Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ XX09 ❯ Section 0.6 ( Chapter 6 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Author's notes:

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh!

~*~ Flashback ~*~

*********************************

Last time:

"Yuugi's mouth dropped in mid-sentence.

Ryou was a human."

*******************************


Entry 0.6


Yuugi's mind was frozen in absolute shock. He tried to move his mouth, tried
to make it work and form some intelligible sentence. Nothing came out. He
simply did not know how to react.

Ryou gave a sad smile, a curved quirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "I
understand." He looked up, chestnut-brown eyes looking into Yuugi's amethyst
ones for the first time. They quickly broke contact, averting shyly back onto the
ground. "You wonder why I am here."

Pause. A moment of silence.

At last, Yuugi's paralysed mind began moving again. "Yes." He frowned,
suddenly realizing the implications. "I mean, if you are-"

"-It's not what you think." Ryou suddenly interrupted. Again, his submissive
brown eyes sought the other's lavender ones for the briefest of seconds.
"I-I'm not like you."

Yuugi noticed how the last word was said in almost a tone of regret. A pang of
sympathy swept through the boy's mind, his mouth suddenly dry. And then, that
ominous question. "Then… what are you?"

Strands of snow-white hair detached and slid over his amber-brown eyes.
Slowly, Ryou pushed them away with a trembling finger. "I-I-" He began, lips
mouthing silent words.

Yuugi waited for the answer, but it never came. Instead, the other
figure began backing away; eyes wide open in shock, muttering a string of
incoherent words. Ryou's face had turned an even paler white, expression both
surprised and haunted.

"You!" Ryou suddenly blurted, "You're the one!"

"What?" The small boy was confused. Hadn't Ryou just acknowledged Yuugi as
a human? What was the other talking about?

Ryou shuddered, again drawing close to Yuugi, though keeping a certain
distance apart. "Listen." He muttered, voice suddenly low. "You have to leave
here right now."

The omniscient tone sparked a momentary memory from the boy's mind,
though it was vague at best, presenting only a feeling of sickened nostalgia.
Yuugi's heart began beating loudly, a blackened fear clutching at his chest.
"W-why?" Surely, the Hybrids weren't _that_ angry at him.

The pair's conversation was suddenly interrupted by a loud bang from outside
their dungeon. Seconds later, the heavy metallic door swung sharply open,
revealing a massive Hybrid blocking the entrance. The shaggy bear-human strolled
forward, glaring disdainfully at the two prisoners.

Frightened by the towering presence of the Hybrid, Yuugi shrank backwards,
faltering behind Ryou's still frame.

"Get moving, you scum!" The Hybrid bellowed, low voice barely above a
rumble. The bear-human lumbered forward, squinting his eyes to locate the two
prisoners in the dungeon's shadowy darkness.

Yuugi trembled at the demanding voice, scrunching his body to hide in
the shadowy corners, hopefully out of sight. Just as the small boy was about to
scurry even further backwards, he felt something soft tickle his face. Startled, Yuugi
clasped his hands to his cheek, only to brush his fingers on someone else's skin.

Ryou had shifted to Yuugi's side. However, the white-haired figure's
intentions were pure. He bent his head towards Yuugi's ear, moving his
lips in the slightest whisper. Some of Ryou's hair continued to brush lightly
against Yuugi's face, causing the boy to involuntarily squirm.

"Stay still." Ryou breathed, tone serious even in his barely audible whisper. It
was quiet enough for both prisoners to hear the grunts, gasps, and footsteps of
the bear-Hybrid. "Bear-Hybrids may be strong, but they cannot see very well."

It did little to comfort Yuugi. Sooner or later, the small boy knew that he
would be caught by the claws of the shaggy-furred Hybrid, unable to escape the
beast's iron grip. It was just a matter of waiting before the inevitable.

However, Ryou seemed to have other plans. The white-haired figure crept
towards the bear-Hybrid in a half-crawl, cleverly mingling with the shadows to
avoid being seen. Just as the Hybrid was inches away, Ryou sprang, blocking the
Hybrid's line of vision with a triumphant shout.

