Breathe In

By tani-chan

Chapter One: Consequence

Disclaimer: If I owned YuuGiOu, I'd be animating this.

Genre: Drama/Humor/Romance

Rating: PG-15/T/M

Note: Well, this is my first YuuGiOu fanfiction. :sighs and shrugs: Not sure if I quite like it so far, but I love the original character that I made for this whole idea, and decided to try and write it out. Hate it, love it, just tell me what you think. Maybe I'll actually complete it someday. XD; (Warning: Pretty severe OOCness on most accounts. You have been warned.)

Hello, my name is Mutou Yuugi.

Pretty simple, isn't it? A name… a singular thought and expression that can hold so much meaning and open the door to countless possibilities.

How odd.

Just how odd.

Sometimes names don't really mean anything. Other times it means everything about them, right down to the little prick of dust that's lying on their clothing.

Sometimes, we don't know what out names mean, how we got them, or even what our name is. And sometimes, a name is what can just open up the door to a world of memories and thoughts, whether about things five thousand years in the past, or just about something that happened last week.

Nicknames carry meanings, too. Like, how you got them, whether as a baby name made up by your parents, or by your friends on a night out that made you laugh and smile.

Names mean so much to people… It's how we identify ourselves; without a name, we seem so meaningless. But, with our names, we can make a place in the world; make a mark so that our names go down in history so people have something to remember us by.

Names can hold sorrow and hate, and at the same time, hold so much joy and love that it's almost too much for one heart and mind to bear. Names are what makes us who we are, and we can change how that one thought is expressed, even just by how we say it.

Never the less… I miss the faces that some names held. They're gone now… but I'll be with them someday, I'm sure… I'm just lucky I ever got to see at least two of them once again. And I pray, that once again, I'll be that lucky.

But, in any case, you're here to hear what I have to say, correct? To explain the story of some of those faces, some of those names. Alright, give me a second to start…

Well, let's just say that it all just started one rainy bleak day, just like a lot of corny stories begin… And this probably is just another one of those sad, stupid, corny stories that would make one of those tearjerker movies that your girlfriend watches all the time, despite the fact she cries every time she watches it.

But, that's how it's going to start. Just a normal rainy, bleak grey day, just like every other one… Little did I know that it would change what I knew about my life… And change what happened. Just like a cheesy movie.

Well then, I shouldn't stall any longer, yes? Well, then, let's begin…

Hello, my name is Mutou Yuugi, and I hate the hospital. I absolutely despise it. And I'm in one. Why, do you ask? Because of 'apparent mental issues.' Other than that, I've grown weak physically and can barely go walk to the bathroom to pee, let alone get up and walk around.

What cause this, you ask? Well, something inside me just, to put it simply, broke. Completely shattered, and pretty much ruined my will to live. What did? To put it even more simply for you: Atemu. Yes, Atemu. Mou hitori no boku… Yami no Yuugi… whatever you want to call him, Atemu.

I don't think him leaving went over real well with me. Sure, I was all ready to face the days after his departure, but, graduating from high school, everyone going their separate ways, family issues, and just life in general broke my 'already weakened mental state.' Bunch of bullshit that is.

…Did I mention I think I sound like Kaiba-kun now?

Ugh. Well, just to tell you, I'm in deep shit. Lots of it. I didn't try to kill myself or anything like that, but I just started to slowly shut down. The body won't be willing if the mind isn't, or at least that's what the shrinks say.

To put it simply, yet again, I don't want to go 'face the world.' I'd rather rot here in this little sterile hospital room than go outside and just say hi to random people on the street. Yes, I, the great 'Yu-Gi-Ou,' King of Games. I. Want. To. Rot. Whoop whoop.

Well, then again, none of my friends caring to come visit from their oh-so-busy lives isn't helping me out quite a bit either. I swear, I want to go and smack half of those evil villain asses for just, well… being right. Friendships don't always hold together, no matter how strong they are. Long distance relationships suck ass. And they're hell to keep together.

