Disclaimer: Don't own Yugioh or Supernatural. Bummer.


Chapter 5

In a startlingly few days, Yugi found himself on an airplane bound for Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He had no real desire to visit the state, knowing little about it and always having believed it to be remote and boring. If he had family there, though, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad. Still, his heart clenched for no reason. He found himself wishing that he could bring all of his friends with him for the trip. That was silly, of course, but he hated being away from his little group and was already missing their presence. There weren't very many people in the world who truly knew him.

Unconsciously, Yugi reached for the reassuring warmth of the Millennium Puzzle and relaxed some when he felt Yami waking.

/Are you alright, Yugi?/ The Spirit asked gently, feeling the way that Yugi was grasping for some sort of comfort.

/Dunno, I just can't shake the feeling that something is really off about all of this./

/I know what you mean. There's very little to be done about it now, though. Either way, I am right here and it will be okay. Okay?/

The corner of Yugi's mouth turned up in a brief, half-hearted smile. /Thanks, Yami. I'm glad you're with me./

/Always, partner./

Yugi focused on the sky and world outside his window seat, letting his mind wander and giving Yami a chance, as well, to observe the world from the sky. The ancient king was more than a little awestruck by the expansive beauty of the land below and their conversation turned to happier musings until the younger spirit began to doze, leaving the body in control of Yami while he slept.

Within a few hours, Yami was nudging Yugi awake, alerting him to the fact that they were about to land at Sioux Falls Regional Airport. Yugi stretched and lightly elbowed his grandpa, who had fallen asleep in the seat beside him. His mother was already quite alert, though he noted that she had remained exceptionally quiet for most of the flight. In fact, she had been unnervingly quiet for several days, which did not help Yugi's anxiety. She had almost seemed to be studying him. Worse, at times he had noticed his own mother looking at him almost as if she were looking upon a stranger and it made his heart ache to think that he had grown so far from her.

They disembarked the plane, swiftly gathering their bags from the baggage claim. Mrs. Mutou looked around the airport, anxiously, searching for someone. Finally, her eyes landed on a familiar face, causing a wide grin to break across her face. Yugi had not seen his mother smile so brightly since he was child. It was startling but beautiful to behold and he found himself grinning as well.

"Bobby!" She exclaimed, making her way through the crowd with Yugi and her father-in-law in tow. A middle-aged man in a baseball cap turned towards her voice with a pleased expression on his face. His beard needed some tending and his plaid shirt was worn, but he looked a pleasant enough sort and his eyes widened when they fell on Yugi.

"Well, hell, Melly! Your boy's gone and grown up, himself!" He offered Yugi a handshake, which Yugi hesitantly took, noting the roughness of the proffered hand. He shook Sugoroku's hand as well before turning to Melanie Mutou, wrapping her in a bearhug that lifted her feet from the floor for a moment before releasing her.

/Well, they seem close, don't they?/

/Yeah…and I have no idea who he is. He seems nice, though, right?/

"Yugi, you probably don't remember Bobby Singer. He's an old family friend. You would have met him when you were very small," his mother explained.

Yugi rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, "Um, I'm sorry, Mr. Singer. I don't really remember."

Bobby, not being the least bit surprised by this news, shrugged it off and grinned, "Nothing to apologize for, son, and let's not have all this Mr. Singer stuff. It's Bobby. You were just a little tike last time I blew through Domino. Offered to babysit you for a spell while your parents were, um, on a date. A real handful, you were!" Bobby laughed heartily at the memory.

The group chatted happily as they left the airport. Bobby brought them to a rundown old pickup truck that, while lacking in room, looked like it could potentially weather a nuclear explosion. The four did their best to squeeze into the single-cab truck, causing Yugi to, for once in his life, be thankful for his small size.

/You're not that short, you know. I think you're getting taller./

Which was true, in fact. Yugi had grown several inches but he had long since accepted that he would never be what one would consider a tall man. He'd be lucky to make it to average height by adulthood. He'd rejoice at being just average height, in fact. Maybe then Tea wouldn't have to look down when looking him in the eyes. Maybe, if he ever got up the courage to kiss her, he wouldn't have to stand on the tip of his toes to reach.

If he was lucky.

