It was bright and early in the morning.

A day had passed since Yugi, Atemu and Mana decided to leave.

Yugi woke up a lot earlier as usual, dug out his bag and rummaged around as quietly as possible to find possessions he needed. He never owned a lot, it felt wrong to do so.

He neatly folded his clothes Anzu bought for him and placed them in, a few rustic books, a cool Kuriboh keychain his grandfather had given him during a big card game event and some gloves.

Yugi tugged his bedside drawer open and peered inside. For the most part, the wooden drawers were empty. With it opening, the scent of wood came. It smelt fresh and clean.

However, amongst the emptiness and occasional dust bunny, there lay a small, metal dog tag. Yugi scooped it up and muttered,

"I almost forgot this existed.."

Before he had even had an identity, that was the only item he had. Carved into the metal were the simple word:

'Yugi.'

If it weren't for that, he'd have never known his name. Yugi shivered. He had thought, on some occasions, that maybe it wasn't actually his name. He never wanted to dwell on it, and paid no mind as to him, a name is nothing more than a label.

He took the tag and slipped it into the second pocket of the bag, deciding not to reminisce over the past. It was behind him now.

The boy tidily made his bed, rubbed his eyes - which were very irritated at the time - and took another look at the room. It wasn't large nor small. He always kept it organised; it made him feel clean.

Yugi soon tuned into the noises downstairs. Talking between three people - all of the voices gentle and soft. The boy opened the door and skipped down the stairs, looking through the gaps in the banister to see who it was. He had inferred, that, it was simply Mana and Atemu explaining to his grandfather about him leaving. His grandfather turned to Yugi and smiled.

"Yugi…" Sugoroku wrapped his arms around Yugi. It was warm and soft, Yugi basking in the momentary peace and almost regretting his choice. "I'm so happy for you. Be careful. Don't get hurt. You're always welcome back home."

The old man gently patted his head then let the boy go.

"I'll make some snacks to take with you guys. It might not last long but it's better than nothing!"

"Thank you, sir." Atemu gave a polite bow in appreciation. As the man walked off to go make the snacks that Yugi looked forward to seeing - he loved food very much, especially the food his grandfather made.

"Yuyu!" Mana beamed, "You packed up your stuff?"

Yugi nodded, ignoring the newly-spawned nickname and quietly saying how he packed his bag with his main essentials.

Yugi's glance moved over to Atemu, who was looking over a list and sighing. He took a hairband from around his wrist and slid the list into his pocket, pulling his hair up and tying it into a high-ponytail that was spiky and messy. He wasn't wearing any hood; according to Mana, he was washing it for the journey.

"Mana, maybe you shou' get Yugi accustomed to that four-legged-friend of yours."

"Sugarcube?"

Atemu nodded, he chewed the skin on his thumb in stress. Mana looked to Yugi and agreed, before adding;

"Don't do that, Ate' Ate'! It'll damage your hands!"

Atemu rolled his eyes and slowly walked towards the door, hands in pockets. He let out a long sigh.

"I'm sorry, I'm just a lil' stressed, y'know?"

"That's okay!" Mana, gleamed, happily hugging her friend then taking Yugi's hand and deciding to leave before her partner. She walked Yugi over to the back of Yami and Atemu's home, where a tall creature laid calmly. He had recognised it from when she had arrived in the town to bring supplies over. The pure white horse picked itself up and proudly turned its head up to the sky. Yugi stared in awe at the animal, it's beautiful face - long yet perfectly toned - and the long, flowing mane of a slightly greyer white tone. The mane seemed soft to the touch and were wavy, the same as its tail.

"Meet Sugarcube!" Mana reached her hand out and ran her fingers through its hair. Yugi's eyes met Sugarcube's, entranced by its large, perfect eyes. "She's friendly. Don' worry!"

Yugi smiled, gently stroking it with his hand and jumping once it snorted loudly at him.

"Wan'na try an' get onto h'er? You'll need ta ride one eventually if you're comin'."

Yugi gave a small nod, nervously gulping as she picked him up and sat him on top of the horse. It was tall and terrifying.

Mana thought for a moment, giggling shortly, "Maybe we shou' invest in a pony for ya. You probably can't reach the Stirrups."

The boy felt his face heat up in embarrassment.

"Ah, that's okay, no need ta be embarrassed!" She chuckled, "'temu's too scared to ride 'er, so you're not the only one who can't ride!"

