All rights to Yu-Gi-Oh© are reserved to Kazuki Takahashi.
Chapter 2: Return
I feel them…they've all returned to the same soil…now it's time. Time to return…
The candle in the lantern went out and darkness filled the cavern. Poor Yuugi Motou couldn't even see his hand in front of his face.
Darn lamp…
His flashlight switched on and a beam of light illuminated the area around him as he struggled for another match. The match sparked with a flame as Yuugi opened the lantern to relight it. A soft glow filled the darkness to reveal his surroundings.
It was the final battle stage…Exactly how they left it 7 years ago. Of course the pillars were crumbled and the place was full of debris from when the cavern collapsed but it still looked the same. Yuugi walked up to the battle stage where he last saw the Pharaoh. Immediately, as did many times before, the image of the battle played before him.
You know Atem…I know that you're at peace now and it's all great but…I still wish a lot of times that you had won that duel…I wish that you were still with us…
Not wasting anymore time, Yuugi took his gear and stepped towards the where the Millennium Stone used to be. It had crumbled before and now what was left was a deep dark chasm. When he first went on the excavation, he and his grandpa didn't know what they were looking for or what they wanted to find. Yuugi just needed to be near the closest tie he had with Atem. Even though most likely nothing would be produced from the excavation, he still clung onto the smallest hope that he might find the Millennium Puzzle once more. Even a piece would satisfy him.
But that wouldn't happen…the Millennium Items were sealed away forever.
Yuugi tied his rope to a secure pillar, or what was left of the pillar, and zip-lined down into the abyss.
The way down seemed to last forever but soon, Yuugi hit solid ground. He lifted the lantern up to see but the darkness seemed to go on forever. Below his feet was just some sand and the air was thick and hot.
I must be quite some distance below the ocean…
He wondered through the darkness until he came to their current site. Yuugi placed down his backpack, took out his tools and began to work.
Hours passed through the digging while the heat was slowly seeping into Yuugi. When he wiped off the sweat from his hand he caught a glimpse of his watch.
4 a' clock…the guys should be on they're way now. Sorry I didn't join you…4 more hours until I hafta leave.
He paused for a brief moment to replenish his lost body water when a glint caught his eye.
What's this?...
Ever-so-carefully, Yuugi dusted away the sand until the glint began to take form.
Wha?...this…it can't be!
Yuugi slowly picked up a small golden object with an obscure shape.
…This!...This is a piece of the Puzzle!
The piece was held carefully as if it would crumble at any second. Yuugi fiddled with it over and over just to make sure it was really there.
It's real! I can't believe but it's an actual piece of the puzzle!...if this is here…then the other pieces must not be far off!"
Yuugi carefully placed his newfound treasure down and started digging once more. It was the first time in a very long time that he had felt this sort of excitement.
Here's another!...and there's another!
The pieces started to come up one by one as Yuugi kept digging and within a couple of hours, all the pieces were laid out before him. There was only one thing left to do: Assemble it.
He picked up two pieces and began arranging them into the correct places.
It's a good thing I still remember how to solve this thing. How long has it been since I first solved it? 9, 10 years?
Memories of times long past started filling Yuugi's mind. His life before the puzzle, his life once he solved it, and the adventures he had with Atem. He was such a small, shy, and insecure guy back then. But slowly, with the help of Atem, he started to gain confidence, strength, and even made new friends. Along the years he had grown with the help of his friend and now, sitting alone in the dark cave, was the result of all that growing. Yuugi did eventually grow in height but not by much. He was still shorter then Anzu and shorter then what Atem would be. He was still kind-hearted and a bit shy but he did still have his confidence. And no one still was able to challenge him for the title of King of Games just yet.
Finished!
Yuugi held the finished puzzle in hands, turning it over and over again. It was cool and smooth, just as it always was. The golden pyramid seemed to fit perfectly in his cupped hands.
How good it feels to hold this again…
"Staring at it won't somehow reconnect our minds again," a smooth voice rang out from the darkness.
Yuugi's body froze and the hair on his neck stiffened as goose bumps shivered down his spine. He sat there stunned, too shocked to move. Few silent and tense moments rolled by as Yuugi debated whether he truly heard what he thought he heard.
That…that voice! It was unmistakable!
Slowly Yuugi turned to where the voice came from. Standing before him was another Yuugi, only different. His eyes were stronger and his posture much more confident.
"…impossible…" Yuugi muttered, his eyes wide in shock, "…you…you left…you can't be real…"
His counterpart looked down at his hands and then back at the stunned Yuugi. A smile creased across his face.
