C.N. April 2014: Digital Distraction Part 11

“For now.” Yami snapped at her. “We don’t know what these guys want, not really, or what they will try to get it.”

“We’ll get him back, Yami.” Joey promised the Pharaoh, “When’s that DimSoft thing again?”

“The boat leaves tomorrow night.” Yami continued pacing the room, going back and forth until Tristan was sure he was going to wear a groove into the floor. “But I told them I wasn’t going.”

“Obviously they didn’t take no for an answer.” Tristan scowled. “Who else got an invite?”

“Kari, Kaiba, beyond that...” Yami shrugged, not liking the fact he had such little information about Yugi’s kidnappers or the situation he was walking into.

“I have an invite.” Joey added to the list.

“So we know four guests at least.” Yami grouched.

“Well we’ll pull what we did at Duellist Kingdom.” Tea promised, “So you guys won’t be going alone.”

“That’s right.” Tristan pounded his hand with his fist, “And when we get there, we’re gunna find out where they’re holding Yugi and get him back.”

“And then I’ll make them regret ever laying a hand on him.” Yami agreed, his tone dark and vicious, causing the others to glance at each other nervously. They remembered how Yami had been when he had first awoken, little more than a bundle of psychotic, vengeful energy hiding within their friend. His voice now was a little too reminiscent of those days for their peace of mind.

“One step at a time, Yami.” Joey settled for saying, well aware that if they could get Yugi back, he would temper Yami’s mood and stop him from going too far where none of them could, “We have to get on the boat first.”

“Someone needs to tell Kari.” Yami growled out, still pacing, “Warn her. Ryou too. If it’s the Items they want, anyone who holds one is going to be a target.”

“I’ll do it.” Tea promised, watching the Pharaoh carefully, half expecting him to go do something insane. She wasn’t quite sure what that something was, or whether she should just let him get on with it, but she was expecting him to do something.

“Good.” Yami’s nod was short, sharp and dismissive. Tea tried not to get annoyed by it. It was only natural for Yami to be angry, but she wished he wouldn’t take it out on them. “Joey, Tristan, help me downstairs.”

It was an order and though it grated slightly, neither teen said anything. Instead they did as much as they could to help Yami clean up before Ojiisan got home. When he did his first reaction, thankfully, was to check on the safety of his grandsons rather than call the police.

Unfortunately they then had to tell him about what had happened. Solomon, after sitting and steadying his heart, started helping them clean up, leaving Tea to make the phone calls as they worked.

For Those We Love: Chapter 3 Intro

“Well...” Yugi sighed as she zipped up her backpack and looked around her room for any last items she might have missed, “I think that’s everything.”

Her voice echoed around the room and no audible reply answered her, but reassurance bounced down the link and she felt ghostly hands on her shoulders, steadying her and easing the nervousness coursing through her.

“Anesan...” Yugi breathed, wishing that they could talk. She knew her older sister could hear her and she could hear the spirit of the Puzzle’s words whenever she wasn’t in control of the body but they still couldn’t exchange words between them. Emotions and gestures, yes, but no words and with less than twelve hours until they reached Duelist Kingdom they needed to come up with some way of beating Pegasus.

There was still time to come up with a plan, but there wouldn’t be for much longer and Yugi was worried. She couldn’t and wouldn’t retract her offer to Jou. He needed to go and needed the money, but she couldn’t help but worry that if they failed, if they couldn’t beat Pegasus, he would continue his rampage against those she cared about.

It didn’t help that they just didn’t know enough to be able to plan properly. Pegasus knew how to use the Millennium Eye’s full powers and had already proved that he could use it’s abilities to read their mind turns in advance. He would know their plans the moment they did, making the upcoming Duel unwinnable. Unless, of course, they could find a way to block his mind reading.

She felt the ghostly hands leave her shoulders and her elder sister’s emotions retreat from her mind, guilt following her back into the Puzzle. Yugi winced, wishing she had been more careful about what she had been thinking. The spirit of the Puzzle felt horrible about letting her pride cost them the Duel against Pegasus in the first place.

