Everything

By: ChocolateEclar

Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or anything that has to do with the anime/manga.

Claimer: I fully own Ichidou Yachitose and her family, Mrs. Suteki Iyashii, Suteki's deceased father and mother, Ryougi, Karei, Sumizome, Komayaka Mada-Tafunesu, Ke-ki and her gang, Miss Jishi, Nenriki "Riki," Tomobito, Kurisutaru "Kuri" Susume, Nekura Kyouran, Neferetiabet, Miw-sher, Hasha, and Great Wife Netikerty. Please don't use any of them in any form without my permission.

To Artemis*Obscure: The e-mail I sent you has my reply. ^_^

To Blank: *laughs* Arigatou. (I don't think I need any more applause though. Iyami already thinks I have a big head. Hehe. Sometimes I can't help it. Being an A average student goes to my head sometimes, but then I remember all the things I'm bad at… *laughs* ^__^)

Yea, Yami, having grown up in a tighter society where women just didn't act like the seductive other Ichidou very often, does seem to be more comfortable around "the more innocent Ichidou," as you put it.

Thanks once again! ^_-

To Yami's-Girl: Hehehe. You spotted my little hint in my last preview. You'll have to wait and see if you're correct about Kuri though… *smirks* Thank you for another review!

To Silverlight's Shadow: Thanks for reviewing! ^__^ Is that little quote/advice thing at the end of your review apply to the last chapter, or were you just saying a random thing? Either way, I think it applies to this story in a way… ^_-

To YumeTakato: Arigatou. ^__^ It's fun writing all the little "twists and turns."

To littlewolfsyaoran: Ah, another fan of Ichidou's darker alter ego? ^__^ I had fun writing her and believe me I was laughing pretty hard too at spots. Thanks again!

A/N: Well, the last chapter certainly does seem to have received a lot of positive feedback, ne? ^__^ While I didn't do much of anything special for chapter 20, I definitely will if I reach over 50 reviews, which isn't that far away considering this story's not terribly close to finishing… I'm sorry this took so long (longer than usual anyway) but I was stuck doing a big project for school. I'm pretty much done with it though. ^_- Here's chapter 21 – which is longer than usual – for all my faithful reviewers new and old! ^_^

Duel Twenty-One: Blueprints of Her Soul

If Yami didn't know better he'd say Ichidou's alter ego appeared only when Ichidou was sitting bored in class. In other words, whenever she had time to let her thoughts wander endlessly…

'Never mind,' thought Yami blandly. 'It's not a coincidence.'

It was at that moment that, as Ichidou sat doodling in her spiral notebook in her mathematics class, that the darker Ichidou appeared.

'Just as I thought,' grumbled Yami as he gave the other yami a blank stare. 'It's definitely not a coincidence.'

"Another wardrobe change?" he inquired aloud, one eyebrow raised.

"Why not?" said the woman, shrugging. "As a spirit I can look however I want. Besides, I know you don't object to this outfit, koishii." She was wearing a strapless, glittering red top with snug black jeans revealing a bare midriff.

Yami held back a gulp at that, trying desperately not to gawk too long at the lady's abdomen. "Ichidou…" he muttered darkly.

"Hmm?" asked the woman innocently.

"Why do you have to-uh, never mind. What should I call you if you seem so adamant on hovering at my heels whenever you feel like it?" Yami inquired finally.

"Marumekomu*?" suggested the woman, smirking slyly. (A/N: Marumekomu=to coax, to seduce)

Yami grunted, so the woman continued, "Or just Ichidou is fine."

Yami nodded and turned away. "But you're not like Ichidou."

"But I am Ichidou. Just a part that isn't seen…at all," replied the dark Ichidou. "Internally though, my hikari and yami have many little quarrels inside just like a normal person. Usually Hikari prevails though. I have a strong one. You would too if you weren't just a yami." The woman smiled genuinely and said, "Well, I have to tangle some equations or my hikari will crack."

