Disclaimer. I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! It belongs to Kazuki Takahashi and crew.
Sensing that something had changed, Yugi opened his eyes, afraid of what he saw. He was no longer in his painting infested bedroom. He was sitting on a bed, with four white walls surrounding him. The air held a mystical power, not one of the modern age.
Confused, he stared around suspiciously, searching for the man. He was nowhere in sight. Something flickered, and Yugi glanced at a wall that had come to life. Images were playing. At one point, the image of his long dead brother appeared. Yugi jumped up, running over to the wall, gazing sadly at his deceased sibling.
The image flickered again, this time showing the spirit. The man climbed out the wall, holding out his hand. "I saw this in a small portion of your memories. Excuse my intrusion but I could be your brother now. Is that alright? Someone to look up to. Someone to love. Someone to share a sibling's bond."
With this he put a hand on his chest, looking determined. "Let me fill that role! I don't want to replace your brother, but hope to somehow represent him. Then...you'd at least...trust me right?"
He looked into Yugi's eyes, looking earnest, but gaped when he saw tears running down the teen's face. He scolded himself. 'I went too far didn't I? Dammit. I just wanted him to know that I can be trusted.'
He attempted to take a step but was shocked into stopping as a blur rushed towards him, wrapping thin, bony arms around his back.
(Remember, he's pretty tall in this story. Yugi I mean.)
The man gazed down at him, unable to form words. A slight noise came from Yugi. The spirit blinked.
"What?"
Again the teen mumbled something, but this time the spirit was able to hear the barely whispered words. "Thank you." Smiling, the man in turn hugged the teen back. "By the way, you can just call me Yami."
Yugi stared up at him. "Niisan."
Yami went still. "W-what?" Yugi let go, looking quite shy. "Nissan." He mumbled.
(It means big brother.)
Yami turned away, a slight smile on his face. 'I'm a big brother huh? Has a nice ring to it.' He peeked at Yugi, who was staring at him curiously.
"Alright. If it is what you wish...I will be your desired big brother."
A silence followed, before it was broken by a ringing voice echoing across the mystical space.
"Yugi? Hello? Can you hear me?" Yugi looked up, gasping.
Yami thrust an arm towards the teen, his hand glowing. In a split second, Yugi felt distorted before blinking awake, seeing the face of his Grandfather, looking worried.
"The zombie lives! What were you doing?"
Yugi noticed that he was sitting on his own bed, the familiar sight of his paintings surrounding him. He sat up, before realizing a heavy weight around his neck. Peering down he saw the completed form of the puzzle tied around his neck and resting on his chest.
A poke startled him, seeing Sugouroku poking him. "Hello?"
Yugi waved his hand away, annoyed. "I'm fine." He whispered.
His grandfather sat back, obviously unsatisfied but not prying further. "It's the middle of the night. Get some rest. You've been out of it for quite awhile." He got up and left. Yugi thought about the painting he was going to do for Anzu. He decided to start his painting instead of sleeping. Standing up, he nodded to himself, determined to finish it before morning.
He grabbed his painting bag and a blank canvas lying against the wall. Setting the canvas against his painting stand, Yugi rustled in the bag, grabbing a small paintbrush and two colours, a brilliant silver and royal green.
'I'll do the rose first.' He thought.
Squirting the paints into little paint holders he dipped the brush into the silver, starting the outline of the rose. Each petal was perfectly crisp, flowing around each other as they curled into the center of the rose.
Once done, by dipping the brush into the royal green, he started the stem, deciding that the stem would form the outline of a Dove.
The night grew long as Yugi continued to paint. Time passed. Birds started chirping in the early dawn as Yugi was finishing the touches of striking azure fur on the Dragon's back and tail.
Silver pink claws grasped the rose, as pure white teeth roared at a star filled sky. Violet purple eyes gazed at a particular bright star, looking rather lonely. Neon blue scales covered the body, each one letting off a slight glow in the night. Twisted horns glowing with the colours of rainbows rose out of the sharply narrow head, twisting up and up, towards the sky.
A little dab here, a smart tap there and the painting was done. Morning was fast approaching as Yugi yawned, standing back and admiring his work. Hands sore from so much detail, he sat on the bed, passing out.
It was then that Yami appeared, gawking at the finished painting. 'Amazing...he truly does have quite a talent. I wonder who he's going to give it to...I guess I'll have to wait.'
He glanced at the sleeping Yugi, sprawled awkwardly on his bed. Smiling, Yami vanishd, excited to know what lucky person would receive such a beautiful and heartfelt painting.
End of Chapter Two.