Rant taken away for lack of problems.

-------------------------------------

Yugi's mind slowly crawled out of its dreamless rest. Someone was moving his body rapidly back and forth. It was interfering with that wonderful process humans were so fond of. Most call it sleep. Yugi groaned and moved away from the source of his irritation. Faintly he heard an annoyed grunt and the light shaking from before became a little harder.

"Alright! I'm up, I'm up." Yugi yawned and sat up, stretching out his sore and cramped limbs. What had he been thinking sleeping sitting up in that position?

"About time." The deep voice sounded more amused than angry though. Yugi opened his eyes and nearly died of fright when his exact opposite stared back at him. Ki stepped back upon feeling the other's fear race through him.

"I am sorry. Was I too close?" he whispered, remembering their previous conversations and how the boy seemed to dislike Ki touching him. Yugi regained his composure and shook his head.

"I was just startled. It's not everyday I wake up to see an older, taller version of myself," Yugi explained. Ki put a finger to his lips, a wordless order for the boy to speak softer. Yugi nodded and then looked around seeing that it was still for the most part dark and stars continued to shine in the heavens, but faint rays of light filtered down through the hole they had fallen through suggesting daybreak was soon in coming. "What's up?"

"Early this morning someone was walking around our area," Ki said pointing up. "I started to call to them thinking they were your friends, but the aura I sensed coming from the presence was unfriendly in nature. I used the puzzle to conceal us until I was sure they had gone, but just a few minutes ago the footsteps returned, though I can't be sure if it was the same person. Either way, I do not think we're safe in staying put."

Yugi blanched at this new information, wondering exactly how much worse his situation could get.

"What should we do?" he asked softly. Ki held back a smile at that, having in the past taken to liking when the younger man depended on him. Not that Yugi should always depend on someone else to help him in times of trouble...it was just everyone needed someone to look up to, a hero if you will, and Ki liked being that someone.

"I'm afraid we're going to have to try the passages," he said calmly. Surprisingly, Yugi could be just as bold as Ki.

"Sounds good," Yugi nodded. Of course, he wasn't always as dramatic or obvious when doing so. The young man stood up, feeling the slide of cloth falling off his body. Yugi quickly put his hand out and caught the coat before it hit the dirt. He looked from the article of clothing to Ki, realizing the other man must be near freezing, and had been so for most of the night.

"I'm sorry! Here." Yugi handed Ki back his jacket, which the latter accepted gratefully.

"You seem to be feeling better," Ki observed as Yugi walked around without trouble. The boy nodded, smiling, and then brought the puzzle up closer to his face. The beautiful item contained the power to conceal, to heal, to protect, and so much more. It was even a small house in which Ki himself had resided for who knows how long? It was quite the little wonder.

"Maybe someday I'll show you how to use some of the more helpful aspects of the puzzle," Ki said as he watched Yugi study the object. "If you'll allow me that is."

Yugi dropped the item, feeling faintly the heavy weight settle back onto his chest. Oh. Right. He was supposed to be furious with Ki. It was so hard to remember that this was the man that had risked someone's life to win a mere game. To Yugi, Ki was gentle, caring, compassionate, protective...in short, he was the proverbial big brother figure. And yet, Yugi also had to remember Ki was a spirit from the Millennium Puzzle with no memory of his past, a spirit who contained most qualities Yugi did not and failed in most traits Yugi excelled in, and therefore innocence may not be his top priority. Taking also into consideration the Seto Kabia incident as well as Bakura's ordeal, Ki's intentions did not look promising.

"Maybe," Yugi replied softly, though Ki easily understood that was a clear no. The spirit sighed softly.

"Which path do you wish to take, little one?" he asked, indicating towards the shadowed areas beyond their little cavern. Yugi shivered looking upon them.

"Well, one's just as good as the other," he thought out loud, then pointed to the middle path. Ki nodded and gestured that Yugi should take the lead. The boy gave him the fish-eye before proceeding.

"This is not going to be fun," Ki mumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose as he followed his charge into the depths of the unknown.