Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Duellist League ❯ Battle Stage 9; Seperate Journey's! The Grave Duel, Part 1 ( Chapter 9 )

Battle Stage 9: Separate Journey's! The Grave Duel, Part 1

 

Yuugi and Anzu watched as their friends disappeared into the mist. Yuugi felt a chill through his body, this was almost a replica of his dream, except for the fact that his friends still cared. He wasn't being abandoned; however he couldn't get the knot out of his stomach.

 

Anzu slipped a hand onto his shoulder, “Are you ok Yuugi?”

 

Yuugi looked up into Anzu's eyes and smiled a little, “With you here, I will be.”

 

Anzu blushed, “Th-thanks Yuugi that's sweet of you to say, maybe we should get going.”

 

Yuugi smiled and nodded, “Yeah, we should get going.”

 

Anzu nodded and took Yuugi's hand; he blushed until he felt the energy behind her grip. Anzu was scared and eager to leave. Yuugi and Anzu started walking quickly through ashen caked ground. As they walked the altitude rose as the ground curved upwards, the fog began clearing in front of them, being burnt off by the noon sunlight.

 

“Wow.” Yuugi exclaimed as they reached the apex of the hill. An ocean of green pastures pocketed by small seas of trees. The two stood in awe of the sheer natural beauty of their environment; Anzu tapped Yuugi on the shoulder and pointed down the hill.

 

“Look Yuugi, its Kaiba.”

 

Yuugi squinted and nodded, “He moves quicker than we do, look, Jyoonouchi and Serenity.”

 

Anzu looked to their right and saw Joey and Serenity heading across the face of the hill towards a town with a large tower at the centre. “So where are we headed Yuugi?” Anzu asked.

 

Yuugi took out his map, studying it for a moment, “I think we have to go that way.” Yuugi said indicating to an area directly ahead of the two.

 

Anzu felt a shiver run up and down her back, “Yuugi, are you sure we have to go there, isn't there another town we could go to?”

 

Yuugi looked up at Anzu, he followed her eyes. The town he'd indicated to was covered in thick black cloud, so much so Yuugi couldn't make out any of the buildings. The only thing Yuugi could see was what looked like an entrance to a tunnel.

 

“What's wrong Anzu, scared?” Yuugi teased.

 

“No more scared than the time Yami saved me on that Ferris wheel.” Anzu retorted.

 

Yuugi frowned and fell silent, without another word he began to walk down the hill, he heard Anzu's protests to slow down, but he ignored her. About halfway down the hill Yuugi came across a break in the knee high grass, a dirt path had been cut into the field, the dirt compacted so it was a solid walking surface. Yuugi looked ahead and traced the route with his eyes, the path led to a crossroads at which the entrance of the tunnel was located.

 

Yuugi began walking again taking no notice that Anzu had just caught up to him. He ignored her complaints and angry words and continued walking. After another half hour of walking in silence Yuugi reached the crossroads. A wooden signpost indicated the towns that stood in each direction, to the North was Hel, to the south was Erebus, to the west, Oceanos and to the east, Bellerophon. Yuugi examined the tunnel entrance, it was simple design, a circular concrete pipe about seven feet high, a metal plank extended to the floor since the first diagonal section was quite steep.

 

Yuugi heard Anzu approaching from behind and quickly resumed walking. Anzu stopped, her breathing laboured, looking up she saw Yuugi walking again, “Hey Yugi, Yuugi, damn it Yuugi would you stop and tell me what's wrong?”

 

Yuugi stopped and turned around, “Nothing's wrong Anzu.” He said quietly.

 

Anzu shook her head, “Don't lie to me Yuugi, of course something's wrong. I'm sorry for my stupid comment before, but Yami was a real hero for me that day, thinking of him makes me stronger.”

 

Yuugi's shoulders slumped and his head dropped, “I knew I was right.” He muttered.

 

Anzu blinked, “What did you say Yuugi?”

 

“I said we should get going…”

 

Anzu frowned as they resumed walking, she could feel it in her bones that Yuugi was hiding something from her, but she couldn't figure out what it was. It was not however for lack of trying, Anzu had lost count of the nights since the Ceremonial Battle she'd lain awake wondering. Anzu sped up to keep pace with Yuugi who was almost speeding down the Spartan concrete pipe the sound of their footsteps echoing off the walls as mist rose around their feet.

 

“Yuugi, is it me or is it getting colder as we walk?”

 

Yuugi stopped for a moment, “Yeah, I guess it is.”

