Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Duellist League ❯ Battle Stage 7; Dark City, Erebus! ( Chapter 7 )

Battle Stage 7: Dark City, Erebus!

 

Location: Duellist Centre, Route 3 Shuba Region Date: April 30 2005

 

Jyoonouchi, Yuugi, Anzu, Kaiba, Serenity, Hitomi, Fredrick and Claus stood in the wrecked entrance of the Duellist Centre, people calling themselves `The Hunters' had destroyed the entry way. bits of stone and concrete littered the floor and where the door had been there was now just a giant hole in the wall that was currently bringing in the bad weather.

 

“Oh dear, what a mess, oh everyone upstairs, or you'll catch cold.” Hitomi ordered ushering them upstairs.

 

Everyone sighed and followed Hitomi's orders silently, Kaiba muttered quietly that the woman shouldn't order him around like a child. He however followed her orders. The group separated into the separate side, Serenity gave Jyoonouchi a congratulatory hug and Yuugi a grateful one for saving her earlier in the day, before they split into their separate wings.

 

Yuugi climbed up into the top bunk above Jyoonouchi while Kaiba took the lower bunk opposite the two. Yuugi rested his head on the pillow and pondered the events that had surrounded him since he'd boarded the plane to the Shuba Region. He knew his Grandfather was going to ground him for a very long time for doing this.

 

“Jou, are you asleep?” Yuugi asked quietly.

 

“Nope, just comatose.” Jyoonouchi replied.

 

“Do you think I should call Gramps and let him know I'm ok?” Yuugi asked.

 

Jyoonouchi was silent for a moment, “Look Yuug, I know I pushed you into this so I think we should both get on the phone tomorrow and talk to your Gramps. If he knows it was me that pushed you into breaking his rules then he might not be so angry at you.”

 

Yuugi blinked, “So that's a yes.”

 

“…Go to sleep Yuug.”

 

Date: May 1, 2005

 

Yuugi groaned waking groggily raising his arm over his head to block out the first rays of light from the sun as he awoke the next day. He rolled onto his side and tried to fall back to sleep, only to feel something prod him in the back.

 

“Go away, I'm trying to sleep.” Yuugi mumbled sleepily.

 

“Come on Yuugi, time to get up.” A voice said sweetly, Yuugi rolled over towards the voice opening his eyes a crack.

 

“Just a few more minutes Grandpa.” Yuugi mumbled.

 

Yuugi vaguely heard a sigh behind him; a moment later a hand grabbed him by the shoulder and rolled him onto his back. Yuugi's eyes opened to meet a pair of Azure coloured eyes that belonged to Anzu Mazaki.

 

“Oh, morning Anzu.” Yuugi said sleepily.

 

“Come on sleepy head time to get up, and don't lie around, or Jyoonouchi will come in and drag you out of bed.” Anzu said smiling. Yuugi nodded groggily and pulled the covers off himself climbing down the stepladder to the floor, he winced as the skin around his battle wound was stretched.

 

“Are you ok Yuugi?” Anzu asked tentatively.

 

Yuugi nodded wearily, “It still hurts though.”

 

Anzu knelt down and put her arms around Yuugi pulling him close to her, they stayed like that for several seconds before she pulled away, her cheeks a hot pink colour. “Hey Anzu, what was that for.” Yuugi asked quietly his cheeks also pink.

 

“Oh, um nothing, I'll um see you downstairs.” Anzu said awkwardly walking quickly out of the room. Yuugi stood in bafflement before walking over to the bathroom to take a shower.

 

Meanwhile Anzu stood with her back against the door of her room, “You idiot Mazaki, why'd you do that, he must think you're the biggest dork now, stupid, stupid, stupid.” Anzu berated herself banging her head against the door repeating the word `stupid' every time she whacked her head into the door. She did this about four times before it really started hurting her head.

 

Anzu bit her lip and thought about the answer to the question, `that was, because I love you Yuugi.' She sighed and grabbed her towel and retiring to the bathroom to have a shower.

