spiritfire: Before I continue the chapter let me chat the reviewers from the previous 2 chappies
AtemuYugi Lover34 : Yes I know...I can see that
Spicey Babe : I only update once a week because of school so don't worry there's more
bunny-bobtail : I know everybody says that
yamiyugi23 : Arigatao gozaimasu for making me your favorite author..here have a oreo shake
Now let's continue the story
Warning: I don't owe Final Fantasy VIII and second, since Yugi lost his voice, it'll be in italics when they use Mind link
XXIII. Altech
Since Magician Valkyria can't come come inside the Valkyria key due to her master's lost voice, she has to do it on her own. Yami and Yugi found their way out of the forest aside from the destruction that the Lunar Prince caused. As for the Millennium Puzzle, it finally return itself to its original state; inside Yami's body. There, they saw an ovewrview of some kind of metropolitan city. It was filled with medium sized buildings and a dome-shaped building. It was also filled with people busy with their everyday lives.
"Yugi, is this Altech?" Yami asked and Yugi nodded. It was a beautiful view but only on the outside. The inside is nothing but full of luster.
As they enter the continent, they noticed someone was running. It was a boy about ten years of age. He has long black spiky hair and blue eyes. Some how, he was chased by a group of thugs. Yami and Yugi nodded to each other and confronted them.
"Leave him alone!" said the prince as the boy ran behind him. The group of thugs were clenching their fist. No doubt that they would listen to him so they tried to pummel him. Yami was about to use his magic when Yugi suddenly stop him via mind link as they call it.
"Yami, no! Don't use magic here! Just evade their attacks !" said Yugi and the prince stopped his casting. One of them delivered a strong punch but Yami just moved his head and made the thug tripped himself. The others were angry so punching was easily resolved to group beating. But all of a sudden, Yugi was in front of them so fast. He glared at them and simply kicked their asses. The thug fell down on his knees but the others want to beat him up. Yugi reached something from his hidden pocket and pulled out the Apprentice Rod. Yami saw that he didn't actually 'pulled' it but rather a trick in the eye. One of them tried to punch him on the chest but Yugi used his elbow to block it then he used the Rod to either knock them out or broke their wrist. After much beating, the group screamed and ran away like little girls.
"Thanks for saving me, if it weren't for you, I probably got beaten up by now." said the boy.
"You're lucky that we arrived in time," said Yami. "By the way, what's your name and what are you doing here?"
"I'm Mokuba and I'm supposed to go back to Garden when I ran to those thugs." he said and the two of them were puzzled.
"Garden?" Yami questioned and Mokuba noticed that they didn't know anything. Yugi just shrugged.
"Are you guys new here?" he asked and they nodded. A wide grin was spread across his face.
"Goody, I can pay you guys back by giving you a tour of Altech and Garden." Mokuba said and he led the two of them to a dome-shaped building they saw despite Yami's protest.
- - -
"Welcome to Garden or should I say SEED Garden," Mokuba declared as they entered the building. It was wonderous. There were at least six or seven floors of this building and so many people mostly teenagers. "By the way, I didn't catch your names."
"I'm Yami and this is my friend...uh," said the prince and used mind link. "Should I tell your real name?" . Yugi was about to tell when they saw a familiar person. That person is none other than Kaiba himself.
"Yami! Dark! What are you doing here?" said a puzzled Kaiba.
"Big brother, they're here because I owe them from saving me from a group of thugs." said Mokuba and the two of them nearly fell where they're standing.
"You're Kaiba's brother!" Yami blurted and the older Kaiba smirked at this surprise. Yugi just dropped his jaw and used his right hand to shut it back.
"Younger brother to be precise." Mokuba grinned.
"Go back to your quarters, Mokuba. I'll take it from here." said Kaiba and the boy left them alone. He noticed that Mahad wasn't with them.
"Before I say anything, where's Mahad?" he asked and the two of them suddenly became downcast. None of them said a word.
"I take it he perished in the Forest of Despair?" asked Kaiba , hoping that he hit the right mark.
