Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ XX09 ❯ Section 0.8 ( Chapter 8 )
[ P - Pre-Teen ]
By: Chibizoo 
Part 8 - 1st of the final Game
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Sci-fi | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 03.04.2003 | Pages: 7 | Words: 4.0K | Visits: 264 | Status: Completed
Part 8 - 1st of the final Game
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Sci-fi | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 03.04.2003 | Pages: 7 | Words: 4.0K | Visits: 264 | Status: Completed
Author's notes:
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh!
Sam-chan did this wonderful fanart for this fic~ *is very happy* I really do envy her
artistic talent --> http://www.geocities.com/cell_fighter/darkbakuXX09.html
Unfortunat ely, PH-san was too busy to edit this chapter, so please try to ignore
my spelling errors and grammatical flaws. I really wanted to get it out ASAP, and I
kinda used up my editing privileges in the past few weeks ^^;;;
NOTE: There is a difference between the normal pronoun 'it', and _It_ (the enigmatic
opponent we all love). _It_ is not 'it' (minus the brackets), 'kay?
~*~ Slight reminisce or flashback ~*~
//Yami to Yuugi//
/Yuugi to Yami/
*************************************
Section 0.8
"Yuugi! Yuugi!"
His eyes slowly fluttered open. Something blurry was wavering in front of his
vision.
"Yuugi!" This time the familiar voice addressing the boy shook him roughly
by the shoulders. "Are you okay?"
His violet eyes focused enough to recognize the figure of a lean blonde-haired
Hybrid. Yuugi's mouth began working seconds later. "J-Jounochi?"
Yuugi suddenly felt himself being seized and held in a tight embrace. The
blonde Hybrid was talking in a nonsensical babble of words, latching on to Yuugi like
a last resort.
The small boy smiled. He blinked back his tears. "I'm okay, Jounochi.
Everything's okay."
It wasn't. And somehow Jounochi knew.
The blonde-haired Hybrid slowly released the small boy. His once-tense
shoulders relaxed slightly. "You've been out for an hour. You had me-" Jounochi
suddenly snapped his mouth shut.
Yuugi cocked a questioning head towards the incomplete sentence. "Had you
what, Jounochi?" It was then that the boy noticed for the first time his surroundings.
He was in a dank underground cave. Moss and wet cement decorated his vision
though most of it was coveted in shadows. The setting tickled the boy's memory but
he failed to recognize it. "Where are we?"
The blonde jerked his head nervously as if expecting anything to emerge from
the corners. His face was set in a grim, determined frown much unlike his cheerful
self. "Somewhere. Somewhere safe, for now." The blonde Hybrid bit his tongue from
saying more.
Yuugi sighed and rested his head by a nearby slab of cement. The cold texture
felt familiar. He absently brushed a hand along the rough surface. "I know where we
are." Revelation kicked in. "This is close to Seto's hideout. We're going back to find
Seto, aren't we?" Deep violet eyes implored Jounochi's brown ones.
The blonde visibly stiffened. He seemed to be debating with himself, but
finally gave a curt nod. "Yes. This is the last place untouched by _It_."
"The last?" Yuugi repeated. "Does that mean that there are no other
survivors?"
The boy's words had struck a nerve. Bowing his head in grief, Jounochi
struggled to keep his tone level. "I-I don't know anymore Yuugi. I really don't
know."
"Correction." Another voice broke into the conversation. "You don't want to
know."
Startled Yuugi looked up. Facing him and Jounochi was none other than the
enigmatic Seto. The small boy watched the blonde Hybrid recoil in surprise and then
fear.
"Who are you?" Jounochi questioned, no sign of hesitation left in his suddenly
demanding voice. "Leave us alone!"
Seto's stoic expression did not change. His eyes flickered towards Yuugi and
then back at the defensive Jounochi. "You come sulking to my domain and you
question who _I_ am?" The cyber-droid's words were covered in arrogance.
Jounochi hissed. "Seto." The blonde Hybrid pulled Yuugi closer towards him.
"What do you want?"
The cyber-droid seemed to be contemplating on the value of Jounochi's
questions. "The so-called entity you like to address as 'It' has recently taken an
attraction to my sector." Seto stopped talking, eyes suddenly unfocusing. With
alarming brevity, he turned to Yuugi. "Yuugi. Go into my lab and enter the Game.
_It's_ only weakness is through the Game."
The small boy was struck curious by that statement. Suspicion, then denial,
started working in his mind. "How do you-"
"You know where my lab is." Seto interrupted. The cyber-droid's succinct
words carried unregistered amounts of tension. "Or would you rather be destroyed by
_It's_ slaves?"
For a few seconds, Yuugi just stared back into the cyber-droid's cobalt-blue
eyes. The small boy wanted no more of this. He did not want to fight, and the entire
battle to destroy _It_ suddenly seemed impossible. The small boy glanced hesitatingly
back at Jounochi.
"Get going!" Seto snapped irately. He signalled for Jounochi to stay. "We'll
be waiting for you in the Game."
Yuugi felt himself complying before his mind began working. He was running
as fast as his legs could carry him down the wet, paved ground. Several times he
slipped on some patches of moss and fell painfully to the ground. His entire body
throbbed in pain, only adding to the growing fear building in his chest.
He had reached the end of the corridor now.
Now he rose his hands into the air, flailing his arms blindly in the darkness to
look for the opening. His fingers fumbled over the crumbling wall's blunt edges.
There seemed to be millions of eyes watching him from behind his back, but Yuugi
ignored the sensation and continued to search. Desperation kicked in.
