The morning came and Solomon walked into the room Yugi was being kept in. In his hands were two cups of coffee, he didn't know if the Pharaoh drank coffee but after the night he had, he may need it. When he looked over to Yugi's bed he saw the boys. Yugi still laying on his back, the machines beeping, making sure he stayed alive. His bandages needed to be changed, the blood was coming through once more, and the bruises he had on his face were getting darker. On the side of the bed there was Yami, he sat on a chair that was close to the bed. His head was buried in the covers and his hand still rested on Yugi's, holding it tightly. Solomon noticed that his back was moving slowly. He had fallen asleep. "I wonder how long it's been since he has actually slept?" He wondered to himself. He placed the cups on a near by table and looked at the clock. It was twenty after ten. He looked back over to Yami and Yugi; "Six hours the Pharaoh has been in that exact spot and not once has he moved." He sighed walking over to the bed. He placed a hand on Yami's back and gently nudged him. "Yami?"
The Pharaoh stirred slightly, he heard his name being called and opened his eyes. He blinked trying to remember what had happened. "Yugi!" He snapped back into reality. Looking down he saw Yugi's body laying on the bed, his eyes opened wide, he had not been dreaming.
"It's ok." Solomon smiled. "Yugi's fine. They have been taking good care of him while you slept." He placed his hand on Yami's shoulder and squeezed it slightly. "You passed out."
Yami sighed. Absorbing the situation was still a struggle for him. "I did." He cleared his throat, it took him a minute to gather his voice back. "I haven't slept in many years. I guess my body wasn't used to all the crying." He looked at his hands, still dumbfounded by the fact he had a physical form.
"Yes, indeed. I bet you were tired. You went through a traumatic ordeal last night, you both did." Solomon sighed and walked over to the table where he had placed the coffee cups. He picked up one of the cups, titling it towards Yami. "Coffee?" He offered.
The Pharaoh nodded and took it. "Thank you." He said and took a sip of the warm liquid.
"Glad to know you drink it." Solomon chuckled.
"Yes, I do. I can't remember when I had it last, but I know Yugi hates the stuff." He smiled thinking of the time Yugi bought a cup after school just for the Pharaoh to have something. He complained the whole time he drank it. "Even though we share, I mean, shared, a body. We have many different tastes and thoughts. Like coffee. Also hamburgers, I can't stand hamburgers." He made a face once again remembering things that Yugi made him do.
Solomon laughed a big belly laugh. "Ho ho! I bet Yugi doesn't like that."
"No, he thinks I'm crazy." Yami smiled.
"Oh I believe it. We live in Japan, yet Yugi dislikes sushi. Where is the irony of that?" He smirked. He decided that once Yugi was home he would be getting some sushi to mess with his grandson's mind.
"Yes." The smile Yami had on his face disappeared. "Is this just a waiting game?" He asked out loud. Not really expecting an answer, just wanted to hear it said out loud.
"Yes." Solomon sighed. "It's up to Yugi and his body to decide if they want to wake up. He's tired, physically and mentally. He needs to recover inside before he can heal on the outside."
"I couldn't protect him grandpa." The Pharaoh felt tears form in his eyes. "I've never felt so helpless in my entire life."
Solomon nodded and put his hand on Yami's shoulder. "No Yami, you weren't helpless at all." He smiled. "You protected Yugi just like you always have."
"How?" Yami asked confused.
"Like this." Solomon squeezed his shoulder tightly. "You have a physical body, my boy."
"I am not understanding."
"Okay let me put it this way." Solomon sighed. "When the puzzle started glowing, they dropped it, in return they didn't take it. But also when the puzzle gave you a physical body you were able to call out for help, you were there for Yugi when he needed someone."
"You believe that is why I have a physical appearance right now?" Yami asked Solomon. He took another drink of his coffee, it was getting cold fast. He didn't like cold coffee.
"Indeed." Solomon nodded. "If the puzzle didn't glow, no one would have seen it nor found Yugi. The magic inside the puzzle wouldn't have given you this body. In return," He swallowed. "Yugi would have lied there bleeding to death, while they had taken the puzzle, and you, away."
Yami gasped. He didn't even realize what the whole scenario was. Yugi was alive because of the puzzle, because somehow when he called out for Yugi, he somehow activated something inside of it. "I don't know how I did it." He placed the coffee down. "But I remember just before this happened, I called out for Yugi, loudly. The last time I screamed like that, was back in America, after his soul was taken by the Orichalcos." He cleared his throat, holding the tears back. "I felt so useless at that moment."
