Note To Readers: Hey guys! Sorry about the wait. I caught a really bad cold! So In honor of Yugi's birthday, I'm ready to present the continuation of the story! Nightmare In The Shadows!
Nightmare In The Shadows
Yugi sat by Bloom asleep in his bed and looked at his three Egyptian god cards without a word. "You've been quiet for awhile...is there something troubling you Yugi?" Atem asked his other half softly. "It's what Bloom saw in her vision...isn't it? Or is it the fact Marik is involved that frightens you...?" the Pharoah mused. Yugi held his head and let out a heavy sigh. "Daphne showed Bloom the same symbols in that tablet of memories...the very same ones that we were taken into as we gazed into YOUR memories Atem...I just have this bad feeling...we never did learn how Marik planned to drain your power and become Pharoah instead...we also didn't learn just where that darkness that possessed Marik even came from. It all just seemed to fade away into the shadows...leaving more questions than answers." Yugi told Atem.
"So then it IS on your mind...I thought as much. However, I have learned Daphne never acts without a purpose. If it is she that believes the god cards are important than I'm inclined to believe her...and you and I both know it is Marik that we learned of their existence along with Ishizu...it is more than likely they hold the key to rescuing both Kaiba and Sky from being ensnared by the Shadow Realm." "...Do you really think so Atem? Even if that's the case the Ishtar's are in Egypt. Which would mean that we'd have to go to Egypt in order to even meet with Marik and learn what this means..." "I fear so. Marik too is familiar with the ancient magic used in the past...perhaps we mat also learn of a way to defeat the wizard's as well." "...I sure hope so...who knows what's happening to Kaiba and sky right now!?" Yugi trembled as tears emerged in his eyes as Atem gently placed his hand over Yugi's. Joey stayed in the corner of the doorway listening in. {Marik?...Aw man, I get da willies just thinkin bout dat guy...UGH...} the blonde cringed.
*In The Shadow Realm*
Kaiba groaned as his eyes flickered open. He found himself in a place in which nothing looked familiar to him. It was dark and the air nearly choked him with a miasma that seeped through the air. The CEO struggled to his feet and took a moment to steady himself. His strength seemed to wane with each passing moment. "Where...the hell am I?" Kaiba questioned. "No matter. All I need to know is how to get out of this damned place..." he cursed. One foot in front of the other Kaiba knew only one thing to do. Walk. There almost seemed no end to the darkness. It was only a matter of time before the blue eyed male paused as he saw apparitions manifest beyond him. They seemed to notice him not passing through him without any hesitation.
"What the..." Kaiba muttered as the spirit phased right through him. His face pailed before he shook it off. No! He was not going to let that sick bastard Bakura toy with his mind like this! Whatever that punk was doing he was going to make him regret messing with him! The CEO ceased in his step as he heard a soft wail. It was familiar to him somehow. "...A baby?..." Kaiba questioned before he gasped as a sea of flames engulfed him without warning. He could feel the heat right down to his bones as if it were real. "Why!? Why does this keep happening!?" the blue eyed male yelled enraged before a woman adorned in gold steadily hurried towards his direction. "PROTECT THE PRINCESS!" Atem's voice echoed through the charred air. Looking back at the woman he could see her carrying a baby protectively in her arm. One of red hair. Could that possibly be? No, it couldn't be. That was impossible. Atem turned towards Daphne and looked at Kaiba moving towards him.
Kaiba's eyes locked with the Pharoah's feeling the intensity of the moment only increasing. "Kaiba...I fear this is where it all ends...I can not any more harm to come to my people...I leave them in your hands...Daphne stay with him..." "ATEM!" the woman in gold cried out as the Pharoah turned and ran right into the fire. "WAIT!" Kaiba yelled out after him. "JUST WHERE THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING!? YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE FINAL DUEL WITH ME! YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DIE! DO YOU HEAR ME PHAROAH!?" the rival called out to Atem as a whirlwind of emotion took hold of him. Kaiba turned towards the woman only to discover she was no longer there. Instead, it was he holding the crying child. "Oh great!? Where did she go!?" the CEO questions and looked in all directions as the fire closed in on him. Sweat beat down his face from the flames threatening to burn him and the child alive.