She took a rope that she secured to the front piece it wore and slowly walked it around, ordering Yugi to hold onto the horse's neck tightly. He enjoyed the bumpy feeling of the horse moving; up, down, up, down. People who were casually doing their own duties in the town watched as Mana steered the horse (and Yugi, by extent) to a nearby store - where she bought different vegetables and fruits to feed the animal. She hopped on, asking Yugi kindly to move back slightly so she could be in front, and rode it through the town once more so it would stay near the exit to the town - where a small, sheltered area were.

"At least ya don't scream like 'temu does!" Mana joyfully purred, sliding off Sugarcube and helping Yugi down. He chuckled in response, giving a small smile and peering in the bag of fruits and veggies she held. Carrots, Celery, Apples.. A small variety of foods that ( he presumed) would be soon turned into a big meal for the horse.

"Oi, Mana."

The two looked back, meeting the eyes of Atemu as he approached.

"Whassup?"

"We need to say our goodbyes to the town's head."

Atemu took Mana by the wrist then softly asked Yugi to join them, which he did. Atemu had a thick bag resting on his back - one made of some tough cloth that were a bizarre shade of grey. He, Mana and Yugi gave their condolences to the Town's head, a kind old man whom Yugi never really spoke to in the while he was there. He had never paid attention to the seasons passing - spring, summer, autumn and winter all seemed the same to him. However, thinking about it gave Yugi some perspective to how long he'd been staying in Domino, how long ago into the past his life of being treated like garbage was. Yugi smiled to himself, picked his bag up from the floor, and followed Atemu and Mana. He'd be doing a lot of following those two, he recognised.

Yugi took one more stop at his grandfather's home. He had a large array of snacks ready to be packed away.

"Make sure you eat well, get lots of rest, don't over-do anything. Okay, Yugi?" Sugoroku assured, placing his big hands against Yugi's shoulders. Yugi nodded quietly.

"And.. Take this. " The old man handed Yugi a small, black box. "Collect me some cool Duel Monsters cards, okay?"

They both blissfully laughed. Yugi knew how much his grandfather treasured that specific card game - he had taught Yugi the basics and had many decks for playing with. He always looked up to the old man for it, as he was very skilled at playing.

"Oh!" Mana gleamed, "They sell loads of 'em in the Capital! I seen 'em in the market!"

"The game is very popular." Atemu looked to the old man and thanked him for everything.

Atemu let out a long, heavy sigh. He rolled one of his shoulders, trying to loosen up, and walked outside.

"Let's get going."

The three slowly wandered to the barriers of stone which closed off the small town from the rest of the scary world.Mana asked if they would say goodbye to Atemu and Yugi's friends before leaving, but Atemu said no.

Until something pulled him back.

A small, pale hand grabbed the cloak that Atemu had put on after it dried.

"You're not leaving, are you? Don't leave...Please..!"

Atemu glanced back, cold in his eyes. "Yami.."

Yugi turned around. Yami, weak and teary-eyed, fumbling as he grasped Atemu's cloak tighter and tighter.

Soon, Anzu were at the scene. She, too, tried to prevent them from leaving. Atemu had none of it, ignoring her and glaring down at Yami.

"Please.. Just let me go."

Yami shook his head.

"It's better this way, Yami."

The boy held tighter wincing when Atemu tried to swipe him off.

Mana took Atemu's hands in case he accidentally hurt someone and whispered gently,

"Maybe let them come with? He needs to be in the Capital anyway so.."

"Mana." Atemu gave her an empty look, "Do you realise how fucking dangerous it is out there?! Not everyone is blessed with the ability to run away, y'know!"

"Yeah? Well you seem fine!! Even if ye hyperventilating, you're still fine!! " Mana yelled back. Atemu broke his gaze from the girl and focused it back on his brother, Yugi cowering in the background - scared.

"Ate'? Please?" Yami sniffed, "I don't wanna lose you too.."

"I can't sit by and watch as you spend your life suffering Yami. Coming with us would be like a suicide mission for you."

Anzu had knelt down and hugged Yami. Yugi could tell that it was both for comfort, and in case something happened and one of them got angry.

Yami's face turned hot, tears streaming down his face as he cursed out at his brother. He turned around and buried himself in Anzu's thin jumper.

"Let's go."

Atemu grabbed Yugi's wrist forcefully. He ordered Mana to take the horse and come along, ignoring her when she tried to fight back.

It wasn't the ideal leaving party, sure, but Yugi calmed down at the sight of the briskly swaying trees and the beautiful landscape of the world around them. The mountain still far away in the distance, but at a nicer, cooler angle, the flowers gathered in sunny spaces… it was gorgeous.