"And the puzzle knew it! So it granted you the power to help. In this way, it meant you needed to be physical." Solomon smiled at Yami and let go of his shoulder. "My only concern is how long will this last?"
"Yeah." Yami sighed looking over at Yugi. "In a lot of ways I wish it would end soon. So that I can check up on Yugi. He must be so scared and confused."
"What do you mean?" Solomon questioned, giving Yami a confused look.
"You see." Yami looked back at the older man. "Yugi and I are connected because of the puzzle. At least we were." He sighed. "Whenever Yugi would sleep or if he closed his eyes and concentrated enough. He would be able to go inside his mind, soul room, is what he called it. We both have one, thanks to the puzzle, it splits us up in just that one way." He looked at Yugi once more with concern in his eyes. "He is probably in my soul room looking for me. But alas," He touched the millennium puzzle that was around his neck. "I am not there. I am here."
Solomon looked at Yami for a few moments as he absorbed what Yami had said. "I see, he doesn't know where you are."
Yami gasped. "That's it!' Realization hitting him.
"What's it?" Solomon asked surprised.
"Yugi put himself in a coma on purpose." Yami stood up from the chair, his legs feeling a tad shakey from sitting too long. "He's not in a coma, he is in his soul room, looking for me." He corrected himself.
"Are you saying that Yugi is inside his mind?"
Yami nodded. "Yes and no. He is in his mind, but also in the puzzle. When he got caught in the fire a couple years ago, Yugi was asleep for a good few hours, remember that?" Solomon nodded. "During those hours he and I were in our minds, but only because the Puzzle was keeping us connected."
"I see. So how would you suggest telling Yugi to leave your soul room?" Solomon asked, putting his hand up to his chin.
"I, I don't know." Yami sighed sitting back in the chair. He sighed, so close yet so far.
A couple hours went by and Solomon sent Yami to the cafeteria to get some food. He tried to get him to leave the hospital, but Yami refused. He wanted to be as close to Yugi as he could. Just in case he woke up, or worse. Yami looked down at his lunch, he had gotten himself a ham and cheese sandwich, some fruit, and a water. He wasn't that hungry so he went light. Yugi's grandpa insisted that he eat something, so that's what he was doing. "Yugi." He heard someone call out. He looked up and noticed Joey waving at him as he walked closer. "I mean, Yami." He corrected himself when he got to the table.
"Hi Joey." He smiled at his friend. "How are you today?" He asked.
"I am good." Joey took a seat across from Yami. "How is Yugi?"
"He is the same." Yami looked down at his tray.
"I haven't gotten to see him yet." Joey sighed. "I skipped the last part of school to come and see how he was doing."
"Yeah, nothing has changed from what grandpa told you on the phone. However," Yami looked back up. "I do believe that Yugi can be woken up."
"How?" Joey asked, excitement filling his voice.
"Well I don't think Yugi is in a coma, Joey. I think he is in our soul rooms, looking for me." Yami explained to Joey everything he and Solomon had talked about. Why Yami had a body, why Yugi was in a coma, and what Yugi most likely was doing while in said a coma.
"That makes sense. He probably thinks your not there, like the puzzle is gone." Joey sighed thinking of his friend running around a maze, injured, confused, and the Pharaoh's mind was full of traps. What if Yugi was...!? He shook his head. "How can we get to him?" Joey asked.
"I don't know. I used to reside in the puzzle, I could talk to him that way, I was always there." Yami took the puzzle off his neck and placed it on the table. "Now I am here and Yugi is three floors above me."
"What if," Joey thought for a moment and than it hit him. "What if you get the puzzle to take you to Yugi." Yami looked up at him. "Hear me out. Just like when Yugi is focusing on getting to you, what if you focused on going to your soul room. Ya know, do what Yugi does."
"Joey!" Yami smiled really big. "You're a genius!" He sat up and gathered his trash.
"Ah shucks, ya know I am good for anything. Just say the word and Joey Wheeler is," Joey stopped talking when he noticed Yami had ran to the trash can and threw his stuff away.
"Come on!" Yami called out and ran out the door.
"I'mma coming!" Joey stood up and followed the Pharaoh.
