Here we go with chapter eight. I feel like this story might be rushing along a little faster than I would like, and definitely a lot faster than my normal writing style, but I do have a whole bunch of plans for this story. Again, it has less of a complicated plot so it'll probably be one of the shorter ones in the Silent War Series, but I hope you enjoy anyway.
Oh you'll probably also notice that Yugi and Yami have a mental link in this story that doesn't appear in Eyes of Darkness or Dragon Pact. That's because it only exists in this story where the Millennium Puzzle is fully powered up. By the end of this story it will lose a lot of its power, so it doesn't do all the same things.
Chapter Eight: The Heart of the What Now?
Yugi had never felt so ashamed and so fascinated to walk into a museum as he did right now. He felt oddly like he was trespassing and had somehow managed to do something wrong just by solving the Millennium Puzzle. There was nobody inside of the museum at the moment, which he really wasn't all that surprised about. There had just been a major battle outside. Saul, Galliant and Knil were all very fascinated by the ancient human culture surrounding them on all sides, but Yugi was a little surprised at how gentle the massive purple horse Violet was being. She was very careful to not bump or jostle any of the ancient objects.
For a long while his grandfather said nothing, simply leading Yugi back through the museum until he stopped in front of a large rock inscribed with all kinds of pictures and symbols. On one of the slabs was a picture of a man that reminded him strongly of Yami, and another of Seto Kaiba, stood facing each other in battle. The one that looked like Yami had summoned a Dark Magician, and the one that looked like Kaiba had summoned a Blue-Eyes White Dragon. The sheer familiarity and strangeness of the scene hit Yugi hard, and he shuddered.
"This is..." Yami hardly whispered from beside Yugi.
The boy glanced at him, noticing that he looked confused but felt like he remembered it. He was obviously frustrated though that he couldn't place why he knew it. His ghostly hand reached out and touched the glass, showing Yugi the picture of the three Egyptian Gods, one he quickly recognized as Slifer, making him pull at his sleeve. Thankfully not even the girl and Hawkins, nor Mr. Kugarugi as they walked in behind them seemed to notice. Saul however did, and was watching Yugi with even more concern now.
"The resemblances are striking, aren't they?" his grandfather asked, making Yugi jump in surprise.
"Y-Yeah," he replied. The old man paused, watching him a long moment.
"My boy," the old man suddenly said. "I've known you for a long time. I practically raised you after your parents died in that unfortunate accident. And like my son and your father, you never really very good at keeping secrets. I can tell something's bothering you."
"Give the boy some time to think," Professor Hawkins said with a smile towards Yugi. "He has just been through quite the experience. I understand your concern, but you really can't expect him to be comfortable with all of this."
"And what if what we fear is correct?" Yugi's grandfather countered, glancing worriedly at his only remaining family.
"All in good time," Mr. Kugarugi tried to soothe. "Though, I should apologize Yugi. It seems you didn't hear the announcement about the Shadow Spirit and ending up being caught up in that mess."
"A-Ah no," Yugi said quietly. "Its fine. Really, its okay."
The words left his mouth before he could really think about them, and he wanted to groan and face palm at that point. The girl, no older than ten or so, scoffed at their worried reactions at this. Yugi almost had to fight to not laugh at the thought of such an old girl still carrying around a stuffed animal everywhere. Obviously she didn't understand why they were concerned that he seemed to used to the idea of being attacked and shoved right past a surprised Knil to look at Yugi and reach towards the Millennium Puzzle on his chest.
"A-Ah," Yugi said quickly, feeling Yami's unease towards the girl through their mental link. "I wouldn't..."
"I don't get it," the girl huffed. "What's so special about this stupid piece of-"
She yelped and leaped back in surprise as magic sparked off of the object, obviously causing some sort of discomfort at least. Yugi felt nothing, though he saw the Duel Spirits and adults all jump in surprise at her cry. She looked up to Yugi's left, where Yami was standing with his eyes narrowed at her just slightly. As she held onto her stinging hand and leaped back in surprise her eyes widened and she whimpered a little. Very quickly she seemed to not see him anymore though, and her eyes began to quickly flick around as if looking for the person she'd just seen and had just suddenly disappeared. Yugi glanced towards Yami in just as much surprise. So she had managed to see him? And since when did the Millennium Puzzle have a defense mechanism?
