Darkness From the Past
Jul. 21st, 2004 01:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sagesariaTitle: Darkness From the Past
Category: Fanfiction, anime/manga, Yu-Gi-Oh
Rating: PG
Genre: Action/Adventure, Suspence
Summary: An evil force from Yami's past returns, and it thirsts for the Millenium Items
Status: Incomplete
Prologue
Egypt,3006 B.C.
Bel um Fal ran across the vast desert,his violet robe flowing behind him. The only things he could hear were the sound of his breathing and the rythimic pattern of his feet hitting the sand. His puzzle-pendent swung around his neck like a pendelum as he ran.
At last he reached his destination;the temple of Ra. Bel um Fal stopped to catch his breath. Behind him he could hear the roar of the monsters that had plagued the land. This was why he was here. It was all just a game,a simple little game with monsters and magic,until the monsters became too powerful. The young pharoh was left with no choice. He had to be rid of this game.
He looked down at his pyramid-shaped pendent. He recalled the day his father gave it to him,when it was still in its thousand pieces. When he solved this magical puzzle,it gave him magic powers. Today,he hoped they would help him.
Bel um Fal climbed the steps to the temple. As he climbed,he senced that he was being watched. Behind him,there was a swift breeze and a strange,eirie sound. The young pharoh whipped around,listening for the slighest sound,watching for the slightest movement.
Nothing. There was no one there. This didn't feel right. He knew he heard something. He knew what was going on. Someone...no,something was following him. He didn't know what,but something told him that it had something to do with these dark games. There was no time to lose. He had to complete the task at hand.
Tightly gripping the hilt of the sword under his robe,Bel um Fal stepped into the temple,all of his sences alert to their fullest. So far so good,there was no one inside. He looked around,and saw,in the very back,what he was looking for;a giant stone statue of Ra.
The pharoh walked toward the statue,still listening for any signs of a stalker. The only sound now was his footsteps reverberating through the stone halls. He began to relax his grip on his sword,but was still ready to draw at any time.
Then he heard it again,that strange sound. It sounded as though the sound of wind blowing and a woman's scream were combined. Bel um Fal tighened his hold again as he whipped around. Nothing. What was going on? Then he heard it again,behind him. Before he could turn around he felt a sudden pain run down his back.
Bel um Fal screamed and collapsed to the floor. He felt blood trickling down his back. When he lifted his head,he saw his persuer at last.
It was a dark,cloaked creature. It had a hood over its head to hide its face. If it hadn't been hovering a few inches off the ground,it would be hard to tell it from a human being. In its shriveled,scabbed hands it held a long,gleaming sword with blood dripping from its blade.
The strange creature lifted its sword,ready to strike again. The pharoh rolled out of the way and jumped to his feet,unsheithing his own sword. The creature attacked again. Bel um Fal blocked with his sword. He pushed the cloaked being back and slashed it in half.
Bel um Fal stopped to catch his breath and heal himself with his magic. He looked at the dead body on the floor,then looked around. Something told him that this wasn't the only one.
He was right. More of the stange,cloaked monsters were entering through the walls. He gripped his sword tightly,ready to attack. Suddenly,one of them came up from behind him and slashed his arm. Bel um Fal cried out again and gripped his arm. The creatures grew ever closer to him. He began to panic. What were these things? Why were they trying to kill him?
The monsters all began to attack. Bel um Fal grabbed his sword from the floor and fended them off as best he could. Many of them were brought down,while those who remained struck him.
By the time there was one left,Bel um Fal's robes were nearly torn to ribbons,and his sides,legs and face were covered with cuts. The last monster disappeared through the wall. Bel um Fal knew it would be back. Now was the time to do what he came to do.
He ran to the back of the room,knelt before the statue,and began to pray to Ra. As he prayed,the evil powers of the shadow games began to vanish around Egypt,and Bel um Fal brought them together and gave them form;the forms of an eye,a scale,an ankh,a tauk,a ring,and a rod.
As the last of these items was formed,he began to feel weak. The use of magic and loss of blood were draining his energy fast. His death was drawing near. He couldn't die now! He still had to separate the items,and somehow,he felt that he would be needed again.