She vanished then, leaving Yami to his musings. He grumbled and opened his soul room door. Sneaking out into the hallway, he stood before Ichidou's door. He cautiously opened the door and peeked inside, feeling a creeping sense of guilt already. 'I've been a yami so long I've developed my own inner hikari,' he realized. No one was inside at the moment so he entered. He stepped towards the little computer sitting on the desk. 'This is the only item in here I can think of that could possibly her soul monitor.' His own was hidden deep within his soul as a glinting, seemingly harmless, golden mirror. It was the same square shape as the monitor of the computer before him, but with hieroglyphs lining its edges.

He tapped the screen and an image of a young Ichidou appeared. She was no older than four with brown curls. She smiled, shutting her eyes and tipping her head to one side adorably. "Konnichiha!" she said shrilly. Her voice was painfully too high-pitched for Yami, who cringed. "Welcome to the soul of Ichidou Yachitose! I am Hikari Ichidou. How may I 'elp you?" She opened her bright green eyes and gave him a questioning gaze.

"I need the schematics of her soul," Yami informed the demi-Ichidou.

"Can do!" squeaked the child, giving the Pharaoh a thumbs up sign with her left hand. In the next instant a circle had appeared on the screen outlined in white on a blue background. "Here are the blue prints!" chirped Hikari Ichidou, her curls bobbing. She was now a tinier form in the front of the monitor.

As the circle filled in like a pie chart, Yami asked, "You're Ichidou's hikari part?"

"That would be correct!" exclaimed the child, tipping her head, closing her eyes, and smiling again. "I'm one hundred percent pure hikari!"

Yami nodded and studied the complete pie chart. Indeed, as the dark woman had suggested, the yami in Ichidou was small, while the hikari was atleast seventy-five percent of her character on average. "Hmm… When Ichidou was remembering her father's death after Nekura threatened Riki, were you the little girl that was with Ichidou?"

"Correct again! You're really smart!" cheeped Hikari Ichidou. "When those bad shadows grabbed her I disappeared, remember?"

"Hai."

"That was 'cause even I, as strong as I am, was being consumed by darkness. But yami stopped yami in the end 'cause you saved me," said Hikari Ichidou cheerfully.

"Is that woman who keeps popping up Yami Ichidou?" queried Yami.

"Hai. She's getting stronger," informed Hikari Ichidou. "It's partly you're fault ya know."

"My fault?!" said Yami indignantly.

"Yep. If it weren't for you, she wouldn't be having so many bad thoughts," teased Hikari Ichidou. "It's alright though. Everyone does every once in awhile."

"Hmm," muttered Yami.

"So? Any more questions?" squeaked the demi-Ichidou.

"Hmm… Non. Arigatou," Yami said.

"No problemo," Hikari Ichidou chirped, waving. And with that, the monitor went black.

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"Moshimoshi?"

"Umm… Anzu?"

"That would be me," shouted a feminine voice.

"Oh, hi. This is Ichidou."

"Oh, ooi, Ichidou, sorry about the shouting, but I'm shopping in downtown Tokyo, and I'm sure you know how crowded it can get," said Anzu loudly.

"That's alright," replied Ichidou. "I just wanted to ask a few questions."

"Alright. Go ahead," Anzu yelled.

Ichidou was standing in the kitchen by the backdoor with the phone. "Okay. I was wondering if Yugi or anyone ever came up with some clues as to how to give any of the yami a body of their own?"

"Ah. Well, Yugi tried for years, as did Ryou for that matter," stated Anzu. "We know it has something to do with bringing all the Millennium Items together, according to Isis, but the problem is we did that and nothing happened. We didn't have any idea what was missing though.

"I bet Seto Kaiba could help though," continued Anzu. "He has the resources and he'd do it for Yugi. He tried ages ago – back when we were in our twenties I think – but he didn't find much. He unearthed some stuff about Yami, but nothing on what you're looking for. The thing is, technology has come pretty far since than, so I bet he could do it now."

'Seto Kaiba?! Like I'm gonna ask that old snob to help me…' thought Ichidou. "I'll think about it. Thanks for the help, Anzu."

"You're welcome," replied Anzu.

"Sayonara," Ichidou said.

