The lady sighed. Carefully, she tucked the dollish body into bed and seated herself at the chair, lined with golden thread.
"Only three of you, huh?"
Her eyes snapped to the three innocents, all looking up in anticipation. They gulped, taking in the rolls of wrinkles and the dirtied dress.
One nodded, huddling close to the others nervously.
" Whatever, let's begin…"
Two dull grey eyes snapped open.
Cloudy skies cried droplets of rain that smashed into the bumpy ground and seeped into every crack and crevice.
A warm glow emitted from the room next door. Hopefully, Yugi peeked his head through the skylight. His pupils widening at the sight awaiting him.
A figure, hazy behind the glaring reflections from the rain pouring down.
His mouth covered as he choked, struggling to breathe even though his doting mother stayed behind him. She rubbed his back gently, talking calmly.
The boy sighed. He turned away from the window, focusing on the little golden pyramid that lay on his bedside table.
Fingers stroked the intricate details softly, soon grabbing the shape and tying the rope around his neck, securing it like one would with a necklace.
"Yugi!!"
Sugoroku yelled from downstairs,
"Are you okay up 'tere?!"
Yugi ran to the landing, calling down while holding onto the banister, "Yeah!!"
"I have some food 'ere! Wan' some?"
In response, the boy ran down the stairs, thanking the man as he complimented the other on his new neck piece.
"I got this letter for you"
Yugi was handed a small, rustic letter. The envelope was held shut with a wax seal - a little indentation of a bird grabbed his attention - and had small decorations that made him happy.
Slowly, he sliced off the wax seal and opened up the little note inside.
'Hey~!
No school today! Stop by the park? I want to get to know you better! Meet at 10!
-Anzu!'
Yugi simpered, holding the letter close to his chest and taking a deep breath.
" It's almost 10 now, no?" his grandfather responded, checking the accessory on his wrist, "Yeah… You'd better go, hoho!"
The boy nodded and walked at a slow pace to the meeting door she dedicated to this event.
The main square.
Two eyes darted around. The world covered in monochromatic shades loomed over him as he cautiously shuffled to a nearby bench. The bench, made of a scratchy wood, flaked off at the ends and were stained with the splatters of water from the fountain.
The dynamic landscape smiled at the little figure as he hummed to the sound of screeching crows, birds of black which evilly gave their condolences to the spiteful world.
Eyes closed.
Taking in the sounds of people.
The nature.
The world.
"Hey. I heard what happened."
A tall silhouette seated themselves next to Yugi on the crusty wooden bench.
Yugi looked up. Anzu looked into his eyes, adjusting her frayed skirt and crossing her legs calmly.
"You don't...blame yourself for it, do you?"
The boy gulped, shaking his head and averting his gaze away from the girl.
"Liar."
She chuckled, placing her gentle hand onto his head, rustling his hair like an owner to a puppy.
" I heard they were hospitalised. Someone found out and got'tem."
Anzu gave a gleam, "No one knows who though!"
Yugi faced the ground. No words came to him, just silence.
The rain which poured over their heads soaked the floating strands of hair, glueing them to the peoples faces as they watched the passing water.
"There's somethin we're doing." the girl gave a proud smirk, lowering her voice, " We are going to Automaton. No matter what anyone says."
Opening peachy lips to say something, but closing them immediately after, caused Yugi to meet eyes with her.
Those large, greyed pupils. Filled with light and hope.
"Oi!!"
The loud call of someone familiar yelled from the over side of the road. Holding a crinkled bag filled with bread and waving excitedly, Yugi looked at Yami racing down.
He was struggling to keep it together.
Anzu whispered into the boy's ear, "It's okay."
Scree!!
"Hey!! Move outta the way!!"
Horses of hundreds of tones tried to halt. As of instinct, Yugi jumped in the way, shoving Yami away.
Crash!
Just about to collide with the boy, the horses which pulled a rustic wooden cart skidded down the cobbles. The pyramid-shaped pendant glowed violently, allowing a flash of light - even for a second - to surprise the boy into falling back.
"Are you guys okay?!"
The man steering the horses jumped out and, worried, checked.
Anzu stared from a distance. On her lap was a thick book which Yugi hadn't noticed before. She watched as Yugi was seated down and inspected of a grazed knee.
The man smiled, "I'm glad! I swear I hit you though.."