The Hybrid started slightly from the sound, reeling back in distilled shock. In
that moment between shock and rage, Ryou struck, throwing a fistful of dirt into
the bear-Hybrid's wide-open eyes. The grime spread like a swarm of wasps, creating a
stinging cloud of dust before settling into their target.

Immediately, the bear-Hybrid roared, claws furiously swiping at his eyes in an
attempt to remove the dust and grit. The large bestial human began to thrash
furiously, muttering a string of threats and enraged growls.

Ryou grabbed Yuugi's wrist, breaking the boy's momentary trance. Startled,
Yuugi followed the other's tugging grip, though his eyes never left the blinded
bear-human's livid form. Now, they were dangerously close, squeezing through a sliver
of space space unoccupied by the Hybrid's random, brusque swings. Ryou watched the
bear-human's motion with keen, almost shrewd eyes, timing its steps
perfectly. The white-haired figure quickly moved into action, dragging Yuugi
almost forcefully along just as the bear-Hybrid blindly turned around. In a mad dash
spurred by fear and hope, the pair lunged towards the still-open exit, slipping out the
wide door in complete silence. Both fled down the dungeon hallway towards a set of
stairs, never daring to look back.

**********************************


The staircase was long and winding, spiralling upwards in a seemingly never-
ending cycle. Yuugi stopped, clutching his chest to control his harsh, ragged
gasps while sucking in greedy lungfuls of air. Cold sweat clung around the boy's
eyebrows, dribbling slowly down the sides of his face. Ryou, however, seemed unaffected,
gazing at Yuugi with worried, almost impatient eyes.

Exhausted, Yuugi dropped onto the stone stairs, sitting awkwardly on the steps
with a relieved sigh. A part of the boy was still aware of his surroundings, of
the need to escape this castle prison, and yet, that part seemed far away. What
mattered now was rest: and it was comfortable here, sitting down, unharried and
unworried.

"Here." Ryou whispered, shyly offering a hand to the small boy. "We have to
keep on going."

Yuugi looked up, slightly startled. Slowly, the boy took the other's hand,
clinging on tightly as Ryou pulled him from the ground. The white-haired
figure's hand was smooth and soft to the touch, a perfect replica of human flesh.
Again, Yuugi doubted Ryou's words. How could the other be anything _but_ human?

Ryou quickly dropped his hand the moment Yuugi stood up, as if he had been
holding an iron-hot prong. The white-haired figure then turned around with the
same hastiness. "You ready to go now?" His voice sounded slightly mechanical.
"We're almost there."

Mutely, Yuugi nodded, leaning his hand against one side of the wall to
stabilize his exhausted legs. Then, the pair began ascending again, in slow
constant steps, often pausing several times to allow Yuugi some time to recover.

It was on the sixth consecutive stop that Ryou began to fret. He snapped
his head backwards, narrowing his eyes as if listening to a sound only he could
hear. He inhaled sharply, muttering softly under his breath in a panicked
undertone.

Yuugi gazed at the other with startled, wide eyes. "W-what's wrong?" The
boy whispered, scared.

"They know we've escaped." Ryou replied, almost too calmly. "They're looking
for us."

Both figures simply exchanged glances before breaking into a hurried run,
scrambling up the stairs as quietly as possible. Now, Yuugi could now hear the
echoes of triumphant cries below him, several of them reverbrating up the stairs
in haunting, segregated notes.

"Wolf-hybrids." Ryou gasped in between strides. "They can smell our scent."

However, Yuugi refused to be discouraged. "You said we're almost there,
so I'm not going to give up yet."

The white-haired figure seemed genuinely startled by the response, stopping to
stare at Yuugi as if the boy had sprouted an extra limb. Then, Ryou broke into a
soft smile, chuckling just slightly. "Of course." He muttered, more to himself than
to Yuugi. "Yes. Of course."

The shouts and cries below them were growing consistently louder, now
complimented by the pounding of several footsteps. Yuugi and Ryou continued to
climb, dashing wildly like rabbits fleeing a pack of hounds.

