Chapter 87: Chasing A Shadow
Yugi groaned as he twitched in his sleep. Muttering under his breath words that couldn't simply be made out. Screams echoed through the blonde's mind as he was caught in raging hot flames that threatened to burn him alive. Figures were running past him fleeing those whose faces were concealed in dark cloaks. Yugi looked all around him before he heard a woman crying out for help. A gasp escaped the blonde's lip as he wasted no time in running towards a woman protectively clutching her child to her chest. She, however, was not alone as one of the cloaked figures raised their blade in the couple's direction.
"NO! STOP IT!" Yugi screamed at the top of his lungs and threw himself in front of the woman and the crying infant. "LEAVE THEM ALONE! I WON'T LET YOU HURT THEM! IF YOU WANT THEM THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ME!" the blonde cried out shielding them with his body. The cloaked figure said nothing as they brought down the sword right through him. Yugi's scarlet eyes widened with disbelief and horror as the blood painted his face and clothing. All he could hear was the cold-blooded laughter as the scarlet-eyed male slowly turned to look at the slain woman and child.
Yugi narrowed his eyes as tears poured down his face looking at the cloaked figure before him. "WHY!? WHY DID YOU DO IT!? THEY WERE INNOCENT! YOU MONSTER!" the blonde screamed mortified at what he had just witnessed. Only the crackling of the flames of war answering his sorrowful tears. All around him the same scene continued only more victims and bloodshed. His stomach twisted in knots. Yugi used all the energy he could muster and held his head screaming as he wept bitterly.
"STOP IT! PLEASE MAKE IT ALL STOP! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS! I'm...begging you...I can't take it..." the scarlet-eyed male pleaded as Yugi ran through the charred woods eaten away by the fire. Suddenly the blonde paused as he heard a child's cry ringing out in the distance. "A child...?" Yugi questioned before he forced himself to run faster. A survivor! Maybe there was still time! No matter what it took he was not going to let any more people be killed! Wandering deeper and deeper into the forest with each twist and turn the scarlet-eyed male had to take a moment to catch his breath huffing as he leaned against a tree untouched by the flames.
Movement caught Yugi's eyes as a small child no older than five years old came into his view. Blonde hair with blue eyes wandering around lost and scared. Slowly the scarlet-eyed male crept through the forest in the direction of the child. He had to be careful if he didn't want to scare him or her away. A crunch of a branch under his feet frightened the little one causing them to take a nasty fall down a steep hill. "OH NO!" Yugi cried out and attempted to work his way down the hill. But by the time he caught up, there was already another that found the child holding the little one in their arms.
The scarlet eyed male hid behind a fallen tree as he watched a young woman with pink hair tending to the little ones wound. Yugi figured the boy must've received it upon his nasty fall. Lucky for him she was there to make sure he was alright. In fact, the young woman looked almost familiar to him. With that light pink hair and emerald eyes. Yugi's eyes widened as he realized who the young woman reminded him of. "...I...Is that Natsume?" the scarlet-eyed male questioned before he awoke only to find himself not in Katori's bed but instead Lord Loric's maid's quarters with his head resting on her lap as she gently stroked his head. For some reason, it felt almost familiar. As if she had done it before.
"Yes?" Natsume's voice echoed in his ears before Yugi squeaked feeling his face reddened slightly. Well, this was embarrassing. "M-Miss Natsume!" the scarlet-eyed male gasped as he shot up and looked around flustered. "Good Morning Yugi-San." "O-Oh...er...good morning to you too." Yugi murmured he squirmed aqwardly as the pink haired maid greeted him with a smile.
"...Um...this may seem like a bit of an odd question but...just how did I end up in your room exactly...? Uh not that there's anything wrong with your room...i'm not wording this very well am I?" Yugi sweatdropped. "Oh well, you were sleepwalking...you were wandering all over the castle...I was actually afraid where you might waunder...so I brought you into my room. After that, you seemed to calm down. You seemed very anxious and frightened...I just wanted to make sure you didn't hurt yourself...i'm sorry if that was displeasing to you..." Natsume apologized softly.
