Fallen: OK, I am SOOOOOOOOO sorry for taking so freaking long on this! The usual things... school, life, problems and such I must admit gave me quite a block, therefore a lack of motivation from the stress. But now, school is out and I am FREE. I tried to make this chapter as long and well-written as I could, to compensate for the ridiculously long wait you guys had to sit through. Again, I'm very sorry and beg for your forgiveness!

*bows*

I literally locked myself in my room today with a box of mini Ritz crackers and some Mountain Dew, and would NOT leave my bed until this chapter was written up. Two-and-a-half hours later, here we are. XD

Nickey: She won't hit a stump again, because I'll beat her up :P And Fallen and I do not own YGO or anything pertaining to YGO

~ Chapter II ~

The Day It All Ended

All he could remember from that day, was that it had started out as normal as any other.

Yuugi and his adoptive brother, Malik, had been playing in the backyard of their family's one-storied, two-bedroom home. The sun had been out and placed high in the sky. Their close friend, Ryou, who was practically another part of the family, had been over for a play-date. The three children, all in the varying stages of their sixth year on the earth, had been playing in the grass with multitudes of toys. Figurines, playing cards, plush animals – anything a six-year-old would enjoy playing with. Eventually, they had just piled the toys neatly to the side, and settled for dog-piling in the cool, green springtime grass and resting in the warmth from above.

From the patio, were two blissfully smiling adults, sitting in white lawn chairs. The woman, Yuugi and Malik's mother, had fair skin with nary a blemish to see, and short, almost boyish red-toned hair. It matched the hue of her youngest's tri-colored mane of raven-black, with maroon tips. He had gotten the golden fringe from his grandfather. All the boys of her family – her father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncles, and so forth – seemed to inherit the bizarre trait from a common ancestor. Who that was, she did not know.

The man next to her, was little Ryou's widowed father. Like the woman (who's name was Ashita), he had lost his spouse in an accident while out on business. The only difference, is that where her husband was involved in overseas shipping and trade, the he and his wife had both been involved in archeology. Yuugi's father, Daichi, had died in an accident, where the plane he had been riding was the victim of engine failure, sending it crashing to the oceans below, and claiming the lives of all on board.

Satoru Bakura and his love, Haru, had been excavating a recently-discovered tomb in the desert sands of Egypt, when something went wrong. In short, the ancient stone had collapsed in on itself, sealing many inside for the extent of hours, and crushing many to death almost instantly. The two families had been very close – Haru and Ashita had been childhood friends, Satoru and Daichi having met sometime in high school. Chances would have it, that the four ended up going to the same college, therefore crossing paths often. It only seemed natural that they had all become friends.

But, to digress...

The two parents watched their three children, enjoying their youth and time together to the fullest of their gentile personalities.

Yuugi, as aforementioned, had wild, spikey black hair. The ends tapered into an attractive shade of maroon, with a jagged fringe of golden bangs framing easily over his face and ears. Pale skin was smooth, with rounded features, and large, soulful, almost indigo-violet eyes. And, though he certainly did not look it, the boy was the eldest of all three. Unfortunately, due to his shorter size and innocent nature, it was not uncommon for him to be the target of bullying at school, try as Ashita and his siblings might to ward off any potential trouble.

Malik, who was the youngest of the trio, was Egyptian in ethnicity, with the natural, bronzed tan of his homeland's people. His hair was an almost metallic blonde, untamed and stuck out in every which-way. Lavender eyes were always full of mischief and trouble to be had. He had lived in Cairo with his parents and siblings. One sister, one brother, with a very quiet mother, who was a bit of a doormat, to be blunt. They had all been harmed in one way or another by the boy's abusive lunatic of a father. However, after his death (he had apparently been stabbed by an intruder one night), his biological mother had been deemed unfit mentally and morally to raise him and his brother and sister. They were put into an overseas adoption program. His older siblings, Ishizu and Odion, had both been adopted, but Malik had not been. And, though he tended to miss his siblings at times, he was forever grateful that fate had set him up to be taken in by his mother. Now, he had a life full of the love and affection that had been absent in his youngest years, and he now had a new brother whom he loved dearly. But it wasn't uncommon for him to be weary of strangers, and usually flinched whenever others moved near him in a way that seemed intimidating or aggressive. Especially with new adults.

