THE ENCOUNTER OF LOST SOULS
Last Chapter: What Lies Ahead
Although only a day had passed since the gang's ordeal, activities shifted to the mundane for everyone: tending the Kame Game Shop, chatting with the others in person or via telephone, hanging out either at Yugi's home or a mutually agreed-upon venue, or doing anything that everyone mutually proposed.
The lovers, with Yugi's prodding, agreed to spend time together starting at Domino Promenade. Sugoroku, on the other hand, readily gave his grandson permission to go past his curfew.
On the telephone, Emrys requested to speak with Yugi privately during their ride to the Promenade.
As much as both Yugis were puzzled, they agreed to grant Emrys' wish.
After Emrys picked up the younger Mutou at home, they headed towards Domino Promenade.
On their way to the Promenade, Emrys noticed some of the storekeepers and other individuals wave hello once they catch a glimpse of her passenger. She remembered her first few days in town - stopping by the stores, checking out the local hangouts, and talking with friendly people.
Even though Emrys had been in Domino City before, her visits were rare and short. This visit gave her opportunity to see this town as a welcome change from the English countryside she resided in. To her, Domino City possessed the balance of the city and suburban life wrapped up in a community where almost every resident seemed to know everyone else.
During the thirty-minute drive, Yugi pointed out places of interest and told her what made that spot special: Domino High School where they were now in the middle of their sophomore year, Mister Yamashita's food market where Sugoroku and he normally bought groceries, the coffee shop where they stopped by the other night, the burger restaurant where Anzu now worked, the cafe where people played duel monsters, and other quaint stores and locations that teenagers would normally hang out.
Ten minutes before their destination, Emrys slowed down the car and parked against the curb beside a posh thirteen-story condominium complex.
Yugi was familiar with this section of the city. This area marked the beginning of Domino City's business sector. Kaiba Corporation's towering headquarters was already in view.
Pointing at the condominium complex, Emrys told Yugi that she stayed there during her rare one-day visits in Japan to visit her manager Yoshiko. She also told him that she and her manager had been close friends for four years since they met at Oxford.
Always having a warm heart whenever the topic of friendship was involved, Yugi beamed with his trademark innocent smile.
Smiling back, Emrys re-ignited the engine and drove to their destination.
The two eventually arrive at Domino Promenade which was now filled with people. There was the hustle and bustle coming from the people browsing and buying items from stores and vendor carts.
After parking the car, Emrys turned off the ignition and remained in her seat. There was a brief moment of silence between them, but she broke it off by asking Yugi, "How are Jii-san and the gang doing after everything?"
"They're all fine," was Yugi's reply.
"I really don't know where or how to start this..."
"You sound and look like you're leaving and never coming back," Yugi kidded after a long period of nerve-wracking silence passed by.
When Yugi saw Emrys' face and most especially her eyes turning more somber, his face turned equally grim. He then asked, "Are you leaving us for good?"
Emrys did not give a response to confirm or deny. "Whatever happens, Yugi, please promise me that you and your other self will take care of each other. If anything bad or urgent happens, call me. Whatever happens, I'll do everything that I can to be here..to be with all of you...to be with him..."
Yugi gave Emrys a puzzled look.
Emrys turned her body towards the right and had her right side lean against the car seat. She then sighed as she maintained control of her emotions. "We have the same goal, Yugi. As of now, you and he are perfectly clear in what needs to be done. That's not the case with me."
"I'm not as clear as you think I am. I don't even know if I can rise up to the occasion," Yugi ruefully remarked while slightly bowing down his head. He stared at his hands.
Emrys consolingly held Yugi's left arm. "I wish that I have your strength and conviction. You not only have the heart of a true duelist, but you also have the heart of a true friend. It takes courage, honesty, and compassion to have just one – moreover both – virtues. Your heart would always guide you and him to the right path."
Another long moment of silence transpired between them as they looked out of the windshield and observed the people enjoying their day at the Promenade.
Breaking the ice of silence, Yugi muttered as tears flowed down his cheeks, "I'm not as strong as you think I am. You have too much faith in me, just as my other self does..."
"You think too little of yourself. We have faith in you because you deserve it," Emrys whispered as she wiped away some of Yugi's tears with her handkerchief. "You have this light within you, Yugi. The Millennium Puzzle picked you as its charge. The Spirit of the Millennium Puzzled picked you as his vessel. That says a lot about you."
"Thanks..."
After another long pause for silence, Emrys then asked, "Forgive my directness, but what's going on with you and Anzu?"
Completely caught off-guard, Yugi stammered, "We're just friends. We've been friends since childhood."
Emrys' right eyebrow rose as she looked into Yugi's eyes. "Do you like her?"
A silent Yugi sheepishly blushed.