Ennead: Ancient Bit: Part 15

Mana was nervous as she entered the Pharaoh’s bedchambers. Not because of where she was, or who she was talking to. The Pharaoh had been her friend since childhood and though she had to show the ‘proper’ respect in front of everyone else, when it was them alone, they could be more themselves.

No, the nervousness came from the Pharaoh, who was still recovering from the poison, which had taken three more doses of the antidote to leave her system entirely, asking for her to come alone to discuss recent events.

If the Pharaoh wanted to discuss what had happened with her and only her, Mana couldn’t help but worry that the Pharaoh had somehow learned about the lessons Ba-Khu-Ra had been giving her before she had left for Kul Elna and wanted to confront her before bringing the guards down on her head.

She knew she was being paranoid, but Mahad’s constant ranting about the ‘traitor,’ and how anyone who had associated with her and aided in the attempted assassination would lose their heads if he had his way was making her nervous.

She stepped into the bedchambers to find the Pharaoh was on her balcony, the one that overlooked the courtyard where the fight had taken place. As Mana stepped up cautiously, shutting the door most of the way behind her, the Pharaoh spoke up, her voice a little unsteady.

“Do you believe Ba-Khu-Ra is a traitor too?”

Mana paused to consider the question, wondering if she was expected to actually speak her mind, or just agree with the crowd.

“A simple yes or no would suffice.” The Pharaoh continued as she leaned against the railing, using it to support her weight instead of her still unsteady legs.

“May I speak my mind?” Mana asked her ruler, hoping for a positive answer.

“I would welcome it.” The Pharaoh snorted in reply, half turning to look at her.

“I think,” Mana started as she moved to her Pharaoh’s side, “That if Ba-Khu-Ra wanted you dead, she wouldn’t waste her time hiring mercenaries to kill you.”

“Finally.” The Pharaoh breathed, relief obvious, “Someone that agrees with me.”

“My Pharaoh?” Mana asked, confused.

“Everyone’s so focused on what the mercenary said, despite him admitting he never saw the face of the woman who hired him, that they’re blocking out any other options.” The Pharaoh pointed out, “I don’t believe she hired them for one simple reason.”

“Oh?” Mana asked, wondering if it was the same reason she could think of.

“If Ba-Khu-Ra wanted me dead, she wouldn’t hire someone to take me out with a quick acting poison.” The Pharaoh shrugged, “She’d do the deed herself, make it slow and painful and she would ensure that I knew every excruciating detail of why.”

“You are far too calm about that.” Mana wondered at the older teen.

“Sometimes it’s nice to know where the danger lies.” The Pharaoh explained, “At least with Ba-Khu-Ra I never had to worry about getting a dagger in the back. At least not after the first couple of months.” The Pharaoh sighed, “And if she wanted my demise, she had plenty of opportunities before she and Akhenaden went to Kul Elna. I was even alone with her the morning she left. Why not kill me then?”

“You believe someone’s making Ba-Khu-Ra the scapegoat.” Mana realized.

“Indeed.” The Pharaoh turned to look at her properly, “I’m no fool, Mana. I know what you and Ba-Khu-Ra were up to in your spare time and don’t bother lying about it.”

Mana, who had been about to try and cover her tracks closed her mouth.

“I want you to use those skills to find out who really hired those men and help me bring them to justice.” And clear Ba-Khu-Ra’s name was left unsaid but clear enough.

“My Pharaoh, what if it’s someone within the palace?” Mana asked, “Or one of your High Priests?”

“I highly suspect it is.” The Pharaoh grimaced, “Though once again I have no proof.”

“Akhenaden?” Mana yelped, before glancing around, double checking they couldn’t be overheard before continuing, “He wouldn’t be so foolish, surely? He’s already in disgrace.”

“My uncle stands to gain everything if I die.” The Pharaoh pointed out, “And by getting Ba-Khu-Ra blamed for the attempt, he removed a thorn from his side.”

