~Chapter One: Grains of light~
The sun, working from years of trial-and-error experience, navigated its way into Yugi's bedroom. This was not entirely appreciated by Yugi, who drew the covers over his head to compensate. The sun made it clear that a draw did not count as a win, and Yugi eventually gave up on the idea of sleep, delighting instead on the soft feel of a pillow beneath his head and no dew-wet grass anywhere in sight. /Good morning, Yami,/ he drawled sleepily but clearly inside his mind. /It's so nice to be home, isn't it, and just know that everybody's safe? I could lie here all day.../
His yami's voice carried a similar feeling of not yet having opened his eyes, and not planning to do so for a long time yet. //Doesn't school start in fifteen minutes?//
Yugi fell out of bed with the sheets still around his head.
It took Yugi several days to catch up on all the sleep he'd missed at Duelist Kingdom, several more to get rid of the bruise he'd gotten on his shoulder from literally rolling out of bed, and longer than he liked to think about to finish the detentions he'd earned for missing a week of school. His reason had been perfectly valid, of course, but it wasn't exactly the sort of reason a teacher would believe, and he'd been far too tired to think up a plausible excuse. Thinking back, he had an unpleasant suspicion it had involved porcupines...
Most of the others had sensibly decided to skip another day and slept until noon. Bakura had seemingly gone all-out, and took almost two weeks to return, offering no other comment than that he'd almost burned down the house trying to make breakfast that first morning (a concept that Tristan complained made him feel hungry).
Kaiba, of course, had gotten into no trouble at all.
Mokuba was as seldom seen as before, except for that Tuesday he'd met the others after school and handed Yugi a large bag of candy bars, blushed slightly, winked, then run off before his brother could see him there. Joey spent the next five minutes wondering just how big Mokuba's allowance was, before deciding that he didn't want to know and needed lots of chocolate to get rid of the disturbing thoughts.
Yugi was surprised at how quickly things seemed to return to normal, in that way they always do even when we think things can never be the same again. Although... there was Yami...
Yami was definitely not normal, but he still became an accepted part of the routine. None of Yugi's friends were exactly comfortable around him -- although they tried not to show it -- and Yami had little in common with them, so they were each content to leave the other be. The surreptitious glances at his Puzzle gradually decreased, and if the others sometimes asked why he'd suddenly started smiling, he'd sheepishly reply that he was just happy they were all there. While this sometimes earned vicious jokes from passers-by, Yugi never minded, and Joey and Tristan could usually be persuaded from beating them up. Once they saw Duke assaulting one of these boys, but he brusquely assured them that it was over an unrelated affair.
But aside from that, there was peace, quiet, the safety of a happy home and good friends. While he knew there were dangers, they still waited in the future, and he had little need to worry about them. Until...!
Yugi sighed and leaned on the Delete key until the last three paragraphs disappeared from the screen. /This is going to take forever!/ he complained.
//Especially if you keep erasing everything. What are you writing about, anyway?//
/Something suspenseful, apparently,/ Yugi replied absently, as he scanned the rest of the page to find out what topic he'd strayed from in the first place. /Okay, er... Greece.../ He picked up a piece of paper, out of uncomfortably many, and ran his finger down the list. /Yeah, here we go..."Comp/con 3(+) Ancient civs."/
//I see.//
/No, you don't, because you've been playing solitaire, but I'll explain,/ laughed Yugi. He set down the paper with the abbreviated list, and picked up one containing the details. /I have to compare at least three ancient societies on, well, too many subjects. At least we get to choose which societies to compare, though... I can write about the ones we did first. You know, the ones I was actually there to hear about./
//And which ones were those?//
/I forget./ Yugi pondered that for a moment before suddenly perking up. /I know! I could write about Egypt!/
//That's a good idea, Yugi,// replied Yami, already engrossed in another game of solitaire.
/Will you help me?/
//Help you... how?// he asked warily, setting down his cards.
Yugi twisted the cord of the Puzzle around his finger. /Well, since you lived there, and all, I'd bet you could tell me some really interesting things about Egyptian society, or just even yourself, or, or... anything!/
//Then you should be glad you're not a betting man, Yugi.//
Yugi's hands dropped slowly to his lap. /...I'm sorry./
//Don't be. I'm not ashamed. Would I rather have my past than not? Of course. Would I rather have it than live?
//Yugi, I am here for a reason. If I need to know my old name, I'll find out.// He smirked. //After all, I'm god.//
Yugi laughed. /Alright, Yami. So, do you want to help me make stuff up, then?/
//Only if I'm listed as a reference!//
Yugi leaned over to flick on the light. /Pretend to write a second book, and you can be two!/ Yami chuckled, and the moon inched its way across the sky.