Yugi shook her head furiously. "N-No not at all. I'm sorry if I worried you. I was having a pretty bad nightmare...I didn't realize I was walking around all over the place. Hopefully, I didn't cause you any trouble. "Not at all. Please don't worry about it. If you're feeling better that's all that matters." the pink haired maid smiled and gently patted his head. Yugi slightly blushed feeling comforted by just a touch of her hand. Yugi smiled in return. "Thanks...for...you know...looking out for me." "Of course. It was my pleasure."
"If you don't mind i'm going to go back to Katori's room. She'll worry about me if I've gone missing when she wakes up." Yugi told Natsume. "Ok. If you need anything just let me know." "Thanks." the scarlet-eyed male murmured before he left and closed the door behind him. Yugi let out a sigh of relief before he slowly made his way out of the castle. "...That was definitely weired..." the blonde admitted to himself before he saw Atem standing outside waiting for him.
"There you are. I was wondering if you'd show" the pharaoh broke the silence. "Sorry, Atem. I would have been here sooner but there was this...well incident this morning..." Yugi apologized. "And what would that be? Did Tybolt confront you about the map disappearing?" the Pharoah inquired. Yugi only shook his head. "No it was nothing like that...I...I had that nightmare...again...Atem..." the scarlet-eyed male's voice trailed off.
"...I see...well dreams can sometimes be a window into the future...or even the past...presumably..." Atem explained to his other half as they began slowly walking through the town. Yugi only frowned. "As powers evolve often times it awakens hidden chambers in the mind...ones that have either been forcefully repressed ...or memories...even events that we want or wish to forget...also those whom have been reborn as another...will experience such dreams as well..." the Pharoah murmured softly.
"...Wow...who knew dreams could mean so many different things..." Yugi's eyes widened in surprise. "Come to think of...Kaiba said he was also having dreams...about a woman with red hair...and a child on her shoulders...snow falling down on them...it's sure a lot more pleasant than my dream..." the scarlet-eyed male sighed. "...Why don't you tell me about it...it might make you feel better?"Atem suggested to his other half. "I wouldn't even know where to start." Yugi confessed. "...Close your eyes and tell me what it is you see..." the Pharoah encouraged the scarlet-eyed male.
"...I don't know about this...but alright..." Yugi frowned before he did as Atem asked. "...I see Aura...in a sea of flames...there are burning building everywhere...people are screaming...figures chasing them with weapons...bodies...and blood...it seems like it will never end...and then there's this laugh...this horrifying laugh as Aura and its people burn...it's too horrible to even describe...i'm on a tower...and this cloaked figure sticks out their hand towards me. But I back away and fall from the tower..." Yugi shuddered as he slowly opened his eyes with tears rimmed in them clenching his teeth.
"Every night...it's the same...It won't stop..." Yugi choked out as his voice trembled. Atem bit his lip as he watched his other half battle internally with the fear brewing inside of him. "...But this time it was different...I saw a child...crying...running through the woods...but that wasn't all...with the child...was...you know what never mind! We have other things we have to focus on right now!" the scarlet-eyed male exclaimed and hurried ahead as a chilly breeze blew against them.
"We have to hurry if we're going to get to that gate!" Yugi cried. Running from what was really on his mind. The terrifying realization that, that child just might have been him. However, he didn't know why. But he was scared. "YUGI WAIT!" the Pharoah yelled after him and cursed under his breath as he chased after the scarlet-eyed male from behind.
BriarBlood...
Footsteps echoed through a darkened den. The area was decorated in red and black with the BriarBlood's crest hung above. Alben a young male with pale white skin, red eyes and black hairs with grey streaks. A smirk slowly appeared on his lips as Weldon made his way over to him and the other guild members. "You sure took your sweet time." the albino teased. "My SINCEREST apologies...but my DEAR sister does SO love to ENGAGE in conversation..." Weldon raised his brows. A blunette wearing a black trench coat nearby scoffed as he filled up a glass of pure moonshine.
