DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fanfiction produced for entertainment purposes only. Yu-Gi-Oh! and all related characters are the creations of Kazuki Takahashi.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: *Text* indicates thoughts or a mental conversation between a light and a yami.
Chapter 3: Yami's Gift
By Shadow's Mirror
Kaiba was almost smiling as he entered the room where all of the duelists who had volunteered their time for his charity dueling tournament were waiting for the results. "It's official. We raised over fifty-seven thousand dollars for the orphanage."
Joey whistled. "Man! I knew there was a good turn-out but that's outstanding!"
Yugi smiled. "That's wonderful news, Kaiba! The target was thirty thousand, wasn't it?"
Kaiba nodded. "Yes. The orphanage will be able to keep from closing long enough for my permanent solution to their problems to come into effect. In fact, with the additional money raised, there's a good chance that the orphanage might even be able to extend."
"So they could take in more kids? That's good to hear." Mai smiled slightly, then blinked as Joey peered at her. "What? Has my makeup smeared or something?"
"Nah. I just didn't know you were so sentimental, that's all." Joey grinned at her.
"Hey! They're kids! Who wouldn't be sentimental?" Mai responded. "Just don't spread it around."
As the others started celebrating the tournament's success, Ryou tapped Yugi on the shoulder. "Yugi, Bakura would like a word with Yami, if you wouldn't mind."
"Oh? Sure Ryou. I'll get him out." There was a flash of light from Yugi's Millennium Puzzle. At the same time, a second flash of light came from the Millennium Ring hanging around Ryou's neck.
Yami eyed Bakura curiously. "You wanted to speak with me?"
Bakura jerked his head towards Kaiba. "I'd say he seems pretty happy, wouldn't you?"
Understanding flashed into Yami's eyes and he smiled slightly as he nodded. "Yes. I would. I will ask him now. Is Tuesday afternoon still fine for you and Ryou?"
"Yeah. You and Kaiba sort out the details and let me know." Yami nodded and started to walk off to speak to Kaiba, but Bakura suddenly grabbed his sleeve. "Hang on a minute. Before you talk to him, there's something else. I've been thinking about our bet…"
Yami smiled slightly. "You're not thinking of pulling out, are you? What is the problem, Bakura? Are you afraid of losing?"
Bakura glared at him. "No! It's just that…" His annoyance faded and he sighed. "I think we should reconsider the penalty for the loser."
"So… you are afraid!" Yami's eyes gleamed as he grinned. His smile faded as Bakura didn't rise to the bait, as he normally would have. Apparently this meant a lot to him. "Why?"
"I finished my poem for Ryou and as I was reading through it…" Bakura struggled to find the right words. "If I lost the contest, I don't think Ryou would be happy about having it posted on the bulletin board. In fact, I think he'd be pretty upset about it. It's not really something that everyone should read. It's… personal. I don't even really want Kaiba reading it!" Bakura looked away, unhappy at having to make such an admission to Yami.
There was a moment of silence as Yami thought about it. He slowly nodded. "You have a point, Bakura. I believe Yugi would be most embarrassed if anyone outside our circle of close friends were to read his gift. Also… no one else would really understand it."
Bakura breathed a sigh of relief. "Yeah. Same here. So… should we forget the wager or just change it? Ryou wouldn't mind if there was one, as long as it was something… less embarrassing."
Yami nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps something a little more in keeping with the nature of the contest? After all, the poems are gifts for our lights so the wager should reflect that."
"Yeah." Bakura nodded. "I was thinking maybe the loser could arrange a trip to the Shadow Realm for all four of us, but the way the Shadow Realm's been lately…" He shuddered and Yami nodded.
"True. That could turn out to be more dangerous than fun. The Shadow Monsters are still acting very strangely." Yami frowned as he thought about the trouble in the Shadow Realm.
For several months, the Shadow Monsters had been acting more aggressively and the tension in the dark realm was now so thick it was almost visible in some areas. Yami had tried asking the Dark Magician about it, but for once he had received nothing except vague reassurances that it happened every now and then and would sort itself out in time. He hoped that was true. For the time being though, all of them were being very careful when they visited the Shadow Realm, and they went there only if absolutely necessary.
"A picnic!" Bakura's sudden comment broke into Yami's line of thought and he blinked.
"What was that?"
"A picnic. Instead of a trip to the Shadow Realm, how about we make it that the loser has to arrange a picnic for the four of us? If we go somewhere really private then you and I could be in physical form and we'd get to spend the afternoon with our lights. They'd like that."
Yami smiled. "As would we. It would be a penalty, but one which we would all enjoy. Yes. Bakura, for once I believe you may have come up with an idea that I actually like."
Bakura smirked. "Well it had to happen sooner or later. Why are you still here?"
"Hmm?"
"Now we know what we're doing, why aren't you off talking to Kaiba already!" Bakura scowled at Yami, who laughed and went off to do just that.