***********************************************************************

Grumbling, Ichidou went into her soul room to find Yami scrambling off the chair before her desk. "Guilty conscious?" Ichidou remarked with one eyebrow cocked and her hands on her hips.

Yami gave her an innocent smile and stepped towards her. "How was school?"

"Alright," replied Ichidou, shrugging and flopping down onto the pile of blue pillows in the corner. "Now, tell me what you've been doing."

Chuckling, Yami said, "I was simply checking something."

"Riightt…" Ichidou muttered. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her eyebrow had risen even higher – if that were possible. "I know what you did ya know, so you don't need to hide it. I am Hikari and Yami Ichidou after all."

"Non, you're different," Yami stated.

Ichidou shrugged again and replied, "Well, naturally. They're only part of me."

"Non. They don't seem to make up who you are presently."

"Hmm? Really?"

"Hai," answered Yami. "One is purer than anyone could even hope to be, while the other is the complete opposite. Neither is very like you."

"'Says a three thousand year old guy," Ichidou remarked. "I am like them. Maybe you just don't know me as well as you think?"

Yami grunted and said, "I should've known. You're Yami Ichidou."

Ichidou smirked. "True enough. Your little aibou is busy at the moment looking into ways to get you a body of your own."

"So Ichidou is only partly paying attention to me?"

"'Fraid I am," the woman replied, smirking. "The petite Hikari is dealing with conflicting feelings. 'To contact Kaiba, or to not contact Kaiba? Hmm…" She stood up abruptly and mumbled, "Kami-sama… Gomen, koishii. I gotta split."

She vanished before Yami could respond, leaving him to his thoughts once more. He turned his attention to what exactly Ichidou's body was doing. She was with Kuri and Riki. There was something different about Kurisutaru. Even with her black duster on you could tell she wasn't so slender anymore.

Yami's violet eyes became as wide as saucers and both his eyebrows rose. "Amun-Ra…"

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"What do you mean you guys – holy crap…" Ichidou faltered.

Riki nodded awkwardly as Ichidou continued sharply, "Kuri, you're not – you can't be… Oh, Kami-sama…Can you guys give me a minute?" She ran out of the room and into a bathroom. All that could be heard was, "AHHHHHHH!!!"

Let's back track a bit. A few minutes after Ichidou's conversation with Anzu on the telephone, Kuri had called, her voice more subdued than usual.

"'Sup, Kuri?" Ichidou had inquired.

"Can you come over to my house, Ichi?" Kuri asked.

"Yea, I guess. When?"

"Now. Onegai," Kuri pleaded.

"Sure thing. I'll be over in… I dunno. Ten minutes?"

"Thanks."

"Ja ne!"

"Sayonara," Kuri had replied.

About ten minutes later, Ichidou arrived on Kuri's welcome mat. An unusually downcast Riki opened the door. "Follow me," he muttered. Ichidou had obliged and found herself in Kuri's bedroom. The fellow teenage girl was sitting on her bed, staring at her toes. It was then that Kuri looked up, clutching her stomach and rushed from the room and to the bathroom. A sickening sound reached Ichidou's ears. She cringed and turned to Riki.

"Is she okay?" she questioned.

Riki shook his head and heaved a sigh. He sat down on Kuri's vacated seat and put his head in his hands. "She's been sick all day… We moved up a level in our relationship a coupla' months ago, and now… she… she…" he stammered.

Ichidou took an involuntary step back as Kuri entered the room. "My Kami-sama…" Ichidou gasped. "What do you mean you guys – holy crap…"

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After her bought of screaming was complete, Ichidou returned to Kuri's bedroom where Riki and Kuri greeted her with weary smiles.  "Are you really pregnant?" queried Ichidou as evenly as she could muster. Her voice still came out as a squeak though. Balling her fists, she waited tensely for the answer.

"Hai, Ichi," Kuri whispered.

"Did you take one of those little test things?" Ichidou asked softly.

"Un," said Kuri, nodding.

"You're only sixteen," groaned Ichidou.

