A/N: Happy New Year y'all! This hasn't been thoroughly edited. I'll do that in the morning when I'm actually awake and fully functioning.

Chapter summary: In which some explanations are given, things get confusing, Yusei smells things, and Kaiba is mad.

52: Shadows and Half-Baked Explanations

The young King ducked away from Judai's gaze and stepped into the shadow of the large tent. He waited until everyone was safely under the tent away from anyone who could be watching. When Yusei stepped in last, Yami glanced outside to be sure they were alone aside from Pegasus's helicopter. Satisfied, Yami let the tent flap drop shut and strode confidently past the group to his partner's side offering what comfort he could from his presence alone.

"I didn't kill Paradox," Yugi said.

"I saw you!" Judai said fiercely, bristling in visible fury. "You blew him to bits. You practically disintegrated him."

"That wasn't me," Yugi said, staring pleadingly at the younger duelist. He turned his gaze to this world's Yugi and then Yusei, desperately hoping to find support. "I swear it wasn't me."

"Don' worry,Yug'," Jounouchi said, walking up and placing a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "I know it wa'n't you. But geez, since when did the Shadows get so..." He struggled with words for a minute.

"Sentient, you mean?" the Pharaoh asked.

"Yeah, that."

"I don't understand," this world's Yugi said. "What do you mean the Shadows?" He glanced at his companions before returning his gaze to his alternate. "You're me, aren't you? Or you will be me? Or… Right? Then how are you… Why did you start a Shadow Game? Since when are you or I able to do that? Why would I do that?"

"I'm not you," Yugi said, shaking his head. "I never was and I never will be. I am Motou Yugi, but I'm not you Motou Yugi. I'm from another reality. Things aren't the same there as they are here."

"You're tellin' me," Jounouchi grumbled, glancing back over his shoulder. "That douchebag Pegasus is still alive 'ere."

"What?" Yusei gasped. "He's dead in your world?

"He has been for some time," the Pharaoh said calmly. "He died when the Millennium Eye was taken from him."

"The… The what now?" Judai asked. "And what does this Millennium Eyeball have to do with that light that killed Paradox?" He looked at his Yugi and noticed the haunted expression in his friend's eyes. "Yugi?"

"That killed him?" Yugi gasped, cradling his Millennium Puzzle in both of his hands protectively.

"Good riddance, filthy bastard," Jounouchi muttered, crossing his arms. He blinked when Yugi looked at him in horrified shock. "What?"

"You really aren't my Jounouchi," this world's Yugi murmured, stumbling back from the blonde duelist.

Jounouchi flinched suddenly looking shy and vulnerable. He blinked and his eyes skipped up to the King in search of reassurance.

Yami sighed. "Like Yu- Motou told you before," he said, gazing at his partner's alternate and the other two duelists from this reality, "we aren't from this reality. There are differences between realities, some drastic and others subtle." His wine red gaze settled on the Millennium Puzzle dangling from Yugi's neck. "One of those differences would be that the Millennium were banished from the world and returned to the Shadow Realm where they belong."

"But then… How are you still here?" this world's Yugi whispered, cautiously approaching the solid spirit standing next to his counterpart. "You're bound to the Puzzle. If it-" He swallowed thickly. "If I lose you-"

"You don't," the Pharaoh said gently. "But it would be best if we didn't touch." He smiled sadly. "I'm no longer bound by the Puzzle in our reality but myself in this reality is which means he's in your mind right now."

"He's right," the young King said sadly. "I'm sorry Y-Yugi, but we can't touch you. The same matter can't occupy the same space. It would cause a paradox."

"I'm getting sick and tired of paradoxes," Yusei muttered.

"I'm right with ya there," Jounouchi agreed.

Yusei wasn't sure what to make of this. He'd traveled back through time to stop his era from going up in ash only to literally crash into some of the most famous duelists to exist before him. Time travel he could accept; he'd experienced it firsthand. But dimensional travel? World hopping? A place where the Shadow Realm and Shadow Games weren't evil?

"I don't understand," he said, looking at Motou. "If you're from a different dimension-"

"Reality," Motou corrected. "A different reality. Each reality has several dimensions which are much easier to go between because you aren't leaving your host reality. As I understand it," he said hesitantly, "moving between dimensions is like flipping through pages of a book. The book itself is an individual reality and each page is a separate dimension within that reality."