"Funny…I seem real enough."
Yuugi stood up and took a step by step towards his mirror image ever so carefully as if one wrong move and everything would disappear. When he was face to face with his doppelganger, Yuugi lifted his hand and touched the other's cheek.
Warm…soft…it's real…he's real! He's actually here!
"…Atem!"
With that Yuugi lunged his arms to his other self catching hold of an tight embrace with tears streaking down his face. Atem smiled and returned the hug to his long separated partner.
"You haven't changed much have you? Still so sensitive."
The tears started to stop flowing but Yuugi didn't let go. He looked up to Atem with the biggest smile on his face.
"You haven't changed at all! Always showing up in the middle of nothing huh? But what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be resting? How did you get back?"
"Haha! Too many questions! And I'll answer them all in good time. But now, I'm just glad to be back."
"Maan! Where is dat dude?! First ditching the boat right and now standing us up! This isn't right, this isn't right at all…"
"Patience Jounouchi, I'm sure he'll get here soon enough. He's probably really busy," Anzu said.
The gang were settled down in the living room of Sogoroku and Yuugi's house. It was small and cozy but it was nice. Sogoroku had just brought some drinks for everyone.
"That's not a good enough excuse! Yuugi was supposed to be here 2 hours ago!"
"2 hours really? I had no idea it was that late. Sorry guys," Yuugi's voice interrupted as he stepped through the door.
"Yuugi!" everyone shouted in unison.
Immediately Jounouchi's annoyance melted as he went to greet his old friend.
"How's it going bud?" he said as he grabbed Yuugi into a headlock, giving him a noogie.
"Ah! Jounouchi!" he choked as he struggled free, "It's good to see you too."
Honda walked up and firmly shook Yuugi's hand once Jounouchi had let go.
"It's good to see you."
"Come on Honda. Enough with the formalities. We're all friends aren't we?"
Honda's face cracked into a sinister smile, "I was hoping you'd say that…" and immediately he grabbed Yuugi into another headlock and both he and Jounouchi gave him an intense noogie.
"AHH! Guys! Stop it!"
"That's for ditching us on the boat!"
The guys let go of Yuugi and all of them burst out laughing just like old times.
"My, you guys are grown men and I swear you haven't changed since high school."
"Ah Anzu!" Yuugi acknowledged with joy to see his oldest friend, "You look great!"
Anzu giggled, "Thanks but I can't say the same for you though."
It was true. Yuugi looked like an absolute mess. His face and arms were covered with dirt and sand, his hair was straggly and stuck in more different places then usual, and his clothes desperately need some good washing.
"Hah, you're right," he replied at looked at his clothes, "I was too busy rushing to get here that I didn't notice."
Everyone settled back down around a table as Yuugi continued, "I want to apologize for arriving so late but I've found something that should interest you all!"
"You found something Yuugi?" Sogoroku asked amazed.
"Mmhmm. And what a find it was!" Yuugi placed the Millennium Puzzle on the table in front of everyone.
"Wha?!"
"The Millennium Puzzle?!"
"Impossible!"
"How?!"
"Holy ---- Mother ---- Sandwich with ----- on top!" (courtesy of LittleKuriboh)
"That's not all I found either."
"Please don't tell me you found all 7 damn items as well."
"Not quite…" Atem said, standing behind everyone.
All heads snapped towards Atem staring in awe as he stood smiling before them. Yuugi smiled as well and joked, "Glad for you to join us."
"Sorry, I'm late. I got lost on the way."
"Late? I'll say. Try 7 years."
The two broke out into laughter. Jounouchi blinked a couple times, not believing what he was seeing. The drinks gramps had brought were either spiked or this was really Atem standing before him. He didn't know which story was more believable.
"Atem…"
"Yes Jounouchi?"
He stood up and went up to Atem.
"It's really you…"
"That's right Jounouchi. I'm back."
"Well Goddamn!" He cried in joy, "Where the hell have you been?!" He slapped Atem's back and the two shook hands.
The ice immediately broke. Anzu jumped up and unexpectedly gave Atem a huge hug. Honda went berserk and spit-fired him question after question. And poor Sogoroku collapsed on the couch.
"I swear, my old heart isn't strong enough to take things like these anymore."
The gang laughed together. This was a reunion like no other. After all, Atem had returned.
Hey! Man I loved writing that chapter. Such a heartwarming scene :D R&R por favor!