“How do you want me to proceed?” Mana asked cautiously, well aware that Akhenaden could read minds, which made sneaking around him difficult at best.

“Carefully.” The Pharaoh’s reply made her smile slightly, “In the mean time I’m going to send a runner with a message for Ba-Khu-Ra. She needs to be made aware of the current situation. Preferably before Mahad arrives to arrest her.”

Ennead: Ancient Bit: Part 14

“Lord Mahad!” The High Priest in question looked up from his scroll to see a panicked looking noble, “It’s the Pharaoh! He’s…”

There was a loud explosion from outside, causing Mahad to rush over to a balcony. As the smoke cleared, he saw the Pharaoh, who was protecting Mana and looked like she was nursing an injury. She had summoned an armored knight of some kind and was facing down three men and three huge beasts. The guards who were supposed to be protecting the pair were sprawled all over the courtyard, unconscious or worse.

Mahad called his personal Ka beast forth and sent it down to help the Pharaoh, before racing out of the room and shooting down the stairs, reaching the courtyard in time to see his Magus of Illusion and the Pharaoh’s warrior take down the last of the men, leaving him conscious to answer questions.

“Who sent you?” The Pharaoh was demanding as Mahad joined her, her breathing rough and uneven, causing concern.

The man just spat at her, earning himself a punch from Mahad.

“I would answer his questions.” Mahad recommended, even as he wanted to punch the man’s lights out, “Because if I have to ask the dungeon keepers to get it out of you, you won’t survive it.”

“I’m not afraid of you. Or your torturers.” The failure of an assassin snorted, “And it won’t matter for long anyway.”

“What do you…” Mahad was cut off by a groan from the Pharaoh. Mana caught her as her legs gave out underneath her, her hand falling away from the wound as she passed out to reveal a dark purple vein like pattern spreading out from the still bleeding injury. “Poison!”

“Check him.” Mana snapped as the man chuckled vindictively, “A smart assassin keeps the antidote on them, just in case they get anything on them.”

Later Mahad would wonder how Mana knew that, but he didn’t waste the time now. Instead he moved to counter the man’s struggles as he tried to prevent Mahad searching him. It didn’t take the High Priest long to find a sealed clay jar with a liquid inside. “Is this it?” Mahad demanded as Mana tended to the Pharaoh as best she could.

“Is that what?” The merc smirked at Mahad, only to get a fist to his jaw.

“The antidote!” Mahad snarled, “Is this it?”

“Why would I tell you even if it was?” The mercenary asked, still grinning, “I’m dead any way you slice it and this way I take the target with…” The man stiffened and shut up as Seth, who had taken on the Millennium Rod just that morning stepped into the courtyard and took control of the man’s mind.

“Mahad?” Seth demanded, concerned as he beheld the scene.

“Is this the antidote?” Mahad asked the man again.

“Yes. You have to ingest it.” Seth forced him to answer. That was enough for the holder of the Millennium Ring, who cracked open the jar and tipped some into the Pharaoh’s mouth. He had to help her swallow but the moment she had her breathing evened out a little and the purple veins seemed to start receding.

“Who sent you?” Mana asked the man, knowing that Seth would force him to answer honestly.

“I was paid by a woman named Ba-Khu-Ra.”

Ennead: Ancient Bits: Part 13

Ba-Khu-Ra glowered at the pile of bodies that she had left behind. The guards that had attacked her hadn't stood a chance of actually killing her after she had called forth Diabound and now there was just one guard still breathing.

"Who ordered you to attack me?" Ba-Khu-Ra demanded with a scowl, Diabound squeezing the man in his grip, causing a pained cry to escape the royal guard.

He didn't answer, instead he focused on trying to struggle free of the naga like, stone skinned creature's grip. Ba-Khu-Ra let out a frustrated growl and gestured to Diabound who tightened his crushing grip enough for Ba-Khu-Ra to hear a crack and the guard to screech.

