Yami: Um...there's nothing to see here. The...uh...authoress died so...go
home. Shoo.
Yugi: -_-0 You really think they'll believe that?
Yami: We can hope.
Yugi:.....
Mijikai: _ You are such a pain in the butt! ^_^ Hi people......you're mad at me aren't you? Yes, I figured...well, I'll just shut up and let you peeps read. It's a loooooooong one so be happy!
Yami: I rather not.
Mijikai: Party pooper.
***************************************************************
Yugi coughed, feeling sick as he coughed up water from his lungs, and collapsed, panting. Arms held him close, as soft fingers brushed drops of water away.
"Yugi," came a familiar deep voice. "Are you alright?"
"Y...Yami?" Yugi rasped, as he squinted to see through the fuzziness of his vision.
"Are you alright?" he repeated.
"Hai," he muttered before shivering violently.
"Oh, dear," came the voice of Ryou, and felt a smooth hand resting on his brow, and shivered with delight as warmth coursed through his ice cold skin. "That should do it for now."
Yugi felt a bit stronger after the warm up, and made to sit up, but ended up collapsing back.
"C...can't get u..up," he stammered.
"Don't worry your little head of it, I'll carry you," said Yami, and Yugi felt himself being lifted. "Hey, Ryou, can you get us out of here?"
"Hikari didn't teach me magic for nothing," he said proudly and brought two hands together and the echoing of chanting filled the darkness.
Both gasped as a light exploded from underneath them, and flew up, swirling together and forming a circle of light.
"Jump in," Ryou commanded.
"Don't have to tell me twice," and did so, with Ryou right behind him.
**************************************************************
"Oof! Yami get off of me!"
"Oops. Sorry Equidist," Yami said with a smirk, and hopped off of Seto's back.
Sugoroku rushed to the three and embraced them each tightly.
"Thank god your all okay. What happened? What's wrong with Yugi," he asked all in a rush.
"Calm yourself Grandfather," Yami said. "Yugi just had a bad spill and is a bit exasted. But he'll live, unfortunately."
Yugi scowled, and stuck out his tongue.
"You mean bully."
"You dwarf," he responded and flicked his nose, hard.
"Ow!" he shouted and clamped both hands over his nose. "That hurt you idiot!"
"Hey, be nice. I did save your life after all!"
"So?"
Yami sweatdropped.
"Why you unappreciative little br..."
"That will be quite enough you two!" Sugoroku shouted.
Both stopped bickering and glanced at a glaring Sugoroku with his arms crossed.
"Now that I have your attention, I suggest we get back before our friends become too worried," Sugoroku said quietly.
"Like they already aren't," Seto muttered and left the bathroom, followed by everybody else.
As they walked back to their booth, Yugi and Ryou tried hard not to blush as they received stares from people. Though, they didn't really blame them, because it was an odd sight to see a boy soaked and being carried while another was slimed and it was disturbing that they came from the _bathroom_. Who knows what they were doing.
"Did that kid fall into the toilet," Yugi heard someone whisper.
"Probably, he's so small."
'I'm not _that_small,' Yugi scowled.
"Ewwww, that albino is covered with slime."
"Maybe he's learning to be a plummer."
"Ewwwwwwww!"
Ryou covered his face and quickened his pace and didn't uncover his blushing red face till he was sitting. Yami dropped Yugi beside Jounouchi before settling himself down.
"Where were you guys!" Jounouchi pratically shouted.
"Stuck in the Bug Realm," Yami answered simply.
"Grrrrr! HAGUS WILL PAY! I SWEAR IT!" Seto suddenly shouted.
Everyone turned to him, and the little group watched with amusement as Seto blushed bright red and slowly shrunk down in his seat. Yugi giggled at the sight of Seto, while Yami snickered loudly enough for Seto to give him a death glare.
"Should have known," he muttered to himself, also to distract himself from the embarrassment. "It was so obvious."
Yugi reached over Jounouchi and patted Seto on the back.
"Don't blame yourself. It was Hagus's hatred and thirst for revenge that drove him into doing it."
Seto snapped his eyes onto Yugi, as did everyone else. All expressions were filled with shock, surprise, or in Yami's case, amusement. Yugi slowly slid back into his place and looked from one face to the other, blinking innocently.
"Why is everyone staring at me? Did I say something wrong?"
"Iie (no) Yugi. You said nothing wrong," Sugoroku answered.
Honda smiled.
"You just surprised us on how you answered the question. It didn't even sound like it was you answering it."
Yugi blinked again, then his eyes became down cast.
"Now that you mention it, it did feel like it was someone elses choice of words. I think it came from..." he said quietly, and slowly placed his finger tips on his chest. "within. Like a gut feeling, I suppose."
Ryou's eyes misted as his mind started wandering.
'Within......,' he thought.
***************************************************************
(Memory)
It was dark and the only light that shone was the moon and stars. Ryou, at the age of eight, sat crosslegged on a ledge as he watched Hikari, same age of eight, playing with a piece of grass. It was a quiet night and the only sound that could be heard was the pitter patter of a waterfall. Ryou sighed peacefully and leaned back, closing his eyes, enjoying the bliss, when he heard a painful gasp and shot back up.
"Hikari? Something the matter?" he asked, when he spotted Hikari slumped over.
"I...ow...I think...(wince) something or someone's in...trouble."
Ryou jumped from his perch and landed beside his friend, and helped prop him up.
"How can you tell?" he asked.
"Something...within...is telling...me so..(gasp) Ow."
"Within?" Ryou asked curiously.
Hikari took a deep shuddering breath, before standing up.
"Hai. I can feel the person's pain."
"How? Please, teach me. Maybe I can help," Ryou begged.
"Na? (huh)"
"Hikari, you are my only friend. If you experience pain, I'll be willing to too. If you teach me, then you won't be the only one to experience another's pain. Then we can both help the one in need."
Hikari blinked at Ryou for several minutes before a warm smile broke out. He clasped his friend's hands and locked his amyethist with chocolate brown.
"Arigato, tomodachi. (thank you, friend) Domo (but)...first, let's find the one in need."
"Right."
Ryou and Hikari both closed their eyes and listened. Listened for the a steady pulse of magic. Suddenly, they heard it.
B-bump. B-bump.
Ryou's eye's snapped open and turned to Hikari.
"You feel that?" he was about to ask, but stopped when he saw Hikari wince. "Doushito no (what's wrong)?"
"The pulse is sending shocks. Nothing serious," he muttered.
"Are you sure you're up to running?"
"Hai. Of course. The pain doesn't stay with me forever."
"Alright then," Ryou said and both started running through the forest.
As the pulse became stronger and stronger, they knew they were becoming closer, and they burst from a wall of vines, and what they saw made them gasp.
"NI-SAN!" Hikari screamed and ran to an unconsious Yami.
He lay there, motionless, and blood pratically covered every inch of him.
"Yugioh! Yugioh! Wake up!" Hikari shouted frantically, before breaking down, sobbing onto his injured brother's chest.
Ryou's eyes saddened and was about to comfort his distressed friend, when he felt an arm grab him around the waist.
"Long time no see, Otooto," came a growl in his ear.
The first thing that Ryou did was flail his arms around and miraculously elbowed the stranger in the face, and ran with a yelp. He rushed beside Hikari and shivered as he stared at very pissed Bakura. Bakura growled dangerously as he held his eye, and Ryou couldn't help but shout out, as his sword, Death, formed into his hand.
"That deserves punishment," he said in a deadly whisper and started running towards him.
Ryou quickly pushed Hikari away, and paried with his own sword. Life. Both brother's struggled to knock one's sword away, but both equally prevented that from happening. Unfortunately, Bakura was a lot stronger then Ryou and was able to get a good punch at his stomach. He flew back and winced as he felt rough bark of a tree dig into his back.
"Ryou!"
"Hikari! Stay back!" he was about to shout, but a boot suddenly slammed into his chest. "Ahhhhhhhhh!"
"Hahahaha! You stupid weak boy. It's such a disgrace that we are even related. But I can quickly solve that problem," and raised his sword.
Ryou, out of reflex, covered his head with his arms, squeezing his eyes tight.
"RYOU! IYA!" came a scream and felt the weight of the boot disappear.
He slumped against the tree, panting, before daring to look up. Hikari was struggling to untangle himself from Bakura, but Bakura beat him to it, and held him down with his body weight.
"Ahhh...get..off...of me!" Hikari shouted and started squirming, but Bakura held him down, till he stopped and panted with exastion.
"Haha. You were a foolish boy to dare interfere with family matters," he growled. "And for that, I must punish you."
"No don't!" Ryou gasped. "Leave him out of this Bakura! It's only between you and me!"
"Ha! You should have told your worthless friend to stay out of our business then, for now...HE HAS REALLY TICKED ME OFF!"
Ryou scrambled back up, but the force of Bakura's released magic flung him back into the tree. He tried struggling back up again, but Bakura already held up a card, and felt something bind him tightly.
"Ah...iya (no)! IYA! BAKURA! ONGAI, IYA (please no)!" he pleaded, but it was only in vain.
Bakura held out the card Potion of Paralization, and Hikari could only whimper in fear as his body was unable to move anymore. He slowly stood back up and jumped into the air, throwing his blade down.
"Syranata, you brat!"
Hikari stared as his eyes started shimmering with fear, and squeezed his eyes shut.
" YUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGIIIIIOOOOOOH!" he screamed.
To Ryou's stunned surprise, Yami's eyes snapped open and his head turned toward the scream. His crimson eyes widened, and with shocking speed, parried the attack with his own blade, knocking the deadly thing off course and having it land into a trunk. Immediately, the tree disinigrated and fell into a pile of ash. Bakura landed and snarled at Yami.
"So, you're still live. What a shame."
"Ha! It takes more then that to kill me, Bakura!" Yami spat, standing in front of Hikari.
"So it seems."
"Shall we continue our duel?" Yami asked, eyes narrowing into slits.
"Iya. I had enough for the day, though I warn you Yami, I will be back, and you little Ryou and Hikari, may not be so lucky next time," he hissed, and with a flick of his hand, he was gone.
Yami stood still for a couple of moments, before trembling violently and collapsing to the grass.
"Yugioh!" Hikari shouted and scrambled up to him.
Ryou felt his binds disappear and too, ran towards the injuried one.
"Daijoubu ka?"
"I'll be fine," he answered in a strained voice. "But are you two okay?"
"Hai," they both answered.
"Good," he mumbled as he continued to rest his head on the grass.
