Tell me, once again who I am to You
Who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget who I am to You
That I belong to You
The Mirror Room was next after the gates and the Book of True Names. Yugi remembered it clearly.
The four entered not without feelings of trepidation. Somehow they all knew what was next, though how they knew not. The room was empty save for a sheet of glass, infinitely tall and infinitely wide (so it seemed). Everyone looked at one another as if wondering who should go first…
Then a voice low and quiet whispered, "Yugi."
Yugi swallowed and approached. At first there was nothing…and then…
Memories from childhood that he had not remembered before swam before him, gradually progressing to his most recent duel with Atem. He could see, somehow all at once, his actions and their repercussions. Ripples in the glass. He saw joy and pain alike as every thing he did and said caused its chain reaction in Time. And very soon he was overcome with it all. Unworthy…so unworthy to be in this place of light and diamond. All of his mistakes were so plain to him. Surely he would be sent away. He found himself on his knees, tears starting.
"Rise, Yugi Muto."
That voice again. And at once he knew the voice, as if it was an old friend. Yet he feared the voice for in it he heard knowledge of all he had just seen and it terrified the boy. He hesitated.
"Do not be afraid, Yugi."
The voice was kind and Yugi found the strength to rise though he kept his eyes lowered.
"Your Majesty…I…"
"Dear one, you need not say anything just now. I have seen your heart. Prince of Heart you are and you are rightfully named, for none are named incorrectly. Do not despair, for I judge you worthy of Love."
"But I –"
"Though tempted to stray from what you knew was right many a time, you held firm until the end. You were not without mistakes (who is not?) but you bravely led all who would follow you," here Yugi turned to see Atem, Tea, Joey and Tristan listening intently, "down the path of love and loyalty. I judge you worthy of Love," the voice repeated.
Yugi felt the tears come anew. He never expected to feel the happiness that now washed over him. Feel. The word was incorrect. It consumed him, became him. He was – truly – happy.
"Look again into My mirror."
Yugi obeyed and saw a change come over him. He had, until that time, been wearing the same garments he had when he left the world. He heard a gasp behind him as a change was made. Now he was clothed in silver and a prince's circlet graced his forehead. A new light, pure and strong, glowed in his violet eyes and he saw for once his true form, like his worldly one and yet perfected and fitting for one so crowned a prince of anything.
"You are hereby, in My own voice, officially crowned Yugi Muto, Prince of Heart."
Yugi bowed and then, without prompting stepped to the right.
Tristan was approaching the mirror.
Yugi shook out of his reverie and turned over on his floor mat. Atem was to his left, Tea just on the other side of Atem in the spare room of Duke's apartment. He expected to see Atem asleep as it was well past midnight, but Atem met his gaze and he could see the questions in them. Yugi sighed and said, "I was just remembering the Mirror Room."
Atem nodded. "I also was thinking about that."
Tea's voice joined them startling them both. "Me too."
Yugi chuckled. "Well we're all on the same wavelength as usual."
"I think it's because of what Duke was telling us earlier," said Tea.
Both boys nodded, recalling his words. Serenity (Duke's now fiancée) had gone out for a normal errand and hadn't been seen since. This was alarming enough of course, especially since the police had been completely unsuccessful in tracking her down, but it also happened just as a truly disturbing trend began in Domino. Duke explained that people had been disappearing quite a bit ("I should have gone with her that day," he said guiltily) leaving no trace to follow. Others had disappeared for a few hours only to be found again weeping uncontrollably or in a state of complete shock. These unfortunates had been hospitalized for the most part (or otherwise were under the care of their families until they recovered from whatever seemed to have hurt them). The three knew that the phenomena was connected, but could not even begin to figure out how. Then Duke had surprised them with another aspect.
"One of the people recovered later kept talking about mirrors. He said something about a room, filled with mirrors, and facing demons and angels alike. Of course no one had idea what he was talking about." Duke shook his head.
The three of them had exchanged glances that Duke hadn't noticed. Mirrors, huh?
"I think," here Atem spoke in the darkness of their room, "I think someone is hosting their own 'mirror rooms' here in this realm. But…I'm sure it's not just in the least. And they are probably removing people depending on how they are affected…that would explain why some are recovered and others just disappear completely. But what is this person looking for? It must be something fairly specific…"
"True," said Tea, "Duke said most of the people who disappeared were recovered fairly quickly. Only a few are completely gone…Serenity one of them…"
They were all quiet again.
"Now we know why both of you were sent," Yugi said, breaking the silence. "The Mirror is built upon Grace and Justice. At least the true Mirror that we had to face. You'll be able to correct this situation easily."
"But He sent you too, Yugi," said Tea.
Atem nodded and spoke, "Yugi, as He said, Heart binds us together. Grace and Justice don't exist in a vacuum. Remember, you were the quickest to understand the Mirror images. It took the rest of us awhile to see it for what it was for while we could hear you and the King and see the transformation of yourself, we could not see what the Mirror had shown you."
"Everyone sees his own reflection," said Yugi, "That's the Grace part of the Mirror. It does you Justice in its projection of all the facets of your life, choices and their own effects. But it shows them to you only, for you to share as you see fit. After all… mirrors are primarily for the viewer, not for the other observers."
"We have to put an end to any phony mirrors being used here, guys. It's not right…" here Tea's voice faltered.
Atem squeezed her hand. "We will, Tea." Violet eyes met the blue. "I think it's time I told you both about my reflection in the Mirror."
Tea and Yugi looked at him expectantly. Atem closed his eyes, remembering.
Atem met his gaze in the mirror's reflection just before the image clouded over to an Egyptian sunrise.
