Disclaimer: WookieeBeta is not the owner of Yu-Gi-Oh!, so put the lawsuits down and back away slowly!
Unknown Identity
Chapter Sixteen
Yugi woke suddenly and sat up, confused. Looking around, it slowly dawned on him that he must be in his old room at Mr. Mouto's – no, I must get used to calling him Grandpa – shop. He stood under the skylight, let the sun's rays fall on his face as he looked out. It was late morning. I overslept? That hasn't happened in a while, he thought with a wry smile. He looked down at himself and realized that he was filthy.
Shower's in the restroom – that door right over there, Yami said. I think we need it.
I think you're right, Yugi replied. And some new clothes, as well.
That dresser against the wall, Yami directed. Second and third drawers are uniforms, so don't bother with them.
Thanks, Yami, Yugi said.
"Good morning, Yugi," Mr. Mouto said with a smile as Yugi made his way down the stairs. Yugi responded in kind.
"What?" Mr. Mouto said, looking at him oddly.
Japanese, Yugi. Yami reminded him gently.
"Oh, sorry – I said 'good morning.'" He sat at the table across from Mr. Mouto and stared blankly at the food in front of him.
"What's wrong, Yugi?" Mr. Mouto asked, looking at him closely.
Uh, Yami? Maybe you'd better take over…
What's wrong, Yugi? Yami asked, concerned.
With everything that's been going on lately, I'd forgotten that today is the day I get sick… Yugi's train of thought broke off as suddenly his vision swam.
"Take over!" he gasped, relinquishing control just as the first of the memories hit him.
"Yugi, you're being awfully strange this morning," Mr. Mouto said, watching his grandson carefully. His talk with Yugi the night before had made him decide that yes, this was his grandson – at least part of the time.
"Yugi?" Suddenly Yugi pitched face-first into his bowl of cereal. Dishes flew everywhere.
"Yaaah!" Mr. Mouto yelled, standing up just before the spilled milk could reach his lap. "Yugi, what's wrong?" The puzzle glowed, and he realized that that strange switch was happening. Instantly Yugi picked his head up and shook it violently, flinging cereal out of his hair.
"Yugi's sick," Yami said worriedly. "I don't know why he didn't tell me about this before."
"Sick?"
Yami nodded. "I don't know what it does to him, but he's frightened, he's locked himself in his soul room and says he can't come out until it's over." He looked up at Mr. Mouto, and the old man could see the fear in his eyes. He really doesn't want Yugi to get hurt, Mr. Mouto thought, shocked. Yami's face began to pale.
"You don't look too good either," Mr. Mouto said. "Why don't you go lay down for a while, while I clean up this mess?"
"Yes…" Yami's voice trailed off as he stood and stumbled up the stairs. Mr. Mouto watched him go, but he didn't hear the crash as Yami collapsed just outside of Yugi's bedroom door.
"Yugi…" Yami gasped as he fell. "Yugi, what's wrong…" He struggled to his feet and took one more step toward the door, but fell to the ground again. His head whirled. Throwing caution to the winds, he released control of Yugi's body and found himself still deep within the maze-like corridors of his soul room. He shouted for the Dark Magician.
"Yami?" the Magician said in surprise as he appeared.
"Show me the fastest way out of here," Yami ordered him. "I have to get to Yugi!" The Dark Magician took off running, and though Yami's shorter legs and his slight limp hindered him Yami was still right behind. A few minutes later he burst into Yugi's soul room, blinking in the light.
"Yugi!" he exclaimed as he saw the young one's motionless body curled up against the far wall.
"I'm all right," Yugi gasped, "for now… Yami, the memories…why won't they go away…" Suddenly Yugi went rigid and his fists tightened. Yami jumped up in surprise as the puzzle around Yugi's neck began to glow. A dark shadow began to collect around Yugi – the Shadow Realm! But why would he summon that here? Yami thought, bewildered.
The Shadow Realm deepened, and Yugi moaned in fear. He turned and tried to crawl away.
"Stop this!" Yami shouted. His puzzle began to glow as well, sending out a bright light that crept into every corner of Yugi's soul room. The Shadow Realm vanished. Looking down at Yugi's pitiful form, he knew what he had to do.
"Goodbye, Yugi," Yami whispered as he took control for the final time. His hand trembled as he slipped the puzzle's chain from around his neck, but his aim was sure as he sent it flying to crash against the far wall. He watched the final pieces fall to the ground. Then the ground lurched underneath him as he was thrown forcefully from Yugi's mind…
"What is going on up there?" Mr. Mouto exclaimed as he heard a loud crash upstairs. "What's that grandson of mine up to?" Tossing down the damp dishtowel in his hand, he hurried up the stairs, but nothing could have prepared him for the scene that met his eyes.
"Yugi!" he cried. Yugi's small form was stretched motionless on the ground, and his Millennium Puzzle lay in pieces around him.
"What…what happened?" Yugi groaned, sitting up and rubbing his head.
"I should be asking you that, not the other way around," the older Mouto said gruffly, pulling his grandson toward him. "That Yami took over and fairly ran from the room without telling me anything."
"Yami?" Yugi parroted, eyes wide. His gaze fastened on the puzzle pieces. "My Millennium Puzzle!" He tried to scramble to his feet, but the sudden movement left his head swimming and he fell back into his grandfather's arms.
"You need to rest, my boy," Mr. Mouto said, standing and gently pulling Yugi to his feet. "Come on, let's get you to your room."
"But the puzzle…" Yugi said desperately. "Yami!"
"What about him?" Mr. Mouto said. "He's gone, and good riddance. I don't trust him at all."
"You don't understand, Mr. Mou – Grandpa," Yugi insisted. "Yami is all that's left of the Yugi you remember! If he dies, so does the old Yugi!"
"But you're right here," Mr. Mouto said, confused.
Yugi shook his head slowly. "You don't understand," he repeated. "I don't remember anything except Duel Monsters and the three years in the forest. I may be Yugi, Mr. Mouto, but I'm not Yugi. All that's left of him is Yami." Mr. Mouto opened his mouth to say something in reply, but Yugi never heard it. His vision swam and he found himself in the Shadow Realm…
A/N: Okay, little note here – these last chapters were never even in the original outline, they were all a spur-of-the-moment idea that somehow took off, so they're not very well thought-out (and as a result there are going to be a few comments, details, etc. that aren't going to make much sense…) – forgive me! I couldn't resist the temptation! ^grin^
And one more thing: None of the remaining chapters have titles, because I am way too lazy to come up with any more. (The earlier ones just happened to fit, which is the only reason they're even there…) So any suggestions would be gratefully accepted!