The house was torn to pieces. Well-organized pieces since Yui wouldn't let them completely wreck the place, but it was thoroughly searched nonetheless. The Mutos (it made Yami shiver to think he was officially part of that statement) were determined to find that glowing card. After flipping Yugi's room upside down, the desperate family split up. Junior and Yami searched the top floor while Yui and Grandpa rifled through the bottom.
"Is it under there?" Junior asked as he lifted a bureau for Yami to search under.
"No." Yami sighed.
At this point, Junior had lifted just about every piece of furniture on the top floor. They were running out of places to look. As Yami thought about that fact, he suddenly felt like he was on the verge of crying. Another whirlwind of emotions forced their way into him as the earlier mental acid returned and started melting his control. Yami quickly strangled the building sob and instead focused on his anger as he crawled back out. He then glared down at the Millennium Puzzle currently wrapped around his belt. Its stony eye seemed to glare right back at him.
The Pharaoh admitted these last few days had been a wrecking crew on his emotions. But even considering the recent emotional events (where he had every reason to break down), Yami still found many situations that he could usually take in stride affected him, deeply. Like his near panic at not knowing what clothes to wear, having an existential crisis over modern medicine, and the most worrying, suddenly not trusting the Mutos or even his friends. And while Yami being out of his element was a big part of that, he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. He also started to wonder if his earlier fears he had brushed off as dark magic was a part of this too. Not to mention how physically off his body had felt when walking or with his constant headaches.
Yami felt like these problems were somehow connected to the stone puzzle. But he had nothing to prove it. And it wasn't like he could put the item away if that was the case. He still very much needed it by his side. He had learned that the hard way back in Joey's apartment. When they hadn't been able to find Red-Eyes, another wave of sudden distrust had crashed over the Pharaoh. Yami, in his surprise, had thrown the item. Once the puzzle flew out of his five-foot range, some unseen force had shoved him into the nearest piece of furniture to keep him close to the item. In the process, hitting his head hard. His headache did not thank him for that and had stayed at that level of pain since. It was only the need to get Yugi back that really kept Yami on his feet at this point.
Under Junior's worried gaze, Yami tried to hide these new tears as he pulled the puzzle off his belt. 'Is this magic, or just me? Maybe it's neither, and this is some sort of flu? My headache and constant tiredness would lend to that theory. Then again, I know of no regular flu that makes a person suddenly not trust anyone or makes their emotions more extreme.' He thought.
"You ok, champ?" Junior asked as he put down the bureau. Yami had noticed ever since they got back from Joey's apartment that his fath-, that Junior had been watching the puzzle just as carefully as Yami had.
"I am fine enough. Things just don't feel right without Yugi." As Yami placed the puzzle on the bureau, he glanced at Junior, hoping he wouldn't call him out on his not-lie. Junior didn't seem particularly convinced but remained quiet.
"Over there is the last bookshelf on this floor. Ready to crawl under it?" He asked.
Yami nodded. It was just close enough to the bureau that he didn't have to worry about being too far from the puzzle. He then managed to push down the last of the uncalled-for tears and refocus on finding the card. He still felt like garbage, but now at least, he was in control of his own body again.
Junior grunted as he lifted the shelves for Yami to look under. Once again, the Pharaoh found nothing. With a frustrated sigh, Yami started to back up, accidentally hitting his head on the way out. As he did, an old metal box slipped from the top and toppled past. The two watched as it bounced down the stairs and crashed on the lower floor.
"I got it!" His mo-, Yui called from the bottom as she grabbed the box. "Huh, so that's where your mother's old sewing kit went." Her voice grew more distant as she walked away. "We don't need it upstairs. I'll just put it in the junk box."
"The ever-growing junk box. Who knew all it would take for us Mutos to clean out our stuff was magical intervention?" Junior joked as he put down the bookshelf. Yami only chuckled flatly in response.
The two then surveyed the top floor as the disheartening fact hit them. There was nowhere left for them to look. Worry wrenched its way back into Yami's heart. There was nowhere left to look.
"I summon Red-Eyes Black Dragon to da field!" Joey's voice drifted up to the two. Yami turned to Junior with a frown. Junior copied the helpless look as they both headed for the bottom floor. As they passed by, Yami picked up the Millennium Puzzle. He tied it around his belt again and didn't give it another look. No new feelings forced their way into him, but that didn't exactly make him feel better.