Where was the lab? He had to find it!
There! With a desperate yank, Yuugi pulled the door open, forcing his frame
inside the hidden, desolate room. Without a second's afterthought he closed the door
behind him, effectively sealing himself inside. Yuugi winced as layers of artificial
lights suddenly burst from the ceiling. Rapidly blinking his eyes, he allowed himself
to take a few tentative steps forwards. The linoleum ground echoed oddly in response
to his footsteps.
Eyes finally adjusted, Yuugi looked around the room. Large machines and
wiry contraptions still plagued every corner. He brushed his fingers along a bird-like
structure, feeling the cold metal bite against his skin.
It was right in front of him. A shimmering, silvery projection stranded in the
middle of the room. At first glance it seemed to be a distorted mirror, gigantic surface
raised to a regal upright position.
Yuugi tentatively neared the 'mirror' and frowned. He had seen this before. As
if responding to his uncertainty, the boy's Millennium Puzzle began to glow with a
soft golden light. In fact, the closer Yuugi approached this barrier the stronger his
puzzle would react.
Something hit the door with a loud thump. Startled, Yuugi shot his head
towards the only exit within this room. More bangs and aggressive scratching ensued.
A detached part of him wondered if it could be Seto or Jounochi.
No. Seto had said that he would meet Yuugi in the Game.
Wait! The boy's mind raced. Seto had said that he _and_ Jounochi would
meet Yuugi in the Game. Yet it was impossible for a Hybrid to play the Game. Not
unless…
The door was bending dangerously now. Blunt black claws gouged from either
sides of the entrance followed by a chorus of threatening growls. Some of the door's
metallic surface was caving in, slowly but surely being ripped from its hinges.
Yuugi focused his attention back to the silvery projection. The projection itself
seemed almost like an entrance, and if his memory served him correct, was the portal
to the Game. Yet did he dare enter?
What did Yuugi have to loose? Jounochi, Seto, even Anzu and Bakura were in
the Game. But Yuugi was the only human, the only true _survivor_ of this strange
realm. The rest were his ghosts, mere shadows to his light.
The metallic door snapped open with a horrendous creak. In a burst of fangs
and gleaming eyes, the minions of _It_ swarmed the room, searching each and every
of its corners.
Some of them gave a disappointed howl.
Yuugi had disappeared.
****************************************
The apparition appeared to him in a form nearly identical to himself. It sat
suspended in the air of nothingness, arms crossed over his chest. //This will be our last
battle, little light.//
Yuugi's head jerked up in surprise. He did not question this other presence
close beside him. /What do you mean, Yami?/ The boy paused. /You are Yami, aren't
you?/
The apparition gave a brief nod. //I didn't want to be the one to tell you this,
but there is no true way you can win fighting _It_. If we win, we still lose.//
/How? Are we destroyed afterwards?/
//No.// Yami frowned. //At least, not you.//
There was an uncomfortable silence.
Even though he sensed that there was still an unfinished sentence hanging in
the air, Yuugi decided not to press on it. The other's mood was ominous and solemn
enough.
The boy suddenly stood up, angry tears staining his eyes. /This isn't right! It
can't just end like that! I'll- I'll stop fighting. We can just leave this place and-/ Yuugi
stopped, shaking his head in denial, tears escaping into the air and falling like
raindrops into the darkness.
Yami broke the silence at last. He stood up, lowering himself from his
elevated position to stand beside the smaller boy. Quietly he wrapped his arms around
the boy's petite frame as a means of comfort. //It's okay. It'll all be okay. We'll win.//
Yuugi looked up. /But you just said that-/
//We'll win.// Yami's voice was harsher this time, as if denying any other
truth.
Yuugi said nothing.
***********************************
"_It_!"
Yami stood alone in the darkness of the Game. He spread his arms out wide,
twirling his exposed body in a deliberate circle. "Come out and fight me, _It_. This
final Game is between you and me!"
Silence.
The darkness began to shift subtly at first. Faster and faster it moved until it
was no longer darkness but an oozing mass of shadows. The dribbling mass roughly
parted open to reveal its naked face inside, the massive network of bright green "0"s
and "1"s littered against a black void.
From the ruins of ascotti emerged a solitary figure. It was not an overly
impressive figure but rather plain-looking and drab.
Yami's eyes widened as this presence approached him. This figure looked like
a human.
The other, this clever manipulation of _It_ thrust out a perfectly normal-
looking arm and sealed the bare Ascotti shut with the darkness. He turned his
beautiful face towards Yami. Ruby-violet eyes glistened in pure malevolence. His
skin was slightly tanned, flaunting a muscular, well-built frame bedecked in golden
jewelry. Like Yami, his creamy soft-gold hair stood on jagged ends, the rest swinging
behind him like a demonic crown.
Yet what made him different was the single insignia burning on his forehead.
It was the same symbol wrought on the Millennium Puzzle, gleaming an unrivalled
gold.
Yami assumed his offensive stance. "And you are _It_?" He kept his voice as
stable as possible though his eyes narrowed dangerously.
The other grinned madly. "_It_? Is that what they call me?" His deep baritone
voice dripped with amusement. "How amusing, considering that I'm all but _it_." The
very manipulator of the Game ran his tongue along his lips. "The darkness is hungry,
Game King. Will you satisfy its hunger?"
"Cut the drama." Yami remained impassive over the other's unusual attitude.
"I've seen this trick used before and it wont work."
_It_ threw his human head back in laughter. "Trick? You value me highly
indeed, Game King." His face suddenly grew serious. "Then let us play. This is my
Game and I will make you suffer every moment you stay in it."
