Chapter 2: Rapid Eye Movement

Families and friends within the park, unaware of the horrid battle between two men with Egyptian origin, packed up their belongings and began heading out. Children grew ecstatic to go to a welcoming place for a warm meal. Everyone had somewhere to be. But two adolescents stayed. One was kneeling down by the smaller boy who rested on his back.

"Yugi?" Yami called as he gently shook the young boy.

"Yugi!" he shouted, shaking his partner roughly. "Can you hear me?! Wake up!"

The small boy's eyes persisted to be closed. A smile remained absent from his cherubic face. He only breathed gently with his body acting like a log. Moments ago he was in great agony, but now he appeared so tranquil.

Yami realized nothing he attempted worked. In defeat, he pulled his partner closer to him as he whispered somberly, "Yugi."

His body trembled with tears threatening to fall. He rubbed the back of the boy's spiky hair without any reaction. He hoped a pair of arms would embrace him accompanied by a soft voice, but the petite body stayed motionless.

"Even if Akana desired revenge against me, why did he go after Yugi?"

There was something wrong with his partner, and Yami was ignorant of how to help. A madman had committed a horrific deed, and he failed to cultivate the reason or the cause. He was oblivious of where to turn. He was lost.

"Yugi?" a sweet, feminine voice called out.

Yami turned around and saw Tea standing behind him in her school outfit.

"Ya-Yami?" she gasped in shock after seeing her childhood friend on the floor and Yami kneeling down beside him. Anyone could have mistaken for the two boys as brothers, but the girl had been around the pair long enough to have known. And because of her knowledge she turned shocked.

"Tea?" Yami said with confusion in his voice.

"Yami, what happen?" the female teen asked as she knelt on one knee on the opposite side of her fallen friend. Aware of the importance of the two's bond, she cared about their safety as well.

Yami had Tea lift Yugi up and placed him on his back so he could carry his light.

"I'll explain on the way back to the game shop," he informed. "But Tea, what are you doing here?"

"I always go this way after my dance practice," she explained with her eyes glued to her friends.

As they walked, Yami explained everything.

"So, there's this nutcase who wants revenge because he believes you did something to his family, and he's been holding this five-thousand year old grudge against you?" Tea asked, wanting clarification.

"Yes," Yami answered plainly.

"Well that's just great," she sighed annoyed. "First we had to deal with Darts and now this?"

Yami gasped, stopping in his tracks. He titled his head down with disgrace in his heart.

Tea looked behind her and saw an empty yet crestfallen expression on the pharaoh's face.

"I haven't been separated from Yugi since then," Yami said almost in a whisper.

Xxx

The two arrived at the game shop with no trouble. They entered through the main door, and Yugi's grandpa was stunned seeing the spirit and the small teen in two separate bodies. He immediately closed the shop and led Yami and Tea up to Yugi's room.

The formal ruler sat on his light's bed while Solomon and Tea gently pulled off the small boy and set him on his mattress. Slowly the two placed Yugi lying down with his head placed on his pillow. If it wasn't for the fact something was wrong with Yugi, he would have appeared he was only sleeping.

Yami held the boy's hand. Before when he was a spirit, he could only do so with good intention even if he held no physical grip. Now he actually had the ability to touch his partner. Perhaps they could enjoy themselves if a villain was not out plotting revenge. The pair needed a plan, and they could only cultivate one if they both were safe.

/Yugi, can you hear me?/

Yami closed his eyes and sighed. He needed to inform his buddy of what took place, but he had yet to receive any replies. He also needed to explain to the store owner of what happened to his grandson. Although he did not want to leave his friend, he knew the teen was at least out of danger at home in his own room.

/Yugi, we will be right back. Relax, you're safe at home./

The three went downstairs and sat at the kitchen table where Yami re-explained everything.

"Should we call a doctor?" the elderly man asked after hearing the account.

"No, there is nothing a doctor can do. This is a magical problem, not a physical one." Yami replied, still staggered but mostly depressed about what had happen moments ago.

"Isn't there something we could do?" Tea questioned with concern. She hated seeing either of her friends in their condition.

Yami laced his fingers and brought them closer to his face. "I don't know what that man did to Yugi, and I don't remember my past."

Yami grunted. He felt useless. He had defeated villains who plotted revenge before, but he had Yugi by his side to help. He did not know if he could survive this trial without his friend.

All three heard the game shop door open, and a familiar voice asked, "Anyone here?"

They then heard a crash, and the person started to swear like there was no tomorrow. All three went to investigate who it was. It was Joey, who tripped over a box of Duel Monster cards that had yet to be sorted.

"Joey, what are you doing here?" Tea asked with curiosity.

"I thought something was wrong with Yugi, so I stopped by to see if I could help," he answered as he had help to stand up. He grew surprise seeing Yami was the one aiding him. He became even more befuddled that everyone held a distressful look on their face with a gloomy atmosphere all around. He blinked as he asked, "Am I missing something?"

