Title: Afraid Of Your Own Shadow (Part 1)
Series: These Days We Celebrate
Summary: The question is, just what is it that Yuugi fears? And is he the only one filled with dread?
Rating: PG for 'Parental Guidance'. We have some violence and language in this one, so be warned.
Author: Phoebe Delos
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! DM
Spoilers: Pretty much nothing- This is circa post-Duelist Kingdom, pre-Dungeon Dice Monsters.
Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh! isn't mine. It is said, but true…
Notes: So uh, as is fitting for the holiday, this one is NOT 100% all warm and cushy feelings… And my idea for it grew so long and detailed, it's getting split into two parts! Hopefully the result will be worth the wait for the second half. Also, I hear that Halloween has become more of a thing in Japan in recent years, but this series is set in the late 90s, when YGO first began, so that's far less the case during the story time period.
:: Oct 31 – Halloween ::
"Happy Halloween, everyone!"
"Eh?" Jounouchi peeled his face off of his desk to blink sleepily up at the pale-haired boy who had just walked into the classroom. "What's that?"
"-is it Halloween already?" Anzu asked from her own seat, pausing in pulling out her books to shoot the new arrival a surprised look. "I never would have guessed, I've been so focused on our class preparations for the cultural festival that I didn't even notice October was over... Were you looking forward to it, Bakura-kun?"
"Ah, I suppose so!" Bakura answered with a laugh, scratching the back of his head as his grin took on something of an awkward weight. "It's nothing special, of course- There's no events, or anything like what we're having Sunday."
"You should have told us earlier!" Yuugi exclaimed with a grin, just as he finished gathering and packing up his Duel Monster cards- The ones he had been considering with Jounouchi's sleepy input until class started for the morning. "We could have planned to hang out tonight to celebrate somehow! After all, we all managed get lucky with the festival, and don't have to do anything except serve food on Sunday."
"Speak for yourself, Yuugi-kun," Anzu cut in, shooting the boy a lighthearted glare that he returned with a grin and sheepish laugh.
"Right, sorry Anzu-chan. You have to perform in the contest, huh? But, my point is, even though I don't have to help here, I already promised Grandpa that I would work in the shop this evening, so I'm busy."
"Same here," Honda echoed, grimacing as he shook his head. "Sorry, man- If I had known it was a special day, I would have asked my sister to put off our family dinner until tomorrow."
"Haha, no, that's okay," Bakura assured them as he took his seat. "I appreciate it, but I already adjusted my plans, since the gathering fell through. I don't normally play video games, but a salesman at a store I went to pointed out this neat-sounding horror game," he explained, pulling a dark colored cartridge out of his school bag to show them. "And I decided to splurge and buy it. I'm going to celebrate tonight by playing it… Say, would you guys like to borrow it after I am done? I know we can't play it together, but we could at least talk about it once we all get a chance to play!"
"Aaauuuhhmmm-" Jounouchi leaned into the sound he made, just as he leaned away from his friend and the game that he held up. "I, think I'll pass on that one, thanks."
"I don't usually have enough patience for games like that," Anzu excused herself with an apologetic grin as Honda shook his head.
"Yeah, I uh- Doubt I'd be any good at that sort of thing."
"Ah," Bakura answered simply, maintaining his smile even as the enthusiasm clearly drained from his face. He turned to the last of the group, asking with the casual distraction of an afterthought. "You too, Yuugi-kun?"
Yuugi stared at the eerie looking cover for a long, hesitant moment… And then nodded with a tentative smile. "No, I'd like to try it."
"-really?" Bakura started at the answer, blinking into a much more natural expression of shock- While behind him, Jounouchi pulled his tired head back off of his desk to squint his way.
"Seriously, Yuugi?"
I have to say, that surprises me too, aibou. I would never expect you to pick up a game like that.
"Haha, well- I felt bad for Bakura-kun," Yuugi explained with a smile, shrugging for the figure floating at his side.
The day had passed without incident, even if the class readings had been hard and lunch had been rushed, since he forgot his food in his locker and had had to run back and forth from the roof… But Yuugi was finally headed home, and his other self had popped into view the moment Anzu waved goodbye and went her own way.
It was becoming something of a ritual between the two, the boy and the spirit. Any day Yuugi found himself alone after school, the other Yuugi would join him for the walk home- Cover those last few blocks with him as they shared details about what happened that day, and considered what they would like to do that evening. Then the spirit would disappear, just as Yuugi's grandfather welcomed him home. Yuugi would be effectively 'on his own' as he tackled his shop work, chores, and homework, since his family would be about and he had to focus… But the moment he finished, he and his other self would always have the whole rest of the evening to play and talk as they liked!
