Pages: 23

Words: 14 297

Finished: 0316am

Class starts: 0730am

Knowing that I finally stopped ignoring you: priceless

Besides, this is why caffeine was invented...

On a side note, is anyone up for beta-ing this story? Past and/or future chapters? I know my spelling and grammar sucks, mainly because I can't edit my own stuff to save my life (and not for lack of trying). This is only made worse by my extremely irrational fear of the beta page. Just send me a message or a review if your interested, I know it's a big project, but if your into that kinda thing give me a shout. I would love you forever, as would many of R&G readers I can imagine.


Yami's grip was tight, rapidly approaching uncomfortably so. Yugi could fell every single point in Yami's bony arm digging into the sensitive skin of his waist. Feel Yami's shoulder pressing into the square of his back. With every second that past the hold became stricter, pressing deeper into the skin. Butt Yugi didn't move, he couldn't move, he wouldn't move. Even as his bones started to creak, Yugi could only stand there, mind still reeling from whatever Yami had done.

Yugi still wasn't sure what had just happened. 1 second he had been with Minerva, talking to Yami through the link. And the next… he was on Yami's side of the glass. Where he had all but been tackled the second his feet where steady. From there Yami had refused to let him go, even for a millisecond. In all honesty, Yugi didn't want him to.

At least not after seeing the way Yami had slammed his hand into fists, trying and contain their trembling. The thought of attempting to make Yami let go, of being angry for taking Yugi away from Minerva at the last second slipped away before they even had a chance to form. Yugi could feel the warmth of Yami's breath against his neck, each ragged panting breath.

"Aibou" Yam's voice was soft, barely audible even in the dead silence of his dark game. It caught hallway through the pet name, wavering in a way it never should. A worrying combination of disbelieving euphoria and disheartenment that maimed Yami's normal proud voice beyond recognition. Yugi's eyes started to burn as he tried to keep calm against everything that was happening. As everything started to seep away the only thing he could bring himself to do was weave his fingers through Yami's vice like grip. Yami's fist opened without a second of hesitation, clutching the offered fingers desperately.

This wasn't right… wasn't fair. Yugi understood that nothing about life was fair. but how could fate be such a fickle mistress as to reduce his dark to this? It wasn't right.

The world saw Yami as the perfect hero. The person who could look into the horrors of the world with out evening batten an eyelash. it was a role that Yami played far to well. But that was it, that noble hero was nothing more than a role… Yami was not nearly as stable as everyone wished him to be. 3000 years trapped in the Millennium Puzzle had done it's damage. The solidarity, the loss of control, only being able to sit and watch as his memories left until Yami became nothing more than a nameless spirit. It was always surprising how sane Yami could be at times. How much self control it took to hide that darkest part of their soul.

Yami fell to the ground, landing solidly onto his knees with a resounding crash. The resulting force took a rather boneless Yugi down with him as Yami let go of Yugi's hands to pull him closer. "Oh Gods Aibou…" Yami murmured, pressing his cheek into the groove between Yugi's neck and shoulder. Yugi's fingers wove into the soft strands of Yami's hair, slumping against his dark, his face buried in the dark tresses. Yugi chocked on a sob, feeling it take over his breathing as the burning in his eyes finally gave way. Yugi could felt he water washing down his cheeks, but made no move to wash them away.

"I… I thought… you were…" The words tumbled from Yugi's throat without a thought, but he could never actually form the sentence. Instead it hung there with the force of a lead weight pressing on his tough. Yugi' couldn't force them out, against and again he tried to whisper his greatest fears… that Yami had truly been gone forever, that they would be separated. But Yami just shook his head against Yugi's neck, refusing to break contact long enough to pass the message. Yugi picked it up just fine however, and his mouth slid shut.

It had been far too close for either of their comfort. Far too hopeless to maintain the dream that things would be alright. Even now, clinging to each other so desperately, the world seemed far to large, the control they had so carefully coveted so far away.

Slowly with hesitation that was so unfamiliar to his fingers, Yami's hand arched out and brushed against the white linen that hid his light's face covering the brilliant eye. Tanned fingers followed the clean lines the nurse had made, tracing over where Yugi's eyebrow should have been, down along Yugi's cheek bone. There was a soft whimper as Yugi nuzzled his cheek into the palm, desperate for the contact. The cut on his face still burned, icy bolts shooting from when Yami's accidentally touched something sensitive. Still Yugi couldn't bring himself to move Yami's hand aside. The icy burn of the dark game had dissipated in Yami's hold, the balance Yugi's other provided more than enough to stop the dark game from feeding.

Yugi's arms fell away from their gip on Yami's head, slipping down to grasp at the dark material of Yami's shirt. Yami's left arm reached up to drape across Yugi's shoulders, his free hand moving to fix the blond bang that had fallen across Yugi's brow, before coming to rest at the side of Yugi's head. A soft frown spread across Yami's face as he fiddled with the raw end of the bandages. The one eye that Yami could see was starting up at him questioningly, silently asking what he was doing. The question only grow as Yugi felt the slight pressure of lips on his forehead, light and chaste as Yami's fingers untucked the bandage.

Carefully Yami started to unravel the bandage from Yugi's head. Steadily, not giving himself time to pause Yami revealed layer after layer of the white membrane, each one tinted with a thin line of red. The bandages were wound diagonally across Yugi's face, holding -yami figured out- a long piece of gauze padding that stretched from Yugi's eyebrow down his cheek.

The pad slid way with little resistance as the last inch of bandage fell to the ground in a thoughtless heap. Yugi bit his lip, turning his face to the side in a desperate attempt to hide what had been revealed. Yugi knew that Yami would be angry when he saw the cut. The ugly gash that split open his eyebrow, cut across the eyelid and sliced through the corner of his eye. Why would he not be? The cutting spell hadn't damaged the actual eye, and for that Yugi was eternally grateful. However Yugi was far from optimistic about how well the cut would heal. The wound was deep and the face scarred so easily. The mark was more than likely going to be permanent.

Yugi tore away from Yami's prying gaze before the necessary conversation started, trying to shove his face into shadow, away from Yami's field of vision. It was a hopeless move, but the last thing Yugi needed right now was to make his other more angry. He still had to end the game.

A scar was a scar, Yugi had plenty of them. From accidents silly accidents he had as a kid to old altercations with bullies and the burns on his hands from handling the puzzle in a fire. Another scar wouldn't be the end of the world, just another count to the list. Jounouchi had always been impressed by the quantity. Yugi knew however, that not everyone in his life agreed with those sentiments.

The soft growl above his ear was more than enough evidence of that. The hand that rested lightly on Yugi's shoulder tightened uncomfortably, Yami's fingers digging into the bone without a thought. Yugi tried to keep in the wince of pain, focused solely on sending soothing thoughts to try and neutralize the anger filtering down the link.

The hand pressed down deeper on Yugi's shoulder and Yami reached up to cup at Yugi's chin, forcing him to look forward. Yugi tried to resist the motion but Yami pressed harder, not giving him the chance to object.

Cold, unfeeling rubies met Yugi's gaze and he found himself starting to shiver. Yugi let his dark do whatever he wanted however, forcing himself to trust Yami's decisions. No matter how angry Yami got… he wouldn't hurt Yugi. It was an unspoken rule of Yami's, a line that would never be crossed. Yami would never hurt him, even if he was sometimes unnecessarily rough.

Yami's finger traced the outer edge of the cut, his mouth tightening as his hand drew back into a fist, his knuckles resting just beside the cut, careful not to touch it. "damn it!" he growled as the flesh beneath his knuckles became white. Another person had dared to touch his light, had succeeded in not only that but in actually staining Yugi's skin. He had failed, with the one task which held any importance. Left with nothing more than a permanent fixture of this disaster.

While there was no way to make this... thing go away, it wouldn't make a difference however, because a mark was only as important as the person who left it. And how important could a person be if they where trapped in their own permanent nightmare?

