"We need a crash cart!" Someone shouted as the doors to the ER swung open. "Now!" The person who spoke those words were covered in blood. He sat on a person, performing CPR, while the stretcher was wheeled into a room.
"Please save him!" A young man cried out, he was covered in blood, his eyes blood shot from crying. He headed towards the room when a nurse grabbed him.
"I am sorry sir, you can't go in there." She stopped him.
"Yugi!" The Pharaoh called out to the boy on the stretcher. His friend, his partner, laid on the stretcher covered in blood, his whole body was pale. Last thing he saw before the nurse took him away was the EMT getting off his body and a doctor running over to put a needle into Yugi's chest. Then, he saw doors. He was in the waiting room.
"Contact his family, the doctor's will do all they can." The nurse who took him to the waiting room said. He nodded slightly, but did not speak a word. He just stared at the door. The image of his friend not leaving his mind.
An hour went by, the Pharaoh was sitting in the waiting room. He had called Yugi's grandfather, Solomon Muto, told him Yugi was at the hospital. He explained quickly who he was, which thankfully he did not question it too much. The Pharaoh himself didn't know what was going on with his situation. He looked up at the time and then sighed, he was playing the waiting game, one game he did not like to play.
"Pharaoh!" Solomon called out. Carrying Yugi's duffel bag on his right shoulder, he ran over to the Pharaoh and he instantly noticed the blood all over his clothes. Thankfully he brought some spare clothes, just in case. "What happened?"
The Pharaoh looked into Solomon's eyes. Dirt covered his face as well as tear stains, blood was on his wrists, hands, cheek, and upper chest. Behind the man was his jacket that had blood all over the sleeves. "Yugi." He was able to choke out. "Yugi." He couldn't speak, tears were threatening to come once again.
Solomon noticed them instantly. "Here." He handed him the bag. "I brought some clothes for Yugi, but you need them more than he does right now." He sighed. Yugi told him about the spirit of the Pharaoh from the puzzle and though he never met the Pharaoh, until now, he knew of the brave and mighty Pharaoh who saved mankind over five thousand years ago. Now looking at the man before him, he saw a young boy, destroyed, broken, and hurting. "Go clean up and change. It'll help."
The Pharaoh took the bag and stood up. "Thank you." He mumbled, grabbing his jacket, and walking towards the shower rooms. Once there he washed up, changed his clothes, put the old ones in the duffel bag, hoping the blood would come out of it. He examined himself in the mirror. "What is going on?" He asked himself out loud. "Why do I have a body?" He picked up the Millennium Puzzle and looked at it. "What did you do?" He questioned it, hoping for a response. He sighed and put it on him.
Solomon was at the nurse's desk when the Pharaoh returned. "Did you hear anything?" He asked walking up to Yugi's grandfather.
He nodded. "Yugi is still in the OR. They said it could be another five hours." He sighed and walked towards the chairs. "Now, Pharaoh. Tell me what happened to Yugi." He said, sitting down.
"Gramps!" A young blonde called out. Two other teenagers followed behind him.
"Joey! Tristan! Tea!" Solomon called out, smiling slightly. "I am so glad you made it." He stood up and greeted the three teens.
"You said it was an emergency, that Yugi was hurt." The blonde one, Joey, spoke as he caught his breath.
"But he looks fine to me." Tristan, the brunette, pointed to the Pharaoh. "So what gives?"
Tea swallowed. "Pharaoh?" She asked. Tea knew about the Pharaoh, but was confused to see him with a physical body. She gasped! "Is, is Yugi dead!?" She called out.
"No!" The Pharaoh spoke. "This isn't his body." He sighed.
"Okay, now I'm confused." Tristan groaned.
"Yeah, I am too." Joey admitted and rubbed his eyes.
"The Pharaoh was just about to tell me what happened." Grandpa spoke up. "Why don't we all sit down." He motioned for everyone to sit in a chair. Once settled down, he looked at the Pharaoh. "First off, besides Pharaoh, what should we call you?" He asked.
The Pharaoh sighed. "I don't know my own name, but Yugi sometimes will call me, Yami. If you wish to call me that, I will answer." He replied, looking down at his feet.
"Yami?" Tea spoke out loud. "I like it." She smiled.
"Doesn't that mean darkness?" Tristan asked. "Seems weird."
"Yugi always said I was a darker side of him, I always told him I wasn't. But he insisted on calling me that." The Pharaoh, Yami, sighed once again. "Plus," He smiled slightly. "He said it has four letters and begins with a Y, just like his name."