Riki was staring down at his hands. "My oya* will kill me," he murmured. (A/N: Oya=parents)

Ichidou sighed and inquired, "What are you two gonna do? You can't hide it 'cause eventually it'll be obvious. Even with your duster it's noticeable already, Kuri." She eyed Kuri's trademark raven-black, ankle-length coat meaningfully.

"We were hoping you'd have some ideas," said Riki, gazing up and meeting Ichidou's eyes.

"Well," Ichidou sighed, "first of all, you both have to tell your oya. Otherwise, they'll just freak out more when they realize it with their own eyes. It would be even worse if someone at school notices and tells them."

"How do you know?" Riki queried.

"My 'kaasan had me when she was eighteen after all," explained Ichidou. "My sofubo* flipped, but they got over it after awhile. Besides, my 'tousan stayed and cared for her unlike some dads." (A/N: Sofubo=grandparents)

Kuri glanced at Riki out of the corner of her eye. Ichidou knew what she was thinking. Would Riki run out on her? 'I doubt it. He may be kinda goofy, but Riki's a good guy,' Ichidou thought.

They discussed how to approach Kuri and Riki's oya and what to do about school. Once the baby was born it would be difficult for Kuri in school. Even right before would be hard. After all, by seven months she'd be "roughly the size of a hot air balloon" according to Ichidou, while attempting to lighten the mood of their conversation.

"Thanks, Ichi," said Kuri sarcastically.

Smiling, Ichidou asked Yami, "You think they'll be okay?"

"After they rid themselves of the initial hindrance, I believe they'll be relatively fine," replied Yami, with his arms folded.

"Why are you lookin' at me like that?"

"I'm attempting to decide whether you're yourself or Yami Ichidou," answered Yami.

Chuckling, Ichidou said, "So, which am I?"

"You're yourself," responded Yami evenly.

"How can you tell?"

"Your clothes are the same as the clothes on your body, like usual, and you're not trying to seduce me," Yami said wryly.

"Or am I?" Ichidou whispered, smirking.

"Ichidou…"

Ichidou calm smirk turned into a genuine smile, and she laughed. "Gomen. I just wanted to test something out."

"And what would that be?"

"'To see if you know who I truly am inside and out," answered the ti-n'e-ja. The thing is, I'd like to know more about you."

"Ichidou, are you listening?" Kuri asked.

"Yare! Gomen, Kuri," exclaimed Ichidou, blinking repeatedly.

"You know more about me than you think," Yami said before vanishing.

Ichidou smiled at where he'd been standing and told Kuri, "After you guys are all set, you and I are going to have a sleepover, Kuri. I'll bring the popcorn, candy, and baby name books."

"Then we have a deal," Kuri replied, beaming.

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A/N: Since I don't know anyone who have been in the situation Riki and Kuri are in, I'm winging it. Sorry if their optimistic feelings by the end of the chapter don't sound quite right. ^_^

A/N 2: Once again, I'm sorry that this took so long, but I was really busy and I had a flash of inspiration for a new fanfic and my muses (Cineris, Ainsley, and Ian) wouldn't leave me alone about it. If you're wondering, Cineris is, of course, my baby phoenix/writing muse, Ainsley is my new art muse (she's average looking because so is my art in my eyes), and Ian is my good-lookin' music muse. ^__- All three ganged up on me with some help from my yami, Iyami, and I just can't refuse Ian when he and I aren't being lazy bums who sometimes just don't feel like practicing their instrument. *laughs*

A/N 3: Here's the little preview for chapter 22:

So the problem of Kuri's pregnancy at such a young age has been solved, right? Riki and Kuri's parents know, and roughly the whole student body at Kuri, Riki, and Ichi's school knows as well. But things will work out, right?

Well, they'll work out for Kuri and Riki anyway.

Meanwhile, Ichidou continues her search for a way to give Yami a body of his own. Will she go to see Seto Kaiba? Where's Suteki Iyashii been anyway? Has she given up her quest for the Millennium Puzzle? Not likely. At the same time, she starts to realize Yami was right. She really does know more about him than she thinks…

Stay tuned for "Duel Twenty-Two!"

A/N 4: REVIEW! Sayonara! ^_-