In a mad burst of forced strength, the pair reached the very top of the stairs,
shooting through the entrance into an elongated hallway. Without stopping to
pause or consider directions, the pair sped down the hallway, blindly following
the long cement path. A strand of artificial lights buzzed overhead, bathing
their exhausted faces in a sickly white sheen, making their small figures appear
no more than ghostly apparitions.

It was the calm before the storm. Suddenly, a roar burst overhead, breaking the
hurried silence into a frenzy of excitement. The triumphant bugle of victory
scattered into a million hurried footsteps, shaking the once-still
ground with rumbling tremours.

Yuugi chanced a look behind him, locking eyes with the massive herd of
Hybrids tailing after him. There was no denying the inevitable fear buzzing in
his heart. They were advancing. They would catch him, imprison him, maim him apart,
tear at him: a million conflicting fears were flashing in his frightened mind,
unable to be soothed away.

Ryou stopped. The white-haired figure simply halted, positioning himself
between Yuugi and the advancing wave of angry Hybrids.

Yuugi's eyes widened. "Ryou!" The small boy tugged at the other's
firmly unmoving figure. "We have to get going!"

Ryou simply shook his head. "We can't outrun them." He stated in perfect
logic. "You have to go first. I'll- I'll catch up with you later."

"No!" Yuugi stubbornly shook his head, suddenly abandoning his fear. "I'm
not leaving if you aren't!"

The white-haired figure didn't have time to argue back. The swarm of Hybrids had
slowed down, ready to attack. At a closer range, the stampede of figures had
dwindled to only a handful, sinewy and brawny figures of monstrous length. The leader
of the group stood in the front, a wolf-Hybrid whose massive figure made Jounochi
look like a puppy.

The lead Hybrid bared his jaws, revealing layers of ivory-yellow incisors
while the others prowled impatiently behind. Ryou flinched slightly under the
scrutiny of the bestial Hybrid. The white-haired figure dared his eyes to lock
onto the leader's glowing yellow ones.

"You are the escapers?" the lead wolf-human mocked, coarse voice incredulous.
"Just a pathetic handful of cubs?"

Ryou remained silent. Behind him, Yuugi shifted uncomfortably, terrified, yet,
unwilling to abandon Ryou.

"Take them." The lead Hybrid ordered, sounding half bored. "The Emperor wants
them."

Two figures separated from the group, lumbering slowly towards the two escapers.
One of them extended his arms, grabbing Ryou roughly by the shoulders as the other
did the same to Yuugi. Defeated, Yuugi meekly allowed his captor to take him
away, stumbling slightly as his captor shoved him roughly forward. The small boy
tried to crane his neck to catch a glimpse of Ryou, but was prevented from
moving in any direction.

They were entering a large corridor now, surrounded by Hybrids in guard-like
uniform, each one statuesque and regal. Yuugi felt his captor tugging at his
wrists harder, forcing the boy to quicken his pace to avoid stumbling or
falling. A gigantic set of iron-black doors stood waiting at the very end.
Glittering jewels danced as beady eyes as part of the door's design, unfurling
into the picture of a majestic beast. The leader of the group advanced towards
the entrance to knock on its heavy, iron face.

Yuugi had expected the inside to be as regal as the outside, perhaps laden with
stone pillars and ivory carvings, swathed in surreal rows of guards. He was
wrong.

Behind the doors, there lay a single throne of pure black. Large, velvet drapes
hung on each side of the throne, adding to the omniscient, almost solemn effect.
Seated on the gigantic iron throne was a gaunt Hybrid, hair a pure silver, some
of it veiling its eyes.

"Emperor Pegasus," the group Hybrid leader proclaimed in a loud, official
voice. "We have brought you the prisoners."

Yuugi shifted uncomfortably. The boy didn't like this Pegasus Hybrid.
Judging from the other's tense expression, Ryou didn't like him either.

Pegasus lifted his head, staring at the group with a single unveiled eye. The
Emperor's face appeared startlingly human under the light, a set of slightly
pointed ears poking out from streams of hair the only betrayal of his origin.
"Good," Pegasus murmured, sounding distracted. "I was waiting for them."