Yugi frowned as the tension slipped away from Yami's bones, and his fist slipped free from Yugi's face. Instead it draped limply over Yugi's back, falling back into the needy position they had been in when Yugi had been brought to this side of the game. But Yugi was sharply aware of the change.

He could feel Yami's face pressed against his neck, could feel the ghost of a chuckle against the sensitive skin, and the corner's of Yami's mouth rising up into a grin more wicked than the cheshire cat could ever hope for. The blood froze in Yugi's veins, and the reality of what was happening came crashing down around him. This wasn't a reunion cut out of some novel. This was for the lack of a better word an intervention. he had to stop Yami from continuing with this game. Somewhere in the process of rekindling their minds, Yugi's purpose here had been washed away.

"Mou Hitori no Boku" Yugi spoke softly as he ran his finger's through Yami's hair. The strands where soft under his fingers, mixing pure gold into black and red, blood like in it's vibrance. Yugi frowned as the gold disappeared into the overwhelming colours. Carefully he tried to brush the blonde back into neat, straight lines, but it was far too tangled.

The confidence that had filed Yugi from the moment he had started to win over Minerva was gone, brining a dull aching hole in it's absence. His throat grew dry, his tongue started to feel as if it was ticking to the roof of his mouth, but Yugi fought to be heard. "Mou Hitori no Boku, what have you done?"

The question hung there for a second as Yami became still and rigid. Yugi could hear the wheels starting to move in his other's mind as he through through Yugi's words. They seemed to have an effect however, snapping Yami out of the stunned state that Yugi's presence had created. No longer seeking comfort from Yugi's hold, Yami changed their positions. Before Yugi knew what was happening he had been pulled down, his head tucking neatly underneath Yami's chin.

Yugi blushed, trying to register what had happened. Whatever he had said had obviously changed a lot more than he had originally intended. It had done far more than just grab his other's attention. It was more than Yugi was willing to deal with at this moment, there wasn't time.

His thoughts must have been reflected in his body as Yami ran his hand down his shoulders to try and work out the tension under the skin. "Don't worry Aibou" Yami said softly, his voice soothing as a parent warding off a nightmare. "I've solved the problem. Just a little while longer and I promise, nothing like this ever happens to you again.

That wasn't the answer Yugi was looking for.

Straining his neck, Yugi titled his head up to meet Yami's gaze. Yami's eyes were alight with something Yugi didn't like: Glee, pride, disturbing satisfaction. Yami wasn't even looking at Yugi, but clean across the room. Yugi tried to follow the stare, seeing Minerva on the other side of the glass.

Yami had long since given up his signature smirk. The one that was far more exasperating than it was attractive to anyone who actually knew the man. But at this point Yugi would do just about anything to see that cocky expression return. Because the soothing smile that was plastered on Yam's features sent another message entirely, one of a child seeking approval for a job well done. It wasn't Yami.

A feeling of fear started to build inside of Yugi and he started to squirm, trying to push away from Yami's hold. Before Yami had the chance to react Yugi had pushed his hands up to Yami's chest, using the firm skin to propel himself away. Yugi scrambled to his feet, struggling to find friction on the smooth marble.

The smile on Yami's face flickered and died a Yugi backed away. Yami straightened as well, watching as Yugi pressed himself fully against the well, breathing heavily as he watched his other wearily

"Aibou?" Yami breathed and Yugi winced at the hurt in his voice, feeling the guilt start to build. But, no, this wasn't Yami! This wasn't his other, and Yugi shouldn't be hesitant to do what had to be done. It was what Yami would do under the same circumstances. Steeling himself, Yugi turned to meet his other's eyes. His shoulder's straightened, and Yugi clenched his fists as he let his control of the situation build his confidence. For the first time in a very long time, Yugi was a place of dominance, he couldn't let it go now.

"Mou Hitori no Boku, you have to stop the game." it wasn't a question, it wasn't even a statement, Yami stopped as the command washed over him. An eyebrow rose in silent question and hidden mirth. Yugi wasn't one to take control like this.

"What are you talking about?" Yami asked, his face screwing up slightly in confusion. "Why would you have me stop when we are so close to ending everything? I have them in my grasp, it would be so easy to crush them all."

Stomping his feet and and screaming seemed like a good answer right about now. Yugi bit the inside of his cheek in hopes of quelling the childish action. "That's my point Yami!" Yugi said instead, spreading his arms wide, his frustration causing his voice to raise a few octaves. "You have the wrong people! The wizards here have done nothing wrong. Let them go"

There was a snort of disbelief as Yami closed the gap between them. He leaned over Yugi, staring his light down for what felt like the longest moment of Yugi's life. Nonetheless Yugi met his other's gaze, amethyst burning with a determined fire. Rolling his eyes, Yami broke contact, leaning down to rest his forehead and palms against the wall Yugi was leaning against. Yami's body completely enveloped Yugi's, both in protection and restraint, hiding him from the world. "What an interesting thing to say." Yami said, his voice barely above a hissing whisper. "Why Aibou, would you sympathize with those who would do you wrong?"

Shaking his head, Yugi rested a hand against Yami's chest, just above his heart. Yami's eyes flicked down at the gentle gesture, frowning. "Mou Hitori no Boku, you don't understand." Yugi said, fighting to keep his voice gentle and unwavering. "These people didn't hurt me. They're just trying to help, and your going to kill her without any evidence of wrong doing. Please Mou Hitori no Boku, stop the game before someone innocent gets hurt!"

"They are not innocent!" Yami snarled, and Yugi flinched as his other's voice rose. Yami took a mere step back, but his hands never left their cage. The slight movement only granted Yugi a glimpse of Minerva facing the door, wand in hand. "Look at her Aibou!" One hand was removed from the wall to wave in Minerva's direction, but Yami never broke eye contact. "So confident in her actions. Would an innocent woman cheat? Yet that is what she is about to do, like all those before her." Yami's voice had changed once more, carefully masking his anger to play the calm diplomat once more. But Yugi could feel the anger building, he knew he was running out of time before this blew up in all their faces. "Why do you trust her?"

"I..."

Yugi hesitated as he closed his eyes, faltering on his answer. Why did he trust Minerva? Yugi in all honesty had no idea. Yet the words came out so easily "She won't cheat Mou Hitori no Boku" Yugi's voice was confident, revealing the hope he had placed in Minerva. "Please just give her a chance. She won't cheat. I know it!"

Yami's hand clenched into a fist, Yugi could hear his nails grind against the walls. "What would you have me do Aibou? Just cancel everything on the fatuous hope she won't cheat? It's a deadly mistake, and no matter what Bakura might say, I know you are not that naive."

Yugi shook his head, a sad smile on his face. "No, I'm not asking you do that Mou Hitori no Boku. If she cheats, you may do what you wish, and I will do nothing to stop you. But please, show misery if she doesn't. Just consider cancelling game if she tries to solve the puzzle once more. That's all I ask."

/

Minerva held her breath, standing as still as possible in a subconscious urge to not make any sudden movements. She was careful, oh so very careful to remain facing the rough metal door in front of her. But even though her body faced forward, her eyes and attention where strained to the left, unable to look away from the spectacle in front of her.

From the first moment Minerva had lain eyes on Yami, she had sense that there was something mentally wrong with the teen, ghost, spirit -whatever he was-. It was visible in his eyes, his every movement. Rash and violent to the point of psychotic. Paranoia that seemed to put even Alastor Moody to shame. Something wasn't right with this kid. But there was a difference between narcotic and insane. Intent to kill, to maim, to hurt -while far from healthy- was different than talking to open air, and different again from trying to embrace nothing.

Yet that was what Yam seemed to be doing. Balanced on his knees on the cold, hard marble floor, he had his arms tightly clutched around open air. Occasionally his lips would move into words that Minerva couldn't hear, and his head would tilt as if he was listening to a veiled body.

Minerva shivered at the implications of what she was watching. Just how rational was this man? Whatever sanity he had, or at least had managed to show a few minutes previous was disappearing. The threat of violences still hung in the air though, as thick as a hangman's noose. Despite how ridiculous Yami looked on his knees talking to himself, Minerva was still painfully aware of his intent.