Grandpa nodded. "Ok, Yami it is!" His voice got serious once again. "Now, tell me. What happened to my grandson?"
Yami looked at all of them, gathering their facial expressions and made sure they all were looking at him. "Yugi was stabbed." He finally was able to say what had happened.
~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~
"That was a great idea, Pharaoh!" Yugi smiled, stretching his arms up above his head. "I guess you were right and I needed some air." He turned and looked at the spirit that floated close to him.
"I am glad you got out of the house. All that homework was starting to bore you, I could tell." The spirit returned the smile to his young counter part. "I figured a nice walk in the park would work."
"It did. Finals are horrible and I just put off the homework too much." The sun was setting, it was getting dark. Yugi had taken a wrong turn without realizing it. Talking to the Pharaoh about how he was playing games with Joey too much was effecting his school work. "Ok, mom." Yugi sighed.
The Pharaoh chuckled. "Just because your some hot shot duelist and savior of the world, doesn't mean you can skip school work." He laughed out loud that time.
Yugi smiled big. "I love when I can get you to laugh like that. It makes you seem more," Yugi paused. "Uhm what's wrong?" He asked the Pharaoh, who had stopped and was staring down an ally.
"Aibou." He spoke softly.
"Well lookie here." A figure came out of the shadows. "Talking to yourself huh?" The man was much taller than Yugi, had on a green beanie hat, with some red hair coming out from under it. His eyes were deep blue, almost dark.
"I don't want any trouble." Yugi said, taking a step back. He walked right into another person. This person was tall, was on the chunkier side, and he had yellow eyes with brown hair. Once again, a green beanie was on his head.
"You're not going anywhere.." The man spoke, grabbing Yugi's arms.
"Let me go!" He struggled to break lose.
"Aibou, switch now!" The Pharaoh called out, but it was too late. They had already taken the puzzle off of Yugi's neck and once the connection was gone, they could not switch. One of the many downfalls of the millennium puzzle.
"Please, not my puzzle!" Yugi called out. A third man had appeared from the ally. He had black hair, green eyes, and also had a green beanie on his head, he also had a bat. Which he used to take the puzzle off Yugi's neck. "I will give you anything, just not my puzzle." Yugi fought back tears.
"Is this real gold?" The first man spoke.
"Well damn! It is!" The man with the bat spoke. "I think this would make us rich, boss." He grinned.
"Lucky for us, you stumbled into our turf." The man holding Yugi spoke. "We appreciate that." He tossed Yugi to the ground hard, stepping on his back, as he walked over to the other men.
"Please." Yugi spoke, standing up. "Don't take my puzzle."
"What? Are you going to stop us?" The man with the bat spoke. Just then, Yugi ran towards the men and was able to knock one over, the first man, who had gotten his attention. But just as that happened he was hit in the back of the head with the bat.
"Yugi! No!" The Pharaoh called out, he could see everything that was happening, even though he and Yugi could not switch nor communicate.
"You little brat!" The man he pushed spat. "You think your tough?" He stood up and walked over to Yugi. "I'll show you tough." He picked Yugi up by the collar of his shirt and took him into the ally. There he and the other two men beat Yugi, he screamed out in pain, he tried to fight back, but they were just too strong. They had the upper hand.
The Pharaoh witnessed it all. He refused to retreat to the puzzle, he refused to leave Yugi alone. It pained him to watch Yugi get attacked, but he refused to turn away. "Yugi!" He called out.
"Boss, I think he get's the idea." The man with the bat stopped.
"No. This one thinks he can act tough, I will show him what toughness get's him." The man pulled out a knife from his back pocket.
The Pharaoh went wide eyed. "No!" He cried out.
Yugi opened his eyes as he was being pulled up from the ground. He saw the man grinning at him. "My. Pharaoh." He mumbled and then gasped. Pain shot through his whole body, he felt pressure in his stomach area.
"YUGI!" The Pharaoh screamed.
"Well kid. Looks to me, your puzzle is," The man pulled the knife out but just as he was about to finish his sentence the millennium puzzle, that he put on his neck, started glowing. "The fuck?" The man dropped Yugi and took the puzzle off.
"What's going on boss?" The chunky man asked.
"I don't know! The kid must of done something!" The boss replied.
The millennium puzzle began to glow bright white, it became too bright for the men to see. The Pharaoh stood to the side and also had to put his arm over his eyes to block out the light. It became hot and the man dropped it, he tried to look for it, but it was too bright to see anything.
"Let's get out of here!"
"The cops will be coming with all this light."
"Go, now!" The boss screamed and they all ran towards the end of the ally. They turned a corner and dissapeared.
