29-Revenge and Permanent Growth

Perhaps if it wasn't for this tied up dead weight human being carried on his shoulder, Atem probably would have made it to Yami by now. Once he knocked out Pegasus, he immediately ran downstairs to get to Yami after he heard Yugi's plea for help. He couldn't leave the human, for he could have woken up and tried something foolish again, which was why he was tight up in those light chains. He couldn't kill him, because Yugi told them before they left the house not to for some odd 'human' reason. He would try to teleport, but he wasn't sure if his magic would affect Pegasus or not.

Upon finally getting to the basement door, he felt Akefia's dark aura. For Atem however, it wasn't as bad as it was for Yami and Yugi. He cursed to himself. This human wouldn't be able to withstand the intensity of the aura. So he placed him next to the doorway, knowing that he wouldn't be able to wake up anytime soon. He would just retrieve him later, but he could not stay there unattended. As he kept that in mind, he easily pushed past it and descended down the flight of stairs leading to the floor of the room.

Once he entered the heart of the basement, he saw Yami and Akefia. His beloved was panting, bleeding from his mouth and arm. He was using those dangerous powers of that shadow-beast. No wonder he looked tired. Not only from fighting Akefia, but from using those abilities. Looking at Akefia, he realized that Yami was right. He was tired as well, and took a good beating. The two seemed almost equally out-matched. He obviously had a very difficult time trying to damage the younger shadow. The two didn't seem to notice Atem was there.

Akefia charged towards Yami with a punch, landing a good hard hit. However, just as he did so, Yami formed a sword out of shadows and stabbed it through the other, right in the stomach. The other yelled out a sharp cry, holding his lower abdomen and backing away quickly. As the pain distracted Akefia, Atem made his way to his lover and grabbed his shoulders. He slowly pushed him down, making him sit on the floor. Yami turned his head and saw Atem through tired glazed eyes.

"You need to rest. I will take care of Atrocious-"

The man in question growled and morphed into the shadows, disappearing from their sight and moving on to another location in the house.

"Damn him!" Atem cursed. With a sigh, he tightly grabbed Yami's hand and helped him up to his feet. "We have to find Yugi, immediately. Was he not in the basement with you?"

"No..." Yami shook his head, returning to his normal form. His face held guilt and shame. "He ran off right out of my sight. He chased after Venom through the back exit of the basement. I do not know where they are now."

Atem gave a good sniff and closed his eyes. "I smell them." Odd, he could smell Yugi's scent again. That was good news, but why did they lose his presence in the first place? "I can feel Yugi's life force once more, they are however in different locations." He opened his eyes and turned to his lover, a fearful expression. "I do not know what happened, but something definitely effected Yugi once his presence disappeared."

The other spat blood from his mouth as his body regenerated. "The hell do you mean?"

"I am not sure," Atem began pulling Yami away towards the other exit. "But we must go after him! I know where he's moving to." Of course once again, Atem would teleport with Yami. However, the room had too much negative energy for him to use his magic. It was too powerful and it was making him slightly weak. All they could do was run as fast as they could. Unlike Yami, Atem had a universal third-eye that could sense a number of things normal unnatural creatures couldn't. He sensed everyone's aura in the house. His own, Yami's, Akefia's, Marik's and even Yugi's. But that was what scared him to the bone. There was another darkness that surrounded Yugi. It was not Marik's, and it was not Akefia's.

Why did Yugi's aura feel like nothing but darkness? He sensed what Yami called MALICE. That wasn't right. He should have felt a little of his light at least.

At this, Atem boosted his speed, making Yami almost trip over his own feet.

Slithering from one shadow on the wall to another wasn't a problem for Akefia. He had to be honest. If he hadn't escaped from Poison, he might have really gotten tattered up. As a moving shadow, Akefia slithered towards the little one's location. He sensed that he was in a hall way, heading towards the kitchen. As he did, he felt immense power emanating from the boy. It felt so evil, so incredibly wicked and sinful, that he even trembled in its presence. The fact that it was affecting Akefia at all, must have meant that he was getting close. This power felt devastating, but he loved it either way. Terrifyingly delicious.