But he knew what to do. Once the final item took form,he cast a spell on his puzzle. The moment he died,his soul would be preserved inside it,so if the games are ever reawakened,he could be restored to life and seal them away again.
With the last of his strength,Bel um Fal scattered the six items to the four corners of the earth. His quest was complete. The games were banished,and Egypt was saved. His energy was gone now. As he collapsed,he felt the puzzle shatter as it struck the hard stone floor,and the world became black.
Chapter 1
Japan,5,000 years later...
A very sleepy Yugi descended the stairs,munching on a piece of toast. He didn't really want to get up,but his grandfather woke him and asked him to look after the shop while he went to run some errands.
The counters were already wiped,so he didn't have to do that. That was a relief. He went and switched the sign on the door to Open. Then he started checking the shelves to see if anything needed to be restocked. As he looked around,Yami came out of the puzzle. Yugi turned around and jumped at seeing someone there.
"Oh!"he exclaimed as he saw who it was,"Yami. You startled me."
"Sorry."
"It's ok."he answered,"Things are just a little scarier when Grandpa's not home. I need to put out more Duel Monsters packs."He thought aloud and headed for the storeroom.
"How long did he say he'd be gone?"Yami asked.
"I don't know."Yugi replied as he switched on the lights,"He'll probably be out all day. Fine way to spend a Saturday. Oh well. Maybe the others will stop by. Could you get that box for me?" Yami reached up and grabbed a large cardboard box off the highest shelf and set it on the floor.
"Thanks."Yugi knelt down,opened the box,and started taking out booster packs of Duel Monsters cards. As he got a handful of packs,he heard the bell that was attatched to the door ring,indicating someone came in.
"I'll be right with you!"he called as he headed back to the main room. But he was surprised when he saw no one there.
"Funny..."He said to himself,"I'm sure I heard someone come in."Yami went to the window and looked around.
"There's no one walking away from the shop."he said. Yugi shrugged and started putting the card packs on the shelves.
***
"Phew! Is it me,or is it getting cold in here?"
Yugi was right. It was getting cold. Yami was always a little chilly because he wasn't used to the climate,but now it was REALLY cold.
"It's strange. It usually isn't this cold this time of year. I'll go check the thermostat."Yugi went to the other room. Yami leaned against the desk and started looking around at the objects on the shelves.
Grandpa really did get around. Several different games from all over the world were stacked on the shelves. There was a German board game called Settlers of Katan,a Chinese tile game called Mah Jong,a very strange and complicated board game from America called Monopoly,and more.
As Yami interested himself in looking at some Mah Jong tiles,he saw something pass the shop out of the corner of his eye. He looked up,but saw nothing. He put the Mah Jong set back on the shelf and went to the door. He opened it and looked around. There was nothing there. There wasn't even anyone passing by on the streets. It was strange. He knew he saw something. And besides that,he somehow sensed that danger was near. Something was lingering in the darkness,and was waiting for the right moment to attack.
Yami looked around one more time and went back inside. Yugi was back,and was pulling a blue,wool sweater over his head.
"Stupid heater's probably broken."he muttered as he went back behind the desk.
***
It was high noon. Yugi leaned on the desk,his head resting on his arms. It was still cold,but he was about to fall asleep from boredom. Suddenly,the phone ringing woke him up. He went over to it and answered. Yami leaned against the wall and listened.
"Turtle Game Shop,Yugi Mutoh speaking. Oh hi,Grandpa! Yeah,everything's fine. No one's come in today. Are you stopping by the grocery store? We need bread. Ok. Oh Grandpa? I think something's wrong with the heater. Could you check when you get home? Yeah. Really? Huh...Ok. Ok,see you later then. Love you too. Bye."Yugi hung up,then turned to Yami,"Strange. Grandpa said it's not cold downtown. Guess it's only in here."
"That is strange. I wonder why it's only here."This was turning out to be a very strange day. First the bell rings when no one's there,then it starts getting cold,then that wierd figure that passed by,what was going on?
***
Yami sat in front of the tv,watching a game show. Yugi,very cold and very sleepy,was curled up in his arms. He wasn't really watching the show,he was just spacing out. Yami didn't blame him. It was a long day. Grandpa came into the room.
"Did you find anything wrong with the heater?"Yami asked him.
