Author's Notes
Yuugi decides...
Jonouchi meets with...
Yuugi stays...
Inside Sennen Aitemu...
Chapter 21 - Sennen Pazuru
Yuugi was in his room, managing the pain he felt after answering the various questions his grandfather asked, with Sugoroku being horrified to see his grandson's condition, then assisting him with the bandages with the albino that had assisted and escorted him to his house.
After school ended, the twins went to their childhood friend's house to find out how he was doing, with the young man getting the content that was given in the classes and homework. His friends stayed with him until a few minutes ago, showing worry in their eyes, and then said goodbye to his friend and grandfather, with Sugoroku (Solomon) being aware that his son wished to have a friend to know what the conversations with another man, since Yukiko, Nuru and Kisara were girls.
In his room, the tricolor-haired young man was too worried to see that the amount in his small safe on his desk was insufficient to pay the amount Ushio ordered him to pay.
"What am I going to do? Twenty thousand yen? Where am I going to get that much money? There's no way I can get that amount until tomorrow! It's impossible." He comments get it yourself after sighing in dismay.
Then, unconsciously, seeking some comfort, without realizing what he was doing, he takes the pieces of Sennen Pazuru that were on his study table and begins to assemble while he was thinking to himself, inert to what his hands were doing.
"What do I do? If I don't pay, I'll suffer tomorrow." The young man remembers Tetsuo licking the knife blade with a face twisted in demented pleasure, making him shiver intensely. "What can I do? He's going to kill me for sure!"
In the labyrinth of the soul that was illuminated by the glow of the gentle heart of the young man with the amethyst eyes, Atemu could feel what happened to Yuugi as he sat on his stone throne as the young man played the pieces, eventually hearing his thoughts at the same time when he was taken by an unprecedented fury when trying to deduce who had hurt such a noble and crystal-hearted soul because he only had access to the thoughts when the young man said something, as well as feeling the feelings related to those thoughts that came to him.
Furthermore, he also felt the strong terror that gripped the young man and wished more than anything that he could comfort him and allay that intense fear in some way while he was furious at having a glimpse that the teenager's fear was coming from someone, but that he still couldn't discern who it was.
Initially, he thought that the injuries and intense fear that gripped the young man with the amethyst eyes had been the work of Jounouchi and Honda, as he had repeatedly heard the teenager's thoughts about them, knowing that they tormented the young man when Yukiko, Nuru and Kisara they weren't close to him.
At those moments his blood boiled and he confessed that he had imagined the various ways that would banish them to oblivion in a Yami in the game while being disgusted to remember that this would never happen because Katsuya had stolen one of the golden pieces, with Atemu firmly believing that the piece was for sale on the black market and that due to this fact, the Sennen Pazuru would never be completed, making it remain sealed forever within the item while it could not distribute the justice that the teenager deserved to the punish those who invaded the border of Mutou's heart.
After better listening to the young man's thoughts, even though he knew he couldn't do anything, Pharaoh discovered that it wasn't Jounouchi and Honda that hurt him that way. The culprit was Ushio Tetsuo, with Atemu discovering through the amethyst-eyed youth's thoughts that he was hurt by having protected both of them from the Student Monitor, he understood, even going so far as to call them friends as well as offering himself as a punching bag so that Ushio wouldn't keep hitting Katsuya and Hiroto.
As he assimilated the fragments of memories he received through the golden pieces, putting them together as best he could, Pharaoh massages his temples with his fingers, then sighs because his future host was too peculiar with his crystalline, gentle and kind heart.
So he must have foreseen something like that, considering he'd known him for eight years, since Yuugi first touched the item, receiving the warm, gentle, placid and comforting light that emanated from him into Atemu's memory chambers.
So, thinking about the fact that he would be forced to watch everything from within the item, without being able to distribute the justice that the young man deserved in a Yami no Game, judging the person's true character and condemning him with a penalty game. He felt great fury and in proportion to his anger, it was his sadness. An immense sadness that engulfed him, making him clench his teeth and fists at the thought of his eternal prison inside the item, unable to save the gentle light from the evil of the world because of the lack of a single golden piece.
