Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The not to distant future ❯ Chapter 8

The not to distant future
By Yami Kitsune
Chapter eight: Shadows of a memory



Malik sat on the window sill looking out at the city lights. He brought one hand up to his shoulder when it started throbbing again. Marik frowned as he watched Malik. He knew what he was thinking of. And Marik wished he could get Malik to think of something else.

“Dwelling on those memories will only make you bitter.” Marik said coming to stand next to Malik who didn’t look at him right away.

“I don’t see why you’d object….after all, it’s these memories that created you.” Malik said in a soft voice. Marik wrapped his arms around Malik holding him close.

“Exactly, I don’t think I could handle competition if you were to make someone else like me.” Marik teased. Malik shook his head and leaned against Marik.

“Marik…do you…hate the reason you exist?” Malik asked. Marik sighed and let go of Malik moving to sit down next to him, he held out the Millennium rod and made Malik turn his head away from the city lights so they could look at each other.

“Malik. I may have been created because of what happened to you. But I have developed into my own being. And if I could vanish and make it so what that sick bastard of a father did to you, never happened. I would. But I can’t. You know that as well as I do.”

Malik looked back out the window this time staring at his own reflection. “We…we’re ganna have to tell them…aren’t we?” He asked looking back over at Marik.

“We still have time.” Marik said. “Yugi’s friend isn’t in to much trouble yet. But yes, we will have to tell them about the shadows.”

“I already-”

“Everything Malik.” Marik said sternly and watched Malik pale. “I don’t think it’s fair making them fight something that they don’t even know what it is. I am living proof that the shadows are much more then monsters.”

“But…you’re different then the shadows are!” Malik said.

“Not by much!” Marik shot back. “I was created the same way they were. The only difference is I wasn’t banished to the shadow realm before I could fully form.”

“But then how come there aren’t other shadows walking around? Not EVERY shadow is banished to the shadow realm…” Malik said frowning.

“Because not every shadow in a person’s heart has the power of a millennium item behind it. Look, Malik, you don’t have to go into detail. But we DO have to tell Bakura and Yami at least. And if you don’t, then I will.”

“Why haven’t you already?” Malik asked curious.