Yami said nothing. His mind was already working for a possible strategy
against his opponent. Yes. _It_ was nothing more than an opponent.
The other suddenly interrupted Yami before the Game King could make his
first move. "Oh. Did I forget to tell you?." _It_ bared his teeth in a sadistic smile.
"Summoned monsters can feel pain. Not just physical but also mental, perhaps
enough to torture their poor souls into darkness."
_It_ did not wait. He thrust his arms outwards to call upon his first creature.
The darkness bulged in front of him in eager reply to his command, spewing out a
bubble of blackened substance.
Yami braced himself against the shifting monster. After a while, the Game
King realized that the amorphous, bubble-like substance in front of him was the
creature's actual shape. Slightly caught off guard, Yami found himself analyzing the
possibilities. _It_ was no amateur, and the Game King could not figure out if this
monster was a deliberate bait or simply more powerful than it seemed. He had no
choice but to attack.
"My first monster will be the-" Yami stopped. He could feel Yuugi's tension
within him.
_It_ smirked at the Game King's too-readable expression. "Yes, Game King.
Which of your _friends_ will you sacrifice first? They didn't die after all; they still
have a beautiful afterlife. But it turns out that you, the one whom they trust, will be
the one to rip them from their heaven and put them in this purgatory." _It_ laughed
loudly and harshly. "I will enjoy watching them writhe in hell."
Yami closed his eyes and angrily clenched his fist. He couldn't let _It_
overpower him with his words. Yet, the other was right; by summoning a monster, he
would lock his friend's souls into this damned Game. And without a monster, he was
absolutely helpless against the other.
"Stuck?" _It_ taunted, licking his lips. "Let me help you decide. I wouldn't
want the poor Game King's soul to be so tormented when we haven't even started."
The next monster _It_ summoned was nowhere as ridiculous. Gigantic claws
pried outwards from the darkness to reveal an ebony armoured hide
slithering and skittering on the ground. The creature's platelets of armour shook like
dried bones in the silence. A single barbed tail lay poised over its lustrous back.
Yami only had that much of a warning before the creature was on him,
massive fore claws opening pincer-like to snap at his body. The Game King stumbled
backwards, veering to one side to avoid the hideous monster's gaping mouth. The
scorpion-like creature emitted a serious of displeased clicks before swinging its tail in
a vicious arch. The tip of the barbed tip just barely missed Yami's prone form.
The creature's tail snapped back to its regular position and it began scuttling
again to get closer to the Game King. Yami simply narrowed his eyes and waited. His
entire body was frozen in anticipation, muscles tense and ready. His sharp ruby eyes
traced every second of the scorpion-like creature's movements.
Just as anticipated, the creature drew back its tail and snapped it forward. It
whistled sharply as it cut against the air. Yet instead of staggering backwards, the
Game King quickly darted straight in front of the projectile. In that split-second
timeframe deemed impossible in normal life, Yami grabbed the horrendous creature's
tail with both hands and sprang into the air. The momentum of the stinger whipping
forward allowed the Game King to thrust his body the opposite direction so that he
flipped backwards over the creature. Yami landed awkwardly on his knees behind it.
Instead of waiting for the beast to react, the Game King ran towards _It_ at
full speed. He knew _It_ was the actual target. And this time, he did not hesitate to
call out his monster.
~*~
Her radiant cerulean eyes glistened cat-like in the shadows. She grinned and
held out her hand, her cropped chestnut hair swaying around her chin.
"It's all right." She had said. "Remember what we promised? We'll come
back for you, no matter what."
~*~
The Game King's monster looked human. In fact, if Yami hadn't summoned
it, it could have passed as a human.
She appeared unnaturally charming and sweet, bedecked in almost flamboyant
shades of pink and sky blue. Her pointed hat drooped oddly to one side of her long
strawberry-blonde hair, and she held a harmless-looking staff in one hand. The
monster turned and winked at the Game King before assuming a battle stance.
"Dark Magician Girl!" Yami spoke his words quickly before he lost the
element of surprise. "Attack _It_ now!"
In a fluid show of grace and obedience, the humanoid monster thrust her staff
out at _It_'s prone form. Lancelets of black and soft violet energy arched and sizzled
from her staff, bulging outwards in a circle straight at the targeted opponent.
The attack was blocked before it could hit.
Yami's eyes widened as he watched the blob-like creature protecting _It_
burst from his Dark Magician Girl's attack. The pieces of the hapless monster
splattered all over the ground in fat oozing puddles. They stood there, motionless for a
while before vibrating back into life and collecting together again.
_It_ threw back his head in laughter. He continued laughing much to Yami's
anger. "That was rich! You actually thought that I would leave myself defenceless?"
_It_ narrowed his eyes. "You shall make a great sacrifice indeed, Yu-gi-oh, when the
darkness finally consumes you."
A scuttling sound made the Game King's frustration short-lived. Yami
whipped his head around just in time to make out the scorpion-beast's barbed tail.
The Dark Magician Girl reacted immediately. In a small cry of anger, the
human-like creature placed herself in front of the Game King, toy-like staff pointed
threateningly at the scorpion monster. Her other hand gently nudged Yami away from
the field of attack.
There was a slight moment of tension before both creatures struck at once. The
scorpion-creature hissed and shot its tail forward only to have it blocked by the Dark
Magician Girl's energy-induced attack. Undaunted the scorpion-beast arched its tail
again. Yet instead of aiming for its opponent's body, he twisted his tail-blade to one
side and slapped the Dark Magician Girl's wand away from her hand. The small wand
fell and skidded against the ground.