"R-Rebecca," the girl's grandfather, Professor Hawkins cried in surprise.
"There was," she choked out in fear. "there was someone else...someone else there!"
"Well," Yugi said quietly. "I did try to warn you..."
"Yugi," his grandfather said, sounding far more worried than before. "Do you know what that item is? Do you know what it does?"
"Um," Yugi admitted shyly. "Sort of. I mean, I finished it yesterday. I know it has a spirit locked inside of it and it can contact the gods of Ancient Egypt. Oh, and it can also be used to play Shadow Games."
"Y-You learned all that in one day?" his grandfather asked.
"W-Well I..." Yugi trailed off, glancing towards Yami. The Pharaoh paused a long moment, and then finally nodded. "I didn't learn it by myself. Usually it's Yami using its powers."
"Yami?" his grandfather asked.
"That's what I started calling him," Yugi replied uncertainly. "the spirit within the Millennium Puzzle. He doesn't know his own name, or his past. He remembers only very specific things. One of which being that...well the seven Millennium Items can't be brought together or he'll remember something and something terrible will happen."
There was silence now as the three adults stared at him. Rebecca was still hiding behind her grandfather and staring at the item with wide and frightened eyes. The Duel Spirits were frozen and staring at Yugi as if he had lost his mind and they'd never talked to him before in their lives. Yami laid a steadying hand on Yugi's shoulder as he quickly looked down, something no one else noticed but he was extremely grateful for nonetheless. Finally Yugi's grandfather stepped up and laid his hands on Yugi's shoulders, shuddering in surprise as his hand passed through Yami's. He looked at him carefully, watching him.
"This," he said with some difficulty. "spirit. Does he seem...trustworthy? I want your honest opinion Yugi. I know you're good a reading people."
"Yes," Yugi replied without any hesitation. "He can use the shadow games, but he hates to. He says they're a last resort, and I don't want to have to watch another one again. He doesn't remember his own past, but he knows I have to protect this Millennium Puzzle. Mostly he just seems sad. It sounds kind of crazy but I think...I think I know who he is."
"Who is that, my boy?" his grandfather asked.
Yugi turned instead to look at the picture again of the Ancient Pharaoh facing off against another person, probably the same one that Kaiba reminded Yami so strongly of. For a while no one said anything, watching him with surprised looks on their faces. Slowly however they followed his line of sight and noticed the picture that Yugi was looking at. Professor Hawkins and Mr. Kugarugi gasped as Yugi's grandfather slowly walked forward and looked far closer at the tablet than before, his brows knitting in concentration.
"The Unnamed Pharaoh," Professor Hawkins practically whispered. "Could such a thing be possible?"
"It could," Yugi's grandfather admitted. "I helped uncover the tomb, which was made specifically as if to invite people inside. There was a door that held a prophecy. Ah, its been so long I can only remember parts of it. However in a wall opposite of the sarcophagus there was a small box that held this incomplete Puzzle. The wall had obviously been broken open before, and the box warned of a power known as the Shadow Games, as well as other terrible things."
"Do you think you can remember enough of the prophecy, Sugoroku?" Hawkins asked, using Yugi's grandfather's rarely heard first name. Yami was now watching the old man intently.
"Yes I believe so," he said, thinking hard. "Yes, I do know that the word for Darkness, which Yugi has apparently called our strange friend here, was used a lot on the door. It warned of what would happen if the seven Millennium Items were reunited. It spoke of a great calamity, a monster so powerful that even the three Egyptian Gods could not defeat it. A great sacrifice of a kind and powerful Pharaoh of only sixteen years was mentioned. He saved the world and then was entombed forevermore as the Unnamed Pharaoh of an unrecorded dynasty. In fact, many of the Pharaohs of this dynasty and even the dynasty itself is largely forgotten. This boy's reign was five thousand years ago. It also mentioned the Millennium Puzzle inside..." Yugi paused as the man turned to look at Yugi with a concentrated look on his face.
"Go on," Mr. Kugarugi encouraged the old man.