Joey had been attempting to summon Red-Eyes's spirit since the group got back. Téa worked with him in the main shop area using holograms to see if they could get the spirit to appear. Junior and Yami would have helped, but Junior was the only one strong enough to lift furniture, and Yami was the only one small enough to fit under said furniture. But maybe they could help now, just so they weren't uselessly standing by.
Yami pushed aside the curtains separating the shop from the house to see an enormous black dragon standing in front of him, with its head casually going through the ceiling.
"I'm guessing if there was a spirit in that hologram, he'd bend down." Téa sighed as she lowered her arm with Yugi's borrowed duel disk attached. In front of her were two angel monsters, also only holograms.
"He'd always come when I summoned him in past duels. Maybe you have to try and win dis time?" Joey said, trying to keep his voice optimistic. Téa did as asked. She tribute summoned Guardian Angel Joan and attacked. Once the light dissipated, the dragon did its preprogrammed death animation and disappeared. A beeping from Joey's disk signaled he lost the duel.
"Drats. I really thought dat'd work." Joey sighed as he leaned on the glass counter. The two then turned to the Mutos in the doorway, a hopeful look returning to both their faces.
"Sorry, I didn't see anything that you guys might have missed. And there was no mysterious card upstairs." Yami said. Both Joey and Téa deflated as Junior agreed with Yami.
Junior then went over to the glass counter full of cards."None of these guys have spirits we can talk to?" He asked as he went around back and opened the case.
"No, not even Dark Magician is coming to me when I try to summon him," Yami said, hiding how much fear that fact instilled in him. His hope was that the mage was simply saving his energy for when they really needed him, but Yami knew that was a small chance.
Junior then went through the displayed cards. After a bit of searching, he paused at one specific card.
"I know this card had a spirit in it. I've met her before." Junior said as he brought out the ripped Blue-Eyes White Dragon card.
"Really? I suppose that would make sense." Yami said as he took the card and looked over the clear tape covering its rip. He had no idea how a tear like that would affect the duel spirit, if at all.
"Let me see it real quick." Joey swiped the card from his friend and started another duel with Téa. The group quickly figured out that KaibaCorp systems wouldn't accept the torn card. Joey grumbled and started an old fashion duel on a nearby table. Once he tribute summoned the white dragon, they all held their breaths, but no spirit appeared.
Junior picked up the card. "Come on. When I didn't want you, you were always one step behind me. Now we need you." Nothing changed. "I apologize for throwing plates at you?"
Yami raised an eyebrow at Junior's comment but was distracted by a knock from the front door. They couldn't see out the windows at the moment, thanks to Grandpa having closed all the curtains. It all showed that the shop was closed because apparently, a "we're closed" sign wasn't enough for some customers.
"Just ignore that. It is probably some kids." A dusty Grandpa said as he came into the front area. As the group was about to turn back to the Blue-Eyes card, another set of harder knocks came.
"Closed!" Grandpa yelled through the door.
"Oh, but I called ahead of time." A male voice danced in from the outside. Everyone but Junior froze at that voice. While Junior may not have recognized the voice, he immediately noticed everyone's hesitation. He then slinked to the curtains and glanced through the side of them, so the person outside wouldn't be able to see in. As he peeked, his expression grew confused.
"Were we expecting Pegasus?" He asked. Both Yami and Grandpa shook their heads.
"But you told me it was fine he was coming?" Yui said as she came into the room. She was covered head to toe in dust and cobwebs, just like Grandpa.
"When did I tell you that?" Yami asked.
"When I called you at the police station? Both he and Joey called not two minutes from each other. Yugi always named him as a friend, so when he called to come over, I thought you knew."
Yami took in a deep breath and rubbed his temples. "Curse Yugi and his need to adopt everyone." He grumbled under his breath as he strode to the door and threw it open.
There, in the hot summer sun, was the immaculate Maximillion Pegasus. "Ah, Yugi-boy. Good to see you, though, from the sounds of it, there has been some confusion."
"Hello, Pegasus," Yami flatly answered. "What are you doing here?"
"Is seeing an old friend not enough? If not a friend, then I must be allowed to see the king of games when I'm in town." Yami was going about closing the door when Pegasus said in a much less flowery tone. "And I need your help." Yami paused. "It's the duel spirits. They're in danger."