"In order to move between realities," the Pharaoh continued, "you would have to pick up an entirely different book with its own set of pages or dimensions. The library where these books or realities exist would be the Shadow Realm."

Yusei paled and Judai shuddered. "Damn that thing," Judai muttered. "Nothing good comes from the Shadows."

"That's not true!"

Both Yugis stared at each other in stunned disbelief when they realized they had spoken in unison.

"I hope you guys know that this is incredibly weird," Yusei said, his eyes flicking between the two identical faces.

"Imagine it from my view," Jounouchi said, nudging the duelist from the future. "I grew up with the guy. It's like watchin' Yugi's older self argue with his younger self." He snickered. "It's kinda weird but kina adorable too in a twisted sorta way."

"Older?" Yusei asked. 'They aren't the same age?"

"Huh? Oh, hell no," Jounouchi said, shaking his head at the absurd suggestion. "Look at 'em. My Yug's clearly older than y'rs. I mean, he is. Right?"

"I'm sixteen," Yugi said, eyeing his counterpart cautiously. "How old are you?"

Motou sighed and glanced at Yami before answering. "I'm twenty years old," he said.

"Twenty?" Yugi cried.

"It would seem is not a constant between realities," the Pharaoh said, brushing his chin with his thumb thoughtfully. "That wasn't something I expected."

"But time is a dimension," Motou said, turning his gaze to his dark partner. "I suppose it would make sense if the dimensions within a reality varied with the reality itself."

The Pharaoh gave a noncommittal hum. "I suppose," he said slowly. "I guess I never thought time would be considered a variable."

"Well, it is the fourth dimension," Yusei said.

Both Motou and the Pharaoh stared at Yusei for a moment before Motou smiled. "It is," he agreed. "I guess I forgot that."

"Kaiba wouldn't have," the Pharaoh said, snickering when Motou nodded with a grimace. "He wouldn't have let us forget it either."

"Don't talk about Rich Boy, please," Jounouchi groaned. "I'm feelin' sick enough as it is."

Despite his hesitance and confusion, a smile still worked its way onto Yusei's lips. The casual comfort displayed by Motou, the Pharaoh, and Jounouchi as they interacted spoke volumes of their relationship. It reminded him of his friends, his home, everything he left behind in the future. He couldn't wait to go back. He wanted to stay; there was so much he could learn from these people. But this wasn't his home. This wasn't even his time. He wanted to go back. He didn't belong here. He could visit, but he couldn't stay.

"What about the light?" Judai said, his brown eye boring holes into Motou. "You said that light was the Shadows. You started a Shadow Game and killed someone in it. How are you okay with that?"

Yusei winced at the accusation, but he couldn't deny that it bothered him. Although, strangely, he didn't feel as disconcerted as he thought he probably should have. That in and of itself was disturbing. He had personal experience with Shadow Games and they were never good experiences. So why was he not feeling that same fear as he usually did? What has different?

"The light was the Shadows," Motou confirmed. "They reacted in my defense. If they hadn't then I wouldn't have survived that."

"And if Yugi had died, er." The Pharaoh cleared his throat. "If Motou had died, then I would have died with him. Kaiba is strong but even he can't uphold the Balance forever. The strain of trying would have driven him insane if it didn't just kill him."

"But you haven't explained how the Shadows or light killed Paradox," Judai insisted. "Did you steal his soul or something?"

Motou paled and looked away leaving the Pharaoh to answer. "No. As far as I could tell, his soul was intact when he died. He went to wherever hell would accept someone as twisted and despicable as he was."

Jounouchi snorted. "Got off easy, if you ask me," he groused.

"But I don't understand," Yugi said.

It took Yusei a second to realize Motou hadn't been the one to speak. He turned to the King of Games who had stood by him and dueled Paradox as an ally. The more time he spent in the presence of Yugi and Motou, Yusei was beginning to thoroughly separate the two in his mind.