"Yes and no," Yami replied but Yugi didn't said a word. Now the blue-eyed teen was curious.
"What's with the 'no' part?" asked Kaiba.
"Yes, he did die and no because he was killed by Bakura." the prince growled. "In addition, he lost his voice after that!" He ppinted at Yugi apparently didn't spoke and felt bad for Yami.
"Hmmm...maybe the headmaster can help." Kaiba suggested and the three of them started walking. As they walk, he decided to ask something else.
"So what are you guys doing here, anyway?" he asked.
"None of your business, Kaiba. We're actually passing by." Yami jabbed at him. Kaiba merely chuckles as they took the elevator and pressed the number six button. The elevator went up and stopped. A man noticed that someone is here to see him. The elevator doors began to slide and the three of them entered the office. It was only a table and a chair at first fillled with unusual decorations on the wall.
"Headmaster Squall, these two guests are from the Lunarian Continent who passed the Forest of Deapair." said Kaiba and the chair turned around revealing a young man with a stern look on his face. He has at least a little short black hair wearing a necktie and a simple looking black business suit. He looks like a person you don't want to cross.
"So...you claimed that you survived the Forest of Despair...Quite an achievement you did..." said the headmaster but the two of them didn't fazed one bit. Kaiba just stood there, staring.
"But one thing I must ask of you: How did you survive? I can see from your physical appearance that you were fine but somehow I smelled bloodfrom both of you...Did one of your compatriots died due to the wails of despair?" he asked. Yugi held Yami's hand and was shaken. The prince didn't know how to answer this but he didn't forget that he's royalty and should be diplomatic. He swallowed the lump on his throat and breathed.
"One, he's not our compatriot...he's our friend. Two, he was killed and three, you're so called 'wails of despair' don't affect us." said Yami with his authoritive voice. The Headmaster smirked and got up from his chair and walked towards Yugi.
"Hmmm...you seemed nervous. In fact, I smelled too much blood from you," said the headmaster, inspecting Yugi. "Can you tell me what happened?"
Yugi's mind began to race. He never expected this before and his heart was pumping faster and faster. All of a sudden, his eyes went bloodshot and hid himself behind Yami. Kaiba and the prince were a bit surprised from his actions. Yami understood what he has gone through and he won't let someone do much mental damage.
"Sorry, he won't speak to you!" Yami said frostily. He was glaring at the headmaster then used mind link to assure Yugi that he won't let anyone hurt him.
"Oh...really!" the headmaster smirked when a woman just came in from the elevator. She had long black hair, clear black eyes and a delicate skin. She wore a simple business suit and puts a stern face on the headmaster.
"Squall, will you stop that!!! I just heard from Mokuba that we have guests that were able to survive that forest." said the woman crossly and for the first time, the headmaster sweatdropped at her.
"Uh...uh...I just need to know but he won't speak and hides behind that man." the headmaster blubbered, pointing at Yami
"Who is she?" Yami asked and Kaiba giggled a little.
"She's the headmaster's wife. Her name is Rinoa and she's the only one who can stop him from cruel interrogations. In other words,..." Kaiba replied. "A sweet burden to headmaster.". With that, he giggled.
Rinoa went where Yugi hid himself and smiled at him. Yami used Mind Link to tell him that she's okay and so Yugi walked himself out making the headmaster dropped his jaw and started to protest but to no avail.
"See, I'm much better to do the asking. Not all people can stand your way of speaking." said Rinoa and Squall sighed.
"Okay, I'll ask you where he left off: What happened in the forest?" she asked but Yugi can't speak. She noticed it at a first glance and inspect his body and stared intenly.
"Did you lost...your voice?" asked Rinoa and Yugi nodded.
"This is not good...maybe I can ask the other guy." she muttered. She asked Yami what happened but he became downcast that he couldn't utter a single word. It seems that his guardian's death is still fresh in his mind.
"Okay, I won't pry but how can we help you if none of you would tell us." said Rinoa and the two teens began discussing it through mind link plus Yami had to say something whatever it is.
