Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Alternate Universe Twist ❯ My Inner Demon ( Chapter 18 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Trunks' Girl 787 
My enemy's point of view. How the demon came to be!
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Suspense / Drama / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 09.24.2005 | Updated On: 09.24.2005 | Pages: 7 | Words: 7.5K | Visits: 176 | Status: Completed
My enemy's point of view. How the demon came to be!
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Suspense / Drama / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 09.24.2005 | Updated On: 09.24.2005 | Pages: 7 | Words: 7.5K | Visits: 176 | Status: Completed
Saiyan Moon Goddess: *moved to tears* I can't believe it! There are people still faithful to this story! I may reach 100 reviews by the end of this work. I love you all! *calms down* Well, here I go. This fic is almost done. And I'm going to finish it soon, maybe before Halloween! Speaking of Halloween...should I wear my Catwoman costume again? I usually never use the same costume twice, specially two years in a row. But it did get me some dance offers...HAHAHAHA!!! Nah, maybe not. I hate regge as it is. Enjoy the chapter!
Oh, and don't worry about Yugi. He'll be back before this chapter ends.
To Red Dragon Of Egypt: It's a common mistake made by people because of the American version of Yugioh. Yugi lives with his grandpa AND his mother. But Mrs. Mouto is cut off in the edited version of the series for an unknown reason. Yugi is not exactly an orphan. However, his father is not mentioned not even in the manga. Nothing is known of him.
**ALTERNATE DOUBLES**
*From Saiyan Moon Goddess (OC/s)*
1. Koneko - Marlene/Saiyan Moon Goddess (18 years old)
*From Yu-Gi-Oh!*
1. Nessuro - Yugi (18 years old)
2. Neil - Yami (16 years old)
3. Prince Umi - Ryou (19 years old)
4. Prince Cerulean - Bakura (9 years old)
5. Prince Zukoi/Hiroshi - Marik (20 years old)
6. Prince Ryu - Malik (the yami) (10 years old)
7. Max - Pegasus
8. Korosu - Bandit Keith
9. Jono - Jou
10. Amaya - Anzu
11. Queen Emi - Mai
12. King Isamu - Ryou's Father
*From Yu Yu Hakusho*
1. Kage - Hiei (18 years old)
2. Zorro - Kurama
3. Akira - Botan
4. Maki - Koenma
5. Iwa - Kuwabara
6. Jin - Jin
7. Yuke - Yuseke
8. Yasu - Yukina
/mind talk/
"talk"
'thoughts'
~Alternate Universe Twist~ by Saiyan Moon Goddess
~Chapter 18: My Inner Demon~
*FLASH*
Ages
Nessuro: 6
Neil: 4
The scene changed again before Yugi's eyes. A noise woke up Nessuro from his nap and he looked up from his futon inside his cell. His breath came out like white smoke and he shivered from cold. He saw his little brother kneeling on the other side of the barred doors. The little boy gave him a mischievious grin.
"Ohayo, oniisan!" he said.
Nessuro smiled softly at him. Despite his parents telling Neil horrible things about him, the little boy let his childish curiosity take over him and visited his brother often. The kid saw no demon in him and looked up to him. The two became close behind their parents' backs as Neil became Nessuro's reason to live on with his sanity intanct.
"Oniisan, I got a present for you!" said Neil. "Look!" He handed Nessuro a blue flower. "A flower that only blooms in winter! I got it just for you!"
"Thanks, Neil." Nessuro said holding the flower to his heart. "I don't know where I would be without you."
"I got you more blankets in case it gets colder down here. Did you get another rat bite?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Great! I finally convinced mama and papa to let you out."
Nessuro's eyes widened. Let him out, for real? Neil had been begging his parents to let his brother out into the open, saying he must be bored in his cell. The parents always refused and kept that decision for 2 years.
"Really?" Nessuro looked at him startled.
"Yeah! I'll take you into town! The servants are buying food in the markets for winter, and we're going with them. Let's have fun together! Just you and me!" Nessuro nodded, which made the little one happier.
A servant came later with the key to the cell and let Nessuro out. Neil stayed with him the entire time and tackled his big brother into a hug once he came out. She explained that her master gave orders not to leave Nessuro alone with Neil and not let Nessuro out of her sight. But a wink and smile from her let them know she was on their side. Neil took Nessuro to his room and the woman gave them both warm clothes to go outside. Nessuro felt weird in them. He had gotten used to rags.
Nessuro and Neil went to town to buy food with the servants. Nessuro was nervous and held his brother's hand the entire time. He hadn't been let out of the dungeons for 4 years and the only people he had seen were the servants. He felt utterly lost there like a deer in a snake pit.
While nobody was looking, the boys sneaked away. Neil led the elder brother into a small bakery, where they saw all kinds of delicious treats. The sight and smell of fresh bake made Nessuro's stomach growl and his mouth water. He remembered trying those sweet treats as Neil sneaked them to the dungeons for him whenever he got the chance.
"They make the best cakes here!" Neil said. "Let's try some!"
They reached into a basket of baguettes, only to get hit with a long wooden spoon. They yelped and rubbed their hands, and glanced up to see a girl with long blonde hair tied in a pony tail and grey eyes. She took a good look at the expensive clothes they wore and frowned.
"Naughty boys, don't you touch grandmama's baguettes without paying first!" she said, waving her spoon at them. "I don't care how rich you are!"
The boys smiled sheepishly and apologized. Still, Nessuro couldn't help but stare, and blush. He had never seen a girl before, looking at her made him feel funny inside. Accepting the apology, the girl turned friendly and smiled brightly, welcoming them to her grandma's bakery.
"My name is Koneko." She curtsied at them. "And yours?"
Nessuro was too nervous, so Neil spoke for him. "My name is Neil, and this is my oniisan, Nessuro."
"I'm happy to meet you." Koneko smiled at Nessuro. "You have the cutest little brother, sir."
Nessuro turned redder. "Uh, you can...call me Nessuro...Yeah, Nessuro's okay."
Neil noticed the look in his brother's eyes and grinned wider. He immediately invited Koneko to play with them. Anything to make Nessuro happy. He deserved it. Koneko accepted but only with her caretaker's permission.
"Grandmama!" she called into the back of the bakery. "May I go out and play?"
"Alright, but be back to help me decorate the cakes!" came an eldery voice from the kitchen.
Koneko took off her apron putting on a coat, scarf, and hat. The three left the bakery to play. Most of the time they just ran around town. In the winter season, it wasn't that lively around, but Koneko brought some warm cookies with her and Neil bought some hot chocolate with the money his parents trusted him with...and some he had taken from the servants' pockets. Nessuro had never had so much fun in his life. He loved every second of it and didn't want to go back home anytime soon.
When they crossed a busy street, a luxurious white carriage almost ran over them. The horses came to a halt with loud whines and they almost knocked the carriage over. The rider scolded the children and continued his way. As the carriage passed, they saw a kid with ocean blue hair and kind brown eyes poke his head out the window. He smiled and waved at them. Koneko curtsied like she did Nessuro and Neil before, only lower. The boys stared.
"That was Prince Umi." said Koneko. "Grandmama told me to bow at royalty."
Nessuro had learned yet more new things as the day passed. The children kept playing until the servants came for Nessuro and Neil. Koneko said her goodbyes and returned to the bakery. Nessuro's smile wavered at the thought of returning to the cold dungeons but thinking of all the good things that happened in his day gave him more hope. At home, his mother said nothing to him but wretched Neil away from him with a glare. She told the woman servant watching over him to take him to his cage.
*FLASH*
Nessuro: 6
Koneko: 6
Neil: 4
Another scene change. Ever since that wintery day, Neil could only convince his parents to let Nessuro out if they were home. And they weren't home that often because of important business. But the little boy managed to steal the cell key from his father's room and free his brother when they weren't around. It wasn't that hard, seeing his parents never bothered to check on Nessuro or anything that concerned him. Nessuro and Neil stayed friends with Koneko and invited her to play every day.
Once, during town, they saw a royal carriage pass, but it was different from the first they had seen. The boys were confused. so Koneko explained it to them.
"Grandmama said our neighbor king and queen from Kotao are coming to visit with their son. They always have dinner with our king and queen once a month and they bring their son Prince Zukoi. But the prince visits once or twice a week. Our Prince Umi and him are good friends."
