians agreed and suddenly his body felt too much pain that Valkyria had to help him stay on a nearby tree trunk.

"Valkyria, please do one favour: Find Mahad's body and bring it here now!" he added and she agreed, leaving her master alone for a while.

- - -

Valkyria tries to remember where the body was left before Yami went berserk. Her eyes were filled with sadness for she knew that much agony will come and the death of their friend is the proof. In addition, her master has to tell the truth about himself. There were so many thoughts to ponder. She finally found the lifeless body of Mahad and used her magic to levitate it.

On her way back, she looked around the entire forest. Much damage has already been done. The trees were reduced to ashes, burned down, or cut down. She remembers the magical war, the life she went through and she shuddered the thought of it. Valkyria wonders what will happen now as she made her way back to where she left her master.

- - -

Dark became downcast as he and Mana waited for Valkyria to retrieve the body of Mahad. Yami is going to feel much agony now that his guardian is dead. Not only that, he has to tell the truth. As he sunk himself to his thoughts, Valkyria came back with the lifeless body. She put it down and went next to her master.

"Master, I'm back," said Valkyria and the spiky haired boy stood up and his body twitched. The magician rushed to his side with a worried expression on her face. Dark still stood up and went to Mahad's body. He used every ounce of energy he has left and with the power of the Apprentice Rod; he cast his Quake Magic with an incantation spell to open the earth. He pushed the body down and buried it with his own hands. Valkyria and Mana stared worriedly as their master placed a grave marker and pray. With that, he went back to the tree trunk and fell asleep as blood was still dripping from the ground, a little.

- - -

Yami's eyes fluttered open. He felt drained as he got up. To his surprise, he was standing on the seal that Dark made. He doesn't know what's going on but he smelled a familiar odor. Looking around, he saw a short trail of blood leading to one person: Dark. Fear was suddenly written on his eyes as he followed the trail leading him to the tree trunk. Yami was shocked as he saw the injuries he had. Judging by his injuries, he must have wasted his energy without healing himself but there was something different here. Dark's eyes opened and saw the prince with a worried expression on his face.

"Dark, are you alright?" asked Yami but Dark didn't answer and his face was a very hard sad frown. He slightly nodded.

"What happened here and where's Mahad?" Yami asked again but Dark suddenly shuddered. The prince noticed his body is twitching.

"Dark, what's wrong? Dark Dark…" the prince asked again repeating his name until….

"Stop calling me that name!!!" he yelled and the prince was startled at that remark. Mana retreated herself back in the rod and Valkyria wore a long sad look on her face. Yami stared in disbelief. He couldn't believe what he just said to his face.

"What are you talking about? Dark!" said a puzzled Yami.

"I said stop calling me that name!" he yelled again. The prince didn't know what's going on. Why is he acting like this? Yami was about to say his name again but this time…

"Can't you goddamn understand? Stop calling me that name!" he yelled the third time and this time, he was crying.

"What's going on? Tell me!" Yami asked in a serious tone.

"I promise myself that if I saw death the third time, I have to tell you the truth. There's one part you didn't know and I want you to listen before you do or say anything." Dark stated and the prince nodded. Suddenly, dark clouds were gathering and it started to rain.

"My name is not Dark!" he stated and thunder began to boom from the sky. It didn't register at first but Yami's eyes were nearly half-angry but he decided to let it slide for a while and let him finish.

"Are you telling the truth?" Yami asked and he nodded. "If you're name is not Dark then who are you?"

"…….. My real name is Yugi…" he replied as the rain continued to pour from the sky.

"Why did you change your name? Any particular reason?" Yami asked as his anger was slowly rising.

"….. It's my past and the harsh physical environment that I went through. My parents are already in heaven, I was always bullied and I stop trusting other people." Yugi replied when suddenly he received an angry slap on his face. Valkyria stared in shock as her master touched the red mark where he was slapped.

"You bitch!!! Why did you lie to me? Do you really think that I'm that stupid? You fool!!!" Yami said angrily but Yugi was still crying from his yelling.

"You don't freakin' understand, it's not only my past and the hash physical environment. I was, I was, I was also afraid of your Millennium Puzzle." With that statement, Yami gasped but he let him continue. "Did you know that Mahad died because of Bakura and did you know that these wounds came from you!!!!" Yugi shouted as tears continued to fall and the rain was getting worse. Yami could only gape in shock.

"What the hell are you talking about? I never hurt you!" Yami growled as thunder was now booming louder.

"Then familiar with this: Spell Rage!"Yugi spat at the prince.

Yugi's words echoed Yami's head. He wasn't familiar about this and now come to think of it, he remembered something in is childhood when Mahan was severely injured one time. A broken arm and multiple wounds all over his body. Realization struck him and stared at the spiky haired boy. There was a grim line on his face.

"I see…Now I understand that I've caused this much damage but did Mahad really died?" asked Yami, who became calm. Yugi just nodded and with that, the prince shed tears as the rainwater beat their faces.

"Why were you afraid of the Puzzle?" the prince asked and for the first time, Yugi whimpered in fear. Valkyria decided to explain for her master's sake.