Silence pressurd on the three some before Hikari interupted it.
"That was fun. Do you think Bakura would try killing me again?" Hikari asked innocently.
Yami snapped his head up.
"ARE YOU CRACKED!"
Ryou was just as stunned but saw the mischeif in Hikari's eyes and calmed to know that it was only to see Yami's reaction, and couldn't resist in joining in.
"Yes, now that you mention it, it was fun. Maybe we should play with Bakura more often," Ryou added on, and both shared a wink, as Yami stared, gaping at both of them.
"You both have issues," he grumbled.
"Not as bad as you!" They both said together, and had to scurry away before Yami was able to hit any of them.
(End of Memory)
***************************************************************
'Within...hmmmm. That reminds me in what Hikari used to tell me,' Ryou mussed.
He was interupted as Jounouchi poked him in the stomach.
"Hey! You awake in there?" he asked.
"Yes, yes, now keep your finger to yourself!" Ryou shouted and slapped his hand.
"Owwww. Sheesh, moody aren't we."
"Yes, thank you, for I do not like being poked in the stomach."
"...What ever."
Yugi felt an on coming argument, and decided to break in.
"Why don't we start heading home. I'm freezing, and I bet Ryou is dying to wash off that slime."
"You read my mind," Ryou said with a smile.
Sugoroku paid the bill, and they left quickly. Once outside, a breeze hit Yugi, and he shivered again, a small sneeze escaping. Yami removed his jacket and placed it around Yugi.
"Arigato."
"Dontoshimaska."
"Yami?"
"Hm?"
"You know when I was talking about the within?"
"Hai."
"Did Hikari have something like that? I mean...it sounds like something that Hikari would have, since he is of Light, right?" Yugi questioned.
Yami frowned as he pondered this question, but was saved by Ryou.
"Hai. He could feel a lot of things with it. Emotion, pain, need. He was generous enough to even teach me to feel it, though mine isn't really as strong as his. He also used it to help people."
"That sounds cool," Yugi said with a smile. "Can you teach me too? I wanna be able to help people with it too. And since I discovered a little bit of it inside of me, it would be easier to learn it...right?"
Ryou laughed.
"I'm afraid it will be the same task even if you didn't have any at all, but yes, I'll be delighted to teach you. And I can also give you a little lesson in tracing magic pulses. It's really quite fun, and it helps tell whether the enemy or person is strong in magic or weaker."
"Coooooooool. But...wait...don't I need _magic_ to do that?" Yugi asked with a frown.
"Not nesessarily. I met some people who are capable of doing this and they have not a drop of magic in their blood. It's because it's a trace. And tracing isn't the same as magic."
Yugi brightened at this news.
"Great! Can you come tomorrow at noon? You can eat lunch at the Kame Game Shop."
"Sure, sounds great!" Ryou exclaimed happily.
Yugi now beamed brightly, as they continued down the street, when Jounouchi spotted his apartment.
"Well, this is my stop. I'll cath ya all later, kay?" he said and ran across the street and into the building.
Honda spotted the Repair shop and said that he need to pick up his motorcycle that just got a new paint job, and had waved goodbye. Anzu spotted her mother shopping and said she would get a lift from her. She kissed Yugi on the cheek, and waved goodbye to the rest of the crew. Seto and Ryou had business to attend to and soon departed.
"Guess it's just the three of us," said Sugoroku, as they continued walking.
"Well, I'll see you all later."
"Nani! Where are you going?" Yugi asked, but Yami only smiled.
"Somewhere where fourteen year old people who are less then a metor tall are not allowed."
"You are so mean!" Yugi shouted, and stuck out his tongue.
Yami laughed.
"I was _joking_."
"Really?"
"Hai, really."
"Then...I guess I owe you....THIS!" and whapped Yami on his butt.
"Hey!" Yami growled.
"And you seriously did deserve that," Yugi said and started running.
"Wait till I get my hands on you," he growled, and chased after him.
Sugoroku sighed and continued walking, not having much energy for running.
**************************************************************
Once he reached the shop he was puzzled by the silence. He frowned.
'That's strange. The two should have reached the shop by now.'
He re-opened the shop and turned the lights on, when he heard a yelp.
'That sounds like Yugi!' he thought in panic and hurried into the back yard. (I don't care if they don't have one or not!)
His panic subsided at the sight he saw. Yami was standing on a branch of the tree holding Yugi upside down. One arm held him around the waist as his left hand tickled him. He sighed in relief and re-entered the house, leaving the boys to their fun.
"Mercy! Mercy!" Yugi shouted while squirming.
"Gomen (sorry) but I give no mercy to someone who whaps my ass."
"You're pathetic."
Yami smirked as he loosened his hold and Yugi started slidding a little.
"I mean..." Yugi said quickly. "uh...merciful...um...strong...and...uh...did I mention merciful?"
"Hmmmmm...okay, I forgive you," and let go.
"AAAaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!" Yugi screamed as he fell, and braced himself for a hard landing.
But instead he landed in someone's arms, that he knew oh to well. Yugi opened an eye and looked up to see mocking crimson eyes. He opened his other eye and gave him a glare.
"Did I mention a nimble skinny moran!"
"So much for complimants," Yami sighed and dropped Yugi.
"Oof! Ow. Now my bottoms sour."
"Hey, now you know how I felt."
"Yeah, but you just dropped me about two feet or three feet off the ground. I just slapped you and I'm not _that_strong."
"It still hurt."
"Oh, sop it up you baby!"
"Oh, really?" he asked innocently while moving his face close to Yugi's so the tips of their noses touched.
"Uh...please dont do that. It's really scary with you this close, and I'm going cross eyed."
Yami smiled.
"Sucks."
Yugi rolled his eyes and pushed Yami away.
"If you keep doing that, I'll be surprised if you'll get a girl friend."
Yami lifted an eyebrow.
"Really? Because I would be surprised if _you_ could get a girlfriend with that height."
"Meany."
"Shorty."
"Moran."
"Short stuff."
"Baka!"
"Dwarf!"
"Oh, then what are you? A witch or bitch?"
"Are you calling me a girl?"
"If we change a some features...yes."
Yami lunged at Yugi, but bounced off a barrior.
"Can you take this off me now?" he asked, holding up the amulet. (Who forgot about that? Come on fess up.)
"Ahhhhhhh...nahhhhhh. I want to make you suffer," Yugi answered while sticking his tongue out.
"Oh, thanks," Yami said sarcastically.
"You're welcome."
Yami threw a rock at Yugi, but he easily dodged it.
"Ha! Missed!" Yugi shouted, when a bunch of leaves hit his face. "Ne!"
"Now we're even," said Yami, and turned.
He suddenly fell forwards as Yugi lunged at him, and wrapped his arms around his middle, knocking him down and making him land in a puddle of mud.
"Oops, my bad," Yugi said with a smile.
Yami's face came up, covered with mud, but Yugi could see his angry eyes.
"Uh, oh. Love to stay but gotta run!" he shouted and jumped off Yami's back quickly and ran towards the house.
But Yami quickly leaped up and grabbed him, making both of them fall onto the grass. They laughed as they rolled on the grass, and Yami was able to pin Yugi down and tickled him.
"Okay! Okay! Even!" Yugi shouted.
Yami nodded in approval and stopped. Yugi panted, and once he caught his breath, he sat up and smiled as he saw the sun setting.
"Tsuyuyaka (beautiful)," he whispered.
"Hm?"
"The colors. How they fade into darker shades. It's tsuyayaka."
He suddenly looked up at Yami curiously, as Yami tried whipping mud off of himself.
"Hey, Yami. What was Hikari to you?" Yugi asked curiously.
"He was my well...hikari. My tenshi no hikari (angel of light). Just like I'm his tenshi no yami (angel of darkness). You see Yugi, when you are born with a twin, he or she is like another part of you. You can't really live with out them, unless your sick and twisted."
'Just like how I was,' he thought sadly.
"Though, if I see him again, I bet he won't want to even look at me. I was his killer if you forgotten," Yami continued bitterly.
Yugi got up and hugged Yami, ignoring the mud he smeared onto his clothes.
"He will. He forgives and loves, just like you told me. He will not allow hatred or anger to reside in his heart. He will forgive you, and put your deed behind. He's probably relieved that you're not as cold anymore."
"I hope you're right," Yami sighed.
***************************************************************
"Feel it?"
"Hai," Yugi said with a curt nod.
Yugi and Ryou sat outside, and Yugi had his eyes closed in concentration.
"Okay," Ryou instructed. "now, forget what is around you and concentrate on a pulse you find."
Yugi took a deep breath and focused and found one with ease. It was faint at first, but the deeper he concentrated, the stronger he felt it. Suddenly, he felt an invisible force leading him away from the pulse and guide him to another. This one was strong. Very strong. He frowned as he heard the rithmic B-bump, B-bump, and dared open his eyes. It was dark and silent, and he stared with awe as a patch of light formed on the black surface. He ran towards it, and once he reached it he saw a...memory.
**************************************************************
It was a cool summer night and two twin boys were lazying in a hammic. It rocked gently in the cool breeze, as the two were silent. One was slightly taller, and lying back with his hands behind his head, eyes closed. While the other one sat up and gazed up at the sky.
"Yugioh?" he whispered.
"Hm?" he answered while opening an eye.
"Shouldn't we have told Seto?" he asked.
"Tell him what?"
"That we were going to our hammic."
"No. I think he'll figure it out in time."
An icy breeze blew and Hikari shivered.
"So cold," he whispered.
"Try lying down instead of sitting up."
Hikari slowly settled down but still shivered.
"It's still cold."
Yami opened his eyes and snickered.
"What?" Hikari asked.
"Nothing. I just remembered something that happened about fifteen minutes ago. When I told you to bring your coat and _somebody_ said 'oh, it won't be cold' ."
Hikari stuck out his tongue, and Yami did also, before both burst out laughing. The breeze grew stronger and the hammic rocked even more.
"Would if we topple over and fall down the hill?" Hikari asked as he looked over the edge.
"That's a comforting thought," Yami answered sarcastically.
"Hai, it is isn't it," Hikari said with a teasing smile.
Yami sighed and rolled his eyes. For several minutes, the twins lay in silence as the breeze gently rocked the hammic back and forth. Hikari shivered again and sat up as did Yami, and noticed Hikari rubbing his hands together for warmth. Yami sighed and took his coat off and wrapped it around both of them, while pulling Hikari close.
"Arigato."
"Don't mention it."
"Hey...Yugioh."