Yami wanted her dead for what he believed was her part in hurting Yugi. Minerva didn't understand the kind of relationship these two must share that could evoke this kind of reaction. All she knew was that if she lost this game, there was a very good chance that Yami would continue his vendetta onto the rest of the school. Minerva doubted from Yami's actions that he would care that Hogwarts housed children. He would just push through them, seeing only those who had hurt Yugi. Despite the true malefactor being miles away in london.

The thought sent a devastating wave of nausea through Minerva's body. There wasn't a hope of beating Yami at the puzzle... Tearing her eyes away from the collapse of Yami's sanity, she turned to look at her opponents puzzle.

One piece, one horribly terrifying piece was all that was left. A simple nudge to the right and the puzzle was complete and everything Yami promised would come to pass. Minerva didn't have a chance of finishing the puzzle, her own was a far cry from Yami's. Inside it was just a mass of black and gold spread out in no discernible pattern. All Minerva could say for certain about her puzzle was that it had aged her at least 10 years.

But Minerva wasn't sure if she trusted the door, that stood a gleaming glimmer of hope in this forsaken room. If the puzzle had aged her 10 years, the the door had taken 20. The best way to invoke insanity was to try and figure out the logic of the insane.

The door that framed the far wall of Minerva's box had been placed there intentionally. Why create it if there wasn't a reason for it. In situations like this a pipe was never just a pipe.

The puzzle wasn't the answer. Not a chance, she would rather face a first year transfiguration class the day after Halloween then go back to that wretched thing. The goal of this game was to escape from the room right? Not sit here and get angry at an inanimate object.

The door was the most obvious and easily the most simple way out. Minerva was more than willing to take that chance if it meant being able to leave the merlin forsaken place behind. But then again, the easiest way wasn't the always the right way.

How many times was she going to go over her options before the answer became obvious?

The door or finish the puzzle? There was only 2 answers, and one was far more obvious than the other. The puzzle wasn't going to get her anywhere, at least with the door she had a chance of coming out of this on top, or she would crash and burn. But at least with the door there was a chance...

Gods, what would her co workers say if they saw Minerva like this. She could already feel Severus' condescending sneer, it sent a shiver down her spine to even think about. He would probably make some snide comment about letting some silly value get in the way of a decision that would effect the safety of the entire school, not to mention her own life.

Then again, that didn't sound quite right. Severus would more than likely started laughing ages ago. Probably about when Minerva first started to struggle with a Muggle child's game. Minerva could already hear the man's voice as if he was looming over her shoulder with that patronizing expression on his face.

He would probably make some nasty comment... Minerva paused as her thoughts jumped towards a conversation they had a few weeks previous about guard detail for the Philosophers Stone. The stone that was currently buried underneath the school, with the up most secrecy.

Those involved in the creation of the guard: herself, Pomona, Quirinus, Filius, Severus and Hagrid where not supposed to tell each other about the specifics of their plans. For obvious reasons, it was not safe to reveal that information to even those Albus trusted the most. But specifics where not the same as details, and on more than one occasion they had gathered to discuss ideas.

Most of the conversations had been lost into the realm of inconsequential fluff. A hint here, a tidbit there that would later build upon the finished product of each other stages. However there was little of importance as everyone danced around the more dangerous topics. Instead the conversation had centred around the ways the average wizard thought, what would stump them the most. However one thing had stood out, something that Serverus had said was coming back to haunt her now.

"Most Wizards couldn't logic their selves out of a box"

Sure, this steel prison was far more intimidating than the simple box Serverus had imagined, but the principle was still there. It was funny how something that seemed so silly at the time gained so much more meaning when put into context.

He had said it out of the blue. Completely and utterly out of context to the conversation, and veering away from any possible route any of the statements made before could have possibly gone to. Minerva remembered the confusion Filius' face, the way Hagrid's beard shuddered as he shook his head in confusion. The way Pomona's eyebrows had risen so far into her hair that they had disappeared completely. Even Quirinus, who seemed to be lost in his own little world these days, had stopped fiddling with that ridiculous purple turban to pay attention.

"Wizards these days are idiots" Severus had continued in regards to the silent prompt from his audience. "Witches too, this entire generation is shot in my option. Everyone relying on their wands to get out of any problem. Put them in a situation where magic won't work and they'll start whining like a house elf who was given a jumper for christmas. Merlin forbid there actually be thinking past that point."

There had been a stunned silence after that. No one had dared to speak a word in support or argument. The only movement had been Hagrid, who had shift his gargantuan girth to wrap a hand around the handle of his garishly pink umbrella.

As Minerva remembered it had been Filius who turned the conversation back to less insulting grounds. Something to do with the curriculum changes for this terms batch of first years? It didn't matter really, as the rest of the day was spent in near silence. Serverus had left a few minus later, but Minerva couldn't get what he had said that day out of her head. She had severally underestimated what he had meant by those words, and their implication.

The door was a trap. There was no doubt now. Yami must have known that the moment Minerva's wand wasn't an option, she would look for another way out. Somehow he had managed to pick that up from one meeting... No not one meeting, he had painted all Witches and Wizards with the same, less than pleasant brush and came out with the right answer..

There was no spell that would solve that puzzle. Not if Minerva didn't understand how it worked. If she had never seen this kind of puzzle before, then there wasn't a chance hat she would know a spell that would solve it. It would be far too dangerous to just whip out her wand and scream "Solve" like some overzealous first year. That was a good way to get your hand blown off. This was one of the first lessons that she taught in her class, it was so obvious that Minerva hadn't even considered pulling out her wand earlier.

Of course without Magic, minerva had barely lasted five minutes before she had sworn never to touch the puzzle again. A feeling that she still had.

Taking a deep breath, Minerva tried to calm down. She closed her eyes, feeling the air settle in her body, feel it flow through every inch of her. The Puzzle was the only option left to her. Whatever that underlying feeling from before was, it was telling her just how much of a bad idea the door was. Yami was too smart to be taken lightly, and even the darkest of cynics had their day.

She would have to solve the puzzle.

Opening her eyes, Minerva risked one more glance over her shoulder, and what she saw made her confidence grow. Yami still hadn't moved. If he hadn't throughout the entire space of her conflict, epiphany and resolution, then what was to say that his sanity hadn't packed up and left for good. What if he was content to be wrapped up in his own delusions for the rest of this life.

It didn't take much to realize the advantage that was being presented. And it was one that Minerva was going to take. He couldn't' do much more damage if he remained like this. If she could just avoid grabbing his attention then this entire crisis could be adverted before it got any worse.

Kneeling down once again, Minerva winced as the harsh marble came into contact with her knees. She was getting far too old for this kind of thing. But that wasn't going to slow her down now that Minerva was moving once again. Yami's puzzle was almost complete, which meant that she could use that as a guide for what her own puzzle would look like.

The first piece slid into place with a soft clink. The nightmare was almost over.

/

All movement had stilled on the other side of the room. The silence was deafening as both Yami and Yugi stared at, and through the thin plane of glass that separated the two rooms. Like the overly dramatic climax of a thriller, neither man was able to move their eyes away as Minerva started to shift.

Yugi knew that something was going to happen, that if something was going to happen it would happen in the next few moments. Yet no matter his confidence from before, Yugi didn't know how this would play out. Despite how loudly he could argue that Minerva wouldn't cheat, the truth was that with each passing moment a nagging doubt that was beginning to build. Yugi as afraid, so afraid that Minerva would cheat.

To a certain point Yami was right, as much as Yugi didn't want to admit it, he was right. They knew nothing about these people, these wizards. If it boiled right down to the point, Yugi was just as wrong to assume them innately good as Yami was to assume their faults. Yugi couldn't hold back that feeling of unease that blinding trusting Minerva's morals would bring about a desirable result

Above him Yami shifted, no longer hovering on top Yugi like an overzealous warden, instead he rolled to Yugi's left, resting his weight on the elbow that now rested above Yugi's head. Yugi could feel the smooth leather of Yami's shirt brushing against his arm, causing the skin to tingle. Yugi held in a exasperated sigh as Yami curled around him, never willing to break the tense contact. The trust that had once stood so strongly between them was starting to shake. Yugi could feel the vibrations shaking his core. Neither trusted the other to do the right thing, both weary about what would happen next.

