Disclaimer: ^munches strawberries^ Huh? Oh, yeah, WookieeBeta does not own Yu-Gi-Oh! (or much of anything else, for that matter…) ^thinks to self: Man, I've really got to get someone to say my disclaimers for me…^
Unknown Identity
Chapter Seven: Strange Awakening
Yami desperately searched for an inspiration, any way of saving his hikari, but nothing seemed reasonable. Without the millennium puzzle, he couldn't re-enter Yugi's mind, and without Yugi's soul there was no way his body would survive. Yugi's body had landed facedown in the raging river, and Yami knew that without a soul of some kind within it, it would die. And if Yugi's body died, so would Yugi's soul the instant it was released from the soul card. A wild idea struck him suddenly, and he decided to try it. It was dangerous, but better than nothing…
He entered Yugi's physical body and took over his brain himself, trying to keep his thoughts away from the emptiness of Yugi's soul room. The body came alive in a way he had not known in thousands of years. He felt his lungs burning, felt the soreness in his neck and the fiery pain in his left leg. He raised his head and took a deep breath of air, choking on the mouthful of river water that came with it. He squinted against the rain and the water splashing on his face. Then the raging water calmed as the river deepened and broadened, and he began to regain control of Yugi's wildly flailing body. He had no idea how far downriver he was, but he knew that Yugi's friends would be unable to find him. He was on his own.
He struck out towards the nearer shore, but the pain in his leg made him rethink his plan. Yugi's leg was obviously broken, which meant that once he made it to shore he was stuck anyway. Would it be better just to let the poor boy go, to let him drown now rather than keep him stuck in this forest for an unknown length of time? Yami allowed Yugi's body to float passively while he debated with himself.
We're in this together, Yugi's young voice came back to him. You're not alone. We're fighting with you…
I can't let the young one down, Yami decided. I can keep his body alive long enough to get back to some sort of civilization, and without his soul also inhabiting his body I can do it without the millennium puzzle. But without the puzzle's power, I won't be able to survive long anyway…
Yami struck out for the shore again with a freshened determination, though doubts unnumbered still lurked at the back of his mind. He let Yugi's left leg drag uselessly in the water, knowing that using it would only injure it further. Nearly two hours later, he was lying on the ground a few feet from the riverside with the leg splinted and reset. He had nearly forgotten what it was like to feel physical pain, but he bore it gladly nonetheless – for Yugi's sake.
YAAAAAAAAHHHH! Yugi's voice screamed suddenly.
Yugi! Yami shouted with glee. Bakura must have set you free…Yugi?
Who are you?! Yugi's panicked voice came from his soul room. Where am I? What's going on?! Confused, Yami decided to continue controlling Yugi's body for a while. He didn't want the young one to hurt himself in his confusion.
Yugi, it's me, Yami! What's the matter, Yugi? Yugi? There was silence in Yugi's soul room, but Yami could still sense his presence.
Who…who are you? And who's Yugi? Yugi's voice came shakily. And why can't I move my body?
I'm your yami, Yami said. Your darker side, your other half. Don't you remember? And you can't move your body because I'm in control right now. Do you want to take over?
Of course I want to take over! Yugi raged. Let me out of here! Yami heard him slamming against the door of his soul room.
All right, Yugi, I'm going to let you take over, but you need to know that it's going to hurt. Your leg is broken, and I think your neck may be slightly sprained as well. Yami very slowly disconnected himself from various parts of Yugi's mind, letting the boy take over bit by bit rather than all at once. Something strange was going on here, but he didn't know what. He relinquished the last bit of control –
Yaaah! He suddenly felt his spirit thrown from Yugi's body. Of course! Without the millennium puzzle, I have to focus to stay in contact… This is going to be harder than I thought. Yami concentrated and managed to get back into Yugi's mind. He "walked" down the hall to where the doors to his and Yugi's soul rooms faced each other, but something seemed different. Where before the "walls" had been plastered with Yugi's "posters" – special thoughts and memories that he liked to share often with Yami – they were now completely bare.
What – what are you doing? Yugi asked.