"Women...always talking far too fucking much..." the blunette Crimson muttered before a slender figure adorned in nothing but black and gold grabbed the glass from his hand and threw it at the wall behind him barely missing his flesh. "And YOU partake in drink FAR too much..." a female Katrina's voice emerged with a snap from the face mask. "Ah, whada waste..." the redhead Randolf muttered wearing a similar outfit to the female. "Jus plain painful ta see good booze go like that..." the male shook his head.
Crimson only shot Katrina a nasty glare in return as he grabbed yet another glass. "Booze over bitches any day!" "I'll drink to that." Alben raised his glass of whiskey as the blunette passed him one. "...Lovely to see you're engaging your minds in something so productive..." Katrina remarked sarcastically. "Putting that aside for the moment...how was your visit with that brute Tybolt?" the woman mused as she turned her gaze towards Weldon.
"...AH YES! I'd NEARLY forgot!" Weldon exclaimed as he clapped his hand together. "I STILL need to COLLECT the HERBS for the POTIONS and what not...now DON'T I...?" the Briarblood recalled. "For the OH so NOBEL A.O.J leader...OH, what FUN!" Weldon remarked sarcastically as Crimson slid him a tall glass of mead frothed at the top. "There IS, however, an UPSIDE a DOOZY of one at THAT!" the Briarblood chuckled with a mischievous grin on his lips. "THAT bargaining CHIP, sitting in DEAR Lord Loric's CASTLE will be COMMING out to PLAY! And I SO look FOWARD to taking FULL advantage of IT!" the BriarBlood grinned broadly as he took another swig from his glass. Slowly Weldon turned towards Katrina with a glimmer in his eye.
"SO! Do you HAVE what I ASKED for? Hmm?" the BriarBlood questioned as he extended his hand out towards the female guild member. "Indeed..." Katrina answered as she placed a vile in the Guild Master's palm. "I don't have to tell you that, the mixture in your possession is extremely potent...so you must keep in mind to use it with caution..." the female guild member warned her superior. Weldon only grinned further. "EXCELLENT! Now...YOU all KNOW...what TO do..." the BriarBlood instructed before they all departed from the guild. The BriarBlood kicked up his feet on the bar leaning back before Derrith slowly came into view.
"You seem to have gathered quite the interesting bunch brother dear..." Derrith's voice broke the silence of the Guild's Hall. Weldon only flashes a pleased a grin. "Come NOW! Would YOU expect ANY less? Hmm, DEAR Sister...?" the BriarBlood chuckled as he tossed the vile in his hand up and down. "Hardly...always calculating everything...down to the last drop...leaving almost nothing to chance...a factor I've come to rely on..." Derrith mused. "You FLATTER me...DEAR sister" Weldon chuckled. "...The question remains...however...can we entrust your little playmates with such an important task...?" Derrith inquired.
"FRET not DEAR sister...DESPITE how the DICE rolls...WE'LL know SOON enough IF the boy KNOWS any MORE than WE...!" Weldon assured his sister. "MY guildsmen's HANDIWORK is QUITE the SIGHT to behold!" "I'll have to take your word for it...and if the boy truly knows nothing?" Derrith mused. "WELL now...THAT would BE a SHAME! But all HOPE is NOT lost, CERTAINLY not! YOU see DEAR sister...a MUTUAL friend INFORMED me THAT the BOY'S party is QUITE DESPERATE searching FOR the TEMPLE of THE Phoenix...BUT only ONE whom KNOWS of IT'S very SECRET location IS being HELD right HERE in REQUIEM! Fancy THAT hmm?" the BriarBlood chuckled. A grin slowly worked its way onto Derrith's bright red lips.