"Let's follow it." Neil said.
Nessuro stared down at his feet. He felt if he even glanced at the blonde girl, he would freeze and blush like he always did. He would think he had got used to her presence by now.
"Nessuro?"
"Yes, Koneko?"
"Where is Neil?"
That's when he noticed his little brother was missing. He forgot about his embarrassment and searched for the boy, but didn't see him anywhere. A cold feeling in the pit of his stomach grew. What if something happened to him? He couldn't bare it...
"There he is!" Koneko cried.
The boy looked back at the royal carriage and his aqua green eyes widened. It was little Neil who was holding on to the underside of the carriage, which was approaching the palace grounds. Nessuro and Koneko ran after it. They were too late though, for the carriage passed through the entrance and the gold gates closed behind it. There were two men guarding the entrance. Nessuro and Koneko pleaded for the guards to let them pass, but even when they told him about their missing friend they refused. They thought the children were just playing some kind of prank on them and ignored their pleas all together. So they left the entrance. Yet, unwilling to give up, Nessuro suggested they climbed the wall into the palace grounds. Koneko wasn't very happy about the idea, but they had to get Neil back before he was found out.
The children went far from the gold gates and climbed up the wall. Nessuro had a bit of trouble, for it was Neil who was used to things like those, but Koneko helped him out. She explained that she had once explored mountains with her uncle and they climbed a lot. At the top they looked for any trouble, and they saw no one around. They leaped off the wall and landed in an immense garden. Nessuro had never seen so much fauna beauty in his life. Flowers of all colors, trees of all sizes, and their perfume-like scent filled the air. Koneko was nervous.
"We're going to get in trouble." she said.
"Let's just find him and get out of here." Nessuro said and she nodded.
Nessuro took Koneko's hand, trying not to blush at the contact. But their moment was short-lived.
"Hey! What are you doing here, trasspassers?!" a voice shouted.
A boy their age jumped out of the nearest bush and stood in a fighting stance. He had spiky black hair and deep blue eyes hardened in concentration as he held a knife in front of him, ready to attack if necessary. Nessuro and Koneko shook frightened. They had been discovered already! If the guards came for them...
"Wait, please!" Koneko said. "We don't mean harm."
"Yeah, we're trying to find my otouto." said Nessuro.
They told the boy about how they lost Neil and they wanted to find him without causing trouble. After a moment of suspicion, the boy relaxed and put the knife back in the sheath tied around his waist. Nessuro and Koneko let out a sigh of relief.
"Alright, I'll help you find him, but we must do it before otousan finds out. He is His Majesty's personal bodyguard and will tell him anything that's happening."
"Thank you, sir." said Koneko.
"No, please, my name is Kage. Who are you?"
"I'm Koneko; this is my friend Nessuro. And Neil is his brother."
"Okay, follow me, Koneko, Nessuro."
With the help of Kage, the kids sneaked around the palace and got inside through the servants entrance. Kage knew every corner of the place well. They went by unnoticed by the guards and went to where the carriages were kept. Kage stood guard while Koneko and Nessuro searched all the carriages. Neil was nowhere to be found. Nessuro started panicking.
"What if they got him?!"
"Don't worry." Kage told them. "If he's not here, I know where he might be now. Follow me."
Nessuro and Koneko were confused but followed the dark-haired boy anyway. Kage snuck them through a different hall and up a long set of stairs, sometimes pausing because his companions stared at every wonder they laid eyes on. A palace is indeed nothing like the town where they lived. Not ever the castle where Nessuro and Neil lived in was that luxurious. Kage stopped when they reached the destination he wanted.
"Where are we, Kage?" Nessuro asked him.
"This is Prince Umi's room. He can help us and the king and queen won't find out."
That only made the children more nervous. They were about to meet the young blue-haired prince they had seen in town that wintery day. In person, no less. They held hands as comfort to each other as Kage led them inside. To their utter shock, there was Neil was playing with Prince Umi and another boy dressed in royal robes with blonde spiky hair and sky blue eyes. Kage bowed to them both, and Koneko and Nessuro did the same. Neil tackled his brother with a hug saying how much fun he was having. That didn't stop Nessuro from scolding the little one, though.
"You could've been hurt! Do you realize how scared I was?"
Neil looked down sadly, accepting his words. "I'm sorry, oniisan."
"Please, don't run off like that again. I couldn't bare it if something happened to you."
They tiny Yami-lookalike grinned and gave him a peace sign. "I promise."
"I apologize, Your Majesty." Koneko said to Prince Umi. "I hope Neil didn't cause you much trouble."
"There is no need for apologies, miss." said Prince Umi. "Hiroshi and I had much fun playing with him. It was delightful to have a new kid come over."
"Hiroshi, sir?" Koneko gasped as she recognized the face. "Your Majesty, Prince Zukoi."
The blonde prince blushed looking embarrassed. "Please, miss, call me Hiroshi. It's enough that my mother gave me that name."
Introductions were made and the children got along pretty well. Umi and Hiroshi loved the company for Kage was the only other boy their age in the palace they could play with. At Umi's orders, Nessuro, Neil, and Koneko were allowed to visit his palace. Along with Hiroshi and Kage, the children had fun together every time. They all became friends. Nessuro was at last truly happy. He had friends to trust, more reasons for him to live on. Not even the cell he was forced to live in ruined his good mood. Though he acted depressed whenever his parents looked coldly at him for fear they would find out of what he and Neil had been doing.
*FLASH*
Nessuro: 9
Koneko: 9
Neil: 7
Kage: 9
Umi: 10
Hiroshi: 11
Nessuro's bond with Neil and his friends was stronger, as well as his crush for Koneko, so strong it made his heart beat fast. So far he was too shy to tell her how he felt.
Another morning....another rat to wake you up...
"AHHH!!!"
"Oniisan, did it bite you?"
"N-no..."
During a game of hide-and-seek in the palace gardens, Nessuro went as far as he could to hide. He saw a part of the palace he had never seen before. It was an old abandonded corner, not even the beauty of the garden reached it. Curious, he walked farther and saw what looked like a small abandoned chapel with chains around the entrance door and the windows covered in nailed wooden bars. He thought it was a perfect place to hide and squeezed through a hole in the wall. Inside there wasn't much. Just some old seats covered in dirt and dust and an altar with a broken angel statue over it. Nessuro studied the angel statue. It was holding a sword with a broken tip and the right wing was also broken.
The boy took two steps toward the statue when the wooden floor gave out under him. Nessuro yelled as he fell down the hole. His face hit hard wood on impact. Nessuro shakily pushed himself up to his knees, whimpering. Coppery taste filled his tongue and he touched his lips. He broke his nose and split his lower lip in the fall; his hands and face were covered in tiny scratches.
"Ow..." He looked around. "Where am I?"
He found himself inside a new, darker room. The small ray of light from the hole he made allowed him to see very little. In fact, the only thing visible to him at the moment was another statue. He looked up at the angel statue from above and turned back to the new one. This one was right under the angel. The statue held the image of a monstrous creature. Like the angel, this one was also broken, but in half. The upper half lay on the floor while the lower half stayed standing. Nessuro shivered as he felt the demon's eyes staring at him. The atmosphere around him was as cold as ice, which puzzled him since it was spring outside.
/A visitor?/
Nessuro jumped surprised and fell back on his butt. "Who's there?"
/Hmmm...it has been so many centuries. Anyone would wish to stretch their limbs...if they had any. Wouldn't you agree, little boy?/
Nessuro gulped. "Please, show yourself."
/Oh, patience, child. Let's see.../
Nessuro gasped as a quick sharp pain gripped the back of his head.
/Ahhh...For a child, you bare a large weight on your shoulders. Emotions that most children wouldn't worry about./
"W-what do you mean?"
/I feel pain, delicious pain from you./
Nessuro's eyes widened. Images flashed before his eyes. He saw his parents' cold stares, the way they treated him, and he saw his cage.
/Ugh! You have other emotions that sour up the sweet taste. Is that love?/
Again, he saw faces, smiling faces of his friends, his little brother, and Koneko...
/How amusing. You're confused. You hesitate on the love you feel for that little girl. If only love wasn't in the way, I would be able to make you mine./
"Stop reading my mind!" Nessuro shouted. "And what do you mean by making me yours?!"
