I am STEAMROLLING this baby!
No, I mean it, this story is going like WILDFIRE through my head and my fingers have never hurt more or never felt more proud of themselves at the same time. Seriously, I knew when I got my interest for Yu-Gi-Oh back that this story would be good, but for it to completely take over me and to create 3 chapters in a single weekend?
SERIOUSLY PEOPLE! All of this has been written between the 30th of August and today, the 1st of September, can you believe it? Four chapters in a single weekend? I have never had anything like this. And for those reading Keyblade's Light, NO, last extravaganza wasn't written in this quick a time, it took weeks to months.
Okay enjoy

Venquine1990

Chapter 04
Yugi's Special Ability Revealed

Yami's POV

I am able to find the memory I have been looking for, the memory of Kaiba announcing Battle City and I must confess to myself it took some time as I had expected for it to be a memory of me accepting Kaiba's challenge as he announced it, his face shown on every widescreen at the city and he himself flying along on his Helicopter.
Instead it had been a memory of me and Téa arriving at the Domino Station just minutes before – if memory serves me correctly – I was to have my first spiritual encounter with the evil powers of Marik and we were to meet up with May, who would gossip about us dating and who would then talk to me about the invitation.
The memory itself is indeed in a golden frame with a beautiful red gem in the right bottom corner just like Yugi said and while I just can't imagine what could be so special about this memory that it would actually become the origin of Yugi's Special Ability, do I feel fascinated enough to touch the red gem on the frame, starting the memory.

Within the memory

"The invitation said the tournament would be announced tonight. Ishizu was right." Téa says as she and I walk up to Domino Station, me dressed in the leather black shirt, black leather jeans and shoes Yugi put on before letting me take over, and Téa dressed in a yellow shirt, pink skirt and jacket, black socks and pink heels.
We stop at the Station's Plaza and I speak: "I don't know if everything she said is true, but I do know this. I must enter and win this Tournament in order to fulfill my Destiny." At this Téa and I are staring at each other and I can't help but feel confused as so far the memory is exactly as I myself remember it all happening that night.
Then Téa speaks again and says: "Just promise me you'll be careful, Yami. Cause I'm sure there's still danger ahead." And while the girl turns to me, do I speak and say: "Yes, whoever's is after the Millennium Puzzle is still out there." Then I turn my face down and grab my deck, looking at the Dark Magician as I say:
"But you must trust me, Tea, this deck has never let me down before. As long as Yugi and I stay connected to one another, I am confident that we can use this deck to win this tournament, unlock the mysteries of my ancient past and realize our destiny." And just like I remember does Yugi's spirit come out of me to smile.

But then finally does something happen that I don't remember and I hear Yugi's voice as if it comes from deep inside of me and at the same time as if it comes from the memory itself and it thinks: "I can't believe this. He helped me save my grandfather, saw me almost lose to Pegasus and still believes I can help him do all this?
The spirit is more amazing then I thought. No – Yami is more amazing than I ever believed any friend of mine could be. But – is he really just a friend?" And with that do I feel something deep inside me, as if my heart skipped a beat at that thought and I hear Yugi's voice: "No, it can't be. Who falls for – well, he did save my grandpa."

Outside the Memory

But while that voice says so, do only three words hit me. Who falls for? Then the memory ends and the picture again shows Téa and me at the Domino Station Plaza, yet my eyes barely see this as my mind races with this new information, my heart beating a thousand miles a minute as it tries to process the facts it was just presented.
"So Yugi's special ability was the fact that he could hide the actual dept of his feelings for me, the actual fact that his friendship had already grown into feelings of love long before I even fell for him. Then that means the thoughts he was hiding were thoughts of how much he must have grown to love me. But deep does his love run?"
I think while trying to find another memory, this one also encased in golden with a red gem, but then one that takes place long after Battle City and the first one I find; is one I wish I never had to lay eyes on. Yugi and myself in the middle of a stone circle, the stone rocks depicting a battlefield of sorts and Yugi being nothing but a soul.
The boy himself has the Seal of Oricalchos shown on his forehead and both of us have marks of a recent fight on our face and clothes, even if Yugi seems about to disappear and I think: "The battle that allowed me to start fighting against the Darkness inside my heart. Why is that one encased in gold when I had to attack Yugi that day?"
And while my heart tears up at how vulnerable and weak Yugi looks there and while part of me wants to flee the room, the Puzzle and then reenter the world outside, if only to jump back onto the bed with Yugi and hug him close as a sign that that memory has long since transpired, do I still give into my curiosity and do I activate the memory.