I'm trying to figure out what's wrong, Yugi, Yami replied. I don't understand what's going on, why you don't know who I am, and I'd like to find out. He paused by the door to Yugi's soul room. Yugi…
Who's Yugi? Yugi asked again.
You're Yugi, of course! Yami answered in surprise. Then it clicked. Oh, no…no, it can't be true!
I'm Yugi? Yugi's mental voice was bewildered and frightened, and it nearly broke Yami's heart to listen.
Yes, your name is Yugi. You're a teenage boy from Domino City, Japan, who got mixed up in some affairs well over his head – through no faults of his own, of course. God, no, I've caused this… If I had never made myself known, never taken control, this would never have happened…Yami Bakura would have never done this to him… God, Yugi, I'm sorry… It was all Yami could do to keep from breaking down. Listen, Yugi, I'd like to ask you a favor.
What do you want? Yami steeled himself. Only once before had he looked in Yugi's soul room, and that only when Yugi had specifically invited him in. It felt like the ultimate invasion of privacy, but Yami could see no way around it..
I'd like to look in your soul room.
My what?
Your soul room, that room you thought you were trapped in when your soul first returned to your body.
Why? Yugi now sounded suspicious as well as frightened and confused, and it did Yami no good to hear it.
I think it may explain a few things. Please, Yugi…
Well, all right… Yami nodded his thanks, knowing that Yugi would be able to sense it, and put his hand on the door. There was no doorknob, but then there never had been. All it took to open Yugi's door was a light push. His own door, he knew, was much harder to open, and once you were inside you had to be cautious. Even he didn't know what was hidden within the depths of his own soul room. He couldn't count the times he had been nearly destroyed trying to discover his own secrets, but ever since becoming friends with Yugi he had given up the effort.
The door swung open. There was a soft light, gentle but bright enough to see clearly. Yami expected to see piles of toys, the representations of memories, but instead the room was completely empty.
Or is it? His glance fell on something in the corner, a small box of some sort. He walked over and picked it up. What? A Duel Monsters deck? Why…why would he have allowed him to remember Duel Monsters, of all things? Yami shook his head in confusion. Nothing about his grandfather, or his friends, nothing about me…nothing but a deck? He flipped the deck over and looked at the first card – the Dark Magician.
"Perhaps you can answer my questions, Dark Magician," Yami said, but the card gave no answer. He flipped through the deck. Indeed, it was the same deck that he always dueled with, Kuriboh and all. Not a card was missing. Strange… Yami placed the deck back on the ground and left.
Well? Yugi pressed. Find anything?
Yes, Yami replied thoughtfully. A deck of Duel Monsters cards.
Duel Monsters…oh yeah, I remember now! That's a great game! But… Yugi's voice trailed off, and Yami could almost hear him frown.
But what?
I don't remember ever playing it before. I know every rule, I know every card in that deck and how to use it, but I don't remember how I know… He began to sob.
Yugi, maybe I should take over for a while, Yami pressed gently. You need some time to think. Besides, I think I may be able to help you.
How could you help me? You're nothing but a spirit! Yugi snapped. Yami took a step backward, shocked. It was as though Yugi had slapped him across the face.
Yugi… he said softly.
Don't talk to me! Leave me alone, get out of my mind, leave me alone! Yugi wailed. Yami stepped out of the way just in time to avoid getting hit as the door to Yugi's soul room slammed shut. He turned and walked silently into his own soul room, deeply hurt by Yugi's words. The cold darkness of his own soul room was no comfort, and Yami wept.
Who is he? the boy thought frantically. I don't trust him, whoever he is. He wants control of my body – but if I give it to him, what will he do? What will he do if I don't? He cried uncontrollably, the pain in his leg and neck completely forgotten. I don't know where I am, how I got here, I don't know anything! Anything except Duel Monsters… His fingers fumbled for a pouch at his side and drew out a deck of cards. He flipped it over and looked at the card on the bottom – the Dark Magician. An image flashed through his mind for a brief instant, a picture of a tall thin man in elaborate armor with a long staff. Then the image was gone, leaving him with less hope than before.