"Hm?"
"....Are you going to ever leave me?" he asked.
Yami was a bit startled at this question, but smiled warmly.
"Iya."
"Ever?"
"Hikari I would never leave you. We're brothers. Twins. We're inseperatable. If anyone tries to seperate us, they would have to deal with me."
Hikari smiled and rested his head on Yami's shoulder as Yami rested his own head on top of Hikari's. (don't get ideas. They're both at the age of seven in this memory)
"Would if we were seperated?"
"I'd travel to the ends of the universe looking for you."
"And I you," he whispered.
"Funny actually," Yami muttered. "Ever since we could crawl you've always followed me, and always tagged along when you could. Not that I mind or anything, but I think we were destined to never be apart. Or at least I hope so."
"You love me that much?"
"More then life itself," Yami whispered.
Hikari couldn't help but smile, eyes sparkling, but it died down when he remembered something.
"Are you going to the Sinful castle with father?"
"Hai."
"So, you're going to leave me?"
"Not really. I have this," and pulled out the pearls with rose petals on them. "And you have this," and put a chain around Hikari's neck.
Hikari gasped as he touched the pendent with his finger tips. The pendent was a heart shaped crystal locket with a painted white rose on it. He opened it and inside was a picture of him and Yami laughing together when they first went into the hammic. The hammic was hanging sideways, while Yami was on the ground with Hikari on top of him. He remembered that when his father first tied it up, they both eagerly jumped on it. The result was that Yami toppled onto the ground with Hikari on top of him. It was a funny memory and a nice one to hold on to. Hikari looked up at Yami and hugged him tightly.
"Arigato! Arigato! I'll treasure it forever!"
"I thought you would like it," Yami chuckled, as he embraced his brother back.
"It's beautiful. You're becoming really good at creating lockets."
"This I tried to make perfect."
"It is perfect nii-san! Arigato!"
***************************************************************
"Yugi?" a voice said, penatrating his trance.
Yugi blinked and rubbed his eyes.
"Hm?"
"Daijoubu ka?" Ryou asked with a frown.
"Hai, why?" Yugi asked.
"You were so still for two hours. I was afraid you were stuck."
Yugi paled.
"You can become stuck?"
"Well...sometimes, but rarily."
"Phew......oh Ryou. I felt a faint pulse and then a stronger one. When I reached for the stronger one I was sucked into some kind of memory. Do you know what happened?" Yugi asked.
"Hmmmmmm," Ryou muttered. "I could be that you prodded to deep into the pulse and fell into the memory. What kind of memory was it?"
"Hikari and Yami."
"Oh. Then it must have been Yami's pulse you went to," Ryou said. "or...Hikari's."
Yugi barely caught the second part.
"Hikari's?" Yugi questioned. "How?"
"Hm? Oh, er...never mind what I said, now let's get to the next part of our lesson."
***************************************************************
Yugi flopped down on the couch and snuggled into the soft cushions.
"Nice and cozy," he thought happily.
He felt himself being lifted a bit before settling back, indicating that someone jumped on the other cushion beside him.
"Couches are nicer then sofas," Yami muttered.
"There the same thing," Yugi said bluntly.
"Hm? Oh, sorry. I meant that these are nicer then the sofas at home."
"Oh," he said, continuing being blunt.
"Something bothering you?" Yami asked.
"Hm? Oh! Um...nothing much."
"Do tell," he said laying back with a smirk.
The smirk dropped as he saw Yugi's serious expression.
"Ongai Yugi," Yami said seriously, and took his small hand in his. "If something is bothering you, I would like to know so I can help you sort it out."
He brushed Yugi's cheek, and Yugi looked up so their eyes locked.
"Iya, Yami. It's nothing to worry about. I was only thinking. Nothing for anyone to worry about."
Yami searched Yugi's eyes for a moment, then got up and left, while Yugi watched him sadly.
'Is he mad at me?'
A few minutes later, Yami was back, and sat in his previous spot and pulled Yugi close.
"Yami?"
"Hush, close your eyes," he ordered.
Yugi obeyed and felt something being tied around his neck.
"Open your eyes."
He did and gasped with surprise and delight as he gently touched the delicate star shaped diamonds.
"Yami," he breathed. "They're tsuyayaka. How did you get these?"
"I...I made them," Yami muttered while his cheeks turned red.
Yugi looked up at him, eyes filled with shock. Then smiled, eyes sparkling like the two diamond stars and hugged Yami tightly.
"Which makes them more special."
Yami's face was filled with surprise, then smiled himself and embraced him back.
**************************************************************
Late that night, Yugi and Yami were lying on the roof. Yugi slept peacefully, while Yami held him close with one hand, and with his other, clasped his pendent. It was a warm night and a cool breeze blew over them. Yami looked down at Yugi and smiled, as he picked the sleeping boy up and started carrying him toward the sliding panel. He could imagine Sugoroku's speech if he found them on the roof.
"Yugi! Yami! You two should know better then to sleep on the roof! One of you could have fallen off! And who would be to blame!? Me! Why!? Because I'm your guardian!"
Yami chuckled at the thought. He slid down into the attic and then down into the hall way. He nudged Yugi's door open and placed him in his bed. Once Yugi was settled into his bed, he got ready to enter the puzzle, when Yugi called out his name and shivered violently. A tear fell from the corner of his eye, and Yami sighed.
"On second thought...," he muttered and climbed into bed beside Yugi.
He put an arm around Yugi's waist and pulled him close and whispered in his ear.
"Don't be afraid Yugi. I'm right here beside you."
Yugi seemed to calm before a whimper escaped his throat and started thrashing. Yami quickly wrapped his arms around him, for restrain and comfort, and whispered to him gently.
"Shhhhhh. It's alright. I'm here, right beside you."
"Yami?" came a mumble.
"Yes, Yugi. I'm here. It's just a dream, don't believe in it."
Yugi muttered a few times, before settling down. His face calmed and was tense no more. Yami smiled and kissed Yugi on the forehead.
"Good night aibou. May nightmares stay clear from your dreams," he whispered and closed his own eyes.
**************************************************************
It was an unusal cloudy day in the morning, and Yugi cracked open an eye and looked at the clock.
'It's only 7:15 on Monday,' he thought, then closed his eyes again.
Then they snapped open again.
"7:15 on Monday!?" he shouted and scrambled out of bed, and dived into his closet.
Yami woke up to a crash and saw Yugi holding one foot while trying to slip on his jacket.
"What are you doing?" he asked in amusement.
"Trying to get ready for school because I have about less then fifteen minutes and I banged my foot on the bed," he explained as he pulled on his socks.
"Oh, poor baby," Yami mocked.
Yugi stuck out his tongue as he headed out of the bedroom door. He grabbed an apple and said a quick goodbye to Sugoroku and ran towards school. Getting to school was no problem since, after all, he was on the track team (don't ask where I got that idea) and made it just in time.
"Morning! Hey, you look tired," commented Anzu.
"Which one? Sleepy or exasted?" asked Ryou.
"Both."
"I...ran...here...accidently...woke...up late," Yugi puffed.
Seto helped him into a chair and Yugi slumped while still panting. Ryou handed him a cup of water, and Yugi drank it gratefully.
"Ari...gato."
"Nothing to it."
"Where's Jou and Honda?" he asked.
"Late," said Anzu a bit stiffly, like she disapproved of their tardiness.
Once class started the two suddenly burst into the classroom.
"Sor...ry, that...we're...late," Honda puffed, as he collapsed into his seat.
Jounouchi could only nod as he to collapsed into his own seat. The teacher looked at them while tapping her pointer in her hand.
"Excuse, please," she said.
"We...were...just late," answered Honda.
Jounouchi nodded behind him.
"Very well. Extra homework, and ten minute detention."
They nodded respectfully, but Yugi could tell that they were sulking.
"Get out your history books and turn to page 119."
***************************************************************
"Wow, the sky is really gray," Jounouchi commented as he looked up at the sky.
"It's coming, real soon," Ryou muttered, before looking at everybody. "I'm afraid I have to be leaving."
Everyone stopped walking, and turned to face Ryou.
"Why?" Anzu asked.
"I have business to take care of," he answered and everyone stared as he disappeared.
"Where did he go?" asked Honda.
"Probably back home where the Dark and Light roam," Yugi answered.
Seto nodded in agreement.
"Eh...I don't think anyone explained that one yet," said Jounouchi.
Yugi looked up at Seto, and he cleared his throat.
"It is where the the whole mess started. It has no name. We just call it the Land of Light and Dark. One half is dark and musty, while the other is bright and sunny," Seto said.
"Oh."
"But why does Ryou have to go there?" Anzu asked.
"Because he has business there. End of dicussion."
Anzu opened her mouth, but shut it when Seto gave her a 'Shut it up or else' glare. He looked up into the sky and back at all the teens.
"I must go now. I'll see you all later, hopefully," he said quietly and quickly ran till he was gone.
Once Seto was gone, the sky turned even grayer.
"What is this omen?" whispered Yugi as he shivered.
His thoughts were cut off by screams and turned to see a horrible sight. The Great Serpent had his three friends wrapped in it's coils.
"IYA! Anzu! Jou! Honda!" he shouted and ran towards them.
The serpant flung it's tail and hit Yugi in the ribs, throwing him to the ground. He gasped and took deep breaths till be could get up, and stared helplessly as his friends suffered. An evil laugh split the air and Yugi looked up to see Bakura.
"Bakura! Why are you doing this!" Yugi shouted.
"Why? Because of orders baka!"
"Orders?"
"Hai! From the Lord Yami."
Yugi felt his insides go cold.
"Lord nani?" (Lord what?)
"Lord Yami," he said with a smirk.
"No! You're lieing! He would never do this!"
"How do you know? You've only knew him for a couple of weeks. I knew him since I was a yougling. He decided to take the throne again and the first order was to take your friends away, to make you suffer."
"NO! NO!" Yugi screamed and covered his ears.
"Hai. And he tires of you, now he likes toying with you. Being nice and sweet just to butter you up. So you won't expect anything. We're not forced to act sweet for nothing. All he wants is you dead!"
"Liar! Liar!" Yugi continued to scream as he pressed his hands on his ears even harder.
"Believe it, it's true. He hates you."
"No, I got this," Yugi said, and held up the two stars.
"Ha! That's what he gives all his victims. Before they die."
Yugi was about to shout that that was a lie, when his surroundings darkened and people stared raising from the darkness. They were half decayed and on all their necks were the to stars on a string. The zombies screamed there story at him.