Outside the item, Yuugi was still thinking about his current situation until he dropped the item upon realizing what he was doing.
"Hey! This is not the time! I need to think of some way out if I don't want to die... After all, I won't be able to pay Ushio-san twenty thousand yen." The young man speaks to himself as he looks at the golden pieces.
So he thinks to himself, looking at the golden pieces in front of him.
"Well, just thinking about it won't make the money come out of nowhere. At least, riding Sennen Pazuru, I get a little distracted and who knows, I might not have some solution for my situation in the meantime? After all, a calm mind allows see beyond. At least, that's what they told me."
Then, the young man reassembles the Sennen Aitemu, with the sound of the pieces falling into place and filling his room as he commented in a mixture of surprise and excitement "Hey! It fit! So I needed to rotate the piece after putting it. So this piece must go in here..."
While Mutou was engaged in assembling the Sennen Pazuru, exhibiting excitement at the ease with which the pieces fit one after another, not knowing that it was thanks to the removal of Atemu's magic in one of them that allowed him to continue putting the pieces together, Sugoroku found himself on the sidewalk in front of the store, sweeping it.
Then, something catches his attention and when looking to his right side, he sees a blond teenager who wore the same uniform as his grandson and it was evident the fact that he was drenched even though it wasn't raining.
"Konbanwa. I'm Sugoroku. If you came to buy something, I might open my shop soon, young man." Mutou greets him gently after stopping sweeping when the teenager approaches him.
"Konbanwa, Sugoroku-san. I'm a friend of your grandson, Yuugi."
"I'm glad my grandson has a friend. So what can I do for you young man? I noticed you didn't come to buy anything."
"You're right. I came to deliver something that belongs to Yuugi" He says, taking something from his pocket, then extending his palm, revealing a golden piece.
The item makes Sugoroku stunned and when he comes out of his stupor, he takes the piece, then speaks, showing emotion at seeing the piece saved in his hands at the same time that he found it strange that his grandson did not report the lack of one of the pieces by Sennen Pazuru "Thank you very much, young man. This is very important to my grandson. It is part of his priceless treasure."
"I know. That's why I came to deliver as soon as possible."
"By the way, you didn't say your name."
The blonde hesitates for a few seconds because he didn't know if Yuugi ever told his grandfather about him and Honda.
After sighing, he decides to tell, praying that the younger teenager has never mentioned both to the old man in front of him.
"My name is Jounouchi and I want to ask you not to reveal my name to your grandson. I don't want him to know that I delivered the piece." He speaks while a sad face appears for a few seconds, before returning to his usual face, showing a smile.
After all, the blonde was relieved to notice that the man in front of him had no reaction to his name, indicating that Mutou never mentioned them to his grandfather.
This change did not go unnoticed by Sugoroku who decided not to question the young man in front of him.
"I understand. You can let me not reveal your name." Sugoroku speaks in a gentle tone as he tucks the golden piece into one of his pockets.
"Thank you. In addition to delivering the piece, I want to ask if you know why Yuugi is injured."
Mutou shows concern on his face, his eyes widening slightly, and then he holds the blonde's arms in front of him as he pleads, "Please tell me why he's hurt. Please, Jounouchi-kun, tell me. My grandson doesn't want to tell and I can't get him to reveal what happened in high school."
"I came here to tell you the reason too, in case he didn't tell you. Since Yuugi-kun didn't, I will."
"Thank you so much young man!" He thanks him with emotion and lets him go.
"The one who hurt him was Student Monitor Tetsu Ushio. He beat up two high school bullies who were always bullying his grandson. Only he did it as a bodyguard. Yuugi never hired him. He took over for himself this denomination. His grandson defended the two students who verbally and physically abused him, in order to prevent them from catching more than Ushio, and even went so far as to offer to be beaten in their place, in order to placate that bastard who decided to beat him as a way to warning to make you pay the price of being your bodyguard." Jounouchi speaks disgustedly at the mention of the word bodyguard. "Yuugi has to pay twenty thousand yen by tomorrow, so as not to suffer worse injuries at the hands of that bastard.