"...Yes...and who better to lend aid to a friend in need...than another which requires the same..." "...EXACTLY!" Weldon grinned broadly. "OH! but I HAVE places TO be!" the BriarBlood exclaimed as he got up from the chair he was sitting in. "WISH me LUCK! DEAR Sister..." Weldon winked before he made his way to the door leaving the guild to follow the others. Derrith kept her eyes fixated on her brother until he was no longer in her sights. "Phoenix help us all should this go astray..." the queen muttered as she grabbed a bottle of wine and poured it into a tall glass. Filling the crimson liquid all the way to the top.
Back In Domino City...
BLOOM!? BLOOM!? WHERE ARE YOU!?" Carlos called out as he ran down the snowy streets of Domino City. The Mexican had to pause in order to catch his breath exhausted from running around all over the place. "I-If only I knew which direction that stupid Kaiba Corp building was at!?" Though everyone in Domino City knew all you had to do was to look up to find it. Kaiba wasn't exactly famous for his humility. Especially when it was designed by non-other than him.
"Oh dear, Oh dear...you seem to have quite the predictiment unfolding now don't you?" a voice echoed causing Carlos to nearly jump three feet in the air. "GAH!? WH-WHO'S THERE!?" the Mexican cried as he looked all around totally and completely freaking out! Steadily Cellos Undine's underling manifested before him. "Oh, now there's no need to be so surprised! Since your little girlfriend and I spoke I've been keeping an eye on the two of you!" the ghoul told him as a matter of factly. Carlos felt his face redden. "S-Selina is NOT my girlfriend! She is my FRIEND! FRIEND!" the Mexican snapped at Cellos whom only twisted his mouth.
"My apologies. I assumed you two were an item. So adorable. Youngsters chasing down their best friend together. Precious actually." the ghoul teased. "While I am most impressed with your effort I regret to inform you that Miss Bloom just so happens to longer be present in Domino City. A pity I know." Cellos informed Carlos. "...YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" the Mexican cried out upset and surprised by the sudden information. "I'm afraid not. She is how you say not in THIS particular world." the ghoul chuckled at his own joke.
"NOT FUNNY DUDE!" Carlos spat angrily. "...Mmm, perhaps that wasn't the BEST way to put it. But Miss Bloom is indeed no longer on Earth." "...Uh...ok...THEN WHERE IS SHE!? STOP SPEAKING IN CRYPTIC MESSAGES!" the Mexican cried out in frustration. "...Well, it's how you say...er...rather hard to explain to a non-magical being...my dear boy..." Cellos attempted to explain to Carlos.
"...WELL EXCUSE ME IF I'M NOT BURSTING WITH PIXIE DUST!" the Mexican spat pissed off. "For your information, I CAN see things that happen before they actually do!" Carlos answered in a huff before he stormed off pissed. He didn't know where he was going. All he knew was he was going ANYWHERE but there! "Well...now isn't that interesting...he can see visions...hmm I don't recall any mortals that can do that...no doubt my mistress will wish to learn of this..." Cellos mused before he vanished from sight.
Carlos kept walking a good ways before he looked over his shoulder. Good riddance. That guy was CREEPY with capital C! What kind of dude spying on two complete and total strangers!? A crazy person that's who! "...Well now that, that's over...all this running around is making me seriously thirsty..." Carlos muttered before he made his way to a nearby vending machine. He stuck his hand in his pocket only to pull out a nickel and a penny. "...Well...THAT sucks...I knew I should've borrowed some money from Selina before I bolted..." the Mexican groaned before he began to walk away. Suddenly he heard footsteps behind him. He swore if that was that weired dude from before he was going to full out LOSE IT!
"Excuse me..." came a softened voice. Carlos paused before he looked back and turned around. His eyes widened as he noticed a young male with light grey hair, light skin with dark blue eyes adorned with a dark blue robe with a white sash wrapped around it wearing socks and sandals in a Japanese style. A silver chain glistening around his neck. "Oh...uh...hey...ehehe...do...I know you?" Carlos questioned. He could have sworn he'd seen that guy somewhere. It was really bugging him too.
