THE ENCOUNTER OF LOST SOULS
Chapter One: Confessions
It had been a long night for Mutou Yugi.
Even though he was exhausted from his daily chores and his ordeal from Battle City, he could not get any sleep. After tossing and turning for hours, he got out of bed and walked towards his bedroom window. He opened the window and looked down the street.
There was no activity below.
Then, the same innocent amethyst eyes looked up to the night sky. He smiled as he saw the full moon and the twinkling stars. He then closed his eyes and felt the gentle breeze blow against his face.
"Funny how we were recently closer to the sky, but never got the chance to enjoy it," said the other Yugi as he stared at the sky, referring to the Kaiba Corporation blimp where the semi-finals were held.
"Yeah..." Yugi absentmindedly responded.
The other Yugi glanced sideways and noticed his vessel's beleaguered look. After moments of silence between them, he then asked his young protégé, "Is there something wrong?"
Yugi sighed. "These past few days are such nice changes from last week. It's quiet."
The other Yugi customarily frowned. Trying to understand, he pried, "Too quiet for you?"
Yugi gave his other self a half-smile as he stared at the sky. "We're now a step closer in getting your memory back. I just can't imagine how each of us will become without the other."
"We've been through thick or thin, Aibou. Another adventure would unravel now that we have the God Cards. If the fate of the entire world was at stake last time, then I guarantee that our next adventure will have an equal or greater stake."
"I agree," said Yugi, who now slightly bowed his head. The longer that the conversation between them transpired, the harder that it was for him to hide his feelings.
The other Yugi turned to face his partner and then rested his hand on the other's shoulder. "If you don't wish to go any further –"
Yugi shook his head and focused his gaze at the spirit, explaining, "No, it's not that! That has never been the issue. I want us to finish what we've started. I'm just wondering what would happen if you do get your memory back. I'm hoping that it wouldn't end of our bond."
While Yugi was speaking, his other self leaned against the desk. He focused at the picture frame on the desk: a photograph of Yugi, Sugoroku, and the gang during the elderly man's birthday. Even though he was not physically in this particular picture, he gave a reminiscent smile since he was a part of those memories standing by Yugi's side.
The younger Mutou now felt uncomfortable as the core of his feelings was revealed. He had a pained look on his face – a look that reflected a tinge of loneliness, guilt, and sadness.
Shifting his gaze back to his spirit vessel, Yugi's other self then said, "We have to believe the best will happen for all of us. We have Jii-chan, our friends, and most especially each other. Trust in all of that –"
A light knock interrupted their conversation, prompting Yugi to say aloud, "Come in, Jii-chan."
Mutou Sugoroku opened the door, smiled at his grandson, sat on the bed, and kept silent for many minutes before he commented, "Couldn't sleep much, either, huh?"
"I'm afraid not," Yugi responded. "Too much excitement, I guess."
The elderly man asked, "Does it have something to do with the Millennium Puzzle?"
Yugi gave Sugoroku a startled look.
The elder Mutou rested his wrinkled hands on his weary knees and then looked at his grandson. "Yes, Yugi... I know about the spirit inside the Millennium Puzzle. He may be invisible, but I believe that he's as real as you are."
Yugi walked back towards his bed and sat right beside Sugoroku. After recovering from the initial shock, Yugi said, "Mom thinks I'm nuts at times. She never said anything, but I could see it in her face whenever she came here to visit us."
"If it makes you feel any better, your Mother thinks the same way about me, too."
After letting out a resigned sigh and a beleaguered look, Yugi faced his grandfather. "You know how I hate keeping secrets. When it comes to the Millennium Puzzle, however, it's best to keep things secret from Mom. Trying to convince her that I'm not losing it every time she hears me talking when I'm alone in my room...well...that's just a lost cause..."
The elderly man murmured, "I've seen plenty of unexplainable events – especially in my old line of work. You've inherited the same gift – or curse – from me. The Millennium Puzzle is, and will always be, a mystery to us. It's something that your mother would never understand. Take heart that I understand your situation."