Now the scorpion-beast launched its heavy form straight at its opponent
without hesitation. Unable to defend with a magic-induced attack, the Dark Magician
Girl held back the scorpion monster's claws with only her bare hands. There was not
much she could do about her opponent's tail lurking dangerously beside her.
Yami saw the defeat before his monster did. "Dark Magician Girl, come
back!" He knew it was too late. His monster had no way to obey him.
A couple of seconds was all it took for the tail-blade to penetrate the Dark
Magician Girl's fragile neck. The scorpion creature twisted his tail to bury the stinger
deeper into its opponent's flesh, injecting as much venom as possible. Indignant at
first, the Dark Magician Girl struggled, ignoring the rivulets of blood and oozing
green venom pouring from the wound spider-like down her neck. She continued to
struggle until the scorpion-beast withdrew its stinger and stabbed again and again all
over her soft skin. Even with all the gashes and open cuts blemishing her delicate
frame, she looked hauntingly gentle and reassuring. At last she gave a final shudder
and closed her pained eyes shut.
The Game King watched his Dark Magician Girl's body fall gracelessly to the
ground. He watched it fade and disappear, leaving behind a translucent ghost.
With one final wave and wink, the ghost too disappeared, scattering into wisps
of nothingness.
Yami didn't even bother screaming or shouting in rage. All that burned in his
mind was the desire for revenge. His Millennium Puzzle glowed fiercely and the next
monster came too him. A monster that echoed his anger for the parted girl tenfold.
~*~
His straggled blonde-hair fell in front of his eyes as he spoke. It was the voice
of the angered but resigned. "So, A-Anzu and I made up a new game. We called it the
'Because of' game. 'Because of this accident, I learned that I needed to be stronger.
Because of this mistake, I learned that I needed to be wiser'."
Yuugi hadn't understood back then.
"You don't need to understand." He had shaken his head in response, still
smiling sadly. "It's already there."
~*~
If pure, undiluted black could be personified, it would be this beast towering
like a massive pillar of rage in front of the Game King.
It was a dragon of ebony black, thin avian frame a stark contrast of the
scorpion-beast's land-ridden body. The gigantic dragon spread out its sharp wings and
shot into the air without a moment's hesitation.
Yami didn't need to say anything. The dragon, this Red Eyes Black Dragon,
already knew what to do. Its tormented heart sought this revenge.
From its lustrous black jaws grew a sizeable ball of flame. It flared and
throbbed in shades of deep red. With an unrestrained roar, the Game King's Dragon
flung the fireball straight at the scorpion-beast. The creature of _It_ didn't even have
time to screech before it was burned into pitiful ashes by the intense inferno of flames.
The Game King stared intently into his Red Eyes Black Dragon's eyes.
Crimson clashed upon crimson, and in that moment, the two souls hiding within their
shells saw each other for what they really were. They exchanged a moment of grief,
despair, and promise. And then they succumbed back to their shells.
_It_ remained unperturbed at the Game King's livid rage. He laughed, tongue
lolling out to trace along his teeth. "I can see Darkness within you, Game King. Its
hungry, just like how mine is." _It_ twisted its hand forward and gestured for another
monster. Nothing emerged from the shadows.
The Game King looked around confused. He knew that if he directly attacked
_It_, the bubble-like monster would just block it. But why did _It_ not play any
offence monsters?
"Be patient, Yu-gi-oh." _It_ closed his eyes. "It's coming. The one that will
end this Game. Perhaps you were lucky enough in that Game with the cyber-droid to
escape this God, but not this time."
A flash of gold and glistening chrome echoed in the Game King's memory.
Yami narrowed his eyes. He would finally encounter this God that had been chasing
him in the horrendous scene after his duel with Seto. He would face the beast without
the distractions of the Ascotti. This was _Its_ secret weapon and he would destroy it.
…. With his own God.
.To. be. continued…
***************************************
Rishid Says:
Rishid: *is meditating* …..
Zoo: *blinks* Are you going to say anything?
Rishid: *still meditating* ……
Zoo: Well, I guess that if I was renamed 'Odion' too, I would have nothing to say.
Yes, poor Rishid. Always intensely loyal to Malik even to the extent of sacrificing his
name.
Rishid: *without looking up* Well it was either my name or my voice. I thought that
a name would be better since you don't have to hear it the moment you open your
mouth.
Zoo: -_-;; Some loyalty…Anyway, you're supposed to say answer some questions via
the reviews and then say some inspirational comment.
Rishid: Yes, I am a bachelor. The sky is blue.
Zoo: Not like that! *pauses* Heeeey… that _is_ very inspirational. *sits down to
think about it* 'The sky is blue'…. Hmmm….
Rishid: *leaves*
Zoo: HEY! Wait! ;_; Who's going to do my little end comments? Oh… darn… *takes
out paper* -_-;;;
Okay, when a person 'dies', their soul is stranded in this nether-region.
Sometimes their souls are used in the Game and then they… cease to exist. There is
no heaven in this story (try not to fall for Y.Malik's words ;P).
In chapter 7, Ryou was originally the God of Osiris. Yami ended up freeing
him and he died for good. Yeah. ^^;;;
And the 'again' part was implied that Yami can laugh triumphantly too. As for
closing their eyes while concentrating - just some mental imagery XD
*************************************
End notes:
I amazingly did this chapter in two sittings! Which can explain a lot of things -_-;;;
And TAKFAE, a purple cow is the way of life. The banana thing is just a weird joke
that people use where I live. You know, bananas are yellow on the outside and white
on the inside? ^^;;;
Next time:
- God versus God, a final confrontation
- Does _It_ have a Light?
