Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Shadowy Links to the Past ❯ The Second Dark Force ( Chapter 15 )

Sorry it took me a while to update. I was working on my other fic, Guardians of the Watchtowers. But now I'm back on this one.

Solo_girl: Thanks for the review! I hope I didn't screw up the story too much with this twist…

Yume: Yeah, I know this all seems very confusing…trust me, even I get confused sometimes, and I'm the author! ;) Okay, yeah, you have some very good points in your review. First off, it is supposed to be that Yami has now retained some of his memories, through the flashback thing a several chapters ago and through the vision thing with Ishizu. So, some of those feelings he had in the past transferred over to the present. Experiencing the past kinda jogged his memory a bit, you know? Second, Yami was never really in love with Dwenny. This is explained better near the very end of the fic, when Dwenny returns. But I don't want to say any more on it, cuz that would spoil the ending kinda. Hope this kinda clears things up a bit. Thanks for the review!

Disclaimer: Must I say it again? I don't own Yugioh.

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Chapter 15: The Second Dark Force

"So, uh, could you explain that to me again, Yuge? I still don't quite get it." Joey gave Yugi another confused look.

Yugi sighed. As soon as Ishizu had left, he had called his three friends over to explain everything. Unfortunately, they weren't getting it. Yugi had lost track of how many times he had already tried to explain things. Maybe he could get Yami or Sekhmet to give it a try. He glanced over at Yami. No luck there. Yami looked deep in thought as he watched Sekhmet, who was standing in front of the Grandfather clock, looking at her reflection in its smooth glass. Yugi turned his gaze towards Sekhmet. She ran a hand lightly over the bandage on her face, before carefully removing it. She grimaced as she saw the long wound on her cheek.

Just like in the past, she thought wistfully. Except this wound is still fresh… But that could be taken care of immediately. Placing a hand over her cheek, she closed her eyes and muttered something under her breath. The stone on her forehead, as well as her hand, glowed green momentarily, then vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Sekhmet removed her hand and opened her eyes, staring once more at her reflection in the glass. She half-smiled. The wound was gone, a long jagged scar left behind in its place. *Now* it was just like it was in the past.

A sudden surge of magickal energies caused Sekhmet to jerk her gaze from her reflection. Frowning, she turned her gaze towards the open window, then walked quickly over to it. Placing her hands on the wooden sill, she peered curiously out the window, sweeping her gaze over the unfamiliar world before her. Ignoring the strange objects of this world, Sekhmet cast her senses out, searching for any magick being used. Green eyes darkened as she clearly felt it vibrating not far from where she was. Dark magick. Strong too.

A pair of arms snaked themselves around her waist, causing Sekhmet to jump a little. But she immediately relaxed when she heard the deep, cool voice in her ear, "What troubles you, my love?"

Sekhmet placed her hands on top of Yami's, leaning back a little into his embrace. Yami lightly rested his head on her shoulder. "Strong, dark magick is near. But I don't think it is a threat to the little one or his friends."

Yami frowned. It couldn't be Marik then. Marik *always* seemed to be a threat to Yugi. They needed to figure out who this mystery person was.

A light groan behind them caused both to turn around. Yugi looked at them pleadingly. "Can one of you *please* help me out here? I'm having trouble, ah, explaining things."

Sighing, Yami unwrapped his arms from Sekhmet's waist, giving her an apologetic smile. He walked over to where Yugi and his friends were and proceeded to explain what was going on.

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Later that night, after Yugi's friends had left, Sekhmet stood in the darkened guest room, arms folded across her chest. It had been agreed that Yami would stay in Yugi's room, for protection purposes. So she was left alone with her thoughts. She still felt guilty for trapping Yami's soul in the Millennium Puzzle. She should have known better. But then again, there wasn't much of a choice, now was there? If they hadn't, then the world may have been destroyed…

A sudden burst of magickal energies jerked Sekhmet out of her thoughts. Her dark green eyes narrowed. It was the same dark energy that she had felt earlier that night. Well this time, she was going to find out who this magick-user was. Sekhmet walked to the door, then paused, her hand on the door knob. Should she tell Yami? No, he had enough to worry about. Besides, she could take care of herself.

The sorceress silently made her way down the hall and into the living room. She had no idea where the door that led out was, and she was not in a patient enough mood to go looking for it. Besides, she knew another way out. Walking quickly over to the window, she carefully slid it open, so as not to make a sound. She peered outside the window. It was too long a drop to the ground to just jump out. So she would need some help. Concentrating, Sekhmet summoned her magick. Green flames rose from the ground below her, rising till they stopped just below the window's ledge. With one last look back in Yami's direction, Sekhmet climbed out of the window and onto the awaiting flames. Then she carefully used the flames to lower herself to the ground. Once she was on the ground, the green flames disappeared.

