It was dark...so dark...and so, so very cold...
"Jii-chan, can I please keep it?"
This tongue was unfamiliar to him, and yet the speaker- a child, without a doubt- woke something within him- something he thought to be dead- with his voice alone.
"I suppose, if you think you can solve it, Yugi-kun."
He could feel it as he was passed briefly between an old and wise soul to a younger one. He immediately felt warmth, and it made him smile, though something told him he'd regret it if he opened his eyes. Heedless, he opened them anyway, only to cringe, for the light of this child's soul was so very bright as to be blinding.
Within the Millennium Puzzle, the shadows stirred, eager to feed on such light, but he quickly and expertly restrained them.
"Such a soul as this will attract much darkness, and on that you may feast."
To protect this light- the innocence it possessed now, the life it had always had, and the strength it would gain...
"This soul of such purity, I swear to protect with all my power."
So the oath has been sworn.
OooOooOooOooO
Eight years.
"And...just one more piece...eh?"
It was gone...right? Just to be sure he hadn't just missed it, Yugi moved his hand around, feeling every last centimeter of the golden box. It was empty.
That final piece to the Millennium Puzzle was gone.
"Could I have left it at school...?" Yugi wondered aloud. That's probably what happened.
It could be bad if someone else found it...
Worry set in.
"I need to go back and look for it," he decided. He made to leave, but something nagged at his mind, begging him to take the puzzle with him, so he could finish it as soon as possible. With a light nod, Yugi grabbed the golden pyramid and put it in his bag, feeling oddly pleased with himself for doing so.
"Yugi-kun, where are you going?"
"I'm going back to school, jii-chan- I accidentally left something important there!"
"Oh, well, alright- but be careful."
"Hai!"
Then, he left.
OooOooOooOooO
The tiny fragment was somewhere wet and cold and relatively dark. And then it wasn't.
The tiny fragment was held in a warm, large hand, not as bright as the child its main piece was with, but bright enough.
For the first time since his mother left, Jounouchi felt good about himself.
OooOooOooOooO
"I won't let you hurt my friends!"
In mere seconds, Ushio had him bruised and beaten, on the ground with Honda and Jounouchi. The much larger man- a teen despite his very adult appearance- walked off, laughing harshly, and Yugi could feel his consciousness slipping away. It wasn't too bad, really- it felt like warm, comforting arms had wrapped themselves around him. It felt like an embrace from his mother- not that he had any memory of her- and he felt safe, and yet...
"I...I want to...finish the puzzle..."
Something was pressed into his palm, and he was drawn further back, closer to sleep. He was only just able to place the piece into its spot.
Those arms suddenly felt more real.
"Well done. Now, make a wish."
This voice sounded similar to his own, but deeper. More trustworthy.
"I want friends- friends who I won't betray or be betrayed by!"
He saw a pair of crimson eyes, gentle and safe, and a knowing smile.
"An innocent and pure wish. Just as I expected. Now, rest, Mutou Yugi, and I will grant your wish."
In the safety of shadows, Yugi finally allowed himself to lose consciousness.
"Now it's my turn. For harming my master, I'll make you pay!"
"Ne, Ushio! I challenge you!"
Surprise. Laughter. Disbelief.
"It's game time."
When they found Ushio later that night, crying and wailing for his mother, the passing students wisely decided not to touch him.
Yugi was oblivious and his shadows were pleased.
OooOooOooOooO
Bakura Ryou woke up in a cold sweat. For weeks now, ever since he'd moved to Domino City, his other self- Yami Bakura, as he called him- had been crying out, screaming and calling for someone Ryou was unfamiliar with.
The keeper of the Millennium Puzzle...
But who was that? Surely someone smart, to be able to solve it.
Someone pure, for that kind of soul is the only one for whom he would awaken.
But who was 'he'?
Ryou shook his head, deciding to let it lie for the time being. Yami Bakura still screamed incessantly at him, but Ryou had gotten better at ignoring it. He slipped into his school uniform- neat and pristine- and only grabbed an apple as he exited his apartment.
About two blocks into the walk, the dark god within him suddenly stilled. Taken aback, Ryou looked around, seeing only a short boy with tri-colored hair, wearing a uniform identical to his and-
A golden pyramid around his neck.
Is that...another Millennium artifact?
The god stirred up again, loudly urging him to get closer, but Ryou was nervous, and reluctant to give the sadistic being any sort of pleasure- since such endeavors often lead to trouble for himself and his friends. So he quietly followed a couple meters behind the boy, instead.
OooOooOooOooO
"Class, this is Bakura Ryou-san. Please treat him kindly."
The King- the other Yugi, and more accurately the god of kinghood that's bonded to Yugi through the Millennium Puzzle- stilled, and Yugi cupped the hollow pyramid in his hands, sending waves of reassurance to him, even though he didn't know why his shadowy protector seemed so bothered by the new student.
"What's wrong, Pharaoh-sama?"
The King hesitated. He'd taught his master much about gods in the last few months, in between the Shadow Games, but he was unsure how much he should tell in regards to...
"That child known as Bakura Ryou, and the god linked to him through the Millennium Ring."
Amethyst eyes widened.
"Eh? Bakura-san also has...?"
"Yes. All gods are attracted to souls of pure light, and most seek to consume such light, or else keep it all to themselves. But the soul of that child is-"
"Yugi-kun, would you please raise your hand?" Chono-sensei's voice was faintly laced with impatience, and as he raised his hand high with an awkward apology, Yugi wondered why the woman had even bothered to become a high school teacher.
Not that it really mattered.
"Ohayou Bakura-san," Yugi greeted politely. The green-eyed youth stiffened, as if expecting something.
"Ah- o-ohayou, Mutou-san..."
"Please, Yugi-kun is fine!"
"Oh...alright, then, please, just call me Bakura, Yugi-kun."
Yugi nodded his head with a grin and returned his attention to Chono-sensei's lecture.
In the meantime, Ryou was lost in his thoughts.
That light...! I must have it! Boy, you will get close to him: you will get me that light! Of my will, you will do this!
Yami Bakura...
The god of thieves sent another shock through his host and Ryou tried hard not to let the pain show. He knew he failed when he caught Yugi glancing at him.
The rest of the day was uneventful.