Yami looked back to the group to make sure they heard that. Grandpa was the farthest from the door, with his son standing protectively in front of him. Joey and Téa were on either side of the door, out of Pegasus's line of sight but ready to jump in if needed. They each had the same surprised face. After a few moments, Grandpa nodding led everyone else to nod too.
"We have our own problems at the moment," Yami said as he opened the door to let Pegasus in.
"Then perhaps we can help each other once again." Pegasus quickly gained back his smile and walked into the shop like he owned it. Yami then led Pegasus to the area to the side of the shop that was set up with tables for tournaments and game nights. By the time the two sat down, Junior had ushered Grandpa and Yui back into the house portion. He then blocked the dividing curtains by standing in front of them.
"Ah, and you must be Mr. Muto. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Your son has done quite a bit for my little game." Pegasus smiled Junior's way. In return, the father only crossed his arms and stared Pegasus down.
"You have also done a great deal to my sons and family," Junior said in a low tone, neither accusatory nor friendly.
"Sons, huh?" Pegasus said in surprise at the plural usage.
"Why are you here, Pegasus?" Joey cut in as he sat next to Yami.
"Yeah, why come in person instead of sending a VCR tape or something?" Téa added.
"Well, with the VCR growing obsolete, I wanted to send a DVD your way, but I couldn't pick one up in time." Pegasus snickered. When no one else joined him on his joke, he sighed. He placed his hands on the table in front of him as his gaze fell.
"Have you had any contact with your partners? Your card spirits?" Pegasus asked. He then glanced at Junior to gauge his reaction. When Junior didn't stare at him like he was a crazy man, he turned his attention back to the teens.
"Does this have to do with the holograms going wild earlier? Or the disappearing spirits?" Téa asked.
"Do ya know what's goin' on? We need my Red-Eyes, yet he's been a no-show." Joey added.
"Why do you need Red-Eyes Black Dragon?" Pegasus asked, his voice growing worried. He then shook his head. "That doesn't matter at the moment. Pharaoh, have you talked to any of your spirits?"
"I believe we asked you some questions first," Yami said.
Pegasus seemed intent on getting his question answered, but he quietly relented. "The holograms were going crazy earlier because it was many desperate duel spirits' last attempt at getting back to their dimension before they ran out of energy. They failed, and now most spirits are in a coma-like state."
"They are?!" Téa gasped as her hands covered her mouth.
"Are those spirits, ok?" Joey asked, glancing to Yami for his reaction. While Yami was taken by surprise, he hid it under his regal veil. He still didn't entirely trust Pegasus, and he wanted to keep his cards close to his chest around the old game creator.
"No, they are not going to be ok. Duel spirits can't stay in the human world for extended periods. With no energy to project themselves in this dimension, the weaker ones are slowly fading away." Pegasus explained.
Yami studied the man carefully, trying to find any hidden agenda or dangerous intent. But Pegasus honestly seemed worried for the spirits. While Pegasus had been good at hiding his true intentions in the past, Yami couldn't find any reason for him to hide such purposes this time. Yami then glanced at Junior, wondering if his better-trained eyes caught anything. Junior quickly caught Yami's line of sight. He nodded; he saw nothing wrong from his end either.
"I'm guessing it was the lockdown that caused them to be stuck here. Is that why we can't find Red-Eyes or Dark Magician? We saw them only yesterday. Now they're gone." Yami asked
"You know of the lockdown? It's why I came to you. I wanted to know if you knew why it started. World-ending troubles do usually revolve around you." Pegasus said.
"Yeah, Red-Eyes accidentally caused it with a wishin' well and some Gandora," Joey added.
"Gandora?" Pegasus repeated. He then looked back to Junior, like he was expecting something from the man. Junior only raised an eyebrow as Pegasus glanced at him. Pegasus then shook his head and faced the three again. "It's only the weaker monsters that are in comas at the moment. Strong ones like Red-Eyes and Dark Magician should be fine, for now."
"Then, why aren't dey comin' to us?!" Joey asked, real worry working its way into his voice. He had just barely learned of his spirit partner's presence, and he was already worried about losing him.
"I… do not know." Pegasus paused. "If they aren't in comas already… If I know Red-Eyes, he was always a sucker for the plea of other monsters. Perhaps he is busy trying to help them? I can easily see him being distracted by every little cry for help." Joey seemed both relieved and annoyed that Pegasus knew more about Red-Eyes than he did.
