Dreaming in Gray

Chapter 1: Alone by the Sea

Standard disclaimers apply. YuGiOh and "Kiss From A Rose" are property of their own creators. Written for Mamono's fic challenge, and based loosely around the song "Kiss From A Rose" by Seal. Many thanks to Harlequine, my beta reader!


A statue, silver-gray in the moonlight, stands alone by the sea. A robe is clutched around its body by two stony hands, as protection from the cold Egyptian nights. Its gaze saw past the murky waters of the Red Sea and, as if trying to scouring the bottom of its soul, it draws a shallow breath--- the only sign that this fixture is made of flesh and bone.

He is a tower—a testament to a life once lived, but now only shadowed. She reaches out to grasp him, to embrace him---ask him why he was so lonely and beg him to return to how he once was, but she lacks arms or any physical part of her being.

The night is growing dimmer and stars that shine brightly begin to fade like dimming candles until only the moon remains to look upon the sorrowful scene. Slowly, the statue of the man moves, his hand reaching into his robes to procure a single bloom--- rare in itself in this sand-plagued land. A whispered prayer—or perhaps an incantation?—passes his lips as he gently drops the flower into the water. A splash (a tear?) disturbs the cool pool as the flower leaves his hand... And as that bloom falls, she finds herself falling too.

She is suddenly surrounded by a darkness, smothered by memories that he casts aside. She screams a voiceless scream as she simply ceases to be, slipping away in the darkness that he became.


Anzu Mazaki woke up in a tangle of yellow blankets, her arms spread to each side, and trying desperately to still the foreign sensation of falling still imbedded deep within the pit of her stomach. After several deep breaths, she unwound her thin legs from the sheets and sat up in bed. Brushing ginger colored bangs away with her fingertips, she massaged her temples, feeling the first twinge of a headache coming on.

'What was that?' She asked herself as she gathered her wits about her. She usually didn't remember her dreams, and though the details of this particular one were vague, emotions surged through her veins. Picturing that man standing solemnly on the shore conjured a feeling of companionship. He was someone that she knew, that she could tell without a doubt--- but from where? There was also disappointment and a fear buried somewhere in the back of her mind. It all felt so real and yet surreal at the same time.

Suddenly, a sharp laugh passed her lips, in time with a stark realization. 'It's just a dream,' She reminded herself, 'And dreams are nothing but a weird mix of events that have happened recently. And you,' she threw her legs over the side of her bed and rose slowly as she chewed herself out. 'You are becoming more superstitious than both Yuugis combined!'

Yuugi. Of course her thoughts would lead her to him; they always did. Or, to be fair, to both of them. Her childhood friend with his shy smiles, wide eyed view of the world, and endless encouragement--- and her hero with his confident grin and the deep voice that sent shivers down her spine.

She loved them both with her entire heart, but she knew it was wrong to be in love with two separate spirits even though they both resided in the same body. Her face flushed with heat, a sure sign of a blush, and she tried to clear her mind of all thoughts. The shrill beep of her alarm clock pierced through the silence, and she turned to face the glowing red numbers: 8:30 AM. It was about time for her to wake up. She groaned as she pressed the "off" button, the alarm abruptly stopping mid-beep, and caught a glimpse of the accumulating snow through the frost covered window.

"Today's going to be a weird day," she decided.


Snow sifted slowly from the clear blue sky down to the streets of Domino, already covered generously in the thick, white powder. Outside the Kame Game Shop, laughter penetrated the nearly deserted streets as a trio of teenagers pelted each other with the cold, white, phenomenon. The game shop itself looked almost festive with bits of green paint showing through the patches of glimmering, white snow.

Puffs of frigid wet air formed in front of Yuugi Muto's face as he tried to breathe between sharp giggles while a blonde boy dressed in a green jacket ran up to him, throwing snowballs from a collection in the crook of his arm.

"You're mine, Yuugi." He shouted as he sprinted to the shorter teen.

"Not fair, Jounouchi," He mock pouted, "I wasn't ready." His hands, crossed innocently behind his back, concealed a perfectly round snowball in the palm of one purple-gloved hand. Hhe hoped his friend wouldn't notice that he was armed too.

Jounouchi smirked, looking down at the one last snowball that he held in one of his black gloves. "What, you thought Honda and I came outside to drink tea and talk about girls?" He tossed the sphere up and down in one hand, a crooked smile playing about the corners of his lips. "You've got plenty of snow around you. Fight like a man, Yuugi." A grin formed on Yuugi's face as he thrust his right arm forward, propelling the ball that he'd hidden behind his back. White powder shattered over the blonde boy's blue jeans and he shivered, "Man, it's on!"

