Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Broken ❯ Prologue ( Prologue )

There was something in the air, that cold night that sent shivers down the people's spine. A feeling that left mothers unease about letting their sons and daughters leave their homes by the morning, and yearning for them to return soon in the evening. There was something that seemed new, unfamiliar, different... Intriguing. But people did not know what it was.

Some supposed it was only the breeze of changes, brought by the newcomer that had come to town early that morning. A child to the eye of adults, a new friend to the eye of the children. A wonder to everybody.

It did not take long for the whole small town to know about the little boy, lonely and quiet, that had wandered into the surroundings. His past was a mystery, and some gave up asking without even trying, upon seeing the lost look into those sad eyes. Something in the past... Something happened to him, that left him sorrowful, unhappy...

Broken.

He merely spoke with the villagers, but when he did, the people were blessed with a melodic sad murmur. By the tone his voice possessed, many were surprised to find out that he was older than they had supposed previously. He did not seem to mind the little ones asking him to play with them, but that newfound fact brought worry to the adult's minds.

What could have happened to such young boy that could leave him to wander alone? In the actual times, everything could be possible. Maybe he could have run away from home. Maybe his parents died and he did not have anywhere to go. Maybe he had never had parents, and lived in the streets, trying to gather through people's generosity ways to survive.

Or maybe he was kicked out of home, for being way too much of a problem. Maybe all he did was get into trouble, nothing but a little thief or a wicked kid. However...

His emotions were as blank as a starless night sky. Darkened, sorrowed, but blank indeed. His smiles were void of happiness. His glances, void of brightness. His actions, void enthusiasm. He looked like a ragged doll, forced to move by a persistent little girl's will. Nothing in him had emotions. He seemed merely a lost soul that refused to go away.

Parents began to grow concerned about that boy, whose eyes showed off pain that could suck their children's joy in an instant. Fathers began to demand their kids to go inside home, away from the little intriguing boy. Mothers kindly made up lame excuses to take the little ones away from him. And soon, the little one found himself alone in the town's square.

From a distance, the adults contemplated the lonely figure of the boy, sitting by the town's fountain, quiet and all by himself. They discussed among themselves about the possible past that youngster could have. But none of them could come to an actual answer. The youth was merely a shadow of some unknown past.

The sky, as any other day, did not take long to darken. As the hours went by, the sun slowly hid itself away from the man's eye, giving place to the moon, to shine in all its glory with its borrowed golden light, turning it into a silvery, magnificent glow. Houses were locked up, taverns were shut down for the night.

And soon, all that remained was the lonely little one, hiding himself as the moon got high in the dark blanket that was the sky. He looked up, but his clouded eyes met only a clouded sky. The moon tried and tried, but its light could not break free from the clouds' shield. The little one closed his eyes, and bent his head down, hiding his pained face away from vision.

"No! I do not want that brat in here!! And don't insist on it, Naru!! Or I'm going to make you join him outside in the cold!!"

His head slowly raised, and his eyes opened, his gaze turning towards the source of the loud noise. Calmly, but not lacking hesitation, he stood up, and his little feet touched the stone ground silently, no watcher to notice him. He followed in the direction of one of the houses that had a light turned on, and as he approached, yells and shouts could be even clearer.

As his hand brushed against the cool surface of a window's glass, his eyes penetrated through its transparence and looked into the event that took place inside. A father held his head, while sitting on a couch. His frown was seen even though his big hand covered most of his face. On a corner, a little boy's shoulder shook, and his face was hidden from the light. A little girl sat beside him, once in a while giving him guilty glances, but she usually kept her attention on the man, eyes narrowed, and tears falling as though she took no notice of them at all.

"Shut Haku's mouth!! I can't stand his crying anymore!! You two, go upstairs to your room and stay there!! I don't want any more of your complaints!! You don't understand the adults, but when you do, you'll thank us!! All we do is for your good, and if I say that useless brat can't come in here, then he can't!! Now move!!" the father said, standing upright from, his place. At the first sound of his voice, the little boy's head shot up, and a tear stained face looked right into his father's eyes. The little girl shut her own and wiped her tears away, nodding and helping her brother up, guiding him upstairs.

The spectator moved away from the window, looking down to the stones below and changing into a, if possible, even more sad expression. He sighed, a low sound that went unheard by anyone, and walked away, running, and hugging himself. The wind blew his hair and hurt his delicate skin, but he paid them no attention. He was used to the cold. To the night. And it didn't bother him.

Not anymore.

The tic-tac of the clock in the mayor's house marked the time, and how fast it moved. Seconds, minutes, hours. They passed without anybody noticing, the blanket of sleep placing upon their shoulders, their minds lost in heavenly dreams, or dark nightmares. All that was heard was the sound of the wind, touching the windows with such force that made them shake, waking up the most light of the sleepers. Children snored suavely, so soft it was a funny and light sound.

But out of a sudden, the peacefulness that guarded the town was deep disturbed.

At first, many jolted up in their beds at the sound of that noise. That loud, sinister, malicious noise. All so obscure, it made a chill trail down the spine of those who got easily scared. Deep sleepers only ran to their windows when a second sound was heard, and they did the cross sign to ask God to protect them. The high howl covered the whole town, and inserted fear into the people's hearts.

And then it came. One, two, three. One scream after the other, making the hearts of inconsolable parents beat at incredible speed. They closed their eyes shut in pain, the sound of the beast's bloodshed penetrating through the eardrums and making their head hurt. It was so loud. Oh so very loud. Mothers closed the curtains and placed their sons close to them, trying to keep their innocent minds away from the thought of the carnage going on in that house.