On the way, he saw their human companion passed out near the basement door, tied up in those chains he created. He scoffed. Damn human was nearly useless in the end.

It didn't matter though, because they didn't need him for this battle. If he were to just capture that boy and absorb all of his power, killing Poison and Noxious would be effortless.

He just...He just couldn't balance himself. Wobbling from side to side, almost falling into the wall over and over again. It just seemed like walking, was the hardest thing to do. He felt...everything. Dizzy, paranoid, nauseous, fatigue, and even intense pain from his neck. Why, why did he feel these things? Why couldn't he walk? Why couldn't he keep his balance? Why did he let Marik get away after beating him down like nothing? How could he let him do that again, after so many days of preparing himself for this specific fight?

Yugi was so frustrated and discombobulated, he was covering his face. Perhaps he feared what he'd see, or maybe it was because his vision was too screwed up to see straight. And why the hell did his clothes feel so tight? On the way down this hallway, the boy threw off his shirt, only now wearing his black tank top. His pants felt like they couldn't fit him, and his shoes? Pfft. He kicked those off the first moment he woke up. His head hurt, his heart was aching, and he felt like such an idiot.

Why was he feeling like this? Why did he feel like hell?

The boy's face was shadowed by his hands that seemed larger now. He backed into a wall, stopping his movements and sliding down to the floor. He needed a five second break. He uncovered his face a little, his dark purple eyes looking far from pure. He huffed, standing up. He shrieked in pain, holding onto his neck. He almost forgot that Marik had bit him. And God did that only piss him off even more.

Looking down at the floor, he looked at his bare feet. Which for some reason, seemed larger as well. Odd, he never seemed like a shoe size of 13 like Yami or Atem...He gazed at his hands as well. Weird, the never looked so gruff and big either. No offense to himself, but Yugi never had manly looking hands. It was like he swapped with Yami or something. And for the love of all that was good, why did he feel so damn lopsided? Like he was taller and heavier.

Yugi realized, he changed physically. But why?

A sharp pain surged through his body as he remembered what Marik did to him. Once he bit the boy, he felt darkness invading from the inside of his body. Darkness that wasn't his own. It took over him, and even took over his light half. He thought back to what Atem said about manipulation of magic.

If you connect yourself with your energy and your aura, you can manipulate it in any way you want. That goes for dark energy as well. However, it can also be forced, if the source is strong enough. Meaning an enemy can change you, if powerful enough to take over your own aura."

"..."

...Marik's dark power was probably meant to kill him when it invaded Yugi's body, but it changed him instead. By forcing and manipulating his aura, turning him into...

'That's it..." Yugi thought. That was the last straw. He was going to find that prick and kill him and slow and painful death. Without failure this time. He huffed once more, held his hand onto the wall and began walking once more.

An odd smell...

'There you are.'

The kitchen was spacious just like every other room of the mansion. Cookware everywhere, a large microwave oven and stove, an enormous fridge and large white marble counter. With tile white walls and floors as well, accompanied with double cabinets and other compartments.

There Akefia waited for their special guest to arrive, walking around the corner of the sink. He sensed that both Marik and that boy were coming.

Suddenly, he heard the doors of the kitchen slam open. He whipped his head towards the entrance, and already began backing up. His eyes shrunk.

"Noxious." He scowled.

The former pharaoh growled and charged after the other man. Tackling down to the floor, Akefia made a great struggle. Trying to kick him off, it was no use. It hurt Atem, but not enough to get him off. His eyes glowed yellow, slits for pupils. Akefia's maroon eyes glowered back, grunting as he tried to use his weight to get the other man off. Atem made him stop however, by giving him a good punch to the face. It stunned him, but he kept going. Punching him again and again. Blood began to dribble from his nose and his mouth.

"You bastard!" Atem shouted. "You dare hurt Yami?! And what were you doing here? Waiting for Yugi, huh!?" He seized his throat and squeezed firmly. Akefia gripped the floor and dug into the tile floor with his nails. Choking and wheezing, he couldn't get out of this. Atem wouldn't stop punching him, and he was starting to look disfigured. He was starting to see black, losing consciousness.