/You'll see, but you don't have to understand now. I'll open the door for you./
The room shook violently, and the floor cracked and broke under his feet. He moved before he fell again and watched as a new hole formed. Black flames shot out from it, then disappeared back into the void. Curious, Nessuro looked into hole. He saw nothing but darkness. A pair of red eyes glowed in the distance, then got closer at an alarming speed. Once it became visible he saw a creature resembling the demon statue coming toward him. He tried to back off, but he fell through the hole, toward the demon's waiting claws. He felt his body grow dangerously cold.
"AAAAHHHHH!!!!"
"Nessuro, wake up!!"
Nessuro woke up in Koneko's arms, Neil beside him crying. He was surrounded by his friends. Looking around he saw he was still in the dark room. The demon statue was in pieces, and the floor under him was intact.
"What happened?" he asked.
"We've been looking all day for you." Koneko said. "Umi even had guards searching the palace. Kage said the area was strictly forbidden, but we came in here and found you, convulsing on the floor. No matter what we tried, you wouldn't wake up."
"Oniisan!" Neil hugged him tightly and soaking his chest with tears. "I was so scared!"
"I'm alright, Neil." Nessuro pat the kid on the back. "Really, I'll be fine."
"No, you're not!" Koneko protested. "Seizures aren't normal. You almost scared us to death, Nessuro!"
"We are taking you to the healer right now." said Prince Umi.
"What happened to the statue?" said Nessuro.
"I broke it." Kage said, glaring at the rubble of stone. "This place is cursed."
"Are you well enough to stand, my friend?" Hiroshi asked.
"Here. Let me help you."
Kage helped Nessuro walk as they left the chapel. Neil clung to his brother's arm the entire time. Everyone stole worried glances at Nessuro, and kept asking questions of his wellfare while they went through the palace halls. On their way, they encountered Queen Emi and Umi's mother, the queen of Taokao. Mai's lookalike carried a toddler is her arms who resembeled Hiroshi only his hair was spikier and Umi's mother sported a few months-old pregnant belly. Emi looked disapprovingly at Umi and Hiroshi's friends, mainly at Kage and Koneko.
"Why, my son?" she said. "How many times have I told you not to take place among these commoners?"
"But, mother." Hiroshi protested. "They are my friends."
"Excuses, excuses." Emi said, raising her nose high. "I hope my little Ryu doesn't turn out like his brother."
Umi's mother looked at the children kindly and kissed her son on the forehead. Then she followed Queen Emi the direction the kids had come from. The children made their way into the healer's room. Nessuro was checked. His nose and lip were cleaned as were his scratches. Upon further examination, no infection was found from the few rat bites he had, just some rash on his hands and feet. But that wasn't what caused the seizure, he had no idea what did.
The children returned to the garden, which was light up with fireflies. Koneko's eyes lighted up.
"Grandmama always told me if you catch a firefly, make a wish, and let it go, your wish comes true. Let's try it!"
As they began catching the glowing insects, Nessuro whispered to Kage secretly.
"Kage, why was that chapel cursed?"
"That's the chapel where Prince Umi's great grandparents got married." Kage said. "Unfortunately, they found that hidden room under the altar the day of the wedding, where they discovered people dressed in black adoring a demon god. After that, the chapel was closed and the demon followers were executed. No one's allowed near that place since. They say the demon they adored is able to come to life, take over a human life, and feed on souls."
Nessuro understood and asked no more questions. Each kid caught a firefly, except Neil who was so excited he caught three. They all gathered around and sat on the grass.
"What kind of wish can we make?" Hiroshi said.
"Hiroshi and I have everything people from the town desire." Umi said.
"Mama and papa are very rich." Neil said. "What could we wish for?"
"Love..." Nessuro muttered.
"What did you say, Nessuro?" Kage asked.
"Nothing."
"Let's wish that we'll always be friends, no matter what!" Koneko said. "We make this a promise."
"Great idea!" Nessuro smiled at her.
"Friends forever!" Koneko cried out happily, letting her firefly go.
"Friends forever!"
At their shout, the fireflies were released and they flew freely away.
"Let nothing in the universe break our bond." Umi said.
They all agreed and shared hugs and handshakes, Koneko getting her hand kissed by the boys. Watching her, Nessuro suddenly got an idea. He caught another firefly, planning on a new wish. He planned to wish Koneko to love him. But he hesitated. It wouldn't be fair that she loved him because of a wish. So he just wished her happiness and was about to let the bug go. He looked up to smile at the blonde girl and gasped in shock. Koneko was stealing shy glances at Kage. When it was his turn to kiss her hand, she kissed his cheek. They both blushed. Nessuro froze where he stood.
"Oniisan!"
At Neil's call, Nessuro looked down at his hands and saw a squashed firefly. His vision blurred as he heard a voice laughing in his head.
/Perhaps this will be sooner than expected./
The last thing Nessuro heard was Neil calling him before the world around him went black.
*FLASH*
Nessuro: 9
Koneko: 9
Neil: 7
Kage: 9
Umi: 10
Hiroshi: 11
Ryu: 1
Nessuro waited for Neil to come to his cell. The child sneaked into the dungeons soon enough with the key and freed his brother. Then they went to Neil's room and Nessuro changed into the best clothes he could find. He checked himself in a mirror while Neil watched him from his bed.
"So what are you planning, oniisan?" Neil said. "You asked me to invite Koneko over. Mama and papa haven't left yet. What if they find you out?"
"This is very important to me, Neil." Nessuro said. "Mama and papa are on the other side of the castle. I need you to keep anyone from coming near Koneko and I."
"Okay." Neil handed him a few violets. "Here's the flowers you asked for."
Nessuro thanked him and left to the garden to meet with Koneko, talking to himself.
"Ok, I tell her today, no interruptions or delays. I just hope I'm not too late."
He paused to take a knife from the kitchen. The sun was setting and there could be wolves outside.
Nessuro and Koneko met outside Nessuro's large castle under the sunset, the sky darkening by the minute. Koneko asked him about his reason to call her over and Nessuro offered the violets to her. She took them and took in the sweet fragrance, which made her smile
"I couldn't bring myself to say it at first, but I feel...attracted to you." he said. "More than a friend would. And I hoped," He kissed her hand. "that you might share those feelings."
Koneko took her hand back looking surprised. Her smile vanished and she looked sad.
"I'm sorry, Nessuro." she said. "I don't want to hurt your heart, but I already share those feelings with Kage. I-I'm sorry. I didn't know..."
Yugi felt Nessuro's heart breaking at that announcement. The boy looked away so Koneko couldn't see his tears, and at the corner of his eye he saw her looking away too out of respect for his feelings. He heard the voice laughing in his head again. He touched his forehead.
"W-wha..." Nessuro began feeling dizzy.
/It's too sweet for words! It makes me stronger.../
Nessuro suddenly lost control of his body. Yugi could still see through his eyes and saw him leap at Koneko and punch her. He ignored her cries of pain and beat her until she bled. Neil came out of nowhere and grabbed his brother's arm trying to stop him.
"Oniisan, please stop! Why are you hitting Koneko? You're hurting her!"
Nessuro backhanded him and threw him to the ground, forgetting about the girl. Neil whimpered and stared up at his brother in fear and surprise.
"So you betray me as well!" He yelled, but it wasn't Nessuro's voice. "I should've never trusted you!"
Nessuro left Koneko and started beating little Neil instead. The boy cried and pleaded for him to stop, but that only made Nessuro angrier. Koneko tried to hold him back but it was no use. She cried out for help. It didn't take long for Nessuro and Neil's parents to come over with a bunch of their servants behind them. The mother screamed at what she saw.
"Demon child! My baby!"
Nessuro was roughly pulled appart from Neil as his mother tended to him and the servants helped Koneko.
The father dragged Nessuro back to the dungeons. He could've almost rip his arm off in the process. They boy was thrown to the stone floor in front of his cage. The father never let go of his clothes and the top was ripped off, leaving his back and chest bare. Nessuro heard a soft whistle-like noise in the air and looked up to see his father holding a whip. His eyes widened.
"You have gone too far this time, demon!" the father shouted. "You're too dangerous to live!"
The man whipped the boy's bare back savagely. Nessuro's shrieks of pain echoed through the castle. His backside was soon covered in deep slashes, bleeding badly. Nessuro turned around to face his father.
"N-no...s-stop, p-please...AHH!!"