"And for Dark Magician. I honestly have no clue. That being has always been an enigma to me and other spirits." Pegasus admitted. "I could equally see him resting on Jupiter at this moment as to being right behind you for how odd of a spirit he is." Yami's gaze fell to the deck strapped to his side. So even Pegasus was baffled by his spirit partner.
"Well, how do we find Red-eyes den? We need him!" Joey demanded.
"I believe it's time for you to answer some of my questions. Why do you need Red-Eyes? And what about this Gandora?" Pegasus said.
While Yami had some lingering distrust of the game creator, he hadn't done anything evil in years. What's more, he could lead to more answers. Because at the moment, they were all stuck. Yami and his friends quickly explained what they knew of the lockdown and the Legendary Knight's Banishment.
"Now, I understand why you need Red-Eyes. He's one-third of your plan," Pegasus said.
"More dan one-third, he's da one with da entire plan! It seems like you understand more what his plan was dan we do." Joey sighed.
"He didn't explain how this was going to work, just that he needed Dark Magician, a Blue-Eyes, and that glowing red card from earlier. But we have no idea where that card could be." Téa said.
"It wouldn't work now even if you did find it." Pegasus sighed as he rubbed his forehead. Everyone froze at that. It had been a tentative plan, to begin with, but it had been all they had. Yami once again had to fight back a building tidal wave of worry to keep his face blank.
"What do you mean?" Yami asked in a low voice.
"The first part of the plan would work fine. Bringing together Dark Magician, Blue-Eyes, and Red-Eyes cards would summon the Knights here just as if you had used their duel monster cards. The problem is getting past the lockdown. It was put in place to stop the Great Leviathan from attacking if the Knights were killed. It is one of the most powerful barriers duel spirits can make without a human. It can't be broken from the outside, even by the Knights. But the Knights do have the ability to work around it. You just need a card with a fresh connection to the spirit world."
"A what?" The three asked in unison.
"A fresh connection, something like a new card. It would make a pathway to travel around the lockdown." Pegasus repeated. When the three continued to look confused, Pegasus sighed.
"Indulge me in a bit of storytelling for a moment. Thanks to my research and my time with the Millennium Eye, I recreated ancient magic dating all the way back to the Atlanteans. The power to summon duel spirits using the soul of a human as a base. Of course, I recreated that magic with only paper and ink. Every time a card is printed, there is a chance a spirit will resonate with it. When that happens, the duel spirit can use it as a free teleporter between the two worlds. When this resonation first happens, it is at its strongest. I believe that is why Red-Eyes wanted that glowing card. He must have thought it had a new connection since it took Yugi through the lockdown. Sadly, even if it did, it would be too weak now."
"So, we just have to make another card, right?" Joey said as he jumped to his feet. "Just keep making cards until a spirit resonates!"
Pegasus shook his head. "It's more complicated than that. A card takes a whole day to make without my machines on the west coast. And even if I did make one by hand, it still might not work. A duel spirit has to want to make a connection the moment I finish the card. Most spirits that want to come here have already chosen a card, and with this lockdown, younger spirits wouldn't want to make a new connection."
Everyone fell silent. Yami felt as a block of ice slid down his throat and rested on his heart. He couldn't keep the frown off his face as his hands gripped until his knuckles turned white. They were running out of time for not just Yugi, and he couldn't do a thing to stop it. He should have had some fantastic plan to save them all or some way he could duel out of this. It was his job as the Pharaoh. Yet there was no big villain he could face or ancient card to use. He could feel all their eyes on him as he was once again failing everyone.
"Could you recreate an old card?" Junior spoke up for the first time. Yami couldn't hide his jolt of surprise as they all turned to see Junior walk up to the table.
"Recreate?" Pegasus asked. Junior then lifted up Grandpa's Blue-Eyes card.
"This spirit was very set on protecting us back in the day. Then she suddenly stopped appearing. I'm guessing having her card ripped destroyed her… teleporter."
Pegasus's eyes widened as he looked at the old card. "That… That could work." He then looked to the curtains that separated the house and the shop. There Grandpa and Yui could be seen peeking through. "With the supplies I have now, it wouldn't be an official duel monster card. It couldn't be used in duels, but it will allow the spirit to connect with it if she wishes."
Junior looked down at the card and seemed almost ashamed. "Yami? Do you think this Blue-Eyes will want to come back? I wasn't... exactly the best to her when she was around."