Anzu's out in New York, finally getting her wish to study dance and become that famous dancer she's always wanted to be. And from what I've heard, she's actually starting to really make a name for herself, too. At least she's sent me a few letters though. But, her last letter said she was starting to become far too busy to even think, so, I think the fact that she hasn't replied to my last letter that was sent three months ago is proof of that.

Jounouchi-kun's studying to be some great fighter in god only knows where, hopping from place to place to learn and study… and still chasing down Mai-san from what I last heard. His last letter got sent back, apparently since he's moved again and he doesn't know where he's going to be next. Still the same stupid guy who's my best friend.

Honda-kun, believe it or not, is currently in the planning stages of making his own company of high quality cleaning supplies. Looks like being on the 'beautification team' really got him going on it. Miho-chan and him seem to be going steady, too.

Otogi-san's actually come around to visit me at least twice, but due to his current engagement to Shizuka-san, he's been quite to busy to see me, despite the fact that his gaming seller company is beginning to open up stores around the world.

And Kaiba-kun? Why the hell would he visit his 'rival' anyway? Although, he did phone and tell me just to yell at me and state that 'I'm too weak to even be the mutt's rival now.' Oh well. His overbearing attitude was hell to duel with anyway.

Just peachy-keen for me, stuck in a sterile little bed in Domino in the hospital, usually just staring out the window at the buildings across the street, wondering to myself if I'll ever get up off my ass and out of here. But… I just don't want to go home.

Mom's had hell currently, as my dad suddenly reappeared and wanted to claim custody on me, despite the fact that I'm already out of high school, and it's a little late for that. Never the less, he's been bothering my family, even jii-chan, and trying to get me to 'join his side.' What the hell to that. I haven't seen him since he left my mother when I was three, and now he's saying that he regrets all that and wants me back? I hope to the gods I'm not turning out like him. Oh, just thinking that sends shivers up my spine.

But, just to make it short, I'm alone and stuck in a stupidly all white room staring out a window and waiting for them to send some idiot up to talk with me and tell me what they think is wrong. Apparently, I know what's wrong; I just don't want to solve it. Well, fuck. Looks like I'll have to work on that.

…Yep, I sound like Kaiba-kun.

I didn't really like how the day is going so far, it was completely pouring rain outside, and you can hear the random yelps of people going outside in it from my room, even though the window is closed. I swear I could just burst out laughing right now about the odd noises the people make, if I didn't feel like shit.

The rain used to calm me and help me sleep, even if it was thundering. But, now, it's just been raining too much, and it's bothering me how it's reflecting my mood. And how I just long to go out there and dance around like an idiot in it, but I still don't want to move my sorry butt down there. Damnit, do I hate myself.

I picked at the remains of my food, the dregs of the soggy soup starting to give off a faint 'I'm rotting' smell. Ugh, I hate that smell, and it's near constant in this crowded hospital. That reminds me, why do they even keep me here if they complain about how they're overloaded. I suppose since I pay money, I guess. Those Magic and Wizards tournaments at least got me some cash.

I sighed again, just continuing to poke at my last dregs of the tasteless soup, before just going back to look out the bleak window. Boring, boring, boring. But, hell, I have no right to complain. It's my fault I'm even here in the first place, eating horrid food and staring out an all too clean window.

Pushing the tray of food away from me, I lifted myself up on the pillow, sitting more comfortably before staring out the window yet again. I sighed again, frowning at the fact that for some reason, other than the ones I had stated before, outside is quite interesting.

…Gah, this is annoying.

Shaking my head, I almost reluctantly turned away from the window, only to stare down blankly at my own blanket covered lap. Ugh… even the blankets are an OCD white, minus the grey overtones from the cool light outside.

…I really need to 'fix' myself.

Just as I began to sigh at myself again, thinking about maybe actually getting up to stare out the window in one of the hard plush chairs next to it, a nurse knocked and walked in, not caring to introduce herself as they always had before.

"Umm… Mutou-san, there is a woman here to see you," she said simply, one eyebrow raised in suspicion. I stared back at her blankly, blinking in my own confusion, before shrugging and just nodding. "Did she say who she is?" I replied blankly, part of my mind hoping weakly that it was Anzu, or maybe even Shizuka-san.