Sekhmet glanced around the dark street. Now, to find that magick-user. She cast out her senses once again, immediately picking up on the dark magickal energies. She followed the energy trace until she came to a place with lots of trees, surrounded by a brick wall. The entrance was dimly lit, but Sekhmet could make out a trail leading inside. Cautiously, she followed that trail, till she came to the point where it split into several smaller trails. Sekhmet frowned. She had wanted to avoid using her magick, so that she could remain undetected, but it looked like she'd have to use it anyways. Sighing, she gently cast out her senses, then started down one of the trails. It led to an open area, with a beautiful marble fountain in its center. Sekhmet's eyes widened slightly as she saw the elegantly intertwining dragons. This looks very familiar… she thought as she walked up towards it.

"I've been waiting for you."

The voice caught Sekhmet by surprise, and she whirled around as a lone figure detached itself from the shadows. The figure was cloaked in black, but by the lamp's light she could see that it was a young man with darkened blonde hair. His blue eyes gazed at her, twinkling as he said in a low voice, "Cerridwen." He smiled.

Cerridwen? Oh right, the witch. Another friend perhaps? No. Something in his eyes told Sekhmet that they had been more than just friends. But if they had been so close, then how come he couldn't tell that she was not Cerridwen? A secretive smile played across her lips as she said, "I'm not Cerridwen. Are you a friend of hers?"

The young man continued walking towards her until he was only a few feet away. He peered at her closely, his eyes narrowing as he did. "Ah, yes, I see now that indeed you are not Cerridwen. You're much more beautiful." He smiled. "My deepest apologies. And to answer your question, yes, I'm an old…friend of Cerridwen's."

Something was not right here. This guy appeared nice, but…Sekhmet felt he was hiding something. Something dark. Perhaps he was the one she was searching for. She needed to know more about him. "If you are a friend, then you must know magick."

The young man laughed. "Yes, I'm the one who trained Cerridwen to be a Seeker."

Seeker? Yes, earlier Yami had told her how he and Dwenny had met, who she was, what her assignment was and such. Suddenly, something clicked in her mind, and Sekhmet looked at the young man, wide-eyed. "You're Gwydion!"

It was more of a statement rather than a question.

The young man now identified as Gwydion laughed. "Yes, I am. And you are?"

Sekhmet hesitated. Yami hadn't told her that Gwydion was Dwenny's mentor, but perhaps he had not known. He had told her though that Gwydion could be dangerous. She had to be cautious. "I am called Sekhmet," she said after a pause.

"Sekhmet…" Gwydion murmured. "It suits you perfectly." Suddenly, he closed the distance between then, wrapping his arms around her waist and drawing them close together. "You know," he whispered seductively, "you and I could be *wonderful* together. With our magicks combined, we would be unstoppable…" He leaned in to kiss her on the lips, but Sekhmet stopped him abruptly by placing her fingers against his lips.

"I'm sorry. But my heart already belongs to another." Sekhmet gently removed herself from Gwydion's embrace, and stepped back away from him.

Gwydion was shocked. "A-Another?" he choked out. He could feel his anger rising- and his magick. "And may I ask who?" he said evenly.

Sekhmet sensed the sudden presence of dark magick. The same dark magick that she was searching for. Dark force number two found. But this one did not seem threatening at all to Yami or Yugi. Yet. She'll have to ask Yami on what to do. For now though, from the look Gwydion was giving her, she had better take her leave, before his dark magick got the better of him. Sekhmet chose her words carefully. "By someone who's had it for over three millennia. I bid you good evening." With that, she turned and walked away.

Gwydion just stood there, mouth hanging open, dumbfounded. Three millennia? What the heck did she mean by that? Then it hit him: that spirit from the Millennium Puzzle?! No, it couldn't be…could it? It *had* to be. There was no other explanation. Gwydion growled. If that was the case, then it was high time that that spirit was put to rest *permanently*. And he knew exactly how to do that…

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Oy, this story is much longer than I had anticipated, so I'm having difficulty keeping things straight and consistent in my mind. So sorry for any inconsistencies. Anyways, next chapter…Sekhmet returns to Yugi's, to find Yami waiting for her. They talk about…stuff (I'm not sure what yet). Next day, they go to the park and spend some time together only to be interrupted several times by certain people. Find out who in the next chapter! Thanks for reading, and for reviewing! :) I'm so sorry if I'm just confusing you even more…