The Emperor nodded, signalling for the others to close the doors behind him.
Yuugi heard the heavy doors slide shut with a loud thud. He was trapped.

Slowly, Pegasus slid from his throne, ambling towards the two prisoners. The
silver-haired Hybrid glanced curiously at Ryou before setting his eyes on
Yuugi's small form.

Yuugi felt himself instinctively shrink back, intimidated by Pegasus's presence.
Although the Emperor was by no means large or bulky, there was an air of power;
of revulsion that Pegasus created just by looking.

"Don't be scared of me," Pegasus murmured pleasantly, sliding a furless hand
under Yuugi's chin to stroke the boy's cheek. The Emperor moved his head
uncomfortably close to the boy, causing Yuugi to squirm and try to back away.
"You see, I am actually quite friendly. Very friendly, in fact."

Pegasus was now leaning into Yuugi, almost directly on top of the smaller boy.
Yuugi could feel the other's breath slide on his chin and he whimpered, tears
pooling in his eyes from fear. "S-stop it." Yuugi whispered, choking back a
fearful sob. He tried to back away further, only to realize that one of the
guards was holding him still.

The silver-haired Hybrid paused, glancing amusedly at the boy. "Why are you
frightened?" he honeyed voice cleverly covering a hidden malice. The Emperor
watched Yuugi flinch as he neared his head against the boy's face.

"You are my prisoner now," Pegasus whispered in Yuugi's ear. "I _own_ you."

Tears were now streaming openly down the boy's cheeks. "P-please," Yuugi
whispered hoarsely, desperately. "J-just leave me alone!"

The Emperor simply blinked. "Very well," he stated, standing back agreeably. The
silver-haired Hybrid then began to walk towards his throne, until he was
standing beside it. "I guess I will just have to pick on someone else."

Slowly and deliberately, Pegasus pushed back the thicket of curtains with one
hand, revealing a shrouded figure inside. Yuugi's eyes widened as he gazed at
the unveiled figure. A single word escaped his trembling lips.

"Jounochi!"

Jounochi was currently unconscious, body slumped to one side of the wall
like a rag doll.

And Pegasus grinned, enjoying the boy's fear. The silver-haired man watched
Ryou tense in the corner of his eyes, perhaps analyzing the other figure. Then,
his gaze shifted once again towards the _human_, the boy, Yuugi. The Emperor
deliberately moved his hand to stroke Jounochi's back, entwining his fingers
suggestively into the golden-haired Hybrid's hair.

Pegasus giggled at Yuugi's growing revulsion. "He was being quite foolish, but
now, he is making penance for his sins." The silver-haired Hybrid stated rather
gleefully. "You see, he _enjoys_ being my slave."

"Liar!" Yuugi screamed, unable to control his disgust and fear. "Jounochi would
never obey anyone like you!"

Pegasus's chuckle increased in intensity. "You don't get it do you?" The
silver-haired Hybrid reveled in Yuugi's expression of bewilderment. "If it
weren't for you, he would have been free. If you had never been here, then he
wouldn't be my slave. You see, he was willing to sacrifice everything for you.
He gave his life for you."

"No!" Yuugi shook his head furiously, trying to block Pegasus's words. There was
no way this stranger would know anything.

"You know why Jounochi sacrificed himself?" Pegasus continued, voice accusing.
"It's because you are _special_. He was just an ordinary Hybrid, but you are
someone important. You _deserved_ to live, and he didn't."

Yuugi wanted to disagree, wanted to deny it, but it struck the truth. Hadn't
Jounochi said the same words; that the boy was unique and special?

Pegasus gazed fondly at Jounochi's limp form, absently stroking the blonde
Hybrid's matted fur. "I'm sure you wouldn't care what happened to Jounochi.
After all, you are more important than him."

The boy watched helpless as Pegasus lifted Jounochi's unconscious face with one
hand, stroking the blonde Hybrid's lips with his thumb. The silver-haired Hybrid
then bent over until his nose was buried in Jounochi's thick, blonde hair.
Yuugi bit his lip, heart quivering with guilt. This wasn't right; it just
_wasn't_!