As for Atem, he was extremely furious. He knew either Marik or Akefia had to have something to do with Yugi being in danger. He didn't know which, but it didn't matter. For they both would meet their demise in only a matter of minutes now. Not to mention that this fucker here hurt Yami to a great degree. "What did you do to Yugi!?" He yelled. "Tell me! One of you did something!" He aggressively shook Akefia by his neck, only making it even harder for him to try and talk. His eyes filled with rage and impulsiveness, he didn't give a damn about anything at this point.

"Atem, stop!" Yami cried out. This was that side of Atem the dark one was afraid of. If he were to let Atem continue, the elder man would lose himself. His sudden surprised him, and even made him a little scared. The former king halted his movements and began to let go, while the man underneath him began to weakly laugh and cackle. His face started to heal and regenerate quickly, forming back together.

"Hahaha..." Instantly, he took hold of Atem's throat this time. He placed a hand on his forehead. "You weren't wrong!" Akefia had powers a lot like Atem, but not nearly as strong. However, when one was vulnerable enough, they would work just as powerfully. He was entering his mind, making his third-eye powers in disarray. That confused and corrupted Atem's mind greatly so, as his brain was the most vulnerable thing in his body. He fell limp in Akefia's hands.

Yami grabbed hold of the former pharaoh's arm and yanked him away from Akefia's grasp. He had Atem lean on his body for support he was way too dizzy to stand up straight on his own. The dark one sent a glare towards their enemy, his eyes angrily flashing blue. He only laughed again, disappearing. Yami blinked, and began backing away while holding Atem and looking around. Suddenly in front of him, Akefia and placed his hand on Yami's right shoulder and sent his own aura inside of him. Making Yami almost scream from pain. It was overwhelming and canceling out his powers. He then grabbed the both of them, and shoved them towards the floor. They couldn't get back up, they were weak of magic and energy.

"Got nothing else up your sleeves?" Akefia smirked. "Weak. The both of you. Not to mention that boy is going to murdered by my hands as well. You can just sit there, relax and watch as I absorb his powers and leave him dead like a shriveled prune."

Both men panted as they glared at Akefia. Yugi wasn't here, and they were both down for the count. They both feared that Akefia would finish them off here. No...Not now. Not when they were so close. The bastard kept staring down at them with a sneer, chuckling as he did so.

A loud crash, and a huge lump of rubble, debris and cooking utensils was thrown at him, knocking him all the way through the other wall and leaving a gaping hole. They heard another faint crash, knowing that had to have been Akefia landing on the hard floor from being knocked back so far. As for Atem and Yami, they blinked. Who the hell did that? Whoever or whatever it was, it saved them from being killed. Looking towards the other gaping hole that was made, they saw Marik running away from it and running to the other. He looked almost petrified, as if sprinting away from his worst nightmare. Though, he almost looked a little excited too.

Atem got up on his feet and helped Yami up. They both felt dangerous aura surrounding the room. "I think we should go. Now." Atem gripped his hold on Yami's hand and pulled them out of the room, following Marik and Akefia. As they were running away from the kitchen, a huge explosion erupted. Even more cookware flew from within, and the doors were mangled into nothing.

Well...That room was destroyed. But what the hell did that?

Atem slowed to a stop, still tightly holding onto Yami. He looked back, trying to see if he sensed anything or anyone behind them. But once he did, all he saw was a WHOOSH fly right by him.

"The hell!?"

Someone ran past them. That was extraordinary speed. Both men quickly turned back around to see what was moving so fast towards Mairk and Akefia. It was so fast, that the person was only a black streak. Their eyes couldn't see a physical appearance, simply because they were too slow at reacting. With a few sniffs of his nose, Yami's eyes widened as he concluded one fact.

"That was Yugi." He whispered. They went off after him, running as fast as they could. As they ran, they noticed that Akefia was gone. All they saw was that streak and Marik. They ran into the music room, and the two men followed forth through the pure white doors.

