Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The not to distant future ❯ Chapter 4

The not to distant future
By Yami Kitsune
Chapter four: Shadow eclipse of the heart



A hooded figure stood by a small pool of water staring into it. No one could see his face, but by his still movements it was easy to tell that he was extremely pissed off. “How did this happen?” He asked raising his head slightly but the hood still blocked his face from view.

“…m…my lord.” A girl stepped forward kneeling down her head bowed. The man standing by the water looked at her.

“Speak.” He said still trying to contain his anger at the recent failure. The millennium items were his main goal, but he also knew he could not reach this goal until he had the three hikari’s. He’d known Malik would be trouble. Yugi, though small, was always more trouble then he was worth. Ryou had surprisingly been the ‘weaker’ of the group. But even that had turned out to be a failure.

“My lord.” The girl said again keeping her head bowed. “The hikari’s can no longer be reached from the outside.” She said.

“I have been watching.” The man snapped sounding irritated that someone dare point out the obvious to him. The girl shrank back.

“Forgive me. I was merely making an observation my lord. That perhaps there may be a way to get to them…from the inside?” She asked suggestively. There was a long silence and the girl was half afraid she had over stepped her boundaries. Until she heard a soft chuckle.

“That is a wise idea.” The man said turning his attention back to the water and ran his hand over it. “A very wise idea. And I know just how to do it.”

~~~~

Ryou sat on the couch absently running his finger over his ring. Yugi and Malik were sitting in separate chairs. The three of them had been trying to figure out exactly HOW Ryou had gotten his millennium ring back when it had been sealed away with the other items.

“This really doesn’t make any sense at all.” Malik sighed shaking his head. They had gone over Ryou’s story at least a dozen times and none of them could figure it out.

“I’m not even sure if the shadow was even there.” Ryou said for at least the third time. “I just…I remember a bright light and everything after that is kind of fuzzy.” Ryou said frowning feeling bad that he couldn’t tell them more. He knew that SOMETHING else had happened, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t remember.

“The bright light must have been from the ring.” Malik said. “That much is for certain, but it doesn’t explain HOW it got here.” the three of them sat in silence for a few moments before Yugi finally spoke up.

“What if.” He said, Ryou and Malik turning their attention to him. “What if the shadow really was there?” Yugi asked. “And the ring…I don’t know just appeared there? The millennium items were made from shadow creatures.” Malik looked thoughtful for a moment.

“If that were true, then how come Ryou didn’t end up with the ring when he had been attacked the first time? Or how come the puzzle didn’t return to you when you were almost attacked.” Malik pointed out. “It would make more sense that way.” Yugi sighed leaning back in his chair and staring at the ceiling. Why was it that everything that had to do with the shadow realm was an endless maze of questions. If you could answer one you’d end up with ten more. Yugi jumped when he heard a loud crash coming from the kitchen Jou could be heard shouting.

“I KNOW how to cook Kaiba! I don‘t need your damn help!!” Yugi sighed shaking his head. Seto and Jou had been at each others throats since Ryou had shown up the day before. It had been late by the time Seto had arrived with Ryou, and Malik had let him stay the night. Jou of course had also staid. Yugi should have known then that it was going to lead to trouble. First had been the fight over who was going to be sleeping on sofa and who could get the floor. Malik had only really planned on Ryou and Yugi staying with him so there were only three bedrooms. Yugi had offered his bed to Jou, but the blond had refused.

Yugi had left Seto and Jou fighting over the couch, and had found them both sleeping on the floor that morning. Seto had been in a foul mood and as usual, had used Jou to vent.

Yugi turned to look at Malik as the blond Egyptian stood up. “I’d rather they not destroy the kitchen.” He said and headed in there. Ryou and Yugi looked at each other and also moved to stand up to go see if they could help. It was then that the kitchen door slammed open and Jou came storming out looking extremely pissed.

“Jou?” Yugi asked. Jou ignored him as he stormed out of the penthouse slamming the door behind him. Yugi stood up and went to go after him.

“Wait Yugi!” Ryou said jumping up and catching him before he could leave too. “What about the shadows?” He asked. Yugi frowned, he wanted to say he didn’t care about the shadows. Jou was his friend, and had been there for him for the past two years when no one else had. But the memory of the shadow reaching for him came to the front of his mind and he shuddered stepping away from the door.

Ryou let go of Yugi’s arm slowly. “I...I’m sorry.” He said softly. Yugi shook his head managing to give Ryou a small smile.

“Don’t be.” He said. “I’d rather not take the chance of being attacked by the shadow again.” He said and walked away from the door thinking that Jou would come back when he had cooled off a bit. Ryou watched as Yugi made his way to the kitchen as well before he turned and headed to the window. He stood there staring at the sky. The sun was bright and it looked like it was a beautiful day. Ryou sighed and slowly turned to also head into the kitchen, when the scar on his arm suddenly throbbed painfully the shadow of something moving quickly passed the window. Ryou turned quickly to see what it was, but he didn’t see anything. He swallowed hard hoping that it was just is imagination, but quickly headed to the kitchen none the less.

~~~~~~~

Jou marched down the street his hands shoved in his pockets. He didn’t know where he was going, and he didn’t really care. As long as he got far away from Kaiba for at least a few hours he would be fine.

“ch’ damn Kaiba.” He grumbled under his breath as he stopped at a crosswalk waiting for the light to change. His thoughts drifting back to what had happened in the kitchen.

~memory~
Jou stood by the stove turning the burner on and getting everything he would need from the fridge. He’d turned his back for only a few seconds before he heard a soft ‘click’. Turning back he saw Seto now standing by the stove. He had turned the burner off.