"WHY AM I NOT WAKING UP FROM THE NIGHTMARE ALREADY!?" Kaiba yelled before he froze as three figures cloaked in black advanced towards him. As quickly as they came they vanished in the mere blink of an eye. "What the hell!? Just what is going on here!? WHOEVER YOU ARE SHOW YOURSELVES! Unless you're afraid!" the blue-eyed male demanded. "JUST WHO ARE YOU!? WHAT DO YOU WANT!?" Kaiba questioned as he huffed winded. {There's no escaping fate...} a voice from the shadows echoed as a figure dress in purple manifested in front of him and reached out their hand towards the CEO. "Is that so? Think again!" Kaiba spat before his body illuminated as the tattoo on his skin pulsed.
"YOU CAN GO TO HELL! THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE GETTING YOUR HANDS ON BLOOM!" Kaiba roared before he felt a strange feeling wash over him as three lights of red, blue and golden emerged from him. Why? Why did he get this bizarre sensation he had gone through something like this once before? The figure stood still as it looked upwards in Kaiba's direction. The CEO turned his gaze in the same direction before his eyes widened as the spheres began to take shape. Almost like...before he could finish his thought the blue-eyed male was warped into what appeared to be some sort of structure. Stone. Black marbled stone. "What's going on now!?" Kaiba snarled and walked onward trailing his hand on the obsidian surrounding him. With but a few steps the darkened area lit up with purple hieroglyphics.
"Wait...this isn't the same place as before...this is a tomb!" Kaiba's eyes widened before he wandered further inside. In the center, the CEO paused as his eyes caught the glimpse of what appeared to be a sarcophagus. It was wrapped tightly in chains with a tablet attached to it. Slowly Kaiba inched closer to the artifact. Terror gripped at him for even reasons he couldn't himself fathom. "I sware...if this is some kind of drug induced hallucination I'm going to kill Wheeler for dragging my coffee..." the blue eyed male snarled. Unable to resist Kaiba extended his hand out to touch the sarcophagus. A gasp escaped his lips as the chains abruptly snagged themselves around his arms and pulled him inside. The CEO in but a few minutes shot up breathing heavily as he felt his heart pounding in his chest only to find himself in a graveyard.
"I was wondering when you'd awaken...tell me how was it? The shadows of your mind? You don't look so well, it's not surprising. Most don't wake trapped within the temptations of darkness...until their very souls merge with it..." Yami Bakura smirked as he stood in front of Kaiba among the tombstones. "...Just what is this place!?" "Oh? Don't you recognize it? This is the Shadow Realm Priest Seto...I must say it's actually quite impressive you're able to endure such a violent amount of miasma...but then again...perhaps it's because is WHAT you are..." Yami Bakura mused. Kaiba only stared at Bakura is disbelief before he recalled Ogron and his first encounter. "Don't you want to know who you are Priest Seto?" the wizard's voice echoed in his head as Kaiba's pupils darkened.
"W-WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!? I DEMAND ANSWERS NOW!" Kaiba spat before Yami Bakura let out an amused chuckle. "So...even YOU do not know...I almost pity you if that were possible." Kaiba only narrowed his eyes as he clenched his fists. "IF YOU WON'T ANSWER ME THAN TAKE ME BACK TO THE SHOP DAMN IT! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR GAMES BAKURA!" "Tsk Tsk...patience is a virtue you know...as for the game...I'm afraid it's only begun! Unfortunately, you're only leaving here should you happen to defeat me in a duel...perhaps if you do I'll answer one of your questions you have..." Yami Bakura mused. "Then prepare to lose...I never back down from ANY challenge..." Kaiba muttered as they both prepared their decks and duel disks. "Oh I nearly forgot...should you happen to lose...then here in the shadows you'll remain forever..." Yami Bakura laughed maliciously as Kaiba narrowed his eyes. "LET'S DUEL!"