Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Virus ❯ Chapter 15

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Because I am a nice person (actually because Madyamisam over at Mediaminer scared the hell out of me *grins/cowers*) I will go ahead and post this tonight. But that's all you get until next year!! (he-he-he)

FF.NET is messing with me right now, so I am gong to post this to Mediaminer.org right now. I will try to get it to FF.NET later tonight. If not, I will post it there tomorrow.

There may or may not be a chapter tomorrow. We shall see. MUUWAAAAAHAAAHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Look LW!! Exclamation points!!!!!!!)

Oh by the way, sorry about the last chapter. I really should have stressed that it was NOT A DEATH FIC! At least, not a permanent death fic. Yet. MUUWAAA(see above for maniacal screaming details)!

Still PG-13, still don't own the characters, and still don't make money from this.

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Virus - Part 15

"Kaiba! Now!" Yami hoped that Kaiba was ready. Only the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon had enough power to take out the Black Luster Soldier. "Kaiba! Get in here; we need you!" There was no response. He should have known! He should have known that Kaiba could not be trusted!

\\ Perhaps you should leave us, Bakura. Locate Kaiba and try to find another way to rescue Yugi. It is too late for me.\\

\ As Pharaoh commands.\ Bakura's snarky response brought a grim smile to Yami's face. The white-haired yami sprinted for the gate, but before he could make good his escape, an eerie fogbank enveloped the castle.

"We're under attack!" That was the voice of one of the castle guardians. "It's a King Fog monster! And there are dozens of Skull Servants and Bubonic Vermin in the fog!"

A battle cry resonated from somewhere in the billowing cloud. The duelists paused and listened to the clash of metal on metal and the dying screams of the defeated.

Bakura turned back to Yami and said, "Finish it, Pharaoh. I will lead the defense of the castle." Bakura called for a sword and waded into the heart of the fog, spoiling for a fight.

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Seto couldn't believe his eyes. Pegasus was on a bed with Seto's soon-to-be forever love, Yugi! And what the hell was he doing? It looked like he was kissing the young man, and then he was shaking Yugi and punching him in the chest. Before his mind could process what he was seeing, Kaiba attacked.

Throwing himself headlong at a monster that would try to rape a child, Kaiba collided with Pegasus and they both tumbled from the bed to the floor. Kaiba jerked Pegasus up by his collar and backhanded his former nemesis. He threw Pegasus into the nearest solid object, which happened to be a brick wall, and then turned his attention to the boy on the bed.

Yugi was coughing and making little moaning sounds in his throat. Seto rushed to his side, lifted him from the bed, and cuddled him closely. With one eye on the crumpled form of Pegasus, Seto gently frisked Yugi's body, searching for injuries. The boy passed out, and Seto saw the ugly gash on Yugi's head. Courtesy of Pegasus, no doubt. That disgusting slime ball had bashed Yugi over the head and tried to take advantage of him! If Yugi weren't here, Seto would kill him while he lay unconscious. People like Pegasus deserved no mercy.

The door he had come through was actually a giant mirror. Seto didn't want to jump into the whirlwind again, not with Yugi in his arms. He opened the normal door, but as he stepped across the threshold, he was gently but firmly pushed back inside. What the..? He tried again, with the same results. Damn! It's some sort of magical ward. The Magician probably put it here to keep Yugi from running away.

Seto looked at the boy, lying so peacefully in his embrace. "Poor little guy," said Seto. "Something designed to protect you keeps you from escaping when a maniac like Pegasus breaks into your room. You must have been so frightened. The Dark Magician is a dead man…monster…whatever."

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Yami gaped at Bakura's retreating back and saw him disappear into the fog. Where had this heroic streak come from? It was probably a ruse to escape without looking like a coward. He would deal with Bakura later. Right now, he had more pressing problems. How to counter the Black Luster Soldier? The ritual would be completed soon.

He could try a Spellbinding Circle, but the Black Luster Soldier was still too strong for him to defeat. If only he could use the Dark Magician! The best Yami could do was wage a purely defensive battle and hope that Kaiba showed up with his Blue Eyes. He only hoped Zarek and Siji could hold on until then.

"Master!" Siji's urgent voice demanded Yami's attention. "Master! The Horn of Heaven!"

Yami knew which hat Siji was hiding under, but did not look in that direction. He thought about Siji's suggestion. The Horn of Heaven could stop the ritual, but a sacrifice must be made. He would have to destroy one of his monsters to use it.

"Play the Horn of Heaven, Master Yami, please!" said Siji. Yami could almost feel pleading hazel eyes upon him. "The summoning must be stopped. There is no other way."

Yami agreed; he had no choice. It was their only chance. "Dark Magician! I remove my Magical Hats, and I play the Horn of Heaven!"

Siji watched as twin tears trickled from the corner of the mighty Pharaoh's crimson eyes. Drawing upon his inner resources of courage and strength, the Celtic Guardian prepared to die.