Yugi was young, enthusiastic, and had the energy of someone who hadn't seen the darkest humanity had to offer. Motou, however, had age etched into his face. He appeared young, but the weight of the years and experiences obviously left their mark on him. But there was more to it than that. There was an aura of power around Motou that calmed Yusei like a mother's half-forgotten lullaby. It drew him in and soothed his fears and promised him everything was alright.

"Yusei?"

Yusei blinked and stumbled back, a bright blush coloring his cheeks. He had no idea he had gotten that close to Motou. He gasped and tried to recover what little dignity he had left.

"I…sorry," he stuttered nervously. "I didn't mean… I didn't realize I'd-"

"Don't worry yourself," the Pharaoh said gently. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's actually endearing."

Yusei blinked in surprise when the Pharaoh elbowed Motou and winked at him pulling a dark flush to Motou's cheeks. For some reason, the action felt well used, familiar.

"Yami's right," Motou said, clearing his throat and trying hard to banish the blush from his face. "It's to be expected. You're a Light, a rather strong one actually. It's only natural that you're drawn to me."

"But the light that killed Paradox," Judai insisted. "Will anyone explain why that's a good thing?"

Jounouchi rolled his eyes. "It was the Spell Raigeki," he said. "The Shadows didn't like some crazy Bastard tryin' ta murder their King. So they possessed Yug' to kill Paradox. At least," he looked at Motou and the Pharaoh for confirmation, "that's what I think happened."

Motou sighed and nodded grimly. "It is," he said. "I wasn't expecting… I've never been…" He lifted his hands and stared at them as if they were going to suddenly clamp onto his throat and strangle him. "I've never been so helpless like that before."

The Pharaoh looked away awkwardly. "In all my years, I've never known the Shadows to act like that," he said. "It is troubling."

"But not a bad thing?" Yusei asked hesitantly.

"You're taking this really well, dude," Judai said, eyeing Yusei suspiciously.

"He's a Light," the Pharaoh said simply. "The Shadows he uses are Light so it's only natural he would be drawn to my aib- Motou," he corrected himself. "Motou is the human head of the Light Triad in the Shadow Court. Only Ra is more powerful in that orientation."

"Ra?" Yusei gasped.

"You mean like The Winged Dragon of Ra?" Judei cried, a surprised smile on his face.

Motou smiled. "Yes," he said. "He's a dear friend."

"He?" Judai repeated. Then he understood, "He's your duel spirit?"

Motou frowned in bewilderment. "Ah, no? I don't think so. At least, not in the way you think," he said.

"Um," Yugi said, catching the group's attention, "am I the only one who doesn't know who this Ra is? Other than the Egyptian god of the sun, of course."

The Pharaoh frowned. "You don't know what the Winged Dragon of Ra is?" he asked.

Yugi hesitated. "No," he said. "Should I?"

Something passed between Motou and the Pharaoh silently before the Pharaoh hummed. "Perhaps it's best if we don't tell you," he said. "This must be before Kaiba's first Battle City Tournament."

"Yes, it is," Yugi said. "What does that have to with anything though?"

"If you aren't registered for the event yet, do it," Motou said firmly. "That's all we can tell you. Since you're behind us in time, it would be best to keep the rest secret. The last thing we would want is to influence anything."

Yugi blinked. "I am registered for it," he said, nodding. "But I see your point about interfering with time. But can you still tell me at least a little bit about this Ra person?"

Motou smiled. "He's the god of the Light Shadows. Every Shadow and shadow user in the Light orientation answers to him and, by extension, me."

"Just as every Shadow or Shadow user in the Dark orientation answers to Osiris the Sky Dragon," the Pharaoh said. "Although, typically they just answer to me." He focused his eerie crimson gaze on Judai. "Just as you do."

"Uh, no I don't," Judai said.

The Pharaoh snorted. "When Motou started his Shadow Game, it made you ill, didn't it?" he said with a sly grin.

"Well, yeah," Judai said. "But that was because it was a Shadow Game. Those things are nothing but trouble."

"Not true," the Pharaoh said, shaking his head. "You fell ill because you couldn't take that much Light near you. You're too Dark. The Light Shadows would have tampered with you if I hadn't been there to ground you."

"What about me then?" Yugi asked, looking between the Pharaoh and Motou. "Why didn't it affect me?"