"Yami betrayed us! He made us feel loved then killed us! We were betrayed! Betrayed! Betrayed!"
"No, it's not true," Yugi mumured. "He wouldn't do this."
But his thoughts were lost in the zombies screams.
"BETRAYED! BETRAYED! BETRAYED!"
***************************************************************
Yami was getting worried. Yugi was an hour late in coming home. He looked out the window then at the TV, but his attention was mostly outside, searching for Yugi's arrival. He suddenly heard the door being slammed shut closed.
"Yugi?"
No answer, but the sound of footsteps stomping up the stairs. Yami rushed up after him and in the hall saw Yugi.
"Yugi?"
Yugi spun around and Yami's eyes widened. They were glaring with anger and betrayal filling his purple eyes. They were a bit red and puffy from crying, and tears still streamed down his cheeks. Yami kneeled in front of him, concern written all over his face.
"What happened?" he asked as he reached to stroke his cheek.
Yugi slapped his hand away, which shocked Yami.
"Yugi?" he asked with surprise.
In one swift movement, Yugi tore the amulet off Yami's neck, and grabbed the sword from Yami's waist, forcing it into his hands.
"Kill me."
"Nani?"
"Kill me so I can end it all!" Yugi shouted.
"Yugi..."
"I hate being apart of this! I want the life I had before you all came! My friends are gone because of you! My life has changed because of you!"
Yami stared.
"Just kill me. Then you can get on with your life and leave the ones I care for alone!"
Yami didn't move.
"Fine then," Yugi said quietly, and snatched the sword.
To Yami's horror, Yugi made a move to chop off his head! Yami grabbed his hand and tried his best in getting the blade away from Yugi's delicate neck.
"Are you mad!" Yami hissed.
"No. I'm just trying to make people's lives better!"
"How?"
"Yours for example. You'd get your mission done and you can go order people around Lord Yami of the Dark!" Yugi spat.
"Yugi, I don't know what your talking about," Yami said defensively.
"I know you're acting innocent! And you betray your victims! I know what you did to those people! Befriend them then kill them! And you took my friends away! My friends that I care for! WHY!? WHY!?" Yugi screamed and fell to his knees crying.
Yami took that chance to pull the blade away and hugged Yugi tightly. He felt Yugi struggle, but Yami kept his grip firm.
"I hate you! I hate you!" came a muffled shout.
Yami shook his head sadly.
"No, you don't."
"I hate you! I hate you! I wish you were gone! That I never met you!"
Yami felt crushed as he felt his heart starting to hurt. He sadly released Yugi, and stood up, scooping his blade up.
"And you can take the stupid puzzle with you!" Yugi shouted and wrentched it off and threw it at Yami.
Yami caught it and slowly looked at Yugi. His legs were against his chest, forehead on his knees, crying. Yami could hear Yugi saying, "I hate you. I hate you. I want you to go away. I wish you never came into my life."
Yami felt sorrow, before feeling anger mixing with his confused emotions.
"Fine then," he said, and walked into Yugi's room, and came out dressed as he was when he and Yugi first met.
He disappeared, leaving Yugi sitting in the hall way, crying. He felt anger, sad, hate, longing. He wished for another presence, but Sugoroku had to go on a trip, so he was all alone. Suddenly, he heard someone enter the game shop and go up the stairs. Yugi didn't care if it was a robber or Bakura. He just wanted to die.
"Yugi?" came a soothing voice.
Yugi looked up and saw Seto kneeling before him. They were silent for several seconds before Yugi threw himself on Seto, and sobbed onto his shoulder. Seto embraced him back and whispered in his ear that it was alright.
"No it's not!" Yugi shouted. "My friends are gone and it's all Yami's fault!"
"Yugi," Seto said. "Think for a second. Is it really Yami's fault?"
"Hai."
"Why?"
"Because he ordered Bakura to take them."
Seto know understood and felt hate heating up for Bakura.
"Yugi," he said quietly. "Bakura is a liar. A viper. His talks can hyptnotize people to believe what he says. He's the master of illusion."
"I still hate him. He brought all this into my life."
"Yugi, did he? Do you really hate him?" Seto asked.
Yugi suddenly cried harder.
"I don't know! But I don't hate him!"
Seto hugged him gently and tried comforting him.
"It's all my fault isn't it?" Yugi asked.
Seto heisitated.
"It is. Don't deny it Seto. I can see it in your face," Yugi whispered, and buried his face into Seto's shoulder, body wracking with his sobs.
"Shhhhh. No, it isn't your fault, Little Hikari."
Yugi abrutly stopped and pulled away a bit to look at him.
"W...what did you call me?" he whispered, eyes wide.
"I said, Little Hikari."
"No, I'm Yugi. I'm no light."
"Yugi. Listen to me. I know we kept it from you for along time, but you are Hikari's reincarnation."
"But, I can't be," he sniffed. "He's pure and innocent."
"As you are."
"No. I just said something Hikari would never say."
"Hikari."
"Nobody in the Light would say I hate you!"
"Hikari, listen."
"Stop calling me that! I'm not Hikari, I'm Yugi!"
"Listen to me," Seto said sternly.
Yugi sighed and nodded.
"You are Hikari. You say thing like that because you were raised here on earth and not where your real home is."
"So...it is my fault."
"No, it's destiny's."
They were silent before Seto broke it.
"Come, it's time for you to go home."
"But I am home," Yugi protested.
"No, your home from your past."
Yugi blinked in confusion, before nodding in understanding and Seto held him close. The next thing Yugi knew, he was in front of a huge house. Yugi slowly broke from Seto's arms and went up to the wall and touched it.
"I remember this place," Yugi whispered.
"Your memories will start coming to you know that you're home," Seto explained.
Yugi's gaze slowly turned to a hill where he knew a lone hammic rocked gently on the other side.
'Yami,' he thought sadly.
**************************************************************
Yami sat on the railing of the balcony on the Sinful castle. His heart hurt from the accusations.
'Why did he say that? He knows I love him and he said...' he couldn't say it.
He clenched his fist tightly, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Fine, then," he whispered furiously into the air. "If you hate me, I'll hate you."
"Yami!"
Yami turned his head sharply.
"What!" he barked.
"Tsk, tsk. Not a nice thing to bark at your leader," came a snarl.
Yami only humphed and turned his back.
"So...the brat dumped you huh?"
"WHAT OF IT! It was clear he was toying with me, then just wanted to crush me at the end. Right when I thought we had a bound. The same bound I had with..."
"Forget them! Sulking makes people weak!" Bakura shouted. "Are you going to sit on your ass all day and be weak or are you going to have your revenge!"
Yami was silent before facing Bakura, red eyes glowing.
"Revenge."
Bakura's snarl turned into a wicked smile.
"Just what I wanted to hear."
**************************************************************
Yugi wandered through the house and memories came to him.
He slowly went up the stairs and went down the familiar hall.
He touched the white wood of a door, and hesitated before opening it, and inside he discovered a big room.
A bed big enough for two was on one side, and a chair and desk was on the other.
A huge double window was connected to the wall in front of the whole room with white curatins billowing softly inside from the breeze. Yugi opened the double window and saw the balcony that jutted out in a half circle.
He smiled as the breeze swept in his face.
Yugi removed himself from the window and settled himself in the chair, and opened a drawer in the desk.
Inside the first drawer was ink and parchement.
The second drawer held a small box, and he slowly opened it and inside was lined with velvet.
Resting in the middle was a heart shaped crystil locket with a white rose painted on it.
Yugi took it out and curiously opened it, and there was a picture.
Tears went down his cheeks and held the locket close to his heart.
He took off the chain and put the locket in the middle of the two stars.
After adverting his eyes away from the beautiful necklace around his neck, he changed his clothes from the wardrobe and blinked as he found a box under the cloth.
He opened it and gasped as he found a golden rope, and carefully tied it around his waist.
Curious in what he looked like, he stood in front of a mirror and his eyes bugged out.
He did look like Hikari, except younger and not as tall.
He was so absorbed in staring at the similarities that he jumped when the door opened.
"Yugi?"
Yugi turned and saw Ryou and smiled.
"Hai, Ryou-chan."
"Seto told me you were here and...would you like me to call you Hikari?"
"Well...I guess that's who I am, but I prefer Yugi, if you don't mind."
Ryou nodded and settled himself on the bed. Yugi plopped down next to him, and they were silent.
"How does it feel to be back home?" Ryou finally asked.
"I'm afraid it feels like I'm in a strange place."
"I know. You never grew up here and it would feel like a strange place."
Yugi nodded, then suddenly hugged Ryou.
"It's my fault! It's all my fault!" he shouted. "Gomen ne! It's all my fault!"
Ryou got over his shock quickly and embraced Yugi back, and asked gently, "What's your fault?"
"Everything," he whispered.
"No, Yugi. It isn't."
"It is."
Before Ryou could answer, there was a knock on the door, and the two broke aparted.
"Enter," Yugi called.
It was Seto.
"Were ready for your command," he said seriously.
Ryou stood up, while Yugi blinked.
"Seto, what's going on?" Yugi asked.
"Nothing for you to worry about, Hikari," Seto answered with a reasuring smile.
Yugi frowned, and confusion and worry clouded his eyes.
"Yugi," Ryou said seriously. "Stay here till we say it's time for you to leave."
Yugi nodded slowly, and Seto left, with Ryou behind him, closing the door behind him. Yugi heard a click and knew the door was locked.
"Are you sure we should have done this?" Yugi heard Seto ask.
"Well, we don't want to lose him again in the war," Ryou whispered.
"I agree, but shouldn't we tell him?"
"No need. He probably heard everything we just said."
Yugi had indeed been listening and felt afraid.
'I have to help. I can't sit here while everyone else fights. And would if someone dies? I'll go, just un-noticed,' he vowed. 'I'm not going to lose anyone. I already lost Anzu, Jou, and Honda. I will not lose Seto or Ryou. And I will not lose Yami in this war.'
**************************************************************
Mijikai: Any confusion can be easily solved with questions.
Yami: O_O Holy shit! That is long.
Mijikai: Yeah I know. I accidently got distraced when I was writing this chapter and didn't relize how long it was, and I couldn't bare to cut it off.
Yugi: That's okay. You'll make readers happy.
Mijikai: ^_^ I know! Oh, and thank you sooooo much for the reviews! I would post them, but...it's been so long that I don't think people would remember what they wrote, so I'll post this chapters next chapter. And the next chapter shouldn't take so long.