"The prophecy stated that the spirit of a powerful man was inside," he continued. "more or less proving the idea that it may be the Unnamed Pharaoh himself. The prophecy warned of the reuniting of the seven and the coming war, but also that when that time itself was soon to come a boy of the same age of the Pharaoh and from his bloodline would inherit his powers and be the only person able to complete the Puzzle and awaken the spirit inside."
"So you're saying Yugi could be somehow related to this Pharaoh?" Professor Hawkins gasped in surprise.
"Well that just pretty much confirms what we thought," Yami commented suddenly with a small smirk in Yugi's direction.
Yugi didn't really feel like responding to him, and he wasn't sure he really could at this point. The Duel Spirits were very quiet and he'd yet to look up at any of them. Then there was the fact that he couldn't talk right now for fear he'd say something else stupid that would make everyone worried again. For a long while, nobody said anything, as if wondering what to say at that point. Finally it was Professor Hawkins that stepped forward, looking at Yugi with a kind smile on his face. Yugi managed to look up and noticed that the Duel Spirits didn't really look scared like he thought they might, just stunned and surprised. Concerned even.
"Well," he said. "Yugi do you think its possible that we could meet your strange friend? If he truly is as kind as you say, then I doubt we'd have anything to worry about."
Yugi paused a moment, looking at him closely as Rebecca ducked farther behind her grandfather and Yugi's own grandfather backed up a step, as if expecting something strange to happen. Finally he shot a glance towards Yami, who looked far more interested in the situation than normal. Yugi reached his hands out and cupped them around the Millennium Puzzle, which began to glow between his hands as he closed his eyes and concentrated on Yami's mind. Within a few seconds he felt a slight tingling in his forehead, where a strange golden eye like mark appeared on his and Yami's foreheads just between their eyes.
The glow became bright enough that the others had to look away in surprise at the golden glow, and Yugi felt his mind tugging sharply on Yami's this time. Before Yami had always been the one to switch places with Yugi, but now that Yugi understood how it worked through his connection with Yami, this time he was the one switching places. Though he could sense Yami was startled, that was quickly replaced by an understanding of the situation and even perhaps some amusement at what his mind partner was now doing.
"And they're all yours," Yugi said. "Wow, that was probably the bravest thing I've done in a while."
He looked up as the glow faded, noticing that the eye on Yami's forehead was now slowly fading. Again his school uniform didn't really fit Yami that well since he was much taller, and it was a little weird seeing Yami pale instead of dark skinned, but other than that the outfit actually fit pretty well and the differences between their hair and height were noticeable but not strained. Someone could still find a way to confuse them, except when his eyes opened, full of more confidence and courage than Yugi, and he spoke. His voice was still deep and powerful, even in Yugi's body.
The others all looked up, surprised as Yami folded his arms over the top of the Puzzle instead of having them cupped around the Puzzle to use the small bit of magic it took to transfer them back and forth. It was such a small bit of magic that it didn't even need an incantation as usual. Rebecca yelped and dove out of sight as far as possible, which made Yami's eyes soften just a little. The three adults and Duel Spirits however were more than a little surprised. Galliant and Knil even bristled a little as they saw the "stranger". Saul however seemed very interested, as did Violet. Finally Yami broke the silence, still looking at Rebecca.
"I must apologize," he said in his voice that seemed to make the Duel Spirits and humans shiver. Even calm it spoke of power. "I had no idea that the protective spells placed on this artifact would be so strong still. You'll have to forgive me for scaring you."
"N-No," she said, looking stunned. "I-It's okay. I'm fine..."
"W-What did you…?" Sugoroku Moto asked in surprise and alarm. Yami chuckled a little, a gentle and kind sound that seemed to finally relax the Duel Spirits, as well as Yugi's grandfather a little.
"A simple mind switching spell," he replied. "I haven't possessed Yugi or anything like that, simply put his mind in my 'body', which for now, the Millennium Puzzle serves as, and my mind in his. Actually, Yugi was the one who used the spell, so I can promise you that he did it of his own free will."
This seemed to finally make everyone relax a little, and even Rebecca seemed to be more interested in what was going on and peer out at Yami. Now that they were looking at him they could clearly see the differences in height, hair styles (very slight though they were) and confidence between the two teenagers. Yami's calm and kind smile seemed to put them at ease, and Yugi was glad to see that they didn't seem that unnerved anymore. Yugi smiled a little bit as he turned to look at Yami.