"What is going on?" The Pharaoh groaned, the light engulfing him and Yugi. "I can't see." He growled. With that, the light vanished. The Pharaoh opened his eyes and looked at the puzzle, that laid on the ground. He sighed and snapped his head towards Yugi. "Aibou!"
He ran towards the boy, getting on his knees, he picked Yugi up and held him close. "Yugi, please speak to me." He asked, noticing the wound in Yugi's stomach. The blood wouldn't stop coming out of it. He needed to know if Yugi was alive.
"Pharaoh." Yugi managed to choke out. "You're. Holding. Me." He was the first to point it out.
"Yes, of course." The Pharaoh stopped. He looked at his hands, his body. HIS BODY! He was solid! "What in the world?"
"Your. Touch." Yugi smiled, his vision was beginning to blur. "Itsnice." He said as the darkness over came him. He lost consciousness.
"Yugi!" The Pharaoh shook Yugi. "Yugi no! Please, don't die!" He called out. "Someone! Anyone! Please help us!" He hears sirens but did not know if they were coming for them or not. "HELP!" The Pharaoh cried out at the top of his lungs, tears falling from his eyes.
~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~
"That's when the ambulance showed up. They took Yugi from my arms and began to examine him. He was breathing when they got him in the back. I was able to ride with him, but during the ride to the hospital, some alarms went off. They pushed my hand away and began performing CPR." The Pharaoh sighed, he couldn't finished talking, he was getting ready to cry, again.
"So the puzzle did something that gave you a body?" Tristan questioned. He never was one to believe in all the magic that went on in his and his friend's life. But it was hard to deny that there was in fact another Yugi in front of him.
Tea was crying. "Yugi." She placed her face in her hands and sobbed.
Joey didn't speak, he just stared at a little piece of paper on the floor. His eyes covered in shadows.
"Pharaoh." Solomon placed his hands on his shoulder. "May I say something?" He asked, wiping the tears from his eyes. Yami nodded. "You were a young boy when you died." Solomon said.
"What?" Yami looked at him confused.
"I remember your tomb so well. You know how old you were? When you locked yourself in the puzzle?" Yami nodded. "I would say, based of the words I could make out, eighteen, nineteen."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Yami asked.
"You see, you were a great and powerful Pharaoh. But you also, were just a young man, a boy. With emotions." Solomon spoke. "With that, I am telling you this. Even the mightest of pharaohs, are allowed to cry. So stop holding it back."
"I." Yami looked at Solomon, who had opened his arms up. He forgot that Yugi's grandfather was able to see his tomb once and that was how Yugi got the puzzle in the first place. "I can't show, emotions." He didn't remember his past, but he knew, as a King, he should stay strong for everyone else.
"That's not what I said. Those tears are on the edge of your eyes. Let them fall. They need to." Solomon wrapped his arms around the Pharaoh's shoulders. "It's going to help, I promise." He whispered into his ear.
Yami embrassed Yugi grandfather. "Oh grandpa! I couldn't do anything to save him!" The tears fell, he began to cry, along with everyone else. Even Tristan was crying, silently. None of them knew when or what was going to happen to their friend.
A few hours went by and finally a doctor came out. "Mr. Muto?" He called out. Everyone stood up. "Which one of you is Yugi Muto's relative?" He asked looking at the gang.
"I am." Solomon spoke up. "How is my grandson?" He asked.
The doctor sighed. "We were able to stop the bleeding and repair what we saw right then and there. When he came in, he was unresponsive." He looked at the chart in his hand. "We were able to bring him back and that was when he was rushed to surgery. As you know, he was under for over 7 hours." He sighed, this was the hardest part of the job. "He slipped into a coma. Most likely from blood lost and shock."
"What?!" Joey took a step towards the doctor. "You're kidding me right?"
The doctor nodded. "No. We were able to repair the damages, but his body was just too worn down."
"Oh Yugi!" Tea fell into her chair, crying once again.
Solomon sighed. "Is there anyway he will wake up?" He asked.
"Only rest and time will tell. We replenished the blood he lost, so he has a chance to heal and wake up. But I can't guarantee anything."
"Is he able to be seen yet?" Yami finally spoke out.
"Not yet. We are moving him to the ICU. He is breathing on his own and we are keeping him on a high dosage of pain killers for the next few days. Once his room is ready, we will let you see him. But only, two at a time." The doctor spoke quickly,his pager had just vibrated and he had to rush off. "If you excuse me please. I must attend to another patient. A nurse will come get you as soon as he is ready." He turned on his heels and walked fast down the hallway.