"Nothing that I saw. I'll call a repair man tomorrow to see if anything was overlooked. I'm going to bed now. Good night."
"Good night."Yami replied,then looked back at the show. Contestant number three just won 5000 yen,then the credits started rolling. Yami turned to say something to Yugi,but he had fallen asleep.
A smile stretched across Yami's face. He gently lifted his lighter half over his shoulder and headed to his room. With one hand he switched on the lights,then went and put the sleeping Yugi on the bed. He pulled a teddy bear off the shelf and tucked it into his aibou's arms. Yugi uncontiously hugged it closer to his chest. Yami gently tucked the covers over Yugi's shoulders. Then he lay down on the bed himself and put his arms gently around Yugi,to keep him warm. After a while,his eyes began to close.
***
Suddenly,he was floating. He was floating in a vast,grey nothingness. He shivered as the air around him grew cold. Was he in the Shadow Realm? And where was Yugi?
After a moment,Yami saw something in the distance. He couldn't tell what it was,the air was too foggy. It looked like a person,just standing there,not moving.
"Who's there?"he called,"Show yourself!"the figure stepped foreward. As it drew closer,Yami could make out some details. Clearly female,probably in her late 20s,about his height. Somehow she felt familiar.
She was soon in complete seeing range. She was slightly tan with shining blue eyes and long,red hair. She was wearing a robe much like the Egyptians wore. After a moment,she spoke. Her voice was like that of an angel,and she spoke in Egyptian.
"It has been a long time,Bel um Fal."she said. Yami hesitated,but replied,also in Egyptian.
"Who are you?"he demanded,"How do you know me?"
"My name is Sesheta. I was a servant of yours,five thousand years ago. I have come to warn you of a great danger. Do you remember the day you banished the Shadow Games,my Lord?"
Yami thought hard. He barely remembered. He recalled forming the Millenium Items,and scattering them to the winds,but the rest was a blur.
"What about it?"he asked after a moment.
"You were not alone that day. They were there too. I ran to the temple to try to warn you,but then I saw your body lying there...the torn robes...all the wounds,I knew they had gotten to you."Yami eyed Sesheta curiously. He didn't like how she said 'they'.
"Who are 'they?'"he asked. She sighed and continued.
"They have no name. We call them 'black ghosts.' They are spirits that were crushed and banished to the Shadow Realm by the Games. They thirst for power. It was because of that inquenchible thirst that they tried to take your life. They knew of your puzzle and how it gave you power,and they were willing to kill you for it. With your last breath,you were able to seal them away along with the Shadow Games."As Sesheta finished,blanks in Yami's memory were beginning to fill. He remembered a sharp pain in his back and several,strange cloaked figures with swords trying to kill him. He also remembered...a sudden cold filling the temple? Sesheta continued.
"We don't know how,but these black ghosts have returned. They know of the Millenium Items. They are trying to find them,and will kill anyone who holds them."Yami's eyes suddenly went wide.
"Yugi..."he whispered.
"There is only one chance to be rid of these black ghosts once and for all. You must return to the temple of Ra and use the Millenium Puzzle's magic to once again banish these foul creatures. But you must be careful. The ghosts are deadly. The only way to survive long enough to reach the temple is to stay away from them."
"How?"
"They move like the wind,but there is a way to know when they are near. Being in the Shadow Realm has given them a body of ice. When the black ghosts are near,the air will become as cold as winter. And now,I must leave you,my Lord. I wish you luck."Sesheta bowed,then vanished into the fog. Yami was struck with terror. That was why it had been so cold all day! That's why he saw a strange figure outside! The black ghosts have been circling the shop!
***
Yami's eyes snapped open. He was lying in bed,with Yugi in his arms. He sat very still,trying to steady his breathing. He noticed it had grown warmer. The black ghosts must have gone. He knew they would be back,though.
"Is something wrong,Yami?"he heard Yugi mumble sleepily. He must have woken him up. Should he tell him? No,it was better to let him sleep for now.
"It's nothing."he answered softly,"It can wait until tomorrow. Go back to sleep. I'm sorry I woke you."
"'S ok. 'Night Yami."
"Good night,Aibou."Yami put his arms around Yugi again. Yugi snuggled back under the covers,and was soon lightly snoring.