They weren't thinking as one, as they had so often done in past games, and Yugi had an aching feeling that it had nothing to do with the block Yami had set up to separate his mind from Yugi's. Somewhere along the line, their definitions of right and wrong had diverged, so much so that Yugi wasn't sure he knew up from down at the moment.

Yami stared at the window as if he was trying to burn a hole through it Yugi noticed dimly as his attention shifted away from Minerva. His other was tense, Yugi could feel the muscle's tightening beneath his skin, preparing to spring into action at a moments notice. Yugi knew that Yami was waiting for the moment in which Minerva would give up. He could feel the gleefully sadistic anticipation that swirled around the block. Yami wanted to end the game, just like Yugi did, but he wanted it to go out with a bang that would take them all down.

Yugi's throat grew dry, and he swallowed nervously, his throat working against nothing as he ripped his gaze away from Yami. He couldn't let Yami's way of thinking influence his own right now. They had no influence here, either Minerva would make the right decision here or she wouldn't. It was that simple.

Slowly Minerva began to move, her wand slipping back into her pocket as she turned around. Barely, just barely Yugi restrained a childish whoop of excitement, elation spree ding through him like liquid fire as Minerva crouched down to the puzzle once more and began to shift the pieces. She didn't cheat!

A grin flashed across Yugi's face as he whirled around, searching out Yami's gaze. Yami's eyebrow twitched as he stared at Minerva. The slight movement his only reaction, but nothing else happened Yugi realized in dismay. Even as Minerva moved piece after piece of the puzzle into the empty slot, shuffling the picture around Yami remained starring. As if he expected her to get up and move to the door at ay given moment, Yami gazed blankly through the glass making no effort to move.

Yugi bit his lip as the silence dragged on for another painstaking minute. He had hoped that Minerva going back to the puzzle would have some firework worthy revelation. That from one action the entire world would jump up and down an realize the error of there ways. It was the only thing that Yugi had time to think through, he was working on the fly here. However instead of his fireworks, Yugi had been greeted with an anticlimactic fizzle.

"Mou Hitori no Boku" Yugi said hesitantly, his voice soft was he lay a hand onto Yami's forearm. Yami jumped faintly at the motion, the skin shifting underneath Yugi's fingers as his head whipped around to meet Yugi's gaze. Yami's face was expressionless as usual, but Yugi hoped he was thinking about this dilemma "I told you that she wouldn't cheat."

Yami gave a noncommittal grunt, frowning softly. "So you did" He said, voice low and sounding slightly miffed. But as soon as the words left Yami's mouth he clammed up once more, turning away from Yugi to face the window once more, looking almost bored.

This wasn't the amazing epiphany that Yugi was hoping for, this general dismissal of Minerva's actions. It was beginning to drive Yugi insane that his Other just didn't seem to care anymore, this should have shown the less then malicious intent of Minerva better then anything else Yugi could say. "She didn't cheat, Mou Hitori no Boku, please end the game."

"No"

Yugi blinked taken aback by the abruptness of Yami's statement. "No?" Yugi repeated, the word pressing down like a lead weight against his tongue. "What do you mean no? Mou Hitori no Boku you promised that if Minerva didn't cheat you would end the game."

Once more Yami turned around, a patronizing smile on his thin features. One that made Yugi realize that he had just been played. "No Aibou." Yami said as his fingers brushed against the smooth line of Yugi's cheekbone. "I didn't. You asked me to make a decision to show mercy or not, and I have made my decision."

Yugi's eyes narrowed as he took a step back away from Yami, moving out of arms reach. "What?" he asked in disbelief as Yami continued to stare down at him like a naive child. "I thought you were going to stop! You lied?"

Yami frowned, his hand falling to his side as his cheeks started to flash a dark red."Do not accuse me of lying Aibou!" Yami snapped, slicing his hand through the air in front of him. "I have never, and will never lie to you, and you know that!". Finally he was beginning to shift out of his condescending attitude to crash back down to earth. "I'm doing what's best for us! Why don't you see that! If Minerva loses the game than she is not worthy to remain living. That is the way this works!"

"But she didn't cheat!" Yugi bellowed back, stress and his emotions finally taking over as tears streamed down his face in a watery mess. But Yugi blinked past them as his eyes screwed shut. "The point has been made, so stop this stupid game! Stop it before she dies Mou Hitori no Boku!"

Yami's fists clenched as his face continued to grow red, his face tightening in a way Yugi had never seen directed towards him before. His other was angry, angry at Yugi. but Yugi was too far gone in his own frustration to care. Yugi knew that the way their minds processed a threat was different, but this was ridiculous. Yugi hadn't been this mad at his other in years. Frustrated maybe, but not angry. Yugi hadn't felt like this since the stone circle in the states, and in all honesty he had no idea how to direct his anger. He could only seethe, panting slightly from the force his bellowing exerted on his exhausted body.

"You don't think..." Yami growled, his tone low and dangerous as he struggled to regain control of his emotions, but it seemed to be a failing attempt. "You don't honestly think that dark games are about cheating do you?" Yami gave a short bark of laughter, his lips curling back into a sneer. "This is trial by combat Aibou. A fight between 2 people given the same chances to win. it's up to the gods and the items to decide that women's fate. When she loses it will be because the gods have forsaken her, like the criminal she is. All cheating does in a dark game is make the gods decision easier."

"And this game is so fair" Yugi spat out, sarcasm dripping from each syllable as he waved a hand to the puzzle that surrounded them. "What chance does a witch, with no knowledge of our world have against the Yu-gi-oh, the 3000 year old all mighty king of games? There's no divine influence here Pharaoh, and I will not have you ruin the only chance for peace we have!"

It was Yami's turn to reel, his come back lost on the tip of his tongue as he tired to follow what had just happened. "What did you just call me?" Yami whispered, his eyes narrowing into slits as he stared at his light in disbelief.

"Pharaoh! I called you Pharaoh!" Yugi cried, clutching at his hair as he ducted his head to his chest, trying not to scream to the heaven's as the desperation started to burn at his insides. " Mou Hitori no Boku would never do this! Not to me, not again!"

"Pharaoh?" Yami seemed stuck, oblivious to anything Yugi said. Even Yugi's own rant came to a stand still as Yami mouthed the name, his arms falling dead to his side, the tension flowing free like water. "Of course..."

"Of course what?" Yugi said as Yami's eyes snapped to his, not looking at him but almost as if he was trying to look through him. Yugi yelped as Yami grabbed onto his forearm, none to gently pulling Yugi to his chest. Yugi tried to squirm free, the last thing he wanted to do was touch Yami right now, but the Pharaoh held firm, one arm trapping Yugi to his chest as the other reached up to Yugi's forehead and tilted his head back, forcing Yugi to stare straight up at him.

The strained angle this position forced his neck into a painful angle as Yami pulled Yugi's head even farther back searching his features for something. "The old man, the one from outside, Albus. He touched your mind didn't he? After I started the game?"

Yugi froze, falling still in Yami's hold as he felt Yami's mind brush at the block, giving Yami all the information he needed. There was no point in denying the claim, Dumbledore had searched his mind, Yugi could remember the prying feeling, but he hadn't gotten through. Yugi failed to see the importance of this. Not right now. "Enough of this!" Yugi shouted, pushing against Yami's chest in an attempt to break free "Just end the game Pharaoh, do it now!"

"I understand what's going on now Oldman." Yami continued, yet he was no longer speaking to Yugi. Instead he tilted his head to the side, as if speaking to an invisible presence, completely ignoring what Yugi had said. Yami's eyes grow alight with the light of a man who thought he had answered the worlds greatest questions. "Such a cheap trick, and an even sillier mistake. I'm disappointed, Aibou never calls me pharaoh." Yami tisked, a smirk on his face as he looked down at his light with a predatory grin. "You screwed up Old man. I don't know how you managed to control Aibou's mind like this, but your little hoax is over."