"Now, as I was saying, who's orders were you acting on?"

"The Pharaoh's!" The guard yelped, "It was Pharaoh's orders."

"What?" That Ba-Khu-Ra hadn't expected. Akhenaden's probably, Shada's maybe, hell even Mahad was a possibility, but the Pharaoh herself? Why would the Pharaoh, who had been her friend for years, order her death now? It didn't make any sense, especially after the Pharaoh had supported her in court and promised to ensure that she got her revenge on the man who had murdered her people.

"The Pharaoh ordered us to kill you." The guard gasped, his breath short and pained before he paused to cough up blood, causing Ba-Khu-Ra to grimace as she realized she had punctured one of his lungs and he probably wouldn't be able to talk too much longer. "And bury the evidence Kul Elna ever existed."

Ba-Khu-Ra froze. She wouldn't. The Pharaoh couldn't. She had promised! Promised! That the people of Kul Elna would get justice and the afterlife they deserved. There was no way...

‘Except the Pharaoh had lived a lie her entire life. What was this in comparison to pulling the wool over the eyes of all of Egypt?’

No, the Pharaoh wasn't like that. They were friends. The Pharaoh had tried to help her get justice for years. There was no way that she would suddenly turn on her like this. There had to be a good reason for it.

"When did he give you those orders?" Ba-Khu-Ra demanded, glowering at the man, even now keeping her friend's secret from the dying Guard, hoping to get something out of the man that would give lie to his belief.

"Our commander met with the Pharaoh and he ordered your death." The Guard replied, "Along with the destruction of what was left of the village. He didn't want the truth of the Millennium Items getting out."

‘Of course the Pharaoh wouldn't. She lived her entire life under the creed 'what's best for the people.' She was pretending to be her brother in order to prevent chaos and rioting amongst the rabble. Imagine the nightmare that admitting how the Millennium Items were created would cause amongst the commoners.’

Except the Pharaoh had shown no signs of wanting to kill her when they had left the palace to come here.

‘Had she not? She sent you out into the desert with a man who hated her and a group of guards who had been sent to aid him. If it hadn't been for us,’ The voices reminded her, ‘You would have been killed.’

"You lie." The Pharaoh had supported her, upheld her side, argued with her High Priests about what should be done about the problem Akhenaden had caused and now needed to fix.

"No, I don't." The guard replied, "After all, why would a low life piece of scum ever think the Pharaoh would truly turn against his family and High Priests? He was never on your side. He just played you."

Ba-Khu-Ra's anger flared at that and she made a gesture to Diabound that had the creature crush the guard, killing him slowly and painfully as she stalked away, looking for any other targets she could annihilate.

‘The Pharaoh supported you.’ The voices agreed, ‘But that support was in a closed court where the only people who had heard what had happened to Kul Elna were the High Priests, you and Pharaoh herself. She had practically ordered you to keep what had happened to yourself and hasn’t told Seth or Mana, despite the fact that both were High Priests in training.

There was no way someone who lived a lie in order to prevent the country descending into chaos would want this secret free amongst the rabble. It made sense that she would try to get rid of the evidence and the only person who knew the truth outside of her court.’

Ba-Khu-Ra didn’t want to agree, but she could see the truth behind the voices.

’The Pharaoh is just as bad as her uncle. She would take away our only chance of moving on. Would keep the truth a secret and allow us to wander Duat for eternity in order to keep her power.’ The voices continued, weaving around Ba-Khu-Ra as they did so, ‘She betrayed you. Wants you dead. Broke her promise. She will send more men to finish the job when she hears you survived. We could destroy her. We SHOULD destroy her. Alongside everyone else who dares to use the items that we paid with our blood and souls to create. We can give you that power. All you have to do in exchange is gather the Millennium Items so we can be free. Free from our slavery and imprisonment. Free to move on.’