"I don't believe so. I just happened to be passing through. You seem a bit flustered though...are you alright?" the male questioned with concern. "Oh me? Yeah, i'm just such a goof. I've been running around this stupid city for a good 30 minutes and I completely forget to bring some cash or change to put in this silly vending machine." Carlos bopped himself on the head. "Oh, is that all you need?" the young male questioned before he took out a few coins from a satin bag. Slowly he approached the Mexican.
"Please hold out your hand." the grey-haired male instructed. "...Uh...ok..." Carlos murmured before the stranger placed two silver coins in his hand. Each one dollar in value. Rare coins, in fact, to see on a daily basis. "Will that amount suffice?" the grey-haired male questioned Carlos. "Huh? Oh! Um yes uh...thanks a lot." the Mexican bowed in gratitude. The stranger only smiled sweetly. "You're quite welcome. I hope you have a pleasant evening." "...Same to you dude." Carlos managed to choke out as he watched the grey-haired male bow before taking his leave. Carlos's attention soon fell back on the coins resting in his hand.
"Damn...these are Silver Dollar Dragons...or at least they are now ever since Kaiba took over Kaiba Corp...that dude is seriously obsessed...whoever that guy is, he must be pretty wealthy to own these...he didn't look like Chris Golden Water's goons though...ugh...this is making my head hurt...well i'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. That's for damn sure!" the Mexican exclaimed and took one of the coins and placed them in the coin slot. He took a moment before he scanned over the choices deciding on coffee and retrieved the beverage from the bottom of the machine.
"Score!" Carlos grinned before he paused as Selina came onto the scene. "Selina! I thought you were gonna hang with the professor." "The traffic was beyond terrible. So the Professor suggested spending the night at a hotel. So he sent me to sniff you out. He figured as hopeless as you are you'd end up getting lost in the city. Or run over." Selina teased. "Yeah well, I have bad news...some guy with purple hair appeared out of nowhere and mentioned that Bloom is no longer in Domino City...or Earth...if that makes any sense to you..." he muttered.
Selina only raised her eyebrow at him skeptically. "Not not really...but if that's true then we'd better let the professor know. Come on." the faerie urged and took Carlos's hand pulling him alongside her until they reached the hotel. "So where is the professor anyway?" the Mexican questioned before Selina pointed over to the front desk. Once Takuna finished his business there he slowly made his way over to Carlos and Selina with a room key in hand.
"Here. Why don't you two go up to the room and get cleaned up? A warm shower will probably do you both some good. Oh and you can call room service for dinner. They have a menu in the drawer." the Professor suggested. "Cool thanks," Carlos muttered before Selina frowned. "Aren't you going to join us Professor?" the faerie questioned. "I have business I have to take care of first. After that, i'll be up shortly." Takuna assured his students. "...Before we head up...there is something I wanted to tell you. This guy with purple hair and a cloak popped out of nowhere and told me that Bloom is well...not only not in Domino City...but no even on Earth anymore..." Carlos whispered so no one else could hear.
The professor only let out a heavy sigh. "...Is that so?...That is rather unfortunate...well we'd best rest up then for the trip back home tomorrow. Perhaps if we're lucky we might just be able to figure out where it is she might have gone." Takuna mused. "I sure hope so. Bloom's parents sounded really worried." Carlos frowned. "I'll see if I can't try her cell again," Selina told him before they began to head towards the elevator. "You do that." the Professor muttered before he watched the doors close behind them. Takuna pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket using his lighter to try and get a spark going only to hear a familiar voice call out to him."TAKU-KUN!" Akiba cried as he waved over at the Professor from the entrance.