Then, there was the middle-child, Ryou. Though he was not under Ashita's lawful care, she still treated the child as if he were her own, just like his father did with Malik and Yuugi. He was calmer, and more inquisitive and insightful than his two companions, and seemed to be an unusually deep thinker for someone of his age. Already, the two parents could tell he was a very nurturing, look-before-you-leap type of person. His hair was light, long, and soft, glowing a stark, snowy-white. It hung down past his chin, and was already separating into spike-like partings at the ends and scalp of his head. He had a kind, doe-like brown gaze that seemed to be able to see into others' hearts, capturing them upon a single glance.

The scene set had been as peaceful as any other spring day. And, it was just as the three boys began to doze in the warm rays of the sun, that it happened.

It had started with a rather ominous aura, settling in over the two grown-ups, but passing over the head of the children like a gentle breeze. They both shifted, sharing a brief glance, looking around the yard, peeking discreetly over the fence line, so as not to disturb nor worry their drowsy boys. Then, came a light tremor – so light, in fact, that it could have been mistaken as the impact of someone shifting or walking by. This caused the young ones to open their eyes a sliver, wondering if the feeling was one of them moving, or just their imaginations.

Next, it seemed that all Hell would break loose.

There was a deep, resounding BOOM! on the horizon, shaking the earth and sky like an earthquake. Only, this was no earthquake. The children all shot up in surprise, looking around with three sets of darting, confused eyes. The adults started up from their chairs, their own gazes wide with worry.

A deep, guttural sound rumbled through the air, before shrieking up in decibel to an infuriated roar.

Yuugi, Malik, and Ryou instinctively raced up to their parents, whimpered and frightened at the ungodly sound. Their arms were outstretched, and the two parents managed to scoop the youngsters into their arms. Ashita cradled Yuugi to her chest, crouching down to her knees, whilst she held Malik firmly to her side as he hid his face in her bosom. Satoru hugged his son to his chest, now both glad and dreading the fact that his younger daughter, Amane, had wanted to spend the day at her grandparents' home that day, instead of "being stuck with a bunch of icky boys," as the little girl had worded it just a few hours previous. He and Ashita shared another startled, wide-eyed look, a single thought in both of the minds:

What in God's name was that?

The two clutched their children more firmly to them as another, deafening bellow tore across the sky. It could be pinpointed towards somewhere deeper into the neighborhood in which they lived, closer to the tall office buildings and other such businesses towards the heart of the city.

Something large, like an ominous shadow, suddenly launched itself across the cityscape.

The adults gaped, whilst the children cowered.

Were those wings?!

The two were quick to herd the young ones into Satoru's car, more than eager to get away from the destruction that surely would fall this day. Ashita called up her father, Sugoroku, and established safety for Satoru, the boys, and herself along the less populated areas in Domino City, where the elder lived in his home-turned-business. Because both knew what had happened.

Someone, somewhere in the city, had Merged with and lost control of their Ka. Be them young or old, once awareness has slipped, controlling the demons of one's inner soul can be nothing short of impossible. It would take a miracle for no-one to be killed this day.

Yuugi huddled close to his brother and best friend in the backseat, their parents not even sparing the time to get their car seats to support them. Instead, they just buckled them in, told them to hold the shoulder strap away from their necks and faces, and started the engine. He shivered with fright.

Whatever was causing the grown-ups to act like this could not be good, in any sense of the word.

Satoru pulled from the drive quickly, obviously stuck between the options of racing as fast as possibly to where they may be safer, and driving as slow as they could afford, for the kids' sakes. He settled for a mixture of the two, going swiftly, but not so much as to cause damage or injuries if a sudden stop were needed. Next to him, Yuugi and Malik's mother gasped as a tall corporation building suddenly went toppling towards the ground, a tar-black dragon barreling its way through the center of its structure. Even from this standpoint, in the distance, they could see the debris of plaster, metal, and glass erupting from the other side, with the scaled beast in their wake.

As they drew closer to their destination – having no choice but to cut through a street that was closer to the chaos than any of the five in that car would have liked – the panic of this random attack became more evident. People were running and screaming in the streets, streaming from their workplaces and countless tall buildings before they had the chance to collapse. Heaps of twisted metal and rubble littered the ground, the leftovers from fallen skyscrapers forming a blanket of drywall dust and ash from a few fires that had broken out. The three children came to the verge of tears, hiding their faces in one another's chests, arms, and shoulders as the bodies of 'sleeping' individuals lay here and there, their final moments of shock and terror limply remaining on relaxed faces.