Yugi flashed an annoyed look - one which he wasn't used to making - and looked to all the things in the cart, which he was sitting on.
" Curious?" The man laughed enthusiastically, "I'm delivering these to the Princess over at Aikon!"
"Aikon?"
"It's a neighbour to the main place, can't believe ye don't know it!"
Yami interjected, explaining how Yugi was new to the area and musing at the man's loud laughter.
"The Princess is a pretty little lass!" The person dreamed, " Who knows? Maybe she'll come down 'ere! 'parrently she loves these 'ere small places!"
Yami's eyes lit up. He turned to Yugi and silently gestured to him, keeping his mouth close to Yugi' s ear as he whispered,
"I'd love to meet her! Maybe she could help me get my tr…. "
Yami turned around quickly, coughing violently until he caught his breath and stabilised himself.
Yugi gave a small nod in understanding. He stood up, thanked the cart driver for patching up his knee and stumbled to Anzu.
" You okay? " She smiled, getting up and helping Yugi back to the bench. Yugi didn't speak, just watched as Yami hopped off the cart and approached the pair,
"Tha' twas close!!"
He laughed casually, Anzu quietly laughing too and giving him a small hug.
Happy with simply watching, Yugi curiously took the book Anzu had on her lap. He inspected the hardback cover; stroking at the small carvings on it with his fingers.
"That's a book about a boy going on an adventure" Anzu knelt down, carefully taking the book, "His character's very similar to you!"
Yugi felt his cheeks warm up as she excitedly spoke about a supposed miraculous flower that could cure everything, and how the boy in the story was based on a real person from long ago.
"I'd recommend it!"
She placed the book in Yugi's hands, exclaiming how she'll let him borrow it. This made him very happy. So happy, in fact, that he almost felt like crying.
Yugi thanked her quietly and looked in the front page.
"「アテム」"
was the signature scrawled in the name section. It was in a language he didn't understand or even recognise.
"What..does that say?"
The boy asked curiously, pointing at the writing.
Anzu thought for a moment, "It's the language they use down south.! It's a name, I think.."
"Atemu." Yami stated, wearing a serious expression. After Anzu said how she didn't know he could read that language, Yami sighed.
"My Brother's from there. Atemu is my brother, you know."
"Yeah! I remember him! I never knew this belonged to him though..!"
Yugi tried to grasp the situation.
That curiosity got to him again and made him think, who was this elusive Atemu? Was he here? Yugi never heard about him before, but everyone else knew him. Not that that was a surprise, of course, considering he was still very much a new person in the area.
His eyes scanned the mountains that stood tall against everyone.
Their little bumps and craters, filled with scratched rocks and traces of water where the snow once fell. Yugi saw it so clearly, unlike the situation at hand.
"Who.." Yugi began, before Anzu stopped him. She whispered in his ear,
"Yami really hates talking about him, let's not"
She gave one more charming smile, taking the boy's hand and beginning to lead him down the street.
"Let's go look at some of the shops! I needed a pal to be with!"
Yugi nodded, taking a final look at Yami, who dully stared at the pair before turning and walking away.
Yugi thought that, maybe, the topic wasn't the kind Yami wanted to hear about.
Maybe it made him sad?
Or angry?
Yugi felt a sudden pain in his chest. His hand clutched it tightly.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded after Anzu asked,I'm fine.."
"Really? Okay then, if you say so."
She slowed down her walking pace, understanding that he wasn't fine.
Yugi spent the day following Anzu and getting to know her better. He enjoyed her company very much, she was kind, funny and charismatic to him.
By the time she was done, he was barely able to walk. His eyes dropping as he stumbled sleepily behind her.
"I'm gonna take you home, okay?"
She scooped him up and carried him home, letting him go just at the entrance to his house and waving goodbye.
"I'll see you tomorrow~!"
Her voice was sweet fruits covered in honey.
Yugi sat in his room, the night falling once more. After waking up from his long, exhausted nap, he hadn't felt tired anymore and sat alone in his room. His grandfather was already asleep, so he had nothing to do and no one to talk to.
The world seemed still, even for a moment.
In the moment, Yugi took the book Anzu had leant to him and opened it, enthusiastically preparing to read it.
The frigid pages felt icy cold as he touched them. The pages were slightly browned, indicating age.
The first sentence read;
'This is the story of a boy who was cursed to see in brown-monochrome..'