Deciding Battle

Yugi laughed at the memory Otogi's and Honda's posturing as they panted after Shizuka, and then sobered as he thought of his own romance. Well, romance wasn't really the word because it hadn't gotten that far yet, but it was what he wanted. His eyes went to the box that held the Ring. Yami had insisted that he keep it somewhere safe so that Bakura couldn't possess him with it as he had Ryou, and so that no one would be able to steal it.

A smile curved his lips as he remembered the scene in the museum when his yami had finally been able to announce his name to his friends. He had been happy for him, of course, but it had also felt wrong, somehow. After a few moments, as he watched his friends' reaction, Yugi had realized what it was. His connection with the pharaoh wasn't as special anymore now that the tacit acknowledgement of calling Yami his darkness was gone. So he decided that since they were together now he was still Yugi's darkness, and until Yami left him he would continue to call him that.

Hearing his thoughts faintly, Yami wrapped ghostly arms around Yugi in the closest semblance of a hug the spirit could manage. /You'll always be special to me, Yugi./ Yami told him solemnly. /I could never forget the one who rescued my soul from its prison and showed me once again what it was like to live./

Yugi tried to hug him back, awkwardly, but his arms went right through the spirit, and both laughed, forgetting the larger issues in the joy of the moment. He tried to sort his deck again, wanting to be ready for the duel against Yami tomorrow, but he was too tired. After talking to the Ishtars, and later to Joey, all he really wanted to do was sleep. /Good night, Yami/ he said sleepily, and curled up. Almost as soon as his head hit the pillow he was asleep.

Yugi woke to the feeling of Yami's excitement rushing through him. He hadn't realized just how much his yami was looking forward to dying. It hurt that Yami wanted to get away so much that he didn't care about the people who he was leaving behind, but this time Yugi almost felt as if he understood. When Bakura died, what would he do?

/You take over, Yami/ he said softly, encouraging his Yami as best he could. /I'm sort of tired still./ He was lying, but Yami didn't need to know that, and the rush of joy mixed with anticipation that he felt from his yami was worth it. With one last look at the box holding the Ring, Yugi retreated into his soul room, watching his yami from there.

As the group made their way into the chamber Yugi watched, feeling oddly detached from the sight of the marvelous carvings and sculptures surrounding him. They didn't seem to matter that much now that it came down to it. What did matter was that if this worked, if he won, in one blow he would lose the two people who he had come to care for the most: Yami and Bakura. Even if that was what they wanted it would hurt letting them go. Perhaps the worst thing was that he knew that he could stop it if he wanted. All he had to do was lose, and they would stay with him. But Yami was counting on him; he wouldn't be able to look him in the face if he lost.

The Items were placed into the sarcophagus-like tablet and the eye on the door glowed as Yugi felt himself being pulled away from Yami. When he was able to focus again he stood facing his yami with a duel disk on his arm. Yami was smiling proudly at him, and Yugi resolved that, whatever the cost, he would win this battle.