The two find a Java Junkies nearby and sit down to chat amongst each other. The professor orders his favorite Blue Berry coffee while Akiba just enjoys a Caramel Latte with whip cream all the way to the top. "So, did you find that read head you were looking for?" Akiba questioned Takuna as he took his spoon and stirred the whipped cream into his coffee. "Nope. Bloom slipped through our fingers. But, according to a report given by Cellos Undine's lackey to one of my students she indeed WAS here in Domino City. The ghoul and his big mouth mentioned that she was no longer on Earth. So that narrows it down..." the Professor scoffed as he picked up his coffee and blew on it softly.
Akiba only giggled. "You never change Taku-kun." the young male smiled. "Well if Bloom-Chan isn't on Earth anymore do you have an inkling of where she might be?" "She's probably either on Magicks or the world outside of the Earth Faerie's seal," Takuna muttered as he took a sip of his coffee. "I even bothered driving all the way down to this stupid city all because my students were flipped out about Bloom up and disappearing from her house in Gardenia...I couldn't very well just turn a blind eye when they were in such a fricken panic..." the professor sighed.
"Hehehe...you're always such a softy at heart." Akiba teased. "Yeah yeah..." Takuna muttered before he put down his cup and lip up a cigarette inhaling before blowing out the smoke through his lips. Afterwards letting out a yawn accident dropping the cigarette onto the table. "Tch...what a waste..." Takuna muttered before Akiba gently placed his hand on top of the Professor's as he went to retrieve the cigarette resting on the table.
"...You've been pulling all-nighters again...you know...i'm really starting to worry about you Takuna..." Akiba frowned softly. "...You really should take better care of yourself..." he murmured. "Not that again..." the Professor groaned. "How many times must I tell you that i'm a working adult...being a teacher isn't a cake walk..." Takuna muttered. "...Taku-kun...are you still searching for...-" but before Akiba could finish the Professor cut him off narrowing his eyes. "And what does THAT have to do with anything we're discussing here today...? But only silence passed between them as Akiba slid a book over to his best friend.
"And just what is this?" "It's the reason I came here to see you today..." Akiba murmured softly. "...Tch...fine...i'll take a look at the damn book..." the professor muttered before he took the book and opened it. Takuna could feel all the color wash from his face. Inside the book was a single flower. A Blue Rose. The professor trembled as he watched it fall from between the book's pages and onto the table. Takuna's hair covered his face as he fought to move his fingers and grasped the Blue Rose placing it back once it came.
"...Bloom-Chan looks like her...doesn't she?" Akiba spoke softly. But no words came from the Professor's mouth as he shut the book. Slowly Takuna rose up from his chair knocking it over. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about. But we're DONE here!" the Professor choked before he stormed out of the cafe. "TAKU-KUN!" Akiba cried out after him as he ran to catch his friend. But it was no use. Takuna was gone. The professor ran down the streets of Domino City as tears trickled down his face his expression hidden.
{Idiot...} the words echoed in his head as he continued to run in the cold as the snow covered the ground. The Professor stopped once he was far enough and screamed at the top of his lungs. Slowly Takuna looked towards a flower shop and made his way over to the florist. Soon finding himself with a bouquet of Blue Roses. Quietly the Professor walked to a temple that hid a grave site.
Slowly Takuna advanced upwards step by step until he ceased movement and looked towards a grave with his tear stained face. With the white snow falling down it almost seemed to be purifying everything it touched. However, his gaze fell upon another that was already there. The very same male that extended his kindness to Carlos. With grey hair, a dark blue kimono and a silver sash around it. In socks and sandals. Burning incense which gave off a pleasant floral scent. "...It's you...Nathaniel..." the Professor murmured before Nathaniel in turned looked towards him. "It's been a long time..." the young male murmured. "...Do you mind?" Takuna barely managed to utter. Nathaniel only shook his head before the Professor paid his respects and got down to the grave's level. "I'm sorry it's taken me so long...bit i'm finally here...Kisara..." Takuna whispered as he gently ran his hands over the grave.
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