- Yuugi finally uncovers his shrouded memories, at a price…
- Last chapter countdown!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh!
Sam-chan did this wonderful fanart for this fic~ *is very happy* I really do envy her
artistic talent --> http://www.geocities.com/cell_fighter/darkbakuXX09.html
Unfortunat ely, PH-san was too busy to edit this chapter, so please try to ignore
my spelling errors and grammatical flaws. I really wanted to get it out ASAP, and I
kinda used up my editing privileges in the past few weeks ^^;;;
NOTE: There is a difference between the normal pronoun 'it', and _It_ (the enigmatic
opponent we all love). _It_ is not 'it' (minus the brackets), 'kay?
~*~ Slight reminisce or flashback ~*~
//Yami to Yuugi//
/Yuugi to Yami/
*************************************
Section 0.8
"Yuugi! Yuugi!"
His eyes slowly fluttered open. Something blurry was wavering in front of his
vision.
"Yuugi!" This time the familiar voice addressing the boy shook him roughly
by the shoulders. "Are you okay?"
His violet eyes focused enough to recognize the figure of a lean blonde-haired
Hybrid. Yuugi's mouth began working seconds later. "J-Jounochi?"
Yuugi suddenly felt himself being seized and held in a tight embrace. The
blonde Hybrid was talking in a nonsensical babble of words, latching on to Yuugi like
a last resort.
The small boy smiled. He blinked back his tears. "I'm okay, Jounochi.
Everything's okay."
It wasn't. And somehow Jounochi knew.
The blonde-haired Hybrid slowly released the small boy. His once-tense
shoulders relaxed slightly. "You've been out for an hour. You had me-" Jounochi
suddenly snapped his mouth shut.
Yuugi cocked a questioning head towards the incomplete sentence. "Had you
what, Jounochi?" It was then that the boy noticed for the first time his surroundings.
He was in a dank underground cave. Moss and wet cement decorated his vision
though most of it was coveted in shadows. The setting tickled the boy's memory but
he failed to recognize it. "Where are we?"
The blonde jerked his head nervously as if expecting anything to emerge from
the corners. His face was set in a grim, determined frown much unlike his cheerful
self. "Somewhere. Somewhere safe, for now." The blonde Hybrid bit his tongue from
saying more.
Yuugi sighed and rested his head by a nearby slab of cement. The cold texture
felt familiar. He absently brushed a hand along the rough surface. "I know where we
are." Revelation kicked in. "This is close to Seto's hideout. We're going back to find
Seto, aren't we?" Deep violet eyes implored Jounochi's brown ones.
The blonde visibly stiffened. He seemed to be debating with himself, but
finally gave a curt nod. "Yes. This is the last place untouched by _It_."
"The last?" Yuugi repeated. "Does that mean that there are no other
survivors?"
The boy's words had struck a nerve. Bowing his head in grief, Jounochi
struggled to keep his tone level. "I-I don't know anymore Yuugi. I really don't
know."
"Correction." Another voice broke into the conversation. "You don't want to
know."
Startled Yuugi looked up. Facing him and Jounochi was none other than the
enigmatic Seto. The small boy watched the blonde Hybrid recoil in surprise and then
fear.
"Who are you?" Jounochi questioned, no sign of hesitation left in his suddenly
demanding voice. "Leave us alone!"
Seto's stoic expression did not change. His eyes flickered towards Yuugi and
then back at the defensive Jounochi. "You come sulking to my domain and you
question who _I_ am?" The cyber-droid's words were covered in arrogance.
Jounochi hissed. "Seto." The blonde Hybrid pulled Yuugi closer towards him.
"What do you want?"
The cyber-droid seemed to be contemplating on the value of Jounochi's
questions. "The so-called entity you like to address as 'It' has recently taken an
attraction to my sector." Seto stopped talking, eyes suddenly unfocusing. With
alarming brevity, he turned to Yuugi. "Yuugi. Go into my lab and enter the Game.
_It's_ only weakness is through the Game."
The small boy was struck curious by that statement. Suspicion, then denial,
started working in his mind. "How do you-"
"You know where my lab is." Seto interrupted. The cyber-droid's succinct
words carried unregistered amounts of tension. "Or would you rather be destroyed by
_It's_ slaves?"
For a few seconds, Yuugi just stared back into the cyber-droid's cobalt-blue
eyes. The small boy wanted no more of this. He did not want to fight, and the entire
battle to destroy _It_ suddenly seemed impossible. The small boy glanced hesitatingly
back at Jounochi.
"Get going!" Seto snapped irately. He signalled for Jounochi to stay. "We'll
be waiting for you in the Game."
Yuugi felt himself complying before his mind began working. He was running
as fast as his legs could carry him down the wet, paved ground. Several times he
slipped on some patches of moss and fell painfully to the ground. His entire body
throbbed in pain, only adding to the growing fear building in his chest.
He had reached the end of the corridor now.
Now he rose his hands into the air, flailing his arms blindly in the darkness to
look for the opening. His fingers fumbled over the crumbling wall's blunt edges.
There seemed to be millions of eyes watching him from behind his back, but Yuugi
ignored the sensation and continued to search. Desperation kicked in.
Where was the lab? He had to find it!
There! With a desperate yank, Yuugi pulled the door open, forcing his frame
inside the hidden, desolate room. Without a second's afterthought he closed the door
behind him, effectively sealing himself inside. Yuugi winced as layers of artificial
lights suddenly burst from the ceiling. Rapidly blinking his eyes, he allowed himself
to take a few tentative steps forwards. The linoleum ground echoed oddly in response
to his footsteps.