His father took the opportunity to whip his chest. Even as the child fell over, he wouldn't stop, not until he saw the demon bleed to his death. Yugi felt his pain as the tip of the weapon cut deep into the skin. When Nessuro began to black out from pain and bloodloss, he heard a voice calling out and could've sworn he saw a little boy running into the dungeons.
"Papa, no! Don't hurt him!"
When he regained his senses, he saw Neil holding onto him and blocking their father's whip. Neil didn't mind his brother's blood soaking his clothes. Their mother stood a few feet away from her husband, sobbing.
"Don't hurt oniisan! He didn't mean it!"
"Neil, get away from him!" the mother cried. "Don't let that monster decieve you!"
"We should've dealt with him years ago!" the father said angrily. "My son, this is for your own good! Now stand aside!"
"No!"
The father succeeded in pulling a screaming little boy off Nessuro. Nessuro's eyes suddenly glowed red and he took out the kitchen knife he had hidden in his pants. He took father's distraction to slash his neck with it. His father staggered back, choking and gurggling on his own blood, then fell over. The mother saw everything and screamed in terror, giving Nessuro enough time to tackle her and stab her through the heart. Both parents died in a puddle of blood.
Neil froze from his spot on the floor. Aqua green eyes stared at the lifeless bodies of his parents. He was in shock for a few seconds.
"MAMA! PAPA!"
Neil tried to go over to the corpses, but Nessuro was quicker and grabbed him, holding him back. At first he held his little brother as the child cried on his shoulder. The boy pulled back Neil by his hair and held the bloody blade to his little neck.
"O-o-oniisan....why...?" Neil's eyes were red from tears and his face was tearstained.
"They were nothing but scum." Nessuro whispered, making the kid shiver. "However, you might prove useful. From now on, you will obey me and only me without question, or I swear I'll make you see hell itself until you go blind from crying BLOOD!! Am I understood, otouto?"
Neil was too terrified of his sibling to answer. He reduced his cries to soft whimpers and shivers.
"I'll take that as a yes." Nessuro let Neil fall to the floor. "Now don't move from this place until I return."
Nessuro left the boy on the floor with the two corpses and left the dungeons. Nessuro held his knife tight, planning on eliminating all the servants in the castle.
*FLASH*
Nessuro: 10
Neil: 8
Koneko: 10
Kage: 10
Umi: 11
Hiroshi: 12
Ryu: 2
Cerulean: few months
Nessuro redecorated his castle and made the biggest room his throne room. He had Neil kneeling beside his large chair waiting for his next command. Nessuro watched both kingdoms of Taokao and Kotao from his floating bubble, his window to the world. All the people he saw in their daily life caught his eye.
"I'm so hungry...for souls!" he said, eyeing the people hungrily. "I'll make this universe mine. But souls taste better with a touch of misery." He chuckled. "I would like to make the take over to my amusement. But first I must eliminate the possible obstacle." His bubble showed the image of a large mountain surrounded by plains. "Oracle Peak."
Nessuro ordered Neil to go to his room and made sure he locked the boy in it. He created a black portal that took him directly to Oracle Peak. It seemed that the Oracle was expecting him, for he and his other magical friends were there, ready to attack him. Creatures of all forms and sizes, magicians, and strong warriors. They all oppose him. Nessuro only laughed mockingly at them. Alone, his power overwhelmed the Oracle and all of his allies. The young boy enjoyed every moment of it as he made all of them his slaves. He send all but one to the forest to await his commands. The one who stayed was Black Magician, who Nessuro send to Prince Umi's palace for a special assignment. Then Nessuro returned to his castle and watched what the Oracle was doing.
"Yes." he said to himself. "One second is all it takes for everything to fall apart."
He watched from his seat as Black Magician snuck into the kitchen inside the palace and dropped poison on one of the plates. Nessuro saw all that happened. He sat back and watched as that very same plate was given to Kotao's king during supper. When the king ate, it didn't take long for the poison to take effect and kill him. Queen Emi shrieked so loud she made baby Cerulean cry from his mother's arms.
"Treason!" she yelled, knocking her chair over when she stood up. "Isamu, you and your wife planned this all along!!"
"No, please, they would never do that!" Umi pleaded to her.
"Umi." King Isamu called, silencing him. "Take your brother and leave the room. We'll meet you later."
"Zukoi, take Ryu away from here." Queen Emi said. "Go back to the carriage."
Umi took the baby from his mother's arms and left the dinning room glancing back at Hiroshi. Hiroshi grabbed his brother's hand and left the opposite way, also glancing back worriedly at his friend.
No matter how much Isamu and his wife tried to calm her, Emi wouldn't hear them.
"Isamu, I'll make sure this crime doesn't go unpunished!"
Nessuro smirked from his position. It would soon begin.
And it did. Only a few months later, Queen Emi declared war and attacked Taokao. Nessuro saw it all with glee as the town was attacked first. Houses burned and people died in the chaos. The image on his bubble moved over the sceneary, but stopped when a certain little figure caught his eye. It was none other than Kage with a warrior's armor. He was in front of Koneko's bakery, which was engulfed in flames, ready to go inside.
"Koneko!" he yelled. "Can you hear me?!"
Nessuro thought for a moment. "Hmm, I see."
He unlocked Neil from his room and the boy awaited his command. Nessuro showed him the images in the bubble.
"Neil, bring her to me."
"Y-yes, sir."
"And don't try anything stupid. I'm watching you."
Nessuro created a black portal that took Neil directly into the bakery. Nessuro's black magic protected him from the heat of the flames. He easily found the unconscious Koneko and brought her back to his master. When Kage arrived, all he found where the remains and ashes of Koneko's parents and grandmother.
Nessuro chuckled. "I saw her first, Kage."
*FLASH*
The last of the memories went by faster. Yugi saw as Nessuro kept Koneko as his slave like Neil. When he reached the teen age, even the demon couldn't resist the boy's hormones whenever Koneko was near and did unspeakable things to her. During one of his brother's activities, Neil snuck out of the castle and headed to Oracle Peak. His brother, however, noticed his absense and watched his movements from where he was with Koneko.
Neil reached whatever was left of Oracle Peak and found a lone survivor. Mana! The Oracle's apprentice was the only magical being left alive. He sought her help desperately remembering how everyone with serious trouble went to find the Oracle. Still, he blamed the Oracle for what became of his brother. Mana calmed him as much as she could.
"I've been having this vision ever since your brother was born." she said. "I know it means something."
Mana then recited to Neil her own vision, which she called the Prophecy of Light. She told him of a saviour from another world who would come and save their universe. It also turned out she was a better poem reciter than her master.
"This saviour of light is no ordinary person. He is indeed an earthbound angel. To find someone like that is ultra rare in the mortal realms. He will free us all."
This brought new hope for Neil, who left the mountain in a hurry and reached Umi's palace. He snuck in so no one saw him and found Kage. He told him about Nessuro. Kage was enraged at first that Nessuro had caused the war, but Neil told him about the Prophecy of Light. Kage would spread the word to his other friends. Still, Neil didn't mention about Koneko in Nessuro's grasp. Kage thought she was dead and it would hurt him even more to know what Nessuro had been doing to her.
When Neil returned to the castle, Nessuro was waiting for him. The boy was tortured for leaving without permission.
Nessuro was curious about this earthbound angel Mana talked about. He tried to track the Oracle's apprentice down, but she disappeared from Oracle Peak. The war progressed with the years. Just a year before Yugi's arrival, Nessuro sold Koneko to Max, one of his parents' partners in the gold business. When the saviour arrived at Max's place, Nessuro watched everything from his throne room. He knew about Yugi from the moment he had come.
Then...it was over...
*FLASH*
When Yugi woke back up, he blinked his eyes rapidly to clear his vision. He was back floating in black space.
"Whoa! What was that all about?"
He glanced up to see Nessuro's soul was no longer sitting in front of him. The soul was now curled up into a ball hugging his knees. The transparent body was inside a bubble of black flames like the one Yugi was in when he had first woken up in the dark place. Nessuro's aqua green eyes stared blankly at Yugi from over his knees.
"Nessuro!" Yugi called.
Nessuro's lips moved, but it wasn't his voice that spoke.
"It's too late."
To Be Continued...