"He's afraid or should I say he's sensitive about cursed items and the power of an overwhelming darkness." Valkyria said and Yami just noticed that Yugi summoned the magician. "He nearly succumbed to this power before but it didn't really matter to him that time."

"….One more question: Did Mahad knew all of this?" Yami asked and Yugi nodded. Suddenly, he choked and Valkyria suddenly felt worried.

"Master, what's wrong?" she asked. Before Yugi could answer, he suddenly barfed blood. He was coughing badly. Yami stared in horror in disgust.

"Damn, it's the side effect!" said Yugi, weakly and the prince wondered what's going on. Valkyria was now dead worried.

"My master used the Seal of the Ancients Incantation Spell. While you were in Spell Rage, he used every ounce of energy to seal your spells and made you body numb or more specifically 'sleep' until you wake up. The side effect is usually the drainage of energy but because of his wounds, body pain, and not to mention, his magical energy were reduced to nill, there's a possibility that… he might die." Valkyria stated, her eyes were full of regret.

Yugi coughed blood again and it splattered all over the ground. "Yami, I'm really sorry for lying to you. I guess I wallow too much of the past that I lost my trust to others." With that, he continued to cough; blood was dripping on his mouth. "I understand how angry you are but that doesn't mean I can stay friends okay more than a friend with you. I'm really so----," He stopped speaking when he choked again.

"Master, please don't talk anymore!" Valkyria cried but Yugi didn't heed her words.

"I'm really sorry, Yami. I……I…..Come to think of it, you were the most persistent person I met." said Yugi and he fainted. Valkyria cried, thinking that her master died but Yami touched Yugi's and felt a very low pulse.

"He's not dead yet. And I know how to remedy this." Yami said and activated the Puzzle's powers. Yugi's eyes opened a little and fear was etched on his face. Valkyria sensed her master's fear.

"It's okay, Yugi. The Puzzle is not a cursed item. Sure it has the power of darkness but it's not cursed, I can assure you." Yami said and with that he lets his eyes closed. The prince let his two fingers touched the Eye of Horus and a golden seal appeared under Yugi's body.

"What are you doing?" Valkyria asked as the seal began to draw itself. A ten pointed star appeared on the first layer and the second layer contains some kind of a hieratic text.

"Seal of the Hieratics, I implore you now!" Yami commanded and the text entered through the layer then to the star itself. Slowly, Yugi's wounds and inner injuries were healing including his energy. Magician Valkyria watched as Yami continued his spell. It was golden bright then later the glow died down.

- - -

The rain finally stopped and the trees were dripping wet. Yami fell asleep after he performed his spell and Valkyria on the other hand was standing guard. The trees looked vibrant as Yugi's eyes slowly opened. He sees Yami was sleeping beside him and Valkyria was still keeping an eye on them. She noticed that her master finally woke up.

"Master, thank god you're alright now! I thought you were dead for a second there!" Valkyria said with worry. Yami just woke up when he heard the magician'a voice. Yugi was just praying at Mahad's grave but he has a feeling that he would see him again. The prince prayed as well the the two of them faced each other.

"Yugi, about yesterday, I...um...um...um...apologized for whatever damage I did to you." said Yami. Yugi put his finger to his mouth and was about to say something when he couldn't speak. Valkyria immediately 'scan' his mind and suddenly her eyes overshadowed her face. Yami noticed it as well.

"What's wrong with Yugi, Valkyria?" asked Yami, wondering.

"Master...lost his voice!" she choked and the two teens reeled in shock. Silent tears fell on Yugi's face.

"He suffered so much and I guess that it's about time he lets it all out. Ususally, losing his voice wouldn't allow him to use magic for a while but it depends on how is he gonna ...stay like this." Valkyria continued as tears also fell on her face. Yami couldn't believe it. "Worst of all, he traumatized!"

To Yami's surprise, Yugi just hugged him as tears continued to fall. The prince felt sorry and now he understood why he changed his name when they first met. One of his tears fell on the Millennium Puzzle and it suddenly glowed. Two rays of light were aiming at their foreheads and it reeled them backwards.

"Ugh, what the hell is going on? My head's spinning a lot!" said Yugi clutching his head.

"Tell me about it," said Yami when he noticed something different. " Yugi, can you hear me?"

"Uh-huh," Yugi replied when the two of them realized that they were talking each other through their minds. Valkyria wondered what triggered this to happen.

"Hmmm...huh!!! It looks like I haven't put the Millennium Puzzle back to it's place from yesterday but what made it triggered like this?" asked Yami. He touched the Puzzle and felt something wet. His eyes began to realized something.

"I think I know, Yugi, it was your tears that triggered it to happen! " said Yami and Yugi's eyes widen in realization.

"Then that means...I can talk to you via mind or something like that..." said Yugi. "I think,"

"Why don't we call it Mind Link?" asked Yami. Yugi thought about it and nodded.

"That sounds good...Mind Link...only the two of us can communicate...huh, " Yugi replied. Little did Yami and Valkyria knew that he smiled.

spiritfire: Read and review...mina san I hope this will clear things up.