Yugi didn't have a clue what Yami was talking about, but he was beginning to understand and as the edges of the puzzle came together Yugi's blood ran cold. Yami's hand gently slid down from his forehead, falling down to rest overtop of Yugi's eyes, blanketing him into darkness. Yugi shivered as the world disappeared, unable to move a finger as fear washed over him. Yugi winced as the tips of Yami's bangs tickled his shoulder and his warm breath washed over his ear. Yugi could feel Yami's lips move against his ear as whispered words filled his hearing.

"I'm so sorry Aibou" he breathed, and Yugi felt warmth start to spread underneath Yami's palm. "I was so stupid not to realize Dumbledore would try a trick like this. I'll make it better, I promise." Yugi tried to focus on the words, but it was growing more and more difficult as the warmth started to spread, reaching past Yami's palm to spread down through the rest of his body. Everywhere the warmth went, Yugi felt himself lose feeling with his body. He began to panic as the overwhelming feeling of dissociation washed over him, but Yugi was helpless to prevent it.

"It'll be okay," Yami whispered into Yugi's mind as his body started to slacken within Yami's hold "Just trust me Aibou and let your body relax."

It wasn't as if Yugi had a choice at this point, he could already feel his knees start to buckle underneath him as his arms turned into noodles. Yugi tried to fight it off, but Yami was determined to shut his mind off. It was obvious now that Yami's mind was too far gone into the dark game for any rational thought to break through. He was paranoid, paranoid to the point of insanity, believing every illusion his mind and the dark game supplied.

The last thing Yugi felt before control was stripped away was of Yami moving his weight from his right leg to his left. Of a disorientating shift as the surface shifted out from underneath them both. Yugi could only watch as the millennium puzzle started to glow a light shade of gold as the last two pieces of marble slammed together, signalling the end of the dark game.

/

Yami smiled as the walls of the dark game began to separate, the walls dissolving into the emptiness from which they came. The puzzle at his feet began to glow a lush gold that seeped through the seams of each piece, the light filling the room.

The dark game had accepted his win. Yami watched as mInerva jumped back away from her puzzle like she had been burnt. Maybe she had, as the marble at her feet instantly melted. As if on a slope the liquid stone ran to the very centre of the room, forming a puddle. Minerva's face flickered in confusion as the remains of her puzzle disappeared without a trace, not even a drop remaining. The colour left her already pale complexion as eyes grown huge in panic turned in Yami's direction

Her fear washed through Yami like the most delicious of wines. It only grew as the glass wall between them cracked like a gunshot before shattering into thousands of knife like shards. Glass splinters sailed around them both, nicking mercilessly at Minerva's skin.S he yelped as red rivers began to run down her skin. In a moment of panic, Minerva stretched her arms up to cover her head in a futile attempt to protect her face from the flying daggers.

There was no point now, Yami mused, now that the game was over. But the notion was an amusing one as his attention turned away from Minerva. No glass would touch him now, it one colliding into a invisible barrier that surrounded his circumference, reverting back to sand upon contact. The puzzle was protecting both Yami and his partner now that the game had come to an end.

But it wasn't time for that right now. With a soft smile Yami looked down at Yugi's limp body in his arms. Yugi's head rested serenely against Yami's shoulder, his eyes closed and his mind at rest for the first time in far to long.. It hurt that Yami had been forced to knock Yugi out like this. But Yami knew that he didn't have much option in the matter. Whatever Albus had done to Yugi's mind to make him panic like this, it wasn't safe to let Yugi loose right now. Yami had no idea how this spell of the old man's worked, and until he did Yami didn't dare try to remove it until he had the time to think through every possibility.

Bending at the knee, Yami carefully placed his unconscious partner down onto the ground before slipping his hand out from underneath Yugi's head. Yami wasn't sure how long this spell would last for, already Yugi's eyes were starting to flicker beneath his eyelids. With Yugi as exhausted as he was it didn't take much to knock him out, but at the same time anymore dark magic in Yugi' system may cause permanent damage, a thought Yami didn't dare dwell on. He would just have to be quick.

Only a few moments after the destruction had begun, the last of the walls and floor of the puzzle disappeared into the blackness of the dark game. In it's place formed an endless black sky that enveloped everything and seemed to go on for ever. It covered everything, the floor and the ceiling, giving even Yami a swirling sense of vertigo as his stomach leapt up into his throat. Yami quickly shook the feeling off however and he returned to the objective at hand.

To Yami's left Minerva remained on her knees, her eyes eyes glued to the ground at her feet, as if trying to wrap her mind around what had just happened. Her eyes were alight with trepidation and confusion, As they should be, Yami could help but think as he took in her quivering form. No longer could Minerva keep her fear control, and she shook, shivering so hard that Yami could see her body move even from this distance.

The woman deserved it, now she could begin to comprehend only a minute of portion what her people had put Yami and his light through. But once Yami was done with her, Minerva would be screaming, pleading for this moment of peace of return. This apprehension was absolutely nothing compared to what Yami had in mind. He would rip her pitiful mind into shreds, before moving onto to Albus, it wouldn't take much to make the old man's mind crack.

"Game over" Yami whispered in a coy hiss as he stepped away from Yugi's body, carefully noticing the twitch in Yugi's little finger."You lose Minerva"

Minerva's head lifted as she heard the sound of heavy boots against a floor that she couldn't see, and the rich timber of Yami's voice as he approached her once more. Minerva swallowed past the lump that as gathering in her throat as she stared up at Yami, wincing at the satisfied smile on his face. Minerva's pulse started to quicken as a cold sweat broke over her skin. She had no idea what had happened, one second she had been working at the puzzle, Minerva had even been able to solve about half of it. But now... now everything was gone. The puzzle, the room, everything, taking with it any hope of making it out of this alive.

Yami loomed over her as the air grew frigid and Minerva could only watch as he smirked, looking down at her like she was nothing more than a miserable ant about to be smothered beneath his boot. He was waiting for her to make the first move, Minerva realized as her finger's curled around the handle of her wand. He wanted her to beg for her life like some freighted little girl. The words never actually felt Yami's mouth, but Minerva could eel them in his gaze. Did he actually think that Minerva, a Gryffindor would stoop that low?

Yami had complete control in this situation, it was something he never bothered to hide form her. That men wore control like a cloak. Yes Minerva has lost this game, but she would not roll over like some yellow bellied dog. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

Minerva took a long breath to control herself. It rattled in her chest from the force of her shaking as she released the lungful of air in a controlled breath. But eventually her body stilled and her hand became steady once more. She had seen far worse things during the war, come out of worst scrapes... of course she couldn't think of any right now, but that wasn't the point. Even if Minerva died here, it would be with her head held high.

Yami's held titled quizzically to the side as Minerva regained her footing once more, holding her wand out defensively in front of her. Yami's eyes flickered down to the point directed at his chest, the large smirk settling down to a calculating glare.

"I must say that i'm impressed Minerva" Yami said, his voice levelled and controlled "I never expected you to try and follow the game through to the end."

"Well, that's because you know nothing about me" Minerva responded as her fingers tightened around her wand, expecting Yami to attack at any moment. But he seemed so non pulsed at the moment. As if his attention was divided somewhere else. His eyes seemed to flicker off somewhere to his right ever few seconds, to open air.

"Don't I now?" Yami asked as if he pretending to think through a child's logic. "While you didn't cheat, I dare say that my prediction was pretty accurate, without my lights interference I have a feeling this game would have ended far earlier."

A step forward now, Yami began to advance and Minerva was forced to take a step back of her own to maintain the open space between them. A shower of red sparks erupted from the top of her wand, waring Yami to stay away. "What are you talking about?" Minerva snapped, as Yami's eyes flicked to the side once more. "Who interfered?"