Yugi's puzzled look intensified. "What do you mean?"
"I have spoken with your friend during your duel against Pegasus in the Shadow Realm. That wasn't the first time I've seen him." Before the younger Mutou could react, the elderly man stopped him. "I told you where the Millennium Puzzle came from, but I never told you how I got it."
Yugi leaned against the bed's headrest, hugged his pillow, and listened to Sugoroku's story. His eyes widened as the elderly man narrated the tale wherein he entered the tomb of the unknown Pharaoh – from the time that his grandfather walked in the tomb with the double-crossing Egyptian guides all the way to the moment that he exited the tomb with a gunshot wound and the Millennium Puzzle in tow.
After the long pause of silence, an awe-struck Yugi stared down at the Puzzle while clasping it with his two hands. "Years later, you gave the Puzzle to me. If the Puzzle and the search for it killed so many men, then did fate have something to do with you finding the Puzzle and me assembling it?"
Sugoroku nodded. "There's more, Yugi. The young man who saved me in that tomb was your young friend. I never got to thank him for saving me twice."
Yugi and his other self were shocked to hear this startling revelation. Their puzzled look intensified as the wizened man further narrated his eventful meeting with the Nameless Pharaoh's spirit.
The other Yugi, still sitting on the floor facing Sugoroku and Yugi, mused, "Shimon? Why did I call Jii-chan that name?"
The elder Mutou then said, "There's a remarkable resemblance between you and your young friend. The only difference was that he was taller and more intense than you are right now. However, as time passes by, you're becoming more and more like him. I wouldn't be surprised if time came that you will be him."
The younger Mutou still looked stunned from what he just heard.
Sugoroku gave his grandson a tight-lipped smile. "You're a good kid and I have complete faith in you. Your Puzzle, and your young friend, would never steer you wrong."
Yugi closed his eyes. Tears flowed down his cheeks as his grandfather's words permeated deep in his heart. Teary-eyed, he then looked up to a smiling and empathetic Sugoroku. He tightly hugged his grandfather which made that momentary peace prolong within his heart. The longer that the hug transpired, the more that his tears silently and freely flowed from him.
The elderly man patted his grandson on the back as he reciprocated the embrace. "Everything will be all right, my boy. The best is in store for all of us, no matter how uncertain things seem to be. Just keep believing in yourself and live life one day at a time."
The other Yugi smiled at the loving moment between grandson and grandfather. He then closed his eyes as he felt the same comfort, warmth, and security his host experienced. Battle City was a harrowing experience for them and it pushed everyone beyond the limits. As much as he did not remember his past as the Pharaoh of Egypt, he knew that those memories were filled with darkness and pain. Could he blame a kindhearted and innocent person such as his spirit vessel to feel burdened and confused?
The younger Mutou wiped away most of his tears. For the first time in the past couple of days, a feeling of calm and certainty permeated within his being.
"Oh, by the way," Sugoroku said while wiping away some of his own tears. "Speaking of young friends, I want you to have this." He then handed his grandson a thick white envelope.
A less burdened Yugi immediately opened the envelope and carefully examined its contents. His amethyst eyes then widened and his heart jumped in glee. "Yes – six tickets! First-row concert tickets to see Alexa's concert!"
The amused grandfather explained, "An old friend of mine returned a favor, so I bought these concert tickets while everyone was at Battle City. There's one for each of us. Aside from hearing her songs, I have no idea as to who this Alexa is. The only thing I know is that you kids like listening to her songs."
"The radio's been playing Alexa's songs for the past seven months. Her first album already went platinum. She's now on tour to promote her CD and her first stop will be here in Domino City!"
While rubbing his beard, the elderly man asked, "Well, she has a lovely voice. What does she look like?"