The nurse just shook her head and stared back at me, her eyebrow still raised. "She just said that she was a friend and that she wished to see you. She wouldn't give me her name," the nurse said, now looking at me oddly. "Shall I let her in?"

Sighing again, I just shrugged. "Eh, let her in," I said, returning my attention back to the window. Whoever this person was, I might as well let them plead their case. I didn't get many visitors anyway, and the company of the nurses and doctors wasn't much consolation.

Keeping my eyes focused on the window and soft yelps of people outside, I heard the soft opening and closing of the door and the padding of feet walking over to the edge of my bed. Noticing the person made no recognition of themself, I sighed again, slowly turning my head to face them.

"Now, the nurse said that you wouldn't state your name, and since just by that I won't know who you are, would you mind telling me why you're here…?" I somewhat began, fully turning to look at her before stopping dead.

Something about the girl standing in front of me made my breath hitch, and my mind even paused looking at the person before me.

She seemed simple enough at first glace, but it was the second deeper look you give people that made your mind wander. She was just clad in a deep grey sweatshirt and dark jeans, both wet from the rain, herself just taking the hood off of her sweatshirt to let her rather long hair loose. Even her hair seemed to match her 'outfit'; being near pure ebony, only faint highlights of other natural dark colours deep within her hair. It was layered to frame her soft face, her own facial expression a soft, deep smile with that feeling of a hidden meaning.

Her eyes seemed to be the only contrast to the greyscale tone the rest of her had; them being a deep, almost dark, mix of a blue-green and grey, reminding me of the colour of the sky just before rain clouds completely covered it. A simple yet almost complicated design made of black eyeliner surrounded her eyes, bringing out the near only colour on her person. The eyeliner itself wrapped around her eyes, before sticking out in a very Egyptian fashion, a line coming down from that to mirror the one lining the bottom of her eyes only half an inch away from said line.

The way she even held herself made your brain look farther. It was casual enough, holding herself like any teenager usually would, herself not being much taller than even I was. But, it seemed that she should really be holding herself in a regal pose, even her clothing contradicting the hidden sort of self within her. Even that soft hidden sort of smile seemed to betray that hidden self, even though you could clearly see that this wasn't what most people would see, even at a second glance.

I blinked, realizing that I must look awkward, staring at her like that. Shaking my head a bit, I sighed, feeling nervous suddenly. Looking back up at her, she just smiled at me again, a peaceful sort of sense coming out of it.

Blinking again, I remembered what I was saying before hand and nodded to myself, feeling somewhat stupid. "Um…. Yeah. Again, uh… who are you? And any reason to be here?" I said, coughing a bit at the end of it, feeling like I should clear my throat.

She just clucked in response to me, sitting down lightly on one of the hard plush chairs that were next to the end of my hospital bed. She just continued smiling, her eyes not shredding any glimpse of a true emotion. "No reason. Just wanted to see how the great YuuGiOu was faring these days," she said, her voice coming out to match her soft features, smooth and a bit deeper than most girls' voices are, ending her statement with a soft chuckle again.

I blinked at her comment and sighed, shaking my head. "Well, I'm sorry, miss, but I'm not much of a King anymore," I said sarcastically, sounding a little deflated. "And you still didn't answer my first question," I added, giving her a look of my own.

She chuckled once more, her eyes flashing briefly in what seemed to be amusement before talking again. "I suppose I haven't, have I?" she said, getting up off of the chair to bow, her long hair falling over her shoulders. "Iteya Maigo's the name, Yuugi-san. If I may call you that," she said, coming up out of the bow, her eyes twinkling again as she sat down once more.

I blinked, the name ringing a bell briefly, even though I wasn't sure where I could have heard her name before. So, I just I shrugged, shaking away the thought of customary pleasantries. "I don't quite care, Iteya-san," I said simply, still slightly confused. This girl was odd in and of herself, despite the fact that she randomly just showed up out of the blue to 'see how the king of games was doing.'