Oh God, the mayor's mind called. What about the man's children? Little innocent ones that had nothing to do with the beast who haunted them. Their father was already dead... The screams had ceased. He knew which one of his compatriots had died. He knew how. But he refused to believe, to think... That in the morning, the bodies of two pure angels would be blood-splattered...

And the little girl... She looked up into the dark eyes of the creature before her. Piercing, threatening teeth were being shown to her, and she swallowed helplessly, using herself as a shield for her brother. She shook so terribly she could barely stand. And the creature saw. It could sense her fear. It could smell her fear.

Everybody in the town held their breath as another scream came into the night. A high, broken scream, which they so easily recognized. The girl was dead. Soon, the boy would be too. The dad had already parted from the world of the living instants ago. And then, all that would be left for them to do was pray. Pray that the creature wouldn't come for them too.

The night went on, no star to shine. The moon made its way through the persistent clouds, shining with conviction. A perfect circle indicating that it was a time when it was finally full.

Yet again it witnessed a massacre. Bright moonlight shining onto the bloodstained house, the bloodstained corpses. And not failing on show to the world the murderer. The vile creature who quickly and easily got away.

A last howl was heard. And then, it was gone.

Dawn drew closer and closer, as parents tried to convince their sons and daughter that it was okay to sleep now. Everything was going to be fine from now on. And in its right time, the sky began to grow brighter and brighter, as the moon gave the turn to the sun to bless the earth with its might presence.

People reluctantly started to come out of their home, looking at each other faces, building up a courage they knew they would have to have to come face to face with the result of the last night's events. They walked close together to the town's square, where they met the mayor. And with a nod from their superior, they walked towards the cursed house.

The door was rashly broken. And as they approached, something entered their sight. Through the opened way inside the house, a figure could be found inside. Majestic, graceful. Mysterious, exotic. Beautiful colored eyes traveled from one side to the other, glowing irises the color of the crimson liquid found within. Black boots made loud sounds when met the wood floor, and a long cloak only failed to stain due to its also dark color.

Upon hearing the sound of steps, the strange man stood up straight, and faced the people. His arms remained crossed over his chest, and sharp eyes challenged anyone to speak. As only silence was met, the man moved a hand towards his hair, brushing a golden bang away.

"Your town was met by a werewolf. But now you have nothing to fear." He said, a smooth, deep voice reaching the already pained ears of the people. The mayor stepped forward, frowning, in distress.

"Nothing to fear, you say?! Look around, young man! Make your blind eyes see the tragedy around you!! We're all cursed!" he said, and many agreed, moving forward. The young man did not seem fazed, and only shook his head.

"Cursed is only the one who possess the power to change in the Full Moon. Only one house was attacked, no other harm was brought upon your town. Do not search for the beast, or it is going to come back to search for you." The young man stated, but another one stepped in front of the mayor.

"You! How do you all this?? I bet you're the one!! You're the murderer!! You monster!! Vile creature from the underworld!!" he yelled, and many joined him, death glaring at the stranger. He only frowned.

But remained silent. Deadly silent.

Only his blood-colored eyes penetrated into the men's skull, giving them the message that he was not liking all of this.

"Before going further with your senseless ramblings, only answer me this: have any of you met any stranger lately? A young man, perhaps?" he asked, and a man sneered.

"You're the only strange fellow to come across us." He stated, but some disagreed, even though silently. He was not the only stranger they had come upon... Actually, he resembled the other one pretty much...

Some were decided to voice that thought when suddenly a woman screamed, and pointed to the unknown man with fear. Questioning looks were locked on her, waiting for any kind of explanation.

"It's him!! That 'Wanted' man from the sign!!" she yelled, and many turned their heads in the man's direction, who already looked disturbed by the woman's words. The mayor's eyes widened, and he stepped back.

"'Dark'!!" he yelled, and all the women stepped away, while the men yelled and charged forward.

Already ready for such action, the stranger ran as fast as he could towards the window, and jumped through it. The broken glass penetrated and hurt his skin on the exposed face and hands, and pierced through his clothes, hurting some of his arms and legs. The people from the town had a delayed reaction to his escape, and when they stormed out of the house, ready to follow him, the mayor stopped them.

Confused, they all stopped and faced the elder man, who exited the house calmly, followed by the women.

"Let him go." He said, his head doing a slight gesture in the direction of the escaper. "We'll send a messenger to the nearest town, they'll get him there. We can't get him now, he's too fast. We shouldn't tire ourselves when we have another option. And for now, we have other things to take care of." He pointed to the house that they had just exited, and everybody agreed.

The unknown man stopped, and tried to regain his breath. He bent his body forward, his hands supporting him on the knees, and sweat came down his face. Look back, 'Dark' was not amused to find that he was not being followed. These people were smart. But they couldn't expect to outsmart him by trying to get him in the next town. He was not that foolish.

Closing his eyes, he let his mind wonder what his next action would be. Images from the tragedy previously flashed behind his eyelids, making him open his eyes quickly, an expression of pain evident in the scarlet irises.

Yugi.... Echoed in his mind. I am going to find you... Sooner or later... I will find you. He clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes, and at that final thought, turned toward his chosen destination.

Broken - End of Prelude

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, and I won't own it, not tomorrow, not soon, not ever.
Warning: Shounen Ai content
Pairing: Yami/Yugi

Story dedicated to my friend Crystal-chan ^_^

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