Eyes finally adjusted, Yuugi looked around the room. Large machines and
wiry contraptions still plagued every corner. He brushed his fingers along a bird-like
structure, feeling the cold metal bite against his skin.
It was right in front of him. A shimmering, silvery projection stranded in the
middle of the room. At first glance it seemed to be a distorted mirror, gigantic surface
raised to a regal upright position.
Yuugi tentatively neared the 'mirror' and frowned. He had seen this before. As
if responding to his uncertainty, the boy's Millennium Puzzle began to glow with a
soft golden light. In fact, the closer Yuugi approached this barrier the stronger his
puzzle would react.
Something hit the door with a loud thump. Startled, Yuugi shot his head
towards the only exit within this room. More bangs and aggressive scratching ensued.
A detached part of him wondered if it could be Seto or Jounochi.
No. Seto had said that he would meet Yuugi in the Game.
Wait! The boy's mind raced. Seto had said that he _and_ Jounochi would
meet Yuugi in the Game. Yet it was impossible for a Hybrid to play the Game. Not
unless…
The door was bending dangerously now. Blunt black claws gouged from either
sides of the entrance followed by a chorus of threatening growls. Some of the door's
metallic surface was caving in, slowly but surely being ripped from its hinges.
Yuugi focused his attention back to the silvery projection. The projection itself
seemed almost like an entrance, and if his memory served him correct, was the portal
to the Game. Yet did he dare enter?
What did Yuugi have to loose? Jounochi, Seto, even Anzu and Bakura were in
the Game. But Yuugi was the only human, the only true _survivor_ of this strange
realm. The rest were his ghosts, mere shadows to his light.
The metallic door snapped open with a horrendous creak. In a burst of fangs
and gleaming eyes, the minions of _It_ swarmed the room, searching each and every
of its corners.
Some of them gave a disappointed howl.
Yuugi had disappeared.
****************************************
The apparition appeared to him in a form nearly identical to himself. It sat
suspended in the air of nothingness, arms crossed over his chest. //This will be our last
battle, little light.//
Yuugi's head jerked up in surprise. He did not question this other presence
close beside him. /What do you mean, Yami?/ The boy paused. /You are Yami, aren't
you?/
The apparition gave a brief nod. //I didn't want to be the one to tell you this,
but there is no true way you can win fighting _It_. If we win, we still lose.//
/How? Are we destroyed afterwards?/
//No.// Yami frowned. //At least, not you.//
There was an uncomfortable silence.
Even though he sensed that there was still an unfinished sentence hanging in
the air, Yuugi decided not to press on it. The other's mood was ominous and solemn
enough.
The boy suddenly stood up, angry tears staining his eyes. /This isn't right! It
can't just end like that! I'll- I'll stop fighting. We can just leave this place and-/ Yuugi
stopped, shaking his head in denial, tears escaping into the air and falling like
raindrops into the darkness.
Yami broke the silence at last. He stood up, lowering himself from his
elevated position to stand beside the smaller boy. Quietly he wrapped his arms around
the boy's petite frame as a means of comfort. //It's okay. It'll all be okay. We'll win.//
Yuugi looked up. /But you just said that-/
//We'll win.// Yami's voice was harsher this time, as if denying any other
truth.
Yuugi said nothing.
***********************************
"_It_!"
Yami stood alone in the darkness of the Game. He spread his arms out wide,
twirling his exposed body in a deliberate circle. "Come out and fight me, _It_. This
final Game is between you and me!"
Silence.
The darkness began to shift subtly at first. Faster and faster it moved until it
was no longer darkness but an oozing mass of shadows. The dribbling mass roughly
parted open to reveal its naked face inside, the massive network of bright green "0"s
and "1"s littered against a black void.
From the ruins of ascotti emerged a solitary figure. It was not an overly
impressive figure but rather plain-looking and drab.
Yami's eyes widened as this presence approached him. This figure looked like
a human.
The other, this clever manipulation of _It_ thrust out a perfectly normal-
looking arm and sealed the bare Ascotti shut with the darkness. He turned his
beautiful face towards Yami. Ruby-violet eyes glistened in pure malevolence. His
skin was slightly tanned, flaunting a muscular, well-built frame bedecked in golden
jewelry. Like Yami, his creamy soft-gold hair stood on jagged ends, the rest swinging
behind him like a demonic crown.
Yet what made him different was the single insignia burning on his forehead.
It was the same symbol wrought on the Millennium Puzzle, gleaming an unrivalled
gold.
Yami assumed his offensive stance. "And you are _It_?" He kept his voice as
stable as possible though his eyes narrowed dangerously.
The other grinned madly. "_It_? Is that what they call me?" His deep baritone
voice dripped with amusement. "How amusing, considering that I'm all but _it_." The
very manipulator of the Game ran his tongue along his lips. "The darkness is hungry,
Game King. Will you satisfy its hunger?"
"Cut the drama." Yami remained impassive over the other's unusual attitude.
"I've seen this trick used before and it wont work."
_It_ threw his human head back in laughter. "Trick? You value me highly
indeed, Game King." His face suddenly grew serious. "Then let us play. This is my
Game and I will make you suffer every moment you stay in it."
Yami said nothing. His mind was already working for a possible strategy
against his opponent. Yes. _It_ was nothing more than an opponent.