It was kind of cool- Even Yuugi's mom was pretty happy with him lately. She approved of how he rushed to get his work done the moment he came home… Save, on weekends- She didn't like how he delayed then. But, Yuugi just didn't see any reason to hit the books on Saturday when he had all of Sunday to worry about it- And all Saturday afternoon to focus on his friends and his other self!
-at least, when it wasn't a holiday weekend, like that one.
In general, though, Yuugi had stumbled into a nice, functional routine, and he thought his other self liked it, too. The other Yuugi had been kind of awkward when his vessel first sought to talk to him, share conversations without any real topic in mind- It just seemed to baffle the spirit that Yuugi would like talking to him for its own sake.
Now, though?
Yuugi grinned just remembering how he had said goodbye to Anzu, and turned around to find the spirit already there beside him, smiling as he asked how his day had been.
They had gotten as far as that morning chat with Bakura.
"I am a little wary to try it out, given the gritty details Bakura-kun shared during lunch, but it is a game, and I thought- Maybe it will actually be fun, as long as I don't play it alone?" He said it like a question, shooting his other an open side-stare. He wasn't about to insist – he didn't like playing something with his other self that they didn't both enjoy – but he was still relieved when the spirit snorted with obvious understanding, and grinned.
I would be happy to stay with you while you play it- There's no harm in at least giving it a try. As you say, it is a game.
"Right!" Yuugi beamed with a grin, earning an answering mute cheer from the other… Only for the spirit's expression to darken with tense alarm as-
There was no sound, no warning beyond that look.
Yuugi just felt someone grab him and shove him sideways.
"Huh- Gh-!" He barely got out a breath, his cry choked into his throat as he landed in arms that spun and slammed him against a wall, sending pain crashing up his back.
Aibou!
That sharp call cut through the pain, making him curl forward, jolting Yuugi to stand upright- Only for him to freeze and press himself against the wall as he took in his situation.
He was surrounded… Surrounded, by men, years older than him, most twice his size. The details swam with his vision, and all he could focus on was the one who hung in close, right in front of him.
The scene was, far too familiar- And Yuugi had been pinned down in one or seventeen similar predicaments… And he knew enough to tense all the more when he saw no jeers or amusement in the man's pale eyes- Just cold calculation.
"You're late, boy."
"W, what do you-" He started to ask. But he clammed up as his gaze skimmed the scene, instinctually striving to take in as much as he could, and he noticed the man just to the left, juggling a blade in his hands.
And, and the others- A couple more were also holding blades… And the rest? They were making due with planks of wood, which they slammed against their own palms with rhythmic hits.
Thump, thump.
Yuugi could feel it, with each slam of that wood- His other's alarm and rage, stirring beneath him, somewhere between his skin and the wall at his back.
"We've been watching you for a few days now, noticed you always come by here, that you come around this time… That you're always wearing that-"
The spirit's fury sparked around him, but it was all but drowned out Yuugi's own alarm as the man pointed at the Puzzle.
He reached up and clutched the gold to his chest, steeling himself to frown up at them- Even as they ignored him, talking to one another.
"I still don't think that thing is real."
"Shut it, Soto. I'm telling you, that thing's a hunk of gold waiting to be cashed."
"And even if it isn't-" the man right in front of Yuugi cut in, never taking his eyes off of the boy. "We're like to find someone we can pawn it off on… So kid, are we going to have to do this the hard way?"
Let me deal with him, aibou, the sole familiar voice hissed at him, but it was still more request than insistence, and the, the very idea, that they wanted to take the Puzzle-
Yuugi found he wasn't ready to take his own glare off of the man.
"The easy way, or hard way, you're not taking my Puzzle."
The man… He didn't even deign to answer him. Didn't even laugh or snort.
He just hit him.
The move was so quick- So hard- That Yuugi staggered. He- His head was bursting. He had hit him right in the ear, and he- He couldn't-
His vision swam, and with it went any sense of where his pain and his other's fury and their alarm began or ended, and he started to fall-
The tight pressure at his throat was what woke him enough to realize, the man had the Puzzle in his hand.
"N-no-" He reached up to pull at the cord, taunt about his neck. It would actually be really easy to get loose- Duck his head and pull away. But- But he couldn't let him have it-
And when the man pulled out a blade of his own and moved to cut the cord, Yuugi didn't think.