He flipped through the deck card by card, carefully peeling apart those that the water had stuck together. Almost two hours passed. By the time he realized what he was doing, he had them spread all around him in a semi-circle. He recognized each and every one of them and could give their attack and defense points without looking. He began picking them up, thinking that it was time he started moving. He picked up the very last one - the Silver Bow and Arrow. Arrow…
Duck! the spirit's voice rang through his head. He did as ordered, rolling at the same time. His broken leg screamed in protest, but he ignored it. He slipped the deck into its pouch and made sure it was secure before looking up.
Only a few feet away there was a group of seven nasty-looking natives, all holding weapons of some sort and all pointing their weapons directly at him.
"Uh-oh…"
Let me take over, the spirit's voice came, calm and confident. The young man nodded and retreated to his empty soul room. He picked up the deck and riffled through it. It was the exact same as the one in his pouch. He felt the strange helpless feeling that he had felt when he first woke, the feeling of not knowing what was going on, not being able to control his own body, and it made him nervous. He leaned against the wall with the deck clasped in his hands and tried to relax. I have to trust the spirit, he realized. It seems to know who I am, and how I got here, and how to help me. He closed his eyes. I just don't know if I can trust it…
Yugi? Yami called softly a while later. The pain of the broken leg was overwhelming, especially now that he had had to run on it for several miles, and he wanted to ask Yugi's permission to remain in control for a while. He didn't want the young one to have to suffer the pain that he had caused. Yugi, are you there?
Oh, sorry, spirit…I guess I dozed off. What's going on?
Well, we're safe for now. We outran the natives, but I'm afraid it may have hurt your leg quite a bit. I wanted to know if you'd let me stay in control for a while, at least until the pain subsides – I don't want you getting hurt because of me.
It's because of you I survived, the boy replied. Yeah, go ahead and stay in control…I guess I need to get used to this anyway. But tell me, does everyone have a spirit in their head?
What? Yami asked, bewildered. The pain of the broken leg was making his thoughts a little unclear, and he didn't understand what Yugi was trying to ask.
What I mean is, does everyone have a spirit living inside their head that can take control of their bodies and stuff?
No, Yugi. Very few people have yamis, or 'spirits' as you call me. I can only think of two that you – I mean, I – know of, to tell you the truth. It's very rare.
Then why do I have you?
Yami hesitated. It's kind of complicated, he finally said. And it doesn't help that I don't entirely understand it myself. As far as I know, you are actually my reincarnation, but I was trapped within your Millennium Puzzle… He shook his head. Did you understand any of that?
No, was Yugi's reply. What's a millennium puzzle?
Finally, a question I can answer, Yami thought with a wry grin. Many thousands of years ago, the ancient Egyptians made seven gold items that they called the Millennium Items. These items had special magical powers. I don't know much more about them, except that you have one in the shape of an upside down pyramid. It was given to you years ago in the form of a puzzle, and you worked on it as nothing more than a pastime. When you solved it, my spirit was released, and I began to share your body. It took you a while to learn to trust me, but once you did we became good friends. Yami fell silent for a moment, remembering Yugi's harsh words. Yugi was obviously thinking along the same lines.
I'm sorry, spirit, he said softly. I guess it's going to take a while to trust you again. I don't remember you at all – or anything else besides Duel Monsters, for that matter.
Yami Bakura's doing, Yami thought. Hatred welled up within him, but he forced it away. Anger would be of no use now.
I think I may be able to help you there, Yami said in reply to Yugi's statement. When I began to share your body, the first thing I did was to essentially make a copy of everything you knew, so that if we were ever separated I would be able to think as you do, to find you again. I think I can find a way to show you some of those memories. Unless, of course, you don't want to, he added as an afterthought, aware that Yugi might still be untrusting.
In his soul room, Yugi turned it over in his mind. It would be nice, certainly, to see some of what the spirit said were his own memories, but then again…how would he know if the spirit were really telling the truth? How would he know it wasn't some sort of scam?
I'll pass for now, he decided. He fell silent and turned his thoughts back to the deck in front of him, wondering if perhaps he could recall some of his memories with the aid of the cards. They were, after all, the only thing he remembered.
A/N: Heh, poor Yugi… BTW, I don't know much about the deck, either, so any dueling scenes/mentions of cards are likely to be inaccurate – let me know if you catch anything and I'll do what I can to fix it ^_^