Chapter 8: The Other Yugi

Needless to say… the siblings were not prepared for when Akira came to get them from Burger World. They thought they would be but nothing could brace them for the smothering he unleashed on them when he reached them.

"Thank Ra! You're both safe!"

He hugged both his children close to him, kissing their heads.

"Daddy…" Natsuki sniffled, burying her face into his chest. "He was really scary…"

"I know sweetie, I know…" Akira nuzzled her head. "But you're unharmed, both of you."

"Yeah…" Yugi whispered, keeping close to Akira… his eyes following where Tetsuo was.

The man was being carted off into a police car… while the manager of Burger World was being taken away in an ambulance.

Hope he'll be okay…

Akira held his children close for another moment before pulling back, looking at them with misty eyes.

"We're going straight home. Understand?"

"Yes, Daddy." Natsuki nodded.

Yugi nodded.

"Though… one last thing."

He pulled away, going to where Anzu was.

She was seated at the back of an ambulance, a blanket around her shoulders.

"Anzu?" He asked.

She looked in his direction, giving a small smile.

"Hey, Yugi."

"Hey…" he moved closer, taking one of her hands into his. "You gonna be okay?"

"I-I will… hopefully…" She looked him over carefully.

"Is… something wrong?"

Anzu was silent for a moment before shaking her head.

"I'm just still processing everything… Honestly, I think I might've just had a nightmare induced by all the stress… but I swear… even when I was blind folded… I could tell some how it was you who saved us. It was your voice I heard… Yet it was so different." Anzu gave a small smile. "I don't think I've ever heard you sound so confident in yourself like you did in that moment. It was… brave."

Yugi blushed a bit.

"That… so…?"

Anzu nodded.

"Knowing that it was you… honestly, it makes the whole thing less scary." Anzu huddled closer into her blanket. "I'll be okay, I promise… though…" She giggled. "Think tomorrow… we could hang out? I won't be able to work till the manager is back so… I'll have some extra time."

Yugi smiled.

"I'd love that a lot, Anzu."

"Cool, I'll see you then."

Yugi nodded, giving her hand a squeeze before parting ways, returning to his father.

Akira smiled, ruffling his hair.

"You're a good boy, Yugi."

"I try…"

"And you do wonderful. Now, let's go home."

oooooo

"Natsuki… what are you doing?"

Yugi watched in confusion as he watched his sister walk circles around the game shop, pouring salt on the ground.

"I know we joke you're the High Priestess of Salt but… seriously, what are you doing?"

Natsuki huffed, turning to him.

"It's warding magic to protect us against all evil spirits. Sera and Ishizu told me, salt is the last thing evil wants to be near."

How do you like me now oh Demon of the Puzzle? Huh? HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW PUNK!?

She had been jumpy ever since they got home. Akira was upstairs in his room meditating, Solomon was in the kitchen preparing dinner… so it was the two teens left to their own devices.

… I really hope no one needs this salt in the next few days…

"Well… if it can keep that weird thing we saw at the restaurant away then by all means." Yugi rubbed at his head a bit. "Whatever it was… Looked like something straight out of Duel Monsters."

"Oh, it's not just for that. Trust me, I never wanna see that thing again." She went up to the game counter, moving some things aside, pouring salt into a circle. She held out a hand to Yugi. "Gimme your cursed pendant."

"H-Hah!? What for!?"

Natsuki gave him a flat look.

"I never wanna see "The Other Yugi" again."

Yugi blinked back confusion, raising an eyebrow.

"Other… Yugi…? What?"

Ho boy… He doesn't remember. Of course, of course that thing has spells…

Natsuki pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You gotta promise not to call me crazy."

"Ooooookay." Yugi brought a hand around the puzzle. "I'm listening."

Natsuki took a deep breath, trying to remain calm.

"Okay, so when the manager held us captive… that thing…" She pointed to the puzzle. "Took over. It's not the first time it happened either, the night we put it together, it happened too… You got taller, your eyes went red and you had the eye on your forehead. You were acting possessed."

Yugi's face fell.

"H-Huh?"

P-Possessed!?

Natsuki grimaced.

"It's true. Whatever is in there, it saved us… but Yugi, it's dangerous. It… He was gonna let that guy shoot you since it was in the game's "rules." Somehow nothing happened… but I don't think it's safe."

Yugi was silent, his eyes wide in shock.

That… That can't be… could it…?

I mean… it would explain the times I've blacked out…

His heart started pounding as he thought about it more and more.

And I can't deny what I saw… but I wouldn't want to…

"Natsuki… I…" he brought his other hand over the puzzle. "I…"

Natsuki frowned, going over to him.

"I'm sorry… It's a lot to dump on you at once… but I'm scared… I don't want you hurt…" She looked at the puzzle. "I… I'm not sure entirely if I'm right either. I… Do you need time?"

Yugi bowed his head down, biting his lip.

"I… I need to clear my head."

He bolted out of the shop without another word… not even caring that it was starting to rain.

"Yugi!" Natsuki called after him. "Wait!"

Yugi ignored her plea, running down the sidewalk. He needed to be alone… away from everything.

I… I would never want her harmed… I don't wanna harm anyone… I hate fighting… I HATE IT!

Soon… he arrived at Domino Museum. His father's place of work… and the one place he swore he could be alone with his thoughts.

"Yugi!" someone called from the front desk. "What are you doing here?"

Yugi looked up, meeting the eyes of the receptionist.

"Just… needed some air, Cyndia. Is the Egyptian Exhibit open?"

"It is." Cyndia smiled. "Currently empty, so plenty of room to think. I'm here if you need anything."

"Thanks."

