Unexpected Adventures: Chapter 19

The Child Who Warmed His Heart

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Solomon Mutou was old. And that was a very big understatement. His once ivory skin had long since dulled to a murky white. His colorful hair that used to dance about in the sun's rays had suffered a similar fate. His genes had been all too kind, letting Solomon keep his hair, yet at a price. It had too, lost all of it's glimmering colors, having retired to a light wolf gray. And, like all the Mutous before him, he was only a smidgen taller than his mailbox.

Despite looking the part of an old geezer, he had never played the part of one. Solomon was Yugi's grandfather and only family left after his parent's departure. He had cared for his grandson, as a father, mother, and friend. Yugi had never complained to him about not having a better life, for Yugi's heart was not that way. It seemed impossible; Solomon had thought when he first met his new charge; that anyone could be so innocent after loosing almost everything. Yugi had shed tears for months after moving in with his Grandfather, for he had loved his parents dearly and was only four years old. Solomon couldn't believe Yugi would have chosen to live with him instead of his rich aunt and uncle in America. When an official had asked why Yugi wished to stay with his Grandfather, he was met with the answer, "Because Momma and Dadda always took me to Grandpaw's house. They didn't never take me to my aunt or uncle's house. Momma and Dadda loved Grandpaw and I know that because they loved him that he's the one I should live with."

Solomon was dreading the day that his daughter's son would be arriving. He was getting older and had no tolerance or place for a wild child, and no emotional strength left after his daughter's death. However, Yugi didn't crave attention by misbehaving like most children would do after such a tragedy. Their first meeting since before the accident had gone exactly opposite of what he was expecting. The most shocking thing was that when Yugi first met his grandfather and his new home, Yugi had whispered into Solomon's ear, "I'm sorry Momma left without saying goodbwe, Grandpaw, but she didn't go completely." Yugi pointed to his own heart. "She's still here with me along with Dadda, and they are wondering if you'd like me to make you some tea, that kind that Momma always made for you when she came over." Solomon hugged the poor child and cried, feeling guilty. The boy had just lost his parents and it turns out he was more worried about Solomon's well being than his own. From that moment on, Yugi turned out to be the greatest gift Solomon had ever received. He was as kind and innocent as Solomon's daughter had been, and as bright and selfless as his son-in-law. One time, Solomon had noticed Yugi gazing out of a second story window. Yugi's features were illuminated by the rising sun's rays. And Yugi, sensing his Grandfather's stare, turned to face him with a small, calm, yet happy smile. Solomon's heart almost gave way, for a minute it was as if his daughter had just grinned at him with her own laughing lavender eyes.

When a few years had come and passed, Solomon felt that Yugi deserved to have the golden box on the dusty shelf that had stolen his gaze for years. It was not big in either terms of length of width, with the golden symbol of the Ancient Egyptian God Ra inscribed upon it. There was also another warning on the golden rectangle, warning of 'Shadow Games'. Inside the solid gold shape were many gold pieces. Solomon had found the box on one of his excavations in Egypt, years before his daughter had been born. For years, he had attempted to solve the ancient 3D puzzle before succumbing to anger and putting it away. It had stayed on the shelf for all those years, and Solomon had never given his decision another thought. Well, that was until his grandson kept looking at the dust-covered object. No, 'looking' wasn't the right word for the way Yugi looked at the box, nor was 'staring'. Transfixed fit perfectly. Yugi's soft lavender eyes were locked onto the golden eye of the box. Solomon was going to eventually sell the blasted puzzle that was probably missing pieces anyway, but because Yugi had proven how good he was at games, Solomon figured it'd be an entertaining birthday present at the least. Yugi was enthralled at the gift and hugged his grandfather before jumping about the house like a gleeful flea.

Eight years had passed and the child had still not solved the puzzle that was almost as old as the dust that once coated it. And if Yugi; the only boy in Domino City who could solve a Rubix Cube with one hand in a minute and thirty seconds; was having trouble with it, it seemed hopeless that anyone could ever solve it. But Yugi was determined. Solomon knew Yugi had few friends, and that was mostly due to jealousy. The children at school were jealous of how good Yugi was when it came to games and skill. Luckily, Tea Gardener was still a friend of Yugi's, and Solomon had noticed that Yugi had a big crush on her. Yugi tried every night to solve the puzzle, and Solomon could feel the misery in Yugi's life, even if he never complained. The grandfather had desperately wished that he had never told his grandson that whoever solved the puzzle had their greatest desire come true. He knew Yugi wanted friends that could protect him from the pain those others caused him.