Sugoroku listened to everything in silence while his grandson's attitude of defending the bullies to prevent them from being more hurt and reaching the point of using his body as a shield, in addition to not telling him what happened to protect him, did not it was nothing new, in his view and even would be expected of him.
After all, Yuugi had a crystal-clear, amiable and kind heart. He was incapable of harming anyone while he would never wish harm no matter how much that person hurt him. His heart would never allow such an act, just as he never reacted when attacked. He only reacted if it was to save someone, no matter who it was and what that person did to him, and he didn't keep hate or hurt from others. He might be angry at first, but he couldn't keep the hate or hurt in his crystalline heart which was highly prone to fully forgiving the person in a matter of days.
After all, Sugoroku knew his grandson's unique heart better than anyone else, just as he feared that someone with such a crystal-clear heart lived in a world that didn't deserve such a noble soul.
He sighs wearily, then holds back tears as he recalls the wounds done to such a gentle and kind soul.
"I'm not surprised by my grandson's actions. I would be surprised if he hadn't done any of this. He has a crystal-clear heart, filled with kindness and kindness. , only if someone is in trouble, going to great lengths to do so, regardless of who it is. Therefore, protecting these two who bullied him, even offering to be beaten in their place, was expected from my grandson and even now , I seriously doubt he has any hatred for Ushio." Suguroku speaks, wearing a tired countenance after taking a deep breath.
"His heart is unique and these two who mistreated him are real idiots as well as bastards. They didn't deserve his protection!" The blonde exclaims, twisting his fists as he closes his eyes as he recalls all his actions towards the younger teenager and then everything he did to save them.
"Junouchi-kun" Katsuya looks at the man in front of her at the mention of his name, arching her brow at him. "My grandson would never think that way. He will always save others, no matter how much it causes him to suffer or to get hurt or both. So I doubt he has any regrets for what he did and I believe he would do it again, without hesitation.
The blonde sighs, knowing how true the words of the old man in front of him were, deciding that he would deal with the shame and anger he felt at himself for everything he did against a colleague with such a unique heart and who spared no efforts to save them, even after the cruel treatment they gave him, making him feel like the worst garbage in the world while considering himself unworthy of the injuries Yuugi suffered to save them.
Jonouchi even mentally begs Kami-sama to breathe out everything he did against the tricolor-haired teenager, to be able to get rid of the shame that took him, reminding him relentlessly of how much he was a bastard in relation to Mutou.
"I believe that too. Well, I must go home before I catch a cold." Katsuya speaks after getting out of his thoughts.
"True. You can let me give the piece to my grandson. Thank you so much, Jounouchi-kun, for finding the piece and I apologize for any inconvenience."
The blonde decides to stoically suppress the feelings of pain, guilt, grief and anger at himself that were inside him for his actions in the past and his act in the present to stole one of the pieces of the golden box.
Therefore, Katsuya displays a fake smile as his clenched fists demonstrate how angry he felt at himself and how unworthy of any thanks, since he stole that item and threw it into the pool so that Yuugi would suffer when he realized that a of the items disappeared.
Containing the feelings that were inside him, he manages to say goodbye with his usual voice that did not reveal the pain and anger that took him, as well as the shame for his actions.
"Oyasuminasai, Sugoroku-san."
"Oyasuminasai, Jounouchi-kun."
After waving one hand, he backs away from the spot as he puts his hands inside his pockets.
A few minutes later, in Yuugi's room, Yuugi wore a look of pleasant surprise when he saw that the pieces were falling into place so easily, making him comment to himself as he was absorbed in finishing the puzzle, "Cool! Today's the thing is walking. Right today. This is amazing."
The young man is surprised to realize that he could finish assembling the Sennen Aitemu and that he only needed a golden piece for him to make his wish for the item. He had waited eight years for that wish.