Inside the Memory

Yugi and I are on the stone Circle where we dueled each other, me having beaten him by using the Trap Card Divine Wind to counterattack his Catapult Turtle, thus winning the duel and making sure the Seal of Oricalchos can't lock up my soul like I allowed it to do Yugi's only days earlier, however the memory already feels different.
Then I realize that while I am witnessing the whole thing transpiring, that I am also able to hear Yugi's thoughts as he speaks and I think: "He was able to hide his thoughts of love from me while on the same time comforting me as he saw how bad I felt for having put him there and having won the duel? How? How did he do that?"
But then I listen as Yugi thinks: "If I ever get out of the Oricalchos again, the first thing I'll do is make sure Yami and I can have another moment like this. To feel those amazing arms around me. Oh, this was so worth the blow. I knew he was strong, but damn, where does he hide all those muscles? I don't feel those when we merge, I know that."

This makes me feel slightly red and then I listen on as Yugi thinks: "Those tears, I can't believe I caused those. Don't cry, my Yami. I know you're hurting, but it's okay. There are spirits protecting me on the other side. I know you sent them, Yami, I just know it. Only you could and would do such a thing for me."
This confuses me as I never did that, having been too obsessed with my need to find Yugi to even think of doing so and as I see how Yugi lies his hand on mine, part of his fingers on my Duel Disk and I hear myself asking him: "But now what?" And I remember the absolute devastation I felt when Yugi's spirit dissolved in my hands.
Trying not to feel that same pain, do I hear Yugi's thoughts: "I know you'll find me, Yami. If anyone can, you can. You can send monsters from the other side, so you can save me. And with help of those monsters, will I make sure you know that I am still here. I am still beside you and no power can divide us, no matter how ancient."
And this actually alleviates the pain I was starting to feel all over again and when I hear myself shout: "I'LL SAVE YOU! No matter what it takes!" Am I shocked to still be able to hear Yugi's thoughts as – while they are dying out – I hear him think: "Of course, true love always finds each other. My love will guide you, my beloved friend."

Outside The Memory

"He heard me. He actually heard me make him that promise. And he, he knew. Or at least, he was guessing at the chance of my love returning his. Could it be that while he was able to hide his love from me, I was unable to achieve that on the same level as him? Did he ever even get a glimpse of the love I feel for him?"
And with that do I turn away from the memory, my heart now finally at ease, even if I still wonder about these creatures that protected my Yugi on the other side and then suddenly do I encounter another one that catches my eye, this one of just after we were rescued from the deserted island by Kaiba's Helicopter.
It's of a few days after we crash landed in the Middle of Nowhere in Canada, where we had been taken in by Professor Hawkins, his granddaughter Rebecca and Duke Devlin and it's of the day Mokuba invited us to Kaibaland, but then of that same morning, just when Rebecca and Téa had found Yugi and me at the riverbank.
Look at the picture of Yugi with his arms raised above him, I cannot help but admire how pretty and carefree my Aibou looks in the picture, something that makes me worry yet again for him seeing his current state, but then I remember what happened only a few minutes later and while suppressing my jealousy, do I tap the gem.