The other suddenly interrupted Yami before the Game King could make his
first move. "Oh. Did I forget to tell you?." _It_ bared his teeth in a sadistic smile.
"Summoned monsters can feel pain. Not just physical but also mental, perhaps
enough to torture their poor souls into darkness."
_It_ did not wait. He thrust his arms outwards to call upon his first creature.
The darkness bulged in front of him in eager reply to his command, spewing out a
bubble of blackened substance.
Yami braced himself against the shifting monster. After a while, the Game
King realized that the amorphous, bubble-like substance in front of him was the
creature's actual shape. Slightly caught off guard, Yami found himself analyzing the
possibilities. _It_ was no amateur, and the Game King could not figure out if this
monster was a deliberate bait or simply more powerful than it seemed. He had no
choice but to attack.
"My first monster will be the-" Yami stopped. He could feel Yuugi's tension
within him.
_It_ smirked at the Game King's too-readable expression. "Yes, Game King.
Which of your _friends_ will you sacrifice first? They didn't die after all; they still
have a beautiful afterlife. But it turns out that you, the one whom they trust, will be
the one to rip them from their heaven and put them in this purgatory." _It_ laughed
loudly and harshly. "I will enjoy watching them writhe in hell."
Yami closed his eyes and angrily clenched his fist. He couldn't let _It_
overpower him with his words. Yet, the other was right; by summoning a monster, he
would lock his friend's souls into this damned Game. And without a monster, he was
absolutely helpless against the other.
"Stuck?" _It_ taunted, licking his lips. "Let me help you decide. I wouldn't
want the poor Game King's soul to be so tormented when we haven't even started."
The next monster _It_ summoned was nowhere as ridiculous. Gigantic claws
pried outwards from the darkness to reveal an ebony armoured hide
slithering and skittering on the ground. The creature's platelets of armour shook like
dried bones in the silence. A single barbed tail lay poised over its lustrous back.
Yami only had that much of a warning before the creature was on him,
massive fore claws opening pincer-like to snap at his body. The Game King stumbled
backwards, veering to one side to avoid the hideous monster's gaping mouth. The
scorpion-like creature emitted a serious of displeased clicks before swinging its tail in
a vicious arch. The tip of the barbed tip just barely missed Yami's prone form.
The creature's tail snapped back to its regular position and it began scuttling
again to get closer to the Game King. Yami simply narrowed his eyes and waited. His
entire body was frozen in anticipation, muscles tense and ready. His sharp ruby eyes
traced every second of the scorpion-like creature's movements.
Just as anticipated, the creature drew back its tail and snapped it forward. It
whistled sharply as it cut against the air. Yet instead of staggering backwards, the
Game King quickly darted straight in front of the projectile. In that split-second
timeframe deemed impossible in normal life, Yami grabbed the horrendous creature's
tail with both hands and sprang into the air. The momentum of the stinger whipping
forward allowed the Game King to thrust his body the opposite direction so that he
flipped backwards over the creature. Yami landed awkwardly on his knees behind it.
Instead of waiting for the beast to react, the Game King ran towards _It_ at
full speed. He knew _It_ was the actual target. And this time, he did not hesitate to
call out his monster.
~*~
Her radiant cerulean eyes glistened cat-like in the shadows. She grinned and
held out her hand, her cropped chestnut hair swaying around her chin.
"It's all right." She had said. "Remember what we promised? We'll come
back for you, no matter what."
~*~
The Game King's monster looked human. In fact, if Yami hadn't summoned
it, it could have passed as a human.
She appeared unnaturally charming and sweet, bedecked in almost flamboyant
shades of pink and sky blue. Her pointed hat drooped oddly to one side of her long
strawberry-blonde hair, and she held a harmless-looking staff in one hand. The
monster turned and winked at the Game King before assuming a battle stance.
"Dark Magician Girl!" Yami spoke his words quickly before he lost the
element of surprise. "Attack _It_ now!"
In a fluid show of grace and obedience, the humanoid monster thrust her staff
out at _It_'s prone form. Lancelets of black and soft violet energy arched and sizzled
from her staff, bulging outwards in a circle straight at the targeted opponent.
The attack was blocked before it could hit.
Yami's eyes widened as he watched the blob-like creature protecting _It_
burst from his Dark Magician Girl's attack. The pieces of the hapless monster
splattered all over the ground in fat oozing puddles. They stood there, motionless for a
while before vibrating back into life and collecting together again.
_It_ threw back his head in laughter. He continued laughing much to Yami's
anger. "That was rich! You actually thought that I would leave myself defenceless?"
_It_ narrowed his eyes. "You shall make a great sacrifice indeed, Yu-gi-oh, when the
darkness finally consumes you."
A scuttling sound made the Game King's frustration short-lived. Yami
whipped his head around just in time to make out the scorpion-beast's barbed tail.
The Dark Magician Girl reacted immediately. In a small cry of anger, the
human-like creature placed herself in front of the Game King, toy-like staff pointed
threateningly at the scorpion monster. Her other hand gently nudged Yami away from
the field of attack.
There was a slight moment of tension before both creatures struck at once. The
scorpion-creature hissed and shot its tail forward only to have it blocked by the Dark
Magician Girl's energy-induced attack. Undaunted the scorpion-beast arched its tail
again. Yet instead of aiming for its opponent's body, he twisted his tail-blade to one
side and slapped the Dark Magician Girl's wand away from her hand. The small wand
fell and skidded against the ground.
Now the scorpion-beast launched its heavy form straight at its opponent
without hesitation. Unable to defend with a magic-induced attack, the Dark Magician
Girl held back the scorpion monster's claws with only her bare hands. There was not
much she could do about her opponent's tail lurking dangerously beside her.
