To Lose the Light

Wow! I finished it. This doesn't happen often.

The last chapter. Of this story, at least. I’ve got a basic shaping for a few others, but they need a little fleshing out first.

Kat1123: Yes, I can see your point there, and I must admit the reason was a little selfish. I’m a bit fonder of Ryou then Malik. That and the fact that I was originally going to write one in for all of them, pairing Malik up with Aila, but I didn’t get around to that one.

RD: We shall see. >:D

******

Yugi dashed through the jungle, ignoring the pain of his bruised and battered feet.

“Yami!” He gasped, as he broke free of the trees. He started toward the group, and ran into a barrier about a foot away from his target.

“Yami.” He called, beating on the field. Then he tried touching the others, but found the same barrier around them.

Yami looked in his direction and Yugi thought for a moment that he had heard him, but the pharaoh was only looking toward the jungle.

“You just try it, Thief.” Marik yelled. Bakura’s aura flamed into view, with Marik’s right behind it. Then Yami’s glow appeared. The other two noticed it immediately, and both dimmed theirs back into invisibility.

Yugi stared in surprise. He had never seen either of them back down so fast. And there was a look in Yami’s eyes that Yugi didn’t like. Yami had had people fear him before, even Yugi himself, but he had never enjoyed that fear.

Confused, Yugi moved back towards the trees, sitting in their shade to consider.

“I told you.” Taryn whispered from behind him. Yugi stared at her a moment, then got an idea.

“Hey, you can tell them I’m here.” He pulled on her arm.

“What?” She pulled back. “After that show?”

“Yami won’t hurt you.” He insisted. He tugged and Taryn lost her balance, tumbling into view. Yami turned instantly, the puzzle’s powers flaring.

“No!” Yugi cried out, and pushed Taryn out of the way, absorbing the full force of Yami’s Mind Crush. He groaned and collapsed.

“Princeling!” Taryn turned, drew a knife she wore strapped to her leg, and glared at Yami.

“Monster.” She said. Yami looked shocked. For a moment, he had felt such pain… And something had pushed the girl out of the way. Could it have been…

“Yugi?” He whispered in a strangled voice, and fell to his knees in dismay. Again, he had hurt him. “Oh, Little One.”

“Little One!” A voice shrieked. “Have you no shame, Brother? First you reject me for that whore, then you give that little weakling my nickname.”

“Sagira?” Yami said in surprise. Sagira waved a hand, and her concealment spell faded. Yugi appeared, laying next to Taryn.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ve finally found the reincarnation of that bitch.” She laughed cruelly. “Who would have thought she’d be right under my nose.” She turned to glare at Taryn.

“You should have stayed hidden, girl. But then again, you could never resist, either my Brother or the Little Pharaoh.” She lifted her hands, casting a spell, and the bands on Yugi’s wrists began to glow. He moaned, as she stole his strength to feed the spell.

“Mind Crush!” The power bounced right off. Yami glared. Then he noticed Bakura, standing to his left, just behind him. His aura shone brightly.

Malik stood on his other side, his power summoned as well. Yami used the puzzle’s power to sap their strength. Then Kaiba began to shimmer as well. He looked surprised, but Yami only tapped into his power as well, adding it to the torrent within him. Then he pointed a finger at Sagira.

“You shall be reborn, Sagira, but under my conditions. I want you where I can keep an eye on you. Anzu?” Anzu stared at him in shock. Yami gestured, and Sagira’s physical body rapidly grew old, until the entire thing crumbled into dust, leaving behind a seething spirit, trapped in the magic.

“You can’t be serious.” She said.

“You are her reincarnation.” He said simply. Anzu frowned at Sagira. They did look alike. “I promise, you will have complete control over her.” Anzu still looked uncertain, but she nodded and moved to stand facing Sagira. The power surged and Sagira’s spirit started to shift into Anzu’s body.

“No!” She screamed, and struggled. But even the power stolen from the spirits was no match for the three millennium items and Kaiba. Slowly, she was forced in, until, with a final scream, she disappeared.

Anzu turned to look at Yami, her eyes filled with rage, then it faded away. She rubbed her temples and smiled.

“That wasn’t so bad, really. I hardly feel any difference. Oh!” Her attention seemed to turn inward.