/Good morniiiing!/ sang Yugi as he stretched, several days later.
//Are you going to say that every morning?// demanded a testy voice in his head.
/But today's a special day!/ Yugi chirped back, undaunted.
//Isn't every day a special day?//
/Each in its own way!/ he giggled, not caring what he was quoting.
//Ugh,// was Yami's succinct reply.
/No, but it is! Today I finally get to turn in the last of my overdue homework!/
//But you know your teacher said you'd still have detentions for a week after you finished.//
/Yeah, but at least that week begins today!/ Yugi jumped out of bed and started rummaging for clothes. /And then we can be doing fun things after school again -- like dueling!/
//I wonder if we could convince Duke to get serious about Duel Monsters.//
/Looking for a new challenge?/
//Well, it's either that or convincing Kaiba to join your group of friends, and I think that would be a hard sell.//
/Hmm... but they're both running companies. They're probably very busy./
//Nothing should come before Duel Monsters!!//
Téa was surprised to see Yugi leave his house clutching a piece of toast and laughing himself speechless. 'One of these days,' she thought with a sigh, 'I've gotta get myself a nice, normal girl friend...'
/...and the prince and princess had a beautiful wedding, and they all lived happily ever after!/ There was a long pause, which Yugi finally ended by prompting, /Well?/
Yami answered slowly, //I don't mind, Yugi, but is there a reason you've been telling me fairy tales?//
Yugi sweatdropped. /After so much time here in detentions, I'm starting to run out of novel topics for conversation. Unless you have some?/
//Should you really be talking at all?// Yami responded, ignoring the lead.
/No, but... It's not like I was here because I was bad. Besides, my teacher seems to like the glassy-eyed expression of complete stupefaction I apparently get when talking to you./
//So you're being considerate?//
/Hey, if it works.../ Yugi stifled a yawn. /Wish she'd let us sleep./ He half-closed his eyes and linked his fingers around the Millennium Puzzle as if preparing for meditation. /Mm... it's warm,/ he murmured comfortably.
//Yes... I bet it is,// Yami remarked, slightly surprised.
If Yugi had been talking to someone physical, the idea that there was something about the Millennium Puzzle about which his yami wasn't sure would probably have made him gape, or at least blink rapidly. As it was, he frowned slightly and otherwise perfected his vacant expression. /Is that... strange?/ he asked cautiously.
//No, not at all. I just hadn't thought about it, and it startled me. If I had, I would have expected it.//
That was almost rambling, and Yugi hastened to take advantage of Yami's open mood. /So, what's the big deal? Why's it feel warm?/
//There isn't really a simple answer.// Yami looked away for a minute, and Yugi began to think that he wouldn't answer. Just when he was about to rephrase his questions, Yami continued. //Alright. As you know, the Millennium Puzzle has great magical potential. It can do incredible things -- but not by itself. It needs a user, and one who has strong magical powers himself. The Items channel the energy of the one using them, but they have none of their own. All they can do is strengthen and direct.//
/That makes sense. But why does that make it warm? I'd think it would be the other way around... It would be because it was radiating power, or something./
//In a way, it is. Think of it like a prism. When light enters a prism, it's split into different colors... that's like using the Puzzle. But the glass also reflects, and a little of the light goes back the way it came.//
/Oh! So that's... that's my magic I'm feeling?/
//That's right. But there's more to it than that. You see, everyone has their own specialty in magic -- something that's easier for them, or that they're better at doing. That's why Pegasus received the Millennium Eye instead of, say, the Millennium Scales. Fate could have given either one to him, but his magic and the kind the Eye amplifies were the most closely related.//
/And that's why he was destined to have it?/
//Yes, it was one reason -- but it was also because of who he was. The magic you're best at wielding depends on who you are -- so that's part of why Pegasus was meant to have the Eye, you were meant to have the Puzzle... and why the Puzzle feels like it does to you. What you're feeling is you.//
/I'm... warm?/
Yami almost laughed, but settled for a smile, since Yugi was being so serious. //It's not so literal as that. Another person might find it smooth, or soft, or pink.//
/Pink?/
//You never know.//
/Er, right.../ Yugi wasn't sure whether his yami was joking or not, so he moved on. /So, what kind of magic does that mean I have?/
//I think that's something you need to find out for yourself... Besides, I think this conversation should be over, unless you want to have a much longer one with your teacher.//
/...huh?/ Yugi focused his eyes and heard his teacher finish telling them that they could go home now. /Thanks!/ he said, and smiled at the slight nod he received in return.
'Home...' he thought as he picked up his schoolbag. 'As warm as the Puzzle feels, I think I'll always love the feel of that word more...'