Chapter Two: The Phantom of the Opera

Yugi kneeled down next to his bed, lighting a candle on an altar just beside it.

"Bravo…" his Angel called, "Bravo…Bravo, Yugi."

"Yugi? Yugi?"

Marik's quiet singing voice echoed down the stairs, but Yugi did not hear him as he closed his eyes and prayed.

Marik smiled as he saw his friend praying normally in the corner.

"Where in the world have you been hiding?" he teased, "Really, you were perfect!"

He sat down on the floor next to his friend as Yugi grinned up at him.

"I only wish I knew your secret," Marik sighed, "Who is your brave tutor?"

Yugi smiled. "Don't you remember, mon ami?"

He sighed.

"Grandpa once spoke of a Tenshi…

I used to dream he'd appear…

When I play and sing, I sense him,

And I know he's here.

Here in this room, he calls me softly,

Somewhere inside, hiding…

Somehow, I know he's always with me,

He, the unseen genius…"

"Yugi, you must have been dreaming," Marik told Yugi as he helped him up, "Stories like that can't come true…"

Yugi followed Marik up the stairs, choosing not to speak.

"Yugi, you're talking in riddles, and it's not like you…" Marik sang in concern.

But Yugi was barely paying attention.

"Tenshi of Games,

My guide and guardian,

Bring to me your glory…

Tenshi of Games,

Hide from me no more,

Secret and strange Tenshi…"

Yugi looked at Marik, and quietly confessed, "He's with me, even now."

"Yugi, that can't be true," Marik whispered, "Now c'mon, you better get to your dressing room and get changed."

Yugi looked over his shoulder down the stairs, but Marik pulled him slowly away and across the hall. He opened the door, and led Yugi in.

It was almost covered in roses and other types of praising flowers.

Yugi stared at Marik, who was grinning.

"You did tres, tres bien tonight, Yugi," his friend told him, "I'm sure your Grandpa would be proud…you dueled honorably and you sang beautifully."

"Merci, Marik," Yugi gave his friend a hug, "Thank you for everything…"

"Hey, it was mostly Ishizu's idea," Marik muttered, "Flowers aren't my thing…I'd much rather go out for ice cream, but Ishizu said dairy isn't good for singers…"

Yugi smiled. "My Tenshi said that too."

Marik stuck his tongue out playfully. "Whatever, Yugi. See you later, okay? I think Ishizu will be looking for me…"

"Alors," replied Yugi, "A bientot."

And Marik closed the door with a snap.

Yugi sat down in front of a mirror, and proceeded to wash off his make-up.

He didn't even hear the blond-haired man from the audience open the door.

"'Yoshi played a silent game of agility and skill,'" the man whispered, "'And when he won, the landlord had to pay his monthly bill.'"

"Joey!"

Yugi turned around, his face lit up.

"'Yoshi was quite gifted, and as he watched the sky,'" quoted Joey with a grin.

"'True to his Grandpa's words, down came a Tenshi,'" the two friends whispered together.

Yugi gave Joey a big hug. "I can't believe you're here!"

Joey ruffled the smaller boy's pointy hair fondly. "How could I not? Didn't you know I'm one of the Opera's highest patrons? I didn't know you were in it, though, until now."

Joey nuzzled his nose against Yugi's. Yugi blushed.

"You sang beautifully," Joey whispered huskily, "And your dueling was amazing."

Yugi shrugged. "I'm watched over by a Tenshi."

"No doubt about it!" Joey took his words differently than what Yugi meant, "Hey, come back with me to my mansion tonight. We can catch up!"

"But-"

But Yugi couldn't protest, for Joey had already stood up. "Meet me outside in five minutes!"

"Joey, I-"

But Joey was already gone. Yugi looked sadly down at the floor.

"I cannot," he whispered.

Yugi sat for a moment, before getting up to change into his regular clothes behind a screen.

As Yugi put on the regular white shirt with a low collar and the cozy black pants he usually wore…it happened.

"Insolent boy, this slave of fashion! Basking in your glory!"

The voice Yugi had known in his dreams and his whole life was echoing in the room, fury and indignation apparent.

"Ignorant fool, this brave young suitor!

Sharing in my triumph!"


"Tenshi, I hear you," Yugi replied,

"Speak, I listen!

Stay by my side…guide me…

Tenshi, my soul was weak…forgive me…

Enter at last…Sensei…"

"Flattering child, you shall know me," his Tenshi whispered,

"See why in darkness I hide…

Look at your face in the mirror…

I am there, inside!"

And indeed, as Yugi turned to look in the mirror, he saw him.

His reflection was taller than he was, with the same tricolor hair, with the exception that it had a few additional streaks of gold. He was wearing a handsome black suit and cape, and his eyes were hidden behind a black mask.

He was his Tenshi of Games…

"Tenshi of Games,

My guide and guardian!

Bring to me your glory!

Tenshi of Games,

Hide from me no more,

Come to me, my Tenshi!"

Yugi felt as if he was in yet another dream, as the Tenshi's words echoed in his head.

"I am your Tenshi… Come to me, Tenshi of Games…"

Joey, who was now getting concerned that his friend had not joined him at the exit, stepped in front of Yugi's dressing room to hear the echoing voice.

"Who is that?" he whispered, "Who is that in there?"

He panicked. "Yugi! Yugi!"

But Yugi did not respond, as Joey pounded on the door and tried to open it, only to find it was locked.

"I am your Tenshi…

Come to me, Tenshi of Games…"

"Yugi! Yugi!"

"I am your Tenshi…

Come to me, Tenshi of Games…"

His Tenshi held out his hand to him through the mirror, and Yugi took it.

The next thing he knew, he was behind the mirror and they were in a long hallway that extended far below into the dark fog of the underground.

"In sleep, he sang to me,

In dreams he came.

That voice which calls to me

And speaks my name.

And do I dream again?

For now I find…

The Phantom of the Opera is there…

Inside my mind…"

Yugi's voice echoed through the hallway, and it almost seemed liked every step he took brightened the gloomy passage the Phantom was leading him down.

"Sing once again with me," the Phantom sang,

"Our strange duet…

My power over you

Grows stronger yet…"

Absently, Yugi turned to look back up toward the light they were leaving…as if second-guessing this dream.

"And though you turn from me," the Phantom took Yugi's chin and kissed him softly,

"To glance behind…

The Phantom of the Opera is there…

Inside your mind…"

Down the long winding tunnel, their voices echoed, down to the final level…the Phantom's dominion.

It was a cave full of smaller caves that were almost like rooms, each decorated with beautiful art. In the center of the main cave was a large organ.

The Phantom, however, led Yugi to a cave on the side, and showed him a gorgeous room laden with velvet-covered bed and a whole wardrobe full of beautifully crafted clothing…and on the headboard of the bed was inscribed, "Yugi, My Aibou."

Yugi fainted from exhaustion and happiness into the Phantom's arms. The Phantom picked him up bridal style, and gently placed the sleeping boy on the bed, pulling the velvet covers around him.

"You alone can make my song take flight…" the Phantom sang softly into Yugi's ear,

"Help me make the Music of the Night…"

And Yugi dreamed of the Phantom's final words for the rest of the night…