He just moved.
Shoved forward, and slapped the hand and the knife both away.
The numb sting at his fingers told him he had cut himself, but he didn't look down to see.
"Tsh-"
He almost expected it when a foot met his gut, and he slammed back into the wall.
It, it hurt, but at least the man had let go of the Puzzle…
"I think he wants to do it the hard way, Tsuchie."
"Hmph… Thankfully we came prepared, didn't we? Get ready, boys- We might have to make a run for it."
"What…" Yuugi looked between the group, and stared in confusion as one guy towards the back pulled a glass bottle out, and started messing with it.
'Tsuchie', however, was happy to explain- "If you're going to put up a fight and make a scene, we're just going to have to take it from you, and make sure that you can't cry foul afterwards… You've heard about the 'arson assaults' happening lately, haven't you?"
He hadn't, but it wasn't hard to put together what Tsuchie was getting at- And Yuugi forgot to breathe as the guy handed Tsuchie the bottle of strange liquid and rolled fabric… And the thug pulled out a lighter.
"Now hand over that necklace, or I'll hold you down, cut your throat, and take it anyways- And drop this in your lap to burn away what's left of you."
Let me burn him.
The request was so steady… Such an echo of what had been said out loud, that Yuugi didn't really think to question it. But still he shook his head, his skull pounding too much to even answer properly. "Mou- Mou hito-"
Before he could even get the name out, he was being pushed back- Shoved out of the way and sent spiraling into weightless space. It didn't hurt, though- He didn't feel anything at all. His senses had gone numb, and the pained fog in his head had instantly dissipated. He- He just- He just had to catch his equilibrium, right himself, and-
Mou hitori no boku?
He had called that time in concern, not confusion, for when he righted himself? He discovered that he was just outside of his body, hovering to 'his' left, where he could see the pain flashing over 'his' face.
His other was feeling that pain now- Fighting through it to stare up at Tsuchie.
"I'll scream."
The thug arched a brow as someone chuckled, and Yuugi held the breath he could not take.
Did- Did he really think that would-
"The street out there is crowded. Even if you lean down right now and cut me, I'll catch someone's attention before you can get away. You could get identified. But-" He rushed on, emphasizing the word as Tsuchie narrowed his eyes in consideration- Consideration Yuugi and his other could not afford to leave him free to make. "I could give it to you."
Yuugi could guess where he was going with this, but still his 'heart' went up in his throat at the words, and he tensed as his other struggled to stand under Tsuchie's watch and words.
"Oh? Then you've thought better of it, and are going to hand it over without a peep?"
"I will… If you can win it."
Don't bet yourself! He cried out, but his other did not reply- Did not even look his way, or blink as he stared up at the openly amused man.
"Win? What are you getting at, shrimp?"
"I mean, a game. The first one to scream," he explained, gaze slowly skimming the faces around him before he finished landed back on Tsuchie with the last word. "-loses. Whoever keeps his head, can have the Puzzle."
"What's he going on about?" one guy asked, turning to another.
"I don't know, is it some sort of bluff?"
"He sounds crazy to me."
But Tsuchie snorted, caught by something in the other Yuugi's stare enough to say, "I think he means it, boys. He thinks he can get out of this by scaring us- How? You have a shiv hidden down your pants, kid?"
"No shiv, no weapon," the spirit assured, and something in the sheen of his red eyes made Yuugi shiver- Whether in dread or anticipation, he could not say. "I have nothing on me to defend myself, or attack you, and I will not raise any weapon against you."
That's the give- Yuugi mumbled, the words hovering in the air between them as 'spoken' thoughts, making the other Yuugi's gaze flicker for a breath- But never shift enough to acknowledge him. There's something there, in that- 'will not raise any weapon against you'… How are you going to twist that?
The other did not answer.
And Tsuchie snorted again, sharing a checking smirk with the others before shrugging. "Fine, kid. This should be funny- I'll play. I'll even give you a five second head start."
"Are you sure you want to do that?" the spirit in Yuugi's skin mumbled, gaze sliding down to their feet with a quietness that made Yuugi's nerves scatter.
What- What was he-
The others laughed at the tiny teen.
"Sure, take it. Play your game."
"As you wish…" the other Yuugi mumbled, only for the Puzzle and his brow to glow as his voice rose with a sharp "GAME START."
"-huh?!"
The guys- They were all blinking and looking around… As if blinded.