Saiyan Moon Goddess: Cool! It took me only 2 days to write this! Just 2 chapters to go. I might be little bit slower on the next chapter because I have college work. But as soon as that is over, the next chapter should be up next week! Don't miss it!
NEXT TIME: Yugi and Nessuro take a trip to the mountains! No, seriously, they do! It's time for the final battle for the freedom of the alternate universe! And Yugi's friends aren't about to miss it! However, saving an universe will not come cheap. What will Yugi have to do to stop the madness once and for all? What will he have to give in exchange for one life?
NEXT CHAPTER: ~Chapter 19: A Price to Pay~
Oh, and don't worry about Yugi. He'll be back before this chapter ends.
To Red Dragon Of Egypt: It's a common mistake made by people because of the American version of Yugioh. Yugi lives with his grandpa AND his mother. But Mrs. Mouto is cut off in the edited version of the series for an unknown reason. Yugi is not exactly an orphan. However, his father is not mentioned not even in the manga. Nothing is known of him.
**ALTERNATE DOUBLES**
*From Saiyan Moon Goddess (OC/s)*
1. Koneko - Marlene/Saiyan Moon Goddess (18 years old)
*From Yu-Gi-Oh!*
1. Nessuro - Yugi (18 years old)
2. Neil - Yami (16 years old)
3. Prince Umi - Ryou (19 years old)
4. Prince Cerulean - Bakura (9 years old)
5. Prince Zukoi/Hiroshi - Marik (20 years old)
6. Prince Ryu - Malik (the yami) (10 years old)
7. Max - Pegasus
8. Korosu - Bandit Keith
9. Jono - Jou
10. Amaya - Anzu
11. Queen Emi - Mai
12. King Isamu - Ryou's Father
*From Yu Yu Hakusho*
1. Kage - Hiei (18 years old)
2. Zorro - Kurama
3. Akira - Botan
4. Maki - Koenma
5. Iwa - Kuwabara
6. Jin - Jin
7. Yuke - Yuseke
8. Yasu - Yukina
/mind talk/
"talk"
'thoughts'
~Alternate Universe Twist~ by Saiyan Moon Goddess
~Chapter 18: My Inner Demon~
*FLASH*
Ages
Nessuro: 6
Neil: 4
The scene changed again before Yugi's eyes. A noise woke up Nessuro from his nap and he looked up from his futon inside his cell. His breath came out like white smoke and he shivered from cold. He saw his little brother kneeling on the other side of the barred doors. The little boy gave him a mischievious grin.
"Ohayo, oniisan!" he said.
Nessuro smiled softly at him. Despite his parents telling Neil horrible things about him, the little boy let his childish curiosity take over him and visited his brother often. The kid saw no demon in him and looked up to him. The two became close behind their parents' backs as Neil became Nessuro's reason to live on with his sanity intanct.
"Oniisan, I got a present for you!" said Neil. "Look!" He handed Nessuro a blue flower. "A flower that only blooms in winter! I got it just for you!"
"Thanks, Neil." Nessuro said holding the flower to his heart. "I don't know where I would be without you."
"I got you more blankets in case it gets colder down here. Did you get another rat bite?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Great! I finally convinced mama and papa to let you out."
Nessuro's eyes widened. Let him out, for real? Neil had been begging his parents to let his brother out into the open, saying he must be bored in his cell. The parents always refused and kept that decision for 2 years.
"Really?" Nessuro looked at him startled.
"Yeah! I'll take you into town! The servants are buying food in the markets for winter, and we're going with them. Let's have fun together! Just you and me!" Nessuro nodded, which made the little one happier.
A servant came later with the key to the cell and let Nessuro out. Neil stayed with him the entire time and tackled his big brother into a hug once he came out. She explained that her master gave orders not to leave Nessuro alone with Neil and not let Nessuro out of her sight. But a wink and smile from her let them know she was on their side. Neil took Nessuro to his room and the woman gave them both warm clothes to go outside. Nessuro felt weird in them. He had gotten used to rags.
Nessuro and Neil went to town to buy food with the servants. Nessuro was nervous and held his brother's hand the entire time. He hadn't been let out of the dungeons for 4 years and the only people he had seen were the servants. He felt utterly lost there like a deer in a snake pit.
While nobody was looking, the boys sneaked away. Neil led the elder brother into a small bakery, where they saw all kinds of delicious treats. The sight and smell of fresh bake made Nessuro's stomach growl and his mouth water. He remembered trying those sweet treats as Neil sneaked them to the dungeons for him whenever he got the chance.
"They make the best cakes here!" Neil said. "Let's try some!"
They reached into a basket of baguettes, only to get hit with a long wooden spoon. They yelped and rubbed their hands, and glanced up to see a girl with long blonde hair tied in a pony tail and grey eyes. She took a good look at the expensive clothes they wore and frowned.
"Naughty boys, don't you touch grandmama's baguettes without paying first!" she said, waving her spoon at them. "I don't care how rich you are!"
The boys smiled sheepishly and apologized. Still, Nessuro couldn't help but stare, and blush. He had never seen a girl before, looking at her made him feel funny inside. Accepting the apology, the girl turned friendly and smiled brightly, welcoming them to her grandma's bakery.
"My name is Koneko." She curtsied at them. "And yours?"
Nessuro was too nervous, so Neil spoke for him. "My name is Neil, and this is my oniisan, Nessuro."
"I'm happy to meet you." Koneko smiled at Nessuro. "You have the cutest little brother, sir."
Nessuro turned redder. "Uh, you can...call me Nessuro...Yeah, Nessuro's okay."
Neil noticed the look in his brother's eyes and grinned wider. He immediately invited Koneko to play with them. Anything to make Nessuro happy. He deserved it. Koneko accepted but only with her caretaker's permission.
"Grandmama!" she called into the back of the bakery. "May I go out and play?"
"Alright, but be back to help me decorate the cakes!" came an eldery voice from the kitchen.
Koneko took off her apron putting on a coat, scarf, and hat. The three left the bakery to play. Most of the time they just ran around town. In the winter season, it wasn't that lively around, but Koneko brought some warm cookies with her and Neil bought some hot chocolate with the money his parents trusted him with...and some he had taken from the servants' pockets. Nessuro had never had so much fun in his life. He loved every second of it and didn't want to go back home anytime soon.
When they crossed a busy street, a luxurious white carriage almost ran over them. The horses came to a halt with loud whines and they almost knocked the carriage over. The rider scolded the children and continued his way. As the carriage passed, they saw a kid with ocean blue hair and kind brown eyes poke his head out the window. He smiled and waved at them. Koneko curtsied like she did Nessuro and Neil before, only lower. The boys stared.
"That was Prince Umi." said Koneko. "Grandmama told me to bow at royalty."
Nessuro had learned yet more new things as the day passed. The children kept playing until the servants came for Nessuro and Neil. Koneko said her goodbyes and returned to the bakery. Nessuro's smile wavered at the thought of returning to the cold dungeons but thinking of all the good things that happened in his day gave him more hope. At home, his mother said nothing to him but wretched Neil away from him with a glare. She told the woman servant watching over him to take him to his cage.
*FLASH*
Nessuro: 6
Koneko: 6
Neil: 4
Another scene change. Ever since that wintery day, Neil could only convince his parents to let Nessuro out if they were home. And they weren't home that often because of important business. But the little boy managed to steal the cell key from his father's room and free his brother when they weren't around. It wasn't that hard, seeing his parents never bothered to check on Nessuro or anything that concerned him. Nessuro and Neil stayed friends with Koneko and invited her to play every day.
Once, during town, they saw a royal carriage pass, but it was different from the first they had seen. The boys were confused. so Koneko explained it to them.
"Grandmama said our neighbor king and queen from Kotao are coming to visit with their son. They always have dinner with our king and queen once a month and they bring their son Prince Zukoi. But the prince visits once or twice a week. Our Prince Umi and him are good friends."
"Let's follow it." Neil said.
Nessuro stared down at his feet. He felt if he even glanced at the blonde girl, he would freeze and blush like he always did. He would think he had got used to her presence by now.
"Nessuro?"
"Yes, Koneko?"
"Where is Neil?"
That's when he noticed his little brother was missing. He forgot about his embarrassment and searched for the boy, but didn't see him anywhere. A cold feeling in the pit of his stomach grew. What if something happened to him? He couldn't bare it...
"There he is!" Koneko cried.