"Should we tell her?" asked Yami. "She doesn't mean any harm to us."
"I'm not sure if she's to be trusted. I don't trust the headmaster and he gives me the creeps." Yugi replied, shuddering. Rinoa wondered how did Yami was able to communicate then she saw Yugi's head nodded and sometimes shook his head.
"Wait, maybe there's another way for you to tell us. We should only ask him yes or no questions. Since he can't speak for a while I hope, we should use it." Rinoa said. "Is that okay?". Yugi nodded in assent and Squall began to ask.
"Good, hmmmm...Did your friend died because someone killed him?" he asked and Yugi nodded.
"Was it someone you hate?" Rinoa asked but it took a few minutes for him to think then he point at Yami indicating that he knows something.
"Did you know who killed him?" Squall asked but the prince scowled so Kaiba decided to say it for his sake since he owned them for saving his brother.
"It was Bakura, sir," Kaiba stated and everyone in the room went quiet.
"I'm sorry for being a little harsh. Most probably the reason you lost your voice because it was a state of shock." said Squall. Yugi just nodded at him. Yami just sighed in relief.
"Well since you came a long way, I suggest you stay here for the night or at least when you're fully rested." the headmaster suggested but Yugi shook his head.
"We don't have time for this," said Yugi. "You tell them, Yami!"
"I'm afraid that we don't have time to waste. Like I said to Kaiba, we were just passing by," Yami stated. "But thanks for trying to help."
"Yami, listen to me, you guys need a break once in a while. You've been in that dreaded forest and besides if that psychopath dares to enter here, he'll end up like a punching bag." said Kaiba with a sadistic smirk on his face.
"What do you think, Yugi? Should we take a break?" Yami asked and the spiky-haired boy thought about it. Come to think of it, they never had a break since they came here except for a rest. He nodded and the Headmaster told Rinoa to lead them to the guest room.
- - -
The guest room is just a simple room with a queen size bed and not to mention some wonderous decorations. The two teens could only gape and Rinoa was pleased at that act they showed. Kaiba on the other hand was not that surprised at all the luxury they all had. Both teens lie down and feeling a bit tired.
"So how do you like it so far?" Kaiba asked.
"Not bad," Yami and replied and Yugi nodded.
"Well if you need anything, just pressed the button and one of the headmaster's servants will get your attention. I'm sure he already told them." said Kaiba and left the two boys alone.
Yugi positioned himself in a sitting position and closed his eyes. He was trying to relax and concentrated as a silver aura appeared all over his body. Yami just stared at him then he used mind link.
"Yugi...,what are you doing?" asked Yami who was staring. The spiky-haired boy stopped for a while then he began to reply.
"Meditating and I hope what they said that losing my voice would be temporary." Yugi replied but his eyes contained a hint of sadness.
"Something's been bugging me ever since we came here, Yugi...I don't sense any magic here...any reason or cause?" said a puzzled Yami.
"From what I read back in Alexandria, magic is forbidden in this continent and that's why I stopped you from casting any magic." said Yugi with a serious look on his face.
"I wonder why," Yami wondered. "And there's something else that has been bugging me."
"Like what?" asked Yugi.
"I can't pinpoint it yet but I sense something suspicious like we've been monitored ." Yami replied and Yugi sighed.
"For now, we should act cool and take this break a chance to relax oursleves and...I hope I can move on with my past." Yugi said sadly. Feeling concern for the spiky-haired boy, Yami hugged him for the first time and Yugi was a little shock at first.
"Since you can't use magic for a while, I'll protect you from anything until I get you out of this continent. I don't want anything happen to you and I don't want to see death again. It's too painful ." said Yami and Yugi accepted the hug. At least, he felt comfortable rather than the lovebite incident.
"I guess this is the beginning of something new ..." said Yugi.
"Yes, I agree with you...and I'm sure you'll overcome what ever that comes in your way. " said Yami and their bond became as strong as the ribbon itself that will fire for all eternity.
spiritfire: Well, that's a bit weird and cheesy well I can't complain now so leave with the reviews okay watch out for the next chappie.