The singer waited for a couple of seconds for Yugi to recover from embarrassment. Knowing that she received an affirmative response from his silence, she then said, "When the time comes, Yugi, don't be afraid to tell her how you feel. Just make sure that her feelings are for you and not for your other self."
"Am I that obvious?"
"I just noticed it whenever we're all together. I personally think that it's great! I have a lot of respect for Anzu. She's strong and gentle at the same time. She's a good person and true friend. I just hope that my relationship with your other self doesn't impede in whatever may go on between you two."
"As of now, Anzu's my friend. If we're meant for each other, she'll understand the situation," Yugi assured her with a faint, tightlipped grin.
"I hope you'll find your own happiness and love someday – whether it is Anzu or someone who you think deserves you. Whoever that person may be, that person will be fortunate and blessed to have you."
After absorbing the advice that Emrys shared with him, Yugi's voice reflected more certainty and comfort. "You're a good friend, Emrys. Count on me to keep my promise. You also have to promise to do the same thing if you get in trouble."
"Thank you, Mutou Yugi. I'll always treasure our friendship." More tears then flowed down Emrys' cheeks.
Yugi kept Emrys company until she regained her composure. Determining that they were done talking, Yugi then immediately switched to his other self.
The Spirit of the Puzzle, now taking over Yugi's body, saw that Emrys was teary-eyed. He asked, "What's wrong? Are you all right?"
Wiping away her tears and then giving the other Yugi a soft smile, Emrys replied, "I'm all right." She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, doing her best to regain her composure. Not wanting to break down and cry again, she opened her eyes once more and proposed, "Are you ready? Let us go..."
Two hours quickly flew by for the other Yugi and Emrys. Holding hands and having the time of their lives, they went through most of the shops at Domino Promenade as well as the arcade, the card shop, and the coffee shop.
After browsing through Domino Promenade, the other Yugi proposed to go to the park.
Emrys wholeheartedly agreed, adding that she wanted to see the sunset at that spot.
When they arrived at their favorite spot, they sat underneath the same tree by the lake. The other Yugi leaned his back against the tree while she sat in front of him and leaned against his chest. He affectionately embraced her throughout the whole time while at times she would securely rest her head on his shoulders.
To them, it was another idyllic time that they wish would never end.
With eyes still focused on the serene view, Emrys broke off the silence by remarking, "We make an odd pair, don't we? The Nameless Pharaoh's imprisoned spirit and the reincarnation of an Atlantean princess. It seems as if it was kismet…."
The other Yugi lovingly tightened his embrace around her. "I guess so…."
"So now that we know a little bit about our past through the scroll, what's next?" Emrys tilted her head at an angle and slightly turned around to face him.
"I'll go to Domino Museum and use the Millennium Puzzle, the three Egyptian God Cards, and the Stone of Destiny to restore my memory. I don't know what will happen. I don't know if it will be successful."
A tense silence filled the air.
Sensing that something was wrong, he asked her, "How about you? What are your plans?"
"I'm finishing my tour." She then paused while clasping his hand.
"I know you're leaving soon, but something much bigger is up – isn't it?" he asked her for confirmation. As much as he had no idea about her conversation with Yugi, he knew deep down that she needed to say something to him.
She gently broke off from his embrace and then turned around to face him. "Two days from now, I'm leaving Japan. My tour will take about two months. After that, I'll be traveling. I want to pursue the lead that I left off years ago. I may be able to find out more about our past. I may be able to find out as to why your name was erased in all the ancient Egyptian archives. From there, it will guide me to another direction. As to where it will lead me or where I'll end up, I can't answer that now…"
"You'll quit singing? Why?"
"Let us call it a sabbatical," she replied with forced lightheartedness. "I'm done recording my second CD months ago. It's scheduled for release eight months to a year from now. So I'm still there because the songs will be aired but I would not be available to make appearances. Every thing will be just as how it was before people knew what I really looked like."
His hold on her hand became firmer as he softly pleaded, "Emrys, don't carry out your plan. Being gone indefinitely and facing the dangers that you might encounter…."
She paused and held back her tears so that she could finish what she was saying. She failed. Her warm teardrops fell on her lover's tightly and affectionately clasped hands. "We have our destined responsibilities. What we saw back there was power that could be used for good or evil. What will happen if that power fell into the wrong hands? We need to get your memory back. You're the only one who can control this force. I have the knowledge and the means to do this...to find out more about our past as well as pave the way to conquer this evil without…"
"Without history repeating itself," he interjected, referring to his imprisonment within the Millennium Puzzle.
"Yes," she whispered. "I just have to find a way."
He looked into her eyes with sadness. "Thank you for doing this."
"I'll just be temporary. I also won't be at the top of the charts forever. If that happens, I'd be okay with it. I've been an archaeologist before so I'll always have that to fall back on, remember?"
He lovingly touched the left side of her face with his right hand. "I don't want to lose you."
