Much thanks to the reviewers who pointed out the crappy format on this chapter so I could make it a bit easier to read.
The Balance of Shadows Check it out people: My first Yugioh fic! Let's hope I got most of the details right, if not all of them. Oh yeah, and I have a quick note here that's pretty important. Can I have people's attention here for a minute! Ok, didn't mean to shout, but I need to say this before some freak yells it at me in a review. I don't know a thing about Marik or Malik except what I've briefly read in other fanfcis, okay? So they are not in this story. They don't exist in this little corner of the Yugioh universe. This may seem really irrelevant now, but trust me; it's a little more important later. The story would have been a little more confusing if I hadn't said that. Yeah, anyway...umm...you can stop listening to me now...
Disclaimer: looks at it You're kidding, right? I have to actually tell people? You're all smart enough to figure out that I don't own Yugioh, right? Ok, then I don't have to say it...I just said it didn't I?
Ch. 1- A Shadow's Whisper
Yugi put down his pencil and stared glumly out the window. Why did it always seem like the more homework he had, the nicer the day was? The sky was a clear sapphire blue with only a slight breath of wind rustling the higher branches of the trees he could see.
Yugi banged his head down on his desk. He was supposed to concentrate on 19th century authors on a day like this? Not going to happen. Not in this lifetime.
Yugi was about to pack it up and run outside when he remembered having promised his grandpa he'd do all his homework before playing. His grandpa was off on a very promising dig and had been concerned his grandson would neglect his school work while he was gone. Yugi slumped in his chair muttering about meddling grandpas.
From inside the puzzle, Yami could feel his Hikari's souring mood.. He silently materialized behind the young boy and put a hand on Yugi's shoulder. Yugi gave a start and whirled around. Seeing Yami, he visibly relaxed. "Oh, hi Yami," he gave a tired smile.
"Are you done yet?" Yami asked hopefully. Yugi gave a rueful smile.
"I wish. I just can't concentrate." Yami scowled. He'd been in the puzzle all day while Yugi was at school. Not that Yugi had too much trouble with bullies lately. Even the most thick- headed had begun to realize that those who messed with the seemingly weak boy ended up hurt... if they were lucky.
Yugi smiled happily as a though struck him. "Let's take a walk to the library. I've got some research to do anyway and at least we'll be outside for a while." Yugi threw the backpack over his shoulder...and nearly fell over with the weight.
"Just how much homework is in there?" Yami laughed as he helped Yugi to his feet. "Two years worth and it's due in two days." Yugi grumbled. Yami smirked and put the backpack over his own shoulder. He hadn't wanted to travel in the puzzle anyway. The day was as nice as it had seemed from Yugi's window. He was almost skipping as he walked, feeling about a million pounds lighter without the backpack. He felt slightly guilty that Yami had to carry it, but looking up at him, Yami didn't seem to mind in the least. He kept his usual smooth stride, his long steps slightly slower to match Yugi's smaller ones. Yami looked down at his small light and smirked as Yugi's stomach let out a low growl. "Hungry Aibou?"
"Yeah. Can we stop for burgers?" Yugi gave Yami the infallible "puppy eyes".
"Of course," Yami nodded. His arm was nearly ripped from its socket as Yugi pulled him excitedly down the sidewalk towards the burger place. After they got their orders from Hellomynameiswhoever, they plopped down in two chairs by the window. Yami watched amusedly as Yugi practically unhinged his jaw trying to shove the maximum amount of burger into his mouth.
"I don't think your mouth is big enough to chew all that, Aibou."
"Uh han fumer anoo," Yugi tried to say. "Care to repeat that?" Yami tried not to laugh.
"I said," Yugi swallowed. "I can fit more than you."
Ok, this was a challenge. A stupid and pointless one perhaps, but a challenge none the less. And was the game king about to pass this up? Not. A. Chance.
Which is why, when Jounochi walked in five minutes later, he found tow nearly identical teens trying like heck to fit two humungous burgers in their mouthes. Yami managed to finaly pack it all in and shut his mouth completely. "Ha! I win!" At least that's what he tried to say. It was more along the lines of, "Hm! Mm mm!"
"Mmm mmm ummm!" Yugi protested.
"Hmm ummm uh mmm!" Yami shot back. Jounochi nearly collapsed from laughter. He pulled up a chair next to Yugi, took another look at Yami bulging cheeks and burst out in another round of laughter.
"Y-Yami!" he gasped. "You look...haha...you look like a chipmunk!" Yugi finished what was in his mouth and joined Jonouchi in laughing at Yami. Yami tried to glare at them which only made them laugh harder. They were outside and a block away before either of them could talk rationally.
"So where are you guys headed?" Jonouchi asked.
"Library."
"On a Friday? Jeeze. Come with me to the arcade. You got all weekend for that," jonouchi reasoned.
