Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Falling Without Wings ❯ Prologue ( Prologue )

Falling Without Wings

--Prologue-

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"We are here today not to mourn over the death, but to celebrate the life of my grandfather, as well as a friend to all present, Sugoruko Muto. He was truly a man who lived well, and achieved everything he wanted to in his life. The only the he failed to do, and he told me regretfully before he died...he-he never got to see me and my friends grow up and have lives of our own."

Yugi sniffed, raising a hand to wipe a stray tear from his eye. "Sorry," he whispered into the small microphone that was attached to the podium on the altar. He fought desperately to control the wave of tears that threatened to spill from his large, amethyst orbs. Finally controlling his urge to break down and start sobbing in the middle of the church, he continued his small speech.

"It makes me sad to think that he's not going to be around anymore." The small boy looked at the closed casket for a moment. "But I know that he wouldn't want me to waste my time crying over his death. I know that if he were here right now, he'd comfort me and tell me that he'd always be with me. He doesn't have to be here to let me know how true that is, though. I know that my grandpa is with me in my heart, and I know he is with all of you as well. He's watching and protecting us from heaven. And I know that when I die, I'll meet him up at those golden gates...and he'll give me a hug, like he used to do when I came home from school every day. And just like after school here, he'll ask me how my day was and how I'm feeling. And after I answer, he'll challenge me to play his favorite game, Duel Monsters."

Yugi sniffed, holding the edges of the podium so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "And of course...when that day comes, I won't turn down his challenge like I did on the day he died." Looking up at the ceiling, he sighed softly. "I'll be waiting, grandpa," he whispered, not sure if the others could hear him or not.

Stepping down from his stool that he used to reach the microphone, he bowed at the small group sitting in the seats of the church. Then without another word, he walked to the row that his friends were sitting in.

They were all giving him comforting smiles. Anzu had a hankie out and ready to give to him the moment he sat down. She took him in her arms and held him tightly, letting him cry on her shoulder. A few tears escaped from her usually bright blue eyes. She rubbed Yugi's back slowly, trying to offer any condolence she could to her best friend in his time of need.

Yami stared down at the scene, his lips drawn into a thin line. He watched from above the church, invisible to all the humans present. Slowly, he descended from his perch on the ceiling, landing gracefully on the floor and letting his wings fold behind his back. Crimson orbs turned to look sadly at the crying boy. He took a step forward, but then retreated, turning to gaze at the one who had brought him there.

"Why did you take me to this place?" he asked aloud, not worried about the humans hearing him. He knew they didn't believe enough to hear or see him.

The man looked away from the small teenager and to the young angel across from him. Closing his brown eyes, he let a small sigh escape his lips. "The other Head Angels of the Council of Heaven have noticed your longing to be on earth once again, young Yami," he explained. "So we have decided, after much time of thought and consideration, to let you go back...but not in the way you're thinking."

Yami raised an eyebrow. "Angel Gabriel, pardon my curiosity, but what way do you mean?"

Gabriel began to walk down the center aisle of the church, his eyes fixated on a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus. He folded his arms behind his back, his golden wings fluttering behind him slightly as he turned back around. "You will be sent to earth as a guardian angel. You will be guarding that boy," he pointed to the small teenager who was crying on the chest of the brunette girl.

"His name is Yugi Muto and his grandfather has just recently passed away." Gabriel began to walk again, continuing to talk as he did so. "Sugoruko Muto, the boy's grandfather, specifically asked after he died for someone to look out for his grandson. And since you've been longing to rejoin the humans ever since you passed away all those hundreds of years ago, the other Head Angels and I believe that you are best suited for the job to be Yugi's guardian."

Yami looked to the boy who looked stunningly like him. "Angel Gabriel...this is a generous offer...but I'm not sure if I can agree to it."

"You do want to rejoin the humans and be on earth again, don't you? You said yourself all those many times that you were unhappy in Heaven."

The young angel sighed. "I know, I know. I did say that, and it is the truth. I would do anything to live amongst the humans again...but I don't know if I am the best angel for the job. I mean, you have real guardian angels that you can send to protect and act as a source of comfort to the boy. ...Why choose a young angel like me? I've only been in heaven for not even four hundred years....I've not even earned my real wings yet!"

Gabriel chuckled. "That may be true...but I think that there is no one else but you who can do this job." He smiled kindly, unfolding his long, golden wings. "If you agree and complete this task with success, you will earn your real wings, young Yami."

Yami looked in awe at Gabriel's wings. He had always found them beautiful with their soft, feather-like quality and luminous gold color. He looked at his own wings, which were white, the color that any average angel received. If he were to do this correctly...he would receive golden wings of his own. Real wings! He would be a real guardian angel, and he would get to visit earth as frequently as he desired!

Nodding his head, Yami nodded in agreement. "I accept the task! I will act as a guardian to the young boy."

Gabriel smiled. "Good then. You will start tomorrow. As for the present, let's return to heaven. Once we get back, I will tell you of your duties, restrictions, and some other guidelines and rules." He slowly rose from the tiled floor, disappearing from view almost instantly.

Yami stayed behind for a moment. He looked back to the tri-haired boy and his friends, who were just beginning to get up since the mass was over. One of the boys, a blonde one, took Yugi in his arms and carried him out the church door, allowing him to cry on his clean black shirt.

The angel smiled again, watching the humans exit until not even the priest remained. Then slowly, he unfolded his wings and disappeared from the church.