“Because, it’s not my right to tell.” Marik stood up and jerked his head towards the door. “Come on, let’s get something to eat.” Malik nodded and silently followed his mind still on other things.

~~~~~

Bakura had started pacing the room listening to Ryou still trapped in a nightmare. Bakura had tried to do something when the boy had started thrashing around on the bed struggling with an invisible foe, but he had found that he couldn’t get into Ryou’s mind.

Ryou had accused Bakura long ago for giving him the nightmares. And although Bakura would have loved to take credit for it, the thought of tormenting his hikari while he slept had never occurred to him. But after that Ryou had started teaching himself how to put up mental blocks against Bakura, he wasn’t really good at them when he was awake, but while asleep he was a master at keeping people out.

Bakura sighed and went over to the bed kissing Ryou’s forehead. “Ryou.” He said softly deciding that even if he let Ryou continue sleeping he wouldn’t get much rest with his dreams. He shook Ryou slightly to wake him up.

~*Dream*~

A five year old Ryou ran down the street as fast as his tiny legs could carry him. He was cold and wet, but he refused to go home. Not until he was sure his father would be there. Ryou ran all the way to the park before stopping to catch his breath. He never noticed the car pull up beside him, or the man that was getting out of the car.

“Ryou.” The man said making Ryou freeze where he was. He slowly turned his eyes going wide. “n…no…stay away!” Ryou said backing away from him. The man ignored Ryou and advanced.

“Ryou.” Anther voice said. Ryou blinked and looked around for the owner of the voice. Not seeing anyone else he turned back to the man standing in front of him, his eyes widened when he saw that the man was no longer alone. Standing behind him was a shadow, and even though it didn’t really have a mouth, Ryou could tell it was smirking at him.

“Remember.” The shadow hissed moving closer to Ryou who backed up against the park fence. “Remember everything.” The shadow held out his hand and put it over Ryou’s eyes. Ryou screamed as pain ran through his whole body. He felt his hands suddenly trapped above his head, and he was no longer standing up.

He couldn’t feel the shadows touch any more, but he was still in pain. He opened his eyes slowly and saw his uncle leaning over him. Ryou looked up and saw that his hands had been tied to the bed.

“Hmm, you are such a good boy.” His uncle whispered and Ryou could smell the alcohol on his breath. And Ryou knew what was happening. His father had left for another dig, and he was staying with his uncle until his father returned. And the fear of his uncles temper kept Ryou from ever saying anything to his father of what happened. Tears filled Ryou’s eyes when he felt his uncle climb on the bed with him. He felt rough hands spreading his legs. And everything after that was a blur. But Ryou was still able to see the shadow standing in the corner of the room laughing.

~*End*~

Bakura frowned when he wasn’t able to wake Ryou up. He shook the smaller boy again. Nothing happened. Bakura stood heading towards the door to go call Yami and Marik in here when Ryou suddenly arched off the bed letting out blood curdling scream. What happened next had Bakura frozen in place even as the door burst open behind him.

A shadowy vapor seemed to be rising strait out of Ryou. The more the boy screamed and thrashed the more the vapor seemed to be gaining shape. Yugi and Yami had been the one’s to burst into the room only to come to a halt staring at Ryou, and the rapidly forming shadow with wide eyes.

“Ryou!?” Yugi yelped and made to go over to him. But Yami stopped him.

“Wait Yugi!” He said and looked at Bakura.

“What’s going on?” Yami asked. Bakura shook his head still staring at his hikari.

“I don’t know…He was having a nightmare and I couldn’t wake him up. Then he just started screaming and then THIS happened!” The room was suddenly filled with the high pitched laugh from the shadow as it took shape next to Ryou’s bed staring down at the boy. It reached out trailing a hand over Ryou’s face. Bakura growled and moved forward quickly.

“NO ONE touches what belongs to ME!” He yelled aiming to punch the shadow. But it just turned and easily hit Bakura back sending him flying right into Marik who had come in the room Malik on his heals. Ryou stirred on the bed letting out a pained whimper as he slowly opened his eyes. The shadow looked back at him.

“Thank you, for giving me life.” The shadow said and leaned down close to Ryou who tried to sink further into the bed doing his best not to let the shadow touch him again. “Your pain is delicious.”

“Ra DAMNIT!” Marik shouted shoving Bakura off him none to gently, holding up the millennium rod. The shadow spun around just in time to see a flash of light from the rod. A high pitched scream filled the room as the shadow returned to vapor and seemed to sink back into Ryou.

Ryou shuddered as he sat up wrapping his arms around himself feeling cold. He avoided looking at the others in the room. Bakura blinked looking at Marik who looked beyond pissed and turned towards Malik. The look of anger not fading at all.

“Happy now Malik?” Marik asked. Malik looked passed his yami and stared at Ryou. “Still want to be stubborn? Or are you ready to tell them?” Malik half ignored Marik. He was wondering what could have caused Ryou so much pain that it was able to form a shadow like the one they’d just seen. He looked back at Marik and then at Yami and Yugi who were looking at him with a look of confusion, and then Bakura who looked like he had a thousand questions on his mind but chose not to ask them as he stood and went over to Ryou trying to comfort him. Malik lowered his head and turned to leave the room stopping at the door he looked back.

“I’ll be in the living room…there’s…something else I need to tell you, about the shadows.” He said and left. Yugi stood there watching Malik go then looked at Marik who didn’t look quite so angry any more and he followed Malik out. Yugi looked at Yami.

“What…what exactly is going on?” Yugi asked frowning. Yami shook his head.

“I wish I knew. But I’m just as confused as you are.” He turned and looked at Ryou who was still shaking and curled up close to Bakura. The yami had his arms wrapped around Ryou rocking him gently trying to calm him down more. Yami shook his head. He knew Bakura never liked to openly show affection, and the fact that he was now was proof that what had just happened really scared him. Yami looked at Yugi when he felt a hand on his arm slowly pulling him towards the door.

“We’ll wait for them with Malik and Marik.” Yugi said softly. Yami nodded and followed him out of the room, stopping at the door to look back at Ryou and Bakura again.

