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The day after Yugi left, many important things were discussed, but what stuck out the most to Atem was his father's death.

The two were never really close- the Kaiba patriarch (now ex-patriarch) just didn't get close to anyone- but since Atem had beaten him, a world champion, at Chess, the man had taken him under his wing to groom as his heir.

Of course, no one expected his death to be so sudden, or so soon.

Atem wasn't ready for all that responsibility yet. Besides, he cared about his friend more- for now, at least. Was Yugi scared? Worried? What if something happened? He'd have no way of knowing, since they never got the chance to exchange mailing addresses.

The uncertainty was gnawing at him from the inside, so he forced himself to think of something else.

He needed a game, but what kind? Maybe Seto-nii would be willing to play Chess with him. Or he could play Checkers with Mokuba.

He could...

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"Yami."

"You wanted to see me, father?"

"Sit."

Yami sat down in the plush armchair across from his father's desk, silent. He'd only been here a handful of times, so he knew that to be here now, he must've really screwed up today.

Akhnamkanon sighed heavily.

"I wanted to keep this from you, Yami, but it appears I have no choice now."

He slid a leather-bound book across the desk and Yami took it into his hands, not even seeking permission before skimming through it.

"This is..."

"Yes. Your mother's diary."

"But father, why-"

"I am highly disappointed in your actions, Yami. Not just today, but these last six years. And I know your mother would feel the same."

He turned away, an obvious dismissal. Not willing to risk his father's wrath by staying, Yami stood quietly and made to leave. His father's voice made him pause with his hand on the doorknob.

"Yami. Read your mother's diary thoroughly. I hope, then, that you will be able to see the error of your ways."

With a curt nod, Yami exited the office, the door clicking shut behind him.

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Month 1 Day 1

I found out today that I'm pregnant again. My dears will be so pleased, I'm sure. I wonder what the baby will be. Hmph. Silly me- it's not like it matters. I love it regardless, and they will, too, no matter what. I'm sure it'll grow up to be great, like its father, and dependable, like its big brother.

Para para.

Month 1 Day 3

I told Yami about his new little brother or sister. He was so happy- it was adorable. I asked him which he wanted, and he said to me 'Mama I want a brother to play with, but I also wanna sissy to keep safe'. Oh...my precious son is already growing into a fine young man. I know he'll be the best big brother in the whole wide world!

Para para pa-

"Yami, I'm going to check on Yugi! Are you coming?"

-thuck.

"Just a moment!"

The book lay closed on Yami's desk. He'd read it front to back and back to front. He had most of the entries memorized, but it was still comforting to read his mother's handwriting, even though he could barely remember her.

But at least he had some memory of her.

Three years...

Yugi would be turning ten today.

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"Hello and welcome to Kame Ga- ah! Mutou-san! It's been a while!"

Akhnamkanon's warm laugh reverberated throughout the small shop.

"Hello again, Seiryuu-san. Has Yugi returned from school yet?"

The albino woman at the counter pouted.

"Moouuu- Mutou-san, I told you- call me Kisara!" She sulked a minute longer before perking back up.

"Anyway, Yugi-chan got back two hours ago and went to work on that puzzle of his, but then he left to get something from school. But..." her tone was worried, "...he should've been back by now..."

"I'm sure he'll be back soon," Akhnamkanon said, trying to be reassuring, "he probably just got caught up with a friend. I'll wait for him outside." He turned back to the door of the shop and then looked at Yami with a raised brow.

"What will you do, Yami?"

The blond shrugged.

"I'll go look for the kid. Metro Primary, right?" He looked back at Kisara for confirmation, and when she nodded, slipped out the door.

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"No! I won't let you hurt my friends!"

"Friends? After everything they did to you? Heh. You sure are weird, Mutou."

"I won't let you hurt them! I'll take the punishment in their place!"

"Are you sure you wanna do that? Fine then. I'm not holding back!"