"Bakura?" Yami wasn't sure if Bakura had switched with Ryou or not while he'd been talking to Kaiba. It had turned out to be quite a long conversation.
"Yeah. It's me. Did he agree?" Bakura tried to look like he wasn't as eager as he really was.
"I had to talk him into it, but yes, he will read our poems and pick the best one on Tuesday afternoon." Yami held up his hand before Bakura could comment. "There's more. Kaiba suggested that we meet at the library in town. Is five o'clock suitable for you and Ryou?"
Bakura thought for a moment, trying to remember if Ryou had anything on that would conflict. "Yeah, that should be right. I'll make sure Ryou doesn't arrange anything else for then."
Yami nodded. "As will I, with Yugi. That just leaves one thing…"
Bakura went still as his eyes locked with Yami's. "We have to give our lights their gifts. When? Mine's all done," he added.
"As is mine. Tonight perhaps?" He looked around at the party and frowned slightly. "Although we could be here for some time yet…"
Bakura chuckled. "Yeah. Let's leave it for tonight. I don't know about Yugi, but by the time we get home Ryou will probably be nearly asleep. It's been a long day. How about tomorrow night?"
Yami nodded. "Agreed. Tomorrow night we will present our gifts to our lights." He looked slightly nervous. "I only hope they like them."
"They will. They're lights. They love sappy stuff like this." Bakura smirked, but beneath his confidence he was quaking in his, or rather Ryou's since he was currently in his body, sneakers.
The two yamis shared a knowing look before they returned control of their forms back over to their lights. Yugi and Ryou looked at each other in confusion.
"They were out here for quite a while. I couldn't hear anything though. Could you?" Yugi looked rather worried. He knew Yami was keeping something from him and he was afraid it was something bad.
"No, nothing. I'm sure they would tell us if there was something wrong, though." Ryou tried to reassure his friend, although he was starting to be concerned about Bakura too. He'd been spending a lot of time in his soulroom lately, with his side of their mind-like completely closed. He'd also been unusually argumentative. As though he was trying to find reasons for storming off to his soulroom and locking himself in with the mind-link closed. So far, he'd done that five times. Ryou had been suspicious about it since the third.
"Oh well. I guess we'll just have to trust them. I hope we find out what it's all about soon though. Come on Ryou, let's go join the party."
Monday seemed to stretch forever for two impatiently waiting yamis, but eventually school was over and their lights were settled in their rooms doing their homework. Yami and Bakura had spoken to each other briefly at lunch time and had agreed to present their poems at the same time, eight o'clock, so neither light would be able to call and warn the other what was going on. They wanted it to be a complete surprise.
As the hour drew nearer, Yami found it hard to settle. Knowing that Yugi would pick up on his tension, he locked himself in his soulroom and refused to come out, claiming that he was working on some special new combos to use against Yugi in their next duel. Much to his surprise, Yugi accepted that excuse with a laugh, obviously believing it. Yami made a mental note to use that in the future if he ever wanted to plan a surprise for his light. It obviously made his light far less worried than all the other excuses he had been using!
Shortly before eight o'clock, Yami unlocked his soulroom door. *Yugi. I… would like to explain my recent behaviour. Can we…* He didn't have to finish. Yugi had been reading on his bed but he immediately put the book aside and sat up, giving his yami his full attention.
*What's going on, Yami? Is something wrong?*
The clock downstairs struck eight. It was time. Yami tried to keep calm as he used the spell the Dark Magician had taught him. When he appeared in front of Yugi, the smaller boy blinked up at him in surprise. "Physical form? This must be serious."
Yami smiled, or rather tried to. He was so tense that he knew it came out more as a grimace. The look seemed to alarm Yugi, since he started to get up. "No, Yugi. It's all right. I'm just… nervous. That's all." Surprised, Yugi nodded and settled down again.
"I apologise for spending so little time with you lately, and for shutting you out of my mind and soulroom. I've been… preparing something… a gift… for you…"
Yugi blinked. "A gift for me? Oh Yami… what is it?" He smiled shyly up at the nervous boy; all of his own tension dissolving. It was such a simple explanation and everything suddenly made sense. He felt very relieved, but he was also very happy. His yami had a gift for him!
Yami slowly drew a piece of paper from his pocket. Since it had been in there when he had been in spirit form, it was now as real as he was. Sitting down on the bed beside Yugi, Yami studied the paper for a long moment.
"I… know I should read this out to you. I've been practicing it. But… now that the time has come… I find that I am not as brave as you or Ryou. Forgive me Yugi, I cannot read this aloud. I know I will only stumble over the words…" His hand was shaking and his cheeks were hot as he stopped talking and handed the paper to his light. Yugi accepted it curiously. He started to read.