 

Anzu shivered in the cold air now wishing she'd brought a heavier coat; suddenly she felt warmth around her shoulders. Anzu opened her eyes to see Yuugi adjusting his jacket to fit around her shoulders. Anzu reflected on how this was exactly akin to the time in the virtual world when he'd extended her the same act of kindness.

 

Anzu smiled, “Thanks Yuugi, you're really sweet.”

 

“You just looked cold.” Yuugi replied shortly shrugging.

 

Yuugi quickly resumed walking, Anzu watched him sadly before resuming walking herself. They continued down the tunnel, a sheer light from the other end provided the only illumination. As they approached the far end of the tunnel the ground began to cake with an increasingly dense layer of dirt.

 

Anzu swallowed as they emerged from the tunnel, they'd arrived at a path lined with ashen black trees stripped of their leaves, the trees standing at the least four metres tall. The branches stuck out like deformed hands eager to strike a person down. The sky was as black as Ravens feathers, but a sheer unsourced white light illuminated, the inky blackness casting everything into ghostly shadows.

 

The two crept forward, a distant howl made Anzu yelp latching onto Yugi. Yuugi gave her a cold stare and she immediately desisted resisting the urge to pout. As they moved forwards a pair of glowing crimson eyes watched them with malicious intent.

 

“Eek, Yuugi, there's something out there!” Anzu whispered hearing a twig snap nearby.

 

Yuugi sighed, “Anzu, there's nothing out here but us, so calm down.”

 

Anzu scowled at him, “Yuugi, this place gives me the creeps, can we turn back. There are lots of other gyms.”

 

Yuugi turned around exasperated, “Anzu, there's NOTHING…”

 

As Yuugi spoke Anzu screamed as a large Shadow swooped over him heading towards her. Yuugi yelled for Anzu to move but she was too paralysed in fear to move a muscle. Just as the Shadow swooped over Anzu, a pair of white bone hind claws with three fore talons and one large aft talon reached out grabbing Anzu by the shoulders carrying her into the sky. Yuugi screamed her name in panic as Anzu screamed for someone to help her. The shadow lifted on the monster that had taken Anzu, the Summoned Skull (Dark/Fiend/6 ATK/2500 DEF/1200) flew higher into the sky, its powerful wings amethyst wings pumped harder as it rose with Anzu's additional weight.

 

Anzu stopped struggling as they rose higher into the air. Anzu's fear of what this large hideous fiend had planned had been replaced with the fear of falling to her death if it released her. All Anzu could do was looked down to a panicked Yuugi with a terrified expression.

 

Yuugi watched as his love was being whisked away to Ra knows where for Ra knows what purpose. He knew he had to save Anzu, but he was frozen in place. Yuugi shook his head growling, `Shake it off, Téa's in trouble!'

 

Yuugi took out his Duel Disk and threw it on his arm knowing instinctively what he had to do.

 

1. “I summon my Dark Magician (Dark/Spellcaster/7 ATK/2500 DEF/2100) in attack mode;

 

2. I activate Thousand Knives (Spell)!”

 

Yuugi's Dark Magician appeared on the field with three knives in each hand; he leapt into the air and threw the knives striking the Summoned Skull in the chest. The Summoned Skull howled like a banshee letting go of Anzu, falling to earth in the process. Anzu screamed as she saw the ground rapidly approaching. Yuugi shed his Duel Disk and raced towards Anzu's falling frame. Yuugi skidded to a halt as Anzu dropped into his arms. Yuugi tried to maintain his balance; unfortunately Yuugi couldn't stay upright falling forwards face planting in Anzu's abdomen. Yuugi blushed as Anzu rolled over freeing his arms from under her. Anzu sat up and almost immediately jumped on Yuugi enveloping him in a bone bending hug.

 

“Oh Kami, Yuugi you saved me, you were so brave, thank you Yuugi.” Anzu said holding him tight shedding small tears.

 

Yuugi wiped her tears, “I'm just glad you're safe.”

 

Anzu looked up into Yuugi's gentle and beautiful amethyst eyes and suddenly found herself fortified, “Yuugi, I, want to tell you…”

 

A twig snapped nearby, Anzu squeaked and clutched onto Yuugi, “Uh, Yuugi can we get out of here, please?”

 

Yuugi nodded and got up helping Anzu who was still wobbly from her experience with the Summoned Skull. The two began walking slowly along the path, the mist growing steadily thicker as they progress. They cleared the row of trees to find themselves at the foot of a graveyard, the headstones spread haphazardly through the mist, a wrought iron fence separated Anzu and Yuugi from the graveyards interior.