"Glad to see them not so freaked out," Yugi said.
"Right, Yugi," Yami said, clearly letting them know he could still hear and talk to the boy.
"You're talking to Yugi right now?" Rebecca suddenly asked, surprised. Yami nodded.
"Because of the magic of the Millennium Puzzle," he explained. "we are largely connected. He can hear and see me at all times when I am outside of the puzzle, and vice versa when we switch places. He can also travel into the Millennium Puzzle itself. The Puzzle does a lot of things. For example, to you it sounds like I'm speaking Japanese, correct? Well that's not the language I hear. I can't be sure without my memories, but I'm fairly certain its an Ancient Egyptian language."
"But," Mr. Kugarugi said, sounding concerned now. "wouldn't being here in this museum among things like this bring back your memories? If you really are the Unnamed Pharaoh of Egypt, shouldn't you try to not remember so things don't happen?"
"No," Yami assured the man. "Its more complicated than that. There is a powerful magic that seals my memories. They wouldn't come back that simply."
"But aren't you sad?" Rebecca asked suddenly. "Without your memories? I mean, who would have done something like that to anyone?"
"I did it myself," Yami replied.
The shocked silence in the room was enough for Yugi to know that everyone had just understood the gravity of that kind of situation. The sacrifice of a kind and powerful pharaoh, who locked himself inside of one of the Millennium Items and gave up his own memories just to prevent a monster that he could not defeat from rising again and destroying the world. It was both awe inspiring and sad to think about. Did he really have a son like he thought he had? Yugi knew that child must have grown up without knowing his father, and the teenage boy (though definitely not the youngest pharaoh ever recorded) probably would miss his friends and family if he could remember.
Even the usually cheerful Kuriboh seemed to look sadly up at the Pharaoh then, who simply shrugged at all of them as if to tell them all that he knew this fact, though little else, and that it didn't really bother him. Yugi could feel through their mental link that he was not okay with it. Yugi touched the pharaoh's arm for a minute, and he felt him relax just a little as if it had steadied him. He didn't visibly respond though, and no one said anything for a long moment. Suddenly Violet stepped forward once and nudged Yami's head gently until he started petting her. This seemed to make Yugi's grandfather frown suddenly.
"That's strange," he said. "From what texts I've uncovered, your people were mostly afraid of Duel Spirits. Magic and Duel Spirits were mostly new then, and the thought of them living with your people scared them. So why do you seem so at ease with them."
"I don't remember," Yami said with a shrug. "But I know I'm not afraid of them."
"He is from a largely unrecorded Dynasty," Professor Hawkins reminded him. "Its possible his people were more used to them by then, or perhaps just trusted them more for a while. Tensions were lowering until this unrecorded Dynasty and then rising again. Perhaps his monster in the prophecy brought back that old fear?"
"Maybe," Sugoroku replied finally. "Very well, Yami, was it? I assume you've been following my grandson since yesterday. What happened during that time?"
"Hm," Yami sighed. "Well I was unfortunately forced to initiate a Shadow Game. They're not to be used lightly, and the Egyptian Gods are always watching to make sure the conditions are upheld, no matter how gruesome. However Merlin couldn't have defeated that enemy alone, so I had no choice. I won't be doing it again unless I have to. Then there was the little, ah, mishap today."
"They must be trying to capture the Millennium Items," Mr. Kugarugi gasped in sudden recognition. Yami simply nodded.
"So you're saying someone is trying to initiate this prophecy?" Yugi's grandfather said thoughtfully. For a while no one spoke, until the man seemed to realize something. "Yugi said you can speak with the Egyptian gods?"
"Indeed I can," the Pharaoh nodded. "The rituals for doing so...I don't recall them. However I know the words used to summon them. In Yugi's dreams we seemed to have been able to reach the Spirit Realm, perhaps because one of these 'Energy Spikes' that caused these Duel Spirits to become lost here in the first place. It may be entirely possible that the god himself caused it."
"So you summoned and spoke with one of the three Egyptian Gods?" Professor Hawkins asked appearing fascinated. Yami nodded, then pulled up Yugi's sleeve to reveal the bracelet beneath it, which seemed to surprise them. "What is this?"