 

“Hey Yuug, about time you got down here, pull up a chair and have some breakfast.” Jyoonouchi called summoning Yuugi over to the table at which he Serenity and Kaiba were sitting at. Surprisingly to everyone present Jou and Kaiba weren't arguing, for the moment at least. Yuugi sat down at the table and attempted to lean back in the seat, he grunted and winced.

 

Jou looked concerned, “Hey Yuuug, you ok man?”

 

Yuugi nodded, “Just that little scratch I got a couple of days ago is bothering me.”

 

“Yuugi, that little scratch might get infected, you should see that blasted Hitomi woman right now and get it properly bandaged.” Kaiba insisted pointing to Hitomi who was at the reception desk.

 

“I don't want to bother anyone; really I'm fine, honest.” Yuugi said the three stared at him completely unconvinced.

 

Serenity spoke first, “Yuugi if you don't get proper treatment for that you'll get an infection and could end up in very serious trouble.”

 

“Yeah Yuug, come on man just get yourself checked up.” Joey urged.

 

Reluctantly Yuugi slide off his chair and wandered over to Hitomi very slowly. She looked up and smiled as he approached. “How can I help?”

 

“I ah, I got a cut on my back a couple of days ago and my friends wanted me to get it checked out.” Yuugi explained Hitomi nodded and lead Yuugi into one of the back rooms.

 

Yuugi sat on the examination table, “I told them it was really nothing.”

 

“I'm sure it is Yuugi, but let's take a look anyway, can you remove your shirt.” Hitomi asked pulling on a pair of gloves.

 

Yuugi once again turned a light shade of pink and removed his shirt; Hitomi admired his physique as she cut away his bandage. The inner bandage had a thick trail of blood that ran across the length of the dressing. Hitomi frowned.

 

“Yuugi, this is going to hurt.” Hitomi alerted him; Yuugi nodded and grasped the edge of the table firmly. Hitomi pulled the dressing away slowly, this caused Yugi to gasp and cry out in pain almost making a stifled yell. Hitomi pulled more of it away, Yugi could almost feel the flesh in his hand giving way as his grip on the table intensify.

 

Hitomi ripped the rest of the dressing away in one quick motion, the pain made Yuugi cry out and double over. Hitomi knelt beside Yuugi placing her hand on his shoulder, “Yuugi I'm very sorry, are you ok I can get you something to dull the pain for a moment.”

 

Yuugi shook his head looking up at her slowly, “No, its ok, it's going away.” Yuugi explained even though his breathing was still laboured.

 

Hitomi nodded and went to the medicine cabinet and retrieved sterile bandages and some disinfectant. Yuugi cried out in pain for a third time as she applied the disinfectant. He sighed with relief when she applied the dressing and bandaged the wound. Yuugi put his shirt back on and gingerly got off the examination table.

 

“Thank you Hitomi.” Yuugi said bowing slightly.

 

Hitomi smiled and bowed back, “You're welcome Yuugi, and um Yuugi, you're extremely sexy without a shirt.” Hitomi replied with a wink. Yuugi went bright red and slowly backed out of the room as Hitomi continued to smile at him, she had a twinkle of amusement in her eye at the reaction she'd received.

 

Yuugi sighed as he walked back into the main area; he met Anzu coming down the stairs, “Oh Hi Yuugi, I was about to come looking for you, Jyoonouchi and Kaiba want to get going again, I said I'd wait to see what you wanted to do.”

 

Yuugi nodded, “Yep that's ok, I'll get my stuff and meet you guys in the lobby.”

 

Anzu nodded and Yuugi quickly went upstairs and grabbed his already packed bag and slung it over his shoulder, suppressing a moan of pain and walked out making sure he'd left everything the way he'd found it.

 

Yuugi walked back downstairs and looked around, the gang was dispirited around the main area, no one was making a move yet, Yuugi walked to a bank of video phones on the far wall and sat down. He tapped in a familiar number and the phone started ringing.