~~~~~~~

Jou walked down the street rubbing his head. He felt like he’d been hit by a buss, and he couldn’t remember anything. All he knew was that he had left Malik’s penthouse. And had woken in his apartment nearly two days later. Although he also remembered going back to the penthouse. But if that were true he’d still be there.

Jou leaned against a brick wall letting out a long sigh. He wished he could remember what had happened yesterday, and what he’d been doing since. Because he knew that he couldn’t have slept for almost two days. “what is wrong with me?” He asked himself, unaware of the person now standing in front of him.

“I’ve been trying to figure that out for years.” Seto said. Jou slowly looked up at Seto and blinked slowly trying to get the taller man to come into focus. It wasn’t easy with the way his head kept pounding. Seto blinked frowning deeply when Jou didn’t throw an irritating childish comment back at him.

“Let me guess, you finally got to annoying and they threw you out?” He asked still eyeing Jou who just shrugged.

“Couldn’t tell ya. I don’t remember a damn thing. And if they did throw me out, it must have been out the window because that’s what my head feels like right now. So unless you have something to say that I might actually give a shit about leave me alone.” Jou said wincing as he pushed off the wall. Seto watched him take only two steps before his legs seemed to decide they were through holding him up. Seto’s reflexes kicked in and he caught the blond boy before he could hit the pavement and do more damage to himself.

Being this close Seto realized for the first time how pale Jou was, and it looked like he might have a fever. “Stupid mutt, don’t you even take care of yourself?” He growled. Holding Jou easily with one arm Seto shoved his hand into his pocket pulling out a cell and calling for his limo to come pick him up. He didn’t have to wait long before the limo came around the corner and stopped in front of Seto. The CEO didn’t wait for the driver to get out and open the door for him.

Opening the back door Seto lifted Jou and set him in the back seat before climbing in himself. “Take me home.” He demanded and closed the divider to the driver. He turned his attention back to Jou who looked like he was half awake, but obviously wasn’t registering where he was or what was going on. Seto made a mental note to call Yugi and Malik and see if they knew what was wrong with Jou.

~~~~~~

Anzu blinked staring at the water and then looked at Honda. “I don’t get it. How exactly is a shadow born? From nightmares?” She asked. Honda shook his head.

“Not from nightmares. From pain, and suffering. They feed on negative energy. At least that’s what I’ve come to learn.”

“How did you learn this?” Anzu asked looking back at the water still watching Ryou and Bakura. “It doesn’t seem to be very common knowledge. Yami didn’t even seem to realize what was going on.”

“No, it’s really not that common. Because there are only seven items right? And most of the time the item is being held by someone pure of heart. So even if they do have a bit of a bad history, it still wouldn’t be enough to create a shadow.” Honda explained. “And the reason I know all this.” Honda’s eyes narrowed. “Is because I have my own shadow. I don’t have a millennium item, but I have been around them long enough.” Anzu stared at him eyes wide. “Don’t worry, it’s not in control of me or anything. I just know it’s there, and it allows me to use shadow magic.”

“Well, that makes bit more sense now.” Anzu said smiling. “I was always curious, but I never questioned. Because we both wanted the same thing. Yugi gone, and Yami to come back.”

“Yes, but with Yami being here back with Yugi. That sets us back quite a bit. It’s going to be really hard to get Yugi alone long enough to get rid of him. But once we do, Yami will thank us for ridding the world of people who are just a waste of space.” Anzu nodded her agreement and went back over to sit on the black leather couch smiling as she watched Honda. She honestly didn’t care how it was done, as long as she wound up with Yami in the end.

TBC>>>