Category: Fanfiction, anime/manga, Yu-Gi-Oh
Rating: PG
Genre: Action/Adventure, Suspence
Summary: An evil force from Yami's past returns, and it thirsts for the Millenium Items
Status: Incomplete
Prologue
Egypt,3006 B.C.
Bel um Fal ran across the vast desert,his violet robe flowing behind him. The only things he could hear were the sound of his breathing and the rythimic pattern of his feet hitting the sand. His puzzle-pendent swung around his neck like a pendelum as he ran.
At last he reached his destination;the temple of Ra. Bel um Fal stopped to catch his breath. Behind him he could hear the roar of the monsters that had plagued the land. This was why he was here. It was all just a game,a simple little game with monsters and magic,until the monsters became too powerful. The young pharoh was left with no choice. He had to be rid of this game.
He looked down at his pyramid-shaped pendent. He recalled the day his father gave it to him,when it was still in its thousand pieces. When he solved this magical puzzle,it gave him magic powers. Today,he hoped they would help him.
Bel um Fal climbed the steps to the temple. As he climbed,he senced that he was being watched. Behind him,there was a swift breeze and a strange,eirie sound. The young pharoh whipped around,listening for the slighest sound,watching for the slightest movement.
Nothing. There was no one there. This didn't feel right. He knew he heard something. He knew what was going on. Someone...no,something was following him. He didn't know what,but something told him that it had something to do with these dark games. There was no time to lose. He had to complete the task at hand.
Tightly gripping the hilt of the sword under his robe,Bel um Fal stepped into the temple,all of his sences alert to their fullest. So far so good,there was no one inside. He looked around,and saw,in the very back,what he was looking for;a giant stone statue of Ra.
The pharoh walked toward the statue,still listening for any signs of a stalker. The only sound now was his footsteps reverberating through the stone halls. He began to relax his grip on his sword,but was still ready to draw at any time.
Then he heard it again,that strange sound. It sounded as though the sound of wind blowing and a woman's scream were combined. Bel um Fal tighened his hold again as he whipped around. Nothing. What was going on? Then he heard it again,behind him. Before he could turn around he felt a sudden pain run down his back.
Bel um Fal screamed and collapsed to the floor. He felt blood trickling down his back. When he lifted his head,he saw his persuer at last.
It was a dark,cloaked creature. It had a hood over its head to hide its face. If it hadn't been hovering a few inches off the ground,it would be hard to tell it from a human being. In its shriveled,scabbed hands it held a long,gleaming sword with blood dripping from its blade.
The strange creature lifted its sword,ready to strike again. The pharoh rolled out of the way and jumped to his feet,unsheithing his own sword. The creature attacked again. Bel um Fal blocked with his sword. He pushed the cloaked being back and slashed it in half.
Bel um Fal stopped to catch his breath and heal himself with his magic. He looked at the dead body on the floor,then looked around. Something told him that this wasn't the only one.
He was right. More of the stange,cloaked monsters were entering through the walls. He gripped his sword tightly,ready to attack. Suddenly,one of them came up from behind him and slashed his arm. Bel um Fal cried out again and gripped his arm. The creatures grew ever closer to him. He began to panic. What were these things? Why were they trying to kill him?
The monsters all began to attack. Bel um Fal grabbed his sword from the floor and fended them off as best he could. Many of them were brought down,while those who remained struck him.
By the time there was one left,Bel um Fal's robes were nearly torn to ribbons,and his sides,legs and face were covered with cuts. The last monster disappeared through the wall. Bel um Fal knew it would be back. Now was the time to do what he came to do.
He ran to the back of the room,knelt before the statue,and began to pray to Ra. As he prayed,the evil powers of the shadow games began to vanish around Egypt,and Bel um Fal brought them together and gave them form;the forms of an eye,a scale,an ankh,a tauk,a ring,and a rod.
As the last of these items was formed,he began to feel weak. The use of magic and loss of blood were draining his energy fast. His death was drawing near. He couldn't die now! He still had to separate the items,and somehow,he felt that he would be needed again.
But he knew what to do. Once the final item took form,he cast a spell on his puzzle. The moment he died,his soul would be preserved inside it,so if the games are ever reawakened,he could be restored to life and seal them away again.