 

Finally after four rings the phone picked up, the visage of Yuugi's Grandpa appeared on the screen, “Hello, You've reached the Games Shop, no one is here right now but please leave a message.”

 

Yuugi sighed, `Grandpa must be out.”

 

A loud beep signalled Yuugi should begin recording his message, “Hi Grandpa, I know you must be really angry with me for going. I'm sorry, that's about all I can say. I hope you can understand, I just wanted to spend time with my friends and duel, I didn't mean to disobey your wishes. Don't be angry at my friends, I decided to come, they just didn't stop me. I love you Gramps. Bye.”

 

Yuugi looked down as he hung up the phone. All he'd wanted was to have fun again, like in the good old days before people started stealing souls and trying to take over the world. He wanted to spend time with his friends, cheer them on, have them cheer him on. And maybe finally tell the girl he loved how he felt. But now it felt as if everything was crumbling beneath his feet.

 

“Hey Yuug, are you coming, or what?” Jyoonouchi yelled from near the double doors, the gang were standing waiting for Yuugi. He nodded and grabbed his bag, before leaving Hitomi walked over.

 

“I hope you'll be careful out there. Creatures stronger than the ones you've encountered await those who are unprepared.” Hitomi warned the group nodded understandingly.

 

Yuugi looked up and around at the doors, “How did you get this place rebuilt in a night?”

 

“Oh, it's a secret.” Hitomi said with a wink, “Goodbye everyone.”

 

The group waved their goodbyes and left the Duellist Centre behind. The sign just ahead read -Route 2: Haven City-Erebus-.

 

“I guess we're on the right track guys.” Yuugi observed smiling.

 

The group began walking, the track tilting downwards every so often, they started to head into denser and denser groups of trees at they continued to walk. The sky began darkening; even though the watches that the gang wore told them they'd barely hit lunchtime. The group stopped walking and prepared for lunch.

 

“Guys, I'm getting a bad feeling about this.” Anzu said looking to the sky worryingly the light was shining in mid-dusk light.

 

“Anzu's right, dis ain't cool, it's only 12:30.” Jyoonouchi agreed looking at his watch.

 

Kaiba eyed the sky and then his watch; he tapped his fingers on his duel disk as he continued to listen to the conversation.

 

Yuugi shrugged, “I'm sure its nothing.”

 

“At this point Yuugi, that's not a comfort.” Anzu retorted, slightly harsher than she'd intended.

 

“Maybe we should skip Erebus all together.” Serenity suggested.

 

Yuugi shook his head, “That won't work Serenity; we have to go to Erebus to register to compete.”

 

“Oh, maybe we should just stop over in Erebus, and get out as soon as we can.”

 

“I like that idea.” Anzu said enthusiastically.

 

“Me to.” Jou agreed.

 

“Ok, we'll do that, it's only another hour's walk from here anyway so we'll definitely get there before we'll need to settle in for the night.” Yuugi explained, to the pleasure of Jyoonouchi and Anzu.

 

The group ate quickly eager to get underway again. Once they were walking again they continued to see the area getting darker, until the entire path was cloaked in darkness. Even the torch that Anzu had brought barely cut through the darkness of the area. Crickets chirped all around them, and the area seemed almost alive, Serenity stayed close to her brother and Anzu stayed close to Yuugi who was holding the torch. Kaiba was at the rear of the group and felt almost as anxious as the others.

 

“Ok, this is definitely creepsville.” Anzu said shivering slightly with fear, an encouraging smile from Yuugi calmed her slightly.

 

“It's ok Anzu, nothing's going to happen.”

 

“Maybe…”

 

The group walked further, the darkness seemed to get even stronger the deeper they went. Yuugi was about to say they should go back when a fog began to cover the area. Yuugi froze; a chill ran down his spine, this was exactly how his dream had been. He turned to look into Anzu's eyes; he couldn't hide the fear in them.

 

“Yuugi its ok, we're all here remember.” Anzu whispered stroking his hand softly trying to suppress her own fear. Yuugi swallowed and nodded beginning to walk forward again.