 

“This place is like a really bad horror film.” Anzu commented unsteadily, Yuugi patted her on the on the shoulder reassuringly.

 

“Don't worry Anzu, nothing will happen.” Yuugi assured, he looked up and down the fence and smiled, “There's an opening over there.” Yuugi said pointing to the left. The two walked around the western edge of the circular fence to the entrance to the graveyard.

 

As they entered the mist became even thicker completely obscuring the ground from view. The area was silent, no birds could be heard, no wind rustled the leaves in any trees. The only sound was from their footsteps on the damp ground. As Yuugi glanced at his surroundings his eyes widened, “Anzu, get down!”

 

Anzu looked around and screamed she dove to the ground as a monster dressed in a long black cloak with duelling cards attached to its belt carrying a scythe in its skeletal hands, flew over head. Yuugi armed his Duel Disk and waited, however the Reaper of the Cards (Dark/Fiend/Effect/4 ATK/1380 DEF/1980) simply flew over Anzu and continued on its way.

 

Yuugi rushed to Anzu's side as she sat up shaking, she sensed Yuugi's approach, “I'm ok Yuugi, I'm ok.” Yuugi nodded and knelt down next to Anzu as she whispered, “I wish Yami was here.”

 

Yuugi scowled and stood up, “Of course you do…”

 

Anzu looked up, “What?”

 

“Of course it is Anzu, I've never mattered, it was always about Yami, he got your praise, your adoration, your… Nothing I did was up to your standards; nothing I've done has mattered to you!” Yuugi shouted tearfully.

 

Anzu's fists were clenched as tears welled in her eyes, “Yuugi…” Yuugi shook his head moving away from her rapidly, “No, no I don't want to hear more lies from you, just, just…” Yuugi speed walked away from Anzu stirring the mist around his feet. Anzu watched him through tear stained eyes, `He honestly thinks he was worth nothing to me…' “It-it's not true, is it?” Anzu whispered, suddenly she flashed back to the kiss she shared with Yami, the way his lips felt against hers, all of it, felt wrong. In retrospect she felt even more correct in that assessment.

 

“I love…” Anzu smiled slightly, “I love Yuugi, but, why did I say I want Yami here…?”

 

Anzu shook her head and stood, `I can figure that out later.'

 

Anzu stood and looked deeper into the graveyard, Yuugi was still walking, he hadn't stopped or looked back to her since he'd started walking. Anzu frowned and ran after him, her long smooth slender legs allowed Anzu to catch up to Yuugi in a matter of minutes. Yuugi took a sideways glanced at her and continued walking.

 

Yuugi and Anzu continued up the misty path between the headstones. The path eventually took them into the town in the centre of the graveyard; all the buildings were constructed in black stone in a design reminiscent of medieval England. The only sign given of a Duellist Centre was a wooden sign hanging from an iron rod impaled into the building above the door. The few people in the town moved around like ghosts, not uttering a sound.

 

“Yuugi, let's go in ok?” Anzu asked.

 

Yuugi ignored her and walked in a circle around Anzu; he stopped and nodded at Anzu. However as they attempted to enter the Duellist Centre two cloaked individuals stepped in front of the doors. Behind them four more individuals in black cloaks encircled them.

 

Yuugi unsheathed his Duel Disk, “What do you want?”

 

“Go back, leave this place now!” One of the cloaked individuals said in the deep male voice.

 

Yuugi appeared puzzled, “Why?”

 

“If you continue this journey it will end in your death.” The cloaked man said. As soon as he'd imparted his warning he and the other cloaked individuals departed, disappearing into the mist.

 

Anzu swallowed, “Yuugi that was not good, we should turn back.”

 

Yuugi snorted and went inside the Duellist Centre; Anzu was stunned by his brusque attitude. Following him inside Anzu was unsurprised to find that the Duellist Centre was a carbon copy of the other centres except for one detail. Instead of a marron colour scheme, the dominant feature of the building was black marble.

 

As the two approached the desk a Hitomi popped up noticing their approach, “Oh, hi, welcome to the Duellist Centre, I am Hitomi.” Yuugi and Anzu gave her a respectful bow, after a second Anzu realized Hitomi was staring at her intently, “Uh, is something wrong?”

 

“You're injured.” Hitomi pointed out, Anzu looked down at her arm and finally noticed a sizable gash on her arm. The adrenaline spike was wearing off and the pain was beginning to filter through.