Yugi waved before heading to the exhibit. He was soon surrounded by murals of ancient times, depicting various scenarios of Egyptians, be it royalty or commoners going about their days. Artifacts enclosed in glass cases, clothes displayed on mannequins...

Everything his father and his team had worked so hard to uncover to help keep the history of Egypt alive.

He brought his hand to the puzzle, sighing.

… Maybe it is cursed… but… I don't want to think that…

He closed his eyes, thinking back to the moments right before he blacked out…

There was a voice… someone speaking to me… Letting me know everything would be alright…

Yugi opened his eyes, his reflection in a mirror staring back at him.

Maybe that's… the "Other Yugi" Nat mentioned…?

Yugi looked down at the puzzle, holding it in his hands.

"... Is there another me…?" He brought it up to his face. "I need to know… I just… want to be sure…" he leaned his forehead against it, closing his eyes, biting his lip. "That I haven't lost my mind."

There was silence all around him… but the area around him began to change. Walls became made of gold with highlights of lapis lazuli… murals of a court and their king appearing. Lights were replaced with burning torches, the area lit with a soft gentle glow.

The mirror in front of Yugi remained… but his reflection shifted… a much taller version of the boy looking at him with a gentleness in his red eyes.

"Yugi Mutou, you have most certainly not lost your mind."

The mirror shattered… The Other Yugi now standing before him in person… a throne behind him.

Yugi's head snapped up, eyes wide at seeing the other him. He backed away a bit, his heart pounding at seeing his surroundings.

"It's okay." The Other Yugi said, holding up a hand. "Don't be afraid. We're in a safe place… and I'm not here to harm you."

"Where is here…? I…"

The Other Yugi gave a gentle smile.

"My soul room. Physically you're still in the museum right now but spiritually you are here."

"I…" Yugi swallowed hard. "Not sure I follow… so am I staring off into space?"

"More or less…" The Other Yugi shrugged. "Don't worry, time right now is currently stopped when you are here. Think of it like daydreaming."

The Other Yugi made his way to the throne behind him, stroking a hand over one of the arms before sitting down.

"I guess that makes sense…" Yugi made his way over the throne, looking at his twin. "So… Why are we here?"

"I wanted to talk." The Other Yugi answered, crossing his right leg over his left. "After the incident with Zorc at that restaurant and seeing Natsuki's reaction… and your distress, I couldn't just stand by silently anymore and leave you in the dark. It wouldn't be fair to you."

"So… you're gonna explain what happened?"

The Other Yugi nodded.

"I don't have the full answer but I believe what I do have is enough to explain things." He rested his chin on the backs of his hands. "To keep it short and simple… There is an evil in this world that has returned to cause havoc once more. He is simply known as Zorc Necrophades. He was sealed away by the power of the Egyptian Gods and a set of specially crafted items that were designed to combat him and his power. One of which is around your neck."

Yugi looked down at the puzzle.

"The Millenium Puzzle?"

"Yes. It is one of the seven Millenium Items. They are the only means of fighting back against Zorc… and since you were the one to piece it back together, you are now its new master, along with Natsuki."

Yugi swallowed hard.

"Oh… and… where do you fit into all this?"

The Other Yugi sighed, lowering his head.

"That… I don't have a full answer for. I can't tell you at all why I'm here or why I was sealed within the puzzle in the first place. That… is all a mystery to me. All I know is games… and that I am, for some reason, destined to combat against Zorc."

Yugi frowned.

"So you're just as confused as we are to an extent."

"Basically…" The Other Yugi looked up, another sigh escaping him. "I didn't mean to frighten either of you. I just wanted to keep you both safe. As the masters of the Millenium Puzzle it is my duty to keep you both safe. My intention is never harm. It is only to purge the world of evil. Nothing more."

Yugi took a deep breath.

"Then, I won't fear you. Though, you're gonna have to tell Natsuki this too because if she had it her way, she wouldn't be a part of this… but that thing knew way too much about both of us. I get the feeling even if she didn't want to…"

"She can't turn down fate. That's unfortunately, a call none of us can make. I will, however, apologize to her."

"We'll both handle Natsuki. Because if it means defeating Zorc then we'll have to work together." Yugi smiled a little. "Right?"

The Other Yugi gave him a gentle smile.

"Correct." He chuckled. "You're a very perceptive young man."

Yugi gave a small shrug.

"I guess… one more problem."

The Other Yugi blinked in confusion.

"Hm?"

"We can't keep calling you "The Other Yugi'' or "That Thing" like Nat is so fond of."

"Yes, she can stop all of that, because I can HEAR her."

"So… thoughts?"

"Hm…" The Other Yugi frowned. "I'm not sure… I know I have a name, it's just… missing…"

"I don't know a lot of Egyptian names so I'm not gonna be helpful there… Would a Japanese name work?"

"It would help in public to stand out less… since I am wearing your face."

"Hm…" Yugi snapped his fingers. "I got it."

"Oh?"

Yugi smiled.

"Yami."

"Yami?" The Other Yugi titled his head. "What does that mean?"

"It's not really a proper name… but the word itself means shadow. And well… you're kind of my shadow when you think about it."

"Yami Yugi.." He chuckled, smiling. "I like that… Yami it is."

"Yami Mutou it is." Yugi held out a hand. "What do you say?"

Yami smiled, taking it.

"Happy to be working with you, Partner."

Yugi smiled, closing his eyes.

"Let's go home then…"

Light surrounded them, as the soul room faded away… as Yugi looked up, noting he was back in the museum again. The puzzle in his hands, the gold glinting in the light.

He smiled, hugging it close to him.

"Thank you… Aibou."