"Pegasus!" Yuugi finally choked out, "Y-you're right." He swallowed his anger,
slumping his shoulders in defeat. "I'm not important. I-I'll be your slave." No,
Jounochi did not deserve this; the other had risked life and limb to protect
Yuugi. It was Yuugi's duty, as a friend, to do the same. "Just don't touch
Jounochi."

However, the Emperor simply shook his head in absconding fashion. "What makes
you think that I want you, Yuugi? I find Jounochi here much more promising.
After all, he _loves_ me." The silver-haired Hybrid's eyes were penetrating,
demanding. "Why would I want someone who doesn't love me?"

It had come to this. After all the promises, fighting, determination,
sacrifices, Yuugi was left with this option. Utterly defeated, the boy bowed his
head, eyes dull with submission. Slowly, he forced the words out, signalling his
fate.
"I do Pegasus. I-I-" Bile washed into the boy's mouth, but he slowly forced it
down, "Love-"

"-Don't!"

Startled, Yuugi stopped, pausing to stare at Ryou's sudden outburst. Didn't the
other see that he _had_ to do this, to save Jounochi?

Ryou glared accusingly at Pegasus, all but radiating absolute hatred. His voice
was a bitter venom, tainted with disgust "Pegasus, you are nothing but an
Emperor of lies, hiding in your castle of traitors."

Some of the guard Hybrids bristled in anger. Pegasus stopped them with a single
raise of his hand. The silver-haired Hybrid seemed more amused than anything
else, turning to slowly advance towards Ryou's restrained form.

"…Interesting idea you have there, Ryou." The Emperor stated, smiling
deceivingly. "Or, shall I call you…Seraph?"

An audible gasp echoed throughout the room, followed by a profound silence. All
pairs of eyes fixated on the white-haired figure with collective expressions of
fear and awed surprise. Even Ryou's captor appeared unnerved, holding the white-
haired figure with trembling arms.

Yuugi was confused. What exactly was a Seraph? The other seemed harmless enough,
tougher than himself though not nearly as powerful as the muscular Hybrids
around him.

"Yes, Ryou the Seraph." Pegasus repeated, enjoying the look of absolute pain and
anger imprinted in the white-haired figure's eyes. "The Untalked about one, the
feared one." The Emperor ambled casually towards Ryou, hautily, unlike
the rest of the Hybrids. "It's hard to think that such an innocent face like
yours would be willing to kill, to maim, to destroy so many. I wouldn't talk
about deception if I were you."

"It's not like that!" Ryou protested, though his voice sounded weak, too
vulnerable to Pegasus's suggestions. Something in the white-haired figure's tone
told Pegasus that he had struck a chord.

"Of course," Pegasus mocked, "You can't help it. But you have to, don't you?
Using Yuugi to feed your own life on, using an _innocent_ with false charm. Not
unlike myself, don't you think?"

Yuugi was completely lost. "Ryou?" The small boy pleaded towards the other.
"What is he talking about?" But Ryou was no longer listening. The white-haired
figure stared blankly at Pegasus, defeated, just like Yuugi had been.

Pegasus continued walking until he was face-to-face with Ryou. "Think about it.
We could be _allies_. The Emperor and the Seraph. We could rule armies, control
both this reality and the Game."

Ryou said nothing. The other continued to stare in muted silence as Pegasus
spread his words of corruption.

"In fact," the silver-Haired hybrid stated in a loud stage whisper, "we could
overcome _it_. We could be the new _it_ and rule supreme."

The white-haired figure's head hung limply as if he had fallen into a coma,
thick, unruly bangs covering his eyes. Seconds later, he raised his head,
eyes suddenly snapping open.

Yuugi's gasped, recoiling slightly. Ryou's eyes were no longer a deep
brown but a glowing, brilliant red.

The white-haired Seraph's solemn expression split into a sadistic smirk. One
second was all it took before the room around him burst into a tornado of
flames.

***************************************

~* ~

"Grandpa!"