Then, in a single moment, Yuugi felt his breath catch. Seemingly against his will, his little head slowly turned to the left, to gaze out the window as an earth-shattering rumble shook their vehicle. Amethyst eyes widened, muscles locking, as he was met with the image of a hulking mass of armored skin and leathery wings, vicious talons, and dripping teeth, onyx scales and vibrant, crimson eyes... crouched mere meters away, and crouched in an aggressive stance. He could have sworn their eyes locked, as something shifted and fluttered deep inside of his heart, as the creature stared right back at him.

He could see confusion in those bloody red eyes. Confusion, and pain, and sorrow, and anguish. Like he didn't know or didn't want to do whatever it was he was doing. He just wanted... something. The raw emotion he saw within that dragon's eyes was similar to what Yuugi had felt in his heart the day he was told his daddy was never coming home again.

Then, the creature's pupils widened into empty, black pools of nothing, before narrowing into dangerous slits. Like a singular, delicate crack in a ruby, before its snarling maw opened.

He heard the shouted warnings of his mother and father-figure, the terrified screams of his brothers, before a shock wave of visible, black energy was released with another ear-tearing roar.

People hit by the wave dropped like flies, their body skeletal, their skin clinging tightly to their drained, deceased frames like plastic wrap, eyes dead and hollow, while whatever inanimate object around them – be it building, car, or briefcase – disintegrated into a fine, powdery substance at their feet.

And it was right before the Ring of Death hit them, that Yuugi felt that stirring pressure in his chest release, with a sudden, shuddering gasp.

I will protect you, whispered a voice, deep and regal, one that Yuugi had never heard before.

His eyes glowed a pure, bright white shade, as his loved ones shrieked around him, head tilting back as a burst of pure energy escaped him, and met the ring-like wave head-on, and shattering its barrier into a grayish mixture of stardust-like shine. Surrounding his family in a clear, protective bubble, as all others died like mangy dogs around them. He could feel the shocked gazes, rather than see them, settled on his practically ethereally-glowing body, as the black death-bringer before them shot itself back up into the sky, that fluttery feeling of connection within his soul seeming to follow it.

Who... Wh-Who are you...? he managed to whimper back, muscles still frozen with the surges of power that left him, mouth slightly open in a silent cry. What was this voice, inside the deepest recesses of his head? When had it gotten there?

Was it something like this killer beast currently vaulting itself around the city?

I am nothing to fear, little one, for I will protect you, it repeated calmly, soothing Yuugi's fraying nerves like a cooling balm, I have been here since the day of your birth, sleeping, waiting for the day when you were ready to accept my presence inside of your soul. Yuugi pictured something akin to a silky, warm blanket being placed over his body, as the energy gradually died down. His irises returned to their normal amethyst shade, though they were now dim with fatigue. The energy bubbled also vanished, and Yuugi's eyelids fluttered with a tired noise, before he slumped lifelessly back into Malik's side. He just wanted to sleep...

My... M-My soul...?

There was a somewhat deep, rolling chuckle. Indeed, little one, the voice continued, My name, is Arceus. I am a Lightsworn, and I am your Ka Monster.

Though he was exhausted, Yuugi's brow crinkled in confusion. Light...sworn?

Another chuckle. I will explain later, little Yuugi. But, for now... rest. I shall be waiting for you, when you wake. And then, I will answer all of your questions.

Yuugi turned to his side slowly, murmuring tiredly and his body slouched down, and he managed to numbly place his head into the startled Malik's lap. "...Promise...?" he slurred with a tiny yawn, much to the confusion of his sibling and friend, and the realization of his mother and father-figure.

You have my word, soothed Arceus, Now...

Sleep.

Nickey: Ha! That was great! Loved it, and awesome work Fallen! But, just remember, if you ever hit a stump like that again, I'll thunder punch you in the throat and bring you back out of it ^w^ (thank... -w-U) haha! Hope you all enjoyed as much as I did! :) until next time ladies and gents! *waves* Goodbye!

Fallen: See you next time, for Nickey's chapter! :D