 

“I can patch that up for you, come.” Hitomi explained beckoning them forward; Anzu and Yuugi followed her into the medical suite. Anzu sat down on the table as Hitomi retrieved the appropriate supplies.

 

“This may hurt.” Hitomi warned, Anzu nodded, however until she cried out in pain Anzu hadn't registered that Yuugi had slipped his hand into her own. Anzu rang his hand as she felt the intense pain from Hitomi's efforts to clean her wound.

 

“How did this happen?” Hitomi asked.

 

Anzu thought for a moment, “I, guess it happened when that Summoned Skull took me.”

 

Hitomi frowned, “It took you, where from?”

 

“Uh, we came out from the tunnel, why, what's wrong?”

 

“If that Summoned Skull had succeeded you would have been the tenth girl that clan had taken.” Hitomi explained applying a bandage to Anzu's gash.

 

“Clan…? But, they're just holograms, right?” Anzu asked casting a side glance to a confused looking Yuugi.

 

Hitomi shook her head, “A lot of the Duel Monsters you'll come across are holograms, but, as many real Duel Monsters were genetically engineered…”

 

Yuugi spluttered, “Genetically engineered! You mean that Summoned Skull was REAL!!!”

 

Hitomi nodded, “Most of the Zombie's and Fiends were turned into real life monsters. It is the same with most monster sub-types, with the exception of Spellcaster's and Warriors.”

 

Anzu looked up as Hitomi bound her wound, “Why weren't those sub-types engineered?”

 

“It was agreed that no human Duel Monsters would be created except through the use of Holographic Technology, with some exceptions...”

 

Yuugi nodded and looked down, wondering what the soft, warm sensation in his hand was, finally he noticed that his hand had become intertwined with Anzu's. He looked up to see a gentle smile on her face. Yuugi glowered at her yanking his hand away from hers and leaving the room.

 

Hitomi smiled, “He must care about you quite a bit.”

 

Anzu blinked, “Where did you get that idea?”

 

Hitomi's smile grew a little wider, “The way he held your hand, and the way he was looking at you, you don't get look from someone who you're simply travelling with.”

 

Anzu looked away, “He doesn't care about me, he, hates me…”

 

Hitomi finished dressing Anzu's wound and placed a hand over Anzu's, “He's angry, he doesn't hate you. The anger will pass, whatever has caused his anger will pass, you just need to bear with it.”

 

Anzu smiled, heartened by the advice, “Thank you Hitomi that helps.”

 

Hitomi smiled again squeezing Téa's hand gently, “My pleasure Anzu.”

 

Anzu stood and grabbed her bag walking out into the lobby; she smiled seeing Yuugi leaning against the main desk, “You waited for me?”

 

Yuugi looked uncertain for a moment, “No, I was waiting for Hitomi; I need to know where the gym is.”

 

Hitomi came around from behind Anzu frowning slightly, “The gym is at the top of the north hill.”

 

Yuugi nodded, “Thank you.”

 

Without another word Yuugi turned and left, Anzu quickly followed. After exiting the Duellist Centre Yuugi looked north, in the distance he found the hill. A simple dirt track indicated the path to follow through a wrought iron fence to a church. Yuugi blinked and looked again.

 

“It looks like a church…” Yuugi muttered Yugi hadn't had much experience with the Christian faith since most of Japan was Shinto Buddhist. However he'd studied many faiths during the years and the building on the hill looked like a church. It was of stone construction with a rectangular shape, the roof was of brown tiling in a triangular prism. At the end nearest to Yugi was the entrance, a square bell tower that was topped with a square based pyramid of roof tiles.

 

Yuugi squared his jaw sensing Anzu standing close behind him and started walking. Within in a few minutes they were outside the town limits, after another couple they were standing in front of the church.

 

Yuugi looked up at Anzu, “Stay here.”

 

Anzu blinked, “What do you mean, stay here?”

 

Yuugi rolled his eyes, “What do you think I mean, I don't want you in the gym, I don't need your false praised or false support in there, just leave me alone!”

 

Yuugi ran inside the church/gym, Anzu attempted to run after him. However as she ran forward a large steel plate slammed in between Yuugi and Anzu cutting them off from each other. Anzu slammed against the plate pounding on it with her fists, “YUUGI!!”

 

To Be Continued…

 

Author's Note: The description of the church is borrows from the Age of Empires II Real Time Strategy computer game. Until Next Story, Cya.