Yami wasted no time in hurrying to Yugi’s side.

With Sagira trapped away, all the spells were broken. Souls, now visible to those who knew how to look, flew away from the island, heading back to their bodies. Yami gathered Yugi’s still form to him, rocking him gently.

“Aibou. Please wake up.” He pleaded. Yugi groaned, and his eyes opened.

“Yami?” He whispered. “I knew you would come.”

“Of course, Yugi.” Yami answered, tears of relief welling up. “You’re my Little One.”

“Don’t cry, Yami.” Yugi said, wiping a tear from his cheek, then his eyes closed, and he faded.

Yami closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of being whole again. Then a shout drew his attention.

“Bakura!”

“Hikari.” Bakura replied his arms held wide in a rare display of emotion. Ryou threw himself into the embrace, and faded into their body. Immediately, the features changed from Bakura’s to Ryou’s.

Malik rejoined Marik, and the spirit gave up control to his hikari as well.

Jounouchi looked from them to Yami, his expression unreadable. Yami searched within, then grinned.

“He’s sleeping.” He explained. “In my soul room.”

“He’s been through a lot.” Ryou said. Malik nodded.

“Yugi’s gotten so used to having someone watching out for him that he’s lost without that support.” Yami might have noticed the rebuke in that, if he had been paying attention, instead of watching Yugi sleep. But then, it was probably best that he wasn’t.

:I’m tired too.: Ryou said through the link. Bakura shifted into control and Ryou went to sleep. A moment later, Marik and Malik switched as well.

“Are you done now?” Kaiba snapped, he brushed at his pants, then frowned, putting a hand in his pocket.

“Hey, where’s my wallet. Bakura!”

“Oh, some King of Thieves.” Marik laughed. Kaiba reclaimed his wallet and glared at them both.

“I should have done away with you two back in the temple, when I had the chance. You haven’t changed at all.” Marik’s laughter stopped, and he stared at Kaiba. Bakura did as well. Kaiba looked shocked.

“Why did I just say that?”

“The priest.” Bakura whispered, a little fearful. He glanced at Yami uncertainly. The rivalry between the High Priest and the Pharaoh had never been a well-kept secret. Yami only smirked at Kaiba.

“You and your little group are driving me crazy.” Kaiba growled, and stalked back toward the boat, beginning to load their equipment

Anzu followed him. She still had a faraway look in her eyes.

Yami turned to Taryn. “And will you be coming? I’m sure Yugi’s grandfather would take you in.” Taryn smile and shook her head.

“No. I don’t belong in that world anymore.” She paused. “I wouldn’t mind if you guys came to visit now and then, though.” Yami nodded in agreement.

“Tell the Princeling goodbye for me.” She said, then turned and ran back into the forest.”

“Hurry up, Yami.” Yami turned with a frown, about to tell Jounouchi that he would come when he was good and ready, but he stopped before the words were out. There really was no point in staying any longer. He climbed into the boat.

******

“:Ryou? Where are you?: Bakura stood in his living room. He hadn’t heard from Ryou since he had turned control back over to him. Even Yugi had made an appearance, just as they had docked.

:Why, Yami, you sound worried. Why don’t you come find me?: Bakura frowned as he realized Ryou was in the maze, then it turned into a vicious grin.

:Find a good hiding spot, Hikari.: Bakura warned. Ryou chuckled.

:Let the hunt begin.:

******

Hime: Well…

D’Ceandre: I know. It’s a little… dark. I’m a bad girl.

Okay, I’ll apologise to any Anzu lovers who might not like that last bit, but it kinda fit in. One: Both Sagira and Anzu are in love with Yami, more or less. And Anzu’s nearly constant bubbly attitude demands a dark counterpart of some kind.

And I realize some people won’t be fond of Yugi being Mind Crushed, but it was meant to show how much Yami’s changed.

As for Ryou, well, the fact that he flung himself at Bakura shows that he obviously missed him a hell of a lot. Even the somewhat brutal parts.

Well, disappointments aside, I hope you enjoyed this. Fell free to send me any comments or such, good or bad.

Catch ya later. ;-)

The Lady Khatarina D’Ceandre
(And her muses)