The Dark Magician's face went blank with shock as he saw his lover sacrifice himself in order to stop the Black Luster Ritual. The blinding white light of the Horn of Heaven covered everything, and a powerful aftershock was felt on both sides. The light faded, and Yami and the Dark Magician surveyed the battlefield.

Gaia, the Dragon Champion was returned to Yami's side of the field, and stood beside Zarek, the Summoned Skull. On the Dark Magician's side, the Kuriboh and Castor the Beaver Warrior were back by their leader. The only one missing was the brave Celt, Siji.

A cry of anguish like none ever heard before pierced the dueling grounds. Yami and the other monsters stared as the Magician collapsed to his hands and knees, coarse sobs ripped from his throat. His friends gathered close and tried to comfort the distressed spell caster, but there was no comfort to be had. He had murdered his love.

His wails sent shivers up and down the spines of all present, but soon they could hear music. A woman's voice, high and light, singing in counterpoint to the Dark Magician's cries. The Mystical Elf appeared in a glittering shower of light and stood before the broken Magician. She never stopped in her song as she raised his face to meet hers. Shala touched a cool, soothing palm against his fevered brow, and smiled into his distraught visage. Changing her song slightly, she placed a hand over his eyes, and he fell into a deep sleep. Shala collected a stubborn tear that clung to his lashes and stopped her song. She stretched out her hand to Yami; the teardrop perched on a delicate fingertip.

In her musical voice, Shala declared, "I have done all I can. You know what you must do."

Yami nodded gravely. He did know.

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Bakura was having the time of his life..er, death. Hacking and slashing his way through the attacking horde, the yami was in his element. He left behind bloody rat chunks and severed skulls. Ah, sweet combat. You couldn't get away with this kind of thing in Domino City! How he loved the Shadow Realm!

Bakura sensed something ahead. The mists thinned enough for him to see a giant of a monster spewing great gouts of fog. This must be the King Fog that gate guard was shouting about. Bakura gave a beautiful smile, but the blood and gore and flecks of bone took away from the overall effect. This was going to be fun.

The white-haired yami strode forward and casually regarded the monster. "Have you no idea how pathetic you are? How ridiculous you look with that stupid crown? The King Fog? Hah! The Smoke Joke, perhaps." Bakura continued his baiting of the monster, egging it into an attack. He did not have to wait long.

The King Fog peered down at the tiny creature. It narrowed its glowing red eyes at the other's insults and decided to put a stop to the puny one's mouth. Permanently. The monster attacked.

"Ah, ah, ah, Prince Powder Puff. Your master should have taught you to look before you leap, you baka!" Bakura activated the facedown monster card. It was the Man-Eater Bug. When flipped, his lovely pet instantly destroyed any monster it faced. Did he mention that he loved the Shadow Realm?

The clouds of smoke immediately began to dissipate once the fog monster was rendered to ashes. //The King is dead. Long live me!// Bakura set about organizing the castle defenders and mopping up the remains of the useless war party.

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The castle monsters gathered in a large circle around Yami and the fallen Magician. Anointing the card with the Dark Magician's tear, Yami raised it over his head and called on its power. "Monster Reborn! I call the Celtic Guardian back from the Graveyard!"

Nothing happened. Yami slowly started to lower his hand.

Suddenly, there was a great explosion of light and sound. A whirlwind of debris circled a figured huddled in the eye. When the storm forces faded, a somewhat battered but relieved looking Celtic Guardian stood and smiled.

Many shouts of joy and happy backslapping accompanied his return to the Shadow Realm. Siji told them he had been running from the Reaper of the Cards and had barely managed to dodge him before he was returned. Siji thanked Yami and his friends for their timely rescue. His eyes then settled on the quiet form of the Dark Magician.

Siji knelt beside his partner. Tenderly, he brushed the purple bangs from his eyes and stroked the soft cheeks. Placing his hands beneath his lover's body, Siji lifted the Magician and carried him inside. He led the somber procession into the nearest parlor and lay the Magician on the cushioned settee. He accepted a blanket from Gaia, and covered the unconscious form.

"Master Yami, thank you again for saving me. For saving us all. You could have destroyed some of the creatures who fought at Magician's side, but you tried not to harm anyone." Siji allowed a knowing smile to grace his lips, "I think you should retrieve your reward. He is in the tower bedroom."

Yami turned to go, but paused and asked, "Yugi. The Magician said…"

Shala answered the Pharaoh's unspoken question, "He was injured, but an old enemy bestowed the breath of life. Our little one lives."

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Seto checked the alcoves and found the bathing room. "This will do," he muttered. Seto placed Yugi gently on the floor and draped his trench coat, warmed with Seto's body heat, over the little figure. He grabbed several large towels from their shelf and wrapped them around his forearm. Hiding his face from flying glass, Seto shattered the beautiful portal and pushed the glass shards away. He picked up his coat, shook off any pieces of glass, and then wrapped Yugi in its warmth. He flipped the top card of his deck. "I summon the Blue Eyes White Dragon!"