"You did the wrong thing, 'temu."

Mana sighed, taking his arm and forcing it to release Yugi.

Atemu growled defensively, "He'd die out here."

"They're gon' na hate you now."

"As if I don't know that, idiot stick?"

His voice seemed quiet, like that of a sulking child's. He pulled away the hair in his face and walked further out to the distance.

Mana exhaled. She pulled out a large map and showed Yugi where they'll be going.

Straight forward until they come across a ledge, then they'd turn left and through a plains area, where they'd find a small village to rest in.

Yugi tried his best to memorise it. It seemed important to know.

Each tree were different. They had different patterns, different tones, different leaves.

The leaves ranged from a huge size to a miniature size. They fell onto the floor like they didn't have a care in the world. Inside the flakes of the break were little insects, loving their lives as normal and ignoring the giant human friends walking by.

Every tree were tall and old. There weren't any saplings, which Yugi found reasonable as there wasn't much space for the sun to peek through, anymore.

There was a sense of unease around the group of three. Mana holding the rope of her horse and casually walking it in a carefree manner, Yugi walking close to her and Atemu, who was further away from the pair and who carried a sorrowful expression.

Yugi didn't know how long they were walking for until they met an open grove of trees. Atemu flopped onto the floor, hiding his breathlessness, and checking his map for where to go.

"Why?" Mana questioned, "You're usually so protective of him, yet you made him cry.."

"He'd be killed out 'ere, Mana." Atemu whimpered, facing away from the two. Yugi shuddered, it was extremely awkward being in the middle of this.

Mana tied the horse up on a close-by tree trunk and sat with him, Yugi following shortly after. The trio sat in a circle - silently - and observed the direction they needed to go in. The sound of yelling could be heard in the distance, which Yugi chose to ignore in the moment.

"'temu?" Mana shattered the silence. Atemu kept looking into the distance - only his shoulders moving up and down with his deep breaths.

Mana pojed him, which he obviously ignored.

Yugi jumped in, "Atemu? A..are you alright? Mana wants to.."

Atemu jumped, he looked back to Mana and asked what was wrong.

"There's someone followin' us." Mana lowered her voice. Atemu twitched and immediately looked her in the eyes, "How many?"

"5. Small-bodied."

She pointed in a direction behind her.

Atemu raised his voice, "Oi! Show yer'selves!"

The leaves rustled, small footsteps and the sound of a twig breaking.

Then, four shadows peeked out, seemingly embarrassed.

"We've been found…!" A very familiar voice sighed. Two girls, two boys.

The four shadows soon became clearer to Yugi. Anzu, Yami, Miho and Honda - all wearing coats and carrying small bags. Yami faced the ground, away from his brother.

Atemu shuffled back," Mana. I think my medication is playin' up.. Yeah, yeah.. No way these kids would.."

"Follow you?" Miho finished the sentence for him, "We did!"

"Why the fuck.."

"You know.. We have some business in Automaton too." Honda smirked, placing his hand on Yami's shoulder. Atemu stayed silent for a long, awkward while.

Mana gleamed, "Let's take 'em wi' us then! Migh' as well!"

Atemu glared at Mana, shaking his head urgently and crossing his arms.

"Ate'." Yami raised his voice, "Just because it's dangerous, it doesn't mean we'll just die immediately."

"Miho agrees!" Miho chimed.

Anzu fiddled with her hair, "You should just let us tag along, it's too far to go back now anyway."

Mana gave a nod of approval.

"I..think it's fine..!" Yugi mumbled, just to join in.

Slowly, Atemu walked up to Yami. He stared at him for a few seconds before wrapping his arms tightly around the boy's shoulders. Yami hesitated, before hugging his brother back - as tightly as he could.

" Fine.. "

Yami was silently crying, a small smile placed on his face as histwin tightened the hug.

"But.. It's only 'cause I'd miss you.."

Yugi couldn't see Atemu's expression, but figured he was smiling too. The moment carried on until Mana raised one good question.

"We have seven of us. It migh' be difficult to walk in such a large group."

Atemu dropped the hug and cursed under his breath, pondering on what they should do. Anzu questioned why it were so dangerous to walk in a big group.

"Mana? Wan'na explain to 'em?"

"Uhm.. Not really.."

Her face flushed deeply, scratching her head and awkwardly looking away into the distance. Her partner role her it was okay and thought deeply.

