Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh.
My Notes: You ever have one of those weeks where nothing goes right and the only thing you can do is wait for tomorrow to be better? I had to deal with my grandmother's death, an infestation of mice, my weak immune system giving in to the weather again, and a severe case of writer's block. Please no pity in your reviews, for I'm strangely an optimist. And I've been playing Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.
In response to one reviewer's comments, no one has exactly traded places with anyone yet. We have the people in the past and people in the present. When Sethos came forward in time, he heard about a potential future. When Seto traveled in time, what everyone should assume is that he possesses the memories of Sethos and everything that happened to him in the course of the potential future (the present) which includes spoilers the death of Kisara and the betrayal against the Pharaoh and whatever reasons he had for doing certain actions. Merged with Seto's own life, I'm sure it would cause quite the synthesis. But each returned to their respective time-frames. So now Sethos has knowledge of a future and Seto has memory of a past life. But no one has exchanged places in history. And since no one has a complete picture of what happened and why, I'm free to continue plodding along with my very makeshift plot. (I have this feeling of plot holes possibly occurring. Hopefully if they do occur, they will be overlooked.)
In other news, I've adopted the term Yami, which I equate to something meaning like spirit. So expect references to Yami Yugi and Yami Bakura in later posts. Still haven't decided on a name for the Pharaoh yet. And when we do encounter him again, I will refer to Ryou as 'Ryu' simply for personal preference and ease of spelling.
I apologize for the shortness of this chapter, but one thing I've learned from writing this fic is that you've got to plod through the weaker scenes (and hope you think of something to make them remotely interesting) to get to the scenes you've already got in your mind. This has been a very valuable lesson for me.
Forbidden Games
The Puzzle around Yugi's neck had been silent for the past few days. Neither lost memories nor inhabitant had disturbed the short duelist, and Yugi was finding this worrisome. As he walked the halls of his high school alone, he let his mind wander on the condition of his closest friend. I've never seen Yami so torn up. The only sound advice I can give him really only applies to people with solid bodies. In such a distracted state of mind, his vision solely on his shoes, it was no wonder that the boy walked right into someone.
"Sorry," Yugi said without looking up and tried to move on.
"Yugi Moto?"
The boy looked up at the speaker. "Roland! What are you doing here?"
"Mr. Kaiba would like to have a word with you," the bearded man said.
"Kaiba?" Yugi asked perplexed.
"Yes. He was most insistent." Roland's sunglasses and stern face revealed nothing. "If you please," he said, gesturing towards the exit.
Why would Kaiba want to see me? Yugi thought as he was escorted towards the distinctive limo. Although he had never been inside of it, he found the vehicle to be beyond his imagination. I wonder if he has the complete memory of his life as the High Priest. Maybe he can shed some light on Yami's memories.
After a short ride, the limo pulled into the Kaiba compound. Yugi could only gaze at the massive structure. He also noticed the number of suits patrolling the grounds. Everyone seemed to be very uptight, as if they were preparing for something big to happen.
A white tuxedo wearing man approached Yugi as he got out of the limo. He, at least, was smiling. "Yugi Moto. Winner of the Kaiba Corp. Battle City Finals." His eyes gazed over the short duelist. "Master Kaiba is expecting you in the Assembly Room. This way." Yugi had little choice but to follow around the ghostly uniform.
Feeling a bit brave, Yugi voiced a question. "Excuse me, but do you know what this is all about?"
"Master Kaiba said it was a matter between you and him. He's been unusually secretive when he returned home, most unlike him," Patterson replied. He led Yugi into to some massive doors. "He is inside." He turned to leave. "Oh and please try to speak softly. His hearing is not what it was," Patterson added before he left.
Yugi took a deep breath and pushed open the doors. Before him was a lengthy table with corporate high-backed chairs surrounding the table. To one side was a massive display screen, showing various readouts and live-camera feeds from, apparently, all over the world. One chair, of course, was not facing the changing images, its back towards everyone.
"Kaiba," Yugi said addressing that particular chair, as he tugged his school jacket tight against him.
"Yugi." The voice sounded very different, the tone being off-pitch, high screeching almost.
Yugi's palms were starting to sweat. Maybe I should merge with Yami. I don't want to appear afraid before Kaiba. Yet… He put on his bravest face, despite the fact that the chair didn't turn around. "What's this about, Kaiba?"
"A source close to me," he started, "said an ancient pharaoh sealed away the magical powers of an important game, a game that comes to us in the form of Duel Monsters. That very same pharaoh did so at the height of Egypt's might in the olden world, crippling her from the inside. Egypt never recovered and has been in decline ever since."
"How do you know this?" Yugi asked.