"What are you here for, anyway? Other than to see how the 'YuuGiOu' was doing," I added quickly as I saw her mouth open to speak again. She just smiled at me again, shrugging. "Just exactly that," she said, shrugging. "And maybe, to bust you out of here…?" she added, her eyes twinkling again.

At this I just groaned, shaking my head at her. "Yeah, like hell," I said, feeling cynical. "I mean, even I can't get my ass out of this bed, other than to go to the bathroom occasionally. No offense, but I don't think I even want out, quite frankly," I said, folding my arms against my chest as I looked back out the window.

I heard her soft chuckle again, the noises of her getting up and moving reaching my ears as she walked over to the window. "Not even to dance in the rain?" she said, turning her head to face me, an almost mocking smile on her face. I blinked, feeling myself being egged on by her to just argue. "And who said that I even liked to be in the rain? I could hate it, like those people out there," I said, defiantly, throwing my hand dramatically towards the window as the yelps of more people rose from outside.

She just laughed and shrugged, shaking her head. "No one said that, but considering your current state, I thought you might find it welcome," she said, walking over towards the bed again, a bigger smile gracing her face now. "Now, lets see if we can get something to get you out of here, hmm?" she said, making a fake pondering pose, again, almost seemingly mocking me on purpose.

I blinked again. Again, really odd girl. Really really odd girl.

Well, first chapter. W00t w00t. Xd;

Title is temporary, but it seems to fit. :shrugs: Maybe if I find a better one I'll use that instead.

The title comes from a song named such, 'Breathe In' by Frou Frou. Wonderful song, and wonderful artist. I severely suggest you check them out. XD

Also, the title of the chapters will be from songs that I rather like, and see that fit the chapter. XD; Liable to change at any time. XD

This chapter is 'Consequence' by The Notwist. Another wonderful band and song. Again, check 'em out. XD

Iteya Maigo is a rather odd brainchild of mine, made and then formed slowly into what she is today over the course of at least a few months, when my YuuGiOu obsession first started. XP

I have an odd little habit of making my own original character for nearly every anime that I get into, seemingly inserting a part of myself in the story and watching and thinking up how they would grow along with the rest of the characters, seemingly forming their own little world within it. XP; Very odd, yes I know, but it keeps me busy. XD

Sooo, who is this mysterious Iteya Maigo? (Just so you know, I write it Japanese style, sur name first. So to you, it would really be Maigo Iteya. XD) Not quite telling yet, but let's just say that she's quite the oddball. XD And she's 18, not much younger than the rest of the Yuugi-tachi as they are set in my fic, which is maybe 6 months or so after the end of the series, where Atemu leaves. (Whooo… spoiler. Not like you haven't heard of it anyway. :P)

I know, Yuugi's rather OOC. He's dark and cynical, not his usual happy bright self. Well, hate to say it, but people react that way to depression, and considering how attached Yuugi is to all of his friends, being kept away from them, especially one of the most important friends of his life, he'd be rather down in the dumps.

And the whole thing about the body not being willing if the mind isn't is something I know as a truth, having suffered, and maybe suffering, from depression. I've been kinda sickly since I was little, and the stress of going to a completely new school and being overloaded with work, besides the fact that I was having to restart nearly all of my social life, made me just kinda snap, and this is what near happened to me, despite the fact that I never had to go to the hospital, thank god. So believe me, this is no fun. XP

In any case, just so I warn you all, I'm all for the Yuugi/Anzu pairing, which is going to be one of main pairings in this fic, despite whomever poor Iteya-san will end up with. ; So, if you don't like it and decide to bash me just for that, just hush. It'll be wasted. XP Now, if you want to give me some constructive criticism, go right ahead. That'll be quite helpful, actually. Flaming is just rather silly. XD

Favourite Line: Tie between '…Did I mention I think I sound like Kaiba-kun now?' and '…I really need to 'fix' myself.'

XD; They make me giggle. Yuugi becoming Kaiba for one thing, and just the idea of 'fixing' himself sounds odd. XD

Well, I shalln't ramble more.

Thank you for reading, and please review.

tani-chan