One morning, Yugi bolted down the rickety stairs, making loud thumping noises. Solomon looked up from his newspaper and was met by a golden eye. He yelped and leaped at least five feet into the air. Before him, Yugi stood laughing triumphantly. He held a completed puzzle in his small hands. Solomon Mutou got up with an expression on his face and pulled the curtains outside aside. Checking back and forth, left and right, east and west, he finally closed the windows and came face to face with a worried Yugi. Seeing his grandson's question already emerging he simply said, "I was making sure there were no pigs flying out there."

With the completion of the Millennium Puzzle, Yugi had gained more friends, two of which were Joey and Tristan. They protected Yugi alongside Tea everyday. Yugi was happy, truly happy for the first time since the children had begun excluding him. Solomon was relieved, and felt everything would finally settle down for at least a few years…But it was to no avail.

The Millennium Puzzle was so much more than an upside-down triangle made of gold pieces interlocked together. It held an ancient and powerful spirit that Yugi had freed. The spirit guarded Yugi from all of the evil souls that came after the puzzle, but could not protect everyone. Solomon's very soul had been stolen once, and after that whole mess was said and done, a psychopathic child had come after it as well! And there troubles had not ended there either. But they had all pulled through, even the ancient spirit of the pharaoh, who Yugi referred to as 'Yami'. The name stuck and Yami became an important part of Solomon's life too. Yami was like his second grandchild, and Yugi's older brother.

But now, now Solomon sat in his empty living room. The furniture was still there, along with the macaroni art that Yugi had done in Kindergarten. Solomon was the oldest he had ever been then, sitting in a house devoid of Yugi and Yami. His eyes were heavy and tired but he sat awake stubbornly, guarding the phone incase the police were to call with news of his grandchild.

'I should have never let them go…' he thought sadly, 'if they don't come back then it is all my fault…'

Tears welled in his old eyes for the first time in years. They traced shiny lines down his wrinkled skin and landed on his shirt. He felt old, vulnerable, and scared for the first time in his life.

'Tea was right in saying I shouldn't have left them…and from what she told me, Yugi…f-fell down a ledge…' he put his head in his hands, 'I've failed you my daughter…I couldn't protect the light that kept our hearts pure…I'm sorry…'

A sound echoed from far away it seemed. Solomon didn't hear it at first, but the sound continued until he snapped out of his own world.

"T-The phone…!" Solomon yanked it off the hook on the fifth ring and said in an unsteady voice, "Hello, t-this is Solomon Mutou's residence how may I help you…?"

He cringed as he spoke the word 'Mutou'. Any other day he would have said 'the Mutous' residence' but…now...he wasn't sure if it was plural anymore.

The voice that answered was a masculine, strong, and deep tone filled with inner strength.

"Ah, yes, I am Officer Zadarr, calling about the missing person's case you filled a few days ago."

It took all of his self-control to not scream into the receiver for the man to hurry up during his pause.

He continued, "We found your grandson."

Those four words echoed in Solomon's head for a long time. He was speechless, and held the phone so hard his knuckles were turning white.

"…Hello…? Are you there Mr. Mutou?" the officer inquired.

"Yes, this is wonderful!" he cried into the phone as tears of joy cascaded down his face. "Is Yugi with you at your office?"

"Ah, no, we're at the local hospital, Yugi is being treated for some of the wounds he's received from his unexpected adventure in the woods." The man replied.

Solomon felt worry take most of his breath again with it's greedy hands.

"Is he hurt very badly!" Solomon half yelled into the device, his heart breaking free of any self-control that had held it down.

The man on the other end could be heard wincing, most probably rubbing his ear.

He replied, "Your grandson is just fine, Mr. Mutou. He turned up at a police station two towns away from where you said they were all camping. Besides a broken bone and some minor scrapes, he is doing fine. You can come down to Domino Hospital right away if you wish. Yugi's been asking for you."

Solomon had already gotten his shoes on and was by the door when he said goodbye and hung up. Then he quickly dialed Tea's phone number and gave her a brief summary of the last minute's events.

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A cliff hanger….Ooooh I'm evil….XD laughs insanely Well it's 11:36 PM and I'm tired. Plus as a gift, my computer decided that it wants me to restart it to get the Internet working again. Yay me. Please note the sarcasm Anyhow, the next chapter is the long awaited GASP! epilogue! Yes, I just said epilogue! Wow! About time, ne? Well, don't expect it too soon.

And before I forget, happy Memorial Day (thirty minutes in advance but it's the thought that counts…XP)

Next Chapter:

Epilogue

EDIT: Okay…. it's been almost a WEEK since I first tried to post this chapter…gomen…. TT Sorry…I couldn't post it 'til now…