"'Cause you're Yug'," Jounouchi said smiling proudly. "Well, you're not my Yug', but you're still Yug' 'n that's all that matters."

Yusei was just as confused as Yugi seemed to be by that explanation.

"The Shadow Games themselves are structured and follow rules," the Pharaoh said. "Those rules cannot be broken under any circumstances. If anyone tries, they suffer a Penalty Game. The type of Game Motou cast was a Judgement Game. If anyone missuses Shadow magic, we and the Shadow Court place them on trial in a Judgement Game. There the Shadows judge the offender. If they are found guilty of the crimes they are accused of, then the Shadows subject them to a Penalty Game."

"However," Motou said, "the Shadows do not understand the concept of mercy. We do. Because of that, we offer mercy to the guilty, offering them a chance of redemption." His violet eyes flickered to Yugi's and Yusei sensed more was being communicated than what was said out loud. "Not everyone accepts mercy."

"Some don't deserve it."

Yusei turned around in surprise did the others at the unexpected voice. He could have sworn that was Kaiba's voice, but it wasn't as harsh as he remembered it. He stiffened when he saw the person standing there at the tent entrance. It was Kaiba but… it wasn't. The person who held the tent flap open letting the light in had dark skin that was a shade or so lighter than his hair. Unlike Kaiba's hair, this doppelganger's hair was long and tied in three braids hanging down his back.

His clothes were odd to say the least, but nothing as outlandish or ridiculous as what Paradox wore. In fact, this person's outfit was so simple, it almost felt strange to see. It was just a single, cream colored tunic that hung down to his ankles. A gold sash looped snugly around the person's waist two hand lengths above a slit in the tunic that ran all the way to the bottom hem allowing for ease of movement. The person also wore gold arm braces, golden ankh earrings, and dark eye liner that was almost looked like charcoal.

But perhaps the most distinct difference between the Kaiba Yusei saw earlier that day and the person standing in front of him now, was the eyes. The doppelganger's eyes were brighter than Kaiba's, clearer, and perhaps sharper. For some reason, this person made Yusei think of Motou, though he couldn't figure out why. Then the person's eyes left Yusei's and locked onto Motou and the Pharaoh, releasing Yusei from their striking gaze.

"Seth?" the Pharaoh gasped.

"What are you doing out?" Motou asked, equally surprised.

The Kaiba look-a-like narrowed his eyes and stepped aside only for the real Kaiba to step in followed closely by Pegasus. Yusei didn't miss the way Seth retreated from Pegasus' vicinity, staying close to Kaiba's side.

"Who're you?" Judai asked, staring at the Kaiba look-a-like.

"In case you don't remember," Kaiba said, his voice harsh with frustrated annoyance, "you made a deal with the devil without asking."

Motou shrank from Kaiba's cold, hard gaze and again Yusei was struck by the distinct dislike of the action. Motou should not be retreating. Ever. Yusei shook his head to clear the strange, intrusive thoughts. Pegasus' laughter helped with that.

"Call it what you like," the card creator said, waving his hand dramatically. "The fact of the matter is, you Yugi-boy," he pointed directly at Motou, "haven't kept up your side of the bargain."

Motou furrowed his brow in confusion. "I… I don't understand," he said. "We gave you everything you- Oh!"

He quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out what Yusei assumed was a phone, although it wasn't like any phone he had ever seen before.

"What is that?" Judai asked.

Motou glanced up at Judai, flashing him a smiled as he typed something on the smooth, glass screen of the hand-sized device. "It's a cellphone," he said.

"That's a phone?" Yugi gasped, staring down at the device in Motou's hands. "Where are the buttons?"

"There aren't any," Motou said with a friendly chuckle. "Well," he added with a shrug, "except for the power button here," he pointed to the button on the top edge of the phone, "the volume buttons here," he pointed to the two buttons on the side of the device, "and the sleep button here at the bottom of the screen, see?" He held up the phone so Yugi could see it.

"Is that…?" Judai leaned close to stare at the screen. "Is that a KaibaCorp design?"

Motou grinned. "Yes it is," he said, turning the phone back so he could see the screen. KaibaCorp phones are top of the line."

Kaiba snorted. "As if I'd settle for anything less."