A small, child's voice was screaming in the vortex of flames, flailing his limbs
out helplessly against the sea of crimsons and brilliant yellows.

"Grandpa!" The child's voice sobbed brokenly, breaking into a desperate screech.
"Please help me!"

The wall of fire was building in intensity, blues creeping into the dancing,
burning, stinging, acrid light. The boy coughed, one small hand rubbing his
face. His jagged crimson-black hair was stained with grime.

"Grandpa! I need you!" That was the child's last cry before everything became
covered in the flames.

~*~

Yuugi coughed, choking on the thick, stagnant air. He continued to hack
forcefully, inhaling air in desperate gasps between convulsions. The boy's eyes
stung from the cloud of thick smoke, tears trickling down his eyes in reaction
to the brilliant, vibrant flames.

The room had been entirely decimated: the pillars, carpets, chairs and statues
were broken into mere pieces of rubble. In between the flashes of fire lay
burning bodies. Some still twitched convulsively, robbed of their promised eternal
slumber, blind eyes frozen in permanent terror.

He stood in the center of the carnage, laughing crudely, feeding off the
destruction around him. The angelic snow-white hair bristled out at sharp
angles, heightening his demonic appearance. And he- the figure, the Seraph-
continued to laugh, ruby-red eyes flashing in anticipation. In one of his hands
was a lifeless head, decorated with a long mane of silver hair. The Seraph
raised his hand, clenching his fingers to squeeze the decapitated head, watching
with sadistic amusement as crimson liquid oozed out of the severed head's neck
to dribble through his fingers onto the ground. Then, he simply discarded it
like an over-used toy, bringing his hand towards his face to lick off the stains
with a rough tongue, eyes narrowed in laughter.

Yuugi shuddered, resisting the sudden urge to vomit. It was a sickening sight;
the flames mixed with fresh blood, fuelling the scent of spilt guts and organs.
Yet, he had to make the best of it, had to escape this vile nightmare and solve
the net of confusion. A flash of gold caught the boy's sight, the colour offset
from the regular stain of red. Yuugi quickly scurried on his knees towards the
figure, kneeling down to stroke its unconscious head.

"Jounochi." Yuugi whispered to the sleeping figure, grateful that his friend had
been hidden away from the disaster. "Please wake up." The boy winced as he heard
the background jarring of disjointed bones, refusing to acknowledge the scene.
He then tugged at the blonde Hybrid's ears, pinching it to try and awaken the
sleeping figure.

Almost miraculously, Jounochi began to stir, groaning slightly as if half-
drugged. The blonde-Hybrid slowly opened his eyes, shielding them against the
bright light with a weakened hand. "Yuugi?" Jounochi slurred, incredulous, yet
hopeful. "Is that you?"

Numbly, Yuugi nodded, hugging the other fiercely. "Jounochi! You're okay!" With
those few words of relief, the boy began to break down, snivelling quietly under
the gold-haired Hybrid's arms. "I-I can't stop him!" The boy began, stuttering
uncontrollably.

It was then that Jounochi decided to look up. The blonde-hybrid stared wide-eyed
at the scene of mutilated carnage, looking around in confusion until his eyes
finally fell on the single figure dancing in its midst. With a sharp intake of
breath, Jounochi stiffened, barely intelligible words escaping from his
nerveless lips.

"Seraph!"

As if hearing its title, the now-demonic Seraph turned around, locking eyes with
Jounochi. The Seraph chuckled lowly, running his tongue along his sharp eyeteeth
in anticipation. "Well, I seemed to have missed some." A sneer played on the
white-haired demon's lips, distorting the once-gentle face. Even the voice
sounded offset, uncannily foreign and harsh. Yuugi shuddered as he felt the
white-haired figure's eyes fall on his form. The boy shook his head to loosen
the tears of frustration pooling around his eyes.

"Ryou, _why_ are you doing this?" His voice rose and fell in trembling
crescendos.

For a moment, the white-haired figure stiffened, face almost troubled, eyes
eyes momentarily clear of dark ferocity Then, like an illusion, the expression
disappeared, to be replaced with a malicious, smug expression. "Simple, little
Yuugi Mutou. I'm not Ryou."