Yugi: Please review! And hope you enjoyed it!
Yugi: -_-0 You really think they'll believe that?
Yami: We can hope.
Yugi:.....
Mijikai: _ You are such a pain in the butt! ^_^ Hi people......you're mad at me aren't you? Yes, I figured...well, I'll just shut up and let you peeps read. It's a loooooooong one so be happy!
Yami: I rather not.
Mijikai: Party pooper.
***************************************************************
Yugi coughed, feeling sick as he coughed up water from his lungs, and collapsed, panting. Arms held him close, as soft fingers brushed drops of water away.
"Yugi," came a familiar deep voice. "Are you alright?"
"Y...Yami?" Yugi rasped, as he squinted to see through the fuzziness of his vision.
"Are you alright?" he repeated.
"Hai," he muttered before shivering violently.
"Oh, dear," came the voice of Ryou, and felt a smooth hand resting on his brow, and shivered with delight as warmth coursed through his ice cold skin. "That should do it for now."
Yugi felt a bit stronger after the warm up, and made to sit up, but ended up collapsing back.
"C...can't get u..up," he stammered.
"Don't worry your little head of it, I'll carry you," said Yami, and Yugi felt himself being lifted. "Hey, Ryou, can you get us out of here?"
"Hikari didn't teach me magic for nothing," he said proudly and brought two hands together and the echoing of chanting filled the darkness.
Both gasped as a light exploded from underneath them, and flew up, swirling together and forming a circle of light.
"Jump in," Ryou commanded.
"Don't have to tell me twice," and did so, with Ryou right behind him.
**************************************************************
"Oof! Yami get off of me!"
"Oops. Sorry Equidist," Yami said with a smirk, and hopped off of Seto's back.
Sugoroku rushed to the three and embraced them each tightly.
"Thank god your all okay. What happened? What's wrong with Yugi," he asked all in a rush.
"Calm yourself Grandfather," Yami said. "Yugi just had a bad spill and is a bit exasted. But he'll live, unfortunately."
Yugi scowled, and stuck out his tongue.
"You mean bully."
"You dwarf," he responded and flicked his nose, hard.
"Ow!" he shouted and clamped both hands over his nose. "That hurt you idiot!"
"Hey, be nice. I did save your life after all!"
"So?"
Yami sweatdropped.
"Why you unappreciative little br..."
"That will be quite enough you two!" Sugoroku shouted.
Both stopped bickering and glanced at a glaring Sugoroku with his arms crossed.
"Now that I have your attention, I suggest we get back before our friends become too worried," Sugoroku said quietly.
"Like they already aren't," Seto muttered and left the bathroom, followed by everybody else.
As they walked back to their booth, Yugi and Ryou tried hard not to blush as they received stares from people. Though, they didn't really blame them, because it was an odd sight to see a boy soaked and being carried while another was slimed and it was disturbing that they came from the _bathroom_. Who knows what they were doing.
"Did that kid fall into the toilet," Yugi heard someone whisper.
"Probably, he's so small."
'I'm not _that_small,' Yugi scowled.
"Ewwww, that albino is covered with slime."
"Maybe he's learning to be a plummer."
"Ewwwwwwww!"
Ryou covered his face and quickened his pace and didn't uncover his blushing red face till he was sitting. Yami dropped Yugi beside Jounouchi before settling himself down.
"Where were you guys!" Jounouchi pratically shouted.
"Stuck in the Bug Realm," Yami answered simply.
"Grrrrr! HAGUS WILL PAY! I SWEAR IT!" Seto suddenly shouted.
Everyone turned to him, and the little group watched with amusement as Seto blushed bright red and slowly shrunk down in his seat. Yugi giggled at the sight of Seto, while Yami snickered loudly enough for Seto to give him a death glare.
"Should have known," he muttered to himself, also to distract himself from the embarrassment. "It was so obvious."
Yugi reached over Jounouchi and patted Seto on the back.
"Don't blame yourself. It was Hagus's hatred and thirst for revenge that drove him into doing it."
Seto snapped his eyes onto Yugi, as did everyone else. All expressions were filled with shock, surprise, or in Yami's case, amusement. Yugi slowly slid back into his place and looked from one face to the other, blinking innocently.
"Why is everyone staring at me? Did I say something wrong?"
"Iie (no) Yugi. You said nothing wrong," Sugoroku answered.
Honda smiled.
"You just surprised us on how you answered the question. It didn't even sound like it was you answering it."
Yugi blinked again, then his eyes became down cast.
"Now that you mention it, it did feel like it was someone elses choice of words. I think it came from..." he said quietly, and slowly placed his finger tips on his chest. "within. Like a gut feeling, I suppose."
Ryou's eyes misted as his mind started wandering.
'Within......,' he thought.
***************************************************************
(Memory)
It was dark and the only light that shone was the moon and stars. Ryou, at the age of eight, sat crosslegged on a ledge as he watched Hikari, same age of eight, playing with a piece of grass. It was a quiet night and the only sound that could be heard was the pitter patter of a waterfall. Ryou sighed peacefully and leaned back, closing his eyes, enjoying the bliss, when he heard a painful gasp and shot back up.
"Hikari? Something the matter?" he asked, when he spotted Hikari slumped over.
"I...ow...I think...(wince) something or someone's in...trouble."
Ryou jumped from his perch and landed beside his friend, and helped prop him up.
"How can you tell?" he asked.
"Something...within...is telling...me so..(gasp) Ow."
"Within?" Ryou asked curiously.
Hikari took a deep shuddering breath, before standing up.
"Hai. I can feel the person's pain."
"How? Please, teach me. Maybe I can help," Ryou begged.
"Na? (huh)"
"Hikari, you are my only friend. If you experience pain, I'll be willing to too. If you teach me, then you won't be the only one to experience another's pain. Then we can both help the one in need."
Hikari blinked at Ryou for several minutes before a warm smile broke out. He clasped his friend's hands and locked his amyethist with chocolate brown.
"Arigato, tomodachi. (thank you, friend) Domo (but)...first, let's find the one in need."
"Right."
Ryou and Hikari both closed their eyes and listened. Listened for the a steady pulse of magic. Suddenly, they heard it.
B-bump. B-bump.
Ryou's eye's snapped open and turned to Hikari.
"You feel that?" he was about to ask, but stopped when he saw Hikari wince. "Doushito no (what's wrong)?"
"The pulse is sending shocks. Nothing serious," he muttered.
"Are you sure you're up to running?"
"Hai. Of course. The pain doesn't stay with me forever."
"Alright then," Ryou said and both started running through the forest.
As the pulse became stronger and stronger, they knew they were becoming closer, and they burst from a wall of vines, and what they saw made them gasp.
"NI-SAN!" Hikari screamed and ran to an unconsious Yami.
He lay there, motionless, and blood pratically covered every inch of him.
"Yugioh! Yugioh! Wake up!" Hikari shouted frantically, before breaking down, sobbing onto his injured brother's chest.
Ryou's eyes saddened and was about to comfort his distressed friend, when he felt an arm grab him around the waist.
"Long time no see, Otooto," came a growl in his ear.
The first thing that Ryou did was flail his arms around and miraculously elbowed the stranger in the face, and ran with a yelp. He rushed beside Hikari and shivered as he stared at very pissed Bakura. Bakura growled dangerously as he held his eye, and Ryou couldn't help but shout out, as his sword, Death, formed into his hand.
"That deserves punishment," he said in a deadly whisper and started running towards him.
Ryou quickly pushed Hikari away, and paried with his own sword. Life. Both brother's struggled to knock one's sword away, but both equally prevented that from happening. Unfortunately, Bakura was a lot stronger then Ryou and was able to get a good punch at his stomach. He flew back and winced as he felt rough bark of a tree dig into his back.
"Ryou!"
"Hikari! Stay back!" he was about to shout, but a boot suddenly slammed into his chest. "Ahhhhhhhhh!"
"Hahahaha! You stupid weak boy. It's such a disgrace that we are even related. But I can quickly solve that problem," and raised his sword.
Ryou, out of reflex, covered his head with his arms, squeezing his eyes tight.
"RYOU! IYA!" came a scream and felt the weight of the boot disappear.
He slumped against the tree, panting, before daring to look up. Hikari was struggling to untangle himself from Bakura, but Bakura beat him to it, and held him down with his body weight.
"Ahhh...get..off...of me!" Hikari shouted and started squirming, but Bakura held him down, till he stopped and panted with exastion.
"Haha. You were a foolish boy to dare interfere with family matters," he growled. "And for that, I must punish you."
"No don't!" Ryou gasped. "Leave him out of this Bakura! It's only between you and me!"
"Ha! You should have told your worthless friend to stay out of our business then, for now...HE HAS REALLY TICKED ME OFF!"
Ryou scrambled back up, but the force of Bakura's released magic flung him back into the tree. He tried struggling back up again, but Bakura already held up a card, and felt something bind him tightly.
"Ah...iya (no)! IYA! BAKURA! ONGAI, IYA (please no)!" he pleaded, but it was only in vain.
Bakura held out the card Potion of Paralization, and Hikari could only whimper in fear as his body was unable to move anymore. He slowly stood back up and jumped into the air, throwing his blade down.
"Syranata, you brat!"
Hikari stared as his eyes started shimmering with fear, and squeezed his eyes shut.
" YUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGIIIIIOOOOOOH!" he screamed.
To Ryou's stunned surprise, Yami's eyes snapped open and his head turned toward the scream. His crimson eyes widened, and with shocking speed, parried the attack with his own blade, knocking the deadly thing off course and having it land into a trunk. Immediately, the tree disinigrated and fell into a pile of ash. Bakura landed and snarled at Yami.
"So, you're still live. What a shame."
"Ha! It takes more then that to kill me, Bakura!" Yami spat, standing in front of Hikari.
"So it seems."
"Shall we continue our duel?" Yami asked, eyes narrowing into slits.
"Iya. I had enough for the day, though I warn you Yami, I will be back, and you little Ryou and Hikari, may not be so lucky next time," he hissed, and with a flick of his hand, he was gone.
Yami stood still for a couple of moments, before trembling violently and collapsing to the grass.
"Yugioh!" Hikari shouted and scrambled up to him.
Ryou felt his binds disappear and too, ran towards the injuried one.
"Daijoubu ka?"
"I'll be fine," he answered in a strained voice. "But are you two okay?"
"Hai," they both answered.
"Good," he mumbled as he continued to rest his head on the grass.
Silence pressurd on the three some before Hikari interupted it.