Then Yuugi speaks in a slightly incredulous voice, as if he can't believe what he is seeing because he has been trying to assemble the item for eight years.
"I achieved! After eight years! Anyway, I managed to assemble!" He congratulated himself in thought as he looked at the inverted pyramid, incomplete only by a single piece.
"I just need to fit the last piece and it's ready! Finally, my wish will be granted!" The young man exclaims excitedly.
Inside the item, Atemu fully felt the intense happiness that the young man felt for having almost finished assembling the item and starts to feel bad for it.
After all, the teenager would bitterly discover the lack of the item that made the completion of the assembly unfeasible and when thinking about it, the Pharaoh felt his heart tighten as he screamed in his mind for the injustice he suffered by being deprived of protecting and saving Yuugi from the world that he didn't deserve it.
His pain and desolation were palpable and choked his soul as he digested the fact that he would remain in his prison inside the item forever, his crimson orbs fading as he took in the disheartening and equally suffocating truth.
Outside, after being pleasantly surprised by his feat, Yuugi directs one of his hands into the golden sarcophagus to pick up the last golden piece to finish assembling the item while continuing to gloat to himself for his feat.
However, when his hand enters the golden box, he finds no pieces and starts to show a face shocked by the appalling discovery, as if he couldn't believe how he felt when he felt the box after having spent eight years trying to assemble it.
Then, realizing the missing piece, he exclaims in despair, "Where's the last piece?! Where did it go?"
The young man starts searching desperately around the room and after several minutes, on the verge of tears, he sits in the chair in front of the table, looking desolately at the incomplete object that rested on his desk while exclaiming in thought, his voice filled with desolation at the same time when he was immersed in pain, making him cry copiously:
"The Sennen Pazuru will never be resolved!" The young man clasped both fists at the table as he shed tears as he exclaimed in thought, his voice filled with desolation while he was immersed in pain. "My wish will never come true!"
Nearby, Yukiko found herself sitting on the railing of a building, watching Yuugi through the skylight of her room. He had seen Jounouchi talking to Sugoroku and handing the golden piece, to later see him leave, returning to look at his friend.
Her heart restricted to hear and see his tears of pain and desolation as she struggled hard not to enter the young man's room to comfort him. She confessed that it took a lot of willpower to suppress this desire driven by her maternal feelings towards him while clenching her fists and even knowing it was temporary, once the blonde returned the piece he stole, she had to fight eagerly not to go to the teenager because of his tears that hurt her too much.
Back in Yuugi's room, he found himself leaning on the table while he couldn't contain his tears that sprang from his amethyst orbs as he went into depression as he kept a desolate look at the item in front of him.
His grandfather enters the room and approaches his grandson, exclaiming excitedly to see him partially completed as he takes the Sennen Aitemu in his hands to bring it closer to him, displaying intense admiration and pride in his eyes as he looks at his grandson, "I can't believe it! Sennen Pazuru is resolved!"
"No... The Sennen Pazuru will never be finished, jii-chan. I can't find the last golden piece to complete it."
The tricolor-haired teenager mumbles sadly, not knowing that the desolating pain he felt was shared by the spirit sealed within the item along with the fact that he was extremely worried about Ushio while feeling an intense anger at not being able to do anything for the young man, a the item was incomplete.
His grandfather analyzes the item, spotting the central part of it that was missing.
"Let me see, yes... I get it now" Sugoroku says, looking at his grandson who had his head on the tabletop as he shed tears. "Yuugi-kun, you've been waiting for this moment for eight years. You should trust Sennen Pazuru's miraculous power more."
Yuugi turns his head to look at him at the mention of the miraculous power of the item that made him arch his brow, only to see his beloved grandfather extending his left hand towards him that was closed.
"Today is the day your wish will be granted!" Sugoroku exclaims confidently in his face as he opens his hand, revealing the last missing piece.
The young man with the amethyst eyes is thrilled as his tears of sadness turn to tears of happiness.