Jounouchi glared at the KaibaCorp CEO. "Arrogant ass-hat."

"Put a muzzle of your dog, King," Kaiba said.

"Say that t' my face you slimy fu-"

Pegasus threw his head back and cackled madly. "I see you both are the same," he said.

Both Kaiba and Jounouchi stilled and turned the full force of both of their glares on the creator of Duel Monsters. Seth, Yusei noticed, just sighed. Seth caught Yusei's gaze once more and nodded to him. Again, Yusei felt like he was looking at Motou except…darker.

Motou just sighed and swiped across the screen with a finger before tapping it once or twice. Then he hesitated and looked up to Pegasus. "I have what the last thing you asked for," he said with a quick glance at Kaiba, earning him a suspicious look from the CEO. "It's on my phone. How do you want me to give it to you?"

Pegasus grinned in pleasure. "I see," he purred. "Give your phone to me. I'll give it back when I'm done."

Motou hesitated before nodding and handing his device over to Pegasus. "It…would be best if you looked at it outside," he said, his eyes flickering to Kaiba again.

Pgeasus tilted his head in interest when he took the offered phone. One look at the screen though and he nodded. "If this is what I think it is," his gaze sharpened, "then I'll consider our deal complete." He looked around at everyone present. "Gentlemen," he said before turning on his heel and sweeping out of the tent.

"I hate that guy," Jounouchi muttered, glaring after Pegasus. "And his ugly ass red suit too."

"What are you hiding, King?" Kaiba demanded, eyeing Motou and the Pharaoh. "What was that?"

Motou took a deep breath and said, "One of the terms of the deal was Pegasus be allowed to see your reaction when we gave you Kisara's card," he said, meeting Kaiba's eyes evenly.

Yusei watched the exchange cautiously, glancing between Kaiba and Motou. Kaiba's glacial blue eyes studied Motou's open, violet before widening. Yusei edged closer to Motou without conscious thought when the blue eyes hardened in fury.

"You recorded me?" he snarled, advancing on Motou.

Without thinking about it, Yusei found himself stepping between Kaiba and Motou, Jounouchi by his side.

"Yusei?" Yugi said, surprised by his new friend's move.

"Back off, rich boy," Jounouchi warned from his place next to Yusei.

"Seto," Seth said, grasping Kaiba's arm in a firm grip. It must have been a stronger hold than it looked because no amount of Kaiba attempting to shake it off worked. "Seto," Seth said again, this time with a pleading tone in his voice. "Not here. Save your power."

After a few tense moments, Kaiba stepped back towards Seth but his glare never lost its edge. It did however shift to Yusei who, despite being intimidated, refused to back down. For a minute, nothing happened, then something like electricity and smelled like ozone touched him and he jumped, a stunned expression on his face.

"Yusei!" Judai cried. "What happened? You okay?"

Kaiba lifted an eyebrow and smirked. He huffed a laugh and then turned his gaze to Judai who was still trying to figure out what was going on. Yusei didn't see anything happen, but he felt electricity thrum along his nerves and smelled ozone again just as Judai jumped three feet of the ground and landed inelegantly on his butt. Jounouchi promptly bent over clutching his stomach and cackling madly.

Yusei had the distinct feeling he was missing something important. He saw Kaiba look back at Motou and the Pharaoh who remained silent throughout the ordeal and again felt electricity spark in the air. But he also felt the same comforting warmth from the Shadow Game as well as a terrifying cold brush his skin too. It was a confusing overload that made him shudder.

Then Kaiba clicked his tongue and turned away. "I've done what I came here to do," he said without looking back. "Clean up your own mess."

A second later, darkness erupted from the ground causing Yusei and Judai to leap back in to avoid getting caught in it. Yusei could only watch in stunned silence as the darkness enveloped Kaiba and Seth like an inky, black blanket, then they vanished without a trace.

"What just happened?" he breathed.

"I've had just about enough of this," the Pharaoh said.

Only, the Pharaoh's mouth never moved although his carmine eyes did darken as he stepped closer to Motou. Yusei followed the Pharaoh's gaze to Yugi and when he realized there was an entirely different feel to the boy.

"Someone had better start explaining things right now," Yugi said again.

But it wasn't Yugi anymore, was it?