"That was fun. Do you think Bakura would try killing me again?" Hikari asked innocently.
Yami snapped his head up.
"ARE YOU CRACKED!"
Ryou was just as stunned but saw the mischeif in Hikari's eyes and calmed to know that it was only to see Yami's reaction, and couldn't resist in joining in.
"Yes, now that you mention it, it was fun. Maybe we should play with Bakura more often," Ryou added on, and both shared a wink, as Yami stared, gaping at both of them.
"You both have issues," he grumbled.
"Not as bad as you!" They both said together, and had to scurry away before Yami was able to hit any of them.
(End of Memory)
***************************************************************
'Within...hmmmm. That reminds me in what Hikari used to tell me,' Ryou mussed.
He was interupted as Jounouchi poked him in the stomach.
"Hey! You awake in there?" he asked.
"Yes, yes, now keep your finger to yourself!" Ryou shouted and slapped his hand.
"Owwww. Sheesh, moody aren't we."
"Yes, thank you, for I do not like being poked in the stomach."
"...What ever."
Yugi felt an on coming argument, and decided to break in.
"Why don't we start heading home. I'm freezing, and I bet Ryou is dying to wash off that slime."
"You read my mind," Ryou said with a smile.
Sugoroku paid the bill, and they left quickly. Once outside, a breeze hit Yugi, and he shivered again, a small sneeze escaping. Yami removed his jacket and placed it around Yugi.
"Arigato."
"Dontoshimaska."
"Yami?"
"Hm?"
"You know when I was talking about the within?"
"Hai."
"Did Hikari have something like that? I mean...it sounds like something that Hikari would have, since he is of Light, right?" Yugi questioned.
Yami frowned as he pondered this question, but was saved by Ryou.
"Hai. He could feel a lot of things with it. Emotion, pain, need. He was generous enough to even teach me to feel it, though mine isn't really as strong as his. He also used it to help people."
"That sounds cool," Yugi said with a smile. "Can you teach me too? I wanna be able to help people with it too. And since I discovered a little bit of it inside of me, it would be easier to learn it...right?"
Ryou laughed.
"I'm afraid it will be the same task even if you didn't have any at all, but yes, I'll be delighted to teach you. And I can also give you a little lesson in tracing magic pulses. It's really quite fun, and it helps tell whether the enemy or person is strong in magic or weaker."
"Coooooooool. But...wait...don't I need _magic_ to do that?" Yugi asked with a frown.
"Not nesessarily. I met some people who are capable of doing this and they have not a drop of magic in their blood. It's because it's a trace. And tracing isn't the same as magic."
Yugi brightened at this news.
"Great! Can you come tomorrow at noon? You can eat lunch at the Kame Game Shop."
"Sure, sounds great!" Ryou exclaimed happily.
Yugi now beamed brightly, as they continued down the street, when Jounouchi spotted his apartment.
"Well, this is my stop. I'll cath ya all later, kay?" he said and ran across the street and into the building.
Honda spotted the Repair shop and said that he need to pick up his motorcycle that just got a new paint job, and had waved goodbye. Anzu spotted her mother shopping and said she would get a lift from her. She kissed Yugi on the cheek, and waved goodbye to the rest of the crew. Seto and Ryou had business to attend to and soon departed.
"Guess it's just the three of us," said Sugoroku, as they continued walking.
"Well, I'll see you all later."
"Nani! Where are you going?" Yugi asked, but Yami only smiled.
"Somewhere where fourteen year old people who are less then a metor tall are not allowed."
"You are so mean!" Yugi shouted, and stuck out his tongue.
Yami laughed.
"I was _joking_."
"Really?"
"Hai, really."
"Then...I guess I owe you....THIS!" and whapped Yami on his butt.
"Hey!" Yami growled.
"And you seriously did deserve that," Yugi said and started running.
"Wait till I get my hands on you," he growled, and chased after him.
Sugoroku sighed and continued walking, not having much energy for running.
**************************************************************
Once he reached the shop he was puzzled by the silence. He frowned.
'That's strange. The two should have reached the shop by now.'
He re-opened the shop and turned the lights on, when he heard a yelp.
'That sounds like Yugi!' he thought in panic and hurried into the back yard. (I don't care if they don't have one or not!)
His panic subsided at the sight he saw. Yami was standing on a branch of the tree holding Yugi upside down. One arm held him around the waist as his left hand tickled him. He sighed in relief and re-entered the house, leaving the boys to their fun.
"Mercy! Mercy!" Yugi shouted while squirming.
"Gomen (sorry) but I give no mercy to someone who whaps my ass."
"You're pathetic."
Yami smirked as he loosened his hold and Yugi started slidding a little.
"I mean..." Yugi said quickly. "uh...merciful...um...strong...and...uh...did I mention merciful?"
"Hmmmmm...okay, I forgive you," and let go.
"AAAaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!" Yugi screamed as he fell, and braced himself for a hard landing.
But instead he landed in someone's arms, that he knew oh to well. Yugi opened an eye and looked up to see mocking crimson eyes. He opened his other eye and gave him a glare.
"Did I mention a nimble skinny moran!"
"So much for complimants," Yami sighed and dropped Yugi.
"Oof! Ow. Now my bottoms sour."
"Hey, now you know how I felt."
"Yeah, but you just dropped me about two feet or three feet off the ground. I just slapped you and I'm not _that_strong."
"It still hurt."
"Oh, sop it up you baby!"
"Oh, really?" he asked innocently while moving his face close to Yugi's so the tips of their noses touched.
"Uh...please dont do that. It's really scary with you this close, and I'm going cross eyed."
Yami smiled.
"Sucks."
Yugi rolled his eyes and pushed Yami away.
"If you keep doing that, I'll be surprised if you'll get a girl friend."
Yami lifted an eyebrow.
"Really? Because I would be surprised if _you_ could get a girlfriend with that height."
"Meany."
"Shorty."
"Moran."
"Short stuff."
"Baka!"
"Dwarf!"
"Oh, then what are you? A witch or bitch?"
"Are you calling me a girl?"
"If we change a some features...yes."
Yami lunged at Yugi, but bounced off a barrior.
"Can you take this off me now?" he asked, holding up the amulet. (Who forgot about that? Come on fess up.)
"Ahhhhhhh...nahhhhhh. I want to make you suffer," Yugi answered while sticking his tongue out.
"Oh, thanks," Yami said sarcastically.
"You're welcome."
Yami threw a rock at Yugi, but he easily dodged it.
"Ha! Missed!" Yugi shouted, when a bunch of leaves hit his face. "Ne!"
"Now we're even," said Yami, and turned.
He suddenly fell forwards as Yugi lunged at him, and wrapped his arms around his middle, knocking him down and making him land in a puddle of mud.
"Oops, my bad," Yugi said with a smile.
Yami's face came up, covered with mud, but Yugi could see his angry eyes.
"Uh, oh. Love to stay but gotta run!" he shouted and jumped off Yami's back quickly and ran towards the house.
But Yami quickly leaped up and grabbed him, making both of them fall onto the grass. They laughed as they rolled on the grass, and Yami was able to pin Yugi down and tickled him.
"Okay! Okay! Even!" Yugi shouted.
Yami nodded in approval and stopped. Yugi panted, and once he caught his breath, he sat up and smiled as he saw the sun setting.
"Tsuyuyaka (beautiful)," he whispered.
"Hm?"
"The colors. How they fade into darker shades. It's tsuyayaka."
He suddenly looked up at Yami curiously, as Yami tried whipping mud off of himself.
"Hey, Yami. What was Hikari to you?" Yugi asked curiously.
"He was my well...hikari. My tenshi no hikari (angel of light). Just like I'm his tenshi no yami (angel of darkness). You see Yugi, when you are born with a twin, he or she is like another part of you. You can't really live with out them, unless your sick and twisted."
'Just like how I was,' he thought sadly.
"Though, if I see him again, I bet he won't want to even look at me. I was his killer if you forgotten," Yami continued bitterly.
Yugi got up and hugged Yami, ignoring the mud he smeared onto his clothes.
"He will. He forgives and loves, just like you told me. He will not allow hatred or anger to reside in his heart. He will forgive you, and put your deed behind. He's probably relieved that you're not as cold anymore."
"I hope you're right," Yami sighed.
***************************************************************
"Feel it?"
"Hai," Yugi said with a curt nod.
Yugi and Ryou sat outside, and Yugi had his eyes closed in concentration.
"Okay," Ryou instructed. "now, forget what is around you and concentrate on a pulse you find."
Yugi took a deep breath and focused and found one with ease. It was faint at first, but the deeper he concentrated, the stronger he felt it. Suddenly, he felt an invisible force leading him away from the pulse and guide him to another. This one was strong. Very strong. He frowned as he heard the rithmic B-bump, B-bump, and dared open his eyes. It was dark and silent, and he stared with awe as a patch of light formed on the black surface. He ran towards it, and once he reached it he saw a...memory.
**************************************************************
It was a cool summer night and two twin boys were lazying in a hammic. It rocked gently in the cool breeze, as the two were silent. One was slightly taller, and lying back with his hands behind his head, eyes closed. While the other one sat up and gazed up at the sky.
"Yugioh?" he whispered.
"Hm?" he answered while opening an eye.
"Shouldn't we have told Seto?" he asked.
"Tell him what?"
"That we were going to our hammic."
"No. I think he'll figure it out in time."
An icy breeze blew and Hikari shivered.
"So cold," he whispered.
"Try lying down instead of sitting up."
Hikari slowly settled down but still shivered.
"It's still cold."
Yami opened his eyes and snickered.
"What?" Hikari asked.
"Nothing. I just remembered something that happened about fifteen minutes ago. When I told you to bring your coat and _somebody_ said 'oh, it won't be cold' ."
Hikari stuck out his tongue, and Yami did also, before both burst out laughing. The breeze grew stronger and the hammic rocked even more.
"Would if we topple over and fall down the hill?" Hikari asked as he looked over the edge.
"That's a comforting thought," Yami answered sarcastically.
"Hai, it is isn't it," Hikari said with a teasing smile.
Yami sighed and rolled his eyes. For several minutes, the twins lay in silence as the breeze gently rocked the hammic back and forth. Hikari shivered again and sat up as did Yami, and noticed Hikari rubbing his hands together for warmth. Yami sighed and took his coat off and wrapped it around both of them, while pulling Hikari close.
"Arigato."
"Don't mention it."
"Hey...Yugioh."
"Hm?"