The boy looked back at the royal carriage and his aqua green eyes widened. It was little Neil who was holding on to the underside of the carriage, which was approaching the palace grounds. Nessuro and Koneko ran after it. They were too late though, for the carriage passed through the entrance and the gold gates closed behind it. There were two men guarding the entrance. Nessuro and Koneko pleaded for the guards to let them pass, but even when they told him about their missing friend they refused. They thought the children were just playing some kind of prank on them and ignored their pleas all together. So they left the entrance. Yet, unwilling to give up, Nessuro suggested they climbed the wall into the palace grounds. Koneko wasn't very happy about the idea, but they had to get Neil back before he was found out.
The children went far from the gold gates and climbed up the wall. Nessuro had a bit of trouble, for it was Neil who was used to things like those, but Koneko helped him out. She explained that she had once explored mountains with her uncle and they climbed a lot. At the top they looked for any trouble, and they saw no one around. They leaped off the wall and landed in an immense garden. Nessuro had never seen so much fauna beauty in his life. Flowers of all colors, trees of all sizes, and their perfume-like scent filled the air. Koneko was nervous.
"We're going to get in trouble." she said.
"Let's just find him and get out of here." Nessuro said and she nodded.
Nessuro took Koneko's hand, trying not to blush at the contact. But their moment was short-lived.
"Hey! What are you doing here, trasspassers?!" a voice shouted.
A boy their age jumped out of the nearest bush and stood in a fighting stance. He had spiky black hair and deep blue eyes hardened in concentration as he held a knife in front of him, ready to attack if necessary. Nessuro and Koneko shook frightened. They had been discovered already! If the guards came for them...
"Wait, please!" Koneko said. "We don't mean harm."
"Yeah, we're trying to find my otouto." said Nessuro.
They told the boy about how they lost Neil and they wanted to find him without causing trouble. After a moment of suspicion, the boy relaxed and put the knife back in the sheath tied around his waist. Nessuro and Koneko let out a sigh of relief.
"Alright, I'll help you find him, but we must do it before otousan finds out. He is His Majesty's personal bodyguard and will tell him anything that's happening."
"Thank you, sir." said Koneko.
"No, please, my name is Kage. Who are you?"
"I'm Koneko; this is my friend Nessuro. And Neil is his brother."
"Okay, follow me, Koneko, Nessuro."
With the help of Kage, the kids sneaked around the palace and got inside through the servants entrance. Kage knew every corner of the place well. They went by unnoticed by the guards and went to where the carriages were kept. Kage stood guard while Koneko and Nessuro searched all the carriages. Neil was nowhere to be found. Nessuro started panicking.
"What if they got him?!"
"Don't worry." Kage told them. "If he's not here, I know where he might be now. Follow me."
Nessuro and Koneko were confused but followed the dark-haired boy anyway. Kage snuck them through a different hall and up a long set of stairs, sometimes pausing because his companions stared at every wonder they laid eyes on. A palace is indeed nothing like the town where they lived. Not ever the castle where Nessuro and Neil lived in was that luxurious. Kage stopped when they reached the destination he wanted.
"Where are we, Kage?" Nessuro asked him.
"This is Prince Umi's room. He can help us and the king and queen won't find out."
That only made the children more nervous. They were about to meet the young blue-haired prince they had seen in town that wintery day. In person, no less. They held hands as comfort to each other as Kage led them inside. To their utter shock, there was Neil was playing with Prince Umi and another boy dressed in royal robes with blonde spiky hair and sky blue eyes. Kage bowed to them both, and Koneko and Nessuro did the same. Neil tackled his brother with a hug saying how much fun he was having. That didn't stop Nessuro from scolding the little one, though.
"You could've been hurt! Do you realize how scared I was?"
Neil looked down sadly, accepting his words. "I'm sorry, oniisan."
"Please, don't run off like that again. I couldn't bare it if something happened to you."
They tiny Yami-lookalike grinned and gave him a peace sign. "I promise."
"I apologize, Your Majesty." Koneko said to Prince Umi. "I hope Neil didn't cause you much trouble."
"There is no need for apologies, miss." said Prince Umi. "Hiroshi and I had much fun playing with him. It was delightful to have a new kid come over."
"Hiroshi, sir?" Koneko gasped as she recognized the face. "Your Majesty, Prince Zukoi."
The blonde prince blushed looking embarrassed. "Please, miss, call me Hiroshi. It's enough that my mother gave me that name."
Introductions were made and the children got along pretty well. Umi and Hiroshi loved the company for Kage was the only other boy their age in the palace they could play with. At Umi's orders, Nessuro, Neil, and Koneko were allowed to visit his palace. Along with Hiroshi and Kage, the children had fun together every time. They all became friends. Nessuro was at last truly happy. He had friends to trust, more reasons for him to live on. Not even the cell he was forced to live in ruined his good mood. Though he acted depressed whenever his parents looked coldly at him for fear they would find out of what he and Neil had been doing.
*FLASH*
Nessuro: 9
Koneko: 9
Neil: 7
Kage: 9
Umi: 10
Hiroshi: 11
Nessuro's bond with Neil and his friends was stronger, as well as his crush for Koneko, so strong it made his heart beat fast. So far he was too shy to tell her how he felt.
Another morning....another rat to wake you up...
"AHHH!!!"
"Oniisan, did it bite you?"
"N-no..."
During a game of hide-and-seek in the palace gardens, Nessuro went as far as he could to hide. He saw a part of the palace he had never seen before. It was an old abandonded corner, not even the beauty of the garden reached it. Curious, he walked farther and saw what looked like a small abandoned chapel with chains around the entrance door and the windows covered in nailed wooden bars. He thought it was a perfect place to hide and squeezed through a hole in the wall. Inside there wasn't much. Just some old seats covered in dirt and dust and an altar with a broken angel statue over it. Nessuro studied the angel statue. It was holding a sword with a broken tip and the right wing was also broken.
The boy took two steps toward the statue when the wooden floor gave out under him. Nessuro yelled as he fell down the hole. His face hit hard wood on impact. Nessuro shakily pushed himself up to his knees, whimpering. Coppery taste filled his tongue and he touched his lips. He broke his nose and split his lower lip in the fall; his hands and face were covered in tiny scratches.
"Ow..." He looked around. "Where am I?"
He found himself inside a new, darker room. The small ray of light from the hole he made allowed him to see very little. In fact, the only thing visible to him at the moment was another statue. He looked up at the angel statue from above and turned back to the new one. This one was right under the angel. The statue held the image of a monstrous creature. Like the angel, this one was also broken, but in half. The upper half lay on the floor while the lower half stayed standing. Nessuro shivered as he felt the demon's eyes staring at him. The atmosphere around him was as cold as ice, which puzzled him since it was spring outside.
/A visitor?/
Nessuro jumped surprised and fell back on his butt. "Who's there?"
/Hmmm...it has been so many centuries. Anyone would wish to stretch their limbs...if they had any. Wouldn't you agree, little boy?/
Nessuro gulped. "Please, show yourself."
/Oh, patience, child. Let's see.../
Nessuro gasped as a quick sharp pain gripped the back of his head.
/Ahhh...For a child, you bare a large weight on your shoulders. Emotions that most children wouldn't worry about./
"W-what do you mean?"
/I feel pain, delicious pain from you./
Nessuro's eyes widened. Images flashed before his eyes. He saw his parents' cold stares, the way they treated him, and he saw his cage.
/Ugh! You have other emotions that sour up the sweet taste. Is that love?/
Again, he saw faces, smiling faces of his friends, his little brother, and Koneko...
/How amusing. You're confused. You hesitate on the love you feel for that little girl. If only love wasn't in the way, I would be able to make you mine./
"Stop reading my mind!" Nessuro shouted. "And what do you mean by making me yours?!"
/You'll see, but you don't have to understand now. I'll open the door for you./
The room shook violently, and the floor cracked and broke under his feet. He moved before he fell again and watched as a new hole formed. Black flames shot out from it, then disappeared back into the void. Curious, Nessuro looked into hole. He saw nothing but darkness. A pair of red eyes glowed in the distance, then got closer at an alarming speed. Once it became visible he saw a creature resembling the demon statue coming toward him. He tried to back off, but he fell through the hole, toward the demon's waiting claws. He felt his body grow dangerously cold.
"AAAAHHHHH!!!!"