 

“Isn't this the start of an Edgar Allen Poe story?” Kaiba muttered dryly.

 

The group resumed walking; markers hammered into the ground made of rotting wood told them they were close to Erebus. The fog intensified as the ground turned from lush grass to ashen rock. The temperature dropped the closer they came to the city. Yuugi gave Anzu his jacket when he noticed her shivering.

 

“Finally.” Jyoonouchi whispered as they finally arrived at a black Iron Gate. It stood ten feet high with spikes mounted atop the gate. Yuugi walked towards the gate intending to open it until suddenly it opened by itself.

 

The group went silent with fear; the area outside the torch light was barely visible by human eyes. The Iron Gate was framed by two Gargoyles that flanked it, extending in both directions was a black wall, they couldn't see how far it went, they just knew they couldn't see a turn or an end to it.

 

“Once more into the breach?” Yuugi asked feigning confidence. Anzu nodded, Serenity looked apprehensive, Jyoonouchi and Kaiba looked stoically at the interior of the city. Yuugi turned and walked in, the others followed, but only hesitantly.

 

“Where is everyone?” Anzu asked after ten minutes.

 

“I know, I thought we'd see a lot more duellists here.” Yuugi commented.

 

“Can we move quicker, please?” Jyoonouchi urged.

 

Kaiba growled, “As much as it will surprise everyone here, I agree with the mutt.”

 

The group moved quickly through the, a long since abandoned fountain stood in the Geographic centre of Erebus. Several deformed angels that would have once discharged water from their mouths had long since decayed and somehow deformed into demonic looking female creatures.

 

“That's disturbed.” Jyoonouchi muttered.

 

“Who created a place like this?” Anzu wondered allowed.

 

“Probably the same person who built that.” Serenity said timidly cowering slightly behind Joey pointing into the distance. The landmark she was pointing to was shrouded in black mist, the dark spires rose above the area from its mount on a hill about a kilometre from the centre of the city.

 

“Interesting, it reminds me of the St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.” Kaiba commented.

 

“If you're saying that it reminds you of St. Basil's if it had been given an extreme makeover by Count Dracula, then I'd would have to agree with you Seto.” Yuugi retorted also examining the building in the distance. He got a dark yet familiar aura from the building, he had no idea why but it was the feeling he got.

 

“Can we find the Duellist Centre and get out of here please!” Anzu pleaded looking extremely apprehensive about the situation. The group looked around and began walking in another direction. Yuugi once again examined his map, but he found no sign of the Duellist Centre on the map he was using.

 

“This is ridiculous.” Kaiba stated as they walked.

 

Yuugi sighed and didn't look up from his map, “I'm not going to suffer your diatribe Seto, you're enough of a windbag as it is.”

 

Kaiba's expression became unreadable as Jyoonouchi grinned broadly. Suddenly Yuugi spun around making everyone behind him almost jump out of their skins. “I've found the Duellist Centre!”

 

Yuugi turned around again and began walking in yet another direction, the group followed promptly as Yuugi took a left, a right, another left, a second left, two rights and a left and then stopped turning to face a darkened building overgrown with vines built out of grey brick a small balcony built in Victorian style jutted out from the first floor. The door was made of dark wood and was in medieval design.

 

“Yuugi, are you sure you read that map right, this place looks like it was built before the turn of the century?” Anzu asked.

 

“This is what the map says the Duellist Centre is, let's go.” Yuugi proclaimed walking towards the door pushing it open.

 

Inside the design was exactly the same as the Duellist Centre on Route 1, but instead of a steel sign sunken into the crimson coloured concrete reading Duellist Centre - Route 1, the sign read `DUELLIST CENTRE - EREBUS' and was this time emblazoned in bronze.

 

“Oh, hello can I help you at all?” A voice asked from behind them.

 

The group turned and as one, “WHAT!”

 

A woman stood before them, she looked exactly like Hitomi down to the minute details. Yuugi blinked in confusion, “Hitomi, I thought we left you back at the Duellist Centre on Route One?” Yuugi asked in confusion.