"....Are you going to ever leave me?" he asked.
Yami was a bit startled at this question, but smiled warmly.
"Iya."
"Ever?"
"Hikari I would never leave you. We're brothers. Twins. We're inseperatable. If anyone tries to seperate us, they would have to deal with me."
Hikari smiled and rested his head on Yami's shoulder as Yami rested his own head on top of Hikari's. (don't get ideas. They're both at the age of seven in this memory)
"Would if we were seperated?"
"I'd travel to the ends of the universe looking for you."
"And I you," he whispered.
"Funny actually," Yami muttered. "Ever since we could crawl you've always followed me, and always tagged along when you could. Not that I mind or anything, but I think we were destined to never be apart. Or at least I hope so."
"You love me that much?"
"More then life itself," Yami whispered.
Hikari couldn't help but smile, eyes sparkling, but it died down when he remembered something.
"Are you going to the Sinful castle with father?"
"Hai."
"So, you're going to leave me?"
"Not really. I have this," and pulled out the pearls with rose petals on them. "And you have this," and put a chain around Hikari's neck.
Hikari gasped as he touched the pendent with his finger tips. The pendent was a heart shaped crystal locket with a painted white rose on it. He opened it and inside was a picture of him and Yami laughing together when they first went into the hammic. The hammic was hanging sideways, while Yami was on the ground with Hikari on top of him. He remembered that when his father first tied it up, they both eagerly jumped on it. The result was that Yami toppled onto the ground with Hikari on top of him. It was a funny memory and a nice one to hold on to. Hikari looked up at Yami and hugged him tightly.
"Arigato! Arigato! I'll treasure it forever!"
"I thought you would like it," Yami chuckled, as he embraced his brother back.
"It's beautiful. You're becoming really good at creating lockets."
"This I tried to make perfect."
"It is perfect nii-san! Arigato!"
***************************************************************
"Yugi?" a voice said, penatrating his trance.
Yugi blinked and rubbed his eyes.
"Hm?"
"Daijoubu ka?" Ryou asked with a frown.
"Hai, why?" Yugi asked.
"You were so still for two hours. I was afraid you were stuck."
Yugi paled.
"You can become stuck?"
"Well...sometimes, but rarily."
"Phew......oh Ryou. I felt a faint pulse and then a stronger one. When I reached for the stronger one I was sucked into some kind of memory. Do you know what happened?" Yugi asked.
"Hmmmmmm," Ryou muttered. "I could be that you prodded to deep into the pulse and fell into the memory. What kind of memory was it?"
"Hikari and Yami."
"Oh. Then it must have been Yami's pulse you went to," Ryou said. "or...Hikari's."
Yugi barely caught the second part.
"Hikari's?" Yugi questioned. "How?"
"Hm? Oh, er...never mind what I said, now let's get to the next part of our lesson."
***************************************************************
Yugi flopped down on the couch and snuggled into the soft cushions.
"Nice and cozy," he thought happily.
He felt himself being lifted a bit before settling back, indicating that someone jumped on the other cushion beside him.
"Couches are nicer then sofas," Yami muttered.
"There the same thing," Yugi said bluntly.
"Hm? Oh, sorry. I meant that these are nicer then the sofas at home."
"Oh," he said, continuing being blunt.
"Something bothering you?" Yami asked.
"Hm? Oh! Um...nothing much."
"Do tell," he said laying back with a smirk.
The smirk dropped as he saw Yugi's serious expression.
"Ongai Yugi," Yami said seriously, and took his small hand in his. "If something is bothering you, I would like to know so I can help you sort it out."
He brushed Yugi's cheek, and Yugi looked up so their eyes locked.
"Iya, Yami. It's nothing to worry about. I was only thinking. Nothing for anyone to worry about."
Yami searched Yugi's eyes for a moment, then got up and left, while Yugi watched him sadly.
'Is he mad at me?'
A few minutes later, Yami was back, and sat in his previous spot and pulled Yugi close.
"Yami?"
"Hush, close your eyes," he ordered.
Yugi obeyed and felt something being tied around his neck.
"Open your eyes."
He did and gasped with surprise and delight as he gently touched the delicate star shaped diamonds.
"Yami," he breathed. "They're tsuyayaka. How did you get these?"
"I...I made them," Yami muttered while his cheeks turned red.
Yugi looked up at him, eyes filled with shock. Then smiled, eyes sparkling like the two diamond stars and hugged Yami tightly.
"Which makes them more special."
Yami's face was filled with surprise, then smiled himself and embraced him back.
**************************************************************
Late that night, Yugi and Yami were lying on the roof. Yugi slept peacefully, while Yami held him close with one hand, and with his other, clasped his pendent. It was a warm night and a cool breeze blew over them. Yami looked down at Yugi and smiled, as he picked the sleeping boy up and started carrying him toward the sliding panel. He could imagine Sugoroku's speech if he found them on the roof.
"Yugi! Yami! You two should know better then to sleep on the roof! One of you could have fallen off! And who would be to blame!? Me! Why!? Because I'm your guardian!"
Yami chuckled at the thought. He slid down into the attic and then down into the hall way. He nudged Yugi's door open and placed him in his bed. Once Yugi was settled into his bed, he got ready to enter the puzzle, when Yugi called out his name and shivered violently. A tear fell from the corner of his eye, and Yami sighed.
"On second thought...," he muttered and climbed into bed beside Yugi.
He put an arm around Yugi's waist and pulled him close and whispered in his ear.
"Don't be afraid Yugi. I'm right here beside you."
Yugi seemed to calm before a whimper escaped his throat and started thrashing. Yami quickly wrapped his arms around him, for restrain and comfort, and whispered to him gently.
"Shhhhhh. It's alright. I'm here, right beside you."
"Yami?" came a mumble.
"Yes, Yugi. I'm here. It's just a dream, don't believe in it."
Yugi muttered a few times, before settling down. His face calmed and was tense no more. Yami smiled and kissed Yugi on the forehead.
"Good night aibou. May nightmares stay clear from your dreams," he whispered and closed his own eyes.
**************************************************************
It was an unusal cloudy day in the morning, and Yugi cracked open an eye and looked at the clock.
'It's only 7:15 on Monday,' he thought, then closed his eyes again.
Then they snapped open again.
"7:15 on Monday!?" he shouted and scrambled out of bed, and dived into his closet.
Yami woke up to a crash and saw Yugi holding one foot while trying to slip on his jacket.
"What are you doing?" he asked in amusement.
"Trying to get ready for school because I have about less then fifteen minutes and I banged my foot on the bed," he explained as he pulled on his socks.
"Oh, poor baby," Yami mocked.
Yugi stuck out his tongue as he headed out of the bedroom door. He grabbed an apple and said a quick goodbye to Sugoroku and ran towards school. Getting to school was no problem since, after all, he was on the track team (don't ask where I got that idea) and made it just in time.
"Morning! Hey, you look tired," commented Anzu.
"Which one? Sleepy or exasted?" asked Ryou.
"Both."
"I...ran...here...accidently...woke...up late," Yugi puffed.
Seto helped him into a chair and Yugi slumped while still panting. Ryou handed him a cup of water, and Yugi drank it gratefully.
"Ari...gato."
"Nothing to it."
"Where's Jou and Honda?" he asked.
"Late," said Anzu a bit stiffly, like she disapproved of their tardiness.
Once class started the two suddenly burst into the classroom.
"Sor...ry, that...we're...late," Honda puffed, as he collapsed into his seat.
Jounouchi could only nod as he to collapsed into his own seat. The teacher looked at them while tapping her pointer in her hand.
"Excuse, please," she said.
"We...were...just late," answered Honda.
Jounouchi nodded behind him.
"Very well. Extra homework, and ten minute detention."
They nodded respectfully, but Yugi could tell that they were sulking.
"Get out your history books and turn to page 119."
***************************************************************
"Wow, the sky is really gray," Jounouchi commented as he looked up at the sky.
"It's coming, real soon," Ryou muttered, before looking at everybody. "I'm afraid I have to be leaving."
Everyone stopped walking, and turned to face Ryou.
"Why?" Anzu asked.
"I have business to take care of," he answered and everyone stared as he disappeared.
"Where did he go?" asked Honda.
"Probably back home where the Dark and Light roam," Yugi answered.
Seto nodded in agreement.
"Eh...I don't think anyone explained that one yet," said Jounouchi.
Yugi looked up at Seto, and he cleared his throat.
"It is where the the whole mess started. It has no name. We just call it the Land of Light and Dark. One half is dark and musty, while the other is bright and sunny," Seto said.
"Oh."
"But why does Ryou have to go there?" Anzu asked.
"Because he has business there. End of dicussion."
Anzu opened her mouth, but shut it when Seto gave her a 'Shut it up or else' glare. He looked up into the sky and back at all the teens.
"I must go now. I'll see you all later, hopefully," he said quietly and quickly ran till he was gone.
Once Seto was gone, the sky turned even grayer.
"What is this omen?" whispered Yugi as he shivered.
His thoughts were cut off by screams and turned to see a horrible sight. The Great Serpent had his three friends wrapped in it's coils.
"IYA! Anzu! Jou! Honda!" he shouted and ran towards them.
The serpant flung it's tail and hit Yugi in the ribs, throwing him to the ground. He gasped and took deep breaths till be could get up, and stared helplessly as his friends suffered. An evil laugh split the air and Yugi looked up to see Bakura.
"Bakura! Why are you doing this!" Yugi shouted.
"Why? Because of orders baka!"
"Orders?"
"Hai! From the Lord Yami."
Yugi felt his insides go cold.
"Lord nani?" (Lord what?)
"Lord Yami," he said with a smirk.
"No! You're lieing! He would never do this!"
"How do you know? You've only knew him for a couple of weeks. I knew him since I was a yougling. He decided to take the throne again and the first order was to take your friends away, to make you suffer."
"NO! NO!" Yugi screamed and covered his ears.
"Hai. And he tires of you, now he likes toying with you. Being nice and sweet just to butter you up. So you won't expect anything. We're not forced to act sweet for nothing. All he wants is you dead!"
"Liar! Liar!" Yugi continued to scream as he pressed his hands on his ears even harder.
"Believe it, it's true. He hates you."
"No, I got this," Yugi said, and held up the two stars.
"Ha! That's what he gives all his victims. Before they die."
Yugi was about to shout that that was a lie, when his surroundings darkened and people stared raising from the darkness. They were half decayed and on all their necks were the to stars on a string. The zombies screamed there story at him.
