New Year's Day 1999
"Happy New Year!"
Yugi laughed as her friends let off their party poppers, sending streamers flying everywhere, the clock chiming in the background letting them know that midnight had arrived, bringing the new year with it.
It was a good feeling to be starting a fresh year in a completely different position to the one she had started the last one in.
Last year it had just been her and Jii-san and another year of bullying ahead.
This year was looking much more dangerous, that was true, but at least she had friends who were really her friends, not just people looking to gain free games or discounts from the store, and who refused to let her go through it all alone.
Jii-san poured each of them a glass of sparkling grape juice, having wanted to follow his English friend's tradition of a glass of champagne, but had refrained since Katsuya had sworn off alcohol forever after seeing what it had done to his father, and Mazaki Yui, Anzu's mother, had made it quite clear that he was not to provide her daughter with alcohol.
As Yugi took her glass, her eyes rested on her half-Japanese, half-British friend. Amane had been acting a little off all evening. Part of her was worried that it was because Yugi had moved the party forward, since Anzu's family had wanted her to spend the New Year with them, so they could go for a family meal.
Another part of her though, had noticed that the girl was avoiding speaking to her as much as possible and was concerned.
"Amane?" The other Item Holder turned to look at her as the others took their drinks, and discussed New Year Resolutions, "Come downstairs with me?"
Amane was surprised but nodded and headed down into the shop's store room with her, only to find Yugi led her all the way down into the basement. "Yugi?"
"I wanted to show you first and ask for your input." The Puzzle Bearer explained as she turned the lights on, revealing that the area on the other side of the wall that acted as a railing for the stairs, was completely cleared, except for where the game board they had been working on together rested.
"Yugi?" Amane's eyes widened as the other girl headed for the table by the stairs. The Egyptian style Monster World board they had been building had been hidden away at the back of the basement, buried by the various stock items. "You…?"
"I wanted to free up some space for us to actually play without having to move everything." Yugi explained, spreading the paperwork on the table so Amane could see her plans. "I was hoping you'd help me pick out the murals for the walls."
"Oh?" Excitement pulsed through her as she darted over, only to be tempered as she felt the darkness binding her soul briefly pulse, alerting her that the rush of emotions had woken the creature that had bound her. "I mean, sure…"
She caught the concerned gaze Yugi shot her as she examined the murals that were available to pick from but could not explain herself without punishment. Instead she focused on the plans and the pictures. "So… what are you thinking?"
As she listened to her friend babble about the plans to convert the section of the basement to a gaming area and a small office-slash-bedroom for when they had guests over, she tried to ignore the anger that bubbled under the surface.
Happy New Year was almost a curse in her mind and she knew Yugi would not understand.
Yugi's life was not easy, but in comparison to Amane's it was sunshine and buttercups. Yes, she had nearly died. Yes, she had the future to worry about but she at least had family left.
Not only that but Yugi did not have to worry that it was dangerous to be around her friends. Even before Zorc had finally decided he was done with her disobedience, Amane had not been able to safely be around those she cared about because every friend she made became a victim of the Spirit. Even one of her babysitters, a promising reporter, had not been immune.
It had been horrible. The Ring had literally murdered her father and ruined her life, leaving her all alone to deal with the consequences AND find a safe hiding place for all the occult trinkets that her father had not sold from her family's collection.
For years after she had gotten the Ring, she had no one to turn to and no way to stop the spirit within it.
Until Yugi had come into her life.
The anger that had been trying to push her to lash out at the other girl abruptly dropped off a cliff.
When Amane had first met Yugi, she had honestly thought that the other Item Holder would be just another victim.
Instead the Puzzle Bearer had been the one who had given her a future again.
Amane had been more than ready to die when she had sacrificed herself to save the lives and souls of the friends she had made here in Domino, but Yugi had literally brought her back from the dead and given her a reason to live.
She had not pushed Amane away, like she should have. Instead she had helped Amane free all the souls the Spirit of the Ring had imprisoned, pushed for the Ring Bearer's inclusion in their friend group and had frequently offered Amane somewhere to stay so she was not alone.
'You could take her up on it.' The darkness hissed in the back of her mind, 'You'll get much more information.'
'And give you a chance to kill her?' Amane mentally snapped back and immediately regretted it as suddenly her hands were moving on their own, towards the neck of the distracted Puzzle Bearer, who had turned away to find where she had dropped a sample. 'No! Please stop!'
'Oh don't worry.' The demon chuckled as Amane's hands landed on Yugi's shoulders, causing the Puzzle Bearer to turn her head and smile at her, waving the fragment of wallpaper she had dropped. 'If I wanted her dead right now, I could have made you end her the moment we walked in. Your Sister brought her safety too, at least for now, by reminding me that her soul is going to be so much more powerful and delicious once she's gained her full strength. After all, she couldn't defeat me in Egypt and without your betrayal I would have already ended her twice. She can't defeat me if I have my claws in you, so why end the hunt early?'
'S…so I'm safe to be around her?' Amane's heart leapt for joy as she realised she might have a chance to have a life. A limited life on a leash considering the bindings on her soul, but certainly more than she had been able to have so far. If being a servant to the demon for a while was the payment for being able to live a semi-normal life, she would take it in a heartbeat, at least until she could find a way out of his clutches for good. 'You swear it?'
'As long as you behave and don't force me to take over? I'll let you spy for me as long as you like.'
"Amane? You alright?" Yugi's face creased with concern as the Ring Bearer regained control of her own body and she withdrew her hands.
"I'm fine. Finer than fine." The broad grin she gave was honest and helped her friend relax, "I'm just glad you're letting me work with you on this."
"Well, it's going to be OUR space. Mine, yours, Katsuya's, Honda's and Anzu's. We should all get a chance to choose things." The Puzzle Bearer chuckled as she turned back to the print selection, "So what do you think?"
Amane turned to look, her eyes scanning the images beneath her, actually seeing them now that she had a chance to enjoy spending time around the finished gaming zone.
Maybe, just maybe, this New Year could be happy after all.
"Let me see."