Upon arriving to Yugi's room, Yami explained to Solomon the plan. "So let me get this straight? You are going to sit down and teleport your soul to the puzzle?" Yami nodded. "There you will find Yugi and explain to him what is going on. Afterwards he will wake up and you will come back in this body." Solomon said pointing to Yami.
"Yeah that's the plan. If all goes well." Yami confirmed it all with a small smile.
"I'm in!" Solomon smiled big. "Sit down my boy." He stood from the chair that he had been sitting in.
Yami took a seat in it and sighed. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous." He looked at the two men in front of him.
"You got this Yami." Joey smiled.
"Concentrate on all you got inside of you, my Pharaoh. You are strong! You are powerful! Though you don't remember it, you have a powerful magic on your side." Grandpa spoke. He always knew how to make someone feel better.
Yami nodded and closed his eyes. "Please work. Please work. Please, Millennium Puzzle,take me to where Yugi is. Please!" Next thing he saw was a bright light and he felt a swoosh of air hit him in the face. His body went limb in the chair. His soul, was gone.
Yami looked around and knew exactly where he was. He was back in his mind. "Home." He smiled slightly. "Yugi!" He called out loudly. "Yugi!" He listened for the echo or for a reply, yet nothing. "Yugi are you here!? It's me, Yami! Mou Hitori no Boku!" He cried out as loud as he could. He heard his echo and waited, hoping for something.
Yugi sat on a staircase crying. He couldn't find the Pharaoh anywhere. He was gone and Yugi was left alone. He knew one day that was going to happen, but didn't think it would be like this. All of a sudden Yugi heard a noise. "Pharaoh?" He asked.
"Boku!" He heard the echo. It was the Pharaoh's. He stood and gathered himself, running towards the voice. He hoped the Pharaoh didn't move, so he could get to him quickly.
"Pharaoh!" He called out.
Yami heard a voice, he knew it was Yugi's. "Yugi!" He called out, not moving in case the echos confused Yugi.
Yugi kept running towards the voice he heard. "Please let that be you." He called out to the Pharaoh.
"It is me!" Yami cried out once more. Yugi was closer so he decided to follow the voice. Sure enough he turned the corner and there Yugi was, coming down the corridor. "Yugi!" He ran towards him.
Yugi looked at Yami and smiled, picking up speed. "Pharaoh!"
Both men collided together in a tight embrace. Yugi had his arms around Yami's chest, crying into it. While Yami had his arms around Yugi's head, his head buried in Yugi's hair. "Oh aibou." He muttered. They stayed like that for a few moments until Yami pulled away, but placing his hands on Yugi shoulders. "Are you okay?" He asked.
Yugi nodded. "I am now. I was looking all over for you." Yugi wiped the tears away and looked at the Pharaoh. "Where were you?"
Yami sighed. "Long story, you want to hear it all?" He smiled.
"Yes."
The boys had taken a seat against one of the walls of Yami's mind. There Yami explained everything that had happened. It took Yugi a while to finally understand it all. Yugi didn't remember anything after he had tackled the man and was dragged into the alley. "Wow." He sighed. "I can't believe that all happened."
"You have us all scared to death."
"I didn't mean to." Yugi placed his hand on Yami's shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok." Yami smiled. He placed his hand on Yugi's hand. "I am just glad you are safe in a hospital."
"So now what?" Yugi sighed pulling his hand away and pulling his knees to his chest. "I am in a coma. How do I get out of it?"
"That just it, Yugi. Do like you always do when you get out of our soul room." Yami stood up and reached his hand out to him. "Just think your awake and you will be awake, okay?" He winked.
Yugi smiled and nodded at his friend. "Yes. I will see ya there huh?"
"Yep, this body isn't going anywhere it seems." He smiled and closed his eyes and Yugi followed pursuit. With that the boys started to glow and they both disappeared from the hallway they were in.
Yami was the first to return. He sat up quickly and took a gasp for breath. He looked around and saw Joey and Solomon looking at him. "Well, did it work?" Joey asked.
"I found him." Yami smiled. "He was looking for me. He says he hurts, he feels the pain and doesn't know why. But once I explained it all he sorta remembered." Yami looked over at the bed and saw Yugi still laying there not moving. "Yugi." He leaned closer to him, hoping he was able to drag himself out of the puzzle.
Slowly Yugi opened his eyes. "Pharaoh?" He spoke softly.
Yami smiled big and he felt so much joy fill him. "He's awake!" He called out.