She held his hand, closed her eyes, and felt the warmth and comfort that his touch brought her. "I don't want to lose you, either. That's why I have to go…" She then took off her necklace, rested it on her palm, and transferred it on his palm. "I'd like you to keep this for me…until I return."
Clutching the necklace, he murmured, "I'll always treasure this…and us."
They embraced and kissed each other with deep affection and longing.
Once again, the powers of the Puzzle, pendant, and ring activated and transported them back to another intimate moment in their past lives.
As they saw their past together, their kiss became more amorous. Instead of getting startled or stopping as they did before, they immersed themselves in their present and past love. Time once again stood still for them. They felt the bliss, longing, and affection that lasted throughout three millennia. They basked in the promise of unconditional love that even three thousand years apart from each other could never obscure or prevent.
Two days flew by quickly. The other Yugi and Emrys did their best to make most of the time they had together memorable. The two often hung out at their favorite spot by the lake and at Yugi's home.
Sugoroku also contributed in making Emrys' last two days unforgettable while doing his best to keep his perverted mind on a tight leash. He invited her to spend the duration of her stay at their house, which she gratefully accepted. He grew fond of the young woman and wished that she did not have to leave.
Before everyone left the Mutou home for the airport, Emrys left Yugi a bulky envelope. She requested both Yugis to open it on the first night she was gone.
Everyone now stood at Domino Airport's tarmac for private planes and jets, ready to say farewell by the stairwell before Emrys boarded her private jet.
"Good luck!" Jonouchi said.
Emrys amicably hugged Jonouchi and then tenderly patted him on the back before ending her hug. Referring to their unfinished billiard game at the Kaiba mansion, she said, "You still owe me a pool game when I get back."
Jonouchi, masking his sorrow for Emrys' departure, winked and gave a thumb's up as his response.
Emrys then diverted her attention to Honda, saying, "Take care."
"Have a safe trip. We'll miss you," Honda said while they gave each other a friendly hug.
"Come back to us soon," Bakura stated, doing his best to hide his sadness as well.
"I'll do my best," Emrys said with a beaming but tear-filled smile as she and Bakura embraced each other.
"Good luck, Emrys," Anzu sincerely said. In spite of her roller-coaster feelings, she was genuinely sad for Emrys' departure.
"You've been a good friend, Anzu," Emrys responded with a light grin. She and Anzu then hugged.
Emrys then diverted her attention to Sugoroku. She took both of his hands and held them with such gentleness and warmth. "Thank you, Jii-san, for including me in your family."
"The very best of luck to you. Come back to us very soon," the elderly man genially stated as they tightly embraced each other.
"I will, Jii-san. I promise," Emrys softly said as she wiped some of her tears while hugging him.
This time, Emrys prepared to make the hardest goodbye.
The singer gave Yugi a long, grateful, and teary-eyed grin. "I'll miss you, Yugi. Thanks for everything."
"Come back to us and to him as soon as you can. We'll both miss you."
As Emrys and Yugi hugged, her teardrops fell on his shoulder. She sighed as she tried to relieve some of the emotional tension and heartbreak from leaving everyone behind.
During that hug, Yugi allowed the Spirit of the Millennium Puzzle to emerge.
Once the switch was done, three things immediately happened: Emrys' tears flowed freely, her embrace became more affectionate, and the other Yugi further tightened his hug. He made her her feel the love he had for her, and let her know the sadness that he felt inside from their parting.
The other Yugi took off his leather wristband and wore it around Emrys' wrist. He then whispered in her ear, "It's something that you'd remember me by... Take care..."
"I promise," Emrys said, her voice breaking up as the other Yugi kissed her cheek.
As amethyst met hazel-brown once more and their owners passionately kissed, the others looked on with a mixture of sadness and happiness at the poignant moment.
Anzu, as much as she was happy for them, still felt rather sad.
The other Yugi broke their embrace and looked at Emrys while stroking her hair. He then held her face with both his hands, having her gaze into his eyes. He told her as he wiped some of the tears from her eyes, "I'll be waiting for your return, no matter how long it takes."
They tightly hugged again, both lovers wishing that the moment froze and that they did not have to part from each other.
Yoshiko patiently waited at the top of the stairs, sadly observing as her talent and good friend had to bid farewell to someone she deeply loved.
As the lovers eventually had to release each other from their embrace, they ended everything with a long, lingering kiss.
Emrys then climbed up at the metal stairwell as she joined Yoshiko.
Knowing that the other Yugi was gazing at her, Emrys whispered, "I love you, Mutou Yugi…."
"I love you, too, Alexandra Emrys..." the other Yugi, fully understanding her message, responded by soundlessly mouthing his response.
The two young women waved goodbye to everyone and then went inside the plane.