“Oi! What the hell you do that for?” Jou asked leaving the fridge open and going to turn the burner back on.

“You’ll burn the place down that way.” Seto said coolly. “Try getting the stuff you need first.” He said walking around Jou and going over to the fridge getting out the milk and closing it. Jou stood there glaring at him and went back over to the fridge and got everything he was going to use and set it out on the counter. He glanced at Seto who was drinking his milk but still seemed to be watching him. Jou shuddered and turned his back on Seto so he could make some fried rice. Jou turned the burner back on and started cooking. But he could still feel Seto’s eyes on him.

“What exactly are you making?” Seto asked. “It doesn’t look very edible.” Seto said after a few moments of watching Jou.

“So? It’s not like YOU’RE the one that’s going to be eating it.” Jou said not looking at him. “I’m making it for Malik, Yugi and Ryou.” He said and continued cooking.

“I don’t think they’ll eat it. I’ve seen fast food that looks better.”

“Not everyone is a picky ass like you.” Jou snapped starting to get irritated.

“Are you sure you’re not trying to poison them? I think they have enough to deal with right now and don’t need your cooking adding to their problems. Why don’t you try adding some seasoning to it.” Jou turned glare at Seto. But the smug look the CEO had on his face pissed Jou off.

“I KNOW how to cook Kaiba! I don’t need your damn help!”

~end~

Jou shook his head when he realized that the walk sign was flashing now. Why the hell Seto couldn’t mind his own business for once. Always thinking he was better then everyone else. //I’ll get him back one of these days.// Jou thought, though he had been saying that most of his teenage life. He had never once seen Seto eat his own words. This of course made Jou walk faster as his anger flared up again. Anger at Seto for acting so high and mighty, anger at Malik for letting the damn CEO stay the night in the first place, but most of all, anger at himself. Because it isn’t every day that your high school crush walks back into your life and make you realize just how much you really missed him.

Jou kicked a garbage can. He had fought with himself through most of high school that there were better people to like then Seto Kaiba #1 bastard. He’d been a little disappointed when high school ended and he now longer saw the CEO. And after a while, Jou thought he’d gotten over the blue eyed boy. He sighed and leaned against the wall. He wanted to say his life sucked, but compared to what Yugi had gone through, and what he was going through with the other two hikari’s Jou didn’t think he had much room to complain.

Looking at the sky he pushed off the wall. “Even the weather is against me.” He said watching storm clouds in the distance. He could stay out for a couple more hours before they actually reached the city. So he decided he should head home and at least grab some clothes if he was going to stay with the hikari’s for the next few days. He pushed off the wall and went to walk by the ally he’d been standing next to. As he did however he felt a cold chill run down his spine.

“…help…”

Jou blinked and looked into the ally. “Hello?” He asked sure he’d just heard someone.

“help…” the voice said again. Jou frowned and stepped into the ally looking around trying to find who was calling for help. But the ally was so dark he could barely see his hand in front of his face.

“Help” The voice said again louder this time. Jou was getting close. He walked further into the shadows.

~~~~~~~

“This is so damn BORING!” Marik complained as he laid down on the shadow ground. “You think someone would redecorate this place, at least make it a bit more FUN to be banished here.”

“The whole point of being banished is not to have fun.” Yami calmly pointed out.

“And who made that rule?” Marik asked looking over at Yami who was still looking around as if hoping to see something different other then shadows and darkness.

“Why are you asking me this?” Yami asked glancing at him.

“It’s it obvious?” Bakura asked joining in the conversation just for something to do. “The all mighty Ra summoned you and you actually held a conversation with him.” He said grinning. Yami raised an eyebrow still looking a little bewildered. “It means that instead of PRETENDING you’re important, you actually ARE important now.” Bakura said. “Therefore you must have all the answers to everything.” Yami rolled his eyes lifting Bakura’s arm from his shoulders.

“Just because I’ve talked to Ra doesn’t mean I know what’s going to happen next.” Marik sat up and stared at him.

“And what’s that supposed to mean? You don’t know what’s ganna happen next!?”

“It means exactly what it sounds like. I don’t know what is going to happen. It all depends on what the Hikari’s do. We could still be stuck in here for years before anything happens.”

“Correction. YOU may have to stay here for years before anything happens. My hikari is a hell of a lot smarter then yours is and has probably already realized what’s going on now that Bakura’s wimp has his ring back.” Yami glared at Marik crossing his arms over his chest.

“My hikari is smarter then people give him credit for. I should know after being with him for so long.”

“Right!” Marik snorted. “What he lacks in height he makes up for in brains! That must make him the smartest kid in the world.” Bakura snorted at this earning a glare from Yami.

“Watch it Marik, the all mighty pharaoh looks a little pissed.” Bakura said smirking slightly at Yami.

“Can’t you two take something seriously for once? This is not a game.”

“Says the king of games!” Bakura said and watched as Yami turned and walked away rolling his eyes at the other two yamis. As he did however he felt as if something in the shadow realm shifted. He turned back to the other two, Marik now on his feet both of them looking alert. The three of them looked around. But it didn’t look like anything had changed. But something definitely had.

“…Something left the shadow realm.” Marik said after a very long silence. Marik had been trapped in the shadow realm the longest, making it slightly easier for him to tell what had happened.

“Are you sure?” Bakura asked trying to pick up what Marik was sensing.

“Positive. Something large left the shadow realm, that’s why it shifted. If it comes back, it will shift again.” the three yamis looked at each other all of them thinking the same thing. If they weren’t able to get out of the shadow realm soon their hikari’s might not be alive much longer.

TBC>>>