Inside the Memory

Yugi stands at the riverbank, having just passed a small brown squirrel up in a tree and has lowered his arms from his stretch as he says: "Finally some peace and quiet for a change." And I see my own soul appearing as it says: "We needed this.""Yeah, after everything we've been through it feels nice just to kick back."
And again the memory changes and while I see myself looking out over the lake, do I hear Yugi's thoughts as he thinks: "Not to mention it feels so great being here with my Yami, just the two of us. Wonder what could be bothering him, though." And I see those beautiful lips move as he asks: "Is something on your mind?"
And while I feel amazed that my Yugi can sense so quickly that I was worried that day, do I hear myself respond: "As a matter of fact, Yugi, there is. It seems as if everything we restore peace to the world, a greater evil is waiting for us.""Yeah, you got a point there." Yugi responds to this in worry and he turns to me as he says:

"Hey, look on the bright side. Every battle that we fight together, also brings us one step closer to finding out the secrets of your past." And while I can hear his thoughts whispering: "And one step closer to me losing you forever." Do I feel my heart tear apart at the words as Yugi pulls three cards from his pocket.
My memory self then looks at the cards and says: "The three Egyptian God Cards." And while Yugi thinks: "The only creatures as powerful as my love for you." Something that makes tears be brought to my eyes as I can't believe how strong Yugi believes in his own feelings for me, feelings I never knew of, do I hear him say:
"Yep, they're back in our deck again. Which means it's time to pick up where you and I left off. As soon as we get back home, we're going straight to that History museum. And these three cards are going to give us some answers." To which I say: "Well, let's hope." And while I remember wanting to say more, do I hear Yugi think:
"I wish he didn't look that good smiling like that. Being all alone here might just be the chance –." But then something happens in the memory that makes me curse it even more than when it actually happened, when I was really part of the events occurring and Téa and Rebecca appear behind us as Rebecca says:

"There he is." And just that childish voice is enough to make me want to curse in several languages as I just can't understand how that insolent pipsqueak can think she stands a chance with Yugi when the sound of her voice alone grates on my every nerve. Then Téa says: "I was worried about you." While Memory-me disappears.
Remembering why I did so, do I shake my head as I know I didn't want to be around Téa now that she had ruined the one moment where Yugi and I had apparently been sharing the same thought as I too had been thinking about how perfect a chance this was to finally tell Yugi how I felt, why it had been so important to me to find him.

Then I need the reminder that I had already witnessed several mental testimonies of Yugi loving me through his other memories as the stupid, blonde haired little runt named Rebecca runs at my Yugi and actually jumps him, pushing his against the ground and almost shouting in his ear: "I was even more worried about you than Téa was!"
And while Yugi again proves how he can just not hurt anyone he cares about as he says: "Thanks, I think. Can we get up now, please? I can't breathe." Do I actually hear him thinking again and his thoughts say: "This is so not the amazing embrace I was in when Yami held me a few days ago. Oh, how I miss that amazing hug."
And while Téa looks just as annoyed as I felt that day, does she say: "Come on, you two lovebirds. Everyone's waiting." And while I want to again silently curse her for even thinking of calling Yugi and Rebecca anything romantic, does Rebecca turn her gaze on Yugi while her eyes are closed and she says: "Let's go."
And while Yugi says: "Uh sure." And I hear Rebecca talk in the background, do Yugi's thoughts actually overpower the sound of the girl's voice as he thinks: "At least I had some time alone with him. And who knows, maybe I can get a similar chance before we find those answers he so desperately needs. Great Ra, I love his determination."
And while he thinks this, do I actually see something that I missed that day after showing up again from behind him as Rebecca spoke as my anger had me slightly blinded for what was around me and I actually see a hint of that actual love shine in Yugi's eyes as he looks behind him at where I appear to smile back at him.