Once they were inside, they saw that this was one of the largest rooms in the mansion. It was pure white as well. Glossy glass-looking floors and walls, columns aligned perfectly. One very large window on the right of the room. A jet black piano in the middle of the area, and one single large golden chandelier was the center decoration. Marik stopped in front of the piano and turned around to see what was behind him. Nothing was there. He quickly looked up, and nervously backed up, accidentally touching one of the keys. Atem and Yami looked up as well, and their eyes dilated once they realized why Marik was so afraid.

That streak, was indeed a person. Yami was also right, it was Yugi. But what they saw, looked completely different than the small skinny boy they were used to.

This Yugi, was thicker. More muscular, bigger, taller and even stronger than they last saw him. To Atem, it was like looking at another Yami, just not as pale, and had those same purple eyes. Only his eyes were more lowered, and not as wide and innocently big like they used to look. His face, no longer adorably chubby with round cheeks, but more sharp with a matured looking jaw. Hell, his adam's apple was even more visible. If it wasn't for the intense situation right now, the two men probably would have thought that this new Yugi was handsome instead of cute.

What they sensed, scared them. Because they no longer felt any more light inside of him.

Yugi was in the air, which was why Marik was looking up. He tried once more to back, but there was no where to run. Yugi flew down at alarming speed, swinging his bare foot right into Marik's jaw. He was hit so hard, he destroyed the piano once he slammed against it from his attack. Well, apparently Yugi got the flying thing right. He gripped the other man by his neck and slammed him against the wall.

Atem and Yami were taking a good look at what was happening.

They failed.

The boy's heart was completely overwhelmed by darkness. How and why, they didn't know. But if this rampage of his were to continue, he might just lose himself like Yami almost did. He was becoming a monster, no longer an innocent boy. The very thing they didn't want to happen. Atem thought back and realized that all of Yugi's predictions came true. Hands of black blood...This was what he meant by that. His hands were to be bloodied after killing Marik and finally achieving his revenge. Marik looked absolutely terrified, nervously smiling as Yugi glared at him.

With a slam of the two doors, Akefia suddenly made his entrance by appearing in black smoke.

This didn't seem to get Yugi's attention, because he continued pinning Marik against the wall. Continuously socking him in the face, nonstop. He didn't notice Akefia running towards him. He was too distracted being amused by seeing Marik's nose beginning to bleed. But in that next second, his movements stopped as he felt his head painfully whipped to the right. He was dropped kicked right in the face. He got thrown into the wall, then fell down to the floor and curled up into a ball. The white haired man smirked and began walking towards him.

Atem took a step to try and go after him, but was quickly pulled back by Yami. They watched as Yugi's body began to twitch. Akefia stood above him, sneering as can be. "Hurting my partner, eh?" He said rather quietly. He watched the younger one carefully. He was beginning to hug himself. As the white haired man began narrowing his eyes, they then dilated as he tried to back up. He realized quickly what Yugi was going to do.

A huge eruption of his dark power surged throughout the room with a pained screamed. Atem and Yami shielded themselves by taking cover behind the ruined piano. Was Yugi hurting himself by being in this form? Why did he have to scream in order for that attack to work? Akefia was thrown to the ground next to Marik, and he grunted as he tried to sit back up. He clenched his teeth as he saw what was becoming of him. A large black shadow beat morphed from the back of the new man, and grew larger as other smaller shadows surrounded Yugi. He slowly stood up, once again glowering at Akefia with those dark violet eyes. He opened the palm of his hand, black smoke arising from it. It formed a small dark ball.

He retracted his arm and roughly pulled back, throwing it towards the white haired male. Not quick enough to get away and dodge, Akefia was hit square in the chest and knocked out of the room's only window. He screamed himself as he was pummeled all the way down to the ground, outside of the house. Meanwhile, Marik saw this opportunity to escape. Once his master was dealt with, he knew he would be next. He crawled to get back up, Yugi slowly turning towards him and walking after him. He knelt down at Mairk's side and stared at him. Atem bit his lip.

"Damn it, what should we do?!" Yami raised his voice.

"Nothing." Atem answered angrily. "This is his fight. We cannot stop him now. Not in this state..."

"He's going to lose himself in that form! We need to do something!" The dark one clenched his teeth and shouted the new man's name. "YUGI!"

"..!"