After hearing the explanations of the past event, Joey gleefully announced, "I got a great idea!"

Everyone looked up to hear what the joker unleash his thought.

"Let's got see Ishizu!" Joey suggested with enthusiasm. "Maybe she knows a thing or two about this!"

Yami stood up and nodded. "Maybe I can arrive before the museum closes."

"I'll go with you!" Joey volunteered proudly.

Tea looked up towards the stairs which lead to Yugi's room.

"Are you worried about Yug?" Joey asked.

"Why don't you stay here?" Yami suggested, glad someone will be by his partner's side while he hopefully gathered information. "Joey and I will go."

Tea nodded.

Despite the plan, Yami was hesitant to leaving. He wanted to stay with his other half. Feeling a hand placed by Joey, he knew he must leave to find information.

The pair raced off to the museum.

Xxx

Yugi wandered around still unsure of where he was. He wore his uniform, clean and unscathed. The entire environment appeared just like the city park he was in, except the trees were green with full heads of leaves. The sky was clear with only a few clouds drifting by. Flowers bloomed everywhere in various colors, releasing pleasant aromas rather than leaving the senses confused and overwhelmed.

Despite the happy and serine location, he believed something was wrong. He felt something was missing from him.

"Where am I?" he asked himself with no one in sight. "One minute I was fighting… someone…. Now I'm here….. What just happen?"

Trying to remember the events that took place, his head and chest started to hurt. He fell on one knee as he clutched his heart with his right hand and placed his left on his head. Recalling his memories caused too much pain. He took in a few deep breaths to calm his body down.

After several trials, he gained his energy again to stand once more. He walked onward trying to figure out where he was. Because he was in a city owned area, he thought he should have seen someone by now. Yet the place seemed vacant.

Carrying on, he spotted a green hill with someone standing at the peak. He ran in hopes the person could help him. Racing closer, the one on the hill looked familiar. It was Yami! Yugi grew happy seeing a friendly face in the strange area.

"Yami!" Yugi called out with joy.

Yami, wearing the school uniform as well, turned around to see who was calling his name.

"Yugi, there you are!" he said as he saw the small teen racing towards him.

"Yami, what's going on?" Yugi asked as he reached the peak. Although he was happy to be with someone, he needed to discuss the serious business. "I thought there was this guy and—"

"Yugi what are you talking about? If we don't hurry up, we'll be late!"

Yami took his light's arm and began to run down the opposite end of the hill.

"Late? Late for what?" a puzzle Yugi asked.

"Late for the picnic of course!" Yami laughed.

"Picnic?"

Yugi was now truly confused.

Xxx

Yami and Joey arrived at the museum a few minutes before closing. They carefully dodged visitors making their exits as they climbed up the stairs. For a brief moment, Yami caught the sight of a young child in between the hands of his parents. The bright smile caught his attention, for the facial expression reminded him of his partner. Entering the main lobby of tall pillars and large tiles, Yami looked around for Ishizu.

A woman with a bronze complexion, raven hair, and sapphire eyes was speaking with some men in suits when she felt the presents of a powerful force. She turned to see the pharaoh and his companion at the door.

"May we finish this up later? I have some other matters to attend to." she requested in a firm tone.

The group of men bowed and left.

"My Pharaoh," Ishizu greeted as she walked over towards Yami and Joey.

The two boys turn to see their ally and became relieved.

"We've got a small problem." Joey informed with an embarrassed smile.

"I can see."

"What do we do?"

"Let's discuss this matter in private," she instructed calmly. She turned her body and beckoned for the two to follow her. "It's not safe out here."

"I hope we weren't interrupting anything." Yami apologized as the group walked towards her office.

"It was only museum business," she replied. "This needs more attention."

Reaching the office, the tall woman opened the door and had her two guests take a seat while she went to her desk. The room was not vast, but the museum was not the biggest one in the city. The walls held a simple color, and the carpet was basic and light. The chairs were not too comfortable to sit in, but more important matters were needed to be dealt with.

The blonde teen explained what had happen.

Ishizu sighed, "I spent years learning about Egypt, but I have not heard anything like this."

The two boys lowered their heads with disappointment.

"Yugi," Yami thought to himself, worrying about what may occur to his partner. "If I don't help him soon, then what will happen to him? Will he be stuck in that unknown state forever? No! This can't happen!"

He clenched his fists. Being around his friends kept his hope burning. He grew determined to find a solution.

"But, I can do some research on this." Ishizu said with faith. "I'm sure there is at least some information."

She stood up and opened her office door. "I will let you know what I have found as soon as I can."

Joey and Yami thanked her and left the office to allow her to do her work.

"Hold on, Yugi." Yami thought as he walked out of the building. "Even if this is one small step, we will find a way to help you."

To be continued…