She knew she shouldn’t listen. Mahad had tried to teach her to block them out so she didn’t have to, but they made too much sense and they wanted to help her. Wanted to give her the power to take down the entire rotten court.

And she would do it. She had only stayed her hand this long because she thought that by working within the palace she could help the Pharaoh make things better and get her revenge on the men who had ruined her home and her life.

But the Pharaoh was a liar and a backstabber. She was as bad as the rest of her family and she should pay, just like the others. In fact Ba-Khu-Ra would make her suffer first…

‘Well?’ The voices asked, ‘Will you accept our power?’

“Yes.” Ba-Khu-Ra nodded, “Yes, I will.”

  

Ennead: Ancient Bit: Part 6

“We could take a break if you want?” The Princess offered, easily able to see how frustrated her student was getting.

“No.” The thief grouched, glowering at the hieroglyphs. They were beginning to make sense, but it wasn’t as easy as she had thought it would be. She was actually embarrassed at the amount of trouble she was having. The Princess made it look so easy, but then the eleven year old had learned to read and write at a much younger age, mostly by sneaking into her brother’s lessons. “I’m going to get this.”

Doing so would make breaking in and out of tombs so much easier. She would be able to read the warnings that the architects had left for themselves so they could avoid traps. She would also be able to work out what scrolls were valuable and could be sold to certain parties for a high price.

She just had to understand what the hell each of the symbols actually meant. Hieroglyphs were really complicated and symbols could mean different things if they were paired with different symbols and the whole system of writing made no sense. Hieratic script had been much, much easier to understand, even if she still struggled with it a bit.

Still she had a fellow student now. She was pretty sure it was Mahad’s revenge on the Princess for dropping her on him. Mana, who had been the Princess’s best friend and who had gone home for a while after the Anubis, had returned to the palace to be there for the ‘Prince’ and Mahad. She, of course, had known the difference instantly and had had to swear herself into secrecy along with the rest of the Princess’s small group of confidents, but Mahad had decided that she could catch up on her missed studies by learning from the Princess as he didn’t have time to teach between his own studies and the investigation into Akenaten’s misdeeds.

Frustratingly Mana already knew how to read, but that was fine because Bakura was learning plenty from just watching the Princess try and teach the other girl magic.

“I do have one idea,” Mana commented as the Princess’s stomach rumbled, as she stretched, having taken a break, “What about a trip to the kitchens?”

“Food?” The Princess perked up, having been just as irritated as her student. She knew she was hitting a barrier with Ba-Khu-Ra and she wasn’t sure how to get around it. She wanted to, but she didn’t know how.

“Sure, whatever.” Ba-Khu-Ra wasn’t going to object to a free meal. Money wasn’t too much of an issue any more, not when she tended to make a slight detour each time she left the palace ground. However she had lived with nothing for so long that she wasn’t above taking advantage of free food. “I could use a break anyway.”

They quickly packed up, carrying their tools with them as they made their way past the throne room and down to the kitchens. They were nearly there, in fact they could smell the food cooking when they bumped into the Pharaoh and a couple of the priests.

Well aware of Ba-Khu-Ra’s feelings towards her father and the rest of the High Priests, the Princess subtly gestured to Mana as she spoke with her father. Unfortunately Mana didn’t get a chance to pull the thief girl aside before her father turned to the two girls.

“And who are you two?” He asked, looking them over.

“This is Mana.” The Princess spoke quickly, gesturing to the girl, “And...”

“I’m Ba-Khu-Ra.” The Princess only just managed to keep any signs of distress off of her features as the thief girl stepped forward with a bow and a surprising amount of deference. Still the Princess couldn’t help but hold her breath as the thief straightened and continued, “Of Kul Elna.”

The Pharaoh didn’t respond to the name but Akenaten did. If the Princess had had any doubts about the fact her uncle was involved in what had happened to Ba-Khu-Ra’s village, they vanished as she watched her uncle turn as white as a sheet and backup slightly, staring at the thief as if he had seen a ghost.

Now they just needed hard evidence and they could take it to her father and get justice for the thief girl’s home.

