Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh, Supernatural, or any of the characters therein.
Chapter 2
Yugi's spirit was further lifted as he enjoyed lunch with Tea and their good friends, Joey and Tristan. Both boys were much larger than Yugi and had once bullied him before an incident with a much greater bully had brought them together. Now, they were quite inseparable.
Yugi chuckled as Joey and Tristan argued over who had dibs on a bag of chips Yugi did not want. The argument was brought to an abrupt end when Yami, who had been watching with amusement, decided that he wanted the chips. He had slipped into control of Yugi's body without anyone noticing, and had made it half way through the bag before Joey noticed what was happening.
"Yuge! I thought you said you didn't want –"
Joey's words trailed off when he registered the subtle changes to the boy before him that signaled the arrival of his other soul. Somehow, inexplicably, Yugi appeared taller, though he was still a bit shorter than Tristan or Joey. His posture was much straighter, and he had a decidedly regal air about him. His face appeared older, more exotic and angular, having lost the innocent roundness that made Yugi look much like a child, although they were in high school. The most striking difference, however, was his eyes. Where before his eyes had been gentle and a bright amethyst color, they were now sharper, and of a dangerous garnet hue. Joey couldn't help but think that neither eye color was particularly normal, but he found the red to be mildly disturbing.
A few years ago, he'd have laughed at the idea that there were things like ghosts and spirits in the world. Considering that his best friend was periodically possessed by the Spirit of an ancient pharaoh, however, Joey had become a bit more open-minded. He sometimes wondered how many other legends and myths really did exist in the world.
Yami quirked a single eyebrow and smirked as he brought another chip to his mouth with a crunch. Tea and Tristan were watching him now, as well, having finally realized that the two souls had switched at some point. Tea offered a timid smile, acknowledging Yami's presence. Tristan chose not to say anything in particular. He generally preferred to pretend not to notice when Yugi changed.
Yami chuckled, a deep rumbling sound reverberating in his chest and sounded nothing like the voice of Yugi. Tea couldn't help but blush a little. She always found herself a little enamored with the Spirit of the Puzzle on the occasions when he made an appearance. She was the first to realize, after all, that there was another side to Yugi. Even now, she was the only one who really acknowledged the pharaoh as a separate entity. Joey and Tristan, while they realized another soul was inhabiting Yugi's body, still referred to him as Yugi, or Yuge, no matter who was in control. She thought maybe this was an attempt on their part to normalize the seemingly insane and decidedly supernatural events going on around them.
Gracefully, Yami offered the open bag of chips to Joey, the smirk still etched on his face. Joey barked with sudden laughter, "Hey! I was gonna eat those!" Joey's face settled into a comical sort of pout, causing those gathered around to laugh at his antics.
Yami grinned now as well. "So sorry, Joey. I just realized I had never tried…what is this? Dill pickle flavored? I was curious. What is a dill pickle, anyway?"
Tristan piped up a this, "Seriously, never had dill pickle chips? Or a dill pickle? We need to get you out more often."
"Oh, I'm not sure I was really missing anything this time." Yami replied, twisting his expression into one of distaste. It still seemed odd to the others that Yugi's voice could change so dramatically when Yami was in control, but, then again, that was far from the strangest thing to happen to them since Yugi solved the Puzzle.
Joey gasped at this, "What? No way, man. Dill pickle chips are where it's at. They make the sun rise in the morning, I tell ya."
Yami shook his head, causing his blonde bangs to sway gently, "No, I think you're mistaken, Joey. Nacho cheese. Cheese is what makes the sun rise in the morning."
Tea giggled. Though Yami's face showed no change and his voice remained even and serious, he was joking with them. She couldn't help but enjoy the rare moment with their more serious friend. Yami almost never came out unless there was some sort of danger or unless he was asked, suddenly, to take control by Yugi, which she assumed is what had happened this time. Yugi liked to periodically introduce Yami to new things and experiences, even if it was just some random chips he hadn't tried before. It had led to more than a few interesting situations in which the Pharaoh had been suddenly thrown into new situations.
With the chips finished, Yami wiped his hands neatly on a napkin. Another difference, the friends noted. Yugi would have simply wiped the grease on his pants and called it a day without a thought.
Yami's scarlet eyes smiled slightly, softening as he took in the group sitting around him. It was pleasant, he thought, to feel like part of a group of friends. He would not, however, steal anymore time from Yugi, even though the younger soul had directly asked him to take over. Yami could not shake the feeling that anytime he took over, he was taking time away from what should be Yugi's time and life. He had to remind himself that he was, in fact, long dead, and he did not have the right to claim control of the shared body for longer than was necessary to keep Yugi safe.
Yugi had sensed such sentiments from Yami before and had assured him that he did not mind. He was glad to have his friend with him. He was glad to show Yami new things and he did not mind sharing his body with the soul of someone he had come to consider a brother. Yami knew Yugi meant every word of it, too, because it was Yugi. There was almost certainly no purer and kinder soul in the world.
That Yugi was willing to share even an ounce of time and life with Yami was something he considered a great blessing: one he would not dare to misuse. He refused to take advantage of Yugi like the cruel Spirit of the Millennium Ring took advantage of their friend, Ryou Bakura.
With that troubling thought, Yami suddenly relinquished control of the shared body back to Yugi, who blinked with slight surprise. The others started somewhat as well, having noticed the far-away look that had crossed Yami's face before he had closed his eyes and let go. It was a strange, almost lonely sight to behold. That look had left each of the friends with a hollow sort of feeling that they could not quite understand.
/Why the sudden departure, Yami?/ Yugi gently prodded his friend. While he did not wish to be intrusive, he had hoped Yami might spend a little more time enjoying himself. The Spirit was too isolated, spending so much of his time hidden away in the Puzzle.
Yugi couldn't help but feel sadness for his friend. Yami could not truly belong with them. He was a Spirit, Yugi knew that. He knew Yami was dead, that thousands of years separated them now from any semblance of the life he must have once led. Yami couldn't remember that life, though. He had nothing to hold onto beyond the memories of the past few years with Yugi and his friends. For a spirit who had existed for multiple millennia, Yami was largely a blank slate. He hid it well, even through the spiritual and mental link he and Yugi shared, but Yugi could sometimes sense and intense loneliness and grief from his brother spirit that left him with an inexplicable knot in his chest.
He wanted to help, but he didn't know how.
It took Yami a few moments to properly respond to Yugi's inquiry. /What do you mean, Yugi? I was finished. I tried the chips. I do not think I want to try them again, though. They made my face hurt./
Yami could sense Yugi's eyeroll. /Alright, but you know you can spend time with them. They're your friends, too. They care about you just like I do and, honestly, I am a little worried about you./
/Thank you, Yugi, but you do not need to worry yourself with me. I'm fine. I was just finished, truly, and your school is so loud./
/Yami, we literally share a mind or soul or whatever you want to call it. That's horseshit. I won't push you, but please, consider letting yourself, you know, enjoy existing./
Yami chuckled at Yugi's unexpected usage of foul language. Joey's influence, he supposed. /Alright, partner./
Yugi felt a sense of reassurance wash over him as Yami retreated into the Puzzle. Yugi could not sense Yami's thoughts and feelings so well when his spirit returned to its small prison but the teen hoped that Yami would take his words seriously and consider lightening up a little bit.