"An Anchor," Yami replied. "Simply put, it is a safe way for Yugi to summon the god that contacted us. However it cannot be used yet until he discovers the test he must pass in order to prove he is worthy to summon one of the three Egyptian gods. The Dragon of Osiris is not easily persuaded, though Yugi did seem to leave a rather good first impression on the god."
"So you made contact with Slyfer the Sky Dragon?" Mr. Kugarugi asked, his brows furrowing. "Even if you were this Unnamed Pharaoh, why would a god answer you when you said yourself you didn't know how to properly summon it?" Yami paused thoughtfully.
"I believe," he said with some difficulty. "that we already had a sort of bond in a way before all of this. And for whatever reason he said that he would make an exception for me."
"Seems you made quite the impression on them as well, Yami," Yugi's Grandfather said. The young man nodded.
"It would seem so," he agreed.
Silence seemed to fall as Yami cast the area a questioning glance. True to his word, nothing seemed to trigger any of his rather dangerous memories, but Yugi could see the sad and pitying glances that the others were all giving him. Then again, what were they supposed to say to him? They couldn't simply promise that everything would be all right. They weren't even sure what was really going on at this point. Either way though, Yugi knew that there wasn't really any backing out now. He had to help Yami, and he had to protect this Millennium Puzzle.
"So now we just kind of play a waiting game?" Yugi asked. Yami glanced towards Yugi, and the others didn't think him insane only because they understood the situation.
"We don't have much choice, now do we?" he replied.
"Not really," Yugi sighed. "But...how are we going to explain any of this to my friends? Help?" Yami frowned.
"One step at a time," he said, also not sounding happy about the thought. Seeing his troubled expression however, Yugi's grandfather smiled kindly and came to his rescue.
"Perhaps its time we returned home," he said. "Come, Yami, Yugi. There will be plenty of time for you two to work here at the Museum and dig up clues later. Its probably one of the safest places in the whole city for you two. But you're both probably tired after that incident earlier. I'll drive you both home."
Yami's eyes turned slowly to look at the man, his face largely unreadable. It would be nearly impossible for someone to just look at him and tell what he was thinking, at least if they didn't know him well. Yugi already felt he knew him well enough that he could tell what he was thinking, despite the fact that their minds were steadily being linked closer because of the Millennium Puzzle around his neck. Yami didn't miss the fact that Yugi's grandfather kept stressing the fact that he was taking both of them home. He was both touched and filled with an almost painful longing at the word. He wanted to go home, knowing that there was nothing left of the world he had known, and he was grateful that the man was opening his home to him.
Yami hadn't felt safe in a long time, and that much even he knew. He didn't feel safe now, but it reminded him strongly of what that had once felt like. He turned to look at the man, then nodded simply in his understanding. Yugi smiled and laid a hand as comfortingly as he could on Yami's shoulder, who didn't visibly respond. He could sense gratitude coming from the spirit though as he did. Saul happily bounced over and into Yami's arms. Blinking a moment in surprise, but then giving the creature the gentlest smile Yugi had ever seen him give, he simply held onto the cooing creature, who settled into his arms so he could watch forward.
"We'll return to the spirit world then," Knil said.
"If you need us, call," Galliant said purposely as he patted Violet's side. "Either of you."
Yami simply nodded to them, and they turned, seeming to just disappear into thin air as if in a desert mirage. The air shimmered around them and then they were gone from sight as quickly as they had first appeared. Now more relatively alone, Yami simply bowed his head slightly to the others standing there, who somewhat awkwardly but hastily returned to motion to the boy. Turning silently then, Yami made his way after Yugi's grandfather as he quickly began rushing off to get to his car, no doubt wanting to avoid any other accidents like the one that had forced Yugi to use his own magic earlier. Yami only glanced a moment at Yugi as the boy ran to catch up to him.
Divine Magic hit very close to home to Yami, and he wasn't sure why, but it bothered him very deeply.
Well it only took forever, but there's an update to this story. Sorry it took me so long, but some health issues have popped up that kind of took the spotlight in my life for a while. I'm not giving up on any of my stories, and I've finally gotten some inspiration for them as well. So I'll work on updating them a bit more. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed. If so, feel free to leave me a review as always.