With the last of his strength,Bel um Fal scattered the six items to the four corners of the earth. His quest was complete. The games were banished,and Egypt was saved. His energy was gone now. As he collapsed,he felt the puzzle shatter as it struck the hard stone floor,and the world became black.
Chapter 1
Japan,5,000 years later...
A very sleepy Yugi descended the stairs,munching on a piece of toast. He didn't really want to get up,but his grandfather woke him and asked him to look after the shop while he went to run some errands.
The counters were already wiped,so he didn't have to do that. That was a relief. He went and switched the sign on the door to Open. Then he started checking the shelves to see if anything needed to be restocked. As he looked around,Yami came out of the puzzle. Yugi turned around and jumped at seeing someone there.
"Oh!"he exclaimed as he saw who it was,"Yami. You startled me."
"Sorry."
"It's ok."he answered,"Things are just a little scarier when Grandpa's not home. I need to put out more Duel Monsters packs."He thought aloud and headed for the storeroom.
"How long did he say he'd be gone?"Yami asked.
"I don't know."Yugi replied as he switched on the lights,"He'll probably be out all day. Fine way to spend a Saturday. Oh well. Maybe the others will stop by. Could you get that box for me?" Yami reached up and grabbed a large cardboard box off the highest shelf and set it on the floor.
"Thanks."Yugi knelt down,opened the box,and started taking out booster packs of Duel Monsters cards. As he got a handful of packs,he heard the bell that was attatched to the door ring,indicating someone came in.
"I'll be right with you!"he called as he headed back to the main room. But he was surprised when he saw no one there.
"Funny..."He said to himself,"I'm sure I heard someone come in."Yami went to the window and looked around.
"There's no one walking away from the shop."he said. Yugi shrugged and started putting the card packs on the shelves.
***
"Phew! Is it me,or is it getting cold in here?"
Yugi was right. It was getting cold. Yami was always a little chilly because he wasn't used to the climate,but now it was REALLY cold.
"It's strange. It usually isn't this cold this time of year. I'll go check the thermostat."Yugi went to the other room. Yami leaned against the desk and started looking around at the objects on the shelves.
Grandpa really did get around. Several different games from all over the world were stacked on the shelves. There was a German board game called Settlers of Katan,a Chinese tile game called Mah Jong,a very strange and complicated board game from America called Monopoly,and more.
As Yami interested himself in looking at some Mah Jong tiles,he saw something pass the shop out of the corner of his eye. He looked up,but saw nothing. He put the Mah Jong set back on the shelf and went to the door. He opened it and looked around. There was nothing there. There wasn't even anyone passing by on the streets. It was strange. He knew he saw something. And besides that,he somehow sensed that danger was near. Something was lingering in the darkness,and was waiting for the right moment to attack.
Yami looked around one more time and went back inside. Yugi was back,and was pulling a blue,wool sweater over his head.
"Stupid heater's probably broken."he muttered as he went back behind the desk.
***
It was high noon. Yugi leaned on the desk,his head resting on his arms. It was still cold,but he was about to fall asleep from boredom. Suddenly,the phone ringing woke him up. He went over to it and answered. Yami leaned against the wall and listened.
"Turtle Game Shop,Yugi Mutoh speaking. Oh hi,Grandpa! Yeah,everything's fine. No one's come in today. Are you stopping by the grocery store? We need bread. Ok. Oh Grandpa? I think something's wrong with the heater. Could you check when you get home? Yeah. Really? Huh...Ok. Ok,see you later then. Love you too. Bye."Yugi hung up,then turned to Yami,"Strange. Grandpa said it's not cold downtown. Guess it's only in here."
"That is strange. I wonder why it's only here."This was turning out to be a very strange day. First the bell rings when no one's there,then it starts getting cold,then that wierd figure that passed by,what was going on?
***
Yami sat in front of the tv,watching a game show. Yugi,very cold and very sleepy,was curled up in his arms. He wasn't really watching the show,he was just spacing out. Yami didn't blame him. It was a long day. Grandpa came into the room.
"Did you find anything wrong with the heater?"Yami asked him.