"Did you not listen? I just told you. I have a source of which I've recently come into contact with." A slight growl was heard. "Pay attention. I have very little patience these days. Or perhaps I have suffered from too much patience? Still I need you to do something for me. I want you to release that power and bring Duel Monsters to its full potential. I know you can do this."
This isn't like him, Yugi thought. He's simply asking me a favor. There has to be a catch. "What makes you think I can do anything?"
"You're trying my patience again. You've told my brother and me more times than I wish to count regarding your story of being a pharaoh. Do you now deny this claim?"
"I deny nothing!" My brother and me? That's curious phrasing.
"Then unlock those powers of the Millennium Puzzle! Let us play the game as it truly meant to be and let the gateways be open."
"Gateways? To the Shadow Realm?"
"To the worlds beyond."
Yugi was taken aback. "Wait, what?"
"The Shadow Games of Marik and of Pegasus were only the darkest manipulations of the banished magic. But if a heart free from malice were to create a so-called shadow game…?"
"Just what would happen?" Yugi curious.
"The possibilities are infinite. But you must unlock the power buried within your Millennium Puzzle."
Yugi fingered the golden object in his hands. Though he was the bearer of the puzzle, all of the powers seemed to be solely Yami's possession. All he did was assemble it and nothing more. Could I really wield the Puzzle without Yami's knowing it? He'd probably be upset about it. I really should speak with him.
"You don't need the permission of the pharaoh." It was as if Kaiba was reading Yugi's thoughts. "He needs you more than you him. Trust me Yugi."
No. Yami sealed away the power of the magic that devastated Egypt. I can't just unleash it without him knowing. "No, Kaiba. I need more time to think about it."
It was silent for a moment before an audible click was heard, followed by a swoosh sound.
"What did you do?!" Yugi asked, very concerned.
"I've locked us in. You're not leaving until you start a shadow game."
"Kaiba!" Yugi had enough and rushed over to where he was sitting. His eyes widened when he looked upon the chair's occupant. "You're the wrong Kaiba," Yugi whispered.
Indeed, it wasn't Seto who Yugi had been talking to all this time but the younger Kaiba sibling, Mokuba. The seemingly cheerful and happy-go-lucky boy appeared like his older brother; the same stern look was upon his face. The most immediate change in the boy however was the vertical streaks of white hair that countered his jet black hair. His eyes were glossy. "I didn't want to do it this way, Yugi," Mokuba said, rising.
"Just what do you think you're going to do?"
Mokuba stiffly walked to one side of the room. "While I may not have a Millennium Item of my own, I have learned of a spell that will initiate a shadow game irregardless. I only hope that my heart is pure enough to take us where we need to go." He pointed to the duel disk at a compartment next to the doors. "You forgot yours, but I doubt you forgot your deck."
"I'm not going to duel you," Yugi stated.
"In a few moments, you won't have a choice." Mokuba closed his eyes, and began chanting strange foreign words.
"Yugi! Who's speaking the ancient tongue?" Yami asked before taking in the scene before his host. "What's going on?"
Yugi didn't say anything but simply merged with his alter-ego. As their two minds became fused into one body, Yami was updated on the events that had recently transgressed. "Mokuba! Do you know what you're risking?"
Mokuba remained motionless, save the moving of his mouth. The walls of the room, on the other hand, seemed to be engaging in a psychedelic ballet of colors. Hues of purples, blacks, reds were swirling around.
Yami Yugi, who unconsciously knew what was transpiring, moved to reach the vacant duel disk. He strapped it to his arm with little conscious thought. I just hope I don't have to duel Mokuba, he thought as he placed his deck in the appropriate place.
Mokuba's eyes opened and a familiar smile came upon his face. "Now Yugi, prepare to experience something that hasn't happened on Earth for five thousand years." The walls of the meeting room were fading out completely. The spiraling bands of colors ensnared both persons until they were wrapped and whisked away from the world.
Meanwhile elsewhere,
Seto Kaiba emerged from his jaunt in the Shadow Realm, far outside of Lab #54, close to the suburbs of Domino. To a normal bystander, the young CEO just appeared in the rain, without any escort protecting him, heading in the direction of Domino High. He began walking, upwards to half a mile. As the droplets continued streaming down his head and white overcoat, creating quite the wet look, Kaiba stood reading the mailboxes. When he found the one he wanted, Seto walked up to the house to which it belonged and knocked loudly on the door. After a few moments, louder pounding.
"Just a minute," a young woman cried out. The door was unlocked, opened and young Teá Gardner appeared, wearing light-green pajamas. "Kaiba," she whispered, taken aback.
"Gardner," he said, stepping into the doorway. "I need your…," he stood towering over her, "unwilling assistance."
"No…," Teá said, backing away.
"I have no choice then," Seto said as he pulled forth the Millennium Rod and activated it.