Yami couldn't help but chuckle at that last thought, though he chose to keep his comments to himself. He somehow doubted Tea would object half as much as Yugi feared if his young friend ever did build up enough courage to make a move, but Yugi would hear none of it. He'd already tried to convince him to go for it several times and the younger soul's shyness always got the better of him.


Bobby's home was rather worn and looked, from the outside, as if it could benefit from some general tender loving care, much like the man himself. However, it was spacious enough and comfortable inside. Much to Yugi's surprise, the home was surrounded by a junkyard filled with old cars and the like. A random feral cat skittered away as they pulled up the dirt road and parked.

Bobby had a surprising number of books that Yugi had never heard of before, but most seemed to focus on mythology, the paranormal, and history. Maybe later he would ask Bobby if he could take a look through his library. His mother had said they would probably stay in South Dakota for a couple of weeks, at least, so Yugi would need something to keep his mind occupied other than playing multiple rounds of chess and other games with the pharaoh.

Yugi had gathered during the ride to Bobby's house, which was isolated and well outside the city limits of Sioux Falls, that they would be staying with Bobby for the remainder of their trip. He wondered vaguely when they would meet the mysterious family members his mother had mentioned previously but no one was offering up the information and he had decided to keep the questions at the minimum for the time being, trusting that he wouldn't be left in the dark for too terribly long.

Bobby did mention something that night during dinner about some cousins of his mother's coming by within the next few days. He said the "boys" were currently on a hunting trip. Yugi was a little surprised to discover that his mom had cousins who hunted but he also figured a lot of people in more rural communities might enjoy that kind of pastime. His mother had seemed displeased at that news.

/I wonder what kind of people mom's…my…cousins are./ Yugi laid down in his guestroom bed with a huff.

/I am sure they are good people, Yugi. They're related to you, aren't they? They can't be too bad./

/That is wildly optimistic of you, and the logic there might be flawed, but you're probably right. I don't know why but this whole situation is freaking me out. Mom is acting weird. Or, I think she is. I feel like I wouldn't know anymore./

Yugi felt a ghostly hand press his shoulder comfortingly. /It is going to be alright. You should get some rest. Morning always brings a fresh start and new answers./

Yugi stifled a yawn at the thought of sleep and finally gave into the heavy feeling behind his eyes, allowing his mind to slip into an uneasy slumber. He did not, however, relinquish his Millennium Puzzle to the bedside table tonight. He kept it's chain in his hand, choosing to keep it as close as possible without also being uncomfortable in his bed.

The Spirit of the Puzzle felt that this was a good decision on the young one's part. There were unknown dangers lurking and he would not have Yugi remove the Puzzle from his person either. He had not mentioned it to his young friend, but Yami had noticed some strange things when they arrived on the property. He felt them pass through several strong wards as they entered the property and then the home. The wards had tugged at him slightly, but they lacked strength enough to keep the ancient Spirit of the Millennium Puzzle out. He imagined they might be effective against weaker spirits, perhaps, or those with evil intentions. Similar wards existed around Yugi's own home in Domino, though he didn't think the boy was aware of that fact.

Additionally, some unusual symbols unrecognized by the pharaoh were etched in obscure locations, like the door frame, and there were some strange items Yami noticed throughout the home. To his knowledge, most people did not sprinkle salt under window sills, yet he had noticed this phenomenon in a few locations. He recalled having heard something on television once about salt being used to repel evil spirits. Bobby even had a few translations of the Ru Pert em Heru, otherwise known as The Book of Coming Forth By Day or The Egyptian Book of the Dead, which included a multitude of spells needed by deceased Ancient Egyptians in order to pass safely through the next world.

Yami felt certain that Bobby was trying to keep something out. What that could be, he was not sure. His mind flashed to the memory of the strange and unexplained encounter he and Yugi had had at the high school the previous week.

All-in-all, their new environment did little to lessen his growing unease. The Spirit was not sure what it all meant but he was beginning to wonder just what they had gotten themselves into. Tonight, he would not return to the Puzzle to rest his own soul. No, Yami would keep watch this night while Yugi slept. Just in case.

He settled, in his spirit form, into a worn armchair near Yugi's bedside, keeping his attention on the closed bedroom door and wishing he had a book to read. It was going to be a long night.