"I wish, but I promised Grandpa," Yugi explained.
"Yough luck, man." Jounochi said sympathetically. "See you later ok?"
"Yeah, see you."
At the library, Yugi buried himself in a mound of biographies and started atking notes. Yami sat next to him, reading over his shoulder.
"Um, Aibou, why do they want you to read these?"
"It's supposed to teach us something." Yugi answered distractedly.
"What?"
"I have no idea."
"Wonderful," Yami grumbled. "Time consuming and pointless."
"Pretty much."
Several hours later, Yugi felt a hand gently shaking his shoulder. "Aibou wake up. The library's closing."
Yugi sat up with a jolt. "I slept the whole time?" He moaned.
"Come on, Aibou." Yami lead the sleepy boy through the maze of books and out the front door. "I told you not to stay up so late watching those cartoons," he couldn't help adding. The cold air did wonders for waking Yugi up. The breeze had increased to a strong gale, bringing clouds in from over the horizon.
Yugi shivered and quickened his pace. He hadn't been planning to stay so late and hadn't bothered to bring a jacket. Wrapping his arms tighter around himself, he tried to stop his chattering teeth. Yami looked over at him, concerned. "Aibou, why don't you go into your soul room for a while? I'll tell you when we get home."
"B-but it's just as c-cold for you," Yugi protested.
"But I can walk a lot faster than you," Yami reminded him. Yugi nodded sheepishly and went back into his soul room. (A/N: I don't know if he vanishes like Yami does, but just work with me here. Anyone who goes into their soul room vanishes ok?)
Yugi opened his eyes and smiled. His soul room was one of his favorite places to be. After all, it was made just for hi. It was him. The comforting warm light engulfed him and he lay back on the small white bed. Toys littered the floor and he smiled happily as he looked at them.
He felt a tiny breath of wind and covered his arms. Wait a moment. There couldn't be wind in a soul room! He giggled at the thought of a drafty soul, but it was more nervous laughter than anything else. He rolled off the bed and crept cautiously toward the door of his soul room. A whisper stopped him in his tracks. "is your Yami here?"
Yugi spun around. Nothing seemed amiss. His soul room was as light and welcoming as ever. 'Oh great, I'm hearing voices. Does this mean I've officially lost it?' Shaking his head at himself, he reached again to pull the door open.
"Your Yami is here?" the whisper came again. The voice was light. It sounded innocent and curious, like a small child.
"Y-Yami?" Yugi whispered. "Is that you?" Only Yami could talk to him in his soul room, so it must be Yami, right?
"Your yami isn't here?" The voice whispered again, a little sad. Yugi tried to pull the door open and felt his heart skip a beat when he couldn't budge it. He tugged again, but to no avail.
"Your Yami isn't here?" the voice was less sad and slightly smug. That, more than anything, spurred Yugi on in his efforts to get the heck out of there!
"Yami!" he called, ramming his shoulder into the door. "Yami!"
"Your yami isn't here! Your yami isn't here?" The voice called again, chanting the same phrase over and over, sometimes wailing as if it's heart would break, other times almost singing.
"Stop it!" Yugi pleaded. "Let. Me. Out!" He punctuated each shout with a bang on the door. The door flew open and he stumbled out of his soul room, nearly falling as he reappeared next to Yami on his front porch.
"Aibou, you should have waited until we were inside to...hey, what's wrong?" Yami opened the door and light had fallen onto Yugi's pale face. The boys eyes were rimmed with tears and his small hands and arms were red from pounding on his door.
"Yugi! What happened? Why didn't you call me?" Yami demanded as he ushered Yugi inside.
"I tried." Yugi explained. "I think it was blocking my voice, my mind speak. And it said you were gone, and..." Yugi trailed off, shivering.
"Yugi, Yami tried to stay calm. "Tell me what happened." Yugi spoke quietly, trying to remember everything he could. Yami's eyes narrowed as he listened. Someone invading his Hikari's soul room? This was definitely going to stop. Yami was going to find out who had scared Yugi and send them so deep into the shadow realm not even the gods would find them. Yami smiled at the thought.
Realizing Yugi had fallen silent, Yami came out of the daydream and looked over. Yugi was curled up into a small ball on the couch, eyes closed in sleep. Yami debated waking him long enough to have him go sleep in bed, but Yugi looked oddly content, so instead Yami only laid a blanket over Yugi to ward off the cold.
/Goodnight, Aibou./ He smiled and disappeared into the puzzle. To be continued. Yea! It was long! Well, for me anyway. Do you like it? Flame if you dare, but be warned, they will be used to light the fuse of the bombs I throw back. Oh yeah, and I am on a slight...ok, more than slight, sugar high, so if I seem really weird:...HA! COOL! Review! Now! Please?
Top of Form
Bottom of Form