Yami's eyebrow rose, "You don't see him do you?" Yami inquired, his eyes burning into Minerva's. "Your mind is so closed off that you can't even see what's in front of you. Or beside you in this case I guess."

Frowning at the jab, Minerva followed Yami's gaze to the far corner of the room. For a moment the corner seemed to shimmer slightly, into the shape of something that could be someone. But when Minerva blinked, the barely glittering outline was gone without a trace. Minerva squeezed her eyes tight once more, trying to erase the image from her mind. It was probably just another mind trick, Yami seemed to be fond of those. It was beginning to grate

It was almost sad how easy Minerva was to frustrate. While she was careful to at least try to keep a stoic face, Yami could see the pale red tinge to her face, and the thin, dead straight line to her lips. It clouded her judgement. Minerva had touched the Millennium puzzle, placed the last piece into place. Yami could feel her presence seeped into the very metal, the influence her soul made on the connections. In the long run it didn't mean anything, but Minerva had been able to see Yami when he had come out of the puzzle in spirit form. If she had been able to see him when he was supposedly invisible to all, then there was no reason why she shouldn't have been able to see Yugi. The principle was identical.. But as soon as Yami pushed the right buttons, annoyed her to bursting point, that open part of her mind slammed shut with the force of a barricaded door.

It was a funny trait, but it wouldn't matter in a moment

/

Yugi groaned as he slowly began to come to. He felt heavy, like someone had draped a lead blanket over top of him. IT weighed heavily on his arms and legs, trying to dag him back down to sleep. TI seemed like a good idea at the moment, to just drift back into unconsciousness. He was so, tired. More than the feeling of first thing monday morning after a good weekend. It was if every inch of his subconscious was sending subliminal messages to his body, like it was trying to trick Yugi into believing he had never fallen to sleep in the first place. So why not fall asleep again? If his body wanted it, why not grant it's desires?

Against Yugi's will however his mind began to reconnect with the world around him, rousing his body. Yami had knocked him out, that's why Yugi had fallen asleep. Yami had actually forced Yugi to fall unconscious... he was still feeling the after effects as Yugi lay on the freezing cold floor. The spell's drive to sleep was slowly starting to fade away, but it felt as if he had been run over by a cement truck, then woken up about five years too early.

Another groan as Yugi opened his eyes, fighting the temptation of Yami's spell to ignore everything. The clouds of the dark game swirled around him, dancing in designs of blue and green. Not overly interesting to look at, it only presented Yugi with information he already knew and wasn't keen on revisiting. Instead Yugi flopped his head to the side, as that seemed to be the only part of his body that was willing to respond at this point.

Minerva was still up and standing, that was a plus at the very least. But after what had happened with Yami, Yugi wasn't sure what that little asset meant, was there anything left he could do? There had to be something...Yami was just in front of Minerva, a hand resting on his hip as he stared. Minerva had her wand out as well, and that was where Yami's eyes were directed. And so that magical plus disappeared, so much for that.

"I've had enough of these mind games Yami." Minerva hissed as Yugi watched in dismay. He tried so hard to get up as Yami chuckled darkly. Yugi tried to get his legs to respond, to do what he didn't know. Maybe to try and push Yami out of that little ring of fire. Something, anything at this point. It didn't matter what, as long as that something didn't involve lying helpless on the ground.

But it felt as if Yugi's body had given up. He had been pushing it too had for far too long. There wasn't anything left to push him up onto his feet, Yugi's muscles screamed in riot at the very thought. "Alright then" Yami replied with a noncommittal shrug, "if you no longer wish to play, than I'll grant your desire"

Slowly, slowly Yugi pulled himself up onto his knees, his weight falling to rest on his hands as his torso refused to remain upright. No one had noticed the fact he was awake yet, both Yami and Minerva seemed oblivious to everything right now, each one waiting for the other to make the first move. Yugi wanted to scream at Minerva to get away. But no matter how loud his voice was Minerva would never hear. But Yugi tried anyway, he tried to scream until his voice gave out, but Yugi doubted even Yami heard the hoarse whisper that came out of his mouth.

If Minerva had even the faintest hint of what horrible fate was about to befall her however, she didn't show it however. The witch stood tall and proud even as the eye on the millennium puzzle began to glow. Yami smirked as he raised his hand, preparing to declare Minerva's final judgement, but Minerva was faster. Before Yami even had a chance to activate the puzzle she swung her wand through the air. "Stupefy!" she cried as her wand gave a definite flick and a jet of red lights surged from the tip.

Yami's eyes widened as the spell soared towards him, he hadn't expected her to fight back like this. There wasn't enough time to duck as the spell came towards him, forcing Yami to arch his back at the last minute. He threw an arm behind him to try and catch his weight as his back bent nearly parallel to the ground. But it was a very near miss however as the red sparks streaked the side of his face, crisping his blonde hair and singed Yami's cheek.

Yami growled as he righted himself, tanned fingers reaching up to ghost over his face, testing the burned skin, following the red streak against his tanned skin. His upper lifted curled as Yami extended his hand once more, his finger's splayed wide as he shouted the worlds that Yugi had been trying to prevent for so long.

"Penalty game" Yami shouted as time froze for Yugi. He could only watch as Minerva's eyes grew huge and her mouth opened as she unleashed a blood curdling scream. She dropped to her knees's as the colour drained from her face like water colours in a rain storm. But her knees were only able to hold her up right for a mere moment before she pitched forward, crashing face first into the ground with a soft thump.

Yugi gagged into his hand as Minerva's head lolled uselessly to her side. Her eyes remained wide and unseeing as they rolled into the back of her head, giving Yugi a disturbing sight of the whites of her eyes. He could see them move, darting from one side of her head to the next as her face twitched in a nightmare But as the last echoes of her scream died away no other sound came from the witches mouth, leaving only a deafening silence.

"No..." Yugi moaned as he gave one more attempt to stand, not even thinking about what he was doing. He wobbled dangerously as he slid to Minerva's side, catching onto her shoulder and turning her onto her back. "This can't be happening." Yugi reached out to place to fingers to the side of Minerva's throat, praying beyond hope that what had just happened wasn't reality.

Yugi's eyes squeezed shut, a dry sob escaping his lips as he felt the soft pulse underneath his finger tips. It was barely noticeable as the body forced itself into sleep mode. There was nothing to keep it conscious without a soul, so her body was just working with what it had, shutting down all unnecessary functions. Yet at the same time her heart rate was racing as he mind perceived a threat, and began to panic. Yugi knew all the signs, but he didn't want to admit it quiet yet.

"It's over" Yami whispered, his shoulders slumping softly in relief. Yami never slouched, But Yugi could see the subtle changes in his posture instantly, even if he couldn't understand it. How could Yami be so relaxed when Yugi himself was near sick with trepidation?

"Come on Aibou, it's time to go home."

Yugi froze at Yami's words, shrinking away from his dark's outstretched hand. "Put her back" yugi whispered as he stared at Minerva's face, following each of the worry lines etched on her features.

"Why?" Yami asked gently as he stood behind his partner. He hadn't expected Yugi to wake up this quickly, he had hoped Yugi would have at least waited until the game was over. But that complete shut down of Yugi's mind should have disconnected any foreign presence, at least for the moment. It would have taken Albus far longer than this to regroup the spell, the old man would have to rebuild its structure from the ground up. Yet here was Yugi, and Yugi alone, his eyes hard as amethysts as he turned to face his other.

"I said put her soul back Pharaoh." Yugi said again, trying to keep his mind focused and on one thought. But that strength was beginning to crumble around him as everything fell into place. Yami had finished the job, fulfilled his intent. Why would would he bother to save Minerva now?

It was over. When they got back to Hogwarts, the wizards wouldn't take the all but death of their college lightly. They would probably bring out an entire army, or whatever equivalent wizards had. Yami was strong, but no man, no mater how great could win a battle that outnumbered.