A look behind his back assured Jounouchi that his fellow partner in crime, a boy with dark brown hair done up in a rather severe hair style, was still there packing snowballs. Upon being looked at, Honda rose from his kneeling position, his arms filled with the cool spheres.

"Two against one, Honda?" Yuugi laughed, looking over at the brown haired boy who was now evenly dividing the snowballs between himself and Jounouchi. Honda only smiled self-assuredly, one ball clutched in his black leather glove.

Shaking long blonde bangs from his face, Yuugi bent down to make a snowball for himself. After forming a sphere in his gloved hands, he thrust his head back, blonde bangs falling back into the black and red tufts of hair crowning the back of his head. A rich, dark laugh escaped his lips, and crimson glimmered challengingly in violet eyes. "Sounds fun."


Crunch.

Anzu frowned, almost losing her footing as she walked down the snow covered sidewalk.

Crunch-Squeak!

Her new leather boots made thick footprints in the otherwise untouched surface. Light pink coat wrapped around her tightly, she made her way down the street, wind blowing in her face.

Despite the cold, it really was a lovely day, and she figured as far as temperatures were concerned, it could be much worse. The sun shone brightly, reflecting itself off the pure white that covered everything in sight---buildings, the trees and parked cars were all blessed with a little winter spirit.

Though she had started walking without a destination, she wasn't surprised when she saw the familiar "Kame Game Shop" sign. A high pitched scream caused her to whirl around and face the street, where two figures were being chased by one diminutive one expertly throwing snowballs .The two taller boys ducked behind a fortress of snow and began to regroup.

"Do you surrender yet?" Yuugi asked, confidence radiating from his being as he continued to thrust more snowballs over the barricade where the other two hid.

"Never!" Honda replied, returning fire as Jounouchi ran behind him, unnoticed.

Anzu watched, amused, as Yuugi dodged Honda's snowballs, even catching some effortlessly. Suddenly, she felt a hand clamp down over her mouth. She was about to scream just as another hand wrenched her arm behind her back.

"Shh... it's just me." She recognized the voice--- it belonged to Jounouchi. "Yuugi!" He yelled over at the boy who was pelting his teammate, "We have a hostage situation. Cease fire, or the girl gets a face full of snow!"

Yuugi stopped and whirled around to face Anzu and Jounouchi, his violet eyes twinkling with specks of crimson. He nodded slightly, before flashing her one of his confident smiles.

Anzu felt her knees buckle.

'That's not Yuugi... not entirely.' She thought to herself, feeling her cheeks grow warm. The darker Yuugi rarely came out when there wasn't a duel or life threatening situation, and even now, she could tell it was a blend of both boys playing this game.

The feeling of something cold whizzing past her shook her out of her thoughts, and she saw Yuugi racing towards her and Jounouchi, pelted by snowball after snowball by Honda, who was at his heels. Still, this did nothing to deter his aim, which his successfully utilized against an unsuspecting Jounouchi.

Jounouchi, not pleased by the turn of events, removed his hand from Anzu's mouth, and placed her other arm behind her back. "Sorry Anzu," he apologized, "but it looks like you're going to be tasting snow." With those words, he lifted her up and carried her over to the snow barricade.

"On the count of three," Honda announced from the side of the street, shooting amused glances at Yuugi.

"One."

Jounouchi began to lower the protesting Anzu down.

"Two."

He turned her around so that her face would enter the snow pile first.

"Thr-" Honda was cut off as Yuugi reached the barricade, and threw himself down on it just as Jounouchi dropped the girl.

Instead of hitting the cold, wet snow, however, Anzu's cheek pressed up against something warm. Puffs of foggy breath were expelled into the air right before her nose, her eyes suddenly following a curve of flesh that was Yuugi's chin.

The two lay in a heap, Yuugi soaked through several layers of clothing, and Anzu, remained only slightly damp (and very warm, in spite of herself.) They stayed like that for a moment while Jounouchi stared bug-eyed and Honda began to chuckle.

Slowly, a blushing Anzu stood up and offered a hand to Yuugi, who politely declined and stood on his own. He placed a hand on her shoulder and grinned up at her, "Shall we take them?"

A wicked grin spread across her face as she packed a snowball into her hands, "You know it."