"Nothing that I saw. I'll call a repair man tomorrow to see if anything was overlooked. I'm going to bed now. Good night."
"Good night."Yami replied,then looked back at the show. Contestant number three just won 5000 yen,then the credits started rolling. Yami turned to say something to Yugi,but he had fallen asleep.
A smile stretched across Yami's face. He gently lifted his lighter half over his shoulder and headed to his room. With one hand he switched on the lights,then went and put the sleeping Yugi on the bed. He pulled a teddy bear off the shelf and tucked it into his aibou's arms. Yugi uncontiously hugged it closer to his chest. Yami gently tucked the covers over Yugi's shoulders. Then he lay down on the bed himself and put his arms gently around Yugi,to keep him warm. After a while,his eyes began to close.
***
Suddenly,he was floating. He was floating in a vast,grey nothingness. He shivered as the air around him grew cold. Was he in the Shadow Realm? And where was Yugi?
After a moment,Yami saw something in the distance. He couldn't tell what it was,the air was too foggy. It looked like a person,just standing there,not moving.
"Who's there?"he called,"Show yourself!"the figure stepped foreward. As it drew closer,Yami could make out some details. Clearly female,probably in her late 20s,about his height. Somehow she felt familiar.
She was soon in complete seeing range. She was slightly tan with shining blue eyes and long,red hair. She was wearing a robe much like the Egyptians wore. After a moment,she spoke. Her voice was like that of an angel,and she spoke in Egyptian.
"It has been a long time,Bel um Fal."she said. Yami hesitated,but replied,also in Egyptian.
"Who are you?"he demanded,"How do you know me?"
"My name is Sesheta. I was a servant of yours,five thousand years ago. I have come to warn you of a great danger. Do you remember the day you banished the Shadow Games,my Lord?"
Yami thought hard. He barely remembered. He recalled forming the Millenium Items,and scattering them to the winds,but the rest was a blur.
"What about it?"he asked after a moment.
"You were not alone that day. They were there too. I ran to the temple to try to warn you,but then I saw your body lying there...the torn robes...all the wounds,I knew they had gotten to you."Yami eyed Sesheta curiously. He didn't like how she said 'they'.
"Who are 'they?'"he asked. She sighed and continued.
"They have no name. We call them 'black ghosts.' They are spirits that were crushed and banished to the Shadow Realm by the Games. They thirst for power. It was because of that inquenchible thirst that they tried to take your life. They knew of your puzzle and how it gave you power,and they were willing to kill you for it. With your last breath,you were able to seal them away along with the Shadow Games."As Sesheta finished,blanks in Yami's memory were beginning to fill. He remembered a sharp pain in his back and several,strange cloaked figures with swords trying to kill him. He also remembered...a sudden cold filling the temple? Sesheta continued.
"We don't know how,but these black ghosts have returned. They know of the Millenium Items. They are trying to find them,and will kill anyone who holds them."Yami's eyes suddenly went wide.
"Yugi..."he whispered.
"There is only one chance to be rid of these black ghosts once and for all. You must return to the temple of Ra and use the Millenium Puzzle's magic to once again banish these foul creatures. But you must be careful. The ghosts are deadly. The only way to survive long enough to reach the temple is to stay away from them."
"How?"
"They move like the wind,but there is a way to know when they are near. Being in the Shadow Realm has given them a body of ice. When the black ghosts are near,the air will become as cold as winter. And now,I must leave you,my Lord. I wish you luck."Sesheta bowed,then vanished into the fog. Yami was struck with terror. That was why it had been so cold all day! That's why he saw a strange figure outside! The black ghosts have been circling the shop!
***
Yami's eyes snapped open. He was lying in bed,with Yugi in his arms. He sat very still,trying to steady his breathing. He noticed it had grown warmer. The black ghosts must have gone. He knew they would be back,though.
"Is something wrong,Yami?"he heard Yugi mumble sleepily. He must have woken him up. Should he tell him? No,it was better to let him sleep for now.
"It's nothing."he answered softly,"It can wait until tomorrow. Go back to sleep. I'm sorry I woke you."
"'S ok. 'Night Yami."
"Good night,Aibou."Yami put his arms around Yugi again. Yugi snuggled back under the covers,and was soon lightly snoring.