Once the plane's door closed, the other Yugi felt like the stone slab to his own tomb was slammed shut. He looked down the concrete ground with tightly closed eyes as some of his teardrops fell. Before the others noticed this, he quietly wiped away his tears to hide them from everyone else except from his young spirit vessel.
The two lovers just faced the cold, hard truth that fate deemed for them to indefinitely part ways. Neither one could tell as to when or if they would ever reunite.
Only time and destiny could ever tell.
"Aibou – why do you want to do the switch? We're not dueling, and Emrys left this afternoon."
"Just humor me," the young spirit vessel said.
The other Yugi relented and emerged from the Millennium Puzzle. He went over to the study table and got the envelope that Emrys left for him as well as her necklace. "I still don't understand why you want to do the switch just so I could read this letter. You could do this for both of us. I could see everything you see."
"It's not just to read the letter... I'd like you to spend the entire night outside the Puzzle. It's for the best. If you want to read this letter in private, I'd understand," said Yugi, referring to their ability to seal their innermost thoughts from the other.
"I'd like to read this with you. I insist and I need the company," the other Yugi replied.
The Spirit of the Millennium Puzzle opened the envelope. Aside from a letter, enclosed were two pictures. He first chose to look at the first photograph, looking closely at Emrys' picture.
"It's just the first night and I'm missing her this much…" the other Yugi quietly remarked as he felt the empty and gaping hole within him. He then picked up the second picture – a photograph of them taken during the after-party. During his silent laughter, his eyes were getting misty.
"Is everything okay? Are you okay?" Yugi compassionately asked.
"Yes, I'm fine…" the other Yugi softly responded. He then picked up her necklace – its pendant being the Atlantean crest – and closely inspected its intricate design.
Deep down, the other Yugi did truly believe that they were fated to fall in love. He believed not merely because of what the scroll said or the fact that they both lived and loved each other in the past. He believed that fate was a part of their lives because they loved each other now. He recalled what the scroll said about the crest – Emrys' pendant – that now laid on his palm:
Along with the eternal love of the Princess for the Nameless Pharaoh,
Her crest will forever remain in her possession.
The crest,
The eternal symbol of the Atlantean kingdom under her rule,
Holds the powers of Chaos within and without her.
Now the time came to read the letter. Still clutching the necklace, he walked over near the windowsill, found his usual comfortable spot, and started reading…
My Dearest Love,
By this time, I'm on my way to continue my Southeast Asia tour. Then, off I go to Europe and North America. I will be touring and completing my present commitments as Alexa.
Just as I told you before I left Domino, I'm taking a break from singing and return to (as you have eloquently stated before) digging. I'll write as often as possible, but some of the places I'll be going might not have those amenities. During those times, I hope that this letter could fill that void.
Please thank Yugi and Jii-san for me. I owe them a great deal. They are, and will always be, my extended family.
As to my request for you to open the envelope and read this letter on our first night apart, I have my reasons….
Every night, when everything else around me slows down and goes to sleep, I'll close my eyes and think about you always.
Until we truly see each other again, my love, I'll see you in my mind's eye every night. Meet me there because I'll always be there waiting for you with a smile and a kiss….
Forever yours, Emrys
"I'll always love you. I'll also see you in my mind's eye every night. I'll do so, too, until we truly see each other again," the other Yugi softly said as he neatly re-folded the letter. His warm tears now started to flow more freely.
Yugi was empathetic with his other self. He knew that the best that he could offer the spirit were moments to feel, contemplate, reminisce, cry, hope, fight, and love through him. He gave his other self the moment of silence that he needed.
"Aibou... Thank you for everything…."
"Don't mention it. I wish that I could do more for you," Yugi responded.
"You've already done a lot for us. I'm grateful. Knowing her, she's also grateful."
"Remember when Jii-chan and I encouraged you to pursue your relationship with her? Are you glad that you took our advice?"
The other Yugi gave a tight-lipped smirk. "If I have to make that choice all over again, I'll make the same decision. I would never have it any other way…."
The Spirit of the Puzzle then again looked at the night sky – something that he knew he would resume doing more often. This time, however, he had hope that fate would reunite them someday. He hoped that fate would allow him and Emrys to continue where they have left off thousands of years ago.
End of Last Chapter
Author's Note
That is the end of this story arc – The Encounter of Lost Souls.
The sequel to this story arc is The Parting of Lost Souls. As much as The Parting of Lost Souls is a sequel, this story arc stands independently from its predecessor.
Normal Disclaimer
Yu-Gi-Oh is the copyrighted property of Kazuki Takahashi. Alexandra Emrys, Yoshiko, other original characters, Rhea, Cronus, Poseidon Lord of the Seas, The Birth of Poseidon, and this fan fiction are the properties of the author. This fan fiction is written for entertainment purposes only and thereby releases the author from any liabilities.