For the Love of Past and Present
Part Two: Two Halves, One Love
Ishsyzu was restless. Something was bothering her as she stared out her window and down at the awakening city of Domino. Something was amiss. The necklace around her neck emitted a faint golden glow. A new source of Millennium magic would soon emerge.
A vision she had experienced the previous night had shown a new type of creature. A cross between duelist and duel monster. Such a creature would possess untold power, remarkable strength, and the ability to see into the world of Duel Monsters in a way that no other had ever imagined. It was imperative that she find this individual before they were reached by the wrong forces, to be more specific…her brother Malik.
With her mind made up she donned her robe and headed out towards the elevator, "See that I'm not disturbed for the rest of the day." she instructed one of her servants outside her door. "I'm going to be handling important business, alone."
"Yes Ms. Ishtar." the man replied as the elevator doors shut on the mysterious Egyptian woman.
******
It wasn't long after school let out that Rebecca rushed over to Yugi's car. He welcomed her with a brief kiss and started the engine. "How was Studio Art?"
"Same as ever," Rebecca sighed, "I'm going to be known as the Egyptian Girl with as much pyramid and desert art as I do."
Yugi chuckled and pulled his car into the line of vehicles waiting to exit the parking lot. "At least you've got the talent for that sort of thing. I'm lucky if I can get past stick people in my drawings."
"Practice makes perfect," Rebecca smiled. "that should be your motto after dueling as much as you have."
"Yeah," he blushed a little when he noticed Joey and Mai in the car behind them, beeping their horn and winking.
"Go ahead Yugi!" Joey teased rolling down his window, "Sling yer arm around her!"
"We saw that kiss Romeo!" Mai added, "Adorable!"
Now Rebecca sank down in her seat with cheeks twice as red as Yugi's. "Can't wait for em to find out we've been living together."
"And you keep wondering why I haven't said anything about it." Yugi murmured.
After finally losing Joey and Mai at a stoplight Yugi and Rebecca were able to enjoy the rest of their ride home in peace. Upon arriving Yugi and Rebecca headed up to their rooms to dump their fifty pound book bags on the floor.
Stretching Rebecca overheard Yugi stomping back down the stairs towards the kitchen, "Boys," she snickered, "always thinking about food."
Walking past Yugi's room to feed Sirius she noticed that Yugi's Millennium Puzzle was sitting on his bed and beginning to glow.
"Yugi! You forgot your puzzle!" she called down.
"No I didn't," Yugi called back from behind the refrigerator door, "go on, Yami wanted to talk to you."
"About what?"
"How should I know?"
Rolling her eyes she went inside Yugi's room and shut the door. Sitting on the bed next to the puzzle she studied it a moment before saying, "Well…out with it Yami. What's on your mind?"
The puzzle's glow increased, after a few short moments the radiance dimmed and Yami was sitting on the opposite side of the item. "Uh…hello."
Rebecca couldn't help but smile, "Cat got your tongue?"
Even after all these years among this new time period Yami still wasn't sure about what she meant, "I don't think so…I just wanted to talk to you. This isn't easy for me. I'm not sure how you'll react."
"Well why don't you just tell me and see?" Rebecca suggested.
"Alright," Yami drew in a breath and stared up at the ceiling for a moment as if there was something extremely interesting hanging overhead, "I know that Yugi has recently expressed his inner feelings to you. And now you two have finally declared your hearts' desires."
"Yes…" Rebecca was a bit uneasy, she had no clue of where this might be going.
"I must admit I'm relieved that the both of you have finally reached this stage in your relationship. And yet, at the same time, I feel as if I'm being untrue to my own heart. That's something that I've stressed to Yugi is extremely important not to do. So now I'm caught between two loyalties. One, my devotion to my friend, and two, my heart's love for you."
Rebecca's eyes widened. Uh-oh…
"I know you've sworn your love to Yugi, I find no fault with that. What I'm asking is that you consider sharing some small portion of such love with me." Yami explained, "I'll understand if your answer's no. I won't persist in my vain love. I only wish to know if some region of your heart, however small, might hold some love for me as well?"
Rebecca was at a loss for what to say. She'd thought about Yami before, never as much as Yugi, but still…wasn't it the same? Or nearly the same? Both Yami and Yugi shared the same body, they were more or less the same soul yet from different periods of time. And if one was to fall in love wouldn't the other inevitably share their life with that same individual? It was unavoidable. One must love both or neither. It was like loving only part of who the whole being was and shunning his other half. In summary, Rebecca knew she had feelings for both. And yet…would Yugi understand?
"Yami I'm not sure we should be discussing this alone. I mean, it does affect Yugi…a lot!" she added the last words passionately.