 

The Hitomi look alike blinked for a moment and then smiled knowingly, “Oh, you must mean my second cousin Hitomi who runs the Route 3 Duellist Centre. No I'm the Erebus Hitomi, pleased to meet you.”

 

“Wait, you're second cousins and you're both named Hitomi, tell me this isn't one of Pegasus's inside jokes.” Anzu commented exasperated.

 

Hitomi smiled, “Well yes, all the children in our family were girls, and we were all named Hitomi, there are twenty of us. Mr. Pegasus was kind enough to hire all of us to run the Duellist Centre throughout the Shuba region.”

 

Jyoonouchi blinked, “Twenty… that must make family reunions a real hoot.”

 

Hitomi giggled slightly, “So I guess you're all here to register for the Duellist League right?”

 

“It's just Kaiba, Jyoonouchi and I actually.” Yuugi explained.

 

Hitomi smiled and nodded, “If you'll let me have your Duel Disks and your tournament id's, they're in your Duellist League packs, I'll process your registration. Why don't the five of you rest for a little while and have something to eat.”

 

Yugi and the others went to the café while Hitomi walked to the reception desk the Duel Disk's and id's. Yuugi unfolded the map on the table to examine.

 

“After we leave Erebus there are three different routes, they each lead to a different city that seems to have a gym in it.”

 

Jyoonouchi examined the map, “That city, Bellerophon looks interesting.”

 

Kaiba also eyed the map and smirked, “I'll go to Oceanos.”

 

Yugi sighed, “I guess that means I'll go to Hel.”

 

The entire group sweat dropped, Yuugi grinned, “Oh come on, you were all thinking it I know you were.”

 

“You're truly odd Yuugi; I'm going to check on something ok.” Anzu said excusing herself.

 

Yuuugi watched Anzu leave as a problem occurred to Serenity, “There aren't any connecting routes that go to each of these cities though, how will we go to all three.”

 

Yuugi, Kaiba and Jyoonouchi looked at each other intently; Yuugi decided to speak first, “I guess we'll have to split up the group.”

 

“But we can't split up the group; I thought we were in this journey together.” Serenity protested.

 

“Hey chill sis, we are, but it's going to be a lot easier if the five of us went on separate routes, but you're going to stay with me and cheer me on right?” Jou asked smiling.

 

“Of course I will big Brother.” Serenity affirmed immediately.

 

“I wonder which one of us Anzu will go with.” Yuugi wondered aloud, he failed to pick up on the rolled eyes of the three since he was looking in away.

 

Jyoonouchi smirked, “Awe poor Kaiba's going to be all on his own, hey Kaiba, Serenity's got an old teddy bear, do you want to borrow it.”

 

Kaiba snorted, “Stuff it Katsuya, just don't get yourself humiliated, I want to save that pleasure for when we duel.”

 

“That isn't going to happen.” Jou responded, Yuugi sighed. Thankfully Anzu returned at that moment halting another Kaiba/Jyoonouchi argument. Yuugi quickly explained what they'd decided, and just as quickly Anzu declared she was going with Yuugi.

 

The group laughed and talked over their meal of cheeseburgers. Anzu left the table again for a few minutes later in the hour. Almost as soon as she returned Hitomi appeared with the boy's Duel Disks and ids.

 

“I'm done, Seto Kaiba, Katsuya Jyoonouchi and Yuugi Mutou, you are now officially apart of the Duellist League.”

 

The boys were handed back their Duel Disks and ids as well as a small case in which to hold their gym badges. They quickly finished got going again. They walked through the empty city to the other side, another iron gate stood between them and the beginning of the journey.

 

“Well, I guess this is it. Good luck Jyoonouchi.”

 

“You to Yuug, I'll see ya on the flip side.”

 

“Don't lose Yuugi.”

 

Yuugi sighed, “Good luck to you to Kaiba.”

 

The gate opened and the five stepped through into their separate journeys. As they did someone at the castle watched. He smirked at them; he almost felt pity for their plight, almost.

 

To Be Continued…