Everybody just stay in their spots, no one moved, or spoke a word. They all were processing what the doctor just told them. Slowly they all took their seats once again. It was a quiet time for them all, so much filled each of their heads. Worry, doubt, questions. It was hard for them to process.
"It sounds like it was your fault." Tristan finally spoke.
"What?" Yami snapped his head up.
"You heard me." Tristan said with venon in his voice. "You are the one who told him to go for a walk, late in the evening. He wouldn't have been outside if you hadn't suggested that."
"How dare you!?" Yami stood up and looked at his so called friend. "Any of you would have said the same thing! Don't tell me you wouldn't have." He looked at each of them, no one spoke. "Yugi took a wrong turn, yes, I should have said something. But it happened so fast between that and when the men showed up. There was no time to react."
"Okay, enough!" Solomon spoke up. "I won't have any fighting right now." He looked at Tristan. "I think it's time for you to leave. I won't have my grandson being bullied right now."
"Your grandson? He isn't related to you at all!" Tristan stood up and looked down at his elder. "Why do we even believe him? For all we know, HE did this to Yugi!"
"Enough!" Yami growled.
"Tristan, go home now!" Joey said to his friend. "I think you need some sleep."
Tristan growled. "So you all are taking HIS side. Fine!" Tristan grabbed his coat. "The minute something changes, you text me, you understand me Joey." Tristan waited till Joey nodded and then he head towards the elevators. Stomping which each step he took.
Solomon sighed. "I hope he will be ok." He spoke out loud. "Yami, I don't believe for one second you harmed Yugi." He turned and looked at the Pharaoh. "If you were going to harm him, in these past three years, you would have by now." He smiled, looking at the young Pharaoh, who was looking at his feet.
"I could never harm him." He sighed, flashing back to his memories in California. "Not on purpose anyway." His hands formed into fists, he was fighting the urge to hit something.
"My boy. I know you wouldn't. It sounds like you did all you could. In the state that you were in, it would be impossible to help Yugi. Maybe," He put his hand to his chin and began to speak again.
"Mr. Muto. Yugi is ready for visitors." A nurse came over and smiled. "The doctor said only two at a time please."
"Oh yes!" Solomon looked at Joey and Tea. "You two, I want you to go home and rest. It's almost four in the morning and you need sleep."
"But I want to see," Joey spoke but Solomon raised his hand.
"You will see Yugi tomorrow. Right now, the only person that needs to be with him, is Yami." He looked over at the young Pharaoh.
"He's right. My parents are probably worried." Tea sighed. "We should go home." She picked her purse up and grabbed Joey by the arm. "Let's go. Yugi is in safe hands."
"But." Joey tried to protest but was being dragged down the hallway.
"Please keep us in formed!" She waved back and headed down towards the elevators, where just a few minutes ago, Tristan went down as well.
Yami sighed. "You can go first, Mr. Muto."
"Please, call me grandpa. You're practically family." He smiled at him. "Besides, I don't think it matters who sees him first. I just know you need to see him."
"You sure?" Yami asked.
"I'm very sure." Solomon walked towards the nurse's station before Yami could protest.
"Follow me." The nurse smiled and began to walk down the hall. It seemed like it was a long walk, the halls were a baby blue color, with a mix of white. Why did all hospitals have that sky, heaven feel to them. Seemed like they prepared everyone for the afterlife. Yami was too fixed on the nurse, who walked in front of him, to look into the rooms, though he could hear noises come from some of them. Finally they arrived at Yugi's room. "This is his room. Number six, zero, five." She opened the door allowing Yami to walk in.
When the Pharaoh stepped inside, he was greeted by another blue wall, straight ahead. He could see the end of the bed but could not see Yugi. He was too nervous to take another step. He heard machines beeping and it hurt his head to imagine what Yugi looked liked. He probably had wires hanging from everywhere on his body. Finally, he took a couple steps. What came into view, surprised him. Yugi's body laid flat on his back, he had only one IV in each arm, there was some wires poking from the blanket they had over him, most likely those were tracking his heartbeat. The doctor was right about him not needing assistance with breathing, so there was no machines other than that. Yami could tell Yugi was shirtless, his shoulders were bare. He took a couple more steps towards Yugi and noticed his face was bandaged up. So was his hands and arms. He had bruises all over him. Tears began to form in the Pharaoh's eyes once more. "Aibou." He managed to get out. "I'm here." He sat down on a chair that was close to the bed. He moved it closer and placed his hand on top of Yugi's. "Please Yugi. Don't die." He laid his head on the bed and began to cry.