5
And Yuugi could only watch, baffled as the rest of them, as the spirit stepped forward- Yanking something out of Tsuchie's hand.
"-who grabbed my lighter?!"
4
"What's going on?!"
"What'd that guy do?!"
The other Yuugi danced around Tsuchie's seeking hands and grabbed the bottle, too, twisting it out of his grip.
3
"Dammit, guys, I can't see!"
"How did he do that?!"
Yuugi- It was like time slowed as he watched his other light the bottle-
2
-and step into the group long enough to put it into one of the other men's hands?
Yuugi could only blink through the curses and calls as his other slid away from the confused thug-
1
And stepped into the shadow of a large rolling garbage bin parked nearby.
"We've won," the spirit breathed, barely even whispering. But Yuugi heard, and could only look on uncertainly. It might well work, yes- Make the men shriek as they tossed the Molotov away before it could go off. But there was a good chance they would get it away from them and spot the boy behind the garbage can. And if they all managed not to scream in the process-
0
"H-hey-" one of the guys said as he blinked around him, taking in his surroundings. "It passed!"
"I can see, too! What the hell was that-"
"Hey, where did the kid go?!"
"Nosaka…" It was Tsuchie that cut into the barrage of questions, drawing everyone's attention to what he was staring at… The lit cocktail in 'Nosaka's' hand.
"What are you doing with the gold?"
Comprehension… It wasn't as quick as Yuugi might have liked, but he at least mirrored Nosaka's shock, and his instant struggle to understand. But where Nosaka stumbled over claims of "I don't know how that got there-" and "W-what do you think I did?!" Yuugi could only stare with a dawning, cold realization.
"Their greed has blinded them, aibou," mumbled the spirit as he peered around the bin, watching as the men started to yell at one another. "I made them mistake it for the Puzzle. The illusion will wear off in, less than ten seconds… But they won't make it that long."
No, Yuugi breathed… Not because he doubted the success of the gamble, but- He could see. He could see the plan as it was now. He saw what his other was aiming for.
He saw in his mind's eye, the men fighting over the bottle, dropping it, catching on fire-
And he could only stare, terrified, as Tsuchie moved to grab the lit Molotov cocktail, and Nosaka jerked it away.
"No, they're not going to last even five," the other Yuugi corrected as a scuffle began, and when his words - the flat, cold timbre of them – rolled through Yuugi's ear, he jerked around with a start.
Mou hitori no boku!
Finally, the spirit looked at him.
And whatever he saw trapped him.
The two… They stared at one another. And Yuugi didn't know what his other saw in his face… But whatever it was, it shattered the spirit's composure. The certainty left his eyes as he glanced between his partner, and the scene before him… And before Yuugi could give voice to the protests that had risen in his heart, his other was moving-
He ran forward, slamming into the middle of the scuffle, yanking a plank of wood from some random hand.
And if Yuugi had had a body for it, he would have screamed as Tsuchie looked up and stared, dumbfounded, at the boy suddenly at his elbow. "What are you- Aaa, dam-" He cursed as the other Yuugi swung, hitting the bottle and catching a few of Tsuchie's fingers in the bargain.
They were probably broken, but that mattered little when the bottle sailed into a wall and shattered- Setting all of the trash beneath it on fire.
The men bolted back from the flames, screaming- And the other Yuugi won his game.
He didn't stop to take in that fact, though, much less confront the losers. He just dropped the wood and turned, ran for the street- Dove between stalling, confused pedestrians who could only watch as a group of teens stumbled out of the alleyway.
And Yuugi… Yuugi could only trail after his other, mind still reeling from what he just saw.
Wait- Stop!
It was no good, though. The other Yuugi did not stop, look up, or respond to Yuugi's calls. He just kept running, until finally he slammed into the side of the Kame Game shop, hacking from lost breath and smearing blood on the bricks with Yuugi's cut hand.
…mou hitori no boku…
Yuugi… Of course he could keep up- He didn't need to run while hovering as a spirit. But somehow, he still felt exhausted himself as he 'stood' there, just behind his other, waiting for him to speak.
But, he didn't speak… And when again Yuugi's calls earned him nothing, he did the only thing he could think to do- He moved to merge back into the body, to share the flesh, where the two would be so close there would be no space for his other to 'turn away' from him.
But the moment he was back in his own body? The, spirit, moved too… Disappeared into the Puzzle.
Yuugi blinked down at the gold, slowly raising his uncut hand to cradle the side of the pyramid.
Mou hitori no boku?
…he didn't answer.