Dull but heavy thumps reached his ears, akin to hard force against flesh and bone. He waited just a little longer to see if Yugi would fight back, but any hopes of that were dashed as he saw his little brother get slammed against a brick wall.

Enough was enough.

"Oi. Really? Beating up a blind kid not even a third your size?" He hissed, his voice soft and menacing. "You're pathetic. No one hurts my brother but me."

The bully was someone he only vaguely recognized, Ushi-something or other, who ran away from home a while back, according to the news. The boy was probably twelve years of age, give or take a few, but he was already a head taller than Yami and more than twice as wide.

He sneered at him.

"Oh yeah? You wanna go, shrimp?"

Yami slipped off his jacket and tossed it over to Yugi, who looked to be just barely on the brink of consciousness. He glanced over to the two other boys who were leaning on each other, and decided they were of no importance. He shrugged and looked back at the hulking bully across from him. He cracked his knuckles and Yami smirked before quickly running forward and aiming low, for the shins. Ushio jumped back to avoid his swing and kicked out at his knee. Ignoring the pain, Yami grabbed his leg and, using the larger male's weight against him, spun him into the wall- not hard enough to cause any real damage, but enough to hurt.

Ushio got up and the fight continued.

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The Spirit Of the Puzzle waited silently in the darkness. He had no name or form of his own- only the labels given to him by humans. All he knew was loneliness and darkness. The former was something he knew he wasn't meant to be aware of, but he was, and it hurt.

And for so, so very long he'd lived with it- the cold emptiness of the Sennen Puzzle- until a certain day.

He was being carried somewhere, he knew, and the darkness seemed to fluctuate between pitch and ebony, indicating a change in lighting conditions outside of his prison.

And then, there was light.

"I...I'm re-really gonna m-m-miss you...!"

"I know...I'll miss you too, Yugi-chan...so please...be safe till we meet again."

He could hear, and, and! He could feel warmth and light!

The Spirit was happy- another feeling he shouldn't have recognized, but did.

But the person holding him- the person with that bright, illuminating soul- was sad. That wasn't right- he should be happy! He had ultimate power in his hands! So...why?

Determined to preserve this light and extinguish its sadness, the spirit peered through the memories of his new master-to-be (that wasn't even a hope, it was a fact as far as he was concerned) and was intrigued. This bright soul- the one they called Mutou Yugi- had gone through much hardship, mostly at the hands of those related to him by blood.

While such a thing was hardly unusual, the spirit had never seen a soul go through that and remain so pure and innocent.

Such a precious and rare thing deserved to be cherished and protected, not put through such emotional abuse by its kin. But for now, the spirit could only wait patiently until the boy- Yugi, his precious Yugi- solved the puzzle.

Time before had been a blur- impossible to distinguish- but as he overheard everything around Yugi, he became aware of the next three years, and just barely managed to keep his sanity as they passed agonizingly slow.

And then, he woke up.

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The room of Yugi's soul was brighter than his own, lit by what would have been moonlight had there been a moon. The door was opened wide, and various toys were scattered here and there on the floor.

An innocent, open, vulnerable soul such as this would need his protection.

The spirit entered the room easily, a dark, formless silhouette, and stood by the bed. It was a simple cot, but he cared more about the young soul sleeping inside it. Gentle appendages combed through his soft tri-colored hair, and idly, the spirit began humming. It was an old song from many millennia ago, but it never failed to sooth him and his shadows.

He stiffened as amethyst eyes opened, fluttering softly, recognizing him but not for what he really was.

"Yami..."

"Yes. If that is what you want me to be, then I am 'Yami'."

Crimson eyes glinted in the moonless moonlight as the spirit's appearance changed to one similar to his master's sibling.

The true Yami was unworthy of such adoration, but if Yugi loved him so much, then the spirit would ensure that Yugi would receive his favor, if not from him then from his likeness.

Not even Yugi's kin would hurt him now.