“They’re Mahad’s students.” The Princess spoke up, drawing attention back to her, “We’re learning magic together.”

“And where is Mahad?” The Pharaoh asked, “I require a word with him.”

The Princess hesitated. She wasn’t sure where Mahad was. He had spoke about needing to speak with some contacts and vanished a few hours ago. “I’m not sure.” She said slowly, thinking, “Lessons are over. We were just about to do some extra revision and get a snack.”

“If you see him, send him to the throne room.” Her father nodded, looking thoughtful. “Something important’s come up and I must speak with him urgently.”

“Yes, Father.”

Sixteen's Story: Part 2

I have no idea how long I was out for. There’s no way of keeping track of the time here. All I know is that when I came around the other Yugi was sicker than before and my chest hurt.

I tried reaching down the link for my other self, recognising the pain of having my other self torn from my heart and praying I was wrong. Unfortunately I wasn’t. I couldn’t feel the comforting, protective embrace of my darker self. Which meant he wouldn’t be able to reach me either. Or use the link to locate me.

Still he’ll find a way to come and get me. He’s Yami. He doesn’t lose and this was just a game of Hide and Seek, albeit one with huge stakes. Yami had won games with greater prizes than just my safety before. I have faith in my other self. He won’t abandon me.

I have to wonder if the Pharaoh’s got some way of keeping tabs on what we’re doing, because it wasn’t long after I woke up that he somehow came through the door. Not the door frame. The door.

Glowering at him had no effect. In fact all it did was amuse him. The Pharaoh moved further into the room, looking between the pair of us and chuckling. Not a mirthful sound, more one of vicious amusement. He introduced me to the mage Yugi, and vice versa. Apparently I’m not Yugi anymore. I’m ‘Sixteen.’ At least according to the Pharaoh.

When he started draining something from the other Yugi, a pained whimper escaping Fifteen as light drained from him to the Pharaoh, I couldn’t stand aside. I tried to pull him away from the other Yugi, only for contact with the Pharaoh to turn the spell on me.

There was a sharp pain as part of my soul tore away and the light I’d only ever willingly shared with one other person was pulled into the Pharaoh. He shoved me away as I was reeling from the spell’s actions and took a little more from Fifteen, finally stopping when the other Yugi almost passed out.

Then he made a snide comment about me ‘waiting my turn’ and stalked out of the room. Once again going through the door quite literally.

It took a while for both of us to pull ourselves together. I recovered long before Fifteen, as he recommended I call him, if only to prevent confusion. It took Fifteen much longer to recover than me, partly because the Pharaoh had taken so much more from him and partly, he explained, because while my soul was already recovering his had stopped healing a while back. The Pharaoh had been taking too much from him for too long and it wouldn’t be much longer before he was gone completely.  

I tried to reassure him. If he just hung on a little longer, his Yami would be here and then we’d both get away. After all there was no way a real Yami would ever abandon his light.

Fifteen’s response was a bitter chuckle. I had been lucky when I had been taken. My Yami was alive. Fifteen’s Yami had gotten into a battle of magicks with the Pharaoh and been destroyed while trying to prevent the kidnapping.

There wasn’t much I could say to that. If anything I envied his fortitude for hanging on this long without the hope of his Yami coming to rescue him. When I asked him what had kept him going, Fifteen just smiled at me sadly and said I’d understand later.

Instead of letting me dwell on it, he offered to tell me stories about himself and the previous Yugis who had dwelt in the cell. It was, he explained, part of a promise he had made to Fourteen. That if he didn’t make it out, he would pass their stories on to the next Yugi to come along. It was a way of making sure none of them were forgotten. Almost all of them had secretly hoped that their Yami was still looking and they had wanted to be able to give their other selves some closure. Even if they couldn’t return themselves.

I promised Fifteen the same. It was the least I could do.