"Yami betrayed us! He made us feel loved then killed us! We were betrayed! Betrayed! Betrayed!"
"No, it's not true," Yugi mumured. "He wouldn't do this."
But his thoughts were lost in the zombies screams.
"BETRAYED! BETRAYED! BETRAYED!"
***************************************************************
Yami was getting worried. Yugi was an hour late in coming home. He looked out the window then at the TV, but his attention was mostly outside, searching for Yugi's arrival. He suddenly heard the door being slammed shut closed.
"Yugi?"
No answer, but the sound of footsteps stomping up the stairs. Yami rushed up after him and in the hall saw Yugi.
"Yugi?"
Yugi spun around and Yami's eyes widened. They were glaring with anger and betrayal filling his purple eyes. They were a bit red and puffy from crying, and tears still streamed down his cheeks. Yami kneeled in front of him, concern written all over his face.
"What happened?" he asked as he reached to stroke his cheek.
Yugi slapped his hand away, which shocked Yami.
"Yugi?" he asked with surprise.
In one swift movement, Yugi tore the amulet off Yami's neck, and grabbed the sword from Yami's waist, forcing it into his hands.
"Kill me."
"Nani?"
"Kill me so I can end it all!" Yugi shouted.
"Yugi..."
"I hate being apart of this! I want the life I had before you all came! My friends are gone because of you! My life has changed because of you!"
Yami stared.
"Just kill me. Then you can get on with your life and leave the ones I care for alone!"
Yami didn't move.
"Fine then," Yugi said quietly, and snatched the sword.
To Yami's horror, Yugi made a move to chop off his head! Yami grabbed his hand and tried his best in getting the blade away from Yugi's delicate neck.
"Are you mad!" Yami hissed.
"No. I'm just trying to make people's lives better!"
"How?"
"Yours for example. You'd get your mission done and you can go order people around Lord Yami of the Dark!" Yugi spat.
"Yugi, I don't know what your talking about," Yami said defensively.
"I know you're acting innocent! And you betray your victims! I know what you did to those people! Befriend them then kill them! And you took my friends away! My friends that I care for! WHY!? WHY!?" Yugi screamed and fell to his knees crying.
Yami took that chance to pull the blade away and hugged Yugi tightly. He felt Yugi struggle, but Yami kept his grip firm.
"I hate you! I hate you!" came a muffled shout.
Yami shook his head sadly.
"No, you don't."
"I hate you! I hate you! I wish you were gone! That I never met you!"
Yami felt crushed as he felt his heart starting to hurt. He sadly released Yugi, and stood up, scooping his blade up.
"And you can take the stupid puzzle with you!" Yugi shouted and wrentched it off and threw it at Yami.
Yami caught it and slowly looked at Yugi. His legs were against his chest, forehead on his knees, crying. Yami could hear Yugi saying, "I hate you. I hate you. I want you to go away. I wish you never came into my life."
Yami felt sorrow, before feeling anger mixing with his confused emotions.
"Fine then," he said, and walked into Yugi's room, and came out dressed as he was when he and Yugi first met.
He disappeared, leaving Yugi sitting in the hall way, crying. He felt anger, sad, hate, longing. He wished for another presence, but Sugoroku had to go on a trip, so he was all alone. Suddenly, he heard someone enter the game shop and go up the stairs. Yugi didn't care if it was a robber or Bakura. He just wanted to die.
"Yugi?" came a soothing voice.
Yugi looked up and saw Seto kneeling before him. They were silent for several seconds before Yugi threw himself on Seto, and sobbed onto his shoulder. Seto embraced him back and whispered in his ear that it was alright.
"No it's not!" Yugi shouted. "My friends are gone and it's all Yami's fault!"
"Yugi," Seto said. "Think for a second. Is it really Yami's fault?"
"Hai."
"Why?"
"Because he ordered Bakura to take them."
Seto know understood and felt hate heating up for Bakura.
"Yugi," he said quietly. "Bakura is a liar. A viper. His talks can hyptnotize people to believe what he says. He's the master of illusion."
"I still hate him. He brought all this into my life."
"Yugi, did he? Do you really hate him?" Seto asked.
Yugi suddenly cried harder.
"I don't know! But I don't hate him!"
Seto hugged him gently and tried comforting him.
"It's all my fault isn't it?" Yugi asked.
Seto heisitated.
"It is. Don't deny it Seto. I can see it in your face," Yugi whispered, and buried his face into Seto's shoulder, body wracking with his sobs.
"Shhhhh. No, it isn't your fault, Little Hikari."
Yugi abrutly stopped and pulled away a bit to look at him.
"W...what did you call me?" he whispered, eyes wide.
"I said, Little Hikari."
"No, I'm Yugi. I'm no light."
"Yugi. Listen to me. I know we kept it from you for along time, but you are Hikari's reincarnation."
"But, I can't be," he sniffed. "He's pure and innocent."
"As you are."
"No. I just said something Hikari would never say."
"Hikari."
"Nobody in the Light would say I hate you!"
"Hikari, listen."
"Stop calling me that! I'm not Hikari, I'm Yugi!"
"Listen to me," Seto said sternly.
Yugi sighed and nodded.
"You are Hikari. You say thing like that because you were raised here on earth and not where your real home is."
"So...it is my fault."
"No, it's destiny's."
They were silent before Seto broke it.
"Come, it's time for you to go home."
"But I am home," Yugi protested.
"No, your home from your past."
Yugi blinked in confusion, before nodding in understanding and Seto held him close. The next thing Yugi knew, he was in front of a huge house. Yugi slowly broke from Seto's arms and went up to the wall and touched it.
"I remember this place," Yugi whispered.
"Your memories will start coming to you know that you're home," Seto explained.
Yugi's gaze slowly turned to a hill where he knew a lone hammic rocked gently on the other side.
'Yami,' he thought sadly.
**************************************************************
Yami sat on the railing of the balcony on the Sinful castle. His heart hurt from the accusations.
'Why did he say that? He knows I love him and he said...' he couldn't say it.
He clenched his fist tightly, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Fine, then," he whispered furiously into the air. "If you hate me, I'll hate you."
"Yami!"
Yami turned his head sharply.
"What!" he barked.
"Tsk, tsk. Not a nice thing to bark at your leader," came a snarl.
Yami only humphed and turned his back.
"So...the brat dumped you huh?"
"WHAT OF IT! It was clear he was toying with me, then just wanted to crush me at the end. Right when I thought we had a bound. The same bound I had with..."
"Forget them! Sulking makes people weak!" Bakura shouted. "Are you going to sit on your ass all day and be weak or are you going to have your revenge!"
Yami was silent before facing Bakura, red eyes glowing.
"Revenge."
Bakura's snarl turned into a wicked smile.
"Just what I wanted to hear."
**************************************************************
Yugi wandered through the house and memories came to him.
He slowly went up the stairs and went down the familiar hall.
He touched the white wood of a door, and hesitated before opening it, and inside he discovered a big room.
A bed big enough for two was on one side, and a chair and desk was on the other.
A huge double window was connected to the wall in front of the whole room with white curatins billowing softly inside from the breeze. Yugi opened the double window and saw the balcony that jutted out in a half circle.
He smiled as the breeze swept in his face.
Yugi removed himself from the window and settled himself in the chair, and opened a drawer in the desk.
Inside the first drawer was ink and parchement.
The second drawer held a small box, and he slowly opened it and inside was lined with velvet.
Resting in the middle was a heart shaped crystil locket with a white rose painted on it.
Yugi took it out and curiously opened it, and there was a picture.
Tears went down his cheeks and held the locket close to his heart.
He took off the chain and put the locket in the middle of the two stars.
After adverting his eyes away from the beautiful necklace around his neck, he changed his clothes from the wardrobe and blinked as he found a box under the cloth.
He opened it and gasped as he found a golden rope, and carefully tied it around his waist.
Curious in what he looked like, he stood in front of a mirror and his eyes bugged out.
He did look like Hikari, except younger and not as tall.
He was so absorbed in staring at the similarities that he jumped when the door opened.
"Yugi?"
Yugi turned and saw Ryou and smiled.
"Hai, Ryou-chan."
"Seto told me you were here and...would you like me to call you Hikari?"
"Well...I guess that's who I am, but I prefer Yugi, if you don't mind."
Ryou nodded and settled himself on the bed. Yugi plopped down next to him, and they were silent.
"How does it feel to be back home?" Ryou finally asked.
"I'm afraid it feels like I'm in a strange place."
"I know. You never grew up here and it would feel like a strange place."
Yugi nodded, then suddenly hugged Ryou.
"It's my fault! It's all my fault!" he shouted. "Gomen ne! It's all my fault!"
Ryou got over his shock quickly and embraced Yugi back, and asked gently, "What's your fault?"
"Everything," he whispered.
"No, Yugi. It isn't."
"It is."
Before Ryou could answer, there was a knock on the door, and the two broke aparted.
"Enter," Yugi called.
It was Seto.
"Were ready for your command," he said seriously.
Ryou stood up, while Yugi blinked.
"Seto, what's going on?" Yugi asked.
"Nothing for you to worry about, Hikari," Seto answered with a reasuring smile.
Yugi frowned, and confusion and worry clouded his eyes.
"Yugi," Ryou said seriously. "Stay here till we say it's time for you to leave."
Yugi nodded slowly, and Seto left, with Ryou behind him, closing the door behind him. Yugi heard a click and knew the door was locked.
"Are you sure we should have done this?" Yugi heard Seto ask.
"Well, we don't want to lose him again in the war," Ryou whispered.
"I agree, but shouldn't we tell him?"
"No need. He probably heard everything we just said."
Yugi had indeed been listening and felt afraid.
'I have to help. I can't sit here while everyone else fights. And would if someone dies? I'll go, just un-noticed,' he vowed. 'I'm not going to lose anyone. I already lost Anzu, Jou, and Honda. I will not lose Seto or Ryou. And I will not lose Yami in this war.'
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Mijikai: Any confusion can be easily solved with questions.
Yami: O_O Holy shit! That is long.
Mijikai: Yeah I know. I accidently got distraced when I was writing this chapter and didn't relize how long it was, and I couldn't bare to cut it off.
Yugi: That's okay. You'll make readers happy.
Mijikai: ^_^ I know! Oh, and thank you sooooo much for the reviews! I would post them, but...it's been so long that I don't think people would remember what they wrote, so I'll post this chapters next chapter. And the next chapter shouldn't take so long.
Yugi: Please review! And hope you enjoyed it!