"Nessuro, wake up!!"
Nessuro woke up in Koneko's arms, Neil beside him crying. He was surrounded by his friends. Looking around he saw he was still in the dark room. The demon statue was in pieces, and the floor under him was intact.
"What happened?" he asked.
"We've been looking all day for you." Koneko said. "Umi even had guards searching the palace. Kage said the area was strictly forbidden, but we came in here and found you, convulsing on the floor. No matter what we tried, you wouldn't wake up."
"Oniisan!" Neil hugged him tightly and soaking his chest with tears. "I was so scared!"
"I'm alright, Neil." Nessuro pat the kid on the back. "Really, I'll be fine."
"No, you're not!" Koneko protested. "Seizures aren't normal. You almost scared us to death, Nessuro!"
"We are taking you to the healer right now." said Prince Umi.
"What happened to the statue?" said Nessuro.
"I broke it." Kage said, glaring at the rubble of stone. "This place is cursed."
"Are you well enough to stand, my friend?" Hiroshi asked.
"Here. Let me help you."
Kage helped Nessuro walk as they left the chapel. Neil clung to his brother's arm the entire time. Everyone stole worried glances at Nessuro, and kept asking questions of his wellfare while they went through the palace halls. On their way, they encountered Queen Emi and Umi's mother, the queen of Taokao. Mai's lookalike carried a toddler is her arms who resembeled Hiroshi only his hair was spikier and Umi's mother sported a few months-old pregnant belly. Emi looked disapprovingly at Umi and Hiroshi's friends, mainly at Kage and Koneko.
"Why, my son?" she said. "How many times have I told you not to take place among these commoners?"
"But, mother." Hiroshi protested. "They are my friends."
"Excuses, excuses." Emi said, raising her nose high. "I hope my little Ryu doesn't turn out like his brother."
Umi's mother looked at the children kindly and kissed her son on the forehead. Then she followed Queen Emi the direction the kids had come from. The children made their way into the healer's room. Nessuro was checked. His nose and lip were cleaned as were his scratches. Upon further examination, no infection was found from the few rat bites he had, just some rash on his hands and feet. But that wasn't what caused the seizure, he had no idea what did.
The children returned to the garden, which was light up with fireflies. Koneko's eyes lighted up.
"Grandmama always told me if you catch a firefly, make a wish, and let it go, your wish comes true. Let's try it!"
As they began catching the glowing insects, Nessuro whispered to Kage secretly.
"Kage, why was that chapel cursed?"
"That's the chapel where Prince Umi's great grandparents got married." Kage said. "Unfortunately, they found that hidden room under the altar the day of the wedding, where they discovered people dressed in black adoring a demon god. After that, the chapel was closed and the demon followers were executed. No one's allowed near that place since. They say the demon they adored is able to come to life, take over a human life, and feed on souls."
Nessuro understood and asked no more questions. Each kid caught a firefly, except Neil who was so excited he caught three. They all gathered around and sat on the grass.
"What kind of wish can we make?" Hiroshi said.
"Hiroshi and I have everything people from the town desire." Umi said.
"Mama and papa are very rich." Neil said. "What could we wish for?"
"Love..." Nessuro muttered.
"What did you say, Nessuro?" Kage asked.
"Nothing."
"Let's wish that we'll always be friends, no matter what!" Koneko said. "We make this a promise."
"Great idea!" Nessuro smiled at her.
"Friends forever!" Koneko cried out happily, letting her firefly go.
"Friends forever!"
At their shout, the fireflies were released and they flew freely away.
"Let nothing in the universe break our bond." Umi said.
They all agreed and shared hugs and handshakes, Koneko getting her hand kissed by the boys. Watching her, Nessuro suddenly got an idea. He caught another firefly, planning on a new wish. He planned to wish Koneko to love him. But he hesitated. It wouldn't be fair that she loved him because of a wish. So he just wished her happiness and was about to let the bug go. He looked up to smile at the blonde girl and gasped in shock. Koneko was stealing shy glances at Kage. When it was his turn to kiss her hand, she kissed his cheek. They both blushed. Nessuro froze where he stood.
"Oniisan!"
At Neil's call, Nessuro looked down at his hands and saw a squashed firefly. His vision blurred as he heard a voice laughing in his head.
/Perhaps this will be sooner than expected./
The last thing Nessuro heard was Neil calling him before the world around him went black.
*FLASH*
Nessuro: 9
Koneko: 9
Neil: 7
Kage: 9
Umi: 10
Hiroshi: 11
Ryu: 1
Nessuro waited for Neil to come to his cell. The child sneaked into the dungeons soon enough with the key and freed his brother. Then they went to Neil's room and Nessuro changed into the best clothes he could find. He checked himself in a mirror while Neil watched him from his bed.
"So what are you planning, oniisan?" Neil said. "You asked me to invite Koneko over. Mama and papa haven't left yet. What if they find you out?"
"This is very important to me, Neil." Nessuro said. "Mama and papa are on the other side of the castle. I need you to keep anyone from coming near Koneko and I."
"Okay." Neil handed him a few violets. "Here's the flowers you asked for."
Nessuro thanked him and left to the garden to meet with Koneko, talking to himself.
"Ok, I tell her today, no interruptions or delays. I just hope I'm not too late."
He paused to take a knife from the kitchen. The sun was setting and there could be wolves outside.
Nessuro and Koneko met outside Nessuro's large castle under the sunset, the sky darkening by the minute. Koneko asked him about his reason to call her over and Nessuro offered the violets to her. She took them and took in the sweet fragrance, which made her smile
"I couldn't bring myself to say it at first, but I feel...attracted to you." he said. "More than a friend would. And I hoped," He kissed her hand. "that you might share those feelings."
Koneko took her hand back looking surprised. Her smile vanished and she looked sad.
"I'm sorry, Nessuro." she said. "I don't want to hurt your heart, but I already share those feelings with Kage. I-I'm sorry. I didn't know..."
Yugi felt Nessuro's heart breaking at that announcement. The boy looked away so Koneko couldn't see his tears, and at the corner of his eye he saw her looking away too out of respect for his feelings. He heard the voice laughing in his head again. He touched his forehead.
"W-wha..." Nessuro began feeling dizzy.
/It's too sweet for words! It makes me stronger.../
Nessuro suddenly lost control of his body. Yugi could still see through his eyes and saw him leap at Koneko and punch her. He ignored her cries of pain and beat her until she bled. Neil came out of nowhere and grabbed his brother's arm trying to stop him.
"Oniisan, please stop! Why are you hitting Koneko? You're hurting her!"
Nessuro backhanded him and threw him to the ground, forgetting about the girl. Neil whimpered and stared up at his brother in fear and surprise.
"So you betray me as well!" He yelled, but it wasn't Nessuro's voice. "I should've never trusted you!"
Nessuro left Koneko and started beating little Neil instead. The boy cried and pleaded for him to stop, but that only made Nessuro angrier. Koneko tried to hold him back but it was no use. She cried out for help. It didn't take long for Nessuro and Neil's parents to come over with a bunch of their servants behind them. The mother screamed at what she saw.
"Demon child! My baby!"
Nessuro was roughly pulled appart from Neil as his mother tended to him and the servants helped Koneko.
The father dragged Nessuro back to the dungeons. He could've almost rip his arm off in the process. They boy was thrown to the stone floor in front of his cage. The father never let go of his clothes and the top was ripped off, leaving his back and chest bare. Nessuro heard a soft whistle-like noise in the air and looked up to see his father holding a whip. His eyes widened.
"You have gone too far this time, demon!" the father shouted. "You're too dangerous to live!"
The man whipped the boy's bare back savagely. Nessuro's shrieks of pain echoed through the castle. His backside was soon covered in deep slashes, bleeding badly. Nessuro turned around to face his father.
"N-no...s-stop, p-please...AHH!!"
His father took the opportunity to whip his chest. Even as the child fell over, he wouldn't stop, not until he saw the demon bleed to his death. Yugi felt his pain as the tip of the weapon cut deep into the skin. When Nessuro began to black out from pain and bloodloss, he heard a voice calling out and could've sworn he saw a little boy running into the dungeons.
"Papa, no! Don't hurt him!"
When he regained his senses, he saw Neil holding onto him and blocking their father's whip. Neil didn't mind his brother's blood soaking his clothes. Their mother stood a few feet away from her husband, sobbing.