Even through his moment of fear, Jounochi sought to protect Yuugi, shielding the
boy away from the white-haired figure's sight. "Don't you know what he is,
Yuugi?" Slowly, the boy shook his head. His mind was swimming with absolute
confusion, unsure of what to expect.

"Your friend, Ryou, as you called him, is a _Seraph_, a fallen angel." Jounochi
explained curtly, eyes never leaving the white-haired figure's impatient form.
"He is _it's_ spy; the last of his kind, chained to _it's_ will for eternity."

But Yuugi still did not understand. The boy poked his head around Jounochi's
protective stance, daring to face Ryou once again. "Ryou! You said that you
wanted to escape. We can still do that. Just-just stop it."

The white-haired Seraph listened with dull amusement. "You assume a lot, little
Yuugi." He gave another deceitful half-smirk, chuckling darkly. "Why don't you
come and play a Game with me? Maybe if you play you will understand."

Yuugi's eyes widened at the mention of the word. He couldn't remember exactly
what the 'Game' was, but it struck a note of apprehension in his mind, reminding
him of something vague; a large, unexplainable, fearful mass.

"Leave him alone!" Jounochi roared. In a fury of rage, the blonde-Hybrid charged
towards the Seraph, claws outstretched in an attempt to maim the other with his
bare hands.

The white-haired figure looked at Jounochi with amusement. The Seraph simply
extended his arm, pointing a hand straight at the blonde Hybrid. In a surreal
display of power, Jounochi's charging form was frozen on the spot, quivering
muscles unable to budge an inch.

'Ryou' grinned. "_It_ commands power," he chanted, as if it was the most obvious
comment in the world. "And those who oppose it shall love _it_, even after death."

"Bastard!" Jounochi growled between clenched teeth, struggling in vain to move.
The blonde Hybrid was absolutely powerless under the Seraph's control; and yet,
he stubbornly refused to give up. "_It_ does nothing but kill and corrupt you.
I would never love _it_ willingly."

With a slight shrug, the Seraph dropped his arm, flicking his wrist to the side.
Jounochi's form followed the action, swinging through the air by an invisible
force to collide painfully with the stone wall.

"Jounochi!" Yuugi ran towards the fallen Hybrid. The boy then angrily turned
towards the white-haired figure, clenching his fists in determination. "I don't
care who you say or think you are. In my eyes, you are still Ryou, not-not a
pawn of _it_." Large violet eyes widened in determination. "I will not give up
on you."

"Such faithful words." The Seraph snickered. "But you have not been known for
keeping promises. You have failed, and you will fail again. Just submit to_it_,
Yuugi. _It_ will make life easier for you."

The white-haired figure then cupped his hands into a circle, slowly spreading
them outwards, palm up. Dazzling arcs of electric-white light shot across his
palms, extending outwards until they formed a flat, oval shape. Slowly, the
shape expanded until it was no longer an abstract outline but a large portal of
darkness, ripping across the very fabric of reality with its abysmal, serrated
edges.

"I will be waiting for you, Yuugi Mutou." With a strange mock-bow, the white-
haired Seraph began to fade, blending into the darkened shadows. Now, all the
flames and carnage had disappeared into dull outlines, leaving only the strange
portal in the middle.

Yuugi stared at the opening, unsure of what to expect. Part of him was
determined to go inside, to find Ryou, and challenge the Game. The other part
just wanted to leave and never come back. Ryou's words had stung. The fact that
the white-haired Seraph had expected Yuugi to make false promises, had mocked
the other's confidence. The feeling of absolute worthlessness burned in the
boy's mind, reinforcing his guilt.

He would do it. He _had_ to do it.

Jounochi was now standing again, limping in pained steps towards the boy. The
blonde Hybrid opened his mouth to issue a warning.

Yuugi simply shook his head. "Don't," was all the boy said. "I'm going in."

And before the blonde-haired Hybrid could begin to react, Yuugi jumped through
the portal into the darkened chasm within.

He would play the Game to save Ryou. He would play to win Ryou's freedom.

*************************************************