Yami saw the defeat before his monster did. "Dark Magician Girl, come
back!" He knew it was too late. His monster had no way to obey him.
A couple of seconds was all it took for the tail-blade to penetrate the Dark
Magician Girl's fragile neck. The scorpion creature twisted his tail to bury the stinger
deeper into its opponent's flesh, injecting as much venom as possible. Indignant at
first, the Dark Magician Girl struggled, ignoring the rivulets of blood and oozing
green venom pouring from the wound spider-like down her neck. She continued to
struggle until the scorpion-beast withdrew its stinger and stabbed again and again all
over her soft skin. Even with all the gashes and open cuts blemishing her delicate
frame, she looked hauntingly gentle and reassuring. At last she gave a final shudder
and closed her pained eyes shut.
The Game King watched his Dark Magician Girl's body fall gracelessly to the
ground. He watched it fade and disappear, leaving behind a translucent ghost.
With one final wave and wink, the ghost too disappeared, scattering into wisps
of nothingness.
Yami didn't even bother screaming or shouting in rage. All that burned in his
mind was the desire for revenge. His Millennium Puzzle glowed fiercely and the next
monster came too him. A monster that echoed his anger for the parted girl tenfold.
~*~
His straggled blonde-hair fell in front of his eyes as he spoke. It was the voice
of the angered but resigned. "So, A-Anzu and I made up a new game. We called it the
'Because of' game. 'Because of this accident, I learned that I needed to be stronger.
Because of this mistake, I learned that I needed to be wiser'."
Yuugi hadn't understood back then.
"You don't need to understand." He had shaken his head in response, still
smiling sadly. "It's already there."
~*~
If pure, undiluted black could be personified, it would be this beast towering
like a massive pillar of rage in front of the Game King.
It was a dragon of ebony black, thin avian frame a stark contrast of the
scorpion-beast's land-ridden body. The gigantic dragon spread out its sharp wings and
shot into the air without a moment's hesitation.
Yami didn't need to say anything. The dragon, this Red Eyes Black Dragon,
already knew what to do. Its tormented heart sought this revenge.
From its lustrous black jaws grew a sizeable ball of flame. It flared and
throbbed in shades of deep red. With an unrestrained roar, the Game King's Dragon
flung the fireball straight at the scorpion-beast. The creature of _It_ didn't even have
time to screech before it was burned into pitiful ashes by the intense inferno of flames.
The Game King stared intently into his Red Eyes Black Dragon's eyes.
Crimson clashed upon crimson, and in that moment, the two souls hiding within their
shells saw each other for what they really were. They exchanged a moment of grief,
despair, and promise. And then they succumbed back to their shells.
_It_ remained unperturbed at the Game King's livid rage. He laughed, tongue
lolling out to trace along his teeth. "I can see Darkness within you, Game King. Its
hungry, just like how mine is." _It_ twisted its hand forward and gestured for another
monster. Nothing emerged from the shadows.
The Game King looked around confused. He knew that if he directly attacked
_It_, the bubble-like monster would just block it. But why did _It_ not play any
offence monsters?
"Be patient, Yu-gi-oh." _It_ closed his eyes. "It's coming. The one that will
end this Game. Perhaps you were lucky enough in that Game with the cyber-droid to
escape this God, but not this time."
A flash of gold and glistening chrome echoed in the Game King's memory.
Yami narrowed his eyes. He would finally encounter this God that had been chasing
him in the horrendous scene after his duel with Seto. He would face the beast without
the distractions of the Ascotti. This was _Its_ secret weapon and he would destroy it.
…. With his own God.
.To. be. continued…
***************************************
Rishid Says:
Rishid: *is meditating* …..
Zoo: *blinks* Are you going to say anything?
Rishid: *still meditating* ……
Zoo: Well, I guess that if I was renamed 'Odion' too, I would have nothing to say.
Yes, poor Rishid. Always intensely loyal to Malik even to the extent of sacrificing his
name.
Rishid: *without looking up* Well it was either my name or my voice. I thought that
a name would be better since you don't have to hear it the moment you open your
mouth.
Zoo: -_-;; Some loyalty…Anyway, you're supposed to say answer some questions via
the reviews and then say some inspirational comment.
Rishid: Yes, I am a bachelor. The sky is blue.
Zoo: Not like that! *pauses* Heeeey… that _is_ very inspirational. *sits down to
think about it* 'The sky is blue'…. Hmmm….
Rishid: *leaves*
Zoo: HEY! Wait! ;_; Who's going to do my little end comments? Oh… darn… *takes
out paper* -_-;;;
Okay, when a person 'dies', their soul is stranded in this nether-region.
Sometimes their souls are used in the Game and then they… cease to exist. There is
no heaven in this story (try not to fall for Y.Malik's words ;P).
In chapter 7, Ryou was originally the God of Osiris. Yami ended up freeing
him and he died for good. Yeah. ^^;;;
And the 'again' part was implied that Yami can laugh triumphantly too. As for
closing their eyes while concentrating - just some mental imagery XD
*************************************
End notes:
I amazingly did this chapter in two sittings! Which can explain a lot of things -_-;;;
And TAKFAE, a purple cow is the way of life. The banana thing is just a weird joke
that people use where I live. You know, bananas are yellow on the outside and white
on the inside? ^^;;;
Next time:
- God versus God, a final confrontation
- Does _It_ have a Light?
- Yuugi finally uncovers his shrouded memories, at a price…
- Last chapter countdown!