"You're right," Yami admitted, "perhaps we should call him up here too. I am sorry, I didn't want to complicate your lives. But I couldn't suppress such strong feelings forever. You had the right to know. You both have the right to know."
Nodding Rebecca got up and ran downstairs to get Yugi, leaving Yami in the dimly lit room to contemplate what to say next. Rebecca was right about one thing, Yugi was involved deeply in all of this. And he deserved to know how Yami felt. Even it if wound up hurting him.
"Hi Yami," Yugi's cheerful voice called as he entered the room with Rebecca following solemnly behind him.
With a pained expression Yami rose his eyes to meet his friend's gaze, "Hello Yugi. You might want to sit down."
Quizzically looking from Yami to Rebecca and back again Yugi shrugged and pulled out his desk chair, "What's up you two? You look like someone just swiped your favorite card."
"Yugi," Rebecca began, "Yami and I were just discussing something and we think you should hear it too."
"What?"
"Yugi as much as I've tried denying it for the sake of our friendship and the bond between you and Rebecca I can't help but realize that I too share in your love for her." Yami explained in a grave tone.
Yugi stared at the spirit in disbelief, "What? But you're the one who encouraged me to tell Rebecca that I loved her!"
"I know," Yami nodded, "I'm your loyal friend Yugi, I wasn't going to jeopardize your happiness. And I could see that Rebecca shared in your love. It was only a matter of time before you made it known."
"Then why haven't you told me about your feelings before?" Yugi asked, "I mean, we do share the same body. You know you can trust me Yami."
"Yes, but this was a serious matter that I feared could cause tension between us. Costing us duels and ultimately love." Yami responded trying to keep his eyes off Rebecca who was now leaning against a shadowy corner in the far side of the room.
"I guess I sort of knew." Yugi admitted in a faint whisper. "I mean, you were always complimenting her and commenting on her dueling style and personality. I should've seen this coming."
"Love is blind." Yami observed, "I find such wise sayings now become clearer with each passing day."
"So what now?" Rebecca asked from her withdrawn stance.
Turning to face the love of his life Yugi sighed with hopeless eyes, "Well, do you love Yami too?"
"I…I didn't know Yami…I didn't see that side of you when we first met eight years ago," Rebecca confessed, "But when I saw him for the first time, somehow I knew he was part of who you were. I don't see how I could possibly love you and not love Yami too. You're one in the same Yugi. I can't chose between two different halves of the same being. It'd be like making you chose between my dueling personality and my everyday one. Love isn't always simple. And we have to be willing to except all parts of a person, or none at all."
Yugi nodded, "Yeah, Tea got along with the both of us. That was something that got me thinking about how life with someone else would be since Yami would be a part of it too. And I do consider Yami to be a part of who I am. I guess it'd be hard to be with anyone who didn't understand that. I can see how you'd have to love us both to love either at all."
"So you're okay with this?" Yami inquired.
Smiling faintly Yugi turned back to his friend, the one who had put his own emotions after the happiness of his friends, "Yes. How could I look down on anyone for loving every part of who we are? It's okay with me. And as far as what the rest of the world might think…why should we care?"
Eyes overflowing with tears of relief and joy Rebecca rushed out of the shadows and threw her arms around Yugi. Her worst fears had been dispelled, the one obstacle that could've ended their whole relationship now made it stronger. Yami was just as relieved as his dear Rebecca as he watched his two dearest friends embrace.
Easing back Rebecca closed her eyes as Yugi gently wiped the tears away, "I'm going back downstairs before Sirius raids the fridge okay? You two stay here and catch up or whatever. I'll see you at dinner okay?"
"Okay," Rebecca nodded as Yugi headed out the door.
No sooner had he departed than she felt two strong hands grip the sides of her arms from behind, "We couldn't have asked for a better outcome my love. Now the three of us can share our destined love without guilt of hurting the other. Bearing one's soul is never easy, but now that it's done, I've never felt more sure of anything in my life."
Leaning back into Yami she allowed herself to be stroked and relaxed in his grip as he buried his face in her golden hair. "It's almost too good to be true." she murmured slowly, "I've finally found the one guy in the world that can read me like an open book, realized that both sides of the guy are just as in love with me, and now nothing can come between us."
In the back of her mind Rebecca could sense that something was coming…something that could inevitably shatter every bond she, Yugi, and Yami had worked so hard to preserve. Something that was stronger than any foe she'd ever known.
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*I'm so cruel to leave off here I know. Sorry about the slow updating, but I do appreciate all the reviews. You're all so kind. ^_^ I'll keep posting if you'll all promise to keep reading!*