Outside the memory

I take a breath of relief, feeling amazed that Yugi actually felt this way and that he actually thought of me and his love for me while being confronted yet again by that stupid runt and her dumb, kiddy crush on my Yugi and then, to my confusion, do I see that the next memory, of our breakfast that morning, also has a golden frame and red gem.
Wondering what about this could make the memory special enough Yugi would decide it to be worth such magic, do I decide to review it in my own mind before activating the magic and I think: "The only thing that happened there was Yugi and me –." And then I remember the argument Yugi had with his friends that day.
"I helped Yugi decide to stay while he wanted to leave as soon as possible to help me solve the mysteries of Yami's past. He agreed with me so quickly after I told him I was okay with it, there must have been a reason he hid with his Special Ability that I didn't think about." And with that do I activate yet another special memory.

Inside the memory

"You know, Hawkins, for an old-stuffed shirt, you make a mean dish of pasta." Joey says with his fork aimed for the sky as we're all seated at an eight-chaired picnic table, Yugi luckily enough seated opposite of Rebecca and Joey and Téa on his sides, while Duke and Professor Hawkins are on Rebecca's sides.
I know that that day, I had used some Shadow magic to make sure Joey and Téa sat there before Rebecca could as I knew that Téa had a small crush on Yugi that I myself considered harmless as her loyalty to Yugi was greater than her crush on him, yet I had not trusted Rebecca, something the girl had proven rightfully so later on.
Téa then again proves her manners as she admonishes Joey before Professor Hawkins says: "There is a lot more where that came from if you kids want to stay." And Yugi, who had just been wanting to take a bit of bacon, looks up shocked and says: "Thanks a lot, Professor, but we should all be getting back home."

To this Rebecca again fuels my anger at her as she asks: "What? How can you leave when we haven't even gone out on one single date yet?" And while I remember thinking about how that will never happen either, does Duke prove to me yet again how perceptive the amazing man – who created his own game – is as he says:
"Beccy's right. well, not about the date part. What I mean is, it's too soon for you to leave." And then I remember how happy I felt when Tristan backed him up and says: "Yeah, ditto. We should stay and relax for once." And I remember thinking about how the chance to relax could lead to a chance of revealing my actual feelings to Yugi.
Then Joey distracts me and says: "Hey, if every meal is like this, I'm moving in with the Professor for good." Then Téa makes my mood even better as she asks: "So what do you think, Yugi? It is kind of nice here?" And Joey goes on as he says: "Kind of nice? It's perfect?" And while I think: "Perfect for a chance at romance."

Just like I did back then while inside the Puzzle and away from Yugi's thoughts and our mental bond, does the phone ring inside the camper and does the Professor excuse himself. Then the memory refocuses back on Yugi, Joey and Téa and Joey asks: "Come on, Yuug, give me one good reason why we should go?"
Then Yugi looks down at my Puzzle and while that day I had, for a second been worried that he had actually read my thoughts either way, had Téa actually read Yugi's and she says: "Oh wait, I know. You need to get back to help the Pharaoh, right?" And I can hear how defeated Yugi sounds as he sighs and Tristan says:
"I understand, dude." And Téa shows how compassionate she is once again as she says: "Yeah, you guys have important stuff to deal with." Before I again hear Yugi's thoughts come out as he looks around at all the saddened faces and it says: "They don't have half as many reasons to feel sad for this lost chance at staying here."

But then my spirit shows up at the left of Yugi and says: "Yugi, I've waited 5000 years to find out about my past. I really don't think another day or two is going to hurt." And while I remember why I had wanted to stay, as I believed this place the perfect location to tell Yugi how I felt, had Yugi been doubtful as he asks:
"You mean, we should stay?" And I nod at him, loving how happy Yugi sounds as he thanks me before he breaks our private moment and says: "On second thought guys, let's stick around." And while I hear Joey and Tristan claim all kinds of lounge seats and hear Téa express her displeasure at their laziness do I hear Yugi's thoughts:
"They might want to relax, but this is my chance to finally have some alone time with the Spirit of my dreams. And staying here for a few days should allow for me to find a spot Rebecca can't find and break apart my private time with him. The perfect chance to tell him how I feel, once I get the chance to ditch her that is."