Yugi flinched and quickly turned back to the two men. His eyes slightly showed life in them. Once he saw those two, he saw other images of them. Flashbacks of happy, loving memories. Blinking once, he slowly looked down at his hands and his eyes started to tremble. He steadily looked back at Atem and Yami. What happened next, they never expected.

Yugi started to cry.

He looked scared, panicked and confused. Why was he turning into a monster? Why was he taking another life? Why was he doing this? Why was he doing something so horrible and evil? His lip trembled and his eyes shook. Did Yami somehow snap him out of it?

"G-Guys...?" He whispered. Oddly, his voice sounded exceptionally deeper.

Unfortunately, before Atem and Yami could answer back, the reunion was canceled by Marik as he round house kicked Yugi in the air. He then speedily appeared above him, and slammed him right back down to the floor. He landed face first. The tan male chuckled and shoved his foot on the back of his head, and stomping it down. "You know, thanks to Akefia's love, I've gotten so much stronger than you." A blush appeared on the man's tan cheeks as he began to moan to himself. Reminding him of the 'beautiful' nights he and Akefia had together. "Ahh...He always treated me best, like a treasure. To him, I was a power untapped that was only worthy of him and him only. He loves me..." He smirked, slightly rubbing down his body as he thought of his master. "All mine!"

As Marik was reminiscing, he didn't see Yugi turn over and get up. He sucker punched Marik, making him fly into another wall. It slightly cracked from the impact. A few teeth flew out of his mouth as black inky blood dropped from his lips. At this, the other two men determined something else from all this. This was Yugi's shadow-form. Amazingly powerful and evil. His darkness, MALICE invaded the room in the form of smoke. This shadow-form, was CYANIDE.

Yugi's face was scrunched up, frowning furiously. He looked disgusted, besides angry. "You damn whore." He said, shocking everyone who was in the room. He forced out an angered laugh. "Ha. You? A 'treasure'? You greedy fool..." He began walking closer to Marik slowly. Predator ready to eat his prey. "You were hungry for power, so you lured that horrible man into your repulsive body again...and again...and AGAIN..." His voice got even lower. "Ohoho...But you are allowed to do that...because you're nothing but a disgusting wench to him."

For the first time in their loves, both Yami and Atem witnessed Marik's eyes widening in hurt. Speechless, yes speechless for once! Actually offended and affected by someone else's words! For the first time in their history, someone had finally successfully given Marik a taste of his own poisoned medicine!

Marik began to slightly tremor. He gritted what was left of his teeth, his hair rising up. He made a battle cry, and transformed his arm into a shadow. Forming it into a khopesh. He just began hollering angrily. "You shut the fuck up! You know nothing about me!" His frown turned into a twisted grin, laughing maniacally. "Get ready to meet your grandfather in hell you wretch!" He swung the sword towards Yugi's left arm. Yugi, on the other hand, easily stepped to the side and dodge the attack without effort. It was like in slow-motion for him. Marik was too slow, and Yugi was too fast.

Marik blinked, confused.

A disturbing RIP was heard throughout the room. And Marik no longer felt any feeling in his entire body. Yugi tightly held the head in his hand, glowering at it. He shoved the severed head in Marik's chest, right where his heart was. Crushing it, killing him and destroying his life force permanently. He was truly, and finally dead this time. Yugi stared down at it with an oblivious expression. He knelt down on one knee, and charged power into his right arm. He began swinging, and punching Marik's corpse to nothing. Nothing but mushy chumps of black blood and meat.

He couldn't stop. His grandfather appeared in his mind as he felt the dead blood of his enemy. He even began crying again without his own knowledge. He clenched his teeth and cried out. "AAHH!" He was just about to slam again onto the corpse, until his arms were held up from behind. Atem had him in a full-nelson. Trying to hold him and pull him away from the body. Yugi was violently thrashing around, trying to break free. Yami took hold of his legs, pulling him down to the floor and laying him flat. He continued yelling and screaming as they held him down.

Yami and Atem called his name once more. "Yugi!" They yelled in unison.

The other man flinched and stopped in an instant. He then began twitching and shivering.

His grey tears wouldn't stop pouring down onto the floor.

END 30

"Poor thing...You shouldn't have done that."