The wizards would separate them again. Take the puzzle way without hesitation, shatter it again before locking it up and throwing away the key. There would be no saving grace this time, Yami and Yugi had lost their only allies in this new world. Because of Yami's absolute inability to think like a rational human being, Yugi would never see him again.

"Oh, Mou Hitori no Boku" All thoughts of anger or fear shattered into nothingness i that one moment ans Yugi turned around, wrapping his arms around Yami's waist. Without even pausing to think, Yugi pressed his face into Yami's legs as he cried, clinging to his other like a lost child.

Yami frowned at the pressure, trying to deal with Yugi's mood shifts. But no matter what happened, Yugi came first. It didn't matter if Yami wasn't sure if Yugi was being sincere or if this was just a trick, he could feel that Yugi was on his last legs. From the way Yugi's body slumped against his, Yami knew his light was running on empty. You can't get something for nothing.

"Please Mou Hitori no Boku" Yugi chocked out, his voice muffled against Yami's leg as Yami's hand came down to lay at the base of Yugi's skull, stroking comfortingly. "Don't do this again, don't let this happen again. You've done this before, in America, I thought I lost you then. Not again, don't risk everything just to prove your right"

The last part of Yugi's words where lost in soft sobs as Yugi pressed closer, tightening his arms around Yami's middle as if terrified of letting go. "I don't care if we never go home, I love you. I don't want to lose you, not like this. Not again."

This seen was so familiar, Yami recognized the sheer desperation in Yugi's voice as a flash of green light erupted behind his eyes. The light burned, searing at his soul in away Yami had only ever felt once before. It was the last time, and only time before that Yugi had ever begged for something. And the only time before now that Yami had ever ignored him.

Yami forced down the bile that rose in his throat at the thought. This was far to close to what had happened with Dartz, when Yami had let his anger and his pride overwhelm his mind. The consequences had been so great that Yami had sworn to ever deity he had ever known that he would never let this scenario happen again. Yet there they were, in the same place they had been in that forsaken desert.

Yami ran his hand down the back of Yugi's head, rubbing his thumb in soothing circles on Yugi's neck. This wasn't the reunion that Yami had wanted for his light. While Yami hadn't actually given much thought to what the ideal rescue and reunion would be like, he knew it wasn't this.

What was Yami risking by not giving what Yugi had been saying a chance. Very little now that Yami actually took the time to think about it. In all actuality, the more Yami thought about it, the more the irrational anger that was clouding his own judgement started to dissipate. The same thing he had been scorning Minerva for.

Yugi was well beyond words as he chocked on each tear filled gasp. Any second now he knew that Yami was just going to force him to let go and end the game. It would be too late then, far to late to do anything that could save Minerva or them. They would be separated again.

Yugi couldn't go back there. It was the only thought going through his mind. He couldn't be separated from Yami again and forced back into that room after knowing what freedom felt like again. But he wouldn't have a choice.

Yami flinched as Yugi started the grasp at the material of his pants, twisting the leather until it pinched at Yami's skin. Yugi was completely lost in his own world as Yami gently untangled Yugi's hands from the cloth. Instead Yami draped Yugi's arms around his shoulders as he dropped down to his own knees and placed his hands on either side of Yugi's face, leaning forward to press their foreheads together.

"Please Mou Hitori no Boku" Yugi whispered, his words barely audible through the sobbing and sheer exhaustion. "no more... I can't... I can't do it"

Reaching out, Yami extended his awareness to the barriers between his and Yugi's mind. It only took a few seconds to shatter the self imposed blockade in his own head, leaving only the bare necessities to keep Yugi safe. But then Yami began to work through the remains of Yugi's own had to gain access to Yugi's subconscious mind. More than just a memory which could be so easily influenced by outside influences, the subconscious would grant the truth. Something pure, and as long as Yugi's soul remained in one piece it would remain uniquely his lights, untouchable by any source.

Slowly and oh so carefully Yami pressed his conscious against the door of Yugi's soul room. The part of the defences that were of Yami's own design greeted him instantly, yielding like warm butter underneath Yami's mental touch.

But that was the only part that gave as Yugi stiffened in Yami's hold, his mind resisting Yami's touch. It was an understandable response after so much mental torture. Every ounce of energy Yugi could spare was going into keeping the shied up even if they where necessary anymore. It didn't matter who tried to access Yugi's mind, friend or foe Yugi would put everything into trying to repel it.

Yugi's muscles clenched a Yami gave another nudge, and tried even harder to push Yami's presence away. But Yami persisted until he felt the piece of metal around Yugi's neck begin to radiate heat and heard Yugi cry out. Yami pulled free without a second thought as the cries escalated into screams. Yugi quieted instantly, slumping boneless against Yami as the collar fell silent once more.

"Aibou" Yami whispered as he brushed a lock of Yugi's hair behind his ear. Blood shot eyes looked up at him As Yugi tried to focus his attention on his other. But Yami could see the apology swirling in the glazed amethyst. 'Aibou it's okay, it's just me I won't hurt you. Just trust me and let me in"

Yugi whimpered softly, leaning his cheek against Yami's chest. "If I try, will you save Minerva?" he whispered breathlessly.

"I don't know." Yami couldn't help but be completely honest with Yugi right now. There were to many variables that had to be considered before taking such a reckless action. But Yami's response was good enough for Yugi. Maybe it was sincerity or the hesitation, but Yugi's mind finally slid open, the large wooden door to his soul room opening without resistance.

As soon a Yami's presence graced the threshold of Yugi's soul room, he was bombarded with memories of screaming and pain. Yami clenched his teeth as sensations of helplessness and sorrow washed over him, so strong it nearly took Yami off his feet. Images began to falls in front of Yami's mind: people, face, long blue robes, a pump man in a bowler hat with a fanatical grin o is face. Emotions follow each image: anger so strong that it was almost hatred, fear, confusion. This wasn't a face that Yami had ever seen before. He was sure that he would remember that stupid of a hat.

Face after face flashed by, none that Yami recognized, but all with the same feelings that were connected with the bowler hat man, but never with the same intensity. Yami growled as the features of Yugi's tormentors appeared before him. Yugi wouldn't have wanted to show him this. It didn't matter how much there people had hurt Yugi, he wouldn't search for revenge. But Yami would, without hesitation. For Yugi to actually show him the identity of his attackers was an act of desperation.

The flow of images came to a stop and the perceptions that followed them morphed into something different as a red haired man came into the forefront. At the time Yugi had felt confusion just as before, but this time it lacked the negative undercurrent. It was more surprise that Yugi had felt, hope. Then the face was gone, leaving only black as emotions swirled around.

One more face appeared out of the darkness. It was a little hazed around the edges, but Yami recognized Minerva's thin stern features. There were no negative feelings connected to Minerva, even the deepest corner of Yugi's mind. Just similar feelings to those with the red haired man mingled with a sensation of loyalty.

Yugi felt like he owed Minerva his life, Yami came to realize. It had been Minerva who had dragged Yugi out of wherever he had been kept. Minerva who had done what Yami had been unable, to bring Yugi to safety, away from the man with the stupid hat.

"Minister" Yugi said in their minds, still shaken, but his mental voice was beginning to stabilize. "his name was Minister"

Yami snorted, shaking his head. That didn't sound any better than stupid hat guy in the long run. Was that actually his name?

"Will you let her go?" Yugi asked again, unwilling to be hopeful, but at the same time Yugi was just as reluctant to give up this chance.

For the fist time since he had awoken, Yami was pausing to think about what he was doing. It could be done, of course, placing a soul back into the body after a penalty game. Who knew what the end results would be however. A penalty game wasn't a summer retreat. It was designed to traumatize, to find every weakness in a person's mentality and break them apart.

It could be done. But could and should are two very different words.

Yugi pulled free from Yami and slowly made his way over to where Minerva was lying. Yami followed not a step behind, keeping a hand on the square of Yugi's back in case he stumbled. Kneeling down Yugi took Minerva's hand and gently rested it across her chest. A bead of sweat rolled down Minerva's face as her jaw locked and her face clenched.