"Don't hurt oniisan! He didn't mean it!"
"Neil, get away from him!" the mother cried. "Don't let that monster decieve you!"
"We should've dealt with him years ago!" the father said angrily. "My son, this is for your own good! Now stand aside!"
"No!"
The father succeeded in pulling a screaming little boy off Nessuro. Nessuro's eyes suddenly glowed red and he took out the kitchen knife he had hidden in his pants. He took father's distraction to slash his neck with it. His father staggered back, choking and gurggling on his own blood, then fell over. The mother saw everything and screamed in terror, giving Nessuro enough time to tackle her and stab her through the heart. Both parents died in a puddle of blood.
Neil froze from his spot on the floor. Aqua green eyes stared at the lifeless bodies of his parents. He was in shock for a few seconds.
"MAMA! PAPA!"
Neil tried to go over to the corpses, but Nessuro was quicker and grabbed him, holding him back. At first he held his little brother as the child cried on his shoulder. The boy pulled back Neil by his hair and held the bloody blade to his little neck.
"O-o-oniisan....why...?" Neil's eyes were red from tears and his face was tearstained.
"They were nothing but scum." Nessuro whispered, making the kid shiver. "However, you might prove useful. From now on, you will obey me and only me without question, or I swear I'll make you see hell itself until you go blind from crying BLOOD!! Am I understood, otouto?"
Neil was too terrified of his sibling to answer. He reduced his cries to soft whimpers and shivers.
"I'll take that as a yes." Nessuro let Neil fall to the floor. "Now don't move from this place until I return."
Nessuro left the boy on the floor with the two corpses and left the dungeons. Nessuro held his knife tight, planning on eliminating all the servants in the castle.
*FLASH*
Nessuro: 10
Neil: 8
Koneko: 10
Kage: 10
Umi: 11
Hiroshi: 12
Ryu: 2
Cerulean: few months
Nessuro redecorated his castle and made the biggest room his throne room. He had Neil kneeling beside his large chair waiting for his next command. Nessuro watched both kingdoms of Taokao and Kotao from his floating bubble, his window to the world. All the people he saw in their daily life caught his eye.
"I'm so hungry...for souls!" he said, eyeing the people hungrily. "I'll make this universe mine. But souls taste better with a touch of misery." He chuckled. "I would like to make the take over to my amusement. But first I must eliminate the possible obstacle." His bubble showed the image of a large mountain surrounded by plains. "Oracle Peak."
Nessuro ordered Neil to go to his room and made sure he locked the boy in it. He created a black portal that took him directly to Oracle Peak. It seemed that the Oracle was expecting him, for he and his other magical friends were there, ready to attack him. Creatures of all forms and sizes, magicians, and strong warriors. They all oppose him. Nessuro only laughed mockingly at them. Alone, his power overwhelmed the Oracle and all of his allies. The young boy enjoyed every moment of it as he made all of them his slaves. He send all but one to the forest to await his commands. The one who stayed was Black Magician, who Nessuro send to Prince Umi's palace for a special assignment. Then Nessuro returned to his castle and watched what the Oracle was doing.
"Yes." he said to himself. "One second is all it takes for everything to fall apart."
He watched from his seat as Black Magician snuck into the kitchen inside the palace and dropped poison on one of the plates. Nessuro saw all that happened. He sat back and watched as that very same plate was given to Kotao's king during supper. When the king ate, it didn't take long for the poison to take effect and kill him. Queen Emi shrieked so loud she made baby Cerulean cry from his mother's arms.
"Treason!" she yelled, knocking her chair over when she stood up. "Isamu, you and your wife planned this all along!!"
"No, please, they would never do that!" Umi pleaded to her.
"Umi." King Isamu called, silencing him. "Take your brother and leave the room. We'll meet you later."
"Zukoi, take Ryu away from here." Queen Emi said. "Go back to the carriage."
Umi took the baby from his mother's arms and left the dinning room glancing back at Hiroshi. Hiroshi grabbed his brother's hand and left the opposite way, also glancing back worriedly at his friend.
No matter how much Isamu and his wife tried to calm her, Emi wouldn't hear them.
"Isamu, I'll make sure this crime doesn't go unpunished!"
Nessuro smirked from his position. It would soon begin.
And it did. Only a few months later, Queen Emi declared war and attacked Taokao. Nessuro saw it all with glee as the town was attacked first. Houses burned and people died in the chaos. The image on his bubble moved over the sceneary, but stopped when a certain little figure caught his eye. It was none other than Kage with a warrior's armor. He was in front of Koneko's bakery, which was engulfed in flames, ready to go inside.
"Koneko!" he yelled. "Can you hear me?!"
Nessuro thought for a moment. "Hmm, I see."
He unlocked Neil from his room and the boy awaited his command. Nessuro showed him the images in the bubble.
"Neil, bring her to me."
"Y-yes, sir."
"And don't try anything stupid. I'm watching you."
Nessuro created a black portal that took Neil directly into the bakery. Nessuro's black magic protected him from the heat of the flames. He easily found the unconscious Koneko and brought her back to his master. When Kage arrived, all he found where the remains and ashes of Koneko's parents and grandmother.
Nessuro chuckled. "I saw her first, Kage."
*FLASH*
The last of the memories went by faster. Yugi saw as Nessuro kept Koneko as his slave like Neil. When he reached the teen age, even the demon couldn't resist the boy's hormones whenever Koneko was near and did unspeakable things to her. During one of his brother's activities, Neil snuck out of the castle and headed to Oracle Peak. His brother, however, noticed his absense and watched his movements from where he was with Koneko.
Neil reached whatever was left of Oracle Peak and found a lone survivor. Mana! The Oracle's apprentice was the only magical being left alive. He sought her help desperately remembering how everyone with serious trouble went to find the Oracle. Still, he blamed the Oracle for what became of his brother. Mana calmed him as much as she could.
"I've been having this vision ever since your brother was born." she said. "I know it means something."
Mana then recited to Neil her own vision, which she called the Prophecy of Light. She told him of a saviour from another world who would come and save their universe. It also turned out she was a better poem reciter than her master.
"This saviour of light is no ordinary person. He is indeed an earthbound angel. To find someone like that is ultra rare in the mortal realms. He will free us all."
This brought new hope for Neil, who left the mountain in a hurry and reached Umi's palace. He snuck in so no one saw him and found Kage. He told him about Nessuro. Kage was enraged at first that Nessuro had caused the war, but Neil told him about the Prophecy of Light. Kage would spread the word to his other friends. Still, Neil didn't mention about Koneko in Nessuro's grasp. Kage thought she was dead and it would hurt him even more to know what Nessuro had been doing to her.
When Neil returned to the castle, Nessuro was waiting for him. The boy was tortured for leaving without permission.
Nessuro was curious about this earthbound angel Mana talked about. He tried to track the Oracle's apprentice down, but she disappeared from Oracle Peak. The war progressed with the years. Just a year before Yugi's arrival, Nessuro sold Koneko to Max, one of his parents' partners in the gold business. When the saviour arrived at Max's place, Nessuro watched everything from his throne room. He knew about Yugi from the moment he had come.
Then...it was over...
*FLASH*
When Yugi woke back up, he blinked his eyes rapidly to clear his vision. He was back floating in black space.
"Whoa! What was that all about?"
He glanced up to see Nessuro's soul was no longer sitting in front of him. The soul was now curled up into a ball hugging his knees. The transparent body was inside a bubble of black flames like the one Yugi was in when he had first woken up in the dark place. Nessuro's aqua green eyes stared blankly at Yugi from over his knees.
"Nessuro!" Yugi called.
Nessuro's lips moved, but it wasn't his voice that spoke.
"It's too late."
To Be Continued...
Saiyan Moon Goddess: Cool! It took me only 2 days to write this! Just 2 chapters to go. I might be little bit slower on the next chapter because I have college work. But as soon as that is over, the next chapter should be up next week! Don't miss it!
NEXT TIME: Yugi and Nessuro take a trip to the mountains! No, seriously, they do! It's time for the final battle for the freedom of the alternate universe! And Yugi's friends aren't about to miss it! However, saving an universe will not come cheap. What will Yugi have to do to stop the madness once and for all? What will he have to give in exchange for one life?
NEXT CHAPTER: ~Chapter 19: A Price to Pay~