"No one knows what she looks like. Since the beginning, she only did phone interviews for magazines. Her CD doesn't have her picture. Even the opening act for her concert hasn't seen her." Shifting his focus back on the tickets in his hand, the young man once again exclaimed with a grin from ear to ear, "This is so cool! I can't wait until I tell the gang..."
The elderly man's eyes twinkled as he said, "We'll definitely see in two week's time. For our sakes, I hope that she looks as pretty as she sounds." He then stood up from Yugi's bed, stretched his back a little, and then walked towards the door. Before closing the bedroom door, he peeked inside the room once more. "Now I hope those tickets wouldn't make you too wound up to sleep."
"It won't," the younger Mutou responded, as he tucked himself in bed. "These tickets really made my night. Thanks, Jii-chan!"
The elderly man graciously smiled. "Goodnight, Yugi. Next time you speak with your young friend, please thank him for saving me twice and for being a good friend to you. Tell him that he's my grandson, too."
After his grandfather closed the door, Yugi then waited until the elderly man's footsteps were inaudible. He got out from bed once more, looked at the night sky, and allowed the cool night breeze calm him down again. His innocent amethyst eyes twinkled in delight as he mused, "Unbelievable! We have front-row tickets! I can't wait..."
The spirit did not respond.
Yugi stared at his other self and saw that the spirit was too absorbed in looking out the window and gazing at the night sky. He cleared his throat until he received attention from the spirit.
His semi-startled other self blinked his eyes back to reality and asked his spirit vessel, "What's wrong?"
"We have front-row tickets to see Alexa. Weren't you listening?"
"It's just a concert," the other Yugi inattentively replied as his eyes remain glued at the view outside the window.
In Domino City, the gang had been listening to Alexa's music and her work had been receiving much time in the airwaves. In addition, Kaiba Corp put in much creative thought, time, and money in promoting her upcoming concert along with Alexa's team - the combined effort beefing much interest and hype for the world's first time to finally see the face behind the voice that launched hits for a couple of years now.
However, there was something inside the other Yugi that made him consider to think of other thoughts aside from dueling and retrieving his lost memories...something in Alexa's voice, music, and lyrics entice him to momentarily stray from his goals. Those interruptions to his goals and focus were both welcomed and yet made him feel uneasy...uncomfortable...
With an impish smile, Yugi teased, "Hmmm... I guess tonight's the night for first timers. This is the first time I've seen you intrigued with anything other than dueling and recovering your memory."
The other Yugi glanced sideways, smirked, and then crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Now you're being silly."
The vessel raised one eyebrow. "Oh, am I?"
Point-blank, the spirit then asked, "Since you're so eager to talk about affairs of the heart, care to share your feelings about Anzu?"
An instantly blushing and sheepishly grinning Yugi rubbed the back of his neck. "Now that wasn't fair. I like Anzu a lot. However, we're just good friends."
A moment of tense silence followed as their eyes met.
The other Yugi broke the ice of silence and sighed. "We're just being silly. I propose a truce. We've had a long day."
"We both had our fun," a nodding and blushing Yugi responded as he let out a slow yawn. Shortly thereafter, he went back to bed, turned off the night lamp, bade the spirit goodnight, covered himself with a blanket, closed his eyes, and dozed off to the land of dreams.
The other Yugi, seeing that his partner was sound asleep, returned to his comfortable spot by the window. He temporarily closed his eyes as he enjoyed the small amount of peace now within his spirit vessel's heart.
As the spirit opened his expressive amethyst eyes, he once again allowed his thoughts to drift and mingle with the night air – thoughts about the God Cards, his lost memory, the Stone of Destiny at Domino Museum, the next adventure, and Alexa.
End of Chapter One
Normal Disclaimer
Yu-Gi-Oh is the copyrighted property of Kazuki Takahashi. Alexa, as well as this fan fiction, is the property of the author. This fan fiction is written for entertainment purposes only - thereby releasing the author from any liabilities.