Yami looked up to the ceiling of the dark game and back down to his light. They had been here for far too long. The dark game was starting to grow agitated, and Yami was beginning to feel the drain of maintaing it for so long. If this kept up Yami was sure he would be able to help Yugi either. The dark game would love to take Yugi down with Minerva, and would not hesitate to do so if Atem's attention split.

If Minerva remained as she was now, it would provide them with the distraction they would need to leave. It would be hours before the wizards would be able to regroup, by then Yugi and Yami would be in the egypt underground. The tomb keepers had lived in those tomb for centuries, practicing every protection spell conceivable. That would have been where Yugi had sent Ryou, Bakura and Malik, and there was no way the wizards would be able to track them. It would give Yugi and Yami the necessary time to regroup before going after Minister.

One look at Yugi's face quick dispelled that idea however. His light was looking up at Yami so intently as he held Minerva's hand, waiting for Yami's answer. It felt as if Yugi was daring him to refuse. Yami had been the Pharaoh of Egypt before Yugi, the leader of a nation, commander of an army, a master strategist and tactician. While it would have negative repercussions in the beginning, ever ounce of Yami's training wanted him to just leave Minerva on the ground. The long term results where obviously in their favour, even if Yugi didn't see that right now. But that part of Yami's life was over. He had made the decision to stay with Yugi through thick and thin. After Doma, he had promised to follow what Yugi asked without hesitation.

It was time he kept that promise.

Shaking his head, Yami moved from behind Yugi to kneel on Minerva's other side, resting his hand overtop of Yugi's, intertwining their fingers overtop of Minerva's hand. Yugi's face glowed as a huge smile spread across his face. Whatever happened next, Yami knew it would be worth it as long as he got to see Yugi's face light p like that again. Even if it was only once more.

With a mental nudge from Yami, Yugi's hands untangled from Yami's. He took Minerva's hands off her chest as well, laying them parallel to her body to give Yami room to work. Taking a deep breath Yami centred his mind, focusing on the puzzle. Reaching out Yami lay two fingers on the small piece of skin between Minerva's eyes, and another two resting over her heart.

Slowly Yami extended his consciousness into the puzzle as he connected his mind to whatever was left of Minerva's. The puzzle warmed against Yami's chest in response, heating almost past comfort as it processed Yams request. This was the last thin the energy of the dark game wanted. The magic from the puzzle was warped, twisted to the point of maliciousness. Formed by the blood of 99 souls, there were no good intentions hidden within the puzzle, or any of the items.

Now that it had Minerva's soul, the puzzle wouldn't want to give it back. It was like trying to take a prize from a child who felt like they deserved it more than anything in the world. A bead of sweat rolled down Yami's cheek as he pushed harder against the puzzle. No matter what the puzzle wanted, Yami was still the one who controlled it. The energy within the puzzle was his, and his alone to control.

It was nice logic, but the puzzle was refusing to budge. Shaking his head, Yami tried to ignore the headache that was beginning to form from the pressure. The puzzle wasn't a sentient being; it didn't talk, it didn't think. But it was, in it's own Frankenstein's monster-ish kind of way alive. And it was resiting the only way it new how.

Yami squeezed his eyes shut, focusing solely on the task at hand. Somewhere in the distance, Yami could see a faint glow, a soft flickering light, trapped within the dark illusion he had created. But it was too far away to reach. The dark game was determined to keep it's prize. But if there was nothing that Yami could do, then there was nothing he could do. A penalty game was not designed to be rerouted once competed.

Yami began to pull free, seeing no point in continuing. He wasn't going to exhaust himself to save her life. Not when chances were he was going to have to fight free. Let the dark game have it's prize if it wanted.

Something brushed against Yami's arm, and he turned his head to see Yugi pulling himself up by the back of Yami's shirt. An eyebrow rose as Yugi draped his arms over Yami's shoulders, his hands falling over Yami's chest as his head fell against the nape of Yami's neck. He could feel warm puffs of breath against the sensitive skin, and Yami shivered at the feeling.

"Yugi?"

For a moment Yugi didn't respond to his other's question, only pressed himself closer until there was no empty space between them. "It's not you that controls the puzzle Mou Hitori no Boku"

Yami frowned, twisting his neck as far around as he could in hopes of catching Yugi's eye. "What do you mean by that?The items are under my dominion, as they always have been."

"No, not your dominion, our." Yugi continued as his hands followed down Yami's arms, forcing his dark to grip the puzzle tighter. His mind brushed against Yami's in the most delicate of caresses, triggering Yami's "It was Atemu who controls the puzzle. Not you, Mou Hitori no Boku, nor me, us."

The little globe of light appeared before Yami's eyes once more, as unreachable as before. Yami was going to ask Yugi what the point of all this rambling once, to tell him to stop so Yami could just end the game.

But then Yugi pushed their minds together, moving past a boundary they hadn't touched in years, Not since their duelling days. Yami no Yugi wouldn't be complete with part of Yami's mind segregated because of the dark game, but Yami could feel Yugi's essence swirl around his own. The sensation filled Yami's body, leaving even the tips of his fingernails tingling.

The little orb flickered slightly in response to Yugi's coaxing, and Yami started to pull as well. This wasn't magic, Yami realized as the soul began to grow closer, and Yugi's lips pulled into a tiny smile. It wasn't a fight, wasn't aggressive. Yugi wasn't pushing against the puzzle, it almost felt like he was sweet talking the puzzle, cajole it into giving him what he wanted. Yami pushed harder, as the Millennium puzzle began to waver, faltering under the double assault. Yami's hostility combined with Yugi's delicacy. The aggressor and the diplomate, this was how wars were one.

The light grew brighter, so close that Yami could almost touch it. Put Yugi kept working, tempting, luring the soul back towards Minerva's body. Yami pulled away as her consciousness came closer, pulling his darker presence away, knowing it would startle her. The soul was already skittish, barely following Yugi's enticement. But it was drawn to Yugi's warmth like a moth to a flame.

Yugi's smile grew, soft and serene as he leaned around Yami, his finger's falling to Minerva's lips. Her body twitched at Yugi's touch, chest heaving as everything reconnected as it was supposed to. Her back arched as if drawn against invisible strings, her weight resting on the back of her head and her ankles. Yugi leaned forward, watching Minerva's features carefully as colour came back to her face, and her fingers flexed and twitched, scrapping against the ground. Minerva eyes widened as they lost their cloudy quality, focusing as her body collapsed to the ground.

Minerva didn't move again as she lay on the cool floor, panting as if she had just run a marathon. Yugi gently swept a loose piece of black hair that had fallen free from Minerva's tight bun, out of her face, smiling as Minerva's eyes flickered in his direction. They narrowed sharply behind her glasses, as if seeing something for the first time. Her hand lifted, shaking violently as they reached up to Yugi's cheek."You..." she whispered, confusion soaking her rasping voice as her finger tips brushed the skin of Yugi's face. "How?"

The question would be left unanswered however as the strain on Minerva's mind took precedent and Minerva's eyes closed. The hand on Yugi's cheek fell away, falling limply to the ground as Minerva's stern features relaxed dramatically, falling into a natural sleep.

"I'm sorry" Yugi whispered as he stood up, taking a step back from the women who had tried to hard to save him. At least she was going to be alright, and that was what mattered. At least Albus would know that they had saved his friend, maybe everything would be okay. No moment, no matter how horrible could last forever, it had to end as all things do.

Yugi's knees buckled underneath his weight as what was left of his own adrenaline drunk energy reserves disappeared out from under him. Sleeping seemed like a good idea now, maybe for the next few millennia. Yugi felt Yami catch him as the world began to disappear for the far to many-ith time that day. And the world started to warm as the dark game dissolved, it's purpose finally finished as Yami forced it to end. Yugi could feel it sulk as it was forced to disappear without a prize. Or could it even sulk? Yugi wasn't sure. He would have to ask Yami when he woke up.


And so ends the dark game portion of the story. We can actually move forward now! Ryou and the gang are up next, so stay tuned.