Yami stood up and walked over to the taped card. He had not known the dragon long. But the one duel he used her in, or more accurately, the duel she was used against him in, she sacrificed herself so Yami would win. If she was anything like Kaiba's current Blue-Eyes, she would want to get back to Grandpa as quickly as she could. "I believe so. She'll jump at the opportunity to come to the human world again. I can feel it." Yami felt a little odd saying that last part. It wasn't just him that knew that Blue-Eyes wanted back, but somehow, he knew Yugi agreed with him. Yami's hand fell to the puzzle in surprise, but no other weird feelings followed that.
"If it is ok, Solomon, I'll take your card for a bit as I create a copy," Pegasus said to the hiding Grandpa.
The old man jumped in surprise but then strode through the curtain, the picture of confidence. "Yes, just get my grandson back."
"I'll try, but I can only create the card. It's up to the Blue-Eyes if she'll bond with it. But it is a good start with how little time we have. We already have Red-Eye's and Dark Magician's cards... Now there's finding one of Seto's Blue-Eyes cards. And it has to be one of dear Kaiba's Blue-Eyes. He was the one that bonded with Critias."
The group glanced at each other worriedly as Junior cringed. Seto would be hard to convince. It might have been easier to ask him to give his entire fortune to the war effort than give up one of his Blue-Eyes. As Yami thought of Seto, a simmering worry started to bubble up. Something about the thought of Kaiba worried Yami, but he couldn't pinpoint why. Yami eventually pushed his concern aside. This had to be just another uncalled-for emotion.
"I'd like to know where Red-Eyes is, too," Joey said.
"We only need the card. The spirit is irrelevant at the moment." Pegasus said.
Joey slightly puffed out his chest. "I need to know where my buddy is."
Pegasus studied Joey for a few moments before smiling. "Of course you do, Joseph. I always love it when a spirit finds the perfect human. Perhaps you would like to come with me then?"
Joey immediately backed up as he glanced suspiciously at Pegasus. "Why?"
"I know a few spirits that are still awake, some with the ability to locate other spirits if they have a human to focus their search. Perhaps the Pharaoh would like to come too?"
Yami really thought about it, his hand resting on his deck. To find Dark Magician, to know his silent partner was ok. His fists then curled as he let out a reluctant breath.
"We only need the card?" Yami asked.
"Correct."
"Then I trust Dark Magician to be safe," Yami said with more confidence than he felt. "I need to spend my time getting that Blue-Eyes card. I'm probably the only one that can convince Kaiba."
"Ok, I suppose I'm going with..." Joey tried to hide it, but Yami could see him nervously gulp. "...Pegasus then."
"I'll come with you, Joey," Téa said as she went to stand by her friend's side.
As she passed Yami, Téa whispered. "If Pegasus tries anything funny, I'll call. And if you need help with Kaiba, you better do the same." She gave him a determined smile that Yami nodded to.
"Sounds like a plan then. We'll be back as soon as I almost complete the card. I'll finish the card here when we need the connection." Pegasus said.
As Pegasus walked to the front door Junior once again tried to stand in-between Pegasus and Grandpa. When Pegasus noticed, he merely chuckled. "Quite the protective Gandora." He said under his breath. Only Yami was close enough to hear him say it. His heart stopped at those words. Did the game creator somehow know of his father- Junior's past? Then Yami heard Pegasus continue to speak to himself as he left the shop. "No, not just a Gandora, too changed of a soul for that. A dragon of demolition, that has to be it. I have to sketch this idea down before it leaves me. Remind me, Joseph."
Neither Yami nor Joey could make heads or tails of what Pegasus was talking about, but Yami guessed it wasn't about his father's old name. He reluctantly let Pegasus go. He would just have to trust that Pegasus cared more for the spirits than any revenge.
…
After one more check through the house, everyone prepared for the next problem. Yami was about to start figuring out the herculean task of getting Seto to separate from one of his beloved Blue-Eyes when his headache suddenly became a hot streak of agony. It felt like his head was determined to split in half then and there. Yami bit his lips to hold back a yelp as he nearly collapsed.
"Are you ok?!" Junior asked as he caught Yami.
"My… head… It's never hurt this bad." Yami whispered as he had to shut his eyes just to keep the light out. Then he began to wobble on his feet as his world started revolving. As Junior steadied him, Yami felt as tears began streaming down his face. Yet, it wasn't from the pain or distress.
"Yami?" Junior asked as his eyes grew wider. Grandpa soon came over too and gripped Yami's shoulder.