The mighty dragon materialized outside the tower window. Seto stepped from the window onto the back of the beast, his precious burden clutched tightly to his chest. He secured them the best he could, and ordered the dragon to take them to safety. Seto heard a noise behind him. Pegasus ran into the bathing chamber; his face was twisted into a mask of pure rage. With a small white lightening burst, the Blue Eyes drove Pegasus back from the window. The dragon moved away from the window before their enemy could reach them. It gave a flap of its mighty wings, and flew from the Dark Citadel.

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Yami rushed from the room and took the stairs three at a time. 'An old enemy' must mean Kaiba. He was trying to save Yugi while Bakura and I distracted the Dark Magician! I must apologize for doubting him. At the foot of the tower stairwell, Yami paused, surprised. The stairwell warp spell was disabled. A few Egyptian curses later, and Yami had found his Remove Trap card. He had to use it seven times before he came to the chamber door.

Yami gasped in shock as he saw who was struggling to open the secret passage behind the mirror wall. Pegasus! But where was Yugi?

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"No, no, no, no, no! How could this have happened! And where the hell did Kaiba-boy come from?" Pegasus took a moment to clean the blood from his head wound. He had been incredibly upset when he found Yugi. The boy hadn't been breathing. Pegasus was administering CPR when he was hit with a cowardly attack from behind. It had all happened so fast! Kaiba-boy has been working out.

Pegasus went back to the main chamber and faced his reflection in the overlarge mirror. He turned his face side to side, examining the bruises. *Sigh. * "And I wanted to look my best for my return to the mortal realm, too."

//Without the light, there is no return for us. There will be nothing for us if the light is not ready for the ritual tomorrow night. The 'Other' does not take disappointment very well.//

"It will kill us?" Pegasus wondered aloud.

//If we're lucky.// Well, wasn't THAT a cheery thought?

"So there is only one thing we can do. Find Seto Kaiba and take the light away from him."

//Let's go. Without the light as an additional energy source, I can't teleport directly from the Citadel. We must be outside of Yami's sphere of influence for the magic to work. We will return to the Forbidden Keep and design our strategy.//

Pegasus began tugging as hard as he could on the mirror wall, but it seemed to be stuck. This was the only safe exit for him, the only exit where he wouldn't be seen by Yami or his duel monsters. Why won't this thing open?!?!?!? He heard a choked exclamation behind him and turned quickly to face the intruder. Oh great. Yami.

"Yami! How good it is to see you again. I'd love to stay and catch up on old times, but I really must be going now."

"Stay right where you are, Pegasus. You're not leaving here until I know what you have done with my hikari. Where is he?"

"Out of your reach, that's for sure. Oooff!" The last was the sound of his breath forcefully leaving his body as Yami slammed him up against the mirror wall.

"Where is he? What have you done with him?" Yami's crimson eyes bored into Pegasus' lone orb. The hate flowing between the two adversaries was nearly palpable.

"I don't have him! He was dragged out the window by Seto Kaiba!"

Yami pulled Pegasus into the bathing chamber. He noted the broken glass littering the floor, and moved to the window. He could just see the distant form of a dragon. It had to be one of Kaiba's Blue Eyes.

//Oh, no! Yugi is out of the castle boundaries, and the Magician is unconscious! He is open to the effects of the Shadow Realm!// Yami released Pegasus and concentrated on the Millennium Puzzle. He envisioned a protective bubble surrounding Yugi, a bubble that would protect his soul from destruction. He also sent a query into Yugi's soul room. Bliss! Yugi was obviously unconscious or sleeping, but he was there. Their contact had been restored. Secure in the knowledge that his aibou was safe for now, Yami returned his attention to Pegasus. That man looked a little too smug for Yami's comfort.

"Why are you smiling, Pegasus? You are about to be obliterated."

"I gave Yugi-boy a little sleeping potion. He'll be out for the next hour or so, but when he wakes he'll be just fine. Of course, when he opens his eyes, he'll fall hopelessly in love with the first person he sees. In this case…Seto Kaiba!"

Yami was horrified! This could not be allowed to happen. Not his Yugi. A vision of his beautiful little light being held by Kaiba, kissed by Kaiba, possessed in every way by Kaiba. NO! He would never allow that to take place.

"So what are you going to do, Pharaoh? Stay here and duel me? Or find Seto Kaiba and stop your precious Yugi from falling in love with your greatest enemy?"

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For Silverdrake: This is tricky. The cliffhanger is one of the most dangerous dismounts possible in Olympic level fan fiction. If it's not done correctly, it will completely ruin the judges opinion of the work as a whole. Let's see if she lands it…


Does anyone else get the feeling that I love cliffhangers?

Be a dear; send me a review? Thanks!