Clanverse: Shadow Treaty Missing Scene

Takes place between Chapters 9 and 10

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It had been bad enough when something had sliced across the link, cutting him off from Yugi and preventing him from doing anything to find his friend except go to his last location. When fear crashed across the link from Yami just milliseconds before Harry lost the link completely, the English Wizard knew something had just gone very, very wrong.

Yami didn’t get frightened. In the four years he had known the Pharaoh, Harry had never known Yami to be scared of anything. But he had been in the final moments before the link had shattered. Terrified of something.

Harry didn’t know what but it scared him. Knowing that there was something out there that could frighten the Pharaoh. Especially when Yami’s fear had been followed by the complete disappearance of the link. The logical part of him reminded him that the link had been playing up all summer. Every time Yugi and Yami had been in a Shadow Game the bond had disappeared, leaving Harry panicking and even without magic messing with it it had been fragile.

Still something was different this time, something within him screamed bloody murder and vengeance and everything else along those lines. His heart knew, before Wolf could let out his mournful howl and the wails of every Duel Monster in the park could rise along with it.

Yami Mutou was dead.

Truly dead this time. Not just suspected or unconfirmed. The Duel Monsters could feel it, the shift in the balance of power as the Shadows latched onto Yugi, the new Pharaoh, feeding the maelstrom of pain and power that had risen in the centre of the park.

Without having to think Harry knew what was causing it, his own heart echoed with the same pain and grief as part of himself suddenly vanished.

This wave of magic, this tornado of light, shadows, grief and pain, was Yugi’s scream as half of his soul was ripped away.

Without thinking Harry darted for the tornado. Yugi was alive, for now at least, but Harry knew what would happen. With Yami dead, Yugi wouldn’t want to live. Not after the steady decline he had suffered during second year. They all knew what would happen. Yugi would slowly lose his mind and his grip on his powers, until he burned himself out.

Harry could easily see Yugi not even thinking about that possibility. Instead he could easily see the scream of Yugi’s soul being turned on whoever had caused the death of the Pharaoh and taking them both out.

He couldn’t let it happen. He didn’t want it to happen. He needed his friend just as badly as Yugi needed him. Without Yugi and Yami to keep him from sinking into misery every time the populace turned on him he didn’t think he could cope with Hogwarts, or life in general. He needed their unconditional support, the unconditional support of all of his friends in fact.

And it had already been proved that without Yugi the gang would fall apart. Yugi was the glue that held them together. Last summer, when Yugi’s soul had been stolen, the team had dissolved, almost irreparably. They needed Yugi.

Harry tumbled as the tornado of power vanished as quickly as it had arrived. Rolling to his feet, he caught a glint of gold and silver in the undergrowth. He pulled on the metal chain, dragging what it was connected to out of the bushes.

Seeing the Millennium Puzzle discarded as if it was a piece of trash drove the worry into anger as he took off again. The item was his friend’s greatest treasure and the symbol of the bond they had all made. To see it covered in dirt and muck infuriated him.

He slipped the chain over his head as he continued running, only to stumble again as Yami’s darkness slipped into place in his mind. Realising that Yami must have been sent back to the Puzzle upon his demise he used a trick he had learned from Yugi. Somehow he managed to keep enough of his mind on his sprint to prevent him from injuring himself, while the rest slipped into the Puzzle.

The corridor was dim. Yugi’s door, which usually provided the most light was sealed tight, closed for the first time since Harry had joined the bond. Yami’s on the other hand, was wide open and the corridor was wet, as was the entrance to the Pharaoh’s soul room. Inside, still within the puddle, Yami was led on the ground, unconscious, almost as if he’d been washed into the room.

“Yami!” Harry darted forward, shaking the Pharaoh, trying to wake him. “Yami wake up!” Harry frowned when Yami let out a pained groan and tried the one thing that would always bring Yami round in one shot, “Yugi needs you!”