"I-I don't know what's wrong." Yami managed to say. He had to sit on the floor just so he wouldn't fall over. Junior called for Yui, but Yami didn't hear any reply. Then as quickly as it came, the pain and the tears were gone. Or at least it wasn't as intense. He still had that stubborn headache.
"Yami, you need to lie down," Grandpa said.
"I'm better now," Yami said as he leaned on Junior to stand up. The Pharaoh rubbed his head, trying to figure out what happened when he noticed it. His heart stopped as he looked down at the stone puzzle around his belt. It had cracks running throughout it. Not the lines created by the puzzle pieces fitting together, but the grave signs of damage.
"When did this happen?!" Yami gasped as he held up the puzzle. Both Grandpa and Junior looked at the item in confusion. "I haven't hit the puzzle on anything, right? Right?!"
"Let's… let's sit you down. You look on the verge of collapse." Junior said as he led Yami to the next room over and had him sit on the couch.
Yami kept his eyes on the puzzle. 'When had the puzzle been damaged?!' He then looked to Grandpa for any help. While it looked like he wanted to speak some words of comfort, he could only shake his head.
"I haven't seen you knock it on anything."
Yami was about to speak when that strange dark pulse returned. The pain and whirl of emotions that followed nearly made Yami retch. Once again, his feelings went all over the place as he curled into a ball. He wanted to simultaneously laugh and cry, and both for different, unexplainable reasons.
"Yui! We need you!" Grandpa yelled. Yami cringed at his grandfather's volume. It at first made his headache spike, but then it all fell away once again, pulling the strange emotions with it. Yami felt exhausted as he laid on his side, gasping for air. Then he looked down at the puzzle to see a new crack in its rough surface.
Just then, the front doorbell went off.
"I got it! You guys deal with Yami." Junior yelled as he ran to the door. Yami started focusing on the puzzle again when Junior's next strangled gasp made Yami's blood freeze. "Roland?"
This made all of Yami's frozen cogs kick into overdrive. 'Why would Roland be here? That would mean Seto wasn't far behind. Why would Kaiba… be…here...!' Yami forced himself to his feet (dodging Grandpa's grasp) and bolted for the front of the shop with what little strength he had left. How could he have forgotten?!
Standing in the doorway was indeed Roland. He looked extra uncomfortable, getting even worse as Junior continued to stare in shocked silence. Roland then coughed into his hand and stood as straight as possible (he also stopped a salute midway up and glued his arms to his side). Junior's eyes grew wide, then narrowed. He had only just noticed the KaibaCorp logo on Roland's clothes.
"Drago- Greetings, Mr. Muto. Seto Kaiba wishes to speak with you personally."
The world seemed to stop for Yami. How had he forgotten about Seto, no doubt knowing about Junior, all thanks to himself?! In Yami's eyes, being nearly shot by robbers and the constant barrage of revelations and plans that followed his talk with Kaiba was not a good enough reason. The Pharaoh had put Yugi's father in danger, and he completely forgot!
Yami was about to step forward when the house shook under Junior's force.
"NOPE!" Junior slammed the door right in Roland's face, turned a hundred and eighty degrees, and strode into the back of the house. The entire time saying, "Nope, nope, no, not today, no thanks."
"Pharaoh? Yami! What is going on?" Grandpa finally caught up to him. He tried to make the Pharaoh face him, but Yami pulled away and ran to the front door. Yami didn't know what he was planning to do when he opened the door. But he wasn't going to stand by as Kaiba preceded to snip this final "loose end." The lack of a plan was made even worse when it wasn't Roland standing in the doorway anymore but Seto Kaiba standing there with his arms crossed.
"I thought you'd be next to open the door. Now, before the Dragon of Destruction does something he'll regret, bring your father out here."
Yami wanted to respond to Seto, tell him off, or somehow distract him, but he was cut short. Yami's entire body went numb. Headache and all other feelings left him. Yami tried to speak or even gasp, but nothing worked as he collapsed.
Seto, in utter shock, caught him. Yami was pretty sure his family began yelling something. Seto even seemed to be shouting orders at Roland. Yami couldn't react as the world slowly grew darker. A feeling did return, but it was no sensation Yami wanted. The headache had evolved into long cracks of pain across him. It felt like his very body was crumbling in on itself.
Yami glanced once more at the puzzle before the edging darkness took his vision and awareness. The tip of the puzzle's apex had chipped off.