A Gift for Yugi
From that first moment
When you unlocked the puzzle
We two have been one
We have faced danger
And triumphed in our battles
Always side by side
Whatever happened
Throughout all that we have done
You have been with me
Yet despite all that
One thing remains out of reach
There is something more
I have come to see
You have more courage than I
You say what you feel
Although I have tried
To say what is in my heart
The words escape me
You do not yet know
How precious you are to me
Hikari of mine
The room was completely silent as Yugi read his yami's gift. It remained silent for several long moments after, then Yugi carefully placed the paper on his bedside table. By that time, Yami was extremely nervous about his light's lack of reaction.
"Yugi… please say something. I know it's not traditional Haiku, I looked it up in your English textbook and I didn't make it as descriptive as I should have. All I really did was keep to the correct syllable format…" His light wasn't looking at him. Yami was sure Yugi had hated it. "Yugi, is it… really that bad?" Yami tensed as Yugi started to turn to face him.
The next thing Yami knew, his light had thrown himself forcefully into his arms and was hugging him as though he would never let him go! Yugi was also shaking, although whether it was with tears, laughter or anger, Yami couldn't tell since the boy's head was buried against his chest. He did the only thing he could think of doing. He hugged Yugi back and rested his cheek on top of the younger boy's hair. "Yugi…" They stayed liked that for some time, until Yugi shifted slightly.
Yugi made himself more comfortable by turning his head so his cheek was against Yami's chest. Since Yami was in physical form, Yugi could hear his heart beating. He smiled at the comforting sound. "Thank you, Yami. That's the nicest gift I've ever received."
Yami breathed a sigh of relief. "I am very glad that you liked it, Yugi."
"Oh, I more than liked it. I loved it." Yugi seemed about to say something else for a moment, but instead he just smiled and snuggled more closely against his yami. "I take it you got the idea from my homework assignment last week?"
"Yes. You seemed to like that sort of poetry so I thought it would be a good gift. I am sorry that I worried you so much though. I did not mean to. The poem took longer to write than I expected and since I wanted it to be a surprise…"
"You couldn't tell me what you were doing. Don't worry, Yami, I understand now." Yugi smiled and then blinked as he thought of something. "What about Bakura? He went to see you…"
Yami had been wondering how long it would take for Bakura's name to come up. "Bakura knows about the poem. He saw me writing it. If I hadn't told him what I was doing, I was afraid that he would tell you and my surprise would have been ruined. Our conversation took a rather… unexpected turn though. Somehow… we ended up turning the poems into a… contest." Yami winced, waiting for Yugi's reaction.
Yugi blinked. "A contest? What kind of contest?" He would have pulled away so he could look at his yami, but he was far too comfortable right where he was.
"Bakura and I agreed to each write a poem for our light. The best poem, wins."
"Oh."
Yami heard the faint note of disappointment in Yugi's voice. "You are displeased."
"Not really. I just… Oh, don't worry, it's nothing. So… is Téa judging them? When? Or have they already been judged? What's the prize?" Yugi was trying to sound cheerful, but Yami could hear the strain in his voice. He held his light a little more tightly.
"We felt that Téa would probably insist on a tie, so… Bakura suggested Kaiba."
Yugi gasped and pulled away with a jolt so he could stare at his yami in shock. "Kaiba? He agreed? Uh… Yami… are you sure that's a good idea? I mean… Kaiba and poetry…" He looked worried.
Yami smiled slightly. "Yes, Kaiba has agreed and no, I am not sure that it is a good idea. But we will see what happens. The judging is tomorrow afternoon at five o'clock, at the town library. As for the prize… it is more of a penalty for the loser and it is a surprise for you and Ryou. I can promise that you and Ryou will like it though. As will Bakura and I, for that matter."
Yami smiled as Yugi relaxed. He and Bakura had agreed not to tell their lights about the original wager and now Yami was certain that had been a very good idea. As it was, Yugi seemed disappointed that his gift had turned into a competition between the two yamis.
"Yugi… I am sorry about the contest. When Bakura saw the poem I was writing… I panicked. I did not want him to tell you. I reacted badly and one insult led to another. The idea for the contest seemed like a good one at the time. I knew Bakura would not tell you or Ryou about my plan if he was also a part of it. But… even as I said it, I knew it was wrong. I was about to take back the challenge when I noticed Bakura's reaction. He liked the idea, Yugi. He wanted to give Ryou a gift just as much as I wanted to give you one. But, being Bakura…"
"He hadn't wanted to admit it, or to make the first move. The contest gave him the excuse he needed." Yami nodded in confirmation and Yugi smiled warmly at his darker half. "I get it now. In that case, I think it's a great idea! Although," he chuckled softly, "I still think you're making a mistake by asking Seto Kaiba to judge it…"
Yami laughed and impulsively reached out, pulling his light to him for another hug. "You're probably right, Yugi. Still, if it is a mistake, at least I'll be able to blame Bakura for it, since it was his idea to begin with!"
Yugi was too busy snuggling happily against his yami to respond.