“Yugi?” Yami asked, eyes opening slowly as he tried to pull himself together, “I can’t…”

“He’s still alive.” Harry promised the Pharaoh, hoping that the disappearance of the tornado didn’t mean he was a liar. “I’m going to him now.” Harry paused, let out a deep breath and then made an offer he was not entirely ready to make as he helped Yami to his feet, “Take over.”

“Harry…” Yami trailed off, hesitation at taking over his friend’s body warring with his innate desire to ensure Yugi’s safety.

“Go!” Harry shoved him towards the door.

Yami didn’t need any more encouragement to dart out into the corridor and take control of Harry’s body in order to rescue the light half of his soul.

Harry had known he wouldn’t.

Light Amongst Shadows Part 7

Low, vindictively pleased laughter caught her attention. She wheeled around and glowered at the group of robed figures who had appeared out of nowhere.

“Well, well, well.” The leader, who she could only pick out because of the ornate markings on his robes and the fact the body language of the other goons seemed to turn to him, “I intended only to split up your little group and leave the light undefended.” With a gesture his mooks spread out to circle Oneesan. “I didn’t expect to find one of those.”

When he gestured to the Puzzle Oneesan’s hand covered the front of it protectively. “The Puzzle’s mine.” She snarled, “You can’t have it.”

“I suppose with everything it takes to make the blasted things, I can understand you not wanting to hand it over.” The leader snorted, “But you see, I can’t let you keep it.”

“Dark Magician!” The spirit of the Puzzle snapped, not needing any more words. The Spellcaster type monster knew what she wanted, launching an attack on the goons in order to clear a pathway out.

It didn’t work, the Dark Magic Attack bounced off of a mirror like shield that rose to protect the goons and struck both the Dark Magician and Oneesan. The Spellcaster shattered with a screech, while Oneesan was sent flying by the blast, crashing into another mirror like wall before slamming into the ground, her head smacking the ground so hard that she blacked out.

With Oneesan unconscious, Yugi had no choice but to take control of a pain riddled, concussed body. Her mind could not function properly as she tried to make herself get to her feet to face the leader, who was approaching. Even thinking in full sentences was a huge problem.

“I...I’ll never...” Yugi forced out as she managed to stand up, pushing back at the Shadows, who with Oneesan’s loss of consciousness were trying to dig their claws into her, “Let you have... my Puzzle.”

“You honestly think you can fight me in that state?” The leader sounded like he was smirking.

He knew she was beaten, Yugi could hear it in his tone and if Yugi was honest with herself, she did not stand a chance of winning in a fight or a game right now. But she had to try. That was all there was to it. She could not and would not just let them take Oneesan away from her. “It’s mine...you can’t...ack!”

Yugi’s attempt to stand up to him came to an abrupt halt as the man slapped her hard enough to send her tumbling to the ground, her ears ringing and stars dancing in her vision.

“You don’t seem the type,” The leader said as he examined her, amused by the fact she still glowered at him even though pain was etched in every inch of her body language, her eyes didn’t focus properly and she looked more like a hissing kitten than a viable threat, “To do what needs to be done. Not to get one of those.” He gestured to the Puzzle, causing Yugi, whose ears were still ringing, to cling to the item, “Who did your killing for you?”

“Wh...What?” Yugi gasped out, not understanding the question.

“To create a Shadow Set, you need to sacrifice human lives. That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing.” He explained, “But you’re light, you don’t have the darkness within you to do what it would have taken to create that item you wear.” He smirked as realisation and horror, along with a healthy dose of disgust settled in, “Oh? You didn’t know?”

“N...No...” Yugi stammered, staring at the golden object that was now cradled in her hands. She did not want to believe his words. If it was true, had Oneesan been the one who had committed the same massacre that these men now wanted to commit? She did not want to believe it of her other self, not of the brave and proud Pharaoh who shared her mind, but was it true?

“Don’t worry.” The leader sounded highly amused, “You won’t have to worry about it much longer.”

“Wha...?” Yugi did not get to finish her question before something hit her from behind and yet more pain rushed through her causing her to scream in agony.

Then everything went black.