Atemu said that they should try to find a spare carriage to go into the closest village with, to which Mana willingly agreed to. She seemingly wanted to rid of the current attention on her.

"How'd we do that?" Honda slipped his hands into his pockets. The cloaked girl grinned cheekily and pointed in the direction of northwest. There were the sounds of yelling coming from the direction - the same yelling Yugi was trying to ignore.

"There's a salesman. Hide."

Mana purred. Everyone except Atemu gave her a confused look. The teen told the rest of the group that she knew what she was doing, just as a reassurance.

She sprinted off, arms flailed out as she ran extremely quickly. Atemu dragged the group to a bush to hide in, where they could see what was going on.

Indeed, there was a carriage. Along with that, there were two large men and a small boy. The boy cowered under the men, crying his eyes out and begging for mercy.

"Hm~?" Mana jumped behind the big men, no one seeing her coming, "And whad'do we 'ave 'ere?"

The men jumped out of their skins.

"None of yer business, girly!" One of them spat back, clenching the dagger in their hand tightly. They lunged towards her.

Then they stopped.

And fell to the ground.

"Wha.. Oh lord..." the second man gasped. He dropped to his knees and begged.

"I'm sorry.. Bandit..forgive me…"

Mana rolled her barely-visible eyes and lifted her leg up, calmly stepping on his back with her heel and driving it into him until he screamed out and scrambled away.

The boy thanked her, scuttling back until he hit the tree.

"Thank you so.. Where might you be from?"

"I'm not really from anywhere." Mana shrugged and sat on the ground, crossing her legs.

"You saved me.. I cannot pay you enough for.."

"How about leaving us the carriage?"

Mana smirked at the boy's look of surprise.

"But.."

The girl picked herself up and daintily floated towards the carriage,"You a salesman, 'ight? There's a town close by, I left a spare merchandise carriage there. Also,'ere."

She took out a deep grey bag and jingled it - the sound of coins rattling around in there were loud.

"How much?"

"250 gold."

The salesman stood up and immediately took the bag.

"I'll pay an extra 300 gold if you give me the horse too." Mana winked. Yugi assumed that the money she was offering was a huge amount, as the boy agreed to that and took the money and started getting rid of his crates.

Atemu commented, "Not like that's 'er money anyway."

"How come?" Honda asked back,

"Hm? Isn't it obvious? She stole it."

The group stared at him, expressionless (apart from Yugi, or course, he already knew that she was pretty much a criminal from reading Atemu' s story).

After the salesman thanked Mana for 'paying his debt money' and took away all of the crates he had, Mana strapped her horse, Sugarcube, onto the carriage, introduced herself to the new horsey companion and called the group hiding in the bush, over.

Atemu gave a polite bow to the salesman and helped his twin on board the vehicle. It was made of wood and had wheels that were lined with, as assumed, rubber.

Inside were some benches that sat around the inside of the carriage, scruffy yet not as shabby as Yugi had thought for it being some struggling salesman's.

Mana whacked the horses with the rope and they started running, sound of hooves clunking against the dirt ground and the occasional snort or neigh breaking the silence between those in the group.

Yugi looked out to the passing view. The trees almost appeared to be spinning as they moves along, leaves flying but not hitting the ground as the horses passed by. He felt the gentle breeze on his face. It calmed him down.

He took a look at the people with him. Miho was sketching, Honda trying to follow along with her but failing to do so. Anzu was quietly talking to Yami and Atemu was blankly staring off into the distance, with the occasional talk to Mana.

Time passed. The horses stopped running as soon as it darkened, and Mana hopped into the carriage for a break.

"In the morning we'll arrive." She quietly smiled, taking some veggies from her bag and preparing them nicely. "You guys shou' rest, it's be'n a long day."

Everyone agreed. Before long, once Mana got back to driving the carriage with the freshly fed horses, everyone were asleep.

Yamu was curled up in the corner, resting against Atemu - who was slowly nodding off, but not fully asleep. Anzu stayed on her own, near the rickety window. Miho and Honda stuck together. Yugi and Mana were the only ones awake (or fully awake). He read from Atemu's book and looked out to the stars, until the small glittery lights enticed him to rest as well.

He wondered, what would the future hold now that he was travelling?

He wondered, what if something happened?

He wondered, what if they stop wanting to travel with him?

He wondered, what about the last person that was following them? She said there were 5, but only 4 showed themselves.

However, he tossed that all aside and closed his eyes, leaving the town of Monochrome behind.