"Jii-chan!" The teenager hugged his grandfather. "Thank you so much for finding it! Thank you so much! Where did you find it?"
"Hey, calm down..." He manages to calm his grandson as he speaks. "Yuugi-kun, I wasn't the one who found this piece."
The tricolor-haired teenager looks at his grandfather with obvious surprise.
"A friend of yours just stopped by the store and asked me to give it to you. It was all wet even though it wasn't raining."
Yuugi takes the piece fondly while thinking to himself.
"Who would it have been?! But thanks anyway. Thanks to you, I will be able to fulfill my wish."
After delivering the piece, seeing his grandson excitedly celebrating the reappearance of the last golden piece, Sugoroku walked away with an envelope in his hand to tuck it discreetly into the young man's backpack while thinking to himself.
"Jounouchi-kun asked me not to say his name to you, but he told me everything, since you didn't tell me anything even though I was worried about your injuries, as well as Yukiko-chan, Nuru-chan and Kisara-chan. Now I know a bastard named Ushio is threatening you." He tucks the envelope into his grandson's backpack. "I'll put the money inside your backpack. I hope this prevents you from getting hurt again."
After putting the envelope away, he heads out of the room, speaking as he turns away, "Oyasumi, Yuugi-kun."
"Oyasumi, jii-chan."
Then, with the Sennen Pazuru partially assembled, missing the last piece that was in his other hand, Yuugi begins to bring it closer while overflowing with anxiety and happiness, feeling that his feelings were not only unresolved by Sennen Aitemu after eight years old. He felt there were other feelings involved. Something inside his heart that yearned to have the item fully assembled, along with an anxiety unknown to him, but that held him tightly to the item in a way inexplicable to the young man and equally intense, as if he had been waiting a long time to unite with someone who inhabited his heart, however strange that singular thought was, when he saw it.
So, brushing these thoughts aside as he slowly approached the piece, he thought to himself:
"Finally, I'll be able to finish assembling it!"
Nearby, in the hallway that gave access to his room, Sugoroku was talking mentally, with his arms behind him as he walked away from his grandson's room.
"Ho ho ho... Congratulations on solving Sennen Pazuru, Yuugi-kun. They say that whoever solves Sennen Pazuru will inherit the power of the Yami no Game (Dark Games) and with it, will become the Guardian of Justice and judge evil. Well, that's what's written in an excerpt from the Book of the Dead."
Back in Yuugi's room, as soon as he fit the last piece, Atemu, who was inside the item and who had recovered from the unexpected surprise that the golden piece had returned to his future host, had walked into the huge room that it contained a door with Wadjet's eye in relief.
When Mutou fitted the last golden piece, the immense chamber where the Pharaoh was and which gave access to the countless stairs and corridors of his labyrinth of memories, became completely illuminated and when he looked at the door that he could not open before because it was sealed, he notices that it glows brightly, the glow concentrating on Wadjet's eye.
Driven by the intense light that invaded the room and not intimidated by the glow of the eye carved on the glowing door, he approached her and reached out to hold the doorknob while smiling immensely as he felt that Yuugi had mounted completely, the Sennen Pazuru.
Upon opening the door, an intense light surrounds him while outside, Yuugi seemed to find himself in a trance as he looked at Sennen Pazuru who glowed brightly, with Wedjat no Sennen Aitemu's eye shining more intensely, making it appear a golden spiral that goes up to the forehead of the young man with tricolor hair, beginning to unite the young man's soul with that of the sealed spirit as he projected the chamber of Yuugi's soul and mind in front of the door that gave access to the chamber belonging to the Pharaoh after creating a corridor that allowed access to both chambers of the soul, joining and separating them at the same time.
After the glow faded, the amethyst-eyed teenager seemed to remain in a trance as a golden eye appeared on his forehead.
In the meantime, as he walked down a hallway, Sugoroku thought to himself, chuckling slightly as he kept his hands clasped behind his back.
"Ho ho ho... Maybe the one who's in trouble right now is this guy named Ushio. "