Outside The Memory

And while I can't help but feel amazed at how annoyed Yugi actually was with the little runt, do I wonder if this is because of the girl's stupid blind persistence or because of other reasons and then I suddenly remember something myself and avidly look for this memory, hoping it has the same kind of magic as the last few.
My hope is then rewarded as just a few memories away, only a few before the one of the fight, do I find another golden frame with red ruby inside the frame and this one is of just after our first encounter with the Oricalchos, just after Professor Hawkins came to see us to give us some more intell on the situation.
Grandpa had, at the end of all the conversations shared back and forth – not to mention the shocks we had gotten from each other – taken us all outside, where he had ordered a cab to arrive and there the memory seems to start, the picture showing us all standing outside the museum with the sun setting in the far end.
Hoping against all hope that this memory will prove to me yet again that Yugi really does love me, do I wonder why the memory doesn't start any earlier as there were definitely many important things shared between us, but then see that memory embedded into the stone wall before I decide to trust my Aibou and activate the memory.

Inside the Memory

Grandpa is standing outside the open door of the cab he called, while his friend Arthur Hawkins is already inside and while that little runt is clinging to Yugi's arm, having called him her boyfriend upon meeting with him, something that when I heard it had made me dive so deep into the Puzzle I was almost lost to our connection.
Then grandpa says: "You kids be careful. I'm going to take Arthur and Rebecca to the airport." And while Rebecca makes me want to get out of the memory if only to hunt her down, do I hear Yugi's thoughts as she clings to his arm and says: "Goodbye cutie." Before kissing his cheek and leaving for the cab as I hear him think:
"It's Yami holding me. It's the Pharaoh grasping my arm. Oh Ra, I wish those were the Pharaoh's lips." And this makes me smile with tears of happiness clinging to my eyes as I see how angry Téa gets over the kiss, yet I can't share that anger myself as Yugi's thoughts make me finally decide to leave the memories and the Puzzle.

Outside the memory

Finally understanding why Yugi only had this part of the memory sealed in this frame, do I see the rest of that memory shown in the picture alongside it, Yugi looking away from the rest of the gang as he must have just heard Dark Magician Girl call out to him from the doorway in my soul room that leads to the Dominion of the Beasts.
Yet my attention is quickly taken away from this memory and I walk out of the room, my same confident smile on my face as I finally feel I have seen enough to overcome nearly four years of doubt at whether or not Yugi could ever return the feelings I have grown to feel for him since he gave the Millennium Puzzle to Joey.
Then I close the door to this special room behind me, feeling confident that I will probably be back later if only to hear even more evidence of Yugi's thoughts of love for me and then leave his soul room and enter my own, if only to activate the power of the Millennium Puzzle yet again and appear outside it with a body.

Okay, so the last part was written on the second of September, sue me!
Anyway, next chapter will definitely hold a lot of romance and as you can guess, I HATE REBECCA! I also hate those really clingy, self-centered forms of Téa where she thinks only of herself and delusions herself with the belief Yami could care for her, but I'm just not cut out to writing that kind of stuff.
So Téa won't be that kind of girl in this story, but her place will definitely be filled by Rebecca and maybe a few other people – like Vivian Wong for instance. And yes, I wanted to do a memory of Vivian Wong and Rebecca's duel, but I decided to leave that for later, no idea why, but we'll just have to wait and see.
Anyway, next chapter will be Yugi and Yami talking about their emotions for each other and after that I think I'll turn to Bakura, Ryou, Marik and Malik. Sure is getting about bloody time to get the responses of those two Hikari's of their Yami's return out of the way – not to mention Ishizu's response to Malik's return.
Okay enjoy,

Venquine1990
PS. That episode with Rebecca was a bint to find.